[RP TownTalk] Change of subject: grass height

Wed Aug 18 03:36:29 UTC 2010

About 10 days ago I received a warning citation from town code enforcement saying that my grass was too high and that I had one week to remedy the situation or be fined $200 plus cost of doing the work.  Just to check with the general opinions of any who are interested:  I have a yard of zoysia grass, which fortunately grows very slowly.  Being a senior citizen, I pay to have it cut every two weeks, which is often enough to keep it quite short and neat.  It is never higher than about 3.5 inches.  However, due to the heat, drought, and water restriction, all of  the regular old grass in the area between the sidewalk and the street has died, and some weeds have replaced a lot of it.  These weeds were, in some places, though not all over,  probably 6-7 inches high when I was cited.  The next day my yard person came and mowed everything, so no fine.  Is this the sort of policy that others are comfortable with?  I guess I naively assumed that the whole height of grass issue would never apply to me, so was taken by surprise to find it so firmly enforced, even for occasional small patches of weeds.  I have put weed killer on them all now, so hope I will not have to get a trimmer to use between mowings!
What is the experience of others with this new policy?
Generally Tidy Homeowner

From: book-smart at verizon.net
To: towntalk at riverdale-park.org
Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:13:07 -0400
Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Dumms

Remember that potential business owners
(and the media) are watching everything the town does, including this thread,
and would find this conversation a good reason to look more closely at
Hyattsville or College Park for their investment.

Ed and I belong to several Chambers of
Commerce with our small businesses and find that more people than not whom we
encounter know where Riverdale Park is and can quote chapter and verse
something from the local media about the town being “anti-business.”
That’s a hard moniker to shake, even if untrue in spirit.

It’s always easier to tell the
business owner directly, and nicely, that you have a suggestion for a change
that might benefit their business than to expect it to be legislated from an
angry mob of neighbors. In the town’s recent history, the Pete and his
family have done more to brighten the place up than anyone else, putting money
and time into the business and other town projects when they did not have to,
and often before they were even asked to. 

The town will never get an upscale food
store or bakery or anything else until it can collectively be more welcoming
and thoughtful in its interactions with business. There is a decades-long,
knee-jerk reaction to real and potential investment in the town that usually
ends up in insults, finger-pointing, and side-picking. That is the ultimate
reason why so much of the town’s historic business districts remain empty
or underdeveloped, even after having 4 different sets of professional redevelopment
planning meetings, visions, and reports undertaken for the area since 1987. 

Chris Davis 

-----Original Message-----

From:
towntalk-bounces at riverdale-park.org
[mailto:towntalk-bounces at riverdale-park.org] On
Behalf Of bruce.wernek at mindspring.com

Sent: Tuesday, August
 17, 2010 1:12 PM

To: Riverdale Park

Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Dumms

I thought Pete's family lived in the Silver
Springs/Olney area, but I can't say for sure.  I don't know who came up
with this "Potomac" rumor.

-----Original Message----- 

From: novella sargusingh 

Sent: Aug 17, 2010 12:48 PM 

To: tazimax at verizon.net, asalgadoe at yahoo.com, Riverdale Park ,
nbmooney1 at yahoo.com 

Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Dumms 

P.S.  What does Pete
and his family living in Potomac have to do with anything and what business is it of ours?? 
This sounds more like a personal issue then one of true concern on businesses
here in Riverdale Park.  If that's where they live, more power to them I am just
very greatful that they have their small businesses here in Riverdale Park which benefits us all.

Thanks A Million!

