AUNTIE DILUVIANA A new column premieres, highlighting the collected wisdom of Hyattsville’s Aging in Place group. PAGE 4
Challenges for new city HR director By Paula Minaert
Chris Vermillion, Hyattsville’s newly hired human resources director, started work on February 27. It’s a new position, created by the city council last year. Vermillion, by all accounts, has his work cut out for him. During his first week on the job, Public Works Director Patrick Ryan resigned, effective March 16, to accept a job in his native Midwest. That makes the fourth directorlevel position without a permanent, full-time staff person. The department of code enforcement has had an acting director, senior inspector Chris Guinta, since 2009. Police Chief Douglas Holland is acting city administrator and Communications Manager Abby Sandel is acting director of recreation and the arts. Longtime city employee Julia McTague has been recommended to take over as acting DPW director, although at press time no announcement had been made. Last August, she was assigned to oversee various continuing DPW construction projects. The city has struggled with staffing issues for some time. Recently, it had two parks directors and two treasurers in the space of two years. In addition, the assistant city administrator and
Hyattsville Life & Times PO Box 132 Hyattsville, MD 20781
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CHALLENGES continued on page 13
THE TRADITION CONTINUES
HELPING FAMILIES
City Easter egg hunt marks 76 years. PAGE 2
A snapshot of The Parenting Time Center, based at St. Matthew’s Church. PAGE 7
Hyattsville Life&Times
Vol. 9 No. 3
Hyattsville’s Community Newspaper
March 2012
raise a
GLASS BILL JENNE It was a busy month for Franklins Restaurant, Brewery and General Store. The Second Annual Beer Dinner, featuring five courses paired with beers, sold out well before the February 22 event. Later that week, on February 26, the local landmark celebrated its 10th anniversary with brewery tours, wine tastings and more.
Council members may land in new wards by Susie Currie
Federally mandated redistricting could displace up to six city council incumbents, according to plans unveiled at the March 5 council meeting. The 2010 census showed that Hyattsville’s population grew from 14,733 on April 1, 2000, to 17,557 a decade later, an increase of almost 20 percent. Much of that was in Ward 3, where annexation led to an imbalance of 1,000 residents. Making sure they get evenly distributed was just one consideration for the three-member redistricting committee. Committee chair David Rain presented six plans to the council. He described the existing boundary lines, drawn based on
2000 census data, as “jagged and irregular.” One reason for that, he said, “had to do with moving the lines around [to keep] incumbents in their wards. We did pay attention to that, but we didn’t focus on it
exclusively.” They also focused on drawing “compact, contiguous” boundaries and, in keeping with the Voting Rights Act of 1965, creating a minority-opportunity ward, with a minority population of at least
50 percent. But that proved harder than expected, because “there aren’t a lot of pockets of concentrations,” explained Rain. “It’s a virtue [for REDISTRICTING continued on page 12
School loses federal funds, five staff members by Julia Duin
Hyattsville Elementary School is facing the loss of five crucial staff after the school’s Title 1 status was removed earlier this year, reducing its budget by $200,000. To receive Title 1 funds, 75 percent of a school’s students must be from families whose income qualifies them for free or reduced-priced meals in the school cafeteria. This year, that percentage dipped to 73.4 percent, barely missing the cutoff. The
school’s free breakfast program will not be affected by the reduction. Among the five positions to be cut is the bilingual parent liaison, Cecilia Penate. Of 511 enrolled students, 150 take English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes. And 48 percent of school families are Spanish-speaking. On March 6, anguished Spanish-speaking parents protested the loss during an early afternoon FUNDING continued on page 11
Included: The March 13, 2012 Issue of The Hyattsville Reporter — See Center Section
Page 2
Hyattsville Life & Times | March 2012
FromTheEditor
Who are we, anyway? by Paula Minaert
I often walk around the city. I don’t cover all of its 2.67 square miles but I’ve been to a large portion of it. And I’ve noticed, as I think most of us have, that Hyattsville has changed over the years. I decided to look at the 2010 census recently to see what I could learn from it and if my off-the-cuff observations were accurate. It was a fascinating exercise. We do have more people living here, which shouldn’t surprise anyone. Since 2000, the city’s population has grown from almost 15,000 to more than
A community newspaper chronicling the life and times of Hyattsville Mailing address: PO Box 132, Hyattsville, MD 20781 Hyattsville Life & Times is published monthly by Hyattsville Community Newspaper, Inc., a 501c(3) nonprofit corporation. Interested reporters should send their e-mail addresses to the editor to be reminded of deadlines and receive internal news. Articles and news submitted may be edited. The deadline is the last week of the month for the following month’s issue. Letters to the editor and opinions are encouraged. For all e-mail correspondence with HL&T: news, features, tips, advertising and business write to hyattsvillelifeandtimes@gmail. com. To submit articles, letters to the editor, etc., e-mail susie@hyattsvillelife.com. Executive Editor Paula Minaert paula@hyattsvillelife.com 301.335.2519 Managing Editor Susie Currie susie@hyattsvillelife.com 301.633.9209 Editorial Intern Scarlett Salem Production Ashley Perks Advertising advertising@hyattsvillelife.com 301.531.5234 Writers & Contributors Victoria Hille, William Jenne, Valerie Russell, Kimberly Schmidt, Fred Seitz, Hugh Turley Board of Directors Julia Duin - President Chris Currie - Vice President Joseph Gigliotti - General Counsel Paula Minaert - Secretary Peggy Dee, Bart Lawrence, Karen J. Riley Susie Currie - Ex Officio Circulation: Copies are distributed monthly by U.S. Mail to every address in Hyattsville. Additional copies are distributed to libraries, selected businesses, community centers and churches in the city. Total circulation is 9,300. HL&T is a member of the National Newspaper Association.
17,000: almost a 20 percent increase. You can attribute it to, among other things, new construction along Route 1 and the annexation of University Hills. Something else the census confirmed for me: Hyattsville is significantly more diverse than it was ten years ago. In 2000, the breakdown of white, black and Hispanic was, approximately, 34 percent, 42 percent and 18 percent. Now the figures are 24 percent, 34 percent and 34 percent. This explains all the Spanish I hear spoken on the sidewalks, at the gym and in the stores. Actually, we have more foreign-born people of all nationalities; that number jumped from 24.5 percent to 35.7 percent.
