Hyattsville is facing a mounting housing crisis — one that city leaders say is defined not only by the rising cost of rent, but also by a shortage of truly affordable options.
Roughly 11% of the city’s 5,147 rental units are considered affordable, according to David Cristeal, Hyattsville’s Department of Community and Economic Development housing manager. In Prince George’s
Man arrested
shooting that injured celebrity chef Tobias Dorzon
By THOMAS ROBERTSON, from WTOP
A man has been arrested and charged in connection with a November 2024 shooting and robbery that left former NFL player and celebrity chef Tobias Dorzon injured.
Devin Spivey, 21, was arrested Friday, June 27, at a home in Laurel, and faces several charges related to the shooting and robbery of a woman and Dorzon,
Redevelopment planned for Hyattsville’s Masonic lodge
By SASWATHI NATTA
On June 26, the Prince George’s County Planning Board voted to divide the property at 4207 Gallatin Street — former site of the Mount Hermon Lodge No. 179 — into two parcels for residential development. Parcel one consists of the former Masonic building, a multi-story brick edifice for which both residential and commercial properties are planned. Parcel two is the moniker for the building’s rear parking lot, which has now been rezoned for residential use.
Several Hyattsville residents, including at least one who attended the June 26 meet-
ing, have voiced concerns about the possibility of townhouses being developed on the lot. The planning board made it clear at the meeting, however, that the vote was merely to allow for the option of developing housing on both parcels, and that what actually becomes of the parking lot will be a topic for future meetings.
The Freemasons, an ancient fraternal society, established Mount Hermon Lodge No. 179 in 1886, according to their website. The historic building now under redevelopment was completed in 1893. D.C. Grand Master Landon Cabell Williamson laid the cornerstone with the same gavel used by another
past master, George Washington, at the cornerstone laying of the U.S. Capitol.
The building has been vacant for some time. The Prince George’s County Council designated it as a historical site in October 2024 at the recommendation of the historic preservation commission. Now, the lodge can be occupied again, while keeping its historical facade.
Mt. Hermon Lodge Preservation LLC bought the lodge and surrounding parking lot for $1.3 million in April. Managing member of this LLC, Kayleigh Kulp, who has been a Hyattsville resident for
The former Masonic lodge, on Gallatin Street, is slated for redevelopment; the former lodge's ballroom is planned as retail space. COURTESY OF KAYLEIGH KULP
Retiring to Hyattsville and wanting to connect?
By HEATHER WRIGHT
Are you retiring and moving to Hyattsville? Or are your parents retiring and moving to Hyattsville? How can seniors start getting involved in the city? We’ve put together some resources and ideas to smooth the transition, deepen connections, and unlock some of Hyattsville’s offerings — especially for those age 60 and better.
Testing the waters
Hyattsville Aging in Place (HAP) is a nonprofit grassroots organization that provides volunteer services, along with educational and social events, for seniors. As stated on its website, HAP’s goal is to help Hyattsville residents stay in their homes as long as possible, while remaining active and having fun. They host the virtual Corridor Conversations often listed in our “Community Calendar” (see p. 6), as well as in-person lunches and other activities. (Disclosure: Streetcar Suburbs News board member T. Carter Ross works for HAP).
HAP hosts a listserv that shares HAP-related events, as well as senior-related information. Visit groups.io/g/hyattsvilleaginginplace to join. Accessed at groups.io/g/HOPE, the HOPE (Hyattsville Organization for a Positive Environment) listserv aspires to create a sense of community. This listserv is open to all Hyattsville residents — and is a good resource for keeping up with events; discussing safety, environmental, economic and other municipal concerns; and connecting with other Hyattsvillians — not just seniors.
A community newspaper chronicling the life and times of Hyattsville Mailing address: PO Box 132, Hyattsville, MD 20781
http://facebook.com/ HyattsvilleLife
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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.
The City of Hyattsville has consolidated a list of resources for Hyattsville seniors on its website that includes sections for caregivers, transportation assistance, veteran support and volunteer opportunities. The city offers several regular groups for seniors, including a Lunch and Learn series — the June 9 topic was “Fraud 101,” which explored how to recognize and avoid common scams and fraud. Other activities include Board Games with Ladies and Gents, Seniors on the Go!, and a seated exercise class that meets most Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Register for these and other city-sponsored groups and events at hyattsville.recdesk.com/Community/Program.
Check out the Prince George’s Senior Provider Network, pgspn. org, for a broader range of resources and supports. You can access their most recent senior resource guide, which includes home care providers, housing resources and senior activity cen-
and work on their own projects in the company of other crafters. (Makers nights are free to anyone who shows up, while sewcials require registration and cost $5 for the use of a sewing machine and studio tools.)
• Interested in developing your art and music skills?
monica, blues vocals and ukulele classes on Saturday mornings at the library. Register at pgcmls.info/events.
ters, at issuu.com/pgspn/docs/ pgspn_guide_2024_webuse.
Have a passion — or open to developing a new one?
Trying to develop a green thumb? Do you like sewing, arts and crafts, blues music or playing bridge? Some interests lend themselves to group meetings or classes. A few to consider:
• The Hyattsville Horticultural Society is one of the oldest garden clubs in the U.S. Members hold monthly meetings, organize seed sales and plant exchanges, and host workshops and presentations. (See “Miss Floribunda” on p. 7 for the society’s next meeting.)
• Three Little Birds Sewing Co., on Baltimore Avenue, not only hosts sewing, garmentmaking and quilting classes, but also provides both makers nights and “sewcials” on Wednesdays in conjunction with Sweet Pea Fiber. Participants come from 6 to 9 p.m.
Business Manager Catie Currie catie@streetcarsuburbs.news
Advertising Sales Manager Miranda Goodson
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
Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, on Gallatin Street, hosts printmaking, papermaking and book arts workshops. Members have access to studio happy hours, as well. Art Works Now, on Rhode Island Avenue, offers art classes with sliding scale prices. Art Works also offers free classes to those 55 and over through its Creative Aging Program — note, however, that these limited classes fill up very quickly.
• The Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation offers regular jam sessions, including weekly acoustic blues, monthly swing jazz, and monthly ukulele sessions. The foundation has also joined forces with the Hyattsville Branch Library to offer free beginning guitar, har-
• If you’re interested in learning and playing bridge, consider journeying to Mount Rainier, to the dome-shaped Quonset building, aka The Hut, with the “Washington Bridge Unit” sign outside, at 3801 Eastern Avenue NE. Email Wilma Bonner at wafbonner@aol. com for a complete schedule of classes, which Bonner notes will start back up in September.
Volunteer opportunities
Volunteering alongside other residents — as neighbors help neighbors — can quickly forge bonds and lift up the community.
HAP has a wide range of volunteer opportunities, including driving neighbors to appointments and helping them run errands; assisting with house and yard work; checking in on residents; planning or helping with HAP programs, SEE SENIORS ON 10
Winifred Weaver shows off the hat and vest she created during the fall 2022 Wear Your Story art class series, hosted by Art Works Now. COURTESY OF ART WORKS NOW
with new councilmembers Greg Barnes and Gopi Dhokai
By ZEPHAN MATTESON
The Life & Times (L&T) recently interviewed the incoming Ward 1 and Ward 3 councilmembers about why they wanted to run for city council and about some of the big projects and issues facing Hyattsville.
Greg Barnes is the newly elected Ward 1 representative, after winning the May election to replace exiting Councilmember Sam Denes. Barnes is a licensed attorney who has lived in Hyattsville for 15 years.
Gopi Dhokai is the new Ward 3 representative, replacing exiting Councilmember Jimmy McClellan. Dhokai is a mental health counselor who has lived in Hyattsville for about two years.
(Space operations professional Kelson Nisbett will replace Councilmember Rommel Sandino in Ward 5. The L&T hopes to talk with Nisbett soon, although he had not responded to interview requests, as of press time.)
Interviews have been edited for space and clarity.
GREG BARNES (Ward 1)
L&T: What inspired you to run for city council?
Barnes: Throughout the years, I’ve been increasing my involvement at the local level. First I started serving on Hyattsville’s compensation review committee. The way the city works from time to time, they create this committee where the residents review salaries, make recommendations for adjustments, and so I served on that committee. I really enjoyed the experience, and my next appointment was for the planning committee. Members of the planning committee look at a lot of the local economic development and make recommendations to the city council regarding potential changes or concerns. We look at a whole host of things, from the types of materials that
are going to be used to build, to concerns with traffic, trash collection, parking — all those things that you have to consider when you're thinking about new development in an area. For a long time, I've been the president of my homeowners association (HOA), and by being on the planning committee and also serving on the HOA, I met Sam Denes, who was my predecessor on city council. He reached out to me and asked me if I would be interested in stepping in and replacing him, and I answered the call and de-
cided to, basically, form a campaign.
