2021-01 Hyattsville Life & Times by Hyattsville Life and Times

INSIDE 2020, WHAT WAS

THAT? An editor looks back. P. 4 WANT A PALEO DIET? Try basement crickets. P. 6

VOL. 18 NO. 1

HYATTSVILLE’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE HL&T!

JANUARY 2021

Magruder renaming Rorschach on racism, remembrance

By Paul Ruffins Between Oct. 1 and Nov. 15, the City of Hyattsville invited residents to submit suggestions for renaming the city’s major park. The Hyattsville Life & Times (HL&T) has analyzed all 830 submissions. They provide a fascinating mind map into local thinking about our nationwide debate over race and remembrance. Recent conversations about renaming the park began in February 2018, after

Stuart Eisenberg, a columnist for the Hyattsville Preservation Association, revealed in these pages that the park was originally gifted to the city on racist terms. Former mayor William Pinkney Magruder gave the park to the city in 1927 via a deed that said the park was to bear his name, and to be for the use of white residents only. Such racially restrictive covenants, now illegal and unenforceable, were common at the time.

A later research memo that Eisenberg shared with the city, in August 2020, suggested that Hyattsville City Councilmembers, rather than Magruder, may have written the restrictive requirement. The memo also indicated that the Hyattsville Community Development Corporation, which Eisenberg directs, is doing further research on the Ku Klux Klan’s influence in the community at the time of Magruder’s gift. Back to the park; suggested names seemed to fall into six broad categories.

THE USUAL SUSPECTS, BITTER COMMENTS AND INSIDE JOKES There were many nominations for wellknown Maryland activists such as Harriet Tubman (7 votes), Frederick Douglass (1) and Elijah Cummings (3), and for national political figures such as President Trump (3) and Barack and Michelle Obama (7). Some suggestions, like Pandering (2) and Virtue-signal Plaza, dismissed the SEE MAGRUDER ON 12 

An update on construction by the park By Kit Slack

The Rhodes River anchored, with cutting head of dredge in view

the Town of Bladensburg was founded in 1742, its harbor was nearly 40 feet deep. However, the rapid cutting of trees caused by the development of farms,

A rusty chain link fence separates the playground in Hyattsville’s largest city park from a big stretch of asphalt, about 4 acres of former parking lot. Though a gate to the playground is welded shut, someone tore down a 6-foot stretch of the fence. A shiny new panel of fencing is propped near the gap, ready to be installed as a patch. On the hill across the street from the parking lot, where an office building once stood overlooking the park, cone-shaped piles of dirt and crushed rubble have sat undisturbed since the summer. Werrlein Properties, a developer, (see p. 9), owns the former

SEE DREDGING ON 12 

SEE DEVELOPMENT ON 13 

PAUL RUFFINS

Science of the city: keeping the river running By Paul Ruffins During December and January, when the Bladensburg waterfront is at its quietest, the Rhodes II is at its loudest, work-

ing hard to solve a 200-year-old problem. The Rhodes II is a boat that carries a 715-horsepower, 77foot dredge operated by Southern Maryland Dredging.

The problem is the continuous silting up of the Anacostia River at the Bladensburg waterfront. According to the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission, when

CENTER SECTION: The January 12, 2020 Issue of The Hyattsvile Reporter — in Español 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

Hyatts KIDS Page 2

SERVICES FOR AGING RESIDENTS DURING PANDEMIC By Garance Borrut and Nora Marx

This pandemic is a hard time for everyone, especially the elderly. Though it is no longer appropriate for younger people to spend time in person with older people outside their households, that doesn’t mean we can’t have contact with them at all. Hyattsville Aging in Place (HAP), a membership-based nonprofit, helps the elderly, and helps that contact happen. Lisa Walker, Chair of the Board of Directors for HAP, says, “I think this is possible; just seeing who you can [interact with outside] who you don’t know, can help.” She emphasizes the fact that we all can make it possible; a friendly face and a kind hello can do a lot. Before the pandemic, HAP had in-person orientations, activities, and chats between kids and the elderly, but now those are not an option. However, as always, children can do outdoor work for the elderly — yard work, shoveling snow, and so on. If their parents are HAP volunteers, kids can even help them. During the pandemic, thanks to a grant of $25,000, HAP has given out more than 200 gift cards and made contributions to food pantries and Route 1 Mask Match. HAP also provided direct aid to seniors in need, such as rides to medical appointments and care packages.

Walker shared that starting soon, HAP will have monthly Zoom sessions about topics appealing to the broader community, including Black History Month, birds, and Shakespeare. This year, in place of HAP’s usual Valentine’s Day event, Girl Scouts will create handmade Valentine cards for seniors and collect donations of Girl Scout cookies to deliver with each card on Valentine weekend. There is also an option of making your own Valentine and giving it to HAP to deliver. Get ready for the virtual Valentine’s Day party by collecting your supplies now! If you are interested in helping HAP or becoming a volunteer, email hapcares@gmail.com or call 301.887.3101. You can find more about the Valentine’s Day event at hyattsvilleaginginplace. org/event/put-art-in-yourheart-2021.

KID MUSICIANS PLAY ON By Elliott Kramer and Claudia Romero The age of Covid has been tough on many young musicians. Kids in bands have to practice outside or on Zoom, and it takes more time to get help from others. This means both rehearsals and lessons are harder; additionally, our patience is shorter, and on top of that, there are more people at home in the background. St. Jerome Academy (SJA) band teacher Kate Suuberg noted, “The biggest difference this year is the lack of

Making Valentines for HAP’s “Put Art in Your Heart”

time together as a group ... . We all learn and grow so much from playing as a group and listening to one another, so learning how to progress without that has been a real adjustment.” But despite the many difficulties this pandemic has caused, young musicians continue to branch out their musical abilities. The Advanced Band students at SJA had a virtual band concert on Sunday, December 5. During the concert, students performed one solo piece each. HyattsKIDS staffer Claudia Romero, an eighth-grader at SJA, performed Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, by Mozart, accompanied by her 11-year-old sister, Bella Romero, on piano. Claudia notes, “I chose to perform it because it was a challenge, but also because of the stimulating tempo of the piece.” Other, non-school-related, concerts were held outside with chairs and fire pits in people’s Business Manager Catie Currie catie@hyattsvillelife.com

Associate Editors Sophie Gorman Oriani sophie@hyattsvillelife.com

Advertising Sales Manager Brian Escobar brian@hyattsvillelife.com

Heather Wright heather@hyattsvillelife.com

http://facebook.com/ HyattsvilleLife

Webmaster Jessica Burshtynskyy jessica@hyattsvillelife.com

Hyattsville Life & Times is published monthly by Streetcar Suburbs Publishing 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.

Created by contributors in grades K-8, the HyattsKIDS Life & Times features local news, columns, and comics from our city’s youngest journalists. Our editors are Evan LeFevre and Claudia Romero Garvey. To participate, contact adult adviser Mary Frances Jiménez: mf_jimenez@yahoo.com. We also invite readers’ questions for an upcoming “Ask a HyattsKID” column.

Managing Editor Kit Slack kit@hyattsvillelife.com A community newspaper chronicling the life and times of Hyattsville Mailing address: PO Box 132, Hyattsville, MD 20781

http://twitter.com/HvilleTimes

Hyattsville Life & Times | January 2021

Layout & Design Editor Ashley Perks Copy Editor Nancy Welch Writers & Contributors Christina Armeni, Victoria Boucher, Stuart Eisenberg, Julia Gaspar-Bates, Julia Nikhinson, Paul Ruffins, Fred Seitz, Emily Williams Advertising advertising@hyattsvillelife.com 301.531.5234

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.

CLAIRE ALOLGA

yards. One music group, College Park Youth Musical Traditions (CPYMT), had their Halloween concert outside. According to CPYMT fiddler Emebet Banga, “It’s hard to play in the cold,” but it was also fun because “people stopped as they went by to listen.”

INVASIVE PLANTS IMPACT HYATTSVILLE PARKS By Asher Fastman, Harriet Marx, and Bella Romero Have you noticed a decline in the deer population at our local park? We noticed a sign by Trumbule Trail which might explain why: “Since our native plants provide food for wildlife, the change in the plant population from a diverse native population to a non-native invasive population can essentially starve our local wildlife and force these animals to move out of a habitat to look for food.” A non-native plant is a plant living in an area different from where it originated. It becomes invasive when it takes over and crowds other plants in an area where it’s not even supposed to exist. Non-native plants may become invasive because there is nothing to keep them at bay; bugs and diseases from their native area aren’t there to keep their population down. We wondered if this could be the reason that we’ve been seeing fewer deer in the park. Ning Xu, a park ranger for Prince George’s County, explained that deer are less attracted to the non-native species, which are often less nutritious for them than the na-

tive plants. Additionally, when invasive vines like those of the non-native Kudzu overpower and strangle the trees, they stop producing acorns, which the deer eat. When these kinds of things happen, the animals need to leave their homes to find food. David Ruppert, a soil scientist, believes that one of the worst non-native invasives in our area is bush honeysuckle, which completely covers the native plants and can get up to around 10 feet in height and width. The difficulty is that when you remove bush honeysuckle, it lets in a lot of light for another invasive, porcelain berry, to take over, because it thrives in sunlight. Lots of trees in our parks are being smothered by this vine. Marc Imlay, a conservation biologist, spoke with us about another non-native invasive in our area: English ivy. Although it is commonly found, it kills trees by wrapping itself around them. A great example of the destruction English ivy causes took place a couple years ago. One night, seven trees in Magruder Park fell down in a storm because they were strangled by English ivy. To make a difference and save the flora and fauna in our local area, people need to help with the removal of these invasive plants. It’s difficult during the pandemic, but once things get back to “normal,” even kids in Hyattsville can help the city and park team, who go into the park once a month to clear away nonnative invasive plants. In the meantime, you can still help out by picking up trash in the park and researching more about non-native invasive plants. As Ning Xu said, “Always ask questions … knowledge is power.”

Hyattsville Life & Times | January 2021

Page 3

NEWS BRIEFS CITY APPROVES LIMITATIONS ON PARKING FINE ESCALATIONS

Homo Habilis Construction LLC*

program operations, raise parking rates in city lots or assess fees for the Residential Parking Program.

