December 2019 Hyattsville Life & Times

NEWS BRIEFS

Former Mayor Tom Bass has died. Learn about his life in the news briefs. P. 3

Committee meeting offers HMS rebuilding timeline

VOLUNTEERS WANTED

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

There are plenty of holiday events happening around town in December. P. 11

Add volunteering for the HL&T to your goals for 2020. Read how on P. 3.

Life&Times

Vol. 16 No. 12

Hyattsville’s Community Newspaper

By Sophie Gorman Oriani

On Nov. 20, the kickoff meeting of the Project Planning Committee offered a timeline for building a new Hyattsville Middle School (HMS) and provided more information on the design process.

“The plan here is not to try to save this building,” said Deanna Newman, who writes educational specifications on behalf of Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS). “The plan is to rebuild the building on your site … and then … you would

City, county prep for census

IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS

HMS continued on page 13

Sudden decline in Hyattsville’s white oaks

According to 2020 census mapping site, Hyattsville at risk of ‘significant undercount’

By Lindsay Myers

By Sophie Gorman Oriani

At the Hyattsville City Council meeting on Nov. 18, Lesley Riddle, the director of Public Works, informed the council of a rapid decline in the health of many white oaks (Quercus alba) in the City of Hyattsville.

“They’re dying with the leaves on, without abscission happening,” Riddle said. Affected oaks are on both parkland and private property.

“This specific decline is being caused by an abiotic disorder — that’s a physical disorder,” Riddle said.

This decline is a regional problem, and the University of Maryland ExOAKS continued on page 13

December 2019

JULIETTE FRADIN PHOTOGRAPHY

Mayor Candace Hollingsworth sings Christmas carols with local students by the lit tree in Magruder Park.

Hyattsville’s Complete Count Committee (CCC) for the 2020 census met for the first time on Nov. 20. The committee, which currently has eight members, talked strategy and elected its co-chairmen and secretary.

The committee was established by city council this past March in order to increase participation in the 2020 census. According to the Census 2020 Hard to Count mapping site, Hyattsville is at risk of a significant undercount. In 2010, about 35% of households in Wards 3, 4 and 5 did not return their census questionnaires. Among municipalities in Maryland, Hyattsville ranked 114 out of 157 for highest response rates, a drop from 57th place in 2000.

Mayor Candace Hollingsworth said the city is taking a more proactive approach this census.

“In 2010 it was mostly council members on the [census] committee and leaders of area nonCENSUS continued on page 12

CENTER SECTION: DECEMBER 10, 2019 ISSUE OF THE HYATTSVILLE 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 | December 2019

HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING 2019

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, Lauren Flynn Kelly, Shourjya Mookerjee, 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.

JULIETTE FRADIN PHOTOGRAPHY

Clockwise from top: The Christmas tree lit up in Magruder Park; Enthusiastic singers from Edward M. Felegy Elementary School choral group; Students from Edward M. Felegy Elementary School show off their dance moves; Santa Claus came for a visit; Students from Edward M. Felegy Elementary School play traditional Christmas tunes.

Hyattsville Life & Times | December 2019

Page 3

NEWS BRIEFS

VISIT HYATTSVILLELIFE.COM FOR MORE FORMER HYATTSVILLE MAYOR TOM BASS PASSES AWAY Thomas Bass, 75, passed away on Nov. 24. Bass served as mayor of Hyattsville from 1979-1995 and on the Hyattsville City Council from 19721979. He was president of the Young Men’s Democratic Club of Prince George’s County, president of the HyattsvilleMt. Rainier-Brentwood Boys & Girls Club, and a member of the American Heart Association, Maryland Municipal League, Prince George’s County Municipal Association, Prince George’s Kiwanis and Jaycees. Read the full obituary online at gaschs.com/notices/Thomas-Leonard-Bass.

COUNTY POLICE OFFICER INDICTED, CHARGED WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT AND INDECENT EXPOSURE On Dec. 3, the Hyattsville City Police Department (HCPD) issued a release stating that the grand jury for Prince George’s County indicted a county police officer. On April

26, HCPD officers responded to a complaint of a sexual assault at the LA Fitness located in the 2900 block of Belcrest Center Drive. Police Officer First Class Sharrod Wiggins has been charged with indecent exposure, second degree assault and additional related charges. Officer Wiggins was off duty at the time of the incident. The HCPD requests that other victims or anyone with additional information contact the Criminal Investigations Unit at 301.985.5060.

MARYLAND’S COMPTROLLER STOPS IN HYATTSVILLE, BRENTWOOD TO PROMOTE SHOP MARYLAND On Nov. 15, Peter Franchot, comptroller of Maryland, visited Hyattsville and Brentwood as part of his Shop Maryland for the Holidays tour to recognize and promote local retailers.

Franchot issued a proclamation to Sue Mondeel, owner of Tanglewood Works (5132 Bal-

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Hyattsville Life & Times | December 2019

BRIEFS

continued from page 3

timore Avenue), for her unique upcycling concept through which worn or discarded materials are used to create new artistic designs for the home.

Franchot also visited Savor at Studio 3807 (3807 Rhode Island Avenue, Brentwood), Prince George’s County’s first food hall and only the second food hall in the country to be owned by an African American.

Savor, which opened in October, provides healthy, locally sourced dining options.

Savor plans to be a launch pad

for local chefs and artists, providing space and support as they test ideas and start new businesses.

CITY WILL NO LONGER USE SPEAKUPHVL.COM PLATFORM As of Dec. 10, the city will no longer use the www.speakuphvl.com website for discussions, surveys and open forums.

Residents can still use the website to submit comments on city council meetings or sign up to speak at a meeting.

For questions or concerns about this change, email cityclerk@hyattsville.org.

Is free public Wi-Fi on Hyattsville’s horizon?

By Shourjya Mookerjee

In order to increase online access for its residents and businesses, the City of Hyattsville is partnering with the University of Maryland to evaluate the feasibility of providing free Wi-Fi in public spaces.

In March, the city council proposed a fourth-quarter city-wide

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evaluation looking at options for free public Wi-Fi. The impetus for the evaluation came from a legislative item put forward by Ward 5 Councilwoman Erica Spell Wolf in 2017. Since its introduction, however, the motion has faced a number of hurdles.

“It was fairly broad but also very forward-thinking,” said Jim Chandler, director of Community and Economic Development for Hyattsville. “The goal was to allow opportunities for connectivity for both our residents and also those visiting here.”

