Washington Informer

Nike has launched its first direct-to-consumer retail presence in the capital of the United States, bringing the company's multi-category brand experience to the historic Georgetown district of Washington, D.C. At Nike Georgetown, consumers will find the best Nike has to offer, including the pinnacle expression of Women's product, services and programming.

The new three-story, 31,000-square-foot store reflects the Nike brand retail concept, offering a premium assortment of Nike Running, Training, Basketball, Football, Soccer and Sportswear with footwear, apparel and equipment for men, women and young athletes.

The women's department is highlighted at Nike Georgetown on the entire first floor, combining footwear, apparel and accessories from training, running and sportswear. It also features services and programming specific for female athletes, including bra-fitting, pant-hemming, head-to-toe styling, weekly Nike Training Club workouts and a women's only Nike+ Run Club. Nike Georgetown will also welcome women to the inaugural Nike Women's DC Half Marathon on April 28.

"We are proud to partner with the Georgetown community," said Elliott Hill, Nike's North America vice president and general manager. "Washington, D.C. has a rich sports culture and we look forward to inspiring and serving athletes of all levels."

Vast Majority of Customers Restored within 30 Hours of Storm's Onset

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As of 9:12 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 31, Pepco fully restored power to all customers who lost electrical service as a result of Hurricane Sandy. In total, Pepco restored more than 130,000 outages since the storm struck the Washington region on Monday afternoon, Oct. 29. The vast majority of customers without power were restored by the following Tuesday evening—within 30 hours of the storm's onset.

"The magnitude of Hurricane Sandy was unprecedented as was Pepco's preparation," said Thomas H. Graham, President, Pepco Region. "Despite severe flooding that closed roads, tropical force winds that toppled trees and devastation to our electric system, we were able to restore the vast majority of customers who lost power within 30 hours of the onset of the storm. I want to thank our customers for their patience and understanding in these difficult conditions. Also, I want to thank the more than 2,000 employees, contractors and out-of-state mutual assistance personnel for their outstanding work and sacrifice, as well as the emergency management agencies, and government officials for their support."

Hurricane Sandy proved to be a massive, very dangerous storm that left millions of Americans without power and caused extensive damage to homes, businesses and property. In the Washington area, residents experienced severe flooding and tropical force winds that prompted extensive closings, including federal and local government, schools, public transportation and roads.

Preparation

Pepco closely monitored the path of Hurricane Sandy several days in advance of the storm hitting its service territory on Monday, Oct. 29. At the same time, the Company began executing the planning and preparation stages of its incident response plan—mobilizing employees, securing utility contractors working on our system, making calls for out-of-state utility assistance, checking materials inventories, identifying staging areas, reserving hotel rooms for incoming crews, retaining additional call center support, among other preparatory steps.

Pepco communicated with customers before the storm, including making automated calls to more than 1,500 customers enrolled in its emergency medical equipment program and the company's nearly 640,000 residential and small business customers, encouraging them to prepare for a severe storm and a potentially prolonged restoration period. In addition, senior executives conducted daily conference calls with government officials to provide updates and address their concerns and those of their constituents.

Restoration and Response

Power restoration activities began in full force on Monday, Oct. 29, when Sandy made its arrival in the Washington area. Repair work continued throughout the storm except for a short period Monday evening when sustained winds exceeded a safe limit. Pepco temporarily pulled its line crews at this time and when conditions were safe, the crews returned to the field to restore service.

At the peak of the restoration effort, Pepco mobilized more than 2,000 employees, contractors and restoration crews to support response:

• Nearly 600 internal and contract line and underground personnel

• 300 tree removal personnel

• About 400 customer call representatives to answer customer calls

• About 165 assessors to identify storm damage

• Around 635 support personnel who are working on special storm response roles

In addition, PHI, Pepco's parent company, secured over 2,500 out-of-state restoration personnel acquired through the mutual assistance process.

