01-2021 College Park Here & Now

Biden administration might mean FBI move to Greenbelt. P. 3

An update on the many active developments in College Park. P. 5

Council discusses Verizon 5G application

By Luke Gentile

On Dec. 8, the College Park City Council voted unanimously to approve an amendment to a licensing agreement with Verizon Wireless, the first step in a process that will bring 5G small cell wireless to the city. The council then discussed the agreement in depth.

College Park mainstay Bagel Place creates a fundraiser to stay open

By Emily Williams

Bagel Place of College Park has been a mainstay of the community for over 30 years, serving our community bagels, co ee and deli sandwiches. And now, like many other small businesses across the country, the shop is struggling to keep its doors open, as nancial pressures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic threaten the business.

Meet the man who keeps Berwyn beautiful

By Bob Catlin

Each year, the Berwyn District Civic Association (BDCA) recognizes Russell Robinette, who started picking up litter in the neighborhood in 2005 and has hardly missed a day since then. Without an inperson meeting this year to formally recognize his service, the BDCA posted signs around the neighborhood which read, “Berwyn loves Russell.”

Robinette, who was born with an intellectual disability, grew up on Potomac Avenue with his two younger sisters, Karen and Kathy. Robinette has enjoyed a long landscaping career, which began at Melwood, an organization in Upper Marlboro whose mission is to empower individuals of di ering abilities by providing them with unique opportunities in their communities. Following his work with Melwood, Robinette cut grass for the Smithsonian Institution. Over the past 20 years, he has mowed lawns for his College Park neighbors.

Growing up, Robinette enjoyed dancing, playing basketball and bowling. For many years, he bowled in a Saturday morning duckpin league. Now, when he’s not cutting grass or picking up trash, he enjoys riding his bicycle, and stopping at Taco Bell, Denny’s or McDonald’s while on his long walks, picking up litter.

He enjoys making the neighborhood look better and always takes the opportunity to talk with people he meets along the way. He not only cleans up Berwyn’s streets, but Greenbelt Road and Baltimore Avenue, too. Over the course of the past 15 years, he has picked up over 100,000 pieces of trash from the streets. Consequently, both the Berwyn District Civic Association and the city’s Committee for a Better Environment honor him each year for his contribution to the beauti cation of the city he loves.

Lifelong resident Russell Robinette has picked up trash in the Berwyn neighborhood for 15 years. JULIA

Pandemic underscores food insecurity in our own area

By Mark Garrett

Twelve years ago, a small group of volunteers with the College Park Church of the Nazarene started a foodbank to serve our hungry neighbors. Early on, we knew this was a mission too large for us to tackle alone, so we partnered with individuals, other churches and organizations to work toward our common goal of keeping people fed. Little did we know that 2020 would bring the largest pandemic

in our lifetime. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, unemployment rates averaged 1.7 million in February 2020, peaking to 22.4 million in April and settling to 5.5 million people out of work in December – over 3 times the numbers of unemployed at the beginning of the year. e number of people we have been serving at the food bank has grown too; in February, we were feeding 100 families once a month, but we quickly started distributing every week to meet the demand. Now about 300 families rely on our food bank for

support every week.

As the need has grown, so has the support from our partners. We could never have done this without the generous support of our community. From food drives, cash donations and the help of hundreds of volunteers — to the generous grants from the City of the College Park – you have kept us going.

ank you, College Park. We expect the need to continue growing into the winter months, but we know that our community will be ready to support with food, hours of service and generosity of heart.

Mark Garrett has served as senior pastor at the College Park Church of the Nazarene since 2004.

College Park back in the day — teenager edition

By Renee Domogauer

Back in the 1980s, my house reverberated with, “Want to go down to Howie’s, Dad?”

e call usually led to a father-son walk downtown for food and a few video or pinball games — and who knows what else? Fathers and their ‘tween sons sure had interesting adventures in those days. Now, only a generation later, when I think I’m regaling my grandson with stories from days gone by, he just scratches his head and asks, “Leave the house to play a video game!”

“Yes! Are you ready for this? Back in the ‘80s and ‘90s, kids had to actually leave their rooms to play video games.” Back then, teens didn’t have such diversions at their ngertips, I tell him. ey had to actually go to video arcades and

pinball hangouts, and College Park had its share of such places. Two particularly memorable spots were Howie’s and Hungry Herman’s.

My son remembers Howie’s as being run by Mrs. Howie, who served her patrons with great kindness and patience. She must’ve been a saint, putting up with an endless onslaught of teenage boys. Howie’s was located roughly where Pizza Kingdom is today and was lled with kids waiting for their turn to play foosball and air hockey. And then there was Hungry Herman’s, right around the corner from Howie’s, where College Park Shipping and Mailing now sits. While its rooms of pinball machines and video games entertained, its gustatory department didn’t disappoint, either. My fondest memory of the place was learning that, unlike the ever-present Mrs. Howie, there

Managing Editor Mark Goodson mark@hyattsvillelife.com

What

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 Streetcar Suburbs Publishing., 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 Christina Armeni, Dawn Budd, A.R. Cabral, Bob Catlin, Adele Cerrelli, Renee Domogauer, Mark Garrett, Luke Gentile, Rachel Logan, Julia Nikhinson, Eric Maring, Chris McManes, Lila Stiff, Emily Williams

Layout & Design Editor Ashley Perks

Advertising advertising@hyattsvillelife.com

301.531.5234

was no Mrs. Hungry Herman on the scene. e owner’s wife gave her husband’s business a wide berth — no fast food, greasy spoon, boisterous crowds for her! She was a yogi. She taught yoga and vegetarianism, along with peace and tranquility, in her mini-ashram at home. Seri-

Advertising Sales Manager Chris Currie

Business Manager Catie Currie

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.

ously. But I digress.

What other excitement did kids get up to in the ‘80s? Swensen’s ice cream parlor sat in the middle of the shopping center, which was anchored back then by Peoples Drug Store. My son fondly remembers going to Swensen’s with a gang of his teen friends and sharing the Boat, a giant ice cream concoction that fed them all.

College Park o ered diversions for the rest of us, too. In those days, before high tech landed in our lives, we crowded into record stores. Yes, we were on the hunt for records — those big, round, black vinyl disks that you had to actually buy and bring home and play on a turntable — risking, of course, breakage, scratching and warping. But, gosh, was it exciting to ip through the shelves of albums with their intriguing cover art!

ere were lots of record shops along the Route 1 Corridor, but our very own, here in College

Park, was a Kemp Mill store that was located where Noodles & Company now stands.