At the Dec. 21, 2020, city council meeting, the council voted unanimously to approve limitations on the escalation of fines for unpaid parking tickets. Previously, an unpaid fine doubled after 15 days and again after 30 days. The motion restricts the maximum fine to 150% of the original fine. Mayor Candace Hollingsworth, who submitted the motion, acknowledged the potential loss of revenues from parking tickets. “It may pinch a little bit in the pockets, but at the end of the day, it’s helping [those who need it most],” she said, emphasizing the minimal initial cost of Hyattsville’s parking, which is currently $0.50/ hour, compared to the potential cost of an unpaid ticket. A city staff memo stated that the new fee schedule was anticipated to “result in a citation gross revenue reduction of 25% – 30% or $133.500 – $160.200 annually.” The memo noted that a reduction in revenue could require the parking program to be supplemented by the city’s general fund, cut parking

MORE DETAILS ON HMS REBUILD During the Dec. 8, 2020, Hyattsville Middle School Parent Teacher Student Organization meeting, participants were introduced to additional information about the plans to build a new middle school. The new school will be built using alternative construction financing, also referred to as a publicprivate partnership, in which developers would partner with Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) to build and maintain new school buildings, in exchange for regular payments. This is a new financing model that has been controversial, due to concerns about developer reliability and potentially higher costs. The new building will be located on the same parcel of land as the current building, on the north side of the lot where the sports fields are now, backing up to Oliver Street. Multipurpose fields

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

Kitchens, Baths, Basements, Remodeling, Additions, Repairs

VOLUNTEERS WANTED USE YOUR SKILLS TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY! LOOKING FOR: BOARD MEMBERS, WRITERS, PHOTOGRAPHERS CONTACT ROSANNA@HYATTSVILLELIFE.COM

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.

NOW HIRING AD SALES MANAGER Part-time, commissionbased position. Help promote Hyattsville and College Park businesses to the community! Contact chris@hyattsvillelife.com

SEE BRIEFS ON 6 

Home Questions? We Have Answers.

We're asking a lot of our homes these days - bedrooms have become offices, dining tables are classrooms. While some of this is temporary, a lot will change for good. Homeowners are thinking about upgrades and renovations. They're wondering if it's time to move and what their homes might be worth. There's a lot to consider. We've helped clients all up and down the Route 1 Corridor, and have plenty of insights to share, not only about buying and selling, but also about home improvements - big and small - that add value. We talk with homeowners every day on all kinds of issues, whether they're looking to sell or planning to stay put! If you have home questions, we're here to help you consider your options.

Our consultations are always free. Give us a call or drop us an email. We'll help you navigate what's next.

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

Ryan Hehman

ryan@gobrent.co 443.990.1230

Christina Cachie

christina@gobrent.co 202.431.9104

Don Bunuan

don@gobrent.co 301.213.6332

Kathleen Roach

kathleen@gobrent.co 240.605.3656

Page 4

Hyattsville Life & Times | January 2021

FROM THE EDITOR

The year of sending out an SOS By Heather Wright

f you look at “2020” written backwards in digital characters, it reads something like “Oh! SOS!” Yeah, that sounds about right. If we’d only known, back last January, what the year would hold. Then again, maybe it’s better we didn’t. Still, in some quarters, the cry for help was heard and heeded. In times of struggle and darkness, glimmers of hope can still emerge.

STEPPING UP The City of Hyattsville set up a $1 million relief fund to support businesses and individuals suffering from the pandemic’s economic toll. Prince George’s County Public Schools shifted to online learning and handed out laptops to students. The SoHy Co-op set up a virtual tip jar to support employees of area businesses. And Route 1 Mask Match supplied many

along the Route 1 Corridor with homemade cloth masks. And even as we’ve spent more time in our homes than ever, neighbors rallied, emerging from their dens of safety, to help the Atkins family, who saw their own home burn to the ground in July. Food distribution became a paramount service. The city distributed food many Saturdays and Tuesdays at its largest park. Local congregations like St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church and Metropolitan Seventh Day Adventist Church, both of which had food pantries prior to the pandemic, stepped up to serve an increasing number of food-insecure households. Residents diligently stocked the Blessing Box between Hyattsville Elementary and St. Jerome Church, while University Christian Church started up a second Blessing Box on their premises. And the Greater Riverdale Cares & Route One Communities Care restaurant initiative began

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

Loving Care Pediatrics Janet V. Johnson, MD

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

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

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

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

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

distributing meals purchased from area restaurants to those in need. Following the May death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers, Hyattsville residents participated in peaceful vigils and protests against police brutality and called for racial justice. These calls now echo in vibrant murals, created by Black artists, which adorn several Hyattsville buildings and invite us to talk about racial stereotypes, reparations and the value of Black lives in Hyattsville and beyond.

STEPPING OUT At a time when community newspapers were folding, the Hyattsville Life & Times board launched a sister newspaper, the College Park Here & Now. And here in Hyattsville, we welcomed a new managing editor, Kit Slack, following the departure of our longest-tenured managing editor, Maria James. I can’t think of a more difficult year for a school principal to take on a new job — meeting staff, and students and parents via Zoom and running a school from a distance, while planning an eventual transition to in-person learning. Hyattsville Elementary and Middle schools both welcomed new principals, Richard McKee and Chanita Stamper, respectively, for the 2020-2021 school year. The Hyattsville City Police Department (HCPD) hired new staff, emphasizing the department’s focus on mental health, community relations and diversity. In September, mental health advocate Adrienne Augustus joined the department,

from their respective stations — albeit with some assistance. And I think the July 4 fireworks, which seemed to last for months, eventually came to end.

and in October, facility dog Nola V was sworn in as the newest member of the Community Assistance Team (or CAT, ironically). The HCPD also significantly increased the number of officers of color in the department with nine new hires: seven Black men, one Black woman and one Hispanic man.

MOVING ALONG The Suffrage Point ( formerly known as Magruder Pointe) saga continues, pandemic or no pandemic. Appeal follows appeal, while the project lags far behind schedule. Every time I drive by the demolished WSSC headquarters and hills of debris, I see the “Coming in spring 2020” sign and think, “I don’t think they’re going to make it by then.” The city is currently considering new names for Magruder Park. In the meantime, I’m not sure how to refer to Hyattsville’s largest park. It’s a bit like the dilemma posed by the Washington Football Team. Lots more is on the docket for 2021, and beyond. The Hyattsville Middle School rebuild, vaccinations, affordable housing initiatives, the reopening of schools, new library construction, more vaccinations, participatory budgeting, Trolley Trail gap construction, West Hyattsville Metro master plan overhaul, still more vaccinations — and so much more. Oh, and the city council voted in September to set aside $240,000 to purchase and install permanent restrooms at two city parks. Just what we needed to flush 2020 further away … SOS! Send in the toilets (with toilet paper!), and let’s all have a far, far better new year!

STEPPING DOWN Both Mayor Candace Hollingsworth and HCPD Chief Amal Awad announced their December resignations. Hollingsworth said she was stepping down to focus on Our Black Party, an organization she co-founded to further a political agenda addressing the needs of Black people. Awad has signed on to become the Anne Arundel County police chief. On a more sombre note, a few Hyattsville luminaries left the earthly stage last year. Former DeMatha basketball coach Morgan Wootten died this past Jan. 21, and artist, art historian, curator and scholar Dr. David Driskell died on April 1. Their legacies will shine brightly and continue to inspire for generations to come. And COVID-19 took the lives of two influential Northwestern High School teachers: Counselor and basketball coach Terrance Burke died on March 27, and Spanish teacher Annis Creese died April 5. We also said goodbye to several local businesses and institutions, including The Prince George’s Sentinel, which ended its 88-year publication run in late January, and the J.C. Penney at the Mall at Prince George’s. For a while, compost bins seemed to be slouching away

Heather Wright is an associate editor of the Hyattsville Life & Times.

A-1 YARD SERVICES Complete Lawn and Property Maintenance 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!

Hyattsville Life & Times | January 2021

Page 5

CULTURAL CONNECTIONS

From the streets of Cairo to a home in Hyattsville By Julia Gaspar-Bates Born in Cairo, Egypt, Fawaya Mohammed spent her early years in a poor neighborhood close to the Nile river, where everyone knew each other and looked out for each other’s children. She would spend her days outside with other kids and “find things to play with, such as the top of a soda bottle, an apricot seed that we would grind on the concrete to make a hole to make a whistle, or dirt,” Mohammed explained. “We used to make mud houses. We made soccer balls out of socks or trash bags. You make the best with what you’ve got.” Mohammed’s father was rarely home, having moved to Greece to work as a chef, given the lack of work in Egypt. A visit from him was a welcome treat. She recalls one time when he brought her a book bag. “Things were really down, and we were poor, but [my parents] always told us everything was great.” Mohammed says that Egyptian culture stresses respect for the elderly, and even an older brother could fit that description. “When you did something wrong, there were consequences. One time my teacher told me to go to the blackboard to write the answer, and I didn’t know it, so I made a joke. The teacher pushed my head into the board, and I fell down. She acted like it was my fault. But if I said that I didn’t know the answer, I would also have gotten hit.” CPA with 15+year experience. Personal and Business tax preparation and problem resolutions. Bookkeeping and Payroll. Management and financial consulting. Business start-up help.

Mahir Haroun CPA, CGMA IRS e-service & e-filer, Social Security Administration employer e-filer & Notary Public. Member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. NY.US. Chartered Global Management Accountant. NY.US.

mahir@mahirharoun.com Office: 301.220.0333 Fax: 240.553.7800. Cell: 240.460.0912

She appreciates the warmth and generosity of the Egyptians. “Egyptians are very open people. We go out of our way to give. They will invite you in, even if you don’t know them. If you can’t, you say things — dus — small prayers, such as, ‘May Allah bless you and protect you and your children.’” “Ramadan is like Thanksgiving for 30 days. In Egypt, the family all gets together for Iftar [break fast]. You are hungry the entire day, and then, at the end of the day, when the sun sets, family members will come and bring a plate. You also sometimes invite your neighbors, even if they are Christians. Sometimes in solidarity, the Christians won’t eat during the day, either.” Mohammed’s father first came to the U.S. in 1976, and the rest of the family joined him several years later, when she was 12. She was immediately awed by her new environment. “Everything was white and bright — unlike in Egypt where everything is grayish. There was no dirt in the street. There were trees and grass. I thought it was heaven because everything was

Fawaya Mohammed

COURTESY OF

FAWAYA MOHAMMED

perfect. We went to a park, and we saw a playground for the first time. Seeing people of different shades was exciting.” She experienced challenges at her school in Mount Rainier where she had to repeat sixth grade twice. “We didn’t know anything. It was really hard to communicate, because I couldn’t speak English.” She added, “What I experienced was nothing compared to what I saw on American TV.

