The
Towers
Times
April 2016
6515 Belcrest Rd º Hyattsville, MD 20782
In this month’s newsletter, we celebrate Earth Day! Earth day is an annual holiday,
celebrated on April 22, on which events worldwide are held to demonstrate support for
environmental protection. This edition of Towers Times highlights everything Earth Days
from fun facts about the day to ways you can change your lifestyle to support a healthy
Earth!
Message from the manager
Amanda Pyne-Leasing Manager
This month we are
celebrating Earth
Day and we invite you to join us! April showers bring May
another year or more here at
The Towers we encourage you
flowers; April sustainability can brings years of giving back to
to renew your lease as soon as
the environment! How will you be celebrating Earth Day this
possible. The Renewal deadline
month? Try to make one sustainable effort each day, each week,
was March 10, 2016, and
or just one this month. Every effort counts. Maybe you can try your space became for lease as
always turning off the lights in rooms where you aren’t using
of March 11th. Your room may
still be available for the
them. Or don’t run the water while washing dishes or brushing
2016- 2017 year. Stop by the
your teeth. Only running the dishwasher when its full will save
Leasing Office or email us at
energy and water. Turning off the heat/air when you are not
[email protected] to
home will use less electricity, is good for the environment, and
inquire. For those of you who
good for your pocket too! You can share your Earth Day efforts will be moving out in July, stay
tuned for move out information
and activities on our Facebook page or Instagram, use hashtag
#earthdayutc2016. We can’t wait to see the great things you all and important things to know
coming to your email soon.
are doing this month!
For many of you, April is not just the month of warm weather
and outdoor fun; finals are around the corner and you will be
studying and preparing for your exams. We will have some fun
events around this time, when you need a quick study break
please join us- see the calendar page for more details on
upcoming events to help you unwind. As your preparing for
finals, don’t forget to secure your housing for next year. If you
are graduating, we wish you a warm congratulations and best
wishes for your bright future ahead! If you are planning for
I wish you good luck on all your
exams!
Best Wishes,
Amanda Pyne
Inside this issue:
Unbill App
2
Scholarship Competition
3
Resident Events
3
Fun Facts
3
Top Ten
3
Bright Beginnings 5k
Race
4
Roommate Tips
4
Did You Know
5
Resident Spotlight
6
Staff Spotlight
6
CA Employment
8
Towers at UTC
Office Hours
Monday-Friday
9am-6pm
Weekends
10am –6pm
Mr. and Ms. UTC Scholarship Competition
Come see who will
Don’t Miss your
be crowned the next
chance to win prizes
Mr. and Ms. UTC!
too!
April 9th at 12pm in the Game Room
April 2016
Sun Mon Tue Wed
3
4
5
Thu
6
7
Fri
Sat
1
2
8
Bingo Bingo
Main Office
10am
10
17
11
Mr. and Miss
UTC Pageant
12pm Game Room
12
13
14
Sodexo Food
Demonstration
7pm Game
Room
Bible Study
7pm
Murder Mystery
Dinner 7pm
Graduate Students
Only
19
20
21
18
Sundae Funday!
8pm Game Room
Capitol Tech Only
24
25
26
22
23
27
28
29
30
Bright Beginnings
5k Race
(see pg. 4 for
Follow us on
Twitter
Do
you
know what
today is

