Hyattsville Life & Times -- April 2009

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Election news: Who's running? By Karen Anderson

Ward 1 Uncontested in his re-election bid, Marc Tartaro, 54, said he seeks a second term because he has not yet completed the goals included in his original platform. “There are still things that are undone that I believe are important for the city,” he said. “We’ve made substantial improvements, but we still have a long way to go.” He identified the following as top city needs: a more effective city council and government; better management of the city’s assets and services; improvements in the quality of neighborhood environments and support for creative development of U.S. Route 1; the West Hyattsville business district, and Metro project. “If we’re looking forward somehow we have to balance those things with the current state of the economy,” he said. “The real issue is we don’t want to stop everything.” Tartaro is an architect and senior design manager for the Smithsonian Institution, president of the Hyattsville/Mount Rainier/Brentwood Boys & Girls Club, and a father of two.

Ward 2 David Hiles, 52, an economist with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, served on the Riverdale Park Town Council before moving to Hyattsville. In Hyattsville he has volunteered at the Hyattsville/Mount Rainier/ Brentwood Boys & Girls Club as well a local Parent Teacher’s Association. Hiles said the city’s most pressing challenge is maintaining quality ser-

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Hyattsville Life&Times

Vol. 6 No. 4

Hyattsville’s Community Newspaper

April 2009

What's motivating proposed ordinance?

PUPPET MASTERS

BLUE SKIES IN HYATTSVILLE Puppet theatre showcases optimism by Annie Farber

by Sarah Nemeth Economic hardship, topographic constraints and a few things not considered by the Hyattsville City Council have some residents asking for a reprieve from an ordinance that was originally to take effect April 1. Chapter 68 of Hyattsville city code requires that the front lawns of residences be no more than

25 percent covered by impervious surfaces, including concrete, asphalt, pavers, brick, gravel and other drivable surfaces. Non-drivable surfaces, including a sidewalk no wider than 42 inches, are not considered impervious surfaces in this ordinance, which was passed by council in 2005. “It’s kind of bewildering,” said ORDINANCE continued on page 10

Not hungry in Hyattsville

S

and castles and tree houses descend on Ridgecrest Elementary School at least once a year. And when they leave, pupils at the school just outside of Hyattsville have received a unique education about math, self-esteem and setting goals. This alternative form of learning comes through Blue Sky Puppet Theatre, a University Park-based 10-person company devoted to education and entertainment. The theater tours professionally putting on puppet shows for schools, community centers, churches and birthday parties. And despite the economic recession, the company has an optimistic outlook, with a strong audience following that will still want the knowledge it enthusiastically shares. Blue Sky was created in 1974 by Michael Cotter, who is still the artistic director, producer, and co-owner. When the theater was first established, it broke into two

COURTESY OF BLUE SKY PUPPET THEATRE Michael Cotter, founder of Blue Sky Puppet Theatre, with some of his puppet friends. performance groups, one geared toward children through schoolbased educational theater, and a political satire adult company that performed in clubs and also as a street theater, with daily performances in Georgetown and Capitol Hill. By 1980, the company shifted to devote itself fully to children's and family venues, and has remained

CANNOT PREDICT NOW Task force created to predict the future of the BB&T building on Hamiliton St. PAGE 3

PUPPET continued on page 11

PHOTO BY SHARMINA MANANDHER Elaine Pearson of Greenbelt (L) and Frannie Day of Riversale prepare food at St. Jerome's Church Homeless Cafe. The cafe serves lunch every Thursday at 12:30 p.m. for anyone who walks in.

by Sharmina Manandhar The number of people in need has increased and the donations have decreased, due to the tumbling national economy. But Hyattsville food banks and pantries keep working to continue serving the community.

PLANT YOUR VEGGIES Miss Floribunda explains the best way to start a vegetable garden, even if you have no sun. PAGE 4

“The numbers have definitely gone up during the last six months because of the economy,” said Terry Enfield, volunteer coordinator at St. Jerome’s Café. “Our average last year was approximately 55 a week. This year, our average FOOD continued on page 11

OH BROTHER!

Hyattsville chief of police wants to install cameras in certain areas to control crime and provide better safety. PAGE 7

Included: The April 8, 2009 Issue of The Hyattsville Reporter — See Center Section

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Hyattsville Life & Times | April 2009

FromTheEditor Pedestrians, paths and presumptions By Sarah Nemeth

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’ll be the first to admit it – I’m not the greatest driver. Setting aside what some might conceive of as major driver handicaps (I’m a woman, a New Yorker and under age 30), I still can’t seem to get it together when I’m on the road. However, even I refuse to take the blame for bad pedestrian behavior when I’m on the road. It took me a while to get used to the “pedestrians have the rightof-way” rules in the Washington, DC area, but now that I have, I don’t begrudge the walkers anymore (I used to get really envious when I’d be stopped in the middle of the road, with no stop sign and no traffic light, and no crosswalk, while people made their way across). Most of the time it’s just

