September 2013 Hyattsville Life & Times

A gem of a September in Queens Chillum shopping center. PAGE 3

New year, new school programs

by Rosanna Landis Weaver

No matter how often we celebrate the countdown on December 31, for many of us the start of the school year is embedded deep in our souls as the time of new beginnings and awkward transitions. This year September brings a number of changes in Hyattsville, including two new schools and new programs at existing schools that offer educational opportunities for students from toddlers to teens.

A GLIMPSE INSIDE A HIDDEN WORLD

ACCESS DENIED

ART POPS UP IN VACANT STORE

Without an agreement between the City of Hyattsville and the University of Maryland, residents can’t ride the shuttle that comes through the neighborhood. PAGE 2

The Masonic Lodge on Gallatin Street houses a part of Hyattsville history. PAGE 4

Hyattsville Life&Times

Vol. 10 No. 9

Hyattsville’s Community Newspaper

September 2013

NEW SCHOOLS Chelsea School

On September 11, the ribbon was cut and the celebratory potluck held at Chelsea School’s new location on Belcrest Center Drive, but the 70 students in grades 5 through 12 with “language-based learning differences” had already begun school on September 3.

The school’s new home — on the top floor of the building that houses LA Fitness — represents a big change from the five-acre property in Silver Spring that had been its home for 24 years.

(The campus formerly housed the Academy of the Holy Names, an all-girl Catholic high school.)

Director Kate Fedalen said the move was in part because the

NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID EASTON MD PERMIT NO. 43

SCHOOLS continued on page 12

UP IN THE

Hyattsville Life & Times PO Box 132 Hyattsville, MD 20781

by Susie Currie

Plans are underway to demolish the midcentury Hyattsville branch library and replace it with a $14.3 million state-of-the-art facility that may — or may not — include the iconic flying saucer stationed outside the main entrance.

Prince George’s County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS) officials are working with the Calverton-based architecture firm Grimm + Parker, which specializes in library

SUSIE CURRIE Is the Hyattsville library saucer a relic of the Cold War or an essential part of the new library?

New library planned for Hyattsville, but fate of saucer sculpture unclear

design, on plans for the building. Design work will be completed next year, with construction expected to begin in 2015.

In August, about 65 people gathered at the library for a glimpse of its future. Architect Melanie Hennigan presented a slideshow of Grimm + Parker’s recent library projects, featuring glass walls, soaring ceilings, banks of computers, laptop workstations, interactive children’s areas, even cafes and fireplaces.

When several people at the meeting asked whether the saucer would remain, Hennigan

was noncommittal.

“It’s a challenge,” she said. “It’s definitely too big to be used inside. It’s a monolithic piece, not something that you can pick up and move easily. It would be very expensive to do that.”

Public support for keeping it at 6530 Adelphi Road, where it has been since the library opened in 1964, has been unwavering.

Within days after the meeting, the saucer had its own email address (hyattsvillesaucer@ outlook.com), Facebook page (Save Our LIBRARY continued on page 13

Included: The September 11, 2013 Issue of The Hyattsville Reporter — See Center Section

Page 2

Hyattsville Life & Times | September 2013

FromTheEditor

Reading the future

by Susie Currie

I’ve had a library card as long as I can remember. My childhood library, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, was a rambling antebellum mansion, 26 rooms of fading Italianate glory with creaking staircases, hidden reading nooks and shelves that seemed to stretch to the moon. It was a wonderful introduction to the world of books.

My own three children have been going to the Hyattsville library since they were in strollers.

For years, we were regulars at the weekly toddler storytimes, and looked forward to going through

the overstuffed library bag full of new discoveries when we got home. Many children’s books on our own shelves found a place there because we first discovered them at the library. (Never underestimate the power of a good illustrator.)

What awaits the young readers of tomorrow? The Hyattsville branch, which opened in 1964, was the first one built as part of the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System. It is slated for a tear-down with a new one expected to open in 2016 in the same location, 6530 Adelphi Road. It’s safe to say that the new one will be very different from the one that opened nearly 40 years ago.

A community newspaper chronicling the life and times of Hyattsville

MyTwoCents

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 Susie Currie susie@hyattsvillelife.com 301.633.9209 Managing Editor Rosanna Landis Weaver rosanna@hyattsvillelife.com 301.277.5939 Editorial Intern Scarlett Salem Production Ashley Perks Advertising advertising@hyattsvillelife.com 301.531.5234 Writers & Contributors Victoria Hille, Molly Parrish, Valerie Russell, Fred Seitz, Hugh Turley Board of Directors Joseph Gigliotti - President and General Counsel Chris Currie - Vice President Susie Currie - Secretary Peggy Dee, Karen J. Riley, Valerie Russell Rosanna Landis Weaver - 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.

Architect Melanie Hennigan promised as much at an August public meeting on the library’s future. Hennigan is with Calverton-based Grimm + Parker, which specializes in designing libraries and is working on drawings for Hyattsville’s.

“These aren’t your parents’ libraries,” she said during a slideshow of the firm’s recent work.

“For many people, they’ve become a ‘third place’ ” to go when not at home or work. So in today’s buildings, books share space with cafes, fireplaces, glass exteriors, islands of computer stations and dozens of outletequipped workspaces.

If the Hyattsville branch is being designed for the next

40 years, it makes sense to see what younger users are looking for in a library. In June, the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project released results of a study on the library habits of “digital natives,” Americans between the ages of 16 and 29 who have grown up with digital media.

Yes, virtually all of them spend time online. But they are also more likely than their elders to have read a printed book in the past year (75 percent to 64 percent). Among 16- and 17-yearolds, that number jumps to 85 percent.

That’s not to say that younger library users shun technology there. Why would they, when they can get information in seconds that would have taken hours to find offline? It’s not surprising that 75 percent of the under-30s said that it was “very important”

We don’t want to miss this bus

by April Downs

Have you noticed that red “Fear the Turtle” bus coming through Hyattsville during the last year or so? It’s the University of Maryland’s Shuttle-UM number 113. I first saw it come by my house on 42nd Avenue and briefly wondered if I could ride it even though I am not a student. Then my child enrolled in College Park Academy (CPA).

There was the same bus going right by the school, which opened this year in the old St. Mark’s School building on Adelphi Road. And the bus schedule fit his afternoon school schedule perfectly.

CPA administrators announced that students from Greenbelt were eligible to take the shuttle. I was confident we would be able to do the same.

Well, no. When I requested a pass for my son, university official Beverly Joy Malone emailed me to say, in part: “Good morning. ... Hyattsville does not have a Shuttle-UM agreement so your son cannot ride it to CPA.” And, without an association with

the University of Maryland, I cannot even buy a pass. University faculty, staff, and students (as well as students from other universities) can ride free, with a valid ID. Campus visitors and other “non-affiliates” pay for the service, with rates ranging from $4 a day to $177 per academic year.

Hyattsville does not have the agreement Malone mentioned, though the cities of Greenbelt and College Park do. For an annual fee, each town gets up to 1,000 passes a year to distribute to people who provide proof of residency. With a pass, residents can ride ShuttleUM for free even if they are not associated with the University.

Greenbelt pays $4,452 for the annual passes and can renegotiate for more if those are used up. College Park pays $6,000 and can get more passes without additional cost.

That is a tiny fraction of the university’s cost to run the shuttle service.

Hyattsville could negotiate a similar agreement for its residents at a cost to the city budget of $5,000 or less. If even 500 people applied, that would be $10 a year for each

pass. The city could charge a small fee to cover the cost of administering this service.

Encouraging use of public transportation is a valuable policy for the city to pursue. It is better for the roads and traffic because it reduces car use.

It is better for local businesses because it increases the pool of potential customers. It is better for the environment because it reduces our carbon footprint. And it is better for residents because the Shuttle-UM’s Route 113 has a different route and schedule than The Bus or any of the WMATA routes. (For specifics, look up www.transportation. umd.edu and click on Shuttle-UM.) In January, the Hyattsville City Council discussed pursuing an agreement with Shuttle-UM based on a motion submitted by Councilmember Tim Hunt (Ward 3). It

for libraries to provide free access to computers, Internet connections and research databases.

But the same number said that offering books for the public to borrow is just as important.

Moreover, only 23% of younger users “strongly supported” moving books out of public areas to make room for technology centers and meeting rooms.

At the public meeting, one theme that kept coming up (besides the saucer; see cover story) was the importance of keeping the focus of the library on books — actual bound volumes, shelves of them, that can engage people in a way that screens don’t.

“A friend’s 10-year-old daughter says she comes to the library to find what she didn’t know she was looking for,” said one man.

Let’s hope that future generations of Hyattsville readers will be able to say that.

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SHUTTLE-UM ROUTE 113

never made it to the agenda for a vote. In June, Jim Chandler, Hyattsville’s director of community and economic development, wrote a memorandum for the mayor and council describing the College Park and Greenbelt agreements.

Since then, several people on the HOPE listserv have indicated a strong interest in using the 113 shuttle.

I am asking the Hyattsville City Council to once again consider making this valuable low-cost transportation asset available in our community.

Please put this motion on the council’s agenda this fall for a vote. We need to catch that bus.

April Downs has lived in Hyattsville for 22 years. She works in Washington D.C. as an attorney and has three children.

Hyattsville Life & Times | September 2013

Page 3

Local art shines in a former jewelry store

by Gretchen Brodtman

Many of us wonder what’s next for some of the recently vacated spaces in our community, anticipating what is being built behind the paper in the windows.