The legislative item was one of the first motions Spell Wolf introduced after her 2017 election to the council. She emphasized the importance of free Wi-Fi to the growth of both businesses and private communities.

“There are entire industries being built online, and communities are being left behind because of this lack of access to information,” she said. “The main goal of this project is to bring free Wi-Fi to our public spaces.”

“These days, there is this push for municipalities to become smart cities, where we can find a more productive and efficient way to supervise city services,” she said. “I wanted to bridge that

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digital divide for us.”

While the city planned to implement Spell Wolf ’s proposal immediately, Chandler says the city ran into some unexpected challenges in 2017. For example, just a couple months after the announcement for the legislative item was made, 5G technology became widely available.

Chandler said the introduction of 5G has forced the city to rethink its plan for connectivity.

“It has not so much been a matter of barriers, so to speak, it’s really been more of trying to figure out what is the appropriate fit for us as a public entity and municipal government,” Chandler said. “We had a lot of factors at play, but we didn’t know what 5G would do to big cities and small cities.”

Since Spell Wolf ’s proposal, a few other ideas have made their way into the development process. Chandler said Hyattsville has examined pilot programs in other municipalities that have introduced free public Wi-Fi. “Other smart city programs have helped with figuring out scalability, the initial investment and even potential return,” Chandler said. “We looked at Seat Pleasant as a model, for example. This process takes years, obviously, but they have invested heavily into figuring out how to build this technology into their existing infrastructure.”

Chandler says the challenge lies WI-FI continued on page 13

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Hyattsville Life & Times | December 2019

SecondhandNews

Local vintage collector turns side hustle into full-time dream job

By Lauren Flynn Kelly

Holiday shoppers in and around Hyattsville are fortunate to have so many local retailers — many of which have been featured in this column — enabling us to reduce our carbon footprint. But one new option worth considering is the locally based “e-tailer,” Lost + Found Handworks, which features a selection of secondhand ceramics and glassware that is lovingly curated by owner Kate Geyer.

There are many things to love about Geyer’s business model, but let’s start with her backstory.

Raised in a family of collectors and creative types, the Germantown native said she learned early on to appreciate the history of timeworn treasures. Around the winter holidays, she and her family would make annual pilgrimages to New Orleans to visit extended family, including “Uncle Jim,” a locksmith whose hobby was “collecting all things old — in particular, old locks and banks he could tinker with.” She told me he was one of the first people who taught her the art of digging through dirty boxes at flea markets and negotiating without fear.

After a couple years of working a “pretty significant day job in public policy,” and doing secondhand selling and design work as a side hustle — all while raising a tiny human — Geyer made the leap in June 2019 to full-time vintage seller. Working out of a well-appointed “stock room” in her University Park home, she

now spends her days acquiring, cataloguing, researching, photographing and listing pieces that she hopes will bring joy to others’ homes — a dream job that she created for herself.

The floor-to-ceiling cabinets in her workspace are stocked mostly with handmade items from American manufacturers that are no longer in business, or whose vintage items are experiencing a second life in the collecting world. Think midcentury Pyrex containers (with their lids!), kitschy fruit-shaped serving dishes from California pottery house Belmar, the precious prints on Hazel Atlas glassware or (Geyer’s personal favorite) vintage milk glass from West Virginia manufacturer Fenton.

Geyer said she spends much of her time researching the pieces she resells and telling the story of their value in her descriptions. “I’m a little romantic about it, I guess,” she said. “I love regionally based maker traditions ... from Staffordshire to Zanesville to Murano to Jalisco! The more I learn, the more places I discover, and the more varied my stock becomes.

That’s so much of the pleasure I get from curating from the past — it’s like I’m traveling the world, and also time, without leaving Hyattsville.” If you scroll through her Instagram (@lostandfoundhandworks), you’ll see how lovingly she photographs her inventory, often setting up dishes in unexpected combinations with the

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Local “e-tailer” Lost + Found Handworks features a selection of secondhand ceramics and glassware curated by owner Kate Geyer.

flourish of a tiny plant or gem.

Instagram is just one way Geyer showcases her wares. You can direct message her there to reserve an item, or you can purchase directly through her Etsy shop at www.etsy.com/shop/LostandFoundHandwrks. To save on shipping costs, you can pick up the items from her directly, although it is worth nothing that all Lost + Found shipping mate-

rials are eco-friendly, right down to the packing tape.

Geyer also hosts the occasional “home blitz” — when she allows family, friends and neighbors to peruse the stock room — and pop-up shops, including one scheduled for Dec. 14 at Riverdale Park’s Banana Blossom Bistro, which she also helped design.

Starting a small business has been “instructional,” she said,

and she’s learned you can’t thrift a collection of anything in a day.

Geyer spends hours at auctions, estate sales, yard sales, etc., finding unique items that work well together so that weekend thrifters (like me) don’t have to. “People like the curated experience of vintage, and that’s fine. That’s still sustainable. It’s small business, and it’s a feel-good experience,” she said.

Hyattsville Life & Times | December 2019

Page 7

NatureNearby

The birdfeeder follies

By Fred Seitz

I enjoy watching birds, but most of our locals move too fast for me to get a confirmed identification. Maybe that’s why I opt for tracking bats and other critters that I can keep up with.

However, this has not deterred me from having several feeders in my yard. Like most people who feed birds, my intention has been to entice the birds in so I could observe them. But I’ve often found, as have many others, that my bird feeders quickly become squirrel feeders.

I do enjoy watching those plump “rats with furry tails” also stocking up for winter, but I must confess that I cheered the day last year that a turkey vulture dropped down to the tree where the feeder was hanging and apparently deterred the squirrel from his piratical practices.

I also applaud the tiny chickadees and titmice confidently asserting their right to feeder seed, even in the face of a bullying squirrel. And the illuminating beauty of cardinals — how wonderful! — even as they seem far less confident around squirrels than their tinier cousins are.

I also must admit a certain affection for the prevalent presence of the porky pigeons who periodically light on the feeders, even as the aftermath of their gluttony adorns cars, homes and sidewalks. I suspect that pigeons and cardinals have a special relationship, too,

as pigeons’ clumsy feeder landings assure that seeds scatter to the ground, where cardinals can feast freely without having to share a small feeder platform with boisterous squirrels.

