Greenbelt Community Center Darkroom

December 13

There is a darkroom on the third floor of the Greenbelt Community Center. Much of the equipment was donated by the Greenbelt Police Department in the 1990s when it switched to digital cameras. Recently I met up with photographer Steve Skolnik at the darkroom and observed him making some black and white prints.

The darkroom is on the third floor of the Greenbelt Community Center, and here Skolnik signs in. Those who would like to use the darkroom are asked to register with the Recreation Department each season, and they need to attend an orientation and take a certification test if not certified previously.

Suzuki Violin Program in Greenbelt

December 21

Alessandra Schneider teaches a Suzuki violin program in Greenbelt. She began about five years ago at Holy Cross Lutheran Church and now teaches at Greenbelt Baptist Church. Recently I visited her studio and observed two individual lessons.

Ian is 4 years old. He started violin a year ago.

New Chicago Dance Studio

December 22

The New Chicago Dance Studio was started by Samantha Fitschen in 2010. Fitschen is a native of Chicago and came to Greenbelt six years ago with her husband as he pursued his Ph.D. degree at the University of Maryland, College Park. An experienced dancer with a BFA in Music Theater, Fitschen soon started teaching dance for the Greenbelt Recreation Department at the Community Center. She saw the need for a dance studio in Greenbelt and hoping to bring Chicago-style dance to the area, she opened her own studio two years ago. On a recent Saturday morning, I visited New Chicago Dance Studio.

The dance studio is at 7505 Greenway Center Drive, behind Greenway Shopping Center. The main floor of this building is occupied by Columbia Bank.

Greenbelt Panorama: Subdivisions

Greenbelt has many housing developments beyond the original GHI row houses and garden apartments in the city center. Here are photos from some of them.

Club 125 at Roosevelt Center

December 24

Two Greenbelters George Boyce and Eva Fallon are turning the abandoned dry-cleaning store in Roosevelt Center into a community clubhouse—Club 125. On Christmas Eve, I visited the club and took photos of them cleaning up the place.

The former dry-cleaning store is attached to the Greenbelt Theater and adjacent to the Greenbelt Co-op. Its address is 125 Centerway, thus the name of the new club. The original owners of Greenbelt Cleaners and Tailors sold the business after more than 40 years. The new owners could not make a profit and decided to walk away. The store has been empty since April 2012, and George Boyce and his wife Eva Fallon took over the lease on December 1, 2012.

Greenbelt Co-op Bulletin Board

October 20

The Greenbelt Co-op has one of the busiest bulletin boards in Greenbelt. A while ago, I took some photos there.

There is a plastic bag recycling bin on the left and two donations for animals bins on the right.

Greenbelt Panorama: Snow Day

December 26

It snowed the morning after Christmas. This was the first snow of the winter of 2012.

Scandinavian Folk Dancing in Greenbelt

December 15

Every third Saturday evening from September to May, Scandia DC, a Scandinavian folk dance group serving the Greater Washington region, meets in the Greenbelt Community Center’s dance studio for a dance party. Norwegian and Swedish couple turning dances are emphasized, and they are usually accompanied by live music. On December 15, I attended the group’s holiday dance program.

The monthly dance program takes place in the dance studio from 7 to 10 p.m. Usually lessons are offered during the first hour, but because this is a special holiday party, there is no teaching tonight.

Santa Visits Old Greenbelt on Christmas Eve

December 24

Every year on Christmas Eve, Santa visits Greenbelt and travels through the town on a fire truck from the Greenbelt Volunteer Fire Department.

At Greenbelt’s fire station on Crescent Road, Santa consults with Lieutenant Andy Moffitt on this year’s route through Old Greenbelt. Santa has visited Greenbelt East the night before.

Sophie Delivers Greenbelt News Review

December 21

Every Tuesday night, staff members of the Greenbelt News Review meet at their office in the Greenbelt Community Center to make final selections on this week’s paper. All articles, photos, and ads are sent to the paper’s layout contractor Lynn Eppard. On Wednesday night, the layout is checked and corrections are made. The final version of the paper is sent electronically to the printer, and on Thursday morning it is posted to the paper’s public website. On Thursday afternoon, the print copies are delivered to Greenbelt, and the paper’s circulation manager Ian Tuckman delivers the paper to each carrier’s home. The carriers are supposed to deliver the paper to residences by Friday night. Last Friday, I followed Sophie as she delivered the Greenbelt News Review to GHI homes.

Sophie is a freshman at Eleanor Roosevelt High School. Her route includes 9 and 12 courts of Ridge Road, Westway, and all GHI homes west of Westway. Here she is at 8 Ridge Road.