08-2020 College Park Here & Now

The Here & Now holds forum to discuss vandalism of city signs. P. 2

City mourns passing of Hollywood PTA President Thomas Johnson. P. 5

Homestead tax credit cap amendment tabled

By Zamir Courtney

On July 21, Prince George’s County Council tabled a measure allowing voters to let the council adjust the county’s homestead tax credit cap.

The measure, proposed by Prince George’s Councilmember Derrick L. Davis (District 6),

Branchville Gardens project moves forward

By Rachel Logan

At a virtual meeting on July 7, members of the College Park City Council reviewed details of the Branchville Gardens project, a seven-story apartment building slated to be built at the corner of Rhode Island Avenue and University Boulevard, across from the Branchville Volunteer Fire Company (BVFC) firehouse. The project owner, Cruz Development Corporation, first approached city council nearly 30 years ago, and soon after, Cruz entered into an agreement with the Berwyn District Civic Association (BDCA).

would serve as a charter amendment to the county’s Homestead Property Tax Credit law. This would ask voters in November to consider letting the county council remove the consumer price index requirement (CPI) and the 105% cap from the law. It would also change the date the county sets the

homestead tax credit percentage from January to March.

The Homestead Property Tax Credit law limits the increase in taxable assessments each year to a fixed percentage. According to the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation, every county and municipality in the state is required to limit

taxable assessment increases to 10% or less each year.

In Prince George’s County, the credit is capped at either 5% or the July CPI of the previous year, whichever is lower, according to Prince George’s County Councilmember Dannielle Glaros (District 3).

A NEIGHBOR IN NEED

By Neighbors Connect

Moving from the Philippines to College Park was a long distance for 80-year-old Luningning Haddad to come. But after a stroke a year ago, then a car accident last February, she has surmounted a lot. After enduring several months in the hospital and rehab, as if that was not enough, Haddad arrived home in College Park to find a code enforcement warning to cut and trim her overgrown grass and bushes. The notice gave her five days to do so. Cutting the grass was easy compared to trimming and managing the jungle of overgrowth.

Residents asked Prince George’s County Council not to raise taxes during pandemic

Luningning Haddad and organizer Carol Nezzo outline a plan of action. COURTESY OF VIJAY PARAMESHWARAN

Creating civic unity

By Jordan Schakner

According to the city’s 2019 survey, residents are increasingly dissatisfied with three key issues: the city’s economic health (particularly the quality of new development), public safety and public trust in government. I share these concerns with you, and I think that the city must take bold actions to ensure our residents are secure around each of these issues.

First, the city must temporarily pause the $20+ million City Hall building project with the University of Maryland (UMD). The assumptions under-

lying this project – that both the city and the university need significant office space for an expanding workforce, and that both institutions have increasing revenue streams – are no longer valid. The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that telework and online education are necessary and viable options in the short term, and likely for an extended period. A far better solution is for the city to purchase the property it has been renting from UMD at 8400 Baltimore Avenue, alternating council meetings between Davis Hall and the public space being built at the Calvert Hills School property (which

we taxpayers own).

Second, to improve public safety, the city must move away from relying on the Prince George’s County Police Department and establish a city police department, possibly in conjunction with the university’s own department. Black Lives Matter has taught us that police should be community-based and accountable to all of us.

Finally, to improve public trust, we must do all of the above and more. Specifically, we must ask and expect more of our councilmembers and support only those councilmembers who uphold the interests of residents through-

out the city — working and middle class, north-side and south-side, old and young, affiliated with the university and not, liberal and conservative. It is time to put the silly bickering between neighborhoods aside and work toward the survival and eventual thriving of College Park, as both a college town and a richly diverse suburban community. Let’s come together to do this.

Jordan Schakner is a resident and treasurer for the North College Park Community Association.

Interested in writing a letter to the editor? Email Mark Goodson at Mark@HyattsvilleLife.com.

Paper holds forum to discuss vandalism of city’s BLM signs

By Mark Goodson

The City of College Park raised three signs on Duvall Field that were visible from Rhode Island Avenue. The signs included quotes and this statement: “The City of College Park believes that BLACK LIVES MATTER and has resolved to seek out and confront systemic racism.”

Individuals vandalized the signs, covering the word BLACK with paint.

On July 14, College Park resident Kiersten Johnson posted a picture of a vandalized sign on the Nextdoor social media app and wrote, “We are citizens and residents of a country where under the law, all lives are equal. However, as we live our day-to-day, we know that our systems and sometimes we, ourselves, don’t treat all people as if their lives mattered equally.”

Johnson’s post inspired over 100 comments from city residents and members of neighboring communities. The Here & Now invited several people who commented to participate in a forum.

Seven residents and the paper’s editorial staff met in a virtual discussion, moderated by Ethan Eagle, on July 23. Participants explored issues of race, police reform and local governance.

Kevin Bradley said that his entire life has been defined by relationships with police. Bradley mentioned the killing of Lt. Richard Collins as evidence that our city is not immune to racially motivated crime. “I kind of see attacking a sign or an idea as a proxy for attacking people and inciting violence against people,” he said.

Zari Malsawma did not share Bradley’s view. She felt that the signs were an overstatement of the actual situation in the city. “I have not seen any problems with people of color and the police,” she said. Malsawma suggested that the statement might be less controversial if it were revised to read, “Black lives matter, too.”

Grace Johnson Scroggins felt that adding the word “too” degraded an important message of the BLM movement. She said, “It kind of makes it seem like an af-

Managing Editor Mark Goodson mark@hyattsvillelife.com

terthought. It degrades the message. When you say, ‘too,’ it seems to put the message aside.”

Moderator Ethan Eagle broached the subject of policing by asking members about safety and community.

Jordan Schakner said that the mission of Black Lives Matter includes common-sense police reform. “I support the city putting the sign up,” he said, adding,

Advertising Sales Manager

Brian Escobar

Business Manager Catie Currie

“What I would have liked to see is the city taking definitive action.”

Several participants spoke about the complexity of having different law enforcement bodies within the city. The city, itself, has no police force, while officers from both the university and county enforce the law.

creative approach to the services it might offer its residents.

Eagle agreed that more enforcement does not necessarily equal more safety.

Malsawma said, “I would like to see an alternative in practice to see how it works.”

A community newspaper chronicling the here and now of College Park

Mailing address: PO Box 132, Hyattsville, MD 20781

The College Park Here & Now is published monthly by Hyattsville Community Newspaper, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. Editors welcome reader input, tips, articles, letters, opinion pieces and photographs, which may be submitted using the mailing address above or the email addresses provided.

Associate Editor Nancy Welch nancy@hyattsvillelife.com

Writers & Contributors

Anuoluwapo Adefiwitan, Zamir Courtney, Julia Kyles, Rachel Logan, Eric Olson, Pierce Panagakos, Alexandra Radovic, Jordan Schakner, Philip Van Slooten, Lila Stiff

Layout & Design Editor Ashley Perks

Advertising advertising@hyattsvillelife.com

301.531.5234

Board of Directors

Joseph Gigliotti — President and General Counsel

Chris Currie — Vice President Reva Harris — Treasurer Rosanna Landis Weaver, Gretchen Brodtman, Debra Franklin, T. Carter Ross, Emily Strab Mark Goodson — Ex Officio

Kit Slack — Ex Officio

Circulation: Copies are distributed monthly by U.S. mail to every address in College Park. Additional copies are distributed to popular gathering spots around town. Total circulation is 9,600.

CPH&N is a member of the National Newspaper Association.

The group also discussed how complications arise when people call 911 in situations when police intervention may not be an ideal solution. Kiersten Johnson shared an anecdote about coming across a man immobile on the ground. She said that after she called 911 and requested an ambulance, the police showed up, instead.