While some of these ground feeders will also indulge in some of the past-prime grapes and other fruits I sometimes place in the backyard, food on the ground can also invite rodents. While free-ranging cats (who unfortunately kill many, many birds each year) may chase off squirrels, my own quasi-ferocious dog manages to deter some of the uninvited, be they squirrel or cat.

I can see why bird feeders are such a common backyard feature and Christmas gift. The enjoyment and beauty they lure in, and the musical accompaniment of bird calls, bring nature a bit closer to our homes.

My inexpensive, plastic tube feeder was well worth the cost, though those devilish squirrels have gnawed through tube feeders that I’ve owned in the past. Some of the other feeders I have are more resistant to the destructive gnawing, though not squirrels’ pilfering.

Even some of the “squirrel resistant feeders” I have purchased seem to have been designed with wishful thinking, rather than reality, in mind. Simply feeding both our local furry and feathered friends seems to be a more pragmatic — and generous — approach. Happy feeding to all and to those they feed!

The enjoyment and beauty birdfeeders lure in, and the musical accompaniment of bird calls, bring nature a bit closer to our homes.

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Hyattsville Life & Times | December 2019

the

Hyattsville Reporter No. 381 • December 10, 2019

www.hyattsville.org • 301-985-5000

Holidays in Hyattsville

ServSafe certificate at the baking classes. Space is limited, so check out www. pgcc.edu/go/esl or call (301) 546-8350 for registration and more information!

Claus Applause: Nominations for the 2019 Claus Applause closes at 5 p.m. on Monday, December 16. There’s still time to nominate your home, a neighbor’s home, or that house a few blocks over. We also need judges to help us determine the best-decorated houses on the evening of December 18. To nominate a house or to register to be a judge, visit www.hyattsville.org/applause.

Sign Up for Hyattsville Emergency Alerts: 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. Texting HVL now automatically enrolls you to receive texting alerts – no additional information is needed!

Free Weekend Parking: Happening until January 5, the City is offering free weekend parking in offstreet parking lots and metered spaces!

As part of the City’s Shop Hyattsville for the Holidays campaign, we encourage residents and visitors to support our local businesses throughout the holiday season. For a map of the City’s lots, please visit www.hyattsville.org/ cityparking.

Trash Collection: City offices will be closed on Wednesday, December 25, and Wednesday, January 1, in observance of Christmas and New Year’s Day. Emergency services will continue.

There will be no yard waste collection in those weeks, but compost will still be picked up on Monday. Regular trash routes for Tuesdays and Wednesdays will be picked up a day before. The remaining days, trash will be picked up on its regular collection schedule.

Please call (301) 985-5000 with any questions.

Ward Happenings

Community Wellness Walk: Join your Mayor, Chief of Police, and City staff for a Ward 1 Community Wellness Walk on Wednesday, December 11, at 6 p.m.! Get your steps in while discussing issues or matters of concern with City leaders. Our friend, hot cocoa, will also be in attendance! The walk meetup point will be at Gasch’s parking lot (4739 Baltimore Avenue). Stay tuned for details on the next community wellness walks; we’ll be visiting all City wards.

Ward 1 Check-In: After the walk, join City Councilmembers Bart Lawrence and Kevin Ward for a Ward 1 CheckIn on Wednesday, December 11, at 6:30 p.m., at Streetcar 82 (4824 Rhode Island Avenue).

Age-Friendly Hyattsville

Did you Know: The City of Hyattsville was the first city in Maryland to join the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities? Also, with the help of residents, the City adopted an AgeFriendly Action Plan that details how the City will improve conditions for people of all ages. This action plan includes focusing on housing, health and safety, home and community-based services, and community outreach. To view the plan, visit www.hyattsville.org/agefriendly. If you’d like to be involved in an informal working group to help with the implementation of the plan, please contact Marci LeFevre at mlefevre@ hyattsville.org or (301) 985-5012.

Estate Planning Clinic: On Saturday, January 11, seniors that meet income eligibility guidelines and are over the age of 60 can meet with attorneys for FREE to help prepare wills,

Citywide Composting: The moment everyone’s been waiting for… citywide voluntary compost will begin on Monday, January 6, 2020! Pickup is limited to residential city addresses and does not include commercial and multi-family properties. Composting bins must be curbside no later than 6 a.m. on Mondays. Compost bins must be sealed and kept separate from yard waste. Not sure how to compost? Check out our webpage www.hyattsville.org/compost to learn more, and to find out some of the do’s and don’ts when it comes to composting.

City Administrator Tracey Nicholson-Douglas, Council President Kevin Ward, and Senior & Disability Coordinator Beryl Johnson present Mary Crawford with the 2019 Hyattsville Volunteer of the Year Award. This year’s original form of art award was painted by artist Eileen Cave; La Administradora de la Ciudad Tracey Nicholson-Douglas, el Presidente del Concejo Kevin Ward y la Coordinadora de Discapacidades y Gente Mayor Beryl Johnson presentan a Mary Crawford el Premio al Voluntario del Año de Hyattsville 2019. El premio original de este año fue pintado por la artista Eileen Cave. advance medical directives, and power of attorney documents. The service is 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 4 p.m. at the City Building, but please note that space is limited.

Reservations must be made by Monday, January 6, and can be done so by calling the Pro Bono Resource center at (443) 703-3052.

Free Call-A-Bus Rides: From now until January 21, all Call-A-Bus rides are free!

Our curbside pickup helps seniors and residents with disabilities get to medical appointments, grocery stores, and more.

Please note that reservations can be made by calling (301) 985-5000 before 2 p.m. a business day before the trip.

Youth Programs

Creative Minds: Parents and toddlers of ages 1 to 3 are invited to Creative Minds, an educational enrichment program that meets every Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., at the Magruder Park Recreation Center.

Registration opens January 15, and the program will run from January 21 to March 19. Visit www.hyattsville. org/creativeminds or contact Veronica Rivera-Negrón at (240) 487-1703 to learn more.

Teen Center: Spots for teens in grades 6 – 12 to come and hang out with us after school at the Magruder Park Teen Center are still available! We’re there on 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.

Citywide Programs and Events

Gun Safety Family Workshop: Join our Hyattsville Police Department as they team up with Tired Parents for a FREE family event on Sunday, December 15, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., at Art Works Now. We’ll have an art activity for kids, snacks for all, and chats for kids and parents about gun safety and ways to prevent gun violence. Please note that children of all ages are welcome, but the content is best suited for kindergartners and older. To RSVP, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ home-for-the-holidays-asking-aboutguns-in-homes-tickets-84533210107.

