Marriott at Metro by Sarah Nemeth
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n eight-floor, 93,000-square-foot. Marriott Courtyard hotel planned for the corner area of Belcrest Road and East West Highway will have 162 rooms, meeting rooms, and a restaurant inside. The hotel is being proposed by Taylor Development and will meet all the minimum constraints set forth in the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s Transit District Overlay Zone, said Taylor representative Ed Gibbs at a Sept. 2 meeting of the Hyattsville Planning Committee. Gibbs said the hotel will add “synergy” to the existing retail and residential components of the land, which is situated just east of the Prince George’s Plaza Metro station and garage. “[The] architects have been studious to maintain the same building materials … as used in the residential component,” he said. The building will be made of brick, metal and EIFS – which is also called synthetic stucco – in similar colors to the Mosaic at Metro buildings, Gibbs said. An existing gas station also at the corner of Belcrest and East West will not be part of the project, he said. However, there will be a landscaped buffer between the gas station and the hotel, said Tom Galle, of Marriott International Inc. According to Galle, Courtyard hotels are, “a businessman’s hotel without the hustle and bustle,” and are “geared toward a transient business traveler.” There are Courtyards on Embassy Row in Washington, D.C. and in Tysons, Va. along
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Vol. 5 No. 9
Hyattsville’s Community Newspaper
September 2008
At park, it’s all fun & games
by Olivia Overman and Sarah Nemeth
L
ocated just outside Washington, D.C. in the City of Hyattsville, the 32-acre Magruder Park offers opportunities to work, play and socialize throughout the year. The fields are rich with foliage, including forested areas with native plant life, some evergreens and magnolia trees spattered throughout the entrance. A paved path lined
with baby trees wraps around soccer fields and offers a place for bicyclists, dog walkers and stroller pushers to enjoy a morning routine or a relaxing meander at twilight. A small wooden plank bridge called Margo’s Bridge, is named for Hamilton Street resident Margot Nassau, a dog walker who had an unfortunate experience with the small bridge.
Legend has it that Nassau was walking her dog and her mom’s dog in the park, when the canine couple pulled so hard at their leashes that Nassau fell and broke her wrist near the bridge. It was subsequently named after her said a friend, Sarah Eisen. Owned partly by the city and partly by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, the park was donated to the city by Hyattsville resident William Pinkney Magruder in 1927. Parts of it have gone through the hands of several owners including Hillary T. Willis and his family. The original deeds from Pinkney and Willis state that the parkland is to be used for Caucasians only, according to documents provided by the city administration. Today, although the deed has not been reworded, the park is patronized by people of all color, including many Hispanic soccer teams. “The City of Hyattsville is a wel-
coming, diverse community for individuals and families of all colors, creeds and configurations,” Mayor William Gardiner said. “We still must examine how our programs and events can be more inclusive and welcoming, but we have come a long way since Magruder Park was donated with the restricted deed.” Park events are organized through permits issued by the Hyattsville Department of Recreation and the Arts, allowing people and residents to take advantage of this natural gem near the nation’s Capitol. The park is the home field for the Hyattsville/Mount Rainier/Brentwood Boys and Girls Club, which uses the fields for baseball, soccer and football. “The park currently has three baseball fields, one soccer field as well as one football field,” said Mark Tartaro, president of the HMB group. The soccer field is slated to
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Finding a place by Sarah Nemeth
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Hyattsville Life & Times PO Box 132 Hyattsville, MD 20781 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit # 43 Easton, MD 21601
he City of Hyattsville has, on occasion, taken great pains to extend its boundaries. But for the past decade has been diligently reminding media outlets that certain areas do not fall within the incorporated area’s borders. It has become fashionable for news venues like Fox 5, NPR, the Gazette and WAMU to refer to areas like Chillum, Langley Park, Avondale and parts of Landover as “Hyattsville.”Those areas are either unincorporated portions of Prince George’s County, and have specific names of their own, said Matthew McKnight, a Hyattsville resident who has studied the city’s demographics. “The biggest problem is that it just generally creates an inaccurate, usually negative perception of the town,” McKnight said. “Crime rates in Hyattsville are much lower than crime rates in the area people are calling, ‘Hyattsville.’ Poor perceptions of a neighborhood can cause our real estate market to be less than what it could be, our insurance rates to be higher than they should be … and may even have ramifications for government funding of projects in the town. If people see Hyattsville as a ‘risk,’ why are they going to invest in it?”
