11-2022 College Park Here & Now

City Council discusses emergency management

By Mathew Schumer

Tyrone Wells, the operations manager of the Prince George’s County Office of Emergency Management, gave a presentation about the recently updated County Emergency Operations Plan at the Oct. 11 meeting of

the College Park City Council. After his presentation, the floor opened for a discussion about ways in which the city and its residents can better prepare for emergencies.

Wells described the county’s efforts, saying that his office coordinates crisis prevention

Good Neighbor Day to bring pollinator gardens to the city

By Aanisah Husain

The City of College Park and the University of Maryland (UMD) are partnering once again on Nov. 12 for Good Neighbor Day, a day of service and celebration that strengthens connections throughout the community. This year’s event will be the city’s 11th Good Neighbor Day, an annual tradition interrupted only by the pandemic. The university’s Office of Community Engagement has teamed up with the city’s Bee City USA Committee to create pollinator habitat gardens on campus and at sites throughout the city as part of the committee’s effort to promote sustainability. College Park was certified through the Bee City USA program in 2021.

“That’s what the Bee City program is re ally about. It’s trying to plant a seed in the City of College Park that sprouts, and the roots reach out and creates a network of people, of partners, of relation ships in the city to work together for pollinator conservation,” said Michael Ellis, a horticulturalist with

and response.

“Our mission always has to do with life safety, stabilizing situations and property preservation,” he said. The office acts within the mandates of state and federal statutes to assist county departments and local non-governmental agencies.

Wells noted that his team does not directly handle most situations, but instead, they work as mediators between communities and governmental emergency-response organizations such as the Maryland Department of Emergency Management and the Feder-

al Emergency Management Agency. Some councilmembers suggested the county agencies could be doing more to aid residents directly.

Councilmember John Rigg (District 3) voiced concern. “Citizens in my community are wondering why they don't hear from the county more often,” he said. Several other councilmembers, including Councilmember Denise Mitchell (District 4) shared their concerns, focussing, in particular, on communications apps used by the county to alert smartphone

SEE EMERGENCY ON 11 

UMD Gymkana: A team sharing a special bond

By Aanisah Husain

In a world of flips and tricks, the University of Maryland (UMD) Gymkana troupe aims to educate the community about making better choices

for healthy living, and kids are their primary intended audience — the troupe performs regularly at area elementary and middle schools. They also spin and bounce during the university’s basketball halftime shows.

The troupe was founded in 1946 and adopted by the university’s School of Public Health during the early years of the anti-drug movement of the 1980s. Members of the

SEE GYMKANA ON 8 

Your local newspaper needs you

By Kit Slack, Nancy Welch and Mark Goodson

This newspaper, the College Park

Here & Now, reaches every household in College Park. It doesn’t matter who your friends are on social media, your internet speed or whether you remember your password: If you live in College Park, the newspaper comes to your door. You can sit and read it without digital distraction.

Without a newspaper, a community lacks not only a source of information, but also a key source of unity and identity. Studies show that without a local newspaper, fewer citizens participate in the political process, and civic organizations struggle to recruit members. Local businesses have a harder time.

Across the nation, longtime for-profit newspapers, including those that served Prince George’s County, have shut down. Increasingly, communities lack reporters monitoring what local government

is doing (or not doing), sharing how individuals and organizations are working to make things better, or promoting local music and arts.

Nonprofit news organizations like our parent company, Streetcar Suburbs Publishing, are working to fill the gap. The Hyattsville Life & Times — the Here & Now’s sister paper — has survived and thrived for almost two decades. The College Park Here & Now launched in the midst of a pandemic, as other papers were shutting down, and is also thriving. These papers operate with a unique model that relies on volunteers, advertisements from hyper-local businesses, and a contract to print and include a city-specific newsletter insert generated by the municipalities themselves. Streetcar Suburbs Publishing is at a crossroads, though, and we need you. Our nonprofit is growing and this summer launched its third newspaper, The Laurel Independent. And as other local news sources have dried up, we are working to fill the void, stepping up to publish

Through Dec. 31, NewsMatch will double each one-time gift of up to $1,000 we receive. They will also match every new monthly donation for a year — 12 times — to a total of $1,000 for each repeating gift we receive.

election guides for both city and countywide races. No other news outlet in the county provides this level of unbiased information to voters.

But as we work to bring you all the news that’s fit to print — and more — we face mounting challenges. Postage and printing costs have skyrocketed by as much as 40% recently, and advertising revenue has not kept pace. Our growing nonprofit needs administrative staff to support our many volunteers — the writers and photographers who generate most of our content every month.

If you believe in the work

doing, please give today — and give NewsMatch the opportunity to double the impact of your donation.

News for people, not for profit. Support our community newsroom. Give now.

UMD’s hub for health

By Aanisah Husain

Many young people are on their own for the first time as they start college. The University of Maryland Health Center recognizes the challenges students may face as they adjust and aims to provide a safe, accessible space, along with abundant resources, to help students through this transition.

“I felt very safe and comfortable … That is how you should feel going into any sort of health service, any sort of appointment,” said Mariam Ashraf, a junior public health science major.

The health center offers students and faculty comprehensive medical services, most of which are free of charge. The center’s offerings include women’s health, physical therapy,

infectious disease testing, vaccine and allergy clinics, nutrition coaching and wellness resources, and behavioral health services, including meditation workshops and counseling. Each specialty provides comprehensive support — wellness resources, for example, include time management and substance use sessions, and women’s health services include access to contraception and pregnancy testing.

Ishika Srivastava, a senior information science major, said that it was easy to access support at the center and encouraged students to take advantage of the resources there. “As current college students, so many of us suffer from mental health issues. People should reach out for help if you need it and it’s right next door, so

Managing Editor Mark Goodson mark@streetcarsuburbs.news

might as well use it,” she said. “Instead of having to go out to find different providers for these things, I could just kind of go to one place and receive the help that I need.”

The university’s CARE to Stop Violence program offers confidential support and resources to victims of sexual abuse. The CARE program is a department within the health center and is staffed with counselors and volunteers who are trained to support victims of harassment, sexual assault and domestic violence.

“I hope the health center can be a trusted place for students of all backgrounds to go to, especially when it comes to the newer mental health care,” said Ashraf, who also serves as the public outreach chair for the SEE WELLNESS ON 11 

Advertising Sales Manager

Miranda Goodson

This is where you come in: This fall we have an opportunity to raise up to $30,000 through NewsMatch, a collaborative fundraising movement that supports independent, public-service journalism like ours through their gift-matching program.

Kit Slack is a former managing editor of the Hyattsville Life & Times. Nancy Welch and Mark Goodson are the editors of the College Park Here & Now

FROM WHERE I STAND

Redistricting: lessons in managing change

By Gale Mamatova

Redistricting has been a heated discussion in our city. It is not surprising that residents are passionately arguing for their own interests, while the mayor is struggling to usher change. Redistricting means letting go of the status quo. Current state is often associated with comfort and security, while change is different and unknown. However, change is inevitable.

