09-2022 College Park Here & Now

Council considers allowing commercial air travel to and from NYC. P.10 North College Park residents meet to discuss possible Cherry Hill development.

By Chris McManes

Frances Tiafoe further cemented his status as one of the world’s top tennis players with his performance in the U.S. Open. The 24-year-old advanced to his first Grand Slam semifinal.

Tiafoe, who learned to play at the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, downed Rafael Nadal on Sept. 5 enroute to becoming the first American male since 2006 to make it to the U.S. Open semies.

Tiafoe, ranked 26th in the world at match time, defeated No. 3 Nadal, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. It was his first career win over the 22-time Grand Slam

COLLEGE PARK WILD

By Rick Borchelt

These are the hot, hazy days of summer’s end when the meteorological season finally catches up with the astronomically long days of June and July. All summer, the larvae of midges and mosquitoes have been gorging on the algae soup in our still, warm ponds and slow-moving streams. The caterpillars of small moths and butterflies have been fattening themselves on the rank growth of forests and meadows. And now summer’s dragons are on the hunt for them all.

Lakeland's oldest resident, 95-year-old Elizabeth Campbell-Adams, with her children (left to right) Kathleen Campbell Kennedy, Dennis Campbell, Pearl Lee Campbell Edwards (in front), Jennifer Campbell-Dawkins and Mary Ann Campbell Smith. COURTESY OF RICK DAWKINS

Lakeland Day draws crowd

By Maxine Gross

An enthusiastic crowd gathered at Lakeland Park for a reunion on Aug. 27, many sporting T-shirts proclaiming “Lakeland is my hometown.” The name of the event, Welcome to Lakeland, was inspired by

got out, people were excited. People came from everywhere. People came on canes and walkers — they were determined to be there.” Maggie Brooks, also a Lakeland resident, reflected, “It shows there is still unity of people still here and people gone. There is still love.”

Frances Tiafoe advances to rst Grand Slam semi nal

FROM WHERE I STAND

Who is my neighbor?

By Nora Eidelman

In August, we successfully launched the first in a series of community dinners — Who is my neighbor? — at the College Park United Methodist Church. The dinners serve as an invitation to all people in our community; we want to meet you. In this not yet post-pandemic time, there appears to be a need to connect with people, in general, but also the opportunity to learn more about our community. We often hear expressions of pride about the diversity of College Park, but what

do we know about the people who live here? Have we stopped to think about the needs that some of our fellow neighbors might be experiencing? What unfulfilled dreams and talents have yet to be met? Is there anyone suffering in silence, feeling not counted for and devalued?

In my recent studies about people and community, I came across an inspiring word: “sawubona.” It is a Zulu greeting which means I see you. Sawubona conveys the importance of recognizing the worth and dignity of each person. It says, “I see the whole of you — your experiences,

your passions, your pain, your strengths and weaknesses, and your future. You are valuable to me.” Every person deserves and desires to be treated with dignity. And when we see people, we also listen. A Chinese definition of listening implies seeing, hearing and healing. Each of us has a need to be heard and understood.

Our dinner series — Who is My Neighbor? — calls for us to create moments to celebrate with people our common humanity. The focus of these events is to bring people together around food, social justice and care.

We reached out to the neighborhood across social and economic lines. We sought to create a safe gathering place where people felt respected, honored and celebrated. Furthermore, we worked to promote dialogue between our local leaders, community members and resource organizations. In my opinion, people are important, and when we treat them accordingly, we create inclusive communities. As an immigrant from Paraguay, South America, coming to the U.S. was a childhood dream of mine. Though raised in a different culture and speaking a different language, I discovered very quickly that there were more similarities than differences among people — I saw my humanity in others. When I relocated to College Park, I easily identified with my

neighbors.

Earlier this year, I opened the College Park Here & Now newspaper for the first time; I felt a further sense of community and was proud to live here. I fully enjoyed the pieces I read and thought to myself, “I’ll call the newspaper and volunteer to translate some of the articles –some of my neighbors may enjoy them.” To my surprise, several months later, I was invited to join the Streetcar Suburbs Publishing board of directors. And now, I am humbled to provide this little piece on my thoughts on community. Stay tuned, as the paper is working on making a Spanish version available.

Resident Nora Eidelman is administrator of the College Park United Methodist Church.

County museums researching the region’s history of slavery

By Alexandra Radovic

Putting meat on the bones of history brings it to life.

This theme is front and center for Nathania Branch Miles, genealogist and University of Maryland (UMD) alum, as she and her research team delve into local history in hopes of connecting with descendants of individuals who were enslaved in Prince George’s County.

“One of the most important things I learned as a genealogist is being able to put meat on the bones,” Branch Miles said, “making this person real.”

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is using two of Prince George’s richest historical sites — the Riversdale House Museum, in Riverdale, and Laurel’s Montpelier House Museum — to research the history of slavery in the region. Branch Miles and the university are also participating in the

work at Riversdale.

On Aug. 6, with a metaphorical shovel in hand, Branch Miles hosted a meeting at the Montpelier House Museum. The meeting gave the researchers a chance to talk with individuals who think they may be descendants of slaves who lived at the site. The team spoke with members of three families who believe they may be connected to the Snowden family, four generations of whom lived at the mansion and some of whom owned slaves.

One attendee, Jacqueline Morales, told the Here & Now about her possible connections to the mansion, which was built in the 1780s and is now a historic landmark. Close to 170 slaves lived and worked there, and some were freed in the mid1800s.

“I shared back as far as my second great-grandfather [greatgreat-grandfather], who was Sampson Powell,” Morales said,

Managing Editor Mark Goodson

mark@hyattsvillelife.com

“Apparently [there is reason to] believe the Powells had been enslaved there at Montpelier.”

She said that Sampson Powell was born in 1820. His son lived in Bacontown, in Anne Arundel County, but later made his home in Laurel, where he built homes and eventually worked on the railroads.

Morales said she believes that members of the Powell family eventually became enslaved at Montpelier, but she is working to find direct evidence of this. She noted that there is a large gap in her family’s history between 1820, when her greatgreat-grandfather was born, and 1930, when the family’s known history picks up again. She believes one of her ancestors may have been associated with the mansion during the period that’s unaccounted for.

“I’m interested in making that actual connection,” she said, “But right now, there is a huge gap. … There is a missing link.”

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According to Morales, Queen’s Chapel United Methodist Church, in Muirkirk, has a record of a James Powell who helped build the church. She thinks he could be a relative of hers and that he may have been enslaved at Montpelier.

Morales, who went to a segregated school in the 1960s, explained that the missing record of Sampson Powell’s life prompted her to research her family history. In her search, Morales discovered that she may have connections to individuals who were slaves and to enslavers, alike.“It puts me in a place not to want to dislike or discredit anyone, but to embrace family,” she said, referencing her approach to establishing her lineage.

Determing clear lineage is challenging, though, as few paper records of slaves’ lives exist. “Unfortunately with slaves, theres not much of a paper trail … it helps to be able to put a name and a face to a story, ‘cause it makes [things] come alive,” Branch Miles said. “Our goal is to identify some of these people,” she added.

transcribe documents in the museum’s collection that are related to slave-holdings.

