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DIALOG continued on page 13

HyattsvilleNovember 2011Hyattsville’s Community NewspaperVol. 8 No. 11

Life&Times

BEFORE OUR TOWN EXISTEDA trip through the � rst part of Hyattsville’s timeline.PAGE 7

LIVING LEGENDS AT THE ARMORYFats Domino, Little Richard and Bobby Darin performed in our city. PAGE 10

CLEANING ELVESMini volunteers work to clean up Magruder Park. PAGE 3

MURAL continued on page 13

by Candace Hollingsworth

A Continuing Talk on Race (A.C.T.O.R.), a monthly dia-logue that started in 2006 at the original Busboys & Poets loca-tion, has come to Hya� sville.  

� e series was born out of own-er Andy Shallal’s desire to host informal, facilitated discussions on contemporary issues of race and culture in a safe space. Ex-tending the monthly series to the new location was a natural � t.

� e idea came to some local res-idents over the summer, during a discussion on race, culture and stereotypes on the H.O.P.E. list-serv. � ough that was met with mixed reviews, it revealed strong feelings in the community.

As a result, several residents ap-proached Shallal about hosting the discussion at Hya� sville’s newest hotspot.  On September 11, the series debuted with “Is-lamophobia,” a discussion that drew more than 20 people.

� e next one is scheduled for Sunday, November 20, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Howard Zinn Room. Organizers plan to hold the gatherings on the second Sunday of every other month at the same time and place.

Hya� sville residents Richard and

New series at Busboys & Poets

by Susie Currie

On November 1, the Prince George’s County Council unani-mously passed County Executive Rushern Baker’s signature initia-tive, the $50 million Economic Development Incentive Fund.

It was designed to a� ract and spur development in the county over the next � ve years. Having

access to EDI funds, said County Councilmember Will Campos, would be essential “in the event that we get another opportunity like HHS.”

Campos was referring to the possible relocation of the U.S. Department of Health and Hu-man Services. Earlier this year, University Town Center had been one of three Prince George’s

County locations bidding for the $450 million, 15-year lease; in the end, HHS decided to stay on Parklawn Drive in Rockville.

� e EDI legislation comes a month a� er Campos and Mary-land State Delegate Justin Ross hosted a meeting of a handful of elected o� cials and developers to discuss ways of revitalizing the businesses along the East-West

Highway corridor.� e October 3 meeting includ-

ed David Iannucci, one of the ar-chitects of Baker’s EDI program; mayors John Tabori of Univer-sity Park and Marc Tartaro of Hya� sville; and representatives from several properties along the busy highway, including � e

Stakeholders discuss how to revitalize East-West corridor

by Scarlett Salem and Paula Minaert

On October 21, a crowd of about 30 area residents and elected of-� cials   gathered in neighboring Edmonston for the unveiling of a vibrant mural. It was painted for Engaged Community O� shoots (ECO) City Farms to hang at the entrance of its urban farm, located between the end of Cri� enden Street and an Anacostia tributary.

� e mural, funded by a $10,000 grant from the National Endow-ment for the Arts, was put together by artist Ma� hew Gi� ord (who also painted the mural inside the new Busboys & Poets) and photogra-pher and ECO City educator Sonia Keiner. Both are from Hya� sville.  

Gi� ord and Keiner interviewed nearby residents to get feedback on food, particularly what is available in

County’s � rst urban farm unveils vibrant mural

WILLIAM JENNEMelly Kaplan receives an award in the womenʼs category in the Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department 5 mile run, held Oct. 22.

BEST FOOTFORWARD

BUSINESS continued on page 12

Page 2 Hyattsville Life & Times | November 2011

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) nonpro� t

corporation. Interested reporters should send their e-mail addresses to the editor to be reminded of deadlines and receive internal news. Articles and news submit-

ted 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 edi-tor, etc., e-mail susie@hyattsvillelife.com.

Executive Editor Paula Minaert

paula@hyattsvillelife.com301.335.2519

Managing EditorSusie Currie

susie@hyattsvillelife.com301.633.9209

Editorial InternScarlett Salem

ProductionAshley PerksAdvertising

advertising@hyattsvillelife.com301.531.5234

Writers & ContributorsVictoria Hille, William Jenne,

Bart Lawrence, Valerie Russell, Kimberly Schmidt, Hugh Turley

Board of Directors Julia Duin - President

Chris Currie - Vice PresidentJoseph Gigliotti - General Counsel

Paula Minaert - SecretaryPeggy Dee, Karen J. RileySusie Currie - Ex O� cio

Circulation: Copies are distributed monthly by U.S. Mail to every address

in Hyattsville. Additional copies are dis-tributed 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.

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by Paula Minaert

I a� end many city council meet-ings for my job. � ey can be in-teresting and they can be tedious. And sometimes I � nd them dis-tressing because of the tension I see in the members’ exchanges with each other.

I’m not talking about healthy disagreements over issues. I’m talking about elected o� cials in-terrupting each other, bristling at others’ remarks, taking o� ense and even, on occasion, shouting at each other.

A� er one such meeting, I thought: � ey all have the good of the city at heart. I just wish it weren’t so hard for them to

hash things out. But then I re-membered a friend of mine, who holds views very di� erent from mine. I accept climate change; she doesn’t. She prizes individual responsibility and e� ort; I value social justice. When we talk about those issues, we tend to get upset. And neither of us has suc-ceeded in changing the other’s mind.

I got some insight recently into why this is so, in a recent article in � e Economist magazine. � e article explains why we cling so � ercely to our opinions ‒ wheth-er it’s jobs and welfare (on the

macro scale) or tra� c and trash (on the micro level). Apparently a very old part of the brain, the amygdala, plays a part.

