07-2022 Hyattsville Life & Times

trolley trail, missing crime reports and more — News Briefs, P. 8

Meet the county council, state rep candidates, P. 10

Hyattsville makes way for ducklings

By Clara Pedri, age 8

On June 22, a family of ducks was heading toward a storm drain near my house. I herded them away, but they headed for the other sidewalk. So I did, too. Unfortunately, they headed for the other storm drain. Extra unfortunately, five chicks fell down into the drain — but a handyman, at that moment, came to a halt. I told him what happened, and he went home to get a net. Meanwhile, the chicks were chirping like crazy. Eventually, we got them all out. It was time to decide what to do with them. After getting

Civil War camp, Juneteenth; director

apologizes

By Rosanna Weaver

On June 20, many local residents had a day off work for the federal holiday of Juneteenth National Independence Day. This year, for the first time, the new federal holiday was also a City of Hyattsville holiday.

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when federal soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, proclaiming emancipation for enslaved African Americans.

SMALL

Stormwater projects stay under city control

By Paul Ruffins

Of Hyattsville’s environmental issues, stormwater runoff is the easiest to see. Rain regularly floods an area residents have nicknamed Lake Gallatin, near where 40th Avenue, Hamilton Street, Gallatin Street and the Driskell Park entrance road meet. Paths through the park also become submerged.

Global warming and increased runoff from local development are causing flooding in areas that were dry in the 1970s. Some Hyattsville residents and businesses endure wet basements, particularly near the corner of 41st and Rhode Island avenues, and along 40th Avenue north of Jefferson Street. When stormwater infiltrates Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission’s aging infrastructure,

raw sewage can back up into homes. The city’s proposed budget includes almost $2 million in citywide stormwater mitigation, including a tree health initiative and the construction of a submerged wetland. The largest item is implementing the recommendations of the Lower Ward 1 Resilient Stormwater Systems Planning Study. The study lists

Residents Violet Killough and Clara Pedri helped herd a flock of ducklings to the Northwest Branch levee on June 22. See more photos in HyattsKIDS, p.

Day care for children with disabilities opens in Hyattsville

By Sophie Gorman Oriani

St. Joseph’s House, a nonprofit family day care providing care for children and teens with developmental and intellectual disabilities, opened in June in the Oliver Street home of Natalie and Joe LaHood.

St. Joseph’s House is the only licensed family day care in Prince George’s County specifically for children with disabilities, according to the LaHoods. Families pay a nominal fee, based on what they can afford. The family day care provides after school care, weekend respite day care and summer camps.

Currently, St. Joseph’s House serves children and teens between the ages of 5 and 21. While St. Joseph’s House originally provided care to babies and preschool children, Natalie said it became apparent over time that the greatest need was for care of school-age children.

According to the LaHoods, at St. Joseph’s House, the environment is low pressure, and the pace of the daily schedule is slow. “Some people might think it’s very monotonous, but I think that it’s really in the quiet where you really find love and find true friendship,” said Joe,

who spoke while tube feeding Wyatt, a smiling 14-year-old. Wyatt began to wave his arms and shout happily. “Not that it’s certainly quiet here!” Joe added, laughing.

Wyatt’s mother, Robin Williams Evans, says that her family found St. Joseph’s House when Wyatt was in fourth grade and about to age out of his prior day care. “It was clear right off the bat that [the LaHoods] were no average family,” she said.

“We try to work really hard against the typical cultural drive towards ‘you are what you produce,’” said Natalie, who emphasized the familial nature of

the center. “What gives everybody value is that they have the capacity to love and be loved.”

Joe’s mother, Cubby LaHood, decided to open a day care in her home in Silver Spring nearly 40 years ago, in 1983, while pregnant with Joe, her first child. Cubby had a long history working with children with disabilities, and saw the limited child care options available to their families.

Cubby and her husband, Dan, had a transformative experience, in 1988, when their second child, Francis, didn’t live long after birth due to medical complications. The LaHoods re-

alized that Francis, had he survived, would have been a child like those Cubby cared for. Dan quit his health care job, and together they formally opened St. Joseph’s House, responding to the great need they found in their community.

After Cubby’s death, in 2015, Joe and Natalie took over running the day care.

Natalie said that moving the day care from Silver Spring to their home on Oliver Street enables the couple to provide more care and be more flexible while still caring for their own children. Eventually, they hope to expand to provide overnight respite care, as well.

The move to Hyattsville required building an addition onto the LaHood’s house, which proved time-consuming and costly. It took about two-anda-half years for permitting and construction — the addition was completed just a few days before camp started up this summer.

St. Joseph’s House serves those with a variety of needs, ranging from children with Down Syndrome, who attend typical classrooms with support, to a child with complex medical needs, who is accompanied to the day care by a full-time nurse. Some

children are nonverbal.

While the day care serves around a dozen participants over the course of a year, not more than four attend at any one time due to capacity limits for home day cares, which the LaHood’s four young children count toward.

Many of the attendees keep coming to St. Joseph’s House until they graduate from high school. Some, in fact, stay longer. Theresa Brogan, who has Down Syndrome and attended summer camp at St. Joseph’s House as a teenager, now works there. Brogan said she reads to the children and helps prepare lunch. She graduated from Vanderbilt University’s Next Steps program this spring and said she wants to be a teacher.

Williams Evans says her family has been thrilled with the care Wyatt has received at St. Joseph’s House and plans to keep him under the care of the LaHoods until he ages out. “They have been called to care for families like ours,” she said.

St. Joseph’s House is always looking for help! To volunteer or make an in-kind or monetary donation, go to www.stjosephs housemd.org.

St. Joseph’s House, on Oliver Street, provides day care specifically for children and teens with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

SOPHIE GORMAN ORIANI

Hyatts KIDS

them into a yard with a fence, we decided to herd them to the nearest body of water.

Now, herding ducks is almost impossible. When the ducks wandered into their backyard, Violet Killough, age 6, and her visiting cousin Sean Killough, age 13, joined the effort to help the ducks. “They were being difficult,” Sean said, “because we were trying to get them to a safe place, and they kept running away from us. Granted, they didn’t know we were trying to get them to a safe place.”

We had to direct traffic when we crossed one busy street. The ducks went in one yard, then we went down a hill and down a dead end and found a creek and got them in it! “We got them safely past 10 blocks, and we got them to cross roads that had racing cars,” said Violet. “I felt happy and relieved when they got to the safe river.”

DUCKLING RESCUE: AN ADULT’S-EYE ACCOUNT

By Jamila Larson, special guest to HyattsKIDS

When Clara Pedri found the duck family in an unsafe location, we did not want to cause more stress to the mama duck and her ducklings, and we knew animal rescue people would not

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.

we didn’t want to trespass, and there was thick brush and fencing in some of the yards that would make it difficult for us to get them out if they hid back there. We were delighted to pass by David Driskell’s daughter and her grandchildren, who enjoyed the duck parade from their front stoop.

It was a stressful and exhilarating journey. Crittenden Street is super busy, so we stopped traffic so the duck family could cross. Everybody was very accommodating. A bus driver slowed down and cooed at the sight.

be able to show up at the scene immediately. So we collectively decided the safest way to achieve our goal was to herd the family to the levee, some 10 zigzag blocks away through traffic. Mama Duck was not going to follow us the way her ducklings dutifully followed her, so we had to carefully walk behind her to steer her as she was trying to avoid us. When they left

our yard, Mama Duck flitted off a 3-foot retaining wall, and her little babies eagerly tumbled down the drop behind her, not missing a beat. It was amazing how strong their little legs were, scampering up and down curbs dozens of times with little difficulty.

Along the way, she tended to dart off into people’s yards which posed another danger;

Somehow, we gathered the duck family to our endpoint, the Melrose Park Rain Garden that descends down a hill toward the Northwest Branch levee, where we knew water would be waiting. The kids were a little concerned about the ducklings’ ability to navigate the tall grasses, but they did so with ease. It was an exhilarating moment to see Mama Duck ease into the water alongside the trail and immediately take a drink. Her ducklings folSEE KIDS ON 5 

Mama Duck and her ducklings made it safely to the Northwest Branch levee on June 22 — with a little help from their friends. COURTESY OF JULIA BARSI

Clíma Severo Actividades Criminales

Personas Tráfico Eventos Locales Desaparecidas

KIDS

lowed her, and they soon floated into the creek, hidden from sight by low hanging branches. They were totally silent back there, safe at last.