It was a shock. Nobody had guns and was going around and shooting people. I thought we were misled by what we saw on TV. You had to completely adjust what you knew, because it was different in real life. Everybody was secluded ... instead of community. How come people don’t talk to each other?” Mohammed’s parents worked very hard, and each of them often worked two jobs. Eventually, they started a hot dog vending business that brought more prosperity. This enabled them to buy a house in Hyattsville, where Mohammed still lives with her parents, brother, husband and children. After graduating from the University of Maryland, Mohammed decided to go back to Egypt for several years, and she met her husband there. They returned to the U.S. for the birth of their first child, as the medical care here is superior to that in Egypt. Their initial plan was to move back to Egypt in five years; however, this never happened. Mohammed enjoys life in Hyattsville. “I like that I have ev-

erything around me. I can go to [the Mall at Prince George’s] or take the Metro and go downtown. I can take my kids to the park, and we can relax. I feel like I live on a safe street. I like volunteering for cultural events for the community.” At the same time, she hopes to eventually return to Egypt when her kids are grown. “There is more to do in Egypt than here. It’s exciting. If you’re bored, you can go to the pyramids. If you’re stressed out, you can go sit on the Nile. You can raise your hands, and someone will bring you warm hummus. Whenever you’re tired of the people in your house, you can go out, and you don’t have to go far to visit people and just hang out.” Cultural Connections is dedicated to bringing forth the voices of Hyattsville’s international residents. Interested in sharing your story? Please contact culturalconnections@ hyattsvillelife.com.

Page 6

Hyattsville Life & Times | January 2021

NATURE NEARBY

Dinner from the basement By Fred Seitz While putting away the Christmas lights and doing a bit of cleaning in my basement, I quickly realized I was being greeted by a crusade of camel crickets (Gryllus assimilis). These humpbacked, talented jumpers were taking some issue with my intrusion into their domain. Adults are 1 to 2 inches long, with the high, arched backs that give them their common name. Camelbacks pose no threat to humans, but can damage clothing and other fabrics. These dark brown or black critters also eat paper products, fungi and other insects (including other crickets). While they live outside in grass and wood piles, camel crickets also come inside during colder weather. They are attracted to damp places, like basements, sheds and garages. I recently attended a webinar on edible insects, and crickets were one of the recommended repasts. While most insects are edible and good protein sources, crickets are especially abun-

dant, and easy to catch and prepare for human consumption. Although I have yet to deliberately try eating crickets or engage in other kinds of entomophagy, I am quite certain that I have consumed some of Brer Cricket’s kin when I’ve been camping and cooking outside. And if you read labels in the grocery store, you may have noticed them in processed food. Yes, the FDA condones their added crunch. Indeed, consumption of insects of all sorts is a nearly worldwide practice. This is due, in part, to the fact that while there are many of us, there are more of them, and unlike cows and sheep, insects don’t require large grazing ranges. And the resources required to process them for food are minimal. The U.S. and Europe seem to be the major holdouts against adopting entomophagy into our cuisine. Much of our hesitancy is a learned social hesitancy, with some concerns about health effects sprinkled in. There are a few restaurants both in the District and New York who have taken

Combine & Save. 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.

*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

Taunya L. Jenkins, DDS, LLC

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

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

the plunge and served insects. And I’ve heard of packaged meals made of insects that folks can purchase and prepare at home. Let’s return to my crusading camel crickets. You can eat them raw, but make sure to wash them first. Or you can freeze the captives to euthanize them, then dry your crickets on paper towels.

BRIEFS FROM PAGE 3

will be built on the south side of the lot along Oglethorpe Street. The school will be four stories high, with an additional outdoor learning area, and will accommodate up to 1,200 students. At the Jan. 4 city council meeting, Michael Ricketts from Gilbane Development Corporation, one of the companies involved in the partnership, said that the current middle school building would likely be demolished midway through 2021. Councilmembers’ questions focused on stormwater management and sediment control, especially given recent problems with flooding and runoff from other area construction sites. “The worst thing in the world for us is to have a problem. … With our tight timeframe, we don’t really have … the opportunity for those types of mistakes,” said Ricketts. “You can hold me to task on it.” Ricketts also noted that Oliver Street would be widened to better accommodate traffic flow. Jason Washington explained that plans for the school include a community health clinic with

There are a myriad of recommended cooking methods, and several cookbooks that describe them; simply roasting them is one of the easiest and most popular. This method entails spreading them on a nonstick cookie sheet and roasting them at 200 F for about 60 minutes, until crispy. Again, I have yet to try this, and even when I mentioned it as a possibility to my wife, she gave me one of those “who is

this guy I married?” looks. Still, I’m not sure how she feels about the plethora of crickets in the basement, so I may show this article to them and see if they make a rapid retreat. Bon appétit!

its own separate access, and that other community facilities may be added later in the design process depending on the community’s needs. Despite initial assurances that students would not need to be educated off site, the PGCPS plan calls for students to be bused to Meadowbrook in Bowie and Robert Goddard Montessori School in Seabrook for the 2021/22 and 2022/23 school years. Further details will be announced in a town hall in the spring of 2021. A PGCPS town hall is scheduled for Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. The new Hyattsville Middle School is slated to open for the start of the 2023 school year. For more information, visit pgcpsschoolsnow.com.

tion at 5504 Baltimore Avenue, where a car parts and tire repair store once stood. The restaurant plans to retain the existing facade, while expanding the building. It will include indoor and outdoor seating, as well as outdoor games like cornhole. The applicant requested a few variances, such as allowing vehicle access from Route 1, rather than from the rear street, which city staff recommended that the council support. For the requested variance to have 15 parking spaces rather than the 30 typically required for the size of the restaurant, staff recommended a condition that the applicant provide parking reduction mitigation strategies like employee incentives for public transportation or the installation of bike racks. City staff also recommended that Federalist Pig consider Black artists for a proposed mural on the side of the building, and prioritize local individuals in the hiring process. The application will come back to the city council for a vote on Jan. 19, and likely go before the Prince George’s County Planning Board in late January or early February.

FEDERALIST PIG DETAILED SITE PLAN At the Jan. 4 city council meeting, the council discussed the detailed site plan for a proposed new restaurant along Baltimore Avenue. Federalist Pig, an American barbecue restaurant with a first location in Adams Morgan, plans to open a second loca-

Fred Seitz is the nature columnist for the Hyattsville Life & Times.

WE ARE OPEN! FREE PICK UP AND DELIVERY AVAILABLE

Rising Sun Motors Your Local Auto Repair Facility since 1977 9001 Rhode Island Ave, College Park, MD 20740 301-345-2600 • risingsunmotorsmd.com Monday — Friday, 7:30 a.m. — 5:00 p.m.

Hyattsville Life & Times | January 2021

Page 7

A dip into Hyattsville’s mayoral history By Stuart Eisenberg On the occasion of Mayor Candace Hollingsworth’s departure from office, some observations about Hyattsville’s mayoral history seem fitting. In June 1905, a local church held a costumed fundraiser at the Masonic Hall on Gallatin (then Spencer) Street. Performers staged a comedic mock trial over an alleged crime for a “packed to the walls” audience. The poor defendant was convicted and sentenced to “serve one year as mayor of Hyattsville” and, adding insult to injury, to pay costs of 30 cents: a statement about the often thankless nature of municipal service, certainly. Hyattsville’s mayoral history began in 1900, when the eminently qualified Major Michael V. Tierney was elected as the city’s first mayor. Due to a charter change, Hyattsville had migrated from a commissioner form of governance (1886-1899) to a Common Council with three councilmanic wards, each with two representatives. Each ward councilor served a simultaneous two-year term. Tierney, an experienced leader, had been elected three times as one of the five at-large town commissioners, and had served as the commission’s president in 1897.

Although there has been a city administrator to run the daily affairs of the city since about 1980, our current city charter states, “The Mayor shall be the executive officer of the city with all the power necessary to secure the enforcement of all city ordinances, resolutions and laws under this (sic) Charter.” After 34 individuals and 121 years, the position serves essentially the same function as when it was first conceived. Turn-of-the-century mayor and council didn’t manage everything themselves as the commissioners did. They hired a bailiff, a town engineer, an elected but salaried treasurer who kept the books, a town clerk who tended administrative affairs, and a town attorney who kept them out of trouble and strife — all part-time. But then as now, the mayor’s role was far more than just legislative and ceremonial. Every mayor worth their salt did and does whatever must be done to ensure that things run as intended and actually get done to secure the welfare of residents and visitors. There is a vast universe of actions in the realm outside of a council chamber that a mayor travels to ensure that hungry residents get fed; that a flood-quelling levee gets built and maintained;

Every mayor worth their salt did and does whatever must be done to ensure that things run as intended and actually get done to secure the welfare of residents and visitors.

that a life-threatening, at-grade railroad crossing gets bypassed; or that ensures that there are no obstructions to the city executing the largest commercial property annexation in the state’s history, thereby securing a far more sustainable tax base. Since the 1940s, the individual dreams of a hopeful candidate, plus paperwork, have been enough to get a name on the ballot. Prior to that, Hyattsville mayors and councilors were selected through a nonpartisan convention process. Residents met

in an open caucus during which eligible voters would nominate candidates for the position. Selected candidates would then compete in the election several weeks later. No spoilers or dark horses made it to the gate. In the name of harmonious community relations or after a reading of the crowd, many a nominated candidate nobly withdrew their name from consideration rather than pursue a contentious campaign that might disrupt the peaceful accord of the town. As might be expected, political or social outsiders rarely established enough of a foothold to become mayor. All but three of the 34 Hyattsville mayors previously served as ward-based councilmembers. Hollingsworth is not the first of Hyattsville’s mayors to leave office before the end of a term. Jesse S. Baggett (1951-54) was elected a county commissioner and so resigned and left, midterm, to assume the higher office. In Maryland, you cannot serve as an elected official for more than one government at a time. The mayoral role started as an unpaid, part-time position with just a one-year term of office and meetings set monthly, or as necessary to conduct town business.

Helping Sell Hyattsville

And our Neighboring Community FOR SALE

More beautiful properties coming soon!

4410 Oglethorpe St. #312, Hyattsville Sun-filled, beautiful 2 bedroom, 1 bath condo in Hyattsville’s Arts District! Gracious balcony, gleaming wood floors throughout and lots of closets! Listed for $167,000

I have numerous buyers looking to purchase in our neighborhood. The market is strong. If you are thinking of making a move, call me for professional representation.

