July 2020 Hyattsville Life & Times

INSIDE

Life&Times & &Times

GANGSTER VEGAN: New restaurant pushes veggies, not violence. P. 8 COMMUNITY CALENDAR: What? We have events again? Yes, we do! P.11

VOL. 17 NO. 7

HYATTSVILLE’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

JULY 2020

SIGN LANGUAGE

For local students, summer school is virtual

By Kylie Rau Kiesha Jones, a Hyattsville Middle School parent, recently enrolled her son in a Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) summer virtual program.

“As a student, following up on SEE SUMMER SCHOOL ON 9 

Runoff from construction riles residents

By Sophie Gorman Oriani The rebuilding of a local nursing home on Queens Chapel Road, Sacred Heart Home, has left some Hyattsville residents very unhappy. “[I] can’t tell you how frustrated I am to see my street (37th Avenue) turn into a river of mud from Sacred Heart every time it rains, not to mention the cracks in my plaster from their vibration roller,” wrote Reid Nelson in a June 8 email to the Hyattsville Organization for a Positive Environment (H.O.P.E.) email group.

The Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate are building a new convent and nursing home to replace the existing ones, which SEE CONVENT ON 13 

The Family March for Black Lives, held on June 27, began in Hyattsville’s largest city park and ended at Art Works Now, where participants put their handmade signs on display outside. See p. 6 for more on the march and p. 7 for more photos. COURTESY OF ART WORKS NOW

Summer camps cope with COVID

By Heather Wright So, you’re a camp trying to plan a safe, educational and memorable summer experience for children during a pandemic

— and in the midst of a host of fluctuating state and local orders — what are you going to do?

Locally and nationally, the responses run the gamut, from

cancelling summer programs altogether, to going virtual, to hosting small groups with restrictions in place. And then there’s the in-between hybrid option.

As of June 15, Prince George’s County entered a modified phase two of reopening, allowing in-person summer camps to begin, subject to Maryland’s new summer camp directives.

These rules require camps to limit groups to no more than 10 people; screen participants for COVID-19 upon arrival, including temperature checks; observe social distancing guidelines when possible; and clean common areas frequently. Currently, the state does not permit SEE CAMPS ON 12 

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Page 2

Hyattsville Life & Times | July 2020

HUMANS OF HYATTSVILLE

Studying, striving in Hyattsville Alysha Martinez lives on the north end of Historic Hyattsville, where she often walks with her 3-year-old son, Elijah. You may recognize their contagious smiles. She is studying for her GED. Her dream job: archeologist or homeland security agent.

What is your occupation?

I am a cashier at McDonald’s. I also work at the Family Dollar, and I do customer service for Edible Arrangements.

Who’s in your family?

Me, my kids, my kid’s godparents and my friends.

How would you describe yourself?

Energetic. I have a lot of energy.

I’m also very funny. It is just whatever comes to my mind, but it makes people laugh. After I’ve had a few sips of Rémy Martin, I say things like “I don’t know how I got here, but I’m glad I came,” and everyone laughs.

What causes, whether local or beyond, are you passionate about? What topic really gets you talking at a party?

I’m interested in hearing about politics, but I don’t speak too much about that. If it was brought up at a party, I would be interested in hearing people talk about that.

I like to talk about my goals at parties. My major goal right now is to be hireable at any job I want. This is why I’m currently working on my GED. I want to be confident about walking into any job interview.

Alysha Martinez and her son Elijah

How do you wish people saw you?

I would say if I could be like anything, I would be invisible, because when people see me in person, they form a lot of opinions, and it makes a first impression.

But … if people could just hear me, I think, things would be a lot better.

Why did you decide to settle in Hyattsville?

My son Elijah’s godparents live here. Hyattsville is a

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 provided.

COURTESY OF ALYSHA MARTINEZ

good community. It has good schools, good restaurants and everything is within walking distance, including the mall.

What do you like best about Hyattsville?

Working, and family and friends. That is what Hyattsville is about for me. Everyday, my schedule is the same. I go to work, I come home and see my family and friends. I love that.

Managing Editor Kit Slack kit@hyattsvillelife.com

Business Manager Catie Currie catie@hyattsvillelife.com

Associate Editors Sophie Gorman Oriani sophie@hyattsvillelife.com

Advertising Sales Manager Brian Escobar brian@hyattsvillelife.com

Heather Wright heather@hyattsvillelife.com Webmaster Lindsay Myers lindsay@hyattsvillelife.com Layout & Design Editor Ashley Perks Copy Editor Nancy Welch Writers & Contributors Anuoluwapo A. Adefiwitan, Victoria Boucher, Zamir Courtney, Joanne Davis-Turner, Pierce Panagakos, Kylie Rau, Fred Seitz Advertising advertising@hyattsvillelife.com 301.531.5234

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.

What do you wish Hyattsville did differently?

There really is nothing that should change. Hyattsville is really well put together. It is secure. It is a safe community. It is a safe zone, and you don’t have to worry about anything. Everyone knows everybody, so it feels welcoming.

How do you like to relax?

I like to read books, color in coloring books and listen to therapeutic music. The music makes me calm and helps me to meditate. You can find this music for free on YouTube.

I also love to dance and sing.

I’m good at culturally dancing, but, honestly, not good at square dancing. I tried that, and I just couldn’t figure it out. I love to swim, too. That is one of my most favorite things to do, especially in

big rivers. It is such a challenge to swim back to the rocks when you get to the middle.

If I really think or put my mind to something, I know I can get it done. I can be lazy. … So that’s why I like a challenge, because if things are too easy, I’m not as interested in them.

Anything else we should know about you?

I have a good work ethic. I’m not a motivational speaker, but to myself, I’m a motivational speaker.

Hyattsville keeps me ambitious … there are good jobs here. And good schools. It makes me want to do more for myself and my son.

Interview by Kelly Lindquist Email your “Humans of Hyattsville” and “Life Under COVID-19” stories to Lindsay@ hyattsvillelife.com.

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Hyattsville Life & Times | July 2020

Airbag thefts in Hondas on the rise in Hyattsville

By Pierce Panagakos A normal Thursday turned strange for Nora Zeigenfuse when her neighbor alerted her that her Honda Civic had been broken into. Even more bizarre is what the robber had stolen — not any valuable that Zeigenfuse left behind, but the car’s airbag.

“My neighbor came to the door to alert me. I went to the car and found [glass] everywhere,” Zeigenfuse said. “It took me a minute to figure out the airbag was missing.”

The theft followed a nationwide pattern that started nearly two years ago and has been on the rise in the Hyattsville area in the past few weeks. Thieves around the country have stolen airbags most often from Hondas, specifically Civic and Accord models. The resale market for these airbags is hot.

Public Information Officer and Acting Lt. Zachary Nemser of the Hyattsville City Police De-

partment said in an email, “In the City of Hyattsville there have been eight instances of airbags being stolen from vehicles dating back to May 31st, 2020. All eight of these incidents involved Honda Civics or Accords. We believe there is a lucrative secondary market for these items.

This is a regional issue, and has impacted the D.C. Metro area.”

As Nemser noted, the increased spike of airbag thefts isn’t new to the D.C. area. In 2018, USA Today reported that Northern Virginia was a hotspot for theft of Honda airbags, along with Florida and New York City. According to the article, thieves stole airbags out of 37 cars from a single parking lot in Pentagon City, Va. All of the targeted cars were Civics or Accords from 2012 or earlier.