For more information, contact tiredparentshville@gmail.com.

Parent Resource Fair: On Monday, December 16, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Rosa Parks Elementary will host local organizations and resource providers to share information about free and low-cost services. To learn about more upcoming workshops, visit www.hyattsville.org/workshops.

ESL Baking Classes: Interested in learning English as a second language while learning how to bake like a professional? Register for Prince George’s Community College’s FREE English as a Second Language (ESL) Bridge and Baking Classes. First, learn relevant vocabulary, procedures, and measurement skills with the bridge Class.

Then, learn how to bake and earn a

Thrive Grant Program: Applications for the Thrive Grant program, an initiative of the Health, Wellness, and Recreation Advisory Committee, are now open! Grants of up to $500 are available to support activities that enhance overall community participation in the promotion of health, wellness, and recreation activities throughout Hyattsville. Individuals, organizations, and businesses that reside or work within the City are eligible to apply. Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Friday, January 17, 2020. To learn more and apply, visit www.hyattsville.org/ health-and-wellness.

Bike Rack Request Program: We’ve partnered with Arrow Bicycle to add more yellow bike racks around the City!

The additional bike racks will support cyclists and casual riders while reducing traffic for motorists. Business and property owners can recommend a bike rack location by completing a request form at www.hyattsville.org/bikerack.

For more information, please call (301) 985-5085.

Speakup HVL: As of Tuesday, December 10, 2019, the City will no longer use the www.speakuphvl.com website for discussions, surveys, and open forums.

Residents can still use the site to submit comments on City Council meetings or to sign up to speak at a meeting.

For questions or concerns, please email cityclerk@hyattsville.org.

We’re Hiring: Serve your community by working for the City! We’re seeking a bilingual communications specialist, a receptionist, a media relations specialist, a crime analyst, and police officers.

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

Help Shovel Snow: You have 24 hours from the time it stops snowing to clear any sidewalks around your property. If you or someone you know is shoveling snow for senior or disabled neighbors, please send an email to caistis@hyattsville.org so the City of Hyattsville can provide a shovel, gloves, or other support to such helpful neighbors.

Hyattsville Life & Times | December 2019

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Hyattsville

No. 381 • 10 de Deciembre, 2019

www.hyattsville.org • 301-985-5000

La Temporada Festiva en Hyattsville

Los cubos de compostaje deben de estar listos para recolección antes de las 6 a.m. los lunes cada semana. El compostaje también debe de ser mantenido separado de los residuos de yarda. Residentes que están en el programa voluntario piloto de compostaje recibirán una letra en las siguientes semanas detallando los cambios y lo significa para el programa piloto. ¿No está seguro como compostar? Por favor visite www.hyattsville. org/compost para aprender más y para saber qué productos, cubos, y materiales pueden ser compostados.

Parqueo Gratuito los Fines de Semana: Tomando plazo desde ahora hasta el 5 de enero, la Ciudad está ofreciendo parqueo gratuito los fines de semana en los lotes de estacionamiento y espacios con medidores. Como parte de la Campaña “Compren en Hyattsville esta Temporada Festiva,” estamos alentando a residentes y visitantes a que soporten a los negocios locales esta temporada. Para un mapa de los lotes de estacionamiento, visite www. hyattsville.org/cityparking.

Programa de Subvenciones “Thrive”: ¡Solicitudes para el programa Thrive Grant, una iniciativa del Comité Asesor de Salud, Bienestar y Recreación, ya están abiertas! Hay subvenciones de hasta $ 500 disponibles para apoyar actividades que mejoren la participación general de la comunidad en la promoción de actividades de salud, bienestar y recreación en todo Hyattsville. Las personas, organizaciones y empresas que residen o trabajan dentro de la Ciudad son elegibles para presentar una solicitud. Las solicitudes deben presentarse antes de las 5 p.m. el viernes, 17 de enero de 2020. Para obtener más información y presentar una solicitud, visite www.hyattsville.org/ health-and-wellness.

Los Premios “Claus Applause”: El periodo para nominar para los Premios “Claus Applause” de 2019 termina el lunes, 16 de diciembre, a las 5 p.m. ¡Todavía hay tiempo para nominar su casa, la del vecino, o una casa que ha estado admirando! También estamos buscando a jueces para que nos ayuden a determinar las casas mejor decoradas la tarde del 18 de diciembre. Para nominar un hogar o para inscribirse para ser un juez, visite www.hyattsville.org/applause.

Recolección de Basura: Las oficinas de la Ciudad estarán cerradas el miércoles, 25 de diciembre y miércoles, 1 de enero, en observación a los días festivos.

Los servicios de emergencia continuaran. No habrá recolección de residuos de yarda esas semanas y el composto se recogerá los lunes. Las rutas de basura de martes y miércoles serán recogidas un día antes en vez. Los días restantes, la basura normal será recogida sus días normales. Sí tienen preguntas, por favor llamen al (301) 985-5000.

Eventos de Distritos

Caminata de Bienestar: ¡Únase con su Alcaldesa, Jefa de Policía y personal de la Ciudad para una Caminata de Bienestar Comunitario del Distrito 1 el miércoles, 11 de diciembre, a las 6 p.m.! Obtenga sus pasos mientras discute temas o asuntos de interés con los líderes de la Ciudad. ¡Nuestro amigo, chocolate caliente, también estará presente! El punto de encuentro a pie será en el estacionamiento de Gasch’s (4739 Baltimore Avenue). Estense al tanto para detalles sobre futuros anuncios de caminatas de bienestar en otros distritos – ¡estaremos visitando a todos los distritos!

Reunión del Distrito 1: Después de la caminata, acompañe a los Concejales de la Ciudad Bart Lawrence y Kevin Ward para la Reunión del Distrito 1 el miércoles, 11 de diciembre, a las 6:30 p.m., en Streetcar 82 (4824 Rhode Island Avenue).

Programas Amigables con la Edad

Usted Sabía: ¿Qué la Ciudad de Hyattsville fue la primera ciudad en Maryland a unirse a la red de AARP de Comunidades Amigables con la Edad? También, con la ayuda de residentes, la Ciudad adoptó un plan de acción que detalla como la Ciudad mejorara condiciones para personas de todas las edades. Esto incluye un enfoque en alojamiento, salud y seguridad, servicios de casa y comunidad y alcance comunitario. Para ver el plan, visite www.hyattsville.org/agefriendly. Si quisiera estar involucrada/o en un grupo de trabajo informal para ayudar a dar acción al plan, por favor contacte a Marci LeFevre al mlefevre@ hyattsville.org o al (301) 985-5012.

