FROM MARYLAND TO MOSCOW Local teen picked to join Bolshoi Ballet Academy. PAGE 3
Volunteer fire dept. honors history, plans new station by Susie Currie
The Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department (HVFD) will mark its 125th anniversary this month with a weekend-long celebration, and hundreds of former members are coming from all over America for it. They will be here not only to remember a shared past at the fire station, located at 6200 Belcrest Road, but to take an important step toward the future: breaking ground for a new, $12 million building to replace it. The groundbreaking, which will kick off the fire station’s annual fall open house on October 12, is largely ceremonial. Permits are still being pulled and site plans finalized, said HVFD President Dave Iannone. Construction, funded entirely through bonds issued by the county, is expected to begin next year and finish in 2016. But for many attendees, it will be the last time they see the 9,000-square-foot station that so many of them once called home. It was built in 1958 and for many years used as a substation. The main fire station, which has now been incorporated into Firehouse Lofts condominiums, was on the
FESTIVE FALL FESTIVALS September weekend draws record crowds to both the Hispanic Festival and the Hyattsville Arts Festival. PAGES 4 AND 5
MIDDLE SCHOOL HOSTS NATIONAL PARK LAUNCH The National Park Service picked Hyattsville Middle School to debut its latest educational tool. PAGE 8
Hyattsville Life&Times
Vol. 10 No. 10
Hyattsville’s Community Newspaper
Turmoil at city hall as two directors resign Treasurer departs in wake of delinquent audits; city administrator out by end of year
by Susie Currie
Two city directors resigned after the Hyattsville City Council called a special meeting to discuss a troubling fact they’d only recently learned: The city
is nearly three years behind in its required annual audits. City Administrator Jerry Schiro’s resignation was accepted during the September 19 meeting, which started with a two-hour closed session. Schiro had given
RIDING HARD Hundreds raced in fifth annual Hyattsville Cyclocross
Hyattsville Life & Times PO Box 132 Hyattsville, MD 20781
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HVFD continued on page 12
MICHAEL HORLICK Hyattsville Cyclocross returned to Magruder Park on October 6, a day that felt more like late summer than early fall.
October 2013
30 days’ notice; the council then voted to retain his services for an additional 60 days for $21,000. Hyattsville City Treasurer Elaine Stookey was not present at the meeting, where the public heard that the city’s audits for fiscal years 2011 and 2012 have not been completed. Stookey submitted a letter of resignation the next day, September 20, that was effective immediately. Neither she nor Schiro specified a reason for leaving in their resignation letters. Despite repeated RESIGNATIONS continued on page 13
by Mike Persley
Arrow Bicycle volunteer Ted Monoson bought his first bike while he was in college in western New York around 1992. One day, he walked into a “not so reputable” bike shop, where customer service meant something very different than what he’s seen at Arrow. “Those guys were like ‘What do we have that we can pop this guy off on?’ ” he recalls. What he came away with was a 14-inch bike that did not fit him, and had pieces fly off when he rode it. Its been a long bike journey since then for Monoson. Today he’s riding a much better vehicle. On Sunday, October 6, he was one of nearly 500 riders who competed in the fifth annual Hyattsville Cyclocross (CX), held each fall in Magruder Park. Bikers registered in 17 categories based on gender, age and experience. The race, the second in the Super 8 Cyclocross series put on by Bikereg.com, has been a consistent success for Hyattsville since it began in 2008. Sponsors include the city, Arrow Bicycle, Route1Velo, and Crosshairs Cycling. Unlike many forms of bike racing, which can be long distance CYCLOCROSS continued on page 12
Included: The October 9, 2013 Issue of The Hyattsville Reporter — See Center Section
Page 2
Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2013
FromTheEditor
Enticement or entitlement: Whatever you call it, Safeway subsidy makes sense by Rosanna Landis Weaver
Our September cover story on a 52,000-square-foot “lifestyle Safeway” replacing what is essentially a vacant lot at University Town Center is good news for Hyattsville residents. The news that the deal is contingent upon the developer receiving tax relief from both the county and the city is less exciting. ECHO Realty, which will build and lease the store to Safeway, has requested $3.5 million in public incentives to offset infrastructure
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. Executive Editor Susie Currie susie@hyattsvillelife.com 301.633.9209 Managing Editor Rosanna Landis Weaver rosanna@hyattsvillelife.com 301.277.5939 Editorial Intern Scarlett Salem Production Ashley Perks Advertising advertising@hyattsvillelife.com 301.531.5234 Writers & Contributors Victoria Hille, Molly Parrish, Valerie Russell, Fred Seitz, Hugh Turley Board of Directors Joseph Gigliotti - President and General Counsel Chris Currie - Vice President Susie Currie - Secretary Peggy Dee, Karen J. Riley, Valerie Russell Rosanna Landis Weaver - 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.
costs related to the project. The vast majority of the incentives come from the county, which has agreed to its part of the package. However, as part of that package, the developer and the county are requesting the City of Hyattsville provide $400,000 in tax relief. Here’s how it would work: The owners would pay no property tax on the increased value of the site in 2015 and 2016. Taxes will be paid at the 20 percent level in 2017 and 2018, and the 60 percent level for 2019 and 2020, and in full beginning 2021, by which time the property will likely have a much higher assessed value. In general, I’m not a fan of such tax offsets. Call me cynical, but I’ve read too many articles about sports complexes that are built on the backs of taxpayers who rarely benefit, or about companies that stage bidding wars for high-profile corporate headquarters.
I have a lot of respect for an organization known as Good Jobs First, which bills itself as the leading resource for grassroots groups and public officials seeking to make economic development subsidies more accountable and effective. Most recently Good Jobs First has been in the news for its study criticizing Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s “job-piracy trips” into states, including Maryland, led by Democratic governors. Good Jobs First distinguishes between incentives and subsidies, noting that, “An incentive motivates someone to do something they would not have done otherwise. A mountain of evidence suggests that development subsidies are often abused by companies that would have done exactly what they did anyway.” Despite this, I’ve been persuaded by a fair amount of reading and discussion that in this case it
is the right thing to do because of specific circumstances. The University Town Center has simply not lived up to its potential. What should have been a smartgrowth Xanadu opened at just the wrong time, and despite easy access to Metro and some wonderful restaurants it remains something of a hidden treasure. Without an anchor store and a suitable entryway it is hardly compelling. There was originally intended to be a Safeway, but the plan “fell through” in 2010 along with the economy. Since that time the county officials have been particularly active in reaching out to developers regarding the site. There is every reason to take Safeway at its word when it says that without the offset it would not build the store. In addition, I find subsidies most problematic when the company receiving them is a highly profitable entity that pays poverty-level
wages. Safeway, however, has a fairly thin profit margin and is a unionized employer, and the jobs created will be reasonably well paying. This is what positive economic development looks like. Council Member Shani Warner believes that the deal represents a “compromise on both sides.” The first reading of the Revitalization Tax Credit District Ordinance will be on October 7, with a second reading on October 21. This ordinance, similar to one recently adopted in College Park, could serve as a tool for future development. Tension between various facets of government will always exist, and certainly has here. But unlike what we’ve seen at the federal government lately, in Hyattsville problems don’t equal paralysis, as there are issues where all work together for the good of all citizens of Hyattsville. Our neighbors in the big city a few miles away could take a lesson.
