Bowie 040215 by The Gazette

WINNINGEST ELEMENTARY Largo school falls in Science Bowl championship. A-4

NEWS: Aging and decaying Bowie train car to be replaced with restored caboose. B-1

Gazette-Star SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNT Y

SPORTS: Douglass’ junior quarterback gives track a try, wins state title. B-1

DA I LY U P DAT E S AT G A Z E T T E . N E T

Thursday, April 2, 2015

25 cents

School ofﬁcials unveil ﬁve-year plan for system n

Promises yearly reports on progress toward meeting benchmarks BY JAMIE ANFENSON-COMEAU STAFF WRITER

DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE

The Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department practices locating and rescuing victims in a simulated house fire March 25 at the Bowie Marketplace Shopping Center. Steam simulates smoke from a fire and the mannequin weighs 180 pounds so rescuers are able to practice in conditions that are close to a real fire rescue.

Smoke, but no actual ﬁre for drills Before demolition, Bowie shopping center used for search-and-rescue exercises n

DANIEL LEADERMAN STAFF WRITER

The Bowie Marketplace shopping center will soon be torn down, but in the meantime ﬁreﬁghters from across Prince George’s County have been using it for

some valuable training. Which is why on March 25, a vacant bank building at the center was pumped full of non-toxic fog, to simulate smoke and stormed by fire crews so they could practice searching the makeshift house for mannequins simulating trapped residents. Firefighters from the county and other local jurisdictions have been conducting drills at the shopping center for the past couple of months, said Mark Brady, spokesman for the county fire department.

Reporters were invited to join firefighters March 25 so they could observe the drills from the inside and get a better sense of what firefighters face during a blaze. “This gives us challenges we wouldn’t normally see at the academy,” Brady said, explaining that the practice structure at the department’s academy in Cheltenham is a simpler, cinder-block structure. The twostory bank building, however, was more like a real-life environment, Brady said.

See DRILLS, Page A-7

Bad weather stretches school calendar n

Two inclement days waived

BY JAMIE

ANFENSON-COMEAU STAFF WRITER

Prince George’s County Public Schools has added an instructional day next week and received a two-day waiver from the

state to end the school year on the scheduled day of June 23. PGCPS spokeswoman Sherrie Johnson said April 2, which originally was scheduled as a teacher planning day with no student attendance, will be converted into an instructional day with a two-hour early dismissal for students.

Easter and spring break, April 3-10, is unaffected, Johnson said. The school system received a two-day waiver from the Maryland State Department of Education on Thursday. Due to the waiver, the school system

See CALENDAR, Page A-7

MGM, ofﬁcials tout local hiring at casino n

National Harbor project hired 1,000th construction worker

DANIEL LEADERMAN STAFF WRITER

MGM says it’s already contracted more than 60 local, minority-owned businesses to

INDEX Automotive Calendar Classiﬁed Entertainment Opinion Sports

help build its new resort and casino at National Harbor, but critics say the efforts aren’t nearly enough. The Nevada-based company celebrated the hiring of its 1,000th construction worker at a ceremony held at the future site of the resort on March 25. The ceremony came days after several local business owners

NEWS B-8 A-2 B-6 B-3 A-9 B-1

accused MGM in the media of not giving contracts to enough local companies. “We are still actively looking to work with minority and locally owned businesses,” said Gordon M. Absher, vice president of corporate communications and public affairs for MGM Resorts International. “It’s very important to us.”

RECOVER YOUR PET Microchip implants can help owners reunite with lost animals.

A-3

By the end of last year, 62 local minority business enterprises, or MBEs, had been engaged on the project, which was only 8 percent completed at the time, Absher said. Charts provided by MGM indicate that the project exceeded its minority-business participation goal in the archi-

See CASINO, Page A-6

RECYCLE

Prince George’s County School System CEO Kevin Maxwell is asking county residents to imagine a school system where 90 percent of students graduate on time, all graduates are college and career ready, and test scores meet or exceed the state average — goals he says are attainable by 2020 with increased funding. “We will move this school system forward and be in the top 10 in the state by 2020,” Maxwell said after unveiling his 2020 Strategic Plan at the March 26 school board meeting, held at Suitland High School. Over 100 people attended. The Strategic Plan that Maxwell unveiled identifies five broad areas where improve-

ment is needed to reach his 2020 goal — academics, workforce development, safe and modernized facilities, community engagement and organizational effectiveness — and the improvements needed to reach Maxwell’s 2020 goals. Maxwell is asking for an additional $133 million in county funding to support the Strategic Plan, which he said is based on data obtained from his Transition Team report and numerous studies and surveys of the school system. According to the Strategic Plan, additional funding would be used to develop a digital literacy program, expand full-day prekindergarten, expand Gifted and Talented, dual enrollment, career academy, foreign language and International Baccalaureate programs, increase teacher compensation and mentoring, expedite facilities maintenance and other initiatives.

See PLAN, Page A-7

Bowie maintains ‘AAA’ bond rating n

Good report can help future investment, ofﬁcials say

DANIEL LEADERMAN STAFF WRITER

Bowie residents may be pleased to know that the city’s ﬁnances are in strong shape and the government shouldn’t have any problem financing future projects, according to a major credit-rating agency. Fitch Ratings recently upheld the city’s “AAA” bond rating, the highest rating it issues, praising the city’s conservative budgeting practices and belowaverage tax rate in a March 19 statement. If the city decides to borrow money — which it may do within the next few years to help build a planned indoor recreation center — the strong bond rating means its likely to get a better interest rate, said City Manager David J. Deutsch. For Bowie residents, the rat-

ing should serve as an assurance that the city is well-managed and is using tax dollars appropriately, Deutsch said. The new facility would include an ice rink as well as basketball and volleyball courts, and is expected to cost around $20 million, Deutsch. It’s not yet clear how much the city would borrow for the project, and officials don’t yet have a site for the recreation center, he said. Fitch issued the annual report as an update on the $12.7 million in general obligation bonds the city sold in 2009 to finance the construction of its new city hall and police headquarters. In its report, Fitch highlighted the $1.1 million surplus with which the city ended fiscal 2014 and its tax rate of 40 cents for every $100 of assessed value, which is below the average for other municipalities in the county. That average is about 61 cents, according to data from

See RATING, Page A-6

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THE GAZETTE

Page A-2

EVENTS

BestBet

Send items at least two weeks in advance of the paper in which you would like them to appear. Go to calendar.gazette.net and click on the submit button. Questions? Call 301670-2070.

APRIL 2 Maryland National Horse Show, 8 a.m., The Show Place Arena, 14900 Pennsylvania Ave., Upper Marlboro. The Prince George’s Equestrian Center will host the indoor Maryland National Horse Show. Contact 301-952-7900; TTY 301-952-7998. Glow Walk/Run for Autism, 6:45 to 8:30 p.m., Watkins Regional Park, 301 Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro. This 5k Glow Walk/Run for Autism is a fun run to raise funds and awareness for Autism. Registration starts at 5:30 pm and the Walk/Run begins at 6:45 pm. Contact 301-249-7200; TTY 301-218-6768.

APRIL 3 Easter Bunny Visiting Patuxent Community Center, Noon to 2 p.m., 4410

Bishopmill Drive, Upper Marlboro. Join the Patuxent Community Center staff for several outdoor activities, including a miniature golf egg hunt, making a craft, dying Easter eggs and more. The Easter Bunny will also be on hand for photos at an additional cost. This event is intended for participants 3 to 12 years old. Cost is $5 for residents and $6 for non-residents. Contact 301-780-7577; TTY 301-203-6030. Puppet Show at Watkins Nature Cen-

ter, 2 to 2:45 p.m., 301 Watkins Park Drive,

Upper Marlboro. Come as we transform Watkins Nature Center into a puppeteer’s paradise. The stage will be set for a nature-themed puppet performance, followed by a meet-and-greet with the real-life animals that inspired the show. This course is for participants 2 to 10 years old. SMARTlink barcode #1605443. Cost is $2 for residents and $3 for non-residents. Contact 301-446-3313.

Free Navy Band concert at Bowie Center for Performing Arts, 7:30 to 8:45

p.m., Bowie Center for the Performing Arts, 15200 Annapolis Road, Bowie. Our concert will be featuring a wide variety of musical selections, including wind ensemble standards, soloists, marches, and patriotic favorites. Please visit the Navy Band website at www.navyband.navy.mil/ or BCPA website for more information. Contact 301-805-6880, Ext.23 or mary@ bowiecenter.org.

APRIL 4 Black Homes Do Matter Part II — Town Hall Discussion, 9 to 11 a.m., Largo

Community Church, 1701 Enterprise Road, Largo. We promised to bring everyone back together to address why homes in Prince George’s County are not appreciating at the rate of neighboring jurisdictions? We are pleased to announce that two representatives from the Governor’s Ofﬁce are coming. They have received a copy of our report and understand the concerns. It’s time to take action to get

Thursday, April 2, 2015 bo

our home values up. Contact 301-2492255.

Low-Cost Vaccine Clinic for cats and dogs, 1 to 3 p.m., 8210 D’Arcy Road, For-

estville. Rabies and distemper shots: $10 each. Home AgainTM Microchip: $25. Dogs and cats 3 months and older must be vaccinated against rabies. If declining vaccine, please provide written proof of up-to-date rabies vaccination. Cash and credit card (Visa/MasterCard) only; no checks. For the safety of your pet, all cats must be in carriers and dogs must be leashed. Contact 301-262-5625. Read to Rover, 2 p.m., Surratts-Clinton Library, 9400 Piscataway Road, Clinton. Build your child’s conﬁdence in reading. Bring a favorite book or choose one from the library and read to Rover. Specially trained therapy dogs will be glad to listen. Each child will read for 15 minutes. Registration required; call branch for details. Ages 7-10. Contact 301-868-9200. Herbs to Grow and Cook, 2 p.m., South Bowie Library, 15301 Hall Road, Bowie. Call the South Bowie Branch for details. Presented by the Master Gardener’s of Prince George’s County. Contact 301-8500475.

APRIL 5 Sunday Shoreline Sweep-up, 1 to 3:30 p.m., Oxon Cove Park/Oxon Hill Farm, 6411 Oxon Hill Road, Oxon Hill. Spend your afternoon in the fresh air, getting exercise and making a difference. Earn service hours needed for your organization. Wear clothes and shoes that can get muddy. We’ve got the work gloves. Meet in the parking lot no later than 1:30 p.m. Young people under age 18 must be accompanied and supervised by an adult. Contact 301-839-1176 or stephanie_marrone@nps.gov.

APRIL 6 Poetry Crafts, 1 to 9 p.m., Largo-Kettering Library, 9601 Capital Lane, Largo. Concrete, Haiku, Limericks, Acrostic, Thematic. Pick out your favorite type of poem and create a collage to go along with it. Contact 301-336-4044.

Prince George’s County Commission for Veterans Monthly Meeting, 6 p.m.,

Department of Family Services, 6420 Allentown Road, Camp Springs. The mission of the Commission for Veterans is to elevate, develop and promote new and existing programs and services for Veterans and their families within Prince George’s County. Meetings are free and open to the public. Contact 301-265-8401. With Pen in Hand, 7 p.m., Bowie Library, 15210 Annapolis Road, Bowie. The Bowie Writers Group, With Pen in Hand welcomes writers at any skill level from novice to experienced. You are invited to ﬁnd your creative voice through writing,

FRI

Friday Night Live Concert Series, 7 to

9 p.m., Bowie Town Center (Food Court Pavilion), 15606 Emerald Way, Bowie. This week’s performance is by Coniece Washington. Select patio seating is available in front of the Food Court, but guests also are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs. Grab the whole family, spread out on the lawn and enjoy the show. Contact 404-233-3993.

MORE INTERACTIVE CALENDAR ITEMS AT WWW.GAZETTE.NET to share ideas, to engage in group critique, and to be inspired. Open to all genres. This is an adult level program. New members are welcome. Contact 301-262-7000.

APRIL 7 Fun Time, 10 a.m., Oxon Hill Library, 6200 Oxon Hill Road, Oxon Hill. This is an opportunity for children under three with special needs along with their family and friends to participate in storytime, music and motor activities. Meet other parents and check out the latest resources. Newborn-Age 3 with caregiver. Contact 301-839-2400. AARP Suitland Chapter 939, Noon at the District Heights Municipal Center, 2000 Marbury Drive, District Heights. Join the largest and most active AARP chapter in Prince George’s County. Travel, help in the community, join fun activities and more. Contact aarp939@yahoo.com. Girls Read: Grades 3, 4 and 5, 4 p.m., Oxon Hill Library, 6200 Oxon Hill Road, Oxon Hill. Find out about the latest books, share your favorites and practice your reading with games and other fun activities. Contact 301-839-2400. MAC: Manga and Anime Club, 7 p.m., Bowie Library, 15210 Annapolis Road, Bowie. Watch your favorite Anime; talk about and preview new Manga. Create art, comics and costumes. Join fellow Anime and Manga fans at the new Bowie Manga and Anime Club. Snacks will be provided. Contact 301-262-7000.

A&E

Civilizing the West: Bowie Community Theatre play focuses on role of black women post-Reconstruction. Check online for coverage of spring high school sports, including this week’s Largo Invitational track and field meet and the Flowers vs. Wise baseball game.

SPORTS

Why is the pollen count high? What causes thunder? Email weather@gazette.net with your weather-related questions and they may be answered by an NBC 4 meteorologist. Get complete, current weather information at NBCWashington.com

GAZETTE CONTACTS The Gazette-Star – 13501 Virginia Manor Road

APRIL 8

Laurel, MD 20707 Main phone: 240-473-7500, Fax: 240-473-7501 Jeffrey Lyles, managing editor: 240-473-7508

Book Discussion, 2 p.m., Spauldings

Library, 5811 Old Silver Hill Road, District Heights. James McBride’s “Song Yet Sung.” Contact 301-817-3750.

Life Cycle of a Butterﬂy and Butterﬂy Pasta Workshop, 4 p.m., Hillcrest Heights

Library, 2398 Iverson St., Temple Hills. Learn about the life cycle of the butterﬂy and then make the life cycle using pasta. This program is presented by the Prince George’s County Master Gardeners. Contact 301-630-4900. Book Discussion, 7:15 p.m., Bowie Library, 15210 Annapolis Road, Bowie. Sonia Sotomayor’s “My Beloved World.” Contact 301-262-7000.

