02-2022 Hyattsville Life & Times

Through a hard winter, teachers hang on

By Mark Betancourt

On Dec. 20, 2021, the day Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) went virtual, nearly 10% of the county’s teachers were out sick, according to a PGCPS official. Schools have struggled to find substitutes to take their places, adding to the mounting strain on educators.

“So many people are talking about leaving,” said Sheri, a veteran elementary school teacher. Out of concern for her job, she, like several other Hyattsville-area teachers and administrators quoted in

City supports county climate plan, opposes flood plain

development

By Rebecca Marx

On Jan. 14, the Prince George’s Climate Action Commission submitted a draft climate action plan (CAP) to the county council for consideration, along with a report containing public comments on the plan.

Hyattsville mourns Mayor Kevin Ward

By Kit Slack

On a rainy Friday, the City of Hyattsville said goodbye to Mayor Kevin Louis “Scooter” Ward, who died of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound on Jan. 25, at the age of 44. A celebration of Ward’s life took place at the First United Methodist Church of Hyattsville, Ward’s church, on Feb. 4.

Ward’s cousin Tim Ward, of Dallas, Texas, offered the first reflection. He spoke of Kevin’s mother, who raised him alone, and of her hard work for her son. “Kevin never wanted for anything,” he said. He spoke of Kevin’s heartbreak at his mother’s death nearly four years ago. He said Kevin embodied “the family creed of putting others before ourselves.” To Kevin’s two sons, Tim said, “You should really

be proud of your dad; he really loved you guys … you were his greatest joy. Call on us for anything you need.”

Mourners and friends shared stories. Jon Huber knew Ward from the Rotary Youth Leadership Association camp, which Ward attended as a teen and supported throughout his life. Huber told of coming to Ward after losing a four-year football

A funeral procession for the mayor, with police escort, visited each Hyattsville ward on

MY TWO CENTS

Hyattsville: The Anacostia River starts here

By Becki Young

As a longtime resident of Hyattsville, I am embarrassed to admit I always thought the Anacostia River was located in the Anacostia neighborhood of Washington, D.C. And I never connected the “creek” where I sometimes walk my dogs with that river.

In fact, the main stem of the Anacostia starts where the Northwest and Northeast branches meet, just a few hundred feet south of the city’s southernmost point.

What I thought was a creek is the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia, a 19-mile stream that starts in Montgomery County, near Sandy Spring, and flows south and finally through Hyattsville, passing alongside the University Hills Duck Pond Park, the Kirkwood Neighborhood Park, the West Hyattsville Metro, the 38th Avenue Neighborhood Park, Driskell Park and the Melrose Skatepark, before converging with the Northeast Branch.

One of the dedicated groups working to protect and restore the 176-square mile geograph-

ic area that makes up the Anacostia River Watershed (in other words, the area of land that ultimately drains into the Anacostia) is the Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS), located less than a quarter-mile from Hyattsville, at the George Washington House historic site, in Bladensburg.

The fact that all of Hyattsville is within the Anacostia River Watershed, and that the confluence of this historic river is nearby, has important implications for Hyattsville residents both in terms of recreation and conservation.

Recreation-wise, the 7-mile Northwest Branch Trail, a paved trail for walkers, bikers, inline skaters and even horseback riders, starts near the head of the Anacostia River, at Baltimore Avenue (U.S. Route 1) and Charles Armentrout Drive in Hyattsville, and runs along the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia to Silver Spring.

The 1-mile (0.9 mile to be precise) Levee Trail is a lesser known trail following the levee on the south side of the Northwest Branch. The trail starts in the 38th Avenue neighborhood in Hyattsville and stops

abruptly, just short of Route 1 (Rhode Island Avenue). The east end of the trail is not accessible; to get to Route 1, you must walk over a small grassy area and cross a guardrail.

The Bladensburg Waterfront Park offers hiking and biking trails, a boat ramp and a fishing pier. To really explore the Anacostia, visitors can rent kayaks and canoes April through October.

On the topic of conservation, the Anacostia sometimes seems to be the stepchild of D.C.-area rivers. The watershed was originally inhabited by the Nacotchtank people (from whom the river gets its name); the arrival of European settlers in the 17th century signaled the gradual decline of the river and its watershed, due to development and pollution.

With the help of committed environmental organizations such as AWS, the river has started to make a comeback.

A recent inventory of species, called a BioBlitz, counted over 500 unique wild species, including numerous rare and endangered species. The river hosts bald eagles, beavers,

ospreys, cormorants, white perch, striped bass, crayfish, herons, turtles, egrets, otters, red fox, shad, kingfishers, catfish and even mussels! One species of particular interest is the acuminate crayfish (Cambarus acuminatus), a species of crayfish whose stronghold in the State of Maryland is our very own Northwest Branch.

The AWS has as its goal the restoration of the Anacostia to “a swimmable and fishable river by 2025.” The organization is working to preserve this precious local resource with a variety of initiatives.

The City of Hyattsville and local environmental groups are also hard at work to keep the river clean and safe. In September 2019, the city commissioned a stormwater management study to address the issue of untreated stormwater runoff from Lower Ward 1 making its way directly into the Anacostia River.

Local residents play a crucial role in preserving the river through actions that promote stormwater management.

Homeowners can make a huge difference in helping to achieve the goal of a swimmable and

fishable Anacostia River by installing projects on their properties that filter, capture and reuse stormwater. Examples of such green infrastructure projects include green roofs, rain gardens, rain barrels and pervious pavement (pervious asphalt, pervious concrete, interlocking pavers and plastic grid pavers that allow rain and snowmelt to seep through the surface down to underlying layers of soil and gravel).

Residents can have a large impact with the seemingly simple act of planting a garden, or by replacing lawns with native plants and mini-meadows. Sensible use of road salt is also a critical issue.

Hyattsville residents can receive technical assistance and funding for green infrastructure projects through the Prince George’s County Rain Check Rebate program.

Becki Young is a Hyattsville resident who recently joined a master naturalist program sponsored by the Anacostia Watershed Society.

Surface pressure: Local therapists support teens

By Heather Wright

Even before the pandemic, the decline in the mental health of adolescents was concerning. Between 2009 and 2019, the share of U.S. high school students who reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness increased by 40%, to more than 1 in 3 students, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Some studies attribute the decline in mental health, at least in part, to dramatically increased social media exposure and smartphone use among teens.

The pandemic has made it worse. In May 2020, emergency visits for suspected suicide attempts began to increase among adolescents aged 12–17, according to the CDC. And the Maryland Youth Pandemic Behavior Survey 2021 indicated that approximately 1 in 5 Maryland teens reported seriously considering suicide in the past year.

“We were already in a mental health crisis before COVID[-19], but it just wasn’t being talked about,” emphasized Dr. Linda McGhee, a clinical psychologist and president of the Maryland Psychological Association.

Jonaki Sanyal is a counselor at Chelsea School, on Belcrest Drive, which serves middle and high school students with language-based learning disorders. In an email, she said she observed considerable

grief, depression and anxiety among her students, “as teens had to make sense of the very fraught years preceding the pandemic.” She noted that students’ struggles intensified when the pandemic hit: “Those who were learning to manage anxiety now had to toggle to find an appropriate amount of anxiety to feel!”

TEENS ESPECIALLY SUSCEPTIBLE

McGhee said that adolescents have been particularly impacted by the pandemic for several reasons. “They’re developing resilience. They’re developing organizational skills. They’re developing a sense of who they are as individuals. They’re starting to think about their place in the world … about their careers,” she explained. “And all of these things have now been interrupted.” During the pandemic, adolescents have missed countless opportunities for social interactions and to practice trial-and-error decision making.

“[Adolescence] is a precursor to the ‘launch phase,’ a time of developing independence just before our maturing children leave home and face the world,” said Sean Delehant, a local psychotherapist. “With the restrictions brought on by COVID[-19] … instead of having increased opportunities to be with their peers, they are offered less.”

INCREASING SEVERITY, NEED FOR SUPPORT

Dr. Sarah Wayland is the founder and owner of the Riverdale-based Guiding Exceptional Parents, and she works with local families, educators and therapists. “The mental health crisis that our teens and young adults are facing right now cannot be overstated,” Wayland wrote in an email. “Kids are really struggling.

I’m seeing more school refusal than I have ever before seen. More admissions to hospital psychiatric units. More severe depression. More suicidal ideation. More self-injury. Our kids are navigating so much uncertainty right now, and they are afraid about the future.”

Folake Aloba, a psychiatric nurse practitioner and director of services at Covenant Psychiatric Services, on Hamilton Street, observed, “I’ve seen a surge in teenage depression, anxiety and even psychosis.” Delahant said the concerns and symptoms he has seen most in his adolescent clients during the pandemic are substance misuse, emotional volatility, feelings of isolation and sadness, family conflict and struggles with school.

