04-2022 Hyattsville Life & Times

Paint Branch Elementary immersion program thrives

By Josie Jack

Jing Shen, a fifth grade teacher at College Park’s Paint Branch Elementary School, walked around her classroom, picking up students’ water bottles as she explained in Chinese how to determine their various dimensions.

Shen’s students listened attentively to her instructions, then broke into pairs and began working. Most students understood the assignment, grabbing tape measures and worksheets. Shen’s co-

Limit on singleuse plastics considered by county

By Michael Charles

The Prince George’s County Council is getting closer to drafting legislation that will limit the distribution of single-use food service products, an effort to reduce plastic pollution and waste.

During their March 17 meeting, county councilmembers agreed on the broad outlines of the

INSIDE

City talks money

ments to the budget before their April 18 meeting. On May 2, the city council will hold a hearing on the property tax rate and vote on budget amendments. The city expects to adopt the budget at its June 6 meeting.

By Kit Slack

For the past month, the Hyattsville city government has been holding public meetings about city spending in the next fiscal year, which starts July 1.

On March 30, the city council discussed a plan

for getting federal COVID-19 relief funds to Hyattsville residents and businesses who need them. The council also reviewed the city’s proposed $45 million annual budget.

On April 4, the council talked about whether to change the city’s property tax rate.

Councilmembers must propose any amend-

CITY DISCUSSES

COVID-19 RELIEF

By the end of this summer, Hyattsville will have received $18 million under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). While half of those

Streetcar Suburbs Publishing — who are we, and what do we do?

By Kit Slack

The nonprofit that publishes the newspaper that you are holding is called Streetcar Suburbs Publishing. Our monthly newspapers — the 18-year-old Hyattsville Life & Times and the 2-year-old College Park Here & Now — are mailed, free of charge, to every household and business owner in Hyattsville and College Park.

A BIG CHANGE

On March 22, the vice president of our board, Chris Currie, resigned. For the past 15 years, Chris led negotiations of our contracts with the printer, the post office and advertisers — including the cities of Hyattsville and College Park. He negotiated the contracts of the part-time staff who edit and design our publications, sell ads and keep our books.

He advocated for our organization with skill, tact and energy, helping keep the newspaper printing, and the organization growing, as other local news sources dried up.

In recent years, Chris secured COVID-19 relief funding when advertising sales dipped as the pandemic hit local businesses. He launched our first community fundraiser a few months ago.

Professionally, Chris is an administrator at St. Jerome Academy, a Catholic school, and Hyattsville’s only private elementary and middle school. As the school continued to

grow, Chris realized that he no longer had time to fulfill his newspaper responsibilities at the high standard he set for himself.

RECENT CONTROVERSY

The immediate cause of Chris’ resignation, however, was a conflict between his role as a leader on the business side of the newspaper, and his roles as a leader in the school and in Hyattsville’s Catholic community. During this past school year, and especially through the spring, parents of students enrolled at St. Jerome have been in conflict over compliance with COVID-19 protocols and the timing of the easing of those protocols.

On Feb. 21, St. Jerome adopted a masks optional policy, in keeping with new rules for Maryland Catholic schools.

On Feb. 23, one of our volunteer reporters agreed to write a news story about the school’s COVID-19 protocols and parents’ views on them.

Within the next few days, county, state and federal masking guidelines eased. As editor of the Life & Times, I decided not to run the story in the March newspaper. The changes in guidance decreased its relevance. The developing story was complex, and we were out of time to do it justice. The assigned reporter agreed to write a related opinion piece on a longer timeline.

Because one of my children attends St. Je-

rome, my doorbell and phone kept ringing, and my email inbox kept lighting up. Chris was one of the people I heard from. He suggested angles that would not focus on divisions between parents, and he asked me not to use emails that my reporter had from a listserv that Chris moderates.

It is not my policy to quote from an email to a listserv without the writer’s permission unless the writer is a public official. And I had already decided, independently, to let this story go.

However, Chris’ intervention, and his later description of that intervention, in an email our board reviewed, as a successful effort to nix the story, were not in keeping with the newspaper’s policy on editorial independence. Chris decided to step down to focus on the school and his family.

During this transition, we wanted to to share our editorial goals and policies with you.

WHAT WE DO, HOW WE DO IT

Streetcar Suburbs Publishing celebrates local civic organizations, communities and residents. We seek to reflect the diversity of our communities, and help residents understand each other. We hold local officials accountable by covering municipal government, local schools and development.

As an independent, nonpartisan organization, we do not take positions on matters that come before our city councils, nor do

we endorse candidates running for office. We promote local businesses by running advertisements, and publish features that encourage local shopping. Through feature stories and our community calendars, we promote the arts and local nonprofits.

We ourselves are a volunteer-run nonprofit. Volunteers serve on our board, send us story ideas, write and take pictures for us. Articles and photographs that we publish are gifts to the community from these volunteers.

We cannot cover every story. We often cannot take on investigative reporting or journalism that requires persistent Freedom of Information Act requests. Occasionally, volunteers will take on projects that fall into one of those categories. We consider those endeavors to be extraordinary gifts to our readers.

We typically choose not to tell a story if we are only able to tell one side of it or cannot put it in context. For example, we don’t quote screenshots of texts if we don’t have access to the full conversation.

The managing editor for each newspaper decides what will be published. These editors are members of the communities they seek to serve, and, inevitably, the newspapers cover stories that concern them. Managing editors work with other editors in our organization to check and balance our decisions. The board also weighs in and directs difficult editorial decisions.

We fill an important news gap.

If you value this newspaper, please donate, buy an advertisement, volunteer, or write us a grant! And if you see gaps or errors in these pages, point it out. Better yet, step up to help. Please contact me, kit@hyattsvillelife.com, with your ideas, questions and offers of help. Thanks for reading! H

Bhatt, Croslin, Schaible on ballot for 2022 mayoral race

By Jon Donville and Kit Slack

On April 1, Vish Bhatt became the third candidate to register to run for mayor of the City of Hyattsville. Interim Mayor Robert S. Croslin filed first, on March 21, the day candidate registration opened. City Councilmember Danny Schaible (Ward 2) registered two hours before Bhatt. Candidate registration closed April 8. Bhatt says he is a systems engineer working in data infrastructure; he lives in Ward 3. This is his first Hyattsville electoral campaign.

Both Croslin and Schaible hold degrees in landscape architecture and live in Ward 2. Croslin, now a goldsmith by trade, has served as a city councilmember for more than eight years and was council president at the time of Mayor Kevin Ward’s death on Jan. 25. Schaible, a longtime employ-

ee of the National Park Service, was first elected to the city council in 2019. He is the council’s vice president.

In-person voting will take place June 7 at the Hyattsville Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin Street. During the month leading up to the election, residents can vote by mail, or deliver mail-in ballots to secure drop boxes.

The city will send out ballots in the beginning of May to all residents who have registered by April 15. Residents can also register and vote in person on election day.

PRIOR MAYORAL RACES AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE

Ward was elected mayor in 2021, with 1,861 votes. His closest opponent was City Councilmember Joseph A. Solomon (Ward 5), who received 1,020 votes.

According to three campaign finance reports filed with the City of Hyattsville in 2021, Solomon spent a total of just under $63,000 on his campaign. Ward spent about $12,400. For context, the mayor’s salary is $16,000 per year.

The 2021 election, while not particularly close, was still much closer than the previous two mayoral elections, and the campaigns were much more expensive.

In 2019, Candace B. Hollingsworth won with 1,261 votes and spent about $2,000. She defeated Angela Kenny, who received 206 votes and spent $132.

Hollingsworth, who is now running to be Maryland’s next lieutenant governor, alongside gubernatorial candidate Doug Gansler, was first elected Hyattsville’s mayor in 2015, with 1,000 votes, running unopposed.

MAIL-IN VOTING AND ELECTION TIMING

The election is taking place later than originally anticipated. In a Feb. 1 letter, the city board of elections recommended a vote-by-mail election. The letter cited the success of prior vote-by-mail elections, and concerns about COVID-19 variants.

Previously, the city charter stipulated that special elections were to be conducted within 75 days of the vacancy opening. “It’s just not enough time to pull off a vote-by-mail election,” said City Clerk Laura Reams, mentioning a requirement that ballots be mailed 30 to 45 days before the election.

A Feb. 22 city council resolution amended the city charter and changed the amount of time required to fill any vacancy on the city council, or in the office of mayor, from 75 days to 140 days.

In-person voting will take place June 7 at the Hyattsville Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin Street. During the month leading up to the election, residents can vote by mail, or deliver mail-in ballots to secure drop boxes.

