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COMMUNITY GUIDE 2015
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The Gazette
NORTHERN PR INCE GEORGE ’S COUNTY
CAPITOL HEIG HTS CHEVERLY COLLEGE PARK COLMAR MAN OR COTTAGE CITY EDMONSTON FAIRMOUNT HEIGHTS GLENARDEN
NORTHERN AND CENTRAL PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNT Y
GREENBELT
HYATTSVILLE LANDOVER LANDOVER HILL S LANHAM LAUREL MOUNT RAIN IER NEW CARROLLT ON NORTH BREN TWOOD RIVERDALE PARK SEAT PLEASANT
DA I LY U P DAT E S AT G A Z E T T E . N E T
Thursday, May 21, 2015
BERWYN HEIG HTS
BLADENSBURG BRENTWOOD
UNIVERSITY
25 cents
PARK
The Gazette
State funding loss weighs on budget decision
UM has plan for day care center
Vote on proposed tax increase May 28 n
n College Park officials say $5.7 million partnership would meet demand
BY JAMIE ANFENSON-COMEAU STAFF WRITER
BY JAMIE ANFENSON-COMEAU STAFF WRITER
College Park residents could soon have a new day care center in place if a plan to put a new use to a decaying school building is approved. “I think this is a really exciting proposal,” College Park Councilwoman Stephanie Stullich (Dist. 3) said during the council’s May 12 worksession. The proposed site on Calvert Road falls within Stullich’s district. “This building has been such a challenge for the city for a number of years, and as the university has money set aside for a child care facility, this feels like it is just an incredible opportunity to work together.” Carlo Colella, vice president of the university’s Division of Administration and Finance, presented a tentative proposal at the worksession. College Park acquired the former College Park Elementary School on Calvert Road in 1978, but the facility has sat mostly empty since 2005. The upper level of the school would be used for a multipurpose community room on evenings and weekends. The ground level, 14,377 square feet, would be used as a daycare for 120 children ages 6 weeks to 4 years old. The plans would preserve the existing historic two-story structure, but would demolish the onestory additions in the back and to the east, Colella said. Colella said the project would cost an estimated $5.7 million, including asbestos abatement at the school, and that the university was considering having a third party child care provider operate the facility. Under the partnership, Colella suggested half of the slots would go to the university, and
See CENTER, Page A-7
BILL RYAN/THE GAZETTE
(Above) Laurel High School seniors Nohelia Valentin (center left) and Zoey De Los Santos (center right) work on their models, Simone Johnson (left) and Danielle Sweetney, at the school on May 6. De Los Santos won first place in the SkillsUSA Fantasy Makeup State Competition; Valentin won third place. (Below) Laurel High School students Nohelia Valentin (far left) and Zoey De Los Santos (far right) show off their winning looks at the SkillsUSA Maryland aesthetics competition March 18 in Baltimore.
