06-2022 College Park Here & Now

UMD men's lacrosse team finishes perfect season with championship. P.3

Calvert Hills drainage project explained. P.4

A little bit of a cat-astrophe

College Park Fire Department rescues

3-week-old kitten from car dashboard

By Stephanie Stullich

“You are my heroes!” I exclaimed in relief, as fire technician Cameron Trexler lifted the tiny kitten from where it had been wedged inside the dashboard of my Kia Soul. Earlier that morning, the kitten had wriggled its way from a nest of baby blankets in the passenger side footwell into the space behind the dashboard.

The 3-week-old kitten and his brother had been rescued from an industrial site in Beltsville, along with seven others who had been born to feral moms a few weeks earlier. They were destined for a foster home where they would wait to be adopted.

After a couple of hours of hopeful waiting, I

realized that the kitten was not going to climb back out on his own; indeed, he had worked his way deeper behind the dashboard and was mewling pitifully. Fortunately, the brave firefighters at the College Park Volunteer Fire Department were more than up to the task; over the course of about an hour, they patiently disassembled the dashboard until they could finally reach the kitten. As Trexler gently pulled him free, the group erupted into jubilant cheers. “You gotta name that one Cam!” said Ronel Fayette – and we did. Kitten season is the time of year when feral cat populations explode, as warming temperatures tell female cats that the time is right to get pregnant, and the neighborhood

How mussels can make the Anacostia cleaner by 2025

By Hunter Savery and Jonathan Donville

In Bladensburg Waterfront Park, baskets of mussels float gently with the tide, nestled between the pier and kayaks stacked high on the dock. This is where the mussels mature until they are ready to be released downriver in locations like the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, in Northeast Washington.

These mussels are part of an ambitious project to make the Anacostia River swimmable and fishable by 2025. The Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) hopes that these mollusks will clean the polluted waterway and help replenish the mussel population, which has diminished significantly in recent years.

“We see a lot of interest, actually. We never knew that

mussels could be charismatic, because they aren’t feathery or cuddly, but people love them for some reason,” said Jorge Bogantes Montero, AWS natural resources specialist. The idea of mussel restoration is fairly straightforward. Mussels are filter feeders, which means they remove organisms like algae, plankton and bacteria by siphoning them into and then through their gills. They then expel purified water — a single mussel can filter as much as eight gallons of water a day. They also help to settle sediment onto the river bed, which makes the

City law governs tree pruning and removal

By Kit Slack

On May 10, the College Park City Council passed a law intended to protect the city’s big, older trees.

Starting July 1, residents will need a permit to cut down trees that are 36” in circumference (about a foot thick). The city will also require residents to obtain a permit prior to pruning more than 20% of the live branches on large trees.

Property owners will have to

replace the trees they cut down with new trees, planting them either on their own property or on city property. Property owners who replace trees may be reimbursed up to $300 for each tree they plant, under an approved amendment to the new law introduced by Councilmember Maria Mackie (District 4), also on May 10. If property owners do not replace trees within 12 months,

Rescuers Ronel Fayette (left) holding kitten Ronel and Cameron Trexler with Cam. COURTESY OF STEPHANIE STULLICH

Salvadoran engineer becomes Riverdale Park barbecue master

By Hunter Savery

Fernando Gonzalez isn’t a chef. He isn’t from Texas, either. And yet, this civil engineer from El Salvador is the culinary force behind what some are saying is the DMV’s best Texas-style barbecue.

On paper, Riverdale Park’s 2Fifty Texas BBQ should have never gotten off the ground. But the dedication and sheer will of Gonzalez and his wife, Debby Portillo, have made it an undeniable success.

They opened 2Fifty in 2020, just as the county began closing down restaurants due to the pandemic — a tough time to run a business anywhere. Later that year, 2Fifty was ranked the No. 1 barbecue restaurant in the D.C. area by e Washington Post. The restaurant would get that nod again in 2022.

2Fifty now has a second location at D.C.’s Union Market, and the couple has taken over Dumm’s Pizza & Subs in Riverdale Park, which also got two thumbs up from e Post

So how does a Salvadoran civil engineer become Washington’s guru of Texas barbecue? For Gonzalez, it all started with a business trip to Austin, Texas, in 2014. At the time, he was working for a shipping company that moved goods between El Salvador and Texas. In Austin, Gonzalez experienced Texas barbecue for the first time, and he left a changed man.

“That was a life-changing experience. You need to consider that we have no tradition of smoking meats in El Salvador,” he said. “For us, barbecue, or barbacoa, is really grilling. It’s cooking over a coal bed or using a live fire, which is great, but

Managing Editor Mark Goodson mark@hyattsvillelife.com

Advertising Sales Manager Miranda Goodson

you won’t see a 500-gallon offset smoker cooking on the corner.” He said he was equally drawn to the hospitality of barbecue culture. “It’s like a community. The camaraderie around the smokehouse in Texas really attracted me,” he said.

Barbecue became a fixation for him. Back in El Salvador, he set out to recreate the barbecue for himself. Gonzalez said he even had a friend weld together a makeshift smoker out of a propane tank.

After some practice, Gonzalez made his first attempt at professional barbecue. He started a business selling smoked meat, primarily to the community of American expatriates in San Salvador. The city is home to one of the busiest U.S. embassies in Central America, so there was a large community excited to find American barbecue on the menu, he said.

Gonzalez’s neighbors were far less enthusiastic. They complained about the smoke — Gonzalez said he even had the police called on him. And they weren’t keen about the flavor — barbeque can be an acquired taste, after all. There were other challenges that came with trying to run a Texas-style barbecue business in El Salvador. Butchers simply didn’t make the cuts for brisket that Gonzalez was looking for, the types of wood needed for an authentic flavor were unavailable, and there were all sorts of issues with refrigeration and quality, he said.

“We were going to the butcher shop, and I was showing them pictures — like, ‘This is the cut that I need,’” Gonzalez said. “The butcher would tell me, ‘Well I can make that for you, but this is not what we do here.’ At the beginning, the brisket was a complete disaster.”

us how long ago we came to the States, and we say, ‘We came in 2018,’ they correct me and say, ‘Do you mean 2008?’ And I say, ‘No, no — we really just moved.’”

Gonzalez’s barbecue quickly developed a following at the Riverdale Park Farmers Market. They started selling there in 2018, just a week after Thanksgiving, and by the next spring, they were collaborating with businesses like Streetcar 82 Brewing Co. for popup events, further raising their profile. According to Portillo, the real hype started when they began selling out of all of their meat, and people realized that they had to come early or pre-order to get anything.

