03-2022 Hyattsville Life & Times

Middle school muddle, bus route bungle

Long days continue for Hyattsville Middle Schoolers busing to Seabrook and Bowie

By Josie Jack and Kit Slack

Hyattsville Middle School (HMS) students have been sent to three different locations as the new HMS building is constructed, and the buses that transport them are often delayed. School is in session every weekday from 9 a.m. to 3:50 p.m. On Feb. 28, four out of 12 buses delivered students to the temporary Meadowbrook site, in Bowie, at 9:24 a.m. or

later. Four buses left the same location at 5 p.m. or later, according to a partial log of arrival and departure times kept by the school administration.

“My own child’s bus late arrival means that he misses math pretty much daily,” said parent John Rigg, who is a College Park city councilmember (District 3). Sarah Christopherson, who is the president of the school’s PTSO, said

Proposed roundabout near Driskell Park considered

By Sophie Gorman Oriani

At its Feb. 7 meeting, the Hyattsville City Council considered a proposal to earmark $50,000 for a concept design and final plan for a roundabout to better manage traffic near the main entrance to David C. Driskell Community Park.

The current intersection at the park’s entrance, which residents have nicknamed the octopus, is the five-way intersection where 40th Avenue, Gallatin Street and Hamilton Street come together.

The 2018 Hyattsville Transportation Study listed installing a roundabout at this intersection as one of the 20 highest priority projects for the city.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), roundabouts are safer than traditional signaled intersections and better for the environment. Serious crashes are less likely in a roundabout because drivers travel at lower speeds. Head-on collisions are less likely, too, since all the

SEE ROUNDABOUT ON 12 

volunteers tackle invasive species

By Ilana Williams

Wearing neon orange vests and crouching behind tall grasses and trees, City Arborist Dawn Taft and a crew of volunteers tend trees and tackle invasive species at Driskell Park. Every third Saturday of each month, they focus on saving trees and tending native habitats, with a particular eye to those invasives, according to Taft.

“When we just remove without replanting … the area that we’ve cleared, it allows other inva-

sives to come in,” Taft said. Taft said that porcelain berry and wineberry are persistent in the park. Depending on the season, the crew may also take on bush honeysuckle, English ivy and garlic mustard.

Bamboo, which proliferates quickly, is a problem especially on the east side of the park, Taft said. Bamboo most likely spread to the park from a nearby home. “My fear is that’s how it came to get in the woods,” Taft said. Taft said the group mostly SEE INVASIVE ON 6 

School officials say the new Hyattsville Middle School building is on track to be completed by July 2023. KIT SLACK

English ivy takes over a tree in Driskell Park. ILANA WILLIAMS

Mask guidelines loosen in Prince George’s County

Angela Alsobrooks.

“We have the lowest transmission rate in the State because

By Kit Slack

As of Mar. 4., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the COVID-19 community level in Prince George’s County is low, and the CDC no longer recommends mandatory masking in our area. That’s based on a new system, made public on Feb. 25, that focuses on hospital numbers and new case counts.

“People may choose to mask at any time,” according to the CDC. “People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask.”

Fewer than 10% of patients in Prince George’s County hospitals have COVID-19, according to the CDC website on Mar. 4.

Masks became optional indoors in the county on Feb. 28, by order of County Executive

Prince Georgians never hesitated to follow the guidance from our health professionals, and have done so with grace and compassion,” said Alsobrooks in a Feb. 25 press release.

“[W]e know that some of our residents will want to continue to wear masks, so we encourage

Prince Georgians to continue to be respectful of each other,” Alsobrooks said.

The CEO of Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS), Monica Goldson, announced in a Feb. 25 email that children in public schools could remove masks during outdoor school activities and spring sports.

Though a statewide mask mandate in schools was lifted Feb. 22, Goldson said that she would use previous state guidance to decide when to lift the mask mandate in county schools. She said she anticipates easing the mask requirement before the end of the school year, once the county population reaches 80% full vaccination based on state data.

As of March 4, 72.7% of county residents aged 5 and older were fully vaccinated (two shots of Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or one shot of Johnson & Johnson vaccine), according to state data.

Goldson said, “We have time to work through what this change will mean for all members of the PGCPS community, including those with medical conditions, in addition to our testing and quarantine policy and day-to-day operations.”

In a Feb. 26 press conference, Dr. Gretta Massetti, the CDC branch chief for field epidemiology and prevention, said the CDC no longer recommends masking in schools in areas like Prince George’s County where there is a low level of COVID-19 in the community.

The CDC restated other masking guidelines on Feb. 25. Masks are still required nationwide on buses, trains and airplanes. School buses are now exempt from the nationwide requirement.

Businesses can still require masks.

Masks became optional indoors in Prince George's County on Feb. 28, although businesses can still require them. COURTESY OF MICHAEL BURROWS / PEXELS

Schools, public transportation mandate not lifted yet

Hyattsville turns on the lights for alternative energy

By Ilana Williams

The future of Hyattsville is renewable energy. At least that’s what the city hopes.

The Hyattsville Public Works Department and Prince George’s County have initiatives to improve renewable electrification efforts in Hyattsville and throughout the county to address energy and environmental concerns.

“It’s not just one thing we’re worried about,” Lesley Riddle, director of public works, said. “It’s a cadre of things that all are interdependent.”

Riddle’s department is adding a solar roof to its new building, an upgrade the city council approved in January.

Hyattsville received a Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) grant more than a year ago, but ran into supply-chain issues due to the pandemic.

The city will add solar panels to the roof of the new public works building this year and to the roof of the old public works building either next year or the

year after, according to Riddle. (The city will use the renovated building, but the “programming of the building has not been determined yet,” Riddle noted in an email.)

Both buildings will remain connected to the traditional electric power grid. Riddle said the department is installing necessary infrastructure to produce their own energy and reduce their electric bills.

Whenever there is construction within its limits, the city considers the costs of adding renewable energy to the project, Riddle explained. City buildings have solar arrays, as do some city parking lots and playgrounds.

“We are about reducing our carbon footprint,” Riddle said. “We hope to do that in lots of different ways.”

The department is also transitioning to renewable energy through adding electric vehicles to its fleet and through the Big Belly Program, the city’s solarpowered trash can initiative.

Is the national upward trend of inventory going to improve our housing crisis here? No In Prince George's county, January's supply of homes for sale was just shy of one month Currently it's 1 3 months Last year at this time it was 1 2 months The national supply is historically much higher than our region and that won't change

What does that mean for us? If you're pondering selling now is a good time, but probably anytime is a good time If you're pondering buying, there's no reason not to if you are planning to stay in your home for at least a few years, particularly given the low (and soon to increase) interest rates. But smart buyers should always think of a purchase as a housing plan, not an investment plan Questions? You can count on Go Brent for answers

consider

options?

happy to talk housing.

Hyattsville purchased the first electric garbage truck in Maryland, now named Sparky, in October 2021. COURTESY OF HAL METZLER/CITY OF HYATTSVILLE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

Hyatts KIDS

GIRL SCOUT PUBLISHES BOOK TO HELP TEEN GIRLS

By Evan LeFevre, age 15

We all know the beloved Jim Henson memorial in Driskell Park and how the world-famous creator of the Muppets grew up in our small town. Similarly, Jeff Kinney, author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, grew up only a couple miles from where you probably live. But a creative Hyattsvillian you might not have heard of is Liliana McGee. Liliana is a senior at Elizabeth Seton High School, and as of 2020 has authored her first book, a hybrid graphic novel and journal aimed at helping teen girls cope with bullying, depression and body issues. Finding Joy is the resource she says she wishes she had going through a tough time during her younger years.

Liliana created Finding Joy to fulfill the requirements of her Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout can achieve. In a November 2020 interview, Liliana asked for donations to get her book printed in color. For every dollar donated, she was able to publish one book in color, and the donations far exceeded her expectations. By the end of November she had raised enough money to publish 3,000 of her books in color and give them to girls in the community.

Nowadays, Liliana is making sure that her senior year in high school isn’t the height of her career. Between applications to college and pursuing her recent interest in modeling, she has a full plate. Luckily, Liliana says her project “helped to prepare me for the future. It gave me closure from going through the healing process and inspired me to continue helping people in their processes of healing.”

