Judge Dismisses Ambulance Fee Lawsuit And The Electioneering Continues

TBD.com reports Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Robert Greenberg dismissed a challenge by the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association (MCVFRA) claiming the county was engaging in illegal electioneering in support of the ambulance fee referendum.

Judge Greenberg ruled that “the suit was filed too late (there is a 10-day statute) and that there was no evidence to show the county’s actions would sway voters.”

In her post Ambulance fee lawsuit: Judge dismisses volunteers’ challenge Elahe Izadi noted:

Meanwhile across town today, county officials were out in full force, along with a volunteer paramedic, advocating for ambulance fees. And, yes, county communications’ staff members sent out numerous press releases ahead of the press conference.

Evidence of the County’s efforts to sway voters on Question A was also documented by Tom Moore, who has written a Contributor Opinion to Vote No On Question A. He snapped this picture of the Rockville Memorial Library from earlier today with a “Vote For Question A” banner hanging across the entrance.

Photo by Tom Moore

Regardless of your opinion on the ambulance fee issue, should a government building be displaying a banner telling us how to vote ? Who paid for and hung this banner on a public building?

Tips For A Safe Halloween

Alexander Vincent's Jack O' Lantern. Photo by Tom Moore.

The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) warns “Children are four times more likely to be hit by a car on Halloween than any other night of the year.” If you are driving on Sunday, make sure to go slow and watch out for Trick or Treaters.

If you are welcoming Trick or Treaters to your home:

Keep your porch lights on and eliminate tripping hazards on your porch and walkway. Remove outdoor safety hazards such as toys, bicycles and lawn ornaments. Make sure the driveway and steps are cleared of leaves, which can be a slipping and falling hazard. Make sure that the driveway and walks are well lit for incoming trick-or-treaters. Replace burned-out or broken light bulbs. Pets get frightened on Halloween. Confine your pets for their safety and for that of trick or treaters.

For Parents:

As a parent, what can you do to keep your kids safe? First of all, review street-crossing rules before venturing out on Halloween. Make sure they know to:

• stop at all street corners
• cross only at intersections and crosswalks
• look left, right, and left before crossing the street
• continue looking both ways when they cross
• stay on the sidewalk
• don’t run in the street.

Stay with your children while Trick or Treating or make sure they are with a responsible adult. Only go to houses with lights on and never go into a house. If they’re old enough to trick-or-treat without an adult, make sure they are with a group because there is safety in numbers. Know the route they will take and tell them to avoid short cuts through backyards and alleys. Have them check in regularly.

Use reflective tape or decals on costumes. Don’t leave home without flashlights or glow sticks. Besides being safe, lights are fun!

Make sure the kids know to wait until they come home before eating anything. The treats should be inspected by an adult. Never let a child eat an unwrapped or partially wrapped treat.

Here are some additional fire safety tips from MCFRS:

Illuminate your jack-o’-lanterns with flashlights or battery-operated candles instead of real ones. You won’t have the worries of an open flame coming in contact with anything . . .or anyone.

If you do use candles, keep them well away from where trick or treaters will be walking or standing.

Review with your children the principle of “stop, drop and roll” should their clothes catch fire.

When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories, purchase only those with a label indicating they are flame resistant. Shorter IS safer. Ensure costumes are not so long that children could trip and shoes should fit - - - even if they don’t go with the costume.

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Pepco’s Thermostats Are a Fire Hazard

Participants in PEPCO’s Energy Wise Rewards program are being asked to remove the batteries fom their thermostats to prevent a potential fire hazard. If the batteries leak, the leakage can damage the printed circuit board in the thermostat, causing the unit to overheat and become a potential fire hazard.

The good news is that the thermostat will work properly without the batteries. The batteries only power the clock during a power outage.

Pepco’s website lists the steps to remove the batteries:

1. Detach the face plate from the thermostat by placing your fingers under the bottom left and right corners and gently pull the cover upwards towards you until all four corners are released and the battery compartment is exposed.
2. Pull the fabric ribbon tag at the top of the unit to release the batteries. Remove and properly dispose of the old batteries. DO NOT INSERT A NEW SET OF BATTERIES. Leave the battery compartment empty.
3. Reattach the cover by snapping it back into place.

If you see any signs that your batteries have leaked, call 1-866-353-5798 to have your thermostat replaced.

MCFRS Reminds Us To Splash Into Summer Safely

Did you know that drowning is the second leading killer of children ages 14 and under? The >Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service urges everyone to follow these important safety tips when near the water:

Never leave children unattended around any body of water (bathtubs, pools, ornamental backyard ponds, etc.).

Small children don’t think of water as a danger and, by nature, are very curious. Being left alone in or around water without supervision can be fatal. Do not leave water or any other solutions unattended in buckets or other containers - a child can drown in as little as two inches of water.

Learn to swim. But remember - even good swimmers can drown.
Swimming lessons are no substitute for supervision of children and never swim alone.

