2021-03 Hyattsville Life & Times

INSIDE THE FIRST FOUR: The mayors who built our town P. 6 AFTER A HIT-ANDRUN: Neighbors on Queensbury call for enforcement, traffic calming. P. 11

VOL. 18 NO. 3

HYATTSVILLE’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

MARCH 2021

Quarantine cut trash pickup staff by half

By Pete Daniels Hyattsville residents benefit from a wide range of services provided by the city’s Department of Public Works (DPW), including trash and compost pickup, and snow and ice removal. If a rare lapse occurs, residents tend to notice, as DPW Director Lesley Riddle experienced late last year, when the department was forced to temporarily curtail leaf collection due to COVID-19-related staff shortages. At first, the department received “some nasty emails,”

according to Riddle, but as word got out about the cause of the uncollected leaves, community reaction turned overwhelmingly positive. “They love us, and we love them,” she told the Hyattsville Life & Times during a recent interview.

Back in early February 2020, in response to the threat of the pandemic, the DPW began holding virtual meetings and separating staff into smaller working teams.

Compliance was good, according to Riddle, who laughed as she talked about staff overhearing a colleague singing “Happy

Teachers get vaccinations, return to school

By Collin Riviello

Birthday” while hand-washing, per the department’s guidance (a tip aimed at ensuring hand-washing lasts long enough to kill germs). Given the rate of COVID-19 infection in Prince George’s County, however, Riddle said, “We were just waiting for the other foot to drop,” adding that she was surprised that the department went as long as it did without a single case.

The first COVID-19 case at the DPW was discovered in early December 2020, after an employee reported not feeling well.

On Feb. 17, just three weeks after Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) staff received priority status for the COVID-19 vaccine, CEO Dr. Monica Goldson announced a hybrid-learning schedule to get students back into classrooms starting in April.

According to Goldson, the two-phase plan starts on April 8 and allows students in grades K-6, 12th-graders and all spe-

SEE DPW ON 12 

SEE SCHOOL ON 9

The science of the city: skate parks

The paradoxical safety in danger

By Paul Ruffins If you compare the Melrose Skate Park to Hyattsville’s other recreational facilities, it looks like a major injury or lawsuit just waiting to happen.

The new children’s playground on 38th Street has a soft, cushioned surface and equipment with carefully rounded corners.

So does the new adult fitness center just a few yards away.

The skate park, just a little way down the Northwest Branch Trail from the playground,

A young man skates Melrose Skate Park. JULIA NIKHINSON

SEE SKATE PARKS ON 13 

CENTER SECTION: The March 9, 2021 Issue of The Hyattsville Reporter — in Español too!

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Hyatts KIDS Page 2

HES STEM FAIR CONTINUES DESPITE COVID

Hyattsville Life & Times | March 2021

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.

BEARDO BY MASON VOSMEK

By Evan Muynila and Tes Schooley Third through fifth graders at Hyattsville Elementary School (HES) are doing a virtual STEM fair this year. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math. Students get to pick their own questions and do their projects. Ms. Muscardin is the STEM fair coordinator and a third grade teacher.

Students put their project information on Google Slides and will present to their science teachers.

The students that are invited to the school STEM fair will share their slides with judges that will be asking questions. Students that receive the highest scores from the judges will move on to the county STEM fair. Students will not have to make tri-fold boards this year.

Ellie Wheatly is a fifth grader who is doing a project about slime, and she is seeing which activator makes the stickiest slime.

She says some obstacles during the pandemic are “getting supplies because you have to order and wait for it to come” and “getting in contact with teachers.”

Some of Ellie’s suggestions are that students should not wait until the last minute, they should put a lot of work into it, and ask lots of questions.

The STEM fair is scheduled for March 22. “Since we’re virtual, some obstacles for students are the lack of hands-on experiments in the classroom, using new websites, and online tools,” Ms. Mus-

cardin explained. There are also some challenges for teachers, like limited class time, difficulties helping students pick topics and get tools, and the push to meet deadlines so winners can go to the county fair.

HES Needs Your Help! Volunteer to serve as a virtual STEM fair judge on March 22 from 2-4 p.m.

Contact Ms. Muscardin at gloria. muscardin@pgcps.org.

FAIRY GARDENS BRING JOY DURING PANDEMIC

By Garance Borrut and Beatrice Marx A fairy is a small, winged creature that is useful to spread pollen, but will also help all kinds of animals such as birds, butterflies, bees, hedgehogs or squirrels. Fairies are herbivores and can be found anywhere on earth, even in Antarctica!

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Fairy gardens provide a welcome to some of Hyattsville’s tiniest residents. KIT SLACK

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A fairy garden is a tiny special village humans make for fairies with gardens, homes, and even parks with cool features like swings or hammocks. You can often find them in front yards where everybody can see and admire them.

They can even be found indoors, in a flower pot or terrarium.

When you walk by Hanna Muth’s house, right by the front steps stands a fairy garden on a small slope. It has animals and magnolia pine cone trees placed in it and a little bridge leading to three fairy houses. Two houses consist of a tower and a stone house, inhabited by many fairy figurines. There is also a mushroom house. Muth, the owner of the miniscule village, said that it was originally her mother’s idea, even though she mostly created it. She has worked on her fairy garden a lot more since March 2020, showing that a fairy garden is a good hobby during the pandemic.

Because of COVID, many people now enjoy walking, and for Skye Kelly, having a fairy garden was a way to make her front yard more interesting: “Our garden was dull and I wanted to decorate it.” She noticed that lots of people stopped to look at her fairy garden and commented that it brought joy to them every time they passed by.

Here are three tips to build your own fairy garden: • Find a good location: Muth suggests that you should have enough space for all your decor.

People should also be able to see it from the sidewalk.

• Use waterproof materials: things like twigs, stones, clay, branches of bushes with leaves, etc. You can also recycle things like old bowls, broken flower pots, plastic containers, or wooden,

metal or glass boxes.

• Start small, have fun and add on!

SUGAR VAULT BAKERY BRINGS SWEETNESS TO ROUTE 1

By Marta Vaidyanathan Sugar Vault is an amazing bakery known for its over the top sweet treats and creations, especially cupcakes. Their elaborate desserts, filled with odd yet impressive combinations, are designed to be fun and tasty for everyone who tries them. Recently, I sampled some of their desserts with my family.

• Red Velvet Nutella Cupcake: The cake was good, but the frosting didn’t taste as much like Nutella as I would have liked.

• Chocolate Cookie Dough Cupcake: We enjoyed the flavor, but the frosting was a little too sweet.

• Caramel Cluster Cupcake: This one was one of my favorites.

However, the caramel was a bit hard.

• Peach Cobbler Doughnut Cake: This one was really tasty. But for some people, there may have been a bit too much going on.

If, like me, you don’t like things too sweet, this might not be the best bakery for you. However, all my younger siblings really enjoyed everything. My younger brother Michael said, “They were yummy, but too sweet.” The cake on every cupcake was tasty. Overall, they were good, but the frosting was just too sweet for most of us. Other people must have different views, though, because people from Alexandria and D.C. come here just for the cupcakes. Sadly, the bakery is only open for pickup on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Hyattsville Life & Times | March 2021

Page 3

NEWS BRIEFS CITY EXPANDS CORONAVIRUS RELIEF EFFORTS As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the City of Hyattsville has expanded relief efforts to address residents’ needs.

The popular weekly first-come, first-served food distribution event at Magruder Park now includes perishables provided by the Department of Agriculture.

The city has also partnered with the Greater DC Diaper Bank to provide diapers to pre-registered families in need. The registration form to receive diapers was open for approximately 48 hours before it closed due to “overwhelming demand,” according to the city’s Facebook page. City Administrator Tracey Douglas noted at the Feb. 16 city council meeting that nearly 400 children were registered during those two days. The sign-up will reopen when more diapers become available.

The new relief efforts aren’t just for individuals, but also for businesses. At the Feb. 16 city council meeting, councilmembers voted to re-appropriate $66,000 from the COVID-19 relief fund to provide grants of $2,000 for “region-

ally and locally owned full service restaurants, distilleries, breweries, and wineries/meaderies” within the city. The $66,000 was originally allocated to Employ Prince George’s, but has not been used for that purpose. At the March 1 meeting, the council voted to expand eligibility for the fund that gives grants to working artists to include the professional trades of barbers, cosmetologists, pet groomers and tattoo artists. This fund provides grants of $750 (for city residents) or $300 (for nonresidents who work in Hyattsville) per quarter. The fund will be available starting April 1.

POLICE DEPARTMENT PROPOSES INCREASING MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT During the Feb. 16 city council meeting, members discussed appropriating $50,000 for a mental wellness check-in program for the city police department. The program would establish and finance mandatory quarterly sessions with a licensed clinical psychologist for all Hyattsville City Police Department (HCPD) officers and

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Hyattsville Life & Times | March 2021

CULTURAL CONNECTIONS

From bucolic Germany to urban Hyattsville

By Julia Gaspar-Bates

B

orn in the small town of Kaiserslautern, Germany, Christine Hopp was raised in a 13th-century restored farmhouse. Her designer parents (her dad is an architect and her mom a fashion designer) raised Hopp and her older brothers in an insular environment and instilled in them a reverence for nature and living off the land. “There was a big garden with lots of fruit trees.

