Application deadline 12 noon, Wednesday, Sept. 2

The City of Takoma Park is accepting proposals for the use of its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis to community organizations for a wide range of activities directed toward neighborhood revitalization, economic development and the provision of improved community facilities and services.

Approximately $11,600 is available for programming which primarily benefits individuals or households of low and moderate incomes. An additional $79,400 is available for capital projects benefitting low and moderate-income neighborhoods. Proposed programming may be something that an organization does on its own or in partnership with the City of Takoma Park. Funds would be available in fall of 2016.

Applications are available at www.takomaparkmd.gov/hcd/community-grants.

There will be an informational meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. in the Takoma Park Community Center auditorium. Deadline for submissions is 12 noon on Wednesday, Sept. 2.

For more information, please contact the Housing and Community Development Department at 301-891-7119.

This article appeared in the August 2015 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.

Despite damp weather, the fourth of July brought the usual festivities to Takoma Park this year: parade and fireworks, though the latter were delayed a day. At the parade, a happy crowd lined up to enjoy the shenanigans. Among the marchers this year were a roller derby crew, an impressively steam-punk-like junkmobile, boy scouts and young bicyclists equipped for whatever came down the road.

Parade winners were as follows: Performing arts, first through third place respectively, Fraternidad Folklorica Cultural Ruphay, The Finest Marching ThunderKatz! and the Mark H. Rooney Taiko School; costumed entries first through third, Zydeco Cowboyz and Cowgirls, Takoma Horticultural Club and Free State Roller Derby; youth groups, first and second places, Girl Scouts Council of the Nation’s Capital Service Unit 34-8 and Friends, and Boy Scouts of America Troop 33 and Cub Scouts Pack 33; Roscoe Award, Greenbelt Dog Training Marching Drill Team; Wacky Tacky Takoma Award first through third, Good Dog, Vanadu and the Ritchie Citizens Association; and the TPIDC Memorial Award (in honor of Belle Ziegler, Ernie Weisman, Ed Hutmire, June Aloi, and Kay Daniels-Cohen), Motor Driven Band and Roland’ Unisex Barber Shop.

For more great images of the parade, including floats and marchers, go to www.tpssvoice.com/2015/07/07/photos-takoma-park-parade-damp-but-undaunted.

This article appeared in the August 2015 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.

By Rick Henry

“Put your money where your mouth is,” goes the old saying. But when it comes to investing, the Old Town Business Association (OTBA) wants Takoma Park residents to “put their money where their home is.” To that end, the organization has established Takoma Notes, an innovative community investment program that allows citizens to invest in local businesses.The program identifies local businesses that would benefit from additional capital and develops specific loan packages to meet their needs.

According to City Councilmember Seth Grimes, Takoma Park is a perfect community for such an initiative. “Takoma Park has a strong “shop local” preference, for non-chain, locally owned businesses, and those businesses excel at meeting community needs while creating economic opportunity for residents and recycling profits back into the community,” he said.

He also pointed out that the timing is right and that programs similar to Takoma Notes are becoming more popular in states and localities. As an example, he cited Maryland state legislation that was enacted in 2014 that allows Maryland businesses to borrow up to $100,000 from Maryland residents who lend up to $100 each.

A little history

Indeed, the Takoma Notes program builds off an existing revolving loan program that was established by the OTBA Main Street Economic Restructuring Committee in 2009, according to committee chairman Preston Quesenberry. The program is a yearly fund of $125,000 that the OTBA uses to issue loans to local businesses. Money from the fund comes from local residents and its success over the years inspired members of the restructuring committee to explore other options, said Laura Barclay, Executive Director of the OTBA.

“There is always a need for money for local businesses and the revolving fund is a fixed pool,” she said.  “So we started looking at how we could expand the pool.”

“The demand [from local businesses] was exceeding the amount we could lend out through the fund,” Quesenberry said.

