October 2019 Hyattsville Life & Times

ZERO WASTE CLOTHING

In this month’s column, read how to reduce and recycle your clothing. P. 6

HCPD facing staffing shortage

By Heather Wright

CULTURAL CONNECTIONS

BAKING FOR BRUNCH

Resident reflects on his Indian culture and American experiences. P. 9

Shortcake Bakery adds brunch to the menu starting in October. Read how to RSVP. P. 10

Life&Times

Vol. 16 No. 10

Following a Sept. 26 police-involved shooting, eight officers from the Hyattsville City Police Department (HCPD) have been placed on administrative leave, pending an investigation. According to a City of Hyattsville official statement, this is standard operating procedure, but it further depletes an alreadydiminished force. Police departments across the nation are facing staffing shortages, and the HCPD is no exception.

In an interview prior to the Sept.

Hyattsville’s Community Newspaper

October 2019

PORCHFEST 2019

HCPD continued on page 13

Director of Community Services bids farewell

JULIETTE FRADIN PHOTOGRAPHY

Local residents enjoy music on Jefferson Street and 40th Avenue during Hyattsville’s 4th PorchFest on Sept. 14. See more photos on page 8.

By Sophie Gorman Oriani

At the Sept. 16 city council meeting, Jake Rollow, director of Community Services, announced he was leaving Hyattsville to take a new position as the communications director for Michigan’s secretary of state.

“My family and I are moving to Michigan,” Rollow said. “We have been contemplating this for some time. It’s been a very difficult decision, motivated in part by some family issues, some of which are personal. I am sad to leave and also excited about what’s ahead.”

Rollow has worked for the City ROLLOW continued on page 4

City holds meeting on officer-involved shooting

By Sophie Gorman Oriani

The mood varied between somber, restless and angry as City of Hyattsville staff gathered with the broader community to discuss the death of Leonard Shand, who was shot by police on Sept. 26. The community meet-

ing, which was held on Oct. 1 at University Christian Church, was led by Mayor Candace Hollingsworth and Hyattsville City Police Department (HCPD) Chief Amal Awad.

The meeting was well attended by local residents, who filled both the church sanctuary and narthex. Many city councilmembers

were present, as well as elected officials from Prince George’s County, city staff and police officers, and clergy, including some of the Hyattsville Community Chaplains.

The Rev. Nathan Hill, pastor at University SHOOTING continued on page 12

CENTER SECTION: OCTOBER 8, 2019 ISSUE OF THE HYATTSVILE REPORTER — IN ESPANOL TOO! HYATTSVILLE MD PERMIT NO. 1383

Reach every consumer in Hyattsville ... for less! Contact advertising@hyattsvillelife.com or 301-531-5234

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Page 2

Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2019

HYATTSVILLE ARTS & ALES

A community newspaper chronicling the life and times of Hyattsville Mailing address: PO Box 132, Hyattsville, MD 20781 http://HyattsvilleLife.com http://facebook.com/HyattsvilleLife http://twitter.com/HvilleTimes Hyattsville Life & Times is published monthly by Hyattsville Community Newspaper, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. Editors welcome reader input, tips, articles, letters, opinion pieces and photographs, which may be submitted using the mailing address above or the email addresses below.

Managing Editor Maria D. James maria@hyattsvillelife.com Associate Editors Sophie Gorman Oriani sophie@hyattsvillelife.com Heather Wright heather@hyattsvillelife.com Webmaster Lindsay Myers lindsay@hyattsvillelife.com Layout & Design Editor Ashley Perks Copy Editor Nancy Welch Advertising advertising@hyattsvillelife.com 301.531.5234 Writers & Contributors Victoria Boucher, Juliette Fradin, Julia Gaspar-Bates, Kerry-Ann Hamilton, Fred Seitz Board of Directors Joseph Gigliotti — President and General Counsel Chris Currie — Vice President Reva Harris — Treasurer Rosanna Landis Weaver, Gretchen Brodtman, Debra Franklin, T. Carter Ross, Emily Strab Maria D. James — 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.

Clockwise from top left: People check out the shops and stalls during the 12th Hyattsville Arts & Ales festival on Sept. 21; Eighthgrader Maria Skylar paints a new piece; Garance Borrut and June Kelly make crafts with beads, thanks to Sew Creative Kids; People find shade to enjoy the music performances. JULIETTE FRADIN PHOTOGRAPHY AND KERRY-ANN HAMILTON.

Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2019

Page 3

Homo Habilis Construction LLC*

LetterToThe Editor On May 15, the City of Hyattsville offered Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) two constructions sites: the Hyattsville Middle School (HMS) and the southeast corner of Magruder Park. The Hyattsville Life and Times (HL&T) reported on June 10 how the Hyattsville Educational Facilities Task Force (EFTF) provided a public presentation describing results — without providing park site boundaries — supporting this offer, while soliciting public comment. Slide 7 [in the presentation] indicates that none of Magruder Park is owned by PGCPS. Based on available information, this selection effort was not independent, methodical or driven by measurable requirements, nor was there mention of any formal instruction used for such a selection “process.” For the following three months, as reported by the HL&T, further confusion and effort on the part of the city council and PGCPS ensued.

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Kitchens, Baths, Basements, Remodeling, Additions, Repairs

On Sept. 17 and 19, the HL&T posted a breaking article — the PGCPS Board Action Summary [indicated that] using the publicprivate partnership (P3) model, with HMS included, was approved Sept. 19 by the PGCPS Board of Education. Page 4 of the summary indicates the board’s resolution, in general terms, is to utilize land currently owned

by PGCPS for the replacement schools. Magruder Park, therefore, should not even have been an option, which gets back to asking what formal PGCPSguidance was the EFTF given?

Hopefully, the HL&T will figure out what happened. Also, give credit to the Hyattsville Environmental Committee for challenging this process, as indicated in the HL&T Aug. 2 article.

@HVILLETIMES

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oday.homohabilis@gmail.com *Ho-mo hab-i-lis, n. (handy man, skillful man).

A species of humans considered to be an ancestor of modern humans and the earliest hominid to make tools. This species existed between 1.5 and 2 million years ago.

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Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2019 Jake Rollow with his wife and son at the 2016 holiday tree lighting at Magruder Park. COURTESY OF JAKE ROLLOW

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of Hyattsville for five years. According to the city’s website, the Department of Community Services oversees “the City’s child and youth programs, services for seniors and people with disabilities, volunteer opportunities, communications and community outreach, cable channel and programming, farmers market, and crazy-fun annual celebrations both big and small.”

Five of Rollow’s staff members accompanied him to the city council meeting, and his remarks focused on his gratitude for the support he’s received from them and other employees of the city.

“I want to thank you all on the dais for the trust you’ve placed in

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me and in my department,” Rollow said. “I want to thank Tracey [Douglas] for what I would consider gifted leadership of the city.

I want to thank my colleagues … for being such good colleagues over the five years I’ve been here.”

“More than anything,” Rollow added, “I want to thank my staff.

Simply put, they’re my favorite part of this job, and there’s no way I could have been successful without them. … It’s a special team that I’m leaving behind.”

“I care about this place immensely and will always want to help,” Rollow said, emphasizing that he intends to be available as a resource through the transition.

