February 2017 Hyattsville Life & Times by Hyattsville Life and Times

HMS FIGHTS TO WRITE

PGCPS meets resistance from parents and students when the creative writing major is eliminated. P. 10

CULTURAL CONNECTIONS Hyattsville resident Julide Dengel shares her story about coming to the U.S. from Turkey. P. 7

Parking woes chase away The Big Bad Woof

PATHWAY TO PURCHASE

Lindsay Myers provides a look into a new ﬁrst-time homebuyer program for Prince George’s County. P. 4

Life&Times

By Allan Walters

Visitors to Hyattsville’s Shoppes at Arts District are now facing an unwelcome sight. Instead of the expected aisles of organic petfood and unique pet toys, they are met with empty shelves and a “We’ve Moved” sign on the front door of the space formerly occupied by The Big Bad Woof. One of the main culprits? Parking. The Big Bad Woof opened in August 2011, as one of the original tenants in the Shoppes at Arts District, and was an important addition to the mix of retail and restaurants that form the Shoppes’ diverse offerings. Owners Julie Paez and Pennye Jones-Napier were attracted to potential growth in their local customer base and benefitting from the Arts District’s appeal as a shopping and entertainment destination, Jones-Napier said in an interview.

HYATTSVILLE MD PERMIT NO. 1383

NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID

BIG BAD WOOF continued on page 13

Vol. 14 No. 2

Hyattsville’s Community Newspaper

February 2017

Sanctuary city legislation introduced in city council By Quanny Carr

Nine members of the city council introduced an ordinance to make Hyattsville a sanctuary city, despite a recent executive order from the Trump administration aimed at enforcing immigration laws throughout the nation. On Jan. 25, President Trump signed an executive order that called for “direct agencies … to ensure the faithful execution of immigration laws of the United States against all removable aliens.” A hard push for immigra-

tion enforcement is outlined in the order. It also states a penalty for any “sanctuary jurisdictions across the United States [that] willfully violate Federal law in an attempt to shield aliens from removal from the United States.” According to the executive order, any sanctuary jurisdictions “that willfully refuse to comply … are not eligible to receive Federal grants.” With the threat of losing federal funding, Miami-Dade, Fla., has announced their compliance with the executive order.

“There is no amount of money that can convince our local government to spend local taxpayer resources, including our police oﬃcers, on targeting our own residents for discrimination.” — Patrick Paschall Ward 3 councilmember

The supermajority of the Hyattsville City Council, however, is not letting that threat stop them. Councilmember Patrick Paschall (Ward 3) introduced the legislation with eight cosponsors: Mayor Candace Hollingsworth and councilmembers Kevin Ward (Ward 1), Bart Lawrence (Ward 1), Robert Croslin (Ward 2), Shani Warner (Ward 2), Thomas Wright (Ward 3), Edouard Haba (Ward 4) and Joseph Solomon (Ward 5). SANCTUARY continued on page 8

Women’s March brings neighbors together

Hyattsville Life & Times PO Box 132 Hyattsville, MD 20781

By Helen Parshall

COURTESY OF CHRISTINE BLACKERBY Some of the members of the Hyattsville group amidst hundreds of thousands of other marchers at the Womenʼs March.

The Women’s March on Washington provided an opportunity for residents of Hyattsville and surrounding communities to come together to reaffirm their commitment to building inclusive, welcoming neighborhoods. Amidst the fear of the Trump administration, the march became a galvanizing point for Hyattsville residents to engage in conversations, said Anke Meyer, one of the women who started the group. “Most of us have similar stories,” said Meyer. “When we woke up the morning after the election, we said, ‘Oh my god this can’t be,’ and we have to do something — but let’s do something for the long-term.” Organizing Hyattsville for the Women’s March started on an email list for the Hyattsville OrMARCH continued on page 12

CENTER SECTION: FEBRUARY 8, 2017 ISSUE OF THE HYATTSVILLE REPORTER — IN ESPANOL TOO!

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Hyattsville Life & Times | February 2017

FromTheEditor

More than our flags: True community helps foster many types of courage By Heather Wright

As a registered Independent and lover of cross-cultural dialogue, I was heartened when I read a teaser in the Jan. 22 Washington Post’s Metro section: “Mike Pence helped make us better neighbors when he took up temporary residence in Northwest.”

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. Managing Editor Maria D. James maria@hyattsvillelife.com Associate Editor Heather Wright heather@hyattsvillelife.com Digital Editor Krissi Humbard krissi@hyattsvillelife.com Web Manager Lindsay Myers lindsay@hyattsvillelife.com Layout & Design Editor Ashley Perks Copy Editor Nancy Welch Advertising advertising@hyattsvillelife.com 301.531.5234 Writers & Contributors Quanny Carr, Stuart Eisenberg, Julia Gasper-Bates, Helen Parshall, Fred Seitz, Kit Slack, Allan Walters Board of Directors Joseph Gigliotti — President and General Counsel Chris Currie — Vice President Caroline Selle — Secretary Rosanna Landis Weaver, Gretchen Brodtman, Debra Franklin, T. Carter Ross Maria D. James and Krissi Humbard — Ex Officios 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.

The opinion article was entitled “We will miss the Pences.” Wow, I thought, people unexpectedly coming together across political lines and learning what it means to be neighbors. The article did invoke neighborliness and demonstrated a kind of unity. In protest of “Pence’s hateful policies on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people,” the article’s authors hung a rainbow flag on their house. More and more neighbors joined in flying rainbow flags, a CNN interview about the flags went viral on Facebook, and response to the peaceful protest was reported to be overwhelmingly positive. The article included a quote from a lesbian in California: “Your beautiful, kind, brave act moved me to tears and it will stay with me, always.” These neighbors found a way to show solidarity and support to the LGBT community and also found common ground in their “respectful protest.” And yet, I kept thinking about the Pences. In all that time, did anyone welcome them? Did anyone bring them over a bread basket or ask them in for coffee? Will anyone from that neighborhood truly

miss the Pences for who they are, rather than as someone to rally against, albeit respectfully? Put another way, would the Pences say that they were welcomed and treated as neighbors? That’s missing the point, some might say. And, to be fair, the article does not rule out the possibility of neighborliness towards the Pences. It could’ve happened, right? Several days after the election, I attended my usual “cocktail hour” on Friday, hosted by a friend in Hyattsville. She graciously invited friends of all political persuasions to come together and debrief, emphasizing that all were welcome. And we came: Democrats, Republicans, Independents and possibly a Libertarian or two. Three were “out” as Trump supporters. We were all in different emotional states, ranging from relieved and elated to angry and despondent. I won’t say that voices weren’t raised or that things didn’t become heated at times. They were, and they certainly did. But we gathered together and listened. We broke bread and drank some sort of red-white-and-blue cocktail. We discussed and vented and challenged one another. And we

will gather again, albeit perhaps in a less raw state. And all because a hospitable, kind Hyattsville resident invites us and makes us all feel included, listened to and valued. The Women’s March occurred one day after President Trump’s inauguration. The march started with an example of courage in action: retired attorney Teresa Shook had the idea that women could march in Washington around the time of Inauguration Day, and with the help of friends, she created a Facebook event page. You may have heard, her idea sort of caught on. And it demonstrated the courage of many to take a belief and turn it into public statement and action. Following the Women’s March, another type of courage surfaced on the Hyattsville Catholic Women’s listserv. After the organizing committee cut ties with New Wave Feminists, a pro-life organization, some prolife women were not sure if they could or should be part of the Women’s March. Some chose to go in spite of their reservations. On the listserv, one woman who attended described how she had joined up with a pro-life contin-

gent holding signs during the march. Although, she wrote, there “were definitely some eye rolls and snide comments” from other participants, there were also people who came over to the group to say that “while they were pro-choice, they were really happy to see pro-lifers there and a diversity of opinions after everything that happened [that] week.” The courage to reach across a deep divide and connect with the “other.” To reach across and declare “I see you, I disagree with you — perhaps profoundly — but I see you and know you are worthy of my attention.” So fly your flags. Post your bumper stickers. March and carry your signs. Show your solidarity for your cause and those who support it. Have the courage to live and declare the truth as you know it. And yet, we are all more than our flags, more than our bumper stickers and posters. Who is my neighbor? Even the one who is flying a different flag, marching in a different march. Have the courage to love that neighbor, ask them in, and maybe, just maybe, really miss them when they have to go.