On the way back, we were able to deliver the good news to Ms. Driskell, and she said, “That’s wonderful; I haven’t seen anything that enjoyable in a long time!” Retracing our steps back home, we could not believe the territory we covered.

Going back to read the concerned comments on the HOPE listserv reminded us that the whole neighborhood was hoping for a happy ending to this story, and we felt fortunate to be in the right place at the right time to help.

SUMMER READING FUN

By Evan Muynila, age 9

The Hyattsville Branch Library is hosting the annual PGCMLS Summer Reading program again. It started in the first week of June and is at the halfway point. Kids and adults can still go to the library and sign up to get prizes for borrowing

books, going to library events, or reading for just 30 minutes a day. If you complete your stamp card, you can get tickets to baseball games and enter the raffle to win gift cards.

A good strategy for summer reading is to start a book series. I recommend the Percy Jackson and the Olympians books by Rick Riordan, A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, or the funny series I found, Wayside School by Louis Sachar. The first book is titled Sideways Stories From Wayside School and is about the students in one class. Each chapter is about one of the student’s adventures during one day of school. Crazy and funny things happen to everyone, even the teachers and staff. They have to solve problems in creative ways. My favorite character is a boy named Sammy who has a secret, but I don’t want to spoil it for you — you have to read it for yourself!

I think the Wayside School series is a fun way for kids to start their summer reading. There are four books in the series, and they are all funny. Get to the Hyattsville library and start reading today!

page

Clara Pedri’s journal COURTESY OF JULIA BARSI

13 different opportunities to retrofit local facilities and ranks each one in terms of reducing local flooding and improving water quality.

Their projects primarily use newer green engineering to manage stormwater close to where it falls, replacing impervious concrete or asphalt with permeable surfaces and creating artificial wetlands and bioswales — channels designed to collect and filter runoff.

The nonprofit Low Impact Development Center developed the plan in partnership with Weston and Sampson, a civil engineering firm. The center’s executive director, Neil Weinstein, explained that when municipalities first started managing stormwater in the 1960s and ‘70s, the focus was on flood control. Today, there is a competing priority of pollution control because runoff is the fastest growing threat to the Chesapeake Bay.

Weinstein said, “By law, Maryland cities and towns must reduce three types of runoff. Total suspended solids make the water murky and reduce the sunlight needed by sea grasses. Nitrogen and phosphorus are nutrients from fertilizer and animal and human waste. They cause algae blooms that deplete the bay’s oxygen, creating dead zones where nothing can live. The point of green water management is to let water percolate into the ground, or slow it down in areas filled with plants that

absorb water, filter out trash and dirt and take up the nitrogen and phosphorus.”

Some residents, including Chuck Perry, who lives near Wells Parkway, are mostly concerned with flooding. Perry asked, “Won’t things like bioswales or artificial wetlands become breeding grounds for mosquitoes that spread Zika virus?”

When that question was put to City Councilmember Ben Simasek (Ward 3), a liaison to the Hyattsville Environment Committee, he responded, “It’s possible, but the answer is always proper design and maintenance. … There’s no real trade-off.

The bioswale that filters out pollution also traps trash and sticks that could clog up a storm drain and flood your street.”

Hyattsville’s public information officer, Cindy Zork, explained that Hyattsville has prioritized projects to reduce local flooding that the city can largely control and finance itself — particularly those projects closest to 41st and 42nd streets and Rhode Island Avenue. Councilmember Edouard Haba (Ward 4), another liaison to the city environment committee, believes that the issue of control can’t be overemphasized.

Haba argues, “The number one problem in solving local stormwater issues is money. But two, three and four are permitting, zoning and enforcement, which are all under the control of Prince George’s County.”

He gave the example of the controversial Werrlein Properties’ Suffrage Point construction project, whose construction runoff helps flood the octopus intersection.

Haba said he had wanted to preserve the

lower parking lot as open space. “However, the city didn’t have the cash to buy the property, nor the authority to rezone it for open space, or to approve the building plans or enforce the permits,” explained Haba. “Therefore, after the county rezoned it for individual homes, I supported the current project because the old parking lot was a completely paved-over impervious surface. When the project is properly completed, there should be less runoff than before, but we should have been able to control our own zoning.”

Simasek also believes that local input and control is critical to handling environmental issues. He believes that the county’s transit district development plan has a pretty good vision for improvements near Prince George’s Plaza Metro station, which has acres of parking lots built long before any accounting for stormwater management. The new Nine Ponds project in that area will create a public pond to hold 17.9 million gallons of runoff and create new bike and walking trails. On the other hand, Simasek is much more ambivalent about the county approving the Riverfront at West Hyattsville Metro townhouse development.“The Metro station is right in the middle of a flood plain, and the Prince George’s County Climate Action Plan directly recommends against allowing any new developments in flood plains,” he noted. “I know the Riverfront developers say they’ve regraded some sort of retention pond. But what will happen in a hurricane?”

Hyattsville’s public information officer, Cindy Zork, explained that Hyattsville has prioritized projects to reduce local flooding that the city can largely control and finance itself — particularly those projects closest to 41st and 42nd streets and Rhode Island Avenue.

June 20 was also the first day of the eighth annual week-long history camp for boys organized by Danny Flynn, principal of St. Jerome’s Academy, and held in Driskell Park.

Each year, the camp focuses on one of three wars, rotating between the Civil War, the Revolutionary War, and the French and Indian War. This summer, campers studied the Civil War and engaged in a reenactment of the Battle of Gettysburg, which originally took place July 1-3 of 1863. The Union (the North) won the battle, and it is considered an important turning point in the Civil War.

As part of the history camp, on June 20, a group of about 50 boys between the ages of 8 and 14 met in Driskell Park with several adult leaders. Some were dressed in Union uniforms, and others were assigned the roles of Confederate soldiers. The campers sometimes carried toy muskets.

Some residents who went to the park said they felt an extra gravity to a reenactment of Civil War marching drills happening on the same day as Juneteenth. They said they found it an offensive use of public land.

At least one parkgoer saw the large number of mostly white boys at the camp event with their muskets and presumed that a white supremacist rally had been organized.

Residents and parents of participants spoke with the Hyattsville Life & Times (HL&T) about their impressions of the event, but most were reluctant to have their names put in the newspaper, fearing conflict with other community members.

According to several resident

THIS SUMMER

reports, mid-afternoon, a man began filming, then talking with and, ultimately, yelling at the campers and their leaders, apparently furious about the reenactment. After the campers had left the area, this person reportedly vandalized campers’ property and attempted to let air out of the tires of at least one car.

The next day, the camp moved to private property in Bowie for the remainder of the week, where another installment of the history camp is typically held.

City Communications Officer

Cindy Zork responded to an HL&T inquiry, saying, “The camp

was using open space in Driskell Park and did not require a City permit. HCPD [Hyattsville City Police Department] was called to the scene during the camp, and an investigation is still ongoing.”

At least one parent did not want to talk about the issues that had bothered community members until the person who vandalized the camp site was found. “Nothing is more important than protecting our children from violence,” Hyattsville resident Matt Bowman wrote in a statement to the paper, “so there should be no higher priority for city officials than to find

this disturbed man.”

City Councilmember Joanne Waszczak (Ward 1) — who notes that she sees part of her role as “to bring folks together to discuss and resolve tough issues” — said she heard from several distressed residents. She reached out and set up meetings to discuss the situation.

“Mayor [Robert] Croslin and I met with Danny Flynn, who organizes the annual history camp outside of his role as Principal of St. Jerome Academy, and St. Jerome’s pastor, Father Scott Hahn,” Waszczak wrote in a statement. “We focused our conversation on a shared prior-

During summer 2021, the week-long history camp focused on the Revolutionary War and met at Driskell Park.

ity — that Hyattsville is a diverse, inclusive community where kids and residents of all ages are safe to play, learn and grow.” Waszczak added, “I’m grateful that we started this important conversation. The four of us committed to deepening our dialogue, increasing awareness of Juneteenth, and building cultural sensitivity and humility in our community.”

In an email to the HL&T, Flynn said, “On behalf of the summer history camp, I sincerely apologize for the insensitive planning of our camp taking place in Driskell Park on this year’s honoring of Juneteenth.”

HEATHER WRIGHT

NEWS BRIEFS

VISIT STREETCARSUBURBS.NEWS FOR MORE

NEWSPAPER NEWS: THIRD PAPER, FIRST AND SECOND PRIZES

This July, Laurel residents are receiving their inaugural edition of The Laurel Independent.

