Winter is here and already we've had our first snow. There are a few things that residents need to remember.
 

1. The first and most important is to get as many cars as possible off the street, so that the plows can clear as wide a path as possible.
 

2. On one-way streets all cars should be parked on the right side of the roadway.
 

3. On all other streets cars should park on the odd side.
 

4. Keeping cars parked on

one side of the road will allow the plows to plow to the curb. Once this plowing is complete, vehicle owners should move their cars to the opposite side of the street so plowing can be completed.
 

5. When shoveling walkways and driveways, DO NOT throw the snow back into the street. The plows will just come along and pile it back up.
 

Rest assured we will do our best to keep the streets cleared and ice free. When the plows are out during a snow, please remember that they do not have the maneuverability or stopping ability of a regular car, so please stay out of their way.
 

Drive carefully and have a safe winter!
 

Breakfast with Santa will be held on Saturday, December 17, 2005 at 10 am at the Landover Hills Town Hall. Continental Breakfast, Visit with Santa and a surprise activity. Admission is $1.00 per person. Reservations are required. Please call 301-773-6401

Annual Holiday House Decorating Contest

This year the Holiday House Decorating Contest will be held on Saturday, December 17, 2005 beginning at 6 pm. The 3 categories will be Best Overall, Most Creative and Most Traditional. Turn your lights on for the judges to see!
 

19^th Annual Winter Festival of Lights- Month of December through Sunday, January 1, 5-9 p.m.(nightly)

Don't miss this season's spectacular drive-through displays! Featuring more than a million twinkling lights, the 19^th Annual Winter Festival of Lights is a joyous event for everyone. Please bring a canned good with you for donation to local food banks. Fee: $5/car and vans; $15/mini-buses and limos; $25/buses; $10/multi-visit passes for cars and vans (good for 3 visits and transferable). The festival is FREE on December 25. Watkins Regional Park, 301 Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro. For info: 301-699-2456.
 

Winter Evenings

Thursday, December 29^th & Friday December 30^th, 7-9 p.m. Tour the decorated house by candlelight, visit with costumed interpreters, and enjoy refreshments and children's activities. All ages welcome. Fee $5/adults, FREE/ages 12 & under. Riversdale House Museum, 4811 Riverdale Road, Riverdale Park. Info: 301-864-0420.

Our thoughts and prayers are extended to the Pilkerton Family on the tragic loss of Ricky Karis on November 12, 2005. Ricky was the son of Deborah Rose Pilkerton and Clarence Vernon Karis; brother of Destiny Rose Karis and Shawn William Karis; grandson of Mary Pilkerton and Rose Deward; Uncle of Autumn Rose Karis; sweetheart of Rita LaPrince and father of their unborn son; the nephew of James and Nancy Pilkerton; cousin of April Shifflett and James Pilkerton 3^rd as well as many other family members and friends.
 

Our sympathies are offered to the family of Eleanor Nolan who passed away in September at the age of 79. She had lived on 72^nd Avenue for 29 years.
 

Our sympathies are also offered to the family of Dorothy Holland of Taylor Street who passed away on November 21, 2005 at the age of 91. She was the wife of the late Thomas A. Holland Jr.; mother of Eileen (William) Finegan , Thomas (Joan) Holland, Dolores Holland and Kenneth (Kathleen) Holland and grandmother of Amanda and Sarah Holland. She will be missed by her family and friends. Mrs. Holland was a resident of Landover Hills for over 50 years.
 

A very happy belated birthday wish goes out to little Autumn Rose Karis who turned 1 on November 6, 2005. Autumn who was born prematurely continues to grow and thrive and is a constant source of joy for her family. Happy Birthday Autumn!
 

Liane Luini has recently passed the certification process to become a Certified Team Leader in Dr. Ray Strand's Healthy for Life Program. The program was designed to help people develop healthier lifestyles that lead to better health overall and permanent weight loss. Liane became certified by doing the program successfully for 7 weeks and passing a test with the side effect of losing 20 pounds. She is forming a Landover Hills Team to help others achieve the same weight loss or even better. (See insert.)
 

If you are a student in Middle School or High School in need of community service hours, please call or e-mail Town Hall. We are compiling a list of students for future projects and would love your help!

For information about the Town, upcoming meetings and local announcements be sure to tune into Channel 71.

Have you gotten your LH decal for your vehicles? The decals will be made available to any resident living within the incorporated area of the Town of Landover Hills. The decal will not give you special parking privileges, but it does help the police by indicating that the vehicle belongs to a Landover Hills resident. If your vehicle is ever stolen, this reflective decal will help the vehicle stand out at night for identification by the police.

The decals are absolutely free! All you need to do is to bring all your vehicle registrations to the police department. We ask that you place the decal either on your rear bumper or on your back windshield in the lower left corner. For further information call: 301-773-6400.

The holiday season is once again upon us. It is a wonderful time of the year, yet at the same time, it can place us in unfortunate circumstances. A few simple safeguards will minimize criminal opportunity and give you added safety during this holiday season.
 

1. When leaving your home, be sure to lock all doors and windows. (Don't leave holiday gifts or packages where they can be seen from a window) If you plan to be out of town for the holidays, arrange for someone to pick up your mail and newspapers. Take steps to make your home "lived in" while you are away, and make sure you contact your police department to keep a check on your house while out of town.
 

2. While shopping, try to park your car in the most lighted area of the shopping center, lock your car, and try to only make one trip so you will not have to leave packages in your vehicle. If you must make more then one trip, make sure you lock any packages in your trunk. Pay very close to your surroundings when going to your car and if anything or anyone looks suspicious, try to have someone from either security or the store walk you to your car.
 

3. While shopping in stores, minimize the appearance of carrying a lot of cash. Suspects will be looking for persons displaying a lot of cash. If you must carry a purse, keep it secured around your body. If you are wearing a jacket, put it under your jacket over your shoulder. If at all possible, shop with others as there is safety in numbers.
 

4. Finally, be aware of persons and things around you. Be confident and alert about your surroundings. Above all, don't let fear replace the joy of the Holiday season....AS IT IS A WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR.
 

IT'S COLD OUTSIDE!!! BUT, REMEMBER, YOU CANNOT START YOUR CAR AND LEAVE IT UNATTENDED. IT IS AGAINST THE LAW AND YOUR VEHICLE MAY DRIVE AWAY WITH SOMEONE ELSE BEHIND THE WHEEL.
 

I am sure that some of you may consider purchasing one of the mini-motorcycles/motor scooters as a present. Please read the following so that you do not purchase something that cannot be used.

Motor Scooters and Mopeds

There are numerous places selling motor scooters and they are advising their customers that they are street legal. Please read the following if you are anticipating purchasing one.

1.A motor scooter must have a seat for the driver,

2.A motor scooter must have a "step thru" chassis,

3.A motor scooter must have an engine size of 50cc or less,

4.A motor scooter must have an automatic transmission

5.A motor scooter must have a white headlight in the front and a red reflector or light to the rear,

6.A motor scooter may not travel at speeds in excess of 30 mph

7.A motor scooter may not travel on roadways whose posted maximum speed limit is more than 50 mph

8.A motor scooter must use bike lanes or paved shoulders when on the highway, except for passing

9.A motor scooter may not use bike or pedestrian paths.
 

The driver of a motor scooter or a moped must have a valid driver's license or moped license issued by MVA. If the scooter or moped is built for two people and the passenger is under the age of 16, they must wear a helmet.

If the motor scooter looks like a small motorcycle because it does not have a step thru chassis, it is treated as a motorcycle and must be registered, with tags and wear helmet to drive on the street.

Call the police department if you have any questions before you drive it on the street.