In the same USA Today article, Honda spokesperson Chris Martin said he wasn’t sure why Civics and Accords were being targeted.

Martin noted that Hondas were one of the nation’s best selling cars, making them easier to find, but that doesn’t necessarily explain the motive for stealing these particular cars’ airbags.

Pierce Panagakos is a summer intern with the Hyattsville Life & Times.

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Hyattsville Life & Times | July 2020

NATURE NEARBY

A visitor in the night

By Fred Seitz During the second week of June, I went outside in the evening to see if there were any bats flying around. I was met by a dark-colored creature walking in circles in the street. Thinking it was a neighbor’s cat, I moved closer and saw his or her skinny, hairless tail and short, coarse coat. It was an opossum.

I’ve encountered this marsupial a few times during my more than 30 years living in Hyattsville, but I am always a bit surprised and amused by their visits.

This walking in circles, however, was something I had not witnessed before. I was a bit concerned, thinking that the little — well, not so little, really, but about the size of a domestic house cat — guy or gal might be sick. This opossum was a bit larger than some of his cousins whom I’d met in previous years,

which added to my concern.

I first feared that he might be rabid, though opossums are not good hosts for rabies, due to their low body temperature.

Still, knowing that he had those roughly 50 very pointy teeth, I figured that stepping back and keeping my dog far away at that moment might be the most sensible and diplomatic resolution.

While I would have loved to see this critter display the stereotypical behavior of playing possum ( feigning death), I figured my dog might regret it if I indulged my curiosity and moved closer. Had the opossum done one of his famous hisses if I approached, I am reasonably certain my dog would have become annoyed, and the encounter may have gotten unpleasant. And in addition to having impressive teeth, opossums can emit a very unpleasant smell.

I made some inquiries a couple

Opossums are the only marsupial found in North America.

COURTESY OF

WIKIMEDIA

days later and learned that the circling behavior was most likely in reaction to an injury, perhaps caused by a passing vehicle. Indeed, I have seen a number of opossums and other wild and domestic critters suffer from road injuries in recent years.

Opossums are native to this area and about half of the rest of the country, even though their common name is Virginia opossum.

They are the only marsupial in North America, and their pouch

can house six or more little ones.

The joeys each attach to a teat (an opossum mom has 13) and remain attached and in the pouch for about two months. If more babies are born than the number of functional teats available, any extra little ones will very likely die.

Joeys are about the size of a jelly bean when they are born, and are weaned at about three months.

Opossums generally mate between December and September and have one or two litters

each year. Gestation is just two weeks, and joeys are fragile and relatively undeveloped at birth.

Male opossums have unusual reproductive anatomy — bifurcated, like two-pronged forks.

Young ones also have unusual breathing and drinking anatomy that lets them breathe and nurse at the same time.

Opossums like having multiple places to den. These dens may be dead log or holes constructed by other animals. And opossums do not consider themselves above lounging in sheds or other available manmade structures.

They also are not gourmets, and most anything will do — carrion, our garbage, small mammals and reptiles, and insects (including ticks — go, opossums!).

I haven’t been back to that spot where I saw the circling opossum, but I do hope it has healed and is roaming through our neighborhood, pigging out on ticks. And staying away from traffic.

Fred Seitz is the Hyattsville Life & Times nature columnist.

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Places of worship begin to emerge from COVID-19 state restrictions

By Joanne Davis-Turner Although many have missed gathering regularly to worship, local churches have continued to offer services, prayer, sacraments and teaching during the pandemic.

Gov. Larry Hogan’s stay-athome order, which took effect on March 30, included churches and precluded in-person gatherings of more than 10 people.

Phase one reopening, which started in Prince George’s County on June 1, still limited in-person church worship services to 10 people.

Elder Maurice Turner, who has lived in Hyattsville for more than three decades, has pastored Word and Spirit Ministries, Inc. in Washington, D.C., for the past 17 years.

When the pandemic first hit, Turner was hesitant to alter his weekly worship services. But after officials started taking note of the church being opened against state and city regulations, he decided to “pull in the reins.”

For the past several months, Turner has been conducting services virtually, and his offerings have even attracted newcomers to the church.

St. Matthews/San Mateo Episcopal Church, on 36th Avenue, continued to broadcast around the world. Their retired associate priest, the Rev. Elena Thompson, said that, despite their building’s being closed for several months, services went out by radio, the internet and Facebook Live. Thompson noted, “As far as Facebook is concerned, our participation has increased!” The Rev. Vidal Rivas, who has been St. Matthew’s pastor since 2008, continued to preach in Spanish to a worldwide radio audience.

Thompson said that Christians around the world are working hard right now, especially those who are caregivers and on the front lines. “Hopefully we are learning to serve one another and encourage one another even more than before,” she noted.

The Rev. Dr. Yvonne Penn, senior pastor of First United Methodist Church of Hyattsville on Belcrest Road, said that they had been teaching, preaching, conducting worship services and offering children’s time online. “People are starving for the gospel and for good news — we are happy to play a part in that,” said Penn in an interview.

“People are closer in spite of politics. We’re more concerned about each other. ...We’ve got a GOD thing going on. We will continue to pray for the City of Hyattsville.”

Prince George’s County moved to a modified phase two opening on June 15, which allowed houses of worship to gather indoors at 25% capacity and hold outdoor services for up to 250 people.

The Rev. Scott Hahn, pastor of St. Jerome Catholic Church on 43rd Avenue, said that in phase one, they were doing home visits to minister to individuals. During the modified phase two, the church started opening back up to the public. “We are requiring face masks and providing hand sanitizer at the door. We will block seats for social distancing and will only allow 200 people inside the sanctuary, since the requirement is 25% of full capacity, and we hold 800,” said Hahn. (Prince George’s County moved to a full phase two reopening on June 29, which limits outdoor services to 250 people and allows houses of worship to host indoor worship at 50% capacity.)

“This situation has caused people to reflect on their religious practices and their own

spirituality,” Hahn noted.

The District entered phase two reopening on June 22.

Turner anticipates opening the doors of Word and Spirit Ministries on July 5. In a church business meeting in June, he said, “We will sanitize the sanctuary thoroughly the day before.” He added that there would be hand sanitizer at the door, and an usher would make masks available. “We’re looking forward to fellowship once again!” Turner exclaimed.

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Hyattsville Life & Times | July 2020

NEWS BRIEFS BLACK LIVES MATTER IN HYATTSVILLE’S CITY PARK

Kenny Sway, a 28-year-old Hyattsville resident, began singing when he was 5 years old. COURTESY OF KENNY SWAY

Local singer-songwriter unites BLM protestors

By Anuoluwapo A. Adefiwitan As the day approached dusk on June 3, the smooth tones of Kenny Sway’s voice fell over a sea of flickering cell phones.

Sway’s rendition of the famous Bill Withers’ song “Lean on Me” enveloped protestors near Lafayette Square.

Since the viral cell phone video of George Floyd’s death surfaced on social media, protestors have again taken to the streets as part of the Black Lives Matter movement to sound the alarm for change. Discussions about police brutality and the rootedness of systemic racism in America have dominated the news cycle and dinner tables across America.

“The greatest weapon that was given to us was a phone,” Sway said during a phone interview.

In Sway’s case, cell phone footage of his performance has made him locally famous. The 28-year-old Hyattsville resident began singing when he was 5 years old and said that music has always been a part of his life. “My mom always had music in the house when we were young,” explained Sway. “Leading up to that protest, it was something normal for me.”

