Greenbelt news review., January 13, 1955, Image 1

About Greenbelt news review. (Greenbelt, Md.) 1954-current

Image provided by: University of Maryland, College Park, MD

                
Greeenbelt News Review
Published Every Thursday By The ureenoeu Cooue diive , I'umisning assumaimn. in 3 parkway, lireenoelt. Maryland
Vol. 19, No. 23 Greenbelt, Maryland, Thursday, January 13, 1955 10 Cents
Goldfaden-Panagoulis Legal Action
Against GLIC On Land Deal Fails
By Russell Greenbaum
The case of Ben Goldfaden and George Panagoulis versus the?
Greenbelt Land Improvement Corporation (GLIC), a subsidiary of
the Greenbelt Veteran Housing Corporation (GVHC), was thrown
out of court in a hearing before Judge Marbury on Monday, Janu
ary 10. A feature of the case was that Abraham Chasanow, gen
eral counsel for GVHC, was subpoenaed as a witness for Goldfad
en and Panagoulis, although he did not testify.
Goldfaden and Panagoulis repre
sented an unnamed Washington
group who had attempted to buy
the parcel of vacant land adjacent
of the present Lakeside develop
ment. They challenged the legal
ity of a meeting of GLIC on No
vember 23 at which this land was
sold to the Warner Kanter Com
pany of Cincinatti.
It was claimed that in calling
this meeting GLIC did not fulfill
the by-law requirement of giving
two days’ written advance notice.
GLIC pointed out that it had giv
en four days oral’ notice and that
all five members of GLIC had sign
ed a waiver of the written notice
following the meeting, which it
said is the customary practice in
the case of special and emergency
meetings. Since the signing of such
a waiver either before or after a
meeting is legal, Judge Marbury
upheld GLIC.
Chasanow Refuses
When Goldfaden and Panagoulis
began legal action, GLIC request
ed Chasanow to represent it in
court. Chasanow refused on the
grounds that his contract with
GVHC did not include his services
-for-subsidiary organizations. He al
so revealed that he had acted to in
corporate the June Construction
Company, which had joined forces
wih Goldfaden and Panagoulis in
anticipation of constructing homes
on the undeveloped land should the
deal be consumated. He had been
awarded stock in the corporation
as compensation for his services.
Chasanow’s ’status was further
complicated by the fact that he
had sat in on the GLIC meeting of
November 23 as GVHC’s counsel.
Owing to Chasanow’s equivocal po
sition, the GVHC board of direct
ors has decided to hold up action
on Chasanow’s 1955 contract with
the Corporation, which was recent
ly approved. His contract will be
discussed at the GVHC board meet
ing this Friday, January 14.
Ashelman Writes Wolfe
On GCS Clean-Up Role
“Correct the problem at the
source” was emphasized by Sam
Ashelman, general manager of
Greenbelt Consumer Services re
garding the city litter in a letter
to Mayor James Wolfe, it was dis
closed this week. Ashelman re
minded Wolfe that GCS has been
cooperating with the clean-up 4rive
by providing half the funds for
prizes in a Clean-up Contest, ran
a movie party for children for the
same project, posted signs in
stores, requested all employees to
assist in keeping the Center clean,
and instructing GCS porters to
spend more time sweeping around
the stores.
Educational Problem
Regarding tires and cans near
the filling station, Ashelman dis
closed that a box to contain the
trash was built there two years
ago, but it was broken into within
two weeks. Similarly, a trash box
behind the Variety Store met the
same fate.
“Basically, it is an educational
problem with the parents and chil
dren, and we teel that more empha
sis should be placed upon this,”
Ashelman deal ired.
Citizens Poll Gets
Opinion On Paper
By Marion Hatton
In an attempt to discover what
the Greenbelt News Review con
tributes to the community, a spe
cial poll of leading Greenbelt citi
zens was taken this week. The
question asked was, “What is the
chief value of the Greenbelt News
Review to you ?”
BRUCE BOWMAN - “The re
porting and distribution of news is
the primary interest to me. The
local organizations are unable to
disseminate their news themselves.
I am most interested in the Letters
to the Editor, the editorials and ig
nore ‘The Long View’.”
REV. BRAUND - “The News Re
view serves the community in so
many ways. The four page paper
keeps me informed on local affairs.
I consider it a very important pa
per.”
HENRY BRAUTIGAM - “I like
the idea of a local newspaper and
I certainly don’t want to see it die.
I think more ne\ysy item's like a'
gossip column would appeal to the
women,”
ED BURGOON - “Normally, that
is, when it’s a four page newspaper,
I look for the organizational news
in Greenbelt. Its best service is
community news.
DONALD CALDWELL - “The
News Review? Oh, you mean The
Cooperator. I’ve had very good re
sults from my ads. I’m generally
interested in the news.”