� e amygdala, when presented with new information, actually sends messages to the rest of our brain telling us to resist taking in anything that con� icts with what we already know. It all happens on the unconscious level. In primi-tive times, it helped us survive. Today, it’s what makes us react with an automatic “� at’s ridicu-lous!” or “How can you say that?” when we hear something that doesn’t � t into our view of things.

� is phenomenon, then, ex-plains in part why it’s o� en so hard for people to work together. � e council members are dif-ferent individuals, brought to-gether in a common task. � ey bring di� erent perspectives to the table. � ey’re a mixed bag, because they re� ect our city. Our residents are all ages and races and ethnicities. � ey work at all kinds of jobs, from plumbing and painting to clerking and teach-ing. � ey are liberals and conser-vatives, believers and secular hu-manists, pro-development and not so pro-development.

� is variety is one of the rea-sons I like Hya� sville, by the way. I think all of us need to be exposed to people (and ideas and perspectives) di� erent from our own. Yes, it’s more comfortable sticking with like-minded peo-ple, but then we don’t grow as much. We can become rigid, os-si� ed. And we also run the risk of rejecting out of hand an idea or a solution that might be just what’s needed to solve a problem.

None of us has all the answers, so it behooves us to listen to what other people say. Let’s try to switch o� the automatic pilot.

Can we really listen to each other?

by Todd Thomason

One thing I am giving thanks for this � anksgiving is the gi� of community. Living in relation to others (be it in the same house, o� ce or town) can be a chal-lenge, but it’s also a blessing.

I was recently reminded of what a true blessing community can be on the Sunday a� er Hurricane Irene blew through. I spent much of that day si� ing on the “front porch” of First Baptist Church.

A tree had fallen across 42nd Av-enue and blocked the entrance to the church’s parking lot, so we had cancelled morning worship.

But my family and I were without power at home, so we brought our twin toddlers over to the church (which, somehow, did have power). � at a� ernoon, there was an amazing calm a� er the storm: � e air was as fresh as a mountain breeze, the skies cleared, the sun came out — and so did the people of Hya� sville.

Of all my memories of that day, the faces and voices of our community stand out most viv-idly. People were out walking the sidewalks and talking in their front yards. I met neighbors with whom I had never crossed paths. Passers-by waved, and friends and strangers alike stopped to discuss their hurricane adventures.

I invited the folks across the street who were in the dark to come in-side the church to charge their cell phones, enjoy a cup of co� ee, use the microwave or anything else our live circuits could provide. But I was hardly the only person o� er-ing assistance. It was a wonderful display of community at its best.

� en the lights came back on and we all went back inside, and back to our narrower, more fa-miliar life pa� erns — pa� erns that, however unintentionally, o� en keep us apart.

I think this is especially true in a city as diverse as Hya� sville. Much has changed for the be� er in the last few decades, but we still face many of the familiar ob-stacles to social harmony. � ese include the di� ering priorities and expectations of di� erent gen-erations, new ideas clashing with longstanding traditions, and the wedge issues of our wider culture: wealth, political a� liation, reli-gion, education, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation.

� at said, I also think Hya� sville is heading in a healthy direction. � e Arts District has generated space not only to eat and shop but also for the city to gather and in-teract. Elsewhere in this issue, you can read about the A.C.T.O.R. (A Continuing Talk on Race) series at Busboys & Poets, which is creating opportunity for dialogue about is-sues central to the health and well-being of a diverse community. I’m proud to be a part of it.

� ere is great potential for ev-eryday Hya� sville to look a lot like post-Irene Hya� sville. � e key is for all of us to take advan-tage of these opportunities, to get out and get involved. One thing I’ve learned about community in my years as a pastor is that its cre-ation and maintenance must be intentional. Passivity can create division as easily as prejudice.

Perhaps we might think about designating a “post-hurricane” a� ernoon for ourselves once a month: a time to unplug, take a walk, gather in the yard, share our experiences and lend a hand to whomever we happen to meet.

For my part, I plan to spend a few more Sunday a� ernoons on the “front porch” of the church when the weather is nice. I hope to see you around.

Todd � omason is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Hya� sville.

MyTwoCents� e blessing of community

Hyattsville Life & Times | November 2011 Page 3

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by Kate Kowalski

Magruder Park is generally a good place to hear sounds of chil-dren happily playing, especially on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.  

But on one recent Sunday, a group of nine excited 4-to-6-year-olds resisted the lure of the play-ground and, instead, spent their park time picking up trash.   Led by local parents Marci LeFevre and Katie Ablard, the children first learned about how litter af-fects land and water habitats, and then set out to make a difference. Armed with handy trash-grabbers on loan from the city, the group eagerly hunted out as much trash as they could find.

These little cleaning elves are members of the Hyattsville chap-ter of Roots & Shoots, and the October 16 park cleanup is just one of the many activities the group has done together.

Roots & Shoots, the youth program created by the Jane Goodall Institute, has members in over 120 countries. Both en-vironmental and humanitarian in focus, the program provides a model that can be adapted to any age group and any community.

Each chapter chooses different ways to educate children on the needs of the community – both local and global – and comes up with their own ways of address-ing them. What all chapters have in common is active participa-tion by parents to plan and lead the group activities.

For the local chapter, that parent involvement started with Mau-reen Vosmek, who was looking for a group for her preschool son, Mason, to join earlier this year.  

She had heard about Roots & Shoots, so a little more research inspired her to create a group for him and other local children. Lots of parents were interested, and so were lots of kids: An ini-tial information session at Vos-mek’s house last spring produced a roster of 20 children, putting the group at capacity and clos-ing it to new members. (While this is the only branch in Hyatts-ville proper, a search at www.rootsandshoots.org reveals 13 nearby chapters for students in preschool through college, along with information about starting new chapters.)