On the supply side, Quesenberry said the committee noticed that the people of Takoma Park seemed willing not just to support, but to invest in, local businesses, citing the highly successful Kickstarter campaign that helped provide funds to La Mano Coffee Shop near the Takoma Metro.

Quesenberry said the committee’s initial thought was to simply let more local residents contribute to the revolving loan fund. But increasing the size of the fund had its drawbacks.

“We didn’t know if the demand would always be there,” he said. “So we decided to explore a project-by-project approach.”

The result is Takoma Notes.

The mechanics

Through the program, local businesses apply for funding. Members of the OTBA vet the businesses, then raise the money to make the loan by issuing Takoma Notes to local investors. When the OTBA raises the necessary amount within the established time period, it then lends the proceeds to the specified Takoma business.

The business then pays interest and principal to OTBA which in turn passes those payments to the Takoma Note investors. The program is offered to all Maryland and Washington, D.C. residents. Representatives from Colombo Bank have worked closely with OTBA organizers and the bank will handle the investments and transactions.

“This is a great opportunity for businesses to get capital,” said Barclay. “It is easier to acquire than traditional capital and they can use it for expansion and inventory.”

Such is the case with Takoma Notes’ first recipient. Last summer MAD Fitness was invited to be the first recipient of Takoma Notes funding. Proprietors Sue Immerman and Eve Kenney sought out Barclay and the OTBA because they were looking for additional funds to further build out and equip their fitness studio at 7302 Carroll Ave.

“We had already taken out a commercial loan and we wish we had known about this program beforehand,” the mother-daughter owners told the newsletter.

“We live and work in Takoma Park so we wanted to participate in the Takoma Notes program as soon as Laura told us that there were people in the community who wanted to make an investment that would support the liveliness of Takoma Park (and get a return on it).”

For MAD Fitness OTBA will be offering $10,000 in Takoma Notes in increments off $100 and higher. These notes have a stated interest rate of 3 percent. Securing the notes will allow MAD Fitness to expand to offer more classes and options and help kick off an innovative membership plan in the not-too-distant future.

“We had planned to improve the studio gradually over time as our business generated profits that we could reinvest. However, a loan at this time will allow us to up our game now,” they said.

MAD Fitness may be the first Takoma Notes recipient, but other lining up to follow.

“We have put a call out to the community and we have had several businesses reach out to us,” said Barclay. And while she says OTBA wants to make as many loans as it can, it has to keep capacity in mind and make sure each application is carefully considered before it is accepted.

The main criteria involve the following issues, said Barclay:

• Who needs money and when;
• How many applications and loans can OTBA handle and manage well; and
• How best to encourage and maintain community interest.

“While we have been making loans out of the revolving fund for a while, we haven’t had to pay back investors,” she said.

With the assistance of Colombo officials and the critical eye of Quesenberry and the other members of the committee, she is confident that both the investors and the businesses will reap the rewards of the program. “No investment is 100 percent safe,” she said. “But we want to make sure that the investment opportunities are scrutinized and investors feel as comfortable as they can be.”

To learn more, or to invest in Takoma Notes go to www.mainstreettakoma.org/investor-form.

By Nima Upadhyay and Stephen Rabent

On July 1, the City-wide ban on polystyrene-composed packaging and foodservice wares took effect for food-service facilities in Takoma Park. Passed unanimously by the City Council on Nov. 10, 2014, the resolution prohibits food-service facilities from using polystyrenecomposed packaging or food-service ware (plastic resin code #6), when providing prepared foods for on-site or take-away consumption. Members of the Young Activist Club from Piney Branch Elementary School were instrumental in introducing the issue to the Council and sustaining the momentum needed to get the resolution passed.

The ban makes the ubiquitous “clamshell” polystyrene foam take-out container, among other foam and rigid polystyrene products, a relic of the past for Takoma Park residents. More sustainable products are replacing these, which are widely understood to be nonrenewable and heavily polluting, since they do not break down easily. Also, the products are made of styrene, a known neurotoxin that is reasonably anticipated to be carcinogenic.

