Kids celebrate Easter early with egg hunt
By JALEN WADE
More than 100 families from around the DMV came to Calvert Park on April 5 to take photos with the Easter Bunny and hunt for eggs during College Park’s annual Egg Hunt Eggstravaganza.
The Saturday morning event, which the city took over three years ago, also featured games and crafts for children.
“This looks like lots of entertainment, lots of different games to play, it looks really well organized and I just think the [children] will have a lot of fun and also get to see their relatives,” said Hyattsville resident Aaron Steers-Smith, who brought his two kids to the event.
The festivities included two egg hunts, a ring toss for children to toss rings onto an inflatable rabbit’s ears, and cookies and hot chocolate with the Easter Bunny.
“I think a lot of it is to get together with your family and friends, you know, to build community together to have fun in a fun and safe and family-oriented atmosphere here in College Park,” Ryna Quiñones, College Park’s communications and
events manager, said.
Melissa Sites, executive director of the College Park Arts Exchange, said she started hosting a booth at the event 20 years ago, even before the city took over.
“It’s really fun to offer [chil-
dren] some little activity that they’ll enjoy,” Sites said. “So we brought three different activities today for kids or for adults. So it’s like a multi-generational opportunity to make a quick art project.”
At her station, children could
color wooden eggs and dragonflies, make beaded necklaces and bracelets, and create custom, quarter-inch buttons to pin on their shirts.
Other games at the event included an inflatable bunny hop
No Mow April is good for bees, P.2
No tax hike this year in city budget, P.6
Child care is complicated for fired feds, P.7
Federal cuts create uncertainty in city
By OLIVER MACK
City officials are preparing for the economic fallout from the recent rash of layoffs of federal employees
College Park is home to approximately 1,100 federal workers, not including contractors, according to the U. S. Census Bureau. No estimates exist for how many of them have lost their jobs as part of President Donald Trump’s effort to drastically downsize the federal government.
“We are not really prepared for it,” Mayor Fazlul Kabir said. “It looks like all of these [actions] actually came suddenly. It has come in multiple ways.” Before long, rising unemployment in the city could seriously reduce customer traffic at restaurants, stores and other businesses, officials said.
“We’re going to just see a
Councilmember watches out for Spanish speakers
By IJEOMA OPARA
Fidel Alfaro, 42, has run Alfaro Barbershop on Rhode Island Avenue since 2019, but he speaks very little English. So most of the information he learns about the city comes from one of his regular customers, City Councilmember Jacob Hernandez (District 1), who gives him the
information in Spanish.
“Even [on days] he just comes to cut his hair, he always gave me some ideas about how the city works,” Alfaro said through an interpreter.
When Hernandez told him about College Park’s economic development grants last year, Alfaro’s shop was in need of renovations. With guidance from Hernandez,
who has served on the council since 2023, Alfaro filled out the application forms. By the end of 2024, the shop had $14,000 to spend on new floors, doors, ceiling repairs and security cameras.
“He always had time to get here,” Alfaro said of Hernandez.
Now Alfaro encourages other Spanishspeaking business owners in North Col-
lege Park to be more involved with the city government.
When Hernandez took office, one of his priorities was engaging both English and Spanish communities through a bilingual approach, the councilmember said.
To that end, he supported the city’s hiring of a bilingual staff member in 2024 to
Children hunt for rainbow-colored Easter eggs at the city’s big egg hunt over the weekend. About 100 families participated. JALEN WADE
No Mow April benefits bees, butterflies
By AUDREY BENGTSON
If you don’t want to mow your lawn this month, that’s OK with the city.
College Park has waived the usual 12-inch limit for the height of grass, weeds and other lawn cover for No Mow April in an effort to allow native pollinators like bees and butterflies to feed and find habitats.
“Pollinators need floral resources in order to get the energy they need to build their broods up, especially early in the season,” said Daniel Gruner, a professor of entomology at the University of Maryland (UMD). “By pledging to not mow our lawns in April, we can make those scarce floral resources more available for pollinators.”
On its social media accounts, the city asked residents to participate in No Mow April for the fourth year.
Karin Burghardt, an associate professor of entomology and an
extension specialist, endorsed the move.
“No Mow April is a great communication tool to connect in folks’ minds that their management strategies in their yards have consequences for insects,” she said.
Burghardt said she would “encourage this to be a kind of, not just a month-long approach, but something you kind of adopt as a technique for all of the months of the summer.”
Laura Rost, the national coordinator of Bee City USA, which advocates for safe habitats for the world’s 350,000 natural pollinators, said No Mow April and Low Mow Spring started in the United Kingdom “as something easy people could do to increase floral blooms in the spring when hungry bees are just starting to emerge and are really needing nectar and pollen.”
In addition, Rost said, more than 3,600 species of bees na-
tive to America “ideally should have native flowers.’
“The best thing we can do to help bees is to plant native plants … and native shrubs and native trees that bloom,” Rost said. “That’s a great way to support bees.”
Still, Rost added, “The nonnative weeds like dandelions are kind of junk food for bees, but if you have native flowers blooming in your lawn, that’s great, that’s definitely a good way to support bees.”
But Burghardt said residents and business owners who use pesticides in their lawns should cut their grass.
“If you have a yard that you’re managing, you’re probably using pesticides to keep your lawn in shape, and in that case, we probably don’t want to have those residents not mowing because if they do end up attracting insects, they could be poisoning them when they use their pesticide treatments.”
New District 3 councilmember takes oath of office
By SHARON O’MALLEY
The University of Maryland (UMD) chaplain who won the election to fill the vacant District 3 College Park City Council seat took the oath of office on March 18.
Ray Ranker, who tallied 344 out of 512 votes cast in the March 11 special election, took his seat on the dais after College Park Mayor Fazlul Kabir swore him in. His wife, Karin Brown, their children David and Lucia, and his mother, Cindy Ranker, stood with him.
Ranker thanked the residents of District 3 “for your trust and this responsibility to be a good
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steward of your resources.”
Ranker beat lifelong Old Town resident Michael Meadow, who
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won 99 votes, and UMD student Gannon Sprinkle, who took 69, according to the Board of Elec-
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tions Supervisors.
After his victory, Ranker told College Park Here & Now, “There are just a lot of amazing people who are, in so many different ways, making our community stronger, more connected, better. I’m excited to build on that.”
Ranker, a longtime College Park Estates resident who leads UMD’s Lutheran Campus Ministry, said he expects to dive right into city budget planning during the first month or so of his term, which will end in November. He may choose to run for reelection during the city’s regular council election, which occurs every two years.
At that time, voters will select a mayor and fill all eight city council seats. None of the incumbent councilmembers has declared as a candidate for that election yet.
Ranker filled the seat left vacant by former District 3 Councilmember Stuart Adams, who resigned in January.
“I can really advocate for the kinds of changes that folks in [District 3] want to see reflected in the annual budget that’s coming up,” Ranker said. “It’s one of the best opportunities to help reflect our city’s values and hopes through how we spend our money, [and] to be good stewards of that process.”