City Administrator Tracey Douglas praised Rollow’s commitment to the City of Hyattsville. “I want to publicly and personally thank him for all the wonderful work he has done for this city,” she said. “He will be very, very difficult to replace. …

He’s brought a wealth of knowledge to us, and he has just been a tremendous leader, so we are all going to miss him.”

“I will say that this [new] position was just too right to not accept,” Douglas added. “This door opened for him, and it was the right door for him to walk through, so we wish him the best.”

“Hyattsville, itself, is a special place,” Rollow said. “I’m so thankful I’ve gotten to spend part of my career here, and also spend some years of my family’s life here.”

After his speech, Rollow received a standing ovation. As of press time, there has been no announcement made of who will be replacing him.

Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2019

Page 5

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Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2019

ZeroWaste of Time

The impact of fast fashion: how to reduce and recycle your clothing

By Juliette Fradin

“I have nothing to wear”; “I need an outfit for that next event”; “I don’t fit in half of my clothes.” If the feeling is familiar, you are not alone; the world consumes about 80 billion of new clothing each year.

This is what we call fast fashion: companies making fashion trends available at high speed and low cost for consumers.

The fashion industry used to run on two seasons: spring/summer and fall/winter.

Nowadays, fast fashion brands like H&M, Forever 21 and Zara produce 52 microseasons per year, and their products are cheaper than ever. They want you to feel like you are off-trend after one week. We buy garments that we wear only a few times before throwing them away, despite the fact they have traveled across the world to get to us. Now with the click of a button, we shop anything, anywhere at anytime. No need to wait at checkout lines anymore.

There are consequences to our overconsumption, however. The clothing industry is now one of the biggest polluters on the planet. It contributes to about 5% of the world’s global greenhouse gas emissions and uses lots of water and fossil fuels. This industry also has a direct impact on our health, as many of our clothes are made out of plastic, lead and hazardous chemicals.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the average American throws away around 80 pounds of clothing per year (5 times more than in 1980). Of that 80 pounds, 85% goes to our landfills, and this amount is growing. But the good news is that 100% of textiles can be recycled.

To minimize your consumption of clothes, first, purchase less. Invest in basic pieces like standard T-shirts (organic if you can), jeans and sweaters that will last you for a long time. Buy from sustainable and environmentally conscious brands like Everlane, Reformation, Balzac Paris and Amour Vert. These clothes will last longer. But be aware of greenwashing or when brands want to make more profits by claiming they are “green” but operate in a way that is damaging to the environment. If you are in need of an outfit for a special occasion, rent it (www.renttherunway.com).

If you want a more mindful wardrobe, or even a capsule wardrobe (a minimalist collection of useful clothing that you love), clean out your closet. But where to get rid of your surplus? Sell the most worthy pieces to consignment stores or on fashion apps like Poshmark or thredUP. Donate the rest to organizations (like the Family Health and Birth Center in D.C.),

Above: Buy secondhand clothes and save the natural resources that it takes to make new clothes. Shoppers browse during the University Park Children Clothing Co-op (UPCCC) Fall/Winter Sale. Left: Gently used pants being resold at the UPCCC Fall/ Winter Sale.

JULIETTE FRADIN PHOTOGRAPHY

local charities, or thrift stores like Value Village or Goodwill. Recycling is better than dumping your clothes.

You can also keep your old clothing in the community by passing them on to your friends and family. You can donate and shop at the HY-Swap for everything kid-related on Oct. 19 at the Hyattsville Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin Street. It opens at 11 a.m. for local residents. You can also buy quality used clothes for tots to teens from local families at the upcoming University Park Children Clothing Co-op sale on Oct. 12, from 9 a.m. to noon at the First Bap-

tist Church of Hyattsville, 5701 42nd Avenue. Numi Yoga Studio (4513 College Avenue, College Park) will collect your athletic clothes until Oct. 17 during studio hours. You can also take your donations and help a good cause in College Park through Green Drop (8900 Baltimore Avenue). Wonder what to do with all the empty shipping boxes you get from Amazon? You can fill them up with unwanted items, print a Give Back Box label online and send them for free using UPS or USPS and benefit a charity of your choice at the same time.

Some retailers, like H&M, The North

Face, Patagonia, Levi Strauss & Co., and Madewell, have in-store recycling bins (and also make it easy to return items).

My Organic Market has a spring Denim Drive. Schedule a donation to the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), and they will pick up boxes directly from your curb. VVA especially needs clothing of all types and sizes for the whole family. Their nearest drop-off site is 8719 Colesville Road, Silver Spring.

If you would like to raise money for your school or organization, consider organizing a FUNDrive with Value Village. Set up the event, collect clothing, then drop it off and receive a payment.

If you want to dig further on the subject, Three Little Birds Sewing Co. (5132 Baltimore Avenue) just launched a book club, and their first book will be Fashionopolis: The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes on Oct. 28 from 7 to 10 p.m. See you there?

Send questions and comments to bonjour@ juliettefradin.com.

Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2019

Page 7

NatureNearby

A calming green carpet

By Fred Seitz

Walk down the trail to Magruder Park and admire the logs bordering the trail, and you cannot help but notice beautiful green mosses growing on them. These lovely bryophytes that enjoy shade and moisture have about 12,000 different relatives and a history dating back nearly 300 million years.

When walking in wooded areas, you can often see a variety of mosses growing on rocks and other shaded outcrops. While most mosses prefer shade and moisture, there are a few types that tolerate direct sunlight.

Mosses provide homes for small critters, mostly insects.

Few animals eat moss, but some birds and animals do nibble it to get moisture.

Mosses help break down other materials, and this action provides nutrients for other plants,

helps preserve the soil and allows the soil to absorb water that is also used by other plants.

These characteristics have promoted the commercial growth of some types of mosses, such as sphagnum moss, which are used to help preserve water and landscapes. Additionally, moss provides aesthetic appeal.

We have used sphagnum moss, which grows in bogs, for centuries. We’ve used it, dried, as fuel to heat our homes and to make Scotch whiskey, and in peat moss for gardening. It also has antiseptic properties and was used as bandages in both the Civil War and World War I. Interestingly, mosses do not blossom and spread pollen like flowers and trees. They reproduce either by spreading spores or as broken pieces that grow into new plants.

Many of us who were scouts or

participated in various outdoor programs were told that we could use green moss growing on the north side of the tree as a navigational aid. Intriguingly, though, this “green moss” is actually not a moss, but a type of algae.

Moss has found its way into folklore, too. Cree Indians tell a tale of moss being used to help dam a great flood (www.nativelanguages.org/creestory4.htm).

Indigenous people living near the Gulf of Mexico tell how a conflict between the north and south winds caused the north wind to lose its hair and cling to trees (When the Storm God Rides: Tejas and Other Indian Legends by Florence Stratton, 1936).

Whether or not they can stop a flood or cover the north wind’s balding head, our mosses provide a home for small critters and a calming sight for passers-by.

