January 2015 Hyattsville Life & Times

HyattsvilleJanuary 2015Hyattsville’s Community NewspaperVol. 12 No. 1

Life&Times

INVASIVE TREESWhat is the city doing about Bradford Pears? Read a guest editorial from Director of Public Works Lesley Riddle answering that question. PAGE 2

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Included: The January 2015 Issue of The Hyattsville Reporter — See Center Section

DOCUMENTARY continued on page 7

FELEGY TRAFFICTra� c concerns at Felegy Elementary have city o� cials, the police, and the school system working together to make sure students are safe. READ MORE ON PAGE 3

BACKYARD VISITORSPossum or opossum? Fred Seitz explores the history of this critter, including its name, in the latest Nature Nearby. PAGE 9

� eater program helps prepare teens to enter workforce

by Rebecca Bennett

Local business owners Amrik and Ravinder Melhi received an-other setback this month when the Prince George’s County Board of License Commissioners revoked the liquor license of an Adelphi restaurant, � e Golden Bull, which they allegedly con-trol. Last August, the board or-dered their business, Tick Tock Liquors in Langley Park, to stop selling alcohol.

At Tick Tock, located at 1820 University Boulevard East, although the website still lists store hours as 7 a.m. to midnight, a handwri� en sign on the door says, “We close.”

� e store has a sordid past. Tick Tock Liquors and its owners Am-rik and Ravinder Melhi were im-plicated in the 2010 indictment of former Prince George’s Coun-ty Executive Jack Johnson, who pled guilty to accepting bribes from developers, conspiracy, and extortion. Johnson was sen-tenced to seven years in prison and is scheduled to be released in 2018.

Amrik Melhi admi� ed to con-spiring with Johnson and a Prince George’s County Police o� cer to transport and distribute un-taxed alcohol using extortion. In Dec. 2011, a U.S. District Court sentenced 52-year-old Melhi to 46 months in prison and three years of supervised release, according to the FBI. He was released on March 18, 2014, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

� e FBI says Ravinder Melhi, 49, plead guilty to illegally access-ing a protected Maryland Motor

EXCLUSIVE: Legal troubles continue for property owners

by Scarlett Salem

� e programs o� ered through Joe’s Movement Emporium in Mount Rainier usually promote edu-cation, production, and artist services with an em-phasis on dance and movement. � e � eater Tech Program (� P), which began in 2008, has a slightly di� erent goal.

“� P is a workforce development initiative that provides instruction in theater tech, operation, and digital media to at-risk, low-income youth, ages 16 to 21,” said Shonique McBayne, the program’s cur-

rent director. It creates opportunities for disadvan-taged Prince George’s County youth to gain criti-cal skills in theater technology in order to prepare them for employment in that industry.

“We started the program because a signi� cant number of young adults inquired about employ-ment at Joe’s,” said Cathy Smith, the program’s re-cruitment and outreach coordinator. “We wanted to create more jobs and training opportunities in the arts and in other sectors.”

by Mark Goodson

� is February, Hya� sville resi-dent Boe Leslie and his brother, Nate, will face a challenge like no other in their � eld. � ey will coach ice hockey in a country with no indoor rinks and fewer skates than skaters. � e interna-tional coaches will be travelling to Mongolia, the country that ranks dead last in the Interna-tional Ice Hockey Federation’s rankings, to � lm a documentary preliminarily named � e Ice at the End of the Earth.

Boe, his brother Nate and his father Bob were all once profes-sional skaters themselves. � e Leslies have each dedicated their lives to passing on skills and wisdom to the youth of Europe, Canada, America—even New Zealand. But these are all coun-tries with well established ice hockey traditions and plenty of indoor ice arenas.

Mongolia is a newcomer to the game, which the Soviets intro-duced during communist occu-pation in the 60s and 70s. � e nation frequently declines inter-national tournament invitations due to a lack of equipment and funds. � e country’s topogra-phy is one of extremes, from the Altai mountain range in the west to the Gobi desert regions in the

Resident to create hockey documentary

TICK TOCK continued on page 12THEATER continued on page 13

JOE’S MOVEMENT EMPORIUMProgram participants Julio Q., Zachery F., and Taisa M., practice during a sound training session with instruc-tor Adriel W.

Page 2 Hyattsville Life & Times | January 2015

A community newspaper chronicling the

life and times of Hyattsville

Mailing address: PO Box 132, Hyattsville, MD 20781

http://HyattsvilleLife.com

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Hyattsville Life & Times is published monthly by Hyattsville Community

Newspaper, Inc., a 501c(3) nonpro� t cor-poration. Editors welcome reader input, tips, articles, letters, opinion pieces and photographs, which may be submitted using the mailing address above or the

email addresses below.

Managing EditorCaroline Selle

[email protected]

Editor and Web ManagerRebecca Bennett

EditorMark Goodson

ProductionAshley Perks

Digital Archives Manager Susie Currie

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Copy EditorsSean Bennett, Kate Davison

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301.531.5234Writers & Contributors

Gretchen Brodtman, Katy June-Friesen, Julia Gaspar-Bates, Lauren

Kelly, Andrew Marder, Gray O’Dwyer, Kit Slack,Scarlett Salem, Fred Seitz,

Board of Directors Joseph Gigliotti - President and

General Counsel Chris Currie - Vice President

Caroline Selle - SecretaryPeggy Dee, Karen J. Riley, Rosanna Landis Weaver,

Gretchen Brodtman, Debra Franklin, T. Carter RossRebecca Bennett - 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.

MyTwoCents

by Lesley Riddle

About this time of year, we start to long for the � rst petals to bloom on our city’s many � ow-ering trees. Among them is the Bradford Pear, once the county’s o� cial tree, which usually grows 25 feet tall with a canopy nearly as wide, giving it a lovely round form. � e tree blossoms depend-ably each spring, displays won-derful fall color, and has virtually no insect or disease problems.

� e Bradford Pear: Beauty or beast?Unfortunately, that’s where

the good news ends for Brad-ford Pears. And the bad news about the trees outweighs the good, which is why we as a city are slowly but surely removing these pears from our streets and parks.

� e Bradford Pear is a cultivar of the Callery Pear, which was imported to the United States several times beginning over a hundred years ago, according to the National Park Service. (It was planted at Harvard University’s Arnold Arboretum in 1909.) � e Bradford was cultivated around 1950 for its ornamental aesthetic, and sold and planted widely. It has lined the streets of Prince George’s County cities and towns for decades.

But it turns out the trees of-ten experience major stem and trunk failure as they age, caus-ing some to split down the middle, and making nearby areas unsafe. Also, the tree’s seeds spread and take root easily, and have integrated into margins of woodlands, fallow sites, and anywhere they can � nd footing. � e trees that grow are not techni-cally Bradfords – which can only reproduce through gra� ing – but a di� erent genotype that form dense thickets. � ey choke out many native species by blocking

them from sun, water and soil, which in turn starves our native birds, insects and mammals of their food and habitat. For these reasons the Callery and Bradford Pears have been deemed an inva-sive species. Control may soon be mandated by federal, state, and county o� cials.

