Thursday, May 17, 2012
Energy coaches could help retrofit your home to be more earth friendly under expanded program.
Looking to make your home greener without spending too much green? A new program set to expand into Hyattsville could help show you how. Earlier this week, the Hyattsville City Council unanimously approved a proposal to expand University Park's Small Town Energy Program to Hyattsville. Funded by a three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, the program is designed to help homeowners take advantage of existing tax rebates and other government or retail discounts to lessen the financial burden of retrofitting a home to be more energy efficient. The STEP-UP program is unique in that it provides a local "energy coach" who helps guide homeowners through the process of identifying financing options for energy efficient upgrades. It's …
Monday, May 14, 2012
Fire and rescue crews respond to late-night fire in rental home.
A group of five college student renters may need to find new digs temporarily following a small house fire in University Park yesterday. Fire and rescue crews responded to the 7000 block of Baltimore Avenue in University Park at about 11:20 p.m. on Sunday, May 13, after receiving reports of a deck fire. Upon arrival, they discovered that the deck fire was only part of it. Fire was also found in the basement. Only one of the five tenants of the home was present at the time of the fire, and fire officials on the scene said that the tenant was not aware of the basement fire when he called 911. No one was injured in the blaze, which was quickly put out. However, in order to get access to the fire, firefighters had to chop away the rear wall …
38.97535
-76.93794
7000 Baltimore Ave, University Park, MD
Small fire rips through basement, deck of rental home late Sunday, May 13.
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Wednesday, May 2, 2012
David Brosch and Arlene Christiansen also won terms on the University Park Town Council Tuesday.
University Park Mayor John Tabori was handily elected to a fourth term Tuesday alongside three town council members—two of them fresh faces in town government. Tabori, who ran unopposed, received 187 votes out of 241 cast. Another 31 residents voted for "none of the above," and 23 ballots were deemed invalid. The mayor said that tally was higher than what he recalled earning in his past three elections. "I very much appreciate the voters' support. … The mayors who serve here in University Park are in effect town managers also. It's not an easy job, so it's gratifying when people support you," Tabori said. In Tuesday's sole competitive race, Van Buren Street resident Roy Alvarez defeated 40th Avenue resident Susan Dorn for the Ward 7 …
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Balloting runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Riverdale Presbyterian Church.
It's election day in University Park, with voters set to cast their ballots for the office of mayor and three of the town's seven council seats. Running unopposed for a fourth term in the town's top post is Mayor John Tabori. In December, the council raised the maximum period of office for the mayor from three two-year terms to four. Given that he faces no competition, Tabori said he feels "pretty good" about his prospects on Tuesday. "I'm pleased that the community has been as supportive of me as they have and of the efforts I've made," Tabori said. No council hopefuls filed to have their name on the ballot before the April 2 deadline, but four residents later registered as write-in candidates. In Ward 1, Councilman and Tuckerman Street …
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Several neighbors grew concerned this week when heavy machinery was deployed at the site.
A team of workers boring soil on the Cafritz property raised alarm early this week among nearby residents, some of whom were concerned that the developer had jumped the gun on its mixed-use blueprint for the site. Shortly before noon on Tuesday, several workmen could be seen clearing brush with a chainsaw and maneuvering a large piece of drilling equipment around the densely-wooded section of Riverdale Park. That observation followed a similar report from Riverdale Park resident Joe Kelly, who emailed Patch and other area residents Monday night to note that heavy machinery was present at the site. The Cafritz team is seeking to have its 37-acre parcel redesignated from single-family detached residential (R-55) to mixed-use town center (M-…
Students will also share songs, poems, and other readings.
Fresh off of Saturday's Azalea Classic, students from University Park Elementary School will participate in an Arbor Day celebration this Friday, April 27. The 45-minute program will kick off at 12:45 p.m. in the town park across from University Park's 9/11 memorial. Kindergarten and Pre-K students from UPES are scheduled to share songs, poems, and other readings to mark the occasion. A Deodar Cedar will also be planted to commemorate the occasion. Arbor Day honors the vital role trees play in Earth's ecosystem and encourages groups and individuals to plant and care for them. It was first observed in Nebraska in 1872 but has since become celebrated in many parts of the world. For more information, visit the town's website.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
The 11th annual race was held Saturday morning in University Park.
Hundreds of runners, walkers, and spectators turned out to University Park Saturday morning for the 11th Annual Azalea Classic. As cheering supporters and music from the Northwestern High School Marching Band urged them on, participants completed a one-mile challenge run, a 1K family fun run, and a 5K run/walk. Proceeds from the event will go to the University Park Elementary PTA, which helps pay for equipment, supplies, and teaching positions at the school. Want to share some of your photos from the Azalea Classic? Upload them to this article (login required) or email them to johnd@patch.com.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Public Works Director Mickey Beall says road work is going well across town.
The University Park Town Council approved extending the kitchen waste compost pilot program and several other STEP-UP initiatives Monday night. An executive session delayed the public meeting by one hour, which meant the council was not able to get to all agenda items. Below is a summary of key developments and discussion points. Public comment • Two Elizabeth Seton High School students—Erica Jackson, 18, and Shannon Hayden, 17—requested the town council install a stop sign at the end of 40th Avenue and College Heights Drive. Jackson said it’s difficult for her to drive near the intersection and that a stop sign would slow traffic in the area. Permits • The council quickly and unanimously approved a permit for the construction of a 15-by-…
Friday, April 6, 2012
The deadline for write-in candidates is April 26.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Inside: information on STEP-UP, a stolen car, and the late Bridget Coyne Irwin.
The April edition of the University Park Newsletter is out. Here's a quick rundown at what's inside the issue: For more, read the full newsletter.
Melissa Avery
11:58 am on Thursday, April 26, 2012
According to soil scientist Del Fanning, who specializes in the particular problem soil type located on the Cafritz tract, The chemical make up is such that it will not support vegetation and it eats through concrete. Correcting the problem is costly and could affect the structural integrity of any building on the site. He gave this information to Cafritz and the planning board. If corrections … more ›