Amharic Story Time

We’re hosting our first Amharic Story Time on Saturday, Aug. 22, from 2 – 3 p.m. Geared to children ages 4-8 and their grown-ups, the program will be led by Kidist Desta, a Takoma Park resident and native Amharic speaker. Working with children’s librarian Karen MacPherson, Desta has created a program that will begin with a storytelling session – in English and Amharic – based on the book, “Silly Mammo.” The book, based on an Ethiopian folktale, is retold by Yohannes Gebregeorgis. Following the storytelling session, participants can do a craft based on the book. Registration is encouraged for this program, so that we can have enough craft materials for all. To register, please go to www.tinyurl.com/tplibraryevents or call us at 301-891-7259.

Nighttime Comics Jam

Join us for a special nighttime version of our popular Comics Jam program on Monday, Aug. 10 at 7 p.m. Dave Burbank, the library’s comics guru, will read some comics aloud, using our document camera and the big screen so that everyone can see all the action. Burbank will conclude the program by taking “drawing requests” from the audience, who can watch him do live drawing up on the big screen. No registration required; the program is best for ages 5 up.

Authors! Authors!

Mark your calendars for the beginning of another season of visits from top kids’ authors and illustrators, courtesy of our partnership with Politics and Prose bookstore. First up are author Mac Barnett and illustrator Christian Robinson, who will talk about their new picture book, “Leo, A Ghost Story,” on Thursday, Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. Great for ages 3-7 and their grown-ups!

Friends Fortnightly Book Club to Discuss Work by Rwandan Author

Join the Friends Reading Group to discuss “Our Lady of the Nile,” the 2012 novel by the Rwandan writer Scholastique Mukasonga on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the Hydrangea Room.

“Our Lady of the Nile” tells the story of a school for the daughters of the Rwandan elite before the genocide of 1994. Although it is set in the 1970s, the novel reveals that what was to come had already been set in motion. The novel uses the story of a group of students and their teachers to create what one reviewer described as a “microcosm” of the resentments that led to the Hutu massacre of more than 100,000 Tutsis in less than four months. More than just a story of a school for girls, “Our Lady of the Nile” explores the colonial history that led to the genocide.

Reviewer Bibi Deitz writes: “… “Our Lady of the Nile,” published in English 20 years after the massacre of the Tutsi people, is a political novel, addressing race, culture, gender. The brutality of the Hutu-Tutsi conflict is easily misunderstood. This book makes it human, brings it down to the level of the everyday. When the question of how such a thing could have happened is asked, the treacherous answer is here, in the mundane. By imagining the everyday lives of Rwandans, Mukasonga makes more sense of the climate leading up to the genocide than a stack of news articles does.”

All are welcome to attend the Friends of the Library book discussions. Copies of “Our Lady of the Nile” will be available at the Library.

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

By the time Takoma Park students read this, summer will be more than half over. The days will be shorter; the Sunday circular will show kids sporting the newest back to school fashion, including backpacks! So much to think about: school supply lists, new shoes, teachers and classes, and keeping the routes to school clear and safe for student traffic. So here is the Safe Routes to School list of ways to enjoy summer’s transition to fall:

• Decide to walk or bike to school this year. Combat all those hours in the classroom with a few extra minutes outside each morning and afternoon. Experience the changing season each morning as the temperatures get cooler and the days grow shorter.
• Add reflective gear to your back-toschool shopping list. Many backpacks, shoes and jackets incorporate retro-reflective fabric into the design. Choose items that are bright, so students can be seen while they travel to and from school on foot or by bike.
• Plan to walk with neighbors and friends every day and on Walk to School Day, Oct. 7. Seek out families who live nearby and make a plan to coordinate supervision by organizing a walking school bus or buddy system.
• Gamify your walking and biking habits. Count your steps and “walk across the state, the country, around the world.” Challenge yourself to a walking/biking record number of days without driving. Walk in the rain or snow. Make a walking scavenger hunt. Enjoy your time together.
• Make time to continue your summer yard work regime. Clear overgrown vines, shrubbery, hedges and other vegetation to the edge of the sidewalk. Keep the sidewalks clear so students can get by safely without ending up in the street. Ask your neighbors to do the same.

