May 2020 Hyattsville Life & Times

INSIDE

Life&Times & &Times

VOL. 17 NO. 5

HYATTSVILLE’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

STAGS IN THE 2020 NFL DRAFT: DeMatha’s Young drafted by the Washington Redskins.

P. 4

MAY 2020

SECTION DEBUT: See how local children draw “Springtime in Hyattsville.” P. 9

Food pantries confront ‘overwhelming’ situation

By Heather Wright Having difficulty finding flour?

Toilet paper? Many of us are learning to do without a few things each week. For others, though, the problem isn’t so much in the finding, as in the affording. And the numbers of people facing food insecurity are climbing.

According to the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB), some 120,000 Prince George’s County residents were already grappling with food insecurity before the pandemic hit this area in mid-March. Since then, demand for food in the county has doubled. Local food banks, many in partnership with CAFB, are trying to address the growing need, but against considerable odds.

The food pantry at Hyattsville’s

St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church temporarily closed the second week of March because of the pandemic. The pantry required an alternative plan because “the vast number of our volunteers are senior citizens in their 70s and 80s,” said Doug Jones, a pantry volunteer.

Recognizing the increasing need for their services, and in the face of a disrupted supply chain, St. Mark’s food pantry reopened April 14 with younger volunteers (some of whom have themselves been furloughed) and a new drive-through model in place.

This food pantry, like other pantries that are still in operation, no longer allows clients to do their own shopping. Volunteers now load two standardized bags of groceries into the

On May 5, St. Mark’s food pantry distributed groceries to 207 households before needing to shut down early.

SEE PANTRIES ON 12 

LINDSAY MYERS

City returns officers to full-duty status

IN MEMORIAM

Dr. David Driskell: The greatness in our midst

By Stuart Eisenberg Not every Hyattsville resident has been the subject of a scholarly biography, been awarded the National Humanities Medal, had an academic

center named in their honor at the University of Maryland, or had their work sought by art collections, including presidential collections, throughout the world. But this is the

SEE DRISKELL ON 13 

By Sophie Gorman Oriani

Dr. David Driskell.

COURTESY OF THE

DAVID C. DRISKELL CENTER

In light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, six officers with the Hyattsville City Police Department (HCPD) who have been on administrative leave have returned to full duty.

The six officers have been on administrative leave since late

September, pending the investigation of the Sept. 26 shooting of Leonard Shand. Placing officers on administrative leave after an officer-involved shooting is standard procedure.

“I made the decision to return the six officers to full-duty to ensure that the Department is SEE HCPD ON 13 

CENTER SECTION: MAY 12, 2020 ISSUE OF THE HYATTSVILLE REPORTER — IN ESPANOL TOO! HYATTSVILLE MD PERMIT NO. 1383

Reach every consumer in Hyattsville ... for less! Contact advertising@hyattsvillelife.com or 301-531-5234

Hyattsville Life & Times PO Box 132 Hyattsville, MD 20781

NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID

Page 2

Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2020

HUMANS OF HYATTSVILLE

Former circus performer and ballerina finds a new life caring for the dying

By Lindsay Myers

J

anice Lee, a resident of University Park, encounters death more often than most. As a hospice nurse, she cares for many of her patients in their last moments, easing their transition to death and helping their family members accept the dying process. In the last month, under lockdown restrictions, Janice has had more patients die in rapid succession than in any other period during her 14 years providing hospice care. Her nursing agency reports that the percentage of patients dying within seven days of entering hospice has leapt from 20% to 35% since the beginning of pandemic response measures.

It is difficult to know whether these patients are dying because of COVID-19, the natural progression of age/disease, or from the interruption to their daily routines. Most of Janice’s patients have dementia and rely on family members and activities for stimulation. Under lockdown, their day-to-day lives have completely changed. They’re confined to their rooms for most of the day, family visits are prohibited, and the daily rhythms of the nursing home — group activities, time outside, doctors visits, meals with friends — have vanished or been radically changed.

When Janice became a hospice nurse in 2006, it marked a significant shift in her professional career. Before entering nursing school, Janice spent over 25 years working as a performer. In her 20s, she was living in New York and dancing as

Left: Janice Lee in 1978 as a professional ballerina in New York City. Right, Janice Lee poses with one of her granddaughters. COURTESY OF JANICE LEE

a professional ballerina. After suffering a serious injury to her foot and back, she saw an ad for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and decided to audition. The circus was in Florida that year, and Janice was tired of New York winters.

“When I saw the circus was going to be in Florida I said, ‘Florida! That’s where I want to go!’”

Janice laughed. “It was just an exciting kind of thing. A wacko, out of the blue thing. I ran away and joined the circus! It’s a very unique story.”

While working for Ringling Bros., Janice met her future husband, Larry. He was a recent graduate of clown college and had a special knack for juggling and acrobatics.

Managing Editor Maria D. James maria@hyattsvillelife.com

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 provided.

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

As circus performers, Janice danced and performed an aerial ballet routine while Larry juggled and clowned. They became trapeze fanatics, spending their free time watching the other artists and working out on the rigging. They erected a small trapeze in their backyard (“It was the biggest swing set in the neighborhood!”) where they could practice tricks and keep their calluses hardened. They eventually started their own troupe called Circus Werks with another married circus couple and performed together at private events, all the major amusement parks in central Florida, and even on a cruise ship.

But as Larry and Janice aged, Janice knew she would eventuWriters & Contributors Victoria Boucher, Sydney Clark, Stuart Eisenberg, Juliette Fradin, Chris McManes, Luisa Porter, Fred Seitz 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.

ally have to stop performing.

“It’s hard to work in the parks when you’re older. At the parks you’re doing at least five shows a day, and I kept getting injured.

And, you know, when you’re 42 standing next to an 18-year-old, it just shows.”

Larry, originally from California, by this time had transitioned more into stunt work. He landed work as a stuntman and a stunt coordinator in the movie studios back home, and the pair left the circus world for good. Janice was in her 40s and was faced with the question of what to do next.

She began reflecting on her life’s work up to that point.

“My previous career was always very self-centered,” said Janice. “You know, if you’re a performer, you’re always looking at yourself: How can I make this better? How can I look better? How can I make my body better? … and I was kind of having a conversion experience of looking at my life and saying, ‘Everything I have done … it seems to be very egotistical.’

It was always looking at ‘self,’ and I just felt like I needed to do something for ‘the other,’ for someone else. I needed to stop focusing on myself,” she said.

Then 9/11 happened.

“When [9/11] happened, it shined a light in my life. I said, ‘Now I’m changing that.

I’m doing something else.’

‘God, make my life a sacrifice for you and others,’ was my prayer. And I really felt like that was a defining moment

where everything changed.”

Janice began visiting elderly shut-ins once a week through a program at her local church. She found that she cherished the time spent talking with them and serving them in little ways. Within a year, all five of the people with whom she regularly visited had died. The experience helped her realize that geriatric nursing and hospice care were a natural fit for her.

Janice described the struggle of entering nursing school in her late 40s, with a family in tow, and literally no traditional work experience under her belt.

“I was a physical person. I didn’t have any computer skills, I didn’t have any knowledge, I was older. I was scared out of my mind, but I didn’t know what else I was supposed to do. It just seemed that [nursing school] was what was opening up. And I really do believe that was God’s plan for me, and if he had told me right from the start that he wanted me to be a nurse, I would have been like, ‘No way!

There’s no way I can do that!’ But it all just opened up slowly, and I accepted it one step at a time until I was able to do it,” she said.

Recently, Janice was on the phone with the wife of a patient who had just died. Janice had called to offer condolences, and the man’s wife confided in Janice that she felt guilty that she couldn’t be at her husband’s side while he drew his last breaths.

Under the lockdown, and immunocompromised herself, the best she could do was FaceTime her husband during his last moments.

Janice understood the difficulty of the situation. The unnaturalness. But she told the woman what she tells all the family members who miss the moment of death of their loved ones: “You were there when it counted. You were there all the way through. That was the hard part, and you were there when they needed you most.”

Email your “Life under COVID-19” stories to our webmaster at Lindsay@ hyattsvillelife. com, and we might just include them in our next issue. Stories from medical professionals, teachers and gig workers especially welcome!

Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2020

Page 3

Backyard Chicken Act update

Homo Habilis Construction LLC*

By Lindsay Myers

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

Backyard chicken enthusiasts should strike “build chicken coop” off their list of COVID-19 home improvement projects.

The Hyattsville City Council defeated the Backyard Chicken Act at its April 6 meeting in an 8-to-3 vote. The measure, introduced by Councilmember Danny Schaible (Ward 2), would have removed the prohibition of backyard chickens from the Hyattsville Charter and Code, effectively eliminating the city’s ability to enforce the county’s extant prohibition.

Several members of council worried that the city would lose its ability to sanction bad actors if the measure passed. Unless the county intervened, the city could

not, for example, penalize residents who raised hens in unsanitary conditions or kept a backyard full of roosters. Because the prohibition stands at the county level, however, Schaible could not offer regulations on raising fowl that might have curbed some of the potential problems.

“We can’t regulate something that is illegal at the county level, because then we would be informing our residents on how they can do something that is a violation of the law,” said Schaible.

Schaible said if he raises the issue again in the future, he might take the tactic of the Mount Rainier City Council, which recently approved a measure that declared the county’s ban on pit bulls to be the “lowest law-enforcement priority.”

Kitchens, Baths, Basements, Remodeling, Additions, Repairs

Peter J. O’Day

3811 Nicholson Street, Hyattsville, MD

240-441-2792 oday.homohabilis@gmail.com *Ho-mo hab-i-lis, n. (handy man, skillful man).

A species of humans considered to be an ancestor of modern humans and the earliest hominid to make tools. This species existed between 1.5 and 2 million years ago.

VOLUNTEERS WANTED

CEMETERY LAWN CRYPT FOR SALE

USE YOUR SKILLS TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY!