In May 2006, ABC ran an episode of it’s now defunct series, “Commander in Chief ” which depicted Hyattsville as a seedy area with a large amount of homicides. Mayor William Gardiner and County Executive Jack B. Johnson complained to the network and received a formal apology from ABC for the incorrect portrayal of the city. Over the past 10 years there have been 18 murders in Hyattsville, and 4 in 2008 so far, said Hyattsville Police Chief Douglas Holland. This year has had the most murders of any over the past decade. Only two zip codes include the City of Hyattsville, Gardiner said. A portion of the University Hills subdivision has a 20783 zip code, according to maps. “The Post Office uses ‘Hyattsville’ to describe about five zip codes areas … The land area is enormous compared to the city’s area, and the population of the zip code area was about 150,000 according to the 2000 Census,” he said. “The city receives many calls for service, including police calls, from county residents living outside the City of Hyattsville but in an area sometimes referred to as ‘Hyattsville’ – or des-
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Included: The September 10, 2008 Issue of The Hyattsville Reporter—See Center Section
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Hyattsville Life&Times | September 2008
Hyattsville Life&Times | September 2008
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Opinion: It’s quiet inside by Sarah Nemeth
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ne of the most enterpr ising estates in Hyattsville is Mosaic at Metro apartments — low-rent, upscale habitats located just a few hundred feet east of the Prince George’s Plaza Metro station. It’s not that the actual location is anything to write home about, but the beauty of the buildings themselves is along the lines of something I’d expect in, say, a Potomac cul-de-sac. I toured an apartment model about a month ago and was blown away by the creativity and ingenuity of things like faux marble countertops, limitless cabinet space, walk-in closet space and… ahhh…tranquility. I heard not a peep while I was inside the model, despite the buildings being bordered on the east by busy Belcrest Road and to the north by a heavily used traffic circle. Tucked
(YATTSVILLE ,IFE 4IMES
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. For inquiries re advertising rates or to submit ad copy please email to Hyattsvillelife@Yahoo.com.
inside the residential monoliths, a courtyard with swimming pool will stand as the jewel of the development. The community will also feature a clubhouse with a game room, business center and theater room. The complex (which is still under construction) is — in a word — classy. Sure, Equity Apartments’ Web site (the company is marketing the homes) boasts quips such as, “Walk to Metro,” and “Hyattsville is bursting with new shops, restaurants, entertainment and new energy,” but what will really sell these units is the solitude included in the modest rent. Despite popular (local) belief, the apartments are not government subsidized housing. The development’s unique location has made for some unique partnerships. Taylor Development, owner of the 22-acre parcel of land, including the retail portion, brought in MCF Investment Company to manage the project’s residential component. Another crucial partner in the project is the Department of Housing and Urban Development, who financed Mosaic under HUD’s 221d4 program which provides full mortgage insurance. To date only 104 projects throughout the country have been financed thus. Tom Farasy, of MCF, who is no longer a player in the project, said the loan was granted under HUD’s mission to rejuvenate areas. All of the housing is privately funded and market-rate. This is the first time HUD, a private developer and WMATA have worked together. Along similar lines, Equity Residential, who, as owner/operator, took over the 3.5 acre residential portion from Taylor, offers a program that allows residents to earn credits each month which can be
used toward the purchase of a new home or an Equity condominium. Residents are automatically enrolled in the Equity Rewards program. Here’s how it works: Equity returns 15 to 20 percent of your rent payments back to you in the form of non-cash credits. When you’re ready to buy, you can redeem your rewards certificate for discounts of up to 3 percent off the cost of a new home through Equity’s specific builders, including reductions off the purchase price, options and upgrades, or closing costs. Rent ranges from $1,145 for a 448-square-foot studio, to $2,260 for a 1,361-square-foot triple bedroom, double bath. The units have 9-foot high ceilings, air conditioning, a private patio or balcony, wall-to-wall carpeting and a fully equipped kitchen. Some of the units include fire places. The community will have a gated entrance and on-site management. While Mosaic at Metro won’t offer a typical Hyattsville experience, it will offer residents a taste of progressive Hyattsville. Its strategic location allows immediate Metro access, shopping and dining amenities and – oh yes, it’s right across the street from a Starbucks and even closer to a new Dunkin Donuts shop. Caffeine will be no problem for the residents of Mosaic. Even with its muzzle nudging Belcrest Road closer than a bear on honey, the project is surprisingly at peace with itself and its close quarters. I was a world away while viewing the “working” courtyard. So maybe Mosaic is a slice of “typical Hyattsville” after all. For more information, visit www. equityapartments.com or stop at the sales office located just northeast of the Metro garage
Commentary and opinion on history & politics
Hugh’sNews A proper memorial