A community newspaper chronicling the life and times of Hyattsville Mailing address: PO Box 132, Hyattsville, MD 20781 Hyattsville Life & Times is published monthly by Hyattsville Community Newspaper, Inc., a 501c(3) nonprofit corporation. Interested reporters should send their e-mail addresses to the editor to be reminded of deadlines and receive internal news. Articles and news submitted may be edited. The deadline is the last week of the month for the following month’s issue. Letters to the editor and opinions are encouraged. For all e-mail correspondence with HL&T: news, features, tips, advertising and business write to hyattsvillelifeandtimes@gmail.com. To submit articles, letters to the editor, etc. , e-mail Hyattsvillelifeandtimes@gmail.com. For inquiries re advertising rates or to submit ad copy please email to Hyattsvillelife@Yahoo.com. Sarah Nemeth: Executive Editor 240.354.4832 betweensundays@gmail.com Production: Ashley Perks Writers & Contribtors: Colleen Aistis John Aquilino Keith Blackburn Steve Clements Michael Martucci Hugh Turley Board of Directors: Christopher Currie Matthew McKnight Tim Hunt Bert Kapinus Sarah Nemeth 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 7,500. HL&T is a member of the National Newspaper Association.

easier to let them go and it helps me to slow down a bit too. But at night it’s pretty difficult to see people crossing, especially in areas that aren’t well lit. Last week I was driving home from the Baskin Robbins store on Hamilton Street. I’d just come through the intersection of Hamilton and Queens Chapel Road when a cyclist cut out into the road and then back onto the side. Whew! Dodged that disaster! But within a mili-second, I found myself swerving again to miss three people, wearing dark clothing, crossing Hamilton right before the BB&T building. Usually, swerving alleviates the situation – at least if there’s not another car traveling in the lane next to you – but in this case, it did no good. The pedestrians, for whom I had now stopped while cars were backing up behind me and in the lane to my left, took their sweet time crossing my half of the road. I could say they were waddling, almost waltzing, their way in front of me. They weren’t even looking – Anywhere!

That’s about the time my pedestrian-right-of-way-outside-ofcrosswalks bitterness began boiling again. Why do people behave like this? It’s ridiculous. And, I think, a bit presumptuous. According to Section 21-503 of state transportation code, “If a pedestrian crosses a roadway at any point other than in a marked crosswalk or in an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, the pedestrian shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle approaching on the roadway.” Really people, is it that difficult to be a responsible walker? That includes those of us who walk on the Northwest Branch Trail out of Magruder Park. I was out there one day this week and met a man who claimed that he collects rocks to paint and adorn his house with. It was about that time that I saw the huge rock in his hands. Can I say that the cyclist who rode past, noticed the situation kept looking back to check on me was my favorite responsible pedestrian ever!

TICKETS FOR HOME TOUR NOW ON SALE The Hyattsville Preservation Association’s 30th Annual Hyattsville Historic House Tour

will be held on May 17. This year the tour will feature some of the city’s Prince George's County Designated Historic Sites including the home of Mike and Debbie Franklin, proprietors of Franklin’s Restaurant and Brewery. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $10/adults and $3 under 16, at Franklin’s, 5121 Baltimore Ave. On tour day, tickets can be purchased for $12/adults and $3 under 16 at City Hall, 4310 Gallatin St. The tour begins at 12:30 p.m. at City Hall where you can redeem your ticket and get a tour map.

CITIZENSHIP DAY IN LANGLEY PARK AREA The Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center (Washington, D.C.) is offering a citizenship clinic where attorneys and law students will be available to help with naturalization applications. The clinic will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 18 at Casa de Maryland’s Worker’s Center, 7978B New Hampshire Ave. $20 per person.

For more information call 202.393.3572 or visit www. apalrc.org

COMMENTARY AND OPINION ON HISTORY & POLITICS

Hugh’sNews A tale of two cartoonists by Hugh Turley

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he real name of Dr. Seuss, the children’s author, was Theodor Seuss Geisel. At Dartmouth, he was editor of the humor magazine Jack-O-Lantern. When Geisel was banned from extra-curricular activities for violating school rules, he adopted the pseudonym “Seuss” to continue at the magazine, defying the administration. Upon graduating, Geisel told his father he had been awarded a fellowship to Oxford. His proud father had the news published in the hometown newspaper, only to discover later there was no scholarship. The embarrassed father paid his son’s way to Oxford, believing he would earn a doctorate in literature. Geisel soon returned without earning a degree and simply added the title “Dr.” to his pen name. Geisel enjoyed some success as an advertising artist. He tried a comic strip in 1935, but it soon folded. Well before Pearl Harbor, Gei-

sel drew propaganda cartoons advocating U.S. entry into World War II. He targeted, especially, prominent anti-war Americans like Charles Lindbergh. His cartoons deplored Nazi racism against Jews. They also touted equality for black Americans – that helped the war effort. Japanese-Americans, on the other hand, he depicted savagely as traitors and saboteurs. Many of his comics point to this. A strong supporter of President Roosevelt, Geisel routinely attacked FDR's critics as well as critics of war allies Joseph Stalin and the Communists." Geisel’s career skyrocketed in the 1950s. His most famous book, The Cat in the Hat, was published in 1957. His credits include two Academy awards, two Emmy awards, a Peabody award and a Pulitzer Prize. Percy Crosby was born 13 years before Geisel. He had quit high school to help support his family. Crosby was the talented creator of

the comic strip Skippy, which ran from 1923 to 1945. The popular Skippy character was syndicated through King Features, appeared in advertising, and was adapted as a movie by Paramount. The licensing of the Skippy name, with Skippy toys, games, candy, ice cream, and clothing, was worth a fortune. During the Great Depression Percy Crosby was a rare millionaire. More than a successful cartoonist, Crosby was a fearless champion for justice. He used his pen and his own money to take on the Ku Klux Klan, Al Capone and corrupt politicians. Crosby was also a

fierce critic of FDR. Crosby’s daughter, Joan Tibbetts (Skippy.com), says her father “was treading on big toes.” A California peanut butter company took the Skippy name without Crosby’s permission. This led to costly litigation. More trouble came with IRS claims of tax evasion. His comic strip ended in 1945. Eventually Crosby was committed to a psychiatric ward, where he remained for 16 years until his death. “Skippy” is now better known as peanut butter sold by Best Foods. Who knows why men’s fortunes rise and fall? Upton Sinclair once wrote, “You will float upon a wave of prosperity, and in this prosperity all your family will share … All this, of course, provided that you stand in with the powers that be, and play the game according to their rules. If by any chance you interfere with them, if you break the rules, then instantly in a thousand forms you feel the pressure of their displeasure.”