National Harmony Memorial Park 7101 Sheriff Road, Hyattsville, MD 20785

LOOKING FOR: BOARD MEMBERS, WRITERS, PHOTOGRAPHERS

Offered for only $7,000 (a $9,000 value) Contact Ms. Moore at 252-643-2165 or nover1159@gmail.com

CONTACT ROSANNA@HYATTSVILLELIFE.COM

We're Here For You

Our beautiful new Hyattsville office may be temporarily closed, but we're still hard at work - offering 3D home tours, virtual open houses and, of course, free consultations.

Wondering about worthwhile home improvements or what your home might be worth?

Give us a call or drop us an email. We're here to help!

5101 Baltimore Ave., Hyattsville, MD 20781 301.565.2523 | www.GoBrent.co

Ryan Hehman

ryan@gobrent.co 443.990.1230

Don Bunuan

don@gobrent.co 301.213.6332

Kathleen Roach

kathleen@gobrent.co 240.605.3656

Christina Cachie

christina@gobrent.co 202.431.9104

Alejandro MerilesMedina

alejandro@gobrent.co 301.613.3956

Page 4

Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2020

Young, two other DeMatha alums heading to NFL

By Chris McManes When Bill McGregor was named to return as head football coach at DeMatha on Jan. 4, 2019, he received a call from Ian Thomas, one of his former players. Thomas had a request from 2016 Stag All-American Chase Young.

“He said, ‘Chase wants to meet you and say congratulations,’” McGregor recalled.

On April 23, the Washington Redskins selected Young with the second pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. He is the first DeMatha football player chosen in the first round and the highest draft pick ever from what is now the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC).

It didn’t matter to Young that he didn’t play for McGregor. DeMatha gentlemen are all part of one family.

“It’s a special place … where my bonds have gotten stronger just through the whole brotherhood and just being at DeMatha,” Young told the Redskins’ website. “I’m glad my parents told me to move to DeMatha, because obviously it

was for the best.”

Two of Young’s Stags teammates are also looking to play in the NFL. Running back Anthony McFarland was drafted in the fourth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cornerback Tino Ellis signed as a free agent with the New Orleans Saints.

Both played at Maryland.

“They’ve worked really hard to achieve their dreams,” McGregor said. “I can see Tino having a long NFL career. And Anthony, with his breakaway speed and pass-catching ability, can be a difference-maker for the Steelers.”

The 6-foot-5, 265-pound Young led the nation in sacks (16.5) last year at Ohio State and won several defensive Player of the Year awards. He was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.

Young, from Cheltenham in southern Prince George’s County, transferred to DeMatha from Pallotti during his sophomore year. He played football in 2015 and 2016 under Elijah Brooks and helped the Stags win two WCAC championships.

The 2016 squad (12-0) finished No. 1 in the Washington area

Chase Young sacks Kasim Hill in DeMatha’s 34-29 victory over St. John’s in the 2016 WCAC championship. It was Young’s final high school game and helped the Stags complete an undefeated season. COURTESY OF ED KING

and No. 4 nationally. Young recorded 19 sacks from his defensive end position, had 118 total tackles and scored two touchdowns. In a WCAC semifinal win over Good Counsel, one play typified his once-in-ageneration talent.

With his team clinging to a late 21-13 lead, Young blew past his blocker, hit the quarterback and forced a fumble. He scooped the ball up with one hand and took it to the end zone. It was the punctuating play in the Stags’ 28-13 victory.

“I knew a play had to be made,” Young said that day. “I didn’t know it was going to be me.”

STAGS IN THE NFL Recent DeMatha graduates to play in the NFL include members of the past three Super Bowl champions: Rodney McLeod (Philadelphia Eagles), Ja’Whaun Bentley (New England Patriots) and John Lovett (Kansas City Chiefs). Bentley is among 10 former Stags drafted since 2001, tying DeMatha for seventh-most among high schools.

In addition, several former Stags now work in the league.

Dennard Wilson is the New York Jets’ passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach.

Sean Gustus (Minnesota Vikings) and Ronnie Rose (Red-

Helping Sell Hyattsville

And our Neighboring Community UNDER CONTRACT

FOR SALE 4207 Jefferson St, Hyattsville, listed for $650,000 Fabulous farmhouse with a contemporary addition - an owner’s suite, family room & mudroom! 4 BRs, 3 full baths + a detached garage! Available for private showings.

LOCAL REAL ESTATE UPDATE: People have not stopped buying homes! Lenders are still lending, title companies are still closing deals and our county is still recording Deeds. Business is done differently today to keep all involved in the process safe and at a distance.

Call me if you have any real estate related questions!

Stay HOME and Stay Safe Hyattsville!

4405 Longfellow St., Hyattsville, listed for $470,000 Arts District townhome with lovely upgrades including wood floors, plantation shutters, gas fireplace and wholehouse sound system.

SOLD

SOLD 7141 Presley Rd., Lanham. Sold for $340,000 4215 Jefferson St., Hyattsville.

Sold for $435,000 5510 39th Ave., Hyattsville. Sold for $492,000 9029 Fairview Rd., Silver Spring.

Sold for $790,000 6218 43rd St., Hyattsville Sold for $400,000

Ann Barrett

6121 54th Ave. Riverdale Park, listed for $395,000, sold for $416,000. Fabulous updated American Foursquare with 4 BRs, 2 1/2 baths on a corner lot with 2 car garage! 2 blocks to soon-to-be Purple Line station.

Thinking of making a move in 2020 or beyond?

Vintage Hyattsville and Riverdale Park properties coming soon — some real beauties! Call Ann for the inside scoop!

Chris McManes has covered DeMatha football since 2015.

Realtor®, ABR, SRS

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.

9094 Baltimore Avenue, College Park, MD 20740

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

email: ann.barrett@LNF.com www.longandfoster.com/ANNBARRETT

Honored to be a Volunteer Ambassador for the City of Hyattsville!

Proven Results:

3909 Jefferson Street, Hyattsville, listed for $485,000, sold for $510,000 Classic bungalow!

Beautifully updated with 3+ Bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths and a finished basement.

skins) are college scouts. Bryce Bevill is the Jets’ manager of player development. Greg Steed is a back judge who has officiated two Super Bowls.

These connections help McGregor convince NFL talent evaluators to take a closer look at former DeMatha players.

“I can call them and say, ‘Can you take a look at this player? I think he has tremendous upside and might be worthwhile for you to take a real close look at,’” McGregor said. “‘And he’s a DeMatha guy, so you know the kind of character-young-man you’re going to have on your football team.’”

Young, for example, plans to start a charitable foundation.

“He’s a wonderful young man,” McGregor said. “He cares about his community and the Washington, D.C., area. He loves DeMatha. We’re really elated for Chase and his family.”

Top-Producing Individual Agent, Long & Foster College Park 2009 - 2019!

Top Listing Agent, Long & Foster Prince George’s County Southern Maryland Region, 2018-2019 The information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted.

SINGLE SCULLING IS IN! Outdoors, social yet distanced, and great exercise — it’s the best!

• Learn to Scull classes • Youth and adult sculling programs • Beginners welcome!

FUN, FRIENDS AND FITNESS! All activities are at

Bladensburg Waterfront Park 4601 Annapolis Road, Bladensburg WashingtonRowingSchool.com

202-344-0886

Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2020

Page 5

HCPD helps pilot public safety program for first responders

By Maria D. James How do the city’s essential employees protect themselves from the threat of COVID-19? The Hyattsville City Police Department (HCPD) has established a robust decontamination process to do just that. On April 23, HCPD invited the Hyattsville Life & Times, and other media outlets, to a demonstration of that process, which takes place under a large decontamination tent that has been in place outside the Hyattsville Municipal Building since April 10.

According to a press release issued by the HCPD, the decontamination process is part of the department’s collaboration with the nonprofit research and development organization Energetics Technology Center (ETC) to pilot a COVID-19 public safety program for first responders. The city’s command staff worked with ETC to develop a process for decontaminating equipment, clothing and vehicles at the conclusion of each officers’ daily shift.

HCPD Chief of Police Amal Awad stated in the press release that she welcomed the partnership, writing, “Our Department is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Energetics Technology Center. Together, we have developed and implemented decontamination procedures to safeguard our officers, their families and our community.�

“We make sure we do this every day, not only for our family but for the community.�

Darrell Benjamin private first class officer, HCPD

ETC is also working to equip police officers with a COVID-19 protection kit designed to prevent transmission of COVID-19 as officers engage with people placed under arrest. “The goal was to develop ‘Smart Practices’ that would hopefully turn into best practices by determining what works and what doesn’t as we go through this process,� said Cindy Zork, City of Hyattsville communications manager and public information officer. “We re-evaluate the decontamination process weekly to review protocols and determine the best equipment and materials to use going forward.�

During the demonstration, Private First Class Officer Darrell Benjamin suited up and walked

through each step of the process. “The exterior of each vehicle at the end of a shift for each officer is saturated with water and soap to kill any kind of bacteria or germs.

Then we spray the inside of the car to sanitize and let it dry up.

There are two tables: a dirty table and a clean table, and we take all our equipment and guns to wipe down and clean. Then all the stuff that is put in buckets [is] properly disposed as biohazard,� described Benjamin. A poster detailing the process hangs inside the tent to help officers run through the decontamination steps. “We make sure we do this every day, not only for our family but for the community, in hopes to not spread [COVID-19] if we are contaminated and to keep everyone safe,� said Benjamin.

h&RANKLINS IS AWESOME v

n0UBCRAWLER COM

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

&RANKLINS

Taunya L. Jenkins, DDS, LLC

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

Private First Class Officer Darrell Benjamin wipes down the computer of his patrol vehicle interior as part of a new decontamination process that occurs at the end of an HCPD officer’s daily shift. LUISA PORTER

#BMUJNPSF "WF )ZBUUTWJMMF .%

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

A-1 YARD SERVICES Complete Lawn and Property Maintenance

Mac Menders

Repair • Upgrades • Data Recovery The area’s best Mac support for when things go slightly or horribly awry.

PCs welcome too!

