LOCAL AUTHOR
FISH DEATHS
NEW COLUMN
When three teens canoe down Cleveland lakes and streams, they find much more than they bargained for in local author Richard Morris’s newest book. PAGE 5
Over Memorial Day weekend, hundreds of fish died during a bridge-widening project on CSX tracks. Though they paid a hefty fine, the contractors claim no responsibility. PAGE 3
New column debut! Cultural Connections, written by cross-cultural consultant Julia Gaspar-Bates, takes a look at Hyattsville immigrants’ tales. In this first installment, meet artist Alfredo Ratinoff. PAGE 7
Re-enactors, racers mark Bladensburg bicentennial by Gray OʼDwyer
In the early 19th century, Bladensburg was a critical crossroads outside the new city of Washington and also boasted a prosperous tobacco shipping port on the Anacostia River. Today, it can take a lot of imagination to envision our area as the focal point of the 1814 British invasion. This summer, imagination is no longer required. Maryland Milestones, in cooperation with local organizations, historic sites, and sponsors, presents an array of events marking the War of 1812 Bicentennial. The celebration will culminate the weekend of August 23 and 24 with the Battle of Bladensburg Festival. The festival’s theme is “Undaunted,” recalling those who fought to defend Washington from British troops in August of 1814. Despite a stunning defeat at Bladensburg, American troops rallied at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, and the British were beaten for a second time in 30 years- firmly establishing the United States as a powerful and important nation. Aaron Marcavitch is the executive director of the Anacostia Trails Heritage Area, a part of Maryland Milestones and the primary organizer of the bi-
Hyattsville Life&Times
Vol. 11 No. 8
Hyattsville’s Community Newspaper
Crime surge has citizens on high alert
by Caroline Selle
capes and eye masks distributed by Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC) staff, who organized the event. It’s the first Hyattsville playground to be renovated under M-NCPPC’s Imagination Playground program, which replaces outdated cookie-cutter amenities with themed play areas. So far, the county has completed about 20, with designs ranging from Native American village to Viking ship. Plans for a Justice-League motif began last summer, when M-NCPPC Landscape Architecture Supervisor Brenda Iraola came across a deeply discounted lot of blue, red and yellow equipment. It
A recent spate of violent crime on the west side of the city has raised a variety of questions about crime trends, the resources available to the police force, and the city’s safety in general. The high-profile incidents included a sexual assault on July 10, another on July 23, a shooting that wounded two teenagers on July 30, and a stabbing on August 3. A final incident occurred on August 10, when the 7-11 on Hamilton street was robbed. No injuries were reported. According to information released by the Hyattsville City Police Department, all but one of the incidents occurred in West Hyattsville. Two suspects have been arrested in the shooting, though all investigations are ongoing. The City is discussing ways to improve the safety of residents, particularly in the area where most of the recent violence occurred. Ward 4 Councilmembers Paula Perry and Edouard Haba organized a community meeting with police on Thursday, August 14, at 7 p.m., at the site of the shooting (30th Avenue between Lancer Avenue and Lancer Place). Del. Alonzo Washington (D-22) and Sen. Paul Pinsky (D-22) were expected to attend, along with other elected officials. City crime reports suggest that it is unusual to see so many incidents in such a short time. Hyattsville crime levels have dropped over the past few years. Assaults, for example, decreased by almost 15 percent between 2008 and 2013. A comparison of January through July 2014 to the same period in 2013 shows a 9 percent
PLAYGROUND continued on page 12
CRIME continued on page 13
NEW PLAYGROUND IS A
NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID EASTON MD PERMIT NO. 43
BLADENSBURG continued on page 12
by Susie Currie
Hyattsville Life & Times PO Box 132 Hyattsville, MD 20781
August 2014
Hyattsville’s newest place to play is disguised better than Clark Kent. But it isn’t likely to stay a secret for long. The one-of-a-kind Comic Hero Playground, tucked into a little-used area of Heurich Park, opened to the public and caped crusaders alike on July 18. The ribbon cutting drew about 40 children, parents and elected officials, including Maryland State Sen. Victor Ramirez (D-47), Del. Anne Healey (D-23) and newly minted Prince George’s County Councilmember Deni Tavares (D-2). Many in the crowd donned the brightly colored
Included: The August 12, 2014 Issue of The Hyattsville Reporter — See Center Section
Page 2
Hyattsville Life & Times | August 2014
FromTheEditor
Coming home to Hyattsville by Caroline Selle
As a journalist, I prefer highlighting the experiences of others to writing about myself. Regardless, as the new managing editor of the Hyattsville Life & Times, I owe it to you, the readers, to introduce myself. Though this is only my third year as a Hyattsville resident, I spent much of my childhood here. My father grew up in West Hyattsville and lived in the neighborhood for three decades. My grandparents lived in their house for over 50 years.
A community newspaper chronicling the life and times of Hyattsville Mailing address: PO Box 132, Hyattsville, MD 20781 http://HyattsvilleLife.com http://facebook.com/HyattsvilleLife http://twitter.com/HvilleTimes Hyattsville Life & Times is published monthly by Hyattsville Community Newspaper, Inc., a 501c(3) nonprofit corporation. Editors welcome reader input, tips, articles, letters, opinion pieces and photographs, which may be submitted using the mailing address above or the email addresses below. Executive Editor Susie Currie susie@hyattsvillelife.com 301.633.9209 Managing Editor Caroline Selle caroline@hyattsvillelife.com 475.529.0268 Production Ashley Perks Website Manager Rebecca Bennett Advertising advertising@hyattsvillelife.com 301.531.5234 Writers & Contributors Amanda Alley, Katy June-Friesen, Lauren Kelly, Gray O’Dwyer, Molly Parrish, Scarlett Salem, Fred Seitz, Julia Gaspar-Bates Board of Directors Joseph Gigliotti - President and General Counsel Chris Currie - Vice President Susie Currie - Secretary Peggy Dee, Karen J. Riley, Rosanna Landis Weaver, Gretchen Brodtman, Debra Franklin, T. Carter Ross Caroline Selle - 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.
