Week In Review

Now that the Intercounty Connector is charging tolls, its use by evening rush-hour commuters has dropped by more than half, Patch reported Monday. According to numbers released by the Maryland Transportation Authority this week, 2,793 motorists, on average, used the road each weekday during the 5 to 6 p.m. rush hour from Feb. 23 to March 1, when no toll charges were enforced.

Also on Monday, DeMatha Catholic High School football coach Bill McGregor, who has sent dozens of players to the college level, announced that he is stepping down as the football coach. McGregor was the head coach for 29 years at DeMatha and posted a record of 270-37-3, according to The Washington Post.

At its March 28 meeting, the Hyattsville City Council authorized Mayor William Gardiner to send a letter of support to the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority for expansion of the Hyattsville Historic District. The move, spearheaded by the Hyattsville Community Development corporation, is intended to unify the late 19th Century south and east parts of the city with the newer west side, removing current stigmas associated with living on the west side of Queens Chapel Road.

Patch reported on Tuesday that took the top award for this year's Middle School Science Bowl championship.

This is Hyattsville Middle’s the sixth Science Bowl trophy and the third in the past four years.

Project planners for a hiker-biker trail planned to run from Riverdale Park to Franklin’s updated locals about the Rhode Island Trolley Trail. The path would allow Riverdale residents to safely cycle or walk to locations such as the , Eileen Nivera of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission said.

The trail would run from Tuckerman Street to Farragut Street, and stretch 11 feet wide.  

Friday was Maryland Day at Saint Francis International School, and the fourth-grade history students were bustling around in the costumes of their favorite leaders and showing off all they know about our state history.

“I founded Maryland and Virginia,” said 9-year old Leonel Cuello in the voice and dress of his favorite Maryland hero, Lord Baltimore.

Check out more photos of the event.

Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department members Stephen Whitman and Nik Zupanic will be the recipients of Medal of Valor Awards. Whitman and Zupanic, along with others, are being recognized for their work at an apartment fire on Toledo Place in February 2010. Those listed here and several other members of the HVFD and Prince George’s Fire Department, including HVFD Deputy Chief Matt Leonard and PGFD Technician Steve Tabak, received Emergency Services Awards from county Fire Chief Eugene A. Jones in October for the incident.

Watch out this coming week on Hyattsville Patch for profiles of some city council candidates and a roundup interview with outgoing Mayor William Gardiner.