Hyattsville park systems are expected to see some major changes in the near future, as the city completes Robert J. King Memorial Park renovations and looks to revamp “The Spot” with new construction.
The changes to King Park, located on Gallatin Street, include two new gazebos and a picnic area on the south side of the park, as well as a nature-inspired playground — incorporating a design mimicking nature on the east
By ETHAN THERRIEN
The road to success in the game of football is full of grueling practices, overcoming injury setbacks, big hits and pressure. For senior Alex Amaya, this pressure comes as he works to kick his name onto the college recruiting map. Amaya, the talented new starting kicker and punter at DeMatha Catholic High School, didn’t always have
PGCPS asks for patience as busing
By KIT SLACK
Aug. 26, the first day of school, a 5-year-old in an orange vest waited at a bus stop in Hyattsville with his family. Ten minutes passed. Then twenty. His dad was proud of his new kindergartner’s patience. An hour and 40 minutes later, the dad gave up and drove his child to school.
Other families waited in cars outside Northwestern High School, though more than 70% of Northwestern’s 2,500 students qualify for bus transportation, according to school data. When
buses don’t come, parents trying to get their kids to school wait in standstill traffic.
Still not enough drivers
Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) has attributed problems with transportation to a national bus driver shortage. That shortage continues in the county this year, with about 200 vacancies, similar to last year.
PGCPS has hired 50 of its current 860 bus drivers since last October, according to Kristi Murphy Baldwin, chief human resources officer
for PGCPS. At an Aug. 29 school board meeting, Baldwin explained that 118 drivers resigned in the past school year, including 31 who retired. She said more than 40 people were currently in the process of getting their commercial driver’s license (CDL) with the district’s help, and that PGCPS has started paying related expenses. Another 30 candidates are in training.
Baldwin said that her department held 40 driver recruitment events last year, including 27 in person. She is shifting the season for the
Prince George’s County Public School students, like these headed for Hyattsville Middle School, started back to school on Aug. 26. For the
school year, each county public school has one of three staggered start times:
History and race explored at the Prince George’s County Pool
By JESSICA ARENDS
When Judy WalshMellett watched the mayors of North Brentwood and Brentwood replace a racial barrier on the border between their two towns with a symbolic sculpture of unity at the Windom Road Historic Barrier Park this summer, a lightbulb went off for her. She wrote a letter to the board of the Prince George’s County Pool (PG Pool), where she has been a member since 1990,
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describing how the sculpture and its new narrative made her proud. She wondered if the same might be possible at the PG Pool, which has had a history of contentious race relations. Shortly after, Walsh-Mellet joined Diversity, Inclusion, Sharing and Community Outreach (DISCO), an autonomous collective unaffiliated with the pool, which exists to “recognize the privilege of membership in private institutions and help the pool be a better neighbor in the local community,” according to
Imke Ahlf-Wien, Jessica Arends, Rick Borchelt, Victoria Boucher, Juliette Fradin, Paul Ruffins, Heather Marléne Zadig
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their online discussion group.
This summer, DISCO collaborated with Julye Williams, facilitator and founder of The Project 2043 Institute, to create the six-session community discussion series “Making Waves: Exploring History, Race and the Pool,” where members and nonmembers could explore the global, national and local history of racial separation and how to create more inclusive spaces. The impetus to host race discussions at the pool coalesced during the pandemic, accord-
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Executive Director Kit Slack
Board of Directors
President: Marta McLellan Ross
Vice President & General Counsel: Michael Walls
Treasurer: Joe Murchison
Secretary: Melanie Dzwonchyk Bette Dickerson, Nora Eidelman, Joseph Gigliotti, Maxine Gross, Merrill Hartson, T. Carter Ross, Stephanie Stullich
Ex Officios: Katie V. Jones, Griffin Limerick, Sharon O’Malley, Kit Slack
Circulation: Copies are distributed monthly by U.S. mail to every address in Hyattsville. Additional copies are distributed to libraries, selected businesses, community centers and churches in the city. Total circulation is 9,300. HL&T is a member of the National Newspaper Association and the Institute for Nonprofit News.
ing to pool and DISCO member Margaret Boozer-Strother.
“Some of us as members were feeling very, very privileged to have access to this space during an incredibly difficult time,” Boozer-Strother said.
The PG Pool was among the 22,000 private swim clubs that opened in the U.S. in the 1950s in response to the federal government desegregating pools. Most of these pools, according to “Segregation and Swimming in the U.S. Timeline” by Portland Center Stage, were in the white suburbs.
In 1974, Raymond Bowlding, with help from the NAACP, successfully challenged the pool’s policy that essentially prevented African Americans from joining because new members had to be sponsored by two existing members, according to a 2015 Life & Times article. A new 1975 pool charter removed the sponsorship and county residency requirements, and the pool dedicated a pavilion in the memory of Bowlding in 2015.
When local membership from the community dwindled in the 1980s, the pool looked to D.C. and Montgomery County to find new members. According to Boozer-Strother, that strategy became too successful because eventually people in the local neighborhood weren’t able to join. With a current waitlist of 2,206 people, it takes about 10 years to rise to the top of the list.
In 2023, the surrounding neighborhood organized a petition which suggested offering daily passes on a sliding scale and reserved spots on weekends for people from historically underserved communities in order to be more inclusive.
“There is an outside group who is angry and upset. I am in that group,” said Monica Casañas, the mayor of Colmar Manor, a Latina and DISCO member who recently became a pool member after eight years on the waitlist.
“When I see the immigrant families who live around here and the neighbors come to the door looking to swim and get turned away — that kills me.”
Pool members had also seen concerns posted on listservs and in social media and heard directly from neighbors, including graffiti around Mount Rainier that read, “One day, I’ll be a member at PG Pool,” according to Boozer-Strother. The community conversations were a way to talk directly with neighbors about these issues. DISCO, which meets monthly, has helped the pool’s board implement positive changes, such as installing a chair lift and an all-gender changing room. DISCO also supports projects of the pool’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.
During the third “Making Waves” community conversation, punctuated by joyful splashes and smells from the grill, about 35 people discussed how they arranged Aristotle’s climate theory of human variation, Bacon’s Rebellion, and the Virginia Slave Codes on a timeline.
“It was just so insidious,” said Walsh-Mellett during the third session, in July, as she reflected on the historical events. “If someone fought against a racist law, the law would just be changed.”
The point of the timeline, according to Williams, is to see how race is not a biological phenomenon, but rather socially constructed by those who are in power to maintain their power over certain groups. For example, when biracial indentured servant Elizabeth Key sued and won her freedom in 1656 based on her father’s status as an Englishman, Virginia changed its slave codes so bondage was determined by the race of one’s mother rather than father.
“History is foundational,” said Williams. “What are some of those key things that impact a private pool in a now very diverse community? What does that do to your psyche? Whether you’re a person of color or not? To be told, ‘You can’t go to this barber.’ How does that affect how you see yourself?”
There are now monthly community days at the pool, which allow non-members who live in Mount Rainier to use the pool for a daily fee, but those are only three days during the summer season. Additional ideas proposed during the third discussion session included making unused guest passes available at the gate for non-members who want to drop in for the day.
Hyattsvillian and pool member Lara Oreter said she was personally motivated to join DISCO and attend the community discussion sessions.
“I need to regularly engage in conversations about race in order to check my own white privilege and to learn more about how people of color experience and have coped with decades of institutional racism,” Oreter said.
“It’s gotten a lot better,” Casañas, the Colmar Manor mayor, said. “Now I see people who look like me and are grilling asados. That to me is pretty cool.”
To learn more about future discussions, visit groups.google. com/g/pg-pool-disco.
