12-2022 College Park Here & Now

IN COLLEGE PARK: Celebrate the season with our stories about a youth concert, a tree lighting and a Santa sighting

PAGES 4 & 5

Council passes new district map

By Will Beltran

College Park City Councilmembers unanimously approved a new district map during their meeting on Nov. 15. The new districts will be in effect prior to the November 2023 city election.

The council passed the October Plan 1 map, which keeps the core neighborhoods of the current districts intact. This map was created in response to the public outcry against the redistricting commission’s original proposals, which broke up these neighborhoods.

Volunteers honor local veterans

By Alice Carlson

Some 800 city residents turned out on Nov. 12 for College Park’s 11th Good Neighbor Day. The annual event was initiated in 2012 to allow the University of Maryland (UMD) community to engage in volunteer opportunities throughout northern Prince George’s County.

The day of service, which saw eight projects in its inaugural year, boasted some 40 projects this year, including installation of a pollinator garden at

Local restaurateur leads with his heart

By Aanisah Husain

When Carlos Alvarado emigrated from El Salvador to the United States, he packed along his selfless nature and willingness to provide. His three restaurants — Comedor San Alejo and Cocineros, both in Hyattsville, and Taqueria Habanero in College Park — are testament to his spirit, dedication and generosity.

“My passion and everything

that make me alive, get up in the morning, is cooking for the people,” he said.

Originally from San Alejo, El Salvador, Alvarado came to the United States when he was 17. His sister and other family members lived in the area already, and Alvarado hoped to find opportunities here. He quickly found work at a restaurant, though on low rungs of the industry’s ladder.

“It was so difficult,” he said.

“They never saw I was able to do all the things more than cleaning tables or cooking or making salad. They just closed the door, and they didn’t give me the opportunities that I was looking for.”

Alvarado stuck with it, though, and learned along the way.

“I was not working because of the money. I was working because I wanted to learn how to make pastry, how to be a

barista,” he said.

Leaning into his experience, Alvarado and his sister opened the original Taqueria Habanero in the District in 2014; his sister now owns the restaurant. Alvarado went on to open the second branch of Taqueria Habanero in College Park in 2018. All three of his eateries specialize in traditional Latin American cuisine.

As Alvarado made the

Carlos Alvarado is the owner of Taqueria Habanero in College Park. AANISAH HUSAIN

From the Streetcar Suburbs Publishing Board of Directors

We know you get a lot of emails this time of year asking for year-end contributions, and there are many worthy organizations that could use your help. We wanted to use this space to share why your local newspaper is one of these worthy causes. Our nonprofit brings news about local government, civic organizations, arts and businesses to every resident in College Park, for free — reporting you won’t find anywhere else (certainly not in the national news!). We cover issues that most impact you day-to-day — city services,

local development and local schools.

As a nonprofit, we depend on the support of readers like you to keep this critical work going. That’s why we’re excited to share that we have a wonderful opportunity to increase the impact of your donation through NewsMatch, a program that supports nonprofit news organizations around the country. Through Dec. 31, NewsMatch will match your donation, dollar for dollar. We can earn up to $15,000 in matching dollars, which means our nonprofit, Streetcar Suburbs News, can raise $30,000, total, through the NewsMatch partnership.

FROM WHERE I STAND

FROM THE EDITORS

Write with us! The Here & Now is currently accepting submissions for its January edition. With the new year approaching, what reflections can you offer about life in the city this past year?

500 Words.

Deadline: Dec. 21.

Email Mark@StreetcarSuburbs.news

Working towards equity in the college applications process

By Alexa Figueroa

College application season is approaching, and every Hispanic person intending to apply is familiar with the dreaded question on every form — the question about race, with a set of predetermined options. This question stops us in our tracks; we either choose an option that is relevant to our background or, if you’re like me, you leave it blank.

When the time comes to choose a race, people who identify as Hispanic will want to pick that, except it’s not a race — it’s an ethnicity.

As described in a 2012 article by the Pew Research Center, Hispanic people don’t see themselves fitting into the standard racial categories and instead identify most closely with the country their family is from, and so saying that they are Cuban, Dominican or Mexican (or similar). According to study results published by Pew, more than half choose to identify their race as “some other race” or volunteer “Hispanic/Latino.”

Many Hispanic people come from a mestizo background, a mix of European and American indigenous descent. Others may describe themselves as having a mix of European and Black African roots. But the word mestizo is a social construct and isn’t commonly used anymore.

