06-2022 Hyattsville Life & Times

Police oversight to change July 1

County scrambles to get it right

By Heather Wright

Who should police the police — and how? Since the May 2020 murder of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis, communities have been increasingly wrestling with how to hold law enforcement accountable.

THE COUNTY COUNCIL’S DILEMMA

A new Maryland law revamping citizen review of police misconduct and discipline goes into effect on July 1. The Prince George’s County Council has been torn between complying with the July 1

How mussels are cleaning the Anacostia

By Hunter Savery and Jonathan Donville

In Bladensburg Waterfront Park, baskets of mussels float gently with the tide, nestled between the pier and kayaks stacked high on the dock. This is where the mussels mature until they are ready to be released downriver in locations like the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, in Northeast Washington.

These mussels are part of an ambitious project to make the Anacostia River swimmable and fishable by 2025. The Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) hopes that these mollusks will clean the polluted waterway and help replenish the mussel population, which has diminished significantly in recent years.

“We see a lot of interest, actually. We never knew that mussels could be charismatic, because they aren’t feathery or cuddly, but people love them for some reason,” said Jorge Bogantes Montero, an AWS natural resources specialist.

The idea of mussel restoration is fairly

deadline and allowing time for meaningful public feedback and participation.

Following April 26 and May 9 council meetings that afforded little public notice, councilmembers heard extensive public testimony, including emotionally wrenching stories about police brutality in the county, during a May 25 listening session and a May 31 county council meeting.

Dorothy Copp Elliott spoke of officers fatally shooting her son, Archie Elliott III, 14 times during a traffic stop in 1993. “Not any part of my life has been untouched since losing my 24-year-old son,” said Elliott. “We deserve better, and we demand better.”

Critics of the county’s attempts to comply with state law, including the Maryland Coalition for Justice and Police Accountability

and the related Prince George’s County Coalition for Police Accountability, say the process has lacked transparency and community engagement. They are concerned that one person, the county executive, has an inordinate say in determining the members of new police oversight groups. They also want the new oversight groups to reflect the de-

By Sophie Gorman Oriani

Editor’s note: On the evening of June 7, the Hyattsville Board of Elections will count the votes for the special mayoral election and issue preliminary results. Unfortunately, Hyattsville’s monthly newspaper will be printed on the morning of June 7. Readers who do not wish to wait until July to find out who won the mayoral election should check our website, StreetcarSuburbs.News, for updated election results.

The 2022 mayoral race was another expensive one. Election spending in 2021 was controversial, with can-

Jorge Bogantes Montero, a natural resource specialist with the Anacostia Watershed Society, pulls a mussel basket from the Anacostia River. HUNTER SAVERY

“We see a lot of interest, actually. We never knew that mussels could be charismatic, because they aren’t feathery or cuddly, but people love them for some reason.” — Jorge Bogantes Montero

Metro prioritizes development at West Hyattsville station

By Dan Behrend

Under a new plan, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA, or Metro) wants to see more housing and businesses next to the West Hyattsville station. The new development could cover the surface parking lots and possibly also a wooded area in a flood plain between the parking lots and the Northwest Branch Trail.

Metro released a strategic plan in April to increase development on Metro-owned land. The WMATA 10-Year Strategic Plan for Joint Development evaluated 40 Metro stations for development.

Under the plan, Metro aims to enter into 20 agreements to develop land around stations by 2032, an ambitious increase. Since 1975, Metro has entered into 55 joint development agreements at 30 stations.

The plan lists West Hyattsville as one of the first 10 stations where Metro will solicit proposals for future development.

According to the plan, over the next two years, Metro will complete a feasibility study, conduct a public hearing and seek funding for infrastructure improvements. In coordination with the county, Metro will plan a parking garage, bus facilities, a street

grid and flood plain mitigation.

Metro aims to enter into a joint development agreement for this portion of the station between 2024 and 2026.

NEARBY STATIONS

In addition to West Hyattsville, nearby stations that have current projects include New Carrollton and College Park.

In New Carrollton, through joint development, Kaiser Permanente opened a new office building in 2019. Stella, a 282-unit apartment building with 3,500 square feet of retail space, opened in 2021. In March, construction began on The Margaux, which will have 291 apartments affordable for essential workers, including teachers, first responders and health care providers, through financial support from the Amazon Housing Equity Fund. The New Carrollton station will also be the site for Metro’s Maryland offices, and future phases of development will include a mix of office, residential and retail space.

The Atworth apartment building will replace Metro’s large surface parking lot on River Road to the southeast of the College Park station. Amazon provided funding to make the 451 apartments affordable to

people earning up to 80% of the area median income, with anticipated rents between $1,400 and $2,500, depending on the size of the apartment.

The Fort Totten station joins West Hyattsville on the list of the first 10 stations where Metro will solicit proposals for future development.

Metro’s plan lists the College Park (the western portion) and Greenbelt stations in the second group of 10 stations for future solicitations.

WIN-WIN OPPORTUNITY

Metro benefits from more transit-oriented development

around stations. Developers pay Metro to purchase or lease Metro’s property. Following construction, new residents, workers and visitors pay Metro fare to travel to the new homes and businesses.

The City of Hyattsville and other local governments also benefit. When undeveloped, tax-exempt Metro-owned property is replaced by private homes and businesses, local governments see new sources of tax revenue. Metro estimates that current joint development at West Hyattsville generates $2.1 million in taxes for state and local government each year.

PLANS TO DEVELOP AREA NOT NEW

Long-term local plans for the area, like the 2006 West Hyattsville transit district development plan, also envision development around the station. And public outreach for the West Hyattsville-Queens Chapel sector plan, a draft of which is scheduled for release later this summer, has included discussion of building more housing and businesses near the station.

This is not the first time that Metro has identified the West Hyattsville station for development. Metro entered into an agreement with a company to develop the entire site in 2005, but terminated the agreement in 2009 because of a lack of progress. In 2015, Metro presented an update to the Hyattsville City Council on its plans to solicit bids for private transit-oriented development at the station. Metro ended up selling land for the Riverfront at West Hyattsville, after receiving an unsolicited offer from the developers. With renewed focus and a new strategy from Metro, however, Hyattsville could finally see further development centered around the West Hyattsville station in the coming years.

An illustration of the boundaries of Metro-owned West Hyattsville property slated for joint development COURTESY OF THE WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSIT AUTHORITY

Creating Opportunities for Our Children

To provide every child with the tools to succeed, Victor will push for early childhood programs. He will also advocate for vocational education and make sure our kids have the school buildings they deserve.

Building Thriving and Livable Communities

On the County Council, Victor will work every day to bring life to public spaces and preserve green space. He will advocate for smart growth, and bring businesses and jobs to every part of the district.

Making Housing and Health Care Affordable Victor will work to make sure families can afford to live in our county by supporting policies that push for housing and health care that’s affordable and accessible to all of us.

We’ve talked with a lot of people that feel stuck.

...that’s why we’re trying something new: A

Keeping Our Promises to Seniors

Caring for his now-retired parents, Victor has seen firsthand the challenges seniors face every day. He will fight to ensure that Prince George’s County seniors can afford to stay in their homes and have the services they need to age in place.

Cleaning Up Our Community

There is too much litter and illegal dumping in Prince George’s County. Victor Ramirez will demand respect for every neighborhood and timely cleanup and trash collection throughout the county.

Supporting Our Neighborhoods Victor will work to make sure our municipalities and neighborhood associations have a voice in future growth and receive their fair share of county investments.

We get it You own a home that no longer meets your needs Maybe you’re an empty nester looking to downsize, or a growing family looking to upsize, or you just need a different floor plan - but you can’t buy a new home until you sell your current one and there’s no guarantee that you’ll find what you’re looking for once you do!

That’s why we’re trying something new here at Go Brent Realty I Would Move If I Could is “matchmaking” database for homeowners that would consider selling if they could find a new home that meets their needs

Let us know what your top priorities are for a new home. We’ll search our database for homes that might be a match! If we find something, we’ll give you a call to discuss No commitments, just creative options for getting you unstuck and into a new home!

For the past 20 years as a practicing attorney, Victor Ramirez has been defending the rights of the people of the State of Maryland, and served as a State Delegate and Senator for 16 years.

