Week in Review: Teacher Appreciation, BW Parkway Shooting and Osama bin Laden's Death

Have you ever wondered what it's like to fight a fire? Well, a Patch videographer captured the sounds, the heat and the intensity of firefighting on video during a recent visit to the Maryland Fire Rescue Institute in College Park, which we posted to kick off our week. I learned something — maybe you will, too.

Late Sunday evening, Americans — and the world — learned of Osama bin Laden's death by U.S. forces in Pakistan. Greenbelt Patch assisted College Park Patch in covering UMd. student response to bin Laden's death into early Monday. 

On Monday, we reported on a solemn ceremony held by the Greenbelt American Legion Post 136 to honor 60 veterans and auxiliary members who have gone on to  “Post Everlasting." We also reported on an "Artful Afternoon" where adults and kids, inspired by spring and the Greenbelt Farmers Market, created pickle puppets, bug sculpture and laminated placemats. And Teacher Appreciation Week gave Patch an excellent reason to stop by Greenbelt Elementary to cover the first of the week's events hosted by the PTA to shower the teachers and staff with love.

Our parent columnist, Dawn Mooney, wrote a particularly sobering piece about tackling the subject of Sept. 11 and Osama bin Laden's death with her 10-year-old son, which elicited a number of comments on the site.

Tuesday morning, Prince George's County switched all 911 communications from its center in Hyattsville to the new Public Safety Communications Center in Bowie, which now facilitates 63 dispatchers versus the 36 at the previous location.

On Wednesday, two Greenbelters, Councilman Konrad Herling and Sheila Maffay-Tuthill, helped Patch launch our film review series on movies showing at Old Greenbelt Theatre. Their reviews of "Win Win" just may inspire you to watch it at some future date.

Cinco de Mayo (May 5) did not begin on a festive note. Patch reported on a double shooting that occurred on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway in Riverdale and ended in Greenbelt. “It was a mile-long crime scene," U.S. Park Police spokesman Sgt. David Schlosser said.

On Friday, Patch reported that Master Police Officer Dewey and his canine teammate, K-9 Rambo, became the first Greenbelt Police K-9 team in history to win first place during the U.S. Police Canine Association (USPCA) Region III patrol dog certification trials. We also made a return visit to Greenbelt Elementary during Teacher Appreciation Week to photograph Greenbelt moms distributing goodie bags to the teachers, bus drivers, custodial workers and crossing guards.

We ended the week by previewing the Greenbelt Farmers Market. Patch provided a bit of history — thanks to Joe Gareri, the market’s vice president — and noted its success, especially given the 17 vendors on board this season. 

On a bittersweet note, Patch posted a heartfelt opinion piece on Maryland basketball coach Gary Williams, who announced his retirement May 5, by a veteran Baltimore journalist who attended the University of Maryland.

Happy Mother's Day!