We can’t discuss identity without considering the various groups that exist in Latin America. AfroLatinidad — individuals who are of African and Latin American ancestry — suffer significant disadvantages

due to racism in Hispanic communities, a prejudice they often first experience in Latin America that may continue to shape their lives here in the U.S. Black Latinos, many of whom identify as Indigenous, as well as Black and Latino, experience higher rates of discrimination than non-Black Latinos, according to a June 2022 analysis by Michelle Bueno Vásquez published in The Washington Post.

When an idividual faces discrimination, choosing white as a race can be used as a strategy to counter that discrimination, as described by Gene Demby in a 2014 piece for NPR’s “Code Switch” podcast.

It is not surprising that this strategy of claiming whiteness has been adopted by members of some Latino groups. The experiences we face, the racism we experience and the erasure that has been plaguing us for centuries all factor into our identity. Somos hispanos — we are Hispanic — but sometimes we are much more than that.

For the majority of Hispanic people, white doesn’t begin to describe how we identify ourselves. Checkmarks can’t take into account the culture we grew up in or the language we speak. For all of these complex and intertwined reasons, many of us now simply check Prefer Not to Answer.

Alexa Figueroa is a student at the University of Maryland, double majoring in journalism and Spanish.

Managing Editor Mark Goodson mark@streetcarsuburbs.news

Advertising Sales Manager

Miranda Goodson

For a nonprofit organization like us, this is a big deal, and the potential support we stand to receive will help us deliver the kind of news and information you’ve come to expect — the kind of reporting that can make a real difference in our communities. Reporting that’s worthy of your support.

To make a donation, go to streetcarsuburbs. news/donate or mail a check to Streetcar Suburbs Publishing, P.O. Box 132, Hyattsville, MD 20781-0132. Thank you!

FROM WHERE I STAND

Don't give Trader

Joe's a free pass for anti-union bullying

By Arun Ivatury

On Oct. 27, Trader Joe’s opened a store in College Park, to a good deal of fanfare and enthusiasm.

It’s hard not to get caught up in the excitement. What’s not to like about being just a stone’s throw away from this fun, quirky grocery store, after many years when the nearest food aisles were at the 7-11? My family, for one, loves not having to trek to Silver Spring for our TJ favorites.

Trader Joe’s works hard to stoke the positive vibes: Witness, for example, its aloha shirt-wearing employees and whimsical in-store signs.

But the company’s recent decision to permanently shut down a store in New York City where employees planned to unionize darkens the mood.

to a union, though more than 70% of Americans view unions favorably.

People form unions because banding together with their coworkers (and workers throughout an industry) gives them a better shot at a living wage, good benefits, time off to take care of loved ones, predictable work schedules, a safe worksite and — not least — basic dignity and respect. And when workers win these things, it benefits everyone by setting a higher bar for fair compensation and by creating a counterweight to the dominant influence of corporations.

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, Rick Borchelt, Paige Bilsbury, Will Beltran, Alice Carlson, Alexa Figueroa, Aanisah Husain, Arun Ivatury, Mathew Schumer, Anton Van De Motter

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.

Trader Joe’s aggressive anti-worker tactics are hardly unique. It is par for the course in America for corporations to force their own employees through a gauntlet of hate, hostility and harassment just to form a union, though unionizing is (theoretically) protected in the U. S. under federal law and sanctioned by the United Nations as a universal human right. Companies like Starbucks, Apple and Amazon take pains to present a positive, progressive image while remorselessly bullying workers who organize — intimidating, retaliating against and even firing union supporters. It’s why fewer than 7% of private-sector workers belong

It’s on all of us to support our neighbors who choose to form a union. When workers at our favorite stores organize (as MOM’s College Park workers currently are), we can be visible and vocal in our support, following their lead on what would help most. And if companies react with animus, we can let them know their conduct is unacceptable — and that it erodes our brand loyalty. Perhaps most importantly, we can push our elected officials to hold companies accountable for anti-union bullying. Because while most of us welcome the new amenities coming to our neighborhoods, we should not be asked to ransom our community’s values for the privilege.

College Park resident Arun Ivatury is deputy organizing director of the Service Employees International Union.

MOM’s College Park to vote to unionize

By Mathew Schumer

Amid a wave of public support, workers at businesses across the country are coming together to form unions. A Gallup poll conducted in August suggests that Americans’ approval of labor unions is at its highest rate since the 1960s.

Workers at a number of MOM’s Organic Market locations have voted to form unions with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW). MOM’s was founded in 1987 and employs more than a thousand people in D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

Cody Cochrane is a team member of the MOM’s College Park franchise and is on the front lines of the employees’ unionization efforts there. The 22-year-old, who is a sophomore at the University of Maryland, has been working at MOM’s for about a year.

