A grand opening for the Early Stages Center in Northwest was held on Nov. 8.
The center, which is operated by the District of Columbia Public Schools system, provides greater access to thousands of families in Wards 7 and 8 seeking to evaluate and identify young children in need of special education services.
The new center, the second to open in the District since 2009, will offer free, comprehensive diagnostic testing services for children ages 3-5 and recommend the services necessary to help them succeed as they enter school.
The newest member of the Prince George's County Council, Derrick Leon Davis (D) – District 6, was administered the oath of office on Nov. 8 by Clerk of the Circuit Court Marilynn M. Bland during a swearing-in ceremony in the Council Hearing Room in Upper Marlboro,Md.
Council Member Davis won a special election to fill the District 6 Council seat left vacant by the resignation of Leslie Johnson in July 2011. He encouraged District 6 residents to look forward.
"This day is about our future—about how we keep working, growing and progressing together," said Davis. "How we invest in Prince George's County and in each other. It's about what unites us and moves us forward."
In remarks to family, friends and District 6 residents assembled in the Council Hearing Room, Davis thanked his supporters and recognized his mentor, former County Council member the Honorable JoAnn Bell.
Mayor Vincent C. Gray recently issued the following statement regarding the demonstrations associated with the Occupy D.C. movement:
"Until recently, the Occupy D.C. movement and its demonstrations have been peaceful. The report of aggressive action by some protestors last Friday evening (Nov. 4) was not indicative of what we have come to expect from Occupy D.C. demonstrators.
While I will always support the peaceful exercise of First Amendment rights, my administration must and will take all steps necessary to ensure that everyone's safety, property and rights are protected - including D.C. residents, visitors, and the protestors themselves.
I am concerned about reports that recent actions by some individuals associated with Occupy D.C. have turned more aggressive. We will not tolerate behavior that jeopardizes public safety. I urge all involved in the Occupy D.C. demonstrations to show restraint and to ensure that their protests are peaceful and not discredited by violence."
Mayor Vincent Gray is expected to tap Sheila Bunn as a replacement for Andi Pringle who lasted less than two weeks as his deputy chief-of-staff.
Pringle vacated the post in September after reports surfaced that she voted in a D.C. election while living in Maryland.
According to Loose Lips Bunn, chief-of -staff to Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, did not return calls seeking comment or confirmation.
Meanwhile, in the wake of the hiring scandal that earlier engulfed the Gray administration, if she accepts, Bunn will most likely be subjected to a thorough vettting process.
LARGO, MD - Keep Prince George's County Beautiful has announced that one of its affiliate organizations, Save the World! (STW) Environmental Club comprised of students in the fourth, fifth and sixth grades from Calverton Elementary School in Beltsville, will be honored this fall at the 58th annual Keep America Beautiful National Conference (KAB) in New Orleans.
STW won first place nationally in the waste reduction/recycling category for its implementation of a comprehensive paper recycling program for more than 800 students that provides every classroom with its own recycling bin and examines every bin on a weekly basis to ensure compliance.
"Save the World! Environmental Club members have made a profound and positive impact on the quality of life in Prince George's County and the environment," said County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III. "Not only are they being honored for improving our community, but they are receiving a valuable education about service and environmental stewardship."
The Club was supported by Keep Prince George's County Beautiful (KPGCB) a non-profit corporation that partners with the Department of Environmental Resources' (DER) Waste Management Division to create clean and healthy communities.
Benefiting from its association with the KAB network of nearly 2,000 affiliates and participating organizations, KPGCB supports the County through the development and implementation of waste management programs that include the Green Team School Program (in partnership with Prince George's County Public Schools), Great American Clean Up and Cigarette Litter Prevention Program.
The 58th annual KAB National Conference takes place Nov. 29 – Dec. 2 and brings together award-winning organizations and affiliates from across the country to celebrate the successes of the last 12 months and share best practices in beautification and community greening, fundraising, environmental courts, board development and social media.
The KAB National Awards are open to any business, civic group, school or government agency and their employees for their efforts to deliver a more beautiful, cleaner and improved environment through new technologies, improved waste handling and public space stewardship for program activities.
KAB, Inc., established in 1953, is the nation's largest volunteer-based community action and education organization. This national nonprofit forms public-private partnerships and programs that engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community environments. For additional information, visit www.kab.org.
For more information about the Save The World! Environmental Club, contact Katie Swanson at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , and for information about KPGCB and any of its programs and services, contact Helen Register at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or John Neville at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
NEW YORK - Occupy Wall Street is going on the road -- a two-week walk to Washington.
A small group of activists plans to leave Manhattan's Zuccotti Park at noon Wednesday (Nov. 9). They hope to arrive Nov. 23, the deadline for a congressional committee to decide whether to keep President Barack Obama's extension of Bush-era tax cuts. Protesters say the cuts benefit only rich Americans.
Kelly Brannon is organizing the 240-mile march with a dozen others. They hope to pick up others along the way. They liken the effort long-distance walks led by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights era.
They say they'll overnight by camping or at volunteered accommodations.
Beginning in December, new recipients of unemployment benefits in the District will receive automatic payments through government-issued prepaid Visa® debit cards, according to a statement issued this week by the Department of Employment Services (DOES).
The switch from paper checks will save the District more than $1 million each year, and the personalized debit cards will enable unemployment claimants to have their benefits directly deposited on the cards. Claimants who already receive paper checks will have to decide whether they want the direct deposit or debit card option by the time the program is fully implemented early next month.
Courtesy Photo
Nearly 600,000 checks are issued each year by DOES' Office of Unemployment Compensation. Switching to the debit cards will be more cost-effective, reducing the physical and financial costs of paper, printing and postage as well as delivery of checks.
"DOES is pleased to implement the UI Benefits Card Program in an effort to provide our claimants with a faster, safer, and more cost efficient means to receive and access their unemployment benefits," said DOES Director Lisa María Mallory. "By eliminating paper checks, our claimants will save both time and the fees associated with check cashing establishments."
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