Amirah Bellamy is the instructor for the City of Takoma Park Recreation Department’s brand new “Tots Nature Camp.” Amirah is an artist, yogi, veganista, nature photographer, author of Hidden Wildlife of the Nation’s Capital and executive board chair of the Life Arts Institute in Washington, D.C. She has been developing creative ways to get children excited about nature since her son was a toddler over 20 years ago. Since then Amirah has instructed several children’s camps, classes and workshops throughout the DMV.

Amirah is now offering a Tots Nature Camp for the City of Takoma Park. Amirah brings a wealth of creativity, love of nature and passion for working with children, which she has developed over the years to inspire tots to develop an awareness of the beauty of their natural surroundings, respect for nature’s gifts and adoration for all that nature and wildlife has in store for them.

There are two sessions you can choose from, Monday – Friday, July 18 – 22 and July 25 – 29, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. for ages 3-4. You can register for Tots Nature Camp in person with the Recreation Department or online at www.takomaparkmd. gov/governmnet/recreation. The fees are $125/TP Residents and $145/Non-residents per session. For additional information, please contact Michael Kurland at michaelk@takomaprkmd.gov.

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

Maybe there is a spring in your step as another season approaches. With the warmer weather, students can get out and use some of the safety skills they learned during the Bike Rodeo and Crosswalk Simulation Activity presented by the Safe Routes to School Coordinator and the Takoma Park crossing guards this school year. Students in the fourth grade at Piney Branch and East Silver Spring and the fifth grade at Rolling Terrace enjoyed learning about bike safety and practiced on a cool obstacle course. The first grade and kindergarten classes at Takoma Park and at East Silver Spring participated in the Crosswalk Simulation activity, learning about the best practices for crossing the street in a fun and engaging way.

Here is what’s coming up this spring: Monday, March 14 Together with the Montgomery County Safe Kids Coalition, TP Safe Routes to School has acquired a bike trailer for the purpose of offering countywide bike safety education using the Bike Rodeo model. Anyone interested in using the trailer must complete a training session to become certified. This spring, the certification training is scheduled for Monday, March 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. It will be held at the Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Ave., in the Hydrangea Room. A Bike Rodeo will follow at Piney Branch Elementary School, 7510 Maple Ave. from 1:25 – 2:10 p.m. Please RSVP by Wednesday, March 2, 2016.

Sunday, May 1 The Takoma Park Safe Routes to School 5K Challenge, better known as the TKPK5K, will be held on Sunday, May 1, 2016. Registration is now open at www.tkpk5K.com. There are events for all ages and abilities: 5K run, 5K walk, 1 mile run, .25 mile fun run. Sign up before April 18 for early bird registration prices and guaranteed t-shirt sizes. Proceeds benefit PTA programs at Piney Branch, Rolling Terrace, East Silver Spring and Takoma Park ES and Takoma Park MS.

Wednesday, May 4 Bike to School Day is Wednesday, May 4. Students, parents and school staff are encouraged to ride to school together. Check with your school for specific details.

Tuesday, June 7 Crossing Guard Appreciation Day is held on the first Tuesday of June each year. On this day, we take a moment to express gratitude to the wonderful Takoma Park Crossing Guards for another year of service. Watch for more information in early June.

June 27 –July 1 Once again, Takoma Park will host the iCan Shine bike Camp for students with special needs. Maryland residents between the ages of 8 and 14 are invited to participate free of charge. The camp will be held at Takoma Academy, 8120 Carroll Ave., June 27 – July 1, 2016. Visit takomaparkmd.gov/initiatives/saferoutes-to-school for additional information. Riders and volunteers needed.

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

Sarah and her husband Peter closed on their house in Takoma Park on Valentine’s Day in 2014. She said, “It was the best Valentine’s Day gift!” The couple lives in the PEN neighborhood close to the Takoma Park Presbyterian Church with their two kids, Sammy and Maayan, and their au pair Martyna. “My house’s claim to fame is that Goldie Hawn, who grew up in Takoma Park, used to take dance lessons in our living room,” Sarah explained.

