MERRY CHRISTMAS! The Hyattsville Life & Times staff is taking a short break during the holidays. In lieu of our daily grind, take a look back at editors Rebecca Bennett and Caroline Selle’s favorite stories of 2014.
1. Art Works/Marché Florist building coverage
BY HL&T STAFF – On October 20, after more than a year of debate about the Marché Florist building, the Prince George’s County Council voted 8-1 to overturn the site’s historic designation. While Art Works Now Executive Director Barbara Johnson, one of the owners of the building, is no longer mandated to uphold the building’s existing structure, the much-anticipated Art Works Now and Pizzeria Paradiso project will be able to move forward.
When Johnson appeared before the District Council to argue in support of declassifying the building, approximately 50 Art Works Now supporters, many of them wearing the nonprofit’s t-shirts, were present in the audience.
2. Hyattsville Library coverage
BY HL&T STAFF — At the Nov. 18 meeting of the City of Hyattsville Planning Committee, the idea of a co-located library and community center in Hyattsville was addressed.
William Washburn from the Maryland-National Capital Parks and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) said the planning department was negotiating with the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System and the Prince George’s Plaza Community Center to combine and move the two facilities closer to the metro station. Planners previously indicated they would like to see the community center moved to the southwest parking lot of University Town Center, though Washburn said at the Nov. 18 meeting that all ideas were not yet a part of the final Prince George’s Plaza Transit District Development Plan update.
3. The new playground is a SMASH!
BY SUSIE CURRIE — Hyattsville’s newest place to play is disguised better than Clark Kent. But it isn’t likely to stay a secret for long.
The one-of-a-kind Comic Hero Playground, tucked into a little-used area of Heurich Park, opened to the public and caped crusaders alike on July 18.
The ribbon cutting drew about 40 children, parents and elected officials, including Maryland State Sen. Victor Ramirez (D-47), Del. Anne Healey (D-23) and newly minted Prince George’s County Councilmember Deni Tavares (D-2).
Many in the crowd donned the brightly colored capes and eye masks distributed by Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) staff, who organized the event.
4. Bursting in Air
BY REBECCA BENNETT — Hyattsville Life & Times staff spent the day at Bursting in Air in the parking lot next to Franklin’s.
It was a celebration of public art with the theme of the the 200th Anniversary of the March Across Prince George’s County, the War of 1812.
Entertainment included Blue Key Puppet Theatre, Arachne Aerial Arts, 1814: The War of 1812 Rock Opera.
Murals on the bridge were painted by Lordants, Aurthur Kwon Lee and The Studio 33. Two original paint-by-numbers murals were on hand so that attendees could get in on the action.
5. Retired military officer takes command as city administrator
BY SUSIE CURRIE — Hyattsville’s new city administrator is a decorated Army veteran who believes her experience running military bases will have direct applications to running the city.
Col. (Ret.) Tracey Nicholson started her new job on May 14, becoming the city’s third full-time administrator since January 2011. She replaces Jerry Schiro, who started the job almost exactly a year before she did – May 15, 2013 – but left in December, in the middle of his contract.
At its April 21 meeting, the Hyattsville City Council approved Nicholson’s $130,000 annual contract unanimously and with no discussion. Community and Economic Development Director Jim Chandler, who had been filling the role temporarily, will serve as assistant city administrator.
6. Local parent takes action after “close call” on foot
BY REBECCA BENNETT — On August 27, Aimee Condayan of Hyattsville says her nine-year-old son was nearly struck while crossing Jefferson Street in the Arts District. The family was headed towards Elevation Burger from the corner where Busboys and Poets sits.
Condayan says she was holding her four-year-old’s hand when they got the walk sign. “In what felt like a millisecond, I saw my son step into the street as a large, black SUV flew right toward his path. I froze and screamed my son’s name and the SUV had passed us,” she said.
After the terrifying encounter, the mother-of-two decided she needed to do something about what she felt was a dangerous intersection. She wrote to the Hyattsville City Council, the City mayor, the Maryland State Highway Administration, and to the Hyattsville moms listserv.
7. Bringing bees back to Hyattsville
BY SCARLETT SALEM — Until honeybees go missing, it’s easy to forget the critical role they play in agriculture as pollinators. But for Hyattsville resident Maggie Mills, bee health is more than a passing interest.
Mills is the owner of Hope Honey Farm, a local business with 22 hives and a 2,500-square-foot pumpkin patch with gourds, squash and six varieties of pumpkins.
While readers might think of Old McDonald when they hear the word “farm,” the term is used to define any area of land on which crops or animals are grown and raised for profit. The product line, available at Franklins and on the company website, includes honey, lip balm, body scrub and soap.
8. Hyattsville resident brings home the gold
BY ANDREW MARDER — Over lunch and conversation at Busboys & Poets in Hyattsville, Desiree Holland, 43, is reserved, letting her mother speak for her. Candy Holland is happy to recount the feats of the award winning Special Olympics athlete.
Competing in the Special Olympics since she was just 8 years old, the Hyattsville resident continues to rack up successes. This June, Holland won gold in the 10k Cycling Time Trials at the USA Special Olympics held in Princeton, N.J. In over a decade of cycling, Holland achieved almost everything a competitor could hope for, including a silver medal in the world games in 2007.
9. Green living in a grey winter
BY CAROLINE SELLE — It can be hard to find local food in the winter months. Most farmers’ markets shut down for the season, and only the most intrepid of gardeners are able to keep their vegetables flourishing through the cold. Even winter Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs are scarce.
But at the indoor Riverdale Park Farmers Market, held Thursday afternoons, vendors’ baskets overflowed with apples, carrots, and kale. Sausages from Groff’s Content Farm were heated in the Town Center Market’s hot dog machine, tucked inside rolls from Stone Hearth Bakery, and topped with sauerkraut from Number 1 Sons.
10. Calvert House Inn closes after 51 years in business
BY ROSANNA LANDIS WEAVER — February 1 was much like any other day at Calvert House Inn, Restaurant and Pub. On the walls were glowing restaurant reviews from 20 years ago. Right outside the door was an oversize metal ashtray. At the tables were dishes of stuffed shrimp or Angus ribeye. And sitting on the barstools were people who’ve spent decades enjoying the company of each other and of the owners, coming back for one last crab cake. But this was the last day of a half-century run.
And in the kitchen was Fereydoun Salimi and his wife, Susan, who operated the Baltimore Avenue restaurant for more than three decades. Fereydoun and his brother purchased the restaurant in 1980 from George Greer, took down the large chicken out front that signified the fried chicken emphasis, and turned the focus to seafood and steaks.