FRED SEITZ

Moss in Magruder Park

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Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2019

the

Hyattsville Reporter No. 379 • October 8, 2019

www.hyattsville.org • 301-985-5000

Residential Parking Permits Enforcement

To learn more, visit www.hyattsville.org/ capable. To request a mailed application, please contact Habitat for Humanity at (301) 990-0014 ext. 19 or by emailing rebecca.arce@habitatmm.org. For help completing the application, please contact Hyattsville Aging in Place at (301) 8873101 or HAPCares@gmail.com.

Enforcement of Residential Parking Zones with fines begins October 7. Residents that live within a Residential Parking Zone and have not yet applied are encouraged to do so immediately. The City is also accepting applications for Special Residential Parking Permits and additional permits for all zones. Special permits and additional permits are not guaranteed and are reviewed in the order in which they are received. Residents can submit applications by mail or at the City Building during business hours but please note that the fastest way to receive your permits is by applying online at www. hyattsville.org/res-parking. For questions, please call (301) 985-5027.

Spookyfest

Join us Saturday, October 26, at 1 p.m., at University Town Center (6515 Belcrest Road) for a spooky fun time! We’ll be having scary stories, seasonal crafts, a costume contest (for ages 12 and under), a photo booth, and tons of music and dancing. Visit www.hyattsville.org/spooky to learn more about the FREE fun!

Estate Planning Clinic

Fall Community Yard Sale

The City’s 2019 Fall Community Yard Sale will take place October 11 – 13, during daylight hours. Participation is free.

Residents who registered voluntarily will have their address included on a “treasure map” on the City’s website. The sale dates will also be listed on Craigslist under their Yard Sale section with a link to the map.

For more information, visit www.hyattsville.org/yardsale or call (301) 985-5000. If you’d like to rent a table from Friendship Arms Apartments for $10 a day, please contact Jackie Johnson at (301) 277-6658 (there’s no charge for Friendship Arms Residents).

Fall Cleanup Days

Mary Prangley Cleanup Day: Place your bulk trash items curbside after 6 p.m. on Friday, October 11, for collection that Saturday morning. FREE of charge, rain or shine, the City will pick up mattresses, box springs, chairs, tables, room doors, grills, swings, cabinets, empty paint cans, TV carts, bathtubs, sinks, toilets, and wall units. Questions? Please call (301) 985-5000.

Growing Green with Pride Day: The City is partnering with Prince George’s County on Saturday, October 19 for Growing Green with Pride Day! We’re asking all residents to participate in this Countysponsored event by helping us clean the streets and neighborhoods of Hyattsville.

To lend a helping hand, the City will provide cotton work gloves, litter sticks, and as many 80 percent post-consumer recycled trash bags needed! If interested in participating, call (301) 985-5057 or email caistis@hyattsville.org.

Electronics & Paint Recycling: Electronics & Paint Recycling: Electronics can be dropped off FREE of charge on Saturday, October 26, 7 a.m. – 1 p.m., at 4633 Arundel Place. Hyattsville Public Works staff will be on-site to answer any questions you may have. Call (301) 985-5000 to learn more. Yuck Old Paint staff will be with us, too. They recycle wet paint, in its original container, for $5 per container (cash, checks, or charge). Questions? Call (888) 509-YUCK (9825).

New Emergency Notification System

All residents are encouraged to sign up for the City’s new emergency alert system by texting HVL to 99411 or visiting www.hyattsville.org/safetyalerts. The Hyattsville Police Department is no longer using the Nixle system to send emergency alerts.

Hyattsville Mayor Candace Hollingsworth, Police Chief Amal Awad, City Administrator Tracey Nicholson-Douglas, and Councilmembers were joined by community leaders, residents, and journalists at a community meeting to discuss the shooting that occurred on September 26; La Alcaldesa de Hyattsville Candace Hollingsworth, Jefa de Policía Amal Awad, Administradora de la Ciudad Tracey Nicholson-Douglas y Concejales fueron acompañados por lideres de la comunidad, residentes y periodistas en una junta comunitaria para hablar sobre el tiroteo que ocurrió el 26 de septiembre.

McClanahan Park Community Meeting

There will be a second McClanahan Park Community Meeting on Tuesday, October 15, at 6:30 p.m. by 6199 Jamestown Road.

Stop by and tell us your thoughts about the design plans for the gateway to Prince George’s Mall! If you haven’t seen the plans, you can find them at www.hyattsville.org/parks. For more information, email tgeorge@hyattsville.org.

Camp Magruder

Register your youngster (Grades K – 5), for any or all our upcoming Camp Magruder sessions! While schools are on break, enroll your child for fun-filled days of sports, arts, dance, indoor/outdoor activities, and awesome educational experiments. For more information or to register for Camp Magruder, please visit www.hyattsville.org/campmagruder.

Mini-Camp Magruder: October 18 Registration is now open $30 for City residents and for non-residents Winter Camp Magruder: December 26 – 31. Registration opens on October 30 $125 for City residents / $150 for nonresidents

Free Clothing, Toys & More

Shop the HY-Swap for FREE infant, children’s and maternity clothing, toys, and gear. Donations are from the local community, for the local community!

On Saturday. October 19, doors will be open 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and again from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the first floor of the City Building. The HY-Swap is organized by local parents dedicated to sharing items within the community, helping families save money, and reducing waste. Items mentioned above that are in good condition are collected in advance from now until Sunday, September 29.

The exception is large items (strollers, car seats, cribs, highchairs, etc.), which can be brought the morning of the event, starting at 9 a.m. No other items will be accepted

by HY-Swap on October 19, but Greater

DC Diaper Bank will be on hand to accept donations of diapers and sanitary items.

For more information about when and where to donate goods or how to volunteer, contact hyswap@gmail.com, or visit www.hy-swap.com.

Economic Development Week

October 20 – 26 is Maryland Economic Development Week! During the week, we’ll be recognizing, engaging, and highlighting developments happening in the City. Stay tuned to our social media and website as the list of events are announced.

Teen Center

Looking for a place to meet friends after school? Hang out with us at Magruder Park Mondays and Wednesdays, 3:30 – 7 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:30 – 8 p.m., and Fridays, 3:30 – 10 p.m. Fun activities, dinner, and a ride to and from the Center are all included. To learn more, visit www.hyattsville.org/teen-center.

Sunset Movie Series

We’re screening one a favorite, Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation on Friday, October 25, at 7 p.m., at Heurich Park. Come enjoy this FREE movie – don’t forget the blankets and chairs!

Capable Home Modification Program

The City of Hyattsville has partnered with Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland and Hyattsville Aging in Place to offer free home modification services to eligible senior residents. Services may include therapy for functional limitations, fall prevention and recovery strategies, and structural modifications and accessories to make homes more age friendly. To qualify, residents must: • Be at least 65 years old • Live in a home covered by homeowners’ policy • Have trouble getting daily activities done • Have annual income less than $42,500

On Monday, October 28, seniors that meet income eligibility guidelines and are over the age of 60 can meet with attorneys for FREE to help prepare wills, advance medical directives, and power of attorney documents. The service is being provided by a partnership between the City of Hyattsville, Hyattsville Aging in Place, Helping Hands in University Park, Community Legal Services of Prince George’s County, and the Maryland Pro Bono Resource Center. Appointments can be made between 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the City Building but please note that space is limited. Reservations must be made by Monday, October 21 and can be done so by calling the Pro Bono Resource center at (443) 703-3052.