And most importantly, talk about safety. Plan your routes, discuss best practices for crossing the street, obeying laws and being aware of surroundings. For additional information about Takoma Park Safe Routes to School, contact Lucy Neher, lucyn@takomaparkmd.gov.

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

Accidental poisoning from medications has been increasing since 2001, especially for children. National Poison Control Centers data reported that approximately 5,000 children ages 6 years and under, and 18,783 adults, succumbed to accidental exposure to medications in 2007. Even child resistant containers cannot completely prevent a child from taking medicines that belong to someone else.

What can you do? Keep medications that you are using in a locked area, and dispose of unused or expired prescription and overthe-counter medications as soon as possible.

In Takoma Park, the police department has made the task easier. Its MedReturn mailbox is now open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Located in the lower level lobby area of the Community Center (7500 Maple Ave.), the green box is easy to find, safe and secure.

The Med-Return box accepts unwanted/unused prescription and non-prescription drugs, patches, ointments, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, or pet medication. Drugs can be dropped off with no questions asked.

Items that cannot be left are liquids, inhalers, aerosol cans, regular household ointments/lotions, needles/sharps and/or thermometers.

—Takoma Park Emergency Preparedness Committee

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

Summer is officially here, and many Takoma Parkers head outdoors to enjoy the s e a s o n — u n l e s s they are plagued by mosquitoes. Takoma Park’s Housing and Community Development staff says in order to keep them away, eliminating standing water is essential. It only takes a teaspoon or a bottle cap of water standing for about a week for hundreds of eggs to grow into adult mosquitoes. Here are a few hints:

• Make sure that you remove any tires, rubbish, or even toys that might hold water.
• Change water in any bird baths or pet dishes at least once a week.
• Make sure your gutters are clear and that water is not pooling in your downspouts.
• If you have a rain barrel or a pond without fish, you can get special mosquito dunks or pellets that kill mosquito larvae.

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

Takoma Park joins communities across the nation for National Night Out, Tuesday, Aug. 4 from 6 – 9 p.m. at the Piney Branch Elementary School, 7510 Maple Ave. The annual event includes activities and information about safety and crime prevention, but also features food, music, games and give-aways.

Sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, National Night Out is designed to heighten safety and crime prevention awareness; support locally-based businesses, groups and organizations; and strengthen relationships among community members and between the community and local police department. This year’s event will include informational brochures on various safety topics and crime prevention, food, give-aways and live music. There will be various events, including child fingerprinting, a moon bounce, face painting, games and prizes and more. The event is free.

In addition, a resident safety workshop will be held between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. in the same location. The focus is on “Situational Awareness,” with tips and strategies that will help participants protect their bodies and belongings. All ages are welcome. The workshops is coordinated by the Lifelong Takoma Program.

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

By Kevin Adler

Since its inception in spring 2014, Lifelong Takoma has made significant strides in helping people 55-plus and those with disabilities maintain their independent lives in the community. But so much more can be done, says Karen Maricheau, manager of the program.

Clearly, the message is resonating with the community. In the first few months, Lifelong Takoma received two or three assistance requests a week. “Now I receive on average of three, sometimes more, resident requests a day,” she says.

In just its first year—which included several months of startup effort—Lifelong Takoma responded to 225 requests for assistance, according to a report provided to the City Council in the spring. Volunteers contributed 532 hours of assistance, estimated to have an economic more than $16,000.

“There is never a dull moment, and I find myself feeling challenged and rewarded by helping residents,” Maricheau says. “I couldn’t imagine a better job. It’s not always easy, but neither are the circumstances residents struggle with day in and day out. I feel blessed to be where I am and doing what I do.”

Lifelong Takoma was designed to coordinate city services and volunteer efforts to enable the 23 percent of Takoma Park residents who are seniors to live “with reduced or no barriers” as they go about their daily lives. Support can come in almost any form, from a ride to a doctor’s appointment, to help filling out a complicated form, to house maintenance.

When Maricheau began her part-time position with the city last spring, she embarked on a listening tour to hear from residents about their priorities and to explain the support that Lifelong Takoma could provide. She also reached out through the first annual Lifelong Takoma Day last September, which attracted about 130 people.

What do residents need? Priorities include health management, health and dental care, caregiver support, finances, socialization and inclusion, transportation, advocacy, home and property management, legal assistance and planning, food assistance and nutrition, eviction prevention, and employment.