Aloba said that Covenant has seen more than a 50% increase in teenage referrals. Sanyal increased the length and number of sessions for her Chelsea School students and included additional sessions for crisis support. She has also offered more virtual support outside of office hours to better meet students’ emotional needs.

Delehant, along with several other practitioners, noted that many clinicians have had full caseloads. “I’ve had difficulty referring clients to other clinicians because so many professionals are maxed out,” he

“The mental health crisis that our teens and young adults are facing right now cannot be overstated. Kids are really struggling. ... Our kids are navigating so much uncertainty right now, and they are afraid about the future.”

Dr. Sarah Wayland founder of Guiding Exceptional Parents

Hyatts KIDS

Created by contributors in grades K-8, the HyattsKIDS Life & Times features local news, columns and comics from our city’s youngest journalists. This special February issue features artwork from some of our town’s up and coming student artists. Would you like to see your art or writing on our page? Contact adult adviser Mary Frances Jiménez: mf_jimenez@yahoo.com.

INSPIRATIONS: “GROUND

By Magdalena York

My name is Magdalena (no one really calls me that, though; I typically go by Maggie instead), and I am in seventh grade at Greenbelt Middle School. I’ve always enjoyed drawing in my free time, so when the opportunity to share my art piece in the 2021 Park and Planning Nature Arts Contest arose, I took it! My artwork won first place in the Drawing category.

I got my inspiration from a squirrel, as you can clearly tell. I noticed this squirrel on a hike, thought it was beautiful, and decided to draw it. To actually draw the squirrel, I used colored pencils (Twistables; only the best) and watercolors for the background. Also, I’d like to give a shoutout to my out-of-this-world science teacher Ms. Smalls, who convinced me to enter the contest in the first place. You’re pretty darn cool.

BY

“ROBOT”

BY TAFARI MARKOS, AGE 5, FRIENDS COMMUNITY SCHOOL

“GYM

BY HAZEL HAYASHI,

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL

INSPIRATIONS: HADEAR MOHAMMED’S “THE PROCESS”

By Genevieve Poynton, age 12

I spoke with HaDear Mohammed, a 14-year-old artist and Hyattsville Middle School student, about the artwork she shared with HyattsKIDS. HaDear’s piece, “The Process,” is a painting she made on a thin canvas. She used a marbling technique in the background, and the painting took her about a day. HaDear told me that, like most of her art, she made the painting “just for fun.” She said, “When I drew over it, I wanted to just because I’d never done that before.” HaDear’s favorite thing to draw is eyes.

“GROUND SQUIRREL”

BY MAGGIE YORK, AGE 13, GREENBELT MIDDLE SCHOOL

SQUIRREL”

“MANTIS FAMILY PORTRAIT”

PARKER W. JOHNSON, AGE 16, NORTHWESTERN HIGH SCHOOL

CLASS”

AGE 15,

“THE PROCESS” BY HADEAR MOHAMMED, AGE 13, HYATTSVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL

Yvonne W. Penn: Community leader and Black History Month role model

By Joanne Turner

During Black History Month, we at the Hyattsville Life & Times wanted to recognize one of the many Black leaders in Hyattsville. We chose the Rev. Dr. Yvonne W. Penn, senior pastor with First United Methodist Church of Hyattsville (FUMCH), Penn has pastored the church since 2015, having previously served churches in Delaware and on the Eastern Shore.

Growing up in Philadelphia, Penn was president of her high school’s Carter G. Woodson Club. Woodson was a historian and dean at Howard University and is credited with establishing Negro History Week, in 1926, which evolved into Black History Month in 1976. Woodson reportedly chose February because it marks the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.

Penn’s parents were her greatest mentors. “My parents firmly believed that we were created to care for each other — I believe that as well,” said Penn during a recent interview. “When it comes down to Black History Month, it’s precious to me.”

Her parents were both involved in the civil rights movement. Penn recounted how her mother would volunteer at their church when the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was in town. While her mother was in the church making sandwiches, Penn would be outside playing. “I didn’t quite understand it, but I knew that someone of this magnitude was coming, that a lot of people would be there to hear this champion,” she said.

Her high school teacher Mrs. Young was another strong influence on her. Penn noted how Young would consistently tell her, “There is greatness in you, and you can do anything!”

Penn attended historically Black universities during her undergraduate and graduate studies, receiving her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Union University, in Richmond, Va., and her master of divinity from Howard University School of Divinity. She went on to receive a doctorate of divinity from United Theological Seminary, in Dayton, Ohio, in 2014.

Penn is more focused on serving her community than on conveying a list of degrees, though. “The [list of] schools I’ve attended is not important,” she said. “Here’s what’s important: it’s what we do for our brothers and our sisters.”

Penn was ordained an elder in the Peninsula Delaware Conference of the United Methodist

Church in 1997. She served as senior pastor of St. Luke United Methodist Church in Cambridge, Md., for 13 years before becoming the senior pastor at FUMCH. The church is more than 220 years old, and its multicultural community currently has over a thousand members, according to Penn.

FUMCH’s mission statement is “One church, many cultures, going out in mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ.”

When the pandemic started, Penn immediately wondered how the church could respond and serve the community. “When COVID[-19] came on the scene, and we saw all these people getting sick, I went into prayer,” she said. “I asked God, ‘What can we do as the body of Christ to help?’

I nagged the county, saying, ‘We want a testing site! We need a vaccine site!’”

The city eventually approached FUMCH, asking if the church would host a testing site, which they did; the site opened in June 2020. In March 2021, the church started hosting regular vaccination clinics, as well. The church’s response to the pandemic echoes one of Penn’s favorite Bible verses, Matthew 21:22: “And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”

Penn and FUMCH have maintained strong relationships with the city and its officials. “God has

put greatness in the City of Hyattsville’s elected officials and administrators. I think that’s why I love them so much,” said Penn.

Penn officiated at Mayor Kevin Ward’s funeral service, held at FUMCH on Feb. 4. Prior to the service, Penn said, “[Ward] was a disciple of Jesus Christ. He cared about the people of this city. He loved the people. We have lost a great friend.”

When asked about challenges she and the church have faced, Penn responded, “I look at wherever I am; I’m where God would want me to be. I think there is more that we can do as the body of Christ. I thank God for being able to do some of it, which is helping to feed the poor.”

During the interview, Penn said that sometimes we all feel that we’ve done all we can do, which may lead us to a standstill. But, she emphasized, there is so much more greatness that God has in store for us. And when we can’t see it, ourselves, someone else may see it in us and push us towards greatness. “There is something special in you, in me and every single person in the city,” she added.

According to FUMCH’s website, Penn sees her roles as mother to one daughter and son-in-law, and grandmother to four grandsons as her highest honor. “We were sent to take care of each other!” she declared.

The Rev. Dr. Yvonne W. Penn has been the senior pastor of First United Methodist Church of Hyattsville since July 2015. COURTESY OF FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF HYATTSVILLE

For more information contact Bro. Darren at 301-351-8627

NATURE NEARBY

Baby, it’s cold outside

By Fred Seitz

Ithink the headline of this February column accurately reflects much of our local weather this winter. However, I have seen a few folks walking around in shorts and T-shirts when my wife and I were bundled in multiple layers — and even my mutt was walking quickly, straining to get back to our warm house. Just as we humans may experience the same temperature in a variety of ways, we use quite a variety of terms to describe the temperature, and in ways that are sometimes confusing.

Every morning I read the temperature on my thermometer and assess what kind of jacket or other protective garb to wear — I’m hardly alone in this habit. But what, exactly, am I reading, and how? Most thermometers show the ambient air temperature, of course. Outdoor thermometers can be liquid, dial or digital. Liquid thermometers used to use mercury; now, for safety reasons, they use nontoxic alcohol. Dial thermometers use a bimetal spring, one made of two different metals that expand or contract at different temperatures and are welded together. Digital thermometers are frequently multifunctional and may also measure humidity, barometric pressure and wind speed. Plunging the thermometer in ice water is a good way of assessing its accuracy — how close is it to 32 degrees F?

Where you place a thermometer can influence readings — sun and shade are factors. Years ago, when I attended some National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather watcher classes, I learned that thermometers measure most accurately if they’re in the shade.

As we read a thermometer, we may notice how

much the trees are moving in the wind, too, and wonder about the wind chill factor. We might even wonder about the wind chill temperature, which may sound far more ominous than our humble thermometer’s initial reading.

The practice of using wind chill temperatures was developed, in part, to help folks avoid frostbite, which is indeed painful and can damage limbs and exposed skin. The term “wind chill” originated with two Antarctica scientists, who undoubtedly had some chillier experiences than most Hyattsvillians will ever have. Multiplying the wind speed by 0.7 and subtracting that value from the ambient temperature will give you the approximate wind chill temperature.