Chris Barylick

ChrisBarylick@gmail.com | 202.341.9236 Apple Certified Fast • Friendly • Professional

eastbaymacmenders.com

LAWN & YARD SERVICES

• LEAF REMOVAL • GUTTER CLEANING • WEEDING, MOWING & MULCHING • TREE & BUSH REMOVAL, TRIMMING

HAULING SERVICES

• APPLIANCE, FURNITURE & DEBRIS REMOVAL • ATTIC, GARAGE & BASEMENT CLEANING • YARD CLEANING

YOU CALL, WE HAUL!

CALL RON AT 202-431-1236

CALL FOR A FREE ESTIMATE!

Page 6

Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2020

Alison Roach incorporates some of her daughter Lily’s daycare routine into life at home. COURTESY OF ALISON ROACH

No days off:

Families adjust to life with COVID-19

By Sydney Clark Alison and Eric Roach are working from their Hyattsville home full time while caring for their 3-year-old daughter, Lily.

In an attempt to balance work and family, they’re alternating roles every day. If it’s Alison’s day with Lily, her husband Eric concentrates on work, and then they swap roles again the next day. The cycle continues.

“There’ve been no days off,” said Alison. Easter Sunday was the only exception.

To try to stay consistent, the Roaches keep two schedules posted on a wall near the kitchen.

Despite their efforts to keep the household running, the realities of being home full time with their daughter can be overwhelming at times, as Lily craves their undivided attention.

“She’s never needed us more, and I’ve never felt more unavail-

able,” Alison commented.

The Roaches’ work-family juggle during the pandemic is not unique. Many parents are also homeschooling their children.

Maryland schools closed in March, and Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) began teaching children online April 14. Gov. Larry Hogan announced on May 6 that schools will be closed for the remainder of the school year.

Hyattsville families are hardly alone in their struggles to balance responsibilities and demands during this difficult time.

And while navigating the demands of work and family during the pandemic can be hard, it’s possible, according to Andrea Chronis-Tuscano, a University of Maryland psychology professor specializing in parenting and parent mental health. The focus needs to be on

“It’s not realistic for most parents to have a really rigid schedule during this time, but I think that being able to kind of do things around the same time [each day] helps.”

Andrea Chronis-Tuscano University of Maryland psychology professor

“those things we can control.”

Chronis-Tuscano has two boys, ages 9 and 11. She said that developing and maintaining routines around sleep time, wake time and mealtime can help create some normalcy during this time of uncertainty.

“It’s not realistic for most parents to have a really rigid schedule during this time, but I think that being able to kind of do things around the same time [each day] helps,” she said.

But even with a flexible schedule, meal planning can be frustrating at times, said Roach.

Jennifer Anderson, a local registered dietician, said parents have reached out to her with questions and concerns about putting food on the table during the pandemic. She often hears from parents who question the value of canned food.

Anderson noted that canned food can have a lot of nutrients.

“People should never feel bad that they’re using a shelf staple food to take care of themselves in a time like this.”

Frozen food has about the same nutrient profile as fresh food, and sometimes even better because it’s often flash frozen on site, according to Anderson.

Consistency around meals is important for children, especially during uncertain times,

because it helps them gain a sense of security. Since children are at home, snacking can be tempting.

Anderson recommended making a snack schedule during the day to create structure for children and reduce stress for parents. Two or three snacks are sufficient.

“Have a snack time in the morning, make sure it’s balanced, has a protein food, a fruit or vegetable with it,” Anderson noted. “Make sure you have an afternoon snack, and make sure it’s scheduled so kids know when they can depend on it.”

Mandy Sheffer and her husband, Thomas, have two boys, 3 and 7. Thomas works from home, and Mandy generally stays with the boys during the day and juggles in running the family’s small business, Curated Play Spaces, remotely.

She encourages her sons to be physically active and tries to include outdoor play in their daily routine.

“My focus is just making this time less stressful for them as possible because they miss their buddies,” Sheffer said.

Anne Baum has two girls, ages 8 and 11, who started their distance learning April 14. She is thankful that the girls’ online classes have been “more asynchronous learning,” allowing them to tackle required work on their own time.

Baum described their living room right now as “command central.” She and her spouse brought their computer monitors from their work offices so they could function more efficiently at home.

Depending on the weather, one of them will go outside and sit on the back porch for a Zoom meeting or work call, while the other continues working in the living room.

“We have issues with Wi-Fi, so we’re really finding snatches of time to do work whenever we can, whether that be schoolwork or work-work,” Baum said.

The girls have been responding fairly well to the pandemic and the way it’s changing their lives, even assisting Baum with making face masks to donate.

Baum has been doing the sewing, and the girls have been picking out fabric and doing the cutting and ironing.

Baum said she misses spending quality time with her Hyattsville friends and neighbors.

But the family has been practicing gratitude and appreciating what they do have: jobs, good health and each other.

Anderson echoed that sentiment: “Times like this, you just go back to the basics.”

Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2020

Page 7

ZERO WASTE OF TIME

Tip for zero-waste living during the pandemic

By Juliette Fradin

T

he pandemic has certainly shaken a lot of our sustainable habits, and many of our options have changed and been reduced, or maybe have disappeared altogether. Now that our tote bags and reusable cups aren’t allowed in many places, how can we pursue a zero-waste lifestyle and support this movement during times of a pandemic? We can feel frustrated, and many of us do. But we can also focus on the positive and practical things we can still do to prevent waste and find the silver lining in this worldwide crisis.

Zero waste is at the intersection of minimalism and intentionality. It is a mindset, a philosophy that may start with reusables and takewaway containers but goes a lot further. It encompasses a healthy desire for a simpler life filled with more meaning. Obviously, the coronavirus pandemic is simply terrible. But while it forces us all to slow down, it also shows us that we can choose another way. The planet cannot sustain our consumer lifestyles.

Everything, even sustainable stuff, has a footprint, so the less you buy, the more sustainable you are and the less waste you create. If you need something, see if you can borrow, or find it on Freecycle, on your local listserve or through a Buy Nothing group. Reach out to family, friends and neighbors to see if they have what you need and to share with them the things you no longer use. And libraries don’t just lend out physical products; you can use Overdrive to check out online books or attend a library’s virtual events.

A big part of the zero-waste lifestyle is about making do with less and making things last. Maybe that means getting stuff fixed — repairing your bike or mending your clothes. Consider replacing paper napkins with cloth ones, paper towels with Swedish cloths that are compostable (I don’t recommend microfiber cloths, as they are not recyclable) or your sponge for loofah. If you know how to crochet, make yourself a scrubber! Instead of plastic wrap, use Tupperware (or, better yet, a glass container with a lid) or beeswax food wraps. And a simple plate on a bowl will work great too!

When you shop for groceries (online or in the store), think creatively about what you buy and how you buy it, with an eye to reducing packaging, particularly single-use plastics. Look for items packaged in paper like flour and sugar — that paper can be composted. Buy unwrapped fruits and veggies, your milk in consigned glass bottles, eggs in cardboard boxes and drinks in cans.

Could you choose the bigger pack size and split it with friends or family? The option without individual packs inside packs?

I have been enjoying making meals from

Top: Slow living might help you manage the stress and uncertainty by making something as simple as bread. Right: COVID-19 has forced us to slow down and connect inward. Those are major changes for a lot of us. JULIETTE FRADIN

scratch and baking at home these days — bread every other day and cookies once a week. This slower pace of life is good for my soul. It reconnects me to simple things in life like cooking, and especially getting creative with whatever’s in my pantry and fridge before things go bad. I make sure I am storing food properly so it lasts, I clear out my freezer to make room for leftovers and I have a “use me first” shelf in the fridge so I know what needs to be eaten first. And if you cannot do it all, go for the small wins. It all helps.

If you would like to buy in bulk, you can still do so at Yes! Organic Market in Hyattsville, Glut Food Co-op in Mount Rainier or My Organic Market (MoM’s) in College Park (but not Safeway or Whole Foods). You can bring your own bags and pack your items at Glut, Safeway and MoM’s, but be aware that Trader Joe’s at Union Market won’t let you bring in your reusable bags. Before going out, check daily posts from Sarah Byrne of Route 1 Fun (www.routeonefun.com), who shares inventory and stock information from shoppers every day to help folks figure out where to go (or not go).

Also, consider subscribing to a CSA or shopping at farmers markets to cut down

on waste and support our local farmers.

It is not in my budget to order takeaway regularly, and the unwanted packaging would be too much for me to handle, but we can support restaurants who provide carryout in reusable containers.

Zero waste — or low waste, at least — might not be a priority for everyone now, but it is still important to me. While I navigate changes and make some difficult compromises, it’s going to take

more than a pandemic for me to put aside my values. Just do your best while staying safe, and be thankful for the people working in your grocery stores.

Juliette Fradin is the Hyattsville Life & Times sustainability columnist.

Page HR1

Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2020

the

Hyattsville Reporter No. 386 • May 12, 2020

www.hyattsville.org • 301-985-5000

COVID-19

City’s Response to COVID-19: The City continues to monitor the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and State and County health department guidance to ensure proper planning and prevention in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As restrictions begin to ease, please continue to protect each other’s wellbeing by using appropriate social distancing measures, following state and county guidelines on face coverings, and continuing safe sanitation practices. Additional updates and resources can be found at www.hyattsville.org/covid-19.

Hyattsville Helps: In need of groceries?

Or do you have a task you’re unable to do during this time? Let Mayor Hollingsworth and City staff know! They are using all available resources to get community members the help they need.

Residents who have time or resources to give can also help! To get started, please call (301) 985-5020, text the word “Hyattsville” to 31996, or visit www.hyattsville. org/hyattsvillehelps. $1M Pandemic Relief Fund: At the May 4 City Council Meeting, Mayor and Council adopted to move forward with plans for a $1 million relief fund for Hyattsville residents and businesses. The fund will be distributed through several different channels, including the Hyattsville Community Development Corporation, Employ Prince George’s, CASA de Maryland, and a City administered grant for businesses. It is expected that criteria and applications for the various funding opportunities will be available in June. For updates, visit www. hyattsville.org/covid-19.