Schakner suggested the city conduct a study on the feasibility of creating its own police force.

Craig Beatty reshaped the idea. “I think College Park is in a very unique position because we don’t have a police force,” he said, adding, “If the city just creates a police department, you don’t eliminate the problem you are trying to address.” Beatty suggested that College Park could take a progressive and

Given the opportunity for a final comment, Bradley said, “Just to be clear, I’m not in support of abolishing the police. It is interesting to point out that we don’t have a structure. We can build from the ground up.” He also added that he was interested in hearing from other members of the community, including Muslims and Latinos.

Everyone agreed that vandalizing the signs was not a solution to issues of race relations in the community and said that they wanted to continue the conversation.

According to Johnson, the signs are now under 24-hour surveillance.

The College Park Here & Now will hold a second forum in August. Contact Mark Goodson at Mark@ Hyattsvillelife.com, if you wish to participate.

Vandalized messaging on Black Lives Matter sign at Duvall Field. COURTESY OF KIERSTEN JOHNSON

City residents voice concerns about Western Gateway project

By Anuoluwapo Adefiwitan

College Park residents are voicing growing concerns about the Western Gateway project, a residential development that would bring graduate housing and town homes to land west of the University of Maryland (UMD) campus. This project is slated for a tract of land leased to the university by the state and adjacent land owned by Gilbane Building Company, the potential developer. These parcels are close to Metro’s pending Purple Line station on Adelphi Road. UMD alum Christian Cerria is overseeing the acquisition for Gilbane. The project is expected to be completed by August 2022.

Stuart Adams, president of the Calvert Hills Citizens Association, has been voicing concerns about the proposed development since February of this year. He and others disagree with the construction of the town houses, roads and stormwater infrastructure on stateowned land.

Adams describes himself and community residents as “key stakeholders.” While he sees the need for more graduate housing, Adams expressed concern about forest conservation, saying that he would like “more than just [this] minimal conservation easement” proposed as part of the development.

Other construction in the area has led to recent removal of trees. Forest conservation contributes to stormwater management, and Adams believes that the eight acres of forested land should not be turned into extensive roads and stormwater infrastructure, as the Gilbane proposal indicates, to support a single acre’s worth of town houses on this stateowned land.

Issues around the proposed development are complicated by the fact that the property is part of the Guilford Watershed, which is included in the Prince George’s County’s 2005 Countywide Green Infrastructure Plan. The plan includes non-legislative policies and implementation strategies to preserve environmentally sensitive areas, restore and enhance water quality, and support smart growth.

Adams quoted the plan, saying, “When making policy and land use decisions, elevate

the importance of preserving, protecting, enhancing, and restoring the green infrastructure network at the same level of concern as providing an interconnected network for transportation and/or public utilities.” He noted that meeting legal requirements is not the only consideration, adding, “It’s going to meet the standards of floodplain requirements, but it’s questionable if this is really what should be done.”

Adams also said that he thinks that officials are not as focused on conservation issues as they should be. Prince George’s County Councilmember Dannielle M. Glaros (District 3), who has sponsored legislation directly linked to the project, said that Prince George’s County has higher stormwater management standards than the state does.

Adams, who is a certified floodplain manager for Stantec, proposed options that he said would ensure “affordable graduate housing development, preservation of forested land to ensure true smart growth and sustainable actions.”

Adams’ suggestions would reduce the number of proposed

town houses and conserve most of the site’s eight forested acres.

In June, the Prince George’s County Council passed three pieces of legislation addressing issues of mixed-use housing.

Adams’ specific issue with these laws is that they permit mixed-use housing on forested land that could be preserved.

Glaros acknowledged that the planning and development of the Western Gateway project is still in very early stages. She said that more rules will be put in place to ensure sustainability.

“I don’t believe the conversation on sustainability is complete,” Glaros stated. She went on to say that the county’s planning board assesses the project’s site plan and evaluates environmental stability.

She stated, “They review all the environmental regulations … all those environmental regulations that have been passed since the Green Infrastructure Plan was envisioned, those all will be evaluated as a part of this project.”

Edward Maginnis, assistant vice president for real estate at UMD, said that certain acreage

was sold with a covenant stating that no one could develop it, adding “a covenant is a commitment that runs with the land in perpetuity that says ‘thou shalt never build any vertical improvement on this land.’… You can’t build a town house, you can’t build a multifamily, you can’t build anything that you’re gonna make money off of, but you actually have a corresponding obligation to build this road network.”

Maginnis also said that there have been two independent party appraisals on the land, and he agrees with their evaluation of the land and price.

In a statement sent to the Here & Now, Gilbane wrote, “The project is the result of more than three years of community consultation and carefully balances the need for additional housing with transit access, and the preservation of green space. We are confident that this project will make the community proud for generations to come.”

The city and the county planning board will review both a preliminary plan and detailed site plan later this year.

Issues around the proposed development are complicated by the fact that the property is part of the Guilford Watershed, which is included in the Prince George’s County’s 2005 Countywide Green Infrastructure Plan.

College Park holds virtual forum on race relations and community policing

By Philip Van Slooten

The City of College Park hosted a virtual community forum on Tuesday, June 30 to discuss issues of race relations both on and off the University of Maryland (UMD) campus with representatives of the Prince George’s County and UMD police departments. Participants weighed in on campus safety, Lt. Richard Collins’ murder in 2017, and calls to defund the police and increase social services spending.

The event was moderated by Dr. Bonnie Thornton Dill, Women’s Studies professor and dean of UMD’s College of Arts and Humanities. Panelists included Dr. Joseph Richardson Jr., professor of African American Studies, Anthropology, and Epidemiology and Public Health; Chief David Mitchell of the UMD Police Department; Maryland State Del. Joseline Pena-Melnyk (D-21, Anne Arundel and Prince George’s Counties); Prince George’s County Councilmembers Danielle Glaros (District 3) and Calvin Hawkins (At Large); and Deputy Chief George Nichols and Capt. Katrina Gomez of the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD).

Mayor Patrick Wojahn and City Councilmembers Kate Kennedy and Fazlul Kabir (District 1), Monroe Dennis (District 2), John Rigg and Robert W. Day, Sr. (District 3), Denise Mitchell and Maria E. Mackie (District 4), and City Manager Scott Somers were in atten-

dance, along with College Park residents.

Dr. Fanny Featherstone, a 41year homeowner in College Park and a retired PGPD detective, spoke about issues that the city’s historically Black community of Lakeland faces.

“I’ve raised seven sons here in College Park, and they’ve had different problems with the police, even while I was on the police force,” Featherstone said.

She noted that events can help build a police-community relationship, but also urged the city council to address equity issues, such as improving roads and playgrounds in the Lakeland neighborhood.

“I think we can work on getting some of these things like the [historical marker] stone and playground equipment,” Wojahn responded. “But you raised systemic issues. We’re working with other municipalities around the region to look at developing a racial equity lens to policies and practices. We’re just finishing up; we’re getting a report on what they found at our work session next week.”

He also noted that the city is reviewing policies to identify possible inequities and determine how best to achieve restorative justice for Lakeland.

UMD student representatives

Taylor Green, who works in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and Rachelle Wakefield, the university’s Black Student Union president (2020-21), spoke of safety concerns on campus, focusing, in particu-

Maryland State Del. Joseline PenaMelnyk also addressed Dr. Joseph Richardson’s concerns about a push to defund police departments and increase funding for health and social services programs. PenaMelnyk pointed out that the state legislature can only cut funds from the state budget, not add more funding to it.

passed a bill in March amending the state’s hate crimes statute in honor of Collins, “but there is a need to continue the conversation, and we have to ask ourselves why it happened to begin with.”