And then we have the “feels like” temperature (which is sometimes referred to as the apparent SEE NATURE NEARBY ON 13 

¡FONDOS DE EMERGENCIA DISPONIBLES!

La Ciudad de Hyattsville tiene $17 9M en dinero federal para apoyar a nuestra comunidad

Una parte de los fondos se asignará a las necesidades de ayuda de emergencia para residentes y negocios de Hyattsville a principios de 2022

La ayuda de emergencia puede incluir, pero no se limita a:

Asistencia de vivienda y facturas

Asistencia alimentaria Alivio para negocios y organizaciones Otra cosa: ¡comparta sus ideas!

¿CÓMO PUEDEN LOS FONDOS DE RESCATE AYUDAR A NUESTRA COMUNIDAD?

Hay varias formas para compartir sus ideas. Las respuestas deben ser sometidas antes del 11 de febrero de 2022. Complete la forma en hyattsville.org/rescueplan*

O

Deje un mensaje de voz al (301) 985-5039*

O

Asista a una reunión pública. Fechas en hyattsville org/calendar

*Las respuestas son anónimas

Los fondos solo están disponibles para los residentes de la Ciudad de Hyattsville. Verifique si su dirección está en la Ciudad en hyattsville.org/rescueplan

ESCANEE PARA MÁS INFORMACIÓN

This year, the D.C. area experienced its coldest January since 2014. PEXELS.COM

said, noting that he was spending as much as three to four hours a week with some clients to help them avoid hospitalization.

HIGHLIGHTING INEQUITIES

McGhee emphasized that the pandemic has hit some families especially hard, including families of color, those earning less than $75,000 and those with only one caregiver.

Susana Molina is a mental health therapist with Mi Refugio, a program based at Northwestern High School that supports the school’s immigrant and Latino populations. She said that most students in the program have few, if any, family members in the U.S. Molina observed that students were hit particularly hard in the early stages of the pandemic. “A lot of them were coming with that worry, and, in some instances, with the news that they had lost parents, grandparents, siblings, close relatives,” she said. “So we

were dealing with the grief that came with anxiety, that came with depression, it came with PTSD, and, overall, just emotional instability.”

“The pandemic highlighted existing inequities and different access to space and need for inperson support,” Sanyal noted.

“When going virtual, some [Chelsea School] students had to adapt quickly to new responsibilities, now in charge of getting themselves to virtual school and keeping on task, sometimes getting siblings logged in and on task as well.”

DEVELOPING RESILIENCE, COPING SKILLS, AWARENESS

Most responding clinicians have observed their clients developing more coping skills and resilience. While some of Mi Refugio’s clients have experienced considerable family conflict during the pandemic, Molina noted, “We have had cases where the students have strengthened their relationships with their siblings, with their parents or their guardians.”

Sanyal and Delehant also de-

scribed teens developing closer family connections. Sanyal pointed to a host of other ways her students have coped. “My artists and writers of the bunch channel their feelings and experiences through their mediums,” she explained. “Some learned to meditate, some began running, others started their own at-home cosmetics and nail salon businesses.”

Sanyal and Molina both noted that students have become more willing to seek help. “Some just started talking!” Sanyal said. She added that students have been developing “the coping skill of knowing when to reach out to the counselor … learning to use their voices and express themselves.”

McGhee recommends that parents of adolescents prioritize their children’s mental health over academics for now. Encourage them to reconnect with friends or to replace relationships that have been severed during the pandemic, she said. She also recommended that parents think creatively about plans for the summer in ways that can bolster mental health and increase socialization.

Hyattsville Reporter the

Remembering the Honorable Mayor Ward

The City of Hyattsville continues to mourn the passing of the Honorable Mayor Kevin “Scooter” Ward. Mayor Ward was a pillar of our community and dedicated himself to improving life for all Hyattsville residents during his 7+ years as an elected official. He was laid to rest on February 4 with a funeral service at the First United Methodist Church followed by a procession with police escort throughout Hyattsville. A tribute to the Mayor can be found at hyattsville.org/mayorward.

In honor of Mayor Ward, City flags will remain at half-mast and the lights at Hyatt Park and the City Building are lit the Mayor’s favorite color – purple – for the month of February.

Yard ribbons and lapel pins are available at the City Building for community members to decorate their homes in honor of Mayor Ward. Decorations can be picked up from the first-floor lobby of the City Building; please buzz the Admin or Police buttons to be let in.

If you are dealing with grief or need someone to talk to for any reason, contact Community Crisis Services, Inc.: dial 211 and press 1 or call 800-273-TALK; or the Affiliated Sante Group crisis support line: (301) 429-2185.

Notice & Updates

Tell us Your Emergency Relief Needs: The City is seeking community feedback to prioritize emergency relief programs for Hyattsville residents and businesses. Let us know your needs by February 11 by filling out an online survey at hyattsville. org/rescueplan, leaving a voicemail at (301) 985-5039, completing the tear-away card from the Special Rescue Act Info Guide mailed in mid-January, or attending a public hearing (rescheduled from February 22) on March 7 at 6:30 p.m. Relief applications are expected to be ready this Spring. To learn more, visit hyattsville.org/rescueplan.

February 22 Public Hearings: Hyattsville City Council will host a virtual public hearing on Tuesday, February 22 at 6 p.m. on proposed amendments to the City’s Charter to extend the time to conduct a special election from 75 days to 140 days. Interested attendees can register at hyattsville.org/calendar.

Council will also hold a hearing on February 22 at 6:30 p.m. to consider public testimony for the sale and disposal of public land. The subject parcel is the Jefferson Street parking lot (Lot 5), an under 1-acre parcel as part of the development for the Canvas Project. Visit hyattsville.org/calendar for the registration link.

COVID-19 Updates: The County is distributing COVID-19 rapid test kits at local community centers and libraries every week. Find a location near you at health. mypgc.us/COVIDTesting. The Federal Government is also offering four free selftest kits per residential address. Tests are mailed within 7-12 business days of ordering. Visit covidtests.gov to request your tests.

City Council recently authorized the purchase of COVID self-test kits for Hyattsville residents. A portion of the kits will be set aside for seniors and homebound individuals. Distribution dates & locations will be added to hyattsville.org/covid-19 as they are confirmed.

The City’s COVID-19 site at the First United Methodist Church offers free, non-

appointment weekday testing and vaccine clinics. Drive-thru and walk-up PCR testing for all ages is available Mondays & Thursdays, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Vaccines and booster doses (ages 12+) are available on Tuesdays, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Special weekend family vaccine clinic dates can be found at hyattsville. org/covidvaccine.

We’re Hiring!: The City of Hyattsville has open positions in administration, community development, and the police and public works departments. You can find full job descriptions and apply at hyattsville. org/jobs.

Programs, Services & Events

Black History Month: The City of Hyattsville is proud to celebrate Black History Month with virtual and in-person events all month long. Find details at hyattsville. org/bhm. Residents are encouraged to submit photos, artwork, or poetry submissions of what Black History means to them by February 24 to be included in a community video montage that will be shared on social media. Submissions should be emailed to cverhart@hyattsville.org.

The City’s Senior Services Staff is hosting a bus trip to the National Museum of African American History & Culture for senior residents. Limited tickets are available. Face coverings and proof of vaccination are also required. As group sizes are limited, attendees will be divided into groups of 6. For registration and more details, please contact Age Friendly Lead, Marci LeFevre at (301) 985-5012 or at mlefevre@hyattsville.org.

Invasive Removals: Join us on Saturday, February 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to remove non-native, invasive plants from Driskell Park. You can confirm if the event is cancelled due to weather by contacting Dawn Taft at (240) 487-0290 or at dtaft@

hyattsville.org. Please arrive on time or contact Dawn if you anticipate being late.

Service Updates for Presidents Day Week: City offices and the Hyattsville COVID-19 test site at the First United Methodist Church will be closed Monday, February 21, for Presidents Day. There will be no yard waste or compost collection that week. Regular trash and County recycling routes are not affected.

Spring Field Permits Meeting: The City of Hyattsville is hosting a field permits meeting on February 23, at 7 p.m. Organizations interested in applying for permits to use the fields at Driskell Park, Melrose Park, and 38th Avenue for games and practices this spring should plan to attend. Register at hyattsville.org/calendar.

Youth Services

Teen Center: The Hyattsville Teen Center is returning to in-person programming this February! Virtual tutoring services will also continue to be available. For more information, including steps on how to sign up for a free membership, visit hyattsville. org/teen-center

Camp Season is Approaching: Details on upcoming camps & registration dates are below. Be prepared by ensuring your family’s Recdesk account is up to date. Find instructions on creating an account and other camp info at hyattsville.org/ camps.