Learn CPR.
Valuable lifesaving seconds are lost by having to wait for Emergency Medical Services to respond and administer CPR. Four to six minutes without oxygen can cause irreversible brain damage or death.

Pay attention to local weather conditions and forecasts.
Stop swimming at the first indication of bad weather.

Watch out for the “dangerous too’s”
…too tired, too cold, too far from safety, too much sun, too much strenuous activity.

Always have a phone
Keep a phone (cell or cordless) by the pool or nearby when engaged in recreational water activities so that you can call 9-1-1 in an emergency.

Know where your children are at all times.
Never leave a child unattended in the water or pool area. Don’t be distracted by phone calls, chores or conversations. If you leave the pool area, take the child with you.

Don’t rely on substitutes.
The use of floatation devices and inflatable toys cannot replace parental supervision. Such devices could suddenly shift position, lose air, or slip out from underneath, leaving the child in a dangerous situation.

Has me thinking that our wonderful interactive fountain in Rockville Town Square is a much safer alternative.

Please be careful near the pool. I know as a kid I had a couple of close calls so I take this message very seriously. Accidents can happen very quickly.

Contributor Opinion by Temperance Blalock: Why Are Pedestrians Penalized More Than Motorists?

>I’m a real coward when it comes to crossing the street in downtown Rockville. I’ll stand there patiently, waiting for the light to turn, and I’ll wait there interminably, looking incredibly silly when most people would sprint across against the light, mostly because I know how fast cars will suddenly appear and barrel through an intersection at ten or fifteen miles above the speed limit. I’d rather be safely silly than sorry.

And so it was that I was heartened to receive an e-mail from the City entitled “Rockville City Police Department Issues Pedestrian Safety Reminders“. Hey, maybe I could take a respite and relax, knowing that the police department is at least temporarily going to monitor the safety of pedestrian crossings.

But then I saw the following:

Fines for pedestrians who do not cross in a properly marked crosswalk or who cross against the signal could face a fine up to $500. Motorists who do not yield to pedestrians who are in a marked crosswalk could face a fine up to $40 and one point on his/her driver’s license.

This is outrageous. Why are pedestrians penalized at a rate more than ten times that of motorists? How could this possibly be justified? If a pedestrian and a motorist “meet” in an intersection, there is no way that the pedestrian could inflict ten times the rate of damage on the automobile.

Given the fact that I have almost never seen a motorist (other than myself) yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk in the seven years that I’ve worked in downtown Rockville, this is a joke. Yes, I’ve seen plenty of jaywalkers and reckless pedestrians in that time, but none of them just barely clipped me with thousands of pounds of steel.

So, for the time being I’m going to continue to cower in the crosswalks, as long as pedestrians continue to be fair game in the traffic wars.

Temperance Blalock

This is a Contributor Opinion. Rockville Central encourages readers to submit such pieces for consideration — the more voices the better. We ask that all such contributions be civil and we reserve the right to edit (in consultation with the author) or reject. Contributor opinions should not be seen as reflecting opinions held by Rockville Central editors, as they are just as frequently at odds with our own views. That’s the whole point!

How To Stay Safe After The Record Snowfall

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Dangers still lurk because of all the snow and ice from the February storms. As everyone’s saying, it doesn’t appear to be going anywhere. We are getting another inch or two this evening. As we are all going about our business, keep these safety tips in mind.

Look Up!
We have our back stairs blocked so the ice dam and icicles won’t fall on anyone’s head. Visitors are coming through our garage. Some local businesses are also blocking areas of danger. However, not everyone is taking this precaution. Assess entryways and make sure to stay alert when entering or exiting buildings.

Roof Snow Procedures

If you haven’t already, make sure to clear away the snow by your downspouts and drains. Not doing so backs up the drainage and contributes to ice dams on the roof.

The Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service warns

Please Do NOT attempt to access your roof to clear the snow. Any person on the roof or performing work on the roof from below is risking injury and damage to the roof and house. It is important to contact licensed, bonded, and insured professionals to carry out this job!

MCFRS also reported a house fire due to water leaking down into an electrical panel. If your breakers keep tripping, turn off your main circuit breaker and call a licensed, bonded, and insured electrician.

Driving

Large snow banks are blocking the view at most intersections. Drivers need to nose the car out in order to see if oncoming traffic is coming. Be very alert when driving and expect cars to pull out. Obey speed limits and drive carefully and slowly.

Walking in the Street
Wear bright colors and be aware of vehicles driving on the roads. Look left, right and all around before crossing. Cross in crosswalks where drivers are expecting you.

Snow Forts and Tunnels
My kids have built them, but they are dangerous. Children should never be left unattended and close supervision is necessary. The snow can collapse on the kids making breathing difficult very quickly.

Frozen Water
Don’t even think about going out on ponds or creeks, you can never tell how thick the ice is.