Ann Barrett 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

FOLLOW THE RULES AND KEEP ROWING! Stay healthy with our winter land training. Outdoors • Social Distanced Individual Rowing Machines Youth and Adults BEGINNERS WELCOME!

Proven Results:

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

Wishing you and yours a Healthy, Happy and Prosperous 2021!

Stuart Eisenberg is a columnist for the Hyattsville Preservation Association.

Realtor®, ABR, SRS

SOME RECENTLY SOLD PROPERTIES

Happy New Year Hyattsville!

As the town grew, so did the demands on its chief executive. A cluster of six Hyattsvillecentered bills hit the Maryland General Assembly in 1943, in an era when municipal charter changes required state legislative ratification. Those bills established the staggered terms for councilmembers and the term lengths — four years for mayor, four years for councilmembers — that we have now. Also in 1943, the mayor’s salary went from $192 to $600 per year. For comparison, as of July 2021, mayoral compensation will be $16,151 per year. Hyattsville has just four living former mayors now: Bob Armentrout, Bill Gardiner and Marc Tartaro, with Candace Hollingsworth joining their ranks. In the coming days, I’ll be discussing their mayoral experiences with them for a future article to broaden the scope of these reflections on the mayor’s role in Hyattsville’s historic development, get past the numbers, and put a more human face on this most difficult of roles that a resident can be sentenced to. A newly compiled list of Hyattsville’s past mayors, along with an in-progress biographical database can be viewed here: www.dropbox.com/s/ k2lvhdujoik4j3f/Mayors%20 of%20HAyattsville.xlsx?dl=0.

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.

FUN, FRIENDS AND FITNESS! All activities are at

Bladensburg Waterfront Park 4601 Annapolis Road, Bladensburg WashingtonRowingSchool.com

202-344-0886

Page HR1

Hyattsville Life & Times | January 2021

the

Hyattsville Reporter No. 394 • January 12, 2020

www.hyattsville.org • 301-985-5000

Notices and Updates

Drivers typically deliver one day a week and two to four times a month on weekdays between 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Kitchen volunteers, who help prepare and assemble meals, are needed for one or more days a week, between 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. on weekdays. If you are interested in volunteering, please visit the site mealsonwheelsofcollegepark.org and complete the volunteer form.

Public Hearing: Hyattsville Council will hold a virtual public hearing on Tuesday, January 19, at 7 p.m. to hear feedback regarding a proposed amendment to the City’s Charter. The amendment proposes to adjust the date for the close of candidate registration to the second Friday in March to accommodate the required timeframe necessary to print and mail ballots to all registered voters. To attend the hearing, please register in advance at hyattsville.org/calendar. If you are unable to attend the hearing, comments may be submitted via email to cityclerk@hyattsville.org. For information or to obtain a copy of the proposed changes to City’s election process, visit hyattsvillemd.legistar.com. 2021 Hyattsville City Election: The 2021 City election will be a Vote-by-Mail election. Registered voters will be mailed their ballot 30 days prior to Election Day. Ballots may be returned via mail or at a drop-off box. The City will have also inperson voting and same-day voter registration on Election Day, Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at the City Building. Hyattsville residents will vote for a new Mayor as well as one Council seat from each of the City’s five Wards. The Mayor and Council establish policies, adopt new laws, oversee the budget, and serve as representatives at official events. To be eligible to vote in City elections, you must be at least 16 years old, a resident of the incorporated City of Hyattsville for at least 30 days, and not claim voting rights elsewhere in the U.S. For more information, visit hyattsville.org/vote. Run for Office: Want to make a difference in your community? Run for office in the City of Hyattsville! Residents interested in running for an open Council seat or for Mayor can file between Monday, February 1 and Friday, March 12, 2021. The City will host virtual Candidate information sessions on Tuesday, February 9, 6 – 8 p.m., and Saturday, March 6, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. To learn more, visit hyattsville. org/vote. COVID-19 Update: Prince George’s County has begun a phased distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, prioritizing healthcare workers, frontline first responders, and seniors living in nursing homes first. Certain COVID-19 testing sites will begin to transition to vaccination sites for these priority populations. General public vaccinations are not yet available. In the meantime, residents are asked to continue to wear masks and practice social distancing. To learn more about the County’s vaccine plan and COVID-19 guidance information, visit mypgc.us.

Programs, Services, and Events

Mayor Hollingsworth’s Farewell: Join us on virtually on Tuesday, January 19, at 6 p.m. as the City honors former Mayor Hollingsworth’s service at a special ceremony. Register for the ceremony at hyattsville.org/calendar.If you’d like to record a short tribute video message for Candace for the ceremony, visit tribute. co/candacehollingsworth before Thursday, January 14. Hyattsville COVID-19 Testing: Free non-appointment testing is available at the First United Methodist Church of Hyattsville (6201 Belcrest Road)

Commemorating Hyattsville Heritage Trees: To celebrate Hyattsville’s 135th Anniversary, the City is asking residents to identify trees on their property that were likely growing when the City was founded in 1886. Residents with a Heritage Tree can apply to receive a commemorative plaque. Visit hyattsville. org/trees for details. The City also invites all Hyattsville middle and high school students to enter the Heritage Tree Campaign Contest! From March 1 through April 30, students can write an essay or share a creative response (like a painting, drawing, or digital illustration) to the following question: “If a tree could talk, what would it say about the events it has lived through?” Winning essays and art submissions will receive a $150 prize! For full details and requirements, visit hyattsville.org/trees.

The City is honoring the now former Mayor Hollingsworth’s service on Tuesday, January 19, at 6 p.m. by way of a special virtual ceremony! Register for the ceremony at hyattsville.org/calendar. ¡La Ciudad está honrando el servicio de la ahora ex-Alcaldesa Hollingsworth el martes 19 de enero, a las 6 p.m. por medio de una ceremonia virtual especial! Regístrese para la ceremonia en hyattsville.org/ calendar. through a partnership between the Church, Luminis Health, The County Health Department, and the City. The site administers walk-up and drive-thru tests on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., or until the site reaches capacity. To be alerted of a potential site closure due to inclement weather, sign up for City emails and alerts at hyattsville.org/notifyme. For testing site questions, call (301) 9855000. City Building Closed to Public: The City Building at 4310 Gallatin Street remains closed to the public and in-person permitting, licensing, and notary requests have been halted until further notice. City staff is available remotely for questions and inquiries at (301) 985-5000, and many services are offered online at hyattsville.org. MLK Day of Service: The City has partnered with the Presidential Inaugural Committee to seek volunteers for MLK Day of Service on Friday, January 22. From 9 a.m. to noon, City staff and volunteers will pack and sort donations at the Capital Area Food Bank Warehouse (CAFB), 4900 Puerto Rico Avenue, Washington D.C. 20017. Space is limited. To sign up, please contact Colleen Aistis at (301) 985-5057 or via caistis@hyattsville. org by Wednesday, January 20. Please note that volunteers will need to provide their own transportation and complete a CAFB waiver volunteer form, which can be found at volunteer.captialareafoodbank.org.

Virtual Business Roundtable: The City of Hyattsville is hosting a virtual Business Roundtable Thursday, January 21, at 10 a.m. This quarter’s Roundtable will include information about available grants and resources, as well as a panel of local owners discussing how they’ve adapted to digital operations during this pandemic. You can learn more and preregister for the webinar at hyattsville.org/ business-roundtable. Hyattsville COVID-19 Documentary: As the COVID- 19 pandemic continues, Hyattsville residents and businesses are finding ways to adapt to the “new normal.” Visit youtube.com/cityofhyattsville to view a documentary produced by the City’s video team over the course of 2020 that tells stories of resilience, frustration, and hope, profiling what everyday life is like in Hyattsville during this pandemic. Good Neighbor Reminder: As a recognized Tree City for over 30 years, Hyattsville requires a permit before removing large trees from private property. A permit is required when the tree measures 50” or greater in circumference in a front yard or 75” or greater in circumference in a back yard. Removing the tree without a permit can result in a fine. Have a question or concern? Contact the City’s Arborist Dawn Taft at (301) 852-8790 or dtaft@ hyattsville.org. Volunteers Needed: Meals on Wheels of College Park (which also serves Hyattsville) is in need of volunteers to help deliver and prepare meals to seniors and people with disabilities in nearby areas.

We’re Hiring: Serve your community and work for the City of Hyattsville! We’re seeking to hire a police chief, a senior administrative coordinator, a parttime parking compliance aide, and an experienced lateral police officer. For job details and to apply, visit hyattsville.org/ jobs.

Age-Friendly Programs

Senior Services and Needs Survey: During this challenging time, the City of Hyattsville is concerned about the wellbeing of its senior community members. To better understand what types of information and assistance you may need during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, the City is asking senior residents to complete a quick, confidential survey at hyattsville.org/survey. To request a paper copy of the survey, contact Marci LeFevre at (301) 985-5012 or by email at mlefevre@hyattsville.org. The deadline to complete the survey is January 29, 2021. Seniors who complete the survey also have an option to be entered in a prize drawing!

Youth Services

Creative Minds at Home: Toddlers and their families or guardians can enjoy online quality time this winter with multilingual songs, games, arts & crafts live tutorials, story time, and special events! Participants will have the option to obtain a supply box with art materials. Registration opens on January 19, and programming begins on a weekly basis staring on Tuesday, February 2, at 11 a.m. To register, visit hyattsville. recdesk.com/community/program. Tutoring and After-School Virtual Programming: The Teen E-Center, which offers free after-school programming for tweens and teens in the community, is back! If you’d like to apply for a free membership to access programs like the Boys & Girls Clubs, Open Mic Nights, the Real Talk Series, DJ Baspy’s Dance Parties, tutoring, and much more, visit hyattsville.org and select the “Recreation” button.

Hyattsville Life & Times | January 2021

Page HR2

Reportero de

Hyattsville

No. 394 • 12 de Enero, 2020

www.hyattsville.org • 301-985-5000 el sitio mealsonwheelsofcollegepark.org/ y complete el formulario bajo “Volunteer.”

