Violent crime has decreased in Takoma Park over the last year, according to the annual Crime report released in late May. Overall crime, however, has increased, due in large part to a spike in vehicle related thefts.

Violent crime

Statistics comparing 2014 to 2013 show one homicide in 2014, and one in 2013 – in other words, no change. There were 35 robberies in 2014, down by one from the 36 robberies in 2013. There were 17 assaults in 2014, down from 20 in 2013. There was one additional rape reported in 2014 for a total of three – though one of the rapes reported 2014 actually occurred the year before.

Property crime

Overall, there was a 26 percent increase in “Part 1 Crime,” which includes homicide, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, larceny and auto theft. Property crime shows the most dramatic increase, with larceny in the lead. Larceny – when one person takes the personal goods of another, for example a purse snatching or theft from auto – went up 42 percent, by far the largest increase across the types of crimes committed in Takoma Park last year. Incidents went from 302 in 2013 to 430 in 2014.

Among those larcenies were 216 thefts from auto and thefts of auto parts.

Auto theft went up 26 percent, from 42 incidents to 53. Burglaries – which reflect breaking into a home with the intent to steal property – stayed the same, at 125 incidents.

Takoma Park Police Chief alan Golberg says the police campaign to urge victims of thefts from auto to report crimes was “very effective,” and the higher number of crimes recorded could be attributed to increased reporting in 2014. He also says that many of the thefts from auto involved unlocked cars.

Where are the crimes committed?

The annual Crime report breaks down Part 1 crime by ward, and shows that Ward 6 experienced the highest amount of crime – 27 percent of all crime reported in Takoma Park. It is followed by Ward 3, at 23 percent, and Ward 1, at 20 percent. Ward 2 had 13 percent of the city’s crime; Ward 5, 9 percent; and Ward 4 had the lowest, at 8 percent.

Ward 6 also had the most robberies – 12 incidents, representing 34 percent of all robberies in the city. Ward 3 was next at 10 robberies, or 29 percent. Ward 6 carried the most assaults as well: eight, or 47 percent. Next in assaults was Ward 2 with three, or 18 percent.

Larcenies were highest in Ward 6, too: 117 incidents, for 27 percent of larcenies in the city. Ward 1 had 101 larcenies, and Ward 3 had 97.

The police department also identifies “hot spots” where crime occurs most frequently. These areas are clustered along Takoma Park’s borders and around the commercial areas at Takoma Langley Crossroads, along the New Hampshire avenue corridor and in Old Town.

Who is committing these crimes?

More than half of the arrests made in Takoma Park in 2014 – 56 percent – were for controlled dangerous substances – i.e., illegal drugs. The rest are recorded as arrests for “uniform crime,” which includes the Part 1 crimes listed above. Juveniles were the subjects of 16 percent of all ar- rests; adults made up 84 percent of arrests.

Through the efforts of the department’s Special assignment Team to address gang violence and activity, and through investigations, police know that approximately 40 percent of the subjects either contacted or arrested in 2014 were connected to a specific criminal street gang. That means police are getting to these gangs: Through current and past investigative and enforcement efforts, gang-related incidents and crime in Takoma Park are at a five year low.

Especially important arrests included three drug busts: one on Cole avenue involving 10 arrests, $6,000 seized and forfeited, and a plea to distribution of controlled dangerous substances; one on Trescott avenue for seven arrests and one felony plea to possession with intent to distribute; and one on the Houston av- enue corridor for 17 arrests and multiple guilty convictions on auto theft, con- trolled dangerous substance, handgun of- fense and warrant services.

The report also describes in detail several notable incidents, including

• The assault of and robbery from a sex worker at gunpoint at a hotel on New Hampshire avenue
• The arrest of a man in possession of cocaine and ecstasy – in amounts indicating an intent to distribute – at a spot where families had gathered to watch the city’s Fourth of July fireworks
• a routine traffic stop that resulted in the arrest of a gang member for sexual assault of a minor
• Two burglaries that investigators linked through blood found at the scenes
• The rescue of a woman being held against her will in a hotel room by a man who was in possession of PCP, and who turned out to be a convicted murderer.

