Hyattsville Life & Times October 2009

Page 1

WARD 3 CANDIDATE PROFILES

by Paula Minaert There’s good news and bad news about the incidence of crime in the city of Hyattsville. The good news is that in many categories, it’s going down. A graph comparing crime over the last five years for the period January to June 2009 shows that auto theft has hit a five-year low. The same is true for residential breaking and entering. Robbery has hit a four-year low. Some serious crimes have also decreased. The homicide figure ranged from 0 to 3 from 1999 through 2007, but in 2008 it was 5—the highest number of homicides in more than 10 years, said Chief Holland. But the 2009 year to date figure is 0. The number of rapes for 2009 year to date is 1, the same as 2008, and these numbers are down from 2006 and 2007, which each had 6 rapes. For theft, the graph shows that the trend has been downward for the last three years, but was significantly lower in 2005 and 2006. “That huge increase in 2007 is the result of the city’s annexation of the Mall at Prince Georges,” explained Hyattsville Police Chief Douglas Holland. “The mall has close to 100 retail businesses.” Another change resulted from the construction of University Town Center, Holland said.

Our guide to area thrift stores will tell you where to go for toys, furniture, and even lawnmowers. PAGE 4

Life&Times

Vol. 6 No. 10

Hyattsville’s Community Newspaper

OCTOBER 2009

Proposed building would be tallest in metro area

Trash pickup discussed by city council

CRIME continued on page 11

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit # 43 Easton, MD 21601

The new feature 'Legend and Lore' debuts this month, focusing on local ghost stories. PAGE 2

Hyattsville

Tim Hunt and Shirley Bender, candidates for the Ward 3 city council seat, in their own words. PAGE 3

Some city crimes fall, report shows

HYATTSVILLE'S HIDDEN HISTORY

THRIFTY FASHIONISTA

by Allison Lyons

by Sarah Nemeth

Belcrest Plaza, the red-brick garden-style apartments behind The Mall at Prince George’s, has 782 units. Percontee, the company that owns the property, is planning 2,750 units to replace them, the Hyattsville City Council heard at a recent meeting. The plan, designed by The Lessard Group, also includes 289,000 square feet of retail and office space and would be capped by a 33-story skyscraper — more stories than any other building in suburban Washington, D.C. During the council presentation on October 5, Percontee Executive Vice President Jonathan Genn said that the design would be an iconic landmark for Hyattsville. The 25-acre site is in an unincorporated area of Prince George’s County. Because the Percontee

Some city officials say paring down the number of trash pickups in Hyattsville would encourage more recycling, reduce the amount of waste being sent to the county dump and drive down costs to the city by several hundred thousand dollars. The City Council is now mulling over the option of a city-wide, one-year pilot program to reduce solid waste pickups from twiceweekly to once, a measure which has some residents questioning how the sanitation needs of the city will continue to be met. Residents at a recent council meeting raised a variety of concerns, ranging from rats to odor to the money being spent to alert residents about the change. “I wonder what will happen about the stench and flies,” said resident Lewis Knight. Some council members also seemed to oppose the plan. "[This will be] a tremendous issue in the city of Hyattsville," said Ruth Ann Frazier (Ward 5). "Mark my words." To help stem the possibility of overflowing trash, the council will consider making additional Toters available to residents, Mayor William Gardiner said. According to Assistant City Administrator Vincent Jones, the city picks up trash from about 3,400 households twice weekly. There are four trucks with a three-man crew on each. The proposal before council is to use two trucks, and: •Routes 1 and 2, now with Monday and Thursday pickup, will become Monday pickup. • Routes 3 and 4, now with

PHOTO COURTESY OF PERCONTEE The centerpiece of the Belcrest Plaza proposal is a 33-story skyscraper.

BELCREST continued on page 10

HEARD AROUND HYATTSVILLE

Hyattsville Life & Times PO Box 132 Hyattsville, MD 20781

HLT asked: “What will your children be doing for Halloween?” The respondents were all parents of young children.

"We'll stay in the neighborhood. Everybody here goes all out for Halloween." — Tamara Briggs (son and daughter)

"My wife will take the kids trick-ortreating." — James Brodie (son and daughter)

"We're going to the pumpkin-patch farm." —Rahassan McKellJeffers (son)

"We'll be at home, trick-or-treating with our neighbors." — Christopher Salazar (daughter)

TRASH continued on page 8

Included: The october 14, 2009 Issue of The Hyattsville Reporter — See Center Section

Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2009

Page 2

FromTheEditor How to get to know your neighbors? Porch talk

T

he three men were sitting on the front porch of the house on 42nd Ave. I had often seen them when I was out walking and it always seemed they were enjoying themselves. So one day I stopped and introduced myself and talked with them. Actually, I mostly listened. “I live in that apartment building right there, but I’m here a lot. I know who walks up and down the street,” said David. He stopped and waved at the driver of a passing car, who honked back. “We really look out for each other.” “No crime happens while we’re around,” agreed his friend Scott.

