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Thursday, May 23, 2013

Prince George's Woos Retailers at Vegas Convention

For the first time, the county hosted its own reception at the Global Retail Real Estate Convention.

From Freakanomics to Zuckerbergs, Prince George's County officials rubbed elbows with bigwigs in the retail real estate, business and marketing industries at the Global Retail Real Estate Convention in Las Vegas. For the first time, Prince George’s boosters hosted a nighttime reception for developers and retailers, according to BizJournals.com. And, according to a county spokesperson, things went well. “We had a very successful event,” David Iannucci told BizJournals. Iannucci, the assistant deputy chief administrative officer for County Executive Rushern Baker, wouldn’t identify any specific prospects but he reportedly said the county had set up more than a dozen official meetings with developers and retailers. Iannucci told BizJournals …

Cafritz Planning Board Hearing Continued to Next Thursday

The county planning board will continue reviewing the Cafritz property Detailed Site Plan next Thursday at 3 p.m.

Welcome to the live stream of the Prince George's County Planning Board hearing on the detailed site plans plans for the Cafritz property redevelopment in Riverdale Park. The project will come before the planning board around 1 p.m., though the schedule is subject to change.  There's been a bit of action from the local municipalities involved with the project, which sits mostly in Riverdale Park, with a small portion in College Park and bordering University Park. Last night, the University Park Town Council voted to disapprove the Cafritz development Detailed Site Plan and is requesting that the Prince George's County Planning Board postpone Thursday's hearing on the plan.  On Sunday, Riverdale Park voted to approve the Cafritz property …

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Jenni Pompi

7:50 pm on Thursday, May 23, 2013

Thanks for the updates, councilmen!   more ›

Ask Dr. Allergeez

Maryland Schools Required to Carry Epinephrine Injectors, But is it Safe?

An Upper Marlboro doctor discusses how schools prepare to safeguard students with allergies.

Q: I just heard that there are some states that require public schools to have epinephrine injectors not targeted for a specific child available in case of an emergency.  Is this safe?  - Sydney, Crofton A:  This is a perfect topic to discuss as Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE)’s Food Allergy Awareness Week, was last week.  What you are referring to is called the “stock” epinephrine law, which has been enacted by about 20 states thus far, including Maryland and Virginia.  It requires schools to keep epinephrine stocked for use in case of an emergency for children who do not have their own prescription epinephrine injectors at the school. When someone comes into contact with a food allergen, an immune response is triggered and …

Hyattsville Sets Budget Proposal Deadline

City council presses for more budget details with legislative mandate.

The Hyattsville City Council voted last night to require Mayor Marc Tartaro and city administrators to produce a detailed budget proposal by the end of the month.  The measure passed nine to zero, with Mayor Marc Tartaro abstaining from the vote. Council Member Joseph Solomon (Ward 5) was absent from the meeting, which saw the city council briefed on the proposed budgets for the Department of Community and Economic Development, the Department of Community Services, and a discussion of the city's retiree health care benefit liability.  According to Council President Candace Hollingsworth (Ward 1), the move to mandate a deadline for a more detailed budget came because members of the city council did not feel they had enough information to …

Shani

12:54 pm on Thursday, May 23, 2013

No worries, Michael. Your coverage of the Council is a genuine public service, which I appreciate. And your regular attendance at Council meetings is creditable. I'd rather see the news out in the public with a few tweaks made in the comments, than wait three weeks to see it and then have no real way to correct misimpressions. Besides, both May 30th and May 31st are legitimately described as "the…   more ›

University Park Council Disapproves Cafritz Detailed Site Plan

The council also looks to postpone Thursday's county planning board hearing on the plan.

The University Park Town Council voted Wednesday to disapprove the Cafritz development Detailed Site Plan and is requesting that the Prince George's County Planning Board postpone Thursday's hearing on the plan. The council voted 6-0 to disapprove with conditions. Council Member Heidi Sorensen (Ward 5) was absent. This vote comes nine days after the council voted to disapprove the preliminary plan. The planning board approved the preliminary plan May 16. Mayor John Tabori advised that the council approve the DSP but with conditions, saying otherwise, the planning board won't listen to their conditions. "The planning board has shown a willingness to listen to those who say 'We approve it, but we have real concerns,'" Tabori said. "They don'…

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Mr. Lobb

7:01 pm on Thursday, May 23, 2013

Those are a lot of great ideas and haven't heard any of them discussed within UP to see if any might be feasible.   more ›

Memorial Day BBQ? 8 Money-Saving Tricks (Sponsored)

Who’s NOT planning a BBQ this weekend? If the weather holds and you’ve got propane or charcoal, chances are, you’re grilling something with your friends and family. Here, new ideas for keeping your costs down. Sponsored by Home Depot.

