Greenbelt News Review

12/31/2024

GHI Discusses Traffic Calming Again; Proposals Not Popular

At the December 19 Greenbelt Homes, Inc. (GHI) board meeting, the City of Greenbelt Traffic Calming Study was again on the agenda. A general tone, although not unanimous, was that the board was not in favor of the proposals in the Traffic Calming Study. It was on the agenda of the December 5 meeting but was only briefly touched on due to the lateness of the meeting (see article in the December 12 issue). At this meeting, there were many more comments from the board, and it was decided that Board President Stefan Brodd would draft a general response to the city. Individual board members and other GHI members were also encouraged to send their thoughts to the city.

Read more here:

The paper, published by the Greenbelt Cooperative Publishing Association, Inc., was established in 1937 shortly after the construction of Greenbelt, one of The New Deal Green Towns. It has been published weekly without interruption since that time and is delivered free to most Greenbelt residents.

12/29/2024

Charlestowne North Tenants Ride Rental Roller Coaster

In the latest round of trauma for residents, on November 14, 23 residents of Charlestowne North, a 178-unit rental high-rise building located by Greenbelt Lake at the end of Lakecrest Drive, were taken to court for nonpayment of rent by former building owner Charlestowne North Holding Company (CNHC).

Read more here: https://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/news-stories/charlestowne-north-tenants-ride-rental-roller-coaster/

12/27/2024

Council Tackles DEI Audit; Shares Community Feedback

The Greenbelt City Council gathering on December 18 began with a worksession with representatives from Tribesy Consulting who presented their overview of their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) audit of the city. This was built upon a Phase I internal audit conducted under the city’s DEI Department, headed by Tyra Smith, who was also present. Smith said that the city’s Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Team (JAT) had recently drafted a vision statement, which would define DEI concepts as they apply to the city, with the goal being to integrate them into all city functions and departments as part of an upcoming strategic plan.

Read more here:

The paper, published by the Greenbelt Cooperative Publishing Association, Inc., was established in 1937 shortly after the construction of Greenbelt, one of The New Deal Green Towns. It has been published weekly without interruption since that time and is delivered free to most Greenbelt residents.

12/19/2024

City Council Publicly Rebukes Councilmember Rodney Roberts
On December 9, Greenbelt City Council addressed “unbecoming conduct of a councilmember” following a staff complaint of allegedly abusive language directed at city staff by Councilmember Rodney Roberts. Councilmember Kristen Weaver had placed the item on the agenda, an item postponed from previous meetings at the request of Roberts and some residents (see the November 7 News Review).
Read more here: https://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/news-stories/city-council-publicly-rebukes-councilmember-rodney-roberts/

12/18/2024

Condition of Armory Outlined; Recommendations to Come

Many ideas of how the city could use the Armory have been put forth. When the city attempted to get bond funding for assessing the site, it noted that the Armory is “a possible location for the Greenbelt Volunteer Fire Department and/or a new municipal building.” In a worksession evaluating potential projects for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, the idea that a part of the Armory could be used as a temporary animal shelter was also floated. However, in order to know what uses are actually viable and what work is needed to get the site in a ready state, the city contracted AMAR Group to survey the Armory’s condition and provide recommendations for renovation.
Read more here: https://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/news-stories/condition-of-armory-outlined-recommendations-to-come/

12/16/2024

PGFD Update: Greenbelt Gains EMS Duty Officer, Ambulance

More fire department staffing changes are coming on December 29, said the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department in a memo released Friday, December 6. Of the four stations that lost career staff as part of the summer staffing plan (Greenbelt, Berwyn Heights, Bowie-Belair and Bunker Hill) one, Bunker Hill, will see some return. In addition, Laurel will gain career firefighters at one of their stations. Greenbelt will be the new location for the Northern EMS Duty Officer (NEMSDO) and will have a 24/7 paramedic ambulance. The future of staffing at the station, however, still seems precarious.
Read more here: https://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/news-stories/pgfd-update-greenbelt-gains-ems-duty-officer-ambulance/

12/12/2024

What Is the JEDI Action Team? A Look at Its Origins and Work

The JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) Action Team was created in response to council’s direction to act on findings from the 2023 JEDI audit of city government (for more on the audit and the team’s creation see the May 9 issue). To learn more about the team, the News Review asked City Manager Josué Salmerón and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Officer Tyra Smith for their insights on its work.

Read more about it here:

The paper, published by the Greenbelt Cooperative Publishing Association, Inc., was established in 1937 shortly after the construction of Greenbelt, one of The New Deal Green Towns. It has been published weekly without interruption since that time and is delivered free to most Greenbelt residents.

12/07/2024

A Winter Wonder Land Tonight
Venturing Crew 746, a co-ed Boy Scouts of America program for youth aged 14 to 20, is hosting their Fourth Annual Winter Wonderland this evening, Saturday, December 7. Read more here: https://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/news-stories/venturing-crew-746-holds-annual-winter-wonderland/

12/07/2024

Teen Charged in Skip Day Shooting Acquitted; Second Teen Awaits Trial

One of the teenagers charged with shooting five other teens at a “Senior Skip Day” event at Schrom Hills Park in April has been acquitted. The second awaits trial this month.

