WHIZ KIDS Oxon Hill Middle nabs first Science Bowl victory. A-5
NEWS: Recount favors mayor in Forest Heights election; allegations dismissed. A-4
Gazette-Star SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNT Y DA I LY U P DAT E S AT G A Z E T T E . N E T
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Clinton teen is county’s top speller (again) Eighth-grader has another shot at national title n
BY JAMIE ANFENSON-COMEAU STAFF WRITER
Tamya Matthews, 13, didn’t hesitate as she spelled the word “waterzooi” to win her second consecutive title in the Prince George’s County Spelling Bee Friday night. “Don’t be nervous Mom,” the Clinton teen said before spelling the name of a Belgian stew in the sixth and final round of the spelling bee. “I was nervous. I helped her with her practicing, but I don’t remember that word,” Tamya’s mother Monica Garvin said afterward. “I knew she could do it, but there were some really great spellers up there, so I’m really excited for her.” Tamya, an eighth-grader at Mount Calvary Catholic School in Forestville, said the experience of winning last year helped her stay calm. “I was really nervous last year, but winning gave me a boost in confidence. I thought, ‘I did it before, I can do it twice. Anything is possible,’” Tamya said. The Prince George’s County Spelling Bee has been presented by The Gazette since 2001, and is sponsored by the Educational Systems Federal Credit Union. Tamya is the second person to score backto-back wins in the county bee; the first was Mehron Price, who won in 2004 and 2005. Among her prizes, Tamya
SPORTS: Terps starter, Upper Marlboro native ready to dance in NCAA Tournament. B-1 25 cents
Budget includes tax hike, layoffs and furloughs n
Proposal would help pay for education reform BY JAMIE ANFENSON-COMEAU STAFF WRITER
TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE
Tamya Matthews of Clinton wins the 15th annual spelling bee, presented by The Gazette on Friday night in the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland, College Park. will receive a Kindle Fire tablet, a $100 gift card, a $100 savings bond and a $500 shopping spree at the Mall at Prince George’s, but she also wins a chance to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee,
being held May 24-29 in National Harbor and broadcast on ESPN. Last year, Tamya won the county spelling bee and went on to the national competition, falling just short of the semifi-
Facing rising costs and flat revenues, Prince George’s County is preparing to lay off over 100 employees and furlough 6,000 others, while asking county residents to tighten their belts in the form of increased property taxes to help pay for education reforms officials say are needed to move the school system forward. “The proposed FY 2016 budget includes the financial resources necessary to support higher educational achievement,” County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D) said in a letter outlining his objectives in the $3.6 billion budget. “The outcome of this investment will be a county school system that will be most noted for rapidly improving its schools by implementing high quality educa-
tional programs and rigor for all students.” Baker presented his budget to the Prince George’s County Council on Friday afternoon. The council must pass an approved budget by June 1. The school board approved a $1.93 billion budget Feb. 26, challenging county government to meet their request for program expansions and improvements school system CEO Kevin Maxwell said are necessary to improve the system, including expansion of pre-kindergarten, arts education, digital literacy and peer teacher review. To fund the $135.7 million increase over last year’s school budget, Baker’s chief budget officer Thomas Himler said the county is turning to a bill passed by the General Assembly, Chapter 6 of the 2012 Laws of Maryland. Chapter 6 allows counties to raise property taxes higher than the caps set in their charter, so long as those funds are used only for education.
See BUDGET, Page A-8
nals. “I’m hoping to do better this year, that’s my goal,” Tamya said. “The competition there is incredible. Only 256 of
See BEE, Page A-7
Four from Prince George’s to run for Congress n
Despite name recognition, observers unsure Brown will excite donors BY
DANIEL LEADERMAN STAFF WRITER
A competitive primary race is brewing in Prince George’s as several political veterans from the county set their sights on a Congressional seat that will soon be vacated by Rep. Donna F. Edwards (D) of Fort Washington.