My childhood memories are of my grandparents’ house and gardens, the West Hyattsville neighborhood full of brick rowhouses, and Route 1 before it was revitalized. Every other weekend, my parents would drive me and my two younger sisters over, where we played dress up with my grandmother’s tablecloths, ate ice cream and watched cartoons with my grandfather. There was a peach tree in the backyard, and when my grandfather added a patio, he had his grandchildren’s names carved into the concrete as it set. Sometimes, the trip was an adventure. We drove past Potomac Iron Works the night it caught fire, and smelled the smoke and saw the sparks in the air. Moments later, sirens from the first fire trucks cut through the night. Another time, we had just left the house when our car’s engine started smoking. I’ll always remember the kind employees of the thrift store near Queens Chapel Town Center who rushed to our aide. And, of course, there were the hardships of watching my grandparents age, of seeing them move
in and out of the hospital and seeing their home slowly falling into disrepair. When my grandparents passed away within a few years of each other, the house stood vacant. Weeds crept into the flower beds, the basement flooded, and the back steps cracked and split. It was hardest on my father, an only child, but none of us were sure about the next step. My father wasn’t ready to part with his childhood home: he still tells stories about playing ball in the streets and sledding down the hills with his neighbors. When I graduated from St. Mary’s College of Maryland in 2012, I was at a loss. I didn’t want to move back to my parents’ house near Annapolis, but I couldn’t really afford to move into Washington, D.C. When my mother suggested we might clean up my grandparents’ house so I could live there, I jumped at the chance. I’m so glad I did. I have 24 years of history here, and I’m excited to build more. I still grieve for my grandparents, but now I plant flowers in the garden beds and grow vegetables along the side of the house.
At Franklins, I fill growlers with beer for backyard barbecues, find birthday gifts for my friends, and go out to eat with my parents. I buy pet food at the Big Bad Woof and venture to Spice 6 every time my sister comes to visit. This summer, I’ve been visiting the Hyattsville farmers’ market and filling bags with fruit. Living in Hyattsville is a heady mix of old and new. Some of my neighbors knew of me before I was born. A new family moved in last week. I love that my neighborhood is filled with elderly homeowners who have been here for decades, recent immigrants from Central America, and young professionals like myself. There are at least three languages spoken on my block. Working for the Hyattsville Life & Times has been the same. We’re uploading our archives to the new website, www.HyattsvilleLife.com, while we work on new pieces about zoning, eateries, art projects, and schools. Reading the old pieces reminds me of a Hyattsville I spent many years visiting but never really knew. Well, maybe I did. You can argue that the story of a place is the
story of its people, and I’ve met many who’ve left permanent impressions. It’s one of the reasons I love writing for the Hyattsville Life & Times. Everyone has a story to tell. In the past, I wrote for national outlets and focused on big stories like wage equality and climate change. Those issues are no less pertinent, and I do continue to do some freelance work on the side. Still, writing about the place I live and the people who live here means much more to me. I’m proud to be part of my community’s news network, and I hope to do my title justice. Read on in this issue to learn more about stories that matter: the debut of “Cultural Connections,” a column about the stories of immigrants in Hyattsville, a look at how a local is sustainably raising bees, and a preview of the War of 1812 Bicentennial celebrations. Is there more? What do you want to learn about that we haven’t covered? You can email me or call me — my contact information is in the masthead. If you’re already on our website, submit a tip. I’ve told you what Hyattsville means to me. Now, I’d love to learn what Hyattsville means to you. Caroline Selle joined the Hyattsville Life & Times in May.
SEE IT HERE FIRST!
Last month, we announced the launch of the Hyattsville Life & Times website, www.HyattsvilleLife.com. In the following weeks, we broke a number of stories, updated articles from the print edition, and kept an up-to-date calendar of Hyattsville events. Curious? If you haven’t yet subscribed to HyattsvilleLife.com’s newsfeeds, see what you’re missing ...
Subscribe for FREE at www.hyattsvillelife.com/newsletter Get stories like these – daily, weekly, or as they break – direct to your inbox! Top stories for the past month
1. Breaking: water main break closes stretch of Route 1: 1,467 page views 2. Attic fire at Kennedy and 39th streets: 1,167 page views 3. Shooting in West Hyattsville residential neighborhood: 1,031 page views 4. Bursting in Air: 912 page views 5. Comic hero playground preview: 841 page views 6. County approves McDonald’s without drive through: 755 page views 7. AirBnB guest trashes house: 730 page views 8. Buildings demolished for parking: 691 page views 9. Lawyer for Niemann says “We just want to get it right.”: 621 page views 10. NBC4 showcases Hyattsville: 564 page views
Hyattsville Life & Times | August 2014
Page 3
Company fined for May fish deaths By Sissi Cao
The Anacostia Railroad Bridge expansion project that killed hundreds of fish over Memorial Day weekend was settled in July with a $12,350 penalty. Though CSX Transportation Inc. held the work permit on the project, Shirley Contracting, a construction company based in Lorton, Va., was handling day-to-day operations. CSX confirmed Shirley Contracting paid the fine, but both companies admitted no liability. About 600 fish died, said Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) Deputy Director Jay Apperson. Most were gizzard shad, but there were also about 25 small white perch. The fish died after becoming trapped in cofferdams, construction devices installed to temporarily reroute the flow of water as part of the bridge-widening project. The dams are supposed to keep the work area free of fish, but heavy rains over Memorial Day weekend flooded the work area, bringing the fish along. When the water receded, the fish had nowhere to go and soon died. CSX blamed the incident solely on the heavy rains over the Memorial Day weekend in a statement, while Apperson said the insufficient inspection of coffer-
dams contributed to the kill. “The company was required to inspect the cofferdams and free any fish that had been collected in water within or around them,” Apperson said. According to the MDE, Shirley Contracting allegedly violated erosion and sediment control regulations. Specifically, the contractor failed to maintain silt fencing, a temporary sediment control device used on construction sites to protect water quality in nearby rivers, along a pedestrian walkway and stabilize disturbed, inactive areas near the project, Apperson said. The fine was imposed by the State of Maryland in mid-July, after a complete investigation by the MDE. “This was an isolated incident and we immediately reviewed our contractor’s plans for ensuring that it won’t happen again,” said Melanie Cost, director of financial and media relations at CSX. “We continue to monitor their performance on a regular basis and have not experienced any incidents since then.” “Shirley Contracting’s management believes that the CSX statement is sufficient and has no additional comment,” said Louise Pulizzi, public relation spokesperson of Shirley Contracting.