All the parents pitched in to help start the group and keep the momentum going, planning ac-tivities for every other weekend. Most meetings aren’t complete without an energetic rendition of

the official theme song – Raffi’s “Roots and Shoots Everywhere” – led by local songstress (and mom) Audrey Engdahl.

“While I will take credit for pro-posing the initial idea of a Roots & Shoots group,” said Vosmek, “it has really been a collabora-tive effort among all the fami-lies.  Each family has taken a turn organizing an activity, field trip or service project and each one has been an amazing experience. It truly is an incredible commu-nity of kids and parents!”

Wearing matching T-shirts and tie-dyed bandannas (deco-rated at their first meeting), the Hyattsville Roots & Shoots members have been seen in all sorts of interesting places. They have learned about fossils at the Laurel Dinosaur Park, butterflies at Wheaton’s Brookside Gardens, and trees at the National Arbo-retum in Washington, D.C. The group has a plot at the Hyatts-ville Community Garden, and some of the flowers grown there were brought by the children to a

local nursing home to be used as table decorations.  

In the near future, the children will learn how to make birdhous-es and how to turn items bound for the recycle bin into beautiful holiday ornaments. Long term, there are hopes that the scope of the group will grow as the chil-dren do.

“I hope that as the kids get older, they can take on a leadership role in determining what activities they want to do and what ideas they want to focus on.” said Vos-mek. “I love the service-oriented aspect of the group, and I hope that the kids continue to gain an understanding of good steward-ship and a global perspective.”

  Magruder Park today, and to-morrow … who knows?   There is a whole world out there, and these children are ready to make their mark.

Kate Kowalski, who has lived in Hyattsville for two years, has a daughter in the local chapter of Roots & Shoots.

Budding volunteers tidy Magruder Park

photo by Maureen VosMekLara Oerter and son Toby Oerter team up for a trash cleanup orga-nized by the local chapter of Roots & Shoots.

Page 4 Hyattsville Life & Times | November 2011

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Dear Miss Floribunda, 

Each year my guests for Thanks-giving dinner give me beautiful potted chrysanthemums and each year I plant them in my garden. Very few survive, and those that do are pathetic scraggly things with few blooms. I look around town and see magnificent mounds of chrysanthemums blooming in

other gardens. They even get big-ger each year. I’ve asked neigh-bors for their secrets but they just shrug and say that chrysanthe-mums are among the easiest flow-ers to grow. I know there is some-thing I should know that I’m not being told. Help!

Mum’s the Word on Manorwood Drive

Dear Mum’s the Word,

Because your chrysanthemums are gi� s, you don’t know where they came from and whether they are hardy.  Very few of the beautiful varieties you see in � o-rist shops and at supermarkets will survive outside. � is is o� en true of such other gi� plants as azaleas  and cyclamen. It is bet-

ter to buy your own mums from a nursery with knowledgeable personnel and make sure you get varieties that can overwinter.

Also, the timing of the gi� s means that you are planting your mums at the earliest in late No-vember.   Truth to tell, the best time to plant chrysanthemums is in the spring so they can be well-established before frost.   Howev-er, the enticing varieties become available only in the fall. Be sure to mulch your autumn-planted mums well, and make sure you place wiring or something else over the mulch to keep it from blowing away. � is should keep the roots from freezing.

 I showed your le� er to Ivan Gro-zni, a grumpy but expert chrysan-themum gardener whose plants are never leggy or scraggly. He is of the opinion that you are “ba-bying” your plants. He advised an annual discipline of whacking them back in early June to about eight inches high,  and then “be-heading” them in July.  A� er they � nish blooming and it gets really cold, he slashes them almost to the ground.  

Alarmed, I asked a kinder, gen-tler gardener, Flor de Otono, for her advice. She con� rmed that cu� ing back chrysanthemums in summer does keep them in uni-form shape and that they � ower much be� er if not allowed to bloom too soon. She even agreed that cu� ing them back severely a� er frost is good for them and doesn’t prevent them from com-ing back luxuriantly the next year.

She would like you to know that while it is true that chrysanthe-mums are easy to  grow (and to

root from cu� ings, she added) they do have two important re-quirements that you might have overlooked: � ey like good drainage and good air circula-tion. She wonders if you planted them too close together or too close to a wall or to other plants. She agreed with me that winter mulch would help late-planted mums survive the winter.

To hear a lecture by an expert � om the Chesapeake Chrysanthemum Society, please come to the next meeting of the Hya� sville Horticul-tural Society at 10 a.m. on Satur-day, November 19, at the Munici-pal Building, 4310 Gallatin Street.

Buy your mums from reputable sources like nurseries.

Hyattsville Life & Times | November 2011 Page 5

Yes, I would like to support The Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department!

My donation is (please circle one): $25 $50 $100 $250 $__________Please make checks payable to Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department

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Page 6 Hyattsville Life & Times | November 2011

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In this special two-part edition of Legend & Lore, we take a look at what happened here up to 1886, when Hyattsville was incorporated. Check back next month, when the timeline will take us up to the pres-ent day.

1608—John Smith sails up the 40-foot deep Anacostia River.  He remarks in his diary on the verdant rich soil, the crystal-clear waters and the abundant diversity of fish, game, birds and wildlife.

Pre-1728—Two properties were marked out at the fork of the East-ern Branch (now the Anacostia), “Black Ask” and “New Dum-freeze.”  These eventually became early Hyattsville.

1728—John Beall lays out a settlement at the river’s fork and, demonstrating remarkable cre-ativity, named his village … Beall

Town.   (Wonder what he named his kids?)

1783—The first American stage-coach route passes through our area.

1812—The Baltimore-Washington Turnpike is funded by Congress. It runs through our town, connecting the two cities.

1814—General Ross marches his British forces through the area, meeting American forces at Bladensburg. The Americans, de-ciding it was time to take a bath, go for a swim in the Anacostia’s then-sparkling waters. Cleanli-ness, it turns out, is not enough to beat back Ross’s men, and the un-kempt Brits go on to pillage and burn Washington, D.C.