The census records that we have proportionally fewer children than we did in 2000; the 0 to 14 group went down from 20.6 to 18.3 percent. But this doesn’t seem to jibe with anecdotal evidence. I’ve noticed large numbers of families with young children and I’ve heard that our schools are bursting at the seams. Could there be an undercount? We have proportionally more people aged 20 to 34. Could that be caused by the people who’ve moved into the new housing on Route 1 and by the students I assume live in the recently-annexed University Hills neighborhood? We have proportionally fewer people aged 35 to 44 and we have more aged 45 to 74. There’s
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a drop in the group 75 to 84 and a jump in the 85+ group. Interestingly, though, the median age here hardly changed at all, going from 34.4 to 34.6 percent. I thought it would have gone up more. Perhaps it’s related to the increase in the number of Hispanic residents, who are typically young. As for the money, it appears to be good news. We have a smaller percentage of people who earn less than $25,000 a year (from about 20 percent to 16 percent), although if the dollar amount were adjusted for inflation it seems likely that the proportion of low-earners has increased modestly from ten years ago. The percentage of people who earn more than $100,000 went up significantly, from 7.4 percent to 22.5 percent. But there are some things that don’t make sense. Family income,
adjusted for the Consumer Price Index, increased – but household income dropped. What’s the difference? Do we have a large number of households that are not families? Are they students? Are they unrelated people forced to live together by economic problems? And there’s something even more puzzling. The median income of men working in permanent full-time jobs dropped about 3 percent, adjusted for inflation, which isn’t hard to understand, given the economic downturn. What is startling is that women’s median income dropped by 16 percent. What’s that all about? I’m not a statistician, so I can’t really interpret all these numbers. But it’s critical information to have (though perhaps we shouldn’t accept it uncritically) as we try to discern our city’s future needs and allocate our resources.
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Hunting eggs on Easter Monday by Peggy Dee
In 1936, the City of Hyattsville was caught up in celebrating its 50th anniversary. The first annual Easter Egg Hunt was held in April and local women dyed 500 eggs for the event. By 1941, the Magruder Park event had become a highlight of each spring. By that time, there were 1,500 hidden eggs, with prizes for the finders ranging from a nickel to 50 cents in cash or ice cream cones from the local Hot Shoppes. I recently had a delightful chat with former Mayor George “Cotton” Harrison, a Hyattsville native who now lives in Frederick. His home was on the 4000 block of Shepherd Street, which is now Kennedy Street. Cotton was a Ward 4 councilman for 10 years and was elected mayor in 1972. He has fond memories of attending the many events held at Magruder Park, especially the Easter Egg hunts, which were always held on Easter Monday. They were sponsored by the Kiwanis Club. Cotton laughed as he recalled the scene. All children participating in the hunt were behind a rope on the left side as you entered the park. When the whistle blew and the rope dropped, there was a wild stampede of children heading toward the right side of the park, where the eggs were hidden. The grand prize was $5 for each golden egg that was found. Every year, many of the little girls paraded around the park af-
terwards to show off the lovely chiffon dresses that they wore for Easter. Many of the local politicians and businessmen were in attendance. Playing a prominent role each year was Walter Smith, who owned the popular Smitty’s Restaurant, located at the end of Hamilton Street. Dave Ginsburg, who was affectionately known as Uncle Dave, was the usual master of ceremonies for the day. Uncle Dave also managed the Hyattsville Movie Theatre, which was located on Baltimore Avenue. Former Ward 1 Councilmember Douglas Dudrow, who also grew up in our fair city, remembers one Easter weekend in the early 1960s when the egg hunt had to be moved inside because of the inclement weather. It was held at the Hyattsville Movie Theatre. Elaine Miller remembers taking her son and daughter to the festivity in the late 1940s and then returning with her grandchildren and grown daughter in the early 1960s. After the hunts, they topped off the day with lunch at the Hot Shoppes in downtown Hyattsville. It is reassuring to all of us to know that the City, after 76 years, still carries on the same tradition. This year, the Great Egg Hunt will take place at Magruder Park on Saturday, April 7, beginning with a pancake breakfast from 9 to 11 a.m., with the hunt to follow. Please call the City at 301.985.5000 to make your reservations.
Hyattsville Life & Times | March 2012
Page 3
Nigerian Catholic Community finds a permanent home here
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Home. If you’re from Nigeria, it may seem impossibly far away. But many first-generation immigrants have found a second home in the heart of historic Hyattsville. The Nigerian Catholic Community is preparing to celebrate its first Easter in its permanent home: St. Jerome’s Catholic Church, where it has been since May. For nearly 18 years, the NCC has served native Nigerians in the metro area from a series of rental locations that changed every couple of years. Last spring, a change in the St. Jerome weekend Mass schedule cleared the way for an NCC service every Sunday at 12:30 p.m. In July, Fr. Charles Edeh arrived from Enugu, Nigeria, to serve as chaplain to the group. “We’re very happy to have the Nigerian Catholic Community worshipping with us,” said Fr. James Stack, pastor of St. Jerome. The NCC is happy too, because being in and out of rental churches and rooms would be tough on any congregation. On a recent Sunday, Edeh took up a special collection for muchneeded building repairs. “We’re going to be using [the building],” he said, “So please be generous.” But it’s the building of the community that he really cares about. “We want to create a niche of Nigerian Catholics in the Washington area so that our children who are born here have something of their culture,” Edeh explained in an interview, “Something that they lost from their homes.” To that end, the group has elaborate celebrations for Nigerian Independence Day (October
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1) as well as Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. But on any given Sunday, the sounds, sights and atmosphere evoke memories of the parishioners’ homeland. A large choir sings in a local dialect as musicians play native instruments. A special prayer asking for the alleviation of distress, bribery and corruption in Nigeria is a regular part of the service. Many women wear the traditional buba and wrapper (blouse and skirt) or kaba (one-piece dress), all fashioned from brilliant fabrics. The geles (head wraps) that many women wear look like nature’s most festive blossoms in various stages of blooming. Some men wear frocks in fabrics just as exuberant as the women’s. It’s a family that prides itself on dress and appearance as well as actions. “We’re known for our generosity,” said longtime community member Victoria Agvar. “People are dressed like you. They speak like you. It’s like home.” One woman from Riverdale Park, who identified herself only
as Beatrice, began attending the service with her family nine months ago after years of going to another Mass at the parish. “I come here because my mom likes it. This makes me feel like we’re back home,” said Beatrice, whose son is a student at St. Jerome Academy. Afterwards, everyone stays to chat with friends and family, or even to learn; Edeh doesn’t stop teaching after the closing prayer. Recently, he stayed afterwards to instruct a large crowd of lectors how to pronounce difficult English words. The weekly Mass draws people from as far away as Baltimore and Howard County, and Edeh hopes that many more will follow. “Now that we have a permanent site, we want permanent members,” he said. “Our future is bright.” The NCC is the only Nigerian faith community recognized by the Archdiocese of Washington, but it is not unique. Catholics from Italy, Korea and Portugal, to name a few, all have similar congregations.