We didn’t have a TV, so a big part of my childhood was reading, watering the garden, canning, baking bread and [making] jam.

You live connected to the earth.

My mother would make kombucha.”

Hopp’s parents were “born into post-war Germany that was seriously destroyed,” Hopp explained. “They are traumatized by that. I think that shaped me. For example, with food scarcity. Even today, when my

mom cooks, she wants to be absolutely sure that there is no waste. There was a lot of [emotional] processing in my childhood. Nazism was so much part of the public conversation, in school, around the dinner table.

My mother would say that she couldn’t talk about nationalism anymore. [My parents] had this strange mix of pseudo hippy but are also very conservative. They are in the age group where they should have had left-wing opinions, but the scarcity they experienced in their childhood made them go a different way.”

Perhaps in spite of the secluded, artistic and vaccine-skeptic family environment in which she was raised, Hopp decided to study molecular biomedicine at a university in Bonn. “I knew I wanted to study parasites. I am the black duckling of my family and the only one who went into science.” Following her studies, she was able to expand her horizons further, travelling to

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tures of villages and towns that [come] from pre-medieval times where villages are built within a wall. Everything comes together in a center, and around that, you have farmland and woods. In the U.S., the land is split up, and there are houses everywhere, with huge lawns and huge strip malls that look like big boxes.

That is my big grief in this country, and it bums me out that you have to drive to national or state parks to get to real nature.”

Hopp “married into Hyattsville” and moved here in 2015 to be with her American husband, who works at NASA and was already living in the neighborhood. She easily adapted to this “wonderful community.” Hopp emphasized, “We’re very lucky to have several friends who live on our street. There are four households that are tight-knit, so we have a very local community.”

As mother of a 9-month old, she has also found support from the Hyattsville Nurturing Moms email group.

Nonetheless, Hopp misses certain aspects of German life, such as the food. She hopes to move back to Europe and is currently seeking research funding that will allow her to, although she does see her multicultural family eventually returning to the U.S.

COURTESY OF CHRISTINE HOPP

Bolivia where she spent several months as a research fellow. “I connected with a lab in an NGO [nongovernmental organization] in rural Bolivia to study people who have Leishmania infections, which shows itself through skin lesions that don’t heal. We would travel through villages and see if people had the disease and needed to be treated. I didn’t study Spanish in school, but before going I bought a book with a CD, and when I arrived in Bolivia, I realized that I was studying Castellano, so I was very unprepared for Bolivian Spanish.”

Upon her return to Germany, Hopp experienced reverse culture shock in reaction to the abundance of food and material wealth, an ironic twist given the frugality of her upbringing. Soon

after, she moved to London to start a doctorate, studying malaria. She describes her life there as fun and liberating. “When you’re young in London, there is so much to do. I could get cheap tickets to the theater, and I would go to a lot of underground arts events and concerts.”

Hopp’s studies eventually brought her to the U.S. in 2012, to conduct research at Johns Hopkins University. Having spent several years in London, she was prepared for the cultural diversity, and she easily integrated into American life without experiencing much culture shock. However, the one aspect of American culture Hopp still struggles with is urban planning. “The way the U.S. is structured makes me so sad.

In Germany, you have struc-

Cultural Connections is dedicated to bringing forth the voices of Hyattsville’s international residents. Interested in sharing your story? Please contact culturalconnections@ hyattsvillelife.com.

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Page 5

NATURE NEARBY

Sparrows can be confusing creatures

By Fred Seitz

I

freely admit I am not a birder, though not for lack of trying. I have gone on numerous bird walks and heard various presentations about local birds. Despite my lack of expertise, I still enjoy watching the little dinosaur descendants come to my backyard feeders to pig out every day. I particularly enjoy the confrontations between one particularly bullying grey squirrel and the various flying contenders for the seed bounty I offer.

My personal feeder favorite is the Carolina chickadee who swoops in for its share, even when the bully squirrel is feeding (some of the larger birds are apparently intimidated by the bushy-tailed rodent). Carolina chickadees have a black cap and neck, punctuated by white cheeks.

Their back, wings and tail are gray. While my favorite chickadee is a frequent visitor, I’ve learned that this seed eater is also fond of insects from trees and logs. Of course, at this time of year, many of those insects have perished.

Even the beautiful northern cardinals (who are considerably larger than my little chickadees) seem intimidated by the raiding rodent. These eye-catching, medium-size birds also consume insects and spiders.

Madam Cardinal may not have the flashy red color of her partner, but with her scarlet highlights, she’s still quite noticeable.

Another visitor, who seems to avoid Brer Squirrel by

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scheduling his almost daily raids at random times, is the red-bellied woodpecker. His black-and-white barred back and bright red cap make him a striking and attention-getting sight. This seed grabber makes most of his living by munching on wood-boring insects.

But amidst this flurry of bullies and birdies are those confusing sparrows I mentioned in the headline.

As I try to identify the little sparrows at my feeders, I frequently refer to Stokes Field Guide to Birds. While the book is helpful, with well-intended “learning pages,” the clues to help identify different sparrow types — eye rings and tail patterns, and more — are often a challenge to see when the little buzz bombers are moving rapidly.

I experienced a small amount of personal success when I accurately identified a white-throated sparrow as a regular visitor to my feeder.

I’m not sure if the little guy or gal is just a glutton, staying awhile to eat its fill, or if it was just trying to help me in my desperate bird-identifying endeavors.

Additionally, while I have frequently seen dark-eyed Juncos both at my feeder and in some nearby trees, I was interested to learn that they

are also considered sparrows.

I heartily hope that you’ll put out several bird feeders of your own, and I also recommend wintery walks at Lake Artemesia for bird watching.

There, the gulls and the mallards are more laid-back than my feeder visitors. However, beware of assertive geese who take issue with anyone who gets too close.

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

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Hyattsville Life & Times | March 2021

THEN & NOW

The first three mayors brought running water, sewers; the fourth wielded a hose

By Stuart Eisenberg

O

ver 29 years I’ve witnessed six Hyattsville mayors in action. I’ve worked up close with four of them. The office of mayor was character defining for some, while for others, it was part of a continuum of public service.

By comparison, from 1900 and 1930, when mayoral terms were just one, then two years, a total of 16 men served in the role.

In examining the past, I’m struck that the town was no less stable for having so many more shoulders bear the leadership burden.

Nor did these mayors accomplish less with shorter times in office.

In fact, a certain decisiveness is reflected in the magnitude and number of their deeds.

Early mayors were also drivers or shapers of the real estate scrum and boom as Hyattsville emerged

as a sought-after streetcar suburban residential destination. They acted as realtors, investors, lenders, speculators, builders, subdivision developers, regional planners and consensus-makers — in addition to their main profession.

What follows are brief biographical sketches of the first four Hyattsville mayors, prepared in the course of research into Hyattsville’s early development.

Notably, the first three were instrumental in building the city’s sanitary sewer and water supply, which required establishing legal and financial mechanisms we take for granted. It also required navigating regional authorities to ensure the community benefited from the growth and development around it.

was a career patent attorney and prominent Republican who got Hyattsville off to a running start by making a new water system a priority. And with independent flair, his wife, Ellen, established “Mrs. M.V. E.E. Tierney’s Subdivision of Block F of Johnson & Wine’s Second Addition,” a 31-house lot subdivision around their home, Ravenswood Mansion, in 1907 — the year after the mayor’s death.

Thus far, though, my favorite mayoral headline comes from a 1901 Washington Evening Star piece that reads, “Thoroughly Thrashed: Mayor Tierney of Hyattsville Gives His Wife’s Insulter a Lesson.” Thus it went, for a rude Washingtonian who gave unwanted attention to Mrs. Tierney while she was aboard a streetcar.

MAJOR MICHAEL VINCENT TIERNEY

DR. CHARLES WELLS

Mayor M.V. Tierney (1900-’02)

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Dr. Charles Wells (1902-‘06) was one of the original town commissioners and a councilmember.

A physician and strong public health proponent, he advocated, in the face of opposition, for the creation of the town’s water and sewer systems, and worked to obtain funding and implement their construction. He was also a home mortgage lender, a house builder, developer and real estate investor. His 1903 plat of the Wells & Wells Subdivision of the Palestine Farm comprised 67 lots spanning the northern end of East Hyattsville and the area that would later become Edmonston.

He went on to serve as our state

senator. There are more than 170 real estate sales recorded by the doctor and his wife, Mary Wells, between 1884 and 1922. These sales included parcels from Bladensburg and across East Hyattsville to Berwyn Park, a number of which Wells sold to Hyattsville during his tenure in office.

