Hyattsville Life & Times May 2008 Issue

Vol. 5 No. 5

Hyattsville’s Community Newspaper

anuel Zelaya expected to come home to his family — including two daughters, 8 and 2 — after attending a soccer game on March 26.

After weeks, he would still not be home.

Zelaya, 28, was one of four Hyattsville residents who were shot after a robbery on Manorwood Drive.

According to his brother, Julio, the neighborhood is not safe for walking anymore.

“I go to bed late and can hear people fighting, drinking…,” he said through a Spanish translator. “I used to walk to El Compadre [store on Hamilton Street] but a lot of people don’t do that anymore because they are afraid to go out because they don’t think it’s safe. They know there’s [unsafe] people around.”

The shooting left two dead and two others wounded, Hyattsville Police Chief Douglas Holland said.

According to the Prince George’s County Police Department — which handles homicides that occur within the City of Hyattsville — Nelson Ruben Turcios, 22, of Manorwood Drive and Salvador Enrique Vasquez, 30, of 35th Avenue were shot and killed after they were robbed by three African-American men.

Police reports state that at 8:30

M

by Sarah Nemeth

SAFETY continued on page 13

Zelaya was hospitalized at Washington Hospital in serious condition. The other victim, who was not identified by county police, was treated at a hospital and released.

According to Holland, the crime was not a drive-by shooting and there is no indication that it was gang related.

The city held two public safety meetings within two weeks of the murders.

“It was just a brutal, senseless, horrible crime in our neighborhood,” said Mayor William Gardiner.

The March homicides marked three so far this year in Hyattsville.

A shooting at the Towers at University Town Center in February left a man dead. The case was solved.

“What we’re experiencing this year is unusual for us,” Holland said at one of the safety meetings, held at St. Matthew’s Church in Ward 4.

According to the county’s state’s attorney Glenn Ivey, anyone arrested within the county for gun possession as a first offense does not necessarily serve jail time.

“That’s one of the reasons I think you’ve got so many people carrying guns,” he said at the meeting.

But gun violence is not the only form of crimes against persons wor-

WATCH continued on page 12

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit # 43 Easton, MD 21601

See story on page 5

HYATTSVILLE'S SECRET PARK

See story on page 3

PARADE HITS HIGH NOTES

May 2008

Center Pullout Section: The May 14, 2008, Issue of The Hyattsville Reporter

See story on page 10

BIKE SHOP OPENS DOORS

rime — or the prevention of it — is at the forefront of many minds in Hyattsville given recent shootings. But it’s more than just fighting crime that one council person is encouraging, it’s strengthening community.

Councilwoman Paula Perry (Ward 4) said she has gotten a sense of renewed interest from her constituents, based on the shootings.

“I would love nothing more,” she said when asked how she would feel if a Neighborhood Watch group in her area might come together again after the last one in Ward 4 fizzled around 2000.

C

by Sarah Nemeth and Jessica Wilson

Citizen organizations keep watchful eye

Blocking out crime

p.m., Turcios and Vasquez, along with two other people, were preparing to leave for an outing when they were robbed on Manorwood Drive. One of the assailants then shot all four men. The suspects fled in a dark sedan, headed the wrong way down the one-way street, reports state.

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When you visit the Safe City link simply choose the 'Join Now' link. You can join as a Resident Partner or a Business/Organization Partner.

Fill out the form online and begin receiving notices when they are broadcast. The site also provides a place to submit crime tips/leads online.

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WHAT’S HAPPENING

Hyattsville Life & Times PO Box 132 Hyattsville, MD 20781

The New Town near Downtown

Hyattsville Life&Times | May 2008

PLENTY OF PARKING ALSO AVAILABLE FIRST 2 HOURS FREE

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A place to gather, play, and be entertained!

Page 2

ooking around our fair city, one can feel pride in the developments in recent years. The city has changed from a quaint, pleasant community to a vibrant, quaint, pleasant city.

It used to be that Lee’s Restaurant was the epicurean center of Hyattsville, but now we have Franklin’s, Outback Steak House and Acapulco Spirit. In addition, there is a plethora of new restaurants that have recently opened at the Mall at Prince George’s (I never thought I’d ever get the chance to use the word “plethora”).

We even have an ethnic area on Hamilton Street that adds certain panache to our city. There are also paved streets which we didn’t have for quite a while. In short, the city has come a long way, baby.

This progress was validated when we got a McDonald’s inside the Mall at Prince George’s (We can’t take credit for the McDonald’s at East-West Highway and U.S. Route 1 because it’s in Riverdale Park). Every town in the United States that is more than just a post office has a McDonald’s. After getting a McDonald’s and all the new construction and the influx of new businesses, I thought that Hyattsville was finally on the big map. Then I realized (Horrors!) that we really aren’t.

What we don’t have that every other notable city or town has is a big chain bookstore. They either have a Borders and/or a Barnes & Noble. Bowie has two; Silver Spring has one; Rockville has one; but Hyattsville has nada. To me, getting a big chain bookstore is like a town getting indoor plumbing. If you don’t have a Barnes & Noble, then what can you really say about your town?

I recently met with some friends from Des Moines, Iowa and they were telling me how much they enjoyed going down to the local Borders, drinking coffee and browsing through the New York Times best seller list. Folks, we’re talking about Des Moines, Iowa. They just got electricity. They have a big chain bookstore and we don’t.

It’s high time we began a grass-roots movement to get a Borders or Barnes & Noble bookstore here in Hyattsville. I know that shortly after we got street lights in the city, we had a Brentano’s at the Mall at Prince George’s, which eventually folded. I don’t think that anyone can hold the mall experience against the city. Brentano’s had numerous bookstores and they eventually went into bankruptcy.

I would like to think that Brentano’s had an idea whose time had not yet come.

Can you imagine what a boon a big bookstore would be? Throngs of people would come to our city from Bladensburg, Cheverly, Riverdale Park and even University Park. We could have a public parking lot with 20-minute meters.

Just think of all the revenue that could be generated from parking tickets. ( Just kidding!)

The dearth (another 25-cent word) of bars and taverns in Hyattsville may reflect the attitude of our residents about how they would like to spend their leisure hours.

However, with a big-time bookstore and the attendant coffee shop, we could have an option to Starbucks. It might even become the social event of the weekend to go down to the bookstore and read a few pages of War and Peace and have a latte.

So let’s all e-mail Borders or Barnes & Noble and let them know how much we want them. Remember, a city without a Borders is Borderless. (Huh?)

L

by Bert Kapinus

Ramblings &Musings A call to residents

Hyattsville Life&Times | May 2008

College Heights $542,000

R T DE U N T R AC N CO

Hyattsville Hills $389,000

Hyattsville $339,500

D CE DU RE

Hyattsville’s 122nd Annual Parade offered an eclectic group of performers, including the "big brains" at far right.

Four-legged friends from the Greenbelt Dog Training Marching Drill Team show their stuff, right.

Above, children get into costume with face painting before the parade. At top, students from a local marching band display their colors.

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yattsville’s 122nd Annual Hyattsville Parade hit the high notes this year, as bands and shouts blasted onto Hamilton Street despite the gray, the cold and the insistent drizzle of rain.

After a spell of tension in the early hours as performers waited at Hyattsville Middle School, parade planners decided to go on with the show.

The awning in front of the school filled quickly with more dogs around than you could throw a stick for. People arrived by the bus load — there just did not seem to be any turning back. In the nick of time, the rain stopped.

“I am really pleased with the turnout from both the participants and the crowd, despite the weather,” said Cheri Everhart, of the city’s Department of Recreation and the Arts. “We only had a few participants that were not able to attend but overall we are very pleased.”

By the time the parade made it to the grandstand it was standing room only. Children flocked to the treats as city and state officials kept the candy flying while they walked and rode in cars to Magruder Park. Mayor William Gardiner and parade Grand Marshall Gregory Kithcart, of Hyattsville’s Outback Steak House, lead the procession.

Post parade festivities included local artists, music entertainment by Northwestern High School and The Kelly Bell Band.

“This was the best parade in years,” said Joanne Mood, director of the Hyattsville DRA.

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by Ashby Henderson

Resilience of Hyattsvillians provides spirit for damp day

Page 3

their damaging leaks. The proposed legislation would rid them of such worries.

More recently, there is the case of former bio-defense researcher Steven Hatfill and the Washington, D.C. anthrax attacks. Reporter Toni Locy wrote in USA Today on May 29, 2003, “FBI officials believe they can’t risk the embarrassment of losing track of Hatfill, even for a few hours, and then being confronted with more anthrax attacks.”

To date, not one bit of evidence has been produced that Hatfill was in any way connected to the anthrax murders, and he, quite understandably, has sought justice by bringing suit, just as Lee did.

This spring U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton held Locy in contempt of court and fined her for refusing to answer his questions about her sources. Amazing as it may seem, it is Locy’s situation that has prompted the Senate to fast track legislation that it has disingenuously named, “The Free Flow

What I have noticed is that the media tends to magnify situations.

Maybe it’s to instill fear or just to get you to buy things that their sponsors sell. You see a segment on a super virus and then a commercial for antibacterial Palmolive. People run risks just by taking a shower, but you do it anyway because it’s something that you need to do.

Now, as you put it in the end of your article, “How sick is that?”

If it’s going to happen then it’s going to happen — some things in life can’t be avoided. You may dodge a bullet just to turn around to get hit by a bus. Sometimes it’s just the way things go.

I don’t want this letter to in any way be insulting but just to inform that things are not as bad as they seem to be. Sometimes it’s best to look at them without a magnifier and just as they are. The world is the way it is and we must evolve with it, not fear it. Change is something that will not happen for a while and will take so long that it may seem impossible, so adding more fear doesn’t help in a system that is filled with revolving doors. And, as long as we have people who think that change can occur without drastic measures [they] need to leave their fairy tale world and enter reality. Everyone needs to be held accountable for their actions, and, in my opinion, regardless of age, race or

An article in the April issue incorrectly identified the city’s height regulations for grass. A new ordinance requires that grass be no higher than 10 inches, except in specific situations.

