May 2016 Hyattsville Life & Times

May 2016Hyattsville’s Community NewspaperVol. 13 No. 5

Life&Times

May 2016Hyattsville’s Community NewspaperVol. 13 No. 5

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CENTER SECTION: MAY 11, 2016 ISSUE OF THE HYATTSVILLE REPORTER — IN ESPANOL TOO!

Special election guide: meet the Ward 5 candidates. Page X.

GOING TO MARKETGo behind-the-scenes at the Hyattsville Farmers Market. P. 6

HISTORIC HOMES TOURHistoric Hyattsville House Tour returns. P. 8

TECHED OUTDonors help teacher raise over $1,500 for new tech project. P. 11

By Kit Slack

Have you ever been in Magruder Park on a peaceful summer eve-ning, say at a soccer game, and thought, “� at’s funny! How can I have been si� ing here for half an hour, and only had to kill two mosquitoes? If I sit on my porch at home, I get 10 bites in 30 seconds!”

We don’t see as many mos-quitoes in the park partly for the same reason we don’t see rats, house� ies, or ki� ens. Tiger mosquitoes, the black and white mosquitoes that typically plague Hya� sville residents, breed best near homes. “Peridomestic” is the word used by Daniel Scham-berger, acting program manager of the Maryland Mosquito Con-trol Administration.

“People call us because they are concerned about ditches, ponds, or wet areas in woods,” said Schamberger, “but tiger mos-quitoes don’t breed there, they breed in containers.” Originally, tiger mosquitoes, native to Asia, bred in bamboo stalks and in trees, rather than in marshes.

“� e worst thing that happened to suburbia,” said Jeanine Doro-thy, Prince George’s County su-

� ey’re back... with Zika?! Mosquito control in the season ahead

MOSQUITOES continued on page 12

Major changes on the way for Mall at Prince GeorgesBy Maria D. James

Big changes are underway for the Mall at Prince Georges. � e mall will soon welcome an array of new tenants, including clothing retailer H&M.

Shoppers who walk through the mall and pass by the Payless ShoeSource will come across a large tan wall—the location of the 20,000-square-foot store, which is expected

to open this fall. According to the H&M corporate o� ce, the

new location will “o� er Hya� sville residents a one-stop shopping destination for quality clothing for the whole family, with collec-tions for ladies and men, as well as separate ‘store within a store’ sections for accessories.” � e store will also carry a children’s collec-tion for newborns up through teens.

Maryland is a growing market for the H&M

brand; the corporate o� ce plans to open 10 locations throughout the state.

� e addition of H&M is just one of many changes to the Mall at Prince Georges. On April 22, mall owner Pennsylvania Real Es-tate Investment Trust (PREIT) announced it would invest $25 million into a total overhaul of the mall. By next year, shoppers will see

MALL continued on page 12

New art supply store brings color to the communityBy Lindsay Myers

You don’t need to be an artist to appreci-ate the zany new art supply store at 4902 43rd Avenue, Artist & Cra� sman Sup-ply. One visit will leave you itching to � ip open your high school sketchbook.

Tightly packed shelves of silly socks, windup toys, and puzzles crowd the en-tryway. � e entire le� -hand wall is cov-ered in multicolored reams of pressed paper 12 feet high. In fact, color is ev-erywhere. � e concrete walls and � oors are covered in messy swirls of every slice on the color wheel. It is a bit like walk-ing into a tie-dye tee shirt, or be� er yet, as local customer Donna Compton de-scribed, “It’s like walking into a rainbow.”

� e Hya� sville branch of Artist & Cra� sman Supply opened on April 1, and has been making quite the splash on social media. Store manager James

Wine confessed that he has not had to do much in the way of advertising.

“So many people have been sharing photos on Facebook, and since I haven’t really le� the store since I got here, it’s been a blessing,” said Wine.

� e store is certainly photo-worthy. Lining the shelves are hundreds of � ne art and general cra� supplies, as well as a treasure trove of funky gadgets and toys. � e store carries everything from oil paints and papier-mâché to skeins of yarn and windup dolls. Wine said the diverse inventory is what sets Artist & Cra� sman Supply apart from other art supply stores. Places like Michaels or Jo-Ann Fabrics and Cra� s, Wine said, usually carry inventory heavy on the cra� end and do not o� er individualized customer service, making it di� cult for

ARTS continued on page 13

LINDSAY MYERSArtist & Craftsman Manager, James Wine, stands beside the store's huge selection of handmade paper.

Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2016

A community newspaper chronicling the

life and times of Hyattsville

Mailing address: PO Box 132, Hyattsville, MD 20781

http://HyattsvilleLife.com

http://facebook.com/HyattsvilleLife

http://twitter.com/HvilleTimes

Hyattsville Life & Times is published monthly by Hyattsville Community Newspaper, Inc., a 501c(3) nonpro� t corporation. Editors welcome reader

input, tips, articles, letters, opinion pieces and photographs, which may be submitted using the mailing ad-dress above or the email addresses

below.

Editor and Web ManagerRebecca Bennett

[email protected]

Managing EditorMaria D. James

[email protected]

EditorsMark Goodson

ProductionAshley Perks

Copy EditorsSean Bennett

Heather Wright

[email protected]

301.531.5234Writers & Contributors

Fred Seitz, Julia Gasper-Bates, Kit Slack, Krissi Humbard,

LaShon Bland, Lindsay Myers, Susan Hines

Board of Directors Joseph Gigliotti - President and

General Counsel Chris Currie - Vice President

Caroline Selle - SecretaryPeggy Dee, Karen J. Riley, Rosanna Landis Weaver,

Gretchen Brodtman, Debra Franklin, T. Carter RossRebecca Bennett - Ex O� cioMaria D. James - Ex O� cio

Circulation: Copies are distrib-uted 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.

MyTwoCents

By Dan Muth

Living in Hya� sville has been described as small-town living in the heart of the big city. To some extent this is true. We fraternize with our neighbors, exchange baby clothes, and mingle on the streets, in the café, or at any num-ber of city- and community-spon-sored events. It might be said, without too much cynicism, that we care about each other. And I think that’s fairly accurate as well.

But it’s impossible not to notice that the relative size and interac-

On community building and local public educationtivity of the community is largely dependent on a few notable demo-graphics that tend to break up “we are Hya� sville” into a small fraction of the whole. In short, “we” comes with a set of implied and invisible barriers that tend to segregate the community in a manner that proxi-mal living does not alleviate.

� is is less of an indictment of Hya� sville and more a canon of sociology. Like tends to search out like, so while many of us value the diversity in town, in the end, we fail to explore what that means beyond maintaining a relatively OK a� i-tude toward it. Di� erences of race, religion, education and language are di� cult to bridge. Exploring beyond our predispositions be-comes inconvenient, and we are busy people living busy lives. So we form our own community within the community and then blithely

proclaim that we are Hya� sville. I say this as a dad who has been

confronted by a dizzying array of educational choices for my almost 5-year-old son. Going further, I’m a dad from a small Midwestern town where there was one public school and everyone went to it. And it’s from this vantage point that I’ve come to see the pull of school choice as detrimental to deeper and more meaningful community building within Hya� sville.

A heady accusation to be sure. So while I realize the anxiety of cra� ing a child’s college resume seems to be occurring prenatally these days, the truth is the advan-tages we are trying to carve out for our children are ultimately up to them. � e most important cor-relations between children and academic success are related to parental involvement rather than

school curriculum. � e separa-tion of kids based on question-able testing has been shown to be detrimental to the educational outcomes of all kids, whether they are precocious or late-to-develop. And through all the increasingly maddening specialization, a 2013 report by the Economic Policy In-stitute found that schools are now more segregated than they were 40 years ago.

Beyond this, there is more to be learned at school than what is found in a textbook. � ere are les-sons on society, fairness, justice, class, and one’s place within the world. � ere are lessons on com-munity and what the full expres-sion of that can and should be. � ere are also lessons on empathy and inclusivity. I’m reminded of that every time I go home and can’t pass a car that doesn’t have the lo-

cal school bumper sticker — that ultimate expression of “we.”

Schools are the nexus of vibrant and interactive communities. As our children play together and learn together, they develop their own commonalities. As parents shu� le kids to playdates and soc-cer games and school activities, they develop their own com-monalities too. Local schools provide the forum that we are too busy and comfortable to pro-vide in our everyday lives.

