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.

iCan Shine is a non-profit organization that teaches individuals with disabilities to ride a conventional two-wheel bicycle using adapted equipment, trained professionals and volunteers. Takoma Park is running an iCan Shine Bike Camp July 6-10 at Takoma Academy, 8120 Carroll Ave., and needs volunteers to help out.

The camp, which involves 75-minute sessions of instruction every day for five days, uses volunteer spotters who work with the same camper each day, in the same 75-minute time slot. Prior to each session there will be a 15 minute briefing for the volunteers on the camper’s progress and needs. Spotters run alongside the bike encouraging the rider by cheering and giving instructions. Volunteers must:

• Be at least 16 years old
• Be able to attend 90 minutes at the same time each of the five days of camp (15 minutes of training/briefing, 75 minute riding session
• Be able to provide physical, emotional and motivational support to assigned rider
• Be able and willing to get some exercise (light jogging/running) for a great cause!

For more information, contact lucyn@ takomaparkmd.gov or 301-891-7235.

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

Last summer, just after noon on an early August day, Takoma Park neighbors heard a disturbance in the 800 block of Colby Avenue and called the police. When Takoma Park police officers arrived, they found 73-year-old Cecil Brown violently beaten, dead in his own back yard. The Medical Examiner later determined the cause of death was blunt force trauma, and the investigation began.

Neighbors were assured early on that this was not a random crime, and that it was unlikely there would be related incidents in their neighborhood. But police were necessarily stingy with the details as they worked to unravel the case.

Then on May 28, 2015, Brown’s widow, Larlane L. Brown, 68, and a man who investigations suggest was her lover, Hussain Ali Zadeh, 49, were arrested for first degree murder and conspiracy to commit first degree murder. The two were arrested at the Baltimore Washington Airport as Zadeh returned from a trip to Jamaica, and Brown was there to meet him.

The investigation reads like a detective story. There were phone calls and texts between Brown and Zadeh the morning of the murder. The suspects denied they knew one another well. But there were shared bank accounts. There was a silver Jaguar for Zadeh, purchased by Brown. And records of hotel bookings. A family member told police there was an affair. And, perhaps most damning, there were searches on Larlane Brown’s phone about how a person could die – death by burning, drinks that cause heart failure, taser shock – as well as hand-written recipes for poison.

Police were ready with evidence months before they were able to make the arrests, so when Zadeh returned to the country they acted quickly. Now Brown is being held at $5 million bond, and Zadeh at $3 million bail.

At the center of the sordid tale is Cecil Brown, who police described as well-liked by neighbors and family members, someone who was often out working in his yard, a man who, “doted on his grandchildren,” according to one account. “He was just a decent, respected man, a hardworking guy,” Takoma Park Police Chief Alan Goldberg told the Gazette newspapers at the time of the arrest. “It’s such a shame.”

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

By Jim Jarboe

As of May 31, 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 269 firerelated incidents in 2015. The department addressed or assisted with 1,316 rescue or ambulance related incidents for a total of 1,585.

Totals for 2014 were 259 and 1,148, representing an increase of 178 incidents.

During the month of May 2015, the Takoma Park volunteers put in a total of 1,189.5 hours of standby time at the station, compared to 1,443.5 in May 2014. Grand totals as of May 2015 are 7,265.5 hours, compared to 6,368.5 hours in 2014, an increase of 897 hours.

Maryland fire deaths

The Maryland State Fire Marshal Office reported as of June 18, 2015, 33 people have died in fires, compared to 35 in June 2014.

Safety Messages

ALL FIREWORKS ARE ILLEGAL IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY! Let’s be safe…enjoy them from a distance. Leave the fireworks to the professionals.

Grilling Safety

There’s nothing like outdoor grilling. It’s one of the most popular ways to cook food. But, a grill placed too close to anything that can burn is a fire hazard. They can be very hot, causing burn injuries. Follow these simple tips and you will be on the way to safe grilling.

• All cooking grills should only be used outdoors.
• The grill should be placed well away from the home, deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
• Keep children and pets away from the grill area.
• Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill.
• Never leave your grill unattended.

Facts

• June and July are the peak months for grill fires.
• Thirty-three percent of home grill structure fires start on an exterior balcony or unenclosed porch. IT’S THE LAW… NO COOKING ON BALCONIES!

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

Activist Michael Walli, recently released after serving a two-year jail term for spilling blood on the top uranium production site for nuclear weapons in Oak Ridge, Tenn.; and Robert Alvarez, an international expert on nuclear proliferation issues at the Institute for Policy Studies, will headline the Nuclear Free Committee’s program on halting nuclear weapons July 16 at the Takoma Park Community Center.

