Oct 18 Montpelier Arts Center 30-Year Gala
Montpelier Arts Center 30th Anniversary
Montpelier Arts Center Calendar Sep - Dec 2009
Montpelier Arts Center
- 30 Years of Art, 1979-2009
9652 Muirkirk Road Laurel, MD 20708 {MAP]
Celebrate 30 years of art at Montpelier, 1979-2009!
Open Studios, Awards, Music by the Montpelier Jazz All Stars!
Refreshments, Free, and Open to the public.
Date: October 18, 2009
Hours: 12 noon – 5 pm
Rio Sports Bar Sign Says Coming Soon Now Hiring
Update Saturday Nov 21, 2009: Since sometime before 2 pm Rio's electric sign is on again, with this wording: Coming Soon ... Rio Sports Lounge ... Now Hiring ...
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Update Tuesday Nov 17, 2009: Since sometime before 10:45 am Rio's electric sign is dark again.===
Update Monday Nov 16, 2009: Since sometime before 4:45 pm Rio's electric sign is on again, with essentially the same wording as before.===
Update Monday Nov 9, 2009: Since sometime before 2:30 pm Rio's electric sign is dark again.===
Update Sunday Nov 8, 2009: Some time before 9:30 pm Rio's electric sign has been operating again with essentially the same wording as before.===
Update Nov 3, 2009: The sign operated for a few days after Oct 3, but appears mostly dark since then.===
The new electric sign for Rio Sports Lounge (behind Sakura Restaurant in Contee Station on the east side of Route 1 near Contee Rd) became active on or before Saturday, Oct 3, saying, to the best of my recollection, inter alia: "Rio Restaurant and Sports Lounge -- Coming Soon -- Now Hiring -- NFL 2009".For background see J.MP/riostory .
Oct 15 County Citizens' Priorities Forum
From press release ...
Come tell us your priorities and hopes for Prince George’s County
YOU ARE INVITED!
Prince George’s County non-partisan public forum to identify the priorities of our citizens and our county.
We will listen to you as we collectively create a list of priorities to collaborate on behalf of our County.
Please come and share your priorities with County Leaders.
Your opinion and input matters!
Some topics to focus your comments on:
- Economic Development Healthcare/Human Care Public Safety
- Education Housing Transportation
- Environment/Energy Local Government Funding Other
Date: Thursday, October 15, 2009
Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: First Baptist Church of Glenarden 301-773-3600
3600 Brightseat Rd, Landover, MD 20785 [MAP]
Sponsored by:
Prince George’s County Executive Jack B. Johnson
Prince George’s Maryland State Senate Delegation
Prince George’s Maryland State House Delegation
Prince George’s County Council
State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey
Sheriff Michael Jackson
Moderated by: Sheila Stewart; WKYS
"We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” - President Thomas Jefferson
Oct 3 Homeless Resource Day Volunteers Needed
Click image to enlarge
Volunteers are needed to make this a successful event to help many people. Please see this Homeless Resource Day Volunteer Form for details about the 2-hour volunteer training sessions on Sep 21 (new Carrollton), Sep 22 (Laurel & Oxon Hill) and Sep 26 (Capitol Heights)
Dutch Country Market Now Open in South Laurel
Find additional parking in the back
by driving around the right side of the building.
Steward Village Center
9701 Fort Meade Rd.
Laurel, MD 20707
Hours:
Thursdays 9:00 a.m. to 6: p.m.
Fridays 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Saturdays 8:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m.
New Laurel City Programs Include County Youth
The following programs are sponsored by the Laurel Department of Parks and Recreation:
Now that fall is here, the Community Centers in Laurel are back in business for their afterschool programs. Youth and teens can drop in to the Laurel Armory, 422 Montgomery Street for after school play, Monday through Friday 3:30-4:45 p.m. for ages 8-12 and 4:45-6:00 p.m. for ages 13-17. The gymnasium is open for basketball, the lounge is a great place to start your homework or hang out for a game of pool or air-hockey fun and new this year is our second floor gaming lounge. Challenge yourself or your friends to a game on one of our two gaming systems in high def! Look for upcoming activities in the gaming lounge.
