ENCHANTED
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Celtic-inspired singer-songwriter Sharon Knight to entertain at New Deal Café B-1
The Gazette SERVING NORTHERN AND CENTRAL PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY COMMUNITIES
DAILY UPDATES ONLINE www.gazette.net
Thursday, June 5, 2014
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Landover Hills Lutheran school shuts after 62 years
Aspiring artists
Parents say sudden closing leaves them with few options for next year
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BY
EMILIE EASTMAN STAFF WRITER
The seemingly abrupt decision to close a private Lutheran school in Landover Hills has left the families of about 115 students wondering where to send their children next school year. Ascension Lutheran School was founded in 1952 as a ministry of Ascension Lutheran Church, but on May 18, the congregation determined that declining enrollment and a depleted church savings account meant the church could no longer financially support the school, said Ascension pastor Fred Hedt. “It’s just absolutely heartbreaking
BILL RYAN/THE GAZETTE
Aimee Hart and her daughter Emilie Becraft, 3, of University Park, draw on the sidewalk Monday outside the Hyattsville library as the library system kicks off its summer program.
for all of us,” Hedt said. “The [congregation] so valued the day school, it happily invested all it had into supporting the day school, but that was not an unlimited [fund] and those savings have run out.” Hedt said Ascension Lutheran School has been steadily losing students since 2001 and has cost the church nearly $800,000 in operating losses during that time. As a final effort, the church hired a marketing team to try to meet the enrollment goal of 200 students, but by May 18, enrollment had only reached 64 students, Hedt said. While Hedt said the church put out fliers about the financial difficulty and updated the congregation weekly in the church bulletin, many Ascension parents said they did not realize the severity of the situation until the
See LUTHERAN, Page A-6
Bladensburg residents want better budget Tuskegee Airmen About 40 attend meeting to express frustration with council spending
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ALICE POPOVICI STAFF WRITER
One resident complained that the trash on her street had been sitting out so long it was attracting rats. Another demanded the mayor and council give up publicly-funded credit cards and enrichment seminars. And a third resident, her voice rising in anger Monday evening during a packed Bladensburg 2015 budget meeting, said her neighborhood has become so dirty and rundown she is embarrassed to tell people where she lives.
But despite objections from about 15 residents who complained about the lack of public services and lack of transparency in town government during a packed meeting attended by about 40 people, Mayor Walter James and the town council unanimously passed the budget for fiscal 2015. The town’s total projected budget is $5,735,030. A group of about 12 residents have become so concerned by what they describe as “reckless spending” by officials that in May they formed the Citizens’ Action Committee of Bladensburg. The group calls for accountability and better planning to address the budget deficit, said chair Chris Melendez. “We’re drawing down on our reserve funds,” said Melendez, 53, an art and antiques dealer. “Please, we need to
honored at College Park Aviation Museum
have a strategic plan to bring revenues to our town.” Bladensburg treasurer Terry Jackson said the town will draw $657,883 from its reserve balance, which is approximately $3.8 million. Jackson added that the money will not necessarily be spent. “It’s more like a projection,” he said. John Carlson, 68, a university professor and resident, questioned why the town’s leadership had not given the public notice when they gathered to discuss the budget during Memorial Day weekend without letting residents know ahead of time. Councilman Cris Mendoza (Ward 1) said the town’s deficit is not a symptom
Servicemen didn’t talk about their work for years, said they were just doing their jobs
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STAFF WRITER
Throughout his life, Norman Pryde knew his father worked for the N.S.A. and couldn’t talk about his job. What he didn’t know until 1991 was that James Pryde, 88, of Upper Marlboro had previously been a member of the Tuskegee Airmen. “The way I found out is he sent a
See BUDGET, Page A-6
App helps inmates connect with loved ones Users of College Park developer’s Flikshop can send postcard in minutes BY
ALICE POPOVICI STAFF WRITER
After spending eight years in prison, Marcus Bullock of College Park, said he understands the importance of hearing from family and friends. So he created an app that sends postcards to inmates to make that connection a little easier. “It gives them the hope to hang on to,” said Bullock, 32, who spent eight years at the Greensville Correctional
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GIVING IT HER BEST SHOT
Prince George’s champ falls short in national spelling bee.
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NEEDING A STEADY HAND
Basketball coaches balance players’ commitments to AAU and high school summer league teams.
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SMITH
Prince George’s and state officials will kick off a summer-long celebration of the 200th anniversary of the national anthem and the War of 1812 starting Thursday with “A Star-Spangled Summer in Maryland.” The event, scheduled for 10 to 11:30 a.m., will be held rain or shine at the Bladensburg Waterfront Park.
TOM FEDOR/ THE GAZETTE
SPORTS
Star-spangled summer events continue through August SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE
See APP, Page A-6
NEWS
See AIRMEN, Page A-6
County kicks off War of 1812 bicentennial celebration
Marcus Bullock displays his Flikshop application May 19 at his Lanham business. Bullock’s business, Flikshop, caters to people with family and friends who are incarcerated.
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ALICE POPOVICI
membership card for the East Coast Chapter,” said Norman Pryde, of Clinton, who attended a May 31 ceremony at the College Park Aviation Museum honoring his father and 10 other men who belonged to the World War II-era organization. “I’m still learning things about him today.” Maria Cordone, president of the College Park-nonprofit organization Field of Firsts Foundation, said she organized the invitation-only lunch event, which included musical performances and speeches, to recognize the men for their contribution to
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RECYCLE
Six speakers will present at the venue including Gov. Martin O’Malley (D), Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III and Bill Pencek, executive director for the War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission. “It’s a really big day for the county and the state of Maryland,” said Scott Peterson, a Baker spokesman. “It’s an incredible opportunity for residents of the county, state and the region to really learn about a critical mo-
See WAR, Page A-5
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