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Hyattsville Life & Times | August 2014
Bringing bees back to Hyattsville by Scarlett Salem
Until honeybees go missing, it’s easy to forget the critical role they play in agriculture as pollinators. But for Hyattsville resident Maggie Mills, bee health is more than a passing interest. Mills is the owner of Hope Honey Farm, a local business with 22 hives and a 2,500-square-foot pumpkin patch with gourds, squash and six varieties of pumpkins. While readers might think of Old McDonald when they hear the word “farm,” the term is used to define any area of land on which crops or animals are grown and raised for profit. The product line, available at Franklins and on the company website, includes honey, lip balm, body scrub and soap. Hope Honey Farm started with a sixweek course in 2012. “I’d always been very interested in honeybees and curious about the whole process since I was a kid,” Mills said. After taking the beekeeping class through the Bowie-Upper Marlboro Beekeeper’s Association (BUMBA), she purchased two starter colonies of bees. “I was instantly hooked,” Mills said. “I completely fell in love with them.” The following year, a week-long course in Pennsylvania taught her how to produce queens through a process called grafting.
JULIETTE FRADIN Maggie Mills, owner of Hope Honey Farm, works with one of her beehives.
It’s a useful process because when queens are purchased from states with a different climate, their survival rates can be low. Now, Mills hopes to sell starter colonies with local queens to area beekeepers — as long as they know what they’re doing.
“It’s not like buying a puppy. I feel strongly about providing bees to people who have had some level of education, training, or experience,” she said. Hope is also Certified Naturally Grown (CNG), meaning they meet the CNG
standards for bee health and sustainability. “We can’t control how the bees forage but we can control what we put in their hives,” said Mills. She also controls how much honey is harvested; overharvesting, she said, can “decimate the hive and the bees may die [in winter] when no forage is available.” Mills said that in her experience, “ninetyfive percent of people are super supportive and excited about it and want to do anything they can to help. Just a tiny percentage are opposed to it or maybe worry about their own safety.” Typically, people are stung by wasps or hornets. Honeybees are generally considered ‘docile,’ according to Mills, usually stinging only to defend their hive. In fact, people are more dangerous to bees. The bee population is dropping, and scientists suspect it is due to diseases and to insecticides commonly found in yards and particular class of insecticides called neonicotinoids, often applied to lawns. Mills is now a BUMBA instructor and mentor, although the hives remain a hobby. “We are regular people with full-time jobs,” Mills said. “But we also want to focus on getting back to the land.” She works with her partner, Janean Romines, who also has “a vested interest in ... taking care of the land and our pollinators.”
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Hyattsville Life & Times | August 2014
Page 5
Local author’s young adult novel navigates turbulent waters of 1960s Q: What can a penny by Amanda Alley
Richard Morris, who lives in Hyattsville, is the author of Well Considered, Cologne No. 10 for Men, and, published last month, Canoedling in Cleveland, reviewed below. Hyattsville author Richard Morris’s new young adult novel, Canoedling in Cleveland, is the tale of precocious 17-year-old Jeff Klossen and his summer adventures on the rivers of his beloved Cleveland, Ohio. Though the book is filled with the boredoms, rebellions and growing pains of a typical teenage summer, ultimately, Jeff ’s journey becomes about tackling more than the dangerous waterways. The canoe adventures are triggered by a typical sibling rivalry: His older brother, Brett, bets Jeff $100 that he can’t canoe the local rivers by the end of summer. Jeff, being a stubborn teen boy, immediately accepts and sets out to make his brother regret underestimating him. He cajoles his neighborhood friend, Randy, into accompanying him, and together they recruit Lori Matthews, a well-behaved girl their age, as their driver. Lori quickly makes herself an essential part of their canoeing team. Navigating the dangerous riverways becomes a symbol for the far greater obstacles they tackle, such as polluted water and segregated neighborhoods.
While this ambition seems naïve at first, it’s a refreshing reminder that children, even teenagers, want to understand and possibly affect their surroundings. Jeff sees pollution as something the “A-people” (adults) have selfMorris ishly created and left the teens to deal with the consequences. While pollution is a recurring theme, most of the book is dominated by the issue of segregation between the teens’ mostly white Orchard Park neighborhood and the predominantly black East Side of town. During their trip, Jeff and Lori encounter different perspectives on race relations from a range of people, including a banker, real estate agent, builder, maid, and a black teenage boy. Though Jeff initially asks why blacks don’t want to live in Orchard Park, he realizes there is more to the issue than his neighborhood’s appeal. Canoedling in Cleveland is about so much more than canoeing. It’s a story about coming of age, young love, the pivotal culture of the ’60s, race, environmental issues, a town struggling between nature and beauty. It even includes a little magic when Jeff makes up canoe stories for his little brothers. The writing is straightforward and the characters, while based in a different era, will undoubtedly resonate with today’s readers, young and old.
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Hyattsville Life & Times | August 2014
From seed to feed With ECO City, local students learn about food systems by Caroline Selle
Planting, weeding, harvesting, cooking: For the 20 high-schoolers participating in ECO City Farms’ Seed to Feed Summer Youth Program, it’s all in a day’s work. The program exposes students to every aspect of the food system, from planting to market. This year, the farm hosted three Seed to Feed programs, each of which was targeted at a different age group and ran for four weeks. The program took place at the nonprofit’s new 3.5 acre Bladensburg farm, where students spend four days a week working on-site. (Previously, the program was hosted at ECO City’s original farm in Edmonston). The fifth is spent on field trips around
photoS by caroline selle Left: Seed to Feed participants enjoy a homemade meal of pad thai, salad and an orange and tamarind smoothie. Above: An attendee zests oranges for lunch.