Hyattsville Life & Times | April 2009

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Task force debates the future of BB&T building by Anke Bettina Irgang

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yattsville has instituted a task force composed of city staff and residents from all wards to discuss the most beneficial use of the BB&T building at 3505 Hamilton Street. The Hyattsville City Council passed a motion to purchase the building from BB&T after the bank announced it will move to a new location at the site of the former Check Cashing building on East West Highway near Toledo Terrace. The task force is evaluating a variety of different options, including a multicultural community center, a retail space, and a center for non-profits. Members and advisors include Stuart Eisenberg of the Hyattsville Community Development Corporation, City Councilman William Tierney (Ward 2), John Milligan of the Washington, D.C. Superior Court, and former City Councilman Scott Wilson. Task force members were first appointed in January, after the council passed a motion to lend the city $1.1 million for the purchase of and some renovations to the building. The council approved the amount under the condition that 1,000 square feet will be reserved for use by Hyattsville citizens. The task force meets every second and fourth Thursday of the month, and has met three times to date. All members are Hyattsville residents with backgrounds in business, local politics, non-profit management, and the arts. “It’s a pretty diverse group,” said Jim Chandler, Hyattsville’s community development man-

ager. “The plan is to make sure we get many different sorts of ideas.” No move-in date for potential tenants has been set, Chandler said. “It all depends on the task force,” he said. “They may tell the council that it’s not even in the best interest of the city to keep the building.” In June 2008, the city sent out a request to more than 100 local organizations, asking those who might be interested in using the space to submit proposals. As of press time the city had received six proposals which specified space needs and desired lease rates that the city deemed appropriate for the building. Organizations interested in moving in include after-school programs, a public charter school, and the Family Crisis Center of Brentwood. Chandler said the city may send out a second request that includes more details on the space, and what kinds of tenants the city would like to see based on task force recommendations. “I think we didn’t receive the responses we anticipated because we didn’t tell them what we are looking for,” he said. At the task force’s March 26 meeting, it briefly evaluated the proposals that have been received, and created subcommittees to evaluate each option individually, including a non-profit center and use by a single institution. Members also discussed city budget shortages brought on by the national economic recession, and to what degree these should influence the selection of potential tenants. “This is all taxpayers’ money,” said Reggie Ellison, the task force’s co-chairman. “We need to ask, will we produce rents that will cover

Hyattsville City Police Dept. 2008 Awards □ Police Officer of the Year: P/O Andrew Davis □ Community Policing Officer of the Year: Cpl. Michael Rudinski □ Civilian Employee of the Year: Public Safety Aide Damond Blake □ Bronze Medal of Valor: PFC Todd Prawdzik □ Life Saving Award and Bronze Medal of Valor: Sgts. Frank DonBullian and Ron Santos and Pvt. Scott Hurley □ Life Saving Award: Cpl. Akriva Craft □ Command Recognition: PFCs Barbara Smith; Trevor Hodges, James Denault, Mike Chite, Jerry McCauley, Brian Newcomer, Jennifer Riggs and Robert Redmond; Pvts. Todd Prawdzik, Danielle Gray and Patrick Ojong; Sgts. Greg Phillips, Pat O’Hagan, Ron Santos, Suzie Johnson and Keith Powell; Cpls. Christine Fekete, Tony Guerrerio, Mike Rudinski, Kirk Pile and Tony Knox; P/Os Mark Chite and Andrew Davis; Evidence Technician George Michael.

the cost of buying the building?” Task force member Scott Wilson agreed that the bottom line should enter into deliberations. He said: “I’m biased towards at least breaking even.” The task force is scheduled to make its recommendations to the City Council by May 29.

City seeing change in Ward 3 Lizanne, Tartaro run again by Karen Anderson

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ive of the 10 city council seats will be up for election on May 4, when Hyattsville holds its biennial city elections. Each ward will be voting to select one of their two city council representatives. Council members whose seats will be voted on this spring include Marc Tartaro (Ward 1), Mark Matulef (Ward 2), Krista Atteberry (Ward 3), Carlos Lizanne (Ward 4) and Ruth Ann Frazier (Ward 5). Twelve candidates have registered for the election. The last day to sign up was March 27. The other five city council seats will be up for election in 2011, as election cycles are offset in each ward.