MyTwoCents Is being a sanctuary city good for Hyattsville? By Hugh Turley

A recent opinion column in the January 2017 Hyattsville Life & Times stated that City Councilmember Patrick Paschall would introduce a bill “to make Hyattsville a sanctuary city — a place where police don’t ask about immigration status and where the city won’t assist the federal government in the deportation of undocumented immigrants.” The column stated that it is important to fight the Trump administration. Making Hyattsville a sanctuary city could harm residents of the city. CNN News reported that President Trump has pledged to block federal funding to sanctuary cities within his first 100 days. In 2015, Congressman Steny Hoyer announced that the Hyattsville Volunteer

Fire Department would receive more than $390,000 in federal funding from the Department of Homeland Security. If Councilman Paschall’s bill succeeds in making Hyattsville a sanctuary city, how much federal money would the city risk losing? There is another potential harm to residents that could come from being a sanctuary city. Last year, in preparing for a congressional hearing, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency released statistics on criminal illegal aliens the agency caught and released back into society during fiscal year 2015. The largest number of convictions (12,307), were for driving under the influence of alcohol — DUI and DWI. Studies by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that arrests

for drinking and driving are highest among the Hispanic population. An article in USA Today reported, “According to the University of North Carolina’s Highway Safety Research Center, 7.04% of Hispanic drivers involved in crashes in the state in 2005 were suspected of driving while intoxicated. That compares with 2.82% of whites in crashes and 2.29% of African-Americans, according to Eric Rodgman, a researcher at the center.” Are the Hyattsville police and citizens of the city prepared for an increase in drunk driving that could accompany Hyattsville being a sanctuary city? Is the proper role of the Hyattsville City Council to fight Donald Trump and serve illegal aliens or to serve the best interests of the citizens of Hyattsville?

Hyattsville Life & Times | February 2017

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THE VIGILANTES #4: “KENYA BELIEVE IT?!”

NEWS BRIEFS

READ THE FULL STORY AT HYATTSVILLELIFE.COM CALL FOR ARTISTS FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AWARENESS ART SHOW The Hyattsville Community Development Corporation recently shared a new call for artists from the Maryland State Arts Council specifically aimed at practicing artists who proactively use their art and personal activities for public education and awareness around behavioral health issues. The Behavioral Health Awareness Art Show is one of two exhibitions in spring 2017 hosted by Maryland’s first lady Yumi Hogan as part of a statewide multi-government agency and community partnership to increase public awareness of the need to destigmatize mental illness and addiction. The exhibition will feature an opening reception on April 24 in Annapolis. Submissions are due on March 1. For more details, visit hycdc.org/call-artists-behavioralhealth-awareness-art-show-due-31/. HISTORIC FRANKLINS NOW USES SOLAR RENEWABLE ENERGY Franklins Restaurant, Brewery, and General Store recently added solar panels to its 100-year-old building. Thanks to a group of neighbors who formed Community Solar Thermal LLC, the restaurant now uses the sun to preheat its water. The results are a reduction in fossil fuel consumption, as the solar power displaces natural gas, and a reduction in energy costs. The project is the latest community-based forprofit enterprise led by Dave Brosch, who heads the first community -initiated solar company in Maryland in nearby University Park. Mike Franklin, proprietor of the historic anchor to the Arts District, agreed to host the innovative power plant to further his personal interest in combatting climate change. For more details, visit the LLC website at sites.google.com/site/communitysolarthermal/home. UMD DEBUTS PLANS FOR DISCOVERY DISTRICT On Feb. 2, the University of Maryland (UMD) announced plans for a new development project called Discovery District. The district includes more than 150 acres that stretch from Baltimore Avenue to the community along River Road. Plans for the Discovery District will feature amenities like The Hotel at the University of Maryland, food, arts and entertainment experiences. According to a university press release, the Discovery District is a key piece of the university’s Greater College Park initiative, a $2 billion public-private investment to rapidly revitalize the Baltimore Avenue corridor and academic campus. The majority of UMD’s Discovery District is made up of the university’s former research park, which includes 130 acres dedicated to innovation — housing leading research organizations in environmental and earth sciences, food safety, agriculture policy, language and national security.

The Vigilantes is a Hyattsville Life & Times original comic strip.

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Hyattsville Life & Times | February 2017

New homeownership program helps families afford houses in the county By Lindsay Myers

The Prince George’s County Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and Redevelopment Authority is now accepting applications for a new homeownership program called “Pathway to Purchase.” The program provides qualifying first-time homebuyers in Prince George’s County with up to $10,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance through a zero percent interest loan program. Eligible residential properties include new construction, resale, short sales and foreclosures. Eric Brown, the director of DHCD, called Pathway to Purchase one of the agency’s signature programs. “One of the important things for the department and the county is to create opportunities for homeownership in the county,”

said Brown. “We realized that one of the barriers to homeownership, particularly for first-time home buyers, is coming up with the down payment. Many of them are renters and are able to pay rent on a consistent basis but don’t necessarily have enough saved up for a down payment.” Pathway to Purchase is the latest iteration of the Redevelopment Authority and DHCD’s longstanding homeownership program. After the success of My Home and My Home II, similar programs that offered down payment assistance for firsttime homebuyers, Brown and his team decided to rebrand the program and broaden its scope. Previously, participants could only purchase homes in select locations in the county. Pathway to Purchase, however, has no geographic restrictions. Brown expects an increase in those look-

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excited to learn more about how programs like Pathway to Purchase could help us settle in the county more quickly.” Pathway to Purchase also differs from My Home and My Home II because it provides loan forgiveness after 10 years for those who make their purchased home their primary residence. The program is intended to encourage families to settle in the county and continue to build community long term. Interested residences can ap-

ply for the program through the Redevelopment Authority’s website. Participants are selected primarily based on need and on the cost of the home in question. Because the money is federally allocated, the county is limited by federal restrictions on the program. For example, homes cannot exceed $313,000 in purchase price. Income restrictions fall between 51 percent and 80 percent of the area median income. “The idea of the program is to supplement the amount you will need for down payment,” said Brown. “We will go up to $10,000 based on your income and other money you may have. It’s on a first-come, first-serve basis.” While DHCD currently only has about $750,000 allocated for the program, they are hoping to set aside money each year to keep it going long term. The agency served over 600 families with its previous homeownership programs. “We are hoping to increase the number of families we serve over time,” said Brown, “but it all depends on the popularity of the program and the number of people who apply.” For more information, check out the Redevelopment Authority’s page on the county website at PrinceGeorgesCountyMD.gov.

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Hyattsville Life & Times | February 2017

Then Then&Now

Get relief for your renovation project By Stuart Eisenberg

Need help fixing up your older home? Tax credits can ease the pain. There is an important benefit available to homes in historic districts: The Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) Heritage Structure Rehabilitation Tax Credit for homeowners. This credit provides a one-time state income tax credit equal to 20 percent of qualified renovation expenditures. The credit is capped at $50,000 and must be spent in a 24-month period. A property owner must have a minimum of $5,000 of eligible expenses in order to qualify, and the application process is relatively easy. The tax credit goes a long way to driving your renovation costs down and opens up an avenue to knowledgeable state preservation officers who determine program eligibility, work that qualifies for credits, and how the work has to be done to be tax-credit compliant. Seasoned officers may also be resources to help homeowners solve renovation challenges. HOW CAN I USE THESE CREDITS? Eligible repairs include roof repair/ replacement, chimney repair and lin-

ing, window restoration, installation of storm doors/windows, masonry repointing, floor refinishing, structural repairs, plumbing, electrical and AC, architectural/engineering consulting fees and tool rentals. As many of these repairs and upgrades can be costly, the credit sometimes means the difference between getting work done and putting off critical maintenance. Anecdotally, the program favors higher ticket, highimpact, one-time projects like roofing, air conditioning and furnace replacement. The program doesn’t pay for new construction. Program details can be found at mht.maryland.gov/taxcredits_homeowner.shtml. Maryland’s review period runs about 30 to 45 days after MHT receives a completed application and review fee. In Hyattsville, the credit is available only to properties designated as contributing resources to the city’s National Register Historic District. Home maintenance and renovation can be daunting, even for seasoned homeowners, and repair and maintenance of an older home is often an ongoing process. Hyattsville’s community of homeowners has a reservoir of renovation

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and preservation knowledge and experience to share. Folks who have been there, done that, can help demystify issues, save money, reduce hassles, and improve renovation results.