DR. JOSEPH R. OWENS Dr. Joseph R. Owens (1906-’08) was a doctor who ministered to Baltimore’s poor and indigent at the start of his medical career.

He was an early Hyattsville commissioner, and a councilmember as well. He served as treasurer of the Maryland Agricultural College, and was the third mayor to staunchly advocate for establishing the town’s sewer systems. Owens, like Wells, also served as a director of the First National Bank and of the Hyattsville Building Association.

JOHN J. FAINTER John J. Fainter, (1908-’09), like our current acting mayor, Kevin Ward, became so because of his position as council president. He acted as mayor during a long illness of Mayor Owens.

Fainter continued upon Owens’ death at the end of his difficult battle with “an affliction of the spine.” Fainter, a plate printer for the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing, served as councilmember nearly continuously for 14 years, starting in 1902.

He was also contemporane-

ously appointed as Hyattsville’s fire chief in 1904, served until 1916, and then again in 1921. He later formed and led the Prince George’s County’s Fireman’s Association.

But Fainter lost his bid to become mayor to William P. Magruder, in 1909, in what was deemed a most bitter division between the camps of the candidates’ supporters. Fainter had no ties to early Hyattsville real estate development, but certainly had a most interesting career when, after his councilmanic service, he was hired as town inspector in 1916. In addition, he was a census taker in 1920 and was appointed the town’s chief bailiff that same year. The governor appointed him justice of the peace in 1921, and he was re-appointed annually thereafter for 26 years, also regularly serving as a coroner.

The work of these early mayors and their council colleagues left Hyattsville with a good reputation in the region and a growing claim to fame, as they built their hometown into an influential commercial hub within Prince George’s County. New controversies awaited the next wave of leadership, but Hyattsville was by then well positioned to take them on.

Then & Now is the Hyattsville Life & Times column focused on city history.

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Hyattsville Life & Times | March 2021

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dispatchers.

According to council documents, the program “is designed to remove the stigma of choosing to see a therapist and guarantees HCPD personnel receive mental health support for free.” Sponsoring councilmember Daniel Peabody (Ward 4) said, “Our community deserves law enforcement first responders that are able to bring their clearest, healthiest [selves] to work, and our officers and dispatchers deserve our investment in their mental wellness, as they do the intense work of providing safety to our community.”

The check-in program is one component of the proposed HCPD Mental Health and Wellness Program, developed by the department’s media relations/ mental health programs manager, Adrienne Augustus. During a March 1 presentation to the city council, Augustus described the broader program, which would include an array of required and optional training opportunities for officers and dispatchers on topics like mental health first aid, autism awareness, suicide prevention and Crisis Intervention Team training. Twice-weekly meditation and wellness sessions are also in the proposed program.

At this time, the request for $50,000 for the check-in program is the main expenditure requiring council approval. However, the overarching program will have additional costs that will be presented to the council later this month. Augustus said that several local nonprofit organizations and the Anne Arundel County Police Department would provide many of the trainings for free. The department is also investigating county and state funds, and federal and private grants, as potential

Page 7

sources of support.

“I am hoping that we can create a robust and meaningful mental health and wellness program for the department … that would ultimately create a blueprint for what other local jurisdictions can do,” said Augustus. At the Feb. 16 meeting, councilmembers agreed to incorporate the check-in program proposal into the budget, which will be presented at the March 24 budget meeting and voted on in May.

CITY COUNCIL VOTES IN SUPPORT OF NEW CHILD CARE CENTER At the Feb. 16 city council meeting, members voted to send a letter to the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission in support of a detailed site plan for a proposed family child care center in Hyattsville. St. Joseph’s House is a nonprofit organization serving children and teens with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Joe LaHood noted in a letter to the mayor that St. Joseph’s House would be the first child care center in Prince George’s County to specifically serve children with special needs.

Natalie and Joe LaHood, who run St. Joseph’s House, hope to move the program from Joe LaHood’s parents’ home in Silver Spring to their own home, on the corner of Oliver Street and 40th Avenue.

The LaHoods are proposing a oneroom addition to their home. Because the addition would be for a

child care center, they are required to obtain a special permit and submit a detailed site plan.

St. Joseph’s House provides after-

school care, as well as a summer program. As a family child care center, it could have a maximum enrollment of eight children.

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Hyattsville Life & Times | March 2021

the

Hyattsville Reporter Notices and Updates

No. 396 • March 9, 2021

www.hyattsville.org • 301-985-5000 Ward 3 Check-In: Join Council VicePresident and Ward 3 Councilmember Carrianna Suiter and Councilmember Ben Simasek for a check-in on Wednesday, March 31, at 6 p.m. Residents from all Wards can attend as the Councilmembers answer questions and provide updates on recent development projects, pedestrian and street safety, and policing. To register, visit hyattsville.org/calendar.

City Election: The City will host a voteby-mail election this May to elect a new Mayor and Councilmembers to represent Hyattsville’s five Wards! To ensure a ballot is automatically mailed to the correct address in early April, residents are encouraged to verify their voter registration status at hyattsville.org/vote. Ballots can be returned by mail or at secure drop boxes located at the City Building and at Heurich Park. Same-day voter registration and inperson voting will be available on Election Day, May 11, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m., at the City Building.

Age-Friendly Programs

Home Modification Program: The CAPABLE program, a partnership with Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland and Hyattsville Aging in Place, has a few remaining slots to offer free home modification services to eligible residents. Services offered under this program include structural modifications to make homes more age-friendly as well as therapy for functional limitations, fall prevention, and recovery. To learn about requirements, visit hyattsville.org/capable. To request a mailed application, call (301) 990-0014 ext: 19 or email repair@habitatmm.org. For assistance completing the application or to volunteer, call (301) 887-3101 or email HAPCares@gmail.com.

Last Call to Run for Office!: Be the change you wish to see in Hyattsville! Residents have until 5 p.m. on Friday, March 12 to file for candidacy for Mayor or their Ward’s open Council seat! A detailed candidate guide and the required forms are available at hyattsville.org/candidates.

COVID-19 Vaccine: Everyone eligible in Phase 1 of the County’s vaccine plan is encouraged to complete a pre-registration form at mypgc.us/COVIDVaccine to be notified of appointment availability at a County-operated vaccine site. Residents experiencing difficulty completing the County’s online form can call 311 and select the # button for assistance. You can also text MDREADY to 898-211 to learn when appointments become available at the State-operated vaccine site located at Six Flags America.

Eligible groups for the vaccine currently include adults 65+, as well as healthcare, public safety, education, childcare, essential, and critical government employees.

All County residents and employees in those categories are eligible regardless of insurance coverage or immigration status.

For the latest vaccine updates, visit mypgc. us/COVIDVaccine.

Programs, Services, and Events

Hyattsville COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Site: A new COVID-19 vaccination site located inside the First United Methodist Church of Hyattsville will be available through the Prince George’s County vaccine scheduling tool this March.

Vaccines are currently being scheduled for County residents in Group 1 of the County’s vaccine distribution plan. You must have an appointment to receive a vaccine at this site; walk-ups are not accepted.

You can pre-register for an appointment at mypgc.us/COVIDVaccine.

The City continues to offer free nonappointment COVID-19 testing at First United Methodist Church, 6201 Belcrest Road. The site administers walk-up and drive-thru tests on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., or until the site reaches capacity. For testing site questions, call (301) 985-5000.

Vaccinations and testing at this site are being operated through a partnership between the City, Luminis Health, the County Health Department, and the First United Methodist Church of Hyattsville.

Women’s History Month: Learn about women’s vital role in American History through a variety of virtual programs happening all month long. Visit hyattsville. org/womens-history-month for details.

Budget Work Sessions: City budget season is here! Residents are invited to the March 24 Council meeting when the Fiscal Year 2022 budget is introduced. Council is

Youth Services Hyattsville Police Department colleagues Dino (left) from the K-9 unit and Nola (right) from the Community Action Team hanging out after their PAW-trol shifts. Los colegas del Departamento de Policía de Hyattsville Dino (izquierda) de la unidad K-9 y Nola (derecha) del Equipo de Acción Comunitaria pasan el rato después de sus turnos de patrulla. scheduled to vote on the budget on May 17.

The 7 p.m. meetings can be viewed at hyattsville.org/meetings.

May 31. The renewal portal opens 30 days before permits expire for each group. Questions? Call (301) 985-5027.

Free ESL Classes: Prince George’s Community College is offering free online English as a Second (ESL) classes this Spring semester! Non-native English speakers can sign up for courses for job preparedness, career exploration, and certificate programs. Morning classes start March 23 and evening classes on April 13. To learn more, visit pgcc.edu/go/adulteducationesl, call (301) 546-8350, or email boggsrx@pgcc. edu.

COVID-19 Restaurant Relief Fund: The City is now accepting applications for the COVID-19 Restaurant Relief Fund from regional, locally owned full-service restaurants, distilleries, breweries, wineries, and meaderies in the incorporated City of Hyattsville. National chain franchises and corporate-owned restaurants are not eligible. Qualifying businesses can apply for grants of $2,000 for rent, utilities, PPE equipment, and other COVID-19 related costs. Applications will be accepted until April 30, 2021, or until funds are depleted.