In the end, parents need to make their own value decisions about what is right for their families, and to be sure, well-thought rebu� als can be made to some of the per-ceptions I’ve brie� y touched on here. But if it is to be we, let us venture beyond the royal we. WE are Hya� sville. So I’ll see you in the fall at Hya� sville Elementary.

HES TEACHERS NOMINATED FOR PGCPS TEACHER OF THE YEARHya� sville Elementary School teachers Amy Monjes and Tracy Clark-Peele were two of 13 teachers nominated for the 2016 Prince George’s County Teacher of the Year award. � e Prince George’s County Board of Edu-cation and Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) recognized the nominees during a celebration on April 21 at Martin’s Crosswinds in Greenbelt. Monjes is a third-grade teacher and in her 12th year of teaching. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Slippery Rock University and a master’s degree in Elementary Reading and Mathematics from Walden University. Amy has served as the talented and gi� ed coordinator, team leader, and a school-based management team member.

Clark-Peele is a first-grade teacher and has been teaching for 16 years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of the District of Co-lumbia and master's equivalent from Trin-ity University. Tracy has served as a grade-level chair, team leader, mentor teacher, and high school child development class coordinator.

PEPCO RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS IN MARYLAND TO RECEIVE FIRST OF TWO $50 BILL CREDITS On April 12, Pepco announced that its resi-dential customers living in Maryland will receive two $50 bill credits as a result of the merger between Exelon and Pepco Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Pepco. � e cred-its will be distributed in two $50 installments — one now and one a year from now — for Pepco customers in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. � e credits will be auto-matically applied to each household’s bill as part of a broader package of bene� ts aimed

at making energy more a� ordable for Pepco Maryland customers.

HYATTSVILLE TO OFFER MATCHING MONEY TO SUPPORT BUSINESSESOn May 6, the city announced it will reopen its Commercial Facade Improvement Pro-gram. Initially launched in 2012, the program provides � nancial assistance to business own-ers who would like to rehabilitate the exterior of their commercial building in the follow-ing target investment areas: West Hya� sville Transit District, Route One/Gateway Arts District, and the Prince George’s Plaza Tran-sit District. Approved projects will be eligible to receive a dollar-for-dollar matching grant, with the minimum grant being $10,000, and the maximum grant being $45,000 per building. � e grant will primarily be a cash match for physical improvements, but may also include costs for design, permi� ing and

inspections services. Applicants are required to receive a minimum of three bids from gen-eral or sub-contractors of their choice, and approval of the project will be contingent of the City approving the selected contractor. Interested businesses should visit the city’s website for program guidelines and applica-tion instructions. hya� sville.org.

READER’S VOTE TANGLEWOOD WORKS AS BEST HANDMADE HOME DECOR On April 10, local business Tanglewood Works announced it won the Washington City Paper’s 2016 Best of DC Readers Poll, in the category of Best Handmade Home Decor. In a release, owner Sue Mondeel said, “� ank you Tanglewood Works fans for not just voting for us and helping us to win, but for helping us win every single day by support-ing our local independent small business. We couldn’t do it without you!”

NEWS BRIEFS READ THE FULL STORY AT HYATTSVILLELIFE.COM

HYATTSVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLHES Teachers Tracy Clark-Peele (middle) and Amy Monjes (in yellow) are pictured with Principal Burton and former principals Mr. Baudoin and Mrs. Washburn.


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By Mark Goodson

Hyattsville is known for its di-versity. The city’s website dis-plays demographic data from the 2010 census that divides the population into practically equal thirds African American, Caucasian, and Hispanic.

In 2009, Reverend Todd Thomason began his ministry at the First Baptist Church of Hyattsville (FBCH). The di-versity was appealing to him, as were the vast dirt plots east of Baltimore Avenue that were soon to be made into town-homes. “I remember thinking, ‘Something major is going to happen here,’” said Thomason.

In his time as Reverend, Thomason noted that within the diverse city were relatively un-diverse neighborhoods: West Hyattsville was predomi-nantly Hispanic and the His-toric District, Caucasian.

In an effort to better under-stand how he could help the community, and to further his Doctorate in Ministry through the Chandler School of The-ology at Emory University, Thomason wrote a report on the Arts District because “It is fundamentally transforming the character and psyche of Hyattsville.”

One finding was that demo-graphics have fluctuated a good deal in recent history before balancing out so nicely today.

Thomason wrote that Accord-ing to the U.S. Census Bureau, “The city’s 1990 White popu-lation was 8,745 (65.8 percent) and the Black population was 3,571 (26.9 percent). Only 944 residents out of the total popu-lation of 13,292 (7.1 percent) identified as Hispanic.

By 2000, the city’s population had grown to 14,733; however, the composition of that popu-lation was quite different than it had been. Whites now num-bered 5,824 (39.5 percent), Blacks 6,045 (41.0 percent), and Hispanics 2,673 (18.1 per-cent).”

Thomason credited “white flight” for the vast change in demographics: “The ‘crack epi-demic’ and the ensuing ‘drug wars’ in Washington, DC, in the 1980s triggered a migration of minorities north into Prince George’s County.”

Backed by data and inter-views, Thomason unearthed

some complex racial senti-ments in the city’s history.

The original deed to the home of City Councilmember Rob-ert Croslin (Ward 2), dated April 13, 1927, included a stipulation Thomason referred to as sickening: “The herein described pieces or parcels of land or any part thereof, or any improvements thereon, shall never be sold or conveyed to, or used or in any manner oc-cupied by any negro or by any person of the Negro race or having Negro blood.”

And then in 1971, Croslin was warned by fellow University of Maryland students to not enter Hyattsville after dark because it wasn’t safe for people of color.

Thomason reported that op-portunistic development is in Hyattsville’s DNA, and the most recent Arts District development is a chance for a revolution in racial toler-ance. Thomason believes the city today has an opportunity within an opportunity. It has an opportunity for social jus-tice within the opportunity for business development.

“I think the spirit is there, but you have to recognize the boundaries before you begin to confront them and dismantle them,” he said. “If I were stay-ing in Hyattsville, that’s what I would hope to have a hand in, helping to lower those bound-aries so that this diverse city becomes more integrated.” Thomason and his family re-cently moved to Toronto, On-tario where Thomason will begin a new term as senior minister at a Baptist church.

One suggestion he offered was to extend the bus sched-ule so that West Hyattsville residents can return from the Arts District later than 8:30 p.m. Thomason also cited the “Bridging the Cultural Gaps” book club he participates in as an example of a diverse body whose mission includes racial tolerance.

While it will be four years un-til the next U.S. Census is con-ducted, there is anecdotal evi-dence that the Arts District’s residential developments will mark a new era in racial prog-ress. Thomason interviewed a racially diverse sampling of residents who agreed that the Arts District population is at once diverse and friendly.

Local pastor says opportunity is knocking for city


HYATTSVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Spring Bazaar- June 23, 2016. 10-12noon

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NatureNearby

By Fred Seitz

Hya� sville’s most familiar and vocal owl has been up to his spring calls again this year as he reclaims his territory or sum-mons a mate. � e barred owl, which is the second largest in Maryland and quite common in treed suburbs, has been a regu-lar caller for several years in our neighborhood. Bucking the owl stereotype of a night time hooter, the barred owl's familiar call ("Who cooks for you?") is frequently heard around two or three in the a� ernoon, but also in evenings. He calls in the woods of Magruder Park at night.

� e call can be to reclaim his roughly one-mile territory, to call his mate or to warn o� other males. Females also call, but it generally is higher pitched than the male’s. � e female is the larger of the two, but their coloration is identical. � e barred owl’s call is probably most familiar, as the larger horned owl (Maryland’s

largest owl) has a so� er “hoot” which is mostly heard at night and the tiny screech owl bellows a sometimes blood-curdling sound that belies the li� le owl’s small stature. � e barred owl also lacks the ear patches that the horned owl prominently displays.

O� en observing us from a tall tree limb in the swamp or other areas in Magruder Park, the barred owl does us all the favor of eating many of the local ro-dents and probably raising young in some of the older trees with holes in them. Generally, the nests would be at least 20 feet up and may be used repeatedly over multiple years. If there are no tree holes to be found, the owl may “occupy” former nests of hawks or crows, but do li� le in the way of nest building. Both parents will do some incubation early in the period a� er the brood of two to three eggs are laid, but most of the incubation falls to Mom. Both parents hunt and bring shredded rodents to the young.

