<div dir="ltr">The mosquito spraying program is run by the Maryland Department of Agriculture. You can read about it at <a href="http://mda.maryland.gov/plants-pests/Pages/mosquito_control_program_description.aspx">http://mda.maryland.gov/plants-pests/Pages/mosquito_control_program_description.aspx</a>, and see the schedule for this year (Riverdale Park is Tuesday evenings) at <a href="http://mda.maryland.gov/plants-pests/Documents/PGSprayList2013.pdf">http://mda.maryland.gov/plants-pests/Documents/PGSprayList2013.pdf</a><div>
<br></div><div>If you want to call and talk to someone, the number they provide is <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px">410-841-5870.</span></div><div><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px"><br>
</span></div><div><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px">From reading the (very long) description, I suspect that last night's spraying was for adult mosquitos; they say this is usually done "</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px">when mosquito activity is high, wind velocity is 2 to 10 mph, air temperature is between 60 to 85 degrees F, relative humidity is high and a temperature inversion exists." If it's Tuesday night, and the weather is as described, it's likely to happen again.</span></div>
<div><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px"><br></span></div><div><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px">Best,</span></div><div>
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px"><br></span></div><div><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px">Alan</span></div><div><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px"><br>
</span></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Jul 31, 2013 at 10:28 PM, Corey Slavitt <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:cls@pobox.com" target="_blank">cls@pobox.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><u></u>
<div>
<div><font face="Arial" color="#000000">Late this afternoon, the Town
of Riverdale Park's Public Works Office offered me a new phone number
to direct questions on the details and practices of the County's
pesticide spraying program here in Riverdale Park. The phone number
is reportedly for the County's Department of Environmental
Resources at <a href="tel:301-883-6080" value="+13018836080" target="_blank">301-883-6080</a>. However, not much hope was offered after
confirming that indeed the previous number offered for contact with
the County was a correct one of record but was likely disconnected in
favor of the County's 311 auto-answer service.</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" color="#000000"><br></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" color="#000000">I have not yet been successful
in securing the appropriate email address to direct the same questions
and concerns, but with some research, a good email address could be
found. I've called our County Council Member Eric Olson's office in
the past, but the individual answering the phone was busy with another
constituent each time, took my name and number with the promise to
call back, but never did. I think they have a lot going on, so email
may be the best route since at least that is a communication of record
for reference.</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" color="#000000"><br></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" color="#000000">From what I've seen of the
spraying/fogging vehicle, it just activates lights and a horn and
barrels through the center of the street blasting a wide fog
cone. If there's a breeze, front lawns and the interior of homes with
windows open get hit, but if residents know in advance, they can take
precautions -- especially for those that have exhibited
sensitivity to these pesticides in the past. The pesticides are
reportedly deemed effective for all in terms of mosquito control, but
for those, like me, who are sensitive to inhaling the pesticide, it is
not good for them to directly inhale the airborne fog cloud while it
is being dispensed.</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" color="#000000"><br></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" color="#000000">I've had some pets who are
resilient to nearly everything -- they can scarf down plastic bags,
lap up motor oil emptied in our streets from curbside mechanics
(despite my efforts to intervene!!!!) and rally to do the same the
next day. There are those though . . . especially as they age, that do
not have the hefty immune systems of their youth, and have collapsed
after walking across a lawn that had been recently treated for weeds.