Meanwhile, we at the City of Hya� sville are already control-ling and removing the trees. We are doing so responsibly, to prevent the creation of more signi� cant environmental prob-lems and ecosystem imbalance. We are measured in our removal

of the old and dying Bradford cultivars, and more aggressive in taking out the genotypes that have integrated into our natural areas. � is keeps our neighbor-hoods looking good, and gives us time to replace the trees we do remove with more desirable, less invasive native species.

Of course, our region is o� en invaded by non-native species. Apples, cherries and most fruit trees are among them, but they have proven to live in harmony with our native plants. � e Brad-ford Pear has not. While it can be a true beauty in the spring, it is

in fact a real beast for our natural landscape.

Improving our local ecosys-tem will take time and e� ort from everyone. We’re working on a schedule of upcoming tree removals, and when � nished we will post it on the City website. Residents landscaping their yards can also help out by buying from nurseries that sell native plants instead of purchas-ing and planting invasive species.

Lesley Riddle is the Director of Public Works for the City of Hya� sville.

CITY VOTING AGE LOWERED TO 16

At almost 11:30 p.m. on Jan. 5, the Hya� sville City Council voted 7 to 4 to pass a charter amendment sponsored by Councilmember Patrick Paschall (Ward 3) that will allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in city elections. � e vote came a� er an hour long public hearing and additional discussion during the council meeting on whether or not the issue should be outright voted on or put on the ballot.

� e meeting agenda set the council up to � rst vote on the issue as an advisory referen-dum, which needed eight votes to pass. If that motion did not pass, a second motion to vote on outright lowering the voting age to 16 years old was scheduled, which only needed six votes to pass.

According to the council proceedings, 16- and 17-year-olds will be able to vote in the next city election, which is scheduled for May 5.

PLAN PRESENTED FOR KIPLINGER LAND USE

� e Jan. 5 Hya� sville City Council meeting also saw a presentation from the a� orney and

developers involved in the proposed devel-opment at the former Kiplinger Editors Press site, which is on East West Highway across from the Mall at Prince Georges.

According to the presentation, develop-ers are aiming for a cohesive feel between the multiple structures on site and the sur-rounding area. Luxury apartments and single family townhouses are planned, with the apartments bordering East West Highway and the townhouses towards the rear of the property. A� orney Bill Schi� said retail is still on the site plan, but “it’s trailing behind.”

LIGHTING STUDY

A presentation by a representative of Charles P. Johnson and Associates (CPJ), the com-pany from which the City of Hya� sville has contracted a lighting study, said that prelimi-nary � ndings revealed that much of the city’s lighting does not meet current standards. � e company is evaluating lighting in West Hya� sville and will meet with the city later this month to discuss its � nding. CPJ said they expect analysis and recommendation to be completed by April 2015.

BRIEFS

REBECCA BENNETTHarper (left) and Maria (right), juniors at Northwestern High School, came to the public hearing to speak in favor of lowering the city voting age to 16 years old.

The City of Hyattsville is already controlling and removing the Bradford Pear trees.

Hyattsville Life & Times | January 2015 Page 3

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by Caroline Selle

During pick-up and drop-off times at Edward M. Felegy Elementary, school children dart across Nicholson Street while drivers — mostly parents and guardians — make u-turns at the bottom of the blind hill at the intersection of Nicholson and Mayhurst Drive.

“There’s actually a stop sign only heading west, there’s no stop sign heading east,” said Chris Giunta, the manager of code and park-ing compliance for the City of Hyattsville. “ … [drivers] are pulling out into wrong-way traffic.” When he visited the site in November, Giunta saw four near-accidents in a twenty- minute period.

Compounding the danger, he said, is an ice cream truck that “occupies one of the few legal parking spaces that are in the neighborhood.”

“It’s a perfect storm of chaos,” said Assistant City Administra-tor Jim Chandler, and it’s one that Hyattsville officials are trying to reduce. “Certainly the last thing anyone wants is a kid getting hit in an area that is supposed to be dedicated for walkers.”

Though Chandler said traffic issues are common at neighbor-hood elementary schools, the city has been voicing concerns since the school’s inception.

When the location of the new el-ementary school was proposed, initial plans included vehicu-lar access points through both Nicholson Street and East West Highway. City officials say they went to the county school system with requests for modifications.

“At the city’s request,” said Chandler, “the county modified the plans to restrict vehicular access to only access along East-West Highway.” The primary route for pedestrians was and is intended to be Nicholson Street, with the East West Highway entrance as the primary pick-up and drop-off zone.

For the first couple of school weeks, Chandler said the city had a police officer present to help direct traffic. “Unfortunate-ly, we only have so much staff to dedicate, so we did pull back and noticed immediately we were getting cars doing pick-ups and drop-offs and some other things they weren’t supposed to be doing,” he said.

“We cannot fiscally sustain as-signing a police officer there every day” to address parking compliance, Hyattsville City Police Department (HCPD) spokesperson Chris Purvis wrote in an email.

As a result, city and school officials are working to find solu-tions.

According to Purvis, the city

City, school system work together to address traffic concerns at Felegy Elementary

administration and HCPD of-ficials “have met with several school officials to discuss some of our concerns about the way in which parents are accessing the site during both the drop-off and pick-up.” In December, HCPD’s Community Action Team planned to conduct a safety assessment before recon-vening in January to work on solutions.

As of Jan. 18, a bright repainted crosswalk was visible at the in-tersection of Mayhurst Drive and Nicholson Street along with

pedestrian crossing signs. “The city is also considering placing [vertical posts] in the middle of the street, and we have requested a crossing guard from Prince George’s County Police,” said City of Hyattsville spokesperson Jake Rollow.

Chandler said the city has con-sidered installing an additional crosswalk or an extended one. “Unfortunately … [with] the grade there and the layout of the roadways, it’s difficult to put another crosswalk in there in an area that’s going to make sense.

When you put in a crosswalk, you’re indicating to the people walking that this is a safe area, and you don’t want to put that in an area where that may not be true,” he said.

Long term, said Chandler, a crossing guard is “the only measure that can be taken to really make sure it’s a safe situa-tion out there.”

In the meantime, officials encourage parents to use the designated school entrance and exit off of East West Highway at Editor’s Row.

CAROLINE SELLECars idle along Nicholson street during the Jan. 8 drop-off.


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by Caroline Selle

Pepco’s tree trimmings have been temporarily suspended in the City of Hyattsville. According to city spokesperson Jake Rollow, the power utility’s arborist con-tractor pruned trees without first alerting the city to its plans.

Hyattsville resident Nina Faye said she heard two large trucks outside of her Queensbury Road home early on Saturday, Dec. 27. The vehicles belonged to Asplundh, Pepco’s arborist contractor, and the crews were preparing to prune trees.

“I asked the crew what they were going to do,” Faye said. “They pointed to all the trees along the sidewalk in front of my house and two neighbors, saying they were going to prune them away from the electrical wires.” Faye said none of the tree limbs appeared to be close to the elec-trical wires “as they had all been pruned within the last two years.”