Care of the youngins lasts for nearly 12 weeks (through the summer to early fall, when the young owls can � y). � e young owls have white down. By fall, their coloration is much the same as that of the adults. Barred owls live around 10 years in the wild, but have lived 20 years in captivity. � eir most common predators are domestic cats and great horned owls.

� e barred owl doesn’t migrate, but will stay all winter in the same general area, though it may leave its breeding area to another nearby area where food may be more plentiful during winter. While they are not typically ag-gressive towards humans, they do have the large talons common to many raptors; there has been occasional buzzing of campers sleeping in the open during the summer. Overall, their useful predation of our local rodents and melodious calls far outweigh any downside to having such an interesting neighbor.

Who cooks for you?

Bucking the owl stereotype of a night time hooter, the barred owl is frequently calling at two or three in the afternoon.


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By Lindsay Myers

Ellarose Preston, the woman behind the Hya� sville Farmers Market, has a lot on her plate. Since January 1, the city’s admin-istrative support and wellness programs coordinator has been working tirelessly to prepare for the market’s opening day. She has to book vendors, collect per-mits, cut checks, apply for grants, and prepare marketing materi-als, all while managing the other health and wellness programs for the city. Chuckling, Preston em-phasized that preparing for the 17-week season is, “a lot of work … a lot of work.”

Despite the many phone calls, emails, and forms, Preston is pas-sionate about the market because she and her colleagues see it as a way to serve those in need. “� e city wants to ensure that our com-munity, our residents, especially those that are low income, have access to nutritious, healthy food, and that’s the bo� om line. It’s not to make money,” she said.

In fact, in the three years that Preston has been running the market, it still has yet to turn

a pro� t. But Preston said she would have to change a lot about how the market is organized for it to � nancially bene� t the city and that just is not the goal.

“Our market is special in that our focus is on access to nutri-tious and healthy food. We’re go-ing to show you some new types of fruits and veggies, show you how to prepare them, and then send you home with recipes and free samples.”

Preston herself runs a “food demonstration” each market, collecting items from each ven-dor and then demonstrating how to turn them into a healthy dish.

� e tradition, Preston claims, has caught on at other markets in the area. “I’m always trying to keep ahead of the other folks,” she said.

Under Preston’s guidance, the Hya� sville market was also the � rst farmers market in the nation to work with the DC nonpro� t Share Our Strength’s program, Cooking Ma� ers, which aims to teach low-income families across the country how to eat be� er for less. Preston applied for a $5,000 grant with the program to pro-vide each low-income family with $10 to spend at the market. “Market goers just need to show

proof that they receive federal nutrition assistance by showing their EBT Card, WIC pamphlets, or SNAP fruit and veggie checks to me at our city tent,” Preston said. “� en we give them two $5 coupons to use with any vendor at the market.”

Preston had the idea to provide low-income families with $10 of “money matching” coupons dur-ing the 2015 season, but the city was only able to budget $2500 for the program. “By six o’clock I had usually run out, which was hard. I didn’t want to have to deny anyone,” said Preston. With the additional funding from Cook-ing Ma� ers, Preston is excited to make the market a� ordable for more low-income families.

June 7 marks the 25th season of the Hya� sville Farmers Market, and Preston is working hard to make it special. She has dubbed opening day of the market “� e Strawberry Soiree” and has asked each vendor to feature strawber-

ries in a special way. Preston will provide visitors with strawber-ry-based recipes, one of which she will prepare during her food demonstration. � e market’s youngest visitors will walk away with strawberry balloons and col-oring books.

Assigning themes, featuring new vendors, and even o� ering free yoga sessions are just a few of the ways Preston is trying to draw a crowd to the market. She has a goal of a� racting 300 people ev-ery week. “We want this to be the place to be on Tuesdays from 3 to 7 p.m.,” said Preston. “� e take-home is that it’s a great market. We have a lot of personality, and the city is working hard to make it a good experience for everybody.” With Preston’s e� orts to make the market a� ordable and inviting, this season is sure to be the best yet.

� e Hya� sville Market runs from 3 to 7 p.m. every Tuesday, June 7–Sept. 27, at 3799 East–West Highway.

Hya� sville Farmers Market helps local low-income families eat well

HYATTSVILLE FARMERS MARKETA fresh produce display at Hyattsville Farmers Market. The market will open June 7.

Hya� sville Farmers Market helps GoingToMarket


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By Julia Gaspar-Bates

One of the fondest memories Egyptian Raina Elmalky has from home is the social gath-erings with family and friends. Born in the small town of Sirs el-Layan near the Nile, Raina recalls that friends and rela-tives would always stop by for meals and other celebrations. “There were always members of the family at my house. We shared meals together because that is when you share stories about the day.”

That informal social life is one of the aspects of Egyp-tian culture that Raina misses. “Egyptians help each other re-

gardless of whether they know you. If anyone needs anything they knock on the door and people welcome them and give them what they have.”

After finishing university, El-malky worked as a pharmacist before moving to the U.S. 16 years ago. Her husband, Mo-hamed, had been living in the U.S. for several years and was visiting Egypt when they met through family. Although El-malky had traveled within the Middle East, moving to the U.S. was her first time outside the region. “I only knew about the U.S. from the movies and the news. Egyptian people like to know about different cul-

tures. I was open to anything I would see.”

Transitioning to life in the U.S. was difficult at first be-cause she missed her family. Despite feeling homesick, El-malky has not found living in the U.S. to be a huge adjust-ment, although she was sur-prised by Americans’ percep-tion of Egypt. “I was shocked because people thought I lived in the desert and rode camels. The camels are only around the pyramids for tourists. We have a modern society.”

One aspect that did take some getting used to is the American concept of time.

“Here everything is con-

CulturalConnections

trolled. If you say you’ll come to visit at a certain time, you show up then. In Egypt when you say that, you don’t know what time people will come. In the beginning, I took an appointment [at the doctors] and I came one hour late. In Egypt you show up whenever you want, they know you’re coming today and they should expect you to come during the day. People understand and you don’t have to call to say you’ll be late.”

Elmalky also found the pace of life to be fast in the U.S. When she first arrived, she worked as an intern in a phar-macy and began to take the tests to obtain her pharmacist license in the U.S. However, after her son was born, she de-cided to stop working.

“In Egypt we finish work at 2 or 3 p.m. and then we have lunch and start the social life. But here everyone is working until 9 p.m. sometimes and are tired. Time goes very fast.”

Elmalky also finds that family is viewed differently in the U.S. “[In Egypt] your choices are controlled by your environ-ment around you, especially your family, so you don’t want to disappoint them. Families in Egypt take care of their chil-dren until they get married. If I do something that my family doesn’t approve, I bring shame to the family. In the U.S. the values are different, it’s per-sonal freedom but in the Mid-

dle East people don’t put per-sonal freedom first. You have freedom but it’s controlled. Family manners come first. It’s your job to take care of others.”

Elmalky has lived in Hyatts-ville since her arrival and en-joys life here. “You feel very safe in Hyattsville. When you go to the park you can know different people very fast. You never feel lonely here. I also really like the nature here. There are a lot of green areas. In Egypt we don’t have that because the population is too much and people replace the green areas with homes.”

Although she hopes to one day return to Egypt, Elmalky plans to wait until her children finish their education. “I like the education here. It’s one of the reasons I want my kids to stay here. In Egypt if you have good grades in high school, they direct you to where you will study at university, regard-less of what you want. If you do not use your grades to get best college available to you, people will laugh at you and think you’re crazy. People have more choice here. They have choice in everything. If you have the intention to do some-thing, you do it.”

Julia Gaspar-Bates is a cross-cultural trainer and consultant. “Cultural Connections” is devot-ed to bringing forth the voices of immigrants and other foreigners who have settled in Hyattsville.

One Egyptian’s transition to life in the US

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No. 334 • 11 de mayo, 2016FESTIVAL INTERNACIONAL!La celebración de nuestra diversidad étnica de la Ciudad está a punto de llegar! Este año estamos esperando tener comida y cervezas de Senegal, Etiopía, India y América Latina. También estamos planeando tambores africanos (vuelve por demanda popular) y una banda y baile de salsa. No se olvide de los grandes inflables, rocódromo, y más para los niños! Sábado, 4 de Junio, en el Parque Heurich (en la esquina de la calle Ager y la calle Nichol-son), 5-9 pm.