Ranker said he plans to reach out to Meadow, a federal government engineer, and Sprinkle, a
junior government and politics major, “to help move College Park forward together.”
In a post-election interview, Meadow said he will make himself available.
“I’m happy to help out in any way I can to help him succeed,” Meadow said. “If we have a successful city councilmember, that benefits us all. If he succeeds, we all succeed in College Park.”
Meadow, whose campaign for city council was his first foray into politics, said he has not decided if he will run again in November.
Ranker’s District 3 colleague, Councilmember John Rigg, said Ranker ran “a great campaign.”
Rigg said he has known Ranker for some time and noted, “He has an excellent reputation in the community.”
Ranker, 42, previously served for seven years as the president of the College Park Estates Civic Association and on a city commission tasked with recommending term lengths for elected officials. He made an unsuccessful run for the Maryland House of Delegates in 2018, and ran for city council on a platform of inclusivity and citizen involvement.
Mayor Fazlul Kabir said having a councilmember from Ranker’s neighborhood–near the College Park Airport–will be “a good thing for the entire District 3. … He’ll be a good asset to the College Park City Council.”
Kit Slack
No Mow April protects spring beauties and other wildflowers that provide nectar and pollen for bees and insects. COURTESY OF KARIN TWARDOSZ BURGHARDT
College Park Mayor Fazlul Kabir gives the oath of office to new City Councilmember Ray Ranker (District 3). Ranker was joined at the ceremony by his family, from right to left, wife Karin Brown, son David, mother Cindy Ranker and daughter Lucia. COURTESY OF CITY OF COLLEGE PARK/DENNY HENRY
City launches text alert system
By JALEN WADE
College Park began sending text messages in March to keep residents up to date on events, news and emergencies.
Ryna Quiñones, the city’s communications and events manager, said using texts will help the city communicate with residents more effectively.
“We’re always looking for new ways to reach our residents,” Quiñones said. “We want to make sure that we are getting them news and information in ways that they want to get the information, and one of the ways is through text message.” Civic Plus Mass Communications will provide the service.
To sign up for information about news and events, residents can text COLLEGEPARK to 38276, and for emergency alerts, they can text CPALERTS to the same number.
Mayor Fazlul Kabir said the city has been looking into new ways to interact with its residents.
Alerts can be geo-targeted to specific areas, districts, neighborhoods or even streets. For instance, if a fallen tree is blocking a road in a particular neighborhood, the city can alert residents in that area.
Lakeland Civic Association
President Robert Thurston predicted the text alerts will be popular because they are easy
to sign up for.
“I hope this text alert will be a tool to reach those in the community [who need] to access information,” Thurston said, “especially our senior population that has limited access.”
Daniel Oates, president of the Calvert Hills Citizens Association, said this new system has the potential to reach everyone in the city. He noted that some in the Calvert Hills community receive text updates from the University of Maryland’s alert system, but that information is limited to a small area surrounding the school.
“There’s right now some people who are affiliated at the university getting text alerts about, if there’s a burglary, or, you know, ‘Hey, stay away from this area because of XYZ thing,’” Oates said. “But there’s [previously] not a way that I’m aware of for the city to do the same kind of communication by text. So I welcome creating more awareness of what’s going on in the community.”
contact facilitator Donna Chacko at 301-277-2970 or serenityandhealthdc@gmail.com
To learn more about Centering Prayer, go to https://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/centering-prayer-method/
College Park residents can sign up for text alerts from the city in a program that began last month.
COURTESY OF THE CITY OF COLLEGE PARK
Local musician wins spot at Strathmore
By LILLIAN GLAROS
Qi Yu grew up in Inner Mongolia in China, but her music is a mixture of her homeland and the beats and rhythms of her American home.
Yu, a resident of College Park’s Hollywood neighborhood, plays the guzheng, or Chinese zither, a wooden instrument that rests on a flat surface and usually has 21 strings.
The instrument uses the pentatonic scale, which means it has five notes, Yu said, and she usually plays it using eight picks, four on each hand.
Yu is one of six members of the Strathmore Institute for Artistic Development’s Artist in Residence program in North Bethesda.
“She just brought so much to her audition,” Betty Scott, the program’s director, said. “She’s very, very engaging as a performer.”
Yu’s musical journey started in China, with her father, who enrolled her in a music school. Western instruments, like the piano, proved to be too costly for the family, so Yu looked to more traditional Chinese instruments.
“I looked at a bunch of other instruments, and some of them just put me to sleep,” Yu said. “I was 6 years old, and … nothing was actually catching my interest.”
Then, Yu said, she saw her fu-
ture teacher playing the zither. Yu said she was “making magic happen” with the instrument.
That moment began a decades-long devotion for the 31-year-old.
To hear Yu tell it, music is a friend, a habit and a part of her.
“It’s just my way of saying my story and sharing my story with everyone,” Yu said.
Introduced to contemporary and Western music while in middle school, Yu encountered other styles like bluegrass and jazz when she moved to the United States around 10 years ago.
Today Western music influences her music style, which is evident in a song she composed for her March 26 concert that she said puts a funk spin on Chinese music.
She graduated with master’s degrees in world music and recording arts from Northern Illinois University in 2020, and then became a live-streaming producer for the Baltimore Sym-
phony Orchestra.
After a season of working in Baltimore, she moved to College Park when she got a job with the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., as a coordinating producer for streaming and broadcasting.
However, Yu said she found herself wanting to play music, so she applied to Strathmore’s 10-month program, which pays her $6,000 and offers professional photography and videography sessions and opportunities to perform before live audiences.
“I was just so excited to be able to play with people,” Yu said. “That’s all. … I just wanted to play.”
According to Scott, the participants get mentors and attend 30
hours of professional development seminars on topics such as how to budget time and money. Scott said the goal of the program is to help professional music artists transition from gig work to a career in music.
After the seminars, each artist gets a month to put on concerts and workshops, Yu said. Her month was March.
At her first performance, “From Ancient to Contemporary: The Guzheng’s Development Over Time,” on March 12, the pieces focused on how the Chinese zither’s music has evolved over time.
During the performance, her songs rose and fell in intensity, at times trilling up and down, or with more separate staccato-like sounds, or notes softly plucked. She moved her upper body as she played, her eyes closed in concentration as her zither lay horizontally.
She was accompanied at times by her husband, Michael McSweeney, on the drums, and fellow artist-in-residence Jack Gruber on the piano.
Tariq Mansour, who attended the concert, said he enjoyed Yu’s music, especially the pieces from Western China, which he compared to Middle Eastern music.
The Columbia resident said he also plays the guzheng, and enjoyed the progression of Yu’s music from high to low notes.
Chinese-born musician Qi Yu, who lives in College Park’s Hollywood neighborhood, is a member of Strathmore’s competitive Artist in Residence program. COURTESY OF STRATHMORE/ MARGO SCHULMAN
NEWS BRIEFS
Correction. An article in the March issue of College Park Here & Now incorrectly stated that the city council is considering requiring homeowners to hide their trash bins from street view. The ordinance mentioned in the article requires homeowners to store refuse and recycling bins on the side or back of their houses rather than in the front, but makes no reference to street view. College Park Here & Now regrets the error.