The Gazette (ISSN 1077-5641) is published weekly for $29.99 a year by The Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Periodicals postage paid at Gaithersburg, Md. Postmaster: Send address changes. VOL. 18, NO. 11 • 2 SECTIONS, 20 PAGES

CORRECTIONS The Gazette corrects errors promptly on Page A-2 and online. To comment on the accuracy or adequacy of coverage, contact editor Jeffrey Lyles at 240-473-7508 or email jlyles@gazette.net. HOME CARE AIDE

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Page A-3

Brandywine DJ spins success on turntables and textbooks Honor roll student hopes to inspire peers to pursue dreams n

LISA PHILIP

SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

DJ Young Music is “winning.” He owns a record label with a major ﬁlm and music distribution deal, guest deejays a weekly show on WPGCFM and has a hit indie single on the radio-all at the age of 18. But DJ Young Music, whose real name is Bernard Brooks III, is winning in the classroom too: He’s an honor roll student and graduating senior at Gwynn Park High School in Brandywine. He works as hard at school as he does behind the turntables because, “Education is something you can’t take from no one at all,” he said. “Once you learn something, who’s going to take it from you?” From the time Brooks began pursuing his dream of becoming a deejay, his parents made it clear that his education comes ﬁrst. “He always made sure that he did his homework and studies before anything else,” his father, Bernard E. Brooks, Jr., wrote in an email. When he was 12, Brooks gave himself the title “DJ Young Music” because he wanted to create music for young people; which he often does at area high schools as part of the Should Could Dream Tour, with performances and speeches that inspire students to dream big and study hard. “DJ Young Music actually saw the show two years ago and was inspired by it,” wrote Duane Myko, motivational speaker and creator of the tour. “When we crossed paths this year, it was a natural connection, and I thought it would be great for his peers to see him following his dreams.”

PHOTO FROM THE CITY OF BOWIE

An old railroad caboose was removed from the Bowie Railroad Museum on March 23 after being sold to a private buyer. The museum expects to get a newer caboose later this year.

Bowie cuts old caboose loose n

Aging and decaying train car to be replaced with restored caboose

DANIEL LEADERMAN STAFF WRITER

Bowie recently said goodbye to a longtime part of city history: a nearly 100-year-old railroad caboose that spent the past few years at the Bowie Railroad Museum. The 1923 Norfolk and Western caboose was in bad shape and getting worse — the wooden floors were rotting, there were holes in the roof, and portions of the car were no longer safe to be in, said Pamela Williams, the city’s historic properties manager. Restoring the caboose would have cost about $40,000, plus another $10,000 or so to have the caboose moved to and from the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, where the repair work would be done, Williams said. An assessor from the museum suggested Bowie would be better off replacing it, she said. The decision wasn’t an easy one. The caboose, which for many years was located in Allen Pond Park, used to be a target

for vandals and was even set on fire once, Williams said. Nonetheless, many residents have fond memories of the car. In Facebook comments, people described playing in the caboose as children and wrote that a part of their past was leaving Bowie. “It’s a symbolic thing around here. People love the little red caboose,” Williams said. Getting rid of it “was a difficult and wrenching decision for us,” she said. But rather than just sell it for scrap, the city decided to list the caboose on a surplus property website so it might find a new owner, Williams said. A man in Brandywine agreed to pay $1,250 for the caboose last fall, according to the city’s Department of Public Works. The caboose was taken away by truck, and at the new owner’s expense, on March 23, Williams said. “She’ll have another life. That was important to us,” she said. The buyer plans to refurbish the caboose and use it as an office, Williams said. But Bowie will not be caboose-less for long: the city has arranged to get a new, caboose from the museum in Baltimore,

Williams said. The 1975, Chessie-class caboose will be given to the city free of charge, but the city will pay the B&O museum about $50,000 to restore that car, ﬁrst, Williams said. The new caboose — which Williams is calling “Chessie” — should be in place by early September, she said. “Chessie” is a Baltimore & Ohio line caboose, which never ran through Bowie, but Pennsylvania-line cabooses that did run through Bowie are rare and too expensive, Williams said. The new caboose will be placed near the starting point for the Bowie Heritage Trail, a system of trails that will run from Old Town Bowie to Bowie State University, said Joe Meinert, director of the city’s planning department. Construction on the first phase of the trail project is expected to begin in mid-2016, he said. A playground the city plans to construct at the trailhead will also have a railroad theme, Meinert said. “It’s going to be an amenity for the community that doesn’t exist now,” he said. dleaderman@gazette.net

PHOTO BY KEON GREEN

Bernard Brooks, aka DJ Young Music, of Brandywine hopes to inspire teens to chase their dreams after securing a record label with a ﬁlm label and music distribution deal. Brooks wants to open the students’ eyes to the possibility of success, no matter what their age. “The students hear my song on the radio, they see me deejaying, they see all the articles, the TV this and that. But at the end of the day, I’m only a few years older than the majority of them,” he said. “It’s a rude awakening. They think, ‘Wow, he did this, so why can’t I do this right here? Why can’t I become something? Why can’t I be the next CEO or direct this or that?’” Brooks wants students to pursue their chosen passions, but he warns about how tough show business is, especially for those who don’t have industry connections. His uncle, R&B artist Ginuwine, put him on stage at age 12 and later made him his tour deejay. “Everybody else, they don’t get that opportunity,” he said. “You have a lot of kids who want to be rappers, singers, actors. At the end of the day, everybody can’t be LeBron [James], Jay-Z

[or] a football player.” This is why Brooks said he places so much importance on school. “Education is something that you can always fall back on,” he said. Brooks said he juggles his performances for local high school students with his time in the recording studio by having a set mindset. “I’m saying set mindset because, at the end of the day, all I want to do is win and help other people win,” Brooks said. “It’s one of those mindsets where you can’t let yourself down, because you have other people who want to come up with you.” Despite the help he’s gotten and now wants to give to others, Brooks preaches independence. “What I would say to anybody — not just kids, but anybody in PG County — is keep your head forward and never listen to nobody’s opinions but your own,” he said. “Because at the end of the day, you’ll be all by yourself, whatever your industry.”

Bowie community groups help owners recover pets with chip upgrade n

Tiny devices can help owners reunite with lost animals

DANIEL LEADERMAN STAFF WRITER

Two dozen pets from the Bowie area now have a better chance of being reunited with their owners if they are ever lost. The cats and dogs were outﬁtted with special microchips, which contain data such as their owners’ address and contact information, at a Saturday clinic held at the Bowie Lions Club. The effort was sponsored

by the Bowie Citizens for Local Animal Welfare, or CLAW, and the Bowie Lions Club. For $20, owners could have a rice-sized chip injected into the back of their pet’s neck by a veterinarian, said Teresa Ruiz, a volunteer and president with Bowie CLAW. The clinic had 25 microchips available Saturday, and 24 of them were sold and implanted, Ruiz said. “All the animals got along. Everything went smoothly,” she said. Once implanted, the chip lasts for the rest of the animal’s life, she said.

The chip isn’t a tracking device, but contains an identiﬁcation number, which can be scanned and matched against a database of pet owners, said Kristi Mohamed, hospital manager at Crofton Veterinary Center. The Crofton Veterinary Center provided a veterinarian and technician to administer the injections Saturday. Mohamed said microchipping is a good idea even for indoor pets, who might ﬁnd a way to escape. Mohamed said that the center often receives calls from area residents who have found stray

animals and want to bring them in for a microchip scan. The center would then be able to ﬁnd out if the animal belongs to a client in addition to contacting other area veterinarians and attempt to try to match the animal to their clients, she said. “It’s deﬁnitely a good thing,” Mohamed said, adding that the chips can be particularly helpful in the summer season because pets tend to spend more time outdoors. dleaderman@gazette.net

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Teresa Kelley-Baker, president of Bowie CLAW, holds Bailey, a dog outﬁtted Saturday with a personalized mirochip at the Bowie Lions Club.

THE GAZETTE

Page A-4

Thursday, April 2, 2015 bo

Disabled advocates seek funding Seek to restore Hogan’s cuts to support staff pay

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ANNAPOLIS — Hundreds of Marylanders with developmental disabilities, their families and advocates ﬂocked to Annapolis on Wednesday and Thursday asking legislators to provide adequate funds for direct support staff wages, services for thousands on the state’s waiting list and youth transitional support services. Despite funding gains for disability services in the past few years — including a 3.5 percent increase mandated last year to the Developmental Disabilities Administration’s funding for community-based developmental disability services — Cristine Marchand, executive director of The Arc Maryland, said this year’s budget has taken a backward step. The 3.5 percent increase would have ensured wages for support staff would go above minimum wage beginning in June, but Gov. Larry Hogan’s budget cut that increase in half, Marchand said on behalf of The Arc, a statewide advocacy group for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Restoring $9 million for those wages is a top priority, she said. Marchand also said providing services for the more than 8,000 people waiting to receive state services from the Developmental Disabilities Administration — and most importantly for the 125 people on the group’s Crisis Resolution wait list — is another top priority. Marchand and other advocates are proposing a needed $3 million to support those in crisis, who are deﬁned as homeless, a danger to themselves or others, or living with someone unable to provide care. “I want them to do something about the wait list because 8,300 people on the

waiting list is just shameful,” Laura Carr, board member for The Arc Central Chesapeake Region. “I want them to really take a close look at the wages.” Without money to fairly compensate providers, Carr said, it’s impossible to support people with disabilities in the ways they deserve. Mat Rice of Towson specializes in public policy for People on the Go Maryland, a group of advocates with intellectual and developmental challenges. He testified before the state Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health and Human services to show how important his direct support staff is — and therefore their wages. “We know that Maryland is in a fiscal crisis, but we also know that if the revenue is not restored ... we will be in a major community crisis,” said Rice, who has cerebral palsy and is legally blind. Direct support staff should be paid more than minimum wage, Rice said, because it is a valuable job that requires lots of training and skills. Last year’s mandated increase would have raised the wages for direct support staff about 30 percent above the minimum wage — but that boost has since been cut in half. Damon Briggs, who also has cerebral palsy, explained the importance of his direct support staff, helping him shower, eat, brush his teeth, and even act as a friend and mentor. “If you cut their pay, we can’t do the things in society and community that we need to do,” said Briggs, of Silver Spring. “Such as work, such as going to our friend’s house, such as just living a normal life.” But for Fort Washington mother Stephanie Peterson, getting her son off the wait list to receive services will enhance both their lives. Peterson’s 32-year-old son has intellectual and learning disabilities and has been increasingly difficult

to care for. He originally missed the chance to receive services after high school because he had plans to live with his dad in another state. When his plans changed, Peterson said, he went straight to the wait list. Each time she asks for services, she said she is told there is no money. “Families like mine have been champions most of our lives,” Peterson said. “Now we need champions to help us.” The department’s program for transitioning youth services, which serves about 600 students each year once they leave the public school system at age 21, could also see cuts. Mary Ann Kane Breschi of Baltimore County has a daughter with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. With transitional services, Maggie, 23, is now living and working with support staff, and finding purpose and happiness in her life. “We recognize that none of this could be possible if not for the transitional youth funding,” Breschi said. “While Maggie is fortunate, students graduating in June this year might not be if the budget is reduced.” Advocates said they worry about funding for public schools, which provide special programs and specific staff for students with disabilities, as well as discrimination against people with disabilities when it comes to organ donations. Chairman of the subcommittee, Sen. Richard Madaleno Jr. (D-Montgomery) said he appreciated everyone advocating for those with developmental disabilities, but, unfortunately, no one can create money “I think there’s a strong desire to keep the promise that we made in last year’s minimum wage bill,” he said. “The governor is seeking to get out of the mandate, [but] we can reject that and keep it in place. We have to find money elsewhere to fund it, but it gives us some options.”

BILL RYAN/THE GAZETTE

Perrywood fifth-graders Johnathan Batts, Aisosa Aimufua and Khamari Shortt won their round of the elementary school Science Bowl semifinals, but lost to eventual champion University Park in the finals on Tuesday at the Bonnie F. Johns Educational Media Center in Landover.

Perrywood Elementary falls in Science Bowl championship University Park captures sixth title n

BY JAMIE ANFENSON-COMEAU STAFF WRITER

University Park reclaimed its title as the winningest elementary school in Science Bowl history with a 285-165 win Tuesday over Perrywood Elementary School of Largo in the championship finals. “This is awesome!” said University Park team captain Gabi Holzer, 11, after she and her teammates were awarded their championship plaques. Science Bowl, now concluding its 29th season, is a “Jeopardy!”-style game show that pits Prince George’s County Public Schools against each other in answering a variety of science questions worth five to 25 points. Science Bowl is filmed at the Bonnie F. Johns Educational Media Center in Landover.

The win is University Park’s sixth win in Science Bowl history, but team coach Geoff Favero said his team, comprised of sixth-graders Gabi, Margo Motsuk, 12, and Orla Collins, 11, deserve the credit. Perrywood, whose team was comprised of fifth-graders Aisosa Aimufua, 11, Jaelen Betts, 11, and Anissa Shrestha, 11, all of Upper Marlboro, made its first appearance ever in the Science Bowl finals, said host David Zahren. Perrywood made a comeback in the second half, however, when Aisosa answered high-point questions, correctly identifying the bladderwort as an omnivorous plant, decorative plants as ornamentals and pheromones as “love hormones” to close to within 40 points of University Park’s lead. “I was getting nervous,” Margo said of the Perrywood team. “They were very, very good.” University Park came back with several high-point answers on questions to win.

Earlier in the day, Perrywood, with Aisosa, Khamari Shortt, 11, and Johnathan Batts, 11, won 205 to 160 against Bond Mill Elementary of Laurel in the semifinals. Bond Mill’s team, comprised of fifth-graders Joshua Webb, 10, Michael Stroud, 11, and Braxton Harsley, took an early lead, answering questions about friction and Celiac Disease, before Perrywood took the lead and exploded in the second half. Bond Mill later recovered, but failed to retake Perrywood’s lead. “They did really well, and I’m very proud of them,” said Perrywood coach Angela Henson. “Just to have gotten this far is an achievement.” In the semifinals, University Park scored a 345-130 win against Kenilworth Elementary of Bowie, whose team featured fifth-graders Jack Danks, 10, Nicole Rottmann, 11 and Marcus Thomas, 10, all of Bowie. janfenson-comeau@ gazette.net

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POLICE BLOTTER This activity report is provided by the Prince George’s County Police Department as a public service to the community and is not a complete listing of all events and crime reported.

District 2 Headquarters, Bowie, 301-3902100 Glenn Dale, Kettering, Lanham, Largo, Seabrook, Woodmore, Lake Arbor, Mitchellville and Upper Marlboro.

MARCH 23 Theft, 9400 block Largo Drive

W, 7:22 a.m.

Vehicle stolen and recovered,

900 block Pleasant Hill Lane, 12:27 p.m. Theft, 1000 block Largo Center Drive, 1:25 p.m. Theft from vehicle, 15500 block Norge Court, 3:42 p.m. Vehicle stolen, 7700 block Hanover Pky, 4:37 p.m.

MARCH 24 Residential break-in, 5500 block Ellerbie St.., 1:24 a.m. Theft, 4000 block Cordell Court, 9:52 a.m. Theft from vehicle, 4800 block Brown Station Road, 10:12 a.m. Theft, 9500 block Washington Blvd., 11:52 a.m. Theft from vehicle, 1200 block Capital Center Blvd., 11:55 a.m. Theft from vehicle, 9600 block Lottsford Court, 12:01 p.m. Theft from vehicle, 1200 block Capital Center Blvd., 12:58 p.m. Theft, 300 block Largo Road, 4:46 p.m. Residential break-in, 2200 block St.. Josephs Drive, 7:40 p.m. Theft, 1000 block Lake Shore Drive, 8:22 p.m. Theft, 3300 block Asher St.., 9:34 p.m.