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Hyattsville Life & Times | March 2012
AuntieDiluviana by Sally Middleton
How to make our homes safe and accessible as we age was the topic when architects Mark Ferguson and Mike ArHLTJan2012.qx 1/3/12 1:52 PM Page nold spoke to an audience of at least 40 at the Municipal Building. Sponsored by the Hyattsville Preservation Association (HPA), the February 9 talk and slide show aimed to raise awareness as well as offer practical solutions. As Ferguson went through
the list of likely changes in vision, hearing, , strength, and balance as we age, groans of dismay could be heard from the audience. But soon the topic of falling and ways to 1 prevent this common threat had everyone’s attention. Not surprising, but worth repeating, are the main places around the home where falls occur: outside steps, inside stairs and bathrooms. And that’s without ice and snow! Looked at your railings lately? Turns out railing height,
placement, sturdiness and even graspability must all be considered. The Americans with Disability Act (ADA) does not pertain to residences, but is a source for good, practical advice related to safety and accessibility. For example, Arnold urged taking time to consider what’s called the “primary accessible route.� For a public space, this starts with parking and getting into the door; for homeowners and apartment dwellers, this would be thinking about getting from the car to the house, from the bed to the bathroom. Going over this route will identify possible hazards and obstacles, probably more than you suspect. Often, bet-
ter lighting is needed. An example is at the outside door, where you fumble with your key. Inside, carpets may have to be removed or securely fastened and furniture moved. Outside, a ramp may be advisable, but not without careful consideration and planning. What are the possible routes? Will the ramp be temporary or permanent? What options are available regarding materials? And don’t forget the handrail! Discussions about aging in place will continue. On April 4, Jean Cook, president of the Greenbelt Intergenerational Volunteer Exchange Service (GIVES), will speak at a meeting of the newly formed group Hyattsville Aging in Place (HAP). She will explain the
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The Accidental Activist and the Presidential Candidate by Susie Currie
While Newt Gingrich was giving his Super Tuesday victory speech in Georgia earlier this month, his half-sister Candace Gingrich-Jones was working late at the Human Rights Campaign in downtown Washington, D.C. Then she headed home to Hyattsville, where she lives with Rebecca GingrichJones, a playwright she married in a Boston civil ceremony in 2009. The couple met playing rugby for the Washington Furies in 2004. Rebecca, who earned a master’s degree in playwriting last spring, has adapted Candace’s 1996 memoir, The Accidental Activist. A stage reading at 7 p.m. on March 14 will kick off Busboys & Poets’ new Beltway Drama Series, a monthly event showcasing D.C.-area playwrights. Though not a full production – “basically, it’s people on stage with music stands,” says Rebecca – the 90-minute story traces the complicated relationship of siblings who are, in many respects, polar opposites. The updated material she added, including Newt’s presidential campaign and the Gingrich-Jones wedding, may only
sharpen the distinctions. “I like to write plays that focus on common humanity. Everyone can relate to family life,” said Rebecca, who received one of this year’s top three playwriting grants from the Maryland State Arts Council. The main characters, of course, are Candace and Newt (played by Bill Brekke), with four other actors in ensemble roles. The brother and sister have the same mother – and a complex history. When Kathleen Gingrich married her second husband, Richard, in 1946, he adopted the son from her first marriage, 3-year-old Newt. The couple went on to have three daughters.
When Candace, the youngest and a selfdescribed “empty-nest baby,” was born in 1966, her sisters were 16 and 18. Newt, at 23, was a married father himself; his second daughter was born the same year as Candace. The age difference makes for a relationship she describes as more like uncle-niece than brother-sister. Since they’ve always lived in different states, seeing each other more than a handful of times a year is rare, although that may be slowly changing. Candace says that “Rebecca and Callista are very proactive” about getting together on special occasions.
Newt ascended to the national spotlight in 1994 as the 58th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. As journalists raced to profile him, the spotlight expanded to include his parents and sisters, who were all living in the Harrisburg area at the time – and who had known of Candace’s sexual identity for years. “I didn’t call a press conference [to announce my orientation],” she said. But when an AP reporter asked, she didn’t hide it. Invitations followed. She moved to the D.C. area in 1995 to start work with the Human Rights Campaign, which was on its way to becoming the nation’s largest LGBT advocacy group. Her slogan in those early years: “Your brother doesn’t have to be Speaker for your voice to be heard in Congress.” Now, her voice is being heard in Hyattsville. Going over the script recently, she asked Rebecca, “Will this really be acting? It doesn’t feel like it. I’ve lived it. It’s me.” The show is from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Howard Zinn Room. Next in the Beltway Drama Series is A Patch of Earth, by Kitty Felde. Set in Bosnia, the fulllength reading is scheduled for April 14 from 5 to 7 p.m. Organizer John Feffer, who also lives in Hyattsville, hopes the series will be an ongoing one. “It all depends on turnout and excitement level, “ he said. “There’s no shortage of good material written by local playwrights.”