To download the application, visit hyattsville.org/restaurants.

Join a Hyattsville Committee: Not ready to run for office but still want to make a change in your community? Join one of the City’s 13 volunteer led advisory boards or committees! Members help Council create policies, procedures, and programs to improve the quality of life for City residents. To apply, visit hyattsville. org/committees Electronics and Paint Recycling Day: Spring clean your storage! You can drop off old electronics free of charge at the Department of Public Works Headquarters at 4633 Arundel Place on Saturday, April 10, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Representatives from Yuck Old Paint will also accept wet paint for recycling, in its original container, for $5 per container (cash, check, or charge).

Resident Parking Program Permits: It’s time to renew your parking permits Hyattsville! Group 1 permits (Zones 3, 4, and 12) are set to expire on March 31, 2021. If you haven’t already, visit hyattsville.org/res-permits to complete the renewal process. Next up will be Group 2 (Zones 2, 6, 9A, and 13), which expire on April 30. Group 3 (Zones 1, 8, 10, and 11) and Group 4 (9B) are both set to expire on

Happy Birthday, Hyattsville!: The City is turning 135 years young in April, and though the City’s traditional anniversary celebrations are on hold, it doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate! Follow the City on social media all month as we count down to the big day. We also want to see your Hyattsville history! Send photos and descriptions to pio@hyattsville.org of your favorite City landmarks or moments - past and present - to be featured on a slideshow at hyattsville.org/history.

We’re Hiring: The City is seeking to hire a police chief, a crime scene investigator, and an experienced/lateral police officer.

For job details and to apply, visit hyattsville.org/jobs.

Community Meetings

Jefferson Street Community Meeting: The City is hosting a community e-meeting on Thursday, March 25, at 7 p.m. to update residents on the Jefferson Street traffic calming evaluation. Residents can pre-register at hyattsville.org/calendar.

Create a RecDesk Account: Parents and guardians, did you know a Hyattsville Recdesk account allows you access to City youth programs like Creative Minds, camps, and much more? Many programs are on a first-come, first-serve basis and fill up fast! Visit hyattsville.recdesk.com to create a free account or double-check your family is listed accurately.

Teen E-Center: The City’s Teen Center offers various programs for Hyattsville teens and tweens – check out their March schedule below! Visit hyattsville.org/teencenter for details and instructions on how to apply for a free membership.

• Tutoring and Help with Homework: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 6:30 – 8 p.m.

• Boys & Girls Club: Monday, March 22, 5 p.m.

• Teen Night: Friday, March 19, 5 p.m.

Spring Hybrid Camp: Registration for Spring Camp is open! While schools are on break from Monday, March 29 to Friday, April 2, kids in grades K-5 can enjoy a mix of active activities and crafts, DIY projects, a virtual field trip to the Maryland Science Center, and an in-person field day! Camp is $20 per camper and includes a takehome supply kit. Register at hyattsville. recdesk.com.

Summer Camp: In-person summer camp is coming soon! Registration and camp dates will be announced in late March. Please note that in-person programming is subject to change based on County COVID-19 safety guidelines. Stay tuned for details.

Art & Writing Contest: The City invites Hyattsville middle and high school students to enter the Heritage Tree Student Contest! Students have until April 30 to write an essay or share a creative response (like a painting, drawing, or digital illustration) to the following question: “If trees could talk, what would your tree say about events during its lifetime?” A winning essay and art submission will each receive a $150 prize! For full details visit hyattsville. org/trees.

Hyattsville Life & Times | March 2021

Page HR2

el

Reportero de

Hyattsville

No. 396 • 9 de Marzo, 2021

Avisos y Noticias

Elección Municipal: ¡La Ciudad sostendrá una elección de forma de voto por correo este mayo para elegir un nuevo Alcalde y Concejales para representar los cinco Distritos de Hyattsville! Para asegurar que una boleta sea enviada automáticamente a la dirección correcta en abril, se les alienta a residentes a verificar su información de votador en hyattsville.org/vote. Las boletas pueden ser retornadas por correo o dejados en una de las cajas seguras ubicadas por el Edificio Municipal y Heurich Park. Las opciones de registración de mismo día y votar en persona estarán disponibles el Día de Elección, 11 de mayo, de 7 a.m. a 8 p.m., en el Edificio Municipal. ¡Ultima Llamada para Presentar su Candidatura!: ¡Sea el cambio que quiere ver en Hyattsville! Residentes tienen hasta las 5 p.m. el viernes, 12 de marzo para presentar su candidatura para Alcalde o puesto de Concejal de su Distrito. Un guía para candidatos y los formularios necesarios para registrarse están disponibles en hyattsville.org/candidates.

Vacuna de COVID-19: Todos elegibles en Fase 1 del plan de vacunas del Condado son alentados a que completen un formulario de preregistración en mypgc. us/COVIDVaccine para ser notificados sobre citas disponibles en sitios de vacunación operados por el Condado. Residentes teniendo dificultades completando el formulario en línea pueden llamar al 311 y marcar el #. También pueden enviar MDREADY a 898-211 para ser notificados de citas disponibles en Six Flags, el sitio de vacunación del Estado.

Grupos elegibles actualmente para recibir la vacuna incluyen a adultos 65+ y trabajadores de salud, seguridad publica, cuidado de niños, esenciales y gobierno. Todos los empleados y residentes del Condado en esas categorías son elegibles para la vacuna, sin importar su estatus migratorio o seguro medico. Para la información más reciente, visite mypgc.us/vaccine.

Programas, Servicios y Eventos

Sitio de Vacunas y Pruebas COVID-19 de Hyattsville: Un nuevo sitio de vacunación COVID-19 ubicado dentro de la Primera Iglesia Metodista Unida de Hyattsville estará disponible a través de la herramienta en línea del Condado de Prince George’s este marzo. Las vacunas están siendo programadas para los residentes del Condado en el Grupo 1 del plan de distribución de vacunas del Condado.

Debe tener una cita para recibir una vacuna en este sitio; no se aceptan personas sin cita. Usted puede pre-inscribirse para una cita en mypgc.us/COVIDVaccine.

La Ciudad continúa ofreciendo pruebas COVID-19 sin cita en la Primera Iglesia Metodista Unida, 6201 Belcrest Road. El sitio administra pruebas a personas en pie y a conductores los lunes, jueves y sábados, de 9 a.m. a 3 p.m. o hasta que el sitio alcance su capacidad. Para preguntas sobre el sitio de prueba, llame al (301) 985- 5000.

El sitio de vacunas y pruebas COVID-19 está siendo operado a través de una asociación entre la Ciudad, Luminis Health, el Departamento de Salud del Condado de Prince George’s y la Primera Iglesia Metodista Unida de Hyattsville.

Mes de la Historia de la Mujer: Aprenda sobre el papel vital de las mujeres en la historia de Estados Unidos a través de una variedad de programas virtuales que ocur-

www.hyattsville.org • 301-985-5000

ren durante todo el mes. Visite hyattsville. org/womens-history-month para obtener más información.

ciación con Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland y Hyattsville Aging in Place, tiene algunos espacios libres para ofrecer servicios gratuitos de modificación de hogares a residentes elegibles. Servicios ofrecidos bajo este programa incluyen modificaciones estructurales para hacer que los hogares sean más amigables con la edad, así como terapia para limitaciones funcionales, prevención de caídas y recuperación.

Para los requisitos, visite hyattsville.org/ capable. Para solicitar una solicitud por correo, llame al (301) 990-0014 ext: 19 o envíe un correo electrónico a repair@habitatmm.org. Para recibir ayuda con la solicitud o para ser voluntario, llame al (301) 887-3101 o envíe un correo electrónico a HAPCares@gmail.com.

Sesiones de Trabajo del Presupuesto: ¡La temporada económica de la Ciudad llego! Los residentes son invitados a la sesión del Concejo de marzo de 24 cuando se introduce el presupuesto del año fiscal 2022. El Concejo después votara sobre el presupuesto el 17 de mayo. Las sesiones de 7 p.m. pueden verse en hyattsville.org/ meetings.

Clases de ESL Gratuitas: ¡El Colegio Comunitario de Prince George’s esta ofreciendo clases gratuitas de Inglés como segundo lenguaje (ESL) en línea esta primavera!

Los hablantes no nativos de inglés pueden inscribirse en cursos de preparación para el trabajo, exploración de carreras y programas de certificación. Las clases de la mañana comienzan el 23 de marzo y las clases nocturnas el 13 de abril. Para más información, visite pgcc.edu/go/adulteducationesl, llame al (301) 546-8350, o envíe un correo electrónico a boggsrx@pgcc.edu. Únase a un Comité de Hyattsville: ¿No está listo para trabajar en el cargo, pero quiere hacer cambios en su comunidad? ¡Únase a una de las 13 juntas o comités asesores dirigidos por voluntarios de la Ciudad! Los miembros ayudan al Concejo a crear pólizas, procedimientos y programas para mejorar la calidad de vida de los residentes de la Ciudad. Para solicitar, visite hyattsville.org/committees.