Seasons Way, 5:40 p.m.

MARCH 29 Vehicle stolen, 14200 block Dormansville Blvd., 7:51 a.m. Theft from vehicle, 12300 block Annapolis Road, 9:43 a.m. Theft from vehicle, 3500 block Enterprise Road, 9:49 a.m. Theft from vehicle, 4700 block Boston Way, 10:24 a.m.

Theft, 10000 block Ardwick Ardmore Road, 11:28 a.m. Theft, 600 block Watkins Park Drive, 12:03 p.m. Theft, 16300 block Heritage Blvd., 12:16 p.m. Residential break-in, unit block of Harry S Truman Drive, 4:06 p.m. Residential break-in, 9300 block Wellington St.., 4:16 p.m. Vehicle stolen, 8600 block Greenbelt Road, 4:43 p.m. Residential break-in, 7200 block Lost Spring Court, 6:55 p.m. Theft from vehicle, 7000 block Hanover Pky, 11:06 p.m.

For additional police blotters, visit www.gazette.net Maxwell Drive, 2:10 a.m. Robbery, 700 block Audrey Lane, 4:12 a.m. Theft from vehicle, 1900 block Taylor Ave., 5:37 a.m. Theft from vehicle, 5000 block Auth Road, 10:46 a.m.

Robbery on commercial property, 6100 block Oxon Hill Road,

11:04 a.m. Theft, 4200 block Silver Hill Road, 11:18 a.m. Theft, 6800 block Oxon Hill Road, 12:19 p.m. Vehicle stolen, 4800 block Wheeler Road, 6:04 p.m. Residential break-in, 5000 block Wilkins Drive, 9:01 p.m.

8:54 a.m.

MARCH 24 Vehicle stolen, 4400 block Rena Road, 5:46 a.m. Theft from vehicle, 3200 block Branch Ave., 6:04 a.m. Theft, 2600 block Southern Ave., 7:25 a.m. Theft, 1300 block Southview Drive, 9:40 a.m. Theft from vehicle, 17800 block Singh Court, 10:28 a.m. Theft from vehicle, 2600 block Southern Ave., 11:06 a.m. Theft, 5000 block Silver Court, 11:21 a.m. Assault, 2300 block Iverson St.., 3:00 p.m. Robbery on commercial property, 7000 block Allentown Road,

6:37 p.m.

MARCH 25 Commercial property break-

in,

5100 block Henderson Road,

Headquarters, Oxon Hill, 301-749-4900. Temple Hills, Hillcrest Heights, Camp Springs, Suitland, Morningside, Oxon Hill, Fort Washington, Forest Heights, Friendly, Accokeek and Windbrook (subdivision in Clinton).

MARCH 23 3600 block Branch Ave., 1:04 a.m. Vehicle stolen, 6200 block Theft,

Vehicle stolen, 11200 block Hannah Way, 9:00 a.m. Theft, 13400 block Yorktown Drive, 11:13 a.m. Theft from vehicle, 13000 block 6th St.., 1:00 p.m. Assault, 15800 block Palai Turn, 8:36 p.m. Vehicle stolen, 3800 block Meadowhill Road, 8:43 p.m.

MARCH 26 Theft from vehicle, 10600 block Elizabeth Parnum Place, 5:10 a.m. Theft from vehicle, 900 block Pine Forest Lane, 6:34 a.m. Theft from vehicle, 1900 block Barrington Court, 7:37 a.m. Theft, 700 block Harry S Truman Drive, 8:12 a.m.

Theft from vehicle, 9300 block Rolling View Drive, 11:10 a.m. Theft, 15600 block Annapolis Road, 2:58 p.m. Theft, 6800 block 97th Place, 4:34 p.m. Theft, 15500 block Emerald Way, 4:51 p.m. Residential break-in, 15100 block Mount Oak Road, 5:42 p.m. Vehicle stolen, 14100 block Farnsworth Lane, 8:07 p.m. Theft from vehicle, 9600 block Lottsford Court, 9:43 p.m. Theft, 1800 block Mccormick Drive, 10:10 p.m. Theft, 5400 block Ellerbie St.., 10:13 p.m.

MARCH 27 Vehicle stolen and recovered,

8200 block Grey Eagle Drive, 4:55 a.m. Theft from vehicle, 5000 block Brown Station Road, 6:54 a.m. Theft, 11400 block Abbotswood Court, 12:45 p.m. Theft from vehicle, 1000 block Pembridge Court, 2:19 p.m. Theft from vehicle, 4700 block Copley Lane, 3:22 p.m. Robbery, 10400 block Storch Turn, 3:58 p.m. Theft, 100 block Graiden St.., 6:13 p.m. Residential break-in, 200 block Harry S Truman Drive, 9:22 p.m. Assault, 15000 block Health Center Drive, 10:10 p.m.

MARCH 28

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3600 block Copperville Way, 9:07 a.m. Theft, 3400 block Branch Ave., 10:25 a.m. Theft from vehicle, 3500 block Silver Park Drive, 11:28 a.m. Residential break-in, 3300 block Huntley Square Drive, 12:15 p.m. Theft, 15700 block Livingston Road, 2:13 p.m. Theft from vehicle, 9300 block Friar Road, 5:49 p.m. Vehicle stolen,

MARCH 26 Vehicle stolen, 8600 block

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Botley Drive, 6:28 a.m. Theft from vehicle, 5000 block Mercedes Blvd., 7:43 a.m. Residential break-in, 3100 block Brinkley Station Drive, 11:33 a.m. Theft, 5100 block Indian Head Highway, 12:42 p.m. Vehicle stolen, 1800 block Aragona Blvd., 12:49 p.m. Theft, 6800 block Oxon Hill Road, 1:40 p.m. Theft from vehicle, 5000 block Mercedes Blvd., 3:01 p.m. Theft, 6200 block Oxon Hill Road, 4:18 p.m. Residential break-in, 7000 block Leyte Drive, 5:13 p.m.

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Theft, 4500 block Mitchellville Road, 9:12 a.m. Theft, 12500 block Brooke Lane, 11:01 a.m. Theft, 5400 block Whitﬁeld Chapel Road, 11:39 a.m. Theft from vehicle, 4500 block Lords Landing Road, 11:55 a.m. Theft from vehicle, 15000 block Marlboro Pike, 1:46 p.m. Residential break-in, 200 block Harry S Truman Drive, 3:40 p.m. Theft from vehicle, 8500 block

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Thursday, April 2, 2015 bo

Expo comes to Bowie The fifth annual Bowie Green Expo is coming to the city April 11, and residents will have a chance to learn how to live a greener and more sustainable life. Exhibitors will be on hand to demonstrate green living, and visitors will be able to see wild animals and electric vehicles. There will also be a poster contest for Bowie students from grades pre-K to 12 with a theme of “Making Bowie a Green City.” Entries must be on 14-inch by 22-inch poster board, and can employ any medium or combination, such as markers, crayons, paint, ink or watercolors, but collages, glued art,

printed pictures or computer art are not allowed. Entries must be submitted at the Kenhill Center between 3 and 8 p.m. on April 9. Entries will be judged April 10, and the winners will be announced at the Expo. Full rules and an application can be found at www.bowiegreenexpo.org. The Expo will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kenhill Center at 2614 Kenhill Drive. Those seeking more information can call Kristin Larson, the city’s sustainability planner, at 301-8093044. — DANIEL LEADERMAN

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(From left) Bryant Cruz of Lanham, Gov. Larry Hogan (R), MGM Resorts International Chair and CEO Jim Murren and Janie Oliver of Upper Marlboro use an air horn to signal a crane operator at a March 25 ceremony celebrating the construction of the MGM National Harbor resort and casino in National Harbor. Cruz and Oliver are part of the construction team.

CASINO

Continued from Page A-1 tectural and engineering portion of the project by the end of 2014, but fell short of its participation goal for the construction and development portion of the project. Neither Absher nor county officials would say March 25 whether the project was meeting its goal to have 20 percent of the construction workforce be made up of county residents. That information should be provided to a committee overseeing the casino’s agreement with the county after the end of the ﬁrst quarter of 2015, said Roland Jones, director of the county’s Ofﬁce of Central Services and chair of the compliance committee. MGM is required to report information about local business participation and local hiring every quarter, Jones said. If the committee deems that MGM has not made its “best efforts” to meet the hiring goals, it could ultimately require MGM to make a punitive contribution

to the Community Foundation of Prince George’s County, according to the written agreement between the county and MGM. County Councilman Obie Patterson (D-Dist. 8) of Fort Washington, whose district includes National Harbor, said the council will review data about local hiring for the project at a meeting in late April. While hiring practices soon could attract the County Council’s attention, the celebration event drew both county and state officials, including Gov. Larry Hogan (R) and Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D). Guests were asked to sign commemorative poker-chip-style discs, which were then dumped by crane into a concrete pillar that will become part of the resort’s permanent structure. The $1.2 billion resort will include a 300-room luxury hotel, 3,600 slot machines and 160 table games, a 3,000-seat theater, and high-end stores and restaurants. It’s expected to open in the second half of 2016, according to MGM. Janie Oliver of Upper Marlboro, who has been working at the MGM site for about three months, said she’s excited to be working on a building that her three-year-old grandson will be able to see and recognize. “He can say ‘my grandmother had a part in this,’” said Oliver, an electrician with one of the local companies working on the project, the Beltsville-based J.E. Richards Electric. “I think that’s awesome,” she said. dleaderman@gazette.net

RATING

Continued from Page A-1

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the state. City officials are not expecting to increase the tax rate in the fiscal 2016 budget, a draft of which will be released in early April, Deutsch said. Bowie’s unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in December 2014, below the state and national average, and the city also “has a history of actual results outperforming budgeted estimates” regarding its expenditures, Fitch analysts wrote. Bowie has also received a “AAA” rating from the other credit rating agencies, Standard and Poor’s and Moody’s. “This rating not only reaffirms to investors that our bonds are extremely safe investment,” Bowie Mayor G. Frederick Robinson said in a statement. “It demonstrates to residents, business owners and others that Bowie is a very well-run city.” dleaderman@gazette.net

THE GAZETTE

Thursday, April 2, 2015 bo

DRILLS

Continued from Page A-1

DANIEL LEADERMAN/THE GAZETTE

A firefighter, seen through a special heat-sensitive camera that can “see” in dark and smoky conditions, carries a firehose through a room filled with thick fog as part of a March 25 training exercise at a vacant building in Bowie.

PLAN

Continued from Page A-1 To fund the increase, County Executive Rushern L. Baker III has proposed raising property taxes by 15 percent, and to raise the telecommunications tax from 8 to 12 percent. His budget is in the hands of the County Council, which must approve a budget by June 1. “This is the end of a nearly two-year process, thousands of hours of research, discussion, reﬂection, designing and planning by over 100 subject matter experts at the school and central ofﬁce level,” Maxwell said. Maxwell pointed to last year’s 2.6 percentage point increase in the county gradua-

CALENDAR

Continued from Page A-1 will not need to make up two of the seven days school was canceled due to inclement weather. Johnson previously said the school system would not apply for a waiver, as no state of emer-

“These are situations we could run in to on any day of the week and at any time of day,” Brady said. Firefighters crawl or walk in a crouch as they enter a room so they can see more clearly through the rising smoke. Some touch metal poles with hooks on the end to the wall so they can keep their bearings, then reach around in the darkness using the wall as a sort of anchor. That’s how firefighters search an active fire for trapped occupants, said Lt. Kris De Mattia of Station 801 in Hyattsville, one of several companies that participated in the March 25 exercise. But not everyone is sightless: some firefighters who aren’t responsible for hoses or other equipment use special heatsensitive cameras that can “see”

Page A-7

through the smoke or fog. On the display screen, warmer surfaces register as whitish in color while cooler surfaces register as blackish, so in the fog-filled bank building the firefighters look like photo-negative images of themselves as they walk around in the blackness. In a real fire, however, the hot smoke would look white and the firefighters, being cooler than the air around them, would look black, said fire department Technician Christine Burley. The firefighters ran through

several versions of the simulated house fire; they practiced guiding the thick fire hose up stairs and around corners. Each time, the victims and the “fire,” simulated by a flashlight, were in different locations. There are key differences between the exercise and a real fire, namely heat, adrenaline and anxiety, said Burley. But the shopping center has provided firefighters with the best training opportunity they’ve had in her 13 years with the department, she said.

When the center is torn down, ﬁreﬁghters won’t have a comparable space in which to train and other sites have not yet been lined up, Brady said. The shopping center, which once housed a Safeway, but has been in decline for years, will be rebuilt after its demolition. The new center, to be anchored by a Harris Teeter grocery store, is expected to open mid-2016, according to Berman Enterprises, which owns the property. dleaderman@gazette.net

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tion rate from 74.1 to 76.6, the highest in at least ﬁve years, as evidence the county can make consistent, measured progress toward its goals. The state’s four-year graduation rate is 86.4 percent. “If we continue to grow at that rate, we should reach our goal in ﬁve years,” Maxwell said. Shawn Joseph, deputy superintendent for teaching and learning, said the school system would report regularly to the public on what progress was being made. “We will submit a formal report on our progress towards the 2020 goals, our lead indicators at the end of each year and will summarize the work of our strategy teams as we move forward,” Joseph said.

“We need to decide whether we are going to take this opportunity to move towards greatness ... or whether or not we will settle for being good, but not great,” said school board chairman Segun Eubanks. Upper Marlboro resident Tonya Wingfield said that in her experience, a strategic plan should have been released before the budget, which was approved by the board Feb. 24. “This seems to be backwards,” Wingfield said. “Approving a budget and then scrambling to build a strategic plan to support that budget in any business environment is a formula for failure.” janfenson-comeau@ gazette.net

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gency had been declared. “Ultimately, we did apply for a waiver as our total count for inclement weather closures climbed to seven days,” Johnson said. The school calendar has four inclement weather makeup days already built in: June 18, 19, 22 and 23. Johnson conﬁrmed the

last day of school for students will be June 23. School will dismiss two hours early on June 22 and June 23. The last day for teachers will be June 24. The revised school calendar can be viewed online.

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Gazette-Star OUROPINION

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FILE PHOTO

Debate continues over the funding of stormwater management projects aimed at reducing pollutants in the Chesapeake Bay (shown here).