COVID-19 Resources

COVID-19 Hotline and Screening: If you have questions or believe you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms such as a fever, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, chills, muscle pain, or a sore throat, please call the Prince George’s County Coronavirus Hotline at (301) 883-6627. Residents that meet the CDC’s guidelines for testing can schedule an appointment at a new screening center, located at the PG County’s Cheverly Health Center. The testing site does not accept walkups without an appointment. If symptoms worsen before you receive your test results, please seek immediate medical help. Those who are experiencing a medical emergency and are unable to speak can now text 911 for emergency assistance.

Financial Relief: Prince George’s County residents who are hourly employees laid off due to COVID-19 can still apply for a $200 Employ Prince George’s Visa Cash Card at https://employpgedge.com.

Food Assistance: Families and Individuals in need of meals and groceries can visit the County’s Food Equity Council site at http://pgcfec.org for a list of nearby food assistance resources. The City is occasionally receiving food donations and has a limited stockpile of non-perishable items.

If you or a family is in need, please call the Hyattsville Helps Line at (301) 985-5020.

Free Meals for Students: Though Maryland Public Schools have now been closed for the 2019-2020 academic year, students can continue to pick up daily meals for the week on Mondays and Wednesdays between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Hyattsville based Girl Scout Troop 23005 created an inspiring message, “At Home with Hope,” located by Robert J. King Park on Gallatin Street. El Grupo de Tropas Exporadoras 23005 de Hyattsville crearon un mensaje inspirador “At Home with Hope,” lo cual significa “En Casa con Esperanza.” El mensaje esta ubicado en el Parque Robert J. King por la Gallatin Street.

Guardians can also pick up the breakfast, lunch, and supper meals for their children with a student ID or report card. Nicholas Orem Middle is the nearest distribution site in Hyattsville. For more information, please visit www.pgcps.org.

Mental Health Support: The stress of the pandemic can be overwhelming and seriously affect one’s mental health. The Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline – 1-800-985-5990 (or text TalkWithUs to 66746) – provides 24/7 crisis counseling support.

Financial Assistance for Businesses and Non-Profits: Updated federal, state, and local grant and loan programs for businesses, art organizations, and non-profits affected by COVID-19 are now available at www.hyattsville.org/covidbizresources. Hyattsville’s Mayor is hosting weekly check-in calls with local business owners and community members on Mondays at 1 p.m. To join these calls, please send a request to mayor@hyattsville.org.

CFI Program: Applications for Hyattsville’s Commercial Façade Improvement Program are being accepted until June 18.

This program matches owners dollar-fordollar in amounts ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 to make exterior improvements to their businesses. Visit www.hyattsville. org/facade for guidelines and additional information.

Take 10 for the Census!

More than 50% of Hyattsville residents have completed their Census either by visiting mycensus2020.gov or completing a paper form. Support the Take 10 initiative by taking 10 minutes to complete the 9 simple census questions! If you need help completing your 2020 Census questionnaire or would like a paper form mailed to you, please call 1-844-330-2020.

City Announcements, Events, and Services

A list of suspended, limited, and continuing services is listed below. Visit www. hyattsville.org for the most up-to-date information.

Continuing Services and Activities:

• Creative Minds at Home (through May 28) • Hyattsville Council Meetings • Parking Enforcement • Permit Processing • Police Patrolling & Emergency Response • Solid Waste & County Recycling Collections

Limited or Suspended Services & Activities:

• Access to Municipal Facilities (call (301) 985-5000 for details) • Call-A-Bus Transportation • Compost & Yard Waste Pickup (limited to first and third Mondays of month) • Licensing (business, single family, and multi-family licenses expiring during the state of emergency are extended an additional 30 days after the emergency is lifted) • Notary & Fingerprinting • Parks (only open from dawn to dusk) • Playground Equipment (closed until further notice) • Public Information Act Requests • UMD Shuttle Transportation • White Good Appliances & Bulk Items Pickup Cancellations & Postponements

• Ageless Grace Exercise Classes • Bike to Work Day, May 15 • Board and Committee Meetings • Community Yoga • Historic Houses Tour, May 17 • Invasive Plant Removal Volunteering Events • Police Ride-A-Long’s • Senior Bus Trips • Senior Dining & Lecture Series • Summer Jam, May 15 • Teen Center & Tutoring Stay Connected: Keep up with events, notices, and programming with your local government! Follow our Facebook (/ cityofhyattsville), Instagram (@cityofhyattsville), and Twitter (@HyattsvilleMD), subscribe to email and text general alerts and notices at www.hyattsville.org/notifyme, and text HVL to 99411 for emergency safety alerts.

Creative Minds at Home: Looking to keep your toddler’s mind stimulated? Take advantage of Hyattsville’s Creative Minds program - - a free online educational series made up of bilingual content, tutorials on crafts and activities using ordinary objects, and live shows with guest entertainers!

The spring session is now underway, taking place Tuesdays through Thursdays.

To register and for more information, visit www.hyattsville.org/creativeminds.

City Permits: The City is now accepting Driveway- Street Apron, Tree Removal, and Fence Permit applications. Applications can be found and downloaded at hyattsville.org/permit. Completed permit applications and required materials may be emailed to permits@hyattsville.org or submitted in person Mondays & Tuesdays, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., at the City building. The City is waiving applications fees for fence permits until further notice. For questions or concerns, please call (301) 985-5014 or email permits@hyattsville.org.

Residential Parking: The City’s Residential Parking Zone program continues to remain in effect and, applications are being accepted online via hyattsville. org/res-parking or in person Mondays & Tuesdays, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., at the City Building. For questions or concerns about the program, call (301) 985-5027 or email parking@hyattsville.org.

Waste Services: In order to slow the transmission of COVID-19, the City is limiting compost and yard waste pickups to the first and third Mondays of the Month. White good appliances and large bulk items pick up services are suspended.

Bulk items that are left in the public’s right-of-way may be subject to a fine. Solid waste and County recycling schedules are the same. If you have any questions, please call (301) 985-5000.

Public Meetings: For the most up-todate information regarding all City of Hyattsville advisory board and committee meetings during May and June, visit www.hyattsville.org. Following Governor Hogan’s Stay-At-Home Executive Order, please note that the Council meetings and budget work sessions will be conducted via videoconference. Those meetings can be viewed on cable channels 71 (Comcast), 12 (Verizon) & streamed online via the City’s webpage, hyattsville.org/meetings - where public comments may also be submitted.

Age-Friendly Programs

HAP is Here to Help: Seniors needing help during the current pandemic can call on Hyattsville Aging in Place (HAP) for support. A local all-volunteer organization, HAP works to ensure seniors can live independently here in Hyattsville. Thanks to a generous grant from the Greater Washington Community Foundation, HAP is providing limited financial assistance to Hyattsville seniors and their families affected by the coronavirus pandemic. For details and more information, visit www.hyattsvilleaginginplace.org/covid19, email HAPcares@gmail. com, or call (301) 887-3101.

HAP can also help seniors get to and from necessary medical appointments.

This is a telephone-based service that connects you with rideshares paid for by HAP, thanks to the Community Foundation grant. Other HAP services include friendly check-ins, delivery of groceries, supplies, and masks, and help connecting with resources to assist with household and yard problems. For more information, to request help, or to volunteer with HAP, please visit www.hyattsvilleaginginplace. org.

Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2020

Page HR2

el

Reportero de

Hyattsville

No. 386 • 12 de Mayo, 2020

COVID-19

Respuesta de la Ciudad al COVID-19: La Ciudad continua a seguir las recomendaciones del Centro para el Control de Enfermedades, la Organización Mundial de Salud y los departamentos de salud pública del estado y condado para estar planear y estar apropiadamente preparados con la pandemia del COVID-19. A medida que las restricciones comienzan a aliviarse, por favor continúen a proteger el bienestar de sí mismos siguiendo las pautas recomendadas de distanciamiento social, siguiendo las ordenes del estado y condado de usar mascara de tela y continuando las practicas de sanitación seguras. Adicionales actualizaciones y recursos pueden ser encontrados en www.hyattsville.org/covid-19.

Hyattsville Ayuda: ¿Esta en necesidad de comida? ¿O tiene algo que hacer que no puede hacer en estos tiempos? ¡Deje que la Alcaldesa Hollingsworth y los empleados de la Ciudad le ayuden! Ellos están usando todos los recursos disponibles para conseguir la ayuda necesaria a los miembros de la comunidad quienes lo necesitan. ¡Gente que tiene tiempo o un recurso que dar también pueden ayudar! Para empezar, llame al (301) 985-5020, envíe un texto con la palabra “comunidad” al 31996 o visite a www.hyattsville.org/hyattsvillehelps.

Fondo Pandémico de Alivio de $1M: En la reunión del 4 de mayo del Concejo Municipal, la Alcaldesa y el Concejo adoptaron para seguir adelante con planes para un fondo pandémico de alivio de $1 millón de dólares para residentes y negocios de Hyattsville. Los fondos serán distribuidos por entre medio de varios canales, incluyendo la Hyattsville Community Development Corportation, Employ Prince George’s, Casa de Maryland y una subvención para negocios administrada por la Ciudad. Se espera que el criterio y las aplicaciones estén disponibles en junio. Para actualizaciones, visite www.hyattsville.org/covid-19.

Recursos para Ayudar con el COVID-19

Línea de Ayuda y Sitio de Detección: Sí tiene preguntas o piensa que esta teniendo síntomas del COVID-19 como una fiebre, falta de respiración, pérdida de sabor u oler, escalofríos, dolor de músculos o dolor de garganta, por favor llame a la Línea Directa de Coronavirus del Condado Prince George’s al (301) 883-6627. Personas que llaman y cumplen con las pautas del Centro de Enfermedades para hacerse la prueba pueden hacer una cita en el nuevo centro de detección, ubicada en el Centro de Salud de Cheverly. El centro no acepta personas sin cita. Sí sus síntomas empeoran antes de que reciba sus resultados de la prueba, por favor consiga ayuda medica inmediata.

Gente que esta sufriendo de una emergencia medica y no puede hablar ahora puede enviar textos al 911 para ayuda.

