July 2019 Hyattsville Life & Times by Hyattsville Life and Times

FROM THE EDITOR

Editor Maria D. James explores work burnout and how to ﬁnd relief. P. 2

HL&T NABS AWARD WSSC parking lot article awarded national honors. P. 3

City appeals decision to rezone WSSC lot By Heather Wright

THEN & NOW

Randy Fletcher extols the virtues and value of silver ladles and salt cellars. P. 4

Life&Times

Vol. 16 No. 7

Hyattsville’s Community Newspaper

July 2019

Don’t call the proposed Magruder Pointe project a done deal yet. The city is appealing the May 13 District Council’s decision to rezone the former Washington Suburban Sanitation Commission (WSSC) property. On June 28, the city filed a petition for judicial review with the Circuit Court of Prince George’s County, seeking to overturn the rezoning decision. On May 13, the District Council voted (8-0, with one abstention) to “approve with conditions” the Werrlein Properties’ proposal to WSSC continued on page 10

Glut Food Co-op fundraises for repairs By Emily McNally

Shoppers at Glut Food Co-op in Mount Rainier will find rows of bulk foods, bins of organic and conventional produce, locally made baked goods, natural soaps, and a grind-your-own nut butter station. They will be greeted by longtime employees who know many of the customers by name and by an eclectic store full of nooks and crannies to explore. They will also find sagging and stained ceiling tiles, creaky hardwood floors worn down by years of foot traffic, and a cracked skyGLUT continued on page 13

COURTESY OF THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION

The Bladensburg Cross, aka Peace Cross, was erected between 1919 and 1925 to honor Prince George residents who served in World War I.

Supreme Court rules Peace Cross may stay By Heather Wright

In a 7-2 ruling on June 20, the Supreme Court decided that the Peace Cross of Bladensburg did not violate the First Amendment establishment clause. The 40-foot tall concrete and granite cross, completed in 1925 to honor 49 Prince George residents who died in World War I, can continue to remain on

public land, maintained by public funds. Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., expressing the majority position in The American Legion v. American Humanist Association, wrote, “The cross is undoubtedly a Christian symbol, but that fact should not blind one to everything else that the Bladensburg Cross has come to represent. For some, that monument is a symbolic resting place for ancestors who

never returned home. For others, it is a place for the community to gather and honor all veterans and their sacrifices for our Nation. For others still, it is a historical landmark.” He added, “For many of these people, destroying or defacing the Cross that has stood undisturbed for nearly a century would not PEACE CROSS continued on page 7

CENTER SECTION: JULY 9, 2019 ISSUE OF THE HYATTSVILE REPORTER — IN ESPANOL TOO! HYATTSVILLE MD PERMIT NO. 1383

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Page 2

Hyattsville Life & Times | July 2019

FromTheEditor

When ‘work bliss’ can lead to burnout By Maria D. James

What happens when passion leads to burnout? That’s the question Jennifer Moss attempted to answer in her July 1 online article for the Harvard Business Review. Moss, a workplace expert and award-winning author of the book Unlocking Happiness at Work, challenges the advice that “if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life,” calling the tug between loving

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 501(c)(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 Editors Sophie Gorman Oriani sophie@hyattsvillelife.com Heather Wright heather@hyattsvillelife.com Webmaster Lindsay Myers lindsay@hyattsvillelife.com Layout & Design Editor Ashley Perks Copy Editor Nancy Welch Advertising advertising@hyattsvillelife.com 301.531.5234 Writers & Contributors Victoria Boucher, Randy Fletcher, Emily McNally, Robert Meyers Board of Directors Joseph Gigliotti — President and General Counsel Chris Currie — Vice President Reva Harris — Treasurer Rosanna Landis Weaver, Gretchen Brodtman, Debra Franklin, T. Carter Ross, Emily Strab Maria D. James — 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.

your work and falling victim to burnout a complicated love affair. “One minute it’s thrilling, passionate, engaging. The next, it’s exhausting and overwhelming, and I feel like I need a break,” said Moss. More and more people are recognizing the impact of burnout. With recognition of the condition comes the question of how do you find balance before burnout occurs? This past April, I celebrated 10 years of living in the D.C. area. For five of those years, I’ve lived in Hyattsville. Like many college students, I left my home (in North Carolina) to come to the “big city.” In my dreams, a professional life meant having an office in a highrise building, and wearing dress heels and a suit everyday. And in 2009, that dream came true! I was hired for a six-month internship with one of the largest global communications firm in the world. During that internship, I found a career I loved. Fast-forward to my life 10 years later, and I wished someone had told me that having a career can be both exhilarating and mentally exhausting. Perhaps you’ve had this experience, too. In a recent Gallup survey of 7,500 full-time employees, 23 percent report feeling burned out at work very often or always, while 63 percent said they experience it sometimes. Recently, the World Health Organization announced its decision to include burnout in its International Classification of Diseases, and described it as characterized by three dimensions: 1) feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; 2) increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job; and 3) reduced professional efficacy. On The Mayo Clinic’s list of burnout risks, two out of six are related to this mindset: “You identify so strongly with work that you lack balance between your work life and your personal life” and/or “You work in a helping profession.” In the May issue of the Hyattsville Life & Times (HL&T), Krissi Humbard, our former digital editor, announced her decision to step down from her position. She wrote about the challenges of having love and passion for the Hyattsville community and journalism, but how her part-time job

with the paper required so much more than that. Our work for the HL&T is never-ending. Our staff is mostly made up of dedicated volunteers, and the nature of our work means we often straddle the line between love and burnout. To help manage this, in May we restructured our editorial staff and implemented a few changes, including welcoming a new associate editor, Sophie Gorman Oriani. Oriani is a Montessori

teacher at St. Jerome Academy and is active with the Hyatt Park Community Garden. We recently merged our print and online staff, and each editor will manage a beat. In her new role, Oriani will serve as editor for our City News beat. (Note: We are actively seeking volunteer writers who are able to commit to one article per month to work on a beat. If you are interested in writing for the newspaper you can send

an email to managingeditor@ hyattsvillelife.com.) I believe passion and work can be balanced when we decide to establish and respect each other’s boundaries, and provide grace when we ask for a break. As Moss says, “When it feels like your passion for work — or that of your employees — has become all-consuming, it might be time to take — or to offer — a break.”

Hyattsville Life & Times | July 2019

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Hyattsville Life & Times | July 2019

Then Then&Now

Popcorn and a silver ladle

RANDY FLETCHER

The late 19th-century sterling silver soup ladle is in the Versailles pattern, and the open salt cellar and matching salt spoon are medallion coin silver, both by Gorham.