Portillo said, “[Our customers] saw us at the market during the winter, fall, spring and the terrible days of summer. They’ve seen it all, and I think they respect that, and it’s something that connects us with the community. “

It wasn’t long before Gonzalez and Portillo were looking for a brick-and-mortar location.

The process of finding the right spot and getting through permitting took over a year, Gonzalez said. By the time 2Fifty was ready to open its doors, it was April 2020. COVID-19 restrictions meant that there wasn’t a sitdown restaurant open anywhere in the state, and many people were afraid to even leave their homes.

Gonzalez and Portillo said they knew they had to push on or they’d lose everything. Their ability to remain in this country depended on their restaurant being a success. Their B-1 visas had been converted to L-1A visas — a status usually reserved for multinational executives — which allowed them to remain in the country and potentially pursue citizenship, as long as they kept providing jobs for other people. So 2Fifty put out the call on social media that they would be open for carryout, and Gonzalez and Portillo waited and hoped.

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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.

These challenges, and the deteriorating political and economic situation in El Salvador led Gonzalez and Portillo to start thinking about making a change. In 2018, they decided to move to the U.S. After consulting with a friend who does market research, they decided the D.C. area was their best option. The couple sold everything they owned except the smoker and headed for Riverdale Park; their B-1 visas classified them as temporary business visitors.

Portillo said, “When people ask

To their surprise, they said, on opening day there was a line down the block, and by sheer luck, a reviewer from Eater DC was there. As lockdown restrictions have eased, 2Fifty has been able to open for in-person dining. Between the original Riverdale Park location and a smaller space in Union Market that serves a pareddown menu, 2Fifty now has 35 employees.

In spite of the accolades 2Fifty’s received, Gonzalez comes across as less of a master chef than an obsessive fan of barbecue. My conversation with Gonzalez and Portillo took place just hours before they headed to Texas to learn even more from the experts. He said over and over again, “We’re still learning.”

Fernando Gonzalez checking his smoking hot barbecue at 2Fifty. COURTESY OF 2FIFTY TEXAS BBQ

Maryland men’s lacrosse team caps perfect season with championship

By Chris McManes

The University of Maryland men’s lacrosse team entered the 2022 season with unfinished business. A year after losing the national championship by a goal, the Terps set out to close this season with the title.

On May 30, they did just that.

Maryland (18-0) downed Cornell, 9-7, in East Hartford, Conn., to become just the fourth undefeated NCAA champion in 51 years. The heartbreak of 2021 was replaced by unbridled joy and happiness.

“It feels great,” said senior Anthony DeMaio, who scored three of his game-high four goals in the first quarter. “Just to see the smiles on everyone’s faces. It’s a moment that no one can ever take back from you, and that’s what makes me go every day.”

Senior attackman Logan Wisnauskas scored two goals and assisted on two others. He is the Terrapins’ all-time points leader (goals and assists) with 207. His 103 points in 2022 is a Maryland record. On June 2, he won the Tewaaraton Award as the nation’s top men’s college lacrosse player.

Junior goalkeeper Logan McNaney made 17 saves against Cornell to go along with a career-high 19 in the Terps’ 13-8 semifinal victory over Princeton. He was named NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player.

After Jonathan Donville, a Cornell transfer, scored off Wisnauskas’ final

assist with 11:55 to play in the third quarter, the Terrapins had a seemingly safe 9-2 lead. Little did they know that would be their last score.

The Big Red (14-5) tallied four straight goals to draw to within 9-6 midway through the final period. The Terps appeared to be fatigued and were in real danger of losing. But that’s when senior All-American Brett Makar and his fellow defenders stepped up.

The Maryland defense held Cornell scoreless for nearly seven minutes, and McNaney made two big saves in the last 5:30.

“I knew Brett and those [defensive] guys [and] Logan, the backbone of that defense, were going to come up with stops.” DeMaio said. “Yeah, we were gassed, but we had so much faith in them.

… The defense did a great job all day long.”

The Big Red made it 9-7 with 35.3 seconds to go but didn’t get the ball back after Luke Wierman won the game’s final faceoff. One of the nation’s finest faceoff specialists, the junior won 13 of 20 draws.

After scoring 20 or more goals seven times this year, the Terrapins were held to their lowest point total.

Maryland Coach John Tillman, who has led the Terps to nine Final Fours in his 12 years in College Park, said he expected a tough game.

“We built a little bit of a cushion and kind

The Maryland men's lacrosse team celebrates its undefeated national championship. COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND ATHLETICS

Delays in Calvert Hills drainage project

By Paul Ruffins

As I reported in my last edition of “Science of the City,” College Park’s stormwater problems have been building for decades; climate change and increased development are two primary drivers. The aging and inadequate stormwater and sewer infrastructure along Guilford Run exacerbates the issue, and the city’s lowlying neighborhood of Calvert Hills suffers the most. As Councilmember John Rigg (District 3) told the Here & Now, “During the massive rainstorm of September 2020, there was literally 3 to 4 feet of water in the streets. And some neighbors experience flooded basements or sewer back-ups nearly every year.”

Rigg and fellow councilmember Stuart Adams (District 3) invited residents to a May 17 virtual meeting with the Prince George’s County Stormwater Management Division to

discuss the county’s civil engineering project intended to address the problem of flooding in the city. Cost of the project is estimated at $15.5 million; the project has been plagued by delays and is more than a year behind schedule.

Representing the project team were Jeff DeHan, associate director of stormwater management for Prince George’s County Department of the Environment (PGDOE), Frank Galosi, a stormwater management engineer with the department, and Seyad Sadat, of RK&K Civil Engineering, which is headquartered in Baltimore. Sadat is the lead consulting engineer on the project.

During the meeting, Galosi presented the four-part improvement plan prepared by the PGDOE. The plan was developed based on negotiations among stakeholders, including representatives from the state and county, the University of Maryland, the MarylandNational Capital Park and

Planning Commission, the Army Corps of Engineers and city residents.

The plan addresses a broad range of issues that are specific to flooding in Calvert Hills. Each of the four parts of the plan is detailed below.

Part A: This part of the plan calls for $2.9 million in improvements to the aboveground sections of Guilford Run south of Knox Road. The open channel usually overflows during a 1-year storm, which is a term for the amount of rain predicted during the worst storm in any one year. All the improvements would widen and deepen the open channel and increase the capacity of underground culverts to handle a 5-year storm. But Adams, an engineer and resident of Calvert Hills, recently told the Here & Now, “Unfortunately, with global warming, what were considered 5-year storms when these neighborhoods were built can now happen once or twice a year, and we may see 100-year

floods every decade.”