Pena-Melnyk also addressed Richardson’s concerns about a push to defund police departments and increase funding for health and social services programs. Pena-Melnyk pointed out that the state legislature can only cut funds from the state budget, not add more funding to it.

Richardson noted that the budget did not include funding for a youth intervention program he supported, while $209 billion was allocated for a gun violence crime bill.

lar, on nighttime transportation and disabled emergency phones.

“I live really far from the assigned lot where my car is at,” Wakefield said. “Sometimes the buses miss me, and I have to haul my stuff maybe a mile to my dorm. I’ve reached out to the administration on other issues [without success] and wonder why I should say anything else.”

Mitchell said some blue light emergency phones were out due to Purple Line construction, but that police escorts and nightride services were available to students who need assistance.

Rashida Tyler, an 8-year College Park resident and an educator

with the Prince George’s County school system, emphasized her concerns about the complex relationships between racism and policing, and how these relationships impact schools. “I really hope the problems you laid out are seriously addressed immediately,” she told the students. “Because your safety is of the utmost importance.”

Green also spoke of the 2017 murder of Lt. Richard W. Collins III, who had been commissioned in the United States Army just two days before his murder. Green also advocated for a memorial to him at the College Park bus stop where Collins was killed. Mitchell said that the university is working with the Collins family to create a memorial, and Del. PenaMelnyk noted the hate crimes legislation named for Collins, which the General Assembly intends to pass this session. This bill will allow hate-crimes sentencing guidelines to be applied when hate is not the sole motivating factor in a crime.

“What struck me about the murder of Lt. Collins is that it was perceived at the time as a university issue, and people looked to the university for a response, but it happened in the city of College Park,” Wojahn said. “That shows that it’s something we need to address. The issues of race and equity don’t see the borders of the university.”

Pena-Melnyk told attendees that the General Assembly

“We’re spending so much money on funding police, yet those [prevention] programs received nothing this year — not a dime from the state government,” he said. “That’s appalling.”

The officials and community members participating in the forum agreed that more money should be channeled to health and human services to relieve police of having to address these issues. However, Councilmember Rigg, who is a former paramedic, said that safety for first responders in such volatile situations should be a concern as well.

In her closing remarks, Thornton Dill addressed the safety issues raised by the students, Featherstone and Richardson.

“I think what you said puts forth a challenge for what does healing look like for students and community members,” she said. “And how do our representatives help engage in and promote that healing?”

Wojahn noted ways the city is promoting more discussions, including holding a community policing forum every second Monday and a coffee club every Wednesday.

County Councilmember Glaros noted that the county’s 211 social services line is an alternative to calling the police, saying, “There is a deeper question … Why are people calling the police, and which calls can be handled by another unit? Maybe a mental health unit? This point is really important to us as we think through how we restructure what it is we are doing. That is a really important call to action for all of us.”

Remembering Thomas Johnson

By Ben Johnson

Thomas Matthew Johnson, 34, was an abundance. He cared for and about everything – and everyone. He bent the laws of time and space and logic to his will

to wring the most out of every day. He laughed quick and deep.

Tom fought to build a more just and kind world. As an advocate for social justice and an organizer for progressive causes. As a galvanizing field director for the Mckayla Wilkes

Task force monitoring compliance with COVID-19 safety regulations

By Julia Kyles & Nancy Welch

Individuals and businesses are required to comply with a range of regulations now in place due to the pandemic. These regulations are based on science and medical experts’ increasing understanding of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. As we step up to meet these regulations, many of us have questions and concerns about our responsibilities as individuals. We may have questions about how these regulations impact businesses, too.

“The county health department is taking the lead on any sort of enforcement,” explained Ryna Luckert Quiñones, communications and events manager for College Park. Residents can call the county health department’s coronavirus call center at 301.883.6627 if they have questions or concerns.

Calls to the police department or city agencies such as code enforcement will be routed to the county, Quiñones noted.

A new county task force will monitor businesses for compliance with public health regulations. Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks debuted the task force in a July 17 announcement describing the Ambassador Compliance Team (ACT) as “consisting of more than 70 inspectors from multiple County agencies, who will begin conducting inspections at restaurants, retail establishments and businesses across the County.”

Inspectors began making the rounds on July 18 to observe how businesses are responding to the mandate and educate them about regulations. County businesses that are not in compliance may face sharp penalties.

“Business and retail establishments that are violating these protocols will be given a short period of time to come into compliance. If they are not in

congressional campaign. As a nurturing example of brave recovery for the AA community that he cherished. As the president of the Hollywood Elementary School PTA. As a faithful husband and father and brother and son and friend. He gave himself, constantly, in ways large and small.

With all the good Tom brought into the world, he was most proud of being Adelaide and Elijah’s father. They were the loves of his life.

became too much for even him to bear, he took his own life. He leaves behind a legacy of compassion embodied in his two children, Adelaide and Elijah, both of whom he loved with the same open and boundless energy he brought to everything else he ever did.

compliance during a second visit, they could be subject to a fine of $1,000. Those who remain non-compliant on a third visit, would be shut down until they come into compliance,” the announcement states.

The following list is a condensed version of the requirements outlined in the June 25 executive order that announced the full phase two reopening of the county.

• People are expected to practice social distancing in all public spaces.

• If your job brings you into contact with the public, you are required to wear a face mask while you’re at work.

• Face coverings such as a mask or bandana (or similar) are required for adults and children aged nine years and older in local businesses, including restaurants and stores. The age limit drops to two-years-old for anyone receiving a personal service, such as a haircut.

• Face coverings are required on TheBus and in all county buildings.

• No walk-ins for personal services; appointments are required. Customers are not allowed to sit in waiting areas indoors, so be prepared to wait outside for your appointment.

For specific requirements and additional information, go to the county’s website at princegeorgescountymd.gov/3397/ coronavirus and click on Covid-19 Dashboard to download a PDF of Alsobrooks’ order.

Editor’s Note: If you are a business that has been impacted by county regulation enforcement, we would welcome hearing about your experience. Direct your email to Mark@hyattsvillelife.com.

The Here & Now recognizes the importance of addressing this issue as well as the limits of the paper’s responsibilities regarding public health mandates.

To know Tom was to witness your own limitations surpassed. He was himself, always, and without fear, compromise or calculation. He was partial because he couldn’t pretend not to care or operate at a safely ironic distance. He struggled to find work because he couldn’t bear to see anyone exploited. He refused to take anything for himself that wasn’t also given to everybody else. He was good for no more complex a reason than because he believed in good-

ness. Fair because he believed in fairness. Generous because he believed in generosity. The world often forces us to accept what’s wrong in order to survive and flourish, but Tom stayed right. He simply didn’t have any other way to exist. He was all in, all at once, all the time. And when that burden

Our grief is commensurate with Tom’s capacity, his joy, his pain and his love. He showed us the immense size of it all. What we feel now is not a lack, but an opportunity that wouldn’t be possible without him. His final words to a devastated family and community asked for forgiveness – for him, for ourselves as individuals and for each other. May we all find the strength to give and receive that grace.

The Here & Now would like to acknowledge that the Johnson family requested donations in Tom’s honor to Black Lives Matter DC, setting a goal of $5,000. The final tally was over $30,000 from nearly 500 donors.

Thomas Johnson. COURTESY OF DAVID CHOY

There’s no better time to start a garden

By Lila Stiff

With schools slated for a virtual opening at the end of August, and with the pandemic having virtualized just about everything else in children’s lives, too, I’d like to make a case for starting a garden with your kids. In contrast to how stilted Zoom can sometimes feel, gardens are as tactile and as hands-on as it gets. Study after study shows that spending time in a garden — and especially in a garden that yields edibles — is associated with statistically significant levels of emotional well-being. You may not feel like you have much control over your life right now, but tending a garden can lend a wonderful sense of agency — along with some small lessons in going with the flow.