Davis said the goal of the transcribing project is to “make meaningful connections with descendant communities, build upon our institutional knowledge, and to make information more accessible to visitors.”

According to Katie Little, lead community engagement specialist with the office, the university’s project with the Riversdale House Museum is unique.

“The museum has 8,000 documents on loan from the Calvert Family and they will be hosting 20 volunteers to transcribe some of the writings into electronic formats,” Little explained. “This project is a great opportunity to delve into the history of the house and to acknowledge the importance of social justice.”

A nationally-recognized community newspaper chronicling the here and now of College Park.

Mailing address: PO Box 132, Hyattsville, MD 20781

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

Associate Editor Nancy Welch nancy@hyattsvillelife.com

Writers & Contributors

Auzinea Bacon, Jenna Bloom, Rick Borchelt, Nora Eidelman, Sophie Gorman Oriani, Maxine Gross, Aanisah Husain, Julia Kyles, Chris McManes, Alexandra Radovic, Paul Ruffins, Mathew Schumer, Kit Slack

Layout & Design Editors Ashley Perks, Valerie Morris

Web Editor Jessica Burshtynskyy

Advertising

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301.531.5234

Business Manager Catie Currie

Board of Directors

Joseph Gigliotti — President & General Counsel Emily Strab — Secretary Stephanie Stullich — Treasurer Rosanna Landis Weaver, Gretchen Brodtman, T. Carter Ross, Bette Dickerson, Melanie Dzwonchyk, Nora Eidelman, Maxine Gross Katie V. Jones, Mark Goodson, Kit Slack — Ex Officios

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 and the Institute for Nonprofit News.

The Riversdale House Museum is also working to reconstruct the history slavery at the site.

Executive Director Maya Davis has partnered with Reparations 4 Slavery to connect descendents of slaves to their history, according to WAMU. Reparations 4 Slavery is a clearinghouse for information about slavery, race, racism, and healing.

UMD's Office of Community Engagement is also working with Davis and the Riversdale House Museum staff to

As part of this effort, the university and museum will host a transcribe-a-thon for volunteers who would like to support the project. The event is part of Good Neighbor Day, an annual partnership between the University of Maryland and the City of College Park, and will take place on Nov. 12 at the Riversdale House Museum, at 4811 Riverdale Road in Riverdale, from 8:30 a.m. to noon. No experience is necessary, and museum staff will be on hand to oversee the project.

M-NCPPC is hosting a weekend of educational events at the Riversdale House Museum on Sept. 16 and 17. For more information, visit pgparks. com/5149/Echoes-of-theEnslaved

DRAGONS

Summer has dragons? Indeed! Not the fearsome, venom-spewing mythological nemesis St. George fought, of course, but one equally fierce, for all their smaller size: dragonflies. These aeronautic wizards outperform the most daring “Top Gun” stunts, appearing out of nowhere and vanishing just as quickly as they relentlessly patrol creeksides, lake margins and meadows, terrorizing other winged creatures their size or smaller.

Dragonflies are members of the insect order Odonata — from the Greek for tooth or toothed, a nod to their formidable jaws. The order also includes the dainty but no less vicious damselflies, predators we’ll talk about in a future column.

August is the peak season for seeing dragonflies chasing down prey in our area. Look for them in your yard or garden and flitting close to most any body of water: Lake Artemesia, along Paint Branch Creek, Indian Creek or Northeast Branch, and around Sentinel Swamp Sanctuary, the pond between Columbia Avenue and the College Park Metro station. Without much effort, we can easily find a good 10 types of dragonflies here, including the common green darner, Eastern pondhawk, wandering glider, common whitetail, blue dasher, Eastern amberwing, Halloween pennant, spangled skimmer, and black and Carolina saddlebags among them. The names alone are incentive enough to study dragonflies!

The dragonflies we see on the wing are the culmination of months or even years of aquatic life. Just as the cicadas we now hear droning in the trees spent years underground, dragonfly nymphs spend much of their lives in the water — from a few months to as many as five years. They are no less fierce than the adults. Nymphs have a hinged jaw that, like the monster of the “Alien” movie franchise, shoots out and grabs its prey —tadpoles, small fish, other aquatic insects, even other dragonflies — then pulls it back to its mouth to feed. At the appointed time, usually at night or in the early morning, the matured nymph hauls onto a stalk or branch above the water and sheds its skin for the final time, revealing itself as a lethal aerial powerhouse.

Mating for dragonflies is a complicated business — and for the female a sometimes fatal one. The males of many species have specialized hooks on the tip of their abdomens perfect for grabbing the female dragonfly by the back of the head, often puncturing her eyes or head in the process.

Seemingly unperturbed, from her trapped position, the female then curls her abdomen underneath his to pick up packets of sperm. The males of some dragonfly species will then carry the female, still dangling from his claspers, and dip the end of her abdomen in the water while she drops her eggs.

Dragonflies are best known for their impressive compound eyes (huge when they aren’t punctured during mating) with tens of thousands of individual facets. This arrangement gives them an incredible ability to detect motion and an almost spherical view of the world around them. The compound eyes provide an incredible advantage when snagging smaller, slower flying insects that pass by and serve as an efficient defense mechanism, too. Dragonfly collectors know that they are the hardest insects to capture, and I’ve personally ended up many times dunked in a creek or pond after a failed swing of the net!

Monarchs get all the attention for their migrations, but many kinds of dragonflies are long-distance travelers, too. Our common green darners show up here in early spring, having hatched in Mexican, Caribbean or southern U.S. waters. The nymphs of these spring migrants eventually emerge as adults, and will heed some environmental cue to fly south, where they lay eggs that mature into a non-migratory generation. These stay-at-home dragonflies lay eggs that will mature and fly north to complete the cycle. Many other dragonfly species migrate as well.

One other such migrant is one you’re likely to see this time of year are the dragonflies buzzing around your car as you idle at a stoplight. These light brown insects are one of two glider dragonflies: wandering or spotwinged gliders. They sometimes confuse the light reflected off of car windshields for reflections on water and think your car may be a spot for egg-laying.

College Park has a special place in dragonfly hunters’ hearts; the piedmont clubtail dragonfly was first described here, in 1917, from a specimen collected by USDA researcher Bertha P. Currie from marshy fields near the Lakeland neighborhood. The piedmont clubtail is common in some parts of the southern U.S., but it has been wiped out in Maryland, a victim of draining marshes and meandering river watercourses for development.

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.

This large blue dragonfly’s name, spangled skimmer, comes from the silvery white spots near the tip of each wing. RICK BORCHELT

Legacy comes alive at College Park Aviation Museum

By Jenna Bloom

Barry Briscoe is a pilot, but that's not why he went to the Aug. 12 unveiling at the College Park Aviation Museum. Briscoe showed up because his grandfather, George P. Briscoe, worked at the city's airport alongside other men from Lakeland, a historically Black community in College Park.

Barry stood with 12 other descendants of Lakeland residents whose contributions to the early history of airmail had gone largely unnoticed until the museum installed a panel in their honor. The Lakeland Connection and Legacy panel, which is now part of the museum’s airmail exhibit, identifies five Black men in an early photo of the airport’s mail service crew.