Part B of the plan, which carries a price tag of approximately $5.5 million, would establish two 6 foot by 6 foot boxed culverts under Route 1. These culverts would be more than twice the size of the single 5 foot by 6 foot culvert currently under this busy thoroughfare and would have to be constructed through a complicated maze of existing water, sewer and gas lines. The plan’s part C, which is estimated at $5.5 million, would address drainage problems in the area bounded by Calvert Road, Bowdoin Avenue, Harvard Road and Dartmouth Avenue. Storm drains in this area would be disconnected from the Calvert Road culvert and then reconnected to two new underground water storage vaults that would be installed under the baseball field at the northeast corner of Calvert Park, near the intersection of Bowdoin Avenue and Erskine Road. According to Sadat, the largest vault would be

approximately 290 feet long, 150 feet wide and 8 feet deep, with the long side parallel to Erskine Road. It would be connected to the second vault, an 80 foot by 80 foot by 8 foot chamber. The two vaults would be able to quickly store millions of gallons of stormwater which would then be slowly released into the existing CSX-owned drainage culvert in the middle of Calvert Park. The vaults would be covered by a newly installed baseball field.

Part D of the plan, with an estimated cost of $1.5 million, would address flooding near the intersections of Rhode Island Avenue and Drexel and Fordham Roads. Existing storm drains would be disconnected from the Calvert Road culvert, upgraded, and then directed into the new underground vaults.

Galosi also reported that the work will require removing more than 200 trees and replanting about 120. He explained that the project is behind schedule in part due to delays in negotiating temporary construction easements with property owners on each side of Route 1. The most significant delays have been due to design SEE SCIENCE ON 6 

of hung on,” Tillman said. “I'm not sure what would have happened if there was another quarter. But again, [we] just kind of grinded it out, which these guys have done when they needed to.”

The Terrapins, 33-1 over the past two years, set an NCAA record this season with 204

assists. “This group has been selfless all year,” Tillman said.

Maryland defeated four teams twice in 2022: Virginia, Princeton, Rutgers and Johns Hopkins. The Terrapins won their first two NCAA Tournament games: 21-5 over Vermont and 18-9 over Virginia. The Terps’ 22-7 win at Hopkins on April 23 was the largest margin of victory in the 117 times the teams have met

since 1923.

DeMaio said the Terrapins focused on improving every day: “Whether people want to say we’re the best team ever or not, we’re national champions. And that’s all that matters.”

Chris McManes (mick-maynz) covers University of Maryland athletics for the College Park Here & Now.

National Orchestral Institute + Festival returns to The Clarice

By Sam Draddy

The National Orchestral Institute + Festival (NOI+F) returned to The Clarice Center Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland (UMD) on May 28 with their “Cinematic Soundscapes.” Conductor John Morris Russell led the ensemble through nine different musical arrangements, including pieces from films such as “Lincoln,” “West Side Story,” and “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” As the crowd settled into their seats, the orchestra warmed up on stage, filling the Dekelboum Concert Hall with music before the show even began, instantly grabbing the audience’s attention. Russell began each piece with an in-depth analysis of the stories behind the music and the emotions those stories intended to instill in listeners.

The first half of the program celebrated the music’s golden

age in Hollywood films, and the second half was devoted to the music of Hollywood today.

The longest performance of the night was a piece titled

“Symphonic Dances,” written by Leonard Bernstein, from the film

“West Side Story.” The orchestra captivated the audience during this nearly 30-minute, musically exuberant portion of the show.

The crowd favorites seemed to be

“Hedwig’s Theme” and “Harry’s Wondrous World,” both written by John Williams, from the film

“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” Some spectators were audibly excited when pianist Ying-Shan Su, an alumnus of the University of Maryland School of Music, played the famous opening notes of “Hedwig’s Theme.” Watching members of the orchestra play throughout the evening was a spectacle in itself.

The university’s NOI+F brings together aspiring orchestral

musicians from across the country for a month of dynamic music-making and professional exploration, as described on The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center’s website. In addition to offering musical performances, the NOI+F gives the public a chance to observe open rehearsals and masterclasses, and also attend film screenings. Russell described the festival as an extraordinary celebration of great music-making and beauty in our society, confirming that we always need more of both.

Richard Scerbo, the director of the NOI+F, noted that these are some of the best orchestral performances you can hear in the Washington D.C. area. Many of the orchestra members are

students playing these pieces for the first time, which brings an energy and excitement to the performance that is different from other concerts. During each year’s festival, the NOI+F releases an album; the 2019 album, which was recorded under Scerbo’s leadership, was nominated for a Grammy Award. As Scerbo noted, “Here is a student orchestra nominated for a Grammy against the Boston Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, and other major orchestras. It was really quite thrilling.” The NOI+F will feature performances throughout the month of June. The festival ends on June 25. The schedule and details on how to attend can be found at theclarice.umd.edu

FROM PAGE 4

and permitting issues related to the storage vaults under Calvert Park.

During the May 17 meeting, two neighbors who live close to Calvert Park, where the proposed underground vaults would be located, expressed concerns that the vibrations from construction might damage their foundations. DeHan assured them that the county will monitor the foundations throughout construction. He also confirmed that the contractor will be fully licensed and insured against possible damages.

Judging from comments posted on a neighborhood listserv and discussions that the Here & Now’s has had with residents, the community’s greatest frustration is that the project, which was supposed to be completed in 2022, may be delayed for at least another year. When asked if the project will be completed by the end of 2023, as projected, Rigg said, “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

Paul Ruffins is a citizen scientist and professor of curiosity.

John Morris Russell conducts the NOI Philharmonic’s performance of “Cinematic Soundscapes” on May 28. COURTESY OF DAVID ANDREWS

COLLEGE PARK POST

Protecting our Tree Canopy

Protecting Our Tree Canopy: Urban Tree Canopy Ordinance 21-O-09 goes into e ect July 1, 2022

Trees are a vital part of our ecosystem. e City’s 2018 Tree Canopy Assessment (found at www.collegeparkmd.gov/ DocumentCenter/View/3550/ Tree-Canopy-College-Park-2018Report?bidId=) revealed that the urban tree canopy is under threat.

e report showed that the City’s tree canopy has declined from 44% in 2009 to 38% in 2018 and that the losses appear largely due to either construction or individual tree removal.

e City has already begun working with developers and organizations to stem the loss from construction or projects through replacement trees and other methods.

A majority of the City’s tree canopy is on residential land or in Right of Way (R-O-W) residential areas-this means our residents can make a big di erence in helping our tree canopy!

On May 10, 2022, the City Council approved Ordinance 21-O-09 (available on our website), which will require a permit to remove trees on residential land beginning July 1, 2022. e ordinance was enacted to limit the removal of healthy, mature trees as a measure to maintain the City’s tree canopy.

e Tree and Landscape Board and City Council held numerous public meetings and incorporated changes to address many concerns and suggestions from residents.