Hyatts KIDS

CAFÉ VOLUNTEERING IS IMPORTANT, REWARDING

By Genevieve Poynton, age 12.5

You might have heard of St. Jerome’s Café, and maybe you know a friend or family member that goes there. Every Thursday, the St. Jerome’s Café makes and gives food to people who might not be able to afford it. They also give away clothes and shoes that have been donated by generous people in Hyattsville. I went to the St. Jerome’s Café as a volunteer for the first time a few weeks ago.

A large amount of time and effort goes into making the café happen every Thursday. The cooking team makes food at home to give away, the setup team helps set up the café, and other volunteers give out food and clothes when the customers arrive. There are also people who do a little bit of everything, like I did.

Volunteer Cecilia, age 10, says, “It feels good to help people who are in need, and it’s a fun, rewarding experience.” And if you need service hours for anything, this is a great way to earn a lot at a time. The café is open during school hours from about 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., so it might be hard to fit into your schedule. You can always help by preparing food or donating items.

If you are interested in participating, you can contact Katherine Somok at katherinesomok@gmail.com or go to the St. Jerome’s Café website at stjeromes.org/st-jeromes-cafe.

Created by contributors in grades K-12, the HyattsKIDS Life & Times features local news, columns, and comics from our city’s youngest journalists. Would you like to see your art or writing on our page? Send submissions to hyattskids@hyattsvillelife.com.

SPOT THE EGGS BY TALIKA GORSKI, AGE 10

IT’S TIME FOR LUNCH!

By Violet Hanna, age 10

I am in fifth grade at Hyattsville Elementary School, and one day there was a chicken dish that looked new to me. So I wondered, who decides what’s on the menu at school? I sent questions to a nice lady named Dee-on Everette, a supervisor for Prince George’s County Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services. Here is what she had to say: Who decides what is served in the cafeterias in PGCPS? We follow a meal pattern set forth by federal and state guidelines. Menus are also based on the dietary guidelines. Most importantly, choosing the items for the menu for the upcoming school year is done by involving students from elementary, middle, and high schools. This is done by having taste tests in various schools and completing surveys.

How are new recipes created?

We get recipe ideas from students, staff, and what’s popular at restaurants and convenience stores.

Have there been new items served in schools recently? Even though it was difficult to test new products during COVID-19, we introduced a bean and cheese burrito, and it is doing well in different regions of the county.

Were there any recipes that seemed like they would be su-

The Hyattsville Life & Times thanks Train Printing owner

Joe Leffson

for 41 years of service to the Hyattsville community and 18 years of patronage of Hyattsville’s community newspaper

Best wishes for a wonderful retirement!

per popular but ended up not being such a hit? This occurs often. What works in one school may not be a super hit in another school. In that case, we try and make adjustments, but we usually have to wait until the next quarter. What is your favorite thing to have for lunch? My favorite thing for lunch is a chef salad. I love how the lettuce is crisp and how I am offered various types of meat or an option to just have cheese or egg or maybe both!

Thank you, Ms. Everette!

LIBRARY REOPENING: TWO HYATTSKID’S-EYE VIEWS

By Delia Silva, age 12

The reopened Hyattsville Branch Library, located at 6530 Adelphi Road, has lots of new things for all ages. Inside the library, they have computers kids and adults can use as long as they have a library card. Also, they have a 3D printer, which costs $1 per hour. They have study rooms placed around the library for people who want to gather a group for a study session, but also don’t want to be interrupted.

The little ones have a whole section dedicated to them. In their corner, they have a castle where they can read and play at the same time. Outside the library, they have a balcony for days when the weather is nice. People can read or even just be outside with a nice view of the flying saucer.

It’s easy to park because now there is a garage under the library. There is a spot inside the main entrance where people can eat and drink. The workers and volunteers are helpful. If you are 14+ years old and want to volunteer at

the library, just go to pgcmls.info or email the branch to sign up.

By Evan LeFevre, age 15

Well folks, after three years, $32 million and one petition regarding a certain flying saucer, the Hyattsville Branch Library has reopened! With 84 public computers, two meeting rooms, two fireplaces, makerspaces complete with 3D printers, a café, and even a giant tree in the middle of the children’s section, it’s safe to say that the Hyattsville Branch Library is one of the most spectacular buildings in the city.

After rounding a refreshingly well-paved corner into possibly the cleanest parking garage I’ve ever seen, I walked into the building and met the huge Hyattsvillethemed mural in the center, starring the beloved former Mayor Candace Hollingsworth, as well as other well-known Hyattsville alumni.

But beyond the marvel of how much work clearly went into the space, I couldn’t help but be taken aback by how many kids there were. Never have I ever seen so many children excited to read! The lines to the checkout counter easily spanned 30 grade-schoolers long, probably the size of your average school bus or possibly a Megalodon shark.

Even over their respectfully worn masks, I could see how excited everyone was to be reading. And that’s the whole point of a library. Sure, it’s nice to have the glistening windows three stories in the air and cozy leather chairs to curl up in and a computer on every bookshelf to easily find whatever you're looking for, but at the end of the day, a library is for getting kids into reading. I have never seen a library do so well at the job.

The new chicken dish at HES VIOLET HANNA

Safe from the Taliban, Afghan refugees start over in University Park

By Hunter Savery

Roman and Aimal Najmi are refugees who escaped the Taliban takeover of Kabul this past August. In Afghanistan, the couple were successful dentists who lectured at Kabul University. Now in University Park, they are safe from the Taliban but struggle to find appropriate work and afford an apartment.

Aimal said the couple’s overall anxiety started when they heard the U.S. was going to withdraw from Afghanistan.

Aimal worried that he would be targeted because of his ties to the U.S. He was a Fulbright Scholar and earned his master’s degree from the University of Massachusetts. The Taliban has a history of targeting Fulbright recipients because they are perceived as being pro-American, Aimal said.

The day that Kabul fell to the Taliban, Aug. 15, 2021, was also Aimal and Roman’s first wedding anniversary. Instead of celebrating, they were desperately trying to find a way out of their native city. They waited outside the airport for nine hours, while the Taliban violently pushed people back.

Fortunately, Aimal had previously obtained a Canadian visa; after finally getting through the crush of people at the airport, he and Roman were given the choice to come to Canada or the U.S. They chose the U.S. Once on the plane, a military flight bound for Kuwait, the couple was finally able to relax. Aimal recalled saying to Roman, “We can click a selfie here to remember this moment.”

Aimal and Roman’s journey took them to Germany, where they lived in tents on a U.S. military base for 12 days. Roman recalls that because they left Kabul in August and could only take one bag, they were unprepared for the cold.

The couple were then flown to the U.S. on Sept. 12, 2021, and waited at a military base in Indiana, Camp Atterbury, while their paperwork was processed. The Najmis spent two months in Indiana before being allowed to resettle in Maryland in November.

Aimal and Roman came to Maryland at the invitation of Roman’s cousin Feroza Yari. Yari came to the U.S. in 2001 as a refugee from the first Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. Yari now lives in West Hyattsville and works for the U.S. Department of Defense. She helped the couple

find a room in a shared house in University Park.

University Park resident Donna Chacko, an author and a retired oncologist, met Roman and Yari at a Christmas craft fair in University Park. Deciding she wanted to help, Chacko posted a message to the University Park community’s listserv inviting them to a virtual gathering to meet the couple.

Chacko said she was sure people would be interested in helping the Najmis, “knowing how many really good people live in University Park [who are] interested in the world.”

The virtual meeting between the couple and about 15 University Park neighbors began with introductions and brief presentations by Aimal on Afghanistan’s recent history. Attendees met Roman and Aimal, heard the couple’s history and learned what kinds of assistance they needed most. The group brainstormed about how to help the couple and connect them with job opportunities. University Park resident David Fosse even offered the couple a car he and his wife no longer needed.

“It’s really surprising how a little something could make a big difference for these people,” said Chacko.

While Roman and Aimal receive support in the form of food stamps from the International

Rescue Committee (IRC), a refugee resettlement organization, they struggle to make ends meet, according to Roman. Most difficult of all, they are unable to work as dentists here without the necessary certification, even though they were lecturers at Kabul University.

“I think there are two major problems we have right now. One is our living situation; we want to move to an apartment so we can live there,” said Aimal. “And the other problem is we need jobs.”

Roman said that because the couple does not have children, they were unable to receive housing assistance from the IRC, which gives priority to families with children. They want to live in an apartment of their own. Aimal and Roman hope that someone from the community will be able to help them find work in the dental field. They both said they want to return to a safe Afghanistan some day when they can live there without fear of persecution.

