WI Web Staff
Baker, Bowie Baysox Team-up for 'Read Across Prince George's
Friday, 30 March 2012 17:00 Published in Local
Prince George's County Executive Rushern L. Baker and the Bowie Baysox are teaming-up with "Read Across Prince George's" to hit a home run for reading.
The partnership will include up to 50,000 tickets to be used as incentives by teachers and schools to show significant improvement or performance among students in reading and language arts. The partnership also includes the Bowie Baysoxs' designation of June 12 as "Read Across Prince George's Day," which will feature Baker throwing out the first pitch.
Students and their families are encouraged to attend to celebrate the joy and fun of summer reading.
"Read Across Prince George's" is receiving overwhelming kudos from the business community and community-at-large and I am excited," said Baker. "I want to especially thank the Bowie Baysox for their enthusiasm, generous donation of tickets and commend them on their literacy programs and efforts as a franchise."
Baker added that, "We all want the best for our children however, the path to educational greatness begins with putting in place and providing the right tools to reach our desired outcomes – Read Across Prince George's is one of many educational prongs that will be launched by my administration in the near future. "
Baysox Community Program Manager Kate Milstead said the Baysox are happy to host the reading project.
"As the Baysox's "Read & Hit a Home Run" reading program celebrates its 16th season with over 4,000,000 books read across the state of Maryland, we know that getting kids excited to read is one of the most important things we can do for our community today and for our future leaders and citizens of tomorrow," Milstead said.
Mayor Vincent C. Gray has nominated D.C. Department of General Services' (DGS) Brian J. Hanlon to head the agency. Hanlon has served as the department's interim director for the past six months, and his nomination will have to meet the D.C. Council's approval.
"Brian Hanlon has the breadth of experience needed to lead what is now one of the District's largest agencies," said Mayor Gray. "During the hugely complex transition and through this interview process, I've had a chance to observe Mr. Hanlon in action, and he has certainly earned the opportunity to lead DGS."
Hanlon's resume was among more than 20 that were examined during the exhaustive year-long recruitment and search for a new DGS director.
"Brian was the only candidate with the unique mix of design, construction, real estate and facility management expertise needed to lead this new agency into the future," said City Administrator Allen Y. Lew. "DGS is at the very heart of the physical transformation of the nation's capital. It is a vision that Mayor Gray has laid before us, and I will do everything in my power to ensure that we succeed."
Hanlon, a D.C. native, said he was eager about having the opportunity to move the agency forward.
"Through the leadership of the mayor and with the support of the Council, I am optimistic about our agency's ability to have a positive effect on the quality of life of the District's residents in delivering and maintaining modern, clean and safe spaces for them to enjoy," he said. "My vision for the agency is to leverage our size and scope to find and execute the best value for our residents, provide meaningful business opportunities for local firms and develop the best public facilities possible for our workforce."
Hanlon's career includes nearly 25 years of architecture, project management and real-estate development in both the public and private sectors. Among his various responsibilities and accomplishments as executive program manager at the Department of Real Estate Services, Hanlon was the principal author of the District's Workplace Design Guidelines. The Guidelines provide a toolkit for creating a high-performance workplace to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs.
"His depth of knowledge of design through construction implementation, expertise in financial analysis, business planning, and strategic analysis will continue to be a valuable asset to the District," said Lew.
To mark the anniversary, the company contributes more than $2.5 million to charities and donates, builds or renovates 160 homes
SAN FRANCISCO – Wells Fargo & Company marks a milestone anniversary of 160 years helping customers succeed financially and communities thrive with a series of donations and volunteer activities across the nation.
In celebration of 160 years of service, Wells Fargo is donating more than $2.5 million to more than 60 nonprofit organizations across the U.S. In some regions, eligible Wells Fargo customers helped determine how pools of $160,000 were divided among local non-profits by voting at Wells Fargo ATMs. In addition, Wells Fargo will donate, build or renovate 160 homes in the communities it serves over the course of 160 days.
"We've been working with our customers and communities to help them succeed financially since 1852," said Chairman and CEO John Stumpf. "Through the years, we've put our customers first, and we'll continue to do so as we look ahead to the next 160 years of service. Our celebration includes ways to honor our customers, communities and team members and says thank you for being with us over time."
The company also is organizing local volunteer activities for team members across the country in celebration of the anniversary. The activities address needs that are important to our team members, customers and communities including affordable housing, sustainable environments, hunger assistance, and education. Among the many volunteer opportunities, in some regions Wells Fargo team members collectively are volunteering 160 hours at local food banks, and in others they are visiting 160 classrooms to read to students and provide financial education lessons.