           Novella 

From: msnovella50 at hotmail.com

To: tazimax at verizon.net; asalgadoe at yahoo.com; towntalk at riverdale-park.org;
nbmooney1 at yahoo.com

Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 12:16:17 -0400

Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Dumms

As a small business
owner in Riverdale Park, it concerns me when folks who have never owned much less run a
mom and pop operation etc. try and dictate how we should run our
business.  You cannot talk the talk if you have not walk the walk!  I
remember when the protective glass was installed and I did ask what had
happened and sure enough Dumm's Corner had been held up and their employees
safety was at risk so they had the bullet proof glass install for safety
reasons not to make a fashion statement.  The community in which you live
and work most often will dictate how and why you can and cannot do make many
business decision's.  I have truly enjoyed having Dumm's Corner store and
carryout right down the street from my home and in case of needing anything fast,
I can count on them being open and ready to assist me.  I also remember
when Pete was trying to improved his business and ran right into a brick wall
and was unable to move forward with renovations etc.  If you really want
to see that corner change, step up to the plate and take a run at the town with
ideas and suggestions to help Pete get what he was asking for in the first
place, only then will you understand how difficult it was getting turned
down.  Please fill free to move closer to those establishment's that meet
your standards and have the support of it's citizen's in making improvement's
because Pete tried to do the same thing in Riverdale and was not successful but
as long as Dumm's Corner operates in Riverdale, they can count on my business. 
I could care less about what's on the window, it's the service, great food and
awesome folks running both facilities that I will always appreciate the most.

Thanks A Million!

           Novella 

From: tazimax at verizon.net

To: asalgadoe at yahoo.com; towntalk at riverdale-park.org; nbmooney1 at yahoo.com

Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 06:26:49 -0400

Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] Dumms

Just a quick opinion. 80 years ago my grandparents built
and owned a small mom and pop grocery and liquor store in Roger's Heights for
many years (Roger's Heights Market) and yes, beer signs were in the
windows.  Now the store is owned by San Antonio liquors and guess what, they have beer signs too. 
Bullet proof glass is a necessity, my late father coming home  from
working there bleeding from a shotgun  butt slam to the head during a
robbery will prove that.  Look around your area, in that corner alone we
have abandoned buildings, a bar (which is a bit old too) and run down houses
that have either burned and never been repaired or just plain abandoned. 
Dumm's corner is the least of the problems in Riverdale.  Just be glad
there are still mom and pop stores here with the economy the way it is.  I
had to sell my grandparents dream.  Don't fuss about someone else's.

Carol

-----
Original Message ----- 

From: Andrew Salgadoe

To: towntalk at riverdale-park.org
; Nancy Mooney

Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 1:19 PM

Subject: Re:
[RP TownTalk] Dumms

  I love Dumm's pizza
  and subs and I would venture to guess that I have bought more of their large
  combination pizzas than anyone on this thread. I'm the customer and I'm
  always right..get the damn beer posters out of the windows, open up the
  storefront, and make it a welcoming introduction to RP. 

  Has anyone taken a drive down Rhode
    Island near the border of
  Northeast and NW? There's a newer corner store there called Windows which is
  clean, bright, and airy and full of customers going in and out and some
  sitting at tables enjoying casual fare. Next door there's an old school
  chinese takeout dive with a roll down door or metal bars where people place
  their for sweet and sour pork through a bullet proof shield. Needless to say,
  one of these businesses is thriving. 

  These neighborhoods are improving and we should be at the forefront, not the
  tail end!

  Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

From: Nancy Mooney <nbmooney1 at yahoo.com>; 

To: <towntalk at riverdale-park.org>;

Subject: [RP TownTalk] Dumms 

Sent: Mon, Aug 16, 2010 9:38:59 AM 

    Yes, and let me
    repeat something that's been said, Pete and Sons did want to expand and
    improve, and were unable to because of opposition to the plan. 

    I doubt they installed the bullet proof glass because of aesthetics, or to
    keep up with the Exxon. There must have been a darn good motivation for
    them to invest in that (it's been, what, 4 years?)

    I've always found the staff reasonably friendly, and, very helpful when
    needed, and I'm thankful for a local place to get a quick pizza, or a
    bottle of wine.  OK now I want a cheeseburger sub!

    Let's keep our perspective and play nice!

    But then I've found that people are much more harsh when leaving
    voice-messages and writing email, haven't you?

    Nancy

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to the list, send mail to TownTalk at riverdale-park.org
TownTalk-request at riverdale-park.org is for automated subscription processing
only http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk For more information
about Riverdale Park, visit http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info 

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To post to the list, send mail to TownTalk at riverdale-park.org
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