May 2012 Hyattsville Life & Times

READ HIS LIPS

TOUR A GREEN HOUSE

No new taxes, and other features of the mayor’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year. PAGE 3

Five-year plan for city buildings and roads approved

by Susie Currie

On April 30, the city council passed the five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), for fiscal years 2013 to 2017. It’s the second year that capital improvements have been forecast beyond the current budget.

The vote had been scheduled for the April 25 special budget session, two days after it was discussed at a regular council meeting. But the April 23 meeting was the first most had seen of the 27-page CIP. The budget book distributed a month earlier contained only the operating budget, not the capital one.

“Unlike previous issues before the council, it isn’t a dereliction of duty not to move forward with this,” said Shani Warner (Ward 2). “Given that this was first presented two days ago, it seems reasonable to wait.”

Updated annually as part of the budget process, the CIP gets fine-tuned throughout the year as the council votes on when, how, and how much of the appropriations are spent. Although

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

A look at what may be the greenest house on the 33rd Annual HPA Historic House Tour. PAGE 5

Did you miss the carnival at Queens Chapel Town Center?

A Roman re-enactment, plant sale and gallery tour are coming up. PAGES 8-9

Hyattsville Life&Times

Vol. 9 No. 5

Hyattsville’s Community Newspaper

Trail assaults worry residents

by Paula Minaert

A recent series of six sexual assaults in and near Hyattsville, as yet unsolved, has unnerved city residents, and it appears that more than one person is responsible.

It began January 28. One attack took place in Hyattsville, two occurred in Mt. Rainier and three happened on or near the Northwest Branch Hiker-Biker Trail section that borders the West Hyattsville Metro station.

January 28, 2:30 a.m.: The Prince George’s County Police are investigating the first attack, which happened when a woman walked through the Queenstown Apartments at 3300 Buchanan Street in Mt. Rainier. She was approached by a man who showed a knife, took her into some bushes and raped her.

February 23, just after midnight: The second attack took place in Hyattsville, on the section of Jamestown Road between the

Metro station and the pedestrian crossing at Queens Chapel Road; it is next to the HikerBiker Trail. The Hyattsville City Police are investigating it.

“The victim was pulled into a wooded area between the trail and Jamestown Road,” said Chief Douglas Holland. “She was asked to remove her shirt, there was a struggle and the assailant ran away.”

He said the assailant did not display a weapon ASSAULTS continued on page 11

Little change in city ward boundaries

by Susie Currie

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit # 43 Easton, MD 21601

CAPITAL continued on page 12

THEY’RE Hyattsville Life & Times PO Box 132 Hyattsville, MD 20781

May 2012

BACK

After 30 years, fireworks returned to Magruder Park for Hyattsville’s latest anniversary celebration.

CHRIS CURRIE

On May 2, the Hyattsville City Council approved a redistricting plan that keeps most residents, including all incumbent councilmembers, in their wards.

Of the 10 options presented by redistricting committee chair David Rain during two previous meetings, plan 2b seemed to meet most of the objectives.

Boundary lines are somewhat smoother, wards are slightly more compact and contiguous, and, with a population that is exactly 50 percent Hispanic, Ward 4 becomes a minority-opportunity ward as defined by the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Redistricting is federally mandated after each census. Findings from the 2010 one show an increase of nearly 20 percent in the city’s population. Much of that was due to annexation and new residential construction.

As expected, Ward 3 saw the REDISTRICTING continued on page 13

Included: The May 9, 2012 Issue of The Hyattsville Reporter — See Center Section

Page 2

Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2012

FromTheEditor

Canines deserve care

by Paula Minaert

I’ve always thought that Hyattsville residents are obsessed with three things: dogs, gardens and local politics (though I’ve changed my mind recently about that last one). I’m a dog person, so the great number of canines in our city is a real plus for me. I’ve known quite a few dogs in my 30some years in Hyattsville.

There’s Gretchen, a sweet Dachshund who lived on my street. The best story about her is the time she ate a rabbit practically whole and then required surgical intervention. Her successor was Sammi, who amused

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 susie@hyattsvillelife.com.

countless passing drivers (and embarrassed his person) because he twirled in circles for every car.

Squiggy lived a few blocks away and went everywhere with his person. His best story is the time he clawed his way out of a cat door when he had to be left at home one night.

A mastiff lives behind us. He likes to lie on top of the picnic table in his yard and bark at us. We keep telling him we have a right to be in our yard, but I’m not sure he accepts that. Then there’s what my husband and I call the wolf pack: three dogs, also on the street behind us. Whenever they hear a siren, they sit in a circle and howl, noses pointed to the sky.

I’ve met dogs on my walks around town, too. A large dog recently came up to his fence.

I asked if he was friendly and he wagged his tail and stuck his nose up to the slats. So I let him sniff my hand and then we were friends. Then there’s Lily, a very

PAULA MINAERT Sasha, age 14, on high alert from her bed.

friendly little dog on Hamilton Street near the community garden. She always comes running when she sees me.

I’m especially attentive to dogs now because we don’t have one anymore; we lost our Sasha late

last year. It was hard. I think of getting another one, but I’m not sure I’m ready. And I think of all the work dogs require. I won’t have a dog unless I know I can do right by it.

Some people don’t take care

of their dogs. That’s something I just don’t understand. I think there’s a special place in hell for people who neglect or mistreat dogs.

I was talking about this recently with another dog person: Paula Perry, councilmember for Ward 4. She says she gets lots of calls from her residents about people who keep their dogs in a pen 24/7. But according to the ASPCA, as long as the dog has a shelter to go into, and food and water, there isn’t anything to be done about it.

“I dislike that,” she said. “If you’re going to have a pet, you should at least take care of it, pay attention to it, even if you don’t want it in the house.”

She also gets complaints about dogs running loose and people not cleaning up after their dogs — both of which are forbidden by the city charter.

“Dog feces attracts rats. So if your neighbor doesn’t clean up after their pet, you may get rats, even if you don’t have a dog.”

So there’s a lot to consider when it comes to having a dog.

Of course, I think it’s worth it. I guess the time just isn’t right yet.

DIG IN!