To keep customers informed, Pepco proactively updated Twitter, Facebook, the mobile outage reporting and tracking app, and the website; issued continual press updates; held daily press conferences and conducted numerous media interviews.

Pepco received more than 51,000 customer calls during the storm restoration effort with more than 99 percent of calls being answered in less than 30 seconds.

Source: Pepco

Your Vote Matters!

The front-page photograph of individuals voting early is a great reminder of how important it is for everyone to vote in this election. The presidential race has gotten most of the attention, but there are some very important local and state issues on the ballot that we need to pay close attention to. Everyone who has the right to vote must vote! This is our opportunity to have a say – in what happens in and around our communities. Vote for the candidates and the issues that will most positively affect you; that's what is called "an educated vote."

We cannot allow others to determine what our needs are; we can determine that for ourselves. Voting is the strongest way for us to support or reject an issue. As citizens, it is our right to vote. We need to exercise that right whenever we have the chance. Election Day is just about here and we need to be very excited because all of us are going to the polls in record numbers to vote.

James Patterson

Expand Gaming in Prince George's County

It has always been my belief that Milt Peterson developed National Harbor with the intent of bringing gambling to Prince George's County, but your article by D.R. Barnes, "Milt Peterson, Bets on Question 7" in the October 25th edition gave me some insight into the man and his beliefs.

I support Question 7, and firmly believe we should have gambling in Prince George's County. But when I read that Mr. Peterson had said "no" four times to bringing gambling to National Harbor, well it was kind of hard to believe. To me National Harbor is the perfect location for a casino with its close proximity to D.C., Virginia, and the Potomac River.

We need jobs in Prince George's County, and I hope the money from the casino helps our struggling schools. I am glad Mr. Peterson changed his mind on gambling at National Harbor, and I hope Question 7 passes.

Kenyon Bracket

Ft. Washington, Md.

The Oct. 28 main event lived up to its billing as a Beltway brawl as Northern Virginia's Jimmy Lange and Baltimore's Tony Jeter went toe-to-toe.

Despite scoring a 1st Round KO and earning four points on deductions to Jeter for low blows and holding against the ropes, Lange was upset by the aggressive Jeter. Lange failed to box and stick to his jab, while Jeter executed his game plan by brawling by completing his first 10-round bout. Jeter improved to 15-3-1, 10 KO's, while Lange lost for the first time in eight bouts, dropping to 38-5-2, 25 KO's.

Zain Shah vs. Harry Joe Yorgey – 6 Rounds – Middleweight

The co-main event ended quickly when "Lightning" Harry Joe Yorgey defeated Zain "Tiger" Shaw by TKO at 2:41 in the first round. The formerly undefeated Shaw took on the toughest opponent of his career in Yorgey, who is a former world championship contender. This bout was rescheduled from the last Patriot Center card, last February, when Shah had had to pull out because of illness. Midway through the first round, Yorgey scored a knockdown, and Shah never fully recovered.

Undefeated Alexandria middleweight Brandon Quarles had his hands full with veteran John "No Mercy" Mackey. After being knocked down in the first round, Quarles came back to knock down Mackey at the very end of the sixth and final round, leading to a majority draw.

The Beltway battle between Washington, D.C., fighters Lawrence Jones and Ivan "King Shango" Ziglar ended as a no-contest when Jones suffered an accidental head butt at 1:49 in the second round.

Two undefeated super middleweights faced off in Immanuwel Aleem vs. Mark "The Honorable" Baltimore. Aleem, who along with his brother Moshea, comprise the "fighting Aleem," was a decorated amateur before turning pro three months ago. He fought a spirited Baltimore, and prevailed on all three judges' cards.

Super middleweights Jerry "The King's Son" Odom and Darryl Fields faced off in a battle of debut fighters. It didn't last long, as Odom won by TKO at 1:11 in the first round. It wasn't a surprise, however, as Odom had a stellar amateur career, capturing the 2012 National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions.