MyTwoCents
An unwelcome rite of passage by Susan Hines
One of the most enjoyable aspects of life in Hyattsville is the city’s commitment to and celebration of walkability. Yet our “World within Walking Distance” is compromised when women and girls can’t travel those streets without being victimized by unwanted attention and the fear it inspires. As adults we tend to forget about street harassment until our daughters experience it. When our teenagers come home with stories of comments, long stares and yucky noises aimed at them, and of cars slowing down as they pass on the street, we remember. And like our girls, we feel angry and powerless to stop it. We got used to it and, unfortunately they do, too. My 19-year old daughter already tells me, “I don’t even know how often it happens now, I’m so used to it.” But this summer my 15-year old was asking me for rides to the PG Pool or the West Hyattsville Metro to avoid the “creepers” she encounters as she walks down 40th Place to Hamilton to reach these destinations. Last spring, as I walked home from the Metro clad in the uniform of business (no protection there, apparently) I was passed repeatedly by
a man driving a large black pickup truck. I avoided his stares. The final time he circled round, I memorized his license number, and ran to the house so he wouldn’t see where I lived. I wrote the number down, but I didn’t call the police. Should I have? Recently, I called the Hyattsville station and spoke to Sgt. Chris Purvis to find out if there are best practices in dealing with street harassment. He was refreshingly honest, admitting, for example, that he had never heard the term “street harassment.” But he knew what I meant by it — catcalls, whistles, etc. When I related stories I’ve heard from local girls and their mothers, his concern was obvious and he encouraged citizens to report street harassment to the police. “If someone in Hyattsville doesn’t feel safe, that is a quality of life issue and the Hyattsville police department is committed to protecting quality of life in our city,” Purvis said. What follows are some strategies Purvis shared with me for dealing with street harassment: • Ignore the harasser — don’t engage • Change your behavior: Walk faster, change direction, take a different route if a safer alternative is available.
• Travel in groups • Carry your phone • Be the best witness possible: Use your phone to record a description of the harasser and the vehicle; taking a photo with your phone is fine as long as you can perform the action subtly. • Let the police know. Call the number for non-emergencies (301.985.5060) and report. Want to learn more? Collective Action for Safe Spaces (CASS) is a local group that encourages women to post their harassment stories to the CASS blog. The CASS website, www.collectiveactiondc.org, also features an interactive Google map that tracks incidents of street harassment and allows for monitoring of street harassment through the D.C. region. Hyattsville is on that map. Rather than encouraging passive acceptance of this type of bullying — and that is exactly what it is — we can speak up via this online forum. Talk to your daughters and let the reporting and posting begin. Susan Hines has lived in the Riverdale ParkHyattsville corridor for 17 years.
Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2013
Page 3
Hyattsville teen to attend ballet school in Moscow by Amanda Eisenberg
Even doing something as mundane as ordering an iced coffee, Hyattsville resident Bianca Navari moves with an effortless grace. The 16-year-old ballet student was one of four international students chosen to dance with the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow. She plans to graduate in 2016 with a diploma in choreographic arts as well as an American high school degree, earned through online classes. Her feat is made spectacular by her relatively late start — she began dancing at the age of 11, first at Joe’s Movement Emporium in Mount Rainier, and then at the Kirov Academy of Ballet of Washington, D.C. “My first year [at the academy], everyone had been dancing intensely for much longer,” said Navari. “My teacher pulled my mom aside and said, ‘Bianca doesn’t know anything.’ She worked really, really hard with me.” According to her mother, longtime Hyattsville resident Kimberly Schmidt, Navari thrived in the intense environment. She began learning the Vaganova method of ballet, which originated in Russia and is widely used there; by her fourth year, she was getting solo roles in Kirov productions. She auditioned for the Bolshoi Ballet Academy’s summer program in Manhattan, where she danced at Lincoln Center. During that time, Navari faced a challenging roadblock: an impingement in her ankle, a painful condition caused by bone spurs and often seen in athletes. “The doctors kept misdiagnosing me,” she said. Her voyage to Moscow was delayed by a month before the proper diagnosis. While Navari is still wor-
paulo galli Bianca Navari, 16, is one of four international students chosen to attend the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. She left for Moscow on September 30.
ried about her ankle, she is doing strengthening exercises through resistance training which should help address the issue. “I wouldn’t claim that Bianca is the strongest dancer her age, but she has beautiful lines. She is a lyrical dancer and she works incredibly hard. The teachers at Bolshoi recognized these qualities and her work ethic,” said Schmidt, a former ballet dancer. Schmidt, after all, was the one to introduce her daughter to ballet. Navari was musical and athletic, but asthmatic and bored in school, said Schmidt. She thought dance would serve her daughter’s need to be both intellectually and physically engaged. “I wanted her to have confidence in her body. Sports and ballet build that in a girl. But she had this terrible asthma. Working inside, in a clean studio at the Kirov, challenged her athletically and I didn’t have to worry about her lungs quite so much,” said Schmidt. Navari attested to her mother’s beliefs. “I was really unhappy at my old school. ... I didn’t fit in,” she said. Now, Navari is “really pumped” for her year abroad, despite the big commitment of moving
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across the world. She aspires to join a smaller company upon graduation and ultimately become a soloist. Navari thinks it would be great to dance in Europe professionally. The teen didn’t seem too worried about the move. As long as Moscow has a Starbucks nearby for a caramel macchiato, Navari is confident in her decision.
“Being asked to attend the Bolshoi Academy in Moscow was the first time I realized that other people thought I had potential,” said Navari, beaming as she finished one of her last stateside Starbucks drinks the week before her departure. Navari added that Americans typically understand less about why someone would choose ballet as a profession.
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“If you tell someone in the U.S. you’re studying ballet, they’ll say, ‘Oh, that’s a hard life.’ But in Russia, if you tell someone you’re studying ballet, they’ll say their daughter has been dancing since she was three.” Schmidt said that the Bolshoi teachers thought Bianca was Russian at first. “Well,” she said, “in a few years, she might be.”
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Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2013
Festival kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month by Alexander Rubin Holt
alexander rubin holt Flags, food and fun were all part of September’s Hispanic Festival.