Prince George’s County. “It’s cool to get hands-on experience,” said participant Sumaiyah Liggans, who attended the session that ended on August 1. For some, the program is the
first time they’ve seen many of the vegetables and grains — like wheat berries. For others, it’s a chance to engage with relatives. “When I was growing up, my grandma had a garden and I al-
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ways wondered how to do it,” said participant Parker Brock. Seed to Feed attendees prepare a daily lunch with local chefs, participate in workshops with slam poets, and engage with food activists, artists, athletes, and farmers on site and through field trips. With a strong focus on multicultural and multiracial programming, ECO City’s organizers incorporate indigenous food traditions and adapt to students’ religious and cultural dietary requirements. “It’s always about connecting and reconnecting with the food — through family, through cooking, and through the arts,” said Viviana Lindoo, the organization’s director of community education. The field trips introduce students to food history, produc-
tion, transportation, and processing. On a previous session’s trip to Giant’s Landover Hills warehouse, for example, students saw what produce the grocery chain considers waste, and why. During a field trip to the Accokeek Foundation, students learn about Native American agriculture. “Part of what’s important to us is growing the next generation of farmers and eaters,” said Margaret Morgan-Hubbard, the organization’s founder and CEO. Attendees come from all over Prince George’s County, and many are recent immigrants. Most of the students said the program reinforced or reintroduced them to the importance of growing food. “I was always looking for someseed continued on page 13
Hyattsville Life & Times | August 2014
Page 7
CulturalConnections
Local artist: “Art cures”
by Julia Gaspar-Bates
Argentine artist Alfredo Ratinoff believes that being a “gypsy” has shaped his identity and the creativity that fuels his work. As we chat in his [Hyattsville] studio, surrounded by his sculptures and mosaics, he explains that his art reflects his experiences with fragments of different cultures and personal loss. Art provided a refuge, he says. His favorite mantra is “Art cures.” Alfredo started his exploration of other cultures early. “My first memory is being at the airport about to board a plane with my parents. Everything that happened in my life is tied up with a trip and travel,” he tells me. He spent the first 11 years of his life moving between his native Buenos Aires and cities such as Athens, Rome, Paris, Madrid and Tehran. Loss – of loved ones, country and home – is a theme woven into Alfre-
do’s life and work. Due to his frequent travels, Alfredo didn’t have many toys and had to leave his favorite possessions behind more than once. “I learned to treasure the images inside because I couldn’t get too attached to things,” he says. Losing things as a child, he says, reinforces the need to do what you love. Alfredo’s parents divorced when he was a pre-adolescent, and both of them passed away when he was a young adult studying art in Europe. Losing his parents meant losing his ties with Argentina. After leaving Europe, Alfredo moved to Miami. He feels that everything started for him there in terms of developing a sense of belonging. His first shock upon entering the U.S. was the importance of the written word. “Without credentials on paper, people don’t pay attention,” he says. It wasn’t the only difference. Alfredo believes “the American way
is like a written recipe with many ingredients. You must follow the steps to achieve your goal. In Argentina, you grab all the food in the fridge and throw it together.” Alfredo first came to Washington, D.C., in the 1990s to visit a friend. He liked the area because of the culture, education and diversity. However, he also experienced culture shock. Unlike Miami with its strong Cuban influence, in D.C. he found people to be more “subtle and restrained.” Everyone seemed rushed and focused on achievement. It was difficult to adapt to, Alfredo says. He feels that people “don’t live fully and are on edge.” Following his first exhibit in D.C., he returned to Miami to confront loss once again, this time due to Hurricane Andrew, which destroyed many of his possessions and work. After a yearlong stay in Key West, he moved to D.C. due to an increase in demand for his work in this area.
Alfredo discovered Hyattsville by chance. As a visual person, he was attracted to the old houses. “Each house had a history, a sense of belonging,” he remembers. He intuitively knew that he belonged here and soon purchased a 100-year-old colonial with his partner, Shane. Although they have been living in Hyattsville for over seven years, Shane and Alfredo have only recently forayed out to meet neighbors. Now, they are discovering that Hyattsville is a rich universe with many cultures and interesting people. “For the first time in my life, I don’t feel the need to travel anywhere,” Alfredo says. “You only have to cross the street to meet shining people who offer friendship, advice and other riches.” He finds that living in Hyattsville is like coming home to a place he never knew existed. Understanding where you belong in life is critical, he says. “Once you discover that, you have a core, an anchor. As an immigrant, you only have yourself. You must commit to your dreams
JULIA GASPAR-BATES Alfredo Ratinoff in his studio.
when you arrive in a new country. But you can’t sit and wait for those dreams to happen — you have to create them, even when faced with challenges.” Julia Gaspar-Bates is a crosscultural trainer and consultant. “Cultural Connections” is devoted to bringing forward the voices of immigrants who have settled in Hyattsville.
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Hyattsville Reporter Page HR1
Hyattsville Life & Times | August 2014
the
No. 292 • August 12, 2014
www.hyattsville.org • 301-985-5000
Sunset film series returns to Heurich Park Free, family-friendly movies return to Heurich Park, starting in September! The park is located at the intersection of Ager Road and Nicholson Street. Movies are shown on the lawn, between the Dog Park and the playground. Bring your blankets or chairs and enjoy a movie in the park! This year’s schedule follows:
Friday, September 5th at 7:30 PM - The Lego Movie
Rated PG; 100 minutes An ordinary Lego construction worker, thought to be the prophesied ‘Special’, is recruited to join a quest to stop an evil tyrant from gluing the Lego universe into eternal stasis.
Friday, September 19th at 7:00 PM - Frozen
Rated PG; 102 minutes Fearless optimist Anna teams up with Kristoff in an epic journey, encountering Everest-like conditions, and a hilarious snowman named Olaf in a race to find Anna’s sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom in eternal winter.
Friday, October 3th at 7:00 PM - Despicable Me 2
Rated PG; 98 minutes Gru is recruited by the Anti-Villain League to help deal with a powerful new super criminal. Questions? Call 301/985-5021 or email ceverhart@hyattsville.org.
Hyattsville Life & Times | August 2014
Join us for the final Outback Steakhouse Summer Jam of the season — plus Police Open House!
The Outback Steakhouse Summer Jam Series has become a traditional Friday night event throughout the summer months. Held from 6:30 to 8:30 PM on the second Friday of the month May through September, 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 and Mandy the Clown
and her very talented face painters. The series is held at the Municipal Building at 4310 Gallatin Street. This is a rain or shine event! In the event of inclement weather, the Jam moves into the multi-purpose room. Attendance is free and open to everyone. There is a charge for food and beverages. The 2014 Outback Steakhouse Summer Jam season
wraps up on Friday, September 12 with a performance by Just Us, featuring the HCPD’s own Lieutenant Chris Purvis. September is also Open House month for the HCPD. Tour the station, learn more about police work, and get an inside look at some of the tools of the trade. The Open House runs during the Summer Jam hours, 6:30 to 8:30 PM.