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his month at the Pentagon a memorial will be dedicated to the 184 victims who died on Sept. 11, 2001. One of those victims was my high school ROTC instructor, Max Beilke. On March 29, 1973 Max Beilke was the “official last man” to leave Vietnam the United States was ending its direct military presence in Vietnam. When tragedy struck the morning of Sept. 11 people wondered what had happened. The names and the number of victims would not be known for weeks. The following day The Washington Post described how American Airlines Flight 77 approached the Pentagon, “the unidentified pilot executed a pivot so tight that it reminded observers of a fighter jet maneuver … Aviation sources said the plane was flown with extraordinary skill.” Within days the names of 19 terrorist hijackers were publicized. On Sept. 16, Hani Hanjour was named as the hijacker and pilot aboard American Airlines Flight 77. The Washington Post said, “Federal records show Hani Hanjoor [sic] obtained a commercial pilot’s license in April of 1999 with a rating to fly commercial jets.” When Hanjour’s name appeared in the press, Marcel Bernard, the chief flight instructor at the Freeway Airport in Mitchellville, contacted
authorities and reported that Hanjour had visited the airport. Hanjour went into the air in a Cessna 172 three times with instructors in August 2001, a scant month before the attack on the Pentagon, for a “check out” to rent an airplane. “Insurance requires that a person must be checked out before they can rent a plane at the airport,” Bernard said. “Hanjour’s skills were so poor we would not rent a plane to him.” The Prince George’s Journal [Sept. 18, 2001] reported that Hanjour did not finish a flight school in Arizona in 1996 “because instructors felt he was not capable.” Bernard recalled that Hanjour did have a commercial pilot’s license that had been issued in Arizona, but he was certain Hanjour did not have what is called a “Type Rating,” which is necessary to fly commercial jets. Bernard said it is possible a person with some flying experience, even a poor pilot like Hanjour, could steer a plane in the air and crash into a building. But, he said, “[Hanjour’s] skills were so poor he may have been aiming for the White House when he hit the Pentagon.” Bernard said it was difficult to believe the Post’s report on the hijacker’s maneuvers into the Pentagon.
Sarah Nemeth, Executive Editor 240.354.4832 or betweensundays@gmail.com Ashby Henderson, Photographer Production, Electronic Ink Writers/Contribtors Colleen Aistis John Aquilino Keith Blackburn Steve Clements Bert Kapinus Michael Martucci Hugh Turley Board of Directors Christopher Currie Matthew McKnight Tim Hunt Bert Kapinus Sarah Nemeth 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.
|THE PUBLICATION DEADLINE for articles and letters in the October issue is Friday, September 26th. |
Hyattsville Life&Times | September 2008
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Finding her sweet spot by Sarah Nemeth
Y
ears ago when Vivian Pollard was working in the field of crisis management, she spent a lot of time in her basement. In fact, many people spent time in her basement carefully inspecting and purchasing specialty beads from the racks and shelves on the walls. “I had this great hobby,� said Pollard, who owns The Beader’s Workshop on Baltimore Avenue near Gallatin Street. “I started [offering] classes in my basement. It became very popular to the point where I realized I needed a storefront. We opened shop and I’ve never looked back.� Pollard, a Bowie resident, earlier this year moved her store to Hyattsville after a temporary lease at Bowie Town Center was not renewed. Her original store was at Hill Top Plaza, also in Bowie. “I talked to people in the area,� she said of her choice to move. “I started hearing about the [Hyatts-
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ville] Arts District. I realized how huge this was [and] I really wanted to get in on the ground floor.� After being staunchly focused on remaining at Bowie town Center – and on her vast clientele there – Pollard, who had never heard of Hyattsville’s arts district, received a call from Mayor William Gardiner, who invited her to the city. “I found a lot of my customers either drive through Hyattsville or work in Hyattsville,� she said, adding that her former client base still patrons her store. Griselda Clemons is one such customer.The Landover resident has been shopping at Pollard’s store for three years. “I like the fact that [Pollard’s store is] quaint and it’s personable, she said. “There’s just this cozy feeling. Someone is always willing to answer questions and help me with my projects. “No one’s going to help me out
with my project like that in any of the other stores. Every beader that I have ever met knows Vivian.� In the beading subculture, customers are often referred to niche stores for special items, like the clasps and pre-made jewelry that Pollard sells in her store. And she’s finding that her home in Hyattsville is more aligned with her cause. “I think this is so much better than Bowie Town Center,� she said, adding that clients at her former location would often just drop in to buy finished jewelry. “The people here are more creative. Now we can be true to ourselves here.� Amid the walls of glass beads, bags, necklaces, charms, spacers, beading books and beading tools, a spectrum runs. And not just the glimmering colors of beads lined from white to
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CommunityAnnouncements Community health series offered
Row, row, row your boat
Our free Health Series continues at the Hyattsville Seventh-day Adventist Church from 7-8:30 p.m. each Friday. Parking is free and childcare will be provided.