As the list indicates, the needs vary from single events to longer-term issues. “I have been getting more and more longterm, multi-faceted requests, and in these cases, some residents truly would benefit from case management,” Maricheau says. “There are resources for this through the county and some local nonprofits. Some of the help I am able to provide, and for other kinds I refer the resident to other programs, services, and resources that may be more effective for what they need.”

Notable Successes

Lifelong Takoma has achieved some notable successes in its short existence.

Numerous residents have been linked to meals programs, and others have been linked to home care and home-based medical services. Others now have access to free transportation that enables them to attend medical appointments, as well as social events and worship services.

One high-profile effort occurred during the winter through a partnership with the Takoma Park Middle School Difference Makers. The teenage “Snow Angels” shoveled walkways and sidewalks at 42 residences without charge.

Lifelong Takoma also participated in the recent Energy Service Day last month. Volunteers received training and supplies from the city’s Environmental Sustainability Program, and they went in teams to homes to offer ideas about home energy efficiency.

Coming on Aug. 4 is another event at which Lifelong Takoma will play a big role: The National Night Out. Piney Branch Elementary is hosting the activities, beginning at 7:30 p.m., and Maricheau will be onsite to share information about Lifelong Takoma.

“This event is sponsored by the Takoma Park Police, and they will be explaining how to improve your ‘situational awareness,’” she says. “You can get tips, learn strategies and practice personal safety behaviors.”

More projects are ahead, especially as Lifelong Takoma builds on already established relationships with local churches, the Village of Takoma Park volunteers, Washington Adventist and local businesses, among others.

“My goal is to propose more support, financial, and staffing down the road,” Maricheau says. “The purpose would be so that the Lifelong Takoma program could acquire and use a database that allows for follow-up with residents. It would enable us to see if residents felt their issues were acknowledged and to learn if they received the help that they needed from the places where they were referred.”

She also plans to reach groups that haven’t yet been served. “Communication barriers prevent real inclusion of non-English-speaking residents,” she says. “At the next Lifelong Takoma Day, we plan to offer interpreter services. This may particularly help residents express themselves when we have the Community Conversation during the event.”

These are ambitious plans, but Maricheau is confident and optimistic. “I have been fully supported by the City Council and my supervisor, City Manager Suzanne Ludlow,” she says. “I feel blessed to be where I am, doing what I’m doing.”

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

By Kevin Adler

Bruce Williams will not be running for a fifth term as Takoma Park mayor, he announced in late July.

“I’ve had 11 terms in office—22 years— including 10 years as mayor pro tem [while he was a councilmember representing Ward 3], and eight years as mayor,” Williams wrote in a Facebook posting that generated scores of thank-you messages about his hard work and advocacy for Takoma Park.

At least two current City Council members will be running for the seat in November. A few days after the announcement, Ward 1 Councilmember Seth Grimes and Ward 3 Councilmember Kate Stewart launched their campaigns.

Williams’ impact on Takoma Park can be seen in both its physical spaces and its well-known institutions and events. From unification in Montgomery County in 1997 to the renovation of the Community Center, Williams has been front-and-center on the biggest changes in the city for more than two decades.

Known as both a passionate advocate on social issues but also a pragmatic leader on economic ones, Williams was integral to economic development in Old Town and the new activity today along New Hampshire Avenue and in Takoma Junction.

He also supported the non-economic factors that make Takoma Park special: the creation of the Arts and Humanities Commission and the expansion of public art programs and youth sports, recruitment of volunteers, voting and more.

Williams says he understands that improving physical spaces can create an environment for more community activities, such as the upgraded auditorium in the Community Center. “It was not part of the original project, but is something I pushed for,” he wrote on Facebook. “The expansion of the vision that all of us bought into has resulted in this space that is than any of us imagined.”

Beyond Takoma Park’s physical transformation, Williams is recognized for a deeply personal decision he made more than 20 years ago. In 1993, he became the first openly gay elected official in Maryland, D.C. or Virginia. With his encouragement, Takoma Park became in 2004 the first jurisdiction in the state to endorse same-sex marriage.