For more information on the Outback Steakhouse Summer Jam Series, please contact the Department of Community Services by phone at 301-985-5021 or by email to ceverhart@hyattsville.org If you’d like to volunteer at a Jam or for any other City event, please contact Colleen Aistis by phone at 301-9855057 or by email to caistis@hyattsville.org.
IN OTHER NEWS... FARMERS MARKET CONTINUES ON HAMILTON STREET
The Hyattsville Farmer’s Market is back in business for the summer and fall of 2014! Join us at 3505 Hamilton Street every Tuesday through October 28, from 2 to 6 PM, for fresh local produce – the best in the area! The Market takes place behind the former BB&T building, across from Bestway. Free parking available. The popular cookbook exchange and giveaways are back for the 2014 season. We accept SNAP, WIC, & senior coupons. The Market is a Community-Sponsored Enterprise, sponsored by the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission. Questions? Please contact Ellarose Preston by phone at 301-985-5000 or email epreston@hyattsville.org.
PUBLIC FORM FOR CALEA RE-CERTIFICATION ON AUGUST 18
The Hyattsville Police Department is scheduled for an on-site assessment as part of a program to obtain re-accreditation by verifying that it meets professional standards administered by the Commission of Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA). The program requires agencies to comply with established standards in four basic areas including the following: Policy and Procedures, Administration, Operations, Support Services. As part of the assessment, agency employees, members of the community and any person who would like to contribute their input are invited to offer their comments at a public hearing to be held Monday, August 18th, 2014 at 6:30 pm, in the City Council Chambers located on the third floor at 4310 Gallatin Street, Hyattsville, Maryland 20781. Members of the Community and any person who would like to contribute are also invited to provide their input during a phone-in session to be held on Monday August 18th, 2014 from 1:00 pm until 3:00 pm. During this session, members of the Assessment team will receive calls from persons interested in contributing any information. It is requested that calls be limited to 10 (ten) minutes in duration so that everyone who would like to contribute has the opportunity to reach the assessors. The telephone number for those who wish to make comments during this session is as follows: 301-985-6249. Anyone wishing to submit written comments concerning the ability of the Hyattsville Police Department to comply with CALEA standards may send those comments to The Commission for Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. The address is as follows: CALEA Attn: Karen Shepard 13575 Heathcote Boulevard Suite 320 Gainesville, VA 20155
Page HR2
CALENDAR AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 Tuesday, August 19
Hyattsville Farmers Market, 2 - 6 PM 3505 Hamilton Street
Wednesday, August 20
Code Compliance Advisory Committee, 7 – 8:30 PM
Friday, August 22
Ageless Grace Seated Exercise Program, 10 – 11 AM
Tuesday, August 26
Hyattsville Farmers Market, 2 – 6 PM 3505 Hamilton Street
Friday, August 29
Ageless Grace Seated Exercise Program, 10 – 11 AM
Monday, September 1
Labor Day – City Administrative offices closed. No Yard Waste collection, City-wide.
Tuesday, September 2
Hyattsville Farmers Market, 2 – 6 PM 3505 Hamilton Street
Tuesday, September 2 For further information, please contact: Sgt. Christine Fekete Accreditation Manager, Hyattsville City Police Department 4310 Gallatin Street Hyattsville, MD 20781 301-985-5064
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ANNUAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS FAIR
First United Methodist Church will host their Annual Health and Wellness Fair on Saturday, September 20 from 10 AM to 4 PM. This year’s theme is Assuring Hope, Promising Results, and will focus on the importance of mental health to total health. All services and medical screenings are free. The fair features flu vaccinations and a range of screenings, including cancer, blood pressure, diabetes, body mass index (BMI), dental, and HIV/AIDS. Leading experts in the field of women’s and men’s health discuss the latest information on nutrition, physical activity and fitness, smoking cessation, breast health, use of vitamins, safety, protection against identity theft, and stress management and relaxation. Food, physical fitness, and safety demonstrations are offered also. For more information, please visit www.fumchy.org.
SUMMER HOLIDAY TRASH COLLECTION CHANGES
If your household is serviced by the Department of Public Works for trash collection, please note that there will no Yard Waste collection, City-wide on Monday, September 1, in observance of the Labor Day holiday. Questions? Please call 301/985-5032.
AGELESS GRACE CLASSES – CONTINUES THROUGH AUGUST
Ageless Grace is a low impact exercise program for mind and body and consists of 21 simple exercises designed to improve healthy longevity. The exercises are designed to be performed in a chair and almost anyone can benefit from them, regardless of most physical conditions. And did we mention? It’s also great fun! Classes meet on Fridays at the City Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin Street and cost just $2 per class. Classes continue through August, and will meet again in the fall. For more information, call 301/985-5000 or email Colleen Aistis, caistis@hyattsville.org.
FIND US ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM
Are you on Facebook? You can now keep up with City events and happenings at www.facebook.com/cityofhyattsville. When you see Vainglorious, the silver metal bird sculpture at Centennial Park, you’ll know you’re in the right place. He is kind enough to serve as the City’s wall photo. The City is also on Instagram at instagram.com/cityofhyattsville and on Twitter as @4310Gallatin.
CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS – WAYS TO WATCH
The community is always welcome to attend City Council meetings 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 rebroadcast schedule is as follows: 7 AM, 1 PM, and 8 PM seven days a week, including weekends and holidays. We typically rebroadcast 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 301/985-5028.
