AUGUST 23, 2007 Labor Day Festival Will Offer Buerger Updates Council on Center Police Patrol Sights, Sounds, Tastes for All by Thomas X
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
GREENBELT News ReviewAn Independent Newspaper VOL. 70, No. 40 15 Crescent Rd., Suite 100, Greenbelt, MD 20770-1887 AUGUST 23, 2007 Labor Day Festival Will Offer Buerger Updates Council On Center Police Patrol Sights, Sounds, Tastes for All by Thomas X. White by Frank DeBernardo Sgt. David Buerger of the ence for the center area has been Greenbelt Police Department increased by about 2½ to 3½ The smell of fried great. A reception will reported to the Greenbelt City additional hours per day. In re- dough and cotton candy follow immediately in the Council on the increased patrol sponse to a question from Coun- will soon be mixing with Municipal Center. activities in and around Roosevelt cilmember Rodney Roberts on the sounds of “oldies” and As usual, the Miss Center at the council’s August how much longer that increased children’s laughter. The Greenbelt pageant will run 13 meeting. The Center initia- activity could be sustained, Greenbelt Labor Day Fes- throughout the weekend at tive was in response to citizen Buerger replied, “As manpower tival is almost here! the Festival’s main stage concerns following an assault allows, balanced against priorities On the weekend of in front of the Aquatic and that occurred early this sum- in other areas of the city.” August 31 to September Fitness Center. The 38 mer near the Crescent Road and He noted that the emphasis 3, the parking lot of the contestants in three cat- Gardenway intersection and the being directed to Roosevelt Cen- Roosevelt Center and the egories (Miss Greenbelt, likely use of the Gladys Spellman ter comes after a huge focus lawn of the Communi- Junior Miss Greenbelt and Overpass as an escape route for earlier this year with arson in ty Center will be trans- Little Miss Greenbelt) will the fleeing assailants. the Springhill Lake subdivision. formed into a carnival of be introduced on Friday Buerger reported to council He estimated that the department fun, food, friendship and night, August 31 at 7:45 that the increased police presence conducts about four enhanced frivolity as the citizens of p.m. Winners will be an- has been successful. It has been operations of this nature every Greenbelt and surrounding nounced on Sunday eve- obvious, he noted, that, “. year. areas gather to celebrate ning at the final presenta- some of the troublemakers were Crime Data their unique community The Legendary Orioles will bring traditional tion of contestants from 6 pop mixed with gospel and blues to the stage not hanging out (in the Center) Council also pressed Buerger spirit during the 53rd an- to 9 p.m. as they would like.” for better crime statistics and a nual festival. on Saturday, September 1 from 9 p.m. to mid- At the Greenbelt Arts night. In addition, three people were better analysis of reported crimes While the festival cul- Center, “MacBeth: Life on recently arrested on the Spellman or other incidents as to time of minates with Monday’s the Heath,” a fresh ½ hour Overpass for distribution and pos- day, type of incident, location and annual parade down Crescent Friday adaptation of Shakespeare’s play, session of drugs (marijuana) and possible use of Global Positioning Road, displaying the wide diver- Tradition and novelty mark will debut at 8 p.m. (The perfor- alcohol. System technology. sity of Greenbelt’s organizations this year’s weekend activities. mance will be repeated on Satur- The Roosevelt Center mer- Buerger responded that such and citizenry, the whole weekend As a prelude to the opening cer- day and Sunday at 5 and 7 p.m.) chants have given Buerger posi- an analysis would be difficult is chock full of diverse activi- emonies on Friday night, the Saturday tive feedback on the increased to achieve with the department’s ties and entertainment designed Greenbelt Concert Band will kick The evening ends with a per- police presence. However, he current (mainly manual) system to attract folks from all areas off the program with a concert formance by “Stoked,” a Mary- qualified these accomplishments because of time and manpower of the Greenbelt spectrum. In from 6 to 7 p.m. The opening land-based hard rock band featur- with the sense that the “trouble- constraints. Since automating this article, events from Friday ceremonies from 7 to 7:45 p.m. ing the music of contemporary makers” may have just taken the city’s crime tracking system and Saturday are featured; next will feature the announcement of punk and metal bands such as their activities into other areas of is a priority goal, there may be week, an article will feature this year’s Outstanding Citizen Green Day, Iron Maiden, Aeros- the city. Some councilmembers a