Avisos y Noticias

Audiencia Publica: El Concejo Municipal sostendrá una audiencia pública virtual el martes 19 de enero a las 7 p.m. para escuchar comentarios sobre una propuesta de enmienda a las leyes de la Ciudad. La enmienda propone ajustar la fecha para el cierre del registro de candidatos al segundo viernes de marzo para acomodar el plazo necesario para imprimir y enviar las papeletas a todos los votantes registrados. Para atender a la audiencia, por favor regístrese en avance en hyattsville.org/ calendar. Si no puede participar en la Audiencia, es posible que los comentarios se envíen por correo electrónico a la dirección cityclerk@hyattsville.org. Para obtener más información o para obtener una copia de los cambios propuestos en el proceso electoral de la Ciudad, por favor visite hyattsville-md.legistar.com. Elección Municipal de Hyattsville de 2021: La elección de la Ciudad de 2021 tomara plazo de forma de voto por correo. Los votantes registrados serán enviados por correo su boleta 30 días antes del Día de Elección. Las papeletas se pueden devolver por correo o en una casilla de entrega. La Ciudad también tendrá votación en persona y registración para votar el mismo día el martes 11 de mayo de 2021 en el Edificio Municipal. Residentes de Hyattsville votaran por un nuevo Alcalde y por un asiento del Concejo de cada uno de los cinco Distritos de la Ciudad. El Alcalde y el Concejo establecen pólizas, adoptan nuevas leyes, supervisan el presupuesto, nombran posiciones claves de la Ciudad y sirven como representantes en eventos oficiales. Para ser elegible para votar en las elecciones municipales, debe uno tener al menos 16 años, ser residente de la Ciudad de Hyattsville por lo menos 30 días y no reclamar derechos de voto en otros lugares de los Estados Unidos. Para más información, visite hyattsville.org/vote. Presente su Candidatura: ¿Busca hacer una diferencia en su comunidad? ¡Presente su candidatura para la Ciudad de Hyattsville! Residentes de la Ciudad interesados en presentar su candidatura para un puesto abierto del Concejo o para el puesto de Alcalde pueden hacerlo entre el lunes, 1 de febrero y el viernes, 12 de marzo de 2021. La Ciudad sostendrá sesiones de información para candidatos virtuales el martes, 9 de febrero, 6 – 8 p.m. y el sábado, 6 de marzo, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Para aprender más, visite hyattsville.org/vote. Actualización de COVID-19: El Condado Prince George’s ha empezado su plan de distribución en fases de la vacuna COVID-10, priorizando a trabajadores médicos y de emergencia y personas de la tercera edad viviendo en asilos primero. Ciertos sitios de pruebas COVID-19 serán convertidos a sitios de vacunas para estas populaciones Vacunas para el publico general todavía no están disponibles. Mientras tanto, se les pide a residentes que continúen usando mascaras y que practiquen el distanciamiento social. Para aprender más sobre el plan de vacunas del Condado y información de COVID-19, visite mypgc.us.

Programas, Servicios y Eventos

Despedida de la Alcaldesa Hollingsworth: Acompáñenos virtualmente el martes, 19 de enero, a las 6 p.m. cuando la Ciudad honra el servicio de la ex-Alcaldesa Hollingsworth a través de una ceremonia

Nola from Hyattsville Police Department’s C.A.T. Team lends a paw at a City food distribution. To sign up for food distribution alerts and City notices, visit hyattsville.org/notifyme. Nola del Departamento de Policía de Hyattsville asiste en una distribución de alimentos de la Ciudad. Para inscríbase para alertas de distribuciones de alimentos y noticias de la Ciudad, visite hyattsville.org/notifyme. especial. Regístrese para la ceremonia en hyattsville.org/calendar. Si quisiera grabar un video mensaje de tributo corto para Candace, visite tribute.co/candacehollingsworth antes del jueves, 14 de enero. Sitios de Pruebas COVID-19 de Hyattsville: Pruebas gratuitas y sin citas están disponibles en la en la Iglesia First United Methodist de Hyattsville (6201 Belcrest Road) por medio de una asociación entre la Iglesia, Luminis Health, el Departamento de Salud del Condado y la Ciudad. El sitio administra pruebas a conductores y a personas caminando los lunes, jueves y sábados, de 9 a.m. a 3 p.m., o hasta que el sitio llegue a capacidad. Inscríbase para avisos en hyattsville.org/notifyme para ser alertado sobre cierres potenciales debido al clima. Para preguntas sobre el sitio de pruebas, llame a (301) 985-5000. Edificio Municipal Cerrado al Publico: El Edificio Municipal en la 4310 Gallatin Street permanece cerrado al público y los servicios en persona de licencias, permisos y notaria siguen suspendidos hasta un nuevo aviso. El personal de la Ciudad esta disponible para preguntas vía (301) 985- 5000, y ofrece muchos de sus servicios en línea en hyattsville.org. Día de Servicio MLK: La Ciudad se ha asociado con el Comité Inaugural Presidencial para buscar voluntarios para el Día de Servicio MLK el viernes, 22 de enero. De 9 a.m. hasta el mediodía, el personal de la Ciudad y voluntarios empacaran y ordenaran donaciones en el almacén de Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB), 4900 Puerto Rico Avenue, Washington D.C. 20017. El espacio es limitado. Para inscribirse, por favor contacte a Colleen Aistis al (301) 985-5057 o vía caisits@hyattsville.org antes del miércoles, 20 de enero. Voluntarios deberán de proveer su propia transportación y completar una forma de exención de CAFB, lo cual puede ser encontrada en volunteer.capitalareafoodbank.org. Reunión de Negocios Virtual: La Ciudad de Hyattsville sostendrá una Reunión

de Negocios virtual el jueves, 21 de enero, a las 10 a.m. Esta reunión incluirá información sobre subvenciones y recursos disponibles y un panel de propietarios locales discutiendo cómo se han adaptado a las operaciones digitales durante esta pandemia. Puede aprender más e inscribirse para el seminario en hyattsville.org/businessroundtable. Documental de COVID-19 de Hyattsville: A medida que continúa la pandemia del COVID-19, los residentes y negocios de la Ciudad de Hyattsville están encontrando formas de adaptarse a la “nueva normalidad.” Visite a youtube.com/cityofhyattsville para ver un documental producido por el equipo de vídeo de la Ciudad a lo largo de 2020 que cuenta historias de resiliencia, frustración y esperanza, perfilando cómo es la vida cotidiana en Hyattsville durante esta pandemia.

Conmemorando Árboles de Hyattsville: Para celebrar el 135o Aniversario de Hyattsville, la Ciudad está pidiendo a los residentes que identifiquen árboles en sus propiedades que probablemente crecieron cuando la Ciudad fue fundada en 1886. Los residentes con árboles de patrimonio en sus propiedades pueden solicitar para recibir una placa conmemorativa. Visite hyattsville.org/trees para más detalles. ¡La Ciudad también invita a todos los estudiantes de las escuelas intermedias y secundarias de la Ciudad de Hyattsville a participar en el Concurso de la Campaña del árbol del Patrimonio! Desde el 1 de marzo hasta el 30 de abril, los estudiantes pueden escribir un ensayo o compartir una respuesta creativa (como una pintura, dibujo o ilustración digital) a la siguiente pregunta: “Si un árbol pudiera hablar, ¿qué diría de los acontecimientos que ha vivido?” ¡Ensayos y presentaciones de arte ganadoras recibirán un premio de $150! Para obtener información detallada y los requisitos, por favor visite hyattsville.org/ trees. Estamos Contratando: ¡Sirva a su comunidad y trabaje para la Ciudad de Hyattsville! Estamos buscando a contratar a un jefe de policía, un coordinador superior, un asistente de cumplimiento de estacionamiento a tiempo parcial y un experimentado oficial de policía lateral. Para detalles y para solicitar, visite hyattsville.org/jobs.

Programas Amigables con la Edad

Encuesta de Servicios para Gente de la Tercera Edad: Durante este tiempo desafiante, la Ciudad de Hyattsville está preocupada por el bienestar de sus miembros de la comunidad de la tercera edad. Para entender mejor qué tipo de información y asistencia puede necesitar durante la pandemia de COVID-19 y más allá, la Ciudad está pidiendo a residentes de la tercera edad a que completen una encuesta rápida y confidencial en hyattsville.org/ survey. Para solicitar una copia por correo, comuníquese con a Marci LeFevre al mlefevre@hyattsville.org o al (301) 985-5012 ¡Las personas que completen la encuesta también tendrán la opción de participar en un sorteo de premios!

Como ser un Buen Vecino: ¿Sabia que Hyattsville, una Ciudad reconocida por ser amigable con los arboles por más de 30 años, requiere un permiso antes de remover un árbol grande de una propiedad privada? Un permiso es requerido cuando el árbol mide 50” o más en circunferencia si está en el jardín enfrente del hogar. Para detrás del jardín del hogar, tiene que medir 75” o más. Removiendo tal árbol sin permiso puede resultar en una multa costosa. ¿Tiene preguntas o desea más clarificación? Contacte a la Arbolista de la Ciudad, Dawn Taft, al (301) 852-8790 o vía dtaft@hyattsville.org.

Creative Minds en Casa: Niños pequeños y sus familias pueden disfrutar pasar tiempo de calidad este invierno con canciones, juegos, artes y artesanías tutoriales, tiempo de la historia, ¡y eventos especiales! Participantes tendrán la opción de obtener una caja de suministros con materiales artísticos. Registración se abre el 19 de enero y la programación semanal empieza el martes, 2 de febrero, a las 11 a.m. Para registrarse, visite hyattsville.recdesk.com/ Community/Program.

Se Buscan Voluntarios: La organización Meals on Wheels de College Park (que también sirve a Hyattsville) está buscando voluntarios para que ayuden a preparar y distribuir comida a personas mayores o con una discapacidad. Conductores normalmente manejan una vez a la semana y de una a cuatro veces al mes entre semana durante las 10:30 a.m. y 12:30 p.m. Voluntarios de cocina, quienes ayudan a preparar y empacar la comida, se ocupan por uno o más días a la semana, entra las 7 a.m. hasta mediodía. Si desea ayudar, visite a

Tutoría y Programación Virtual Después de la Escuela: El Centro de Jóvenes virtual, que ofrece programación gratuita después de la escuela para los adolescentes y preadolescentes en la comunidad, ¡se ha reanudado! Si desea solicitar una membresía gratuita para acceder a programas como los clubes de chicas y chicos, Noches de Micrófono Abierto, la Serie de Conversaciones Reales, los bailes virtuales de DJ Baspy, tutoría, y mucho más, visite hyattsville.org y seleccione el botón “Recreation.”

