Prince George’s Proud:
An Update From County Executive Alsobrooks
Dear Prince Georgians:
As we prepare to welcome students back into the classroom this Monday, August 29, I would like to take this opportunity to wish our students and teachers a successful academic year. Over the past two and a half years, we all have been challenged with facing difficult times and overcoming the toughest obstacles. Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) has been working hard to prepare for the 2022-2023 school year, to ensure we can give our children a quality education while keeping them safe in our classrooms.
Parents are reminded that the COVID-19 vaccine is available for children six months and older. We must all continue to do our part to stop the spread of this virus and promote healthy environments for our children to learn and thrive. If your children have not been vaccinated, we encourage you to visit mypgc.us/COVIDVaccine to locate the nearest vaccination site and schedule an appointment.
We also wish to keep our students safe by reminding drivers to pay attention in school zones and to obey school bus laws as the new school year gets underway. Remember, school speed zones are intended to keep children safe. Recently, our Department of Public Works and Transportation, along with the Prince George’s County Police Department, Perrywood Elementary, and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, hosted a wonderful and engaging Back to School Traffic Garden Event to kick off the school year.
Children learn by experience, and our Vision Zero Traffic Garden in Largo provides a fun and safe learning environment for children to practice the rules of the road. We have included a graphic below which details some of our most recent efforts under Vision Zero Prince George’s, which works to create safer roadways for all users in our County. Our Police Department also put together a PSA featuring helpful reminders and tips from one of our school crossing guards, which residents can view here.
Additionally, this week our Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD) hosted a daylong training session on active threats in schools. The training session was designed for PGPD School Resource Officers as well as PGCPS security personnel, with the County Fire Department also joining. We want to thank everyone who organized and participated in this training to ensure school security and emergency personnel are fully prepared to respond to a potential active shooter situation and keep students and staff safe.
The 2022-2023 school year is going to be a great year for our children. PGCPS CEO Dr. Monica Goldson and her staff have dedicated themselves to ensuring that everyone is welcomed back to a learning environment that is safe and productive for all students. I am so proud of the hard work and dedication of all our school system staff, including the teachers, support staff, principals and assistant principals, counselors, nurses, cafeteria workers, custodial staff, and school bus drivers.
We are looking forward to this new and exciting school year, and all that our children will continue to accomplish. Welcome back to school, Prince Georgians!
Yours in service,
Angela Alsobrooks
Prince George’s County Executive
COVID-19 Vaccination Update
Vaccine Supply & Administration
- The County Health Department has provided over 225,100 vaccinations, including more than 27,200 additional doses to those fully vaccinated.
- The County Health Department has provided over 480 vaccinations at the Cheverly Health Center and Maternal/Child Health Center at Laurel to date in August.
- Our mobile units have provided over 80 vaccinations in the community to date in August, focusing on homebound and senior residents.
- More than 19,300 vaccinations have been provided to children ages 5 to 11 years since the vaccine became available for that age group in November 2021.
- More than 270 vaccinations have been provided to children under the age of 5 since the vaccine became available for that age group in June 2022.
Vaccination Locations
Prince George’s County Health Department
Cheverly Health Center and Maternal/Child Health Center at Laurel: To schedule an appointment, individuals should visit the County Health Department website here.
Mobile Vaccination Units: The County’s mobile vaccination units are typically reserved for homebound residents and other high-risk residents who require assistance in getting access to the vaccine. Individuals who are interested in our mobile vaccination units should call PGC311 and press # for assistance.
Additional Non-County Operated Sites
Please use our County Vaccine Locator to find additional vaccination sites operated by pharmacies, hospitals, and other healthcare partners.
As of August 24, the CDC is reporting 95% of adults ages 18 and older have received at least one vaccination in the County, and 86% are fully vaccinated.
When including all residents ages 5 and older, 95% of residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 82% are fully vaccinated.
The CDC reports 50.9% of residents ages 18 and older who are fully vaccinated have received a booster or additional dose as of August 24.
Approximately 35.9% of County residents ages 5 to 9 years and 65.4% of County residents ages 10 to 19 years are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
County News For You
Holiday Waste Collection Schedule
Curbside collection of food scraps and yard trim will be suspended Monday, September 5, to observe the holiday and will resume Monday, September 12. Regular trash, bulky and recycling collection services remain on a regular schedule for residents receiving County-provided services. For more information on waste collection services, visit the Department of the Environment website here.
Curbside Bulky Trash Services
Residents with County-provided trash AND recycling services can place UP TO two standard bulky items at the curb for collection on your regular trash day. You can only set out two (2) standard bulky items next to the trash cart each week on your regularly scheduled collection day until all items are serviced. All bulky items must be next to the trash cart for collection.
Appointments for white goods/appliances and scrap tires are still required via PGC311. Learn about the faster and improved curbside bulky trash collection for Prince George’s County here.
September 17 is Scrap Tire Amnesty Day!
Prince George’s County residents will have the opportunity to get rid of old scrap tires (without a bulky appointment) on Saturday, September 17, from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Residents can bring UP TO 10 car, bike, truck, or agricultural tires, to be disposed of for free at one of two convenient locations!
