KUDOS FOR A COOK The Personal Chef of the Year lives here in Hyattsville. PAGE 3
Where the past is still present By Paula Minaert
On August 24, 1814, American soldiers, sailors and Marines met invading British troops in the town of Bladensburg. The places they fought are familiar to us today: the East Branch of the Anacostia River, Bunker Hill Road, 40th Avenue. Though the American troops outnumbered the British, they were undertrained and poorly equipped. By four o’clock that afternoon, they were forced to retreat and the British marched on to Washington, where they burned the city — the low point of the War of 1812, at least from the Yanks’ perspective. On August 24, 2012, local, county and state representatives gathered at Bladensburg Waterfront Park for the formal opening of the Battle of Bladensburg Visitors Center. It was the culmination of more than two years of work by a coalition of local groups, including town leaders and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. It was also part of a statewide, multiyear celebration of the bicentennial of the War of 1812. Elizabeth Hewlett, chair of M-NCPPC’s Prince George’s County Planning Board, spoke at
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit # 43 Easton, MD 21601
BATTLE continued on page 13
BEAT THE HEAT
PLAYING IT FORWARD
Wait until fall to plant new trees so they get a better start. PAGE 5
At the Coach Brown Memorial Basketball Camp, a legacy lives on. PAGE 6
Hyattsville Life&Times
Vol. 9 No. 9
Hyattsville’s Community Newspaper
DeMatha rocked by road-trip misdeeds Five players dismissed By Paula Minaert
SUSIE CURRIE During an ongoing criminal investigation, postal inspectors discovered that one letter carrier, instead of delivering mail, was depositing it in one of these cluster box units at Arts District Hyattsville.
Mail stashed, trashed by local letter carrier Hundreds notified of criminal investigation By Susie Currie
Hyattsville Life & Times PO Box 132 Hyattsville, MD 20781
September 2012
A criminal probe into missing mail in Hyattsville has uncovered a stash of undelivered envelopes and packages hidden in a parcel locker on the route, according to sources familiar with the investigation. In a two-paragraph letter dated August 27, hundreds of households learned that “mail was recovered by the [U.S. Postal
Service Office of Inspector General] on August 16 & 17, 2012, sealed and contents intact. This mail is being delivered to you without further delay.” Little else has been made public, as the investigation is ongoing. But OIG Special Agent Lisa Aiken did confirm that it centers on one employee “who is no longer on the route” – or, it would seem, on the payroll, although Aiken declined to
elaborate on that or any other aspect of the case. So did Hyattsville Postmaster Prince Jones, Jr., who signed the letter. Sources say that the unidentified female letter carrier had been with the USPS since at least 2008, working for most of that time as a floater who rotated among different routes on the regular carriers’ days off. MAIL continued on page 7
DeMatha Catholic High School is reeling from news that some members of its storied football team allegedly hosted prostitutes while in North Carolina for its seasonopening game. School officials moved to address the misconduct on September 4, when they learned of it. Five players were removed from the team. At press time, two had withdrawn from the school, two had been recommended for expulsion, and one was scheduled to face a disciplinary hearing. DeMatha Principal Daniel McMahon issued a statement on September 7 saying that “the school community is saddened and hurt by the actions of these few who do not reflect the character of the community.” He said the school had sent 18 chaperones for 65 players on the trip and that expectations for behavior were clearly communicated. “As on all field trips, we conducted room checks and monitored hallways. The last bed checks were at 1:30 a.m. Saturday morning and the hallways were monitored until after 4:30 a.m. The incident occurred after 5 a.m. on Saturday morning.” McMahon said he could not comment on any disciplinary matDEMATHA continued on page 12
Included: The September 11, 2012 Issue of The Hyattsville Reporter — See Center Section
Page 2
Hyattsville Life & Times | September 2012
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
FromTheEditor
What’s happening in Hyattsville By Paula Minaert
I am always struck every time I encounter the sense of community that characterizes Hyattsville. The latest example is from Ward 5 Councilmember Nicole Hinds Mofor, whose letter, right, expresses her thanks for the outpouring of support she received when she faced a health crisis earlier this year. It’s a great reminder of what community is. Now here’s a brief look at what else is going on around here. Interested in the Green Streets project in University Hills? Come to a meeting, see the 30-percent design and talk to engineers. September 12 and 13
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.
(the content of the meetings will be the same) at 7:30 p.m. at St. Mark the Evangelist Church, 7501 Adelphi Road. Hyattsville Aging in Place is hosting several talks this fall. On September 12, Dr. Stephanie Trifoglio, a local geriatrician, will speak on aging well at the Hyattsville Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin Street, at 7 p.m. On October 3, nutritionist Cathy Stasny will speak on nutrition issues as we age. And on November 14, a representative of a local hospice will speak on what you need to know about hospice. All events are open to the public. For further details and announcements of future events, visit the website www. hyattsvilleaginginplace.org. On September 20, the City of Hyattsville will host
a workshop on Medicare in time for open enrollment season this fall. It’s one of a series that Senior Services Coordinator Emily Stowers is holding at 10 a.m. the third Thursday of each month. The workshops, called the Aging Gracefully Educational Series, are held in the city’s multipurpose room at the Municipal Building. It may seem too soon to think about winter, but word is we’re in for lots of snow this year. The Code Enforcement Advisory Committee will focus on the city ordinance about snow removal from sidewalks, which caused such consternation in the big snowfall a few years ago. September 25, 7 to 9 p.m. in the Prangley Room of the Municipal Building.
POSTCARDS FROM THE PAST
After a threatened cancellation, the 113 University of Maryland shuttle bus will continue running for at least another year — and its route has expanded. It now goes to Queensbury Road and down 42nd Avenue as far south as Farragut Street. Student groups agreed to a fee increase so the university Department of Transportation Services could take over the funding. It seems a lot of students want to come to Hyattsville. Now for some sad news: After 63 years of serving the area, Fleisher’s Jewelers is closing its doors. The familyrun business, located in the Queens Chapel Shopping Center, will be open at least until October 31. Look for sales during the month of October.
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Earlier this year I found out I was pregnant. Very soon after that I became very ill. It was something that progressed slowly and was not caught in time because I kept blaming the way I felt on pregnancy. By the time I was admitted into the hospital, my life and the life of my unborn child were hanging in the balance. My family was traumatized. A team of specialists came into my hospital room every day scratching their heads trying to figure out what to do. They never did. The fact that I am alive today is a testament to the power of prayer. The fact that I am still pregnant, and the baby is perfectly healthy, is a testament to the fact that God still performs miracles. Out of this terrible situation came a wonderful lesson. I learned the true meaning of community. I would like to thank the Council, staff and residents who showed such concern for me while I was ill. I would like to thank my Ward 5 neighbors who surrounded me when I needed them the most. I would like to thank Sandra Dominey, who followed me all the way home after I fell ill in a store on Landover Road. Sandra then showed up unexpectedly that night with a handful of wonderful home-cooked food. If I forgot anyone, please do not hold it against me. Charge it to my pregnancy brain and not my heart. May God continue to bless Hyattsville. You are wonderful people. — Councilmember Nicole Hinds Mofor (Ward 5) recently returned to the council after an extended absence due to her illness.
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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 Joseph Gigliotti - President and General Counsel Chris Currie - Vice President Paula Minaert - Secretary Peggy Dee, Bart Lawrence, Karen J. Riley, Valerie Russell 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.