Executive Editor Paula Minaert paula@hyattsvillelife.com 301.335.2519 Managing Editor Susie Currie susie@hyattsvillelife.com 301.633.9209 Editorial Intern Scarlett Salem Production Ashley Perks Advertising advertising@hyattsvillelife.com 301.531.5234 Writers & Contributors Victoria Hille, William Jenne, Valerie Russell, Kimberly Schmidt, Fred Seitz, Hugh Turley Board of Directors Julia Duin - President Chris Currie - Vice President Joseph Gigliotti - General Counsel Paula Minaert - Secretary Peggy Dee, Bart Lawrence, Karen J. Riley Susie Currie - Ex Officio 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 9,300.

HL&T is a member of the National Newspaper Association.

T. CARTER ROSS/SUSIE CURRIE Left: Soren and Olivia Bryan tackle a mulch pile on May 5 at the Hyattsville Elementary School Garden and Grounds Day. Earlier that week, on May 2, officials convened for the groundbreaking of the cityʼs new elementary school at 3120 Nicholson Street. It is scheduled to open in August 2013.

Above, from left: Prince Georgeʼs County Schools Superintendent William Hite, County Councilmember Will Campos, School Board Representative Amber Waller, and State Senator Paul Pinsky.

Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2012

Page 3

City budget holds steady, new departments formed

by Karen J. Riley

Mayor Marc Tartaro’s budget for fiscal year 2013, which starts July 1, is positively upbeat in comparison to other jurisdictions’.

Lower tax collections due to the collapse in housing prices and economic stagnation have forced many municipalities to reduce services and lay off staff.

While Hyattsville has seen a decline in property tax assessments, overall city revenue has remained steady. The budget synopsis credits the city’s fiscal health to ongoing investments and annexation of major retail, and business-oriented development before the downturn.

Nevertheless, with prices rising nationwide for health care and gasoline, the 2013 budget includes a modest 3.6 percent reduction in spending from last year, from $14.6 million to $14.1 million, in order to achieve a balanced budget. But the trims have been done in such a way that there is no noticeable change in city services.

In fact, spending is slated to increase slightly in a few key departments such as general government, public safety and public works.

Residents will see their tax rates remain constant for the seventh straight year. Recognizing that many residents have been struggling in the sour economy, Tartaro has kept the property tax rate at 63 cents per $100 of assessed value.

That’s enough to collect an estimated $11.3 million in fiscal year 2013, which accounts for the bulk of the city’s total estimated revenue of $15.5 million. Hyattsville must use $1.4 million of that revenue to meet its debt obligations from leases and the principal and interest on city bonds.

Under a balanced budget, that leaves $14.1 million to spend on city services.

Health care changes Under the proposed budget, city staff will receive a 1 percent cost-of-living increase and will transition to a defined contribution model for employee health care from a defined benefit plan.

So instead of receiving a set of health insurance benefits, staff will be given a fixed amount of money to buy or help pay for insurance they choose themselves.

In FY13, the city’s contribution will be capped at $14,200 per employee annually.

This will result, according to Tartaro, in lower health care costs for about 75 percent of city employees. In future years, the city’s contribution will be adjusted based on a cost-of-living formula.

However, this approach is not popular with the city’s chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police.

“What this plan amounts to is price locking,” said FOP President Patrick O’Hagan. He fears that as health care costs go up, the employee rather than the city will be expected to absorb any increase.

Staff The number of city staff will remain the same overall at 109.9 full-time equivalents. The new budget assumes that the city will fill several important slots, including a city administrator and city clerk.

Last year the city had to absorb steeply higher workers’ compensation premiums. A major task of its new human resource director, Chris Vermillion, will be controlling workers’ compensation costs. To help accomplish that goal, every city office is being asked to collect metrics on workers’ compensation.

Department of Community Services The 2013 budget reflects the reorganization of some city services that was recommended by the city’s 2009 Management & Efficiency Study. A new Department of Community Services combines the functions of seven city offices: Arts and Arts Collaborations, Cable Operations, Communications and Public Relations, Recreation Services, Senior Services and Call-A-Bus, Special Events and Community Event Collaboration and Volunteer Services.

In addition, the Department of Public Works will handle park maintenance.

Community and Economic Development This new department, in addition to being a general booster for new development and providing mapping services, will assume the responsibility for code compliance and parking compliance.

The city sees these as key components in an overall plan for future economic development.

Under this scheme, code enforcement morphs into a broader code compliance role, working to preserve and enhance neighborhood conditions, collect economic development data and educate local business about available resources for business development.

Parking enforcement, previously tasked to the police department, becomes parking compliance in this department. This is based on the assumption that effective parking management is one of the city’s best tools to support continued revitalization.

It’s also an important source of revenue, especially because the number of city parking meters will be increasing from 44 to 200.

“The parking program has been a failure for years,” said Tartaro.

“We don’t have a coherent policy.”

Coming up with a parking plan is seen as all the more important, given concerns about the limited parking available at the new Route 1 development. In addition the capital budget includes $2 million in FY13 to add new parking in that area For the first time, the budget includes metrics for each office that will make it possible to not only measure staff performance but also provide a wealth of data about how residents interact with the city government. Ultimately, this could lead to more intelligent allocations of staff and services in future budget years.

At press time, the council was expected to pass the budget at its May 7 meeting.

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Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2012

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susie currie Monna Kauppinen shows her painting of Gallatin Street greenery, one of several she’s done featuring foliage from the city’s annual Historic House Tour. This year’s will be on May 20.

Artists add local color to annual historic house tour

by Susie Currie

Members of the Hyattsville Community Arts Alliance exhibit their work throughout the year at Franklins and the Prince George’s Plaza Community Center, among other places. But on May 20, during the 33rd Annual Historic Hyattsville House Tour, artists themselves will be on display.

Among them will be Monna Kauppinen, an HCAA member since its founding in 1994. She goes every year to paint one of the gardens on the tour.

It’s a tradition that started, she says, “eight or nine years ago,� when tour organizers from the Hyattsville Preservation Association invited HCAA artists to set up their easels along the route during the event. “It was strictly for ambience,� she says.

Asked to depict a scene from one of the featured properties, some artists looked to the houses themselves for inspiration. But Kauppinen, as she’s done every year since, chose flowers as her subject.

“My mother was a big gardener, and I like the colors,� she says.

She starts a new picture each year, working with pastels. It can take months to finish; that day, she’s mostly concerned about capturing the blooms. “I don’t see how people get anything painted [on house tour day],� she says. “Everyone stops to chat.�

Kauppinen’s family moved to Hyattsville in 1936, when she was a baby. She grew up here and, except for a six-year stint in Asia with the Peace Corps, has never lived more than five miles away. “It’s fun to be connected with Hyattsville again,� says the Adelphi resident.

