Salutations, Streetcar Suburbs!
Welcome to the Streetcar Spotlight — “The Sounds of Summer” Edition. We’ve now arrived at the season of the constant cutting of grass. As a transplant from a dryer climate, I’ll never get used to the persistent dawn-to-dusk drone of lawn mowing here (plus leaf-blowers!). Keep reading below from Laurel’s Jimmy Rogers to learn about alternatives to traditional lawns — the maintenance of which produces 12% of all carbon monoxide emissions in the U.S. Kinda makes you want to consider a cleaner, cooler robot lawnmower, doesn’t it? Also, check your specific city’s website to see if they have a cash rebate to replace louder, stinkier gas-powered lawn equipment with electric alternatives, like College Park does. Note that gas leaf blowers will be illegal to operate in Hyattsville starting July 1, and their rebate ends soon!
From cicadas to Jazz on the Lawn, what’s your favorite local sound of summer? Tell us on our related Facebook posts! (HL&T, CPH&N, & Laurel).
Click “view in browser” or HERE to see the full version with UPCOMING EVENTS.
Warm Fuzzies
We’re coming up on the last week of school for most kids in our community, and it wouldn’t be right to end the year without expressing a huge collective thank you and congratulations to both public and private school teachers all across the county for another school year under their belts. Enjoy the well-earned break!!
Got a kudos for a local business, community member, or government office/employee? Send it to us to potentially be included in the next newsletter!
Local News in a Nutshell: Original Reporting & Analysis
Summer Road Construction
First up, be prepared for road closures around College Park this summer for Purple Line construction. Most of the shut-downs will be in and around the UMD campus, but check out our story to see the full list of planned closures and dates.
The Riverdale Park-North station is largely complete, and construction of other stations and tracks will begin throughout the College Park area.
City Passes Property Tax Hike
Speaking of College Park, the city adopted its new operating budget for FY2025 last week, which includes the first property tax increase in 10 years. The council cut residential tax rates by 10% from 2020 to 2023, and the new 11% increase would return the rate to the level between 2014 and 2019.
Those in favor of reducing spending noted that the increase will be effectively larger because property values are much higher now. City officials cited increases in city services, inflation, sustainability efforts, and new city parks and facilities as factors leading to the tax hike.
Crime Report Backlog
In other news, it looks like the monthly reports on crime statistics from the Hyattsville Police Department are once again significantly outdated. As of today, the last report uploaded is from more than a year ago in March 2023.
Though the department continues to supply weekly crime snapshots online, these are curated and do not contain statistics or comparison to other periods of time as the monthly reports did.
Summer-proof Your Home
Just in time for summer storms and record heat waves, Matt Menke’s “On the House” column this month has a ton of tips for summer-izing your home this season. He explains how heat, humidity and major thunder-storms are the three worst enemies of homes in summertime. With temperatures and storm intensities expected to reach record highs once again this year, Menke’s simple suggestions may help you and your home weather the worst of what summer has to dish out.
In Defense of “Yardens”
Finally, in this month’s Native Gardening with Jimmy, we return to our initial topic of the trials and tribulations of lawn maintenance. Jimmy offers us a timely escape route from the constant noise, pollution, and hassle of maintaining a front lawn.
In his treatise on the beauty and bounty of a front yard native garden, or “yarden” — his contains over 100 species of native plants — Rogers urges readers who have lawns to “consider trading in that changeless, flat landscape for a private park where each day you can see new blooms and new visitors.”
My Top 5 Local Twitter Tidbits (okay, “X”)
- Last week’s heavy storms triggered tornado warnings from Laurel to Olney. The Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gangexplain that a tornado WARNING means “seek shelter in lowest level of strong building, away from windows.” A WATCH means “ingredients are in place for possible tornadoes in the area,” but you don’t need to seek immediate shelter. @NWS_BaltWash (National Weather Service) & @CapitalWeather
- A Prince George’s County grand jury indicted suspended PGPD patrol officer Corporal Dexter Shin last weekon one count of misconduct in office. On March 3, 2024, the officer struck a pedestrian with his cruiser in Laurel and failed to report the collision and ensure the pedestrian received proper medical care. @PGPDNews
- Expect continuing road closures in Hyattsvillefor utility installation on Jefferson St. in Hyattsville between Route 1 & 43rd Ave., and 44th Ave. between Jefferson & Kennedy through roughly mid-July during construction hours, M-F, 9AM-3 PM. @HyattsvilleMD
- The Eleanor Roosevelt High School girl’s softball team finished the season as the state runner-up following the 2024 MPSSAA 4A state championship gamelast week in College Park. The team went into the final game undefeated but lost to Leonardtown. @DCNewsNow
- The City of Hyattsville’s capital fund had a $17 million deficit as of June 30, 2021, and the city hasn’t offered more recent numbers according to reporter Claire Panak Tombes. The local journalist does a deeper dive in her substack Route One Finance. @route1finance
By the way, have you seen any fireflies yet?! I spotted my first one near 42nd Ave. and Oglethorpe St. in Hyattsville last Thursday evening. Send me an email if you beat me to it! (As well as with any questions or comments on the newsletter.)
Cheers,
Heather Marléne Zadig, Newsletter Editor
heatherz@streetcarsuburbs.news
Upcoming Events
Unless marked with an “$,” events listed do not charge admission.
