[RP TownTalk] Whew! Support The Calvert House.

Thu May 3 18:08:33 UTC 2012

 Good Afternoon All: As a business owner here in Riverdale Park for the past 25 years, and a
community activist, I just do not understand why we continue to shoot ourselves
in the foot?  No, it is not "mutually exclusive", keeping the
quality of life in Riverdale requires business tax revenues that must come from
business sources. These businesses contribute to more revenue for our town.
With our property taxes already too high for comfort, what residents of
Riverdale want to pay more? I have concerns about the Town Center and wish that
every single rental property were occupied. Are we doing enough to maintain
what businesses we already have or to attract new clientele?  On one hand
we want new businesses to come to town but it is never a smooth process in
Riverdale Park, just look at how long it took to get Wells Fargo in here. 
Like Freydoun and Susan, I too have invested a ton of money in renovating and
they remodeled the entire "Restaurant" without closing only to have
this happen to them???  When you cannot make enough revenue to support
keeping the establishment viable with just "lunch and dinner" you take
suggestions and ideas which may include "Karaoke Night's" during the
weekends!  I am sure if Freydoun and Susan could tell its patrons upon
exiting the premises, there will be no loud talking in the parking lot and take
your trash with you when you go, THEY WOULD!!  You just cannot please
all of the people all of the time. The Calvert House needs to figure out a way
to keep their neighbors happy:) Therefore, a line of open communication with
their neighbors would be a good start.  It would indeed be a sad day if
Freydoun and Susan just throw up their hands and walk away!  They have the best crab cakes in the State of Maryland, no
other restaurant that I have gone to even comes close, who in Riverdale Park
would want to give up the best?

Mayor Archer upon the
completion of your investigation, if loud noises and music are the problem,
someone on the town council, code enforcement or public works etc. may need to
help them resolve the issue, just like you helped me.  When I contacted
you about my concerns of congestion and speeding traffic on Taylor Road,
especially during school dismissal, there was a police car with a real officer
or CPR Annie parked on Ogelthorpe Street whenever possible and folks would slow
down.  When David Lingua approached me about supporting parking on only
one side of Taylor Road during school dismissal, I was more than happy to sign
on.  Then people began to block the entrance to my day care
driveway!  This was a serious issue for me and with one email to you,
Public Works came out and put down the yellow no parking curb paint and they
stopped blocking my driveway.  Now, during my day care children's nap
time, if we could just get all of the school children to walk past the day care
with no loud talking, yelling, screaming, running, play fighting or dropping
all kinds of trash and homework just outside of my yard, I would be a very
happy business owner LOL!

Does anyone know if S and J's
still have Karaoke Night?  If so, what is their established volume for
karaoke nights, so that they don't incur these kinds of complaints from their
neighbors?  This is the kind of information that Freydoun and Susan could
use right now.  What else can we do to ENCOURAGE and SUPPORT Freydoun and
Susan to keep going?  Do the signs mean we are not allowed to patronize
the establishment even for "lunch and dinner" while this
investigation is being conducted?  Please let me know and I will have
lunch there tomorrow, if we are permitted. 

Last year, while having lunch
there, I realized that the Calvert House had just reopened the largest room for
social events etc.  I threw a surprise retirement party there for my
husband. So, I personally know how hard Susan and her wonderful staff went
above & beyond to make sure I had everything I requested.  Susan sat
down and helped me plan everything, she even had her staff set tables up wherever
I wanted and they put my decorations up for me.  Susan made sure that the
appetizers were put out at the right moment, tasty and piping hot!  Susan
set up an open bar beer and wine tab for me and the bar staff did an excellent
job keeping me posted on all matters concerning the party.  After the
event they even helped me load up left over cake, balloons and gifts in my car.  Now, that is how you run a business!  

Many of those in attendance at our party were business folks
and leaders in their own communities. They expressed how beautiful the
restaurant was, I did my part by encouraging them all to support the Calvert House. I thought it would be
great if they would consider hosting their business holiday activities,
luncheons for their association groups and family events there, but now
this?  It just saddens me to know how difficult it is to keep a small
business operational, especially after such a large renovation.  It's your
life's work; putting all of your heart & soul into your family,
business and community.  

Speaking of investing, I am so proud of Pete and what he has
accomplished, so far, with the Town Market, I spoke with him the other day and
inquired how things were coming along and he had a headache!  I told Pete
just how much I am looking forward to shopping there soon and supporting
another small business owner.  Having lived in this area since 1974 and Riverdale
Park since 1986, this community has proven time and again that it
is a mutually exclusive community, that's what I love about
it!  I just think we all need to
fully support the "Calvert House" by trying to help build up our business community, as well as everything else… Not tearing them down and chasing them out of Town!

 Thanks A Million!! Ms. Novella Sargusingh, Director4 STEPS Creative Learning Child Care Services, Inc.Ward 3 Resident 

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