By Randy Fletcher

Tiffany, Gorham, Wood & Hughes, and Gale are just a few of the names as important to a silver connoisseur as Gucci, Prada, Channel and Wang are to a fashionista. I don’t consider myself either a silver connoisseur or a fashionista, but I am fascinated by some of the odd sterling silver pieces that my wife and I have collected over time. I often wonder what it would have been like to sit through a formal meal during the height of the Victorian era, when a properly set table could include as many as 24 pieces of silver per place setting to accommodate elaborate menus of up to 12 courses. At that time, American silver was increasing in popularity, and demand for lavish tableware was high. Even average Americans were adorning their tables with silver or silver-plated items. Wealthy Victorians, however, took their obsession with silver even further. Sterling silver place settings were the showy jewelry of the table, and setting the proper table was almost more important

than what one wore. While both reflected the taste of the times, a properly set table was a way to really showcase a family’s wealth and status in upper class society. There was a separate serving piece for everything imaginable. The detail and ornamentation on each piece of silver was executed as perfectly and purposefully as when a goldsmith sets a sparkling diamond in a shiny gold brooch. Growing up, I never really thought twice about what we ate with or on. We never ate formally, but we did eat together as a family in the dining room. My dad would get home from work, and we would immediately sit down to a meal, which usually consisted of a meat, a vegetable and a homemade roll or biscuit. There were times, though only a few, that I remember having popcorn for dinner. My mother would make a big batch and fill the wooden salad bowl. She’d use a big, heavy silver ladle to dole popcorn into our bowls. I remember that on special THEN & NOW continued on page 6

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THEN & NOW

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occasions, like when my dad’s boss came to dinner or when distant relatives were visiting from out of town, my mom would pull out her mother’s silver pieces, and we kids would help polish them and then set the table. Using silver made the meal seem special, and I think it even made the food taste better. Only during the holidays did we ever get to experience the full radiance of all the silver service and fine china displayed on the table at the same time. With only a few courses, our holiday meals didn’t touch the opulence of the Victorian feasts, but the dining table — and our dining experience — was elevated by the gleam of silver and a little touch of formality. Formal dining really began in the medieval era, when one’s status was put on display at the table. The true sign of prosperity was the salt cellar, which stood on the table in front of the master of the house. He sat at the exact center, with his wife or lady on his left and members of the household on her left. On his right sat the guests, who were very carefully arranged in order of wealth or merit, from the most important on his immediate right down to the least important at the end. How they were placed was the most important element of table etiquette and was recognized as sitting “in order of the salt.” According to John Bly’s Discovering Hallmarks on English Silver, two

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of our present-day phrases are derived from this: “worth his salt,” and “right-hand man.” Thirty years ago, I inherited a salt cellar, which aroused my interest in them. I have been collecting them ever since, along with fish servers and other unique pieces of silver. I once came across a long slender fork with three tines that were widely separated at the end. It was a lettuce fork. When new foods were being introduced into the American diet in the second half of the 19th century, salads were considered a luxury. Greens were perishable and expensive, and they were given high status on the table. The more exotic the food — like celery, asparagus, sardines and oysters — the more elaborately decorated were their serving pieces. Dining today is vastly different than it was years ago, and rarely do we set a formal table. My wife and I have found, though, that it’s fun to bring out the servers of old, especially when we entertain. Sliced tomatoes look elegant, plated with an antique aspic server. Asparagus tongs are great for serving grilled vegetables, olives or sliced turkey. Salt cellars can hold a host of condiments and look amazing on any table, formal or not. So don’t let those old pieces of “jewelry” sit neglected in the back of your cupboard. Bring them out and find cool ways to use them, even if it’s just to serve popcorn into individual bowls, like my mother did. That heavy ladle she used to serve up our popcorn? It’s a sterling silver soup ladle in the Versaille pattern by Gorham. We use it today to serve soup and punch, and, yes, sometimes even popcorn.

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PEACE CROSS

continued from page 1

be neutral and would not further the ideals of respect and tolerance embodied in the First Amendment.” The dissenting opinion was written by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and joined by Justice Sonia Sotomayor. “By maintaining the Peace Cross on a public highway, the [Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC)] elevates Christianity over other faiths, and religion over nonreligion,” noted Ginsburg. “As I see it, when a cross is displayed on public property, the government may be presumed to endorse its religious content.” Those hoping that the earlier decision of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, declaring that the cross violated the establishment clause, would stand were disappointed. However, they noted that the Supreme Court did not throw out the Lemon test, the three-prong test established in Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971) for determining a violation of the emancipation clause. “After our earlier victory [with the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals], our opponents took this case to the post-Kennedy Supreme Court hoping for a com-

Page 7

plete upheaval of the separation of church and state,” explained Monica Miller, senior counsel at the American Humanist Association (AHA) via an AHA press release. “Fortunately, the Lemon test and decades of precedent have not been overruled.” The M-NCPPC has owned and maintained the Peace Cross, located at the busy intersection of Routes 1 and 450, since 1961. “The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission is extremely gratified that our legal battle to protect the community’s interest in this historic symbol prevailed. This is a big win for our community and this Nation. For more than 90 years, this memorial has stood in the community as [a] reminder of the sacrifices made for our freedom,” said Elizabeth M. Hewlett, chairman of M-NCPPC and the Prince George’s County Planning Board, in an M-NCPPC press release. Matthew Dowd, who represented the Military Order of the Purple Heart in the amicus brief it filed in support of the American Legion and the M-NCPPC, wrote in an email, “We’re thrilled that seven justices of the Supreme Court affirmed what we believed all along — that the U.S. Constitution does not require the removal or destruction of military memorials simply because they

“This was not just about a single cross. This was about the right of a community to honor its fallen heroes. The American Legion does not consider these crosses, which honor so many veterans, to be religious memorials. ... Americans can feel more conﬁdent today that veterans memorials, cemetery headstones and patriotic monuments throughout our country are safer as a result of this ruling.” Brett P. Reistad

American Legion National Commander

may have a religious aspect to them.” Dowd added, “Just as importantly, the Supreme Court, in its decision, has emphasized the importance of a memorial’s historical context when determining if the memorial violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Hopefully, this focus will reduce the needless liti-

gation about long-standing historical monuments.” As reported in The Washington Post, Bladensburg Mayor Takisha James said that she had received a deluge of emails and texts from excited residents. “The community is overwhelmed with happiness,” she said. “We look at it simply as a

memorial to Prince Georgians who fought on behalf of our community.” According to Maryland Historical Trust documents, the SnyderFarmer Post of the American Legion of Hyattsville allowed the building of the cross — begun in 1919 but halted in 1922 due to a lack of funding — to continue by successfully raising the remaining funds. And since 2014, when the AHA filed suit against the cross’s placement on public land, the American Legion has been its primary defender. “This was not just about a single cross,” American Legion National Commander Brett P. Reistad said of his organization’s victory. “This was about the right of a community to honor its fallen heroes. And that’s why the World War I veterans of Bladensburg sacrificed their lives, to protect the freedom of others. The American Legion does not consider these crosses, which honor so many veterans, to be religious memorials. But even if [they] were, freedom of religion is also a cherished right protected by our First Amendment. Americans can feel more confident today that veterans memorials, cemetery headstones and patriotic monuments throughout our country are safer as a result of this ruling.”