Violations of the ordinance could result in a Class C municipal infraction, which carries a $200 fine for the first offense and a $400 fine for repeat offenses.

Containers made of compostable plastic, plant fiber, and recycled paper will be the new norm for residents grabbing lunch on the go from one of the many local restaurants in the city. These products also often have the environmental benefit of being compostable, in addition to recyclable. The ordinance is a component of Takoma Park’s efforts to decrease its environmental footprint, protect public health, and achieve a more sustainable future.

Other Bans in the Region

Takoma Park is not the only area that is working to decrease litter, keep the Chesapeake Bay clean, and become more sustainable through a ban on polystyrene. The District of Columbia has also passed a law banning the use of expanded polystyrene (foam), which enters into effect on Jan. 1, 2016. This law also includes the requirement that all food-service ware be recyclable or compostable by Jan. 1, 2017. Montgomery County has also prohibited the use and sale of expanded polystyrene food-service products and the sale of polystyrene loose fill packaging, effective Jan. 1, 2016, with the same additional requirement that food-service wares are compostable or recyclable by Jan. 2017.

The county ban on polystyrene does contain different provisions than the Takoma Park ordinance. It is accessible through the Public Works Department website. Most recently, Prince George’s County banned the sale of expanded polystyrene food-service wares and packaging materials, beginning in July 2016.

Business Impact

Takoma Park’s ban will apply to all food-service facilities, including restaurants, coffee-shops, retail markets and take-out counters, within the city. Those most directly affected will be local restaurants and food-related businesses that have carry-out meals as a large portion of their daily sales. A few businesses within the city have already stopped the use of polystyrene products ahead of the ban. Capital City Cheesecake, for example, uses items that are either compostable or recyclable.

For those who have not yet made the transition, cost considerations will be a concern, but city staff estimate that costs will actually be relatively minor. Products composed of alternative materials are readily available from a wide range of food-service ware suppliers, both locally and online, so finding an adequate replacement to polystyrene should be simple. For specific comparisons, businesses (and interested residents) will find an extensive product and cost inventory and cost comparisons of alternative material food-service wares on the Public Works Department website. Also, businesses can request a waiver from the city manager due to safety or health reasons, a lack of polystyrene alternatives, or other hardship conditions.

City resources

The Public Works Department has a comprehensive web page with information, frequently asked questions, and resources for business owners and residents to use to learn more about the polystyrene ban and how it impacts them. Some of these include:

• A description of alternative materials to replace polystyrene products and a link to a third-party verification organization to check to see if the item is compostable.
• A list of 16 vendors and manufacturers of polystyrene alternatives including their contact information and a brief description of the products they offer.
• A product and cost inventory of foodservice ware polystyrene alternatives.
• A detailed cost analysis document on the expected costs of the transition.

Additional questions can be directed to Nima Upadhyay at nimau@takomaparkmd.gov or the Public Works Department at 301-891-7633.

Enforcement

The polystyrene ban will be enforced through citizen reports and complaints regarding food-service facilities that are continuing to use polystyrene products. Violations of the ordinance could result in a Class C municipal infraction, which carries a $200 fine for the first offense and a $400 fine for repeat offenses. To report a violation of the ordinance, contact Public Works at 301-891-7633.

This article appeared in the July 2015 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.

By Kevin Adler

Anyone who’s driven through the busy intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and University Boulevard in the last few months has noticed the white girders soaring 30 feet in the air, forming a sleek, modern structure where a Taco Bell once stood.

The Takoma-Langley Crossroads Transit Center is well on its way to transforming the travel experience for thousands of daily bus riders. Built by the Maryland Transportation Authority for $34 million (construction and land acquisition), the facility is on schedule for completion this fall, says Paul Shepard, an MTA spokesman.