And we had a small, singlescreen movie theater, too. Yes, the College Park eater was opened by Roth eaters in 1976 and later became a 99 Cent eater. By day, it showed hits like “Out of Africa” and “When Harry Met Sally,” and by night it became far less civilized, screening double features like “ e Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “Phantom of Paradise.” I’ve heard that moviegoers threw food and beer at the screen on those nights. Less civilized, indeed!

And we had actual brick-andmortar video stores back then — Erols and, later, Potomac Video. ey were all so new in the ‘80s, and all the rage; I remember that my son, a DeMatha High School student, used to run over to Erol’s to select videos for his lm class. Video shops were veritable town squares back then, too. Not only could you peruse the shelves, but you often ran into your neighbors and got to catch up on all the local goings-on.

In so many ways, College Park is now a very di erent place than it was back in the day. If you’ve got memories to share, readers, please contact me at ddomo@verizon.net.

Renee Domogauer has lived in Calvert Hills for 40 years. She is known affectionately by her neighbors as the mayor of Carleton Terrace.

other excitement did kids get up to in the ‘80s? Swensen’s ice cream parlor sat in the middle of the shopping center, which was anchored back then by Peoples Drug Store. My son fondly remembers going to Swensen’s with a gang of his teen friends and sharing the Boat, a giant ice cream concoction that fed them all.

Roughly 300 families rely on the College Park Community Food Bank for support every week. COURTESY OF UNSPLASH

FBI move to Greenbelt under consideration

By A.R. Cabral

With a new administration taking office in January, the Federal Bureau of Investigation may become North College Park’s newest next-door neighbor.

The FBI’s search for a new headquarters will be in the works again under the Biden administration, with Greenbelt making the shortlist, according to The Washington Post

This plan was originally in discussion at the end of the Obama administration.

“The local community was looking forward to seeing [the] FBI moving to Greenbelt,” explained Councilmember Fazlul Kabir (District 1). “The development would help bring jobs and revitalize the local economies, including North College Park’s commercial districts.”

The original plan for the Greenbelt site would have placed the facility adjacent to the Greenbelt Metro station and was slated to accommodate some 11,000 employees, according to a Washington Business Journal article from Feb. 2017.

College Park resident David Mulligan recalled seeing tethered balloons representing how high the potential building would be. Many in the community were enthusiastic about the government agency’s possible move to Greenbelt.

According to a July 2017 press release by the U.S. General Services Administration, developers could not secure the necessary funding from the government to move the FBI from the aging J. Edgar Hoover Building in the District.

The potential resurrection of this project has many College Park residents excited about

its possible impact on the community.

“North College Park could use some more investment in the area,” said College Park resident Jasmy Methipara. Methipara would welcome new restaurants and other development that the FBI headquarters might spur.

“This would bring thousands of jobs and restaurants, and other retail, within walking distance from a large number of College Park residents,” said College Park Mayor Patrick Wojahn. “I supported it before President Trump shut the idea down, and I support it now,” he added.

Mayor Wojahn hopes to see redevelopment come to the city, including along Baltimore Avenue, from the university to the Beltway. Not everyone is as enthusiastic about the FBI’s potential move, though.

“The [North College Park Community Association (NCPCA)] and the councilmembers of District[s] 1 and 4 have been extremely concerned about the impacts to the North College Park neighborhoods, to the east of Rhode Island Avenue,” said Mary Cook, NCPCA president.

“Should the FBI [headquarters] ever be built, there will be reduced sunlight, increased air,

noise and light pollution, and the danger of terror attacks.” Cook said that morning sunlight would be diminished as far as four blocks away from the building. And according to Cook, the move would result in increased traffic, which would lead to increased air pollution.

“The NCPCA brings up concerns that should be addressed, but I would hesitate to assume that this small group of resi-

dents represents the majority of residents in North College Park,” said Councilmember Kate Kennedy (District 1). Kennedy, who is serving her third year on the council, is focused on how the FBI headquarters would impact the city over time. She said that she would look forward to the commercial growth in the North College Park area that the FBI headquarters would bring.

“Growth, by itself, is going to

happen, by nature of the FBI coming,” said city resident Larry Provost. “With the Metro, lots of available parking and low cost housing, it would be a win-win for both the FBI and the area.”

The relocation of the FBI to Greenbelt is purely speculative at the moment. But, should this move ever become a reality, it would have a profound impact on the city, and North College Park, in particular.

How to look long through the holidays with tradition

By Eric Maring

Here in Calvert Hills, we enjoy our annual tradition of lighting a Christmas tree at the corner of Dartmouth Avenue and Amherst Road.

Santa flies in on a firetruck, handing out candy canes and posing for pictures with families as the community celebrates in the cold.

A blessed neighbor often sets out a fire pit and another doles out hot chocolate or hot toddies while we cluster around the fire’s warmth and celebrate in song.

Our neighborhood appreciates traditions and the meaning that they embody; it’s a gratitude that we share and don’t take for granted. Like so many things this year, our tree lighting was partly virtual, masterfully orchestrated by Cameron and Kelsey, two determined and caring neighbors who

have spearheaded the event for several years now. Santa (another blessed neighbor … shhh, don’t tell the kids it wasn’t Kris Kringle) waved to his fans from the back of a pickup truck, escorted by the College Park Fire Department. The neighborhood was grateful to see the tradition of bringing light go on this year.

Seeing holiday lights on trees and homes reminds us of a larger light — the hope and joy this season brings. When my family celebrates the lights of our two December traditions, Chanukah and Christmas, we especially revel in the extraordinary music that we listen to and play.

One of my all-time favorite bands is Indigo Girls, a duo whose reflection, activism and vision of hope infuses all the music they create, year after year. In May, they released a remarkable new album “Look Long,” with a title track that resonates with insight about the pandemic era, especially as my family celebrates the rituals of the holidays.

The rituals we celebrate this season ask us to remember and reflect, to imagine gen-

uestions? We Have Answers

erations past, and to honor and cherish what is before us, both in the sense of what came before and what is before us, here and now.

These holidays ask us to look long at the meaning of traditions, such as how something so extraordinary as the simple melody of “Away in a Manger” has been passed from musician to singer, to children to grandparents, and back again — and again, and again.

And how frying latkes — the potato pancakes so many of us love — has brought generations together around a table for centuries.