Our city needs to revisit their approach centering on bringing residents along through access to information and effective communication.

well as English; 17 city employees earned that bonus in 2019. Why aren’t we investing in hiring multilingual staff as part of our equity efforts?

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@streetcarsuburbs.news

Writers & Contributors

Auzinea Bacon, Kathy Bryant, Will Beltran, Auzinea Bacon, Rick Borchelt, Alice Carlson, Jessica Harden, Lilly Howard, Aanisah Husain, Gale Mamatova, Chris McManes, Atul Rawat, Mathew Schumer, Anton Van De Motter, Kit Slack

Layout & Design Editors

Ashley Perks, Valerie Morris

Web Editor Jessica Burshtynskyy

Advertising advertising@streetcarsuburbs.news

301.531.5234

Business Manager Catie Currie

Board of Directors

Joseph Gigliotti — President & General Counsel

Melanie Dzwonchyk — Interim Secretary Stephanie Stullich — Treasurer Gretchen Brodtman, Bette Dickerson, Nora Eidelman, Maxine Gross, Joe Murchinson, T. Carter Ross Katie V. Jones, Mark Goodson— 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.

Navigating our city website is challenging, to say the least. One of our neighboring cities recently launched a community engagement site to help facilitate access to information and create opportunities for engagement in their current initiatives. Our city needs to invest in a community engagement tool to bring diverse stakeholders along, giving them opportunities to share their ideas efficiently and effectively.

When thinking about access, offering interpretation services is a start, but doesn’t sufficiently address inclusivity. One of our neighboring cities pays a bonus to employees who speak Spanish as

Finally, the last but most important action is communicating and listening with intent. One thing that consistently stood out in city meetings is that our mayor listens and responds — but does not hear. Residents seem frustrated and do not feel heard. We can learn to listen to each other with curiosity rather than with judgment. If we want to bring our neighbors along, those in leadership positions with the City of College Park need to invest in learning to listen with intent so that people around them feel more represented, supported and understood.

Residents understand that redistricting is important to our democratic process. Participation and providing input is vital. We did our part, now it’s up to city leaders to step up and lead us through this change effectively. The ball is in their court.

(They/ Them) is vice president of the North College Park Community Association and a certified change management professional.

Gale Mamatova

we’re

JTCC festival highlights tennis and teamwork

By Lilly Howard

The Junior Tennis Championship Center (JTCC) hosted a free tennis festival and costume party that drew an enthusiastic crowd to the Oct. 29 event. The courts were filled with coaches, players and kids in costumes. The event wrapped with a raffle that featured something for everyone — Jersey Mike's coupons, cool mugs and Tori Sport clothing, JTCC swag, and framed photos of notable alumni Robin Montgomery and Frances Tiafoe.

The event brought in newcomers and long-time fans alike. 14-year-old Tamara Fritz comes to JTCC twice a week to play tennis. She said “the energy I get from it lets me be who I am. I love the way the coaches teach exercises.” Fritz aspires to be a tennis coach and might even set her sights on working at JTCC.

John Niswander, JTCC’s marketing and events associate, grew up training at JTCC and went on to be their marketing intern and a summer coach before becoming a full-time staff member. Having seen every side of JTCC, Niswander appreciates his unique perspective. “This place has been home for me since I was six years old,” he said.

Niswander noted that some students training at JTCC hope to play professionally or on a Division 1 team. A number of them are taking online classes at Laurel Springs School, which gives them the flexibility to travel for matches while still completing high school.

At the event, coach James Carr noticed a boy standing on the sidelines; it was his first time at JTCC. Carr, who works with the high performance players and came to JTCC from Arizona, invited the boy to

join in exercises. Carr has been playing tennis for 22 years.

Coach Iosua Malaki has been playing tennis since childhood and started working at JTCC in spring 2022. He enjoys interacting with a diverse group of people. Malaki added that he likes that JTCC gives back with their scholarships, noting that he started his tennis career thanks to a scholarship. JTCC has an outreach program where they introduce kids to tennis and offer them scholarships so they can continue to play.

At the event, Malaki gathered little costumed kids into a huddle and asked “What does a teammate mean to you?”

The children’s responses varied: “good sportsmanship,” “trying not to do what they can’t,” “supporting each other when we aren’t winning,” “don’t give up,” and “working together,” they said.

Coach Thomas Stanford talked about the rewards of working with his students.

“The most exciting thing is to teach and see how they have fun and watch them learn,” he said.

Brad Evans said loves JTCC because of “the events like this and everyone who works here is very nice.” Evans has been playing tennis for 25 years and came to JTCC for their adaptive tennis program.

The center has been hosting wheelchair tennis clinics in partnership with MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital since 2018.

The costumes, smiles, and energy that filled the tennis courts at the event are a direct statement about our community of people who are passionate about tennis and teamwork, a community that invites anyone and everyone to pick up a racket and join in.

Coach Ioshua Malaki helps a participant’s swing. COURTESY OF LILLY HOWARD

DeMatha football coach notches 300th career victory

By Chris McManes

DeMatha coach Bill McGregor joined exclusive company Oct. 14 when his team defeated McNamara. He is just the fourth coach in Maryland high school football history to win 300 games.

McGregor, in his 33rd year as the Stags’ head coach, entered the playoffs with a career record of 302-49-3 for an .857 winning percentage. He is quick to credit others for his enormous success.

“I can’t thank my assistant coaches, former players, present players enough — they did it all,” said McGregor, who was named 2004 NFL High School Football Coach of the Year.

McGregor has never had a losing season and has coached six undefeated teams.

From 1997 to 2006, his record was 107-8-1 (.927). USA Today ranked his 1986 squad No. 6 in the nation.

More important than the victories, McGregor has helped over 375 former players get NCAA Division 1 scholarships.

“A lot of guys use football to continue their education and have gone on and done some wonderful things for themselves and their families,” he said. “That’s what really makes you most proud.”

More than 15 of McGregor’s players have attended the University of Maryland. Included among them are J.B. Brown, Kenny Tate, Josh Wilson and Ethan Gough.

Elijah Brooks, another former player, is the Terrapins’ running backs coach and was recently inducted into the DeMatha Hall of Fame. Brown and Wilson enjoyed long NFL careers.

In his book, Terrapin Tales, former Maryland quarterback Scott McBrien, who led the Stags to an undefeated season in 1998, called McGregor “one of the best high school football coaches in the country.”

“Back then there was no social media, recruiting sites, or ways to promote yourself,” McBrien wrote. “Bill McGregor was a well-known and respected coach, and I knew that if I played for him, I was going to get looks from college coaches.”

McGregor came to DeMatha to teach and coach in 1972. He became head coach in 1982 and promptly led the Stags to the Washington Metropolitan Athletic Conference championship. It was DeMatha’s first league title since Morgan Wootten was at the helm in 1967.

When asked which of his victories stands out the most, he cited that 1982 championship game win over Gonzaga, 21-14. The contest, played at UMD, was tied at 14. With 13 seconds remaining, quarterback Erik Chapman found Joe Connolly for a 62-yard touchdown.