Even in the short time that it has been since she published her first book, Liliana says the change that she has seen in the world is encouraging. “Yes, these past years have had a lot of changes in the world, and although things are getting better, we have a long way to go as a society,” she says. Liliana’s dream for the future is that people like her won’t have to establish a platform for their message to get across. Like many others, she believes that people

BEARDO BY MASON VOSMEK, AGE 15

with an existing platform have a responsibility for educating their audience. “People in the spotlight have a special responsibility to help out their followers because they could be in tough situations as well,” she says. So to all the future celebrities of Hyattsville: Do your job and spread the message.

AMERICAN HERITAGE GIRL CREATES PRAYER GARDEN

By Claudia Romero Garvey, age 14

A Hyattsville teen recently created a prayer garden for pregnant women to fulfill the requirements of the American Heritage Girls (AHG) Stars and Stripes Award. With its motto of “Faith, Service, Fun,” AHG is dedicated to the mission of building women of integrity through service to

THE EDITOR’S ELDEST

“Someone’s got to have something; A kid!” says worried Mum, “The paper’s out on Monday! It needs one more story. ONE!”

Sister 1 keeps reading: “I haven’t got a thing.” Sister 2: “Not literate?”

“Ooh,” says Brother, “Zing.”

Says Sister 2, “I’ve got a few, I think they’ve a Dickens-like drift.”

BY EVAN MUYNILA, AGE 9

God, family, community and country.

The Stars and Stripes Award is the highest honor an American Heritage Girl can achieve. In order to become a candidate for the Stars and Stripes Award, a girl must earn her Patriot Level Award, earn nine required badges plus seven more badges of her choosing, serve her troop in leadership, and finally complete a 100hour service project benefiting her community. Jane Gorman, who recently achieved this honor, states that, “The hardest part of earning the Stars and Stripes Award was keeping track of all the different parts. The project alone is very complicated; there are a lot of moving pieces, a lot of people to contact, a lot of layers of paperwork, etcetera. Writing everything down was very helpful to make sure I didn’t forget anything.”

For her service project, Jane designed and managed the construction of a prayer garden in a Gabriel Network maternity home. The idea behind the garden was to create a space where the mothers and staff could come to pray and meditate, rest, be still, enjoy the beauty of the flowers and find peace. Here are some of the challenges she faced with this project: “I didn’t have much experience planning building projects before, so figuring out all the different steps I needed to do was difficult. I also remember struggling with designing some of the furniture for the garden; making sure all the pieces lined up and matched and the furniture overall looked nice was much more difficult than I had expected.”

Jane’s biggest takeaway from earning this award was how worth it it is to go for something, even if it seems too ambitious at first. Because she joined AHG later than a lot of other girls, the idea of earning the award in just three years seemed impossible. Jane remarked, “I know it sounds super cliché to say ‘You can do anything you put your mind to,’ but to a certain extent it was true in this case. Deciding that, even if it seemed crazy, I was going to try, was one of the first big steps in this process.” Jane’s best advice to American Heritage Girls and other kids striving to achieve big goals is to “Write stuff down [and] work with your mentor. It’ll be a crazy ride with a lot of twists and turns, but you’ll be happy you did it at the end.”

“Knowing you, they’re terrible,” says Sister 1, still miffed.

Says Brother, “I can’t read, or write, Though I could dictate to you.” Unenthusiastic response. Silence. Well, Baby coos.

“I want CANDY!” declares Baby.

(To the issue unrelated.) “GIMME MY BLUE DOGGY!”

That is all that Baby stated.

Enter me, our hero, Upon this dramatic scene. Mama leaps. “Have you a story?”

In her eyes a hopeful gleam.

“No,” I say musingly, “But I could write a poem in time. Let’s see, it’d have to have meter And beautiful language, and rhyme … “

Sister 1 says “Prose!” “A rap!” calls Sister 2. “I’d like it more of a ballad,” Says Brother. Baby coos.

So I take a seat at my desk I say, “I might let myself think about it; write a poem … Have I yet?”

Nora

Marx,

age 12

County updates master transportation plan

By Dan Behrend

Prince George’s County is writing a new transportation master plan. Called the Master Plan of Transportation 2035 (MPOT 2035), the new plan will update and replace the 2009 Approved Countywide MPOT, as well as the active area and sector master plans. When completed, and approved by the county council, MPOT 2035 will guide development of transportation infrastructure, including roads, trails and train tracks.

While MPOT 2035 represents high-level planning for transportation, establishing the county’s vision and providing policy guidance to elected leaders and staff at multiple public agencies, it will also influence how people travel — driving to work and the grocery store, finding safe options to walk or bike, and accessing reliable public transit.

The plan will also shape how equitable the county’s future transportation network will be, in terms of affordability, mobility of residents and accessibility for people with disabilities.

Transportation planning is also related to other recent county policy developments like land use and development, climate action and street safety.

SUSTAINABILITY

In January, the county published a draft climate action plan, which noted that in 2018, the transportation sector accounted for approximately 48% of the county’s total greenhouse gas emissions. According to that plan, “To reduce these emissions — as well as improve residents’ health and safety — a key strategy is to reduce vehicle miles traveled by making the land use decisions and transit investments that support alternative modes of transportation.”

STREET SAFETY

The development of the county’s transportation infrastructure will also affect residents’ safety and the county’s progress on its Vision Zero goals. In July 2019, County Executive Angela Alsobrooks launched Vision Zero Prince George’s, a street safety campaign that acknowledges that traffic deaths are preventable, not inevitable, and focuses on promoting policies that will eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2040.

Every year since 2015, more people have died on roadways in Prince George’s County than in any other county in the state. The county’s troubling record with road safety pre-dates 2015, however. In reference to the county

leading the state in 2014 traffic fatalities, a Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration spokesperson said in a 2015 WUSA9 interview that “Prince George’s County has always led the state in this area.”

According to data compiled by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, 106 people, including 36 pedestrians and two cyclists, died in car crashes in 2020. That year, Prince George’s County accounted for approximately 34% of all traffic deaths and approximately 38% of pedestrian and cyclists deaths in the entire D.C. metropolitan area.

MPOT GOALS

During a series of virtual community meetings at the end of January, Odessa Phillip, consultant lead for outreach, said, “The primary goal of the MPOT 2035 Plan is to envision a countywide transportation system that supports the safe, efficient and equitable movement of people and goods within the county and region.”

Another MPOT plan goal is to advance Plan Prince George’s 2035 (Plan 2035), the comprehensive 20-year general development plan for the county published in 2014.

In addition to compiling earlier transportation and current infrastructure recommendations, MPOT will also include new recommendations. For example, under the prior plan, MPOT 2009, the county first recommended the College Park Woods Connec-

tor Trail. That trail has connected the College Park Woods neighborhood to the Paint Branch Trail since December 2020.

Virtual meetings and a community survey for MPOT 2035 have focused on walking and biking, Vision Zero, bus and rail transit, and roadways and sustainability, among other themes.

During the virtual meetings, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC) also outlined some of what MPOT 2035 can and cannot do. The master plan can, for example, provide guidelines for future transportation recommendations, but it cannot provide specific recommendations for implementation, make specific land use or zoning recommendations, or guarantee timelines.

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

The M-NCPPC plans to release an existing conditions analysis in spring 2022, followed by a draft MPOT 2035 in fall 2022. The commission will host community meetings and solicit additional public feedback on the draft plan. In early 2023, the commission plans to submit the final master plan to the county planning board and county council. During the county’s review of the final plan, the community will have the opportunity to provide feedback to the planning board and to their county councilmembers.

Interested residents can participate in the planning process in the following ways:

• Listen to prior community meetings: bit.ly/MPOT2035.

• Apply to be a part of a community advisory group: www.surveymonkey.com/r/MPOTEOI.

• Join the MPOT 2035 mailing list for updates and other opportunities to participate: pgparks. com/list.aspx?ListID=460.

Veteran

• Schedule a meeting during virtual office hours on Mondays between 1 and 3 p.m. and Wednesdays from 1 to 3 p.m. through May 25: www.mncppcapps.org/ planning/MPOT_2035/.

• Email any questions and comments to project staff at transportation@ppd.mncppc.org.

& Employment Fair

MARCH

INVASIVE

maintains the trees at Driskell Park but has also removed English ivy from University Hills and Japanese knotweed at 38th Avenue Neighborhood Park. Later this month, they will be working at Melrose Park.

Taft’s volunteers learn skills that help them maintain their

own property.

“I had a lot of invasive plants in my backyard when I moved into Hyattsville,” said resident Brendan McCormick. “[I] figured I could learn how to get rid of them and help out.”