Read more here: https://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/news-stories/teen-charged-in-skip-day-shooting-acquitted-second-teen-awaits-trial/

12/02/2024

Churches, City, Others Provide For the Many Local Food Banks
As food insecurity grows in Prince George’s County, more folks have turned to food pantries. In Greenbelt, there are four main distribution points for food. First, the City of Greenbelt distributes food on every third Thursday at the Community Center from 1 to 3 p.m. and at Springhill Lake Recreation Center from 3 to 4 p.m. Second, the Restoration Church distributes food every Wednesday from its location at 115 Centerway in Roosevelt Center. Third, St. Hugh’s Catholic Church makes food available from its pantry Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fourth, the Greenbelt Community Church, United Church of Christ, supports the food pantry at Berwyn Presbyterian Church on Greenbelt Road.
Read more here: https://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/news-stories/churches-city-others-provide-for-the-many-local-food-banks/

11/29/2024

Native American Heritage:
On Sunday, November 17, Greenbelt Cinema held a special showing of *Gomeo Bobelu: Lightning Unveiled* for National Native American Heritage Month, attended by a small but engaged audience. The 68-minute film tells the story of a Zuni man whose extraordinary story creates a profound portrait of resilience and artistic integrity that lights a path forward for the national Missing and Murdered Indigenous People crisis.
Read more here: https://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/news-stories/native-american-heritage-greenbelt-cinema-shows-award-winning-film-highlighting-the-missing-murdered/

11/28/2024

Happy Thanksgiving!
Read about how different Greenbelters celebrate Thanksgiving with both old and new, near and far in this week's issue:

https://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/news-stories/greenbelters-celebrate-thanksgiving-with-both-old-and-new-near-and-far/

11/27/2024

Requests to City Council Include Calls for JEDI Membership List

During Petitions and Requests two residents and Councilmember Rodney Roberts called for a list of members of the JEDI Action Team.

Roberts said he had tried and failed so far to get documents from the city relating to being “put on trial” presumably at the next council meeting on December 9, for a complaint filed by the JEDI Action Team that Roberts had verbally abused staff at one or more previous council meetings. (See two articles in the November 7 News Review about this allegation.)

A member of the JEDI Team speaking with the News Review expressed trepidation about the call for their names to be released and fear of harassment.

Speaking with the News Review on Monday, November 25, Assistant City Manager Tim George said the city is still within the timeframe to respond to the MPIA requests they’ve received and are consulting with their lawyer about how best to proceed. They want to make sure they act in the best interests of their employees, said George.

Read more about petitions and requests at the November 18 council meeting here:

The paper, published by the Greenbelt Cooperative Publishing Association, Inc., was established in 1937 shortly after the construction of Greenbelt, one of The New Deal Green Towns. It has been published weekly without interruption since that time and is delivered free to most Greenbelt residents.

11/24/2024

Mid-Semester Loss of Science & Tech Coordinator Shocks ERHS

On Monday, October 28, Eleanor Roosevelt High School (ERHS) students and parents received the October parent newsletter via email. In it, one piece of news shocked the community: “Dr. Donald Walker, our Science & Technology Program Coordinator, retired effective October 1.” To support students during this transition, Principal Portia Barnes added that the STEM Office has introduced the Prince George’s County Public Schools STEM supervisor Felicia Martin, who “visits the building several days a week to provide support to our Science and Technology (S/T) students and parents and staff.” The ERHS administration is currently in the process of filling the vacancy, and will “keep the community updated” on the situation.

Read more here:

The paper, published by the Greenbelt Cooperative Publishing Association, Inc., was established in 1937 shortly after the construction of Greenbelt, one of The New Deal Green Towns. It has been published weekly without interruption since that time and is delivered free to most Greenbelt residents.

11/24/2024

Greenbelt Co-op Supermarket Holds Annual Meeting

An improving financial picture, two bylaw changes, two new board members, the awarding of the annual Jim Cassels award and suggestions from members were all part of the Greenbelt Consumer Cooperative (better known as the Co-op) annual meeting, held on November 9. Of the 122 who attended the meeting, 101 were vested members eligible to vote on the bylaw changes and for board members.
Read more here:
https://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/news-stories/greenbelt-co-op-supermarket-holds-annual-meeting/

11/21/2024

How will you celebrate Thanksgiving this year?
Do you have any fun or unique family traditions?
We're looking for readers' stories and holiday plans. Are you avoiding politics at the dinner table? Not traveling due to traffic and fares on the biggest travel holiday of the year? Did the pandemic change the way you celebrate? Do you do something instead of a traditional dinner? Or are there special foods you incorporate? Perhaps you bring elements of other traditions and dishes to this American holiday. What does Thanksgiving mean to you? We'd love to hear about it. If you don't want to share here, feel free to send us a note at [email protected]

11/21/2024

On Thursday, November 14, the Prince George’s County Council held a public meeting on the June 2024 county fire services reallocations. The seats in the chamber of the Wayne K. Curry Building were filled, with press standing at the back and some attendees at the sides.
Read more here and see the back page of this week's issue for community response: https://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/news-stories/fire-chief-presents-reallocation-need-local-leaders-respond/

11/20/2024

After winning first place at the Rising Stars Showcase at the Greenbelt Labor Day Festival on September 2, the student rock band Phonophobia has made quite the name for themselves.
Read more here: https://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/news-stories/phonophobia-the-erhs-band-that-took-first-place-at-festival/