A-1 YARD SERVICES Complete

Donna Chacko

teacher, George Rustad, observed the class and was ready to work with students who needed help.

Shen’s math challenge looked like any other Common Core math lesson in Maryland — except it was taught entirely in Chinese.

Paint Branch Elementary is one of 12 schools in the county with an immersion program, and it is the only elementary school that offers a Chinese program. The county also offers French and Spanish immersion programs, and enrollment is based either on a lottery system or districting, depending on the school.

According to Jane Tarwacki, the program’s instructional specialist, the county’s immersion program began in 1982 as part of an effort to help schools integrate students speaking a range of languages. The Chinese STEM immersion program began in 2012 and expanded to serve all grade levels by 2019. According to Tarwacki, the overall immersion program now provides educational enhancement and cultural exposure to some 3,000 students in the county.

“We have a study here, actually in Prince George’s County, that was a blind study for us that said that students in immersion are more college- and careerready than their counterparts who were not in immersions,” said Carmen Henninger, su-

pervisor of the immersion program. The study, published in June 2017, was performed by county schools program evaluation specialists.

Students enrolled in the program may earn the Maryland seal of biliteracy, and some

students graduating from the French immersion program have gone on to attend college in France, according to Tarwacki and Henninger.

Though elementary schoolers may not be thinking about college, some reported that they

have used their Chinese language skills outside of the classroom.

Azim Donawa, one of Chen’s and Rustad’s students, said he was able to speak with a Chinese woman who works at a local grocery store. He has also taught his mother some Chinese.

Overall, the program is popular among students; they like learning a new language and about a different culture.

“I’ve never seen a kid that didn’t enjoy [the program],” said Rustad, who has worked at Paint Branch Elementary for four years.

Henninger credits the teachers for creating an environment where the children are happy and the program is successful. The National School Boards Association honored the program and its teachers, granting the county’s immersion program the 2022 Silver Magna Award in February. The Magna Award honors school districts that remove barriers to underserved students.

“I feel like it’s nice and deserved,” said Azim. “The teachers put in a lot of hard work to teach the students.”

Tarwacki and Henninger hope to provide more opportunities for students to use their language capabilities. Before the pandemic, students were able to travel to sister districts in China and France to use their new skills in a native setting.

“We’re just really proud to be one of the speciality programs,” said Tarwacki. “And we just hope that people continue to choose ours and really see the value in learning that language.”

Josie Jack is an intern with the Hyattsville Life & Times.

Jing Shen teaches fifth grade at College Park’s Paint Branch Elementary School. COURTESY OF RANDALL PIKE, PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

e sneezes, my friend, are ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’

By Fred Seitz

About 140 million years ago, dinosaurs were wandering around the world. About the same time, the first flowering plants appeared. Those beautiful plants introduced one of our not-so-favorite springtime experiences — pollen.

This made me wonder: Did dinosaurs sneeze?

I’ll come back to that question in a bit; let’s stick with the pollen for now. Although mosses (which are still abundantly hanging around) preceded flowering plants, mosses simply spread themselves by producing spores. While spores may elicit a sneeze reaction from some of us, I think I’d have to hand it to the angiosperms — the flowering plants — for their skill at spreading their youngins-to-be.

There are over 400,000 species of flowering plants, and they developed pollen to ensure their survival. Being naturally ambitious, each flower can produce thousands of grains of pollen. And being even more ambitious, these plants enlisted the aid of wind, insects and furry critters to help disseminate the pollen.

Although not all trees are angiosperms, pollen-producing oaks are one of the major sources of sneezes in our area. These oaks also adorn our cars and outdoor furnishings with their prolific, yellowish to light-green pollen. Oak pollen adheres to my outside-loving dog, who, upon

his return, obligingly sprinkles the pollen inside our house — thus bringing the sneezes inside.

While I’ve primarily focused on the sneeze-producing aspect of pollen, which can be a real pain for those of us who are reactive, I would be seriously remiss if I didn’t address its role in criminal investigations and in sciences like paleontology.

The presence of specific pollen on a perpetrator or victim, or at a crime scene, may help advance a case. The 2015 Baby Doe case in Massachusetts is a famous example of using pollen identification; an analysis of the pollen found clinging to a murdered toddler’s hair and clothing suggested that she was a local, which helped police limit their search and eventually identify the girl and her murderers. Pollen analysis has also been used in smuggling cases, as specific types of pollen can often be traced to where they originated. However, its use in U.S. criminal cases has been limited, due in part to the cost and time re-

quired, the small number of people trained in the field of palynology (the study of pollen and spores), and the lack of an automated data system to identify the regional differences among pollen. In contrast, countries like New Zealand and Britain have embraced and accepted the use of forensic palynology to a significant degree.

Paleontologists use fossilized pollen found on an also-fossilized critter to determine the age, climate and location of the critter at the time of its demise (paleopalynology). And analyzing fossilized pollen from various epochs can give insight into evolution and climate shifts.

In February, scientists discovered fossil evidence that sauropods, like the Astrodons that once roamed Maryland, suffered from respiratory illness — the earliest example we have of non-avians to suffer from avianstyle infections. They very likely sneezed.

However, paleopalynology hasn’t yet figured out if Astrodons and their kin developed allergies to pollen. As I sniffle and snort my way through this springing spring, I’m glad I wasn’t nearby way back then to say gesundheit to Dolly, the recently diagnosed diplodocid.

Fred Seitz writes about nature for the Hyattsville Life & Times

Home Questions? I Have Answers

Although not all trees are angiosperms, pollen-producing oaks are one of the major sources of sneezes in our area.

Hyattsville Reporter the

No. 409 • April 12, 2022

Notices & Updates

2022 Special Mayoral Election: The City’s vote-by-mail election to elect a new Mayor is on June 7, 2022. Anyone 16 & older who has been a City resident for 30 days can vote! You do not have to be a U.S. citizen to be eligible to vote, and the City will not share information with outside organizations. Both a ballot and an election guide will be mailed to registered voters in early May. In-person voter registration and polling will still be available at the City Building from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Election Day. You can also register in-person at the City’s Anniversary Festival on April 23!

Ballots received in the mail are returnable by mail (no postage necessary) or to a secure drop box at the City Building (4310 Gallatin Street), Heurich Park (2900 Nicholson Street), or inside the new Hyattsville Branch Library (6530 Adelphi Road). All ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. on June 7, 2022. Remember – postmarked ballots don’t count! Visit hyattsville.org/vote to learn more.

Hyattsville COVID Site Hours & Testing Availability: The City’s COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the First United Methodist Church is now open from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m every Tuesday. Vaccines and booster doses for ages 12+, including the recently approved second booster for adults ages 50+, are available all day. Pediatric vaccines for ages 5+ are available from 3 – 7 p.m. No appointment or insurance is needed!

The site also offers PCR testing for walk-ups and drivers Mondays & Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit hyattsville.org/covid-19 for details and to learn of other available COVID-19 resources.

The City has a supply of free COVID-19 selftest kits available for residents at the City Building. Kits can be picked up Monday - Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. One kit (contains two tests) per person present. Call (301) 985-5000 to check for availability.

It’s Budget Season!: The draft budget for the City’s 2023 fiscal year (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023) is now available at hyattsville.org/budget. Residents can still provide feedback on proposed programs and expenditures by reaching out to their City Councilmembers and attending the April 18 City Council meeting and May 2 Real Property Tax Rate Hearing. Learn more at hyattsville. org/budget.

Volunteer Appreciation Week: In honor of National Volunteer Week this April, the City would like to thank all the residents that volunteer to make Hyattsville a better place to live. Join us April 17 – 23 on social media as we highlight Hyattsville’s volunteer heroes. To end the week, we’ll also be hosting a special ceremony at the City’s Anniversary Celebration to honor the 2021 Hyattsville volunteer(s) of the year!

If you have time to give, the City offers a wide variety of volunteer opportunities, from serving as a member of an advisory board to tutoring local students. Learn more at hyattsville.org/volunteer.

Programs, Services, and Events

Money for your Biz!: Applications for the City’s Commercial Façade Improvement Program are now being accepted! Local business & property owners looking to make exterior improvements to their property are

encouraged to apply to this matching grant program. You can find guidelines and apply at hyattsville.org/facade.

Growing Green with Pride: Join the County’s Growing Green with Pride initiative on Saturday, April 23, to help beautify Hyattsville! Groups and local organizations who register by April 15 can pick up cleaning supplies and mulch from the County. This year, the County is also giving away gift cards to registered groups who complete one of three beautification challenges! Details at mypgc. us/GrowingGreen.