Find the Services You Need Looking for a new job and need assistance? MyPGServices can help – they list Latin American Youth Center at (301) 434-3121, Lutheran Social Services at (202) 723-3000, and GapBuster Inc. at (301) 779-4252. Not the service you’re looking for? Visit our website www.hyattsville.org/resident-resources page and check out the other 1,820 programs that may meet your need!

We’re Hiring

Serve your community by working for our local government! We’re seeking a crime analyst, a grant coordinator, and officers for our police department. Public works and Call-A-Bus are also seeking drivers.

Learn more and apply at www.hyattsville. org/jobs.

Mentors and Tutors Needed

Volunteer as a tutor and mentor at the City of Hyattsville’s Teen Center! We´re still seeking role models for the school year who can help with homework for local students in grades 6 – 12. It’s a commitment of a couple hours, one night a week, or more if you’d like. Visit www. hyattsville.org/tutor for more information.

Download the My Hyattsville App

Do you need to report a bulk trash pickup?

Have you run over the same pothole one too many times? Have no fear, My Hyattsville is here! Download our app or visit www.hyattsville.org/request to report non-emergency issues or request City services. Once submitted, you can track your request with real-time updates from City staff. My Hyattsville is available at the Apple and Google Store.

Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2019

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el

Reportero de

Hyattsville

No. 379 • 8 de Octubre, 2019

Enfuerzo De Parqueo Residencial

dedicados a compartiendo bienes dentro de la comunidad, ayudando familias y reduciendo el desgaste. Se recolecta bienes que ya fueron mencionados y estén en buenas condiciones desde ahora hasta el 29 de septiembre. Bienes más grandes como cunas, sillitas de paseo y sillas infantiles no serán colectadas hasta el día del evento empezando a las 9 a.m. El HY-Swap solo colectará los bienes grandes el 19 de octubre, pero la organización DC Diaper Bank estará presente para aceptar donaciones como pañales y artículos sanitarios. ¡Para más información acerca de dónde y cómo puede donar bienes o para convertirse en un voluntario, contacte a hyswap@gmail. com o visite www.hy-swap.com!

El enfuerzo de permisos dentro de Zonas de Parqueo Residenciales con multas empieza el 7 de octubre. Residentes que viven dentro de una Zona de Parqueo Residencial y todavía no han entregado una aplicación deberían de aplicar inmediatamente. La Ciudad también está aceptando solicitudes para permisos especiales y permisos adicionales. Permisos especiales y permisos adicionales no son garantizados y serán revisados en la orden en que se recibieron.

Por favor noten que la manera más rápida para recibir sus permisos es aplicando en línea vía www.hyattsville.org/res-parking.

Sí tiene alguna consulta o pregunta, por favor llame a la Ciudad al (301) 985-5027.

Venta Comunitaria de Otoño

La Venta Comunitaria del Otoño de la Ciudad de tomará plazo desde el 11 hasta el 13 de octubre durante las horas del día.

Participación es gratis. Residentes que se registraron voluntariamente tendrán sus direcciones incluidas en un “mapa de tesoros” en el sitio web de la Ciudad. Las fechas de venta también estarán listadas en Craiglist con un enlace para el mapa. Para más información, visite www.hyattsville. org/yardsale o llame al (301) 985-5000. Si quisiera rentar una mesa de los apartamentos Friendship Arms por $10 al día, por favor contacte a Jackie Johnson al (301) 277-6658 (no hay cargo para residentes que viven en los Apartamentos).

Días de Limpieza

Residents enjoying a special Movin’ with the Mayor session at the new 38th Avenue Park fitness court; Residentes disfrutando de una sesión especial de Acción con la Alcaldesa en la nueva corte de ejercicio de 38th Avenue Park.

Nuevo Sistema de Alerta de Emergencia

Estamos pidiéndoles a todos los residentes que se inscriban para el nuevo sistema de alertas de emergencia de la Ciudad. Para recibir alertas, envié un texto al 99411 con las letras “HVL” o visité www.hyattsville.org/safetyalerts.

El Departamento de Policía de Hyattsville ya no está usando el sistema Nixle para enviar alertas de emergencia.

Semana de Desarrollo Económico

¡Octubre 20 a 26 es Semana de Desarrollo Económico de Maryland! Durante la semana, estaremos reconociendo y promoviendo desarrollos económicos que están pasando en la Ciudad. Manténganse sintonizados a nuestras redes sociales y sitio web para cuando la lista de eventos sea anunciada.

Centro de Jóvenes

¿Está buscando un lugar para reunirse con amigos después de la escuela?

Acompáñenos en el Parque Magruder todos los lunes y miércoles, 3:30 – 7 p.m., martes y jueves, 3:30 – 8 p.m. y viernes, 3:30 – 10 p.m. para actividades divertidas. ¡También ofrecemos cena y transportación! Para más información, visite www.hyattsville.org/centro-de-jovenes.

Día de Limpieza Mary Prangley: Dejen sus basuras grandes en el bordillo después de las 6 p.m. el viernes, 11 de octubre y la Ciudad la recogerá GRATUITAMENTE la siguiente mañana. Por favor asegúrese que viva dentro de los límites de la Ciudad de Hyattsville. Puede dejar colchones, bases de cama, sillas, mesas, puertas, parrillas, columpios, gabinetes, latas vacías de pintura, muebles de televisores, bañeras y lavamanos. ¿Preguntas? Llame al (301) 985-5000.

Junta Comunitaria Sobre el Parque McClanahan Serie de Películas al Habrá una segunda junta comunitaria Atardecer sobre el Parque McClanahan el mar-

Creciendo Verde Con Orgullo: ¡La Ciudad se está juntando con el Condado Prince George’s el sábado, 19 de octubre para el Día de Crecer Verde con Orgullo!

Le estamos pidiendo a todos los residentes a que participen en este evento patrocinado por el Condado ayudándonos a limpiar las calles y vecindades de Hyattsville. ¡Para darles la mano, la Ciudad proveerá guantes de algodón para trabajar, palitos para levantar basura y todas las bolsas de basura que se necesiten! Si está interesada/o en participar, llame al (301) 985-5057 o mande un correo electrónico a caistis@hyattsville.org

Camp Magruder

Reciclaje de Electrónicos y Pintura Expirada: Usted puede dejar sus electrónicos para que sean reciclados GRATUITAMENTE el sábado, 26 de octubre, en la 4633 Arundel Place, desde las 7 a.m. hasta la 1 p.m. Empleados del Departamento de Obras Públicas de la Ciudad estarán allí para responder a sus preguntas. Llame al (301) 985-5000 para aprender más. Empleados de Yuck Old Paint también estarán presente. Ellos Reciclan pintura expirada en sus contenedores originales y cobran $5 por cada contenedor que colectan (puede pagar con efectivo, cheque o tarjeta). ¿Preguntas? Llame al (888) 509-YUCK (9825).

www.hyattsville.org • 301-985-5000

tes, 15 de octubre, a las 6:30 p.m., por la 6199 Jamestown Road. Vengan a expresar sus opiniones sobres los nuevos planes de diseño para el parque. Sí todavía no ha visto los diseños, visite www.hyattsville.org/parks. Para más información, envié un correo electrónico a tgeorge@hyattsville.org.