David Hiles, a Ward 2 resident, and Tim Hunt and Matt McKnight, both Ward 3 residents, have entered the race. Krista Atteberry and Mark Matulef have not signed up to run for re-election this year. Anna Frankle, a member of the Hyattsville Board of Elections, said the slim number of entries so far is little indication of what the ballot will look like in May. “I’ve had times where people had come in at the last minute on the last day and filed,” she said. “At this point, it’s only hearsay as to who’s running again.” Andrea Ross, member and former chair of the elections board, said she expects voter turnout to be “very poor” because it is not a mayoral election year. Residents will be able to only vote for their ward’s representative on the city council. “I would say, if we get 500 people, we’ll be happy,” she said. “You never know what’s going to hap-

pen. Sometimes people are very interested … other times people are like, ‘Oh, so what?’” Frankle said voter turnout can “vary tremendously” from year to year depending on whether or not a particular seat is contested. April 6 is the last day to register to vote for the upcoming city election. Council President William Tierney (Ward 2) said that the timing of the May election may lead to changes in the city budget this summer. Those currently on the council will assist with planning next year’s budget but, because of elections, are not guaranteed to be the ones voting on it in early summer. “Even though we’re doing most of the construction of the budget in March, April and May, the people voting on the budget may not be the people involved in making it, so there may be changes towards the end,” he said.

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Hyattsville Life & Times | April 2009

PROFILES continued from page 1

munity forward,� he said. “I’m effective, I get things done.�

vices with less revenue when budgeting for roads, safety, parks and recreation, and trash maintenance. To respond, he’s calling for more creative solutions, such as reviewing funding models for crime prevention “We spend a lot of money on police without looking at the problem imaginatively,� he said “People are worried about the economy, but it’s going to be ok,� Hiles said. “Things will work out although they look a little tough right now.� “I think I can help move the com-

Alicia Joseph is an engineer with NASA. She also worked as a lead abatement and hazardous waste specialist and as a teacher. She holds two B.S. degrees, two M.S. degrees, and is now defending her Ph.D. She says, “I will help the city to better manage its development and taxes by encouraging development that will preserve Hyattsville’s small town feel; by supporting development that all citizens benefit from, which does not increase residents’ tax burden; and by working for all development to be environment friendly.

“I will support local education by encouraging NASA organizations to reinforce science and tech students in our area with science projects that offer prizes and visits to NASA, adding my support, time and ideas to existing plans that help our young citizens learn business practices, social skills and receive tutoring; and creating a scholarship program for high school seniors and encouraging the recreation department to bring back computer and other technical training for seniors.� Lifetime resident Thomas Lopresti, 46, was drawn to the City Council through a progression of community involvement. A father of six and local business owner, Lopresti first became involved in city life by coaching at St. Jerome’s Catholic Youth Organization league where he eventually became sports co-director. More recently he served on the board of the Knights of Columbus Federal Credit Union and Hyattsville’s

Code Enforcement Committee. The choice to run for City Council now was clear to him. “When the incumbent Mark Matulef didn’t run, this seemed like a natural next step,� he said. “The biggest thing facing the council is the budget,� Lopresti said. His other goals include managing development of city buildings, improving parks and monitoring the encroachment of codes for neighborhood driveways and commercial parking. “I’m willing to listen to both sides of the issue, put in the time, and try to make the right decision,� he said. “I think I can make the tough call when you have to make one.�

Ward 3 Timothy Hunt, 36, named careful development, community schools, and reasonable code enforcement as among the city’s most important issues. “I want to see Hyattsville move forward, emphasizing our strong

sense of community in our neighborhoods, while carefully allowing for development that will blend in and not adversely affect our quality of life,� he said. “I don’t want to see Hyattsville turn into Rockville.� Hunt envisions a working relationship with community schools, which he recognizes Ward 3 is “invested in.� “That’s how we should move forward with community involvement, with our neighborhood schools,� he said. “And with the extent that massive development could hinder that, I’m concerned.� An advocate of government transparency, Hunt became involved in city politics when the city annexed his neighborhood, University Hills. “I thought more important than being annexed or not being annexed was to let the citizens have a referendum,� he said. Hunt is seven-year city resident and a stay at home dad with two young children. PROFILES continued on page 11

MissFloribunda Dear Miss Floribunda, Now that even the Obamas are growing vegetables, I'd like to try a veggie patch myself. Unfortunately, my back garden is not very sunny. Some of the trees shading it are American oaks, and I read in last month's column that these harbor many beneficial pollinators. I wouldn't want to cut these magnificent trees down anyway – it would seem like regicide! Are there any vegetables that would do well in partial shade?

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Dear Shady, In general, vegetables that are grown for their leaves rather than their fruit need less sun. Spinach, lettuce, arugula, kale, collard and mustard greens stay fresher and won't go to seed as quickly when not in full sun. Spinach and lettuce should be planted ASAP so

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you can get a good crop before the heat of summer makes them turn bitter. My neighbor, Patapanelope, says that oak leaf lettuce stays sweet longer than any other variety she's tried. Now is also a good time to plant peas, broccoli sets, bok choy and such root vegetables as radishes, but after a certain point in the year they will shrivel or bolt. Bush beans can be grown all summer, and beets, potatoes and carrots can be grown in containers in partial shade. The problem with growing them in the ground is that where there is shade there are probably tree roots in the way. These roots will also take nutrients away from your crops, and the canopy of leaves that trees provide may prevent enough rain from reaching them. You will have to provide extra fertilizer and water. I assume you do have more sun in your front yard but are wary of growing anything but shrubs and flowers there. Rather than a "veggie patch," you can artfully mix attractive vegetables and herbs with your flowers. Tomatoes used to be grown

in this country as a non-edible ornamental anyway. They were called "love apples" and were considered poisonous. Peppers and miniature Asian eggplant varieties are also attractive and can be tucked in among annuals. Onions, chives and garlic are also helpful as an organic insect repellent for your roses. You might want to consult a book on companion planting, as well as books and Web sites featuring some of the famous vegetable gardens of Europe. Last October my sister Polyantha took me on a tour of the castles on the Loire and their gardens. I was enchanted by the famous "potager" (literally, soup garden) at Villandry. Though a large and expert staff maintains this masterpiece of ornamental vegetable gardening, you can get some idea of how to plan a smaller garden that will form a veritable tapestry of rich color and interesting texture. Miss Floribunda is the collected wisdom of the Hyattsville Horticultural Society compiled and edited by Victoria Hille.