In the first upset of the evening 1-8 David Warren Huffman of Milwaukee, WI, (now 2-8) scored a TKO victory over junior welterweight prospect Joseph "Raw Talent" Rector. Rector was a two-time regional Golden Gloves champion who won the Mayor's Cup Championship four times as an amateur.

In one of the most heralded deubuts of the evening, USA Boxing National Championship 2011 bronze medalist Antoine "Action" Dougles faced off against Valdez Eason. It didn't last long, as Dougles cornered Eason with a flurry of punches that drove him to the canvas, where the referee stopped the fight at 1:30 in the first round.

Two new D.C. cruiserweights faced off when Andrew Ward met Mario "Bazooka" Flores. Ward is a US Army Staff Sargent stationed in at Ft. Meade in Maryland, and Flores was a 2007 MD/DC/VA Golden Gloves Champion. Flores came on strong at the end of the fourth round, appearing to be on the verge of a knockout before the bell sounded, but it wasn't enough and the judges ruled the bout a majority draw.

The evening began with two of the evenings most experienced boxers, with more than 80 fights between the two of them, Shakir "The Assassin" Ashanti vs. David Antoine. They fought a spirited four rounds, with both fighters taking control at various times. But Antonine prevailed on all three judge's cards to win the unanimous decision.

Main Event -- 10 Rounds Middleweight -- Tony "Mo Better" Jeter (15-3-1, 10 KO's), Stevensville, MD won by majority decision (94-91, 93-92, 91-94) Jimmy Lange (38-5-2, 25 KO's), Great Falls, VA.

Co-Feature -- Six Rounds Middleweight -- "Lightning" Harry Joe Yorgey (25-1-1, 12 KO's), Bridgeport, PA, won by TKO (2:48 Round 1) over Zain "Tiger" Shah (5-1, 3 KO's, 1 NC), Chantilly, VA

Six Rounds Middleweight -- Brandon Quarles (9-0-1, 2 KO's), Alexandria, fought to a majority draw (57-55 Mackey, 56-56, 56-56) with John "No Mercy" Mackey, (13-8-4, six KO's), Washington, DC.

Six Rounds Middleweight -- Ivan "King Shango" Ziglar (7-2-1, four KO's), Washington, DC,and Lawrence Jones (4-6-2, one KO), Washington, DC, had a NC declared at 1:49 in the second round due to Jones' receiving an accidental head butt.

Four Rounds Super Middleweight -- Immanuwel Aleem (3-0, 2 KO's), Richmond, VA, won by UD (30-37, 40-46, 40-36) over "The Honorable" Mark Baltimore (1-1, 1 KO), Washington, DC.

Four Rounds Super Middleweight -- "The King's Son" Jerry Odom, Washington, D.C., (1-0, 1 KO) won by TKO at 1:11 in the first round over Darryl Fields (0-1), Akron, OH

Four Rounds Junior Welterweight--David Warren Huffman (2-8, 1KO), Milwaukee, WI, won by TKO at 1:08 in the first round over Joseph "Raw Talent" Rector (1-1, 1 KO), Fairfax, Va.

Four Rounds Super Middleweight -- Antoine "Action" Douglas, Washington, D.C., (1-0, 1 KO) won by TKO in the first round over Valdez Eason (0-7), Cincinnati, OH.

Four Rounds Cruiserweight -- Mario "Bazooka" Flores (1-1-1, 1 KO), Washington D.C,. fought to a majority draw (39-37 Flores, 38-38, 38-38) against Andre Ward (1-1-2, 1 KO), Washington, D.C.

Four Rounds Middleweight-- David Antoine (11-42-1, 5 KO's) Akron, OH won by UD (35-40, 35-40, 36-40) over Shakir "The Assassin" Ashanti (16-14, 4 KO's), Greensboro, N.C.