¡Registre a su hija/o (Grados K – 5) para todas nuestras próximas sesiones del Camp Magruder! Cuando no estén en la escuela, inscriba a su hija/o para días llenos de deportes, artes, baile, actividades dentro y fuera y experimentos educativos. Para más información y para registrarse para las futuras sesiones del Camp Magruder, por favor visiten a www.hyattsville.org/campmagruder.

Mini-Camp Magruder: 18 de octubre Inscripción ya está abierta $30 para residentes y ellos que no habitan en Hyattsville Winter Camp Magruder: 26 – 31 de diciembre. Inscripción se abre el 30 de octubre. $125 para residentes de la Ciudad / $150 para ellos que no habitan en Hyattsville

Intercambio Comunitario

Venga de compras al HY-Swap, un intercambio comunitario GRATIS para ropa de infantes, niños pequeños, ropa de maternidad, juguetes y bienes. El 19 de octubre, las puertas se abrirán de 11 p.m. a 12:30 p.m. y de nuevo de las 1:30 p.m. a 2:30 p.m. en el primer piso del Edificio Municipal. El HY-Swap está organizado por un grupo local de padres

Estamos proyectando la película Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation, en el Parque Heurich el viernes, 25 de octubre, a las 7 p.m. ¡Traiga sus mantas o sillas y venga a disfrutar de esta película GRATIS en el Parque!

Programa De Modificación De Casa para Gente Mayor

La Ciudad de Hyattsville se ha asociado con las organizaciones Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland y Hyattsville Aging in Place para ofrecer servicios gratuitos de modificación de casa para residentes de mayor edad que sean eligibles. Estos servicios pueden incluir terapias para limitaciones funcionales, estrategias para la prevención o recuperación de una caída y modificaciones estructurales para hacer la casa más cómoda. Para calificar, residentes de la Ciudad deben: • Tener por lo menos 65 años • Vivir en una casa cubierta por política de propietarios • Tener problemas completando actividades o que haceres diariamente • Tener un ingreso anual menos de $42,500 Para aprender más, visite www.hyattsville.org/capable. Para solicitar una aplicación por correo, por favor contacte Habitat for Humanity llamando al (301) 887-3101 extensión 19 o mandando un correo electrónico a rebecca.arce@habitatmm.org. Si necesita ayuda completando la aplicación, por favor contacte Hyattsville Aging in Place llamando al (301) 887-3101 o vía HAPCares@gmail.com.

Spookyfest

Vamos a tener una tarde fantasma-tica el sábado, 26 de octubre, empezando a la 1 p.m., en University Town Center (6515 Belcrest Road). Tendremos historias miedosas, artes, un concurso de disfraces para niños menores de 12 años, una cabina fotográfica y mucha música y baile. ¡Visite a www.hyattsville.org/spooky para ver más sobre la diversión GRATIS que tendremos!

Clínica de Planificación de Bienes

El lunes, 28 de octubre, gente mayor que cumplen con las pautas de elegibilidad de ingreso y tienen más de 60 años pueden reunirse con abogados gratuitamente para que les ayuden a preparar voluntades, directivas médicas anticipadas y documentos de poder notarial. El servicio es gracias a una colaboración entre la Ciudad de Hyattsville, Hyattsville Aging in Place, Helping Hands in University Park, Community Legal Services of Prince George’s County y el Maryland Pro Bono Resource Center. Citas pueden hacerse entre las 10 a.m. hasta las 3 p.m. en Edificio Municipal. El espacio es limitado. Citas tienen que ser hechas antes del lunes, 21 de octubre llamando al (443) 703-3052.

Encuentre los Servicios que Necesita ¿Está buscando un nuevo trabajo y necesita asistencia? MyPGServices le puede ayudar a encontrar un proveedor que ayude. Tienen enlistado a Latin American Youth Center al (301) 4343121, a Lutheran Social Services al (202) 723-3000 y a Gapbuster Inc. al (301) 779-4252. ¿No es el servicio que está buscando? ¡Échele un vistazo a nuestro sitio web www.hyattsville.org/residentresources y descubra los otros 1,820 programas que pueden ayudar!

Estamos Contratando

¡Sirva a su comunidad trabajando por la Ciudad! Estamos buscando a un analista de crimines, un coordinador de subvenciones y oficiales para nuestro departamento de policía. Además, estamos buscando conductores para Obras Públicas y el programa Call-A-Bus. Para obtener más información y para solicitar, por favor visite nuestro sitio web www.hyattsville.org/jobs.

Buscamos a Tutores y Mentores

¡Conviértase en un mentor y tutor para el Centro de Jóvenes de la Ciudad de Hyattsville! Estamos buscando a personas ejemplares para este año escolar que puedan ayudar a estudiantes locales de grados 6 – 12 con la tarea. Es un compromiso de un par de horas una vez a la semana o más tiempo si quiere. Por favor visite www.hyattsville.org/tutor para más detalles.

Descargue la App My Hyattsville

¿No recogimos su basura esta semana? ¿Le ha pegado al mismo bache tantas veces que ya no se acuerda cuantas veces ha pasado?

Tenemos la solución, ¡My Hyattsville! Descargue nuestra aplicación o visite www.hyattsville.org/request para reportar asuntos de no emergencia o solicitar servicios de la Ciudad. Al tener la información, empleados de la Ciudad estarán actualizándoles en tiempo real el progreso del asunto. My Hyattsville ya está disponible en la Apple y Google store.

Page 8

Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2019

HYATTSVILLE PORCHFEST

Clockwise from top left: Kids play on the sidewalk during Hyattsville’s 4th PorchFest on Sept.

14; Local residents listen to a rock band; Lauren Kelly performs as Starless Skye with Pete Daniels; Kids play in the backyard during Hyattsville’s PorchFest. JULIETTE FRADIN PHOTOGRAPHY.

Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2019

Page 9

CulturalConnections Longing for belonging – from India to the US

By Julia Gaspar-Bates

Being an outsider has been a lifelong reality for Gautam Bastian.

Born in Delhi, India, to an AngloIndian father and Maharashtrian mother, Bastian spent much of his childhood within the Christian tradition, which is a minority religion in a predominantly Hindu country. The family also moved frequently to different regions of the country.

“My father is an Anglo-Indian, who are descendants of the first Europeans who came to India and had children with Indians. They became a separate group because of the caste system so they would marry amongst themselves,” said Bastian. “My mother was raised in a Marathi-speaking family and went to Anglican school in Bombay. My parents had a love marriage, which was unusual during the time, as arranged marriages were the norm.”

During his first nine years, Bastian moved with his family between Delhi, Bombay (Mumbai) and Patna, in the eastern state of Bihar. While living in Patna, his father became ill, and Bastian moved to Bombay, on his own, to live with his grandparents.

“My parents stayed in Patna for another year, but they ended up moving to Bombay. We lived in a 450-square-foot apartment with my parents, sister, grandparents and uncle, who also ran his dental clinic out of the apartment.”