The museum’s floor-to-ceiling windows look out onto a stretch of trees, right beyond which lies Lakeland; this is a

particularly resonant view, as the community and the airport have been interconnected for over a century. The College Park Airport is the world’s oldest continually operating airport and the site of the first United States airmail service flight, which took place 104 years ago, on Aug. 12, 1918.

The panel is part of the “Delivering America: Airmail to Email” exhibit, which opened in 2018 to mark the airmail service’s centennial. The interactive exhibit invites visitors to explore the history of the U.S. Airmail service and learn about the College Park Airport crew that put those early flights in motion.

“When we think of aviation, we think of the superstars … and yet, here in College Park, over 40 people worked here … together to make history,” said the museum’s director, Kevin Cabrera.

Cabrera began as director in May 2020, and he found the

photo of the crew during the pandemic, while he was digging deeper into the museum’s holdings. He was familiar with Lakeland, and he had a hunch that the unidentified Black men in the photo may have lived there, which prompted him to delve deeper into the community’s history.

Cabrera contacted Violetta Sharps Jones, a historian and vice-chair of the Lakeland Community Heritage Project, and she searched genealogy records and other documentation in an effort to identify the men. In a parallel effort, Cabrera and his colleague James Schmidtt found the crew’s payroll records, which helped them determine the men’s jobs, salaries and length of employment.

Sharps Jones discovered records for more Lakelanders who served at the airport than are included in the museum’s photo, and she provided bios for those men, as well. So far,

Sharps Jones and Cabrera have confirmed the names of 11 Lakeland residents who worked at the airmail station.

“As I do more and more genealogy, I see that the connections are so deep,” Sharps Jones noted. She said she wants the College Park community to know that Lakeland and its many residents hold an important place in the city’s history. Lakeland was established in the 1890s and thrived as a tight-knit Black community for decades. Generations of Lakelanders lived in the neighborhood until the city destroyed 104 of the 150 single-family homes there as part of an urban renewal project in the 1970s. About two-thirds of the community’s residents were displaced. The city is assuming responsibility for damages to Lakeland as a result of the urban renewal program. In February 2021, the City of College Park established the Restorative

Justice Steering Committee, which is tasked with developing a path forward for a full commission that will implement a restorative justice process for Lakeland.

Zoey, Zaiya and Elijah Brooks Jr. joined 10 other descendants of Lakeland’s airmail workers at the event. The Brooks siblings, who range in age from four to 10, are the great-great-grandchildren of George Brooks Sr., a Lakeland community leader who served on the airmail crew. Their grandfather, Lester Brooks, noted that his children were honored to share a last name with someone who contributed to aviation history. Lester Brooks grew up in Lakeland but moved out when he was 19 because of urban renewal. He said that finding out his family’s connection to the airport’s mail service history came as a “pleasant surprise.”

The museum’s updated panel is only one step on the path to ensuring justice for Lakeland. Mayor Patrick Wojahn echoed this, ensuring event attendees that the city is “doing everything [it] can to preserve and restore the Lakeland community and give back to Lakeland residents.”

champion. Two days later, he downed Andrey Rublev in straight sets, 7-6, 7-6, 6-3.

Tiafoe’s previous best finish in a Grand Slam was a quarterfinal appearance in the 2019 Australian Open.

“This is wild. This is crazy,” said Tiafoe during a TV interview after his win over Rublev. “Having the biggest win in my life 24 hours ago and coming back and getting another big win … [is] huge growth.”

Carlos Alcaraz ended Tiafoe’s run in the New York borough of Queens with his 6-7, 6-3, 6-1, 6-7, 6-3 victory. Alcaraz, 19, who like Nadal is from Spain, entered as the world’s 4th-ranked player.

The fifth and deciding set was tied at 2 games when Alcaraz pulled away. The match lasted four hours and 19 minutes.

In what could be a preview of future Tiafoe-Alcaraz Grand Slams, ESPN broke protocol and interviewed the losing player on court.

Tiafoe congratulated Alcaraz, who joined the sold-out 23,000+ fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium in applauding Big Foe.

“Carlos, you’re going to win a lot of Grand Slams,” he said. “You’re a hell of a player, a hell of a person.

I’m happy I got to share the court on such a big stage with you.”

After going flat in the second and third sets, Tiafoe was on the brink of elimination with the fourth set tied at 6. He responded by winning the tiebreaker, 7-5.

With that, he etched his name in the record book for the most tiebreak victories in a single U.S. Open (eight).

“I gave everything I had the last two weeks,” Tiafoe said. “Honestly, I came here wanting to win the U.S. Open. I feel like I let you guys down. This one hurts, this one re-

ally, really hurts.”

Just like Tiafoe, Alcaraz has a big cheering section: “I think I played great against Frances, who was playing unbelievable as well these [past] two weeks.”

For his five victories in New York, Tiafoe made $705,000. The Hyattsville native continues to ascend the world rankings.

“I’m going to come back, and I will win this thing one day.”

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

Frances Tiafoe fans gathered at The Hall to watch his semifinal match. COURTESY OF JOHN NISWANDER

UMD back in action with annual FreeFest

By Aanisah Husain

On move-in weekend at the University of Maryland, the sun was shining, and music blasted as hundreds of students swarmed McKeldin Mall during the university’s annual FreeFest, which was held on Aug. 27 as part of Fall Welcome.

“[FreeFest] is just getting students excited for this year,” said Vivian Flanhgan, a program assistant for the Student and Community Development Programs (SCDP).

Fall Welcome, which is sponsored by the university’s Department of Resident Life, is held every year before the start of fall classes and gives students an opportunity to explore campus and the surrounding community while connecting with each other. Area vendors participate in FreeFest, offering giveaways such as T-shirts, frisbees, cookies, comic books and stickers in hopes of attracting students to local offerings.

“It’s one of the best freshmen events [the university] offer[s]. Getting all the free stuff, learning about other clubs is really helpful and it’s just a fun time,” said Abraham Fich, a sophomore history major. Fan favorites at FreeFest were not lim-

Hollywood Farmers Market to accept nutrition program payments

By Julia Kyles

ited to the giveaways, though. Lines for the tarot card readings and henna artist stretched across McKeldin Mall.

And as incoming freshmen explore the campus and community, returning students have a chance to catch up with friends and classmates after a long summer away and, for many, distance learning during the pandemic.

“Having everyone else back has been nice,” said Josie Jack, a junior journalism major. “I’ve run into a bunch of friends, so it’s been nice to see everyone, even just the mutual friends or classmates that you wouldn’t hang out with.”

SCDP staff always have high hopes and expectations for FreeFest. Hannah Klein, a program assistant with the department, said this year’s event had more enthusiastic energy than last year’s event did.

“It’s so exciting to see all the students [who] were just dancing around the DJ just for fun. I think the energy is a lot more high energy than it was last year.” Spirits and expectations were high after this year’s event. Students were encouraged to return to a bustling campus with all sorts of creative and social outlets.

Some said, in fact, that they were already looking forward to next year’s FreeFest.