Programas para Menores

Page 8

Hyattsville Life & Times | January 2021

Council discusses Animal Welfare and Community Safety Act By Sophie Gorman Oriani At the Dec. 7 and Jan. 4 city council meetings, the city councilmembers discussed the Animal Welfare and Community Safety Act, a proposed update to the section of city code that deals with animal control regulations. The act seeks to clarify definitions and terms regarding animal control, and increase reporting of animal control incidents. “What we’ve tried to do is professionalize the [city’s] response [to animal control incidents] a little bit better and to make ... these steps and the process ... a little bit more thorough and with greater accountability,” said Councilmember Danny Schaible (Ward 2) in a phone interview. At the Dec. 7 meeting, Schaible described the act as a collaboration with Residents United For Furry Friends (RUFF), a small group of animal lovers who have been threatened or attacked by animals. Schaible, who says

he’s been working with RUFF for about a year, described the act as being the “result of several years’ work” and said that it is aimed at “modernizing and strengthening animal control regulations in Hyattsville,” which are governed by Chapter 52 of the city code. While RUFF has advocated for the reinstatement of a city animal control officer in the past, this proposal does not call for the city to employ a specific animal control officer. “If this bill passes, the city will still rely on the county for most of its animal control services,” said Schaible, noting that the goal of the bill was not to expand the city’s responsibilities in responding to animal complaints, but to increase accountability and professionalism in services that are currently being provided. Hyattsville City Police Department (HCPD) Acting Chief Scott Dunklee said that currently, if someone calls the police

While RUFF has advocated for the reinstatement of a city animal control officer in the past, this proposal does not call for the city to employ a specific animal control officer. regarding a dangerous animal that may pose a threat to public safety, the HCPD generally calls the Prince George’s County Animal Services Division. “They’re really the experts,” he said. A complaint about a barking dog, though, would be handled like any other noise complaint.

During the discussion, some councilmembers expressed reservations that some of the language was vague or subjective and left too much to the discretion of the responding officer. Councilmember Ben Simasek (Ward 3) also encouraged more specificity regarding the required burden of proof for certain issues, such as noise complaints. A number of residents weighed in via public comment to agree with these reservations, although three of the four residents supported the motion generally. The last comment opposed it on the grounds that it would be too costly, and might pit neighbor against neighbor. On Jan. 7, councilmembers discussed the act further, including some updates and clarifications made in response to concerns raised at the previous meeting. The act covers a broad range of issues, including placing restrictions on long-term tethering

come see us!

New things coming up:

ONLINE NEXT-DAY DELIVERY

SAME-DAY LOCAL DELIVERY

PINT-SIZED TIKI DRINKS NOW AVAILABLE!

Order Franklins meal kits, beer, wine, spirits and General Store goodies for PG County next-day delivery at franklinsbrewery.com

Get same-day delivery from Franklins by calling 301-9272740 from 4 - 8 pm. Delivery to Hyattsville, Riverdale Park and University Park 7 days a week. We cannot accept pre-orders: Please order one hour before delivery. Full menu available including beer, spirits and Tiki cocktails!

Our Quarantiki Room might be closed, but you can still feel the Tiki vibes at home! Now offering pint-sized, sharable cocktails.

LET’S BE FRIENDS! Be sure to follow us on social media to keep up with all things Franklins! facebook.com/ franklinsbrewery twitter.com/ franklinsbrewery instagram.com/ franklinsbrew

franklinsbrewery.com

(more than one hour, total, out of 24) and exposing animals to severe weather. It also categorizes violations as either a public nuisance, such as excessive barking or being off leash in public spaces, or a more severe public threat, such as engaging in unprovoked aggressive behaviors while off-leash, or actually attacking a person or animal. The act also requires the City of Hyattsville to designate someone to respond to animal control incidents and maintain data on animal control incidents and report this data to the city council on an annual basis. It also requires the city to report any public threat violations to the Prince George’s County Animal Services Division and make this data available to city residents. At the Dec. 7 meeting, Dunklee said that the police department currently receives about two animal-related complaints per week, and that this has been typical over the last several years. Due to concerns raised at the Jan. 7 meeting that the extra reporting and citations might prove too burdensome for code compliance, leading to a need for additional staff, the council decided to refer the act to the Code Compliance Advisory Committee for further review.

Hyattsville Life & Times | January 2021

Page 9

Developer profile: What’s in a name? By Emily Williams During the past year, a real estate developer changed the name of a planned development next to Hyattsville’s biggest city park. Werrlein Properties originally named the site Magruder Pointe, after the neighboring Magruder Park, which was donated to the city in 1927 on the condition that only white people would be able to use it. (See page 1.) Now, the development will be known as Suffrage Point, in recognition of the site’s history as a gathering point for the suffragettes as they prepared to march to Washington, D.C., fighting for equal voting rights for women. “It is very timely and symbolic,” said Jonathan Werrlein, owner and managing partner of Werrlein Properties. “We are living in a crazy world, and we wanted to show our support for our country’s rich history and our commitment to diversity and equality.” Werrlein said that while he was renovating a home in the community, the new owners and their neighbors asked him to consider taking on the abandoned Washington Suburban Sanitation Commission (WSSC) building, as well. Werrlein was up for the challenge. “I really do think it’s going to be something spectacular when it’s all done,” he said. Werrlein said he expects to get the building and grading permit this month for the upper lot of the site.

Werrlein expects to get building and grading permits in January for this site. JULIA NIKHINSON

Werrlein’s career began in manufacturing. His stepfather had a business that manufactured Teflon hoses, and after college, Werrlein helped his stepfather’s nephew start a distributorship in Raleigh, N.C. In 2003, Werrlein, his sister and his twin brother moved to Maryland and started a new company in Bowie. He was again manufacturing Teflon hoses, which they did until their business was acquired in 2008. Werrlein had a five-year working contract with the acquiring company. When that contract ended, in 2013, he jumped into the construction business and even-

tually founded Werrlein Properties in 2014. Werrlein said he is passionate about building and renovating homes. “I consider myself a person of integrity,” Werrlein said. “I really take pride in doing what I feel is the right thing to do, with the hope that those decisions bring happiness to as many people as possible.” Hyattsville came on his radar after he bought and renovated seven houses in Riverdale Park. Werrlein Properties then began to renovate houses in Hyattsville. Werrlein said he’s renovated around 20 houses in the area.

“We build a lot of new houses,” Werrlein said. “I prefer doing the major renovations, and typically that’s for an older house.” Hyattsville offers many outdoor amenities, Werrlein noted, which is something that people are looking for as they buy houses during the pandemic. More people want home offices, as well. Werrlein hired Michael Romero, a local architect, to design the Suffrage Point houses to fit the character of the community. Romero had attended a meeting about three years ago at Vigilante Coffee Company, he said, where residents gathered to meet Werrlein and discuss their concerns about the project. Romero said he, like some of his other neighbors, did not like the architecture in the original plans. After following up with Werrlein and showing him some design ideas in a neighboring community, Romero got the job. He commended Werrlein on his perseverance, despite challenges, when other developers might have walked away. “He’s still trying to do the right thing, in the face of continued opposition,” Romero said. (See p. 1. ) “He really believes in the project.” Werrlein has been living in Annapolis since 2008. And while he does not currently plan on moving to Hyattsville, he said his family have talked about doing so after his two children are out of school. “Hyattsville is such a unique, interesting and diverse city,” said Werrlein. Emily Williams is an intern with the Hyattsville Life & Times.

Page 10

Hyattsville Life & Times | January 2021

MISS FLORIBUNDA

Seed sale cancelled, but same seeds on sale Dear Miss Floribunda,

It’s January, and I’m beginning to think about starting a spring vegetable garden. For the past decade, I’ve bought my seeds at the Hyattsville Horticultural Society sale the first Saturday in February. I’ve found that to be exactly the right time to start broccoli, lettuce and spinach indoors for outdoor planting in March. Also, the quality of the seeds has always been high and the prices reasonable, and it’s been nice not to have to bother with the delay and the expense of mail order postage and handling. Because the pandemic might still be here, even if we already have some vaccines rolling out, I worry that the HHS won’t have a sale this year. What do you know about this? Anxious on Kennedy Street

Just because the annual seed sale is canceled doesn’t mean you can’t start your spring garden indoors. You can order directly from Hart Seed Co. and Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, the sources HHS uses for its sale. PEXELS

Dear Anxious, Lacking a clairvoyant among its members, the Hyattsville Horticulture Society (HHS) decided back in November not to prepare for a plant sale that might have to be cancelled. This turned out to be prescient in itself because there is still a need for social distancing. Because much of the appeal of the seed sale has been its social aspect, members of the society decided not to have it this year at all. I’m especially sorry because it was always a pleasure for Hyattsville gardeners to meet each other over hot soup and baked goods. This doesn’t mean you can’t start your spring garden indoors, as you can order directly from Hart Seed Co. and Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, the sources HHS uses. Of course, you will have to pay postage and handling, and whether you order by mail or online, there will be a delay while you wait for delivery. You should probably order as soon as possible. Hart Seed does not have its catalog online, so you would have to call them (860.529.2537) to request their latest listings and an order form. Southern Exposure has a very good website (www.southernexposure.com) where you can either request a hard-copy catalog, or access the online catalog and order directly. If you don’t want to bother with ordering seeds, especially now that quick delivery is no longer a certainty, Glut Food Co-op, in nearby Mount Rainier, will have seeds at the end of January, or soon after. They carry Southern Exposure seeds, but not Hart’s. In addition, they

offer seeds from Botanical Interests and High Mowing, both reputable companies. MOM’s Organic Market in College Park, along with all its Maryland, D.C. and Virginia locations, also carries Southern Exposure seeds, but they won’t be in stores till mid-February. That’s still in good time for most vegetable starts. Other markets and hardware stores will soon be offering their usual brands. I’ve asked my cool-weather garden expert, Giorgic Vegeberghe, for specific recommendations for you. He recommends Hart’s oakleaf lettuce and its Bloomsdale spinach to start indoors and then place outdoors in early March. Both these varieties are slow-bolting and should give you a long season. Hart’s sugar snap peas can be planted directly outdoors as soon as the temperature of the

soil reaches 40 F, usually by late February or early March. As beets are difficult to transplant with success, a quick-developing variety like Hart’s Early Wonder is best planted directly four weeks before the last expected frost. (The National Garden Association estimates that date to come between March 28 and April 20 — a rather wide range.) Both Hart and Southern Exposure offer rapini, or broccoli raab, which develops quickly and keeps producing side shoots after the head is harvested. It can be started indoors or sown directly outdoors two weeks before the last expected frost date. Southern Exposure’s speciality is heat-tolerant vegetables, even lettuces and celery, quick-growing carrots, radishes, brussels sprouts and beets. Their salad bowl loose-leaf lettuce is ready

in 40 days and stays sweet even after the weather warms up. And, of course, both companies carry wonderful varieties of corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, squashes and other vegetables for later in the season. All of these can be started indoors, as well. I hope that by next year the pandemic will be over, and the HHS can continue its tradition of combining a quality seed and book sale with a good party offering soup and baked goods.

