07-2021 College Park Here & Now

INSIDE

Ansaar-ul-Birr continues its charitable outreach with free children’s lunches at Al-Huda School. P. 8

A profile of College Park’s favorite street musician, accordionist Cameron Villanueva. P. 12

Mayor leads a ordable housing workgroup

By A.R. Cabral

The group now known as Pathways to Unity began as a community policing forum in 2016. The group gained notice from social media and local news outlets in August 2020, when founder Charles Wiley, councilmember in the town of North Brentwood (Ward 1) and DeMatha

Eric Olson strives to build community

By Alexandra Radovic

As a highschooler in Western Massachusetts, Eric Olson had an early knack for leadership. Enriched by the robust culture of surrounding college towns, he spent time delving into politics in local libraries and bookstores. He even wrote a letter to Bernie Sanders — mayor of Burlington, Vt. at the time and known as a mover and shaker — asking what was successful about his political strategies.

Jump to 1995, and Olson is working for Sanders, who was then a member of the House of Representatives, to help address some of the same inquiries he proposed in his letter to Sanders years before. Olson

Catholic High School alumnus, organized a march from Hyattsville to the National Mall to commemorate the famous March on Washington of 1963.

The organization is a collaboration of residents and civic leaders along the Route 1 Corridor. “I sent out an email to every elected official along the Route 1 Corridor, from College Park all the way

to Mt. Rainier,” Wiley recalled. “[I said,] ‘Hey, I want to do something, I want to merge the community; we are too small to do this alone. Why don’t we just merge together and do a march?’”

More than 100 people, including College Park’s mayor, Patrick Wojahn, marched for social justice down Route 1. Then, at a virtual post-march meeting, a group

of residents and elected officials established a workgroup, and Pathways to Unity was born.

The organization has launched two initiatives that stem from its original social justice vision. One effort is focused on affordable housing and the other on improving access to local mental health ser-

Story Time makes a

to local library

By Meghan Curtis

Wednesday, July 7 marked the return of Story Time at the College Park Community Library. Due to the pandemic, the popular event hadn’t been held since March 2020.

Story Time used to take place in the library, which is on the lower level of the College Park Church of the Nazarene. On the event’s first day back, though,

Micki Freeny collects

MARK GOODSON

comeback

First time the popular event has been held since March 2020

FROM WHERE I STAND

Paint Branch Golf Complex – our neighborhood gem

By Dr. Keith Strong

The Paint Branch Golf Complex is unique. It is the only municipal golf course in northern Prince George’s County. It’s a 9-hole course, which is currently the most popular version of the game, and it’s the least costly golf experience in the county. It’s also relatively flat and is easily walkable, even by seniors. It has the only covered, lit and heated driving range, making it an all-year round, allweather sporting facility. And it even hosts a wide variety of wildlife.

In recent years, golf has undergone a resurgence, with more women, kids, minorities and seniors coming to the game. Paint Branch introduces kids to the game and teaches them honesty and responsibility through its 1st Tee program, provides an affordable opportunity for newcomers to learn how to play golf in a stress-free environment and gives seniors an opportunity to have a more active lifestyle. Thus, it is truly a family activity in which all generations can compete on an even basis, due to golf’s handicap system.

So what does the county consider doing?

Effectively destroying the course by replacing the driving range with a track and field stadium, custom-designed for the use of

the University of Maryland (which already has one), replacing the 9-hole course with a useless 3-hole course and introducing a bunch of activities that are amply dupli-

The Calvert Hills Green Team

By Meghan Curtis

Environmental awareness is a top priority for College Park’s Calvert Hills Citizens Association (CHCA), and they made this clear, in February, by establishing the Calvert Hills Green Team.

Sustainable Maryland, which has a certification program for municipalities that want to go green, encouraged CHCA to create the team as part of a larger initiative within the city. Although the team hasn’t fully developed their mission statement, co-chairs Meg Oates and Urs Weber cite several priorities, including increasing awareness of environmental issues, developing strategies to address those issues and encour-

Managing Editor Mark Goodson mark@hyattsvillelife.com

Associate Editor Nancy Welch nancy@hyattsvillelife.com

Writers & Contributors A.R. Cabral, James Cirrone, Meghan Curtis, Kelly Livingston, Alexandra Radovic, Paul Ruffins, Kim Seif, Philip Van Slooten, Keith Strong

Layout & Design Editor Ashley Perks

cated elsewhere, so not needed or wanted at Paint Branch — and these activities don’t accommodate seniors. The university has huge areas of land available where it could build its new athletics facility, so it does not need to take over parts of Paint Branch. Worst yet, this plan has been developed behind closed doors, so the first that the patrons of Paint Branch heard of it was a few weeks ago. It was presented to us as though it were a fait accompli, with little or no opportunity for us to express our views.

How can you help to prevent this travesty? Contact Friends of Paint Branch Golf, a group of concerned citizens, by sending an email to drkts@aol.com, and we will add your name to our petition and keep you informed about our progress. Better yet, volunteer to help us.

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

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aging actions to proactively safeguard the environment.

Oates has significant education and experience in the environmental field. She holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from American University and a master’s in environmental policy and ecological economics from the University of Maryland. She has worked in sustainability and environmental policy for the past 15 years.

Weber is also invested in environmental sustainability. He’s read extensively about environmental issues, and he’s also an avid vegetable gardener. He noted that he wants to “be a part of this world and not destroy it.”

The team’s 12 members have been meeting virtually and have also held a few outdoor events. Meetings and events are open to all Calvert Hills residents and are promoted through the neighborhood listserv.

The tight-knit Calvert Hills community is vocal about and involved in the environment.

“People are constantly chattering about different sustainability issues,” noted Oates. Residents are concerned about the impact of watershed problems in the neighborhood, most notably the flooding on Sept. 10, 2020. The neighborhood is also focused on the surrounding woods and the importance of planting more trees. Others share gardening tips, and one resident educates his neighbors about ways to keep Calvert Hills bird-friendly.

The Green Team’s first event was

a spring cleanup during which Oates, Weber and about 15 others removed debris from city parks. The team also organized a rain garden tour, in part to educate participants about the importance of water management and the ways in which rain gardens assist in that effort. The team is also planning a guided tour of part of the Anacostia River on August 28 with Anacostia Riverkeeper, a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting people with the waterway.

The Green Team is young but is ambitious and eager to grow, according to Oates. “We have a lot of big ideas, but because we’re just getting off the ground right now and just starting to mobilize, we’re not quite ready for prime time on those quite yet,” she said.

For more information, contact Meg Oates at meg.i.oates@ gmail.com or Urs Weber at ursofcourse@gmail.com.

Dr. Keith Strong is a highenergy astrophysicist and recipient of the 1998 NOVA award from Lockheed Martin.

The Paint Branch Golf Complex is the only municipal golf course in northern Prince George’s County. ERIC HARKLEROAD

The Green Team is young but is ambitious and eager to grow, according to co-chair Meg Oates.

The Green Team’s first event was a spring cleanup during which Oates, Weber and about 15 others removed debris from city parks. PEXELS

Big changes in the works for North College Park

By Meghan Curtis

The City of College Park is moving forward with plans to renovate Duvall Field. The project is currently in phase one; the phase two design process will be completed this fall, and construction is slated to begin next summer.

According to the city’s website, the project’s goals are to “improve and enhance existing facilities, maximize neighborhood-oriented park uses based on site and constraints, enhance pedestrian connectivity, maximize tree saving opportunities wherever possible and explore educational opportunities – interpretive signage (environmental health and wellness).”