Even without ‘rain tax,’ goals still must be met

When now-Gov. Larry Hogan was running for ofﬁce, one of his key talking points was a desire to repeal legislation passed in 2012 that called for a mandated state stormwater management fee that become known as the “rain tax,” a term Hogan himself labeled as “universally despised.” “Dealing with the problem of stormwater management, working to restore our most treasured asset, the Chesapeake Bay, is a goal that we all agree on, but repealing the rain tax has nothing to do with our commitment to the bay or our desire to control stormwater management. It has everything to do with my belief and the overwhelming majority of Marylanders’ belief that the state should not be forcing counties to raise taxes on their citizens against their will,” Hogan said. The legislation was part of the effort to adhere to an order from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that requires states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed to reduce the amount of pollutants they contribute to the estuary. The law mandated the state’s largest jurisdictions — those with populations large enough to require a pollutant discharge elimination permit from the EPA — to fund stormwater management projects through remediation fees. We know much of the damage to the bay can be reversed. It involves reducing the pollutants that enter the water. The bill provided for calculating the fee based on a property’s amount of “impervious surface” — such as parking lots and driveways, which increase runoff by preventing rainwater from soaking into the ground. Making good on a campaign promise, Hogan announced in early February he would seek to repeal the “rain tax.” And then a few weeks after that, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. introduced legislation that would repeal the mandate and allow the nine counties and Baltimore, the mandated jurisdictions, to come up with their own way to pay for their stormwater programs. Miller acknowledged that the “rain tax” has been a very contentious issue. “At the state level, it isn’t necessary that we mandate how a local government meets those obligations,” he said. “Instead this proposal requires that local governments demonstrate their plans for meeting the federal requirements. This legislation maintains ﬂexibility for county governments while still ensuring that they can meet their obligations to protect and clean up the bay. This local control allows counties to determine which solutions work best for their communities to pay for these important projects.” Sponsored by nearly three dozen senators, the bill passed late last month. It now awaits the House of Delegates’ approval. Del. Sally Jameson warned that lawmakers need to make sure local jurisdictions realize that just because the mandate might be lifted, the EPA’s requirements would not be. Her concern was that people might think that because the regulations have been repealed it’s over and done with. That is not the case. “There will come a day when every county will have to meet its mandate from the federal government. I know if this bill moves forward that everybody will be extremely happy, but they have to understand that eventually we have to hit that deadline for improvement,” she said. For now, lawmakers in the Senate can call it a victory; Hogan can boast that his opposition to the legislation forced some action and he was able to dismantle something his predecessor Martin O’Malley had put in place, but in the end someone is still going to have to pay the bill. The stigma of the “rain tax” has been taken away, but has anything really changed? Whether it’s called a tax or a fee, the mandate from the federal government remains, and many Prince Georgians will have to pay one way or the other.

Vanessa Harrington, Senior Editor Jeffrey Lyles, Managing Editor Glen C. Cullen, Senior Editor Copy/Design Will C. Franklin, A&E Editor

Page A-9

LETTERS TOT HE EDITOR

Through acquisition, Pepco can improve like BGE did

Gazette-Star

Thursday, April 2, 2015

There’s been a lot of discussion about what the merger of Pepco Holdings and Exelon will mean. Residents and elected officials are naturally wondering whether they will end up better off if the deal goes through. We have a lot of experience with that in Baltimore. In 2012, Exelon acquired Constellation and its Baltimore-based utility, Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE). More than three years later, Exelon has an established track record here, and based on that, we can offer some insight on how this transaction is likely to play out. Exelon comes with tremendous financial strength and strong management with proven results. Since introducing its best practices and management model to BGE, it is a much more efficient, safe and reliable public utility. That’s based upon recent utility industry peer reviews, which show BGE is performing at the highest level for reliability in its history. Another compelling fact is how Exelon has changed BGE’s culture toward supplier diversity, which includes spending real dollars with women, minority and service disabled veteran-owned businesses. As an advocate for such enabling relationships, I have witnessed firsthand the mass culture change at BGE. Prior to the acquisition, BGE did little to spend money with deserving disadvantaged companies. Sure, its leadership was composed of great minds and its board represented the Greater Baltimore region’s who’s who. But its culture was risk averse to growing supplier diversity. Its present CEO, Calvin Butler, an African-American, came to Maryland with a plan to improve

BGE’s safety, customer satisfaction, reliability and supplier diversity because he knows they all intertwine. Butler created a new program to improve supplier diversity, known as Focus-25, with the intention of recruiting diverse suppliers to educate them on BGE’s core values of safety, customer satisfaction and reliability. He also wants them to understand how to properly formulate bid proposals that can compete with ﬁrst-tier contractors that maintain present oligopolies with most of the utilities in America, including BGE. Butler’s vision is Exelon’s vision that will extend to Pepco Holdings Inc. It’s no secret that Pepco needs to improve its reliability immediately. This is the Exelon that I have come to know. Exelon has made great strides improving reliability, customer satisfaction, utility power safety and doing business with a segment of our population that has been discriminated upon for no other good reason but cultural hangups of the past. I, for one, support the acquisition of Pepco Holdings Inc. by Exelon because I have seen what it has done in Baltimore. Exelon has shown to date in the Greater Baltimore region that change is good even when it transcends from one monopoly to a much larger monopoly because it’s the only way public utilities will trade. Now, let’s brace ourselves for greater efﬁciency and better-run utilities, which is something we all can agree upon.

Wayne R. Frazier Sr., Baltimore The writer is president of the Md. Washington Minority Companies Association.

A letter to the editor by the CEOs of the Montgomery and Prince George’s Chambers of Commerce suggest that a merger between PEPCO and Exelon would benefit local residents and ratepayers. They claim that PEPCO customers will realize savings of $22 million annually but do not mention that PEPCO stockholders are likely to receive $1.6 billion during the merger or that PEPCO customers will now be part of a larger company with many financially poor performing coal and nuclear power plants. They also make the argument that the merger will make electric service more reliable for both counties but do not explain convincingly how this will happen. What PEPCO customers should understand is that Exelon, the large Chicago-based company, generates power by burning coal or using nuclear fuel. If you believe solar and wind power should be an important part of Maryland’s energy future, then you will find a stiff opponent in Exelon, which views distributive renewable energy in the form of rooftop solar on people’s homes as a direct threat to its business model. It has a history of opposing community and home solar in Maryland, Illinois and other places where it is now an electricity provider. Since merging with Constellation/BGE, Exelon has opposed solar legislation in the Maryland General Assembly. Residents of Prince George’s and Montgomery counties who want solar and other renewables to be an important part of the state’s energy generation should reject this merger. We believe that Maryland and the District of Columbia need to retain PEPCO as a 21st Century power utility that aggressively reduces demand through a plethora of energy conservation and efficiency programs, and works with residents and local businesses to supply a substantial portion of its service territory’s power demand through distributive renewable energy.

David Brosch, University Park Brosch is president of the University Park Community Solar LLC.

Clarifying concerns related to feral cats I read with great interest “Feral cat colonies: ‘Very negative and dangerous’” (March 12) and would like to clarify a few aspects of trap, neuter and return programs, and some of the potential health risks feral cats may pose to people. In general, feral cats have had little or no contact with people and survive outdoors on their own. Trained and dedicated volunteers with local animal welfare organizations provide compassionate care to these animals, ensuring they are fed and sheltered against the elements. Ultimately, the cats are trapped humanely, screened for certain diseases, immunized against rabies, surgically sterilized, and returned to their environment with an ear notched, indicating they have been neutered. The goal is to reduce future feral populations humanely through attrition. Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease (passed between animals and humans) caused by the single-celled, microscopic, protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) that has been found in nearly all warm-blooded animals including pets and humans. Cats, both domestic and wild, are the only deﬁnitive hosts, meaning the parasite can only produce eggs (oocysts) when infecting a cat. Infected cats only shed oocysts in their feces for about 10 to 14 days during their entire life. The only way to become infected with T. gondii is to ingest it. Most animal and human infections in the developing world result from contact with oocyst-contaminated soil. In the United States and other industrialized nations, people are much more likely to become infected with T. gondii through eating undercooked meat (particularly lamb, pork and venison) in which the parasite has encysted in muscle, eating unwashed fruits and vegetables, drinking unpasteurized dairy products such as goat’s milk, or gardening without wearing gloves and then touching their mouth. The two human populations at greatest risk of developing serious health problems from T.gondii infection are pregnant women and those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy (organ transplantation, cancer) or with immunosuppressive diseases such as HIV. Because the parasite can be transmitted to an unborn child

FILE PHOTO

A feral cat rests under a pine tree as volunteers nearby take part in a trap, neuter and return effort. resulting in serious health consequences, pregnant women, or women soon considering pregnancy, should follow strict food safety guidelines and, if they own a cat, have someone else in the household scoop the litterbox daily (oocysts do not become infective until one to ﬁve days after being shed in feces) and clean it daily with dilute bleach and boiling water. Cat-scratch fever (Bartonellosis) is a bacterial disease caused by a scratch or bite from a cat, particularly kittens, harboring the bacteria Bartonella henselae. It causes fever, headache, sore muscles and joints, and swollen lymph nodes around the neck and arms. Most cases in the United States occur in children. Hence, children should be discouraged from engaging in rough play behavior with kittens and cats. Rabies is a viral disease that can infect all warm-blooded mammals. The most common mode of transmission is through saliva from a bite wound from an infected skunk, raccoon, fox, coyote and some species of bats. The virus infects the central nervous system (spinal cord and brain) and, if undiagnosed and untreated, is fatal. Any domestic or wild animal behaving oddly or aggressively should be avoided, and local animal control contacted immediately. All cats and dogs (and ferrets)

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

Exelon deal is an opportunity for whom?

Dennis Wilston, Corporate Advertising Director Chauka Reid, Advertising Manager Mona Bass, Inside Classiﬁeds Director Cathy Kim, Director of Marketing

Anna Joyce, Creative Director, Special Pubs/Internet Ellen Pankake, Director of Creative Services Leah Arnold, Information Technology Manager David Varndell, Digital Media Manager

should be immunized against rabies and receive booster vaccines as recommended by a veterinarian. People can protect themselves against these and other diseases through education and exercising safe handling and reasonable precautions around all domestic, feral and wild animals.

Jim Murphy, Bowie Murphy is a veterinarian.

Send your letters Share your thoughts on Prince George’s topics. All letters are subject to editing. Letters must include the writer’s ﬁrst and last name, address and telephone number. The phone number will not be published; it is for veriﬁcation purposes only. We do not run anonymous letters. Letters selected may be shortened for space reasons. Send letters to: Editor, The Gazette, 13501 Konterra Drive, Laurel, MD 20707. E-mail them to princegeorges@gazette.net.

POST COMMUNITY MEDIA Karen Acton, Chief Executive Ofﬁcer Michael T. McIntyre, Controller Donna Johnson, Vice President of Human Resources Maxine Minar, President, Comprint Military

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Thursday, April 2, 2015 bo

SPORTS

GAMES GAZETTE.NET IS STAFFING

Largo senior, Roosevelt junior lead All-Gazette basketball teams. B-2

Posted online by 8 a.m. the following day.

TRACK: Largo Invitational, 4 p.m. Thursday. Event moved to a weekday because of the holiday weekend. Khaalea Collins and her Surrattsville teammates are scheduled to participate in a ﬁeld of 30 teams.

BOWIE | LARGO | UPPER MARLBORO | CLINTON

BASEBALL: Flowers at Wise, 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

www.gazette.net | Thursday, April 2, 2015 | Page B-1

County close to starting lacrosse Within two years, lacrosse should be a varsity sport at Prince George’s County high schools. It could happen as early as next year. Conventional wisdom says that county schools will struggle when they have to play some of the state powerhouses, where KEN SAIN lacrosse is the SPORTS EDITOR No. 1 sport. “We know there are many programs out there where kids are born with a stick in their hands,” said Alex Heitkemper, who was the commissioner of the PG Pride youth lacrosse league until 2014. “Still, I think the county could be competitive pretty quickly.” The reason for that optimism comes from the growth seen in the past few years in the youth leagues. There are about 500 boys and girls under the age of 15 playing lacrosse this spring between the county’s two youth leagues, PG Pride and the Bowie Bulldogs. Four years ago, there were about 100 in those two organizations. They’re not just playing, they’re winning. The Pride’s U-9 and U-11 boys teams both won their league titles last year. That league includes teams from Calvert County, considered a lacrosse hotbed. A Bowie girls team won a league that includes teams from another of the sports’ stronghold, Anne Arundel, Bowie Commissioner Rod Lagdameo said. Former Gazette photographer Raphael Talisman is the coach of the Pride’s U-15 boys team. “As my old college coach used to tell me, give me a great athlete and I can teach him stick skills,” Talisman said. “When it comes to great athletes, Prince George’s is second to none.” Lacrosse is currently a high school club sport, with 12 schools fielding teams. The five boys teams are at Bowie, Gwynn Park, Oxon Hill, Eleanor Roosevelt and Wise. The seven girls teams are at Bowie, DuVal, Flowers, Northwestern, Oxon Hill, Eleanor Roosevelt and Wise. Other schools, such as Douglass and Friendly, are close to fielding teams. Prince George’s County Public Schools Director of Interscholastic Athletics Earl Hawkins said no decision has been made on when the sport would made the jump to varsity. Next step is making sure the money is in the budget to fund it, and the budget won’t be finalized until this summer. Nicholas Maclin is one of the player’s on Talisman’s U-15 Pride team. He said he plans to attend either Oxon Hill or a private school in Virginia next fall. He said he started playing lacrosse at a private school in Calvert County. “The coach told me that if I could get five ground balls a quarter, then I could stay on the field as long as I wanted to,” Maclin said. “What did I do? I got five ground balls a quarter.” Maclin said he loves the physical nature of the sport. “I get to beat people with a stick,” he said. Oxon Hill having a team in place is what motivated his teammate, Ian Thomas, to hit the books. Thomas said he lives in Friendly’s district in Fort Washington, but because he wanted to play in high school he worked hard to get admitted to Oxon Hill’s Science and Technology program, which he did. He is scheduled to be a freshman there next fall. Can county teams compete with the state’s best? “I feel that we have the heart, but we’re not quite there yet,” Thomas said. “We need more skills.” That day is coming, and it may not be as far off as some might think, said the current commissioner of PG Pride, Justin Ross (a former state delegate). “To all those other counties, consider what you’ve done so far a head start,” Ross said. “Because we’re coming for you.” ksain@gazette.net

Capitol Heights boxer wins world title Russell Jr. back to work after winning WBC featherweight belt n

BY TERRON HAMPTON SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

At 7:30 p.m. Tuesday evening at The Answer Gym in Capitol Heights, activity permeates with young boxers sparring inside the ring while others work out in the adjacent space.

Ninety minutes later, the gym’s newest champion walks indiscreetly to work. With the stoic attitude Capitol Heights native Gary Russell Jr. often carries, one would be hard-pressed to know that the 26-year-old had just won the World Boxing Council’s featherweight (126 pounds) title less only three days prior. “The last 72 hours have been normal,” Russell said. “Just another day’s

work in the gym, another ﬁght out of the way. Just back at the gym. Nothing’s changed. Nothing.” Saturday night at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Russell made winning a title look easy. In the biggest ﬁght, Russell (26-1, 15 knockouts) had little trouble dismantling reigning WBC champion Jhonny Gonzalez (57-8, 48 KOs) via technical knockout at the 2 minute, 23 second mark of the fourth round.