Jessica Arends is the arts, culture and lifestyle columnist for the Life & Times
Members and guests enjoy a swim at the Prince George’s County Pool in Mount Rainier this summer. In 2015, the pool dedicated a pavilion in the memory of Raymond Bowlding, who, in 1974, challenged the pool’s policy that prevented African Americans from becoming members. JESSICA ARENDS
CITY COUNCIL UPDATES
In an attempt to keep citizens informed about how the City of Hyattsville is spending its money and what types of projects are taking place in and around the city, the Life & Times has compiled a list of some of the most important agenda items from August city council meetings (in this case, the Aug. 5 meeting — the most recent, as of printing — due to the council’s usual summer break). “Consent items” are routine and typically pass in one motion without discussion. “Action items” are considered individually for a council vote. Video of Hyattsville City Council meetings, as well as the full agendas and accompanying documents for those meetings, can be found at hyattsville-md.legistar. com/Calendar.aspx.
PUBLIC WI-FI PILOT PROJECT (CONSENT ITEM)
The council approved the installation of a fiber-optic cable between 4310 Gallatin Street (the site of the current police headquarters and the Hyattsville Municipal Building) and 3505 Hamilton Street (the site of the new police headquarters), for a total of approximately $266,000. Looped into the same agenda item is a public Wi-Fi pilot project. Free public WiFi will be installed at Robert J. King Memorial Park, Driskell Park and Hyatt Park, according to the Aug. 5 council agenda item. However, the itemized service estimate from company Systems Application & Technologies, Inc (SA-Tech) also lists
38th Avenue Neighborhood Park, Nicholson Park, Dietz Park and the new police building at 3505 Hamilton Street as recipients of public Wi-Fi. The quote from SA-Tech places the Wi-Fi project cost at approximately $423,000.
The relationship between the fiber-optic cable connecting police headquarters and the public Wi-Fi project is not stated outright in either the agenda or the service estimate.
ENVIRONMENTAL DEPOT (CONSENT ITEM)
The city is negotiating a lease for 4631 Baltimore Avenue, right at the intersection of Charles Armentrout Drive and Alternate Route 1, adjacent to the city’s Public Works Department facility. The current plan is to use the building as the potential site of a Hyattsville Environmental Depot — a place where residents can dispose of hazardous waste, as well as recyclable materials that cannot be collected curbside.
The city plans to sign a 21-year lease for the building (from Aug. 1, 2024, to July 30, 2045) at an initial rate of $4,932.50 per month, to increase at a rate of 1.75% annually. Currently, the Aug. 5 council
agenda states that the lease amount should not exceed $45,000 for the first year, but the listed monthly rent of nearly $5,000 would appear to exceed this figure.
DRISKELL PARK (CONSENT ITEM)
The council approved the purchase and installation of two new pavilions at the Driskell Park Rec Center — a smaller one to be placed at the entrance (approximately 490 square feet), and a larger pavilion to be placed at the back of the building (approximately 1,730 square feet). Both will be used as outdoor classrooms. The total cost for both projects is $281,843.
THE SPOT (CONSENT ITEM AND ACTION ITEM)
Hyattsville has entered a memorandum of understanding, or MOU, with the Revenue Authority of Prince George’s County in order to develop The Spot (see p.1) via $681,685 in grant funding, to be spent by Dec. 31. The council also approved the purchase of park and playground equipment for The Spot from Playground Specialists Inc. (the same provider of similar playground equipment in other city parks) for $250,000, using American
Rescue Plan Act of 2021, or ARPA, funds. Listed items include a netted merry-goround and a small hammock swing.
HYATTSVILLE TEEN CENTER (CONSENT ITEM)
The council approved two renovations for the exterior of the new teen center (not to be confused with the youth center at the Driskell Park Rec Center) at Nicholson Street and 40th Avenue, not far from Hyattsville Middle School. These renovations include the installation of a walking path, bike rack and pour-in-place site work — essentially, the setting of concrete foundations — for a total of $43,000, as well as the installation of playground equipment — including a double hammock, basket swing, and wobble board — for approximately $200,000.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR TRAFFIC CALMING PETITIONS (CONSENT ITEM)
The council scheduled a public hearing, to take place Oct. 7 at 6 p.m., to consider public testimony regarding the traffic calming petitions submitted for the 5600 block of 31st Avenue (Ward 4), the 6000 block of 43rd Street (Ward 1), and the 4000 block of Nicholson Street (Ward 2). Residents of all three streets have requested the installation of speed bumps, and residents of the 5600 block of 31st Avenue have expressed openness to having a speed camera installed.
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COLLEGEPARKDAY.ORG
Free parking will be available nearby, along with a free shuttle service from select locations, and bike racks. The event site is minutes away walking from the College Park-UMD Metro Station (on the Green Line).
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Our list of events sponsored by local nonprofits, arts organizations and performance venues, occurring between Sept. 12 and Oct. 9; all information is current as Sept. 6. 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 Oct. 10 and Nov. 13 to managingeditor@hyattsvillelife. com by Oct 3.
RECURRING
Riverdale Park Farmers Market is open every Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. in the parking lot near the Riverdale MARC Station, 4650 Queensbury Rd. Live music every week starting at about 4:30 p.m. (Sept. 12: Mike Elosh; Sept. 19: Band Brûlée; Sept. 26: Tammy; Oct. 3: Eric Maring et al) For more information, contact rpkfarmmkt@gmail.com.
Busboys and Poets hosts an open mic for poets every Thursday. $5. 8 to 10 p.m. 5331 Baltimore Ave. 301.779.2787. busboysandpoets.com
Weekly acoustic blues jams, in the Piedmont blues tradition. Listeners welcome! Free. Saturdays, 1 to 5 p.m. Archie Edwards Blues Foundation, 4502 Hamilton St. acousticblues.com
Sharpen your drawing skills in a relaxed, informal setting at Hyattsville figure drawing group’s drop-in drawing sessions at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center. Sessions consist of several short warm-up poses and a single sustained pose for the duration of the session. Bring your own art supplies; drawing boards and chairs provided. $20/ session or $75/5-session punch card or $15/session for Pyramid Atlantic members. Tuesdays, 6 to 9 p.m. 4218 Gallatin St. hyattsvillefiguredrawing@gmail. com
ONGOING
“Errantry” shares Alonzo Davis’ explorations on paper over the last 30 years, juxtaposed with his newer, larger-scale mixed media constructions. Through Oct. 16. Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, 4218 Gallatin St. pyramidatlanticartcenter.org. 301.608.9101
SEPTEMBER 12
Watch “Chevalier” (2022, 108 min.), a film based on the factual story of French-Caribbean musician Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, the illegitimate son of an enslaved African and a French plantation owner. $5 for ages 60 and better. 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Publick Playhouse, 5445 Landover Rd., Cheverly. 301.277.1710. publickplayhouse@pgparks.com
SEPTEMBER 14
Join us outdoors at Hot Joe’s Summer Series ‘24 for a festival vibe complete with craft and food vendors, handson art activities for kids, and performances from some of our summer favorites! Free. 5 to 8 p.m. Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Rd., Mt. Rainier. 301.699.1819. joesmovement.org
SEPTEMBER 15
Riversdale Hispanic Heritage Month Kick-o . All events free: Spanish tour at noon. Kitchen Guild cooking demonstration, noon to 3:30 p.m. Chamber concert celebrating Hispanic heritage through music, 2 to 4 p.m. Riversdale House Museum, 4811 Riverdale Rd., Riverdale Park. 301.864.0420. riversdale@pgparks.com
The Hyattsville Preservation Association (HPA) has assembled a varied repertoire of knee slapping, soulful,
nostalgic tunes that defy any genre categorization for the Hyattsville Porchfest. 2 to 6 p.m. On Sept. 11, the HPA, hpahyattsville.org, will put out a map and schedule.