L&T: What would you like to address early on in your council tenure?
Barnes: When I was on the campaign trail, I heard from a lot of local businesses that had concerns about landlords who weren't properly maintaining their properties — vacant buildings, seeing properties around those buildings decaying. I also heard concerns about basic aesthetics on some of our main business corridors, and the need for more focus on streetscaping. I want to look at issues about design, which is like a segue from my work on the planning committee, trying to make sure that as we bring new buildings online in the City of Hyattsville, they conform with the design that currently exists throughout the city — just to make the city more attractive.
L&T: How should the city address budgetary concerns?
Barnes: I really am still in learning mode with that. I think there are a couple of initiatives that are going to probably come before the council in short order: There's going to be a look at some of the employee benefits and whether the city should actually roll back some of those benefits. At this point, for me, it's too early to take a position on whether or not that makes sense. I am reluctant to promote or advocate for an increase in tax rates, and so if you're not going to increase tax rates, you have to somehow look at how you can kind of carve some of the expenses.
L&T: What are your thoughts on the city’s purchase of the lower parcel?
Barnes: One of the last meetings before I was sworn in, the city did agree to spend up to $6.5 million dollars to purchase the property, the lower lot, and a portion that would come again from the state, so a little less than half would actually come from the city. I have to be honest: I'm still learning a little bit about the backstory and the history. I think my role
Greg Barnes COURTESY OF GREG BARNES
Planning board approves Ager Rd. McD's for the second time
By WILL HAMMANN
The site plan for a McDonald’s at 6585 Ager Road in Lewisdale was approved on June 12 by the Prince George’s County Planning Board for the second time, despite opposition from residents.
The plan was initially passed by the planning board in January after an indefinite hold lasting over a year and several hearings. On April 14, the Prince George’s County Council issued a remand, sending the plans back to the planning board yet again.
At the June 12 hearing, McDonald’s attorney Edward Gibbs agreed to build benches and add “more dignified” outdoor signage in remembrance of the former Green Hill Plantation — where people were enslaved — and said he was open to collaborating with community organizations to honor the site’s history.
This was an upgrade to signage inside the restaurant acknowledging the site’s history that McDonald’s had agreed to as a condition in previous hearings. The company had also agreed to add crosswalks and paint speed bumps in the lot, as well as hire additional security for the shopping center to stave off homeless encampments.
But opposition to the plan
from residents, especially from the advocacy group Stop McDonald’s and the parentteacher organization of César Chávez Dual Spanish Immersion School, remained fervent, despite concessions.
The proposed McDonald’s would lie near the large intersection at East-West Highway and Riggs Road, within one-third of a mile from César Chávez.
Opponents of the proposal have voiced concerns about the impacts of the restaurant’s drivethru on the already problematic intersection, which “is failing walkers, bikers, transit users and even drivers,” according to Takoma Park resident Jeff Cronin. “A high throughput drive-thru … will make conditions less safe for all those parties,” he said at the June 12 hearing.
Cronin was joined at the hearing by César Chávez parent Rachel Mulford who said she and other parents, who gathered over 144 signatures of teachers and staff petitioning against the proposal, are also concerned about the site’s impact on the community’s health.
According to Mulford, increased congestion caused by the development would not only impede transportation but also worsen air quality and thereby increase the risk of asthma, which Prince George’s County
residents suffer from at a rate higher than the national average. The area is already designated a “food swamp,” meaning unhealthy food is more available than healthy alternatives. The McDonald’s would replace the existing Salvadoran restaurant La Doñita, a locally owned small business.
Businesses like La Doñita funnel resources back into the community and are community leaders, Mulford said. She added that César Chávez often partners with these businesses for charitable fundraisers, raising thousands of dollars. “Conversely, it can be very difficult to entice that kind of charitable marketing partnership from national and multinational businesses,” she said.
The county council remand asked the planning board to reconsider its decision based on analyses of the site plan’s traffic and health impacts, and suggested forgoing the drive-thru. The county council also asked McDonald’s to search for grave sites or artifacts of slavery on the site, and to notify residents in English and Spanish about the June 12 hearing.
McDonald’s hired archeologist James Gibb, who, with a team of “cadaver dogs,” asserted that there were no graves on the site.
Traffic consultant Mike Lenhart said that McDonald’s agreed after meetings with the Maryland State Highway Association and Maryland Department of Transportation to make the site’s lot one way, and will convert the entrance and exit to a safer right-in/ right-out configuration.
But planning department staff said that notifications about the June 12 hearing were not provided in Spanish, defying the remand’s request.
“It was actually very difficult to participate in this process,” said Mulford, who had to hire a babysitter to join the hearing. She also noted that there are many Spanish-speaking and low-income residents in the area for whom it would have been even more difficult to attend.
Planning department staff also said McDonald’s health and traffic reviews were limited in scope to impacts directly onsite, despite the more compre-
hensive nature of the remand’s requests.
McDonald’s attorney Gibbs argued during the hearing that concerns about off-site traffic or health are not relevant to the detailed site plan’s approval, and said that forgoing the drivethru would not be an option.
“I know that we’ve met every criteria that is legally required,” he said.
Greg Smith, who led the opposition present at the hearing, argued that the external factors could not be ignored if the county wishes to fulfill the goals laid out in its zoning ordinances.
“We know the game here,” he said. “The applicant has worked hard to make the scope of issues as shallow as possible — and we’ve worked very hard to show why that box should be deeper and broader.”
Gibbs however, remained firm. “Goals, policies, objectives — all those things are not binding for the purposes of approving the detailed site plan,” he said. “The statute is what the statute is, even if concerns are laudable.”
The planning board went on to approve the detailed site plan unanimously for the second time, but not before planning board chair, Peter Shapiro, clarified that the board doesn’t have the legal authority to do otherwise based on the set criteria, and that he urges the county council to consider empowering the planning board to have that authority.
Planning board member Manuel Geraldo specified that other jurisdictions have the power to deny detailed site plans based on food swamp concerns, but Prince George’s County does not.
“The difficulty for me is that it’s clear that this development is gonna have an impact on the area,” Shapiro said.
The proposal is now set to head back to the same county council that previously, and unanimously, issued the remand.
Will Hammann is an undergraduate journalism major at the University of Maryland.
The proposed McDonald’s would be near the large intersection at EastWest Highway and Riggs Road. UNSPLASH
A fanfare for the common trumpet creeper
By RICK BORCHELT
If your gardening tastes run toward fast-growing vines that can engulf a small house in deep green in just one summer, trumpet creeper is for you. If you want a native plant that covers itself for months each summer with bright, showy, orange flowers, trumpet creeper is for you. If you want a hummingbird magnet for your yard, trumpet creeper is for you. And if you want a plant with rich stories of robbery, protection rackets, poison, extreme engineering and chemistry — well, then, trumpet creeper is for you.
Trumpet creeper, Campsis radicans, is native throughout the eastern U.S. and into southern Canada. It’s found in every county in Maryland, sometimes to the chagrin of farmers, gardeners and utility workers. In keeping with the tropical origins of the trumpet vine family to which it belongs, the vigorous green vines grow best in broiling sunshine at the beach, along old fence lines, up telephone poles and in practically any sunny spot where it can latch onto a handy tree or structure to climb.
Technically, trumpet creeper is not simply a vine but a liana — a woody-stemmed vine rooted in the soil. Lianas are extremely common in moist, tropical forests, where they greedily climb trees to soak up sunlight above the jungle canopy.
Trumpet creeper does its tropical liana counterparts one
better: Its thick, ropy stems are covered with aerial rootlets that adhere to almost any surface. In my yard, those surfaces include deck rails, trees, fences, brick walls and window screens — and those are just the ones I’ve noticed. These rootlets put the “creep” in trumpet creeper, and lend it the species name of radicans, from a Latin root meaning “to take root” or “having rooting stems.”
But I forgive its aggressiveness — and trumpet creepers can grow 40 feet in a single summer and sprout with abandon wherever those rootlets touch
ground again — for the spectacular floral display it offers from June through August. In early summer, it begins to grow stems that, instead of vining, arch away from the main trunk; they give trumpet creeper its genus name Campsis, from a Greek word meaning “bending” or “curving.” At the end of every pendulous branch, the liana sports clusters of fat tangerine buds that open into vivid orange trumpets that sway in the occasional summer breeze.