Residents, property owners, and tree and landscape companies may have questions about this new permitting process. Please see a selection of FAQ’s below. A full list of FAQs and more information is available on our website at ww.collegeparkmd.gov/trees.

SELECTED FAQS

• Why is the City requiring a tree permit to remove trees

on my property? Large trees contribute signi cantly to the City’s tree canopy, which bene ts the entire community in numerous ways—cleaner air, lower temperatures, reduction of ooding, increased property values, and improved health bene ts. e City’s permitting process is a way to help protect and manage community trees and the tree canopy.

• Where can I nd a copy of the ordinance? Visit https:// ecode360.com/CO0032/ laws/LF1574279.pdf.

• When will the tree ordinance go into e ect? July 1, 2022.

• What actions require a tree permit? Permits are required before you:

• a.) remove a tree (on residentially-zoned property) that is

greater than 36 inches in circumference measured at 4.5 feet above ground level, or

• b.) prune more than 20% of the live branches from a 36inch circumference or larger tree.

• How do I apply for a tree permit? Visit www. collegeparkmd.gov/trees for the online application. If you need a printed copy, please visit the Department of Public Works during business hours. Before any work can begin, residents must have an approved completed application.

For a full list of FAQs, please visit our website at www. collegeparkmd.gov/trees. Have further questions? Email arborist@collegeparkmd.gov.

All events are from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at City Hall Plaza (7401 Baltimore Avenue). Free Parking during the event will be available at the Downtown Parking Garage. Details at www.collegeparkmd.gov.

Upcoming Friday Night LIVE Dates:

July 15 – Salsa and Fiesta

August 12 – Sing me the Blues

September 9 – Oktoberfest!

Upcoming City Events

FRIDAY

NIGHT LIVE!

June 10, July 15, August 12, and September 9

6:30 to 8:30 pm

City Hall Plaza

e City of College Park is hosting a series of concerts this summer and you are invited! Join us on the plaza at the new City Hall building on select Fridays for Friday Night LIVE! e events will feature a variety of musical genres and performers and will include something for everyone. ere will be children’s performers, activities and arts and crafts available for kids as well.

All concerts will be held at City Hall Plaza (7401 Baltimore Avenue) between May to September from 6:30 to 8:30PM. Parking will be o ered for free at the Downtown College Park parking garage at the corner of Yale and Knox. Local food and beer will be available for purchase during the event!

SMALL CELL ANTENNA (5G) INFORMATIONAL MEETING

June 28, 2022, 7:00 - 8:00pm

Hybrid: Zoom & City Hall

Residents may have seen small cell wireless antennas being installed on top of wooden or metal PEPCO poles along roads in the area. Carriers such as Verizon and AT&T have or will soon be applying to install this same type of antenna in City rights-of-way. Installation of antenna on public land is governed by federal and City law. e Mayor and Council adopted a law and application process to regulate these installations and require a License Agreement to place the antennas, and have hired a consultant to evaluate small cell antenna applications.

City sta and representatives from the consultant, Columbia Telecommunications Corporation, will be present at the meeting to provide information about the City’s process and to answer questions.

Residents can attend inperson at the City Hall Council Chambers or log on virtually at https://zoom.us/j/92398574069.

POLLINATOR WEEK: BEE

HOTEL WORKSHOP

June 25, 2020, 1:00 to 4:00 pm Davis Hall

Registration Required; Register at

https://cpae.wufoo.com/forms/ q16dd7xq0jaf62g/

Pollinator week (June 20-26) celebrates the importance of native pollinators for our food security and environment. is is also a time to recognize the vulnerability of many native pollinators that has resulted from development, pesticides, and climate change, and to learn new ways that we can be proactive, throughout the year, in helping our local pollinators thrive.

is year, the City of College Park’s Bee City USA Committee and College Park’s Arts Exchange will be teaming up to host a Bee Hotel building workshop, and all members of our community are invited to participate. Bee Hotels are easy to build and maintain, are a great way for kids and adults to learn about the life of pollinators, and can help the local population of some bees thrive in our area. Details and registration available at the link above or on our website at www.collegeparkmd.gov.

FOURTH OF JULY PARADE

Monday, July 4, 2022, 11:00 a.m. Rhode Island Avenue

See details in the Fourth of July article or on www.collegeparkmd. gov.

COLLEGE PARK DAY

Saturday, October 15, 2022 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm College Park Aviation Museum

is is the City of College Park’s signature event and features a wide array of activities, entertainment, and fun to celebrate the community. e event is open to the public and free to attend.

Details to come soon on www. collegeparkmd.gov. Stay tuned!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Volunteer to help the events sta with upcoming city events. Friday Night LIVE, College Park Day, Fourth of July Parade are all coming up and we could use your expertise.

If interested in learning more about these opportunities and what you could do to take part please send an email to events@ collegeparkmd.gov with the subject line: Volunteering. We would love to work with you!

Fourth of July Parade

Call for Entries; Parade Details, Road Closure Information

Join us on Monday, July 4, 2022, at 11:00 a.m on Rhode Island Avenue, when the City will host our Fourth of July Parade!

We are looking for marching bands, military units, classic/custom vehicles, dogs/animals, equestrian groups, majorettes, re/police vehicles, cheerleading squads, groups, performers, motorized oats, clown/humorist entries, girl and boy scouts, and many others.

Entries must be received by 4 p.m., Friday, June 24, 2022 to collegeparkmd.gov/ ParadePerformer.

Prizes will be awarded for the best entries in each category.

Have questions? Email events@ collegeparkmd.gov.

Due to the parade, Rhode Island Avenue will be temporarily closed to tra c on Monday, July 4, 2022 from 11:00am – 12:00pm.

During the closure, driving and parking will be prohibited on Rhode Island Avenue between Cherokee Street and Hollywood Shopping Center. All intersections leading to Rhode Island Ave will also be closed. Only local tra c will be permitted at Hollywood Shopping Center, Blackfoot Place, or Cherokee Street. To avoid the parade route, northbound drivers are encouraged to use MD 193 to Route One, and then take a right onto Edgewood Road. Southbound drivers are encouraged to take Edgewood Road to Route One and turn left onto MD 193. Police will be in attendance to assist drivers; we apologize in advance for any inconvenience.

ARPA Assistance Programs

City Business & Non-Pro t and Individual & Family Assistance Grants

business impacts.

City Announcements

More information: www.collegeparkmd.gov

YOUTH SUMMER READING PROGRAM

e City’s Summer Reading Program is an instructional intervention program designed to help children strengthen their reading and writing skills.