Correction

The Hyattsville Life & Times would like to hear from you. Send your thoughts and opinions our way by e-mailing Sarah at hy a t t s v i l l e l i f e a n d t i m e s @ gmail.com or by writing to P.O. Box 132, Hyattsville, MD 20781. Letters must include name, address and phone number of sender (addresses and phone numbers will not be published) and will be considered for publication in the following issue. Letters may be edited for space and clarity.

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upbringing. Wrong is wrong and excuses are cheap, results aren’t. To get results hard changes need to happen. To make an omelet you have to break some eggs because the wellbeing of the many outweigh those of the few. I am a big believer in making examples.

Randall Graves

Writers/Contributors John Aquilino Keith Blackburn Ashley Henderson Phil Houle Michael Martucci Hugh Turley

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Board of Directors Christopher Currie Matthew McKnight Tim Hunt Bert Kapinus Sarah Nemeth

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A community newspaper chronicling the life and times of Hyattsville

(YATTSVILLE

,IFE 4IMES

family.” Rodriguez would tell Irvine that, (See the transcript of Rodriguez’s tape recorded comments at the Accuracy in Media Web site: http://www.aim.org/special-report/death-of-vince-fosterpart-3) on the contrary, “There is no evidence that that gun was ever found to have ever been part of the family.”

Frustrated by the media, and by opposition he met within the Office of Independent Counsel, Rodriguez resigned.

The framers of the Constitution wrote the First Amendment as the first of many restrictions upon a potentially despotic government.

Surely, they did not intend to create a favored class of citizens based upon the profession they practice.

Even less did the founding fathers envision that the First Amendment would be used as a cover to protect members of this favored profession when some of them might maliciously, and yes, despotically, spread government falsehoods about individual citizens.

As I have seen in example after example, it’s a fearsome power that they wield when the government and the press gang up on the citizenry. The shield law is designed to remove one of the last remaining checks against it. Small wonder, then, that the big media are working so hard to get this law passed.

Hyattsville Life&Times | May 2008

THE PUBLICATION DEADLINE for articles and letters in the June issue is Friday, May 30th

have just read your opinion article on Page 2 [of the March edition] and I have to agree with you on one thing: The whole shooting thing sounds horrible. One thing that I think you fail to realize is that the major reason there appears to be so much gun violence is (one reason that you are part of in a smaller scale way) the media.

Now I am not anti-media, not by a long shot, but that is one of the reasons why we seem to be overwhelmed by all of this. What many people fail to realize is that stuff like this has been going on for years, decades and even centuries but we didn’t hear it as much as we do now because the media network was not what it is now.

Not to sound like an old man because I’m not. I just hit 30 two months ago. But if you were to look back at when America was young, the Wild West was a pretty rough place. Compare the numbers and you might find some striking similarities. Granted they don’t bear any relevance in today’s world but if there was a media network like we have now, I’m pretty sure there would be many an article like yours written.

I

Newsmakers: Media hype leads to hysteria

of Information Act.” With a truly free flow of information, the names of public officials who would ruin an innocent man’s reputation with leaks of falsehoods would properly be revealed. The shield law promoted by Locy’s bigmedia supporters (If you Google Toni Locy and shield law, her broad support by corporate media is clear) therefore, represents just the opposite of its name.

Under the proposed law, a judge would not be able to order a reporter to reveal sources, even when it is malicious and false information that the sources have provided.

Mere private citizens, on the other hand, would continue to be without such protection. The big media companies’ concern for the rights of the general public ring particularly hollow in this instance.

In addition to damaging one individual’s reputation, Locy’s transmitting of falsehoods worked against the public interest in another way as well. It served to direct

by Hugh Turley

Hugh's News the public away from the true perpetrators of the anthrax attacks, whoever that might have been.

One has to wonder if Locy might not have been creating a similar distraction when she reported a falsehood in another highprofile case. In 1995, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Miguel Rodriguez, who was in charge of the case at the time, her reporting for her previous employer, The Washington Post, may have undermined the grand jury investigation into the death of deputy White House counsel Vincent W. Foster.

He strongly suspected that that was its express purpose.

“They read the Post. When I used to go into the grand jury, I’d see them reading the Post and the (New York) Times,” Rodriguez told the late Reed Irvine, chairman of Accuracy in Media in a taped phone conversation.

“If I walk into the grand jury on the same day that some Post article said that [Kenneth] Starr has reached an opposite conclusion from what I am doing, where is that person getting that information?

Why are they timing it so perfectly to undermine what I am doing?”

At that time, a Washington Post article co-written by Toni Locy repeated the statement from officials that a revolver found in Foster’s hand was “owned by his

COMMENTARY AND OPINION ON HISTORY & POLITICS

LettersToTheEditor

hen powerful media organizations like Time Warner, CNN, NPR, The Associated Press, and The Washington Post seek even more power, the public should beware. This admonition brings to mind a recent full-page advertisement in the Post by the Newspaper Association of America in support of proposed federal legislation to further protect their journalists.

The ad claimed that “…The press is under fire from prosecutors and civil litigants chilling the free flow of information to the American public.” Recent litigation, in fact, shows that what is really under fire is the ability of journalists to relay hurtful lies to the public from anonymous sources.

In 2006, Wen Ho Lee, a scientist the media once identified as a suspected spy, was awarded over $1.6 million from the government and five media organizations, including The Washington Post, as a settlement for their violation of his privacy. Although they had not been sued by Lee, as reported in the Post on June 3, 2003, the companies contributed to the settlement for fear that the courts would force them to reveal the sources of

W

Consolidation of Corrupt Power Act

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gravel path off of Oliver Street leads to a hidden area, a quiet space with a large pavilion of picnic tables. There is some playground equipment, and a canopy of trees whisking one away from noise and traffic.

Surrounded by neighborhood homes, Deitz Park is blocked from public view, making its isolation a nice place to watch nature, but some say, also an attractive place for illicit activity.

“It seems we are the only ones here, but if more people were here it might push out the not-so good things that go on here,” resident Lara Oerter said.

Barbara Runion, whose house backs up to the park, has been a longtime advocate for the space and said she calls police whenever she sees something going on in the park that is suspicious.

“If I see it, I’m going to report it,” she said. “I’m going to keep doing it until there are no more undesirables.”

Runion, who has lived in her home near the park for over 20 years, began her crusade for the park years ago after she saw kids playing barefoot in the park surrounded by broken glass. At that time the park was neglected and mainly used by people engaging in drugs, alcohol and even sexual activity, she said. Rodents have been a problem too when trash is not properly disposed of.

At a public meeting about the park on May 3, others noted that keeping the park clean and safe is a vicious cycle. Some parents are afraid to come to the park due to broken glass or other concerns. But, they admit, if parents and children are not using the park, it leaves an unmonitored space for others to partake in negative activity.

Recently, things have seemed to improve, due to neighbors’ diligently notifying authorities whenever something seems amiss.

Eileen Nivera, planner/coordinator with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, was at the meeting to show residents plans for improving the park’s equipment. She said the success in driving away drugs and other undesirable activities is linked to the neighbors’ reports. She encouraged residents to keep it up.

Lt. Gary Blakes, of the Hyattsville Police Department, said community collaboration is key. The force has what’s called an “area check list” of certain spots in the city that must be checked on during each evening or late night shift.

He was not immediately sure if Deitz Park is on the list, but agreed to make sure that it is.

Blakes also noted that the newly formed Community Action Team

A

by Jessica Wilson

Police spotlight Hyattsville’s ‘secret’ park

Hyattsville Life&Times | May 2008

monitors calls for service and if an area receives lots of calls, the team will deploy additional resources to target problems.

“Lately we haven’t seen any negative activity,” resident Julia Markham said as a result of police response a few months ago. Markham’s home also backs up to the park.

The problem is not just negative activity, but park use, particularly large groups that “monopolize” the park for events and holidays, Runion said.

“Do something to limit huge groups coming into the park and disturbing quality of life,” she said.

City Council President Krista Atteberry suggested posting a sign limiting the number of people in large groups to give police something to refer to as a policy.

“It’s not a permitted park,” she

said. “One of the reasons we haven’t [made it] is because there are no bathrooms and no parking.”

But with those concerns aside, the park is getting a facelift that might attract more people to use it as a park.

“The more we can encourage appropriate park use, the more we can discourage [the] negative,” Atteberry said.

Nivera said generally $80,000 is put aside for improvements to parks such as this. The funds are used for playground equipment and maintenance to the gazebo if needed. Plans for the park also include keeping and utilizing the open green space.

Plans for Deitz Park improvements most likely will not begin until July 2009, as part of the Prince George’s County’s 2010 fiscal year, Nivera said.

Deitz Park, just off Oliver Street, is one of Hyattsville’s neighborhood playgrounds. The park has recently drawn bittersweet attention from residents and city officials alike.

yattsville Middle School pupils are learning history lessons first hand as they work to complete an oral history project in cooperation with residents at Friendship Arms Apartments.

S a r a l y n HMS pupils spent time last month with residents Trainor, creative of Friendship Arms Apartments, interviewing writing teacher them and collecting stories for a school project. at HMS, has for several years wanted to conduct such a project after hearing some residents tell their stories at her mothers’ retirement facility.

“It’s important to foster communication between the different generations,” she said, adding that some of her pupils do not have significant contact with the elderly and that this project provided a unique opportunity.

Colleen Aistis, Hyattsville’s volunteer coordinator supported the project so that a long-term connection could be made between the pupils and residents.

“This is building a bridge between the students and the residents,” she said.

About 20 of Trainor’s seventh- and eighth-grade pupils first visited Friendship Arms in March during the facility’s monthly birthday party, with the goal that pupils could be introduced to residents in a comfortable environment.

On the pupils’ second visit, they brought their paper and pens to interview residents for a writing project that would result in writing biographical prose or poetry. Although some pupils were unsure of what to expect, Trainor said they quickly became excited about talking with the Friendship Arms residents.

“It was kind of like magic,” Trainor said. “They heard things about the past first hand, not from a book.”

Currently, the pupils are working to complete their projects. They will decorate them and present them to the residents they worked with at Friendship Arms in a future visit to the facility.

“I think it’s been a pretty good combination,” said Daniel Richardson, volunteer coordinator for Friendship Arms. “The residents enjoy the energy.”