Licensed therapist Jeannelle Perkins-Muhammad, with moderator Nyree D. Wright, shares her book Into-MeSee and how Black couples have overcome challenges to find deeply intimate and rewarding relationships. Free. 6 p.m. presentation, followed by Q&A session. Busboys and Poets, 5331
Baltimore Ave. 301.779.2787. busboysandpoets.com
SEPTEMBER 16
Screening and discussion of “Salt of the Earth” (1954, 94 min.), the classic film inspired by a 1951 strike against the Empire Zinc Company in New Mexico. Free. Register at pgcmls.info/events. 7 to 9 p.m. Hyattsville Branch Library, 6530 Adelphi Rd. 240.455.5451
SEPTEMBER 20
Riggs Brothers perform at Maryland Meadworks. Free. 7 to 10 p.m. 4700 Rhode Island
Ave., Suite Bee. 201.955.9644. marylandmeadworks.com
SEPTEMBER 21
Bring your family to celebrate the outdoors and the Anacostia River at the 9th Annual Festival del Rio Anacostia! Enjoy hands-on activities, crafts, entertainment, delicious food, fishing demos, live animals, and free boat rides. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bladensburg Waterfront Park, 4601 Annapolis Rd., Bladensburg. 301.779.0371. BladensburgWP@pgparks.com
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We appreciate the hard work you and your team put into this project, and we are grateful for your support of local journalism. www.trackableresponse.com
Want
know
Grape expectations in Maryland
By RICK BORCHELT
Next time you sit out on your deck here in the suburbs sipping that French Bordeaux or Alsatian Riesling or Spanish Rioja, raise a toast to the wild grape vine climbing the oak tree in your backyard. If not for native American grapes, the European wine industry would have collapsed entirely at the end of the 19th century.
Grapes are one of the oldest fruits in cultivation. Wine residue in pots from archeological digs in the Caucasus dates to more than 8,000 years ago, and there is evidence that Neolithic peoples in that region and western Asia had already begun to cultivate and select large-fruited grapes as long as 10,000 years ago.
By around 600 B.C., grapes and winemaking had made
their way to Europe proper by way of Marseille — and the French never looked back. Today, there are more than 5,000 varieties of those original grapes and their various crosses, cultivars and selections. Importantly, all of these varieties derive from just one species of grape, Vitis vinifera (Vitis simply meaning grapevine in Latin).
Meanwhile, Native Americans had been busy cultivating grapes found in North America, but mostly for eating out of hand or drying for later consumption. Grapes were so prolific in the New World that when Leif Erikson visited eastern Canada a thousand years ago, he named the land where he came ashore Vinland. North America had many more kinds of grapes to choose from, as many as 30 species by some counts. Maryland alone has
seven native grape species — none of them Vitis vinifera or its cultivated European varieties. Early colonists sent back cuttings and rootstocks of American grapes to the Continent, but they weren’t much of a hit. Europeans were (and still are) accustomed to a very specific, crisp taste to their wines; American grapes yielded wines
that were charitably described as pungent or musky. Vitis vinifera vines that Europeans sent to the Americas performed poorly, however, usually dying within a few years.
These trans-Atlantic experiments, in the days before regulations prohibited the import of plants or animals that might carry disease, proved almost
fatal to the French wine industry. Around 1860, French vineyards began to experience a mysterious ailment affecting their grapes, a disease that rapidly spread to other European wine-making regions. Within a few decades, more than half of France’s famed vineyards were dead, winemaking plummeted, and French authorities pessimistically predicted the end of French viniculture. Sacre bleu! What was France to do?
Their first act was to blame America, and more specifically American grapes. And they were right. Along with the American vines had come a root parasite, a sap-sucking aphid called phylloxera. American grapes had co-evolved with phylloxera for hundreds of thousands of years and were resistant to the pest; Vitis vinifera was not. Botanist Jules Émile Planchon first figured out the role of phylloxera and
Maryland’s three most common wild grapes (from left, in order of ripening): summer grape, fox grape and frost grape COURTESY OF (FROM LEFT) JAMES H. MILLER AND TED BODNER; RICK BORCHELT; JIM BRIGHTON
The Hyattsville Reporter
A letter from the Race & Equity Officer, Shakira Louimarre
Greetings Hyattsville! My name is Shakira Louimarre, and I am the City’s Race and Social Equity Officer. Hyattsville is fortunate to have such rich diversity and cultural fabric! It’s a pleasure to collaborate with City Council and staff to consistently use an equity lens in decision making, employing strategies that uplift all residents while also considering the needs of those who have been historically underserved.
We work to recognize the many identities of our residents through programs like our Summer Jams, celebrating our community’s cultural backgrounds while supporting diverse local vendors. We’ve elevated resident voices in our Community Cultural Conversations, where community members share their lived experiences on topics like immigration and gender identity. We’ve also trained a cohort of staff in the Government Alliance on Race & Equity program, and those staff are currently working to address needs of vulnerable community members through food distributions and access to regional services.
I also support the City’s volunteer-led Race and Equity Task Force, who just presented Council with an updated draft Equity Plan. The Task Force is excited to bring this plan to the community for feedback to help refine our shared vision for equity and guide the City’s efforts in the years ahead! Stay tuned for ways you can get involved and learn more about our work at hyattsville.org/equity.
TRAFFIC CALMING PUBLIC HEARING ON OCTOBER 7
Join us for a Virtual Public Hearing on October 7 from 6 - 7 p.m. to discuss the traffic calming petitions submitted for the 6000 block of 43rd Street in Ward 1, the 4000 block of Nicholson Street in Ward 2 and the 5600 block of 31st Avenue in Ward 4. Register for the meeting at hyattsville.org/calendar.
Carta de
la Coordinadora de Raza y Equidad, Shakira Louimarre
¡Saludos Hyattsville! Me llamo Shakira Louimarre y soy la Coordinadora de Equidad Racial y Social de la Ciudad. Hyattsville tiene la suerte de contar con diversidad y un tejido cultural muy rico. Es un placer colaborar con el Concejo Municipal y el personal para utilizar sistemáticamente una perspectiva de equidad en la toma de decisiones, empleando estrategias que mejoren la vida de todos los residentes, al tiempo que se tienen en cuenta las necesidades de aquellos que históricamente han sido desatendidos.
Trabajamos para reconocer las múltiples identidades de nuestros residentes a través de programas como nuestras Fiestas de Verano, que celebran los orígenes culturales de nuestra comunidad al tiempo que apoyan a diversos proveedores locales. Hemos elevado las voces de los residentes en nuestras Conversaciones Culturales Comunitarias, en las que los miembros de la comunidad comparten sus experiencias vividas sobre temas como la inmigración y la identidad de género. También hemos formado a un grupo de empleados en el programa Alianza Gubernamental sobre Raza y Equidad, que actualmente trabajan para atender las necesidades de los miembros vulnerables de la comunidad mediante la distribución de alimentos y el acceso a servicios regionales.
Yo también apoyo al Grupo de Trabajo sobre Raza y Equidad de la Ciudad, dirigido por voluntarios, que acaban de presentar al Concejo un borrador actualizado del Plan de Equidad. El grupo de trabajo está encantado de presentar este plan a la comunidad para que nos dé su opinión y nos ayude a perfeccionar nuestra visión compartida de la equidad y a guiar los esfuerzos de la Ciudad en los próximos años. Esté atento a las formas en que puede participar y obtener más información sobre nuestro trabajo en hyattsville.org/equity.
AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA DE REDUCCIÓN DEL TRÁFICO EL 7 DE OCTUBRE
Únase a la Audiencia Pública Virtual el 7 de octubre de 6 - 7 p.m. para discutir las peticiones de reducción de tráfico presentadas para 6000 block de 43rd Street en el Distrito 1, 4000 block de Nicholson Street en el Distrito 2 y 5600 block de 31st Avenue en el Distrito 4. Regístrese para la reunión en hyattsville.org/calendar.
City of Hyattsville’s Race & Equity Officer, Shakira Louimarre
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, dedicated to raising awareness about suicide prevention, sharing vital resources, and spreading hope. The 988 crisis lifeline is available 24/7 if you or a loved one are in need of support or experiencing suicidal thoughts. You are not alone! Call or text 988 for help. Find other mental health resources at hyattsville.org/mentalhealth.
A reminder that Hyattsville’s youth, young adults, and their families may be eligible for free, bilingual therapy sessions through the City’s “In Wellness We Thrive” program. Learn more and register at hyattsville.org/youth-mental-health.
CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
¡Feliz Mes de la Herencia Hispana, mi gente! In September, the City of Hyattsville is proud to celebrate and recognize the rich contributions that Hispanics and Latinos make to our community every day. Learn about resources and regional events celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at hyattsville.org/hhm. The City will celebrate with a Hispanic Heritage themed Summer Jam on September 20 from 5:308:30 p.m. at Driskell Park, 3911 Hamilton Street. Learn more at hyattsville.org/summerjam.
THRIVE GRANTS!
We want to help you make your project a reality in our community! Apply for the City’s Thrive Grant, made possible by the Health, Wellness, and Recreation Advisory Committee. Local individuals, organizations, and businesses are eligible to receive a grant of up to $800 to support health, wellness, and recreational activities in Hyattsville. Find more information and apply by the October 11 deadline at hyattsville.org/grants.
JEFFERSON STREET ROAD CLOSURE EXTENSION
Jefferson Street will remain closed between Route 1 and 44th Avenue, Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. until October as utility work related to the Canvas Apartment complex continues. View detour maps at hyattsville.org/canvas.
PARKMOBILE APP AVAILABLE!
The City has integrated the Parkmobile app as a payment option for City parking lots and meters! Community members can still also use the Passport Parking app or the payment stations to pay for their spaces. Follow instructions on the posted parking signage. More details and parking lot maps are available at hyattsville.org/ parking.
REGISTER FOR FALL & WINTER YOUTH PROGRAMS!
This school year the City has a variety of educational and enrichment opportunities for Hyattsville youth from toddlers to teens! Find the full list of programs including Mini Camps on days PGCPS schools are closed, Creative Minds toddler/caregiver activities, Teen Center trips, and Night Owls “parent’s night out” at hyattsville.org/ youthprograms. Families must have an active RecDesk account to register.
PROPERTY TAX CREDITS FOR MARYLAND HOMEOWNERS
The Maryland State Homeowners Tax Credit program sets a limit on the property taxes homeowners have to pay based on their gross income. Apply to the program before the October 1 deadline to be eligible for this year’s tax credits. Visit hyattsville.org/housing for more information.
MES DE LA CONCIENCIACIÓN
SOBRE LA PREVENCIÓN DEL SUICIDIO Y SERVICIOS GRATUITOS DE BIENESTAR MENTAL
Septiembre es el Mes de la Concienciación sobre la Prevención del Suicidio, dedicado a concienciar sobre la prevención del suicidio, compartir recursos vitales y difundir esperanza. El teléfono de crisis 988 está disponible las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana, si usted o un ser querido necesita ayuda o tiene pensamientos suicidas. No estás solo. Llame o envíe un mensaje de texto al 988 para obtener ayuda. Recursos de salud mental disponibles en hyattsville.org/mentalhealth.
Le recordamos que los adolescentes y adultos jóvenes de Hyattsville y sus familias pueden ser elegibles para recibir sesiones de terapia bilingües gratuitas con el programa «Con Bienestar Prosperamos» de la Ciudad. Inscríbase en hyattsville. org/youth-mental-health.
CELEBRA EL MES DE LA HERENCIA HISPANA
¡Feliz Mes de la Herencia Hispana, mi gente! En septiembre, la Ciudad de Hyattsville se enorgullece de celebrar y reconocer las ricas contribuciones que los hispanos y latinos hacen a nuestra comunidad todos los días. Conozca los recursos y eventos regionales que celebran el Mes de la Herencia Hispana en hyattsville.org/hhm. La Ciudad celebrará con una Fiesta de Verano con tema de Herencia Hispana el 20 de septiembre de 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. en Driskell Park, 3911 Hamilton Street. Más información en hyattsville.org/summerjam.
SUBVENCIONES THRIVE
¡Queremos ayudarle a hacer realidad su proyecto en nuestra comunidad! Solicite la ayuda financiera Thrive de la Ciudad, hecha posible por el Comité Asesor de Salud, Bienestar y Recreación. Las personas, organizaciones y empresas locales pueden optar a una subvención de hasta $800 para apoyar actividades de salud, bienestar y recreación en Hyattsville. Encuentre más información y aplique antes de la fecha límite del 11 de octubre en hyattsville.org/grants.
EXTENSIÓN DEL CIERRE DE JEFFERSON STREET
Jefferson Street permanecerá cerrada entre Route 1 y 44th Avenue, de lunes a viernes de 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. hasta octubre, por la construcción relacionada con el complejo de apartamentos Canvas. Vea mapas de desvíos en hyattsville.org/canvas.
APLICACIÓN PARKMOBILE DISPONIBLE
La Ciudad integró la aplicación Parkmobile como una opción adicional de pago para los estacionamientos y parquímetros de la Ciudad. Los miembros de la comunidad también pueden utilizar la aplicación Passport Parking o las estaciones de pago. Siga las instrucciones en la señalización de estacionamiento publicado. Más detalles y mapas de estacionamientos disponibles en hyattsville.org/parking.
INSCRÍBETE EN LOS PROGRAMAS JUVENILES DE OTOÑO E INVIERNO
La Ciudad tiene una variedad de oportunidades educativas y de enriquecimiento para jóvenes de Hyattsville, desde los más pequeños hasta adolescentes. En hyattsville.org/ youthprograms encontrará la lista completa de programas. Debe tener una cuenta activa en RecDesk para inscribirse.
CRÉDITOS DE IMPUESTOS PARA PROPIETARIOS DE VIVIENDAS DE MARYLAND
El programa de créditos de impuestos para propietarios de viviendas del estado de Maryland establece un límite en los impuestos sobre la propiedad que los propietarios tienen que pagar en función de sus ingresos brutos. Solicite el programa antes de la fecha límite del 1 de octubre para poder optar a los créditos de este año. Visite hyattsville.org/housing para obtener más información.
CALENDAR | CALENDARIO
CARE PARTNER SUPPORT GROUP
Join the City’s care partner support group on September 13 & 27 from 9 - 10:30 AM at the City Building, 4310 Gallatin St. Contact seniors@hyattsville. org or call (301) 985-5000 for more information.
FREE PRODUCE
A free produce distribution is taking place on September 17 at First United Methodist Church, starting at noon.
CERT MEETING
The next Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) organization meeting is on September 18, 6:308:30 PM, at the City Building. Register at hyattsville.org/cert.
NARCAN TRAININGS
Free NARCAN community trainings at the City Building on September 19 at 6 PM and September 20 at 10 AM. Register at hyattsville.org/ calendar.
