What I wouldn’t give to have a grade school summer vacation again (sigh). If you are feeling the same way, we can try to capture the essence of it again as we read through the next few months. Summer reads are a time to embrace escapism, whether your “vacation” is literally traveling out of town, of the stay-cation variety, or a mental vacation in your off-hours.

Everything in this list is fi ction, because the real world is for the other seasons. Also, the real world is only thinly veiled in fiction, but that veil is important when you want to
get away from your obligations and responsibilities for a minute.

For organizational purposes, I’m going to attempt to categorize these suggestions from our collections.

Outer Space: This is as escaped as a person can get (unless you’re claustrophobic, in which case the confines of life-supported-imbued spacecraft may not be your thing).

• The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams. Summer is a fun time to revisit the classics, and this would be especially fun on a beach. With your towel.
• Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir. This book brings a detail-oriented approach to the science of interstellar space travel without being boring, and the ending has a bit of a twist. Ryan Gosling is starring in the movie adaptation that is currently scheduled to be released in early 2026.
• All Systems Red (first book in the Murderbot Diaries series), by Martha Wells. This is a sentient security unit with an identity crisis, and it gives this series moments of levity, as long as you can appreciate sarcasm. This book is also technically a novella, as are several other volumes in the series, meaning that it’s not a big commitment.

Books for when you’re camping and you want to jump every time you hear a noise outside your tent:

• My Heart Is a Chainsaw, by Stephen Graham Jones. Do you love the thrill of a good scary campfire story? This book may be for you. It’s about a young woman named Jade who loves slasher movies and finds herself searching for a real slasher in the mountains of Idaho.
• When the English Fall, by David Williams. At its heart, this is a book about unplugging and life away from screens, but it’s nestled in a chassis that looks like apocalyptic fiction. A solar storm wipes out the telecom grid, and an Amish family takes in some refugees from the city.

Books for when you want to get lost in someone else’s family drama:

• The House of Broken Angels, by Luis Alberto Urrea. If you like stories about families with a lot of love (and a lot of mess), this is a beautifully written story about a Mexican American family in San Diego celebrating both a birthday and a funeral.
• Here Comes the Sun, by Nicole DennisBenn. Set around a resort in Jamaica, this book is more about the people working at the resort than the ones vacationing there. This is a story about the
  lengths some people will go to for their family.
• The Old Drift, by Namwali Serpell. This is a sweeping epic following three different families, spanning decades and continents, but it primarily takes place in Zimbabwe. It is gorgeous and poignant and weird and memorable.

Books if you are on Team Orca whenever another yacht goes down:

• The Heirs, by Susan Rieger. I have this in a Goodreads shelf I’ve titled “Rich People Problems.” It is beautifully written, and I’m surprised HBO hasn’t already adapted it for screen.
• Now You See Us, by Balli Kaur Jaswal. This story is told from the perspective of three domestic workers from the Philippines who were sent to Singapore. When a fellow worker is accused of murdering her wealthy employer, the others look for the real person at fault, because as the people in the background of dayto-day life, they know all of Singapore society’s secrets.

Books for when you want to be reminded that one day, the cold will return:

• South Pole Station, by Ashley Shelby. At the South Pole Station in Antarctica, Cooper Gosling embarks on an art fellowship among a group of scientists living in very close quarters. I really
  enjoyed the conversations that Shelby creates between the STEM and humanities camps.
• Pumpkinheads, by Rainbow Rowell. This is a charming graphic novel that takes place at an outdoor harvest festival. It has major autumn vibes, young love, and drama that is enough to keep you invested without stressing you out. It’s a perfect summer read for when you’re over summer.

This article appeared in the July Edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. Check out this article and more on the City webpage.

The Alliance for Community Media (ACM) announced its annual Hometown Media Awards at the end of March, with Takoma Park’s CityTV receiving the “Overall Excellence in Governmental Access” award from ACM in the $300,000–$650,000 budget division.

