This point in time is a very important period in our history, it is a time when a number of candidates will be seeking your endorsement and your vote for various elected offices. It is also a time when you as a citizen will have an opportunity to exercise your civic responsibility on September 10, 2002, which is the day of the primary election, and again on November 5, 2002, which is the day of the general election.
 

You must keep in mind that unless the candidate or candidates of your choice receives the required number of votes during the primary election, they will not be able to participate in the general election on November 5, 2002.
 

Here are some thoughts to help guide you in your decision regarding who you will support and/or vote for:

• Is the candidate sticking to the issues or is he or she sidestepping the issues and engaging in idle chatter or a mud throwing contest against other candidates.

 
• Is the candidate knowledgeable about the subject being discussed or pertinent questions being asked.
• What kind of track record does the candidate have or what kind of background does the candidate have; and finally is the candidate qualified to hold the office that he or she is seeking.

 

Lately, there have been a number of automobiles stolen from the area, there have also been cases of carjacking. Two of the criminals involved in these activities have been captured by the police. It was found that these persons were not only from out of this area, but also out of the state.
 

In view of this situation, residents are requested to remember the following:
 

• Be sure to lock your automobile doors when exiting your vehicle.

 
• If you should observe a person or persons standing around that you do not recognize, don't get out of your automobile, drive on, if they are still there when you make a second pass by your home and they look suspicious, call the police.

 
• Also, report any strange activity that you may see in your neighborhood to the police.
• Remember to look out for your neighbors.

 
• By following the above suggestions you will send a clear message to those persons who engage in criminal activities.

 

Lee P. Walker

• Budget and Tax Rate Hearing at 7:30 p.m.

• Introduction of 2003 Budget Ordinance




• Swearing in of Officer William Kinsey

 

 

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St. Mary's Car Raffle & Family Day- St. Mary's Catholic Church, 7401 Buchanan Street, Landover Hills, MD, will hold it's annual Car Raffle and Family Day on Saturday, May 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Burgundy Room. Admission is free. There will be games, raffles, entertainment, food and lots of fun.

Landover Hills Baptist Church 2^nd Annual Community Day
Saturday, June 8^th, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (Rain Date Saturday, June 15^th)
Fun for the whole family! Free Games, Prizes, Face Painting, Balloon Art, Health Information Station, Fire Department & Police Information, plus more!
Free Refreshments: Hot Dogs, Chips & Sodas. For more information call 301-577-6700
 

The Magical Land of Oz, A musical performed by children for children of all ages. Performed by New Hope Academy's Ballet and Cultural Dance Center Friday, May 31 at 10 am and 12:30 pm and Sat. June 2, at 11am and 7:30 pm. Publick Playhouse, Landover Road, Cheverly For more information, call 301-459-7311
 

Children's Bingo, Cottage City Fire Company, 3840 Bladensburg Road, Cottage City, Maryland. June 8, 2002 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Children's games $5.00 a book. All winners will receive a prize. Adult games- single sheets sold for a $1.00 a game. Each adult game will be split 50/50. Last game is winner take all. Food and drinks sold during bingo. Pizza, fries, juice, etc.
 

Farmer's Market at Riverdale Park Town Center. May 16, 2002 - October 31, 2002.

Every Thursday from 3:00pm to 7pm. Fruits, vegetables, jams, honey, baked goods and more. WIC vouchers for fruit and vegetables honored beginning in June. For more information, call Pat Gladding at 301-927-1362 or the Riverdale Park town office at 301-927-6381.
 

Riverdale Choral Concert at the Strawberry Festival. Sunday, June 2, 2002 at 6pm.

The Seasonings by P.D.Q. Bach/Schikele. Oratorio for soprano, alto, tenor and bass soloists, Mixed chorus and orchestra. Riverdale Presbyterian Church, 6513 Queens Chapel Road, University Park, MD. 301-927-0477. Admission free.

A citizen of our own has become an Eagle Scout. Joseph Smith III of Landover Hills and of Troop 1657 of the First Baptist Church of Glenarden, has earned the highest rank in Boy Scouts, Eagle Scout. He has lived in Landover Hills with his parents Joseph Jr. and Rosalyn Smith since 1988. Joseph's service project consisted of organizing and gathering items such as toiletries, non-perishable items, and clothing for two children's shelters. The response to give was so great, that the project expanded into providing additional items to three other shelters. Joseph is a sophomore at Fairmont Heights High School.
 