1835—The Washington Line of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad is completed and runs parallel to the B-W Turnpike, helping to turn what eventually became Hyattsville from a  bucolic country village into a bus-tling center for trade and commerce.

1837—Samuel F. B. Morse invents the telegraph.   He ran the lines along the railroad right-of-way that came through what is now Hyatts-ville.   The historic first message, “What hath God wrought,” was transmitted over these lines.

1845—Christopher Hyatt purchas-es three acres, once a part of the Black Ask tract, and builds an imposing 32-room mansion. (No bathrooms, though.) He also builds a store.

1859—Hyatt is appointed post master of the region. The post office was housed in his store and he held this position for six years.

1865—The name “Hyattsville” is first used for our town, again dem-onstrating the remarkable creativity of early residents.

1860s —Residents of Hyattsville enjoy Spa Springs in nearby Bladens-burg, an area known for its healthful mineral waters, swimming, boating and fishing.  (Imagine that!)

1870s—Many homes in Hyatts-ville are built close to the rail-road tracks, including a small but thriving row of houses to the east.   These were modest residences housing white and African-American laborers. Two houses, 5600 and 5602 Rhode Is-land Avenue, are still extant.

1884—Christopher Hyatt passes away.

1886—Our town is incorporated. The town boasts four churches, in-cluding St. Jerome’s,  three grocery stores, three butcher shops, a dry goods and notions store, black-smith and tinsmith shops, two wood and coal dealers, a livery sta-ble, two town fire halls, and a land office.  But no brewpub!

By Kimberly Schmidt

A History of Hyattsville

courtesy of the city of hyattsvilleHow did we get to Baltimore Avenue? A look at what was here before.

GOING GREEN IN 2011:

We’re dreaming of a green ChristmasThis is the eleventh in a series of stories about how City resi-dents can make small changes to have a positive impact on our environment. We’ve covered alternative transit, rain barrels, walking to school, and more. This month’s install-ment covers holidays – and highlights a change coming to the City’s annual decorating contest.

With the holidays just around the corner, many Hyattsville residents are thinking about how to celebrate the season while minimizing environmental impact. The impact can be considerable – household trash is heavy at this time, with some estimates suggesting that Americans generate 5 mil-lion tons of garbage from holiday celebrations and activi-ties alone.

Here’s a round-up of some of the best thinking out there about eco-issues related to the season.

Real or Artificial? There’s no easy answer as to which is the more environmentally conscious choice. If you do opt for a real tree, consider one grown locally and remember to put it out for pick-up with Yard Waste after the holidays. (January 2012 Yard Waste pick-up dates are 1/9, 1/23, and 1/30.) Artificial trees have their supporters, too, especially if you opt for one made domestically – and thus shipped many fewer miles.

Wrap It Up! Half the fun is guessing what’s in the box, and gorgeous gift wrap can have minimal impact. Reus-able bags and fabric are two possible options. Alternately, buying recycled content gift wrap and recycling the paper afterwards can work, but it is best to avoid glittery and me-tallic designs, which typically don’t recycle. Fabric ribbon is another option to reduce trash.

It’s In the Bag – the reusable bag. Maybe the simplest green act is to resolve to shop with your reusable totes this holiday season – and all year long.

You Shouldn’t Have! Before the last minute panic sets in, make a list and consider alternative gifts for some of your friends and families. Donations to charity, a handed-down family heirloom, handcrafted or locally-made items can be more environmentally friendly, and just as appreci-ated. With the number of artists and artisans working in our area, the possibility of locally-made gifts is greater than ever.

Let There Be Light – LED lights, that is. If you’re re-placing your sparkle, shop for LEDs, which use a fraction of the power required by conventional lights.

Mentioning lights brings us to the City’s annual holiday decorating contest. Formerly known as Light Up the Sky, the contest has been revamped as the Claus Applause awards, a cousin to our Curb Applause awards first an-nounced in Spring 2011. Claus Applause includes a special category for green décor, but you’ll need to tell us what makes your approach to decking-the-halls environmental-ly savvy. Nominate your home, or a friend or neighbor, by clicking here: http://www.hyattsville.org/applause. Ques-tions? Call 301/985-5020.

Hyattsville Reporterthe

No. 228• November 9, 2011www.hyattsville.org • 301-985-5000

Page HR1 Hyattsville Life & Times | November 2011 Hyattsville Life & Times | November 2011 Page HR2

IN OTHER NEWS...

November 2011

CALENDAR

Nov. 11Veterans Day Holiday, City Administrative offices closedAll household trash pick-ups take place one day earlier this week

Nov. 14, 7:00 PMCommunity Meeting: Crime & Safety IssuesImmediately prior to Council Work Session

Nov. 14, 8:00 PMCouncil Work Session

Nov. 16, 7:30 PMHyattsville Environmental Committee Meeting

Nov. 21, 8:00 PMCity Council Meeting,

Nov. 21 through Nov. 25Changes to household trash collection schedule all week due to Thanksgiving Holiday. Please see more information in this edition of the Reporter, or online at www.hyattsville.org. Questions? Call 301/985-5032.

Nov. 24 and Nov. 25Thanksgiving Holiday, City Administrative offices closed

Dec. 2, 7:00 PMAnnual Holiday Tree LightingMagruder Park

Dec. 3, 9:00 - 10:30 AMBreakfast with SantaReservations required

Dec. 3, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PMBrunch with SantaReservations required

Unless otherwise noted, all events take place at the City Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin Street.