“It’s the first major investment in infrastructure here in decades. It’s modernlooking…physically, it looks like there’s something happening here,” says Melanie Isis, executive director of the Takoma/ Langley Crossroads Development Authority (Crossroads), which represents business owners in the area.

MTA is building the facility, and then handing over operations to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), which will complete the finishing touches for a grand opening expected by the end of this year.

“The Transit Center will put all the bus passengers in one place, with easy access to their buses and transfers”

For WMATA, the Transit Center will streamline travel through what it calls the busiest non-Metrorail station transfer point in the Washington region. WMATA has found that up to 12,000 bus riders per day pass through the Crossroads area.

Under a translucent glass roof, the Transit Center will accommodate as many as 12 buses at a time. It will serving a dizzying array of routes operated by Prince Georges County, Montgomery County, WMATA and University of Maryland—as many as 60 buses per hour move through the area during rush hour.

Pedestrian safety and comfort is the biggest, most immediate benefit of the new development. “The Transit Center will put all the bus passengers in one place, with easy access to their buses and transfers,” says Erkin Ozberk, planner for the City of Takoma Park, and liaison with MTA and WMATA.

“It’s a bright, secure, sheltered facility with public restrooms. If you’re waiting for a bus, you won’t have to do it four feet from New Hampshire Avenue, exposed to the rain,” he adds. “If you’re transferring buses, you won’t have to run across busy lanes of traffic. And if you’re arriving on foot, there are new ‘signalized’ pedestrian crosswalks for the first time.”

Crosswalks and wider sidewalks also will help patrons of the stores and businesses in the area, says Isis. “So many people are in a one-mile radius, and many of them do not own cars. The Crossroads is where they walk to do their errands,” she says.

Drivers will benefit, too, because buses will conduct passenger pickups and dropoffs in the Transit Center. Because buses won’t be stopping in the right-hand lanes on New Hampshire and University, traffic flow will likely improve.

As important as it is to improve bus riders’ experience, the Transit Center could have an impact beyond transportation, says Reemberto Rodriguez, director of the Silver Spring Regional Center, which includes the Montgomery County part of the Crossroads area.

“Takoma-Langley is ‘undiscovered country,’ but very appealing to millennials moving to Silver Spring,” he says. “I’m totally convinced they will see TakomaLangley as the Columbia Heights we no longer have. They’re only a 10-minute bus ride from downtown Silver Spring.”

Plus, the Transit Center is perfectly situated if the Purple Line light-rail from New Carrollton to Bethesda is built. The Transit Center is, literally, the midpoint on the Purple Line, the 11th of 21 stations, Rodriguez pointed out. “It has the potential to be transformative,” he says.

And although the Purple Line has not yet been given the final green light (see page 7), the Transit Center has been designed with it in mind. The TakomaLangley Purple Line station would be in the median on University Boulevard, with safe access to and from the bus lines.

Even without the Purple Line, Takoma Park city officials view the Transit Center as an invitation for property and business owners to invest in the area. “We are optimistic that it signals investments being made in the Crossroads area, and that might spur property owners to make upgrades,” says Ozberk. “Also, we hope that the bold, crisp design might set a precedent for any redevelopment.”

This article appeared in the July 2015 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.

The Takoma Park Emergency Preparedness Committee has vacation-head: time spent outdoors! Travel adventures! Family time! But while members wish all of Takoma Park a wonderful summer vacation, they also offer a few tips for staying safe. If you can answer “yes” to the following questions before you head out of town, you are more likely to enjoy the best of the season.

Have you…

• Checked the predicted weather forecast for your destination?
• Made a list of important numbers for medical, police, trauma, rescue units in the new location?
• Identified the nearest hospital or emergency room?
• Packed extra medications and any special items if you are stuck in a vacation area?
• Made a list any allergies or other limitations, should you need emergency care?
• Checked to learn if your medical insurance will be accepted in your new location?
• Packed the contact information for doctors and the pharmacy back home?
• If you are going hiking, camping, or in areas where you can be separated from your group/family, have you identified escape routes and a re-unification location before you set out?
• If you are traveling with small children, have you packed extra water, baby food, extra snacks, change of clothes?
• If you are driving, have you enough supplies and emergency items if the car breaks down?
• Do you have working flashlights and extra batteries, a cell phone car charger, emergency kit and updated car assistance (such as AAA)?

