Now that the high holidays have passed and we are in a new year, I hope that everyone has had an enjoyable holiday season.
 

On Sunday, December 7, 2003, a reception was held at Landover Hills Town Hall for Chief Nana Sasraku III, Mamfehene of Akuapem Traditional Area, Ghana Africa; and Chief Nana Bonti-Marfo, Adontenhene of Agogo Traditional Area, Ghana, Africa. Mayor Walker welcomed the two Chiefs to the Town of Landover Hills.
 

Chief Nana Sasraku III, Mamfehene, came to this area accompanied by Chief Nan Bonti-Marfo, Adontenhene, to meet with citizens from his Town who are now residing in this vicinity; and to encourage their continued support of the Township of Mamfe Akuapem Traditional Area Ghana, Africa. There was also a discussion regarding forming a organization that would be a vehicle for providing support to the Township of Mamfe. Mayor Walker suggested that a name of the organization could be "Association for the Development of Mamfe".
 

Chief Ansah Sasraku III, Mamfehene, thanks the Town of Landover Hills for hosting the reception, and expressed a desire to be a sister Township with the Town of Landover Hills.
 

There were approximately fifty persons in attendance at the reception.
 

As a result of funds generated from the scholarship fundraiser held at the Amalgamated Transit Workers Union Hall, in Forestville, Maryland on Saturday, October 4, 2003, the Landover Hills Mayor's Scholarship Program will be providing scholarships to young people who are town residents.
 

Applicants for scholarships must meet the following criteria:
 

• Must have lived in the Town of Landover Hills for at least one year.

 
• Must be a High School Senior or a recent High School graduate.

 
• Must have been in good scholastic standing in High School.

 
• Must write a 500 word essay explaining why they should be chosen for this scholarship.

 
• Must show some positive involvement in community activities.

 
• Must attend an institution of higher learning in the State of Maryland.

 

Town Hall

6904 Taylor Street

Landover Hills, Maryland 20784
 

Application deadline: April 15, 2004.

The next Town Meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 20, 2004, at 7 :30 p.m. "Participate in your Town Government".
 

Mayor Lee. P. Walker

The Landover Hills Volunteer Fire Department would like to thank the citizens of Landover Hills for their continued support. With the monies raised in our recent fund drive we will be able to purchase equipment needed to place our new pumper in service. We look forward to providing the community with many years of stellar service. Best wishes for a prosperous year.
 
 

The Town's cable channel 71 has been off the air for the last few weeks. The equipment is old (1980) and when smoke began to come out of one of the components we felt it was best to pull the plug. As soon as new equipment is acquired we'll be back on the air. In the meantime for information about the town, please check our web page at www.lhills.sailorsite.net.

A protest hearing against the 2004-2005 renewal of the Stardust Inn's liquor license will be held on March 3, 2004 at 7 p.m. at the County Service Building, 5012 Rhode Island Avenue, Hearing Room 200, Hyattsville, Maryland 20781. All interested residents are urged to attend.

Identity Theft- Tuesday, January 20, 7-9 pm. Minimize your risk of being a target of identity theft with proper preventative measures. Learn what steps to take if your identity is stolen. A Federal Trade Commission representative presents this FREE seminar. Reservations required by January 14. Ages 18 & up. Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex, 8001 Sheriff Road, Landover. Information: 301-583-2430; TTY 301-583-2483.
 

Estate Planning- Wed., January 21, 7-9 pm. This FREE seminar teaches basic estate planning. Topics include: options for death and disability planning; making a will, using powers of attorney and joint tenancy; and the probate system. This seminar ends with a question and answer session and entitles all attendees to a one hour, complimentary consultation. Reservations required by January 19. Ages 18 and up. Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex, 8001 Sheriff Road, Landover. Information: 301-583-2430; TTY 301-583-2483. Smartlink #30236.
 

Buffalo Soldier, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 10 a.m. This dramatic presentation tells a chapter many have not heard. It is an account of the longest-living Buffalo Soldier and his unsung comrades of the U.S. Army's 9^th and 10^th Cavalries, African American troops who served heroically and served America on the frontier and helped secure western expansion efforts. The Publick Playhouse, 5445 Landover Road, Cheverly. Tickets $7/person, $6/person in groups of 10 or more. Information: 301-277-1710, TTY 301-277-0312.
 

Christ United Methodist Church is forming a liturgical dance ministry. For more information, contact Regina Wright at 301-516-4276.

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.

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

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 at 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.
 

Trailers, included 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 they have no off-street parking on the property in which the owner/lessee resides.
 

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 inch or more after 11 p.m., the provisions of the sub-title 9802 (d) shall not be effective until 7 a.m. on the day following and shall remain in effect until the street is plowed.

Here we are in a new year and as in prior years, there was a tragic event that occurred in the Town of Seat Pleasant, Maryland. What happened, was a minor had a firearm, and as a lot of people do on New Year's he discharged the firearm into the air. Several police officers were in the area, observed what occurred and the end results were that the minor with the weapon was shot by the police officers. The questions is, what was wrong with this situation? One, the minor should not have had access to a loaded weapon. Two, the minor discharged the weapon into the air with the idea of celebrating the new year. Where does the bullet go? Was this a safe thing to do? The State of Maryland does not permit minors to carry dangerous weapons, except for limited reasons such as a daytime, supervised, hunting trip, and at no time during the evening hours. We did not have any injuries reported to the Landover Hills Police Department over New Year's from this type of incident. But the officers working during New Years' could hear numerous gunshots in the area of Landover Hills. Thinking that all of these gunshots were discharged into the air, where did all of these bullets go? Why do we have so many irresponsible people that think that it is okay to discharge a weapon into the air to celebrate the New Year with no regard for where the bullets end up and the possibility that someone could be seriously injured by the bullet coming back down. It is also against the law to discharge a weapon within a 1,000 feet of a residential area. So why are all of these people disregarding the law for the purpose of celebration. The adults need to become more responsible and not to permit minors to discharge weapons into the air without thinking that someone could be seriously injured. We hope that this information will enlighten someone who was not aware the dangers of celebrating with firearms.

Someday someone who does this may have a family member or neighbor become the victim. So please heed the warning!!!
 

The Landover Hills Police Department is participating in "Project ChildSafe" which is a nationwide firearms safety education program. We are providing firearm safety kits to the Landover Hills residents. The kits contain safety information and a cable-style gun lock. The locks fit on most types of handguns, rifles and shotguns. The goal is to prevent a child or any other unauthorized person from accessing a firearm in a resident's home. You may obtain a firearm safety kit Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
 

It feels like the cold weather is finally here. With this in mind, we must try to remember not to start our car and leave it unattended to warm up. There are people out there looking for this so they can steal your car and it's against the law. If you go on a trip, you should carry extra clothing, blankets, small shovel, cellular phone, and a piece of cardboard with "Call Police" to display in your car window in case you breakdown. At home, insure that you have adequate insulation around your pipes that may be exposed to thecold air which could cause them to burst. Remember kerosene heaters should be used in a well ventilated room and away from furniture and drapes. Please keep a check on your senior neighbors to insure that they have adequate heat and sidewalks are shoveled. If they need help during daytime hours call 301-773-6400 or during evening hours call 301-333-4000.

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.