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the

Hyattsville Reporter No. 376 • July 9, 2019

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Ward 3 Community Meeting

Councilmembers Carrianna Suiter and Ben Simasek invite all who live, work, play, and shop in Ward 3 to come share their ideas, questions, and concerns Thursday, July 11, at 7:30 p.m., at 6600 Adelphi Road. We’ll share updates on issues of interest for Hyattsville, including new and ongoing development and public works projects in Ward 3

We’re Hiring

The City of Hyattsville is seeking to hire a Deputy City Clerk to help promote its open and transparent government services. Responsibilities would include: the organization of public meetings, preparation of agendas and minutes, records management, as well as assist in the municipal election process. Applicants must also be able to work occasional nights or weekends. For more information, please visit www.hyattsville.org/jobs.

Fall Field Permit Meeting

The City of Hyattsville is hosting a Fall Field Permits meeting Tuesday, July 16, at 7:30 p.m., in the first floor Multipurpose Room of the City Building. Organizations interested in applying for permits to use the fields at Magruder Park, Melrose Park, and 38th Avenue for fall games and practices are required to attend. This meeting provides organizations an opportunity to negotiate schedules that’ll work for everyone. Please note that permits will not be issued at the time. For more information, contact Cheri Everhart at (301) 985-5021 or ceverhart@hyattsville.org.

Wanted: Volunteer Drivers

Meals on Wheels of College Park (which also serves Hyattsville) is currently in need of volunteer drivers to help deliver meals to seniors and people with disabilities. Drivers typically deliver one day a week, and one to four times a month between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on weekdays. If you are interested in helping deliver meals, please contact Danielle Carter at (336) 473-8525 or dscarter86@ yahoo.com.

Volunteers from the #ThursdayNetwork of the Greater Washington Urban League Young Professionals working to help restore the foot path in Magruder Woods. Voluntarios del #ThursdayNetwork de la organización de Jóvenes profesionales de la Liga Urbana de Washington trabajando para ayudad a restaurar el camino de pie en Magruder Woods.

Summer Jam and Police Open House

Join us Friday, July 19, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., at the City Building for our next Summer Jam and annual Police Open House! Meet our officers, step inside a holding cell, and learn more about how the Hyattsville City Police Department works to keep our community safe! Like music? Recently retired #HVL Police Department Lieutenant Purvis, one-half of the duo Just Us, is bringing all the classic tunes! Rollin’ Pizza Truck, Streetcar 82, and Maryland Meadworks are also joining in on the fun. For more information, please visit www.hyattsville.org/summerjam.

Invasive Plant Removals

“For which of my bad parts didst thou first fall in love with me?” Bring a lawn chair and find out with a free performance of Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” at Magruder Park on Wednesday, July 17, at 7:30 p.m. In the event of rain, the play will be held at the City Building. For more information, please call (301) 446-3238 or visit www.arts.pgparks.com.

Join us at Magruder Park on Saturday, July 20, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., to learn how to identify and properly remove non-native, invasive plants from Magruder Woods. We’ll provide a set of safety guidelines and cotton work gloves. Just be sure to dress for the elements with sturdy boots or shoes, long sleeves and long pants. Don’t forget water and sunscreen! Warning: You will get dirty and have fun, too! Please note that participation helps to satisfy the State of Maryland Student Service-Learning Requirement. To learn more or confirm if an invasive removal is canceled due to inclement weather, please contact Dawn Taft at (301) 8528790.

Find the Services You Need

Residential Parking Permits

Shakespeare in the Park

There’s now an easier way to find the low and no-cost service providers you need – whether it’s for food, healthcare, housing, job training, or something else. Visit www.hyattsville.org/resident-resources and check it out!

Coffee with a Cop

Join our Hyattsville Police Department Thursday, July 18 for Coffee with a Cop! From 8 - 10 a.m., meet them at Kahvie off 6515 Belcrest Road where you can stop and say hi, voice your concerns, and ask any questions you may have for them. We’ll see you there!

Residential Parking Permit Applications for all zones in the City of Hyattsville are NOW OPEN. Please note that the fastest way to receive your permits is by applying online at www.hyattsville.org/ res-parking. If you have any questions, please call (301) 985-5027.

Sunset Movie Series

We’re screening the Incredibles 2 in Heurich Park on Friday, July 26, at 8 p.m. Don’t forget to bring your blankets and chairs to enjoy this FREE movie in the park!

Download the My Hyattsville App

Did we miss your trash this week? Have you run over the same pothole one too

many times? Have no fear, My Hyattsville is here! Download our app or visit www.hyattsville.org/request to report non-emergency issues or request City services. Once submitted, you can track your request with real-time updates from City staff. My Hyattsville is available at the Apple and Google stores.

Notice of Public Hearing

On Monday, August 5, at 7:30 p.m., Hyattsville’s City Council will hold a Public Hearing about a proposed amendment to the City Charter. The amendment has to do with the process that the City’s Compensation Review Committee follows when recommending the salaries of Mayor and Council. The Public Hearing is an opportunity to learn more and provide feedback on the amendment. It will be held on the third floor of the City Building. Can’t attend the hearing? No problem! Just email your comments and questions to cityclerk@hyattsville.org.

National Night Out Against Crime

We all want to keep our City safe—and what better way to do it than celebrating with friends, neighbors, and local law enforcement? Join us for the 2019 National Night Out Against Crime on Tuesday, August 6, 6 – 9 p.m., in Heurich Park. It’s a great way to meet our police officers, along with other community organizations and local businesses, and learn how we all can play a part in preventing crime. We’ll have K-9 demonstrations, a DJ, FREE cotton candy and snow cones, our moon bounce, and plenty of kids’ activities with Mandy the Clown and much more. The night will conclude with a walk through the community at sunset. Don’t miss out!