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH SUMMER JAM
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with us on September 20 at Driskell Park, 3911 Hamilton St, from 5:30 – 8:30 PM. Details hyattsville.org/ summerjam.
INVASIVE REMOVALS
Help remove invasive plants from Driskell Park between 10 AM - 2 PM on September 21! RVSP to environment@ hyattsville.org.
BULK WASTE
E-RECYCLING AND PAINT COLLECTION
A Bulk Waste Pop-Up, E-Recycling & Paint Collection Day will take place on September 21, from 10 AM – 1 PM at 4633 Arundel Place. Find a list of accepted bulk waste items and recyclables at hyattsville.org/waste. Yuck Old Paint will also be on-site to recycle unwanted latex paint cans for $5 per can. Paint must be wet and in its original container. Have cash, a check, or card ready.
HYATTSVILLE ARTS & ALES FESTIVAL
The Hyattsville Community Development Corporation’s Arts & Ales Festival will take place on September 21, from noon – 6 PM., along Gallatin and Farragut Streets in downtown Hyattsville. Visit
hyattsvilleartsfestival.com to learn more.
CYCLOCROSS
The Hyattsville Cyclocross Bike Race, hosted by Route 1 Velo, will take place on September 22 in Driskell Park from 8 AM - 3:30 PM! Learn more and register before the September 20 deadline at bikereg.com/ hcx2023.
HEALTHY TREES
HYATTSVILLE SERIES: FAMILY DAY
Families are invited to a Family Tree Day on September 22 from 2 - 4 PM at Dietz Park. Come for tree related games, trivia and arts & crafts! Find details at hyattsville.org/enviroeducation.
FALLS PREVENTION
AWARENESS EVENT
Join us on September 23, from 10 - 11:30 AM at the City Building for a free falls prevention documentary screening and discussion. Register by emailing seniors@hyattsville.org or calling (301) 985-5000.
SENIORS ON THE GO!
Enjoy a trip to BK Miller Farm & Walmart in Clinton, MD on September 26 from 10 AM - 2 PM! Reserve a seat by calling (301) 985 - 5000 by 2 p.m. the Wed. before the trip.
EARLY DISMISSAL
CAMP
The City is offering an Early Dismissal Day Camp for students from K - 5th grade at the Driskell Park Recreation Center on September 27 from 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM., following the PGCPS early dismissal. Register at hyattsville.org/ minicamp.
TEEN EXPLORATION
Register your teen for a trip around the DMV area on September 27 at hyattsville. org/teen-exploration. Transportation will be provided. Space for these trips is limited. Seats are available first come, first-served.
ZOMBIE RUN
The zombies are coming to Driskell Park on October 5 from 7:30 - 10:30 AM for the annual Zombie Run hosted by the Hyattsville Elementary PTA. To register, support a runner or volunteer, visit
hyattsville.org/calendar. Please note that on the morning of the event, no parking is allowed on the race routes. You can find the race map on the event website.
PUBLIC HEARING
Attend a Virtual Public Hearing on October 7 from 6 - 7 PM to discuss the traffic calming petitions submitted for streets in Wards 1, 2 & 4. Register at hyattsville.org/calendar.
GREEN SUMMIT
Save the Date for the 10th anniversary Prince George’s County Green Summit, taking place on October 19 from 11 AM - 4 PM in Driskell Park, 3911 Hamilton Street. Find details at hyattsville. org/calendar.
GRUPO DE APOYO
PARA CUIDADORES
Únase al grupo de apoyo para cuidadores de la Ciudad los 13 y 27 de septiembre de 9 - 10:30 AM en el Edificio Municipal. Póngase en contacto con seniors@ hyattsville.org para obtener más información.
ALIMENTOS GRATIS
Una distribución gratuita de alimentos se llevará a cabo el 17 de septiembre en la Primera Iglesia Metodista Unida, a partir del mediodía.
CERT REUNIÓN
La próxima reunión del Equipo de Respuesta a Emergencias Comunitaria (CERT) es el 18 de septiembre, 6:30 - 8:30 PM, Edificio Municipal. Regístrese en hyattsville.org/cert.
CURSO DE NARCAN
Entrenamientos comunitarios gratuitos de NARCAN en el Edificio Municipal el 19 de septiembre a las 6 PM y el 20 de septiembre a las 10 AM. hyattsville.org/ calendar.
FIESTA DE VERANO
DEL MES DE LA HERENCIA HISPANA
Celebra el Mes de la Herencia Hispana con nosotros el 20 de septiembre en Driskell Park, 3911 Hamilton St, de 5:30 - 8:30 PM. Detalles en hyattsville.org/ summerjam.
ELIMINACIÓN DE VIDES INVASORAS
Ayude a eliminar vides
invasoras del Parque Driskell entre ¡10 AM - 2 PM el 21 de septiembre! RVSP a environment@hyattsville.org.
RECOLECCIÓN DE BASURAS GRANDES, PINTURA Y RECICLAJE ELECTRÓNICO
El 21 de septiembre, de 10 AM - 1 PM, se realizara una recogida de basuras grandes, pintura y reciclaje electrónico en 4633 Arundel Place. Encuentre basuras grandes y productos electrónicos aceptados en hyattsvile. org/waste. Yuck Old Paint también estará en el lugar para reciclar latas de pintura de látex no deseados por $ 5 por lata.
FESTIVAL DE ARTE Y CERVEZA DE HYATTSVILLE
El Festival de Arte y Cerveza del Desarrollo Comunitario de Hyattsville sera el 21 de septiembre, desde el mediodia - 6 PM, en las calles Gallatin y Farragut. Visite hyattsvilleartsfestival.com para obtener más info.
CARRERA EN BICICLETA
La carrera en bicicleta de Hyattsville, organizado por Route 1 Velo, será el 22 de septiembre en Driskell Park de 8 AM - 3:30 PM. Inscríbete antes de la fecha límite del 20 de septiembre en bikereg. com/hcx2023.
SERIE DE ÁRBOLES SANOS DE HVL: DÍA FAMILIAR
Familias están invitados al Día Familiar del Árbol el 22 de septiembre de 2 - 4 PM. en Dietz Park. Vengan a disfrutar de juegos relacionados con los árboles, trivialidades y más. Más información en hyattsville.org/ enviro-education.
PREVENCIÓN DE CAÍDAS
Venga el 23 de septiembre, de 10 - 11:30 AM, Edificio Municipal para un evento gratuito de prevención de caídas. Regístrese llamando al (301) 985-5000.
¡PASEOS PARA ADULTOS MAYORES!
¡Viaje a a la granja BK Miller & Walmart en Clinton, MD el 26 de septiembre de
10 AM - 2 PM! Reserve su asiento llamando al (301) 985 - 5000 antes de las 2 p.m. el miércoles antes del viaje.
CAMPAMENTO DE SALIDA TEMPRANA
La ciudad está ofreciendo un día de campamento de salida temprana para los estudiantes de K - 5 º grado en el Driskell Park Recreation Center el 27 de septiembre de 10:30 AM5:30 PM, después de la salida temprana PGCPS. Inscríbase en hyattsville.org/minicamp.
PASEOS PARA ADOLESCENTES
Registre a su adolescente para un viaje alrededor del área de DMV el 27 de septiembre en hyattsville. org/teen-exploration. Se proporcionará transporte. El espacio para estos paseos es limitado. Los asientos están disponibles por orden de llegada.