“I also stated that when I re-ceived notification of pruning in October from Pepco,” Faye said, “I phoned and left a message and later spoke live to a young man, telling him they did not have per-mission to prune my small red-bud tree. [The Asplundh crew] said my tree was [still] on the list.”

According to Pepco Senior Media Relations Manager Sean Kelly, “Pepco notifies customers of planned pruning activities no less than seven days before the start of work. We knock on the customer’s door in an effort to obtain approval for the work if we need to prune trees on pri-vate property. If no one answers, we leave a door hanger that pro-

vides notice of the pending work, includes a name and number to call if there are any questions, and states that we will proceed with the planned work unless we hear back from the customer within seven days. On the day of the trimming, we knock on the customer’s door again. If no one is home, we proceed to trim.”

Faye said her experience was not in line with Pepco’s stated practices. “If I had not been physically present, they would have damaged my tree, which I had specifically told Pepco that they did not have permission to prune,” she wrote.

Though Faye was able to stop the crews from pruning her trees,

she was unable to stop the arbor-ists from entering her neighbors’ properties.

“They damaged several of [a neighbor’s] trees by skinning the bark off limbs with their electric saw … They went to another neighbor, where they pruned branches from a ... birch, which again were nowhere near the electrical wires.” Faye said she thought there was major dam-age done to that tree, because it has very light wood.

In response to an inquiry about Pepco’s pruning practices, Kelly wrote, “Pepco’s vegetation man-agement work in Hyattsville is necessary to maintain safe and reliable service to our custom-ers. Our work is undertaken to comply with state laws and regu-lations that mandate minimum clearances between trees and power lines … Tree species, its position in relation to our elec-tric facilities and the line voltage are all factors in determining how much limb removal is required.”

Rollow said the City of Hy-attsville “[approves] all tree- trimmings before they occur.” The Dec. 27 incident was not on the schedule. “Upon learning of the situation,” Rollow said, “the City called Asplundh and asked them to stop their work immedi-ately. They did so.”

“The City remains concerned by the lack of communication and some of the pruning stan-dards,” Rollow said.

City temporarily suspends tree trimming by Pepco

rebecca bennettOn Dec. 27, Asplundh pruned several trees on Queensbury Road for Pepco.


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by Gray OʼDwyer

Sometimes, going ‘green’ doesn’t mean building some-thing new, sophisticated, or state-of-the-art. Sometimes it just means recycling things you already have. In November, Assistant City Administrator Jim Chandler gave a presenta-tion to the city council on ways to meet the increased need for o� ce space in Hya� sville by adaptively reusing historic prop-erties the city already owns.

� e suggestion comes a� er months of debate over the fate of the historic Hya� sville Library with its iconic ‘� ying saucer.’ Some residents criticized the environmental cost of building a new library when the exist-ing building was sound, though badly in need of renovation. Many residents also appreciated the historic value of the library, saying that Hya� sville’s unique building stock was an essential part of its character.

Hya� sville’s historic charac-ter is becoming a focal point for discussing how to address the area’s recent growth. A Dec. 2014 Washingtonian article described Hya� sville as “an area [that] has arrived,” and home prices in the area re� ect increasing demand. � e city’s administrative burdens

have increased concurrently; the November presentation indicat-ed a need for over 21,000 square feet of additional o� ce space just to accommodate existing sta� .

In the past, plans to reuse city-owned buildings such as the former BB&T Bank building and the Arcade have stalled. � e Arcade building in particular (lo-cated at the intersection of Route

1 and Gallatin Street) has been the focus of a long-term devel-opment plan that has been frus-trated by changing priorities and by the challenges of the building itself. Like many buildings along Route 1, the Arcade was vacant for many years and renovation costs have been a moving tar-get. However, new business in-vestments, such as the popular

Vigilante roastery have renewed interest in developing neglected Arts District properties.

� e Arcade was originally built for the Pinckney Memorial Church ca. 1915, designed by the architectural � rm of Hunter and Bell according to records in � e American Contractor. In 1917, the Episcopal Bishop of Washington wrote a� er a visit that “the new Church and parish house are very pleasing and must add greatly to the future success of this important Parish.”

It was expanded and convert-ed to a movie theater ca. 1926, and altered again to become o� ces prior to 1970. In the mid-1990’s, the building was vacated by its last tenant and slowly deteriorated until 2000 when it was donated to the city. Major sta-bilization work was done between 2006-2012, but the building will remain a shell until the city coun-cil agrees on a vision for its use. � e most recent study estimates it will cost around $2.5 million to fully renovate the Arcade.

� e former BB&T Bank build-ing on Hamilton Street has also remained vacant since the city purchased it for approximately $1 million in 2008; at the time, the purchase price was only 40 percent of the building’s assessed value according to the � nancial

Local government going green through historic preservation

risk statement. � e original in-tent was to use it for “nonpro� t centers, schools, or city services,” but there is now a proposal on the table to move the Hya� sville City Police Department there instead. � e bank was originally built in 1955 in the popular Colonial Revival style, then enlarged with an annex in 1964. Moving the police department from the Hya� sville Municipal Building to the BB&T building is projected to cost around $480,000 in immedi-ate renovations.

Overall, a 2011 study approxi-mated $9.8 million over the next 20 years would be needed in im-provements to several existing city-owned properties, including the Arcade, BB&T building, and the ca. 1990 Municipal Building on Gallatin St. A city spokesper-son told us last month that leas-ing or selling two of the proper-ties would lower that overall cost.

In comparison, Prince George’s County has already commi� ed $14 million to the new Laurel Branch Library and plans to spend upwards of $11 million for a new Hya� sville Branch Library.

Finding a new purpose for an existing historic building repre-sents a signi� cant cost savings and provides a sustainable, environ-mentally sound alternative to new construction. More importantly, adaptive reuse maintains the char-acter of the Arts District, turning history into a marketable, tangible asset that will drive future invest-ment.

Gray O’Dwyer is an architectural historian who moved � om her home town of Richmond, Virginia, to join the Hya� sville neighborhood.

CAROLINE SELLEThe City of Hyattsville is looking at future use for the Arcade building among others.


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player might not have the � nan-cial means, skill level, or time commitment for the elite level, it does not mean that they love the game any less.”

� e Leslies planned their trip to Mongolia a� er Mongolian hock-ey player Purevdavaa Choijiljav connected with Boe through the family’s online hockey learning platform, www.lgsportsamerica.com. Choijijay, known as Pujee, is a dedicated player: he once rode the Siberian Railroad for seven days in order to a� end a Czech training camp because he was unable to a� ord the airfare required to travel more quickly.

A� er connecting with Pujee, the Leslie family sponsored the Mongolian Hockey Federation with all they could o� er elec-tronically: full access to drills, blogs, video examples, and more. Word of this collabora-tion began to spread, aided by a CBC Vancouver news story in May 2014. But the Leslies want-ed to o� er more. To help share their passions in person, they began a Kickstarter campaign in November to fund a documen-tary about the journey.