FINDING RESOURCES IN HYATTSVILLE These historic renovation veterans of Hyattsville are often members of the Hyattsville Preservation Association (HPA). Homeowners in the Historic District can learn about the organiza-

tion on the HPA website: preservehyattsville.org. Among the many resources and tools available on the site are a downloadable style guide for historic homes and links leading to county, state and national organizations that support preservation activities. Indeed, between the city’s seasoned experts and the website, there is plenty to help Hyattsville homeowners achieve their maintenance, preservation or renovation goals.

NatureNearby

Green invaders in Magruder Park By Fred Seitz

Walk along the bike path near the Northwest Branch and you may notice signs about a research project at the edge of the woods. On a mild winter day, I saw a team of entomologists from the University of Maryland (UMD), one of whom told me that they were working on a project to control emerald ash borers in the area. The emerald ash borer, which is native to temperate regions of Asia, is an invasive beetle about one-third of an inch long. In its adult stage, the borer is bright green. In the U.S., emerald ash borers were first detected in Michigan in 2002. Scientists believe that they hitchhiked here in packing crates, possibly from China, in the early 1990s. Ash borers have complex life cycles. Long-living females can deposit up to 200 eggs in cracks and crevices of ash trees, preferring trees that are stressed or weakened. During their development within the tree, the larvae eat inner bark, which compromises even healthy trees. The borers develop within the tree over one to two years, and finally emerge as adults and feed for about a week on the tree’s leaves before mating. Their emergence from trees is usually indicated by small Dshaped holes. When I spoke with the UMD entomologist, she showed me some pupae they had removed from

crevices in a couple of ash trees near the bike path. The pupae were small yellow beasties, quite different in appearance from the adults. Ash borers infest various species of ash trees and have killed millions of trees from southern Canada to the southeast U.S and as far west as Colorado. The cost of this destruction has been estimated in the billions of dollars. In their host countries, ash borers are not as destructive because they have native predators. In North America, however, their infestations have led to prohibitions against moving firewood and using pesticides. Natural predators, including varieties of wasps and some types of fungi, have been introduced and are controlling ash borers to a limited extent. Additionally, some jurisdictions have removed infested ash trees to prevent the borers from spreading to other trees. Ash borers may travel as far as 12 miles from where they hatch. Both the U.S. and Maryland Departments of Agriculture monitor the presence and spread of ash borers. The purple traps often seen in Maryland trees in spring and summer are part of this monitoring effort. If you identify ash borers, or think that you have, please notify the Maryland Department of Agriculture; the agency’s Washington Metropolitan contact number is 301.261.8106. The ash trees will thank you for it.

Hyattsville Life & Times | February 2017

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CulturalConnections

From Turkey to Washington, DC By Julia Gaspar-Bates

Moving frequently within her home country of Turkey as a child prepared Hyattsville resident Julide Dengel for her eventual move to the U.S. Dengel spent her early years in Istanbul before relocating to Turkey’s capital, Ankara, at age 7. When Dengel was a teenager, her father’s job took the family to a different region of Turkey. She experienced culture shock, leaving behind a modern lifestyle and entering into a more traditional environment. “The atmosphere was very male-dominated. It was not easy being a young female with a vibrant social life,” Dengel said. Dengel’s antidote to her situation was to take extra classes so she could finish high school early. She worked hard and graduated by her sophomore year. After graduation, Dengel returned to Istanbul to study textile design. “When I came back to Istanbul, I changed my look. I dyed my hair and started to dress more bohemian. It was a sense of freedom,” she said. After Dengel finished her studies, her parents sent her to the U.S. to join her older brothers who had gone to college here. Initially she was resistant: “My view of the U.S. was McDonald’s, and I didn’t want to go. I wanted to go to London to be with my cousins and not be monitored by my brothers.”

COURTESY OF JULIDE DENGEL Julide Dengel

Upon arriving in Charleston, S.C., though, Dengel quickly changed her mind because “it was so beautiful and people were

so kind. It was magical, and I was very happy. ... People were very welcoming and helpful.” She studied English and graphic design. Within a short time, Dengel met her future husband, Todd, who was managing a restaurant and jazz club in Charleston. At first, they had to keep their relationship clandestine because her brothers would disapprove of her being with an American. When Dengel’s family suggested she return to Istanbul a few months later, Todd insisted on going with her. This was a big deal with her extended family, who were initially against the relationship. However, upon meeting Todd, her family liked him and supported her decision, and the two became engaged during their trip. After several years in Charleston, Dengel moved to Washington, DC, with her husband and young son to be closer to her brother who had relocated here earlier. “The first year in DC was very difficult. We moved here

“I am close to work in downtown DC and can always go right up the road to enjoy it. But when I head north to Hyattsville, I always get the sense that I am where I am truly home.” during the recession. Todd got a job doing parking and transportation, and he worked all the time. After moving to DC, I didn’t see my husband for almost a year.” When she and Todd decided to buy a house, they discovered Hyattsville. After living in an EYA townhouse for several years, they recently bought a charming Victorian home that they had fallen in love with. Dengel enjoys living in Hyattsville because “there is a strong sense of civic engagement, peo-

ple rally around new business and generally care what is happening. We’re on the same wavelength with a lot of people. I feel really lucky to live here. You feel good doing your shopping and supporting your neighbors. I am close to work in downtown DC and can always go right up the road to enjoy it. But when I head north to Hyattsville, I always get the sense that I am where I am truly home.” Despite finding “home” in her host country, there are still aspects of Turkish life that Dengel misses. “I miss the food and the region which is so beautiful. The blue Mediterranean water. I miss the unique daily outings to tea gardens and the liveliness. I miss taking the ferry to go to islands around Istanbul and the Bosporus. Most importantly, I miss my family. I wanted to go back and live there when we were younger, but not now. Maybe when I retire we’ll go there. Who knows?” Julia Gaspar-Bates is a crosscultural trainer and consultant. “Cultural Connections” is devoted to bringing forth the voices of immigrants and other foreigners who have settled in Hyattsville.

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WWW.HYATTSVILLE.ORG/ELECTION

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Hyattsville Life & Times | February 2017

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Hyattsville Reporter No. 347 • February 8, 2017

Celebrating Black History Month

The City of Hyattsville is celebrating Black History Month with a series of events. Here are two of them, and check our website – www.hyattsville.org/blackhistory where we’ll post more as the details are confirmed. First, join us Wednesday, February 22, at 7 p.m. for a public discussion with Robert J. Patterson, PhD, author of Exodus Politics: Civil Rights and Leadership in African American Literature and Culture, on the first floor of the City Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin Street. The Prince George’s County Truth Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History will co-sponsor. Then, on Tuesday, February 28, at 7 p.m., come have some fun at Black History Trivia Night at Trinity Grill, located at 3010 Hamilton Street. Prince George’s County African American Cultural Center will co-sponsor.

City Elections Coming in May!

Voter registration opens February 12. Registration forms are available in paper during business hours at the City Building, 4310 Gallatin Street, and online. U.S. citizens can register using the Maryland Voter Registration Form available at www.elections.state. md.us. Non-U.S. citizens who live in Hyattsville and others who may not want to register with the State of Maryland can use the Hyattsville Voter Application, available at www.hyattsville.org/elections. Remember, you can vote in City of Hyattsville elections if you: • are at least 16 years of age • have the City of Hyattsville as your primary residence • have been a resident of the City for at least 30 days do not claim the right to vote elsewhere in the United States • have not been found by a court to be unable to communicate a desire to vote If you have any questions, please contact the Elections Coordinator, Nicola Konigkramer, by calling (301) 985-5001 or e-mailing electionboard@hyattsville.org.