Wells Fargo team members also took part in a company-wide poll, which determined how the company would distribute $160,000 among three national non-profit organizations. As a result of the voting, Feeding America® will receive $100,000, and Semper Fi Fund and Teach for America will each receive $30,000.
Founded as a banking and express company on March 18, 1852, in New York City, Wells Fargo opened its first western office on the waterfront of Gold Rush San Francisco on July 13, 1852, the site of the company's current headquarters. With the merger of Wachovia, Wells Fargo once again serves customers coast to coast.
"From East to West and back again, Wells Fargo has always strived to move our customers forward toward financial success by providing outstanding service," Stumpf said. "In the 1860's Henry Wells was asked what it takes to succeed in business. He said, 'There is one very powerful business rule. It is concentrated in the word courtesy.' Today we call it 'service.'"
To learn more about Wells Fargo's 160-year history, visit https://www.wellsfargo.com/about/history/ or http://blog.wellsfargo.com/guidedbyhistory/ .
Program Signals 'New Era of Openness, Accountability'
Prince George's County Executive Rushern L. Baker has launched an initiative that delivers results based on analyis, accountability and innovation.
Prince George's CountyStat program is an adaptation of "stat" programs from other jurisdictions, including New York City, the State of Washington, and Gov. Martin O'Malley's pioneering work in Baltimore City and the State of Maryland.
Additionally, with the launch of the CountyStat website, residents, stakeholders, and the media can now view analyzed data and findings at http://princegeorgescountymd.gov/countystat.
"CountyStat signals a new era of openness and accountability in Prince George's" said Baker. "By monitoring performance, promoting innovation, and sharing our findings with the public, CountyStat will ensure my administration is making measurable progress toward improving the efficiency of the Prince George's County government."
The program, which is strong on transpareny, also serves as an important governing forum for Baker and his top managers.
"CountyStat's job is to make sure our government is operating as effectively as possible," said Baker. "It is a tool that will enable us to identify problems and implement strategies to improve our processes and operations."
With the exception of sensitive matters such as public safety and personnel, CountyStat sessions are open to the public to observe in person.
"CountyStat is not just a tool for me as county executive, but a tool for the people of Prince George's County to monitor their government and see how effective we are," Baker said.
As of January, even as local joblessness in other places took an upward spiral, the Washington region boasted the lowest rate among large cities.
The U. S. Labor Department Bureau of Labor Statistics also reported recently that although unemployment rates were down in 345 metropolitan areas in January, they increased in 16 areas while remaining unchanged in 11.
Overall, the District's unemployment rate increased slightly in December, with the joblessness having moved back above 10 percent in January, from 9.8 percent in December.
Also, with a current rate of 13.1 percent, Las Vegas remained among cities with the most unemployed individuals.
Bismarck, N.D., and Lincoln, Neb., tied for the lowest jobless rate of 3.8 percent.
Obama: 'If I Had a Son, He Would Look Like Trayvon'
Friday, 23 March 2012 19:46 Published in National
President Barack Obama said in comments Friday at the White House that it's imperative every aspect of the tragic slaying of Trayvon Martin be investigated.
The president also said that if he had son, that child -- being an African-American youth – would look like Trayvon, 17, who was gunned down as he walked in a modest Sanford, Fla., neighborhood.
"If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon," Obama said March 23 from the Rose Garden. "When I think about this boy, I think about my own kids."
Up to now, Obama had refrained from comment, leaving U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to follow up with an investigation.
George Zimmerman, 28, who volunteered in the gated community as a neighborhood watch guard, admitted shooting the unarmed youth in late February.
Zimmerman had been patrolling the neighborhood in his truck when he spotted Trayvon. He called 9-11 and was advised to remain in his vehicle while police arrived.
But Zimmerman ignored the advice and left the truck in pursuit of Trayvon. He told authorities that he shot the youth after Trayvon attacked him.
Meanwhile, the shooting has sparked public outrage that has spread like wild fire.
Questions have aboundded as to why Zimmerman – who is said to be of both white and Hispanic ancestry -- left his truck, and why he was carrying a gun.
The tragedy has also evolved into an issue of racial profiling, with reports further stating that other incidences of such profiling had occurred in the same community where Trayvon was slain.
