Pepco Press Release: Hurricane Irene

Pepco Monitors Hurricane Irene, Prepares to Restore Service
Outages Could be Widespread; Restoration Could be Multi-Day Event
Utility Requests 600 Mutual Assistance Crews; 150 Already are on Site
Customers Urged to Prepare


WASHINGTON - Pepco is closely monitoring the approach of Hurricane Irene, which could strike the Pepco service territory early Saturday.  Weather services are predicting that the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area will experience heavy rain and high winds over a sustained period this weekend, which could cause widespread and extended power outages. The subsequent restoration could be a multi-day event.  Pepco has initiated its Incident Response Plan and is strongly urging customers to prepare for the possibility of outages.
"Pepco understands that reliable electrical supply is critical to the everyday lives of customers, and as a result, Pepco has been proactively preparing to restore service as quickly and safely as possible if our area experiences outages from Hurricane Irene," said Thomas H. Graham, Pepco Region President.  "This storm has the potential to cause extensive power outages that could require crews to work around the clock for multiple days to restore service. This is an all-hands event and every employee will assume a second job to support restoration efforts. I urge customers to prepare for possible extended outages."

Pepco Mobilizes Crews and Staff
In anticipation of the storm, Pepco and its parent company, Pepco Holdings, Inc. began aggressively planning and preparing for the storm on Monday. Early on, the company requested the assistance of 600 personnel from other utilities; 150 from First Energy in Ohio already have arrived in the Washington area. These crews will be deployed depending on the location of the greatest damage.  Pepco is keeping on call 340 utility contractors who already are working on the system and has secured 330 tree crews from Asplundh. Pepco's line crews are prepared to work extended hours and the company has alerted additional staff to provide support services, including
customer service staff.  
Pepco is continuing to participate on Mid-Atlantic Mutual Assistance and Southeastern Electric Exchange conference calls with other utilities to request additional field crew assistance as needed.  The company has been in contact with state and local emergency management agencies to ensure a coordinated community response.
Depending on the severity of the storm, damage to Pepco's electrical infrastructure could be extensive and power restoration could be a multiple-day event.  After severe storms, assessing damage and estimating when customers will be restored could take up to 24 hours after the heart of the storm has moved from the area.  Crews are deployed to restore service
only when weather conditions become safe.  

Customers Urged to Prepare and Be Safe
Pepco urges its customers to prepare for potential power outages and act to ensure their safety. Here are some tips:
Preparation Tips
*        Have adequate prescription medicines or infant supplies on hand.
*        If you or someone you know uses life-support equipment that
requires electricity to operate, identify a location with emergency power capabilities and make plans to go there or to a hospital during a prolonged outage.
*        Assemble an emergency "storm kit."  Include a battery-powered radio
or television, flashlight, a first-aid kit, battery-powered or windup clock, extra batteries, special needs items, an insulated cooler and a list of important and emergency phone numbers.
*        Keep at least a three-day supply of non-perishable foods and
bottled water and have a hand-operated can opener available.
*        Have a telephone with a cord or cell phone to use as a backup.
Cordless telephones require electricity to operate, and won't work if there is an outage.
*        Protect your electronic equipment. Unplug sensitive electronics or
plug computers and other sensitive equipment into surge suppressors, and consider a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) for temporary battery backup power.
*        Turn off power to flood-prone basement appliances if it is safe to
do so. However, if you have an electrically operated sump pump, you should not turn off your power.

Safety Tips
*        Tune in to local news broadcasts for the latest weather and
emergency information.
*        Follow the advice of your local emergency management officials.
*        Take cover if necessary.
*        Stay away from downed wires.
*        Call 1-877-PEPCO-62 (1-877-737-2662) and press "2" to report a
downed wire.
*        To report an outage, call 1-877-PEPCO-62 (1-877-737-2662) and press
"1" for the automated system.
Additional information may be found at www.pepco.com . 

Pepco, a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POM), delivers safe, reliable and affordable electric service to more than 778,000 customers in Maryland and the District of Columbia.


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Approved ZTA to Preserve Aspin Hill Memorial Park

County Council Approves ZTA That

Will Help Preserve Aspin Hill Memorial Park

Unanimous Vote to Regarding Historic Resource Sites

Could Lead Productive Use of Neglected Pet Cemetery

ROCKVILLE, Md., July 19, 2011—The Montgomery County Council today unanimously approved Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 11-02 that would enhance the economic viability of historic resources by allowing historic properties to revert to their historic uses. Councilmember Nancy Navarro sponsored the ZTA, which could lead to productive commercial use of the grounds of the Aspin [EDITOR’S NOTE: THAT IS THE CORRECT SPELLING OF THE PARK] Hill Memorial Park, a pet cemetery whose facilities have fallen into neglect.

ZTA 11-02 will increase the land use options for historic buildings by allowing historic uses on the site without regard to the land uses allowed by its current zoning. Vacant  historic structures are generally deemed detrimental to the historic resource and to the surrounding community. Without ZTA 11-02, historic structures not in their historic use for more than 6 months use may not be re-established those uses.

ZTA 11-02 addresses the problem the County has encountered of keeping historic properties in productive use. There are approximately 430 individual properties in the Master Plan for Historic Preservation. The situation at the Aspin Hill Memorial Park illustrated the need for the ZTA.

The historic buildings on the grounds of the pet cemetery were once used for offices, educational programs and animal care. The ZTA will now allow possible commercial uses of the property that will lead to money that will help raise the funds necessary to support the property.