Spring Camp: April 11 – 15; Registration opens March 2

Summer Camp: June 27 – August 19; Registration is now open

Age-Friendly Services

Expanded Call-A-Bus Services: The Hyattsville Call-A-Bus has expanded its hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday – Friday! This free service helps seniors & persons with a disability travel to medical appointments and grocery stores. Call (301) 985-5000 before 2 p.m. at least one day in advance to request a ride.

In-Person Events Return: The City’s Ageless Grace seated exercise class and free movie Monday in-person events are returning this February. Ageless Grace occurs from 10 – 11 a.m. every Wednesday at the City Building. Movie Mondays take place at 1 p.m. on the first Monday of each month at the Old Greenbelt Theatre. For details and to register, contact Program Coordinator Beryl Johnson at (301) 9855058 or at bjohnson@hyattsville.org.

Beware of COVID Scammers: The Maryland Office of the Attorney General is alerting Marylanders of individuals and labs offering door-to-door COVID testing. The individuals performing these tests promise prompt results, but consumers have reported not receiving results and being unaware of how their personal information is being used. For a list of approved COVID-19 test sites and other opportunities to receive free self-test kits, visit hyattsville.org/covid-19.

Upcoming Caregiver Workshops: Dementia Friendly Northern Prince George’s County is offering Powerful Tools for Caregivers, a virtual six-week class series to equip caregivers with the confidence and support to better care for themselves and their loved ones. Classes will take place on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. starting March 2 and then again on May 4. For more information, contact Katherine Farzin at (240) 542-2019 or via kfarzin@ greenbeltmd.gov.

In loving memory of Hyattsville’s Honorable Mayor Ward. Thank you for serving our community. En memoria al Honorable Alcalde Ward de Hyattsville. Gracias por servir a nuestra comunidad.

Recordando al Honorable Alcalde Ward

La Ciudad de Hyattsville sigue lamentando el fallecimiento del Honorable Alcalde Kevin “Scooter” Ward. El Alcalde Ward fue un pilar de nuestra comunidad y se dedicó a mejorar la vida de todos los residentes de Hyattsville durante sus 7 años como funcionario electo. Fue puesto a descansar el 4 de febrero con un servicio funerario en la Iglesia First United Methodist seguido por una procesión con escolta policial por todo Hyattsville. Un homenaje al Alcalde se puede encontrar en hyattsville.org/mayorward.

En honor al Alcalde Ward, las banderas de la Ciudad permanecerán a media altura y las luces en Hyatt Park y el Edificio Municipal están encendidas en el color favorito del Alcalde, el morado, para el mes de febrero.

Cintas de decoración y pines morados están disponibles en el Edificio Municipal para que miembros de la comunidad decoren sus hogares en honor al Alcalde. Las decoraciones se pueden recoger en el primer piso del Edificio Municipal; por favor use los botones de timbre de administración o policía para ser dejados entrar. Si esta sufriendo o necesita hablar con alguien por cualquier razón, contacte a Community Crisis Services, Inc.: marque 211 y después 1 o llame al 800-273-TALK; o a la línea de apoyo para la crisis del Grupo Sante: (301) 429-2185.

Avisos y Noticias

Cuéntenos sus Necesidades de Alivio de Emergencia: La Ciudad esta buscando ideas de la comunidad para priorizar programas de alivio de emergencia para residentes y negocios de Hyattsville. Cuéntenos sus necesidades antes del 11 de febrero llenando una encuesta en hyattsville. org/rescueplan, dejando un mensaje de voz al (301) 985-5039, completando una tarjeta enviada en el Guía de Información del Plan de Rescate en enero o asistiendo una audiencia publica el 7 de marzo a las 6:30 p.m. Se espera que las aplicaciones de alivio estén listas en la primavera. Para mas información, visite hyattsville.org/rescueplan.

Audiencias Publicas el 22 de Febrero: El Concejo Municipal de Hyattsville sostendrá una audiencia publica virtual el martes, 22 de febrero, a las 6 p.m. sobre las enmiendas propuestas a la Ley de la Ciudad para extender el tiempo para sostener una elección especial de 75 días a 140 días. Personas interesadas pueden registrarse en hyattsville.org/calendar.

El Concejo también sostendrá una audiencia el 22 de febrero a las 6:30 p.m. para considerar el testimonio público para la venta y disposición de tierras públicas. El área en cuestión es el estacionamiento de Jefferson Street (lote 5), una área de menos de 1 acres como parte del desarrollo para el Proyecto Canvas. Visite hyattsville.org/ calendar para obtener el enlace de registro.

Actualizaciones de COVID-19: El Condado está distribuyendo kits de pruebas rápidas COVID-19 en centros comunitarios y bibliotecas locales cada semana. Encuentre una ubicación cerca de usted en health.mypgc.us/COVIDTesting. El Gobierno Federal también esta ofreciendo cuatro kits de pruebas COVID gratuitas por hogar. Las pruebas son enviadas dentro de 7 a 12 días de negocio desde la fecha que fueron ordenadas. Visite covidtests.gov/es/ para solicitar sus pruebas. El Concejo Municipal autorizó recientemente la compra de kits de prueba CO-

¡El personal del Departamento de Obras Públicas de la Ciudad está vigilando las tormentas invernales! Reporte asuntos como carreteras con hielo, árboles caídos y más en hyattsville.org/requests, usando la aplicación MyHyattsville o llamando al (301) 985-5000.

VID-19 para los residentes de Hyattsville. Una porción de los kits se reservará para personas de la tercera edad e individuales con problemas de movilidad. Las fechas y ubicaciones de distribución se agregarán a hyattsville.org/covid-19 cuando sean confirmadas.

El sitio de COVID-19 de la Ciudad en la Iglesia First United Methodist Church ofrece pruebas y clínicas de vacunas gratuitas sin cita entre semana. Las pruebas de PCR están disponibles para personas de todas las edades en carro y por pie los lunes y jueves, de 9 a.m. a 3 p.m. y los sábados, de 9 a.m. a 1 p.m. Vacunas y dosis de refuerzo (de 12 años +) están disponibles los martes, de 9 a.m. a 5 p.m. Las fechas de las clínicas especiales de vacunación para familias los fines de semana están en hyattsville.org/ covidvaccine.

Estamos Contratando: La ciudad de Hyattsville tiene puestos vacantes en administración, desarrollo comunitario y los departamentos de policía y obras públicas. Puede encontrar descripciones de trabajo completas y aplicar en hyattsville.org/jobs.

Programas, Servicios y Eventos

Mes de la Historia Afroamericana: La Ciudad de Hyattsville se enorgullece en celebrar el Mes de la Historia Afroamericana con eventos virtuales y en persona durante todo el mes. Puede obtener más información en hyattsville.org/bhm. Se anima a los residentes a enviar fotos, obras de arte o presentaciones de poesía de lo que la Historia Afroamericana significa para ellos antes del 24 de febrero para ser incluido en

un montaje de video comunitario que será compartido en los medios sociales. Los envíos deben enviarse por email a cverhart@ hyattsville.org. El personal de Servicios para Personas de la Tercera Edad de la Ciudad está organizando un viaje al Museo Nacional de Historia y Cultura Afroamericana. Hay entradas limitadas disponibles. También se requieren mascaras y pruebas de vacunación. Dado que el tamaño de los grupos es limitado, las personas atendiendo se dividirán en grupos de 6. Para registrarse y obtener más información, llame al (301) 985-5000 o contacte a info@hyattsville.org.

Removimiento de Plantas Invasoras: Únase a nosotros el sábado de 10 a.m. a 2 p.m., para remover plantas invasoras no nativas de Driskell Park. Puede confirmar si el evento es cancelado debido al tiempo contactando a Dawn Taft al (240) 487-0290 o en dtaft@hyattsville.org. Por favor llegue a tiempo o contacte a Dawn si anticipa llegar tarde.

Servicios de la Ciudad para Semana de Día de Presidentes: Las oficinas y el sitio de pruebas COVID-19 de la Ciudad de Hyattsville estarán cerradas el lunes, 21 de febrero para el Día de los Presidentes. No habrá recolección de residuos de yarda ni de compostaje esa semana. Las rutas de basura regular y reciclaje del Condado no son afectadas.

Reunión de Permisos de Campo de Primavera: La Ciudad de Hyattsville está organizando una reunión de permisos de campo el 23 de febrero, a las 7 p.m. Las

organizaciones interesadas en solicitar permisos para usar los campos en Driskell Park, Melrose Park, y 38th Avenue para juegos y prácticas esta primavera deberían planear asistir. Regístrese en hyattsville. org/calendar.