VINCENT CARUSO - “The News
Review keeps me posted oh current
events in Greenbelt. It is a ba
rometer to evaluate activities and
act accordingly, tells me where the
stress is to be put and where help
is needed. The band, GVHC and
city news is what I’m interested
mainly in.”
ABRAHAM CHASANOW - “I’m
interested in general news of the
town. I want to see “The Long
View” continued.”
BEN GOLDFADEN - “Its pri
mary importance is local news. I
think Parker is doing a good job
on the city council. But I believe
the paper must go to all the homes
in Greenbelt to meet its function.”
JOSEPH HANYOK - “There is
a great need for a paper to report
the community news. I like Long’s
column and “Our Neighbors”.”
HAROLD HUFENDICK - “The
paper is the best source for local
news items such as the PTA news
and church items. I hope the pa
per continues.”
ALLEN MORRISON - “Some
times I cannot attend or get tired
of the meetings in town but I’d like
to read about them in the News
Review. In this paper I get GVHC
news and town news. I think Par
ker and Greenbaum are doing a
very good job.”
BEN ROSENZWEIG - “The
News Review is a medium of local
communication. Where else can I
read about the various organiza
tions, GCS, GVHC, JCC, Communi
ty Church, Lions Club, and still get
the gossip and calendar of social
events. The GVHC Newsletter can
not take its place. When it was
four pages, it covered local news
very adequately.”
AN INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER
Youngster Hits Front
Page The Hard Way
A Greenbelt youngster found his
picture on the front page of a
Washington morning newspaper
this week, but he probably was not
very happy about it.
Michael Dye, 11, of 1-E South
way, was shown with his face
swathed in bandages as a result of
an explosion that happened, last
Saturday because of his curiosity
as to what would happen if a small
cartridge of carbon dioxide gas
was heated. He held it over a can
dle flame and found out.
The cartridge, used to make
seltzer water and to propel model
boats and automobiles, had- been
given to Michael’s 11-year old play
mate, George Shultz of 1-C South
way, by a young friend. Both boys
received cuts about the head when
the cartridge exploded.
Michael was admitted to Prince
Georges General Hospital with se
vere cuts to his upper lip and nose.
George was released after treat
ment from smaller cuts.
GCS To Give Kids
FreeMovieOnWed.
Greenbelt Consumer Services in
vitations to a free theatre party
next Wednesday afternoon will be
distributed to Greenbelt's Elemen
tary School childrden who draw
pictures about keeping Greenbelt
clan. GCS and the Greenbelt Com
mittee on Cleanup hope this will
stimulate the children’s interest in
preventing litter. The invitations
are being extended to second grades
and up of the. Center, North End
and St. Hugh’s schools. The draw
ings will be done in class under
the teachers’ direction.
The movie selected for showing
at the free movie party is BOY
WITH THE GREEN HAIR. It is
a technicolor fantasy starring Pat
O’Brien, Dean Stockwell, Barbara
Hale and Regis Toomey. There
will be two showings of this film
Wednesday afternoon, January 19
(the day of public school teachers
meeting). The first is 1:45 p.m.,
and the second at 3:30.
New Baptist Pastor
To Arrive On Feb. I
In anticipation of the arrival of
their first permanent pastor, Rev
erend Glenn W. Samuelson, on Feb
ruary 1, the Greenbeit Baptist
Chapel has purchased a parsonage
at 4-E Hillside. The Chapel will
take possession of. the house on
January 16 and will only have two '
weeks to prepare it for occupancy.
Work during both days and eve
nings are planned, under the direc
tion of John Berrens, during which
members of the Chapel will paint
the interior. It is hoped that the
decorating and cleaning will be
finished and the house completely
livable when Reverend and Mrs.
Samuelson move in with their
young daughter and new baby son.
Diane Finlay Wins Drama
Award At Northwestern
Diane Finlay of 6 Forestway was
judged best director for her work
with the senior presentation
“Mooncalf Mugford” in the Annual
Thespian Play Tournament held at
Northwestern High School on Jan
uary 4. In last year’s Play Tourna
ment Diane was awarded prize for
best actress. She is vice-president
of Thespian Troupe 865.
GREENBELT BIRTHS
A boy was born to Mr. and Mrs.
William Mcßride of 13-N Hillside
on December 24. Mr. and Mrs.
George Bauer of 16-F Crescent had
a boy on December 19, not a girl as
reported in last week’s issue.
Fate Of Newspaper To Be Decided
At Community Meeting Next Friday
The fate of Greenbelt’s weekly newspaper will be decided at
a community-wide meeting to be held Friday, January 21, at 8:30*
p.m. in the Social Hall of the Center School.
All organizations in Greenbelt interested in seeing the news
paper continue publication are being asked to send representatives
Citizens Group Hears
Problems of Newspaper
About 25 citizens heard Isadore
Parker speak on the problems of
the News Review at the Greenbelt
Citizens Association meeting last
Monday night. Parker is president
of the Greenbelt Cooperative Pub
lishing Association and associate
editor of the newspaper.