Cucumber plants are festooned with flowers, zucchini is in peak production and tomatoes are blushing, but do not despair if you feel like you missed this season. Late summer is a great time to think about starting a garden project, taking notes from

gardeners around you, tucking away supplies and preparing soil.

Does digging a garden bed sound daunting? Enter no-dig gardening, a technique as simple as covering your plot with flattened cardboard boxes to kill grass and weeds, while adding their nutrients in the soil. In the spring, apply a thick layer of compost right on top of the cardboard, and you have yourself a garden bed!

Come fall, whetting your appetite with a bed of late plantings can be a gentle way to start, and not nearly as overwhelming as a robust summer garden might be for a beginner.

If you lack space, you can start with a wooden wine crate filled with soil and sprinkled with a single packet of lettuce mix — a garden that you can easily park inside near a window if things get cold fast!

And it’s a great time to start thinking about bulbs, which you can order online now for fall shipping and then plant in late October into November. Bulbs are hardy enough for children to plant; have them

dig a hole and simply throw the bulbs in. Bulbs are the ultimate in delayed gratification — you can forget about them until they miraculously delight you in spring. Something to look forward to!

Kids love seed catalogs. Snag a few old-school catalogues now, and encourage your kids to mark them up and flag their favorite flowers and vegetables. I usually ask each child to pick five favorites, and then together we choose three that will work in our garden. Kids always put in some odd requests, and that is the fun part!

My seven-year-old daughter desperately wanted to grow wheat. We don’t have the conventional amount of space for that, to say the least, but I encouraged her to choose an inexpensive artisanal variety. She planted it, waited patiently for it all to ripen, and we then spent a day threshing it using various methods, and she happily ground it by hand.

We may have yielded roughly a single biscuit’s worth of flour out of the whole endeavor, but my kids will forever have a fuller

understanding of Bible parables, of the millers and bakers in fairy tales, and of what goes into their food.

Two of my daughters each chose different varieties of sunflowers, and we have set out to grow the tallest sunflowers possible — they are currently 11 feet and counting.

We’re also attempting to grow a few cotton plants, and I suspect that harvesting even two pieces of cotton will give my children a more vivid understanding of American slavery than just reading about the cotton industry ever could.

Flax, which we use to make linen, is an incredible plant with which to build a relationship. You can sow it shallowly on the ground in early spring, and it will grow long and tall, with small blue flowers.

After it flowers, flax is cut down, bound, and left to gather dew and decompose for a few weeks in a process known as retting. The inner plant fibers separate from the outer layer of the stalk, and we use those inner fibers to make linen. My kids and I are experimenting

with this, in large part to understand more about the materials and processes that make up our world. And those blue flowers enchant us, too.

None of this need be Pinterestworthy nor complicated. Even a simple garden project can be rewarding — our one-year-old son gets the most out of the garden, simply by reveling in dirt. Gardens, however amateurish or muddling (ours are both), bring magic home. And on a civic scale, the permaculture forest garden just south of Greenbelt Road, along the trolley trail, are a boon to adults as well as children, offering unlimited adventures with plants and the outdoors.

If you do not have children of your own, you can still garden with kids in mind, especially along your sidewalks. Parents of small children go on a lot of walks, and your kid-friendly plantings, with all of their sensory appeal, may just turn you into a neighborhood celebrity.

Lila Stiff gardens in her College Park home and homeschools her children, often doing both at the same time.

COLLEGE PARK POST

P.J. Brennan Resigns from City Council

With Councilmember Brennan’s Resignation, there is a City Council Vacancy in District 2

On July 22, 2020 City of College Park District 2 Councilmember P.J. Brennan has announced his resignation from City Council, effective September 30, 2020.

His resignation creates a vacancy on City Council for District 2 which will require a Special Election later this year.

“Nick and I have been looking for a house that suited the needs of our growing family and a unique opportunity arose in Calvert Hills;” said Councilmember Brennan, “we’re also glad we found our new home in the City of College Park because it has one of the lowest tax rates in our area and excellent City services.”

According to the City’s Charter, because this vacancy occurs more than 180 days prior to the next general election, a special election must be held within 65 days after the vacancy exists.

The date and details of the

CITY OF COLLEGE PARK

COVID-19 ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

City offers $1.5 million in assistance to residents & local businesses

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, the City has created programs to address resident, business, and non-profit organization needs.

The Council and staff have developed a plan with more than $1,500,000 in COVID-19 assistance to help those experiencing financial

hardship during this difficult time. The goal of these programs and initiatives is to help our residents and businesses get back on their feet as the recovery process begins.

At the time of this publication, the City has approved 43 Small Business Assistance Grants totaling $59,291.71 and 23 Emergency

upcoming Special Election will be announced soon, after the College Park Board of Election Supervisors have met. Information regarding candidacy and the election will be published on the City’s website (www.collegeparkmd.gov/ elections) as well as through other City communication channels.

For further information about the Special Election, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at cityclerkoffice@ collegeparkmd.gov.

Councilmember Brennan first joined the City Council in December 2013.

He and his husband Nick have lived in the City for more than nine years and have two children. “We will miss our home in Berwyn. We’ve made some great friends and memories here. We’ll still be around to visit friends, walk the Trolley Trail, and shop at local stores” stated Councilmember Brennan.

Financial Aid Grants to Residents totaling $11,051.75.

There are two programs that eligible College Park businesses can apply for: the Small Business Assistance Grants Program and the Modified Business Assistance & Façade

...continued on page 2

Councilmember P.J. Brennan at College Park Day

Improvement Program.

The purpose of the City’s Small Business Assistance Grants Program is to assist small businesses and non-profits with 25 or fewer full-time equivalents (FTEs), with direct economic support for costs of business interruption caused by: required closures, voluntary closures to promote social distancing, or decreased customer demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each business/owner can receive up to a maximum grant of $15,000 from this program.

The Modified Business Assistance & Façade Improvement program is similar to the existing program except that it does not require matching funds. For more information about these programs or to apply, please visit www.collegeparkmd.gov/ covid19assistance#businesses.

The City has also created a program to provide financial aid for residents in need. The purpose of the City’s Emergency Financial Aid to Residents Program is to provide financial assistance to families, senior citizens and other individuals who have been directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Financial assistance may be provided for eligible expenses such as rent/ mortgage payments to avoid eviction or foreclosure, unforeseen funeral costs, utility payments, and other emergency needs as deemed necessary.

Each eligible family/person can get up to a maximum of $5,000 per household for indirect payments to applicable payee (landlord, lender, Utility Company) and/or gift cards for eligible expenses from this program. For more information about this program or to apply, please visit www.collegeparkmd. gov/covid19assistance#residents.

Nominate a neighbor for the Jack Perry Award!

Nominations End September 30

of the community who emulates Councilman Jack Perry’s legacy of public service.

ELIGIBILITY: To be eligible for the award, a person must be at least 18 years of age and a registered voter or legal resident of College Park.

The City is continuing our virtual forum series, Continuing the Conversation: Town Halls on Community and Race Relations in College Park.

These town hall meetings serve as an avenue to examine our history and current policies and programs for evidence of disparate impact based on race and ethnicity.

student communities to discuss policing and race relations in the country and our local area.

It was a chance for knowledgeable and invested voices to share space to discuss the importance of real change and how to move forward. You can view the past event at www.collegeparkmd.gov/ blacklivesmatter.

In February 2013, the College Park City Council established an award in recognition of Councilman John Edward “Jack” Perry.