Run for Office

Serve your community! Residents wanting to run for City Council Member from any of Hyattsville’s five Wards can file an application between Monday, February 27, and Friday, March 31. For more information, attend one of our Candidate Information Sessions on either Monday, March 6, 6 – 7 p.m., or Saturday, March 25, 10 – 11 a.m. Both sessions will be held at 4310 Gallatin Street. Pick up a Candidate packet at the City Municipal Building, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., or get one online at www.hyattsville.org/elections. Packets will be available starting February 10.

also be sent electronically to cityclerk@hyattsville.org or posted to speakuphvl.com/meetings.

Assistant City Administrator Recertified in Economic Development

Jim Chandler wears many hats: in addition to serving as Hyattsville’s Assistant City Administrator, he is the City’s Director of Community and Economic Development—not to mention a husband, father, and food aficionado. Jim’s most recent accomplishment, recertifying with the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), means good things for Hyattsville. “Earning recertification with the IEDC means a great deal to me. It´s fulfilling when I´m able to apply the knowledge and experiences gained through IEDC to improve the quality of life for our folks here in Hyattsville,” says Chandler, who now has over a decade of experience in community and economic development. “I recognize how fortunate I am to work for a community that looks for ways to reinvest in itself.”

Waste Collection Changes for President’s Day

There will be no yard waste collection on Monday, February 20. Compost will be collected on Tuesday, February 21. Trash collection schedule will remain as normal. If you have any questions about recycling, please contact Prince George’s County by calling 311.

Stop Stealing Scraps!

Hey you! If you see a five-gallon white bucket sitting on the curb, please leave it alone. This bucket is (or just was) filled with decomposing fruits, vegetables, meat, eggshells, and coffee grounds awaiting transport to the composting facility in Upper Marlboro. The City of Hyattsville is participating in a Volunteer Food Scrap Compost Pilot Program in conjunction with Prince George’s County. Our sanitation team travels the City on Mondays collecting the food scraps from the buckets. If you are interested in getting on the waitlist for the program, contact Colleen Aistis at (301) 985-5057 or caistis@hyattsville.org.

Mini Camp Magruder

Registration is open for Mini Camp Magruder! We’d love to have your youngster, age 5-10, join us while schools are closed but parents still have to work. We’ll be open on February 10 and March 27, 8 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. ($30 each day). For more information, contact Saarah Abdul-Rauf at (301) 985-5065 or visit www.hyattsville.org/campmagruder.

Parent & Child Dance Party

Join us on a sweet adventure through Candy Land! Come to 4310 Gallatin Street on Saturday, February 11, 5 – 7 p.m., for a kid-friendly evening of music, dancing, snacks, and fun photos. Entry is $5.00 per person, payable at the door (cash, checks, and credit cards accepted). Be sure to RSVP now as space is limited! For more information, please contact Cheri Everhart by calling (301) 985-5021 or visit www.hyattsville.org/candyland.

Hyattsville residents are welcoming neighbors of all stripes. On Sunday, February 26, 2 – 4 p.m., on the second floor of the City Building, our next Community Conversation will bring residents together to discuss additional ways forward. Join us for a panel discussion with members of our Muslim, LGBTQ, and Latino communities followed by a dialogue to share ideas to stay motivated and engaged as a community. The conversation will be non-partisan, and all are encouraged to participate. Upcoming Council Meetings will cover numerous projects including University Hills sidewalks, street rehabilitation in Ward 3, the Riverfront at West Hyattsville Metro Station, and the City’s Residential Parking Program. There will also be a Council Facilities Work Session to discuss planning for 4310 Gallatin Street (City Municipal Building) and 3505 Hamilton Street (former BB&T building) on February 15, 8 – 10 p.m., at the City Municipal Building. Public comments are welcome at the meeting and can

Service Learning Opportunity for Volunteers: Threatening Plant Removal

On the third Saturday of every month, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., volunteers can learn how to identify and properly remove non-native, invasive plants from Magruder Woods. A set of Safety Guidelines and cotton work gloves will be provided. Volunteers should dress for the elements, with sturdy boots or shoes, long sleeves and long pants. Don’t forget to bring water and sunscreen! Warning: You will get dirty and have fun, too! This activity can help satisfy the State of Maryland Student Service Learning requirement. Registration is encouraged but not required. For more information or to register, please call (301) 985-5057 or email caistis@hyattsville.org.

Route 1 Rampage Returns to Hyattsville

April 1 is approaching fast—and the City will once again host the Route 1 Rampage, the collegiate and professional criterium bicycle race organized by the University of Maryland Cycling Team. Come out to ride with the pros or during the open course time (for kids too!), or to watch, eat and drink in the celebration area on Gallatin at Route 1. Arrow Bicycle is the team’s sponsor, and other businesses are encouraged to contact the team to get involved. The race course will again be the one-mile loop from Route 1/Baltimore Avenue to Farragut Street, 42nd Avenue and Jefferson Street. Route 1 parking will be prohibited, and traffic will be reduced to one lane each way. Farragut, 42nd, and Jefferson will be closed to traffic along the race route, with drivers only allowed to cross the course when no riders are present. Additional plans and details are posted at www.hyattsville.org/route1rampage.

Creative Minds

The Winter Session of the Creative Minds parent and toddler program takes place every Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., until March 16. For more information or to register, please contact Saarah AbdulRauf at (301) 985-5065 or visit www.hyattsville.org/ creativeminds.

Call Our Main Number

The City is making it easier for residents to contact us. All questions, comments, and concerns—from Call-ABus to trash service—can now be directed to (301) 9855000. We look forward to hearing from you!

Police Department Hiring

Do you want to build your career while giving back to the community? Help keep the City of Hyattsville safe by applying for a position with our Police Department as an officer, captain, crime analyst, or grant coordinator. For more information or to apply, visit www.hyattsville.org.

Ageless Grace

Our seated exercise class is still offered Wednesdays and Fridays, 10 – 11 a.m., at 4310 Gallatin Street, but Ageless Grace will no longer take place on Thursdays. You can now use Thursdays to rest up between workouts!

How Can We Be a More Welcoming Community?

Coming Council Issues

www.hyattsville.org • 301-985-5000

Senior Arts Academy Will Be Back Soon!

The winter session of the Senior Arts Academy is now over. But don’t worry! Our partnership with Art Works Now will continue later in the year. Stay tuned!

Call-A-Bus Trips Senior Valentine Social

Love and friendship are in the air! Join us at the City Building on February 14 for our Valentine’s Day celebration, 1 – 3 p.m., featuring music, games, prizes, and plenty of refreshments. Free transportation will be provided by the Call-A-Bus service. Please call (301) 985-5000 to reserve your seat. City-wide pickup begins at noon. For more information, call (301) 985-5057 or e-mail caistis@hyattsville.org.

The Call-A-Bus takes seniors and people with disabilities to area stores and outings on a regular basis. Reservations are required by calling (301) 985-5000. Giant: February 13 & 27, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Price Rite Nutritional Tour: February 16, 1:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. Safeway & Aldi: February 23, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Shoppers & Price Rite: February 21, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

City Updates

Did you know you can sign up to receive City updates by email and/or text message? To do so, visit www.hyattsville.org/notifyme.