Servicios para Menores

Centro de Jóvenes: ¡El Centro de Jóvenes de Hyattsville esta regresando a la programación en persona este febrero! Los servicios de tutoría virtual también continuarán estando disponibles. Para obtener más información, incluyendo pasos para inscribirse para una membresía gratuita, visite hyattsville.org/teen-center.

Se Avecina la Temporada de Campamentos: Los detalles sobre los próximos campamentos y las fechas de inscripción están a continuación. Prepárese asegurándose de que la cuenta Recdesk de su familia está actualizada. Encuentre instrucciones sobre cómo crear una cuenta gratuita y otra información de campamento en hyattsville.org/camps.

Campamento de Primavera: 11 - 15 de abril; la registración se abre al 2 de marzo Campamento de Verano: 27 de junio – 19 de agosto; la registración ya esta abierta

Servicios para la Tercera Edad

Servicios Expandidos de Llame-AlBus: El servicio de Llame-Al-Bus de ha ampliado su horario de 9 a.m. a 4 p.m. de lunes a viernes. Este servicio gratuito ayuda a personas de la tercera edad y personas con una discapacidad a viajar a citas médicas y tiendas. Llame al (301) 985-5000 antes de las 2 p.m. por lo menos un día antes para solicitar un viaje.

Eventos en Persona están de Regreso: Los eventos en persona de clases de ejercicio Ageless Grace y los lunes de cine de la Ciudad están regresando este febrero. Las clases de ejercicio ocurren de 10 a 11 a.m. todos los miércoles en el Edificio Municipal. Los lunes de cine toman plazo el primer lunes de cada mes en el Old Greenbelt Theatre a la 1 p.m. Para más detalles y para inscribirse, comuníquese con la Coordinadora Beryl Johnson al (301) 985-5058 o al bjohnson@hyattsville.org.

Cuidado con el Fraude: La Oficina del Fiscal General de Maryland está alertando a los residentes de individuos y laboratorios que ofrecen pruebas COVID puerta a puerta. Las personas que realizan estas pruebas prometen resultados rápidos, pero los consumidores han informado de no recibir resultados y no estar al tanto de cómo se está utilizando su información personal. Para obtener una lista de los sitios de prueba aprobados de COVID-19 y otras oportunidades para recibir kits de hogar gratuitos, visite hyattsville.org/covid-19.

Próximos Talleres para Cuidadores: La organizion Dementia Friendly Northern Prince George’s County está ofreciendo “Powerful Tools for Caregivers”, una serie de clases virtuales de seis semanas para equipar a los cuidadores con la confianza y el apoyo para mejorar el cuidado para ellos mismos y sus seres queridos. Las clases tomarán plazo los miércoles de 10 a.m. a 11:30 a.m. comenzando el 2 de marzo y luego nuevamente el 4 de mayo. Para más información, comuníquese con Katherine Farzin al (240) 542-2019 o enviando un email a kfarzin@greenbeltmd.gov.

City Department of Public Works staff are keeping watch on winter weather events! Report concerns about icy roadways, fallen tree limbs, and more at hyattsville.org/requests, using the MyHyattsville app, or by calling (301) 985-5000.

Confessions of a recluttering expert

By Lauren Flynn Kelly

One morning during the height of holiday season madness, I had a sudden urge to declutter, since some new Christmas gifts were about to enter the house. Without any coffee or any sort of plan, I began with the living room. But when I extended my arm to put away a board game, I felt a terrible spasm in my right shoulder. I couldn’t breathe without pain for several days. I took that as a sign that I should wait. In the meantime, I did a little reading on the topic — including the bestselling Outer Order, Inner Calm, by Gretchen Rubin, and the January “Zero Waste of Time”column in this paper. If I could devote at least 20 minutes a day and a large chunk of quiet weekends in January to cutting the clutter,

I could finally achieve inner calm.

Here’s how it went:

Week 1: During my research, I learned that you should group similar things together and

take stock of what you have. Then give yourself a rule, like if you have two rubber spatulas, give one away. But I actually need separate whisks for baking and cooking. And separate wooden spoons, bowls and cutting boards. So that rule doesn’t apply to my kitchen, and I should start with my makeup. I take out all my eyeshadow palettes and eyeliners and display them in a rainbow ranging from aubergine to avocado. Then I give myself a makeover and spend about 20 minutes taking and editing selfies that I will never post and will most likely delete. My aunt calls, so I talk to her while organizing my lip glosses by color. They look so pretty like this; I should reorganize everything this way! Then my kids see what I’m doing and want makeovers, too.

Week 2: Time to put the Christmas decorations away! Where did all these ornaments come from? I should separate out the ones I won’t want next year. I go up to the attic to bring down the ornament boxes and find a gift bag that is soaking wet. Time for a new roof?

Thankfully, no: A DIY snow globe had frozen and exploded its glittery contents all over my grandmother’s vintage penguin ornaments. I towel off each little creature and toss the ones that are too damaged. I then go back to my original plan of separating out the rejected ornaments. But seeing as it’s mid-January at this point, and it’s unlikely that folks are in the market for ornaments, I relegate them back to the attic, and in unmarked bags that will likely be overlooked next year.

Week 3: The attic is really

where I should have started my New Year’s decluttering. Maybe I can finally use those carpet tiles — the ones I picked up at Community Forklift and have been sitting in my husband’s car. I start planning a little play space up there for the kids; I’m sure I can create it in a snap, once we clear out those old baby toys, of course. I find two boxes of old papers and letters from college. What fun! I spend the three-day weekend laughing and crying over the contents and fill exactly one-and-a-half trash bags with paper shreds. Can I recycle these? Nope. Hmm … then it hits me: I can take the slipcover off that broken ottoman and make a garbage pouf that I can stuff with the shreds. Genius! I remove the slipcover. I’ll need at least one more bag of shredded paper, so I tuck the project into the basement closet for now. My brother-in-law arrives with a Christmas gift for my daughter — an oversized fluffy beanbag chair called a Big Joe. Perfect for the attic! Except it doesn’t fit through the door. I’ll have to clear space somewhere else. How long is this month?

Week 4: If my home office were cleaner and prettier, I’d be less distracted and more productive. I spend a Sunday afternoon clearing shelves of longignored books and DVDs that I’ll donate, plus old remotes and cables to put in the box in the basement that I carefully set aside for old remotes and cables. I find a book called Horror Cinema (Jonathan Penner) — also a gift from the wellmeaning brother-in-law — and take a coffee break to do some reading. I make a list of movies to rewatch. Hmm … maybe I’m not ready to give away some of those DVDs.

I had read somewhere that it’s better to stack just a few books on your bookshelves in a pretty way and then layer on objects that are pleasing to the eye. I choose a ceramic bowl and some vintage cameras — hey, that’s three fewer things in the attic! With fewer distractions, I’m ready to work.

Seeing as I probably shouldn’t bring anything else home from the thrift store for a while, I think I’ll revive my “Thrifting with …” Q&A series. If anyone would like to be my next subject, find me on Instagram (@starlessskyediy) or contact the newspaper.

Lauren Flynn Kelly is the thrifting columnist for the Hyattsville Life & Times

Columnist Lauren Flynn Kelly attempted a month-long clutter purge and discovered the calming effects of recluttering.. LAUREN FLYNN KELLY

The draft plan aims to reduce harm to county residents from floods, severe storms and extreme heat.

Among the climate adaptation strategies, the CAP proposes a ban on new development in flood plains.

The City of Hyattsville voted to support the plan on Dec. 6, 2021. In a Dec. 9 letter offering that support, the late Mayor Kevin Ward said there should be no ability to waive bans on development in flood plains.

On Jan. 10, the city council cited the CAP’s prohibition on flood plain development again when they voted to send a letter to the Maryland Department of the Environment asking them to reject Werrlein Properties’ application for a Maryland Wetlands and Waterways Permit. The permit would allow Werrlein to develop the former Washington Suburban Sanitation Commission (WSSC) parking lot next to Driskell Park. Part of that parcel sits in the 100-year flood plain.

Hyattsville saw substantial flooding in September 2020 near both the Sacred Heart Home and Werrlein construction sites. According to a flood risk assessment, created by The First Street Foundation, 201 properties in Hyattsville have more than a 26% chance of being severely affected by flooding in the next 30 years. Many of those properties are along 40th Avenue or near Driskell Park.

CLIMATE ACTION PLAN BASICS

Higher levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap heat and change weather patterns, causing more severe storms, floods and extreme heat events.

The CAP says greenhouse gas emissions decreased in the county by 15% between 2005 and 2018, primarily from the buildings sector, even as the population grew by 9%.