And how the messages of peace and wonder, within and without, continue to resonate every holiday season, even in these trying days that not one of us could have imagined. As we look to the new year, may we look long for that larger light and see the gifts that truly matter.

Eric Maring is a local music educator and performer, and author of the new book, Two Little Blackbirds Visit maringmusic.com for more information.

We're asking a lot of our homes these days - bedrooms have become offices, dining tables are classrooms. While some of this is temporary, a lot will change for good. Homeowners are thinking about upgrades and renovations. They're wondering if it's time to move and what their homes might be worth There's a lot to consider

We've helped clients all up and down the Route 1 Corridor, and have plenty of insights to share, not only about buying and selling, but also about home improvements - big and small - that add value. We talk with homeowners every day on all kinds of issues, whether they're looking to sell or planning to stay put! If you have home questions, we're here to help you consider your options

Our consultations are always free Give us a call or drop us an email We'll help you navigate what's next

The Calvert Hills holiday tree. ERIC MARING

Pandemic isn’t slowing down development in College Park

By Christina Armeni

Construction sites are scattered across College Park as the city plans for future developments, including new student housing, apartments and retail. e city will likely look very di erent over the next ve years, as major projects continue.

e Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) is continuing to make signi cant changes to Route 1. e $29 million roadway improvement project, which began in early 2020, is expected to be completed by the end of 2023, according to MDOT SHA Media Relations Manager Sherry Christian.

“ is project is more than a sidewalk improvement project. It is a corridor improvement project,” Christian said. Route 1 will be widened to a four-lane roadway with a 5-foot-wide bicycle lane. Planned improvements also include landscaping, drainage system updates, new signage and pedestrian lighting. Sidewalks on both sides of the street will also be improved to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.

According to Christian, the pandemic has not impacted construction. “On the contrary, the reduced tra c and pedestrian ow are bene ting the contractor and public in several ways,” she noted. Less trafc and fewer pedestrians, due to the University of Maryland’s closure, have helped the project run smoothly.

Christian said that the project is 10% complete. e MDOT SHA website (roads.maryland. gov) provides frequent updates about lane closures and construction times.

Another major project that has stirred conversation in the past few months is the construction of the Purple Line light rail. e groundbreaking was in August of 2017, and, according to the MDOT SHA website for the line, the light rail is projected to be completed by mid-2023. Construction stopped in September, due to the costs associated with a contractor dispute and thirdparty lawsuits. On December 16th, the Maryland Board of Public Works approved the $250 million agreement that settles all outstanding nancial claims and terminates the current litigation. Contractors Me-

ridiam and Star America will stay on with the project, while Texas-based Fluor Enterprises Inc. will be released from its obligations. e state will soon seek bids from potential contractors to cover project design and management.

A third and important development is under way in the city, as well. Last February —

indeed, on Valentine’s Day — former University of Maryland President Wallace Loh, Mayor Patrick Wojahn and members of the community gathered to break ground for the new city hall building, on Knox Road. In September, the project reached another milestone when the cement slab was poured. e building will include o ces,

as well as retail space on the ground level. e project, which is slated for completion in 2021, carries a price tag of more than $20 million.

Multiple apartment buildings are under construction on and near campus. e Greenbeltbased Bozzuto Development Co. is working on a mixed-use apartment complex, located

across from the ZIPS Dry Cleaners on Route 1. e complex will include 393 housing units, two parking garages and 70,000 square feet of retail space. According to a Bozzuto press release, commercial tenants will include a grocery store and tness center. Construction began in April and is targeted for completion in 2021.

Another o -campus apartment complex, Tempo, is under construction near the Denny’s on Route 1. e project is in the hands of Gilbane Development Company. “We are thrilled to bring this exciting new student community to College Park and the University of Maryland,” Gilbane Senior Vice President Russell Broderick said in a press release. e development, an 8-story building, will have 296 units. Broderick cites Tempo’s proximity to campus as a draw for students. e complex is set to open in the summer of 2022. e pandemic has caused businesses to close, schools to go online and people to work from home. But because construction has been deemed essential throughout the country, cities like College Park have been able to proceed with projects like these, with an eye to a more robust future over the months and years to come.

Cranes are presently over three construction sites along Route 1 alone. COURTESY OF KATHY BRYANT

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

All information is current as of January 9.

College Park Community Library Book Club. The library’s book club meets on Feb. 9 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. to discuss Born a Crime by Trevor Noah. for more information, email Carol Munn at donkinc@msn.com.

Virtual Book Club. The College Park Arts Exchange book club will discuss The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey, by Candace Millardl on Jan. 19 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Email info@cpae.org for more information and to register.

Smile Herb Shop Classes. Need more smiles these days? Join a virtual class and explore the magic of healing herbs! For a full list of classes and more information, go to smileherb. com.

Numi Yoga. Daily livestreamed yoga sessions and outdoor classes, which still meet, weather permitting. For more information and to register, visit numiyoga.com.

Live Dance Fitness Classes. Every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 7:45 a.m., join Music Theater dancer and choreographer Samantah Fitschen on Moxie: get.moxie.xyz/sfits7. Fee is $5. For more information, visit cpae.org.

Friday Dance Workshops. Join instructor Karen Stewart, of Jessie’s Soul Line Dancers, every Friday from 10 to 11 a.m. for step-by-step instruction and dance along to soul, gospel, and pop music. For more information, go to cpae.org.

come see us!

New things coming up:

Saturday Tap Dance Workshops. Free virtual tap workshop with instructor Elizabeth Gardner every Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more information and to register, email info@cpae.org.

Virtual Farming Meetings. The University of Maryland Extension, Prince George’s County is offering 4-H activity clubs and several online courses this winter, including Landscaping a Septic System, Urban Farming, and Maryland vegetable and fruit growing. For more information, go to extension. umd.edu.

OpenBarre. College Park’s fitness studio offers virtual classes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and outdoor classes Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Start your 3-day free trial today! For more information, go to openbarrestudios.com

Gentle and Advanced Chair Yoga. Online and outdoor yoga classes to increase resilience, improve fitness and promote

mindfulness. No experience needed and first class free. For more information and to register, email yogiamalie@gmail. com.

Neighbors Connect. This grassroots volunteer organization promotes the health and well being of seniors through acts of kindness, and assistance with transportation and shopping. For more information, leave a message at 301.864.5267.