Wojahn disbarred. The Supreme Court of Maryland on March 21 officially disbarred former College Park Mayor Patrick Wojahn from practicing law in the state.
The order comes two years after Wojahn, who served as mayor from 2015 until he resigned just hours before his arrest in 2023, was charged with multiple counts of possession and distribution of child sexual abuse materials. Wojahn pleaded guilty to 140 counts in August 2023 and is serving a 30-year sentence at the Patuxent Institution in Jessup. Wojahn reportedly did not oppose the disbarment.
Kermit speaks. The University of Maryland (UMD) has named its May 21 graduation speaker: Kermit the Frog.
Muppets creator Jim Henson, who invented Kermit, graduated from UMD in 1960 with a degree in home economics. Henson died in 1990.
“Our pride in Jim Henson knows no bounds, and it is an honor to welcome Kermit the Frog to our campus 65 years after Mr. Henson graduated,”
It’s time to
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UMD President Darryll J. Pines said in a news release.
Puppeteer Matt Vogel, who has voiced the famous green frog since 2017, is expected to bring Kermit to the ceremony. The Walt Disney Co. owns the Muppets franchise.
Homebound. A federal judge on Friday ordered the U.S. government to bring a Beltsville man who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador last month back home.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who reportedly was picked up by ICE agents in the parking lot of the College Park IKEA on March 12, was deported because of what the administration has described as an “administrative error.” He had
at one time been suspected as a member of a crime gang.
Newer homes. The median age of housing in College Park dropped by 17 years over the last decade, according to a report by real estate market research organization PropertyShark.
In 2023, the median age of housing in the city—the number halfway between the age of the oldest residence and the newest—was 44 years, built in 1979. That compares with a median age of 61 years in 2013, according to the report.
College Park was tied for sixth place in the nationwide survey, which analyzed housing data in cities and towns with populations of 25,000 or more. The ranking is based on the change of the median build year of the city’s homes between 2013 and 2023.
Council priorities. The College Park City Council’s focus for the coming months will be on affordable housing, vacant and blighted properties, support for laid-off federal workers and finding ways for residents to benefit from upcoming development.
The priorities will help guide the councilmembers as they discuss the city manager’s proposed $29.6 million fiscal year 2026 budget, which was published online on March 21.
The council must adopt a budget ordinance by May 20.
Overcrowding. The College Park City Council began a conversation on April 1 to address what the city staff has identified as a problem with overcrowding in rental homes.
County zoning law, which the city follows, restricts rentals to no more than five unrelated occupants. Some councilmembers reported they are aware of houses with eight or more tenants.
Councilmembers said overcrowding in rentals has drawn complaints from neighbors about too many cars parked on residential streets and problems with upkeep and trash.
Ideas for addressing the issue included limiting the number of parking permits the city
would issue per house; placing a cap on how many College Park homes could be rented out per block; compiling an interactive map showing which homes on each street are rentals—and who owns them; and more strictly enforcing the code.
Mayor Fazlul Kabir said the council will revisit the issue at future meetings.
Street fair. College Park will host a street fair on May 18, featuring arts and crafts vendors, demonstrations, activities for children, food trucks and live music.
The fair will run from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Davis Hall, located at 9217 51st Ave. Arts and crafts vendors and food vendors may apply for space on the city’s website.
Mac Menders
The
or
activities
ADOBE STOCK PHOTO
City proposes $29.6M budget for FY ’26
By SHARON O’MALLEY
College Park’s city manager has proposed a $29.6 million budget for fiscal year 2026 that would not raise property taxes and would add three full-time staff members to city hall.
In addition, the proposal includes an 8.5% increase over last year for employee salaries and benefits as part of an effort to make compensation more comparable with neighboring cities.
Overall, the proposed budget asks for an increase of $261,763, or 0.9%, over the budget the College Park City Council approved for fiscal year 2025, which will end on June 30. By contrast, the fiscal year 2025 budget was 10.8% higher than the prior year’s and included an 11% residential property tax increase.
“Increasing property taxes has never been popular,” Mayor Fazlul Kabir told College Park Here & Now. “This year, thankfully, it’s not happening.”
Councilmembers, who will adopt a budget ordinance in May, spent the day Saturday in a worksession reviewing the proposal.The city will hold a public hearing on the budget proposal on May 6.
The proposal requests the addition of an economic development coordinator, a deputy city manager and a public
safety manager.
The public safety manager’s role, in part, will be to serve as a liaison between the Department of Public Services and the community and between the city and its contract police officers and the nearby police departments that help patrol College Park, according to Director of Public Services Jatinder Khokhar.
College Park does not have a police department and instead relies on contract and park police, and officers from the coun-
ty, the University of Maryland and Metro Transit.
“It’s quite a bit of work and I’m thankful this position is created,” Kabir said. “It will give a sense of safety to our community members. … This position will be in touch with the community members.”
The new economic development coordinator, Kabir said, is needed to help the economic development director keep up with an influx of businesses; nearly 20 businesses set up shop in Col-
lege Park last year or relocated within the city, some with financial aid from local government programs.
The budget proposal does not continue funding for a $150,000 student housing subsidy pilot program, which the council approved last year to help tenants of Route 1 apartment complexes pay their rent. Also absent is funding for the city’s annual parade, which staff has said is time-consuming to plan and lacks interest from both local
In his budget message to the College Park City Council, City Manager Kenneth Young noted this year’s budget season “comes at a turbulent time, with a myriad of challenges and economic uncertainties at the federal, state and county levels of government.”
performers and volunteers. A city ordinance requires each year’s budget to be balanced; that is, expenditures cannot exceed income.
Kabir said the city is not considering another property tax this year, in part, because its tax base–the sum of all residential and commercial property values within the city–continues to rise. As property values rise, the city collects more property taxes, even without a tax increase.
Last year, the city council increased residential property taxes to 33.5 cents per $100 of assessed value and commercial rates to 38.5 cents. The move marked the first time the city had raised the residential property tax rate in 10 years.
For the seventh year, the budget proposes a “homestead cap” of 0%. That program exempts homeowners who enroll from paying property taxes on any increase in the assessed value of their homes.
In his budget message to the council, City Manager Kenneth Young noted this year’s budget season “comes at a turbulent time, with a myriad of challenges and economic uncertainties at the federal, state and county levels of government.”
He wrote that the impact of potential layoffs of federal workers–College Park is home to approximately 1,100 of them–could be “severe,” adding, “This budget is one of the most difficult budget years in history.”
For now, Young wrote, the city has not experienced “a direct significant impact, but depending on the level of employee cuts at the federal level and ongoing and uncertain impact of federal aid and programs, that is subject to change.”
The College Park City Council will adopt next year’s budget by the end of May. GIUSEPPE LOPICCOLO
COLLEGE PARK POST
No Mow April
Participate in No Mow April this month to support pollinator populations and habitats in the City
The City of College Park urges its residents to act in support of local pollinators by participating in “No-Mow April.” This initiative, spearheaded by the Bee City USA Committee and endorsed by the Mayor and Council, aims to foster the growth and prosperity of native pollinators during a crucial period in their life cycle.