Inauguración del Bosque de ComidaÚnase a nosotros para conocer el nuevo Bosque de Comi-da de la Ciudad. Puede aprender acerca de los alimentos que vamos a crecer, las temporadas de cosecha, cuando se puede recoger de forma gratuita, y ayudar a plantear algunos de los últimos árboles. Esperamos verlos en el Parque Emerson, en la avenida 46th y la calle Emerson, el Sábado 14 de Mayo, a las 10 a.m.

Programa de Arte para MayoresEn colaboración con el programa de Arte Works Ahora, la Ciudad está ofreciendo un programa gratuito de Artes de Verano para las personas mayores. Las clases son los Miércoles, 1-3 p.m., en el Edificio Municipal en la 4310 Gallatin Street. Ven y unete a la diversión! Para obtener más información, contacte a Beryl Johnson al 301-985-5058, [email protected].

Gracia Eterna Ejercicio Sentado en el Centro Comercial Con la popularidad de las clases de ejercicio sentado para las personas mayores y las personas con discapacidad, Gracia Eterna, que actualmente se ofrecen los miércoles y viernes por la mañana en el edificio municipal, está lan-zando una clase los jueves! En colaboración con el Centro Comercial de Prince George, las clases se ofrecerán todos los jueves a las 9 a.m. en la pista central, de forma gratu-ita. Venganse a trabajar su cuerpo y mente a la melodía de música enérgica y divertida.

FIESTA DEL VERANO!Su fiesta de la comunidad favorita está de vuelta y me-jor que nunca! El tercer viernes de cada mes durante el verano, la ciudad - y algunos socios fantásticos - traerá

buena música, comida, bebidas, y diversión. Estamos co-menzando el 20 de Mayo, 6: 30-8: 30 p.m., en 4310 Galla-tin Street, con el rock clásico del Grupo Ed Golden, pollo y wafles de T & J Waffles, hamburguesas y perros a la parrilla, vino y cervezas locales, y el helado del Café Vigi-lante. Nuestros tostadores amigables también serán el anfitrión de los juegos cornhole, y el Centro de Pirámide de Artes Atlantico tendrán las manos en actividad de arte que no se quiere perder. Incluso Fleisher de Mary-land - nuestro nuevo vecino y joyero - va a permanecer abierto hasta tarde para que puedan comprar o dejar sus relojes y joyas para servicio (muchos de los cuales ofrecen de forma gratuita). Esperamos que se una a nosotros!

Moviendo Con La AlcaldesaLa Alcaldeza Candace Hollingsworth se ha asociado con empresas locales para ofrecer clases y actividades de bi-enestar gratuitas para los residentes de la Ciudad de Hy-attsville. El 21 de Mayo, a las 1:00 p.m., va a organizar una clase de zumba con Chantal en el Edificio Municipal en 4310 Gallatin Street. Para obtener más información, contacte a Ellarose Preston a 301-985-5006 o [email protected].

Conversación Comunitaria sobre IslamAlgunos dicen que Judios, Cristianos y Musulmanes no pueden llevarse bien, pero la historia demuestra que es-tan equivocados. Por favor únase a 20,000 Diálogos y a la Ciudad de Hyattsville para una película y dialogo sobre la España Islámica el Domingo, 22 de Mayo de 2-4 p.m. en el Edificio Municipal en 4310 Gallatin Street. Esta explor-ación de la historia Islámica incluirá clips del premiado documental “Ciudades de Luz: La Subida y la Caída de la España Islámica” y una conversación con profesores de Islam en la Universidad de Maryland, y residentes de Hy-attsville, Antoine Borrut y Peter Wien. Para los que les gustaría continuar el diálogo a través de una cena tem-prana, vamos a pasar a Busboys and Poets a 4 p.m.

Reunión Comunitaria de University HillsEsta reunión cubrirá la actualización de la segunda fase de la renovación de las calles y curbas de University Hills. Sábado, 21 de Mayo, de 1-3 p.m. en el Pabellón del Duck Pond, 3400 Stanford Street.

Aviso Público: Calle de Una-VíaEntre la calle Gallatin y la calle Farragut, el tráfico en 42nd Place pronto será hacia el sur, después de una de-cisión tomada por el Consejo Municipal. El Consejo abor-dó la proposición después de recibir una petición de los residentes que buscaban el cambio.

Green Expo - Reserva la Fecha!El 17 de Septiembre, la Ciudad va a compartir infor-mación y mejores prácticas para la sostenibilidad del medio ambiente. Estén atentos para más detalles sobre este evento familiar la cual es GRATIS!

Ciudad Sostenible ¿Tiene árboles que sobrevivieron la tormenta de la semana pasada, pero le preocupa lo hará a sobrevivirán la siguien-te? Llame a un especialista en árboles con certificados y li-cencias en Maryland. La mayoría de las empresas van a visitar su casa y le dará una estimación libre de costo en la remoción del árbol, o consejos sobre el cuidado del árbol. Si le dicen algo que no se sienta bien, llama a otra compañía para una opinion segunda. Y si aún no está seguro, llame al Departamento de Obras Públicas de la Ciudad. Siempre estamos dispuestos a compartir nuestra perspectiva.

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL!The City’s celebration of our ethnic diversity is com-ing up soon! This year we’re expecting to have food and beer from Senegal, Ethiopia, India, and Latin America. We’re also planning performances from African drummers (back by popular demand) and a salsa band and dance troupe. And don’t forget great inflatables, a climbing wall, and more for kids to en-joy! Saturday, June 4, at Heurich Park (at the corner of Ager Road and Nicholson Street), 5-9 p.m.

Food Forest Ribbon CuttingJoin us to unveil the City’s new Food Forest. You can learn more about the foods that we’ll grow, the har-vest seasons when you can pick them for free, and even help plant some of the last trees. We hope to see you at Emerson Park, at 46th Avenue and Emerson Street, on Saturday, May 14, at 10 a.m.

Summer Arts for SeniorsIn partnership with Art Works Now, the City is offer-ing a free summer arts program for seniors. Classes are Wednesdays, 1-3 p.m., at the City Building at 4310 Gallatin. Come join the fun! For more informa-tion, please contact Beryl Johnson at 301-985-5058, [email protected].

Ageless Grace Exercise at the MallThe City’s popular seated exercise class for seniors and people with disabilities, Ageless Grace, currently offered on Wednesday and Friday mornings at the City Building, is launching a Thursday class! In part-nership with the Mall at Prince George’s, the class will be offered every Thursday at 9 a.m. in the center court, free of charge. Come out and work your body and mind to the tune of fun, energetic music.

SUMMER JAM!Your favorite community block party is back and bet-ter than ever! The third Fridays of the month this summer, the City – and some fantastic partners – will bring you great music, food, beverages, and fun. We’re kicking things off May 20, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at 4310

Gallatin Street, with classic rock from the Ed Golden Group, chicken and waffles from T & J Waffles food truck, burgers and dogs on the grill, wine and local beer, and ice cream from Vigilante Coffee. Our friendly coffee roasters will also be hosting games of cornhole, and Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center will have a hands on art activity you don’t want to miss. Even Fleisher’s of Maryland – our new neighbor and jeweler – is go-ing to stay open late so you can shop or drop off your watches and jewelry for servicing (much of which they offer for free). We hope you’ll join us!

Movin’ With the MayorTo encourage health, and have some fun, Mayor Candace Hollingsworth is partnering with local busi-nesses to offer free wellness classes and activities to City of Hyattsville residents. On May 21, at 1:00 p.m., she’ll host a Zumba class with Chantal at the City Municipal Building at 4310 Gallatin Street. For more information, please contact Ellarose Preston at 301-985-5006 or [email protected].

Community Conversation on IslamSome say Jews, Christians, and Muslims can’t get

along, but history proves this wrong. Please join 20,000 Dialogues and the City of Hyattsville for a film and discussion on Islamic Spain on Sunday, May 22, 2-4 p.m. at the Hyattsville Municipal Building at 4310 Gallatin Street. Based on the popularity of our first conversation in March, this exploration of Islamic his-tory will include clips from the award-winning docu-mentary “Cities of Light: The Rise and Fall of Islamic Spain” and a discussion with University of Maryland Islamic historians, and Hyattsville residents, Profes-sors Antoine Borrut and Peter Wien. For those who would like to continue the dialogue through an early dinner, we’ll move to Busboys and Poets at 4 p.m.