SONNY FRAZIER TOY DRIVE RETURNS

The Sonny Frazier Toy Drive collects donations of new toys for distribution to area families in need. Drop-off sites will be announced soon. In addition, join the Toy Drive for the first ever Hyattsville Heroes Bowl, pitting the Fraternal Order of Police #119 against the Hyattsville Vol-unteer Fire Depart-ment at Heurich Park, 2800 Nicholson Street, on Saturday, December 3 from 3:00 to 6:00 PM. Do-nations may also be sent to Council Member Ruth Ann Frazier at 5013 37th Avenue, Hyattsville, MD 20782. Please make checks payable to Sonny Fra-zier Toy Drive. Direct questions to Mrs. Frazier at 301/779-8428.

OPERATION SANTA WITH A BADGE

The Hyattsville police are also gearing up for our annual holiday tradition: Santa with a Badge. Local children are given an opportunity to shop for oth-ers, in the company of a police officer volunteering his or her time for the event. Generous community partners, including the Mall at Prince George’s and Outback Steakhouse, as well as individual donors in the community, make this event possible. Do-nations may be directed to: The Maryland Asso-ciation of School Resource Officers, 4310 Gallatin Street, Hyattsville, MD 20781. Sergeant Michael Rudinski coordinates Santa with a Badge. He can be reached at 301/985-1400 or mrudinski@hyattsville.org.

2012 MLK POSTER CONTEST

The Department of Recreation and the Arts announces the 2012 Martin Luther King, Jr. poster con-test. Hyattsville stu-dents – students who either reside within the City limits or at-tend a school located within the City limits - in grades 5-8 are in-vited to enter. The theme for this year’s contest is centered around

Dr. King’s commitment to community and service, which were components that he believed were es-sential to the struggle for equality. See more on the theme, as well as guidelines and official rules at http://www.hyattsville.org/mlkposter. Entries are due no later than January 13, 2012 at 5:00 PM. Questions? Call 301/985-5020.

NIXLE

The City is now using Nixle to send public safety alerts and information via both email and text message. This system replaces the SafeCity web-site previously in use. Many of our neighboring juris- dictions also use Nixle to send out informa-

tion. If you have a nixle.com account, there is

no need to create a new one. Simply log

in and add the City of Hyattsville to your wire. New

to Nixle? Register at www.nixle.com or enroll using the widget online at

http://www.hyattsville.org/stay-informed.

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY TRASH CHANGES

The City is closed on Thursday, No-vember 24 and Fri-day, November 25, in observance of Thanksgiving. As a result, all routes will be advanced at least one day, and we will combine routes. Due to our com-pressed schedule,

we are asking that

you leave your Toter curbside if we miss you on the first day.

There is no Yard Waste collection the entire week of November 21.

If your ordinary pick-up day is Tuesday, November 22 or Wednes-day, November 23, your trash will be collected one or two days earlier, on Monday, November 21.

If your ordinary pick-up day is Thursday, November 24, your trash will be collected two days earlier, on Tuesday, November 22.

If your ordinary pick-up day is Friday, November 25, your trash will be collected two days earlier, on Wednesday, November 23.

Questions? Please call the Department of Public Works at 301/985-5032.

THANK YOU TO UNIVERSITY TOWN CENTER

The management and businesses at University Town Center were gracious hosts to more than fifty little ghouls and goblins for Octo-ber’s Spooky Fest party. Many thanks!

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

Are you on Facebook? You can now keep up with City events and happenings at www.facebook.com/cityofhyattsville. When you see Vainglorious, the silver metal bird sculpture at Centennial Park, you’ll know you’re in the right place. He is kind enough to serve as the City’s wall photo.

Happy Hyattsville

Magruder Park Tree LightingOur annual tree lighting event takes place at the park courtyard on Friday, December 2 at 7:00 PM. We’ll have seasonal carol singers, hot chocolate, and a spe-cial guest or two! The event is free and open to the public. The colder the weather, the more of the event will take place inside the Recreation Center. Magrud-er Park is located at the intersec-tion of 40th Avenue and Hamil-ton Street.

Breakfast with SantaJoin us for a continental break-fast with the big man on Satur-day, December 3 from 9:00 to 10:30 AM. Cost is just $5/per person. (Kids 2 and under are free.) Santa photos available for just $3!

NEW for 2011: Brunch with SantaHeartier appetite? Want more

one-on-one time with the big guy? Join us for brunch on Sat-urday, December 3 from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM. The menu fea-tures salad, breakfast breads, and a complete omelet station. $22/adult; $15/ages 3 through 12. (Kids 2 and under are free.) Pho-tos included!

Reservations are required – the events sell out! Visit http://www.hyattsville.org/december or by calling 301/985-5020. Reserva-tions open on Monday, November 7 at 9:00 AM.

Holidays!

Page 8 Hyattsville Life & Times | November 2011

Children’s Holiday Events Saturday, December 3, 2011, City Municipal Building

Breakfast with Santa in the Multi-Purpose Room, 9:00 to 10:30 AMJoin us for a continental breakfast with the big man. Cost is just $5/per person. (Kids 2 and under are free.) Santa photos available for just $3!

Heartier appetite? Want more one-on-one time with S. Claus? Join us for brunch. The menu

features salad, breakfast breads, and a complete omelet station. $22/adult; $15/

ages 3 through 12. (Kids 2 and under are free.) Photos included!

Reservations are required – the events sell out! Visit http://www.hyattsville.org/december or by calling 301/985-5020. Reservations open on Monday,

November 7 at 9:00 AM.

NEW: Brunch with Santa in the Prangley Room, 11:30 to 1:00 PM

Questions? Please call the Department of Public Works at 301/985-5032.

The City is closed on Thursday, Nov. 24 and Friday, Nov. 25, in observance of Thanksgiving. As a result, all routes will be advanced at least one day, and we will combine routes.

