Household Hazardous Waste Collection Scheduled for July 2
The Charles County Department of Public Works would like to remind citizens that the next household hazardous waste collection will be held on Saturday, July 2. The household hazardous waste collection site is located in the parking lot of the Department of Public Works building, located at 10430 Audie Lane, off of Radio Station Road in La Plata. Collection hours are 9 a.m.—3 p.m.
Items accepted free of charge include: pesticides, herbicides, fertilizer, gasoline, oil-based paint, cleaning supplies, pool chemicals, fluorescent lights, mercury thermometers, and other poisons found in the home. Please remember to mark any container that does not have a readable, original label.
Unacceptable materials include bio-medical waste (sharps, needles, anything with bodily fluids), latex paint, prescription drugs, and ammunition. Used motor oil, anti-freeze, propane tanks, and batteries are accepted on a regular basis at various collection sites. Latex paint is not considered hazardous waste and can be placed in your household trash as long as it is solidified. This can be accomplished by adding kitty litter, shredded paper, paint hardener, or sawdust to aid in drying it out.
Household hazardous waste collection will occur on the first Saturday of each month through December. Upcoming 2016 collection dates are: July 2, Aug. 6, Sept. 3, Oct. 1, Nov. 5, and Dec. 3.
For more information, call the Charles County Department of Public Works, Environmental Resources Division at 301-932-3599 or 301-870-2778, or the landfill and recycling information line at 301-932-5656. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.
Department of Health Provides Free HIV Testing on June 24
The Charles County Department of Health HIV Program will be offering free human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing outside of the St. Charles Towne Center (11110 Mall Circle, Waldorf) on Friday, June 24, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Testing will take place outside of the Food Court entrance in the Department of Health mobile trailer. Testing is anonymous and results will be available on site. This service is free in support of National HIV Testing Day.
The Centers for Disease Control estimates that 1,218,400 persons aged 13 years and older are living with HIV infection, including 156,300 (12.8 percent) who are unaware of their infection. Over the past decade, the number of people living with HIV has increased. The pace of new infections continues at far too high a level—particularly among certain groups.
For more information about HIV, visit www.aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/. For event information visit the Department of Health website at www.charlescountyhealth.org or call 301-609-6900.
Town of La Plata Weather Sirens Activate for Confirmed Tornadoes
Summer brings severe weather, such as hurricanes, extreme heat, thunderstorms, and tornadoes. The Department of Emergency Services and the Town of La Plata remind residents that the Town of La Plata tornado sirens will activate if there is a confirmed tornado on the ground, spotted in, or heading towards La Plata. This is a three-minute cycling of the siren, in addition to a voice announcement at the end of the cycle.
La Plata sirens are "outdoor warning sirens" intended to warn residents who are outside of an imminent tornado threat. The sirens are not intended nor guaranteed to warn residents whom are indoors. Residents indoors should rely on weather radios, television and radio messages, or phone notification systems for updates on tornado threats.
Residents are urged to register/review their profiles for the latest CNS updates and alerts from Charles County Government, and the National Weather Service. To register for CNS, manage your message settings, provide preferred contact information, and select categories, visit www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/CNS.
When you hear the siren going off, please do not delay in seeking shelter. Get indoors to an interior small room or basement, and get low. For tornado preparedness tips, visit the National Weather Service's website at www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/safety.html.
The sirens are installed at the following locations:
• On Charles Street in front of the Charles County Courthouse
• On Curley Hall Road at the Town's Wastewater Treatment Plant (near Quailwood Subdivision)
• In Clarks Run Subdivision
• In King's Grant Subdivision
• On Shining Willow Way next to the La Plata Volunteer Fire Department
• College of Southern Maryland
Severe weather notices are posted online at www.CharlesCountyMD.gov, on CCGTV cable television (Verizon channel 10 and Comcast channel 95), on Facebook and on Twitter. Sign up for the Citizen Notification Service (CNS) at www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/CNS to receive inclement weather, tornado watch, and tornado warning notifications by email or text message. For updated information on power outages, view the SMECO outage map at stormcenter.smeco.coop. Call 877-747-6326 to report a power outage. Call 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency.