The awards celebrate and promote community media, community radio, and local cable programs distributed on Public, Educational, and Governmental (PEG) access cable television channels. Nearly one thousand entries are submitted every year from all across the country, with awards going to the most creative programs that address community needs, develop diverse community involvement, challenge conventional commercial television formats, and move viewers to experience television in a different way, according to the ACM website.

CityTV’s submission featured over 20 projects and programs, including its coverage of new businesses, Polar Bear Plunge, Takoma Park Community Band Concert, Takoma Park Softball, Montgomery Housing Partnership, the Independence Day Parade, Egg Hunt, and Community Kitchen Fair.

“We produce programs that represent the events and activities of the City, showcasing the character of Takoma Park. We are not just Takoma Park Television; we are Takoma Park on Television,” said Alvaro Calabia, CityTV Production Manager.

In addition, CityTV also recognized for its outstanding children’s programming for its coverage of the Takoma Park Children’s Business Fair as part of the “We Are Takoma Show.”

For more information on the Hometown Media Awards, visit allcommunitymedia.org. To check out CityTV’s past programming, visit youtube.com/@TakomaParkCityTV.

This article appeared in the July Edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. Check out this article and more on the City webpage.

When then-Councilmember Hank Prensky traveled to Santa Marta, El Salvador in 1990—along with a delegation of approximately 40 other Takoma Park residents— he brought along with him a fistful of colorful 3”x5” flags depicting an oak leaf on a field of gold.

“We were organizing sister city relationships with rural areas in El Salvador as a way of building solidarity,” says Prensky, now retired and living in Burlington, Vermont. “I gave the Takoma Park flag away to the head of the village and the head of the FMLN [Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front], and all the people we met.”

Santa Marta may not be the farthest that the flag has traveled, but it is likely the first location outside of the Washington, D.C., region where it was shared as a symbol of goodwill from the people of our community.

Newcomers to Takoma Park may be unaware that the city has its own flag. Waving for 35 years now, the flag came about because then-Takoma Park Mayor Steve Del Giudice suffered from banner envy. When he went to the Maryland Municipal League convention, he noticed that other municipalities, such as Greenbelt and Rockville had flags. Why not Takoma Park?

So the call went out and 80 design submissions came back, 50 by school children. “There were representations of people shaking hands, doves for peace and lots of trees,” said Del Giudice, according to an August 1989 article by Kira Davis in the Takoma Voice. The flag committee was stumped, so they sent the finalists to the city council to decide and chose the winning bold design by Nancy Gurganus, a Silver Spring designer. Along with the glory of winning the contest, Gurganus was awarded $250.

“The center is an oak leaf,” Gurganus explained in the Voice article. “I wanted to show a tree or a leaf to depict the leafy neighborhoods. B.F. Gilbert, when he started the little community of Takoma Park a hundred years ago, wanted to provide a retreat from the swamp air of Washington, D.C., My primary goal was to reflect that kind of neighborhood.

“The blue band around the center diamond represents clean air and water that is such a concern here. I was thinking of Sligo Creek,” she continued. “The four green corners reinforce the idea of an incorporated community. The gold behind the leaf implies warmth for the friendliness and warmth of the community.

“The design is reminiscent of old-fashioned patchwork to keep alive the traditional spirit Takoma Park tries to foster and to commemorate the centennial of the foundation of the city government.”

The new flag was rolled out in May 1989 and distributed at the 100th July 4th celebration that year. It elicited a variety of responses from Takoma Parkers, from enthusiasm at the design to appreciation at the symbolism of a unified city (then split between two counties) to hostility to the very idea of flags.

The Takoma Park flag flew over the city throughout the 1990 centennial celebrations. Then-Recreation Director Belle Ziegler declared that this flag would be able to represent Takoma Park for the next 100 years.

“It needn’t be limited by history and calendar dates,” said Del Giudice. who passed away in 2015. “As creative as this community
is, the Takoma Park colors could flip in the breeze for almost any happy occasion.”