Trained reading teachers provide instruction in the areas of writing, spelling, phonics, vocabulary, reading uency and comprehension. Students in grades 1 through 6 have multiple opportunities to read a variety of children’s literature and to participate in engaging, smallgroup activities.

to Davis Hall. No more than 3 items can be disposed of at no cost.

• Accepted: TVs, monitors, mouse pointers, keyboards, microwaves, gaming systems, computers, hard drives, cell phones, printers, laptops, surge protectors, copiers, fax machines, telephone systems, cable, circuit boards, and toner cartridges.

• Not Accepted: Light bulbs (CFL or Tubes) or batteries of any kind.

SUMMER PARKING

e City has established two programs to assist businesses, non-pro ts, and residents address negative nancial impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March 2021, the U.S. Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). ARPA provides funding for many programs and services to residents and small businesses of College Park. e graph above illustrates some of the uses and positive impact of ARPA funding in our community.

e American Rescue Program Act (ARPA) has provided funds that the City is using for these and many other projects. Each program is summarized below. e goal of these programs is to help our residents, businesses and nonpro ts get back on their feet and better prepared to be nancially successful in the future.

For additional information, please visit collegeparkmd.gov/ arpa. Have questions? Email arpa@collegeparkmd.gov with questions for any of the City’s ARPA assistance programs.

2021 ARPA BUSINESS & NONPROFIT ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM

Grants up to $25,000 for Operating and Small Capital Expenditures

is program can provide eligible small businesses and non-pro ts with nancial assistance for a wide range of operating expenses and capital investments, such as new equipment, website/ online shopping enhancements, façade improvements, and other costs associated with COVID-related

Businesses and non-pro ts must have a physical presence in the City of College Park, employ 75 or fewer full-time (or equivalent) sta , and have been in operation as of November 1, 2021. Certain age-restricted stores are excluded, and national franchises with local owners will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

For additional details, as well as the application form and required documentation, please visit www.collegeparkmd.gov/ arpa#business.

2021 ARPA FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS & FAMILIES

Grants up to $5,000 per applicant

e purpose of this program is to provide nancial assistance to eligible College Park individuals and families who have a demonstrated nancial hardship created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eligibility is determined by residency in the City of College Park and proof of need. Applicants are required to provide proof of residency, proof of hardship, and provide certain information/ documentation so the City’s review committee can ensure the request ful lls the program requirements.

e maximum nancial assistance per applicant is $5,000 for eligible expenses (vendors will be paid directly). Assistance for groceries will be in the form of gift cards to College Park stores. Only one application per household.

For additional details, as well as the application form and required documentation for resident assistance, please visit www. collegeparkmd.gov/arpa#resident.

Register your student by completing the application before June 30th at https://www.collegeparkmd.gov/ SummerReading2022

THE CITY IS HIRING!

e City is Hiring! e City has several jobs available. Apply here: collegeparkmd.applicantpool. com/jobs.

ELECTRONICS DROP OFF LOCATION

City residents can bring electronics for recycling to the drop o box near the entrance of the front doors

Free parking after 5:00 pm on weekdays, and all day on weekends is in e ect between May 28 to August 13, 2022 in the Downtown College Park Parking Garage! Summer is a great time to visit your favorite Downtown stores and restaurants, or perhaps visit a new one!

NO MOW APRIL SURVEY

We want to hear from you about the City’s No-Mow April initiative whether you participated or not! Take a short survey to share your thoughts; feedback from will help guide future development of this initiative.Visit www.surveymonkey. com/r/NoMowApril2022. Survey closes June 9.

Curbside Composting

Curbside Food Scrap Composting Coming Soon!

Help divert compostable materials from being thrown in the land ll–the City of College Parl will soon launch our new Curbside Food Scrap Compost Program! Soon, City residents can opt-in to recieve curbside composting pick-up services. Have food scraps now? Be sure to drop them o at one of

our drop o locations (visit www. collegeparkmd.gov/foodscraps for details).

Details and registration information will be announced on our website soon. Stay tuned to City media for updates, accepted/ non-accepted items, and more.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

SAVE THE DATE

College Park Aviation Museum’s Women in Aviation Tour. Hear stories showcasing achievements of our foremost female aviators. Free with museum admission: adults $5, seniors $4, children $2 (1 and under free). June 11 from 1 to 2 p.m. 1985

Corporal Frank Scott Dr. For more information, contact collegeparkaviation@pgparks. com

College Park Aviation Museum’s Airmail Tour. Discover how airmail got off the ground in College Park! Free with museum admission: adults $5, seniors $4, children $2 (1 and under free). June 18 from 1 to 2 p.m. 1985 Corporal Frank Scott Dr. For more information, contact collegeparkaviation@ pgparks.com

Fathers Day at Riversdale. Celebrate dads on Fathers Day, June 19, at the Riversdale House Museum! Kitchen Guild members will cook hearty meals and regale visitors with stories of fathers who lived there. Sessions at 1:30 and 3:00 p.m. 4811 Riverdale Rd, Riverdale. For more information, call 301.864.0420 or email riversdale@pgparks.com

Bee Hotel Workshop. Learn how to create your own backyard bee habitat. $10. June 25 from 1 to 4 p.m. Davis Hall, 9217 51st Ave. To register, go to cpae.org/arts/full-calendar and click on the event.

Virtual Book Club. The College Park Arts Exchange invites you to discuss e Extraordinary Story of the Founding Mothers of NPR, by Lisa Napoli, on June 21, and Mudlark: In Search of London’s Past Along the River ames, by Lara Maiklem, on July 19. Free. 7 to 8:30 p.m. RSVP by emailing info@cpae.org

College Park Céilí. EducArte hosts College Park Céilí, an Irish social gathering filled with traditional music and dance. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water. Free. June 25 at 7 p.m. Old Parish House, 4711 Knox Rd.

Free Yoga at Lake Artemesia. Free yoga sessions at Lake Artemesia every Saturday this summer, starting on July 2. Hour-long sessions start at 9:15 a.m. (meet near the restrooms). For more information, including registration details, email wellness@pgparks.com

History Day Camp at Riversdale House Museum. Explore 100 years of Riverdale Park history and then create your own town of the future!