Youth and Teens can also use their passes for the afterschool drop in program at the Robert J. Dipietro Community Center on Cypress Street. The cost is $10 a year for City residents and $30 a year for non-residents. Teens can also use their annual pass for the Weekend Teen Center 7-10 p.m., Friday nights at the Laurel Community Center or Saturday nights at the Armory. For information call 301-725-7800 or visit www.laurel.md.us .
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Bring your “A” game to the Laurel Department of Parks and Recreation’s Laurel Armory Community Center at 422 Montgomery Street on Sunday, October 25, 2009, 10:00am – 4:00pm! Youth and teens can challenge each other in a FREE Madden ’10 tournament in the new second floor gaming lounge. Between games, discover all the exciting activities the Armory has to offer. Play some ping pong or basketball in the gym then head over to the lounge and bust out the cue sticks for a game of pool or a game of air-hockey. The NFL games will be on in the gymnasium, and in the lounge. Wear your team’s colors and join us for a day of football fun! Tournament registration will be held from 10-11:30am on the day of the event. Kick-off will be at noon. For information call 301-725-8088 or visit www.laurel.md.us .
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Yu-Gi-Oh anyone? The Laurel Armory Community Center at 422 Montgomery Street is now the home of Laurel’s Yu-Gi-Oh club. This free club is open to all levels of play and meets on Tuesdays from 6:00 – 9:00pm. Bring a friend and your own cards and hang out every Tuesday night at the Armory and let the dueling commence! For information call 301-725-8088 or visit www.laurel.md.us .
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Tue Sep 1, 7 pm - Swine Flu Public Health Meeting
Based on an email today from Beltsville Community Association President, Karen Coakley (Aug 29, 2009) ...
Bring a friend, Bring a Neighbor ... pass this on to your contacts please. Karen
The City of Laurel, the Prince George's County Health Department and Dimensions Health Care will hold a public meeting to discuss the H1N1 Virus (Swine Flu) at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, September 1, 2009 at the Phelps Senior Citizens Center located at 701 Montgomery Street in Laurel. (MAP)
At this meeting the representatives from the mentioned agencies will present information on the H1N1 virus including, preparing for the possibility of an outbreak of the virus, what actions you can take to try to avoid contracting the virus and what to do if you contract the virus.
Information handouts on the virus and disaster preparedness will be available at this meeting.
Please take advantage of this. Having prior knowledge of what to do in a potential health crisis is your best defense.
Should you have any questions please contact City of Laurel, Martin Flemion or Calvin Hawkins, at (301) 725-5300.
Aug 19 7 pm Community Meeting Beltsville VFD
UPDATE Aug 28, 2009: Gazette.net article recaps meeting
Fire service in South Laurel was unaffected.
======
Councilman Dernoga's email below describes recent disruptive changes in Prince George's County Fire & Rescue Station staffing that might affect us in South Laurel.
This problem affects not just Fire & Rescue services in the Beltsville area, but also the South Laurel area, because South Laurel is contiguous to Beltsville and fire/rescue stations in each area respond in support of the other area.
Please consider attending this public meeting with the Prince George's County Fire Department and Councilman Dernoga
Aug 19 7 pm at the Beltsville VFD station (4911 Prince Georges Ave, Beltsville, MD). MAP
This is our oppportunity to recognize our interdependence with the adjacent Beltsville community and to also visibly show our support for them, just like the Beltsville community has repeatedly shown support for us in South Laurel by participating in our opposition and testimony at Liquor Board hearings against the violent bars in South Laurel, like J's Cafe, Sweet Moon Grille, Dinosaurs, Starlight, Club Amazon and Rio Bar and Grille.
Thanks
gary stone
FORWARDED
From: Dernoga, Thomas E.
Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2009 8:41 AM
Subject: Statement on Fire Dept Staffing Changes - Notice of Community Meeting (BCA) on Aug 19th at 7pm at Beltsville VFD
Importance: High
Proposed Fire Station Staffing Changes
I am writing to address the recently announced staffing changes to fire stations in Beltsville/Calverton and other parts of the County that may affect public safety service. Like you, I found out about the changes on Monday from a Press Release and from News stories. Other Council members found out the same way. I do not believe that this is the way a public safety matter of this import should have been handled.