COURTESY OF DOUGLAS DUDROW Mrs. Bradleyʼs first first-grade class at Hyattsville Elementary School.
Dear old Golden Rule days by Peggy Dee
As children begin their academic year at Hyattsville Elementary School, we look back at the history of HES. Its first site was at 43rd Avenue and Farragut Street; later it moved to a new building at Gallatin Street and 42nd Place. A growing population led to a second school being built, at 43rd Avenue and Jefferson
Street, which housed grades four through seven. Grades one to three remained at the Gallatin Street school. Mrs. Janette Bradley taught first grade for three generations, including 12 members of the Dudrow family. In 1960, all grades moved to the newer building – the current home of HES – and the Gallatin Street location was converted to a school for children with special
needs. It was taken down in 1977 and King Park is there today. Former Ward 1 Councilman Doug Dudrow, who has lived here all his life, attended both the Gallatin Street and 43rd Avenue schools. He recalls that a hot lunch was available to the children for 35 cents. Each Halloween, the children were encouraged to wear their costumes to school. During the day they would parade around the neigh-
borhood in costume, which students still do today. For improper behavior, the children were made to sit out in the halls until the teachers said they could return to the classroom. Televisions were permitted in the classrooms only when the American and Russian spaceships had their lift-offs. During the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, when Dudrow was in the fifth grade, the children were taken out in the halls to practice safety drills. The fear was that Cuba would bomb the United States. Dudrow has vivid memories of something that happened when he was in sixth grade. Mrs. Lancaster, the school principal, came into the classroom and handed the teacher, Mrs. Burslems, a note. It wasn’t until after dismissal that afternoon that the children learned President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated. The late Francis Geary, councilman for Ward 1 and a full-time fireman, would sometimes take the schoolchildren to the firehouse on Farragut Street for a grand tour. This was to encourage them to take an interest in firefighting as a career; for Dudrow, though, it led to a different job. In 1979, when Geary retired from the city council, Dudrow proudly replaced him.
Hyattsville Life & Times | September 2012
Page 3
Local chef takes national honors by Scarlett Salem
The national award for Personal Chef of the Year went to a Hyattsville resident last month. Monica Thomas received the honor at the U.S. Personal Chef Association annual conference, held in Washington, D.C. Thomas was born in Chillum and has lived in the area most of her life, moving to a house on Hamilton Street in 1991. Her husband’s job took them to St. Louis for a few years, and it was there that she began working for a caterer. In 2001, they returned to Hyattsville, buying a fixer-upper on 42nd Avenue that needed a whole-house renovation. While they were in the midst of that, she began training as a personal chef at the Culinary Business Academy. Combining her event-planning background and catering experience, she opened Tailored Taste Personal Chef Service in 2004. At first, she said, she had customers “from Burke [Va.] to Boyds [Md.]” But since all cooking is done onsite, she has narrowed her driving radius and now has only a handful of clients outside the Beltway. Half are in D.C. In addition to honoring her work, the award recognizes her volunteer efforts — and they too revolve around food. She’s starting her third year of running a twice-monthly Chef’s Club at Holy Redeemer Elementary School in College Park. The program is part of Chefs Move to Schools, a nationwide initiative established in 2010 as part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s cam-
susie currie Tailored Taste owner Monica Thomas’ swinging pantry door captures the feel of a restaurant kitchen.
paign against childhood obesity. Held in school kitchens, it aims to educate children about healthy eating through hands-on cooking. “We taste things that most kids wouldn’t normally taste,” says Thomas. Students pay $5 per meeting to participate. There were 30 fourththrough eighth-graders enrolled the first year and 49 the following year. When not surrounded by students, Thomas is likely planning, shopping or cooking customized meals for people throughout the metro area. Her clients’ schedules vary; they may require her services weekly, monthly or just for the occasional dinner party. “There are no two days alike in my
Pressed for time?
world, which is fun,” she says. For regular customers, prices start at $300 (plus groceries). That covers five entrees with four servings each, according to her website, www.tailoredtaste.net. As a one-woman operation, Thomas takes care of every part of the meal preparation, from planning to shopping to cleaning up afterwards. (All cooking is done on-site.) On a typical day, she arrives at the grocery store first thing in the morning – “my least favorite part of the job” – to gather ingredients for the meals she will be preparing that day. From there, she goes straight to the client’s home and gets to work. After preparing the meals, she packages them for later consumption and tidies up before leaving. She returns home late in the afternoon to complete paperwork and plan for the next day, using software to help track ingredients and recipes for each customer. “I don’t repeat an entrée for six months,” she says. The ingredient tracker reminds her of food aversions or allergies, which is essential because several people she cooks for must avoid dairy, wheat, eggs, nuts or some combination of them. One of her earliest clients had a list of forbidden foods that ran to several pages and included all of the above, as well as many vegetables. The secret of her success is apparent. “I make people’s lives much easier,” she said. “A lot of chefs won’t touch allergies with a 10-foot pole.”
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Hyattsville Life & Times | September 2012
NatureNearby Of worms and men by Fred Seitz
Fascinating for gardeners, fishermen, Aristotle, Darwin and Edgar Allan Poe, the earthworm, an unobtrusive invertebrate, is one of
our most helpful partners in the animal kingdom. Unfortunately, the term worm has been applied to everything from medieval dragons to intestinal parasites to computer viruses. This must be
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truly stigmatizing for the hardworking earthworm, which literally helps us from cradle to grave. Worms help provide us with food throughout our lives and digest us at our end. The earthworm is a segmented beastie (annelids) and quite different from flatworms (such as tapeworms), which have large eyes and a distinct head. It is also distinct from threadworms (nematodes), some of whom are parasites and a bane to our gardens. Our earthworm ally has some preternatural properties that make him/her downright remarkable. A single worm has both male and female parts but it still takes two different worms to tango and make the little ones. They exchange sperm between them and the eggs are fertilized in each partner. Finally, each worm deposits small cocoons, which contain the fertilized eggs, in the soil. Both before and after their encounter, the two worms make the earth move. First, each one, using its strong muscles to lengthen itself, extends tiny hairs that grasp the soil in the front. The worm compacts its body forward, retracts the front hairs and extends rear hairs to anchor itself. It can now extend its body forward and
continue to aerate soil while devouring plant and animal debris and excreting materials that enrich the soil. The extreme muscular ability and the ability to anchor itself in the soil has been the bane of more than a few birds who try to extract worms from the soil. Still within the magical realm is the remarkable regenerative power of some earthworms, so cutting or pulling off part of an earthworm may prompt some of the species to regenerate that part. Such remarkable feats of strength, movement and regeneration are aided by its five hearts. Earthworms do not have eyes, but they do sense light and will usually burrow into the earth when confronted with bright light. The familiar “night crawlers” burrow as deep as six feet. While they eat mulch and leaf litter, these 8 to12 inch long worms are an invasive species that has consumed much of the leaf litter in our forests, and has invited invasive plants such as garlic mustard to take over forest edges. Digging in slightly shallower depths (6 to 12 inches) is the habit of red worms, which grow to only about three inches long. These are power houses for soil
improvement and also good fishing worms. Living mostly in leaf and needle litter are some of the most favored composting worms, such as the red wigglers. They, too, are popular with fishermen, because they wiggle a lot and attract the fish. Any of these general groups of worms are important food sources for birds, turtles, salamanders and other subterranean dwellers such as moles and shrews. An interesting practice of fishermen and some gardeners is known as worm charming. It is a process of attracting worms to the surface for harvest and sale. At its simplest, it requires the charmer to put a pitchfork or wooden stake in the ground and to strike the pitchfork with another piece of metal or drag a piece of metal across the top of the stake. Oddly, worms will come to the surface after a period of this human noise-making. The record number of worms appearing in a half-hour is 511. Recent research has shown that the charmer’s sound is very similar to that of a mole moving through the soil or the noise of a bird pecking at the soil. The worms surface to avoid the perceived predator. This is yet another interesting behavior of our underground ally.