She began taking night classes in studio art at the Smithsonian Institution while keeping her day job with the federal government. The year she retired, 1990, also marked her first exhibit: at a Washington real-estate office.

Details about the 33rd Annual Historic Hyattsville House Tour can be found in the Community Calendar, p. 9. For more information about HCAA, visit www. hcaaonline.org.

Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2012

Page 5

Distressed to designer

By Paula Minaert

When Dan and Meredith Muth bought their brick Colonial in 2010, they had no idea it would be on the city’s Historic House Tour two years later. Built in 1943, it had been rented out for the previous 15 years to many different people and, according to the couple, hadn’t been maintained.

They got the house when the owner couldn’t pay the taxes.

Their neighbors were thrilled that they had bought it, says Dan. Next-door neighbor Richard Marth says a whole mix of people, families and college students, lived there during the rental years.

“One renter owned a restaurant and moved all his workers into the house,” he recalls. “But it was more than the legal limit of tenants. The owner ended up evicting them.”

Dan says only the wood floors

(which he refinished) and the hearth are left of the original house. Everything else is new, including the roof, walls, wiring, plumbing and windows.

He did much of the work himself — and this was while he and his wife were both working on their dissertations and expecting their son, Jeffrey.

“I stayed with friends,” says Meredith. “There was no power and heat here. Dan slept in the attic on an inflatable bed and worked on the house, and I’d come and visit. I had to put on a headlamp to get to the bathroom.”

One of their favorite photos from that time shows her sitting on the bed in the dark, heavily pregnant and scowling.

The good news was that the house, underneath the surface, was structurally sound. Only in one place did Dan uncover a real problem.

“I took out a wall in the kitchen

to open it up, and found that the joists were cracked and actually sagging.” It turned out that the tiled bathroom floors above the kitchen had thick layers of concrete under them and that weight was too much for the wall below. It was waiting to collapse.

The couple wanted their work to be as green as possible. They reused all the lumber they took out, and used soy-based insulation.

They also installed geothermal heating and cooling.

It required drilling three 200foot wells in the yard and running pipes to the house, where a heat pump circulates the water from the wells.

“It uses a lot less energy than the standard way,” says Dan. “It’s a way to heat and cool your home using renewable energy.”

Upstairs, they built two alcoves and added closets. Dan also transformed a closet into a hallway, to let in more light from the octagonal window that, inexplicably, had been placed inside the closet. He also enlarged all the doorways to open things up.

“We wanted to put a little ‘Country Craftsman’ inside this Colonial, because it speaks more to our style.”

After all the work, they look forward to sharing their home with the Hyattsville community during this year’s tour, on May 20.

dan muth and paula minaert Before and after pictures of the exterior of the Muth house, one stop on this year’s house tour.

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Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2012

MissFloribunda Dear Miss Floribunda, What would be an easy thing to plant for a hedge tall enough to screen out my next-door neighbors’ back yard? I like the neighbors but ,shall we say, their taste in yard decor is not mine. I have broached the subject of a hedge to them on the grounds that I like to go out in the backyard in the mornings to drink my coffee in my robe. The remarks I got were as tasteful as their decor but they cheerfully told me if I wanted a hedge they would help me plant one.

None of us could qualify as a good gardener. I don’t think the soil is very good, and I don’t want to go to the trouble to improve it. Please recommend something we can pretty much stick in the ground and forget.

Lazy on Livingston Street

FILE PHOTO

Dear Lazy,

The evergreen American holly thrives in poor conditions and makes a thick hedge.

The only plants that would meet your stringent criteria are native ones, and fortunately you will soon be able to take advantage of the Hyattsville Elementary School PTA Third Annual Native Plant Sale. The address is 5311 43rd Avenue, and the dates are Saturday, May 19, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, May 20, from

8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Go early because word has gotten around and competition is keen for the easycare treasures that are featured.

Looking at their list of more than 40 indigenous plants I see several shrubs that would fill the bill for you: they tolerate poor soil and poor drainage; are disease free; and do equally well in

sun or partial shade. The American holly and the inkberry (a variety of holly with black rather than red berries) would be evergreen. Faster growing would be the spicebush, which is fragrant and especially beautiful in autumn when its foliage turns a gorgeous gold. The shape of these has interest in winter and even-

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tually the bushes would form a screen of twigs. The American elderberry also grows rapidly, and the flowers and berries can be used by humans for jams and cordials. Birds and butterflies are attracted to all of these. Experts will be present at the sale to help you choose.

The Hyattsville Horticultural

Society will postpone its monthly business meeting in May in order to help make flower arrangements to grace the homes on the Hyattsville House Tour on May 20. Please do not miss this opportunity to view the creative ways Hyattsville residents have embellished their historic homes and gardens.

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Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2012

Page 7

AuntieDiluviana DSC00841.jpg

Dear Auntie Diluviana,

Helping Sell Hyattsville

And our Neighboring Community

Ann Barrett, Realtor®

DSC00675.JPG

minus some student fees. Prince George’s Community College As a recently retired senior, I am also has discounts for seniors. looking forward to havingDSC00744.jpg more Want to keep fit? The fitness St, Hyattsville - UNDER time to enjoy the cultural,Jefferson recre- room at Prince George’s Plaza CONTRACT ational and entertainment activi- Community Center, 6600 Adelphi ties in the Hyattsville area. But be- Road (across Toledo Road from cause I am living on a fixed income, the library), is free for seniors.

I have to be careful with my budget.

Some cultural and historic sites Where can I find discounts? also have reduced rates for seniors. Among them are RiversR.R. dale House Museum in Riverdale, Surratt House Museum in Dear R.R., Clinton and Montpelier Mansion in Laurel.

I checked with my friends at A special event free to seniors Hyattsville Aging in Place, who is the Hyattsville Aging in Place came up with several ideas for picnic on June 3 from 2 to 5 p.m. low-cost activities. at the Magruder Park recreation A movie fan? The Regal Royale center. The potluck will feature 14 movie theater in University musical entertainment and guest Town Center offers an all-day speaker Emily Stowers, the city’s rate of $8.50 for folks 60 and new senior coordinator. A Spanolder. That compares to $9 mati- ish interpreter will be on hand. nee and $11 evening ticket prices There will be door prizes, special for other adults. AMC theatres gifts, and literature concerning in Largo and Beltsville and the various recreational activities P&G Old Greenbelt Theatre also in the county. Participants are offer senior discounts. asked to bring a dish to share.