This article appeared in the July Edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. Check out this article and more on the City webpage.

The Rent Stabilization Law enacted in 1981 helps provide affordable housing to Takoma Park residents and allows the city to maintain economic and ethnic diversity by controlling the frequency and amount of rent increases that may be imposed by a landlord.

Each year the City establishes a percentage based on 100% of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) published by the Department of Labor Statistics which changes every July and is given to landlords to increase their rents. Takoma Park’s annual rent stabilization allowance this year is 3.4% CPI, starting July 1, 2024 (through June 30, 2025) to help residents afford rent. The previous CPI percentage was 3.7% (through June 30 of this year).

Landlords cannot increase rent on occupied units in the City higher than the listed allowance more than once during a 12-month period. Both multi-family rental units and individual rental condominium units are also subject to rent stabilization. Single-family houses, accessory apartments, and duplexes when the owner occupies one of the units as their primary residence are exempt from the rent stabilization law. Also, exempt with an approved application from the City, is any rental facility where the rents are regulated under contract by a governmental agency that controls the rent levels of not less than one-half of the rental units in the rental facility and restricts the occupancy of those rental units to low- and moderate-income tenants.

The City Code also mandates that landlords give two-month written notice to tenants before they can legally increase rent.

According to the rental management website Zillow.com, the average rental monthly price in Takoma Park is $1,730.

Landlords are required to submit Annual Rent Stabilization reports by Sept. 30 showing the rents, rent increases, and dates of rent increases for a particular period.

“The reports are reviewed for compliance and citations are issued for non-compliance,” said Jean Kerr, Takoma Park’s senior housing specialist. “They can also file a Fair Return Petition for a higher rent increase above the Rent Stabilization Allowance when their operating expenses have risen higher than the rental income for the property.”

This article appeared in the July Edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. Check out this article and more on the City webpage.

For more than 50 years, Gene Herman has been working behind the floats to pull together Takoma Park’s iconic Independence Day parade and evening festivities. And for many of those years, he has been the driver in the car at the end of the parade with the image of Porky Pig telling parade watchers, “That’s All, Folks!”

This year, Gene will be heading the parade as the grand marshal, a role that he calls “humbling” as he references past grand marshals, such as U.S. Rep Jamie Raskin, who was recognized in last year’s parade.

Tara Egan, the president of the Takoma Park Independence Day Committee, can’t think of a more deserving person than Gene to be honored.

“It’s hard to imagine that the 4th of July parade would still be taking place in Takoma Park without him,” says Tara. “Over the years, as I’ve gotten to know more volunteers who are part of the 4th of July in Takoma Park, I’ve come to appreciate how many began their service because of Gene—whose own commitment to community service runs to his core. They just couldn’t say no.”

Gene, himself, was asked to join the July 4 committee shortly after he and his wife, Esther, moved to the city in 1972.

“We had a friend up the street who was on the city council,” says Gene. “I think it was 1973 or 1974 when he approached me about helping out for a year on the committee. So I accepted. And then Belle Ziegler, who used to be the head of the Recreation Department, asked me to stay on. And she was a person you could not say no to.”

Gene went from committee member to vice president to president of the committee, where he served for several decades before passing the baton to his previous vice president, Tara Egan. Gene is quick to reiterate that although he has passed the role of president to the next generation, he remains an active member of the committee.

Each year, in July or August, after the parade and evening festivities, the committee meets for a closing session to tie up loose ends and evaluate the activities for that year. Then there is a hiatus until January, when the committee chooses a theme and starts initial planning. The spring is a busy time as the committee lines up music, applies for permits and insurance, and registers parade units so that by May, most things are in place for the day of celebration. The parade route traditionally crosses the D.C. line at Maple Street, which requires coordination with the District—and accounts for those rare instances when the parade has had to detour onto Willow Avenue within the city of Takoma Park.