In speaking openly about his life with husband Geoffrey Burkhart over the years, Williams reflected his lifelong beliefs in tolerance, acceptance and openness. Many people involved in Takoma Park activism would say these carried over to his dealings with constituents, city staff and the City Council.

“I’ve always tried to listen to what others say so that I can learn from them. I’ve tried to recognize that it is always better to surround yourself with people who are smarter than you are, so that you can all shine,” he wrote.

Williams hasn’t revealed what he will do next, except to say that he will remain involved in Takoma Park.

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

More and more people are riding bicycles in Takoma Park and the entire Washington region. Remember, bicyclists are considered vehicle operators; they are required to obey the same rules of the road as other vehicle operators, obeying traffic signs, signals and lane markings. It is so important to follow safety rules while riding a bicycle, especially when riding near motor vehicles. Please use the following safety tips while riding your bike:

• Always wear a helmet.
• Obey all traffic controls (including stopping at stop signs).
• Ride near the right-hand edge of the road.
• Never carry another person on your bicycle.
• Always use hand signals when turning or stopping.
• Watch for cars at cross streets, driveways and parking areas.
• Be careful when checking traffic and don’t swerve when looking over your shoulder.
• Give pedestrians the right-of-way.
• Keep your bicycle in good condition.

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

Takoma Park’s Poet Laureate, Merrill Leffler, was recently honored by the Association of Jewish Libraries, Capital Area Chapter, with the 2015 Achievement Award. AJL celebrated Leffler for his poetry and for founding in 1967 the literary magazine “Dryad,” which grew into Dryad Press.

“Merrill is the consummate ‘mensch’—wise, understated, modest, generous and yet intensely rigorous and probing,” said AJL’s Ahron Taub, who presented the award to Leffler.

“He is a Jewish humanist in the most profound sense, wrestling with text and language in a realm unfettered by dogma or limitations arbitrarily imposed. His poems are marked, not only by music, of course, but by an unusual combination of sly wit, playfulness, and empathy, in a word—humane.”

Leffler has been Takoma Park’s poet laureate since July 2011 and contributor to many literature-focused events in the city. Leffler and his wife and fellow poet Anne Slayton started the Spring for Poetry posters in 2007. He’s praised the “strong and vital” independent presses and literary publications in the DC area. He spoke about how poetry is made and what makes it distinctive. Leffler quoted William Butler Yeats: “Out of the arguments with others, we make rhetoric; out of the arguments with ourselves we make poetry.”

“In this context, I take ‘arguments’ to mean venturing out, exploring the known and the unknown, questioning what we think we know, whether in theme, subject matter, style,” Leffler said.

And he quoted from Ecclesiastes: “of making many books there is no end.”

“Books that matter — I’ll call them ‘literary books’ — stimulate the mind, they give us deep pleasures and deep insights. They often disrupt the beliefs we take for granted and don’t question; they inform us more deeply about what we know — or think we know — to teach us about the world and about ourselves,” Leffler said. “Why else are we all gathered here?”

Leffler’s most recent book of poetry, “Mark the Music,” was published in 2012. It has been described as a book in three movements that suggest different stages of life. Its themes include aging, darkness, consolation and joy.

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

The 38th Takoma Park Folk Festival is scheduled to take place on Sunday, Sept. 20 from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Takoma Park Middle School located at 7611 Piney Branch Road.

Community building is at the heart of the festival, a well-established, family-oriented event celebrating the region’s rich musical and artistic talent. In addition to several stages with dozens of musicians, bands, and dancers, plus a lineup of food trucks with everything from grilled meat and vegetarian dishes to softserve ice cream, the event includes community tables for local non-profit or community organizations. In the past, the tables have featured church groups distributing literature; hospitals administering free blood pressure screenings; and dance studios offering mini tap dancing lessons.

Applications for the community tables are open to local organizations through Sept. 11 at www.tpff.org.

If you’re looking for another way to get involved with the Folk Festival, consider volunteering the day of the festival. Shifts are two hours in length, vary in task, and are appropriate for for all age groups. The Takoma Park Folk Festival is a Maryland 501(c)(3) organization. Previous beneficiaries include scout packs, Friends of Sligo Creek, and God Glorified Church.

For more information about this year’s festival, including information about community tables and volunteer opportunities, please visit the newly redesigned festival website at www.tpff.org.

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