Hyatts KIDS

SI SE PUEDE: A PARTY REPORT

By Talika Gorski (age

10)

and Beatrice Marx (age

11)

From 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday the 21st of May, the Cesar Chavez Elementary School parking lot was transformed into a hub of activity and fun. What was it? The Si Se Puede Fundraising Fiesta! The activities included a ring toss, an obstacle course, and a can throw. There were Cesar Chavez School T-shirts available for purchase at the entrance tent, along with activity tickets. There were hamburgers, hot dogs and soda for sale, and a small table of merchandise, including keychains and pens. The weather was hot, but everyone still had a lot of fun! Volunteers ran the booths with amazing hospitality and generosity, and a few school teachers came there ON A SATURDAY to volunteer. Entertainment included music, performances from Ballet Folklorico Ko’eti, speeches from several school officials and Cesar Chavez’s granddaughter Julie Chavez Rodriguez, and then there was a raffle. The finale was Mr.

Harris, the principal of the school, getting pied! The best part, in our opinion, was everyone working together to make the festival a huge success. It was amazing to see teachers and parents you see every day running your favorite booths. They raised $5,500 dollars for the addition of an outdoor learning space and hands-on activities for students. There was a lot going on behind the scenes. “We wanted to provide a way for the Cesar Chavez community to reconnect ... in a

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.

fun and safe way,” according to Kate Culzoni, the co-president of the PTO and one of the organizers of this event. “It was hard work!” she said. “The first year is always the hardest.” According to Culzoni, the core organizing group was a great mix of creative people. “We hope this becomes an annual event.”

Everyone had the opportunity to bond and create memories together, which was the reason they hosted the fiesta. Julie Chavez Rodriguez, the guest speaker,

said, “Growing up, my grandfather taught us this really important lesson, this really important value, and that was ‘Si se puede,’ that anything was possible if we were determined and if we were

able to focus on what we wanted to accomplish. … I can’t wait to come back and be able to visit the beautiful gardens and the learning spaces that you are going to create together.” We hope she will!

A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF A SCHOOL BY TALIKA GORSKI, AGE

10

Julie Chavez Rodriguez addresses the Cesar Chavez community. COURTESY OF PETE DANIELS

MUSSELS

continued from page 1

straightforward. Mussels are filter feeders, which means they remove organisms like algae, plankton and bacteria by siphoning them into and then through their gills. They then expel purified water — a single mussel can filter as much as eight gallons of water a day. They also help to settle sediment onto the river bed, which makes the water clearer. More sunlight can pass through clear water, which leads to the growth of more vegetation.

Achieving the goal of making the Anacostia swimmable and fishable once again may take as many as 300,000 mussels, according to Bogantes Montero. Since 2015, the AWS has released 24,000 mussels into the river, bolstering the flagging native populations.

Bogantes Montero said the results have been encouraging. The mussels raised and released so far have had a survival rate of over 90%.

People often want to know if the mussels in these waters are edible. Bogantes Montero said they are, but he wouldn’t recommend eating them. They have a muddy taste, not to mention the fact that mussels love eating things like E. coli. The project began seven years ago, when the AWS teamed up with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to conduct an assessment of the mussel species in the river.

“It’s also one of the most polluted areas in the state, so nobody had surveyed that area, really in a century,” said Matt Ashton, who works as a member of the DNR resource assessment service.

There was work to be done.

The survey found six types of native mussels in the water, but there were more species in the lakes surrounding the Anacostia than in the main stem of the river, according to the AWS website.

Mussels — once cultivated in American waterways to make buttons from the shells — were imperiled in the U.S. as plastics supplanted demand for shell buttons, reducing motivation to protect mussel beds. Pollution threatened their populations, according to Bogantes Montero, who said that “over 70% of species are now extinct, rare, threatened or endangered.”

That’s why there is a lot of work left to do with the mussel project, not only to promote the benefits of biofiltration, but also to conserve the species.

In the Anacostia, mussels are grown in floating wire baskets until they are ready to be released to the bottom of the river, where they can begin their work cleaning the water. Currently, the AWS is using eight different sites for the floating baskets, as far upstream as Bladensburg Waterfront Park in Prince George’s County, and as far downstream as the Washington Navy Yard in Southeast D.C.

To this point, the AWS has used the wire baskets in ponds or other still-water environments. Now, they are floating the baskets in moving river water for the first time. Bogantes Montero said the tide of the river could wash mussels out of the baskets, but the Anacostia is slow moving enough that, so far, they have lost very few.

Bogantes Montero said the AWS always releases the mussels in D.C., due to regulatory issues in Maryland. He notes also that mussels can survive long periods out of the water, making them easy to transport.

Because using mussels to clean rivers is a relatively new approach, not much government funding is available; nonprofit organizations currently supply most of the money for these projects. The Chesapeake Bay Trust, for example, has given grants to at least seven different musselrelated projects since 2018, with funding ranging from a few thousand to $22,000, according to Sadie Drescher, vice president of the trust’s programs for restoration.

Using mussels to clean dirty river water is still experimental, even as indigenous species can be used, and mussels provide a natural and potentially self-sustaining method of alleviating water pollution. Drescher noted that mussels cannot fix some major contributors to river pollution — specific chemical pollutants, the many impacts of rising temperatures, and excessive stormwater runoff are all beyond a mussel’s filtration capacity. Even if mussels successfully provide biofiltration, though, they are just one part of the extremely difficult challenge of cleaning polluted Maryland waterways, and we still have a lot to learn.

According to Drescher, mussel projects are not currently approved by the Environmental Protection Agency Chesapeake Bay Program Office, and more studies need to take place before mussel projects could really take off. Drescher said there have been similar projects using oysters, but freshwater mussel projects are still relatively rare.

Young mussels being raised in a floating basket HUNTER SAVERY

Close encounters of the buggy kind

By Fred Seitz

Mid-May, I stepped out our front door and was calmly proceeding down the steps, when I realized I was not alone. Indeed, a creepy, crawly swarm was fastidiously climbing up the stairs. While my vision is not quite as good as it used to be, I could see that the visitors were winged, and there was truly a multitude of them systematically approaching.

I said to myself, “[Expletive deleted], I hope these are flying ants, and nothing more sinister!” I asked a knowledgeable neighbor if she knew their identity, but her reply was basically an “Ugh!” followed by an “I’m not sure.”

Recalling a similar marching swarm from years back, I captured a few in a plastic cup and called a nearby exterminator. About a day later, he came and examined the plastic cup prisoners. With a quieter “ugh,” he assuredly pronounced them termites. Sincerely hoping his diagnosis was not totally capitalistic in nature, I enlisted his company’s services, which they implemented a few days later. I keenly hope that they were successful. No additional gate-crashers have, thus far, trespassed on our front steps. Maryland termites mostly live underground in elaborate tunnels with connect-

ing chambers. The termite indigenous to Maryland is actually called the Eastern subterranean termite (Reticulitermes flavipes)

The winged swarming termites (aka alates) that were approaching my house were probably intent on starting a new colony. The swarmers are the reproducers the colony sends out and were likely investigating stumps and other wood sources in the area. They find wet wood quite attractive. Termites are actually quite beneficial, providing they stay outside; they help convert

dead wood into humus, producing good, fertile soil. But inside? Another story:

According to the Maryland Department of Agriculture, termites do more damage to U.S. homes annually than all reported fires, tornadoes, hurricanes and windstorms combined.

Late spring is breeding time for both termites and ants, and both types of insect colonies send out winged reproductives. If you’re outside this month, you could see either one on the move and taking to the air.

If you have better eyesight than mine, you may be able to distinguish between the two with a close inspection. Termites have thick waists, giving their shape uniformity, while ants’ waists are narrow, giving them an hourglass shape. Termites have straight antennae, while ants’ antennae bend sharply, nearly 90 degrees. And termites’ fore and hind wings appear the same size, while the forewings of ant alates — those reproducers that fly — are much larger than their hind ones.

Termites and ants do not get along. Indeed, they can get into some rather nasty conflicts, with ants devouring the termites, and especially the termite larvae. Ants are not always victorious in battle, however, which renders them ineffective termite exterminators for homeowners like me.