On the home front, have you…

• Given someone you trust a way to reach you in case of flooding, street damage or other difficulties at home?
• Ensured a continually ‘lived in’ look at your home, with light timers set for different times, in several rooms?
• Arranged for someone to take in mail, newspapers and packages, or stopped delivery of all these items?
• Arranged for someone to water plants and take care of pets, and made corresponding arrangements with a security service, if you have one, so alarms won’t be inadvertently set off?
• Have you considered the Takoma Park Police Department’s home check program? See www.takomaparkmd. gov/police.

This article appeared in the July 2015 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.

With more than a dozen above-90-degree days on the record just a few weeks into summer, many residents’ Pepco electrical bills are soaring. While the city is pushing energy efficiency in its competition for the $5 million Georgetown Energy Prize, energy efficiency and staying cool this summer don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Here are a few tips to keep cool and keep those energy bills in check:

Air conditioning

• Blasting the air conditioner on the lowest temperature won’t help your home cool down any faster. Your AC will blow the same temperature cold air if you set it to 65 or 75.
• Make it a habit every day before you leave for work to set the thermostat to 85, and turn it to 76 to 78 when you get home.
• Thermostats: You can get a free programmable thermostat from Pepco Energy Wise Rewards program: https://energywiserewards.pepco.com/md and Pepco will give you bill credits all summer long if you let them cycle your AC down during peak demand days. Or, Washington Gas will give you $30 to buy your own programmable thermostat: http://bit. ly/1HpOsgd
• Run the AC on “Auto” so your air handler does not run constantly. Use small fans or ceiling fans in the room you are occupying as needed.

Find out where your energy is going

• The best step in finding ways to save energy, and finding out where your cool air is escaping is to have a professional home energy audit. Find a contractor and rebates at: www.takomaparkmd.gov/sustainability/energy-efficiency-rebates

Lighting

• Direct sunlight greatly impacts the temperature inside the home. The use of blinds, curtains and other window coverings during the day is a simple way to keep your house cool.
• On the topic of lighting; light bulbs also emit heat. Only about 10 to 15 percent of electricity from incandescent bulbs turns into light. Don’t wait to replace your old bulbs: The newer Energy Star LEDs produce 75 percent less heat, save energy and now fit almost every type of fixture.

Air dry dishes and clothes

• Because dryers use heat, their continued use will only make your home even hotter. For those unable to use the air drying method, it is recommended that clothes dryers and dishwashers be used either in the early morning or late evening, when heat levels are not as high.

Maintenance

• Replace your air conditioning filters every three months to save energy and have better indoor air quality.
• Clean your refrigerator coils every four to six months to save energy and reduce the heat your refrigerator produces.

Food

• Eat a popsicle, or some frozen fruit. Eating cool foods is a great and tasty quick fix for a hot day.
• Avoid using the oven and prepare no-cook meals such as salads and sandwiches, use a grill outside, or pick up take-out.
• Cut back caffeine and alcohol, both can cause you to dehydrate faster in heat.
• Spicy food causes you to sweat without raising your body temperature, so you to end up feeling cooler. Grab the hot sauce and spice it up!
• Don’t forget you need to drink more water when it’s warm.

Cool your skin not the air

• Keep a spray bottle in the refrigerator and give your face a refreshing spritz as needed.
• Use peppermint soap and lotion: Mint refreshes the skin and leaves a cooling sensation.
• Use a cool compress on your neck, and dip your toes in a cold bowl of water.
• Only turn ceiling fans or floor fans on if you are in the room. They cool your skin by flowing air past you, but they do not cool the air temperature.