FROM THE EDITORS

The College Park Here & Now is proud to be your local news outlet. You hear from us every month — we send you a lot of words — and now we want to hear from you! We’re inviting you to participate in a community art project that we’ve got in the works — an art installation filled with the words of College Park residents. So tell us, What is important to you, here and now? Interpret this question any way you wish — no word limit, and you can submit as many responses as you’d like. Please email your responses to LaurenRosh54@gmail.com.

There are two book clubs you can join. COURTESY OF UNSPLASH.

COLLEGE PARK POST

STANDING TOGETHER

Honoring and Commemorating Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Legacy during the COVID-19 Pandemic

On Monday, January 18, 2021, the nation will celebrate Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his social and spiritual accomplishments for civil rights in the United States.

As is tradition, the City of College Park will once again commemorate the occasion with our Annual Tribute to Dr. King on this holiday.

Traditionally, the City hosts its tribute to Dr. King the Saturday before the holiday (video of

past tributes will be featured on our website and cable channels starting on January 18 through the month of February).

However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting gathering restrictions, this will be the first time in thirty years that an in-person tribute will not be held.

In place of an in-person tribute, the City will commemorate Dr. King’s legacy by placing signage

throughout the City with this year’s theme “Standing Together.” Look for yard signs at City parks and other locations as well as a banner displayed at Duvall Field.

You can also see the signs on the City’s social media (facebook: City of College Park, MD; Twitter: @collegepark_md; Instagram: @collegeparkmd) and website (www.collegeparkmd.gov).

While this past year has been

difficult for many, we as a community will continue to strive together to achieve many of Dr. King’s visions.

On Monday, January 18, 2021, join the City in recognizing the social and spiritual accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with our 30th Annual College Park Tribute that will carry forward the spirit and feeling of hopefulness and strengthen the promise of new beginnings.

Dr. King and other leaders marching from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial during the Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C. | Photo from the National Archives

The City Really Got Decked Out This Holiday Season!

Congratulations to the Winners of the City’s Deck the City Holiday Decorating Contest

It was another wonderful holiday season full of lights and cheer in the City this past December.

The City held its third annual Deck the City Holiday Decorating Contest this year and had thirteen amazing entries submitted by residents across the City.

We saw tons of lights, inflatables,

reindeer, lighted presents, snowflakes, candy canes, snow globes, tinsel and wreaths decorating many homes in the City with cheer.

We even saw some amazing decorations that were timed to music!

This year we opened the voting to

residents on the City’s social media channels and had hundreds of votes and lots of comments!

Thank you to all who voted and participated in the City’s Deck the City Holiday Decorating Contest! You made our community all the more brighter and festive for the holidays during a tough year.

2020 WINNERS:

1st Place: 5005 Muskogee Street (pictured above)

2nd Place: 4610 Amherst Road

3rd Place: 5006 Lackawanna Street

MAYOR’S CHOICE AWARD:

1st Place: 5005 Muskogee Street (pictured)

2nd Place: 9108 48th Place

3rd Place: 4803 Ruatan Street

Closet Clean Outs & Holiday Recycling

Did you know that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that textile waste occupies nearly 5% of all landfill space?

Or that while the EPA estimates that the textile recycling industry recycles approximately 3.8 billion pounds of post-consumer textile waste (PCTW) each year, this only accounts for approximately 15% of all PCTW, leaving 85% in our landfills?

Or that the average US citizen throws away 70 pounds of clothing and other textiles annually?

If you are cleaning out your closets (or garages for that matter) as part of your New Year’s resolution or getting rid of old Christmas trees or holiday lights, try to donate or

Donate or Recycle Your Unwanted Items!

recycle those items. By doing so, you help reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill.

The City’s Reuse webpage details where and how residents can donate or recycle many household items including clothing, books, household items, cars, lights, medicine, metal hangers, and so much more.

Visit www.collegeparkmd.gov/ reuse for more information about how to donate or recycle many common household items.

The website also features recycling tips and detailed information about how the City’s recycling program works including what is accepted or not.

Below are some tips to recycle your

unwanted holiday string lights or old Christmas trees.

HOLIDAY LIGHT RECYCLING

Holiday string lights, working or non-working, are accepted for recycling at MOM’s Organic Market (9801 Rhode Island Avenue). The string lights are collected for recycling until January 31.

Please remove lights from bags/ packaging and place in designated holiday lights recycling bin located in the lobby when you enter MOM’s Organic Market.

What happens to the waste? Collected lights are broken down through smelting or shredding to recover raw commodities.

These raw commodities are then used to create roofing and

construction materials, piping, car batteries, other electronics, lead wheel weights, flatware, jewelry, and more!

CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING

Christmas trees will be collected by the City’s Department of Public Works by appointment on scheduled brush collection days, Thursdays or Fridays.

Email publicworks@ collegeparkmd.gov or call 240-4873590 to request an appointment for pick-up.

Please remove all decorations & lights prior to collection. If you have bagged your tree for ease of moving, please take it out of the plastic bag, and place the tree at the curb for collection.

Pets and Cold Weather

Holiday Pet Tips from the City’s Animal Welfare Committee

With winter here, cold temperatures are quickly setting in, which can pose many dangers for our furry family members.

Exposure to winter’s dry, cold air (along with sleet and snow) can cause chapped paws and itchy, flaking skin. To help reduce issues from dry air, use a humidifier to add moisture in the air.

Salt and other chemicals used to melt ice can cause irritation, stinging or pain to pets’ paws. Bring a towel on long walks to clean off any irritant during the walk. Then after each walk, wash and dry your pets’ feet and stomach to remove any salt, ice or chemicals.

Looking to prevent paw irritation during walks? Petroleum jelly can be massaged into the paw pads before going for a walk to help prevent the absorption of street irritants. Booties are also a good option to help protect their paws.

Try to bathe your dog as little as possible during cold spells as too much bathing can dry out their skin. It’s also not recommended to shave your dog’s coat down to the skin during winter months.

Did you know that pets burn more energy trying to stay warm during the winter? Be sure to provide them with all the necessary calories and feed them their full meals.

During cold winter nights, everyone wants to stay nice and cozy warm. Don’t forget your furry family members as well! Make sure that your companion animal has a warm place to sleep and a cozy bed away from any drafts.

Remember if it’s too cold for you to be outside it’s too cold for your pet! If you see an animal chained outside please call the City’s Animal Control as this is considered animal cruelty. The City’s Animal Control can be contacted via email at animalcontrol@collegeparkmd. gov or at 240.375.3165.