Don Thompson to Assume Top Executive Post for McDonald's
Friday, 23 March 2012 15:35 Published in Business
The McDonald's Corporation has announced that following the retirement this summer of Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jim Skinner, that Don Thompson, president and chief operating officer, will take over. Skinner, who is stepping down after 41 years with the company, said that doing what's right for customers and the business drove his passion for his work. His resignation is effective June 30.
"I'm honored to have served and earned the trust of the Board, our shareholders, franchisees, suppliers and the men and women of this great company," Skinner said in a statement. " Don Thompson is well prepared for the CEO role, and under his leadership, our company will continue to meet the needs of our 68 million customers around the world every day. With Don at the helm, I am extremely confident in the future of McDonald's."
Thompson,48, said he was honored to succeed Skinner.
"Jim has been an outstanding leader, mentor and friend. I'm humbled to take the baton as CEO of McDonald's," he said. "Our management team is strong and will remain focused on the Plan to Win and on our three global priorities -- optimizing the menu, modernizing the customer experience and broadening our accessibility to even more customers. Our franchisees, suppliers and employees are committed to ensuring that McDonald's is our customers' favorite way and place to eat and drink."
Thompson, a 22-year veteran of McDonald's, started out as an electrical engineer. He assumed his current post in January 2010. In this capacity, he has directed global strategy and operations for more than 33,000 McDonald's restaurants in 119 countries. Previously, he served as President of McDonald's USA from 2006 until 2010. In that role, he was responsible for the strategic direction and positive business results of the nearly 14,000 restaurants in the U.S.
In addition to serving on McDonald's Board of Directors, Thompson is a member of the Board of Directors of Exelon Corporation and Northwestern Memorial Hospital. He also is a Trustee of his alma mater, Purdue University.
John A. Payton, president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF) , has died, NAACP President. He was 65.
Payton passed away Thursday at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore after a brief illness, according to a spokesman for the LDF.
Payton, the LDF's sixth president and director-counsel, leaves a gaping hole in the fight for civil rights. His bio states that he led the fund's involvement in five cases before the U.S. Supreme Court:
Two of those cases, in which LDF was either lead counsel or co-counsel, produced critical victories in the areas of voting rights (Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District Number One v. Holder) and employment discrimination (Lewis v. the City of Chicago). It was not surprising, then, that given his record of involvement in civil rights cases before taking the LDF post, earlier this spring the National Law Journal named John Payton one of the most influential civil rights attorneys of the last decade and the Washington (D.C.) Bar Association awarded him the Charles Hamilton Houston Medallion of Merit. This burst of activity by the country's first and finest civil rights law firm since its founding by Thurgood Marshall describes both its institutional mission and John Payton's lifelong personal commitment: to be an advocate for justice, equality and a true democracy for everyone.
Before becoming head of the LDF, Payton was a partner at the Washington firm WilmerHale. He was also a visiting professor at Harvard Law School and Georgetown University Law Center. During the spring of 2007, he taught a course on "The Constitution and Democracy" at Howard University School of Law and was named the James Nabrit Jr. Visiting Professor of Constitutional Law. He served as a member of the American Law Institute and a fellow of the American Bar Foundation.
Payton was a graduate of Pomona College and Harvard Law School. He leaves behind his wife, Gay McDougall, to mourn his death.
Prince George's Voters Can Begin Voting Saturday, March 24
Wednesday, 21 March 2012 16:00 Published in Local
UPPER MARLBORO, MD – Marylanders can vote early for the Presidential Primary beginning Saturday, March 24 through Thursday, March 29.
The early voting centers will be open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. each day of early voting, except for Sunday. Early voting centers will open on Sunday, March 25 from 12 noon until 6 p.m. Voters who are in line by the closing time will be allowed to vote.
"The Board of Elections is excited about early voting. This will give Prince George's County voters the option of voting at their convenience and I encourage them to take advantage of the opportunity" said Elections Administrator Alisha Alexander.
Prince George's County has five early voting centers:• Bowie Library, located at 15210 Annapolis Road, Bowie Maryland, 20715; College Park Community Center, located at 5051 Pierce Avenue, College Park, MD 20742; Oxon Hill Library, located at 6200 Oxon Hill Road, Oxon Hill, MD 20745; Upper Marlboro Community Center, located at 5400 Marlboro Race Track Rd, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772; and Wayne K. Curry Sports & Learning Center, located at 8001 Sheriff Road, Landover, MD 20785.
For more information, voters may contact the Prince George's County Board of Elections at (301)430-8020 or visit www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/elections or the State Board of Elections at 1-800-222-VOTE (8683) or visit www.elections.state.md.us.
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