The victory was a redemption of sorts for a boxer who had endured a massive disappointment in a title match nine months prior and what he speaks as his career disappointment nearly seven years prior at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. “It was a never goal of mine to become a world champion,” Russell said. “I wanted to be an Olympian. I accom-

See BOXER, Page B-2

Fighters compete for state titles This weekend’s winners advance to Golden Gloves regionals n

PRINCE J. GRIMES STAFF WRITER

DAN GROSS/THE GAZETTE

Frederick Douglass High School’s Devin Butler practices the triple jump on Tuesday

Jumping

from one title to another Junior has had great success in high school athletics

ADAM GUTEKUNST STAFF WRITER

By Devin Butler’s sophomore year at Frederick Douglass High School, the Eagles’ quarterback had already experienced more success than most athletes accomplish in four years after leading the Upper Marlboro school to an appearance in the 2A state championship football game as a freshman. Branching out to different sports wasn’t really in the plans, Butler said. Especially not track, the sport Butler used to watch from afar, assuring himself he’d never run that much. But Douglass track coach Kori Green was watching Butler, too, marveling at the quarterback’s raw athleticism and realizing what an asset he could be on the Eagles track team. So, through some persuasion that included using Butler’s girlfriend — a track athlete — as an in-

termediary, Green finally landed a commitment. “I was like, ‘What can happen? I’m only going to get faster,’” Butler said. “I [needed] it.” But, while Butler increased his speed because of Devin Butler his track training, it was evident from the start to Green that running wasn’t where the Eagles’ quarterback was going to make his mark. “We had him in the 100 [meters] and we tried him in the triple jump,” Green said. “We stuck him in the triple jump and the long jump and we saw he had potential in both.” Though Butler made substantial progress throughout the 2013-14 indoor season, it wasn’t until the indoor county championships — the last event of the indoor season where jumps are an of-

ﬁcial event — that the track newcomer put the state of Maryland on notice. The night before the meet, Green informed Butler that he would be competing for the ﬁrst time in the triple jump the next day. The Eagles needed the sophomore to jump 35 feet in an event he barely knew anything about. “I didn’t get it,” Butler said. “I was like, ‘What is triple jump?’ I didn’t know what it was.” The next day, Butler posted a 41foot jump, good for the top mark in the county. Instantly, he was hooked. “I was like, ‘Maybe I’m good at this. Maybe I don’t have to keep running as much as they do in practice,’” Butler said. “I found my calling. So that’s when I really fell in love with it and just wanted to be better at it.” And better, he became. The thensophomore followed up his indoor performance with a state gold medal in the triple jump and a silver medal in the long jump last spring, just months after

See JUMPING, Page B-2

The Washington Golden Gloves championship finals are scheduled to take place on Saturday at Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington and features a number of boxers from Prince George’s County in the open and novice divisions. Perhaps the most recognizable name of the fighters to compete for titles is Gary Antaunne Russell, the 2014 open division 132-pound national Golden Gloves champion. Russell, whose brother Gary Russell Jr. won the WBC featherweight title on Saturday, will be fighting at 141 pounds this year. Each Washington Golden Gloves champion advances to the region championships scheduled for April 25, where they will fight against Virginia/ North Carolina Golden Gloves champions for a shot at reaching the National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions. “For me, this fight means a couple of things,” said Paul Jerry of Clinton, who will be competing for the 123-pound championship on Saturday. “We’re allowed to showcase our outreach organization and show them that we’re putting down the guns and picking up the gloves. But also the fact that I do it in honor of my mom who I lost to breast cancer.” Jerry lost to the U.S. No. 1-ranked 114-pounder Malik Jackson in last year’s title match. He said he’s more prepared this year. “It means a lot because the D.C.-Maryland championships meaning you’re the best boxer in the D.C.-Maryland region,” Jerry said. “It means a lot to be able to show them that hard work pays off. No playing no games. If you’re keeping your mind focus and you stay persistent, dreams are possible.” Jerry’s coach and guardian, Anthony Eric Murrill, said competing for this title, for all of the

See FIGHTERS, Page B-2

PGCC basketball coach resigning Largo High grad set to move from junior college to AAU ranks

KENT ZAKOUR STAFF WRITER

Since Xavier Joyner was a junior at Largo High School over two decades ago, he said he has wanted to coach basketball. And recently, the 41-year-old coach’s career path received a boost. On May 1, Joyner ofﬁcially will leave the men’s junior college ranks at Prince George’s Community College to join Nike-sponsored Team Takeover, a locally based Amateur Athletic Union

basketball program. “I’ve been contemplating moving over for several years now, telling [Takeover director Keith Stevens] I’m coming,” said Joyner, who added that he would be an assistant for Doug Martin on Takeover’s 16-and-Under Elite Youth Basketball League squad. “After consulting with my family and getting the blessing from my wife, I felt this was the right time.” Joyner, who led Largo to a state title in 1991, played collegiately for two years at Bowie State University before transferring to Husson University, a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics school in Bangor,

Maine. He then contemplated a professional basketball career, but gave it up to focus on starting a family with his wife, Nikki. Joyner, who also works as a mortgage underwriter for the Navy Federal Credit Union, then began his coaching career in 2000, when he accepted an assistant coaching position at Montgomery College, Germantown, and became the head coach in 2004. In 2010, he took over the Owls program. Joyner is one of the winningest junior college coaches in the country and the only MD JUCO coach to win region championships at two dif-

See PGCC, Page B-2

GREG DOHLER/THE GAZETTE

Basketball coach Xavier Joyner (right) will leave Prince George’s Community College and accept an assistant coach position with Team Takeover on May 1.

THE GAZETTE

Page B-2

Thursday, April 2, 2015 bo

BASKETBALL

COACH OF YEAR

PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

Kaila Charles

Largo Senior Center

Roosevelt Junior Guard

Quinnipiac University recruit posted incredible numbers all season. Bundu, who averaged a county-high 28.4 ppg, went for a season-high 54 points and 24 rebounds in a late December contest in Florida.

Dominated inside and out, posting doubledoubles throughout postseason and carrying Raiders to their second straight Class 4A state title.

James Washington

GIRLS’ FIRST TEAM

Forestville 2nd year

COACH OF YEAR

Abdulai Bundu

Ulysses Lee

BOYS’ FIRST TEAM

DuVal

In his ﬁrst season at the helm of the Tigers, the exSurrattsville coach righted the ship after a late-season slide, guiding DuVal the the 4A South championship

Led Knights to their ﬁrst girls basketball state title in school history and ﬁrst region championship since 1985.

SECOND TEAM Chance Graham Largo, Senior Taleah Washington Forestville, Freshman Charnise Tyler Suitland, Senior Briel Palmer Northwestern, Sophomore Octavia Wilson Roosevelt, Sophomore

SECOND TEAM

Raven Fox

Mykea Gray

Myka Johnson-Matthews

Lena Niang

Randall Broddie

Kevin Dorsey

Markelle Fultz

Christian Matthews

WCAC’s leading scorer averaged 18 points and ﬁve steals, leading Roadrunners to a strong ﬁnish.

Playmaker averaged 12.2 points and guided the Eagles to a 25-7 campaign.

Averaged 13 points and 2.5 steals, leading Mustangs (257) to highest win total since 2007-08 season.

N.C. State recruit carried Crusaders on both ends, running the offense and controlling the paint.

Memphis recruit still managed 21.2 ppg despite double and triple teams in a difﬁcult season for the 2014 2A state champs.

Minnesotabound guard led Clinton to their secondstraight Maryland Private School title, averaging a team high 22.6 ppg.

Junior went from a junior varsity player to WCAC player of the year in one season, drawing national attention along the way.

Sharpshooting forward set the tone for 26-5 team, leading the Eagles in scoring with 22.4 ppg.

Seton Senior Guard

Nat. Christian Sophomore Guard

McNamara Senior Guard

R. Baptist Senior Forward

Potomac Senior

Clint. Christian Senior

DeMatha Junior

Nat. Christian Junior

Terrell Allen DeMatha, Senior Mike Speight Wise, Sophomore D.J. Harvey DeMatha, Sophomore David Belle Northwestern, Senior Ed Polite DuVal, Senior

Honorable Mention is available online at Gazette.net

PGCC

Continued from Page B-1 ferent schools. “I thought about doing the boys club, high school route and working my way up since I didn’t think you could get right into college coaching,” Joyner said. “But [former Montgomery College Athletic Director] Mark Crutchfield gave me a call and caught me off guard, and I’m glad he did.” In 2006, Joyner, who embraces shooting and an uptempo style of play, said he really began to understand the coaching profession. In turn, that’s when his teams started fielding consistent winning seasons. Joyner had worked at Jay Wright’s basketball camp

JUMPING

Continued from Page B-1 beginning his formal track and ﬁeld training. “That doesn’t happen very often,” Green said. “... You don’t just get a state champion that comes out and becomes one the same year.” Ever since his success as a sophomore, the art of the jump has become a near obsession for the Douglass junior, who defended his title at February’s indoor county championship meet. Butler practices his jump phases going up ﬂights of stairs and studies YouTube clips of Olympic-level jumpers, looking for any technique that could give him a boost toward his goal of a 50-foot triple jump — something both

BOXER

Continued from Page B-1 just genuinely support me and they rode that wave with me. And not to even compete at the Olympics, it felt like I let everybody down.” Russell said he will forever carry the scar of his Olympic letdown, in which he experienced physical complications at the weigh-in the morning before he was scheduled to ﬁght. But Russell made up for that Saturday night as he seemingly

FIGHTERS

Continued from Page B-1 boxers, is about more than just advancing to the region championship. “We’re not fighting as boxers. We’re fighting as [representatives] for Chocolate City (Washington, D.C.),” Murrill said. “They’re not just boxers. They’re actually people that go above and beyond the call of duty. They’re not fighting because they want to become professionals, money-making.

Divas set sights on a championship

during the summer, where he developed a relationship with the Villanova coach and learned to appreciate his philosophies, such as having a guard check a post player. Over the past few years, Oklahoma City Thunder assistant general manager Troy Weaver, a PGCC graduate, also has invited Joyner to the team’s training camp. Joyner says he hopes to eventually become a highlevel Division I college or NBA coach, but for now, he’s focused on helping develop kids on the AAU circuit — on and off the court — just like he did for 15 years in the junior college ranks. “I’m very familiar with the [negative] AAU stigma and that’s why I was selective,”

said Joyner, who had at least 22 former players at PGCC transfer to four-year schools. “Team Takeover is very family oriented; me and Keith Stevens’ missions are aligned. I’ve seen a lot of AAU coaches that don’t put the time in to develop skill or make sure the kid progresses outside of basketball. “Coaching junior college is the true essence of coaching. I coached guys labeled as Division III and IV guys and I’ve helped turn them into scholarship guys. Hopefully that can continue.” Phone calls to PGCC regarding the search for Joyner’s replacement were not returned.

he and Green said can be accomplished by the end of his high school tenure. And it will be the same indomitable drive to win that’s brought the Eagles success on the football ﬁeld and the junior individual glory on the track that will get him there. Losing is not an option, Butler said. “As a child, I won so much that I just hate to lose,” he said. “When I do lose, it affects me pretty hard. I pretty much cry every time I lose. I’m not a sore sport or anything — I’ll give the other person their props — but it just hurts me a lot to lose.” So, after guiding Douglass to its ﬁrst Class 2A football state championship this fall and defending his indoor county title in the winter,

Butler’s hoping to improve upon last year’s golden performance at the outdoor state meet. But this time, the Eagles junior has a bit more on his plate. After hearing the baseball team needed some help, Butler agreed to help in any way — and position — he can, while keeping track as his top priority. And if his track record is any indication, he’ll ﬁnd success on the diamond, too. “Some people hate to lose and you can see them getting down on themselves when they think they’re not going to win,” Green said. “I’ve never seen him enter a competition that he didn’t think he could win.”

controlled the pace throughout the short bout. Russell used his quick hands to establish a rhythm from the ﬁrst round, using a quick right jab to keep Gonzalez, who is known as one of the hardest punchers in the weight division, at a comfortable distance. Russell mixed in straight left hands to the body into his arsenal. Just before the end of the third round, Russell countered a right hook from Gonzalez with a left hook of his own followed by a crisp right hook to Gonzalez’s jaw that sent Gonzalez to the canvas

for the first time in the fight. Sensing Gonzalez might not have recovered from the onslaught of the previous round, Russell went on the attack at the onset of the fourth round and eventually floored Gonzalez two more times before referee Tony Weeks stopped the contest. Russell’s father, Gary Sr., has been his son’s trainer for his entire life and has been in his corner through the good and bad of his boxing career. Gary Sr. said he couldn’t be more proud of his son. “It makes me feel vindicated.

It’s been a long road. It’s been a lot of hard work. It’s been therapeutic, keeping the kids out of the streets,” Gary Sr. said of his other sons and other children he has trained over the years. “It’s the bond and unity of brothers that you don’t see anymore.” His sons Gary Allen, Gary Antonio and Gary Antuanne have each won Golden Gloves titles. “He put all of the work into the gym and I expected nothing less,” Gary Antonio said as he trained Tuesday night. Gary Antuanne, who graduates high school in May, said his

older brother has been an inspiration. “Actually, [Gary Jr.] winning was a self-esteem boost,” Gary Antoine said. “It gave me some relief, but actually it gave me the frame of mind where I could be planning something. I can’t slack just yet.” Gary Jr. lost in June to World Boxing Organization champion Vasyl Lomanchenko, suffering the lone defeat of his career in a 12-round decision. He and his father said missteps during training led directly to the defeat but that he learned things from the bout.

Russell said he manifests the energy and support he gets from the community each time he steps into the ring. “If it wasn’t broke don’t ﬁx it,” Gary Jr. said. “That goes all of the way back down to letting someone outside of our nucleus into our camp and giving them so much [authority] into my conditioning. It wasn’t just Lomanchenko, I don’t feel like I would have been able to go 12 rounds with anyone. If there was anything surprising, it was surprising that he couldn’t get the ﬁght over with.”

They’re fighting because this is something that humbles them, trains them mentally, physically, and spiritually, and it helps them become better men, community out-reachers, and representers.” Jerry will be fighting Marcus Wright of Temple Hills. Wright and Jerry are actually good friends but are now fighting for the same title. “I’m in the championship,” Wright said. “I’ve never been this far. It’s a life experience. I give all the glory to God. “I know [Jerry’s] going to

try to bring the fight, and I just got to out-box him. Throw bunches of punches. I know he’s going throw bunches of punches.” Jerry said he wasn’t as prepared for last year’s championship fight because of the time he had to dedicate to college as a senior at University of Maryland, Eastern Shore. “Now, I have more leeway and time to focus on my training,” Jerry said. “I think some of the things I can exploit is using my endurance and working on my jab and staying busy.