Throughout March and April, pollinators emerge from winter dormancy and begin foraging in lawns and yards for sustenance. Many of the plants within our lawns serve as vital food and habitat sources for these early-emerging pollinators. By minimizing or halting lawn mowing activities, residents can play a significant
role in bolstering pollinator populations.
While bees take center stage as primary pollinators, a diverse array of creatures including birds, butterflies, bats, beetles, and small mammals aid in pollen transport as they traverse from one spot to another.
Beyond the immediate benefits to pollinators, refraining from mowing offers an array of advantages for both residents and the environment. Improved air quality, reduced noise pollution, and increased biodiversity of birds and beneficial insects are just a few of the rewards.
Allowing lawn plants to flourish and flower enhances the aesthetic appeal of our surroundings, offering a more vibrant and diverse landscape while facilitating the observation of various pollinator species within our local ecosystem.
There is no registration for No Mow April -- the College Park City Council passed Resolution 22-R-13 to permanently designate April as No Mow Month and waive the tall grass enforcement for College Park residents during April.
Signage, denoting participation in No Mow April, is optional, and the City has a limited number of these colorful yard signs available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Residents who want to display support or help spread awareness of No Mow April may pick up a yard sign at Davis Hall, 9217 51st Ave, during business hours. Signs do not need to be returned at the end of the No Mow Month.
Interested in learning more ways to support native pollinators? Visit www.collegeparkmd.gov/ pollinators for valuable insights, including tips, lists of pollinatorfriendly plants and local nurseries, and additional resources.
No Mow April wraps up at the end of the month - be sure to tidy up your lawn and keep grass under 12 inches high by May 1 to avoid citations and fines.
APRIL
LIVE ACOUSTIC MUSIC AND PERFORMERS
ARTS & CRAFTS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS
FOOD TRUCKS WITH DELICIOUS OFFERINGS
LOCAL VENDORS SELLING SPRING-TIME GIFTS
UNICORN PETTING ZOO AND OTHER MAGICAL MOMENTS
COOKING DEMONSTRATION FROM EXPERT CHEFS
District 3 Election Results
Ray Ranker elected as District 3 Councilmember
The Certified Results of the March 11, 2025 Special Election for District 3 Councilmember have been posted. Raymond “Ray” D. Ranker has been elected as District 3 representative with 344 votes.
A total of 512 votes were cast in this special election to replace Stuart Adams, who resigned in January 2025. Three candidates ran in this election for the seat vacated by
Mr. Adams: Ray Ranker, Michael Meadow and Gannon Sprinkle.
Mr. Ranker was inaugurated during the March 18 Council Meeting and will serve in this role until the November 2025 City General Election.
For more information about City elections, please visit www. collegeparkmd.gov/elections.
Age Friendly College Park
Celebrating National Volunteer Month
Our community is home to a variety of organizations that provide valuable services, resources, and programs for residents of all ages and interests. These organizations depend on volunteers to meet their missions.
Helping those in need has been shown to reduce stress, increase happiness and improve the mental and physical health. Local organizations to explore are:
NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS
NHN is a volunteer-led organization that helps seniors age in place. They assist with transportation, household and yard chores, small house repairs, friendly visits, and phone checkins. To learn more, visit www.nhncp.org
MEALS ON WHEELS COLLEGE PARK
Meals on Wheels College Park delivers meals to seniors who are unable to prepare food on their own. Visit mealsonwheelsofcollegepark. org to learn more.
AGE-FRIENDLY COLLEGE PARK
The City has adopted an AgeFriendly Action Plan that includes goals and strategies for addressing livability in:
• Housing
• Transportation
• Social Participation
• Communication
• Health Services/Community Support
If you have interest/expertise in any of these areas, please contact: livablecommunity@ collegeparkmd.gov, or call 240.487.3550.
For more information visit collegeparkmd.gov/325/agefriendly-cp
CITY VOLUNTEERS
The City of College Park hosts multiple events throughout the year for all ages and volunteers are a vital part of each event’s success.
Opportunities are posted frequently. To learn more, visit collegeparkmd.gov/volunteers.
Friday Night LIVE!
College Park’s favorite summer concert series
Friday Night LIVE is College Park’s favorite summer concert series! On select Fridays from May through August, live bands will take the stage with bold beats from diverse musical genres.
From funky grooves to rock anthems, we’ve got the soundtrack for your Friday night. Come for
the music, stay for the memories. Kids can enjoy hands-on activities and games while adults indulge in delicious food and beer offerings for purchase.
Parking will be available for free at the Downtown Parking Garage at the corner of Yale Avenue and Knox Road.
Hollywood Farmers Market
Explore what’s in store at the market on opening day: April 12
Visit Hollywood Farmers Market (9803 Rhode Island Ave.) from 10AM to 2PM each Saturday between April 12 and November 22 for fruits and vegetables harvested at their peak!
Did you know we accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits so customers can purchase fresh
produce and locally made products at our market?
To use SNAP benefits, customers can swipe their EBT cards at the Maryland Market Money table. We will charge the card for any amount requested in exchange for tokens that can be spent with eligible vendors.
City Announcements
More information: www.collegeparkmd.gov
PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING
Please join City Elected Officials, Police, Department of Public Services staff, and your neighbors from all around the City, for an informative community meeting on Monday, May 5, 2025 from 7-8:30PM.
This community meeting will discuss City-wide crime statistics, recent incidents of public interest, neighborhood watch tips, and special public safety-related topics.
The meeting will be held in a hybrid format. Join us in-person at City Hall Community Room (7401 Baltimore Avenue) or online at collegeparkmd.gov/ publicsafetymeeting.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing meeting information.
2025 CONVO CLUB
Talk about the things that matter to you! Welcome to Convo Club, a place where middle schoolers can speak their minds, hear new perspectives, and build confidence expressing themselves.
Group meets Wednesdays from 6-7PM from May 2 to June 25, 2025.
Space is limited - register by April 16, 2025 to save your spot and join the convo! Call Youth & Family Services at 240-487-3550.
COLLEGE PARK TEXT ALERT NOTIFICATIONS
Stay in the know with the latest updates from the City—directly on your phone.
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City Events
More information: www.collegeparkmd.gov/calendar PUPPET SHOW
APRIL 17 | 1PM | City Hall (7401 Baltimore Avenue)
School’s Out! Join us for an afternoon puppet show at City Hall! Black Cherry Puppet Theater, from Baltimore, MD is bringing their Marionette Show, Billy Goats Gruff’kin, to City Hall on Thursday, April 17th at 1pm in Council Chambers. (Show is recommended for children ages 5 and up). After the show participants can enjoy a photo opportunity with the puppeteers, and children under 12 will have the opportunity to make a puppet to take home! Two puppet-making workshop times will be offered at 2pm and 2:30pm, but space is limited so advanced reservations are highly encouraged. Admission is free, but registration is required. Visit collegeparkmd.gov/puppets to register today!