Although raised in a relatively secular family, Bastian, who is named after the Gautam Buddha, attended Catholic schools

COURTESY OF GAUTAM BASTIAN

Gautam Bastian first came to the U.S. in 2005 for a summer fellowship in Washington, D.C.

and college. “My mother was born in a Brahmin family (the highest caste), and despite coming from a Hindu background, she converted to Christianity in 2004. Although we always went to church when I was a child, I participated in some Hindu ceremonies. Every morning my grandfather had me do Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations) to instill in me the importance of discipline.”

Bastian first came to the U.S. in 2005 for a summer fellowship program in Washington D.C. He

returned in 2008 to do a master’s degree in public administration at Columbia University, where he eventually met his wife, Cecily. In 2011, they married, and he joined her in D.C. and started working at the World Bank.

After living in Alexandria, they eventually followed friends to Hyattsville five years ago so their kids could attend St. Jerome Academy. Bastian enjoys life in Hyattsville for its strong sense of community, its walkability and the Catholic community. “Since many people are new, they don’t

have established relationships, so it’s very easy to make friends.”

Reflecting on differences between life in America and India, Bastian observes, “American neighborhoods are very quiet.

When I first came here, I got the sense that something was missing, but I couldn’t quite figure out what it was until I got back to India. As I left the airport and heard all the noise, it clicked. Americans are much more protective of their space. For example, people desire independence — social distance is much greater here, both psychologically and physically. Daily life in India is very difficult, and since there isn’t any safety net, you have to rely on others to get by. In America, there is a lot more support and material well-being.”

He also reflects, “Indian culture is very family-oriented, and ties don’t dissolve easily. There is a clear sense of duty. Prosperous kids here or in India often have the idea that parents owe them.

Even though in India, there is a keener sense that your parents

make sacrifices for you. Parents in America are sometimes more anxious and less confident of their role as parents. They are hesitant to exercise authority. I don’t quite know why.”

Navigating between cultures, however, is not difficult for Bastian. “I never belonged to a particular group — culturally, religiously, place[wise],” he said. ”I have been more of an observer than participant of culture because of my personal background. I was born on Indian Independence Day, so I have a strong sense of being Indian.

I know that my life is here, but I’m hesitant to become an American citizen — but who knows? Belonging to a nationality is very important to me. I will probably live in America the rest of my life. My children and wife are American.

I’m very keen that my kids are clear that they are American.”

“Cultural Connections” is dedicated to bringing forth the voices of Hyattsville’s foreign residents to highlight the rich cultural diversity in our community.

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Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2019

MissFloribunda Miss Floribunda is currently away in France visiting her sister Polyantha in Picardy. This column originally appeared in the July 2010 edition.

Dear Miss Floribunda, Since you seem to know about different kinds of gardens, maybe you’ve heard of something called a lasagna garden? My lasagnaloving family seems to think it is a way to grow most of the ingredients needed to make their favorite Italian dish and urged me to buy a lot of the Italian vegetable and herb seeds offered by the Hyattsville Horticultural Society last spring. I am growing these with success but hesitate to start calling it a lasagna garden till I’m sure that’s really what it is.

Garfield of Gallatin Street Dear Garfield, I’m glad you asked that question, not only because your family is very confused, but because it gives me a chance to suggest another solution to the most serious problem with which most Hyattsville gardeners contend: heavy clay. Just as square-foot gardening spares the gardener the trouble of arduous digging and tilling, so does lasagna gardening. It also keeps down weeds, helps with water retention and is organic.

Lasagna gardening, based on sheet composting, was developed by a too-busy-to-weed innkeeper named Patricia Lanza.

Her first book, Lasagna Gardening, was published in 1998 by Rodale Press and was followed

by such sequels as Lasagna Gardening in Small Spaces and Lasagna Gardening with Herbs.

While you certainly can grow Italian herbs and vegetables using her method, the reference to lasagna derives from the whimsical analogy that occurred to her while arranging layers of materials in a quilt-like pattern of 2-foot square beds separated by 3-foot wide paths. It looked like lasagna to her. The newspapers she used as the base layer reminded her of the pasta she spread for lasagna, and the peat moss she placed between layers of brown and green organic material (“meat� and “vegetables�) she thought of as the “cheese� that held everything together. Even the wood ash she sprinkled over the whole pile made her think of ground parmesan.

The benefit of this method for the home vegetable gardener is that no digging is required and weeds are effectively eliminated.

On the other hand, you have to wait awhile for results. This makes it ideal for older gardeners low on energy and rich in patience. The best time to begin is in the fall.

First, you put down a layer of newspaper pages soaked in water over the site you want to use for spring planting. Some people use soaked corrugated cardboard, which Patricia Lanza uses only for paths. Both materials will suppress weeds and weed seeds, but wood-pulp newspaper will decompose more easily over the winter, the weeds it smothers contributing nitrogen and the moist darkness attracting earthworms.

The next layer should be peat

moss, copiously watered. Then add another layer of newspaper and water again. Then layer with whatever brown organic material you have at hand — in fall we usually have plenty of dry leaves.

Then water yet again.

After adding yet another layer of newspaper, well watered, continue with a layer of green organic material — grass clippings are good. Add a few more pages of newspaper, and water! You can also throw in such kitchen waste as tea bags, eggshells and coffee grounds.

You can further enrich with seaweed, animal manure, compost, blood meal, soy meal and alfalfa pellets. What’s important is to have about four times as much of the brown organic material as green, and to build the pile up to about 24 inches high.

Then cover all the layers with hay or straw for aesthetic purposes and sprinkle wood ash on the top. By spring planting, the pile will have reduced to only about 6 inches high, but underneath will be 6 inches of former clay transformed into soft, friable soil full of busy earthworms.

You can now plant seeds or plants, perhaps pulling back a partially decomposing layer of newspaper. Continue mulching with compost during the summer, and after harvest in autumn make another “lasagna� like your first one. It will improve each year.

If you’d like to learn about lasagna gardening, please come to the next meeting of the Hyattsville Horticultural Society on Oct. 19 at 10 a.m. at the home of Joe Buriel and Dave Roeder, 3909 Longfellow Street.

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KERRY-ANN HAMILTON

Cheryl Harrington, owner of Shortcake Bakery in Hyattsville, preps quiches shortly after 6 a.m. in late September.

Shortcake Bakery to offer fall pop-up brunches

By Kerry-Ann Hamilton

Shortcake Bakery owner Cheryl Harrington has teamed up with French-trained chef Serge Pambo to offer a weekly Sunday brunch next year. This fall, the duo will host pop-up brunch events on Oct. 20 and Nov. 16.

Harrington was beaming as she removed quiches from the oven and prepped blueberry scones in her 28-seat cafe at 4700 Rhode Island Avenue. “I am excited to begin offering brunch in Hyattsville; there are too few options in our area,â€? Harrington said. “On Sundays, we want our neighbors to skip the Beltway, slow things down and enjoy Chef Pambo’s creations with family and friends in our cafĂŠ.â€?

Gabon-born Pambo began his culinary journey in France.

He worked for a decade at celebrated Parisian restaurants, including Le NapolĂŠon III, Les Grandes Marches with Christian

Constant, Le Grand Bofinger and La Suite, with celebrity chef Cyril Lignac.