Over 16,000 people kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month in style on September 15, with the largest-ever attendance at the annual Lane Manor event. Prince George’s County began holding the Hispanic Festival in 1980; in the early years, average attendance was about 8,000. Now, 32 years later, the increased Latino presence in the county is evident in the festival attendance: Organizers believe a new record was set this year, with over 1,000 more than last year. Hispanic Heritage month runs from September 15 to October 15, to honor the seven Latin American countries have their independence days during that period, including five on September 15. That diversity was reflected in the Hispanic Festival’s entertainment: Grupo Folklorico Popol Vuh came from Guatemala to headline the festival, and local dance groups with roots in Colom-
bia and El Salvador also performed. Children’s activities included a karate demonstration, clowns, pony rides, face painting, mural painting, a petting zoo and a display of custom lowrider cars. The festival featured food from a variety of Washington-area restaurants and authentic Latin American arts and crafts vendors, including two vendors who traveled all the way from Guatemala to sell their wares. The family-friendly nature of the event was one thing that local vendor Elizabeth Sanchez appreciates. Adelphi resident Sanchez said this is the only festival she sells her Mexican crafts and jewelry at because of the event’s value for the community. “It’s 100 percent because all the children come,” Sanchez said. “People bring kids and I think it’s very important.” Nydia Ocasio, a Community Relations and Outreach Specialist for the Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation, which organiz-
es the festival, said that the increase in Prince George’s County’s Latino population has been a key factor in the festival’s growth in recent years. “It’s not only that we have Latinos in the northern parts of the county,” Ocasio said. “They’re spreading into the central area and southern area and I have done outreach all over the county.” Ocasio notes that the event’s popularity may be due in part to the fact that it’s the only free Latino festival in the Washington metro area. In addition, unlike many other similar festivals, she notes that the Hispanic Festival doesn’t permit the sale of alcohol so it’s been able to attract large crowds that cause few problems. The success of the event means that it is a year-round project for county recreation staff. “We finish on Sunday,” Ocasio said. “And then a week from Sunday, we start having organizational meetings and we start planning again.”
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Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2013
Page 5
Arts festival evolves and grows by Gretchen Brodtman
photos by valerie russell On September 14, the Hyattsville Arts Festival returned to Baltimore Avenue bigger and better than ever. Activities for children of all ages and art of all kinds drew an estimated 4,000 visitors, say organizers.
The myriad of 70 colorful booths, the clean modern lines of the newly completed Palette apartments, and the vibrant music combined to make the Sixth Annual Hyattsville Arts Festival a clear success. The event was held on September 14 throughout the Shoppes at Arts District Hyattsville, at Baltimore Avenue and Jefferson Street. Proof of its success came early in the day to Shabadaba Chic owner Sue Older-Mondeel, a Riverdale Park artist who upcycles abandoned furniture and salvaged architectural items. She was pleased to note that she was selling more furniture than accessories. “We sold almost all our large items in the first couple hours,” noted Older-Mondeel, adding that she had better sales than she’d had at Eastern Market. “It’s amazing to know that I don’t have to travel out of town or into D.C. to find great clients.” With support from over a dozen local arts supporters — including the Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, Maryland Milestones, the Clarice B. Smith Center and the well-established Crafty Bastards festival — the festival has grown in attendance and participation. In its first year, the event was hosted by the EYA and had 900 visitors; this year with Hyattsville Community Development Corporation at the reins, the Festival attracted an estimated 4,000 visitors. “Every year, Hyattsville CDC worked closely with EYA and took on a slightly bigger role, until the complete transfer of the Festival production,” offers CDC Executive Director Stuart Eisenberg. Festival veteran Michele Banks of Washington, D.C., who has exhibited her paintings since the first festival, thinks the Hyattsville CDC “has done a great job of developing the festival into a wonderful event.” However, Eisenberg is also quick to give credit to the city for its support, noting that “the city has been a key supporter and active partner in the Festival’s production, annually.” Director of Community Services Abby Sandel says that the annual event “truly shows the city to its best advantage” and provides “tremendously successful as a showcase for economic investment in the city.”
Page 6
Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2013
MissFloribunda Dear Miss Floribunda, Last year at about this time you provided flower alternatives to “Odor Averse,” who disliked the smell of chrysanthemums. I also find their smell rather acrid, so I planted the dahlias and asters you suggested, and I certainly do like them. But they lack much fragrance at all. Are there any autumn-flowering plants that actually smell good? Fragrance Friendly on Farragut Street Dear Fragrance Friendly, I consulted with some olfactory
experts, my sister Nosegay and her twins Tussy and Mussy Bouquet (pronounced “Bucket”). After first arguing with me that there is nothing unpleasant about the “poignant” scent of the chrysanthemum, they informed me that the aster oblongifolius, or “Raydon’s Favorite,” has foliage with a fresh minty scent. In addition, this aster doesn’t mind our clay soil and hot summers, and seems pest-free. I also learned that new scented dahlias are being developed. Honka, a simple star dahlia, is an example and can be easily found in several colors. A grower of the orchid variety of dahlia in Brit-
ish Columbia has produced several aromatic dahlias, the most fragrant of which is called “Hy Scent” and smells like hyacinths. Ironically, these are so simple in form that they may not appeal to one fervent group of dahlia lovers: the blind. It has been explained to the sighted that it is the great variety of fascinating shapes and textures of the dahlia that make it the favorite flower of the visually impaired, and that fragrance is actually a secondary consideration. Perhaps the future will bring a full panoply of dahlias that combine variety with fragrance. Be that as it may, Nosegay points
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out that we need not limit ourselves to last year’s recommendations anyway. She suggests that you try colchicum speciosum, or autumn crocus. The purple flowers smell like honey. The delightful sweet autumn clematis looks and smells like jasmine, but she warns that it can become invasive. On the other hand, natives like polygala cruciata, or drumhead, and asclepias incarnala L., or swamp milkweed, stay in place and have lovely fragrance as well. Nosegay extols hamamelis virginiana L., or witch hazel, as her favorite autumn-blooming native. Interestingly enough, though it blooms as early as Halloween and has a wicked name, its flowers have a truly heavenly fragrance. Witch hazel is a small tree but you need only one to perfume your garden and its interesting habit, orange leaves and curly yellow flowers, make it very attractive. Tussy and Mussy think you might like to experiment with herbs such as anise hyssop and
various sages. Their own fun favorites are the scented geraniums, South African relatives of the more showy pelargonia we are familiar with. Their flowers are little and lavender but their foliage comes in over 80 varieties, the fragrance mimicking many flowers, fruits and spices — and even chocolate and coconut! The easiest to find are the rose- and lemon-scented ones, but you can order others from herb specialists. The Bouquets line their outdoor stairways with pots of them, and half bury pots of them along their walkways so that they can release fragrance when brushed against. They overwinter well in a sunny room. To find out more and participate in a plant exchange, come to the next meeting of the Hyattsville Horticulture Society on Saturday, October 19, from 10 a.m. to noon. It will take place at the home of Joe Buriel and Dave Roeder at 3909 Longfellow Street.
