LIBRARY RENOVATIONS
Innovations in learning amid plans for rebuild. P. 6
County budgets major school renovations, new schools By Rebecca Bennett
At a March 10 Prince George’s County budget listening session, Councilmember Deni Taveras (District 2) said millions were in the capital improvement program for major renovations to two local schools. The county also plans to build three new public schools that will pull students from two schools in the City of Hyattsville. According to the proposed FY 2017 county budget, $32.6 million is marked for a FY 2018 to 2021 renovation of Hyattsville Elementary School (HES). According to a presentation by the county councilmember, in FY 2015, the school underwent floor construction, and in FY 2016, it was scheduled to receive fan coil units and grease traps. In FY 2017, HES is scheduled for fire alarm replacement, the presentation said. An $84.6 million renovation is proposed for Hyattsville Middle School (HMS) in FY 2021 to 2024. The county councilmember’s presentation said that in FY 2015, renovations included grease traps, a stage and locker rooms. FY 2017 budgeted renovations included fire alarms, a dance floor, lockers, structural foundation, and stage lighting.
DANCE SHOWCASE
Local students show off their talents. P. 8
BIRD KITCHEN
What do the Marines, a Moroccan prince and Mount Rainier have in common? P. 11
Life&Times & &Times
Vol. 13 No. 4
Hyattsville’s Community Newspaper
It's finally here! New 24-hour Safeway boast many amenities By Maria D. James
BUDGET continued on page 10
NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID EASTON MD PERMIT NO. 43
April 2016
REBECCA BENNETT On April 9, executives from Safeway joined local officials for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Gateway at UTC grocery store, including (pictured here) Hyattsville City Mayor Candace Hollingsworth, Councilmember Tom Wright (Ward 3), Prince Georgeʼs County Executive Rushern Baker, III, County Councilmember Dannielle Glaros (District 3).
On April 9, the City of Hyattsville and Prince George’s County officially welcomed the newest Safeway store, located at 3702 East West Highway, to the region with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Safeway Eastern Division President Steve Burnham announced that the soft opening of the store on April 6 was so successful that the store had to activate another checkout register. “One resounding message has been: welcome back,” said Burnham. According to a Safeway press release, amenities at the new 24-hour store include a Starbucks Coffee bar, freshly cut in-store fruit and vegetables in the produce department, bulk foods and full-service pharmacy, deli, meat and seafood departments. Speciality meal services include butchers to provide custom cuts of meat, a bakery offering custom cake designs and french bread that is baked fresh SAFEWAY continued on page 17
Hyattsville hosts Congressional Democratic Debate
Hyattsville Life & Times PO Box 132 Hyattsville, MD 20781
By Rosanna Landis Weaver
As election season builds up next fall, political aspirants across the country will say, “When I go to Washington … ” Like the geographic distance, the temporal distance is less in the Maryland 4th congressional district, which includes portions of Hyattsville. In an overwhelming Democratic district, it is widely presumed that the winner of the April 26 Democratic Party primary will win in the general election in November. On Thursday, April 7, in an event co-organized by the the Hyattsville Life & Times, Hyattsville City Councilmember Joseph Solo-
mon (Ward 5), and Candace Rojo Keyes, the assistant editor of the Prince George’s Sentinel, five of six candidates faced off in a lively discussion of the issues. Maryland State Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk (District 21) was unable to attend. Their opening statements framed much of the discussion that followed, with broad agreement on goals and disagreements for the most part more on style than substance. Prince George’s County Prosecutor Glenn F. Ivey set the tone with a biography that included references to his childhood in North Carolina and the Civil Rights movement. He described his entrance into public service as
motivated by the desire “to make a difference in other people’s lives the same way other people had done for mine.” When he ran for state’s attorney’s office in Prince George’s County, he made promises to reduce crime, to move away from over-incarceration with intervention and prevention programs, and to hold officers accountable who crossed the line, all of which he felt he achieved. “The promises I kept there should give you some comfort that I’ll keep the promises I make if you send me to Congress,” promises to fight on behalf of the citizens of the district DEBATE continued on page 16
CENTER SECTION: APRIL 13, 2016 ISSUE OF THE HYATTSVILLE REPORTER — IN ESPANOL TOO!