Local educational institutions offer other opportunities for sav- This occasional column shares the ings. The Golden I.D. program insights of members of Hyattsville at the University of Maryland Aging in Place, an organization allows eligible seniors to take ad- dedicated to helping seniors stay in vantage of a wide variety of aca- their homes and remain active in demic courses at the same rate the community. It is compiled by as part-time undergraduates but Molly Parrish.

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Hyattsville Reporter Page HR1

Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2012

the

No. 240 • May 8, 2012

www.hyattsville.org • 301-985-5000

ANNOUNCEMENTS Commemorating National Police Week In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington DC is the site of many Police Week activities, including the addition of 362 names to the walls this year, the names of those officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

One name on the wall is familiar to many in our community.

Private Robert John King was one of the City’s first motorcycle officers. The City of Hyattsville’s Police Department was the first in the County to adopt motorcycles for traffic patrols. Officer King was the very first member of the force to request a transfer to the new Motor Unit. He was known to all as a proud and dedicated officer, committed to the community he served.

On June 18, 1984, Bob had just cut short his vacation, returning home to report “Motor 112, 10-8” – he was back in service. Later that night, Bob took part in the pursuit of a stolen motorcycle. The unthinkable happened – during the pursuit, Bob’s bike crashed and he was rushed to the hospital. The next morning, Bob passed away from injuries related to the crash.

He was just 27 years old.

Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2012

Outback Summer Jam Series returns!

The Outback Steakhouse Summer Jam series returns on Friday, May 11. Thanks to Gregory Kithcart and the Outback Steakhouse at the Mall at Prince George’s Plaza for their signature sponsorship of this event. Special thanks also goes to McDonald Towing Division for underwriting Mandy the Clown’s appearances this summer.

Held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the second Friday of the month from May 11 through September 14, this event includes delicious food (burgers, chicken and hot dogs) provided and prepared by Outback Steakhouse of Hyattsville, a beer and wine garden, musical entertainment, the ever-popular moon bounce, and Mandy the Clown and her very talented face painter.

The Summer Jam Series is held at the Municipal Building at 4310 Gallatin Street - rain or shine event! In the event of inclement weather, the Jam moves into the multi-purpose room.

Attendance at Summer Jam is free and open to everyone. There is a charge for food and beverages.

http://www.hyattsville.org/summerjam

Friday, May 11

Outback Steakhouse Summer Jam featuring The Magic Band 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Monday, May 14

Council Work Session/Council Meeting 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Wednesday, May 16

Hyattsville Environmental Committee Meeting 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Sunday May 20

June 8 - Blues Condition treats us to hot blues & jumpin’ roots rock

September 14 - Just Us featuring our own Sgt. Chris Purvis will close this year’s Summer Jam Series with some good time Rock ‘n Roll.

MAY 2012

Bike to Work Day, Pit Stop at Magruder Park 6:00 to 9:00 AM

May 11 - The Magic Band takes the stage to rock the City Building with their classic rock sounds

August 10 - N2N returns to the Summer Jam stage to perform classic R&B, Soul and Funk

CALENDAR

Friday, May 18

2012 Outback Steakhouse Summer Jam Schedule

July 13 - The Atomic Swing Club brings their unique blend of jazz, lounge, blues, rockabilly and big band

Page HR2

presents

Summer

Jam 2012

33rd Annual Historic Hyattsville House Tour, City-wide 1:00 to 5:00 PM

Monday, May 21 Council Meeting 8:00 to 10:00 PM

Unless otherwise noted, all events take place at the City Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin Street.

IN OTHER NEWS...

ELEVATION BURGER VERTIGO CHALLENGE TO BENEFIT SPECIAL OLYMPICS On Tuesday, May 22, Elevation Burger will host the Vertigo Challenge to benefit Special Olympics Maryland – Prince George’s County. At 3:00 PM, teams from the Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department, Hyattsville City Police Department, and Hyattsville Department of Public Works will each attempt to set the first Vertigo Burger eating record. Cheer on your favorite team, or just stop by any time to hear which team took home the trophy! $2 from every burger sold all day will be donated to Special Olympics.

Elevation Burger is located at 5501 Baltimore Avenue.

You can find Officer King’s name on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington D.C. He is listed on panel 33, E-1, just one of the more than 14,000 police officers who gave their lives during the twentieth century.

We honor his sacrifice, and the many sacrifices of those who risk their lives to ensure the safety of our families and our communities.

Visit the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund for more information. http://www.nleomf.org/

REDISTRICTING PLAN ADOPTED; FIND DETAILS ONLINE BIKE TO WORK DAY IS FRIDAY, MAY 18 May is National Bike Month, Friday, May 18 is Bike to Work Day! Commuter Connections and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association co-sponsor this project, which gets more than 10,000 commuters on two wheels as the area’s experienced riders and newcomers alike make their morning trips by bike. Pit stops are available throughout the area where you can meet up with others going your way. The Magruder Park Pit Stop opens at 6:00 AM. For more information or to register, please visit http://www.biketoworkmetrodc.org.

The City adopted a redistricting plan earlier this month. Find details here: http://www.hyattsville.org/redistricting.

CITY BUDGET DETAILS AVAILABLE ONLINE The City is expected to adopt a budget in early May. Residents can view documents online at http://www. hyattsville.org/budget. Not interested in being part of the live audience? Tune in to Channel 71 (Comcast) or 12 (Verizon).

Hyattsville Elementary School’s Native Plant Sale Thinking of making your green space greener? Consider Native Plants. The Hyattsville Elementary School Parent Teacher Association hosts a Native Plant Sale at the school, 5311 43rd Ave., Hyattsville, MD 20781.

Hours are: Saturday, May 19 from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and Sunday, May 20 from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Visit www.nativeplantsale.org for information.

Hyattsville Preservation Association’s 33rd Annual Historic House Tour Tour some of the City’s most intriguing homes with a self-guided walking tour on Sunday, May 20, from 1:00 PM through 5:00 PM. Tours depart from the City Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin Street.

You can purchase $10 advance tickets at the City’s administrative offices at 4310 Gallatin Street, Third Floor, between the hours of 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, or at Franklin’s General Store, 5121 Baltimore Avenue, 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily. Day of tour $12 ticket sales begin at 12:30 PM at 4310 Gallatin Street. Cash or check only. Questions? Visit www.preservehyattsville.org, call 301/699.5440, or email hpahyattsville@ hotmail.com.