There is no Yard Waste collection the entire week of November 21. If your ordinary pick-up day is Tuesday, November 22 or Wednesday, November 23, your trash will be collected one or two days earlier, on Monday, November 21. If your ordinary pick-up day is Thursday, No-vember 24, your trash will be collected two days earlier, on Tuesday, November 22. If your ordinary pick-up day is Friday, No-vember 25, your trash will be collected two days earlier, on Wednesday, November 23.

DUE TO OUR COMPRESSED SCHEDULE, WE ARE ASKING YOU TO LEAVE YOUR TOTER CURBSIDE IF WE MISS YOU ON THE FIRST DAY. Please have your Toter out for collection no later than 7:00 AM on the date indicated.

COMMUNITY CALENDARNovember 12There will be thousands of books to choose from at the Hyattsville

Elementary School PTA annual Used Book Sale Extravaganza. Other materials such as CDs,

DVDs, and more will be available too. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hyattsville Elementary School, 5311 43rd Avenue. For information or to donate books, call 301.312.9170.

November 14 to January 14The exhibition Tadeusz Lap-inski – Past and Present will showcase Lapinski’s abstract prints   and commemorate his nearly 40 years as an art profes-sor at University of Maryland. Opening reception Decem-ber 9 from 6 to 9 p.m.   Regu-lar exhibit hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sat-urday. Free. Brentwood Arts Exchange, 3901 Rhode Island Avenue, Brentwood. Phil Da-vis, 301.277.2863.

November 18 to January 9 Part of Gaylord National Re-sort’s Christmas on the Potomac program, ICE!  will feature scenes from the Dreamworks movie “Merry Madagascar,” cre-ated from two million pounds of ice. Tickets start at $25; dis-counts for children and seniors. Free for ages 3 and under. Na-

tional Harbor, 201 Waterfront Street, National Harbor. Hours vary; for more information, call 301.965.4000 or visit www.ChristmasOnThePotomac.com.

November 19This Annual Pottery Show and Sale features ceramic artists who create unique functional stoneware. You can also shop for one of-a-kind items such as bak-ing dishes, baskets, sushi dishes, berry bowls, and garlic keepers. All ages welcome. Free. Langley Park Community Center, 1500 Merrimac Drive. 301.445.4508

The Silk Road Dance Festi-val will highlight the diversity of dance found along the trade route that connected China with the Mediterranean. Performance by the Silk Road Dance Com-pany begins at 8 p.m. $25. Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Road, Mount Rain-ier. 301.699.1819.

November 20At the Archbishop Carroll High School Open House, prospec-tive students can take student-led tours of the building and meet the administration. Free. 4300 Hare-

wood Road NE, Washington, D.C. 202.529.0900, ext. 134.

Getting ready to make your favor-ite cold-weather dishes? Come check out Seasonal Selections: Preparing for Winter, a dem-onstration by the Riversdale Kitchen Guild members using fresh produce from the garden and orchard. Free. Noon to 3:30 p.m. Riversdale House Museum, 4811 Riverdale Road, Riverdale Park. 301.864.0420.

November 25It’s opening day for the 25th An-

courtesy of john walterThe Silk Road Dance Festival at Joe’s Movement Emporium.

Hyattsville Life & Times | November 2011 Page 9

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR

community performing arts center

New Sunday Classes at Joe’s Emporium

5-6pm Beginner Salsa and 6:30-7:30pm Michael Jackson Dance Moves: Technique and Choreography.

Join this Sunday for a $15 drop in rate.

14th Central Asian Dance Camp and ConcertFriday, November 18th – Sunday, November 20thA 3-day dance camp that includes a day-long Silk Road Dance Festival and culminates in a concert featuring Silkroad Dance Company and guest artists. For a full schedule of activities, visit www.joesmovement.org

Don’t forget that Joe’s offers over 20 ongoing classes including Yoga, Zumba and even a Free Hip Hop class on Mondays. Visit www.joesmovement.org for more information on Classes or Performances.

Located at 3309 Bunker Hill Road, right off of 34th Street in historic Mount Rainier, MD

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nual Winter Festival of Lights, the drive-through display featur-ing over a million twinkling lights along 2.5 miles. Financial dona-tions for county charities will be accepted at the gate. $5 per car or van for a single visit; $10 for a multi-visit pass. Free on Decem-ber 25. 5 to 9:30 p.m. daily un-til January 1. Watkins Regional Park, 301 Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro. 301.699.2456.

December 2The city’s annual Holiday Tree Lighting featured hot chocolate and carolers last year; see what organizers have in store this year. Free. 7 to 9 p.m. Magruder Park, 4000 Hamilton Street. 301.985.5020.

December 3 At the Santa Fly-In, children can have their picture taken

with Santa and create a craft. Free with museum admission of $4  for adults and $2 for ages 18 and under. Noon to 4 p.m. College Park Aviation Museum. 1985 Cpl. Frank Scott Drive, College Park. 301.864.6029. At Breakfast With Sint Niklaas, children can enjoy a Belgian-in-spired breakfast with the Flem-ish forerunner of Santa Claus and receive a gift bag. Adults, $5; children, $9. Seatings at 9 and 11 a.m. No walk-ins. Reservations required by November 23. Riv-ersdale House Museum. 4811 Riverdale Road, Riverdale Park. 301.864.0420.

December 4At the city’s Breakfast with Santa, children will enjoy pancakes and face time with the man in red.  $5 includes breakfast and photo with

Santa; $3 for breakfast only. 10 a.m. to noon. Municipal Building. 4310 Gallatin Street. Reservations required. 301.985.5020.

December 7Several University of Maryland jazz bands will perform at the an-nual Winter Big Band Showcase. $27. 7:30 p.m. Kay Theatre, Cla-rice Smith Performing Arts Cen-ter, Stadium Drive, College Park.