Hyattsville Life & Times | April 2009

Page 5

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Wisdom of the elders 8 By Cassie Johnson

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’m very fortunate to have a number of elders in my life. Some remember when I was born or was very young. Others, like my nursing home friends, have known me only a couple of years. They’re all remarkable people, made of stern stuff buttressed by a strong belief in God. To them, life’s challenges are to be met without despair or drama – do what you have to do and move on. Beyond that, they enjoy life fully whenever happiness and contentment come calling. And their stories of good times make me smile and occasionally laugh out loud. Lately I’ve been asking what they attribute their longevity to. Here are three responses I got, and I think they serve as a pretty good roadmap for life: “Aunt� Elizabeth has known me since I was 5 and told me, “I never thought about age.� She’s 99 now and optimistically looking forward to 100 (plus). Other women might have worried about getting old-

er, she said, but she never looked back. She said time progresses and regretting its passage would have made her generally happy life positively unhappy. Aunt Elizabeth has lost her sight and lives in a nursing home. When I last visited her she caught me up on news of former neighbors from our old block (she stays in touch). She was having her hair done while we chatted. Later she’d be socializing with friends at dinner. Being blind? Like age, it’s something she doesn’t spend time regretting. She’s way too busy living. Every week I read poetry to a group of nursing home residents, who always brighten my day. Mrs. Mercer* is one of them, 97, feisty and always insightful. “I don’t worry about what I don’t have,� she said. A large part of her childhood was spent in the cotton fields of South Carolina, and she’s known hard times. But her take on life is simple. Why worry when the good Lord has always taken care of her?

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AroundTheCity It pays to not be anonymous by Paula Minaert

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hen people ask me where I’m from, I usually answer, “Nowhere, really.� I don’t have a home town, because I lived in several different places growing up. My sojourn began, oddly enough, right in West Hyattsville — my parents lived in Kirkwood Apartments when I was born. After that, my father’s Foreign Service job took us to Beirut, Lebanon; Alexandria, Egypt; Falls Church, Va.; Tripoli, Libya; and McLean, Va. But it’s too complicated to explain all that, so I just say, “Nowhere, really.� I have now lived in Hyattsville longer than I have lived anywhere else – about 30 years. When my husband and I first moved here, it struck me how much it seemed to be quintessential small-town America. People had cookouts in their back yards. Children walked to school. The Cub Scouts met in the church hall. Simple things, but new to me. And I liked them. I slowly began to feel a sense of belonging. People in Hyattsville tend to know each other. This too sounds a simplistic observation, but again, I didn’t have that experience before. Here, I ran into the same people at church, at our children’s schools, at the swimming pool. I found out

our neighbors had grown up in Hyattsville and their parents still lived three blocks away. I actually knew some of the people on the City Council. I knew who people were (a lot of them, anyway) and they knew who I was. Not everyone likes this, I suppose. Some people prefer anonymity. Once, at my son’s soccer practice, the coach asked me what I had been talking to the police about in my front yard the day before (a neighbor had a problem and I was helping out). On another occasion, a neighbor asked our daughter what I’d been doing driving on the wrong side of Belcrest Road (temporary brain lapse). I’ve often said it’s a good thing I have no inclination to commit a crime or run around on my husband — I’d be found out for sure. Hyattsville is a community, not a suburb. People don’t come here only to sleep, living their real lives elsewhere. Of course there is transience, but on the other hand you have two and three generations of some families, maybe more, rooted here. And I know some people whose grown children have come back to work in the city. You don’t find that in too many places, and certainly not in this area. Community living can be difficult. People with widely different values and habits have to live with each other, and it’s not always a

comfortable process. One person likes only manicured lawns, while another is committed to having a wildlife habitat in her yard —and they’re next-door neighbors. In a community, you have to work out your differences. And the end result probably won’t be a one-size-fits-all look, either. I for one wouldn’t want that, anyway. I’ve experienced both anonymity and community. I prefer community.

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Hyattsville Life & Times | April 2009

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Hyattsville police chief proposes PROPOSED CCTV CCTV cameras for better safety LOCATIONS

