By Helen Lyons

English Ivy, Wintercreeper, Porcelainberry, Bush Honeysuckle and Multiflora Rose – these are some of Takoma Park’s most common and visible plants, climbing the sides of brightly painted bungalows and decorating the yards of 1930s brick homes. But they’re also invasive, and some of the most aggressive non-native plants to dominate the neighborhood landscape.

“The invasive species, aggressive ones especially, don’t let the native species grow,” said botanist and Takoma Park resident Gorky Villa Muñoz. “There is a small threshold for change between animals, insects and plants. If insects use a plant to pollinate other plants and that plant disappears, the insect population can disappear.”

Villa Muñoz is a staff botanist at Finding Species with over fifteen years of field experience identifying plants. He joined a group of volunteers from Friends of Sligo Creek, as well as nearby neighbors, in trying to clear some of these invasive plant species from Dorothy’s Woods as part of Takoma Park’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

“Japanese honeysuckle, multi-flora rose, English Ivy or hedera helix – it’s so invasive that it’s more damage control than removal,” said Luc Phinney, a volunteer who lives close to the woods and came to help with the project. He estimates that many of these plant species, while not native to Takoma Park, have been here for over a century.

“Japanese honeysuckle, multi-flora rose, English Ivy or hedera helix – it’s so invasive that it’s more damage control than removal”

“Some of them are long-term problems, things that came in with European settlement or trade with Asia- a hundred years ago, two hundred years ago,” said Phinney. “Some of them are more recent, and sadly, some are even from people’s gardens, [like] Bush Honeysuckle.”

Fliers on hand at the clean-up, produced by Friends of Sligo Creek, warned that “non-native invasives crowd out native plants and could be spreading from your yard.”

Among the culprits are Mile-a-Minute, a vine with triangular leaves and bright blue-black berries in the summer; Norway Maple, a tree with spiny leaf tips; Bittersweet, a vine with drip-tip leaves that gets orange berries in the fall; and the beautiful Bush Honeysuckle with its yellow flowers so often planted along the borders of Takoma yards.

Removing the plants isn’t easy. Phinney used a special device called a Pullerbear Tree Puller Tool to give him the leverage needed to yank up the root of a Kudzu plant, which can get as thick as four inches according to the Forest Invasive Plants Resource Center. Vines on the ground will set roots at the leaf nodes, creating more Kudzu plants that are capable of growing a foot a day.

It’s hard work, but if the invasive plants aren’t controlled, they could take over the woodland and kill the native species. “Even a small break in the chain of what is natural can cause problems,” Villa Mu- ñoz said.

After hours of back-breaking work at Dorothy’s Woods, the flora was visibly improved and children set off to play in the forest, which was officially christened on Oct. 23 last year and named after long-time Takoma Park resident Dorothy Barnes, 94, who has lived next to the woods for most of her life.

But beyond the stretch of woods at the intersection of Woodland Avenue and Circle Avenue, invasive species are still running rampant in Takoma, stifling the growth of native plants and killing trees that have stood for decades or longer. Friends of Sligo Creek offers assistance in plant identification, removal techniques, and ideas for native replacements. Residents seeking help in removing the invasive non-native plants from their yards can visit www.fosc.org for more information.

This article appeared in the February 2017 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.

The Takoma Park Recreation Center is offering its annual Dribble Pass and Shoot spring break basketball camp for youth ages 5 – 12. The Dribble Pass and Shoot Camp is one of our most popular camps and has a lot of returning kids. Campers will be provided with excellent coaching that allows each participant to develop a sense of pride and individual accomplishment. The level of instruction will be adjusted to fit the individual needs of each participant.

This fun-filled camp will focus on fundamentals. Experienced co-ed counselors with positive attitudes will be on hand to provide fun basketball related games that will keep the participants enthusiastic and engaged while getting them in shape.

Participants love this camp because of the professionalism of the staff and the fun activities they provide. Ryan Bobb one of our returning campers said, “I really liked the three-point contest and the pizza on Friday.”

Romel Williams, our camp director, will be returning for his fourth year with this camp. Coach Williams has put together a fun-filled curriculum that includes games that allow the campers to use their brains as well as their physical skills. Coach Williams said, “I love coming back to this camp year after year because the campers are eager to learn and I love sharing my passion for the game of basketball with them.”

Campers will have an opportunity to play full-court basketball games with a referee and scoreboard. Teams will be divided evenly by age and skill set. This is a great opportunity for kids to make new friends or spend time with classmates during their spring break.

Camp will be held from April 10 – April 14 at the Takoma Park Recreation Center Gymnasium. Camp will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. We ask that you bring a non-perishable lunch Monday through Thursday. On Friday, lunch will be provided by the recreation center. For parents that need additional activities beyond the regular camp hours, we are offering before care as well as after care for an additional fee. During before and after care, kids can take advantage of this time with staff improving their dribbling or shooting skills. For more information or to register for camp, visit takomaparkmd.gov.