University Hills Community MeetingThis meeting will cover the second phase of the Uni-versity Hills street and sidewalk renovation. Satur-day, May 21, 1-3 p.m. at the Duck Pond Pavilion, 3400 Stanford Street.

Public Notice: One-Way StreetBetween Gallatin Street and Farragut Street, traffic on 42nd Place will soon be southbound only, after a de-cision made by City Council last month. Council took up the issue after receiving a petition from residents seeking the change.

Green Expo – SAVE THE DATE!On September 17, the City will share information and best practices for environmental sustainability. Stay tuned for more details on this FREE family event!

Sustainable City ScoopDo you have trees that survived last week’s storm, but you worry won’t make it through the next one? Call a Maryland certified, licensed and liability-insured arborist. Most reputable companies will visit your home and give you a free estimate on tree removal, or advice on tree care. And if they tell you something that doesn’t sit right, call another company for a sec-ond opinion. And if you’re still not sure, call the City’s Department of Public Works. We’re always happy to share our perspective.

Hyattsville ReportertheNo. 334 • May 11, 2016 www.hyattsville.org • 301-985-5000

Page HR1 Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2016 Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2016 Page HR2

Unless noted otherwise, all items below take place at Hyattsville Municipal Building at 4310 Gallatin Street. For more information on any item, please call 301-985-5000.

Youth Programs

Creative Minds Parent-Child Pro-gram, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 AM – 12 PM, Magruder Park Recre-ation Center, 3911 Hamilton Street

Senior Programs

Ageless Grace Senior Exercise Classes, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10 AM – 11 AM, Thursdays, 9 AM – 10 AM, at the Mall at Prince Georges

Call-A-Bus Shopping Trips, Res-ervations must be made 24 hours in advance at 301-985-5000. May 12, 9 AM – 3 PM, Amish Market & Weg-mans; May 23, 11 AM – 1 PM, Giant;

May 26, 1:30 PM – 4 PM, Price Rite Nutritional Tour

Arts Camp with Art Works Now. Wednesdays starting May 18, 1 PM – 3 PM

Trip to Harrington Raceway and Casino, Reservations Required: 301-985-5058. May 19, 9 AM – 7 PM

Free Movie Monday on the Call-A-Bus. Reservations must be made 24 hours in advance at 301-985-5000. June 6, 9 AM – 12:30 PM

Events & Celebrations

Food Forest Ribbon Cutting and Planting. May 14, 10 AM, Emerson Park, 46th Ave. and Emerson St.

Bike to Work Day – Pit Stop at Magruder Park. May 20, 6 AM – 9 PM

Summer Jam. May 20, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Movin’ With The Mayor – Zumba. May 21, 1 PM – 2 PM

Community Conversation on Is-lam. May 22, 2 PM – 4 PM

International Festival. Heurich Park – Ager Rd. and Nicholson St.June 4, 5 PM – 9 PM

Meetings

Citizens Police Academy, Thurs-days through May 26, 6 PM

City Council Budget MeetingsMay 12, 8 PM; May 25, 8 PM

City Council MeetingsMay 16, 8 PM; June 6, 8 PM

Planning Committee, May 17, 7:30 PM

Teen Advisory CommitteePrince George’s Plaza Community Center, May 19, 5 PM

Shade Tree Board, May 22, 5 PM

Residential Parking Zone Commit-tee, May 24, 7 PM – 9 PM

Code Compliance Advisory Com-mittee, May 25, 7 PM

Education Advisory CommitteeMay 26, 6:30 PM

Police & Public Safety Advisory Committee, June 1, 7 PM

Board of Supervisors of Elections, June 7, 4 PM

Si no dice otro lugar, todos los eventos ocurren en el Edificio Municipal de Hy-attsville, a 4310 Gallatin Street. Para más información de cualquier evento, por favor llame a 301-985-5000.

Programas para JovenesMentes Creativos Programa de Padres e Hijos, Los Martes y Jueves, 10 AM – 12 PM, Centro de Recreación del Parque Magruder, 3911 Hamilton Street

Programas paraMayores

Gracia sin Edad Clases de Ejerci-cio Sentado, Los Miércoles y Viernes, 10 AM – 11 AM, Los Jueves, 9 AM – 10 AM, al Centro Comercial de Prince Georges

Viajes de Compras con el Llama-Un-Bus, Deben hacer reservas 24 horas antes del viaje a 301-985-500012 de Mayo, 9 AM – 3 PM, Amish Mar-

ket & Wegmans; 23 de Mayo, 11 AM – 1 PM, Giant; 26 de Mayo, 1:30 PM – 4 PM, Tour de Nutrición en Price Rite

Programa de Arte con Art Works Now, Los Miércoles desde el 18 de Mayo, 1 PM – 3 PM

Viaje al Harrington Raceway and Casino, Reservas Requeridas: 301-985-5058, 19 de Mayo, 9 AM – 7 PM

Pelicula Gratuita con el Llama-un-Bus, Deben hacer reservas 24 horas antes del viaje a 301-985-5000, 6 de Junio, 9 AM – 12:30 PM

Eventos y Celebraciones

Inauguración del Bosque de Comida, 14 de Mayo, 10 AM, Emer-son Park, 46th Ave. y Emerson St.

Día de Tomar la Bici al Trabajo – Parrada en Magruder Park, 20 de Mayo, 6 AM – 9 PM

Fiesta del Verano, 20 de Mayo, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Moviendo con la Alcaldesa – Zum-ba, 21 de Mayo, 1 PM – 2 PM

Conversación Comunitaria sobre Islam, 22 de Mayo, 2 PM – 4 PM

Festival Internacional, Heurich Park – Ager Rd. and Nicholson St.4 de Junio, 5 PM – 9 PM

Reuniones

Academia del Policia para Resi-dentes, Los Jueves hasta el 26 de Mayo, 6 PM

Reuniones del Consejo Municipal Sobre el Presupuesto, 12 de Mayo, 8 PM; 25 de Mayo, 8 PM

Reuniones del Consejo Municipal16 de Mayo, 8 PM; 6 de Junio, 8 PM

Comité de Planeación, 17 de Mayo, 7:30 PM

Comité de Jovenes, Centro de la Comunidad de Prince George’s Plaza19 de Mayo, 5 PM

La Mesa de Arboles de Sombra22 de Mayo, 5 PM

Comité de Zonas Residenciales de Estacionamiento, 24 de Mayo, 7 PM – 9 PM

Comité de Conformidad de los Códigos, 25 de Mayo, 7 PM

Comité de Educación, 26 de Mayo, 6:30 PM

Comité del Policia y la Seguridad1 de Junio, 7 PM

Mesa de Supervisores de las Elec-ciones, 7 de Junio, 4 PM

CALENDAR CALENDARIO

Reportero de Hyattsvilleelwww.hyattsville.org • 301-985-5000

Salud en la CiudadMayo es el Més de Conciencia de la Salud Mental, cuando todos debemos revisar nuestro bienestar psi-cológico emocional y social. Nuestro salud mental impacta mucho – cómo tomamos decisiones, reaccio-namos al estrés, e interactuamos con los demás. Aquí hay algunas maneras de optimizar su salud mental:1. Comer ácidos grasos omega-3 - que se encuen-

tra en las semillas de chía, nueces y pescados grasos como el salmón - que están vinculados a la reducción de la depresión y la ansiedad.2. Mantener una actitud de agradecimiento por

mantener un registro diario de las cosas de que está agradecido y cosas que ha logrado.3. Dormir. Para ayudar a conseguir un buen sueño,

trate de conseguir la temperatura entre 60 y 67 gra-dos y permanecer lejos de sus pantallas (televisión, computadora, teléfono celular) durante al menos 30 minutos antes de acostarse.

Hyattsville Health HavenMay is Mental Health Awareness Month, when we should all check in on our psychological, emo-tional and social well-being. Our mental health ef-fects how we make decisions, react to stress, and interact with others. Here are some ways to opti-mize your mental health:1. Eat omega-3 fatty acids – found in flax and chia

seeds, walnuts, and fatty fish like salmon – which are linked to reduced depression and anxiety.2. Maintain an attitude of gratitude by keeping a

daily record of things you are grateful and things you’ve accomplished. 3. Sleep. To help get good sleep, try to get the

temperature between 60 and 67 degrees and stay away from your screens (tv, computer, cell phone) for at least 30 minutes before bed.


