New Police District 6 Confidential Phone Tip Line

Please read this article at New Police District 6 Confidential Phone Tip Line

Please Sign J's Sports Cafe Petition Now

UPDATE: March 7

March 7 PG Liquor Board Show Cause Hearings Postponed

The P.G. Liquor Board has postponed the Show Cause Hearings for the shootings at J's Sports Cafe and Sunrise Bar, due to expected dangerous icing conditions this evening (March 7).

The new date is March 14, 7 pm.

For directions to the P.G. County services building on March 14, see
http://tinyurl.com/2fk694

Today and on March 14, check the Liquor Board phone number for possible recorded announcements about the status of Hearings (301) 699-2770.


Update: March 1

Liquor Board March 7 Public Hearing Agenda

The Montpelier Hills community needs your signature on a petition to revoke the liquor license at J's Sports Cafe (Crystal Plaza Rt 197 & Muirkirk Rd) because there have been 3 shooting murders there in the past 2 years due to violent crowds attracted by the Cafe.

There is a notice on your cluster mailbox with the address of the home where you can sign the petition. In most cases the petitions are in an envelope taped to that home's door or storm door. Just sign one of the petitions and put it back. Please sign an empty petition page only if there is no petition page with some signatures already on it -- we are trying to ensure that each page is full.

You must be a currently registered voter in Prince George's county to sign the petition -- because that is how the Liquor Board verifies the signatures as P.G. County residents.

Please print legibly so your name and address will be verified.

There will already be a "show cause" hearing at the Liquor Board on March 7 at 7 pm to review the most recent January 28 shooting murder and other violations at J's Sports Cafe. Watch this site for another message with details about that meeting.

BUT right now, these petitions are still needed ASAP, in the next few days.

Regardless of the outcome of the March 7 hearing, the Liquor Board requires these petitions before its regulations will allow it to schedule a formal hearing process specifically to consider revoking the liquor license at J's Sports Cafe.

So, please come out in the cold and wind and sign a petition on your street Today.

There is comprehensive information about what's been happening at "J's Sports Cafe"
on the MH NEWS web site in the side menu "Local News & Info"
at J's Sports Cafe 3d Shooting Death***

Thanks

Citizens Mitigate Dangerous Excavation on Muirkirk

Read Citizens Mitigate Dangerous Excavation on Muirkirk
on the South Laurel News & Views Blog.

Citizen Input Sought for County Master Plans

This is your opportunity to contribute your ideas to Prince George's County planning for the next 10 years and beyond for for public safety (police, fire, emergency medical), schools, parks, transportation, etc. Please take the enclosed survey.

In the next few weeks you will see press releases and articles in the newspapers about the Subregion I Master Plan study that is currently being conducted for our area of Prince George's county. A series of public Living Area Workshops will involve county residents directly in updating the county's master plans.

The "Living Areas Workshop" for our area (East of Route 1) is:

Thursday, Oct 19, 2006, 6:30 – 9:00 PM
Corporate Offices of Hope Christian Church
6251 Ammendale Road
Beltsville, MD 20705

Please fill out this survey, and return it by email to
kierre.mccune@ppd.mncppc.org

ICC Impact on Muirkirk RD & RT 197 Becoming Clearer

Washington Post article and map of affected Muirkirk area.
Read at SLN&V

New Emergency Warning System Coming to Laurel

Laurel City Press Release - Sep 25, 2006

Mayor Craig A. Moe is pleased to inform the residents of Laurel that the City has entered into a contract with Code RED to purchase a state of the art Emergency Warning System.

The Code RED Emergency Notification System is an extremely fast communication service available for mass Emergency Notifications. Code RED employs a one-of-a-kind Internet mapping capability for geographic targeting of calls, coupled with a high speed telephone calling system capable of delivering customized pre-recorded emergency messages directly to homes and businesses, live individuals and answering machines, at the rate of up to 60,000 calls per hour.

Mayor Craig Moe envisions using Code Red to notify residents and businesses during natural and man-made disasters, as well as warn residents and businesses in Laurel as to when flooding is possible.