The 7-acre park was established in the 1960s. Phase one of the city’s project added a concessions and restroom building in 2018. Since then, a series of reports and plans, with a budget of $5.8 million, have detailed possible phase 2 improvements. Residents have had opportunities to weigh in.

In addition to the Program Open Space allocations, funding for the project will come from the city’s Capital Improvement Program, which draws on residents’ property taxes and bond bills sold by the state. The project will offer residents a wide range of benefits. City Councilmember Fazlul Kabir (District 1) explained that there are only two main draws right now – the ball parks and the playground. Expanded amenities could include a multipurpose field, pedestrian path, basketball court, amphitheater, stands for bicycle parking, cricket pitch, volleyball court, exercise station, picnic pavilion and smaller touches, such as a bioretention area for water runoff. The 76 parking spots now in place will remain.

While Duvall Field will not have a dog park, the Hollywood Dog Park ribbon cutting will take place on Friday, July 16, one block from Duvall Field, in the 9300 block of 51st Avenue.

The old Stone Straw manufacturing plant, adjacent to Duvall Field, is another item of interest to residents. Two proposals for the abandoned plant have been floated – a town home project or a marketplace.

“Nothing is moving at this

point,” Kabir said. During two community meetings about the property, residents slightly favored the marketplace proposal, and some voiced concerns about the increased traffic that a town home development would bring to the neighborhood.

The North College Park Citizens Association (NCPCA) discussed the Stone Straw property in its first in-person meeting in over a year, on July 8. The NCPCA moved to send a letter to Prince George’s County officials requesting zoning for the property that would be consistent with that of adjacent properties, which are zoned for single-family housing.

The city council continued its discussion of Duvall Field during a July 13 worksession, after press time.

Between opening a new dog park, finalizing plans for Duvall Field, and discussing the fate of the old straw plant lot, residents are anticipating big changes this summer.

A group of citizens discuss the Stone Straw plant property at the July 8 North College Park Citizens Association meeting (Left to right: Lisa Ealley, John Krouse, Jim Miller, Mary Cook, Carissa Janis). JORDAN WILLIAMS

City celebrates Pride Month

By Philip Van Slooten

Throwback jams and rainbow colors brightened Duvall Field as the City of College Park celebrated Pride Month on June 27. Mayor Patrick Wojahn, State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy and former Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez all addressed the crowd that gathered for the occasion.

“Civil rights, worker rights, immigrant rights, LGBTQ rights have been my life’s work,” said Perez, who was appointed assistant attorney general for civil rights and secretary of labor during the Obama Administration.

The event was organized by The LGBTQ Dignity Project. Co-founder of the project, Cassy Morris, introduced Perez, who lives in Takoma Park. Perez is seeking the Democratic nomination in

Maryland’s 2022 gubernatorial contest.

Perez told the crowd that his parents, who were firstgeneration Dominican Americans, instilled in him the belief that “every single person has dignity” and should be allowed to realize their highest potential.

Braveboy, who was introduced by Wojahn, spoke of the importance of community. She echoed Perez’s view that everyone deserves respect and support.

Wojahn thanked everyone for joining the celebration and said he was pleased and surprised by the robust turnout. This event closed out a busy month of celebration and activism for Perez and the LGBTQ Dignity Project.

A version of this article was published in the Washington Blade.

Above: Tom Perez, Democratic candidate for governor of Maryland, with the LGBTQ Dignity Project at Duvall Field in College Park on June 27. Left: College Park Mayor Patrick Wojahn and State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy. COURTESY OF NINA SMITH

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

All information is current as of July 11.

SAVE THE DATE

Learn Brazillian Drumming. The College Park Arts Exchange is hosting free, in-person drumming classes at the Old Parish House on July 14 and 31, from 3 to 5 p.m. For more information, email info@cpae.org

Free Friday Night Family Film. Visit the College Park Aviation Museum on July 16 for a free movie at 6 p.m. Food truck on site and games available. Museum admission at a $2 discounted rate beginning at 4 p.m. For more information, email jamie.jones@ pgparks.com

Free Youth Sports & Tennis Festival. Junior Tennis Champions Center at 5200 Campus Dr. will offer free sports, food, prizes and more fun on July 17 from 3 to 5 p.m. To register, go to jtcc.org/outreach/tennisfestivals/.

Eric Maring’s Album Release Party. College Park’s very own music man has released a new album, “The Year of Seeing Clearly.” Release party and concert at The Hall CP on Friday, July 23 at 7 p.m. For more information, go to maringmusic. com

Route 1 Corridor Conversations. Join University of Maryland professor Douglas Hamilton to discuss Pluto’s reclassification, in 2006, as a dwarf planet. Free virtual program. Saturday, July 24, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Register at hyattsvilleaginginplace. org/programs-and-activities/ corridor-conversations

Aviation Story Time. Ageappropriate stories to pique children’s interests in the wonders of flight! Ages 4-8. July 25, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the College Park Aviation Museum. Register at pgparks.com/185/ parks-recreation

National Night Out. Lakeland Community Park welcomes you to a bonfire with free hot dogs and cold drinks to meet officers from the College Park Police Department. August 2, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. For more information about the national event, go to natw.org

College Park Community Library Book Club. The library’s book club will discuss Tar Baby, by Toni Morrison, on August 10, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. For more information, email Carol Munn at donkinc@msn.com

Berwyn Community Yard Sale. August 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pick up a map of yard sales in the neighborhood at Jack Perry Plaza that morning. Berwyn residents can register their sale by emailing president@myberwyn.org

CPAE Virtual Book Club. The College Park Arts Exchange book club will discuss In the Country of Women, by Susan Straight, on July 20, and Folklore, Memoirs, & Other Writings, by Zora Neale Hurston, on August 17. Each meeting is from 7 to 8:30 p.m. RSVP to info@ cpae.org

Pets & Planes. Bring your pet to the College Park Aviation Museum and learn more about the history of animals in flight with the museum’s new exhibit, “Tails of Flight.” August 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Adults $5, seniors $4, children $2, and no charge for children 1 and under.

Yarrow Block Party. Save the date: September 18! More details to follow in the CPH&N’s August calendar.

ONGOING PROGRAMMING

Free Kids Lunch. On Mondays and Wednesdays through the summer, pick up a free children’s lunch between noon and 1 p.m. at Al Huda School, 5301 Edgewood Rd.

Story Time. The College Park Community Library presents story time with Micki Freeny at the College Park Church of the Nazarene at 9704 Rhode Island Ave. Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. These events are for toddlers and infants and will take place outdoors on the grassy area between the church’s two buildings — bring something to sit on.

Support Today’s Hair! A fire has left College Park’s family-owned shop out of commission, but you can help owners Pola and Sokha survive this hardship. Schedule an at-home cut by texting Pola at 240.476.1620. Donate to their renovation efforts at gofundme. com/f/help-pola-and-sokhaendure-2021. As of press time, Today’s Hair is within $3,000 of their $27k goal!

Free Yoga by the Lake. Enjoy a free yoga class at Lake Artemesia. Saturday mornings through Sept. 25, from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Meet near the restrooms. To register, visit pgparks.com/calendar.

aspx?CID=22 and click on the date of your choice.

Neighbors CONNECT. This grassroots volunteer organization supports the health and wellbeing of seniors through acts of kindness, assistance with transportation and shopping, and by promoting social events. For more information, call 301.864.5267 or email connectporfavor@gmail.com

Support College Park’s Senior Citizens. Meals on Wheels College Park needs licensed drivers, and all are welcome to volunteer for flexible slots on weekday mornings. Fill out an application at mealsonwheelsofcollegepark.org or call 202.669.6297.