McCormick said he’s pulled English ivy from his yard, but it’s already starting to pop back up.

During the group’s February removal cleanup, Taft noted

BRICK WORK PLUS

a vine growing up a tree and demonstrated how to cut the invasive’s root at its base. She used a saw to cut a chunk of the root.

“English ivy on the ground is not so bad if you keep it off the trees,” Taft said. That same ivy, growing up a tree, can damage bark, leaving the tree vulnerable to disease.

Taft has been coaching Hyattsville resident Marino Nunez on the art and skill of removing invasives. Nunez started training in 2019 and is now learning how to lead a crew himself.

“I wish in my neighborhood we have people come to do this,” he said. “It’s nice.”

Nunez, who was volunteering at the park before the pandemic hit, noted that the February gathering marked his first time back since 2019.

“COVID[-19] destroyed us,” Taft said. “We couldn’t meet at all.”

Specializing in maSonry & Small concrete conStruction

FOr yOur cOnStructiOn neeDS, call uS at

BRICK WORK PLUS

301-864-8161 • Fax 301-864-0013

Due to George’s retirement, we will no longer be serving Hyattsville and the surrounding areas as of March 1. Thank you for your years of patronage!

Office: 4318 Hamilton St. #106

Specializing in maSonry & Small concrete conStruction

• Hyattsville, MD 20781

In 2019, a group of volunteers cleared porcelain berry and bush honeysuckle from the northwest side of the park’s trail. When the volunteers returned to the park in 2021, they discovered porcelain berry completely covering the area they had cleared.

George W. Reaves, Owner

FOr yOur cOnStructiOn neeDS, call uS at

301-864-8161 • Fax 301-864-0013

If you are interested in purchasing a ready to go business, please call 301-864-8161 and ask for George Reeves

Office: 4318 Hamilton St. #106 • Hyattsville, MD 20781

George W. Reaves, Owner

“I don’t think anything [we planted] survived,” Taft said. “It was just these big mounds. They look like little igloos of porcelain berry where it had grown over our fencing.”

February’s meetup brought

out the largest group of volunteers Taft had ever worked with. Taft plans to advertise her efforts in hopes that even more people will come.

“Keeping it beautiful, having a

space where we can enjoy and relax [and] have community is important,” Taft said.

City Arborist Dawn Taft and Marino Nunez crouch beside a tree to cut the roots of an invasive species. ILANA WILLIAMS

Ilana Williams is an intern with the Hyattsville Life & Times

SPARKS FLYING

The electric garbage truck, which Riddle named Sparky, is coming soon to a trash can near you.

“We’re super excited,” Riddle said. “There was a lot of hubbub when she arrived.”

The department received $50,000 from MEA to buy the first electric garbage truck in Maryland in October 2021.

The city is waiting on a permit from Prince George’s County before Sparky can begin to make her official rounds, Riddle noted.

“We just think it’s totally cool,” Riddle said. “I have had a lot of conversations with other municipalities. Lots of small towns in Massachusetts. So we’re pretty proud of good ol’ Sparky.”

As an electric vehicle owner, Councilmember Danny Schaible (Ward 2) said that Hyattsville has a significant number of charging stations.

“We want to provide the service in a greater capacity,” he added.

ACTION PLANNING

The Hyattsville Environment Committee recently supported the draft county climate action plan, which currently includes three recommendations that address county energy use.

One recommendation addresses increasing the county’s use of solar energy. According to the plan, up to “80% of buildings without solar PV [photovoltaic system] in our region are viable for a roof-mounted solar PV installation.” Currently, only 6% of residential and commercial electric accounts reflect use of solar energy.

The recommendation would connect residents with educational resources and financing opportunities, with the aim of installing an additional 60,000 solar panels in the county by 2030.

A second recommendation addresses deep energy retrofits and community-wide energy efficiency. Deep energy retrofits are aimed at improving the energy efficiency of systems that provide heat and power to a building; these systems generally include lighting, HVAC, windows and electrical sys-

tems. The county has secured funding to complete one deep energy retrofit at a senior center in Camp Springs and plans to upgrade the energy efficiency of at least 30 other buildings over the next 10 years.

A third recommendation is to increase the number of electric vehicles in the community as soon as 2024.

There are about 620,000 vehicles on the road in the county now. According to the draft plan, “To support the goal of 50% emissions reduction by 2030, Prince George’s County aims to have at least 15% of those vehicles powered by electricity.”

Schaible said that the county should be able to easily reach its renewable energy goals.

“Environmental considerations aside, it’s the most costeffective means of generating that power,” Schaible said. “Hyattsville will be part of this transformation, but I also think we’ll be on the leading edge of that transition.”

Ilana Williams is an intern with the Hyattsville Life & Times.

Hyattsville Reporter the

No. 408 • March 8, 2022

Notice & Updates

2022 Special Mayoral Election: The City of Hyattsville will hold a special voteby-mail election on June 7, 2022, to elect a new Mayor. The initial deadline to register and receive a ballot by mail is April 15. Ballots, which will be mailed in early May, will be returnable by mail or at drop boxes. Same-day registration and in-person voting will also be available at the City Building on Election Day. As a reminder, anyone 16 and older who has been a City resident for 30 days can vote in the City’s elections! Visit hyattsville.org/vote to learn more.

Run for Office: Stand up to lead Hyattsville as Mayor! City Residents can file for candidacy from March 21 – April 8. A candidate guide, filing paperwork, and the registration link for a virtual Candidate Information Session at 6 p.m. on March 23 are available at hyattsville.org/candidates.

COVID-19 Update: Prince George’s County has lifted its indoor mask mandate due to the low COVID-19 transmission rates across the County. Businesses and organizations may choose to continue requiring masks indoors. Masks are still required on public transportation and inside Prince George’s County Public Schools. Individuals can continue masking at their discretion.

Residents interested in free COVID-19 self-test kits and adult KN95 masks can pick them up from select County libraries and community centers. To find a distribution location near you, visit health.mypgc. us/COVIDTesting.

The City’s COVID-19 site at the First United Methodist Church continues to offer free, non-appointment testing and vaccine clinics as well as special weekend family vaccine clinics. Visit hyattsville.org/ covidvaccine for details.

Become the Next Hyattsville Deputy City Clerk!: Do you enjoy working in a fast-paced environment? Looking for meaningful work to help your community, grow your career, and work with an awardwinning team? Look no further and submit your application for Deputy City Clerk at the City of Hyattsville!

In addition to helping the City Clerk in providing transparent governmental services to our community, the Deputy Clerk helps organize Council and public meetings, respond to public requests, and assist with the City’s Elections! The right candidate will possess excellent writing skills, advanced administrative and organizational skills, and a genuine interest in serving the community. For a full job description and information on other job openings in the City, visit hyattsville.org/jobs.

Scholarship Opportunity!: Current high school seniors and undergrad and graduate students who live in Hyattsville or the surrounding 22nd Legislative District are encouraged to apply for the Maryland State Senator Paul G. Pinsky Scholarship! Awards range from $500 - $2,000, and recipients are selected based on academic achievement and financial need. Applications are due by April 3, 2022. Visit senatorpinsky.org to apply. Questions? Call (301) 858-3155.

Programs, Services & Events

Ward 1 Check-In: Join Councilmembers

Sam Denes & Joanne Waszczak for a virtual Ward 1 Check-In on Monday, March 14, at 7 p.m. The Councilmembers will provide updates on recent development, City

happenings, and answer resident questions. All Wards are welcome. Register at hyattsville.org/calendar.

Invasive Removals: Help us with some spring cleaning of invasive plants at Driskell Park on March 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.! 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. Student service hours are available!

Green Housekeeping Workshops: Learn how to keep your home and our environment safe through a Green Housekeeping workshop! We’ll be sharing how to clean using inexpensive, non-toxic solutions as well as how to make (and take) your own green cleaning solution! The hour-long workshops will be offered in English on March 23 and in Spanish on March 28. Both workshops will begin at 7 p.m. Details and registration links are available at hyattsville.org/enviro-education.

Women’s History Month Live Q&A Webinar: Join the City of Hyattsville on Friday, March 25, for a live Q&A webinar celebrating Women’s History Month! Our all-star panel featuring local faith leaders, musicians, life coaches, and Hyattsville staff will discuss this year’s theme, “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope,” as well as share personal stories and advice. We’ll conclude with a community-curated playlist of songs to uplift and empower women and girls! You can pre-register for the webinar at hyattsville.org/WHM.