Mayor Craig Moe is pleased that this new technology is now available to help keep the residents and businesses of Laurel informed and encourages everyone interested to visit www.coderedweb.com and check out their capabilities. If you have any questions, please call Emergency Operations Director, Marty Flemion, at 301-725-5300 ext. 203.

Maryland Sales Tax Holiday: August 23-27, 2006

From August 23 through August 27, 2006, qualifying clothing and footwear sold in Maryland and priced at $100 or less will be exempt from Maryland's 5 percent sales and use tax.

The five-day Sales Tax Holiday event gives Maryland shoppers a unique, money-saving incentive to shop in state for back-to-school, summer clearance, fall fashion, and other purchases, while helping Maryland merchants compete with retail markets in neighboring states.

Certain clothing and footwear designed to be worn on or about the human body will be eligible for the sales tax exemption. Qualifying apparel include belts, coats, jackets, pants, shoes, socks and sweaters. Special clothing or footwear designed primarily for protective use and not for normal wear, such as football pads, do not qualify. In addition, accessory items such as handbags, jewelry, ties, and umbrellas do not qualify and remain taxable.

Each qualifying article of clothing or footwear selling for $100 or less will be exempt, regardless of how many items are sold at the same time. For example, two $60 sweaters sold at the same time are both exempt, even though the total purchase price is more than $100.

Items that cost more than $100 will be taxable, even if they would otherwise be eligible. The first $100 of a more expensive item is not tax-free. If the item costs $110, sales tax is due on the entire $110.

For more information about the Sales Tax Holiday, click on the links below or call 410-260-7980 from Central Maryland or 1-800-MD TAXES from elsewhere in Maryland, Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Frequently Asked Questions

Exempt Sales

Taxable Sales

Special Sale Situations

Discounts, Coupons and Rebates

Exchanges, Layaways and Rain Checks

Mail, Telephone, E-mail, Internet and Custom Orders

Shipping and Handling Charges

Returned Merchandise

Refunds

Documenting Exempt Sales

List of Exempt and Taxable Purchases

Sales and Use Tax Bulletin 6-02: Sales Tax Holiday

PowerPoint Overview - Sales Tax Holiday

From Comptroller of Maryland

Club Amazon Closes Permanently

This June 15, 2006 Laurel Leader article about the permanent closure of Club Amazon did not get into the June 15th print edition.

See other MH NEWS articles about Club Amazon.
See local newspaper articles about Club Amazon.
See other Noteworthy Local News

Club Amazon Update May 6, 2006

This May 4 Gazette.net article about the May 3 Liquor Board Hearing for Club Amazon did not make it into this week's Laurel Gazette printed edition: Club Amazon to close temporarily, owners announce

After the May 3 Liquor Board hearing, the office of our District 1 County Councilman, Tom Dernoga, made inquiries with several relevant county departments regarding Club Amazon. Soon after that, the County Fire Marshall's office reportedly shut down Club Amazon effective May 5 apparently for continued violation of previous fire code citations.

At the May 3 Liquor Board hearing, Club Amazon owners had said they wanted to operate May 3, 4, 5, and 6 before voluntarily closing May 7 until June 14, the date of the next Liquor Board hearing. It appears that Club Amazon is now closed and will remain closed voluntarily or otherwise until June 14.

This poster (no longer on the GOGO website to which it was posted on April 5, 2006) appears to have advertised a LIVE music program at Club Amazon scheduled for May 12 by the GOGO band RARE ESSENCE which, if performed as advertised, would have apparently been in violation of The Amazon's current Liquor Board license restrictions against LIVE music.

Club Amazon Update May 5, 2006

The P.G. County Liquor Board hearing on Wednesday, May 3, was attended by over 80 people opposing the continued operation of the Club Amazon on Route 1 near Contee Road. No one attended in support of Amazon, except the Amazon's owners, operators and legal council.