Hollywood Farmers Market. Located in the parking lot of the Hollywood Shopping Center, the market is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

College Park Farmers Market at Paint Branch Parkway. Farm stands, local vendors and more. Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 5211 Campus Dr.

OpenBarre’s Relaunch Celebration. From July 11 to 17, OpenBarre is holding $1 classes, and anyone who buys a package before the end of the month will receive a VIP goodie bag with gifts from other local businesses. To sign up, go to openbarrestudios. com

Numi Yoga. Daily livestreamed yoga sessions; outdoor classes meet Mondays & Tuesdays at 7 a.m. Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m., and Saturdays at 10 a.m., weather permitting. For more information and to register, go to numiyoga. com

Virtual Farming Meetings.The University of Maryland Extension, Prince George’s County, offers a variety of virtual and in-person programs about gardening, farming and our evolving natural environment. For more information, go to extension. umd.edu/news-events/events

Food Assistance Available. Help by Phone Ltd. operates food pantries across Prince George’s County, with locations at Berwyn Presbetyrian Church, on Greenbelt Rd., and University Baptist Church, on Campus Dr. If you would like to schedule a pickup this week, call 301.699.9009, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Live Dance Fitness Classes. Join music theater dancer and choreographer Samantha Fitschen on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 7:45 a.m. $5 fee. For more information, go to cpae.org

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

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

COLLEGE PARK CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS

Yarrow Civic Association. Membership is free. For more

information, email Wendy Kelley at wendybird85@yahoo.com

College Park Estates Civic Association. For more information, email Ray Ranker at rayranker@gmail.com

West College Park Citizens Association. Membership is open to all residents of West College Park over age 18. For more information, email Suchitra Balachandran at cp_woods@ yahoo.com

Berwyn District Civic Association. The BDCA will resume meeting in September after a summer break. For more information, email president@ myberwyn.org; to register for meetings, go to myberwyn.org

North College Park Community Association. Currently holding meetings in person. For more information, email ncpcivic@ gmail.com or visit www.myncpca. org

Lakeland Civic Association. The next meeting is scheduled for August 12, from 7 to 8 p.m. For meeting and registration information, email lakelandcivic@gmail.com

Old Town College Park Civic Association. For more information and to add your name to the listserv, email Kathy Bryant at kdbryant20740@yahoo. com

Calvert Hills Citizens Association. For more information, email the association at calverthillscitizensassn@gmail. com or Rose Greene Colby at rgreencolby@gmail.com

Protecting College Park’s

TREES

By Kelly Livingston

The City of College Park’s goal of increasing the local tree canopy was under discussion during recent city council meetings. The council also weighed the option of using Program Open Space funds to sustain and manage the canopy. The program, which is administered by Prince George’s County, provides funding and assistance for the acquisition and development of open spaces, including recreational areas.

At the June 8 council meeting, College Park Director of Planning Terry Schum advised councilmembers about the Program Open Space funding process. The council submits a yearly allocation plan to the county, which receives state funds for distribution to localities. After the county evaluates and approves the city’s plan and sets funds aside, the council must submit a program application to the Maryland Board of Public Works. If the application is approved, the funds are released to the city. Program Open Space funds that could be released to the city have been accumulating since 2007 — the current balance approaches $1.5 million. Schum noted that, per state regulations, these funds can be used to acquire properties or can be split between acquisitions and development projects.

At a subsequent council meeting, on June 15, the council considered a recommendation that approximately $868,000 be allocated toward acquisitions and the remaining balance, about $590,000, should go toward development. Councilmember Fazlul Kabir (District 1) suggested that the city could add an additional site, at 4700 Edgewood Road, to the acquisitions list. Councilmember Maria Mackie (District 4) supported Kabir’s suggestion, but it was ultimately voted down. At an earlier council meeting, Mackie suggested the conversation around Program Open Space funds should include discussion of the tree canopy.

“One of the things this council did was make a commitment to increase our tree canopy, and I think some of these properties have the potential of giving us places to plant trees and [attract] pollinators, so I really want to encourage us to maybe buy some of these properties and leave them as wooded lots and leave them environmentally freed. Don’t develop on them,” Mackie said.

Concerns about canopy loss have increased in recent years, as more trees have been cleared for development projects. According to a presentation given in November 2020 at a forum hosted by the College Park Tree and Landscaping Board, about 37,000 trees were lost in the city between 2009 and 2018, dropping the city’s acreage of tree cover from 44% to 38%. These numbers are derived from a canopy assessment conducted by the University of Vermont’s Spatial Analysis Lab.

The council unanimously approved the recommended Program Open Space allocation, which included funding to acquire properties at 5100 Roanoke Place, and 8807 and 8811 Rhode Island Avenue.

Funds were also reserved to purchase additional, though as yet unidentified sites, which were designated as Neighborhood Open Space. The allocation would also fund construction of the Hollywood Wellness Trail, improvements to Duvall Field, design and construction of the Sentinel Swamp Sanctuary, and design and construction of the College Park Woods Community Center.

The city has also been striving, in recent years, to improve the tree canopy. The College Park Department of Public Works (DPW) started the Tree Canopy Enhancement Program (TCEP), in 2018, to encourage residents to plant trees; through the program, residents are eligible for reimbursement up to $150, annually, for planting approved trees on their property. Applications to the program have increased each year since the program’s inception, and last year the city council approved an increase in TCEP funding for the cur-

rent fiscal year.

Tree canopy and forest are considered separate and distinct elements. According to University of Maryland (UMD) professor Alexa Bely, tree canopy is the tree cover across an area, including trees in yards and along streets. Areas like Guilford Woods and the 24acre parcel on the university’s campus known as the Wooded Hillock, on the other hand, are considered well-established forests.

Bely said that while planting trees adds to a tree canopy, trees in yards or along streets don’t have nearly the environmental impact that a forest has. Established forests are far more efficient at sequestering carbon, and they provide important wildlife habitat.

“I think where we can preserve actual forest, that’s really critical to do because … we can’t easily replace a forest ecosystem. It takes decades, if not centuries,” Bely said, referring to the proposed graduate student housing project that would deforest roughly nine acres of Guilford Woods.

Gilbane Development Company has said it will plant 10 acres of new trees, off site, in an effort to offset the deforestation required for the development.

Brad Frome, who is with the Maryland government consulting firm Perry, White, Ross and Jacobson, is consulting with Gilbane on the Western Gateway project; he said that the project in Guil-

ford Woods is smart growth. “There’s a lot of environmental value to the site. … You want to have density by transit, which is what the zoning for this site calls for ... you want to put housing next to where people work and shop, because it will reduce the amount of time that people use their cars, and you want to build where you have existing infrastructure within our transit catchment area and not in the far flung exurbs,” he noted.

UMD geographical sciences professor Matthew Hansen pointed to a disconnect between what the university is saying and doing. While promoting the student housing development, UMD also strongly encourages researchers to investigate environmental sustainability. “To say that we’re going to cut down a forest that has 20-some native species, and hawks and woodpeckers and turtles and a wetland, and there’s all this stuff at work – and we’ll plant trees somewhere else. That’s garbage,” Hansen said, Residents, city officials and the university are continuing to discuss the importance of trees, as they push to plant new ones and preserve the old ones that have graced the city for years.