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yattsville may be getting some new tools to fight crime: TV cameras. The chief of police wants a new, police-operated system of closed-circuit television cameras installed in key areas of the city to help monitor, record and prevent crime. In the past year, private CCTV systems have helped the Hyattsville police solve several major crimes, Chief Douglas Holland wrote in a memorandum to the City Council. Police solved a February 2008 murder in the Student Towers at University Town Center after the CCTV system there captured images of two suspects going to an apartment and then fleeing the scene. Two months later, a shooting on the pedestrian footbridge across East West Highway at the Mall at Prince George’s, was solved in part because Target’s CCTV system recorded the suspects fleeing the scene and got a clear image of one suspect’s distinctive shirt. Burglaries of several local businesses were solved after an officer making a traffic stop in Hyattsville recognized the driver from footage of a restaurant burglary in December 2008. The burglary was recorded by the taken by the CCTV system of the nearby Bank of America, and the suspect’s image was distributed to all Hyattsville police officers, Holland wrote. The proposed city CCTV system will include 11 cameras placed at key intersections along the Baltimore Avenue and East West Highway corridors. The cameras will be placed in commercial, not residential, areas, Holland told the City Council last month. The system will transmit the video footage to a central workstation at the Hyattsville City Police Department, where it will be monitored by dispatch staff. Video footage from each camera will be automatically stored for at least 14 days, according to Holland’s

“The utilization of this technology will enable us to better provide safety to Hyattsville citizens.” — Chief Douglas Holland Police chief

memorandum. Accompanying the CCTV system will be seven emergency call boxes – special phones that open a direct line to the police department. The call boxes will be resistant to weather and vandalism, and are equipped with a blue strobe light that flashes while the phone is being used, according to Holland’s statement. The call boxes will be placed at East West Highway and Belcrest Road; 38th Avenue and Hamilton Street, 31st Avenue and Hamilton Street; the recreation building at Magruder Park; Queen’s Chapel and Jamestown Roads; Baltimore Avenue and Madison Street; and the 5100 block of Baltimore Avenue at the city parking lot. The CCTV system and call boxes are the next phase of Hyattsville’s Safe City initiative, which aims to unite businesses, residents, law enforcement and local government to reduce crime and improve safety in the area. The Target Corporation suggested installing the system about two years ago, Holland said in an interview. Target has made a $200,000 grant to the Safe City project to help cover the cost of CCTV equipment and call boxes, projected at approximately $410,000. “The utilization of this technology will enable us to better provide safety to Hyattsville residents,” Holland said. A similar system of cameras and call boxes has been in place in Greenbelt for several years. “They’re very effective,” said Lt. David Buerger of the Greenbelt Police Department. “Our communications specialist can watch what’s happening and update the officers on their way to the scene,” he said. “They also act as a deterrent.” Final approval for the cameras and call boxes is needed from the Hyattsville City Council, which reviewed the mo-

tion twice in the month of March but tabled it each time. “There is support [on] the council for this project,” said Council President William Tierney. The initial motions did not account for the cost of electricity, architectural work, and other costs associated with installing the system, Tierney said. “We asked them to come back to us with aggregated costs, to pass as a single motion,” he said. The motion will next appear before the council on April 6th, after the printing of this article. If the project is approved, the cameras and call boxes should be installed within five months, Holland said.

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Matthew D. McKnight, 31, got involved in city life shortly after moving here with his wife in 2005. Using information compiled from police reports, McKnight voluntarily set up an online mapping system of the city’s crime events to aid the police department. As a research archeologist for the Maryland Historical Trust, he felt that his project could put some of his professional skills to use for the city. “The crime map was completely my initiative,� McKnight said. “I’m a big proponent of using statistics and technology to fight crime.� McKnight also serves on the city’s Bike and Pedestrian Safety Committee, as well as its Information Technology Committee. “I’m already working for the community,� he said. “I’d just like to be working in a sort of expanded way.� As a city councilman, McKnight said he would like to better the tools given to law enforcement officials and increase programs offered through the parks and recreation department by making the existing BB&T building on Hamilton Street a central community center. Scott R. Wilson, 58, has 16 years of experience serving on the Hyattsville City Council. It’s been four years since the last time he had a seat representing Ward 3, but his interest in politics has nudged him back into the limelight, hoping for additional time to serve the city. “Certainly I’ve got the institutional memory and the experience,�

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1 Wilson said. “I’ve had a lot of training throughout the years.â€? He was a board member of Local Government Insurance Trust for nine years. “I’m a numbers guy so the whole financial reign is another realm where I’m a contributor,â€? he said. He keeps watch on city happenings by attending City Council and committee meetings. “One simple answer is going to as many meetings as I do‌ it [would be] nice to have a vote,â€? he said. Wilson, who is retired, majored in Political Science and Political Theory

at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania. He also serves on the board of the International Human Powered Vehicle Association, and in Hyattsville he is a member of the BB&T Task Force. Alaa Ahmed Eldar Yousef, now 31, spoke only Arabic when came to Hyattsville from Egypt at 15. He worked through PG County schools and up from night cleaner to director at the Marriott Corporation. Now motivated by care and appreciation for the community that he said gave him so much, Yousef is running for city council. “I’m very, very loyal to this county. Really, I would love to do something for the city,� he said. “I feel I owe something.� With a long term focus, his platform first addresses unemployment and foreclosures, which he said could prevent other issues. “What are we doing to help? ... You need to understand the frustration,� he said, adding that several homes on his street are facing foreclosure. Yousef also argued for beautification efforts, playground improvements, and greener developments. “I want to plan for the next coming years,� he said. “To find the issue before somebody comes to me.� Yousef coaches youth soccer and volunteers at a local animal shelter. He said Hyattsville is the only place he and his family ever want to live.