Shoppers looking through the windows of the former home of Fleisher’s Jewelers, 3108 Queens Chapel Road, on September 5, saw a display of a new kind of treasure: drawings instead of diamonds, paintings where there once were pearls.

This art exhibit, called the Jewel Box Pop Up Gallery, will be open weekends throughout the month, and features work from 18 artists in a variety of mediums. Several local groups (including Gateway and Hyattsville Community Development Corporations, the Art Lives Here initiative and Joe’s Movement Emporium) partnering with and supported by the Shops at Queens Chillum have created a gem of a September with this gallery, as well as performances and movement activities.

“The Shops at Queens Chillum is an anchor commercial center for the Mount Rainier, Adelphi and Hyattsville communities,” adds Carole Bernard, executive director of the Gateway Community Development Corporation.

Saturday,

ROSANNA LANDIS WEAVER GRETCHEN BRODTMAN Left: Artist Matt Carl with his mixed media collage, partially made with vintage postage stamps, at the gallery opening on September 5. Right: As part of Saturdayʼs family-friendly activities a yoga class was held in the gallery.

“It is our hope to bring placemaking initiatives to this area to not only support the major stores located there, but also to highlight the various talented artists who make the Gateway Arts District a unique destination.”

According to Hyattsville Community Development Corporation Executive Director Stuart Eisenberg, “vacancies (in retail spaces) generate uncertainty. We see a temporary occupancy by a tenant [replaced] with visually

11am – 5pm

70+ Artists + Live Entertainment | Jefferson St & Rt 1

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

appealing, vibrant displays, [and] it fills a void in a streetscape or untenanted retail and commercial spaces.”

Joan Weber of the Shops at Queens Chillum knows that the vacancies can be upsetting because the stores are “part of the life of the community.” Weber says she is thrilled to be support-

ing the initiative, which will feature Creative Saturdays family activities programmed by Joe’s Movement Emporium. These free activities include yoga, hula hoops, jump rope and a variety of musical performances. On September 20, there will be an evening video and animation performance of Bartok’s “Miraculous

Mandarin.”

All events are located in The Shops at Queens Chillum, at 3108 Queens Chapel Road. The gallery is open Thursdays and Fridays 7-9 p.m. and Saturdays 1-5 p.m. Creative Saturdays featuring family activities begin at 1:30 p.m. September 7, 14, 21 and 28.

Page 4

Hyattsville Life & Times | September 2013

Postcards from the Past

thinkingofyou!hope you'redoingwellthi ! nkingofyou! hopeyou'redoingwel lthi ! nkingofyou!hope you'redoing wellthi ! nkingofyou!hope you'redoingwellthi ! nkingof you!hopeyou'redoi ngwellthi ! nkingofyou!hope you're doingwell!thinking ofyou!hopeyou'r edoingwell! thinkingofyou!hope you'redoingwellthi ! nkingofyou!

hopeyou'redoingwel lthi ! nkingofyou!hope you'redoing wellthi ! nkingofyou!

hope well!thinkingofyou! you'redoing doingwell!thinkinghopeyou're you'redoingwell! ofyou!hope hopeyou'rexxxxxxxxthinkingofyou! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

! ngofyou ! ki doing lthin gwel 're edoin ! eyou ngof you'r gofyouhop ! ki lthin ! e hop n ! ki doingwel eyou're lthin ngofyou ! ll! thinki 'redoingwel eyou're ofyouhop ! ng ngwe hop you ! ! ki 'redoi hope kingofyou wellthin g eyou kingofyou ! ! edoin youhop wellthin g ! lthin you'r of ! e king 'redoingwel eyou'redoin youhop thin g ! you gofyouhop well! edoin ! e n doing ofyouhop ! ki lthin you'r u're ng thinki 'redoingwel u!hope peyo pe you gofyo u!ho u!ho hope

in ofyo yo you! ingof xxx th well! well!th well!thinkxxxxxxxxx doingedoingxxxxxxxxx you'r you'rexx hope

of ! nk ing wellthi ink inking

Masons build a legacy in Hyattsville

by Peggy Dee

In the 45 years I’ve lived in Hyattsville, I have always had a curiosity about the stately, red-brick building on the corner of 43rd Avenue and Gallatin Street. Thanks to neighbors Ruth and Cecil Ramsey and Larry Hinds, I had a very thorough tour of the structure over the summer and learned that it is an active Masonic Lodge.

As you may know, Freemasonry is fraternal organization that hundreds of years ago was tied to stonemasons, but now exists in many forms with an estimated worldwide membership of six million.

Here in Hyattsville, the Mt. Hermon Lodge No. 179 houses 146 active Masons as well as the Ruth Chapter No. 7 Order of the Eastern Star, a coed group with 155 members. The Lodge, which derives its name from Mount Hermon in Syria, was established in 1882. Early local members included some names that may be familiar, such as Calvert, Magruder and Ager.

Today, the Lodge continues to serve the community through philanthropy and the development of good men.

Its first meeting place was an old school in Bladensburg. A controversy arose on the amount of rent being paid and on

ruth and cecil ramsey The Mt. Hermon Lodge No. 179 has had a home at the corner of 43rd Avenue and Gallatin Street since 1896.

August 5, 1885, the Lodge decided to find quarters elsewhere. Hyatts Hall was selected and on January 6, 1886, the Lodge

held its first meeting in Hyattsville.

On June 16, 1891, the Lodge accepted a free offer of the lot where the present

temple now stands. The cornerstone of the new building was laid May 2, 1893.

The Lodge moved into the new temple on March 3, 1896.

In taking the tour, I was enthralled to see the main hall where meetings and ceremonies are held. Participants come from all over the state of Maryland. A glass case outside the main hall contains valuable items that relate to the history of Freemasonry. The gorgeous vestments that are worn by the members at these special occasions, indeed, tell a story.

Inside the hall are pieces of local history. Along the walls are theater-style folding chairs that originally belonged to the old Hyattsville movie theater on Route 1.

The building has ties to other landmarks in Hyattsville’s history as well.

In the 1940s, the First Baptist Church was across the street from the Lodge and used the building for some of their Sunday School classes. The front of the building, near the Gallatin Street entrance, was used as a holding or storage area by the Post Office for Hyattsville and Riverdale.

Freemasonry offers much to its members, and we are so fortunate to have them as our neighbors in Hyattsville. For more information or tours, please call 301.927.1790.

n m u t u A Tire & Service Sale!

INTEGRITY

SIGNATURE II

EXPLORER

Call for additional sizes

Call for additional sizes

205/65/15

185/65/14

$96

$94

Call for additional sizes

215/60/16

$99

$60 GET UP TO

$120

DOUBLE YOUR MAIL-IN REBATE UP TO

OR

by Mail-In Rebate when you purchase a set of four select Goodyear or Dunlop tires.

when you make the purchase on the Goodyear Credit Card

NO INTEREST IF PAID IN FULL WITHIN 12 MONTHS

on purchases of $500 or more made from September 1, 2013 to September 30, 2013. Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the purchase balance is not paid in full within 12 months or if you make a late payment.

Minimum payment required. Call store for details.

MANY OTHER BRANDS ALSO AVAILABLE

4919 Kenilworth Avenue, Hyattsville, MD 20781 Phone: 301-227-TIRE (8565) Fax: 301-864-1629 www.ddtires.com

SERVICE SPECIALS - GOOD THRU OCTOBER

$5 OFF

Standard oil change

$10 OFF

OR

Any premium oil change plus a October 31, 2013 FREE 4 tire rotation Expires Must present coupon.

$10 OFF

Computerized alignment

• Front caster, camber & toe set to manufacturer’s specifications, where applicable.

• Reference & compensation, or adjustment of thrust line, depending on alignment type.

Expires October 31, 2013. Must present coupon.

$179.95

Autumn Special Drain & fill cooling system Lube, oil, filter Check battery Inspect belts, hoses, filters Rotate tires Check brakes Set air pressure Expires October 31, 2013 Must present coupon.

$20 OFF

regular price of any factory-scheduled maintenance of $100 or more, or $10 off regular price of any factory-scheduled maintenance $50 - $99.99

Important preventative measures:

Air, cabin, fuel filters, belts & hoses, etc.

Expires October 31, 2013. Must present coupon.

FREE

installation with any battery purchase ($20 value) Expires October 31, 2013 Must present coupon.

Monday-Friday: 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM Saturday: 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM Closed Sunday See store for details on all special offers listed in this advertisement.

, BUY NOWR PAY LATE

Hyattsville Life & Times | September 2013

Page 5

NatureNearby

The music of the night

by Fred Seitz

On a warm summer or early fall night, stepping outside fills your ears with a symphony or cacophony of nature’s free “music in the park” or even “music in your own backyard.” Most of the concert is courtesy of male crickets and katydids calling for dates and mates. Some of these singers, especially field crickets, sound familiar since they take refuge in our houses as the weather cools.

Crickets and katydids are related to grasshoppers, also known as locusts. (This may come as a surprise to those who use “cicada” and “locust” interchangeably.) Locusts, as readers of Laura Ingalls Wilder may recall, are renowned agricultural pests.

Crickets and katydids have generally a more benign reputation and are often enjoyed for their nocturnal songs and in some cultures (notably Japan) kept in cricket cages as good-luck tokens. All three groups can produce sound by a process of stridulation, which entails rubbing

a leg or wing against a flattened “comb” that may be on their backs or elsewhere on their bodies. This action produces and in some cases amplifies the sound.