Cell phones, borders, body cams and Narcan

Chief Goldberg noted that the most “in demand” items among thieves continue to be electronics, computers and cell phones. He also pointed out a pattern to crime in 2014: detectives linked a small group of criminals, affiliated with a street gang quartered outside the City of Takoma Park, to at least 19 of the city’s more serious crimes. Squelching gang crime continues to be a priority in the department. To address crime that travels across the many borders in the Takoma Park area, the chief also highlighted Takoma Park’s increased cooperation with other jurisdictions. “Criminals operate regardless of borders and jurisdictions,” he wrote in his report. “The ability to interoperate and have situational awareness with our neighboring jurisdictions is critical.” Using emergent technologies such as advanced radio communication and data analytics, the different police departments in the District of Columbia, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County and Takoma Park have been better able to address crimes of all sorts by working together. “Our crime analyst and officers are able to view real time and historical crime data from our neighboring jurisdictions as well as communicate with our allied agencies via radio directly,” wrote Goldberg. “This cross border communication remains one of my highest priorities.”

A newer program puts to use a different tool: Naloxone spray, also known as “Narcan.” The substance is best known for reducing the effects of heroin overdose, and is part of the Maryland Opioid Overdose Prevention Plan. Designed to reduce unintentional, life-threatening poisonings related to the ingestion of opioids, including not just heroin but prescription analgesics like Fentanyl, the plan helps prevent deaths by restoring breathing. Fifteen members of the police department have been trained to use Naloxone.

The chief, who delivered a preliminary crime report to the City Council in april while the nation was still reeling from the deaths of unarmed black men in police custody, also addressed the sensitive issue of police reform. He noted high marks for the Takoma Park Police Department’s officers on resident surveys, but said in his report, “We cannot sit on our laurels, and must continue to build partnerships and trust with our constituents.” To that end, the department has begun a body-worn camera pilot program as well as a Police Explorer Program for young people participating in the city’s summer jobs program in the coming fiscal year. That program is designed to promote strong understanding and support between police and the community.

It is also interesting to note that City Council added $10,000 to the recently approved budget for an outside consultant to evaluate police and community engagement – an attempt to identify what Takoma Park does well, and what lessons the city can learn from cities confronting racial conflict.

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

Takoma Park Emergency Preparedness Committee

Takoma Park is officially a Tree City. So we all know what summer storms can mean: downed trees, downed power lines and no electricity, sometimes for days.

But storms also bring hazards that have nothing to do with the tree canopy. And while many of Takoma Park’s nature lovers run to their front porches at the first rumble of thunder, ready to watch in wonder as lightning paints the sky – don’t do it. That beautiful summer storm can also be dangerous.

Here’s how you can stay safe.

Be prepared

• Secure outdoor objects that can blow away or cause damage – otherwise that lawn chair, or the empty kiddy pool may wind up half a block away.
• Postpone/halt outdoor activities. The Takoma Park Recreation Department carefully monitors Doppler radar and other weather reports to keep outdoor events and activities safe, clearing playing fields in case of lightning, for example. If you’re not sure whether your outdoor activity is going to be canceled, call the department’s inclement weather hotline, 301- 891-7101 ext. 5605.
• Get inside a home, building, or hard-top automobile (not a convertible); although you can be injured if lightning strikes your car, you are much safer inside a vehicle than outside.
• Contrary to popular belief, rubbersoled shoes and rubber tires provide no protection from lightning. However, the steel frame of a hard-topped vehicle provides increased protection if you are not touching metal.
• Close windows and secure outside doors. If your house has outside window shutters, make sure these are secured. Close window blinds, shades or curtains.
• Unplug any electronic equipment well before the storm arrives. (Yes, this includes cell phone, computer and other chargers!) A fried modem or router can put you off the internet for days.
• Unplug appliances and other electrical items, and turn off air conditioners. Power surges from lightning can cause serious damage. No AC means it will be very hot in the house – but that is better than cool, drenched and in danger.