VETERAN SERVICES Looking for counseling, assistance with veterans’ benefits,

or other information? The Prince George’s County Vet Center services County residents who have served their country.

Services are provided at no charge to the veteran. For more information, visit www.vetcenter.va.gov, or call the Prince George’s County Vet Center, located at 7905 Malcolm Rd., Suite 101, Clinton, MD 21735, at 301/856-7173.

WAIT LIST OPEN FOR CITY SUMMER CAMPS

Thank you for the overwhelming response to the City’s Summer Camp programs. As of this writing, we are at capacity in Sessions I through IV. We have a few spaces remaining in Session V (the week of August 13 through August 17). If you would like to be added to the waitlist, please contact Jacquay Plummer at 301/985-5027.

uled to be picked up on Wednesday, then your trash will be picked up on Monday, July 2 instead of Wednesday, July 4. Trash collection and yard waste collection will resume its normal schedule the following week. Questions? Please call 301/985-5032.

NIXLE The City is now using Nixle to send public safety alerts and information via both email and text message. This system replaces the SafeCity website previously in use.

Many of our neighboring jurisdictions also use Nixle to send out information. Please note that Nixle won’t report on every incident – typically alerts are sent when the HCPD needs to alert the public to a potentially dangerous situation, or when we are asking for your help solving a crime. In other cases, Nixle messages relate to road closures, power outages, etc.

If you have a nixle.com account, there is no need to create a new one.

Simply log in and add the City of Hyattsville to your wire. New to Nixle?

Register at www.nixle.com or enroll using the widget online at http:// www.hyattsville.org/stayinformed.

FIND US ON FACEBOOK INDEPENDENCE DAY TRASH COLLECTION CHANGES There will be no yard waste collection Monday July 2 through Friday July 6. If your trash is normally sched-

Are you on Facebook? You can now keep up with City events and happenings at www.facebook.com/cityofhyattsville. When you see Vainglorious, the silver metal bird sculpture at Centennial Park, you’ll know you’re in the right place. He is kind enough to serve as the City’s wall photo.

Page 8

Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2012

Q: What can a penny buy these days?

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

A: Your ad, in full color, delivered by U.S. Mail to a Hyattsville-area household (and with change to spare!)

Contact 301-531-5234 or advertising@hyattsvillelife.com

May 10 For summer, A Tangled Skein has lined up a new class: Lamb’s Lace Cardigan. The class, intended for advanced beginners and up, will teach you how to plan your knitting, read charts and knit lace. Four sessions start tonight and continue every other Thursday, 7 to 9 p.m., through June 21. $80 for 4 sessions plus materials.

5200 Baltimore Avenue, Suite 101. The pattern should be purchased in advance on www. ravelry.com; call 301.779.3399 for details.

May 12 The 8th Annual Prince George’s County Gateway Arts District Open Studio Tour gives you a chance to see inside the studios of 120 local artists throughout the Gateway Arts District. Later, the Opening Reception and Tour Afterparty showcases the “Love, Loss & Lipstick” exhibition by Caryl Burtner and Taliaferro Logan.

Free. Tour hours are noon to 5 p.m.; party is from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the 39th Street Gallery, 3901

Rhode Island Avenue, Brentwood. To download a map, visit www.gatewayopenstudios.org.

May 12 and 13

Edgeworks Dance Theater returns to Joe’s Movement Emporium with an evening of works by men in American concert dance. Mixer II will feature programs by EDT company members and guest artists. $20, $15 students and seniors, and $7 youth. Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m. Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Road, Mt. Rainier. 301.699.1819 or joesmovement.org.

May 17 to 20 Visit the land of fairy dust, pirates and Lost Boys in the Cheverly Young Actors’ Guild production of Peter Pan. $10 to $14. Evening shows are Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 6:30 p.m., with weekend matinees at 2 p.m. Publick Playhouse, 5445 Landover Road, Cheverly.

301.277.1710 or www.cheverlyyoungactors.org.

May 18 St. Jerome Academy’s Second Annual Springfest features carnival games (with prizes several cuts above the traditional festival freebies, according to kids who went last year), inflatable play structures, food and drinks, a DJ and a silent auction. Weather permitting, it will be held in the school’s upper and lower parking lots at 5207 42nd Place. 5 to 9 p.m. 301.277.4568.

May 19 The 7th Annual Bike Rally: Rivers to Rockets is named for sites along the 20-mile tour. Following the Anacostia Tributary Trail System, the route goes to Greenbelt – home of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center – via Berwyn Heights. Entry fees range from $25 for individuals to $60 for families, and include breakfast, barbecue lunch, and a T-shirt. You can reserve a rental bike online or on site for an additional fee. 8 a.m. to noon.

Tour begins at Bladensburg Waterfront Park, 4601 Annapolis Road, Bladensburg. To register, visit the Events tab at www. marylandmilestones.org.

TRASH SCHEDULE CHANGES Monday, May 28 No Yard Waste Collection, City-wide Monday, July 2 No Yard Waste Collection, City-wide

SAVE THE DATE! National Night Out Against Crime is Tuesday, August 7 Hyattsville City Police Department hosts the City’s Night Out at Magruder Park, 40th & Hamilton Streets

More details coming soon!

Wednesday, July 4 City Administrative Offices Closed; No Trash Collection, City-wide

* If your trash is normally collected on Wednesdays, you will not receive service on Wednesday, July 4. Instead, your trash will be picked up two days earlier, on Monday July 2.

Monday, September 3 No Yard Waste Collection, City-wide Questions? Please call the Department of Public Works at 301/985-5032.

Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2012

Page 9

Stick around after the bike rally for an A-May-Zing Animal Fest for all ages, featuring birds of prey, reptiles, farm animals, a puppet show, food vendors, arts and crafts, and more. Free. Noon to 4 p.m. Bladensburg Waterfront Park, 4601 Annapolis Road, Bladensburg. 301.779.0371.

Sponsored by the Prince George’s Audubon Society, the walk is for beginners and experts alike and bird checklists will be available.

Free. Held on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month from 6 to 7:30 p.m. through August 6.

Starts from the parking lot at Berwyn Road and Ballew Avenue in Berwyn Heights. 301.459.3375 or www.pgaudubon.org.