This article appeared in the February 2017 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.

Fiesta Laundromat opened at 7601 New Hampshire Ave. (a door down from ALDI). It is a modern, clean facility with washers and dryers and a children’s play area. One can throw in a load of quilts and bedspreads and then go next door to ALDI for grocery shopping.

JK Mart opened in mid-December at 7603 New Hampshire Avenue (between ALDI and Fiesta Laundromat), relocating from Union Market in northeast DC. The family-owned business sells cookware, small appliances, African fabrics, bedding sets, CDs and DVDs and other housewares.

In addition to these new businesses opening, Taco Bell construction has begun at Holton Lane & New Hampshire Avenue with construction fencing installed and site preparations under way.

For more information, visit www.takomalangley.org.

This article appeared in the February 2017 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.

The Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center began operating on Thursday, Dec. 22. The Takoma Langley Crossroads Transit Center provides bus service to more than 12,000 customers daily, making it the largest non-Metrorail station transfer point in the Washington region. The center features a large well-lit canopy, ADA-accessible bus loading areas and real-time bus arrival screens. The center also provides an off-street location for safe bus boarding and transfers and decreased vehicular-pedestrian incidents.

The much anticipated opening has resulted in a number of route changes that could impact Takoma Park Metrobus and Ride On riders:

• Metrobus stops for routes C2, C4, F8, J4, K6 and K9 near the new transit center at New Hampshire Ave. and University Boulevard have moved to the transit center.
• Ride On routes 15, 16, 17, 18 and 25 will service the new transit center along with 111 of the UM Shuttle.

For more information, visit www.wmata.com/service/bus/upload/takoma-langley-brochure.pdf.

This article appeared in the February 2017 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.

Working in partnership, Unity in the Community and the City of Takoma Park will host a series of Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity (SEED) seminars beginning in March and continuing through June.

No matter how many advancements we make as a society, it seems we can’t escape prejudice. Of course, our first reaction to prejudice is usually to blame someone else. Our second reaction may well be to blame ourselves. Blame, shame and guilt don’t get us anywhere. However, Takoma Park SEED will help you understand what’s happening in your life and connect you to the lives of people around you. It will challenge you to push for change.

Takoma Seed is part of the National SEED Project, which entails a group of about 20 people coming together for a series of conversations twice a month for four months. The seminars are facilitated, but not lectured, by local residents who have been trained as SEED leaders. They will guide you in interactive activities and conversations often stimulated by films and readings.

Through personal reflection and testimony, listening to others’ voices, and learning experientially and collectively, SEED equips participants to connect their lives to one another by acknowledging systems of oppression, power and privilege—and challenges them to push for change. SEED values your voice so you can, in turn, better value the voices of your neighbors, colleagues and children.

What happens at a SEED seminar? We listen to each other’s stories, watch videos and participate in interactive activities. A few of the exercises might make you smile, some, not so much, but all of them are meant to make you look inward in a safe environment.

SEED leaders Annie Mozer, Rachel Alexander and Shereece Millet will facilitate the seminars for interested participants on March 4 and 18; April 8 and 22; May 6 and 20; and June 3 and 17 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Topics for the upcoming seminars are listed in the shaded box.

This article appeared in the February 2017 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.

By Rick Henry

Takoma Wings Academy (TWA) is an example of a great idea that has taken flight. In this case, literally.

The unique program brings middle school boys and girls from low-income, immigrant families together in a summer camp to investigate the science and engineering of flight in nature, aviation and space exploration as well as flight as a means of self-expression in the arts.

The ½ day, three-week summer camp, which has been held at Takoma Academy for the last two years, recently received a $9,000 Community of Life Grant from the City of Takoma Park.

It is a joint venture between two area nonprofits, Silver-Spring-based Artivate, which specializes in arts-based community learning programs, such as workshops, performances and artist-in-residence programs, and Big Learning, (formerly the Montgomery County Council of PTAs), which operates elementary and middle school instructional programs in language and the sciences.

The pairing of the two organizations was intentional, said James Modrick, Artivate’s executive director. “We wanted participants to explore the science and engineering of flight through an artistic lens. The program engages both sides of the brain, the technical side and the creative side.”

Jane De Winter, Big Learning’s executive director, agreed, noting the two organizations had worked together on previous initiatives before deciding to pair up on TWA. Both De Winter and Modrick stress the concept of STEAM education rather than STEM education.

“Big Learning is focused on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), but Artivate provides the A (Arts) piece that is so important,” De Winter said. Merging the two means getting participants involved in both designing and building.

