By Rosalind S. Helderman, Ovetta Wiggins and Ruben Castaneda
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Prince George's residents interested in installing solar panels on their homes -- or in checking out a water-saving urinal -- can stop by the county's first Fall GreenFest, on Saturday at Vansville Elementary School in Beltsville.
The event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature a variety of businesses that offer products that can help residents make their homes and lives "green."
Local environmental groups will talk about regional efforts to clean up the community. County agencies will explain ways in which government officials have been trying to save energy and talk about a new tax credit for homeowners who install green technology.
And school officials will show off Vansville Elementary, which has been certified as a green school. A state-of-the art geothermal system uses ground energy to heat the school, which is built from recycled materials and has urinals designed to save water.
"It's a great opportunity for our citizens to learn about how they can help save the environment and save money at the same time," said County Council member Thomas E. Dernoga (D-Laurel), who spearheaded the event after learning of such fairs in other counties. "Since we're going green as a county, we wanted to provide all the information we're learning to our citizens, too."
A local resident who has built an electric car will show off the vehicle, and a tree will be given away as a door prize.
Vansville Elementary School is at 6813 Ammendale Rd.
Johnson Addresses Real Estate DealingsPrince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) issued a statement last week regarding his real estate dealings after The Washington Post published a story about the items seized by the FBI during a raid of developer Patrick Ricker's office in Upper Marlboro.
"All of Mr. Johnson's purchases are disclosed publicly in his financial disclosure statements and real estate records," said Jim Keary, a spokesman for Johnson.
The items taken from Ricker's office appeared to refer to Johnson at least twice.
One is listed by the FBI as "DOCS FROM TOP OF RICKER'S DESK RELATED TO 5 LOTS SOLD TO J. JOHNSON." The other is listed as "JT VENTURE AG - STAVROU, COLTON, RICKER DEVE GRP, LLC; DRAFT LTR FROM JACK JOHNSON RE: GB SENIOR HOUSING," which might refer to senior citizen housing in Greenbelt.
Johnson has said that the county is cooperating with the federal investigation, which appears to be centered in part on a major development in Greenbelt and the relationship among a former council member, a developer and a county employee. FBI agents also seized documents from the home of former council member Thomas R. Hendershot (D-New Carrollton) and the office and home of Karl L. Granzow Jr., a senior official in the Prince George's fire department. Hendershot, Ricker and Granzow are longtime friends.
Keary would not comment on what properties Johnson has purchased in the past five years or whether he has negotiated to buy or is under contract to purchase property. Instead, he repeated the statement issued by Johnson's office.
Keary initially said: "He never bought any five lots from Pat Ricker. . . . He doesn't know anything about senior housing."
Union Criticizes Sheriff On Overtime DecisionPrince George's Sheriff Michael Jackson (D) decided last week to pay overtime to sheriff's deputies to protect a wounded man who is the son of a civilian sheriff's employee, said Rob Cease, president of the union that represents county deputies.
Since at least Friday, deputies have been providing around-the-clock protection for a man who was shot and wounded in Largo and taken to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. The wounded man's mother is a secretary to Col. Paul Drula of the Sheriff's Office, Cease said.
Cease criticized the decision to pay overtime, which occurred three weeks after the County Council voted to furlough 6,000 workers, including sheriff's deputies, to help close a $57 million shortfall in the county budget.
"There are a lot of other options. We could have people assigned there [for the protection detail] during their normal work shift, instead of paying overtime," said Cease, president of the Deputy Sheriff's Association, Prince George's County/Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 112.
"If he needs to be guarded, there are better options during these tough times," Cease said, adding that in addition to furloughs, about 120 deputies who were able to use sheriff's vehicles to take home outside the county have had that privilege rescinded in recent weeks to save money.
Although he said he thinks the decision to use overtime is unwise, Cease sees an upside. "For my members, it's a chance to make up some of the money they're losing in the furlough," he said.
Sgt. Mario Ellis, a spokesman for Jackson, said the sheriff had no comment.
Funds Available to Help Provide Access to CollegeThe Maryland Higher Education Commission announced the availability of funds to help low-income students prepare for college.
Under the Maryland College Access Challenge Grant Program, organizations that help such students prepare for and gain access to college may apply for funds to support projects that provide information to students and their parents on higher education benefits, career planning and academic preparation.
A request for applications to the new federally funded program is posted on the commission's Web site, http://www.mhec.state.md.us/grants/mdcollaccesschallgrant/mdcollaccesschallgrant.asp.
Prince George's County and Baltimore are the two areas in the state where projects will be funded. Ten Prince George's middle schools are eligible project sites.
Funding will be awarded on a competitive basis to eligible nonprofit organizations, including institutions of higher education, or partnerships of organizations, to provide outreach services. To qualify for funding, nonprofit organizations must have been in existence on or before Sept. 27, 2007; must provide activities and services related to increasing access to higher education; and must be registered with the Charitable Organizations Division of the Office of the Secretary of State.
In Prince George's, a technical assistance meeting for potential applicants is set for 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 20 at Bowie State University. At the meeting, commission representatives will present an overview of the program and answer questions.
For information, contact Cheryl V. Edwards at 410-260-4520 or cedwards@mhec.state.md.us.
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