Before stepping into the streets to protest, Sway admitted that he stayed back to really take in all that had been happening. He said that his main desire when he took the stage

was to inspire.

“I just wanna create an atmosphere filled with love and peace,” noted Sway. “I want people to have a change of thought when they are listening to my music … Music plays a big part in how you can shift [someone’s] mindset,” he observed.

Sway acknowledges that the charge towards justice and true racial equality is far from over.

He has committed himself to fighting until he and others like him receive what they deserve as human beings. “We cannot stop marching. We cannot stop protesting at any cost,” asserted Sway.

“George didn’t get called home; he was sent home,” said Sway. “He had a young daughter; I have a young daughter, so it touched me in that way.

She has to grow up without a dad.”

Sway believes that his performance of “Lean on Me” encouraged peace between the protestors and police officers that night. In some videos of Sway’s performance, police can be spotted taking pictures and singing along with the crowd.

“Nobody would’ve denied that there was peace right there,” Sway remarked.

Anuoluwapo A. Adefiwitan is a summer intern with the Hyattsville Life & Times.

Hyattsville resident Sage Morgan-Hubbard organized a community event, Family March for Black Lives, on June 27. The march began in Hyattsville’s largest city park and ended at Art Works Now, where participants put their handmade signs on display outside.

Speakers included 8-year-old Hyattsville resident Oliver Larson, who said, “Long ago there was a man named Mr. Magruder. And, he gave this park to the city of Hyattsville. People wanted to honor him, so they named it Magruder Park. … But he was saying, ‘Oh, I only want white people to have access to this park.’”

Larson asked, “Why would we want the park named after a white supremacist?”

He named people he would prefer to honor, including Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and other speakers at the event, including Hyattsville City Police Department Chief Amal

Awad and Mayor Candace Hollingsworth. “Even me,” he concluded. “I mean, I’m better than any white supremacist.”

Prince George’s County Council member Jolene Ivey, local rapper and activist Kassim, and singer and poet Dr. Khadijah Ali-Coleman also addressed the families spread across the grass.

Earlier that week, on June 22, Hyattsville Public Information Officer Cindy Zork announced to the H.O.P.E. email group that vandals had stolen one of two bronze plaques bearing William Pinkney Magruder’s name from the stone entryway to the park, damaging the entryway.

The city’s Public Works department removed the second plaque, putting it in storage.

The city will hold a community discussion to choose a new name for the park, “reflective of its current welcoming, diverse and inclusive use.” This discussion will follow a legal process amending the park’s deed to remove a racist restriction.

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AFFORDABLE HOUSING FORUM On June 9, the City of Hyattsville held a virtual forum on affordable housing. Enterprise Community Partners, an affordable housing nonprofit, made a presentation which showed that 43% of Hyattsville renters are paying more than 30% of their income on housing.

According to Enterprise, in the last decade, home ownership rates have dipped, house prices have risen and rental prices have sky-rocketed. In 2013, 25% of rental units in Hyattsville were priced under $1,000 per month; in 2018, only 9% were.

Enterprise projects that the city needs only 342 new housing units before 2030. Though more than 1,675 are currently in the development pipeline, Enterprise has determined that they “may be out of reach for lower income households.”

The city awarded Enterprise a $90,000 contract in 2020 to develop an affordable housing strategy for the city. This forum was an introductory session.

HYATTSVILLE MAYOR MAKES PUBLIC AN AGENDA TO PROTECT BLACK FUTURES On June 1, Hyattsville Mayor Candace Hollingsworth published an agenda for Hyattsville entitled “35 Policy Recommendations to Protect Black Futures.” Hollingsworth accomplished the first item on the agenda the same day, when the Hyattsville City Council unanimously passed Hyattsville Resolution 2020-05, “a Resolution in defense of Black CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 

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Hyattsville Life & Times | July 2020

Page 7

FAMILIES MARCH IN SUPPORT OF BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTS lives and a commitment to enacting policies that unequivocally defend Black life and aim to undo the effects of systemic racism affecting Black people in the City of Hyattsville.”

Hollingsworth prioritized funding healing circles for Black people, listing this second on her agenda. She noted that “mental health and collective healing led by and for Black people is a priority.”

Implementing participatory budgeting for Hyattsville comes third.

The list includes seven initiatives concerning policing and crime, from ending incarceration for municipal code infractions to moving school resource officers off-premises. The mayor makes proposals for housing, education and electoral reform.

She also proposes support services for individuals, including legal clinics, credit education and repair, and individual development accounts.

JULIETTE FRADIN SELECTED AS HL&T STAFF MEMBER OF THE QUARTER The editorial staff of the Hyattsville Life & Times (HL&T) selected staff writer Juliette Fradin as volunteer staff member for the second quarter of 2020.

Fradin was selected for her

faithful dedication as a columnist and photographer during the last quarter. Her column, “Zero Waste of Time,” is consistently informative, practical and impassioned. Her photography has graced the front cover of the paper more than once, including for the June edition, and enhances the HL&T’s ability to tell the ongoing story of our community.

The HL&T established this quarterly honor earlier this year to recognize the newspaper’s volunteers.

The Family March for Black Lives was held at Magruder Park on June 27.

NEW PRINCIPALS COMING TO HYATTSVILLE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS According to several sources, PGCPS has completed interviews for a new middle school principal, and an announcement is coming soon.

PGCPS is still seeking input on the selection process for an elementary school principal. Community members can complete surveys through July 10 at surveymonkey.com/r/ HyattsvilleES ( for English) or es.surveymonkey.com/r/ HyattsvilleESsp ( for Spanish).

Clockwise from top right: Oliver Larson gives his views on the name of the city park; An event attendee’s protest sign on his back; Participants marching out of the city park; Organizer Sage Morgan-Hubbard COURTESY OF

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Hyattsville Life & Times | July 2020

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Hyattsville Reporter No. 388 • July 7, 2020

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Notices and Updates

A Message from Mayor Hollingsworth: Across the country and in the City of Hyattsville, people have stepped up to do what 100 days ago felt unimaginable. Things that before were described as impractical, suddenly became common. We’ve met differently. We’ve participated in our democracy differently.

We’ve cared for each other differently.

In that span of time, our understanding of “essential” has expanded. We’ve learned that human connection in all the mundane ways is essential. We have managed to forge our own constitutions with each other and within our communities that allows each of us to survive.

We swiftly transitioned from collective stillness to uprising. What seemed like a sudden change for some, is leaving behind stretch marks and for others, it’s breaking apart seams that were only barely held together. We have a lot of repair work to do and it cannot simply be cosmetic. This type of work must address deeply rooted allegiances to systems that undermine or deny others’ humanity.

I like to think that—as a community—we are enveloped in silk. We are starting the difficult task of preparing ourselves to emerge more beautiful, stronger, and more resolute in our identity as a diverse, inclusive, equitable, and just City. To be clear, this moment requires more of us than reforming our visions of policing. It demands that we also start with deep introspection to examine why we call the police in the first place. As we prepare for re-entering a newly reopened society, how we continue to live up to this agreement will determine whether we find ourselves back where we began, again. #8CantWait: The City of Hyattsville Police Department fully stands behind Council’s recent adoption of a resolution in defense of Black lives and aims to remain in compliance with the recommendations of the nationwide #8CantWait campaign. HCPD recognizes these policies are a minimum to which Police Departments are to be held accountable, and are working to go beyond with comprehensive and contemporary training. To view the Department’s overview of how they are addressing the #8CantWait policies, visit hyattsville. org/accountability.

