By Michael Kurland

The Summer Camp Expo is a great way for families to come and see firsthand what the Takoma Park Recreation Department has to offer for the upcoming 2017 summer camp season. You will learn about all of the exciting activities campers will take part in for the summer.

Families will also have the opportunity to register for a variety of our camps for the summertime. Some of these camps include community favorites like Camp Takoma, Camp Recess, and Teens on the Move as well as some of our specialty camps, such as On Stage Footlight and Spotlight Camps, Visual Art Camp and Dance Camp. We are also adding a few new camps to our repertoire to include Wilderness Camps and a Cooking Camp for Tots.

“I thought the Camp Expo was great,” Sally Heaven said. “We were able to sign our two kids up for the camps of our choosing, and [we] got a really awesome discount on top of it.” During the Expo, families will receive a 20 percent discount off any camp(s) they register their child(ren) for (must be in line by 1 p.m. to get the discount). This discount gives many families the opportunity to get these camps at a significantly reduced price.

So join us for our 3rd Annual Summer Camp Expo on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Takoma Park Community Center (7500 Maple Avenue).

For more information, please contact the Recreation Department at 301-891- 7290, or visit us online at www.takomaparkmd.gov/government/recreation.

This article appeared in the December 2016 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.

Takoma Park City Manager Suzanne Ludlow joins other City leaders in addressing residents’ concerns about how the post-election environment in the country as a whole might affect their local community.

TP News: What is the role of a city manager in a time of national political upheaval?

Ludlow: As a city manager, I serve the City Council and the residents impartially, recognizing that elected officials and the public need to be able to rely on me and the city staff no matter their political persuasion.

The council sets the policies and goals of the City of Takoma Park, and it is my job to implement those policies and attain those goals through the work of the staff I manage on a day-to-day basis. That remains my focus. In times of change at the federal level, I advise the council on the potential impacts to the city of changes in laws, processes and funding streams, and I work to ensure the city’s finances are protected.

TP News: What about your staff?

Ludlow: As a manager of the human beings that make up city staff, I also need to be sensitive to the concerns of my staff regarding how change at the national level may affect them or their families. The standards we uphold in the workplace regarding mutual respect and freedom from harassment will continue to be enforced. Staff has been advised that our human resources department can help with access to counseling services for those who may need them. Department heads recognize the need to remain calm, professional and supportive during this time.

TP News: What kinds of impacts might the City face from the change in president?

Ludlow: Much is unknown right now, so we are monitoring statements and proposals from President-Elect Trump. Certainly the vitriol of the recent election has left targets of that vitriol – immigrants, women, people of color, Muslims, and others – nervous about potential hate crimes, harassment and bullying. Our city staff, particularly our police department, must protect our residents from that kind of behavior. We also need to realize that residents may be more hesitant to work with city staff due to their fears.

TP News: What might be the financial impact?

Ludlow: Uncertainty in general can lead to wide variations in the stock market. Cuts in federal employment and changes in tax law can result in reduced tax revenue. Since 25 percent of the City’s budget comes from Montgomery County and the State of Maryland, we are particularly vulnerable when their finances are tight, so reductions in revenue can hurt us directly and indirectly.

A number of people have asked about Takoma Park’s status as a Sanctuary City and the pledge to not allow Sanctuary Cities to receive federal funds. We don’t receive a lot of federal funding, but if passed, those restrictions could hurt. We are evaluating the proposals and possible impacts and will discuss them with the City Council.

TP News: What won’t change?

Ludlow: The commitment my staff and I have to serving this community. We have an aggressive agenda of services and improvements set out by the Council that we intend to do well. We also are committed to listening to and communicating with the public so that we remain a friendly part of Takoma Park.

This article appeared in the December 2016 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.

By Helen Lyons

Just three days after the election of Donald J. Trump as the next President of the United States, hundreds gathered at Piney Branch Middle School to hold signs, link arms, and sing and chant promises of support and protection for their Muslim and immigrant neighbors.

