BACK-TO-SCHOOL GUIDE INSIDE: One-stop source for information on the new academic year in Prince George’s
Gazette-Star SERVING SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY COMMUNITIES
DAILY UPDATES ONLINE www.gazette.net
Thursday, August 8, 2013
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Shuttle helps Bowie keep top employer Bus service convinces city-based tech company to stay n
BY SOPHIE PETIT STAFF WRITER
GREG DOHLER/THE GAZETTE
Marcus Bushrod (left), 16, of Largo and Margaret August, 12, of Laurel exercise on a trampoline July 31 in Upper Marlboro during production of the Camp Fit exercise and nutrition reality show for children.
Cameras meet cardio at Camp Fit LARGO TEEN LOSES WEIGHT ON NATIONAL TV THROUGH REALITY SHOW BY SOPHIE PETIT STAFF WRITER
Marcus Bushrod, 16, from Largo, said he had mixed emotions two years ago when his doctor told him he was obese and immediately needed to lose weight. “I was mad and a little sad,” he said. Bushrod, a rising junior at Largo High School, said he hadn’t taken any successful steps to lose weight until about eight weeks ago when he enrolled in Camp Fit — a youth fitness program offered year round. In Camp Fit, youths attend exercise sessions three to five days a week, keep food journals and learn about healthier eating choices, said Camp Fit creator and Bowie resident Rob
Howze. About a year ago, Howze went to fellow Bowie resident Ron Williams, a film director and producer, with the idea of turning his weight-loss program into a reality TV show. “You don’t see many weight-loss shows for young people,” said Howze, who’s also the founder of the nonprofit World Wide Community, an organization that focuses on improving young people’s lives. Like most reality shows, the winner gets a prize. Whoever earns the most points in the five categories of diet, exercise, awareness, participation and teamwork wins $1,000, Howze said. But unlike most shows, participants aren’t kicked off if they don’t lose enough weight. “The goal is to influence others to get in
the program or implement the same process in their lives,” Howze said. The first season aired last September on public television as a weekly, half-hour show on Channel 378 on DirecTV. Williams and Howze wrapped up filming season two of “Camp Fit” this week , which was filmed over eight weeks and will air again in September on Channel 378. This season, eight Prince George’s County youth auditioned to be on the show, Williams said. Five were chosen , including Bushrod. He auditioned after his aunt, Irene Hymon, who he lives with in Largo, enrolled him in Camp Fit’s summer program because it cost
See SHOW, Page A-7
200-year-old remains laid to rest — again Burial service held in Upper Marlboro for unidentified man n
BY
AMBER LARKINS STAFF WRITER
A man was laid to rest in Upper Marlboro for a second time Saturday. Although the man’s identity remains unknown, about 75 people attended his second burial service at the historic Clagett House in Upper Marl-
NEWS
PROJECT CHIC
boro — an effort that was a decade in the making. Land developers came across his remains at the historic site in 2003, said retired Cpl. Richard Lanning, who was one of the Prince George’s County police officers originally called to the scene when the body was found. “Some employees were digging a hole and a skull rolled out,” said Lanning, a former county resident who now lives in Texas. “We had the feeling we
See REMAINS, Page A-7
AMBER LARKINS/THE GAZETTE
After a ceremony led Saturday by the Rev. Cynthia Snavely, people waited for the historic remains of an unidentified man to be lowered into the ground.
SPORTS
RECRUITING SCENE ALL ABOUT AAU
Flowers student aims to make 1,000 headbands for girls battling cancer.
College recruiters spend more time on teams than they do high school.
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Automotive
By the start of September, workers at Bowie’s largest employer will be able to take a free shuttle bus to work as well as local restaurants and shops, in a move officials say will keep the company supporting the city’s economy. Health care technology company Inovalon, which employs more than 700 Bowie residents, leases its headquarters on Collington Road and another building on Melford Boulevard, said John Henry King, the city’s economic development director. Not only does the city collect commercial taxes, but company employees shop in Bowie, said officials. “Every day you see people pouring out of those office buildings going to the Bowie Town Center,” said Kelly Pierce, executive director of the Greater Bowie Chamber of Commerce. “It’s important that they made a choice to locate to the city.” But last year the company thought about leaving Bowie, citing “employee access” as a concern in re-
See SHUTTLE, Page A-7
Gazette part of $250M sale to Amazon founder n
Newspapers will continue as usual for now BY AGNES BLUM STAFF WRITER
Readers of The Gazette can expect to continue hearing the familiar thump of the weekly newspaper hitting their driveways after the planned sale of parts of the Washington Post Co. to Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeffrey P. Bezos. “This is exciting news. We won’t see any immediate change,” said Ann McDaniel, a senior vice president at the Washington Post Co. who started her career as a journalist. “There’s always a future for compelling, accurate journalism at the community level.” The sale, announced Monday and expected to be completed in 60 days, ends the Graham family’s four-generation ownership of the flagship Post newspaper. In addition to The Gazette and the Post, the $250 million deal includes the Express newspaper; Southern Maryland Newspapers; the Fairfax County Times in Northern Virginia; the Spanish-language El Tiempo Latino newspaper; the Robinson Terminal Warehouse and the Post’s adjoining printing plant in Springfield, Va.; the Comprint printing plant in Laurel; and several military-base publications. Bezos, whose tech-savvy business sense made him one of the world’s richest men — he has a reported net worth of $25 billion — has said he is committed to quality journalism, McDaniel said. He has given his assurances that he will carry on the traditions and values the Graham family have fostered at the Post.
See SALE, Page A-7
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