On the day of the parade, things tend to go smoothly, says Gene, although he does recall one year when a fl oat caught on fire and several occasions when a July 3 storm dropped trees on the parade route.

“There have been issues with the traffi c, and sometimes the fi rst unit in the parade is late,” says Gene, “but in general, the parade goes on.”

As do the evening festivities. The fireworks are a thing of the past due to the reconfiguration of Lee Jordan Field behind Takoma Park Middle School. Still, the party continues, with Gene harmonizing on his euphonium with the rest of the Takoma Park Community Band. As with the Independence Day Committee, Gene joined the band in 1974 and now calls himself the “elder statesman” as the remaining member who dates back to the earliest days.

The Committee Band generally plays four concerts a year, with the Independence Day gig reaching its biggest audience, playing a mix of Sousa, big band, and Latin jazz. This year, the Community Band will be followed by the JoGo Project, a gogo band—appropriate to the Washington, D.C. metro area, the birthplace of gogo. The evening events, which start at 6 p.m., have moved to Maple Avenue in front of the Community Center for a citywide block party, featuring games, food, and music.

Gene, the son of Ukrainian immigrants, grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he worked at his parent’s small grocery store. His interest in astronomy called him to Berkeley, California, to attend the University of California tuition-free—in exchange for two years of ROTC. While studying, Gene became more interested in health and changed his major to biochemistry. In 1965, he earned a Ph.D. in pharmacology at the California Medical Center in San Francisco, with a focus on cancer research.

Then commissioned by the Army, Gene had the good fortune to be assigned to the Walter Reed Army Research Institute, which brought him to the D.C. region. He stayed and built a career at the FDA and the Cancer Research Institute.

Gene has seen a lot of changes in Takoma Park over the years. For one thing, it was a dry town when he moved in due to the legacy of the Seventh-Day Adventist community. And although Takoma Park is now considered by many to be a tiny progressive enclave, it had a reputation as “Tacky Park” in those days.

“When we first moved to Takoma Park, people thought we were crazy because it did not have a good reputation,” he says. At that time, many houses in Takoma Park were divided as a result of policies during World War II to provide more affordable housing for government workers and veterans. Gene was active in efforts to continue to provide people with fair housing.

With four children, Gene and Esther were also active in the schools. “The school board was starting to think about closing schools, and one of the first places they looked was Takoma Park because, in their
minds, this was becoming a minority community,” says Gene. “They were complaining about racial imbalance and declining enrollment.” The schools were neglected, says Gene, citing uncovered electrical sockets at the school that his daughter attended. While organized parents could not save all of the local schools, they succeeded in keeping Piney Branch Elementary School open.

Independence Day activities have been a constant thread throughout those years, with a few variations.

“We used to have military units,” says Gene. “But they have suffered membership loss, so they don’t really come to the parade as much. And we used to have many more floats than we do now, and more children in the parade.” He misses the Washington Adventist University Acro-Airs, who used to send gymnasts flying over the streets of the city, and he encourages neighborhoods and community groups to sign up for the parade and show their independent spirit.

Gene notes that although political theatre at the parade has increased since the election of George W. Bush in 2000, the
committee is careful to be nonpartisan. It limits the number of marchers who can accompany elected officials and allows groups into the parade that many committee members differ with politically.

When asked what explains his commitment to July 4, Gene replies, “I am a little patriotic, and here is an opportunity that the city provided to have a citywide celebration of independence.” He also notes that “it’s one committee where you start meeting, and there actually is an end result.”

Takoma Park Independence Day Committee President Tara Egan notes that the theme this year is “Harmony in Takoma Park,” words that fits Gene perfectly as the longtime harmonizer of the July 4 parade and as the man behind the euphonium in the Community Band.

This article appeared in the July Edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. Check out this article and more on the City webpage.

The Takoma Park City Council last month voted to adopt the 2025 fiscal budget—beginning on July 1, 2024.