Please check the website of the HHS (hyattsvillehorticulture.org) for any information concerning future events or meetings. Miss Floribunda is the Hyattsville Life & Times garden columnist. You may email questions at floribundav@gmail.com.

Lawson’s Pharmacy

Richard Sabatelli, R. Ph

301-864-4043

All Major Insurance Accepted. We Deliver! 3415 Hamilton St, Hyattsville

Hyattsville Life & Times | January 2021

Page 11

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Send your events or information on local private aid efforts to Kit Slack at kit@hyattsvillelife.com.

elow you’ll find community events sponsored by local nonprofits and artists, as well as a Give Help/Get Help section, where we list some of the ways neighbors are helping each other during the pandemic. All information is current as of Jan. 8. We seem to be hibernating, folks, which is just what we’re supposed to be doing. Hope to see everyone out and about at local events when the weather warms up and cases are down, not too long from now.

January 13

Joe’s Movement Emporium is hosting an online theatrical performance, “NextLOOK: The Final Genocide.” From their website: Dominic Green’s theater work follows Davu, a young Black man, through the ruins of a futuristic African-American history museum. 7 p.m. Payas-you-wish, starting at $5. Tickets and information at joesmovement.org/newevents.

January 30

and Helping Hands University Park team up for The Aging Drama: A Legal And Practical Guide To Reducing The Drama Of Aging, a Zoom event featuring local elder law attorney Julie Schejbal. The session is intended for those nearing (or past) retirement age, as well as those with parents or other relatives facing similar issues. Julie Schejbal is a University Park resident and has practiced law in Maryland for more than 30 years with a focus on estate planning, probate and estate administration, and elder law. 2-3:30 p.m. To learn more and to register, visit www. HyattsvilleAgingInPlace.org/ events.

February 13

Mount Rainier Elementary School PTO and Joe’s Movement Emporium are sponsoring Salsa Y Amor, a Valentine’s Day extravaganza, involving dancing and a cooking demonstration, via Zoom. 6-7 p.m. Suggested $15 donation. Tickets and information at joesmovement.org/ new-events.

Hyattsville Aging in Place

Recurring

Poetry open mics are every Thursday night 9 to 11 p.m. at Busboys and Poets, 5331 Baltimore Ave. $5 cover. busboysandpoets.com. 301.779.2787 Pyramid Atlantic, the nonprofit art center at 4318 Gallatin St., is open to the public and is offering online and one-on-one or two-on-one in-studio classes in a wide range of techniques including pop-up valentines, block printing for beginners, and animation. Hyattsville residents receive 15% discounts. pyramidatlanticartcenter.org Riverdale Park Farmers Market is open every Thursday from 3 to 6:30 p.m. in the parking lot near the Riverdale MARC Station, 4650 Queensbury Rd. Many vendors are offering pre-order options to reduce time spent shopping. No live performances for now. facebook.com/RPFMarket Three Little Birds Sewing Co. is offering virtual classes, including classes on quilting and making women’s wardrobe staples like bras, underwear and leggings. More info at threelittlebirdssewingco.com.

AdirondAck Tree experTs Proudly serving the Citizens of Hyattsville since 1996

Recipient of Checkbook Magazine’s “Check of Quality”

REMOVAL • PRUNING TRIMMING

Free Estimates!

301-595-2827 On-Line Coupons

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

Where to donate, volunteer and get help Each year, Hyattsville Aging in Place hosts a valentine party, Put Art in Your Heart, that brings together people of all ages to make valentines for area seniors. This year, instead, the Girl Scouts Honor Cadette Troop #23007 is making valentines to be delivered to area seniors with boxes of girl scout cookies. You can contribute to their effort by buying Girl Scout cookies, and you can help make valentines too! Go to hyattsvill ea gin ginpl a c e.org/e vent/ put-art-in-your-heart-2021 for more information. National Alliance on Mental Illness Prince George’s County offers free virtual support groups and education programs for people living with mental illness and for people with a loved one experiencing mental illness. Register at namipgc.org/online-supportgroup-registration. Hyattsville Aging in Place (HAP) helps Hyattsville residents age 60 and older and those with disabilities stay in their homes and remain active in the community. To keep seniors and HAP volunteers safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19, HAP currently limits services to delivering groceries and supplies and providing friendly check-in calls, information and referrals. HAP welcomes Hyattsville residents over 60 who need assistance, and those of any age who want to volunteer. Go to hyattsvilleaginginplace.org/get-involved or call 301.887.3101. Hyattsville now has more than one Blessings Box, free-standing pantry cabi-

nets where you can pick up food if you need it, or donate nonperishable items if you are able. The Blessings Box on 43rd Ave., between Jefferson and Hamilton streets, is a project of Girl Scout Troop #6899. Contact dinacolin@ netzero.net. The new Blessings Box at 6800 Adelphi Rd. is a project of University Christian Church, on whose property it is located. Saint Jerome’s Café provides a free lunch-to-go every Thursday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for those in need. 5205 43rd Ave. Table set up outside the rectory in the lower parking lot; please wear a mask. Since March, meals have been provided by local restaurants. Donations can be sent to the address above by check made out to St Jerome Catholic Church, with “Saint Jerome Café” in the memo line. Greater Riverdale Cares & Route One Communities Care ask you to help our neighbors in need and our local family-owned restaurants. Your donation will pay for nutritious meals for neighbors facing food insecurity. Local participating restaurants include Hyattsville’s own Shortcake Bakery and Emerita’s Papuseria. Donate at gf.me/u/ x4bmfa. St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church’s food pantry is open every Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the food runs out. 7501 Adelphi Rd. The pantry is primarily drivethrough, though walk-ups are welcome. Cars line up as early as 7:30 a.m. Due to a five-fold increase in families served, the pantry needs funds. Please contribute at gofundme.com/stmarksfoodpantry.

Page 12

MAGRUDER FROM PAGE 1

whole renaming process as an exercise in political correctness. There were also some sly jokes, like the suggestion to honor Black cartoonist Aaron Magruder (2), along with the comment, “Similar name — more righteous dude.” Parky McParkface received six nominations, in an obscure reference to a 2016 survey in Great Britain soliciting names for a $300 million robotic arctic exploration vessel. That survey yielded 124,109 votes for Boaty McBoatface, the winning name.

THOSE TIME FORGOT The names Piscataway (1), Nacotchtank (2), Tutelo and Saponi Park (1) commemorate the native peoples who lived nearby and along the Anacostia River. Wannas Park (1) was proposed to honor a local Piscataway leader named Wannas, who was known as ruler of all the chiefs. Adam Francis Plummer (2), was born enslaved in Upper Marlborough in 1918, and came to Riversdale Mansion when he was 10. He kept a remarkable diary, from 1841, when he married, to his death in 1905. In 1927, his daughter, Nellie Arnold Plummer, published a detailed account of slave life in Maryland, based on his observations.

Hyattsville Life & Times | January 2021

FAVORITE SONS AND DAUGHTERS Many people proposed local folks like Mary Prangley (3), Hyattsville’s first female mayor, and Candace Hollingsworth (9), its first Black mayor. Coach Patrick J. Collier (4) was president of the Boys and Girls Club for many years. However, when you include his creations, Kermit the Frog (6) and Big Bird (1), as well as muppets generally (4), puppeteer Jim Hensen (38) came in a big winner, with a grand total of 49 — the second highest tally of all.

OUR HOPEFULLY UNIFIED HOMETOWN Many respondents argued that they simply didn’t want to rename the park for a person. There were 65 votes for some variant of Hyattsville Community/City/Central Park. Hope Park (6) and Unity Park (22) were both popular. One comment read, “If the objective is to represent the community, let’s not enshrine the name of any one individual.” Another said, “Naming things after people is risky, there’s always a chance that some ‘dirt’ will be uncovered about them later on, leading to yet another name change.”

MAGRUDER: PRO AND CON The most historically detailed

comments seemed to come from the 46 people who wanted to simply keep the name Magruder Park. They made three arguments: “Leave it as it is. Stop trying to change everything. It’s been Magruder Park for more than a hundred years.” (The name has only been in place since 1927.) Or, “I grew up with this name, and it’s only being changed so some rich liberals can pretend to ease their conscience.” Don’t “erase history. We should use it as a way of showing how far we’ve come, with people of all colors enjoying the park together.” Another commented, “We cannot rewrite history nor should we try. Are we to rename Washington, D.C., because George Washington had slaves? To my knowledge, William Pinkney Magruder did not.” The writer continued, “Magruder gave away a lot of land … for a hospital, a church and a library … . To my knowledge only one gift bears his name. That seems a small thing compared to his benevolence.” Magruder is innocent. Several people referred to the October 2020 article in this paper, which reported on research suggesting that city council members may have proposed or drafted the racist covenant. Another person flat-

ly stated that Willam Magruder had been defamed, saying, “In the many, many other land transfers he participated in during his lifetime, the park transfer is the ONLY ONE that had the racist clause. This points not to Magruder, but to the City Council itself, at that time heavily influenced by the KKK, as the most likely cause of the insertion.” Editors’ note: The research that we reviewed in October suggests that Magruder was less of a segregationist, in his real estate business, than some of his contemporaries. However, we think it likely that Magruder well knew that the city park bearing his name was to be for white residents only. In the deed by which he gave the land, the words “for the Caucasian inhabitants only” immediately follow the words “to be known as the WILLIAM PINKNEY MAGRUDER PARK.” Segregating parks was common in Maryland at the time.

THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE FOR A NEW NAME According to our tally, there was a clear and overwhelming favorite. The renowned African-American painter, art historian and longtime Hyattsville resident David Driskell received 208 votes. Driskell taught at the University of Maryland for over 20

years. He died in April 2020, of COVID-19, at the age of 88. Tellingly, in this anonymous poll, Driskell received most, if not all, of the comments in which writers identified themselves. One person noted that Driskell was his grandfather. Another, Andre’ Taylor, wrote that Driskell’s story and connection to the Arts District made him the most “appropriate and responsible” choice. When the HL&T contacted restaurateur Mike Franklin, who had enthusiastically endorsed changing the name to David Driskell Park, he said, “It all fits. Driskell was a consummate painter and an internationally known expert on African and African-American art. It’s time that he’s fully recognized right here.” You can read the complete poll results and comments at www. hyattsville.org/namethepark. Note: It’s possible to count the suggested names and comments listed on the site in slightly different ways. Proposed names appear in strict alphabetical order by first name, and variations on a name are not always grouped together. For example, David Driskell Park and Driskell Park are separate entries, with Donald Moltrup Park (14), after Hyattsville’s longtime fire chief, listed between them.

DREDGING FROM PAGE 1

houses and towns further upstream unleashed tremendous soil erosion. By the 1850s, the river had become too shallow to ship tobacco, the county’s most profitable crop, and the port faded away. Today, the Bladensburg Waterfront Park is a popular recreation area, offering picnicking, bike trails, fishing, kayaking and boat tours. However, it still suffers from the same silting problem. Because it is only a few miles from the Chesapeake Bay, the Anacostia River rises and falls approximately 3 feet with the tides. At low tide, the river near the waterfront park can be as shallow as 6 inches, exposing large sandbars that can nearly choke off the flow of both water and marine life. That’s why on Dec. 2, 2020, when people were preparing for Christmas or sheltering from COVID-19, the Rhodes II was hard at work. “There are two reasons the dredge only operates in the winter,” said Robert Walker, the park’s facility director. “One is simply that this is the time of year when the fewest people use the park for fishing and boating. The other reason is that we want to have as little impact as possible on the fish that spawn and the other wildlife. Our permit expires by the end of February, but the work never takes that long.” The Rhodes II will dredge a 13.22-acre area that reaches approximately from the main fishing pier to the end of the boatyard, down

Refuse dredged out of the Bladensburg waterfront last winter

to a depth of 6 feet, removing about 30,000 cubic yards of material. The hydraulic suction dredge uses a 43-inch diameter cutter head to loosen the sediment and then pumps a mixture of sediment and water out through a 14-inch discharge pipe. According to the application that the county parks department filed with the Army Corps of Engineers, the discharge pipe stretches approximately 1,800 feet. It extends from the dredge

COURTESY OF SOUTHERN MARYLAND DREDGING

to settling ponds in Colmar Manor Park, on the west side of the Anacostia. The sediment consists mostly of soil, sand and gravel. Crewmember Ethan Frawley explained that any water that drains back into the river from the settling ponds must meet the standards of the federal Clean Water Act. The clean sand and gravel are trucked away and recycled for construction and reclamation projects.

Of course, there is a lot of other stuff in the bottom of the river. At the beginning of 2020, Erica Wilson Goldman, the director of operations for Southern Maryland Dredging, noted, “A huge part of this project is cleanup. We’ve been dredging this park since 1978, and each time we dredge, we remove at least 300 tires, shopping carts, old bicycles, old cable, and even a few cars.”

Hyattsville Life & Times | January 2021

DEVELOPMENT FROM PAGE 1

parking lot and the hill across the street from it. The City of Hyattsville and a group of residents are disputing Werrlein’s plans for the hill (the upper lot), the parking lot (the lower lot) and a strip of the park along the fence. The park as a whole used to be called Magruder. The city plans to rename it (see p. 1). Werrlein has already renamed the development from Magruder Pointe to Suffrage Point. In early December, Werrlein filed, and a county planning board approved, property maps that would allow for the eventual construction of 15 single family houses and 16 town houses on the upper lot. The company still plans to build 41 additional town houses on the lower lot, according to an email from Werrlein. The lower lot development has not progressed further than the conceptual site plan, the first step in a multi-level county approval process. The city and a group of about 20 local residents have been contesting the development plans in court since the county first approved the conceptual site plan in 2018. A circuit court judge decided in favor of the county in one case in mid-December 2020. That decision is being appealed to a higher court. Two other cases that object to different stages of the county approval process are progressing through the courts. This paper has published a halfdozen letters by neighbors, both for and against the project, since it was first proposed in 2017. Many who support the project are tired of living near a vacant site, and look forward to an upscale development in its place. Some residents who opposed the development initially focused on preserving and reusing the old office building, or on finding a way to replace it with a school.

Page 13 2020, when pictures of sediment flooding a street after a rainstorm circulated on a local email list. Local environmentalist Greg Smith says he has made exhaustive attempts to obtain information from the county on any violation that may have led to the shutdown, and on the resolution that allowed work to continue. He says he has received no substantive response.

Others may wonder why there is still a tussle over the development, now that Werrlein has demolished the building, and the county has announced plans to rebuild the middle school on its current site (see p. 3). Those who object to the plan say it specifies too many houses and not enough parkland. Some have also objected to sediment runoff and anticipated construction in a flood plain.

SO IS THE DEVELOPMENT STALLED NOW?

TOO MANY HOUSES The city and a residents’ group object to the county’s rezoning of the parking lot to allow the development, and say that zoning laws do not allow the county to approve the 72 dwellings planned for the site. The city argued to the court that the county could have approved a zoning change for the developer only if the original zoning were a mistake, or the neighborhood had changed. In her December denial of appeals by the city and the residents, the judge said that the zoning for the area, which was created by the 2004 Gateway Arts Plan, is a floating zone, described by the county as “intended to permit specialized development of land in accord with a comprehensive plan.” The court said that the Prince George’s County Council, sitting as the District Council, had wide authority to change zoning and uses within a floating zone. The circuit court’s decision is being appealed to Maryland’s Court of Special Appeals.

NOT ENOUGH PARKLAND The county zoned the 3.98-acre parking lot as open space in 2004, explicitly to create “opportunity to expand parkland.” The approved development plan and its housing density calculations are based on 4.66 acres of land in the lower lot, rather than 3.98.

The road between the upper lot and the lower lot during a heavy storm Sept. 10, 2020. COURTESY OF GREG SMITH

This is because the lower lot of Werrlein’s property includes not only the parking lot, but also a strip of the park on the other side of the parking lot fence, a strip which has been maintained as parkland since the park was created, according to testimony opposing the plan submitted to the county planning board by resident Maureen Vosmek. That strip of parkland, according to James Chandler, Hyattsville’s director of Community & Economic Development, is a small portion of the 1.8 acres of land that Werrlein agreed to sell to the city for a low price. He said that Werrlein will be obligated to deliver the property graded and seeded, and that the city will then determine how to integrate it into the park. A prior proposal to put a large stormwater facility in the park has been scrapped in favor of micro-retention facilities throughout the site, according to Chandler.

Werrlein for a violation in January 2020 related to sediment washing into the city’s rain garden and the drainage along Gallatin Street, according to records obtained by the Hyattsville Life & Times, though that violation appears to have been resolved in February through construction of a silt fence. The county briefly ordered Werrlein to stop work on June 12,

Werrlein said in a Jan. 8 email that work on the development has never stopped, and is now in an engineering and permitting phase. “Once we obtain the grading permit in the next couple of weeks, grading will start immediately,” he said. The grading, according to Werrlein, will improve stormwater management, and keep some contours of the original terrain. “Immediately after grading the home building will start on the lots that face 41st Ave.” said Werrlein. He expects that to happen in late winter or early spring of this year.

WHAT ABOUT THE SEDIMENT RUNOFF? Jonathan Werrlein, managing partner, says the company uses “site silt fencing and stormwater inlet protection devices.” City code enforcement cited

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

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

Page 14

Hyattsville Life & Times | January 2021

Proposed climate action plan for Prince George’s County Hyattsville Environmental Committee seeks community involvement By Christina Armeni On Sept. 3, 2020, a storm that resulted in a tornado warning ripped through Prince George’s County bringing down trees and power lines. The following week, flash flooding turned Route 50 into a river, surging with around 5 feet of brackish water. And on Dec. 16, a winter storm dumped nearly 7.5 inches of snow on the Baltimore region. The year 2020 brought extreme weather to our area. Meteorologist Jason Samenow, who is weather editor for The Washington Post, links recent extreme events to global climate change. The Prince George’s County Climate Action Commission was formed last summer “to develop a Climate Action Plan for Prince George’s County to prepare for and build resilience to regional climate change impacts, and to set and achieve climate stabilization goals,” according to their website.

Many local municipalities, including Bowie and College Park, supported the creation of the commission. And Hyattsville took a lead in this, as well, with the Hyattsville Environmental Committee (HEC) strongly backing the formation of a new commission aimed at combating the climate crisis. “The area is expanding and growing so much that environmentally, we need to stay on top of it,” said HEC Secretary Jim Groves. The CADMUS Group presented a climate action plan at the commission’s Nov. 20 virtual meeting. The CADMUS Group is a strategic and technical consulting group that has been providing environmental consulting for nearly 40 years. They also serve as a consultant for the City of Takoma Park Sustainability and Climate Action Plan and have previously worked with the Environmental Protection Agency. “As many of you know, in the last

few years there has been a real lack of federal leadership,” said Co-Project Director Ben Butterworth during the presentation, noting U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement in 2017. “There is a lot of action that can be done at the local level.” The climate plan describes steps that will help the county reach its goal of reducing 2008 levels of greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050. According to a study by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, Prince George’s County’s greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 12% between 2005 and 2015. The main sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the county are from transportation, the natural gas and heating oil that provide space and water heating, and coal and natural gas power plants’ generation of electricity. CADMUS provided options for mitigating each type of emission, like expanding electric vehicle infrastructure and

The climate plan describes steps that will help the county reach its goal of reducing 2008 levels of greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050.

establishing solar requirements in new construction. The Prince George’s County Climate Action Commission has until this June to submit a final action plan to the county council. The commission comprises 16 members, including county officials, representatives from the University of Maryland and Bowie State University, and a member of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. The commission chair directs the county’s Department of the Environment. The HEC, which provides the Hyattsville City Council with information and recommendations regarding the environment, has 10 members, who serve twoyear terms. Groves has been with the group since it was formed more than 15 years ago. As a longtime Hyattsville resident and environmental activist, he says, “It’s one thing to live here, but to be a true community member, people need to be involved.” Groves recommends that residents attend council meetings, join committees or simply participate in a trash cleanup event every month. “It’s about making your city a better place,” Groves said. “I think we’ve come a long way, and we have a much longer way to go.” Christina Armeni was an intern with the Hyattsville Life & Times in the fall of 2020.