But this decrease is only a fraction of the goal the CAP establishes: a 50% emissions reduction by 2030, compared to 2005 levels. The target aligns with the State of Maryland’s proposed Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Act prepared for Gov. Larry Hogan in February 2021.

The CAP recommends 26 actions, which, together, would reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase climate resilience, improve community health and quality of life, and create local jobs. The CAP details a path forward for each of the actions, and suggests how progress can be measured. Now, the county council is considering whether

centrated near public transit.

The CAP looks to expand charging infrastructure to support electrical vehicle use and proposes county fleet electrification.

City Councilmember Danny Schaible (Ward 2), an electric vehicle owner, submitted a public comment to the plan, “I would like to see new zoning requirements to mandate reasonable percentages of EV [electric vehicle] parking spots for grocery stores, parking garages, multifamily parking, and gas stations.”

REDUCING EMISSIONS FROM BUILDINGS

The buildings sector contributes 45% of emissions (23% residential and 22% commercial).

To reduce these emissions, the CAP recommends increasing renewable energy use through residential solar installations.

landscape plantings), Hyattsville’s tree cover was only 31%, according to a July 2020 report.

City Councilmember Ben Simasek (Ward 3) commented on the plan, “I’d like to see increasing tree canopy, rather than just maintaining existing canopy, [as] a goal.”

The CAP prioritizes preserving and restoring natural resource areas, agricultural open space and green infrastructure to reduce flood risk, protect water quality and reduce the prevalence of urban heat islands.

Hyattsville resident Melissa Shweisenger addressed the importance of restoring and improving current ecosystems on public and private lands: “I feel like that really needs a headline recommendation as opposed to being buried.”

than 4,000 flooding events involving basements, backyards, streets and sinkholes were reported in the county.

HEAT RESILIENCE

Neighborhoods with higher concentrations of pavement and lower tree cover experience more extreme heat. The CAP says these same neighborhoods tend to have higher rates of poverty and homelessness, and higher proportions of people of color.

to adopt, fund and mandate the implementation of the plan.

REDUCING TRANSPORTATION EMISSIONS

The transportation sector, primarily vehicle emissions, causes 48% of emissions in the county. The CAP suggests investing in mixed-use development where housing, jobs and public infrastructure are con-

The CAP also supports measures to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, such as updated lighting, windows and insulation.

TREES, GREEN SPACE AND AGRICULTURE

The action plan recommends a “No Net Loss” tree conservation regulation. Trees both capture carbon, and, through shade and evapotranspiration, lower surface temperature. While 52% of the county is covered by trees or green infrastructure (44% forest, 8% street trees or

The action plan highlights agricultural practices that protect soil health, improve water retention and increase carbon sequestration to promote a healthy low-carbon food system.

FLOOD PREPARATION

The CAP advocates expanding flood mitigation programs, evaluating dams and levees and implementing climate resilient stormwater management.

The action plan draws attention to the effect that impervious surfaces, like roads and parking lots, have on the amount of stormwater runoff into local streams.

Between 2018 and 2021, more

The CAP proposes that resilience hubs be established in safe public spaces, like libraries and churches, to serve the needs of vulnerable populations during extreme heat or other emergency situations. Resilience hubs, like those in Baltimore, could serve as places for residents to cool down, charge phones or refrigerate medicine during an emergency.

EQUITY AND ENGAGEMENT

The action plan highlights how the county can incorporate equity in its approach to addressing climate change. The plan proposes conducting vulnerability assessments to understand which specific subpopulations are more at risk.

It also proposes accessible engagement opportunities for underserved communities throughout the planning and implementation process, and public education to change individual behavior.

According to a flood risk assessment, created by The First Street Foundation, 201 properties in Hyattsville have more than a 26% chance of being severely affected by flooding in the next 30 years. Many of those properties are along 40th Avenue or near Driskell Park.

Seed-sowing for sprouting gardeners

Dear Miss Floribunda,

MISS FLORIBUNDA are willing to give it a try. Can you give us some tips on how to make this fun and not too difficult?

My growing family and I moved from a townhouse in D.C. to a house in Hyattsville in November. It has a big backyard where our stair-step kids (ages 5, 7 and 9) have room to play. There’s a basketball hoop there already, but my wife and I are going to buy a swing set with a slide and maybe a jungle gym. It’s also got a 4-by-12 foot raised bed with planks around it that we thought could be scooped out and turned into a super sandbox this summer. However, our 9-year-old says she wants it to be a garden again. Not only that, she wants it to be hers, although she says she’ll “let” us and her siblings help. We’re not experienced gardeners but

Newbies On Nicholson Street

Dear Newbies,

As it happens, my niece Floribelle Pepper also has a growing family. She and her husband, Jalapeño, have five little ones: Paprika, Piper, Pepe, Perchinka and Cayenne, and they all garden together. They were eager to give advice. Because you already have a prepared space, they think you should order seeds at this time. I’m happy to announce that you can buy a wide variety of Chas. C. Hart

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and Southern Exposure seeds from the Hyattsville Horticultural Society (HHS) at a competitive price. In the past, HHS has sold these at an annual sale open to the public, but COVID-19 prevents such a gathering. To see what’s available, go to tinyurl.com/3dde69f4. You can find out how to order and pick up purchases by emailing the HHS vice president, Julie Wolf, at wolfj1000@gmail.com. Floribelle told me that if the children themselves are going to do the planting, the seeds should be large enough for little fingers to handle. Peas, beans, corn, squash, watermelon and pumpkin seeds are easy to plant. Smaller in size are tomato, radish and sweet pepper seeds; eggplant, lettuce and spinach seeds are even smaller, but with your help, they can all be started even now in peat pots to be planted outside later. (Check the backs of the seed packets for best planting dates.) Children love anything miniature and will be delighted to poke the seeds into the tiny pots.

Of course, children also like the other extreme: Huge pumpkins, tall corn and giant sunflowers will thrill them — if you have room. I know your space is limited, but you will have to make choices for other reasons

too. For example, if you grow corn, don’t plant tomatoes near them. Patio cherry tomatoes in one or two pots will be more than enough to keep the children supplied with snacks all summer.

Among flower seeds, the largest to handle are those of nasturtiums, sunflowers and zinnias. A little trickier, but manageable by a 9-year-old, are marigold, cosmos and cornflower seeds. These flowers have another characteristic that the little Peppers themselves informed me was important: bright color and fun-to-touch texture. Fragrance matters too, and they particularly like pungent herbs, such as basil, mint, savory, fennel and cilantro.

The Pepper parents hastened to add other criteria: The flowers and vegetables should thrive on being picked, and not be too easily uprooted by feckless tugging. Because children often find waiting difficult, it’s important to choose the varieties that develop in the fewest days. Because children can become easily discouraged, the plants must be easy to maintain. They should be disease resistant for that reason — and also because you don’t want to endanger your children or pollinating insects and birds by using poisons. In our area, choose varieties that are not sensitive to intense summer heat and humidity. The sight and feel of fungi might repel some sensitive little ones.

Southern Exposure vegetable varieties are resistant to such problems. For flowers, I’d recommend Hart’s Easy Care Children’s Garden collection.

Imaginative children will be attracted to flowers with names like snapdragon, ox-eye daisy, larkspur and foxglove. Brown-eyed Susans, Johnny jump-ups, sweet William, rosemary and Shirley poppies will pique interest in children sharing those names. The romantic child will be drawn to flowers with such names as lovein-a-mist and forget-me-not — and a lettuce named Sweet Valentine. The more artistic youngsters might be intrigued by Rainbow of Lights kale, the Moon and Stars watermelon, and the Glass Gems ornamental corn. Horse lovers might want the Black Beauty eggplant, and Star Wars fans the Spacemaster cucumber. Even the most finicky kids might actually be willing to grow and eat the Dinosaur (aka lacinato or Tuscan) kale — which has a fan-like display of large, ridged, almost gray leaves that mimic a prehistoric monster; the long and skinny Pencil Pod beans; the humanoid Little Finger carrots; and spaghetti squash, which shows noodle-like strands when cut open. Pandemic permitting, the HHS hopes to have an open-air sale in the spring. Please keep checking their website, hyattsvillehorticulture.org, for information.

Miss Floribunda writes about gardens. Email questions to floribundav@ gmail.com.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Send your event information for the calendar

Our list of events sponsored by local nonprofits, arts organizations and performance venues, occurring between Feb. 11 and March 11; all information is current as of Feb. 2. For events and meetings organized by the City of Hyattsville, see the Hyattsville Reporter in the newspaper’s centerfold.

Please send notices of events that will take place between March 12 and April 15 to kit@ hyattsvillelife.com by March 8.