These blazing trumpets bring in droves of ruby-throated hummingbirds that are after the
sweet nectar pooled in the bottom of the 6-inch trumpet. But the flower makes them work for their carbohydrate reward: It’s exquisitely engineered to ensure that a hummingbird has to do some pollination before it’s allowed to feed in the fiery throat of the trumpet.
The flower has a wide, flaring bell that narrows quickly into a constricted throat. Even a hummingbird’s long bill and tongue can’t probe deep enough to reach the nectar from the lip of the flower, so the bird has to grab onto the petals and push its head in until it bumps
against the flower wall, where it narrows about a third of the way down the tube. From there, the bird can reach the nectar at the bottom with its bill and tongue. Deviously, the flower carries its reproductive organs, the stamens and pistil, right where the flower throat narrows, so when the hummingbird pokes its head in, it can’t help but brush pollen it’s picked up from the stamens of other trumpet creepers onto the sticky tip of the pistil, and at the same time pick up another load of pollen to carry to the next flower.
Trumpet creepers evolved alongside ruby-throated hummingbirds and can be pollinated by almost nothing else. Large bees like bumblebees can’t push past the constricting sphincter, and smaller ones are likely to get lost or drown in the deep well at the bottom of the flower.
But nectar isn’t the only sweet reward that trumpet creepers offer. The flower exudes a sticky liquid from the tips of its buds, from the green collar around the base of the flower and at the flower's base where it attaches to the stem. Scientists call these alternate honeypots extrafloral nectaries, and the sugar snack they produce attracts swarms of small bees
This trumpet creeper with massive woody stems has found a handy tree to clamber over. RICK BORCHELT
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Find more local events all month long in our continuously updated online calendar at StreetcarSuburbs.News/events
Here’s our list of events sponsored by local nonprofits, arts organizations and performance venues, occurring between July 10 and Aug. 13; all information is current as of July 3. For events and meetings organized by the City of Hyattsville, see The Hyattsville Reporter in the newspaper’s centerfold. Please send notices of events that will take place between Aug. 14 and Sept. 11 to managingeditor@ hyattsvillelife.com by Aug. 7.
RECURRING
Weekly acoustic blues jams, in the Piedmont blues tradition. Listeners welcome! Free. Saturdays, 1 to 5 p.m. Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation, 4502 Hamilton St. acousticblues.com
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 from roughly 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. (July 10: Tammy; July 17: Janine Wilson; July 24: Jim Groves and Friends; July 31: Stormi & The Blue Skies; Aug. 7: TBA). For more information, contact rpkfarmmkt@gmail.com.
Come listen to free live concerts along the Anacostia River at Bladensburg Waterfront Park. (July 13: The Love Station; July 20: The Exclusives; Aug. 3: Ocho de Bastos). 6 or 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. 4601 Annapolis Rd., Bladensburg. 301.779.0371. BladensburgWP@pgparks.com
Sharpen your drawing skills in a relaxed, informal setting at the 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
Early Bird Serenity Al-Anon. Support for friends and families of alcoholics based on the 12-step program. Free, all are welcome. Virtual meetings every Thursday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. For more information and Zoom link, email ebsalanon@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
ONGOING
Prince George’s County Public Schools provide free meals to children 18 and younger — regardless of summer school enrollment status — at 16 open meal sites, including Hyattsville Branch Library and Ridgecrest Elementary School. Through July 31, breakfast and lunch are available at school sites. Through Aug. 8, lunch is available at community sites. First come, first served. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Visit pgcps.org/offices/food-and-
JULY 19
Whether you’re an avid gardener or a plant parent novice, this container gardening workshop will help you grow a beautiful container garden. Join Riversdale’s historic site gardener as she leads you through designing, planting and caring for your plants. Free. 10 a.m. to noon. Register at pgparksdirect.com. Riversdale House Museum, 4811 Riverdale Rd., Riverdale Park. 301.864.0420. riversdale@ pgparks.com
nutrition/summer-meals for a list of sites and service times.
JULY 11
Teens ages 12-17: Come take a break from the summer heat and join us at the Publick Playhouse for snacks and a movie screening of the musical fantasy “Wicked” (2024, 160 min.). Free. 7 to 10 p.m. Register at pgparksdirect. com. 5445 Landover Rd., Cheverly. 301.277.1710. publickplayhouse@pgparks. com
JULY 17
Come create your very own clay figures at “Craft and Create: Bloxy Clay Figures!” The figures can be standalone or made into magnets. Free. 2 to 3:30 p.m. Register at pgcmls. info/events. Hyattsville Branch
Tornado Rose performs at Maryland Meadworks. Free. 7 to 10 p.m. 4700 Rhode Island Ave., Suite Bee. 301.955.9644. marylandmeadworks.com
AUGUST 6
Come skate at the library! Borrow skates and protective gear, or bring your own. Free. 5 to 7 p.m. Register at pgcmls. info/events. Hyattsville Branch Library parking lot, 6530 Adelphi Rd. 240.455.5451
AUGUST 9
Paint native flowers and learn about the many benefits of native plants on our ecosystems. Paint, brushes and canvases will be provided. Free. 5 to 7 p.m. Register at pgparksdirect.com. Riversdale House Museum, 4811 Riverdale Rd., Riverdale Park. 301.864.0420. riversdale@ pgparks.com
Library, 6530 Adelphi Rd. 240.455.5451
Have kayaking experience? Consider going on a Golden Hour Kayak Tour to explore the beautiful scenery of the Anacostia River. Ages 11+. $25 county residents, $33 nonresidents. 6:30 to 8 p.m. Register at pgparksdirect. com. Bladensburg Waterfront Park, 4601 Annapolis Rd., Bladensburg. 301.779.0371. BladensburgWP@pgparks.com
JULY 19
Proverbs Reggae Band headlines the first Hot Joe’s Summer Series ‘25, where you’ll also find other performers, craft and food vendors and hands-on art activities for kids. Pay-what-you-wish starting at $0. 5 to 8:30 p.m. Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Rd., Mt. Rainier. 301.699.1819. joesmovement. org
Rolling Stones cover band Shattered plays at Streetcar 82 Brewing Co. Free. 7 to 9 p.m. 4824 Rhode Island Ave. streetcar82brewing.com
JULY 26
As part of Route 1 Corridor Conversations, join health and fitness coach Wallace Merriman for his talk “It’s Summer! Time To Get Fit.” The discussion will focus on how to walk through the nutritional maze and make it safely to the other side. Attendees can join via telephone or Zoom. Free. 2 to 3:30 p.m. Register at hyattsvilleaginginplace.org/ events.
District Stereo performs at Streetcar 82 Brewing Co. Free. 7 to 9 p.m. 4824 Rhode Island Ave. streetcar82brewing.com
AUGUST 10
Join the Riversdale Kitchen Guild over the open hearth as they highlight cold soup recipes using 19th-century techniques. Free. Noon to 4 p.m. Register at pgparksdirect. com. Riversdale House Museum, 4811 Riverdale Rd., Riverdale Park. 301.864.0420. riversdale@pgparks.com
AUGUST 12
Do you want help navigating your options for Medicare coverage? Come to “Introduction to Medicare,” presented by the Department of Family Services State Health Insurance Assistance Program. 6 to 7:30 p.m. Register at pgcmls.info/ events. Hyattsville Branch Library, 6530 Adelphi Rd. 240.455.5451
AUGUST 13
The Taratibu Youth Association — an ensemble of young artists representing the performing arts of the African diaspora — performs “Taratibu! WAWA ABA: Toughness and Perseverance.” Recommended for ages 5 to 16. $6. Two performances: 10 to 10:45 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Purchase tickets through pgparksdirect.com. Publick Playhouse, 5445 Landover Rd., Cheverly. 301.277.1710. publickplayhouse@pgparks. com
THE CITY OF HYATTSVILLE
The Hyattsville Reporter
Issue 449 | July 2025
Hyattsville’s new Youth Advisory Council members! The swearing-in ceremony saw inspiring remarks from Mayor Robert Croslin, City Administrator Tracey Douglas, Councilmember Joanne Waszczak, and two members of the newly appointed Youth Council. | ¡Nuevos miembros del Consejo Asesor Juvenil de Hyattsville! En la ceremonia de juramento , el alcalde Robert Croslin, la administradora municipal Tracey Douglas, la concejala Joanne Waszczak y dos miembros del recién nombrado Consejo de la Juventud dieron un discurso inspirador.