A community newspaper chronicling the life and times of Hyattsville Mailing address: PO Box 132, Hyattsville, MD 20781 Hyattsville Life & Times is published monthly by Hyattsville Community Newspaper, Inc., a 501c(3) nonprofit corporation. Interested reporters should send their e-mail addresses to the editor to be reminded of deadlines and receive internal news. Articles and news submitted may be edited. The deadline is the last week of the month for the following month’s issue. Letters to the editor and opinions are encouraged. For all e-mail correspondence with HL&T: news, features, tips, advertising and business write to hyattsvillelifeandtimes@gmail.com. To submit articles, letters to the editor, etc. , e-mail Hyattsvillelifeandtimes@gmail.com. Executive Editor Paula Minaert paula@hyattsvillelife.com 301-335-2519 Managing Editor Susie Currie susie@hyattsvillelife.com Contributing Editor Sarah Nemeth Editorial Intern Allison Lyons Production Ashley Perks Advertising Department advertising@hyattsvillelife.com Writers & Contributors Daniel Hart Victoria Hille Tim Hunt Cassie Johnson Hugh Turley Board of Directors Julia Duin - President Jamie Aycock - General Counsel Chris Currie -Treasurer Paula Minaert - Ex Officio Circulation: Copies are distributed monthly by U.S. Mail to every address in Hyattsville. Additional copies are distributed to libraries, selected businesses, community centers and churches in the city. Total circulation is 7,500. HL&T is a member of the National Newspaper Association.

“We know what’s going on. The police know us and they all wave to us. We sit out here and we barbeque and have a beer — but we stay out of trouble. And the police are outstanding. You call them, they come.” “We’re all neighbors,” said the third man, Robert. “Love thy neighbor. And we love our church.” He pointed to the First Baptist Church across the street. I asked if they’d grown up in the city. “I did,” said Scott. “I went to Hyattsville Elementary and the junior high and Northwestern. I started out on Farragut St., then I lived near St. Jerome School, and now I’m here.” “Not me,” said David. “I came out of D.C., the inner city, and it was

rough, especially when crack cocaine hit. I did drugs for years before I gave it up. But I totally changed my life around after I moved here. Now I got my daughter living with me and my grandson, too.” “This man David’s my best friend,” Robert told me. “I knew him from when we were kids. Then when I was in trouble I called him — he was my last resort. And he said come on out. And here I am.” “Yeah, Robert’s a deacon at the church now,” David said. “I am, too. From drugs to deacons. You know, I got three people off the streets to come join the church. When you’re in trouble, you got to seek a higher power. Talk to somebody.”

Legend

I asked Scott if he was connected to the church, too. “No, I don’t get involved with organized religion. Too much politics. But I’m a Christian. I got a strong faith. You know, atheism, I just don’t understand. I think everyone believes in something, even atheists.” All three men work. Robert works for the First Baptist Church. “I was a plasterer and painter and drywall man,” David told me. “But I found out a while back I got diabetes. Now I do handyman stuff.” Scott said he’s a printer, and has done landscaping and a bit of everything. “You know, I feel a little bit like a blacksmith in the old days, with

everything changing so much. I know about computers, because I’m a printer. But I’d rather talk to someone than email. Or text. I pick up the phone.” A woman walked up to the porch from the church and greeted the men. They introduced me to her. “This is Peggy,” said Robert. “She lives right around the corner.” They told her I work for the newspaper and I was there listening to them tell stories. “Oh, I love Hyattsville,” Peggy said. The men nodded agreement. And I thought that meeting these people provided a nice counterbalance to any bad news one might hear about the city.

LORE

and

by Paula Minaert

The legends of Fox Barn, Holden house

T

he lights flickered off and on; the bedroom door swung open. Strong, sure footsteps echoed and bounced off the walls and then … a pause. Lying in bed, the couple froze, wondering, “Is there someone in the room?” That was a few years ago, but the owner of Fox's Barn can still can point to the place in her bedroom where whatever it was stopped and stood still for a few moments before leaving in the same way it came. The two of them never saw the ghost, yet they heard and felt it there. They knew they were not alone. But who is the ghost who likes to flick the living-room lights on and off and made that late-night visit to the master bedroom? Perhaps he is the distressed father, Gilbert Fox, who, as legend has it, built the lovely house as a wedding gift for his daughter, only to see her move with her husband to California less than three years later. And there are other homes in town where spectral sightings aren’t limited to Oct. 31. On Gallatin Street, a noisy ghost makes an occasional appearance at the Lewis Holden House. Could it be Mr. Holden himself, the first owner, unable to leave his gracious home? Maybe. But former owner Sharon Sweeting, who was convinced of ghostly visitations, had another theory. “Daddy” Asay, a shell-shocked veteran of WWII, lived and died in the residence in the 1940s. His wife was a teetotaling Baptist Sunday School teacher, but not him; when the Sweetings refinished a back porch, they found dozens of empty beer cans hidden underneath it. Sweeting thinks that it was Asay who regularly turned on the stereo in the middle of the night and (in a drunken stupor?) banged on a stairwell door until she had the door removed.