Hollywood Farmers Market is increasing the ways it serves the community. Customers who take part in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and similar nutrition programs will soon be able to shop with participating vendors. To sweeten the deal, participating customers will also receive a one-to-one boost on their benefits through Maryland Market Money (MMM), a statewide program that supports food access. Shoppers who participate in SNAP and the Women, Infants & Children Cash Value Benefit program (WIC-CVB), the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program (WIC-FMNP) and the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) are all eligible for these benefits.

“The MMM promotes federal nutrition benefits by providing a dollar-for-dollar match,” Beavers said. She noted that this benefits not only SNAP enrollees but participating farmers as well.

The market’s organizers are in the process of getting SNAP equipment, which is necessary to process electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards. That equipment should be available soon, explains Julie Beaver, farmers market coordinator. Maryland Market Money lists Hollywood

as a SNAP location, but, as of press time, according to market representatives, the market hasn’t received equipment. The market will also accept pandemic EBT (P-EBT) cards. “These cards can be used to purchase $1 SNAP/EBT tokens for SNAP-eligible food items at this market,” Beavers said.

An on-site coordinator at Hollywood Farmers Market will help customers when the SNAP payment processing equipment is up and running. Customers shopping with SNAP/EBT will be able to swipe their cards to receive tokens in the amount they select along with MMM tokens of that same dollar amount. “For example, if a customer spends $10 in SNAP/ EBT, they [will] receive $10 in SNAP/ EBT tokens and $10 in Maryland Market Money,” Beavers said.

Shoppers who participate in WIC or the senior nutrition program can spend their benefits directly with participating vendors. The vendor will give them a receipt to turn in at the MMM distribution point to receive their dollar-for-dollar matching funds, Beavers said. For additional information on this match program, email hollywoodmarketcp@gmail.com.

Market vendors who accept SNAP and MMM tokens will display a sign at their booths.

COLLEGE PARK POST

College Park Redistricting

Submit feedback on draft maps by September 16

The City of College Park Charter requires that the Council review district boundaries every ten years, after the decennial census is made available. This process ensures that each district’s population is substantially equal to the other districts.

The City Council established a Redistricting Commission to review the population and voter data in the City to determine if redistricting is necessary. Population data from multiple sources was analyzed including: the 2020 census, University of Maryland’s residential population, and projections for the residential projects under construction.

This analysis confirmed that the City must adjust the current boundaries in order to have equal districts. The City Charter states that the sum of the population and “actual voters” shall be substantially equal in each district. The population is defined as residents who were counted in the federal census or erroneously omitted from the census; residents of structures built since the census; or residents of property annexed into the City after the census. “Actual voters” are residents who voted in the preceding statewide election or the preceding city election.

The Redistricting Commission was tasked with drafting new district maps for the Council to consider. The Commission created five maps with slightly different boundaries that equalize the current or future populations in each district.

Proposal #1 uses the City population as of spring 2020, with adjustments to the Census to accurately account for residents in the University of Maryland resident halls and in private student housing. It does not include residents of buildings that were not completed and occupied by the spring of 2020.

Proposal #2 uses the adjusted spring 2020 population described in Map 1 and includes the estimated population of housing developments that are under construction and will be occupied by the end of 2022.

Proposals #3A, 3B, and 3C use the adjusted spring 2020 population described in Map 1 and includes the estimated population of housing developments that are under construction and will be occupied by the end of 2023. The estimated population of all housing projects currently under active construction are included in the population count, except for the residential project at the College Park Metro Station (The Atworth) and the residential project at 4350 Knox Road. These two projects are not expected to be completed until 2024. The future population in residential projects that have been approved but are not under construction are not included in any of the maps.

The Redistricting Commission will deliver its report to the Mayor and City Council on Tuesday, September 27th. The Council will review the maps and invite additional public comment on a specific proposed redistricting plan prior to approving new district boundaries.

Since Council districts are established in Article II of the City Charter, redistricting must be done by Charter amendment which requires a public hearing prior to adoption. The new district boundaries will be used for municipal elections in 2023.

The Commission is interested in community feedback on the preliminary maps. Residents can review all five maps and provide comments by visiting www. collegeparkmdredistricting2022.

View all draft proposal maps at www.collegeparkmdredistricting2022.org

Proposal #1

Upcoming City Events

Details & Calendar at www.collegeparkmd.gov

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNITY MEETINGS

Every 2nd Monday of the Month 7:30 p.m., zoom.us/j/96168994626

Our monthly public safety meetings are back from summer hiatus! Please join City Elected Officials, Police, the Department of Public Services, and neighbors from all around the City, for an informative monthly reoccurring meeting starting Monday, September 12th at 7:30pm.

This community meeting will discuss City-wide crime statistics, recent incidents of public interest, neighborhood watch tips, and special public safety related topics. To facilitate Citywide participation, these will be recorded virtual meetings that you may join in from your home. Please invite your neighbors so that this useful information may be shared throughout the City.

COLLEGE PARK DAY

Saturday, October 15, 12pm - 6pm College Park Aviation Museum www.collegeparkday.org

Save the date for College Park Day on Saturday, October 15, 2022, from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the College Park Aviation Museum and Airport (1985 Corporal Frank Scott Drive)! The event is open to the public and free to attend.

Get ready for College Park’s signature event! This fun-filled day includes unique activities, exhibitors, vendors, food, drinks and sweets. There will be entertainment available for all ages. To check out featured preformers and activities, visit www.collegeparkday.org.

PUMPKIN CARVING CONTEST

Let’s give College Park PUMPKIN to talk about with a Pumpkin Carving Challenge! Residents have from Oct.1 through Oct. 28th to carve their best Jack-O-Lanterns and submit their entries online. To make a submission, take two photos of your work, one while it’s being carved with all your helpers in the photos and the other when your creation is finished and email to events@collegeparkmd.gov. Please include your name, address, who helped carve your jack-olantern and the name of your creation. We will post our favorites on the City’s Facebook account and our website and will be awarding 1st place prizes on Oct. 31st.

VETERANS DAY OBSERVANCE

The City of College Park will celebrate Veterans Day to honor all veterans who have served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard, both in times of war and peace. Join us at the Veterans Memorial in College Park on November 11 to celebrate the men and women who dedicated themselves to serving our country.

GOOD NEIGHBOR DAY

Good Neighbor Day is a collaborative partnership between the University of Maryland, the City of College Park, and the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC).

This annual event brings residents of College Park and surrounding communities together with University of Maryland students, staff and faculty, and alumni for a day of service.

Save the date- Good Neighbor Day is on November 12 from 8:30am to 12:00pm!

Curbside Food Scrap Collection

Divert waste from the landfill by composting

The City of College Park is rolling out a new curbside food scrap collection program this fall!

According to the EPA, nearly 24% of trash that is collected contains food scraps that can be composted. Diverting food scraps from the trash will reduce harmful greenhouse gases emitted from organic decomposition in landfills, which contributes to climate change.

If your household currently receives curbside trash and recycling collection with the City of College Park, then you are eligible to participate. There is no fee for collection, but residents must contribute 50% of cost for collection container and all material must be placed in a cost-

share container. Food scraps must be put in compostable bags, before placing in collection container - no plastic bags allowed

How Do I Sign Up?