The campaign platform, www.kickstarter.com, is an entrepre-neurial launch website. The

Leslies had 30 days to meet their goal of $20,000 to cover a cameraman in Mongolia and a film editor. Backers from Hyattsville to Switzerland quickly came to aid, spreading the project’s link globally, but it wasn’t quite enough. With only days remaining, Boe and family dined with Swiss coaches and friends and received the pledge that will make their dream doc-umentary a reality.

Boe returns to Hya� sville on March 3, when the process of � nalizing the footage begins. For more information, contact Boe at [email protected].

east. Outside of Ulan Bator—Mongolia’s capital — nomadic tribes still roam the land. Such conditions continually stunt the development of a � rst world

sport like hockey. And this is exactly what inspired Boe.

“Unfortunately in youth sport today, I think that there are too many programs and coaches that cater to the elite,” he said. Hockey is an expensive sport. “We think that just because a

DOCUMENTARY continued from page 1

GILLIAN LESLIEBoe Leslie, joined by his son Kailen, and wife Gillian at an outdoor ice rink in Budapest, Hungary.

Hyattsville ReportertheNo. 302 • January 20, 2015 www.hyattsville.org • 301-985-5000

Page HR1 Hyattsville Life & Times | January 2015 Hyattsville Life & Times | January 2015 Page HR2

Creative Minds Parent & Child ProgramEvery Tuesday and Thursday through April 2, 10 AM - 12 PMMagruder Recreation Center, 3911 Hamilton StreetMore information: Tony Martinez, 240-299-8395, [email protected]

Ageless Grace Exercise Classes Every Wednesday and Friday through February 27, 10 - 11 AM4310 Gallatin StreetMore information: Colleen Aistis, 301.985.5057, [email protected]

Hyattsville City Council MeetingTuesday, January 20, 8 PMHyattsville Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin StreetMore information: Laura Reams, 301-985-5009, [email protected]

Hyattsville Code Compliance Advisory CommitteeWednesday, January 21, 7 PMHyattsville Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin StreetMore information: Chris Giunta, 301-985-5017, [email protected]

Hyattsville Education Advisory CommitteeThursday, January 22, 6:30 PMHyattsville Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin StreetMore information: Jake Rollow, 301-985-5031, [email protected]

Hyattsville Planning CommitteeTuesday, January 27, 7:30 PMHyattsville Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin StreetMore information: Jim Chandler, 301-985-5013, [email protected]

City Council Public Hearing on Tax RateWednesday, January 28, 7:00 PMHyattsville Municipal Building, 4310 GallatinMore information: Laura Reams, 301-985-5009, [email protected]

City Council Work Session on Budget Pri-oritiesWednesday, January 28, 8:00 PMHyattsville Municipal Building, 4310 GallatinMore information: Laura Reams, 301-985-5009, [email protected]

Hyattsville City Council MeetingMonday, February 2, 8 PMHyattsville Municipal Building, 4310 Gallatin StreetMore information: Laura Reams, 301-985-5009, [email protected]

City Council Work Session on Draft BudgetWednesday, February 11, 8:00 PMHyattsville Municipal Building, 4310 GallatinMore information: Laura Reams, 301-985-5009, [email protected]

City ElectionsOn May 5, 2015, Hyattsville will hold elections for Mayor and five City Council seats. If you are interested in running for office, candidate registra-tion opens February 23. Vote-by-Mail applications will also become available that same day. The City is also plan-nig to hire election judges. For more information, please visit www.hy-attsville.org/elections or contact City Clerk Laura Reams at 301-985-5009 or [email protected].

City UpdatesDid you know that you can sign up to receive email and/or text message up-dates from the City of Hyattsville? It’s a great way to learn about our programs and events. To sign yourself up, please visit our website – www.hyattsville.org – and click the “Notify Me” button.

Parent-Child Program Launches New SemesterThe Creative Minds Parent-Child pro-gram features artistic, musical and physical activities to spur the creativ-ity of kids ages 1 to 3 and their par-ents. The program meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, January 13 - April 2, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Cost is $50 for the entire session, but you can try it out for free. The program oper-ates at Magruder Recreation Center, 3911 Hamilton Street. More informa-

tion: Tony Martinez, 240-299-8395, [email protected].

Volunteer of the YearThe Hyattsville Volunteer Service Award is given each year to someone who has been an extraordinary partic-ipant in the City’s volunteer programs. The 2014 award went to Mary Banks.Banks has been a resident of the

Friendship Arms apartments, a facil-ity for seniors and people with dis-abilities, for more than 20 years. Since 2008 she has enthusiastically helped volunteers from DeMatha Catholic High School to engage with residents. She sets them up with board games and decks of cards, ensures they have someone to connect with, and then monitors their service. In 2010 Banks also stepped up to

be team captain for the Friendship Arms Wii Friends Video Bowling Team. Sponsored by the National Se-nior League, the team competes with other Wii Video bowling teams across the country. At friendship arms, stu-dent volunteers provide coaching and encouragement. The team practices twice per week, and last year qualified for the playoffs. Each year a Hyattsville artist is com-

missioned to create an original piece of art as the award. The 2014 Volunteer Service Award was created by Hyatts-ville resident and artist Eileen Cave.

Mentes Creativas Programa de Padres e Hijos Cada martes y jueves, hasta el 2 de abril, 10 AM - 12 PM3911 Hamilton Street.El Centro Recreativo de MagruderMás información: Tony Martinez, 240-299-8395 o [email protected]

Gracia Eterna Clases de EjercicioCada miércoles y viernes hasta el 26 de noviembre, 10 - 11 AM4310 Gallatin StreetMás información: Tony Martinez, 240-299-8395 o [email protected]

Reunion del Consejo Municipal de HyattsvilleMartes, 20 de enero, 8 PMEdificio Municipal de Hyattsville, 4310 GallatinMás información: Laura Reams, 301-985-5009, [email protected]

Comité de Cumplimiento de Codigos de HyattsvilleMiércoles, 21 de enero, 7 PMEdificio Municipal de Hyattsville, 4310 GallatinMás información: Chris Giunta, 301-985-5017, [email protected]

Comité de Educación de HyattsvilleJueves, 22 de enero, 6:30 PMEdificio Municipal de Hyattsville, 4310 GallatinMás información: Jake Rollow, 301-985-5031, [email protected]

Comité de Planeación de HyattsvilleMartes, 27 de enero, 7:30 PMEdificio Municipal de Hyattsville, 4310 GallatinMás información: Jim Chandler, 301-985-5013, [email protected]

Audiencia Publico sobre La Taza de ImpuestosMiércoles, 28 de enero, 7 PMEdificio Municipal de Hyattsville, 4310 GallatinMás información: Laura Reams, 301-985-5009, [email protected]

Reunión de Trabajo del Consejo Municipal sobre Prioridades del PresupuestoMiércoles, 28 de enero, 8 PMEdificio Municipal de Hyattsville, 4310 GallatinMás información: Laura Reams, 301-985-5009, [email protected]

Reunion del Consejo Municipal de HyattsvilleLunes, 2 de febrero, 8 PMEdificio Municipal de Hyattsville, 4310 GallatinMás información: Laura Reams, 301-985-5009, [email protected]

Reunión de Trabajo del Consejo Municipal sobre el Borrador de PresupuestoMiércoles, 11 de febrero, 8 PMEdificio Municipal de Hyattsville, 4310 GallatinMás información: Laura Reams, 301-985-5009, [email protected]

CALENDARCALENDARIO

Reportero de HyattsvilleelNo. 302 • 20 de enero, 2015 www.hyattsville.org • 301-985-5000

Elecciones de la CiudadEl 5 de mayo, 2015, Hyattsville tendrá elecciones para Alacalde y cinco puestos en el Consejo Municipal. Si usted tiene interés en hacer campaña, inscripción para candidatos abre el 23 de fe-brero. Solicitudes de Votación-por-Correo serán disponible la misma fecha. La Ciudad tam-bién planea en contratar jueces de las elecciones. Para más información, por favor visite www.hyattsville.org/elections o contacte a la Secretaria de la Ciudad Laura Reams a 301-985-5009 o [email protected].