PHOTO BY PAUL HRUSA Perhaps the ghost in Fox's Barn is the distressed father, Gilbert Fox, who built this lovely house as a wedding gift for his daughter. Although she never saw him, he made his presence known through midnight music in the living room and clomping up the back stairwell. For the record, the current owner chalks up unusual noises in the house to an ancient airconditioning system. Still, it seems that some former residents of Hyattsville like the city so much that they never leave. “Legend & Lore,” a bimonthly column on significant stories, events and people from

Hyattsville's past, is written by Hyattsville Preservation Association president Kimberly Schmidt. The next HPA meetings are Oct. 14, to discuss the 2010 Historic House Tour and hear from Benjamin Moore representatives about the new VOC (oil-free) paints, and Oct. 29, when students from University of Maryland's School of Architecture present “Developing a Pattern Book for Hyattsville.” Both meetings are at 7:30 p.m. in the Hyattsville Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin Street.

Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2009

Page 3

Ward 3 candidates speak out Taunya L. Jenkins, DDS, LLC by Daniel Hart The following people are running to fill the City Council seat open in Ward 3. The special election will be held Nov. 10, the day after our next issue goes to press.

What are Ward 3’s biggest issues and how would you address them? “Development, and I intend to address that by looking out for the current residents, incorporating their viewpoints, and being a vocal advocate for development that blends in with our communities. Crime and safety [have to be] the top priorities of any local government [in] keeping its residents safe. Addressing the crime issue [would involve] working with our excellent police department, and working with the community action teams established to directly respond to residents’ concerns and needs. I think that’s a good program, and I look forward to continuing to use the community action team program to benefit all the residents of Hyattsville, including Ward 3. Our officer, Officer Smith, has been very responsive to neighborhood concerns, and we look forward to that relationship continuing. [Another] challenge is maintaining a community atmosphere. We’ve got a lot of very different people, which makes this community great, and we need to develop that human capital to all work together and move forward in a constructive and productive fashion.”

What do you think are Hyattsville’s top three challenges? [First is] the implementation of the once-a-week trash pilot program, which is on the table right now. I think it’s going to be a difficult period implementing this pilot program, and I look forward to it going as smoothly as possible. [The second challenge is] budget constraints. With our last budget cycle, in order to balance the budget, we will use two-thirds of the general fund that we had. In the next few years, things will start to get pretty tight, and I think we need to work with city residents and other members of the council in order to best allocate our city resources. That’s probably the biggest challenge in a broad sense. The third challenge [relates to] development. The new Belcrest Plaza proposal is a great concern of mine, and I look forward to city leaders opposing the scale of that project. At the same time, I understand that the city government really doesn’t have much pull over how this project moves forward, but as much as possible we need to encourage development that not only boosts the local economy, but also blends in with our existing communities without adversely affecting our quality of life.

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Name: Timothy P. Hunt Age: 36 Years in Hyattsville: 8 years Family: Married with 2 children Educational Background: BS in elementary education with a mathematics specialization from West Virginia University; Bishop Ireton High School (Alexandria, Va.) Current Occupation(s): Stay-at-home Dad Civic Experience: Treasurer of the University Hills Civic Association; past vice president of the Hyattsville Life & Times What motivated you to run for council? "I look forward to serving the community, listening to residents, and dealing with residents on a day-to-day basis as to what their concerns are. I think [what]’s most important is to gather feedback from the residents and then apply it to policies and procedures that the city council will undertake. Another thing that is quite important to me is transparency in local government. We need to be transparent as to how we’re spending our tax money and as to how we’re enacting and enforcing policies, and I think some of that’s been lacking in the past. I look forward to not being afraid of diverging opinions, getting the views of all the residents and moving forward from there."

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FULL SERVICE JEWELER Name: Shirley A. Bender Age: 62 Years in Hyattsville: 15 years Family: 1 daughter Educational Background: Cardozo High School (Washington, D.C.), some college Current Occupation(s): Retired from the Federal Government (Program Administrative Assistant; worked for the Cancer Institute from NIH) Civic Experience: Informal “block captain” for neighborhood in charge of working with city officials for the community What motivated you to run for council? One of my neighbors approached me [about] the Council seat and she nominated me for [it], and I said ‘Okay, I appreciate that, and I [will] accept it.’ What do you think are Hyattsville’s top three challenges? Right now, they’re talking about only having one trash pickup, and I think this is a big topic. I think it’s going to create a lot of rodent [problems]. Number two, I think we need more safety officials, like policemen, for the safety of the citizens of Hyattsville in general, because they’re cutting back due to the economy. What are Ward 3’s biggest issues and how would you address them? I feel that one of the biggest issues is diversity, because I feel that we don’t have togetherness, and this is something that needs to be addressed. When you have diversity, it means you have to address everyone’s issues, and I don’t believe everyone’s issues [are currently] being addressed. That’s one of the things that I’m going to work on if I am elected by the residents of Ward 3.”

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Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2009

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What to know before you go: An insider's guide to a few of our favorite spots. 1) Value Village (Adelphi) Great for clothes, shoes, toys, baby gear, and housewares. Not much furniture. They always have bikes outside. Very small book section. Antiques now and then. Address: 2277 University Blvd. E. Phone: 301.422.2406 Hours: Mon - Sat, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sun, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Discounts: Monday, 25% off. Thursdays, 25 % off with a discount card, available free any day but Thursday. Federal holidays, 50% off.