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MissFloribunda Dear Miss Floribunda, I’m yet another gardening newbie come to Hyattsville. One of the housewarming presents given to me when I moved in this June was a crepe myrtle in a pot. What with settling in, I haven’t gotten around to planting the poor little tree. I’ve kept it watered and alive in its pot and it has even flowered. Should I wait till next spring to plant it in the ground? If so, how do I keep it alive over the winter? New Kid on Kennedy Street Dear New Kid, First, welcome to Hyattsville. Next, I assume you have noticed that summer here is hellishly hot and rainfall is unreliable. It is fortunate that you didn’t plant your tree in June because it would have had a very hard time surviving the particularly brutal July we suffered this year. In this area, savvy people never plant trees in summer, or even spring, but preferably in late September and early October. While the blistering heat has abated by then, the soil is still warm enough for roots to establish themselves quickly. There are fewer pests and disease problems in fall, too. You have at least six weeks before the first frost around Thanksgiving. After the hard frosts come, the trees go dormant till spring and then have a few weeks to get strong before the onslaught of our dog days. The one exception would be a fullgrown tree that needs to be moved
from a place in which it has long been established. Because it would have to be dormant when transplanted, it could only be planted in early spring. Most gardeners here plant not only trees but the majority of perennials in the fall. Personally, I have learned that if I can’t get rose bushes planted very early in spring, the traditional time, it’s best to keep them in pots in semi-shade till I can plant them in fall. Many vegetable gardeners start a second garden then, with Chinese cabbage, leeks, radishes, spinach and other vegetables that go to seed very soon when you plant them in spring but which are even improved by light frost in fall. This is also the best time of year for testing your soil. Dr. Agronomosky, our soil expert, discourages do-it-yourself kits. Instead, he suggests, call the University of Maryland Home and Garden Information Center at 800.342.2507. It’s staffed weekdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Or you can visit the center’s website, www.hgic.umd.edu. Search on “soil testing� to learn how to collect soil for testing and where to take it. Last but not least, my cousin Parsimony brought up another point: Nurseries have good sales at the end of summer. Although selection may not be as wide as it was earlier this year, you can profit from some significant bargains.
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Hyattsville Life & Times | September 2012
Camp keeps local coach’s legacy alive by Chris McManes
Longtime St. Jerome and DeMatha coach Dick Brown lost his battle with cancer in 2006. But his legacy lives on through the Coach Brown Memorial Basketball Camp, organized by two of his assistants, Charley Grau and Joe Sego. Started by Brown in 1986, the week-long instructional camp is held each August at St. Jerome Academy. Grau and Sego also organize a three-day minicamp, held there the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. “I think it’s an excellent tribute to Dick Brown,” said St. Jerome Principal Mary Pat Donoghue. “His life’s vocation really was to serve children, and he served them as a coach and a teacher. He saw the importance of athletics in the lives of children. “He’s a legend here.” The camp has been staged at other schools through the years and for as many as seven one-week sessions in a single summer. In its heyday at St. Jerome, about 100 campers would attend; nowadays, with more competition from area basketball camps, about half that number enroll. The children, mostly ages 7 to 14, are following in some pretty big footsteps: Past participants include St. Jerome graduates and NCAA Division I players Quinn Cook, a sophomore at Duke, and Victor
Oladipo, a junior at Indiana University. “Dick was very good at marketing the camp,” Grau said. “Over the years he had a network of coaches and boys and girls clubs that he could get campers from. When he was coaching, a lot of kids came to St. Jerome’s just to play for him. I didn’t realize that Quinn Cook basically came to [the school] because of him.” “For me and Charley, it’s our way of paying homage to what Coach Brown started,” Sego said, adding that just before he died, Brown “had asked Charley to please keep the camp going, in some form or another.” Grau, who taught at St. Jerome from 1984 to 1986, worked the first camp and has been at each one since. A former youth, high school and college referee who has also coached basketball, he now primarily handles administrative duties while Sego runs the basketball end. They hire a staff of counselors. Brown coached the St. Jerome seventh- and eighth-grade boys basketball team from 1966 to 2006, and taught religion and seventhgrade American history. His 1974 and 1985 teams won the Christian Youth Organization (CYO) city championship. He also coached football at DeMatha Catholic High School from 1970 to 2005 and was
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head junior varsity coach there when he died. “I think it’s really important to emphasize the years that Dick gave to the children of this community,” Donoghue said. “He was a man of incredibly strong faith, and his faith was strengthened during his cancer ordeal. That was an important part of who he was.” Big-Time Guest Speakers Josh Comfort, a St. Jerome eighthgrader, has attended the Coach Brown camp for the past four summers. He said he likes it because of its emphasis on fundamentals, finishing strong, proper shooting form and working hard to improve. “Everybody here gets respected and treated equally,” Comfort said. “I like the staff the most. They’re nice, and you’re allowed to have fun. Coach Sego and Mr. Grau are pretty nice, too, so that’s why I came back here.” At the most recent session, part of which was held at Hyattsville Elementary School, Grau’s friendship with DeMatha basketball coach Mike Jones paved the way for three Division I college players to be guest speakers. DeMatha graduates all, they included Oladipo, whose Indiana team is this year expected to be one of the nation’s finest; University of Pittsburgh freshman James Robinson; and Notre Dame point guard Jerian Grant. “It’s kind of exciting that they came here to speak to us and to give us some tips on life and basketball,” Comfort said. “Victor told us that you should never give up and that even though life seems hard, you have to keep pulling through.”
chris mcmanes Joe Sego (left) and Charley Grau run the Coach Brown Memorial Basketball Camp, continuing a tradition that began in 1986.
Succeeding a Legend Sego (pronounced say-go) graduated from DeMatha in 1994 and began working the camp four years later. He coached against Brown at St. Mark’s for 12 years and was an assistant on Brown’s final team in 2005-06. That team, which featured Cook and Oladipo, won a CYO division championship. Sego succeeded Brown at his request and has added two CYO titles (2008, 2011) to the Jaguars’ basketball legacy, in addition to being named the 2010 local CYO Coach of the Year. He can’t praise Brown enough. “He was one of the nicest guys you’d ever want to meet – very religious, had a ton of energy and would give you the shirt off his back if that’s what you needed,” he said. “That’s the way he lived his life. He sacrificed everything to teach and coach here when he could have been
making more money a lot of other places.” Proceeds from the camp help to fund scholarships for students to attend St. Jerome Academy and for things like new baskets and backboards in the school gymnasium. The next big project is to have the gym floor resurfaced. Free camp registration is also granted to children whose parents can’t afford it. Neither Grau nor Sego benefits monetarily. And both men are happy to fulfill Brown’s dying wish to keep the camp going. “Absolutely,” Grau said. “I can’t think of anything else I would have done to pay tribute to him.” Chris McManes has coached T-ball and basketball at St. Jerome. His three children have attended the camp for the past two years. For information on the next session, December 27 to 29, visit www.jaguarbasketballcamp.com.