Call for Songs for Women’s History Month Playlist: Help us create a playlist of songs (by women and men) that uplift, empower, and inspire women and girls! The playlist will premiere during the Women’s History Month Live Q&A and be shared on the City’s Spotify and YouTube accounts on March 25. Submit the songs that inspire you at hyattsville.org/

WHM by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 23. Songs will be reviewed for content, and not all songs will be selected. For questions, please email community@hyattsville.org.

Community Shredding Event: The City’s Public Works Department is organizing a paper shredding event for residents on Sunday, March 27, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the City Building, 4310 Gallatin Street. Please remove paper clips, staples, and other binding materials from items intended for shredding prior to dropoff. Visit hyattsville.org/calendar or call (301) 985-5032 for details.

Money for your Business: The City’s Commercial Façade Improvement Program is set to open for the 2022 grant cycle on April 4! Hyattsville business owners looking to make exterior improvements to their property are encouraged to apply for matching grants of up to $50,000! You can find a list of past project recipients and information on how to apply at hyattsville. org/facade.

Driskell Park Egg Hunt: Save the date for the City’s Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 9, at Driskell Park! Families can join us from 10 a.m. to noon for a morning of scavenging organized by age group. There will also be snacks, and entertainment provided by a very important bunny! Registration is not required. Please bring your own basket! For details, visit hyattsville.org/ calendar, or email community@hyattsville. org.

Youth Services

Teen Center: The Hyattsville Teen Center at the Driskell Park Rec Center is back to in-person programming! Virtual tutoring services for students in grades 4 - 12 continues to be available. For a list of upcoming special events and to learn how to sign up for a free membership, visit hyattsville.org/teen-center.

Camp Coaches in Training: Youth ages

13-17 interested in working with children and developing leadership skills are encouraged to apply for the City’s Summer Coaching Training Program! Applications are available now and are due no later by March 25, 2022. For more information and to apply, visit hyattsville.org/ccit.

Hyattsville Summer Camp: Sign your child up for a summer of fun with the City’s Summer Camp, happening from June 27 through August 19! Camp sessions are week-long, and enrollment is available for children in grades K-5. Act fast as spaces are filling up! Registration is completed through Recdesk. For instructions on how to create a free Recdesk account and Camp information, visit hyattsville.org/camps.

Age-Friendly Services

Sign up for Art Classes!: Hyattsville’s free art classes, in collaboration with ArtWorks Now, are returning this spring! Classes will take place Tuesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. beginning April 5. Space is limited and registration is required. Seniors and people with a disability interested in registering can contact Coordinator Marci LeFevre at (301) 985-5012 or at seniors@hyattsville.org.

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.

Senior In-Person Events are Back!: The City’s Ageless Grace seated exercise class and free movie Monday in-person events are back! 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. Contact (301) 985-5058 or seniors@hyattsville.org to

learn more.

A special shout-out to the Hyattsville Community Development Corporation staff for helping the City of Hyattsville distribute COVID-19 self-test kits to residents in need!

¡Un saludo especial al personal de la Corporación de Desarrollo Comunitario de Hyattsville por ayudar a la Ciudad de Hyattsville a distribuir kits de COVID-19 para los residentes necesitados!

Avisos y Noticias

Elección Especial de Alcalde de 2022: La Ciudad de Hyattsville sostendrá una elección de voto por correo especial el 7 de junio de 2022 para elegir a un nuevo Alcalde. La fecha limite inicial para registrarse y recibir una boleta por correo es el 15 de abril. Las boletas, que se enviarán a primeros de mayo, se podrán retornar por correo o en cajas seguras. Las opciones de registrarse y votar en persona el mismo día también estarán disponibles en el Edificio Municipal el Día de Elección. ¡Como recordatorio, cualquier persona mayor de 16 que ha sido residente de la Ciudad por 30 días puede votar en las elecciones de Hyattsville! Por favor hyattsville.org/vote para aprender más.

Presente su Candidatura: ¡Lidere a Hyattsville como Alcalde! Residentes de la Ciudad pueden presentar su candidatura desde el 21 de marzo hasta el 8 de abril. Un guía de candidatos, papeleo y un enlace de registración para una sesión de información de candidatos virtual el 23 de marzo las 6 p.m. están disponibles en hyattsville.org/candidates.

Actualización de COVID-19: El Condado Prince George’s ha levantado su mandato de uso de mascaras en espacios interiores debido al bajo numero de casos COVID-19. Negocios y organizaciones pueden seguir requiriendo el uso de mascaras en espacios interiores. Las mascaras todavía son requeridas en transportación publica y dentro de las Escuelas Publicas del Condado Prince George’s. Personas pueden usar las mascaras a su discreción.

Los residentes interesados en obtener kits de prueba COVID-19 y mascaras KN95 gratis pueden recogerlos de bibliotecas y centros comunitarios selectos. Para encontrar un centro de distribución cerca de usted, visite health.mypgc.us/COVIDTesting.

El sitio de COVID-19 de la Ciudad en la Iglesia First United Methodist continua a ofrecer pruebas de COVID-19 y vacunas gratuitas y clínicas de vacunas familiares los fines de semana. Visite hyattsville.org/ covidvaccine para detalles.

Conviértase en el Próximo Secretario Adjunto de la Ciudad de Hyattsville:

¿Le gusta trabajar en un ambiente acelerado? ¿Busca un trabajo significativo para ayudar a su comunidad, hacer crecer su carrera y trabajar con un equipo de ganadores de premios? ¡No busque más y envíe su solicitud para Secretario Adjunto de la Ciudad de Hyattsville!

¡Además de ayudar a la Secretaria Municipal a proveer servicios gubernamentales transparentes a nuestra comunidad, el Secretario Adjunto ayuda a organizar reuniones públicas y del Concejo, responder a solicitudes públicas y ayudar con las Elecciones de la Ciudad! El candidato adecuado tendrá excelentes habilidades de escritura, habilidades administrativas y organizativas avanzadas y un interés genuino en servir a la comunidad. Para una descripción completa del trabajo y para ver las otras posiciones abiertas que tiene la Ciudad, visite hyattsville.org/jobs.

¡Oportunidad de Beca!: ¡Se anima a los estudiantes de último año de secundaria y estudiantes de pregrado y posgrado que viven en Hyattsville o en el Distrito Legislativo 22 a solicitar la beca Paul G. Pinsky del Senador del Estado de Maryland! Las becas son entre $500 y $ 2,000, y se distribuirán según el rendimiento académico y la necesidad financiera. Las solicitudes

The City’s Community Services staff organized a special outing to the National Museum of African American History & Culture for senior residents and community members in celebration of Black History Month. To learn of future City programmed events and register in advance, sign up for City communications at hyattsville.org/stayconnected or call (301) 985-5000.

El personal de Servicios Comunitarios de la Ciudad organizo un viaje especial al Museo Nacional de Historia y Cultura Afroamericana para residentes de tercera edades y miembros de la comunidad en celebración del Mes de la Historia Afroamericana. Para obtener información sobre las futuras salidas de eventos y regístrarse con anticipación, asegúrese de inscribirse en las comunicaciones de Hyattsville City en hyattsville.org/stayconnected o llame al (301) 985-5000.

deben presentarse antes del 3 de abril de 2022. Visite senatorpinsky.org para presentar su solicitud. ¿Preguntas? Llame al (301) 858-3155.

Programas, Servicios y Eventos

Reunión del Distrito 1: Acompañe a los Concejales Sam Denes y Joanne Wasczak para una Reunión del Distrito 1 Virtual el lunes, 14 de marzo, a las 7 p.m. Los Concejales proporcionaran actualizaciones sobre recientes desarrollos, actualizaran sobre noticias de la Ciudad y responderán a preguntas de residentes. Todos los Distritos están bienvenidos. La registración esta disponible en hyattsville.org/calendar.

Removimiento de Plantas Invasoras: ¡Ayúdenos con la limpieza primaveral de plantas invasoras en Driskell Park el 19 de marzo de 10 a.m. a 2 p.m.! Puede confirmar si el evento se cancela debido al clima comunicándose con Dawn Taft al (240) 4870290 o vía dtaft@hyattsville.org. Llegue a tiempo o comuníquese con Dawn si piensa que va a llegar tarde. ¡Las horas de servicio para estudiantes están disponibles!