The new monthly newspaper is powered by former Laurel Leader editors and a group of citizens dedicated to bringing local community news back home to Laurel.

The Laurel Independent joins the 18-year-old Hyattsville Life & Times (HL&T) and the twoyear-old College Park Here & Now (CPH&N), becoming the third newspaper produced by the Hyattsville-based nonprofit Streetcar Suburbs Publishing. How fitting for this new newspaper to land where it has: Streetcar Suburbs is named for the old streetcar line that ran from the District out to Laurel.

We’d like to thank our former Chief Financial Officer Chris Currie, who despite having stepped down from the board of Streetcar Suburbs in May, continued his tireless volunteerism in organizing the logistics of the transition to three newspapers.

In other good news for your lo-

cal newspapers, this past June, the HL&T and CPH&N were awarded first and second place for Best Local News Coverage in the National Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper Contest.

To strengthen our hyperlocal news organization, consider donating at omella.com/ streetcarsuburbs.

NORTHWESTERN GRADUATE ABENGALLSOP SHINES AT UP WOMEN’S CLUB LUNCH

Trinity Abeng-Allsop, a graduating Northwestern High School senior, received a $1,500 scholarship this summer from the University Park Women’s Club. She’ll use the money to pay tuition at the University of Maryland (UMD), where she plans to study child psychology.

Abeng-Allsop lived in Hyattsville while she attended Northwestern, and moved to Laurel with her family this summer.

At a June 6 club luncheon, Abeng-Allsop said that the mental health struggle of a family member sparked her interest in psychology. Her

studies with Northwestern’s child development program and work at the school’s onsite child care center helped her discover a love of working with children. She decided to seek a degree that would help her support others, having seen mental health challenges among youth of color in her community, particularly during the pandemic.

According to Diane Bukoski, the chair of the club’s scholarship award committee, AbengAllsop’s teachers describe her as a very determined student and a role model.

Prior scholarship recipients at the luncheon included Dennis Martinez and Kory Gaines. Martinez graduated from Northwestern in 2021. Despite the cancellation of Northwestern’s debate program his sophomore year, Martinez won a national debate competition, in Spanish, in 2021. He is studying government and politics at UMD, where he has enjoyed reading Emmanual Kant in his freshman classes. He said he misses knowing most of his classmates, the way he did at Northwestern.

Gaines, a 2017 Northwestern graduate, used his club scholarship to help fund his undergraduate studies at Stanford, and is now working on a doctorate in politics at Johns Hopkins University, focusing on the diversity of Black political thought.

All three students received scholarships thanks to an endowment established 55 years ago for Northwestern students in honor of clubwoman Doris McPhee.

HCPD CRIME REPORTING SIX MONTHS BEHIND

The Hyattsville City Police Department (HCPD) has a public online record of each crime reported within city limits, going back to 2016.

HCPD has not updated crime reports on their website since January 2022. As of press time, the last monthly crime report HCPD posted is dated December 2021, and the last weekly crime report was posted on Jan. 23. HCPD hasn’t posted a quarterly report since 2021, even as SEE BRIEFS ON 9 

Dianne Bukoski, University Park Women’s Club scholarship chair; award recipients Eric Montesi (2022), Alice Moller (2022), Dennis Martinez (2021), Trinity Abeng-Allsop (2022), Brooke Holland (2022), Chloe Mentz (2022) and Kory Gaines (2017) COURTESY OF MARY DANCY

the first quarter of 2022 ended in March.

Hyattsville’s Chief of Police Jarod J. Towers joined the Hyattsville force in fall 2021. For the two years prior, he was the chief of the Cheverly Police Department (CPD). CPD posted their most recent annual crime statistics in 2020, and the most recent monthly crime report on their website dates back to June 2021, as of press time. In contrast, some other local police departments are more up to date with their posted crime reports. Although the Mount Rainier Police Department’s most recent annual report dates back to 2020, their weekly reports are far more current, with the most recent being about two months behind, dating to April 23 (as of press time). Also as of press time, Greenbelt Police Department’s posted monthly reports were two months behind, while

their weekly reports were completely up to date, with the most recent report posted on July 4.

In response to an April inquiry from the Hyattsville Life & Times (HL&T), Towers said that staffing issues in the HCPD records section had led to a backlog of statistical reports.

To a follow-up HL&T inquiry in mid-June, Towers replied that he was reviewing updated reports and that they would be posted soon.

RHODE ISLAND TROLLEY TRAIL EXTENSION UNDER CONSTRUCTION

A new half-mile stretch of trail being built across from the courthouse in Hyattsville this summer will complete a bike trail system running from Fairland Regional Park, outside of Laurel, down along the Anacostia River, all the way to D.C.’s Navy Yard.

It will extend the Rhode Is-

land Trolley Trail, which gets its name from the streetcar line that ran from Washington D.C. to Laurel prior to 1948.

Hyattsville initiated the project back in 2015, when the Hyattsville City Council made it a priority.

At a June 29 groundbreaking, city staff credited Bob Patten, the trail development manager with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, along with Margueritte Smith Clarke, a transportation design engineer with the Maryland State Highway Administration, for their expert dedication to the complicated and difficult work of seeing the project through.

According to Patten, challenges included the neighboring railway company’s refusal to sell any portion of its right of way to the state. In the end, he said, the state highway administration offered unprecedented design flexibility to get the project done.

SEE BRIEFS ON 16 

Hyattsville Reporter the

No. 412 • July 12, 2022

Notices & Updates

Ward 2 Special Election: The City of Hyattsville will host a special election on October 4, 2022, to select a new Ward 2 Councilmember following Robert Croslin’s recent election as Mayor. Ward 2 residents will be able to vote by mail or in-person at the City Building on Election Day. All Hyattsville residents 16 and older who have lived in Ward 2 for at least 30 days are eligible to vote in the Special Election, regardless of their U.S. citizenships status! Ballots will be mailed in early September and can be returned by mail or to a secure drop box (locations will be announced soon). You can register to vote or check your voter registration status at hyattsville.org/vote!

Get Ready to Run!: Hyattsville’s Councilmembers represent their neighbor’s interests in City government! If you’re ready to be a leader for your community, candidate registration for the Ward 2 Special Election will be open from July 22 - August 5, 2022. The new Ward 2 Councilmember will serve until the end of Robert Croslin’s previous term, until June 2025. Learn more about the role of a City Councilmember and what it takes to run for office at a virtual candidate information session on July 27 at 6 p.m. Details at hyattsville.org/candidates.

Sign up for Nixle Emergency Alerts: The Hyattsville City Police Department has switched emergency message alert providers for more reliable communication! Hyattsville residents can text their zip code to 888777 to opt in for local emergency safety, traffic, and severe weather alerts. Residents who previously signed up for CodeRED alerts cannot be automatically moved over and will need to opt in for Nixle alerts to continue receiving emergency alerts. You can learn more and customize your alerts at hyattsville.org/ safetyalerts.

Updated Hours for Hyattsville Vaccine Site – Ages 3 and older on Saturdays!: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control now recommends COVID-19 vaccines for everyone 6 months and older and boosters for anyone 5 and up. Get your family vaccinated at the City’s clinic at the First United Methodist Church, 6201 Belcrest Road, now open on Tuesdays and Saturdays! Vaccines and booster doses are available Tuesdays from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. (11 a.m. - 3 p.m., anyone 12+ and 3 - 7 p.m., anyone 5+), and Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. (3 and older all day). Vaccines for children under 3 are not administered at this site; we recommend checking with your child’s pediatrician or a local pharmacy. Details at hyattsville.org/covidvaccine.

Rhode Island Trolley Trail Update: Construction on the biker and pedestrian trail extension connecting the Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail to the Anacostia Tributary Trail is beginning soon. Commuters traveling on Route 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, visit hyattsville.org/streets.

Updated City of Hyattsville Budget: The Budget for the 2022-2023 Fiscal Year, which runs from July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2022, was adopted by City Council in June! Highlights include capital improvement

projects like the public safety building and the Teen Center, expanded community programming, social services, traffic and pedestrian safety, and ongoing COVID-19 support. Look for a printed budget guide in the August Hyattsville Reporter. You can view a full breakdown of this year’s budget at hyattsville.org/budget.