Sponsored by Friends of the New Deal Cafe Arts (FONDCA) & the New Deal Café, with support from the City of Greenbelt
Fleisher’s Jewelers After 63 years of service to the Hyattsville area, we regret to announce that we will be closing our store this year.
It has been an honor and pleasure to serve your jewelry related needs, and we hope to see you before we close our doors for the last time. We will be running a storewide liquidation sale, so please come in early for the best selection. 3108 Queens Chapel Road Hours: Hyattsville, Maryland 20782 M-F: 9:30 - 6:00 301-699-5552 Saturday: 9:00 - 5:00
non-profit community performing arts center located in the Mount Rainier Arts District
Visit our website for a full listing of performances and events!
www.joesmovement.org 301-699-1819
Fall season highlights Dance Box Theater Sept. 13 – Sept. 16 DEVIATED THEATRE – Sept. 19 – Oct. 7 IKAM Production – Oct. 26 – Oct. 28
NonaLee Dance Theatre – Nov. 17 – Nov. 18 Jane Franklin Dance – Dec. 2 Arachne Aerial Arts – Dec. 16
Ayanna Gregory – Nov. 10
Located at 3309 Bunker Hill Road, right off of 34th Street in historic Mount Rainier, MD
Hyattsville Life & Times | September 2012
continued from page 1
This spring, she took over a route from a longtime carrier who transferred. Soon afterwards, residents began to complain of missing mail – including packages with tracking numbers that showed they had been delivered. “So many customers called in, the supervisors knew something wasn’t right,” said one employee. The matter was referred to the OIG, which investigates fraud, waste and misconduct in the USPS. A month-long surveillance revealed that she was depositing part of her workload into a cluster box on the route. These boxes, which allow for centralized delivery to several addresses, are common in newer developments and include parcel lockers for larger items. It was in one of these lockers, at Arts District Hyattsville, that the missing mail was found. Aiken said that most, if not all, of the recovered mail has been delivered. Although residents worried that theft was involved, some USPS employees suspect that long hours and short staffing were contributing factors. “On paper, we have the people,” explained one. “But maybe they’re injured, so they’re on light duty.” Then the other carriers have to split the route, which
Page 7
can add hours onto their workday. There are about 600 stops on a typical route, said USPS spokesperson Andrea Burrows. When routes are “empty,” as at least two local ones are, there’s no full-time carrier assigned, and overtime becomes the norm. Faced with hundreds more addresses to visit – and yet another day of soaring heat and humidity – it’s possible the motive went beyond greed. “Plus, there’s pressure to be back at a certain time,” said the employee. “I think she just couldn’t handle it.” Inspectors are expected to investigate reports that some mail intended for local residents also ended up in a dumpster in Southeast Washington, which would have been on the carrier’s way home. For one woman, an area college professor who requested anonymity, the letter was the latest installment of a summer-long mail saga. “We had our mail held for two weeks in July and when we returned, it wasn’t delivered,” she said. “Regular service simply resumed – two days after we had asked it to.” Her first stop in tracking down the missing mail was the Gallatin Street post office. It wasn’t there, but the window clerk gave her two numbers to call at the USPS facility at 6511 Baltimore Avenue, where Hyattsville mail is sorted and processed. Calls there weren’t returned, so
next she tried the main customerservice line. “According to the computer, it should be at the Baltimore Avenue address,” said the representative. He put in a request to locate the mail, and it arrived the following Monday, a week after the requested date. “We also have an ongoing problem in which our mail is never picked up. Ever. Anytime I want to mail something, I have to take it to a mailbox,” she said. Elsewhere in the city, Jeanne Canavan had a similar problem as she bumped up against the deadline for registering her daughter for kindergarten. “I put the school forms in the mailbox with the flag up,” she said. “And that night, they were still there – along with our delivered mail. “So I put them out the next day – again with the flag up – and the mail didn’t come at all that day.” When she went to Gallatin Street to file a complaint, she recalls, the man in front of her in line was there for the same reason. Longtime resident Lisa Walker didn’t get the letter – or, apparently, a recent water bill. “I got a notice that my water was going to be shut off because I didn’t pay my bill. So did my neighbors,” she said. “I called WSSC and paid by credit card and all was fine. Still, it’s hard to know what was missed.”
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Hyattsville Reporter Page HR1
Hyattsville Life & Times | September 2012
the
www.hyattsville.org • 301-985-5000
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Fall and Holiday Planner 2012
Mark your calendar for the rest of the year! September 2012 Friday, September 14 is the Last Outback Steakhouse Summer Jam of the season, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM! Our sincere thanks goes to Gregory Kithcart and his team at the Outback Steakhouse at the Mall at Prince George’s for their steadfast support of the City. We also appreciate McDonald Auto Body’s support of balloon artist extraordinaire, Mandy the Clown, as well as her face-painting friends. It is also the Hyattsville Police Department’s Open House night. Please see below for more information. The Hyattsville Community Development Corporation’s Downtown Hyattsville Arts Festival comes to Jefferson Street at Baltimore Avenue on Saturday, September 22. Visit www.hyattsvillearts.com for more information. The Hyattsville City Police Department will be raising funds for Special Olympics Maryland as part of Cops on Rooftops at Dunkin’ Donuts, 3300 Queens Chapel Road, from Saturday, September 29 to Sunday, September 30. Local police officers, including our own Chief Holland, will ascend to the roof of the doughnut shop and stay there to raise money for a good cause. Last year’s event raised over $5,000.
October 2012 The City-wide Yard Sale weekend takes place beginning Friday, October 5 through Sunday, October 7. Registration is free. Please see the article in this edition for more details. Hyattsville Cyclocross races into Magruder Park on Sunday, October 7. The first races start early in the morning, and the fun continues until the final lap around 4 PM. Spookyfest will take place the afternoon of Saturday, October 27 – please look for a location announcement in the late September edition of the Reporter.
November 2012 Hamilton Street turns into a global bazaar and music venue for the City’s Handmade on Hamilton: A Celebration of Craft, Music & Food on Saturday, November 3 from 12:00 NOON to 7:00 PM. Visit www.hyattsville.org/handmade for more. The annual Hyattsville Heroes Bowl pits the local police against the firefighters in a charity football match. This year’s game takes place Saturday, November 10. More details next month!
December 2012 The Magruder Park Tree Lighting is scheduled for the evening of Friday, December 7, complete with seasonal music and hot chocolate, plus a very special guest. Dine with Santa on Saturday, December 8 at the City Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin Street. Clause Applause, the annual holiday decorating contest, will be judged the evening of Wednesday, December 12. Deck the halls, Hyattsville! www.hyattsville.org/recreation
Hyattsville Life & Times | September 2012
No. 248 • September 11, 2012
Cyclocross returns to Magruder Park Route 1 Velo will present the 4th annual Hyattsville Cyclocross Race on Sunday, October 7th at Magruder Park. Proceeds from the race benefit Prince George’s County Special Olympics. Last year’s event raised over $5,000 for the organization. The races loop through Magruder Park, with some portions in the woods, but most of the action in clear view. It’s a thrilling ride, a combination of skill and speed. An entry
level race is open to kids under 8 at no charge, but advanced registration is required. Races take place through the day, beginning in the morning after 8 AM. The last event is a loop featuring all of the event participants, as well as athletes from Prince George’s County Special Olympics. Learn more about the event at http://hyattsvillecx.blogspot.com/ and please join us on Sunday, October 7.