It turned out, that hearing was to determine whether there should be a full "show-cause" hearing at a later date -- now set for June 14.

The Club Amazon owner's liquor license has many restrictions. As understood, Club Amazon is permitted to operate only a "family-style" restaurant (No live music) with a maximum capacity of 175 people. Also, Club Amazon must actively prevent any loitering in the parking lot or in cars in the lot.

By the Club Amazon owner's and manager's own sworn testimony on May 3, they are not operating as a "family-style restaurant" -- they have no functional kitchen, they serve free snacks only with the purchase or alcoholic beverages, and they have had 250 people in the building at a time. Police officers who responded to the recent shooting in the Amazon parking lot testified that on that night there were enough cars in the lot for over 400 people attending Club Amazon -- no other nearby businesses were open. Officers reported there were no outside security video cameras as required by the liquor license and too few off-duty police officers working as security guards to prevent loitering and preserve order inside and outside the club.
Many public officials and elected representatives, including our District 1 County Councilman Tom Dernoga, District 4 County Councilman Doug Peters, Laurel Mayor Craig Moe, and State Delegate Barbara Frush, among others forcefully urged the Liquor Board to immediately revoke the Club Amazon's liquor license, in particular because of numerous current violations of the Amazon's liquor license restrictions.

The Liquor Board Chairman said there were two separate issues. The mode of operation (family-friendly restaurant) and safety. The mode of operation change requested by Club Amazon owners (apparently to provide live music) and whether past violations of the mode of operation merited revoking the liquor license, would be addressed at the full public evidentiary hearing and decision meeting of the Liquor Board on June 14, as required by law to provide all parties with legally required due process.

As to safety, the Liquor Board Chairman said that Liquor Board inspectors would make new inspections with particular attention to whether Amazon is in compliance with all of the safety requirements of their liquor license -- some of which they are apparently already violating. If such violations are found, Club Amazon can be shut down immediately until those safety violations are fixed, which could be for a matter or hours or a matter of days.
Montpelier Hills resident Gary Stone's testimony asked the Liquor Board to make maxium use of their safety enforcement powers to shutdown Club Amazon if any safety violations continue to be found.

The Amazon owner offered and the Liquor Board accepted, that Amazon would voluntarily close down from May 7 through June 14, the date of the next hearing. But Club Amazon's owner stated that they would operate May 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Friday, May 5 is Cinco de Mayo. Amazon plans to host a Cinco de Mayo celebration with disc jockeys playing music (not live music). This may create safety violations such as over capacity and loitering.
Police officers and Karen Coakley, President of the Beltsville Civic Association and a member of the Prince George's District 6 Police Commanders Citizens Advisory Council, testified that because Police District 6 continues to be chronically understaffed -- any altercations requiring response by District 6 police, will leave the remaining police officers spread too thinly across all of the rest of District 6. Paul McCullagh, Montpelier Community Association President, also testified.

The clear implication is that any disturbance at Amazon requiring police response, is not only a threat to the safety of people at the Club Amazon and nearby, but such problems at Amazon put the lives and safety of ALL residents throughout District 6 at risk by not getting the timely police protection and emergency services they need in an emergency during the time that police are diverted to Club Amazon.

The public is invited to attend and testify at the June 14 Hearing at 7:30 pm. No advance registration is required to attend or speak. If you don't speak, just come to stand up and be counted "for" or "against", as happened on May 3. Here's the address and directions:

P.G. County Liquor Board
County Services Building
5012 Rhode Island Avenue Room 204
Hyattsville, Maryland 20781
301-699-2770 (no need to call)

Enter the parking garage near Farragut St and Rhode Island Ave. Remember your parking space number and use the machine inside the parking garage lobby to pay the parking fee of $ .75 per hour in advance

Directions: Take Route 1 south (Baltimore Ave) and continue on RT 1 when it becomes Rhode Island Avenue in Hyattsville. Alternatively, to beat rush-hour traffic, consider taking Old Baltimore Pike (RT 201) south to Decatur Street (see map). Be prepared to wait for any trains crossing Decatur or Baltimore Ave at that time.