Free Transportation

Hyattsville residents can ride all University of Maryland Shuttle Routes for FREE! Route 113 loops through Hyattsville, stops at the Prince George’s Plaza Metro, and then heads to the University. To get your 2019 shuttle pass, please bring photo ID and proof of residence to 4310 Gallatin Street, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Passes are issued the same day. Route maps and schedules are available at www.dots. umd.edu.

Mosquito Control Information

From June until September, the State of Maryland monitors adult mosquitos in Hyattsville. If certain thresholds are met, they will conduct spraying operations on Monday evenings. The City will also report issues with mosquitos to the State on a weekly basis. To report a problem in your neighborhood, please call (301) 9855000, or visit www.hyattsville.org/pests. You can also request an exemption from adult mosquito control services on that site. Please note that exemptions must be filed each year and must be submitted to not only the Mosquito Control Program Supervisor but also to the City.

Electric Vehicle Car Show

Our fourth annual Electric Vehicle Car Show is right around the corner! Join us Sunday, September 15, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., at the City Building parking lot as we kick off National Drive Electric Week. Alongside the Electric Vehicle Institute and Studio 3807, our car show will display various electric vehicles from all around the Washington, D.C. area – including Teslas, electric motorcycles, and Hyattsville’s own fully marked Chevrolet Bolt Police Cruiser – the first of its kind in the nation. Admission is free, and all attendants should register for a chance to win $250 and raffle prizes! Visit www. ndew.org to register. Additional volunteers are needed for helping with the event. Participating as a volunteer helps satisfy the State of Maryland Student Service-Learning Requirement. To register, please call (301) 9855057 or email caistis@hyattsville.org.

Free Compost Bins

Did you know the City has a supply of backyard compost bins available to residents free of charge? Composting is the natural breakdown of organic materials like food scraps, used coffee grounds, leaves, and shredded newspapers into nutrient-rich soil. This can be great for backyards, landscaping, and organic farming. So, if you’d like to #GoGreen in #HVL, please contact Colleen Aistis at (301) 985-5057 or caistis@hyattsville.org to request your bin!

Hyattsville Life & Times | July 2019

Page HR2

Reportero de

Hyattsville

No. 376 • 9 de Julio, 2019

www.hyattsville.org • 301-985-5000

Junta Comunitaria del Distrito 3

demostraciones con perros policiales, un DJ, algodón de azúcar y granizados GRATIS, nuestra brinca brinca y otras actividades para niños con Mandy la Payasa. Hacia el final, daremos un paseo por la comunidad al atardecer. ¡No se lo pierdan!

Concejales Carrianna Suiter y Ben Simasek invitan a todos los que viven, trabajan, juegan y compran el del Distrito 3 a que compartan sus consultas, ideas y preguntas el jueves 11 de julio, a las 7:30 p.m., en la 6600 Adelphi Road. Actualizaremos a todos sobre asuntos de interés para Hyattsville, incluyendo los proyectos existentes y nuevos de desarrollo en el Distrito 3.

Transportación Gratis

¡Residentes de Hyattsville pueden tomar todos los autobuses de la Universidad de Maryland GRATIS! La Ruta 113 pasa por Hyattsville, con paradas en la estación de metro de Prince George’s Plaza y al fin en la Universidad. Para obtener su pase del 2019 para el autobús, por favor presente una identificación con foto y prueba de residencia a la Ciudad en la 4310 Calle Gallatin, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., de lunes a viernes. Le podemos dar el pase el mismo día de su visita. Los Mapas y horarios de la ruta del autobús están disponibles por internet visitando a www.dots. umd.edu.

Estamos Contratando

La Ciudad de Hyattsville está buscando contratar a un Asistente para la Secretaria de la Ciudad. El asistente, en una manera transparente, ayudaría en promover los servicios que ofrece la Ciudad. Las responsabilidades incluirían: la organización de juntas públicas, preparación de agendas y minutos, archivar documentos y asistir con el proceso de las elecciones municipales. Aplicantes también deben poder trabajar noches y fines de semana ocasionalmente. Para más información, por favor visite www.hyattsville.org/ jobs.

Reunión para Permisos de Deportes de Otoño

La Ciudad de Hyattsville estará sosteniendo una reunión para permisos de campo el martes, 16 de julio, a las 7:30 p.m., en el primer piso del Edificio Municipal. Organizaciones que están interesadas en permisos para usar los campos en Magruder Park, Melrose Park y 38th Avenue para prácticas y partidos este otoño deben atender. Esta reunión le proveé a organizaciones una oportunidad para que negocien calendarios entre sí mismo. Por favor noten que no se distribuirán permisos en la reunión. Para más información, contacten a Cheri Everhart al (301) 985-5021 o vía ceverhart@hyattsville.org.

Se Busca: Conductores Voluntarios

La organización Meals on Wheels de College Park (que también sirve a Hyattsville) actualmente necesita conductores voluntarios para que ayuden a distribuir comida a las personas mayores y personas con discapacidades. Conductores normalmente manejan una vez a la semana y de una a cuatro veces al mes entre semana durante las 10:30 a.m. y 1:30 p.m. Si desea ayudar, por favor contacte Danielle Carter al (336) 473-8525 o vía dscarter86@yahoo.com.

Shakespeare en el Parque

“¿Cuál de mis malas características causo que te enamoraras de mí primero?” Traiga su silla o manta y averigüé con una interpretación gratis de la obra de Shakespeare llamada “Much Ado About Nothing.” El evento toma plazo el miércoles, 17 de julio, a las 7:30 p.m., en el Parque Magruder. En caso de que llueva, la obra tomara plazo en el Edificio Municipal. Para más información, por favor llame al (301) 446-3238 o visite www. arts.pgparks.com.

Encuentre Los Servicios Que Necesita

Ahora hay una manera más fácil para encontrar proveedores de bajo o no costo que necesite. Sea para comida, asistencia media, alojamiento, entrenamiento para el trabajo, o alguna otra cosa. ¡Visite nuestro sitio web www.hyattsville.org/resident-resources para aprender más!

Café con un Policía

¡Acompañe nuestro Departamento de Policía de Hyattsville el jueves, 18 de julio para el evento Café con un Policía! De 8 - 10 a.m.,

Control De Mosquitos Teens from Camp Staycation getting a preview of the college life as they toured Bowie State University for one of their summer outings. Jóvenes de Camp Staycation recibieron una previa sobre la vida colegial mientras recorrieron la Universidad Bowie State para una de sus salidas de verano. encuéntrelos en la Cafetería Kahvie por la 6515 Belcrest Road donde podrá saludarlos, expresar sus opiniones o preguntarles sobre algún asunto que tenga. ¡Nos vemos allí!