CARRERA DE ZOMBIES
Los zombis llegan a Driskell Park el 5 de octubre de 7:30 - 10:30 AM para la carrera anual Zombie Run organizado por la PTA de la escuela primaria Hyattsville. Para inscribirse, apoyar a un corredor, o voluntario visite hyattsville.org/calendar. Tenga en cuenta que la mañana del evento no está permitido estacionar en las rutas de la carrera. Puede encontrar el mapa de la carrera en el sitio web del evento.
AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA
Únase a nosotros en la Audiencia Pública Virtual de Reduccion de Tráfico el 7 de octubre de 6 - 7 PM para discutir las peticiones de reduccion del tráfico presentadas para calles en los Distritos 1, 2 & 4. Inscríbase en hyattsville.org/calendar.
REUNIÓN ECOLÓGICA
Reserva la fecha para el 10º aniversario de la Reunion Ecologica del Condado de Prince George’s, que tendrá lugar el 19 de octubre de 11 AM - 4 PM en Driskell Park, 3911 Hamilton Street. Más información en hyattsville.org/ calendar.
HIGHLIGHTS | LO DESTACADO
driver recruitment push earlier, given the time needed for candidates to acquire a CDL.
Driver shortages in PGCPS aren’t a new problem, though they increased during the pandemic. PGCPS was short 150 drivers in December 2019, according to a press release at that time. A 2016 report found a persistent PGCPS driver shortage. Back in 2000, The Washington Post reported that PGCPS was short 100 drivers, the largest gap among area school districts.
Drivers have blamed the shortage on inadequate pay for new drivers. Minimum starting pay for new bus drivers is $21.98 per hour. Starting pay in Prince George’s County is lower than that in neighboring Montgomery County, and much lower than starting Metrobus driver rates.
Transportation improvements
At the Aug. 29 meeting, PGCPS officials asked for patience. “We’re looking to make progress, but not promise perfection,” said Charoscar Coleman, PGCPS chief operating officer. Coleman said PGCPS was in the first week of a three-year project to improve transportation.
At the same meeting, Keba Baldwin, PGCPS transportation director, presented on a recent reorganization of school start times that should help kids get to school punctually. Now, the number of schools starting early (7:30 a.m.) and starting late (9:30 a.m.) is more even, according to Bald-
win, which should allow more drivers to successfully complete their routes. School end times are less well aligned, though those too have improved, according to Baldwin.
Baldwin also pointed to success in consolidating bus routes. The number of stops in the system has gone down from 13,900 to 10,800 compared to last fall, he said, and the buses are now 62% full instead of 53% full.
Baldwin said that the average one-way bus ride for students has gone up by only one minute, to 63 minutes.
PGCPS has been able to achieve these successes in part because, using a new process, the families of 7,000 students have formally opted out of PGCPS transportation, according to Baldwin.
However, nearly 81,000 of 124,700 enrolled students still rely on PGCPS transportation, according to an August report by the district.
Over the next three years, PGCPS transportation will focus on improving four key outcomes, according to an Aug. 26 presentation to a school board committee: decreasing routes with no drivers; getting more buses to school on time; getting more families to use the StopFinder app, which helps parents track students’ buses; and reducing the number of buses that go back to the same school to pick up second loads of children.
Keba Baldwin said the district would report on these metrics every quarter, with the help of the transportation consultants who audited the school district last year.
What are families saying about PGCPS transportation?
In response to informal polling, several Hy-
attsville and College Park parents reported improvements in school busing, in comparison to the years immediately prior. Parents of children along different bus routes said buses that had been late the whole preceding school year were arriving on time in the first week.
One relieved Hyattsville parent said she gave flowers, on Friday, Aug. 30, to a driver who had picked up her child on time before 7 a.m. every morning that first week.
However, the early mornings are difficult for students who are not getting to school on time. At the Aug. 29 school board meeting, 7-year-old Isaiah Smith stood at the podium as his mother played a message he had recorded: “The problem is the bus is getting me to school late, and there’s no time to eat breakfast. … I end up being hungry all day.”
What’s more, not all students who need buses have them. A West Hyattsville parent cited safety concerns that prevent her child and others from walking to Northwestern. Her family lives just under two miles from school, too close for a high schooler to be entitled to a bus. Other Northwestern students, nearly two weeks into the school year, had a morning bus but no assigned afternoon bus. Overall, the morning seems to be going more smoothly than the evening. Both at the school board meeting and in notes to the Life & Times, parents reported children getting home two hours after the end of school because of long bus rides, sometimes following long waits at schools for buses to arrive.
Do we know where our kids are?
Parents noted that the PGCPS StopFinder
app seemed to be finally working, even in the first weeks of school. The app, introduced in August 2021, shows parents where their child’s bus is on its route. Parents can set up alerts that tell them when the bus arrives at school or at their bus stop.
However, some parents also reported watching in the app as their bus went back to the school or the transportation lot, skipping their child’s stop.
Chief Operating Officer Coleman said the school district needs StopFinder in part because of the call volume — sometimes 6,000 calls a day in the first few weeks. Even with extra seasonal staff and an average call time of five minutes, PGCPS can only process 2,000 calls in the morning and 2,000 calls in the afternoon. Call wait times are an hour this time of year.
School board members passed along complaints that buses were not properly synced to the StopFinder app. Staff said PGCPS is reviewing that problem twice a day.
“It takes time for improvement to take root and become routine,” Coleman said.
More than one seasoned PGCPS parent is feeling relief and optimism. Hyattsville parent David Sheppard, whose son’s morning bus has been on time for the first time in years, wrote, “We can already see the improvement from past years. … I am glad they made the serious effort to improve transportation for our students.” He said he is hopeful that transportation improvements will continue.
And the Hyattsville kindergartner’s bus that didn’t come the first day? It’s been on time, more or less, every day since.
side with some natural materials like wood, according to city documents. Drainage and landscaping changes have been made, as well, to accommodate the new equipment installation.
King Park originally closed in November 2022 after significant wear and tear caused a reduction in park equipment quality, according to Hyattsville Public Information Officer Cindy Zork. Although the original estimate for park completion was spring 2024, a series of delays involving drainage issues with the new pavement have pushed back the final reopening date.
According to Zork, the hope is that the changes will be completed this month.
“Contractors are currently completing the paved walkway and landscaping installation,” Zork said. She added that, weather pending, the park should reopen in “early September.”
This will come as good news for Hyattsville residents like Dan Broder, who has been anticipating the new-andimproved park and the oppor-
tunities it will provide for his children.
“I’m excited for the park to open,” Broder said. “I’m looking forward to taking my kids there to play on the new equipment. I hope the renovation will address persistent flooding issues at the park.”
The Spot, a community gathering space set up on cityowned property at 4505 Hamilton Street in the summer of 2021, is the site of an up-andcoming park project. The construction, to begin at the end of
The City of Hyattsville hopes to complete Robert J. King Memorial Park renovations (left) this month and to give The Spot (above) a makeover by the middle of 2025.
BLUEPRINT COURTESY OF THE
sign, the new community hub will have a variety of features, including a large lawn in the center for recreational activities, a playground, stage, seating area, pavilion, game table area and indoor restrooms. Bicycle parking will also be included on the east side of the park.
However, don’t expect The Spot’s new look to be done anytime soon. The city is still waiting for permits to be finalized, at which point construction can begin. According to Zork, these permits should be finalized by the end of 2024, allowing for the creation of a more lively park for Hyattsville residents. She expects construction to be done by the middle of 2025.
this year, according to Zork, will change the property into a twosegment park, separated by a vehicle path running through the middle.
Some preliminary work has already been completed to prepare for construction. “The City has done some clean-up of the site and dug test pits to locate underground utilities,” she said in an email.
