November 21, 2019
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GREENBELT News ReviewAn Independent Newspaper VOL. 82, No. 52 15 Crescent Rd., Suite 100, Greenbelt, MD 20770-1887 NOVEMBER 21, 2019 Greenbelt Resident Williams Cherry Trees Commemorate ERHS Connection with Japan Appointed to Delegate Seat by Daniel M. Thies by Amy Hansen East and West Este artículo está disponible who has been a Greenbelt resi- met at Eleanor en español en nuestra página dent since 2013, was a candidate Roosevelt High web www.greenbeltnewsreview. for Delegate in 2018. After many School (ERHS) on com. years of working for other candi- Wednesday, No- Greenbelter Nicole Williams dates and working with political vember 13 at a cel- was named the newest delegate to parties, she says she chose to run ebration of cherry represent District 22 in the Mary- because the issues she wants to trees and Japanese land General Assembly by Gover- address are best worked out at culture. The stu- nor Larry Hogan, who appointed the state level. dents and staff of her on Friday, November 15. For the upcoming session, ERHS commemo- “I am confident that Nicole Williams says maglev and other rated the plant- Williams will represent the citi- transportation issues will be im- ing of six cherry zens of Prince George’s County portant. In addition, she is ex- trees donated by admirably in her new role as pecting to work on equity in All Nippon Air- state delegate,” said Hogan. “I education and the Kirwan Com- ways (ANA), in offer Ms. Williams my sincere mission Report. collaboration with congratulations and look forward Stating that “Kirwan is going the National Cher- PHOTO COURTESY NICOLE WILLIAMS COURTESY PHOTO to working with her in the up- to be a huge topic this session,” ry Blossom Festi- Nicole Williams coming legislative session.” she then explained that the re- val (NCBF). This Williams takes over the posi- to using campaign funds for per- port deals with issues such as year marked 30 tion vacated by Tawanna Gaines, sonal expenses. years that ERHS See WILLIAMS, page 10 M. THIES DANIEL BY PHOTO who resigned and pleaded guilty Williams, a real estate attorney has been a part of a cultural exchange Two Eleanor Roosevelt High School students program with Japa- dressed in kimonos, Abigail Oluwatoni Ader- nese sister schools. inwale and Diante Gordon, guide guests to a 43rd Greenbelt City Council Three Yoshino tree planting ceremony at the school. cherry trees are now growing alongside the entry- kimonos. The song was timely as Shares Goals, Gives Thanks way to the campus, and another the lyrics focus on the beauty and by Kathleen Gallagher three are near the intersection of fragrance of the Sakura or cherry Greenbelt Road and Frankfort blossom. The event also brought The 43rd City Council looks Bill Orleans. Following tradition, this event is always substantial, Street. Though leafless now, they back memories for students who a lot like the 42nd City Council council elected Byrd mayor and but this year, having a new may- should be in full bloom next had traveled to Japan through the with a couple of big changes. At Jordan mayor pro tem, giving or attracted more than the usual spring. More than the trees them- exchange program. the November 5 election, incum- Greenbelt a new mayor and a number of observers and elected selves, the planting ceremony Naohiro Terekawa, the vice bents Colin Byrd, Emmett Jordan, new mayor pro tem. officials from other jurisdictions. had significance for the ERHS president of ANA, said that he Judith Davis, Rodney Roberts, All the candidates gathered at Byrd’s first term as mayor will students, representatives from saw ANA’s donation of the six Leta Mach, Silke Pope and Ed- the Special Charter Meeting at be only his second term on the ANA and NCBF, and the Prince cherry trees as continuing the leg- ward Putens were all reelected which they would be sworn in council. Jordan is now in his George’s County Public School acy started by the 1912 donation to the council, with vote totals in on Monday, November 11, in the sixth term on council. He was (PGCPS) staff. of over 3,000 cherry trees from that order, followed by candidate council room. The audience for first elected in 2009 and served For the students, this ceremo- Tokyo to the District of Colum- two terms as mayor pro tem be- ny was an opportunity for the bia. Terekawa presented a plaque fore being elected for three terms students to put their practice to to Principal Reginald McNeill to American Education Week 2019 as mayor starting in 2013. the test and engage more deeply be posted near the trees, which With the 2019 election, Davis with the culture of Japan. One reads that the trees are planted in Dr. Thornton Speaks on State has begun her 14th term on the Eleanor Roosevelt student, Tif- honor of the friendship between