HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW Ten must-see playmakers in Prince George’s County B-1
Gazette-Star SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNT Y
DA I LY U P DAT E S AT G A Z E T T E . N E T
Thursday, September 4, 2014
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School lessons getting ‘greener’ n
Environmental themes planned for all grades by 2016 BY JAMIE
ANFENSON-COMEAU STAFF WRITER
From developing ways to protect the Anacostia watershed to increasing recycling in their communities, Prince George’s County Public Schools students will be introduced to hands-on environmental literacy activities at every grade level. “The goal is to have all students outside, every year, engaged in solutions,” said James Roberson, instructional specialist in environmental
Pediatric dentist Tanek Jenkins gives a high-five to Ayomide Arowolaju, 4, of Washington, D.C., after an Aug. 28 examination at ABC Kids Dentistry in Oxon Hill.
Dentistry event helps children shine Fort Washington woman hosts fourth annual back to school screenings BY
KIRSTEN PETERSEN STAFF WRITER
Most dentists recommend brushing and flossing for healthy teeth, but pediatric dentist Tanek Jenkins says games, food and free entertainment can help too. Jenkins, 41, of Fort Washington will host her fourth annual back-toschool community day from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday to encourage families
to keep up with their dental health. “I believe dentistry is fun,” Jenkins said. “I wanted to create something where children could also have fun and do a simple screening to let parents know the status of their child’s dental health.” Jenkins attends health fairs, gives lessons at daycares and speaks to groups about oral health, but she was inspired to become a greater advocate for children’s dental health after learning about the death of Deamonte Driver, a 12-year-old from Prince George’s County whose untreated cavity led to a bacterial infection in his brain in 2007. “I wanted to try to think of some-
The Warriors organizes service projects, leadership workshops for area teens n
thing I could do, one, to say thank you to my community but, two, to let them know I am here because my office was in existence when this happened,” she said. She joined the Deamonte Driver Dentists in Action group, which traveled to schools to provide free dental screenings and treat children in a mobile clinic. The Deamonte Driver Dental Project has since become a state initiative, said Hazel Harper, one of the project’s organizers. But Jenkins said she wanted to do more. “I wanted to make sure I could at
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Rhiaani Daughtry said one of her goals this year was to make her school’s honor roll. After joining The Warriors, a group organized to motivate teenage girls, the 16-year-old from Fort Washington said she made the cut. Daughtry said she was encouraged by Fort Washington resident Erin Dorsey, 26, who started The Warriors earlier this year to empower girls ages 12 to 19 through community service
See DENTIST, Page A-10
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EMILIE EASTMAN STAFF WRITER
See FUNDING, Page A-10
INDEX Automotive Calendar Classified Entertainment Opinion Sports
EMILIE EASTMAN STAFF WRITER
For the second time in three years, state highway officials will review safety concerns regarding the multilane highway separating a Bowie shopping center from multiple housing communities near Prince George’s Stadium. There are no crosswalks or sidewalks at the intersection of U.S. 301 and Governor’s Bridge Road in Bowie, but that doesn’t stop occupants of the Governor’s Green apartment complex
BILL RYAN/THE GAZETTE
Joslyn Jones, librarian of children’s services, manages the “Teen Zone” at the Bowie Library.
ROAD WOES Clinton roadwork drives up community concerns.
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State engineers to revisit possibility of crosswalk at intersection BY
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and leadership training. “I just like that it’s an all girls group and she motivates us toward our goals,” Daughtry said. Dorsey, a management and program assistant for the FBI, grew up going on mission trips with her family and serving the homeless in Washington, D.C. Last year she organized her own service projects to help the homeless, including a pizza party in Franklin Square Park and a blanket drive. “You walk past it every day. They’re almost like the invisible people,” Dorsey said. “That’s where my heart is at.” But Dorsey saw another important need — mentoring teenage girls
See WARRIORS, Page A-9
Residents seek second look at Bowie traffic
n Three grant recipients plan to provide youth, senior services
Only 28 percent of science and engineering professionals are women, according to a 2014 National Science Board report, but Joslyn Jones and the staff at Bowie Library hope to help change that through a program that will give middle and high school girls exposure to computer science. “Girls Who Code” is one of three programs that received grants from Bowie’s community services department this year, according to an Aug. 26 city press release. “Girls Who Code” at the Bowie Branch Library received the largest
KIRSTEN PETERSEN STAFF WRITER
Bowie grants funding for programs BY
See LITERACY, Page A-9
Group empowering future ‘warriors’
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literacy at the William S. Schmidt Center. The William S. Schmidt Center in Brandywine provides environmental education to schools throughout the county. School system CEO Kevin Maxwell included promoting environmental literacy as part of his first-year platform, and included a $738,000 increase for the Schmidt Center in his budget for this year. That additional amount would be greater than a 50 percent increase over the prior year’s budget. John Neville, chairman of the Largo-based environmental nonprofit
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or Longleaf Community from crossing the busy highway to access the stores and restaurants, said Governor’s Green resident Akilah Braxton. “It’s a really dangerous intersection for people who don’t have cars,” Braxton said. “I always see people walking [across the highway]. It’s children and young adults.” Braxton said she sees an average of 10 pedestrians crossing the highway daily while driving to and from work. In August, Bowie officials requested that Maryland State Highway Administration evaluate the intersection, and the SHA responded by initiating a 90-day study of the area, said SHA spokesman Charlie Gischlar.
See SAFETY, Page A-10