“I’m very pleased to announce that on May 15, the city council approved the fiscal year 2025 budget,” said Takoma Park Finance Director Susan Cheung. “The city will maintain the real property tax rate at 0.5522.”

The theme of the upcoming budget is “A Bridge Forward” to recognize “transitioning and evolving forward as we contend with challenges and with an eye to the future,” according to the proposed budget proposal released by City Manager Robert DiSpirito in early April.

In the Fiscal Year 25 budget, the General Fund revenue is $30.6 million, with the remainder of other fund revenue being $7.8 million, for a total revenue of $38.4 million. That total is also supplemented by the use of $206,997 in bond reserve, $1.4 million from the other reserves, and $2.6 million other fund balances, for a consolidated total revenue of $42.7 million.

The total General Fund expenditure is $32.2 million, and all other funds expenditure is $10.4 million for a total expenditure of $42.7 million. As a result, the total consolidated revenue and total consolidated expenditure maintain the same balance of $42.7 million. Department expenditures with be $4,797,487 or 1.5% less than in 2024 due to a $287,003 decrease in operating expenses.

Some of the financial challenges the city faces in the coming year are related to higher inflationary expenses, the dwindling balance remaining in the city’s account containing the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, and increased costs of employee compensation.

Staffing in the city should remain level, as no additional full-time positions have been proposed.

While the majority of the city’s $17.5 million in ARPA funds have been allocated, DiSpirito has proposed using the remainder as a bridge to address ongoing mayor and council priorities. The city manager proposed using $6,980,140 in remaining ARPA funds for projects including street rehabilitation, sidewalk design and construction, continuing support for library construction, the community center atrium renovation project, mental health crisis counselors, expanding public safety critical police dispatch, a food insecurity program, and a community connectors program.

Other mayor and council initiatives that will be addressed with the General Fund include

• Funding for emergency rental assistance

• Funding for small business grants

• Increased funding of the Equipment Replacement Reserve by $900,000 (compared to $550,000 in FY2024)

• Continued funding of $142,000 for the City’s local supplement to State Homeowner Property Tax Credit Program

• Contribution of $600,000 to fund the Library Construction Contingency Reserve

• Contribution for Community Events Grants of $60,000

• Various Quality of Life grants

• Recreational scholarships

• The Housing Reserve Fund

• Emergency Tree Removal

• Summer Enrichment program, Community Play, and Farmers Market grants

• Stormwater Capital Improvement expenditures

Funds will also be used for police funding for bike patrol unit equipment, field radio equipment, mobile computers, and overtime for designated and additional patrols, as well as funding for a traffic study.

There is also $4.2 million in Special Reserve Funds for projects including grants for the New Hampshire Avenue Bikeway ($350,000), the Maple Avenue Connectivity Project ($240,000), the Metropolitan Branch Trail Project ($425,000), Program Open Space to add to the Capital Acquisition Fund ($60,000), and CDBG Neighborhood Improvements for the Houston Court Biofiltration Project ($91,000). Those funds will also be allocated for CityTV equipment and temporary relocation.

“Despite the fiscal restraints that we face, this FY2025 proposed budget intends to continue programs and services that help renters, small business owners, immigrants, young people, and seniors as we strive to create a livable community for all,” DiSpirito said.

The fully adopted budget book will be available in mid-August as the city’s finance department works to compile numbers and coordinate with the city’s various departments. The city will then send the budget to the Government Finance Officers Association for consideration for its Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, which it has won over the past five years.

Cheung said there are four main highlights in next year’s budget, including keeping the real property tax rate level.

“We were able to reach the unassigned reserve balance targets,” Cheung said, in reference to city funds that have not been assigned to other areas. “This is one of the most significant achievements in the budget with the city reaching our target in the General Fund at $5.2 million, which represents 17% of the total revenue. This is important to our city’s financial health and future stability.”

The city was also able to reduce its expenditures from $36.4 million in 2024 to $32 million in 2025.