The Fire Department Press Release (LINK) stated the following:
The following Fire/EMS Stations will have adjustments made to their present staffing levels:
• Calverton Fire/EMS Station #841 - The staffing will be moved to provide additional staffing to the nearby Beltsville Fire/EMS Station #831. This will allow the same number of Fire/EMS personnel to run multiple units with sufficient staffing out of one station and reducing the need for overtime when someone takes off on leave. Calverton Fire/EMS Station #841’s central focus will be running the Hazardous Materials resources currently assigned there.
Also impacted are: the Chillum Fire/EMS Station, the Capitol Heights Fire/EMS Station and the Riverdale Heights Fire/EMS Station.
Fortunately, on Monday I was able to speak with the Beltsville VFD leadership and then with Fire Chief Eugene Jones. I also spoke with the leadership of the Prince George’s County Volunteer Fire & Rescue Assn. After speaking with Fire Chief Jones and with the Beltsville VFD leadership, the Fire Chief was agreeable to finding a compromise with the Volunteers. The Beltsville VFD worked out a reasonable compromise - not that they are pleased with it - and both stations will stay open.
No one liked the original proposal (above) and people have been very unhappy with how it has been implemented. The compromise will force the Beltsville VFD volunteers to pick up even more responsibility. They will do an exemplary job, but it will be a strain.
The impetus is simple economics – the Fire Chief (who is new) has been budgeting almost no overtime to spend. In the past, the Fire Department has been poorly managed with a limitless amount of overtime in order to keep career staff on the job in every station. The County government has grown accustomed to keeping everyone in the Stations; however, this staffing was based heavily on overtime. At least, at this point, while there are still problems to address, the compromise position is more acceptable than the Chief’s proposal.
Finally, I have worked with Karen Coakley, President of the Beltsville Citizens Association, to arrange a special Association meeting so that Fire Chief Jones can explain the situation and the reasons behind his decisions.
The special meeting will be on August 19th at 7pm at the Beltsville VFD station (4911 Prince Georges Ave, Beltsville, MD). ALL are invited to attend. It is important for Fire Chief Jones to hear the concerns and for you to hear what he has to say.
I will be there to hear the citizens and then we will see what options there are. If you have questions that you would like to present in advance, please for it to me or to my Aide, Judy Thacher.
Tom Dernoga, Vice Chair
Prince George's County Council
Rio Sports Bar & Grille Liquor License - Updates
The short address for this post is J.MP/rio2009july
Please tell your friends
Or email this post to friends using the envelope icon below
UPDATE: Aug 20, 2009 - Laurel Leader Article
Residents, county plan close watch of Rio: Restaurant's new owner will face 6-month review
Residents, county plan close watch of Rio: Restaurant's new owner will face 6-month review
UPDATE: Aug 12, 2009
Just received this July 29, 2009 Prince George's County Liquor Board letter, which communicates in detail the Liquor Board's decision at their July 28, 2009 hearing, to transfer the Rio Sports Bar & Grille liquor license to the new owner, Mr. Yoon with all previously existing conditions and restrictions (as listed in the letter). At the July 28 hearing, the Liquor Board said it will schedule a hearing to review this license in no less than six months (i.e. no earlier than January 2010). Rio Sports Bar & Grille is still closed.
UPDATE: Aug 6, 2009
Laurel Gazette: Liquor license approval angers residents, officials
==============
UPDATE: July 28, 2009 No More Need for Letters to Liquor Board:
At today's PG Liquor Board hearing, the Liquor Board voted to transfer the Rio license to Mr. Yoon with all current restrictions. The Liquor Board agreed to continue its current prohibition against using of the deck.
Much thanks from our community to these public officials who testified at the hearing:
- PG County District 1 Councilman Dernoga (and aid Thacher) and by letter.
- MD District 23/A Senator Peters (and for Delegates Levi & Hubbard) and by delegation letter
- MD District 21 Senator Rosapepe (and for Delegates Frush, Pena-Melnyk, and Barnes) and by delegation letter.
- By letter from City of Laurel Mayor Moe.