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Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2013
Page 7
COMMUNITY CALENDAR Through October 19
The exhibit Layer by Layer: Storytelling with Saris features saris made by women in a remote Bangladeshi village after a series of natural disasters. See it weekdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Brentwood Arts Exchange, 3901 Rhode Island Avenue, Brentwood. 301.277.2863.
October 12
The Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department’s 125th Anniversary Celebration will begin on a high note: a groundbreaking ceremony for a new station (see cover story), scheduled for 11 a.m. The annual open house follows from noon to 3 p.m., with plenty of children’s activities including a Fire Safety Adventure Course. 6200 Belcrest Road. 301.883.5204.
October 18
It’s not often that Riversdale House Museum encourages after-dark strolls on the grounds. But tonight’s Gothick Moonlit Evening does just that, complete with selected readings from early vampire stories. End the evening with fireside cider in the open-hearth kitchen. Open to ages 12 and up. 4811 Riverdale Road. $10; advance payment required. 7 p.m. 301.699.2544.
October 19
Bring the family to the 7th Annual Oktoberfest, sponsored by St. Jerome’s Knights of Columbus to benefit the school. You’ll find German food, beer, cider, music and dancing, as well as face painting and apple bobbing. St. Jerome’s Church Gold Room, 5305 43rd Avenue. 5:30 to 9 p.m. $8 individual; $35 for a family of six; $6 children and seniors; free for children under 2. 301.927.6684.
October 21
The Independent Film Series continues with Pariah, a 2011 film by Spike Lee, followed by a facilitated discussion. Light refreshments will be served. Free. 7 p.m. Hyattsville Branch Library, 6530 Adelphi Rd. 301.985.4690.
October 22
Interested in Empowering Afghan Women? Hear from two experts in the field: Suraya Sadeed, founder of Help the Afghan Children, and Mennonite Economic Development Associates executive Helen Loftin. Free. 7 to 9 p.m. Busboys and Poets, 5331 Baltimore Avenue. Contact mstoner@ meda.org or earl.zimmerman@gmail.com.
October 26
Give those Halloween costumes a trial run at the annual city-sponsored Spookyfest,
featuring costume contests, a Monster Mash Dance Party and other family fun. Free. 1 to 3 p.m. In the courtyard of University Town Center, America Boulevard and East-West Highway. 301.985.5020.
October 29
Last call for the Hyattsville Farmer’s Market, which closes for the season today. In the parking lot of 3505 Hamilton Street, adjacent to Bestway and across from the Hyattsville Community Garden. Tuesdays, 2 to 6 p.m. 301.985.5000 or 301.627.0977.
ONGOING
of 12 or more. Bladensburg Waterfront Park, 4601 Annapolis Road, Bladensburg. 301.779.0371. Area couple Milton and Linda McGehee have distributed thousands of care packages to wounded soldiers over the years and still deliver regularly to the local veteran’s hospital. They welcome donations of new items, including disposable cameras, toiletries, puzzle books, playing cards, DVDs, and, especially, new towels and washcloths. Call 301.559.0864 to donate or volunteer.
At the producers-only Riverdale Park Farmer’s Market, fruits and vegetables are only the beginning. Depending on the week, shoppers may find baked goods, wine, soap, herbs and more. Free. Thursdays, 3 to 7 p.m. Riverdale Park, 301.332.6258.
The Prince George’s County Audubon society and the Patuxent Bird Club team up to host an early evening guided bird walk along the Luther Goldman Birding Trail at Lake Artemesia. Walks are held every first and third Thursday at 6 p.m. and start at the lake parking lot at Berwyn Road and Ballew Avenue. Free. 301.459.3375 or mozurk@bellatlantic.net.
Through October, Anacostia River Boat Tours are held Tuesdays through Fridays from noon to 12:45. All ages are welcome to join a park naturalist on a pontoon boat to search for birds and other wildlife. Evening rides will be held on Saturdays and Sundays starting at 5 p.m. Free; registration required for groups
Community Calendar is 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 November submissions is October 23.
Join us for
Saturday, October 26, 1 to 3 PM University Town Center, America Boulevard & East West Highway
Monster Mash Dance Party Costume Contest (up to age 12) Fun crafts Trick or Treating For info, visit www.hyattsville.org or call 301/985-5021
Free and Open to the public!
Hyattsville Reporter Page HR1
Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2013
the
www.hyattsville.org • 301-985-5000
Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2013
No. 274 • October 9, 2013
Magruder Woods Update: An interview with Lesley Riddle Lesley Riddle joined the City of Hyattsville as Public Works Director in February 2013. She comes to us with a long career in environmental sustainability. Prior to joining the City, she was Assistant Director of Public Works for the City of Greenbelt. Ms. Riddle holds a master’s degree in environmental studies and is a certified arborist, horticulturalist, and master watershed steward. HR: Tell us about the area we call Magruder Woods. LR: The Woods cover roughly 27 acres. The part most people are familiar with is technically considered “riparian remnant woods” because it is a small wooded area with an active stream. There are a tremendous variety of uses in a very small space, including important habitats for birds, deer, insects, butterflies, and other wildlife. The redbacked salamander has returned to the Woods, a good side for the ecosystem’s health. HR: Describe the current state of the Woods. LR: The existing canopy is aging – trees have life cycles, just like people. In some parts of the Woods, there’s plentiful growth of younger trees to replace the canopy. In others, growth is less robust. We also have to
monitor the understory – vegetation and soil structure to support new growth. HR: What has happened over the last decade? LR: On the bright side, the City has made significant improvements in removing and controlling non-native invasive species. That’s a tough job, and it has contributed to improving the health of the Woods considerably. At the same time, the Woods are heavily visited. This is a densely populated area, and there is a real need to spend time in whatever little piece of the natural world you can access. For many of our residents, Magruder Woods is their backyard. Regular foot traffic seems harmless, but it does create challenges. HR: What’s the next step for the preservation of the Woods? LR: We will continue to engage volunteers to help with non-native invasive removals and work closely with Dr. Imlay from Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning. We’re also looking at adding native growth stock to supplement the existing understory and canopy. Finally, we’ll be designating pathways through the Woods.