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Hyattsville Life & Times | March 2012
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The past few winters have been disconcerting: blizzards two years ago, a more or less normal winter last year, an almost balmy one coming to a close. I just don’t know if all the gardening rules have changed. In one of your early columns you advised pruning roses when forsythias bloom. Well, forsythias have been blooming around Avondale since January! It seems to me I could go ahead and prune. I’ve already planted radishes and last year’s broccoli has self-seeded and sprouted. I’m wondering if I could go ahead and plant lettuce, spinach and peas, and maybe even sow some flower seeds like sweet peas and lupins. Winter seems to be over early. Avid to Spring Forth on 40th Avenue Dear Avid to Spring Forth, First of all, there are few gardening rules anyway. What you call “rules” are usually guidelines that are adjustable to circumstances such as weather. Weather even in ordinary times is notoriously capricious. These are not ordinary times. As you are probably aware, the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map has been revised because of global warming. I input your zip code in
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Hyattsville on the usda.gov website’s interactive map and learned that your zone has changed from 6b (last frost April 11 to 20) to 7b (last frost April 1 to 10). But even so, as you have pointed out, such things can change from year to year. Second, in my March 2008 column on rose pruning I recommended that roses be pruned when the forsythia blooms in your own yard, or at least in a garden no more than a few doors down. Citizen Cane, my advisor from the American Rose Society, had impressed upon me the importance of microclimate by giving me an imperative reason to respect it. He explained that what happens when you prune a rose is that you signal it that winter is over and it can start putting forth new growth. If a hard freeze comes after it ventures to do so, the whole plant is damaged. Then you prune again and hope for the best. So you see, it is a risky proposition. By the time you see this in the newspaper, the traditional time for pruning roses has certainly come and you can spring forth all you want. Concerning weather in general, I’ve consulted my friend Dr. Meriwether, who is not only a meteorologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) but a master gardener. He recommended two very helpful sites, not only for this spring but for the future. You will want to bookmark them, I’m sure. The first is NOAA’s “Three Month Outlooks” page, which gives official weather forecasts for an entire season. Find it by Googling “NOAA seasonal outlook.” The second site to consult is Root Simple’s zone-based planting schedule, with interesting comments on all sorts of related topics. It can be found by searching “planting sched-
Miss Floribunda recommends that roses be pruned when the forsythia blooms in your own yard rather than relying on generic guidelines.
ule” on www.rootsimple.com. In addition, Dr. Meriwether gave me a common-sense rule of thumb any farmer would give: “You know spring has come when birds return to nest.” Again, let me add that you should see them nesting in your own garden or one in your immediate neighborhood. To be on the safe side with lettuce, spinach and peas, why not start them in containers? If you know the temperature is about to plummet, you can just bring the pots indoors. This particular year I truly doubt another hard freeze is coming, and the traditional date for planting peas and lettuce is March 17 anyway. As it happens, March 17 is the date for the joint meeting of the Hyattsville Horticultural Society and Hyattsville Aging in Place. The guest speaker, Master Gardener Greg Dwyer, will provide a wealth of information about container gardening. In these times of climate change, container gardening is more attractive than ever. The meeting will take place at 10 a.m. at the Hyattsville Municipal Building.
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Page 7
Strengthening the ties that bind by David L. Levy
Every other weekend at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Hyattsville, the day school turns into the Parenting Time Center. It offers neutral ground where parents who are separated, divorced or never married – and who are having problems with each other that reach the courts – can meet. Instead of hanging up phones or slamming doors, they can peacefully transfer the child in the presence of trained supervisors. Here is how it works. Parent A will bring the child to the Center on a Friday evening between 7 and 8 p.m. to hand off the child to Parent B. Two days later, on Sunday evening between 6 and 7 p.m., Parent B will return the child to the same center. The center at St. Matthew’s, which is located at 5901 36th Avenue, is one of two county locations operated by the Children’s Rights Council, a national nonprofit child advocacy organization based in Lanham (www.CRCkids.org). It alternates weekends with a CRC center at a church in Brandywine. The transfers and supervisions are free to parents; they are paid for by the Prince George’s County Circuit Court under a contract with CRC. Anyone who resides in the county or has a court case in the county is eligible to use the center. In cases where there is abuse, neglect, or fear of parental flight with the child, the court will not allow a parent to take the child home for the weekend. Rather, there will be “supervised visitation” at the Parenting Time Center on Saturday mornings. The court will authorize a parent to have either two or four hours, from 9 to 11 a.m., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., or the entire four-hour period from 9 to 1, to be with their child.
St. Matthew’s operates a child care center during the week, and rooms with child-sized chairs and tables are available on Saturday mornings. Most children who use the Parenting Time Center are between 3 and 8 years old. Trained staff people monitor the supervisions and transfers. Most training occurs at the CRC national office in Lanham, but on-the-job training occurs at the church. Churches are selected by CRC because houses of worship can encourage cooperation and calmness. Nevertheless, the Circuit Court requires that CRC hire armed officers to guard the centers. Maryland is one of only 12 sole-mother custody states in the U.S. – that is, states where mothers are highly favored to receive sole custody – and where joint custody is rarely if ever assigned by a court without the consent of the mother. However, of the mothers who are not awarded custody, some are assigned to utilize the centers in order to see their children. This appears to be because high conflict can affect both mothers and fathers. Without these centers, some parents might go weeks or months without seeing their children. The happiest moments come when a child who has not seen a father or mother in a while leaps into the parent’s arms as soon as they spot each other. That love and affection is at the core of the entire enterprise. The welfare of children is at the heart of these Parenting Time Center. Attorney David Levy, who has lived in Hyattsville since 1980, is President Emeritus of the Children’s Rights Council. He provides custody consulting and supervised visitation. His website is www.custodyconsulting.org.
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Hyattsville Reporter Page HR1
Hyattsville Life & Times | March 2012
the
www.hyattsville.org • 301-985-5000
Hyattsville Life & Times | March 2012
No. 236• March 14, 2012
Page HR2
CALENDAR MARCH 2012 Thursday, March 15
Code Enforcement Advisory Committee Meeting, 7:00 PM
Monday, March 19
City Council Meeting, 8:00 PM
ANNOUNCEMENTS
IN OTHER NEWS...