Residents can sign up online and choose container(s) (resident contributes 50% of container cost). Participants are required to select either a 12-gallon wheeled cart, or a 5-gallon bucket. You can also choose to purchase a small kitchen pail to store food scraps inside your home. Must use only compostable bags, and place only accepted items in the container. Households can register by filling out the online form at collegeparkmd.gov/ CurbsideCollectionApp.

For more information, call 240487-3590.

City Announcements

More information: www.collegeparkmd.gov

COMMUNITY SURVEY

The City has is partnering with ETC Institute to conduct a comprehensive community survey. This upcoming City of College Park Community Survey will measure residents’ attitudes and opinions on City services like refuse and recycling collection, City facilities and parks, City events, and economic development. This will be the third scientifically representative survey conducted in the City of College Park.

A randomly selected sample of College Park residents will receive postcards from the City notifying them of their selection in the survey process. Mailed paper surveys will arrive later in the month, with a City cover letter and instructions to complete and return the survey. Responses are anonymous. The mailed paper survey will be in English, but a Spanish version of the survey will be available online for the selected respondents.

Participation in the survey is very important. The results will help City officials better serve the College Park community, so please complete the survey if your household is selected. Help us shape the future of College Park!

For any questions about the 2022 City of College Park Community Survey, please call 240-487-3501 or email cpcommunications@ collegeparkmd.gov. Stay tuned to the City’s website, facebook and twitter pages for up-to-date news and information.

NEW RESIDENT REPORTING SYSTEM

Effective July 1st, the City will begin use of a new reporting system for general concerns and/or complaints. Links to and registrations for reporting through Comcate will be deactivated. Please share your concerns about a property in the City, such as tall grass or other issues, at www. collegeparkmd.gov/tellus.

Effective July 1st, the City will begin use of a new product that will allow our property owners, business owners, and contractors to initiate the City’s required occupancy permit and building permit proces online. Users can search available permit applications, and apply for

new permits as needed. To create a new application, you must register for an acount. Find details at www. collegeparkmd.gov/permitapps.

THE CITY IS HIRING!

The City is Hiring! The 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 off box near the entrance of the front doors 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.

ANIMAL FOSTERS

if you have room in your heart and home for a neglected animal, become a foster for the City! For foster requirements and to apply, visit www.collegeparkmd.gov/ FosterApp.

SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH

Suicide is a significant public health issue, and September is dedicated to Suicide Prevention. The City of College Park joins the call to promote awareness and resources around the issue of suicide prevention to eliminate feelings of shame that can prevent individuals from seeking help. We can fight the stigma around mental health issues by providing support to those with mental illness.

The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has resources to help diminish suicidal thoughts or support those who are suicidal on their website at https:// www.988lifeline.org.

Recently, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline was designated a new three-digit dialing code! Simply call or text 988 to connect to free and confidential emotional support for those in a suicidal crisis or other emotional distress. The lifeline is open 24 hours a day all 7 days of the week.

Protecting Our Tree Canopy

Ordinance 21-O-09

Trees are a vital part of our ecosystem. Ordinance 21-O-09 requires an application to be submitted for approval to obtain a permit to remove or prune a tree on residential land. The City has already begun working with developers and organizations to stem the loss from construction or projects through replacement trees and other methods.

If a property owner wants to remove or prune more than 20% of live branches or wood from a tree that is greater than 36 inches in circumference (measured at 4.5 feet above ground level), they will need to submit a Tree Removal and Pruning Permit application to the Department of Public Works prior to beginning planned tree work.

A requirement of the tree removal/ pruning permit is that urban tree(s) approved for removal are replaced.

The ordinance was enacted to limit the removal of healthy, mature trees as a measure to maintain the City’s tree canopy. The 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 many questions about this new permitting process.

For details, FAQs, and application, visit www.collegeparkmd.gov/315/ Trees.

Fall Clean Up Saturdays

Drop off bulky trash at DPW

The City of College Park Public Works facility will be open for City residents to drop off bulky trash, white goods, electronics recycling, brush, and yard trim. You must be a resident of the City of College Park and bring proof of residency to participate.

Bulk trash ought to DPW on cleanup days does not count toward bulk trash limits, nor are any fees applied for appliances, televisions, or monitors. There is a $4 fee for all tires.

Public Works does not accept brick, concrete, rock, propane tanks, hazardous materials such as automotive batteries, ammunition, automotive fluids/fuels, cleaning agents, cooking oil, mercury, insecticide/herbicide, fertilizer, oil-based paints, pool chemicals, photographic chemicals, roof shingles, smoke detectors, solvents, sealants, varnishes, and stains.

Residents can get up to 5-cubic yards of wood mulch per cleanup day for FREE! We can load open bed trucks or trailers, or you can dig your own smaller amount (bring a shovel, containers, and wear sturdy footwear). Free wood mulch is only

available during the two cleanup Saturday events, and you must be a resident of the City of College Park and bring proof of City residency to get the material for free. All visitors can buy compost or wood mulch during this event.

During cleanup days, the following will be collected:

• Household batteries for recycling, including rechargeable batteries such as Li-Ion, Ni-Cd, Ni-MH, Ni-Zn. Single-use alkaline batteries such as AA, AAA, 9V, C, D button cell, and lithium primary.

• Fluorescent light bulbs and tubes, including U-shaped or circular fluorescent lamps, HID lamps, UV lamps, incandescent bulbs, halogen or CFL bulbs.

• Block styrofoam; no packing peanuts, cups, or plates.

Onsite document shredding services will be available to residents on Saturday, October 8 from 8:00am - 12:00pm. Bring your old tax records, medical paperwork, and any other confidential information to be shredded. All paper will be recycled.

Protecting your property from ooding

By Paul Ruffins

On Wednesday, Aug. 10, the Prince George’s County Fire Department answered 71 calls to rescue residents from flooded cars or residences; according to The Washington Post, rain fell at a rate of three inches per hour in Bladensburg that day. As the fall hurricane season approaches, here is some practical advice for protecting your home from flood damage and sewer backups.

CARRY SUFFICIENT INSURANCE

Homeowners insurance policies cover only certain types of water damage. Standard home insurance policies generally cover accidental water damage caused by a source inside your home — a broken pipe or leaking faucet supply line — but not damaged due to water coming in from outside your home. If a hurricane rips your roof off, and rain pours in, causing damage, you’d be covered, because this is typically considered wind damage. Insurance never covers slowly occurring water damage due to deferred maintenance, such as having an old leaky roof that leads to warped floors. Flood damage is only covered by flood insurance, but if flooding is caused by a catastrophic regional emergency, low-interest federal disaster loans would probably become available to everyone who can claim damages. These loans do have to be repaid.

FEDERALLY DESIGNATED FLOOD ZONES

While flooding can happen anywhere, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

has mapped the country to determine relative risks. If you live in an identified flood zone and have a federally-backed mortgage, your lender will require you to carry flood insurance in addition to your standard homeowner’s policy. In College Park, FEMA flood zones are designated along the CSX railroad tracks and the Northeast Branch of the Anacostia River.