Día de Reciclaje Electrónicos y Pintura: ¿Ya limpio su garaje? Sin cargo, puede dejar sus viejos electrónicos en la sede del Departamento de Obras Públicas en 4633 Arundel Place el sábado, 10 de abril, de 9 a.m. a 1 p.m. Los representantes de Yuck Old Paint también aceptarán pintura para el reciclaje, en su envase original, por $5 por contenedor (efectivo, cheque o cargo).

Permisos del Programa Residencial de Parqueo: ¡Es hora de renovar sus permisos de parqueo Hyattsville! Los permisos del Grupo 1 (zonas 3, 4 y 12) expirarán el 31 de marzo de 2021. Si aún no lo ha hecho, visite hyattsville.org/res-permits para completar el proceso de renovación.

El siguiente será el Grupo 2 (zonas 2, 6, 9A y 13), que expira el 30 de abril. El grupo 3 (zonas 1, 8, 10 y 11) y el grupo 4 (9B) están configurados para expirar el 31 de mayo.

El portal de renovación abre 30 días antes de que se expiren los permisos para cada grupo. ¿Preguntas? Llame al (301) 9855027.

Fondo de Alivio COVID-19 para Restaurantes: La Ciudad ahora está aceptando solicitudes para el Fondo de Alivio COVID-19 para Restaurantes de restaurantes locales de servicio completo, destilerías, cervecerías y bodegas/megaterías en Hyattsville. Franquicias nacionales o restaurantes de dueños corporativos no son elegibles. Negocios que califiquen pueden solicitar subvenciones de $2,000 para alquiler, servicios públicos, suministros seguridad y otros costos relacionados con COVID-19. Las solicitudes serán aceptadas hasta el 30 de abril de 2021, o hasta que se terminen los fondos. Para bajar la aplicación, visite a hyattsville.org/restaurants.

Feliz Cumpleaños, ¡Hyattsville!: La Ciudad se está volviendo joven 135 años en abril, y aunque las tradicionales celebraciones del aniversario de la Ciudad están

Servicios para Menores

Cree una Cuenta Recdesk: Padres y familias ¿sabían que una cuenta de Hyattsville Recdesk les permite acceso a los programas para jóvenes de la ciudad como Creative Minds, campamentos y mucho más? ¡Muchos programas son por orden de llegada y se llenan rápido! Visite hyattsville.recdesk.com para crear una cuenta gratuita o doble chequear su cuenta para asegurar que este actualizada.

The secure drop boxes for the Hyattsville’s upcoming vote-by-mail election are getting ready to be installed at the City Building and Heurich Park! Visit hyattsville.org/vote for key dates and information. ¡Las cajas seguras para las próximas elecciones voto por correo de Hyattsville se están preparando para ser instaladas en el Edificio Municipal y Heurich Park! Visite hyattsville.org/vote para obtener fechas clave e información. en espera, no significa que no podamos celebrar. Siga a la Ciudad en las redes sociales todo el mes mientras contamos hasta el gran día. ¡También queremos ver su historia de Hyattsville! Envíe fotos y descripciones a pio@hyattsville.org de sus lugares o momentos favoritos de la Ciudad - pasado y presente - para que se presenten en una presentación en hyattsville.org/history.

Estamos Contratando: La Ciudad esta buscando contratar a un jefe de policía, un investigador de escenas de crimen y a un experimentado oficial de policía lateral.

Para solicitar, visite hyattsville.org/jobs.

Reuniones Comunitarias

Reunión Comunitaria de Jefferson Street: La Ciudad sostendrá una reunión comunitaria el jueves, 25 de marzo, a las 7 p.m. para actualizar a residentes sobre la evaluación de calma de trafico de Jefferson Street. Residentes pueden pre-registrarse en hyattsville.org/calendar.

Reunión del Distrito 3: Acompañe a la Vicepresidenta y Concejal del Distrito 3 Carrianna Suiter y al Concejal Ben Simasek para una reunión el miércoles. 31 de marzo, a las 6 p.m. Residentes de todos los Distritos pueden atender mientras los Concejales responden a preguntas y proveen actualizaciones sobre los proyectos de desarrollo recientes, la seguridad de calles y peatones y policiales. Para registrarse, visite hyattsville.org/calendar.

Programas Amigables con la Edad

Programa de Modificación para Hogares: El programa CAPABLE, una aso-

E-Centro de Jóvenes: El Centro de Jóvenes de la Ciudad ofrece varios programas divertidos y educativos para adolescentes y pre-adolescentes de Hyattsville – ¡vea su programación para marzo debajo!

Visite a hyattsville.org/teen-center para detalles y para instrucciones sobre como solicitar una membresía gratuita.

• Tutoría y Ayuda con la Tarea: los martes, miércoles y jueves, de 6:30 p.m. a 8 p.m.

• Club de Chicas y Chicos: el lunes, 22 de marzo, a las 5 p.m.

• Noche de Jóvenes: el viernes, 19 de marzo, a las 5 p.m.

Campamento Primaveral Hibrido: ¡La inscripción para el Campamento de Primavera ya está abierta! Mientras las escuelas están de descanso del lunes, 29 de marzo al viernes, 2 de abril, menores en los grados K-5 pueden disfrutar de una mezcla de actividades activas y artesanías, proyectos de hacer en casa, ¡un viaje virtual al Centro de Ciencias de Maryland y un día de campo en persona! El campamento es de $20 por campista e incluye un equipo de suministros para llevar a casa. Registre a su menor en hyattsville.recdesk.com.

Campamento de Verano: ¡El campamento de verano en persona se avecina próximamente! Las fechas y los enlaces de registración se anunciarán en los últimos de marzo. Por favor note que la programación en persona puede cambiar ya según las directrices de seguridad COVID-19 del Condado. Manténgase atento para obtener más información Concurso de Arte e Ensayo: ¡La Ciudad invita a estudiantes de las escuelas intermedias y secundarias de Hyattsville a participar en el Concurso de la Campaña del árbol del Patrimonio! Estudiantes tienen hasta el 30 de abril escribir un ensayo o compartir una respuesta creativa (como 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 $150! Detalles completos en hyattsville.org/trees.

Page 8

Hyattsville Life & Times | March 2021

Hit-and-run on Queensbury sends pedestrian to hospital

By Heather Wright On Feb. 16 at approximately 5:12 p.m., a black Nissan Maxima struck a 51-yearold woman in a crosswalk at Queensbury Road and 39th Place, according to city police. The driver fled the scene in his vehicle before officers arrived. The pedestrian went to the hospital.

In the week following the accident, about two dozen residents discussed the incident and pedestrian safety along Queensbury Road in the HOPE (Hyattsville Organization for a Positive Environment) email group.

Ioana Gorecki, who noted that she lives on 42nd Avenue, off of Queensbury, wrote, “I can hardly keep track of the number of times I’ve almost gotten hit at the intersection between Queensbury and 42nd or Queensbury and 40th. A couple of times, I was even pushing my son in the stroller, and drivers seemed to have no issue rushing across the street right in front of me, in the crosswalk.”

Residents suggested speed bumps, rumble strips or white bollards to slow traffic. Some argued for removing double yellow lines and allowing more street parking. Others called for stop sign cameras or increased police

“If you have a road that drivers generally feel comfortable speeding on, then they will speed.

The best way to get drivers to slow down to safe speeds is to design roads to that desired speed, rather than try to enforce a lower speed than what feels comfortable to the driver.”

Danny Schaible, Ward 2 councilmember

patrols to enforce existing traffic laws.

Residents have been formally petitioning for speed bumps on the 3900 block of Oliver Street, which is around the block from where the hit-and-run incident took place, since October 2020. At a March 1 city hearing, about 10 residents spoke up in favor of adding speed bumps there.

On neighboring Queensbury, a major traffic artery that connects the fire station with north-south streets, mitiga-

tion strategies like speed bumps could increase response times for firetrucks and other first-response vehicles.

Resident and HOPE member Nina Faye emailed, “We are definitely on the side of fast response times. If your house is on fire or you are having a heart attack, all else is nonsense.”

However, another resident posted a link to a blog post by the urban planning nonprofit Strong Towns, with a

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photo of a crash and the caption “Our wide streets allow us to quickly respond to collisions caused by our wide streets.” The blog post cited studies indicating that there are significantly more traffic fatalities and injuries than fire-related fatalities and injuries.

Several councilmembers responded to the incident itself and to residents’ broader concerns.

“This is frightening and terrible,” Bart Lawrence (Ward 1) wrote to the email group. “Sadly, people seem to be disregarding stop signs, speed limits, and other traffic laws all across the City (and I’m sure beyond).”