May 19 and 20 Planning your spring garden? maryland milestones Hyattsville Elementary PTA Riders on the annual bike rally that follows the Anacostia Tributary Trail hosts the Third Annual Native System. This year’s 20-mile tour is set for May 19.

Plant Sale, with nearly 40 native varieties available while supplies for seniors. 2 to 5 p.m. Magrud- search for birds and other wildlast. For pictures and informa- er Park recreation center, 40th life. Beginning May 7, evening tion on available plants, visit Avenue and Hamilton Street. rides will be held on Saturdays and Sundays starting at 5 p.m. www.nativeplantsale.org. Free 301.985.5020.

Free; registration required for admission, $3 to $15 per plant. groups of 12 or more. BladensSaturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and June 9 and 10 burg Waterfront Park, 4601 Sunday, 8 a.m. to noon. Hyattsville Elementary School, 5311 Rome at Riversdale reminds Annapolis Road, Bladensburg. visitors of how the classical 301.779.0371.

43rd Avenue. 301.312.9170. world influenced early 19th-cenMay 20 tury America. Participate in Ro- Grab the binoculars for a guided man-themed activities and watch birdwatching hike along the LuIf you love historic houses, you battle demonstrations by Legion ther Goldman Birding Trail, part won’t want to miss the Hyatts- XX on the lawn; inside the mu- of the 38-acre Lake Artemesia. ville Preservation Association’s seum, get a glimpse into neoclas33nd Annual Historic House sical pastimes. Begins Saturday Tour, which will showcase at 11 a.m. and Sunday at noon. homes, gardens, businesses and $5 ($3 for students); admission civic organizations throughout to grounds includes all activithe city. $10 in advance (at Frank- ties. Riversdale House Museum, lins or the municipal building) or 4811 Riverdale Road, Riverdale $12 on tour day; $2 for children. Park. 301.864.0420.

1 to 5 p.m. On tour day, pick up a detailed brochure guide at the June 12 municipal building, 4310 GallaOpening day for our own Hytin Street. 301.699.0847. attsville Farmers’ Market, open June 2 today and every Tuesday through the season from 2 to 6 p.m. at the The Caribbean Council of Prince Queens Chapel Town Center, George’s County sponsors A Queens Chapel Road and HamTaste of the Caribbean, a fes- ilton Street. 301.627.0977. tival with performances, food, crafts, boat rides, and more. All Ongoing ages welcome. Free. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Bladensburg Waterfront The producers-only Riverdale Park, 4601 Annapolis Road, Park Farmer’s Market is open for the season, with a variety Bladensburg. 301.779.0371. of local vegetables and fruits, Are you a Hyattsville Elementary honey, baked goods, meat, jams, eN IN School graduate or do you just flowers and more. Free. ThursNow oP rIct enjoy a good celebration? Then days, 3 to 7 p.m. Riverdale Park, DISt S t r A you’re invited to the school’s 301.332.6258. v I l l e!

95th birthday party, complete HyAttS with an international luncheon. Every 2nd and 4th Thursday of Free. 10 a.m. to noon. 5311 43rd the month, the Peter Pan Club for preschoolers includes stoAvenue 301.209.5800.

Paint your very own rytime and hands-on craft masterpiece (to take home June 3 activities. Free with museum with you) with step-by-step admission of $4 for adults ($2 direction of a local artist!

The Hyattsville Aging in Place for children). 10:30 a.m. College picnic will feature musical enter- Park Aviation Museum, 1985 Sessions are 2 hours long, tainment and guest speaker Em- Cpl. Frank Scott Drive, College and cost $50! All supplies ily Stowers, the city’s new senior- Park. 301.864.6029. are included! services coordinator. A Spanish Ideal for date night, girls interpreter will be on hand. Spring means it’s time again for night out, or private parties!

There will be door prizes, special the free Anacostia River Boat Family sessions available. gifts, and literature concerning Tours, held Tuesdays through See website for class calendar various recreational activities Fridays from noon to 12:45. All and to book a session! in the county. It’s a potluck, so ages are welcome to join a park please bring a dish to share. Free naturalist on a pontoon boat to

days, 7 to 9 p.m., and Thursdays, 1 to 3 p.m. They’re open to knitters and crocheters of any experience level. Free. 5200 Baltimore Avenue, Suite 101.

301.779.3399.

Browse clothing, housewares and more at reasonable prices at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Thrift Shop, Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 4512 College Avenue, College Park. 301.864.8880.

The Hyattsville library offers a variety of storytimes. Space is limited; free tickets available at the children’s desk. Ages 9-23 months with caregiver: Mondays, 10:15 a.m. Ages 2-3: Mondays, 11 a.m. and Tuesdays, 10:15 a.m. Ages 3-5: Tuesdays, 11 a.m. Ages 3-6: Wednesdays, 7 p.m. English-Spanish Storytime for ages 3-6: Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.

6530 Adelphi Road. 301.985.4690.

This isn’t your toddler’s Sit & Spin. At A Tangled Skein yarn shop, the name refers to fourthFriday gatherings where dropspindle and spinning-wheel users can work on individual projects, guided by spinning expert Anne O’Connor. Free. 7 to 9 p.m. And if you need more chances to unwind, come to the twice weekly Sit & Stitch sessions: Wednes-

Community Calendar is compiled

by Susie Currie and Scarlett Salem.

It’s a select listing of events happening in and around Hyattsville from the 15th of the issue month to the 15th of the following month. To submit an item for consideration, please e-mail susie@hyattsvillelife. com or mail to P.O. Box 132, Hyattsville, MD 20781. Deadline for June submissions is May 23.

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Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2012

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More misinformation from the media Noted Catholic thinker Thomas Merton once wrote, “…in addition to the sheer volume of information there is the even more portentous fact of falsification and misinformation by which those in power are often completely intent

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not only on misleading others but even on convincing themselves that their own lies are ‘historical truth.’”

Merton wrote those words in 1968, but the misinformation continues today. New York Times reporter Tim Weiner’s new book, Enemies: A History of the FBI, repeats the popular error that “Secretary of Defense James Forrestal…suffered a psychotic breakdown and jumped from his high window at the Bethesda Naval Hospital.”

In January 2009, this column reported findings from the official Willcutts Report of Forrestal’s death, released after 55 years and available at Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library of Princeton University. The official report did not conclude that Forrestal “jumped” or committed “suicide”; instead, there is strong evidence that he was assassinated.