VOLUNTEERS WANTED FOR MAGRUDER WOODS RESTORATION
Board of Supervisors of Elections Meeting, 4 – 5 PM
Friday, September 5
Sunset Movie Series: The Lego Movie, 7:30 PM Heurich Park, Ager Road & Nicholson Street
Tuesday, September 9
Hyattsville Farmers Market, 2 – 6 PM 3505 Hamilton Street
Friday, September 12
Outback Steakhouse Summer Jam featuring Just Us and the HCPD Open House, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Join us for non-native invasive removals in Magruder Woods on the third Saturday of every month, year-round, from 9 AM to 1 PM. Work is led by Dr. Marc Imlay, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning. Upcoming dates include Saturday, August 16 and September 20. Please dress for the elements – longsleeves, long pants and sturdy boots or shoes. Questions? Contact Colleen Aistis, caistis@hyattsville.org or 301/985-5057. Participation helps to satisfy State of Maryland Student Service Learning requirements.
Monday, September 15
UPDATES FROM WSSC – IS WORK PLANNED FOR YOUR STREET?
Looking for updates on WSSC projects in your neighborhood? Use their maps to see the status of current projects. Maps can be accessed on WSSC’s website: http://gisweb.wsscwater.com/InYourNeighborhood/
Prince George’s Plaza TDDP Community Workshop Prince George’s County Planning Department will host a multiday community design workshop charrette at the City Municipal Building from September 17 through 20. Visit www.pgplanning. org for more information.
CAR SEAT SAFETY CHECKS
Friday, September 19
Got kids? Then you’ve got car seats! Maryland law requires all children under the age of eight to ride in an appropriate safety seat. But the seat alone is not enough - proper installation is the key to keeping our littlest passengers safe. Despite our best efforts, estimates suggest that as many as seven out of ten kids are not buckled in properly. The City of Hyattsville’s Police Department can help. To schedule a safety seat check, please contact Sergeant Christine Fekete at 301/985-5060 or via email to cfekete@hyattsville.org. She’ll be happy to help parents install a new seat or improve the fit of your current equipment. Car Seat Safety Checks aren’t just for new parents, either. Consider calling when your child transitions from an infant to a toddler seat, or when you buy a new vehicle and transfer your seats from your old car. Checks are free of charge for any City of Hyattsville resident.
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 at Nixle won’t report on every incident – typically alerts are sent when
City Council Meeting, 8 – 10 PM
Tuesday, September 16
Hyattsville Farmers Market, 2 – 6 PM 3505 Hamilton Street
September 17, 18, 19, and 20
Sunset Movie Series Frozen, 7 PM Heurich Park, Ager Road & Nicholson Street
Saturday, September 20
Volunteer Opportunity: Magruder Woods non-invasive invasive removal, 9 AM - 1 PM Magruder Park Unless otherwise noted, all events take place at the City Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin Street 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.
Page 8
Hyattsville Life & Times | August 2014
NatureNearby “God’s Dog” visits Hyattsville by Fred Seitz
Early in July, a character known as the Trickster in Native American lore visited a Hyattsville backyard not far from the West Hyattsville Metro stop. Homeowner Marybeth Shea, a trained forest ecologist, easily recognized the animal as a coyote rather than a fox or large dog. The visit was cut short when Shea threw a trash-can lid to drive it out of the yard. Such visits have become more common, not only in the Washington, D.C., area, but in many metropolitan areas nationwide. (In Oregon a few years back, one even managed to board the
light rail at Portland International Airport.) Coyotes are the closest relative of the gray wolf, a former resident of the East, but now extirpated in most eastern states. Coyotes are far more adaptable than their larger relatives: The intensive campaigns to poison and hunt them out of existence has not been successful, as the coyote still flourishes throughout North America up to the Arctic circle. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has confirmed that coyotes are present in every county in the state. This amazing ability to survive reinforces the coyote’s nickname as “God’s Dog.” This character-
istic is also recognized in some Native American tales, where the coyote eludes hunters and helps protect the earth. Coyotes were identified with cleverness and stealth. Coyotes are roughly the size of a large dog, such as a German shepherd, but typically have longer ears and legs. Weighing between 20 and 50 pounds, they often mate for life and produce a litter of about five pups in May. Their den, used only when giving birth and nursing young, may be a large hole, sometimes a commandeered groundhog den. It is believed that when wolves were hunted to near extinction in the East, coyotes occupied much
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of the environment previously held by wolves. Some of the wolves in Canada and the northeastern U.S. may have interbred with the coyotes, producing a somewhat larger coyote than those found out west. The Eastern coyote is still considerably smaller than the grey wolves in Canada and western U.S and somewhat smaller than the red wolves in North Carolina. Coyotes view domestic dogs as competitors and kill some Fidos, but in some situations, coyotes have also bred with domestic dogs to produce hybrids. (Don’t expect a coypoodle anytime soon, however.) Coyote packs typically are limited to the male, female and offspring. Wolf packs, headed by an alpha male and female, can become considerably larger — which helps when hunting big game such as moose or caribou. Coyotes will sometimes take
deer, but they are less skilled pack hunters than wolves. (For example, one Montgomery County wildlife professional has photographed coyotes being pursued by deer.) Instead, they usually stick to smaller prey, like rabbits, rats and woodchucks. Coyotes do have a long history of preying on sheep and other domestic livestock, though, which may be why they are seen less as beneficial “trickster” and more as a threat to eliminate. Indeed, the federal Department of Agriculture spends about $115 million annually to trap and poison the animals. But neither method has reduced the coyote population, and may instead pose dangers to pets and children. Some “pro-coyote” organizations have urged the USDA to study the ecological and economic costs of the poiNATURE continued on page 13
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Hyattsville Life & Times | August 2014
Page 9
COMMUNITY CALENDAR August 13
Tonight is the second of three public meetings on Hyattsville Branch Library replacement plans. 7 to 9 p.m., Bunker Hill Fire Station, 3716 Rhode Island Avenue, Brentwood. Can’t make it? Put September 16 on your calendar; the final public meeting will be held at the library itself, 6530 Adelphi Road. For more information, call 301.699.3500. The Susan Jones Jazz Quartet wraps up the Jazz on the Lawn summer series at Riversdale House Museum. Bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket to this free outdoor show (indoors, if it rains). 7 to 8 p.m. 4811 Riverdale Road, Riverdale Park. 301.864.0420.
August 15 to 17
Described as a “gospel dance drama,” Caribbean Praise is the story of a poor Caribbean family and their faith journey as told through music and dancing. Produced, written, directed and choreographed by Adrian Bolton. $20 ($15 for groups and seniors). Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 3 and 7 p.m. Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Road, Mount Rainier. For advance tickets, text 404.632.4865. www.joesmovement.org.