Invasive Removals: Invasive plant removing is a year-round undertaking! Join us on Saturday, April 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., to help us clean up Driskell Park, 3911 Hamilton Street! It’s also a great way to earn student-service learning hours. Email dtaft@ hyattsville.org to confirm your participation or if you anticipate arriving late.

Drug Take Back Day: The City’s Police Department is hosting a Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the City Building, 4310 Gallatin Street. Residents looking to safely dispose any unwanted prescriptions, vape pens, and e-cigs can drop them off - no questions asked! Items not accepted include needles, hydrogen peroxide, asthma inhalers, and illicit drug substances. Have questions? Call (301) 985-5060.

Anniversary Celebration: We can’t wait to see you! The City is celebrating its 136th anniversary on Saturday, April 23, from 4 p.m. – 9 p.m., at Driskell Park, 3911 Hamilton Street! We’ll have family entertainment, music, food & beer, and fireworks to end the day! City residents 16 and older can also register to vote in the upcoming City Election. Visit hyattsville.org/anniversary for details.

Arbor Day at McClanahan Park: Join us Saturday, April 30, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30

p.m., to celebrate Arbor Day by planting a new food forest at McClanahan Park! The park is located on the 3500 block of Oliver Street at the intersection of Jamestown Road. This will be Hyattsville’s 30th year of being recognized as an Arbor Day Foundation Tree City. Space is limited. Please register by April 28 at hyattsville.org/volunteer or by calling (301) 985-5000. Tools will be provided.

Bulk Waste Pop-Up & Electronics Recycling Day: The City will host a Bulk Waste Pop-Up Day on Saturday, April 30, at the City Building, 4310 Gallatin Street, and DPW Operations Center, 4633 Arundel Place. Residents can drop off items at either location from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., or until containers reach capacity. Visit hyattsville.org/ bulk-waste for a list of acceptable items.

An E-Recycling & Paint Collection Day will take place on Saturday, May 7, from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the DPW Operations Center. Old cans of wet paint can be dropped off and recycled with Yuck Old Paint for $5 a can. Electronics drop-off is free. Acceptable items listed at hyattsville.org/recycle.

HY-Swap: The HY-Swap, a community organized event to “shop” for free infant, children and maternity clothing, toys, and gear, is returning to Driskell Park on Sunday, May 1! Shopping hours are from noon – 1:30 p.m. and 2 – 3:30 p.m. Please register for a time in advance at hy-swap.com.

Pre-sorted items will be collected at the park, 3911 Hamilton Street, between 9 – 11 a.m. Items must fit in a grocery bag – no large items. The Greater DC Diaper Bank will also be on hand to accept diapers and sanitary items. Find more information and volunteer to help at hy-swap.com or by emailing hyswap@gmail.com.

Mosquito Control Workshop: Take back control of your backyard this summer! Join

us for a free webinar on Thursday, May 5, at 7 p.m. to hear from University of Maryland Professor Paul Leisnham on ways to reduce the tiger mosquito population without relying on hazardous chemicals! The link to attend is available at hyattsville.org/enviroeducation.

Youth Services

Play in Motion: Registration for the City’s new Creative Minds’ program, Play in Motion, is now open! Parents & guardians of children ages 3 – 5 are encouraged to join the City’s Youth Services staff for a series of classes to develop children’s motor skills though movement, simple sports, and group dance! Classes will be offered outdoors at Driskell Park, 3911 Hamilton Street, on Thursdays from 10 - 11 a.m. from April 28 to May 26. Visit hyattsville.org/creativeminds to learn more.

Summer Camp: Looking for a summer activity for your child(ren)? Sign them up for the City’s Summer Camp! Camp is offered for students in grades K- 5 from June 27 – August 19. Discounts for City residents and families with 1+ camper are available for the week-long sessions. Visit hyattsville.org/ camps for details.

Age-Friendly Services

Senior Technology Classes: The City has partnered with the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System to offer in-person technology classes for seniors. The last class will take place on May 2 from 1 – 3 p.m. at the new Hyattsville Branch Library, 6350 Adelphi Road. Learn useful computer skills like checking for email and browsing the internet to be more connected with your family and friends! A drop-in session to ask more advanced questions will also be available the same day from 3 – 4 p.m. Registration is required for the 1 – 3 p.m. session. To register or for more info, call (301) 985-5012 or email seniors@hyattsville.org.

The City of Hyattsville and the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System partnered to offer technology classes for local senior residents! Details on an upcoming session can be found below.

¡La Ciudad de Hyattsville y el Sistema de Biblioteca Conmemorativa del Condado Prince George’s se asociaron para ofrecer clases de tecnología para residentes locales de la tercera edad! Los detalles sobre la próxima sesión se pueden encontrar a continuación.

Avisos y Noticias

Elección Especial de Alcalde de 2022: La elección de voto por correo de la Ciudad para elegir a un nuevo Alcalde es el 7 de junio de 2022. ¡Cualquier persona de 16 años o más quien ha sido un residente de la Ciudad por 30 días puede votar! No tiene que ser un ciudadano estadounidense para votar, y la Ciudad no compartirá su información con otras organizaciones. Una boleta y un guia de elección serán enviados por correo a votantes registrados a primeros de mayo. La opción de registrarse y votar en persona estará disponible en el E dificio Municipal de 7 a.m. a 8 p.m. el Dia de Elección. ¡También puede registrase en persona en el Evento de Celebración del Aniversario de la Ciudad el 23 de abril!

Las boletas pueden ser retornadas por correo (no requiere estampilla) o retornadas a una caja segura ubicada en el Edificio Municipal (4310 Gallatin Street), Heurich Park (2900 Nicholson Street) y dentro de la nueva biblioteca de Hyattsville (6530 Adelphi Road). Todas las boletas deben ser retornadas antes de las 8 p.m. el 7 de junio de 2022. Recuerden, ¡boletas tardes no cuentan!

Horario Ampliado del Sitio COVID de Hyattsville y Disponibilidad de Pruebas: La clínica de vacunas COVID-19 de la Ciudad en la Iglesia First United Methodist ahora está abierta cada martes de 11 a.m. a 7 p.m. Las vacunas y dosis de refuerzo para personas de 12+, incluyendo la recientemente aprobada segunda dosis para adultos de 50+, están disponible todo el día. Las vacunas para menores de 5+ están disponible de 3 – 7 p.m. ¡No necesita cita ni seguro!

El sitio también ofrece pruebas PCR para personas a pie y conductores lunes y jueves de 9 a.m. a 3 p.m., y sábados de 9 a.m. a 1 p.m. Visite hyattsville.org/covid-19 para más detalles y para conocer otros recursos disponibles de COVID-19.

La Ciudad tiene un suministro gratuito de kits de prueba COVID-19 disponibles para los residentes en el Edificio Municipal. Los kits se pueden recoger de lunes a viernes, de 8:30 a.m. a 5 p.m. Un kit (contiene dos pruebas) por persona presente. Llame al (301) 985-5000 para verificar la disponibilidad.

¡Es la Temporada Presupuestaria!:

El presupuesto para el año fiscal 2023 de la Ciudad (1 de julio de 2022 – 30 de junio de 2023) está ahora disponible en hyattsville. org/budget. Los residentes todavía pueden proporcionar sus opiniones sobre los programas y gastos propuestos a sus Concejales y asistir a la reunión del Concejo de la Ciudad del 18 de abril y a la Audiencia Pública de Tasa de Impuestos el 2 de mayo. Obtenga más información en hyattsville.org/budget.

Voluntariado en Hyattsville: En honor a la Semana Nacional de Voluntarios este mes de abril, la Ciudad desea agradecer a todos los residentes que se ofrecen voluntariamente para hacer de Hyattsville un mejor lugar para vivir. Únase a nosotros del 17 al 23 de abril en las redes sociales mientras destacamos a los héroes voluntarios de Hyattsville. Para terminar la semana, también sostendremos una ceremonia especial en la Celebración del Aniversario de la Ciudad par¡a honrar los voluntarios del año 2021 de Hyattsville!

Si usted tiene tiempo para dar, la Ciudad ofrece una amplia variedad de oportunidades de voluntariado, desde servir como miembro de un comité asesor hasta ser un tutor para los estudiantes locales. Obtenga más infor-

Hyattsville Middle School (HMS) received a snack delivery thanks to a collaborative effort involving the Hyattsville Education Advisory Committee, City Staff, the Latin American Youth Center, and Ward 3 Councilmember Jimmy McClellan. The snacks are intended for HMS students with extended commutes to their temporary schools.