Once the storm has arrived

• Avoid contact with corded phones and devices including those plugged into electric outlets for recharging. Cordless and wireless phones not connected to wall outlets are OK to use.
• Avoid contact with electrical equipment or cords.
• Avoid contact with plumbing. Do not wash your hands, do not take a shower, do not wash dishes and do not do laundry. Plumbing and bathroom fixtures can conduct electricity.
• Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches.
• Do not lie on concrete floors and do not lean against concrete walls.
• Avoid natural lightning rods such as a tall, isolated tree in an open area.
• Avoid hilltops, open fields, the beach or a boat on the water.
• Avoid isolated sheds or other small structures in open areas. Instead, take shelter in a sturdy building.
• Avoid contact with anything metal— lawn tractors, farm equipment, motorcycles, golf carts, golf clubs and bicycles.
• If you are driving, try to safely exit the roadway and park. Stay in the vehicle and turn on the emergency flashers until the heavy rain ends. Avoid touching metal or other surfaces that conduct electricity in and outside the vehicle.

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

By Gina Mathias

More than 200 households – representing a full 4 percent of the city’s single family homes – have signed up for Takoma Park’s Neighborhood Energy Challenge, and are working towards their Green Home Certification since the Challenge launched earlier this year. That’s real progress, and it is only the beginning. Here are some of the other accomplishments the city has chalked up as it works toward winning the Georgetown University Energy Prize, a $5 million grant that could boost Takoma Park’s energy profile even higher.

• The first data submission to the Georgetown University Energy Prize (GUEP) team was completed. It establishes the city’s baseline, which is what Takoma Park will be judged against for the next two years. Data will be shared at takomaparkmd.gov/sustainability once it is evaluated and approved by the GUEP team.
• Two out of the six City Councilmembers have had an energy audit as of May 18: Council-members Tim Male (Ward 2) and Kate Stewart (Ward 3). Wonder who will get Green Home Certified first?
• Neighborhood Energy Challenge teams have formed in every ward, but not all neighborhoods have signed up yet for a chance at the $2,000 prize. That prize will go to the neighborhood with the most participation and homes (including rentals!) getting Green Home Certified, with actual energy savings to show for it. Want to start or join a team? Email ginam@ takomaparkmd.gov. Teams that have formed include: Hodges Heights; Sycamore-Beech-Woodland; New Hampshire Gardens North of Jackson and New Hampshire Gardens South of Jackson; East Long Branch Sligo (between the creeks) and West Long Branch Sligo; Elm Avenue (segments); South of Forest Park; Allegheny-Westmoreland Area; and PoplarGude-Cockerille.
• Between Pepco, Washington Gas, City of Takoma Park and Montgomery County, there are more than $3,580 in rebates available for individual homeowners. Get yours before the money is gone! Email ginam@takomaparkmd.gov for details.

The best way to start participating in this drive to save energy is to get a Comprehensive Energy Audit of your home. The city will even reimburse you the $100 cost! For a list of preferred contractors, go to http://tinyurl. com/preferredcontractors.

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

By Jim Jarboe

As of April 30, 2015, the Takoma Park Volunteer Fire Department and the personnel of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service assigned to the station have responded to 208 fire related incidents in 2015. The department addressed or assisted with 1,040 rescue or ambulance-related incidents for a total of 1,248. Totals for 2014 were 206 and 899, representing and increase of 143 incidents.

During the month of April 2015, the Takoma Park volunteers put in a total of 1,672.5 hours of standby time at the station, compared to 1,307.5 in April 2014, an increase of 1,150.5 hours.