She is the policy director at the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues in Washington, DC. Inspired by Facebook COO Cheryl Sandberg’s bestselling book, almost a year ago, Sarah started two Lean In groups in Takoma Park. “I was pregnant with my second child and ready to move up in my career and really struggling to wrap my head around how I was going to ‘step up’ professionally with two young kids at home,” she said.

In honor of Women’s History Month, Sarah kicks off our series of “quick-question” interviews.

1. Favorite Place/Activity in Takoma Park: The annual house and garden tour—I love to see what other people have done with their homes, and it’s a great opportunity to meet more people in the neighborhood
2. Best Thing about Living in Takoma Park: I can walk everywhere!
3. On My Desk Right Now: A “Congress at Your Fingertips” directory, a box of chocolate truffles that my boss brought back from a work trip to New Mexico, and a steno book.
4. In My “Spare Time”: Lots of reading and yoga at Willow Street
5. Best Advice I Ever Got (and from whom): Whenever I’ve found myself in a rough patch, my mom reminds me, “This too shall pass.” This saying helps me stay grounded and weather out tough situations.

After reading the book during her pregnancy, she went to the Lean In website, registered a Lean In circle, and started to advertise her circle on neighborhood listservs. “I now have a group of five to ten women who meet about once a month to talk about career and life issues,” she said.

For more information about Takoma Park Women Leaning In or to join the group, visit leanincircles.org/circle/takomapark-women-leaning-in. Send your suggestions for future interviews to tpnewseditor@takomaparkmd.gov.

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

It’s a close competition with four teams neck and neck for the $2,000 grand prize. Forest Park, Longbranch Sligo, BF Gilbert and Old Town Resident teams all have over 200 points. However, it’s still anyone’s game. Light Green Certifications are easy to achieve and are worth 10 points each. Medium Green Certifications take a bit more effort to achieve, but are worth 40 points, and Dark Green Certifications are worth 100 points each. That means with even just one more home earning a Dark Green Certification, the standings could change substantially.

Green Home Certification applications are due by March 31 in order to earn points for the energy challenge. If you have been putting off your Green Home Certification because you are stuck on an action in the checklist, let the sustainability manager know; substitutions are allowed. If you need a new application, you can download one from tinyurl.com/ tkpkenergychallenge, or you can pick up a printed copy from Public Works at 31 Oswego Ave.

For the past year, 18 neighborhood teams and more than 700 households have been competing to get the biggest reductions in energy use. Residents participate by taking actions in their houses and apartments to save energy. To earn points, residents complete a Green Home Certification checklist and mark off all the actions they’ve taken to save energy at home. Residents can earn Light, Medium, or Dark Green certifications for their efforts. To help, the City has been offering energy coaching, rebates and meetings throughout the past year. The challenge is helping the City in its efforts to win the overall $5 Million Georgetown University Energy Prize Competition for the community that reduces its energy use the most. Currently, Takoma Park is ranked #25 out of 50 in the competition.

If you have questions about the Neighborhood Energy Challenge, would like free energy coaching or a second opinion on your energy audit, contact Sustainability Manager Gina Mathias at ginam@takomaparkmd.gov. Don’t forget to turn in your applications by March 31!

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

By Ellen Robbins

This year we are observing the 80th anniversary of the City Library – not only with cake and special birthday cards – but with steps toward what we hope will be a significant renovation, which will also give us additional space.

A new concept design was presented to the City Council on Oct. 29, which incorporated their own recommendations, as well as those of Library and other City staff.

Architect Greg Lukmire presented this concept design at public meetings on Dec. 12 and Jan. 7 – eliciting some spirited discussion and suggestions for the next phase, which involves schematic design and detailed design development.

Approximately 25 people of varying ages attended both meetings. A group of about five elementary age kids attended the Dec. 16 meeting. Here are some of the topics that came up at both meetings.