Hyattsville Life & Times | February 2017

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Reportero de

Hyattsville

No. 347 • 8 de febrero, 2017

Celebrando el Mes de Historia Afroamericana

La Ciudad de Hyattsville está celebrando el Mes de Historia Afroamericana con una serie de eventos. Aquí está dos de ellos, pero cheque nuestro sitio de web—www.hyattsville/ blackhistory—donde pondremos más cuando confirmemos los detalles. Primeramente, únase con nosotros miércoles el 22 de febrero a las 7 p.m. para una conversación pública con Robert J. Patterson, PhD, autor de Exodus Politics: Civil Rights and Leadership in African American Literature and Culture, en el primer piso del Edificio Municipal, 4310 Gallatin. Co-patrocinará la Rama de la Verdad de la Asociación del Condado de Prince George Para el Estudio de la Vida e Historia Afroamericana. Luego, martes el 28 de febrero a las 7 p.m., venga a divertirse en una Noche de Trivia Sobre la Historia Afroamericana a Trinity Grill, 3010 Hamilton. El Centro de Cultura Afroamericana del Condado de Prince George copatrocinará.

¡Elecciones Municipales Ya Vienen en Mayo!

La registración se abre el 12 de febrero. Formas para registrarse están disponibles en papel durante las horas de operación del Edificio Municipal, 4310 Gallatin y también en la red. Ciudadanos de los EE.UU. pueden registrarse por el Maryland Voter Registration Form, disponible en www. elections.state.md.us. Residentes no ciudadanos de los EE.UU. y otros que no deseen registrarse por el estado de Maryland pueden registrarse por el Hyattsville Voter Registration Application, lo que está disponible en www.hyattsville.org/elections. Acuérdese, se puede votar en la Ciudad de Hyattsville si usted: • tiene al menos 16 años • tiene la Ciudad de Hyattsville como su residencia primaria • ha vivido en la Ciudad más de 30 días • no clama el derecho de votar en ninguna otra parte de los EE.UU. • no ha sido encontrado por un corte como incapaz de comunicar un deseo de votar Cualquier consulta, por favor llame a la Coordinadora de Elecciones, Nicola Konigkramer, a (301) 985-5001 o mande un correo electrónico a elecitonboard@hyattsville.org.

Preséntese Como Candidato

¡Sirva su comunidad! Residentes que quieran presentarse como candidato para la oficina de Miembro del Concejo Municipal de cualquier de los cinco distritos de Hyattsville pueden presentar una solicitud entre lunes el 27 de febrero hasta viernes el 31 de marzo. Para más información, asista una de nuestras sesiones de información para candidatos el lunes el 6 de marzo, 6 – 7 p.m. o el sábado el 25 de marzo, 10 – 11 a.m. Ambas sesiones tendrán lugar en 4310 Gallatin. Para obtener un paquete de candidatura, visite www. hyattsville.org/elections o recójalo en el edificio municipal lunes a viernes, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Paquetes estarán disponibles a partir del 10 de febrero.

¿Cómo Podríamos Ser una Comunidad Más Acogedora?

Los residentes de Hyattsville están acogiendo favorablemente a vecinos de todos tipos. El 26 de febrero, 2 – 4 p.m., en el segundo piso de 4310 Gallatin, nuestra próxima Conversación de Comunidad reunirá a residentes para que puedan discutir maneras adicionales de seguir en adelante. Únase con nosotros para una conversación con miembros de las comunidades musulmana, LGBTQ y latina—seguida por un dialogo para compartir ideas sobre cómo permanecerse motivado y comprometido con la comunidad. La conversación será no partidista. Todos están bienvenidos a participar.

Asuntos del Concejo Municipal

Las próximas reuniones del Concejo Municipal se tratará de muchos proyectos como las aceras en University Hills, la rehabilitación de calles en Distrito 3 y el Riverfront a West Hyattsville Metro Station y el programa de estacionamiento residencial de la ciudad. También habrá una Sesión de Trabajo del Concejo Municipal sobre instalaciones para discutir planes futuros para 4310 Gallatin (Edificio Municipal de la Ciudad) y 3505 Hamilton (ex edificio de BB&T) el 15 de febrero, desde las 8 – 10 p.m. Comentarios públicos están

bienvenidos y también se puede comentar electrónicamente a cityclerk@hyattsville. org o por ponerlos en http://speakuphvl. com/meetings.

Asistente Administrador de la Ciudad Recertificado en el Desarrollo Económico

Jim Chandler tiene muchas responsabilidades: además de servir como el Asistente Administrador de la Ciudad de Hyattsville, sirve como el Director del Desarrollo Comunitario y Económico de la Ciudad—sin mencionar que es un esposo, padre y aficionado de comida fina. Su logro más reciente, recertificarse con el Concejo Internacional del Desarrollo Económico (IEDC), significa cosas buenas para Hyattsville. “Recertificarme con el IEDC tiene mucha significancia para mí. Es gratificante cuando tengo la capaz de aplicar la sabiendas y experiencias conseguidas por el IEDC en mejorar la calidad de vida para nuestra gente aquí en Hyattsville,” dice Chandler, quien ya tiene más de una década de experiencias en el desarrollo económico. “Reconozco como tan afortunado soy en trabajar por una comunidad que busca maneras de reinvertir en sí mismo.”

www.hyattsville.org • 301-985-5000

Fiesta Especial del Día de San Valentín Para Mayores

¡El amor y la amistad están en el aire! Venga al Edificio Municipal el 14 de febrero para nuestra celebración del Día de San Valentín, 1 – 3 p.m., con música, juegos, premios y muchos refrescos. Se ofrece transportación gratis por el servicio de Llama-Un-Bus. Por favor llame a (301) 985-5000 para reservar su asiento. Recojo por la Ciudad se empieza al mediodía. Para más información, llame a (301) 985-5057 o manda un correo electrónico a caistis@hyattsville.org.

Vuelve Route 1 Rampage a Hyattsville

No se coleccionará los residuos del jardín lunes el 20 de febrero. Se coleccionará el composto martes el 21 de febrero. El horario de recolección de basura continuará como normal. Cualquier consulta sobre el reciclaje, por favor llame el Condado de Prince George a 311.

El 1 de abril la Ciudad de Hyattsville de nuevo será la sede del Route 1 Rampage, el critérium colegiado y profesional que es una carrera del Equipo de Ciclismo de la Universidad de Maryland. Venga a montar con los pros o durante el tiempo de curso abierto (¡para niños también!), o para ver, comer y tomar en la zona de celebración en Gallatin y Route 1. Arrow Bicycle es el patrocinador del equipo y se alienta que otras empresas contacten al equipo para involucrarse. La carrera será de nuevo el lazo de una milla desde Ruta 1/Avenida Baltimore hacia Farragut, Avenida 42 y Jefferson. Se prohibirá estacionar en esta sección de Ruta 1 y el tráfico será reducida a un carril en cada dirección. Farragut, la 42 y Jefferson se cerrarán al tráfico, solamente permitiendo que los motoristas crucen la carrera cuando no hay ciclistas. Serán disponibles pronto planes y detalles adicionales en www.hyattsville.org/route1rampage.

No Roba el Desecho

Mentes Creativos

Cambios de Recolección de Basura Para el Día de los Presidentes

¡Oiga! Si usted ve en el bordillo un balde blanco de cinco galones, por favor déjelo en paz. Este balde se llena de frutas y vegetales en descomposición, carne podrida, cáscaras de huevo y granos de café—todo esperando al transporte a la instalación de composto en Upper Marlboro. La Ciudad de Hyattsville está participando en un nuevo Programa Voluntario de Comestibles y Composto en conjunto con el Condado de Prince George. Nuestro equipo de sanitación corre por la Ciudad los lunes recoleccionando el composto. Si usted está interesado en estar en la lista de espera para el programa, contacte a Colleen Aistis a (301) 985-5057 o caistis@hyattsville.org.

Mini Camp Magruder

¡Registración está abierta para Mini Camp Magruder! Nos encantaría si su niño entre las edades de 5 y 10 se uniera con nosotros cuando las escuelas están cerradas pero los padres todavía tienen que trabajar. Estaremos abiertos el 10 de febrero y el 27 de marzo, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Sale $30 cada día.) Si tiene preguntas, contacte a Saarah Abdul-Rauf a (301) 985-5065 o visite a www.hyattsville.org/campmagruder.