And although ants may have a better longstanding public image as industrious (and some good recent PR, courtesy of Marvel comics’ Ant-Man), carpenter ants can do a number on wood. Although they don’t eat it like termites do, they tunnel into it seeking shelter. And ants have foiled more than a few picnics, too. Neither are welcome in my house, although termites are even less welcome.

Much as we may not appreciate termites and ants, especially in our homes, many a bird, spider, snake and lizard enjoy consuming them and are happy to lend a hand in insect control. Even some beetles will join in, feasting on both ants and termites. About a year ago, I tried using a few carnivorous plants to decrease our ant population, but I think these more efficient bug predators do a better job. However, if they allow a termite to set foot (or wing) anywhere near my porch, I won’t hesitate to go over their heads — and back to the exterminator.

Fred Seitz writes about nature for the Hyattsville Life & Times

NATURE NEARBY

DEREK KEATS

OVERSIGHT

continued from page 1

mographics of communities that have the most police encounters. And they want to ensure that the groups have adequate funding and staffing.

Following public testimony on May 31, councilmembers leaned towards slowing down the legislative process. Councilmember Deni Taveras (District 2) asked about the consequences of missing the July 1 deadline. County Attorney Rhonda Weaver responded that because internal investigations averaged between 30 to 90 days in duration and the county was working towards compliance with state law, there was some flexibility, and she did not foresee that a penalty would be imposed.

County Council Vice Chair Sydney Harrison (District 9) recounted when police slapped him to the ground, put a gun to the back of his head, and scraped his face for using a pay phone in 1992. “We’re going to get this right,” he said. “We have to build trust back within this county.”

Councilmember Todd Turner (District 4) motioned to hold the legislation until June 6 to consider further amendments and also emphasized the need “to take our time, get it right.”

In a follow-up June 1 email, Beverly John, coordinator of the Prince George’s County Coalition for Police Accountability, said that while the May listening session and council meeting were productive, the coalition remained concerned about the possibility of law enforcement sitting on the new police oversight groups. “This is a conflict of interest and presents undue law enforcement influence into the civilian process,” she wrote.

According to John, the coalition

ON THE RIVER

also insists that oversight groups should have independent investigatory and subpoena powers.

“If not, the police agency internal affairs departments are investigating, and we are left once again with police investigating themselves,” she noted.

A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT IN THE COUNTY

For over 30 years, the Prince George’s County Citizen Complaint Oversight Panel (CCOP) has independently reviewed the processing and investigations of misconduct complaints against officers of the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD), including 105 complaints in 2019. Currently, the PGPD employs more than 1,500 officers.

The county set up the CCOP after Gregory Kafi Habib died, in 1989, at the hands of police during a traffic stop. Since 2001, the CCOP has had the power (although not always the resources) to conduct its own investigations and issue subpoenas through the county council. They submit findings and suggestions to the PGPD chief and provide annual reports to the public.

The Prince George’s County Police Reform Work Group, created by County Executive Angela Alsobrooks in the wake of Floyd’s murder, laid out a number of recommendations for civilian oversight in their 2020 report, including increasing

the CCOP staff and budget, expanding its membership and promoting diversity, and requiring the PGPD police chief to give more weight to CCOP recommendations.

However, there has not been civilian oversight of the more than 40 other law enforcement agencies that operate in the county, including the county sheriff’s office, municipal police forces like the Hyattsville City Police Department and the University of Maryland Police Department.

THE NEW OVERSIGHT SYSTEM (UNDER CONSTRUCTION)

July 1 is the deadline for the county to dissolve the CCOP and replace it with a county police accountability board (PAB), an administrative charging committee (ACC) and trial boards, which collectively would have authority over law enforcement agencies in the county.

The county’s 11-member PAB will focus on the big picture: meeting quarterly with heads of law enforcement agencies to review discipline decisions and trends, generating an annual report, and appointing members to the ACC and trial boards.

After July 1, complaints of police misconduct against a member of the public are to go to the accountability board. Within three days of receiving a complaint, the PAB must forward it to the appropriate law enforcement agency, which would con-

duct an internal investigation.

The results of such an investigation will then go to the county’s five-member ACC. This committee will include a PAB representative and four citizens.

These five people will determine whether or not the officer in question should be charged. If charges will be brought, the ACC would also recommend disciplinary actions. Actions would be determined based on statewide standards. (As of press time, the county had not yet received a list of these standards from the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission.)

In the current draft of the county’s legislation, the ACC can also require additional investigation and issue subpoenas.

After receiving a charge against an officer from the ACC, the head of the officer’s law enforcement agency is required to offer the officer the ACC-recommended (or

a higher level of) disciplinary action. (See diagram above.)

If the officer rejects the disciplinary action, the case goes to a three-member trial board composed of a county judge, a civilian and a police officer of the same rank as the charged officer.

The county’s newly formed ACC will review investigations of PGPD officers along with those of officers from other law enforcement agencies across the county.

The CCOP has a budget of $404,000 for fiscal year 2022. The combined proposed FY2023 budgets for the new accountability board and charging committee would be $1.4 million.

According to county documents, the county attorney general will review what are called gap cases — police misconduct complaints filed after the CCOP is dissolved but before the new process is up and running.

Hyattsville Reporter the

No. 411 • June 7, 2022

Notice & Updates

Special Election Oath of Office: Thank you Hyattsville voters! The results of the 2022 Special Mayoral Election are available at hyattsville.org/electionresults. The newly elected City of Hyattsville Mayor will take their oath of office at a ceremony in King Park at 4203 Gallatin Street, scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday, June 24, 2022. The ceremony is open to the public and residents are encouraged to attend.

COVID-19 Update: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recently authorized a COVID-19 booster dose for children ages 5-11. This dose can be administered five months after the final dose of the original vaccine. The City’s COVID-19 vaccine clinic is offering booster doses and vaccines for children ages 5 and up every Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The clinic is open for vaccines and booster doses for anyone ages 12 and older every Tuesday from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Visit hyattsville.org/ covid-19 for details.

COVID-19 Relief Assistance: City Council is finalizing Hyattsville’s emergency relief assistance programs using the City’s Federal Rescue Plan funds. Using community feedback gathered earlier this year, Council has prioritized relief programs to help individuals and families, small businesses, and nonprofits. Applications are expected to be available in the coming months. Find details at hyattsville.org/ rescueplan. Make sure you are signed up to receive City notifications at hyattsville.org/ notifyme to be alerted when the applications become available.

Rhode Island Trolley Trail Update: Construction on the biker and pedestrian trail extension connecting the US 1 (Rhode Island Avenue) Trolley Trail to the Anacostia Tributary Trail is expected to begin by midJune. Commuters traveling on U.S. 1 may experience traffic delays between Farragut Street and Charles Armentrout Drive while work is underway. The project is expected to be completed by Fall of 2023. For details, please visit hyattsville.org/streets.

Jefferson Street Traffic Calming

Measures: The installation of traffic calming measures on Jefferson Street as part of the Jefferson Street Bike Boulevard project is expected to begin on Monday, June 20 and be completed in approximately 1 – 2 weeks. Residents should watch for occasional No Parking signs while the project is underway. Signs will be placed 24 hours in advance. Visit hyattsville.org/ streets or call (301) 985-5032 for more information.

Hyattsville Proud Happy Pride Month, Hyattsville!:

We’re proud to celebrate June as Pride month and be a safe and welcoming community where our LGBTQ+ residents and their loved ones are proud to call Hyattsville home. And rest assured that your City Council and staff are committed to creating more inclusive programming and providing equitable services for all its residents year-round.

Caribbean American Heritage Month: June is recognized as National Caribbean American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the countless gifts Caribbean Americans have contributed to this country. You can find a variety of resources and local programs and events happening all month long at hyattsville.org/cahm.

Celebrate Juneteenth!: Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, marks the day that the last of the Country’s slaves were officially freed, even though the emancipation proclamation abolished slavery two years prior. You can find a list of educational resources and in-person and virtual events to celebrate this historic holiday at hyattsville.org/juneteenth. Please also join us at a Juneteenth themed Summer Jam on Friday, June 17 in Hyatt Park from 5 – 8 p.m.!

Programs, Services, and Events

Corridor Investment Grant Program: Show us your creative side! The City’s Corridor Investment Grant Program is now open for applications until July 12, 2022. This program provides grants of up to $5,000 to businesses and nonprofits for creative placemaking projects, programming, or business development strategies. Visit hyattsville.org/CIP for guidelines and to apply.