COLLEGE PARK POST

HOLLYWOOD DOG PARK RIBBON CUTTING

July 16, 2021 |

|

Come join the City on July 16, 2021 to Celebrate the City’s Newest Park with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony!

The new Hollywood Dog Park located on the east side of the 9300 block of 51st Avenue between Indian Lane and Fox Street is open for use!

The City is very excited to have its newest community amenity open for our two-legged and four-legged residents to enjoy!

This .63 acre community dog park is the City’s newest amenity and features gated and fenced large dog and small dog areas. The park has water access, crawl tunnels, and benches as well.

The idea came from residents and Councilmembers who expressed interest in the creation of an open access dog park. Several locations were suggested, but the area next to the City’s Department of Public

All are welcome to attend - including our canine residents!

Works was identified as the best. After successful negotiations with the County’s Board of Education (who owns the parcel), design on the new park could begin!

After about two years of design, planning, and construction the dog park is finally open to the public!

amenity, the Hollywood Dog Park! All are welcome to attendincluding our canine residents!

Please note the dog park requirements for use prior to entry. Masks are encouraged.

In 2018, the City held a community meeting seeking input from our residents and the community for the proposed dog park.

From those comments and staff recommendations, the City issued an RFP later that year for a design and engineering contract. The City’s Mayor & Council approved a Design & Engineering contract to A. Morton Thomas & Associates in November 2018 to develop construction plans, bid specifications and obtain required permits for the project on the Prince George’s County Board of Education parcel.

RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY

Join the City of College Park on Friday, July 16, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. as we open our newest community

Please note the dog park hours and requirements for use prior to entry here (available at www. collegeparkmd.gov/parks). Masks are encouraged.

Small Dog Area of the Hollywood Dog Park

New City Racial Equity Officer

Help us Welcome David Thornton to the City!

In May 2021, the City Council authorized a Racial Equity Officer position to help accomplish the Strategic Plan goals of creating an inclusive community and addressing systemic racism.

The Racial Equity Officer will facilitate City-wide race equity programs; review and provide guidance on personnel policies; identify institutional barriers that limit diversity; and serve as a liaison for the Restorative Justice Steering Committee and other community initiatives.

The City is proud to announce the appointment of its first Racial Equity Officer, David Madison Thornton. Mr. Thornton brings to College Park extensive experience as an EEO (Equal Employment Opportunities) Consultant, Trainer, and Investigator at various workplaces and municipalities across the country.

He is also an accomplished public speaker, presenting at numerous conferences on a local, state, and national level. A native Ohioan, Mr. Thornton attended the University of Akron for his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

“I look forward to working strategically with Council, staff and residents to make the City of College Park an inclusive, equitable, and welcoming community,” said Mr. Thornton.

We are extremely excited to welcome Mr. Thornton to the City of College Park team on July 6, 2021.

City Elections Notice

The City of College Park will hold its municipal election for the office of Mayor and all eight district Councilmembers on Sunday, November 7, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. at the College Park Community Center. Election Day will be on a Sunday this year to make it more convenient for voters who typically work Monday through Friday to get to the polls.

Voters from all districts will vote at the College Park Community Center on Election Day. The Community Center is large enough to accommodate space requirements and is centrally located in the City.

We are encouraging residents to vote by mail using the absentee ballot process this year. We will mail applications for absentee ballots to all registered voters in September. Applications will also be available from our website and City offices. You may return your absentee ballot application by mail, or to one of our secure ballot drop boxes.

ARE YOU THINKING OF RUNNING FOR OFFICE?

College Park uses a petition process to qualify candidates for elected office. Candidates for the office of Mayor must collect the signatures of 20 qualified voters from each Council

district. Candidates for the office of Councilmember must collect 25 signatures from the qualified voters in their district.

Candidacy packets with petition forms and other required paperwork will be available from the City website on August 1, 2021. You may also make an appointment with the City Clerk’s office to pick up a hard copy of the candidacy packet. All candidacy forms are due by Wednesday, September 15.

In addition, candidates for the office of Mayor:

• Must be 18 years old at the time of taking office (December 14, 2021).

• Must be a United States citizen.

• Must be a current registered voter in the City.

• Shall have been domiciled in the City since September 15, 2020.

• Must continuously reside in the City for the full two-year term.

Candidates for the office of Councilmember:

• Must be 18 years old at the time of taking office (December 14, 2021).

• Must be a United States citizen.

• Must be a current registered voter in the City.

• Shall have been domiciled in their respective district since September 15, 2020.

• Must continuously reside in their respective district for the full twoyear term.

For more information about running for office or voting in the City, please contact the City Clerk, Janeen S. Miller, at 240-487-3503 or the Chief of the Board of Election Supervisors, John Payne, at jpaynecp@gmail.com or 301-789-7682.

VOTER REGISTRATION

If you are already registered to vote with the Prince George’s County Board of Elections at your current City address, you are automatically registered to vote in the City Election. However, if you have moved or changed your name since the last election, you must update your Voter Registration. Voter registration is handled by the Prince George’s County Board of Elections. To check your registration status, call the Prince George’s County Board of Elections at 301-341-4300, or visit www.elections.state.md.us. The last day to be registered to vote in the City’s election is October 10, 2021.

For more information about voting in the City, or running for office, please contact the City Clerk, Janeen S. Miller, at 240-487-3501 or jsmiller@ collegeparkmd.gov.

Las elecciones municipales se celebrarán el domingo, 7 de noviembre de 2021

La Ciudad de College Park celebrará su elección municipal para el cargo de Alcalde y los ocho concejales de distrito el domingo, 7 de noviembre de 2021, desde las 9:00 am hasta las 6:00 pm en el Centro Comunitario de College Park (“College Park Community Center”). El día de las elecciones será un domingo este año para que sea más conveniente para los votantes que normalmente trabajan de lunes a viernes para llegar a las urnas.

El día de las elecciones, votantes de todos los distritos votarán en el Centro Comunitario de College Park. El Centro Comunitario es lo suficientemente grande como para acomodar los requisitos de espacio y está ubicado en el centro de la ciudad.

Este año, estamos alentando a los votantes a votar por correo utilizando el proceso de boletas de votante ausente. En septiembre enviaremos por correo las solicitudes de boletas para voto en ausencia a todos los votantes registrados. Las solicitudes también estarán disponibles en nuestro sitio web y en las oficinas de la Ciudad. Puede devolver su solicitud de boleta de votante ausente por correo o a una de nuestras urnas seguras.

¿ESTÁ PENSANDO EN POSTULARSE PARA UN CARGO?

La Ciudad de College Park utiliza un proceso de solicitud para calificar a candidatos. El candidato para el cargo de Alcalde debe recoger 20 firmas de votantes calificados de cada Consejo

Municipal. El candidato para el cargo de Concejal Municipal debe recoger 25 firmas de votantes calificados de su propio Concejo Municipal.

Los paquetes de candidatura con formularios de petición y otros documentos requeridos estarán disponibles en el sitio web de la Ciudad el 1 de agosto de 2021. También puede hacer una cita con la oficina del Secretario de la Ciudad para recoger una copia impresa del paquete de candidatura. Todos los formularios de candidatura deben presentarse a más tardar el miércoles 15 de septiembre.

Además, cada candidato al cargo de Alcalde:

• Debe haber cumplido 18 años de edad en el momento de su entrada en funciones (14 de diciembre de 2021).

• Debe ser un ciudadano de Estados Unidos.

• Debe ser un votante registrado en la Ciudad.