Swim, Bike, and Run at the Annual Youth Triathlon on August 6
Youth Triathlon Clinics available
Encourage your young athletes to register for the 7th annual Youth Triathlon at North Point High School (2500 Davis Road, Waldorf) on Saturday, Aug. 6. This event is open to all youth 15 years old and younger. Each child will swim, bike, and run specified distances determined by their age group. Check-in/registration time is 7 a.m. The event starts at 8 a.m.
New this year, the Charles County Youth Triathlon will be featured as the fourth race of the five-part Maryland Youth Triathlon Series. Now in its sixth season, the Maryland Youth Triathlon Series is the first youth triathlon series of its kind in the state. Awards will be given to overall Series winners across the four age groups for girls and boys. Triathletes must participate in at least two races to be Series eligible. Visit www.minicowtriclub.com/myts for more information about the 2016 Maryland Youth Triathlon Series.
Also new this year, all participants will wear a chip to track their time throughout the event. The Recreation Division has partnered with the Race Works Gruppetto, the official scoring and timing company of the Fairfax 2016 Police and Fire World Games, to time the event.
Register by Saturday, July 16 to qualify for the early bird registration fee of $35. Registration from Sunday, July 17 to Friday, Aug. 5 is $40. All participants registered before Saturday, July 16 will be guaranteed a T-shirt. On-site registration will be available the day of the event with a fee of $45. Online registration is available at www.CharlesCountyParks.com.
To train for the event, a four-week Youth Triathlon Clinic is available for youth between the ages of six and 14 years old at North Point High School (2500 Davis Road, Waldorf) from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. This clinic covers swim technique, endurance building drills, transition area tips, race day prep, biking and running pointers, as well as general health and fitness information. Classes start Saturday, July 2. The fee is $25 for those participating all four weeks, or $10 per visit. Visit www.CharlesCountyParks.com to learn more.
For more information on these events or other activities offered by the Department of Community Services, visit www.CharlesCountyParks.com and www.facebook.com/CharlesCountyParksRecreation, or call 301-934-9305 or 301-870-3388. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.
Commissioners Proclaim EMS for Children Day
On Tuesday, June 21 the Charles County Commissioners declared Thursday, June 23 as Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Day in Charles County. EMSC supports Emergency Medical Services (EMS), the community-based public service whose presence is vital to children in need. EMSC promotes the high-level emergency care given by EMS providers with pediatric emergency skills.
In attendance were Commissioner Ken Robinson (District 1); Commissioner Amanda M. Stewart, M.Ed. (District 3); John Filer, Department of Emergency Services; Commissioner Bobby Rucci (District 4); William Stephens, Department of Emergency Services; Commissioner President Peter F. Murphy; Commissioner Vice President Debra M. Davis, Esq. (District 2).
Charles County Government July Holiday Schedule
The Charles County Commissioners wish to remind residents of changes to normal operating schedules for the month of July. All offices, facilities, and services not listed will be operating their normal hours.
Monday, July 4 (Independence Day)
• All Charles County Government offices and the Tri-County Animal Shelter in Hughesville will be closed.
• The Charles County Landfill and Recycling Center on Billingsley Road in Waldorf, and the Pisgah Recycling Center on Route 425 in Pisgah will be closed.
• Curbside recycling and yard waste collection will be delayed one day for the entire week, Tuesday, July 5 through Saturday, July 9.
• VanGO services will not be operating.
• The Nanjemoy Community Center, senior centers, Port Tobacco Recreation Center, Elite Gymnastics, and all school based community centers are closed.
• All pools will be open 12 p.m. -5 p.m. for open swim (Lackey, Donald M. Wade Aquatic Center, North Point, McDonough, La Plata, and Thomas Stone).
• Charles County Public Library is closed.
• Charles County Health Department is closed.
For questions about County Government holiday closures, contact the Public Information Office at 301-885-2779 or PressRoom@CharlesCountyMD.gov. Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711, or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.