One rather unusual cricket, the mole cricket, has taken his sound-making to an extreme by digging a tunnel with his large forelegs. The tunnel and the cricket’s large size enable him to produce a very loud frog-like noise in the evenings. The jumping bush cricket’s single peep is common in Magruder Park and most backyards.

The Japanese burrowing cricket, who sounds like the field cricket playing at a much faster pace, is an invader who came to the United States in 1959 and has spread rapidly.

While perhaps the most famous cricket, the snowy tree cricket, does not live in our area, his fame for temperature prediction gave the calls of all crickets considerably more attention and led many people to use their calls as proxy thermometers. People would count the number of chirps in 15 seconds

and add 37 to get the temperature in Farenheit. While some people have tried this with other cricket chirps, it is far less reliable.

Among the katydids who add to the nightly concerts, the true katydid does the well-known “katy did, katy didn’t” call from high in the trees at night and is familiar to most of us. Backing up the true katydid are a number of relatives including the Greater and Lesser Anglewings. The anglewings offer a series of ticking sounds and lisp sounds, respectively. Several other katydid kin in our woods and yards make sounds like single or multiple “ticks.”

While perhaps not as melodi-

FRED SEITZ Guess who came to dinner? A Lesser Anglewing.

ous as some of our local birds and frogs, these local beasties provide food for both birds and frogs and add a bit of music to our late summer evenings. They are the focus of a local citizen science program, known as the Baltimore-Washington Cricket Crawl and the sounds of the tar-

get species are available at the website www.discoverlife.org/ cricket/DC/.

Whether or not the citizen science endeavor appeals to you, listening to the sounds on the website can help familiarize you with some of your backyard and park neighbors who serenade us.

HYATTSVILLE

FARMERS

MARKET

Fresh local produce — the best from Southern Maryland farms!

Tuesdays, 2 to 6 p.m.

10th Annual

Greenbelt Blues Festival

3505 Hamilton Street (the former BB&T Building, across from Bestway)

Saturday, September 14th Free admission!

Cookbook giveaway and exchange!

Blues Burger Specials!

We accept SNAP, WIC, & senior coupons

Lawn chairs welcome!

A Community-Sponsored Enterprise Sponsored by the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission

Outdoors in Roosevelt Center 1pm Lady Rose Blues Band 2pm Fast Eddie & the Slowpokes 3pm Capital Blues Ensemble 4pm Billy Thompson Band 5pm Oz R&B Review 6pm The Paulverizers 7pm tba Indoors at the New Deal Café 8pm Jennifer Cooper & Groovespan 9pm Anthony “Swamp Dog” Clark 10pm Unruly Blues Band (Scheduled performers subject to change)

113 Centerway Greenbelt, MD 301.474.5642 www.newdealcafe.com

Sponsored by Friends of New Deal Café Arts (FONDCA) & with support from the City of Greenbelt

Take the

Buy Local Challenge July 20-28 Pledge to eat at least one thing from a local farm every day during Buy Local Week!

Individuals, businesses and organizations can take the “Buy Local Challenge”, a voluntary pledge to include local products (produce, eggs, meat, fruit, wine, etc.) in your meals for one week.Visit the web site to find out more about the Challenge and download your personalized certificate when you pledge. Support farms for a healthier world. Learn more at www.buy-local-challenge.com

Page 6

Hyattsville Life & Times | September 2013

MissFloribunda Dear Miss Floribunda,

Dear Irritated Irrigator,

My roses haven’t had a good summer.

The frequent light rain has resulted in a lot of black spot but the water hasn’t penetrated to the roots of my rose bushes. You have written that you accept black spot as a non-lethal annoyance, but I really find it so unsightly as to be tempted to use a fungicide. You recommend deep watering too. I have used soaker hoses, which seem mostly to benefit the grass and weeds choking the bushes. And I expect my water bill to be enormous. Should I accept that too as inevitable?

First, there are organic solutions to black spot if you really can’t tolerate it. Longwood Gardens has been using a solution of baking soda and ultrafine horticultural oil as a preventative measure since 1993, and it keeps down powdery mildew as well. (The ratio is 1 tbsp. baking soda to 2 1/2 tbsp. oil.) Next year, start spraying your bushes with this solution every other week from April to late July, then weekly during August and September.

Now about deep watering and

Irritated Irrigator on Ingraham

your water bill. Several years ago my rose-gardening mentor Citizen Cane cut lengths of PVC pipe and pounded one or two of them into the ground next to each of my rose bushes.

They are about 2 inches in diameter and an average of 2 feet long.

Weekly in the summer, if we don’t get soaking rain, I fill the pipes with water that goes straight to the roots of the roses without waste of any kind. Rain water is far better for roses than chlorinated city water, so I try to collect and use as much of it as possible.

Helping Sell Hyattsville

And our Neighboring Community

Ann Barrett, Realtor®

UNDER CONTRACT 5719 39th Avenue, Hyattsville. $355,000. Classic Brick Colonial with 3BRs 1 1/2 baths. Pristine condition with oak floors and exposed wood trim throughout! Walk-up attic and finished basement.

Garage too!

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. FOR SALE 4228 Oglethorpe Street, Hyattsville. $299,000. Charming Bungalow with 4 BRs 1 1/2 baths. Fenced yard and driveway. Love the tin ceiling in the kitchen and the pantry!

9094 Baltimore Avenue, College Park, MD 20740

cell: 240-938-6060 office: 301-441-9511 ext. 261

email: annbarrett@ longandfoster.com web: ANNBARRETT.LNF.COM

UNDER CONTRACT 4213 Jefferson Street, Hyattsville - $360,000 Gorgeous 2 1/2 story Bungalow with 3BRs 1 1/2 baths. Cherry cabinets, granite counters and stainless steel appliances. Beautiful wood floors & a fenced yard!

SOLD 4518 Tuckerman St, Riverdale Park $330,000 - Charming Bungalow with 3 BRs/ 2 Baths. Detached garage with a loft too!

Hyattsville is currently enjoying a strong sellers market Please call me if you are thinking of making a move!

Tai Chi Classes First 2 classes FREE

Tues., Wed., Thurs. classes University Park Church of the Brethren 4413 Tuckerman Street University Park, MD 20784 (near University of MD, College Park)

Class Size is Limited so Enroll Today!

www.DancingInSilence.com

Call 301-466-5894

Honored As Top Producing Agent, Long & Foster College Park 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012!

Here’s where you are in luck.

You may have noticed in your yearly county tax bill a notification about rebates for a number of ecologically beneficial measures: rain gardens, green roofs, and the like. You also get a rebate for rain barrels, which cost as little as $15 if you use throwaway syrup barrels from a local soft-drink bottling plant or as much as $200 if you want something especially elegant.

To qualify for a rebate, you must have at least two barrels that hold 55 gallons each. I don’t know how many rose bushes you have, but you probably need at least two rain barrels anyway. For specifics go to Prince George’s County’s stormwater management webpage and click the rebates tab.

Right now I am waiting to see if Citizen Cane is successful with a new experiment of his. He is mixing quantities of those gel water beads used in hydroponics into the soil around his roses to see if

they will help with water retention. I’ll get back to you on that when I find out if he has success and after I try it myself.

However, I do offer one last tip that is tried and true: When the weather is fiendishly hot, don’t permit your hybrid tea roses to bloom. I de-bud mine during the dog days so that more energy will go into healthy foliage and a stronger root system. Shrub roses and annuals like zinnias and petunias can provide color for a while and scented herbs, especially rose geraniums, can delightfully perfume your garden.

The next meeting of the Hyattsville Horticultural Society is Saturday, October 19, from 10 a.m. to noon. There will be a plant exchange at the home of Joe Buriel and Dave Roeder, at 3909 Longfellow Street. Bring plants that have overspread their boundaries and swap them for other plants new to your garden.

International Travel Vaccines 6525 Belcrest Road Suite #203 Hyattsville, Maryland 20782 (301) 403-8808

Yellow fever, Typhoid, Cholera, Hepatitis A, Malaria, Polio, etc.

Hyattsville Life & Times | September 2013

Page 7

COMMUNITY CALENDAR September 10 to October 29

The Metropolitan Seventh-Day Adventist Church sponsors an eight-week course in ESL and Adult Literacy. $20 for the series. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7 to 9 p.m. at the church, 6307 Riggs Road.

Register at www.metrosda.org or call 240.528.8040.

September 14 The Friends of the Hyattsville Branch holds its annual Used Book Sale Extravaganza, with books priced to sell. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 6530 Adelphi Road. Donations welcome; call 301.312.9170.

At the Sixth Annual Downtown Hyattsville Arts Festival, sample offerings from local restaurants, browse the work of local 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.

Free. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 301.683.8267 or www.hyattsvillearts.com.

The 10th Annual Greenbelt Blues Festival hosts 10 area bands in a 10hour music marathon. The Lady Rose Blues Band kicks things off at 1 p.m. with an outdoor concert in Roosevelt

Center, followed by six more groups performing on the hour. Then at 8 p.m., the music moves inside to the New Deal Cafe, 113 Centerway, finishing with a 10 p.m. show by the Unruly Blues Band.

Free. Contact vengbjohn@verizon.net or 301.474.5642.

This evening is the opening reception for the Brentwood Arts Exchange’s exhibit Layer by Layer: Storytelling with Saris, featuring saris made by women in a remote Bangladeshi village after a series of natural disasters. Free. Reception, 5 to 8 p.m.; exhibition, through October 19 during regular operating hours of 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturdays. 3901 Rhode Island Avenue, Brentwood. 301.277.2863.