Congratulations Youth Council!
Congratulations to our newly sworn in Youth Advisory Council members! These young leaders were selected to serve for a year term via a competitive application process. The committee members will meet monthly to advise City Council on issues of importance to our City’s youth. We are so excited to see where the year takes them!
Learn more at Hyattsville.org/YAC.
CLIMATE
ACTION PLAN: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The City has been awarded a grant to work on a Climate Action Plan in partnership with the University of Maryland this year. Volunteers are needed to participate in a Steering Committee for the project, kicking off in August. Learn more and express interest at hyattsville.org/enviro-education.
JULY SUMMER JAM: BACKYARD BBQ
Nothing says summer like coming together for a BBQ! Meet and have fun with your fellow Hyattsville residents at our “Backyard BBQ”-themed Summer Jam taking place on July 18 from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the City Building!
Come out and support some of your favorite local independent vendors while enjoying live music, tasty food, adult beverages, and much more!
Details at hyattsville.org/summerjam.
¡Felicitaciones Concejo Juvenil!
¡Felicitaciones a nuestros miembros recién juramentados del Concejo Asesor Juvenil! Estos jóvenes líderes fueron seleccionados para servir por un año a través de un proceso de solicitud competitivo. Los miembros del comité se reunirán mensualmente para asesorar al Concejo Municipal sobre temas de importancia para la juventud de nuestra Ciudad. ¡Estamos muy emocionados de ver adónde los lleva el año!
Obtenga más información en Hyattsville.org/YAC.
PLAN DE ACCIÓN CLIMÁTICA: SE NECESITAN VOLUNTARIOS
La ciudad ha recibido una subvención para trabajar en un Plan de Acción Climática este año. Se necesitan voluntarios para participar en el Comité Directivo del proyecto, que comenzará en agosto. Si está interesado o desea más información, visite hyattsville.org/enviro-education.
FIESTA DE VERANO: PARRILLADA EN EL PATIO
¡No hay nada mejor para el verano que una parrillada! Reúnete y diviértete con tus compañeros de Hyattsville en nuestra “Parrillada en el patio” que tendrá lugar el 18 de julio de 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. en el edificio municipal.
Ven y apoya a algunos de tus vendedores locales favoritos mientras disfrutas de música en vivo, sabrosa comida, bebidas para adultos y mucho más.
Más información en hyattsville.org/summerjam.
ANNOUNCEMENTS | ANUNCIOS
43RD AVENUE TRAFFIC CALMING FEEDBACK
We want to hear from you! Review proposed traffic calming measures for 43rd Avenue between Jefferson and Oglethorpe Streets and provide your feedback at HelloHyattsville.com until July 11.
HYATTSVILLE BACK2SCHOOL DRIVE
The City of Hyattsville, in partnership with Prince Hall Mason Lodge #139, is accepting donations of school supplies until August 15. Supplies may be delivered or dropped off inperson at the City Building, 4310 Gallatin St from M-F, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. For a list of suggested supplies, visit hyattsville. org/back2school.
NEW HOUSING LAWS AND RESOURCES
On July 1, 2025, Prince George’s County Permanent Rent Stabilization and Protection Act’s new rental increase rates take effect. The allowable rent increase from July 1, 2025 until June 30, 2026 is 5.7% for most apartments and 2.7% for regulated units in Age-Restricted Senior Housing Facilities. Also effective July 1, a new Maryland law requires landlords to attach the current Maryland Tenants’ Bill of Rights to every residential lease. This document summarizes the rights of tenants in the matters of rental applications, leases, condition of rental units, evictions, and more.
Find more information about housing and rental assistance resources at Hyattsville.org/assistance.
SUMMER TREE CARE REMINDERS
Take care of your trees in the summer weather! Find tree care tips and trainings at hyattsville.org/trees. A reminder that if you need to remove a tree on your property, the City requires a permit for trees 50” or more in circumference depending on their location. Illegal removal or destruction of a tree can be punishable by fines up to $1000 per tree.
SINGLE &
MULTI-FAMILY
RENTAL LICENSES
A reminder that all single and multi-family rental properties in the City must apply for an updated license annually. This includes rooms, basements, or whole properties rented through platforms like Airbnb or VRBO. License applications and more information is available at hyattsville.org/rentals.
ANTI-BURGLARY TIPS
The City has seen a rise in commercial and residential burglaries. To protect your property, consider installing security cameras and motion sensor lights, and keep sheds and garages padlocked. Follow Hyattsville Police on social media for more advice: hyattsville.org/stayconnected.
SUMMER IN THE FOOD FORESTS
It’s prime harvest season in the City’s Food Forests! The Emerson Street and McClanahan Food Forests are pesticide-free, planned gardens that are home to a variety of edible fruits, berries, nuts, and greens.
Anyone can come harvest! Find available items and anticipated harvest times at hyattsville.org/foodforest.
PACIFICACIÓN DEL TRÁFICO EN LA AVENIDA 43
¡Queremos escuchar su opinión! Revise las medidas de calmado de tráfico propuestas para la Avenida 43 entre Jefferson y Oglethorpe y comparta sus comentarios en HelloHyattsville.com hasta el 11 de julio.
CAMPAÑA DE SUMINISTROS ESCOLARES
La ciudad de Hyattsville, en colaboración con Prince Hall Mason Lodge #139, está aceptando donaciones de útiles escolares hasta el 15 de agosto. Los útiles se pueden entregar o dejar en persona en el edificio municipal, 4310 Gallatin St, de lunes a viernes, de 8:30 a.m. a 5 p.m. Para ver una lista de los útiles sugeridos, visite hyattsville. org/back2school.
NUEVAS LEYES Y RECURSOS DE VIVIENDA
El 1 de julio de 2025, entran en efecto las nuevas tasas de aumento de alquileres en la Estabilización de Alquileres del Condado de Prince George’s y la Acta de Protección Permanente de Alquileres. El aumento de alquiler permitido desde el 1 de julio de 2025 hasta el 30 de junio de 2026 es del 5.7% para la mayoría de los apartamentos y del 2.7% para las unidades reguladas para personas mayores con restricciones de edad. También efectivo el 1 de julio, una nueva ley de Maryland exige a los propietarios adjunten la última versión de la Declaración de Derechos de los Inquilinos de Maryland a cada contrato de alquiler de vivienda. Este documento resume importantes derechos de los inquilinos en materia de solicitudes de alquiler, contratos de alquiler, estado de las unidades de alquiler, desahucios, etc.
Encuentre más información sobre recursos de asistencia de vivienda y alquiler en Hyattsville.org/assistance.
CUIDADO DE LOS ÁRBOLES EN VERANO
¡Cuide sus árboles en verano! Encuentre consejos y cursos sobre el cuidado de los árboles en hyattsville.org/trees. Le recordamos que si necesita retirar un árbol de su propiedad, la Ciudad exige un permiso para los árboles de 50” o más de circunferencia, dependiendo de su ubicación. La eliminación o destrucción ilegal de un árbol puede ser penalizada con multas de hasta $1000 por árbol.
LICENCIAS DE ALQUILER UNIFAMILIARES Y MULTIFAMILIARES
Un recuerdo de que todas las propiedades de alquiler unifamiliares y multifamiliares en la Ciudad deben solicitar una licencia que se debe renovar cada año. Esto incluye habitaciones, sótanos o propiedades enteras alquiladas a través de plataformas como Airbnb o VRBO. La solicitud para obtener la licencia y más información están disponibles en hyattsville.org/rentals.
CONSEJOS CONTRA EL ROBO
La ciudad ha aumentado el número de robos en negocios comerciales y residencias. Para proteger su propiedad, considere instalar cámaras de seguridad y luces con sensor de movimiento, y mantenga los cobertizos y garajes cerrados con candado. Siga a la Policía de Hyattsville en redes sociales para obtener más consejos: hyattsville.org/stayconnected.
VERANO EN LOS BOSQUES DE ALIMENTARIOS
¡Los bosques de alimentos de la ciudad están en plena temporada de cosecha! Los bosques alimentarios de Emerson Street y McClanahan son jardines planificados sin pesticidas que ofrecen una gran variedad de frutas, bayas, nueces y verduras consumibles.