“Our ability to meet the reserve target is largely due to the strategic expenditure reductions,” Cheung said. “Under the guidance of city manager and senior leadership team, we conducted several rounds of expenditure reviews and reductions before the proposed budget was announced. That significant reduction is mainly due to decreases in capital improvement expenditures that were budgeted at $1.4 million for 2025 down from $6.3 million in 2024. There’s a lot of reduction giving us excess funds to put into the reserve.”

These budget goals will help the city significantly as its long-term financial needs continue to be met, said Cheung.

“Maintaining the tax rate and reaching the 17% reserve were the key objectives in our long-term financial forecast,” she said. “Achieving these goals demonstrates the city’s adherence to prudent financial management.”

A new source of funding for the city’s police department, according to the budget documents, is a Red Light Camera Fund that is set to begin in July of this year. The anticipated revenue for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024 is about $1.3 million. The funds will go to a special revenue reserve fund in the police department—rather than the general fund— since the purpose is to address public safety.The funds are supplementing declining speed camera funds the resulted from improved driving behavior. DiSpirito hopes  to eventually use the money to fund a new transit planner position to address pedestrian and traffic safety.

Takoma Park’s budget process is a months-long endeavor involving every department in the city.

“I want to acknowledge and thank the city manager and two deputy city managers [Andrew Bolduc and David Eubanks] and all the city leadership team members,” Cheung said. “The city manager’s budget planning—together with the effective coordination of the council—has significantly enhanced the efficiency of the budget process. A special thanks goes to my team members, particularly our Budget & Accounting Manager, who managed to complete the budget book within a very tight timeline.”

DiSpirito also recognized the finance team in his budget proposal, writing: “I wish to thank the dedicated, hard-working, and professional City of Takoma Park staff who continue to deliver quality services to our residents. Special recognition goes to Finance Director Susan Cheung, Budget & Accounting Manager Ron Kawaley, and the rest of the award-winning Finance Department team, for all of their leadership, talent, and hard work.”

For continued updates on the city’s budget, visit  takomaparkmd.gov/government/finance.

This article appeared in the June Edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. Check out this article and more on the City webpage.

In May, Takoma Park celebrated Bike Month with a flurry of pedal-powered activities and community engagement. From school rides to workplace commutes, the city embraced the spirit of cycling in true Takoma Park fashion.

• Bike to School Day: Students from five local schools—East Silver Spring Elementary, Piney Branch Elementary, Rolling Terrace Elementary, Takoma Park Elementary, and Takoma Park Middle School—got the wheels turning by pedaling their way to school. Piney Branch and Rolling Terrace Elementary schools also held a week of bike safety classes.
• Adult Learn to Ride Class: With a remarkable interest in cycling, 80 individuals signed up to join our adult learn-to-ride class. There were only 15 spaces available, so we hope to offer more classes next year!
• Bike to Work Day: Takoma Park professionals ditched their cars and embraced eco-friendly commuting during Bike to Work Day. Three pit stops provided cyclists with refreshments and encouragement, fostering a sense of camaraderie and a love of biking among participants.
• Free Bike Repair Pop-ups: Keeping Takoma Park’s wheels turning smoothly, free bike repair pop-ups at the Takoma Park Farmers Market and Crossroads Farmers Market ensured that cyclists could ride with confidence.

A big thank you goes out to Rosalind Grisby, Ramon Sola, Ma’isah Bateman, Rich VanMetter for their vital support, along with the staff and PTSAs of our five Safe Routes to Schools. Your commitment to promoting cycling safety and accessibility in Takoma Park is inspiring.

Thanks as well to our local sponsors: Bike Werks, Takoma Bicycle, Takoma Langley Crossroads Development Authority, and Takoma Park Silver Spring Co-op.

Although Bike Month is at an end, Takoma Park reaffirms its commitment to building a more bike-friendly community, one pedal stroke at a time.

This article appeared in the June Edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. Check out this article and more on the City webpage.