“In DeMatha folklore, we call it the ‘Immaculate Reception,’” McGregor recalled. “We had not won a championship in 15 years, so there was a pretty long drought. Our offensive line made some great blocks to give Erik enough time to throw the ball, and Joe made a spectacular catch.

“There are so many games you can go back and look at and say, ‘how did we do that?’” McGregor added. “We had some unbelievable games over the course of time with Carroll, St. John’s and Good Counsel.”

McGregor has guided DeMatha to 17 league championships. In addition to 1982, his teams won the WMAC in 1984, ’86, ’91 and ’92. The Stags captured the first three Washington Catholic Athletic Conference titles (1993-95) and again in 1998, 2000 and 2001. From 2003-08, they dominated the league with six consecutive crowns.

In The Washington Post’s annual football rankings, McGregor-led squads have finished No. 1 seven times. In 1999 and 2009, the publication named DeMatha the Program of the Decade.

From 2011-18, McGregor was an assistant coach at two Baltimore high schools. He returned to lead the Stags in 2019 and was named WCAC co-Coach of the Year. Since the formation of the conference in 1993, it was the 12th time he was recognized as the league’s top coach. The Post honored him as Coach of the Year in 2003.

Senior defensive end Jason Moore, who has committed to Ohio State, enjoyed being part of McGregor’s historic 300th victory.

“For all the things that he’s done for us, it was a great way to give back to him,” Moore said. “There are countless things he’s done for us that we’re so thankful for. It was definitely great to be here on this night.”

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

Bill McGregor experienced his 300th career win on Oct. 14. COURTESY OF ED KING

GOOD NEIGHBOR DAY

VOLUNTEERS CALL FOR

GOOD NEIGHBOR DAY brings together local residents and university students, staff, and faculty to complete service projects in our community.

VOLUNTEER for one of 40+ service opportunities in & around COLLEGE PARK !

LEARN MORE about how you can make an impact in College Park & beyond. Service projects, workshops, donation drives, and more.

GOODNEIGHBORDAY.UMD.EDU

Photographer focuses her lens on women captains

By Auzinea Bacon

Kristin Rutkowski co-owned a sailboat with her husband, but she had always considered sailing more his hobby than her own. She’d seen plenty of other women at the marina on boats with their husbands but doubted if many of those women were in charge of their own boats. Rutkowski was curious, though, and wanted to know more.

“When you walk down a dock and see a man and woman next to a boat, it’s not necessarily the man’s boat,” she said.

What she learned sparked a whole new adventure. A professional portrait photographer, Rutkowski has launched “Her Helm,” a portrait project of women steering their way over water. She started on her familiar dock, asking the first woman she encountered at the marina if she could photograph her. Three years and many portraits later, Rutkowksi’s photos will be exhibited next June at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michael’s.

As a portrait photographer, Rutkowski knows not everyone is comfortable having their picture taken. She makes a point of getting to know her subjects before she photographs them and works with them to ensure that they feel comfortable with every element of the process — right down to clothes and pose. Rutkowski’s project has taken off, and she now meets most of the women she photographs through word of mouth.

“A lot of the women are in-

spired by other women that they read about in the project and also knowing that there are lots of other people in the industry,” she explained.

Rutkowksi has snapped portraits of more than three dozen women captains with their boats, and her gallery online includes descriptions of each of her subjects. Jayne Durdan, a single mother who grew up sailing in Australia and now teaches sailing and delivers new boats to buyers , is a passionate sailor and full-time captain. Durdan talked about how Rutkowksi interviews her subjects and goes the distance to make the portrait sessions comfortable.

“She makes everybody look epic. I was really struck by how my photographs came out and how selfassured, comfortable and in my place I looked,” she said.

Durdan also noted that the project is building a community of women captains. She met a woman who has become one of her closest friends after discovering they had both been photographed by Rutkowski. She and Rutkowksi are now friends, too. Durdan marveled at Rutkowski’s dedication to the project, and noted that the photographer’s sailing skills have even improved over the course of their friendship

“I just see her diving in all of these connections. She’s made the most of each of them,” Durdan said.

For more information about Rutkowksi and the “Her Helm” project, go to herhelm.com.

Paid Volunteers Needed toparticipateinhearingresearch

You will be compensated for your time!

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

Labor coalition: University workers deserve better

By Alice Carlson

The University of Maryland (UMD) Labor Coalition met on Oct. 21 to discuss labor rights for university workers, including faculty, and undergraduate and graduate students employed by UMD.

The coalition includes representatives of United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS), Fearless Student Employees (FSE), the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and the local chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Collectively, the groups advocate on behalf of the university’s employees across a range of issues, including establishment of a living wage, improved working conditions and the right to collective bargaining, which would allow employees to unionize.

Currently, the university uses a meet-and-confer process, said Jan-Michael Archer, FSE president. Workers are entitled to meet with a dean-level university employee to discuss their concerns about working conditions. Archer said that these meetings rarely resolve issues, though. “We are workers … the current system only works for the university; it does not work for the workers,” he said.

Coalition members met at Hornbake Place for their second annual picnic and discussed their concerns; they also shared stories of their advocacy work. The informal occasion was a communitybuilding opportunity, said Samuel DiBella, FSE media and organizing co-chair. DiBella noted that the event also attracted potential members.

Sentiments ran high among

Mac Menders

picnic attendees. “Why is it that while claiming we value our student workers, we deprive them of the funds to carry out their dreams? Why is it that we fatigue our professors and teachers assistants to the point where they cannot carry out their true research desires? Why do we fail to support our staff?” said USAS member Micah Ferguson.

Other coalition members echoed Ferguson’s sentiments. “I talked to people that have been working at this university for twenty … years, and they've been getting paid the same as when they began. Is that fair?” said Grace Orellana, who also belongs to USAS..

Coalition members also urged the group and passersby to support legislation granting workers the right to collectively bargain.

Coalition members noted the importance of voting in state races, including in November's election.

Voting is part and parcel of the coalition's broader goals of educating and empowering everyone at UMD — students, administrators and faculty and alike. “One of the things that I really hope we all can start to build out of this is an awareness that all of this is interconnected. All our forms of labor are interconnected and keep this university running, and the way in which everybody works, and the conditions under which they're made to work affect all of our environments. So please, come out to support things like this,” said AAUP representative Matthew Miller.

The picnic ended as it started: with all members participating in a chant led by Kelsey Coleman. “When workers’ rights are under attack what do we do?”

“Stand up. Fight back.”

Organizers plan to do exactly that.

Vera Meredith is a fifth generation boat captain. Here she is aboard her family’s fishing charter, Island Queen II COURTESY OF KRISTIN RUTKOWSKI

COLLEGE PARK POST

City of College Park Recieves Sustainable Maryland Award

College Park is certified at the Silver Level with 580 points

The City of College Park is pleased to announce that it received the Sustainable Maryland Certified Award during the Sustainable Maryland Awards Ceremony at the Maryland Municipal League’s (MML) Fall Conference on October 13, 2022. The City was certified at the Silver Level.