Former Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown (D) and former county state’s attorney Glenn F. Ivey (D) announced their campaigns last week, while former County Councilwoman Ingrid M. Turner (D-Dist. 4) and current state Del. Joseline Pena-Melnyk (D-Dist. 21) announced their plans Tuesday. Edwards is running for the U.S. Senate seat that will open up when Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D) retires. “I’ve always been about working for the people,” Turner, who has homes in Bowie and Oxon Hill, told The Gazette. “My life has been about public service.” Turner, 51, who served in the Navy’s
Judge Advocate General’s Corps, said that if elected she will focus on advocating for working- and middle-class families as well as veterans. “I am excited to be taking on this new challenge,” wrote Pena-Melnyk, in an announcement on her Facebook page Tuesday afternoon. “Job number one is creating and protecting high wage jobs for working families.” Pena-Melnyk, 48, of College Park, has represented portions of Prince George’s and Anne Arundel Counties in the House
See CONGRESS, Page A-8
Community rallies to fund Bowie girl’s funeral n
Two-year-old and grandmother were struck while crossing road Saturday BY
DANIEL LEADERMAN STAFF WRITER
Friends and community members are pitching in to help pay for the funeral of a two-year-old Bowie girl struck and killed by a car Saturday. The girl, identified by police as Dynesti Maraj, was crossing Laurel Bowie Road near Old Chapel Road with her grandmother, 46-year-old Lazina Alae, shortly before 12:30 p.m. when the two were struck, said Bowie Police Chief John Nesky. The vehicle was turning left from Old
INDEX Automotive Calendar Classified Entertainment Opinion Sports
NEWS B-8 A-2 B-6 B-3 A-9 B-1
Chapel Road into the southbound lane of Laurel Bowie Road, according to a police report. The driver, a 55-year-old man from Clarksville, remained on the scene. Police did not release his name and had not determined whether he will face charges because the accident was still under investigation Monday, Nesky said. The two victims were walking in the crosswalk, but investigators did not yet know Monday if they had the “walk” signal when they crossed, Nesky said. Maraj was taken to a local hospital where she succumbed to her injuries, Nesky said. Alae remained hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries Monday afternoon, Nesky said. The funeral fund was established on
www.gofundme.com by a woman who identified herself as Rocchina Marie and wrote that she is a friend of Maraj’s father. The fundraiser had received 97 donations totaling $4,680 by early Monday afternoon, according to the website. Friends and well-wishers offered their condolences along with their donations. “Dynesti was such a kind, loving baby and she brought out the best in everyone in her presence,” wrote one donor. “May your beautiful daughter rest in peace. Her spirit will continue to surround you,” wrote another. A candlelight vigil was scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the scene of the accident, Marie wrote. dleaderman@gazette.net
STILL HOPPING Bowie fitness enthusiast credits exercise with easing cancer recovery.
A-3
Volume 18, No. 8, Two sections, 20 Pages Copyright © 2015 The Gazette Please
RECYCLE
GREG DOHLER/THE GAZETTE
Forestville Military Academy girls basketball coach James Washington was a player at the school when the boys won the state title in 1995. On Saturday, he coached the girls to their first championship.
Forestville state title run is a family affair Father-daughter duo at center of team’s cohesion n
BY JENNIFER BEEKMAN STAFF WRITER
It didn’t happen often, but there were times this season when second-year Forestville Military Academy girls basketball coach James Washington deviated from his usual softspoken and laidback demeanor to become more stern-mannered or, as he called it, “incredible hulk.” His tone in these instances were quite reminiscent of a father disciplining his child. And that’s exactly what Washington was doing.
While Knights freshman guard Taleah “Noo” Washington was his only biological daughter on this winter’s Class 1A State champion Forestville team, the elder Washington has been coaching a core of this year’s team since they were in fourth or fifth grade, he said. He started working with them in Future Players before founding his Havoc City Elite basketball organization. Washington said he truly considers his players an extension of his immediate family and the feeling is mutual, junior guard Marche Sisco said. Sheer basketball skill aside, the Knights teammates’ familiarity and comfort level with
See FAMILY, Page A-8