NEW EDITOR WELCOME
Meet the HL&T's newest managing editor, Maria D. James. P. 2
MACY'S MADE BETTER
One man's efforts led to a new family restroom and changing station at the Mall at Prince Georges. P. 5
Hyattsville's Prince Hall Freemasons
COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR Resident named D.C. counselor of the year representative. P. 7
Life&Times & &Times
by Mark Goodson
Just around the corner from the City of Hyattsville is a very active masonic lodge — the Shelton D. Redding Lodge No. 139 (SDRL) of Prince Hall Freemasons. The historically black masonic lodge shares the goal of community service through brotherhood with Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, but the two bodies' mutual existence is a reminder of segregation in the masonic body that is as old as America. George Washington was a mason in the Anglo-American tradition at a time when black Americans were denied membership. A man named Prince Hall founded African Lodge #1 in 1776, the year the country declared its independence. According to lodge documents, African lodges grew and created the African Grand Lodge (AGL), a governing body. For over a century, these lodges grew without receiving recognition from the grand lodges of England. In 1827, after Prince Hall’s death and when the AGL’s authority to grant new charters was drawn into question, the group declared its independence. Struggle for mutual
Vol. 13 No. 1
Hyattsville’s Community Newspaper
HVFD hosts holiday reunion for survivors of horrific crash
ICU provided two families with a lasting connection by Maria D. James
NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID EASTON MD PERMIT NO. 43
MASONS continued on page 11
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY FIRE/EMS The Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department and Prince George's County Fire/EMS celebrate the holidays with two families who met at Childrenʼs National Medical Center after a deadly Chillum Road crash.
Six weeks after first responders arrived on the scene of a tragic accident on Chillum Road involving a church van that ended five lives and sent 14 people to the hospital, they were reunited with survivors. With the help of one family and local media, the Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department (HVFD) and Prince George’s County Fire/ EMS (PGFD) hosted a holiday gathering that included donated gifts and Santa. It was an unfortunate circumstance that brought Virginia resident Carrie Jenkins to know one of the crash victims. She was caring for her son, Brayden, at the Children’s CRASH continued on page 4
Non-U.S. citizens likely to vote in city elections By Rebecca Bennett
Hyattsville Life & Times PO Box 132 Hyattsville, MD 20781
January 2016
At the Jan. 4 Hyattsville City Council meeting, councilmembers discussed a motion that would direct the city attorney to draw up a charter amendment concerning the qualifications of voters in municipal elections. The council is likely to pass the motion, which was submitted jointly by Council President Edouard Haba (Ward 4), Council Vice President Bart Lawrence, and Councilmembers Patrick Paschall (Ward 3) and Joseph Solomon (Ward 4). The biggest change proposed by this new legislation would be to allow non-U.S. citizens — even undocumented residents — to
vote in municipal elections. According to a city memo, Maryland ended non-citizen voting rights in 1851, but left it up to municipalities to decide local voting rights. Six Maryland cities currently allow non-citizens to vote: Takoma Park, Barnesville, Garrett Park, Glen Echo, Martin’s Additions and Somerset. Most councilmembers supported the issue. “I think — just like I thought with 16- and 17-year-olds who are paying taxes and driving on our roads — they should have the right to engage in our city elections,” Paschall said. Solomon said he thinks extending voting rights in city elections is something wanted and needed. “I think it’s the right thing to do
to bring them into the fold, because it’s a part of the city that is clearly present and eager to participate,” he said. Lawrence said when he campaigned, he spoke with many resident foreign nationals who could not vote, but he felt they should be able to vote in city elections. “They face a great deal of challenges,” he said. “It seemed to me that lifting just a little bit of the alienation … that it might just create a little better life for those people.” Haba said, “The key reason of backing this piece of legislation is that we, too, want [the council] to be the expression of the will of VOTING continued on page 12
CENTER SECTION: JANUARY 13, 2016 ISSUE OF THE HYATTSVILLE REPORTER — IN ESPANOL TOO!