• Estará domiciliado en la Ciudad desde el 15 de septiembre de 2020.

• Debe residir continuamente en la Ciudad durante su mandato de dos años.

Cada candidato al cargo de Concejal Municipal:

• Debe haber cumplido 18 años de edad en el momento de su entrada en funciones (14 de diciembre de 2021).

• Debe ser un ciudadano de Estados Unidos.

• Debe ser un votante registrado en la

Ciudad.

• Estará domiciliado en la Ciudad desde el 15 de septiembre de 2020.

• Debe residir continuamente en la Ciudad durante su mandato de dos años.

Para obtener más información acerca de como postularse o como votar en la Ciudad, por favor póngase en contacto con la Secretaria de la Ciudad, Janeen S. Miller, llamando al 240-487-3501, o al Jefe de Supervisores de la Junta Electoral, John Payne, por medio de su coreo-e, jpaynecp@gmail.com o llamando al 301-789-7682.

Si ya se ha registrado para votar a través de la Junta Electoral del Condado de Prince George, usando su dirección actual en la Ciudad, entonces también está registrado automáticamente para votar en le Elección Municipal. Sin embargo, Si se ha mudado, o ha cambiado su nombre o apellido desde que votó en la última elección, debe actualizar su Inscripción como Votante.

La Junta Electoral del Condado de Prince George maneja dicha Inscripción. Para verificar su estado de inscripción, llame a la Junta Electoral del Condado de Prince George al 301-341-4300, o visite www. elections.state.md.us. El último día para ser registrado para votar en la elección de la Ciudad es el 10 de octubre de 2021.

Para obtener más información acerca de como votar en la Ciudad, por favor póngase en contacto con la Secretaria de la Ciudad, Janeen S. Miller, llamando al 240-487-3501, o por medio de su correo-e, jsmiller@collegeparkmd.gov.

Summer Reading Program

Sign your Children Up for Summer Reading!

The 2021 Summer Reading Program was originally planned as a day camp that would provide in-person reading instruction to elementary school children from College Park. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the regular program is unable to operate this summer.

In lieu of the day camp, the 2021 Summer Reading Program will continue to support children’s summer reading skills virtually instead by providing access to books in print and online.

To participate, you will need to register your child(ren) at www.collegeparkmd.gov/ summerreadingprogram2021. Participation is limited to students who reside within the City of College Park.

Each child will receive a Scholastic Summer Book Packet that includes 5-6 books, a journal, an activity sheet, a summer reading postcard, and colored pencils. Packets are packaged individually and organized by grade level, language (English or Spanish), and theme (fiction, informational, STEM, etc.).

Additionally, individual EPIC book subscriptions for the remainder of the summer will be provided for each child. The EPIC books website is an online digital library of children’s picture books, trade books, and novels.

Please sign up as soon as possible at www.collegeparkmd.gov/ summerreadingprogram2021.

Materials will be provided while supplies last between July 19 and August 6, 2021 and are on a first come, first serve basis. Proof of residency may be required.

Support to participating students will be provided by Dr. Ayanna Baccus, Reading Specialist from the University of Maryland.

This program is made possible through partnership with Maryland National Capital Park and Planning (M-NCPPC). For more information, email families@ collegeparkmd.gov.

City of College Park’s

NIGHT MOVIES AT THE

FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2021 AT 8:00 P.M.

DUVALL FIELD

9100 Rhode Island Avenue

Come and join us for a fun and free Night at the Movies on July 30! Bring your picnic baskets, lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy a movie with the whole family under the stars. Masks are encouraged.

FEATURE PRESENTATION: RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON

An Age-Friendly City

City Accepted into the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities Program and County PAMC program

The City of College Park is pleased to announce that the City achieved two significant steps on the road to livability this past June.

First, on June 17, 2021, the City was informed of its acceptance into the AARP Network of AgeFriendly States and Communities program. The City joins a handful of communities across Maryland who are committed to creating great places to live for people of all ages.

The application to the program was submitted by a work group of the City’s Seniors Committee and supported by City of College Park Resolution 20-R-21, adopted by the Mayor and Council on September 8, 2020.

Additionally, on June 22, 2021, the City received official notice of Prince George’s County Planning Board’s approval of a Planning Assistance to Municipalities and Communities (PAMC) program grant for consultant services to assist the City in preparing the Age-Friendly Action Plan required under the AARP program. The Jacob France Institute at the University of Baltimore will serve as project consultant.

Through participation in the AARP

Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities, the City of College Park will:

• Support age-friendly policies, practices and programming in outdoor spaces and recreation, housing, transportation, social participation and inclusion, civic participation, and community support.

• Convene a work group of stakeholders to oversee these efforts and commit to continuous improvement.

• Engage the community, particularly older persons, in a community livability assessment process and inventory.

• Adopt an Age-Friendly Action Plan that includes goals and strategies for addressing the livability initiative areas of

1. Housing,

2. Transportation,

3. Social Participation,

4. Communication and Information, and

5. Health Services and Community Support.

• Implement, evaluate, and track the progress of the Action Plan.

Celebratory kick-off activities are planned during College Park Day on October 9, 2021.

had earned his master’s degree in American Studies from the University of Maryland and, in his work for Sanders, was focused on issues involving the environment, transportation, energy, democracy, human rights and agriculture.

“I’ve always been interested in how to make a community better,” Olson recently said.

Olson brought that same dedication from Capitol Hill to College Park. He served on the College Park City Council from 1997 to 2006 and on the Prince George’s County Council, representing District 3, from 2006 to 2014.

“We really focused a lot on walkability, trails … redeveloping some of our older corridors, [and] trying to get more people to live near work,” Olson said, “paying attention to things like code enforcement and nuisances and making sure our neighborhoods are strong.”

The College Park resident pointed to expansion of the city’s trails as one of his proudest collaborations with the community.

Olson said he still remembers trudging through swampland with fellow residents to scope out what is now a pedestrian and bicycle trail, where he sees people ride their bikes every day.

He also worked to renovate the Rhode Island Avenue Trolly Trail, which runs from College Park through Riverdale Park to Hyattsville.

“It’s really about working together with people to realize a vision and a dream that people share,” Olson said. “I [feel] like my job is not just to be a representative of a community, but also to be a community organizer … showing neighborhoods that they have the power to create change.”

Olson carries this mission as executive director of the College Park City-University Partnership, where he focuses on creating jobs, addressing trans-

portation issues and enhancing public spaces.

According to the former councilmember, the pandemic has shifted the city’s focus to helping local restaurants survive and pushing attention toward testing sites. Some issues in the city remain the same, such as attracting homeowners.

Olson will continue to navigate improvements to College Park as he prepares to run again for county council. The election is in November 2022.

When he isn’t piloting progress, Olson is writing. He pens lyrics for Paint Branch Creek, a local Americana band, and has the longest running column in the College Park Here & Now Olson’s column, “Community on the Move,” focuses on the collaboration between the College Park community and the University of Maryland.

“Eric’s column speaks to the city’s bustle, its friendliness and its heart,” Mark Goodson, managing editor of the Here & Now, said.

Others who have collaborated with Olson shared a similar admiration for his work.

“One of his passions is investing in infrastructure and

policies that reduce our overall emissions. … I think he’ll do well in that, in this new role, and I’m really excited to see where it takes him,” Rep. Eric Swalwell said.

Swalwell, who has been representing California’s 15th congressional district since 2013, met Olson in 2001.

“It was a tumultuous time; September 11th had just happened,” Swalwell explained.