City staff in the season of giving at last month’s Teen Center Friendsgiving event; Empleados de la Ciudad mostrando gratitud en el evento “Friendsgiving” del Centro de Jóvenes que ocurrió el mes pasado.

Clínica de Planificación de Bienes: El sábado, 11 de enero, gente mayor que cumplen con las pautas de elegibilidad de ingreso y tengan más de 60 años pueden reunirse con abogados gratuitamente para que les ayuden a preparar voluntades, directivas médicas anticipadas y documentos de poder notarial.

Este servicio es proveído gracias a la Ciudad de Hyattsville, Hyattsville Aging in Place, Helping Hands in University Park, Community Legal Services del Condado Prince George’s y el Maryland Pro Bono Resource Center. Citas pueden hacerse entre las 10 a.m. hasta las 4 p.m. en Edificio Municipal. El espacio es limitado. El último día para hacer una cita es el lunes, 6 de enero, llamando al Pro Bono Center al (443) 703-3052.

Viajes Gratuitos del Llama-Al-Bus: Desde ahora hasta el 21 de enero, toda transportación por medio del servicio de la Ciudad, Llama-Al-Bus es gratis.

Nuestro servicio bordillo a bordillo ayuda a personas mayores y residentes con discapacidades poder ir a citas de doctores, el supermercado y más. Por favor note que reservaciones tienes que ser hechas antes de las 2 p.m. el día previo a su viaje deseado llamando al (301) 985-5000.

Programas para Jóvenes y Menores

Mentes Creativas: Padres e hijos de años 1 a 3 están invitados a Mentes Creativas, un programa de enriquecimiento y educación que toma plazo cada martes y jueves, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., en el Parque Magruder. Inscripciones se abren el 15 de enero y el programa es del 21 de enero hasta el 19 de marzo. Para más información, visite www.hyattsville. org/creativeminds o contacte a Verónica Rivera-Negrón al (240) 487-1703.

Centro de Jóvenes: ¡Todavía tenemos espacio para jóvenes de grados 6 al 12 para acompañarnos después de la escuela en nuestro Centro Recreacional del Parque Magruder! Estamos allí los lunes y miércoles, 3:30 – 7 p.m., los martes y jueves, 3:30 – 8 p.m. y los viernes, 3:30 – 10 p.m. Actividades divertidas, una cena y transportación de la escuela y para Centro están incluidas. Para aprender más, visite www.hyattsville.org/centrode-jovenes.

Programas y Eventos para toda la Ciudad Taller Familiar de Seguridad Con-

tra Armas: Acompañe nuestro Departamento de Policía de Hyattsville mientras se juntan con la organización Tired Parents para un evento gratuito familiar el domingo, 15 de enero, de 4 p.m. a 5:30 p.m., en Art Works Now. Tendremos una actividad de arte para niños, botanas para todos y charlas para padres y menores sobre la seguridad contra armas de fuego. Por favor note que niños de todas las edades están bienvenidos pero el taller es diseñado para niños en el kínder y arriba. Para reservar un espacio, visite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/homefor-the-holidays-asking-about-guns-inhomes-tickets-84533210107. Para más información, contacte a tiredparentshville@gmail.com.

Feria de Recursos para Padres: El lunes, 16 de diciembre, de 5 p.m. a 6:30 p.m., la Escuela Rosa Parks sostendrá a varias organizaciones y proveedores locales que compartirán información sobre sus servicios gratuitos o de bajo costo.

Para aprender más sobre talleres como estos en el futuro, visite www.hyattsville.org/talleres.

Clases de Inglés y Hornear: ¿Interesado en aprender inglés como segundo idioma mientras aprende como hornear delicias como un profesional? Inscríbase para la Clases GRATUITAS de Aprendizaje de Ingles y Hornear por parte del Colegio Comunitario Prince George´s.

Primero, aprenda vocabulario importante, procedimientos y como proporcionar medidas con la clase de aprendizaje.

Después, aprenda como hornear galletas, pasteles y más. ¡El espacio es limitado!

Visite www.pgcc.edu/go/esl o llame al (301) 546-8350 para inscribirse y para más información.

Inscríbase para Alertas de Emergencia: Le estamos pidiendo a todos los residentes de la Ciudad a que se inscriban al nuevo sistema de alertas de emergencia de la Ciudad. Para inscribirse, envié un mensaje de texto con las letras HVL al 99411 o visité www.hyattsville.org/safetyalerts. Por favor noten que el Departamento de Policía de Hyattsville ya no está usando el sistema anterior, Nixle.

Composto en toda la Ciudad: El momento que todos han esperado… ¡servicios de recolección de compostaje para hogares en la Ciudad empiezan el lunes, 6 de enero de 2020! Es voluntario la participación y propiedades multi hogar y comerciales no están incluidas.

Programa de Solicitud de Portabicis: Nos hemos asociado con Arrow Bicycle para agregar más portabicis amarillas por la Ciudad! Las adicionales estaciones apoyaran a ciclistas y personas que usan bicis ocasionalmente mientras se disminuye el tráfico para motoristas. Dueños de negocios y propiedades pueden recomendar una ubicación para una estación de portabicis cerca de su negocio completando una forma de solicitud en www.hyattsville.org/bikerack. Para más información, por favor llamen al (301) 985- 5085.

Speakup HVL: Desde el martes, diciembre 10 de 2019, la Ciudad ya no usara el sitio web www.speakuphvl. com para discusiones, encuestas y foros abiertos. Usuarios todavía podrán usar el sitio para someter comentarios sobre juntas del Concejo Municipal o para hablar personalmente en una junta.

Para dudas o preguntas, por favor manden un correo electrónico a cityclerk@ hyattsville.org.

Estamos Contratando: ¡Sirva a su comunidad trabajando por la Ciudad!

Ahorita estamos buscando a un especialista de comunicaciones bilingüe de medio tiempo, una recepcionista, un especialista de relaciones públicas, un analista de crimines y oficiales de policía. Para obtener más información y para solicitar, por favor visite nuestro sitio web www. hyattsville.org/jobs.