H

by Vicki Kriz

Friendship Arms, HMS students make history

Page 5

The Hyattsville Preservation Association will present the 29th Annual Historic Hyattsville House Tour from 1–5 p.m. on May 18.

The 2008 Tour will include several historic homes in the bungalow and Victorian styles and architecturally significant buildings, including the original Hyattsville Municipal Building and Firehouse at 4332-4334 Farragut Street — slated for adaptive reuse — and the Lustine Showroom, a 1950s era automobile showroom, restored

Annual historic Hyattsville house tour set for May 18

and adapted as a community center for the new EYA Arts District neighborhood.

Tickets for this year’s tour are available for $10 in May at Franklin’s, 5121 Baltimore Avenue, and for $12 on the day of the tour at the Hyattsville Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin Street.

The Hyattsville Preservation Association was created in 1982 to facilitate educational and charitable projects pertaining to the discovery and memorialization of the history and architecture of Hyattsville, Maryland. More than 130 families currently belong to the HPA.

Hyattsville Life&Times | May 2008

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The Hyattsville City Council approved the following re-appointments to the Marketing Task Force: Celia Brickerd (Ward 2); Chris McManes (Ward 2); Alex Miller (Ward 3); Aiyshen Padilla (Ward 2); Pat Yinkey (Ward 2); Miguel Corrigan (Ward 1); Greg Tindale (Ward 2); Sharon Edwards (Ward

Marketing task force appointments made

been a member of a Boys and Girls Club in the county. Candidates must be sponsored by a specific club.

Students interested in applying for a scholarship can get an application form from HMB or at www.pgparks.com/things/pgcbgc/ pdf/tomlong_scholar_app.pdf.

Applicants must provide a copy of a letter of acceptance or enrollment documentation as well as a transcript of school grades. Applicants also must submit two letters of recommendation, including one from a teacher, as well as a written statement describing their achievements and community involvement. The completed scholarship application is due July 31.

Long provides the scholarship in memory of his son, Tommy Long, who played for the Lewisdale Boys and Girls Club. Tommy Long was killed in an automobile accident when he was 14.

Former HMB members should contact John Bancroft at 301.864.2965.

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The Hyattsville/Mount Rainier/Brentwood Boys and Girls Club is urging former members to apply for college scholarships provided

by Sonny Long, a Prince George’s County businessman.

The Tommy Long Scholarships are awarded every year to students who participated in the county’s Boys and Girls Club activities. A total of $4,000 of scholarship grants are awarded every year.

To be eligible, the student must be accepted to a two- or four-year college or university and must have

HMB Boys & Girls Club looks for scholars

Wednesdays through May 28 the Hyattsville Community Arts Alliance is hosting art walks to ‘tour’ Hyattsville’s arts district.

View art, photography and crafts by Hyattsville artists from 6-8 p.m. at the gallery of the Lustine Center. Refreshments will be provided and there is no charge to attend.

The Lustine Center is located at 5710 Baltimore Avenue. For more information call 301.209.0116

Art walk at ‘Arts District’

will have experienced leaders to aid in a ride to Freedom Plaza in the District.

Free refreshments and giveaways will be available at each break location. To register, visit www. waba.org or call 202.518.0524.

Anniversary Specials!

This year’s National Bike to Work Day is May 16. The event runs from 6:30-8:30 a.m. at Magruder Park where there will be a pit stop for riders to “gas up” on snacks and drinks.

Thousands of people from the Washington, D.C., area will take a stand for fitness by bicycling to work on this day. There will be 26 stops around the area and groups

Work out on way to work

The crowd at EYA’s First Annual Arts Fest was mostly comprised of out-of-area visitors ready to explore the newly developing arts district. Michele Banks a local artist from Washington, D.C. attended this year.

“This is such a great way to bring people and artists to the community,” she said.

Artist Monna Kauppinen set up running an interactive wood block greeting card activitiy. Kauppinen was one of a few local artists represented there.

The gallery at Arts District Hyattsville’s Lustine Center is made up of local artists that have joined the Hyattsville Community Arts Alliance.

-by Ashby Henderson

Artfest: one artist's point of view

CommunityAnnouncements

Page 6 from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sundays from noon-5 p.m. Apart from serving gourmet Mayorga coffee at the espresso bar and fresh tropical smoothies, Café Azul will also serve Mediterranean salads, grilled panini, fresh gazpacho, homemade empanadas and assorted sweets and pastries.

In 2006, Monica Serrano found the arts district and thought the area would serve as a prime location for the café. After looking at several locations, the Serranos selected the townhouse they would convert to Café Azul, drafted a business plan and purchased the property after Joseph slept overnight the day before the townhouses went on sale in order to secure the property. At that point, the Serranos began to design the new café, a process which only picked up speed after the Serranos sold their first family restaurant – Andalucia in Rockville – in 2007.

The design of the café seemed to be progressing on schedule until

Riverdale 6510 Kenilworth Avenue (in lobby)

301-277-0110 Open 9 am to 5 pm, Monday-Friday Saturdays by appointment.

ABO certified opticians on staff.

Hyattsville 6211-3 Belcrest Road The Shops at Metro Station

301-779-8600 Open 9 am to 6 pm, Tuesday-Saturday ABO Certified opticians on staff.

Eye exams available by Gregory T. Komm, O.D.

www.chapelopticians.com

Chapel Opticians, Inc.

Purchase a complete pair of eyeglasses (frame & lenses) with Chapel UV screen or anti-reflection coating and get a 2nd pair from our special collection of frames with single vision lenses FREE!

Coupon must be presented at time of sale. Not valid with any other offers.

Excludes prior orders. No other discounts apply.

Save up to 30% off our wide selection of frames with the purchase of lenses with UV screen or anti-reflection coating

Purchase a complete pair of polarized sunglasses (frames & lenses) and get $75 off your purchase!

2nd Pair Free Sale

Frame Clearance Polarized Sunglasses Sale

Page 7

Six Maryland-National Capital Park Police officers graduated from the Prince George’s County Police Department Community Policing Institute Class in March. A total of 48 student officers graduated as county police officers, sheriffs and park police officers. All graduating officers satisfactorily completed the required 35 weeks of study, physical exercise, vehicle training and firearms training.

M-NCPPC officers graduate from training

Drive, Upper Marlboro. Get your fill of cutthroats, scallywags, seafarin’ scoundrels and thieves. There will be music, food vendors, a costume contest, and a treasure hunt.

Call 301.952.8010.

At Chapel Opticians Your Vision Is Our Mission

Arrrrrgh, Matey! If it’s a pirate life fer ye, then set yer course for Pirate Fest 2008 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. rain or shine on June 21 at Darnall’s Chance House Museum, 14800 Governor Oden Bowie

Walk the plank to Pirate Fest ’08

Got a case of the Mondays?

Start the week off in step with Tom Worley’s Country Line Dance Class. The class, which is for those age 60 and above, meets from 9:3011:30 a.m. on Mondays at the Cora B. Wood Senior Center, at 3601 Taylor Street, Brentwood.

Call 301.699.1238.

Free country line dance class at senior center

DESIGNER LINES OFFERED! • Nine West • Mark Ecko • Vera Wang • Versace • Ted Baker • Juicy Couture • Silhouette • Phat Farm • Escada • Gucci • Tommy Hilfiger • Ralph Sunglasses • Rayban Sunglasses • Anne Klein • Nike • Chaps • Lulu Guiness • Nautica

In 51 years of service, we have fitted over 230,000 pair of glasses with special attention to each one.

Hyattsville’s Department of Recreation and the Arts has scheduled four more Summer Jams for this season. The nights include free live music, and food from Outback Steakhouse. A wine and beer tent is available along with children’s activities. Mandy the Clown will entertain young Hyattsvillians.

The fun goes on from 6:308:30 p.m. at the Hyattsville Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin St. Summer Jams are planned for June 6, July 11, Aug. 1 and Sept. 5.

Summertime fun

the day the Serranos’ closing date for the property’s purchase, when a car – in a freak accident – crashed into the side of the townhouse, thus delaying construction and the eventual opening of the café for another three months.

The Serranos are confident that area residents and students will embrace the café. For more information on Café Azul, please visit its website at www.cafeazul.biz.

We’re celebrating our 51 st year of doing business in Hyattsville!

On April 26 sister-brother duo Monica and Joseph Serrano opened Café Azul on U.S. Route 1 in Hyattsville’s arts district.

The cafe will serve breakfast and lunch and will be open MondayFriday from 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturdays

Café Azul now open at EYA’s Arts District

The Hyattsville City Council, on April 7, appointed James Chandler, Community Development Manager, to be the city’s representative to the Anacostia Trails Heritage Area.

Council names Chandler as liaison to ATHA

University Town Center, located at the corner of Belcrest Road and East West Highway, is offering “Wednesdays at the One,” weekly cocktail and refreshment gatherings at One Independence Plaza, on the clubhouse terrace. The events run from 4:30-7 p.m., Wednesdays until May 21. For more information call 301.779.2290.

Enjoy a night out in the town square

1); and Rachel Magnuson (Ward 2). Jessica Wilson (Ward 3) was newly appointed to the task force.

The task force spent time working on Hyattsville’s new logo and slogan, “A World Within Walking Distance,” and has not met recently due to the openings the above appointments fill.

Hyattsville Life&Times | May 2008

Page 8

Hyattsville Life&Times | May 2008

May 14, 2008

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Therexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx will be no white good, tire or yard waste collection on Wednesday, May 28, 2008. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Blue Cart Collection (recyclables): xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Prince George’s County advises that they are scheduled to make the xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx regular Thursday and Friday recycling collections during this week. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx University Hills Area: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Prince George’s County advises that Hyattsville residents in the xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx University Hills area will receive their regularly scheduled solid waste xxxxxxx and recycling collections during this week.

There will be no white good, tire or yard waste collection on Wednesday, May 28, 2008.

The Thursday and Friday collections will remain unchanged.

During this week, the Monday household solid waste collection will be made on Tuesday and the Tuesday household solid waste collection will be made on Wednesday.

Household Solid Waste/Bulk Trash Collection:

City Administrative Offices are CLOSED on Monday, May 26, 2008, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday.