Code, Did ya Know? Rental Permits!: Homeowners that rent a room, basement, or property in the City of Hyattsville are required to obtain a short-term rental license from Prince George’s County and a single-family residential rental license from the City. This applies to homeowners renting their property through platforms like Airbnb or VRBO. Once the County license is issued and a City rental license application is completed, an inspection of the property will be conducted by City staff. Failure to obtain licenses can result in citations from the County and City. You can learn more about the rental process and apply for both licenses at hyattsville. org/rentals.

Programs, Services, and Events

Fresh Produce Distributions Coming Soon!: The City of Hyattsville is working to bring a monthly fresh produce distribution to the City, starting later this summer. In the meantime, the regular Tuesday food distributions in Driskell Park will no longer take place.

If you or someone you know needs help with emergency groceries, we recommend contacting the Capital Area Food Bank’s Hunger Lifeline at (202) 644-9807 or using their food distributions database at capitalareafoodbank.org/get-help. The Hyattsville Branch Library is also offering free meals on weekdays between 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. to kids 18 and under until August 12. Details at http://ow.ly/Fpzk50JL6jS.

July Summer Jam @ The Spot: Our summer jam series continues Friday, July 15, from 5 – 8 p.m., at The Spot, 4505 Hamilton Street! Bring the family to enjoy live music and performances from Adagio Dance Studios, Just Rock Enterprises, Archie Edwards Blues Foundation & DJ

Los! FREE parking will be available in the neighboring Lot 1 accessed off of Baltimore Avenue, as well as Lots 3 & 4 and the City Building lots on Gallatin Street. Details at hyattsville.org/summerjam.

Beautify Hyattsville!: Help clean invasive plants out of Melrose Park! This month’s invasive removal will take place at the soccer fields in Melrose Park, 4700 Rhode Island Avenue (behind the skate park), on Saturday July 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. RSVP to Dawn Taft at dtaft@hyattsville.org. Gloves, trash bags, and tools are provided!

Shakespeare in Driskell Park: See Prince George’s Shakespeare in the Parks series triumphant return to Driskell Park on Thursday, July 21, at 7 p.m. with a production of Macbeth! Bring your lawn chair and a picnic and enjoy the classic Shakespeare tragedy at no cost! Learn more at pgparks.com or call (301) 446-3232.

My Hyattsville: Easily report non-emergency issues and request City services right from your phone using the My Hyattsville app! The free smartphone app even allows you track the status of your request and communicate in real time with City officials. Not a fan of apps? Visit hyattsville.org/requests or call (301) 9855000 during office hours (Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.) to report issues and request City services – it’s that easy!

National Night Out: Save the date for the National Night Out on Tuesday, August 2, 6 – 8:30 p.m., at Driskell Park! Meet with officers, community organizations, and neighbors to learn how to help prevent crime in Hyattsville. We’ll have familyfriendly activities, music, free goodies, and ice cream! Stay tuned for details!

Youth Services

Creative Minds Summer Session: There are still a few spots open for this summer’s Creative Minds program, from July 19 through August 18! Parents & children ages 1 – 3 can join us Tuesdays & Thursdays between 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the City Building for interactive, educational activities and free play. Visit hyattsville.org/creativeminds to register.

Summer Camp: Registration is still open for the City’s Summer Camp program for children in 3rd through 5th grade. The program offers a space for children to explore arts and crafts, learn a little with STEM, and gain exposure to a variety of sports and games. The program is held Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Driskell Park Recreation Center, 3911 Hamilton Street. Find available spots at hyattsville.org/camps.

Camp Staycation: Registration is open for Camp Staycation, a FREE summer program for youth going into 6th through 12th grade in the Fall of 2022. The program offers recreational and educational activities and field trips (!!) weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants meet at outside of the Hyattsville Teen Center located in Driskell Park, 3911 Hamilton Street. Learn more and register at hyattsville.org/ teen-center.

Age-Friendly Services

Seniors on the Go: Want to go beyond Hyattsville and explore other area destinations? Check out the upcoming Seniors on the Go day trips below! Free transportation is provided by the City’s Call-A-Bus. Please note that the schedule is subject to change. Space is limited. To reserve a seat, please call (301) 985-5000 by 2 p.m. the Wednesday before the scheduled trip.

July 21, 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.: College Park Sakura Seafood Buffet

July 28, 3 – 5 p.m.: Riverdale Park Farmers Market

Hyattsville Aging in Place: Hyattsville Aging in Place helps residents stay in their homes and remain active in the community as they age by providing rides and other services, programs, referrals, and advocacy. Want to help? Go to HyattsvilleAginginPlace.org to volunteer, or email HAPCares2@gmail.com. Need help? Call 301- 887-3101, or email HAPCares@ gmail.com.

Hyattsville Mayor Robert Croslin was sworn into office after being elected in last month’s Special Mayoral Election. Congratulations Mayor! El Alcalde de Hyattsville Robert Croslin asumió el cargo después de ser elegido en la Elección Especial para Alcalde del mes pasado. ¡Felicidades Alcalde!

Noticias y Avisos

Elección Especial del Distrito 2: La Ciudad de Hyattsville sostendrá una elección especial el 4 de octubre de 20222 para elegir a un nuevo Concejal del Distrito 2 siguiendo la reciente elección del Alcalde Robert Croslin. Los residentes del Distrito 2 podrán votar por correo o en persona en el Edificio Municipal el día de la elección. Todos los residentes de Hyattsville de 16 años o más que han vivido en el Distrito 2 por los menos 30 días son elegible para votar en la elección especial, sin importar su estatus migratorio. Las boletas serán enviadas a primeros de septiembre y podrán ser devueltas por correo o a una de las cajas seguras (ubicaciones serán anunciadas pronto). ¡Puede registrarse para votar o verificar su estatus de votante en hyattsville.org/vote!

¡Esté Listo a Postularse!: Los Concejales de Hyattsville representan los intereses de sus vecinos en el gobierno local! Si está listo para ser un líder para su comunidad, la registración de candidatos para la elección especial del Distrito 2 estará abierta desde el 22 de julio hasta el 5 de agosto de 2022. El nuevo Concejal servirá hasta el resto del cargo de Robert Croslin hasta junio de 2025.

Aprenda más sobre el cargo de Concejal y lo que necesita para postularse en una sesión de información de candidatos virtual el 27 de julio a las 6 p.m. Detalles en hyattsvile.org/candidates.

Regístrese para Recibir Alertas de Emergencia de Nixle: ¡El Departamento de Policía de la Ciudad de Hyattsville ha cambiado de proveedor de alertas de mensajes de emergencia para una comunicación más confiable! Los residentes de Hyattsville pueden enviar un mensaje de texto con su código postal al 888777 para optar por alertas locales de seguridad de emergencia, tráfico y clima severo. Los residentes que se suscribieron previamente a las alertas de CodeRED no se pueden mover automáticamente y deberán optar por las alertas de Nixle para continuar recibiendo alertas de emergencia. Puede obtener más información y personalizar sus alertas en hyattsville.org/safetyalerts.

Horas Actualizadas para Sitio de Vacunas de Hyattsville – ¡Vacunas Disponibles para Edades 3 para Arriba los Sábados!: El Centro para el Control de Enfermedades ahora recomienda vacunas COVID-19 para todas las personas mayores de 6 meses y dosis de refuerzos para todas las personas mayores de 5 años. ¡Vacune a su familia en la clínica de la Ciudad en la Iglesia First United Methodist, 6201 Belcrest Road, ahora abierta los martes y sábados! Las vacunas y las dosis de refuerzo están disponibles los martes de 11 a. m. a 7 p. m. (11 a. m. - 3 p. m., cualquier persona mayor de 12 años y 3 a 7 p. m., cualquier persona mayor de 5) y los sábados de 9 a. m. a 1 p. m. (3 años en adelante todo el día). En este sitio no se administran vacunas para niños menores de 3 años; recomendamos consultar con el pediatra de su hijo o una farmacia local. Detalles en hyattsville.org/covidvaccine.

Actualización del Sendero Rhode Island Trolley Trail: La construcción de la extensión del sendero para ciclistas y peatones que conecta el sendero Rhode Island Avenue con el sendero Anacostia Tributary Trail comenzará pronto. Las personas que viajan por la Ruta 1 deben anticipar tráfico entre Farragut Street y Charles Armen-

trout Drive mientras se realizan las obras. Se espera que el proyecto esté terminado para el otoño de 2023. Para obtener más detalles, visite hyattsville.org/streets.