Councilmember Danny Schaible (Ward 2) cited a 2018 city transportation study recommending trafficcalming measures along Queensbury.

“My opinion is that if you have a road that drivers generally feel comfortable speeding on, then they will speed,” he said. “The best way to get drivers to slow down to safe speeds is to design roads to that desired speed, rather than try to enforce a lower speed than what feels comfortable to the driver.”

On Feb. 22, city police officers arrested a 43-year-old Mount Rainier resident, charging him with assault and state traffic violations related to the incident, including failure to use headlights, according to a police press release and court records.

As of press time, the pedestrian continues to recover from injuries sustained during the accident.

Hyattsville Life & Times | March 2021

Page 9

SCHOOL FROM PAGE 1

cial education students into the schools. Then on April 15, students in grades 7-11 will return.

Special education students will receive four days of in-person instruction a week, and all other students will receive two days of in-person instruction.

Goldson noted that schoolbased staff, including teachers and paraeducators, can teach virtually from their classrooms on March 3. By March 17, all school-based staff must return to their classrooms.

In January, PGCPS announced that all staff, regardless of county residency, would be eligible for free vaccinations at either the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex in Landover or the Kaiser Permanente Lanham Rehabilitation Center in Lanham.

Gabrielle Brown, media relations director for PGCPS, said that about 9,000 staff have expressed interest in receiving the vaccine. As of press time, information about how many PGCPS staff have been vaccinated was not available.

“We are working with our partners to gather data on vaccination appointments on a rolling basis,” said Brown. “But we recognize that some of our employees will receive their vaccinations through their own means, meaning they did not

QUIÉN PUEDE VOTAR? Residentes de la Ciudad de Hyattsville que: Tienen al menos 16 años Han vivido en la Ciudad al menos 30 días No reclaman el derecho a votar en ningún otro lugar de los U.S. No es necesario ser ciudadano para votar en en las elecciones municipales.

County schools, including Hyattsville Middle School, will start welcoming students for in-person learning starting in April. JULIA NIKHINSON

sign up using a PGCPS-provided appointment link.”

Caitlin Cooper, a reading intervention specialist at Hyattsville Middle School, was one of the 9,000 staff members who expressed interest in receiving a vaccine. Cooper was selected by the lottery that PGCPS used to schedule appointments. Cooper said that, in addition to concerns about her asthma, the well-being of her students was at the fore-

front of her mind when she decided to sign up for the vaccine.

“Most of my students come from multi-generational households,” Cooper said. “If they bring COVID home, that could really devastate them. So even if they don’t get sick … they could get their grandparents sick.”

Another reason Cooper believed that being vaccinated was imperative has to do with the nature of her job. Reading

Haga escuchar su voz: ¡seleccione un Alcalde y Miembros del Concejo de cada uno de los cinco distritos de Hyattsville esta primavera!

Las elecciones de la Ciudad de Hyattsville del 2021 serán ante todo votación por correo. Registrase para votar antes del 19 de marzo de 2021 para recibir una boleta por correo a comienzos de abril.

Devuelva su boleta por correo o en cajas seguras localizada en el edificio de la ciudad y en Heurich Park. Regístrese o verifique su estado de registro de votante en www.hyattsville.org/vote.

¿Se perdió la fecha límite de registro de votantes?

Inscripción el mismo día y votación en persona estarán disponibles el Día de Elección, 11 de mayo de 2021, en el Edificio Municipal, 4310 Gallatin Street, Hyattsville, MD. !Escanee para registrarse!

¿POR QUÉ DEBO VOTAR?

Miembros de Concejo hacen decisiones que afectan como vivimos, trabajamos, y jugamos en Hyattsville. Miembros de Concejo establecen leyes, adoptan el presupuesto, nombran oficiales de la Ciudad y mas. ¡Seleccione los candidatos que compartan su visión del futuro de Hyattsville!

intervention specialists give small-group instruction to students who need extra reading support. Since PGCPS has prioritized the return of special education students, many of Cooper’s students will return to the classroom first.

And while Cooper believes that the list of priority students should also include English language learners who make up 40% of her class roster, she un-

derstands the limitations that PGCPS was working with when deciding who receives more inperson instruction first.

“It will be hard enough to maintain social distancing, as is. My classroom can fit eight students with 6 feet of distance.

If all [of my] students were to select in-person learning, the maximum class size would be 10,” said Cooper.

While PGCPS was trying to figure out how to get students safely back into the classrooms, Cooper and her staff team were working hard to minimize students’ loss of instruction brought on by virtual learning.

Of her 90 students, she said that 70% of them have either maintained or grown their reading skills during the pandemic.

“Learning loss is tied to the discussion of opening schools, and I wanted to make clear my co-workers and I work very hard to mitigate this, and it is paying off,” said Cooper. “Hyattsville Middle students are still getting an education.”

PGCPS was one of the last school systems in Maryland to release a reopening plan. According to Maryland.gov, the county lags behind the rest of the state when it comes to vaccinating the community, with just under 9% of county residents having received a COVID-19 vaccination, as of March 4.

Page 10

Hyattsville Life & Times | March 2021

MISS FLORIBUNDA

Crouching crawlers, hidden hand tools Dear Miss Floribunda, During the recent snow days, I went outside to make sure my shrubs weren’t damaged, and I noticed some little white ovalshaped things on the bark of my spindle tree, which has beautiful berries way into winter. There were no berries, and the growths appeared just before nodules on the twigs. I don’t know what the stuff is, but the last time I saw it was on my beloved winterberry tree, which died within two years.

The same thing happened to my bittersweet. I’m still beyond upset about that, and am scared of losing the replacements I’ve planted. So what is going on, and what can I do about it? Is there anything else I should be doing now to help my garden?

Berry Bereft on Farragut Street Dear Berry Bereft, It sounds as if your little tree has euonymus scale, and the spindle tree (whose Latin name is euonymus), is susceptible to it. Scale is an insect that wears a sort of armor, and in this case, it’s non-native and very hard to control once it gets started.

You noticed the male, who wears that white carapace, but probably overlooked the brown female. Her eggs will hatch in May, and the resulting crawlers will start sucking the sap out of your precious tree. While I do know how to control scale in houseplants — rubbing alcohol applied with a cotton swab is effective, as is neem oil — I haven’t encountered it in my own garden just yet. Your report makes me worry.

Recognizing an emergency, I called Dr. Honeywell, who is my consultant on all things related to plants favored by birds, bees and other beneficial insects. She tells me that if there is a real infestation, you really need to whack away most of it — if not so serious, just the affected areas. Don’t compost your clippings, but dispose of them in garbage bags. Dr. Honeywell told me that March is an excellent time to check all your shrubs and clip off broken branches and any areas that look as if they might have scale. Other plants that are susceptible to this plague are pachysandra, dogwood, lilacs, camellias, maples, and ash and willow trees. Before any of your deciduous plants leaf out, spray them with a light horticultural oil. Before spraying, be sure that the temperature has been above freezing for at least 24 hours. If you have evergreens with

the blight, you must wait till the temperature has been above 40 F for an entire day. To be on the safe side, you can spray again in autumn, after it gets cool, but before freezing temperatures arrive.

Yes, there are a number of chores you can do in the garden as we transition from winter to spring. Of course, you want to check for disease on all your shrubs, but it’s also important to search for volunteer seedling trees. If they are still small enough, pull them out. If they’ve grown more than a few inches tall, you’ll need to dig them out with a spade. If you find one that defies your spade, cut its roots about six inches below ground.

March is a good time to wake up your roses by pruning off dead wood and adding urea or another high-nitrogen nutrient to the soil. This will cause them to make green growth but won’t encourage bloom that might be blasted by a brief return to below-freezing temperatures.

When your bulbs begin to show green shoots above ground, take pictures or make sketches and write notes about

Scale is an insect that wears a sort of armor and can be hard to control once it gets established. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

where they are located. This will help you find an empty spot next fall where you can plant more bulbs.

Late March is a good time to separate and move perennials such as daylilies, hostas and ornamental grasses.

Wendy Wildflower cuts back tall grasses before they leaf, halves the height of her salvias and cuts back the leaves of her epimedium.

Aunt Sioux, who for the benefit of birds and beneficial insects doesn’t cut away seeding flower

heads or hollow stems in winter, will deadhead old growth as new growth peeks up.

It is not too early to turn your compost. You might even start spreading it. Think about putting down mulch too.

Giorgic Vegeberghe recommends placing protective netting around any saplings planted in the last two or three years because a horde of 17-year cicadas is expected this coming May. Older trees will survive the onslaught easily, but young fruit trees are especially vulnerable.

Some people think March is a good time to organize tools, sterilizing them in bleach and sharpening them. You can also gather up all your pots and tidy up your yard. I always find a lot of surprises when I do — lost eyeglasses, gloves and earrings, as well as missing trowels, pruners, weeders, wrotters and soil knives.

I hope the pandemic will soon be under control and the Hyattsville Horticultural Society can resume meetings. Please check our website, hyattsvillehorticulture.org, periodically for updates.