December 11Want to know what it takes to build a plane? At the Wright Aeroplane Rib-Making Work-shop, there will be a demon-stration and workshop in which participants will build their own 1909 Wright wing rib. Register at any Wilbur’s Workshop or call the museum. $7 workshop/participant (includes supplies & museum admission). College

Park Aviation Museum, 1985 Cpl. Frank Scott Drive, College Park. 301.864.6029.

OngoingThrough December, Pioneers on the Paint Branch: The Sol-diers and Pilots of the First Army Aviation School  high-lights the men who created the first Army Aviation School 100 years ago. There will be an in-teractive display so that visitors can compare the pioneers’ rival

aircraft: the Curtiss Pusher and the Wright Model B. Free with museum admission, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 1985 Cpl. Frank Scott Drive, College Park. 301.864.6029.

Community Calendar is com-piled by Scarlett Salem and Su-sie Currie. To submit an item for consideration, please e-mail  susie@hyattsvillelife.com  or mail to  P.O. Box 132, Hyattsville, MD 20781. Deadline for Decem-ber submissions is November 20.

Page 10 Hyattsville Life & Times | November 2011

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COMMENTARY & OPINION ON HISTORY & POLITICS

Hugh’sNews

by Hugh Turley

� e Hya� sville Armory, a castle-style building across Route 1 from the new Busboys & Poets, was once the hippest and swing-ingest place in town – if not the country.

Some of the greatest legends of rock ’n’ roll performed there. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, teenagers from Hya� s-ville, Bladensburg and Washing-ton, D.C. danced to the music of Fats Domino, Li� le Richard, � e Shirelles, � e Pla� ers and the Temptations.  

Hosting the dances was Milt Grant, whose renowned teen

dance program ran on Washing-ton television from 1956 to 1961. Produced live in front of a studio audience, the show was similar to Dick Clark’s nationally syndi-cated “American Bandstand.”  

In fact, according to Grant’s obituary in the Washington Post (May 3, 2007), his show “was a runaway success and soundly beat the Philadelphia-based ‘American Bandstand,’ when the two shows went head-to-head.”

Legendary guitarist Link Wray and his band the Ray Men were the house band for the “Milt Grant Show.” Wray is number 67 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of all-time greatest guitarists.

Rock and roll all night ing to put her at ease because she was only 15, younger than her prospective dance partner – whose name, she soon learned, was Bobby Darin.

A� er the pair had led � e Stroll and danced a few ji� erbugs, JoAnne recalls, Grant introduced Darin to the crowd.

“We have a special guest with us tonight,” said Grant. “He has just wri� en a song. I think it is great, and I want everybody to hear it.”

� en Darin sang “Splish Splash,” and three weeks later it was a smash hit launching him to stardom.

Darin would go on to become a famous recording artist, host his own TV show and become a movie star. In 1968, Darin was a supporter of Robert F. Ken-nedy and he was at the Ambas-sador Hotel when Kennedy was assassinated. A few years later

Darin died at the age of 37, from a chronic heart condition he suf-fered from childhood.

“Darin was a terri� c dancer,” JoAnne said. “He could dance like James Brown.”

� e night Bobby Darin sang in Hya� sville, it was a later show than normal.  JoAnne’s walk to her home on Nicholson Street was about a mile and her curfew was 11 p.m., so Grant o� ered to drive her home in his 1958 Chevy Impala.

She rode in the back seat, ad-miring the red-and-white leather interior, while Grant and Darin were in the front. � e trip was short, but she’s never forgo� en it.

Now, Busboys & Poets o� ers a new opportunity for performers to take the stage.   Could great talents be in Hya� sville’s future again?

Wray and his band o� en came to Hya� sville with Grant.

JoAnne Sales, a Hya� sville teenager at the time, remembers meeting and dancing with Bobby Darin at the Armory. It was 1958 and Link Wray’s band was there. � ey had just recorded their in-strumental hit “Rumble,” with a beat suitable to dance � e Stroll, a dance made popular by the Ca-nadian quartet � e Diamonds.

JoAnne remembers Milt Grant came over and said, “JoAnne would you do me a favor? � e Stroll is a good dance to get every-body up and dancing. Would you dance with this young man? He’s older than you, but I know him.”  

JoAnne believed Grant was try-

Hyattsville Life & Times | November 2011 Page 11

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A GHOULISH GOOD TIME

william jennePaul (5), Daniel (2)and Morgan (4) of Hyattsville with their mother Betty at Hyattsville SpookyFest at University Town Center on October 29.

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Page 12 Hyattsville Life & Times | November 2011

Mall at Prince George’s, Belcrest Plaza, � e Shoppes at Metro Station, Editors Park and University Town Center.

By the time portions of UTC went to auction in August, developer Prince George’s Metro Center Inc. owed more than $60 million in principal, interest and penalties, according to the Washington Post.

Wells Fargo, the lender, retained control of the property, but questions about the process remained for many.

“� e meeting was to clarify what was go-ing on with UTC properties,” said Campos. Sco� DeCain, a consultant to the develop-er, gave a lengthy presentation during the meeting. Publicly, he has said that his client will continue to manage the property and hopes to reacquire it in the future.

� e group also began brainstorming about how to improve economic develop-ment not only at UTC, but at several retail areas along East-West Highway.

One idea was designating a business district, possibly from Queens Chapel to Toledo Terrace. Another suggestion was establishing a Community Development Corporation for that area, along the lines of the Baltimore City model. Baltimore has a dozen CDCs, many of which have se-cured considerable � nancial aid from the state, pointed out some of the a� endees.

“We need to come together on one page and lobby as one [entity],” said Campos.

Tartaro hopes that future meetings will focus on “� guring out how our goals inter-sect, and from there, developing strategies to a� ract resources.”

David Chanthavong, who recently joined Hya� s-ville’s police department, addressed the city council on October 24, soon a� er receiving the Outstanding Student O� cer Award � om the Prince George’s Community College Mu-nicipal Police Academy.