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Celebrating Our 31st Year!

By Krissi Humbard

Spring in Hyattsville brings warmer weather, flowering trees, and the chance to peek into some of the lovely homes and gardens in the city. The Historic Hyatts-ville House Tour is a beloved city tradition that allows visitors an inside look at the late 1800s and early 1900s houses that line our city streets.

This year will be the 37th year that the Hyattsville Preserva-tion (HPA) has organized the event. The houses — and one garden — on this year’s tour are as diverse as the homeowners themselves. There are Victorians, bungalows and an art garden. The owners include musicians, an art conservator and sculptor, analysts, government employees, teachers, even a beekeeper.

“It’s an eclectic group of peo-ple,” said Gloria Felix-Thompson, president of the HPA. “It’s what I love about this town.”

The self-guided tour will fea-ture eight homes of various styles and periods including a “Quartet of Victorians.” Tour-goers will receive an informative booklet with a map showing the sites on the day of the tour. Houses are within walking distance and may be seen in any order at visitor’s own pace. The city also provides a bus that continuously circles the tour route.

For some homeowners, be-ing a part of the house tour is a chance to show off changes and improvements they’ve made to their home.

Pete and Jessica Daniels moved into their 1938 Colonial bunga-

low last June. The house is one of only a few in Hyattsville that has a stone façade. The Daniels said the house was a bit dated when they moved in and needed a kitchen re-work.

“We’ve given it a lot of TLC,” said Jessica Daniels, adding that the kitchen looked like it was out of the 1983 Cyndi Lauper mu-sic video for “Girls Just Want To Have Fun.”

James Heilig and Laura Brewer-

Heilig, who have lived in their Victorian style house since 1983, are participating in the house tour for the fourth time and say they are excited to show off the front porch, the upgraded kitch-en, and the energy efficient up-grades to the home.

“The house is very energy effi-cient with the addition of insula-tion, the radiator heat, gas logs in the fireplace, and the solar panels (on the roof),” Laura Brewer-

HPA's 37th homes tour features eclectic and traditional homes

Heilig said.Others just want to show off the

charming details of their historic homes.

Sharon and Dale Crowell, who moved into a mid-1890s Victo-rian with large porches about 15 months ago, say they always loved the historic homes in Hy-attsville. They decided to join the tour this year because they say there is “a good amount of curi-osity about the home.”

The Crowells say they love many things about their home, including the porches, the sun-sets visible from their hilltop, the

original windows and the “quirky details.”

“There is a really interesting mid-century Chambers gas oven in the kitchen that catches many peo-ple's eye. We only use it for stor-age, but it sure can be a conversa-tion piece,” Dale Crowell said.

Kaye Stauder, who has lived in her Dutch Colonial since 1978, says she loves the charm and char-acter that an older home offers.

“I'm happy to share my home. I have some unique antiques and I love my kitchen and sun room. I raised my family here and there are many happy memories in ev-ery room,” Stauder said.

The garden included on the house tour this year is something you won’t want to miss. Clarke Bedford is an art conservator who worked at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden for 33 years. He has decorated his 1918 bungalow, yard and cars with sculptures made primar-ily of metal he sources locally. He uses repurposed automotive parts, scrap metal, vintage sig-nage, ceramics, as well as other materials to create his “eclectic, deliberately cluttered, layered, and stacked” sculptures.

Bedford said he suspects he was approached to join the tour because his “art house” and “art cars” are “not the usual fare.”

“It is always fascinating to us how different, and unique, the homes are in the City of Hyatts-ville,” said Laura Brewer-Heilig.

The 37th Annual Historic Hy-attsville House Tour will take place on Sunday, May 15 from 1 to 5 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 the day of the tour. Advance tickets can be pur-chased at Franklin’s Restaurant. Visit www.preservehyattsville.org/tours for more information.

RANDY FLETCHERThis mid-1890s Victorian is one of the homes featured on this year’s Historic Hyattsville House Tour.

Hyattsville Life & Times | May 2016 Page 9

Conversación ComunitariaISLAM

La ciudad de Hyattsville se beneficia de la diversidad. Nuestra comunidad está compuesta por personas de diferentes credos,

culturas, y un sinnúmero de habilidades y fondos.

A medida que los acontecimientos recientes que han convertido el discurso nacional e internacional hacia el Islam,

la Ciudad está organizando una Conversación Comunitaria sobre el tema.

En asociación con 20.000 Diálogos, vamos a realizar una presentación sobre la religión, un diálogo con la comunidad y una película.

Invitamos a todos los miembros de nuestra comunidad - los musulmanes y no musulmanes, residentes de Hyattsville y vecinos - a participar.

Por favor únase el domingo, 22 de mayo de 2 a 4 pm,

en el segundo piso del edificio administrativo 4310 Gallatin Street.

Se proporcionarán refrescos.

La Cuidad de Hyattsvillele invita a una

acerca delCommunity Conversation

ISLAM

The City of Hyattsville benefits from tremendous diversity. Our community is comprised of people of countless faiths,

cultures, abilities and backgrounds.

As recent events have turned the national and international discourse towards Islam, the City is hosting a

Community Conversation on the topic.

In partnership with 20,000 Dialogues, we will host a presentation on the religion, a community dialogue and a film.

We invite all members of our community - Muslims and non-Muslims, residents of Hyattsville and neighbors - to participate.

Please join us Sunday, May 22, 2-4 p.m.,on the second floor of the

City Administrative Building at4310 Gallatin Street.

Refreshments will be provided.

The City of Hyattsvilleinvites you to a

about

COMMUNITY CALENDARMay 9Job seekers needing support and resourc-es are invited to a� end the next meeting of the Hya� sville Job Seekers Club. � e club provides job-seeking skills and covers a variety of topics, including how to create an email, online job searching, and library resources available to help you in your job search. Drop-in, no reg-istration required. Free. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Hya� sville Branch Library.

May 11Fred Stachura, from the Prince George’s County Historic Preservation, will be presenting on historic building pres-ervation in Prince George’s County. Mr. Stachura has developed speci� c expertise in public policy initiatives, preservation law policy and planning, organizational development, community advocacy, and preservation-based real estate develop-ment. He is sta� liaison to the Historic Preservation Commission and has spe-cialized expertise in technical preserva-tion issues, preservation easements, and preservation public policy. Free. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Hya� sville Branch Library.

May 14Join the community and Vigilante Cof-fee Company for an all-day block partyto celebrate the release of a collaborative limited edition canned cold brew, “� e Black & Red.” In partnership with D.C. United, the co� ee shop has created a spe-cial blend of Indonesian, Brazilian, and Ethiopian co� ees, hand-selected by D.C.

United Coach, Ben Olsen. Event will include beer served by local breweries; food trucks; yoga sessions throughout the day; art provided by Studio SoHy, Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, and Wenc-es Wallmanzano; games and cra� s for kids; and live music all day. Free. Noon to 7 p.m. 4327 Gallatin Street. 301.200. 3110.

Gateway Community Development Corporation will host the 12th annual Open Studio Tour from noon to 5 p.m. More than 100 artists studios, galleries, and cultural venues will open their doors to the public for the chance to get be-hind-the-scenes of this amazing creative community. An a� er party is scheduled later in the evening from 5 to 8 p.m. at the 39th Street Gallery. Free. View the list of participating businesses online at gate-wayopenstudios.org.

May 20May is National Bike Month. Join over 90 bikers who have registered for the Hya� sville pit stop for the annual Bike to Work Day. Refreshments, swag bags, and ra� e prizes will be given away for those registered and arriving by bicycle. Register online. First 14,000 registrants are eligible for a free T-shirt. Sponsors of the Hya� sville pit stop in Magruder Park include the City of Hya� sville, Arrow Bicycle, Vigilante Co� ee, Mary-land Milestones, and Shortcake Bakery. Free. Magruder Park. 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. biketoworkmetrodc.org.