This is the fourth time that the City has received the award, after its first certification in 2013.

“The City is thrilled to receive this Sustainable Maryland award and to be recognized for all of our efforts in conservation, sustainability, and positive community impact,” said Mayor Patrick L. Wojahn. “As a Sustainable Maryland Certified municipality, the City has introduced and expanded services that divert items from the landfill, began work to increase our tree canopy, and efforts to educate residents on water runoff to reduce

pollutants in our waterways. Thank you to all who have helped us achieve this award.”

A total of 18 Maryland municipalities were honored at the awards ceremony. To achieve certification, municipalities are required to form a Green Team comprised of local residents, community leaders, municipal staff and officials; complete a variety of sustainability-related actions; and submit the appropriate documentation as evidence.

To achieve a Silver level, municipalities must score above 400 points; the City was certified at the Silver Level with 580 points.

For a detailed summary of the City of College Park’s sustainability actions and certification report, please visit www.collegeparkmd. gov/sustainablity.

Donate Coats to College Park’s One Warm Coat Drive

Coat Drive from November 16 to December 6

The City of College Park, with One Warm Coat, a national non-profit organization, will once again hold our annual One Warm Coat Drive from November 16 through December 6.

According to One Warm Coat, 37 million Americans are struggling to afford basic necessities, and 1 in 6 children live in poverty. Children can not regulate their body temperatures in the way adults do, and can quickly develop hypothermia without protection from the cold.

Shelter from the elements is a basic human need, and your donation can provide protection from the elements during the winter season. Since 2016, residents have helped donate approximately 800 winter coats and supplies to children and families in need in College Park.

Help your fellow neighbors by donating new or like-new coats

and cold weather items. Children’s coats and items for ages 4 to 11 are particularly in need. Donated winter gear should be clean, new, or like-new to ensure a quality gift.

Following the City’s annual warm coat drive, all donated coats will be distributed through designated local elementary schools.

Donations can be placed into designated collection boxes during business hours at the following locations:

City Hall 7401 Baltimore Avenue

Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 6:00 pm,

Davis Hall 9217 51st Avenue

Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Youth and Family Services

4912 Nantucket Road

Monday-Friday, 10:00am - 5:00 pm

December 10 | 4-8pm City Hall Plaza

Tribute to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Urgency of Now: One Community, One Love

The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is a time set aside each year, where we as a country, work together, serving others, to make our communities more equitable.

We annually observe this day each year on the third Monday in January. As the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service, MLK Day encourages all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities.

The theme for the City of College Park’s 2023 Tribute to Dr. King is the Urgency of Now: One Community, One Love.

The City of College Park is providing multiple ways our residents can honor Dr. King’s legacy on January 16th and beyond.

ART, VISUAL ART, AND ESSAY COMPETITION

In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we would like to hear about how Dr. King’s legacy has impacted your life.

There will be vendors selling a variety of goods, powered by Shop Made in Maryland selling handmade local products. We will have live music, crafts, beer and food, hot chocolate, cookies, a tree lighting, gingerbread house displays, and the man himself, Santa, will be making an appearance. Please mark your calendars and join us for some holiday fun.

Curbside Leaf Collection Has Begun

Look for signs posted in your neighborhood; more information at www.collegeparkmd.gov

Curbside leaf vacuuming has begun and will continue through the mid-January. Look for posted signs in your neighborhood to know when curbside leaf collection will occur.

Collection schedules are tentative as they depend on weather conditions. To ensure collection, put leaves out by the first day listed.

The calendar (available at collegeparkmd.gov/CurbsideLeaf) may show multiple days in an area, but we only collect once per street per collection cycle. Each area of the City is scheduled to be serviced at least 4 times during the season, so there will be several

opportunities to have leaves collected. Refer to the above listed website for the most up-to-date collection schedule. The vacuum hoses are not able to reach around cars or other obstructions, so it is imperative that piles of leaves are accessible from the street (but not in the street).

TIPS – THE DO’S AND DON’TS OF LEAF COLLECTION!

• Bagging is not necessary during leaf collection with vacuums. Grass can be included in your leaf piles, but no sticks, branches, vines, or woody materials.

• Rake leaves to the curb but do not put them in the street. Pile

leaves away from cars and storm drains as the leaf vacuum cannot reach around cars.

• Remove tree limbs, rocks, trash, and other debris from leaves to be collected. These items damage the equipment and cause delays.

• Noise and dust may be noticeable as dry conditions generate more dust. We apologize for any inconvenience.

• When signs are posted, rake leaves to the curb. To ensure collection, put leaves out by the first day listed. The calendar may show two days in an area, but we only collect once per street per collection cycle.

This art, visual arts, and essay competition is open to kindergarten through 12th grade students who live in the City of College Park. Students must submit their entry by Friday, December 2, 2022.

The artwork contest is open to students in Kindergarten through 6th grade and must be 2D or 3D works that convey a visual illustration of MLK’s “I Have A Dream” speech.

The video and essay contest is open to students in 7th through 12th grades. For the prompts along with all details and rules for entry, visit www.collegeparkmd.gov/ mlktribute.

Submissions will be judged on creativity, clarity, content, coherence and adherence to theme. Only one entry per student allowed. All entires must include a cover page with the student’s first and last name, grade level, email, full school name, home address, and contact phone number.

For the full list of this year’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration activities, please visit www.collegeparkmd.gov/ mlktribute.

Upcoming City Events

Details & Calendar at www.collegeparkmd.gov

VETERANS DAY OBSERVANCE

Friday, November 11, 11:00am College Park Veterans Memorial Corner of Baltimore Avenue/ Route 1 and Greenbelt Road

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.

Free parking available at AMF Bowling Lanes.

RABIES & MICROCHIP CLINIC

Sunday, November 13 10am -1pm, Davis Hall

Due to inclement weather on the October date, the Rabies & Microchip clinic has been rescheduled to November 13.

The City’s Animal Control and Animal Welfare Committee are hosting a Rabies and Microchip Clinic for City pets on November 13, 2022 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Appointments are required - slots are individual, you can only register one animal per spot. Appointments are in 10 minute slots, and space is limited. All animals MUST be leashed or properly confined to a carrier. No walk-ins.

Register your pet for rabies and/ or microchipping at https:// nov2022rabiesclinic.eventbrite. com.

WINTER WONDERLAND

Curbside Food Scrap Collection

Program begins November 15!

The City of College Park’s new curbside food scrap collection program begins November 15!

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-

Redistricting College Park 2022

GOOD NEIGHBOR DAY

Saturday, November 12, 8:30am - 12:00pm

Various Locations

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.

Register by November 10 at https:// bit.ly/GND2022

Saturday, December 10th, 4:00 PM – 8PM City Hall Plaza

The Holiday season is upon us! Get ready for the holidays with the City of College Park at our holiday market and tree lighting event. Mark your calendars for Dec. 10th from 4PM to 8PM at City Hall.

