The Pri nce Ge orge’s Pos t A C OMMUNITY NEWSPAPER FOR PRINCE GEORGE ’S COUNTY Since 1932 Vol. 76, No. 33 August 14 — August 20, 2008 Prince George’s County, Maryland Newspaper of Record Phone: 301-627-0900 25 cents Congress Ends Session, Passes Key Legislation Northview Rep. Edwards Votes to Strengthen the Equal Pay Act, Make College More Affordable By PRESS OFFICER between men and women, support - veterans, and students across this afford a college education. My first Community Rep. Donna Edwards’ Office ing our veterans, improving product country,” said Rep. Edwards. “This six weeks in office have been more safety for children and consumers legislation will have a significant productive than I could ever have Washington, D.C. – and addressing the soaring cost of impact on closing the wage gap for hoped and I look forward to return - Fire Station Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards college tuition. women, providing our veterans and ing in September on behalf of my (D-MD) and the New Direction “Democrats and the New their families with additional district to address rising energy Congress closed the session by pass - Direction Congress sent a clear mes - resources they deserve, protecting to Be Built ing four key pieces of legislation sage that we are committed to work - our children and consumers and aimed at closing the wage gap ing on behalf of women, children, ensuring that more students can Groundbreaking See CONGRESS, Page A 3 Ceremony Launches Construction Phase By MARK BRADY NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE LINKS, INCORPORATED PGC/EMS Press Information Civic and community leaders, includ - ing Fire Chief Lawrence H. Sedgwick, Jr., gathered at the site of the planned Northview Community Fire/EMS Station. A groundbreaking was held to ceremo - nially launch the construction phase of a new Community Fire/EMS Station. The new Fire/EMS Station, located on Health Center Drive at Northview Drive in Bowie, will be an entirely new three- bay facility designed to address the bur - geoning call volume within the Bowie area and surrounding communities. Much has changed in the last half-cen - tury in Bowie since the era of Levitt and Sons, including recent and planned devel - opment of the region, which now includes major highways, shopping cen - ters, health care facilities, senior citizen living centers, a growing population with a wide variety of housing options and popular recreation sites. It has grown from a small agricultural and railroad town to one of the largest and fastest growing cities in Maryland. PHOTO COURTESY BUNNIE JACKSON-RANSOM, NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS & PR CHAIRPERSON Alma Dodd, National Program Director; Lula Lang Jeter, National Treasurer; Margot Copeland, National Vice President; Sheryl Lee Ralph, recipient of the National Trends & Services Program Award; Dr. Gwen Lee, National President; Dr. Josephine Davis, National Secretary, and See STATION, Page A 3 Kimberly Jeffries Leonard, Chair of the National Trends & Service Committee. 2,500 Gather for The Links Biennial Meeting BY BUNNIE JACKSON-RANSOM service to the underserved through friendship. nection between friendship and service for the Gov. Plans The Links, Incorporated The five days of workshops, seminars and key- common good places us in the right place at the note speakers were held in Seattle, WA at the right time. The Links, Inc. is like a phoenix rising; SEATTLE (July, 2008). More than 2,500 of Washington State Convention and Trade Center. Links will provide world class leadership through Sustainable the 12,000 plus members of The Links, “Community service is at the heart of all friendship and service,” Dr. Lee added. Incorporated attended the 36th National Links,” was the call to action of Dr. Gwendolyn A major portion of The Links assembly was Assembly of The Links, Incorporated and re- B. Lee, 14th national president, as she presided committed themselves to further their legacy of over plenary sessions and events. “Our deliber - Transport ations at this assembly reassure us that our con - See LINKS, Page A 3 Fuel System Construction Set for Gov. O’Malley Mikulski Fulfills Promise to Kennedy Four State E-85 Appoints Ten Gains Passage of Facilities Across State Critical Higher Trial Court By PRESS OFFICER Education Reform Office of the Governor Judges to Serve By PRESS OFFICER ANNAPOLIS, MD (August, 2008) – Sen. Barbara Mikulski’s Office Just weeks after announcing plans to tran - Highly Qualified, sition 500 MTA buses to hybrid, and days WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Barbara A. following the award of the highest grade Diverse Public Mikulski (D-Md.) honored her commitment to fin - ever for environmental initiatives from the ish the hard work of Health, Education, Labor and Maryland League of