possibility for getting such an Sunday and Monday’s programs. Award, honoring an individual mith, AC/DC and Pearl Jam. suggested that the nearby wooded analysis for part of this year. A complete schedule is included who, because of extraordinary Although the entire weekend areas may be alternate locations The discussion also touched in the insert accompanying this civic contributions of time and for such activities. upon current staffing for the de- issue. talent, has helped make Greenbelt See FESTIVAL, page 7 Increased Presence partment. Buerger noted the In response to council ques- tions, Buerger said police pres- See POLICE, page 10 Special Labor Day program pull-out inside this issue! Deasy, Middle School Look Forward to New Addition Council Revises Election What Goes On by Amy S. Hansen Laws for Next Election Friday, August 24 8 to 10 p.m., Family Swim, S c h o o l S u - D , w h i c h w a s by Thomas X. White Greenbelt Aquatic and Fitness perintendent Dr. approved by the Center John Deasy visited school board last Two charter amendments and discretion to determine that an Sunday, August 26 Greenbelt Middle spring, will not an ordinance were adopted by otherwise valid ballot should not 2 to 3 p.m., Training Session S c h o o l M o n d a y involve AIMCO at the Greenbelt City Council at its necessarily be rejected. This for Community Liaisons for morning for about all, according to regular meeting on August 13 would mean that a violation of the Greener Greenbelt Initia- 40 minutes. On Rupert McCrave, his first-day-of- as a result of recommendations privacy would not automatically tive, GHI Office, Hamilton Capital Improve- school tour, Deasy ment Program Of- from the city Board of Elections. occur if the secrecy envelope is Place either omitted or not sealed. met briefly with ficer. The Board of Elections recom- Monday, August 27 mended in March 2006 that the The revised regulation would students, walked He explained 8 p.m., City Council Work- city code be amended to address not weaken the language that through the school that the school the board’s authority to decide warns voters to place completed session re: Civic Associations and listened as ar- will be built in if an absentee ballot submitted ballots in a blank sealed envelope (Stakeholders), Municipal chitects from Prince phases. without a “secrecy” envelope and then place that envelope in Building (Live on Channel George’s County First, they will should be counted or deemed the absentee envelope provided. 71) Schools described build a 110,000 invalid. It also recommended The adoption of this ordinance at Tuesday, August 28 plans for the new PHOTO BY AMY HANSEN square-foot, two- conditions for runoff elections this meeting allows enough time 7:30 p.m., Forum re: Public building. John Deasy story addition, and city requirements for gift and for the new provision to be effec- Safety Concerns in vicinity of Construction parallel to Breeze- Construction for expenditure reports from orga- tive for the upcoming November Roosevelt Center, Gardenway wood Drive. Stu- the new Greenbelt Middle School dents are scheduled to move into nizations working for or against city elections. and the Spellman Overpass Charter Amendment is scheduled to start in April that new addition in 2009. a ballot question both requiring at Greenbriar Terrace Room, charter amendments. Also adopted unanimously was 2008. The school will be built Next, the historic sections of 7600 Hanover Parkway. (A Council unanimously adopted a charter amendment resolution on 38 acres of land already be- the middle school will be ret- an ordinance to clarify the au- to revise the charter by adding second forum will be held longing to the school system. rofitted and the parts that are thority of the Board of Elections language in Section 31 relating Saturday, September 15, 11 Previously, the school system not historic will be torn down. to determine whether an absentee to the trigger for a run-off elec- a.m., Municipal Building.) was considering an offer to use Finally, the buses will be moved ballot without a sealed “secrecy” tion. The current language reads, Friday, August 31 land from AIMCO, the company from the current lot onto the land envelope should be deemed in- “If, however, fewer than five (5) 6 p.m., Labor Day Festival that bought Springhill Lake apart- where the demolished building valid. The intent is to provide begins with band concert. ments. the Board of Elections with the See ELECTION, page 6 But the current plan, Scheme See SCHOOL, page 6 Page 2 GREENBELT NEWS REVIEW Thursday, August 23, 2007 CIP Meeting Reset Grin Belt To Tuesday, Aug. 28 Letters to the Editor The Prince George’s Coun- ty Board of Education has an- THANKS! to express concerns about the nounced that the Capital Improve- A benefit concert for Friends Greenbelt Animal Shelter.