Ages 5 to 8. Two sessions: July 11-15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. $150 resident, $180 non-resident; July 18-22, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. $90 resident, $108 non-resident. 4811 Riverdale Rd, Riverdale. Register by June 27 at tinyurl. com/HOHWeek20225-8

College Park Community Library Book Club. The library’s book club will discuss Co n Road, by Peter May, on July 14 at 7:00 p.m. For more information, email Carol Munn at donkinc@msn.com

Free Shakespeare at the Riversdale House Museum. All the world’s a stage — including the Riversdale House Museum’s lawn! Pack a picnic and bring a chair to Heritage Division's performance of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. July 20 at 7 p.m. 4811 Riverdale Rd, Riverdale

ONGOING

National Orchestral Institute and Festival. NOI+F performances and classes will run throughout the summer at the University of Maryland’s The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. For more information, go to theclarice. umd.edu/calendar

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

Ballet Classes for Children. Creative dance (age 3-6) and primary dance (5-7) classes will be offered throughout the summer at the Old Parish House, 4711 Knox Rd. Creative dance classes are on Tuesdays 10 to 10:45 a.m. and Thursdays from 2 to 2:45 p.m. Primary dance classes are on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to noon and Thursdays from 3 to 4 p.m. For registration and fees, go to berwynballetschool.com/ summer-programs

Senior Golf League. Tee off every Monday (except federal holidays), with fellow seniors at the Paint Branch Golf Complex. Ages 50 and up. $25 cash to play. 8:30 a.m. sign in and 9:00 a.m. start. 4690 University Blvd. To register, email Ray Prather at laurelduo@msn.com or Joe Corson at jocorson@aol.com

e Hall CP. Open mic nights, wine-down Wednesdays, live music concerts and more! For the latest information, go to thehallcp.com/events

College Park Community Library Story Time. Story time with Micki Freeny every Wednesday from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m. If weather permits, gather on the church’s front lawn. If weather forces the event indoors, the library will require masks and respect social distancing. The library is located in the lower level of the College Park Church of the Nazarene, 9704 Rhode Island Ave.

Food Assistance Available.

Help by Phone Ltd. operates food pantries across Prince George's County, with locations at Berwyn Presbetyrian Church (Greenbelt Rd.) and University Baptist Church (Campus Dr.). To schedule a pickup, call 301.699.9009, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Produce Delivery Every ird ursday. Sponsored by Community Connect Calvert Hills. Make your reservation by emailing your contact information (your name, street address, email and phone) to connectporfavor@ gmail.com at least one day in advance of distribution. You can register for a duplicate delivery and share with others in need. Deliveries available to homebound residents. Pickups between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at a central location. For more information, or to volunteer to deliver, call 301.864.5267

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. Local food vendors Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of the Hollywood Shopping Center.

Toastmasters International Meetings. Our local Toastmasters International charter, Rivertech, meets virtually on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month from 12:05 to 1 p.m. For more information and a Zoom link, go to rivertech. toastmastersclubs.org/ directions.html and click Contact Us

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

COLLEGE PARK CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS

Calvert Hills Citizens Association. Next meeting is September 7 at 7 p.m. For more information, go to calverthills. weebly.com or email the board at calverthillscitizensassn@ 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. BDCA’s monthly meeting will be on June 16 at 7:30 p.m. and on each third Thursday of the month after that. To register, email president@myberwyn.org.

tomcats are happy to do their part. But feral kittens do not have good odds of survival; most of them don’t live to their 6-month birthday, instead succumbing to predation, disease, cars and other hazards. So from March through the summer, a little-known and largely unsung, loosely

affiliated group of volunteers springs into action, bringing humane traps and cat carriers to feral colonies. Cam was rescued, along with other young kittens in his feral colony, by a team of volunteers from Beltsville Community Cats (BCC). These intrepid rescuers worked over the course of several days to scoop up all of the kittens they spotted in the colony.

“Since 2019, we have rescued and adopted out over 430 kittens into loving homes, mostly from Beltsville but some from College Park,” said Sallie Rhodes, BCC president. “That’s a lot of kittens who are no longer out on the street.”

“The problem is, we don’t have enough foster homes to take in all the kittens that we rescue,” said Miranda Mellin, BCC rescue coordinator.

A-1 YARD SERVICES

Complete Lawn and Property Maintenance

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“Fostering kittens is a lot of fun, and it saves lives. Every year we have to say no to too many requests to rescue kittens because we simply don’t have enough fosters to take them in. Our foster families make an enormous difference in the lives of these vulnerable creatures; it is truly a labor of love.”

Cam had an infection in his right eye, a common ailment in feral kittens that can lead to blindness if not treated quickly. But he is doing much better now. “Cam’s eye is healing beautifully,” reported Michele Touchet, the BCC bottle feeder who gives young kittens formula around the clock until they are old enough to be weaned. “He’s a very special, happy-go-lucky little guy. He’s not at all shy; he loves to wrestle with his littermates and cuddle with his humans. He is going to bring so much joy and love to some lucky family.”

For more information about how you can get involved with fostering kittens or adult rescue cats, or to inquire about adopting Cam, contact Stephanie Stullich at stullich@ earthlink.net or Beltsville Community Cats at rescue@ beltsvillecats.net.

CALENDAR

FROM PAGE 7

Yarrow Civic Association. Membership is free. For more information, email Wendy Kelley at wendybird85@yahoo. com

North College Park Community Association. The NCPCA meets on June 9 at 7:30 p.m. and each second Tuesday of the month after that. For more information, go to myncpca.org.

College Park Estates Civic Association. For more information, email Ray Ranker at rayranker@gmail.com Lakeland Civic Association. Next virtual meeting is June 9 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. For login 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@gmail.com

Sustainable Maryland program helps communities become more eco-friendly

By Hannah Marszalek

As our awareness of climate change and other environmental issues grows, individuals and communities around the globe are feeling increasingly pressed to take action. Municipalities here at home are turning to Sustainable Maryland’s free certification program as part of their efforts to become more green.

Launched in 2012, Sustainable Maryland provides support and access to resources for Maryland municipalities that wish to become more sustainable — and helps them save money while doing so. It is modeled on a popular program in New Jersey and exists thanks to a collaborative effort between the Maryland Municipal League and the University of Maryland’s Environmental Finance Center.

“The program operates on the premise that by engaging local governments in sustainability we build a strong foundation for the work that needs to be done with respect to critical issues like climate change, environmental justice,

MUSSELS

water clearer. More sunlight can pass through clear water, which leads to the growth of more vegetation.

Achieving the goal of making the Anacostia swimmable and fishable once again may take as many as 300,000 mussels, according to Bogantes Montero. Since 2015, the AWS has released 24,000 mussels into the river, bolstering the flagging native populations.

Bogantes Montero said the results have been encouraging. The mussels raised and released so far have had a survival rate of over 90%.

People often want to know if the mussels in these waters are edible. Bogantes Montero said they are, but he wouldn’t recommend eating them. They have a muddy taste, not to mention the fact that mussels love eating things like E. coli.

The project began seven years ago, when the AWS teamed up with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to conduct an assessment of the mussel species in the river.