Alivio Económico: Residentes del Condado de Prince George’s quienes son pagados a la hora y han sido despedidos recientemente debido a la pandemia del coronavirus pueden aplicar para una tarjeta de regalo visa de $200 por parte de Employ Prince George’s en https://employpgedge.com.

Asistencia con Comida: Familias e individuales que necesitan ayuda para comprar comidas o almuerzos pueden visitar al sitio del Condado de equidad alimentaria, http://pgcfec.org, para una lista de recursos y organizaciones que pueden ayudar. La

www.hyattsville.org • 301-985-5000

¡Tome 10 para el Censo!

Más de 50% de los residentes de Hyattsville han completado su Censo por internet, my2020census.gov, o con la forma de papel que recibieron por correo. ¡Apoye a la iniciativa “Take 10” y tome 10 minutos para completar 9 simple preguntas! Sí necesita ayuda para completar su Censo o quisiera una forma de papel enviada, por favor llame al 1-844-330-2020.

Eventos, Servicios y Anuncios de la Ciudad

Mayor Candace Hollingsworth distributing grocery gift cards to Hyattsville residents impacted by COVID-19 pandemic. The cards were purchased using the Mayor’s discretionary funds, as well as those donated by Council members Robert Croslin and Danny Schaible. La Alcaldesa Hollingsworth distribuyendo tarjetas de regalo para comida a residentes de Hyattsville quienes fueron impactados por la pandemia COVID-19. Las tarjetas fueron compradas usando fondos discrecionales de la Alcaldesa, y con fondos discrecionales donados por los Concejales Robert Croslin y Danny Schaible.

Ciudad esta ocasionalmente recibiendo donaciones de comida y tiene una limitada cantidad de artículos no perecederos. Sí usted o una familia necesita comida, por favor llame a la línea de Ayuda de Hyattsville al (301) 985-5020.

Almuerzos Gratuitos para Estudiantes: Aunque las Escuelas Públicas de Maryland hayan sido cerradas para el año escolar, estudiantes pueden continuar a recibir almuerzos diarios para la semana los lunes y miércoles entre las 10 a.m. y 1 p.m.

Padres también pueden recoger el desayuno, almuerzo y cena para sus menores con la ID del estudiante o las calificaciones. La escuela Nicholas Orem Middle es el centro de distribución más cerca en Hyattsville. Para más información, visite www.pgcps.org.

Apoyo para la Salud Mental: El estrés causado por la pandemia del coronavirus puede ser demasiado y puede seriamente afectar la salud mental. La Administración de Salud Mental y Abuso de Substancia Federal (SAMHSA) provee soporte a todas horas vía su línea, 1-800-985-5990 o por texto mandando la palabra “TalkWithUs” al 66746.

Asistencia Financiera para Negocios y Organizaciones Sin Fines de Lucro: Actualizadas subvenciones y programas de préstamo federales, estatales y locales para negocios, organizaciones sin fines de lucro y de arte que fueron afectadas por el COVID-19, ahora están disponible en www.hyattsville. org/covidbizresources. La Alcaldesa de Hyattsville esta sosteniendo reuniones virtuales semanalmente con dueños de negocios y lideres de la comunidad los lunes a la 1 p.m.

Para atender estas llamadas, por favor envíe una solicitud a mayor@hyattsville.org.

Programa CFI: Aplicaciones para el Programa de la Ciudad de Subvenciones de Mejoramientos para Negocios Comerciales están siendo aceptadas hasta el 18 de junio.

Este programa iguala dólar por dólar la cantidad que el dueño invierte (cantidades de $5,000 hasta $50,000) para hacer mejoramientos al exterior del negocio. Visite www.hyattsville.org/facade para información adicional.

Una lista de servicios suspendidos, limitados o continuando esta debajo. Visite www. hyattsville.org para la información más reciente.

Servicios y Actividades que Continúan:

• Creative Minds en Casa (hasta el 28 de mayo) • Reuniones del Concejo Municipal de Hyattsville • Enfuerzo de Parqueo • Procesamiento de Permisos • Vigilancia de Policía y Servicios de Emergencia • Recolección de basura y Reciclaje Actividades y Servicios Limitados o Suspendidos:

• Acceso a Facilidades del Municipio (llame (301) 9855000 para detalles) • Transportación del Llame-Al-Bus • Recolección de Compostaje y Residuos de Yarda (limitado a primeros y terceros lunes del mes) • Licencias (licencias de negocios, multihogar o de rentar expirándose durante Estado de Emergencia tendrán fechas limites extendidas 30 días más al día después de que el Estado de Emergencia haya pasado) • Notario y Huellas • Parques (abiertos de amanecer a anochecer) • Área de Juegos (cerrados hasta un nuevo aviso) • Solicitudes de la Ley de Información Pública • Transportación de los Autobuses de UMD • Recolección de Basuras & Electrodomésticos Eventos Cancelados o Pospuestos:

• Clases de Ejercicio Ageless Grace • Día de Llevar Bici al Trabajo, 15 de mayo • Reuniones de Juntas y Comités • Yoga Comunitario • Recorrido de Casas Históricas, 17 de mayo • Eventos Voluntarios de Remover Plantas • Paseos con Policías • Viajes de Autobuses para Gente Mayor • Serie de Lectura y Comida para Gente Mayor • Summer Jam, 15 de mayo • Servicios de Tutoría y Centro de Jóvenes

Manténgase Conectado: ¡Este al tanto con eventos, noticias de emergencia y generales, programas y mucho más con su gobierno local! Siga nuestras cuentas de Facebook (@ cityofhyattsville), Twitter (@HyattsvilleMD), Instagram (@cityofhyattsville), inscríbase a recibir alertas de texto o correo electrónico en www.hyattsville.org/notifyme y envíe un texto con la palabra HVL al 99411 para recibir alertas de emergencia y seguridad.

Creative Minds en Casa: ¿Busca mantener la mente su niñX pequeñX estimulada? Tome ventaja del programa de Creative Minds de Hyattsville - - una serie educativa en línea gratuita compuesta de contenido bilingue, tutoriales sobre artesanías y actividades utilizando objetos ordinarios, ¡y espectáculos en vivo con artistas invitados!

La sesión de primavera ya está en marcha, que tiene lugar de martes a jueves. Para inscribirse y para más información, visite www.hyattsville.org/creativeminds.

Permisos de la Ciudad: La Ciudad ahora esta aceptando solicitudes de permisos para entradas de coches, remover arboles y

construir/cambiar cercas. Las aplicaciones pueden ser encontradas en hyattsville.org/ permit. Aplicaciones completas y los materiales requeridos pueden sometidos al correo electrónico, permits@hyattsville.org o en persona los lunes y martes, de 9 a.m. a 12 p.m. en El Edificio Municipal. La Ciudad esta no esta cobrando por procesar aplicaciones de cercas en este tiempo hasta un nuevo aviso.

Para preguntas, llame al (301) 985-5014 o contacte a permits@hyattsville.org.

Parqueo Residencial: El programa de Parqueo Residencial de la Ciudad sigue vigente y solicitudes están siendo aceptadas por en medio de la pagina, hyattsville. org/res-parking o en persona los lunes y martes, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., en el Edificio Municipal. Para preguntas sobre el programa, llame al (301) 985-5027 o contacte a parking@hyattsville.org.

Servicios de Basura: Para ayudar a reducir la transmisión del coronavirus, la Ciudad esta limitando la recolección de residuos de yarda y compostaje a solo los primeros y terceros lunes del mes. Servicios de recolección de basuras grandes y electrodomésticos están suspendidos (basuras grandes que estén afuera y en el derecho del publico pueden resultar en una multa). Los horarios de recolección de basura regular y reciclaje (por parte del Condado) siguen igual. Sí tiene preguntas, por favor llame al (301) 985-5000.

Reuniones Públicas: Para la información más reciente sobre todas las reuniones de juntas y comités de Hyattsville que están programadas para tomar plazo mayo y junio, por favor visite al sitio web www. hyattsville.org. Siguiendo la Orden Ejecutiva del Gobernador Hogan de quedarse en casa, las reuniones entre el Concejo y las sesiones de trabajo del presupuesto será conducidas por videoconferencia. Esas reuniones también podrán ser vistas por los canales de cable 71 (Comcast) y 12 (Verizon), además de estar disponibles vía www. hyattsville.org/meetings, donde comentarios públicos pueden ser sometidos.

Programas Amigables con la Edad

HAP esta aquí para Ayudar: Gente de mayor edad que necesitan ayuda durante esta pandemia pueden llamar a la organización Hyattsville Aging in Place (HAP) para apoyo. Una organización local hecha de solo voluntarios, HAP trabaja para garantizar que las personas de la tercera edad puedan vivir de forma independiente aquí en Hyattsville. Gracias a una generosa subvención de la Greater Washington Community Foundation, HAP está proporcionando asistencia financiera limitada a las personas mayores de Hyattsville y sus familias afectadas por la pandemia del coronavirus.

Para detalles y para más información, visite www.hyattsvilleaginginplace.org/covid19, envíe un email a HAPcares@gmail. com o llame al (301) 887-3101.

HAP también puede ayudar a la gente de mayor edad y ir a venir de citas medicales cuales son necesarias. Este es un servicio telefónico que te conecta con servicios de taxi pagados por HAP, gracias a la subvención Community Foundation. Otros servicios de HAP incluyen visitas amistosas, entrega de comestibles, suministros y máscaras, y ayudar a conectar con los recursos para ayudar con los problemas del hogar y la yarda. Para más información, para pedir ayuda, o para ayudar a HAP, por favor visite www.hyattsvilleaginginplace.org/covid19.

Page 8

Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2020

NATURE NEARBY

The jury’s still out on bats

By Fred Seitz Bats are amazing animals. They are the only flying mammals ( flying squirrels are only gliders). While flying squirrels are usually depicted as cute and familiar, courtesy of cartoons like the famous Rocky and Bullwinkle, bats get the short end of the stick.

They are mostly seen in late-night horror flicks with Bela Lugosi-like vampires walking around. But out of more than 1,200 species of bats, only three feed on blood, and then typically that of sleeping cows, not people. And these vampire bats all live in Central and South America, not your attic.