Talleres de Limpieza Ecológico: ¡Aprenda cómo mantener su hogar y nuestro ambiente seguros a través de un taller de limpieza ecológico! ¡Compartiremos cómo limpiar con soluciones de limpieza baratas y no tóxicas y como crear su propia solución de limpieza! Los talleres de una hora se ofrecerán en ingles el 23 de marzo y en español el 28 de marzo. Ambos talleres empezaran a las 7 p.m. Detalles adicionales y enlaces de registración están disponible en hyattsville.org/enviro-education.

Seminario en Vivo del Mes de la Historia de la Mujer: ¡Únase a la Ciudad de Hyattsville el viernes, 25 de marzo para un seminario de preguntas y respuestas en vivo que celebra el Mes de la Historia de la mujer! Nuestro panel de mujeres incluirá líderes religiosos locales, músicas, entrenadores de vida y personal de Hyattsville discutirá el tema de este año, “Mujeres que Brindan Curación, Promueven la Esper-

anza”, ¡y también compartirán historias personales y consejos! ¡Concluiremos con una lista de canciones seleccionada por la comunidad para animar y empoderar a mujeres y niñas!! Puede registrarse para el seminario en hyattsville.org/WHM.

Llamada para Canciones para Playlist del Mes de la Historia de la Mujer: ¡Ayúdenos a crear una lista de canciones (hombres pueden contribuir) que animen, empoderen e inspiren a mujeres y niñas! La lista se estrenará durante el seminario en vivo del Mes de la Historia de la Mujer y se compartirá en las cuentas de Spotify y YouTube de la Ciudad el 25 de marzo. Envíe las canciones que lo inspiran usando este formulario antes de las 5 p.m. el miércoles 23 de marzo. Se revisará el contenido de las canciones y no se seleccionarán todas las canciones. Si tiene preguntas, envíe un email a community@hyattsville.org.

Evento Comunitario para Descartar

Documentos y Papeleo: el Departamento de Obras Públicas de la Ciudad está organizando un evento para descarta papel y documentos para los residentes el domingo 27 de marzo, de 11 a. m. a 2 p. m. en el Edificio Municipal, 4310 Gallatin Street. Por favor remueva Quite grapas y otros materiales de encuadernación de los artículos que va a descartar antes de dejarlos. Visite hyattsville.org/calendar o llame al (301) 985-5032 para obtener más detalles.

Dinero para su Negocio: ¡El Programa de Mejoramiento de Fachadas Comerciales de la Ciudad está programado para abrir para el ciclo de subvenciones de 2022 el 4 de abril! Se alienta a los dueños de negocios de Hyattsville que deseen realizar mejoras exteriores a su propiedad a que soliciten subvenciones equivalentes de hasta $50,000. Puede encontrar una lista de beneficiarios de proyectos anteriores e información sobre cómo presentar una solicitud en hyattsville.org/facade.

Búsqueda de Huevos en Driskell

Park: ¡Guarde la fecha para la búsqueda de huevos de la Ciudad el sábado 9, de

abril en Driskell Park! Las familias pueden unirse a nosotros desde las 10 a. m. hasta el mediodía para una mañana de recolección organizada por grupos de edad. ¡También habrá bocadillos y entretenimiento proporcionado por un conejito muy importante! No es necesario registrarse. ¡Por favor traiga su propia canasta! Para obtener más información, visite hyattsville.org/ calendar o envíe un email a community@ hyattsville.org.

Servicios para Menores

Centro de Jóvenes: ¡El Centro de Jóvenes de Hyattsville esta de regreso a la programación en persona! El servicio de tutoría virtual para estudiantes en grados 4 – 12 continuará estando disponible. Para una lista de eventos especiales en marzo y para inscribirse para una membresía gratuita, visite hyattsville.org/teen-center.

Se Busca Entrenadores Futuros de Campamento: ¡Jóvenes de 13-17 años interesados en trabajar con niños y desarrollar habilidades de liderazgo son animados a solicitar el Programa de Entrenadores Futuros para el campamento de verano de la Ciudad! Las solicitudes están disponibles ahora y deben presentarse antes del 25 de marzo de 2022. Para obtener más información y solicitar, visite a hyattsville. org/ccit.

Campamento de Verano de Hyattsville: Inscriba a su menor para un verano de diversión con el Campamento de Verano de la Ciudad, ¡ocurriendo desde el 27 de junio al 19 de agosto! Las sesiones de campamento duran una semana y la inscripción está disponible para niños en los grados K-5. ¡Actúe rápido ya que los espacios se están llenando! El registro se completa a través de Recdesk. Para obtener instrucciones sobre cómo crear una cuenta Recdesk gratuita e información sobre el campamento, visite hyattsville.org/camps.

Servicio para la Tercera Edad

¡Regístrese para las Clases de Arte!: ¡Las clases de arte gratuitas de Hyattsville, en colaboración con ArtWorks Now, regresan esta primavera! Las clases se llevarán a cabo los martes de 10:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. a partir del 5 de abril. El espacio es limitado y es necesario registrarse. Las personas de la tercera edad y las personas con una discapacidad interesadas en registrarse pueden comunicarse con la Coordinadora Marci LeFevre al (301) 985-5012 o en seniors@hyattsville.org.

Servicios Expandidos para LlameAl-Bus: 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 para la Tercera Edad!: Los eventos en persona de clases de ejercicio Ageless Grace y los lunes de cine de la Ciudad están de regreso. 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 seniors@hyattsville.org.

Eleven ways to limit use of single-use plastics locally

By Juliette Fradin

Before I embarked on a journey towards a more sustainable lifestyle, I never realized how much plastic filled my life. It was everywhere: in my fridge, in the pantry, in the bathroom — even in my closet. A first step I took towards reducing my environmental impact was to become more intentional about the plastic I already have and mindful about the amount of plastic I bring into my house.

The problem with plastic is that it lasts forever: All of the toothbrushes that you used when you were a child (and even the toothbrushes your parents used) still exist on this planet. We often use disposable plastics — bags, bottles, plastic wrap, cups, food packaging — for only a few minutes or a couple of

hours, often when we could have done without. Refusing is the first element in the 5Rs hierarchy of waste management: refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, rot.

Plastic creates toxic pollution at every stage, from manufacture, to use, to disposal. As plastic breaks down, the resulting particles release toxic chemicals, which are in turn ingested by wildlife and, eventually, by us. According to an analysis by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), we consume 5 grams of plastic — the equivalent of a credit card — every week. “Plastic is in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat,” sums up the WWF.

Here are 11 ways I limit my use of single-use plastics when I am grocery shopping (even in conventional stores) or just out and about:

• I use and reuse the plastic produce bags (and even brown paper bags).

• Or I don’t use any bags when I shop and rinse all my fruits and veggies at home.

• I reuse all kinds of containers, including green produce pint baskets, clamshell containers, Ziploc bags and jars.

• If I forget my cloth bags, I limit what I buy and simply carry the items unbagged.

• When buying meat and fish (usually at Whole Foods), I bring my own Tupperware containers and simply ask the employee to put my order in one. Bonus: It’s less work for them, as they don’t have to

wrap anything and can put the label directly on my container.

• When buying olives at Whole Foods (or grains and spices at My Organic Market in College Park and at Glut Food Coop in Mount Rainier), I bring a jar that I weigh, using the store’s scale, before I fill it, and I write down the weight with a marker (ideally one that washes off easily).

• I purchase milk in glass bottles that I later return to the store (thus recouping the $2 deposit).

• I don’t do takeout or use any meal delivery services. And I order grocery delivery or store pickup from companies that use paper bags, like Giant’s Peapod service.

• If I dine out, I bring my own box for leftovers.

• I always refuse straws, napkins, condiments and plastic cutlery.

• I cook from scratch! I bake my own bread, granola and cookies weekly. And I make yogurt from time to time, too. By relying on my own creativity and elbow grease, I save a lot in packagings and waste. Even small changes of habits, especially when added up over time, can add up to a big difference.

Canada Reduces is a group whose stated mission is to “inspire neighbours and neighbourhood businesses to work together to increase opportunities to shop local and waste-free, and to inspire people to do something about the steady stream of singleuse plastics in their homes.” They’ve launched a bringyour-own-container initiative. Participating businesses simply display a BYO sticker on their door, and shoppers know they can use their clean bags and containers in those shops. The businesses promote zero waste and cut a bit off their packaging expenses, too.

If you’re a resident or small business owner interested in helping me launch a similar program here, please email me at bonjour@juliettefradin. com. Together, we can all fight the proliferation of disposable plastics.

