The Prince George’s Post A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER FOR PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY Since 1932 Vol. 75, No. 47 November 22 — November 28, 2007 Prince George’s County, Maryland Newspaper of Record Phone: 301-627-0900 25 Airspace Opened for Thanksgiving Fliers By DAN LAMOTHE Capital News Service BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport to Benefit from Decision essential projects, Bush said in his International Airport, said Jonathan 2006 Thanksgiving season, Dean WASHINGTON — Commercial prepared remarks, allowing its Dean, a BWI spokesman. said. Airport officials predict Nov. airliners will be able to fly unused employees to focus on limiting “It will benefit us, certainly, but 21, the day before Thanksgiving, military airspace to accommodate delays. BWI is typically a low-delay air- will be the busiest, with about an unprecedented number of peo- The decision benefits travelers port,” Dean said. “Of all the air- 74,000 travelers. ple traveling for Thanksgiving, using Baltimore-Washington ports serving the Northeast, we The changes will also be in President Bush has announced. International Thurgood Marshall have the lowest amount of delays place during the equally busy The additional airspace runs Airport, Maryland’s major airport, this year.” Christmas travel season, Bush said. from Maine to Florida. The Federal but not as much as it helps more About 490,000 travelers are Nationally, a record-setting 27 Aviation Administration will also delay-prone airports like New expected to use BWI from Nov. 19- million passengers are expected to About 490,000 travelers are expected to use BWI Thurgood place a moratorium on its non- York’s John F. Kennedy 26, a .25 percent increase over the See AIR SPACE, Page A7 Marshall from Nov. 19 to 26 this year. State Parks STAVING OFF SUPERBUGS Residents Urged in Crisis, Report Says Not to Transport Good News Is Certain Firewood Facilities Could Courtesy DEPARTMENT and sellers of firewood not to Easily Improve OF AGRICULTURE transport firewood out of By KENNETH FLETCHER Prince George’s County to ANNAPOLIS – With the Capital News Service homes, hunting or camping onset of cooler autumn weath- locations, rather buy it where it er, many Maryland residents ANNAPOLIS – Maryland will be burned. are turning on their furnaces State Parks are experiencing “It is important that any and stocking up on wood to crumbling infrastructure, shut- Maryland resident buying fire- heat their homes. tered visitor’s centers and ris- wood understand the way it is Anyone buying or selling ing crime after recent funding measured and that any person wood should be familiar with cuts, but could become one of selling firewood in Maryland regulations governing the mea- the top systems in the country know and follow the law so surement of firewood so that with a small funding increase. that consumers get what they COURTESY NEWSUSA consumers get what they pay pay for and so that we protect That was the conclusion of Using hand sanitizers in a school setting helps keep certain germs away. for. The Maryland Department a report to lawmakers by the our forests and neighborhood of Agriculture’s Weights and Department of Natural trees from damaging insects,” Measures Section regulates the Resources, which outlined a said Maryland Secretary of ABC’s of Staph Infections sale of firewood. plan to get Maryland’s “once Agriculture Roger Richardson. By KENNETH FLETCHER There is currently a quaran- great state parks system” back (MRSA), a strain of staph that is considered Maryland regulations Capital News Service ge’s County to its former status as a nation- a “superbug” and extremely drug-resistant. tine in Prince Geor require that firewood sold in prohibiting the movement of al model, said Natural The alarming incidents have had many par- the state only be sold by the NewsUSA – While it has long been a ash wood materials and all Resources Secretary John ents and concerned community members cord, or fractional parts of a problem in hospitals nationwide, hardwood firewood out of the Griffin. wondering how to keep future occurrences of cord. Any other term, such as Staphylococcus, commonly known as a staph county. The report called for staph from becoming a daily concern. truckload, rack, face cord, or infection, has become a threatening issue in The restriction is to prevent increasing the park system’s “Keeping our children and teachers safe pile, is illegal. another frequented location – the hallways of the spread of the emerald ash operating budget to $51 million from contagious bacteria like staph is highly “Most consumers do not schools. borer, an invasive species that over the next four years from a important, especially with the news of out- understand the meaning of a Several high schools in the Washington, kills ash trees and was shipped current budget below $35 mil- breaks across