LOCAL AUTHOR
FISH DEATHS
NEW COLUMN
When three teens canoe down Cleveland lakes and streams, they find much more than they bargained for in local author Richard Morris’s newest book. PAGE 5
Over Memorial Day weekend, hundreds of fish died during a bridge-widening project on CSX tracks. Though they paid a hefty fine, the contractors claim no responsibility. PAGE 3
New column debut! Cultural Connections, written by cross-cultural consultant Julia Gaspar-Bates, takes a look at Hyattsville immigrants’ tales. In this first installment, meet artist Alfredo Ratinoff. PAGE 7
Re-enactors, racers mark Bladensburg bicentennial by Gray OʼDwyer
In the early 19th century, Bladensburg was a critical crossroads outside the new city of Washington and also boasted a prosperous tobacco shipping port on the Anacostia River. Today, it can take a lot of imagination to envision our area as the focal point of the 1814 British invasion. This summer, imagination is no longer required. Maryland Milestones, in cooperation with local organizations, historic sites, and sponsors, presents an array of events marking the War of 1812 Bicentennial. The celebration will culminate the weekend of August 23 and 24 with the Battle of Bladensburg Festival. The festival’s theme is “Undaunted,” recalling those who fought to defend Washington from British troops in August of 1814. Despite a stunning defeat at Bladensburg, American troops rallied at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, and the British were beaten for a second time in 30 years- firmly establishing the United States as a powerful and important nation. Aaron Marcavitch is the executive director of the Anacostia Trails Heritage Area, a part of Maryland Milestones and the primary organizer of the bi-
Hyattsville Life&Times
Vol. 11 No. 8
Hyattsville’s Community Newspaper
Crime surge has citizens on high alert
by Caroline Selle
capes and eye masks distributed by Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC) staff, who organized the event. It’s the first Hyattsville playground to be renovated under M-NCPPC’s Imagination Playground program, which replaces outdated cookie-cutter amenities with themed play areas. So far, the county has completed about 20, with designs ranging from Native American village to Viking ship. Plans for a Justice-League motif began last summer, when M-NCPPC Landscape Architecture Supervisor Brenda Iraola came across a deeply discounted lot of blue, red and yellow equipment. It
A recent spate of violent crime on the west side of the city has raised a variety of questions about crime trends, the resources available to the police force, and the city’s safety in general. The high-profile incidents included a sexual assault on July 10, another on July 23, a shooting that wounded two teenagers on July 30, and a stabbing on August 3. A final incident occurred on August 10, when the 7-11 on Hamilton street was robbed. No injuries were reported. According to information released by the Hyattsville City Police Department, all but one of the incidents occurred in West Hyattsville. Two suspects have been arrested in the shooting, though all investigations are ongoing. The City is discussing ways to improve the safety of residents, particularly in the area where most of the recent violence occurred. Ward 4 Councilmembers Paula Perry and Edouard Haba organized a community meeting with police on Thursday, August 14, at 7 p.m., at the site of the shooting (30th Avenue between Lancer Avenue and Lancer Place). Del. Alonzo Washington (D-22) and Sen. Paul Pinsky (D-22) were expected to attend, along with other elected officials. City crime reports suggest that it is unusual to see so many incidents in such a short time. Hyattsville crime levels have dropped over the past few years. Assaults, for example, decreased by almost 15 percent between 2008 and 2013. A comparison of January through July 2014 to the same period in 2013 shows a 9 percent
PLAYGROUND continued on page 12
CRIME continued on page 13
NEW PLAYGROUND IS A
NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID EASTON MD PERMIT NO. 43
BLADENSBURG continued on page 12
by Susie Currie
Hyattsville Life & Times PO Box 132 Hyattsville, MD 20781
August 2014
Hyattsville’s newest place to play is disguised better than Clark Kent. But it isn’t likely to stay a secret for long. The one-of-a-kind Comic Hero Playground, tucked into a little-used area of Heurich Park, opened to the public and caped crusaders alike on July 18. The ribbon cutting drew about 40 children, parents and elected officials, including Maryland State Sen. Victor Ramirez (D-47), Del. Anne Healey (D-23) and newly minted Prince George’s County Councilmember Deni Tavares (D-2). Many in the crowd donned the brightly colored
Included: The August 12, 2014 Issue of The Hyattsville Reporter — See Center Section