The event also features the shocking video, “A Time Lapse Map of Every Nuclear Explosion Since 1945.” The date of the event marks the 70th anniversary of the world’s first nuclear weapon detonation, the Trinity test , carried out by the U.S. at the Alamogordo proving grounds in the New Mexico desert on July 16,1945. The program will begin at 7 p.m. There is no admissions charge.

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

By Karen MacPherson

Reading with your ears – otherwise known as listening to an audiobook – is a fun and different way to tackle a book. It’s also a popular way to read. A recent survey done for the Audio Publishers Association by Edison Research shows that 55 million Americans listened to an audiobook last year.

The most popular genre of audiobooks is a catch-all category called “mysteries/ thrillers/suspense,” followed closely by history, biography and memoir, and popular fiction, the survey showed.

We’ve got a number of great new audiobooks in these categories for both adults and kids – what follows is just a selection. Come into the library and check out these new audiobook offerings; they’re perfect for adding extra fun to any upcoming travel, but you can enjoy a good audiobook at home while doing chores, doodling or just sitting and relaxing.

ADULT:

FICTION:

“The Escape” by David Baldacci: “Ron McLarty and Orlagh Cassidy are a triedand-true team, having already narrated a number of Baldacci’s books together. With Cassidy delivering all the female dialogue and McLarty reading everything else, their voices dovetail seamlessly in this story of a man on the run from the law and others who want him dead.” (Audiofile)

“The Silkworm” by Robert Galbraith (alias of J.K. Rowling): “The wizardry here is in Rowling’s vividly drawn cast— their nuanced personalities and fabulous range of accents perfectly re 0alized by reader Robert Glenister—and in its intricately structured plot, replete with a long list of possible suspects and deftly hidden clues…” (Bookpage)

“The Girl on the Train” by Paula Hawkins: “Three talented narrators handle Hawkins’s debut psychological thriller, giving identifiable voices and personalities to the characters….Top-notch narration makes this perfect for audio.” (Audiofile).

“Revival” by Stephen King: “A chilling conclusion finishes off another fine tale, narrated in an effective performance by David Morse…. King fans will be delighted, and, despite supernatural elements, those who think of King as just a horror writer will be pleasantly surprised.” (Library Journal)

“The Long Way Home” by Louise Penny: “Narrator Ralph Cosham is back for the tenth installment in Penny’s beloved Three Pines mystery series, featuring Armand Gamache, chief inspector of homicide of the Süreté du Québec…. With pitch-perfect rhythm, Cosham pulls listeners irresistibly into the chief inspector’s world of art, jealousy, and murder.” (Audiofile)

“The Complete Lord of the Rings Trilogy,” by J.R. R. Tolkien: This unabridged recording features a full cast who bring author J.R. R. Tolkien’s classic fantasy to life.

“A Spool of Thread” by Anne Tyler: “Narrator Kimberly Farr’s experience with character-driven novels is evident from her nuanced performance of this compelling story about four generations of Whitshanks and the Baltimore, Maryland, home that bore witness to their public and private histories.” (Audiofile)

NON-FICTION:

“As You Wish” by Cary Elwes: “For anyone who’s ever loved the movie ‘The Princess Bride,’ Cary Elwes’s memoir of filming it is a must-listen….recollections by director Rob Reiner and cast members Billy Crystal, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, and others are interspersed, some read by the actors and the rest performed by Danny Burstein. But it’s Elwes’s reminiscences and behind-the-scenes stories- -and his impressions of the other actors- -that are the stars here.” (Audiofile)

“Unbroken,” by Laura Hillenbrand: “Narrator Edward Herrmann never gets in the way of this story of WWII heroism, survival, and redemption. His voice is so compelling that the narrative flows smoothly and engagingly.” (Audiofile)

“This Changes Everything” by Naomi Klein: “Narrator Ellen Archer maintains excellent clarity as she delivers Klein›s comprehensive analysis linking climate change to a broader progressive agenda. Klein explains why everyone who cares about social justice should care about climate change and why our political leaders do so little to address such an important and well-documented crisis.(Audiofile)

“Dead Wake” by Erik Larson: “As events escalate toward the momentous sinking of the British passenger liner LUSITANIA by a German U-boat during WWI, this comprehensive history reads almost like a novel, and that’s exactly how Scott Brick narrates it.” (Audiofile)

“Yes Please” by Amy Poehler: “There are no doubt people in the world who do not wish to hang out with Poehler, including the crabby businessman who complained about the author and her “comedy wife,” Tina Fey, talking nonstop on a flight. For the rest of us, there’s Yes Please on audio… read by Poehler,” (Audiofile)

“Wild,” by Cheryl Strayed: “Bernadette Dunne’s narration reflects the emotional upheaval that Cheryl Strayed experienced as she plunged into a downward spiral following the death of her mother, the dissolution of her marriage, and a foray into heroin usage and sexual promiscuity….Dunne’s narration captures the author’s grit and heart in this absorbing memoir.“ (Audiofile)