More tips and information can be found at www.collegeparkmd.gov/ animalcontrol.

Getting Ready for Winter Weather

Some Key Tips and Information to Be Prepared for Potential Winter Weather Events

The Department of Public Works plows and treats City maintained streets and City parking lots to clear snow and ice during winter storms. Public Works crews work around the clock during snow emergencies to clear the 51 miles of City streets.

SNOW REMOVAL ACTIVITIES

These steps will be followed during a snow emergency:

• Snow removal equipment will be dispatched to predetermined routes when snow or ice is imminent. Depending upon the weather forecast, some streets may be pretreated with a brine solution. Salting operations may begin at the onset of precipitation, depending if streets have been pretreated or not.

• Snow removal routes are divided into primary and secondary streets. Primary streets will be treated and/ or cleared first, followed by secondary streets.

• When snow begins to accumulate to cover roadways, plowing operations will commence.

• Initially, one lane will be plowed on all streets to make passable. As conditions allow, all streets will then be widened and plowed curb to curb, where possible.

City parking lots will be plowed by pickup trucks equipped with plows and salt spreaders.

DRIVEWAYS

Crews following the City established snow plan work to clear travel lanes and move snow back as close to the curb as possible. This process takes multiple passes down the street over an extended period of time and snow will unavoidably accumulate in driveway entrances. Snow is not intentionally pushed into residential driveways.

Residents should be aware that the best way to avoid extra shoveling is to wait for City crews to finish clearing the streets before opening driveway entrances to avoid shoveling more than once. While clearing driveways, residents are encouraged to deposit snow to the right of the driveway (facing the street). Do not shovel snow back into the street after the snow plow has cleared it.

FENCES & MAILBOXES

All fences and mailboxes abutting City streets should be constructed to withstand the force of snow pushed from the street by snow plows. The City is not responsible for replacing or repairing property damaged by snow or snow removal.

TRASH & RECYCLING

City staff will make every effort to maintain collection schedules, but may not be able to do so because of hazardous conditions.

Please check the City website at www.collegeparkmd.gov, City social media, call or email the Department of Public Works for changes to the collection schedule.

PARKING DURING SNOW EVENTS

Vehicles parked on the street are the greatest obstacle for City plows clearing the streets.

The following are parking guidelines for City residents:

• Park off the street whenever possible to allow snow plows to clear snow to the curb.

• Park on the even side of the street if off-street parking is not available. Exception: if your address is odd-numbered and the area across from your house is undeveloped, park on the odd side of the street.

• Park as close to the curb as possible. Vehicles parked more than 12” from the curb may be ticketed or even towed, as this severely inhibits the passage of snow plow trucks.

SIDEWALKS, STORM DRAINS & FIRE HYDRANTS

Property owners, occupants, and merchants are reminded of the City requirement to remove accumulated snow and ice from all public walkways, driveways, parking lots, and other areas used by pedestrians or automobiles.

The City Code states that snow and ice be removed within the first twenty-four (24) hours after snowfall stops. Residents should work together to clear storm drains and make fire hydrants accessible to emergency crews.

UPDATES DURING SNOW EVENTS

The Department of Public Works is staffed around the clock during snow events; please call 240487-3590 or email publicworks@ collegeparkmd.gov with any questions or concerns.

You may also find updated information by visiting the City’s website at www.collegeparkmd. gov/notices, social media: facebook.com/collegeparkmd, twitter.com/collegepark_md or by signing up for emails via College Park Connected at www. collegeparkmd.gov/cpconnect.

You can check on the status of street plowing and traffic information at www.511portal. com/collegeparkmd.

COUNTY & STATE ROADS

The City does not treat the following streets. Please report potholes and other adverse road conditions (including snow/ice) to the appropriate agency:

State Highway Administration

301.776.7619

• Greenbelt Rd/MD 430

• Kenilworth Ave/MD 201

• Baltimore Ave/US Route 1

• University Blvd/MD 193

Prince George’s County 301.499.8520

• Rhode Island Ave, N of Greenbelt Rd

• Metzerott Rd

• Campus Dr East

All-American long snapper commits to Maryland

By Chris McManes

Ethan Gough first became interested in long snapping as a young child. He is now one of the best long snappers in the nation.

Gough, a senior at DeMatha Catholic High School, was invited to the Blue-Grey AllAmerican Bowl Dec. 14. That same week, he committed to play football at the University of Maryland.

“It’s my hometown team,” said Gough, who lives in Owings, Maryland, in Calvert County.

“Once I knew Maryland was interested in me, there’s no question that’s where I wanted to go.”

Gough will see a lot of familiar faces in College Park — several former DeMatha players are now Terrapins. Elijah Brooks, Gough’s head coach in 2018, is Maryland’s running backs coach. Gough’s parents, Craig and Marcine, met at the university.

“Ethan works really hard and has done a tremendous job to perfect his craft,” DeMatha Coach Bill McGregor said. “He

has a great future at a skill that’s difficult to master.”

Gough also visited Boston College and Virginia Tech. He said the Terps first became interested in him in late 2019, after he spoke with Brooks. Maryland will have senior long snapper James Rosenberry next season. In 2022, if Gough emerges as the Terrapins’ No. 1 long snapper, he would hope to get a scholarship.

Gough helped the East team win the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl in Arlington, Texas, 36-17. Craig, who played on Mc-

Gregor’s 1984 undefeated DeMatha team, accompanied him to the game at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys.

“I had the opportunity to snap a lot, and I got in on a tackle,” Gough said. “It was a great experience. The stadium was awesome.”

In 2017, Gough started at center for the Stags’ freshman team’s and was the backup long snapper on varsity. He also played lacrosse. He has been DeMatha’s starting long snapper for the past two seasons. His senior year, if played, will be in February and March.

“I’m preparing every day for the season and want to be ready for college,” he said. “But I’m really hoping that my teammates and I get to have our senior season and can go out with a bang.”

McGregor complimented Gough for his work with sophomore long snapper Noah Vitko. “Noah has drastically improved his snaps,” he said. “Now we’re going to be set when Ethan graduates. I’m really thankful for that.”

The long snapper plays a critical role on every football team. It’s his job to get the ball to the punter as quickly as possible to a spot where he doesn’t have to alter his kicking motion. On extra points and field goals, the ball has to be placed precisely in the holder’s hands, so he can set it down for the kicker with the laces facing forward.