Ayuden a Palear este Invierno: Tienen 24 horas desde el tiempo en que pare de nevar para limpiar sus acercas alrededor de sus propiedades. Si usted o alguien que conoce está paleando nieve para un residente de mayor edad o gente con deshabilitadas, por favor mande un correo electrónico a caistis@hyattsville. org para que la Ciudad de Hyattsville pueda proveer una pala, guantes u otro tipo de soporte para vecinos amables.

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Hyattsville Life & Times | December 2019

GREEN APPLE DAY OF SERVICE AT HES

MARIA D. JAMES

Clockwise from top left: Kat Schooley and her daughter paint a section of the playground together during the Green Apple Day of Service.

Kat Schooley is an associate with Grimm and Parker Architects, the firm that partnered with the PTA to help redesign the HES playground; A volunteer paints colorful lines on the playground; A volunteer finishes up a mural of the United States; A volunteer puts the finishing touches on the area of the playground designed to look like a pond with lily pads.

Hyattsville Life & Times | December 2019

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ZeroWaste of Time

And that’s a (non-plastic) wrap!

By Juliette Fradin

Did you know most wrapping paper is non-recyclable? It has often been chemically dyed, laminated, and mixed with non-paper materials like foil and glitter (aka plastic) which makes them nonrecyclable. And that’s before you even factor in the ribbon, sticky tape, cellophane, gift tags and so on. It seems such a waste to wrap presents in material which will be ripped apart in a few seconds and then sent straight to the landfill.

Instead, you can avoid single-use wrap with these creative ideas: • Repurpose kids’ artwork for wrapping. Or wrap with newspaper, an old map or book/music pages, or plain brown, untreated paper. Upcycle old gift bags or use a tote bag. Consider wrapping a present (like a bottle of wine) in a Swedish sponge cloth secured with a bit of twine. Place your gift in a reusable produce or bulk bag — it’s a gift within a sustainable gift. Swap tape for twine or washi tape. Save tissue paper and bows and reuse them.

• After wrapping your gift, decorate it with natural elements like sprigs of lavender and rosemary, holly, pine cones, or cinnamon quills. Head to a thrift store to shop and get creative: find colorful silk scarves and give furoshiki, the Japanese art of fabric wrapping, a try.

• To add a pop of color, embellish your package with dehydrated oranges: cut oranges into thin slices, and then pat between

JULIETTE FRADIN PHOTOGRAPHY

Use dehydrated orange slices for holiday decorations and then compost them.

layers of a dish cloth to remove moisture. Place them on a wire rack on top of your radiator and turn them every day until they are completely dry. Or preheat your oven to 200°F, place them on a rack for 1 to 2 hours, checking them every 30 minutes until they are completely dry.

You could also skip wrapping altogether by giving experiences rather than physical gifts. There

are numerous small businesses along the Route 1 Corridor (and beyond) that are ready to help you tackle such a Christmas list.

Many of them offer classes and workshops, so you could treat a loved one to a meditation class at Numi Yoga, a papermaking class at Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center, or tickets to a show at Joe’s Movement Emporium.

Sometimes it is hard to find the

right, thoughtful gift for a loved one. I don’t want to buy something that will end up in the giveaway pile, so this year my goal is not to buy something just because I feel the pressure. Rather, I will craft something myself or fill a jar with goodies I buy in bulk. I could also offer a gift card from a local shop or make a donation to

a cause the recipients cares about.

Any small changes you make at home can also make a difference right here in our community. Have a happy, eco-friendly, secondhand, sustainable holiday season!

Send questions and comments to bonjour@juliettefradin.com.

Christian Christian Science ScienceChurch Society 8300 Adelphi Road, Hyattsville • 301-422-1822

Sunday church services — 10:30 a.m.

Sunday school (youth up to 20) — 10:30 a.m.

Wednesday evening testimony meetings — 7:30 p.m.

All are welcome • Free literature available

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Hyattsville Life & Times | December 2019

MissFloribunda Dear Miss Floribunda, I used to brag that my garden was at its best in winter. Magnificent red-berried holly shrubs on each side of my entry, well-placed conifers of various sizes and shades of green, and luxuriant ivy instead of withered grass were what backed up my claim. Best of all, my only real job was keeping the ivy from climbing the trees. Summer before last, though, the ivy started getting brown and died back. I put fertilizer on it for the first time, but it hasn’t returned. Lots of people eager to get rid of ivy have invited me to come dig theirs up, but I’m afraid something is wrong and that that new ivy wouldn’t live, either.

This is particularly sad right now because I have always enjoyed using ivy in my Christmas decorating.

A certain joyful carol, once a favorite of mine, has become an earbug that lowers my spirits even further.

What do you recommend?

Holly and No Ivy on Ingraham Street Dear Holly and No Ivy,

COURTESY OF JOHN DELANO/WIKIPEDIA

The leaves of American wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) are much smaller than those of ivy, but have a similar leathery texture and ridged edges.

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I’ve struggled with some ambivalence here, as I am one of those who would gladly invite you to come rid my yard of the common, or “English,” ivy I assume was brought by birds. However, I agree this ivy is a lovely plant, in its place, and you seem fully aware that it needs to be kept from strangling other growth.

Certainly no one can argue against its yuletide charm. By the way, you’ve passed on your earbug to me, but fortunately I, too, love “The Holly and the Ivy” — accompanied by “the playing of

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the merrie organ and sweet singing in the choir.” I hope that by next year not only your holly, but also your ivy will be “both fullgrown.”

Here’s what I’ve learned from my Uncle Iverson, who also likes a winter garden. He reminded me that the summer before last was as wet as this past one was dry. That excess moisture, the long period of intense heat and the probable overcrowding of your “luxuriant” planting was conducive to bacterial or fungal disease. You can choose from over forty suspects, but to know exactly which, please have your soil tested. You don’t want to use a single poisonous chemical because the soil is full of an intricate microbial network containing many beneficial bacteria and fungi that plants need in order to assimilate nutrients. The University of Maryland’s Home and Garden Information Center has a list of reputable laboratories that test soil for a reasonable fee, as well as instructions on how to prepare samples for analysis. The site is extension.umd. edu/hgic/topics/soil-testing.