Voluntario del AñoEl Premio de Servicio Voluntar-io de Hyattsvalle se da cada año a alguien que ha estado partici-pando extraordinariamente en los programas de voluntarios de la ciudad. El premio de 2014 fue a Mary Banks.Banks ha sido por más de 20

años residente de los aparta-mentos de Friendship Arms, una instalación para mayores y personas con discapacidades. Desde 2008 ha ayudado con entusiasmo a los voluntarios de

Preparatoria Católica DeMatha. Les da juegos y tarjetas, asegura que tienen alguien con quien pueden conectar, y despues su-pervisa su servicio.En 2010 Banks también ayudo

en ser capitán para el equipo de video-bolos de Wii de Friend-

ship Arms. Patrocinado por la Liga de Mayores Nacionales, el equipo tiene competencias con otros equipos de video-bolos en todo el pais. En Friendship Arms, voluntarios estudiantiles dan entrenamiento y estímulo. El equipo practica dos veces

cada semana y el año pasado clasificaron para las eliminato-rias.Cada año un artista de Hyatts-

ville esta comisionado a crear arte original como el premio de servicio voluntario. El premio de 2014 fue creado por artista y

residente de Hyattsville Eileen Cave.

Noticias de la Ciudad¿Ud. sabia que puede inscribirse para recibir noticias de la Ciudad de Hyattsville por correo electro-nico y/o mensaje de texto? Es un gran manera para aprender de nuestros programas y eventos. Para inscribirse visite nuestro si-tio de web – www.hyattsville.org – y haga clic en el botón “Notify Me.” Allí puede eligir a recibir mensajes en español.

Programa de Padres e Hijos Abre Nuevo SemestreEl Programa Mentes Creativas de Padres e Hijos ofrece activi-dades de arte, musica y ejercicio para estimular la creatividad de niños de edades uno a tres y sus padres. El programa se reune los martes y jueves, 13 de enero hasta 2 de abril, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Cuesta $50 por la session, pero lo puede probar gratis. Opera en el Centro Recreativo de Magruder, 3911 Hamilton Street. Más infor-mación: Tony Martinez, 240-299-8395, [email protected]

Volunteer Services Manager Colleen Aistis with 2014 Resident Volunteer of the Year Mary Banks and artist Eileen Cave

2014 Resident Volunteer of the Year Mary Banks and family in front of “Parked for Literacy” the 2014 Volunteer Service award painted by Eileen Cave.


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NatureNearby

by Fred Seitz

Everyone has experienced it: an unex-pected guest shows up at your house around holiday time and just hangs out. We recently had such a visitor on one of the warmer December days. While I was raking leaves in the backyard, one of my dogs (who had been supervising me) went crazier than usual near the back fence. Wandering back to ascertain the source of his dilemma, I was surprised to see a gray and white cat-sized cri� er hang-ing from one of the vines growing up an oak. It was North America’s only marsu-pial, the Virginia opossum.

� ough the animal is known scienti� cal-ly as Didelphus virginianus, “possum” or opossum — if your English prefers more syllables — comes from the Powhatan name for “white face.”

� e plump li� le fellow was using claws, his thumbs, and his prehensile tail to cling to the vine as he stared somewhat sus-piciously at my wannabe predator dog. I immediately ushered my canine back inside, knowing that a more “personal” encounter between the two would be bad for both participants. Despite my dog’s less than cordial greeting, the possum seemed fairly calm when I returned to his “hangin’ place.” Indeed, the o� en arboreal dwellers have had family hanging out in North America, since shortly a� er T-Rex and his o� en ill-natured cousins departed the real estate nearly 65 million years ago.

Opossums and opossum kin (including kangaroos and our childhood favorite, the Tasmanian Devil) are believed to have evolved in North America, before the lat-ter two migrated to Antarctica, Tasmania and Australia in warmer times. Only our friend, the possum, was le� to look a� er the old evolutionary homestead. Indeed,

possums live from Maine to the Midwest, down to Florida, and through Central America. Some species of possum inhabit South America, as far south as Patagonia. Other species of possum live on some of the Caribbean islands, where they are o� en caught and prepared as something of a delicacy.

Not that our local variety has escaped the kitchen, especially in the South and some rural areas. I have been told that the � esh has a chicken-like � avor, though I have never eaten one and would be somewhat wary of doing so, given opossum’s diverse, but not always discriminating diet: in-cluded are such known delights such as carrion, cockroaches and other insects, spoiled fruits and food, as well as the oc-casional snake, mouse, rat, shrew or cat. Indeed, the probable reason my plump, but usually nocturnal friend was hanging out in the sun was to do his winter forag-

ing. � e diverse diet of our plump neigh-bor (up to 14 pounds) has helped with his survival and his evolution from a time when North America was more tropi-cal and has given him resistance to many diseases. Although they may carry rabies, the incidence of this malady in possums is reported to be relatively low.

Even with their 50 teeth and occasion-ally ominous looking claws, possums are rarely combative with animals or humans. When threatened, they may hiss and with a chronic snarl be more intimidating than dangerous. Fleeing is their preferred option for tense situations, my backyard encounter, for example, prompted him to climb higher in the tree. Although the animals have long been known for “play-ing possum,” the reaction is not a con-scious choice but more of a seizure that may be accompanied by the excretion of a greenish, odorous liquid which helps de-

Hangin’ out for the holidays ter predators from pursuing the creature further. � ese episodes may last from a few minutes to over an hour.

When not looking pseudo-intimidating or fainting into fake death, possums are very fond of breeding. � ey may breed up to three times a year, December to Febru-ary (maybe my visitor wasn’t foraging), May and August. Gestation takes only about 12 days, a� er which the bumblebee size infant climbs into the pouch and at-taches him or herself to one of the mother’s 13 nipples and nurses up to two months. One wrinkle in this process is that mom may have up to 20 youngin, so there’s not always enough food to go around.