IN OTHER NEWS... UNIVERSITY HILLS RESIDENTS INVITED TO COMMUNITY MEETINGS ABOUT STREET DESIGN
The City will host two community meetings to share the 30% design for the University Hills street projects. Join us on Wednesday, September 12 at 7:30 PM or Thursday, September 13 at 7:30 PM. The content of both meetings will be identical. Engineers will be available to discuss the plan and to answer questions. The meetings take place at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, 7501 Adelphi Road, Hyattsville, MD 20783. Questions? Please contact Acting City Administrator, Elaine Stookey: estookey@hyattsville.org.
PARENT & CHILD PROGRAM FALL SEMESTER
The Fall Semester of the Parent & Child Program is now underway! The Parent & Child Program allows parents and other caregivers to bring preschoolers to the Magruder Park Recreation Center for playtime and crafts. The program features both free play and structured activities. Children must be accompanied by an adult. The program meets on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The Fall Semester runs through December 20, 2012. Pay on a drop-in basis, just $3/session, or $75 a semester.
COMMUNITY YARD SALE
Mark your calendar for Friday, October 5 through Sunday, October 7! Twice each year, the City of Hyattsville’s porches, front lawns, and sidewalks offer up some of the best local bargain shopping you can imagine. By popular demand, our Yard Sale Saturday becomes a three-day event this Fall. Here’s what you need to know to take part: • All City Yard Sale permits and fees are waived during Community Yard Sale Day. • Registration is open now. Call 301/985-5000 or visit http:// www.hyattsville.org/yardsale. • You don’t need to register – but if you do, we’ll add your address to the maps distributed to bargain hunters so they can find their way to your sale. • Speaking of maps, if you’re shopping instead of selling, check back after 3:00 PM on Wednesday, September 26, and we’ll have a complete map of participating addresses ready to print at www.hyattsville.org/yardsale. They will also be available in the lobby of the City Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin Street, Hyattsville. • Residents can operate their sale at any time during daylight hours; however, the hours the City will publicize are Friday, October 5 from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM; Saturday, October 6 from
Please note that the City does not observe Columbus Day as holiday; therefore there are no changes to the residential trash collection schedule in October. A complete Fall/Holiday schedule will run in the next Hyattsville Reporter.
AGING GRACEFULLY EDUCATION SERIES (AGES) BEGINS THIS FALL
The Office of Senior Services will offer a series of workshops and seminars on topics of interest to seniors and their families. The first session is on Thursday, September 20 at 10 AM in the City Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin Street, First Floor Multi-Purpose Room. The topic is Medicare 2012 Updates.
Community Meeting: University Hills Green Streets Design, 7:30 PM, St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, 7501 Adelphi Road
Thursday, September 13
Community Meeting: University Hills Green Streets Design, 7:30 PM, St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, 7501 Adelphi Road
Friday, September 14
Wednesday, September 19
Hyattsville Environmental Committee Meeting, 7:30 PM
Thursday, September 20
SENIOR SERVICES
TRASH SCHEDULE CHANGES FOR FALL 2012
Wednesday, September 12
City Council Meeting, 8:00 PM
SEPTEMBER FOURTEENTH SUMMER JAM FEATURES JUST-US
Last call for vendor applications! The deadline for crafters and artisans to apply for Handmade on Hamilton: An International Celebration of Craft, Food, and Music is Friday, September 14. Please visit www.hyattsville.org/handmade for details about the event and to download an application.
SEPTEMBER 2012
Monday, September 17
Our speaker will be Jack Davidson, Community Liaison with Home Physicians.
HANDMADE ON HAMILTON TAKES PLACE NOVEMBER 3, 2012
CALENDAR
Outback Steakhouse Summer Jam Featuring Just Us, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
9:00 AM to 2:00 PM; and Sunday, October 7, 2012 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
Rock with the cops at the last Outback Steakhouse Summer Jam of 2012 The Outback Steakhouse Summer Jam Series concludes on Friday, September 14, when Just-Us takes the stage on Gallatin Street. With the generous support of Gregory Kithcart of the Outback Steakhouse at the Mall at Prince George’s Plaza, Summer Jams are held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the second Friday of the month, May through September, rain or shine! September 14 is also the Hyattsville City Police Department’s annual open house, with chances for residents of all ages to tour the station and learn more about police work. Delicious food straight off the grill includes burgers, chicken and hot dogs prepared by Outback Steakhouse. There’s a beer and wine garden for grown-ups, plus there’s Mandy the Clown and her very talented face painter friends, courtesy of MacDonald Auto Body’s Towing Division, for the kids. Just Us featuring our own Sgt. Chris Purvis will close this year’s series with some good time Rock ‘n Roll! September 14 is also the Hyattsville City Police Department’s Open House, with opportunities for residents to explore the police station and fun giveaways galore. Can’t make the September jam? The 2013 season kicks off on Friday, May 10, 2013! Watch the Summer Jam page for details about next year’s line-up. www.hyattsville.org/summerjam
Page HR2
Families, caregivers and seniors: Do you have any age-related questions or concerns? Please call Hyattsville’s Senior Services Coordinator, Emily Stowers at 301/985-5058, or email estowers@hyattsville.org.
COPS ON ROOFTOPS
The Hyattsville City Police Department will be raising funds for Special Olympics Maryland as part of Cops on Rooftops at Dunkin’ Donuts, 3300 Queens Chapel Road, from Saturday, September 29 to Sunday, September 30. Local police officers, including our own Chief Holland, will ascend to the roof of the doughnut shop and stay there to raise money for a good cause. Last year’s event raised over $5,000.
CHANGES COMING TO CABLE
The City’s cable station is now rebroadcasting City Council Meetings at a variety of times. Tune in on Monday at 10 AM; Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 AM, 3 PM, and 10 PM; Wednesdays and Fridays at 7 AM and 9 PM; or Saturdays and Sundays at 12 NOON. We will broadcast the most recent Council Meeting. The City’s channel is 71 on Comcast and 12 on Verizon. Questions? Comments? Please talk to Jonathan Alexander, the City’s cable coordinator, at jalexander@hyattsville. org or 301/985-5028.
PARENT & CHILD PROGRAM – FALL SESSION
The Parent & Child Program is back at Magruder Park, Tuesday through Thursday from 9:00 AM until 1:00 PM. $3/child; pre-paid admission coupons valid. A parent or caregiver must remain with the child during the program. Free play and structured activities are included.
ON-STREET PARKING COMING TO BALTIMORE AVENUE/ROUTE 1
Parking is coming to the Route One/Baltimore Avenue corridor during off-peak hours. Signage has been delayed, but we have been advised that it will be available shortly. New spaces will be created between Madison Street and the Route One Alternate Bridge. The City requested the changes from the State Highway Administration to help accommodate the growing retail and restaurant developments in the area. Visit www.hyattsville.org/parking to view a map.
