<div>Dear Friends and Neighbors,</div>
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<div>I'm getting back to you at this time to let you know where we are in resisting the proposed new liquor store for Kenilworth Avenue. </div>
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<div>I had hoped to simply use diplomacy (including a bit of arm twisting) to convince the property owners Charles and Vivian Shi, to withdraw their support for the liquor establishment. That clearly would save us all a lot of time and effort, however, the Shi's have cut off contact with me, and so we will have to prevent the liquor store through the more arduous route of convincing the <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><font face="Times New Roman">Board of License Commissioners </font></span>to refuse to grant the liquor license. </div>
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<div>There are three things that you can do to help us stop this liquor store from relocating to Riverdale Park:</div>
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<div>1. Write a letter to the Board. I have attached a sample letter that helps you to focus in on the issues that will help us win over the board. PLEASE SEND A LETTER! it doesn't have to be long, or perfect--Just send a letter! ALSO, SEND A HARD COPY OR EMAIL VERSION TO COUNCILMAN OLSON'S OFFICE via his aid Brooks, Wanda J. <<a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:WJBrooks@co.pg.md.us" target="_blank">WJBrooks@co.pg.md.us</a>>, --apparently the Board is notorious for losing mail, so we want a separate file to produce a TALL stack of letters on the day of the hearing.</div>
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<div>2. Sign a petition. We are going to collect signatures from around Riverdale Park of persons opposed to this application. If you are willing to take on collecting signatures in a neighborhood please contact Heather Blanchard <a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:heather.blanchard@mac.com" target="_blank">heather.blanchard@mac.com</a> who has volunteered to coordinate this effort. (Big thanks to Heather!)</div>
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<div>3. Come to the hearing and speak against the application. The hearing is February 26 at 10 AM right here in Riverdale Park on the third floor of the old bank building at the corner of Baltimore Avenue and Queensbury--how is that for convenient? Getting people out to speak is THE CRITICAL PIECE to WINNING, so if you can be there, please come! </div>
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<div>You don't have to say a lot, or be silver tongued! Just come and say a few sentences about opposing the application! We can help you with speaking points, and it carries a lot of weight with the board. What matters is that we pack the hearing with people willing to give a little time to this cause. </div>
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<div>If you are interested in speaking please send a brief email to Wanda Brooks in Eric Olson's office <<a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:WJBrooks@co.pg.md.us" target="_blank">WJBrooks@co.pg.md.us</a>>, who is coordinating this effort.<br clear="all">
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<div>As I mentioned in my first message to you about this issue, I rarely come to you and ask for help in matters like this application. However, this is a very important issue and we need to win on this in order improve the chances of a new and improved Kenilworth Avenue. Those of us charged with using governmental authority are doing our part, but this is a time when we need you the residents to come forward and help if a positive outcome is to occur!</div>
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<div>Thanks and best wishes to all,</div>
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<div>Vern</div>
<div>-- <br>Vernon Archer, Mayor<br>Town of Riverdale Park, Maryland </div>