¡Cualquiera puede venir a cosechar! Encuentra los productos disponibles y las fechas previstas para la cosecha en hyattsville.org/foodforest.
CALENDAR | CALENDARIO
FREE ZUMBA CLASSES
Mondays & Wednesdays, 4 - 5 PM at the City Building!
SEATED EXERCISES
Older adults can join on Wednesdays, 10 - 11 AM. at the City Building. Register: hyattsville.org/seniors or 301-985-5000.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
The newly-formed audit committee is having it’s first meeting on Monday, July 7 at 6pm. More information at hyattsville.org/meetings.
CARE PARTNER SUPPORT GROUP
Meet with other caregivers on July 11 & 25, 9:30 - 10:45 AM at the City Building. Register: hyattsville.org/ calendar.
FREE PRODUCE DISTRIBUTION
Pick up bags of free produce on July 15, at the First United Methodist Church, 6201 Belcrest Rd., starting at noon.
CERT MEETING
Learn how to support emergency responders during disasters at the Gateway District CERT training on July 16, 6:30–8:30 PM, at the City Building. All are welcome! hyattsville.org/cert.
FREE NARCAN TRAININGS
Learn how to recognize an opioid overdose and safely administer NARCAN, a lifesaving drug used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, by attending our FREE community training on July 17 at 6:00 p.m. or July 18 at 10 a.m., at the City Building.
A Spanish language class will be offered on July 23 at 7 p.m. at St. Matthews Church. Registration is required at hyattsville.org/NARCAN.
JULY SUMMER JAM: BACKYARD BBQ
Meet and have fun with your fellow Hyattsville residents at our “Backyard BBQ”-themed Summer Jam taking place on July 18 from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the City Building! Details at hyattsville.org/summerjam.
INVASIVE REMOVAL & FOREST MAINTENANCE
Volunteer to remove invasive plants and help with forest maintenance at Driskell Park, 3911 Hamilton Street, Saturday, July 19 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.!
Student service learning hours are available. RSVP to environment@hyattsville.org to be notified of any weatherrelated cancellations.
TRAFFIC CALMING
MEETING: 42ND AVE.
Hyattsville community members are invited to a virtual meeting with the City’s Department of Public Works staff to discuss traffic calming strategies for the 5500 and 5600 blocks of 42nd Avenue (Ward 2) on July 21 at 6:30 p.m. More information at hyattsville.org/calendar.
RAIN GARDEN WORKSHOPS
The Neighborhood Design Center invites you to a series of rain garden workshops on July 22, 24, 29, and 30 to visit nearby gardens, learn about how they work, and how to help when they aren’t working. More information and register at hyattsville.org/ enviro-education.
BULK WASTE POP-UP
The next bulk waste pop-up day is on July 26, from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. or until containers reach capacity. Hyattsville residents can bring bulk trash to the dumpsters at 4633 Arundel Place for FREE! A list of acceptable items is available at hyattsville.org/bulk-waste.
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT
Save the date! Join the Hyattsville Police Department at National Night Out on August 5, 6 – 8 p.m., at Driskell Park, 3911 Hamilton Street. Come meet the HPD team and enjoy demonstrations, games, giveaways and more! Learn more about this free event at hyattsville.org/nno.
CLASES GRATUITAS DE ZUMBA
Lunes y miércoles, 4 - 5 PM en el Edificio Municipal!
EJERCICIOS SENTADOS
Los adultos mayores pueden unirse los miércoles, 10 - 11 AM. en el Edificio Municipal. Inscríbase: hyattsville.org/seniors o 301-985-5000.
COMITÉ DE AUDITORÍA
El recién formado comité de auditoría tendrá su primera reunión el lunes 7 de julio a las 6pm. Más información en hyattsville.org/meetings.
GRUPO DE APOYO PARA CUIDADORES
Reunirse con otros cuidadores en los días 11 y 25 de julio, de 9:30 - 10:45 AM en el Edificio Municipal. Inscríbase: hyattsville.org/ calendar.
DISTRIBUCIÓN DE ALIMENTOS GRATIS
Recoge bolsas de productos gratis el 15 de julio en mediodia, en el Primera Iglesia Metodista Unida, 6201 Belcrest Rd.
REUNION CERT
Obtenga habilidades para ayudar a los socorristas a salvar vidas y proteger lapropiedad en una emergencia en la reunión CERT del Distrito de Gateway el 16 de julio de 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., en el Edificio Municipal, 4310 Gallatin St. ¡Todos son bienvenidos a asistir! Para más información, visite hyattsville.org/cert.
ENTRENAMIENTO DE NARCAN GRATUITO
Aprenda a reconocer una sobredosis de opioides y a administrar de forma segura NARCAN, un medicamento que salva vidas y que se utiliza para revertir los efectos de una sobredosis de opioides, asistiendo a nuestra formación comunitaria GRATUITA el 17 de julio a las 6 p.m. o el 18 de julio a las 10 a.m., en el edificio municipal. Se ofrecerá una clase de idioma español el 23 de julio a las 7 p.m. en la Iglesia de San Mateo. Es necesario inscribirse en hyattsville.org/NARCAN.
FIEST DE VERANO: BARBACOA EN EL PATIO
Reúnete y diviértete con tus compañeros de Hyattsville en nuestra «Parrillada en el patio» que tendrá lugar el 18 de julio de 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. en el edificio municipal. Más información en hyattsville.org/summerjam.
ELIMINACION DE INVASORAS Y MANTENIMIENTO DE BOSQUES
¡Sea voluntario para eliminar plantas invasoras y dar mantenimiento al bosque en Driskell Park, 3911 Hamilton Street, sábado 19 de julio de 10 a.m. a 2 p.m.! Hay horas
de aprendizaje disponibles de servicio estudiantil. Confirme su asistencia con environment@hyattsville.org para recibir notificaciones sobre cualquier cancelación relacionada con el clima.
REUNIÓN SOBRE MODERACIÓN DEL TRÁFICO AVENIDA 42
Los miembros de la comunidad de Hyattsville están invitados a una reunión virtual con el personal del Departamento de Obras Públicas de la Ciudad a discutir estrategias para moderar el tráfico en las cuadras 5500 y 5600 de la 42nd Avenue (Distrito 2) el 21 de julio a las 6:30 p.m. Más información en hyattsville.org/ calendar.
TALLERES SOBRE JARDINES DE LLUVIA
El Centro de Diseño de Vecindarios le invita a una serie de talleres sobre jardines de lluvia los días 22, 24, 29 y 30 de julio para visitar jardines cercanos, aprender cómo funcionan y cómo ayudar cuando están fallando. Más información e inscripciones en hyattsville.org/enviroeducation.
DÍA DE RECOGIDA DE DESECHOS GRANDES
El próximo día de recogida de basuras grandes es el 26 de julio, de 10 AM - 1 PM o hasta que los basureros alcancen su capacidad. Los residentes de Hyattsville pueden llevar su basura grande a los basureros de 4633 Arundel Place ¡GRATIS! La lista de artículos aceptables está disponible en hyattsville.org/ bulk-waste.
NOCHE NACIONAL CONTRA EL CRIMEN
¡Reserve la fecha! Únase al Departamento de Policía de Hyattsville en la Noche Nacional de Acción el 5 de agosto, de 6 a 8 p.m., en el Parque Driskell, 3911 Hamilton Street. ¡Venga a conocer al equipo del HPD y disfrute de demostraciones, juegos, regalos y mucho más! Obtenga más información sobre este evento gratuito en hyattsville.org/nno.
HIGHLIGHTS | LO DESTACADO
Summer Fun in Hyattsville! We have so much happening! From left to right: Two teen center members visit the College Park Aviation museum on an intergenerational trip. Trolley Trail Day festivities brought out over 4,000 people and over 95 businesses and organizations. Hyattsville Summer Camp participants visit the National Aquarium in Baltimore. | ¡Diversión de verano en Hyattsville! ¡Tenemos mucho sucediendo! De izquierda a derecha: Dos miembros del centro de adolescentes visitan el museo de aviación College Park en un viaje intergeneracional. Los festividades del Día del Tranvía reunieron a más de 4,000 personas y a más de 95 empresas y organizaciones. Los participantes en el campamento de verano de Hyattsville visitan el Acuario Nacional de Baltimore.