� e young may start leaving the pouch for short periods in about a month, some-times using mom’s back for transport. � ey usually mature at about three and a half to four months. � e possum’s sexual anatomy (elaborated in most short write-ups about possums, but not here — Read-er’s Digest and parents may thank me or accuse me of prudishness) has spawned almost as many folktales as their propen-sity for feigning death. While my holiday guest stayed around for several hours af-ter my semi-� erce dog was contained, he didn’t hang around for the holidays. Possums o� en “move on” nightly and mi-grate through an area of nearly two square miles. It is not unusual for them to take up temporary residence in sheds, a� ics, under porches, steps, etc, especially in cooler weather. Should you encounter one in a place you prefer he or she not reside, placing a small piece of fruit in a trashcan laying on its side will likely a� ract the in-dividual into the can for ready relocation. Because of the number of less appeal-ing cri� ers (like cockroaches and rats) he consumes, it is probably preferable to let the li� le fellow visit your lot or home space for brief periods rather than to take more drastic measures.

Remember, they were here shortly af-ter T-Rex, so they have stronger claim to squa� er rights than many.

FRED SEITZA possum, or opossum, in the authorʼs backyard.


COMMUNITY CALENDAR

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6101 44th Place, RiverdaleSold for $245,000

4017 36th St., Mount RainierSold for $267,000

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4010 Hamilton Street, HyattsvilleSold for $317,000

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For more events, visit www.HyattsvilleLife.com

January 24 Start off the new year by com-pleting those crucial medical documents! Geriatric special-ist Dr. Stephanie Trifoglio will speak at today’s Hyattsville Aging in Place meeting at the Municipal Building on Gallatin Street to discuss which docu-ments should be prepped for the new year. Coffee and conversa-tion and 9 a.m.; program from 9:30 to 11:30. Free. For more in-formation, call 301.887.3101 or email [email protected].

January 24 and 25Boundless Eclectic performs Journey into Freedom at Joe’s Movement Emporium. Home-schooled youth and professional musicians and dancers participate in a multi-generational collabora-tion blending dance, movement, music, soundscapes, spoken word, and percussion. Tickets and details available at www.joesmovement.org. All ages welcome. January 24 at 8 p.m. and January 25 at 4 p.m.

January 25Join the pros at Vigilante Coffee for Brewing 101. Register online or at the Roastery to learn how to make better coffee at home. Par-ticipants will take home a sample of coffee beans and receive an in-store discount. $25, 4327 Gallatin Street. 4 to 6 p.m.

January 26The Hyattsville Branch Li-brary screens Forks over Knives (2011) as part of its Independent Film Series. The documentary looks at the effects of animal-based and processed foods on degenerative diseases. 7 p.m.

January 27Today, the Gateway Dog Club and Hyattsville Community Develop-ment Corporation host a Loose Aggressive Dog Forum. The fo-rum will include information and discussion about loose aggressive dogs in the Gateway Arts District and surrounding areas. Officer James Denault of the Hyattsville Police Department and Laura Cos-tas, a local dog trainer specializing in aggression issues, will speak. 7 p.m., 4310 Gallatin Street. 2nd Floor, Prangley Room. Snacks provided. For more information please con-tact Joanne Kirsch at 202.499.0911.

January 31Join the Busboys and Poets Book Club in Hyattsville today from 9 to 11 a.m in the Zinn Room to discuss the latest book choice.

February 6 and 7Contradiction Dance presents BOUNDARIES: A Dance-

Theatre Response to #YesTo-AllWomen at Joe’s Movement Emporium. The performance mines the cast’s personal stories to explore feminine sensuality, strength and vulnerability. $10. February 6th @ 8:00 p.m., Feb-ruary 7th @ 8:00 p.m.

February 7Janis Kearney, the author of Sundays with TJ: 100 Years of Memories on Varner Road will talk about her memoir concern-ing the stories of TJ Kearney, wanderer turned family patriarch in southeast Arkansas. 2 p.m.

OngoingArt Works hosts Kids Create with POWER Session II: More Power!, January 10 through 31 from 12 to 3 p.m. The four week continuing Saturday class builds on skills learned during the first Kids Create With Pow-er. The series is suitable for new and returning students. Ages 5 and up. $80. For partial and full scholarships or more details, call 301.454.0808. Advance registra-tion required.

Vigilante Coffee hosts Coffee Cupping every Thursday this month! The series gives partici-pants the opportunity to learn how to cup coffee and to taste the roastery’s latest offerings. Janu-ary 15, 22, and 29, 1 to 2 p.m. Held at the Vigilante Roastery, 4327 Gallatin St. Free.

Children are invited to STEM-tastic: Young Inventors with the US Patent and Trademark Office at the Hyattsville Branch Library. Attendees participate in hands-on activities. January 21 and February 2, 6:30 p.m.

Through March, naturalists will lead a guided hike around Lake Artemesia and the Luther Gold-man Birding Trail on the first and third Thursdays of the month.

Caroline SelleCoffee is set up in preparation for a cupping class at the Vigilante Roastery on Gallatin Street.

Lake Artemesia, 8200 55th Av-enue, Berwyn Heights. Free. 3 to 4:30 p.m. 301.627.7755.

Open Mic at Busboys and Poets, various hosts. Hear live spoken word poetry in the Zinn Room. Thursdays, 9 to 11 p.m. The Hyattsville library offers a variety of storytimes. Space is limited; free tickets available at the children’s desk. Ages 9-23 months: Mondays, 10:15 a.m. Ages 2-3: Mondays, 11 a.m. Ages 3-5: Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. Ages 3-6: Wednesdays, 7 p.m.

English-Spanish Storytime for ages 3-6: Saturdays, 11 a.m. 6530 Adelphi Road. 301.985.4690.

Rise + Rhyme kicks off the week for the 5-and-under set with storytelling, performances and more. Suggested donation, $5. Monday mornings from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Zinn Room, Busboys and Poets, 5331 Baltimore Av-enue. 301.779.2787.

Prince Georges Advocates for Community-Based Transit (PG ACT) meetings are held on the second monday of every

month. The advocacy group pro-motes and encourages accessible transit and livable communities. This month’s meeting is February 9, 5 to 7 p.m. Hyattsville Munici-pal Building, 4310 Gallatin St.

Community Calendar is a select listing of events happening in and around Hyattsville from the 15th of the issue month to the 15th of the following month. To submit an item for consideration, please e-mail [email protected] or mail to P.O. Box 132, Hyattsville, MD 20781. Deadline for February submissions is January 31.


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If your New Year’s resolutions in-clude clearing out a closet or two and giving back to the commu-nity, patronizing some of the area’s larger thri� stores can help achieve both goals. � e following locations allow on-site donations and will give you a receipt to save for a year-end tax deduction. You might even end up with a coupon for your shopping. Happy hunting!

Value Village2277 University Boulevard, Adelphi, MD 20783301.422.2406Open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

� e Deal: I love the University Boulevard store for its impres-sive selection of everything. And I mean everything. Case in point: I once bought a stack of white ce-ramic subway tiles that became a 30 dollar backsplash! Furniture and large toys (e.g., plastic play-houses, water tables) are located toward the front and can be re-ally good � nds. If you see a larger item you like, put your money down fast; it’ll be gone before you leave the store. While most of the clothes appear to be newer styles, you might score the occasional vintage dress or jacket. Hallow-

een is an especially good time to shop for gently used and brand-new costumes and accessories; anything your child rejects can be used for dress-up all year long!