“I’m Muslim-American, born and raised in the United States,” said Shahid Mahmood of Silver Spring, who attended the rally with his wife Faiqa. “To hear what Trump was saying throughout this whole campaign was very disheartening, and I’m glad that we came together in the community to say look, we’re all supporting you, we’re supporting each other, [and] we want to stand together.”

Adults and children alike came carrying homemade signs with slogans like “Immigrants make America great” and “You are loved. We will fight for you! You are safe.” They cheered and chanted as local activists took turns with a microphone, delivering speeches of unity.

“People are angry, frustrated, shocked, and at wits end,” said Greg Artzner, a former Takoma Park resident who brought his guitar to perform. He and his wife, Terry Leonino, led the crowd in singing “Give Light,” a song they wrote together that concluded the rally with the message that “people will find the way.”

The event was organized spur-of-themoment, but drew a crowd of hundreds from Takoma Park and beyond. “It was very spontaneous,” Leonino said. “It was meant to give an opportunity for all of us to feel like we’re not alone. People in Takoma Park always make a point to find each other, and that’s why this is such a special place to live.”

Even those outside the city were drawn into the display of solidarity, including Muslims and immigrants who just wanted to confirm that they were still welcome and had a place in their own communities. “I’m a Muslim-American,” Dania Ayoubi explained, “and I wear the hijab so that makes me a visible member of the community. I feel that in some ways I have a greater responsibility to build bridges, and get to know my neighbors and make that powerful community that will be there to support me in times of need.”

And this seems to be one of those times. Faiqa Mahmood described the days that followed the election of Donald Trump as difficult, a sentiment that many in Takoma Park have echoed since the election results were first announced. “The kind of sorrow I felt was like if something that you really loved got broken and shattered,” Mahmood said. “You had this whole idea of what America was supposed to be, and I just woke up the next morning feeling very, very unwelcome. But at the same time, I’m happy to live in a place where the majority of the people around me are feeling the same way. Someone was holding a sign that said ‘We love our Muslim neighbors,’ and they weren’t Muslims. Things like that just allow the healing to begin.”

Jill Feasley was one of countless non-Muslims and non-immigrants to attend the rally, concerned about the policies Trump touted over the last several months and how they would affect her friends and neighbors. “I know people who are immigrants, and who are Muslim,” Feasley said. “I just felt it was important to show support for people who feel threatened and afraid of what changes might be brought about as promised in the election by candidate Trump when he becomes president.”

The rally came together with the participation of Takoma Park Mayor Kate Stewart, City Councilmember Rizzy Qureshi, County Councilmember Tom Hucker, Maryland Delegate David Moon, Ahmed Elmi of the Somali American Community Association, Delia Aguilar from CASA de Maryland, and community activists Tebabu Assefa and Jheanelle K. Wilkins.

“There was a massive call for gatherings in communities across the nation,” explained Nadine Block, another contributing activist who has lived in Takoma Park for over 25 years. “We have to really build local capacity and make sure we are doing things locally that support all of our community members.”

As people finally disbanded in the darkness, carrying their signs and a newfound resilience back to their homes, there was a sense that this was only the beginning. “We had to come together to express our solidarity,” Artzner said. “We’re in this. Standing here with this incredible community… To me, it just looks like America. The resistance starts now.”

This article appeared in the December 2016 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.

Join us on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the library for a discussion of Yudhijit’s Bhattacharjee’s book The Spy Who Couldn’t Spell – A Dyslexic Traitor, an Unbreakable Code, and the FBI’s Hunt for America’s Stolen Secrets.

Bhattacharjee’s book has been widely praised by reviewers. Publisher’s Weekly noted that “readers…will thoroughly enjoy this fastmoving account of a failed spy who, despite his incompetence, easily filched thousands of secrets.” And from Kirkus Reviews: “The author offers a compellingly seedy portrait of Regan, motivated to contemplate treason due to debt, career stagnation, and marital malaise…a well-written…tale of thwarted amateur treason underscoring the disturbing vulnerability of today’s intelligence systems.”