June 9 Hyattsville Business Roundtable: Local business owners are invited to join their peers and City staff for a presentation on ‘Attracting & Retaining Talent’ from the Business Services team at Employ Prince George’s. Updates and grant opportunities from City will also be discussed. The virtual presentation will begin at 10 a.m. Register at hyattsville.org/ roundtable.

Summer Jam Returns!: One of Hyattsville’s favorite traditions, Summer Jam, returns! Join us on Friday, June 17, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Hyatt Park (3500 Hamilton Street) for the first Summer Jam of 2022! In celebration of Juneteenth, you’ll have the opportunity to discover and enjoy the many contributions of local Black artists, entrepreneurs, musicians, and performers. Food vendors will also be on site. Satellite parking will be available at Driskell Park, and the City’s Call-A-Bus will transport community members between Driskell Park and Hyatt Park. For more information,

visit hyattsville.org/summerjam or email community@hyattsville.org.

Invasive Removals: Help clean and beautify your community! Join us on Saturday, June 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., to remove non-native, invasive plants from Driskell Park. RSVP by contacting Dawn Taft at (240) 487-0290 or at dtaft@ hyattsville.org.

Service Updates for Upcoming Holidays: In recognition of Juneteenth, City offices and the COVID-19 test site at the First United Methodist Church will be closed on Monday, June 20. There will be no yard waste or compost collection that day. The week’s regular trash and recycling routes will not be affected.

City Offices and the Hyattsville COVID-19 testing will also be closed on Monday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. There will be no yard waste or compost collection the week of July 4-8. Regular trash and County recycling routes are not affected.

PARK(ing) Day is returning to Hyattsville on September 16 after a two-year hiatus! This fun community building event offers businesses a chance to transform metered parking spaces into creative pop-up public places.

Local businesses and non-profits interested in Hyattsville’s PARK(ing) Day are invited to the City’s PARK(ing) Day Info Session on Wednesday, June 22, 6 – 8 p.m., at the City Building. You can learn more and register at hyattsville.org/parkingday.

Mental Health First Aid Trainings in Español: The City of Hyattsville is offering two FREE mental health first aid trainings on Saturday, June 25, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the City Building, 4310 Gallatin St. Both trainings will be offered in Spanish. One course is geared at helping participants identify and respond to adults undergoing a mental health crisis, and the other for supporting youth. Registration is limited and a mandatory two-hour virtual training is required. More information and registration

details can be found at hyattsville.org/ mentalhealth or by calling (301) 985-5000.

Bulk Waste Pop-Up Day: The City’s Public Works Department will host a Bulk Waste Pop-Up Day on Saturday, June 25, at the City Building (4310 Gallatin Street) and DPW Operations Center (4637 Arundel Place). Hyattsville residents can drop off bulk waste items at either location from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., or until containers reach capacity. Find a list of acceptable items at hyattsville.org/bulk-waste.

Youth Services

Summer Camp: Last call to enroll in Hyattsville’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. Visit hyattsville.org/camps for details.

Creative Minds Summer Session: Summer registration is now open the City’s Creative Minds program, happening from July 19 through August 18! Parents & children ages 1 – 3 can join us Tuesdays and Thursdays from between 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the City Building, 4310 Gallatin Street, for interactive, educational activities and free play. Space is limited. Please visit hyattsville.org/creativeminds to register.

Camp Staycation: Hyattsville’s rising 6 – 12 graders can get out and explore this summer through a series of free, weekly trips around the DMV area as part of Hyattsville’s Camp Staycation! For details, visit hyattsville.org/staycation.

Teen Center Block Party: The school year is coming to an end! Come celebrate with the City’s Youth Services staff at their Block Party on Wednesday, June 15, 5 p.m., at Driskell Park! Shaved ice, a yummy taco bar, and some friendly kickball are just some of the featured activities. Current and interested Teen Center participants and their families are welcome! For Teen Center details, visit Hyattsville.org/teen-center.

Age-Friendly Services

Call-A-Bus Service: The City’s free curbto-curb transportation service for seniors and persons with a disability to travel to medical appointments and grocery stores is operating Monday – Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can make a reservation by calling (301) 985-5000 before 2 p.m. at least one day business day in advance.

Ageless Grace & Free Movie Mondays: Get active and social at the City’s free Ageless Grace seated exercise class and Movie Monday events! 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.

Free Webinar Series for Caregivers: Dementia Friendly Prince George’s County Northern Sector is hosting a free four-part, summer webinar series with the Alzheimer’s Association. Topics covered during the summer webinar series include Effective Communication Strategies (June 23), Dementia Conversations, Driving, Legal and Financial Issues (June 30), Managing Money (July 7) and Responding to Dementia Related Behaviors (July 14). You can find additional information and register at http://ow.ly/JrFv50Jp2XA or by calling (301) 985-5012.

The

City would like to shout out its City Board of Elections for their hard work in making the 2022 Hyattsville Special Mayoral Election as accessible and transparent as possible as well as all the residents who voted by mail and in person on Election Day! Cheers!

La

Ciudad desea agradecer a la Junta de Elecciones de la Ciudad por su trabajo en hacer que la Elección Especial Mayoral de Hyattsville 2022 sea tan accesible y transparente como sea posible tanto como a todos los residentes que votaron por correo y en persona el Dia de la Elección. ¡Saludos!

Noticias y Avisos

Juramento a Cargo de la Elección Especial: ¡Gracias votantes de Hyattsville! Los resultados de la Elección Especial de Alcalde de 2022 ahora están disponible en hyattsville.org/electionresults. El Alcalde de la Ciudad de Hyattsville recién elegido tomará su juramento de cargo en una ceremonia en King Park en 4203 Gallatin Street, programada para las 6 p.m. del viernes, 24 de junio de 2022. La ceremonia está abierta al público y se anima a los residentes a asistir.

Actualización de COVID-19: El Centro de Prevenciones de Enfermades de los Estados Unidos recientemente autorizo una dosis de refuerzo de COVID-19 para menores entre las edades 5-11. Esta dosis puede ser administrada cinco meses después de la dosis final de la vacuna original. La cínica de vacunas de la Ciudad esta ofreciendo las dosis de refuerzo para menores de 5 años y más los martes de 3 p.m. a 7 p.m. La clínica esta abierta para vacunas y dosis de refuerzo para cualquier persona mayor de 12 años cada martes de 11 a.m. a 7 p.m. Visite hyattsville. org/covid-19 para detalles.

Programas de Ayuda con COVID: El Concejo Municipal de Hyattsville está finalizando los programas de ayuda de emergencia usando los fondos del Plan de la Ley de Rescate de la Ciudad. El Concejo ha priorizado programas para ayudar a individuos y familias, negocios pequeños y organizaciones sin fines de lucro. Se espera que las aplicaciones estén disponibles en los próximos meses. Puede obtener más información en hyattsville.org/rescueplan.

Asegúrese de estar inscrito para recibir notificaciones de la Ciudad en hyattsville. org/notifyme para ser notificado cuando las aplicaciones se hagan disponibles.

Actualización del Sendero Trolley Trail de Rhode Island: Se espera que la construcción de la extensión del sendero para ciclistas y peatones que conecta el sendero Trolley Trail US 1 (Rhode Island Avenue) con el sendero Anacostia Tributary Trail comience a mediados de junio. Los conductores que viajan por la Ruta 1 pueden experimentar retrasos en el tráfico entre Farragut Street y Charles Armentrout Drive mientras el trabajo está en marcha. Se espera que el proyecto esté terminado para el otoño de 2023. Para obtener más información, por favor visite a hyattsville.org/streets.

Medidas para Calmar el Tráfico en Jefferson Street: Se espera que la instalación de medidas para calmar el tráfico en Jefferson Street como parte del proyecto Jefferson Street Bike Boulevard comience el lunes, 20 de junio y se complete en aproximadamente 1 – 2 semanas. Los residentes deben observar las señales ocasionales de No Parqueo mientras el proyecto está en marcha. Las señales se colocarán con 24 horas de anticipación. Visite hyattsville.org/streets o llame al (301) 985-5032 para obtener más información.