September 20 The city-sponsored Friday night Sunset Movie Series at Heurich Park continues with the 2010 Jackie Chan-Jaden Smith remake of The Karate Kid. Prefer original versions? On October 4, the series concludes with the 1971 movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, starring Gene Wilder in the title role. Movies are free and start at 7 p.m. in Heurich Park, at the intersection of Nicholson Street and Ager Road. Bring your own blanket or lawn chair. 301.985.5000.

September 21 Just how healthy are you? Find out at the Fourth Annual Hyattsville Community Multicultural Health and Wellness Fair, where there will be screenings for hypertension, high cholesterol, body mass index and more, as well as free flu shots and information on a variety of other ailments. Free. 10 a.m .to 4 p.m. First United Methodist Church, 6201 Belcrest Road. www.fumchy.org or 301.927.6133.

The neighboring towns of Bladensburg, Colmar Manor, Edmonston and Cottage City come together for the 17th Annual Port Towns Day, a family-friendly festival with music, prizes, food, crafts and more. Free. Noon to 7 p.m. Bladensburg Waterfront Park, 4601 Annapolis Road, Bladensburg. 301.779.0371.

September 28 Today, the rest of the country gets a taste of what locals have loved for years: free admission to stellar museums. As part of Smithsonian Magazine’s Annual Museum Day, hundreds of cultural venues nationwide won’t charge an entry fee to visitors who present a special admission card. One card per household serves as a pass for two people; for details on how to get one, visit www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday, where you will also find the list of participating sites. Nearby

ones include the College Park Aviation Museum, the National Museum of Language and Riversdale House Museum, with dozens more in Baltimore and Washington.

Come in costume to Community Forklift’s Pirate Parrrty for a 20 percent discount throughout the warehouse of architecturalsalvage goodies. Children will have a treasure hunt of their own, as well pirate-themed games, contests and crafts. Live music and free workshops for do-it-yourselfers round out the day. Free. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 4671 Tanglewood Drive, Edmonston. 301.985.5180. www.communityforklift.org

October 4 to 6 During Hyattsville’s Community Yard Sale Weekend, in which the usual city permits and fees are waived, you can set up shop during any daylight hours this weekend. (Hint: peak traffic is on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.) To have your address included on a citywide map that weekend, contact 301.985.5000 or www. hyattsville.org/yardsale.

October 5 Did your children outgrow their jackets over the summer? You can restock at the CALENDAR continued on page 8

Announcing the

Save the date for: THE KARATE KID: Friday, September 20th at 7:00 PM WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY: Friday, October 4th at 7:00 PM All movies will be shown at Heurich Park, at the intersection of Nicholson Street and Ager Road. Free and open to the public.

BYOB - Bring Your Own Blanket (or chair)! www.hyattsville.org/sunset

Hyattsville Reporter Page HR1

Hyattsville Life & Times | September 2013

the

www.hyattsville.org • 301-985-5000

Hyattsville Life & Times | September 2013

No. 272 • September 11, 2013

Senior Services Fall Planner Fall yard sale weekend: October 4 to 6 The Department of Community Services is planning a busy Fall season for Hyattsville seniors, featuring exercise, education, and just plain fun! Mark your calendar now for:

Ageless Grace Senior Exercise Class Fall Semester beginning now!

The fall semester of our Ageless Grace Senior Exercise class begins Friday, September 6. It runs through Friday, November 22. This low-impact, seated exercise class is offered at 10:00 AM on Fridays at the Magruder Park Recreation Center, 3911 Hamilton Street. $2 per class. Ageless Grace is a proven technique to develop both body and mind, with an emphasis on healthy longevity. Learn more here: www.agelessgrace.com.

Welcoming Grandmothers Against Poverty and AIDS

On Wednesday, September 25, the City will host a meet and greet with the Grandmothers Against Poverty and AIDS, a South African organization compromised of grandmothers responding to the AIDS epidemic in their country. The group

Calling all bargain hunters! Our annual Citywide Yard Sale is now an entire weekend. The 3-day event begins Friday, October 4, continues on Saturday, October 5 and concludes on Sunday, October 6.

Sellers can participate for as much time as they like - one day, two days, or all three! Operate your sale during daylight hours. Peak traffic is usually Saturday morning between 9 AM and noon.

There is no charge to participate. Registration is voluntary. Residents who register will have their addresses published to the City’s website and listed on craigslist.org under the Yard Sale section.

To register, email India at ikea@hyattsville.org or call 301/985-5000.

Our Spring 2014 Yard Sale weekend will take place May 4 through 6, 2014. Registration will open in late March.

has come together to facilitate the resources needed for grandparents who find themselves becoming the sole providers for their grandchildren. Please join us as we celebrate this group and learn from their experiences as caregivers and seniors facing a variety of challenges of an epidemic in their country.

The event takes place from 11:30 AM to 1 PM on Wednesday, September 25th at the City Municipal Building, First Floor Multi-Purpose Room.

Announcing the Senior Swing!

Grab your dancing shoes & join in the fun for an evening of live music by the Atomic Swing Club. $5 per person includes admission plus light refreshments. The event takes place on Saturday, October 19 from 5 to 7 PM in the City Municipal Building’s First Floor Multi-Purpose Room.

For more information or to register for any of these events, please contact Senior Services Coordinator Emily Stowers at 301/985-5058 or estowers@hyattsville.org. Emily is also available to help seniors and their families with information and referral to a wide variety of resources.

Final Outback Steakhouse 2013 Summer Jam — September 30 The Outback Steakhouse Summer Jam series comes to a close on Friday, September 13th with the musical stylings of Just-Us, plus the Police Department Open House. The event starts at 6:30 PM and lasts through 8:30 PM. Special thanks goes to Gregory Kithcart of Outback Steakhouse Hyattsville, located at 3500 East West Highway at the Mall at Prince George’s Plaza, for once again serving as our signature sponsor.

The Outback Steakhouse Summer Jam Series has become a favorite Friday night event throughout the summer months. This event includes delicious food (burgers, chicken and hot dogs) provided and prepared by Outback Steakhouse of Hyattsville, a beer and wine garden, musical entertainment, the ever popular moon bounce along with Mandy the Clown and her very talented face painter. Our thanks to McDonald Auto Body Towing Division for their sponsorship of Mandy’s performance!

Join us at the City Municipal Building at 4310 Gallatin Street, rain or shine!

We’re outside on Gallatin Street if the sun is shining. In the event of inclement weather, the Jam moves inside.

Attendance is free and open to everyone. There is a charge for food and beverages.

Find out more at www.hyattsville.org/summerjam or call Cheri Everhart, the City’s recreation events coordinator, at 301/985-5021.

Page HR2

CALENDAR SEPTEMBER 2013 Wednesday, September 11

Environmental Committee Meeting, 7:30 PM

Friday, September 13

Outback Steakhouse Summer Jam Summer Jam featuring Just-Us & Police Department Open House, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

September 15 - October 15 Hispanic Heritage Month

Monday, September 16 City Council Meeting, 8 PM

Tuesday, September 17 Planning Committee, 7:30 PM

Friday, September 20 Sunset Movie Series, 7 PM Heurich Park

Monday, September 23 Council Meeting, 8 PM

Wednesday, September 25

A.G.E.S. Senior Workshop, 11:30 AM to 1 PM Welcoming Grandmothers Against Poverty and AIDS Unless otherwise noted, all events take place at the City Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin Street.

IN OTHER NEWS...

PARENT & CHILD PROGRAM RETURNS SEPTEMBER 10

The City’s best play date is back at Magruder Park beginning Tuesday, September 10. The Parent & Child Program allows parents and other caregivers to bring preschoolers to the Magruder Park Recreation Center, 3911 Hamilton Street, for playtime and crafts. The program features both free play and structured activities. Children must be accompanied by an adult. The program meets Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays during the school year, from 9 AM to 12 noon. For Fall 2013, we’ve rolled back our tuition to just $50/ semester. For more information, visit www.hyattsville.org/pcprogram or call 301/985-5000.

PARENT & CHILD PROGRAM WELCOMES THE PEE WEE PIRATE SHOW

On Thursday, September 19th at 10 AM, the Parent & Child Program welcomes the Pee Wee Pirate Show for a special performance!

Meet the astonishing woman who commanded an entire fleet of ships and faced down Queen Elizabeth I of England! Wake up and join Captain Grace O’Malley as she teaches about sailing on a ship.

This adventure encourages the audience to learn words from across the world, small bits of information from many cultures -- details that only a ‘pirate queen’ (woman sailing adventurer and explorer) can bring to little ‘sailors’.

No fee for registered participants; $5 for children not registered for the Parent & Child Program. The Parent & Child Program meets at the Magruder Park Recreation Center, 3911 Hamilton Street.

HYATTSVILLE WELCOMES THE COMPASSION CENTER

The new Lutheran Mission Society Hyattsville Compassion Center, located at 3799 East-West Highway, will celebrate its Grand Opening on Saturday, September 14, from 10 AM until 2 PM. Everyone is welcome.

The Hyattsville Compassion Center – a partnership ministry of Trinity Lutheran Church (Mount Rainier) and Redeemer Lutheran Church (Hyattsville) in conjunction with the Lutheran Mission Society – is open Thursdays 12 PM – 7 PM, Fridays 10 AM – 4 PM and Saturdays 10 AM – 2 PM. The center will provide outreach to surrounding communities by assisting folks in need with food, clothing

and spiritual care (Saturdays at 10 AM) and providing a thrift shop for bargains for the larger community.