La Escuela Hyattsville Middle (HMS) recibió una entrega de bocadillos gracias a un esfuerzo de colaboración que involucró al Comité Asesor de Educación de Hyattsville, el personal de la Ciudad, el Latin American Youth Center y el Concejal del Distrito 3 Jimmy McClellan. Los bocadillos están destinados a los estudiantes de HMS con trayectos largos a sus escuelas temporales.

mación en hyattsville.org/volunteer.

Programas, Servicios y Eventos

Dinero para su Negocio: ¡Las aplicaciones para el Programa de Mejoramiento de Fachadas Comerciales de la Ciudad están siendo aceptadas! Se anima a los propietarios de negocios locales y propiedades que buscan hacer mejoras en el exterior de su propiedad a aplicar a este programa de becas de igualación. Usted puede encontrar pautas y aplicar en hyattsville.org/facade.

Creciendo Verde con Orgullo: ¡Únase a la iniciativa Creciendo Verde con Orgullo del Condado el sábado 23 de abril para ayudar a embellecer a Hyattsville! Los grupos y organizaciones locales que se registren antes del 15 de abril pueden recoger artículos de limpieza y mantillo del Condado. ¡Este año, el Condado también está regalando tarjetas de regalo a los grupos registrados que completen uno de los tres desafíos de embellecimiento! Detalles en mypgc.us/GrowingGreen.

Removimiento de Plantas Invasoras: ¡La eliminación de plantas invasivas es un trabajo que se lleva a cabo todo el año! ¡Únase a nosotros el próximo sábado 16 de abril, de 10 a.m. a 2 p.m., para ayudarnos a limpiar Driskell Park! ¡También es una gran manera de ganar horas de aprendizaje de servicio para los estudiantes! Envíe un email a dtaft@hyattsville.org para confirmar su participación o si anticipa llegar tarde.

Día de Recuperación de Drogas: El Departamento de Policía de la Ciudad está organizando un Día de Recuperación de Drogas el sábado 23 de abril, de 10 a.m. a 2 p.m., en el Edificio Municipal, 4310 Gallatin Street. Los residentes que buscan deshacerse de forma segura de cualquier receta no deseada, el vape, y e-cigs pueden dejarlos - ¡no se hacen preguntas! Los artículos no aceptados incluy-

en agujas, peróxido de hidrógeno, inhaladores de asma y sustancias de drogas ilícitas. ¿Tiene preguntas? Llame al (301) 985-5060.

Celebración del Aniversario de Hyattsville: ¡No podemos esperar a verlo! La Ciudad celebra su 136 aniversario el sábado 23 de abril, de 4 p.m. a 9 p.m., en Driskell Park, 3911 Hamilton Street! ¡Tenderemos entretenimiento familiar, música, comida y cerveza, y fuegos artificiales para terminar el día! Los residentes de la cCiudad de 16 años también pueden inscribirse para votar en la próxima Elección de la Ciudad. Visite hyattsville.org/anniversary para obtener más información.

Día del Árbol en el Parque McClanahan: ¡Únase a nosotros el sábado 30 de abril, de 9:30 a.m. a 12:30 p.m., para celebrar el Día del Árbol plantando frutas y verduras en el Parque McClanahan! El Parque está ubicado por el bloque 3500 de Oliver Street en la intersección de Jamestown Road. Este será el año 30th de Hyattsville de ser reconocido como una Ciudad amigable con los árboles por la Fundación Arbor Day. El espacio es limitado. Por favor regístrese antes del 28 de abril en hyattsville.org/volunteer o llamando al (301) 985- 5000. Se proporcionarán herramientas.

Día Emergente de Basuras Grandes y Dia de Reciclaje de Electrónicos: La Ciudad organizará un Día Emergente de Basuras Grandes el sábado 30 de abril en el Edificio Municipal, 4310 Gallatin Street, y el Centro de Operaciones de Obras Públicas, 4633 Arundel Place. Los residentes pueden dejar artículos en cualquier lugar de 10 a. m. a 1 p. m., o hasta que los contenedores alcancen su capacidad máxima. Visite hyattsville.org/bulk-waste para obtener una lista de artículos aceptables.

El sábado 7 de mayo, de 10 a. m. a 1 p. m., se

llevará a cabo un día de recolección de pintura y reciclaje de electrónicos en el Centro de Operaciones de Obras Públicas. Las latas viejas conteniendo pintura se pueden reciclar con Yuck Old Paint por $5 por cada lata. La entrega de artículos electrónicos es gratuita. Una lista de artículos aceptables esta en hyattsville.org/recycle.

Intercambio Comunitario: El HY-Swap, un evento organizado por la comunidad para “comprar” ropa, juguetes y equipo de maternidad, niños y bebés gratis, ¡vuelve a Driskell Park el domingo 1 de mayo! El horario de compras es de mediodía a 1:30 p.m. y de 2 a 3:30 p.m. Por favor regístrese con anticipación en hy-swap.com.

Artículos ya preclasificados pueden ser dónanos en el Parque entre las 9 a.m. y 11 a.m. esa mañana. Los artículos deben caber en una bolsa de compras tamaño regular, sin artículos grandes. La organización Greater DC Diaper Bank también estará presente para aceptar pañales y artículos sanitarios. Encuentre más información u ofrezca su ayuda como voluntario en hyswap.com o enviando un email a hyswap@gmail.com.

Taller de Control de Mosquitos: ¡Recupere el control de su jardín este verano! Únase a nosotros para un seminario web gratuito el jueves 5 de mayo a las 7 p.m. para escuchar al profesor de la Universidad de Maryland, Paul Leisnham, sobre las formas de reducir la población de mosquitos tigre sin depender de productos químicos peligrosos. El enlace para atender esta en hyattsville. org/enviro-education.

Servicios para Menores

Juega en Movimiento: ¡La inscripción para el nuevo programa de Mentes Creativas de la ciudad, Juega en Movimiento, ya está abierta! ¡Se alienta a los padres y guardianes de niños de 3 a 5 años a unirse al personal de Servicios Juveniles de la Ciudad para una serie de clases para desarrollar las habilidades primarias de los niños a través del movimiento, deportes simples y baile grupal! Las clases se ofrecerán afuera en Driskell Park, 3911 Hamilton Street, los jueves de 10 a 11 a. m. del 28 de abril al 26 de mayo. Visite hyattsville.org/creativeminds para obtener más información.

Campamento de Verano: ¿Busca una actividad de verano para su(s) hijo(s)? ¡Regístrelos en el Campamento de Verano de la Ciudad! El campamento se ofrece para estudiantes en los grados K-5 del 27 de junio al 19 de agosto. Los descuentos para los residentes de la ciudad y las familias con 1+ campista están disponibles para las sesiones semanales. Visite hyattsville.org/camps para obtener más detalles.

Servicios para Personas de la Tercera Edad

Clases de Tecnología: la Ciudad se ha asociado con el Sistema de Bibliotecas del Condado Prince George’s para ofrecer clases de tecnología en persona para personas de la tercera edad. La última clase tomara plazo el 2 de mayo de 1 – 3 p.m. en la nueva biblioteca de Hyattsville, 6350 Adelphi Road. ¡Aprenda habilidades informáticas útiles como chequear email y navegar por internet para estar más conectado con su familia y amigos! También habrá disponible una sesión sin cita previa para hacer preguntas más avanzadas el mismo día de 3 a 4 p.m. Se requiere inscripción para el 1 - 3 p.m. sesión. Para registrarse o para obtener más información, llame al (301) 985-5012 o envíe un correo electrónico a seniors@hyattsville.org

Lightly used furniture, décor seek forever homes at BackStage Store

By Lauren Flynn Kelly

The pandemic has dragged on for two years, and you’re sick of looking at the sofa you bought 10 years ago that has been violated in various ways by pets and/ or small children. You select the perfect replacement sofa, only to learn that there’s an estimated wait time of eight to 12 weeks that news reports suggest might even be much longer. Sound familiar? Well, did you know that Hyattsville has its own used furniture store showcasing a rotating selection of contemporary sofas and other home items?

BackStage Store considers itself a hidden gem, both because of its off-the-beaten-path location and because of the treasures housed within. It is tucked away next to the Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation, at 4502 Hamilton Street, and across from the public gathering venue, The Spot. I might

not have noticed it if I didn’t take so many walks along the Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail. According to Sales and Marketing Manager Sadé Lemons, Tiffany Parker opened the shop in 2020 as an extension of Parker Staging, a home interior staging company that has served the Washington, D.C., area since 2009. BackStage’s

inviting space houses lightly used items that have all been repurposed from staging jobs and are priced at about 50% less than their original purchase price. Dining chairs and stools — all appearing in like-new condition — range from $15 to $75 apiece, while sofas are priced anywhere from $195 to $350, depending on

their condition and quality. Lemons described the furniture selection’s style as modern transitional. While most of the items in the store are neutral colors, I did spot a few bright green pieces, like a set of repurposed chairs from interior stylist Cat Guerra (@interiorstylingsbycat).