More significant even than the errors Weiner repeats are the important names he leaves out, like former FBI official Larry Potts.

Terry Nichols, the convicted accomplice, alleges Potts guided Timothy McVeigh in bombing the Alfred P. Murrah building as part of an FBI plot. Potts was also present at Ruby Ridge in 1992, where Vicki Weaver was killed by an FBI sniper while holding her daughter; and at the Waco standoff in 1993, where approximately 80 people were killed, including more than 20 children.

On July 27, 1995, Weiner called Reed Irvine, chairman of Accuracy in Media, to discuss an article he was writing with another New

York Times reporter on the death of deputy White House Counsel Vincent Foster. Weiner and Irvine discussed evidence uncovered by Associate Independent Counsel Miguel Rodriguez, who led the Foster death investigation until his January 1995 resignation.

Rodriguez contacted journalists to blow the whistle about the FBI cover-up of Foster’s murder, but no story about it ever appeared in The New York Times. I found Rodriguez’s resignation letter to Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr at the National Archives. He wrote that he “was forced to offer [his] resignation” and he was being “closely monitored by deputy Independent Counsel [Mark] Tuohey and an FBI agent.” Rodriguez told Starr FBI interview reports of witness statements were untrue.

One of those witnesses, Patrick Knowlton, was harassed by FBI agents trying to coerce him to say he saw Foster’s gray car at Fort Marcy Park when he did not.

Knowlton sued FBI agents and others for violating his civil rights.

The three judges who appointed Starr ordered him to include in his final report evidence of murder and FBI witness intimidation submitted by Knowlton’s lawyer.

Although many alleged FBI cover-ups remain unmentioned, Weiner’s book does give an accurate account of the FBI “investigation” of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy: “Oswald did it. Case closed.”

Remarkably, this conclusion was reached by J. Edgar Hoover on the day of the assassination.

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Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2012

ASSAULTS

continued from page 1

and did not attempt to rob the victim, who gave a description similar to those of the other assaults.

The Maryland-National Capital Park Police are investigating the attacks that happened on park property.

Page 11

THE HYATTSVILLE CITY POLICE NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER IS 301.985.5060.

THE EMERGENCY NUMBER IS 301.985.5050.

cident, a woman saw a man pass her. He then doubled back, came up from behind her, displayed a knife, and took her into the woods and raped her.

Johnson said that there are some similarities in the descriptions of the March 12 and March 27 assailants, though they aren’t extremely close. Both victims said the attacker was a Hispanic male with brown eyes, 5 feet 5 inches to 5 feet 7 inches and 160 to 180 pounds. The composite sketches from those victims also show thick eyebrows and puff y cheeks, although they describe March 22, 12:20 a.m.: In the different clothes.

3200 block of Queenstown Drive 20, in Mt. Rainier, a man with a gun April 5 approached a woman for money around and tried to unzip her pants; she p.m.: This atclose got away. According to sources tack, with knowledge of the situation, to Kirkwood the description of the assailant N e i g h b o r hood Park, was similar to the others. differed in some ways from the others. The March 27, 14-year old victim was walking between 9:30 away from the Metro station. She and 10 p.m.: was approached from behind, On the Hikerdragged into the woods and Biker Trail, raped but the assailant showed a close to the handgun instead of a knife. This location of the victim also described a Hispanic March 12 inMarch 12, around noon: According to Captain Stanley Johnson of the Park Police, a woman was walking on the trail to the Metro station. Close to Kirkwood Neighborhood Park, 2601 Nicholson Street in Hyattsville, she was approached from behind by a man who displayed a knife.

He dragged her to a nearby warehouse and raped her.

OLD DOMINION B

male, but the facial characteristics were different from the other two trail attacks and the eyes were hazel rather than brown.

Johnson said that nothing links all the incidents to one person, despite some similarities. He added that park police officers have patrolled the trail area for years by bike, horseback, cruiser and foot and that they’ve increased the patrols recently. He recommended that women not walk the trail alone.

“Also, the trail and our parks are open from sunrise to sunset, so they’re closed after dark.”

Holland said that there has been a spike in crimes on the trails lately, but it’s not routine for that area or for the city.

“We and the park police are asking people to use general safety habits. Walk with a friend or in groups. Be aware of your surroundings. Don’t be distracted by your electronic devices. And please, if you see anything suspicious, call us.”

He added that city police are working closely with the park and county police and are increasing patrols in the area near the assault.

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Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2012

CAPITAL

continued from page 1

it includes items like new speedenforcing radar and LIDAR (laser) for police vehicles, most is allotted to buildings and streets.

Here’s a look at the major projects on the horizon.

THE BUILDINGS Last year’s Comprehensive Facility Management Assessment summed up the condition of the five city buildings, two of which are currently vacant. They are listed below in order of projected expenditure. All years are fiscal, not calendar.

Municipal Building 4310 Gallatin Street $5.2 million over three years, beginning in 2014 For recommended repairs, such as replacing the roof and HVAC system, $700,000 has been budgeted for 2014 and 2015. Then, in 2016, “construction/maintenance” costs total $4.5 million. Currently, all departments but public works are housed here; if some move to the two now-empty buildings (see below), at least some of the building’s 33,000 square feet would be repurposed. Mayor Marc Tartaro, an architect by day, said he came up with that figure by multiplying the square footage by a persquare-foot cost of $150.

Former BB&T building 3505 Hamilton Street (vacant) $4.52 million in the next three years ($420,000 in FY 2013) To use this building, according to the report, the city would need to upgrade the elevator and HVAC system, remove asbestos and lead, and meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. But getting the lead out, it appears, may have to wait.

“Everything pivots on 3505,” Tartaro told the council during a special budget session on April 25. It certainly seems to be the biggest lightning rod of the CIP. One indicator of how much a councilmember wants to spend on this building, purchased by the city in 2010, is what he or she calls it. Tartaro, for example, always refers to it by its street number. But to Paula Perry and Ruth Ann Frazier, who represent wards 4 and 5 respectively, it’s the BB&T building. Opposed to its $950,000 purchase from the start, they would rather see the earmarked millions spent on amenities and improvements in West Hyattsville.

But the building’s funding source – speed camera revenue – can only be used for “public safety” programs. So Tartaro’s proposal to make it the new home of the Hyattsville City Police Department would qualify.

But questions remain for some of his colleagues.