Also, have you considered native ground covers? I am assuming you planted your ivy, either English or Irish. These are now hard to find at nurseries, even though they are found over most of the rest of creation and are still easy to purchase online. Obviously, our native poison ivy is out of the question. It isn’t a true ivy, anyway, but a sumac, and it isn’t evergreen. However, there are several indigenous evergreen ground covers that are handsome in winter: green and gold, also called goldenstar (Chrysogo-

num virginianum); common blue violets (Viola soraria), which are especially lovely in spring when they bloom; Allegheny spurge (Pachysandra procumbens); and Virginia ginger (Hexastylis virginica). Unfortunately, none have leaves resembling the ivy you love. The leaves of American wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) are much smaller but have a similar leathery texture and ridged edges. They also have the added attraction of a delicious minty fragrance and are used in making wintergreen oil for flavoring. Wintergreen, which is a heath related to cranberries, produces beautiful scarlet fruit in autumn that lasts through winter.

This fruit resembles holly berries, but far from being poisonous like holly, it is harmless, tasty and high in vitamin C. Unfortunately, the fruit loses color soon after being picked, so it isn’t useful for decorating.

If only a true Hedera will do, Uncle Iverson tells me there is a sterile heirloom (pre-1870) ivy called Conglomerata. It has the leaf shape you like but forms a shrub. It doesn’t make berries.

He also mentioned that new efforts are being made to develop sterile varieties of Hedera, but that none are on the market yet.

There’s no guarantee, however, these would not succumb to native bacteria and fungi.

To gain more information and share holiday cheer, please come to the next meeting and holiday party of the Hyattsville Horticultural Society on Saturday, Dec. 21, at the festive home of Jean and Millard Smith, 3600 Longfellow Street. A brief business meeting at 10 a.m. will be followed by a potluck buffet, hot drinks and good conversation.

Hyattsville Life & Times | December 2019

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR December 12

Yarnia at Meadworks. Weekly gathering of people who craft and drink mead, hang out and sometimes sing along to 80s music. 7 to 9 p.m. All crafts (or no crafts) and all levels are welcome. Maryland Meadworks, 4700 Rhode Island Ave., Ste. B. marylandmeadworks.com Snowflake Social. Enjoy holiday treats, make your own special hot chocolate and decorate a holiday ornament. Mezeh Mediterranean Grill and &pizza will provide food samples. Free.

Starting at 6 p.m. Mall at Prince George’s, 3500 East-West Hwy. Mallatprincegeorges.com

December 14

Vintage Pop-up Market.

Hosted by Lost + Found Handworks. Come shop for vintage treasures, tableware, gifts and more. Free. Noon to 4 p.m.

Banana Blossom Bistro, 6202 Rhode Island Ave., Ste. 116.

301.277.8500. bananablossombistro.com Annual Festival of Lights & Holiday Market. Area artisans offer their crafts, food and craft

alcohol. Locally sourced Christmas trees for sale. Live music.

Free. Noon to 8 p.m. Riverdale Park Farmers Market, 4650 Queensbury Rd. rpkfarmmkt@ gmail.com Trilingual Santa! (ASL, Spanish & English). Come take pictures of your little one with Santa. Taqueria Habanero will be serving their famous quesadillas. Streetcar 82 Brewing Co., 4824 Rhode Island Ave. info@ streetcar82.com Gingerbread House Holiday Hullabaloo. Adults, children and families are all welcome to make gingerbread houses. Free.

Noon to 4 p.m. Art Works Now, 4800 Rhode Island Ave. www. artworksnow.org/gingerbread

TO SUBMIT ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION FOR THE CALENDAR, EMAIL MARIA@HYATTSVILLELIFE.COM

Annual Breakfast with Santa.

Sponsored by the City of College Park’s Recreation Board and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. Children of all ages are invited. Enjoy a complimentary continental breakfast. Free. Reservations not required. 10 a.m. to noon. College Park Community Center, 5051 Pierce Ave., College Park. 240.487.3570

December 15

Art Reception at Meadworks.

Wamalingo Studio art reception. Free. 3 to 5 p.m. Maryland Meadworks, 4700 Rhode Island Ave., Ste. B. marylandmeadworks.com Firehouse Fire Safety Day. Take photos, see fire trucks,

meet firefighters, Santa and Marshall the Fire Pup. Practice calling 911 and learn more about fire safety and prevention. Free. RSVP requested.

Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department, 6200 Belcrest Rd. hvfd.com/santa-run

December 24

Jazz for Wine Tasting at Yes! Organic Market. Hosted by Magic Ray Jazz. Free. 5 to 7 p.m. Yes! Organic Market, 5331 Baltimore Ave., Ste. 101.

301.779.1205

January 9

Run Come Play Open Mic

Night. Join Tom Liddle and John Figura for a night of music featuring you. Open to all ages and all styles of music. Bring your friends and a tune to share with the community. Free. Inperson sign-ups start at 7:30 p.m. Music at 8:00 p.m. Maryland Meadworks, 4700 Rhode Island Ave., Ste B. marylandmeadworks.com

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Hyattsville Life & Times | December 2019

CENSUS

continued from page 1

profits. There really weren’t people from different parts of the city, actually living in different parts of the city … so [this time] we thought we would really put our energy into the critical outreach that is necessary, the hand-to-hand type of stuff.”

It’s estimated that nearly 20,000 residents of Prince George’s County may have been missed in the 2010 census.

Prince George’s County Public Information Officer Anthony McAuliffe said that that equates to $36 million dollars of federal funding that have been lost every year since that count, which has severely reduced the number and quality of services the county can provide to its residents.

Immigrants, seniors, residents with young children, and low-income residents are all historically difficult to count. While fear of legal retribution keeps some immigrant populations from being counted in the census, awareness and accessibility are the main hurdles to participation.

City Clerk Laura Reams, who led the CCC’s meeting in the absence of an elected chair, said the city wants to emphasize three things about the 2020 census: “Taking the census is easy, it’s important, and it’s safe.”

In addition to advertising through social media and partnering with WHUR radio station to advertise the census during morning and evening commuting hours, the county’s committee is partnering with local health clinics and even barbershops to reach hard-to-count residents. Once the census begins in March 2020, the county will hold several events, including Senior Census Bingo and a Census Sunday/Sabbath, where census volunteers will be available to answer questions

LINDSAY MYERS

Jan Guszynski, the staff liaison for the Hyattsville Complete Count Committee (CCC), and Laura Reams, city clerk, present brainstormed lists of all the ways the CCC can make residents aware of the upcoming census.

about the census — how the information will be used, whether the data is private, etc. — and help residents fill out forms.