REDEDICATION CEREMONY
MAY 1 | 6PM | Lakeland College Park Community Center (5051 Pierce Ave.)
Please join us in celebrating the future of the Lakeland community and remembering its rich history. The ceremony will feature brief remarks and the presentation of a plaque for the community center, followed by light refreshments. This event is rain or shine.
Please RSVP by Wednesday, April 30 at pgparks.com/lakelandrsvp.
CLEAN UP SATURDAYS
Apr 12 & 26
May 17
7:30AM - 12PM
Davis Hall (9217 51st Ave)
ARBOR DAY
APRIL 25 | 6PM | College Park Woods Clubhouse (3545 Marlbrough Way)
Join the City of College Park’s Tree and Landscape Board for our annual Arbor Day tree planting ceremony dedicated to creating a greener future for College Park!
FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE
MAY 9 | 6:30PM | City Hall (7401 Baltimore Avenue)
Friday Night LIVE is College Park’s favorite summer concert series! On select Fridays from May through August, live bands will take the stage with bold beats from diverse musical genres. Kids can enjoy hands-on activities and games while adults indulge in delicious food and beer for purchase.
Parking will be available for free at the Downtown Parking Garage at the corner of Yale Avenue and Knox Road. Come for the music, stay for the memories! Learn more at collegeparkmd.gov/FNL.
SPRING STREET FAIR
MAY 18 | 1-4PM | Davis Hall (9217 51st Avenue)
Help us celebrate Spring in College Park at our first ever Spring Street Fair! We’ll have arts and crafts vendors, demonstrations, kids activities, food trucks, live music and performers, and spring-time fun! Learn more at collegeparkmd. gov/springfair.
FROM WHERE I STAND
Let’s find a solution to child care
By CHRISTINA MARTIN KENNY
Over the past few months, conversations at school pickups, birthday parties and playgrounds in College Park have shifted to what families affected by recent federal layoffs are going to do about child care.
For families with children younger than age 5, the prospect of unemployment presents a particularly challenging dilemma.
Pulling younger children out of day care when one parent is unemployed may logically make sense, given that the monthly tuition for child care in the area ranges between $1,200 and $2,400 per child. However, with local waitlists for licensed child care providers extending beyond a year, and in some cases up to two years, there is a very real fear that families who give up their spot won’t be able to access care when they need it again.
This leaves them with an impossible choice: continue paying
steep day care tuition on a reduced income or withdraw their children and risk not having child care when they re-enter the workforce.
The child care affordability and accessibility crisis has been well documented. A study conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on public spending on early childhood education found that the U.S. spends just $500 per child per year on child care subsidies, compared with $14,000 per child that other OECD countries invest on average each year.
Without comprehensive federal support, child care costs more than in-state college tuition in 34 states and the District. Here in College Park, the University of Maryland (UMD) Child Development Center costs $1,925 per month for an infant–totaling $23,100 per year. In-state tuition for a first-year student at UMD, by comparison, is $11,505.
While affordability can certainly be addressed through subsidies, tax credits or incen-
tives for businesses, the issue of accessibility remains a major hurdle. Since January 2020, Maryland has lost 15% of its child care providers, resulting in 15,000-plus fewer available child care slots. Many providers shut down permanently because of financial pressures exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recognizing this challenge, the College Park City Council established a Childcare Task Force Committee earlier this year. The Task Force will take inventory of the licensed child care providers in College Park and explore available programs and strategies to make child care more accessible and affordable. Members of the Task Force include College Park parents, child care advocates and educators.
Further complicating an already-established crisis, the recent cuts to the federal workforce also pose a threat to the number of local child care options. The General Services Administration (GSA), which oversees child care centers in federal buildings, recently reduced its Child Care
Services office from 18 staffers to just one. The office has historically been responsible for overseeing and accrediting child care providers housed in federal buildings. The drastic downsizing leaves federal child care centers at risk of incurring higher costs or closing their doors.
The GSA oversees 82 childcare centers nationwide, including 10 in Maryland. Alarmingly, half of these centers are housed in buildings the GSA has marked for “accelerated disposition,” meaning they could soon be sold or repurposed. One such building is the U.S. Department of Agriculture facility on Rivertech Road in Riverdale Park, home to Sunny Days Early Childhood Developmental Service—a licensed child care provider serving many
College Park families. In January, Sunny Days informed parents that it would close in August, further exacerbating the local child care shortage.
As College Park families navigate this crisis, they are left grappling with limited choices. While local efforts like the Childcare Task Force signal a step in the right direction, long-term solutions will require collaboration at the local and state levels to ensure that quality, affordable child care remains accessible to Maryland families.
Christina Martin Kenny is a member of the newly formed Childcare Task Force in College Park. She lives in College Park Estates.
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Our calendar includes many events and meetings sponsored by the City of College Park and local nonprofits, including arts organizations and performance venues, occurring between April 12 and May 5. For additional events and meetings organized by the city, see the College Park Post newsletter in this paper’s centerfold. Find more local events all month long in our new continuously updated online calendar, streetcarsuburbs.news/events. Please send notices of events taking place between May 7 and June 5 to jalen@streetcarsuburbs.news by May 1.
APRIL 12
Blue Sky Puppets Presents Pig Tales at the Old Parish House. Pigs learn sharing and taking turns at school while they act out the stories of “The Three Billy Goats Gruff ” and “Jack and the Beanstalk.” Ages 2-10. Free. 3-4 p.m. Old Parish House (4711 Knox Rd.). For more information visit https:// tinyurl.com/vx2cmceh.
Children’s Art Drop-in. 3D sculpture with recycled materials. Free. 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Old Parish House (4711 Knox Rd.). For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/ am4kheue.
Linda May Han Oh Group. Grammy Award-winning Australian-born musician Linda May Han Oh comes to the Clarice to play a collection of hits from her latest release, “Glass Hours.” $30. 8 p.m. Clarice Dance Theater (8270 Alumni Dr.). For more information visit https://tinyurl. com/4z462nhx.
APRIL 13
North College Park Clean Up Day. Celebrate Earth Month and join your neighbors in North College Park for the annual clean up day. Bags will be provided as volunteers pick up litter. Wear close-toed shoes and bring yourself a water bottle. Free. 9-11 a.m. (9899 Rhode Island Ave.). For more information visit. https://tinyurl.com/58xm5bj9.
The Merry Wives of Windsor (Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor). Otto Nicolai’s “The Merry Wives of Windsor” (Die lustigen Weiber Von Windsor) is a German adaptation of Shakespeare’s beloved play, telling the story of notorious drunkard and womanizer Sir John Falstaff and his attempts to woo two married women. $10. 3:30-5:30 p.m. Kay Theater (8270 Alumni Dr.). For more information visit https://tinyurl. com/mbv7exfp.
