The Pri nce Ge orge’s Pos t OMMUNITY EWSPAPER FOR RINCE EORGE S OUNTY SINCE A C N P G ’ C 1932 Vol. 89, No. 18 May 6 — May 12, 2021 Prince George’s County, Maryland Newspaper of Record Phone: 301-627-0900 25 cents PGCPS Leads State in Green School Certifications By offiCe of CommuniCaTionS Prince George’s County Public Schools upper marlBoro, md. Wise, Jr., fairmont heights, (april 26, 2021)—prince gwynn park, largo, laurel, george’s County public Schools k-8/middle schools: acco - (pgCpS) continues to lead the keek academy, Judith p. hoyer state with the highest number of montessori, oxon hill maryland green Schools certifi - elementary schools: allen - cations. This year, three schools wood, Catherine T. reed, dodge phoTograph CourTeSy pSi epSilon omega ChapTer earned new certification and 23 park, edward m. felegy, flint - Front: Benita A. Swindell, Psi Epsilon Omega Chapter of AKA and Pearl Elegance Foundation joins Oaklands Elementary schools were recertified, raising stone, green Valley academy, School Principal Jewel Preston and chapter members as they unpack more than 25,000 PPE items donated by the sorority. the total number of green Schools hyattsville, James h. harrison, to 141—nearly 70 percent of all marlton, maya angelou french schools systemwide and more immersion, montpelier, prince - than 20 percent of the 672 active ton, deerfield run, lewsidale Prince George’s County Sorority Chapter maryland green Schools. The maryland green Schools “green School programs em - program, sponsored by The Donates Thousands of Personal Protective power our students to be hands- maryland association for envi - on in understanding their local ronmental and outdoor education environment and to become re - (maeoe), is one of the most rig - Equipment Items to Laurel Elementary School sponsible stewards of our earth’s orous and comprehensive green By raCine TuCker-hamilTon oaklands elementary has a total stu - essary ppe supplies like masks, hand san - resources,” said dr. monica gold - School certification programs in Psi Epsilon Omega Chapter (PEO) dent population of 375, about 125 of itizers, gloves, and cleaning products,” son, Chief executive officer. “We the nation. it encourages educa - whom returned to the classroom earlier said Benita a. Swindell, psi epsilon are proud to lead the state in tional opportunities, increases en - laurel , md. (april 29, 2021)—psi epsilon this month on april 8. peo and the pearl omega president. “peo recognizes the green School certifications and vironmental awareness and pro - omega Chapter (peo), alpha kappa alpha elegance foundation, inc. have partnered importance of keeping students, teachers, offer exposure for more students.” motes environmental stewardship (aka) Sorority, incorporated® donated more in providing essentials to the oaklands faculty, and staff safe as they return back This year, margaret Brent re - practices for students at all grade than 25,000 items of personal protective school community since 2019. to the classroom.” gional School, potomac high levels. Through a non-competi - equipment during an event held on april 25, “The fact that psi epsilon omega and donations continue to be tabulated and School and William paca elemen - tive application process, schools 2021. The chapter provided masks, gloves, pearl elegance foundation partners with will be collected until the end of the tary School earned first-time cer - must demonstrate their green ac - and hand sanitizer, among other items, to oak - oaklands elementary School mean a lot school year. tification, while laurel elemen - tivities and culture in eight criteria lands elementary School in laurel, md. to us because they’ve provided not only tary School achieved “sustainable” areas. “This donation means everything to us financial support, but they’ve helped to alpha kappa alpha Sorority incorpo - status for having three consecutive maeoe and the maryland because we haven’t had to spend our school stock our ‘Comfort Closet’ with clothes, rated®, psi epsilon omega Chapter was recertifications. To maintain green green School community will funds on things like wipes, gloves, or masks personal items for parents and students,” chartered in 2007. Since its founding, the School status, schools must recer - celebrate virtually in may and that are a necessity for students who are preston added. “i don’t know what we chapter has been aggressively implement - tify every four years. June to recognize awardees. returning back to the building and staff as would do without peo.” ing its programs of service in the commu - Schools earning 2021 recerti - for more information about well,” said Jewel preston, oaklands ele - “We are thrilled to support our adopt- nities of Laurel, Bowie, and Greenbelt, fication include: the green Schools program, visit mentary School principal. a-school oaklands elementary with nec - Maryland. high schools: dr. henry a. the maeoe website. Maryland Department of Health Secretary Dennis R. Schrader Visits Vaccination Sites Serving Hispanics and Seniors in Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties and Baltimore City