The Grand Opening Celebration will feature half-off specials on most items, refreshments, giveaways and a ribbon-cutting. A brief chapel service will also be provided for those interested at 11:00 AM. (Please note: Folks needing assistance with food and/or clothing will be assisted as on other Saturdays. Clients must sign up by 10 AM. Limited numbers can be helped each week – first come, first served.)

For more information and directions go to www.lutheranmissionsociety.org or call 410/636-0123.

SEE YOU AT THE DOWNTOWN HYATTSVILLE ARTS FESTIVAL

The Downtown Hyattsville Arts Festival takes place on Saturday, September 14 from 11 AM to 5 PM at the intersection of Jefferson Street and Baltimore Avenue. For a full list of performers and details about the event, please visit www.hyattsvillearts.com. Visiting the Festival? Please stop by the City’s booth!

THE SUNSET MOVIE SERIES CONTINUES AT HEURICH PARK

The City will show family-friendly flicks at Heurich Park on two upcoming Friday nights. On Friday, September 20, we’ll screen The Karate Kid starring Jaden Smith at 7:00 PM. On Friday, October 4, it is Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory at 7:00 PM. Movies are free and open to the public. Bring your own blanket or lawn chair.

For more information, call 301/985-5021 or visit www.hyattsville. org/sunset.

FOURTH ANNUAL HYATTSVILLE COMMUNITY MULTICULTURAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS FAIR

The First United Methodist Church of Hyattsville will host their fourth annual Multicultural Health and Wellness Fair on Saturday, September 21 from 10 AM to 4 PM. The event will take place on the church’s campus, 6201 Belcrest Road. There is no charge to attend.

More than 40 providers will be on hand to help residents make better health choices. This year’s fair will emphasize the role of technology.

Questions? Call 301/927-6133 or email Dorrett Carroll, carroll-

dm09@comcast.net or Dr. Mary Carter-Williams carterwilli@theisgrp.com. The church’s website is www.fumchy.org.

curbside no later than 9:00 AM. City crews will make one sweep of the City.

INTERNATIONAL WALK TO SCHOOL DAY

VETERANS DAY TRASH COLLECTION CHANGES

Elementary school students at Rosa Parks and Hyattsville Elementary Schools can take part in International Walk to School Day with the Department of Community Services on Wednesday, October 9, 2013.

Hyattsville Elementary School students, gather at Magruder Park at 7:00 AM before departing for 43rd Avenue at 7:20 AM. Rosa Parks Elementary School students, gather at Heurich Field at 7:00 AM. before departing for Ager Road at 7:15 AM. Students and parents from both schools are invited to participate.

Balloons and give-aways for everyone!

HYATTSVILLE CYCLOCROSS

Hyattsville Cyclocross races into Magruder Park on Sunday, October 6. Races are scheduled to start at 8:15 AM, and the fun continues until the final lap around 4 PM. Proceeds benefit Special Olympics of Prince George’s County. Registration is open now at www.bikereg.com/net/2013hcx.

Kids 9 and under can try racing in the Lil’ Belgians events at 10:00 AM and 12:00 noon. There’s no charge for children to register, but space is limited.

To stay up to date on race news, follow hyattsvillecx.blogspot.com.

ELECTRONICS RECYCLING DATE

The City’s next Electronics Recycling event will take place on Saturday, October 5 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon at the Public Works Yard, 4633 Arundel Place. City residents may bring up to eight items, such as computers and components, televisions, VCRs and DVD players, printers, cell phones, etc. There is no charge for the program, but we may request proof of residency. Questions? Please call 301/985-5032.

MARY PRANGLEY CLEAN-UP DAY

Residents served the by the Department of Public Works’ solid waste division will receive a special trash pick-up on Saturday, October 12. The collection is designed for bulky trash, but we will accept regular household trash, too. Please have all items

There will be no Yard Waste collection the week of Monday, November 11th due to the Veterans Day holiday. The next Yard Waste collection takes place on Monday, November 18th. Questions? Call the Department of Public Works at 301/985-5032.

COUNCIL RETURNS FROM RECESS & HCTV NEWS

The City Council returns from summer recess on Monday, September 16 at 8:00 PM. The community is always welcome to attend in person, at 4310 Gallatin Street. City residents can also watch the meetings from home on Comcast (Channel 71) or Verizon (Channel 12), either live or on rebroadcast.

The City’s cable station rebroadcasts the most recent City Council Meetings 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; and Saturdays and Sundays at 12 NOON. We will broadcast the most recent Council Meeting.

Meetings can also be streamed live at www.hyattsville.org/meetings.

Questions? Comments? Please talk to Jonathan Alexander, the City’s cable coordinator, at jalexander@hyattsville.org or 301/9855028.

HYATTSVILLE HEROES BOWL TAKES PLACE NOVEMBER 9TH

The third annual Hyattsville Heroes Bowl will take place on Saturday, November 9 at 3 PM at Magruder Park, 3911 Hamilton Street.

A flag football game will be played between the Hyattsville Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #119 (The Finest) versus the Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department (The Bravest) to benefit The Sonny Frazier Toy Drive. Bring a new, unwrapped toy or cash donation for admission to this family-friendly, fun event!

All proceeds benefit children in our community who would not otherwise receive gifts at the holidays. For information on the game, please contact aa@hvfd.com or hyattsvillefop@gmail.com. Questions about The Sonny Frazier Toy Drive? Please contact Ruth Ann Frazier at 301/779-5428.

Page 8

Hyattsville Life & Times | September 2013

CALENDAR

continued from page 7

University Park Children’s Clothing Co-op 36th Annual Fall and Winter Sale, featuring gen-

tly 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, Uni-

versity Park. www.universityparkchildrensclothing.com

October 6 The daylong Hyattsville Cyclo-

Alexander Community Dance Group

Hyattsville’s Non-Profit Center for the Performing Arts

ONGOING

Registering NOW for Fall classes!

REHEARSAL SPACE AVAILABLE!

Hip-Hop, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern Zumba, Universal Exercise, Theater Ages 3 to seniors. Referral and family discounts!

Call, e-mail or just visit our studio!

4318 Hamilton Street, Hyattsville, MD 20781 (240) 770-8114 or (240) 475-8637 • sylviaalx1@aol.com Food For dogS, catS & Small animalS • Eco-FriEndly SuppliES and SupplEmEntS

No More Stinky!

Arts DistriCt HYAttsville

Mon-Fri 11-9 • Sat 10-9 & Sun 10-6 5501 Baltimore Ave., Hyattsville, MD 20781

Good through 9/30/13

301-403-8957 OlD tAkOmA

Scan for our other in-store specials

www.theBigBadWoof.com

On Tuesdays through October 29, the Hyattsville Farmer’s Market sets up shop in the parking lot of 3505 Hamilton Street, adjacent to Bestway and across from the Hyattsville Community Garden. Free. Tuesdays, 2 to 6 p.m. 301.985.5000 or 301.627.0977.

At the producers-only Riverdale Park Farmer’s Market, fruits and vegetables are only the beginning.

Shoppers may find baked goods, wine, soap, herbs and more. Free.

Thursdays, 3 to 7 p.m. Riverdale Park, 301.332.6258.

The Health Ministry of St. Mark the Evangelist Church offers a yoga class on Friday mornings. All ages welcome; class is gentle enough for active seniors. $6 per class. 9 a.m.

7501 Adelphi Road. Contact Sharon Klees at 301.422.7026.

save on swheat scoop!

Eliminate litter box odors with Swheat Scoop. $2 Off small bags, $4 Off medium and large bags.

cross starts at 8:15 in Magruder Park, with a series of races in all age groups. The cyclocross is a test of both aerobic and bike handling skills, with a course featuring multiple terrains, including pavement, wooded trails, hills and obstacles that require the rider to quickly dismount and carry the bike. Prepare to get muddy! Ages 9 and under can register for free; the rest pay $10 to $27. Register by October 3 at www. bikereg.com/net/2013hcx.

For more information, call 202.713.5424 or 202.487.1271.

M-F 10-8 • Sat–Sun 10-6 117 Carroll St. NW, DC

202-291-2404

Own Your Own Big Bad Woof!

Call 202-747-3434

AMERICAN MEGA LAUNDROMAT

3 , 1,2 EASY AS

or

and Fold! h s a W e W — f 1. Drop it Of ery to your v li e D d n a p U 2. Free Pick e home or offic self 3. Do it Your

301-559-0707 • MegaLaundromat.com

• Same Day Service • Ample Parking • Across from West Hyattsville Metro Station

Open 7 days a week, 6 a.m. 11:30 p.m.

Weekly & Monthly Laundry Service Plans Available!

The Prince George’s County Audubon society and the Patuxent Bird Club team up to host an early evening guided bird walk along the Luther Goldman Birding Trail at Lake Artemesia. Walks are held every first and third Thursday at 6 p.m. and start at the lake parking lot at Berwyn Road and Ballew Avenue. Free. 301.459.3375 or mozurk@bellatlantic.net.

Through October, Anacostia River Boat Tours are held Tuesdays through Fridays from noon to 12:45. All ages are welcome to join a park naturalist on a pontoon boat to search for birds and other wildlife. Evening rides will be held on Saturdays and Sundays starting at 5 p.m. Free; registration required for groups of 12 or more. Bladensburg Waterfront Park, 4601 Annapolis Road, Bladensburg. 301.779.0371.