“It's also one of the most polluted areas in the state, so nobody had surveyed that area, really in a century,” said Matt Ashton, who works as a member of the DNR resource assessment service.

There was work to be done.

The survey found six types of

and strong local economies,” said Mike Hunninghake, who has been Sustainable Maryland’s program manager since 2013.

The program has certified 41 municipalities in the state, including College Park, Hyattsville, Mount Rainier and Riverdale Park. To participate in the program, a municipality must establish a group of dedicated volunteers — a Green Team that includes municipal officials and community members — and an action plan. Participating jurisdictions must complete a number of mandatory actions, according to the Sustainable Maryland website. Hunninghake noted that these actions were established by the organization’s stakeholder groups, and they collectively focus on issues such as historic preservation and transportation. Municipalities may complete actions by establishing ordinances, upgrading facilities and improving certain types of programs.

College Park established its own Green Team, the Committee for a Better Environment, in 2012 to advise the

native mussels in the water, but there were more species in the lakes surrounding the Anacostia than in the main stem of the river, according to the AWS website.

Mussels — once cultivated in American waterways to make buttons from the shells — were imperiled in the U.S. as plastics supplanted demand for shell buttons, reducing motivation to protect mussel beds. Pollution threatened their populations, according to Bogantes Montero, who said that “over 70% of species are now extinct, rare, threatened or endangered.”

That’s why there is a lot of work left to do with the mussel project, not only to promote the benefits of biofiltration, but also to conserve the species.

In the Anacostia, mussels are grown in floating wire baskets until they are ready to be released to the bottom of the river, where they can begin their work cleaning the water. Currently, the AWS is using eight different sites for the floating baskets, as far upstream as Bladensburg Waterfront Park in Prince George’s County, and as far downstream as the Washington Navy Yard in Southeast D.C.

To this point, the AWS has used the wire baskets in ponds or other still-water environments. Now, they are floating the baskets in moving river water for the first time. Bogantes Montero said the tide of the

city council on existing environmental issues and implement corresponding sustainability programs. The city approved a five-year strategic plan in 2015 that includes goals such as establishing community gardens and additional parks, creating partnerships with the University of Maryland and maintaining a bikeshare program.

The committee has also worked to address issues related to stormwater management, and waste reduction and recycling; they also promote community education in partnership with the College Park Arts Exchange and the College Park Community Library. Earth Day events, and tree plantings and cleanups are some of the group’s popular activities.

In January 2022, Sustainable Maryland added 20 new actions to their roster and introduced a higher certification tier, Hunninghake said. While a municipality may earn certification by meeting the minimum requirements, completing additional actions may earn them higher certification. Certifications are valid for

river could wash mussels out of the baskets, but the Anacostia is slow-moving enough that so far, they have lost very few.

Bogantes Montero said the AWS always releases the mussels in D.C., due to regulatory issues in Maryland. He notes also that mussels can survive long periods out of the water, making them easy to transport.

Because using mussels to clean rivers is a relatively new approach, not much government funding is available; nonprofit organizations currently supply most of the money for these projects. The Chesapeake Bay Trust, for example, has given grants to at least seven different

three years, after which the participating municipality may be recertified. A municipality may also choose to recertify earlier if they so desire.

Sustainable Maryland provides links on their website to educational resources, available grant programs, and events and training related to sustainability. These offerings are designed to educate both individuals and communities and promote networking among participants throughout the state.

“The peer network that has been created across the state has been a source of information and inspiration to a wide range of communities, elected officials, staff and residents,” Hunninghake said. “In this way, Sustainable Maryland has had a broad and deep impact in the state, and it will continue to expand its efforts to support the sustainability initiatives of municipalities in the years to come.”

For more information about Sustainable Maryland’s program and available resources, go to sustainablemaryland.com.

mussel-related projects since 2018, with funding ranging from a few thousand to $22,000, according to Sadie Drescher, vice president of the trust’s programs for restoration.

Using mussels to clean dirty river water is still experimental, even as indigenous species can be used, and mussels provide a natural and potentially self-sustaining method of alleviating water pollution.

Drescher noted that mussels cannot fix some major contributors to river pollution — specific chemical pollutants, the many impacts of rising temperatures, and excessive stormwater runoff are all

beyond a mussel’s filtration capacity.

Even if mussels successfully provide biofiltration, though, they are just one part of the extremely difficult challenge of cleaning polluted Maryland waterways, and we still have a lot to learn.

According to Drescher, mussel projects are not currently approved by the Environmental Protection Agency Chesapeake Bay Program Office, and more studies need to take place before mussel projects could really take off. Drescher said there have been similar projects using oysters, but freshwater mussel projects are still relatively rare.

TREES

they will be required to pay a fee of $250 or $500 depending on the size of the tree they removed. If they cannot afford to pay the fee, they may apply to have it waived.

Starting on July 1, if a property owner cuts down or overprunes a big tree without first receiving a permit, the city will charge them a $500 fine. This penalty will increase to $1,000 starting Feb 1, 2023.

The ordinance has been under discussion since last summer, and has sparked several debates. Some residents believe homeowners should be able to make decisions about trees on their own property without city oversight. Others see the tree canopy as a public good, and that the city should establish regulations to preserve it.

At the May 10 meeting, resident Robert O’Brien recalled the removal of diseased elm trees in Chicago during his childhood in the 60s and 70s. He pointed out that it took generations for neighborhoods to recover their tree canopy and noted that trees are a community resource.

Resident Mary Cook said fines can eat paychecks and cause

emotional distress. She also said cultural factors influence people’s tree maintenance decisions.

At an April 12 meeting, resident Mary King said that back in 2017, the city had begun looking into loss of tree canopy due to over-pruning by utility companies. She spoke again at the May 10 meeting, saying that any ordinance should target developers rather than homeowners.

Also at the May 10 meeting, Councilmember Fazlul Kabir (District 1) advocated successfully

for a lower fine of $500 for unpermitted tree removal during the first six months of the program, while residents are learning about the new ordinance. Six council members voted for the ordinance. Two representatives from District 4, the northwest area of the city with the densest tree canopy, did not support it; Councilmember Denise Mitchell voted against it, saying she had hoped for an educational campaign instead, and Councilmember Maria Mackie abstained, explaining that while she personally is

in favor of the ordinance, her constituents are not.

A 2019 report commissioned by the city showed that 38% of the land in College Park was covered by a tree canopy in 2018, down from 44% in 2009. Maximum possible tree canopy for the city, according to the report, would be 81%. The report indicated that construction and individual tree removal likely caused the decline in canopy, and did not provide further analysis.