Cochrane has been involved in the process from the start. “Early on, I was asking people and beginning to verify who was willing to vote and who wasn’t before we had to file with the NLRB,” he said. (NLRB is the acronym for National Labor Relations Board.)

In August, workers at MOM’s in Baltimore’s Hampden neighborhood voted to unionize, and in November, workers at the MOM’s franchise in Timonium voted overwhelmingly to do so, as well. These votes made the news and energized Cochrane’s coworkers. He and his co-workers held secret negotiations over the course of several months with the UFCW to shield what they were doing from MOM’s upper management.

“They have cameras all over the store and there are people in the central office whose job it is to monitor the stores in general,” Cochrane said. “At any moment, there could be someone watching and lis-

tening in to what you’re

doing.”

While Cochrane and his team were careful to protect their process from upper management, he emphasized that the store’s middle management — the team’s direct supervisors — have been largely supportive throughout the process.

“We’re not really unionizing against the management of the store specifically — it’s very much against the central office and the company itself, and the things they institute,” he said. “I’d say they’re trying their best not to interfere, but I don’t think central is giving them much of [a] choice.”

Cochrane said that the team’s efforts were largely aimed at ensuring workers a living wage. He noted that several of his co-workers, individuals who have been with the store for more than a decade, have received only infrequent, modest raises over that time.

The team filed for union election through UFCW Local 400, which represents unions in the DMV. And these MOM’s teams were not alone in their readiness to form unions; workers at two La Colombe Coffee Roasters stores in the District filed in November through the same UFCW branch.

“In seven years at the local, I can’t think of another time where in so short a period, we’ve had so many workplaces organizing,” said Jonathan Williams, communications director with UFCW Local 400.

The election to unionize College Park MOM’s is being conducted by mail and will close on Dec 23. The NLRB will tabulate votes, with representatives from both union and management sides present.

Cochrane was optimistic that the team’s efforts would have an impact.“I guess I hope that even if this is a small one-store thing,” he said, “it will still be a part of a bigger movement that’s happening in the U.S. and an addition that keeps that momentum going.”

Workers at a number of MOM’s Organic Market locations have voted to form unions with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW). COURTESY OF MOM'S ORGANIC MARKET

College Park Youth Orchestra performs holiday concert

By Auzinea Bacon

The College Park Youth Orchestra hosted a live performance at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church on Dec. 4 which also featured the College Park Youth Band, along with the orchestra’s repertory and chamber ensembles. The orchestra, which typically stages spring and fall concerts, has been performing for the community since 2006. This was their first live concert since the start of the pandemic. Turnout for the event was impressive, with virtually every seat in the hall filled. College Park Arts Exchange President Richard Biffl noted that being able to offer a live performance meant everything to the elementary and middle school students who played in the orchestra. The students had practiced through the pandemic without being able to work together in the same room. Biffl addressed the challenge: “It’s hard to play harmony by yourself, playing in an orchestra allows them to hear what was written for their instruments,” he said, noting that their hard work had more than paid off.

The College Park Youth Band, directed by Sarah Winston, played one of their favorites, a zombie-themed song inspired by pop culture. One student,

an eighth grader who has been playing with the band for a number of years, had the honor of being a soloist. “They knew it was calling his name,” she said.

The audience was fully engaged, so engrossed in the performance that they hummed along to many tunes.

Ruth Edissah, mother of an orchestra member and enthusiastic supporter of the group, thought that the students had done an excellent job. She said that the orchestra managed to bring the community together in a beautiful and seamless way.

“I’m all for it, one hundred and ten thousand percent,” she said. “It’s important to have groups and organizations like this.”

The orchestra, which typically stages spring and fall concerts, has been performing for the community since 2006. This was their first live concert since the start of the pandemic.

UNSPLASH

Santa visits city airport despite rainy weather

By Paige Bilsbury

With rainy weather in the mix on Dec. 3, the College Park Aviation Museum hosted what was to be their annual Santa fly-in, but in a non-traditional way. Rather than actually flying in, Santa simply taxied along the College Park Airport’s runway and waved to smiling children inside the museum. The event has been a community staple since Cathy Allen, the museum’s founding director, first invited Santa to land at the airport in 1996. The cost of admission ($5 for everyone older than 2) gave this year’s visitors a day filled with themed arts and crafts, access to all the museum’s exhibits and the opportunity for photos with Santa himself. Some 400 people reserved slots for photos this year.

Jamie Jones, public programs man-

ager at the airport, aimed to create an inclusive, interactive event after two years of fly-ins were canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“This is really an event for all ages and people who just want to have fun!” she said.