There will be vendors selling a variety of goods, powered by Shop Made in Maryland selling handmade local products. We will have live music, crafts, beer and food, hot chocolate, cookies, a tree lighting, gingerbread house displays, and the man himself, Santa, will be making an appearance. Please mark your calendars and join us for some holiday fun.

Leave public comments on updated maps

The City Charter requires review of the council districts at least every 10 years, soon after the federal census is available. An analysis of the population data confirms that the City must adjust the current district boundaries in order to have equal districts.

On October 25, 2022 the Mayor and Council introduced two ordinances on redistricting.

Ordinance 22-O-09 would use the October Plan 1 map for the new district boundaries, and Ordinance 22-O-10 would use Plan 3A for the new district boundaries.

There will be a public hearing on these ordinances during the Council Meeting on November 15th. The Council could vote to adopt one of the ordinances at that meeting after the public hearing or could vote at a later meeting.

You can view the two maps at https://www.collegeparkmd. gov/186/BoardsCommissions#RDC and send comments to RedistrictingCommission2022@ collegeparkmd.gov.

Additional information about the redistricting process is at www. collegeparkmdredistricting2022. com.

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 News in Other Languages

Access City news in more than 100 languages

We are One College Park, a welcoming and inclusive home for all. All City news, events, notices, information, and more can be found on our website at www.collegeparkmd.gov. Our website can be accessed in more than 100 languages; just look for the “Select Language” button on the bottom right corner and select the language you need information in!

Somos “One College Park” (College Park Unido), un hogar acogedor e inclusivo para todos. Todas las noticias de la ciudad, eventos, avisos, información y mucho más se puede encontrar en nuestro sitio web en www. collegeparkmd.gov. Se puede acceder a nuestro sitio web en más de 100 idiomas. Sólo tiene que buscar el botón “Select Language” en la esquina inferior derecha y seleccionar el idioma en el que necesita la información.

City Announcements

More information: www.collegeparkmd.gov

THE CITY IS HIRING!

The City is seeking a part-time Contract Secretary to attend, record, and prepare minutes for evening Advisory Board meetings.

This position requires a reliable person with strong grammar and secretarial skills to prepare a summary of the proceedings, make approved revisions, and provide a final set of minutes in a timely manner. This assignment does not require word-for-word reporting.

Contract rate is $22.00 per hour, with a guaranteed minimum of two hours per meeting, plus payment for preparation of minutes at $11.00 per half-hour.

Submit cover letter and resume to cityclerkoffice@collegeparkmd. gov.

To browse other vacancies, visit www.collegeparkmd. applicantpool.com/jobs.

NOVEMBER HOLIDAYS

All City offices are closed on Friday, November 11 for Veteran’s Day observance.

All City offices will close at 12:00pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2022 and are also closed on Thursday, November 24, and Friday, November 25, for the Thanksgiving holiday; therefore, no special collections will occur during this holiday week.

RESIDENT GUIDE 2022

The latest edition of the City of College Park Resident Guide is now available! Check out news, announcements, and upcoming events for the fall and winter on our website at www.collegeparkmd. gov/ResidentGuide.

MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT WORKS MONTH

November is Municipal Government Works Month, where cities all across the state showcase how municipalities (or local governments) work for their communities. The City promotes municipal government awareness to encourage all of our residents to engage with and participate in municipal government through voting in our elections, serving on our advisory boards, and engaging in dialog with City officials about matters that are important to them

STORM DRAIN MURALS

Every time it rains, trash and pollutants on our streets are carried into storm drains and then to surrounding streams, eventually entering the Anacostia River and even flowing out into the Chesapeake Bay. These pollutants negatively impact local waterways by degrading fish and wildlife habitat, drinking water supplies, and recreational opportunities.

In Fall 2021, the City of College Park Committee for a Better Environment began working with the College Park Arts Exchange (CPAE) and local artists to paint small-scale murals on storm drains in an attempt to draw attention to these down-stream impacts. The murals typically feature images of plants and animals native to the Anacostia River Watershed, the watershed in which College Park is located.

Each work is unique and helps to provide a reminder that our neighborhood streets are connected to our streams, and that it is important to keep streets and waterways clean.

Below are some examples of the painted storm drain murals in College Park. See all of the wonderful storm drain murals at www.collegeparkmd.gov/ Sustainability.

Deck the City Contest

Nominate a decorated home

It’s that time of year again to get into the festive spirit with some twinkling lights, inflatable characters, and tons of garland! The City’s annual Deck the City Holiday Decorating Contest is back!

Nominate your own home, your neighbor’s home, or as many awesomely decorated homes you see in College Park! The nomination period is between December 1 through 19, 2022.

All entries must have photos of the decorations in order to be entered. Nominated homes will be posted on the City’s Facebook page.

The photo with the most likes will be the online digital winner! We will also be awarding 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners and Mayor’s Choice awards.

All entries must be submitted by 11:59 pm on Monday, December 19.

Online voting will occur on the City’s Facebook page on December 20th through December 22nd and winners will be announced online on December 23rd.

For more information or to nominate a home, visit www. collegeparkmd.gov/DeckTheCity.

Community Survey

We want to hear from you!

The City is partnering with the 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 a mailing from the City and ETC Institute notifying them of their selection in the survey process. Be sure to check your mailbox for more information about the survey. Responses are anonymous. The mailed paper survey will be in English, but a Spanish version of the survey will be available. 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.

Gingerbread House Competition

Do you enjoy making cookies and are also a secret architect? Have you always wanted to build that dream home out of confections? Join this year’s City of College Park Gingerbread House Competition! Enter as a single individual or a group. Follow the rules, fill out an application form,

We will announce winners on December 10th at the City's Winter Wonderland event. We want your creative, wacky, whimsical and best designs. All City of College Park residents are encouraged to participate in the competition; anyone can attend the event.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

SAVE THE DATE

College Park Community Library Book Club. The library’s book club will discuss Murder at the Vicarage, by Agatha Christie, on Nov. 10, and French Braid, by Anne Tyler, on Dec. 8. 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

Shakespeare’s As You Like It UMD’s School of Theatre Dance and Performance Studies presents the classic comedy on stage at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center in midNovember. For dates, times, and tickets, go to theclarice. umd.edu/events

St. Martin’s Day Lantern Festival. Make a German paper lantern and then take a walk with it at twilight. Free. Nov. 13, from 3:30 to 6 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 5412 College Ave.

Virtual Book Club. The College Park Arts Exchange invites you to discuss Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets, by Svetlana Alexievich, on Nov. 15 and Without You, There is No Us, by Suki Kim, on Dec. 20. Free. 7 to 8:30 p.m. RSVP by emailing info@cpae.org

Learn Brazilian Drumming. The College Park Arts Exchange is hosting drumming classes at the Old Parish House on Nov. 19, Dec. 3 and Dec.10, from 1 to 5 p.m. Free. 4711 Knox Rd. For more information, email info@ cpae.org

Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night

The Maryland Shakespeare Players will perform the comedy on stage at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center on Dec. 1, 2 and 3 at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee performance on Sunday, Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. To purchase tickets, go to umd. campuslabs.com/engage and search Shakespeare.