Rise + Rhyme kicks off the week for the 5-and-under set with storytelling, performances and more.

Suggested donation, $5. Monday mornings from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Zinn Room, Busboys & Poets, 5331 Baltimore Avenue. 301.779.2787.

Community Calendar is 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 for consideration, please e-mail susie@hyattsvillelife.com or mail to P.O. Box 132, Hyattsville, MD 20781. Deadline for October submissions is September 23.

HomoConstruction, Habilis LLC* REMODELING

2 million years of experience wrapped up in one small company!

Kitchens, Baths, Basements, Additions, Handyman, Repairs…

Peter J. O’Day

3811 Nicholson Street Hyattsville, MD 20782

240-441-2792 oday.homohabilis @gmail.com

*Ho-mo hab-i-lis, n.

(Handy Man, Skillful-Man) A species of humans considered to be an ancestor of modern humans and the earliest hominid to make tools. This species existed between 1.5 and 2.0 million years ago.

Lawson’s Pharmacy PICK-UP & DELIVERY OF PRESCRIPTIONS Ostomy Supplies, Sr. Citizen’s Discounts Convalescent Aids Sales & Rentals Richard Sabatelli, R. Ph.

301-864-4043

3415 Hamilton St., Hyattsville, MD 20782

Hyattsville Life & Times | September 2013

Page 9

Landscape company turns yard waste into topsoil

by Jack Bolesta and Susie Currie

LAYER BY LAYER: Storytelling with Saris

Topsoil and mulch are the bread and butter of a landscaping business. Denchfield Landscaping & Nursery has found a new source for both of these essential ingredients in the yard debris and fill dirt from its own job sites.

Kurt Denchfield started his landscaping business in 1990, as a Bethesda high-school student. When he decided to add a nursery to the operation, he needed more space. He found it on Ager Road in Hyattsville, where the full-service company opened in 2004. It’s grown to have 13 work crews, staffed mostly by local residents.

While there are other landscaping companies in the area, Denchfield’s is the only one that creates its own topsoil. Kurt estimates that the company takes in “thousand of yards” of landscaping waste – the excavated twigs, rocks, dirt and plant material left at the end of a job – each year at its 3.5-acre site. On a daily basis, waste is taken in from Denchfield’s own landscaping operations and other contractors, who can dump a truck full of yard debris one day and come back the next day to purchase the recycled product.

“The benefits are huge,” Kurt said. “All of our fill dirt that we would have to pay to truck out [to a landfill] we are now able to turn into topsoil and mulch. Then we can send it back out to our job sites or have it available at our garden center.”

In 2011, when looking for an affordable way to reuse the excess material, Kurt asked his son Taylor to find an answer. After extensive research, Taylor settled on a topsoil screener, which worked so well the company later added a mulch grinder.

The screener sifts fill dirt and organic waste to filter out rocks and other detritus, then turns it into topsoil to be used at the company’s own landscaping operation and other local contractors. The mulch

Opening Reception Sat, Sep 14, 5-8pm Artivism: Can Art Effect Social Change? Thu, Sep 26, 6:30pm A discussion about art and social practice, moderated by Helen Frederick

All Wrapped Up Sat, Oct 12, 3-5:30 pm

Featuring sari and lungi wrapping for women, men, and children, Bengali writing, and reception with food from Bangladesh

3901 Rhode Island Ave. Brentwood, MD (301) 277-2863 arts.pgparks.com

jack bolesta The mulch grinder at Denchfield’s Landscaping and Nursery recycles yard waste into mulch that can be used for other jobs.

grinder recycles tree debris from the same sources into mulch. The machines run year-round.

“It’s great taking trash and debris from yards and other local contractors that we can reuse in everyday work,” says Kurt. Investing in the machines has saved the company “from $100,000 to $200,000 a year,” he told Lawn & Landscape magazine recently.

But the benefits of recycling organic waste stretch beyond saving dollars. By recycling on site and using reclaimed materials, the business leaves a much smaller carbon footprint. There are fewer diesel trucks on the road hauling around debris to landfills, and since the majority of the recycled material is sold by the cubic yard, going directly into a truck bed, it greatly reduces the amount of plastic bags used yearly.

Jack Bolesta, a senior at the University of Maryland, is assistant manager at Denchfield’s.

OLD DOMINION B

REWHOUSE

15% OFF

Entire Dinner Check (Min. $20)

Entire Dinner Check (Min. $15)

Coupon valid only at Tokyo Sushi and China Buffet. Coupon may not be combined with any other offer. Expires 9/30/2013

Recipient of Checkbook Magazine’s “Check of Quality”

REMOVAL • PRUNING TRIMMING

Free Estimates!

301-595-2827 On-Line Coupons

www.adirondacktreeexperts.com FULLY LICENSED AND INSURED Senior Citizen Discounts • Visa and Mastercard Accepted

Daily Happy Hour Specials Mon. - Sat. 4-7 pm Appetizers as low as $2.00 Come enjoy all the games on our 25 HDTVs!

301-887-1818

all you can eat

china buffet

Valid only at Old Dominion Brewhouse. Discount does not apply to daily specials or happy hour. Coupon may not be combined with any other offer. Expires 9/30/2013

15% OFF

Proudly serving the Citizens of Hyattsville since 1996

& RESTAURANT

Karaoke every Wednesday night!

University Town Center • Next to PG Plaza 6504 America Blvd. #105 Hyattsville, MD

AdirondAck Tree experTs

Shrimp • Snow Crab Legs • Sushi Salmon • Mussels • Fish • Salad Fruit Salad • Seafood • Soup • General Tso’s Chicken • Seafood Delight • Ice Cream • Cake • And MUCH MORE!

University Town Center, across from Royal 14 Theaters 6504 America Blvd. #105 Hyattsville, MD 301-887-1991

FOOD DRIVE

Saturday, September 28 Swing by the Hyattsville food drive to benefit “Help-by-Phone” food pantries sponsored by Redeemer Lutheran Church at the corner of East-West Highway and Queens Chapel Road.

Donations of canned, boxed and sealed nonperishable foods may be dropped off at either the front entrance (off East-West Highway) or the back entrance (off Queens Chapel Road).

Volunteers will be receiving donations from 9:00 a.m. until noon.

Contact 301-277-2302 or email office@redeemer-lutheran.us with any questions.

Page 10

Hyattsville Life & Times | September 2013

Hugh’sNews

Letter from a college president

by Hugh Turley

In 1956, Rev. James P. Shannon became the president of Saint Thomas Military Academy and the College of St. Thomas, which at the time were all-male institutions that shared a campus in Minnesota. At the age of 35, he was the youngest college president in the United States.

As a graduate of both the high school and college (now a university), I can say that Shannon’s leadership helped shape the character of many young men. I visited him in 1999, to discuss what I perceived as a general lack of truth in our society. He gave me a collection of articles he had written for the college newspaper, The

Aquin. The following essay, reprinted with permission, is from 1962 but its message still rings true today — for all of us.

One mark of an educated man is his ability to differ without becoming angry, sarcastic or discourteous. Such a man recognizes that in contingent matters there will always be a place for legitimate difference of opinion.

He knows that he is not infallible; he respects the honesty and the intellectual integrity of other men, and presumes that all men are men of integrity until they are proved to be otherwise. He is prepared to listen to them when their superior wisdom has something of value to teach him. He is

PIANO LESSONS Children, Teenagers, Adults • Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Jeanne Olexy, BM, MM

3916 Madison Street, Hyattsville, MD 20781 E-mail: pianoteacher@verizon.net Phone: 301-277-9529

slow to anger and always confident that truth can defend itself and state its own case without specious arguments, emotional displays, or personal pressures.

This is not to say that he abandons his positions easily. If his be a disciplined mind, he does not lightly forsake the intellectual ground he has won at great cost. He yields only to evidence, proof, or demonstration. He expects his adversary to show conclusively the superior value of his opinions and he is not convinced by anything less than this. He is not intimidated by shouting. He is not impressed by verbosity. He is not overwhelmed by force or numbers.

His abiding respect for truth’s viability enables him to maintain composure and balance in the face of impressive odds. And his respect for the person and the intellect of his opponent dissuades him from using cheap tricks, caustic comments, or personal attacks against his adversaries, no matter how brilliant or forceful, unjust or unfair, they may be. Because of his large views of truth and of individual human responsibility, he is prepared to suffer apparent defeat in the mind of the masses on occasions when he knows his position is right. He is not shattered by this apparent triumph of darkness, because he realizes that the mass-mind is fickle at best.

He is neither angered nor shocked by new evidence of pub-

lic vulgarity or blindness. He is rather prepared to see in these expected human weaknesses compelling reason for more compassion, better rhetoric and stronger evidence on his part.

He seeks always to persuade and seldom to denounce.

The ability to defend one’s own position with spirit and conviction, to evaluate accurately the conflicting opinions of others, and to retain one’s confidence in the ultimate power of truth to carry its own weight are necessary talents in any society but especially so in our democratic culture.

To lack firm conviction is to be rootless. To lack respect for the differing position of others is to be haughty or ignorant or both. And

to lack conviction of the power of truth to state its own case is to be unworthy of intellectual combat.

Men who lack one or all of these talents reveal clearly in public and private discussion the limitations of their education and the extent of their personal insecurity.

There is some evidence that these virtues are in short supply in our day in our land. The venerable tradition of respectful argumentation, based on evidence, conducted with courtesy, and leading to greater exposition of truth is a precious part of our heritage in this land of freedom.

