Earthquakes Can Happen at Any Time of the Year

By FEMA's Ready.gov

One of the most frightening and destructive phenomena of nature is a severe earthquake and its terrible aftereffects. An earthquake is the sudden, rapid shaking of the earth, caused by the breaking and shifting of subterranean rock as it releases strain that has accumulated over a long time.

All 50 states and 5 U.S. territories are at some risk for earthquakes.  Earthquakes can happen at any time of year.

The 2011 East Coast earthquake illustrated the fact that it is impossible to predict when or where an earthquake will occur, so it is important that you and your family are prepared ahead of time.

Learn more about what to do before, during, and after an earthquake at www.Ready.gov/earthquakes.

April is National Financial Capability Month

By FEMA's Ready Campaign

Disasters not only affect community infrastructure and public works, but they often overcome family finances, making recovery difficult and sometimes impossible. Before, during and after disasters strike, we work with a number of non-profit, voluntary and faith-based groups who specialize in getting disaster survivors financially back on their feet.

Be financially prepared for emergencies. Start by completing an Emergency Financial First Aid Kit. This document can help you keep track of important documentation, like insurance policy information, so you have clear financial records that will help maintain stability in the event of an emergency.

For more information, visit: 

http://www.ready.gov/financialpreparedness 

http://www.mymoney.gov/Pages/default.aspx

PGCPS to Host Dual Enrollment Program Parent Information Sessions for Sophomores & Juniors

UPPER MARLBORO, MD – Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) will host two parent information sessions for enrollment into the Dual Enrollment Program. The Dual Enrollment Program is designed for high school seniors and juniors who wish to enroll in college-level courses. Students accepted into the program will be enrolled simultaneously in high school and in state university or college courses, with tuition paid by PGCPS.  

Acceptance is based on the student’s high school grade point average (GPA), with a minimum requirement of 2.5 and approval of the student’s high school principal. All students who enroll in the Dual Enrollment Program must be re-certified each semester by their principal until they have graduated from high school.
During the information sessions, parents will receive an overview of dual enrollment, the process and timeline for Summer and Fall session registration, and application requirements.

Representatives will be on site from PGCC to answer parent questions. To officially apply for entry into the program, students will need to take the SAT, ACT, or Accuplacer.  The Accuplacer is a college placement exam that assesses student knowledge in math, reading and writing. Accuplacer tests will be offered at each high school during the testing window of March 3-21. Each school will determine the date of Accuplacer testing; please check with your school administrator for additional details.

The parent information sessions on the Dual Enrollment Program will be held on:
Tuesday, March 11 • 6-7:30 p.m. 
Largo High School 
505 Largo Road • Upper Marlboro, MD

Thursday, March 13 • 6-7:30 p.m. 
Oxon Hill High School  
6701 Leyte Drive • Oxon Hill, MD

Please contact your professional school counselor for more information about the Dual Enrollment Program, or email your questions to college.career@pgcps.org.

Parents and applicants should also keep in mind the following important dates for admissions to PGCC:

• April 22 - Application packet deadline for PGCC Summer and Fall 2014 Enrollment (application packets should be submitted to your school’s professional school counselor)
• May 12 - New student orientation at PGCC
• June 2 - Summer Session 1 begins at PGCC
• July 7 - Summer Session 2 begins at PGCC
• August 25 - Fall Session begins at PGCC

As the Dual Enrollment Program is available to all rising 11^th and 12^th grade students who meet admission requirements, students can dually enroll at any Maryland state college or university. In addition to the program being made available at PGCC, please contact surrounding Maryland colleges and universities directly to find out admission deadlines and requirements. 

Transforming Health in Prince George’s County

County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III and the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission invite you to a countywide meeting on primary healthcare and the new Regional Medical Center.

The upcoming meeting will allow YOU - community leaders, residents, and other stakeholders an opportunity to provide input on ways to improve the County's primary healthcare system and to see preliminary concepts for design of the new Regional Medical Center.

Participants will also have the opportunity to discuss the County's health disparities, as well as health promotion and wellness, with the medicalprofessional who are leading the County's Healthy Revolution.

When:  
  Saturday, March 1, 2014
  9:00am to 10:00am.  Registration
  10:00am to 1:00pm.  Program

Where:
  Jericho Christian Academy
  8500 Jericho City Drive
  Largo, MD  20785

Register at www.pgplanning.org/PHCSP.htmor call 301-952-4487 * TTY: 301-952-4633

Transit Accessible, Free Parking, and Breakfast Refreshments

Pilot Program Tests Later Evening, Weekend Management Office Hours

For residents who find they can never get home through DC-area traffic before the Fairwood Community Management Office closes, help is on the way. 

Under a new pilot program starting March 1, the office will adjust operating ours as part of an effort to determine if extended office hours, beyond the customary summer hours, are needed by residents. 

Under the pilot, the Management Office will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday will also be added May 1 with office hours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. These hours will remain in effect until Aug. 31 when the pilot ends. 

At the conclusion of the pilot, the Facilities Committee will review the office traffic patterns and determine if the program should become permanent. 

Beginning March 1, office hours will be:

• Monday - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Tuesday - 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Wednesday - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Thursday - 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Friday - 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Saturday - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ( May 1 to Aug. 31)
• Sunday - Closed

PG County Crews Prepare for Snow

By Carol Terry, Public Information Officer, Department of Public Works and Transportation

With the forecast of 3 to 6 inches of snow predicted for our area, the Prince George’s County Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPW&T) will deploy crews early Tuesday morning for a full snow removal operation.

Employees from DPW&T, the Department of Environmental Resources, Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement, and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission will be deployed to monitor, plow and treat the roadways. The crews will concentrate on the primary and major collector roads first and then will move into the residential areas to plow the roadways.”

The morning and evening commute may be impacted by the snow. Motorists are asked to remember these safety tips:

• Add extra time for travel;
• Stay alert and drive carefully; and
• Use caution when driving over bridges and when entering intersections.

To assist in our snow removal efforts, please remind the residents in your community to park on the even-numbered sides of the streets or in their driveways. We are also asking residents to shovel their driveways after plowing has occurred on their streets and to remove snow/ice from the sidewalks abutting their homes and businesses.

Residents are encouraged to wait 12 hours after the precipitation has stopped and call CountyClick at 311, the Snow Information Center at 301-350-0500 or go to the Snow Request Form to report snow conditions on their street.

DPW&T appreciates your assistance and thanks you for your participation in the Community Partners Program.

A New Year's Message to Fairwood Residents

By the Fairwood Community Association Executive Committee

As we celebrate the New Year, the members of the Fairwood Community Association Board of Directors and Executive Committee would like to extend to everyone our appreciation for your choosing to be part of our community.

Last year was an incredible year. Our very successful community yard sale, summer community day, National Night Out and our recent holiday event provided excellent opportunities for neighbors to come together and even have a little fun, and we look forward to even more neighbors participating next year as our community continues to grow.

We expanded channels through which we communicate and receive feedback from our residents by adding Facebook,Twitter and a Fairwood Community Blog to our toolbox.

The year also saw the addition of EarthFruits Yogurt and Jazzy's restaurant to our community, as well as establishments that provide beauty supplies and even Asian cuisine to our residents.

As we approach 2014, we have much to look forward to. Many of you may have noticed how work has already begun to prepare the parcels of land on the east side of Church Road for further expansion of our community.

NV Homes and Ryan homes will build homes in the remaining sections of Fairwood. We're projected to reach 75 percent completion in 2015, at which point control of the Fairwood Community Association will transfer from the developer to residents. For this reason, we highly recommend all residents become knowledgeable of and involved in our community's governing process.