The longest snaps go to the punter, who stands 14 to 15 yards back. Gough said he usually gets the ball there in .68-.69 seconds. On placekicks, the holder is back between 7 and 8 yards. From snap to kick, it takes 1.1 to 1.2 seconds.

After hiking the ball on a punt, Gough gets involved in kick coverage: “I love running down

the field and trying to hit somebody.”

Gough’s initial interest in long snapping piqued when he was 8. His team, the Dunkirk Warriors, was getting ready to play in a national championship game in Central Florida. His role model was his brother, Ryan, then the Stags’ center and long snapper.

“It was the morning of the championship, when he showed me how to do it,” said Gough, whose squad won the game in double overtime. “Ever since then, I did it for my youth teams. Once it came to eighth grade, I really wanted to make varsity as a freshman. I tried the best I could, watched YouTube videos, and I was able to make the team.”

The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Gough continued honing his craft by attending several camps around the country. In July 2019, he went to a Kohl’s Long Snapping Camp in Milwaukee. Out of 76 underclassmen, Gough won the event.

Making it all the more special was that Nick Sundberg, the Washington Football Team’s long snapper, presented the award. Sundberg is Gough’s favorite player.

“That was a great experience for me,” he said.

Gough carries a 3.86 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society. “He’s a great young man and a great leader,” McGregor said.

One of Gough’s major goals is to one day play in the NFL.

“I have to work hard in the classroom, keep working out, lifting, running and refining my snapping technique,” he said. “I just have to keep working hard.”

Chris McManes (mick-maynz) covers sports for the College Park Here & Now.

Church holds petting zoo to honor Jesus’ birth

By Rachel Logan

Barnyard animals and eager tots mingled on the lawn at Hope Lutheran Church on Dec. 12, as part of the church’s first petting zoo and pony ride event in celebration of the Christmas season.

Three goat kids, a black sheep and a baby cow were corralled on grass near the church’s parking lot. Young children flocked to pens of ducks and rabbits, and Mocha, a deep brown pony with a blond mane and tail and light stockings, was at the ready to give kids rides as cars passed by on Guilford Road.

Edward Fulcher, nearly 6 years old, was brimming with glee. “The first thing I do is ride the horsies,” Edward said. “I think the pony ride was so much fun!” He had so much fun astride Mocha that he packed in four rides.

Edward and his brother Allen, who is three and a half, wore Spiderman masks to the event. Their dad, Charles Fulcher, said that the petting zoo was a neat way to broaden the church community.

“It’s so awful that routines are disrupted [by the pandemic], but the church is the community,” he said.

Fulcher put the petting zoo into context for his sons as they drove to the event.

“It’s not just a fun thing,” he said.

According to Pastor Julia Bringman, a petting zoo with barnyard animals reflects the birth of Jesus Christ.

“The inns were filled, so Mary and Joseph had to sleep in a barn, and Jesus was born basically in a food trough,” she said.

“There’s a lot of images of animals around his birth. Jesus was born for the whole world, and for animals, too.”

Recognizing that the pandemic has made traditional Christmas celebrations difficult, Bringman said, “This is the year to start something new.” She noted that this was Hope Lutheran’s first Christmastime petting zoo.

Bringman said that the animals were provided by D&D Pony Rides and Petting Zoos, of Jefferson, Maryland. The company sent handlers for Mocha and the penned animals, as well.

Hope Lutheran used a $250 grant from Thrivent Action to pay for the event. The church has used Thrivent grants in the past to pay royalties for their Movies at Hope film series, too.

The public event was promoted to the congregations of Hope Lutheran and St. Andrew’s Episcopal churches. Bringman said she hopes to advertise more broadly next year.

Ethan Gough, pictured with his father, Craig, was invited to the Arlington, Texas game as one of the top long snappers in the nation. COURTESY OF CRAIG GOUGH

Becky Fulcher (center) takes her sons Edward (left) and Allen to pet a calf at Hope Lutheran’s holiday manger petting zoo. RACHEL LOGAN

City Attorney Suellen Ferguson said that Verizon applied to the city, seeking to install 5G facilities in College Park’s rights of way. The city is the only municipality in Prince George’s County to receive a 5G application from Verizon. Ferguson said, “The proposal [is] for up to 38 installations and will allow for a 5G network in the city and the Route 1 Corridor.”

The council reviewed preliminary installation sites on a polygon map, and councilmembers were quick to point out that there was an uneven distribution.

Councilmember Denise Mitchell (District 4) asked why there were no planned installation sites in her district, especially in the neighborhoods of College Park Woods and Crystal Springs.

“Our reception is horrible,” Mitchell said, “When it rains, service is out, and it can be out for 24 to 48 hours.” Mitchell said that, because of this poor reception, residents in her district expected to receive more installation sites than were indicated on the application.

Councilmember Robert Day (District 3) said that he recognizes that it has been difficult getting to this stage in the process, given that there are numerous potential vendors throughout the nation, but he expressed concern that no potential sites connected the eastern part of Kenilworth Avenue to the rest of the city.

Genese Thomas, who works on strategic operations and business development for Verizon, said that the company may increase the number of installation sites as plans move forward.

“Initially, the map was much smaller, and, as time went on, it expanded,” she said. “At first, [the installation] was just centered around the university, but now it’s coming out in waves.”

Thomas also said that some parts of the city do not currently have sufficient 4G coverage to allow for a 5G upgrade. “5G needs 4G to be operational,” she said, adding, “Verizon’s real estate team and the team that will address the adequate 4G coverage can help those areas through 4G layering and potentially rooftop sites.”

Thomas said that only one small cell installation would be constructed on a city-owned pole. The other 37 poles are not city owned. No new structures will have to be built.

“The majority [of the installations] will be on Pepco utility poles, and a couple on Verizon poles in the rights of ways, and all will go on existing infrastructure,” she said.

Fiona Hilyer, a real estate consultant with Verizon, said that the locations are based on need and gaps in coverage, and are determined by engineers. Verizon aims to have the 5G network deployed in 2021.

The licensing agreement is not without issues, however. Verizon is objecting to the city’s inclusion of a termination-for-convenience clause included in the agreement.

Thomas said such a clause is problematic for Verizon, given

the cost of investments and necessary build-out He stated that Verizon does not include that clause in its larger-scale deployments.

“Having that [clause] really impacts our return on investment. This is infrastructure we are providing, and to just be able to lose a site or have a downed portion of our network is very onerous on the organization,” she said.