Discount Days: Everything is 25 percent o� on Monday. � ursday discounts are available with the store’s club card.

How to Donate: If you bring bags to the drive-up, on-site do-nation center, you can usually get a 30-percent-o� coupon or a whole coupon book, depend-ing on the time of year. A large red donation bin is conveniently located at the front of the store. Value Village’s privately held parent company, Savers, has more than 140 “nonpro� t alli-ances” throughout the country, which means donations and purchases in our area could be helping the National Children’s Center and Vietnam Veterans of America.

DC Goodwill Store & Donation Center2200 South Dakota Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20018202.715.2658Open 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday; Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

� e Deal: Located across from Costco and downhill from the Goodwill Industries Career Cen-

SecondhandNews

� e Big HuntA New Year’s guide to shopping and donating at local ‘big’ thri� stores

ter, which supports “people with barriers to employment,” this retail store has a li� le bit of everything you’d expect to � nd in a thri� store, including an impressive selection of DVDs (Seasons 1-4 of Dawson’s Creek anyone?) and used vinyl. Be aware that the children’s clothes are not organized by gender or size, so you’ll need extra patience and time if you’re hunting for kids’ stu� .

Discount Days: Healthcare professionals with a valid ID can receive 25 percent o� donated goods on Mondays; all donated clothing is 25 percent o� the advertised price on Tuesdays; seniors can receive a 10 percent discount every day.

How to Donate: � e on-site donation center is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. You can also arrange to have a minimum of eight large items collected for free from your home, but the do-nation may have to be scheduled up to two months in advance. Visit www.goodwill.org for more information. Donations en-able this Goodwill to continue its Good Samaritan Program, which provides clothing vouch-ers to people in need through partnerships with local service-providing agencies. Purchases help fund Goodwill’s charitable career services.

Salvation Army Family Store3304 Kenilworth Avenue, Hya� sville, MD 20781301.403.1704Open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Closed Sunday

� e Deal: � is store’s specialty appears to be furniture from the ’80s and ’90s that hasn’t had a

second coming, although I hear people are turning old entertain-ment centers into wardrobes, so you could luck out! � ere’s not much in the way of toys or nice clothing, which is all punctured by stapled-on price tags, but you might just get lucky and � nd a warped version of Michael Jack-son’s � riller on vinyl.

Discount Days: Wednesdays will net you 50 percent o� cloth-ing, depending on the color tag.

How to Donate: � e on-site donation center is open Mon-

day through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can also call 1-800-95-TRUCK to discuss a pickup. Not only is donated clothing sold in Salvation Army stores, whose proceeds directly fund the charity’s Adult Reha-bilitation Centers, it is directly used in the organization’s Family Service E� orts, Disaster Services and rehab center programs. As long as items are in good condi-tion or easily repairable, the cen-ter will accept most furniture. Visit www.uss.salvationarmy.org.

Value Village6611 Annapolis Road, Landover Hills, MD 20784301.341.0001Open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

� e Deal: I’ve had great luck � nding children’s clothes and ac-cessories, especially name-brand kids’ shoes that look like they’ve never been worn, at this location. Furniture is not usually in great shape, but they have a large in-ventory of ladies’ and men’s jeans and a decent selection of books and jewelry.

Discount Days: Everything is 25 percent o� on Monday. � ursday discounts are available with the club card.

LAUREN FLYNN KELLYThe author looks through racks of secondhand clothes.

MissFloribunda


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Dear Miss Floribunda,

I love to cook and am pre� y good at it. To me the secret is good ingre-dients, and I spend a lot on organic produce. My gardening � iends urge me to start a culinary garden in my backyard this summer, but I am brown-thumbed. I am told that I ought to start with herbs because they are easy to grow and can be grown inexpensively � om seed. I am now coming to the point of this le� er: Will the Hya� sville Horticultural Society have a seed sale this spring and will herb seeds be sold? Which ones?

Brown-� umbed Gourmet on Gallatin Street

Dear Brown-� umbed Gourmet on Gallatin Street,

Yes, the Hya� sville Horticultural Society will have its annual seed and bake sale. � is year, our sale takes place on Saturday, Febru-ary 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is on the same day and in the same building as the weekly Hya� s-ville Aging in Place meeting. Our sale will take place in the Mary

Prangley Room, on the second � oor of the Hya� sville Munici-pal Center.

Along with the Hart seed selection, so reliable in the past, L a n d r e t h Seeds with its wider variety will be sold. Both these compa-nies are very old and reputable, and feature many heirloom varieties of vegetables and � owers.

Heirloom vegetables t e n d to be the tastiest, and thrive in Hya� sville’s climate. For exam-ple, our hot summers and long hours of sunlight are propitious for tomato cultivation so you might be interested in the pano-ply of tomatoes to be presented.

In addition to their culinary uses, herbs are helpful inter-planted amongst vegetables to ward o� insects. You can include herbs such as Landreth’s Flor-ence fennel and many basils, as well as � ai basil should you

prefer that cuisine to Italian. Hart o� ers a whole selection of veg-etables in its Italian collection,

with basil and other appro-priate herbs. Do you pre-fer French cuisine? Hart includes several varieties of thyme, rosemary and parsley. Landreth has introduced the Ham-burg rooted parsley, which can be grown as a perennial. Soul food your thing? You can grow Lan-dreth’s Dwarf Sibe-

rian kale all winter. And the Paul Robeson tomato is one of the tastiest ever devel-oped. Cajun? Choose among bell peppers of many colors and, of course, okra. Mexican? How about cilantro with your tomatoes? Do you want to make Russian borscht? Try the Lan-dreth Cylindra beet, which does be� er in our area than most, and the Savoy Drumhead Perfection cabbage.

Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry. Hya� sville Horticultural Society members will sit at in-formation tables to answer your

questions and hand out lea� ets on many topics of interest to gardeners. As it was such a hit last year, once again there will be a table devoted to information about conserving and protecting our bu� er� ies and other bene� -cial insects.

In addition, there is a new fea-ture this year: veteran gardeners from the HHS, in the fashion of

wine connoisseurs, will share their recommendations with you. � ey will name the varieties that are their favorites, whether � owers, herbs or vegetables, and give tips for growing them. And of course there will be hot soup and baked goods, po� ed � owers to brighten up the time before spring, and lots of good cheer. We hope to see you there.

Heirloom vegetables, like these tomatoes, tend to be the tastiest and are more likely to thrive in Hyattsvilleʼs climate.


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premises. The situation is intol-erable and clearly a danger to the community,” license com-missioner notes say, citing that the board found approximately 20 percent of recent calls to police in the area involved Tick Tock Liquors. “… The board concludes that the operation of the premises causes a danger to the peace and good order of the community …”

In Aug. 2014, the board held a special session to recommend Tick Tock’s liquor license not be renewed. The license com-missioners alleged that even though Ravinder Melhi could no longer hold a liquor license after being convicted of a felony, and that she had technically sold her share to other people, she was still controlling the liquor licenses at Tick Tock Liquors and at Golden Bull, a restaurant located near the intersection of Adelphi Road and Riggs Road.