Summer Jam y Expo De Policía

¡Únanse a nosotros el viernes, 19 de julio, de 6:30 a 8:30 p.m. en el Edificio Municipal para nuestra fiesta Summer Jam y la Exposición anual de nuestro Departamento de Policías! Conozcan a nuestros oficiales, tomen un paso adentro de una celda y aprendan más de cómo la policía trabaja para mantener segura nuestra comunidad. ¡Recientemente retirado de nuestro Departamento de Policías Teniente Purvis y su grupo musical Just Us estará dando un espectáculo con todas las canciones más clásicas! El camión de comida Rollin’ Pizza y las cervecerías Streetcar 82 y Maryland Meadworks también nos estarán acompañando. Para más información sobre el Summer Jam o para ver que tenemos planeado el próximo mes, por favor visite www.hyattsville.org/summerjam.

Removiendo Plantas Invasoras

Acompáñenos en el Parque Magruder el sábado 20 de julio, de 10 a.m. a 2 p.m., para identificar y ayudarnos a remover del Bosque Magruder plantas invasoras y no nativas. Nosotros proveeremos una orientación de reglas de seguridad y guantes de algodón. Solamente le recordamos a voluntarios que se vistan para el clima/bosque con camisetas mangas largas, pantalones y botas o zapatos resistentes al agua. ¡No se olviden de traer agua y bloqueador de sol! Participación también puede ayudar a satisfacer el requisito de aprendizajeservicio del Estado de Maryland. Para aprender más o para confirmar si el evento es cancelado debido al clima, por favor contacte Dawn Taft al (301) 852-8790.

Permisos de Parqueo Residencial

Ahora se están aceptando Aplicaciones para los Permisos de Parqueo Residencial para las todas las zonas en la Ciudad de Hyattsville. Por favor note que la manera más rápida para recibir sus permisos es aplicando en

línea vía www.hyattsville.org/res-parking. Si tiene alguna pregunta, por favor llame al (301) 985-5027.

Serie de Películas al Atardecer

Estamos proyectando la película Incredibles 2 en el Parque Heurich el viernes, 26 de julio, a las 8 p.m. ¡Traiga sus mantas o sillas y venga a disfrutar de esta película GRATIS en el Parque!

Descargue La App My Hyattsville

¿No recogimos su basura esta semana? ¿Le ha pegado al mismo bache tantas veces que ya no se acuerda cuantas veces ha pasado? Tenemos la solución, ¡My Hyattsville! Descargue nuestra aplicación o visite www.hyattsville.org/request para reportar asuntos de no emergencia o solicitar servicios de la Ciudad. Al tener la información, empleados de la Ciudad estarán actualizándoles en tiempo real el progreso del asunto. My Hyattsville ya está disponible en la Apple y Google store.

Aviso de Audiencia Pública

El lunes, 5 de agosto, a las 7:30 p.m., el Concejo Municipal de Hyattsville sostendrá una Audiencia Pública sobre una enmienda propuesta a las leyes de la Ciudad. La enmienda tiene que ver con el proceso que el Comité de la Comisión sigue cuando hace recomendaciones sobre los salarios de los Concejales y Alcalde. Está Audiencia Pública es una oportunidad para aprender más y dar su opinión sobre la enmienda. Tomará plazo en el tercer piso del Edificio Municipal. ¿No va a poder atender? ¡No se preocupe! Simplemente envié sus opiniones a cityclerk@hyattsville.org.

Noche Nacional Contra El Crimen

Todos nosotros queremos mantener segura esta Ciudad--¿por qué no lo hagamos con amigos, vecinos y la policía local? Únase a nosotros para la Noche Nacional Contra el Crimen el martes, 6 de agosto, 6 – 9 p.m., en Heurich Park. Es una gran manera de conocer a nuestros agentes, y a organizaciones comunitarias y empresas locales también, para aprender como todos nosotros podemos contribuir a la prevención del crimen. Habrá

La Ciudad participa en el Programa del Estado de Maryland para el Control de Mosquitos, lo que comienza en junio y dura hasta septiembre. Empleados del Estado monitorizan los mosquitos adultos en Hyattsville. Si los mosquitos llegan a un cierto límite, el Estado realizará operaciones de fumigación los lunes después del anochecer. Además, la Ciudad reportará problemas con mosquitos al Estado cada semana. Para reportar un problema en su vecindario, por favor llame al (301) 985-5000 o visite a www.hyattsville. org/pests. En ese sitio también se puede pedir una exención de servicios de control de mosquitos. Por favor tenga en cuenta que usted debe pedir una nueva exención cada año, entregando la solicitación al Programa de Control de Mosquitos y a la Ciudad, también.

Exhibición de Vehículos Eléctricos

¡Nuestro cuarto anual exhibición de vehículos eléctricos se está acercando! Acompáñenos el domingo, 15 de septiembre, de 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. en el lote de estacionamiento del edificio municipal para ayudarnos a lanzar la Semana Nacional “Drive Electric” con estilo. Junto al Instituto de Vehículos Electrónicos y Studio 3807, tendremos una exposición de varios vehículos eléctricos de todos lados del área de Washington, D.C. Habrá Teslas, motocicletas y el Chevrolet Bolt de la policía de Hyattsville – la primera patrulla eléctrica de este tipo en la nación. ¡La entrada es gratis y todas las personas que atiendan deberían inscribirse para la oportunidad de ganar $250 y premios de sorteo! Visiten www.ndew.org para inscribirse. También se necesitan voluntarios para ayudar con el evento. Participando como voluntario ayuda a satisfacer el requisito de aprendizaje-servicio del Estado de Maryland. Para inscribirse, por favor llame al (301) 985-5057 o mande un correo electrónico a caistis@hyattsville.org.

Cubos Gratis Para El Compostaje

¿Sabía usted que la Ciudad tiene un suministro de cubos de compostaje gratis para su jardín? La creación de abono orgánico o “compostaje” es el proceso natural en lo cual materiales orgánicos como restos de comida, granos de café ya usados, hojas y periódicos se mezclan en nutrientes que son buenísimos para cultivar. ¡Si quisiera acompañarnos en el proceso de #VamosVerde #AquiEnHVL, por favor contacte a Colleen Aistis al (301) 985- 5057 o vía caistis@hyattsville.org para pedir su cubo!