Maryland fire deaths

The Maryland State Fire Marshal Office reported as of May 15, 26 people have died in fires in 2015, compared to 31 in 2014.

Smokers Be Alert!

• To prevent a deadly cigarette fire, you must be alert. You won’t be alert if you are sleepy, have taken medicine or drugs that make you drowsy or have consumed alcohol.
• Never smoke in bed. You should have a working smoke alarm in your bedroom.
• The risk of dying in a home structure fire caused by smoking materials rises with age.
• One out of four fatal victims of smoking material fire is not the smoker whose cigarette started the fire. If you are a smoker, consider smoking outside.

Fire Station Clean-Up

On Sunday, May 3 members of the Takoma Park VFD put on their work gloves to spruce up the front of the station at the main entrance. They weeded, planted and mulched.

A special thanks to the following, starting with the project leader FF/ EMT Kevin Tighe, Chief Tom Musgrove, EMT Leslie deLeon, EMT Jorge Alfaro, FF/EMT Adam Bearne and EMT Anthony Zarrella.

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

For its summer selection the Friends of the Takoma Park Maryland Library bi-monthly book group will discuss the novel “Cloudstreet” by the Australian author Tim Winton on July 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the Community Center Hydrangea Room.

Published in 1993, “Cloudstreet” has become one of the bestloved novels among the Australian public. The novel, which occurs from 1943 to 1963, tells the story of two families, the Lambs and the Pickles, who live in the same house in a suburb of Perth. Winton uses the contrasting approaches to life by the two families to explore how humans struggle to find meaning in life.

“‘Cloudstreet’ was my way to express the importance of all the relationships I had throughout my life in Western Australia,” Winton has said. “As some of you may have picked up from the setting, I love water; the beach, the rivers and the lakes.”

Winton is a prolific writer, having authored 13 novels and four collections of short stories. He has also written books for children as well as several works of nonfiction. Winton has been shortlisted twice for the Booker award and has won the Miles Franklin award (one of Australia’s top literary prizes) a record four times.

Beginning this fall, and continuing in winter, the Friends will hold a lecture and a series of discussions on “Daniel Deronda” by George Eliot.

First published in 1876, “Daniel Deronda” was the last novel Eliot completed and the only one set in the contemporary Victorian society of her day. According to Wikipedia its mixture of social satire and moral searching, along with a sympathetic rendering of Jewish proto-Zionist and Kaballistic ideas, has made it a controversial final statement of one of the greatest of Victorian novelists.

“Few [readers] had a problem, upon its publication, with its portrayal of yearning and repression in the English upper class,” writes the Guardian’s book blog. But as Eliot’s lover, George Henry Lewes, had predicted, “The Jewish element seems to me to satisfy nobody.” The book “took on what was a highly unusual contemporary theme: the position of Jews in British and European society and their likely prospects. The eponymous hero is an idealistic young aristocrat who comes to the rescue of a young Jewish woman and in his attempts to help her find her family is drawn steadily deeper into the Jewish community and the ferment of early Zionist politics.”

“For those today who find Zionism difficult to understand, Eliot’s depiction of its origins is evocative and powerful,” the Guardian also writes. “[The character] Mordecai both describes and embodies the wandering Jew, forever an alien in a foreign land, never at home, ‘a people who kept and enlarged their spiritual store at the very time when they were hunted with a hatred so fierce as the forest fires that chase the wild beast from its covert.’”

All are welcome to attend the Friends’ book discussions. Contact the Library for announcements of meeting dates and locations for “Daniel Deronda.” Copies of the selections by George Eliot and Tim Winton are available for borrowing.

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

Despite the threat of rain, the skies remained sunny, and the Friends of the Library spring book sale was well attended, netting more than $2,200, to be used by the Friends for Library programs and services.