North County
Public Works Salt Dome
11900 Montgomery Road
Beltsville, MD 20705
South County
Clinton Park and Ride
9000 Stuart Lane
Clinton, MD 20735
DoE 8th Annual Green Summit
The Department of Environment is excited to return to Kentland Community Center to host this year’s Green Summit! Join us Saturday, October 22 from 10 AM to 2 PM for family-friendly fun, green vendors and workshops focusing on our environmental impacts, such as litter, composting, clean air and energy, flooding, recycling and more! The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
Partners interested in tabling or hosting a workshop must fill out an Exhibitor Application here and submit no later than Friday, September 16, 2022.
For questions or more information about the 8th Annual Green Summit, please contact Brittani Garner at BGarner@co.pg.md.us.
Managing Stormwater in the Summer
You’re urged to help keep our waterways clean and prevent pollution by paying extra attention to runoff water caused by heavy rains or even completing chores.
- Keep grass clippings on the lawn after mowing, as it holds moisture and can become a natural fertilizer.
- Wash your car over grass to capture water and allow the soil to become a natural filter.
- Always scoop that poop! Dog waste is filled with bacteria and excess nutrients.
- Avoid feeding ducks or geese around lakes and ponds because their excess waste can pollute the local waterway.
Apply for Free Spay and Neuter Services
Our Animal Services Division is offering qualifying residents of Prince George’s County the opportunity to receive FREE spay and neuter services. Spaying and neutering will help your pet live a healthier and longer life and “keep the litter away.”
For more information about the program and to find out if you qualify, contact Chicquita Smith at 301-780-7251 or click here.
Another Prince George’s County Hidden Gem
If you’ve never experienced a trip to the southernmost tip of Prince George’s County, you’re urged to add a visit to the County’s smallest municipality to your bucket list. The Town of Eagle Harbor, where Noah E. Waters, Ph.D. is the mayor, is a tranquil region that is rich in African American history. The State Certified Maryland Heritage Area Authority designated the Town of Eagle Harbor the distinct honor of being one of only 13 heritage areas in the State. The Town has vacation cottages and residents who benefit from being a close-knit community where everyone knows your name. Known for its great crabbing and joyful barbeques during the summer, Eagle Harbor sits quietly on the Patuxent River. The Town is Maryland’s first African American resort town, established by African American D.C. residents during the Jim Crow era. Travel to learn more about another hidden gem in Prince George’s County!
OCR Stands Out at National Night Out
The Prince George’s County Office of Community Relations (OCR) went above and beyond in their participation with this year’s National Night Out (NNO) events throughout the County. NNO events promote police-community partnerships, build neighborhood camaraderie, and make our neighborhoods safe and a more caring place to live. NNO also provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.
Through OCR’s partnership with Hope in Action and our Proud Corps volunteers, they participated in 30 NNO events. OCR’s Summer Youth Enrichment Program participants also joined in the fun. While each community bought their own flavor and style, one of the standout events was with the Town of Bladensburg, where Chief of Police Tyrone Collington and Mayor Takisha James climbed the Bladensburg Volunteer Fire Department truck ladder, which stretched about 80 feet in the air. It was exciting to see so many Prince George’s County agencies interacting with the local community and leading the way in improving law enforcement and community relations.
Grand Reopening of Enterprise Golf Course
After completing an extensive Bermuda grass and tee-leveling renovation, the Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation recently held its Grand Reopening Celebration of the Enterprise Golf Course in Mitchellville. Thanks goes out to the many players who joined them for great golf, fun, food and enjoyment. Reserve your tee time at the newly renovated course here.
Youth Leadership Academy Applications for Fall 2022 Now Open
The Prince George’s County Office of Human Rights (OHR), in partnership with the Department of Family Services’ Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Division, is pleased to accept applications for the Youth Leadership Academy (YLA) on a rolling basis. Youth ages 12 years to 22 years are encouraged to apply.
Fall 2022 YLA will run for eight (8) consecutive Tuesdays, September 27 through December 13, from 5 PM to 6 PM. The virtual sessions will provide youth leaders with an overview of the four pillars of the Youth Leadership Academy – discrimination, language access, human trafficking, and social justice – with more detailed involvement with one of those topics. The Lead Team from University of Maryland will also provide leadership training in our large group YLA sessions.
The YLA promotes peer-to-peer education on civil and human rights issues while developing civil and human rights social influencers who are passionate and knowledgeable. The YLA further seeks to develop youth-led ideas, programming, and execution across a wide range of areas.
We welcome all interested youth to reach out to OHR at OHRStaff@co.pg.md.us or visit their website by clicking here for more information.
Spotlight On Prince George’s
Prince George’s “TheBus” Adding Electric Buses to Fleet!
Photo Courtesy of NBC Washington
More great news for Prince George’s County! We received $25 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation to fund our “Proud to Charge” Zero Emissions and Sustainable Transportation Program. These grants will allow us to purchase 20 zero-emission buses, modernize our infrastructure, and enhance access to transit for our residents. View the story courtesy of NBC4 here.