This article appeared in the July 2015 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.

Beginning Sept. 1, Takoma Park will begin collecting food waste on the same day it collects trash and recycling. The change is designed to increase the participation rate for the food waste collection program, and city staff expect a better setout rate per week after the switch.

Takoma Park currently collects food waste from 1,500 households, reflecting a city-wide participation rate of 39 percent. According to a Public Works survey, 70 percent of participants would prefer to set out food waste on the same day as trash and recycling.

In addition to the same-day collection change, the city’s sanitation crew will be taking over all food waste collection Sept. 1, as the city’s contract with The Compost Crew expires. The outside contractor had been collecting from about half of the food waste program participants; program costs will be reduced by bringing all collection services in-house.

Takoma Park began collecting food waste in February 2013. On average, each participating household puts out 13 pounds of food waste per week.

Households that have not yet participated in the program can sign up via Public Works web page at: www.takomaparkmd. gov/publicworks/food-waste-collection. Each new participating household will receive a five-gallon bucket and a bag of compostable liners.

Compost Collectibles

• fruit and vegetable scraps (fresh or cooked)
• meat, fish, shellfish (including bones)
• dairy products (cheese, butter, ice cream, etc.)
• bread, pasta, rice, grains, cereal, baked goods, etc.
• nuts, beans, seeds (including shells/hulls)
• coffee grounds, filters, tea bags (no foil or foil-backed products)
• paper products (paper towels, napkins, & paper plates)
• pizza boxes (remove non-food items)
• chopsticks and popsicle sticks

Leave these out

• diapers
• facial tissues
• fats, oils or grease
• pet waste
• styrofoam

If you have any question related to the program, please contact Nima Upadhyay, Special Projects Co-ordinator at 301-891- 7621.

This article appeared in the July 2015 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.

Takoma Park was recently informed that as of July 1, plastic bags are no longer accepted at the recyclables processing facility used by the city. Residents may no longer include plastic bags or plastic film in curbside recycling bins. The ban includes grocery bags, newspaper bags, vegetable bags, bread bags, dry cleaning bags and all plastic film.

At the Prince George’s County Processing Facility, where Takoma Park’s recyclables go, plastic bags and film have been damaging the equipment used to sort and bale the recyclables, jamming and clogging the machinery. Also, the plastic collected from local homes is frequently dirty and contaminated with bits of broken glass and other materials, reducing the quality and value to manufacturers who use and purchase plastic film.

Plastic bags can still be recycled at many grocery stores in the area; recycling points are usually located near the entrance of the establishments. Participating stores accept clean, dry plastic bags and can market these because they are uncontaminated with other materials. The best option, though, is to use reusable bags or totes when shopping, or ask for paper bags instead of plastic, where available.

For more information about what can be recycled in Takoma Park, go to www.takomaparkmd.gov.

This article appeared in the July 2015 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.

Spring Park, at the corner of Elm and Poplar avenues, will be the first of 12 Takoma Park parks and playgrounds to install new bulletin boards, designed for residents to share information about community activities.

The bulletin board project was orchestrated by Takoma Plays, Takoma Park planning staff, Takoma Park City Council, Maryland National Capital Parks and Planning Commission and Takoma Park Public Works. Landis Construction is paying for the boards.

ying for the boards. The boards will be available for residents to post information about neighborhood events such as picnics and block parties, and could include reminders about city-wide activities such as play days, street festivals and outdoor concerts. After much discussion, City Council approved the posting of small advertisements that will appear on the bulletin boards. The ads must be no larger than 4 by 6 inches.

Pat Rumbaugh, director of Takoma Plays, is hopeful that the Spring Park bulletin board will be up by the end of July, and that the rest of the boards will be installed before Takoma Play’s Seventh Annual Play Day, on Saturday, Sept. 26.

This article appeared in the July 2015 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.