McAuliffe said the county is making a special effort to solve the accessibility problem of previous years.

“Rather than just telling people to complete the Census, we are bringing the Census to them and also incorporating it into community events,” wrote McAuliffe in an email.

At Hyattsville’s inaugural CCC meeting,

members discussed similar approaches to engaging Hyattsville residents. Reams provided the committee with a list of 2020 city events during which the CCC could advertise the census, and committee members signed up for smaller subcommittees, some of which will target hard-to-count populations.

The eight current committee members bring a wide range of skill sets and connections to the table. Through her work on the Hyattsville Elementary School’s an-

nual Zombie Run, Christine Blackerby has connections to several local businesses and area nonprofits. Steven Blanco, who has coached football and wrestling at Northwestern High School, said he can use his relationship with the school to mobilize area youth. Matthew Fraterman, a co-chair alongside Jennifer Linn, is an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Hyattsville and offered to collaborate with the various local faith communities.

Much to the relief of the rest of the committee, Fraterman also said he would be happy to log some hours knocking on doors. “Getting on the ground, going door-to-door, I don’t mind doing that,” he said. “I love doing that. I love cold-talking to people.”

In addition to door knocking, Hollingsworth encouraged the committee to think about the ways in which it can reach people on an individual level to increase response rates. Some hard-to-count populations require “several touches” to ensure participation, she said.

“My competitive nature is sneaking up on us,” said Hollingsworth, in reference to Hyattsville’s poor 2010 response rate.

“I definitely want us to be better than we were in 2010, but selfishly, I also want us to be higher than all the municipalities around us,” she said lightheartedly.

The Hyattsville CCC currently has seven vacancies. The committee is particularly interested in new members who are connected to local hard-to-count populations, such as the immigrant communities in Wards 4 and 5 and the elderly. Spanishspeaking residents of Wards 4 and 5 are especially welcome.

For more information about how to apply for membership on the committee or how to volunteer at census events, email census@hyattsville.org. All are welcome!

Hyattsville Life & Times | December 2019

WI-FI

continued from page 4

in figuring out the most obvious avenue to introduce free Wi-Fi without a major capital investment. One idea is to convert the city’s existing Bigbelly trash compactors into Wi-Fi hotspots. The trash cans are already equipped with smart technology and could be modified to include a public WiFi connection.

“It’s effectively a compactor on the street that serves as a trash receptacle, but it’s built with smart technology. There’s the ability to insert a modem in the machines to enable Wi-Fi connectivity.”

Chandler said that while this idea has been proposed, there is

no written plan for implementation at this time.

“Over the summer, we worked with a graduate student in the field of public policy and looked at the broader scope of smart city technology,” he continued.

“It might be a combination of infrastructure and then piggybacking on efforts already in place.”

Citing the city’s fiduciary responsibility to its taxpayers, Chandler emphasized caution before making major investments.

“It comes down to what level of benefit the public would receive and how we can minimize the overall cost of the project,” he said. “In looking at some of the larger cities to have implemented this technology, it appears to be

Page 13

a long lead up before any investment is made.”

According to Chandler, the city is examining technology options that would rely on in-house staff and existing budget resources.

Ideally, any new Wi-Fi technology would be integrated into the city’s existing infrastructure and be used for some of the city operations. In January, city staff will publish a memorandum intended to serve as a starting point for what the city could pursue over the next few years, he said.

Spell Wolf also expressed caution at moving the project forward without proper due diligence.

“We have to look at the model that works best for Hyattsville,” she said. “We want to make sure that we are using taxpayer dollars wisely, and we don’t want this to be an outrageously expensive way to provide this service.”

OAKS

continued from page 1

tension has published a fact sheet on the issue, which says that, “At this point, our best assessment is that the phenomenon is most likely an accelerated version of what is commonly called ‘tree decline.’”

While older oak trees typically decline over a number of years, Riddle noted the impact of a changing climate, including heavy rain in previous years, followed by long periods of dryness. “There was no official drought, but four months of no rain — that’s pretty tough.”

“We are looking to next year to see if maybe some of these may come back,” Riddle added. A treatment such as spraying would not save the affected trees, as the disorder is physical in nature and is not caused by living organisms.

Riddle said that Hyattsville has an “aggressive replacement program,” although the city will not be planting more white oaks. “We need to look at other species that are going to … have a better survivability than our native oaks.”

According to Riddle and the University of Maryland, residents who have white oaks should provide them with deep but infrequent watering, allowing the soil to dry out in between waterings.

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS “The best way forward, at least now, is [to] hold on and see what happens next year,” said Riddle, Residents who have white oaks should provide them adding that if a tree didn’t grow new leaves in the with deep but infrequent watering, allowing the soil spring, a professional arborist should be consulted. to dry out in between waterings.

HMS

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move out of this building and into that building. You will not have to go into a swing space plan.”

“It’s straight into major design work for the next year, and probably two years of construction,” said Newman.

HMS is slated to be rebuilt on its current location using Alternative Construction Financing (ACF), an approach that partners the school system with a development team. “Prince George’s County is actually the first [county] in the state that’s pursuing [this method],” Newman said.

Newman explained that through ACF, the development team will build the new schools and maintain them for 30 years. “At the end of that period of time, they’ll refresh the buildings, and then they give them to the school district completely.”

The ACF funding package includes five middle schools and one K-8 school, and will cost about 30 million dollars per year for the duration of the 30-year relationship. The developer, Newman said, will perform major maintenance, while PGCPS will continue to oversee janitorial staff, as well as teachers and other educational staff.

“We have narrowed down our field of possible development teams … to four,” said Newman.

She explained that those four teams would receive a request for proposal by mid- to lateNovember, and would have to provide a general sense of what

“The plan is to rebuild the building on your site … and then … you would move out of this building and into that building. You will not have to go into a swing space plan.”

Deanna Newman PGPCS

their designs would look like by April 2020, along with a plan to maintain and finance the buildings. One development team will be selected for all six buildings, and “at that point, we will really be able to come back to you with some information,” assured Newman.

The Project Planning Committee includes community members, HMS staff and representatives from the feeder elementary schools. “After we’ve gotten at least a concept design, then we plan to have a broader community meeting,” Newman said.

The new HMS is scheduled to open for the 2023-2024 school year.

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Hyattsville Life & Times | December 2019