RECURRING

The Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation presents an acoustic blues jam every Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. The jam is open to those who bring proof of vaccination and is held at 4502 Hamilton St. acousticblues.com

Classical figure drawing sessions with a live model, beginning with short action poses and ending with one long pose. Hyattsville Figure Drawing Group. Nine-participant limit; first come, first seated. Masks required. Legal guardian consent required for those under 18. $20. Wednesdays, 6 to 9 p.m. Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, 4218 Gallatin St. meetup.com/Hyattsville-Figure-Drawing-Group-Meetup

Poetry open mic every Thursday at Busboys and Poets. $5. 8 p.m. 5331 Baltimore Ave. 301.779.2787. busboysandpoets.com

Riverdale Park Farmers Market is open every Thursday from 3 to 6:30 p.m. in the parking lot

near the Riverdale MARC Station, 4650 Queensbury Rd. For more information, contact Jim Coleman at rpkfarmmkt@gmail. com. facebook.com/RPFMarket

ONGOING

Brentwood Arts Exchange has two art exhibitions through Feb. 26: “Before and Still,” by Nekisha Durrett, uses text and cast-off materials to explore the pre-colonial and modern history of a small parcel of land in the District, and “Lives in the Crosshairs: Sharpshooters, Champions, and Angels,” curated by Michelle Talibah, features artists Justyne Fischer and Morgan Monceaux. Free. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. 3901 Rhode Island Ave., Brentwood. 301.277.2863

Montpelier House Museum, with the Uhuru Quilters Guild, presents the art exhibit “We Are Black History — Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow,” featuring skilled quilters’ interpretations of Black history themes. Through Feb. 28. Free. 9650 Muirkirk Rd., Laurel. 301.377.7800. montpeliermansion@pgparks.com

Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, in collaboration with the Dyer Arts Center at the Rochester Institute of Technology, presents “Exploring Deaf Geographies.” Tabitha Jacques curated works by five deaf artists, each of whom lives in either the greater D.C. or Rochester, N.Y., area. Through Feb. 27. Wednesdays and Thursdays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays

10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sundays noon to 5 p.m. 4318 Gallatin St. 301.608.9101. pyramidatlanticartcenter.org

FEBRUARY 11

This is the deadline to donate Girl Scout cookies for the local troop’s Put Art in Your Heart 2022 event, co-sponsored by Hyattsville Aging in Place (HAP). HAP traditionally hosts an all-ages, in-person workshop to make valentines for area seniors; for the second year in a row, Girl Scouts will instead deliver cookies and valentines to older residents on Feb. 14. You can also contribute homemade valentines by mailing them to Valentines c/o HAP, 5104 42nd Ave. Hyattsville, MD 20781. hyattsvilleaginginplace.org

FEBRUARY 11, FEBRUARY

25 & MARCH 11

Jazz night featuring the Hyattsville Jazz Collective, with members of Airmen of Note, the U.S. Air Force jazz ensemble. Mike Cemprola on saxophone and Luke Brandon on trumpet, along with other artists. Free. 7 p.m. Limited seating. Proof of vaccination required to sit indoors. Maryland Meadworks, 4700 Rhode Island Ave., Suite Bee. 201.955.9644

FEBRUARY 12

Learn to create a wax-sealed love letter or card using a quill dip pen at Love Notes from the Past: Quill Pen Writing. 1 to 2 p.m. All ages. $3 county residents, $4 nonresidents. Register at pgparksdirect.com. Bladensburg Waterfront Park, 4601 Annapolis Rd., Bladensburg. 301.779.0371

Maryland Meadworks hosts Swing 5, a gypsy jazz band led by local guitarist James Key. Free. Limited seating. Proof of vaccination required to sit indoors. 7 to 10 p.m. 4700 Rhode Island Ave., Suite Bee. 201.955.9644

FEBRUARY 17

The Riversdale Chamber Music Society Salon Trio and University of Maryland School of Music faculty will explore the lives and music of Samuel ColeridgeTaylor and William Grant Still in a program entitled “Virtual Conversation: A Celebration of Black Composers.” Register for this online event at tinyurl.com/ VirtualChamber0217 by Feb. 16. 301.864.0420. riversdale@pgparks.com

A showing of the documentary “MLK/FBI.” This 2020 film by Sam Pollard is based on newly

declassified files and explores government surveillance and harassment of Martin Luther King Jr. 11:00 am. Free. Prince George’s Publick Playhouse, 5445 Landover Rd., Cheverly. 301.277.1710

FEBRUARY 20

Join the Riversdale Kitchen Guild and Marvin-Alonzo Greer at The Plummers’ Kitchen event, as they prepare foods popular among enslaved communities in Maryland. Learn about Adam Francis Plummer and his family during self-guided tours of the historic house. All ages. Free. Noon to 3:30 p.m. Registration is not required, but indoor capacity limits are in place. Riversdale House Museum, 4811 Riverdale Rd., Riverdale Park. 301.864.0420. riversdale@pgparks.com

MARCH 4

Jazz and pop jam session with the Ellington Cartham Trio. Jazz pianist Cartham is artist-inresidence at the Music Center at Strathmore. Purchase $10 tickets at pgparksdirect.com. Drop-in musicians enter free. 7 to 9 p.m. Brentwood Arts Exchange, 3901 Rhode Island Ave., Brentwood. 301.277.2863

this story, spoke on the condition that her real name not be used.

Many of the problems teachers face — from low pay to inflated class sizes to a lack of funding for supplies — are not new. But all of it has become more difficult during the pandemic.

“We’re constantly having to give grace,” said Moira, another veteran elementary teacher. “Be mindful of this, be mindful of that. But we’re the last consideration.”

Prince George’s County Educators Association, the labor union that represents the county’s teachers, organized a rally in November 2021 to protest “crushing workloads.” They asked the district to hire more staff, reduce paperwork and set aside more time for lesson planning.

TEACHER VACANCIES

Union president Donna Christy said that, since October 2021, she’s seen an uptick in teachers asking for help with the process of quitting mid-school year. “I don’t know for certain if and when they actually leave, but I know people are definitely considering leaving,” she said.

“Compared to 2019,” Director of Communications Meghan Gebreselassie wrote in an email, “PGCPS has seen an increase of approximately 1.5% in the vacancy rate at the start of the school year.” Gebreselassie estimated that fewer than 500 teaching positions, which is about 5% of the district’s teaching force, remained unfilled as

of mid-January.

So far, most teachers have stuck with it. After avoiding the coronavirus for nearly two years, Kevin Burke, the social studies department chair at Northwestern High School, contracted it over this past winter break. From the beginning of the pandemic, he said, he resigned himself to the likelihood he would get sick.

“If we decided as a society that schools were so important, I am OK with being like, ‘You know what? I’m essential. Our schools are essential. And if I get [COVID-19], then I get it,’” he said. “Almost every teacher had that thought and then came back to work.”

SUBSTITUTE SCARCITY

However, the retired teachers PGCPS depends on to substitute are often unwilling to risk exposure to the virus to cover classes.

Jim, a local assistant principal, said he keeps calling his previously dependable subs. “They’re like, ‘I love you, but I’m not going anywhere until it gets better.’ And I get it.”

That means working teachers have to pick up the slack, using their planning periods to cover for colleagues. Jim and his principal also fill in for teachers who are out, leaving them less time for their administrative work.

The problem of finding substitutes, while worsened by the pandemic, has long plagued the district. “We’ve had contract language for over 20 years providing teachers with pay when they have to provide coverage for another teacher, meaning there wasn’t a sub,” said Christy. “I talk to my col-

leagues in other counties, the other [union] presidents — they didn’t have that language until now.”

In January, the county managed to find substitutes for over 50% of its vacancies, according to Gebreselassie. By Jan. 26, the number of teachers calling out sick had decreased to 357, from 978 on Dec. 20, 2021.

Even pre-pandemic, according to Christy, only about 600 substitutes were in the countywide pool. “When you have a labor force of 10,000, and you carry 400 vacancies a year, 600 only gives you 200 left to handle the day-to-day outing. We have over 200 schools, so you’re talking about less than one per school. And that’s assuming everybody took a job every day.”

“We are continually working with our team to attract new talent and ensure fully staffed schools,” Gebreselassie responded.

INCREASING PAY

The district’s proposed 2023 budget includes $2 million intended to increase pay rates for substitutes by 16%. According to a district website, substitutes without a degree currently make $86 per day, while retired PGCPS teachers make $153.

Substitutes are not represented by a union. Brenda, a substitute who holds a master’s degree and has worked in PGCPS schools at all grade levels for decades, said that she makes $102 per day — which comes out to less than $13 per hour for an eight-hour day.

She said low pay is bound to push some qualified subs to teach in neighboring counties. After a recent increase in hourly pay,

non-teacher certified subs with degrees in Montgomery County make about 50% more than those working in Prince George’s. For long-term assignments, it’s 85% more.