Among those who stood watch over Hurricane Sandy, were guards at the "Tomb of the Unknowns" at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, who are present 365 days a year. A creed inscribed at the entrance of the Tomb reads, "I will walk my tour in humble reverence to the best of my ability."

The following government offices, schools and organizations, located in the District and surrounding region, will be closed on Monday, Oct. 29 due to Hurricane Sandy:

•Federal Offices

Schools:

•Prince George's County Schools

•Montgomery County Schools

•Howard County Public Schools

•DC Public Schools

•Fairfax County Public Schools

•Calvert County Public Schools

•Queen Anne's County Schools

•St. Mary's County Schools

•Alexandria City Public Schools

•Loudoun County Public Schools

•Arlington Public Schools

•Charles County Schools

•Gallaudet University

•Salisbury University

•Arch of Wash - all parish schools

•Capital City Public Charter School

•Hospitality High PCS

•Imagine Hope Public Charter Schools

•KIPP DC: Key Academy

•Perry Street Prep Charter School

•St. Patrick's Episcopal Day

•Washington Latin Charter School

•Barrie School - Silver Spring

•Calverton School

•Ivymount School - Rockville

•Montgomery College

•Mt. Airy Christian Academy

•The Maddux School

•U of Phoenix - all MD centers

•UMD - College Park

•Fairfax Co Schools - VA

•Falls Church City Schools

•Flint Hill School - Oakton

•Frederick Co Schools - VA

•Potomac School - McLean

•Warren Co Schools - VA

•Holton Arms School

•Living Grace Christian School

•University of Mary Washington

•Landon School

•The Fairfax Christian School

•Anne Arundel Community College

•Flint Hill School - Oakton

•Fredericksburg City Schools

•George Mason University

•King George Co Schools - Va

•Indian Creek School

•Charles E Smith Jewish Day School

•The SEED Public Charter School

•Prince William Co. Public Schools

•Howard Community College

•Annapolis Area Christian School

•Shenandoah Co Schools - VA

•Howard University

•Clarke Co Schools - VA

•George Washington University

Other:

•Howard County Government

•Calvert County Government

•Charles County Government

•ICOG - Gaithersburg

•Prince George's Circuit Court

•The Campagna Center

•Anne Arundel Circuit Court

•BAR-T Incorporated

•All Unity Health Care, Incorporated Facilities

•St. Mary's Co District Court

•The House, Inc.

•National Gallery of Art

•Prince George's Co. Dist Court

•Montgomery County Government

Closures for slated for closing on Tuesday, Oct. 30 are:

Schools:

•Montgomery County Schools

•Fairfax County Public Schools

•Living Grace Christian School

•The Fairfax Christian School

•Flint Hill School - Oakton

•Charles E Smith Jewish Day School

Other:

•National Gallery of Art

Saving money while holiday shopping may sound impossible, but you don't need to be a Scrooge to budget. Through smart strategizing, you can find the perfect gift for friends and family and keep your wallet intact.

Here are some tips to give you a leg up on your New Year's financial resolutions:

Just Say No

When it comes to purchasing warranties, there are times you can just say no. Refusing extended warranties doesn't strip you of all protection. Reputable manufacturers will back products for three to six months and some credit cards extend or even double manufacturers' warranties. If you do purchase a warranty, be sure the terms are worth the cost.

Avoid Layaway

Layaway may sound great, but without discipline, it can be costly. If you're using a credit card to make small payments on your layaway purchase, and you don't pay your balance in full, you may ultimately pay both a layaway fee and interest on your credit card. And if you cancel the purchase, you could pay an additional fee too. Stick to buying what you can afford today.

Manage Your Money

If you have trouble sticking to your shopping budget, consider using tools to help keep you honest. Traditional financial software programs, which help you set budgets and manage money, are now providing access from mobile devices. For example, Quicken 2013's free iPhone, iPad and Android apps allow you to securely manage your money, view up-to-date information about your accounts and check your budgets, encouraging you to make sound financial decisions in real-time.