Tuesday, March 20
Citizen Police Academy
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR CITY SUMMER CAMPS
Wednesday, March 21
The Department of Recreation and the Arts offers a fun-filled week in Magruder Park for kids ages 4 through 12 during the Prince George’s County Public Schools Spring Break Week. This week’s camp takes place from Monday, April 2 through Friday, April 6. Camp counselors strive to foster creativity and confidence in each child. Activities range from games and sports to arts, crafts, and eco-themed projects. Regular camp hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The week-long camp costs $100 per camper. Before Care is available from 7:30 to 9:00 AM at $3/day, and After Care is offered from 5:00 to 6:00 PM, also at $3/day. Lunch and snack are included in the camp rate, and Before Care also includes breakfast. For more information visit http://www.hyattsville.org/camps
Monday, March 26
In cooperation with the Prince George’s County Police, the Hyattsville City Police Department will host a ten-week Citizens’ Police Academy this spring. There is no charge to attend, but an application is required. Participants must be 18 years of age or older by the first day of classes, and pass a basic background test. (Applicants should have no outstanding arrest warrants and have no felony convictions, including domestic violence, drugs, or the use of a weapon.) Classes meet Thursday evenings at the City Municipal Building, beginning Thursday, April 19, 2012. Participants will learn about many aspects of police work, including:
• Crime Scene Process • Firearms Training Simulations • K9 Unit Demonstrations • Traffic Law • Detectives and Investigation
Hyattsville Environmental Committee Meeting, 7:30 PM City Council Meeting & Budget Work Session, 8:00 PM
Monday April 2 - Friday, April 6
Spring Break Camp Escape at Magruder Park See http://www.hyattsville.org/camps for information
Monday April 2
City Council Meeting, 8:00 PM
Saturday, April 7
The Great Magruder Egg Hunt See http://www.hyattsville.org/egghunt for information
Unless otherwise noted, all events take place at the City Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin Street.
The Great Magruder Park
REDISTRICTING CONTINUES; FIND INFORMATION ONLINE
Egg Hunt
Looking for information on the City redistricting process? Visit the City’s website: http://www. hyattsville.org/redistricting. Recommendations were presented to the Mayor and City Council on Tuesday, February 21, 2012.
For questions or to apply, please contact Officer James Denault at 301/985-5060 or jdenault@hyattsville.org. For more information on the City’s police department, please visit www.hyattsvillepolice.org.
Carnival coming to Magruder Park Happy Birthday, Hyattsville! The City is 126 years young this April, and there’s a party in Magruder Park to celebrate. Thursday, April 12 - The Carnival rolls into town for a preview night on Thursday, with rides opening at 4:00 PM and running until 9:00 PM. Friday, April 13 - Rides are open from 5:00 to 10:00 PM, with a special Freaky Friday the 13th dance party planned for teenagers ages 13 through 17. (Please bring your school ID for admission!) Saturday, April 14 - The City’s Anniversary Parade steps off from Hyattsville Middle School (6001 42nd Avenue) at 11:00 AM. The parade follows 42nd Avenue south to Jefferson Street, turns right on Jefferson and heads to Hamilton Street, where turns left and continues to the reviewing stage at Magruder Park (3911 Hamilton Street). And that’s where the fun really begins! Our schedule is not complete yet, but some of the plans include:
• A nineteenth century base ball game • Community news and information booths, including several City services • Musical entertainment, featuring Cousin John Band and Mambo Combo • The biggest news? Fireworks are back at Magruder Park for the first time in three decades! The show starts at 8:00 PM. Sunday, April 15 - The Carnival wraps up with a special Ride-All-Day deal for families. Carnival hours are 12:00 noon to 5:00 PM. The local Fraternal Order of Police will play the Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department in a charity game. During last November’s Finest versus Bravest touch football match, the HVFD Bravest walked off with a resounding victory! Parade participants are still being accepted. For more details, call 301/985-5020 or visit http://www. hyattsville.org/parade.
Magruder Park, 40th Avenue & Hamilton Street
CALL FOR GROUPS TO MARCH IN ANNIVERSARY PARADE The City’s 126th Anniversary Parade will take place on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Community groups, youth groups, classic car drivers, marching bands, step teams, fire and police units, and other civic organizations are invited to participate! Please visit http://www.hyattsville.org/parade for details, including a registration form.
COMMUNITY YARD SALE DAY REGISTRATION OPEN Twice each year, the City offers residents a chance to participate in a Yard Sale Day, no permits required. This year’s dates are Saturday, April 21st and Saturday, October 6th. Registration is now open for April 21st! There is no requirement to register. However, residents who register will be included on the map showing all addresses. Visit http://www.hyattsville.org/yardsale or call 301/985-5000 to register. Check the website after 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 18 to download a complete list of all participating addresses, or stop by the City Municipal Building at 4310 Gallatin Street to pick up a copy. Happy bargain hunting!
PAVILION PERMIT INQUIRY FORM NOW ONLINE The Magruder Park pavilions are reserved by permit only from April through October. For information on rentals and rates, please visit http://
Planning Committee Meeting, 7:30 PM
Saturday, April 7, 2011 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon
Pancake Breakfast, 9:00 to 11:00 AM, $5/diner Egg Hunt, 11:30 AM to Noon, Free www.hyattsville.org/pavilion. To inquire about availability, call 301/985-5020 or use the form found online!
NIXLE The City is now using Nixle to send public safety alerts and information via both email and text message. This system replaces the SafeCity website previously in use. Many of our neighboring jurisdictions also use Nixle to send out information. If you have a nixle.com account, there is no need to create a new one. Simply log in and add the City of Hyattsville to your wire. New to Nixle? Register at www.nixle.com or enroll using the widget online at http://www.hyattsville.org/ stayinformed.
FIND US ON FACEBOOK Are you on Facebook? You can now keep up with City events and happenings at www.facebook. com/cityofhyattsville. When you see Vainglorious, the silver metal bird sculpture at Centennial Park, you’ll know you’re in the right place. He is kind enough to serve as the City’s wall photo.