Light was a big concern. Though people were not opposed to the larger windows shown in the character sketches, which allow more natural light to enter the Library, there were concerns that the effect remain substantially different from the new Silver Spring Library, which was described as having “an excess of glass,” making it “blinding” and “too open.” One person asked, “Could an excess of light damage library materials?” Would it be distracting or too bright? The architect discussed the attributes of the newer glass, which is thermally broken, with two or even three panes, allowing for considerable specificity. One person commented there might be insufficient light in the central part of the library, away from the windows. Might a skylight be an option?

Adequate space for different functions came up repeatedly – as this has been a continuing concern. Will there be enough space for books, periodicals, comfortable seating, quiet space, and storage space as well as enough work space for staff? Will the program room be large enough? Greg Lukmire addressed all these concerns. Several group study spaces are enclosed (with exterior glass) and can be used as collaborative or quiet study space. The program room is intended as a flexible, multi-purpose space with very light-weight modular tables and chairs that can be easily moved. There will be comfortable seating and designated space for periodicals and other collections. A petition was submitted, signed by 14 kids, asking for a designated “read-aloud section” in the children’s room.

Space outside the library, which was not part of the design process, also generated a lot of comments. People wanted to know how the flood wall and the area around the flag pole might be dealt with. Though there was general agreement that it is cumbersome to leap over the wall or walk around it, several people also voiced concern that there be a gathering place somewhere on the grounds – for kids, care-givers, and parents picking up kids. A wish for personal bike-space was also expressed as a way to preserve the attractive bike racks now in front of the library. One person voiced concern about the flat roof and the load it carries in winter; another suggested that the mosaic might be sacrificed to allow expansion toward Maple Ave. However, the transformer and the police parking area would seriously limit that expansion. There was a general wish for a future design for the outdoor space that included seating and other attractive components.

The planned new entrance facing the parking lot was viewed favorably, but there was insistence on a walkway from Philadelphia Ave. up to the new Community Center Entrance. There was an associated concern about some loss of parking spaces, which are already at a premium. The architect mentioned the possibility of narrowing the spaces along-side of the buildings, which are unusually wide.

Other suggestions for the interior were a place for permanent art and a designated space to highlight new books. Another observation was that the access from the library to the senior room was round-about and might be problematical for people with mobility issues.

All in all, both meetings prompted lots of constructive discussion – and pointed the way forward to the next, more detailed phase of Library renovation. Your comments and questions are welcome. Please direct them to me at ellenr@ takomaparkmd.gov.

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

By Kevin Adler

Looking for something to do on a Thursday evening? Maybe it’s time to check out the Co-op’s weekly wine tastings.

Wine tastings at the Co-op? You read that right. In December, the TPSS Co-op, located at 201 Ethan Allen Ave., began to test a series of tastings after a fall rollout of its new beer and wine section.

The Co-op and PhotoPressArt have been the first two businesses in the city to take advantage of a change in city and state law to allow takeout beer and wine sales. They represent Takoma Park throwing off one of the last vestiges of its nonalcohol Adventist past.

These new options have been rapidly embraced. “People come in, and they pick up a bottle or two; they’re excited. Boomers, Millennials, they like having wine with dinner,” said Greg Czech, who runs the alcohol operation for the Co-op. “We’ve got a lot of really good wines at reasonable prices.”

For the 200 or more selections available at any given time, Czech focuses on wines for $20 or less, and he has scoured the “best of” lists and wine ratings guides. “I come from a family in the restaurant and liquor store business,” he said. “I like doing the research, and I try to find selections that might not be at other stores in the county.”

Reflecting his audience, Czech stocks organic wines, as well as wines made from sustainably grown grapes. For beer, Czech goes local and regional, taking advantage of a strong craft-brewing scene in the Metro DC area with choices from DC Brau, Heavy Seas (Baltimore) and Bold Rock Hard Cider (Nellysford, Va.). “Craft beers are very popular, and they’ve been a good business for us,” Czech said.