WEEK OF MAY 26, 2008

HOLIDAY HOUSEHOLD SOLID WASTE AND BULK TRASH COLLECTION SCHEDULE CHANGE

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

The hearing is open to the public, and public testimony is encouraged.

Persons with questions regarding this hearing may call 301-985-5000 for further information.

A public hearing on the proposed real property tax rate increase will be held at 7:00 p.m., on May 27, 2008 in the Council Room on the 3rd floor of the City Municipal Building located at 4310 Gallatin Street, Hyattsville, Maryland 20781.

The City Council of the City of Hyattsville, Maryland proposes to xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx increase real property taxes. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 1.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx For the tax year beginning July 1, 2008, the estimated real property xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx assessable base will increase by 14.0 % or from $1,272,959,362 to xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx $1,451,241,661. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 2. If the City of Hyattsville maintains the current tax rate of $0.63 per xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx $100 of assessment, real property tax revenues will increase by 14.0 % resulting in $1,123,178 of new real property tax revenues.

3. In order to fully offset the effect of increasing assessments, the real property tax rate should be reduced to $0.553, the constant yield tax rate.

4. The City is considering not reducing its real property tax rate enough to fully offset increasing assessments. The City proposes to adopt a real property tax rate of $0.63 per $100 of assessment. This tax rate is 13.9 % higher than the constant yield tax rate and will generate $1,123,178 in additional property tax revenues.

CITY OF HYATTSVILLE NOTICE OF PROPOSED REAL PROPERTY TAX INCREASE xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Page HR1

Computer Monitors Printers VCRs Copiers Cell Phones

Central Processing Units Computer Keyboards Radios Televisions

The Department of Public Works Operations Center (4633 Arundel Place) will serve as the collection location. Residents will be able to drop off a total of eight items per household, including:

The City’s FREE Electronics Recycling Program, open to Hyattsville residents only, will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2008, from 9:00 a.m. until Noon. All individuals choosing to participate in this program will be required to show proof of identification, such as a driver’s license, military identification or a tax, water or cable bill.

Saturday, June 7, 2008 - 9:00 a.m. until Noon

FREE ELECTRONICS RECYCLING PROGRAM FOR HYATTSVILLE RESIDENTS

This Public Hearing will be held at the Hyattsville Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin Street, in the third floor Council Chambers. Public comment and participation is encouraged. The hearing will be broadcast live on Hyattsville Comcast Cable Channel 71 and Verizon Cable Channel 11. For additional information, contact City Clerk Doug Barber at 301-985-5009 or by e-mail at dbarber@hyattsville.org. The Mayor and City Council are scheduled to adopt the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Ordinance at the Council Meeting of Monday, June 2, 2008.

A Public Hearing to allow residents and all interested parties the opportunity to comment on the City's Fiscal Year 2009 Operating and Capital Budget will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 27, 2008.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008 - 7:30 p.m.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FISCAL YEAR 2009 BUDGET: OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET

This Public Hearing will be held at the Hyattsville Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin Street, in the third floor Council Chambers. Public comment and participation is encouraged. The hearing will be broadcast live on Hyattsville Comcast Cable Channel 71 and Verizon Cable Channel 11. For additional information, contact City Clerk Doug Barber at 301-985-5009 or by e-mail at dbarber@hyattsville.org.

A Public Hearing to allow residents and all interested parties the opportunity to comment on the City's Fiscal Year 2009 Real Property Tax Rate will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 27, 2008. The purpose of this Public Hearing is to discuss and establish the Real Property Tax Rate (see details at left).

Tuesday, May 27, 2008 - 7:00 p.m.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING x FISCAL YEAR 2009 BUDGET: TO DISCUSS AND ESTABLISH THE REAL PROPERTY TAX RATE

Karen Robinson, Editor 301-985-5031 or krobinson@hyattsville.org

No. 144

The Hyattsville Reporter

Hyattsville Life&Times | May 2008

The Hyattsville Reporter

Doug, who has been active with the MMCA since 2002, said of his selection, “It feels good to be recognized by my peers.” Doug was recently elected as Vice-President of the organization and will assume those responsibilities in July. He is also the co-chair of the committee that is hosting the association’s Region II Conference in 2009 and recently completed the three-tier program to become a Certified Municipal Clerk through the Virginia Municipal Clerk Institute Certification Program, a program recognized by the MMCA.

City Administrator Murphy noted in his nomination form, “Mr. Barber truly demonstrates his commitment to residents of our City with his long work hours and attention to detail. He exemplifies our community’s highest values. His innovative approach to service in his position as Hyattsville City Clerk is worthy and the best example of what a Clerk of the Year is all about.”

During his time as City Clerk, Doug has been responsible for overseeing municipal elections and interfacing with state, county and municipal officials as the daily point of contact with City residents. He also ensures the accurate and timely release of agendas and minutes for City Council Meetings, manages City Council meetings, assures communications links are addressed in a timely fashion between residents, City staff and Mayor and Council, assures community announcements are distributed in a timely manner and schedules public presentations.

Volunteer Service - Doug is an active volunteer on many City committees and at many City and community sponsored events. Service in this capacity is outside the realm of his duties. His participation directly benefits residents of the City by providing his friendly attitude and personal face to the municipal employee.

Outstanding Service to the Community - In the fall of 2006, a staff member became ill and was unable to report to the office for several months. Doug willingly assumed much of the responsibilities of that position.

Work with the Board of Election Supervisors - Doug is responsible for coordinating and meeting schedules for events, meetings and programs which occur relative to the City of Hyattsville and municipal organizations, statewide organizations and all layers of elected officials.

His keen attention to detail ensures that elections held in Hyattsville operate smoothly and remain in compliance with all requirements.

Doug was specifically nominated and recognized by the City for his responsibilities in:

The City of Hyattsville submitted Doug for this honor because of his outstanding examples of service that is directly and consistently delivered to the residents in the City. Hyattsville Mayor Bill Gardiner stated, “I am so pleased that Doug’s commitment to his profession and his accomplishments are recognized. Doug has high standards of performance and an eagerness to further develop his skills and contribute to the City. The City Council and his colleagues on staff highly regard his work.”

The Clerk of the Year Award recognizes outstanding achievements by Maryland’s Municipal Clerks in the following criteria: extraordinary individual job performance, member of the MMCA for at least two years, brings innovative ideas to the Association, demonstrated commitment to professional development, and demonstrated commitment to community involvement and positive on-the-job attitude.

On March 20, 2008, the Maryland Municipal Clerks Association (MMCA) announced that it had selected Hyattsville City Clerk Doug Barber as the 2008 Municipal Clerk of the Year. The award will be presented to him in June at the Maryland Municipal League’s Annual Convention.

CITY CLERK DOUG BARBER NAMED CLERK OF THE YEAR

BY MARYLAND MUNICIPAL CLERKS ASSOCIATION

Page HR2

The Hyattsville Reporter

A link to the Safe City Alert System is available at www.hyattsville.org and www.hyattsvillepolice.org. When you visit the Safe City site simply choose the ‘Join Now’ link. You can join as a Resident Partner or a Business/Organization Partner. Fill out the form online and you will begin receiving notices when they are broadcast. For additional information on the Safe City Alert System call Karen Robinson at 301985-5031 or Sharon Hampton at 301-985-5062.

How can you join?

It’s easy - you can join right from your computer!

Motion #61-04-08 - Proclamation for National Volunteer Week (April 27, 2008 through May 3, 2008): To declare April 27, 2008 - May 3, 2008, as National Volunteer Week in the City of Hyattsville and to pass a proclamation in support of this national recognition. -Atteberry/Perry

Motion #68-04-08 - Schedule Public Hearing to discuss the proposed Fiscal Year 2009 Capital and Operating Budget: To schedule a Public Hearing for Tuesday, May 27, 2008, at 7:30 p.m. to discuss the proposed FY09 Operating and Capital Budget. - Atteberry/Perry

Motion #67-04-08 - Schedule Public Hearing to discuss and establish the Real Property Tax Rate for Fiscal Year 2009: To schedule a Public Hearing for Tuesday, May 27, 2008, at 7:00 p.m., to discuss and establish the real property tax rate for FY09. - Atteberry/Perry

SUMMARY OF MOTIONS PASSED AT THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 14, 2008

Motion # 60-04-08 - Personnel Manual Update: To request this issue (promotional process) be referred to the Hyattsville Personnel Committee for review and comment. -Tierney/Perry

What is the Hyattsville Safe City Alert System?

The Safe City Alert System provides 24/7 member access to important alerts for local public safety issues that could affect their home, neighborhood, business or facility. Information is provided by choice of the member as email or text message (text messaging rates apply). The system will provide public safety information in four specific categories: Crime Alert Emergency Notification Weather Alert Community Notice

CITY OF HYATTSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT SAFE CITY ALERT SYSTEM

If you have a composting tip you would like to share with Hyattsville residents, send it to krobinson@hyattsville.org or call 301-985-5031. We would love to publish your tip here and post it on the City website.

Motion #59-04-08 - Code Enforcement Committee and Marketing Task Force Appointments: To approve the Mayor’s appointment of the following residents to the respective task force/committees.