council. She served eight terms fany Song, performed the tradi- the United States and Japan. as mayor, starting in 1997, fol- tional piece “Sakura, Sakura" on Considerable care was taken by Of the County School System lowed by three terms as mayor a koto, a Japanese 13-string in- ERHS and the NCBF Tree Plant- strument; the song was later sung ing Program to make sure that the by Ivan Torres pro tem beginning in 2013. The election results move in Japanese by a group of Level 3 Japanese students dressed in See CHERRY TREES, page 11 The Eleanor and Franklin from being unofficial to official Roosevelt Democratic Club held upon their presentation and cer- its monthly meeting on Friday tification to the council by City at the Greenbriar Community Clerk Bonita Anderson. Then Building. In honor of American begins the process of swearing Education Week, the club was in the new council, after which joined by Alvin Thornton, Ph.D., See COUNCIL, page 10 the chair of the Prince George’s County Board of Education. Since 1974, Thornton has played a primary role in the development of enhanced Demo- What Goes On cratic progress institutions in Prince George’s County by ad- Saturday, November 23 dressing education, political, cul- 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Census tural and economic issues affect- TORRES IVAN BY PHOTO Solutions Workshop, Commu- ing the county in weekly articles Alvin Thornton nity Center, Room 202 for the Prince George’s Journal Monday, November 25 newspaper. During the meeting, pain for our children and our 8 p.m. City Council Meeting, Thornton spoke about the current communities because that caused Municipal Building state of the school system in the stereotyping based on where you Thursday, November 28 county. were.” 9 a.m. Gobble Wobble Fun “In the early 90s, politicians “Today, we are definitely do- Run, Youth Center had way too much fun making ing a better job, regardless of Thursday and Friday, fun of county’s education rank- party dynamics, to improve the November 28, 29 SITES MELISSA BY PHOTO ings instead of doing anything to education of our children but City Offices Closed for the At the New Deal Café, Lydia Peters poses in front of her paint- change them. That caused great Thanksgiving Holiday ing I'll Cry For You. See story, page 16. See THORNTON, page 9 Page 2 GREENBELT NEWS REVIEW Thursday, November 21, 2019 Correction Concerning the story on the Save Room for the News! Greenbelt Consumer Coopera- tive annual meeting in the No- vember 14 issue of the News Review, the state funding is a grant that does not need to be repaid and a quote attributed to Bill Jones was said by Joe Timer. Happy Thanksgiving from Se Habla Español Vaya a nuestra página web greenbeltnewsreview.com the Greenbelt para ver artículos en español. News Review staff - Pete Reppert Letters to the Editor - News Review, November 27, 2014 Could the Co-op tain and repair every part of the building; the landlord takes no Buy Its Building? responsibility. And at the end of Thanksgiving Week Deadline Changes I’ve been a Greenbelt Co-op the lease in 2037, despite Co- See our website, For the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday on member since the 1980s, but op maintaining the property and greenbeltnewsreview.com, Thursday, November 28, the News Review this November’s annual meeting paying all the taxes, the landlord for articles in Spanish. deadline for editorial and advertising will is the first I’ve ever attended. gets the property back. change to Monday, November 25. The Thanks- Despite the great efforts of the One option might be to try to giving issue will be printed on Wednesday, roof replacement drive and so- buy the building at its assessed November 27, for delivery on Friday. lar installation project, which is value. A $2 million mortgage at 4 projected to pay for itself and percent for a 30-year term would even contribute $20,000 annually have monthly payments of less in savings, Co-op’s underlying than $10,000 per month, much University of Maryland Reporters grocery and pharmacy operations lower than the current rent. And are bleeding cash. the mortgage wouldn’t increase One key reason may be the University of Maryland students in journalism are writing for over time. the News Review. They are: India Afriyie, Margaret Attridge, David store’s lease. Current monthly Would the landlord sell? rent is $16,900, and the rent is Blumberg, Aneurin Canham-Clyne, Sara Chernikoff, Kaitlyn Cupelli, Could an absentee landlord be Ben Curtis, Clara Longo de Freitas, Laura Franklin, Kayla Kozak, scheduled to rise to $18,590 in required to sell to a nonprofit ten- 2022 and to continue increasing Kaitlyn Levinson, Elena Macias, Sean McGoey, Fatemeh Paryavi, ant at the assessed value? I don’t Callie Tansill-Suddath, Grace Kathleen Todd and Ivan Torres.