According to the final de-
“We hope this space provides a hub for activity along the Trolley Trail, both for enjoyment of residents and to draw visitors off the trail and into the surrounding Arts District,” Zork said. “There are no specific programs planned for the space yet, but we envision being able to host music and performance-based events there, like the annual Summer Jams.”
Ethan Therrien is an undergraduate journalism student at the University of Maryland.
LEO CASALINI;
CITY OF HYATTSVILLE
Weeding jitters
Dear Miss Floribunda,
After reading your latest column, I got soaker hoses, plus we finally got some good rains in Hyattsville. My annuals planted before the drought could not revive, but a lot of weeds have popped up. In the past, I haven’t worried about identifying them but just pulled them out. However, you have written about certain weeds having been upgraded to wildflowers and how many are useful for attracting birds and pollinators to the garden. I would be very grateful if you would come by and help me decide what to keep and what to pull out.
Lost in the Weeds on Longfellow Street
Dear Lost in the Weeds,
Thank you for inviting me to your garden.
I was very sorry to have to tell you that the “wild grape” you like so much, with its lovely mauve berries, is the dreaded porcelain berry (Ampelopsis glandulosa) — an invasive alien species from Asia that can take over your garden like a Purple Horde. It’s a good food source for many birds and some insects, but the birds’ habit of disseminating its seeds in our gardens has made it a regional menace. The porcelain berry deprives other plants of sunlight, water and soil nutrients; and its extensive root system with long tap roots is devilishly difficult to dig out.
If you want to make your garden bird-friendly, there are many noninvasive native shrubs with attractive and beneficial berries, such as American holly, chokeberry, serviceberry, winterberry, viburnums and many others.
I saw another vine in your yard that I did not recognize at all. Fortunately a friend in the Audubon Society, Ariel Birdwell, installed an app on my phone, called iNaturalist, that quickly recognized your vine as Chinese yam (Dioscorea polystachya). This vine escaped cultivation in the 1980s and has become invasive in the southeastern U.S., competing with kudzu as a botanical calamity. More frost-resistant than other yams, it has been able to creep north wherever winter temperatures have warmed above hard freezes. I have not seen it before, but you have it in abundance. Apparently, the yams taste good, so harvesting it might be best.
You seem to have acquired quite a bit of field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis L.), which, though native, can be pesky. Its virtue is
that its attractive little flowers — very like those of its morning glory cousin — produce nectar for bees, butterflies and other small pollinators. However, it strangles and takes nutrients away from other native plants and grasses, not to mention any other flowers and vegetables you might want to plant. Consider pulling it out.
You also have two native plants favored by many pollinators, but which are toxic to humans and animals: snakeroot (Ageratina altissima) and pokeweed (Phytolacca americana).
Snakeroot is very pretty, with flowers that look like white ageratum; it is a significant source of nectar to native bees, butterflies, flies, wasps and moths in late summer and fall; and its seeds are favored by birds. Snakeroot is a larval host to several important species of moths. However, in the 19th century, cows that grazed on it produced toxic milk that killed quite a few people, including, it is said, Abraham Lincoln’s mother. Your pokeweed, even if its plump black berries weren’t toxic to almost all animals but birds, would eventually get enormous — up to 20 feet tall — and rob other plants of nutrients.
Most in abundance in your garden is field aster (Symphyotrichum pilosum), which is a pollinator magnet that provides not only food but also shelter and breeding sites for many beneficial insects. However, its gangly and rather frowsy habit is a drawback. When in bloom, though, its myriad miniature daisy-like flowers make frothy petticoats around rose bushes and other plants with knobby knees.
The one volunteer plant you have that is not problematic is goldenrod (Solidago) — a keystone species that supports over a hundred species of butterflies and moths. Many native bees are goldenrod “specialists,” which are limited to only one or a very few plants as a nectar source. Interestingly, goldenrod’s beauty caused it to be imported to Europe and Asia, where it eventually became declared an invasive species. Even in the U.S., it was mistakenly blamed for the hay fever caused by ragweed, which blooms at the same time. Now, it is the state flower of Nebraska and Kentucky; Kentucky even has an annual Goldenrod Gala. South Carolina has declared it the state wildflower, and it is the state herb of Delaware.
health, as well as to treat sinus infections and even certain allergies. It has also proved to be extremely effective in phytoremediation to stabilize, contain and extract metallic contaminants in soil.
Although you have a lot of work ahead of you, it is a fine thing
you’ve undertaken. I wish more people would make the effort to examine what is in their gardens so as to make informed decisions about what to spare and what to eradicate.
Please check the Hyattsville Horticultural Society website, hy-
attsvillehorticulture.org, for coming events.
Miss Floribunda writes about gardening for the Life & Times. You may email her at Floribundav@gmail.com.
Native Americans used goldenrod for numerous medicinal purposes, and goldenrod honey and tea are used by herbalists today to promote kidney and urinary tract
traced its spread from American to French grapes.
American grapes had two strikes against them with European winemakers even before phylloxera. In addition to having a murky flavor profile, these grapes didn’t do too well on chalky French soil. However, botanists guessed the American grapes might provide a root onto which Vitis vinifera varieties could be grafted. In 1888, the French enlisted Texas grape grower T. V. Munson to
identify wild American grapes that might be most suitable for grafting, and another American viticulturist, Missourian Hermann Jaeger, contributed some 17 boxcars full of candidate rootstocks to the French.
The grafting experiment proved a huge success and saved the French (and European) wine industry. Both Jaeger and Munson received the French Legion of Honor for their efforts. Chapeau, gentlemen!
You can see many of the grape species that were part of these 19th-century experiments in and around the Maryland sub-
urbs today.
Summer grape (Vitis aestivalis) is a small-berried vine and is the most widely distributed native grape in Maryland. The underside of the leaves, which may be rounded or lobed, is covered with dense hairs that give it a white appearance.
Fox grape (Vitis labrusca) is another common Maryland grape; it has large fruit and rounded or broadly palmate leaves that are light, fuzzy brown underneath. Fox grape is the parent for commercial Concord grapes of the eponymous juices, jams and jellies.
It’s also the primary source for such wines as Manischewitz and Mogen David. Muscadine or scuppernong (Vitis rotundifolia) has, as the scientific name suggests, round, small, shiny green leaves, but it carries the largest fruit of all our native species. It’s mostly used in jams, jellies, sauces and preserves, but is also marketed as a sweet wine similar to that produced by Concord grapes.
Frost grape (Vitis vulpina) is the last of our native grapes to ripen in the fall — in fact, it takes a good frost to render the berries palatable. It’s another small-berried species but is also the grape species whose 6-inch-thick trunks are most likely the ones seen clambering 50 feet or more into the tree canopy in local woodlands. In addition to saving France’s vinicultural bacon, our native
grapes provide food for a myriad of wildlife — most prominently birds — but also raccoons, opossums and even foxes. Indeed, gray foxes will even climb into trees to get at ripe grapes. So as you watch those reruns of this summer’s Paris Olympics and see the beaming athletes celebrating their gold with champagne in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, you can smugly remember that without native American grapes, there would be no champagne with which to celebrate. A votre santé, you native grapes, you saviors of the vineyard!
Have questions for Rick about the world of nature in and around the Maryland suburbs or suggestions for future columns? Drop him a note at rborchelt@gmail.com.
football on his radar. Much of his childhood was spent on the soccer field, where he played goalkeeper. Neither of Amaya’s parents came from a sports background, creating a lack of parental influence on his own athletic journey.
“My parents didn’t play sports,” said Amaya. “My dad played soccer, but, you know, that was back in the day. He got injured.”
So, while the classic cliché of a former football star father didn’t shift Amaya’s gaze over to the gridiron, financial restrictions and a dabble of sibling influence eventually did. His brother, Kenny, was a punter at Bowie State University.
