Landover Hills Chronicle
Landover Hills Newsletter	January 2002

Every ten years following the census there is a process that takes place across the nation called l Redistricting. Since over the course of ten years many changes have taken place in regards to population shifts in the various districts. The process of redistricting is necessary to ensure that there is an equal number of voting citizens in each of the districts. In this regard, a number is selected which denotes the number of votes or the population that should be in each district, to ensure equal voting representation throughout the various districts.

In some instances it becomes necessary to create a new district to ensure equality across the districts.

In Prince George's County, redistricting takes place in two segments of government, which are county and state or legislative. The County redistricting has already taken place, this process involves the various councilmanic districts. In this process it was determined that the Town of Landover Hills would remain in the same councilmanic district which is district number 3, which is represented by County Councilmember Thomas R. Hendershot. On the other hand, the process of state or legislative redistricting has not yet been finalized.

In this process the Governor (Governor Parris N. Glendening), designated a Redistricting Advisory Committee, which is charged with the responsibility of studying the various districts throughout the state and coming up with recommendations, where necessary, to ensure that there is equal voting representation in all of the districts. This committee has completed the task and have submitted its recommendations to the Governor, who has the final word concerning what should take place.

In the committee recommendations the Town of Landover Hills, which is in legislative district 22B (a single member district), represented by State Delegate Rushern L. Baker, III, and Senator Paul G. Pinsky; will be moved to a newly created district which is called 47, please see map.

Each district has a Senator and three state Delegates representing the district. Therefore, as a result of this newly created district there will be an election for a Senator and Delegates who will represent the new district. It is very important that the Town of Landover Hills has qualified and effective representation in the newly created district. With this thought in mind, I strongly urge all voters in the Town of Landover Hills to be involved in this process, by voting for the persons who will represent them (a Senator and Delegates) in the new district. As I stated earlier the process has not been finalized, in that at this juncture the Governor has not yet approved the Redistricting Committee recommendations. However, all voters should be informed and prepared to cast their votes in November, for the candidates (a Senator and Delegates) of their choice.

My intent in this article is to inform and educate everyone about the process; so that intelligent decisions may be made concerning your valuable vote.

If any Town resident has questions about Redistricting, you may call Town Hall and leave a telephone number where you may be reached, or you may place your questions in writing and forward them to Town Hall. In any event be sure to be involved in this very important process.
 

Mayor Lee P. Walker
 

Town Hall will be closed on Monday, January 21, 2002 in observance of the Martin Luther King's Birthday Holiday and Monday, February, 18 for thePresident's Day Holiday. There will be NO YARD WASTE PICK-UP on either day.

The Best of Gilbert & Sullivan, Thursday, February 7, 2002, A musical revue of the works of William Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. All tickets $10. Reserved seating. Publick Playhouse, 5445 Landover Road, Cheverly, MD 20784. 301-277-1710.

Our sympathies are extended to the family of Mrs. Mildred Guhl, age 91, of 70^th Avenue who passed away at the end of December. Mrs. Guhl. was a long time resident who remained active in the community for many years.
 

Our thoughts and prayers are also with the Baum family of Taylor Street on the sudden loss of Raymond Baum who passed away on January 8, 2002. Mr Baum leaves behind his wife Dorothy, a son and daughter.

Throughout the course of the year, cooking is the number one cause of fire and fire related

injuries in Prince George's County. Across the country thousands of fires, millions of dollars in damages and numerous injuries are caused by cooking accidents, most often unattended cooking. However, in the cold winter months of December, January and February, heating related incidents rank first in the cause of fires and fire related injuries. With many residents using alternative forms of heating (i.e. space heaters, wood burning stoves, fireplaces, kerosene heaters), fires and instances of carbon monoxide exposure increase dramatically during this time of year. Residents should remember the following basic safety tips.
 

Heaters

• Keep all heaters at least 36 inches from anything that can burn (furniture, bedding, clothing, pets and people).

 
• Do not operate a space heater when you are not in the room or when you are sleeping.

 
• Do not place anything over the heater to dry.

 
• Check for fraying or splitting wires or overheating on electric space heaters. Repairs should be made by a professional.

 
• Never use gasoline or other substitute fuels in a kerosene heater.

 
• Turn off and cool down the heater before adding fuel, and wipe up any fuel that is spilled.

Fireplaces

• Chimneys should be professionally inspected and cleaned each year. i law which makes it a safer community to live in.

 
• Use a sturdy fireplace screen when burning fires.

 
• Burn only wood and NOT paper or pine branches that can float out of a chimney and ignite your roof.

 
• If you are hanging stockings by a fireplace, do not burn a fire.

 

• Stove connector pipes and chimney should be inspected each year by a professional.

 
• Use short hot fires rather than long smoldering ones.

 

• Do not leave a stove unattended when children are present.

 
• Never use gasoline, kerosene, charcoal starter or other flammables to start a fire.

 
• Empty ashes into a metal container with a tight fitting lid. Keep containers off of combustible floors.

 

Frostbite

Frostbite is caused by thermal injury to the skin and soft underlying tissues. It occurs as a result of extended exposure to cold weather. At risk individuals are those caught in the elements for extended periods of time, without proper clothing or protection.
 

• Motorists, runners, hunters and those participating in winter sports should be aware of the warning signs of frostbite. The areas of most concern are the feet, hands, ears and nose

 
• Alcohol intake and smoking increase the risk of frostbite injury.

 
• The first signs of frostbite injury are redness and numbness followed by swelling and blister formation at 6-24 hours. Seek medical attention immediately if blisters are noted.

