November 8 - Greenbelt News Review

Page 6 GREENBELT NEWS REVIEW Thursday, November 8, 2012
PRECINCTS continued from page 1
and her mother Kim Cristwell
–”like‘Christ’ without the ‘h’.”
Moi: “You are one lucky guy.”
Anthony (no relation to Carmelo
Anthony of the New York
Knicks): “I am a king . . .” “.
. . among your queens,” added
Ferrell, both smiling.
“It was worth the wait,” said
a woman who identified herself
only as Carla Jean, scurrying
away. “How long?” I asked.
“Two and a half hours!” Carla
Jean shouted over her shoulder.
Two first-time voters, Katrina
Johnson, 20, and Christine Gee,
18, said they had already been
waiting two hours. Would they
vote in favor of Question 6 (marriage
equality)? Johnson said,
“Yes”; Gee said, “Maybe.”
Theodore Wilson was one
probing, curious voter filled with
questions about the process. He
was convinced that the long
wait could have been avoided.
“Why are there only two e-poll
machines (which store registered
voters’ names) here? Is it
the budget? The demographic?
We want to know why but they
won’t answer us. Why isn’t the
new Greenbelt Middle School
used as a polling place? It’s
much bigger than here.” His
friend Tiara Mallory nodded in
agreement.
Rob Hunter, Aruna Kamara
and Kyana Robinson wore spiffy
blue “Election Protection” T-shirts
and explained that their job was
to “resolve problems, answer
questions, give direction and explain
the rules.”
The most exotic voter at
SHLES had to be Leon Dunkley,
who retrieved his guitar from his
car when he realized the wait
would try everyone’s patience.
As he strummed away, his adjacent
neighbor, Ruenette Frasier
said, “He’s entertaining us,
helpin’ us endure the line.”
At Eleanor Roosevelt High
School (ERHS) Mary Potter exclaimed
“Thank God it’s over!
A 45-minute wait – not bad at
all.” Potter’s articulacy grew. “I
respect the election workers enormously.
Most voters don’t have
any idea how hard they work.
My daughter Anne, an ERHS
grad, by the way, is a voter registrar
in Richmond . . . . I’m sorry
to say it, but campaigns are never
really over. Watch, the fundraising
will start tomorrow! The
business of America is electioneering,
not business. Think of
all the worthy causes that could
have benefited from using the
money spent on candidates. It
could have fed so many people,
At 9 a.m. Springhill Lake Elementary School (Precinct 8)
had a line of voters extending out from the gym and down
a hallway. At 8 p.m. Tuesday the News Review reporter
learned there was still a two-hour-long line of voters. The
results didn’t get to the newspaper until midnight.
educated so many people . . . .
Well, ciao!”
Outside ERHS I joshed with a
genteel, grandmotherly woman, a
Democrat party campaign volunteer.
Moi: “Is everyone behaving
inside? Any riots?” Genteel volunteer:
“Not riotous at all. There
were long lines early this morning,
maybe a one and a half hour
wait, but now it’s quick.” Moi:
“And your name is . . .?” Genteel
volunteer: “Jane Ross.” Moi, joking
: “Any relation to Justin Ross
(recently retired state delegate)?”
Jane Ross: “I’m Justin’s mom.”
After Ms. Ross raved a bit
about her four extraordinary grandchildren,
I scurried inside ERHS
where Sheila Mugabe and her husband
Benon, two election officials,
graciously gave me a quick tour of
the efficient operation.
My little odyssey brought me
at last to Turning Point Academy,
where a campaign volunteer
pressed propaganda into my hand.
This unusual, only slightly exaggerated
dialogue, ensued. Moi:
“Can I have your name?” Volunteer:
“Sure. Justin Ross.” Moi:
“Any relation to Jane Ross?”
“Sure. I’m Jane’s son.”
Inside I asked exiting voter
Gabriela Navarro if the line was
long. She said “It was an hour
long when I came to vote the
first time. But this time it’s
only 20 minutes long.” “What
candor!” I thought, as did Mike
Plane, standing nearby. After I
probed a bit, Gabriela and her
daughter Alysha Navarro-Henry
laughed at our simplicity. Gabriela
had left to pick up her son
and returned to vote later – once.
Alysha had driven three hours
from Morgantown, West Virginia,
photo by helen sydavar
where she is a student at WVU
to vote at Turning Point – she
had forgotten to mail her absentee
ballot. All three voters were
convinced that even if Question
7 passed and a casino were built
at National Harbor, no money
would reach our schools. “It’s
a lie,” said mother and daughter.
“I agree. It’s a lie,” Mike added.
Chief Judge Clyde Davis
and his trusty crew of Jonathan,
Glory, Karen, Chris, Kesha
and Kisha had everything humming
along beautifully. “Is Judge
Davis a good boss?” I asked.
“Sometimes,” said Kesha.
On my way out I bumped into
our noble city councilmember Ed
Putens. Moi: “Can I get a quote,
sir?” Putens: “You know what’s
more important to me right now?
My grandkids. They just voted .
. . . Now where are they? . . .”
Putens ambled off and so did I.
In conclusion, let me share
the two most striking comments
I culled. First, when I asked Bill
Orleans at the Community Center
if he was happy the campaign was
over, he said, “No! I think every
day should be an election day!”
Moi: “Why?” Bill: “Because I’m
in favor of perpetual reflection.”
And last, I asked Dawn Green,
ensconced at the very end of a
long labyrinthine line at Springhill
Lake, if she knew that she
would have a two and a half
hour wait. She answered “I
am prepared to wait for however
long it takes to vote.” Moi:
“Why?” Green: “Because it’s our
civic duty! Our forefathers and
foremothers fought and died for
us to be able to do this.”
And her pal Andrea Adgerson
added, “Amen to that!”
At Springhill Lake Elementary School polling place, Carol
Malveaux (left) is the Chief Democratic Judge and Warren
Wilcox the Chief Republican Judge.
Hokum jazz
Come celebrate Greenbelt’s 75 th Anniversary with this
acoustic trio playing early blues, swing and jug
band music from the 20s, 30s and 40s!
Sunday November 11, 5 to 8pm
New Deal Café - 113 Centerway
www.newdealcafe.com
301.474.5642
BUMPER jacksons
This raucous musical review pays homage to tradition
while fashioning a bold and elegant style. Hot jazz,
ragtime and pre-war country, in celebration of
Greenbelt’s 75 th Anniversary!
Friday November 9, 8 to 11pm
New Deal Café - 113 Centerway
www.newdealcafe.com
301.474.5642
Thursday, May 12, 2011 GREENBELT NEWS REVIEW Page 9
photo by eric zhang
Voters lined up outside of the Community Center (Precinct 3).
photo by helen sydavar
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Staff Permit Review
The GHI Board moved to present a rules revision
regarding Staff Permit Review to the
GHI community for feedback for a 30-day period.
To see the draft criteria, either pick up a hard copy at
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or go to www.ghi.coop
Comments should be submitted via email to
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or written comments can be delivered to the
GHI Offices, Attn: Rean
All comments are due by December 2, 2012