According to him sales have far exceeded expectations, and he’s had to put in unexpected hours to keep up with demand. “Some wines that I thought we’d sell two or three bottles in a week have been selling at two or three cases per week. We’ve had to build extra storage facilities. That’s a nice problem to have,” he said.

At PhotoPressArt, located at 914 EastWest Highway, owner John Kirakosian stocks well-known beers and modestly priced California wine labels, such as YellowTail, Coppola and Jacobs Creek.

“Beer is selling better – especially Heineken and Corona,” he said on a recent Friday night, while serving a steady flow of customers, who came in to stock up for the weekend.

For Kirakosian, it’s part of a strategy to offer something for everyone from his compact, bright storefront. Patrons can pick up a snack, LavAzza coffee, and now beer and wine, or use services, such as passport photos and printing.

“This shop has been here since 1982, and I bought it four years ago because it had a good reputation,” he said. “I ask people what they want, and then I try to get it. That’s what I do with my beers.”

Doing what people want is what got the City to this point, said former City Council Member Seth Grimes, who supported changing the alcohol law when he was in office. “The Co-op went all-in on this effort, and I’m glad it did,” Grimes said. “There are a lot of people who appreciate having a convenient place to get beer and wine.”

Passage of the law in 2014 was not a foregone conclusion. The City Council had considered changing Takoma Park’s alcohol rules in 2010, and a number of citizens testified against it.

Fast forward a few years, and a similar proposal passed the City Council with strong support and little opposition last January. The state legislature heeded the City’s request and changed state law so that Montgomery County alcohol licensing rules would apply in Takoma Park.

The January 2015 City Council resolution included support for Montgomery County Councilmember Hans Riemer’s initiative to curtail the county’s alcoholdistribution monopoly. The Montgomery County Department of Liquor Control (DLC) oversees distribution of all alcohol (beer, wine, hard liquor) and is the only allowed retailer of hard liquor.

Meanwhile, for the shopper seeking liquor to make the perfect martini or mojito, county-owned liquor stores are still the only choices. There’s one exception – TJ Beer Wine and Liquors, which is in Takoma Park, of course.

“TJ’s is the only privately owned liquor store in Montgomery County,” said Takoma Park City Manager Suzanne Ludlow. “It’s on New Hampshire Ave. and was in Prince George’s County, so it was grandfathered when the boundaries for Montgomery and Prince George’s were changed.”

“I think we were the first [body] to call for ending the monopoly,” said Grimes. “There’s resistance in the county because the monopoly is so lucrative, but we’re starting to see movement on it.”

For now, Czech and Kirakosian are learning how to work through DLC’s byzantine distribution system. It can be slow, but Czech said the Co-op is able to obtain almost anything that a customer requests and he’s “happy to do special orders.”

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

YOU ARE INVITED to join the City Council for a Community Conversation on Affordable Housing on Saturday, Feb. 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

The meeting, the first in a series of Community Conversations on various topics, will provide an opportunity to learn and engage in a discussion about the City’s approach to housing, current trends at the local and state level and some new ideas for addressing the issue of affordable housing in Takoma Park.

In addition to City Council, subject matter experts from City staff and national and community organizations will be present to share information, respond to questions and participate in the conversation. The meeting will take place at the Takoma Park Community Center/ Sam Abbott Citizens’ Center located at 7500 Maple Ave.

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

By Apryl Motley

Newly elected Takoma Park Mayor Kate Stewart can’t wait to hear what the community has to say about a variety of issues that will impact residents. While email and listservs have their place in City-wide communications, Stewart finds them not as helpful for “having meaningful conversations and dialogue about difficult issues.”

There is no shortage of those as she begins her term. Topping her list of priorities are community policing, development of Takoma Park Junction, and affordable housing. In addition addressing residents’ concerns about Washington Adventist Hospital’s move and developing the FY17 budget are top priorities. So where to begin?

For Stewart the answer lies in engaging more members of the community to discuss how these issues affect them and the overall culture of Takoma Park. “The way to achieve greater community engagement is for our City staff, City council and residents to all be working together,” she said.