The appointments will be effective April 15, 2008, and will terminate January 31, 2010: Code Enforcement Committee: Elizabeth Payer (Ward 3); and Marketing Task Force (new appointments and re-appointments): Celia Brickerd, (Ward 2 re-appointment); Jessica Wilson, (Ward 3 new appointment); Chris McManes, (Ward 2 re-appointment); Alex Miller, (Ward 3 re-appointment); Aiyshen Padilla, (Ward 2 re-appointment); Pat Yinkey, (Ward 2 re-appointment); Miguel Corrigan, (Ward 1 reappointment); Greg Tindale, (Ward 2 re-appointment); Sharon Edwards, (Ward 1 re-appointment); Rachel Magnuson, (Ward 2 re-appointment). Tierney/Matulef

Motion #57-04-08 Establishing a Position and Position Description for a Volunteer Coordinator: To approve the Position Description for Volunteer Coordinator and the classification at Grade 109. - Patterson/Matulef

Motion #52-03-08 - Revisions to Chapter 65 Sub-Section 65-25 and 6526 of the Hyattsville City Code (Accumulation of debris; obnoxious growth of grass and weeds) Hyattsville Ordinance 2008-05: To adopt Hyattsville Ordinance 2008-05, an ordinance whereby the City Council amends and clarifies the conditions constituting obnoxious growth of grass and weeds and provides consideration of factors that permit exceptions in certain circumstances for areas actively maintained for uses other than lawns. (Second Reading). - Hinds/Matulef

Motion #55-04-08 - SHA Recreational Trails Grant - Trolley Train Hiker Biker Trail: To accept, appropriate and authorize the expenditure of $30,000 awarded to the City by the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) Recreational Trails Grant Program in accordance with the terms of the MOU, subject to the review and approval of the Mayor and City Council. - Atteberry/Patterson

Motion #54-04-08 - Appointment as City of Hyattsville Representative to ATHA: To approve the appointment of Jim Chandler, Community Development Manager, as the City’s representative to the Anacostia Trails Heritage Area (ATHA). - Atteberry/Patterson

Motion #53-04-08 - Schedule Additional Council Meeting for the FY09 Budget as noted in the FY09 Budget Schedule: To schedule the following meetings, as they were included in the FY09 Budget Meeting Schedule: Monday, April 28, 2008 - Special Council Meeting: Administration, Finance, Legislative and Other budgets to be discussed; Wednesday, April 30, 2008 - Special Council Meeting: Police Department and Code Enforcement budgets to be discussed; Tuesday, May 27, 2008 - Special Council Meeting: Mayor and Council to set Real Property Tax Rate for FY09. - Atteberry/Patterson

SUMMARY OF MOTIONS PASSED AT THE COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 7, 2008

Hyattsville Life&Times | May 2008

Compost: Reduce, reuse, and recycle by-products from your yard or garden by composting and turn this waste into black gold. Leaves, grass, prunings and remains of garden plants all make excellent compost.

From the Maryland Department of the Environment:

Composting can improve our environment: 9 Turns waste into a valuable resource 9 Saves limited landfill space 9 Recycles nutrients back into the soil 9 Call 301-985-5032 to request a free compost bin.

Compost can save you money: 9 Reduces trash 9 Provides free soil amendment 9 Retains soil moisture - save on water bills

If you have ever thought about composting, now may be a good time to start! Why compost?

DO YOU COMPOST?

The MMCA is a nonprofit organization established at the Maryland Municipal League’s annual convention in June 1976 by Municipal Clerks who recognized the need for a professional association in the State of Maryland. The MMCA elects a Clerk of the Year annually.

Doug has served as the Hyattsville City Clerk since January 2, 2002. He began working for the City in 1988, in the Summer Workforce Program.

He continued serving in various part-time positions after that program ended, including Recreation Coordinator and Teen Club Coordinator. In June 1993, he was a temporary administrative employee, but quickly joined the City full-time in March 1994 in the Administration Office.

Although he continued with the City on a part-time basis, Doug left his full-time position in 1997. In January 2002, he interviewed for and was hired as the City Clerk. Doug lives in Bowie, Maryland, with his wife Vonda and their daughter Chloe.

May 14, 2008

Hyattsville Life&Times | May 2008

- continued on next page -

Motion #70-01-08 - Motion to Close the Meeting of April 28, 2008: To close the meeting of April 28, 2008 to discuss a personnel matter and a legal matter. - Atteberry/Perry

SUMMARY OF MOTIONS PASSED AT THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 28, 2008

Motion #74-04-08 - Selection of Proposal for Phased Roof Replacement at 4318 Gallatin Street: To approve the recommended construction firm, Boblits Enterprises, to provide services as outlined in the 4318 Gallatin St. Phased Roofs Replacement RFP and the firm’s proposal response dated April 11, 2008, and to authorize the City Administrator to enter into a contract with the selected firm for these services as specified, subject to the City Attorney’s review and approval of the contract documents. Frazier/Lizanne

Motion #72-04-08 - Lease Purchase Financing Contract for New Trash Truck: To, subject to the City Attorney’s review and approval of the final lease documents, authorize the City Administrator to enter into a lease/purchase contract with Government Vehicle Leasing Company of Penrose, CO for the lease/purchase funding for the new trash compactor truck being acquired by the Department of Public Works. The purchase price of $160,248.38 is being financed over a term of three (3) years, at an effective annual interest rate of three point eight percent (3.80%) with a two hundred and fifty dollar ($250.00) document fee payable at the inception of the lease term and twelve (12) payments of fourteen thousand, fifty three dollars and 15 cents ($14,053.15), due quarterly, in advance, for total financing costs of eight thousand six hundred three dollars and forty-two cents ($8,603.42). - Atteberry/Patterson

Motion #71-04-08 - Proclamation for National Arbor Day (April 25, 2008): To declare April 25, 2008, as National Arbor Day in the City of Hyattsville and to pass a proclamation in support of this national recognition. - Atteberry/Patterson

SUMMARY OF MOTIONS PASSED AT THE COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 21, 2008

Motion # 69-04-08 - Schedule of Closed Session for Monday, April 21, 2008: To schedule a Closed Session for Monday, April 21, 2008 at the conclusion of the Council Meeting to discuss a personnel matter. Tierney/Perry

Motion #65-04-08 - Authorization to Purchase 300 Toter Mobile Trash Collection Carts: To authorize the City Administrator, in consultation with the Director of the Department of Public Works and the City Treasurer, to purchase 300 Toter mobile trash collection carts, utilizing the present Toter Corp. contract terms, conditions and pricing, for the purpose of providing trash collection carts to the area known as University Hills, in anticipation of providing City-staffed trash collection services on, or shortly after, July 1, 2008, the amount not exceed $14,000. - Perry/Tartaro

Motion #64-04-08 - Proclamation for National Public Works Week (May 18, 2008 through May 24, 2008): To declare May 18, 2008 - May 24, 2008, as Public Works Week in the City of Hyattsville and to pass a proclamation in support of this national recognition. - Atteberry/Perry

Motion #63-04-08 - Proclamation for National Police Week (May 11, 2008 through May 17, 2008): To declare May 11, 2008 - May 17, 2008, as Police Week and May 15, 2008, as Peace Officers’ Memorial Day in the City of Hyattsville and to pass a proclamation in support of this national recognition. - Atteberry/Perry

Motion #62-04-08 Proclamation for National Clerks Week (May 4, 2008 through May 10, 2008): To declare May 4, 2008 - May 10, 2008, as Municipal Clerks Week in the City of Hyattsville and to pass a proclamation in support of this national recognition. - Atteberry/Perry

May 14, 2008

Page HR3

Summary of Motions - continued

The Hyattsville Reporter

301-277-1721 301-277-4620

301-699-0847 301-864-0143

301-853-3194 301-853-2938

301-779-5428 240-533-2166

Ward 3 Krista Atteberry, President (2009) Anthony Patterson (2011)

Ward 4 Paula J. Perry (2011) Carlos Lizanne (2009)

Ward 5 Ruth Ann Frazier (2009) Nicole Hinds (2011)

Watch for the June 11, 2008 edition of The Hyattsville Reporter to be mailed as the “center pull-out section” inside the Hyattsville Life & Times newspaper.

Watch for the May 28, 2008 edition of The Hyattsville Reporter to be mailed in the green newsletter format.

WHEN TO WATCH FOR YOUR NEXT EDITIONS OF THE HYATTSVILLE REPORTER

h Saturday, June 21 (10:00 a.m.)

Hyattsville Artists’ Market

h Thursday, June 19 (6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.)

Family Fun Night

h Saturday, June 7 (9:30 a.m.)

Dogs for the Arts

h Saturday, June 7 (9:00 a.m.)

Electronics Recycling Event for Hyattsville Residents

h Friday, June 6 (6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.)

Summer Jam

Mark your calendars now for these June fun-filled family activities! Detailed event information including locations and any date changes or additions will be announced in the May 28, 2008 issue of The Hyattsville Reporter!

J J J J

Unless otherwise noted, meetings/activities are held at the City Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin Street. Visit www.hyattsville.org, Events Page, for updates and additional information or call 301-9855000. The City of Hyattsville encourages the involvement and participation of individuals with disabilities in all of our programs and services. Individuals who are deaf or have a hearing impairment may contact the City of Hyattsville TTY phone number at 301-985-5039 or the Maryland Relay Service TDD at 1-800-735-2258.

May 15 Hyattsville Code Enforcement Advisory Committee Meeting, 7:00 p.m.

May 18 Historic Hyattsville House Tour, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (details at www.preservehyattsville.org) May 19 City Council Meeting, 8:00 p.m.

Budget Information: Mayor and Council to discuss FY09 Budget during meeting May 20 Joint Marketing and East-West Highway Branding Task Force Meeting, 7:00 p.m. (rescheduled from May 22nd date) May 20 Hyattsville Planning Committee Meeting, 7:30 p.m.

May 21 Hyattsville Environment Committee Community Presentation, Cool Currents Wind Power Education Meeting - provides wind energy to businesses and individual homeowners, 7:00 p.m.

May 26 City Administrative Offices closed in observance of Memorial Day (details inside) May 27 Budget Information: Public Hearing, 7:00 p.m. to discuss and establish FY09 Real Property Tax Rate (details inside) May 27 Budget Information: Public Hearing, 7:30 p.m. to discuss FY09 Operating and Capital Budget (details inside) May 27 Special Council Meeting, 8:00 p.m.

May 28 The Hyattsville Reporter (No. 145) May 29 Community Blood Drive, 2:00 p.m. (details at left)

CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES MAY 2008 (calendar subject to change)

May 14, 2008

Hyattsville Life&Times | May 2008

The Hyattsville Reporter is a bi-monthly publication. It publishes on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. On the second Wednesday, the edition appears as a paid four-page supplement in the Hyattsville Life & Times. All information, material content and page layout are furnished by the City of Hyattsville. Karen Robinson, Editor: 301-985-5031.