While College Park’s Calvert Hills neighborhood experiences stormwater flooding, it is not currently in a designated federal flood zone. To determine zones in the city, FEMA relied on 2016 data used to project the likelihood of Paint Branch having a 500-year flood.

Private flood insurance

FEMA estimates that 40% of flood claims are filed by homeowners whose properties are not in flood zones. Flood insurance can be expensive, though: One private insurance company provided the College Park Here & Now with a quote of just over $1,150 a year for a $550,000 two-story, wood-framed, singlefamily home with a basement (finished or not) in the Calvert Hills neighborhood.

NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM (NFIP)

This federal program is particularly relevant for homeowners living in flood-prone areas where private flood insurance isn’t available or is extremely expensive, as is the case in portions of both New Orleans and Ellicott City, or for homes that have had numerous prior claims. Maximum coverage under the program is $250,000 for structures and $100,000 for personal property. NFIP insurance policies include a 10- to 30-day waiting period before the poli-

cyholder can file a claim, so there isn’t immediate value in purchasing a policy after sustaining flood damage.

Both private and NFIP insurance cover structural damage and personal property losses on or above the first floor. In basements, only structural damage and fixtures that are considered permanent — furnaces, hot water heaters, air conditioners and electrical panels and similar items — are covered by NFIP. Materials and features installed during initial construction or as part of remodeling, including drywall, are not covered. Private policies may also cover personal property stored in basements — clothes, furniture, tools, electronic devices and the like — but premiums are substantially higher for this type of coverage.

UNDERSTAND, PREVENT AND INSURE AGAINST SEWER BACKUPS

Dealing with damage due to basement toilet or floor drain backups can be costly. In our area, virtually every building has a main sewer line that connects to the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) branch line that runs under the street. While WSSC maintains their lines, property owners are responsible for maintaining the sewer line from their home to the property line. Standard insurance policies issued in Maryland do not cover sewer backups, though insurance companies do offer coverage for them at additional cost. Federal flood insurance usually covers sewer and drain backups, but only as a direct result

of an event that fits NFIP’s definition of a flood. Flooding after a heavy rain does not always fall within the federal definition.

A number of College Park residents, particularly those living in the Calvert Hills neighborhood, have reported sewage backups after heavy rains.

These backups are generally the result of storm water flowing into and overloading

WSSC’s aging infrastructure. Depending on the specific circumstances of the backup, WSSC may be responsible for damages to your home or possessions and any cleanup deemed necessary.

Installing a backflow preventer valve on the dwelling’s main sewer line prevents most backups, and WSSC will install a valve for homeowners under certain conditions. The valve allows water to flow out but closes if water is flowing into a residential line from the WSSC pipe. FEMA estimates the cost of the valve, including installation, to be between $600 and $1400. Less expensive valves than those recommended by FEMA may also be available. (For more information about installing a valve, see mass.gov/doc/ installing-sewer-backflowvalves)

MORE STEPS YOU CAN TAKE

In addition to purchasing enough of the right kind of insurance, homeowners can address flooding in a number of ways. An alarm can alert you to an overflowing washing machine, a leaking water heater or water flooding in from outside. Alarms range from inexpensive,

battery-powered devices to sophisticated sensors with Wi-Fi capability.

If water collects in your basement, a submersible pump (sump pump) may be an inexpensive and relatively reliable choice — and an easier solution than using a wet/dry vac to do the work, yourself.

You can install high-quality, steel reinforced hoses to prevent flooding from your washing machine. If you choose to carpet your basement, stick to the tough nylon carpeting (the type used in offices, for example) and glue it to the bare concrete or tile floor. If this carpeting gets wet, it can easily be shampooed and dried with a fan or blower, unlike natural-fiber carpets, which easily promote mold and virtually always have to be removed after a flood.

If you’re interested in a comprehensive solution for a floodprone basement, consider adopting a multipronged approach that includes a backflow valve, a water alarm and an interior French drain with a sump pump with battery-backup power. Installing a French drain is a noisy and messy two- to four-day job that can cost $8,000 to $16,000 or more, depending on the size of your basement.

With increasingly severe summer storms still pummeling our area, along with a fall hurricane season on the near horizon, now is a good time to evaluate your property’s vulnerability to flooding. If it is at risk, you may wish to consider insurance options and take steps to protect your home and belongings.

Paul Ruffins is a citizen scientist and professor of curiosity.

Late Hyattsville mayor accused of $2.2 million theft

By Sophie Gorman Oriani and Kit Slack

On Aug. 29, seven months after former Hyattsville mayor Kevin “Scooter” Ward’s sudden death by self-inflicted gunshot wound, a federal lawsuit was filed, alleging that Ward stole over $2 million from KIPP DC.

KIPP DC is a network of public charter schools in the District that serves 6,800 students at 18 schools.

According to the lawsuit, Ward served as senior director of technology for KIPP DC until at least July 2021.

The theft is alleged to have occurred between April 2020 and October 2021.

Ward served as a Hyattsville councilmember starting in 2015, and became mayor at the end of 2020, when former mayor Candace Hollingsworth stepped down.

Ward is alleged to have placed fraudulent orders for technology services and devices, paying Tenret Tech, a company he owned, for thousands of items such as laptops and tablets, which never arrived. The total value of all the orders placed is $2,229,418.97.

The lawsuit notes that some of Ward’s assets were eligible for seizure by the federal government, which, by law, can claim property gained via wire fraud and via theft from programs receiving federal funding. The complaint was submitted by James Curt Bohling, the acting chief for the Department of Justice’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section.

The lawsuit seeks the forfeiture of two properties in West Virginia, as well as 10 vehicles (including a camper and a motorcycle), and arts and sports memorabilia alleged to have been purchased with funds that KIPP DC paid to Ward’s companies. The vehicles and memorabilia have already been seized.

The City of Hyattsville issued a statement asserting that the city is not implicated in any way by the allegations, adding that the city has a “robust, multi-layered approval process” for city expenditures.

In a Sept. 9 email, city officials said Hyattsville Treasurer Ron Brooks and City Administrator Tracy Douglas review and approve vendors and purchases, obtaining legal review prior to entering into contracts. The city follows a formal procurement policy that promotes a competitive process and has standards for employee conduct.

Jim Chandler, the city’s director of community and economic development, reviews the city’s technology purchases; computers bought with federal funding through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 have been delivered.

Any expenditure over $10,000 is also approved by the city council in a public forum.

According to Brooks, “The city plans to issue a request for proposal to conduct a compliance audit. That audit will be focused on our vendors, contract compliance

and identifying risk liability.”

Brooks said he had previously recommended such an audit during budget discussions, and he did not make his recommendation in response to accusations against Ward.

On a local listserv, residents renewed expressions of sorrow at losing Ward, and sympathy for his family.

One resident wrote, “Two things can be true at the same time: Kevin could have been the kind and caring person everyone remembers. He could also have made some truly terrible mistakes. The one does not cancel out or negate the other, in either direction. I truly hope that anyone reading this knows that whatever mistakes or decisions you have made, there are people who will meet you with open minds, forgiveness, and help. You are not alone.”