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“To fund it entirely with speedcamera revenue is ambitious,” said Councilmember Timothy Hunt (Ward 3), “and takes it out of the realm of public-safety and more in the realm of being a revenue-driven initiative.”

Arcade building: 4318 Gallatin Street (in construction) $3 million in FY 2013 The initial phases of the project have been completed, but the rest will have to wait until the council approves a design plan. Members have already had the opportunity to comment on four possible scenarios; at press time, the architect was expected to present other scenarios based on that input.

Magruder Park Recreation Building $285,000 in FY 2013 Addressing issues revealed in the facilities assessment, the money will, among other things, make the exterior bathrooms ADA compliant and repurpose a storage area as a concession stand.

Also planned for the coming fiscal year is $20,000 for resurfacing the park’s tennis courts, and the beginning of a five-year, $1.1 million plan to renovate soccer and football fields.

Ryan begins, that job description as well as department functions will almost certainly be rejiggered.

The reorganization will also take into account the results of a fleet study – a survey of all city vehicles – that arrived in draft form in early May; a draft copy is under review.

In the meantime, DPW is allotted $260,000 in the CIP for two new vehicles.

THE ROADS “When I moved here 30 years ago,” said Tartaro, “the city had neglected the roads for decades, and continued to neglect them until the last decade. I certainly am committed to making sure that we have an infrastructure that everyone can drive on without having to get their car repaired on a regular basis.”

Crittenden Street and 40th Place reconstruction $1.6 million in 2013 This plan to improve drainage, realign the roadway and add sidewalks, tossed around for years by the council, has only recently moved into the design stage. Extensive new state stormwater management requirements are only the latest obstacle in a path marked by permitting problems, DPW leadership changes, and a faulty seven-month storm drain replacement by Prince George’s County contractors.

Department of Public Works Operations Center Finishing the Five-Year Street 4633 Arundel Place Rehabilitation Program $0 $880,000 in 2013 and 2014 The assessment of this East Hyattsville building near the Edmonston border found major deficiencies in every area, including materials, structural integrity, and storage. Tartaro has said he wants to wait on making decisions about it until after achieving his long-standing goal of reorganizing the DPW. Before the search to replace erstwhile director Patrick

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In 2004, the council passed this optimistically-named plan to repair the city’s streets. This budget would allow it to be completed over the next two years, improving road conditions at 42nd Place and Oliver Street (near Hyattsville Middle School) and in the notoriously flood-prone “Soggy Bottom” neighborhood near Magruder Park and the Northwest Branch bike trail. As detailed in the February 2012 HL&T, the city DPW raised sidewalks there to accommodate tree roots. But the new sidewalks were higher than residents’ yards, trapping rainwater that should have flowed onto the street – and trap-

ping some residents who couldn’t open their front gates. That was in 1993.

University Hills road repair $0 If the BB&T building/3505 Hamilton Street raised eyebrows because of the high cost, this project did the same for the opposite reason. Hunt, who lives in and represents University Hills, was incensed.

“I’d like to see at least a placeholder for University Hills road construction,” he said at the April 23 meeting. “I know any figure would be somewhat unreliable, but right now that number is zero.”

Tartaro said in an interview that’s because the engineers didn’t provide figures in the preliminary drawings they gave him, Hunt and acting DPW director Julia McTague in late March.

“Budgeting should be relatively accurate, and if it isn’t you need to know why you missed the number,” he said at the meeting.

Hunt is concerned that postponing funding decisions will delay a project that, according to staff, is already estimated to take seven years.

“That seems a bit much for a neighborhood of about 350 homes,” he added. “To me, it is not that the city can’t provide estimates, even if they are preliminary at best, it is that they won’t.”

But University Hills Area Civic Association President Ron Pedone, who has lived there for more than 40 years, said the zero “doesn’t bother me.”

“It would be, in some ways, premature or foolhardy to throw out a number and revise it over and over,” he said. “My reading is that [city officials] first want to determine what it is they want to do.

Are we going to end up with a Chevrolet or a Rolls Royce? Figure that out first. To work backwards doesn’t make sense.”

Pedone has been coordinating with McTague to schedule a public meeting so the community can see the drawings. The latest University Hills newsletter said that it is expected to be in late May or early June, but no date has been set.

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Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2012

Page 13

redistricting

continued from page 1

biggest change. After the annexation of University Hills, it was left with an imbalance of 1,000 residents. This was addressed, in part, by shifting the boundary lines west to encompass part of the current Ward 4. In the shift, the southeastern corner of the current Ward 3 becomes the northwestern corner of the new Ward 1.

The council took only 45 minutes to choose the plan, which was the only item on the May 2 agenda. Mayor Marc Tartaro was absent, having already informed members that he did not intend to vote on redistricting.

“I’m staying out of it,” he said in an interview the next day. “It’s up to the council.”

Council President Matt McKnight, who chaired the meeting, invited councilmembers to share which plan or plans they favored. The winner made everyone’s short list, and was the top choice of councilmembers Ruth Ann Frazier (Ward 5), David Hiles (Ward 2), Paula Perry (Ward 4) and Tim Hunt (Ward 3).

Plan 7 was the favorite of McKnight, Shani Warner (Ward 2) and Ward 1 representatives Candace Hollingsworth and Eric Wingard. That would have put as many as four incumbents in one ward and changed the number of wards from five to four.

The idea of reducing the number of wards is not a new one; the 10-member body is the second largest in the state.

After everyone had spoken, McKnight

said that the question boiled down to: “Are we interested in having a smaller council or not?”

Some members who supported the idea said they realized this may not be the time to implement it.

“I recognize why this is a hard time to reduce the number of wards, with [city clerk] Doug Barber gone and the number of staff vacancies we have,” said Warner.

She also lamented the absences of councilmembers Carlos Lizanne (Ward 4) and Nicole Hinds (Ward 5). Both have health problems, and Hinds had been hospitalized for at least the last three meetings.

“I wish we could hear what Lizanne and Hinds-Mofor have to say,” Warner said before the vote.

Hiles answered, “I think history is made by those who show up.”

The motion approving the boundaries in plan 2b passed 7-1, with Hollingsworth voting against it.

This map shows the current ward boundaries outlined in black, with the new ones delineated by color. Also shown are where the council incumbents live; they will all be staying in their wards, along with most residents. Ward 3 saw the biggest shift. COURTESY ANDREW DIAZ/CITY OF HYATTSVILLE

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Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2012

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