2) Value Village/Unique Thrift Store (White Oak) Two stores, one location. Great for clothes, shoes, housewares. More furniture than University Blvd. store, but not a lot of selection or turnover. Antiques now and then. Dressing rooms! Address: 10121 New Hampshire Ave. Phone: 301.431.7450 Hours: Mon - Sat, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sun, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Discounts: Monday, 25% off. Thursdays, 25 % off with a discount card, available free any day but Thursday. Federal holidays, 50% off.

3) Salvation Army (Bladensburg) Great for furniture, housewares, and clothes. Shoe selection is small and overpriced. Often have lawn mowers, patio furniture. Big book section, no toys. Address: 3304 Kenilworth Ave. Phone: 301.403.1704 Hours: Mon - Sat, 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (until 9

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Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2009

Page 5

Thrift stores: fun, legal, smart, and green By Amira Aycock My heart skipped a beat as I raced out of the store and through the parking lot. I sighed with relief as I turned my van onto the street and the adrenaline rush made way for feelings of calm elation. “I can’t believe I just did that! I can’t believe I just paid $3 for that fancy European stroller in perfect condition that retails for $179 plus shipping! And $18 for 40 pieces of brand new Crate & Barrel dishes!” For some of us, thrift store shopping is so much fun, it should be a crime. Not only is it fun and perfectly legal, it’s also smart, green, and good for the community. Why pay $16.99 at Target for a pair of so-so quality boys’ pants when you can pay $2 for a like-new, higher quality pair at Value Village? And let’s face it: When your son “decorates” them with black Magic Markers 17 minutes after you bring them home, you’ll be a lot less angry if he’s wearing the $2 pair. Thrifting is also great for the environment, keeping things out of landfills and reducing demand for new products. Most thrift stores give most or all of their profits to charitable organizations (like the Salvation Army), so you can save money, help the earth, and help people at the same time! Also, you can donate your gentlyused toys, books, clothes, VHS

movies, and life-size fiber-optic Santa at the same time. But remember, if you wouldn't buy an item in its current condition, probably no one else will either. Try Freecycle—our area has its very own group at http://groups.yahoo. com/group/FreecycleADHY/. Now that you’ve decided you are never going to pay full price for anything ever again (and when you do, you’ll wonder whether you should just swing by the Salvation Army one more time on the way to see if they have it today), here are some tips for a successful trip. Know quality. Paying $3.99 for a pair of used Wal-Mart shoes

is not a good deal. Paying $9.99 for like-new leather shoes you just saw for $100 at Nordstrom is. I spend time examining highend products at retail stores, asking questions and getting to know quality. While at the thrift store, I scan quickly, distinguishing the good stuff from the junk. Be open-minded and organized. If you go to a thrift store looking for one specific thing, you’re likely to be disappointed

(though I have had good luck at Value Village, due to their sheer volume of merchandise). If you keep a list of your family and household needs/wants, however, you might not find the right size dress shirt you need (on this visit; see below) but you could find the Power Ranger toys your kids have been begging you for (for $1 instead of $10), allowing you to cross “birthday gift” off your list. Go often and develop a routine. I go to my favorite stores once every week or two. There is so much merchandise turnover that it’s worth the effort. I usually take the same path through the store. Know which store is best for what you’re looking for, and take advantage of discount days. The Salvation Army has great furniture selection and quick turnover. Value Village is better for clothing and shoes, as well as housewares and jewelry. Each store has discount days and policies. I’ve found great deals at Value Village on federal holidays (when everything is 50% off), but this experience is not for the fainthearted or those shy about claiming parking spaces. For more insider tips on how to

get the most out of your shopping trip, see the accompanying chart on the opposite page. And if you’ve scored a great buy, or have a favorite store, we’d love to hear about it. Contact hyattsvillelifeandtimes@gmail.com. Happy shopping!

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Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2009

Page 6

COMMUNITY CALENDAR cases Midnight Blues, an exhibit of local artwork that opens today and runs through December 31. Free. 5121 Baltimore Avenue. 301.927.2740. Gather 'round tonight's Fall Campfire for ghost stories and roasted marshmallows. $1. 7 p.m. Marietta House Museum, 5626 Bell Station Road, Glenn Dale. 301.464.5291.

October 17 & 18

be led by a naturalist. Ages 5 and up. $10 per canoe for residents, $12 non-residents. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Bladensburg Waterfront Park. 4601 Annapolis Road, Bladensburg. 301.779.0371.

Joe's Movement Emporium celebrates the long-awaited opening of the Meyer Foundation Theater this weekend with a grand opening concert featuring performances by aerial artists, drummers, and dancers on Saturday from 8 to 10 p.m. The schedule for Sunday's open house, from noon to 5 p.m., includes classes, demonstrations, and, beginning at noon, an open rehearsal for "Thriller," with another set for Oct. 24. Concert prices are $100 each, $25 for under 18; the open house is free. 3309 Bunker Hill Road, Mount Rainier. 301.699.1819.