Page 8

Hyattsville Life & Times | July 2019

MissFloribunda I’m at my wit’s end. I’ve got this dippy neighbor whose garden is just a mess of weeds, and it attracts all kinds of nasty things. Well, some are nice butterflies, but others look like bees and wasps and some big blue and green bugs with wings that I’m afraid could fly over to my yard and sting me. I’ve even seen bats in the evening! I called Code Enforcement [sic], and saw their truck at her house. Then she got more visitors she took around her yard. It’s been more than a month, and the city hasn’t done anything. What can I do now? Butterflies in my Stomach on [name of street withheld] Dear Butterflies, It would be a wonderful thing if instead of having butterflies in your stomach, you had them in your own garden and joined your neighbor in her mission to provide a haven for them and other beneficials. “Beneficials” usually refers to insects such as the butterflies, wasps (which feed on the ticks that spread Lyme disease), bees and the dragonflies you describe, but birds, frogs, toads, lizards and, yes, harmless polli-

nating and mosquito-devouring bats are also greatly beneficial. You don’t need to fear any of the creatures your neighbor has in her garden, except possibly the bees if you are among those who suffer an allergic reaction if stung — but I assure you, all her charges will stay in her garden because that’s where they are finding the conditions they need to survive. As for your neighbor’s “mess of weeds,” many people dismiss as weeds any plants they’ve noticed growing wild in uncultivated places. What you are terming weeds are almost certainly plants indigenous to this area before any of us or our ancestors were born. They sustain the birds, bats and insects that pollinate our food supply for miles around, as well as control mosquitoes and other genuinely noxious pests. You might be interested to know that the city code protects your neighbor and her garden under Chapter 65 Health and Sanitation, Article VI: Brush,

Grass and Weeds,§ 65-25, D and E. It is true that grass over 10 inches high is generally prohibited because it could hide debris and in dry weather constitute a fire hazard, but a cultivated, w e l l - w a te r e d pollinator garden kept within the confines of one’s property is given “favorable consideration.” I learned that the people you noticed touring your neighbor’s garden were inspectors from the city, and they approved it. The entire code, including everything pertaining to a wide variety of gardens, can be found online at www.hyattsville.org/218/CityCharter-and-Code. Just click on Chapter 65 and scroll down. By the way, when code compliance inspectors visit a property in response to a citizen complaint, they also look around at the surrounding properties to be sure that no one individual’s property is being singled out. Personally, I think it might be a good idea to be sure that one’s own property is beyond reproach as well as to

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question one’s motives for making the complaint. If the complaint isn’t based on personal antipathy, it makes sense to amicably discuss the concern with the neighbor, oneself. It is prudent for those having pollinator gardens to be proactive by writing a letter to the city of intention “to maintain a non-lawn use” area, and, if ambitious, attach a site map, with plants labelled. Also, it’s a good idea to provide certification from a recognized state or national wildlife or natural habitat organization. Several organizations — the Audubon Society, the Xerces Society, the Sierra Club and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) — will provide signs that indicate that the garden is pollinator-friendly. The city code itself stipulates requirements based on those of the NWF. Both the city and the NWF require that the gardener devote a large portion of the garden to USDA-approved species, provide shelter, water and moist spots for favored beneficials, and pledge never to use pesticides. The signs, provided for a small fee, would certainly be accepted as proof these requirements were met. To register a garden as a wildlife habi-

tat and receive NWF certification, go to www.nwf.org/Garden-ForWildlife/Certify. In addition, the code provides for having two recognized botanical experts inspect a gardener’s property upon request, which is advisable as soon as possible if a warning letter from code compliance is received. Now, in a sunny backyard a pollinator gardener can plant at random without labels or signage. A board fence no taller than 6 feet high, with a formal no trespassing sign, should ensure a garden’s privacy. However, should a warning letter from the Office of Code Compliance come in the mail, do not hesitate to contact a representative from the Hyattsville Horticultural Society, the city arborist and supervisor of Environmental Programs, or the head of code compliance. Contact information is posted on the City of Hyattsville website. To speak to advocates from the Hyattsville Horticultural Society, just come to the next meeting on Saturday, July 20. It will take place at 10 a.m. at the Hyattsville Municipal Center, 4310 Gallatin Street. There will also be an election of officers.

Hyattsville Life & Times | July 2019

Page 9

Big wins for Community Forklift, CEO Nancy Meyer By Sophie Gorman Oriani

A nearby nonprofit organization and its CEO have recently been chosen for two different local awards. Community Forklift is a nonprofit located in Edmonston just outside Hyattsville which collects and resells used building materials, furniture, appliances and more. The organization’s COO and CEO, Nancy Meyer, received the 2019 Walter “Mike” Maloney Environmental Service Award from the Prince George’s County Sierra Club Group. The Environmental Service Award is given to a county resident each year to honor of his or her outstanding environmental service. Meyer, a Hyattsville resident, joined the Community Forklift staff in 2007, was promoted to COO in 2009, and has also served as CEO since 2012. The Prince George’s County Sierra Club announced her as their 2019 winner on its Facebook page on June 2, and presented Meyer with the award at their annual picnic on June 8. “I was totally surprised by this [award],” said Meyer, who says she “didn’t know it was coming.” Under the guidance of Meyer and others, Community Forklift has seen major growth since opening in 2005. According to the organization’s website, Community Forklift has kept an estimated $30 million of building materials out of landfills in the D.C. area and has also contributed to the green economy by employing more than 40 people. Moreover, they provide education about reuse and environmental sustainability to the local community. Community Forklift is receiving a $50,000 Project Innovation grant from the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation. While many only know the organization as a warehouse full of used building materials, there’s more than

COURTESY OF MARIAN DOMBROSKI

Nancy J. Meyer (right) receives the Prince Georgeʼs Sierra Clubʼs 2019 Environmental Service Award from Martha Ainsworth (left), chair of the Prince Georgeʼs Sierra Club Group.

meets the eager recycler’s eye. They also operate the Housing Essentials Program, which provides low-income residents with building supplies, appliances, furniture and other materials at no charge. According to a press release from Community Forklift, the Housing Essentials Program has donated over $400,000 worth of goods to members of the community. The Project Innovation grant, which is sponsored by NBC 4/Telemundo 44 Washington, in partnership with the Comcast NBCUniversal

Foundation, will help Community Forklift to expand and support this program. There are several categories of awards for the Project Innovation grant, and Community Forklift was chosen in the Culture of Inclusion category. The NBC 4 website describes programs in this category as ones that “seek to build pathways for diverse and equitable communities.” Community Forklift described the Housing Essentials Program in a press release as working “at the intersection of environmental jus-

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tice and social justice.” The program exemplifies Community Forklift’s mission of “turning the region’s construction waste stream into a resource stream” and has helped a diverse group of people, including veterans and residents with disabilities. In a phone interview, Meyer said she is “very excited” about the Project Innovation grant. The Housing Essentials Program has helped over 1,100 families since its inception, and Meyer hopes that the grant will enable the organization to provide even more services and materials. “We want to continue to do so much more, and this award both recognizes our important work and gives us the means to

make it happen,” said Meyer. The waiting list is long, with appliances being one of the most frequently requested items. Meyer hopes that, with this grant, Community Forklift can expand their outreach and get more and better materials, especially during the summer, when the need for fridges and air conditioners becomes more critical. “Community Forklift is a collective labor of love, and it represents not only my efforts but [those of] the current and past staff, board, volunteers and so many who work with us in the community … everyone who shops or comes to a program or event,” said Meyer. “That’s what makes it so special.”