“There was also, in 2001, a race of College Park City Council where a couple students were challenging councilmembers for city council seats because they felt like the city wasn’t really representing the students.”

Then a junior at the University of Maryland, Swalwell brought this issue to Olson, who was serving on the city council.

Together, they created the first student-liaison position on the council and formed a 20-year friendship in the process.

“Eric is a collaborator. He’ll work with anyone to get something done,” Swalwell said. “He’s really just one of the kindest sweetest people you’ll ever meet, but he has a core set of principles as well, and he’ll fight for those principles.”

Swalwell said if Olson is elected, he could improve housing and infrastructure in College Park, as well as address Metro expansion and environmental issues.

Olson also has experience as deputy director of the Center for Voting and Democracy, where he worked on election reform. He also led smart growth initiatives for the Sierra Club.

“College Park is a much more desirable place to live and work and play because of his work,” Swalwell said.

Olson’s roles may have shifted and may continue to shift, but his vision for making communities better remains steadfast.

children and parents sat outside the church on colorful blankets and tiny chairs under a beaming sun. The event will go back inside when the weather cools again.

Micki Freeny is the reader for Story Time events. Freeny, an experienced storyteller, retired from her position as coordinator of children’s services at the D.C. Public Library in 2015. Her dynamic, animated character shines through as she reads children’s books.

Freeny also integrates hands-on techniques to hold young children’s attention, often shaking a toy to the beat of a song. “I love babies because they just soak it up. Even though they don’t participate, if they’re awake, they’re usually very attentive because there’s so much singing,” she said.

Freeny wore a face mask when interacting directly with children, and some participants chose to, too, including Andrew Toy. Toy, who has two sons – 4-year-old Joseph, and 2-year-old William, has been attending Story Time since Joseph was born.

“It was like a weekly ritual. Every Wednesday morning, we would come,” he said. “So, after a long break, this is our first Story Time in over a year.”

Jackie Kelly is director and cofounder of the College Park Community Library. She opened the library in 2012, with 800 donated books. (The library now has more than ten times that number of books, with 3,000 of them being children’s books.) Kelly began reading to children at the library the year it was founded. She spread the news about the weekly gathering by email and word of mouth, and Story Time was born.

Elaine Stillwell, a former codirector of the library, served as story reader for almost 4 years.

Freeny stepped into the role when Stillwell died, in March of 2018. Kelly remembered Stillwell as a “solid rock, and we were good friends.”

The library currently has about 250 members. All library services are free to patrons, who can check out books for three weeks at a time. The library is all about spreading the love of reading.

The library has received two city grants over time. This funding, which totalled $4,000, allowed the library to purchase a desktop computer, a printer and a laptop. Patrons can use the laptop, which is connected to the church’s Wi-Fi.

Kelly anticipates holding many more events in the near future. She hopes to organize a book festival featuring local authors and is eager to welcome police, including a K-9 unit, for a meet-and-greet with residents. And Story Time is back in full swing!

Story Time takes place every Wednesday from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m. at the library, located on the grass outside of the College Park Church of the Nazarene, 9704 Rhode Island Ave. Library hours are posted on the library’s Facebook page: facebook.com/colparklib.

Eric Olson on the Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail. COURTESY OF LARISSA OLSON

Islamic organization promotes charity, kindness throughout area

By James Cirrone

Charity has been such an important part of getting College Park residents through the pandemic. The College Park Community Food Bank distributes food every weekend, and Help by Phone continues to feed the hungry and shelter the homeless. Dar-us-Salaam, an Islamic nonprofit established in College Park in 1995, is also focused on service, which is heavily informed by its members’ faith.

“Our faith is not complete without helping our neighbors, and our neighbors extend not only locally but interstate … and globally,” said Dar-us-Salaam CEO Safi Khan, who is also the organization’s imam.

Ansaar-ul-Birr is Dar-usSalaam’s social services arm, and as such, it donates food, clothing and other supplies throughout the DMV. The nonprofit also operates a school for about 600 K-12 students.

During the pandemic, several dozen Ansaar-ul-Birr volunteers worked tirelessly to conduct food drives, deliver groceries to needy families and deliver supplies to shelters and nursing homes. Khan said that he and the volunteers strive to maintain selflessness, though they also struggle, sometimes, to do so.

“I would say probably that the biggest challenge is ... to care for [other] people more than we care for ourselves,” he said.

Bibi Mohamed, Ansaar-ulBirr’s director, confirmed that the organization is dedicated to caring for others, noting that they donated 45,000 pounds of food to needy families from April to December 2020. During that same period, Ansaar-ul-Birr served 2,000 hot meals and provided 300 packages of winter clothes and sleeping bags to homeless populations in the District and Baltimore.

In talking about Ansaar-ulBirr’s generosity, Khan points to zakat, one of the five pillars of Islam; zakat stipulates that Muslims should donate at least 2.5% of their savings every year to charity. He also noted the times we’re living in.

“The donations were stepped up quite a bit,” Khan said. “People realize that this was a difficult situation we were going through ... and our Prophet Mohammed, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, he really encouraged us to step it up during a pandemic.”

Ansaar-ul-Birr also partners with schools and churches in the area to get help to residents in need. One such partnership blossomed as Mohamed and Amy Caruso, a minister at College Park United Methodist Church, connected with each other.

“We’ve gotten to be friends over the last year,” Caruso said about Mohamed, “it all started with her calling the church and saying, ‘I have a lot of milk, would you like it?’”

That phone call eventually led to a food drive, in January 2021, jointly conducted by Ansaar-ul-Birr and the United Methodist Church. Volunteers gave out 200 bags of groceries, each bag weighing about 30 pounds.

“The church also gives us 100 meals monthly to give out to families in our community,” Mohamed said.

United Methodist is still providing those monthly meals, and to give back, Mohamed said that Ansaar-ul-Birr gave the church 1,000 face masks to distribute among their members.

“We share the goodness between us,” Mohamed said. A similar partnership exists between Ansaar-ul-Birr and Berwyn Heights Elementary School. Kristen Buker, the

school’s parent engagement assistant, was concerned, because 70% of the students’ families qualified for the free and reduced-price meals programs at the school and could have needed assistance. Buker reached out to Caruso, seeking donations. Caruso connected Buker with Ansaarul-Birr, and the organization came through with two big food drives at the school, one in February and one in April. In total, Ansaar-ul-Birr donated 400 bags of groceries to Berwyn Heights families.

“Ansaar-ul-Birr has been an amazing resource for our families,” Buker said, “Anytime I have reached out, Bibi gets back to me right away, and every time they have a giveaway of any kind, she reaches out to me so I can share it with our families.”

Islam’s principals guide the Dar-us-Salaam community to give generously to as many people as they can. Khan likes to reframe charity as simple sharing.

“It’s not that we’re doing you a favor. God has given us all these things,” Khan said. “We’re just sharing it because we believe that it belongs to everyone.”

Caruso shared similar statements when talking about her church’s efforts to give back to the community.

“We understand that it’s not so much a charity thing at this point, but it is a situation of sharing,” Caruso said. “Nobody wants to be looked down upon for their situation.”

And Ansaar-ul-Birr’s mission to share resources is by no means over — indeed, Mohamed is piloting two new programs. One is a gift-giving program for orphans, through which the children receive a gift card and a personalized cake. The second is for single mothers — they receive lunch and a gift.

Even with schools out for the summer, Ansaar-ul-Birr is still giving free lunches to kids, with distributions every Monday and Wednesday at the AlHuda School. During the July 7 lunch distribution, Mohamed ensured that families got a box fan with an air filter or a thermometer, if they needed it.