It is the duty of educated men to understand, appreciate and perpetuate this tradition.

Rev. James Shannon March 16, 1962 Reprinted with the permission of the University of St. Thomas.

Christian Science Church 8300 Adelphi Road, Hyattsville • 301-422-1822

Sunday church services — 10:30 a.m.

Sunday school (youth up to 20) — 10:30 a.m.

Wednesday evening testimony meetings — 7:30 p.m.

All are welcome • Free literature available

h&RANKLINS IS AWESOME v

n0UBCRAWLER COM

7JTJU )ZBUUTWJMMF T NPTU VOVTVBM SFTUBVSBOU BOE FOKPZ PVS PXO NJDSPCSFXT PO UBQ ĂąOF XJOF BOE HPPE GPPE

&RANKLINS

#BMUJNPSF "WF )ZBUUTWJMMF .%

Loving Care Pediatrics Janet V. Johnson, MD

6525 Belcrest Road Suite #203 Hyattsville, Maryland 20783 Tel: 301-403-8808 Fax: 301-403-1341

School Physicals • Immunizations • Sport Physicals • Minor Emergency Care • Ear Piercing • Urgent/Sick Child Visit • CPR/First Aid Class

M-F 9 - 6 p.m. • Evening & Saturday hours by appointment Same day appointment available *Most Insurance Accepted*

Hyattsville Life & Times | September 2013

Page 11

AuntieDiluviana

How to help Aging in Place by guest columnist Leigh Higgins

Auntie is taking a few days off to read Ulysses, but we’ve been reading her mail and found an able volunteer with Hyattsville Aging in Place (HAP) to answer this month’s letter.

Dear Auntie, I’ve wanted to help Hyattsville Aging in Place, the local nonprofit I’ve heard about that aims to help local seniors live in their own homes. But what with many demands on my time I only have an occasional couple of hours in the afternoon. I want to help but I don’t want to get overwhelmed.

Is it possible to do it “my way”?

Timeless Tallulah Dear TT, Absolutely. This is the beauty

of the HAP volunteer network.

Once you are in place as a volunteer, you will be able to accept any opportunities that work for you. There is no required time commitment; you simply give what you can.

HAP has been filling requests since February of this year.

Anybody who is over 60 and lives within the Hyattsville city boundaries is eligible for help from the HAP volunteers. In July, the busiest month yet, volunteers gave neighbors 17 rides (mostly to weekday doctor’s appointments). But HAP provides other services too. Recently, volunteers took several neighbors to an evening concert at Riversdale Mansion.

HAP needs more volunteers, especially those who are able to drive weekdays. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, you can contact HAP by calling 301.887.3101 or sending an

email to hapcares@gmail.com. A member of the Volunteer Steering Committee will be in touch about how to complete a background check and training session.

You tell HAP the kinds of services you are able to offer and times of the week you are available. Then, as service requests come in from neighbors, you will receive an email with the time and date of the service request. If it works for you, simply say yes! If not, just be patient and someday your chance will come.

My experience as a volunteer with HAP has been overwhelmingly positive. The people who founded HAP have put in an enormous effort behind the scenes and have created a very efficient yet adaptable framework.

They have always been open to new ideas, appreciative of help and willing to step up quickly

Parent & Child Program Sept. 10 through Dec. 19 Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays 9 AM to 12 PM

Tuition: Just $50/semester! Curious about the program? Your first visit is always free.

The Parent & Child Program meets at the Magruder Park Recreation Center, 3911 Hamilton Street. The program features both free play and structured activities. Children must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver.

For more information: Contact Cheri Everhart, 301/985-5021 or ceverhart@hyattsville.org.

Or stop by the program anytime!

and support their volunteers. I have driven neighbors to medical appointments several times over the summer and have learned something new each time.

My young children have ridden along, which often makes for some lively conversation in the car. We all appreciate the opportunity to meet neighbors we might not otherwise encounter. As a relatively new Hyattsville transplant, I quickly found a supportive network of young families here. Volunteering with HAP has expanded our community to include older neighbors. Not only has it been a very satisfying volunteer experience, but I feel lucky to be meeting so many other caring members of this growing Hyattsville community.

I hope that you take this opportunity with HAP. Even if you only have a few hours to give, they will be hours well spent

for you and very much appreciated by a neighbor. The more neighbors who step up to help, the more we can help keep Hyattsville a supportive home for people of all ages.

Leigh Higgins is a HAP volunteer.

Eleanor Pernia Studio of Dance

est. 1962

Dance classes for all ages

Register For Summer Classes Now! Preschool Dance • Tap • Ballet • HipHop • Modern • Ballroom Small class sizes Ages 3 & up www.eleanorperniadance.com

301-937-4230

10434 Baltimore Ave • Beltsville, MD 20705

RECYCLE YOUR BROKEN OR UNWANTED ELECTRONICS! Saturday, October 5, 2013 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon DPW Yard, 4633 Arundel Place, Hyattsville The City will collect broken or unwanted electronics and ensure that they are safely handled and recycled appropriately.

We’ll accept computer monitors, laptops, CPUs, printers, keyboards and other computer accessories, VCRs and DVD players, copiers, cell phones, and televisions. A maximum of 8 items will be accepted per household and individuals should bring proof of City residency, such as a driver’s license or utility bill. www.hyattsville.org 301/985-5032

Page 12

Hyattsville Life & Times | September 2013

schoolS

continued from page 1

In other news ...

school was “putting too much money into maintenance. We wanted to put our money into staff and programs.”

When looking for a new school, she said, “Hyattsville was an attractive place for us for many reasons.” Among those reasons: a school population that is mostly from Prince George’s County; a location right across from a Metro station; and the potential for partnerships with nearby University of Maryland and Prince George’s County Community College.

The school was started more than 35 years ago by parents looking for educational options for their dyslexic children. Chelsea’s mission is to educate “bright and promising students” with various languagebased difficulties, who “were not able to succeed in the traditional system, but were able to be successful” in Chelsea’s system, with its small classrooms and particular focus. One sign of success: The school’s graduation rate has been near 100 percent, despite the challenges its students face.

Chelsea hopes to grow. There is space for up to 90 students in the property for which it has signed a 10-year lease.

“Ultimately we hope to make a permanent home in Prince George’s County,” said Fedalen.

The most significant changes at Hyattsville Middle School this year resulted from decisions made at the county level. The school, which had been underutilized, added 113 6th graders, primarily students who would otherwise have attended Hyattsville Elementary. Also, as part of a countywide change, sports will return to the middle school. Baseball and softball in the fall will be followed by basketball and cheerleading in the winter and soccer in the spring. According to athletic director Joshua Uncapher, approximately 100 students had signed up by the third week of school.

College Park Academy

New beginnings can be especially challenging when new technology is involved. The College Park Academy, a blended learning school that includes an emphasis on online learning, had some challenges its first week. The public charter school, with 300 students divided between 6th and 7th grade, depends on the Prince George’s County Public School system for its internet access. There were some glitches in the early days.

Executive Director Marcy Cathey notes that “for a traditional

As the 6th grade has moved on to Hyattsville Middle, pre-K has returned to Hyattsville Elementary School. HES is now offering child care before and after school to accommodate parents’ work schedules. PTA President Bart Lawrence reports that more than 40 families registered, immediately filling the program. In addition, the PTA has expanded after-school enrichment programs, building on the success of the ArtWorks program which will be offered again this year. New additions will include a Mad Science, introducing hands on science and laboratory work, and Creative Kids, a literature-based drama program.

chris currie During a back-to-school open house on August 22, Nick Kruckenberg watches his son, Leo, interact with materials at the St. Jerome Academy Montessori Atrium, as catechist Ellen Jasinski looks on.

school it [bandwidth] would have been fine,” but not for one with 350 devices on the network.

The initial difficulties were quickly resolved. In the meantime, “The teachers stepped up and adapted,” says Cathey, “as teachers always do.” She adds that “we have a lot of smart people working together to solve problems.”

Parent Abdul Quamar notes, “I expected some issues because it’s a new school,” and feels like the school is on track. There are 52 Hyattsville residents at the school,

NEWMAN & McINTOSH, LLC 1331 H Street, NW, #902 Washington, DC 20005 newmanmcintosh.com Email Inquiries: pwilliams@newmanmcintosh.com

CALL NOW: (202) 638-1331

making up about 17 percent of the student body, and Quamar’s son Adil is among them.

“He can actually work at his own pace.” said Quamar. “That’s why he likes it.”

Each week students receive assignments, and can plan how to address work and move ahead when they understand a topic.

“The benefit of the blended-earning environment,” says Cathey, “is that it includes individualized instruction and teachers facilitating student learning.”

• Auto accidents • Medical negligance • Wrongful death • Missed, incorrect, or delayed diagnoses • Birth injuries • Criminal law

Free consultation No recovery, no fee

Executive director Cathey has previously worked at Holy Trinity Episcopal, and the Madeira School, but says she was impressed with the amount of volunteering parents did over the summer to prepare for the school opening , “I have some of the greatest parents here I’ve ever had.”

The program is expected to add a grade each year, and a partnership with University of Maryland means that the students have the potential to graduate high school with 25 college course credits from the University of Maryland.

While currently located on Adelphi Road in Hyattsville, it also seeks a permanent home.

NEW PROGRAMS Montessori Preschool at St. Jerome Academy

For the younger set, St. Jerome Academy launched a preschool Montessori program with a toddler room and two primary classrooms, which are fully enrolled with more than 50 students.