As of press time, Harrington and Pambo were still putting the final touches on the full menu.

She described it as “a filling small-plate-style dining experience.â€? The planned offerings include a warm garlic-tomato soup, a Gruyere-stuffed jerk chicken, brioche French toast and seasonal surprises. The team also plans to offer a vegan entrĂŠe as well as fizzy brunch beverages. Prices will range from $10 to $15.

Harrington, a Trinidad-born master baker and Cheverly resident, is celebrating eight years since the opening of the cafĂŠ in 2011. She plans to offer a weekly Sunday brunch in January 2020.

Shortcake Bakery is now accepting reservations for 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. seatings for the October and November events.

For more information and reservations, call 301.779.2836.

Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2019

Page 11

COMMUNITY CALENDAR October 12

Oktoberfest celebration. Entertainment for kids includes face painting, glitter tattoos, pumpkin decorating, arts and crafts, stilt walkers and jugglers. Whole Foods will be selling Oktoberfest brats, hot dogs, pretzels and raw oysters.

Free. Noon to 4 p.m. Denizens beer garden open until 8 p.m.

Riverdale Park Station, 6621 Baltimore Ave., Riverdale Park.

Belgian Fall Fest. In partnership with the Embassy of Belgium in the United States of America. Taste your way to Belgium with beer samples from Duvel and Delirium USA, frites, waffles, panekoek (pancakes) and antwerpse hanjes (Flemish cookies). Free admission. $5/food and $1/ beverage tickets. Noon. Riverdale House Museum, 4811 Riverdale Rd., Riverdale Park.

October 1

Metamorphosis Quilt Show.

Submit quilts for the show by Oct. 16. Quilts must be between 12” to 18” in size and must include corner tabs on the back for hanging. Free.

Grand opening at 7 p.m. Three

Little Birds Sewing Co., 5132 Baltimore Ave., Studio B. 202.246.5396. threelittlebirds. sewingco@gmail.com

October 20

Coffee & Conversation with Sabine Carlson. Featuring artist Sabine Carlson, whose exhibition, “Tracing Ripples,” runs through Oct. 31. Free. 2 to 4 p.m. Maryland Milestones/ Anacostia Trails Heritage Area, 4318 Gallatin St. 301.887.0777. www.anacostiatrails.org/

October 26

Hyattsville Hops Hop 2019.

A neighborhood beer crawl featuring neighborhood miniparties. Locations announced when you sign up. $5/adult.

5 p.m. brian.minter@gmail.com

Bike Clinic. Join Arrow Bicycle for helpful bike maintenance tips, like how to change a tire and grease a chain. After the ride, join us back at Denizens for a refuel beer and some food! Free. 2 p.m. bit.ly/DenizensBikeClinic19

November 3

Riversdale Chamber Music Society Concert: Wedding Music. Concert commemorates the 220th anniversary of the 1799 marriage of Rosalie Stier and George Calvert, the original residents of Riversdale.

Free. 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Riversdale House Museum, 4811 Riverdale Rd., Riverdale Park.

301.864.0420. riversdale@pgparks.com

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Franklins Fundraiser for HMS. At Franklins Restaurant, Brewery and General Store, sponsored by the Hyattsville Middle School Parent Teacher Student Organization (HMS PTSO). Eat-in, dine out or buy something from the store. Give your receipt to Franklins staff, and HMS PTSO will receive a percentage of the sale. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. 301.209.5830

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SHOOTING

continued from page 1

Christian Church, welcomed the large crowd. “You are welcome in this space,” he said. “This has been a hard week in our city, and together we are grieving and shocked.”

Hollingsworth thanked everyone for coming to the community meeting: “As mayor, one thing I know is that … we need to honor and make good on that commitment we made to be transparent and to be open with this community.”

Awad said, “At the core of our values is … preserving and valuing the sanctity of life,” and she then gave a summary of the incident.

According to Awad, three agencies were involved in the shooting: the HCPD, the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGCPD), and the Mount Rainier Police Department. The shooting is being investigated by PGCPD as both a homicide and an administrative investigation.

Awad said that on Sept. 26, the HCPD received an emergency call from the Starbucks at the corner of Belcrest Road and EastWest Highway. The caller said that the man who had allegedly assaulted a Starbucks employee a few days prior had returned.

The first officer on the scene called for backup after seeing that the man, who has since been identified as Leonard Shand, was armed with two knives. Shand allegedly refused to cooperate with police

Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2019

“This has been a hard week in our city, and together we are grieving and shocked.”

The Rev. Nathan Hill pastor at University Christian Church

commands to drop the knives, despite being shocked with a Taser stun gun three times as he walked down Belcrest Road toward Toledo Road. The officers continued to talk to Shand in an effort to contain him and convince him to drop his knives. An attempt to pepper spray him was also unsuccessful.

“The intent is to get Mr. Shand to a medical care facility for an emergency evaluation,” Awad said. “The officers clearly see that there is an issue.”

As Shand walked from Toledo Road towards Toledo Terrace, officers called for additional backup and began to form a perimeter, blocking roads around the area. A negotiator and a supervisor with a “less-than-lethal” beanbag shotgun were called in.

The beanbag shotgun was ineffective, as it did not stop Shand from advancing towards police.

A flashbang, or stun grenade, intended to “distract and disorient” Shand, was also unsuccessful.

Awad said, “When Mr. Shand advanced, he advanced with his arms extended, with knives in either hand, towards the officer who was deploying the beanbags.”

At that point, the supervisor retreated and the surrounding officers shot Shand, killing him.

“That is what is on the video,” Awad said. “I will try to answer your questions as best I can, … but I am limited in what I can share because this is an open, active investigation being conducted by the Prince George’s County Police Department.” She later clarified that Hyattsville does not have homicide investigators, and it is standard practice for PGCPD to handle homicides within the city.

As the meeting turned to residents’ questions, more details about the incident emerged. Some questions were submitted in advance and read aloud by the mayor, while other residents chose to stand and speak.

Awad said that after an officerinvolved shooting, officers are debriefed and placed on administrative leave. She also noted that Hyattsville has not had the practice of releasing body camera footage, especially during an investigation, adding that she intended to talk to the other departments involved about the importance of releasing the footage.

According to Awad, after the PGCPD investigation concludes,

the case will go to the Office of the State’s Attorney and then to a Maryland grand jury, which will decide whether the case will move forward. After the meeting was over, Awad clarified that the investigation alone would likely take “months.”

During the Q&A, one woman said she and her 12-year-old son had been eyewitnesses to the beginning of the event. Shand refused to get on the ground when initially confronted by the first officer, but was not aggressive, she said. The eyewitness, who left the meeting immediately after her speech, said Shand was holding his hands above his head and had no weapons visible when the officer drew his weapon.

“I don’t know at what point he had weapons, but in the first 10 minutes, the first two rounds of being tased, he did not have weapons,” she said.

“The officer could have tackled him to the ground.”

Some resident-submitted questions addressed the tactical issues at play, asking why Shand could not have been shot in the leg.

Awad responded, “Officers are trained to shoot center mass [the torso area]” but that “the intent is not to kill,” but to stop the threat.

Hollingsworth received a round of applause when she suggested that Hyattsville should consider adjusting this aspect of officer training.