THIRD ANNUAL MULTICULTURAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS FAIR SET FOR SEPTEMBER
Save the date for the Third Annual Hyattsville Community Multicultural Health and Wellness Fair, scheduled for Saturday, September 15, 2012 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at First
Aging Gracefully Education Series (AGES) workshop on Medicare 2012 Updates, 10 AM
Saturday, September 22
5th Annual Downtown Hyattsville Arts Festival, 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday, September 29 - Sunday, September 30 Cops on Rooftops Dunkin Donuts at 3300 Queensbury Road
Unless otherwise noted, all events take place at the City Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin Street. United Methodist Church of Hyattsville, 6201 Belcrest Road. A free community-wide event of screenings, demonstrations, education and training, and information dissemination. Questions? Contact Mary Carter-Williams, Ph.D. at carterwilli@theisgrp.com or 301/927-6113. Home
REDISTRICTING PLAN ADOPTED; FIND DETAILS ONLINE
The City adopted a redistricting plan earlier this month. Find details here: www.hyattsville.org/redistricting.
CITY BUDGET DETAILS AVAILABLE ONLINE
The City’s new fiscal year, FY13, began on July 1, 2012. Residents can view documents related to the FY13 budget online at www.hyattsville.org/budget.
VETERAN SERVICES
Looking for counseling, assistance with veterans’ benefits, or other information? The Prince George’s County Vet Center services County residents who have served their country. Services are provided at no charge to the veteran. For more information, visit www.vetcenter.va.gov, or call the Prince George’s County Vet Center, located at 7905 Malcolm Rd., Suite 101, Clinton, MD 21735, at 301/856-7173.
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. Please note that Nixle won’t report on every incident – typically alerts are sent when the HCPD needs to alert the public to a potentially dangerous situation, or when we are asking for your help solving a crime. In other cases, Nixle messages relate to road closures, power outages, etc. 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.
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Hyattsville Life & Times | September 2012
COMMUNITY CALENDAR September 14 and 15
ville Elementary’s Tomes for Tunes: 3rd Annual Used Book Sale, you can browse music, movies and audiobooks as well as books for all ages. Proceeds benefit the school’s music programs. Free admission. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hyattsville Elementary School, 5311 43rd Avenue. Looking to downsize your collection? Drop off donations for the sale at the school’s main office weekdays between 7:45 a.m. and 7 p.m. 301.312.9170.
Get a taste of 19th-century comedy with Double the Rent, New Old Theater’s latest production. Mr. Box and Mr. Cox share the same tiny room and neither one notices! One works all day, the other all night. It’s up to Mrs. Bouncer, the wily landlady, to keep them from meeting. 7:30 p.m. at the Old Parish House, 4711 Knox Road, College Park. 301.982.3013.
September 15 Cycle through Aviation History, a guided bicycle tour, takes you on a journey of 10 miles and 250 years, from the first balloon flight in America to 20th-century inventions. Bring your bicycle and helmet; snacks provided. SMARTlink registration required through www.pgparks.com. $2. Ride starts at 10 a.m. from the College Park Aviation Museum, 1985 Cpl. Frank Scott Drive, College Park. 301.864.6029. Ever wonder if those family heirlooms have more than sentimental value? Find out at the Out of the Attic Appraisal Fair, when appraisers from Weschler’s will estimate the value of up to four items (or photos of items) per person. The fee of $10 per item benefits the Riverdale Historical Society. 10 a.m. to noon. Riversdale House Museum, 4811 Riverdale Road, Riverdale Park. 301.864.4020.
E.T. rides high again in this monthʼs outdoor screening, at the College Park Aviation Museum.
See what the season has in store during the Publick Playhouse Open House, featuring carnival rides, a steel-drum band, a caricaturist, a balloon artist, performances and more. Free. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 5445 Landover Road, Cheverly. 301.277.1710. The neighboring towns of Bladensburg, Colmar Manor, Edmonston and Cottage City come together for Port Towns Day, a family-friendly festival with music, prizes, food, crafts, vendors, an outdoor movie and more. Free. Noon to 9 p.m. Bladensburg Waterfront Park, 4601 Annapolis Road, Bladensburg. 301.779.0371.
September 20 Steven Spielberg’s 1982 hit E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial closes out the College Park Aviation Museum’s Summer Outdoor Movie Series this evening. Museum doors open at 7 p.m. for pre-show activities; movie starts at 9 p.m. Free with museum admission of $4 (discounts for children and seniors). 1985 Cpl. Frank Scott Drive, College Park. 301.864.6029.
September 22 Don’t let the name fool you. At Hyatts-
Did your children outgrow their jackets over the summer? Restock at the University Park Children’s Clothing Co-op 35th Annual Fall and Winter Sale, featuring gently worn seasonal items like coats and snow boots, as well as toys, books, sports equipment and more. Cash only. Free. 10 a.m. to noon. Riverdale Presbyterian Church, 6513 Queens Chapel Road, University Park. More details at www.universityparkchildrensclothing.com. The 5th Annual Hyattsville Arts Fest promises to be bigger than ever this year, with tours of new housing added to the lineup. Sample offerings from local restaurants as you browse the work of more than 50 artists or take in a street performance. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Held throughout the Shoppes at Arts District Hyattsville (Route 1 at Jefferson Street) and surrounding areas. Visit www.hyattsvillearts. com for more information.
Community Meeting: University Hills Green Streets Design An International Celebration of Craft, Music, and Food Come
e crafts from 40 diff a n d s hop for handmad erent ar Enjoy cuisin e from
tisans!
the world an arund d chil dren’s activities!
Performances by:
Music from:
Cirque Oya • Batala DC Glade Dance Collective
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong • Old Man Brown Nayas • Road Dog • Unity Reggae Band
SATURDAY • NOVEMBER 3, 2012 Noon - 7 pm Hamilton Street between Ager Road and Queens Chapel Road, Hyattsville MD. Across from the West Hyattsville Metro station on the Green Line.
Wednesday, September 12 at 7:30 PM or Thursday, September 13 at 7:30 PM St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church 7501 Adelphi Road Hyattsville, MD 20783 The City will host a community meeting to share the 30% design for the University Hills street projects. The content of both meetings will be identical. Engineers will be available to discuss the plan and to answer questions. Questions? Please contact Acting City Administrator, Elaine Stookey: estookey@hyattsville.org. View the plans here: http://www.hyattsville.org/universityhills
Hyattsville Life & Times | September 2012
Page 9
COMMUNITY CALENDAR Children ages 7 to 15 can attend a lacrosse clinic conducted by former college players and local coaches. Learn about the elements of lacrosse, stick handling, passing, shooting and more. Some sticks will be available, but for active participation, bring your own equipment. 1 to 3 p.m. Heurich Turf Field, 6001 Nicholson Street. Preregister by calling 301.446.6800 or visit www.pgparks.com.
September 24 Calling all seniors for the Silver Sneakers Walk, Pedal & Paddle Event! Mark the beginning of Active Aging Week at Lake Artemesia, where you can walk the path, pedal on it with a tandem or three-wheel bicycle, or take to the water in a kayak. Age 60 and up. Free. 9 a.m. to noon. Lake Artemesia, 5400 block Berwyn Road, Berwyn Heights. 301.446.3400.