Page 8
Hyattsville Life & Times | March 2012
Q: What can a penny buy these days?
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
A: Your ad, in full color, delivered by U.S. Mail to a Hyattsville-area household (and with change to spare!)
Contact 301-531-5234 or advertising@hyattsvillelife.com
March 16 and March 30
Missing meat on Fridays? Let someone else do the cooking at the Lenten Fish Fry, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus to benefit St. Jerome Academy. All menu items are available for eatin or take-out. A meal, which includes fish, two sides, a roll and a drink, costs $7 for adults and $5 for children and seniors. Items can also be purchased a la carte. From 5 to 7 p.m. in the school cafeteria. 5207 42nd Place. 301.927.6684.
March 16
Watch some of the area’s most talented middle school spellers put their skills to the test at the 2012 Prince George’s County Annual Spelling Bee. Contestants will be vying for top honors in the county and the chance to advance to the National Spelling Bee. Free. 7 p.m. Dekelbourn Concert Hall, Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, University of Maryland, College Park. 301.405.2787.
March 17
The Family Crisis Center of Prince George’s County, Inc. is holding a bake sale fundraiser with proceeds helping
Julie Wiatt Dance Afire members bring their pyrotechnic performance to Art Hop Takoma on March 24.
to defray operating costs. The group invites both buyers and bakers (with items to donate) to attend. Family Crisis Center, 3601 Taylor Street, Brentwood. 301.779.2100. The library book discussion pick this month is Tatiana de Rosnay’s “Sarah’s Key,” a New York Times bestseller. Free. 3 p.m. Hyattsville Branch Library, 6530 Adelphi Rd. 301.985.4690.
March 24
Calling Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of all levels! On Scout Wings Day you can explore the history of aviation and science flight through fun, educational activities that count towards badge requirements. Pre-registration is required. $4. Noon to 4 p.m. College Park Aviation Museum, 1985 Cpl. Frank Scott Drive, College Park. 301.864.6029.
City of HyattsvillE
126th Anniversary
Parade &
presents
Carnival Summer Parade takes place on Saturday, April 14, stepping off from Hyattsville Middle School, 6001 42nd Avenue, at 11 AM
Magruder Park Carnival 40th Avenue & Hamilton Street
Thursday, April 12, 2012: 4 PM to 9 PM Friday, April 13, 2012: 5 PM to 10 PM Saturday, April 14, 2012: 12 NOON to 10 PM Sunday, April 15, 2012:12 NOON to 5 PM
Special ride-all-day rate on Thursday and Sunday. Fireworks at 8 PM on Saturday night! Regular rides start at $2 Live music & free family fun all weekend.
www.hyattsville.org/parade • 301/985-5020
Jam 2012 The second Friday of every month, May through September, 6:30 to 8:30 PM City Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin Street Rain or Shine!
Admission is free; delicious food for sale
May 11 – The Magic Band June 8 – Blues Condition July 13 – JP McDermott & Western Bop August 10 – N2N September 14 – Just Us
Hyattsville Life & Times | March 2012
Page 9
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DOUG March 24 and 25
This weekend’s Art Hop: A Main Street Takoma Celebration showcases the work of 30 artists, along with street music, demonstrations, performance and more, including a Saturday evening show by Dance Afire. Festival hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, with performances until 9 p.m. on Saturday. Most of the action will take place along Carroll Avenue. For a map and schedule, visit www. ArtHopTakoma.com.
March 25
The First United Methodist Church marks National Women’s History Month with Winning the Future: The Health Factor, a program that includes a luncheon, panel discussion and a keynote speech by the Kaiser Foundation’s Susan Spurlark. Free. 11 a.m. First United Methodist Church of Hyattsville, 6201 Belcrest Road. Contact Mary CarterWilliams at 301.270.1216. or carterwilli@theisgrp.com.
March 26
The Independent Film Series presents Blossoms of Fire, a film that highlights the extraordinary lives of the Isthmus Zapotecs of southern Oaxaca, Mexico. Afterwards, local filmmaker Andrew Millington will facilitate a brief discussion of the film. Free. 7 p.m. Hyattsville Branch Library, 6530 Adelphi Rd. 301.985.4690.
March 29 to April 8
Quest Visual Theater brings workshops, master classes and many perfomances to the metro area for QuestFest 2012. Joe’s Movemement Emporium is hosting a full lineup; schedule and admission information varies. Call for details. 3309 Bunker Hill Road, Mt. Rainier. joesmovement.org. 301.699.1819.
March 30 and 31
Sample Caribbean cuisine at the grand opening of Under the Coconut Tree, which is back in business under owner-chef Sheldon Gill. He has activities planned throughout the weekend, and the restaurant will be open 24 hours both days. 5124 Baltimore Avenue. 240.667.1100.
March 31 and April 1
Washington’s elevated duo, Arachne Aerial Arts, presents two high-flying shows this weekend. Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 4 p.m. $20, students and seniors $15, youth $10. Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Road, Mt. Rainier. 301.699.1819.
March 31
Looking for an Easter activity for the kids? Join the College Park Arts Exchange for egg hunting and crafts at the Annual Egg Hunt! 10 a.m. to noon. College Park Youth and Family Services, 4512 Nantucket Avenue, College Park. 301.927.3013.
April 6
At the annual Paper Airplane Day, visitors can build their own entries to compete for prizes in the Paper Airplane Derby. Noon to 4 p.m.; derby starts at 3 p.m. Free with museum admission: $4 adults, $3 seniors, $2 ages 18 and under. College Park Aviation Museum, 1985 Cpl. Frank Scott Drive, College Park. 301.864.6029.
April 10 and April 11
Check out the local student talent at the University of Maryland Chamber Jazz two-part series. Chamber works will be performed by student jazz combos on both evenings. 7:30 p.m. both nights. Free. Clarice Performing Arts Center, University of Maryland, College Park. 301.405.2787.
April 13
For a look at local music of yore from Maryland alums, author Mark Opsasnick and filmmaker Jeff Krulik host Rock and Roll in Prince George’s County, a slideshow and show-and-tell of stories about PG County at the dawn of rock and roll. Come hear and also share stories about teen dances at the Hyattsville Armory and Bladensburg Fire Hall and more about the county’s bands, bars and nightclubs in the 1950s through 1970s. Free. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Old Parish House, 4711 Knox Road, College Park.