Santa Flies In! Watch Santa land at the College Park Aviation Museum on Dec. 3. Themed craft stations and photos with Santa. Admission $5 per person. Time to be announced. For more

information and to register for photos, email Jamie.Jones@ pgparks.com

Lakeland Christmas Tree Lighting. The Lakeland Civic Association annual’s Christmas tree lighting will take place at Lakeland Community Park on Dec. 3. For more information, email lakelandcivic@gmail. com

Indian Classical Music Concert. Eric Maring joins Soumya Chakraverty and Devapriya “Debu” Nayak for an evening of playing traditional music on the sarod and tabla. Donations at the door. Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m at the Old Parish House.

Needle Arts Club. Convene with fellow needle-art enthusiasts at the Old Parish House on Dec. 11, from 5 to 8 p.m. Free.

ONGOING

College Park Community Library Story Time. Story time with Micki Freeny every Wednesday from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. The group meets in the Blue Room on the lower level of the church. Masks are recommended but not required. The library will follow Prince George’s County Public Schools for weather-related closures. College Park Church of the Nazarene, 9704 Rhode Island Ave.

Concerts, performances and more! Look no further than the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center for your dose of holiday arts and culture. To view the calendar and obtain ticketing information, go to theclarice. umd.edu

Local Youth Groups Performing. November ‘tis the season for performances by College Park’s talented youth and presented by the College Park Arts Exchange. For concert information, go to cpae.org/arts/full-calendar

Community Meals. Each Tuesday and Thursday, the College Park United Methodist Church’s volunteers cook healthy and delicious meals for all who are interested. You can reserve meals in advance and also donate a meal to a family in need. Pick up reserved meals at 9601 Rhode Island Ave., between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. For more information, call 301.345.1010

Produce Available Every Third Thursday. 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 12:30 and 3 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

Wellness and Meditation. The University of Maryland’s health center offers a range of programs focused on improving health and wellbeing, including sessions on time management, interpersonal communications and meditation. For more information, go to calendar. umd.edu

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

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

College Park Farmers Market at Paint Branch Parkway. The last day to visit the market is Nov. 19. Don’t hesitate to purchase your fall favorites! Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. 5211 Campus Dr.

Hollywood Farmers Market. Come purchase your fall favorites! The last day this year to visit the market is Nov. 19, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of the Hollywood Shopping Center.

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.

Calling All Gamers. Game Kastle’s November calendar is filled with opportunities to connect with fellow D&D enthusiasts and board gamers of all sorts. For more details, go to gamekastle.com/stores/ collegepark

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 Nov. 17 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 Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. For more information, go to myncpca.org

Lakeland Civic Association. Next virtual meeting will be on Nov. 10 from 7 to 8:30 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

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

troupe broadcast their messages about healthy living through performances that are a blend of gymnastics, acrobatics and circus-like antics.

“It’s really gratifying when you get a new skill because you’ve been working at it for so long, and you put so much work into it,” said Aggie Baum, who is a sophomore majoring in physics and astronomy. Baum is Gymkana’s vice president.

Javier Lorenzo, Gymkana’s secretary and sophomore statistics major, said that the performances at elementary schools are a highlight for him.

“[It’s] something I look forward to … it’s always really rewarding to see the kids' reactions, because they are always amazed by what we do,” he said.

“[We] just try to inspire the kids there to work hard and just show them what they can do by setting their mind to a goal,” Baum added.

The troupe performed as a part of the city’s annual College Park Day on Oct 15.

“We try to stay active within our community, both within the university, but just the greater College Park area, because we think

that it’s important that we’re having an influence on our local community,” said Ben Prescott, assistant director of Gymkana.

According to Prescott, approximately 70 to 85% of Gymkana members are new to or inexperienced in gymnastics.

All troupe members commit to a minimum of 8 hours practice time each week.

Baum and Lorenzo, who have both climbed Gymkana’s leadership ladder, came to Gymkana with little tumbling experience. Even Prescott, who was with

Gymkana from 2004 to 2008, was inexperienced when he joined the troupe. “Every year is a rebuilding process for us to reinvent our show,” Prescott said. “It’s not really about talent. It’s more about effort and treating your body right and making healthy choices.”.

The troupe’s significant commitment to practice time can have perks, too.

“Being on the troupe, it’s definitely a lot of hard work, a lot of practice time,” said Baum. “But it’s a lot of fun, and everyone on the troupe is super friendly, and [you can] make a lot of really good friendships.”

Prescott agreed. “There’s this kind of bond there that I hear from alumni all the time, but it’s one of the most memorable times of their lives,” he said.

Prescott added that he hopes the program continues to thrive, noting that the health and wellbeing of the troupe depends not only on exercise and performance, but funding too. During the month of November, Gymkana is hosting Flip-a-Thon, a fundraising event that gives the Gymkana audience a sneak peek of the acts the troupe is working on. Members of the troupe are also competing to see how many flips they can do in 10 minutes.

The Gymkana troupe is already gearing up for their premier spring event, their annual home show, set to take place in late April at the Xfinity Center.

For more information about Gymkana, go to sph.umd.edu/ and search Gymkana.

Gymkana troupe executing a vault on College Park Day. COURTESY OF NIKOS KOUTSOHERAS

COLLEGE PARK WILD

Leave the leaves this fall

By Rick Borchelt

It was the height of midsummer, and my spearmint was in bloom. The flowers are favorites of many pollinators — small bees, tiny wasps, a host of moths in the twilight and evening. But its special visitor for me is redbanded hairstreak, a modest looking butterfly the size and color of a nickel when viewed from above, but branded with brilliant red-flamed insignias on its underwings.

Later the same week, a shimmering pale moth as large as my hand with streamers as long as its body settled, quivering under the outdoor floodlight it had been circling for 10 minutes or so. A luna moth with silvery green wings, a fair imitation of the color of a summer moon.

And during our first cool snap this fall, I was sitting at the table on the patio when I heard a loud rustling in the hostas and ferns, followed by the sharp squeak and squeal that usually means some lawn creature has met its end. And surely enough, a large white-footed mouse is struggling for its life among the foliage, hopelessly it seems. Astonishingly, its attacker is only a third its size and could have been a smaller mouse, save for a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth and pointed snout — a mole in miniature. The mouse stills, and I get a better look at the predator as it sets to work quickly devouring its meal. It’s a shrew, a northern short-tailed shrew by the looks of it.

INDOOR ROWING YOUR WINTER SPORT

— we just move on land.

• Join our Holiday Challenge, Thanksgiving to Christmas.

• Intro class starts Nov. 21. BEGINNERS

FUN, FRIENDS, AND

As different as these three visitors to my yard may have been, they have something very special in common: None of them would be here if I had raked my leaves and had them hauled off last fall.

“Leave the leaves” has become a common refrain among those of us who welcome wildlife back into our yards and our lives. And it’s one of the easiest ways to increase biodiversity in your urban or suburban yard.