County in Full Phase Two of Recovery Plan: As of June 29, Prince George’s County has authorized the re-opening of shopping malls, childcare facilities, gyms, outdoor pools, houses of worship, amusement parks, and casinos, all with limited capacity and public health protocols in place. Social distancing and cloth face coverings are still required.

Visit mypgc.us/reopen for details.

Census

#Take10 Challenge: More than 55% of Hyattsville residents have completed their Census either by visiting mycensus2020.gov or completing a paper form.

Support the City’s #Take10 initiative by taking 10 minutes to complete the questionnaire! If you need help completing your 2020 Census or would like a paper form mailed, call 844-330-2020.

Corridor Investment Grant Program: The City is now accepting applications for the Corridor Investment Grant Program that provides grants of up to $5,000 to businesses and non-profit partners for creative placemaking projects, programming, or business development strategies.

Applicants are eligible to receive a grant of up to 80% of the total cost of the project or program. For details, visit hyattsville.org/ corridorinvestmentprogram.

West Hyattsville Reconstruction Project: The Department of Public Works will host a community meeting on July 13 at 7 p.m. to provide information on this multiyear road reconstruction project, projected to start late July or early August 2020. To register, visit hyattsville.org/calendar.

Hyattsville volunteer helping distribute boxes of fresh food and non-perishable items. If you are in need of food or any other type of assistance, please call the Hyattsville Helps Line at (301) 985-5020.

Voluntario de Hyattsville ayuda a distribuir cajas de alimentos frescos. Sí esta en necesidad de comida o algún otro tipo de asistencia, por favor llame a la Línea de Hyattsville Ayuda al (301) 985-5020.

Programs, Services, and Events

A list of suspended, limited, and continuing services are listed below. Visit www. hyattsville.org or call (301) 985-5000 for the most up-to-date information.

Continuing Services - Bulk Trash Pickups (by request only) - Creative Minds at Home - Compost & Yard Waste Pickups - Mary Prangley Cleanup Day, August 1 - Notary (by appointment only) - Parks & Playgrounds (follow posted safety guidelines) - Parking Enforcement - Permit Processing - Police Patrols & Emergency Response - Solid Waste & County Recycling Collections - Summer Camp Online & Tutoring - Virtual Committee & Community Meetings - Virtual Hyattsville Council Meetings - White Good Appliance Pickups (by request only) Limited or Suspended Services and Activities - Access to Municipal Facilities - Call-A-Bus Transportation - Licensing - Fingerprinting - Public Information Act Requests - UMD Shuttle Transportation

Cancellations and Postponements - Ageless Grace Exercise Classes - Community Yoga - Invasive Plant Removals - Police Ride-A-Long’s - Senior Bus Trips - Senior Dining & Lecture Series - Summer Jam, July 17 - Sunset Movie Series, July 24 - Teen Center Hyattsville COVID-19 Testing Site: Free, non- appointment COVID-19 testing is available at the First United Methodist Church of Hyattsville (6201 Belcrest Road). The site offers drive-thru and walkup testing on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Tests are administered by medical staff of Luminis Health (Doctors Community Hospital), who can offer a maximum of 200 tests per day.

Drivers should enter the Church parking lot using the entrance on MD Route 410 (East-West Highway). Walk-up tests are conducted at the front of the Church facing Belcrest Road. For questions about the testing site, call (301) 985-5000. For COVID-19 symptom-related questions, call the County’s Hotline at (301) 883-6627.

Grant Funding Opportunities for Hyattsville Residents and Businesses: Applications for the second round of the City’s $1M COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Fund are now being accepted. Hyattsville businesses, childcare providers, and working artists can apply for grants in amounts

Mary Prangley Day: Place your bulk trash items curbside after 6 p.m. on Friday, July 31 for collection the morning of Saturday, August 1. 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? Call (301) 985-5000.

Age-Friendly Programs

Home Modification Program: Following CDC guidelines, the City of Hyattsville is resuming its partnership with Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland and Hyattsville Aging in Place to offer free home modification services to eligible residents.

Services under this program include therapy for functional limitations, fall prevention and recovery strategies, and structural modifications to make homes more age-friendly. To learn about the requirements, visit hyattsville.org/capable.

To request a mailed application, call (301) 990-0014 ext. 19 or email rebecca.arce@ habitatmm.org. For help completing the application or to volunteer, contact (301) 887-3101 or email HAPCares@gmail.com.

Youth Services

Virtual Tutoring: Free tutoring services for local students in grades 6 – 12 are now offered virtually! Tutoring takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Students can receive help with summer schoolwork or brush up on a challenging subject for the upcoming school year. To register your child, visit hyattsville.recdesk.com.

Summer Youth Programming: Registration for free, online, summer fun with the City is now open! There are two options: Creative Minds at Home, the City’s bilingual toddler and parent educational program, OR Summer Camp Online, a virtual series of activities for kids K-5 filled with dance parties, virtual field trips, yoga, and so much more! To register, visit hyattsville.org and select the recreation button.

Hyattsville Life & Times | July 2020

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Reportero de

Hyattsville

No. 388 • 7 de Julio, 2020

www.hyattsville.org • 301-985-5000

Avisos y Noticias

Un Mensaje de la Alcaldesa Hollingsworth: Por alrededor del país y en la Ciudad, la gente ha dado un paso adelante para hacer lo que hace 100 días se sentía inimaginable. Cosas que antes se describían como poco prácticas, de repente se hicieron comunes. Nos hemos visto de otra manera. Hemos participado en nuestra democracia de manera diferente. Nos hemos cuidado de otra manera diferente.

En este lapso, nuestra comprensión de lo “esencial” se ha expandido. Hemos aprendido que la conexión humana de todas las maneras mundanas es esencial.

Hemos logrado forjar nuestras propias constituciones entre nosotros y dentro de nuestras comunidades que nos permite a cada uno de nosotros sobrevivir.

Pasamos rápidamente de la quietud colectiva al levantamiento. Lo que parecía un cambio repentino para algunos ha dejado cambios permanentes para muchos otros y a cambiado las vidas de muchos.

Tenemos mucho trabajo que hacer y no es simplemente cosmético. Este tipo de trabajo debe abordar las lealtades profundamente arraigadas a los sistemas que socavan o niegan la humanidad de los demás.

A mí me gusta pensar que - como una comunidad – estamos unidos juntos. Estamos comenzando la difícil tarea de prepararnos para emerger más bella, más fuerte y resuelta en nuestra identidad como una ciudad diversa, inclusiva, equitativa y justa. Para ser claros, este momento requiere más de nosotros que reformar nuestras visiones de la policía.

Exige que también empecemos con una introspección profunda para examinar por qué llamamos a la policía en primer lugar. Mientras nos preparamos para volver a entrar en una sociedad que esta reabriendo, la forma en que sigamos a la espera de esta nueva realidad determinará si nos encontramos de nuevo donde comenzamos, o si cámbiamos por el bien. #8NoPuedeEsperar: El Departamento de Policía de Hyattsville respalda la resolución recientemente adoptada por del Concejo en defensa a las vidas Afroamericanas y tiene como objetivo mantenerse en conformidad con las recomendaciones de la campaña #8NoPuedeEsperar.

HCPD reconoce que estas políticas es un empiezo y están trabajando activamente para ir más allá con su entrenamientoI. Para ver las políticas de #8NoPuedeEsperar, visite hyattsville.org/accountability.