The store also showcases pillows, art, lamps, planters, end tables and accent chairs, and it supports local vendors who sell their furnishings and décor. And some items may have been upcycled, repaired or touched up by the business’s DIY arm, BackStage Creates.

Whatever isn’t sold may get rotated back to the firm’s warehouse space or sold at pop-up shops from here to Baltimore. For Women’s History Month, BackStage Store partnered with Green Owl Design on Baltimore Avenue to host a sidewalk sale featuring women-owned businesses. In

fact, it was Green Owl that suggested Parker check out the Hamilton Street location when she was looking for a place to sell her gently used items, according to Lemons. The space also offers Parker a chance to showcase her staging business, as home sales continue to boom in this area and sellers can see added value from a nicely staged interior, Lemons said.

BackStage Store is currently open Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m., and it may open Sundays during the warmer months when foot traffic is higher, Lemons noted. Customers shopping online can reserve items through BackStage’s Instagram page (@backstagestoremd) and peruse additional items not available in the store at backstagestoremd.com/shop. Cash, major credit cards, Venmo, Paypal and CashApp are all accepted forms of payment. And you can arrange delivery of your items within a 20-mile radius of the store for $75.

Lauren Flynn Kelly writes about thrifting for the Hyattsville Life & Times.

BackStage Store on Hamilton Street features an array of lightly used sofas, chairs and other home furnishings. COURTESY OF AUSTIN HILL, YRN PHOTOGRAPHY

PLASTICS

FROM PAGE 1 and learn from their own implementation process.” This January, the District restricted restaurant use of single-use plastic food service items.

proposed legislation but postponed a vote on the bill until certain details can be clarified. Any possible legislation would require restaurants to provide plastic utensils, condiment packages, napkins, straws and other single-use products only upon request by the customer.

J. Kenneth Battle, director of the county council’s transportation, infrastructure, energy and environment committee, said during the meeting, “The approach here is to change the default behavior regarding the accessory, disposable food-service ware by having these businesses provide these items when the customers requested them.”

At its March 8 meeting, the Hyattsville Environment Committee considered proposing similar legislation to the City of Hyattsville but decided to wait and see whether and how the county would act.

If the county passes a bill, it would go into effect by June 1, 2023, according to County Councilmember Dannielle Glaros (District 3), who co-sponsored the bill. Thirdparty food delivery platforms like DoorDash would need to comply by Aug. 1, 2023. Previously, the council had discussed the possibility of the bill being enacted in February 2023, but extended the date to allow time to educate both consumers and businesses about the bill.

“[The timeline extension] gives us a little bit over a year to have a full and robust education program for restaurants and identify if there are any challenges that we need to come back with,” said Andrea Crooms, director of the county department of the environment. “We also have time to analyze what’s happening in D.C.

Throughout the meeting, councilmembers and other speakers expressed clear support for the bill and its goal. Glaros said, “We think that this will work well to make sure we’re eliminating waste but doing it in a way that doesn’t put unnecessary burdens on our businesses.” She added. “This allows us to enact our next step in terms of this county thinking about zero waste.”

Restaurant representatives also appeared supportive. “This is an item that a restaurant should welcome. Plastic silverware is expensive, aside from being wasteful,” said Andy Shallal, CEO and founder of Busboys and Poets, a restaurant group with locations throughout the Washington metropolitan area, including in Hyattsville. “I’m sure many of us have drawers full of plastic silverware from

If the county passes a bill limiting single-use plastics such as straws, it would go into effect by June 1, 2023. COURTESY OF PEXELS

carryout that we don’t need.” Members of local environmental organizations spoke in favor of the bill. “I urge you to support [the bill]. Plastic items that are made to be used for less than an hour persist in the environment for more than a century,” said Janet Gingold, chair of the Prince George’s Sierra Club. “The increase in litter visible along our roadways is a symptom of the systematic problem.”

Christopher Williams, president and CEO of the Anacostia Watershed Society, said his organization pulled 42 tons of trash from rivers and streams last year. He added that other jurisdictions that moved to restrict single-use plastics have “shown the promising results of such legislation.”

Howard County passed a bill on March 1 that restricts the use of single-use plastics by restaurants. Officials across Maryland are also closely watching how the District’s experience plays out.

“You can see the new marketing that is out there from D.C. about shifting to upon request,” said Glaros. “This really helps address and continues to eliminate items that just don’t need to be in our waste stream.”

In late 2021, California put restrictions on single-use plastics. According to the nonprofit

environmental research and advocacy organization Californians Against Waste, 561 billion single-use food service items are used annually in the U.S., leading to approximately 4.9 million tons of waste. The group said restaurants that voluntarily transitioned to providing plastic utensils and other single-use products by request only, prior to the statewide bill’s enactment, saved between $3,000 and $21,000 per year.

Optimism about the Prince George’s County bill continues to build. “It doesn’t ban anything; it just requires a service business [to] not provide single-use, non-reusable utensils, straws, stirrers, condiment packages and napkins unless the customer asks for them,” said Martha Ainsworth, chair of the Prince George’s Sierra Club Zero Waste team. “We love this bill.”

MISS FLORIBUNDA

The power of the bog

Dear Miss Floribunda,

Last year, a tree in our backyard toppled in a storm, and we had it hauled away. Ever since then, the backyard has tended to flood during rain and is boggy, in general. I think the tree was

draining the water, and now I should plant or dock something else in its place. I’ve never done much gardening before, but I don’t want to just suck this up. Does anything spring to mind?

Your pool of advisers might float some ideas. I can’t afford

a big tree, and there are other trees nearby that might topple and ruin whatever I plant, so maybe you could suggest a quick ground cover of tough native plants, maybe just from seed. I don’t want to drown in debt.

Just Getting My Feet Wet on Jefferson Street

Dear Just Getting My Feet Wet, I don’t want to dampen your spirits, but before you buy any seeds, I think that first you ought to acquire three things: a set of stepping stones, lots of compost and a very sturdy spade. Since you’re on a budget, I consulted my cousin Parsimony. She gets stepping stones from a kitchen-and-bathroomcounter maker’s dumpster. When ovals and other geometric shapes are cut out to make spaces for sinks, the pieces of marble and granite are thrown out, and the business has to pay someone to haul them away. Parsimony has persuaded a business to let her take what she wants, with the assurance that she will refrain from filing a lawsuit if she injures herself. She cautions that the slabs should be placed with the beautiful-but-slippery side down and the rough side up — ugly

but safe to walk on. She gets her compost in quantity from city leaf-composting sites and brings her own garbage bags. Where she doesn’t spare expense is on the purchase of high-quality garden tools — although she is pleased if she can find good used ones at farm auctions. She warns that if you choose a used spade, make sure it has a strong handle that won’t break off easily. Now, once you have the compost and spade, you face the task of digging the compost into the area that floods. While this should help right away, I suggest the stepping stones for a firm surface to stand on while you dig.

I’m surmising that your backyard is still partially shaded. There are a number of beautiful water-tolerant plants that like a certain amount of shade and could survive a tree-toppling: Astilbe comes to mind immediately, and lilies of the valley thrive in consistently moist, if not too soggy, conditions. However, neither of these are easy to grow from seed, and they are not native. I asked my Chesapeake Natives contact, Wendy Wildflower, for ideas. She recommends the marsh marigold, Caltha palustris, as a ground cover. It is in the same family as buttercups and ranunculus, with clusters of lovely satiny sepals of a particularly thrilling deep yellow. It spreads rapidly and can be grown from seed. How-

ily from stem cuttings, so you might want to purchase a few plants. It takes up to three years to bloom, however.

Wendy also recommends golden Alexander (Zizia aurea), which has lovely yellow flowers and can be grown from seed. It is an important pollinator, and a food plant for the swallowtail butterfly. It also can reach a height of 3 feet, which is not a ground cover you can walk on.

If you actually prefer a tall ground cover — at least for the edges of your yard — you could consider sneezeweed, Helenium autumnale. It grows to a height of 5 feet.

A lower-growing alternative that Wendy recommends is golden ragwort, or Packera aurea. It’s a member of the daisy family and has cute little yellow flowers in spring but then looks rather scruffy after flowering. Birds will eat its seeds, and then you can cut it back where it will provide a mat-like green cover. If you prefer purple to yellow, another low-growing plant you might consider is the marsh blue violet (Viola cucullata). It can be grown from seed, but it’s quicker and less expensive to grow from root division. These can be ordered online. It naturalizes quickly, and grows 6 inches tall, on average, but no higher than 8 inches tall.

