The Gazette OUROPINIONS
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Missed opportunity in Upper Marlboro
GREG DOHLER/THE GAZETTE
A flood of county concerns
There are some areas in Prince George’s County that become flooded so often, residents just know to avoid them whenever it rains. For example, Governor Bridge Road in Bowie becomes impassable after most storms, to the point that it’s common to hear about a daring driver needing to be rescued. Even roads at the county seat, Upper Marlboro, seem to be blocked off frequently because of high water. So on June 10, when flooding caused damage in College LONG-STANDING Park, Riverdale Park and Berwyn — AND SEEMINGLY Heights (where 70 residents had to be evacuated as large amounts of NEW — WATER water gushed down the streets), it PROBLEMS NEED left many wondering: What’s goTO BE ADDRESSED ing on? There are likely several different reasons for the problems. In the Berwyn Heights flood, Mark Brady, a spokesman for the Prince George’s County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, said the heavy rainfall was too much for the sewage system to handle. Water runoff from new developments, poorly designed roadways, outdated infrastructure and environmental challenges — such as extreme amounts of rain or snow — have been cited as possible causes for flooding around the county, as well. Last year, a homeless woman was found dead in Anne Arundel County, just outside of Laurel’s city limits, after severe thunderstorms caused the Patuxent River to overflow, causing extensive flooding in the area. The woman’s death, along with ongoing flooding in the city, has inspired Laurel officials to create a program to better monitor river levels and provide more advance notice to residents. City officials should be applauded for their efforts — the new system could come with a $65,000 price tag — but the county should go a step further to look at the bigger picture. Currently, it seems that flooding challenges are being handled piecemeal rather than taking a wholesale approach to addressing flooding by creating a plan that incorporates infrastructure, development and other changes. While an analysis of this scope may be costly, it is nothing compared to the damage to homes and businesses, the loss of life and the potential environmental impact the flooding is causing. Working to plug a hole here and there, while water is gushing across other parts of the county, is an exercise in futility. It’s time for a broader look so residents aren’t left knee-deep in questions.
No excuses for Bowie High track delay Bowie High School wants a better track — the shot put area needs repairs, the discus area could afford some improvements and a long jump runway could be added — and the school won a $17,000 grant in spring 2013 to handle the overhaul. Unfortunately, nothing has changed yet at the school, where administrators are waiting for the Prince George’s County school system to get the project started. “The kids who were here when we got the money have graduated already,” Bowie High athletic director Jessica Brandt said. “It’s just ridiculous they’re keeping $17,000 from the kids.” Rupert McCave, a capital improvement officer with the school system, said he couldn’t pinpoint the cause of the delay. “I don’t have a reason why it’s taken so long,” he told The Gazette. “We’ve taken on a lot more grant-related projects than we have in the past. We have a lot of projects that are ongoing.” In the meantime, Bowie High School is in limbo, with track season set to start in the fall. Hopefully, school officials can get the track project ... back on track — or at least provide answers about what is causing the delay and how soon the challenges will be resolved. The school has done its part in getting the renovations under way, now it’s time for the school system to pick up the baton and run with it.
Vanessa Harrington, Senior Editor Jeffrey Lyles, Managing Editor Glen C. Cullen, Senior Editor Copy/Design Meredith Hooker,Managing Editor Internet Nathan Oravec, A&E Editor
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LETTERS TOT HE EDITOR
Katherine Quintanilla of Berwyn Heights puts water-damaged items in a trash pile. Heavy rain on June 10 flooded homes, causing evacuation of 70 residences.
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Thursday, June 19, 2014
A story that caught my eye concerned the “improvement plans” of Upper Marlboro. My reaction: What took them so long? There’s enough history in and about this little town that it could easily be called “little Williamsburg!” There are so many historical places in and around Greater Upper Marlboro that this area can maintain its own tour bus service. Because of climate and soil conditions, Prince George’s County became the state’s largest slave holder, and Greater Upper Marlboro contained the largest concentration of slave plantations and plantation mansions in Maryland. Keep in mind that the state of Maryland had the second largest slave population of the 13 original colonies. The public would surely be interested in visiting Lord Baltimore’s 10,000-acre plantations of Goodwood and Riversdale. His parents — Benedict and Elisabeth Calvert — owned Mt. Airy plantation in Rosaryville. Other county plantations were Sarah Hilleary’s Three Sisters in Lanham, Thomas Spriggs Jr. owned Lake Arbor in Largo, and former Governor Oden Bowie owned Fairview in Collington. Acquiring slaves for these plantations was relatively convenient since the slave marketplace was located in Upper Marlboro, which was also in the county. The start of Upper Marlboro’s reconstruction should be as close to its original seaport location as possible. One of Colonial Maryland’s most iconic prints shows slaves loading tobacco on an oceangoing vessel at the seaport, which was located at the end of Water Street on the Western Branch of the Patuxent River in 1751. Among the inhabitants of Colonial Upper Marlboro could be found a wig
GREG DOHLER/THE GAZETTE
Upper Marlboro residents and officials are working to preserve historic sites in Upper Marlboro, such as this stone building built in 1948 on Church Road (shown in January). maker, weaver, tailor, stay maker, coach maker and saddler. Concerts, balls and horse races entertained the people from near and far. Upper Marlboro has played a role in most of the major historical events of this country. The British camped in the area during its 1812 invasion of Washington; its inhabitants were great religious leaders and participants in the founding of the country, and participated mostly
Is Cottage City/ Colmar Manor trying to collect money off the backs of busy citizens who may not have the time to take the matter before a judge?
