CAFRITZ CONTROVERSY
ON THE ROOFTOP
SURVEY RESULTS
Plus updates on University Town Center, J. Marie’s, Tara Thai and more. PAGES 5-7
Local police ascend Dunkin’ Donuts to raise money for Special Olympics. PAGE 3
This summer, a randomly selected sample of Hyattsville residents rated the city on trash, traffic and parks. Learn more about it. PAGE 12
Weather hits area schools’ calendars the hardest by Susie Currie
Before August 23, many area residents had never experienced an earthquake. So it was understandable that they were shaken in more ways than one that afternoon just before 2 p.m., when the 5.8 magnitude tremor sent shock waves through much of the East Coast. In Hyattsville, shuddering floors and swaying light fixtures sent several neighbors outdoors, where the bright sunlight belied the disastermovie feel as they asked each other “Was that …?” and “Did you feel …?” others turned to social media sites for confirmation, especially after overloaded phone lines rendered both cell phones and land lines temporarily useless. locally, the biggest casualties seemed to be part of a brick chimney and some fragile household items. though two aging apartment buildings in temple Hills were condemned, no serious injuries and only 34 power outages were reported in the county. It was a different story that
Hyattsville Life&Times
Vol. 8 No. 9
Hyattsville’s Community Newspaper
City council has long to-do list by Paula Minaert
At the initiative of Mayor Marc tartaro, the city council (with staff input) is developing a list of priorities for the near future. tartaro said he thinks it’s the most important task facing the council.
“Until we start working through what we have to do, we’re playing catch up.” Councilmember nicole Hinds Mofor (Ward 5) sees the list as a good idea. “I think we’re in the process of shortening the list to make it achiev-
able. Having a list, it gives us goals to achieve. that way we’re not doing everything that comes across our desk.” While the list is being finalized, here are some major projects the council has been working on.
HIrINg A HuMAN rESOurcES MANAgEr Several council members put this item at the top of the todo list. last month’s Hl&t council continued on page 12
tHE SHoPPES At ARtS DIStRICt HYATTSVIllE
Center to add frame shop, more dining by Susie Currie
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit # 43 Easton, MD 21601
WEATHER continued on page 13
shirley fisher
Hyattsville Life & Times PO Box 132 Hyattsville, MD 20781
September 2011
DIGGING IT:
A look at the community garden’s first season
Camille Fabiyi, Tyler Cahall and Jan Martinez reach for a squash grown in the community garden. See more pictures on page 11.
This month, the big news at this retail area at the intersection of Route 1 and Jefferson Street will be the Fourth Annual Downtown Hyattsville Arts Festival on September 24 [see Community Calendar, p. 8 for details]. But under the radar, the center continues to make news as more shops join the mix and sign on as tenants. August 29 was the grand opening of the long-awaited Yes! Organic Market. With good lighting, clean floors, beautiful produce and a large selection – the list of fermented beverages includes kombucha, beer and wine – it should appeal both to co-op and chain grocery shoppers. Also open in August was The Big Bad Woof, offering, according to its motto, “essentials for the socially conscious pet.” They don’t sell actual pets, as some fishseeking local children were disappointed to learn, but do team up with local shelters to promote adoption. The next event, with a Greenbelt animal shelter, is
DEVELOPMENT IN HYATTSVILLE scheduled for September 24 and helps kick off the shop’s Grand opening Week, with giveaways, product demos and special events through october 1. By the time you read this, Tara Thai may be open for business. It will be the 11th branch of the restaurant in the Washington metropolitan area, and the first in Prince George’s County. “The county is underserved with ethnic food,” says owner nick Srisawat, a native of Thailand. County permits and inspections have delayed the launch for “three or four months,” he says, but the restaurant should be in business by mid to late September, “unless something unexpected comes up.” The next business on the horizon is Frame Savvy, right beside Essential Day Spa. “We hope to open by the end of october,” says owner Cheryl Fountain of Mount ADH continued on page 5
Included: The September 14, 2011 Issue of The Hyattsville Reporter — See Center Section