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

SAVE THE DATE

Trekking the Tarmac. Take a guided walking tour outdoors at the College Park Airport, the oldest continuously operating airport in the world. $10 resident; $13 non-resident. Sept. 17 from 11:00 a.m. to noon. 1909 Corporal Frank Scott Dr. To register, go to pgparksdirect. com and search using activity code 18400-515A

Porch Cabaret. Head to College Park Woods to see a tribute concert to Broadway legend Audra MacDonald performed by resident Shelby Byrd. Free. Sept. 18, 4 p.m. 9003 Gettysburg Lane.

Berwyn Day. The Berwyn District Civic Association hosts a day of fun and games at the Berwyn Neighborhood Park. Sept. 24, noon to 4 p.m.

Draw Like Léa Lafugie. Join Racquel Keller and explore the techniques of a famous artist at each virtual workshop. Sept. 24 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. For more information, go to cpae. org

Kayak with a Ranger. A rare opportunity to kayak on Lake Artemisia! Oct. 8, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. $5 resident; $7 non-resident. To register, go to pgparksdirect.com and search using activity code 22627-559B

Cycling Seniors Club Ride. Join park rangers and the Cycling Seniors Cycle Club for a ride from Lake Artemesia to the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens on Oct. 12. Ages 60 and

FILL YOUR FALL WITH ROWING!

The river is lush, the exercise invigorating, and the company the best.

• Youth Fall rowing starting now. FREE FIRST WEEK! Send your favorite young person to try this unique sport.

• Adult programs, recreational to competitive.

BERWYN DAY

September

Berwyn

older; new riders are welcome. Free for residents of Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. For more information, call 301.446.3403

Belly Dance Concert. The College Park Arts Exchange

presents a belly dance performance at the Old Parish House on Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. Free. For more information, go to cpae. org

Paint Branch Creek Concert. Local band will play two

free shows at the Old Parish House. Oct 28 and 29, 7 p.m.

College Park Day. The College Park Aviation Museum celebrates the city with its annual College Park Day on Saturday, Oct. 15. Noon to 6 p.m. 1909 Corporal Frank Scott Dr. For the latest information, go to collegeparkday.wordpress. com

ONGOING

College Park Aviation Museum. Saturdays at the museum feature a host of programs about aviation — planes, pilots and more. For details, visit mncppc.org/calendar

Wellness and Meditation

The University of Maryland’s health center offers a range of programs focused on improving health and well-being, including sessions on time management, interpersonal communications and meditation. For more information, visit calendar.umd.edu

College Park Community Library Book Club. The library’s book club will discuss Violin: A Novel, by Anne Rice, on Oct. 13, and Murder at the Vicarage, by Agatha Christie, on Nov. 10. The group meets at 7:00 p.m. If weather permits, the group

meets outdoors. In case of inclement weather, participants meet in the lower level of the church with masks and social distancing required. College Park Church of the Nazarene, 9704 Rhode Island Ave. For more information, email Carol Munn at donkinc@msn.com

Virtual Book Club. The College Park Arts Exchange invites you to discuss e Daughters of Kobani, A Story of Rebellion, Courage, and Justice, by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, on Sept. 20, and e Haunting of Alma Fielding: A True Ghost Story, by Kate Summerscale, on Oct. 18. Free. 7 to 8:30 p.m. RSVP by emailing info@cpae.org

Friday Dance Workshops

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

Saturday Tap Dance Workshops. Free virtual tap workshop with instructor Elizabeth Gardner every Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. For more information and to register, email info@cpae.org

All activities are at Bladensburg Waterfront Park 4601 Annapolis Road, Bladensburg WashingtonRowingSchool.com 202-344-0886

Local author examines Jewish experience through ction

By Auzinea Bacon

In a country where some states are banning teaching about critical social issues, including slavery and racism, a College Park resident hopes to fight discrimination through her stories.

Mady Wechsler Segal’s story, The Hanukkah Bush of Rehoboth, follows a young Jewish girl off to college at Salisbury University, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where she meets a young man. She doesn’t find out until later that he’s Jewish, a connection that then strengthens their bond.

Wechsler Segal grew up in a Jewish community in New York City and didn’t experience discrimination, herself, until she moved away. She lived in Northern Virginia for a stretch, and said she had neighbors there who had never met a Jewish person before. She recalled that one of her neighbors admitted she was surprised that Wechsler Segal didn’t have a tail and horns.

Wechsler Segal initially crafted stories as a means of fictionalizing her life for others. She described herself as an extrovert who used to tell stories about her career to anyone who would listen, and people frequently suggested she write a memoir. In college, Wechsler Segal started out as a math major before adding a second major in sociology during her senior year. She also completed a three-year fellowship in mathematical sociology at the University of Chicago.

“Sociology and social psychology will tell you people prefer people who are similar to them,”

she said. “I like people because I like to learn from other people.”

Wechsler Segal submitted her short story to the Rehoboth Beach Reads Short Story Contest. Though the story didn’t place in the top three in the contest, it received a judge’s award and it is scheduled to be published by Cat & Mouse Press, as part of a collection, in December.

Wechsler Segal said that the Rehoboth Beach Reads Short Story Contest only accepts about 10% of submissions, many of which are written by experienced fiction writers. Her experience of entering the contest was so validating that she plans to finish the novel she’s been working on for 11 years and then focus her writing on short stories.

“This is not a career, this is a hobby,” Wechsler Segal said. ” I’ve done so much work on diversity and discrimination against women, by race, by ethnicity, by sexual orientation.

I was really excited to get this print … to get accepted.”

City council discusses costs and bene ts of new airline

By Auzinea Bacon

On Sept. 6, the College Park City Council discussed a new commuter program run by Tailwind Air, a veteran-owned company founded in 2012. Tailwind is in talks with the city to launch their newest venture out of the College Park Airport. College Park Airport Manager Lee Sommer informed the council that Tailwind would be postponing their work on the program until late October while the TSA and Federal Aviation Administration review operating regulations.

David Dorsch, chair of the College Park Airport Authority, said that the program would have four daily flights, two incoming and two outgoing, between College Park and New York City’s Skyport Marina.

Dorsch said that the planes, which are seaplanes capable of runway landings, would carry

up to eight passengers per flight. Depending on the program’s popularity, Dorsch said, they may consider scheduling additional service .

Councilmembers expressed concerns with the airport authority chair about increased noise from new air traffic.

“The noise is generally the helicopters and the ones that are the worst are the military, because they’re the biggest and heaviest,” Dorsch noted, adding that the planes in Tailwind’s fleet are quieter than those aircraft.

Dorsch said that Tailwind Air is also establishing commuter programs in other cities, including Boston, Plymouth and Provincetown, all Massachusetts destinations that offer water landing. He said that College Park would be the only participating airport in Maryland.

To establish a line with Tailwind Air, the College Park

Airport would need to change its operating regulations, which were last revised in 2018, according to Dorsch. The current regulations place limitations on charter operators that would have to be revised to allow Tailwind to maintain their proposed flight schedules.

When asked about security measures for the program, Dorsch said Tailwind requires customers to submit their name to ensure that they’re not on the Department of Homeland Security’s No Fly list.