Juliette Fradin writes bimonthly about zerowaste and slow living.

We can all make a difference by reusing things like paper bags as often as possible. JULIETTE FRADIN PHOTOGRAPHY

St. Jerome boys basketball team wins sixth city championship

By Chris McManes

St. Jerome Parish was denied the opportunity to win a postseason championship last season because of the pandemic. Not so this year.

With their 60-41 victory over St.

Thomas More Parish on Feb. 24, the Jaguars captured the Catholic Youth Organization Boys 14U Mid-Atlantic City Championship. It’s their first title since 2015.

“It’s been seven years, and it feels absolutely awesome to finally have the trophy back,” said St. Jerome Coach Joe Sego, who has guided the Jaguars to four crowns.

Jordan Smith led the way with 31 points and was named MVP.

Silas Devonish had 12 points and Nico Paris nine in the contest at DeMatha’s Looney Convocation Center.

“It feels good because we didn’t get to play [for the title] last year,” Smith said. “This season was really fun. Playing against my friends and with my teammates was really cool.”

St. Jerome’s dominance over St. Thomas More was a microcosm of how dominant they’ve been the past two years. After going undefeated in 2021, the Jags were 29-1 this season for a combined twoyear total of 54-1 (.982 winning percentage).

The return of Smith and Devonish played a key role in the 2022 team rolling over opponents. They helped to attract Paris and Diego Joy to the squad. Paris had played for St. Jerome in the past, and Joy’s parish (St.

Matthias) didn’t field a team.

“Having the reputation of being very good last year playing all AAU [Amateur Athletic Union] teams, the majority of which were older, and word spread quick,” Sego said. “By bringing back Jordan and Silas, two of the best players in the area, people want to play with them.”

Smith and Devonish started for the 2021 Jaguars alongside Pete Newman, Shane Lincoln and Nyk Lewis. Newman (St. John’s) and Lincoln (Bishop O’Connell) played this past season on their respective high school varsities. Lewis was a starter at Gonzaga.

Smith, who was Sego’s first seventh grader to dunk in a game, scored on a variety of shots in the title game, particularly in the lane. St. Jerome’s biggest lead was 25. “Jordan was owning the boards, especially in the beginning of the game, and getting easy putbacks,” Sego said. “Going into the game, we knew we had to stop them in transition and keep them in front of us on defense.”

Devonish said the key to winning was “getting Jordan the ball and create openings” for him.

Devonish was a great defender

St. Jerome Parish defeated St. Thomas More by 19 points to win its sixth boys basketball city championship. In the semifinals, the Jaguars downed Annunciation, 57-28. COURTESY OF NAS JOY SEE CHAMPIONS ON 13 

Bad company ruins good gardens

Dear Miss Floribunda,

MISS FLORIBUNDA Dear Digging Up Data,

Last month you wrote that tomatoes should be grown separately from corn. This was news to me. I do know about companion planting and that corn likes beans and squash and that Native Americans planted them together and called them the Three Sisters. However, I didn’t know plants could be enemies of each other! So, just why don’t corn and tomatoes get along? Is there some family feud? What’s the dirt on that?

Digging Up Data on Decatur Street

Are you trying to tempt me to dream up a turf war between the Solanaceae and the Gramineae families, featuring savage competition for nutrients, scandalous cross-pollinations and hits from hired insects? I could call it “Goodveggies.” If that’s too corny, I might tell of a rivalry among lethal legumes (pea shooters picking off hasbeans?) called “The Podfather.” However, if we’re going to anthropomorphize plants, we’d do better to consult a oncepopular 19th century novel: Elective Affinities, by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Goethe posits that combining certain personalities will lead to such

Income Tax Preparation

“An excellent service at a fair price!”

GETS Financial Incorporated

6213 Balfour Drive

Hyattsville, Maryland 20782-1506

By Appointment Only

Michelle A. Goetzinger, President

Richard N. Goetzinger, General Manager Notary Public Service

Available

301 559 6503

Same Location Since 1959

predictable results as amorous infatuation or violent crime.

He makes a comparison to mixing chemicals in a laboratory. This brings us back to plants and how they affect each other, beginning with the soil they share. Some plants exude chemicals that are harmful to some other plants, or helpful in repelling insects and disease-carrying organisms. Others vie for the same nutrients, a serious problem if root depth is the same. Others attract insects that are either harmful to another plant or, on the contrary, beneficial.

The reason that corn and tomatoes should not be planted together is that both are susceptible to a number of the same fungi. They are both attacked by moth larvae: Heliothis zea, known both as corn earworm and as tomato fruitworm; Manduca quinquemaculata, known as the tomato hornworm; and Agrotis ipsilon, or black cutworm.

Now, if you are considering planting corn with beans and squash, you might be interested to know that the beans that Native Americans planted with corn were not green snap beans but the drought-tolerant tepary beans (Phaseolus acutifolius), which dried well and could be stored. For the

same reasons, it was winter, rather than summer, squash that was the third “Sister.”

If you plant green beans, it makes sense to choose a vining pole bean that will climb the corn. Any beans you plant will add nitrogen to the soil, which will feed the corn and squash. The sprawling squash vines will smother weeds, as well as cool the soil and help it retain moisture. The tall corn will shade the squash and beans from the fiercest solar rays. Although squash blossoms are gorgeous, as are the blooms of scarlet runner beans, you’d do well to add a useful and quite beautiful edging to your bed with nasturtiums. They come in spectacular colors, they enrich the soil, and their odor repels many noxious insects, while attracting some beneficial ones. You might consider planting an early spring garden of peas and radishes in the bed that you will add tomatoes to when the soil warms. Peas will add nitrogen to the soil. Radishes, which burrow down into the soil, will improve texture and tilth.

Let’s not neglect the tomatoes, which can be planted in another bed at a safe distance. Now, if you want a soap opera, here’s food for one: Tomatoes get along just fine with beans and squash, despite the latter’s alliance with corn. If revenge is desired, those cucumbers

and carrots so often paired with tomatoes in gardens will be perfectly happy fraternizing with corn, and vice versa. Carrots, by the way, can be planted earlier than tomatoes and will help soil tilth even more effectively than radishes because they delve deeper. (I might add that radishes will not scruple to grow with tomatoes just as compliantly as with corn.) Other congenial spring plantings are lettuce and spinach: As the tomatoes grow, their shade slows the bolting of these cool-weather plants.

Most essential for the tomato garden, however, are garlic and onions. They repel the red spider mites, along with most other insects, bad or good, that like to attack tomatoes. Their allium relative, chives, has sweet-scented mauve flowers to attract beneficial insects — for a while.

You might want to plant nasturtiums and marigolds to bring bees, butterflies, ladybirds and other beneficial insects. Another benefit of including marigolds near tomatoes is that their roots exude a chemical that kills root-knot nematodes — nasty microscopic worms that consider tomatoes their favorite host to impose on and eventually kill.

Lovely herbs to make tomatoes and beneficial insects happy are lemon balm, thyme and basil. Parsley is also very beneficial, but should be kept away from lettuce. Do not plant dill near tomatoes. Peppers, by the way, should not be planted with tomatoes every single year because they are also in the Solanaceae family and can share diseases. The nemesis of the Solanaceae family, however, is the Brassica family. Don’t even think of planting kale, cabbage, turnips or broccoli with tomatoes unless you would like to see your green thumb defeated by the Black Hand.

Of course, there are other alliances and misalliances among plants that could be explored.

I fervently hope that the Hyattsville Horticultural Society (HHS) will soon be able to have public meetings so we can all exchange information. Please keep checking the HHS website, hyattsvillehorticulture. org, for information.