Elizabeth Roberts, a parent with children in the program, credits the hard work and planning done over the past two years by “committed parents and a motivated parish.”

She notes that St. Jerome Academy went through a transition a few years ago to become a Classical school, but wanted to offer something for younger children as well. “Montessori was the best foundation we could find for the Classical academy,” notes Roberts, because of its focus on encouraging children on a self-driven search for answers, as well as a training on attention to detail.

The toddler class, open to children at 18 months, is for two hours a day twice a week; the primary room begins for children between 30 to 36 months and operates daily, either in a half-day or a full-day program. The school also offers an aftercare program. As is traditional

for a Montessori school, children do hand-on works from washing dishes and scrubbing laundry to building a binomial cube.

Roberts notes that, “As a parish school we began with the catechesis (religious instruction)” before launching the full Montessori academic program. The school is using the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a sensoryrich, Montessori approach to religious education.

Students in the primary classes will matriculate into the Classical school in first grade, which is becoming a bridge year between the Montessori and Classical models, combining elements of both methods as well as students from both the Montessori program and the Classical kindergarten.

Northwestern High School’s Visual and Performing Arts Academy

This fall was also the formal launch of the Jim Henson Visual and Performing Arts Academy at Northwestern High School. For now, it’s an in-boundary program that requires an audition. Additional faculty were added to teach courses in each of the programs: instrumental music (either band or orchestra), voice, drama, visual arts, dance and TV production.

One benefit: Students receive a special “zero period” of specialized instruction from 8:15 to 9:15, before the regular hours of school. As might be expected, some adolescents were not eager to give up an hour of sleep, even for the study of something they loved.

Director Leona Lowery Fitzhugh notes that “getting that hour in was rough at first,” but that that now, “it is smoothing out more.”

This expansion of the school’s program comes on the heels of the choir’s successful trip to South Africa. There’s another music trip on the horizon: the Shanghai Tourist Festival has invited the band to perform in China in September 2014.

Hyattsville Life & Times | September 2013

Page 13

LIBRARy

continued from page 1

Saucer), Twitter account (@ HVLsaucer) and line of coffee mugs and T-shirts. Several online commenters have pointed to its historical significance as one of many saucer-like architectural features incorporated into American buildings during the Space Race with the Soviet Union.

Library officials, though, are less attached to it. “My biggest concern is that the architect said [moving] it would be very expensive,” said Catherine Hollerbach, area manager for the Hyattsville, New Carrollton, Bladensburg and Mount Rainier libraries. “I’d rather see the money spent on books and materials.”

PGCMLS director Kathleen Teaze agreed, adding, “How much damage would be done to it if we tried to move it?”

During the public meeting, another common concern residents voiced was that the collection not be downsized. The library, which opened with 80,000 items, had grown to 226,000 by 2010. Teaze asked that the collection be “weeded” in the hopes that less-crowded shelves would result in increased circulation.

“In the library world, you expect that a third of the collection will be circulating at any given time. But [in 2010] it was more like a quarter. When you reduce crowding on the shelves and get rid of books that are dirty or torn, circulation goes up.”

Hollerbach says that since that

The saucer has transitioned from Space Race symbol to social-media star, communicating with fans on Facebook and Twitter.

“Technically, it will be a smaller building, but the space will be used much more efficiently.

Right now, there is a lot of wasted space.”

— Kathleen Teaze, Director Prince George’s County Memorial Library System time the ongoing weeding has whittled the collection down to about 193,000 items, and she expects that number to decrease before the move.

“The collection will be a little smaller, but we will have weeded out books that are in bad condi-

tion or have outdated information,” said Hollerbach. “Also, we’ll look at duplicates. We’re spending a lot of money on databases. It doesn’t make sense to have books on, for example, car repair when you have an identical database that is much easier to use.”

“We’re librarians,” said Hollerbach. “We love books. We have no plans to decimate the collection.”

Still, technology will undoubtedly play a bigger role in the new branch than in the current one.

“What we really want is a building that will serve the community now and in the future,” said Teaze. She said that the number of computers could double and there will be “as many outlets as possible” for laptop users, as well a dispenser, similar to one used now for DVDs, that will provide small laptops and tablets for use in the library.

CLASSIC CARDIOLOGY We fix broken hearts!

SERVICES WE OFFER: CARDIOVASCULAR EVALUATIONS INTERNAL MEDICINE EVALUATIONS HYPERTENSION DIABETES MELLITUS PRE-OP CONSULTATIONS NUCLEAR STRESS TESTING ECHOCARDIOGRAMS VENOUS SONOGRAMS CAROTID DOPPLERS ARTERIAL DOPPLERS BLOOD SCREENINGS

PACEMAKER ANALYSIS HOLTER MONITORING CHOLESTEROL SCREENING BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORING ELECTROCARDIOGRAMS CARDIAC CATHERIZATIONS HEMO DYNAMIC MONITORING PULSE OXIMETRY YEARLY PHYSICAL EXAMS PATIENT HEALTH EDUCATION CLASSES SPIROMETRY

RAYMON K. NELSON, M.D. ABIM BOARD CERTIFIED CARDIOLOGY & INTERNAL MEDICINE 6525 BELCREST ROAD, SUITE 220 HYATTSVILLE, MD 20782 (across from PG PLAZA)

OFFICE : 301-779-7525 FAX: 301-779-4997 MOST INSURANCES ACCEPTED

www.classiccardiology.com PROVERBS 4:23– ABOVE ALL ELSE, GUARD YOUR HEART, FOR IT IS THE WELLSPRING OF LIFE.

The Hyattsville library is about 41,000 square feet (excluding the administrative offices, which will move to the Largo-Kettering branch). The new one, said Hennigan, will be 39,000 square feet at most, probably all on a single level.

“Technically, it will be a smaller building,” said Teaze, “but the space will be used much more efficiently. Right now, there is a lot of wasted space. Just look at the ground-floor lobby — it’s basically a big hallway.”

“When you have a big open space, you can plan it better and make it more flexible,” said Teaze.

“We’ll be able to put collections together that belong together. We can plan for workspaces rather than squeezing them into spaces they weren’t designed to fit.”

A one-story building will allow streamlining of some library functions. The five service desks will be consolidated into one check-out desk and one information desk, said Hollerbach.

The new branch will have both quiet areas and more meeting rooms, and much more natural light, said Hennigan. “We’re pas-

sionate about getting daylight into the public areas and staff areas.”

The plan to upgrade the library has been part of the county’s Capital Improvement Plan since 1988. Originally, it was going to be a renovation.

“But once it got closer to becoming a reality, we took a better look at it and realized it was probably better to have a whole new building,” said Teaze. In 1964, she noted, state-of-the-art meant having a dumbwaiter to take books between levels, whereas now it means adequate outlets and wireless access.

Ward 1 Councilmember Bart Lawrence, who is also a member of Friends of the Hyattsville Library advisory group, said that the public should have been consulted before the decision was made to rebuild rather than renovate.

“I want there to be an open and public decision-making process,” said Lawrence. “I don’t want a couple of administrators making decisions for the community.

We’re the ones who will be using it.”

Q: What can a penny buy these days?

Contact 301-531-5234 or advertising@hyattsvillelife.com A: Your ad, in full color, delivered by U.S. Mail to a Hyattsville-area household (and with change to spare!)

BRICK WORK PLUS Specializing in maSonry & Small concrete conStruction FOr yOur cOnStructiOn neeDS, call uS at

301-864-8161 • Fax 301-864-0013

Office: 4318 Hamilton St. #106 • Hyattsville, MD 20781

George W. Reaves, Owner

Taunya L. Jenkins, DDS, LLC

General Dentist 6525 Belcrest Rd Suite 201 Hyattsville, MD 20785 • RCT • Veneers • Crowns • Dentures • Bleaching • White Fillings Emergencies Welcome Most Insurances Accepted

Tel 301-779-0522 Fax 301-927-1815 M-Thu 9-5 Sat by Appt.

HYATTSVILLE VACUUM CLEANER SERVICE Home of

THE CLEANERS CORNER Vacuum Cleaner Sales and Service Sewing Machine Repair Janitorial Equipment and Supplies Carpet Cleaning Equipment and Supplies

5219 Baltimore Avenue • Hyattsville, Maryland 20781 Tel: 301-277-3553 • Fax: 301-277-7142 e-mail: HyattsvilleVac@aol.com

Page 14

Hyattsville Life & Times | September 2013

LEAF THE HOME SELLING TO LARRY Call Larry Perrin, Realtor to sell your home!

®

301-983-0601 LARRY’S LISTINGS: FOR SALE 6201 20th Place $274,950 9925 Tambay Court $315,000 19507 Divot Place $199,950 9019 Centerway Road $258,900 8039 Harbor Tree Way $215,000 9657 Horizon Run Road $199,995

SOLD 3909 Newark Road $130,000 7822 Hanover Parkway $125,000 8716 Ravenglass Way $235,500 7826 Hanover Parkway $109,995 19334 Transhire Rd $225,000 9802 Hellingly Place $154,950 20323 Trolley Crossing Ct $337,950 10167 Ridgeline $205,000

Call

LARRY PERRIN

LARRY PERRIN PROPERTIES ®

Realtor ®

“THE” Hyattsville Realtor since 1977

301.983.0601 • 301.220.2229 Selling Your Home? Free Home Value Estimate!

If your home is currently listed by another Realtor ®®, please disregard this offer. It is not my intention to solicit the offerings of other brokers.