Storm Preparedness Information

·       Have both a Shelter In Place plan and an Evacuation plan.

·       Locate your nearest public shelter. (See http://www.wusa9.com/news/article/227283/158/DC-Area-Shelters-Open-As-Massive-Storm-Approaches)

·       Always Report your power outage to whether it's just your house or the whole neighborhood:

o   PEPCO: 877-737-2662.

o   Allegheny Power: 800-255-3443

o   Baltimore Gas & Electric (BG&E): 877-778-2222

o   Dominion:  866-366-4357

o   Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO): 877-747-6326

o   Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC): 703-335-0500

·       Montgomery County residents: report downed trees and other non-emergency issues:

o   In Montgomery County and DC, call 311 (Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m)

o   Outside of Montgomery County, call 240-777-031

o   Website: www.montgomerycountymd.gov/311  

·       Maryland and Virginia Road Conditions:

o   Call 511

·       Emergencies such as “hot” or sparkling wires, injured or ill people:

o   Call 911

·       Sign up for your area’s Alerts:

o   District of Columbia  https://textalert.ema.dc.gov 

o   Gaithersburg  https://alert.gaithersburgmd.gov/

o   Montgomery County  https://alert.montgomerycountymd.gov/  

o   MTA/MARC  http://www.mtamarylandalerts.com/LoginC.aspx  

o   OPM  http://www.opm.gov/Operating_Status_Schedules/          

·       Food Safety:

o   Refrigerated food can last up to four hours. After that, discard all perishables.

o   Frozen food can last up to 48 hours if  the freezer is full but if it isn’t then only up to 24 hours.

o   See this for detail and print out a copy before you lose power:   www.fsis.usda.gov/fact_sheets/keeping_food_Safe_during_an_emergency/index.asp

·       Print out a list of emergency numbers and people who could help you and people you should check on.

·       Remember to recharge all critical electronic devices (obviously before power goes out J).

 Updated: 10/29/12 10:20 AM

Vote No On 7 Facebook Page 4

Here is a screen capture of information regarding Maryland's Question 7.

 

https://www.facebook.com/#!/VoteNoOn7

Vote No On 7 Facebook Page 3

Here is a screen capture of information regarding Maryland's Question 7.

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/#!/VoteNoOn7

Vote No On 7 Facebook Page 2

Here is a screen capture of information regarding Maryland's Question 7.

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/#!/VoteNoOn7

Vote No On 7 Facebook Page

Here is a screen capture of information regarding Maryland's Question 7.

https://www.facebook.com/#!/VoteNoOn7
 

Maryland Public Policy Institute Founder Speaks Out on Maryland's Question 7

Just in time to get the week off to a good start. I am posting highlights of a newspaper article for  your reading pleasure. Partly because I got a lot of hostile and insulting feedback to my own postings several weeks ago. For the record, gambling is not either a God-given or US-given right. Maryland has several other casinos so this one is not the only game in town. And, I am not restricting anyone else's freedom, no matter how ill-imagined it is. There are two sides to every story and I have a right to give mine.

To support mine, here are excepts of Mr. Christopher B. Summers with my emphasis in red font:

Q: Is a vote for Question 7 a vote for more school funding? Yes and no. Yes, the state's share of revenue from a Prince George's casino is dedicated to public schools. No, this does not mean schools will see a penny more than they already get. If Question 7 passes, Maryland lawmakers will likely divert existing school funds to other pet projects once casino revenues start rolling in.

Q: Does Question 7 ban political contributions from casino interests? Sadly, it does not. It only prohibits contributions to Maryland candidates for nonfederal office.

Q Will revenue from a new casino help the state's budget deficit? No, and it actually puts taxpayers on the hook for new spending obligations. If voters approve Question 7, taxpayers could be on the hook for $300 million in transportation-related payments to casino operators.

Q: How close are the ties between Maryland politicians and casino supporters? Quite close. Casino interests hired former aides to Gov. O'Malley and Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith,...

* Will a vote for Question 7 finally end Maryland's gambling debate? Not even close. Maryland's chief gambling advocate -- Senate President Thomas V. "Mike" Miller -- already suggested that Prince George's County should get a second casino once Question 7 is settled.

See the full response at:

http://washingtonexaminer.com/on-question-seven-marylanders-should-ask-five-questions/article/2511319

 

Trunk or Treat Event

Hi everyone,

If you are looking for a good way to celebrate Halloween without the hassle of prowling the neighborhoods, Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church is holding a Trunk or Treat event.

All are welcome.

See flyer below:

 

Maryland Drivers Need to Learn to Wait Their Turn

In late August, several news stories detailed how local school districts are taking the offensive to protect children from area drivers!

One doesn’t have to have children to be alarmed by the 2011 Maryland state-wide study finding thousands of drivers passed stopped school buses. It was no earth-shattering surprise to me the worst child-endangerment offenders were in Montgomery County.

The good news is several schools districts began taking counter-offensive measures by installing school bus cameras. The goal is to catch violators in the act and report them to police to impose fines. The underlying supposition is these fines will literally stop violators in their tracks.

 

The bad news is, after 20 years of navigating the area’s highways and byways, I can easily see 99% of the violators doing the opposite.

 

The behavioral question is: what is different about these fines? Will they really make violators wait their turn? Or, will violators react like impatient, spiteful children and do it all the more?

I think you can guess my predication.

Submitted to The Washington Examiner on September 13, 2012 but not published.