Condado en Segunda Fase Completa de Plan de Recuperación: Desde el 29 de junio, el Condado Prince George’s ha autorizado la reapertura de centros comerciales, centros de cuidado infantil, gimnasios, piscinas al aire libre, casas de culto, parques de atracciones y casinos, todos con capacidad limitada y protocolos de salud pública en su lugar. El distanciamiento social y mascaras todavía son requeridos. Visite mypgc.us/reopen para más.

Censo

Reto #Tome10: Más de 55% de residentes de Hyattsville han completado su Censo cuestionario, ya sea visitando mycensus2020.gov o completando el formulario en papel. ¡Apoye la iniciativa #Tome10 de la Ciudad y tome 10 minutos

para artistas trabajantes). Para más, visite hyattsville.org/relief-fund o llame al (301) 985-5085.

Respectivamente, junto a las organizaciones Employ Prince George’s (EPG), la Corporación de Desarrollo Comunitario de Hyattsville (HCDC) y CASA Maryland, la mitad del Fondo de Alivio de $1M son para apoyar a residentes de Hyattsville. Para más, visite hyattsville. org/relief-fund o llame al (301) 985-5000.

Programa de Subvenciones para Negocios: La Ciudad está aceptando aplicaciones para el Programa de Subvenciones e Inversiones que proveé subvenciones de hasta $5,000 a negocios y organizaciones sin fines de lucro para ayudar con proyectos creativos y estrategias para interactuar con la comunidad. Aplicantes pueden ser elegibles para ayudar con hasta el 80% del costo completo del programa o proyecto. Visite hyattsville.org/corridorinvestmentprogram para más.

Attendees of all ages from the recently held Family March for Black Lives, which was organized by Hyattsville families, pass by as it provided a safe place to engage in current conversations about racial justice. Gente de todas edades de la recientemente Marcha Familiar para Vidas Afroamericanas, que fue organizada por las familias de Hyattsville, pasan por lejos, ya que proporcionaba un lugar seguro para entablar conversaciones actuales sobre justicia racial. para completar el cuestionario! Si necesita ayuda para completar su Censo 2020 o desea un formulario en papel por correo, llame al 1-844-330-2020.

Programas, Servicios y Eventos

Una lista de servicios suspendidos, limitados y continuando que la Ciudad ofrece esta debajo. Visite a hyattsville.org o llame al (301) 985-5000 para la información más reciente.

Servicios que Continúan - Recolección de Basuras Grandes (solicitando) - Creative Minds en Casa - Recolección de Compostaje y Residuos de Yarda - Día de Limpieza Mary Prangley, 1 de agosto - Notario (con cita solamente) - Parques y Áreas de Juegos (siga pautas de seguridad) - Enfuerzo de Parqueo - Procesamiento de Permisos - Vigilancia de Policía y Servicios de Emergencia - Recolección de Basura y Reciclaje - Virtuales Sesiónes de Verano de Campamento - Reuniones Virtuales de Comités y Comunidad - Reuniones Virtuales del Concejo Municipal - Recolección de Electrodomésticos (solicitando) Actividades y Servicios Limitados o Suspendidos - Acceso a Facilidades del Municipio - Transportación del Llame-Al-Bus - Licencias - Huellas

Solicitudes de la Ley de Información Pública - Transportación de los Autobuses de UMD Eventos Cancelados o Pospuestos - Clases de Ejercicio Ageless Grace - Yoga Comunitario - Eventos Voluntarios de Remover Plantas Invasoras - Paseos con Policías - Viajes de Autobuses para la Tercera Edad - Serie de Lectura para la Tercera Edad - Summer Jam, 17 de Julio - Serie de Películas al Atardecer, 24 de julio - Centro de Jóvenes Sitio de Pruebas COVID-19 de Hyattsville: La Iglesia United Methodist de Hyattsville (6101 Belcrest Road) ofrece pruebas gratis de COVID-19 sin cita y ofrece la opción de hacerse la prueba desde su coche o en pie los lunes, jueves y sábados, de 9 a.m. a 3 p.m. Conductores pueden entrar por el lote de parqueo de la Iglesia usando la carretera MD 410 (East- West Highway). Personas en pie pueden son dirigidas a la entrada de la Iglesia en frente de Belcrest Road. Para preguntas sobre el sitio, llame a (301) 985- 5000. Para preguntas relacionadas con COVID-19, llame a al Condado al (301) 883-6627.

Subvenciones para Negocios y Residentes de Hyattsville: Solicitudes para la segunda ronda para el Fondo de $1M de Alivio de la Pandemia COVID-19 están siendo aceptadas. Negocios de Hyattsville, proveedores de cuidado infantil y artistas trabajantes pueden aplicar para subvenciones de $2,500 ($1,000

Proyecto de Reconstrucción de West Hyattsville: El Departamento de Obras Públicas sostendrá una reunión comunitaria el 13 de julio, 7 p.m., para proveer información sobre este proyecto multianual que esta proyectado a comenzar en los últimos de julio o primeros de agosto de 2020. Para inscribirse, visite hyattsville.org/calendar.

Día de Limpieza Mary Prangley: Deje basuras grandes en su bordillo después de las 6 p.m. el viernes, 31 de julio y la Ciudad la recogerá GRATUITAMENTE la mañana del sábado, 1 de agosto. 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.

Programas Amigables con la Edad

Programa de Modificaciones para Hogares: Siguiendo pautas de seguridad, La Ciudad esta resumiendo su asociación con Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland y Hyattsville Aging in Place (HAP) para ofrecer servicios gratuitos de modificaciónes de casa para residentes que sean eligibles.

Para aprender más, visite hyattsville.org/ capable. Para solicitar una aplicación por correo, por favor llame al (301) 887-3101 extensión 19 o mande un correo electrónico a rebecca.arce@habitatmm. org. Si necesita ayuda con la aplicación, contacte a HAP al (301) 887-3101.

Programas para Menores

Tutoría Virtual: ¡Servicios de tutoría para estudiantes locales en grados 6 – 12 están disponibles virtualmente! El servicio toma plazo los martes y jueves, 6:30 – 8 p.m. Estudiantes pueden recibir ayuda con tarea o simplemente recibir ayuda con un material difícil. Visite Hyattsville. recdesk.com para inscribirlo(s).

Programas de Verano para Menores: ¡La inscripción gratuita, por internet, para diversión este verano con la Ciudad ya esta abierto! Hay dos opciones: Creative Minds en Casa, el programa educacional, bilingüe para padres y menores, O la sesión virtual de Camp Online para jóvenes de grados K – 5, que estará lleno de fiestas, yoga, excursiones virtuales y mucho más. Para inscribirse, visite a hyattsville.org y seleccione el botón “Recreation.”

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Hyattsville Life & Times | July 2020

Gangster Vegan spreads love with new location in Riverdale

By Zamir Courtney The organic restaurant chain Gangster Vegan Organics has opened a new location on Rhode Island Avenue in Riverdale Park.

Gangster Vegan is an organic vegan restaurant that, according to its website, aims to make eating healthy, spreading love, and being kind to one another and the planet the true marks of a “gangster.”

Everything on the menu is 100% organic and 100% free of soy, gluten and refined sugar. Through providing access to good food, Gangster Vegan says it is trying to combat the glorification of the gangs, violence and drug-dealing associated with gangster culture.

The restaurant offers a wide variety of items, from vegan burgers and salads to smoothies, “wellness shots” and desserts.