the country,” said Dr. Claus cord, or they are unaware of D.C. area recently reported multiple cases of illegally to the county on lion. Support for state parks fell Wagner-Bartak, president of Red Reef the many ways wood can be Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus infested nursery stock in 2003. by about 50 percent from 2002 See INFECTION, Page A7 stacked to look like a cord Officials urge county residents to 2006, forcing the parks to See FIREWOOD, Page A7 rely more and more on revenue from rising entrance fees to cover costs. Local Foods Make Homestyle Thanksgiving Feast While financial support was falling, park popularity was ris- By DANIELLE ULMAN “If I get my food locally, maybe I can reduce my car- College Park. ing. Attendance at Maryland’s Capital News Service “If I get my food locally, maybe I can 49 state parks is at an all-time bon footprint. It’s decreasing global warming through reduce my carbon footprint,” he said. high of almost 12 million visi- WASHINGTON – Six hundred your diet.” “It’s decreasing global warming through turkeys awaited their destiny at your diet.” tors a year, compared to 8 mil- – Dale Johnson lion in 1990. Springfield Farm in Sparks, Md., last Food that has not traveled cross- Farm Management Specialist But the number of park staff week. country is often fresher, said Brenda has declined steadily. There are Owner David Smith began counting University of Maryland Conti, a board member of the Anne now 55,000 visitors for each and rounding up the birds to be plucked, Arundel County Farmers’ Market. full-time park staff member, cleaned, cooled and readied to become markets and wineries statewide have Marylanders sit down for Thanksgiving “Instead of being picked weeks compared with about 35,000 in the centerpiece of their customers’ seen an influx of traffic, too. dinner this year, the cuisine will have a beforehand and sitting on shelves or sit- 2000. In many parks, unpaid Maryland-grown Thanksgiving dinners. “It has a lot to do with reconnecting decidedly local flavor. ting in trucks (the produce is) picked volunteers have stepped in to And Smith’s farm was not the only with their food,” Smith said. “I like to “If I get my food from California, when it’s almost ripe,” said Conti, owner keep services available. local establishment to experience a flur- say it puts a face on their food.” then it takes a lot of fuel to get it,” said of Herbal Touch, a company that makes ry of activity from consumers looking That’s why farmers, vintners and Dale Johnson, farm management spe- jams, fruit butters and salves from mar- See PARKS, Page A7 for food with hometown flair, farmers experts are betting that when cialist for the University of Maryland, See LOCAL, Page A7 Nation Still Vulnerable to Anthrax Attack INSIDE By MICHAEL WALSH Report Outlines Actions Terrorists Could Still Take Against Us Capital News Service COMMUNITY sultant, analyzing three anthrax “Terrorists could recruit a 2001 attack — that struck in New Cafe in Town WASHINGTON – The attack scenarios, including a scientist at a laboratory who Florida, Connecticut, New With offerings like Jerk Salmon Salad and Corn and Crab United States is still “very hypothetical attack at the had access to a lethal strain of York and metropolitan Chowder, Peachez Cafe & Lounge in the Villages of poorly prepared” for an Academy Awards. anthrax,” Livingston said. Washington, D.C. — as evi- Marlborough Shopping Center is worthy of a visit. anthrax attack six years after a Neil Livingston, “Alternatively, they could dence that anthrax is on the A3 2001 attack targeted Congress ExecutiveAction chief execu- break into a laboratory, bribe a back burner. and television broadcasters, tive officer, said the report was scientist or threaten a scientist Stephen Hatfill, a Fort COMMENTARY said a former Central meant to be an “educational to obtain a sample.” Detrick scientist, was a person Down the Worn Path to Slots Intelligence Agency director document” for the public and Livingston said that once of interest in the attacks, but Follow Annapolis Del. Marvin E. Holmes Jr. as he traces the last week. to show the risks that America obtained, anthrax “can be was not charged. history of slot machines in Maryland and ponders the question “There is very little atten- faces. smuggled into just about any Five people died in the of whether we should travel that road again. tion being paid to biological “Although much has been building in the United States.” attack. A4 weapons,” said former CIA done to prepare for an attack, “Someone could just open “The most alarming thing director James Woolsey. “And we are still vulnerable,” he up a sugar packet (filled with is that we have not solved the BUSINESS that’s a shame.” said. anthrax), spread it on a table 2001 anthrax attacks,” It’s Deduction Time Woolsey spoke at a news Speakers were concerned and then leave the room,” he Livingston said.