<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:36px"><span style="line-height:normal;background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><font>Friends and neighbors,</font></span></div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:36px">
<span style="line-height:normal;background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><font><br></font></span></div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:36px"><span style="line-height:normal;background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><font>I wish to share the following information with you regarding the state mosquito program (I had erroneously stated that it was a county program earlier in the week, but it is fact administered by the Maryland Department of Agriculture):</font></span></div>
<div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:36px"><span style="line-height:normal;background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><font></font></span></div><ul><li><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:36px">
<span style="line-height:normal;background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><font>Spraying occurs in our area on Tuesday nights, between the hours of 8:30 am and 2:00 am.</font></span></div></li><li><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:36px">
<span style="line-height:normal;background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><font>MDA sets traps to see if it’s necessary to spray the area.</font></span></div></li><li><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:36px">
<font><span style="line-height:normal;background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><span>If the count is 20 or more females, they will spray. The Town’s count was 200 in the last test on July 30</span><span style="vertical-align:super">th</span><span>. Since Riverdale Park is a small community, they spray the entire community. The Town is one of three communities that they spray</span><span> at a time</span><span> – Hyattsville, Edmonston, included.</span><span> They rotate between the three communities to determine which gets sprayed first and last.</span></span></font><span style="line-height:normal;background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><font>Therefore, they can’t pinpoint what time they will be in Town. </font></span></div>
</li><li><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:36px"><font><span style="line-height:normal;background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><span>The optimum time to spray</span><span> the area is at dusk, which now is around 8:30 pm. They will spray until 1-2:00 am</span></span></font></div>
</li><li><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:36px"><span style="line-height:normal;background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><font>MDA maintains the chemicals used are less potent than the flea/tick solutions used for pets. The quantity is 2/3 of a fluid ounce solution per 1 acre. If sprayers see pedestrians in the area, they turn off the sprayer and resume only after the area is clear (if you see something else occurring please contact me directly--as opposed to via the list serve). </font></span></div>
</li><li><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:36px"><font><span style="line-height:normal;background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><span>Those sensitive to spraying should take appropriate actions during</span><span> those times to avoid the spray. </span></span></font><font><span style="line-height:normal;background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><span> </span></span></font></div>
</li></ul><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:36px"><font><span style="line-height:normal;background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><span></span></span></font> </div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:36px">
<font><span style="line-height:normal;background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><span></span></span></font> </div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:36px"><font><span style="line-height:normal;background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><span>While the town did give formal notice of the program in April's Crier I now clearly recognize we can and should do more to inform the public of days when spraying is likely to occur. In the Crier we will make sure to post in the Calender for each month, and I have asked town staff to send out a message via Town Talk and Town Announce during Tuesday business hours that spraying might take place that night.</span></span></font></div>
<p>
<font><span style="line-height:normal;background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><span></span></span></font></p><div><font><span style="line-height:normal;background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><span>Also note that we can do things as residents to minimize the need for spray. As is printed on our town web site:</span></span></font></div>
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<div><font><span style="line-height:normal;background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><span></span></span></font><font>T<em>o prevent mosquito breeding, please note that mosquitoes can breed in any water-holding container including bird baths, wading pools, pet watering dishes, tin cans, old tires, clogged gutters or flower pots. To prevent mosquito breeding in these areas, water should be changed weekly in bird baths, wading pools and pet dishes, gutters should be cleaned at least twice a year, and other water-holding containers should be disposed of or stored upside down. It is the citizens' responsibility to make sure their property is free of water-holding containers. Report any areas of stagnant water on or near your property by contacting the Maryland Department of Agriculture, Mosquito Control Division at </em><a href="tel:301-422-5080" target="_blank"><em>301-422-5080</em></a><em>.</em></font><font><span style="line-height:normal;background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><span><br>
</span></span></font></div><div><font><span style="line-height:normal;background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0)"><span>Also, you can give your neighbors a friendly reminder and/or contact town Public Works if you spot areas in public lands that might have standing water. </span></span></font></div>
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