HR: What can residents do to help? LR: Two things: first, as we define paths, we ask for visitors to cooperate by staying on the marked paths. This will ensure that we can balance restoration with keeping the Woods accessible. Second, we would love to see more City residents come out for the non-native invasive removals on the third Saturdays of the month. It’s a great chance to learn more about the Woods, and to take part in the ongoing restoration efforts. HR: Is there a start date for the project? LR: It isn’t a project. It is an ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability, and it builds on work that has been underway since 2005. Restoration takes time, and will be phased to ensure that we’re able to keep as much of the Woods open to the public as possible. Recreational use of the Woods is important, and we’ll continue to serve as good stewards to enable residents to enjoy the natural area that we have today, and to ensure that it is healthy for generations to come. The City is fortunate to have access to Magruder Woods, a vibrant ecosystem that contributes to the quality of life in the City and the park user experience for all who visit.
The Building Bridges Book Club will meet in the City Municipal Building on Thursday, October 10 at 7:30 PM to continue their discussion of The New Jim Crow. Participation is free and open to the public. Questions? Please call Council Member Robert Croslin at 240/460-1827.
MARY PRANGLEY CLEAN-UP DAY
Residents served the by the Department of Public Works’ solid waste division will receive a special trash pick-up on Saturday, October 12. The collection is designed for bulky trash, but we will accept regular household trash, too. Please have all items curbside no later than 9:00 AM. City crews will make one sweep of the City.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE HVFD ON 125 YEARS
Join the Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department for two very special events on Saturday, October 12. At 11 AM, they will celebrate the groundbreaking for their new joint emergency services facility. From 12 noon to 3 PM, take part in the HVFD’s annual Open House & Fire Safety Day, packed for families and kids, including live demonstrations, our Kid’s Fire Safety Adventure Course, vehicle displays, tons of photo opportunities, volunteer recruitment information, Hector the Fire Safety Clown, a Medevac helicopter (subject to availability), face painting, food and more. Free and open to the public, 6200 Belcrest Road.
A.G.E.S. PRESENTS MEDICARE 101
The Aging Gracefully Educational Series will discuss Medicare 101 on Wednesday, October 23 at 10 AM in the City Municipal Building, First Floor Multi-Purpose Room. Jack Davidson of Advanced Nursing and Home Support will lead a discussion on Medicare updates, part D open enrollment, and the Affordable Care Act. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Emily Stowers, Senior Services Coordinator, at 301/985-5058 or estowers@ hyattsville.org.
PARENT & CHILD PROGRAM UNDERWAY AT MAGRUDER PARK
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013 Wednesday, October 9
International Walk to School Day Rosa Parks Elementary School group departs Heurich Field at 7:15 AM Hyattsville Elementary School group departs from Magruder Park at 7:20 AM Environmental Committee Meeting, 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM Magruder Park Recreation Center Mary Prangley Clean-up Day, 9 AM City-wide
Senior Swing! Grab your dancing shoes & join in the fun for an evening of live music by the Atomic Swing Club. $5 per person includes admission plus light refreshments. The event takes place on Saturday, October 19 from 5 to 7 PM in the City Municipal Building, First Floor Multi-Purpose Room. For more information or to register for any of these events, please contact Senior Services Coordinator Emily Stowers at 301/985-5058 or estowers@hyattsville.org. Emily is also available to help seniors and their families with information and referral to a wide variety of resources.
Tuesday, October 15
Planning Committee meeting, 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Wednesday, October 16
Hyattsville Environmental Committee Meeting, 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Saturday, October 19
The Senior Swing, 5 PM - 7 PM
Monday, October 21 Council Meeting, 8 PM
Wednesday, October 23
A.G.E.S. Senior Workshop – Medicaid 101, 10:00 AM
Saturday, October 26
Spookyfest at University Town Center, 1 PM - 3 PM University Town Center, America Boulevard and East-West Highway preschoolers to the Magruder Park Recreation Center, 3911 Hamilton Street, for playtime and crafts. The program features both free play and structured activities. Children must be accompanied by an adult. The program meets Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays during the school year, from 9 AM to 12 noon. For Fall 2013, we’ve rolled back our tuition to just $50/semester. For more information, visit www. hyattsville.org/pcprogram or call 301/985-5000.
PARENT & CHILD PROGRAM WELCOMES SILLY GOOSE & VAL
On Thursday, October 17 at 10 AM, the Parent & Child Program welcomes Silly Goose & Val for a special performance featuring magical puppets, sing-along songs, contagious dances, and energy-filled fun! No fee for registered participants; $5 for children not registered for the Parent & Child Program. The Parent & Child Program meets at the Magruder Park Recreation Center, 3911 Hamilton Street.
BIKE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY & BUSINESS WORKSHOP ON OCTOBER 29
Bike Friendly Community & Business Workshop - Bike Friendly Maryland, a nonprofit 501c3 bicycle advocacy group, will host a Bike Friendly Community and Business Workshop in Hyattsville on Tuesday, October 29th from 6:30 - 8:30 PM at the Hyattsville Library. The purpose of this event is to educate residents about the League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly Business and Community Program, and to help make the community a safer place to ride for transportation and recreation. Our goal is to provide businesses and communities with the tools they need to earn the prestigious Bike Friendly award from the League of American Bicyclists.
LEAF VACUUMING BEGINS NOVEMBER 4TH
Households served by the Department of Public Works will receive leaf vacuuming services beginning the week of Monday, November 4th. The schedule is unchanged from previous years, and can be viewed at www.hyattsville.org/leaves. Residents may also check their collection date by calling 301/985-5032.
HYATTSVILLE HEROES BOWL The City’s best play date is back at Magruder Park this Fall. The Par- TAKES PLACE NOVEMBER 9TH ent & Child Program allows parents and other caregivers to bring
CALENDAR
Saturday, October 12
IN OTHER NEWS... BUILDING BRIDGES BOOK CLUB
Page HR2
The third annual Hyattsville Heroes Bowl will take place on Saturday,
November 9 at 3 PM at Magruder Park, 3911 Hamilton Street. A flag football game will be played between the Hyattsville Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #119 (The Finest) versus the Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department (The Bravest) to benefit The Sonny Frazier Toy Drive. Bring a new, unwrapped toy or cash donation for admission to this family-friendly, fun event! All proceeds benefit children in our community who would not otherwise receive gifts at the holidays. For information on the game, please contact aa@hvfd.com or hyattsvillefop@gmail.com. Questions about The Sonny Frazier Toy Drive? Please contact Ruth Ann Frazier at 301/779-5428.
TOUCH-A-TRUCK EVENT TO BENEFIT CASA ON NOVEMBER 9TH
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Prince George’s County will host World of Wheels at DeMatha Catholic High School, 4313 Madison Street, on Saturday, November 9 from 10 AM to 2 PM. Trucks, cars, buses and more! $5 general admission; children 2 and under free. More information is available at www.pgcasa.org.