Ward 4 Carlos Lizanne, 64, seeks his third term. Originally from El Salvador, Lizanne and his wife moved to PROFILES continued on page 13

Hyattsville Life & Times | April 2009

PROFILES continued from page 12 Hyattsville 33 years ago. The two were initially drawn to the city’s regional convenience, but stayed for its respect of racial and religious diversity. Lizanne said his work on the council reflects that same respect. “I represent all Hyattsville,” he said, “any citizen in the city has the same importance to me.” Along with cultural integration, he recognizes local developing businesses, reducing crime and assisting those “living pay-check-topay-check” as among Hyattsville’s top priorities, adding the city needs optimists during this time. “I have a lot to learn, but I have learned a lot,” he said of his experience in small business and his years as a councilmember. “I will talk to people until I can understand them and they can understand me.” Lizanne said he plans to retire as owner of El Compadre store in one year and devote more time to the city. David Thomas, 51, returns to city politics this spring. “I kind of got into this in the ninth inning at the pleading of neighbors,” he said of his candidacy, adding he’s still “honing up on issues.” “I was very active in the city back then,” he said, recalling past work with his neighborhood association and the city’s traffic committee in the mid-1990s. “The number one responsibility of any government entity is to protect the lives of the citizens ... and to protect their property,” Thomas said. To Thomas, this includes financial property. “I don’t think money should be doled out to functions where government doesn’t have any business,” he said, referring to the city’s recent purchase of the BB&T building. “We’re not in the landlord business.”

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“In my humble opinion, a government that governs least governs best,” he said. Thomas is a 22-year Hyattsville resident and was a member of the U.S. Navy for 20 years.

Ward 5 Ruth Ann Frazier, 69, seeks her fourth term. A 55-year resident of Hyattsville and retired U.S. government employee, Frazier is the longest serving councilmember. “I try to be dedicated, I try to listen to them, I’m concerned for them, I’m involved for them,” said Frazier of her efforts to represent her constituents on the City Council. Frazier emphasized the importance of a strong police force and its ability to communicate with residents. In December 2008 she helped organize the Hyattsville Seniors and Law Enforcement Together (S.A.L.T.) to strengthen the safety and community engagement of local seniors. She also chairs the Sonny Frazier Christmas Toy Drive, a donation drive started years earlier by her husband in their home. Through volunteers and donations from local businesses, the toy drive now provides gifts to local families in need during the holidays. “All my roots are here,” she said. “All my friends ... this is where my heart is.”

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Pastor Herrara-Macuran, 45, reiterated community representation requires a community presence; something he said has been absent. “The city council has to work with the people. They have to be in touch with this community,” he said. “All those people who come in to the city council, they forget about it, they never come back to the community.” The council should be responsive to developing community needs, he said, which requires ongoing conversations with citizens to gauge issue importance. “I think I have some idea of how the people feel, so I can put it on the table of the city council,” Herrara-Macuran said, identifying better lighting and recycling opportunities as two issues of concern to his constituents. “All my life I’ve worked very hard for the people,” he said. “If it’s the community that gives me the vote, it’s the community that’s important.” Originally from Cuba, HerraraMacuran works for Local Union 26 in D.C. and has lived with his family in Hyattsville for four years.

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ORDINANCE continued from page 1 University Hills resident Tim Hunt. “I don’t understand how residents … could be forced to pay to [redo] … to not allow grandfathering I think is kind of unconscionable. It was a bad idea in 2004, it is a bad idea in 2009 and it will be a bad idea in 2010.” Hunt said that many of his neighbors moved into their homes after driveways were installed and to ask them now to expend the resources Gardiner to restructure their front lawns to be code compliant is asking too much. The plan began in 2004, with a five-year phase-in period that was recently extended for a year, said Mayor William Gardiner. It targeted properties with impervious surfaces that are a large part of the front yard and could therefore have a negative effect on storm water runoff and drainage, he said. The city recently sent letters to the owners of properties that the city’s code enforcement department deemed may exceed the new rule. Janice Williams is one of them. “In 1998 I moved here and the driveway had been constructed by permit,” she told the council at a March 16 meeting. “I’m retired. With the recession, how can I make changes like this? I can’t do it.” The same goes for retired Metro bus driver Alfred Summers of Madison Place, Maria Castrillo of Manorwood Drive and Pat Sheridan of Hamilton Street. “I think five or six years ago when you guys first started talking about this, the economy was a lot better,” Sheridan said. “[It’s] a significant issue to try to comply with the retroactive [part] of the law.” The city recently extended the deadline to April 1, 2010. According to the ordinance, initial violations of this portion of the code are subject to a $100 fine. If a resident repeats the offense they could be fined $200. “We should’ve sent the letters some time ago,” Gardiner said. “We didn’t and that’s why we have extended the compliance period. “Also, code enforcement has identified a number of properties, especially the duplexes and triplexes, that are possibly in violation of the ordinance. However I don’t think the ordinance consid-