Many residents expressed concerns that Shand may have been mentally ill and wondered why a mental health professional was not called to the scene. Awad said that all Hyattsville officers have been

trained in ICAT ( Integrating Communications, Assessment, and Tactics), which is a training designed to help officers de-escalate situations.

One resident asked why the police do not have a mental health professional on staff. Hollingsworth said this idea should be explored, and Awad added that HCPD officers have received training in mental health awareness from the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Terinee Bonds, a local resident, spoke out tearfully in a plea for accountability. “Every time something like this happens, it further damages the relationship [between police and citizens],” she said. “I think part of it is the lack of accountability. … If you can’t even acknowledge that there was something wrong, how do you fix it?”

According to Awad, this was the first fatal officer-involved shooting in Hyattsville’s history.

Hollingsworth announced that the city will hold another community meeting once the investigation is complete. Residents are invited to submit comments and questions to mayor@hyattsville.org. Emails will be treated as public comment and recorded.

In closing, Hollingsworth noted that “every question, every piece of anger, came from a place of love, because we all love this community, and we love where we live, and we want it to be better.”

“We have … a journey in front of us,” said Hollingsworth, “but I know that … the end result of that is going to be a much better place.”

Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2019

Page 13

HCPD

continued from page 1

26 incident, Public Information Officer and Acting Lt. Zachary Nemser said that the department was authorized for 46 sworn (vs. civilian, or non-sworn) positions and currently had 38 filled (83% capacity). A deficit of eight positions was also noted during a June 3 city council meeting and during a January interview with then-HCPD Public Information Officer Lt. Chris Purvis.

Although the shortage itself is not new, it has worsened in the past few years. A Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) final assessment report for 2014 noted a shortage of two sworn positions (40 authorized vs. 38 actual), as did a 2017 HCPD annual report (44 authorized positions vs. 42 actual). However, according to City of Hyattsville Public Information Officer Jake Rollow, in June 2018, the HCPD had a shortage of six sworn positions (44 authorized vs. 38 actual).

Other area police departments are also dealing with shortages: In September, the Bowie Police Department reported that they were authorized for 67 sworn positions with 64 filled (96% capacity); Greenbelt, 53 authorized with 48 filled (91%); Takoma Park, 44 authorized with 34 filled (77%); Laurel, 70 authorized and 63 filled (90%).

Contributing factors Nemser said that police recruitment “ebbs and flows” with the economy: “When the economy is good, police jobs are not necessarily appetizing.” During our economy’s current decade-long expansion, recruiting and retaining police officers nation-wide has gotten more difficult.

Nemser also noted that a rise in the negative perception of police officers following the 2014 shooting and unrest in Ferguson, Mo., has led to a declining interest in policing as a career. “Now the big drop off is what we would

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call post-Ferguson,” he said. “All of a sudden, it was not necessarily looked at as a positive thing to become a police officer.”

“Now we’ve been incredibly fortunate in our community that we believe we have a very good relationship with citizens and have a ton of positive interactions,” continued Nemser, “but that doesn’t mean we’re not affected by stuff that goes on nationally.”

On a more local level, Nemser described how many qualified individuals apply to larger agencies, such as Anne Arundel County and Baltimore County Police Departments, that can offer higher salaries, a wider array of specialty areas and assignments, and more room for job advancement. Nemser pointed out that Anne Arundel began offering a $20,000 signing bonus for lateral transfers, which Hyattsville can’t compete with.

According to a third-party compensation study reported at the June 3 Hyattsville City Council meeting, HCPD’s benefit package for officers is competitive with those of similar agencies, but salary ranges were found, on average, to be below market rate.

Nemser highlighted that HCPD does not have collective bargaining, whereas some other area police departments, including Bowie, Greenbelt and Laurel Police Departments do.

(Takoma Park has collective bargaining for corporals and lower ranks, according to Public Information Officer Cathy Plevy.)

Potential impacts The police department has a minimum staffing level that they have to maintain, according to Nemser: “There is always a certain number of police officers who are policing the city at all times.” With a shortage, police officers are more likely to have to work overtime and be denied vacation requests in order to meet this level. Overtime work and vacation denial can hurt staff morale and lead to burn out.

Additionally, Nemser said that shortages keep the HCPD from staffing special assignment units or being able to create new ones.

He cited the special assignment team, saying, “We currently have someone going around the Hamilton Manor apartment complex setting fires in the dumpsters at night. If I had my special assignment team up and running, I could just take five officers, sit them down there, and wait for this person to set the next fire and catch them in the act.” He continued, “But, again, without manpower, we have to use overtime, and we have to hold people over, and we have to take them off other assignments in order to figure out what’s going on.”

HCPD and city responses Over the last year or two, according to Nemser, the HCPD has had to adjust their hiring standards to address the shortage. Successful officer applicants were required to score

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70% or above on each section of the National Police Officer Selection Test (Standard & Associates, Inc.). Officer applicants now need just a 70% average on the whole test. Physical agility requirements have also been relaxed. And if an officer makes a lateral transfer, they no longer need to pass either the written or agility tests, Nemser said.

To increase financial incentives, the HCPD is applying for a recruitment and retention grant offered by the Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention for Maryland. Nemser suggested that these funds could be used to supplement signing bonuses or for services such as uniform dry cleaning.

The city has recently taken considerable steps towards improving financial incentives for HCPD officers, according to Nemser. The fiscal year 2020 budget includes a 10% raise for sworn officers and increases the signing bonus for lateral transfers from $2,500 to $5,000.

And any city employee who successfully recruits a police officer to the force receives $1,000.

According to Rollow, the FY 2020 budget also provides a 2% cost-of-living adjustment (or COLA) and increases the takehome vehicle range and city-residency pay for officers. Rollow added that, following a compensation study, the city has increased the number of salary steps, made policy changes to allow for greater salary increases upon promotion and adjusted HCPD pay scales.

Nemser noted that the city is continuing to look at other ways to improve officer retention and is aware of the need to make sure that officer salaries remain competitive.

Nemser underscored that Chief

Amal Awad and Deputy Chief Scott Dunklee were both very supportive of officers: “They did a lot of the legwork to get us that raise because they knew it was important. They knew it had to happen for us to keep our good officers and continue building the ranks.” (Nemser reported that Awad was “unavailable for comment” for this article.)

“I do want to stress that the city has made great strides in the last six months,” said Nemser. He added that the force has just hired two officers, who are currently in training, and has three or four more applicants who are close to being hired. “It’s our job now to make sure we keep our good officers and keep building the momentum of hiring new people.”

Given that overall crime in Hyattsville — after a long downward trend — has been on the increase in 2019, such a momentum swing would come none too soon.

In an Oct. 2 email, Rollow relayed a statement from the HCPD about how the force would respond to the additional shortage of on-leave officers. He wrote, “Hyattsville police officers are extremely dedicated to the well-being of all our residents and visitors. While the involved officers are on administrative leave, some of our detectives will assist with patrol duties, while other officers have volunteered to work additional shifts on overtime. Additionally, our department has mutual aid agreements with nearby police departments, which we will rely upon if necessary. All shifts will meet appropriate staffing guidelines.”

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