Art Works Now will host Parents’ Night Out. Parents get to go out while the kids enjoy the evening with a special art activ-ity and finish the night with a pizza dinner and movie. The movie this week will be “Horton Hears a Who.” Schedule of activities: 5 to 6:45 p.m.: art project, arts and crafts, games; 6:45 to 7:15 p.m.: pizza din-ner; 7:15 to 9:00: movie and snacks. Advance reg-istration required. $20 per child. Ages 3 through 12 (all children must be potty-trained). www.artworksnow.org

May 21DC-based ensemble Nootana will pres-ent their 4th annual spring showcase and original dance drama, “Looking Glass.” In this captivating tale, a beautiful queen transforms herself and her kingdom from an environment of love, beauty, friend-ship, and compassion to the embodi-ment of vengeance, mystery, drama, and disintegration. $50 for VIP tickets. $20 in advance. $25 at the door. $15 for stu-dents and seniors. 8 p.m. Joe’s Movement Emporium. 3309 Bunker Hill Road, Mount Rainier. 301.699.1819

June 3Publick Playhouse will host a perfor-

mance by Latin Group, Trio Cali-ente. Since 2003, Trio Caliente’s blend of Flamenco, Pop, and Brazilian Jazz has been entertaining fans throughout the U.S., Latin America, and the Middle East. $20. 8 p.m. 5445 Lando-ver Road, Cheverly. 301.277.1710.

June 4Devotees of Parlia-ment and Funk-adelic won’t want to miss Clones of

Funk at Publick Playhouse. Since 1989, this eight-piece band has been performing to enthusiastic fans who rave about their slammin’ rhythm sec-tion – complete with horns – and fan-tastic vocals. $20. 8 p.m. 5445 Lando-ver Road, Cheverly. For tickets and info: 301.277.1710

OngoingJoin the College Park Aviation Muse-um on the second Wednesday of each month at noon for a brown bag lunch discussion. Bring your lunch and join them for a different topic each month. Apr. 13 is “Soaring over Washington” and May 11 is “Zeppelins, Blimps, and Airships.” Free. 18 and up. 1985 Cor-poral Frank Scott Drive, College Park. 301.864.6029


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Dear Straits,

Deer will devour some native plants, particularly those with honey-like fragrance or tasty ber-ries. Nonetheless, there are many that they eschew rather than chew.

Native plants, as you mention, are low maintenance and they provide food and shelter for bees, birds, bu� er� ies and many ben-e� cial insects. Native-plant expert Aunt Sioux, whom I o� en con-sult, brought me the list of plants being o� ered at the upcoming Hya� sville Elementary School's Native Plant Sale. She pointed out quite a few perennial beau-ties that ruminants � nd repellent, and assured me they will � ower next spring and summer if planted soon. You can choose among vari-ous sizes and a rainbow of colors: orange milkweed; wild blue in-digo; New England and aromatic asters; scarlet cardinal � owers; blazing stars, which are dramatic purple liatris; ethereal blue wood geraniums; mauve & minty bee balm; striking penstemon digi-

talis whose snow-white � owers contrast with their black stems; orange and purple cone� owers; goldenrod, columbine and our own state � ower, the black-eyed Susan. I haven't exhausted the list by any means.

At the sale photographs and descriptions of each variety are posted to guide you in your se-lection and experts are available to answer your questions. As for the prices, they can't be beat!

� e sale will take place on Sat-urday, May 14 from 8 a.m. to 2

p.m. in the school gymnasium. � e school is located at is 5311 43rd Avenue.

Be sure to come early because demand is great.

� ere will be no meeting of the Hya� sville Horticultural Society in May because our members will be arranging � owers for the 37th Annual Hya� sville House Tour on Sunday, May 15. Tick-ets for that popular event may be purchased at the Hya� sville Municipal Building or Franklin's General Store.

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Maryland's state flower, the black-eyed Susan, is just one of many pe-rennial plants that deer find repellent.

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Dear Miss Floribunda,

I live right next to Magruder Park, so I can relate to how last month's le� er writer feels about trespassing deer. Your suggestions for ground covers that repel deer give me hope. Can you recommend deer-resistant plants for other areas of the gar-den?

I'm practically starting � om scratch, or as my husband calls our yard, "ground zero." I'm con-

sidering native plants for their low maintenance but wonder if deer would be drawn to them. Whatever I have to choose � om, I'm hoping to keep the cost down and to get fairly quick results.

I'd hope for something to � ower this summer or at least next sum-mer and to keep doing it every year. Anything you can suggest would be welcome.

In Deer Straits on 38th Street


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By LaShon Bland

Rosa Parks Elementary School second-grade teacher Domonique Stroud saw a need to further integrate technology in her classroom. Encouraged by a colleague, Stroud created a project on the Do-nors Choose website, a non-profit organization that helps teachers get additional resources they need in the classroom. In six days, the project – Teched Out! – found 17 donors and raised over $1,500.

The Teched Out! project proposal requested 20 Kindle Fires and two Hokki stools for the second-grade students. According to Stroud’s Donors Choose web page, “the students will utilize the Kindle Fire tablets to become more engaged dur-ing their reading lessons. The tablets will also assist students with research, instructional material, and games, such as studyisland.com. The Hokki stools will be used to assist students by providing alter-native seating to curb restlessness. Donors Choose connects the schools with donors who use a simple web page to select which project they would like to support financially. Donors can give as little as one dollar to a project that inspires them.

When the Kindles and Hokki stools arrived, Stroud said "To see the joy in their faces...they were hugging it and kissing it! It was a special day."

For some of her students, this will be their first ex-posure to this type of technology.

“I want to be a part of the reason why a child suc-ceeds,” Stroud said when asked about her inspira-tion for teaching.

Technology in the classroom provides alterna-tive methods for learning. Stroud said a traditional method would mean taking a test with paper and pencil, whereas a non-traditional method would mean taking a test on a student-held device.

“The impact of integrating more technology in the classroom through this project teaches the students to be more responsible,” said Stroud.

Assistant Principal Kimberly Bullock stressed the importance of students using computers. With the increasing prevalence of students taking standard-ized tests online, Bullock says it is vital that stu-dents become tech savvy.

“It taps into their natural curiosity. Technology in the classroom provides flexibility,”said Bullock. “Stu-dents need technology to be prepared in our society.”

On her Donors Choose page, Stroud expressed gratitude for all the donations. She says, “because of your donation, every student will have their own personal tablet to use as a resource, complete proj-ects, and become greater engaged in learning with-in the classroom.”

Hyattsville students get 'Teched Out' with more technology in classroom

PHOTO COURTESY OF DOMONIQUE STROUDSecond-grade students at Rosa Parks Elementary School beam with excitement as they hold new Kindle Fire Tablets received from their Donors Choose Teched Out! project.


a range of new retailers, restau-rants, and entertainment tenants.

PREIT is actively seeking en-tertainment-type tenants, like bowling and kid activities, but there are no plans for a movie theater on-site.

In a release published by the Wash-ington Business Journal, PREIT CEO Joseph Coradino shared that the overhaul will be implemented in a number of phases. While he was unable to share details about the other new tenants, he said to expect more restaurants in the mall.

Coradino is quoted as saying, “People are dining out much more frequently these days, so we are a big proponent of bring-ing food, both fast-casual and sit-down restaurants, to the mall.” He hoped the changes would draw in more shoppers not cur-rently patronizing the mall.

According to Coradino, major ren-ovation work at the mall—includ-ing interiors and a new facade—will begin next year. PREIT last renovated the mall in 2001, but that project mostly focused on the in-teriors. PREIT purchased the Mall at Prince Georges in 1998, when it was still called Prince George’s Plaza. � e name of the mall was changed a� er the � rst renovations.

Jim Chandler, CEcD, LEED AP, Assistant City Administra-tor and Director, Community & Economic Development, said that the phased approach was in-tentionally planned with the ten-ants and shoppers in mind.

“� e mall is one of the most valu-able properties in the city, and we wanted to make sure that it re-mains successful,” said Chandler. “� is phased approach will ensure that we don’t disturb commerce.”

Chandler says that the changes at the mall are representative of a county-wide response to redevel-

opment plans. “� e city is support-ive of the renovations; the increase in retailers is a great opportunity for all residents,” said Chandler. “I’m con� dent that the next phase [of the mall] will be successful.”

MALLcontinued from page 1

PHOTO COURTESY OF PREIT A rendering of what the Mall at Prince Georgesʼ facade will look like when its renovations are completed.

pervisor for the Mosquito Control Administration, “are those plastic corrugated pipes that people a� ach to their downspouts.” Each trough in the accordion-style tubing is a warm, wet, tiger mosquito hatchery. Other breeding grounds include portable basketball hoop stands, clogged gu� ers, and plastic outdoor chairs turned upside down — “anything that will hold a half-teaspoon of water,” ac-cording to Dorothy.