This program is funded by the Friends of the Takoma Park Maryland Library. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing at the program.

This article appeared in the November 2016 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.

After extensive investigation into options and costs and a presentation to the City Council on Sept. 21, City staff have been directed to pursue converting the PEPCO streetlights on wooden poles in the city to LED lights through the PEPCO conversion program. The conversion will be phased in on a neighborhood by neighborhood basis and will allow for adjustments to the program if needed.

At its Oct. 19 meeting, the City Council passed a resolution supporting the conversion of streetlights on wooden poles in Takoma Park to LED lights through the PEPCO conversion program and directed staff to work to ensure that lighting specifications and placement minimize costs, energy use, and light pollution, while enhancing safety and attractiveness.

In terms of environmental impact, conversion of existing streetlight fixtures to ones that are more energy efficient (LED technology) would reduce the City’s streetlight electricity use from 765,599 kwh to 382,800 kwh annually. LED fixtures also will be night sky compliant, within the 3,000 Kelvin level, to minimize light pollution. From a fiscal standpoint, the City could save between $746,000 and $904,000 in current dollars over a 20-year period by converting streetlights to LED fixtures through PEPCO.

LED conversion has already begun with the Flower Avenue Green Street project, and five percent of the City’s streetlights have already been converted. PEPCO will continue to own and maintain the lights, and the City will continue to pay for monthly maintenance charges per the rates set by the Public Service Commission. Further, the City will continue to procure its electricity through the Montgomery County purchasing group which enables the City to be part of a large buying group and thereby reduces the rate per kilowatt, and City staff will work with PEPCO staff to ensure that the replacement lighting is appropriate for City streets.

This article appeared in the November 2016 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.

By Tim Rahn

The Secret Chord, a retelling of the story of the Biblical David by the award-winning author Geraldine Brooks, will be discussed on Wednesday, November 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the Hydrangea Room of the Community Center.

Narrated by the court prophet-advisor Natan (Nathan), The Secret Chord, tells the often bloody story of David’s reign as king of Israel. Brooks uses David’s complexity to explore loyalty and treachery that comes with power. She also explores David’s relationships with the members of his extended family including his wives.

Published in 2015, The Secret Chord was the recipient of considerable praise by reviewers. Alice Hoffman, writing in the Washington Post, commented that “The Secret Chord reads like a prose poem, with battle after battle recounted in detail, but it’s a page turner of a poem. We want to know how David manages to stave off his rivals and enemies, just as we want to know what love means to him and who, if anyone, will cause him to be faithful.”

Brooks began her writing career as journalist before turning to non-fiction and then novels such as The People of the Book, Caleb’s Crossing, and Year of Wonder. In 2006 Brooks received the Pulitzer Prize for fiction for the novel, March.

Sponsored by the Friends Book Group, the discussion is open to all. Copies of The Secret Chord are available on loan from the library.

Tim Rahn is the President of the Friends of the Library Board and facilitates their bimonthly book discussions

This article appeared in the November 2016 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.

By Pat Hanrahan

French language readers take note. The Takoma Park Maryland Library has expanded its French collection with the purchase of two volumes of graphic memoir by Riad Sattouf, L’arabe du future, an autobiography of a childhood in the Middle East.

The product of a French mother and Syrian father, young Sattouf spent his early childhood in Libya and Syria. His story of these years (1978 – 1985) is gripping. It helped me understand a bit better what is happening now in Syria.

Sattouf père believed the Arab world of the 70’s was poised for outstanding achievements. With his wife and child, he moved to his birth village to participate in the glorious future which as we know never happened. The author writes about Syria from a child’s point of view and without censure. His parents, his teacher and his peers dominate his days. The illustrations enhance the childish perception. For instance the teacher is always enormous, and when she’s angry, her mouth can take over an entire graphic square in the band of illustrations. Characters who are outraged express themselves in deep red text balloons.