Ravinder Melhi’s daughter is a stockholder at Golden Bull, ac-cording to the license commis-sioners. “The board finds that these two licensed premises are operated under one management umbrella,” board notes state.

Calling Ravinder Melhi’s ac-tions fraudulent, the board voted to not renew Tick Tock’s liquor license effective Aug. 22, 2014. Edward Leyden, an attor-ney for the store, filed a petition for judicial review in the Prince George’s County Circuit Court. Leyden also filed a motion to stay the license commissioner’s decision, claiming it was arbi-trary and unsupported by sub-stantial evidence.

Court documents filed on be-half of Tick Tock Liquors stated, “Mrs. Melhi worked unrelent-ingly and ceaselessly to maintain and grow the Tick Tock busi-ness in order to provide the kind of financial legacy for her three children that her own parents could never have dreamed of providing to her.” Tick Tock Li-quors grossed revenues of $7.4 million in 2012, according to its lawyer.

In response, court documents filed by the Board of License Commissioners state, “the board’s decision does not cut off all sources of revenue to the petitioner. It does not prevent the petitioner from … provid-ing meals to patrons without the

service of alcoholic beverages.”Golden Bull, the other li-

quor license the board alleges Ravinder Melhi controls, has had its fair share of problems this past year, including the alleged operation of a separate liquor store when they were only authorized to sell alcohol in a restaurant. According to Dec. 17 findings of fact and conclu-sions, the license commission-ers also decided to revoke that license effective Jan. 9, 2015.HL&T staff found the restau-rant to be closed.

Leyden, who is also represent-ing Golden Bull, has already filed a request for judicial review with the circuit court. He said the license was revoked with an inaccurate characterisation of Mrs. Melhi controlling both liquor licenses.

Even though Leyden also filed the relevant paperwork for Tick Tock Liquors, he said the prima-ry counsel is Tim Maloney with law firm Joseph, Greenwald and Laake. The Hyattsville Life & Times reached out to Maloney’s office, which by press time had not returned requests for com-ment.

Vehicle Administration comput-er for commercial and personal gain. She was sentenced to 18 months of probation and or-dered to pay a $25,000 fine.

According to the 2010 federal indictment, the Melhis also own the building where Lee’s Liquor sits at 2903 Hamilton Street in West Hyattsville, which was highlighted as a target for for-feiture. A federal indictment al-leged the properties were used to carry out illegal activity. The Hyattsville Patch reported in 2010 that Lee’s owner Ajay Sharma said the store was not involved.

Amrik Melhi took a plea deal and agreed to pay a fine of $975,327.32, court records show. In the Sept. 2011 forfei-ture consent order, the gov-ernment required none of the personal properties, business properties or cars listed in the indictment be turned over. That meant Tick Tock Liquors and Hyattsville tenant Lee’s Liquors

could continue operating at their current locations.

Despite being caught up in a major felony scheme, the Melhis and Tick Tock Liquors are still having trouble staying on the straight and narrow.

According to notes from the Jan. 8, 2014 Board of the License Commissioner’s hearing, Tick Tock Liquors was found respon-sible for “unlawfully purchasing or keeping alcoholic beverages on a licensed premises which were purchased from other than a duly licensed manufacturer or wholesaler ...” The board fined the establishment $5,000 and suspended its license for 10 days.

The license commissioners asked that Tick Tock Liquors show cause for two incidents in March 2014. On March 8, according to a Prince George’s County Police report, officers responded to a stabbing just outside of the restaurant and store. The board fined Tick Tock $5,000 and imposed a 30-day suspension on its liquor license.

“Police resources are unduly taxed by the operation of the

tick tock continued from page 1


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“There was a lot of interest in understanding how theater worked and a lot of interest in acting,” said McBayne.

The program commitment is two years, and enrollment peri-ods are offered twice a year. In the first year, participants receive training at Joe’s twice per week for three hours.

“I want to go to an arts school…so the films that I make here, I can add to my portfolio. Which is a benefit because not a lot of students have that,” said TTP participant and Northwestern High School Senior Rosaura Martinez, “We have the opportunity to use the technology we don’t have at home.”

After the first season of training, which generally ends in the spring, participants have the option to ei-ther participate in a work-study program, work for Joe’s, or focus on school. If students choose the work-study program, the TTP helps connect them with potential employers, usually area artists. “The

George’s County high schools and 20 participants who are ei-ther recent graduates or have dropped out of high school.

The TTP is currently funded through grants, some of which are awarded by Prince George’s Coun-ty. This allows students selected for the program to participate for free. McBayne said that enrollment has increased over time the years be-cause more money has been allot-ted for the program.

In addition to building an arts portfolio, students learn how to create resumes and practice other job-related skills. “They teach us how to present yourself in an inter-view,” said Gloria S. Argueta, also a current participant and North-western High School Senior. “It honestly feels like a family.”

“Every year is different,” said McBayne. “Last year’s students were very quiet and this year they are the opposite .... Students call and update [us] regularly about what is going on and I love when students keep in contact, even past their follow up year,” she said.

According to McBayne, “about 70 percent of the TTP’s 2014 graduates continued on to col-lege. Several are majoring in graphics or audio-visual media; one student is enrolled in the mil-itary, and the remainder are work-ing on what they want to do.”

Those that do not find work af-ter the program are able to work in the theater at Joe’s until they find another opportunity. “The hours [working at Joe’s] aren’t as much [as full-time work], but we get to keep in touch with them and we meet with them to write out plans and goals and figure out next steps,” said McBayne.

The TTP is actively accepting applications for 20 recent gradu-ates to comprise the winter 2015 cohort beginning in January. More information is available at www.joesmovement.org.

artists volunteer their time and gain an employer without [us] having to pay them,” said McBayne, because TTP finances the work-study.

The second year of the program shifts to a mentorship for the participants. The TTP typically calls its participants on a quar-terly basis and sends a monthly email with local jobs postings and scholarship opportunities. “If they need anything, we are always here for them. We don’t want to bother them, but just want to check in and help them out as needed,” McBayne said.

By the end of the program, par-ticipants have accumulated 180 hours of work experience.

“I love seeing the students bond with one another, get caught up in learning a skill like photogra-phy or digital editing, and learn storytelling and actually tell a story from their life to their peers. These young people don’t have many opportunities to have their voices heard,” said Smith.

This year, the program con-sists of 20 seniors from Prince

theater continued from page 1

joe’s movement emporiumRoderick R., a Northwestern High School student, researches colleges in the program’s post-secondary session.

A contractor for the Prince George’s County Department of the Environment began demolish-ing the house at 4016 Crittenden Street on Jan. 13. The house had been vacant since it was condemned several years ago by the City of Hyattsville. The house was undermined by a storm drain failure on the property in 2003. The county purchased the lot from the homeowners in 2013. The property has been designated permanently unbuildable by the county.pHoto BY cHris currie

Crittenden Street houSe demoliShed


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Documents

January 2015 Hyattsville Life & Times