Fire Hydrants
As I’ve said, clear the fire hydrants if they are still buried in your neighborhood!

Stay safe everyone!

All About National Night Out

Tuesday, August 4, 2009, is >National Night Out Against Crime. More than three dozen events are planned from 6-10 PM throughout Rockville. It will be one big party!

Evert neighborhood has its own special flair. Some have cookouts, moon bounces, or kid’s games. I always enjoy the visit from McGruff the Crime Dog and our Rockville City Police officers. Since it’s an election year, I’m sure the Mayor and Council and many candidates will be making the rounds.

The following neighborhoods are having block parties, check with your association for exact locations:

• East Rockville
• Fallsmead
• West End
• Lincoln Park
• Rockshire
• Hungerford
• Twinbrook
• Woodley Gardens
• Redgate Farms
• Lynfield
• Falls Ridge
• American Centre
• Welsh Park
• Woods Edge
• Village Green

The Twinbrook neighborhood has sent along a special invitation:

All Rockville residents and friends are invited for a free evening of swimming (gate opens at 4pm) at the Twinbrook Pool on Atlantic Avenue and Denfield There will be hamburgers and hot dogs, sodas, chips, candy and ice cream for sale at the snack bar.

Knock on your neighbors doors and get a group to come down together, bring some blankets and folding chairs and have a no-fuss get together at the Twinbrook Pool. Choose a theme for your group — everyone dress up like walruses for example, or make a great sign proclaiming you are the Midway Maniacs!

We will turn up the radio and spend some time swimming, talking and getting to know one another. As National Night Out is in collaboration with our Rockville Police Department, if they are not otherwise detained (hope for a quiet night) one of the officers will be coming by to meet the kids!

We are also having raffles. We already have some items up on the Twinbrook Pool web site and we have other items being donated, including services from some of our neighborhood businesses. Questions: Jacquie Kubin [email protected]

Good suggestions no matter which block party you attend! I’ve been lucky enough to have events in both my neighborhoods in Rockville - Twinbrook and West End/Lynfield. Go out and meet some neighbors. Make sure you know who lives nearby. You’ll be safer if you do.

For more information about National Night Out in Rockville, call Cpl. Ken Matney at 240-314-8922 or e-mail [email protected].

Flashing Lights Say Watch For Pedestrians

The City of Rockville has installed a new set of flashing lights at two uncontrolled pedestrian crosswalks, designed to alert drivers to be careful.>

This from the City’s press release:

Rockville completed installation of rapid flashing lights at two heavily used pedestrian intersections in the City. Rockville is the first community in Maryland to install the new pedestrian-safety devices.

The Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons, as they are officially named, provide rapid flashing lights — similar to strobe lights — under already posted crosswalk signs. The lights are activated once a pedestrian pushes the crosswalk button. The signal continues to flash for a set time while a pedestrian crosses the street. At all other times, the signal is dark.

The lights alert drivers that pedestrians are entering or are in the crosswalk. The flashing beacons are only being installed at intersections that do not have a signal or a stop sign.

The solar-powered, radio-controlled signals are designed to not only control traffic at busy intersections, but to teach pedestrians how to cross safely.

The crosswalk unit activates when a person stands near the unit, directing the person to push the red button. Simple instructions follow and an electronic voice states, “You have activated the crosswalk signal. Place one foot near the curb line and wait for the traffic to stop. Remember to thank the driver as you cross the roadway.” Two languages are used - English and Spanish - on the signal.

The two intersections where the flashing beacons were installed are Maryland Avenue at Vinson Street and W. Edmonston Drive at the Woodmont Shopping Center and Apartments.

The flashing beacons are among the newest technology in pedestrian safety, cost $18,000 each and have received approval from the Federal Highway Administration. The money to buy the new flashing crosswalk lights is available to the City through the Speed Camera Program.

I am all for improvements in pedestrian safety and that’s a good use of speed camera money.

But I’ll have to go and give a listen to the message. While it’s common sense advice, it sounds like it might be a hoot to hear and try to comply to the letter! Might end up looking like the Hokey-Pokey.

Wootton High Featured In Special On Internet Safety

Thanks to the useful local resource >Connected Communities, we recently learned that CBS has featured Thomas S. Wootton High School in a very useful special on teens and Internet safety — specifically, how vulnerable youth really can be while surfing.

If you are a parent — or, better yet, a teen or tween — I cannot urge you strongly enough to spend the three minutes it takes to watch the video. It contains a few useful tips at the end.

Looking for more online safety resources? Rockville has its own resident expert on Internet safety for youth. And he’s my neighbor! His name is Stephen Balkam. He runs the Family Online Safety Institute and writes a column on Internet safety at the Huffington Post. I highly recommend his columns.

Got any tips to share with other parents, or concerns? Post them here, in the comments.

(Image by Rockville Central. It was a POTD!)