Greenbelt 75th Anniversary Symposium: Session 4

April 27

The fourth session of the Greenbelt 75th Anniversary Symposium and the final session on this first day is titled “Greenbelters on the Move: Public Transportation for a Pedestrian City.” “While Old Greenbelt is one of America’s most pedestrian-friendly suburban locales and while Greenbelt East and Greenbelt West also enjoy many natural and recreational amenities, major roads hamper connections between the city’s three sections. This session will explore how this situation came to the fore and its possible remedies.”

Thomas Zeller, Associate Professor in history at the University of Maryland, is the moderator. He says that this session is about “moving to Greenbelt, within Greenbelt and how this has changed over the past few decades.”

Greenspring Annual Multicultural Picnic

July 22

Greenspring I is a housing development with 120 single-family homes at the southeast corner of Greenbelt. These houses were completed in the early 1990s and the complex is one of the last built in the city. Each year the residents of Greenspring I get together for two summer cookouts—a multicultural picnic in July and National Night Out in August. These photos are from Greenspring I’s annual multicultural picnic on Sunday July 22 at Greenspring Neighborhood Park on Greenbury Drive.

This sign is at Megan Lane and Greenbury Drive. “Greenspring HOA Picnic Sunday 5PM.” Motorists enter the Greenspring I community on Megan Lane which connects to Hanover Parkway.

Greenbelt Community Foundation Awards Ceremony

July 22

The Greenbelt Community Foundation gives out grants to local organizations twice a year. In February, I wrote about the foundation’s annual tea where the GAVA/GATE animation program and the Greenbelt Elementary School Arts in Action program received grants. This past Sunday, four other organizations were awarded funding for the spring 2012 funding cycle.

The yellow handout is “Tips for Writing a Winning Proposal” and the green one “Creating Your Legacy: Planned Giving Options.”

Treasure Island Movie Showing

July 21

As part of this year’s 75th anniversary celebration, several movie showings have been scheduled at various sections of the city. On February 10, Three Brave Men was shown in the Greenbelt Community Center. On May 23, Grapes of Wrath was shown at Greenbriar Community Building in Greenbelt East. This past Saturday, it was Treasure Island at Springhill Lake Recreation Center in Greenbelt West. The announcement reads: “The Greenbelt 75th Anniversary Committee invites you to enjoy this 1950 Disney version of Robert Louis Stevenson’s adventure story (1883) of piracy, a treasure map, sword fights, sea voyages, and youthful heroism features the flamboyant, one-legged anti-hero Long John Silver.”

Various editions of Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel Treasure Island are displayed on a table in Springhill Lake Recreation Center’s multipurpose room, along with a pirate tricorn hat. The one that is standing up contains illustrations by the famed artist N.C. Wyeth and is considered a masterpiece among illustrated books.

Greenbelt Museum Lecture: International Greenbelt

July 17

The Friends of the Greenbelt Museum sponsors four lectures a year. In January, museum curator Megan Searing Young talked about the new Greenbelt photo book, and in April, two University of Maryland professors spoke about housing in Greenbelt. July’s lecture is titled International Greenbelt.

“Join us on Tuesday, July 17 at 7:30 pm to meet and hear from our small panel of Greenbelters who were born in other countries but who emigrated to the US and who now call the City of Greenbelt home. As we celebrate Greenbelt’s 75th Anniversary throughout 2012 and examine not just Greenbelt’s past but also its present and future, we want to focus on one of Greenbelt’s growing strengths—its diversity. What better way than to hear about the personal stories and journeys of some of Greenbelt’s international residents? The panel discussion will be accompanied by light refreshments & international dishes.”

From right, Greenbelt Museum Curator and Director of Historical Programs Megan Searing Young and Education and Volunteer Coordinator Sheila Maffay-Tuthill talk to Ana Gasper, a panelist tonight.

New Deal Café Annual Meeting

May 20

The New Deal Café is Greenbelt’s community living room. It opened its doors in 1995 as a part-time café in the Community Center and moved to Roosevelt Center in 2000. The café is one of Greenbelt’s seven active cooperatives and is run by a Board of Directors and a general manager. The cooperative’s 2012 annual membership meeting was held in the café on May 20.

This display in the hallway shows many special events held at the New Deal Café this past year including Greenbelt’s first artists studio tour; a book signing by John Guernsey, weekend pianist for the café; an author talk, book signing and wine-tasting party for Todd Kliman, columnist for the Washingtonian magazine; Greenbelt Blues Festival; a sing-along to celebrate the city’s 75th anniversary; a performance by Buck Hill, Greenbelt’s own jazz legend; and New Year’s Eve celebration.

Greenbelt Farmers Market: Another Visit

July 8

On May 13, I visited the Greenbelt Farmers Market on its opening day. At that time, strawberries were in season. On July 8, I visited the market again, and this time cantaloupes and honeydews were freshly picked. On this day there was also a special visitor–Proteus Bicycles from College Park.

Proteus Bicycles on Route 1 in College Park is the closest full-service bike shop to Greenbelt. The shop has been operating at their location for 40 years and has a loyal following in the region.

Greenbelt Welcome Packets

July 12

New residents moving into Greenbelt receive welcome packets from their homeowner associations or apartments. These packets include a Welcome to Greenbelt handbook and various handouts from city departments and local organizations. The packets are put together by the city’s Public Information and Communications Coordinator Beverly Palau with the help of volunteers.

In the June 28 issue of the Greenbelt News Review, in the City Information section is this announcement: “Five hundred welcome packets will be assembled on July 12th at 6pm at the Greenbelt Municipal Building. Volunteers needed to help. If you would like to include your pamphlets, coupons, etc. in these packets, please bring them to the Greenbelt Municipal Building, 25 Crescent Road by July 9th.”

Judy Briskman goes through welcome packets from last year and recycles outdated handouts. Materials that are not time sensitive will be repackaged tonight.

Greenbelt Park Bike Races

July 11

Every Wednesday evening from early May to late August (except the week of the Fourth of July), cycling enthusiasts gather at Greenbelt Park to compete in a series of bicycle races. Now in its 33rd year, the Greenbelt Park Training Race Series is a USA Cycling sanctioned event and is run by Route 1 Velo, a USA Cycling sanctioned club in the Washington, D.C. area. The first race starts at 6 p.m. and on average, 60 to 70 cyclists show up every week.

Three times during the summer, a special Lance Armstrong Junior Race Series (LAJRS) race is held for boys and girls from age 10 to 12. Here Iain MacKeith (age 10) practices before his race.

Greenbelt Swim Meet

July 4

The Greenbelt Municipal Swim Team is for swimmers between the age of 5 and 18 and is a member of the Prince-Mont Swim League for Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties. Swim meets are held in the summer in June and July with teams in the league, and home meets are at the Greenbelt Aquatic Center. This summer a home meet was scheduled for June 30 but it was canceled after a string of violent storms swept through the Washington region, leaving the Greenbelt Aquatic Center without power. The meet was then moved to the Fourth of July, Independence Day.

Greenbelt’s opponent in this meet is Whitehall Pool and Tennis Club (WPT) from Bowie, Maryland. Greenbelt is wearing green and black and Whitehall, blue and white.