"Consumers who go into debt from holiday shopping often do so because they are unaware of what they have in their bank accounts and are spending unmindfully," warns Aaron Patzer, VP of Innovation at Intuit. "Tracking your budgets and spending as you go will help you stay on track."

Know the Refund Policy

Not all stores offer refunds for returned items. When buying gifts, make sure you know a store's policy before your purchase. Ask for a gift receipt so your friends and family can make exchanges or get refunds if necessary.

Use Gift Cards

Retailers must now honor gift cards for five years from the date of issue. So find those old gift cards, and use them toward your gift purchases, even if they have "expired." The company can send you a new card or issue the remaining balance in cash.

DIY

Showing your friends and family you care about them should not put you in debt. If the holidays will cause an unreasonable financial burden, consider making presents. From baking to knitting, to writing your loved ones poems and thoughtful letters, homemade presents can be more meaningful than the store-bought variety.

More money management tips for the holidays can be found at www.Quicken.com.

By planning ahead and making informed financial decisions this holiday shopping season, you can start 2013 on the right financial foot.

Source: StatePoint Media

Extensive Outages, Devastating Damage Possible; Restoration Could Take Days

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pepco is closely monitoring the approach of Hurricane Sandy, which has the potential to cause devastating damage to the D.C. service area.

Pepco has initiated its "Incident Response Plan" to prepare for the storm and is strongly urging customers to get ready now for the possibility of multi-day outages.

"Our emergency teams are active, regional storm teams are communicating and operational teams are preparing for potentially devastating damage to the region's infrastructure," said Thomas H. Graham, president, Pepco region.

Weather services are predicting that the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area will experience heavy rain and high winds over a sustained period, which could cause widespread and extended power outages.

Pepco, which is warning that tens or even hundreds of thousands of customers could lose power during this potentially catastrophic event, is committed to restoring power as quickly and safely as possible, although customer and crew safety remains its top priority. As a result, crews will begin working as soon as winds subside to below 35 mph – a maximum safe wind for workers to go up in bucket trucks per safety regulations.

"We're hearing forecasts that we could see heavy sustained winds for up to 48 hours as this storm makes an agonizingly slow track across our overall system," Graham said. "If winds are too high, we will not be able to start restoration work until they die down so it could be as long as even a day or two before our crews could safely start working to restore power."

Customers Urged to Prepare and Be Safe

Pepco urges its customers to prepare for potential power outages and act to ensure their safety. Here are some tips:

• Have adequate prescription medicines or infant supplies on hand.

• If you or someone you know uses life-support equipment that requires electricity to operate, identify a location with emergency power capabilities and make plans to go there during a prolonged outage.

• Assemble an emergency storm kit. Include a battery-powered radio or television, flashlight, a first-aid kit, battery-powered or windup clock, extra batteries, special needs items, an insulated cooler and a list of important and emergency phone numbers.

• Keep at least a three-day supply of non-perishable foods and bottled water and have a hand-operated can opener available.

• Have a telephone with a cord or cell phone to use as a backup. Cordless telephones require electricity to operate, and won't work if there is an outage.

• Protect your electronic equipment. Unplug sensitive electronics or plug computers and other sensitive equipment into surge suppressors, and consider a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) for temporary battery backup power.

• Turn off power to flood-prone basement appliances if it is safe to do so. However, if you have an electrically operated sump pump, you should not turn off your power.

• Fill your gas tank so you can run your automobile to charge mobile devices. Be sure to open garage doors using manual controls to run the vehicle safely.

• Tune in to local news broadcasts for the latest weather and emergency information.

• Follow the advice of your local emergency management officials.

• Take cover if necessary.

• Stay away from downed wires. Assume any downed wire is energized.

Call 1-877-PEPCO-62 (1-877-737-2662) to report a downed wire.

To report an outage, call 1-877-PEPCO-62 (1-877-737-2662) or report through our mobile app or our website, pepco.com.

Source: Pepco.com