I am 25 years old. I was born in � ailand but my parents are originally from Laos, and I’m the youngest of six children. I speak Laotian and English. I am a new police o� cer in one of the � nest departments in the state of Maryland, the Hya� sville City Police Department.

At the age of 14, I was fascinated at the prospect of a police career because of a personal experience I encountered. My family’s house was broken into and my mother desperately needed help. � e po-lice responded quickly to assist her. From that day on, I had respect and love for the men and women pu� ing their lives on the line to protect the citizens of this nation.

My desire grew over the years. A Mont-

gomery County po-lice o� cer came to my high school to re-cruit students for the Montgomery Coun-ty Police Explorers program. When I joined the program, it helped me be� er un-derstand the career of policing.

Most importantly I was able to receive hands-on training

from volunteer advisors who came out on their personal time to train us. I went on to intern at the Rockville City Police Depart-ment at the age of 18, and it was an honor to be a part of a hard-working team dedi-cated to serving their community.

While interning at the department I went to Montgomery College in Rockville, where I received an Associate of Applied Science in criminal justice. I strongly be-lieve in continuing education and prom-ised myself that I would go to back to school when I � nished with my � eld train-ing.

� e doors � nally opened in March 2011,

when I was hired by the Hya� sville Police Department. I was so excited when I got con� rmation that I was being sent to the Prince George’s Community College Mu-nicipal Police Academy in April. I found it to be a good learning environment and it was challenging in academics and physi-cal training. I graduated recently from the academy and my whole life has changed in a positive way.

I was awarded outstanding student o� -cer. � is award was established to honor police o� cers everywhere who dedicate themselves to the ideals of integrity and professionalism. It is earned by the stu-dent who successfully demonstrates the qualities of leadership, perseverance and scholarship, which are the hallmarks of a dedicated professional law enforcement o� cer.

With this award, I will continue to show my department and community that these traits are forever instilled in me. I am now a police o� cer who has the responsibility to uphold the law and to protect lives and property in the community.

I again want to thank … my department, Hya� sville City Police, for their genuine support.

Staff Spotlight

Ofc. David Chanthavong

BUSINESScontinued from page 1

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Hyattsville Life & Times | November 2011 Page 13

Nominate the most festive homes in the city for our 2011...

Claus Applause AwardsBeginning Monday, November 28 at noon, residents can nominate the most festive homes in Hyattsville for the Claus Applause Awards. Claus Applause replaces the City’s Light Up the Sky contest. Here’s what you need to know:

• Nominations can be submitted by anyone – the homeowner, a neighbor, a friend.• If your home won a Light Up the Sky award in 2010, your address is automatically entered in 2011!• We’re introducing a green decorating category. Please tell us why the decorating is environmentally sensitive.• Judging will take place the evening of Wednesday, December 14 beginning at 6:00 PM. If you’re participating, please have your lights on!

Judges are traditionally appointed by the City Council Members from each Ward, but we are also looking for volunteers. If you would like to volunteer to serve as a judge the evening of December 14 or if you wish to nominate your home for consideration, please visit http://www.hyattsville.org/applause or call 301/985-5020 for details. Please note that we must receive written correspondence – email counts! – to make the nomination official. Award recipients will appear in the December edition of the Hyattsville Reporter, mailed to homes the week of December 19.

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Barbara Morris, regular attend-ees at the A.C.T.O.R. dialogues at 14th and V streets, said they were happy to have the opportunity to participate in the discussion closer to home.

Discussions on race and culture are not new to the city. More than 10 years ago, longtime resident Robert Croslin started the Bridg-ing Cultural Gaps book club, a group that met monthly to discuss racial and cultural themes in a liter-ary context. The group continued for seven years and generated last-

ing friendships. Hyattsville’s A.C.T.O.R. plan-

ning committee hopes the same can be said of this new endeavor.  

If you are interested in helping plan upcoming discussions, contact Can-dace Hollingsworth at cbholling-sworth@gmail.com or Shannon Wyss at hugdyke@gmail.com.

the community. “The mural is the community’s vi-

sion of what [a healthy and sustain-able community and agriculture] looks like,” said Keiner.

The urban farm movement has been picking up steam nationwide over the past few years. Proponents say it promotes a united commu-nity, cuts down on the costs of food shipment, and creates sustainable food security for residents.

ECO City Farms brought the ur-ban farm movement into Prince George’s County in May 2010, when it broke ground on about an acre of land. It utilizes almost every inch of that land, with bee-hives, compost-generating worms, solar-heated plastic hoophouses, an aquaponics system and more.

The October 21 event included an overview of upcoming projects, most of which are funded by grants. One plan calls for expanding onto an adjacent property, recently do-nated by the Maryland-National Park and Planning Commission, that now contains tennis courts. Eco City Farms plans to use them to show the public how to turn con-crete into sustainable agriculture.

CEO Margaret Morgan-Hubbard would like to see the property used as an education farm to teach others how to start and maintain their own urban farms. To that end, the farm will soon be installing a “foodshed,”

a low-tech commercial kitchen with space for teaching.

It’s these educational outreach ac-tivities that Edmonston City Coun-cilmember Tracy Farrish Grant (Ward 2) values most about the farm.

“We are so honored to have this farm in the community,” she said.

To find out where to buy produce from the farm, visit the website at www.ecooffshoots.org. The website also outlines how to receive fresh produce through spring by buying a share in the farm’s first winter Com-munity Supported Agriculture pro-gram, which begins December 1.

mural continued from page 1

DIalOG continued from page 1

photo courtesy of eco city fArMsFarm CEO and founder Margaret Morgan-Hubbard speaking during the recent dedication of the site’s new mural, created by two Hyattsville residents.

Page 14 Hyattsville Life & Times | November 2011

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