Presupuesto Actualizado de la Ciudad de Hyattsville: ¡El presupuesto para el año fiscal 2022-2023, que se extiende desde el 1 de julio de 2022 hasta el 30 de junio de 2022, fue adoptado por el Concejo Municipal en junio! Los aspectos más destacados incluyen proyectos de mejora de capital como el edificio de seguridad pública y el centro de jóvenes, programación comunitaria ampliada, servicios sociales, seguridad vial y peatonal, y apoyo continuo de COVID-19. Busque una guía de presupuesto en el reportero de Hyattsville de agosto. Puede ver el presupuesto complete de este año en hyattsville.org/budget.

Código, ¿Sabías Que?: Dueños de casa que rentan un cuarto, basement o propiedad en la Ciudad de Hyattsville son requeridas a obtener una licencia para rentar de corto plazo del Condado Prince George’s y una licencia de rentar de la Ciudad. Esto aplica a dueños de casa rentando su propiedad a través de plataformas como Airbnb o VRBO. Cuando la licencia del Condado sea emitida y la licencia de la Ciudad está completa, una inspección de la propiedad será conducida por el personal de la Ciudad. Puede aprender más sobre el proceso de rentar y aplicar para ambas licencias en hyattsville.org/rentals.

Programas, Servicios y Eventos

Distribuciones de Frutas y Verduras

Próximamente: Un recordatorio de que la Ciudad de Hyattsville está trabajando para traer distribuciones mensuales de verduras frescas a la Ciudad empezando más tarde este verano. Mientras tanto, las distribuciones regulares de alimentos los martes en Driskell Park ya no tomaran plazo.

Si usted o alguien que usted conoce necesita ayuda con asistencia alimentaria, recomendamos llamar a la línea de asistencia del Capital Area Food Bank: (202) 644-9807 o su página web, capitalareafoodbank.org/get-help. La biblio-

teca de Hyattsville también ofrece comidas gratis de lunes a viernes entre las 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. para niños menores de 18 años hasta el 12 de agosto. Mas detalles en http://ow.ly/Fpzk50JL6jS.

Fiesta de Verano Summer Jam: ¡Nuesta serie de fiestas de Verano Summer Jam continua el viernes, 15 de julio, 5 – 8 p.m., en The Spot, 4505 Hamilton Street! ¡Traiga la familia a disfrutar de música en vivo y espectáculos de Adaigo Dance Studios, Just Rock Enterprise, Archie Edwards Blue Foundation y DJ Los! Parqueo gratis estará disponible en en lote de parqueo 1 en por Baltimore Avenue, y los lotes 3 y 4 y los lotes del Edificio Municipal en la Gallatin Street. Detalles en hyattsville.org/summerjam.

¡Embellece Hyattsville!: ¡Ayuda a eliminar las plantas invasoras de Melrose Park! La eliminación invasiva de este mes tendrá lugar en los campos de fútbol de Melrose Park, 4700 Rhode Island Avenue (detrás del parque de patinaje), el sábado 16 de julio de 10 a. m. a 2 p. m. Confirme su asistencia a Dawn Taft en dtaft@hyattsville. org. ¡Se proporcionan guantes, bolsas de basura y herramientas!

¡Shakespeare en Driskell Park!: ¡Vea el regreso triunfal de la serie Shakespeare in the Parks del Condado a Driskell Park el jueves, 21 de julio a las 7 p.m. para una producción de Macbeth! ¡Traiga su silla y comida y disfrute de la clásica tragedia de Shakespeare sin ningún costo! Obtenga más información en pgparks.com o llame al (301) 446-3232.

My Hyattsville: Informe fácilmente problemas que no sean de emergencia y solicite servicios de la Ciudad directamente desde su teléfono usando la aplicación My Hyattsville. La aplicación gratuita para teléfonos incluso le permite realizar un seguimiento del estado de su solicitud y comunicarse en tiempo real con el personal de la Ciudad. ¿No eres fanático de las aplicaciones? Visite hyattsville.org/requests o llame al (301) 985-5000 durante el horario de oficina (de lunes a viernes, de 8:30 a. m. a 5 p. m.) para informar problemas y solicitar servicios de la Ciudad - ¡así de fácil!

Noche Nacional Contra el Crimen: ¡Guarde la fecha para el evento de la Noche Nacional Contra el Crimen el martes, 2 de agosto, de 6:30 p.m. a 8:30 p.m., en Driskell Park! Conozca a los nuestros oficiales, organizaciones comunitarias y sus vecinos para aprender cómo prevenir el crimen en Hyattsville. Tendremos actividades para la familia, música, cosas gratis y helados. Manténgase actualizado para detalles.

Servicios para Menores

Sesión de Verano de Mentes Creativas: ¡Todavía hay unos espacios libres para el programa Mentes Creativas, ocurriendo desde el 19 de julio hasta el 18 de agosto! Menores de edades 1 – 3 y sus padres/guardianes están invitados a acompañarnos los martes y jueves de 10 a.m. a 11:30 a.m. en el Edificio Municipal para actividades interactivas u educacionales y juegos. Visite hyattsville.org/creativeminds para más.

Campamento de Verano: La inscripción aún está abierta para el programa de campamento de verano de la Ciudad para niños de tercer a quinto grado. El programa ofrece un espacio para que los niños exploren artes, aprendizaje educacional y se expongan a una variedad de deportes y juegos. El programa se lleva a cabo de lunes a viernes de 9 a.m. a 3 p.m. en el Centro Recreativo de Driskell Park, 3911 Hamilton Street. Encuentre lugares disponibles en hyattsville.org/camps.

Camp Staycation: La inscripción está abierta para Camp Staycation, un programa de verano GRATUITO para jóvenes en los grados 6 a 12 en el otoño de 2022. El programa ofrece actividades recreativas y educativas y excursiones (!!) semanalmente los lunes, miércoles y viernes Centro de Jóvenes ubicado en Driskell Park, 3911 Hamilton Street. Obtenga más información y regístrese en hyattsville.org/ teen-center.

Servicios para la Tercera Edad

Viajes a Áreas Locales: ¿Quiere ir a visitar lugares afuera de Hyattsville y explorar el área alrededor? ¡Tome ventaja de los viajes para personas de la tercera edad de Hyattsville debajo! La transportación gratuita es proveída por el servicio LlameAl-Bus de la Ciudad. Por favor note que los viajes están sujetos a cambios. El espacio es limitado. Para reservar un espacio, llame al (301) 985-5000 antes de las 2 p.m. el miércoles antes del día del viaje.

21 de julio, 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.: Buffet de mariscos Sakura en College Park

28 de julio, 3 – 5 p.m.: Mercado de frutas y verduras de Riverdale Park

Envejeciendo en Hyattsville: La organización Hyattsville Aging in Place ayuda a los residentes a permanecer en sus hogares y mantenerse activos en la comunidad a medida que envejecen al proporcionar transporte y otros servicios, programas, referencias y defensa. ¿Quiere ayudar? Visite HyattsvilleAginginPlace.org para ser voluntario o envíe un correo electrónico a HAPCares2@gmail.com. ¿Necesita ayuda? Llame al 301-887-3101 o envíe un email a HAPCares@gmail.com.

A groundbreaking ceremony in June was held to celebrate the start of construction for the Trolley Trail extension that will connect it to the Anacostia Tributary Trails network!

¡Se llevó a cabo una ceremonia de inauguración en junio para celebrar el inicio de la construcción de la extensión Trolley Trail que lo conectará con la red de Anacostia Tributary Trails!

Primary Election Guide

Here in Hyattsville, the work of our District 2 county councilmember and District 22 state representatives make a big difference in the quality of our lives. When it comes to local development, local schools or local infrastructure, these people make it happen around here — or don’t.

Our District 2 county council representative often calls the shots on whether developments move forward. Improvements in schools and infrastructure depend on our District 22 state representatives coordinating with state agencies and advocating for funding.

Voters in this month’s primary elections will almost certainly decide who holds these seats, as only Democrats are running in these races.

This section of the Life & Times includes statements from registered candidates for District 2 (county council) and Dis-

trict 22 (state delegate and state senate). Statements were edited only for formatting, spelling and punctuation. For statewide seats, our colleagues at Maryland Matters publish an online election guide. For the Prince George’s county executive race, we refer you to our colleagues at The Washington Informer. For other races, including an online exclusive at-large county council candidate guide, see our frequently updated local election content at StreetcarSuburbs.News

KEY DATES FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTION

July 7-14: Early in-person voting

July 19: Primary election day

Same day registration is available. Details at elections.maryland.gov/voter_registration/ index.html. Find your polling place at elections.maryland.gov/voting/where.html.