In addition, Marc-Anthony Branch, a resident of Lanham has also become an Eagle Scout. He is also a scout of Troop 1657, First Baptist Church of Glenarden. His affiliation with Landover Hills was his service project. Marc-Anthony organized and instituted the rebuilding of the Landover Hills bike path and clean up around the area. Marc-Anthony with the assistance of other scouts from Troop 1657

( Joseph Smith III, Derrick Branch, Elliot Dubose) and family and friends, rebuilt the railing and cleared debris from around the trail. The trail is now accessible, safe and cleaner than ever. Marc-Anthony is a senior at Eleanor Roosevelt High School. These two young men are positive examples for our youth.
 
 

The Asian Tiger Mosquito is a very aggressive day-biting mosquito which has become a serious pest in Landover Hills. It is a black mosquito with white stripes on its legs and a white stripe down the middle of its head and back. It is very aggressive and will bite whenever people or animals are available, but it is also skittish and hard to swat. Often, you will not feel it biting and it tends to stay near the ground (you may get bitten on the legs only).

The mosquito lays its eggs in containers or holes in trees. It is closely tied to human habitation and any container in your yard which will hold even a small amount of water for a week or more can breed tiger mosquitos.
 

Keeping this mosquito controlled in Landover Hills will take an organized community clean-up effort. Please check your yard for water holding containers such as:

• tires
• kiddie pools not in use
• buckets, barrels or cans
• wheelbarrows, canoes or boats
• tarps where water can puddle
• flower pots or saucers under pots

 

The Asian Tiger Mosquitos that are plaguing this area can carry West Nile Virus. It is up to everyone to eliminate all water sources to prevent breeding.
 

One sign that West Nile Virus may be in an area is the discovery of dead birds, especially crows and starlings. If you should find a dead bird that has no visible signs of injury, please call 1-866-866-2769. This a hotline number set up by the State of Maryland. They will direct you on what to do with the bird.

The month of April brought some criminal activity to Landover Hills that we have not seen in the past and I would like to talk with you about these incidents.
 

We experienced a carjacking Sunday, April 28^th during the evening hours on 71^st Avenue. When the victim came home she noticed a strange vehicle, which was occupied, on the street near her house. When she got out of her vehicle, she was approached by the suspect who was armed with a shotgun and they took her vehicle.
 

On Tuesday, April 30^th on 72^nd Avenue at approximately 12:45pm, a resident returning home noticed the suspect vehicle parked on the street next door to his house. When the victim parked his vehicle he was approached by the suspect who would not let him exit his vehicle. The suspect was armed with a shotgun and robbed the victim. The victim called the police and gave a good description of the suspect and the vehicle he was driving, including his tag number.
 

When the lookout was given for the suspect vehicle it was determined that it was the vehicle that was taken in an earlier carjacking on 85^th Avenue. Approximately ten minutes after the armed robbery another carjacking occurred in the 7500 Block of Buchanan Street. The suspects fit the same description of the suspects in the 85^th Avenue carjacking and the 72^nd Avenue armed robbery.
 

The suspect vehicle was located by Prince George's County Police at Route 410 and Route 50 and was followed, Cheverly Police Department chased the vehicle to D.C. where the driver of the vehicle was apprehended and arrested. From that arrest, the tag of the 71^st Avenue carjacking was recovered as well as the van from 85^th Avenue and the property belonging to the victim of the 72^nd Avenue armed robbery.
 

On Thursday, May 2^nd at approximately 10:00 p.m. on 70^th Avenue another carjacking occurred. Again, this victim noticed a man standing on the street two houses down from her. She parked her vehicle and was approached by the suspect who was armed with a handgun and her vehicle was taken. The vehicle was located by Prince George's County Police who gave chase and the suspect was apprehended after a foot chase.
 

The incidents on 71^st Avenue, 85^th Avenue, 72^nd Avenue and Buchanan Street were all related. The suspects were from Washington D.C. The suspect in the 70^th Avenue incident was from New York. It appears that the individuals committing these crimes are working as a team.
 

I cannot stress to you enough to be familiar with your surroundings. Unfortunately, our officers cannot be everywhere at the same time. Therefore you must be mindful of your street and who should be there. If you are coming home and you see an occupied vehicle that is not familiar to you or you notice an individual(s) standing on the street near your home, drive past your home and call the police. Dial 911 for emergencies and 301-333-4000 for non-emergencies. Try to give the call taker as many details as possible, such as make, model and color of the vehicle as well as a tag number, how many people are in it, and their description, if possible.
 

I met with the Prince George's County Police Department to see if there are any additional steps we can take and I am happy to say we will be working together on this problem. But we need your help, the residents, by being our eyes and ears. Together we can make Landover Hills a safe place to live.

Classified Ads

The Town of Landover Hills is now accepting paid advertisements from local businesses. The cost of a 2"x 3" (1/3 column) ad is twenty dollars ($20.00) per publication. If you are interested in placing an ad, please call Town Hall @ 301-773-6401, Monday through Friday, nine to five.