Learning from the nest by Paula Minaert
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hey happen daily—the traditional signs of fall. Yellow school buses zoom by and crossing guards in orange vests wave pupils walking across streets. But not all of Hyattsville’s children ride a bus or walk to a school building for education. Some of them are taught by their parents in what is called home schooling—though it doesn’t all happen at home. Some children take classes in specific topics taught by private teachers or take part in college programs geared to younger students. According to Lynn McCawley, spokesperson for Prince George’s County Schools, the Hyattsville area - which includes University Park, Adelphi, and Colmar Manor - has 194 children being home schooled. As of August 2008, the whole county listed 4,189 home schooled students. The county requires that home schooling families either register their children and get approval for their work for them, or register with an accredited program. Why do home schooling parents do it? “We did it for freedom of choice,” said John Snogren. “We wanted to be able to focus our sons’ education.” Snogren’s older son is now majoring in performing arts at the University of Maryland, and John and his wife Valerie stressed music in his studies. His younger son is interested in medicine, and he’ll soon be
Vol. 5 No. 10
by Karen Anderson
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obile vendors operating throughout Hyattsville will be held to stricter standards since the City Council adopted a policy to regulate the location and times allowed for vending and increase fines for violators. During a meeting on Sept.15, in an 8-2 vote the Hyattsville City Council passed an ordinance to tighten limitations on mobile vendors effective Oct. 15. A week later the council voted 6-4 to stall the implementation of the ordinance in designated parts of Hyattsville until Oct. 15, 2009. As a result, the council determined that the six trucks currently vending pupusas with city-issued permits on the 5600th block of Ager Road may continue to do so until the fall of 2009 as long as they do not create traffic or safety concerns. All other vendors must meet the restrictions
ORDINANCE continued on page 14
Hyattsville’s Community Newspaper
October 2008
Ordinance limits mobile wending within city
A man seeks donations at the corner of Chillum and Queens Chapel roads.
‘A way of interacting’ New café with artistic bent opens on Route 1
HOMESCHOOLING continued on page 12
by Lauren Cohen
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Hyattsville Life & Times PO Box 132 Hyattsville, MD 20781
hode Island Reds, with its bright red décor, red booths, red curtains, red floor and high ceilings, is both unique and familiar, and local Chris Brophy is eager to serve customers and receive their feedback. It may have taken a lot of work and quite a bit of time, but Reds, a café on Rhode Island Avenue brought to life by Brophy and friend Stuart Eisenberg, is officially open. “Your way of interacting just sets you apart from other places,” customer Marci LeFevre told Brophy one Friday morning in the coffee shop located near the North Brentwood border. Brophy, who has previously
Photo: Sarah Nemeth
worked mostly in what he refers to as trade professions, is still in the process of developing the café and figuring out what the public wants. “I don’t really feel like I need to hit the ground running,” Brophy said. “I can sort of find my way I think, and treat it like a work in progress.” As much as Brophy has put into getting Reds started, his friend Stuart Eisenberg was a catalyst for getting the café’s doors open. Eisenberg originally purchased the property for his woodworking studio, but when he became busy with other responsibilities he decided to sell the building. He struck a deal with Brophy, who fixed up the building
RHODE ISLAND REDS continued on page 13
Hamilton Street to see improvements in ‘09 by Maria Zilberman PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit # 43 Easton, MD 21601
T Chris Brophy enjoys a moment at his new restaurant, Rhode Island Reds, a café on U.S. Route 1. Photo: Lauren Cohen
he City of Hyattsville plans to have a final design for Hamilton Street improvements by the end of this month, with construction potentially beginning in early spring. Jim Chandler, Hyattsville’s
Community Development Manager, said the improvements would first address issues of pedestrian safety, followed by arts-oriented developments that pay tribute to the city’s artistic heritage.
HAMILTON STREET continued on page 13
Included: The October 8, 2008 Issue of The Hyattsville Reporter—See Center Section