WANIKA

COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2

Wanika Fisher Age: 34

Day Job: attorney at Jezic & Moyse Attorneys at Law Community Involvement: state delegate District 47B and member of House Judiciary Committee; assistant majority leader: elected by the 49 freshman legislators of the 99 Democrats in the House of Delegates to be the highest-ranking freshman; member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Iota Omega Gamma chapter; chair, Compliance Subcommittee for Police Reform Workgroup for Prince George’s County; served on the state workgroups for criminal gang statute, police reform and economic stability; founder of the AAPI Democratic Club of Prince George’s County; new head golf coach at Northwestern High School; member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Hyattsville

Statement to Voters: The local issues facing my community are at crossroads. I felt that my work in Annapolis has been great but the need for new leadership at the county level could no longer be ignored. District 2 is a beautiful and diverse community, but it has old schools, a lack of affordable

housing, communities that have been under invested in, transit and walkability problems. It will take new leadership that has proven results to tackle these challenges as the Purple Line is being constructed throughout the district. I am asking for your vote because I am a candidate who lives in our community, is invested in the long-term health of our neighborhoods and has the work ethic to get the job done!

Raymond Nevo Age: 38

Day Job: state policy and equity manager, National Housing Trust Community Involvement: Full-time+ advocate for affordable, healthy, equitable and energy efficient housing. Recent highlights include: preservation of affordable housing (acquisition of Hamilton Manor to preserve affordability of its units, and the Purple Line Corridor Coalition); craft and advocate for state bills that further equity, climate justice and protect seniors; a leading organizer of Power in the Park, an event that enabled residents to enroll in energy bill savings/relief on the spot. PITP was later duplicated and sponsored by delegates in neighboring counties; Network for Energy, Water and Health in

community a be er place to live.

Affordable Buildings (NEWHAB), stewardship councilmember; steering committee chair for UMD’s School of Public Policy Alumni Board, where I fostered a paid internship program; created a partnership with I Support the Girls that provides low-income women with free period products; part-time Flying Trapeze Instructor in Southeast D.C.; husband to a brilliant, active uniformed service member and proud cat dad Statement to Voters: I’m running because I know what it’s like to experience the hardships that so many residents are experiencing today (homelessness, food insecurity, inaccessible healthcare, unemployment, discrimination).

I also know the frustration that comes from proposing real and fair solutions to decision-makers, and having them rejected. I’ve been advocating for Marylanders long before considering elected office. Currently, I lead coalitions made up of housing, energy and climate experts in order to create and preserve healthy, energy efficient and affordable housing in disadvantaged communities in Maryland and surrounding states. I came into this role with no field expertise, only lived experience, a passion for change, and a leadership philosophy based in transparency, equity and accountability. Now, I’m

ready to focus my expertise and experience on Prince George’s County because we deserve better. I do the hard work, have the uncomfortable conversations, and always take responsibility for my actions. We may not always agree, but you will always know where I stand, and I will always participate in open/honest conversations about issues. This work is deeply personal, and when something is personal, you work harder for it, and that’s how I intend to serve.

Victor Ramirez

Age: 47

Day Job: practicing attorney at the Law Office of Victor R. Ramirez, LLC, located in Hyattsville

Community Involvement: head boys soccer coach at Northwestern High in Hyattsville and current defending state champions; served eight years in the Maryland House of Delegates and eight years in the Maryland State Senate; board member of Ecolatinos; and parishioner at St. Ambrose Church

Statement to Voters: I have 16 years of public service experience as a state delegate and state senator and, with it, a proven track record of getting things for my county and constituents.

DISTRICT 22 STATE DELEGATE

Anne Healey

Age: 71 Day Job: My work as a legislator is my “day job” at this time. In addition to the annual legislative session and interim committee work, I attend community meetings throughout District 22 on a regular basis.

Community Involvement: In addition to participation in organizations such as the Hyattsville Historic Preservation Association and Hyattsville Aging in Place, as well as St. Jerome’s Parish, I have contributed to many improvements to our community through my work in the General Assembly, including the creation of the Arts District, which was the catalyst for all the redevelopment along U.S. Route 1, as well as the creation of the new communities

in Hyattsville and Riverdale Park. Through persistent advocacy, I was also able to improve safety on MD 500 (Queen’s Chapel Road), including the new traffic light at Nicholson Street. I also was able to get several new public schools built in Hyattsville, including Northwestern High School, Edward M. Felegy Elementary School and the Hyattsville Middle School.

Statement to Voters: As a leader in the General Assembly who

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.

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.

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.

Authority: Friends of Anne Healey. Christopher Arthur, Treasurer.

has earned the respect, trust and cooperation of my colleagues, I hope to continue my work on major issues such as economic opportunity, the environment, transportation, education, equal opportunity for all, redevelopment of our older communities, housing and more. I also hope to continue to bring even more state resources to Prince George’s County, particularly for behavioral health services. I also have the knowledge, relationships and skills to address everyday quality of life issues in our community. I have lived in Hyattsville for 43 years, raised my family here and remain committed to keeping our town (and district and state) a wonderful place to live.

Chiquita

Jackson

Age: 27

Day Job: I am the founder and CEO of Chiquita Jackson Enterprise, which is a parent organization of CJE Consulting, P.R.O.M.I.S.E Youth and Captivating Events by Chi, located here in Prince George’s County.

Prince George’s County has been historically underfunded and overlooked, as your delegate

support to achieve community empowerment. My campaign has laid its foundation on the community’s needs, an essential component of excellent leadership. I believe in a legislative process that collaborates with the community to create practical solutions, prioritizing the citizens’ lived experiences. Through diligence and transparency, I will help foster an inclusive community with a thriving economy and opportunities.

Ashanti

Martinez

Age: 26

I’m a proud son of Prince George’s County. I grew up and live in New Carrollton and attended our public schools.

Community Involvement:

My advocacy mission through drafting public policy recommendations with well-known organizations such as The Aspen Institute and The Leadership

Conference. My dedication to fighting for social justice has been proved by serving as the inaugural IGNITE National Fellow. I’ve curated safe spaces for young women to learn politics and increase their involvement. Aside from my professional involvement in political environments, my membership in programs that directly advocate for marginalized and underrepresented communities include Young People For (YP4), B.A. Women Alliance, PLEN (Public Leadership Education Network), the Henry Clay Institute, NAACP NextGEN, Front Line Leaders Academy, Respectability, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) and AAUW Social Change. Since June 2021, I have served as a board of directors for Light of Africa, promoting economic access to communities in disenfranchised areas throughout Africa. In addition, in January 2022, I served as the co-training director for Rising Organizers. This advocacy organization provides training and support to entry-level organizers, activists and community leaders to help create a pathway to paid organizing work.

Statement to Voters: I am running for office because our communities in District 22 deserve an advocate who will fight to ensure we have the resources and

I’m a proud son of Prince George’s County. I grew up and live in New Carrollton and attended our public schools.

Prince George’s County has been historically underfunded and overlooked, as your delegate

Day Job: research and policy analyst at CASA

Community Involvement: member Roosevelt Democratic Club, lead organizer PG Changemakers, co-chair Prince George’s County Pride, member St. Mary’s Landover Hills School Advisory Council

Statement to Voters: During this unique time, Prince George’s County needs a leader in Annapolis who is willing to think boldly. Someone that will have their back everyday as they continue to recover from the impacts of COVID-19. In Annapolis, I plan to be that fighter. I will be on the side of working people, who haven’t had a champion in a long time. Grow-

I’m a proud son of Prince George’s County. I grew up and live in New Carrollton and attended our public schools.

ing up in New Carrollton, attending school at St. Mary’s Landover Hills, and graduating from Parkdale High School. I’m a son of Prince George’s County. I know the challenges and triumphs District 22 has faced. Throughout my career as a nonprofit lobbyist, legislative staffer and community advocate, I have brought people together to deliver results. As an elected official, I will fight economic and housing inequality, bring back our fair share of state resources, stabilize rising housing costs, deliver higher wages and invest in green jobs of the future. Visit MartinezforMaryland.com to learn more.