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

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Send your event information for

Our list of events sponsored by local nonprofits, arts organizations and performance venues, occurring between March 12 and April 15; all information is current as of March 4. 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 April 16 and May 13 to kit@ hyattsvillelife.com by April 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-DrawingGroup-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

Pyramid Atlantic Art Center presents “Members’ Mashup!” Over 100 members of the art center exhibit works of their choice. Through April 17. 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

MARCH 15

The local trio Petrichord featuring Sophie Chang (cello), Colleen Holroyd (fiddle, feet) and Bobby LaRose (piano, mandolin, bones) will play traditional music and originals at My Dead Aunt’s Books. Free, although a donation is requested at the door. 6:30 to 8 p.m. 5132 Baltimore Ave. 240.472.9325

MARCH 18

Celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day, one day late, at Maryland Meadworks with the O’MacPub Band. Free. Limited seating. Proof of vaccination required to sit indoors. 7 to 10 p.m. 4700 Rhode Island Ave., Suite Bee. 201.955.9644

Family campfire, with nature tales and roasted marshmallows. Bring your own hot dogs. Register at pgparksdirect.com. Residents $3, nonresidents $4. 7 to 9 p.m. Ropewalk Pavillion, Bladensburg

Waterfront Park, 4601 Annapolis Rd. Bladensburg

The funk band Black Folks

Don’t Swim?, spring artists-inresidence at the Brentwood Arts Exchange, play their opening concert. $15 tickets through pgparksdirect.com. 8 to 10 p.m. Brentwood Arts Exchange, 3901 Rhode Island Ave., Brentwood. 301.277.2863

MARCH 19

Beatbox Dads perform in a Family Fun Day: beatboxing to teach phonics, counting and music skills. Free. Register through pgparksdirect.com. 11 a.m. to noon. Publick Playhouse, 5445 Landover Rd., Cheverly. 301.277.1710

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

MARCH 25

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

Laugh House Comedy presents Correy Bell of Chicago, a comic featured in the Showtime special “Mo’Nique and Friends.” $25/$20 to sit at the bar. Doors open at 6:30. Show 7:30 to 9 p.m. Masks required. Busboys and Poets, 5331 Baltimore Ave. 301.779.2787. busboysandpoets.com

MARCH 26

Bike tour explores natural and historical resources of the Anacostia Watershed. Bikes and helmets provided. Ages 8+. Register at pgparksdirect.com. Residents $5, nonresidents $7. 1 to 2 p.m. Bladensburg Waterfront Park, 4601 Annapolis Rd., Bladensburg

APRIL 1

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 through pgparksdirect.com. Drop-in musicians enter free. 7 to 9 p.m. Brentwood Arts Exchange, 3901 Rhode Island Ave., Brentwood. 301.277.2863

APRIL 2

The annual World Dance Showcase: Traditional, culturally specific dance companies audition for the chance to show off dance, traditional music and costumes from around the world. $25. $15 seniors and students. Register through pgparks direct.com. 8 to 10 p.m. Publick Playhouse, 5445 Landover Rd., Cheverly. 301.277.1710

The local alt-pop Band Brûlée plays Maryland Meadworks. Free. 7 p.m. Limited seating. Proof of vaccination required to sit indoors. 4700 Rhode Island Ave., Suite Bee. 201.955.9644

A concert with M.S.G Acoustic Blues Trio: Resa Gibbs, Jackie Merritt and Miles Spicer play blues, roots, and spiritual music. $25. Visit acousticblues.com for tickets. Audience participation welcome. 8 to 10 p.m. Archie Edwards Blues Foundation, 4502 Hamilton St.

APRIL 1, 2 AND 3

Uprooted Dance presents “The Ascension Project,” an indierock dance opera set to Sufjan Steven’s “The Ascension” album. Masks and proof of vaccination

SEE CALENDAR ON 12 

CALENDAR

FROM PAGE 11

cars are traveling in the same direction. Roundabouts also reduce idling time, which decreases pollution.

A resident opposing the proposed roundabout posted to the HOPE (Hyattsville Organization for a Positive Environment) email group, sparking a 57-comment thread. Some commenters thought the price tag was too high, while others were concerned that a roundabout might be more dangerous for pedestrians, especially those who are visually impaired. Many others supported the idea of a roundabout, citing the IIHS data.

While the terms “roundabout” and “traffic circle” are used interchangeably in regular speech, the IIHS distinguishes a roundabout from a traffic circle or rotary. According to the IIHS, traffic moves around a roundabout at a slower speed than it does around a traffic circle, due to the roundabout’s smaller size. Also, vehicles entering a roundabout are always supposed to yield to circulating traffic, whereas some traffic circles have lights to regulate vehicles and allow access to specific streams of traffic.

At the Feb. 7 council meeting, more than half a dozen residents spoke about the proposed changes. “I am adamantly opposed to a roundabout in that location,” said Nina Faye, saying that her experience of roundabouts in Takoma Park has been negative. Melissa Schweisguth also questioned if a roundabout is necessary, based on the crash data for the intersection.

Other residents supported the proposal.

“This is a fantastic idea to redesign a problematic intersection,” Yohannes Bennehoff said. Cliff Mayo agreed, adding that “while the data don’t show a large number of collisions, in my opinion that is only because we’ve been lucky.”

“It’s a topic that I think there’s a lot of passion about,” said Councilmember Danny Schaible (Ward 2), who sponsored the bud-

get initiative. Councilmembers Ben Simasek (Ward 3) and Edouard Haba (Ward 4) suggested expanding the motion to study alternatives to the proposed roundabout, as well. Although the motion was not up for a vote during the Feb. 7 meeting, councilmembers generally agreed that a study of the intersection was warranted. “I don’t want to wait until we see a serious injury or fatality,” said Councilmember Joanne Waszczak (Ward 1).

or testing required. $20 general admission; $15 seniors, veterans, and children. Apr. 1 and 2, 7 to 8 p.m. Apr. 2 and 3, 4 to 5 p.m. Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Rd., Mt. Rainier. joesmovement.org

APRIL 7

Jim Groves hosts an open mic Step up to the stage to perform three songs. Open jam at the end if time permits. Free. 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Archie Edwards Blues Foundation, 4502 Hamilton St. acousticblues.com

APRIL 9

The experimental pop band Historic Sunsets plays Maryland Meadworks. Free. 7 p.m. Limited seating. Proof of vaccination required to sit indoors. Maryland Meadworks, 4700 Rhode Island Ave., Suite Bee. 201.955.9644

APRIL 15

Indie punk band Pompeii Graffiti plays originals. $15 tickets through pgparksdirect.com. 8 to 10 p.m. Listening Room, Brentwood Arts Exchange, 3901 Rhode Island Ave., Brentwood. 301.277.2863

The current intersection at Driskell Park’s entrance is a five-way intersection where 40th Avenue, Gallatin Street and Hamilton Street come together. SOPHIE GORMAN ORIANI

instruction in her child’s science class often starts half an hour late due to late bus arrivals.

Rigg said that many families don’t have the means to drive their children to school. His family carpooled in the fall, but as he has returned to working in person, they have had to rely on buses.

Rigg credited school board member Pamela BoozerStrother (District 3) for her effective advocacy, noting some recent improvement in bus arrival times.

Boozer-Strother said that a bus driver shortage means drivers have double routes, which leads to delays throughout the county. She stressed that bus-

CHAMPIONS

throughout his three years with St. Jerome. His quick hands and foot speed often led to steals and fastbreak baskets. He shot well from the outside and was adept at finishing drives.

Smith is strong and super athletic and nearly unstoppable in the lane. He has narrowed his high school choices to St. Paul VI and DeMatha. Devonish is down to Bishop Ireton and DeMatha.

“In addition to being very talented, they’re nice kids and very unselfish,” Sego said. “I’ve had talented players that weren’t really popular to play with because they’re not giving the ball up. But Silas and Jordan were perfectly fine letting other people shine. And that’s super important.”

Sego has contributed to seven city championships. The first three (1996, ’99, 2000) came as an assistant under Mike Gielen at St. Mark’s Parish on Adelphi Road.

ing HMS students should be a priority, though, because they are dealing with other disruptions to their education during construction of the new school.

School officials say the new HMS building is on track to be completed by July 2023.

In the meantime, the middle school’s sixth grade students go to Thomas Stone Elementary School, in nearby Mount Rainier, and seventh and eighth graders are divided between two more distant schools. Students in the HMS creative and performing arts (CPA) program share a building with Robert Goddard Montessori School (RGMS), in Seabrook, and nonCPA seventh and eighth graders travel to Meadowbrook, the most distant temporary site, in Bowie.

Following the construction of a large modular building on the RGMS campus, seventh and eighth graders will be united in Seabrook until the new Hyattsville school is open. However, the construction of the RGMS modular has taken longer than anticipated.

Christopherson said that in March, parents will discuss the pros and cons of moving the Meadowbrook students to RGMS after spring break or waiting until fall 2022.

Unreliable bus transportation may be contributing to a decreased attendance rate and declining enrollment at the school.

As of Jan. 26, Hyattsville Middle School had an 89% attendance rate for the 2021-22 school year, compared with a

Sego became head coach at St. Jerome in 2007 and won his first two crowns in 2008 and ’11. Dick Brown guided the Jaguars to titles in 1974 and ‘85.