VETERANS DAY TRASH COLLECTION CHANGES
There will be no Yard Waste collection the week of Monday, November 11 due to the Veterans Day holiday. The next Yard Waste collection takes place on Monday, November 18th. Questions? Call the Department of Public Works at 301/985-5032.
MD-500 INFORMATIONAL WORKSHOP
The Maryland State Highway Administration will host a workshop on their MD-500 project on Thursday, November 14th from 6 to 8 PM at the City Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin Street.
THANKSGIVING TRASH PICK-UP SCHEDULE CHANGES
This year, the Thanksgiving holiday falls on Thursday, November 28. There are changes to the trash collection schedule for the entire week. There will be no Yard Waste collection, City-wide, the week of November 25. In addition: • If your regularly scheduled collection day is Tuesday, your trash will
be collected one day early, on Monday, November 25. • If your regularly scheduled collection day is Wednesday, your trash will be collected one day early, on Tuesday, November 26. • If your regularly scheduled collection day is Thursday, your trash will be collected one day early, on Wednesday, November 27. • If your regularly scheduled collection day is Friday, your trash will be collected two days early, on Wednesday, November 28. The City is closed on Thursday, November 28 and Friday, November 29 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.
CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS – NEW WAYS TO WATCH
The community is always welcome to attend City Council meetings in person, at 4310 Gallatin Street. City residents can also watch the meetings from home on Comcast (Channel 71) or Verizon (Channel 12), either live or on rebroadcast. The rebroadcast schedule is as follows: 7 AM, 1 PM, and 8 PM seven days a week, including weekends and holidays. We typically rebroadcast the most recent Council Meeting. Meetings can also be streamed live at www.hyattsville.org/meetings. Questions? Comments? Please talk to Jonathan Alexander, the City’s cable coordinator, at jalexander@hyattsville.org or 301/985-5028.
VOLUNTEERS WANTED FOR MAGRUDER WOOD RESTORATION
Join us for non-native invasive removals in Magruder Woods on the third Saturday of every month, year-round, from 9 AM to 1 PM. Work is led by Dr. Marc Imlay, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning. Upcoming dates include Saturday, October 19 and Saturday, November 16. Please dress for the elements – long-sleeves, long pants and sturdy boots or shoes. Questions? Contact Colleen Aistis, caistis@ hyattsville.org or 301/985-5057. Participation helps to satisfy State of Maryland Student Service Learning requirements.
UPDATES FROM WSSC – IS WORK PLANNED FOR YOUR STREET?
Looking for updates on WSSC projects in your neighborhood? Use their maps to see the status of current projects. Maps can be accessed on WSSC’s website: http://gisweb.wsscwater.com/InYourNeighborhood/
Thursday, October 31
Trick or Treat Night, 6 PM - 8 PM
Monday, November 4 Leaf Collection season begins
Monday, November 4 Council Meeting, 8 PM
Tuesday, November 5
Board of Elections Meeting, 4 PM - 5 PM
Saturday, November 9
Hyattsville Heroes Bowl to benefit The Sonny Frazier Toy Drive, 3 PM - 5:30 PM Magruder Park, 3911 Hamilton Street
Friday, November 11 Holiday - Veterans Day
Wednesday, November 13
Environmental Committee Meeting, 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Monday, November 18 Council Meeting, 8 PM - 10 PM
Wednesday, November 20
Hyattsville Environmental Committee Meeting, 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Unless otherwise noted, all events take place at the City Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin Street.
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Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2013
National Park Service partners with Hyattsville Middle in rollout of national education program by Rosanna Landis Weaver
rosanna landis weaver From left: Eighth-grade Hyattsville Middle School teacher Adrian Burney and students Jonathan Palmer and Ja’Tae Joyner join National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis at the launch of a national education portal. HMS hosted the event.
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On September 12, National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis, local politicians and news cameras converged at Hyattsville Middle School for the official unveiling of a new National Park Service educational tool. Also present, via web chat and as an example of the new world of distance learning, were park rangers from the Grand Canyon. After extolling the virtues of the the country’s 401 national parks, Director Jarvis acknowledged that “not everybody can get there, so we want you to come visit us virtually.” The new teachers’ portal on the National Park website can be found at www.nps.gov, and is searchable by location, keyword and subject — from archaeology to constitutional law — across multiple parks. (At press time, however, the site, like the parks, was closed due to the federal government shutdown.) “Education has been a core principle of the park service for a long time,” explained Jarvis at the launch, “but unfortunately sort of piecemeal. This brings it together.’
“Education has been a core principle of the park service for a long time, but unfortunately sort of piecemeal. This brings it together.” — Jon Jarvis National Park Service Director Hyattsville Middle School was chosen for the launch site for its involved teachers, and its urban, diverse demographics. The students, according to Jarvis, are “the perfect age to get interested and excited.” Weeks before the official launch of the program, HMS 8th grade history students in the classroom of Adrian Burney prepared by studying the historic travels of John Wesley Powell, a one-armed civil war veteran who traveled through the Grand Canyon. The work in the classroom and online has had one immediate desired effect: the students are now plotting a field trip to Arizona.
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Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2013
Page 9
Special meetings held about capital improvement projects by Max Bennett
A special Hyattsville City Council meeting on September 25 to discuss ongoing projects in University Hills also became a forum to discuss repairs to 40th Avenue and Crittenden and Buchanan Streets. Both projects are part of the city’s five-year capital improvement plan. Some University Hills residents who attended the meeting called for a reduction in planned work. Jim Menasian, who has lived in the neighborhood since 1994, believes the project will “destroy its character” by adding sidewalks over residents’ objections. “Why waste city money on any extras we don’t want?” he asked the council.
Menasian and others have supported design changes put forth by Councilmember Tim Hunt (Ward 3), who both lives in and represents University Hills. Hunt said the initial project design did not reflect public comments, so retooling it was necessary. After canvassing the residents and presenting petitions on their behalf, Hunt put together a set of block-by-block recommendations and gave tours of the area to his fellow councilmembers. The council voted unanimously to move forward with design work, now 30 percent complete, with Hunt’s suggested changes. Once the project reaches the 60 percent point, changing any plans costs time and money.
Conversation then turned to the ongoing effort to improve drainage, realign the roadway and add sidewalks on 40th Avenue and Crittenden and Buchanan Streets. Director of Public Works Lesley Riddle said that design work is on hold because 10 trees in the city’s right-of-way “need significant evaluation ... for structural integrity.” Before the city tries to design around the trees, she said, “we need to see if these trees are even salvageable. If there’s an issue with their [root structure], they’re done.” The trees will be examined by both city staff and an outside firm. After their condition is assessed, the project can move forward “pretty quickly,” said Riddle.