Fiesta de Baile Para Padres y Niños

¡Únase con nosotros por una aventura muy dulce por la Tierra de Dulces! Venga con sus niños a 4310 Gallatin el sábado el 11 de febrero, 5 –7 p.m. para una noche de música, baile, botanas y fotos divertidas. Sale cada persona $5 entrar la fiesta y se puede pagar a la puerta (se acepta efectivo, cheques y tarjetas de crédito). ¡RSVP ahora porque nuestra capacidad es limitada! Para más información, contacte a Cheri Everhart a (301) 985-5021 o visite a www.hyattsville.org/candyland.

Oportunidad de AprendizajeServicio Para Voluntarios: Extracción de Plantas Amenazadoras

El tercer sábado de cada mes, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., voluntarios pueden aprender cómo identificar y remover plantas nonnativas e invasivas del Bosque de Magruder. Se proveerá un guida de seguridad y guantes. Voluntarios deberían vestirse para el clima, con botas o zapatas resistentes y mangas y pantalones largos. ¡No se olvide su agua y bloqueador del sol! Aviso: ¡Se va a ensuciar—y divertirse también! Esta actividad puede ayudar en cumplir el Aprendizaje-Servicio requerido de estudiantes en el Estado de Maryland. Se alienta registrarse, pero no es necesario. Para más información o para registrarse, por favor llame a (301) 985-5057 o manda un correo electrónico a caistis@hyattsville.org.

La sesión del invierno de Mentes Creativos, el programa para niños pequeños y sus padres, tiene lugar cada martes y jueves, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., hasta el 16 de marzo. Para más información o para registrarse, por favor contacte a Saarah Abdul-Rauf a (301) 985-5065 o visite a www.hyattsville.org/ creativeminds.

Llame a Nuestro Número Principal

La Ciudad está haciendo más fácil contactarnos. Cualquier consulta, comentario u otro asunto—desde el Llama-UnBus hasta la basura—ahora puede ser dirigido a (301) 9855000. ¡Ansiamos hablar con usted!

El Departamento de Policía Está Contratando

¿Quisiera formar su carrera y contribuir a la comunidad a la vez? Ayude mantener segura la Ciudad de Hyattsville por medio de solicitar una posición con nuestro Departamento de Policía como un oficial, capitán, analista criminal o coordinador de subvenciones. Para más información o para solicitar, visite a www.hyattsville.org.

Gracia Eterna

Nuestra clase de ejercicio sentado todavía se ofrece los miércoles y los viernes, 10 – 11 a.m., en 4310 Gallatin, pero Gracia Eterna ya no tendrá lugar los jueves. ¡Ahora se puede descansar los jueves entre sus días de ejercicio!

¡La Academia de Artes Volverá Pronto!

La sesión del invierno de la Academia de Artes para mayores ya se acabó. ¡Pero no se preocupe! Nuestra asociación con Art Works Now continuará luego este año. ¡Estén atentos!

Call-A-Bus Trips

El Llama-Un-Bus lleva mayores y personas con discapacidades a tiendas y otros eventos. Para reservaciones llame a (301) 985-5000. Giant: Los 13 y 27 de febrero, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Price Rite Nutritional Tour: El 16 de febrero, 1:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. Safeway & Aldi: El 23 de febrero, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Shoppers & Price Rite: El 21 de febrero, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Noticias de la Ciudad

Puede recibir actualizaciones de las noticias de la Ciudad por correo electronico y/o mensaje de texto. Visite a www. hyattsville.org/notifyme.

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Hyattsville Life & Times | February 2017

SANCTUARY

continued from page 1

“There is no amount of money that can convince our local government to spend local taxpayer resources, including our police officers, on targeting our own residents for discrimination,” said Paschall. Mayor Hollingsworth highlighted Hyattsville’s commitment to all its residents. This legislation “gives our foreign-born residents peace of mind that their protection and sense of place is not subject to the whims of a body politic,” Hollingsworth said. “It’s times like these when aligning your words and deeds can mean the difference between feeling safe and knowing that you belong. I want all of our residents to know that no matter what happens in the current Oval Office, they belong right here in Hyattsville.”

“We don’t build or protect our communities by building walls or by creating an ‘us versus them’ climate; but rather by building bridges and creating a ‘we’ environment where everyone can experience a sense of belonging.” — Edouard Haba Ward 4 Councilmember The sanctuary city proposal was first announced by Paschall at the “Not On Our Watch” rally in November. Since then, Paschall has been working with the city council to officially make

KRISSI HUMBARD Councilmember Patrick Paschall (Ward 3), seen here at the “Not On Our Watch” rally Nov. 20, has introduced legislation to make Hyattsville a sanctuary city.

Hyattsville a sanctuary city. The councilmembers have also been working closely with local immigrant advocacy organizations like CASA de Maryland and La Clínica del Pueblo. “This legislation I introduced, along with my eight colleagues and a super majority of the Hyattsville City Council, will prohibit the city staff from arresting or detaining or continuing to hold or transferring information about a resident’s immigration status to the federal government,” said Paschall. The legislation would prohibit the city’s participation in a registry based on race or religion and would also stop the city from entering into any financial agreements with the federal government whereby the government would pay for immigration enforcement at a local level, he added. “The City of Hyattsville has a long-standing practice of acting as a sanctuary city. It’s high time we make that official,” said Warner. “We don’t build or protect our communities by building walls or by creating an ‘us versus them’

climate; but rather by building bridges and creating a ‘we’ environment where everyone can experience a sense of belonging,” said Haba, adding that he strongly supports the motion. Before Hyattsville can become a sanctuary city, the legislation will undergo a formal council discussion and vote. The ordinance will be put on the agenda at the earliest available date, Paschall said, likely in February or early March.

The measure is likely to attract some strong debate. Councilmembers Paula Perry (Ward 4) and Ruth Ann Frazier (Ward 5) were not invited to comment on the proposed legislation. “I have never been contacted by any member of the Hyattsville City Council regarding this motion or the making of it,” Frazier said. Paschall responded, “Paula Perry and Ruth Ann Frazier have been openly hostile to im-

migrants in our community, especially Latinos, and therefore were not invited to cosponsor our sanctuary city legislation. I would welcome their support to protect city residents from being targeted for discrimination by the Trump Administration, but I am not optimistic given their terrible track record on civil rights issues here in Hyattsville.” Paschall encouraged residents of Hyattsville to be proactive and voice their thoughts on the issue in front of the city council. “When we have public discussions about this, come and speak your mind to the city council. Make sure that the city council knows that you support this measure,” he said. Hyattsville already has a longstanding history of welcoming immigrants, but with sanctuary city legislation, many councilmembers hope to stand in solidarity not just with immigrants, but with all marginalized groups. “We are going to stand up to the bullying and the harassment that the president of the United States intends to engage in to target our residents, and we’re going to make sure our residents know there’s no need to be afraid of your local government,” said Paschall.

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Hyattsville Life & Times | February 2017

Page 9

COMMUNITY CALENDAR February 9

Join children’s author A. Cole for a reading and book signing of the book When I Grow Up, I Want to Be Myself. Naya, the main character is an eight-year-old girl who feels ashamed that she is not prepared for her class’s career day. She realizes that although she does not know what she wants to be when she grows up, she knows the type of person she wants to be and discovers what it truly means to love herself. Robert Harper Books. 6216 Rhode Island Ave. Riverdale Park. Free. 4 to 5 p.m. 301.927.1963. Robertharperbooks.com

February 22 through March 6

Artwork from the county’s most promising emerging artists will be on display during the Prince George’s County Public Schools Countywide Student Art Exhibit. The exhibit features hundreds of visual artworks created by students all over the county grades K-12 Opening reception is Feb. 22. 6 to 8 p.m. The Mall at Prince

Georges. 3500 East West Highway. Free. During regular mall hours. pgahc.org

February 25 and February 26

Soul In Motion Players Inc. celebrate their 33rd anniversary with the annual Black History Month performance of “It’s Our Time.” This family-friendly show boasts high energy choreography and beloved heart-pounding rhythms that salute the richness of the African Diaspora. Joe’s Movement Emporium. 3309 Bunker Hill Rd., Mount Rainier. $25 for adults; $15 for students & seniors; and $10 for children 16 & under. Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. Feb. 26 at 4 p.m. 301.699.1819. joesmovement.org.

ville Municipal Building. 4310 Gallatin St. Free. 2 to 4 p.m. 301.985. 5031. hyattsville.org/ communityconversations

March 18

St. Matthew’s Parish Day School PTO will sponsor the Second Annual Pirate Party featuring Mr. Gabe. Children can enjoy a treasure hunt with games and prizes and a performance from a local children’s musician. Costumes are encouraged! Photo/dress-up booth and refreshments will

also be available for an additional cost. Net proceeds will go toward improvements at the day school. 5901 36th Ave. inside the Parish Hall of St. Matthew’s/San Mateo’s. $10 per child, plus $5 for each additional child from the same family. 10 a.m. to noon. stmatthewsdayschool.com or email laurenfkelly@gmail.com.