Prince George’s County has been historically underfunded and overlooked, as your delegate

passed a paid family leave policy, established same-day voter registration, introduced lowering the voting age and noncitizen resident voting in Hyattsville, and led on a slew of other progressive policy proposals I’m proud to have brought to our community.

Patrick A.

Paschall

Age: 37

Day Job: American Rescue Plan Program Manager, City of Hyattsville Community Involvement: Hyattsville City Council, 20132017, Hyattsville Elementary School PTA, 2013-present.

Zombie Run Steering Committee, 2019-present. HY-Swap. Many city committees

I’m a proud son of Prince George’s County. I grew up and live in New Carrollton and attended our public schools.

Prince George’s County has been historically underfunded and overlooked, as your delegate

Statement to Voters: Howdy Hyattsville! You may remember me from my work on the Hyattsville City Council where I wrote the sanctuary city law protecting immigrants in our community,

I’m a proud son of Prince George’s County. I grew up and live in New Carrollton and attended our public schools.

I WILL FIGHT TO MAKE SURE WE GET OUR FAIR SHARE.

— ASHANTI MARTINEZ ENDORSED

Prince George’s County has been historically underfunded and overlooked as your delegate

I’ve also been a civil rights lawyer over a decade, where I worked with the White House and federal agencies on writing regulations and policies that serve LGBTQ people. I served as executive director of FreeState Justice, Maryland’s nonprofit that provides free legal services to lowincome LGBTQ people across the state, and I’ve worked with elected officials and nonprofit leaders across our state to better serve our communities. And now I’m asking for your vote for state delegate. At a time when the Supreme Court has announced its intention to target our communities for rollbacks on abortion rights, LGBTQ legal protections, access to contraception, and marriage equality, we need state-level leaders who are bold champions for our values. But we have one state delegate who has a record of voting against abortion protections — from her efforts 20 years ago to strip abortion protections from the Medicaid program to her vote against funding abortion

I’m a proud son of Prince I grew up and live and attended Prince has underfunded as I WILL FIGHT MAKE SURE WE OUR FAIR SHARE.

I’m a proud son of Prince George’s County. I grew up and live in New Carrollton and attended our public schools. Prince George’s County has been historically underfunded and overlooked, as your delegate

— ASHANTI MARTINEZ

— ASHANTI MARTINEZ Paid for

I WILL FIGHT TO MAKE SURE WE GET OUR FAIR SHARE.

“

— ASHANTI MARTINEZ

I WILL FIGHT TO MAKE SURE WE GET OUR FAIR SHARE.

— ASHANTI MARTINEZ

I WILL FIGHT TO MAKE SURE WE GET OUR FAIR SHARE.

I WILL FIGHT TO MAKE SURE WE GET OUR FAIR SHARE.

“

— ASHANTI MARTINEZ

Paid for by Friends of Ashanti Martinez,Treasurer Kenyarn Maxfield

I WILL FIGHT TO MAKE SURE WE GET OUR FAIR SHARE.

“

— ASHANTI MARTINEZ

training for doctors in our state, her record against abortion rights shows she is out of sync with the values of our community.

I’ve spent my entire adult life making government work for all of us, especially those who it wasn’t designed to serve. I am a relentless champion for LGBTQ rights, racial justice, reproductive rights, immigrant protections, and dismantling ableism, and I have a long track record of passing impactful policies that reflect the values of our community. It would be my honor to serve as your state delegate.

Alonzo Washington

Age: 38

Day Job: executive director of CASA in Action, an organization that supports immigrant families and ensures that individuals have the core supports necessary for full participation in society.

Community Involvement: Every year I put on multiple events to give back to the community. I host annual backpack-and-schoolsupply drives in Palmer Park and Seabrook, as well as coat and toy drives during the winter. During the height of COVID-19, I hosted vaccination clinics for seniors in Hyattsville and Greenbelt, as well. I’ve been active in our PTAs

across the district, and have sponsored the Hyattsville Zombie Run for the past several years.

I’m also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and have been involved with several local organizations and clubs in our area over the past decade, including the Roosevelt Democratic Club.

Statement to Voters: I’m running to build on our progressive victories over the past several years, including fully funding public education, creating progressive police reform, ensuring fair and accessible elections, and securing reproductive freedom.

As a leader in the General Assembly, I’ve also directed millions in state funding towards our district, including for the Hyattsville Teen Center, Driskell Park, Trolley Trail, and more.

Nicole Williams

Age: 44

Day Job: condo and HOA attorney at Rees Broome, P.C. Community Involvement:

In addition to serving as your delegate, I also serve as third vice chair of the Maryland Democratic Party and vice-chair of the Prince George’s County Commission on Common Ownership Communities. In 2014, I was elected to the Prince George’s County Democratic Central Committee.

I previously served as president of the Roosevelt Democratic Club and president of the Prince George’s County Young Democrats. I am a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and I attend Metropolitan Baptist Church. I also previously served on the board and was chair of the C3 Board of NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland, the board of Emerge Maryland, and the City of Greenbelt Advisory Planning Board.

Statement to Voters: In the time I have served as your delegate in Annapolis, I have worked tirelessly on behalf of our community on a wide range of issues, such as education, police reform and health equity. During the 2021 legislative session, I voted in support of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, which will provide an additional $7 billion to revitalize our public education system through new school construction, educational programs and student/teacher support. In addition, I supported measures for additional funding to historically Black colleges and universities, increasing the accessibility of these institutions to more students. In that same year, I also voted in support of the Maryland Police Accountability Act, which repealed the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights and established a police accountability board in every county. Dur-

ing the 2022 legislation session, I supported the Abortion Care Access Act, which will expand the number of abortion care providers in Maryland and allocate $3.5 million for training new providers. This is just a snapshot of the work we can do together in Annapolis, and with your vote in the upcoming primaries, we can ensure that our communities have the representation they deserve for four more years.

DISTRICT 22 STATE SENATOR

Rashad D.

Lloyd

Age: 30

Day Job: floor manager, Lax Wine and Spirits, Beltsville

Community Involvement: community liaison for City of Laurel

At-Large Councilmember Martin Mitchell; organizing director, Schools Not Jails; member, Prince George’s County Young Democrats

Statement to Voters: Call me or shoot me a text 240.676.0340; let’s find some time to talk about the most pressing issues in your daily life, then let me draw up an action plan to show you how I will address those issues with your support. No fluff, no pomp, let’s get to work. Give yourself permission to try something new.

Paul Pinsky

Age: 72

Day Job: I now solely work in my role as a state senator.

Community Involvement: As the state senator representing Hyattsville for many years, I have used the position to improve the quality of life in the community through both statewide policies and funding local projects. These projects include infrastructure that allowed the commercial EYA project on Route 1 (Busboys, etc.) to proceed; funding for the teen center and new police department; helping broker efforts to bring Pyramid Atlantic, among others; and initiating the completion of the Trolley Trail to the northeast branch for hiking and biking.

Statement to Voters: My work is not finished. I was an architect of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future (school reform) and sponsor of the Climate Solution Act, but there is more to be done to improve the lives of the residents of Hyattsville and all Marylanders.

MISS FLORIBUNDA

A Herculean task: A weeder’s work is never done

Dear Miss Floribunda,

I love blue morning glories and planted seeds for them after moving to a house with a lattice porch. Since then, I’ve gotten vines with purple, pink or white blooms even though I keep replanting the blue ones. Also, these seem to be popping up in places other than where I originally planted them, even in deep mulch! They’ve climbed all over my shrubs, and I’m always pulling them off. I can’t really get them OUT because they always break off. A neighbor told me they are not morning glories but bindweed. What’s that? What should I do? What can I do? Should I even care?

In a Bind on Buchanan Street

Dear In a Bind,

Some of the purple flowering vines might be progeny of your original morning glories, hybrids that don’t return with blue flowers when they selfseed, and some of them might even have been flown over by birds who often share seeds they’ve sampled in other gardens. However, I do suspect your neighbor is right, and that you are plagued with field bindweed. Bindweed seeds could have been lurking in compost or the mulch you spread. Once again, birds can spread these seeds.

Morning glories and bindweed are related, in the family Convolvulaceae, but there are important differences between them.

Morning glories are annuals that will die with the first frost, although they will reappear in successive years because they self-seed prolifically. They have heart-shaped leaves; they have a shallow root system that can be easily pulled out whole; their slender stems are hairy, and if you snap them, no liquid will ooze out.