I then consulted Mr. Minnowhaven, who has a water garden. If you have to have flowers, he recommends yellow trout lily and blue flag. If you don’t have to have flowers, he would advise planting one of an immense variety of sedges or some beautiful ferns. Sedge can be grown from seed or cuttings, but propagating ferns from their spores (they don’t have seeds) is a lengthy and painstaking process. They are easily grown from clippings, however. Both sedge and ferns spread easily. You might also consider one of the mints, especially water mint (Mentha aquatica). Although mints can be grown from seed, they are easily grown from cuttings and spread rapidly.

The Hyattsville Horticultural Society is having an outdoor meeting and plant exchange on April 16, from 10 a.m. to noon, at the home of Joe Buriel and Dave Roeder, 3909 Longfellow Street. You might want to come and find plants that might be appropriate or, at the very least, get some good tips on where to find them.

Miss Floribunda writes about gardens. Contact her at floribundav@ gmail.com

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Send your event information for the calendar to Kit Slack at kit@hyattsvillelife.com.

Our list of events sponsored by local nonprofits, arts organizations and performance venues, occurring between April 16 and May 21; all information is current as of April 7. 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 May 13 and June 9 to kit@hyattsvillelife.com by May 6.

ONGOING

SoHy Co-op presents a Cherry Blossom Scavenger Hunt through April 17. Spot the cherry blossom in each of 14 small businesses near the Route 1 Corridor in Hyattsville. Pick up a passport in any of the locations, get your card stamped, and enter to win prizes. More information at sohycoop.com.

RECURRING

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. Live music every week, roughly 4:30

to 6:30 p.m. (April 14: Magic Ray Jazz; April 21: Miles Spicer and Yaya Patterson; April 28: Janine Wilson and Arch Alcantara; May 5: Charles Solomon; May 12: Peggy Brennan; May 19: Jim Groves & Friends.) For more information, contact Jim Coleman at rpkfarmmkt@gmail.com. facebook.com/RPFMarket

Jazz night at Maryland Meadworks with the Hyattsville Jazz Collective on April 22, May 6 and May 13. Free. Limited seating. Proof of vaccination required to sit indoors. 7 to 10 p.m. 4700 Rhode Island Ave., Suite Bee. 201.955.9644

Lauren DeVera presents an interactive dance production exploring pain passed down through generations of women in patriarchal cultures, entitled “Nanay.” The choreographer will invite the audience to journal during intermission. Masks and proof of vaccination or testing required. Pay what you wish, starting at $15. April 30, 7 p.m.; May 1, 4 p.m. Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Rd., Mt. Rainier. joesmovement.org

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

APRIL 16

Janine Wilson at Maryland Meadworks. Free. Limited seating. Proof of vaccination required to sit indoors. 7 to 10 p.m. 4700 Rhode Island Ave., Suite Bee. 201.955.9644

Jazz bass clarinetist and composer Todd Marcus plays with his quintet. $20. 7 to 9:30 p.m. Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Rd., Mt. Rainier. joesmovement.org

APRIL 17

Easter breakfast and Easter

Egg Hunt! From-scratch whole wheat pancakes, eggs, sausage (pork and turkey), fruit and vegan/vegetarian options. BYOB: Bring Your Own Basket (or bag). No kids to hunt eggs? Come for breakfast anyway! 9:30 a.m., breakfast; 10:15-ish, egg hunt.

RSVP: upcob.org. University Park Church of the Brethren, 4413 Tuckerman St., University Park. 301.864.4328

APRIL 19

Ben Thomas and his trio will play his originals, tango mixed with jazz and chamber music. Donation at the door. 6 to 8 p.m. My Dead Aunt’s Books, 5132 Baltimore Ave. 240.472.9325

APRIL 27

Seniors! Bring your lunch and take a pontoon boat ride down the Anacostia. Ages 55+. Residents/nonresidents, $2/$3; register through pgparksdirect. com.11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Bladensburg Waterfront Park, 4601 Annapolis Rd., Bladensburg

APRIL 30

Maryland Day returns to College Park! Hundreds of familyfriendly events and interactive exhibits during a daylong campuswide celebration at the University of Maryland. Free admission and parking. Shuttle buses available to transport guests around the event. 10 a.m.

to 4 p.m. marylandday.umd.edu

Comedy Night featuring Anna Huntley and Eddie Morrison. Free. Adults only. Limited seating. Proof of vaccination required to sit indoors. 7 to 10 p.m. Maryland Meadworks, 4700 Rhode Island Ave., Suite Bee. 201.955.9644

MAY 6

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

MAY 7

Kundelika, Indian classical music in conversation with bluegrass and jazz, featuring Deep Shenoy, will play Maryland Meadworks. Free. Limited seating. Proof of vaccination required to sit indoors. 7 to 10 p.m. 4700 Rhode Island Ave., Suite Bee. 201.955.9644

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MAY 13

Chinese dulcimer virtuoso Chao Tian, dance artist Shuchen Cuff, and world percussionist Tom Teasley perform in Unheard Voice by Chao Tian

7 to 8 p.m. Masks and proof of vaccination or testing required. Pay what you wish, $5 to $50. Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Rd., Mt. Rainier. joesmovement.org

Night hike: Borrow night vision goggles and look and listen for owls, bats, frogs, moths and beavers. Ages 10+. Residents/nonresidents, $5/$7; register through pgparksdirect. com. 8 to 9 p.m. Bladensburg Waterfront Park, 4601 Annapolis Rd. Bladensburg

MAY 15

History Alive Boat tour featuring storytelling about the history of Joshua Barney during the War of 1812 and the Battle of Bladensburg. Ages 8+.

Residents/nonresidents, $3/$4.

8 to 9 p.m. Bladensburg Waterfront Park, 4601 Annapolis Rd., Bladensburg

MAY 20

Performance art by Joseph Webb entitled Prayers for a Hopeless Romantic: Lovers Rock, featuring Gregory Isaacs reggae, Black vernacular dance, and visuals from ‘70s and ‘80s album covers. Masks and proof of vaccination or testing required. Pay what you wish, $5 to $50. Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Rd., Mt. Rainier. joesmovement.org

Out of the Blues outdoor concert featuring Carly Harvey, DC Queen of the Blues. Proof of vaccination required. Masks required inside. 7 to 9 p.m. $25 adults, $10 ages 13 to 20, $5 ages 5 to 12. Artworks Now, 4800 Rhode Island Ave. artworksnow.org

MAY 21

César Chávez Dual Spanish Immersion School presents a spring festival, ¡Sí Se Puede! Fiesta Kids and community members can bounce, run, play games, and dance and listen to music. Social justice advocate Julie Chávez Rodriguez, the granddaughter of Cesar Chávez, will be the keynote speaker. Fundraiser. Free entry. Food and activity tickets for sale. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 6609 Riggs Rd. 301.853.5694

funds arrived last summer, they are not included in the budget until the city council decides how to allocate them. According to federal guidelines, ARPA funds must be spent by December 31, 2024.

In September 2021, the city added $2.5 million of the ARPA funds to the budget for the fiscal year ending June 30. The March 30 budget presentation to council shows a total of about $1 million in ARPA money going to administrative staff and contracted services for fiscal years 2022 and 2023. Most of the ARPA-related expenses approved so far are for management and planning.

Patrick Paschall, a former city councilmember and the city’s ARPA program manager since fall 2021, explained in a March 30 presentation that he had collected feedback from 400 residents and business owners through meetings, surveys, phone and email.

Ron Brooks, Hyattsville’s treasurer, said in an interview that part of Paschall’s job is to identify city expenses that are eligible for ARPA reimbursement.

At the March 30 meeting, Paschall noted that the city had identified $1 million in expenses for projects which the city has already committed to that qualify for ARPA reimbursement, including $345,000 for renovations at the Hyattsville Municipal Building to upgrade the HVAC system and renovate for hybrid council meetings, and $200,000 for installing bathrooms in parks.

Paschall presented a draft plan for the balance of the relief funds for the council to discuss.

The first part of the plan was for programs that could be operating within three months. Paschall proposed establishing a $1 million fund that would provide grants of up to $2,500 each for eligible residents who applied, and a similar $1 million fund to provide grants

EGG-CITED FOR EASTER

of up to $25,000 each for businesses. A $500,000 fund would be established for nonprofits, and about another $500,000 would be divided among food assistance, outreach, administration and a case manager.