October 23 The Riversdale Mansion marks Edgar Allan Poe's bicentennial with A Taste of Amontillado, an adults-only evening of scary stories -- including, of course, "The Cask of Amontillado." $25 resident, $28 non-resident; registration required by October 19. 7:30 p.m. 4811 Riverdale Road, Riverdale Park. 301.864.0420.

October 21

October 24

Paddle along this evening at the Anacostia River Canoe Tour, which will

Art and food pair up at Franklin’s when the Hyattsville Community Arts Alliance show-

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Follow the yellow brick road at the Fall Spooky Festival and Hobo Dinner in Magruder Park. There will be a Wizard of Oz trick-or-treat trail, a magician, a costume contest, and a scary movie. Free. 4 to 6 p.m. Magruder Park, 40th Avenue and Hamilton Street. 301.985.5020. Take kayak lessons and learn how to paddle like a pro from a certified instructor. Boats, paddles and life jackets will be provided. Wear clothes and shoes that can get wet! Children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Ages 10 and up. $25 resident, $30 non-resident. 1 to 5 p.m. Bladensburg Waterfront Park, 4601 Annapolis Road, Bladensburg. 301.779.0371. Though the King of Pop's funeral was months ago, it's not too late to pay homage. As part of a global effort to break the Guinness World Record for Largest "Thriller" Dance, Joe’s Movement Emporium offers free instruction for people

of all ages and experience. Open rehearsal from 6 to 7:30 p.m., followed by National Museum of American History associate curator Reuben Jackson's talk on the life and times of Michael Jackson. The performance of Thriller, expected to draw up to 200 people, is set for 8:30 p.m. to coincide with simultaneous ones throughout the world. 3309 Bunker Hill Road, Mount Rainier. 301.699.1819.

October 25 First Baptist Church of Hyattsville welcomes new pastor Todd Thomason with an installation ceremony followed by a reception. 3 p.m. 5701 42nd Ave. 301.927.0545. CALENDAR continued on page 7

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR

CALENDAR

handcrafted items from India, Vietnam, Kenya, South Africa and Peru. Free. Friday 4 to 9 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hyattsville Mennonite Church, 4217 EastWest Highway. 301.927.7327.

continued from page 6

October 30 School's out today, but Riversdale offers a lesson in Hands-on History: Edgar Allan Poe's Apprentice. Children ages 10 to 14 will make crafts and participate in other activities to celebrate the late poet. $15 resident, $18 nonresident; register by October 23. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Riversdale House Museum, 4811 Riverdale Road, Riverdale Park. 301.864.0420.

November 7 Explore the woodlands on a Nature Hike led by a naturalist. $2 residents, $4 non-residents. 10 to 11:30 a.m. Bladensburg Waterfront Park. 4601 Annapolis Road, Bladensburg. 301.779.0371.

November 8 October 30 & 31 Take a history-themed haunted hike at the Mayhem in Marlborough Ghost Walk. Costumed guides will lead tours every 20 minutes. Not for children under 6. $6 adults, $4 children ages 6 to 15. 7 to 9 p.m. Darnall’s Chance House Museum, 14800 Gov. Oden Bowie Drive, Upper Marlboro. 301.952.8010.

October 31 Dress up in costume and bring the family to Flight Night at the

College Park Aviation Museum. There will be arts, crafts and hayrides. $4. 7 to 10 p.m. 1985 Cpl. Frank Scott Drive, College Park. 301.864.6029.

November 6 Get your ovens ready for the 10th Annual Gingerbread House Contest. Entry forms and a $5 registration fee are due today; houses should be delivered to Darnall’s Chance by November 22 between noon and 4 p.m., and will be on display until December 13. There

will be one category for adults and one for children ages 8 to 16. The judges will award three ribbons in two categories: adults and children (ages 8 to 16). Darnall’s Chance House Museum, 14800 Governor Oden Bowie Drive, Upper Marlboro. Call 301.952.8010 to receive an entry form.

As part of its Hollywood Flyers series, the College Park Aviation Museum will screen "Flying Leathernecks," starring John Wayne. The movie is free with admission and includes lemonade and popcorn. $4 adults, $3 seniors, $2 ages 18 and under. 1 p.m. 1985 Cpl. Frank Scott Drive, College Park. 301.864.6029.

November 6 & 7 Ongoing Pick up jewelry, pottery, toys and other fairly traded items at the 24th annual International Craft Sale. This event features

The Gwendolyn Britt Senior Activity Center has a full schedule of events for those 60 and

Hyattsville Farmers Market N E P O RU H T CT. O Tuesdays 2-6 pm

over: line dancing, billiards, card and mah-jongg games, a choir, a book club, a piano bar happy hour, health seminars and screenings, daytrips and more. Many activities are free. Open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 4009 Wallace Road, North Brentwood. 301-699-1238. The Hyattsville Branch Library offers a number of Story Times each week. Ages 9-23 months: Mondays at 10:15 a.m. Ages 2-3 years: Mondays at 11 a.m. and Tuesdays at 10:15 a.m. Ages 3-5: Tuesdays at 11 a.m. English-Spanish ages 3-6: Saturdays 10:30 a.m. Limited admission; pick up free ticket at Children’s Desk. 6530 Adelphi Rd. 301.985.4690. Community Calendar is compiled by Allison Lyons and Susie Currie. It's a select listing of events happening in and around Hyattsville from the 15th of the issue month to the 15th of the following month. To submit an item for consideration, please e-mail hyattsvillelifeandtimes@gmail.com or mail to P.O. Box 132, Hyattsville, MD 20781. Deadline for November submissions is October 23.