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Hyattsville Life & Times | July 2019

WSSC

continued from page 1

rezone a portion of the property from open space to R-55 (high density, single-family detached dwellings) and to change the table of uses to allow town houses. The current Magruder Pointe proposal involves the construction of 16 single-family detached houses and 66 town houses. The city had 30 days from the issuing of the District Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s notice to file an appeal. The District Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resolution [the actual letter drafted by the Districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lawyer detailing the rezoning decision and the conditions] was voted upon (11-0) on June 10 and issued on June 14. When asked about the decision to appeal, city officials declined to comment at this time. In a written statement to the Hyattsville Life & Times, Jonathan Werrlein, managing partner of Werrlein Properties, said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am aware of the Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s request for judicial review of the Magruder Pointe project and find it unfor-

tunate. For the last 18 months, we have participated in over 35 meetings with the community and city officials. Many improvements have been incorporated as a result of community input.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;For more than two decades prior to our proposal, the city has failed to offer any constructive plan to deal with a deplorable eyesore and prevent what is now rapidly become an urban decay nightmare,â&#x20AC;? Werrlein continued. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our proposal, coupled with our agreement with the city [to reduce density and transfer a portion of the lower lot to the city], both removes the urban decay and adds land to the park. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a win for everyone. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t understand what the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s position is now but would certainly welcome an open dialog.â&#x20AC;? Karl Granzow, construction/ project manager for Werrlein, said that they had not received any injunction against the demolition of the former WSSC building. Before the appeal was submitted, Stuart Eisenberg, executive director of the Hyattsville Com-

munity Development Corporation, said of the councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shortsighted for the District Council not to support the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision. This city, as opposed to others, has worked very hard on revitalization. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a disappointment that the District Council felt that our plan was not supportable, that they knew better than the city and thought the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision was not sufficient.â&#x20AC;? In response to the Magruder Pointe proposal, Hyattsville City Council has voted four times against rezoning the WSSC property. Tim Davis, Hyattsville resident and National Park Service historian, agreed and said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a travesty that the District Council gave no heed to the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s explicit request to uphold existing zoning and density requirements. Mayor [Candace] Hollingsworth and the city council should be applauded for defending our right to shape the destiny of our city.â&#x20AC;? Other residents disagreed with the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision to file an appeal. Will Seath, a practicing ar-

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shortsighted for the District Council not to support the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision.â&#x20AC;? Stuart Eisenberg

executive director of the Hyattsville Community Development Corporation

chitect who lives directly across from the former WSSC building, said in an email, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision to appeal the rezoning is disappointing. â&#x20AC;Ś Ironically, Werrleinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rezoning request had to show that Magruder Pointe would meet the very same goal of park expansion that opponents cite in the [Gateway Arts District] Sector Plan. They met that burden of proof.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;It seems that the city will only be happy with a remote chance at the whole pie, not a guaranteed 40 percent of it (the approximate amount of the lower lot that Werrlein will sell to the city),â&#x20AC;? continued Seath. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some of our elected officials seem willing to jeopardize much-needed new housing, expanded tax base and improvements to our built environment without offering any evidence that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re any closer to complete city ownership of the lower lot.â&#x20AC;? Nicholas Harris, another Hyattsville resident who lives across from the WSSC building, expressed concerns about the appeal in an emailed statement, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We had the option to either buy the parking lot, or accept the deal offered by Werrlein to expand city parkland. Instead lo-

cal politicians chose to continue efforts to block at every turn the only resolution we have to the decades-long and divisive conflict over the abandoned WSSC and its parking lot. In doing so, they risk forfeiting at minimum Hyattsvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s moral right to the Werrlein offer to expand city parkland.â&#x20AC;? Harris continued, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will be lucky, given the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s behavior, if Werrlein chooses to extend that offer for park expansion to the county instead. Unfortunately, what this most recent misstep by Hyattsville is likely to leave us with is another generation of a rotting hulk no one wants and an abandoned parking lot paving a flood plain.â&#x20AC;? Although city officials would not comment about the appeal, in an email exchange following the June 10 District Council resolution vote, Director of Community & Economic Development Jim Chandler said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The District Council (DC) voted without discussion or providing the public an opportunity [to] speak or to view the resolution in advance of the vote. The resolution was not made available in advance of the meeting, nor does it appear that the DC members reviewed the resolution prior to taking a vote.â&#x20AC;? Several of the conditions set forth in the June 10 resolution pertained to the 100-year floodplain: The conceptual site plan should include â&#x20AC;&#x153;delineation of the existing and revised 100-year floodplain,â&#x20AC;? and the detailed site plan should â&#x20AC;&#x153;provide evidence that impact to the floodplain has been approved by the authority having jurisdiction.â&#x20AC;? The conditions also included the provision of sidewalks on both sides of all internal streets and that the detailed site plan for the entire 8.26 acres should be approved in a manner that achieves â&#x20AC;&#x153;contextsensitive, high-quality, singlefamily residential developmentâ&#x20AC;? prior to the issuance of any building permit.

Hyattsville Life & Times | July 2019

Page 11

COMMUNITY CALENDAR July 12

Gamma Pi Beltway Ques Happy Hour. Join the Gamma Pi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. for happy hour every second Friday. 5 to 10 p.m. Free. RSVP ticket allows for free admission, but admission is based on venue capacity, and early arrival is recommended. The only way to guarantee admission is to purchase a table. Carolina Kitchen, 6501 America Blvd. GammaPsiEvents.com

July 13

Cycling through History: US Route 1/Streetcar Line. Ride on the Trolley Trail to see where the rivers, roads and rails played a part in the history of the Heritage Area. Program led by Maryland Milestones. 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. $6. Departs from the Heritage Center, 4318 Gallatin St. Advanced registration required. 301.887.0777. info@ anacostiatrails.org JCPenney Kids Zone. Second Saturday of every month at the Kid’s Zone store. Color a fun back-to-school pencil pouch from IZOD. Parents receive a one-day coupon to shop in store. 11 a.m. to noon. Free.