Orgullosamente

Hyattsville

Feliz Mes de Orgullo, Hyattsville: Estamos orgullosos de celebrar junio como el mes del Orgullo y ser una comunidad segura y acogedora donde nuestros residentes de LGBTQ+ y sus seres queridos se enorgullecen de llamar a Hyattsville su hogar. Y tenga la seguridad de que el Concejo Municipal y el personal están comprometidos a crear programación más inclusiva y a proporcionar servicios equitativos a todos sus residentes durante todo el año.

La Administradora de la Ciudad de Hyattsville Tracey Douglas, la Directora de Obras Públicas Lesley Riddle, y el Equipo de Acción Comunitaria del Departamento de Policía hicieron apariciones en la Exhibición Pública del Centro de Operaciones del Departamento de Obras Públicas el mes pasado a pesar del calor inaguantable!

Mes Nacional de la Herencia Estadounidense del Caribe: ¡Junio es reconocido como el Mes Nacional de la Herencia Estadounidense del Caribe, un tiempo para celebrar los innumerables regalos que los Caribeños Estadounidenses han contribuido a este pais. Visite hyattsville. org/cahm para ver una variedad de programas y eventos localess que ocurren durante todo el mes.

Celebre Juneteenth: Juneteenth, celebrado el 19 de junio, marca el día en que los últimos esclavos del país fueron conscientes de que fueron liberados, a pesar de que la proclamación de emancipación abolió la esclavitud dos años antes. Puede encontrar una lista de recursos educativos y programación virtual y en persona para celebrar esta histórica fecha en hyattsville. org/juneteenth. ¡También acompáñenos para una Fiesta Summer Jam con tema Juneteenth el viernes, 17 de junio en Hyatt Park de 5 p.m. a 8 p.m.!

Programas, Servicios y Eventos

Programa de Inversiones en el Corredor: El Programa de Inversiones en el Corredor de la Ciudad está abierto para solicitudes hasta el 12 de julio de 2022. Este programa proporciona subvenciones de hasta $5,000 a negocios y organizaciones sin fines de lucro para proyectos creativos para atraer clientes, programación o estrategias de desarrollo empresarial. Visite hyattsville.org/ CIP para obtener directrices y para aplicar.

Reunión de Negocios el 9 de Junio: Alentamos a los dueños de negocios locales a unirse a sus compañeros y al personal de la Ciudad para una presentación sobre ‘Atraer y retener talento’ del equipo de servicios empresariales de Employ Prince George’s. También se discutirán las actualizaciones y oportunidades de subvenciones de la Ciudad. La presentación virtual comenzará a las 10 a.m. Registrése en hyattsville.org/ roundtable.

¡Regresa la Fiesta Summer Jam!: Una de las tradiciones favoritas de Hyattsville, la fiesta Summer Jam, ¡regresa! Acompáñenos

el viernes, 17 de junio, de 5 p.m. a 8 p.m., ¡en Hyatt Park (3500 Hamilton Street) para la primera fiesta Summer Jam de 2022! En celebración al Día Juneteenth, Tendrá la oportunidad de descubrir y disfrutar de las muchas contribuciones de artistas, empresarios, músicos y artistas Afroamericanos. Comida también se venderá. Estacionamiento adicional estará disponible en Driskell Park, y el servicio de transporte Llame-Al-Bus de la Ciudad transportará a miembros de la comunidad entre Driskell Park y Hyatt Park. Para mas información, visite hyattsville.org/ summerjam o envíe un email a community@ hyattsville.org.

Removimiento de Plantas Invasoras: ¡Ayude a limpiar y embellecer su comunidad! Únase a nosotros el sábado 18 de junio, de 10 a.m. a 2 p.m., para remover plantas invasoras no nativas de Driskell Park. Reserve su espacio contactando a Dawn Taft al (240) 487-0290 o al dtaft@hyattsville.org.

Cambios de Servicios para los Próximos Días Festivos: En reconocimiento al día Juneteenth, las oficinas de la Ciudad y el sitio de pruebas COVID-19 en la Iglesia First United Methodist estarán cerradas el lunes, 20 de junio. Ese día no habrá recolección de compostaje ni residuos de yarda. Las rutas regulares de reciclaje y basura de la semana no se verán afectadas. Las oficinas administrativas y el sitio de pruebas COVID19 de Hyattsville también estarán cerradas el lunes, 4 de julio, en observancia al Día de Independencia. No habrá recolección de residuos de yarda ni de compostaje la semana del 4 al 8 de julio. Las rutas de basura y reciclaje no son afectadas.

Sesión de Info de Día de Parqueo: ¡El Día de Parqueo regresa a Hyattsville el 16 de septiembre después de una pausa de dos años! Este divertido evento comunitario ofrece a los negocios un cambio para transformar los espacios de estacionamiento en lugares públicos emergentes creativos. Los negocios locales y las organizaciones sin fines de lucro interesadas en participar en el Día de Parqueo de Hyattsville están invitadas a la Sesión de Información de la Ciudad el miércoles, 22 de junio, de 6 a 8 p.m., en el Edificio Municipal. Puede obtener más información y registrarse en hyattsville.org/ parkingday.

Entrenamientos en Primeros Auxilios de Salud Mental en Español: La Ciudad de Hyattsville ofrecerá dos entrenamientos GRATIS de primeros auxilios para la salud mental el sábado 25 de junio, de 8:30 a. m. a 5 p. m., en el Edificio Municipal, 4310 Gallatin St. Ambos entrenamientos se ofrecerán en español. Un curso está orientado a ayudar a los participantes a identificar y responder a los adultos que atraviesan una crisis de salud mental, y el otro a apoyar a los jóvenes. El espacio es limitado y se requiere un entrenamiento virtual obligatorio de dos horas. Puede encontrar más información y registrarse en hyattsville.org/mentalhealth o llamando al (301) 985-5000.

Día Emergente de Basuras Grandes: El Departamento de Obras Publicas de la Ciudad sostendrá un día emergente de basuras grandes el sábado, 25 de junio, en el Edificio Municipal (4310 Gallatin Street) y el Centro de Operaciones DPW (4637 Arundel Place). Los residentes de Hyattsville pueden deshacerse de basuras grandes en cualquier de los sitios entre las 10 a.m. hasta la 1 p.m., o hasta que los contenedores de basura

se llenen. Encuentre una lista de artículos aceptables en hyattsville.org/bulk-waste.

Programas para Menores

Campamento de Verano: ¡Última llamada para inscribirse en el Campamento de Verano de Hyattsville! El campamento se ofrece para estudiantes en los grados K-5 del 27 de junio al 19 de agosto. Descuentos para los residentes de la Ciudad y las familias con 1+ campista están disponible. Visite hyattsville.org/camps para detalles.

Sesión de Verano de Mentes Creativas: ¡El portal de registración de verano ya está abierto para el programa de Mentes Creativas de la Ciudad, que se lleva a cabo del 19 de julio al 18 de agosto! Los padres y niños de 1 a 3 años pueden unirse a nosotros los martes y jueves de 10 a.m. a 11:30 a.m. en el Edificio Municipal, 4310 Gallatin Street, para actividades interactivas y educativas y juegos gratis. El espacio es limitado. Visite hyattsville.org/creativeminds para registrarse.

El Programa Camp Staycation: Los estudiantes entre los grados 6 a 12 de Hyattsville pueden salir y explorar este verano a través de una serie de viajes semanales gratuitos por el área como parte del programa Camp Staycation. Para detalles, visite hyattsville.org/staycation.

Fiesta del Centro de Jóvenes: ¡El año escolar está llegando a un final! Venga a celebrar con el personal de Servicios para Menores de la Ciudad en su fiesta el miércoles, 15 de junio, 5 p.m., ¡en Driskell Park! Raspados/minutas, una estación de tacos y el juego kickball solo son algunas de las actividades destacadas. ¡Los participantes actuales e interesados del Centro de Jóvenes y sus familias son bienvenidos! Para más información sobre el Centro de Jóvenes, visite Hyattsville.org/teen-center.

Servicios para la Tercera Edad

Servicio Llame al Bus: El servicio de transporte gratuito de la Ciudad para personas de la tercera edad y personas con una discapacidad que viajan a citas médicas y tiendas de comestibles está operando de lunes a viernes, de 9 a.m. a 4 p.m. Usted puede hacer una reservación llamando al (301) 985- 5000 antes de las 2 p.m. por lo menos un día de anticipación.