Smaller, specific grant programs, part of the same initial funding pool, would provide certification training to childcare providers, offer medical bill reimbursements up to $5,000, and be used to hire a consultant to help businesses secure county permits.

Councilmember Sam Denes (Ward 1) asked why the individual relief fund was set at $1 million. Paschall said that prior COVID-19 relief programs had fewer applicants than anticipated, and that the amount could be increased later.

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Councilmembers cited what they considered to be urgent needs that called for prompt funding, including upgrades to citywide broadband access, childcare expenses for families and materials for city construction projects. Paschall said city staff would study these items and follow up with proposals.

The second wave of ARPA spending would send more than $10 million to new programs and investments. Councilmember Ben Simasek (Ward 3) raised the possibility of establishing an affordable housing fund, as outlined in the city’s housing action plan. Paschall said such a fund would qualify for ARPA money and indicated that the overall challenge for such projects is prioritization and staff capacity. He said he hopes to bring

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technology online over the summer, that would help residents participate directly in prioritizing programs.

In an interview, treasurer Brooks said that a public ARPA prioritization exercise would be a step forward in the participatory budgeting process that the council discussed in fall 2020.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR PROPOSES LARGE BUDGET INCREASE

According to a March 24 city memo, after a hiring freeze during the pandemic, the city hopes to hire 14 staff members, including a mental health case manager in the police department, a case manager in community services, a transportation and traffic engineer, and a records and public information act manager.

According to the city administrator’s budget proposed March 30, Hyattsville expects to collect $22.3 million in taxes and fees in FY 2023, up from $20.6 million the previous year. The city plans to spend close to $26 million from its general fund, including a $3.7 million transfer from a $20 million reserve fund. Annual expenses include $9.7 million on police and $6.3 million on public works, the department that handles trash and maintains streets and parks. The city proposes spending an additional $15.7 million on capital improvements, including equipment and construction. Public works would spend the most, $11 million, much of it on projects like sidewalk and street improvements. Capital improvement expenses come out of a separate fund which generally includes money from municipal bonds and lease proceeds.

The previous year’s budget (FY 2022) included $20.8 million from the general fund, and $10.8 million in capital improvements.

CITY COUNCIL TO SET PROPERTY TAX RATE

MAY 2

Most of the money the city spends each year comes from real estate property taxes; the rate has been set at 63 cents for every $100 of assessed value

since 2006. For FY 2023, the city anticipates collecting $16 million in property tax. The taxes will be due Sept. 30.

Hyattsville raised property taxes from 0.58% to 0.63% in 2006. The first year that tax was in place, Hyattsville collected less than $5 million in property taxes.

As property values have risen, city property tax revenue has too. Hyattsville has also grown, from 14,700 residents in 2000 to 18,100 in 2020, according to census data.

In separate meetings, ARPA manager Paschall and treasurer Brooks told the city council that, under federal law, cities are not permitted to create a tax revenue loss and offset it with ARPA funds.

During their April 4 meeting, the council discussed the property tax rate. Because the state determined that Hyattsville’s property tax collections will be greater this year than last, Maryland law requires the city to give the public notice of the proposed tax rate for the next fiscal year and hold a related hearing. That hearing will be May 2.

Councilmember Eduoard Haba (Ward 4) advocated for lowering the property tax rate to 0.5945%, the rate that the state calculated would give the city steady revenue. Haba argued that tax relief would be more immediate and broadbased than other programs planned and would go to people who need relief but might not apply for it.

Other councilmembers, including Daniel Peabody (Ward 4), Danny Schaible (Ward 2), Simasek, and Joanne Waszczak (Ward 1), said they supported keeping the tax rate the same, and providing targeted, needbased relief.

Joseph Solomon (Ward 5) said improvements in need-based property tax relief had been under discussion for five years, and that in their absence, he favored immediate property tax reduction.

Peabody said he would reach out to colleagues and work towards a resolution.

‘Recxit’ delayed: Workgroup to study county recreation

By Heather Wright

Youth sports is a hallowed topic in Prince George’s County. The county has produced so many professional basketball players that NBA star Kevin Durant spearheaded the 2020 Showtime documentary “Basketball County: In the Water” to explore the phenomenon. Durant himself grew up in Seat Pleasant and played with the PG Jaguars, an Amateur Athletic Union youth basketball team. “Without the rec centers and team sports, I don’t know where I would be right now,” Durant told The Washington Post, following the documentary’s release.

Some parents, student athletes and youth sports representatives think the current recreational system has been failing the county’s young athletes. They want the county to have its own recreation authority, pulling recreation funding, programs and personnel from the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC).

The M-NCPPC is a bi-county agency which was founded in 1927 to provide long-range planning, and park acquisition and de-

velopment to Prince George’s and Montgomery counties.

In 1970, the commission’s responsibilities expanded to include the administration of Prince George’s County’s public recreation program.

The program is primarily funded by a separate recreation tax on real and personal property. For fiscal year 2022, this tax will generate $89.1 million for the commission, according to the M-NCPPC. Montgomery County’s recreation department, formed in 1954, has a FY 2022 budget of $43.7 million.

(According to 2020 U.S. Census data, Montgomery County is the most populous county in the state, with 1,062,061 residents; Prince George’s County ranks second, with 967,201.)

Originally, legislation (House Bill 1057) would have 1) authorized a county recreation authority; 2) established a workgroup to study how to create the new county recreation authority and provide recommendations about this to the county council; and 3) ensured that any employees transferred from the M-NCPPC to the new recreation authority would retain their current salaries and benefits.

The amended bill, which passed the Maryland House of Delegates in a 131-0 vote in March and was in the state senate as of press time, retains only the recreation workgroup; it no longer includes the establishment of a county recreation authority as a predetermined conclusion. Bill amendments also expanded the workgroup and extended the timeline for when the group would present its recommendations to the county council, from Dec. 1, 2022, to April 11, 2023. According to the amended bill, workgroup recommendations will be affirmed with a simple majority vote. The workgroup will have 15 members, four of whom will be appointed by the county executive.

County Executive Angela Alsobrooks has consistently spoken in favor of the establishment of a recreation authority, one structured like the county’s quasi-governmental redevelopment and revenue authorities. She has been criti-

cal of the current state of county youth sports, as administered by the M-NCPPC. During a March Maryland house delegation committee hearing, Alsobrooks compared county recreational and community-based girls’ basketball teams for the current season, noting that Howard County has 140 teams, Montgomery County has 133, Anne Arundel has 111 and Prince George’s County has eight.

Others who are dissatisfied with current county recreation services cite poor sports facility maintenance, difficulties with permitting and use of facilities, a restricted array of programs, and a lack of transparency.

Those who oppose a county recreation authority say that the MNCPPC already provides the county with high quality recreation services. They are also concerned that those in favor of a recreation authority are focusing on youth sports to the detriment of

Danny Schaible for Mayor of Hyattsville Putting Good Ideas Into Action

other populations and recreation services.

A Feb. 19 M-NCPPC position paper noted that the commission regularly evaluates its recreation program: “A recent survey suggests that County households with a favorable opinion about the value of the Commission’s recreational services outnumber those with an unfavorable opinion by 6-to-1.”

During the March hearing, county resident Diane Schwarz said that she moved to the county 12 years ago because of the MNCPPC’s reputation. She noted that the commission was one of the few organizations in the state that pivoted extraordinarily well to continue services during the pandemic. “I’ve had 21 friends who have left Maryland over the … past three years, and to a person … their only dismay was losing the services that the parks and planning commission provided.” The bill is considered emergency legislation and “necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health or safety.” Upon passage by at least three-fifths of the state senate, it would take immediate effect.

On the City Council, I led initiatives to:

➜ Provide pandemic relief to impacted businesses and residents

➜ Improve public safety by modernizing animal control regulations

➜ Ban heavily polluting gas powered leaf blowers

➜ Expand compost collection from a small pilot program to a regular city service

As your Mayor, I will work to:

➜ Increase housing affordability through lowering property taxes for homeowners and prohibiting excessive rent increases for tenants.

➜ Encourage walkable neighborhoods and safer streets through community outreach, targeted traffic calming interventions, and reduced speeding.

➜ Strengthen public safety and accountability through creating a volunteer-led Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement Commission.

➜ Promote environmental sustainability by developing a Hyattsville Climate Action Plan, expanding our tree canopy, and pushing towards zero-waste.

➜ Partner with PGCPS to create an affordable City-run aftercare program for Hyattsville’s youth.

I’m Danny Schaible and I am running to be your Mayor. Hyattsville has endured significant adversity over the last few years, but we continue to rise to the challenge. Help me keep Hyattsville moving in the right direction.

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