Conservation Voters, Officials Selected Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Senator Governor O’Malley today was joined by By PRESS OFFICER Edward M. Kennedy and Ranking Member Lt. Governor Anthony Brown and admin - Office of the Governor PHOTO COURTESY SENATOR MIKULSKI’S OFFICE Michael B. Enzi (R-Wyo.) with the Senate's pas - Senators Mikulski and Enzi on the phone with istration officials to present roadmap for a sage of the College Opportunity and Affordability more sustainable transportation fuel sys - ANNAPOLIS, MD (August, 2008) – Senator Kennedy just before the vote. Act (H.R.4137). tem in Maryland, beginning with the con - Governor O’Malley announced the The bill, which has taken 13 extensions and 10 struction of four new E-85 fuel pumps appointment of two Circuit Court application process, and adding new measures to go years to pass, makes sweeping reforms to modern - throughout Maryland. To promote judges and eight District Court judges after the cronyism, kickbacks and sweetheart deals ize the Higher Education Act of 1965, including Maryland’s energy independence, who will serve in Anne Arundel County, discovered between financial aid offices and the increasing grant aid and access for the nation's Governor O’Malley outlined a plan that Baltimore City, Calvert County, Cecil student loan industry. neediest students, returning Soldiers and those County, and Prince George’s County. enrolled in Historically Black Colleges and “I am proud to appoint this talented Universities (HBCUs), simplifying the federal aid and diverse group of judges to serve on See EDUCATION, Page A 7 See FUEL, Page A 5 our State’s trial courts,” said Governor O’Malley. “As most of our neighbors’ only experience with the justice system INSIDE is with our District and Circuit Courts, it is vital that our judges treat people evenhandedly and with respect. Each Neighbors Columns: District V Host Community Maryland Commuters Kids’ Rock Band appointee brings a diversity of experi - Morningside, Brandywine, Walk in Chaddsford Escape Traffic With New “Milkshake” to Open ence but have in common integrity, Neighborhood Baysox Game strong legal backgrounds, and the abili - Clinton And Suitland Service From Traficflex Neighbors Page A2 Neighbors , Page A2 Business, Page A5 Out On The Town, Page A6 See JUDGES, Page A 7 A2 — August 14 — August 20, 2008 — The Prince George’s Post Towns and N EIGHBORS In and Around Morningside-Skyline District V Host Community Walk in Chaddsford Neighborhood by Mary McHale 301 735 3451 Programs Promote Jobs The programs purpose is to fields including food and bever - and Economic Growth enhance teacher quality and age operations, hotel opera - provide assurance that tions, convention and meeting Education Allows More Maryland's Pre-K-12 students planning, tourism, and hospital - Marylanders to Enter the are being taught by qualified, ity consulting. Workforce competent teachers. Protection of the public is an Early Childhood Education important responsibility. Public LARGO, Md.- Prince provides the educational back - Safety and Law reflects pro - George’s Community College ground to teach preschool chil - grams including correctional provides high-quality instruc - dren or become directors in pri - services, criminal justice, tions in several areas for young vate early childhood centers. cybercrime investigation, fire people and adults, who lack The program introduces stu - science, forensic science, para - skills to enter the workforce. dents to management and lan - legal studies and pre-law. Prince George’s County, Maryland…District V Assistant Commander Captain Craig Howard Computer Information guage skills, child development Careers under the Public Safety joined community leaders for a “Community Walk” Thursday evening in the Chaddsford Systems programs offer theories and assessment skills. and Law programs consist of neighborhood. The walks, are designed to maintain open dialogue between the community degrees and certificates in net - The Teacher Education pro - police and security officers, and the police department, and are an opportunity for District command staff to discuss the work administration, systems grams serve different purposes positions in corrections, crimi - community’s concerns around crime and neighborhood safety. administration, Web technolo - depending on age level or pro - nal investigator, fire and emer - gy, computer programming, gram concentrations. Choices gency service personnel and database systems, technical include chemistry, mathemat - paralegal assistants. support and computer graphics. ics, physics or Spanish. Through a strong criminal Students develop the practice of World travel and local justice curriculum combined Suitland Beat clear thinking and logical rea - tourism are becoming the with coursework and practical by Janice Euell