A best seller in France, Sattouf’s book has been translated into English with positive reviews. The TPML has the English editions of the first two books and will purchase the subsequent volumes as they are translated into English. So far three volumes — of an expected five volumes — have been published in French, and all three are available at the Library, so try the books in French. Reading French graphic books is fun. Even if you aren’t bilingual (which I am most definitely not), the illustrations help comprehension when words are baffling, and graphic book text is often minimal anyway.

So go for it! Enjoy a feeling of accomplishment from reading a book en fran- çais, particularly one that is as hard to put down as Sattouf’s bande-desinée.

Pat Hanrahan is a Takoma Park resident and serves on the Board of the Friends of the Takoma Park Maryland Library.

This article appeared in the November 2016 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.

By Karen MacPherson

Creating pathways to literacy – for various ages and stages – infuses all Library programs. Our efforts start with the youngest children – and their families and caregivers – because research shows that the earlier children are introduced to literacy concepts, the better their chances are for school success. As recent research has shown, by the time children from low-income families reach the age of four, they will have heard 30 million fewer words than their more advantaged peers. Clearly, these children will start school at a huge disadvantage unless there is some intervention.

That’s where our Library programs for young children and their parents and caregivers can play a key role in the community. All of our early literacy programs are free, of course, and they are built on research disseminated by the American Library Association showing best practices for getting children ready to read.

A key part of these programs is modeling these best practices for parents and caregivers, so they can bring those practices back into the home. Our Library programs range from the hugely popular Circle Times on Tuesdays and Spanish Circle Times on Thursdays (both now offered twice weekly) to our Wednesday morning early literacy programs offering age-targeted activities for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. We also offer a monthly Petites Chansons (French Circle Time) and are working to create a second monthly French program for preschoolers; our current program is popular with both native French-speakers, many from African Francophone countries, as well as parents who are hoping to start their children on French as a second language.

One Monday evening each month, we provide a fun family literacy activity in our Caldecott Club, where we read and discuss some of the best new picture books, using the criteria of the prestigious Caldecott Medal. Besides giving families a chance to read some new books together, the Caldecott Club helps develop visual literacy, an increasingly important kind of literacy in our screen-filled world.

Our monthly Comics Jam offers another opportunity to develop visual literacy for both kids and adults. Comics Jam allows us to showcase our greatly in-demand collection of kids’ and teen graphic novels, which are popular with both reluctant and eager readers. In fact, we see our graphic novel collection as one way to convince kids, especially reluctant readers, to trade their digital screens for illustrated books that actually require a different kind of brainpower to read the information in both pictures and words to make sense of a story.

Our monthly LEGO Club highlights STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) skills in a fun way. Kids can build around a particular theme or just enjoy the pleasure of using their math, science or math skills to create with LEGO, inspired by the numerous LEGO idea books that are part of the library’s collection.

In addition, we have strong literacy-focused partnerships with the neighboring schools. For example, for nearly a decade, the 4th grade classes at Piney Branch Elementary School have visited the Library each week for a program focused on their language arts curriculum (i.e. historical fiction, mythology, etc.).

We also regularly host programs for other grades at both Piney Branch and Takoma Park Elementary School and have offered programs for English as a Second Language students at Takoma Park Middle School. We’re currently part of a Takoma Foundation grant (in its second year) as a partner with Takoma Park Elementary School in its Books & Breakfast program. This program is focused on literacy activities – including an introduction to the library and its resources – for ESL students and their families.

The library also hosts regular programs for local preschools, providing literacy based story times and related activities. These programs are aimed both at preschoolers and their teachers, as we model best practices for reading aloud to young children and other ways to make books and reading come alive.

For older students, we offer a book reviewing student service learning opportunity. As part of this opportunity, students learn to write book reviews, which eventually are published on the library’s website.

One of the best – and most exciting— ways of promoting literacy is meeting a published author or illustrator. With our partnership with Politics & Prose Bookstore, our patrons can meet some of the most talented and dynamic authors and illustrators working today in creating books for kids and teens. If you’ve never been to one of our author programs, give it a try. We have found that these programs are both fun and inspirational for readers, young and old.

This article appeared in the November 2016 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.