“We take a `maker’ approach that gets them involved in building and testing different types of flight devices, such as hovercrafts and hydroplanes,” Modrick said.

De Winter added that they engage the participants in friendly competitions that allow them to showcase what they have developed. “We have them build catapults and see who can launch things the farthest, for example,” she said.

These challenges not only provide a fun way for the campers to test their prototypes, but they teach them important lessons about resiliency and experimentation. “If something doesn’t work as well as they hoped, the kids learn to go back and look at the problem a different way and make adjustments,” she said. “It shows that failure is not a deal breaker, but part of the process.” Beyond that, De Winter said, the challenges allow the participants to coalesce and support each other.

Such lessons and hands-on experiences are particularly import for the demographic enrolled in the program, boys and girls, aged 10-14, from low-income families in Takoma Park and Langley Park. The initial program began when one of Artiavte’s main funders, the Trawick Foundation, approached the group about creating a program for low-income, middle-school boys.

The first TWA was limited to boys only, but the second year’s camp was opened up to both boys and girls. Twenty boys attended the initial camp, while 26 participants, split nearly even between boys and girls, according to Modrick, attended last year’s Academy. The only cost is a $25 registration fee. All materials, instruction, and field trips to places like Goddard Space Flight Center, the ropes course at Sandy Spring Adventure Park and the Air & Space Museum are free.

According to Modrick, in addition to next summer’s camp, there are also plans to host a camp over the 2017 spring break.

Interested participants and those who want to more about the initiative can contact the Artivate office at 301-588-7525 or info@goartivate.org to get information on the next TWA program.

Rick’s resolution is to run a 10K race in 2017.

This article appeared in the January 2017 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.

At its Dec. 7 business meeting, the Takoma Park City Council voted to allow 30 more days for a Letter of Intent to be negotiated and agreed to by the Takoma Park Silver Spring Co-op and the City’s development partner, NDC, regarding the Takoma Junction development. In the meantime, NDC has signed a Letter of Intent with the Ability Project to provide a second story, 6,000 sq. ft. space in the development for adults with special needs to have a supportive environment in which they can gather and relax.

To learn more about the content of discussions with the Co-op to date and where things stand regarding current plans and aspirations, residents may wish to view this presentation given by NDC President Adrian Washington: takomaparkmd.gov/ city-blog/takoma-junction-redevelopmentupdate. Residents are welcome to weigh in now and in the months ahead.

What are the City Council’s goals for the project?

The goals of the City Council regarding the Takoma Junction development project remain: improve the aesthetic appeal of the commercial district and be contextually sensitive and environmentally sustainable. The Council has repeatedly expressed its concern for the well-being of the Co-op, particularly its need for continuity of operations. And, the Council is looking at the long-term needs of the City’s taxpayers by putting a key property back on the tax rolls.

Where, exactly, will the Co-op be located?

There are two choices: the Co-op may remain in the building it is in and expand or not, or the Co-op could opt for relocating into a brand new building on the site of the City’s current surface parking lot. NDC has presented concept designs for either option. Moving into a new building adjacent to its current building has advantages in terms of the Co-op’s continuity of operations and the opportunity to occupy a space optimized for grocery use. However, the Co-op may not wish to pursue that option. To be clear: NDC remains open to an arrangement where the Co-op is the anchor tenant and retains their current space, while also addressing the Council’s overarching goals. NDC’s proposals do not include relocating the Co-op to a site away from the Junction.

What about traffic studies, and will the State Highway Administration allow a “lay-by” design for large trucks to unload in front of the Co-op?

While NDC’s traffic consultant has been active in the development of options, a real traffic study does not come until later when more information is known about a proposed site plan and potential uses. At the Mayor’s request, City staff confirmed that SHA has no objections to such a design in concept.

How will the process move forward?

The final design of the Takoma Junction project is a long way off — there is a whole Takoma Park community process ahead, as well as the site plan review process through Montgomery County. The Council will be weighing many aspects of the site plan, including design, parking, loading, community use space, and safety. As a City-owned property, the Council has final say, within the parameters of the County’s Codes.

How can city residents provide their input?

Comments may be submitted through the City’s website at takomapark.seamlessdocs.com/f/JunctionComments.

By Daryl Braithwaite, Public Works Director

Public Works staffers are preparing to work hard to clear whatever snow falls on Takoma Park’s 34 miles of city-maintained roads, as well as walkways and sidewalks around city parks and public buildings. City staff tracks potential storms as they develop and prepares our response. Plow crews start plowing operations when one inch of snow is on the ground and are prepared to work 12-hour shifts. The City uses Public Works Right of Way staff as primary plow drivers, and sanitation drivers fill in the second shift. When significant snowfall occurs, city trash and recycling collection may be canceled to allow sanitation drivers to pitch in with road clearing. The City’s garden division staff clears public sidewalks during daylight hours with assistance as needed from temporary laborers. Public Works encourages businesses and residents to do their part to clear snow and ice from the sidewalks adjoining their property.