301-927-6424 301-699-9606

301-559-2283

Elected Officials: Mayor Bill Gardiner (2011) Ward 1 Marc Tartaro, Vice President (2009) Douglas Dudrow (2011) Ward 2 Mark Matulef (2009) Bill Tierney (2011)

The City of Hyattsville, 4310 Gallatin Street Hyattsville, Maryland 20781 301-985-5000 - www.hyattsville.org

Cash, money order or check (payable to the City of Hyattsville) For details, call Ellarose Preston at 301-985-5006 or visit the City website at www.hyattsville.org.

New Hyattsville Logo and Slogan “A World Within Walking Distance” Polo Shirts 100% cotton, short-sleeved, 2-button placket - available for a limited time, in limited quantities!

Adult sizes: M - L - XL $40.00 XXL - XXXL $45.00

FOR SALE:

The City of Hyattsville will host an American Red Cross Community Blood Drive on Thursday, May 29, 2008 from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

The drive will be held at the Hyattsville Municipal Building (4310 Gallatin Street) in the first floor Multipurpose Room. Call 1-800-GIVELIFE (1-800-448-3543) to schedule your appointment or visit the Red Cross website at www.my-redcross.org for additional information.

Thursday, May 29, 2008 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

HYATTSVILLE TO HOST COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE

Official meeting minutes are available online at www.hyattsville.org.

Motion #75-04-08 - Letter to County Executive Jack Johnson re: Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department: To send a letter on behalf of the City Council and City residents to County Executive Jack Johnson, County Councilman Will Campos and other identified appropriate County contacts in order to express concern and opposition to the proposed cutbacks to the career staff coverage hours provided to the Hyattsville Fire Department by the Prince George’s County Fire/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department. - Perry/Matulef

SUMMARY OF MOTIONS PASSED AT THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 30, 2008

Page HR4

O planted the large caliper trees, while other volunteers aided in planting smaller greenery.

The morning’s event offered an outdoor classroom experience for the 300 participating pupils from Rosa L. Parks Elementary School, who did not actually participate in the planting.

Park Ranger Chris Garret of the county parks system, the Chesapeake Bay Trust, Clean Water Action and a science teacher from Rosa L. Parks Elementary School provided the outdoor instruction.

Pupils used scientific skills and processes in order to explain the interactions of environmental factors and analyze their impact from a local to a global perspective.

They also investigated events that cause environmental changes,such as urban growth, waste disposal, land-use and resource depletion and their long-term impact.

Additionally, Eileen Cave, Rosa Parks art teacher, led them on nature art activities including bark rubbings and leaf pressings.

#ORNER OF 1UEENSBURY 2HODE )SLAND !VE 2IVERDALE 0ARK -$

Breakfast Special 7 Days a Week $3.95 Tacos Mondays $1 each All You Can Eat Shrimp Saturdays 4-8 pm $15.95 Steamed Shrimp Every Day Sandwich/Sub of the Month $3.95 Karaoke Tuesday and Saturday Nights

Daily Lunch and Dinner Specials Eat In/Carry Out • Free Wi-Fi

3 * 2ESTAURANT

n April 25 the City of Hyattsville celebrated Arbor Day with a large-scale planting and beautification event at Heurich Park, at Ager Road and Nicholson Street. About 58 five-inch caliper trees were planted and low-lying greenery will be planted when the project is complete.

Event sponsors included the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission; Chesapeake Bay Trust; Clean Water Action; interns from Cesar Chavez Public Charter School for Public Policy; The Home Depot; Adirondack Tree Experts; Grant County Mulch; and Five Guys Restaurant from University Town Center. Event volunteers included corporate volunteers from The Home Depot, elders from the Church of the Latter Day Saints and 300 third- through sixth-grade students from Rosa L. Parks Elementary School. Volunteers from Adirondack Tree Experts

Ranger Chris Garrett, in photo at right, discusses the importance of trees with pupils of Rosa L. Parks Elementary School at Heurich Park.

Marking Arbor Day

Hyattsville Life&Times | May 2008

Dear Clay, Welcome to the challenges of gardening in this area. Your courageous attitude assures that you will not suffer defeat of clay.

It will indeed take “a little work” to make your soil friable. You need to add a lot of greensand and organic matter and you need to dig it in more deeply than you propose.

Six inches is the absolute minimum and that only for shallow-rooted plants.

To give an extreme example, to grow deep-rooted plants like roses you need to dig at least three feet down and mostly fill it with compost and soil conditioners, removing most of the clay. The instructions accompanying packaged roses suggest digging only two feet down.

Not around here!

Most successful gardeners in the Hyattsville region start with a small but thoroughly prepare area to garden, and extend it each year. Most develop compost piles composed of leaves, grass clippings and such non-offensive kitchen

waste as coffee grounds. As you probably haven’t developed much of a compost pile yet you might check with various municipalities for leaf mould giveaways. While you can take as much as you like, there is no home delivery. You would need to bring your own bags as well.

In April the Hyattsville Horticultural Society had its annual Chesapeake Green sale at Community Forklift. This organic soil amendment comes from the Chesapeake Bay and is made of materials from and around the Bay. Whatever returns to the Bay

MissFloribunda Dear Miss Floribunda, I am new to the neighborhood and want to grow an organic garden. I did a soil test and it looks like my entire back yard is 90% clay.

As I have looked into various soil amendments the consensus seems to be leafgro/compro delivered in bulk with a depth of 3-6 inches for a garden. The best price I have come to is $37 a cubic yard, including delivery. Any other ideas? I am not afraid of a little work.

Feat of Clay

Page 9

Miss Floribunda is the collected wisdom of the Hyattsville Horticultural Society, compiled and edited by Victoria Hille.

through groundwater doesn’t harm it in any way. This product does wonders for the soil immediately, and adds earthworms as well for a long-term benefit. The coordinator of the sale, Joe Fox-Glover, would be glad to sell you any leftover bags. You can contact him at 301.864.4882, feliberto554@ yahoo.com or, just come to the next meeting of the Hyattsville Horticultural Society at 10 a.m. on May 17 at City Hall. Other members of HHS will enthusiastically share their methods of improving the soil in their gardens, as well as their general gardening lore.

Photo, at left: Linda Gureckas, of 43rd Avenue, takes a quick inventory of her stock for Hyattsville's city-wide yard sale last month.

urday, but no one showed up the second Saturday.

There seemed to be a bit of confusion and a few people requested maps,� she said. “Next sale I think we should have maps available at some of the sales and maybe set it up more like a walking tour map so people can easily get from sale to sale. Even though it was not a great success for me this year, I am looking forward to the next one.�

Jenny Wright and her 18-month-old son Roddy, from Riverdale, made the rounds to a few yard sales the first weekend. “We were not really out to shop, just browse and visit some friends and neighbors,� Wright said. “I think that it is also a great casual way to get to meet more of our neighbors.

It is interesting what you can ďŹ nd in common with someone just by the items at their yard sale and, from there, how easily a conversation can begin.â€?

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ast spring, Hyattsville introduced its first community yard sale with success. Response for this year’s event was promising at first with over 50 residents on the city’s signup list.

But the weather had other intentions.

Serious storms were announced for April 5 — the date of the sale — and many local events were canceled or postponed. The city set up a rain date of April 12 and called the April 5 sale off officially. However, those who signed up were permitted to run on the fifth as well as the rain date.

Fooled again! April 5 turned out to be a beautiful day for a yard sale, but only a few sellers set up in fear that the storms would arrive as promised.

Linda Gureckas was very excited about the sale she was holding in her garage. “I was hoping it would be a bonus twofor-one yard sale,� she said. “We had a few people stop by on the first Sat-

L

by Ashby Henderson

Weather deters some sellers, residents still show

Page 10

new bicycle shop will open this month in Hyattsville.

The new shop is called Arrow Bicycle and is located on Route 1 in the old Arrow appliance store across from Franklin’s restaurant. For some residents, this shop is a dream come true. “As someone who rode 100 miles yesterday, I’d certainly appreciate a bike shop in Hyattsville,� said resident Scott Wilson.

The owners, Chris Militello and Chris Davidson, have a long history of cycling advocacy, riding, and are experienced mechanics. The shop will cater to all types of cyclists including commuters, leisure riders, children, triathletes, century riders, and racers. They will sell Giant, Specialized, Kuota and Pegoretti bicycles, cycling gear, and will be a full commuter outfit-

A

by Lisa Grob and Anne Blein-Zuk ter. The shop will also offer bicycle service, repair and bike fitting services. “We are both very excited to be working and owning a business in Hyattsville,� said Davidson.

Militello and Davidson are coaches for the local Special Olympics cycling team and are involved in many cycling related events in Hyattsville and Prince George’s County. The owners intend for Arrow Bicycle to be a resource for the local community; sponsoring bicycling maintenance classes, local rides, a road racing team and working in cooperation with the Mount Rainier bicycle cooperative. This venture has received support from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, Washington Area Bicyclist Association, Hyattsville Police Chief Doug Holland and Mayor William Gardner.

Follow the arrow to a new bike shop in Hyattsville

Chris Millitello and Chris Davidson, owners of Arrow Bicycle, a new shop on U.S. Route 1, with their inventory. The store will be the only one of its kind in Hyattsville when it opens this month.

Hyattsville Life&Times | May 2008

Page 11

t the very south end of Hyattsville’s stretch of U.S. Route 1, two city residents are conducting an experiment in local sustainability and community arts emergence.

Rhode Island Reds, a local business prospect, still a work in progress, is emerging as an alternative to the sea of automobile service and repair shops under the hand of Chris Brophy and Stuart Eisenberg.

With a strategic corner location at 4700 Rhode Island Ave., Brophy’s plan for Rhode Island Reds is to run a garden produce, bakery / cafe. Brophy, a local actor, plans to sell wholesome food and drink with an emphasis on locally produced, fair trade, gourmet and organic products in a comfortable, artistic atmosphere. ‘Reds’ is envisioned as a place for local residents to gather for entertainment, artistic and community events; a place to enjoy both fine food and arts programming in the cozy dining room/ art gallery/performance venue. Children and family events

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to build up a clientele under former children’s librarian Angelisa Hawes.

Other recently opened stores on our U.S. Route 1 segment include Celina’s International Market and Alberta’s Second Hand Treasures. The CDC has also recently been active assisting the TESST property’s owner in tenanting the building.