INTERACTIVE MAP

SHOOTING at Amazon Club / Liquor License Hearing Wednesday May 3d

UPDATE May 1, 2006

You do not need to pre-register to speak at the May 3 Liquor Board hearing. Just come before 7 pm and sign up to speak.

Even if you don't wish to speak -- still come and STAND UP in support of speakers you agree with.

As reported earlier in MH NEWS, the new owners of the Club Amazon on Route 1 operated the Stardust club in Landover, which was closed by the County under community pressure after a long and frequent history of violence. Now the Club Amazon, with its own long and frequent history of violence and drugs, has been the scene of continued violence under the new operation of the former Stardust owners.

The Prince George's Liquor Board will hold an already once rescheduled hearing to consider revoking the new Amazon owner's liquor license, under heavy pressure from many county citizens and organizations.

Please consider this message sent out today from Karen Coakley, President of the Beltsville Citizens Association.
QUOTE:

This past weekend there was a shooting at Amazon in Laurel. The owners of Amazon have a hearing scheduled next Wednesday May 3rd at 7:00 p.m. before the Liquor Board.

I am asking [you] to attend this meeting & once again ask the Liquor Board to CLOSE THIS ESTABLISHMENT! REVOKE THEIR LIQUOR LICENSE!!!

Amazon is not just a [City of] Laurel problem. It is a Police District 6 problem because Amazon is covered by the County Police. Every time the County Police are called to Amazon it pulls them from other areas of District 6. I know you are all aware of the fact that District 6 is as usual understaffed.

For those of you who do not know the history of Amazon -- the new owners used to run the STARDUST in Landover. The establishment was the bane of the community for years, drugs shootings etc ..... and it took years to get their Liquor License REVOKED!

We ALL need to make our voices heard before the Liquor Board and our Elected officials. Senator Giannetti, Delegates Frush Menes & Moe.

If you cannot attend, please email a letter [to Karen Coakley karenmcoakley@verizon.net calling for the revocation of the Liquor License and I will take it with me [Karen Coakley]

Last but not least please spread the word !!!!!

Karen Coakley karenmcoakley@verizon.net]

END QUOTE

The Liquor Board will hold this hearing at 5012 Rhode Island Avenue, Hearing Room 200, Hyattsville, Maryland 20781.

Letters of testimony regarding the "May 3, 2006 Amazon Liquor License Hearing" can be mailed directly to:

Prince George's County Board of License Commissioners
ATTN: Liquor Board
5012 Rhode Island Avenue Room 204
Hyattsville, Maryland 20781
301-699-2770

I am continuing to save web links to news about the Amazon club at this address. Please send any good ones i've missed to garolds@yahoo.com

Gary Stone, MH News

Stardust/Amazon Liquor Board Hearing Now May 3

City of Laurel -- Official Press Release -- February 21, 2006

Stardust/Amazon Liquor Board Hearing Now May 3

Mayor Craig A. Moe has announced that his office has
received notification of a change in the Stardust/Amazon
Liquor Board Hearing. The hearing date originally
scheduled for Wednesday, March 1, 2006 HAS BEEN CHANGED.
The new date for the hearing is Wednesday, May 3, 2006. at 7 pm .
The Board will hold this hearing at 5012 Rhode Island Avenue,
Hearing Room 200, Hyattsville, Maryland 20781.

Mayor Moe suggests that anyone wanting additional
information regarding the Amazon liquor license application
to contact the Liquor Board at that address or by calling
301-699-2770.

Official Press Release Liquor Board Hearing-Stardust/Amazon

For Immediate Release January 30, 2006

Contact: James Collins, Police Information Officer 301-725-
5300, ext. 244 E-Mail: jcollins@laurel.md.us

Mayor Craig A. Moe has announced that his office has
received an official notice of public hearing from the
Prince George’s County Liquor Control Board that the Board
will hear a request to change the mode of operation for
Corporate Enterprises, Inc. trading as Amazon at 13501
Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland. The Board will hold a
public hearing on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. to
hear the request. The Board will hold this hearing at 5012
Rhode Island Avenue, Hearing Room 200, Hyattsville,
Maryland. 20781.