Bats also live in caves and empty broken-down houses, which are prominent in some of those late-night horror flicks, as well. Interestingly, caves were historically mined for bat guano, which was used to make gunpowder and fertilizer. Illegal mining and marketing of bat guano for fertilizer production still occurs.

I should note that I am a former caver and bat enthusiast. Once during an adventure in a bat field, I saw an extraordinary sight: The walls were lined with hundreds of female bats, nursing their young. Mom Bat hunts for insects at night, but she returns to nurse her young ‘un at daybreak because of the little one’s shriek, which she recognizes among the chorus of hundreds of hungry baby bats.

So bats are great moms, along with being neat fliers and pest controllers.

Caving is more restricted now because a group of cavers in New York were found to have inadvertently transferred the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome (WNS) to bats as they caved. WNS causes the bats to wake too early from their hibernation. Their activity during winter’s chill causes them to burn off the fat they stored during the spring and summer, depriving them of the energy reserves they need to survive the rest of the winter. This is particularly devastating to females, who are typically pregnant with their young during the winter, and frequently results in the death of both the mother and her baby. WNS has spread across the continental U.S. and most Canadian provinces, pushing many of our bats to near extinction.

Despite my pro-bat bias, I acknowledge that bats carry some diseases, including Marburg, rabies and types of coronavirus, that are highly unfriendly to humans.

Part of the reason that bats carry such delightful viruses without getting sick from them is that they have a high metabolic rate, which is necessary to support wing flapping. Research suggests that bats’ high metabolism may enhance their ability to produce interferon, which likely helps them survive and resist the sickness and mortality from those viruses they carry. And while we still have a lot to learn about disease resistance and transmission, we do know that some animals with relatively low metabolic rates,

including humans, do not fare as well against these viruses.

The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) has determined that the coronavirus causing the pandemic is related to the SARS virus and very likely came from bats that were sold in wet markets in China. These markets often carry live bats and other animals, so their saliva and other deposits may be also in the marketplace, and that presence promotes human exposure.

The Fish and Wildlife Service has recommended that scientists studying North American bats suspend their research, as a researcher carrying the coronavirus could inadvertently transfer it to these bats, potentially compromising their health and risking further spread among humans.

Our local bats (and the majority of bats worldwide) are insectivores, and they provide a great, no-cost service to home gardeners and the agricultural industry, alike. A single bat can eat from 6 to 8 thousand insects during a single night, saving us tremendous financial expenditures for pesticides, as well as risks from those toxic chemicals in our food. And all those mosquitoes that bats eat? Thousands that won’t be eating you.

If you should encounter a bat in your house or shed this spring, just open up your doors and windows and let it find its way out. And consider asking them to munch on some mosquitoes or caterpillars as they go.

THE HYATTSVILLE LIFE & TIMES IS RECRUITING A MANAGING EDITOR! Work closely with other paid and volunteer editorial staff to put together our monthly print edition and contribute to our web content.

Home-office based with flexible hours. Requires some weekend and evening availability. This is a parttime contract position with a monthly stipend and no benefits.

Email Rosanna Landis Weaver at rosanna@ hyattsvillelife.com with a resume, cover letter, two writing samples and two professional references.

Please put “Application: Managing Editor” in the subject field.

HYATTSVILLE AYUDA Hyattsville tiene una orgullosa tradición de conexión de la comunidad, y durante este tiempo de crisis nos necesitamos más que nunca.

¡Cada censo completado en Hyattsville se traduce en alrededor de $18,250 en apoyo para nuestra comunidad!

Cada 10 años, se solicita que gente que vive en los Estados Unidos que completen un cuestionario de censo simple. Las respuestas son confidenciales y proporcionan datos importantes que ayudan a los gobiernos a determinar dónde distribuir los fondos para escuelas, hospitales, carreteras y más.

Hyattsville Ayuda conecta a voluntarios y resoursos con sus vecinos en necesidad.

Preguntas Incluyen: El numero de personas que viven en su hogar Los nombres y edades de los encuestados La raza/etnia de los encuestados

Sí es un residente de Hyattsville que necesita asistencia, llame al: (301) 985-5020

La ciudadanía estadounidense no se requiere para completar el censo y no es verificada en la forma.

Cualquiera que reside en los Estados Unidos puede llenar sin peligro el censo.

Haga una diferencia para su familia y vecinos.

Llene un cuestionario por hogar: POR INTERNET my2020census.gov POR TELÉFONO 844-330-2020. (En Español: 844-468-2020; TDD: 844-467-2020)

Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2020

Page 9

HYATTSVILLE ARTISTS Starting this month, the Hyattsville Life & Times is featuring artwork submitted by youth pre-K through 12th grade. We provide the theme each month and welcome creative interpretations. May’s theme was “Springtime in Hyattsville.” For June we’re asking kids to show us “What Makes You Happy.” Submit drawings with the child’s name, age, grade and school as a jpg file to managingeditor@hyattsvillelife.com by June 1.

All submissions will be featured on our Facebook page.

LEFT: DELIA SILVA AGE 10, GRADE 4 CESAR CHAVEZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BELOW: GASPARD BORRUT AGE 5, PRE-K 4 ROBERT GODDARD MONTESSORI SCHOOL

ABOVE: CLAUDIA ROMERO AGE 12, GRADE 7 ST. JEROME ACADEMY RIGHT: LILIANA MCGEE AGE 16, GRADE 10 ELIZABETH SETON HIGH SCHOOL

Page 10

Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2020

MISS FLORIBUNDA

Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Maryland anymore Dear Miss Floribunda, Last week there was a tornado watch, and although we didn’t get an actual tornado, we got seriously strong winds that blew a couple of dead branches off one of my trees onto my tulips, smashing them and their flowers. I expected this to happen in March, but March wasn’t very windy this year. Furthermore, back in March there wouldn’t have been any tulips up and in full bloom, vulnerable to a blitz of branches. April is supposed to be gentle, with light showers and soft breezes. You mentioned in your last column about “extreme weather” being a part of climate change, and I suppose you were thinking of big storms like Katrina. While the changes I see in our neck of the woods are less extreme, I still am afraid I can’t have tulips any more. What can any gardener do?

Terminated Tulips on 38th Street Dear Terminated Tulips, My first reaction is that you are old enough to expect a traditional April but young enough not to feel surprised about having a tornado watch at all.

Before the destructive twister that claimed the lives of two University of Maryland students in 2001, the closest most Marylanders came to seeing a significant tornado was viewing “The Wizard of Oz.” However, tornado watches outside Tornado Alley, in the central U.S., have become the new normal in 21st-century Prince

George’s County, and my friend Mr. Meriwether at the National Weather Service (NWS) tells me that tornado season now starts in April and goes to November.

The storm you mention was part of what is being called the Easter Tornado Outbreak, April 12-13 of this year. There were over 120 tornados and damaging storms from Texas to Maryland. Scientists agree that warming temperatures have increased the atmospheric instability, which contributes to tornadoes, but are not yet sure about the effect on wind gradients that cause the twisting motion. The escalating warming of ocean waters is making scientists predict more and stronger hurricanes this year, as well. The Weather Channel predicts 18 named storms, including 13 hurricanes — four of which may well be Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. This is well above the 30-year normalized average. The NWS at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will issue its predictions in late May. Although hurricanes affect coastal communities most severely, they translate to high winds and heavy rain in our area.

Mr. Meriwether warns us to expect the unexpected at all times, no matter what the usual pattern of a month may be. I know only too well that his warning is correct, and I’m still embarrassed by the last column I wrote before the Snowmageddon storm of January 2010. In that column, I as-

YARD BY YARD MAKEOVERS Growing Roots in the Community, Branching Out and Flowering with Ideas!

SPRING SPECIAL: 10% discount on any cleanup with this ad!

Expert advice and creative solutions, services based on your needs and budget.

30 Years of Experience as a Master Landscaper, Designer and Gardener

Consider planting daffodils close to trees, as daffodil stems are shorter than tulip stems and more flexible in case of a broken branch. COURTESY OF PIXABAY

serted that gardens in our area were in more danger from winter winds than from the usually light snowfall. Then came the storm that dumped 20 inches on Hyattsville and completely demolished a 50-year-old hemlock of mine.

Even more alarming than such dramatic events, however, is the now erratic pattern of rainfall, alternating between drought and heavy rain. If a period of drought is followed by torrential rain, soil that has dried to pottery hardness will not absorb the life-giving moisture, and the water will instead run off into the storm sewers.

What can gardeners do? Currently there are two terms used to describe climate change response: mitigation and adaptation. Mitigation, which means finding other sources of energy than fossil fuels, is almost en-

SERVICES INCLUDE - Leaf Cleanup/Gutter Cleaning - Landscape Spruce Ups/Clean Ups - Bed, Weeding, Edging and Mulching - Pruning/Trimming (Natural or Formal) - Tree and Shrub Removal - Planting Trees, Shrubs, Perennials and Bulbs - Mulch/Topsoil/Compost/Gravel - Transplanting Small Trees, Shrubs and Perennials - Seasoned Split Firewood Available - Lawn Cutting, Aerating and Fertilizing - Grading and Drainage Projects - Storm Cleanup and Debris Hauling

Call 301-270-4642 for FREE ESTIMATES 7304 Carroll Avenue, Suite 229 Takoma Park, MD 20912 • yardmakeovers@yahoo.com

tirely in the hands of those we elect to office. Adaptation, however, is in our hands. Some people are putting solar panels on their roofs, for example, to capture energy and lower their electricity bills. Others are taking areas of their yards susceptible to flooding and turning them into rain gardens. Still others are using rain barrels to capture water for their gardens during the times of drought. It is especially important to water during times of drought, if only to keep the soil moist enough to absorb water when rains recommence.

However, if the drought is severe enough, hosing your garden from the city water supply may be restricted, and collected rainwater will be your only alternative. Don’t forget to keep your plants wellmulched, as that is another way to preserve soil moisture during spells without rain.