The PGCPS Board of Education will vote on the new budget, including the funding for substitute pay, Feb. 24. Any pay increases would not take effect until next school year.

Teachers are asking for better pay, too. Some feel it would be the strongest signal the community could send them that their work and commitment are valued. “I’ve had enough thank yous to last me a lifetime,” said Burke, the high school teacher. “If you want to thank me, thank me the way you thank every other worker on the planet.”

Federal pandemic relief funds can be used to provide additional pay for school staff, and while some districts have taken advantage of that, PGCPS isn’t one of them. At a Jan. 19 school board meeting, the district’s chief financial officer, Michael Herbstman, told board members that using the relief funds for teacher bonuses would require a renegotiation of their contracts with the teacher’s union.

That renegotiation, which happens every three years, is underway now.

KEEPING IT TOGETHER

The teachers we spoke with said they loved their jobs and their students, and expressed gratitude for administrators at their schools, whom they saw working just as hard. “They’re amazing. They’re very understanding,” said Angela, a pre-K teacher. “That makes me, you know, I don’t want to go anywhere. I want to stay there.”

FROM PAGE 1

scholarship due to drug addiction. Like others, he recalled Ward’s big bear hug and unconditional love: “The you that you are,” he recalled Ward saying, “is better than the you that others want you to be.”

Tevera Stith, Ward’s colleague from KIPP DC, the District’s largest charter school system, gave the homily. “As Scooter’s friend, I found myself struggling with every piece of his passing and hoping that he was still here,” she said. His death left her “violently knocking at the door of heaven, fist raised, ready to ask how this could be” and “at the same time asking God to hold us tight.”

Like Huber, she said she drew

strength from words of comfort that Ward had offered her. Stith, an only child like Ward, lost her own mother recently. She recounted a text Ward sent her mid-January: “Take your time. Feel your feelings. And acceptance and peace don’t come or feel a certain way.”

She paused.

“Like a man who grew up at the feet of Baptist preachers, he gave it in three points!” she said, to laughter from the crowd.

Former Hyattsville Mayor Candace Hollingsworth, a close friend of Ward’s, gave the eulogy. She called Ward the master of details. She said he would “notice that you weren’t quite your usual self,” and that he was “attuned to the differences in a way that helped him still bring people together to a common purpose.”

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Ward’s life purpose, she said, was to welcome people into spaces where they might otherwise have been excluded. She enjoyed his “ability to catch the subtle shade and throw it right back.” She said he lived loudly, and “made it easy for us to be our truest, softest selves with abandon.”

Ward will also be remembered for mentoring and advocating for youth. City Councilmember Danny Schaible (Ward 2) said the mayor quietly offered him support; Schaible is the parent of a special needs child, and Ward’s support arose from his own experience fostering children with high needs.

Professionally, Ward worked to use technology to help kids. He served as an information officer at the District’s child welfare agency, and, more recently, di-

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rected technology for KIPP DC. Ward, his husband and their two sons moved to Hyattsville in 2014. He was elected to the city council in 2015; his colleagues elected him council president four years later. In 2021, he became interim mayor, taking over for Candace Hollingsworth, and won a mayoral election last spring. He was Hyattsville’s second Black mayor, after Hollingsworth, as well as the city’s first Black male mayor and first openly gay mayor. City Administrator Tracey Douglas wrote in a Jan. 27 statement, “Mayor Ward was the bright center of our local government; a role model … for the whole Hyattsville community, especially young people of color. He could connect with everyone and truly listened. … [H]is light

was so bright I know he will continue to serve as an inspiration.”

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that gifts in Ward’s honor be made to Think of Us at donorbox.org/inhonor-of-mayor-kevin-ward. Ward supported Think of Us, a child welfare reform organization which seeks to close the gap between the goals of child welfare and its outcomes. According to Think of Us, in the child welfare system, “more than 70% of siblings are separated, 20,000+ youth age out each year, and 36%+ of aged out youth experience homelessness.”

If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.8255, text TALK to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.

temperature or the Universal Thermal Climate Index). This term factors in another important variable: water. From personal experience, I can attest to the chilling impact of water — think that dash through rain, a slip into creek water, or the frigid shock of falling through broken ice on a pond. And when you’re wet, wind can make your cold body a whole lot colder as it blows your body heat away. Indeed, add wind to the equation and you can quickly go from frostbite to hypothermia, which is a potential killer. (If you do fall into cold water, don’t drop into a hot tub, but try to bundle in a blanket and gently dry yourself.)

Even as we have various ways to measure temperatures, perhaps the most important element is our individual experience of weather. And our individual experiences are affected by many things; body mass, circulation, and how we dress all play a role. And more idiosyncratic factors matter, too; you may have fond memories

of walking in the rain, or that time your boots were filled with muddy water could prompt you to simply stay inside.

I’ve got to hand it to those little birds and squirrels I see wandering around on days I experience as bitterly cold. I somewhat relate to the turtles who cleverly burrow themselves in mud to endure the cooler times — although I’m not planning to take a mud bath anytime soon. I can also relate to bats and bears, in that I sometimes want to hibernate through as much of winter as I can. And I envy those birds and humans who migrate to points south to avoid a cold, bleak winter.

I wish I could chill out during this time of year, but I’m more focused on figuring out the realest-feel temperature I can (and keeping the chill out). Maybe I’ll just put on another layer or two before I venture out again.

Lights at Hyatt Park honor Mayor Kevin Ward, right, whose favorite color was purple. KIT SLACK

Fred Seitz is the nature columnist for the Hyattsville Life & Times.

NATURE NEARBY FROM PAGE 6

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CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT OF POLICE

Late in the evening of Jan. 10, the Hyattsville City Council first discussed a proposal to provide civilian oversight of complaints against the Hyattsville City Police Department (HCPD).

The late Mayor Kevin Ward had the last word, speaking after all his colleagues: “There’s been some criticism about how long it has taken to get this to the dias — I’ll take it; I’ll take it all day,” he said. A police officer had shot and badly injured a cousin of his, out of state in 2015, he explained. City decisions on police reform, Ward said, need to be made “in a way that’s not performative and not theatrical; it needs to be in a way that’s serious and deliberate.” He commended his colleagues for speaking to each other in that spirit.

Councilmember Danny Schiable (Ward 2) presented the proposal. Under it, Hyattsville would establish a new volunteer committee with one member from each ward. The committee, in closed sessions, would review evidence provided by the HCPD on civilian complaints against officers, as

well as complaints involving use of force or deaths in police custody.

The committee would produce a findings letter on each complaint, with a goal of providing quality control on police handling of complaints. The committee would also provide an annual report for the general public.

Schaible said Hyattsville typically processes five or six such complaints per year. The HCPD produced its own public annual report on the outcomes of complaints up until 2019. According to the HCPD website, the police chief now investigates all complaints.

HCPD Chief Jarod Towers voiced a concern that if he needed to let an officer go, the committee could cause further delay to what can already be a very long process, particularly if the officer is accused of criminal conduct.

City councilmembers asked questions about who should be selected for the committee and whether they should be compensated. Councilmembers also asked how the proposal would integrate with other police reform initiatives in the county and state.

Joanne Waszczak (Ward 1) suggested that the equity officer that the city is seeking to hire should sit on the committee.

Rommel Sandino (Ward 5) asked if residents could bring complaints directly to the committee.

Edouard Haba (Ward 5) expressed skepticism that the committee would improve outcomes if members reviewed only evidence presented by the HCPD.

JUSTICE CENTER: NEW SCHOOL, AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNLIKELY

During a Jan. 13 virtual public hearing, representatives from the Revenue Authority of Prince George’s County described the type of proposals they would like to see for a redevelopment of the Hyattsville Justice Center property at 5000 Rhode Island Avenue. The county-owned 7.5-acre parcel houses the district court, a county police station and the vacant county service building.

Peter Shapiro, the revenue authority’s executive director, said the redevelopment would be a mixed-use project, with housing and an arts or entertainment

venue, and perhaps a retail component.

One hearing attendee asked whether the county had considered using the site as a location for a new Hyattsville Elementary School. Jason Washington, of Prince George’s County Public Schools, responded that the location was not suitable for a school because of the existing buildings. He also said that there was insufficient time to consider the justice center site for the next round of public-private partnership school construction, for which Hyattsville Elementary is under consideration.

In response to a question from Hyattsville Councilmember Danny Schaible (Ward 2), Shapiro noted that although the request for proposals didn’t strictly require the police station to remain on site, there was no Capital Improvement Program funding to relocate it, and so it would, in all likelihood, remain in place. In response to comments on the need for affordable housing, Shapiro said the county will not require a specified percentage of affordable housing at the site.