Clases de Ejercicio y Películas Gratis los Lunes: ¡Manténgase activo y social con los eventos de clases de ejercicios sentados y en las películas! Las clases ocurren de 10 – 11 a.m. cada miércoles en el Edificio Municipal. Las películas gratuitas toman plazo el primer lunes de cada mes a las 1 p.m. en el Teatro Old Greenbelt. Contacte al (301) 985-5000 o a seniors@hyattsville.org para aprender más.

Serie de Seminarios Web gratuitos para Cuidadores: La organización

Dementia Friendly Prince George’s Northern Sector está organizando una serie de seminarios web de verano gratuitos en cuatro partes con la Asociación de Alzheimer. Los temas tratados durante la serie de seminarios web de verano incluyen estrategias de comunicación eficaces (23 de junio), conversaciones sobre demencia, conducción, asuntos legales y financieros (30 de junio), gestión de dinero (7 de julio) y respuesta a comportamientos relacionados con demencia (14 de julio). Puede encontrar información adicional y registrarse en http://ow.ly/ JrFv50Jp2XA o llamando al (301) 985-5012.

Hyattsville City Administrator Tracey Douglas, Public Works Director Lesley Riddle, and the Police Department Community Action Team made appearances at the Department of Public Works Operations Center Open House last month despite the blazing conditions!

Real estate agent Taylor Johnson advocates for the gay community

By Jessica Arends

Real estate agent, LGBTQ advocate and proud resident, Taylor Johnson has lived in Hyattsville for over 16 years. In celebration of Pride Month, I sat with him on his deck overlooking his flower garden to discuss Hyattsville’s inclusivity and how he leverages his role as a real estate agent to support the gay community.

Taylor, like many other Hyattsvillians, was attracted to the affordability and historic character of the city. Originally from Rocky River, Ohio, he bought his current home in 2006 after living in D.C. for 15 years. He immediately fell in love with the friendly, diverse and inclusive community.

A local gay and lesbian potluck group introduced him to people of wide-ranging backgrounds and personalities, which helped Taylor realize he didn’t need to align with a gay stereotype. “It wasn’t until I came to the area and found people like me that I

became more comfortable being me and being gay. Living in Hyattsville has also helped in that my journey to me is still evolving: What do I wear, what do I say, what do I do, who are my friends? This is a place that is accepting of all of that. It’s wonderful.”

Taylor supported diversity initiatives throughout his 30year teaching career, so it made sense that he would seek out similar opportunities when he started out as a real estate agent six years ago. Taylor purposefully developed a local network of diverse support people and businesses. “I’m really proud of the network that I have. If I recommend lenders, at least one of them will be female. It’s up to you to work with that person or not, but at least you have that choice.”

Taylor wants to counter the discrimination and historically racist policies in the real estate business. “There is a huge inequity between the Black and white communities. Same has

been true in the gay community. For a long time, it was very hard to be openly gay. You couldn’t get things if you were open about it. You had to hide, right? Or you lost your job. It’s time to fix that.”

To support gay homeowners, Taylor joined the Keller Williams Rainbow Network, a group of gay real estate agents around the country that meet for professional development and networking. Based on the Homes for Heroes model, which helps veterans afford housing, the group created the LGBTQ+ Housing Initiative. Agents who work with an LGBTQ client agree to donate 25% of their commission to the initiative, which returns the 20% to the client and donates the 5% to organizations that help prevent gay youth homelessness. Last year, the initiative gave out $10,000 grants to 10 organizations, for a total of $100,000. Taylor also has had clients who end up donating their 20% back to the initiative.

When asked if it was challenging to give up part of his com-

mission, Taylor paused thoughtfully. “No, it was not a difficult decision at all,” he eventually responded. “It is sometimes painful, though!” He laughed. “But I come from a very privileged place where growing up and coming out, I was loved and accepted, and that is not the case for a lot of gay youth. This is my way of giving back for those who don’t have the same support or resources.”

Indeed, family rejection, conflict and abuse contribute to high rates of homelessness among LGBTQ youth, according to a 2012 Williams Institute survey of homeless-youth organizations. “Many of them end up supporting themselves through prostitution and drug habits,” Taylor explained. He wants to

work to eliminate that “whole downward spiral.”

I asked Taylor what it feels like to publicly leverage a part of himself that could be a source of discomfort or discrimination. He grew quiet and thoughtful as a train rumbled by.

“I grew up in an era when you didn’t talk about being gay,” he said. “It’s been a process. When I was working for diversity and inclusion at the school where I taught, I didn’t want to be seen as the gay advocate. I was working for everybody. And I wasn’t out when I was doing that work. So I was not a professional gay.”

His expression brightened, and he smiled. “Now I guess I am becoming a professional gay,” Taylor said with a chuckle.

ELECTION

continued from page 1

didates City Councilmember Joseph Solomon (Ward 5) and then-interim Mayor Kevin Ward spending about $63,000 and $12,000, respectively. In the 2019 mayoral election, winner Candace B. Hollingsworth spent about $2,000. Each candidate must submit two campaign finance reports before the election, as well as an annual report in September.

Mayoral candidate Vish Bhatt submitted reports indicating no contributions or expenditures. The two other candidates, however, each reported over $8,000 in contributions.

Robert Croslin, who was elected as a city councilmember for Ward 2 in 2013 and is serving as interim mayor following Kevin Ward’s death in January, reported $7,456 in contributions in his first report, including $1,650 of his own money, and an additional $600 in contributions in his second report.

About two-thirds of Croslin’s donors live in Hyattsville. Croslin reported $4,047 in expenditures between the two reports, which together cover the period from May 3 to May 30.

Danny Schaible, who is serving his first term as the other Ward 2 councilmember, reported $8,416 in contributions and $1,750 in loans to

himself in his first report. His second report shows an additional $706 in contributions.

Fewer than half of Schaible’s donors were listed with Hyattsville addresses. Schaible reported expenditures of $9,107 between the two reports.

The mayor’s salary is $16,000 per year. Candidates for city government in Hyattsville may not accept contributions from anonymous donors, businesses or political action committees, according to the city website.

The Hyattsville Ethics Commission, which is responsible for reviewing the reports, sent letters to both Croslin and Schaible asking for corrections to their first reports, and to Schaible asking for a correction to his second report. Most issues noted were minor: missing addresses for some of Croslin’s donors and a missing last name for one of Schaible’s, for example.

The commission also flagged a Schaible donor as a potential foreign national due to an address outside the U.S.; Schaible clarified in his amended first report that the donor is not a foreign national. One of Croslin’s donors contributed more than the $500 per person limit; Croslin returned the extra money, according to his second report. Croslin submitted his amended first report May 31, more than a week past the ethics commission’s May 19 deadline.

MISS FLORIBUNDA

A fumble in the jungle: rainforest remedies

Dear Miss Floribunda, A couple of months ago, you wrote about plants that can be grown in wet spots, apparently in the shade. My yard is shady, but it’s dry shade except when flooded by torrential rains. I have surfed the net for options and don’t like any except for some plants that bloom briefly in the spring and then disappear. Since we have very, very long summers that means I need something else that can take lots of heat and take it for at least four months. Since you defend irrational dislikes of color, I will admit I don’t like pale purples. This rules out the flowers of lily turf, dead nettle, periwinkle, bugleweed and most hostas. I’m left with whiteflowering, white-veined hostas, which are OK but not exciting. Let me add that I have a big yard and so don’t want to have to continually water impatiens, which is about all that I can think of that’s left that I like.

Left High and Dry on Hamilton Street

Dear Left High and Dry,

Have you considered an exotic tropical garden for the summer? Because there are only two seasons in the tropics — the dry season and the wet

season — the plants that grow there do fine, no matter how erratic our summer weather is. These plants are indifferent to whether or not your yard is dry for a long time or whether it’s flooded. Because they often come from rainforests, they tolerate shade well. Sweltering heat suits them fine.