Cradle & Cuddle Co. Baby Bash Celebration. Cradle & Cuddle Co., in partnership with Fundamentals of Life Planning and Instructions, hosts its free annual Community Baby Bash Celebration created for mothers both first time and experienced, and fathers as well. This event features interactive and empowering baby shower games, prizes, giveaways and a baby bag for mothers. Free. 12-4 p.m. (7801 Alumni Dr.). For more information visit https:// tinyurl.com/4d6eesm3.
The Hotel’s Wedding Experience Event. An immersive wedding planning experience designed to inspire your special day. This isn’t an expo— it’s an opportunity to envision
your wedding in beautifully curated setups with potential decor, music and production throughout the hotel. $10. 12-3 p.m. The Hotel at the University of Maryland (7777 Baltimore Ave.). For more information visit https:// tinyurl.com/y2x7tj9m.
APRIL 15
Zoom Book Club. Book club with a focus on female writers. This month’s book is “Hitler’s Last Hostages: Looted Art and the Soul of the Third Reich” by Mary Lane. Free. 7-8 p.m. College Park Community Library (9704 Rhode Island Ave.). For more information visit https:// tinyurl.com/46vd5jz9.
Speaking of Books with Alicia Volk. Alicia Volk, University of Maryland professor of Japanese Art in the Department of Art History and Archaeology, gives a presentation on her book, “In the Shadow of Empire,” a novel about art in post-war Japan and beyond. Free. 1-2:30 p.m. Hornbake Library (4130 Campus Dr.). For more information visit https://tinyurl. com/2p9n5r4m.
APRIL 17
Puppet Show. Black Cherry Puppet Theater, from Baltimore, is bringing their Marionette Show, Billy Goats Gruff ’kin, to City Hall. After the show, participants can enjoy a photo opportunity with the puppeteers, and children under 12 will have the opportunity to make a puppet to take home during a puppet-making workshop. Free. 1 p.m. City Hall (7401 Baltimore Ave.). For more information visit https:// tinyurl.com/mt424dt7.
APRIL 25
Family and Intimate Partner Violence Prevention Symposium. The University of Maryland Community THRIVES Lab is hosting a symposium on family and intimate partner violence prevention. Free. 9:30 a.m-4:30 p.m. UMD School of Public Health Building (4200 Valley Dr.). For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/mtzp48sr.
Cécile McLorin Salvant. Vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant comes to perform at the Clarice. $30, $45, $60. 8 p.m. Kay Theater (8270 Alumni Dr.). For more information visit https:// tinyurl.com/23dajuz8.
APRIL 26
Maryland Day. Come explore the University of Maryland’s clubs and culture in its spring open house. Free. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. University of Maryland.For more information visit https:// tinyurl.com/3s3vf7ac.
APRIL 27
Toho Koto Society Concert UMD Japanese Koto Ensemble. Directed by Yuriko Gandolfo, the UMD Japanese Koto Ensemble features elegant music played on the koto, a traditional Japanese 13-string instrument. The concert will also feature the Washington Toho Koto Society. Free. 2-4 p.m. Dekelboum Concert Hall (8270 Alumni Dr.). For more information visit https://tinyurl. com/bdxb3jd8.
MAY 1
Ceremony For Lakeland College Park Community Center & Lake Artemesia Natural Area at Lakeland. Celebrate the future of the Lakeland community and remember
its rich history. The ceremony will feature brief remarks and the presentation of a plaque for the community center, followed by light refreshments. This is a rain or shine event. Free. 6 p.m. Lakeland College Park Community Center (5051 Pierce Avenue.). For more information visit https://tinyurl. com/3udv4r4s.
MAY 3
Berwyn Heights Day. The Town of Berwyn Heights and Berwyn Heights Recreation Commission will host their annual Berwyn Heights Day parade and festival. Free. 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Berwyn Heights (5700 Berwyn Rd.). For more information visit https://tinyurl. com/d62c8hrj.
REPEATING
The 2nd Thursday Book Group. Take part in a discussion of books ranging from nonfiction, fiction and historical fiction. Free. 7-8:30 p.m. College Park Community Library (9704 Rhode Island Ave.). For more information email bokays100@juno.com. May 8. Turn Right at “Machu Pichu” by Mark Adams.
Hollywood Farmers Market
The Hollywood Farmers Market returns on Saturday, April 12, and will run every Saturday through Nov. 22. Free. 10 a.m.-1 p.m.(9803 Rhode Island Ave.).
Early Bird Serenity Al-Anon. Support for friends and families of alcoholics based on the 12-Step program. Free; all are welcome. Virtual meetings every Thursday from 6:30-7:30 p.m. For more information and Zoom link, email ebsalanon@ gmail.com.
Offering:
Ground breaks on Duvall Field renovation
By IJEOMA OPARA
College Park officials and community members gathered at Duvall Field for a groundbreaking ceremony in March.
The ceremony kickstarted the renovation of the field, at 9119 Rhode Island Ave., into a sevenacre park for sports, entertainment and community events.
“This will be a real asset to this community and the whole surrounding area,” Councilmember Alan Hew (District 1) said.
College Park Mayor Fazlul Kabir said the project will include more than a dozen amenities, such as an amphitheater, pickleball and basketball courts, a rugby pitch, and baseball and soccer fields, all added to the design in response to the requests of College Park residents.
“Duvall Field is the largest recreational field in College Park, and it has been used since 1960, but the community has been asking for more amenities in it,” Kabir said. “Right now, the only games people play here are soccer, mostly, and sometimes baseball.”
Members of the College Park City Council proposed the renovations in 2005, but inadequate funds delayed the project.
“It is expensive to make these things happen,” Kabir said.
In 2019, the city estimated construction to cost about $5.6 million. That figure rose by a third by 2024.
Hew said the increase in construction costs, combined with the COVID-19 pandemic and some disagreements about which amenities to include, fur-
ther delayed the project.
“When we thought we were near the end point, stormwater management issues came up that we needed to address, and that set us back both in cost and in time,” Hew said.
In November, councilmembers agreed that further delays would raise the price tag more, and they approved $7.3 million for the renovation.
The ceremony signaled the second phase of the Duvall Field renovation, which officials said
County reps predict tough budget year
By IJEOMA OPARA
The two members of the Prince George’s County Council who represent College Park warned on March 22 that the coming budget cycle will be “extremely difficult.”
At a town hall meeting at city hall, County Councilmembers Thomas Dernoga (District 1) and Eric Olson (District 3) cited uncertainty surrounding federal grants and budget cuts as factors that could affect how much money the county will have to spend in fiscal year 2026.
“The federal government is doing so much damage,” Olson said, noting the county counts on $267 million in federal grant money, whose availability is uncertain.
“Our president is trying to eliminate the Department of Education, where a lot of those grants originate from,” Olson added. “That layer, on top of the existing budget issues locally and nationally, are going to make for a very challenging time.”
Olson noted that 80% of the county budget goes to education and public safety. “That leaves 20% for all the other things,” he said.
Dernoga said funds for food banks like Meals on Wheels of
College Park could take a hit during budget season.
“It’s not going to be a fun year,” Dernoga said. “We are going to be trying to prioritize.”
Dernoga said the county has asked Maryland Gov. Wes Moore to order a stop to foreclosures against federal workers who have lost their jobs.