In an effort to rebrand the gangster lifestyle, all of the menu items have names influenced by hip-hop music, a genre often associated with gangster music. A sunflower seed tuna salad called the “Notorius (Tuna)” takes its name from the rapper The Notorious B.I.G. A beet burger, “Swizz Beets,” is a nod to the hip-hop producer and rapper Swizz Beatz. And the restaurant’s popular juice mix “The Blueprint” shares its name with one of Grammy award-winning artist Jay-Z’s albums.

Kayleea Northern, an employee of the

Ay Papi, one of Gangster Vegan’s popular dishes, is a burrito-style bowl with walnut taco meat, black beans, pickled jalapenos and other ingredients. Gangster Vegan is located at 6202 Rhode Island Avenue, unit 105 in Riverdale. ZAMIR COURTNEY

Join a Committee!

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Join one of the 13 advisory boards or committees that have open vacancies! Members help the Hyattsville Mayor and Council create policies and procedures for the City.

Board of Supervisors of Elections Code Compliance Advisory Committee Education Advisory Committee Ethics Commission Health, Wellness, and Recreation Advisory Committee Hyattsville Environment Committee Planning Committee Police and Public Safety Citizens Advisory Committee

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new Riverdale location, says the hip-hop references help lower the barrier to entry for some customers.

“I think the idea is to say, ‘healthy is the new gangster,’ like, it’s cool to be healthy,” Northern said.

Despite opening during a global pandemic, the new location has been consistently busy.

“I think we have done a very good job opening in the midst of a pandemic, keeping our head above water ... and trying our best to be the best restaurant we can be for our customers,” Northern noted.

Taneea Yarborough, the owner of Gangster Vegan’s Riverdale location, said that the pandemic has presented unique challenges regarding staffing and health and safety measures, and she has been working to understand what the community is ready for. The restaurant is currently planning its grand opening in early July.

“Of course, it will be masked and socially distant, but we still want to give our community an opportunity to meet us and come by,” said Yarborough.

Due to COVID-19, Gangster Vegan is currently operating on a limited schedule.

The Riverdale location is open Thursday to Sunday from 1 to 8 p.m. Updates can be found online at gangstervegan.com.

Zamir Courtney is a summer intern with the Hyattsville Life & Times.

Hyattsville Life & Times | July 2020

Page 9

SUMMER SCHOOL FROM PAGE 1

at-home assignments really wasn’t his thing, and now school has become at-home, so I signed him up to give him another chance at work ethic,” she said during a phone interview.

Jones explained that PGCPS issued Chromebooks for students to work virtually. Students can access the program any time of the day and have access to a tutor.

“It sounds like it’s going to be like Khan Academy where you log in and it paces you. If you’re still not understanding the material that goes along with it, you can reach out to a person, either individually, or as a group,” she noted.

According to an email from PGCPS Associate Superintendent David Curry, the district is offering the Middle School Intervention and Enrichment Program for all sixth, seventh and eighth grade students due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Middle school students who enrolled in classes taught by long-term substitutes for the majority of the school year will also be eligible to receive targeted support. The intervention program is intended to engage students in virtual lessons by a certified reading and mathematics teacher.

The free middle school program runs through July, and students will receive direct instruction from their teacher for at least one hour on designated days.

In addition to the Middle School Intervention and Enrichment Program, PGCPS is offering an array of virtual summer school programs, according to their website. For elementary school students countywide, there is access to a dedicated television station and other online resources. In addition, certain schools, including Rosa L. Parks Elementary, have their own virtual summer pro-

grams. High school programs are more diversified and include Credit Recovery and Original Credit, Science and Technology First Steps to Success, and Aerospace Engineering and Aviation Technology.

Although as of June 10, all Maryland school systems have the green light to resume in-person summer instruction under strict limitations, PGCPS has opted to keep school online through the summer.

State Superintendent of Maryland Schools Karen Salmon recommended that schools provide inperson summer instruction to those students most in need. “Students with the most intense learning needs are the ones that have been hit the hardest by the pandemic, and without an intense focus on these students, they would be among the last to recover,” Salmon said in a June 10 press conference.

According to the PGCPS website, the district is providing a special education extended school year, also in July, consisting of “an individualized extension of specific services … to meet specific goals included in the student’s Individualized Education Program.”

Trinell Bowman, the director of special education for PGCPS, spoke to the unique struggle many students served by her department are facing during this pandemic: “We do know that for some of our students, this was a high time of anxiety that students may have not experienced before.”

As for the fall, according to Maryland Department of Education guidelines, full in-person instruction cannot resume until the state has reached Stage 3 of its coronavirus recovery. On June 3, PGCPS released a survey seeking input from families and students about their experiences with distance learning during the pandemic. The school system will use the results to develop a plan for reopening schools in the fall.

Kylie Rau is a summer intern with the Hyattsville Life & Times.

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HYATTSVILLE ARTISTS The Hyattsville Life & Times is featuring artwork submitted by youth pre-K through 12th grade. We provide the theme each month and welcome creative interpretations. July’s theme was “What Do You Love About Summer?” For August, we’re asking kids to show us “How To Stay Cool.” Submit drawings with the child’s name, age, grade and school as a jpg file to kit@hyattsvillelife.com by Aug. 1. All submissions will be featured on our Facebook page.

JOHN PAUL KOSHUTE, AGE 5, KINDERGARTEN, HOMESCHOOLED

Page 10

Hyattsville Life & Times | July 2020

MISS FLORIBUNDA

Yes, you can have a vegetable garden past the summer Dear Miss Floribunda, I’m interested in something you wrote last month saying that it’s better to plant trees and shrubs in autumn than in spring. Apparently, climate change has made heat come too soon in spring but delayed frost in autumn, which gives plants more time to get established then. Would this apply to some vegetables? I’ve been living in this region for several years now and noticing how quickly hot weather comes in the spring and how my broccoli flowers and then bolts to seed, and my lettuce gets bitter, before they’re ready to eat. I wonder if it might be better to plant these vegetables in the fall, instead? If so, when should they be planted?

Is there a good estimate for the first hard frost?

Embittered by Bolting on Emerson Street Dear Embittered by Bolting, Yes, cool-weather vegetables can be planted in a secondseason garden that will last till Christmas and even beyond, depending on the freeze tolerance of the vegetable, how sheltered your garden plot is and the direction it faces, how well you mulch, and the severity of the winter. The key to knowing when to plant is to calculate how long it takes a seed to germinate and reach maturity.

After I consulted various charts that estimate frost dates — none of which included Hyattsville and all of which were out-of-date — I turned to my meteorologist friend at the

Many gardeners have had good luck with autumn crops of lettuce, peas, carrots, beets, parsnips, parsley, spinach, broccoli, leeks, scallions and radishes. COURTESY OF PEXELS

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Mr. Meriwether. He told me that frost can occur in mid- or lateOctober in open areas, especially at lower elevations, and in early November in higher areas with a lot of trees.

Most of us in Hyattsville live on tree-lined streets and are used to pleasant temperatures till just after Halloween but have seen our tomatoes blasted during earlier cold snaps. We usually don’t get hard-freeze temperatures down in the teens till late December, so mulching will protect most of your autumn garden till Christmas.

Assume that most fall crops should be started sometime in August, and given the fact that you will have to order seeds and receive them by mail, it isn’t too early to get started. Some crops, such as peas, should be planted in mid-July. In general, look for varieties especially suited to second-season gardens.

Many gardeners have had good luck with autumn crops of let-

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tuce, peas, carrots, beets, parsnips, parsley, spinach, broccoli, leeks, scallions and radishes.