Ongoing

College Park Airport will host the traveling exhibition Art of the Airport Tower now

through March 10. The exhibition features 50 large scale photographs by Smithsonian photographer Carolyn J. Russo and explores the forms and functions of airport traffic control towers in the U.S. and around the world. College Park Aviation Museum. 1985 Corporal Frank Scott Dr., College Park. $5/adults; $4/seniors (60 and over); $2/children (ages 2-17) and children under 2 are free. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 301.864.6029. CollegeParkAviationMuseum.com

February 26

The City of Hyattsville will host a Community Conversation panel discussion on the topic “How to Be a More Welcoming Neighbor.” Members from the Muslim, LGBT, and Latino communities will participate on the panel. Refreshments will follow. Hyatts-

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Page 10

Hyattsville Life & Times | February 2017

Parents, students fight sudden cancellation of HMS creative writing major; win partial victory By Kit Slack

When applications for the Creative and Performing Arts Program at Hyattsville Middle School (HMS) became available in December, students could apply for majors in music, visual arts, dance, media production and theater. Something was missing though. Hyattsville resident Sean Helfrich’s sixth-grade daughter was attracted to the school’s creative writing major. That major was not listed as part of the 2016-2017 Creative and Performing Arts Program, though it had been part of the HMS program for more than 10 years. During seventh and eighth grades, students accepted into the creative writing major at HMS build a portfolio including plays — many of which HMS theater students perform — poems, short stories, newspaper articles and essays. Students have participated in poetry slams and have conducted oral history projects at a local home for the elderly. Students also have opportunities to critique each other’s work. No other school in the county has a program like this, according to county officials. In the words of Seiji Hayashi, the president of the school’s Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO), the major

“puts like-minded kids together so they push each other to excel.” They spend three to four hours a week together in creative writing classes. When parents discovered that the major was prospectively cancelled, “we couldn’t get detailed answers,” said Hayashi, “so we asked PGCPS [Prince George’s County Public Schools] officials to come and explain” at a PTSO meeting on Jan. 10. Attendees had a lot of questions, according to Hayashi. “Everyone was very dissatisfied with the responses from PGCPS officials who made it sound like they had no choice but to eliminate the program,” he said. From his perspective, “They could not come up with a solid reason as to why.” John Ceschini, arts integration officer, Anita Lambert, the coordinating supervisor for the creative arts programs office, and Krissi Fosset, the instructional director, all attended on behalf of PGCPS. Prince George’s County Councilmembers Deni Taveras and Dannielle Glaros came, too. So did more than 50 parents and students, according to Hayashi. On Jan. 16, the PTSO began a letter writing campaign demanding reinstatement of the program. The PTSO’s advocacy had an impact. On Jan. 18, Ceschini wrote a letter to parents

“Everyone was very dissatisﬁed with the responses from PGCPS oﬃcials who made it sound like they had no choice but to eliminate the program.” —Seiji Hayashi president of Hyattsville Middle School’s Parent Teacher Student Organization reinstating the creative writing major for the 2017-2018 school year. However, for subsequent school years, he said that creative writing would be offered only as an elective. “Maryland State Department of Education does not recognize creative writing as a fine arts major,” Ceschini said, and HMS is the only school in Prince George’s County that offers a major in creative writing. The PTSO is bringing their campaign to permanently reinstate the major to the county’s Board of Education. At the board’s meeting on Jan. 19, Juwan Blocker, the student board member and a graduate of the HMS creative writing program, said he was “very disappointed to hear that we would be even consider-

ing cutting this program,” which he called “very beneficial” and said was “a stepping stone to where I am.” Blocker is petitioning CEO of Schools Dr. Kevin Maxwell for permanent reinstatement of the major. Blocker’s motion to add the issue to the board’s agenda that evening failed. Opponents to the motion, including board member Curtis Valentine, said that the board is still obtaining information, including input from the Maryland State Department of Education, and needs to be briefed more fully before they can respond. During an open comment period, Hayashi, Helfrich and Orla Collins, HMS Student Body president and an eighth-grader in the program, all spoke in defense of the creative writing major. Collins said that she is upset about the cancellation of the program. “I have a passion for writing,” she said, adding that she “is not taught to write creatively in English or other classes.” She said that only in creative writing are students assigned fulllength novels to read. “[The major] draws in high achieving students,” Collins said. Hayashi touted the benefits of the creative writing program. “Creative writers become great communicators, and great communicators become great leaders,” he said. “Words can change the world.”

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Page 11

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BRICK WORK PLUS Dear Miss Floribunda, I enjoyed the Hyattsville Horticultural Society seed sale and made my usual purchases of my favorite vegetable and flower seeds. Then I talked to some people at the information tables and learned that insecticide-free “butterfly gardens” can help the butterflies as they migrate long distances. I also learned a little about bees and that they also need safe havens. The idea of having a kind of hostel for Very Important Pollinators really appeals to me. Can you give a few more pointers about creating such gardens? At the urging of someone I suspect might have been you, I bought some seeds for white cosmos, guessing that white attracts pollinators. What other flower characteristics appeal to butterflies and/or bees? Cosmospolitan on Powhatan Street Dear Cosmospolitan, If you do plan to make this a mission, you could join the National Butterfly Association and have your garden certified as a butterfly haven. There are three requirements: 1) your garden must be pesticide free; 2) you include at least three plant species that sustain native caterpillars; and 3) you also include three flowering plant species that provide nectar to native butterflies. In general, whatever you do to help butterflies also helps bees and other beneficial insects. I do think I remember you and may have steered you towards white cosmos because they are a tried and true butterfly favorite. White does attract butterflies and bees, but so do yellow, purple and blue. Uncomplicated, flat flowers (like cosmos flowers) are easy to land on, and also make access to pollen and nectar simple. Butterflies and bees can’t see the red that attracts hummingbirds, but they can see yellow centers of simple, open-hearted flowers. An exception is the red monarda, or bee balm, which refracts light so the flowers look blue to bees. Other flowers that butterflies love are bachelor buttons, zinnias, daisies, hollyhocks and foxgloves, and many native plants such as goldenrod, joe pye weed and milkweed. Fragrant herbs are a strong attractant, so it might be good to add white clover and low-growing herbs to your lawn. I can actually recall when fragrant white clover lawns were popular! If you have an herb garden, go heavy on lavender, sage, dill and fennel. To extend the pollen season for your beneficial visitors, plant