What about your dread of having your tulips smashed again? Obviously, you might consider removing dead limbs before they fall, knowing that strong winds in spring are now a probability each year. I don’t know where you planted your tulips, but they were close enough to your trees to be in danger from falling limbs. You might plant them in more sheltered places in the future.

Why not plant daffodils where you have decided not to replace the tulips? Daffodil stems are shorter and more flexible than tulip stems, and daffodils produce more than one bloom per stem. Their flowers are produced in succession, so one clout from a branch would not dash all your hopes. You might choose March-blooming varieties and the naturalizing type, which will never need replacement and will multiply. You might even look to the far future and choose varieties that don’t need a winter freeze at all to produce flowers. So far there are no such tulips.

I would love to invite you to the next meeting of the Hyattsville Horticultural Society (HHS) in May, but doubt that the quarantine will be lifted by our usual date, the third Saturday of the month. Whenever the next meeting is scheduled, it will be posted on the HHS website, hyattsvillehorticulture.org.

Miss Floribunda is the Hyattsville Life & Times garden columnist. You may email her your questions at floribundav@ gmail.com.

Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2020

Page 11

COMMUNITY RESOURCES All information is current as of May 5

Student resources

UMD’s Crisis Fund supports students in financial distress. To apply for aid, go to www.crisisfund.umd.edu/gethelp.html; to donate, go to www. crisisfund.umd.edu.

Meal program for students.

Prince George’s County Public Schools is providing meals to students from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 36 locations. Students may pick up a day’s meals in one visit. Parents and guardians are not required to accompany students nor are students required to show ID. For a list of participating schools, visit pgcps.org/coronavirus/mealsites.

State and county resources

Health resources

Maryland Department of Health: health.maryland.gov/ coronavirus Prince George’s County Department of Health: health. mypgc.us/coronavirus Prince George’s County Health Department Coronavirus Hotline (8 a.m. - 8 p.m.): 301.883.6627 Maryland’s Helpline is available 24 hours/7 days a week.

Call 211, option 1 or text the word HOME to 741741.

County library resources

Prince George’s County Memorial Library System is offering a wide variety of online

Maryland resources for businesses and employers: 410.767.6500 Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation: 301.583.4650 Employ Prince George’s Inc. COVID-19 Hourly Employee Relief Fund: employpg.org/ covid19 or 301.618.8445 Food resources in the county: princegeorgescountymd. gov or 301.909.6343

programs for children, teens and adults. pgcmls.info

Recreation and exercise

Adult chair yoga online.

Accessible yoga class designed for all bodies and all ages. No experience needed. Mondays from 1 to 2 p.m., 5-week session for $25. To register, email yogiamalie@gmail.com.

Posh Cycling & Fitness. Free courses. For information, visit their Facebook page: facebook. com/pg/poshcyclingandfitness.

OpenBarre online courses.

Streaming for $15/month. openbarrestudios.com/online Numi Yoga. Courses through Zoom for a low drop-in fee.

International Travel Vaccines 3311 Toledo Terrace Suite C201 Hyattsville, Maryland 20782 (301) 403-8808

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

AdirondAck Tree experTs

numiyoga.com/schedule Orangetheory Fitness. Daily classes online at orangetheory. com/en-us/athome

General assistance

Hyattsville Helps Initiative.

The city has established a hotline for residents seeking assistance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 301.985.5020. hyattsville.org/hvlhelps Temporary rental assistance.

The Prince George’s County’s Temporary, Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERA) will launch on May 11. Funding is

available to help with rent and utility payments for tenants whose employment income has been negatively impacted by COVID-19. princegeorgescountymd.gov Assistance for homebound individuals. Rotary International has organized volunteers to help individuals in need of groceries and/or medication, but unable to leave home. 240.781.6586

Virtual Tip Jar

Help our local baristas, bartenders and servers. Give tips to service workers and employees who are unemployed or underemployed. sohycoop.com

Lawson’s Pharmacy

Richard Sabatelli, R. Ph

301-864-4043

All Major Insurance Accepted. We Deliver!

3415 Hamilton St, Hyattsville

Loving Care Pediatrics Janet V. Johnson, MD

3311 Toledo Terrace, Suite C201 Hyattsville, Maryland 20782 Tel: 301-403-8808 Fax: 301-403-1341

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

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

Proudly serving the Citizens of Hyattsville since 1996

Combine & Save.

Recipient of Checkbook Magazine’s “Check of Quality”

REMOVAL • PRUNING TRIMMING

Free Estimates!

301-595-2827

Paul Dougherty Ins Agcy Inc Paul Dougherty, Agent 3420 Hamilton Street Hyattsville, MD 20782 Bus: 301-927-1391

Good things happen when you combine your home and auto insurance with State Farm®.

Like saving an average of $894.* Plus, you’ll have a good neighbor like me to help life go right.

CALL ME TODAY.

On-Line Coupons

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

*Average annual household savings based on 2016 national survey of new policyholders who reported savings by switching to State Farm.

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company • State Farm Indemnity Company, Bloomington, IL State Farm County Mutual Insurance Company of Texas, Dallas, TX • State Farm Lloyds, Richardson, TX State Farm Fire and Casualty Company • State Farm General Insurance Company, Bloomington, IL 1606203 State Farm Florida Insurance Company, Winter Haven, FL

Page 12

Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2020

PANTRY FROM PAGE 1

trunk. “We do not want clients outside their cars,” said Jones. The standardized bags include assorted foods and toiletries. Specialized items, like baby formula, are available upon request. If clients do walk up, the bag exchange is done from tape marks placed 6 feet apart.

INCREASING DEMAND St. Mark’s food pantry is open every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon. During an average pre-pandemic week, according to Jones, the pantry would serve approximately 80 households. On April 21, April 28 and May 5, the pantry served 120, 172, and 207 households, respectively. However, the pantry had to close down at 11:00 a.m. on May 5 because of a supply shortage and the “complete chaos” on Adelphi Road from a mile-plus backup of cars in line for a pop-up food pantry held at Northwestern High School.

Metropolitan Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church, on Riggs Road, hosts a food pantry that is open every other Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon. According to Idalette John, the church’s community services director, the pantry was serving close to 150 households each distribution week, and their numbers were on the rise even prior to the pandemic. Since mid-March, their numbers have consistently increased, reaching 250 on April 22 and just over 400 on May 6.

Some local pantries have had to shut down during the pandemic. St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church/Iglesia Episcopal San Mateo’s food pantry, one of nine

Help by Phone pantries in the county, remains temporarily closed, according to Karen Cassedy, senior warden at St. Matthew’s/San Mateo. “Our volunteers are all older, and this is just too much right now,” she said. The Lutheran Mission Society (LMS) Hyattsville Compassion Center on East-West Highway is currently closed, too, as LMS Compassion Place has consolidated their services to four food distribution centers in Annapolis, Cambridge, Essex and Baltimore.

SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS As the demand increases, food pantries, like all of us, are finding their supply chains disrupted. Jones said that St. Mark’s food pantry continues to receive a considerable amount of their groceries via CAFB deliveries. However, CAFB provisions have not increased at the same rate as the demand St. Mark’s currently faces. And with Sunday worship services suspended, the churchsponsored pantry is no longer receiving a consistent supply of supplementary donations from parishioners.

Food pantries have had to get creative to replenish their supplies. In order to help St. Mark’s pantry’s reopen and meet the increasing need, the Rev. Roberto Cortés secured additional bulk supplies like dried beans, rice and flour from wholesale distributors like Megamart. And the University of Maryland donated 10 cases, or about 1,000 rolls, of toilet paper on April 27. “Since students aren’t there, I asked if [the university] had something stored away that we could [have],” said Jones.

St. Mark’s pantry office, on Adelphi Road, is now open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

on weekdays for drop-offs. Non-perishable goods, cash donations and gift cards are welcome. “We have a critical need,” Jones stressed. “It’s an overwhelming, heart-breaking situation that everyone is going through.”

The Metropolitan SDA pantry is also scouring alternative sources for provisions. John said that she and her assistant used to shop at local grocery stores to supplement the goods that CAFB provided to the Metropolitan SDA pantry. Since grocery stores are experiencing their own shortages and are limiting purchases, they’re now shopping at the Restaurant Depot in Capitol Heights.

John said that her church has really stepped up its financial support to address the increased demand at the pantry.

“They’ve basically said, ‘Whatever it takes.’”

During St Mark’s May 5 food distribution, Jones asserted, “Poverty is real here in Hyattsville. People don’t realize it. It’s hidden. And it’s been compounded by this pandemic.”

BEYOND FOOD PANTRIES Many other local organizations that address food insecurity have had to temporarily close or adapt their services to comply with state orders.

Community Place Café, which serves meals to homeless and low-income individuals and families out of Hyattsville’s First United Methodist Church, temporarily closed on March 31 because of safety concerns, according to Café and Food Coordinator Barbara Smith.

St. Jerome Church’s Thursday Café has pivoted from a dine-in model to offer-

ing takeout and has partnered with two local food providers. Mary Morton, cocoordinator of the Thursday Café, said, “We have supplemented our meals with empanadas from Cafe Azul and Jamaican meat patties from Shortcake Bakery, and our guests love them.”

Meals on Wheels College Park (MOWCP), continues to deliver meals to homebound seniors, with strict sanitation and social distancing practices in place. According to Lynn Topp, MOWCP board member, cook and long-time volunteer, they went from serving 75 clients to 150 and are receiving calls from new clients each week.

The PG Plaza Day Center, a daytime shelter which operates out of University Christian Church, remains open from 2 to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The center is offering takeout meals and limited services.

The City of Hyattsville is working to address increased food insecurity, as well.

On April 16, the city distributed 87 grocery gift cards, each for $100, to residents experiencing hardship during the pandemic. (Mayor Candace Hollingsworth and Ward 2 Councilmembers Danny Schaible and Robert Croslin allocated money from their discretionary funds to purchase the gift cards.) Hollingsworth called the initiative a “stress test” for determining and responding to need in the community.

If you would like to support others experiencing food insecurity or are in need yourself, visit the Capital Area Food Bank website (www.capitalareafoodbank.org).

To access services through Help by Phone pantries, call 301.699.9009.