Thurs. May 30
6:30-8:30pm. Gender Identity & Sexual Expression — Hyattsville Community Cultural Conversation series, kicking-off LGBTQIA+ Pride Month. Light refreshments served; registration requested.
7:30-9:30-pm. Thursday Trivia at Denizens Brewing Co. in Riverdale Park. Come hang with Cap City Trivia every Thursday. Prizes for the top teams.
Fri. May 31
5-7pm. Mt. Rainier Youth Financial Literacy Discussion Panel at Joe’s Movement Emporium. Learn about effective budgeting, smart investing, mastering debt, deciphering credit scores, and personal financial growth. Chance to win a free Chromebook and more.
6:30pm. Movie Night at Town Park in UP. The University Park Police Department presents Trolls Band Together. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets. Food will be available for purchase.
7-10pm. The Roustabouts at New Deal Café in Greenbelt. Offering roots-music lovers a fresh take on the blues, an exciting mix of original music, and carefully selected covers. If you think you know the blues, think again – this band will not be stereotyped.
7pm. The Hollow Truths live music at Streetcar 82 Brewing in Hyattsville.
Sat. June 1
12-7pm. Caribbean American Heritage Month Festival at Bladensburg Waterfront Park. Headlined by Image Band and Flambe’, this year’s festival will feature food/craft vendors and activities like the Sankofa Mobile Museum, Skate mobile, table/lawn games, hula hoops, scooters, soccer, park police horse/motorcycle, and more.
3pm-10pm. The Town of Edmonston Centennial Celebration, commemorating its 100th anniversary. A vibrant parade, live performances, festival, and a fireworks display. Parade @ 3pm at Lafayette and Ingraham Street, festival starts at 4 in the Edmonston Recreation Center Field. Fireworks start at 9pm.
8-10pm. $ An Evening with Legendary Tap Dancer Baakari Wilder and Friends at Montpelier Arts Center in Laurel. World-renowned tap dancer Baakari Wilder has made guest appearances at the Kennedy Center since the age of 12 and starred in the Broadway musical Bring in Da Noise Bring In Da Funk.
Sun. June 2, 6-8pm. $ Mixtape 2: An Aerial Retrospective. Join UpSpring Studio for their 10th anniversary show at Joe’s Movement Emporium in Mt. Rainier. Featuring new work on trapeze, sling, and vertical fabric. Reception to follow.
Wed. June 5, 1-4:30pm. Lawyer in the Library: Tenant’s Rights and Housing Clinic at Laurel branch library Meeting Room A. Free legal services on housing, landlord/tenant disputes, and tenants’ rights on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible individuals.
Thurs. June 6
11-12:30pm. $ Earth Wind and Fire Tribute Band at Prince George’s Publick Playhouse: classic songs with remarkable precision capturing the dynamic musical sound, fabulous harmonies, and exciting stage show. For ages 60 & better.
7-10pm. Super Secret Jazz Night at Maryland Meadworks in Hyattsville, featuring a surprise takeover by a local jazz big band. Expect an epic jam session with bass, piano & drums w/different horn players sitting in. Tipping encouraged.
Fri. June 7
6:30-8:30pm. Friday Night Live with Bongo District in College Park. Great music, performers, games, a bounce house, and arts & crafts for kids. Local food & beer for purchase. The DC-based five-piece band bring their mix of reggae, ska, Latin, & funk music for a night of fun at City Hall Plaza (7401 Baltimore Avenue).
7pm. Fast Eddie live music at Streetcar 82 Brewing in Hyattsville.
7-11pm. MauvIN Graye & the Graye Line Band at New Deal Café in Greenbelt. A special night CELEBRATING PRINCE’S BIRTHDAY and all his greatness. It will be a great night of funk-n-roll, hip-hop-soul, and purple majesty.
Fri. June 7-9, var. times. $$ M A N I F E S T: Encore! at Joe’s Movement Emporium , an engaging dance exhibition by Marcus Isaiah, celebrates the virtues of openness, honesty, and authenticity in the human experience.
Sat. June 8
10am-1pm. Riversdale Reunion at Riversdale House Museum. A weekend of remembrance and reflection featuring speakers, music, conversation circles and reinterpretation, as part of the Museum’s 30th anniversary. Come out and learn about the site’s historic families and their descendants.
11am-4pm. Trolley Trail Day, College Park, Riverdale Park, and Hyattsville. Join the Anacostia Trails Heritage Area, Hyattsville CDC, College Park City-University Partnership, and communities along the Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail for a full-day celebration. Fun run, bicycle ride, live music, kid activities, food & drink.
12-3pm. Laurel Annual Summer Block Party. Saturday, June 8, 2024 Kick off the summer with a Block Party with the Laurel Police Department. Live music, games for the kids, kona ice truck, dancing, vendors and more. Towne Center Laurel.
2-4pm. Pride Month at Montpelier: the Rainbow Tea. Fine tea fare including scones, finger sandwiches and pastries, and your choice loose leaf teas, all served on pretty china in Montpelier’s elegant East Wing. Come early, at 1pm, for a talk on queer history and how it is presented at historic sites across the US. RSVP by June 4.
Sun. June 9, 6-8pm. Eleanor’s New Deal Cabaret presents PRIDE! – drag performer, D’Manda Martini, hosts an amazing ensemble cast of Cabaret performers for a night of show tunes that bring Broadway to the Beltway! New Deal Café in Greenbelt