Councilman Perry served on the College Park City Council from 1979 to 1983 and from 1989 to 2011, for a total of 26 years. From the time he moved to College Park’s Berwyn neighborhood in 1969, until his death in 2012, Jack was deeply committed to serving his community, which he demonstrated by spending many hours working to improve the quality of life for all who lived and worked in College Park. Through the years, he volunteered on numerous associations, boards, coalitions, task forces and committees at the neighborhood, city, county and state levels. This Award will recognize a member

CRITERIA: The Jack Perry award will recognize a College Park resident who has participated to an extraordinary degree in neighborhood, civic, or municipal affairs within the City in a manner that improves public spaces, fosters community cohesion, eradicates blight, informs discussion of public issues, provides leadership, and/ or furthers the best interests of the City as a whole.

NOMINATIONS: Nominations are now being accepted. Nominations must be submitted in writing to the City Clerk, City of College Park, 8400 Baltimore Avenue, Suite 375, College Park, MD, 20740, or by e-mail to cityclerkoffice@ collegeparkmd.gov no later than September 30, 2020. Nominations will be reviewed by a Committee that includes a member of the Perry family. This non-monetary award will be presented by the City Council in the fall.

The City of College Park acknowledges the impact of racism in our community and acknowledges that certain public policies have created wide disparities of well-being and opportunity among people of different races and ethnicities in College Park and throughout the United States.

The City envisions a community in which public policies and programs are crafted to ensure that all people have equal opportunity to participate and pursue their well-being and potential.

We recognize that we are embarking on a journey that demands honest discussion, difficult conversations, and an openness to learn.

After its debut on June 30, 2020, the City has three more events planned in the coming months.

For the first event of the series, the City brought together a cross section of our community to discuss race relations and how we can begin healing. The event included State, County and City officials, representatives from our local police departments, members of our resident and

The second town hall of the series will be held on August 20, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. via the City’s Zoom. A link and more information will be provided on the City’s website at www.collegeparkmd.gov.

This upcoming forum entitled “Policing and Black Lives Matter” will feature an update on “8 Can’t Wait” support letters and a response from the County’s police department. It will also have information about the task force that was convened by the County in response to calls for Prince George’s County Police Department reform.

Part of the conversation will include an overview of the Black Lives Matter as a statement and a movement.

There are two more town halls planned as part of the Continuing the Conversation series; the dates and times have yet to be decided but will be announced via City website and communication channels. If you haven’t already, be sure to sign up for the latest City news and event information at www.collegeparkmd.gov/ cpconnect or like/follow our social media pages.

Dr. Bonnie Thornton Dill speaking during the June 30 Virtual Forum

COVID-19 ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

Did you know that the City of College Park has designated $1,150,000 in COVID-19 assistance for small businesses and non-profits?

The City has two COVID-19 Business Assistance Programs: the Small Business Assistance Program and the Modified Business Assistance & Facade Improvement Program.

www.collegeparkmd.gov/covid19assistance

Nominate a Neighbor or Business for a Green Award!

Recognizing our Greenest Residents and Businesses

Each year, the City of College Park’s Committee for a Better Environment (CBE) recognizes special efforts made by members of the local community to protect the environment.

Count Me In College Park

Fill Out Your 2020 U.S. Census!

Did you know that College Park was under-counted in the 2010 Census? There’s still time to fill out your Census! It’s easy and takes only minutes to complete.

College Park is at risk once again of being under-counted in the Census! You can still respond now at my2020census.gov or call 1-844330-2020 for English or 1-844-4682020 for Spanish.

Census workers have started knocking on doors in College Park for households that have not responded. If no one is home when the census taker visits, the census taker will leave a notice of their visit with information about how to respond online, by phone

or by mail. We encourage you to cooperate with census takers and ensure that everyone who was living in your household as of April 1, 2020, is counted.

The Census population statistics are used to determine how to spend billions of dollars in federal and state funds annually. The City of College Park urges all households to fill out the form online, over the phone, or by mail.

Can we count YOU in?

Learn more at www. collegeparkmd.gov/census2020 or contact the City’s Department of Planning, Community & Economic Development at 240-487-3541.

In addition to commending those who have contributed in some way to a healthier environment, CBE hopes to increase environmental awareness, and encourage wider appreciation and adoption of environmentally sound practices.

WHO’S ELIGIBLE?

Residents of the City of College Park, as well as businesses, organizations, associations, and institutions which operate or are located in the City are eligible.

CATEGORIES OF AWARDS:

1. Environmental 3-R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle

2. Environmentally friendly landscaping and beautification

3. Conservation of natural resources

4. Other environmental achievements

COMPLETE AND SUBMIT THE FORM:

Please submit the following information to nominate a resident, business, organization, association, or institutions for a CBE Green Award:

NOMINEE INFORMATION:

• Name:

• College Park Address:

• Phone:

• What has the nominee done to make College Park greener? (note: please feel free to attach a page or photos)

NOMINATED BY:

• Your name:

• Address:

• Phone:

Submit your nomination by email to jmccaslin@collegeparkmd. gov or by mail to Janet McCaslin, Department of Public Works, 9217 51st Avenue, College Park, 20740.

Show your City Pride!

Contest Extended to September 30, 2020!

Incorporated on June 7, 1945, the City of College Park is turning 75 this year! College Park has been a center of education, innovation, and exploration and has made its mark in history; a place where creative minds pursued innovations and firsts in agriculture, flight and education.

Today, the City of College Park is a thriving home to more than 30,000 residents, an internationally renowned university and the world’s oldest continuously operating airport.

While we are unable to celebrate in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we still want to celebrate with you! During this pandemic, we have seen so much amazing community spirit that we would like to continue showcasing it through the Show Your College Park Pride Contest!

We want to see and hear your stories and pride for College Park! Submit your videos, drawings and photos of your College Park spirit. All video and image entries will be made into a video collage to showcase our wonderful residents and their favorite memories. We can’t wait to see your creativity and what you’ll send!

By submitting your favorite memories, you will be entered to win a $50 gift card from the College Park business of your choosing (as long as the business you choose has the capability to issue a gift card, certificate, voucher, etc.). Winners will be randomly selected.

For more information on how to enter and contest rules and guidelines, please visit our website at www.collegeparkmd. gov/75thanniversary.

The City is providing FREE parking in the Downtown Parking Garage, City-controlled lots, and on metered City streets until August 30, 2020. Help support our local businesses with take-out and curbside pick-up options!

Free Parking in City Lots

The City is providing FREE parking in the Downtown Parking Garage, City-controlled lots, and on metered City streets during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Look for posted signs on City meters and pay stations for further details and restrictions. This free parking promotion ends on August 30, 2020.

Beginning August 31, parking in the Downtown Parking Garage will be free only for the first hour (see posted signs for further details). Please note the promotion is subject to change.

Help support our local businesses with take-out and curbside pick-up options!

City Announcements

THE MAYOR’S CHALLENGE FOR WATER CONSERVATION

The City is once again participating in the Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation and we need your help!

This challenge is a friendly water use and pollution reduction competition between U.S. cities and is supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National League of Cities.

The City of College Park encourages its residents to take the Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation by making a series of online pledges.

Take the pledge at www. mywaterpledge.com, help save

water, and reduce your impact on the environment during the month of August.

COLLEGE PARK DAY CANCELLATION

We regret to announce the cancellation of the City’s annual College Park Day due to COVID-19 and the Governor and County executive’s orders prohibiting large gatherings. The health and safety of our residents are what’s most important to us as we continue to monitor the situation.

The City is researching a possible virtual event in lieu of our signature event this year; stay tuned to the City’s website and social media for possible event announcements or

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

All information is current as of August 8.