Bindweeds are perennials. They have arrowhead-shaped leaves; they are very difficult to root out because they have extensive systems of underground rhizomes that penetrate very deeply; if you snap their smooth stems, a milky substance will ooze out.

Bindweeds are invasive, and they strangle and steal moisture from young crops. Farmers have expressed their opinion of bindweed by giving it such sobriquets as “devil’s guts” and “possession vine.” Not only do they keep growing from their roots after their top portions are pulled or hoed away, but bits and pieces of stems left on the ground can regenerate and make new plants. It would take a Hercules, who managed to kill the nine-headed hydra who grew a new head each time one was cut off, to

Ovines among the vines: Sheep are being used successfully in orchards and fields to control weeds. PEXELS

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

The community calendar is online this month and will be back in print in August.

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

HAPPY 109TH BIRTHDAY!

WEEDING

FROM PAGE 14

conquer this weed.

In the absence of a superhero, other means of conquest have been tried. Although pesticides have been found to suppress bindweed to some extent, while harming the surrounding ecosystem, they have been ineffectual at longterm eradication.

Black plastic won’t work either because the roots can go as far down as 20 feet. Pouring boiling water on the plants is another dubious recommendation. For the water not to cool by the time it’s brought to the plants, you’d have to drag out an electric kettle with a very long extension cord to your garden — and tap roots would survive anyway. Sheep and goats are being used successfully in orchards and fields to control weeds, but it would take constant vigilance to make sure your hiree(s) didn’t eat more than just bindweed. Another reportedly successful solution is to plant pumpkins in

areas usurped by bindweed. The pumpkin vines shade the sun-loving bindweed, and their roots secrete an allelopathic chemical that makes surrounding soil inhospitable to weeds. This could mean that instead of bindweed, you might well have more pumpkins sprawling about than you really want, but maybe a sheep or two could help you reduce the number.

In reality, the only thing that home gardeners agree is effective is frequent weeding. Choose dry weather so that pieces of the bindweed you might drop won’t regenerate, and, of course, don’t try to compost the weeds. Think of this work the way you do dusting, vacuuming, washing dishes or doing laundry. Weeding is just one more chore that has to be repeated, and chores are the price of having an orderly home and garden.

Now, let’s turn to the problem of nurturing the desirable blue morning glories. I asked my blue-flower expert, Voloshka Jhovto-Blakitna, for

advice. She told me she starts morning glory seeds in peat pots. As soon as the vines sprout, she plants them, biodegradable pots and all, in the garden. She places plastic markers around them to make sure she doesn’t inadvertently pull them up. Cousin Parsimony told me she plants vine seeds in emptied eggshells and uses washed popsicle sticks as markers. Both Voloshka and Parsimony weed carefully around their morning glory plantings to make sure there is no confusion.

To discuss this and other gardening dilemmas, please come to the next meeting of the Hyattsville Horticultural Society on July 16 at 10 a.m. in the lovely garden of Gina De Ferrari (4306 Oliver Street).

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

Dorothy Mimms, a resident of Independence Court of Hyattsville, turned 109 on July 5. COURTESY OF INDEPENDENCE COURT OF HYATTSVILLE

The new trail, designed for shared use by pedestrians and cyclists, will run along the east side of Route 1 from Farragut Street to Charles Armentrout Drive. Grass buffers and some fences will protect people using the trail, according to Patten, and the road will narrow to one lane northbound in some areas, though it will still have turn lanes and bus pullouts.

According to the state highway administration, the project will cost $6.4 million, and Concrete General, Inc., of Gaithersburg, is the contractor.

HCPD ARREST NORTHWESTERN STUDENT WITH LOADED GHOST GUN

On June 23, Hyattsville police arrested a Northwestern High School student with a loaded ghost gun on campus. Ghost guns have no serial number, which makes them untraceable;

they can be purchased online and assembled at home.

According to a Hyattsville City Police Department (HCPD) press release, a Northwestern student notified an HCPD school resource officer about a male student with a gun inside the school. Officers quickly located a 16-year-old ninth grad-

er outside Northwestern with a Polymer80 ghost gun in his possession. Northwestern school administrators placed the school on temporary lockdown during a search for two other persons of interest. June 23 was the last day of classes for Northwestern; no one was reported injured during the incident.

The teenager was placed in police custody and initially charged as an adult with four misdemeanors: carrying a handgun, carrying a handgun on school property, carrying a loaded handgun and possessing a regulated firearm when under 21 years of age, according to the press release.

Maryland law currently requires juveniles 16 years old or older to be automatically charged as adults for certain categories of crime, including

firearms crimes, assault and kidnapping. The law also allows some charged youth to request transfer from the adult criminal court to the juvenile system.

Earlier this year, on April 25, HCPD officers responded to reports of gunshots at the Northwestern football field around 10:30 a.m. According to the HCPD, police found evidence that shots had been fired; no injuries or property damage were reported.

Paid Volunteers Needed toparticipateinhearingresearch

You

Who? Persons 18 - 30 years old with normal hearing

Persons 65 – 85 years old with either normal or mildly impaired hearing

American English must be your first language Where? University of Maryland, College Park, MD

What does the research involve? You may be asked to listen to sentences, tones, or noise bursts. You will then be asked to react to a particular sound or sentence. This will take approximately 18 to 25 hours, scheduled over multiple weeks

Or you may be asked to complete tasks that involve passively measuring brain activity This will take approximately 2.5 to 4.5 hours.

For further details, contact Ms. Carol Gorham hearing@umd.edu, 301-405-4236

http://facebook.com/ HyattsvilleLife

http://twitter.com/HvilleTimes

Hyattsville Life & Times is published monthly by Streetcar Suburbs Publishing Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.

Editors welcome reader input, tips, articles, letters, opinion pieces and photographs, which may be submitted using the mailing address above or the email addresses provided. StreetcarSuburbs.News

Managing Editor Kit Slack kit@hyattsvillelife.com

Associate Editor Heather Wright heather@hyattsvillelife.com

Layout & Design Editors Ashley Perks, Valerie Morris

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

Streetcar Suburbs Webmaster Jessica Burshtynskyy jessica@hyattsvillelife.com

Copy Editor Nancy Welch

Writers & Contributors Victoria Boucher, Jamila Larson, Paul Ruffins, Rosanna Weaver

HyattsKIDS Adult Advisor Mary Frances Jiménez

Advertising advertising@hyattsvillelife.com

301.531.5234

Business Manager Catie Currie catie@hyattsvillelife.com

Advertising Sales Manager Miranda Goodson miranda@hyattsvillelife.com

Board of Directors Joseph Gigliotti — President & General Counsel Emily Strab — Secretary Stephanie Stullich

The ghost gun retrieved from a Northwestern High School student on June 23 COURTESY OF THE HYATTSVILLE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT

Calvin HAWKINS

RE-ELECT Calvin HAWKINS

AT-LARGE COUNTY COUNCIL

ONE PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

We Rise Together!

Calvin Hawkins is a dedicated servant leader committed to supporting progressive initiatives for working families, our youth and the environment... engaging and standing up for all people of Prince George’s County.

R Elected Council Chair two consecutive years R Led efforts to build six new schools through a Public-Private Partnership (first of its kind in the nation) R Advanced integration of healthcare policies and wellness initiatives R Increased funding for the Youth Service Bureaus R Supported multi-generational recreational facilities R Addressing climate change and flooding throughout the county

“

Mr. Hawkins has spent years in Prince George’s Government…. Tireless and compassionate, he is committed to public service for the right reasons – namely, to help people.

By Authority: Friends of Calvin Hawkins, Anthony Jefferson, Treasurer

VOTE STRAIGHT ANGELA ANGEL FOR CONGRESS

Who is Angela Angel?

As an attorney, I prosecuted child abuse and neglect cases. In the House of Delegates, I passed more bills than any other member , ensuring increased funding for youth mental health services, fighting foreclosures and blight in our communities and holding corporations accountable for overcharging seniors. I am the ONLY candidate on the ballot that has professional experience working with all levels of government.

In Congress, I will continue to fight for YOU!

We are living in unprecedented times and facing threats like never before. It’s time to elect a fighter with a proven track record of delivering for the people of this district. My name says it all: I’m a Messenger, Servant, and Warrior.

This election has become very negative. Rather than relying on outside PACs running ads for me, I’m running on my solid undisputed record of service to this district. Visit AngelaForCongress.com to read testimonials and coverage of my work.

Record — not rhetoric — is what the people of this district need.

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