 
• To prevent frostbite, wear layers of clothing with a waterproof outer layer. Layers can be removed or added as needed

 

working smoke alarms. Fire Chief Ronald D. Blackwell says, "A working smoke alarm is the single most important factor in surviving a fire in your home. Having a working smoke alarm doubles your chances for survival." Unfortunately, nationwide, thousands of people

die in house fires, and most fire deaths occur at night while people are sleeping. Over 75 percent of fire-related deaths and injuries could have been prevented if the residences had working smoke alarms.
 

When you are sleeping, your senses cannot alert you of a fire's poisonous gases or smoke. Inhaling smoke or gases can suffocate you without your being aware of the fire. A working smoke alarm provides early warning, which increases an individual's chance for escape. Chief Blackwell strongly encourages citizens to install smoke alarms on every level of their home. The most important location is in the hallway, near bedrooms. Avoid placing alarms near cooking areas, air vents or bathroom showers. In Prince George's County, it is the law that every home has a working smoke alarm. This is a law we can live with!
 

Several community-based businesses have donated smoke alarms to the Prince George's County Fire/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department's Safe Families program. Without their assistance, we would be unable to provide these life-saving devices to County residents. Branch Electric, Encompass and Home Depot have supplied the Fire/EMS Department with over 2,500 smoke alarms for distribution this year. Any resident, who may be in need of a smoke alarm, should call 301-864-SAFE. A member of our Department will visit the resident's home and install the smoke alarm, free of charge.
 

Remember:

• Test smoke alarms once a month

 
• Replace batteries twice a year, when you change your clock-change your battery

• Have a plan and practice your plan to escape from your home in case of a fire.

On December 18, 2000, the Mayor and Council passed an Emergency Ordinance concerning street parking during snow storms. Below are the "highlights" of that Ordinance
 

Ordinance O-03-00

Emergency Ordinance

Town of Landover Hills

An Ordinance regulating temporary parking after a snowfall so that vehicles must be parked on one side of the street or as directed by Town personnel and further providing the authority to close streets temporarily for emergencies or construction.
 

Section 9802- Street Parking Regulations
 

(D)- snow
 

Whenever snow has accumulated in the streets of the town to a depth of one (1) inch or more, the following procedures apply to all vehicles parked or left to stand on the streets of the town:

1. On one-way streets or on streets with a median separating the travel lanes, vehicles must be a the right curb facing in the direction of travel in that lane

2. On all streets other than those listed in sub-section one (1), vehicles must be parked on the odd-numbered side of the street.
 

3. Vehicles shall otherwise be parked or left as directed by the police or public works personnel.
 

4. Trailers, including boat-and-trailer and travel trailers must not be on any street unless the owner/lessor of the trailer is a resident of the town and can demonstrate that the owner/lessor has no off-street parking on the property in which the owner/lessee resides.
 

5. The provisions of this subsection 9802 (d) shall be effective without notification and shall remain in effect until the street is plowed; provided however that when snow shall accumulate to a depth of one (1) inch or more after 11 p.m. the provisions of the sub-title 9802 (d) shall not be effective until 7:00 a.m.on the day following and shall remain in effect until the street is plowed.

Here we are in a NEW YEAR and I as the Police Chief am looking forward to some new changes. I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone the very best for 2002 and hope that 2001 closed on a positive note for all of you. We would also like to wish everyone that might have lost loved ones in the 9-11 tragedies the very best for the New Year and our prayers and thoughts are with you. We have two new officers now working for Landover Hills. One being an experienced officer named Felix Montelera. He has worked with the Puerto Rican State Police as well as the Prince Georges' County Police Department . He will be an asset to our department and we welcome him aboard. The other officer is a graduate of the Prince Georges' Municipal Police Academy, as well as the Prince Georges' County Fire Academy. He is Thomas Gordon & we welcome him aboard and he will be an asset to our department. I would also like to let everyone know that we also lost one of our veteran officers to the Metropolitan Police Department (Cpl. Michael Rackey). We wish him well in his new position. As we proceed into this new year, let us remember our commitment to each other: that a peaceful and safe community is a responsibility we all must share. It is a cooperative partnership between residents, businesses, government and the police that will maintain the foundation for a community's well being. In today's society, the well-being of our community is a matter of mutual; concern to us all. In 2002, let us resolve to become even more involved with our community, and neighbors in an effort to make our Town everything we want it to be. On numerous occasions, I as your Police Chief have met many of our residents, and many of the residents I have met have very seldom attended our monthly town meetings. These meetings are when you as residents can voice your praises or oppositions to anything that your Town Government and Police Department do on a daily basis. We also accept any suggestions which would make your Town Government and Police Department work better for you as the residents. We usually meet the third Monday of the month unless a holiday falls on Monday, then it is usually on Tuesday.

I also would like to remind the residents that we are still experiencing numerous violations on Parkwood Street for Stop Signs and speeding on 72^nd Ave., Please help us in our efforts to have residents and non-residents comply with the law which makes it a safer community to live in.

Town Hall from time to time becomes a depository for items that are found by residents or Town employees. We currently are holding two such items.
 

The first is a Looney Tunes Folder with Bugs Bunny on the front with papers belonging to Daniella McBean If you know Daniella, please let her know that it is here and can be picked up between 9 and 5, Monday through Friday.
 

The other is a light brown/tan jacket with an orange lining, most probably a boy's jacket that would belong to a middle or high school student. It was found along Taylor Street. Again, if you know who it belongs to, please have them pick it up.