And finally EYA will begin breaking ground on commercial retail units along the east side of U.S. Route 1 both north and south of Jefferson Street in August. Busboys & Poets and Tara Thai will be the featured restaurant anchors for the corner locations at the Jefferson Street intersection.

To become a member or learn more about the Hyattsville CDC, just visit www.hycdc.org.

The CDC will update and expand the Market and Restaurant Feasibility Study in the coming months.

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Nelson Gallery space in the Flat Iron Building.

But the closure rate hasn’t stopped new businesses from making a splash on the Hyattsville scene.

One such business is Arrow Bicycles, a start-up brought to the community by locals Chris Millitello and Chris Davidson. Arrow Bicycles, located at 5108 Baltimore Ave., is to be joined by the nearby Under the Coconut Tree, 5124 Baltimore Ave., a small Caribbean bakery/cafe operated by Prince George’s County restaurateur Charmain Lovelace. Both these businesses expect to open their doors in May. Closer to the EYA live-work spaces at 4423 Longfellow St., the fresh Mediterranean/Latin influenced Cafe Azul has now opened its doors for business. Down the block, at 5606 Baltimore Ave., the Book Nook Bookstore continues

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extending one block east and west.

The count established that, at that time, there was a 60 percent vacancy rate in the available commercial inventory.

For the audit, the CDC considered a commmercial property vacant if it was unoccupied or housed a church in a building designed for other purposes like office or retail use.

Hyattsville recently lost the florist, Karen’s of Calvert, which ran a business succeeding Marche Florists at their Crittenden Street location, due to outside financial stresses. Other businesses which have disappeared in the last 12-14 months are: Arrow Appliance (the owner retired); the Electric Eye antique & thrift shop (by rent hike eviction); and The Bakery: a small “boutique� for sneaker collectors that briefly occupied the former

Perfect.

and specials are to be featured.

The 4700 Rhode Island Ave. location has a funky feel, and a Hyattsville history. Its creation is also serving the Hyattsville Community Development Corporation as a pilot study for the advancement of new economic development programs geared towards reuse of run down or abandoned commercial property it’s unlikely that additional funding would rehabilitate the structure or develop a new use.

Hyattsville CDC Chairman Mike Franklin has been examining and assessing the downtown U.S. Route 1 business scene for more than a decade. “The opportunities are there, but it takes more than just opportunity for a start-up business to get rolling in our market,� he said. “You have to serve a true niche and really know your customers.�

Earlier this year, the CDC conducted an Occupancy Audit to establish a unit occupancy rate for commercially-zoned properties on the U.S. Route 1 corridor from Crittenden to Madison streets,

A note on developments in the Route 1 area

Hyattsville Life&Times | May 2008

hough my block doesn’t have an “official� Neighborhood Watch group, I feel just as safe, if not safer, than any block that does.

When my husband Bryant and I moved to Hyattsville 3 years ago we wanted a place where we could get to know people — not just to wave, but to stop and say hello, ask about work, the kids or family.

We were lucky to find it. But given the state of the world, sometimes neighbors do have to watch out for one another beyond just saying “hi�.

Living on a street where that goes without question is all the property value I need. We get to know familiar cars and smile when we know a favorite out of town relative is visiting next door. So when a recent incident on our street raised questions with unfamiliar vehicles appearing in great numbers and at odd hours around a house with residents who were relatively unknown, it second nature that folks would call and report that “something wasn’t right.�

T

by Jessica Wilson

traffic and an obvious gathering at 11p.m. on a Tuesday night - I did just that. Within minutes, there was a response. What is more, a few nights later, a bigger response showed up. Credit for the successful elimination of the problem is due to Hyattsville’s police but they in turn credited the residents of our block for keeping them informed.

As we all know, though their presence is great, it is impossible for them to be on every block at every moment. They rely on and welcome our watchful eyes, and I’m sure there are more out there than I

COMMENTARY

One day, a neighbor of mine called me saying she spoke to Hyattsville police about this activity and that they were looking into it. But they told her to keep the calls and emails coming, it doesn’t hurt. When I arrived home that night and could barely drive down my street - due to some unruly

“I really would like to see my ward come together,� she said. “If anything you get out and get to know the people and the ward better - a big plus for everyone.�

Neighborhood Watch groups are a proven crime-prevention method but with only one operational watch group in the city, local interest in the resident-faCouncilwoman Paula Perry cilitated program seems to be lacking.

Neighborhood Watch, also called Block Watch, is a national program that aims to deter crime and to raise citizen awareness. Residents work with law-enforcement oďŹƒcials to organize a program appropriate for their neighborhood. "[It’s] another set of eyes out there," said Hyattsville Police Sgt. Mark Roski of the program.

Members maintain a visible presence that aims to deter criminals. The organized groups work to create a greater sense of community, which can help to remove the fear that typically accompanies criminal activity. “[A] group of citizens who agree to look out for each other and to keep in contact with the police,� said Sgt. Greg Phillips, HPD spokesman, at a public safety meeting earlier in March. “You can watch out the window while you’re washing your dishes.�

A Neighborhood Watch group can cover a large area or just a single block. The cost to run a program is low and the time commitment limited. Hyattsville police will provide training and guidance to neighbors who are ready to protect their homes and take back their streets.

To start a Neighborhood Watch program in your community, call Roski at 301.985.5081 or visit www.hyattsville.org.

Watch continued from page 1

Hyattsville Life&Times | May 2008

ounty Councilman Will Campos (D-Dist. 2) has some ideas for cracking down on gang-related crime in Prince George’s County, and those ideas include having municipalities — including Hyattsville — contribute a police officer to a proposed bicounty task force. “Yeah you may be taking one ‌ away, but you’re getting 10 more to take care of this specific situation,â€?

Campos said.

In his district, most of the gangrelated crime takes place within one-quarter mile from the Washington, D.C. border, Campos said.

C

by Sarah Nemeth This trend is likely due to the large amount of apartments and transition housing in this area, he said.

The District has seen major crackdowns on gang activity over the past several years and those involved in the gangs often relocate to Prince George’s County, Campos said. “It’s obvious that we have a [crime] problem,� he said. “I think [politics is] an issue. I think people don’t want that image but sometimes you have to bite the bullet.�

Parts of Campos’s district such as Langley Park attract a lot of attention because of the amount of crime that happens there. But Campos, who grew up in the county, is not worried about appearances.

Instead, he is looking for solution, including things like neighborhood medical clinics and other types of social services. “I think growing up in an area where there is a gang problem ‌ I am not all of the sudden going to be in office and say these things don’t matter anymore,â€? he said.

The county police department now has a gang unit of eight people.

Montgomery County has 13. “Since we are about the same size as Montgomery County I think we should start there,� Campos said of how many officers should comprise the Prince George’s force.

In a recent report to the County Council, Campos suggested forming a union between major municipalities with police forces and with the police departments of Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.

Campos was unable to provide statistics on gang crimes in the county, and declined to comment on the record as to why.

However, the gang situation has “either increased or stayed the same as when [the county] first brought attention to it,� according to his report.

His recommendations include working with federal agencies, and to have a separate team to crunch the numbers. The counties would have separate directors who would answer to either county’s executive.

Campos’ report also encourages the support of prevention and intervention programs.

Gang task force proposal could take off icers from county municipalities

am aware of, calling and e-mailing to alert the HPD.This action went on without any “formal� organization, just the occasional neighborly tip from time to time.

I am inspired by people like Barbara Runion, who take to heart something within our community and fight for it, no matter what. I am inspired by the neighbors on my street who water your lawn during a dry week while you’re away, or do a friendly check in to make sure the handy man entering your house when you aren’t home is indeed supposed to be there. Formalized Neighborhood Watch groups do all of these things as well. But what I find most endearing is, though turn out might be low at a community meeting here and there, when you ask people, they do care. Otherwise, they wouldn’t live here.

These compliments, I must note, extend beyond Hyattsville’s borders. Across the street, my neighbors are part of Riverdale Park. But since they look out onto my house and I to theirs, this “neighborhood watch� doesn’t see city lines. It only sees friends.

Watching out for each other

Page 12

on the streets,â€? said Councilwoman Ruth Ann Frazier (Ward 5). “It is truly frightening to think that I can go up to Target and I’m happy because I know that the shoplifters are being hauled away but I can’t go to a Metro station and not be afraid of there being a shooting, or on a neighborhood street and not be afraid of there being a shooting, or a parent can’t send their child to school and think that the child is not going to come back home that evening. Those are real crimes ‌ Forget the shoplifting. Those are crimes that insurance will cover, but not the death of an individual,â€? Frazier said.

David Marshall lives only a few streets from where the shootings occurred. “It’s getting a bit ridiculous,â€? he said. “My property values are plummeting every time these stories [about crime] come out ‌ My safety is compromised and so is my family’s. You can’t walk through the

Like law enforcement forces in many other similarly sized municipalities, the HPD does not have a squad speciďŹ cally dedicated to solving cold cases. According to Chief Douglas Holland, this is due to a lack of resources.

Although the county police department investigates homicides that take place in Hyattsville, when one is solved, the county then notiďŹ es local police, said Cpl. Clinton Copeland, county police spokesman.

The county had a cold case team, but it disbanded about ďŹ ve years ago due to a lack of resources in the county, Copeland said.

Since Hyattsville’s homicide cases

Lying dormant

city with a bullet proof vest and an armored car.�

Gardiner said the city is working with Pepco to repair lighting throughout the city and he is asking for funding for Emergency Call Boxes in the upcoming 2008 budget.

“bring us back more to the neighborhood level,� Holland said.

The team, also known as CAT, is still in its infancy stages, said CAT supervisor Sgt. Suzie Johnson.

The team includes Johnson and three officers. Another of the team’s responsibilities is to work closely with Neighborhood Watch groups and similar community organizations to come up with solutions to issues brought to the teams’ attention, Holland said.

Any Hyattsville citizen who has a concern can contact CAT about it, Johnson said, adding that the team will then go out and evaluate the situation. The team recently handled a neighborhood issue with parking, Johnson said. The team

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The vast majority of crimes in Hyattsville relate to shoplifting, according to weekly police reports.