“In particular, we need to shift the framework for how we think about community engagement,” she continued. “The model for how we generally think about it now is that residents need to come to City staff or the City Council. I would like to see more of us getting out into the community more often.”

To that end, plans are already under way to facilitate the types of interactions and conversations Stewart believes will be most valuable to all members of the community. One of them will be Friday morning coffees around the City in which Stewart, the City manager, the City Council person for that area, and other City staff will participate.

“We would pick a central location near metro and bus routes, start at 7:30 a.m. and be available for two hours for people to drop by on their way to work and talk about issues that are impacting that part of the community,” Stewart explained. Location and other details are being worked on for the first Friday coffee of the year, which will be announced soon.

Along similar lines, Stewart envisions holding quarterly community conversations during the year where “we can bring together members of the community, outside experts, City staff, and the City Council to have conversations about issues we need to address as a whole community.” The first community conversation is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 6, and the topic will be affordable housing.

For Stewart the coffees and conversations are small, but integral, parts of a larger effort to increase civic engagement. She said having polling places throughout the community for early voting during the last election was a good start: “The engagement and enthusiasm there was wonderful.”

Stewart hopes to build on the community interest generated from just having an election. “People are paying attention to what’s going on in terms of the City Council,” she said, “so that we can really bring people together and start thinking about ways to engage the public more.”

One strategy already put in place to increase engagement is holding City Council meetings Wednesday evenings instead of on Mondays. While walking door-to-door during her campaign, Stewart learned that attending meetings on Monday is hard for a lot of people. The council’s first meeting of the year will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 13 at 7:30 p.m.

In addition, Stewart wants to raise awareness about the public comment period during City Council meetings. “People don’t know that you can come to the City Council meeting during public comment to raise an issue, and it doesn’t have to be on the agenda or be a voting item,” she said. “A lot of people thought you could only speak to an issue if it was on the agenda or a voting item, which limits people being able to come and voice their opinions.”

And Stewart wants to hear those opinions. During her campaign, she stressed the need for leaders who will listen, hear and act. She says this approach to leadership comes from her training as a researcher. According to her, “if you take the time to listen and you really hear what peoples’ concerns and goals are, then you can act on them and get much closer to what you’re trying to achieve.”

There is a lot Stewart hopes to achieve, and she is excited about working with the residents towards those goals. “Takoma Park is a wonderful community where people come together when issues need to be resolved,” she said. “As we think about starting this next chapter in our City’s history, we need to make sure we’re protecting what makes Takoma Park so special as well as taking advantage of opportunities to make our community an even better place for all residents.”

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

1. Stay connected. Conditions leading to a declared snow emergency include the expectation of a significant quantity of snow or an ice event. The City Manager may declare a snow emergency and will announce the status through Takoma Park Alert, local media, and on the City’s website, Facebook and Twitter. The following restrictions go into effect during declared snow emergencies:
2. Avoid parking on the street. Residents are strongly encouraged to park vehicles in their driveways whenever possible. Fewer cars on the street allow city plows to more quickly and safely clear the roads. If you must park on the street, make sure to park your car as close to the curb as possible and maintain a distance of at least 25 feet from an intersection.
3. Clear your sidewalk. Residents are responsible for clearing the public sidewalks adjacent to their property. When possible, keep sidewalks clear of snow and ice by regularly shoveling accumulated snow during and after a snow event. Please do not shovel large amounts of snow into the street when clearing your driveway, lead walk or sidewalk. The best place to pile snow is on the lawn or grassy areas. Piles of snow shoveled out into the street can cause problems for passing vehicles.
4. Be a good neighbor; help others in need. Reach out and ask neighbors if they need assistance with keeping their sidewalks clear. Many residents are physically unable to shovel snow and ice and are hesitant to request help from neighbors or friends. Your thoughtfulness can make a big difference to someone who might otherwise be unable to cope. If you have any questions before or during a winter event, please contact the Public Works Department at 301-891-7633.