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Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2013
Hugh’sNews
An old-fashioned hardware store by Hugh Turley
If you miss (or never experienced) the charm of the old Hyattsville hardware store, the experience is not far away. A short drive down Rhode Island Avenue into the District of Columbia and a right turn onto Monroe Street is the way to Brookland True Value Hardware. The store, operated by Howard Politzer, has been on the corner of 12th and Monroe streets NE since 1925. Politzer’s father, uncle and grandfather all operated hardware stores. After the Hyattsville Hardware Company closed in 1990, most shoppers were left with big-box stores like Home Depot, where they may walk for a mile hunting for something. If they find something they need, long lines at the checkout can lead them to suffer through the self-service checkout lane and the automated, “Thank you for shopping at Home Depot.� Brookland Hardware is special for many reasons. Employees, who clearly love their jobs, are career hardware people who have 10 to 20 years experience, or more. With genuine concern and warmth, they help customers find what they need and counsel them on how to use what they purchase. The store looks small on the outside. But it has everything
FILE PHOTO The Brookland True Value Hardware store is a step back in time.
you can find at the larger stores and much more, especially old stuff. “The big chains don’t carry ‘dead merchandise.’ They get rid of it and carry what sells and moves,� Politzer said. “I don’t do that. I carry what moves, but I also carry what people want. And if I only sell something one or two times a year, I keep it on the shelf because somebody is going to need it.� The store has keys, old keys and hard-to-fit keys. One time a guy came in and wanted an ignition key for a 1947 Ford pickup truck. Politzer had it. He has key blanks for old cars like Studebaker. He has ra-
diator keys too. Home Depot doesn’t. The old Hyattsville hardware cut glass, something not done at Home Depot. Brookland Hardware will cut glass and they can get custom glass table tops, tempered, laminated, patterned and beveled glass. They will even cut holes in your glass. And just like the old Hyattsville store, True Value Hardware repairs and manufactures screens and windows. They cut pipe and thread it. They cut window shades, exchange propane tanks, repair lamps, and they even have a sharpening service.
Politzer’s staff provides advice for people who like to do home projects and they rent all kinds of tools from garden tillers to tile cutters. One aisle has all kinds of plumbing snakes. Politzer boasts that his is the only place where you can rent the “un-do-it,� a special tool he says will take out oneway screws. The store is fun to wander through just to see the animal traps, antique plumbing parts, and all kinds of interesting stuff. A few years ago I found some rare replacement hardware to hang old-style storm windows and screens. They have a large selection of cookware and kitchen gadgets too. In 2007 Howard Politzer was
inducted into the Washington, D.C. Hall of Fame recognizing him for improving the quality of life for the city’s residents. The Washington City Paper named Politzer’s store the “Best Hardware Store� in the city. Besides being passionate about hardware and helping people, Politzer is a really nice man. Even if you don’t need anything special, it is fun to visit the Brookland Hardware store just to look around and meet the owner. Brookland Hardware has one thing in common with Franklins restaurant and general store that replaced the old Hyattsville Hardware: They both sell old-fashioned candy.
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Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2013
Grandmothers on the go by Rosanna Landis Weaver
South African grandmothers talking about condoms may not seem a likely topic for a refined luncheon. But that was one aspect of a September 25 program put on by the City of Hyattsville Office of Senior Services when Hyattsville’s Aging Gracefully Educational Series hosted Grandmothers Against Poverty and AIDS (GAPA). As the AIDS epidemic ravaged South Africa, many grandmothers found themselves caring for sick and dying children and then raising orphaned grandchildren. GAPA was formed in 2001, as a self-help project outside of Cape Town to provide education and psychosocial support. The group attracted the attention of Cape Town photographer and journalist team Eric Miller and Jo-Anne Smetherham, who recently created an exhibition of photographs accompanied by the women’s stories, “Amatsha Intliziyo: The Nevergiveups.” An accompanying book is available on Amazon.com. The idea of bringing the exhibit
Page 11
American University’s Center for Community Engagement and Service, (CCES), and encountered the group there. In addition to several of the grandmothers, who told their stories in melodious accents, Smetherham also spoke at the Hyattsville luncheon, noting that the women had taught her that “anything is possible.” Dickerson said, “We carry this dream that one day we’ll go over and I will have Hyattsvillians with me.”
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rosanna landis weaver Hyattsville’s Bette Dickerson (second from right) stands with three of the Grandmothers Against Poverty and AIDS (GAPA), a South African advocacy group, who were the guests of honor at a recent luncheon at the Hyattsville Municipal Building.
and some of the women to the United States came from two professors. One of them, longtime Hyattsville resident and
American University sociology professor Bette Dickerson, arranged for the women to make a stop in Hyattsville.
Parent & Child Program Sept. 10 through Dec. 19 Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays 9 AM to 12 PM
Tuition: Just $50/semester! Curious about the program? Your first visit is always free. The Parent & Child Program meets at the Magruder Park Recreation Center, 3911 Hamilton Street. The program features both free play and structured activities. Children must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver. For more information: Contact Cheri Everhart, 301/985-5021 or ceverhart@hyattsville.org. Or stop by the program anytime!
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Happy Hyattsville Holidays Tree Lighting at Magruder Park - Friday, December 6th Breakfast and Lunch with Santa - Saturday, December 7th Claus Applause Annual Holiday Decorating contest Wednesday, December 18th Senior Services Holiday Social - Thursday, December 19th Winter Break Camp - Thursday, December 26th and Friday, December 27th Department of Community Services www.hyattsville.org 301/985-5021
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hvfd
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4300 block of Farragut Street. When that one closed in 1969, operations shifted to Belcrest Road. An expansion in 1988 added an engine bay, bringing the total to four (two full, two half), but “we still don’t have room for all our emergency vehicles,” said HVFD President Dave Iannone. “These bays were built for much smaller trucks,” said HVFD Vice President Thomas Falcone, a firefighter with the department for 21 years. “People can barely squeeze by to get to their lockers.” They should have plenty of room in the new building. At nearly 25,000 square feet, it will house both the HVFD and the Prince George’s County branch of the American Red Cross, which owns building next door to the current station. That 21,000-square-foot space will become the temporary fire station as the new one is built, and then it will be demolished to make way for the parking lot. In the new building, the Red Cross will occupy about 4,300 square feet on the
Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2013
ture expanded women’s quarters; a study room for the many college students who live there; and a fitness room that will be shared with officers from the Hyattsville City Police Department. The current building may feel even smaller during the anniversary celebration, which Iannone expects to draw the largest gathering of station alumni ever. On Friday, October 11, the first of the weekend’s events will be an evening cookout on the grounds for current and former members. “Some of them haven’t been to Hyattscourtesy of HVFD ville in 20 years,” said Falcone, a HyattsAn artist’s rendering of the planned emergency-services facility that is expected to begin ville native whose nephew also volunconstruction next year on the grounds of the Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Station, 6200 Belcrest teered at the station before becoming Road. The HVFD will occupy two floors, with offices for the Red Cross on the ground level. a career firefighter in Washington, D.C. “They’re very excited to see everyone.” ground floor. Plans call for a visitors’ cen- used for meetings, training and classes, in- And, although he admits that it will be ter and space for up to five staff, as well as a cluding ones in first aid and babysitter cer- “emotional” to see the station torn down, separate entrance off Queens Chapel Road. tification that are open to the public. he says that everyone he’s talked to is lookA state-of-the-art multipurpose room, to The HVFD will have the first and second ing forward to the next chapter in the fire be shared with the HVFD and other lo- floors, with four full engine bays, a sepa- department’s history. cal public-safety agencies, can serve as a rate locker room, and modern kitchen, “We started this process in the mid-’90s,” regional command center during natural dining area and day room. Living space he said. “So we’ve been waiting for a long disasters. At other times, the room will be for up to 18 resident volunteers will fea- time for this.”