HYATTSVILLE HELPS Hyattsville has a proud tradition of community connectedness, and during this time of crisis we need each other more than ever.

Hyattsville Helps matches volunteers and resources with their neighbors in need.

If you are a Hyattsville resident in need of assistance, call: (301) 985-5020

Each completed census in Hyattsville translates to about $18,250 in support for our community!

Every 10 years, U.S. residents are requested to fill out a simple census questionnaire. Answers are confidential and provide important data that helps governments determine where to distribute funding for schools, hospitals, roads, and more.

Questions Include: The number of people living in your home The names and ages of respondents The race/ethnicity of respondents U.S. citizenship is not required to complete the census and is not verified on the form. Anyone residing in the U.S. can safely fill out the census.

Make a difference for your family and your neighbors.

Fill out one survey per household: ONLINE my2020census.gov

BY PHONE 844-330-2020. (En Español: 844-468-2020; TDD: 844-467-2020)

Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2020

DRISKELL FROM PAGE 1

level of achievement we’re addressing when we write about the recently deceased Professor David Driskell, who was a world famous artist, art historian and scholar, a compassionate and generous teacher, and a visionary art collector.

And more importantly, he was husband to Thelma, father to Daviryne and Daphne, a grandfather, and a great-grandfather, and he called Hyattsville home for 44 years. His passing is a

Page 13

stunning loss to his family, to the great body of students he taught and nurtured, to this Hyattsville community he graced, to the art world he illuminated, and to the world at large that his scholarship helps to more rightly order.

There is no shortage of eulogies, learned articles and obituaries in the press: The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Baltimore Sun, and the Los Angeles Times to name a few. These papers, and countless other sources, demonstrate the significance of Dr. Driskell’s

HCPD FROM PAGE 1

able to meet the public safety demands of our City and that we are staffed to continue our law enforcement mission in the event any of our officers are affected by COVID-19,” wrote Chief of Police Amal Awad in an Apr. 14 press release.

The HCPD, like many police departments nationwide, has been struggling with staffing shortages that started well before the pandemic hit.

“The Department has been operating with minimum staffing for more than a year,” wrote Amal in the press release. “We simply cannot afford to continue operating at these levels as it could compromise officer response times and the safety of our City.”

“First and foremost, having as many resources as possible during a pandemic is prudent,” HCPD Deputy Chief Scott Dunklee advised in an April 27 email.

“We are fortunate to not yet have any officers diagnosed [with COVID-19], but that can change at any moment,” he wrote, noting that some police departments across the country have seen their personnel reduced by as much as 20% due to the coronavirus.

Dunklee says the HCPD is taking “extraordinary measures” to protect their officers from getting ill while on the job. The HCPD has erected a decontamination tent in front of the Hyattsville Municipal Building. “We believe this decontamination practice for officers at the end of every shift is a first of its kind in the nation,” wrote Dunklee.

Dunklee added that while calls for service have remained “steady,” officers are being asked to provide extra community services, such as distributions of food and gift cards.

Following a May 4 car rally outside the municipal building, approximately a dozen community members submitted public comments to the city council in opposition to the reinstatement of the officers. Paul and

scholarly and curatorial work in placing African American art at the forefront of mainstream American culture, an accomplishment that cannot be overstated.

But what will be understated in those accounts is his lovely, neighborly presence, and how it helped make Hyattsville the wondrous community that it is. He made his mark on us, his neighbors, with his daily walks with his dog Prince and his excursions to our yards and gardens with his grandchildren in tow. We’ll miss the homemade

Tracy Shand, the brother and sister of Leonard Shand, weighed in, saying that they were “extremely concerned” with the decision to reinstate the officers. “We believe this decision may put the public more at risk,” they wrote.

Councilmember Joseph Solomon (Ward 5) wrote in an April 24 email that the decision to return the officers to full-duty status was the “sole prerogative” of Awad. “This was done without input from the City Council,” he wrote.

“I do want to remind the community that the decision was not made lightly,” said City Administrator Tracey Douglas at the May 4 city council meeting. “Preliminarily, the [city-level] command staff conducted an executive review of the unfortunate death of Mr. Shand [and] determined that the actions were consistent with departmental policy.”

Mayor Candace Hollingsworth requested a meeting between the Race and Equity Task Force and the Police and Public Safety Advisory Committee to discuss the Shand shooting, but that meeting has not yet been held. “I’ll just candidly say that the Police and Public Safety Advisory Committee was not comfortable in having that discussion in that way around this incident,” she said, citing hesitations on behalf of the Police and Public Safety Advisory Committee to discuss an ongoing investigation.

“I am still very much interested, and I know that the Race and Equity Task Force is still very much interested in having this conversation about what … we need to explore following that particular incident and what can we learn from it,” said Hollingsworth.

The investigation into the shooting of Shand, which is being handled by the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGCPD), is ongoing. According to the city’s press release, there are no updates on the status of that investigation available. Dunklee wrote that HCPD is in contact with PGCPD about the investigation, saying, “If at any point it becomes apparent our officers’ duty status needs to change, we will act immediately to do so.”

TRAIN PRINTING COMPANY, INC. Celebrating our 40th year serving the area!

We have envelopes for correspondence, work orders for the job, proposals for the quote, brochures for advertising, directories for the club, newsletters for the newsworthy, postcards for the announcement, posters for the event, tickets for the show, programs for the concert, menus for the hungry, and stickers for identification.

Free parking and a free cup of coffee!

Monday - Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm 4547 Rhode Island Avenue, Brentwood, MD 20722

301-864-5552 | www.trainprinting.com | info@trainprinting.com

sweet potato pies that he and Thelma shared, year after year, at the Hyattsville Preservation Association picnics (and the extra one they always brought for the picnic’s host family to enjoy later). How you make a mark in a community is how you relate to your neighbors. And he related so beautifully.

In 2002, Dr. Driskell facilitated the jury selecting an artist for the Centennial Park mural project. Despite his eminent stature in the art world, Driskell cheerfully lent his expertise to our local group, leading us through options and coaching us on important considerations we needed to address. And ever so gently, we landed upon D.C.based African American muralist, Jerome Johnson, whose folksy style was, at first pass, not quite as appreciated as it should have been.

The Driskell family’s home, the Harriet Ralston House, a Prince George’s County designated historic site, was twice shared on the Hyattsville Historic House Tour. The home seems to overlook the rest of the Gateway Arts District and is graced by Dr. Driskell’s light-infused studio.

The home’s lovely garden features a blue bottle tree: a taste of the southern folk tradition that Dr. Driskell brought from a childhood in the North Carolina hills, where he was raised.

Neighbor Ann Barrett remembered that Driskell told her that “his grandmother would ask him to draw the plants and herbs growing” around the hills of their rural home there.

Local artist Robert Croslin had the opportunity to craft Dr.

He made his mark on us, his neighbors, with his daily walks with his dog Prince and his excursions to our yards and gardens with his grandchildren in tow.

Driskell a 14-carat gold bracelet, which commemorated his work on a project involving the Amistad slave ship rebellion. Croslin said he designed the bracelet knowing that Dr. Driskell wished to keep mindful of this captivating historic saga.

In 2006, while the new elementary school was under construction, then-Mayor Bill Gardiner advocated for naming it after Dr. Driskell, but was unaware of the school board’s requirement that the namesake be deceased.

Instead, Gardiner presided over the dedication of the David C. Driskell Media Center at Rosa L. Parks Elementary School, a most fitting tribute to Driskell’s passion for discovery and scholarship, and to the powerful role of art in framing our understanding of the past and what has yet to pass.

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

301-864-8161 • Fax 301-864-0013

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

George W. Reaves, Owner

Income Tax Preparation “An excellent service at a fair price!”

GETS Financial Incorporated 6213 Balfour Drive Hyattsville, Maryland 20782-1506

By Appointment Only

Michelle A. Goetzinger, President Richard N. Goetzinger, General Manager Notary Public Service Available

301 559 6503 Same Location Since 1959

Page 14

Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2020

Comprehensive and High-Quality

Health Care

Right in Your Neighborhood 95

1

97

32 1

95

97

Laurel

200 Doctors Community Health System is dedicated to helping you maintain and improve your health. Providing 1 same-day appointments and accepting most insurance plans, our network of care has offices at convenient 32 200 locations.

95

Doctors Community Practices at Riverdale (Primary Care, Family Medicine and Endocrinology) 295 6502 Kenilworth Avenue, Suite 100 3 97 Riverdale, Maryland 20737 Crofton 301-927-0088Bowie

Doctors Community Practices at Bowie (Primary Care) 4000 Mitchellville Road, Suites B216 and 422 Bowie, Maryland 20716 495 301-262-0020 and 301-262-9872 193 Doctors Community Practices at Crofton (Primary Care and Family Medicine) Riverdale 2191 Defense Highway, Suite 201 1 295 Crofton, Maryland 21114 410-451-9091

193 495

50

Doctors Community Practices at District Heights202 (Primary Care and Family Medicine) 6400 Marlboro Pike District Heights, Maryland 20747295 214 301-736-7000 695 1

Doctors Community Practices at Temple Hills 450 (Primary Care and450 Family Medicine) 50 193 3 Lanham 5859 Allentown Way Temple Hills, Maryland 20728 240-563-1026 50 Metropolitan Medical Specialists (Primary Care and Family Medicine) 301 193 8116 Good Luck Road, Suite 300214 214 Lanham, Maryland 20706 495 240-241-7474 202

Doctors Community Practices at Laurel (Primary Care and Diabetes Care) 13900 Baltimore Avenue 295 Laurel, Maryland 20707 301-725-5652 4

395 395

495

495

Temple Hills

Health and Wellness Center (Urgent Care Inside Safeway) 4101 Northview Drive Bowie, Maryland 20716 301-383-2559 4

District Heights

495

4

5

4

We will also support your overall health goals by streamlining your access to additional Doctors Community Health System services: weight loss program, breast health, digestive disease care, orthopedic services, surgical services, vascular health, endocrinology services and many others.

5 301

Schedule an appointment today. Also, visit us at DCHweb.org.