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chris currie Doug Dudrow blows out the candles at his 60th birthday party, held February 25 at First Baptist Church. Dudrow, a lifelong resident, spent 30 years as a city councilmember.
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Page 10
Hyattsville Life & Times | March 2012
COMMENTARY & OPINION ON HISTORY & POLITICS
Hugh’sNews
Presidential election choices? By Hugh Turley
The U.S. presidential election resembles the recent presidential race in Yemen. On February 21, Yemen elected President Abdurabu Mansur Hadi, the former Vice President under longtime ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh. Hadi was the only candidate on the ballot. On April 3, Barack Obama will be the only presidential candidate for the Democratic Party in the Maryland primary. One might think at least one person in the Democratic Party would challenge President Obama for continuing the Patriot Act and for breaking his promise to close the Guantanamo prison. Where are the 2008 anti-war candidates Ralph Nader and Dennis Kucinich, now that Obama has expanded President Bush’s wars into
Pakistan, Libya and Yemen? On the Republican side, the media has narrowed the field by giving most attention to Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum, although Newt Gingrich has vowed to stay in the race until the party convention in August. None are likely to be accused of being a “dove.” Democrats and Republicans who oppose war and a police state may think they have a choice in Ron Paul. But it’s a magician’s choice – meaning there is no choice, only the illusion of one. Unlike candidates who walk into a busy restaurant to appear with a crowd, Paul has genuine popular support. But, strangely, he seems to avoid his supporters. On February 20, Presidents’ Day, some 2,000 military veterans who support
Ron Paul marched from the Washington Monument to the White House to rally against the wars. Some came from as far away as Detroit. But not Paul, who is himself an anti-war military veteran. Earlier in the month, Paul skipped the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, D.C., where he had won a presidential straw poll two years in a row. Sales were brisk at Daniel Williams’ booth selling Ron Paul swag, and button salesman Frank Enten, who has attended every CPAC convention, said, “Ron Paul buttons are my best seller, with Romney a close second.” This year, when it matters most, the popular favorite did not show up or even have a booth in the exhibit hall
Prince George’s Soccer, Inc. Celebrates its 13th season of small-sided soCCer in the City of hyattsville • All individual players and recreation level teams are welcome • Pure recreational soccer as recommended by USYSA • Grades pre K - 6 at same location on Saturday mornings • New All-Girls 3rd/4th grade division
Registration starts March 14th and practices start March 28th
Games start Saturday, April 21st and run to the tournament on June 9th
To register, please contact PGSI at pgsisoccer@gmail.com Or our soon to be up and running website at www.pgsisoccer.com CELEBRATE SPRING wITh ouR ANNuAL CoAT SALE!!
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like the other candidates. Romney, Gingrich and Santorum all spoke at the convention. Romney won the straw poll this year, with the absent Paul finishing dead last, behind even Gingrich, with only 12 percent of the vote. Is Paul really a serious candidate? In Yemen, the paper ballot had only a picture of Hadi with a circle next to it for the voters to mark. The American press dutifully reported the election of Yemen’s new president, complete with images of people lined up to vote at the polls. Why vote when there is no choice? American elections provide a better appearance of choice. In November Americans will choose between two candidates who will continue the same Middle East policy, wars, Patriot Act, searches of citizens, and indefinite detentions. Voters in neither the U.S. nor Yemen have any real choice. But at least in Yemen, they don’t pretend to.
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Hyattsville Life & Times | March 2012
FUNDING
continued from page 1
PTA meeting. Several rose to say how much they would miss Penate, the only bilingual employee in the school office. She is constantly called on to translate conversations between parents and staff, the newsletter, various notices and even students’ homework. Hers is the voice parents hear on automatic phone calls relaying school announcements. Four other staff, on the reading intervention team, will lose their jobs as well: Karen Stanford, who is also the school’s web master and edits the electronic sign on 43rd Avenue; Nick Richards, the technology coordinator; Johnette Boden, who works with kindergarten readers; and Leslie Marks, another reading specialist. School officials have been researching how they can fund the five salaries through other grants, but so far nothing has come up. Some parents are coordinating a letter-writing campaign that will ask the county to step in. “In a county with a growing Hispanic population, this [bilingual] position should be standard, not something that can only come from Title 1 funds,” said PTA officer Candace Hollingsworth.
Page 11
A representative at the school district’s Title 1 office said that the federal program mandates a cutoff at the 75 percent mark. Schools that fall below that mark – no matter how infinitesimally – cannot get funding. Another such school is the 385-student Princeton Elementary in Suitland, whose ratio is 73.2 percent. It stands to lose close to $300,000 in Title 1 funds next year, says its principal, Henina Bunch. “There’s nothing we can do to make up that much money,” Bunch said, adding that the amount pays for four positions. “But we’re not going to allow money to discourage us from educating our children.” But the school district appears to have quite a bit of leeway on how Title 1 funds are spent. According to a policy brief written last June by the D.C.-based Alliance for Excellent Education, districts can hand out Title 1 funds to schools with poverty levels as low as 35 percent. And those levels can be calculated by any of several formulas besides the school lunch counts. Principal Jeanne Washburn says that when she arrived eight years ago, 69 percent of the student body qualified for the program – and yet the school was receiving the mon-
ey, as it has done every year since. The school district has held to the 75 percent mark only recently because of the failing economy, which has thrown many families into poverty status. That in turn has made more schools eligible for Title 1. Last year, the federal government made cuts to Title 1 funds, making less money available for an increasing number of schools.
The poor economy may have worked against Hyattsville Elementary because middleincome families that might have sent their children to private school are sending them to HES, lowering the school’s poverty percentage. “We’re getting wealthier people, but we’re still getting a lot of people who qualify [for Title 1],” Washburn said. Prince George’s County has 48 Title 1 schools this year. Neigh-
OLD DOMINION B
boring counties Montgomery and Howard have 25 and six, respectively. Julia Duin is the mother of a kindergartener at Hyattsville Elementary. Parents wishing to express their concerns to the school district can call Andrea PhillipsHughs at 301.618.8390 at the Title 1 office. They can also email Amber Waller, the school board member for District 3 at amber. waller@pgcps.org.