Posh Cycling & Fitness. New members receive a one-week free pass until Sept. 30. See Facebook page for more details: facebook.com/pg/poshcyclingandfitness.

OpenBarre Studios. College

Park’s dance fitness studio offers virtual classes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and outdoor classes Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. For more information, visit openbarrestudios.com. You can also sign up online for OpenBarre’s “Stretch Under the Stars” event on Aug. 17 from 8 to 9 p.m.

Numi Yoga. In addition to daily livestreamed offerings, Numi Yoga offers an outdoor yoga class each Wednesday from 7 to 8 a.m. Find out more and sign up at.

Orangetheory Fitness. Free first class with individualized training. Visit orangetheory. com and enter your location for more details.

Adult Chair Yoga. Simple yoga movements to increase

resilience, improve fitness and promote mindfulness. Designed for all bodies, ages and experience levels; no experience necessary. Classes taught by Amalie Malochée, RYT 200, CPR-AED certified. $25 for 5 weekly sessions. For more information and to register, email yogiamalie@gmail.com.

Hollywood Farmers Market. Located in the parking lot of the Hollywood Shopping Cen-

ter, the market is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

College Park Farmers Market at Paint Branch Parkway. At 5211 Campus Dr., this market is open Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Free Line Dance Workshop. The College Park Arts Exchange offers a free, virtual workshop with Karen Stewart every Friday at 10 a.m. Work on your moves to the rhythms of soul,

gospel and pop music. Visit cpae.org for more information.

Belly Dance Livestream. Join the College Park Arts Exchange for a free, virtual dance concert on Aug. 15 from 7:30 to 8 p.m. Come for the show, stay for the dance party finale. Visit cpae. org for more information.

Novel Writing Workshop. The College Park Arts Exchange’s virtual creative writing work-

shop will take place on Aug. 30 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Join local writers Mary Amoto and John Feffer for an energizing mix of lectures, discussions and writing sessions. Cost $40. Visit cpae.org for more information.

Labor Day Porch Play. Celebrate music in College Park’s neighborhoods on the afternoons of Sept. 5, 6 & 7. Hosted by the College Park Arts Exchange. Visit cpae.org for more information.

Saturday Nights with Eric and Leo Maring. College Park’s music man Eric Maring hosts concerts each Saturday night at 9 p.m. with his son, Leo. Visit maringmusic.com for more information.

College Park Community Library. The library’s book club meets on Aug. 11 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. to discuss Still Life by Louise Penny and on Sept. 8 to discuss My Family & Other Animals by Gerald Durrell. Church of the Nazarene, 9704 Rhode Island Ave. Please bring a folding chair and face mask.

Library book club members Debbie Dugan, Lorraine Aldridge-Ey, Carol Munn, Jackie Kelly and Jessica Ek will be meeting on August 11 and September 8 at the Church of the Nazarene on Rhode Island Avenue. COURTESY OF CAROL MUNN

Book club holds second in-person meeting

By Alexandra Radovic

With their masks, snacks and books in hand, the members of the College Park Community Library Book Club held their second in-person meeting this month.

Last month, the club held its first in-person meeting since the coronavirus pandemic put the state on lockdown on March 23.

“This has worked out very well for the past two months,” said Jackie Kelly, director and cofounder of the library.. “Everyone brings something to share, their chairs and of course our masks.”

College Park Community Library opened on Feb. 22, 2012, with around 800 books. It now has 8,000 books, plus baskets of more books for toddlers. More than 450 families have joined the library.

Kelly said that in-person meetings with readers in the community have helped the library grow.

“The group jelled after a few months [and] now we have become friends, sharing not only our love of books and reading but what we enjoy in our daily lives,” she said.

Fellow member Lorraine Aldridge-Ey agreed.

“The book club is a group of smart, curious people. … Anyone going by was probably puzzled by our parking lot set up,” she said. “We had our chairs and our snacks. … We carried on way beyond our usual time because we hadn’t seen each other in so long.”

This month, the group will be reading Still Life by Louise Penny.

“We mostly read fiction, although we’ve also read biographies — really whatever strikes our fancy,” member

YARD BY YARD MAKEOVERS

Growing Roots in the Community, Branching Out and Flowering with Ideas!

SPRING SPECIAL: 10% discount on any cleanup with this ad!

Expert advice and creative solutions, services based on your needs and budget.

Jessica Ek said.

Ek, like many, has been having get-togethers over Zoom and other virtual platforms.

“There are only so many hours I want to sit at my computer,” she said. “Getting back to book club has felt like a reprieve. … It offers a bit of normalcy in quite an abnormal time.”

According to member Debbie Dugan, the club is run totally by volunteers.

“We are a group of women with a variety of interests, including the types of books we enjoy, so it keeps the selections varied,” Dugan said. “I have been introduced to authors and stories I might never have tried if I had not been part of this group.”

The library has another book group through the College Park Arts Exchange. That book group met at the library over the past four years but has been hosting Zoom meetings during the pandemic. Usually their events are geared toward children.

Interested in joining a book club? Check out the library’s Facebook page at facebook.com/colparklib/.

SERVICES INCLUDE

- Leaf Cleanup/Gutter Cleaning

- Landscape Spruce Ups/Clean Ups

- Bed, Weeding, Edging and Mulching

- Pruning/Trimming (Natural or Formal)

- Tree and Shrub Removal

- Planting Trees, Shrubs, Perennials and Bulbs

- Mulch/Topsoil/Compost/Gravel

- Transplanting Small Trees, Shrubs and Perennials

- Seasoned Split Firewood Available

- Lawn Cutting, Aerating and Fertilizing

- Grading and Drainage Projects

- Storm Cleanup and Debris Hauling

University hosts free anti-racist teach-ins

By Alexandra Radovic

The University of Maryland

(UMD) community hopes to host at least two free anti-racism teach-ins this month.

According to Dr. Carlton E. Green, director of diversity training & education at UMD, the series features members of the university’s community sharing from their research, practice, expertise and experience to inform anti-racist practices on campus.

“So far we’ve had one general, introductory teach-in, one specifically focused on leadership in higher education and one featuring student voices,” Green said. “We’re working on planning more.”

Green said the idea for these teach-ins came about after the video of George Floyd’s murder went viral in late May.

“There was an outpouring of concern, including on our campus,” Green explained. “Whereas this was not the first time we had witnessed an incident like this one, it was during the pandemic, which was also highlighting race-related health and mortality disparities.”

But rather than focus solely on diversity and inclusion, Green said he felt it was important for the university to focus on the root issues of racism.

“As some of us in the Office of Diversity & Inclusion were processing our experiences, we thought it necessary to offer some focused leadership to our campus around this issue,” Green explained. “We contacted our colleagues in the School of Public Health and the Center for Diversity & Inclusion in

Higher Education, and they were willing to join us.”

Green added that as a community of scholars, practitioners and researchers, UMD has plenty of expertise and experience on campus to have a robust conversation about racism and anti-racism.

“We hope that attendees learn more about how race and racism operate in higher education and how racism and white supremacy culture negatively impact people’s lived experiences,” Green explained.

“Giving people language to discuss racism and its negative effects on people is crucial to advancing an anti-racist conversation. ... We also hope that the teach-ins will help attendees identify concrete ways they can engage in anti-racist practice in their own work and lives.”

Sessions, which are generally geared toward UMD students, faculty, staff and alums, are recorded and posted to the Diverse Terps YouTube channel. The program’s Twitter handle is @DiverseTerps.

Rather than focus solely on diversity and inclusion, Dr. Green said he felt it was important for the university to focus on the root issues of racism.