April 2: National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day

April 6: National Student Athlete Day
Like our page on

April 12: National Library Day
Facebook

April 18: National Golf Day

April 22: Earth Day

April 23: Movie Theatre Day

April 29: Arbor Day
The Towers at UTC
16
Earth Day
Snack Attack
11pm
@thetowersutc
15
..
Follow us on
Instagram
@towersutc
Follow us on
Snapchat
@towersutc
Top Ten
This month’s top ten include ten ways you can make changes in your daily life to honor Earth Day!
1. Swap out your light bulbs for
energy efficient bulbs .
6. Drive the speed limit.
2. Do your laundry at night when costs are
lower .
8. Recycle.
3. Try walking or biking, instead of driving,
4. Turn off lights and unplug cell phone chargers
when they are not being used.
7. Curb your junk mail.
9. Carry your own water bottle.
10.
Opt in for electronic mail.
5. Plant a tree or three.
Earth Day Fun Facts
1. Earth day was proposed by then Senator
Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin after the 1969
massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, CA. He felt
like environmental issues weren’t being
addressed in the political arena, so he was
inspired to educate the public about the
environment and conduct a teach-in. The first
Earth Day took place on April 22, 1970 and
support for his initiative was so great that over
20 million people across the United States
participated.
2. Popular activities that people participate in on
Earth Day include protesting, planting trees,
collecting garbage, cleaning up the coral reefs,
signing petitions and teaching others how to
protect our environment and planet.
5. Earth Day is coordinated globally by the Earth
Day Network and is now celebrated in more
than 192 countries yearly.
6. Some communities and schools choose to
celebrate Earth Week, allowing for more time to
make the earth the focus of teaching and study.
7. Earth day led to public support that resulted in
creation of the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), Water Quality Improvement
Act, Endangered Species Act, and other
environmental laws.
8. In 2010, for the 40th anniversary of Earth Day,
225,000 people gathered at the National Mall in
Washington D.C. for a climate rally. Earth Day
Network launched a campaign to plant one
billion trees, which was achieved in 2012.
3. President Clinton awarded Senator Gaylord
9. More than 100 thousand people in China rode
Nelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom in
their bikes on Earth Day in 2012. They did this
1995, the highest honor given to civilians in U.S.
to save fuel and to reduce the carbon dioxide
4. Denis Hayes took Earth Day international in
emissions from vehicles.
1990. Today he says that it is the largest secular
10. In Afghanistan in 2011, the Earth Day Network
holiday in the world, one that is celebrated by
planted 28 million trees in honor of Earth Day.
more than one billion people worldwide.
Earth Day Roommate Tips
It’s Earth Day!!

trash chute room for recycling use. If you and your room-
Tips on how you and your roommates can work
together to observe for earth day.

mates prefer to purchase your own recycle bin place bag
in
recycle bin in trash chute. Recycle, recycle, and recycle!
Turn off the lights! If you are not in the room turn the
Whenever possible, paper, aluminum, plastic, you name
lights off. This will help with reducing energy, saving
money, and shaking a bad habit!

it!

efficiently when build-up occurs in filters. Check “catch
first 50 residents to visit the office will receive a reusable
all” areas periodically and change your dryer lint trap on
bag for groceries and more. Most fruits and veggies do not
without one. Apples, oranges, bananas, peppers, zucchinis, you name it; don’t bag it. For the rest, there are all
types of reusable produce bags to fit the job!

Reduce the amount of on “power” you use by unplugging
electronic gadgets such as laptops and computers you are
not currently using. It may seem trivial, but they say
even this little bit can add up to a big difference in the
electric bill.
Keep things clean. Your appliances ( from the heating and
cooling system to refrigerators and dryers) will run less
Skip the produce bags or use reusable produce bags. The
require a plastic bag, and may actually store better
Live in a “recycled” home? Use the recycle bin in the
a regular schedule.

Be your own transportation. Have a rule in your
apartment, if it is within 1.5 miles (takes 30 minutes to
walk or 12 minutes to jog) no cars allowed. If biking is
feasible in the area, this expands to a 3 mile radius. Not
only is this a friendly Earth Day practice, but it can add
to your daily exercise!
These are some wonderful tips! When Earth Day has passed,
it’s even more important to remember to do little things every
Bright beginnings Annual 5k Race
The Towers at University Town Center Staff will be participating in the Bright Beginnings' Annual 5K Race on April 30! The
race raises funds that help provide educational, therapeutic, health, and family services free of charge to homeless infants,
toddlers, preschoolers, and their families in Washington, DC. We would love for the Towers at UTC residents to get involved
by helping us raise $500 to support Bright Beginnings’ outstanding programs that prepare children for kindergarten and help
their parents get back on their feet.
Here How You Can Donate : Penny Wars North vs. South tower



Donate any spare change or bills you can to benefit The Race for New Beginnings in your perspective tower.
Decorative water jugs will be at the security desk from 9am to 5pm, Monday through Saturday.
Don’t have spare change? You can donate online https://www.crowdrise.com/TheTowersatUniversityTownCenter/
fundraiser/towersutc. Don't Forget to indicate where you are from the North or South Tower when donating online.