Takoma Park’s winter weather response plan divides the city into five snow removal zones, each with an assigned response vehicle. Within each zone, “primary streets” are those with the most traffic, and those that connect neighborhoods. “Secondary streets” are shorter, with fewer homes, and include courts, alleys and dead ends. The City’s crews first clear primary streets and then proceed to secondary streets. The City’s goal is to create two travelable lanes on each primary street within a 12- hour shift if the snow fall is six inches or less. If the snow fall is six inches or more, the expectation is to have one travelable lane over a 12-hour period. Snow removal equipment remains in service around the clock until all the roads are cleared. To see a map of snow removal routes, go to www. takomaparkmd.gov/snow.

Often, when severe weather is on the way, the City begins anti-icing procedures by applying a sand salt mixture or liquid de-icing chemicals to the street surface. Plowing begins once snowfall has accumulated to one inch on the street. If the storm produces only sleet and ice, the city treats roadways with sand and salt. Snow and ice response service on some streets is performed by outside agencies. The State Highway Administration is responsible for clearing Carroll Avenue, Ethan Allen Avenue, New Hampshire Avenue, Philadelphia Avenue and Piney Branch Road. Sligo Creek Parkway is a Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission roadway, and snow and ice response is performed by Montgomery County. However, city plows will assist with snow removal on these streets in the course of their work to clear city streets.

If you have any questions before or during a winter event, please contact the Public Works Department at 301-891-7633.

This article appeared in the January 2017 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.

By Helen Lyons

Hundreds gathered at Piney Branch Elementary School in Takoma Park on Dec. 4 for “Takoma Park Mobilization.”

The event, organized by Jennifer Wofford, called for residents to “join others who want to do specific things to support all our neighbors, oppose racism and hate, defend social programs, protect our immigrant neighbors, defend reproductive rights, defend civil liberties and democracy, save our planet, and get organized!”

Takoma Park resident Will Ramsey came ready to get more involved. “I’m concerned about social issues,” Ramsey said. “So much is happening in the country right now. I think that people have been tricked by the election, and I’m concerned that so many people can buy into a leadership that’s based on a lot of lies.”

The auditorium of the elementary school was filled to the brim with people and posters lined the walls proposing working groups in areas, such as immigration, health care, civil liberties and civil rights, environment, and communications.

“My fear is that people are going to have less freedom and less opportunity under this administration,” Ramsey said. He and others crowded into the school to listen to passionate speeches from community members and connect with others who share similar expertise and goals for political activism.

“The point is to organize Takoma Park in a positive way,” explained Sharon Stout, who joined the COOL (Communications/ Outreach/Organizing/Logistics) Committee and helped people sign in at the door, “and to form working groups on various topics that are of interest to people.”

Residents took turns addressing the crowd using a microphone, giving a brief description of their committee ideas and goals and designating a place in the auditorium where those interested could gather and begin planning.

Jennifer Wofford was thrilled to see so many engaged people there. “A couple of the working groups that had just gotten started when we first met have amazing people on them,” Wofford said. “[For example] the health care committee. I’m totally amazed by all these people who are so knowledgeable on health care and passionate about it.”

During the weeks following the kickoff event, more committees took shape and began developing agendas and goals. Each committee has one or two point people to coordinate emails and meetings and rotating facilitators, explained Anita Budhraja, Takoma Park resident and member of the Immigration and Muslim rights committee.

“Since Trump was elected, there were a lot of people who weren’t politicized who are getting politicized and feeling motivated to be engaged citizens and be involved in politics,” Budhraja said. “I’m one of those people who might not call themselves activists, but are ready to act.”

Takoma Park activist Nadine Block wanted “to energize people and create a space where people can form working groups and take on real projects.”

Anyone can join one of 13 committees currently in existence: the economic equity committee, the immigration, sanctuary, Muslim working group, the health care committee, the committee for the women’s march, the breaking bread together: community dinners group, the stand up! Show up! rapid response to hate crimes or racism group, the electoral/constitutional committee, the education & training committee, the subcommittee on diversity, inclusion, bias and anti-racism training, the environmental committee, the civil rights & civil liberties committee], the LGBTQ committee and the communications/outreach/organizing/logistics committee (COOL).

For more general information, visit www.facebook.com/tpmobilization or email takomaparkmobilization@gmail. com.

The next meeting of Takoma Park Mobilization will be Saturday, Jan. 28 at 4 p.m. at Piney Branch Elementary School. Gustavo Torres of CASA de Maryland will be one of the speakers at the meeting.

Helen’s resolution for 2017 is to have more fun!

This article appeared in the January 2017 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.