Mayor Moe said this is an important hearing in the
Stardust/Amazon relocation process. From the notice, Mayor
Moe surmised that the name Amazon will continue to be the
name used for the business, rather than Stardust. Mayor Moe
advised that in order to assure that Amazon is bound to
operate at this address as a “family friendly restaurant”
as reported earlier, it is important for the Board to hear
from Laurel residents, churches and businesses, especially
those in close proximity of the restaurant location.

Mayor Moe encourages everyone to make his or her opinions
known to the Liquor Board regarding this matter. The ideal
result would be to relocate this establishment to another
location altogether. However, if that is not to occur, then
efforts must be made to compel Amazon to operate within the
context of the many established “family friendly
restaurants” in the area, and to compel the Liquor Board to
provide adequate public notice if any change in the license
status is again requested by the applicant.

Mayor Moe suggested anyone wanting additional information
regarding the Amazon liquor license application to contact
the Liquor Board at the previously stated address or by
calling 301-699-2770.

City of Laurel, Maryland
8103 Sandy Spring Road, Laurel, MD 20707
301-725-5300

Stardust /Amazon To Lose Exotic Dance Permit

Official Press Release Stardust Inn License Change
For Immediate Release January 20, 2006
Contact: James Collins, Police Information Officer
301-725-5300, ext. 244 E-Mail: jcollins@laurel.md.us

Mayor Craig A. Moe has announced that the Prince George’s
County Board of License Commissioners has notified the City
of Laurel that the liquor license transfer application
filed by Stardust Inn has been amended to allow alcohol
service only in a restaurant setting. The request to
provide exotic female cabaret dancing has been removed from
its application. In a letter to the applicant’s attorney,
Mr. Franklin D. Jackson, Chairman of the Liquor Board, he
advised that the Stardust Inn “mode of operation would be
that of a family friendly restaurant”.

Mayor Moe said this is a significant modification to the
liquor license application. Mayor Moe thanked Laurel’s
State elected officials in the 21st District (Delegates
Barbara Frush, Pauline Menes, Brian Moe and Senator John
Giannetti) and Prince George’s County Councilmember Tom
Dernoga for working with and assisting the City in
preventing adult entertainment as proposed by the applicant
from establishing in the Laurel area. Mayor Moe commended
the Laurel City Councilmembers, CASE (Citizens Against
Sexual Exploitation), the Touch of Love Bible Church, and
City Solicitor Robert A. Manzi, for this accomplishment. He
thanked the Councilmembers for their support of the City’s
filing for a “Petition of Judicial Review” of the Board’s
transfer approval, and Mr. Manzi for his pro bono
representation of the Church. He expressed special thanks
to CASE for keeping this issue in front of the public.

Mayor Moe advised that the City of Laurel is a “Party of
Record” in this matter. Because of this designation, the
Liquor Board must notify the City of any requested change
in the Stardust Inn liquor license application. Mayor Moe
assured Laurel citizens and businesses that the City will
closely monitor the operations at this location and will
not hesitate to react accordingly should there be a change
in the provisions of the Liquor License.

City of Laurel, Maryland
8103 Sandy Spring Road, Laurel, MD 20707
301-725-5300

Laurel-Beltsville Elementary Construction Delayed

Letter to Laurel Leader Editor from District 1 County Councilman, Tom Dernoga, Sep 15, 2005

The Prince George's County Public Schools staff just proposed deferring the proposed Laurel-Beltsville Elementary School in favor of other projects.

This recommendation is not in the CEO's Capital Improvement Program released for public discussion. Instead, the deferral was raised in a committee work session outside the general public view.

When is the public to be informed? After the hearing process is over?

The full text of this item is at this link

MH Residents may discuss this item and other topics of community interest on the MH-INTERACT email list.