He added that the county council is considering offering funding to fired federal workers to help pay their mortgages.
“This is all new territory and I’m sure we are going to be contemplating a lot,” Olson said.
College Park Mayor Fazlul Kabir and seven of the eight College Park City Councilmembers also attended the town hall, which drew about 30 in-person and 20 virtual participants.
Kabir said the city had a million more visitors over the past year than in 2023 and has attracted about 16 new businesses.
He said the city is not proposing a property tax increase in its upcoming budget, and will add three full-time staff members, including a public safety manager. (See related story on Page 6.)
“This is kind of mind-boggling,” Kabir said, given the struggle nearby cities are having with recruiting businesses.
“Thankfully, we are in a little better shape than the county,” noted Kabir, who said the city’s draft budget proposal totals $29.6 million. The city published the proposal on March 21.
Residents who attended the town hall raised concerns about affordable housing options for seniors.
City councilmembers in March agreed to create an Affordable Housing Task Force to study the city’s lack of affordable housing, particularly for seniors, and make recommendations to the council.
Kabir pointed to the upcoming opening of Flats at College Park, a 320-unit affordable apartment building on Route 1.
Councilmember Susan Whitney (District 2) acknowledged that affordable housing “is a big problem, but that doesn’t mean we don’t try to tackle it.”
“I completely agree that it’s a missing gap in the city of College Park,” Councilmember John Rigg (District 3) said, “but I also think it’s important to point out that we do have a number of extremely meaningful programs in place to support our residents so that they can continue to live in their houses and be part of their community for their whole lives.”
Councilmember Jacob Hernandez (District 1) told a crowd of approximately 30 officials and residents that the park will be an inclusive space for all residents.
“I think of the future of Duvall Field … [and] I picture a place where seniors can gracefully age in place and just enjoy the largest park in the city and the fresh air that it’ll bring,” Hernandez said. “I know times are difficult right now, and you might not feel welcome, but Duvall Field will be a welcoming place for all.”
will finish by 2026.
The first phase of the project added a recreation plaza, restrooms and a concession stand to the field in 2017.
Others at the ceremony said they are excited about the renovations.
“I’m really excited that the project is coming to a completion,” Kabir said. “I can’t wait to see that the construction is completed.”
City officials break ground on the renovations at Duvall Field, which have been in planning stages for 20 years.
IJEOMA OPARA
station, where kids could bounce on decorated balls, and life-sized versions of Tetris and Connect 4 board games.
College Park Woods resident Katelyn Aldenhoff brought her 2-year-old daughter, Juniper, to the event to see the Easter Bunny and make friends.
“There’s kids kind of scattered all around [College Park] but sometimes they’re not all in one place, ” Aldenhoff said. “So this gives us an opportunity to meet our neighbors and have fun.”
The Easter Bunny was not the only local celebrity at the event. Miss College Park 2025 Maddie Bronk came out in full crown and sash regalia to pose for photos and mingle with the community.
“I feel like it’s a good thing for everybody to come together and have some fun,” Bronk said. “I know school can be stressful. I know parents are working, Kids are busy, so it’s important to set time for yourself and just have a good time, especially around Easter.”
Under the park’s lunch patio, families relaxed and listened to music from visiting band L-M-N-O-People.
Ellie Taylor-Robinette, a member of the city’s new Childcare Task Force, took the opportunity to meet lots of parents in one place.
Taylor-Robinette placed sticky notes on a board that contained information about affordable child care within the city.
“Families are already so busy and do so
much that meeting them where they are and allowing them to have their voice shared in low-barrier-to-entry [day care] spaces is really critical to ensure that family voice is being reflected in the decisions we’re making as a city,” Robinette said. The egg hunts took place in the woods at the back of the park, where searchable areas were separated by age ranges: infants to 2 years old; 3 to 4, 5 to 6 and 9
to10. Children ran around with Easter egg baskets of various colors trying to find the rainbow-colored eggs.
Volunteering at the event were members of the University of Maryland’s Gamma Phi Beta sorority. The sisters wore green vests as they helped out at stations and distributed eggs for the hunt. Sophomore electrical engineering major Kiera Miglani, who is from Massachusetts, said
she is not used to big Easter celebrations. “Though this is known as a college town, there’s so many families, and it’s important that … there’s activities for the kids,” Miglani said. “Like, my town had stuff when I was little, but it was just a small town, it wasn’t a college town. So I really like that College Park does this and keeps an eye out for the families and makes sure the kids of this town are included.”
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The Aldenhoff family of College Park Woods, Eric, Katelyn and Juniper, 2, poses with the Easter Bunny at the city’s Egg-stravaganza Easter egg hunt on Saturday. JALEN WADE
translate city documents into Spanish.
A first-generation American born in Kansas City, Kansas, Hernandez, 32, learned English as a second language in school. He spoke only Spanish at home because his father was not bilingual when he was a child.
“For me, one of the difficult things that I, like many others … experienced is walking your parents through every single step, whether that is interpreting at a parent-teacher’s conference or having a conversation with your parents about important documents that they need to sign,” he said. “Everything from registering you for school to field trips. For me, it was trying to help them stabilize their lives.”
He said the experience of helping his parents navigate society as non-native English speakers has influenced his work on the city council, where he advocates for sharing city information in Spanish.
At 13, Hernandez left Kansas City and moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where he attended high school.
Navigating a childhood that he described as complicated after his parents divorced, he applied for legal emancipation at 16. By 17, a court in Phoenix granted him full emancipation and he joined the military shortly after.
He was admitted to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado, but graduated from the University of Arizona in 2016. He earned a master of professional studies and applied intelligence from Georgetown University in 2019.
Hernandez spent seven years in active military service before moving to the reserves in 2017, where he has remained.
In 2021, he moved to North College Park, where he lives with his mother and siblings.
Two years after moving to the city, Hernandez ran for office and won the vacant District 1 seat.
“One of the things that I’m really passionate about is trying to engage and inspire a new civically engaged resident, whether it be an
slowdown in some of the retail activities,” Economic Development Director Michael Williams said. “Normally, if you’re on a budget, you’re probably not going to do as much dining and impulse buying.”
In addition, Kabir said, reducing the size of or closing federal departments could mean the city will receive fewer federal grants and less money from the state and county, which rely, in part, on federal funding.
Federal grants for city projects, like public safety initiatives and the renovation of Attick Towers, for example, are uncertain, Kabir said.
More than 142,000 Maryland residents were employed by the federal government in 2024, not including uniformed military personnel or federal contractors, according to the Office of Personnel Management. The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey estimated that nearly 47,000 of those federal employees live in Maryland’s 4th congressional district, which includes College Park. That is about 12.2% of the district’s working population.
“We’re really worried about their well being,” Kabir said. “Many of them have lost their jobs, been laid off, and they’re struggling. They’re struggling with find-
English speaker, Spanish speaker. … Many people aren’t aware of the various services the city does for the community,” he said.
To achieve this, Hernandez engages in Spanish with Spanishspeaking constituents on social media.