Share your thoughts on Prince George’s topics. Letters must include the writer’s name, address and telephone number. The phone number will not be published; it is for verification purposes only. We reserve the right to edit all letters. Letters selected may be shortened for space reasons. Send letters to: Editor, The Gazette, 13501 Virginia Manor Road, Laurel, MD 20707. E-mail them to princegeorges@gazette.net.
Time to ban lawn chemicals
tell me they also stopped before proceeding to make a right turn. There are no clear guidelines about how long you have to stop in a red light before taking right turn, no sign of red light camera in three different entrance roads of Cottage City (40th Place, 40th Avenue and 38th Avenue), and nowhere it is written “no turn on red,” yet people are getting $75 fines without any reason. Someone in the town needs to follow up on this or you will see a demonstration at the corner of Bladensburg Road and 38th Avenue! I am an honest person trying to make an honest living; I ask the same of our other service people and elected officials.
I thought those bright yellow cards on some of my neighbors’ lawns were a one-time occurrence. Turns out their pesticide (poison) application is a fairly frequent deal — much to the detriment of the kids, dogs, birds and other beings unable to discern the danger of trodding on or near their grass. What a shame we all have to be exposed to these harmful products for the sake of an artificial-looking, emerald green, chemicalladen lawn — before they end up in the the Chesapeake Bay, that is. Time to ban this stuff and enjoy natural green lawns and a cleaner environment instead.
Manash Das, Brentwood
Frank J. Finver, Bethesda
We need to enhance early childhood education “You can’t teach me, ‘cuz I won’t learn.” The words still sting professional pride some 27 years later. The power of the willfully unenlightened cannot be understated. Teachers, too, must eventually grapple with demoralizing “nowin scenarios.” Coping with this high school COMMENTARY student’s obstiKENNETH HAINES nate refusal to learn was quite a reach for this first-year teacher. Such are the vagaries of experience when societal neglect integrates with the free will of young adults. Teachers seldom leave children behind willingly; however, a few children
stall, and some collapse entirely. Home contacts offered little in the way of support. His soft-spoken parents vented their frustrations with his lack of motivation and failure to respond to any behavioral interventions. The bell would ring, his eyes would glaze, spittle would occasionally drip into a pool on his desk. The closest point of approach to success arrived one day in January when he actually raised his hand to answer a question. When called upon, he looked up at his hand as though it did not belong to him and sheepishly pulled it back down to the desk. Referrals to guidance and administration yielded no appreciable changes in academic growth. Often sullen and morose, his 46 classmates ostracized him. It became a challenge to include him in “Teams, Games & Tournaments,” a model of cooperative learning that is designed specifically
13501 Virginia Manor Road, Laurel, MD 20707 | Phone: 240-473-7500 | Fax: 240-473-7501 | Email: princegeorges@gazette.net More letters appear online at www.gazette.net/opinion Ken Sain, Sports Editor Dan Gross, Photo Editor Jessica Loder, Web Editor
Hollis Hite, White Plains
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Speed camera needs a checkup Why is a small town making money on the backs of its citizens? I am a law-abiding, hard-working physician providing care to lowincome seniors in a clinic setting where I encourage everyone to wear their seatbelts, be safe when driving and get their vision checked so that they avoid auto accidents. In the past few weeks, I have been getting tickets for failure to stop at a red light before turning right off Bladensburg Road onto 38th Avenue. The truth is I always stop at red lights before turning! I can’t tell my older patients one thing and do something else! And I would not want to jeopardize my health and the health of those driving and walking around Colmar Manor and Cottage City. I have the $75 to pay the fine, but it will impact the contributions I make to the tired, the poor, the infirmed, the imprisoned, the aged; but I will not pay the fine when I have not committed any violation! Is Cottage City/Colmar Manor trying to collect money off the backs of busy citizens who may not have the time to take the matter before a judge to plead their case? I am asking that the camera be checked to see if regardless whether a person stops, he/she will get a ticket. Two of my patients who don’t have money to “donate” to towns with budget problems, have also received tickets at the same light, and I believe them when they
against the Union in the Civil War. Start a historical trail, put up some historical signs, get rid of the dinky little sign on highway 301 and replace it with a real welcome sign! Stop letting much smaller counties such as St. Mary’s and Charles attract more tourists and more federal and tourists’ dollars.
Dennis Wilston, Corporate Advertising Director Chauka Reid, Advertising Manager Doug Baum, Corporate Classifieds Director Mona Bass, Inside Classifieds Director Jean Casey, Director of Marketing and Circulation
Anna Joyce, Creative Director, Special Pubs/Internet Ellen Pankake, Director of Creative Services Leah Arnold, Information Technology Manager David Varndell, Digital Media Manager
to provide positive reinforcement for unmotivated students as they make academic gains for the good of the team. No team could thrive with him on the roster. It is inaccurate to label him as “one who got away.” He never even nibbled at the bait. How does one arrive in adolescence so utterly jaded? How far back into his personal history would we need to travel to find the moment where his flowering curiosity was crushed underfoot? How might we have repaired the tracks rather than watch the train derail? One thing is certain: Our society has failed to internalize the century-and-ahalf-old wisdom of Frederick Douglass who declared, “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” Kenneth B. Haines is the president of the Prince George’s County Educators’ Association.
POST COMMUNITY MEDIA Karen Acton, Chief Executive Officer Michael T. McIntyre, Controller Donna Johnson, Vice President of Human Resources Maxine Minar, President, Comprint Military