In a push for residents to clear out such containers prior to mosquito season, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan de-clared the last week of April “Zika Virus Awareness Week.” In Maryland, nine travel-related cases of the mosquito-borne Zika virus have been diagnosed. Public health of-� cials are cautioning pregnant women that Zika may cause birth defects. � e virus has recently spread to the Western Hemisphere, though not to the continental United States. Once mosquitoes become more active in early May, they may get Zika by biting people who contracted it abroad. Once mosquitoes have Zika, they could spread it.

� is should make us especially interested in the other reason mosquitoes don’t bite as much in the park: the work of the Maryland Mosquito Control Program, which has been around since 1956. Dorothy says that teams have been out to Hya� sville already to apply larvicide in wet areas in Magruder Park, killing mosquito larvae be-fore they mature.

Dorothy warns, however, that when “people don’t clean up” containers in their yards, the larvicide is not enough, and the state ends up spraying to kill adult mosquitoes.

� e City of Hya� sville maintains that this spraying “is not e� ective against” tiger mosquitoes, perhaps because, according to the Maryland Department of Agriculture, “mosquitoes killed by spraying” may soon be “replaced by newly emerged adults.”

Nonetheless, every three weeks Dorothy’s team sets a dry-ice trap for mosquitoes near where Cri� enden Street dead-ends into Magruder Park. According to Dorothy, if the trap catches 24 or more female adult mosquitoes overnight, the state schedules a truck to come to Hya� sville on the fol-

lowing Monday evening, between the hours of 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., to spray something called Biomist 30+30.

� ose who keep bees or have backyard ponds beware! � e label for Biomist 30+30, which is linked from the Maryland Department of Agriculture website, says that the pesticide is “highly toxic to bees” and “extremely toxic to. . . � sh and invertebrates.”

Wondering why you’ve never seen the truck out to spray? According to Dorothy, the drivers have instructions to go on to the next block if they see anyone out on the street.

Also, by last year, more than a dozen residents had applied for, and received, exemptions from spraying. Each exemp-tion also applied to a 300-foot bu� er zone around the prop-erty. Dorothy said this rendered much of the city “a checker-board,” in which the state could not e� ectively spray. Areas where spraying could still be done, according to Dorothy, included swaths near Magruder Park and near Route 410.

Dorothy also stated that in prior years, exemptions re-mained in e� ect from year to year.

� is year, however, the old exemptions are being thrown out. According to Jake Rollow, Community Services Director of Hya� sville, “All residents who would like to be excluded from spraying — including those that have been excluded in previous years — must inform the state AND the city of this desire no later than May 15.”

However, according to the exemption application, if a “mosquito-borne disease” like Zika “threatens public health,” spraying will go forward as the state deems nec-essary, regardless of exemptions.

MOSQUITOEScontinued from page 1

The City of Hyattsville maintains that this spraying “is not effective against” tiger mosquitoes, perhaps because, according to the Maryland Department of Agriculture, “mosquitoes killed by spraying” may soon be “replaced by newly emerged adults.”


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artists to find what they need. Artist & Craftsman Supply circum-

vents these problems by tailoring its inventory to the needs of the local community and by hiring passion-ate employees trained to help cus-tomers find exactly what they need. Local Northwestern High School student and store clerk, Harper Mat-suyama said, “We make it our duty to do our best for our customers. We put them above everything else.”

Both Matsuyama and Wine are artists themselves, a common trait amongst Artist & Craftsman Sup-ply employees, but not a required one. Rather, Wine said, the com-pany is looking for customer- and community-oriented people who care about their jobs.

Started in 1985, Artist & Crafts-man Supply is partially owned by its employees, which “basically means that the longer you’re here, the more shares you have in the company,” said Wine. With almost 49 percent of the company owned by employ-ees, each store is able to reflect the spirit of the local community, mak-ing Hyattsville’s Artist & Craftsman Supply a blank canvas.

Wine is passionate about cater-ing to nonprofits, local guilds, and schools. “I just want to get really involved in the community. There are a lot of teachers and artists in this area, and they all have their own particular wants and needs, so I’m hoping I can get those things in the store and make their lives a little easier,” he said.

The new Artist & Craftsman Sup-ply store is conveniently nestled in the southern corner of the Arts Dis-trict, a location that Wine suspects was intentionally chosen by the company’s president Larry Adler-stein for just that reason. With sev-eral new community art projects in the works — like a possible out-door mural — Artist & Craftsman Supply is sure to have lots of oppor-tunities to add a little color to the Route 1 Corridor.

ARTS continued from page 1

By Susan Hines

By now, it is no secret that Whole Foods Market is coming to River-dale Park Station. Whatever per-sonal or political feelings stir as you drive past the long-debated project on Baltimore Avenue, you may have noticed a rather odd structure on the construc-tion site. A large brick cylinder, approximately 16 feet tall and 22 feet in diameter, stands alone among buildings, roads, and parking lots in the new mixed-use development. What is it and why is it there?

The answer lies with Dr. Jennifer Stabler. On April 20, Dr. Stabler, an archaeologist with the Prince George’s County Planning De-partment of the Maryland-Na-tional Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), pre-sented her research on county efforts to preserve our historical and archeological heritage. The structure near the new Whole Foods Market covers what re-mains of an ice house that was once a part of Charles Baltimore Calvert’s 205-acre residence and farm called MacAlpine.

In 1868, MacAlpine was sepa-rated from the vast acreage of Riversdale, the plantation estab-lished by Charles’s grandparents, George Calvert and Rosalie Stier. Like Riversdale, MacAlpine was a working farm. A family home was constructed as well as numerous outbuildings that supported both agricultural and dairy produc-tion. Although a fire in the 1930s destroyed some outbuildings,

the residence remained in the family until the 1940s when the federal government acquired the land and the house. A temporary housing development, Calvert Homes, was built for wartime workers at the nearby Engineer-ing and Research Corporation (ERCO) Factory. The old house served various purposes through the years, to include housing the administrative offices of Calvert Homes. Eventually, the residence was abandoned and later demol-ished.

Once fairly common structures, ice houses were used to store ice for year-round use. Harvested lo-cally during the winter months or packed in straw and sawdust and shipped via rail from the north, ice was a commodity throughout the 19th century. In cities, ice was delivered to homes and stored in the icebox to keep food cool. In the countryside, ice houses provided storage for those fortunate enough to have ice. Larger estates had ice houses commensurate with their needs. The Riversdale mansion had sev-eral, although none exist today. Other ice houses in Maryland are known to extend 15 feet below ground. Thomas Jefferson’s ice house at Monticello was 16 feet deep. Usually, a wooden struc-ture built above these brick or stone lined pits protected the ice and provided access to it.

Stabler, who has worked for M-NCPPC since 2006, explained that Prince George’s County has had a historic preservation law since 1981 and an archaeologi-

cal preservation ordinance since 2005. Although both Maryland and the federal government have legislation designed to protect historical and archeological fea-tures, she believes Prince George’s is one of few counties to use local ordinances in this manner. Devel-opment, subdivision, or rezoning can trigger an investigation into the onsite historical or pre-histor-ical resources. When federal or state funding mechanisms are not associated with a proposed proj-ect, the county ordinance enforc-es preservation efforts through the permitting process.

Protecting historical resources in place, rather than engaging in excavation, is a favored mecha-nism for preservation. Long be-fore construction begins, and prior to permitting, the planning department works with develop-ers to find solutions that allow new buildings and roads to be constructed while avoiding the

disturbance of identified histori-cal or archeological features.

Until future generations e xcavate the site, the depth of the MacAlpine ice house will remain a mystery. Meanwhile, interpretive signage will even-tually explain the significance of this entombed outbuilding, which is one of only three ice houses that have been identified and preserved in Prince George’s County.

The Hyattsville Branch Li-brary will host Fred Stachura on Wednesday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m. for a program entitled “Historic Building Preservation in Prince George's County.” Stachura has expertise in public policy initia-tives, preservation law policy and planning, organizational development, community advo-cacy, and preservation-based real estate development. He is staff liaison to the Historic Preserva-tion Commission.

Preserved in place

MARK GOODSONThis cylindrical structure is what remains of an ice house that belonged to a farm called MacAlpine.


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May 2016 Hyattsville Life & Times

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