mike persley Helmeted heads filled Magruder Park on October 6, when Hyattsville Cyclocross returned for a fifth year.
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CYCLOCROSS
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and only fun for serious bikers to watch, the Hyattsville course consists of a single lap of approximately one mile, and relies on a constant circling around the course. A typical race lasts from 45 to 50 minutes. The track consists of several different parts, including stretches of road, parking lot, grass, the sand-pits from the volleyball courts, and the woods. It is closer to cross-training than a typical bike race, making it easier for amateurs to participate. And the setting makes it easier for families to attend. “The beauty of the race is that you’re in a park. You can bring the kids, they can enjoy it, there will be music, there will be food, you can see different angles where the racers are coming,
and you can see every lap,” says Monoson. And, notes Arrow co-owner Chris Militello, “It’s the only time you’re allowed to consume alcohol in Magruder Park.” Money from beer sales and most of the rider registration money is donated to Prince George’s County Special Olympics. In 2011, the race raised $7,000 for the organization. In 2012, due to worse weather, that number dropped to $3,000. Although figures for this year’s race were not available at press time, sponsors were confident that this year’s total will easily surpass last year’s. The 2013 race took place on a day that was more like late summer than early fall, with temperatures pushing 90 degrees. “Better weather means more money,” said Militello, “because better weather means bigger beer sales.”
Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2013
RESIGNATIONS
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attempts to contact her, Stookey could not be reached for comment for this story. Schiro, whose one-year contract started in May, said simply: “I came to the conclusion that it was not a good fit.” He agreed to delay leaving in part to oversee the long-overdue completion of financial reports. State law requires municipalities to submit results of an independent audit each year by November 1. If they don’t, warns the code, “the Comptroller is authorized to discontinue payment of certain State financial aid” such as income tax and license fees. Such consequences are rarely — if ever — enforced, said Jim Peck, director of research for the Maryland Municipal League. He has been tracking data for each of the state’s 157 municipalities for decades. “In my 30 years at MML, I haven’t seen a single instance where state-shared revenues have been withheld from a municipality that failed to file,” said Peck. “It’s likely that [this] penalty has never been imposed.” However, said Peck, it’s also rare for a city to miss audit deadlines. “I think in 2011, there were half a dozen that were late filing, and that was
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quite unusual. It’s usually two or three.” Hyattsville is no stranger to that short list. When Stookey started in 2010, she was the third treasurer in three years. At that time, the city had not filed audits for fiscal years 2009 or 2010, according to the Maryland Department of Legislative Services (DLS). Stookey filed those audits in May 2011 and July 2012, respectively. The city’s financial reports from those years show that au-
they were in progress.” But in August, the council learned just how late the reports were. Members discussed it in closed session during their August 5 meeting, according to a letter Mayor Marc Tartaro sent to the state’s Office of Legislative Audits shortly afterwards, and the treasurer was instructed to prioritize them. Schiro said he learned of the situation at about the same time. Since then, he said, he has discovered that “a good
tor Gregory Rose had been released from his contract in October of that year, three months early. Assistant City Administrator Vince Jones had left over the summer. The newly created position of human-resources director had not been advertised, much less filled. In April 2012, Stookey agreed to become acting city administrator while continuing as treasurer. And the November 1 deadline for filing that fiscal year’s audit came and went.
“In hindsight, I would say that we should have had the treasurer focus on completing the audits, and come up with a different solution for dealing with the vacancies. It was a mistake and I’m sorry.” — Mayor Marc Tartaro ditors from the Bethesdabased Reznick Group, which will be conducting the remaining audits as well, concluded that the city’s “financial statements are free of material misstatement.” Councilmembers and staff say that Stookey’s statements about the progress of the 2011 audit were misleading at best. “Typically, I would ask about the audits during the quarterly reports [from staff to council],” said Council President Candace Hollingsworth (Ward 1). “And we were always told
deal of the [necessary] information had not been provided to the audit firm.” Information that had been turned over, he said, was incomplete. “We don’t know at this point that there was anything untoward going on” by not filing, said Hollingsworth. “What we know is that we have not met our responsibilities to the state.” The 2011 audit was due on November 1, 2011, a time that saw an unusually high number of director-level vacancies in the city. City Administra-
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“In hindsight,” said Mayor Marc Tartaro, “I would say that we should have had the treasurer focus on completing the audits, and come up with a different solution for dealing with the vacancies. It was a mistake and I’m sorry.” Now there are other vacancies to deal with. Both director-level positions have seen high turnover in recent years. Since January 2011, Hyattsville has had four city administrators, two full-time and two acting — most recently, Stookey, who filled both roles
for over a year until Schiro started. Schiro will stay until midDecember to help with the transition to a new city administrator. Both jobs have been posted, and he says he has “every confidence” that his replacement will be on board before he leaves. In the meantime, Director of Community and Economic Development Jim Chandler was named assistant city administrator, a promotion that came with a salary increase of nearly 45 percent. To clear the financial backlog, the city has enlisted a second firm, Lindsey + Associates, and drafted Ron Brooks, who had just been hired as the city’s supervisor of contracts, grants and purchasing. Schiro said that Brooks had an “extensive background” in municipal finance, and that he “has stepped up and agreed to help” get the necessary documents to the Reznick Group. “Our priority at this juncture is to get the 2011 audit complete,” Schiro said during another special council meeting, on September 25. At press time, the only 2011 audit that hadn’t been filed was Hyattsville’s, according to the Maryland Department of Legislative Services. Schiro will continue to provide regular updates to the council until the job is complete.
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Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2013
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