Marcus, he’s a really aggressive ﬁghter. He doesn’t really back down.” Other area boxers from the open division includes Bowie’s Demetrius Young, last year’s 108-pound champ. KeShawn Williams of Capitol Heights will be boxing at 132 pounds against Tommy Avelar of Germantown. Avelar’s brother, Bryan Avelar will have to try his luck against the National champion, Gary Antaunne Russell. A 2014 novice division champion, Saynggskhan

Tashibay of Rockville, will fight at 152 pounds. Burtonsville’s Tavon Body, who reached the 2014 National Tournament of Champions, is fighting at 165 pounds. Justin Bell of District Heights is boxing at 178 pounds, where he also was a national contender a year ago. In the novice division, where boxers have 10 or less fights of experience, Suitland’s Kevin Pendergrass is set to be fighting Bowie’s Elliot Strickland at 114 pounds. Gaithersburg’s Evgueny Metchenov is scheduled to fight at 141

pounds. Sipprino Zelldon of Silver Spring will be fighting at 152 pounds. Stephaun Hopps of Fort Washington will fight at 165 pounds. Johnathen Surratt, also of Fort Washington, will fight Beltsville’s Alvin Amana at 201 pounds. Three juniors division fighters from Prince George’s County, Derrick Davis (85) and Ervin Canlas (85) of Clinton and Laurel’s Siete Shourte (139) will receive sportsmanship awards.

kzakour@gazette.net

agutekunst@gazette.net

Several county athletes look to lead team back to title game BY JENNIFER BEEKMAN STAFF WRITER

The Prince George’s County-based D.C. Divas women’s professional tackle football team finished the 2014 season ranked in the top 4 of the 42team Women’s Football Alliance. While that is certainly a statistic to be proud of, it isn’t good enough, fourth-year coach Alison Fischer said. “Our goal is to go to the championship game and be the best, not be third best,” Fischer said. Last summer the Divas made their 11th postseason appearance in 12 years — tied for first in the league — but for the fifth consecutive season fell to their nemesis, the top-ranked Boston Militia, and failed to reach the Eastern Conference championship game. The Divas defeated the Militia in the teams’ first of six straight postseason meetings in 2009 on their way to the national title game but have not beat Boston since 2011. D.C. (5-4 record in 2014) is set to open its 15th season on April 11 in Ohio against a MidAtlantic Division foe, Columbus Comets, and the perennial postseason contending Divas have every intention of getting over the Boston hump and finishing atop the league this summer, 13th-year quarterback and Eleanor Roosevelt High School

graduate Allyson Hamlin said. “It’s no secret Boston has stopped us the last ﬁve years, they’re the best in the world until they get beat,” Hamlin said. “We have to beat them to get better. We’re still a top 4 team in the world but the bottom line is we have to beat them. I think we are in good position to beat them, it just comes down to doing it. We can talk about it all we want but are we going to do it? I think we have a really good shot, all the pieces are in play.” The Divas’ balanced offense is led by Hamlin, 2014 WFA AllAmerican running backs Kenyetta Grigsby, who averaged more than 100 rushing yards per game, and D’Ajah Scott and All-American wide receivers Ashley Whisonant and Kentrina Wilson. Whisonant, who scored touchdowns rushing, receiving and by a kick-off return a year ago, is a Bowie native who is currently No. 7 on the University of Arizona women’s basketball team’s all-time scoring list with 1,451 points and tied for ﬁrst in free throws made (472). D.C. had no trouble scoring last season and the return of former four-year offensive coordinator Eric Evans to work with Greg Gaskins will likely make for an even stronger offensive campaign. But the Divas also could have held their opponents to lower numbers a year ago. Part of that was transitioning to current second-year defensive coordinator Willie Bennett and his system, Fischer said. But a core of new additions, including linebackers Tia Watkins, Kamil Maclin and Kendra

Bates and offensive linewoman Ashley Branch, to a defense led by 17-year women’s football veteran (10 of them with the Divas) Trigger McNair could make all the difference this year, Hamlin said. Fischer said the team has learned from the past and will look to employ a faster, more aggressive defense. Twenty new players in total joined the Divas this season, though it’s not certain they will all be on the roster come opening day. But between 10-15 athletes are Prince George’s-based and Hamlin and McNair said they hoped that would help continue to spread the word of the Divas and women’s football in general to locals, especially young girls. “That’s what it’s all about, the kids knowing they can do whatever they want, whether they want to cheerlead or play football” Hamlin said. “I’ve always thought if we can win, we willbringthefans.Itcomesdown to taking it to that next level.” The Divas have been one of the country’s top women’s football teams since their installment but this could be the year to drop the “one of” statement, Fischer and Hamlin agreed. “We’re at a level, [offensively] where the bar is set so high we’re able to focus on the small things and pay more attention to detail and we’re lucky to be in that position,” Hamlin said. “It seems like this core group of new players could possibly be the difference this year, especially on defense.” jbeekman@gazette.net

pgrimes@gazette.net

Arts & Entertainment www.gazette.net | Thursday, April 2, 2015 | Page B-3

Western expansion

Play focuses on role of black women post-Reconstruction n

KIRSTY GROFF STAFF WRITER

Bowie Community Theatre features a moment in time not often addressed in arts or academics — the role of black women in migrating post-Reconstruction — in its upcoming production of “Flyin’ West.” The play is set in 1898 America, decades after the Homestead Act allowed citizens, including freed slaves, to claim a federal land grant, but still years shy of the Great Migration that saw six million blacks leave the south for new beginnings elsewhere. “Flyin’ West” brings to light the involvement women had in packing up and moving for a chance of a better life. While the play is a ﬁctional account, it’s rooted in research by playwright Pearl Cleage as well as the cast members and director Estelle Miller. “I had seen a production of it that just stayed with me for days, and I thought to myself, ‘If I ever get the chance, I’m doing this,’” Miller said. “I had been working on it at home for over a year before auditions because it’s something that really needed to be researched — it’s based on history, and I wanted to do it right.” When casting for the play, she knew she wanted performers dedicated to telling the story right, not actors interested in taking on just another role. She required those auditioning to memorize and perform a two minute monologue to show their dedication.

PHOTO BY CONNIE CARTER

Lolita Marie, as Fannie Dove, acts alongside Darius McCall, playing Wil Parish, in Bowie Community Theatre’s production of “Flyin’ West.” Her method seems to have worked, resulting in a dedicated cast that clicked immediately and got started at nailing down their characters within a time more than a century removed from today. “They were already a team,” said Miller. “The minute they were together in a room, they were already working on creating relationships with each other.” “The hardest thing when stepping back in time is trying to be honest, to honestly portray a perspective from that

period of time,” added Lolita Marie, who plays Fannie Dove. “We’re trying to ﬁt our thinking to back then so our behavior and responses to certain behaviors would ﬁt the times.” Fannie is one of three sisters — though only Fannie and her younger sister Minnie are related by blood, Sophie is accepted as family — living in Nicodemus, Kansas, known in history as one of the western towns established by blacks. While Sophie is headstrong and forward thinking, with views closer in line with today,

Fannie is rooted more in convention. “For that time period, she is a traditionalist in terms of women’s roles in the family,” said Marie. “Even though she’s out here on this frontier, her thinking comes across very clear in that way. We look at the play today and with Fanny, you will just be like, ‘What is wrong with her?’” The conflict revolves around Frank, the husband of Minnie; the two have returned

Brewers focus in on low-in-alcohol beers

BREWS BROTHERS

There has been a notable recent proclivity of brewers to make session beers: beers that are relatively low in alcohol so that several can be consumed at one sitting. This may be a reaction to the tendency toward higher and more extreme alcohol beers of the last decade. Drinkers can only drink a few of these extreme brews at a single sitting or ﬁnd themselves staring at the ceiling. Some of these are only brewed as specialty beers and not part of a regular lineup. There are two competing explanations for the term session beers, called various names in other cultures including table beers and worker beers. One relates to the British experience during and after World War I when pubs were only open for two sessions each day to conserve energy and grains, once at lunchtime and once in the evening. With the hours curtailed, workmen had to drink quickly, requiring reduced alcohol levels to keep the laborers sober when returning to work. The other explanation relates to the former British lifestyle of people congregating in pubs and drinking lighter beers throughout the evening. These beers were intended to be consumed for hours at a single session while allowing conversation and without making the discussion about the characteristics of the beer. Lew Bryson, a well known beer and whiskey writer and a one-man advocate for session beers, avers that such beers should be below

See WEST, Page B-4

These beers are now in session

STEVEN FRANK AND ARNOLD MELTZER 4.5 percent alcohol by volume (ABV), flavorful enough to be interesting, balanced enough to allow for multiple pints, conducive to conversation, and reasonably priced. The latter is so that consumers won’t pay the same price for low alcohol beers as for high alcohol beers. At this time there is no agreement on the upper alcohol bound for session beers. However, the Brewers Association defines a Session Beer for the Great American Beer Festival entries as a lower alcohol version of a classic beer style, balancing the style’s character with the lower alcohol content, with that content being at or below 5 percent ABV. Legendary British beer writer Michael Jackson was the first to use the actual term session beer in 1982 about a German beer and again in 1988 referencing a British beer. Many of the British beer styles, including Bitters and Milds, have low alcohol levels. Other styles that historically have low alcohol levels include Berliner Weisse, Gose, types of Stout such as a Dry Stout, and some American Pale Ales. As more and more consumers try craft beer, trading in light for something with flavor, these can be the gateway to their bigger brewed brothers and sisters. Gold Leaf Lager (4.5 percent ABV), brewed by Devils Backbone Brewing in Lexington, Va., is a Helles beer and a multiple gold medal winner at

See BEER, Page B-4

Lent & aster Services

Lutheran

Christian

Easter Week Events April 2 – Maundy Thursday Supper, 6:30 pm and Communion at 7:30 pm at Oxon Hill Lutheran Church April 3 – Good Friday Services, 7 pm at Southminster Presbyterian Church, 7801 Oxon Hill Road, Oxon Hill, MD 20745 (Joint Service sponsored by the ACT Cluster) April 5 – Easter Service, 10 am at Oxon Hill Lutheran Church

Oxon Hill Lutheran Church 3415 Brinkley Road, Temple Hills, MD 20748

May the celebration of the Resurrection be a time of blessing on your life and on all the lives of those in whom you come in contact with. (301) 984-3773 email: ohluth@verizon.net WebSite: https://OHLChurch.org Facebook.com/OxonHillLutheranChurch GD28006 Non Denominational

ND HOLY THURSDAY SERVICE - APRIL 2ND

Community Holy Communion Svc. 7:00pm Fellowship of Area Churches Guest Preacher: Rev. Darin Vincent Poullard Ft. Washington Baptist

RD GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE - APRIL 3RD

Truly This Was (a stage play) 7:00pm

RESURRECTION SUNDAY SERVICES - APRIL 5THTH Featuring music by Min. Isaiah Thomas Jr., Min. Johnie Steele & The Ark Mass Choir

Non Denominational

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Sunday, April 5, 2015 - Resurrection Sunday

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Victor O Kirk Sr, Senior Pastor

6117 Seabrook Road, Lanham, MD 20706 301-429-3345 www.sharonbible.org

Welcome the community into worship with you

THE GAZETTE

Page B-4

Thursday, April 2, 2015 bo

IN THE ARTS For a free listing, please submit complete information to wfranklin@gazette.net at least 10 days in advance of desired publication date. High-resolution color images (500KB minimum) in jpg format should be submitted when available.

Continued from Page B-3

Tantallon Community Players, “Joseph and

the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” May 22 through June 7; Harmony Hall Regional Center, 10701 Livingston Road, Fort Washington, 301262-5201, tantallonstage.com. Venus Theatre, “God Don’t Like Ugly,” through April 12, 21 C Street, Laurel. venustheatre.org.

NIGHTLIFE

THEATER & STAGE Bowie Community Theatre, “Flyin’ West,”

April 10 through April 25, call for prices, times, Bowie Playhouse, 16500 White Marsh Park Drive, Bowie, 301-805-0219, bctheatre.com. The Clarice, Reﬂections from the Keyboard, April 2; Beethoven’s Archduke, April 4; University Band & Community Band, April 8; Tia Fuller (two shows), April 9; Tia Fuller Jazz Clinic, April 10; Shared Graduate Dance Concert, April 10; Taylor Mac: The 20th Century Conversation, April 10; Kreativity Open Mic Night, April 10; Larissa Dedova and James Stern Faculty Recital, April 10; Bulletproof Musician Workshop (two shows), April 11; Taylor Mac: The 20th Century Concert, Abridged, April 11; University of Maryland, College Park, theclarice.umd.edu. Hard Bargain Players, Theater in the Woods, 2001 Bryan Point Road, Accokeek, 240-766-8830, hbplayers.org. Harmony Hall Regional Center, Glenn Leonard’s Temptation Review, April 11; 10701 Livingston Road, Fort Washington, 301-203-6070, arts.pgparks.com. Greenbelt Arts Center, “Choking Out the Kudzu,” April 10 through April 26; call for prices, times, Greenbelt Arts Center, 123 Centerway, Greenbelt, 301-441-8770, greenbeltartscenter. org. Joe’s Movement Emporium, NCrease Fitness presents X-Her-Size, April 18; 3309 Bunker Hill Road, Mount Rainier, 301-699-1819, joesmovement.org. Laurel Mill Playhouse, Young Adult Spring One Acts, through April 12, call for ticket prices, times, Laurel Mill Playhouse, 508 Main St., Laurel, 301-452-2557, laurelmillplayhouse.org. Montpelier Arts Center, Indigo Sings Sarah Vaughan, April 9; The Freddy Cole Quartet, April 10-April 11; 9652 Muirkirk Road, Laurel, 301377-7800, arts.pgparks.com. NASA’S Music And Drama club (MAD), Barney & Bea Recreation Center, 10000 Good Luck Road, Bowie. For ticket sales and additional information, call 240-475-8800 or visit madtheater. org. Prince George’s Little Theatre, “Suite Surrender,” May 1 through May 16, call for tickets and show times, Bowie Playhouse, 16500 White Marsh Park Drive, Bowie, 301-937-7458, pglt.org. Publick Playhouse, Salsa Cinderella, April 16; Cafe Groove, April 17; Dallas Black Dance Theatre, April 23-April 24; 5445 Landover Road, Cheverly, 301-277-1710, arts.pgparks.com. 2nd Star Productions, “Kiss Me, Kate,” May 29 through June 27; Bowie Playhouse, 16500 White Marsh Park Dr., Bowie, call for prices, times, 410-757-5700, 301-832-4819, 2ndstarproductions.com.

New Deal Café; Mid-Day Melodies with Amy C Kraft, noon, April 2; Songwriters Association

of Washington Open Mic with Paige Powell, 7 p.m. April 2; Karikatura, 8:30 p.m. April 3; The TV John Show, 11 a.m. April 4; Bruce Kritt, 4 p.m. April 4; The 8-Balls, 8:30 p.m. April 4, 113 Centerway Road, 301-474-5642, newdealcafe.com. Old Bowie Town Grill, Wednesday Night Classic Jam, 8 p.m. every Wednesday, sign-ups start at 7:30 p.m., 8604 Chestnut Ave., Bowie, 301464-8800, oldbowietowngrille.com.

DANCING Ballroom dance and lesson, with instructor Dave Malek at 7 p.m. every Thursday. A beginner’s lesson precedes the dance, which starts at 8 p.m. Cost is $10. The dance is located at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 6111 Columbian Way, Bowie. For more information, email dave@ dancin-dave.com or call 410-370-8438.