MISS FLORIBUNDA
A persistently prickly problem
Dear Miss Floribunda,
Several of my rose bushes have gotten RRD (Rose Rosette Disease), and I have dug them up and put them in black plastic bags for trash pickup just as you’ve previously advised. I’m worried that I have recognized its tell-tale thorny witch’s broom distortions on rose bushes in other gardens throughout Hyattsville and Riverdale Park. I have left notes of warning at homes where I’ve seen the diseased bushes, but nothing has been done. I worry that there could be a real epidemic, and my own garden could be decimated.
Perhaps you can again warn people how serious it is to ignore the signs of this disease. Also, do you know if any progress has been made towards discovering a cure?
On the Thorns of a Dilemma on Decatur Street
Dear On the Thorns,
First the good news: The Potomac Rose Society (PRS) has on its website (potomacrose.org/Rose-Care) both a flyer and a detailed letter you can download, print and distribute. Thanks to the prestige of the PRS logo, the flyer might be more effective than a handwritten note from a stranger, and the letter would give both explanation and instruction.
Now for the bad news: Although assiduous research is ongoing, there is still no effective cure for RRD, or Rose Rosette Disease. It’s a virus (Emaravirus rosae) carried by a microscopic eriophyid mite (Phyllocoptes fructiphilus), introduced into the country by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the 1930s to control invasive multiflora roses. The multiflora rose was imported into the U.S. from Asia in the 1860s for use as a root stock and as a fence around pastures. It soon invaded pastures and even forests, creating a thorny mess that prevented grazing, while also eliminating native species wherever it spread.
The RRD virus was effective in destroying the multiflora rose, and wasn’t supposed to affect any other rose — but, of course, it most certainly does. Because the RRD virus’s vector is windborne, by 1994 rose bushes on the East Coast and as far south as Tennessee were its victims.
My Cousin Moribunda, whose obsession is plant pathology, af-
firms that afflicted rose bushes live only a few years after being infected, though they may continue to flower. She is aware that some experts, such as my friend in the American Rose Society, Citizen Cane, believe that pruning the canes down to the ground and destroying them is sufficient to stop the spread of the disease and to allow the plant to recover. Moribunda very much disagrees. She even advises you not to plant another rose bush in the site of the diseased one for at least two years, for fear of infection from the soil.
I notice that the PRS letter referred to earlier, however, refutes this opinion, while giving instructions for disposing of the bush rather than composting it. Personally, I think it is simply prudent to wait a year or so before replanting with another rose. To guard against developing a monoculture that invites disease, you might replace it with one of many companion plants that benefit roses.
I asked Citizen Cane for a progress report on RRD prevention or cures. He told me of a number of active research programs — the earliest begun by the University of Tennessee in the 1990s, later joined by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Service, with funding from the American Rose Association.
The USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative funds the resolutely diligent Sustainable Roses project, which was established following the industry-wide Rose Rosette Summit of 2013, organized by Star Roses and Plants and the Garden Rose Council.
Scientists are not only trying to find cures but also to develop roses resistant to the disease. Intensive study has begun of our own native roses, which are immune to, or only mildly affected by, the disease, and cross-breeding may result in some wonderful new roses.
Our native roses are very lovely, though their blooming season is short, and they come only in various shades of pink and white. Personally, I treasure my Virginia rose (Rosa virginiana) because of its sweet fragrance, and my swamp rose (Rosa palustris) because it thrives in shade — something remarkable in a rose.
Other native roses include the Carolina rose (Rosa carolina), which is notably fragrant; the early wild rose (Rosa blanda), which is thornless; and the Woods’ rose (Rosa woodsii), which has attractive red hips in fall.
In the past, Citizen Cane advised applying miticides to rose
bushes in the spring, but now he admits they are ineffective and has switched to spraying a light horticultural oil on his rose bushes in March as a preventative. He tells me that RRD attacks are most likely in spring on early growth. Frequent rain also abets the virus.
Citizen Cane also notes that chemical pesticides can blow into your yard and cause a certain amount of distortion of new growth on your roses that mimics RRD. Alarmed gardeners should wait a bit to be sure that the twisted and thorny "witch’s broom," with its redveined leaves, has developed.
Any damage caused by pesticides should go away, while RRD damage gets even uglier. To discuss this and other gardening concerns, perhaps you’d like to come to the next meeting of the Hyattsville Horticultural Society on Saturday, July 19 at 10 a.m. in the multipurpose room of the city municipal building (4310 Gallatin Street).
Miss Floribunda writes about gardening for the Life & Times. You may email her at Floribundav@ gmail.com.
There is still no effective cure for Rose Rosette Disease. COURTESY OF JEAN SMITH
New Youth Advisory Council members speak up for the future of Hyattsville
By DEJA JONES
When Litzy Velasquez applied to the Hyattsville Youth Advisory Council (YAC), she wasn’t just trying to check a box for community service. She wanted to speak up for people her age and make sure youth voices are taken seriously.
“Despite our age or despite our diversity, I think being an advocate could really impact not only our city but other regions,” Velasquez — who attends College Park Academy — said. “Adults might not take into consideration [community issues], but us as youth, we see like, ‘Oh, that’s really an issue that needs to be addressed.’”
On June 12, the City of Hyattsville officially inducted 10 new members into the YAC, a volunteer council made up of local teens who are passionate about civic involvement, advocacy and change. Members serve as youth liaisons to city leadership, providing input on policies that affect young people. According to a city website, the YAC is
designed to review and propose legislative items and make recommendations for the mayor and city council to consider.
To be considered for the YAC, applicants must first participate in the Hyattsville Teen Center’s youth leadership program. The afterschool program includes weekly workshops focused on public speaking, policy education, job readiness and local government. After successfully completing the program, candidates complete a written application, submit essays, and go through a formal interview process.
“It [the YAC application process] started with reflecting on what my responsibility as a YAC member would look like, how to properly advocate, and even small things like how to dress for certain occasions,” said new inductee Diana Alvarez, who attends Prince George’s Community College. “We had mock interviews, which helped me a lot and helped us prepare to be professional.”
Christopher Jimenez, now
To be considered for the YAC, applicants must first participate in the Hyattsville Teen Center’s youth leadership program. The after-school program includes weekly workshops focused on public speaking, policy education, job readiness and local government.
in his third year with the leadership program, said skills he learned in the program helped him grow not just as a leader, but as a person. “You’ll be able to speak up for the youth … or if you want, everybody in the city as a whole,” he said. “YAC is pretty much an open gate to a bunch of opportunities.”
As part of the application, students were required to write two essays. The first prompt asked them to describe why Hyattsville was special to them. The second gave a choice between several questions related to current issues in the city, such as what situation most concerned them and why they felt motivated to advocate for it. The goal, students said, was to reflect their leadership potential and commitment to their community.
Even though the interview process was competitive, the students said it felt surprisingly supportive. Velasquez stated that the interview preparation increased her confidence. “We already had a mock interview … that re-
ally helped guide us on some of the stuff we're expected to see in the real thing,” she said. As part of the leadership program, participants volunteer in various city efforts. This year, they helped lead voter registration drives for Hyattsville teens 16 and up, who are eligible to vote in city elections. “We had a goal in outreaching more to youth,” Velasquez said.
The new YAC inductees also pushed for harm reduction initiatives, like Narcan training, and participated in city cleanup events for the Hyattsville community. Over the summer, many YAC members are now working as camp coaches through the city's camp coach in training, or CCIT, program, in which they mentor younger students and lead activities that promote academic skills and positive habits.
One highlight of their work in the leadership program so far has been attending the National League of Cities Conference, where they connected with other young leaders from across the country. “We were able to create a network with other youth leaders and see how we are actually being heard and we’re not just there,” Alvarez said. “It was very inspiring.” Jimenez said the experience of participating in the youth leadership program made him think about his future. “It encouraged me to see the process of how a bill or a certain act works,” he said. “Maybe I’ll run for ward representative or councilmember.”
When asked what advice they’d give to other teens considering applying to become a YAC member, the answer came fast.
Velasquez said, “You become a positive change. You bring in new ideas, help solve issues, and become a leader.”
Alvarez agreed, noting how much YAC members get to collaborate with adults in positions of power.
As the new term begins, the students say they’re focused on continuing to bring energy, fresh ideas, and a youth perspective to city government.
“We’re able to have intel on what issues we see and concerns we see as youth that maybe adults might not see as a concern,” Velasquez said. “That awareness could help impact our city in a positive way.”
Deja
Jones is an undergraduate journalism major at the University of Maryland.
going forward is to try to make sure that if the city decides to purchase the land, we get the best price possible in terms of our negotiation. From what I'm hearing, almost everyone wants to somehow use that to the benefit of the community, be it expanding Driskell Park or for some other type of public enjoyment or public use. The one thing most city councilmembers wanted to prevent, though, was the continued development in that flood plain area, and I think that’s probably a wise decision.