Miss Floribunda is the Hyattsville Life & Times garden columnist.

You may email questions to floribundav@gmail.com.

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Hyattsville Life & Times | March 2021

Page 11

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

B

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 March 2.

While spring and vaccines are on the way, most events are still online. Pull up a computer chair and interact with your neighbors virtually for just a little while longer through these varied events and activities.

Ongoing

An online art exhibition, “David C. Driskell’s Students,” features works by former students of David C. Driskell, professor emeritus of art at the University of Maryland, College Park, who died in April 2020.

The exhibit contains works from over 30 artists. driskellcenter. umd.edu/david-c-driskellsstudents

February 26 - April 4

An art exhibition at Pyramid Atlantic entitled “Relief” includes relief print works by artists including Daniella Napolitano and Heather O’Hara, and features light subject matter including bunny families and a mythical monster in tightywhities. Online at pyramidatlantic-artcenter.org, or in person Wednesday and Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday noon to 5 p.m. 4318 Gallatin St. 301.608.9101

March 13

A virtual gallery tour and artist talk explores the ongoing exhibition at the Brentwood Arts Exchange, “Every Day: Finding Meaning in the Ordinary,” which focuses on the unnoticed, overlooked and forgotten aspects of life. Free. 2 p.m. To join this Facebook Watch Party, go to facebook.com/artsgateway.

March 17 & 24

A new virtual story and activity program called “HiSTORY Time” offers a peek into the past for ages 2 to 6 and their caregivers. Sponsored by the Riversdale House Museum. $6 for county residents. 11-11:30 a.m. Register

by March 11 at tinyurl.com/hiSTORYTime21. For more information, email nichole.tramel@ pgparks.com.

March 19

“The Gift,” part of Joe’s Movement Emporium’s nextLook series, imagines doctors embarking on a clinical trial of

white supremacy and interacting with the audience, who are cast as trial subjects. Pay-what-youwish. 7 p.m. Livestreamed at joesmovement.org. 301.699.1819

Jerome Catholic Church, 5205 43rd Ave. 301.699.9909 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. HAP delivers groceries and supplies and provides friendly check-in calls, information and referrals. HAP serves Hyattsville residents over 60 who need assistance, and welcomes volunteers of any age.

301.887.3101. hyattsvilleaginginplace.org/get-involved

March 24

Join Dr. Dennis Pogue, interim director of the University of Maryland Historic Preservation Program, for “Documenting the Architecture of Early Chesapeake Agriculture,” a virtual talk on the humble, yet iconic, agricultural structures of the Tidewater region. Discover how these granaries, stables, dairies and barns are standing the test of time and how faculty and students in the university’s graduate program in historic preservation are working to document and preserve these important buildings. 6:30-7:30 pm. Free. Registration is required

by March 22 at tinyurl.com/ AgArchLecture.

March 24

Jay Feldman of Beyond Pesticides will discuss how “greening” your lawn can contribute to stormwater pollution. This virtual soil fertility workshop will help you understand how to manage and beautify lawns and gardens without toxic chemicals.

Free. 7 p.m. Preregister at zoom. us/webinar/register/WN_KalvVaVQTQK3DTOybtwW1A.

March 29 - April 2

Children in grades K-5 can enjoy a mix of activities and crafts, and even participate in a virtual field trip as part of the City of Hyattsville’s Hybrid Spring Camp. $20. Register online at hyattsville.recdesk.com/Community/Program.

March 31

Understanding the Power of Stories in our Lives. Hyattsville Aging in Place invites you to virtually join author and educator Carol S. Pearson, Ph.D., to learn about how myths and universal patterns apply to contemporary life. 2 to 3:30 p.m. Register or learn more at hyattsvilleaginginplace.org/event/understandingthe-power-of-stories-in-ourlives.

April 2

Art Works Now provides a virtual Parents’ Night Out at home, with crafts and a movie.

Designed for ages 5-12. Sliding scale pricing: $5/$10/$20. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. artworksnow.org/ virtual-parents-night-out

PEXELS

Recurring Art Works Now offers virtual weekly art classes in six-week sessions. Kids’ classes include fiber arts, creating a portfolio and Minecraft building. Classes for adults include collage making and an introduction to alcohol inks. Wheel-throwing pottery offered in person in a small group.

301.454.0808. www.artworksnow. org Poetry open mic every Thursday at Busboys and Poets. $5. 9 to 11 p.m. 5331 Baltimore Ave. 301.779.2787. busboysandpoets. com Pyramid Atlantic, the nonprofit arts center at 4318 Gallatin St., is open to the public and offers online, one-on-one and two-on-one in-studio classes in a wide range of techniques including spinning paper thread, block printing T-shirts, and making a book out of a Poptarts box. $40 to $300.

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 offer pre-order. facebook.com/RPFMarket Three Little Birds Sewing Co. offers virtual classes for a full range of experience and abilities, including classes on visible mending and how to sew a duffle bag. $40-$145. 202.246.5396. threelittlebirdssewingco.com

Give Help/Get Help 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 who have a loved one experiencing mental illness.

namipgc.org/online-supportgroup-registration Hyattsville has two Blessings Boxes, free-standing pantry cabinets where you can pick up free food and donate nonperishable items. The Blessings Box on 43rd Ave., between Jefferson and Hamilton streets, is a project of Girl Scout Troop #6899. Contact dinacolin@netzero.net. The Blessings Box at 6800 Adelphi Rd. is a project of University Christian Church, where it is located.

301.864.1520. info@uccmd.org Help By Phone. Short-term help offered to Prince George’s County residents, including securing food staples, winter shelter for homeless men, help with certain prescriptions, transportation to medical appointments and financial counseling. Hyattsville’s affiliated food pantry is at St.

Saint Jerome’s Café provides a free lunch-to-go every Thursday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for those in need. Table outside the rectory in the lower parking lot. 5205 43rd Ave. 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 pays local restaurants to supply meals to neighbors in need.

Participating restaurants include Hyattsville’s own Shortcake Bakery and Emerita’s Papuseria.

Donate: 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. Drive through or walk up. Donate at gofundme. com/stmarksfoodpantry.

NOW HIRING: Part-time job

networking with local businesses Streetcar Suburbs Publishing, a nonprofit organization, seeks an ad sales manager. Our volunteer-run organization publishes two monthly newspapers, the Hyattsville Life & Times and the College Park Here & Now. Each paper is delivered to every address in the city it covers, for a combined circulation of nearly 18,000.

Our nonpartisan, independent newspapers connect people in our communities, giving all residents free access to information on local government, services, schools, nonprofits, businesses, and the arts. We also introduce residents to each other through profiles.

Advertising subscriptions by local businesses help keep those businesses’ lights on during the pandemic, help residents shop local, pay the newspapers’ expenses, and keep our newspapers independent.

The sales manager handles all advertising sales and earns a commission on all advertising revenue. This includes revenue from existing business and from responding to leads generated by the newspaper itself, on our query form.

This position could be a great opportunity for the right extrovert thwarted by the pandemic, someone who wants to make a bit of money on the side, support community journalism and get to know the local business scene. For more information, contact advertising@Hyattsvillelife.com.

Page 12

Hyattsville Life & Times | March 2021

DPW

FROM PAGE 1

That person stayed home and subsequently tested positive.

Shortly thereafter, a second employee, who worked on the same truck as the first, also tested positive. In all, 10 employees, mostly in the solid waste division, were required to quarantine for at least two weeks after the department became aware of the first infection.

At the end of January, another staff member tested posi-

The Hyattsville DPW collected more than 3 times as much waste during 2020’s Mary Prangley Cleanup Day as it did in 2019 — 140 tons compared to 40 tons.

tive, and six employees had to quarantine.

Employees are required to have two negative tests before returning to work.

“It was nerve-racking,” said Riddle, who emphasized that the department tried to be as “kind and nonreactive as possible” in response to staff illnesses.

At full strength, the solid waste division consists of 20 employees, all of whom work in the field, with the exception of their superintendent. The significant staffing shortage during the first quarantine

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period forced the department to prioritize trash pickup for public health reasons. In response to staff concerns, the DPW tabled their normal practice of taking on temporary employees to help with leaf collection.

The positive COVID-19 cases also prompted the DPW to require office staff to work remotely if they were not doing so already. Indoor bathroom use was suspended, with employees instead using a portable toilet placed on the back of a trailer. A subcontractor helped get leaf collection back on track in December.

Asked if the DPW could have done anything more to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Riddle said the office felt good about their protocols. The department also took time to discuss with employees how to be safe at home. Riddle added that she is always looking for ways to make staff feel comfortable about asking the city for assistance, including time off to provide childcare or assistance accessing mental health services.

As of press time, all of the DPW employees who were impacted by the initial COVID-19 infections are back on the job.

Another DPW employee tested positive a few weeks ago, but no subsequent infections have been identified. “We’re out of the woods for now,” said Riddle.