early blooming spring crocuses and fall-blooming asters. Include a bird bath in your garden, and consider adding pans of water on the ground. If you want to help bees nest (and can be careful where you step!), you can have a sandy area in a corner of your yard. My consultant on bees, Hannah Honeywell, suggests also keeping an uncultivated muddy spot for other species of bees or just letting them use the mud around your birdbath. You can put up butterfly houses and create bee hotels using wooden frames divided into rooms filled with twigs and other natural materials. Cover the frame with mesh; just as people will steal towels from hotel rooms, some unscrupulous bees will abscond with twigs. Unlike butterflies, bees don’t migrate long distances. Honey bees stay within a five-mile radius of their hives and over-winter in their hives. Most native species will be happy to spend the winter in hollow plant stems in your garden. In contrast, butterflies are cold-blooded, and those that are not in larval stage in winter have to fly south. The swallowtail butterfly’s pupae can survive most winters; the red admiral, the cloudless sulphur, the buckeye and the painted lady go as far south as the Carolinas. Eastern monarchs migrate to a refuge in Mexico. These international travellers need many gardens during their migrations, both north and south. To get a head start on planting from seed, you can find native plants in pots at most nurseries come spring. Perhaps the best thing about native plants is that they not only provide nectar, but they also provide shelter and food for caterpillars. Your best selection — especially of the milkweed that is essential to monarch butterflies — will be at Chesapeake Natives, Inc. (chesapeakenatives.org) on Rosaryville Road in Upper Marlboro, which is open by appointment from early April through late October on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. The nursery’s spring sales are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 9, April 30 (best time to find milkweed) and May 28. Some of our Hyattsville Horticultural Society (HHS) members, including Wendy Wildflower and Dave Greenfingers, volunteer there and would love to see you. While you can look online for other sources, don’t forget that the Hyattsville Elementary School PTA’s native plant sale is in May. We’ll keep you posted. To discuss this topic with members of the HHS, please come to our next meeting on Saturday, March 18 at 10 a.m. at the home of Nina and Jon Faye, 4004 Queensbury Road.

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MARCH

continued from page 1

ganization for a Positive Environment (H.O.P.E.). Residents began posting to the listserv, creating a roll call. “I went to march specifically to be able to share my voice as a pro-life feminist,” said Alison Contreras, a Hyattsville resident who met up with a group at St. Jerome’s before the Women’s March. “It’s necessary,” said Contreras, “not only to show Trump that women deserve equal dignity and respect in terms of his language and his policies, but also to show the other marchers there that pro-life women do not agree with or condone many of his actions, either.” Friends and family came from places as far away as California and Seattle to join the coalition for the march. Many members of the H.O.P.E. listserv offered extra bedrooms or couch space for out-of-towners. “As soon as [Trump] won and it was announced that there was going to be a march on Washington, we had to do something,” said Lisa Schultz, who flew in from Oakland and stayed with friends in the area. “You can wipe away the information for gays and lesbians on your website, but you can’t wipe away queer people,” said Schultz. “Let’s go back to the 1980s if we

Hyattsville Life & Times | February 2017

have to: We’re here. We’re queer. Get used to it. That’s just the way it is.” The night before the Jan. 21 march, local communities gathered for a Resilience Ball at Joe’s Movement Emporium. The Resilience Ball was created as a way to bring people out to meet their neighbors, make signs for the march and, above all, to celebrate the shared values that bring the artist communities in the area together. “Several community members approached me right after the election and said we have to do something to gather our community,” said Brooke Kidd, director of Joe’s Movement Emporium. “They said, ‘Let’s have an event where we can come together in fellowship, to sing, to dance.’” Local band The Wild Anacostias played at the event. “We have to show that we live in a compassionate and inclusive community,” said Joe Atkins, a member of the band. Speakers highlighted the power of municipal government to enact changes in the next four years. “I think this [Resilience Ball] is our first step in recovering,” said Hyattsville Mayor Candace Hollingsworth. “In this room tonight … it’s okay to dance like your body has a mind of its own because what you’re doing is creating. You’re creating the space that your soul desperately needs to heal from months of discord,

It’s necessary not only to show Trump that women deserve equal dignity and respect in terms of his language and his policies, but also to show the other marchers there that pro-life women do not agree with or condone many of his actions, either.” — Alison Contreras Hyattsville resident foul language, disrespect, and downright trepidation.” The morning of the march, a group of women gathered at First United Methodist Church, which opened early for marchers to meet each other before setting off to the Metro. Congressman Steny Hoyer also provided vans for some of the marchers. The women all came with different reasons to march. “It’s the fact that the majority did not vote for him and the Electoral College still voted him in,” said Cynthia Perdomo, a Hyattsville resident, on why she was there to march. “If you’re not a rich, Christian, white male like him then you’re nothing — and that’s not right.” “My daughters deserve better,”

added Ruthanna Emrys, also a resident of Hyattsville. “I want to be with a bunch of people who feel the same way that I do, and I want to be reminded that there are millions of us that didn’t want this to happen,” said Jeanne Jones. “I’m doing it for my psychological wellbeing.” “On the plane ride here, I think half of the people were women coming to the march,” said Roslyn Ramsey, a Georgia resident who had come to Hyattsville to march with Jones, her daughterin-law. The groups of Route 1 residents shared red armbands before the march to identify each other as part of the coalition, but the hundreds of thousands of marchers made it difficult for many to make it to the designated meetup point. Ramsey described the feeling of solidarity among the packed crowds as celebratory and uplifting. “It brought so many of us together to say that this is not the end,” she said. “I will not be moved. This man is not my president. I haven’t seen this kind of unity since we protested the Vietnam War.” The Hyattsville women said they hope to stay connected and active in the community in the weeks to come. They said they want to continue the conversations started at the Women’s

March in local neighborhoods and at the municipal level. “Our political climate has become so polarized that oftentimes people are too afraid to even have discussions about what [they] believe, or we surround ourselves with only those who think the exact same thing,” said Contreras. “Hyattsville is a diverse area, and I hope from this march we can realize that though we might differ on what policies may get us there, many local women do believe and fight for the respect and dignity of everyone.” The coalition has grown from the initial H.O.P.E. posting in late December to a distribution list of over 70 people, said Meyer. The group is dedicated to continuing future initiatives and is discussing strategies, including phone calls to congressional offices and in-person lobbying. “Coming from Germany and seeing how the pre-election month went by, it reminded me of what we learned of the time when the Nazis came into power,” said Meyer. “I don’t want that to happen, so I have to speak out. I think the march is a good thing to get us mobilized, but we have to continue afterwards so that these things that we fear won’t happen.” “It’s an uphill battle,” continued Meyer, “But if we don’t start the battle, then we surely won’t win it.”

Hyattsville Life & Times | February 2017

Page 13

BIG BAD WOOF continued from page 1

Ironically, the location may have become too popular; JonesNapier said that the â&#x20AC;&#x153;lack of available parking was the primary reason for closing the store.â&#x20AC;? According to Jones-Naper, The Big Bad Woof was allocated only two reserved spaces behind their building, and these were frequently used by customers of Chipotle and other restaurants during the lunch and dinner rush periods. The only other tenant that relies on customers being able to carry large bags to their car, Yes! Organic Market, has considerably more parking spaces. Jones-Napier said that, over time, the store began to lose customers because of parking concerns, and they finally decided to close and consolidate operations at their Takoma, DC, location. While Jones-Napier said that they were sorry to leave and would miss seeing their loyal customers, the business and financial realities of their Hyattsville location required a change.

ALLEN WALTERS The former Big Bad Woof storefront as it appeared on Feb. 4.

Frequent Hyattsville visitor and Greenbelt resident Michael Smallwood, who shopped at The Big Bad Woof for food and supplies for his service dog, was not happy to hear about the closing but echoed their parking complaints. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am sorry to see them go â&#x20AC;&#x201D; it was a

nice store with a great staff â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but parking is a nightmare,â&#x20AC;? he said. In a phone interview, Councilmember Bart Lawrence (Ward 1) said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is a shame that Big Bad Woof has closed. It was clearly well liked by the community.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Parking remains a priority for

the City of Hyattsville,â&#x20AC;? Lawrence said. He added that plans were still in place to build a parking garage off of Hamilton Street near the Trolley Trail, which could alleviate many of the parking issues. Several attempts were made to contact the property manager of the Shoppes at Art District, Cedar Realty Trust, but no response was received by press time. The Big Bad Woof store in Takoma recently moved to a space at 6960 Maple Street, NW, which doubles their previous store in Takoma, DC. They have also increased hours and added reserved parking spaces. Jones-Napier said that they plan to focus more of their efforts on delivering and shipping organic pet food and

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Hyattsville Life & Times | February 2017

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