Sego, a 1994 DeMatha graduate, has coached five Jaguars who have played, or are playing, in the NBA: Victor Oladipo, Quinn Cook, Marcus Derrickson, Jeff Dowtin and Naji Marshall.

Nick Cross, who played on Sego’s 2015 championship team, attended the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. At St. Mark, Sego coached Cameron Wake, a former Pro Bowl defensive end with the Miami Dolphins.

“Ever since I got here, I’ve been loved,” Devonish said about St. Jerome. “The coaches brought me in and worked with me every single day. I appreciate it. It’s been fun playing with a group of kids I like. A good environment and great teamwork.”

Chris McManes (mick-maynz) coached baseball and basketball at St. Jerome Parish.

rate of 94% during each of the preceding four years.

At the beginning of this school year, there were 859 students enrolled in the middle school; as of March 1, there are 717, according to county school officials.

Boozer-Strother said some students have moved away, others are homeschooling and some are participating in the new Prince George’s County Public Schools Online Campus.

“We are a more disadvantaged population. So for us to be broken up across multiple campuses hits extra hard,” said Christopherson. “This cohort of middle school kids for Hyattsville — they’ve been asked to carry all of the sacrifices and none of the gain.”

Boozer-Strother said that the team of dedicated bus

drivers should be thanked for their commitment, as they work under stress during the driver shortage. “Our current bus driver staff have been performing at an outstanding level of attendance, and showing a real commitment to make this work.”

She also noted that the county school system is holding job fairs twice each month to recruit new drivers. The next scheduled fair will be on March 16.

For more information about the hiring of school bus drivers, contact hros.transportation@ pgcps.org or Nicole.Eubanks@ pgcps.org or contact PGCPS Human Resources at 301.952.6134.

Josie Jack is an intern with the Hyattsville Life & Times

A community newspaper chronicling the life and times of Hyattsville

Mailing address: PO Box 132, Hyattsville, MD 20781

http://facebook.com/ HyattsvilleLife

http://twitter.com/HvilleTimes

Hyattsville Life & Times is published monthly by Streetcar Suburbs Publishing Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. Editors welcome reader input, tips, articles, letters, opinion pieces and photographs, which may be submitted using the mailing address above or the email addresses provided.

streetcarsuburbs.news

Managing Editor Kit Slack kit@hyattsvillelife.com

Associate Editor Heather Wright heather@hyattsvillelife.com

Layout & Design Editor Ashley Perks

Streetcar Suburbs Web Editor Sophie Gorman Oriani sophie@hyattsvillelife.com

Streetcar Suburbs Webmaster Jessica Burshtynskyy jessica@hyattsvillelife.com

Copy Editor Nancy Welch

Writers & Contributors Dan Behrend, Victoria Boucher, Juliette Fradin, Josie Jack, Chris McManes, Ilana Williams

HyattsKIDS Adult Advisor Mary Frances Jiménez

Advertising advertising@hyattsvillelife.com

301.531.5234

Business Manager Catie Currie catie@hyattsvillelife.com

Advertising Sales Manager Miranda Goodson miranda@hyattsvillelife.com

Board of Directors Joseph Gigliotti — President and General Counsel Chris Currie — Vice President Stephanie Stullich — Treasurer Emily Strab — Secretary Rosanna Landis Weaver, Gretchen Brodtman, Reva G.Harris, T. Carter Ross, Kit Slack and Mark Goodson — Ex Officio

Circulation: Copies are distributed monthly by U.S. mail to every address in Hyattsville. Additional copies are distributed to libraries, selected businesses, community centers and churches in the city.

Total circulation is 9,300.

HL&T is a member of the National Newspaper Association.

Jordan Smith goes up for two of his game-high 31 points in St. Jerome Parish's championship game victory on Feb. 24. COURTESY OF NAS JOY

CORRECTION

In the "Through a hard winter, teachers hang on" article in the February edition, the following two sentences should have read, and now say online:

After a recent increase in hourly pay, non-teacher certified subs with degrees in Montgomery County make about 35% more than those working in Prince George’s. For long-term assignments, it’s 63% more.

”In addition to being very talented, they’re nice kids and very unselfish ... Silas and Jordan were perfectly fine letting other people shine. And that’s super important.”

St. Jerome Coach Joe Sego

NEWS BRIEFS

VISIT STREETCARSUBURBS.NEWS FOR MORE

COUNCIL DISCUSSES ALLOCATING MONEY FOR TRAFFIC CAMERAS

At its Feb. 22 meeting, the Hyattsville City Council discussed a proposal to allocate funds for additional speed and red light cameras. The proposal would allocate funds for the cameras in the budget for fiscal year 2023, but the council would have to vote to actually spend the money before a speed camera or red light camera could be purchased and installed.

Councilmember Sam Denes (Ward 1), who sponsored the motion, noted that the state law regarding speed cameras has recently changed, and they can now be located in certain residential neighborhoods that aren’t school zones. Their use must still be justified by data from a speeding study or traffic statistics.

While councilmembers were generally supportive of the motion, Edouard Haba (Ward 4) and Joseph Solomon (Ward 5) suggested that the studies to determine locations for speed cameras be done in advance of purchasing cameras. According to Hyattsville Police Chief Jarod Towers, as

part of the installation process, the camera vendor will conduct a study to determine if a location will bring in enough revenue to pay for operation of the camera. Then the county or the state highway administration must issue a permit for the camera, and the mayor and council also then have to vote to approve it. Advance warning is also given to residents.

Councilmember Joanne Waszczak (Ward 1) asked for more details on the potential equity issues with speed cameras. She noted the possible benefits from safer traffic and the risks of accruing fines that drivers cannot afford to pay. Towers explained that a ticket issued by an officer for driving 10 to 19 miles over the speed limit costs $90 and comes with two points (points stay on a license for two years; at eight points a driver's license is suspended and at twelve, it is revoked). Moreover, if a driver does not pay the fine, their license is suspended, potentially leading to an arrest if the recipient drives with a suspended license. A ticket from a speed camera, on the other hand, costs $40, comes with no points and cannot lead to

a suspended license or arrest. According to Denes, Hyattsville currently has three speed cameras and three red light cameras.

COURT RULES ON DEVELOPMENT BY DRISKELL PARK

A Maryland appeals court issued a decision Feb. 23 in a dispute over Suffrage Point (formerly Magruder Pointe), the development going up next to Driskell Park.

The City of Hyattsville and a group of citizens sued the county and the developer, Werrlein WSSC LLC, in 2019. After losing in circuit court in 2020, they appealed.

The appeals court upheld the county's decision to rezone the former parking lot next to the park, designating the area as residential rather than open space. However, the court directed the county to reconsider how many dwellings per acre it had permitted on the property. The court noted that when calculating the number of houses per acre, the county used the entire acreage of the property. Instead, when calculating the number of

allowed houses, or townhouses, per acre, the county must use a net acreage, first subtracting alleys, streets and land within the 100-year flood plain from the total acreage.

According to the court, the applicable zoning regulation allows a maximum of 6.7 houses per net acre. The court said the county may also allow townhouses in the zone, and set a maximum number of townhouses per net acre.

In a March 3 email, a City of Hyattsville spokesperson noted that “the City is aware of the ruling and reviewing its options. At the moment, there are no specific plans for action.”

A lawyer for Werrlein Properties wrote in a March 4 email, “We are pleased with the Court of Special Appeals’ opinion largely affirming the District Council’s decision. … We are working to address the one technical issue where the court requested clarification.”

According to the developer's website, three of the houses already being built are under contract for sale, as of press time.

HOLLINGSWORTH RUNS FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

Candace B. Hollingsworth, mayor of Hyattsville from 2015 to 2020, announced on Feb. 8 that she is running for lieutenant governor for the state of Maryland. She is running with the Democratic candidate for governor Doug Gansler.

The Gansler/Hollingsworth ticket will be one of several choices available to Democratic voters in Maryland’s June 28 primaries. Rushern L. Baker, former Prince George’s County executive, is among those also running in the crowded field.

Hollingsworth, now 39, was Hyattsville’s first Black mayor. She ran for Prince George’s County Council in 2018, losing narrowly to incumbent Deni Taveras. Hollingsworth stepped down as mayor on Dec. 31, 2020, to focus on a political organization she cofounded called Our Black Party. Hollingsworth said that she has felt blessed by the support of many Hyattsville residents who understood her drive to look further, in her political work, than the City of Hyattsville.