Many thanks to those who made the sale possible: Co-coordinators Merrill Leffler and Patti Mallin, Walter Mulbry, Mary Rein, Sylvie Shafer, Nancy and Dan Kunkel, Pat Hanrahan, Maurice Belanger, Tim Rahn, Sherelyn and Jerry Ernst, Barbara Natanson, Suzanne Morgan, Amy Beal, Sam McCollin, Pam Coffey, Rebekah Zanditon, Pat MacMahon, Sierra Grey-Coker, Abby Alcott, Emily Koechlin, Meg Smolinski, Camden Roberts, Joe Scorza, Walker Latimore and Denva Drummond of the Department of Public Works, Librarian Kati Nolfi, and especially Dave Burbank of the Library staff, who sorted and transported myriads of donated books for many months before the sale.

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

There’s a new spot to get your hair done since America Hair Design opened at the beginning of May at 1011 University Blvd E, #101. This is owner Miriam Lemus’s third salon in the area – her others are at Piney Branch Road and Flower Avenue, and 7984 New Hampshire Ave. just north of the Crossroads. The new shop occupies a renovated building. Lemus’s business is a family affair: She’ll be assisted by her son Danny Santa-Cruz.

Also look for a newly re-opened favorite, when the Salvation Army Thrift Store starts up again. After being shuttered for nearly two years, this popular stop for bargain hunters and browsers is scheduled to re-open June 13 at 7505 New Hampshire Ave. The store, which sports a complete facelift, anchors the shopping center there, with neighboring businesses Ram’s Fast Tax Service, Claudette’s Braiding Gallery and Liberty State Insurance.

Also in April, A Plus Medical relocated to 7505 New Hampshire Ave., #314-B. Crown Insurance Agency relocated from 1017 University Blvd #201, to 1015 University Blvd., #201. And IHOP got new siding and copper wrap on the exterior and has nearly finished interior renovations.

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

By Jaime Rothbard

As Takoma Park continues to compete with 50 small to mid-size cities for the Georgetown Energy Prize, bringing food into the dialogue of energy efficiency creates an opportunity to rethink and expand how residents can all participate. Food is our most essential fuel, and consequently it’s the amount of fuel, energy and resources it takes to produce (and discard) food that makes it one of the most significant ways that we impact the environment. In much the same way, the types of foods we choose to consume have direct consequences that shape the direction of the food industry, as well as our own bodies.

The nutrition that is present or absent from our food greatly determines how we are able to show up in the world and contribute resourcefully. Rethinking what it means to be energy efficient by including food in the dialogue can spur more engagement and innovative thinking.

• According to Reuters, Americans throw away nearly half of all our food every year. That’s worth $2,275 for the average household.
• Food production is estimated to be responsible for 33 percent of the total global warming effect, according to SustainableTable.org
• The United States leads the world in energy waste. Different analyses have yielded anything from the range of wasting 58 percent of the energy we produce, to a jolting 86 percent energy being wasted, according to the Energy Collective and Clean Tecnica.
• Food-related energy use accounts for 15 percent of our national energy budget, per the Center for Sustainable Systems.

By broadening our dialogue of energy efficiency to include food, we can expand our capacity to make daily impacts to reverse climate change. We have so many tools we can use! Looking at energy efficiency through the lens of food can help you see the interconnectedness between your inner world with the outer world. Engaging in this way can cultivate an inspired and optimistic worldview about what can be done to simultaneously impact your body while respecting our limited natural resources. Here are some new ways to rethink energy efficiency, food and fuel that you can begin using today.

Think like a Chopped competitor and act like you’re at Chipotle: Instead of relying on cookbooks to come up with meal ideas, plan your meals by taking an inventory of what’s in your kitchen. What perishable items are on the verge of going bad and need to be used right now? Separate them into foundations, toppings and condiments. Think along the lines of making bowls, salads, wraps and tacos. Just about anything can become a taco. Try it out and amaze yourself!

• If you are going low-carb, remember that green leaves make awesome wraps. Blanched collard greens and fresh romaine lettuce are my favorite choices.

