Inside Stories GREENBELT Local Artists, Wangari Maathai News ReviewAn Independent Newspaper p.12 film, p.12 VOL. 84, No. 17 15 Crescent Rd., Suite 100, Greenbelt, MD 20770-1887 MARCH 18, 2021 Local School Music Programs Council Discusses Proposed Changes Adapt to Virtual Instruction by Matthew Arbach To Elections, Foreclosure Moratorium by Diane Oberg Music is one area where being together Much of the agenda at the Council Vacancies quickly confirmed with City Solic- in person is an inte- March 8 meeting of the Green- Byrd attempted to introduce itor Todd Pounds that this action gral part, as performers belt City Council involved items for first reading a resolution re- involves changing the city charter connect to each other added by Mayor Colin Byrd quiring a special election if a and cannot be done with a simple and an audience. Mu- that had not been previously council seat becomes vacant nine resolution. She noted that legisla- sic teachers at Greenbelt discussed with his council col- or more months prior to the next tion currently being considered by Middle School (GMS) leagues or reviewed by city staff. election. Under current city code, the General Assembly may impose and Eleanor Roosevelt These included changes to the council appoints someone to fill mandatory language on munici- High School (ERHS) procedure for filling council va- the vacancy unless three or more palities, which could make Byrd’s have endeavored, like cancies, term limits for council, a seats are vacant at the same time, proposal premature. She moved all teachers and stu- foreclosure moratorium, collective in which case, a special elec- to refer the issue to the Board of dents dealing with the bargaining for all city employees tion is held. It has been several Elections for comments. In the social restrictions of and allowing resident noncitizens decades since a council vacancy discussion that followed, council the pandemic, to keep to vote in city elections. occurred mid-term. The agenda appeared supportive of considering their programs alive and In addition, council approved packet comments pointed out that changes to the current language. stimulating through new hiring two consultants to assist the agenda item material had not Council unanimously approved and creative approaches. PHOTO COURTESY DARELYNN FUNG DARELYNN COURTESY PHOTO in reviewing the Draft Envi- been reviewed by city staff or the referral. While some things have ronmental Impact Statement for legal counsel. Greenbelt Middle School band director See COUNCIL, page 8 been lost due to isola- Darelynn Fung in her classroom the proposed SCMaglev project. Councilmember Judith Davis tion, others things have Council agreed to send a letter been discovered and even im- been connecting with the stu- to the Washington Metropolitan proved upon in unexpected ways. dents. They are coming to Area Transit Authority (WMATA) According to Darelynn Fung, class from so many different opposing proposed future service Greenbelt Violin Maker Close the band teacher at GMS, “the reductions. biggest challenge for me has See SCHOOLS, page 6 To Completion of a Quartet by Nicole DeWald Later this year, if all goes photograph of Anna glued into its Greenbelt Museum Collects well, the Niemisto family will interior. Anna later transitioned to enter the ranks of collectors who the viola, and the family commis- own a quartet of stringed instru- sioned a second instrument for Covid-19 Memories, Crafts ments by an individual maker. In her. Her sister Maija later worked by Julie Rapp this case, the maker is Laurence in the shop, and Larry credits her “Larry” Anderson, one of eight with having helped him to make How has the pandemic im- backgrounds, the young and old their adaptability during these artists in residence at the Green- a violin for her. Their brother pacted your life? How do we alike, working or non-working, in difficult times. Greenbelt Recre- belt Community Center. Tom plays a cello that Larry re- explain to future generations how an effort to share their stories and ation successfully moved to vir- The Niemisto parents, Eleanor stored. This year, Larry is build- Greenbelt citizens dealt with this experiences. How did individuals tual classes on short notice. The (a harpist) and Paul (a low brass ing a new cello for the family, life-changing event? The Green- and families manage Covid-era Old Greenbelt Theatre creatively player and orchestra conductor), with delivery planned for the belt Museum would like to cap- developments such as home- developed ways to maintain the are based in Minnesota where summer. “This cello represents a ture for future generations what schooling, telecommuting, Zoom engagement of its patrons by Paul taught for many years as generational scope to my career,” it was like to survive