September 28 Seniors can finish the week with Fish Fry Friday, which includes a full lunch, entertainment and games such as spades, bid whist, phase 10 and billiards. Age 60 and up. $18; reservations required. 1 p.m. Gwendolyn Britt Senior Activity Center, 4009 Wallace Road, Brentwood. 301.699.1238.
September 29 Start the day with a Bicycle Nature Tour, a guided trip along park trails. Age 10 and up; those under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Reservations required. $2. 9 a.m. to noon. Bladensburg Waterfront Park, 4601 Annapolis Road, Bladensburg. 301.779.0371. As part of the events marking the Battle of Bladensburg, the Art of Cookery Made Federal and Fancy features a chance to sample 1812-era recipes – including
a special beer from Franklins Brewery. Age 21 and up; reservations required. $23. 4 p.m. Riversdale House Museum, 4811 Riverdale Road, Riverdale Park. 301.864.4020. James Hesla, Mary Watters and Ian Armstrong are among the honorees at the Active Cultures First Annual Awards Reception, which also includes a silent auction to benefit the theater troupe. $35 suggested donation. 5 to 8 p.m. Brentwood Arts Exchange Gallery, 3901 Rhode Island Avenue, Brentwood. 202.359.7482 or carl.sumter@activecultures.org.
October 6 Bring an old button-down shirt and a pair of pants to a Scarecrow Making Workshop. All other supplies are provided. Reservation required by October 1st. 11 a.m. to noon. Free. Bladensburg Community Center, 4500 57th Avenue, Bladensburg. 301.277.2124.
Ongoing
4601 Annapolis Road, Bladensburg. 301.779.0371. A group bike ride starts every Sunday at 9 a.m. at Arrow Bicycles, 5108 Baltimore Avenue. This is a 32-mile, moderately paced ride that emphasizes group-riding techniques. New group riders welcome. 301.531.9250. Our own Hyattsville Farmers’ Market is open every Tuesday through the season from 2 to 6 p.m. at its new location, the former BB&T building, 3505 Hamilton Street. 301.627.0977. The producers-only Riverdale Park Farmer’s Market offers a variety of local vegetables and fruits, honey, baked goods, meat, jams, flowers and more. Free. Thursdays, 3 to 7 p.m. Riverdale Park, 301.332.6258. Community Calendar is compiled by Susie Currie and Scarlett Salem. It’s a select listing of events happening in
and around Hyattsville from the 15th of the issue month to the 15th of the following month. To submit an item
PawZen
for consideration, please e-mail susie@ hyattsvillelife.com or mail to P.O. Box 132, Hyattsville, MD 20781.
Eleanor Pernia
Self-Service Pet Spa Watch your pet receive a spa treatment while you lounge with wi-fi and cable.
Bathing, Flea & Tick treatments, nail clipping, tooth brushing, de-shedding, ear cleaning, and more! Mon., Thurs., Fri. - 10:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. Sat. - 9 a.m. - 7:30 p.m Sun. - 9 am - 5 pm Closed Tuesday and Wednesday 4812 Rhode Island Ave Hyattsville MD 20781
301-779-7297 pawzen@yahoo.com www.pawzenpetspa.com
Studio of Dance
est. 1962
Dance classes for all ages
Register For Fall Classes Now! Preschool Dance • Tap • Ballet • HipHop • Modern • Ballroom Small class sizes Ages 3 & up
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301-937-4230
10434 Baltimore Ave • Beltsville, MD 20705
Train Printing
The city is inviting vendors to apply for Handmade on Hamilton: An International Celebration of Craft, Music and Food. Think of it as a local Etsy pop-up: only handcrafted, original items created by local artisans will be displayed. The festival is set for November 3 at Queens Chapel Town Center. For more information, call 301.985.5020 or search “handmade” on the city website, www.hyattsville.org.
4547 Rhode Island Ave | Brentwood, MD 20722
Through October 28, Anacostia River Boat Tours are held Tuesdays through Fridays at noon and weekends at 5 p.m. All ages are welcome to join a park naturalist on a 45-minute pontoon boat ride to search for birds and other wildlife. Free; registration required for groups of 12 or more. Bladensburg Waterfront Park,
fax: 301-864-0740 • email: info@trainprinting.com
♦ Offset Printing ♦ Full Color Digital Printing ♦ Wide Format Printing ♦ Copy & Fax Services ♦ Wedding & Social Invitations ~ Rush Service Available ~
Open: Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
301-864-5552 www.trainprinting.com
NEW LOCATION FOR 2012
Hyattsville Farmers Market The fall harvest is in! Come see a dozen varieties of apples and much, much more...
Tuesdays, 2 to 6 p.m.
Cookbook giveaway and exchange! We accept SNAP, WIC, & senior coupons
A CommunitySponsored Enterprise 3505 Hamilton Street (the former BB&T Building, across from Bestway)
Sponsored by the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission
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Hyattsville Life & Times | September 2012
COMMENTARY & OPINION ON HISTORY & POLITICS
Hugh’sNews
A bad choice for Augusta National by Hugh Turley
Last month, the Augusta National Golf Club ended a 75-year tradition as an all-male club, ad-
mitting former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and business executive Darla Moore as the first women members. In announcing the decision, Au-
gusta National Chairman Billy Payne said, “It will be a proud moment when we present Condoleezza and Darla with their green jackets.”
Helping Sell Hyattsville
And our Neighboring Community
Ann Barrett, Realtor® Salesperson, Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. 9094 Baltimore Avenue, College Park, MD 20740
SOLD 4207 Jefferson St. $307,000
cell: 240-938-6060 office: 301-441-9511 ext. 261
email: annbarrett@ longandfoster.com
UNDER CONTRACT 3116 Upshur Street, Mount Rainier $179,000 Lots of space in this 3 Bedroom, 2 bath brick rambler with two finished levels. Lots of updates including A/C, roof, electrical panel, stove, paint, carpet. Must see inside!
web: ANNBARRETT.LNF.COM SOLD 4905 Sheridan Street, Riverdale Park $210,000
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Not everyone agrees. “It would be more appropriate for Rice to be presented with an orange jumpsuit at the International Court of Justice in The Hague,” said Joan Stallard, a local coordinator of Code Pink: Women for Peace. “There are many deserving women Augusta National could have selected for membership without the criminal past of Condoleezza Rice.” Stallard was referring to Rice’s role in the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq. In the build-up for the invasion, Rice said in 2002, “We don’t want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud.” The same threat of a nuclear weapon was repeated by Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to scare the American people. Cheney warned that Saddam Hussein would have a nuclear weapon “fairly soon.” Rumsfeld added that the Iraqi president was “trying to acquire the pieces for the nuclear weapon.” In 2003, after the invasion, National Security Advisor Rice said, “Let us be very clear about why we went to war against Saddam Hussein. [His] regime posed a threat to the security of the United States and the world. This was a regime that had pursued, had used, and possessed weapons of mass destruction.” When questioned she continued, maintaining that “[Saddam’s] regime was a threat, that it was pursuing a nuclear weapon.” In 1950, the Nuremberg Tribu-
nal defined crimes against peace as the “planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression or a war in violation of international treaties, agreements or assurances,” or conspiring to accomplish any of these. Iraq never was a threat to attack the United States. Estimates of Iraqi deaths from the U.S. invasion top one million; the toll in human suffering, torture, human rights abuses and loss of property are incalculable. The Iraqi people’s lives were destroyed. Yet no official in the previous administration has been held accountable for misleading the American people into the Iraq War, which was based on non-existent weapons of mass destruction and the threat of a nuclear attack. Tolerating the mistakes of the past invites more of the same. Despite President Obama’s promised “change,” his Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, the successor to Rice, has the same bellicose tone. Clinton, who advocates overthrowing the Syrian government, has said, “We will use all elements of American power to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.” As Condi Rice prepares to play golf at Augusta, our leaders continue to call for regime change, sanctions and no-fly zones. War can have unintended consequences. Innocent people are slaughtered. Syria and Iran do not have nukes. But their allies, Russia and China, do. Is the American military, which has been unable to defeat the poorly armed Taliban for 11 years or occupy Iraq, ready for more powerful enemies?