Cabbages, brussel sprouts, collards, bok choy, kale and other crucifers can survive all winter with mulching. The flavor of these vegetables is improved by frost. On the other hand, although spinach can survive deep freezes and last till spring, its leaf quality is impaired by the cold temperatures. Don’t plant the slow-bolt varieties that are suitable for spring. Their slow growth is not an asset when temperatures are getting colder rather than warmer.

If you have a room with enough sunlight, such as what is sometimes called a solarium, it would be best to start your second garden indoors in airconditioned comfort. This is especially true for cabbages, broccoli and cauliflower, which need light but not excessive warmth. If you don’t have a well-lit but cool place to start seeds indoors, plant them outdoors in containers placed in

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dappled shade until the sprouts are well-established. Aunt Sioux, however, is proud of her excellent crops of Swiss chard, French sorrel and cilantro planted directly into the ground next to a sheltering wall overshaded by trees, and they selfseed each year. She points out that the trees shed their leaves in autumn, allowing in the mellower light as needed. Wendy Wildflower grows herbs such as rosemary, thyme and winter savory in sheltered places and prolongs her parsley season by placing glass domes over those plants. She has had success with artichokes and sage by planting them in the embrace of her mixed-perennial beds.

She even boasts a small bay tree planted next to the foundation of her house, sustained by the warmth emanating from the heated building. All agree that the most important consideration when planting a winter garden is the direction it faces. Because sun on frozen plants reduces quality, choose a northern or western exposure rather than the usually favored eastern one.

My all-seasons garden consultant, Giorgic Vegeberghe, has even figured out how to prolong his summer garden past frost. He advises planting a late-season variety of corn such as Stowell’s Evergreen on or about July 15, and Silver Queen as late as Aug. 1. These varieties will mature at the time of the first possible cold snap and continue to ripen on the stalk for another week or so even after the leaves have been blasted brown. However, corn doesn’t like short days, which is why you have to plant it early enough for it to have

made significant growth by early September. Mr. Vegeberghe also tells me that mature pepper plants can brave very cool weather if they’re mulched well enough. The next step, as the ground temperature drops, is to pot them up and keep them on your porch where they will continue to form fruit. In December, bring them indoors on nights of hard frost. Even those big crops of tomatoes that are not quite ripe before being blasted by a sudden plunge in temperature can be saved. After night temperatures consistently go below 50 degrees F, usually in October, pick them at the first hint of pinkness, and let them ripen inside. Mr. Vegeberghe says that tomatoes don’t like being refrigerated “even if nature is doing the refrigeration” and that the quality of the fruit will actually be better ripening in the warmth of your home than when struggling on the vine in cool weather. What about those exasperating times when your vines are loaded with green fruit just before a predicted cold snap? Pick them and set them in a single layer in a cool basement — 60 degrees F is ideal. The tomatoes will ripen slowly through December.

I wish I could invite you to a meeting of the Hyattsville Horticultural Society, but it isn’t convening just yet. Please check our website, hyattsvillehorticulture. org, for the date it does.

Miss Floribunda is the Hyattsville Life & Times garden columnist. You may email her your questions at floribundav@ gmail.com.

Hyattsville Life & Times | July 2020

Page 11

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Send your events to Kit Slack at kit@hyattsvillelife.com.

Our community calendar is not empty of events anymore! While local organizations are not planning big parties yet, many are offering ongoing virtual versions of their popular programming, or even small weekly gatherings outdoors.

See also our article on p.1 discussing local summer camp options for kids.

Archie’s Barbershop. The long-running weekly Saturday acoustic blues jam sessions are resuming outdoors on July 4, weather permitting, in the parking lot behind the new location for Archie’s Barbershop, 4502 Hamilton St. 1 to 4 p.m. Check the Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation webpage, acousticblues.com, or their Facebook page for more information. #BusboysOnLive is Busboys and Poets’ online open mic and poetry slam, hosted on Instagram from 8 to 10 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday. and

Friday. Musicians, comedians, and other artists are invited, too. busboysandpoets.com.

301.779.2787 Hamilton Splash Park, the outdoor pool at 3901 Hamilton St., opened on July 1. To swim, residents must register at pgparksdirect.com and book a reservation 24 hours in advance. Closed Mondays. $4 for adults, $3 for children and seniors, free for children 2 and under. Residents may sign up for one two-hour session per day: 10 a.m. to noon; 1 to 3 p.m.; or 4 to 6 p.m.

301.779.8224 Joe’s Movement Emporium is offering virtual yoga, belly dance and floor fitness classes many days of the week. For

more information, go to their event calendar at joesmovement.org.

Love Yoga is offering outdoor yoga classes, including an outdoor family yoga class, beginning in July. love-yogastudio. com Pyramid Atlantic, the nonprofit art center at 4318 Gallatin St., reopened to the public July 1. It continues to offer arts workshops online through the month of July in techniques ranging from pop-up paper engineering to Shibori indigo dyeing. Supplies will be mailed to participants. pyramidatlanticartcenter.org Rise, Rhyme & Read, Busboy and Poets’ long-running story-

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time series for kids, continues online with Culture Queen Mondays and Wednesdays at 6 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. busboysandpoets.com. 301.779.2787 Riverdale Park Farmers Market is open every Thursday in the parking lot near the Riverdale MARC Station, 4650 Queensbury Rd. 4 to 7 p.m. for all shoppers, 3 to 7 p.m. for those who are 60 or older or immunocompromised. Many vendors are offering pre-order options to reduce time spent shopping. No live performances for now.

Three Little Birds Sewing Stu-

dio is offering six virtual sewing classes in July, including a Bad Words Virtual Embroidery Class and My First Quilt, in which participants make a baby quilt with precut supplies. Sign up at threelittlebirdssewingco.com.

Yogi Amalie. Adult chair yoga online. Accessible yoga class designed for all bodies and all ages. No experience needed.

Mondays from 1 to 2 p.m., 5-week session for $25. To register, email yogiamalie@gmail. com.

Yoga Space is offering yoga, Pilates and yogalates classes online. yoga-space.org

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Hyattsville Life & Times | July 2020

CAMPS FROM PAGE 1

overnight camps, and camps may not host campers from out of state.

The City of Hyattsville has decided to cancel Camp Magruder, its popular camp for kids in kindergarten through fifth grade. “We are unable to host a program in a manner that would ensure safety for all campers and staff,” notes the city’s website.

Instead, the city is partnering with local organizations and offering free virtual classes and events, including Kids Yoga by Love Yoga, Cool Crafty Campers, book readings of “Andres and His Rubik’s Cube Madness” by author Andrea Alvarez and bilingual performances by Latin American theatre company Teatro La Bolsa.

Free virtual field trips will include a magic show, a Squeals on Wheels petting zoo experience, and a program provided by the Maryland Science Center.

Although cancelling Magruder Camp’s usual summer programming was difficult, Youth Programs Supervisor Saarah Abdul-Rauf described an unexpected benefit of free virtual offerings.

“Bringing camp to an online format allows more kids to join.

It allows us to be accessible in ways we didn’t know we could

Artwork created by Art Works at Home summer camp participants COURTESY OF ART WORKS NOW

be,” she said. “And that’s one goal of ours at Camp Magruder, to make recreational activities accessible to all children.”

Art Works Now is offering virtual programming, Art Works at Home, throughout the summer for children between the ages of 2 and 17, inviting participants to “create the planet you imagine!” Executive Director and Founder Barbara Johnson said that the biggest consideration in going virtual was “the safety of our children and the safety of our teaching artists and staff.”