healthwise, calls for business and social in- offering outdoor movie nights a professor of music at St. Olaf he notes. The new instrument emotionally, socially and eco- teractions or grocery shopping at and snacks that could be ordered College. There they met Larry may be played by Tom or Anna’s nomically during the pandemic stores where there were shortages online for pick-up. In-person holi- some 35 years ago, when he was son Rowan Tilley. Rowan’s older to demonstrate the resilience of of hand sanitizer, toilet paper and day celebrations were cancelled, an apprentice to violin maker brother Fynn now enjoys playing Greenbelt citizens. The Greenbelt cleaning supplies? How did resi- so the museum placed lighted David Folland. They commis- Anna’s violin, sometimes accom- Museum is a history museum of dents cope with the shutdown and decorations in the garden-side sioned Larry’s own first violin panied by his mom on viola and “everyday working people,” ac- quarantine and the restrictions window of the museum house for their daughter Anna, who Rowan on cello. cording to Megan Searing Young, imposed on us for socializing? for walkers to view at night. was a teenager at the time. The the museum’s director. Young Young spoke of the many in- A summer activity grab-and-go instrument has a secret – a small See QUARTET, page 6 would like to hear from Green- novative ways Greenbelt institu- event for kids at Springhill Lake belters from all racial and ethnic tions and residents have shown Elementary School was another See MUSEUM, page 11 County to Register Group 1C For Covid-19 Vaccinations What Goes On by Cathie Meetre Thursday, March 25 [rescheduled from March 18] Este artículo está disponible grocery store and postal service 1 to 3 p.m. Free Produce Dis- en español en nuestra página workers. A complete list of eli- tribution, Community Center web www.greenbeltnewsreview. gible groups of people in Phase Monday, March 22 com. 1C is available on the State of 8 p.m. Council Meeting: City In a Covid-19 update issued Maryland Covid-19 information Manager Budget Presentation Monday, March 15, County Ex- site at coronavirus.maryland.gov/ Wednesday, March 24 ecutive Angela Alsobrooks an- pages/vaccine#access. 8 p.m. Budget Workses- nounced that the county was Phase 1C has been eligible sion: Overview, Revenues & inviting pre-registration to those to receive vaccines since mid- General Government; Other eligible in Phase 1C. She also February by state mandate, but Funds; Non-Departmental & urges those in Phase 1B who the health department has focused Fund Transfers have not yet been immunized to on 1A and 1B and the shots pre-register. Phase 1C includes for which pre-registration is in- All council meetings are vir- adults 65 to 74 years of age vited are only those dispensed tual. See the meetings calen- and also several categories of by the Prince George’s County dar at greenbeltmd.gov for those receiving hospital in-or-out- Health Department. The pre- agendas and information on patient medical care, and workers registration form can be found at public participation in these BEATEN LAURIE BY PHOTO who are both essential and at See VACCINE, page 9 meetings. Fynn Tilley plays his mother Anna᾿s Larry Anderson violin at a high risk of exposure, including talent show in 2019. Page 2 GREENBELT NEWS REVIEW Thursday, March 18, 2021 Letters to the Editor Cognitive Dissonance tions over the last year and a half Opter Out Opts In I got a strange feeling looking demonstrate a failure to live up Appalled by the vaccine reg- at the front page of the News to Greenbelt’s democratic values. istration process in Maryland Review today [March 11, 2021 Local government should rep- and Prince George’s County, this issue]. At the top was the plan resent its residents closer than 66-year-old decided not to par- to cut 150 trees in the Forest any other democratic body. ticipate. During the first week of Preserve (FP) for gardeners. At Yet, whenever democracy is February, I submitted a vaccine the bottom was an article about inconvenient, council takes the request to one of my healthcare promoting pollinators. easy way out. If that sounds providers, MedStar. They put me Hummingbirds are pollinators. troubling, you should let council on their waitlist. During the first They nest between 10 and 40 know that the amendment is a week of March, I visited Johns feet. The more trees of that size priority for you, even though it is Hopkins for a screening unre- that are cut, the fewer trees there not for them. lated to Covid-19. Afraid the U.S. are for hummingbirds to nest in Daniel Moses Thies & Postal Service would not deliver and pollinate the gardens referred Amanda Lynne Jennings my results timely, I gained ac- to in the article. cess to my Hopkins electronic Birds are territorial.