The police department is working on ways to curb that trend through initiatives like Safe Cities, a program that awakens local commercial areas to the possibility of crime through, emergency call boxes for commercial areas and a Web-based crime alert system. It could include closed-circuit TV, emergency call boxes, an e-mail alert system, and red light and speed cameras.

And though the city has increased spending to target crime and to boost the police force over the past several years, some say the eorts are not enough. “It’s not out there on the street that the shootings, the bad crimes, are not happening up at Target and Old Navy, etc., they’re happening

Making a change

area of the city, or if there is a house on a block that causes problems for neighbors, the team can help resolve community concerns about those issues, he said.

The point of the team is to

'Any Hyattsville citizen who has a concern can contact CAT about it.'

area of the city, Holland said.

The team can focus on a range of problems. For example, if there is a spike of robberies in a specific

continued from page 1

rying Hyattsville residents.

Joseph Owen is a visually impaired resident who has been the victim of crime of another sort — bullying. “[Recently] I left Giant and had two boys throw bottles at me,â€? he said, adding that he has also been victimized in this manner at CVS, where he normally feels comfortable shopping because of a police presence. “I don’t go onto Hamilton [Street] to Aldi’s to shop during the days because I get [harassed],â€? he said. “We’re very vulnerable ‌ But I don’t want to be a victim of a crime.â€?

Safety

he growth and development of commercial areas in Hyattsville have increased the workload of the city’s police department, allowing for less preventative work and more responsive requirements. “We’ve become more of a reactionary police department,� said Hyattsville Police Chief Douglas Holland, adding that he’d like to see his force become more active in preventing the crime they are now having to respond to.

The Community Action Team was Holland’s answer to this problem. The team, which was formed at the beginning of March, takes officers out of routine patrol squads and focuses them on a particular

T

by Lauren Gardner

HPD forms new task force

Community in action

Hyattsville Life&Times | May 2008

site by the HPD, there have been 10 homicides in Hyattsville over the past ďŹ ve years. That number includes the Manorwood shootings There have also been several attempted homicides and other major crimes, including three incidents in September — October 2006 where drivers were shot in their cars by occupants of other cars. None of the victims died as a result of their injuries.

There were four reported sexual assaults/ rapes during the time frame reported on. There were ďŹ ve reported stabbings.

courthouse — something that is concerning local merchants. “We’re just trying to find ways to be proactive as opposed to being reactive [to crimes in the city],�

Johnson said.

Hyattsville residents can e-mail concerns to the Community Action Team at sjohnson@hyattsville.org.

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— and those of other municipalities — are handled at the county level, open murder cases are assigned to individual oďŹƒcers and are worked until they are solved, Copeland said. “[We] want a dierent set of eyes to look at the cases,â€? he said. .“Me as an oďŹƒcer, I’ll be honest, I get frustrated with the homicide rate,â€? he said, adding that while some other types of crime have been reduced, the homicide rate in the county has not.

According to weekly crime reports provided on the city’s Web-

held a community meeting with neighbors on that particular street to come to an agreement.

Members of the community have sent Johnson several cases to consider for her team, she said.

One she received Tuesday concerns a speeding issue on U.S. Route 1 near the Prince George’s County

Sgt. Suzie Johnson, supervisor of Hyattsville's Community Action Team, inputs data into a computer at her office last month.

Page 13

hen the City of Hyattsville annexed the University Hills neighborhood last July it also began the enforcement of a provision that a parked car’s right tires must be next to the curb.

While many see this as an undue burden, it is a clear violation of the City Code and most residents (including this writer) have since dutifully, if not begrudgingly, fallen into line.

There are instances, however, when $35 parking tickets issued before dawn draw the ire of residents who park their cars as they have always done. One recent

W

morning, University Hills resident Alexandra Carter awoke to find tickets on her car and the car of her guest for “parking on the grass or sidewalk.”

Carter was confused as there is no sidewalk on her street and her

car didn’t appear to be on the grass. Her right tires were on the gently sloping curb so as to be closest to the side of her narrow street as possible. She took a picture of her car and a few days later went to the police station to seek clarification.

Since the picture was not taken at the time the ticket was issued, it was irrelevant as evidence but the officers at the desk passed it around and, according to Carter, each determined that he would not issue a ticket under those circumstances. Both Carter and her friend intend to challenge the citations in court.

According to Hyattsville Police Chief Douglas Holland, the officer who wrote the citation stated that the vehicle in question was partially on the grass and that since he was not at the scene when the ticket was issued, he could not determine its validity.

“Cases like these are why we

by Tim Hunt

From The Hills

Residents face parking challenge

Page 14

his work on the Public Safety and Fiscal Management Committee regarding his support of increases to the county income tax, the telecommunications tax (which will be brought to a voter referendum), and the title recordation tax.

(Concerning some residents was the fact that Campos repeatedly referred to the increase in the income tax rate as an increase in “property tax.” When questioned about this, Campos stated that he realized his mistake the next day and apologized for any confusion caused).

Congratulations are in order for University Hills resident Emily Fetter for her role as the closing attorney on the University of Maryland team in the American Mock Trial Association’s national collegiate competition in Minneapolis.

In a mock trial, students pose as attorneys and argue a case before a panel of judges. The University of Maryland team beat the team from George Washington University in the final round to win the yearly competition for the fifth time, more than any other school.

This spring, Fetter will be graduating summa cum laude with a degree in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland’s honors program and looks forward to starting law school at Harvard in the fall.

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have judges and district courts to make final decisions based on the evidence that is presented to them,” Holland stated in an e-mail.

There have been other instances where residents have parked as they have been accustomed to and have found tickets on their vehicles. It seems unfortunate that seemingly minor and sometimes debatable infractions need to be punished with a fine instead of a warning.

But, on the other hand, University Hills residents are grateful for the attention to the neighborhood otherwise given by the city police.

At the April meeting of the University Hills Area Civic Association, Sgt. Suzie Johnson, supervisor of the HPD’s Community Action Team, responded to residents who had questions and concerns ranging from auto theft to nuisance ice cream trucks. Many residents also took advantage of the free steering wheel locks being given away courtesy of the police.

Prince George’s County Councilman Will Campos (D-Dist. 2) also addressed residents who attended the meeting about improvements coming to the neighborhood. Those improvements include a fountain for the Duck Pond and a sidewalk down the county-maintained side of Stanford Street. In addition to that news, Campos addressed

Hyattsville Life&Times | May 2008

by Sarah Nemeth

Editor's Opinion

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hen it comes to due diligence, the Hyattsville Police Department has proven itself to be top-notch, continually improving upon an already outstanding record of concern and credibility.

The HPD, which has, 40 sworn positions and 12 civilian positions authorized, also boasts a computerized Records and Communications Center, a Patrol Division, a Criminal Investigation Section, a K-9 Unit, Bicycle Patrols, Crime Prevention Programs and a Tactical Team.

In late March, four residents were shot during a robbery on Manorwood Drive. Two of them were fatally wounded. A woman was sexually assaulted just a few days before the homicides occurred.

In mid-February, a Howard University student allegedly shot and killed a man at the Towers at University Town Center.

Although Prince George’s County police handle homicide investigations that occur in Hyattsville, our police department showed a valiant attitude through its speedy arrival to and initial handling of the crime scenes.

Adding to its credit, the HPD held two community safety meetings within two weeks of the March 26 shootings, working to allay residents fears and calm community unrest over the matter.

Several members of the HPD helped residents understand what occurred and how the local police jurisdictions were pursuing the crime.

Officers and Chief Douglas Holland patiently offered interactive presentations on personal safety and neighborhood watch programs, and candidly offered information about the city’s crime statistics for the past few years.

There’s been talk of the HPD being stretched thin due to the city’s expansion through the annexations of the Mall at Prince George’s and the University Hills subdivision. Still, I know the cops are out there – I hear them every night zooming past my bedroom window facing Hamilton Street. The cars fly down the one-way street, the sirens screech and the lights blaze. Sure, the noise wakes me up. Sure, it makes all the neighborhood hounds howl. And yes, hearing this type of noise on a daily basis (and often several times daily) makes me worry about the amount of crime in our fair city.

But it also makes me feel safe. I know that a sturdy, accredited police force is out there working to ensure that my streets are safe.

And so the sirens, lights and speeding police cars have become a calming force.

City police on best behavior

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Hyattsville Life&Times | May 2008

A

tions for a service project he could complete in order to fulfill 40 community service hours before his spring graduation from DeMatha Catholic High School. Aistis suggested he spend time with Friendship Arms residents, particularly the men who often did not socialize outside their rooms.

He began to engage residents in various games, such as checkers, chess and dominoes. He also helped residents establish poker games.

“They got a lot out of [Rosanova’s] energy and his commitment to getting residents involved,” said Daniel Richardson, volunteer coordinator at Friendship Arms.

“We need more young men like Santino.”

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Directions: From I-495 East, take Exit 28 (New Hampshire Avenue South.) Continue to second traffic light and turn left onto Adelphi Road. Cross University Blvd. and continue to a right onto Belcrest Road.

University Town Center is ahead on the left. Follow signs to designated parking areas.

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s a Hyattsville parent, John Aquilino wanted to do his part for his community’s children.

High school senior Santino Rosanova needed to complete community service hours in order to graduate.

Neither expected, or needed, their volunteer work to be rewarded with any kind of recognition. However both received honors on April 18 at the Prince George’s Volunteer Center 2008 Affair of the Heart Gala and Silent Auction.

The center acts as a link between individuals seeking volunteer work and organizations seeking volunteers. It has 450 agencies and 2,000

people registered in its database, said Teresa Gardner-Williams, executive director of the center.

Hyattsville Volunteer Coordinator Colleen Aistis nominated the Hyattsville residents for recognition. “What they did was pretty spectacular,” she said.

Aquilino received the Bernie Nees Unsung Hero Award, an award given to citizens who serve their community without drawing attention to themselves.

Aquilino was recognized for his work with Friendship Arms retirement community, which he helped get access to local food banks.

Rosanova, who received the center's Youth Award, approached Aistis last fall in need of sugges-

Volunteers honored for service

by Vicki Kriz

Page 15

Hyattsville Life&Times | May 2008

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