OUTDOORS Dinosaur Park, Dinosaur Park programs, noon to 4 p.m. first and third Saturdays, join paleontologists and volunteers in interpreting fossil deposits, 13200 block Mid-Atlantic Blvd., Laurel, 301-627-7755. Mount Rainier Nature Center, Toddler Time: hands-on treasures, crafts, stories and soft play, 11 a.m. to noon Thursdays, age 5 and younger free, 4701 31st Place, Mount Rainier, 301-9272163. Prince George’s Audubon Society, Bird Walks, 7:30 a.m. first Saturdays, Fran Uhler Natural Area, meets at end of Lemon Bridge Road, north of Bowie State University, option to bird nearby WB&A Trail afterward; 7:30 a.m. third Saturdays, Governor Bridge Natural Area, Governor Bridge Road, Bowie, meet in parking lot; for migrating and resident woodland and field birds, and waterfowl. For beginners and experts. Waterproof footwear and binoculars suggested. Free. 410-765-6482.

ET CETERA College Park Aviation Museum, Peter Pan Club, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. second and fourth Thursdays of every month, activities for preschoolers, $4, $3 seniors, $2 ages 2 to 18, 1985 Cpl. Frank Scott Drive, College Park, 301-8646029, collegeparkaviationmuseum.com. Women’s Chamber Choir Auditions, by appointment for the concert season of women’s chamber choir Voix de Femmes, 7:45 to 9:30 p.m. Thursdays, 402 Compton Ave., Laurel, 301520-8921, annickkanter@gmail.com.

PHOTO BY CONNIE CARTER

Miss Leah, played by Sandra Cox True, braids the hair of Minnie Dove Charles, played by Brawnlyn Blueitt, in Bowie Community Theatre’s production of “Flyin’ West.”

Continued from Page B-3 at the Great American Beer Festival. It has a sweet malt nose with a touch of citric hops. The light sweet front continues in the middle, joined by a touch of citrus. The sweet malt grows in the finish to moderate and melds in the aftertaste with melon notes. Easy to drink and very refreshing. Ratings: 7.5/8. Go To IPA (4.5 percent ABV) is made by Stone Brewing in Escondido, Calif. This flavorful IPA has a citric and pine nose. The light malt and slightly bitter hop front leads to a modest pine middle with a touch of grapefruit. The pine grows and comes to the front in the balanced finish and continues in the aftertaste. Ratings: 8/8.5. Highway 128 (4.2 percent

from London, and it becomes clear that Frank is abusive and struggling with his position as the son of a white slave-owner and a black slave. “He is easy to dislike,” Marie said, “but if you start to peel away the layers, that character speaks ‘FLYIN’ WEST’ to me the loudn When: April 10 through 25, est about the call for times frustration and the anger of that n Where: Bowie Playhouse, time — where do 16500 White Marsh Park I belong, who do Drive, Bowie I belong to? His n Tickets: $15-$20 story is the most intricate and the n More information: bctheatre. most interesting.” com; 301-805-0219 By tackling domestic violence and other issues in addition to, and stemming from, the aftermath of life in slavery, “Flyin’ West” exposes the audience to life in another era. For Miller, her favorite pieces help viewers step outside of themselves and grow emotionally, and this play ﬁts right in. “There are historical truths that you just never really think about until they just sort of smack you in the face,” said Marie. “What a testament to the sheer power of these women and their desire to create their own lives.” “Human nature is an amazing thing,” added Miller. “Like all animals, our survival needs are very strong ... [this play has a lot of] strong adversity and the [women] come out of that with strength and power and positive feelings — that’s what grabbed me. The strength of these women is amazing.” kgroff@gazette.net

ABV) is a Gose-style beer produced by Anderson Valley Brewing in Boonville, Calif. Highway 128 has an intriguing bouquet of earthiness and lemon. The light tart lemon front grows to medium in the middle. The ﬁnish adds a hint of the style’s traditional salt character. In the aftertaste the salt and lemon are more prominent as the tartness fades. Ratings:8.5/8.5. Coffee Milk Stout (4.2 percent ABV) also is made by Stone Brewing. It has a beguiling nose of roast, coffee and lactose presaging a light sweet and coffee front. The middle adds a moderate roast together with a light bitterness. The roast is more apparent in the ﬁnish joined by a hint of chocolate. These all continue into the light chocolate, bitter, coffee and roast aftertaste and linger. More like a stout than a milk stout. Ratings: 7.5/7.

BREWS BROTHERS

Gold Leaf Lager, brewed by Devils Backbone Brewing in Lexington, Va., is a Helles beer and a multiple gold medal winner at the Great American Beer Festival.

The Andrews Business & Community Alliance is thrilled to congratulate Prince George’s County’s own, the men and women of Joint Base Andrews, on winning the Commander-In-Chief’s Installation Excellence Award, signifying their status as the top United States Air Force Base in 2014. We are honored to partner with you as you undertake some of our nation’s most important missions, while always striving to increase outreach to the community you call home.

Celebrating a decade of Service to those who Serve. www.andrewsalliance.com M.H. Jim Estepp President & CEO

Philip B. Down Board Chair

The Andrews Business & Community Alliance is proud to partner with the State of Maryland, Prince George’s County and local businesses seeking to learn more about federal contacting, bringing those forces together to expand opportunity and to provide advocacy for our nation’s heroes. 1935805

THE GAZETTE

Thursday, April 2, 2015 bo

Page B-5

Real songs by real people Karikatura makes life-afﬁrming, body-shaking music that moves people around the world. Fortunately for you, that same body-shaking music can be found on Friday at the New Deal Cafe in Greenbelt. While the band has toured everywhere from Japan to Brazil, New York City is home. With bright horns and socially conscious lyrics, Karikatura delivers real songs that transcend style and genre. Born on the road, Karikatura hasn’t stopped moving since. The band was conceived in South India in 2009 by Ukrainian-born, Brooklyn-bred recovering metal guitarist, Dima Kay, at the end of a life-changing journey across three continents. He returned to his adopted hometown of NYC to make the group a reality, joining forces with like-minded mu-

“God Don’ Like Ugly” continues at the Venus Theatre in Laurel.

JOSH BRASTED

Karikatura will perform at New Deal Cafe in Greenbelt on Friday. sicians: soulful singer Ryan Acquaotta, bassist Eric Legaspi, woodwinds maestro

Joe Wilson, and drummer Morgan Greenstreet. For more information

about the show, visit newdealcafe.com or call 301-4745642.

Youth of the nation PHOTO BY LARRY SIMMONS

Morgan Wenerick and Erica Ridge prepare for their roles in “The Prodigal Cow,” one of the one acts featured in the Young Adult Spring One Act Festival at Laurel Mill Playhouse.

Laurel Mill Playhouse has a history of doing shows that turn out to be quite popular in the community. Because of that, it’s always nice to water the seeds of the future. The Young Adult Spring One Act Festival continues through April 12. The festival features seven one-act plays, performed by a cast of young women from

12 to 19 years old. Director Larry Simmons is no stranger to the festival, having worked it for about ﬁve years. Tickets for the show are $20, $15 for students 12 and younger, active duty military and seniors. For more information, visit laurelmillplayhouse.org or call 301617-9906.

More than skin deep Every year, Deb Randall, founder and creative genius at the Venus Theatre in Laurel, pours through boxes of scripts, making sure she ﬁnds the right plays for her upcoming season. When you’re giving voice to the voiceless and empowering women at the same time, it can be a daunting task. The challenge is one Randall gladly accepts. With the theme of this season being “Feminist Fables with No Strings Attached,” Randall chose to do the world premiere of “God Don’ Like Ugly,” by UK playwright Doc

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Andersen-Bloomﬁeld. The play follows 36-yearold Esme, who has the mental capacity of a 7-year-old, as well as her mother Bessie solely tasked with Esme’s care. The household has existed in a form of stasis following the disappearance of Esme’s twin sister, but the arrival of a young woman named SJ on the run from an abusive relationship sets the family back in motion. Tickets for the show are $20. For more information, visit venustheatre.org or call 202-236-4078.

Page B-6

Thursday, April 2, 2015 bo

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Legal Notices

City of Bowie Community Development Block Grant Program Notice of Public Hearing

In accordance to guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban VILLAGE: Development (HUD), notice is hereby given that the City of Bowie, as an entitlement parTH 4Br 2.5Ba, nr ticipant in the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, solicits shops/bus, HOC OK, public participation in the development of the Annual Action Plan for fiscal year 2016 at $1,600 + utils, Avail a Public Hearing to be held on Monday, April 13, 2015 at 7 p.m. at Bowie City Hall, Now. 301-523-9010 15901 Excalibur Road, Bowie, Maryland. All City CDBG documents are posted on the N.POTOMAC: 2br City’s website: www.cityofbowie.org under Community Information. MONT.

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Career Education

WASHINGTON SUBURBAN SANITARY COMISSION NOTICE OF PROPOSED ACTIVITY IN THE CRITICAL AREA, WESTERN BRANCH WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT, MEDICAL BILLING TRAINING PROUPPER MARLBORO, MARYLAND G R A M ! Train to process insurance Pursuant to the requirements of COMAR 27.03.01, Washington and Medical Billing Suburban Sanitary Commission gives public notice that a Critical from home! NO EXArea Commission project application has been prepared to evalu- PERIENCE NEEDate the potential impacts on natural resources associated with the ED! Online training Chesapeake Bay from the installation of a solar photovoltaic (PV) at CTI gets you job ready! HS array at the Western Branch Waste Water Treatment Plant Diploma/Ged & (WWTP). The Western Branch WWTP is located at 6600 Crain Computer/Internet Hwy., Upper Marlboro, MD and within the Critical Area. needed. 1-877-6492671 Request for and comments on the Critical Area Commission project application must be received by April 16, 2015 and may be Miscellaneous made to: Robert Taylor, Energy Manager, Washington Suburban For Sale Sanitary Commission, 14501 Sweitzer Lane, Laurel, Maryland 20707 -orFacsimile to 301-206-7005 -oremail COLLEGE PARKrtaylor@wsscwater.com (4-2-15) Craftsman 10-inch ta-

Unfurn CLINTONAuctions bsmt for Male only $750 in SFH. For more info call 301856-0849 or 301-675- ESTATE AUCTION: 3374 818+/- Acre Bath Alum GAITHERSBURG: Estate located in Bath 1 Br nr Metro/Shops County, VA. 8 ResiNo Pets, No Smoking dences, 3 Hangars, $385 Avail Now. Call: 3525’ x 50’ Paved Air Strip, 5 Acre Pond, 301-219-1066 Adjoins George WashG E R M A N T O W N ington National Forest, Mature Male, Furn Cave, Enclosed 16’x BRs. Util incl. Near 61 40’ heated pool, 32 & 98 Bus Line. Sarah Parcels Available. 240-671-3783 Auction held at The Homestead Resort on LANDOVER: RM w April 17 at 3 PM. 5% m i c r o w a v e / f r i d g e . Buyer’s Premium. For $485 security dep more information, visit $100. Near bus/shops. woltz.com or call DaNS/NP 240-701-0474 vid Boush. Woltz & AsLAUREL: 2BD 1BA, sociates, Inc. (VA# basement apt w/priv 321) Real Estate Brokentr. W/D, kit. NS/NP. ers & Auctioneers $750 + utils. & sec 800-551-3588. dep. 301-953-2470

Business Opportunities

Best name selfservice GET YOUR COMfrozen yogurt store,l o- PUTER CERTIFIcate rockville 355 CATION ONLINE! large shopping high Train at home to betraffic,easy operation, come a Help Desk good business. Professional! NO EX1400sq ft, 7 yrs lease PERIENCE NEEDED! 22 seats, 7 Call CTI for details! 1machines, $90K. Tel 8 8 8 - 4 0 7 - 7 1 7 3 5717233588 AskCTI.com

AVON - Earn extra

income with a new career! Sell from home, work online. $15 startup. For information call: 888-4231792 (M-F 9-7 & Sat 9-1 Central)

AVIATION GRADS WORK WITH JETBLUE , Boeing,

ble saw, Craftsman 10-inch table saw, w/stand, 2 table extenders, 1 extra blade & 1 Dado blade, Owner’s Manual. Ex. cond. $150 neg. 301-441-9431.

FOR SALE: (1) King

size bed & head/foot boards, W/D, (front loader), leather sectional sofa (cream), crystal lamps & and other household items. 410-603-5517 for info

Delta and others- start here with hands on GET THE BIG DEAL training for FAA certifi- FROM DIRECTV! cation. Financial aid if Act Now- $19.99/mo. qualified. Call Aviation Free 3-Months of Institute of Mainte- HBO, starz, SHOWTIME & nance 866-823-6729 CINEMAX FREE GENIE HD/DVR Upgrade! 2014 NFL Sunday Ticket Included with Select Start Earning Now! Packages. New Customers Only FT & PT IV Support Holdings Work From Home. LLC- An authorized DirecTV Dealer DC/VA/MD Some exclusions apply - Call for details 1-800-897-4169

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Your donation helps local families with food, clothing, shelter, counseling. Tax deductible. MVA License #W1044. 410-636-0123 or www.LutheranMissionSociety.org

• Career Training • Full Time Employment • Part Time Employment Miscellaneous Services

Full Time Help Wanted

Professional Services

ALL THINGS BASEMENTY!