Khan is optimistic about the future of his organization, and he delights in seeing even the youngest students at the school engaged in helping others.

“Even the elementary kids, it’s like a fight,” he said. “It’s like a competition between them, ‘I want to participate. I want to participate.’ Everybody wants to be first in line.”

Bibi Mohamed and her son, Dujanah Mohamed, hand out food on July 7. JAMES CIRRONE

THE SCIENCE OF THE CITY

Is food College Park’s final frontier in recycling?

By Paul Ruffins

To most homeowners, College Park’s recyclables include bottles, cans, newspapers, a range of metals, and cardboard and certain plastic containers — all of which go into our city’s single-stream recycling. But Justen Garrity, president of Veteran Compost, which recycles food waste like used grounds from Vigilante Coffee, takes a broader view. He explains that within the industry, what is recyclable is often defined by an evolving set of economic, political and moral judgements: What is an item’s resale value? How much would it cost to simply discard it instead of recycling? Are the cheaper ways of disposing of an item dangerous or illegal, or perhaps considered immoral or against company policy? And who is being paid to collect items?

“People pay us to pick up food scraps for composting to support veterans, or because they believe global warming makes it immoral to put food into landfills,” Garrity said. “Some clients are part of West Coast tech companies with a corporate policy of zero waste.”

A new bulk trash ordinance went into effect in College Park on July 1, limiting the total number of bulk items that the city will collect for free as well as the frequency of collections. Under the ordinance, the city also charges fees for collecting large appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines, and some smaller things such as tires — all items that used to be collected at no additional charge. By shifting the costs of disposing these items to homeowners and landlords (who may pass these costs along to renters), the city council hopes that residents will recycle more items and send fewer to the landfill.

Former councilmembers Stephanie Stullich (who is a board member of Streetcar Suburbs Publishing, which publishes the College Park Here & Now) and P. J. Brennan strongly supported the measure. “We as a society produce too much waste,” Stullich said. “People need a financial incentive to think about changing their behavior.”

Another shift in local recycling efforts occurred in September 2019, when the University of Maryland (UMD) stopped ac-

cepting glass bottles in its campus-wide, mixed-container recycling. The price of commingled glass had fallen so far that the recycling company used by the university stopped accepting it. In September 2020, UMD resumed recycling bottles, but not if they’re commingled with plastic items; bottles now have to be deposited separately in purple containers on campus. They are then shipped to Fairfax County, Va., where they are ground into gravel or sand for use in construction.

One issue that can be confusing is whether all containers must be cleaned before they are re-

cycled. The city’s website states, “Clean and wash out your food containers — too much food contamination or food scraps can contaminate the entire load of recycling causing it to go to the landfill. If that pizza box is looking a bit too greasy, then it’s best to throw it out.”

Food contamination attracts insects and vermin. It can also seep into mixed paper and cardboard, which are two of the few materials that are profitable to recycle. Wet paper doesn’t sort properly and may end up discarded. And for years it was thought that food residue on paper or cardboard

recycling coordinator, notes that the current per-ton tipping fees at Prince George’s facilities in Capitol Heights are $59 for landfill, $45 for organic waste composting and $27 at the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), where single stream recyclables are sorted for resale around the world.

According to McCaslin, “The MRF is cracking down on the quality of the recyclables it’s accepting. If the inspectors find that a load is contaminated, they reject it, and it has to go to the landfill, which costs more than twice as much. But the bigger problem is that when food or other organic matter decomposes in the low-oxygen environment of a landfill, it generates methane, a greenhouse gas about 25 times worse than carbon dioxide.”

The methane problem and high tipping fees have prompted College Park to compost leaves and yard waste, and the compost is then available to the public for purchase. The city grinds tree limbs into wood mulch, which is also for sale. Residents can also drop off food waste at the city’s public works department — the city sells food waste bins to residents for half of what non-residents would pay for them. The city sends food waste to the Prince George’s County organic recycling facility, which is one of the largest composting operations on the East Coast.

would reduce the strength of new products made from those fibers, so billions of pizza boxes have ended up in landfill each year — and hungry students in a college town contribute dramatically to that outcome.

Both the Sierra Club and Domino’s Pizza have been touting recent research showing that new machinery is better at screening out cheese, making pizza boxes recyclable (see sierraclub.org/sierra/yes-youcan-recycle-your-pizza-boxes). Nevertheless, College Park still sends these boxes to landfill.

Janet McCaslin, College Park’s

And McCaslin hopes to expand the city’s recycling efforts. “I’m hoping we can start picking up food scraps from households,” she said, “but first we have to get new trucks that won’t leak.” As the recycling landscape changes, you can stay current by reviewing updates posted to the city’s website, collegeparkmd. gov, or signing up on the website to receive email notifications.

Paul Ruffins is a citizen scientist and professor of curiosity.

Above: The City of College Park boasts a food waste drop-off program. Left: A mechanic recycling used motor oil at the Davis Hall recycling center. PAUL RUFFINS

vices. Mayor Wojahn leads the affordable housing initiative.

“I decided to take over the initiative of the affordable housing workgroup on the Route 1 Corridor to educate ourselves and find out what we can do to engage and be active on this issue,” Mayor Wojahn said. “[For] a lot of us, this is about learning and looking for opportunities to be involved.”

Wojahn acknowledged that there is a housing shortage in the city. The lack of inventory fuels higher rents and home sale prices — an issue that affects both residents and students at the University of Maryland. The workgroup’s focus and efforts provide a means for Wojahn to continue learning about the depth of this problem.

According to a study by the HOPE Center for College, Community, and Justice, which is affiliated with Temple University, 36% of university students faced housing insecurity in 2020. Their challenges ranged from not being able to pay rent or utilities to moving two or more times. A whopping 9% of the 43,000 students surveyed, from 66 institutions in 20 states and Washington D.C., were declared homeless in 2020.

Mayor Wojahn is familiar with the HOPE study. He cited the findings as a compelling reason to address students’ housing insecurity in College Park.

“We often assume that people are com-

ing here with their families, and they are getting loans to get by, but the student population is actually in a struggle,” Wojahn noted. “So we need to figure out a way to make sure people have access to affordable housing within our community and the university.”

As leader of Pathways to Unity’s afford-

able housing initiative, Wojahn turns to other civic leaders to educate the workgroup about affordable housing. Maryland State Delegate Brooke Lierman (District 46) recently participated in one of the group’s meetings.

“I certainly have a concern with ensuring that we’re not only providing off-cam-

Dear College Park neighbors –

pus housing options to the wealthiest students who are attending our schools,” Lierman said. “We don’t want to economically segregate students like that, because part of the benefit of college is that you are meeting people from all different backgrounds.”

Lierman also spoke about the Maryland Housing Needs Assessment & 10Year Strategic Plan, which was released in December 2020 by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, in conjunction with local partners. The plan outlines current housing in Maryland and charts a course to address regional housing needs. The plan cites the Terrapin Development Company, a joint-venture real estate and economic development partnership including the city, the University of Maryland and the University of Maryland College Park Foundation, as a model for how partnerships between nonprofit and forprofit entities can address issues related to affordable housing.

“I thought [the workgroup would] be a good opportunity for College Park to be involved with other municipalities around affordable housing,” said Wojahn. “It was also an opportunity to bring in some ideas, to see ideas from other communities and bring those home with me to College Park.”