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Hyattsville Life & Times | September 2012
Page 11
HOMEOWNER ALERT!
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Page 12
Hyattsville Life & Times | September 2012
Fuel up For Fall!
DEMATHA
continued from page 1
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ters but that the school stands behind football coach Elijah Brooks, who is beginning his second year in the position. Brad Mason, a 1996 DeMatha graduate and football player, said he is torn. “That’s not the program I remember. I find it difficult to believe the program and coaching staff would have condoned this. At same time, I’m a little disappointed in the quality of the athletes they’re accepting, or kids in general, if this is happening. “We got in trouble on road trips. A kid got expelled for stealing someone else’s Timberland boots and that’s the worst that happened. This is quite a step above that,” said Mason. “I don’t claim to know every secret from my time at DeMatha, but the level of trouble I was aware of as a member of the team was much lower.” A 1999 graduate, who spoke off the record, played hockey at DeMatha and said that when the varsity hockey team went to Toronto some players got in trouble for going to a strip club. “But it didn’t become public because it was legal there -- you only had to be 18 to go to a strip club. So it was handled internally, though the players got in trouble and parents got involved, because it went against the school’s moral code.
“There’s a certain mentality there that has to do with being an allboys high school. It’s an atmosphere of all males and rising hormones.” Carolyn Miller lives near DeMatha and volunteers there; her husband and one son are graduates. “I have a totally different sense of that school. My son wasn’t especially athletic but he was totally respected by staff and students and he got a wonderful education there. The staff made sure students did their best in everything. “Coach Brooks is an upstanding person who has the best interests of DeMatha and his players at heart,” said Miller, who knows both Brooks and his mother. “If you look at the history of their athletic program, there have been problems from time to time with certain students. DeMatha has been very aggressive in upholding the values of a Catholic high school.” Sherry Cain agrees. One of her sons graduated from DeMatha and the other is a junior there. Both have traveled with the music program. “I believe the chaperones did their job. The school is very careful. Those kids had to be super sneaky and determined. They made a choice. They were aware of the rules and now are living with the consequences.”
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Hyattsville Life & Times | September 2012
Page 13
BATTLE
continued from page 1
the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The battle, she said, had a pivotal role in the war, and led to fighting further north in Baltimore, victory at Fort McHenry and the writing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Hewlett explained that the center’s mission is to educate visitors about the war, inform them of the role Prince George’s County and the battle played in the war, and encourage visitors and residents to visit historic sites in the county that figured in the conflict. Another speaker, Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker, said the center is “equally important for its economic development potential within the Port Towns and throughout the county to increase heritage tourism – one of the largest sectors of employment in the United States.” On Saturday, August 25, the center held a grand opening for the public that drew about 400 people, despite the constant threat of rain. Among the exhibits inside were coins from that time period (halfpennies), belt buckles and musket balls. Visitors could look at combatants’ uniforms on life-sized mannequins and see the differences between what the Americans and the British wore. They also could also see the similarities, such as the heavy woolen fabric
PAULA MINAERT Re-enactor Steven Campredi explains the intricacies of swordfighting at Family Day at the Battle of Bladensburg Visitors Center.
they were made of. On one wall hung a picture of King George III of England. On another was an American flag with 15 stars. Outside, visitors could step back into the world of the early 1800s. They could try turning a ship’s wheel and they could see what was cooking inside a huge black cauldron hanging over a wood fire. They could put their heads in the stocks. Military re-enactors walked around wearing things like boots with silver buttons, top hats and jackets with tails. One re-enactor
taught children how to fence, using wooden swords. Others periodically fired a cannon. Under a large awning, a man and a woman sang songs from the period. “This song is called ’Yankee Tars,’ the man explained to the listening crowd. “But it actually goes back to the 17th century under a different name.” He led them in singing the refrain of “Down, derry down.” “This is great,” said Flo Huston, who was there with her greatgrandson. “They’re wonderful festivities.” Aaron Marcavitch, executive director of the Anacostia Trails Heritage Area, was pleased with the turnout. “It’s one of those things where you have a battlefield that doesn’t exist and a story that doesn’t get told or isn’t told in a good light. But to have this many people come out now is a good start. The real bicentennial of the battle isn’t until 2014 so we have a year and a half more. “We can learn as much from losses as from wins. What came out of the Battle of Bladensburg is the awareness that we needed a real standing army. That’s the long-term impact.”
Dr. Mark H. Sugar
and the Belcrest Surgery Center
practicing podiatry in Hyattsville since 1975 Are you experiencing heel pain, bunions, ingrown toenails, hammertoes, fungus toenails or any conditions associated with arthritis, tendonitis, nerve or circulation disorders or sport-exercise injuries? We treat any and all foot problems both conservatively and surgically. Our hours are flexible and we accept most insurance plans. Feel free to contact us for any questions or information. The Belcrest Surgery Center is fully accredited and certified and offers convenient and comfortable treatment for out-patient foot surgery.
6505 Belcrest Road, Suite One Hyattsville, 301-699-5900
The center is located at Bladensburg Waterfront Park, 4601 Annapolis Road, Bladensburg, MD 20710. It is open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 301.927.8819. Free.
CELEBRATE THE ARTS
AND A LOWER ENERGY BILL, TOO. While you’re visiting the Downtown Hyattsville Arts Festival, stop by the STEP booth and learn how easy improving the energy efficiency of your home can be! WHERE AND WHEN Visit our booth on Saturday, Sept. 22nd, from 11AM – 5 PM at: 5th Annual Downtown Hyattsville Arts Festival Baltimore Ave. and Jefferson St. in the Gateway Arts District of Prince George’s County. Contractors will be there to speak with you about making home energy improvements. See you at the festival!
Enter a drawing at our booth to win $500 towards energy-efficiency improvements in your home.
Page 14
Hyattsville Life & Times | September 2012
LEAF THE HOME SELLING TO LARRY Call Larry Perrin, Realtor to sell your home!
®
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FOR SALE: 3735 Wells Ave $99,995 - SOLD 11380 Cherry Hill Rd $79,995 9309 Jarret Ct $199,995 - SOLD 20222 Maple Leaf $275,000 18089 Royal Bonnet $274,995 8850 Welbeck $169,995 19016 Harkness $425,000 3627 Farragut Street $279,995 4111 29th Street $299,995 3105 Webster Street $299,000 3720 Jackson $265,000 3817 Newark Street $139,995 - SOLD Hunting Ridge Condominium 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath $125,000 Greenbriar Condominium 2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, Family Room $108,995
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