After seventeen years of publica
tion, and several critical periods in
the past, the News Review faces
“folding” unless the civic groups in
town can save it, Parker disclosed.
He said the paper is faced with two
problems—financial and staff. Lack
of advertising revenue has caused
the newspaper to drop to two pages
and fewer people are carrying the
burden of editing and publishing
the paper, he added.
Citing the continuing service to
the community and its many or
ganizations, Parker declared that
the death of the News Review
would be a serous blow to the flow
of important information to citi
zens regarding the city. “Those of
us still on the paper are prepared
to double our efforts to continue
this service, but it is a service like
other community services and must
be paid for. Our only chance of
survival depends on the citizens
themselves,” Parker stated.
Plans for a meeting of represen
tatives of every group in the city
to meet January 21 in the Social
Room of the community building
was announced by Parker. The
representatives will be asked to
suggest ideas to continue the News
Review and perhaps to assist fi
nancially through advertising. The
News Review plans to return to a
free city-wide distribution, Parker
informed the group.
A motion to place ads in the
News Review to announce meet
ings of the Citizens Association was
approved by the members.
Greenbelt Postmaster
Indicted In Mail Theft
According to the Associated
Press, Thomas R. Freeman, 61-
year-old Postmaster of Greenbelt,
Md., was indicted Tuesday, January
11, by a Federal grand jury on a
charge of taking a package from
the mails and opening it.
The indictment said the test
parcel, containing a silver baby
spoon and food scraper in an imi
tation leather case, was addressed
to a Greenbelt woman and had
been sent from a hotel in Texas.
Postal inspectors said they found
the unwrapped spoon and food
scraper in Freeman’s desk.
Mr. Freeman was suspended De
cember 17. Assistant Postmaster
George Eshbaugh is now serving
as acting postmaster.
High Point High School
Slates Evening Classes
Registration for the second se
mester of adult evening classes
will be held Monday, January 17,
from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the High
Point High School, Cherry Hill and
Powder Mill Roads, Beltsville.
Classes will be offered in the fol
lowing subjects: Typing, Sewing,
Art, General Crafts, Woodwork,
Metalwork, and Graphic Arts. They
will meet twice a week for twelve
weeks.
to this meeting. It is planned to
organize them into a special work
ing committee which will take ac
tive steps to revive the paper and
place it on a sound financial basis.
If nothing is accomplished at this,
meeting, the News Review will pub
lish its final issue the following;
week.
The decision to appeal to the
community for support was made
at a special staff meeting held
Thursday, January 6, to consider
the newspaper’s present predica
ment. It was felt that the prob
lems of the newspaper, particularly
its financial dilemma, could only
be solved by vigorous action by
the community’s organizations.
Recommendations that came out
of the staff meeting include sub
stantial increase in advertising
from Greenbelt Consumer Servic
es, Inc. (GCS), which encompasses
nearly all the business activities
in the city, and monetary support
from the city council, the Green
belt Housing Co-poration, and the
organizations themselves. It was
also agreed that the newspaper, if
it continued publication, would re
vert to free city-wide distribution..
One staff problem, the excessive
burden on the editor due to the de
crease in the staff, was temporarily
solved. Beginning with next week’s
issue and continuing until cither
a final solution is reached or the
paper folds, four staff members will
rotate the job of editor. For a
limited time, I. J. Parker, Harry
Zubkoff, and Bernard Krug, all
former editors of the paper, and
Russell Greenbaum, present editor,
will take turns each week in as
suming the responsibility for put
ting out the paper.
The reasons for the paper’s two
basic problems—diminishing adver
tising and lack of staff members
were discussed. It was pointed
out that throughout most of its life
the newspaper has relied on GCS
to supply the major portion of its
advertising revenue. This has stead
ily decreased, however, and even
stopped completely for a short per
iod, although it was recently re
newed on a modest basis.
Up until a few months ago ad
vertising purchased by business
firms along the Washington-Balti
more boulevard partially compen
sated for the drop in GCS ads, al
though not enough to meet expen
ses. However, Harry Zuzkoff, the
advertising manager, reported that
these firms now report their busi
ness seriously hurt by the opening
of the Washington-Baltimore Park
way and feel they no longer can
afford to advertise.
The staff problem has grown due
to the fact that no new recruits,
have joined the editorial staff in
the past year and a half. This has
meant there has been no replace
ment for veteran staff members
who have resigned to turn to other
interests and responsibilities. The
hope was expressed that revival of
interest in the paper would bring in
new blood and also bring back for
mer staffers.
Another step that was felt neces
sary is to supply the paper with
enough of an income to provide
salaries for the editor and an as
sistant. Although the payment of
a minimum salary to the editor
was inaugurated in June, 1953,
when the old Cooperator went on
a subscription basis, it was neces
sary to discontinue this payment
after less than 12 months because
of the newspaper’s financial plight..