Rethink energy efficiency. Save energy and optimize radiant heat by using oven energy for multiple meals. If you know you want to bake one thing, think about how you can bake many things.

• If you want to bake potatoes for one meal, consider batch prepping all of the root veggies in your pantry while you’ve got a hot oven. Now you have plenty of “Chipotle fodder” so you can easily convert these into other meals throughout the week.
• Same goes for boiling potatoes and pasta. Make enough for at least one more meal that will feed your household.

Rethink how you cook. Instead of approaching meal preparation as one beginning-to-end activity, think about how you can prep foods for several meals simultaneously. For instance, while you are waiting for your morning coffee to brew, you can prep out some vegetables and store them in the fridge for when you get home from work. Or after frying bacon for breakfast, you can reuse (some of but not necessarily all) the fat by tossing a bag of baby spinach into the hot pan and covering it. In a few minutes you will have a much cleaner pan, plus sauteed greens for your lunch. Note: your body needs fat in order to absorb the fat-soluble vitamins in the spinach.

Rethink what it means to eat “superfoods.” You don’t have to buy expensive and exotic foods that travel halfway around the globe to reach your plate. There are simple preparation techniques you can use on easy-to-find ingredients can transform them into culinary gold. My favorite tip:

Leave fresh minced garlic to rest for 10 minutes before adding it to a hot pan. This allows it to release copious amounts of allicin. Recent studies show this potent compound is the most aggressive antioxidant found to date. If you cook garlic immediately after chopping it, you lose this benefit.

Re-think water catchment — from your faucet! Strategize your clean-up by keeping a large pot of water in your sink, preferably one you recently boiled pasta or cleaned veggies in, and re-use the water several times before dumping it. You can toss dirty utensils into it as you continue to cook your meal. After eating, let dishes and silverware soak briefly in the pot to remove debris instead of pre-rinsing them under the faucet. Now you can load your dishwasher and use the shortest cycle to sanitize your dishes after the dishwasher is completely full.

• Sequence tasks so that you can soak dirty dishes instead of expending energy to scrub them.
• Reduce water wasting by soaking vegetables in a natural cleaning solution of water and white vinegar instead of running the water faucet in a constant stream.
• When pre-cleaning dishes in your water catchment pot, sequence from cleanest to dirtiest so you don’t have to keep changing out your water

Rethink what it means to eat local. If you aren’t lucky enough to have gardening space (or time) you can still cultivate massively nutritious foods in your own kitchen. By harnessing natural processes, you can soak and sprout beans and seeds on your counter in a couple days time, which boosts their nutritional potency. If you love kombucha and artisan-crafted sauerkraut, you may be astonished to learn that these items are very easy to make. Be your own alchemist!

Rethink “Food is Love”: Most of us enjoy indulging our senses from time to time. Foodie culture has taken indulgence to new and sometimes downright ridiculous heights from presenting absurdly rich concoctions to broadcasting food as a competitor sport. I believe this can obscure our relationship with food. Next time you plan to treat yourself, show love by making the treat yourself and sharing with your people.

• Learning how to make your favorite treats will give you control over the ingredients.
• Savoring food while sharing it amongst people you care about will lessen the odds that you overindulge, and it will keep the pleasure you experience within a greater context than sensory.
• Hosting a dinner party is more cost effective than footing the bill at your favorite restaurant. It won’t be as expertly crafted, but you will learn more each time and it can be a wonderful expression of your affection. And that’s priceless.

Jaime Rothbard, aka the Foodie Alchemist, is a nutrition coach, licensed massage therapist, mosaic artist and home cook who loves all things food. After 10 years of travel on three different continents studying and developing simple tools and practices for self-healing, she recently settled into Takoma Park with her family. You can follow her as she works to transform her home into a permaculture homestead, get tips on how to transform your own food journey and check out her eBook, “Fast Fuel,” at www.foodiealchemist.com.

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