Here at Patch, we like to be thrifty, so we talked to two barbeque experts and uncovered some really good ideas to help you save money on your next outdoor party.   1. Start with a marinade. This means planning ahead -- say, Friday. But it’s worth it, says Rick Browne, host of Barbeque America on PBS, because you can pass up that well-marbled ribeye steak and buy a less tender and less expensive choice to grill like a flank steak or chuck steak. Just marinate it or brine for one or two days and then cook long and slow on the barbeque grill to break down tissues but maintain moisture. “You need to include an acid in the marinade, perhaps juice, vinegar or soy sauce, but avoid cola which is so acidic it can turn meat into a soggy mess.” Try…

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Hyattsville Council Attendance Report

Is your ward being represented? Use this chart to see if your council members are attending meetings.

Attendance has been an issue for the Hyattsville city council in the past. Now, with a newly reconsituted city council, we're giving you a tool to help track your local leaders' attendance records.  Key: Mayor, President, Vice President Are you a city council member who has missed a meeting? Let us know why in the comment section below.

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Michael Theis

12:33 am on Thursday, May 23, 2013

Yes, this will be updated weekly. It's a bit of a beta right now. As this council racks up the meetings, I'll quickly run out of column space to note them all. I might just have columns for the four most recent meetings, along with columns for totals and percentages. Or, I might migrate the table to Google Spreadsheet and embed it in the article. Either way, future updates to this dataset will be…   more ›

High School Graduations to Bring Friends, Family, Traffic

Here's the list of commencement ceremonies scheduled for the University of Maryland Comcast Center.

High school graduation ceremonies can be a memorable experience, especially if shared with friends and family. And if those friends all drive their own cars and the family is a big one—high school graduation traffic has the potential to be memorable, as well. Several Prince George’s County high schools are holding graduation ceremonies in the University of Maryland’s Comcast Center this year, and as a result, anyone headed to campus should expect some heavy traffic and parking difficulties. Parking for graduation ceremonies will be in the surface lot surrounding the Center, according to a statement released by the university. On the days of the ceremonies, traffic will be heaviest at the intersections of Campus Drive and Route One, and …

Realtor: Maryland Homes Selling at 'Rapid Pace'

According to Long and Foster, the market is seeing 'positive trends.'

This past April in suburban Maryland, home sales increased, inventory levels continued to fall and "homes continued to sell at a rapid pace," according to Long & Foster. The real estate company's Market Minute reports show that in April, homes were on the market for an average of less than two months and throughout the area. The number of homes sold also increased compared to this time last year, acocording to the report. And the number of homes for sale dropped significantly throughout the Maryland suburbs. Looking to buy a home in or around Hyattsville? Check out local listings.

Mutts Matter: Little Guy With a Big Personality

Duke is a fun-loving, young miniature pinscher mix who gets along well with everyone and is looking for his new family.

Hey guys, my name is Duke and I’m very pleased to meet you! I’m a charming and energetic one-and-a-half-to-two-year-old miniature pinscher mix with loads of personality. I’m the complete package: smart, social, affectionate and playful, with a little mischief mixed in to keep things interesting. I only weigh about 12 pounds, but I’m no shrinking violet, and can run and play with the best of them. Sadly, my owners surrendered me to a shelter in Maryland, and said they just didn’t want me anymore. I don’t understand it, but I’m better off without those guys anyway. I was pretty scared in the shelter and realize how lucky I am to make it out alive. I’ve settled into home life now, and am so thankful for my second chance and the opportunity to…

Red White and Blue

10:41 am on Thursday, May 23, 2013

what good looking animal, hope he does find a great home with a couple little kids to play with.   more ›

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