Staycationing during a pandemic

By Eric Olson

Iturned 50 in early July, the same week my oldest daughter turned 15. With the coronavirus pandemic wearing on, and with a couple of milestone birthdays in my family, I thought we ought to take a break.

As our family considered our options, public health weighed heavily on our minds, and I had a thought: What about revisiting that community where I was living when Sarah and I first met?

I thought it would be fun to go somewhere we knew and act like tourists. It was a nice community back then, and I heard that more restaurants opened in the last 20 years. We could spend time relaxing outside, ordering takeout and getting a little break. Luckily, the house I was living in back then was available for this vacation experiment. When I told one of the owners that I enjoyed doing yard work for fun, she took me up on my offer! I was feeling pretty good.

On the first day, I spotted not only a new addition on the house, but also the addition of a new bike trail out front, and I was eager to see where it would take us. The owner said if we went one direction, we’d end up at a lake, and in the other direction we’d find restaurants and brewpubs.

The area has a lot of small businesses, and one of the first things we did was buy a week’s supply of bagels made fresh at one of the local shops. They were a treat every morning with a fresh pot of coffee from locally roasted beans.

The first day of July, we biked south, then east, pedaling

across bridges over creeks and cycling through neighborhoods where people waved as we passed by. We ended up in a shady valley with a stream running through. It was a round trip of 14 miles. We vowed to go out and try more trails in the days to come. That evening, we dined on some of the best burritos and quesadillas we’ve ever had – from an authentic Mexican restaurant that’s been winning rave reviews from food

critics since they opened. My daughter wanted to hike in the mountains or go to a beach for her birthday, and either destination would be within just a couple hours’ drive. We ended up at a large bay at a friend’s house only 45 minutes away, and we had a lovely day by the water. We returned to the house and enjoyed takeout from a local Indian restaurant – paratha, savory palak paneer and chana masala. As the July 4th weekend ap-

proached, we stocked up on picnic food at an organic grocery – watermelon, items to grill, buns, pickles and mustard — the works. Later, I strolled down the trail to one of the local markets, put my mask on and had my choice of hundreds of craft brew offerings. I loaded my backpack full with IPAs, pale ales and session ales, and I cracked one back at the house to start off the July 4th weekend. It went down smooth with our Ethiopian takeout platters. July 4th was a day of music. A local family paraded through the neighborhood: A drummer and a banjo player, accompanied by singers, played Woody Guthrie tunes and brought smiles to a day without fireworks. Across the community, local musicians set up in front yards to play for physically distanced, masked listeners. We biked up and down the trail and made it to five performances. My 50th was a memorable day of grilling, friends (present, but physically distanced), a kiddie pool and evening fire pit, and vegetarian “chicken” drumsticks from a local vegan restaurant. The remaining days were highlighted by more biking – along a levee, and past a dormant old port that bustled with commerce and high mast ships 200 years ago. We glided alongside

a river of kayakers, hawks and osprey, and followed creeks and streams through a canopy of trees. We circled a lake teeming with heron, geese and songbirds, and capped off our vacation with brewpub takeout – black bean burgers with pickled jalapeños, gourmet pizza and robust salads.

Our vacation ended too soon, but I highly recommend our destination: College Park, Maryland.

It is a great place to live and work, but it’s also a great place to staycation. With a week off at home, there was time to bike the Northeast and Northwest Branch Trails, the Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail, the Indian Creek Trail, Paint Branch Trail, Sligo Creek Trail, and Anacostia River Trail. Lake Artemesia is always a wonderful spot to visit, and seven days wasn’t enough time to get takeout from all our favorite restaurants. College Park’ s amenities have multiplied over my twenty-five plus years here, and the talent and creativity of our community has blossomed. It’s a great place to be, anytime.

Eric Olson is executive director of the College Park City-University Partnership.

Instead of venturing out, try exploring the hidden treasures of your own town. COURTESY OF PEXELS

Haddad’s sister, Noemie Woodward, who lives in Bowie, learned about Neighbors Connect when she read the last edition of the College Park Here & Now. “Try this phone number,” she said to Haddad. She did, and the number was a godsend. When that call came in, Carol Nezzo posted a rapid request for assistance on listservs, and volunteers began to check in.

The very next morning, Neighbors Connect volunteer John Archer went to work, cutting, sawing and pruning.

Neighbors Connect then worked with College Park’s enforcement officers to extend the deadline.

Thanks to Berwyn’s Oscar Gregory and a band of amazing Hyattsville, College Park, and Greenbelt volunteers, the work continued every morning for the following week.

A big thanks to the College Park Department of Public Works for going beyond the call

of duty in clearing mountains of debris, and to code enforcement officers for their support and assistance.

When an older/disabled resident receives notice of a code violation warning, Neighbors Connect will work with code enforcement, with everyone

striving for friendly compliance.

It took a crew of local volunteers several days to cut, saw and drag parts of the jungle to the curb, and they also repaired Haddad’s fence. Kindhearted and industrious, this team pulled off the effort: from

Hyattsville – the Archer family: John, Maria, Gregory (7), Cristina (4) and Victoria (1); Heather Usher and Isabella Paquette; the Brandi family: Jennifer, Nicholas, Jackson (12), Chance (10) and Kieran (8). From College Park –Oscar Gregory, Alex Gregory and Urs Weber. From Greenbelt - Vijay Parameshwaran. Cheerleaders from College Park - Maria Mackie and Carol Nezzo. Neighbors Connect organized and

TAX

FROM PAGE 1

College Park residents spoke out about the proposed measure during a virtual public hearing with the council Tuesday. Residents expressed disagreement with the council’s plan to raise taxes during a pandemic, knowing many in the community are suffering financially.

College Park City Councilmember Fazlul Kabir (District 1) also joined the meeting to speak on his opposition to the measure.

“As a Prince George’s County resident, I think the timing of this bill couldn’t be worse,” Kabir said.

Kabir pointed to the fact that residents are dealing with unemployment and struggling to pay mortgages. Kabir said that the College Park City Council has been working over the years to keep the homestead tax credit cap reduced. “It’s frustrating because the county council’s effort to repeal the cap on the county’s portion of the tax is going in the opposite direction that College Park is trying to do,” Kabir added.

The tax credit cap could be as high as 10%, as is the case in other towns in the county, but College Park’s is currently zero, according to Kabir.

Councilmember Davis, who

rooted for the team.

Neighbors Connect strives to unite you with your neighbors while you work together on projects of common interest, including transportation, gardening, code compliance yard work for seniors and disabled residents, shopping, light in-house tasks, food distribution and more. To volunteer with Neighbors Connect, call 301.864.5267.

sponsored the amendment, issued a statement regarding the tabled measure on Facebook on July 22.

In the statement, Davis wrote that he hopes conversations about the annual budget process continue and that “... county residents will remain engaged and open to a greater understanding about the county’s budget and tax structure.” Davis also said the intent of the measure “...has always been to place the issue of the County’s unique tax structure before County voters for a formal decision by the full electorate.”

Due to the charter amendment process, issues can only be placed on the November ballot in the general election every two years, according to Davis.

Councilmember Glaros also supported the proposed legislation, saying that having the ability to adjust the tax cap will give the council more flexibility with the budget.

She said that having the cap set to the CPI is poor and outdated, and leads to underfunding.

“It is worthwhile to ask ourselves are these things working and serving us well,” she noted.

With the measure tabled, residents will not see a question about the homestead tax credit on their ballots this November, but it will continue to be an important issue for the city council moving forward.

Members of the College Park Department of Public Works hauled away the overgrowth. COURTESY OF OSCAR GREGORY

The project has a complex history, including issuance of a special exception and a variance. Extensive discussions took place between the developer and the civic association, and the Prince George’s County Planning Board has also been heavily involved in issues surrounding the proposed development. Several elements of this history, including the special exception and variance, no longer hold legal ground.