Find your sea legs on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. -6 p.m. at the Bladensburg Waterfront Park, 4601 Annapolis Road, Bladensburg. Canoes, kayaks, paddle boats and rowboats are available for rent. Take a ride and explore the river for an hour or the whole day.The fee is (per canoe or kayak): resident $5/hour, $12/day; non-resident $6/hour, $15/ day. The fee (per rowboat & paddle boat): resident $6/ hour, $15day; non-resident $7/hour, $20/day. Not into rowing solo? Join a park naturalist on a pontoon boat and take a ride on the Anacostia River on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from noon12:45 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 5-5:45 p.m. to search for wildlife. No advance reservations are required, just sign up when you arrive. All ages are welcome at this free activity. For information on either of these activities, call 301.779.0371.
n Sept. 5, 2008 Financial Health Jimmy Sanders Partner Nationside Mortgage n Sept. 12, 2008 Perfect Fuel for Perfect Health Prof. Walter J.Veith Amazing Discoveries www.amazingdiscoveries.org n Sept. 19, 2008 Total Skin Care Derwin Phillip, MD n Sept. 26, 2008 Physical Therapy (Muscle/Joint Health) Lovina Brown Physical Therapist Livingwell Physical Therapy The Hyattsville Seventh-day Adventist Church is located at 4807 42nd Place. For more information call Leuanna Matheson at 202.437.4867.
UCC plans September events On Sept.27 at 7 p.m., University Christian Church, 6800 Adelphi Road, will be hosting a free movie date night. Light snacks will be provided during the movie, "Dan in Real Life" (PG-13). On Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the Older Adult Ministries of the DC Baptist Convention will sponsor a Grandparents Extravaganza and provide workshops on health, legal matters and autobiographical writing. There will be health screenings, resource materials and exhibits as well as activities for grandchildren. The event is free. For more information call 301.864.1520.
Dorsey Chapel announces tour hours The historic Dorsey Chapel, 10704 Brookland Road, Glenn Dale, is open for tours and rental by appointment only. The fee for a history tour is $3/adults, $2/seniors, $1/students 5-18 and free/ages 4 and under. Group tours of 8 or more persons are by appointment only and must be scheduled Monday to Thursday. For information call at 301.464.5291 or go to www.pgparks.com/places/historicsites.html.
Commerce Bank awards American Dream Scholarships to area students Commerce Bank recently announced the recipients of its annual American Dream Scholarship program, which awards $1,000 to local graduating seniors who achieve both academic excellence and who serve the community. In Prince George County, Commerce Bank gave scholarships to Cameron Bennett, a DeMatha Catholic High School graduate. Bennett, a Bowie resident plans to attend the University of Maryland in College Park, and major in engineering. During high school, Bennett was active in the National Honor Society and the Boy Scouts of America. The American Dream Scholarships Program awarded scholarships to 225 community service-oriented high school seniors within the bank's market area of more than 470 stores. Commerce donated $225,000 in scholarship dollars this year. Nearly 7,000 students sought scholarships from the program.