“He got a scholarship playing at Bowie State, and I just don’t want my parents paying for college. It’s a lot of money,” said Amaya.
This mindset led to the eventual switch, which Amaya says is not as easy as it may seem. Although the skills required to kick a football and a soccer ball are fundamentally similar, according to Amaya, the kicker needs to account for a few key differences to find success.
“The shape of the ball makes a big difference,” he said. “In soccer, everyone would watch me like, ‘Whoa, he can kick far,’ but as soon as I got to football, it’s not as far as a soccer ball. The shape just changes everything.”
Amaya’s successful adaptation eventually led to his becoming the starting kicker for Bladensburg High School’s football team. However, the team’s severe offensive strug-
gles led to zero field goals over Amaya’s three years at the top of the depth chart. The lack of tangible production inspired Amaya to look for opportunities elsewhere.
“That really set me back in recruiting and getting college looks,” said Amaya. “I had zero kick attempts. It’s really hard for colleges to look at me if I have zero points.”
DeMatha ended up giving Amaya a look after he made the decision to attend their last practice of the 2023 season, as a junior, in order to show off his skillset. His decision and subsequent performance at practice caught the eye of DeMatha kicking coach Jamie O’Connor, who was quickly intrigued by the young athlete.
“When he was warming up, I said to Mike, who was our kicker last year, ‘Who’s the grown man warming up?’” O’Connor said. “He went through a couple reps with us, and Coach [Bill] McGregor, our head coach, talked to me afterwards and asked me, ‘Do we need this guy?’ I said, ‘If we get this guy, then that makes everything so much easier.’”
O’Connor added, “He was like a diamond in the rough.”
DeMatha isn’t easy, says Amaya. The school attempts to eliminate distractions for their students, including having strict cell phone policies.
O’Connor himself is the selfproclaimed “number one en-
forcer” of these policies.
“Here they just implemented a new rule,” said Amaya. “No phones at all, not even in your pocket. OC sees it, he’s taking it.”
Despite the stricter environment, Amaya says his transfer to DeMatha is currently the number one highlight of his young kicking career. The opportunity to learn from one of the best coaching staffs in the state is not one he takes for granted as he looks to show people who he is.
“Here, we have NFL coaches, pro players, people who know the game,” said Amaya.
Amaya says that, for the upcoming season, he is focused
on specific performance goals and positively changing the momentum of games.
“I don’t really care about matchups,” said Amaya. “I care about how I perform. I want at least six points each game. Doesn’t matter how. Change how the game is. Good punt, down them at the one, or something like that.”
He added, “I care if the team wins, but it’s not my main goal.”
Amaya kicked his first field goal with DeMatha, a 27-yard chip shot, in a 26-10 loss to Archbishop Spalding High School on Aug. 31.
Amaya said he’ll need a sub-
stantial amount of mental discipline to reach his ultimate goal of kicking at the NFL level. “Once you get in your head, it’s really hard to get out,” he said. But for now, Amaya hopes to use his newfound opportunity to boost his statistical production and impress scouts as he pursues that elusive college scholarship.
DeMatha’s next football game is scheduled for Sept. 20 against Philadelphia’s Roman Catholic.
Ethan Therrien is an undergraduate journalism student at the University of Maryland.
Former Baltimore Sun editor
Kenneth Weiss will read from his new book Still Trending: A Divided America from Newspaper to Newsfeed. Weiss will be joined by journalist and University Park artist Pete Pichaske. Free. 7:30 p.m. My Dead Aunt’s Books, 5132 Baltimore Blvd. 240.472.9325. mydeadauntsbooks.com
SEPTEMBER 21 & 22
Join us for Nootana’s 12th anniversary season at Joe’s Movement Emporium, where “Looking Glass: Re ections of the Mind,” directed by Rishi Das, unfolds the haunting journey of a queen whose life spirals after a series of traumatic events. $30 in advance; $40 at the door. Saturday, 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday, 2 to 4 p.m. 3309 Bunker Hill Rd., Mt. Rainier. 301.699.1819. joesmovement.org
SEPTEMBER 27
Erin Harpe performs at the Archie Edwards Blues Foundation. Cost: TBD. 7 to 8 p.m. 4502 Hamilton St. acousticblues.com
SEPTEMBER 21
Enjoy 100+ participants, including exhibiting artists, Maryland breweries, live entertainment, food trucks and more, at the Hyattsville Arts Festival: Arts & Ales, organized by the Hyattsville Community Development Corp. Noon to 6 p.m. Gateway Arts District. 301.683.8267. hyattsvilleartsfestival.com
Join us for Riversdale’s Screen on the Green, featuring Charlie Chaplin’s “ e Kid,” (1921, 68 min.) and a live performance by the Thad Nelson Music Group. Free. 7 to 9 p.m. Riversdale House Museum, 4811 Riverdale Rd., Riverdale Park. 301.864.0420. riversdale@ pgparks.com
Tablao Flamenco brings a fresh approach to a night of flamenco, transforming the theater into an intimate nightclub like those found in Andalusia, Spain. Purchase tickets through pgparksdirect.
com. $25 general admission, $20 seniors and students. 8 to 9:30 p.m. Publick Playhouse, 5445 Landover Rd., Cheverly. 301.277.1710
SEPTEMBER 28
A free, bilingual fall nature fest with a nature scavenger hunt, nature crafts and games, refreshments, petting zoo and pony rides — and miniworkshops for people of all ages — will be held at University Christian Church. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 6800 Adelphi Rd. For more information, contact cucoffice@ verizon.net or call 301.864.1520.
As part of Route 1 Corridor Conversations, join us to discuss “What’s in Your Library?” Hyattsville’s Heather Jackson will give an overview of the county library system’s resources and the library’s role in the community. Attendees can join via telephone or Zoom. Free. 2 to 3:30 p.m. Register at hyattsvilleaginginplace.org/ events.
e Breakfast Grunge plays at Streetcar 82 Brewing Co. Free. 7 to 9 p.m. 4824 Rhode Island Ave. streetcar82brewing.com
Leonard Cohen and ABBA Song Tribute Night — a night for folks to come out and perform their favorite Leonard Cohen or ABBA songs — at Maryland Meadworks. Free. 7 to 10 p.m. 4700 Rhode Island Ave., Suite Bee. 201.955.9644. marylandmeadworks.com
OCTOBER 4
Streetcar 82 Brewing Co. hosts District Stereo. Free. 7 to 9 p.m. 4824 Rhode Island Ave. streetcar82brewing.com
MSG in concert at the Archie Edwards Blues Foundation.
$25 suggested donation. 8 to 9 p.m. 4502 Hamilton St. acousticblues.com
OCTOBER 5
Janine and Arch perform at Maryland Meadworks. Free. 7 to 10 p.m. 4700 Rhode Island Ave., Suite Bee. 201.955.9644. marylandmeadworks.com
Valerie June, a talented singer/songwriter known for her soulful voice and eclectic blend of folk, blues and country music, performs at Publick Playhouse. Purchase tickets through pgparksdirect.com. $50 general admission, $43 seniors and students. 8 to 9:30 p.m. 5445 Landover Rd., Cheverly. 301.277.1710
OCTOBER 8
Embark on Mucha Música!: an interactive musical journey to Latin America, as Cantaré performs songs in Spanish and Portuguese and invites the whole family to sing, play percussion, and dance to Latin rhythms like salsa and merengue. Free. Register at pgcmls.info/ events. 6 to 7 p.m. Hyattsville Branch Library, 6530 Adelphi Rd. 240.455.5451