In makeup faceoff, Laurel teens win big
Cosmetology student takes fantasy look to national competition
BY
KIRSTEN PETERSEN STAFF WRITER
For Zoey De Los Santos, it wasn’t just a pretty face that earned her the top prize at a recent Maryland aesthetics competition — it also was an ugly face, which appeared to peel away from her model’s visage using the magic of makeup. “I knew I wanted to do a glamorous look but I thought it would be fun to do an old witch look, so I decided to do both,” De Los Santos said of the two looks she creatively combined on her model’s face. De Los Santos and Nohelia Valentin, both seniors at Laurel High School, earned first and third place in aesthetics, respectively, at the
Two new council members also take oaths of office
BY JAMIE
ANFENSON-COMEAU STAFF WRITER
Hyattsville swore in its first black mayor, as well as two new council members. Candace Hollingsworth, formerly a Ward 1 representative and council president, took the oath of office during the City Council’s Monday meeting, after winning the May 5 municipal elec-
INDEX Automotive Calendar Classified Entertainment Opinion Sports
PHOTO FROM GINA SIMPSON
SkillsUSA state competition March 18 in Baltimore. They were the only winners from Prince George’s County at the state level, according to Chuck Wallace, SkillsUSA Maryland director. SkillsUSA is a national program that supports career and technical education through educational programs, events and competitions. As the first-place winner, De Los Santos will represent Maryland at the national
competition next month in Kentucky. Her travel expenses will be covered with help from fundraisers and support from Prince George’s County Public Schools. Contestants were challenged to create a fantasy look inspired by the Snow White fairy tale. Valentin, 18, of Laurel said she used frostinspired colors and rhinestones to create a “Snow
See MAKEUP, Page A-7
tions unopposed. Hollingsworth said one of her goals as mayor would be to promote transparency and participation in government. “One of the biggest things is making sure everyone in the city feels as though their voices will be heard, regardless of race, gender or ethnicity,” Hollingsworth said. Outgoing Mayor Marc Tartaro, who served four years as mayor and six as a City Councilman, announced in March
See MAYOR, Page A-7
KIRSTEN PETERSEN/THE GAZETTE
Kisakye Kirabo, 8, of Laurel paints a set piece May 12 that his team will use this week when it competes in the Destination Imagination global competition in Knoxville, Tenn.
County teams attend Destination Imagination finals Bond Mill third-graders compete for first time in global contest
n
BY
KIRSTEN PETERSEN STAFF WRITER
JAMIE ANFENSON-COMEAU/THE GAZETTE
Hyattsville Mayor Candace Hollingsworth, accompanied by her family, is sworn in by Rita Robinson, deputy clerk of the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, during the city’s May 18 council meeting.
SPORTS B-8 A-2 B-6 B-3 A-9 B-1
See BUDGET, Page A-5
n
Hyattsville swears in first black mayor n
Prince George’s County Council members are still weighing a proposal to increase property taxes 15.6 percent to fund education improvements, but some say the recent loss of $20.2 million in anticipated state funding will be a factor in their deliberations. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced May 14 that he was withholding Geographic Cost of Education Index funds. The discretionary funding formula provides additional funding to large, urban school districts, and Prince George’s County receives the largest portion with over $40 million. Hogan’s budget funded the GCEI at 50 percent in his proposed budget. The General Assembly
found additional funding for the GCEI, but the governor announced last week that he would not release those funds. Hogan said the money should instead be used for the state employee pension fund. “It’s unclear what the impact will be on the council’s budget discussions going on now, but what is clear is that it will impact the children and families of Prince George’s County,” said County Council Chairman Mel Franklin (D-Dist. 9) of Upper Marlboro. In March, County Executive Rushern L. Baker (D) proposed a budget that includes a 15.6 percent increase in the property tax and a 50 percent increase in the telecommunications tax, which would, under state law, go to the county school system. The tax increases are estimated to bring in an additional $133 million, but requires approval from the Prince George’s
HANGING TOUGH Eleanor Roosevelt falls short in softball’s state semifinals, loses to Northwest.
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Volume 18, No. 21, Two sections, 20 Pages Copyright © 2015 The Gazette Please
RECYCLE
Third-graders from Bond Mill Elementary School didn’t need to travel back in time when their Destination Imagination performance went awry — a perfect response to an “instant challenge” propelled the team to its secondplace victory, qualifying it for this week’s Global Finals. “Even a week after the performance we were still stunned about it,” said team member
Trevor Bateman, 9, of Laurel. Destination Imagination encourages creativity and innovation through project-based challenges. Donna Albrecht, the Laurel school’s DI coordinator, said seven Bond Mill teams have competed at the Global Finals, but this is the first time a third grade team has represented the school. Third grade is the first year students can compete in DI contests. “It’s pretty exciting for them. They’ve worked hard,” Albrecht said. The team took on the scientific challenge, “Making Waves,”
See IMAGINATION, Page A-8