I have always liked to have a couple of elephant ear plants (Colocasia esculenta) in my garden to give my tiger-striped cat, Rajah, a backdrop to pose near, but it was my cousin Parsimony who encouraged me to have a jungle of them. Although they are expensive to buy from nurseries, she discovered that the taro roots sold inexpensively as food in many small ethnic food stores were exactly the same and produced just as fine foliage if fed well after planting. (If you don’t want them to get enormous, plant them where the soil is not rich.) Parsimony has also bought edible lotus roots for her water garden, as well as the bulbs of many lovely lilies, offered for sale in Asian markets.

Cannas, hibiscus, birds of paradise and caladiums will give you lots of exciting color. Calla lilies have more subtle color harmonies and are a little less reliable.

Cannas are tall with large flamboyant flowers of orange, yellow, scarlet or popsicle-cherry red — often in fascinating patterns. You can get dwarf varieties of “only” 2 feet high, but other varieties can grow as tall as 10 feet. While they survive without watering, they will not flower well without some watering during prolonged drought. I ought to warn that because our

winters have become so much milder, and these plants survive when left in place, they can become invasive in south-facing beds.

Caladiums are low growing, with leaves of varying size and coloration. Colors range from green and white (sometimes mostly white), to varying shades of pink and rose, to ruby red. The leaf designs are

virtually infinite. Unless price is no object, and you don’t mind replacing them each year, you do have to dig them up before the first hard frost and pack the tubers in peat moss in paper bags or boxes over winter. Calla lilies, once planted in a sunny spot, have been known to survive several winters if mulched, but to be safe, you may want to dig up the rhizomes to replant in the spring.

Hibiscus and birds of paradise are best grown in pots on wheels, which you can bring in for the winter. There are some hibiscus that are somewhat cold-tolerant — you might risk leaving them outside in a sheltered place. The Texas star cross rose mallow, Hibiscus coccineus, tolerates temperatures below zero, and I’ve seen it thriving in parks on Capitol Hill. Birds of paradise (Strelitzia reginae) are really tree-dwelling air plants, so when brought indoors need conditions similar to those of orchids — they don’t require watering but need plenty of humidity in the surrounding atmosphere.

Please keep an eye on the Hyattsville Horticultural Society website (hyattsville horticulture.org) for the date of its next meeting.

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

A pink hibiscus flower in bloom PEXELS

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

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

Our calendar lists events sponsored by local nonprofits, arts organizations and performance venues, occurring between June 10 and July 14; all information is current as of June 3. 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 July 15 and Aug. 11 to kit@hyattsvillelife.com by July 8

JUNE 10

Irish fiddler and harpist Seán Heely will play and sing with bouzouki player Beth Patterson. Limited seating. Proof of vaccination required to sit indoors. Free. 7 to 10 p.m. Maryland Meadworks, 4700 Rhode Island Ave., Suite Bee. 201.955.9644

JUNE 11

Maryland Meadworks hosts a Q&A panel: Ask Mead Anything: We Left Our Jobs. Jim Groves, Lamont Thompson and Rumi Matsuyama have recently joined the Great Resignation and can answer questions about early retirement, sabbaticals, and starting your own business. Limited seating. Proof of vaccination required to sit indoors. Free. 7 to 10 p.m. 4700 Rhode Island Ave., Suite Bee. 201.955.9644

JUNE 12

Queer Pop singalong with singer-song-

writer Be Steadwell. Reimagine, and sing along to, classic pop, folk and soul tunes. Masks and proof of vaccination or testing required. Pay what you wish, starting at $10. 6 to 7 p.m. Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Rd., Mt. Rainier. joesmovement.org

JUNE 14

Wendy Shang, author of the 2022 American Girl Corinne books and The Secret Battle of Evan Pao will share how she uses Chinese American history in her books, and guide participants through a writing exercise using histories for their own characters and stories. Ages 5 to 12. Masks and distancing required. Limited space; first come, first served. 6 to 7pm. Hyattsville Public Library, 6530 Adelphi Rd. 240.455.5451

JUNE 16

On the third Thursday of the month, Jim Groves hosts an acoustic open mic for musicians. Sign up to play a three-song set at the Archie Edwards Blues Foundation. Sound system and mics provided. Open jam at the end if time permits. 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. 4502 Hamilton St. acousticblues.com

JUNE 17

The Brooklyn-based Afrobeat band Antibalas (Spanish for bulletproof) will play Publick Playhouse. The band is modeled after Fela Kuti’s Africa 70 band and Eddie

Palmieri’s Harlem River Drive Orchestra, and is influenced by jazz, funk, dub, improvised music and traditional drumming from Cuba and West Africa. Purchase tickets through pgparksdirect.com. $30 general admission, $20 seniors and students. 5445 Landover Rd., Cheverly. 301.277.1710

JUNE 18

An offshoot of Rock Creek Revival called the DMV Bluegrass Collective brings acoustic bluegrass to Maryland Meadworks. Limited seating. Proof of vaccination required to sit indoors. Free. 7 to 10 p.m. 4700 Rhode Island Ave., Suite Bee. 201.955.9644

JUNE 21

Movement, clowns and music: Head over to a summer solstice moon party, featuring players Patricia Krauss, Annetta DexterSawyer and Kathryn Hamilton-Lodge and musicians Mark Jaster and Steven Lampredi in the premiere of Between the Tides and the Moon. Masks and proof of vaccination or testing required. Pay what you wish, $10 to $30. 9 to 11 p.m. Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Rd., Mt. Rainier. joesmovement.org

JUNE 24

Soul music pontoon boat ride. Ages 16+. Register at pgparksdirect.com. $5/$7 county residents/nonresidents. 7 to 8 p.m. Bladensburg Waterfront Park, 4601 Annapolis

Rd., Bladensburg. 301.779.0371

JUNE 24 AND 25

A new play entitled “Heartland,” a courtroom and family drama about the limits of free speech, by Patricia Connelly, is coming to Joe’s Movement Emporium. Masks and proof of vaccination or testing required. $20. June 24, 7:30 p.m.; June 25, 3 and 7:30 p.m. 3309 Bunker Hill Rd., Mt. Rainier. joesmovement.org

JUNE 25

Family Film Day featuring “In the Heights,” the film version of the Broadway musical by Quiara Alegria Hudes and LinManuel Miranda. Purchase tickets through pgparksdirect.com. $3. 4 to 6:30 p.m. Publick Playhouse, 5445 Landover Rd., Cheverly. 301.277.1710.

Swing 5, a gypsy swing band in the style of Django Reinhardt, plays Maryland Meadworks. Limited seating. Proof of vaccination required to sit indoors. Free. 7 to 10 p.m. 4700 Rhode Island Ave., Suite Bee. 201.955.9644

JUNE 29

Bring a picnic and a blanket or chair to enjoy jazz on the lawn with vocalist Karen Lovejoy and her band. Free. 7 to 8 p.m. Riversdale House Museum, 4811 Riverdale Rd., Riverdale Park. 301.864.0420

PGCPS passes climate action plan

By Michael Charles

Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) voted on April 28 to pass a new climate change action plan.

The plan targets 100% clean-sourced electricity and zero food waste by 2030. By 2040, the target is 100% clean energy in all sectors and zero landfill waste.

The school board established a work group on March 1, 2021, charged with drafting a plan for PGCPS to meet these goals.

“Being the 20th largest school system in the nation and the only system with this comprehensive a plan, we will help other school systems move more quickly,” said school board member Pamela Boozer-Strother (District 3), who co-chaired the work group with Joseph Jakuta of Prince George’s County Climate Parents.

Climate education, with an environmental justice focus, comes first in the plan, which calls for establishing a new work group to revamp climaterelated curriculum.

Under the plan, new school buildings will be solar ready, and fossil fuel-powered HVAC will be phased out.

The school district will electrify all buses by 2040 and modify bus routes

to decrease fuel usage.

In food service, schools will monitor food waste data and reduce school meal packaging.

Also woven into this new plan is the use of native plants, natural turf athletic fields and green roofs.

“Joseph [Jakuta] and I have become unexpected national spokespeople on K-12 climate action plans,” said Boozer-Strother. “Our plan was nationally known the day it was posted, well before it was even passed by the board.”

PGCPS should be able to execute its climate plan without having to rely on additional funding or legislation, according to Jakuta. “Pretty much the entire plan could be done without the help from Annapolis,” he said. However, he admitted that government funding and legislation could move things along.