KIDS:

“The Spycatchers of Maple Hill” by Megan Frazer Blakemore (Ages 8-12): “The year is 1953, and fifth grader Hazel Kaplansky is a girl in search of a mystery…. Narrator Meredith Orlow perfectly captures the spirit of this Cold War–era story, portraying neighbors turning against neighbors and whispers becoming rumors and lies.” (School Library Journal)

“The 14th Goldfish” by Jennifer Holm (Ages 8-12): “Georgette Perna’s deft narration enhances Holm’s story of a generation gap gone haywire. How do you cope when your grandfather turns up as a teenager who becomes your babysitter and draws you into a daring B and E of his former science lab? Perna voices 12-yearold Ellie’s wacky adventures with glee.” (Audiofile)

“Clementine and the Spring Trip” by Sara Pennypacker (Ages 7-10): “Jessica Almasy completely inhabits Clementine, a precocious third grader and budding artist. In addition to expressing Clementine’s generally upbeat nature, Almasy’s high tones and bouncy inflections capture the enthusiasm of the dynamic young protagonist as she flutters from one principle-inspired undertaking to the next.” (Audiofile)

“P.S. Be Eleven” by Rita WilliamsGarcia (Ages 8-12): “In this sequel to the Newbery Honor book ‘One Crazy Summer,’ Delphine and her younger sisters are caught between the middle-class mores of their Brooklyn grandmother and the radical views of their mother, a poet in California who sends them missives on the struggle for black power. Narrator Sisi Johnson conveys Delphine’s continual dilemmas as the eldest sister who is old beyond her years—hence her mother’s constant admonition—”PS Be Eleven.”

YOUNG ADULT (Ages 12 up):

“The Family Romanov” by Candace Fleming: “—Listeners need not have a background in Russian history to enjoy Fleming’s account of the dramatic rise and fall of the last Russian royal family. Kimberley Farr, along with a cast of voice actors, reads stories of the opulence in the palace and the destitution—ultimately leading to revolution—in the streets…. Farr’s narration combined with Fleming’s brilliantly researched writing will surely provide sustenance for those seeking meaty, narrative nonfiction.”

“Chomp” by Carl Hiaasen: “’Chomp’ is what happens when an animal takes a hunk out of its “owner.” Wahoo and his dad, Mickey, have had many such chomps because they’re animal wranglers–guys who loan their menagerie to TV and movie producers. Narrator James Van Der Beek delightfully captures the unique Cray family; Derek Badger, star of “Expedition Survivor”; and the people involved in so-called reality television. (Audiofile)

“Egg & Spoon” by Gregory Maguire: “Set in tsarist Russia, this story combines historical fiction and folklore and is told by a self-proclaimed ‘unreliable scribe’ who writes from within a tower prison…. Micharl Page especially shines as the story’s narrator. The character may be unreliable, but we believe his aged and patrician voice and hang on to his every measured word as he challenges us to ponder the nature of fate.” (Audiofile)

“Sally Ride: America’s First Woman in Space” by Lynn Sherr: “Narrator Pam Ward perfectly reflects the literary voice of author Lynn Sherr in this in-depth examination of the life of Sally Ride, America’s first female astronaut. Ward’s animated voice and varied pace suit the narrative, particularly the passages about Ride’s personal life. Because Sherr and Ride were longtime friends, the text comes off like an extended conversation, and Ward picks up that tone nicely.”

“Winger” by Andrew Smith: “Mark Boyett does a wonderful job narrating, especially Ryan Dean’s voice, which reveals his wild imagination, full-blown adolescent hormones, and self-deprecating humor. Other characters’ voices are equally believable.” (School Library Journal)

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

The Takoma-Langley Crossroads Transit Center stands on its own merit, but its value would be greatly enhanced if the Purple Line light rail is built.

As the literal midpoint of the proposed 21-station, 16-mile Purple Line, the Transit Center would be a hive of activity. Some people have suggested that a Silver Springlike redevelopment to emphasize density and walkability could occur.

But will we ever see a Purple Line? The answer is: probably. On June 25, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced that he supports the Purple Line, if it costs the State of Maryland less than current projections. This would require both cost savings and for Montgomery County and Prince George’s County to pay larger shares.

Montgomery County Executive Isiah “Ike” Leggett (D) responded that the county could contribute $50 million more, if some conditions are met.

A great deal of negotiating is left to be done, not to mention property purchases, design, engineering, construction, and the prevailing over the inevitable lawsuits. Nothing is happening quickly, but it appears that, after months of uncertainty, the Purple Line is back on track.

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