“The most exciting thing … is seeing that first ‘like,’” he said. “You know somebody read that update. Or having them come up to you and say: ‘Thanks so much for posting that, it’s super helpful.’ That’s one person at a time.”
Offline, he engages with business owners on city programs, noting that those in North College Park typically do not take advantage of them as frequently
as proprietors in other parts of the city.
“There is a visible difference in private economic investment in the northern part of the city,” Hernandez said. “I think it’s because there are a lot of small business owners [there] for whom English is not predominantly their first language.
… What I have been able to do is talk to some of the Spanishspeaking business owners and try to encourage them to apply to some of these economic development grants. … I literally walked into every business in the Hollywood Shopping Center to try to encourage them.”
Still, he said skepticism among the business owners is limiting
ing a job and the house payment, mortgage, tuition fees for their kids. So this is a really worrying time.”
Williams said the city is still in the “calculation phase” of determining the impact on residents and is looking at options to help displaced federal employees. He said the city has been working with U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey (District 4) to receive real-time updates about activity at the federal level that could affect College Park.
“It’s a tough one,” Williams said. “We don’t know if we’re expecting, you know, 50 residents that maybe have some hardship, or will it be, you know, 500 residents that may experience some hardships?”
Councilmember John Rigg (District 3) said the council is assessing the potential impact of job and funding cuts as the officials consider the city’s fiscal year 2026 budget.
“It’s going to be a really tough time over the next couple of years in College Park,” Rigg said.
Still, Rigg said, student residents make up a large part of College Park’s spending pool and will continue to help boost the economy during a downturn.
“The university and our affiliation with university students, the faculty and the staff will be a continued source of durable economic strength for the city,” Rigg said.
these efforts to promote more interaction with the government among Spanish-speaking residents.
Although he contacted various business owners, Hernandez said Alfaro was the only one who acted on the information he shared.
“I can’t want it more than them, but I can tell them that the resources are there,” he said.
For his full-time job, Hernandez works at the U.S. Department of State in the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs.
“It is one of the most rewarding roles I’ve had in national security,” Hernandez said.
His responsibilities include communicating with families of U.S. citizens held hostage within or outside the country and working with colleagues to secure their release.
In 2023, Hernandez was part of a team that secured the release of 10 U.S. citizens detained in Venezuela.
In January, 2025, he was also part of the negotiations between the U.S. government and the Taliban that led to the release of two Americans detained in Afghanistan.
Beyond his interest in national security, Hernandez said he hopes to build a community of Spanish-speaking College Park residents who will continue to engage with the local government even after he leaves the city council.
To help mitigate the effects of the layoffs, the University of Maryland (UMD) hosted a career fair at The Hotel in February.
UMD also announced the launch of the Pathways Forward Resource Hub, a program for Marylanders affected by federal layoffs or job transitions. The hub includes professional development education, free career services, a chatbot to connect workers to community resources supporting their specific goals and a networking database for alumni.
The city also offers free mental health care through Care Solace via its website.
Also, the Maryland Department of Labor opened a resource page with unemployment insurance information, job fair listings and other support contacts. And the state created a Maryland Public Servants Resource website in February, where federal workers can find information about unemployment insurance, job fairs, housing and legal resources.
Gov. Wes Moore also promised that the state will work quickly to recruit displaced federal workers into government and teaching positions.
“There’s a high degree of chaos that seems to intercede every day, every week,” Rigg said. “It’s really unclear what the end state is going to be, or what that equilibrium is going to be reached, or what it’s going to look like.”
With so many federal workers losing their jobs, it is difficult for officials to prepare for the potential consequences to the city’s economy. ADOBE STOCK PHOTO
College Park City Councilmember Jacob Hernandez (District 1), left, speaks with former hostage Ryan Corbett, who was released in January after being detained in Afghanistan by the Taliban for more than two years. Hernandez was on the team that secured his release. COURTESY OF JACOB HERNANDEZ
Northwest Chinese opens another restaurant
By LILLIAN GLAROS
Dozens of community members, University of Maryland (UMD) students and local politicians attended the grand opening of Li Chun Café on March 8.
The café, located on the first floor of College Park City Hall, at 7401 Baltimore Ave., opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, punctuated by the sound of confetti poppers.
“It’s really a … wonderful addition and a really unique place,” College Park City Councilmember Maria Mackie (District 4) said of owner and chef Hua Wang’s latest venture. “I’m excited.”
Wang opened another restaurant, Northwest Chinese Food, at 7313 Baltimore Ave., in 2015. The restaurant consistently makes the “best places to eat” lists published by Washingtonian and The Washington Post
That location, part of a strip of restaurants and stores, is slated to close to make room for a new student apartment building. The demolition date has not been announced.
Mackie said she decided to attend the Li Chun opening because of how proud she is of the café. Mackie was part of the committee that voted for Northwest Chinese Food to be the 2024 College Park Business of the Year.
As streams of confetti fluttered down onto
City Hall Plaza, lion dancers from UMD dance group Terp Lions performed a special ceremony to bless the restaurant, and then entered the café.
Attendees then crowded into the café and enjoyed free samples of some of Li Chun’s dishes, such as Yanji-style dried beancurd strips and tea-smoked chicken.
Xue Ling, Li Chun’s brand manager and the owner’s daughter, said Wang opened the café in part to bring back the Chinese wraps that one of her previous restaurants, CB Chinese Grill—once located at 4370 Knox Road—featured on its menu.
After the grill closed, Wang was still pas-
sionate about the wrap dish, and customers frequently asked her if she was going to bring it back, according to Ling.
“She really wants to pick a food item from her hometown to … bring its delicious flavors to College Park,” Ling said of Wang, who is from Shenyang in northeastern China.
These chun bing wraps are among the most popular items on the menu at the café, which soft-opened on Feb. 25, Ling said. The four variations include ingredients such as bean sprouts, cucumbers, eggplant or beancurd, depending on the option. Customers are also able to select their
protein of choice.
The menu, which features meals from northeastern China, also includes dishes such as fried rice, salad and the option to create a bento box with a choice of protein, hot side and salad.
Li Chun also features a plethora of drinks, from matcha to coffee and more, as well as sweet treats like Basque burnt cheesecake.
Ling said the café has been popular with customers already.
“They like the vibes, and they like being here to enjoy healthy food and teas in between work and studies,” Ling said.
Natalie Horton, a UMD student who works at Northwest Chinese Food, said she likes the café’s cucumber salad and other dishes, including the matcha red bean mochi brownie.
Horton also said she likes the atmosphere of the eatery.
“It’s very welcoming. They play upbeat music, and the owner and the manager are super nice people,” Horton said. “They always go out of their way to make sure everything is good.”
Andy Guo, another UMD student, said he likes the restaurant’s interior design and the excitement of the staff.
Although Guo has only tried a couple of menu items, he said he enjoys the teas.
“I’m really optimistic. Hopefully, I can come here more,” Guo said.
Diners crowd into Li Chun, a new restaurant by the owner of Northwest Chinese Food, during its grand opening on March 8. LILLIAN GLAROS