Fall C rops Now In! Appl es, A

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Visit your local award-winning farmers MD State Fair Grand Champion 2009

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Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2009

Page 8

COMMENTARY AND OPINION ON HISTORY & POLITICS

Hugh’sNews Our secret history by Hugh Turley

A

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decade ago, all the news was about Monica Lewinsky and Kenneth Starr. “The Starr Report” concerned the investigation of sexual misconduct by President Bill Clinton. Starr had not been appointed to investigate President Clinton’s relationship with Monica Lewinsky. Starr was made Independent Counsel by a three-judge panel of the Special Division of the U.S. Court of Appeals to investigate “Whitewater and related matters,” which included the death of Deputy White House Counsel Vincent W. Foster. The intent was that Starr’s investigation would be independent of the Justice Department and FBI, which had already investigated Foster’s death twice. Starr’s lead investigator of Foster’s death, associate independent counsel Miguel Rodriguez, resigned after Starr used the FBI to reinvestigate itself. Rodriguez asked: “How independent can Starr really be when he was being supplied by the very same agency…that did the investigation under question – the same people?” Rodriguez recalled that when he suggested to Starr’s associates that it might be a good idea to use different FBI agents for the investigation, “they went through the roof!” In his opinion, “it was a

complete sham job.” After Starr submitted his report on Foster’s death to the three-judge panel, the court ordered Starr to include additional evidence from grand-jury witness Patrick Knowlton, who had been at Fort Marcy Park (where Foster’s body was found). The independent counsel statute provided that persons named in the report could ask the court to include comments and factual information to ensure the report would be fair and complete. The additional evidence from the official investigative records contradicted Starr’s conclusion of “suicide” on several points: the victim’s car was not at the park, the victim did not own the gun, there was a gunshot wound in the neck, and crime scene photos and autopsy x-rays were missing. Knowlton also provided evidence that he was the victim of witness intimidation by Starr’s staff. Starr asked the judges to reconsider and argued that the additional evidence should not be included in the final report. The very next day, judges David Sentelle, John Butzner and Peter Fay denied Starr’s motion and again ordered the evidence to be included in the report. This marked the first time in history that an independent counsel was ordered to include evidence

of criminal activity by his own investigators in his own report. On October 10, 1997, the court of appeals released the 137-page report with the evidence of criminal activity in the appendix. The release of the long-awaited report was publicized in nearly every American newspaper, but not one media outlet reported the existence and contents of the appendix. This month marks the 12th anniversary of the ongoing media suppression of news of high-level criminal activity. The report, complete with appendix, is available at major university libraries, including the University of Maryland’s McKeldin Library. For now, Monica Lewinsky is Starr’s legacy. When our history is unrecorded it is as if it never really happened.

TRASH

continued from page 1 Monday and Thursday pickup, will become Thursday pickup. •Routes 1 and 2, now with Tuesday and Friday pickup, will become Tuesday pickup •Routes 3 and 4, now with a Tuesday and Friday pickup, will become a Friday pickup The schedule for recycling, provided by Prince George’s County, will not be altered. The cost savings to the city would be between $231,560 and $398,665, according to a management and efficiency study conducted earlier this year. Some of that savings would be realized through staff cuts, the proposal states. Such a move bothers some residents like Nina Faye. “All of the flyers and calendars being distributed about the trash pickup are costing more money than they can possibly be saving,” she said, adding that she was given a flyer by a man who was going door to door, so “obviously they have extra people in the workforce right now.” Gardiner said that during the pilot program, displaced trash truck workers would fill in as needed in the city's public works department or collect trash in public parks and rights-of-way. “When the pilot is over, the city [would] have to make a determination on what is the best way to use the additional staff resources, or if at that time we have more staff resources than we need,” Gardiner said. After a series of three public meetings that ended on Oct. 3, the council is scheduled to vote on the pilot later this month.

Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2009

Page 9

TO HELP YOU NOURISH A TRANQUIL LIFE

MissFloribunda Dear Miss Floribunda, I am getting old and arthritic and planting bulbs in the fall is getting to be a chore I don't want to continue for many more years. I have been planting naturalizing varieties of daffodils, snowdrops, iris reticulata, squills and grape hyacinths, which are quite lovely. But my favorites are tulips because to me they are the monarchs of the spring garden. Which varieties will come back year after year? Creaky on Crittenden Street Dear Creaky, Your monarchs have an august history indeed, and many of them are named for royalty. In the 17th century they were so highly prized that financial speculators inflated their cost to the point where only the wealthiest could afford them. The tulip was the favorite flower of Louis XIV of France. Then the bubble burst, with consequences analogous to that of the housing market today. Eventually tulips could be found in the most humble cottage garden. But wherever they are, they bring a regal presence. I consulted the retired head of landscaping at the Franciscan Monastery in Washington, D.C., Brother Florilegius. He told me that he routinely planted 10,000 tulip bulbs a year there, and always had them dug up and replaced because he found that very often even those that repeat don’t come back “true.” But for your own garden, he recommended the faithfully repeating Species tulips, which are very close to the original wild tulips of Iran