The value of leaves on trees in the summer is well known: They convert sunlight into food for the tree, with the byproduct of oxygen for us. They shelter bird nests and fledglings. They pull up moisture from the fastness of the earth and transpire it into the air around them, cooling the hot days with evaporation.

And then, of course, we love their bright fall colors. But for most people, the utility of leaves is over when they brown and crisp and blanket the ground. The obvious course is usually to rake them to the curb and let the city pick them up — and then maybe pay for the privilege of having them returned to you as compost in the spring.

But fallen leaves are as important to the environment as living ones are. They are

rich in nutrients and trace minerals they pulled up from the ground, along with water, while they were still alive. The soft layer they create under trees is a haven for overwintering insects — from queen bumblebees to fireflies to luna moths, snug in their cocoons.

As these leaves decay, they provide food for soil microorganisms, fungi and invertebrates. They keep the soil moist when winter winds dry the earth, and they keep the soil an even temperature for the bulbs and roots and seeds below the soil’s surface. Lawns and gardens exposed to the elements without a quilt of fallen leaves dehydrate quickly and are slow to moisten again, even in spring rains. Exposed soils alternately freeze and thaw, a cycle that ruptures the roots and corms of so many flowers we love to see in the spring. And every time you send your leaves away, you export a summer’s worth of hard labor by the trees as they pump nutrients back into the ecosystem — every leaf pile you lose is as valuable as that canister of fertilizer pellets you buy at the big-box store in the spring.

There are so many reasons to leave the leaves, from the purely practical to the aesthetic — the sizzle of sleet on dead

leaves, the snow that sticks and accumulates on leaf litter long before it bedizens the sidewalks and streets, the swirling eddy when the winds of fall blow.

You’ll get red-banded hairstreaks, too — it’s the only butterfly in our area whose caterpillars feed on dead and decaying leaves. You could have luna moths, who bundle themselves up in dead leaves for their cocoon instead of

the large, brown silk bags other silk moths leave exposed on branches. And you’ll get shrews patrolling your yard for worms, grubs, spiders — and even mice. So let’s #leavetheleaves this fall. Your yard — and its wildlife — will thank you.

Rick Borchelt is a naturalist and science writer living in College Park.

The red-banded hairstreak is one of many organisms who benefit from leaf decay. RICK BORCHELT

College Park Academy celebrates murals

By Jessica Harden

College Park Academy (CPA) held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Oct. 7 to celebrate new hallway murals created and installed by Jennifer Byrne, owner of branding company Live.Create.Play. Byrne’s murals include references to the University of Maryland's the College of Education and College of Engineering.

“We wanted to sort of inspire and educate the students … [about opportunities] in these individual colleges,” Byrne said.

The murals include archival photos of UMD students in the 1920s, quotes from historical figures and highlights of accomplishments of university alumni. Byrne also incorporated elements of current culture and technology, including the image of a Ferrari and a nod to virtual reality.

The murals also pose questions intended to encourage students to think about their future.

“When you engage with the art, it asks you a question about yourself, and then it asks you, ‘what can you imagine,’” Daune Arbogast, CPA’s strategic consultant, said. “Then you see what has come before you, so you stand on the shoulders of people who have come before us. To take those themes and to create a visual imagery is really quite striking.”

Representatives of the school community, including staff and board members, attended the ribbon cutting. It was the first gathering the school had held since the start of the pandemic, according to Sandy Abu-Arja,

CPA executive director.

“I felt that the atmosphere was very dynamic; you could just hear different perspectives with our community members engaging with our students,” Abu-Arja said. “The students … were just actively engaged in conversation, not only about the art murals, but about their pride in College Park Academy.”

Byrne said that the atmosphere in the school was full of energy when she was installing the artwork. She said the students were happy to help and excited to be there.

Students can display their own work on magnetic boards alongside the murals, an element that Byrd endorses.

“It becomes the story that they want to tell, and they can get more ownership over the school,” Byrde said.

Ellen Slobodnik, the academic dean at CPA, said she’s excited about the change in the hallways and the positive energy the artwork is bringing to the school.

“The dull gray walls are not the best environment for students,” she noted. ”We want them to feel inspired. We want them to feel welcome, and I think this is definitely the right start.”

CPA plans to have more murals brightening the school’s halls over time that depict the other 10 colleges at the university.

“To invest in art, it shows a different kind of value because what you invest in shows what you care about,” Arbogast said.

“I argue that art, in many ways, is more accessible … with art, anyone can engage in it and interact with it.”

Carolyn Bernache cuts the ribbon outside College Park Academy on Oct. 17. COURTESY OF ANTON VAN DE MOTTER

A mural at College Park Academy. COURTESY OF ANTON VAN DE MOTTER

the university.

Ariela Haber has volunteered to oversee installation of the pollinator gardens on Good Neighbor Day. She emphasized the importance of native plants in pollinator gardens and described the importance of balanced habitats in an ecosystem.

“Without one thing, we won’t have anything else,” said Haber, an ecologist. “By putting some of their habitat back where we’ve taken it away, we can give [pollinators] a little bit more food, a little bit more shelter, a little bit more potential nesting sites.”

The College Park Bee City USA Committee encourages homeowners to incorporate native plants, as well. These plants are naturally suited to local gardens, and they provide food and shelter to our pollinators — the birds, bees, small mammals and other wildlife that contribute to the larger ecosystem.

On Good Neighbor Day, volunteers will create pollinator gardens across College Park, including at the College Park Academy, UMD’s Edward St. John Center and American Legion Post 217, on Baltimore Avenue. Gardens will also be installed in the North College Park and Calvert Hills neighborhoods, and at Lake Artemesia. Ellis hopes that the habitats will help heal the earth and promote sustainability.

“We need to be trying to heal the earth in every space that we can,” he said. “Efforts that we start on Good Neighbor Day are efforts that we continue,” he added.

Ellis and Haber also noted that some pollinators, including a number of species of bees, are on the verge of extinction.

Good Neighbor Day events will take place throughout the

city, with more than 40 service projects, workshops and donation drives scheduled. Activities will address not only sustainability, but food insecurity, education, social justice, and issues of aging and mental health, as well. There will even be a hands-on class for those who want to learn how to ride a bike. The action-packed day

WELLNESS

FROM

Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC). “Every student deserves a place where they feel cared for and understood.”

According to Sara Dawood, a senior microbiology major and president of SHAC, the committee serves as the “student voice for the university health center.”

SHAC works in conjunction with the health center and the UMD Student Government Association to conduct outreach

will also feature a food drive and a meal-packing session at IKEA sponsored by Terps Against Hunger Events will take place from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Nov. 12, and everyone in the community is invited to participate. For additional information and to register, go to oce.umd.edu/goodneighbor-day

and host educational events promoting services provided by the center.

“I hope that students are able to see that they have more convenient access to services that they might not think is available to them,” Dawood noted.