- PG Police District VI Acting Comander & Community Response Team testimony regarding incident history at the Rio Sports Bar location before and after Rio opened in 2006 through present.
The Liquor Board decision included that there will be a hearing in six months to assess the overall status of Rio Sports Bar operations, review existing conditions, and consider any new conditions.
No More Need for Letters to Liquor Board
==============
UPDATE: July 24, 2009 :Thanks to Prince George's County District 1 Councilman Tom Dernoga for sending this letter today to the Liquor Board about Rio Sports Bar & Grille.
This is a reformatted example opposition letter which you can now print, fill-in the blanks, sign and then communicate to the Liquor Board -- and you can edit it.
Anyone communicating to the Liquor Board, please include your name and full address (street, city, state) so the Liquor Board can know you are a Prince George's county resident.
==============
Please ask your friends who are Prince George's County registered voters to read this article at this easy to remember web address j.mp/rio2009july and then communicate their views no later than Monday July 27, 2009.
See fax, email and delivery address below -- it's too late for mail.
==============
Need You to attend Liquor Board Hearing 10 am Tues Jul 28
Testify or simply attend to be counted For or Opposed
The Liquor Board hearing room address is below.
As you may know, recently a new owner planned to reopen the violence/shooting plagued J's Cafe location with a new bar, Sweet Moon Grille, in Crystal Plaza (near the post office). The new owner ran a well-documented violent establishment in Arlington, VA, so residents, community associations, and churches in South Laurel and Beltsville protested with letters and petitions, resulting in withdrawal of that liquor license application, which forced the new owner to abandon the lease. (Sweet Moon Grill history)
Nearby Rio Sports Bar & Grille has been bought by Mr. Tak Yoon (believed to be associated with Rio Bravo in Langley Park and Galaxy II in Silver Spring), who plans to reopen Rio Sports Bar (which is closed for the past 6 months due to lawsuits among current owner Mr. Sung H. Lee and his partners). Mr. Tak Yoon has applied to have the current liquor license transfered to him from Mr. Sung H. Lee.
The Rio Sports Bar location has a long history of violence, shooting and violations (Dinosaurs, Club Amazon, Rio Sports Bar).
Please consider reading this example opposition letter (now revised so you can print, fill-in the blanks and sign it for fax or delivery -- you can also edit that letter file) and consider sending a letter to the Liquor Board expressing your own views. The example letter details specific existing restrictions (*) and requested new restrictions on that liquor license that many community representatives, including our elected representatives have agreed are necessary to try to ensue safe operation of Rio Sports Bar & Grille as a genuine "family friendly sit down restaurant" which the Liquor Board has already twice ordered be a condition on this license. Local representatives' letters are forthcoming. Please feel free to adopt, adapt, modify or ignore parts or all of the example letter, which is provided only as convenient information and inspiration for writing your own letter. (*) The existing restrictions are the restrictions that were requested by City of Laurel in this Sep 25, 2006 letter to the Liquor Board.
All correspondence or petitions must be received by the Liquor Board no later than NOON Monday July 27.
Prince Geoge's County
Board of License Commissioners - Liquor Board
Chairman Franklin D. Jackson
County Service Building
5012 Rhode Island Avenue - Room 204
Hyattsville, Maryland 20781
Phone: (301) 699-2770
Fax: (301) 985-3548
Email: DMBryant@co.pg.md.us
Letters can be sent by email, fax, or hand delivered, but petitions must be hand delivered, because we understand they need the original signatures. (too late for mail)
Prince Geoge's County
Board of License Commissioners - Liquor Board
Chairman Franklin D. Jackson
County Service Building
5012 Rhode Island Avenue - Room 204
Hyattsville, Maryland 20781
Phone: (301) 699-2770
Fax: (301) 985-3548
Email: DMBryant@co.pg.md.us
Letters can be sent by email, fax, or hand delivered, but petitions must be hand delivered, because we understand they need the original signatures. (too late for mail)
This opposition petition is circulating in the community. Feel free to use that form to collect signatures from Prince George's County residents who are registered to vote, because that is how the Liquor Board validates signatures.
Try to put at least 3 signatures on each page, preferably 5 -- not just one or two per page -- unless really unavoidable. This helps get all our petitions properly vetted by the Liquor Board.