and Turkey. They bloom very early and though short-stemmed come in gorgeous colors. His favorites are the magenta Persian Pearl and the more pastel Lilac Wonder. Other pretty repeaters are the early-blooming Greigii and Kaufmannia tulips. The red-and-white striped Plaisir and the red-and-yellow Pinocchio have great charm, as has the solid-carmine colored Red Riding Hood. For later tulips that are tall and more majestic, he recommends the Darwin Hybrids, especially the Apeldoorn group. Also very imposing are the Triumphs, and the Fosterianas, notably the hugecupped Emperors — Red, White, Orange, and Yellow. However, Brother Florilegius confided that almost no tulip (with the exception of the Species and the Apeldoorns) will repeat for more than seven years unless you take precautions not to let the bulb send up new minitulips. If you see shoots, you should dig up the tulip bulb, remove the offsets, and replant. Also, you should deadhead the tulips after blooming and not let seed pods form. However unsightly it seems, allow the foliage to die back to let energy return to the bulb. On the other hand, he says, almost any variety of tulip will last for several years if you are vigilant about removing offsets and seed pods, if you feed them each autumn, and plant them in the sun. Evidently, the solar energy going back into the bulb makes it good to go for another season. For more suggestions, and to share your own experience, please come to our next meeting. Please call 301.277.7129 for information.

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LifeNotes Kid therapy, adult approved By Cassie Johnson

E

very year, my friend Sandra has a prolonged session of what she calls “therapy” by planning and hosting a tea party. It generally takes months to pull it all together for the thirty or so ladies she invites, and she’s recognized as a master crafter among the partygoers. One of her more memorable themes was “The Wizard of Oz,” and beginning with her yellowbrick-road walkway, Sandra transported her guests to an imaginary land. Each table was decorated with everything Oz, from oilcan flowerpots to tea mugs with pictures of the main characters to goody bags that included poppy seeds to plant. The lively backdrop to all of this was the movie classic in its marvelous Technicolor® beauty. Women from 20-something to 60-plus came dressed as witches, cowardly lions, scarecrows, and even the yellow-brick road! Sandra was Dorothy, of course — right down to the ruby slippers. The ultimate host, she skillfully coordinated games, a “tea” video, and even a creative presentation of the platters of delicious food. As we savored exotic teas we played and laughed out loud at even the silliest things. And before departing the Emerald City each of us was presented with a Doctorate of Thankology from the Universitea of Oz. It was all fabulous and great fun.

I still smile when I think of the imaginative way Sandra found to tap into our youthful selves. For a few hours on a Saturday we traveled a colorful road among friends. Not only that, she gave us a way to return. Gifting her guests with the Wizard of Oz mugs was Sandra’s inspired way to help us recapture all the craziness and laughter of that day. My first sip of tea from that cup always puts me right there and lightens my mood. How long has it been since you enjoyed the freedom of kid-dom? Going back doesn’t have to be as elaborate as my friend’s tea party. It could be as simple as munching popcorn and watching favorite childhood movies or current kid fare like "Spongebob Squarepants." And with Halloween coming up, the possibilities are grand. Kids don’t have dibs on All Hallows’ Eve fun, you know. Adults can join the party. Just ask my sister Susan. Her anticipation of Halloween rivals a child’s excitement at Christmas. She wouldn’t dream of letting the evening pass without costume, tricks, treats and games galore with neighborhood munchkins. Sandra and Susan and their kindred spirits — those who keep imagination and youthful hearts open — are the truly liberated adults among us. I want to be just like them when I grow up. Cassie Johnson is a Reiki Master/Teacher. Contact her at cassie_reikienergy@ verizon.net.

Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2009

Page 10

BELCREST

continued from page 1

Sarah’sSoliloquies Slip-shod service while sho By Sarah Nemeth

I

still remember that art class — 12th grade. We were studying pointillism, the art form where varying sizes of dots make up a picture, and I chose to create a medallion based on a photograph from a CD called "My Utmost for His Highest." It was a pair of feet — nailed to a cross. Kind of morbid, but I saw strength there. My classmates and I had several

conversations about our feelings about feet. Most of them thought I was ridiculous to have an appreciation for feet as the foundation of the human body. Our growth is also supported by a growth plate located in our ankles. And when we don't have the right support for our feet, they can't do their job correctly. I went to buy shoes a couple weeks ago. It is so difficult to find the right ones. I don't remember ever having to buy shoes that would be functional for my job. I could always get

away with the cheap-os at Payless or Wal-Mart (I love those stores). But now, I'm on my feet most of the day at work and I can't bear that feeling like you're scuffling on hot tarmac caused by too-thin soles. So, thinking it was time for an upgrade, I headed to Macy's. It took me nearly two hours there to find the right fit. Gone are the days when shoe salesmen would sit you down, measure your foot and hustle back and forth from the storeroom to offer you different options. When I was a kid I used to love getting new shoes. They fit so perfectly and I just felt better in new saddle shoes or patent-leather pumps. The feel of the sales clerk's big hands on my little kid feet used to intimidate me. Those hands could wrap around my entire foot nearly twice (I have little feet)! What I would give for that feeling again – that someone would care enough about my shodding. During my recent shoe-shopping venture, I had to wait at least 10 minutes between each size and type I tried on. It was a very stressful experience. I ended up with two pairs – one flat, one heeled – and neither is very comfortable. I wish I could just buy tennis shoes and play in my sandbox all day.