DPW employees are part of phase 1C in the county vaccination schedule and, as of press time, are not yet eligible to receive vaccinations through the county health department, though they can pre-register. Riddle said the DPW is having conversations with employees about vaccine safety.

When asked if the volume of the city’s solid waste during the pandemic had increased, Riddle burst out laughing. By way of example, Riddle said in 2019, the city collected 40 tons of trash during Mary Prangley Clean-up Day, a bulk trash collection event named after Hyattsville’s first female mayor.

During the same event in 2020, the city collected 140 tons of trash. “It was crazy,” Riddle said. “It was absolutely crazy.”

She described the last year as all-hands-on-deck, with DPW employees normally tasked with street maintenance and park maintenance pitching in to handle the massive increase in solid waste.

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Hyattsville Life & Times | March 2021

Page 13

SKATE PARK FROM PAGE 1

along Route 1, is made entirely of concrete and steel, with a few big rocks thrown in for fun.

Most of the metal has 90 degree edges. There’s a 5-foot drop. The design deliberately includes things parents tell kids not to play on, like railings and stairs.

Even compared to the pool at the Hamilton Splash Park, another place where one could easily slip, fall, or die, the skate park still looks like a much bigger risk for a catastrophic lawsuit. The pool charges admission and is closely supervised by certified lifeguards every moment it’s open. Its high gates are tightly locked every moment it’s closed.

But the skate park has no fees, no supervision, and no fencing.

How do the taxpayers who built it survive the financial risks?

Why do the skaters seek out the physical dangers, and how do they survive them?

A man who answers these questions every day is John Hunter, executive vice president of American Ramp Company, which built the Mount Rainier Skate Park, in 2009, and Hyattsville’s in 2011. He explained, “First, skateboarding is so popular that if your town doesn’t have a skate park, it becomes a skate park. Second, when you look at the statistics on sports injuries, skateboarding is right in the middle, meaning that it’s a lot safer than football, hockey or cheerleading.” His last answer was the most intriguing: “In addition, we built that park using ASTM standards, and best practices that make it safer for skaters and everyone else concerned.”

ASTM stands for the American Society for Testing and Materials. Most of its skate park standards concern the quality of the concrete surface and how well the steel elements are attached.

But since Hunter mentioned

Kenny Guevera skates Melrose Skate Park. COURTESY OF KENNY GUEVERA

best practices, why is Melrose Skate Park made out of concrete, rather than wood — or even steel ramps that might seem more forgiving? And how come it is free, unlocked and unsupervised?

It’s not because it’s safe. Melrose sees bruises and contusions every day, and sometimes fractures and concussions. That said, the most common skateboarding injury is a sprained wrist. The most deadly is getting hit by a car.

Some of the park’s legal protections stem from being a free municipal facility. Many more derive from the theories of inherent danger and assumed risk. If you willingly participate in something obviously and inherently dangerous, like skateboarding, you assume the risk. Few kids can judge the dangers of a pool, but almost every child knows you can fall off a skateboard.

That’s why building skate parks out of concrete protects Hyattsville and Mount Rainier better than using other materials that might look more forgiving, like wooden ramps, or seem more affordable or flexible, like steel ramps. Concrete is the most durable over time. If a person gets hurt misjudging the height of a trick, that’s an

Skaters at Melrose Skate Park. PAUL RUFFINS

inherent danger. A damaged or unpredictable skating surface is not an obvious inherent danger and is, therefore, more likely to be the city’s liability.

Melrose’s skate park has few rules. The most important are “#1: Skate at your own risk,” and “#2: Use of personal protective equipment is recommended.” Note the sign does not say helmets required. The 2008 site plans called for a gate, but it was scrapped. Here’s the logic: If you require helmets and someone without one gets hurt, or have a gate, but accidentally leave it unlocked, you can be considered negligent for not enforcing your own regulations. And, facilities that charge admission usually have more responsibility to protect users.

Private skate parks always require helmets.

To get a user’s view, the Hyattsville Life & Times interviewed two longtime skaters.

“Danger equals excitement!” said Kenny Guevara, 27, commenting on the park’s construction. He noted that Melrose “is the only playground along the bike trail where you see Black, white and Hispanic people ac-

tually playing close together at the same time.”

Guevara was drawn to skating because it is “profoundly democratic,” without so many of the things that make people “feel left out of traditional sports.” He added, “No particular body type gives you an advantage.” And while skating can be ferociously competitive, you can’t get cut from the team.

Elijah Brickhouse, 21, started skating Melrose in 2011 before it was even completed. He said the main way a skater avoids injury is “by picking your level of tricks based on your skills, and working up.”

He also explained some specifics of skating Melrose, saying the layout allows skaters to perfect skills by encountering the same obstacles again and again.

Multiple paths through the

compact space keep it interesting and demand concentration.

Skating the park “improved my reflexes and my reaction time,” he said. And the best part is “it has curbs, handrails, stairs, ledges — everything you need to learn street-style skating.”

This brings us back to John Hunter’s comments about towns that don’t have skate parks becoming skate parks.

Is Melrose a little dangerous?

Yes. Does it have to be a little dangerous? Yes. If it wasn’t dangerous enough to be exciting, Elijah, Kenny and their friends wouldn’t be skating Melrose.

They’d be practicing street style in the street. And using the curbs, handrails, ledges and stairs of your neighborhood wouldn’t be anywhere near as much fun, and it’d be a lot more dangerous.

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Page 14

Hyattsville Life & Times | March 2021

Made in Hyattsville: A photographer’s eye

By Maristela Romero Gifted with a Fisher Price camera at 4 years old, Chris Creese went on to become a full-time photographer with a portfolio that includes The New York Times and Interscope Records.

The now 31-year-old grew up in Hyattsville, and cites the city’s proximity to the diversity of Washington, D.C., as a beneficial influence on his approach to the human aspect of photography.

“When it’s time for me to photograph a subject, or try to relate to whatever I’m photographing — it’s just that much easier for me to naturally step in and take an image,” he explained.

As a student at Northwestern High School (2004-2007), Creese spent most of his time hanging around the arts department. He took special interest in graphic design, video production and Japanese language and culture.

With teacher Harumi Robertson Ozaki and about 40 other students, Creese took a special trip to Japan during his junior year.

Ozaki, who has known Creese since he was in sixth grade, spoke of his dedicated and kind nature. After graduating from Northwestern, Creese remained

who can vote?

City of Hyattsville residents who are: At least 16 years old Have lived in the City for at least 30 days Do not claim the right to vote elsewhere in the U.S. You do not need to be a U.S. citizen to vote in City elections.

Chris Creese COURTESY OF CHRIS CREESE

in contact with Ozaki and continued to help with the Manga Club, an afterschool program on Japanese comics that he had been a part of throughout high school.

Through this club, Creese spent time with his friend Harper Matsuyama, the daughter of Maryland Meadworks owner Ken Carter. By 2017, Creese had long since graduated from The Art Institute of Washington

with the intention of becoming a videogame designer. Then Carter’s daughter brought him in to direct a Kickstarter video to help the Carters gain traction with financial donors to start their family business.

“I wanted it to be a little bit campy,” Carter said.

They collaborated on the creative direction of the video to showcase the historical ties between mead and the Vikings,

Make your voice heard - Select a Mayor and Council members from each of Hyattsville’s five Wards this spring!

The 2021 City of Hyattsville election will be primarily vote-by-mail. Register to vote by March 19, 2021 to receive a ballot in the mail in early April.

Ballots can be returned by mail or at secure drop boxes located at the City Building and Heurich Park.

Register or verify your voter registration status at www.hyattsville.org/vote.

Missed the voter registration deadline?

Same-day registration and in-person polling will be available on Election Day, May 11, 2021 at the City Building, 4310 Gallatin Street, Hyattsville, MD.

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while adding a personal touch that went beyond a traditional stiff introduction from the business owner. This meant delving into costumes and scene-setting and hiring a professional voice actress and a singer.

“It was fun to work with [Creese],” Carter said. “If he hadn’t moved to Seattle, … I would be collaborating with him still. He’s super, super talented. I mean, he’s got an eye.”

Creese moved on from Seattle to Tulsa, Okla. By 2020, the Hyattsville native had some heavyweight clients under his belt, including NBC, National Geographic and CBS. In June of last year, The New York Times hired him to photograph the Black Lives Matter (BLM) rallies in Tulsa, a city mired by a history of violence and racism toward its Black community.

The BLM movement gained momentum as rallies surged throughout the country in the summer of 2020 when demands for racial justice grew after the death of George Floyd on May 25.

During that tumultuous time in the nation, Creese photographed the muraled streets of Tulsa for the city’s celebration of Juneteenth, a day that commemorates the emancipation of slavery in the U.S. “The way my photography and my filmmaking career goes is that I can use it as a way to tell different stories from a different perspective than what might be mainstream,” Creese said. “And in doing so, I can help my community by telling their stories honestly.”

Maristela Romero is an intern with the Hyattsville Life & Times.