L&T: Do you see the city taking on a role in building more affordable housing?
Barnes: I think it's really important and something that the majority of councilmembers are interested in working on. Right now, there's a pilot project that folks are already talking about in the City of Hyattsville, as well as in the state assembly and Prince George's County. They’re changing the laws to allow for accessory dwelling units, so that will also create an opportunity for
people to use either lowerlevel basements or even some type of carriage houses. The rules haven't been developed yet, but that should also allow for more housing within the city. And Councilmember Danny Schaible (Ward 2) has been talking about rent stabilization and looking at proposals, which I assume will come before the city council within the next 12 months, that we'll have to weigh in on. So I think there's a couple of different ways to get at the problem.
L&T: What are the biggest issues in Hyattsville?
Barnes: Hyattsville is increasingly becoming a more expensive place for residents to live. We need to come up with solutions to address that. The development is really great, and I love the fact that we are bringing more housing online. We need to make sure that we have the type of infrastructure in the city that can support that type of development. One of the concerns that I campaigned on is making sure that our streets are not overly congested, and that we don't endanger pedestrian safety.
GOPI DHOKAI (WARD 3)
L&T: What inspired you to run for city council?
Dhokai: I moved to Hyattsville about two years ago, and I've been familiar with the community for a while. I grew up in Maryland and went to the University of Maryland for undergrad, and then I was in Boston for several years in between, but moving back into Hyattsville, there are so many changes coming up in the area, especially in Ward 3. I'm in a neighborhood that's a new construction, and I think there's a lot of community enhancements that are going on right now in Ward 3, with the metro, with the community center, just with updates to the roads and every-
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thing. And so when I saw that Jimmy had stepped down from his seat, I thought that it was a great opportunity to take more of a leadership role in the community and do what I can to advocate for our neighbors.
L&T: What would you like to address early on in your council tenure?
Dhokai: I think two of the biggest things that I was hearing from constituents and residents while I was door knocking were concerns around safety and communication. As Hyattsville increases in density, especially in Ward 3, I think there's been a lot of concerns about how we're just going to keep everybody safe. Making sure that we are proposing things around the realm of street lights, safe crosswalks, speed bumps. Making sure that people feel safe walking around, daytime, nighttime, no matter what mode of transportation that they're using — that's something that's really important to me.
L&T: How should the city address budgetary concerns?
Dhokai: One thing that I'm really looking forward to in the next four years in terms of us getting a better handle on the budget is actually catching up with the audits, which will allow the city to see if our city debt can be refinanced. Because when a lot of people are looking at the budget, there’s, “How much are we spending?” But then there's also, “How much do we need to have in reserves for the city to operate, and how much do we have to have to be able to pay that ongoing debt?” If you're thinking about personal finances, the first rule of thumb is you always reduce your debt.
L&T: What are your thoughts on the city’s purchase of the lower parcel?
Dhokai: I'm a huge supporter of keeping it a green space and
having that opportunity to extend the park. Because as we're having these conversations about all this development, the issues of rainwater runoff and stormwater and just how do we keep the ecosystem of Hyattsville safe — because we are in a flood zone — how do we balance this idea of developing and making sure that we have enough housing with making sure that we’re not we're not underwater in a few years?
L&T: Do you see the city taking on a role in building more affordable housing?
Dhokai: I think the city absolutely has to have a role in it, especially to make sure that residents' needs are being addressed, that concerns are being brought up. I know some of these projects have gotten proposed for affordable housing. How is it going to impact the current neighborhood? How is parking going to become involved into that plan? All of those factors have to be figured out. And I think the city is set up, and we have the resources.
L&T: What are the biggest issues in Hyattsville?
Dhokai: Safety is, to me, the biggest thing. Hyattsville is becoming a spot that more and more people want to move into. We have two metro stops, there’s a mall, there’s the Arts District. There are constantly new restaurants that are coming in. There are these housing developments that are coming in. And just making sure that everybody is able to live their best life, for lack of a better description. I want to make sure that people who are moving into Hyattsville and calling it their home can be able to utilize the space the same way that people have been for the last 20 to 30 years.
Zephan Matteson is an undergraduate journalism major at the University of Maryland.
Gopi Dhokai COURTESY OF GOPI DHOKAI
SENIORS
like its annual valentine-making party; and publicizing events and keeping HAP up and running.
The county library system has volunteers help with library and office work, as well as with computers and with programming like storytimes, puppet theatres and special events. Visit the Hyattsville Branch Library, on Adelphi Road, and ask to speak to the volunteer coordinator.
Go to hyattsville.org/volunteer or call 301.985.5000 to explore volunteer opportunities afforded by the City of Hyattsville, including tutoring and mentoring, helping with community events, partaking in neighborhood cleanups, protecting city trees by removing invasive vines, and distributing diapers and food.
Volunteer opportunities for food distribution abound. The city’s free produce distribution occurs on the third Tuesday of each month, at the First United Methodist Church, on Belcrest Road. St. Mark’s food pantry (stmarkhyattsville.org/st-marks-foodpantry), on Adelphi Road, distributes food every Tuesday. St. Jerome’s Café (stjeromes.org/st-jeromes-cafe), on 43rd Avenue, serves lunch to those in need every Thursday.
Meals on Wheels (mealsonwheelsofcollegepark.org/volunteer) delivers daily meals to homebound seniors. They moved out of College Park to the Elks Lodge building on Kenilworth Avenue in Riverdale Park in 2021. (If you or a loved one needs meals delivered, sign up at mealsonwheelsofcollegepark.org/ signup to be put on the organization’s waiting list.)
REWILDING
and foraging ants. In return for the sugar, the stinging and biting diners protect the plant from herbivores that otherwise would snack on the buds and flowers. (To see ants clustering around trumpet creeper buds, go to tinyurl.com/2kac2f3a.)
Robbers lurk in the lianas, too. Orchard orioles, Icterus spurius, bypass the tube entirely and stab the trumpet creeper flower directly at its base with sharp, pointed bills. These orioles, small brick-red and black cousins of the Baltimore oriole (Icterus galbula), favor the same brushy landscapes as trumpet creepers, and filched nectar can form a big
Among other activities and opportunities, Hyattsville Aging in Place holds an annual valentinemaking party in February. FILE PHOTO/
part of their summer diet without any benefit to the plant.
Trumpet creeper goes by a number of other common names, as befits such a large, showy plant. Trumpet vine is one of them, as is hummingbird vine. One of the strangest common names is cowitch, but chemistry explains why: The leaves contain a cocktail of toxins that causes contact dermatitis, similar to that produced by poison ivy, in some people. Still, I’m sold on the aesthetic and wildlife value of trumpet creeper, despite the need for constant vigilance and effort to keep it in bounds in my yard. For me, those bright orange trumpets play a fanfare of their own to herald the height of summer.
Rick Borchelt is a local botanist and science writer who gardens and writes about natural history. Reach him with questions about this column at rborchelt@gmail. com.
SHOOTING
a renowned chef who owns and operates two restaurants in Hyattsville — Huncho House and 1123 by Chef Tobias.
The shooting happened around 10 p.m. on Nov. 5, 2024, in the 2500 block of Kirkwood Place, where Dorzon and a woman were returning home from dinner, according to Hyattsville police. Chief Jarod Towers said four suspects got out of a vehicle driven by a fifth suspect and opened fire on Dorzon and the woman, shooting off dozens of rounds.
Then, the group approached Dorzon and stole items from him, including an $80,000 Audemars Piguet watch, a $15,000 diamond necklace, an iPhone, an Apple watch and a black Louis Vuitton bag with $2,000 cash inside, according to charging documents.
Both Dorzon and the woman survived, but both were hospitalized with serious injuries.
Following the shooting, Towers called it a “tragic, heinous, violent offense.”
Spivey is charged with attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, firstdegree assault, armed robbery
and stalking.
According to charging documents, Spivey’s phone places him in the area where Dorzon was having dinner before the shooting and at the scene of the shooting, as well as in the location where the vehicle used in the shooting was abandoned.
In a post on Instagram, Dorzon said, “There’s no training for getting shot. No script for learning how to live with it. I’m still figuring out how to feel. Still learning how to breathe in this new version of my life.”
“But I’m still here. Still standing. Still cooking. Still chasing greatness. And I’m not stopping,” he added.