Prince George’s students score high on state exams Students in Prince George’s County public schools system again had unprecedented achievement levels on the Maryland State Assessments (MSA) according to recently released 2008 MSA results by the Maryland State Department of Education. Every grade level, every subject and every subgroup has seen a rise in scores year over year. Outpacing the state improvement rate were aggregate elementary school improvement in all subjects. To find out more about the results, visit www.pgcps.org.
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From the Hills by Tom Eichman
Thank you, Marty
H
ave you ever wished, while driving down I-95—perhaps returning from an Orioles or Ravens game or from a day on the road after a summer vacation up north—that you could go straight into Hyattsville without circling around to U.S. Route 1 or New Hampshire Avenue, weaving your way home through local stop-andgo traffic? You could, if interstate highway planning in the 1960s and 1970s had succeeded. When I-70 and I-95 were being developed, plans called for routes directly into Washington, D.C. One of them was I-70S from Frederick along what became I-270 but not stopping at the Beltway. The other one was for I-95 to come straight through suburban Maryland into the District. Those two would merge in
Takoma Park before being funneled into the northeast quadrant of the District. The total project was called the North Central Freeway and was slated to continue into Virginia. The I-95 portion was to be called the Northeast Freeway. Freeway plans stirred up opposition from citizens' groups, both in the District and Maryland. Beginning in the early 1960s and continuing for 15 years, various re-routings were discussed and adjusted as opposition grew. Citizens of the District were particularly concerned, as many homes and some parkland would be destroyed. But Maryland property was also threatened, and Maryland citizens made their voices heard. Of most immediate concern to Hyattsville residents was the I-95 portion. The most threatening plan
would have extended an eight-lane freeway from where I-95 currently merges with I-495, along the Pepco power line corridor paralleling New Hampshire Avenue and through the Northwest Branch Stream Valley Parkland, including the University Hills Neighborhood Park plus other parkland on the west side of Hyattsville. Some homes along the parkland would have been sacrificed. Major cloverleaves for large amounts of exiting traffic were designed for University Boulevard and East West Highway. Opposition from residents of the District, with the help of Maryland opponents, led the way to the ultimate defeat of the development plans. Maryland's transportation authorities gave up on extending I-95 in 1977. I-70S was re-designated I-270, and the inner loop of the Beltway from
SWEET SPOT continued on page 10
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ZIP CODE
continued from page 1
ignated as such by the post office – who must be directed to the proper county agency.” And Holland agrees. “Absolutely,” he said.“A significant percentage of the calls to our police communications have to be redirected to Prince George’s County.” According to an employee of the Hyattsville Post Office on Gallatin Street, there is one postmaster who oversees the Hyattsville and many of the surrounding areas, like Landover, Langley Park and Adelphi.Those areas that are under the jurisdiction of the Hyattsville postmaster are considered, “Hyattsville,” she said. According to the U.S. Postal Service’s Web site, the current Hyattsville postmaster is Melody S. Gaskins. Several years ago a portion of Landover located outside of the Beltway was given by the postmaster, to the Largo postmaster because the crime rate associated with Landover had driven up the cost of insurance, the employee said. Recent postings on the listserv of the Hyattsville Organization for a Positive Environment reflect some misunderstandings related to the city’s complaints, including the possibility that Hyattsville is being classist.