Current College Park Planning Director Terry Schum said her department didn’t exist in the 1980s, which is largely why the civic association became so involved.

“Today, we’d have the civic association make recommendations to the planning board, rather than make a separate agreement with the developer,” she said.

According to Schum, it’s now up to the city to recommend approval or disapproval of the project to the county’s planning board. The civic association is not involved in the chain of command.

College Park resident Kevin Young, who served as BDCA president in 2014, when Cruz’s interest in the project renewed, identified an issue with the shift in responsibilities.

“A point that is being missed here is that all the approved special exceptions, approved variances and detailed site plans an applicant can obtain mean nothing if the applicant does not have a final plat of subdivision to build on,” he said.

According to a report presented at the July 7 meeting, the proposed development will offer 81 residential units, including 20 one-bedroom units, 56 two-bedroom units and five three-bedroom units. The plan also calls for 130 parking spaces, including 35 surface spaces

and 95 additional spaces in a garage on the first two floors of the seven-story building.

The proposed building will have an exercise room on the second floor. The staff report notes that, in lieu of including recreational facilities in the plan, a fee was paid when the final plat was recorded. There are two public parks nearby.

The building will provide affordable housing. Documents presented to the city council state, “All units will be income restricted: 80% of the units will be available to residents whose income is at <=60% of area median income (AMI), 10% at

<=50% of AMI with 10% of the units reserved for residents who earn <=30% of AMI.” According to the staff report, the site plan under consideration stipulates a number of conditions, including construction of a firetruck turning radius along Branchville Road, recycling facilities and a pedestrian trail around a stormwater facility on the east side of the building.

The provision for the firetruck turn-around calls for construction of a heavy-duty sidewalk with a depressed curb across from the firehouse. This would be built on what is currently a gravel lot on the Cruz development’s property line.

BVFC trustee Tom Tanner said on July 30 that he had not seen drawings of the proposed sidewalk and couldn’t comment on it. He added, however, that the BVFC has met with Schum to discuss issues related to the proximity of the development to the firehouse.

“We still feel the project as currently envisioned is too dense for the small 2-acre lot it will be placed onto …” Tanner

We have envelopes for correspondence, work orders for the job, proposals for the quote, brochures for advertising, directories for the club, newsletters for the newsworthy, postcards for the announcement, posters for the event, tickets for the show, programs for the concert, menus for the hungry, and stickers for identification.

Free parking and a free cup of coffee!

said, “and we feel 128 parking spaces are too few for a project that by normal zoning rules requires 190 or more spaces.

“The lack of on-street parking for residents is already a concern in the City of College Park, but for us, significant on-street parking, some of it potentially in illegal locations … could inhibit our ability to safely and rapidly respond from the firehouse.”

Tanner also said that BVFC is concerned about illegal left turns out of the development as residents attempt to access University Boulevard in front of the station’s bays. “We are concerned this will occur while apparatus are departing, delaying our response or even causing a new incident. Once the apparatus start exiting the engine bays there is little room before we are on Branchville Road,” Tanner said.

Councilmembers were scheduled to vote on recommending the site plan to the Prince George’s County Planning Board on July 14, but that vote has been postponed until September. Dan Lynch, a principal attorney at McNamee Hosea, who is representing Cruz, requested the additional time in an email.

“Since last week’s (July 7) council worksession, our civil engineers have been working on the design of the Branchville Road improvements adjacent to the Branchville Volunteer Fire Department,” he wrote.

Lynch also said that the engineers are considering additional issues, including making sidewalks ADA compliant.

“We’re going to check that what we agreed to do, we can do,” he said. “We’ve presented what I think is a high quality development,” he added, noting that the building’s exterior is to be mostly brick and that each

unit will have a balcony.

Lynch has represented Cruz since 2014, when the development company began to actively pursue funding. He has provided plans for the proposed development to the BDCA and made two presentations to the association. He has also followed up with BDCA co-president, Karyn Keating.

Keating, who has been the association’s co-president since June 2020, has been involved with the BDCA since 2012. She stated that the association does not oppose the project in any way.

“We, as a group, as a neighborhood, want the project to be done responsibly,” Keating said. “Since the project is part of Berwyn, we want to make sure it does not negatively affect the rest of the neighborhood.”

Keating confirmed that the association had several concerns, including the fire company’s requirements and pedestrian safety. She said that using a sidewalk as part of the firetruck turning radius could be disastrous, and painted a picture of a mother with two children and a stroller walking across from the station when a call comes in, with firetrucks needing to respond quickly.

Keating said she was concerned about traffic along Branchville Road. She also noted that students might park in the apartment building’s lots, which could force residents to park on city streets.

“I feel that Dan [Lynch] and Cruz are very open to the items that [the BDCA] and Berwyn residents are concerned about,” Keating later wrote in an email. “They are working with us to do what they can to minimize our concerns. I’m quite sure that we will end up with a satisfactory project.”

The Branchville Gardens project would build a seven-story apartment building across from the Branchville firehouse. COURTESY OF RACHEL LOGAN

“A point that is being missed here is that all the approved special exceptions, approved variances and detailed site plans an applicant can obtain mean nothing if the applicant does not have a final plat of subdivision to build on.”

former BDCA president Kevin Young

College Park schools prepare for educating in the fall

By Pierce Panagakos

While the University of Maryland has announced its plans for reopening in the fall, it’s not the only school in College Park that may look different when the new academic year starts. In addition to the university, there are six schools in the city. Members of the College Park community met virtually on July 29th to discuss concerns about how these schools will reopen.

In July, Monica Goldson, CEO of Prince George’s County Public School System (PGCPS), announced that all public schools in the county would conduct distance learning for the first two quarters of the 2020-2021 academic year, and this sparked questions from the community. Luckily for College Park residents, the meeting yielded some answers.

The Zoom session was led by College Park resident Joshua Thomas, a PGCPS Board of Ed-

ucation member representing District 2, which includes all of the College Park’s schools and other schools in nearby neighborhoods. During the webinar, Thomas announced that every student in the county who needs a Chromebook may have one to facilitate distance learning. PGCPS will also provide a WiFi hotspot to any family that needs one.

Beyond these technology accommodations, Thomas also said that he would support a school supply resources drive for students in College Park and Berwyn Heights. Thomas also confirmed that PGCPS will be providing additional services for students in need of specialized education plans. Meals will also be provided at each location for students and their families.

For Holy Redeemer School, one of two private schools in the area, there might be more uncertainty than for the district’s public schools.

Dr. Shaela Jones-Mecholsky, the former chair of Holy Redeemer’s school advisory board, said, “For my part, I am praying for the continued health and safety of our community,” adding, “We are still anxiously awaiting the administration’s decision as to how they plan to deliver instruction; I’m sure this is a very tough decision for our principal and pastor.”

Thomas said that extracurricular activities are going to be different, as well, when schools reopen. Sports programs will be suspended while distance learning is in effect, and extracurricular clubs would have to meet virtually.

Thomas acknowledged that distance learning may be particularly challenging for parents who are considered essential workers. Thomas said that PGCPS is currently brainstorming options for parents who can’t be at home supporting their children during school hours.

Thomas also shared a sample

schedule for a typical school day this fall. Students would have four hour-long virtual sessions, four days each week, with their teachers and fellow students. On Wednesdays, students will participate virtually

in small-group, teacher-led enrichment sessions throughout the day. Thomas noted that individual schools have the freedom to structure their own plans to address students’ and teachers’ needs.

FRESH SALADS

Clazel Barnhardt is the building supervisor at Hollywood Elementary School. COURTESY OF RACHEL LOGAN