By preSS offiCerS nursing and rehabilitation Center, and the disease prevention, access to care, quality Maryland Department of Health Baltimore Convention Center field hospital management and community engagement. to ensure that every marylander who wants follow us on Twitter @mdhealthdept BalTimore (april 28, 2021)—on Tues., a vaccine can get access to one as quickly as and at facebook.com/mdhealthdept. [april 27] maryland department of health possible,” said Secretary dennis r. Schrader. (mdh) Secretary dennis r. Schrader visited “We are applying lessons learned, best prac - phoTograph CourTeSy a pop-up vaccination clinic for the hispanic tices, and other strategies to reach out to maryland deparTmenT of healTh communities at Casa de maryland in adel - marylanders facing challenges to getting (At right, from L - R) George Escobar, phi, maryland, a clinic vaccinating seniors vaccinated. The Baltimore Convention Cen - Chief of Programs and Services, Casa de and staff at the layhill nursing and reha - ter field hospital remains a tremendous asset Maryland, Maryland State Senator Mal - bilitation Center, and a ceremony recogniz - in our fight against CoVid-19 and recog - colm L. Augustine, Secretary Schrader, ing healthcare workers on the one-year an - nizing leadership and staff for all the hard and Dr. Michelle LaRue, Director of niversary of the opening of the Baltimore work that happens there every day was an Health and Human Services, Casa de Convention Center field hospital. honor.” Maryland at vaccination clinic that ad - “our no arm left Behind initiative en - The maryland department of health is ministered 150 vaccinations to Hispanic tails working closely with trusted community dedicated to protecting and improving the community members, Adelphi, Mary - partners like Casa de maryland, layhill health and safety of all marylanders through land. they will likely run into win - Governor Hogan Proclaims May and June 2021 Maryland Magicicada Months dows, cars, buildings, and peo - ple. if one lands on you, simply By ShareeSe ChurChill markable, harmless creatures,” of these areas and are surrounded their eggs hatch. The tiny white their emergence, the sheer num - brush it off. Office of the Governor said governor hogan. “for a by older trees, chances are their nymphs will fall from trees and ber of cicadas will allow for There will be a ton of cicada few short weeks this spring, populations will be higher. immediately begin to burrow un - many to be eaten by predators carcasses. once the Brood X ci - annapoliS, md. (april 30, many across the state will have Brood X periodical cicadas derground where they will live while some of the population cadas die in later June, there will 2021)—governor larry hogan a front-row seat to witness a nat - made their last debut in spring until 2038. survives to procreate. Cicada be billions of carcasses decom - today issued a proclamation de - ural phenomenon that happens 2004. Since then, cicada nymphs Cicadas do not chew, bite, or predators include some birds, posing on the ground and they claring may and June 2021 as nowhere else on the planet.” have been living underground, a sting, so they are not a threat to reptiles, amphibians, mammals, may give off an unpleasant odor. maryland magicicada months to The Brood X cicada emer - couple of feet below the surface, humans, pets, animals, or most and other insects. To prepare, find out if your recognize the return of the 17- gence is the largest of all broods, feeding on sap from tree roots plants. if your pet or animal con - They will be loud. once they area is expected to see Brood X year periodical cicada and to with possibly many billions for the past 17 years. now in sumes a few cicadas, they should are fully grown, male cicadas cicadas. do not use pesticides or generate public awareness about emerging at the same time. spring 2021, Brood X adults are be fine, though over-indulging “sing” their mating call to attract insecticides to try to kill them— these fascinating insects. Brood numbers will vary from place to preparing to emerge when soil may upset their stomach. females, making a loud chorus doing so will not be helpful in X periodical cicadas are only place. Based on the 2004 Brood temperatures reach approxi - for those living in areas with that can reach a volume as high controlling populations and only found in the eastern united X emergence in maryland, ci - mately 64 degrees fahrenheit. Brood X populations, here is as 105 decibels. This is compa - poses a threat of harming other States and emerge once every 17 cadas will likely appear in the once above ground, these in - what to expect during their life rable to a lawn mower, leaf helpful, beneficial insects. The years. in maryland, they will be - following counties: allegany, sects live for just a few weeks. cycle: blower, or chainsaw. These best way to dispose of them is gin to emerge in early may and anne arundel, Baltimore, Car - during this short adult lifespan, They will appear over a few sounds will usually last from late by adding their carcasses to a will die off by the end of June.