“It appears that those living within incorporated Hyattsville want no association with the others and after having visited that area, I can clearly say why,” posted Marsha Reynolds, who lives just outside incorporated Hyattsville. “That area houses an entirely different class of people who want it to stay that way … This whole discussion doesn’t seem to be about crime reporting, it seems to be more about distinguishing one class from another.” Gardiner admits that under his watch, the city has not even discussed incorporating areas such as the apartment complexes immediately north of the Mall at Prince George’s. But there are strategic reasons for this, he said. “The current situation creates several problems,” he said.“The most reported problem is misrepresentation of public safety in the City of Hyattsville, based on incorrect media reports alleging that certain crimes occurred in the City of Hyattsville when the crimes occurred elsewhere. The attribution to the City of Hyattsville of crime outside our boundaries can have damaging effects – people may become less likely to live, shop and invest in the City of Hyattsville due to incorrect information.” Such misrepresentation can also have a negative effect on the areas
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not within Hyattsville, Gardiner said. “When people refer to this huge area from I-95 to Prince George’s Hospital off Route 202 as ‘Hyattsville,’ it is very difficult for any of the unique communities within the area to develop individual identities and civic pride,” he said. “Residents in Langley Park and Cheverly have been interested in establishing a zip code just for their communities and it is a disservice to them and residents in Chillum and Avondale when these communities are referred to as ‘Hyattsville.’” In 2006, Hyattsville annexed the Prince George’s Plaza and other areas along Belcrest Road and East West Highway. In 2006, it annexed the University Hills subdivision. William Hannah, executive secretary of Action Langley Park, said including many areas into the 20783 Hyattsville zip code is a negative for those areas. “Lewisdale is not Hyattsville! Langley Park is not Hyattsville,” he said, adding that he was told by the local post office and was told it was appropriate for him to address mail to “Langley Park, Md. 20783.” “I’m not sure that there are enough postal codes to give each area distinction, but I certainly think the county and many others should get into the habit of differentiating areas, not lazily using ‘Hyattsville, 20783’,” he said. For others, the problem is broader than a missing distinction – it cuts at
the heart of a basic American service. The Avondale subdivision has an “auxiliary route,” which means residents living in the area don’t have a consistent mail carrier. “Our mail is regularly mis-delivered … I have two examples here right now, where notices about Express Mail were never left for me on packages containing extremely important mail,” said Imani Kazana, president of the Avondale/North Woodridge Citizens Association. “From what I can see from historical documents, this area used to put ‘Avondale’ on the mail … We would certainly prefer to use our subdivision name to avoid confusion about where we live,” she said. The North Woodridge area of Avondale has a Mount Rainier address, which has created confusion to residents, Kazana said. “The title is only for the convenience of the post office,” she said. “They could care less about the residents of the identities they have with their communities.” Langley Park, which has its own post office, once petitioned the U.S. Postal Service for a zip code of its own, but was met with resistance. Kazana said this is why Avondale has not considered requesting a separate code for that area. “…We don’t stand a chance,” Kazana said. “Furthermore, we would like it even worse it they began calling us, ‘Chillum’.”
with others in the area. This one will offer 1,400 square-feet of meeting space, said Deanne Ayers-Howard, of Howard Hospitality of Cascades, the Gaithersburg-based entity who will own and manage the hotel. At this point, the hotel entrance will be located on Belcrest Center Drive, just northwest of an existing roundabout for Metro buses and other traffic. Planning committee members are not convinced that is the best location. “I take the Metro every day,” said co-chair Nkosi Yearwood. “From a pedestrian perspective … having cars and then Metro buses coming through the roundabout is probably not the best area for [the] entrance.” Gibbs said part of the reasoning for the entrance location is to have a positive impact on the retail stores that will be located on the bottom floors of existing residential buildings, which will be facing the entrance. There will be space for a small car queue at the entrance. Parking will be offered in the garage located above the Metropolitan Shops next door, with spillover spots in the Metro garage. There will be 124 parking spaces allowed for the hotel, with 20-24 of them designated as hotel only spots, Howard said. The project is still in the planning and approval phases, As for what Hyattsville can do, Gardiner said the city will soon install welcome signs near the city’s borders. The Hyattsville Life & Times contacted The Gazette but received no comment pertaining to why the newspaper often refers to unincorporated areas as “Hyattsville.”
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Hyattsville Life&Times | September 2008
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Dancing: more than just art by Jill Shaner and Jessica Wilson
D
ancing is often considered a beautiful work of art, but the skill required for top performance goes beyond just training on their toes. Dancers are turning towards more athletic workouts, as body conditioning aspects of the art form begin to gain more attention, experts say. For dancers to have an “increased likelihood of improved performances and to remain injury free,� they need to take their workouts outside of the Eshe Body Cen-
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ter in Washington, D.C. They should strength train as a form of cross-training. And taking a ballet class in place of their usual style of class or rehearsal is not "the end all, be all,� Stone said, adding that considering such to be the only good conditioning is the a myth she would like to expunge. Strength and resistance training gives dancers more control over their bodies and increases their effectiveness on stage, Stone said. “Dance is anaerobic,� she said, so
dancers should not solely work out in the rehearsal capacity. She stresses the importance of exercises that use bursts of movement in order to increase muscular power - and ultimately improve leaps and other traditional dance movements. In her training programs, Stone challenges her clients with lateral jumps, jumping-squats and other forms of Plyometrics that build up power and speed, she said.