The affordable housing workgroup will meet again July 26 at 6 p.m. For more information or to join the workgroup, use the contact form at pathwaystounity.org/ contact-us.

July 2021

Our top priorities for this year are beating COVID and getting Maryland back to work Our post-recovery agenda includes climate change, smart growth, health equity, expanded PreK, and higher incomes for working people

And, as always, helping you, and all of our neighbors solve problems in College Park

We appreciate the opportunity to represent the 21st District and to serve you. To learn more about what we've been working on and our priorities going forward, visit our website.

We look forward to keeping in touch over the coming months!

Many thanks,

Mary, Ben, Joseline, and Jim

21 st District Democratic Team

By authority, Carolyn Brosch, Treasurer/

Team 21 Slate

Pathways to Unity organized a march down Baltimore Ave. on Aug. 28, 2020. JULIA NIKHINSON

Protecting pollinators, controlling mosquitoes

By Kim Seif

As the City of College Park undertakes community outreach in an effort to educate residents about the importance of protecting pollinators, mosquito control measures could conflict with that goal.

College Park celebrated its first annual National Pollinator Week this summer. The city joined Bee City USA this year, a non-profit organization that aims to raise awareness about pollinators and how to sustain them in communities across the nation.

During the June 15 meeting of the College Park City Council, Mayor Patrick Wojahn issued a proclamation for National Pollinator Week, which took place from June 20 to 26.

“College Park recognizes that human health ultimately depends on a well-functioning ecosystem,” Wojahn noted, reading from the proclamation.

The city held several virtual educational events during the week, including a webinar focused on pollinator gardens.

The College Park Bee City USA committee, which was launched in December 2020, organized a city-wide pollinator bingo game as one of the events during the week. Players completed actions on a bingo card and submitted photos on social media for a chance to win prizes.

Anahi Espindola, pollination biologist and assistant professor at the University of Maryland, as well as Bee City USA committee member for the City of College Park, said that events like pollinator week do a lot to

educate the public about pollinators and their critical role in the environment.

Many College Park residents are curious about pollinators and the challenges they face, and want to be engaged in implementing solutions, according to Espindola, but they are unsure about what they can do to help.

“We need to realize that we depend on our ecosystem and, by engaging in these actions, we realize that we are not all-

powerful and that we cannot engineer our environment,” Espindola said.

The decline of pollinators has been a global concern for several decades. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, one in three North American bee species is now at risk of extinction.

Habitat loss caused by climate change and encroaching development, invasive species, and our use of pesticides and insecticides are all contributing factors.

And while pollinator populations decline, mosquito populations in many regions are on the rise.

Many natural environments, including parks and even our own backyards were not as regularly maintained during the pandemic, often resulting in more standing water and higher numbers of mosquitoes, according to Stephen Panossian, an agricultural inspector for the mosquito control section of the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

There are around 60 different types of mosquitoes in Maryland, with the Asian tiger mosquito being the most prevalent.

The City of College Park works with the Maryland Department of Agriculture to control mosquito populations by treating standing water, where mosquitoes lay eggs, to prevent the larvae from developing into adults. The department typically does this treatment twice monthly during the summer.

According to the city’s website, the Maryland Department of Agriculture also sprays for adult mosquitoes weekly, using a truck-mounted, ultra-low volume sprayer.

Insecticides also impact pollinators, though, which concerns city residents who are interested in protecting these populations.

Panossian, who led a mosquito control webinar on June 17, along with members of the College Park Committee for a Better Environment, said that

the department surveys neighborhoods using mosquito traps and that insecticides are used only in areas where the mosquito populations are becoming overwhelming.

“Spraying is the last resort when it comes to mosquito control,” Panossian noted during the webinar.

Panossian encouraged residents to purchase GAT traps from the city, which use water to attract and trap female mosquitoes, instead of using pesticides.

Panossian emphasized that the most effective means of mosquito control is to eliminate standing water.

Espindola stated that although the use of insecticides can potentially harm pollinators, there is a trade-off about what could happen if the mosquito population is not treated. Many, if not most of the 176 species of mosquitoes found in the U.S. may carry diseases harmful to humans and other animals. In the Americas, mosquitoes most frequently transmit malaria and yellow fever, but can also carry a number of other diseases, including dengue, Zika and encephalitides.

Espindola noted that the pesticides and herbicides that residents use, like ant and weed killers, could be far more harmful than applying mosquito treatment. Avoiding chemical sprays whenever possible and eliminating standing water are the best ways to protect the pollinators without getting bitten by mosquitoes in the process.

According to the Center for Biological Diversity, one in three North American bee species is now at risk of extinction. UNSPLASH

Local musician serenades crowds with accordion

By A.R. Cabral

The sun was hiding behind the clouds, but you couldn’t tell on this 90-degree afternoon in the Lidl parking lot; it was hot. Really hot. About the last place anyone would expect a show. But there he was: Cameron Villanueva, working the bellows of his accordian.

The 24-year-old College Park resident, who hails from University Place, Wash., has been entertaining guests in the Lidl lot since January. Villanueva’s talents are impressive, as is his songbook, which includes familiar pop hits, TV soundtracks and world music mainstays. And shoppers know him — he’s a regular.

“Who plays accordion, in the sun, almost every other time I come [to Lidl], but this guy?” said city resident Tony King. “He’s diligent, his enthusiasm… you feel it. And he’s playing [the Super Mario Bros. theme song].”

Villanueva credits his family for his strong musical foundation. His father, who was born in the Philippines and grew up in Hawaii, introduced Villan-

ueva to musical instruments when he was young, and he learned musical structures while singing harmonies with his sister. And then he discovered Beirut, an American indie band that showcases the accordion in their world music repertoire.

“I basically just searched for a while because accordions are hard to find,” Villanueva said of his early days learning the craft. “Before I learned the accordion, I would turn the keyboard sideways and learn to play a few songs, like a song by Macklemore.”

Villanueva found an accordion in a pawn shop and jumped right in. He moved to the D.C. area in 2015, when he was 18, and he brought his musical curiosity along. His first job was as a substitute teacher at a day care, where he played for some 500 young students over the course of about three years.

But when the pandemic hit in the spring of 2020, live classes were cancelled, and that number dropped to zero.

Last fall, Villanueva took to street performing to make

ends meet. It was a rough start, though — he was arrested for performing outside of Whole Foods without permission. But Villanueva persisted, and his audiences are grateful that he did.

“I pretend like I am teleport-

ing them,” the accordionist said about playing music from around the world. “That’s the reaction from people in the crowd; they tell me they feel like they are in Europe. And I love that, because that is my goal.”

Then in March of this year, disaster struck: Villanueva’s 18-pound, silver Crucianelli Pancordian accordion broke while he was trying to repair it. That resulted in a GoFundMe page, and Villanueva’s friends and family stepped up; in just two days, the page brought in enough support that Villanueva could replace the broken instrument. His new accordion weighs in at 8 pounds, and Villanueva’s back at the Lidl lot. He’s also charmed folks in Old Town Alexandria and Takoma Park, and he’s bringing music to the youngsters again, too, through online classes.

David Osano, who lives in Greenbelt, is a fan. “He has inspired me, because I was planning on performing … I think he’s very talented,” Osano said, as he watched his 3-year-old son, Blake, enthusiastically filming the accordion player with his father’s cell phone. As the DMV emerges from the pandemic, Villanueva, with his red and gold accordion, will provide the summer soundtrack everybody’s longing for.

Cameron Villanueva has been entertaining guests in the Lidl parking lot since January 2021. A.R. CABRAL