In March 2022, Maryland passed legislation establishing a statewide goal of net-zero emissions by 2045 and allotting funds to schools for that purpose.

With approval of the climate plan in the rear view mirror, PGCPS is now focusing on the plan’s execution, starting with electric buses, composting and the implementation of green technologies, like solar panels and heat pumps, into school district buildings.

FROM WHERE I STAND

City council should ban assault weapons from public spaces

By Mai Abdul Rahman

On May 24, an 18-year-old fatally shot 19 students and two teachers, and wounded 17 others at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Sadly, this marks the 27th school shooting this year. In fact, firearms are the leading cause of death among children in the U.S. This sobering fact demands specific measures to prevent the senseless wholesale murder of our young children.

I am well aware that the right to bear arms is protected by our Constitution. I am also aware that hate, anger, prejudice, animosity and rage are beyond our control. However, we can initiate sensible measures that would make it harder to mercilessly injure and kill tens of innocent children. As it stands, our state laws allow its citizens the means to do just that.

While the State of Maryland bans some semi-automatic assault weapons, it does not ban all military assault weapons. Maryland also allows the limitless purchase of detachable magazines, up to 10 rounds each, where each weapon recharge empties in 20-60 seconds.

I believe protecting our young requires local

legislators to consider the soundness of laws, and, when necessary, to augment and mend state laws to ensure the security and safety of our young.

Rather than hope and wait for the state or county legislators to take action, the Hyattsville City Council should consider banning citizens from carrying military assault weapons into and near public spaces our children frequent. Without such sensible measures, the safety of our children will remain compromised — whether they are playing, biking or skating with friends in their neighborhood playgrounds, at school, or simply attending services at church, mosque or synagogue. This would make it more difficult for criminals and dangerous and hateful people to carry high velocity assault guns into our schools, playgrounds, public gatherings and houses of worship. This sensible measure will make it less likely that similar mass murders happen here where we live and raise our children.

Mai Abdul Rahman is a Hyattsville resident and mom.

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CITY VOTES TO SEND LETTER REGARDING SCHOOL BOUNDARIES

At their May 16 meeting, the Hyattsville City Council voted to send a letter to Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) CEO Monica Goldson, as well as to the PGCPS Board of Education, regarding potential school boundaries.

Currently, Hyattsville students attend one of five elementary schools: Edward M. Felegy Elementary, Rosa L. Parks Elementary, Hyattsville Elementary, University Park Elementary, or Rogers Heights Elementary.

Councilmember Rommel Sandino (Ward 5) explained that the county has developed three possible scenarios for school boundaries, but each scenario would result in some students who live in the city not attending Hyattsville schools.

Sandino explained that the letter he drafted to send to the county

asks that students living in the city attend Hyattsville schools and outlines four main points.

First, the letter asks that students living south of Hamilton Street continue to attend Hyattsville Elementary, rather than switching to Thomas Stone Elementary School because of new zoning.

Second, it recommends letting a group of Hyattsville students who attend University Park Elementary remain there, rather than moving them to Cherokee Lane Elementary School.

Third, the letter expresses support for reincorporating students from a Hyattsville neighborhood located across Route 1 back to Hyattsville Elementary from Rogers Heights Elementary. According to Sandino, these students used to attend Hyattsville Elementary until their school boundaries were changed during a prior boundary initiative.

Fourth, the letter disagrees with

a proposed scenario in which some Hyattsville students would be required to attend Bladensburg High School instead of Northwestern High School.

Councilmembers were largely supportive of the letter. Councilmember Sam Denes (Ward 1) was concerned, however, that the first three points, taken together, would lead to even more overcrowding at Hyattsville Elementary.

Although the letter was originally brought up for discussion only, the council decided to vote on it May 16. The motion to send the letter passed with no one voting against it. Denes abstained.

NEW PANDEMIC RELIEF PAYMENTS APPROVED

During their May 16 meeting, the Hyattsville City Council approved a motion authorizing an expenditure of $1.2 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds for payments to individual Hyatts-

ville residents.

The city has received a total of $17.9 million in American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) funds from the federal government.

City residents who have experienced what the motion describes as “pandemic-related negative economic consequences” may be eligible for relief payments of $2,500 per adult individual and $1,250 per child, with a maximum of $5,000 in payments per household.

While the motion originally had payments for children set at $750, Councilmember Danny Schaible (Ward 2) moved to amend the motion to raise the child payment, after Councilmember Joanne Waszczak (Ward 1) raised concerns that single parents might not receive enough money.

City of Hyattsville American Rescue Plan Program Manager Patrick Paschall noted that residents would need to provide proof of residency and financial hardship. Residents could qualify if they make less than 300% of the federal poverty level ($79,500 for a family of four) or less than 65% of the county median income ($56,546 according to the U.S. Census Bureau), or if they live in a qualified census tract (two of which cover part of Hyattsville: one around the Mall at Prince George’s and one around the West Hyattsville Metro station). Residents could also show proof of unemployment or of increased food insecurity during the pandemic, or show that they qualify for aid programs such as Medicaid, Medicare Part B, federal programs supporting families with children (such as CHIP or WIC), or Pell grants.

The amended motion passed unanimously.

CORRECTIONS

police station for $5.1 million in 2011.

Whiting-Turner built the Alexandria, Va., police station for $81 million, according to The Washington Post, completing the project in 2011. It was the Alexandria, Minn., police station that was completed in 2011 for $5.1 million.

And about that $23 million: After the publication of the article, staff from the City of Hyattsville reached out to clarify that the amount allocated to the new police station on April 18 was $18.7 million for the construction contract, plus $1.2 million for construction management, for a total of $19.9 million newly allocated to the project that evening. However, the $19.9 million doesn’t account for the city’s previous expenditures on the building.

The city bought the building in 2010 for $940,000, and replaced the windows in 2011 using about $140,000 in grant money. Under a contract the city first entered into in 2016, Johnson Mirmiran & Thompson (JMT) did about $2 million of approved work for the city on the project prior to April 18 according to city staff, who noted that the number was an estimate. That work included architecture and engineering design, environmental remediation, inspection and permitting, and construction bid preparation. The cap on the city’s original, competitively bid 2016 contract with JMT was $500,000. The council has approved several increases to that cap, most recently on April 18 from $3.5 to $4.75 million, to allow JMT to take on the $1.2 million in construction management for the police station.

Managing Editor Kit Slack kit@hyattsvillelife.com

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Writers & Contributors

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Manager Catie Currie catie@hyattsvillelife.com

In last month’s cover article entitled “City approves over $23 million for new police facility,” we mistakenly stated that Whiting-Turner built the Alexandria

The council has also approved JMT’s work on a number of other planning projects under the same 2016 contract, including work for the new Department of Public Works facility, the Hyattsville Municipal Building, and city roads and parks.

ANGEL

IN CONGRESS HARD WORK, REAL RESULTS

Who is Angela?

AN EXPERIENCED POLICYMAKER

Angela is a progressive, results-driven attorney who has worked in and with every level of County, State and Federal government. Her understanding of how to craft policy that helps the people is unmatched. In fact, during her time in the Maryland House of Delegates, Angela wrote and passed more bills than any member of her Chamber. Angela is also the only candidate who has worked in every level of government, serving as: Member of the Maryland House of Delegates, District 25; O’Malley Brown Coordinator for Prince George’s County; Legislative Director for Prince George’s House Delegation; Education and Social Services Specialist Council District 6; and Legislative Counsel for Prince George’s County Department of the Environment.

A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE

As a mom with five children in Prince Georges’ County Public Schools, Angela is rooted in her community. She met with constituents monthly with Doughnuts with the Delegate, and created Dap Day to foster community role models for local schools. She knows being an elected official starts and ends with serving, and has always gone beyond the confines of her office to meet the needs of her constituents.

A POLITICAL AUTHORITY

A tireless fighter that has been working on Capitol Hill for over 20 years, Angela has worked with advocacy groups like the NAACP, National Urban League and the Black Women’s Roundtable on policy, nominations, issue campaigns and more.

Angela is committed to reaching every part of District 4. Scan the QR code above to join us at our next Congressional Co ee Sip or to learn more about Angela.

AND A FEARLESS WARRIOR WHO WILL FIGHT FOR US ALL.

It’s about time we send an Angel to Congress , especially a ghter like Angela.