I think there's a lot we don't know yet about the long-term effects of
these control programs -- positive or negative -- but knowing when the
programs are scheduled to occur can make a big
difference.</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" color="#000000"><br></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" color="#000000">Corey Slavitt</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" color="#000000"><br></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" color="#000000">From:</font><font face="Arial" color="#2034FB"> Sheri Mattes Wake
<<a href="mailto:smattes3@gmail.com" target="_blank">smattes3@gmail.com</a>></font><font face="Arial" color="#000000">
[</font><font face="Arial" color="#2034FB">Add to Address
Book</font><font face="Arial" color="#000000">]</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" color="#000000">To: Valrie Hames
<<a href="mailto:crownvhg@yahoo.com" target="_blank">crownvhg@yahoo.com</a>></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" color="#000000">Cc: Corey Slavitt
<<a href="mailto:cls@pobox.com" target="_blank">cls@pobox.com</a>>, "<a href="mailto:towntalk@riverdale-park.org" target="_blank">towntalk@riverdale-park.org</a>"
<<a href="mailto:towntalk@riverdale-park.org" target="_blank">towntalk@riverdale-park.org</a>></font></div><div class="im">
<div><font face="Arial" color="#000000">Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk]
Mosquito spraying</font></div>
</div><div><font face="Arial" color="#000000">Date: Jul 31, 2013 9:20 PM<div><div class="h5"><br>
also, is it safe for pets as long as they're not out there when it's
sprayed? or should we avoid the area for a while? how
long? i had no idea this spraying was going on.<br>
<br>
<br>
On Wed, Jul 31, 2013 at 8:38 PM, Valrie Hames <</div></div></font><font face="Arial" color="#2034FB"><a href="mailto:crownvhg@yahoo.com" target="_blank">crownvhg@yahoo.com</a></font><font face="Arial" color="#000000">> wrote:<div>
<div class="h5"><br>
Can I ask if the spraying is done on all front lawns and is there a
way to opt out? If there is, have they acknowledge it in the
past or just ignore it while sitting in a truck and spraying as they
drive by.<br>
</div></div></font></div><div><div class="h5">
<div><font face="Arial" color="#000000">Valrie </font><br>
<font face="Arial" color="#000000"></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" color="#000000"><br>
<b>From:</b> Corey Slavitt <</font><font face="Arial" color="#2034FB"><a href="mailto:cls@pobox.com" target="_blank">cls@pobox.com</a></font><font face="Arial" color="#000000">><br>
<b>To:</b></font><font face="Arial" color="#2034FB">
<a href="mailto:towntalk@riverdale-park.org" target="_blank">towntalk@riverdale-park.org</a></font><font face="Arial" color="#000000"><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, July 31, 2013 2:51 PM<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [RP TownTalk] Mosquito spraying<br>
<br>
Thanks for posting this Anne Marie.</font><br>
<font face="Arial" color="#000000"></font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" color="#000000">I called the Town of Riverdale
Park's Public Works Office today because I experienced the surprise of
the pesticide fogging vehicle last night in the 5000 block of
Oglethorpe Street, and hoped to get a spraying schedule from the Town.
As I recall, there used to be a schedule for spraying written in the
Town Crier. In previous years, I would mark my calendar for the
spraying schedule and make sure my windows were closed and pets safe
those days.</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" color="#000000"><br>
Public Works told me today that it was a County function, and to find
out the schedule I would need to call the County on their new 311 line
where one leaves a recorded message in the hope of getting a return
call later in time. Public Works did also give me a direct line to the
County pesticide sprayers at</font><font face="Arial" color="#2034FB">
<a href="tel:301-442-5080" value="+13014425080" target="_blank">301-442-5080</a></font><font face="Arial" color="#000000"> (I think that
was the number) but I only get a disconnection recording when I dial
it. I will check back again with Public Works on that direct line
number they gave me.</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" color="#000000"><br>
With the rare break in humidity and some nice weather, I took a chance
and turned off my central air conditioning and opened the windows for
a few days. It was great until last night when there was a pretty
strong breeze that blew the spraying vehicle's cloud into my windows,
and the ceiling fans inside circulated the fumes quickly. I ran around
like a wild woman last night, shutting windows and grabbing my cat off
his perch in an open window. But it was too late. I was so ill through
the night and this morning that I called in sick to work. My cat threw
up along with me. Some people and animals are extra sensitive to
pesticide spray.<br>
<br>
It is unfortunate to have this experience in tandem with the Riverdale
Park's Green Team's quest to obtain Sustainable Maryland
Certification. I filled out a survey about community needs regarding
the certification back in March. I regret now not mentioning that the
lack of spraying notification impacts the confidence of some residents
to open their windows, turn off the AC, and be more green.<br>
<br>
Corey Slavitt<br>
<br>
<br>
From:</font><font face="Arial" color="#2034FB"> Am
<<a href="mailto:maryland_amwillis@yahoo.com" target="_blank">maryland_amwillis@yahoo.com</a>></font><font face="Arial" color="#000000"> [</font><font face="Arial" color="#2034FB">Add to
Address Book</font><font face="Arial" color="#000000">]<br>
To:</font><font face="Arial" color="#2034FB">
<a href="mailto:towntalk@riverdale-park.org" target="_blank">towntalk@riverdale-park.org</a></font><font face="Arial" color="#000000"><br>
Subject: [RP TownTalk] Mosquito spraying<br>
Date: Jul 31, 2013 2:19 PM<br>
When was the town going to let the residents know when spraying was
going to take place?<br>
<br>
Today my nanny called to tell me and rush my daughter and dog inside.
What about the other pets outside! I also saw them @ three weeks ago
coming home from work on evening.<br>
<br>
I'm on the list serve and NEVER saw a notice.<br>
<br>
Anne Marie Willis<br>
<br>
Sent from my iPhone<br>
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