Published on: Wednesday, April 28, 2010

By Peggy Dee

Hyattsville in the news!

I hope everyone saw the excellent segment on Hyattsville that was featured on the WTTG, Chanel 5, 10 p.m. news Monday evening, April 12.

Stuart Eisenberg, president of the Hyattsville Community Development Corp., was the featured speaker. He stressed that our city of 18,000 is getting a makeover centered on the new Hyattsville Arts District development.

We are now a community of vibrant restaurants, quirky spaces and trendy townhouses. There is a 14-cinema theatre, the coming of Busboys & Poets, Tara Thai Restaurant, Yes! Organic Market, as well as “neat” little businesses coming up, making our city a “cool community.”

SALT

The next Seniors and Law Enforcement Together meeting will take place on Friday afternoon, May 21, at 3 p.m. at Friendship Arms Senior Apartments on 42nd Avenue. All senior citizens are encouraged to attend. SALT is a vehicle of direct communication between older citizens and law enforcement agencies. At our April meeting, Cpl. James Denault of the Hyattsville City Police Department, was the featured speaker. He advised the membership of the many changes coming to our police department, due to technological advances.

Tragic death

Many of you have heard of the tragic death of Montgomery County Police Officer Hector Ayala. Officer Ayala was the proud father of a 14-month-old son and his wife is expecting triplets in June.

An excellent community donation drive for the Ayala family was conducted on Saturday, April 17 at Magruder Park. Diapers and other baby basics were and are still being accepted. Checks should be made payable to MCLEORF (Montgomery County Law Enforcement Officers’ Relief Fund), with “Ayala Family” indicated on note line.

Legislative highlights

Many thanks to Justin Ross, our delegate in Annapolis for the 22nd Legislative District, for that excellent letter of April 15, detailing the 2010 legislative session highlights. Improvements to education, our community, economic recovery and job creation, increasing public safety, environmental stewardship and improving public health are a few of the topics discussed by Delegate Ross.

Class reunion

St. Jerome’s School is hosting an alumni reunion on Saturday evening, May 8. “The No Where Men” and “Crayfish” will provide the entertainment. Reconnect with old friends and take a tour of the school. For more information, call the St. Jerome Development Office at 301-699-1314.

Hyattsville history

1937—When the Hyattsville Theatre opened Nov. 21, with a 35-cent admission, the Arcade Theatre reduced its price to 25 cents and changed its days of operation. The old town business area had begun to lose its appeal. One spot that still seemed to thrive was “Jungletown,” the old watering hole. Lively times and stories emanated from the spot for many years. Even back in those days the night manager had put his gun on the counter while he counted the daily receipts.