The Aspin Hill Memorial Park is now owned and operated by the Montgomery County Humane Society. It is located at 13630 Georgia Ave. Possible uses associated with operation of the cemetery will now be possible, such as uses of offices, kennels for boarding of animals, space for outreach and education for the care and protection of animals, a veterinary clinic or a crematory.

"This ZTA solves a long-standing problem in the Aspen Hill community and will ensure that the hundreds of historic properties in the County can continue to function as assets in their community," said Councilmember Navarro. "I am grateful to the Montgomery County Humane Society for working with the surrounding community and the Aspen Hill Civic Association to resolve this issue."

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COUNCIL MEMBERS HOST RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY AT THE BCG FARMERS’ MARKET

Briggs Chaney-Green Castle Farmers' and Artisans’ Market to hold Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with Montgomery County Council members this Saturday

July 2, 2011

For Immediate Release Contact: Gigi Goin (301) 792-9448
Email: bcgfarmersmarket@gmail.com

June 28, 2011- Silver Spring, MD- A ribbon cutting celebrating the opening of the new Briggs Chaney-Greencastle Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market will take place Saturday July 2, 2011 at 11am at 3300 Briggs Chaney Road in Silver Spring, MD. Council members George L. Leventhal (D-At Large), Hans Riemer (D-At Large) and Nancy Navarro (D-Dist 4) along with BCG Market organizers will be participating in the ribbon cutting.

Mercedes Benz of Silver Spring, a sponsor of the Market, will also have a car on the market floor. Mercedes Benz is sponsoring the seasonal signage of the market.

Chess classes by master coach Tai Campbell will be featured in the BCG Kids Tent starting at 10:30 am. Campbell will teach children and adults basic and advanced chess strategies and tactics. Live music. Our fundraising raffle will be drawn at 2pm. Visitors at the market can win prizes such as a Basket of Market Goodies, shop for fresh produce, pasture raised meats, fresh-baked bread, organic free-range eggs, fashion accessories, hand-made art, jewelry, crafts and more.

The Briggs Chaney- Greencastle Farmers’ and Artisans' Market is located just opposite of the new Mercedes Benz showroom on the parking lot of the Briggs Chaney Park-n-Ride at 3300 Briggs Chaney Road in Silver Spring. It is a grower/producer and fair trade market open Saturdays from 10am to 2pm from May 14 to November 19, 2011.

More information can be found on our website: www.bcgmarket.wordpress.com/

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Montgomery Council Seeks Applicants for 2 Positions on County Board of Appeals

FOR INFORMATION: Linda Lauer 240-777-7979

Montgomery Council Seeks Applicants for 2 Positions on County Board of Appeals

Deadline to Submit Applications is Wednesday, Sept. 7

ROCKVILLE, Md., June 15, 2011—The Montgomery County Council is seeking applicants for two four-year terms on the County Board of Appeals. The terms of Stan Boyd (Democrat) and David Perdue (declined to affiliate) expire in September 2011, and both are eligible for reappointment. Mr. Boyd has indicated that he will apply for reappointment.

Applications for the position must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 7.

By law, no more than three members of the board shall be from the same political party. These positions can be filled by a Democrat, a Republican, a voter who declines to affiliate with a party or a voter who is a member of another party officially recognized by the Board of Elections.

Current members of the board include Chair Catherine Titus (Republican), Walter S. Booth (Democrat), Stan Boyd (Democrat), David K. Perdue (declined to affiliate) and Carolyn Shawaker (Democrat). Because of the requirement that no more than three members be from the same political party, the Council cannot appoint two Democrats. Members of County boards, committees and commissions may not serve on more than one such group at a time.

Members of the Board receive $14,440 annually, with the chair receiving $20,408. Salaries are adjusted annually each December to reflect 50 percent of the change in the Washington Area Consumer Price Index.

Duties of the Board of Appeals include making decisions on most applications for special exceptions as provided in the Zoning Ordinance; hearing and deciding requests for variances from development standards contained in the Zoning Ordinance; and hearing appeals from certain administrative decisions rendered by county government agencies.

The board normally holds weekly hearings all day Wednesday and worksessions every other week. If necessary to accommodate an extended caseload or continued hearings, the board schedules hearings on other weekdays. Members are expected to prepare for the hearings by reading the cases to be heard and to share the workload of drafting and editing opinions or to follow-up on investigations on specific cases. Members work approximately 15-25 hours a week.

The principal jurisdiction of the Board of Appeals (concerning special exceptions and variances under the Zoning Ordinance) does not include the municipalities of Barnesville, Brookeville, Gaithersburg, Laytonsville, Poolesville, Rockville and Washington Grove. The normal Council practice is not to appoint residents of those municipalities to the Board.

Letters expressing interest, including a resume listing professional and civic experience, should be addressed to Council President Valerie Ervin, County Council Office, Stella B. Werner Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20850. Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2011. It is the Council’s policy not to consider applications received after the deadline. After the Sept. 7 deadline, Councilmembers will review the letters of application and select applicants for interviews.

Letters of application are made public as part of the appointment process. The names of all applicants are published and resumes are made available for public review. Interviews are open to the public. A financial statement of assets, debts, income and family property interests will be required of all applicants. Only the appointed candidates will be required to make the financial statement available to the public.

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2011 DC Caribbean Film Festival

                                                                         June 3rd - 6th, 2011 


In recognition of Caribbean Heritage Month in June, AFI Silver is proud to once again host screenings of the DC Caribbean Filmfest, now in its 11th year.

The festival is co-presented with Caribbean Association of World Bank and IMF Staff (CAWI), Caribbean Professional Network (CPN), Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS) and TransAfrica Forum.

For more information and movie dates please visit: http://www.afi.com/silver/new/nowplaying/2011/v8i2/caribbean11.aspx

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