Since 1989, developers have been required to submit

conservation plans when developing large wooded tracts in Prince George’s County. Under a 2010 county ordinance, developments 5,000 square feet or larger in residential zones must maintain a 20% tree canopy.

Prince George’s County approved the clearing of 1,456 acres of woods in fiscal year 2020 – or about 2.28 square miles– according to the most recently available annual report under the state of Maryland forest conservation law. The county’s draft climate action plan says the county lost 4% of its tree canopy – more than 11 square miles – from 2014 to 2018. In 2014, the county released a comprehensive plan to maintain existing tree canopy and promote expansion of it.

Neighboring Hyattsville has had fines in place for unpermitted tree removal since 2007. Those graduated fines are based on the size of the tree and range from $300 to a maximum of $1,000, in most cases. Hyattsville lost 30% of its tree canopy between 2008 and 2018, according to a 2020 city-commissioned report. That report lists land development, emerald ash borer and natural tree mortality as primary causes of canopy loss.

COURTESY OF PEXELS

COLLEGE PARK WILD

Nature’s night light

By Rick Borchelt

It’s been a spring with a lot of days that seemed like we were in a refrigerator, but at last the warm and humid days of summer are upon us. In late April, after showers that left the yard damp and misty, what I consider the real harbinger of summer days rose from the wet ferns and hostas in my backyard — a single firefly whose Morse code flashes punctuated the darkness around me.

But I did think he and I were alone for the evening, and as if on cue, soon there were maybe a hundred fireflies, all flashing as they flew high into the dark trees in the steamy night.

There are more than 2,000 kinds of fireflies in the world, about 150 of them in the U.S. and Canada. Despite their common names — firefly and lightning bug — they are neither flies nor true bugs; fireflies are beetles, related to scarabs and weevils and tiger beetles — and all the rest of the huge beetle clan, as well.

Maryland is home to about eight kinds of fireflies, not all of which are flashers as adults. Two non-flashing species are found here, the winter firefly and the black firefly. Both species are active in daylight, so if they did flash, their pulsing signals would be drowned out by the sunlight. The firefly we most often see in College Park yards is the Eastern firefly (Photinus pyralis), which is also known by its catchier common name, big dipper firefly. This species does flash; indeed, it puts on a stellar sparkling display.

Fireflies flash as part of their mating dance, with the male declaring “I’m ready,” and the female signaling “I’m willing!”

Scientists believe that this behavior originated some 100 million years ago, when flashing began in larvae to signal to predators that they were distasteful or downright poisonous. Over time, the flashing evolved into the complex semaphore signaling, the mating rituals, that adult fireflies use today.

Fireflies have species-specific flashing patterns — single flashes, double flashes, dot-dot-dash sequences, or flashes that follow a flight path; the big dipper firefly we see here in Maryland flashes as it flies in a J-shaped arc. Some firefly species synchronize and flash in unison, lighting up skies with astonishing displays. In South Carolina’s Congaree National Park, thousands upon thousands gather to punctuate dark May nights every year in their mating dance.

Female fireflies generally respond only to the males of their specific species — with one notable exception.

Females of the genus Photurus deliberately look for the

flashes of big dipper and other Photinus group males and then lure them in by mimicking the female flash pattern of the males’ own species. When a male comes in expecting to mate with one of these cunningly deceptive females, though, he has a rude surprise waiting —she severs his neck and eats him. Not content to lie in wait, a female sometimes goes on the hunt herself and tracks down the Photinus male, his flash pattern as her target. But when the right male meets the right female and all goes well, she’ll lay eggs in dense leaf litter on a forest floor, in tall meadow grasses or in firefly-friendly yards. By summer’s end, those eggs hatch into larvae that then spend up to two years prowling around looking for slugs, snails, earthworms and other soil invertebrates to eat. They attack their prey, immobilizing them with a fluid that paralyzes and then liquefies them. The flying flashers we see seldom live for more than a few weeks on the wing. Fireflies, which excrete toxic

fluids to defend themselves, have few natural enemies, aside from other fireflies. But they do face challenges, and many firefly species are in decline — some precipitously so. The biggest problem they face today is habitat destruction; our manicured lawns might as well be deserts, as far as fireflies are concerned. Larvae need leaf litter and deep shade to survive, and the adults need darkness — they can’t find each other in the glare of a streetlight or the flooding brightness of a backyard security light. During firefly season, I turn off the porch lights and dim the motion sensors, and I often see hundreds in a single night, blinking their beacons into the trees of my firefly-friendly yard. Greenbelt has established a sanctuary in Stream Valley Park for these iconic insects, with nearby parking at St. Hugh’s

School, on Crescent Road. This light-free firefly refuge typically hosts watch parties a few nights during peak firefly season; you can take a lawn chair and settle in for the show, which begins around dusk. This year’s watch parties will be on July 10 and 17. (For more information, go to greenbeltmd. gov/Home/Components/ Calendar/Event/4381/18)

But don’t wait too long to enjoy this summer spectacle; as we move into late July or August, the firefly’s season in the air will be over.

Have questions for Rick about the world of nature in and around the city, or suggestions for future College Park Wild columns? Drop him a note at rborchelt@gmail.com.

Photo courtesy of Terry Priest

IN CONGRESS HARD WORK, REAL RESULTS

Who is Angela?

AN EXPERIENCED POLICYMAKER

Angela is a progressive, results-driven attorney who has worked in and with every level of County, State and Federal government. Her understanding of how to craft policy that helps the people is unmatched. In fact, during her time in the Maryland House of Delegates, Angela wrote and passed more bills than any member of her Chamber. Angela is also the only candidate who has worked in every level of government, serving as: Member of the Maryland House of Delegates, District 25; O’Malley Brown Coordinator for Prince George’s County; Legislative Director for Prince George’s House Delegation; Education and Social Services Specialist Council District 6; and Legislative Counsel for Prince George’s County Department of the Environment.

A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE

As a mom with five children in Prince Georges’ County Public Schools, Angela is rooted in her community. She met with constituents monthly with Doughnuts with the Delegate, and created Dap Day to foster community role models for local schools. She knows being an elected official starts and ends with serving, and has always gone beyond the confines of her office to meet the needs of her constituents.

A POLITICAL AUTHORITY

A tireless fighter that has been working on Capitol Hill for over 20 years, Angela has worked with advocacy groups like the NAACP, National Urban League and the Black Women’s Roundtable on policy, nominations, issue campaigns and more.

Angela is committed to reaching every part of District 4. Scan the QR code above to join us at our next Congressional Co ee Sip or to learn more about Angela.

AND A FEARLESS WARRIOR WHO WILL FIGHT FOR US ALL.

It’s about time we send an Angel to Congress , especially a ghter like Angela.