Still, both Thomas and Ferguson made clear that Verizon can still move an installation site, if necessary, without the existence of a terminationfor-convenience clause.

“We appreciate the fact that they have worked through a negotiation on this licens-

Mac Menders

ing agreement with city staff before filing an application,” Ferguson said. “We are able to work through some of these issues without having to worry about a shot clock,

and it gives us enough time to actually spend time looking at what we are very interested in, which is the integrity of the installations to make sure that the public is protected.”

Genese Thomas, who works on strategic operations and business development for Verizon, said that the company may increase the number of installation sites as plans move forward. PHOTO COURTESY OF VERIZON WIRELESS

The community gardener

By Lila Stiff

While there is little yard work to do between November and February, I love gearing up for the coming growing season. Tucked inside, I burrow into gardening books, peruse seed catalogs, and plot and plan for spring. Winter is a time to rest and prepare, for garden and gardener alike. And it’s also a time for paying attention, taking it all in, and continuing to draw pleasure from the outdoors.

You don’t need to be a gardener to revel in the appeal of nature in winter’s austere grace, “the beauty of the bone,” as John Updike described it. The next time you’re out on a walk around your neighborhood, at Lake Artemesia, or further afield in a nature preserve or forest, take note of the plants that catch your eye. The large, showy grasses can be breathtaking when a strong wind catches them. Berries on shrubs offer stunning, yearned-for color. Long after the holidays, evergreens still exude cheer. Deciduous trees are like fine art sculptures in the sparseness of their winter structure. Even in cold, inhospitable weather, even in the austerity of their dead or dormant forms, plants offer us so much.

Winter interest, as it’s called, is one of the most overlooked aspects of gardening. To be sure, gardeners understand delayed gratification: We plant bulbs in fall to enjoy in spring, start seeds in early spring to enjoy in summer, and prepare through summer for fall blooms and foliage. When we give winter the same attention and advanced planning as other seasons, our yards and

gardens can provide great beauty and comfort. And winter’s beauties of the bone can be the most satisfying of all.

Native perennials with real winter appeal include grasses like little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Northern sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium), while the more ornamental switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)

and the nonnative miscanthus carry stunning seedheads on dramatic heights. When it comes to plants with glorious berries, we have American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium), staggerbush (Lyonia mariana) and the aptly named winterberry (Ilex verticillate). Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) brandishes up-

right, flame-like seedheads long after its blazing red foliage drops in the fall. The round, translucent parcels of money plant (Lunaria annua) are novel and catch light beautifully, and rosehips offer nostalgic allure on the bush in winter. Trees like birches and shagbark hickories boast intriguing bark, while the colored branches of red twig dogwood burn bright. Hollies and conifers offer familiar winter comfort, and many other plants (though not all of them native) have interesting evergreen leaves, including many viburnums, skimmia and sacred bamboo (Nandina domestica). And there are plants that bloom in winter, even earlier than the earliest spring bulbs — think shade-loving camellia, the reclusive hellebore (commonly known as Lenten rose) and shrubby witch hazel, with its uniquely spidery blooms. And there’s a pattern here. Aesthetically, the plants that hold the most winter interest also tend to offer the most value, ecologically. Evergreens and woody shrubs serve as low cover for birds, giving them protection from predators as well as the elements. The brightness of berries, catching your eye? They may be a life-ordeath matter for birds, one of their few sources of winter food — and many berries become edible for them only when temperatures drop. And the tall, upright seedheads of grasses and perennials are, quite literally, nature’s bird feeder. The seedheads of sum-

mer favorites like coneflower and black-eyed Susan, sunflower, and other asters, nourish birds and other wildlife when other food is scarce, and they add textural interest to a winter garden, too. Another item that can be left in place all winter: leaves. While raking may seem like a civic duty, cleaning up every last leaf interrupts nature’s cycles in untold ways. Decaying leaves shelter huge numbers of critical pollinators and other insects, the larva of which also serve as food for birds during this lean season. Fungi in the soil need that leaf litter as food, and the health of trees, shrubs, and other perennials — not to mention the soil itself — rely on the nutrients that those fungi digest and then share. Fallen leaves are also the simplest, most essential form of mulch there is. Consider how you could leave at least some of the leaves on your property to decompose in place, and you are likely to be rewarded with a rich web of wildlife through the winter, not to mention soil and ecosystem health across all the seasons.

I hope you’ll join me in appreciating the sparse but gratifying garden pleasures of the season. Winter’s bones are, indeed, beautiful!

Lila Stiff tends her College Park garden and enjoys the lessons each season brings.

Deciduous trees are like fine art sculptures in the sparseness of their winter structure. COURTESY OF NICO BECKER VIA PEXELS

e owners started a GoFundMe page Dec. 12, and as of press time, the campaign is halfway toward reaching its $85,000 goal. e community’s support is apparent, as donors share their memories of eating at Bagel Place on the page, along with their donations from $5 to $2,000.

e shop, which is located at 7423 Baltimore Avenue, has done everything it can to survive. According to their GoFundMe page, the owners have even emptied their personal savings to keep the place running and pay their employees. But their goal might not carry them completely through, and the business is trying to hang on for another nine months, said owner Bobby Karanovich. Sales have been down 50%, and Karanovich said that the fact that the University of Maryland is not fully open has really hurt, as students and sta are a substantial part of the shop’s customer base.

Karanovich is looking to August, when students may return to campus. He hopes that the GoFundMe campaign will keep Bagel Place open until then.

Andrea Shirdon, a junior at the university, grew up in Hyattsville and has been going to Bagel Place with her family almost every Sunday since she was young. After watching another College Park eatery, Plato’s Diner, close a few years ago, Shirdon said that Bagel Place is one of the only places left in the city that embodies the essence of College Park to her. She and her family now support the shop by getting takeout every week.

“I hope the GoFundMe gets them through a little bit,” she said. “I feel like once the vaccine happens, then I think they could start to recover again.”

Another student at the university, Jackson Rivenburgh, loved to go to Bagel Place on the weekends for breakfast when he lived on south campus. e cafe has sentimental value, he said, mentioning that he and his girlfriend had one of their rst dates there.

“I really hope they hang on; as long as they’re still open, it’ll be my rst stop once I’m back on campus,” Rivenburgh said.

Community Forklift, a nonpro t reuse center in Hyattsville, donated $200 to the GoFundMe campaign. Operations Coordinator Sue Wagner said that before the pandemic, they’d have food from Bagel Place at their monthly sta meetings. Since the March shutdown, they haven’t been able to do that, so they decided to support the business with a donation.