DANCE continued on page 10
Hyattsville Life&Times | September 2008
Page 10
FROM THE HILLS continued from page 7
the junction between New Hampshire Avenue and U.S. Route 1 became both I-495 and I-95.
Hyattsville residents generally, and University Hills especially, have at least one former neighbor to thank for preserving the area's parkland, preventing the loss of homes, and barring the influx of potentially tremendous amounts of high-speed traffic. A long-time University Hills resident, Marty Goldblatt, played a role in opposition to the Northeast Freeway. She relied on her experience in political activism and her good relationship with Maryland politicians to help prevent destruction of our neighborhood. Marty died in April this year after having lived in University Hills for 39 years. You can read more about her in a special June edition of The University Hills Area Civic Association's newsletter on line at http:// uhaca.echomaryland.net/2008-06Special-Edition.pdf.
DANCE
continued from page 9 Changing Perceptions Until recently, dancers have not received much advice or medical attention on strengthening and conditioning. Regardless of current trends, young people looking forward to a lifetime of dancing have opinions of their own. “The exercise fad right now is to be very flexible,” said Sarah Malzone, Pilates instructor at Movement Studios in the District.
Keepin' the Strength Malzone works with many retired dancers, and some of her students “really need strength," she said. Others "are all strength and no flex-
ibility,” and need balance between the two. She believes that Pilates is good for balance. In dance, “many of the movements are on the extreme end and test the body’s limits,” said Mike Walker, certified athletic trainer at St. John’s College High School in the District. “If dancers are on their toes a lot, they will want to do a lot of stretching of the calves and other posterior muscles to balance out that activity.” Walker’s training regimen follows that of Stone's. Because of where, anatomically, movements in dance often originate, dancers must maintain much flexibility in their hips, Walker said, adding that proper stretch and mus-
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cle conditioning can facilitate. Pilates and yoga both offer good exercise to increase strength and flexibility for dancers, said Gloria Felix-Thompson, whose husband Douglas Thompson, founded and teaches at Yoga Space in Hyattsville. Felix-Thompson added that it also is a great stress relief. “Dancers are under a lot of stress, emotional and physical,” she said. But Yoga and Pilates are good exercise for anyone, not just dancers. Yoga Space offers these classes, and also has a class designed for mom’s and babies, though Felix-Thompson said that no one should take part in any kind of exercise class without first consulting their physician. For more information about classes available at Yoga Space visit www.yoga-space.org.
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Hyattsville Life&Times | September 2008
PARK
continued from page 1 have lights installed around it before the end of the year, he said, adding that it has taken almost three years to get them. The football field, which had been closed for over two years for renovation, has now reopened, said Joanne Mood, director of the recreation department. While most teams come out of hibernation when the weather begins to warm up, other like the “Ultimate Frisbee� club played yearround, braving the cold during the winter months.
sweet spot
continued from page 4 black, but a diverse clientele, like an Israeli woman who left her family dinner at Franklin’s to check out Pollard’s shop. Or the woman who is now making her own beaded jewelry and selling it at the National Harbor in Fort Washington. “One of my goals is to help women to get empowered to start their own businesses,� Pollard said, remembering the stressful job that drove her to find a little peace late at
Page 11 Magruder Park also offers an outdoor pool, tennis courts, a boardwalk nature trail, picnic areas and a playground. The Anacostia River trickles through the park, adding to the outdoor experience. Events held at the park this year include children’s bingo, senior’s bingo and Dogs for Arts, which was held on June 7. Celebrating 24 years of Shakespeare in the Park, the Maryland Shakespeare Festival presented The Merry Wives of Windsor on July 17 at the Magruder. Other events planned for the park include an annual Halloween party in October and a Christmas tree lighting in early December.
What do you think?
We want to hear from you! To submit articles, letters to the editor, etc., e-mail Hyattsvillelifeandtimes@gmail.com.
night with her own beadwork. To that end, Pollard offers a range of classes at her shop, from beginner beading to wire work and pearl knotting. One of the popular classes uses precious metal clay – clay which becomes pure silver when fired in a kiln. Hyattsville resident Alfredo Ratinoff, one of several adjunct teachers, oversees that class. Pollard is also going to offer glass fusion classes in the future. The full-service Beader’s Workshop also offers jewelry repair.
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Hyattsville Life&Times | September 2008
Page 12
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