August 16
When media executive Will Schwalbe went with his mother to her treatments
for pancreatic cancer, they bonded over books they had read and loved. His account of that time grew into a book, The End of Your Life Book Club, which will be discussed today at 3 p.m. Hyattsville Branch Library, 6530 Adelphi Road. 301.985.4690.
August 17
Art Lives Here brings creativity to chores with Laundry List, a free art activity at the Bunker Hill Laundromat. Decorate a laundry bag while you wait for your clothes to dry. Free. 1 to 3 p.m. 3846 34th Street, Mount Rainier. Contact leslieholt31@hotmail.com.
August 20
Back from the brink of extinction with a standing-room-only meeting last month, the Friends of The Hyattsville Library meets tonight to elect officers, discuss book sales and store, and ensure community involvement in designing the new library. All are welcome. 7 p.m. 6530 Adelphi Road. 301.985.4690.
August 22 to 24
After a years-long buildup, it’s time to celebrate the actual bicentennial of the Battle of Bladensburg: August 24. A full weekend of events is planned, from a bull roast at Riversdale to the unveiling of a new memorial. See the cover story or visit www.princegeorges1812.org for details.
August 29 to September 1
Marking its 60th anniversary this year, the Greenbelt Labor Day Festival is still going strong with four days of fun, including a carnival, sports events, a used-book sale, art and photo shows, the Miss Greenbelt Pageant, and, of course, Monday’s Labor Day Parade, which begins at 10 a.m. For a full schedule and more details, visit www. greenbeltlaborday.com.
August 30 to September 1
Visit another local tradition this holiday weekend. The National Capital Trackers’ exhibit of miniature trains, villages, tunnels and depots will run during regular museum hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Free with museum admission of $4 (discounts for children and seniors). College Park Aviation Museum, 1985 Cpl. Frank Scott Drive, College Park. 301.864.6029.
September 8
Students: You’ve heard you can get homework help at the library. But do you know how? Find out at today’s Back to School Blastoff, a free drop-in program from 4 to 7 p.m. Learn about library and tutoring resources to make back-to-school a success! Hyattsville Branch Library, 6530 Adelphi Road. 301.985.4690.
Ongoing
On some summer Saturday evenings, the front lawn of the Greenbelt Aquatic and Fit-
ness Center becomes a theater. This month’s free outdoor movies are The Muppet Movie (August 16 at 8:30 p.m.) and Singin’ in the Rain (September 6 at 8 p.m.). 101 Centerway, Greenbelt. 301.397.2200. Free Anacostia River Boat Tours are held Tuesdays through Fridays from noon to 12:45 p.m. 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. 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. 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, please e-mail tips@hyattsvillelife.com or mail to Community Calendar, P.O. Box 132, Hyattsville, MD 20781. Deadline for September submissions is August 23.
HYATTSVILLE
FARMERS
MARKET
Fresh local produce — the best from Southern Maryland farms!
Tuesdays, 2 to 6 p.m. 3505 Hamilton Street (the former BB&T Building, across from Bestway)
Cookbook giveaway and exchange! We accept SNAP, WIC, & senior coupons A Community-Sponsored Enterprise Sponsored by the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission
Page 10
Hyattsville Life & Times | August 2014
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photos by susie currie The city’s annual National Night Out Against Crime returned to West Hyattsville on August 5. bringing with it family-friendly fun. Above: Councilmember Patrick Paschall (Ward 3) emerges from the dunk tank, where he spent much of the evening. Left: a young attendee enjoys a patriotic Sno Cone.
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Hyattsville Life & Times | August 2014
Page 11
MissFloribunda Dear Miss Floribunda, My family and I bought a nice old house in Hyattsville and are happy to have a readymade garden with nice trees and shrubs that shouldn’t need more than occasional fertilizing and watering. There are azaleas in front, hydrangeas in back, and what seem to be dwarf crepe myrtle. This sounds like a carefree situation, except that in addition to the ornamentals, there is a vine that looks to me like wild grape but acts like kudzu. It grows very fast and is very hard to tear out. It’s a constant chore to tear it off the shrubs it’s determined to strangle. I have heard that you are adamant about keeping poisons out of gardens, but in this case isn’t an herbicide what is needed? I’m ready to bring out the big guns! Maddened on Madison Street Dear Maddened, What you describe is almost certainly porcelainberry aka Amur peppervine If it were our own native wild fox grape, it would not act like kudzu and its roots wouldn’t be so deep. My mentor on plant recognition, Lady Aster, suggests that you cut a stem open. If the inside is white, it
is porcelainberry; if brown, it is fox grape. Porcelainberry was introduced into the United States from northeast Asia in 1870 as a landscaping vine. It is indeed very beautiful, with its clusters of berries that change from white and pastel shades of yellow, pink and mauve to the richest tonalities of green, purple and blue. Once again, as with water hyacinths, someone was seduced by a beautiful exotic plant and didn’t foresee that without the checks and balances of its native habitat it would become a dangerous pest. As you may be aware, Southern farmers were actually paid to plant the notorious kudzu in the 1930s and 1940s on the assumption that it would enrich depleted soils the way the peanut had. Although it is good forage for animals and can be used for basket weaving, it would take a George Washington Carver of kudzu to make it into a viable crop rather than the scourge of the existing Southern vegetation. The porcelainberry rivals it in rampancy, thanks to the birds who enjoy its fruit and distribute the seeds everywhere. Now, I don’t like to criticize my feathered friends, who are not only beautiful and tuneful but essential as pollinators and insect-devourers. However, it must
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS Porcelainberry can be identified by cutting a stem open to see if itʼs white inside.
be noted that birds are also quite partial to the berries of (read: responsible for the spread of ) poison ivy and the lymetick-harboring bush honeysuckle. No species is perfect. As a result, it’s up to us to replace the invasive species with other berry-bearing plants.