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If you would like to discuss the market and/or how to prepare your home for sale please call me!
Page 12
Hyattsville Life & Times | March 2012
VISIT THE SHOPS OF TAKOMA PARK & TAKOMA DC FEATuRIng MORE THAn 30 ARTISTS TION LEBRA
E
A MAIN
MA C T TAKO
STREE
March 24-25th Saturday-Sunday 11am-5pm with performances until
9pm on saturday
Art in the Streets and Shops of Old Takoma Meet tHe artists
In the Streets & Shops of Old Takoma Thursday-Sunday, April 7-10, 2011 artist DeMos
SPOnSORS: The Big Bad Woof • The Covered MarkeT • garden Thieves PiCTures • keysTar real esTaTe • kiTTner sTudio • landis ConsTruCTion • MoonshadoW anTiques & vinTage • salon JaM • suMMer delighTs • TakoMa groove CaMP • Trohv
Music & PerForMaNces
www.ArtHopTakoma.com
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REDISTRICTING
continued from page 1
the city], but makes our job a little harder.” Still, two of the six plans do create such a ward, with Hispanics making up just over half the population in Ward 5. Another pair of plans would keep all incumbents in their wards, while meeting few other criteria. The scenario that divides the population most evenly has a difference of only 75 people between the largest and smallest wards. But it’s one of two plans that would redistrict six council members out of the wards that elected them. Candace Hollingsworth (Ward 1) pointed out that in most scenarios, the councilmembers who would be displaced are up for reelection in 2013, “so they’d be running anyway.” But putting three incumbents in one ward, as some plans do, would lead to a game of musical chairs in which the rules have yet to be written. “When do the boundaries take effect?” said Mayor Marc Tartaro later, giving examples of questions that would surface. “How do you figure out who’s running against each other? These are all things we would have to decide.” City Attorney Richard Colaresi agreed, saying “that is really a council problem to solve.” It’s one of many, as several councilmembers have made clear in recent months. At the previous meeting, on February 27, the increasingly public discord prompted Paula Perry (Ward 4) to offer a motion for a teambuilding council retreat. “I dislike retreats probably more than anyone, because I’ve been to so many,” said Perry, who is second in seniority only to Ruth Ann Frazier (Ward 5). “But this is one that I personally will make sure, if at all possible, takes us in the direction we need to go in. We have things that need to be worked out before the budget [discussions].” Those things are not likely to be fixed with redistricting. “We did not have a mandate to
fix city council dysfunction or solve a lot of other problems,” Rain said. “We were given pretty clear marching orders. We were told that the council thought the best plan was to stick with five wards, so that’s what we did.” The 10-member body, composed
Putting three incumbents in one ward, as some plans do, would lead to a game of musical chairs in which the rules have yet to be written. of two representatives for each of five wards, is the second largest in the state. During the presentation, at least one councilmember was open to changing the structure, although she acknowledged that it would likely stay the same. “I regret that we didn’t give you a little more free rein,” in designing the plans, Shani Warner (Ward 2) told Rain. She cited “the historic problem we have getting people to run for election, the low turnout we have in some wards … [and] the issues with comity and civility that we’ve had recently on the council” as reasons to re-examine the structure. Colaresi explained that there were two ways to restructure: “Create more wards and keep one person for the seat, or lessen the number of wards and keep two people in staggered elections.” But, he added, “the fewer wards you have, the less likely there is any minority-opportunity ward.” All plans can be found on the city website, and the public is encouraged to give feedback on them until March 19. To comment, send an e-mail with the subject line “Redistricting 2012” to City Clerk Douglass Barber at dbarber@hyattsville.org. The committee will meet again the week of March 26 to incorporate the responses into a second round of plans. Those, said Rain, should be presented to council next month.
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Hyattsville Life & Times | March 2012
CHALLENGES
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newly created assistant treasurer positions are vacant. Councilmember Shani Warner (Ward 2) said, “That’s why we’re paying [Vermillion] the big bucks [$110,000 a year] and more than we anticipated. We got the best person we could, one we thought had the capacity to handle all the stuff we’re going to throw at him.” Vermillion understands the urgency. “Certainly, recruiting is a high priority for any organization,” he said. However, it appears there is no real consensus on the council about what he should do in his first months on the job, despite several discussions during council meetings. The most recent occurred on February 27, the meeting where Vermillion was introduced. Some council members said they wanted him to move immediately to address the city’s staffing problems, especially vacancies, and possibly introduce drastic changes in city structure. Others thought he should learn about the city and tackle basic human resource issues before making major changes. Warner falls into the first school of thought. “He needs to get up to speed quickly. There isn’t going to be a nice honeymoon period where he can spend the first month just talking to people and getting a feel for the city.”
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Along those lines, Candace Hollingsworth (Ward 1) said she thought the council should give Vermillion a clear list of priorities for the first 90 days, so the council can accurately evaluate his performance. Mayor Marc Tartaro, however, said, “I want him to become familiar with the personnel manual and key staff, and come to understand how the organization works. He needs to immerse himself in the organization, not make premature judgments. Until we
that that issue is “hanging out there. It’ll be discussed in the upcoming budget process but it’s a big conversation. It won’t be wrapped up in one budget cycle.” When asked for his impressions of Hyattsville, Vermillion said that it’s a vibrant city and the people who work here have a real affection for the town. “We have dedicated city employees who work hard to do their jobs.”
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It appears there is no real consensus on the council about what [Vermillion] should do in his first months on the job. update position descriptions and redo the organizational chart so it’s functional, we shouldn’t try to make wholesale changes.” Vermillion agreed that there are two schools of thought on the council about the priorities of his job, but added, “They’ve given me some latitude to determine which approach would be best and I assume they’ll get my input.” In the past several months, the council has indeed discussed the possibility of a major reorganization of the city staff. Sandel said
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Hyattsville Life & Times | March 2012
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