“This arrest is a crucial step toward justice for the victims and safety for our community,” Towers said in a news release. “Our officers worked tirelessly alongside our law enforcement partners to identify and apprehend the suspect. We hope this provides some relief to the victims and everyone involved.”
Hyattsville police had not announced any other arrests in the case, as of press time.
This article was republished with permission from our news partner WTOP.News.
Ants collecting sweet liquid from extrafloral nectaries on trumpet creeper buds RICK BORCHELT
SYDNEY CLARK
County, “affordable” housing means occupants pay no more than 30% of their total income toward housing costs.
These 579 units across five apartment communities are both income- and rent-restricted.
An additional portion of the city’s stock consists of older, lower-rent properties known as “naturally occurring affordable housing,” which lack formal protections, leaving them vulnerable to rent increases, especially as nearby areas grow and get more expensive.
“The lack of affordable rental housing is one of the most acute needs in the city,” Cristeal said, referencing the 2021 Hyattsville Housing Action Agenda, which outlines short- and long-term strategies for the next decade.
“About half of the city’s renters are ‘cost-burdened,’ spending more than 30% of their income on rent, and nearly one in five are ‘severely burdened,’ spending over half their income,” he explained.
Nearly nine out of 10 renters earning less than $50,000 a year fall into the cost-burdened category, he added. At the same time, rentals continue to get more expensive. New apartment complexes, such as The Six, Sovren and Canvas, list rents between $1,700 for a studio and nearly $3,900 for three-bedroom units.
(For a monthly rent of $1,700 to be considered affordable by the county's definition, the household would need to earn at least $68,000 a year; for $3,900 a month, at least $156,000 a year.)
City Councilmember Danny Schaible (Ward 2) said rising housing costs are outpacing wages, and that this mismatch is fueling the housing crisis’s fire.
“I think the fact that the cost of housing is increasing at a rate that’s above and beyond people’s income is at the root of the issue,” Schaible told the Life & Times. “Ideally, you’d want some sort of parity between the two.” While new developments
may advertise affordability, Cristeal says it depends on a household’s income. Sovren apartments, located near the West Hyattsville Metro station, opened in April of this year and advertise a number of its units as affordable.
“[Their prices] suffice for households earning more than $75,000 a year looking for a new apartment near a Metrorail stop,” Cristeal said in an email.
But for lower-income households?
“It does not suffice for oneperson households earning less than $75,000 a year or four-person households earning less than $110,000 a year,” Cristeal added.
The Sovren apartment project received support from the Amazon Housing Equity Fund after Amazon established its second headquarters, known as HQ2, in the D.C. metro region. Schaible said the grant was “a gesture of goodwill,” and Sovren “applied, ultimately being given some funds to offset project costs.”
The specifics around Area Median Income (AMI) thresholds — which determine who qualifies for lower-income housing — depend on a mix of federal and county-level guidelines.
AMI is the middle point of what households in a region earn — half make more, and half make less. People earning less than 30% of the AMI are considered “extremely low income,” while
those earning 31–50% are “very low income” and those earning 51–80% are “low income.”
Alexis Yeoman, Prince George’s County public information officer and legislative liaison for the Department of Housing and Community Development, explained that while the county doesn’t calculate AMI, it follows federal methodologies depending on the funding source.
“The [Sovren] project’s listed limits align with the county’s preferences for housing affordability,” Yeoman wrote in an email. “Sovren’s website shows the threshold for maximum income per family size per unit; however, prospective tenants may make up to that amount in annual income. The amount listed is not a required floor; it’s the ceiling.” In other words, applicants don’t have to earn a certain minimum amount to qualify; they just can’t exceed the maximum income limit for their household size.
While Sovren fits the needs of tenants in the 60–80% AMI range, it doesn’t help those in lower income brackets, especially people earning 30% or less of the median income. For many Hyattsville residents,
Sovren remains out of reach, according to Cristeal.
A church-led initiative, however, may offer a different solution.
The Sanctuary at Hyattsville Crossing is an affordable housing project planned for a 20-acre parcel, owned by the First United Methodist Church of Hyattsville, near the intersection of EastWest Highway and Queen’s Chapel. The church and city hope to create a rental community dedicated to low-income and unhoused residents. Schaible said the site is expected to offer about 120 affordable units with a mix of housing types, including 10 transitional units for individuals experiencing homelessness; 30 “deeply affordable” one-bedroom units, priced at around $300 to $400 per month; and dedicated low-income senior housing.
“This is an initiative that’s near and dear to the heart of our mayor,” Schaible said. “So the mayor of Hyattsville has been very supportive of this, and the City of Hyattsville has supported it, and also we have offered our own tax abatement.”
The city plans to make the project financially feasible by returning 75% of the property taxes collected from the site
back to the property owner.
Schaible said the roots of Hyattsville’s affordable housing crisis go back to the Great Recession in 2007: During that time, many residential developers went out of business or left the industry entirely, which led to a slowdown in housing construction that the area is still feeling today.
Schiable said that, even now, the county’s ability to expand its housing options is still being held back — this time by restrictive zoning laws.
“Zoning is a part of that problem,” Schiable said. “A lot of potential development is precluded because zoning regulations don't allow it, and it also makes it cumbersome and burdensome to develop if you want to get into that space, too. ”
In response, city officials have adopted an “Affordable Housing Strategy,” with the original 2021 housing action agenda forming one phase of the effort. The strategy focuses on four key actions: establishing a local housing fund, using public land to support development, introducing rent regulations — including rent stabilization efforts championed by councilmembers like Schaible — and expanding tenant protections.
Still, Cristeal noted, “The city has more control over the supply rather than [the] demand part of the housing problem.”
As D.C. continues to grow and housing prices rise, more affluent residents are moving into nearby areas like Prince George’s County. This influx puts pressure on cities like Hyattsville, which now faces a crossroad: continue catering to incoming higher earners, or build affordable homes for longtime and low-income residents to stay.
Jade Tran is an undergraduate journalism student at the University of Maryland.
*carryout orders are stopped 30 minutes before close @franklinsbrewery Ice Cream Store coming 2025! Stay tuned!
City Councilmember Danny Schaible (Ward 2) said rising housing costs are outpacing wages, and that this mismatch is fueling the housing crisis’s fire. PEXELS
15 years, has supported the historical preservation of the lodge. Kulp proposes a twophase redevelopment plan, keeping the historic exterior, restoring it, and redeveloping the interior into eight apartments and 1,700 square feet of retail space. Five additional townhouses on the adjoining parking lot are planned for phase two.
The retail space will be in the lodge’s former ballroom, which has 16-foot ceilings. Kulp hosted a neighborhood dance party there this spring. She is currently donating storage space in the building to Welcome Home Neighbor, a grassroots Hyattsville organization that furnishes families moving out of shelters.
At the May 19 Hyattsville City Council meeting, some residents opposed the project’s second phase, which calls for the development of five townhouses on the 14-space parking lot. Kulp claimed that the phase two development is essential for the financial feasibility of the entire redevelopment.
Some residents are worried about the loss of parking, however. About 50 residents signed
a petition opposing the development of the parking lot.
Resident Jessica Taylor said that, after the reopening of King Park, she has seen an increase in traffic in the area, which also includes Hyattsville Elementary School and St. Jerome Academy.
“Eventually there will be retail and at least eight people living there, and they are all going to need parking,” Taylor said.
Kulp shared a required traffic study with the Life & Times,
which shows minimal additional traffic from the first phase of the development, as well as a parking memo that details public parking options near the lodge. In an interview, Kulp said she anticipated the lodge redevelopment would attract tenants who were looking for a walkable lifestyle, and might not have cars. She said she planned ample bike storage. She also said townhouses would have their
own onsite parking.
At the May 19 meeting, Hyattsville resident Janet Griffin said, “It’s an important part of the city, and residents are excited about what could come into the lodge, but are concerned about ... the proposal for redeveloping the parking lot associated with the lodge into five four-story townhomes.” She asked the council to think carefully about the parking.
The city council voted to
support redevelopment of the lodge building, and requested consideration of a bike rack and public art, along with the right to consult on plans for the redevelopment of the adjoining parking lot.
As Hyattsville continues to grow and evolve, the Masonic lodge redevelopment could be a case study in finding a solution that satisfies both the financial needs of the project and the community’s desires.
The former Masonic lodge meeting room, which will be converted into apartments COURTESY OF KAYLEIGH KULP