Wow! In no time, I started to receive calls and I now have three regular clients as a direct result of advertising in the Hyattsville Life & Times. Also, we got several move-out cleaning jobs. Of all the papers I’ve tried, without a doubt you all are hands-down the most effective and I plan to advertise with you from now on!

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proposal would require a zoning change, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is seeking comment from the neighboring municipalities of Hyattsville and University Park in deciding whether or not to allow the change. If approved by the M-NCPPC planning board, the matter would be brought to the M-NCPPC District Council, which consists of the members of the Prince George’s County Council, for further review and a final decision. Steve Gang, who heads Lessard’s Urban Design Group, said, “This will give P.G. County and Hyattsville another shot. ‌ It’s a dramatic vision.â€? The development would have townhomes, low-rise multifamily homes and high-rise condominiums. Planned amenities — for residents only — include a gym, swimming pool and basketball court. Then there is the 289,000 square feet of commercial space. Stuart Eisenberg, the executive director of the Hyattsville Community Development Corporation, said that these will “offer more local employment opportunities,â€? but Ward 3 council candidate Tim Hunt disagreed: “The office space that’s there now is sitting vacant.â€? Councilman Matthew D. McKnight (Ward 3) said, “It’s an area that needs some changes, but I’m not sure this proposal is the right one.â€? If the plan goes through, the people who live in Belcrest Plaza now are expected to leave.

The management would stop accepting new tenants by next year, and construction on the new buildings would begin in about two years. Genn said, “If, for any reason, tenants are still there when we begin construction, then we will relocate them at our cost.� This new housing would be able to handle over 2,750 people, but could the roads? “We have the University of Maryland, and we’re between two major intersections,"

" This will give P.G. County and Hyattsville another shot. ‌ It’s a dramatic vision." — Steve Gang Lessard's Urban Design Group

Hunt said. "I don’t think the infrastructure can handle it.� The plan is to add more passengers on the Metro, not on the road. Genn described the development as “getting away from an automobile-dependent suburban lifestyle.� “There will be less than allowed parking space in hopes of motivating people to take the Metro," said Eisenberg, adding that Metro shuttles may be offered. Longtime civic activist Judy Robinson, who has “fought against development in this area more times than I care to count,� supports the project, saying that she thought it would benefit University Hills and raise property values. "The design is absolutely beautiful," she said after the presentation, "It would be rather unique in the county.�

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Hyattsville Life & Times | October 2009

Page 11

CRIME

continued from page 1 “The nature of our calls has changed because Hyattsville has changed. Before, the police didn’t get too many calls after midnight. Now there’s a 14-unit movie theater, restaurants that serve alcohol, and a 900-bed student housing. We get more calls about parties, crowds, and noise.� Holland attributes the drop in some categories of crime partly to new policing strategies, such as getting information out almost immediately to officers on patrol, posting weekly police reports to the community, focusing patrols in problem areas, and overlapping patrol schedules in order to provide extra police coverage at needed times. Some city residents are pleased with the current state of affairs. Jim Groves said, “I'm happy with the state of crime — or the lack thereof — in the city. We have the largest police force we have ever had. Being less than five miles from a major city, I'd have to say that I think we are doing very well.� Scott Chappell agreed. “I feel Hyattsville is a safe area — certainly the neighborhoods that have been part of Hyattsville for a long time are safe. There’s some crime, but that’s no different from anywhere else.� Council member Paula Perry

(Ward 4), however, said that there appears to be a higher crime rate in her West Hyattsville neighborhood than in other parts of the city. “I’m getting a lot of drug-related complaints from my residents. People are finding — and I’ve found — little plastic baggies in front of [our] houses. Kids are sitting on a fence passing a joint around. And there’s vandalism of cars. Some people feel forced to stay inside." The bad news about crime in Hyattsville is that assaults have gone up. Sixty-two assaults were reported in 2008 and the figure for 2009 as of August 31 is 76. That increase, according to Lt. Gary Blakes, can be attributed to the economic downturn. Chief Holland said that one of the best actions residents could take against crime is to form Neighborhood Watch groups. “We — the police and the residents — need to make improvements in this area. We only have three active groups right now. It would have a tremendous impact to have more. The police help with them. We attend meetings, give guidance — but it needs to start with the residents. And it really builds community.� Residents interested in starting a Neighborhood Watch group should call the police non-emergency number, 301.985.5060, to get information.

Jan.- June Reported Crimes, Five Year Comparison

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Page 12

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