Please turn in all petitions directly to the Liquor Board by Noon Monday July 27 or to a petition collector who can deliver them.
This is hard for people who work and have other obligations.
But this is one exercise in democracy which our local community has proven time and time again does work for us residents if we participate,
So, whatever your own views, please consider participating in every way that you can (letter, petition, attendance, testimony, or simply stand up at the hearing to be counted For or Opposed) because the prospects for good outcome improve with increased participation.
July 24 Meet MD Delegations & Governor
Please join Senator Douglas J. J. Peters
along with the 23rd and 21st
Legislative Team
at a
Town Meeting by the Lake
with
Governor Martin O’Malley
Friday, July 24th
7:00 - 8:30pm
Granville Gude Park in Laurel
(west of Rt 1 between Cherry Lane and Mulberry St)
Families are welcome. Please RSVP
301-858-3141 or
21stDistrictDelegation@gmail.com
Directions: Granville Gude Park is located at 8300 Mulberry Street, on the west side of Rt. 1, behind the Comfort Suites Hotel, north of Laurel Lakes Shopping Center. Parking is also available on Mulberry St.
New Laurel-Area Youth/Teen Gaming Lounge
CITY OF LAUREL -- OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
Date of Release: July 9, 2009
For Additional Information Contact: Jim Collins
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
NEW GAMING LOUNGE FOR LAUREL-AREA YOUTH & TEENS
We got game! Youth & Teen annual pass holders at the Laurel Department of Parks and Recreation’s community centers can now drop by the Laurel Armory Community Center on 422 Montgomery Street and check out the new gaming lounge. With our three big screen televisions, PS3 and Wii gaming systems and plenty of comfy seating you can challenge yourself or your friends with many of our new games. Annual passes are on sale at the Armory or at the Robert J. DiPietro Community Center during operating hours [*]. Call the Armory at 301-725-8088 for more information.
[*] Youth & Teen passes are $10/year for Laurel City residents; $30/year for non-residents (including Prince George's County)
PG Animal Management Facility Has Moved
As of July 1, 2009, the Prince George's County Animal Management Group has moved from their former facility in Forestville, MD to their new Animal Services facility at 3750 Brown Station Road Upper Marlboro, MD 2077 (MAP) (301) 780–7200.
Please see these web pages for details:
The SPCA in Prince George's County works closely with DER/AMG:
Tues June 30 Rich Findley Family Fundraiser
Please consider stopping by the Green Turtle in Laurel (MAP) on Tuesday, June 30, 2 pm to 2 am for late lunch or dinner. 10% of the procedes from your meal will go to the daughters of Police Sgt. Rich Findley, who was killed one year ago while arresting a gang of car theives in South Laurel. Sgt. Findley was also a long-time local volunteer fire fighter even while he served South Laurel as a county police officer.
If you can not come on Tuesday, any donation you may consider for his family can be sent to the Rich Findley Fund:
Beltsville Volunteer Fire Department, Station 31
Attn: Chief Schwartz
4911 Prince George's Ave
Beltsville, MD 20705-1998
(301) 937-3160
Make any checks payable to Beltsville Volunteer Fire Department, Station 31. Put "For Rich Findley Fund" in the check memo line.
Please see the message below from Karen Coakely and this newspaper article she provided about Sgt. Findley and this fundraiser for his family.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: karenmcoakley <karenmcoakley@verizon.net>
Date: Mon, Jun 29, 2009 at 11:58 AM
Subject: [PGCP-D6CAC] Rich Findley Fundraiser.....
Date: Mon, Jun 29, 2009 at 11:58 AM
Subject: [PGCP-D6CAC] Rich Findley Fundraiser.....
This past Saturday was the 1 year anniversary of Sgt. Rich Findley's passing. Several of Rich's childhood friends are holding a fundraiser for Rich and Kelly's daughters on Tuesday June 30th. The Green Turtle in Laurel is hosting the event and they will donate 10% of the sales from 2:00 p.m. until closing to the Rich Findley Fund. Please stop by the Green Turtle for a late lunch or dinner on Tuesday to support the family of our local hometown Hero Sgt. Rich Findley.
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