ered that situation.” The code enforcement department sent out 249 letters to property owners whose properties appeared to be close to going over the 25 percent mark, said Jerry Hampton, director of the department. “My inspectors have not done exact calculations,” he said. “They did visual inspections of the properties. If [it] appeared to be close in their estimation … then we wanted to add those people to the list.” Each letter offered the services of a city inspector to do exact measurements, Hampton said, adding that he plans to send out a second round of letters – likely in June – to those who have not contacted his office about their letter. “We want to make sure that no person is left behind on this,” he said. “Out of 249 those that have called and have had inspectors come out there have been many over the 25 percent but there have been a number that are not,” he said. The rubric for deciding which properties might receive a reprieve once council has reviewed the ordinance has not yet been determined, Gardiner said. “[We] have asked staff to provide a better breakdown for the properties that they believe may be in violation of the ordinance. I suspect that there will be some property that the council will not recommend grandfathering in the existing circumstance and they will be required to reduce the impervious surface. “When this was initially passed the intent was to provide a five-year period for the property owners … but we still need to get some more information on what’s the situation [for non- compliant properties]. “It’s a problem if we’re not consistent and fair,” he said. For those who must make changes, it remains unclear if they will be required to get a city permit – which costs $25 – to come under code. According to the Web site of the Prince George’s County Department of Environmental Resources, changes to concrete or asphalt paving of less than 500 square feet in area, except driveways, also require a county permit. Repairs to a driveway may, however, require a permit from the county’s Department of Public Works and Transportation, the site states. “I don't think people would need a permit to come into compliance, but I guess it is conceivable if they reduced it in some areas and widened it in other areas,” Gardiner said.

Inaugural county kidney walk planned The Mall at Prince George’s will be the location for the National Kidney Foundation’s Ronald D. Paul Kidney Walk on April 19. The pledge-based fundraiser is an opportunity to support the 26 million Americans with chronic kidney disease and the 80,000 waiting for a kidney transplant. In April 2008 there were 1,917 dialysis patients in the county. Three zip codes – 20743, 20744, and 20748 – accounted for 25% of the dialysis patients in the county. Hyattsville Mayor William Gardiner is an honorary walk co-chair. Last summer Gardiner donated a kidney to his cousin Randy Martin, who suffered from polycystic kidney disease. For more information or to donate to the walk, visit www. kidneywdc.org

LIFE NOTES continued from page 5 Even when she was poor she never went hungry. She had clothes to wear and a roof over her head. Mrs. Mercer says she never envied anyone who had more. How could that happen, she wondered, when her own life has been so full of blessings? Mrs. Boyce* is another member of the poetry group. She thinks being steered by a moral compass is the key: “A good mind knows right from wrong.” One of the youngsters in the group — she’s only in her 70s — she believes in living a spiritually attuned life. We’re all given choices and it’s up to us to choose the right way to travel, according to Mrs. Boyce. She prays for anyone who wrongs her. And she gives all her problems over to the Lord because He can handle them. Three lessons for a long life: moving gracefully through the years, counting blessings and walking a spiritual path. The art of living from my elders’ point of view. Glad I asked. *Name was changed. Cassie Johnson is a Reiki Master/ Teacher. Contact her at cassie_ reikienergy@verizon.net.

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Page 11

FOOD

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continued from page 1 is up to about 70.” The café, located at 5205 43rd Ave., held a food drive in January, which yielded about 2100 pounds of food and restocked the pantry, “which was almost bare as of Thanksgiving,” Enfield said. Enfield also said that the café, which serves a full meal to the needy every Thursday, is experiencing an increase in the number of people “who have been laid off or people who have jobs but not enough money to cover their lunches every day.” According to data released by the U.S. Department of Labor, the number of unemployed increased by 851,000 to 12.5 million in February and the unemployment rate rose to 8.1 percent. Over the past 12 months, the number of unemployed has increased by about 5 million, and the unemployment rate has risen by 3.3 percent. “It has been definitely difficult keeping up with the increase in the number of people coming to the café,” Enfield said. “We’ve been around since 1991, and we’ve never seen the numbers this high.” In the café’s kitchen, volunteer Tom Fitzpatrick of Glenn Dale mixes tomato sauce and noodles, while Elaine Pearson from Greenbelt and Frannie Day of Riverdale prepare the bread and pastries for the day’s lunch. “We have a set menu and that makes it very easy as we don’t have ovens to cook,” Fitzpatrick said. “We only have steam tables and microwaves to work with.” A typical meal at the café consists of a main course of a casserole-type dish, a vegetable dish, buttered rolls or bread, pastries and hot or cold drinks. “It helps me. That’s why I come here,” said Karen Nelson of Mount Rainier, who has been coming to the café for about five years. “I come here to eat and they also give me something to take with.” The café coordinates with St. Jerome’s School, with students donating bagged lunches for the people to take home after the meal. The rolls, bread and pastries are donated by Rolling Pin Bakery in Bladensburg. The café publishes a list of needed food items and supplies in the parish bulletin. According to Fitzpatrick, the beginning and end of the month are always very busy at the café. Anniversary Specials

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A tally taped on the refrigerator shows that the cafe served 102 people on January 29. “It’s exhausting and frustrating at times, but I love it,” said Tracy Perkins, pantry coordinator for the café. “It’s only a couple of hours a week of volunteering and the clients are wonderful.” Another food bank serving the community, which is also experiencing an increase in the number of people in need, is at Crossover Church, located at 5340 Baltimore Ave. It distributes groceries to about 30 or more families a month. “At times it has been challenging. There are times when need outweighs the supply and we had to limit the amount of groceries or the frequency of supply,” said Angela Wilson, food pantry coordinator. According to Wilson, the church’s food pantry is holding a food drive, a Brown Bag Food Campaign, for specific groceries to support the pantry through the end of April in addition to working on making connections with various companies for more donation as well as working on a proposal to apply for federal and state aid. The First United Methodist Church at 6201 Belcrest Road is also serving the needy by hosting the Community Place Café four days a week. The café is operated by the Community Ministries of Prince George’s County. “I think it’s great that we have the space and are able to do it,” said Donnalee Sanderson, church secretary. “It definitely serves the needy, more so in these difficult times.”

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Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.