I am sorry to say that even my most ecologically responsible sources agree with you that for the larger vines – those impossible to eradicate even with an efficient spade – a topical application of a Triclopyr and glyphosate-based herbicide to the base of the stem after cutting is advisable. Dr. Mala Hierba mixes it with an equal volume of diesel fuel and paints it on with a small brush or swab – and she wears gloves, a mask and long sleeves to protect herself. She says basal oil or kerosene are also effective mixers, but advises that the most important aspect of this process is careful application. Don’t use a spray, which could drift and contaminate other plants. Don’t let any of the mixture drip onto the soil. Don’t compost any vines with berries; bag them for disposal instead. With porcelainberry, a carefree garden is out of the question. You and your family must become very vigilant weeders and make sure to pull out the young seedlings as soon as they appear. This way, you can avoid the serious situations that call for your “big guns.” Please come to the next meeting of the Hyattsville Horticultural Society on Saturday, August 16, at 10 a.m. at the municipal building, 4310 Gallatin Street.
presents
Summer
Jam 2014 The second Friday of every month, May through September, 6:30 to 8:30 PM City Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin Street Rain or Shine!
Admission is free; delicious food for sale
September 12 - Just Us and Police Department Open House
Fitness Fridays
Ageless Grace Exercise Class Ageless Grace is a fitness and wellness program that consists of 21 simple exercises designed to improve healthy longevity. The exercises are designed to be performed in a seated chair and almost anyone can do them, regardless of most physical conditions.
Fridays, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Summer semester June 6 - August 15 Fall Semester starting in September Wednesdays and Fridays
City Municipal Building, First Floor Multi-Purpose Room, 4310 Gallatin Street Only
$2 per session!
For more information or to register, please call Colleen at 301-985-5057 or email caistis@hyattsville.org - or just stop by a try a class!
Page 12
Hyattsville Life & Times | August 2014
susie currie This Battle of Bladensburg memorial will be dedicated on August 23 as part of a weekend of bicentennial events.
bladensburg
continued from page 1
centennial events. He notes that the most interesting stories of the conflict were those of individual courage, those of people who were put in impossible situations and made the best of them. A personal favorite is the tale of John Pendleton Kennedy, a young soldier who fought the Battle of Bladensburg in a pair of high-heeled dancing pumps because he had no other shoes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that took determination! Another is the more famous story of First Lady Dolley Madison, who fled the White House ahead of the British army with only the most important state papers and a painting of George Washington to save them from destruction. Visitors to the Undaunted Weekend on August 23-24 at Riversdale will have the opportunity to meet the President and Mrs. Madison, as well as see a full-scale battle featuring re-enactors from across the United States and Canada. The festival weekend is packed with events, including interpreters in period dress, live music
featuring the U.S. Navy Commodores, childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s games, food trucks, and fireworks. Participants can sign up now to run Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bladensburg Racesâ&#x20AC;? 5K. (Run like the British are behind you!) There will be free shuttles from designated parking and visitors of all ages are encouraged. The festival will open Saturday morning with the dedication of the Undaunted Monument, located near the Peace Cross and George Washington House. The monument includes a bronze plaque designed by local artist Joanna Blake, depicting three soldiers during the Battle of Bladensburg who are fighting on despite wounds and great adversity. Other events will focus on those pieces of history that are still part of the Bladensburg landscape. The Magruder House, Bostwick, and the Indian Queen Tavern are all mentioned in historical accounts, and will be open as living exhibits of what life was like during the War of 1812. For more information about the War of 1812 Bicentennial and the Undaunted Weekend, see www.princegeorges1812.org.
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susie currie At Hyattsvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest playground, superhero symbols abound.
playground
continued from page 1
was too good a deal to pass up. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Since it was on sale, I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pick the colors,â&#x20AC;? said Iraola. But when she heard that it was all made of steel â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and remembered that a certain Superman movie was poised to hit theaters â&#x20AC;&#x201C; an idea came to her in a Flash. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I thought, [ital] Man of Steel: Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s it!â&#x20AC;? recalled Iraola. â&#x20AC;&#x153;After all, Superman and many other comic heroes [have costumes in] the exact colors of the playground equipment!â&#x20AC;? Instead of looking up in the sky for inspiration, Iraola and her team started from the ground up. They designed the 5,000-squarefoot rubberized surface themselves, adding black (for Batman) and white (Captain America) to the palette of primary colors. The result is a ground cover that is much more durable (and eye-
catching) than the traditional wood chips. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more fun,â&#x20AC;? added Iraola. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We really pushed the limits of what the rubber company could do.â&#x20AC;? No plastic slides or wood chips or here â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all the play structures are steel, installed over a colorful rubberized surface that carries the comic-hero theme from slide to swings. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the Superman logo on one end, the Batman symbol on another, and Captain Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trademark red-white-and-blue emblem right in the middle, under the swingsets. (Look for the white star; you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss it.) The swingset is also used as a visual divider between what is essentially two playgrounds. Everything to the left of the bucket swings is intended for ages 2 to 5, while the swings with flexible seats signal a shift to the 5-to-12 play area. A hopscotch game uses letters instead of numbers, with the
squares spelling COMICS. Action words in a comic-style font are incorporated into the design as well: SPLAT! PLOP! ZOOM! The two bilingual entry signs have English on one side, Spanish on the other, and a ZAP! in the middle of both. Other features include a silver Wonder Woman slide, a Batman climbing structure, and an overhead spinner adorned with lightning bolts, in an homage to The Flash. Parents may want to brush up on their DC Comics characters before a visit, though. Overhearing the explanation for the the lightning-bolt design, one 9-yearold whispered: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mom, whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Flash?â&#x20AC;? Comic Hero Playground, Heurich Park, 6001 Ager Road. From Ager Road, turn onto Nicholson Street by the dog park. Make the first left and follow the path through a wooded area to the playgroundâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parking lot.
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Hyattsville Life & Times | August 2014
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LARRY’S LISTINGS: FOR SALE WITH LARRY 4008 Ingraham St $324,000 4200 31st Street $314,995 19028 Stedwick $314,900 4204 31st Street $324,000 20214 HarborTree $219,995 8971 Centerway $269,995 4900 Erie Street $279,000 19626 Gateshead $229,995 20249 Maple Leaf $265,995 9519 Tippett Lane $259,900
LISTED & SOLD BY LARRY 4605 Russell Avenue $265,000 7814 Hanover Pwy $129,995 5000 Stewart Ct $299,995
LARRY PERRIN
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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.