Last donation Friday April 29 at 6pm.
The Tower that raises the most money will win an Ice Cream Social.
Did
you
Submissions
Know??
Wanted!
 Did you know… the Game Room is open
24 hours a day, 7 days a week for resident
enjoyment.
Calling all creative artist!
Do you write poetry, take pictures, draw, or
have another special talent?
We would love to feature you in the
upcoming edition of
The Towers Times.
Submissions must be one page or less, in
good taste, and include a picture and bio
from the creator.
 Did you know… the Game Room features
a Gaming Center equipped with an
Xbox360 and a PlayStation 4. Games and
Controllers are available in the Security
Center for check out.
 Did you know…you should never open the
door for anyone outside the Game
Room. All residents and visitors should
use the main lobby entrance.
Submit to: [email protected]
 Did you know…there is one remote
control located on the back wall that
controls all of the 46” televisions in the
Game Room.
Financial
Cents
 Did you know…the Game Room is the #1
location for all Towers events. The events
are FREE and open to residents; feel free
to stop by and say hi next time.
Help save a tree by paying your rent electronically. Take advance of the option to make
payments over the phone with a debit/credit
card or online. Avoid paying with a physical
money order or check.
Maintenance
Corner
Joke of the
Month
Q: What do cats eat for
breakfast?
A: Mice Krispies.
Please see below for a few maintenance tips !
1.
If your freezer is leaking, it may be due to a block vent in the freezer.
Check your freezer to make sure the vent is not blocked. Also, be sure
to clean any standing
2.
If your bed frame is wobbly it is due to a loose bed leg. It can be fixed
by just tightening the leg by hand.
3.
Only toilet paper should be put in the toilet. Other items such
sanitary napkins and paper towels will cause the toilet to overflow.
4.
The second light switch from the room door operates the top plug only
for turning off and on the bottom plugs works all the time.
5.
In the event of non-threatening cooking related smoke, open to window
to ventilate. Please don't open apartment door, it will set the alarm on
in the building.
Resident Spotlight:
Phillip Graham
2. How long have you been a resident at The Towers at
UTC? Why did you move into The Towers at UTC?
1.
Tell us about your self?
I am currently a 4th year student at Howard University
working on my Ph. D. in Counseling Psychology. I have
had the honor of working in a variety of clinical settings
that have assisted me in enriching my training
opportunities. I am a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
Fraternity, Inc., A McNair Scholar, and member of The
Golden Key Honor Society.
Throughout the tenure of my educational career, I have
been invited to present at a number of conferences
including The Winter Roundtable at Teachers College
in NYC, ABPsi, and Brown Bag seminars at Howard
University presenting on psychosexual health of at risk
youth. In addition to my studies, I have volunteered my
time working with inner city youth and a variety of
community service projects helping to feed the
less fortunate.
I have also volunteered my spare time coordination and
producing the Annual Scholarship Competition hosted
by The Towers at UTC. The pageant has been an
intense labor of love; whereas, I have been able to work
with some of the most talented and driven individuals
that reside in the Towers. Every year, we have put on
a phenomenal show in addition to raising thousands of
dollars in scholarships to these individuals. It is one of
the most amazing events of the year and I am blessed to
have been apart of this experience.
I have lived in the towers for nearly 5 years, I moved in
at the recommendation of a resident who also worked in
the office . I eventually became an employee at The
Towers and worked as a lead Community Assistant for
nearly 4 years.
3. What would you change about The Towers at UTC?
I would make some units one bedroom so I would never
have to move out. The Towers is really a great place to
live with a lot of amenities. Overall, I have been satisfied
living here and wouldn't change much.
4. What do you love about The Towers at UTC?
I love the convenience of living here, everything I need
is close, we have free rides to campus, cable and internet
are free all at a very reasonable price.
5. In honor our Earth Day Theme, what is one way you
can help the planet this year?
In honor of Earth Day, one thing we can do to help the
planet is to conserve our water. When we brush our
teeth or take showers, please try to not the run the
water excessively in order to help preserve one of our
most valuable resources.
Staff spotlight
Wade Winkey
here since the opening.
3. What would you change about The Towers at UTC?
1.
Tell us about your self?
I have been married for over 20 years and I have four
children. I enjoy spending time with my family who are
American Dominican and Puerto Rican. I am also
bilingual and can speak Spanish fluently.
I wouldn't change anything at The Towers at UTC, I love
working here!
4. What do you love about The Towers at UTC?
I love working here at The Tower because I have a great
work environment.
I really enjoy keeping healthy. I have done so by
practicing Kung FU for over 20 years. I also taught
martial arts for 3 years.
5. In honor our Earth Day
Theme, what is one way you can
help the planet this year?
2. How long have you been an employee at The Towers at
UTC? What is your position?
In honor of Earth Day, one thing
we can do is plant evergreen trees.
I am a Service Technician. I have been working here at
The Towers for 10 years. I have been a service technician
Step 6: Stop by the main office to pick up an application packet.