Top: Customers are few and far between at Bagel Place, due to the pandemic. Above: Bagel Place has been a popular College Park breakfast stop for more than 30 years. JULIA NIKHINSON

“We can also relate, as a small business during this time, and know how tough it is to try and keep everything going and keep your employees paid with reduced business,” Wagner said.

Karanovich thanked the community for the support and said he hopes that Bagel Place can continue to serve College Park.

“I just really appreciate everyone pouring in and trying to help out as much as they can and trying to keep us around,” Karanovich said.

BAGEL PLACE

“I really hope they hang on; as long as they’re still open, it’ll be my first stop once I’m back on campus.”

Jackson Rivenburgh, University of Maryland student

Rising WE ARE OPEN! FREE PICK UP AND DELIVERY AVAILABLE

JULIA NIKHINSON

Spotlight on College Park Estates Civic Association

By Dawn Budd

Sun Motors

The College Park Estates Civic Association (CPECA) is less formal than the city’s other neighborhood associations; CPECA doesn’t currently have by-laws, nor do they hold regular meetings. Ray Ranker, a chaplain at the University of Maryland and lead pastor at the university’s Lutheran Campus Ministry, is the de-facto head of the as-

sociation. “Right now, we are not so much of a formal organization, so there are no dues and age limits, etc. We hold meetings with elected officials and also do things to support each other. But we haven’t been doing a lot lately,” he said.

Ranker highlighted an asset inventory that was organized by the CPECA, which allowed neighbors to share tools and skills. “I know several folks, for example, [who] borrowed power tools from someone who had what they needed,” Ranker said.

Do you live in College Park Estates? Are you interested in joining the association? Email rayranker@gmail.com for more information.

Christian Science Society

THANK YOU for reading the College Park Here & Now! Are you interested in contributing to a future issue? Email Mark Goodson at mark@hyattsvillelife.com for more information Did you know your first ad can be FREE? Reach every household in College Park. Ask about all of our introductory offers. Email advertising@hyattsvillelife. com or call 301-531-5234.

Family project spurs neighborhood donations

By Adele Cerrelli

“Close your eyes,” said 11-yearold Joseph Stitz, popping open the back of his family’s van. “Now open them.”

Inside were cans of vegetables, boxes of pasta and other nonperishable food that neighbors from College Park Estates and Yarrow had dropped o at the Stitz’s house.

Joseph has two younger brothers, Jacob (8) and Alex (6). e three boys and their parents, Amanda and Joe Stitz, have been collecting nonperishable food items for the College Park Community Food Bank (CPCFB) since June.

“ ere were so many sad stories we were hearing on the news about the virus, and how many people were getting sick or losing their jobs and weren’t able to take care of their families,” said Amanda. After making their rst donation to the food bank, Amanda said they realized how easy it was to drop o donations. en Amanda and Joseph talked about “how good it felt to do something to

be helpful, in a time where we all just felt so isolated and helpless,” and they decided to try collecting food from the neighborhood.

ey started by placing a cardboard box at the bottom of their driveway, then replaced that with a larger, sturdier plastic bin donated by their neighbor Kacee McCoy. ey didn’t get too many donations at rst, but after Joseph taped a large sign to the box, more donations began to arrive. en the boys made energetic e orts to get

the word out.

In July, they designed a paper yer, and, over the course of four blazingly hot days, they walked the entire neighborhood to deliver yers to most of 319 homes in College Park Estates and Yarrow.

Kristen Arant, a neighbor in College Park Estates, held an outdoor drumming jam, and she put the word out about the food bin, which led to a sizable donation that same day. In November, the boys posted signs on telephone poles encouraging

people to donate for anksgiving, and Amanda regularly posts a note of appreciation and also a reminder on NextDoor.

An article about CPCFB appeared in the December issue of the College Park Here & Now, and Amanda said she thinks that that sparked generous donations before the winter holidays.

e family says that the project has been enjoyable and educational. One Saturday, Joe and Joseph drove by the food bank and saw the long line of cars waiting to pick up food. Joseph said “I know people will donate, but they don’t really know if they’re making a di erence, but when I saw that line, I knew that we were actually making a di erence.”

While attending to their schoolwork, the boys enjoy peeping out the window, and they sometimes sneak out to retrieve a donation. Alex recalled that one neighbor, Virginia Banks, who was turning 101, gave his family $101 to spend on food. “ at was fun; we got to go shopping!” he said.

“ at was something they

[the boys] learned from all this: where to be a good bargain shopper and make the money go a little further,” Amanda noted.

e Stitzs check expiration dates on all donations, keep a handwritten inventory and log entries into CPCFB online. Jacob enjoys organizing and loading the food for delivery; he even loads items into the van by color. e family has learned a lot about how CPCFB operates, and the boys hope to one day become volunteers at the food bank.

When asked how long they’ll continue this e ort, the boys all chimed in: “Forever! At least another year. Until the end of the coronavirus.”

Amanda added “... As long as there’s a great need. We enjoy having this project. It’s a good thing to focus on when right now there isn’t very much [to do]. is is a good way for us to get out and do it safely. I feel like we could help in a safe way without putting ourselves or our family at risk. And the neighborhood has been very responsive!”

Dear College Park neighbors,

As you know, COVID-19 vaccines are just becoming available, with the first ones going to health care workers and nursing home residents. As production ramps up, more and more people will get vaccines, but the timing remains unclear. The Maryland Health Department sets priorities as

long as supply is limited. And we have asked them to keep us and the public up to date on access.

If you have questions or need help, just call us or visit our website. We’ll get through this together.

Jim, Joseline, Ben, and Mary

Current Vaccine Distribution Phases

Each state health department sets priorities, based on advice from the federal Centers for Disease Control. Below is the current plan in Maryland.

Phase 1 – Already Begun

• Health care and nursing home staff and residents.

• First responders.

• Senior citizens.

• Other congregate care.

• Essential workers in childcare, schools, food stores, and public transit.

Phase 2 – Expected in March

• As vaccine supply remains limited, the Maryland Health Department expects that vaccines will be available to adults with pre-existing conditions, more essential workers, and others

Phase 3 – Expected by summer

• General Population gets access on demand.

The Stitz family have made the most of their time during the pandemic by coordinating donations for the city’s food bank. JULIA NIKHINSON