The health center is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday. For more information about the center and its offerings, go to health.umd. edu/hpws

CORRECTION

The College Park Here & Now ran a piece in our October issue on the history of the pitbull ban in Prince George’s County. We stated that the ban began in 2008; it actually went into effect in 1997, after the county passed the legislation in late 1996. The article also stated that the Maryland Court of Appeals upheld the county’s ban after a 2012 challenge, citing pitbulls as “inherently dangerous.” That wording was used in a 2012 case, Tracey v. Solesky, that made no reference to the county’s ban. Also, the article stated that Caitrin Conroy currently owns a pitbull. Conroy told the Here & Now that she does not.

EMERGENCY

FROM PAGE 1

users to emergency conditions. According to the councilmembers, the University of Maryland’s emergency notification system is more effective than the county’s system.

“We do the best we can to push out information following events,” Wells said. “When the footprint of an event is larger, it’s going to take us a bit longer to get that information out.”

Councilmember Fazlul Kabir (District 1) asked Wells about other sources for alerts and information before and during emergencies. Wells recommended turning to local news media or purchasing a dedicated weather radio.

“A lot of our senior citizens don’t even own a phone,” said Councilmember Maria Mackie (District 4), underscoring that a portion of the city’s population requires extra support during emergencies. She stated that the county should be making more of an effort to reach out to seniors and homebound individuals.

Continuing on this theme, Councilmember Susan Whitney (District 2) pointed out that July’s devastating storm underscored the importance of maintaining a current registry of city residents, especially those who might need special assistance. Whitney said that “it would be a great idea to have a registry of buildings with high volumes of citizens in need or homebound individuals.”

Councilmembers also raised concerns about how emergency preparedness relates to the city’s high rental population, largely due to students at the University of Maryland.

A photo fit for a Queen

Some of you may recall an article in the October issue of the College Park Here and Now where I detailed my exciting experience photographing Queen Elizabeth when she came to Mount Vernon on May 16, 1991. It was truly one of the highlights of my life! Several people have said they would like to see the photos; visit the Mount Vernon website, 1950-2000, if you’d like to view it online.

Kathy Bryant

Councilmember Stuart Adams (District 3) expressed concern about receiving less funding from the county because the area has fewer homeowners and more renters than other areas of equal population.

Wells told Stuart that his

office analyzes College Park in the same way it assesses other municipalities with comparable rental populations. He then said that he agrees that further consideration should be taken when addressing situations in College Park, and that he plans to explore a more comprehensive approach to the city’s emergency management needs.

Councilmembers also focused on opportunities for community engagement around issues of emergency preparedness. Councilmember Llatetra Brown Esters (District 2) expressed interest in “bringing individuals to the table to prepare for emergencies.” She said that it is essential for city officials to partner with the university and a range of public agencies to address crises that impact the community as a whole.

Mayor Patrick Wojahn pointed to the long-delayed establishment of a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in College Park; these teams are based on a model developed by the Los Angeles Fire Department in the mid-1980s and are promoted by FEMA. While CERTs are not equipped to single-handedly respond to a major emergency, they can respond to lesser emergencies and provide stability until governmental assistance is in place.

“Community emergency response teams can be very useful in helping protect the community when there are emergency situations,” Wojahn said, after the meeting.

Wells noted that it might be feasible to establish a CERT in College Park and encouraged interested residents to inform themselves about short-term emergency response training courses offered by the county. For more information on the county’s training programs, email PGCCert@co.pg.md.us.

Wells also underscored that emergency preparedness information is available at Ready. Gov and Redcross.org

Paint Branch, a short creek with a long history

By Atul Rawat

Walking down Paint Branch Trail, alongside the Paint Branch creek, one can all but hear the burbling water narrating our area’s history. The creek flows from its headwaters in Spencerville, in Montgomery County, and winds not even 14 miles before flowing into the Anacostia River, but it has witnessed events that stretch way back in time.

Archaeological evidence suggests that humans may have been in our area during the hunter-gatherer era, some 12,000 years ago. A stone implement found in the creek’s bed dates to about 1,000 B.C., confirming that humans have certainly been living here for at least 3,000 years. The tool, a flake of quartz about 2 by 3 inches in size, may have been used for scraping and cutting. It was identified by archaeologist Jim Sorensen, who led the Montgomery Parks Archeology Program for 23 years before retiring in 2009.

While native peoples both passed through and settled in this area, territorial wars and infectious diseases introduced by European settlers largely led to the natives’ demise. The creek’s name may honor them, though; one theory is that the name Paint Branch derives from the stream’s colorful clay, which the earliest people here may have used to adorn themselves.

Another theory behind the name is that it comes from the creek’s waters being colored by dyes discharged from a wool processing factory. Indeed, early settlers here used the creek’s current to run their small mills. Traces of at least four mills have survived to the present; the oldest of the four dates back to about 1723. Some of the mills along the Paint Branch were in operation well into the 1900s.

Further down the creek, in the White Oak area of Silver Spring, is a cave-like structure that carries the curious name of Devil’s Den. One legend has it that a slave blasted the cave from a solid rock

to earn his freedom, while another story suggests that the cave was part of the Underground Railroad. The cave is located on property owned by the Navy and is not publicly accessible.

A couple of miles downstream, the Little Paint Branch joins Paint Branch at a confluence point near the Paint Branch Golf Course. Just before this merger, our trail crosses both streams over two bridges, one over each stream, and just a few hundred feet apart.

Another mile and a half downstream, in an area that used to be marshland and forest, we come to the University of Maryland, which represents another historical milestone. The university was founded as Maryland Agricultural College, by Charles B. Calvert, a descendent of Lord Baltimore, who colonized Maryland.

As the creek leaves campus, it turns and crosses Route 1 and enters a milelong stretch of stately urban forest; walkers and joggers especially favor the trail through these woods. A few hundred feet into the woods, and not far from Route 1, stands a plaque commemorating the first tree nursery in the state; which was established by the Maryland Agricultural College as a resource for local farmers. The trail and creek then emerge from the woods, with Lake Artemesia on the left and the College Park Airport on the right. Paint Branch Trail runs along the

southern side of the lake, and a separate trail stretches north around the lake for more than a mile, with lilies and ducks adding seasonal charm to the natural beauty of the area. Edwin Newman, who developed the historically Black community of Lakeland here, in the mid-1800s, named Lake Artemesia for his wife. The College Park Airport, to the right, is the oldest continuously operating airport in the world; it was established in 1909, when the Army Signal Corps leased the land and contracted with the Wright Brothers to train the first military aviators here. The first mile-high flight by a powered aircraft took off from this airport, as did the first controlled helicopter flight. The College Park Aviation Museum is on the far side of the runway. A few hundred feet shy of the runway’s end, our trail along the creek merges with the Indian Creek Trail, and Paint Branch rushes to meet Indian Creek. The merged creeks become the Northeast Branch of the Anacostia River, which flows into the Chesapeake Bay.

Movement and water have symbolized life throughout history, and this creek has witnessed centuries of history unfolding along its banks. Walkers, bikers and joggers can easily access the Paint Branch Trail from any of the city’s many neighborhoods — your next journey through time is only a stone’s throw away.

Movement and water have symbolized life throughout history, and this creek has witnessed centuries of history unfolding along its banks.