The airport, which is owned and operated by the MarylandNational Capital Park and Planning Commission, agrees that the regulations need to be permanently changed and has asked the city council for approval of the proposed changes. The council was due to revisit this issue during their Sept. 13 worksession, which occurred after press time.

Author Mady Wechsler Segal COURTESY OF MADY WECHSLER SEGAL

David Dorsch speaks with the city council at the Sept. 6 meeting. COURTESY OF ANTON VAN DE MOTTER

Neighborhood Association discusses two possible housing developments

By Mathew Schumer

On Aug. 31, the North College Park Community Association gathered at Mama Lucia restaurant for a presentation about two housing developments proposed for North College Park.

Paint Branch Preserve North would include 131 single-family town houses on a nine-acre parcel, and Paint Branch Preserve South, a 13-acre development, would offer 97 similar homes. The proposed developments would be located west and south, respectively, of the north end of Autoville Drive, near Cherry Hill Road.

Matthew Tedesco, a principal with McNamee Hosea, scheduled the meeting on behalf of Stanley Martin Homes. Prince George’s County Planning Department requires developers to hold a preliminary neighborhood meeting before submitting their application to the county for review.

After welcoming everyone to the meeting, Tedesco introduced Brandon Gurney, vice president of land acquisition for Stanley Martin Homes. Gurney gave a short history of the company and its work in the area, including the Riverdale Park Station Homes and Riverfront Apartments in Hyattsville. He noted that the project has been in preliminary planning stages for at least a year.

Responding to an audience question about plans for access to Cherry Hill Road from the two developments, Tedesco stated that the county requires the developers to make road improvements only along the front edge of the property. He added that Lenhart Traffic Consulting, Inc., of Severna Park, is on tap to conduct a traffic impact study to evaluate potential improvements.

“One of the main positives is that we are going to be making improvements to the roadway network on Cherry Hill and Autoville, to make that intersection much safer,” Tedesco noted. “We will also construct increased sidewalks, bikeways and connectivity to trails. Currently, all the southern prop-

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erty is underdeveloped, and the northern property is somewhat developed, so we’re also going to be doing state-of-theart stormwater management in that area.”

Some at the meeting expressed concern about population density. Tedesco explained that the zoning regulations allow for up to 30 homes per acre and pointed out that only seven per acre are planned for the developments. Attendees also voiced concern about the potential strain of an influx of children to College Park schools. Tedesco stated that the developers will be paying the school facilities surcharge required by Prince George’s County. This fee is collected when building permits are issued.

A few people then asked if the Paint Branch Preserve development will include affordable housing units. Tedesco reported that the housing will be sold at market rate.

Former City Councilmember Mary Cook, who attended the meeting, said that she worked on the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s 2010 Central U.S. 1 Corridor Sector Plan for a year and a half in an attempt to improve the liveability of the area surrounding the development.

“They have forgotten about some of the other pieces [of the Route 1 plan],” said Cook, “which required small professional offices and possibly a little retail. Is that the answer? I don’t know, but they have to be

more cognizant of the density that they are proposing and how that will impact everybody in College Park, not just in my neighborhood.”

Under a standing city ordinance, anyone who wants to remove (or even prune) a tree must apply for a permit. Some attendees wondered whether or not the developers plan to adhere to this ordinance, but Tedesco assured them that they will. He stated that any trees that are removed will be relocated in the area.

“We love it up here,” said James Woodhouse, whose home is situated between the developments. “I always said that if somebody wants to come up and build a home and enjoy it, then they’re welcome to, but don't destroy what we’ve got here.”

Tedesco anticipated that attendees at the meeting could voice concerns. “It’s what we expected,” he said. “There are a lot of committed long-term residents in this part of College Park. They’ve been here for a very long time and feel very strongly about their community and neighborhood, and we respect that. We definitely want to be responsive to their issues and concerns and address as many of them as we can.”

At the request of College Park Mayor Patrick Wojahn, there will be a second meeting about the development in the near future, though as of press time, no date had been set. The meeting will be held at College Park City Hall.

THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND’S LEGACY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE ON PUBLIC POLICY, in partnership with the state of Maryland. is looking for volunteers age 50+ to serve as volunteer legislative leaders during the 2022 session of the Maryland General Assembly.

Classroom instruction will be in a hybrid format (in-person and virtual) and begin on September 13 and end on December 8, 2022. Classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more information or an application, email wqueen@umd.edu

YOU ARE WELCOME HERE

Who? Persons 18 - 30 years old with normal hearing

Persons 65 – 85 years old with either normal or mildly impaired hearing

American English must be your first language

Where? University of Maryland, College Park, MD

What does the research involve? You may be asked to listen to sentences, tones, or noise bursts. You will then be asked to react to a particular sound or sentence. This will take approximately 18 to 25 hours, scheduled over multiple weeks

Or you may be asked to complete tasks that involve passively measuring brain activity This will take approximately 2.5 to 4.5 hours.

For further details, contact Ms. Carol Gorham hearing@umd.edu, 301-405-4236

“There are a lot of committed longterm residents in this part of College Park. They've been here for a very long time and feel very strongly about their community and neighborhood, and we respect that.”

Matthew Tedesco principal with McNamee Hosea

Ballet Classes for Children. Berwyn Ballet School offers classes this fall in creative dance (ages 3-6) and primary dance (ages 5-7). For registration, info and fees, go to berwynballetschool.com

Learn Brazilian Drumming. The College Park Arts Exchange is hosting drumming classes at the Old Parish House on Sept. 17 and Oct. 8 and 22, from 2 to 5 p.m. Free. 4711 Knox Rd. For more information, email info@ cpae.org

Summer Senior Co ee Social. Neighbors Helping Neighbors College Park has teamed up with Proteus Brews to host a senior coffee hour every Thursday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. All ages welcome! 9827 Rhode Island Ave. For more information or to arrange a ride, call 301.222.3434 or email coordinator@nhn-cp.org

ESL Classes. Participants will practice using English to improve reading, writing and speaking skills. Cost for first class is $25, which covers the textbook; all additional sessions are free. Bring paper and pen or pencil to take notes.

Tuesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Lower level of the College Park Church of the Nazarene, 9704 Rhode Island Ave.

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.

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

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 local 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 Available 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 order 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

UMD recruiting for paid survey. Do you live or work in Prince George’s County and identify as Latinx? The University of Maryland wants to hear from you. Participate in a 1 to 1.5 hour interview for $50, with other perks included. Virtual or in-person interview in Spanish or English (your choice). For more information, call 301.405.0662 or email rare@ umd.edu

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 age 18 and over. For more information, email Suchitra Balachandran at cp_woods@yahoo.com

Berwyn District Civic Association. BDCA’s monthly meeting will be on Sept. 15 at 7:30 p.m. and on each third Thursday of the month after that. To register, email president@ myberwyn.org.

North College Park Community Association. The NCPCA will meet on Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit myncpca.org

Lakeland Civic Association. Next virtual meeting is Oct. 13 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. For login info, 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

Calvert Hills Citizens Association. Next meeting is at 7 p.m. on Nov. 30. For more information, go to calverthills. weebly.com or email the board at calverthillscitizensassn@ gmail.com