Top Stories of 2024
The News Review presents highlights from last year’s news stories. The reviews were prepared by Cathie Meetre, Erica Johns, Diane Oberg, Deanna Dawson, Pat Scully and Anna Bedford-Dillow. Greenbelt Loses Career Firefighters On June 30, Prince George’s County Fire Department (PGFD) removed career fire and rescue personnel from Greenbelt, Berwyn Heights, Bowie and Bunker Hill […]
The Winter Solstice Inspires A Sparkling Musical Stroll
In the very chilly evening darkness on Friday, December 20, around 30 revelers, bundled up decoratively, gathered in the Firefly Sanctuary in Stream Valley Park to sing, dance, stroll and celebrate the Winter Solstice. Greenbelt’s Honk! Situation band provided their trademark musical foolishness. Fabulously costumed characters, a giant eyeball and a dancing dragon led the […]
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. […]
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). The Maryland Business Express website states that […]
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 […]
Employee Concerns Arise at Grocery Store Board Meeting
The member comment portion of the Greenbelt Co-op’s December 11 board meeting raised concerns about employee working conditions, which also had been raised by several employees at the August board meeting. Board Vice Chair Steven Bernheisel led the meeting. Concerns of current and former employees who spoke at the August meeting, after General Manager Dan […]
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 […]
City Perseveres with Legal Fight Over Withdrawal of Firefighters
At the December 9 Greenbelt City Council meeting, City Manager Josué Salmerón spoke about the city’s renewed legal efforts to challenge the removal of career firefighters from the Greenbelt Fire Department in June. Salmerón also shared the news that the city will now have a paramedic ambulance 24/7 effective December 29 (for more on the […]
GHI Members Meet to Discuss Pipe Replacement, Budget, Handbook
On Thursday, December 12, the Greenbelt Homes, Inc. (GHI) Board of Directors held a town hall meeting to inform members about revisions to the member handbook, the 2025 budget and the next steps in the Pipe Replacement Project. Pipe Replacement Director of Technical Services Thomas Williams gave an update on the Pilot Pipe Replacement Project […]
Condition of Armory Outlined; Recommendations to Come
On Wednesday, December 4, Greenbelt City Council held a worksession with a representative of the AMAR Group LLC firm to discuss the Preliminary Armory Feasibility Assessment. Discussion of the Armory’s condition began with an overview of the location’s history. While it was owned by the state since its construction in 1954 for use by the […]