JCPenney at the Mall at Prince George’s. 3500 East-West Hwy. 301.270.3400

July 15 - Jul 26

Puppetry Summer Camp. Create puppets and put on a puppet show! All sessions include materials, a trip to the swimming pool and a festive exhibition to showcase your young artist’s works. Before- and after-care is available. Ages 6 to 12. 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., M-F. $280 for Prince George’s County residents. $364 for non residents. Brentwood Arts Exchange. 3901 Rhode Island Ave., Brentwood. 301.277.2863

July 16

Shakespeare in the Park: “Much Ado About Nothing.” Bring your lawn chair or blan-

ket and enjoy the performance. Free. 7 to 10 p.m. Riversdale House Museum, 4811 Riverdale Rd., Riverdale Park. 301.864.0420. riversdale@pgparks. com

July 18

B e a r Square Kids Club. Interactive arts & crafts making, including DIY terrarium and marble painting classes, live singing and a magic show, and a curated set of educational and fun activities. Every Thursday (weather permitting), 4 to 6

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SUPERnatural Festival Natural Hair Event. Three-day event including art therapy from 3 to 7 p.m. and jazz performance from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday. SUPERnatural Hair Festival on

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August 12 - 23

Explore Paper Sculpting Camp. Learn paper sculpting. All sessions include materials, a trip to the swimming pool, and a festive exhibition. Before- and after-care is available. Ages 6 to 12. 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., M-F. $280/$364. Brentwood Arts Exchange. 3901 Rhode Island Ave., Brentwood. 301.277.2863

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Page 12

Hyattsville Life & Times | July 2019

AROUND HYATTSVILLE

Clockwise from top left: The “Our Stories Matter” board allowed attendees to write their thoughts and feelings during the Hyattsville Juneteenth Celebration, which was held at Magruder Park on June 15; a group of bicyclists on a rest stop at Proteus Bicycles at the Hollywood Shopping Center in College Park during Trolley Trail Day, June 8; an edible plant and mushroom identification walk took place near Smile Herb Shop in College Park during Trolley Trail Day, June 8; D.C. music group Black Alley Band was the headline performance during the Hyattsville Juneteenth Celebration. TROLLEY TRAIL DAY PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROBERT MEYERS, JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION PHOTOS BY MARIA D. JAMES

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Hyattsville Life & Times | July 2019

Page 13

COURTESY OF JANEE WILLIAMS

Glutʼs employees hope to upgrade aging refrigeration systems and to make other repairs with money from the GoFundMe campaign.

GLUT

continued from page 1

light in need of new glass at the co-op, which was founded in 1969 and moved into its current location in 1971. Behind the scenes, aging refrigeration systems are nearing the end of their life spans, and the shop is in danger of closing if it cannot fund the necessary improvements. In May, the City of Mount Rainier’s Office of Economic Development launched a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for repairs to the store, according to Janee Williams, a business development associate with the city, who helped create the campaign. “We all pulled together to make sure they stay open,” said Williams. As of early July, the campaign had received $4,450 of their $25,000 goal. Their fundraising page includes many enthusiastic comments from loyal customers who say they want to keep Glut in operation. “We’re so gratified by the response from longtime customers,” said Chris Doyle, a Hyattsville resident who has worked at Glut for 43 years. Doyle said that the store’s sales volume is down from $2.5 million in previous years to $1.5 million this year. In response, the co-op has cut staff, hours, wages and all benefits except for medical insurance. “I’ve thought we were close [to closing] a number of times in the last year, but something always happens, and we keep going,” said Doyle, who noted that Glut received some equipment from the food co-op at the University of Maryland when it closed earli-

“Increased choices for shopping, everyone’s time pressures, limited area parking — all these points have made our small business an endangered species.” Nichola Thompson

Hyattsville resident and Glut co-op worker

er this year. “I figure if we make it through the summer, we’ll make it through the next year.” Nichola Thompson, a Hyattsville resident who has worked at the co-op since 1988, said the store just received a long list of needed repairs and updates from the city’s code enforcement, including electrical upgrades and repairs to the ceiling. “Since mid-2007, we’ve been on a steady downward financial slide, greatly diminishing our savings,” said Thompson. “Not many months during these years have we broken even. The economic downturn hit us hard, particularly as it was met with increased shopping options in recent years. Making the financial decisions to cut wages, cut

hours, cut our small benefits … were met with reluctance.” Judy Davis, who has worked at Glut for 38 years, said that the co-op has also had more competition in recent years than they did in the past, when there were fewer supermarkets in the area and even fewer that carried organic and bulk options. “The area is no longer in a food desert,” said Thompson. “Increased choices for shopping, everyone’s time pressures, limited area parking — all these points have made our small business an endangered species.” According to its website, Glut was founded by “conscientious objectors during the Vietnam War” and functions as a worker’s collective in which “workers control the assets of the business and decide jointly how the business should be organized and run.” The co-op also makes donations, often in the form of store credit, to local organizations focused on “environmental, peace and social justice movements.” Thompson said that Glut offers things other stores often cannot, like a wide variety of vegetarian and vegan options, plus bulk items that customers can purchase in very small quantities. Davis notes that Glut carries some items not available at other organic markets, and emphasizes that what makes Glut special is the community it helps build. She often sees people run into old friends, people they may not have seen for years, in the checkout line. Other people strike up conversations and make new friends in line and sometimes end up standing outside of the store, talking for hours, said Da-

vis. She has even heard of a married couple who met at Glut. “Almost every day, there’s a new customer. The customer relationship is so important,” said Davis, who greets many of the patrons by name and catches up with them as she rings up their orders. “There are neighbors and others who travel distances to shop with us,” said Thompson. “Some customers are there almost daily.” Judy Walsh-Mellett of Mount Rainier said she has been shopping at Glut since 1981. She recalled grabbing fruit leathers for her children to munch in their

strollers while she shopped. Later, when her kids were teenagers, they got their first jobs at Glut and swapped the grocery credit they earned for cash from their mom, who would then use the credit to make purchases at the store. “The community really loves Glut,” said Walsh-Mellett. “In some ways, it’s changed, but in the more important ways, it’s fundamentally the same.” “There’s just something special about this place,” said Davis from behind the well-worn checkout counter. “There’s something spiritual about it.”

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Hyattsville Life & Times | July 2019

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