GET CASH NOW PROBLEMS WITH FOR YOUR ANNU- THE IRS OR Basement Systems ITY OR STRUCSTATE TAXES? Inc. Call us for all of Settle for a fraction of TURED SETTLEyour basement needs! MENT. Top Dollars what your owe! Free

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Buy Harris Bed Bug A-1 DONATE YOUR killer Complete Treat- CAR FOR HD Equipment and inment Program/Kit. BREAST CANstall for under $3 a Harris Mattress Cov- CER! Help United ers add Extra Protec- Breast Foundation ed- day! Call Now! 855752-8550 tion! Available: ACE ucation, prevention, & Hardware. Buy Online: support programs. WHEELCHAIR AND homedepot.com REFAST FREE PICKUP - SCOOTER PAIR. Medicare Ac24 HR RESPONSE cepted. Fast Friendly TAX DEDUCTION Miscellaneous Service. BBB Rated. 888-444-7514 Services Loaners Available. DISH TV RETAILCALL 1-800-450-7709 GOT KNEE PAIN? ER . Starting at BACK PAIN? $19.99/month (for 12 to advertise SHOULDER PAIN? mos.) & High Speed Get a pain-relieving Internet starting at call $14.95/month (where brace -little or 301.670.7100 NO cost to you. Medi- available) SAVE! Ask or email care Patients Call About SAME DAY InHealth Hotline Now! 1- stallation! CALL Now! class@gazette.net 800-278-1401 800-900-5406

Full Time Help Wanted

Professional Services

Full Time Help Wanted

Paid. Fast. No Hassle Service! 877-693-0934 (M-F 9:35 am - 7 pm ET)

face to face consultations with offices in your area. Call 855970-2032

Career Training

NURSING ASSISTANT

TRAINING IN JUST 4 WEEKS

Now enrolling for April 27th, 2015 classes

Now Offering Medication Technician Classes In Just 4 Days, Call for Details! GAITHERSBURG CAMPUS MORNING STAR ACADEMY 101 Lakeforest Blvd, Suite 402 Gaithersburg, MD 20877 Call: 301-977-7393 www.mstarna.com

SILVER SPRING CAMPUS

CARE XPERT ACADEMY 13321 New Hampshire Ave, Suite 205 Silver Spring, MD 20904 Call: 301-384-6011 www.cxana.com

Full Time Help Wanted

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT F/T position reporting to Town Administrator. Provides high level of administrative support to Town Administrator. Administers and manages the process for business licenses, rental licenses, building permits, and fence permits; provides general administrative support. Daily interaction with office staff, the business community, and the public. Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills are necessary. Minimum requirements: 3-5 years senior-level administrative support experience, preferably in municipal government. Proficiency in Quickbooks preferred. Bilingual Spanish/English preferred. Starting salary $40,000 plus excellent benefits. Applications should be marked confidential. All applications must include a letter of introduction, a complete resume, a list of least three references, and a completed Town of Riverdale Park employment application. Employment will be contingent upon passing a background check. Apply to Town Administrator, 5008 Queensbury Road, Riverdale, MD 20737. Position is open until filled. The Town of Riverdale Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Copy Desk Editor

The Gazette, a publisher of community newspapers and a daily website, has an opening for a designer/copy editor in its Gaithersburg, MD office. This is primarily a design and layout position, and also involves editing, headline writing and working with writers and editors. Speed, accuracy and solid news judgment are crucial in meeting multiple deadlines. Knowledge of Adobe InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop is a must, and basic HTML, CSS and familiarity with search engine optimization is desired. We’re looking for a visual journalist with editing skills: the ideal candidate can handle print and digital platforms, section fronts and graphics, layout and headlines. A college degree is required. At least two years’ experience in a daily or weekly newspaper environment is preferred. We offer a competitive compensation & comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, 401(k) & tuition reimbursement. Send resume, work samples and salary requirements to: editjobs@gazette.net. No calls, please. EOE

TELEMARKETERS We have several immediate openings for telemarketers to work in the comfort of your home. Hours are flexible and no experience is necessary - we will train. You will be calling for a charity, so no selling will be involved. For more information on this opportunity, please call: Patrick or Agnes (301-953-0090)

GC3525

BUY IT, SELL IT, FIND IT

Call 301-670-7100 or email class@gazette.net

Drivers

DRIVERS

- CDL-A DEDICATED REGIONAL RUNS HOME WEEKLY $1,500 SIGN ON BONUS $1,000 $1,200 Weekly Gross *Additional Bonus Pay *100% No-Touch Freight *PAID Orientation *Great Family Medical Benefits *CDL-A and 6 mons. exp. REQ’D Jacobson Companies is now: Norbert Dentressangle www.DriveForRed.co m 888-458-2293 Full Time Help Wanted

Dental/ Medical Assistant Trainees Needed Now Dental/Medical Offices now hiring. No experience? Job Training & Placement Assistance Available 1-888-818-7802 CTO SCHEV

Thursday, April 2, 2015 bo Full Time Help Wanted

Full Time Help Wanted

Carpenter

General Assignment Reporter The Gazette, a chain of weekly community newspapers in Maryland has openings for General Assignment Reporters in our Laurel and Gaithersburg offices.

EXPERIENCED CHRYSLER LEVEL 1, 2, and 3 TECHNICIANS

This job involves coverage for our print and online platforms. You will be required to contribute several stories each week in addition to generating daily online content for Gazette.Net.

Ourisman Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram of Bowie, MD needs technicians. This is a brand new, state of the art facility with an established customer base. We don’t care where you work or how much you are currently making.

The position requires a self-starter with experience in enterprise reporting. Requirements include a bachelor’s degree in journalism, English, or related field; experience at a newspaper or strong internship preferred. Candidates must have a vehicle. Some evening and weekend work is required.

WE WANT TO MAKE YOU AN OFFER!

Send resume, clips and salary requirements: editjobs@gazette.net.

WE ARE OFFERING SIGNING BONUSES UP TO $5,000 FOR QUALIFIED HIRES.

We offer a competitive compensation & comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, 401(k) & tuition reimbursement. No phone calls. EOE

You can transfer over your vacation time and any earned benefits from your current employer. Multiple FULL TIME positions available – Complete Benefit Package includes Medical, Dental, Vision, Life and Disability Insurance, 401K, Sick and Vacation Leave, Special Bonuses and Incentives.

Full Time Help Wanted

(Entry Level)

We are a small design/build firm specializing in detailed upscale residential remodeling projects throughout MD, DC, VA. We are looking to add an entry level apprentice carpenter to assist our master carpenters. If you have a desire to pursue a career in the skilled trades, this might be a great opportunity for you. Candidates must possess the following; • Ability to take and follow direction • Willingness to learn • Strong work ethic Competitive wages & benefits offered. Interested applicants should email resume and references to: Loretta@pagenstechergroup.com

Pagenstecher GROUP

DESIGN BUILD www.pagenstechergroup.com

Ourisman is a premier automotive company in business for over 94 years with the best pay plans in the industry.

Make Ourisman your new home.

Call Ron Lane at 301-249-4227 Ext 253 OR email ron.lane@ourismanautomotive.com GC3530 GC3452

WEB EDITOR

The Gazette, a chain of weekly community newspapers in Maryland, is seeking an Web Editor to build our digital audience and oversee our digital content and presentation.

Candidates must have solid print and digital media skills, and strong knowledge of SEO, social media and other digital tools. Duties include supervising a small staff, working with multiple departments on digital projects, tracking analytics, and some editing for the printed publications. Experience dealing with vendors and working with our content management system, Saxotech, is a plus. This position requires working at both our Laurel and Gaithersburg locations. We offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, tuition reimbursement and 401(k). Send resume, cover letter and salary requirements to Vanessa Harrington: editjobs@gazette.net. No phone calls. EOE

Parking Lot Maintenance Worker Liberty Asphalt located in Glen Burnie, MD is looking for Full Time parking lot maintenance workers that can do seal coating, stripping & asphalt work. Experience preferred but will train. MUST HAVE OWN TRANSPORTATION. To apply please call 401-382-3373 Ask for Bob.

Recruiting is now Simple!

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Responsibilities include editing stories and related items for optimal web display, determining how information is displayed, formulating strategies for niche publications and special online features, promoting a web-first mentality in the newsroom, and troubleshooting problems on the website and with our content management system.

MASONRY MECHANICS

Are needed for all phases of commercial masonry (concrete restoration, caulking, tuckpointing, etc) Jobs are located in NOVA, MD & DC. Transportation & experience is required. Benefits include: health insurance, paid holidays, vacation & 401k. Must pass a drug screen test & background check. E-verification upon employment. To apply: 7000 Tech Circle, Manassas, VA 20109. F o r directions ONLY call 703-369-2550

Southern Maryland Full Time Help Wanted

HVAC SR.TECHS & INSTALLERS Needed for the Bowie and Crofton area. Top Pay & Benefits! Call Don 301-218-2363 or email resume to: info@belaireng.com

Get Connected!

Local Companies Local Candidates

Career Training Need to re-start your career?

Stay connected

Let Gazette Careers help you find that next position in your local area. Be the first to know. Join our Facebook page and stay up-to-date with the latest job offerings.

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Full Time Help Wanted

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CA H

YOU ALWAYS GET YOUR WAY SAVE UP TO $8,000 AT OURISMAN EVERYDAY

OURISMAN VW

2015 GOLF 4D HB LAUNCH EDITION

#3022537, Power Windows, Power Locks, Auto, Keyless Entry, Sunroof

MSRP 18,815 $

BUY FOR

16,599

OR $219/MO for 72 MONTHS

2015 JETTA S

#7280305, Power Windows, Power Locks, Keyless Entry, Auto

MSRP 19,245 $

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16,995

OR $229/MO for 72 MONTHS

2014 PASSAT S

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17,999

#7283821, Automatic Power Windows, Power Locks, Bluetooth

#163411, Power Windows/Power Locks, Keyless Entry, Auto

#4036792, Manual, Power Windows, Power Locks, Keyless Entry

18,699

19,999

G560911

(301)288-6009

MSRP $25,535

BUY FOR

INSTANT CASH OFFER

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2015 GOLF GTI 2D HB S

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WE PAY TOP DOLLAR-FAST FREE PICKUP! SELL YOUR CAR TODAY! CALL NOW FOR AN

MSRP $23,495

2015 BEETLE 1.8L

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2014 JETTA SEDAN TDI

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2015 TIGUAN S 2WD

2014 TOUAREG TDI R-LINE V6

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Cars Wanted

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Any Make, Model or Year. We Pay MORE! Running or Not. Sell Your Car or Truck TODAY. Free Towing! Instant Offer: 1-888-545-8647

Import Cars

05 MAZDA 6: 4 cylinder, runs well, 147k, alloy rims, 4 door, sun roof, AC, $3700 Call: 301-996-6494 08’ VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE: 92k miles 2.55 cylinders, auto, tan leather int, good cond, $5500 240-472-0607

RAIN OR SHINE!

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Auto Insurance

Since 1989

www.CapitalAutoAuction.com WE HAVE VEHICLES FOR EVERY BUDGET AND NEED!

AUCTIONS EVERY SATURDAY

Temple Hills, MD

#5606905, Automactic. Power Windows, Power Locks, Keyless Entry, Sun Roof

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#13510753, Automatic, Power Windows, Power Locks, Keyless Entry

MSRP $27,180

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24,999

OR $372/MO for 72 MONTHS

5001 Beech Road Live/Drive Auction Time Saturdays 9:00a.m.

#14012689, Navigation, Sunroof Power Windows/Locks, Loaded

MSRP $55,835

BUY FOR

46,994

or email dc@capitalautoauction.com

OURISMAN VW WORLD AUTO CERTIFIED PRE OWNED

OPEN TO PUBLIC • ALL DEALERS WELCOME

18 Available...Rates Starting at 1.64% up to 72 months

2014 Golf 4Dr...............................VP0129, White,18,424 Miles.................$18,741

2010 Golf TDI.............................V002217A, Silver,97,688 Miles........$12,322

2012 GLI Autobaun.....................V558039A, White,40,126 Miles.............$19,991

2014 Ford Focus.......................PR0124, Red, 34,432 Miles.............$13,393

2013 Jetta Sportwagen TDI.....V606905A,Gray,34,916 Miles..........$20,551

2012 Jetta Sedan.......................V304285A, Gray,18,289 Miles...............$13,491

2013 GTI Wolfsburg..................V058760A, Black, 12,059 Miles.......$20,793

2012 Jetta SEL PREM PZEV.......VLP0123, Grey, 55,979 Miles...............$13,755

2014 GTI Wolfsburg..................V039591A, Black, 7,854 Miles.............$20,994

2012 Jetta Sedan SE.................V283821A, White,35,610 Miles.............$14,991

2013 Passat TDI SE....................V033935A, Gray,28,762 Miles...............$21,991

2012 Hyundai Sonata Ltd........VP0127, White, 58,071 Miles...........$15,992

2015 Passat 1.8T Se.................V504978A, Fortana Red, 1651Miles.$24,563

2012 GTI.....................................V051211A, Gray,50,358 Miles.........$16,552

2014 Toyota RAV4 AWD...........V822918A,White,4,106 Miles..........$25,491

2014 Nissan Altima..................PR0125, Grey, 25,866 Miles.............$15,893

2012 Mercedes E350 AWD........V061959A, Silver, 46,366 Miles.......$28,872

1905 Brentwood Road Live/Drive Auction Time Saturdays 10:00a.m.

Call 301-640-5987

OR $659/MO for 72 MONTHS

2007 Dodge Magnum Wagon. V568165B, Red,136,258 Miles................$8,891

Washington, DC

G560912

BUY BELOW KBB VALUE

All prices & payments exclude tax, tags, title, freight and $300 processing fee. Cannot be combined with any previous advertised or internet special. Pictures are for illustrative purposes only. Special APR financing cannot be combined with sale prices. Ends 04/6/15.

Ourisman VW of Laurel

Looking for a new convertible?

Online Chat Available...24 Hour Website • Hours Mon-Fri 9 am-9 pm • Sat 9 am-8 pm

Search Gazette.Net/Autos

1.855.881.9197 • www.ourismanvw.com

G560914

3371 Fort Meade Road, Laurel

Thursday, April 2, 2015 bo

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Thursday, April 2, 2015 bo

NEW22015 RAV4 4X2 LE AVAILABLE: #564249, 564266

2 AVAILABLE: #572074, 572081

OF SAVINGS!

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AFTER $750 REBATE

for everyone

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$0 DOWN

24,690

19,390

AFTER TOYOTA $750 REBATE

2 AVAILABLE: #567123, 567141

Sales Event

AUTO, 4 CYL., 4 DR

18,290

4 DR., AUTO, 6 CYL.

14,990

$0 DOWN

4 DR., AUTO, 4 CYL., INCL.

AFTER $750 REBATE

4 CYL., 4 DR., AUTO

2015 COROLLA LE

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NEW 2015 TACOMA 4X2 XTRACAB

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DARCARS

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4 DR., AUTO, 4 CYL

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15625 Frederick Rd (Rte 355) • Rockville, MD n OPEN SUNDAY n VISIT US ON THE WEB AT www.355Toyota.com

G560913

20,890

NEW 2015 CAMRY LE

PRICES AND PAYMENTS INCLUDE ANY APPLICABLE MANUFACTURE’S REBATES AND EXCLUDE MILITARY ($500) AND COLLEGE GRAD ($500) REBATES, TAX, TAGS, DEALER PROCESSING CHARGE ($300) AND FREIGHT: CARS $795 OR $810, TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY AND SIENNAS $810, $845 AND $995. *0.0% APR & 0% APR FINANCING UP TO 60 MONTHS TO QUALIFIED BUYERS THRU TOYOTA FINANCIAL SERVICES. TOTAL FINANCED CANNOT EXCEED MSRP PLUS OPTIONS, TAX, AND LICENSE FEES. 0% APR MONTHLY PAYMENTS OF $16.67 FOR EACH $1000 BORROWED. 0.9% APR 60 MONTHLY PAYMENTS OF $17.05 FOR EACH $1000 BORROWED. APR OFFERS ARE NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER CASH BACK LEASE OFFER. NOT ALL BUYERS WILL QUALIFY.**LEASE PAYMENTS BASED ON 36 MONTHS, 12,000 MILES PER YEAR WITH $995 DOWN PLUS $650 ACQUISITION FEE, NO SECURITY DEPOSIT REQUIRED. LEASES FOR COROLLA AND CAMRY ARE 24 MONTHS WITH $0 DOWN PLUS TAX, TAGS, FREIGHT, PROCESSING AND $650 ACQUISITION FEE. SEE DEALER FOR COMPLETE DETAILS. EXPIRES 4/06/2015.