The free kickoff week, June 1519, “Art is Love,” offered participants the chance to make and send laminated art to local hospitals and patients. July’s weekly

themes include Water Whirled, Speak for the Trees, and I ♥ Bugs. Art Works provides virtual programming each day — an hour or two, depending on age — assigns theme-related art projects and hosts a virtual art exhibit at the end of each week.

Johnson said one of her main goals for the summer program was for kids to have fun and gain “some distance from the anxiety and worry that’s permeating all of our lives.” She also hoped Art Works’ programming supported students’ emotional, intellectual and scholastic development and provided income for their teaching artists.

“The art sector has been hit so hard,” she lamented.

Join a Committee!

Become a Hyattsville Volunteer Hero Looking to make a difference in your community?

Join one of the 13 advisory boards or committees that have open vacancies! Members help the Hyattsville Mayor and Council create policies and procedures for the City.

Board of Supervisors of Elections Code Compliance Advisory Committee Education Advisory Committee Ethics Commission Health, Wellness, and Recreation Advisory Committee Hyattsville Environment Committee Planning Committee Police and Public Safety Citizens Advisory Committee

Race and Equity Task Force Shade Tree Board Teen Advisory Committee Compensation Review Committee Education Facilities Task Force

To apply, visit

Choose a committee

hyattsville.org/committees Questions? Call (301) 985-5032

Studio Summer Art Camp at University of Maryland’s Studio A is also going all-virtual this summer, with classes and workshops for children ages 6 to 12.

Impulse City, held at University Christian Church on Adelphi Road, is offering a hybrid mix of in-person and virtual programming. Half-day classes are in person, and full-day classes meet in person for half of the day and virtually the other half. According to the Impulse City website, “[Hybrid camps] have been designed to allow some in-person enrichment for our campers during these challenging times when COVID-19 is a serious threat.”

Impulse City was ready to move to all-virtual programming if the county had not moved to phase two. Weekly themes for the summer include Summer at Hogwarts, Animal Kingdom, Everything 80s and We Built This City.

Joe’s Movement Emporium has scheduled all in-person programming for its summer camps, as have many local sports programs, including DeMatha Soccer Academy and Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park.

According to its website, the Summer Arts Learning Camp at Joe’s “offers one-week sessions for elementary school-aged children to explore world arts traditions through performing

and visual arts disciplines.”

Arts Education Director LaTanya Robinson with Joe’s Emporium described how they benefited from providing fullday childcare to essential workers in April and May. “This allowed us to work with a very small group and become acclimated to the new normal, and learn how to support children to adapt to the environment,” explained Robinson.

In accordance with state directives, Joe’s is limiting the number of campers who can participate.

Robinson said that in recent summers, Joe’s has typically had more than 60 daily participants organized in groups of around 20. This summer’s enrollment was capped at 18 students for the first three weeks, and then 27 for the following weeks, with a maximum of nine children in each group. “Even if all slots are filled, we are experiencing a 70% decrease,” explained Robinson.

When asked about her biggest concerns going forward, Robinson wrote in an email, “Lost educational experiences for children, especially experiential learning like arts education. Continuing to face the unknowns surrounding the coronavirus, lack of information about school in the fall, and the reality of how all this and more impact the sustainability of our nonprofit.”

Hyattsville Life & Times | July 2020

Page 13

CONVENT FROM PAGE 1

opened in 1926. The project has been controversial. Many residents signed a petition to the City of Hyattsville in April 2018 expressing concerns about stormwater management, the large footprint of the new building, and the removal of mature trees which stood on the property.

Sister Vacha Kludziak, the administrator of Sacred Heart Home, said that the new nursing home will have 44 single rooms, each with its own bathroom. The rooms will be organized into four “households” of 11 rooms each. The home will have an inner courtyard, which all the residents will be able to access, and more communal areas and dining areas than the old facility has. The home will have far fewer residents, too, as the current facility has about 100 beds.

On June 24, the City of Hyattsville sponsored a meeting to update residents on the project. About 30 people attended the virtual session, including residents, representatives from Morgan-Keller Construction, and officials with the City of Hyattsville and Prince George’s County Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement.

At the meeting, Tom Sloan, the general contractor for Morgan-Keller Construction, spoke about the project. He reported that the construction of the convent is going well and should be done in October, while the nursing home should be completed next June.

According to Sloan, the water runoff during the night of June 4 was caused by an unusual storm. “Two-and-a-half to three inches of rain in a very short period … is considered between a 50- and a 100year storm,” said Sloan, noting

that the temporary sediment control measures used during construction are not intended to manage runoff from a storm of that size. According to the Maryland Department of the Environment, a storm is considered a 10-year one if 4.5 to 5.5 inches of rainwater fall in a 24-hour period, and a 100-year storm if 7 to 8 inches of rainwater fall.

“We contain and manage [rainfall from] up to a two-year storm,” Mike McCall, the project superintendent, emphasized.

“Anything above and beyond that is released into the street … [according to] all procedure and protocol.”

Some residents questioned why Prince George’s County only requires construction sites to manage a two-year

storm. Jaime Garay, who lives at the intersection of 37th and 38th Avenues, said he and his partner, Carmen Maldonado, have had significant amounts of clay-filled water run off into their yard on multiple occasions. Several residents submitted comments to the city-sponsored meeting expressing concerns that planning for a two-year storm is not enough, given the increasingly heavy rains.

“We don’t take shortcuts,” noted Sloan. “The last thing we want to do is impact the neighbors.” McCall said the company was adding additional sediment control devices, including berms, diversion dikes and sediment traps, as well as hydroseeding more areas. He said the project has had frequent inspections. “We’re willing to work with everybody and … try and make … revisions as we go along,” explained McCall.

“We’re actually going to put up a seismic monitoring station on [a resident’s] property,” said McCall, when questioned about potential seismic impacts from construction vehicles. “We haven’t been doing any blasting or anything [considered] heavy work, so we’re just going to be proactive and follow up on that.” McCall stated that he would make the results of the monitoring publicly available.

Kludziak said the construction project continues a mission to provide the best possible care for the elderly. “Jesus … is present in those vulnerable, defenseless, speechless people,” she emphasized.

BRICK WORK PLUS Top: Following a June 4 storm, runoff from the Sacred Heart Home construction project impacted neighboring residents. Bottom: Sisters from Sacred Heart Home hold up a model of the new convent and nursing home currently under construction. COURTESY OF JAIME GARAY, SOPHIE GORMAN ORIANI

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Page 14

Hyattsville Life & Times | July 2020

www.joesmovement.org

JOE’S CREATIVE REVOLUTION

Thank you to our generous sponsors, patrons, new friends and supporters who supported our annual fundraising event that became a virtual gathering. You inspired a community to stand for justice and health security. You affirmed that artists will share the stories and the images of the American uprising. We are stronger together!

WATCH HERE: www.joesmovement.org/creative-revolution

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS AND IN-KIND DONORS!

Alonzo Davis, Café Youth, Cathy Smith, Chuck’s Liquors, Costco, Delectable Cakery, Dept. Health Services, Dunkin Donuts, Franklins Restaurant, Health Care Dynamics Intl., Home Depot, Howard & Bow, MK Catering, Paris Design, Party Time Liquors, Project Management Institute, Sainey Ceesay, Sang Froid Distilling, Shortcake Bakery, The Clarice Center, Under the Sun Production, Wegmans, Yatunde Sapp, and ZZ Pizza & Kabobs.