Baltimore resident Steve Baker brought his grandson Arthur, who is 7, to the museum. Fans of the event, they have attended previous fly-ins together, too. They weren’t fazed in the least by the weather.

“As long as Santa Claus can get here, we’re happy,” Baker said. “I have flown airplanes before, and the museum has some really great exhibits. They have some really cool hands-on things.”

Visitors eagerly participated in crafts, including making snow globes, writing letters to Santa, fashioning polar bear handprints and

coloring pages featuring trains and planes. (The museum’s Trains and Planes holiday event is right around the corner, on Dec. 16.)

Some guests were new to the museum and the Santa fly-in. District resident Erin Foxworthy heard about the event from a friend. Foxworthy brought her 3-year-old son to the event.

“The idea of Santa flying in was really cool for him, something different and unique,” said Foxworthy, as she hugged her excited son.

Museum Director Kevin Cabrera said that the fly-in is always a hit. Look to next year’s November edition of the Here & Now for Santa’s schedule and be sure to book your photo reservations early!

Calvert Hills lights up for the holidays

By Aanisah Husain

‘Tis the season, here in College Park, and neighborhoods across the city are celebrating. On Dec. 3, Calvert Hills celebrated the start of the holiday season with their annual Christmas tree lighting. The festive event was bigger and better than ever, featuring an expansive dessert potluck, hot chocolate, and an enthusiastically caroling crowd.

Eric Maring, a foundation of the neighborhood since he settled here in 1999, brings out his musical talents in full for the traditional celebration.

“I’m a resident, and I value good neighbors and good traditions,” he said.

The Calvert Hills Citizens Association (CHCA) foots the bill for the annual tree lighting, but the real people behind the magic are Kelsey and Cameron Mays, who have organized the event since 2015.

“They’ve taken on the most Herculean tasks, so I want to give them full credit for making this happen,” said Dan Oates, CHCA president.

Cameron Mays chimed in: “We enjoy it, and it has become a tradition for our neighborhood and our family to do this every year. It’s our contribution to the neighborhood and to the city.”

When the Mays’ moved to the neighborhood in 2009, they had noticed that the celebrations surrounding Christmas were not as grand as they are today. Kelsey Mays reminisced on her childhood when she described an always lit Christmas tree in her parents’ neighborhood. When the Calvert Hills Citizens Association was looking for volunteers to head the Christmas tree lighting tradition, the Mays’ volunteered.

“I wanted my kids and the kids here to be able to experience the same thing,” Kelsey Mays said.

“I think especially after 2020, everything was so bleak and so dark,” she added. “This has always been a source of light and enjoyment.”

The Mays said they try to center the tradition around children, from providing hot chocolate, creating a letters-to-Santa station and offering a photo opportunity with Santa himself. Although there was no Santa Claus this year, there was still an opportunity to take family pictures and congregate with neighbors.

Calvert Hills resident Bill Coleman enjoys seeing everyone come together to celebrate.

“It’s always nice to do something with the neighborhood. I come and do the cooking, hang out and see everybody,” said Coleman, whose nickname is Barbecue Bill. “It’s something that brings everybody together.”

The tree lighting is the celebration’s centerpiece every year.

“It’s magical to see the tree light up,” Maring said. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

Eric Maring and his son, Julian, perform at the annual tree lighting in Calvert Hills on Dec. 3.

ANTON VAN DE MOTTER

Lee Sommer has high hopes for airport’s next chapter

By Auzinea Bacon

Sometimes Lee Sommer wishes he were 20 years younger so he could have more time to work as the College Park Airport’s manager.

“It makes me feel proud that I’m one of maybe a handful or a dozen airport managers that have gone through here,” he said. Sommer’s time in the U.S. Air Force, in 1975, sparked his interest in aviation. He didn’t jump right in after his service, though, instead launching a startup information technology security company, which he ran with his business partner for 20 years before deciding to retire in 2014.

When a position opened up at the College Park Airport, Sommer’s interest was rekindled.

The airport manager’s position had been vacant for a year when Sommer stepped into the job; he’s now been there for 8 years, and still can’t get enough of being at the airport. Sommer brings his 4-year-old border collie, Aero, to work most days, and Aero is usually even more excited to get to the airport than Sommer is. He’s the airport’s canine ambassador and often flies with Sommer in the airport manager’s plane.

“It’s kind of unique when you go out at night or dusk and walk the grounds of people who have been at the very cutting edge of

Mac Menders

technology,” he said.

The College Park Airport, which is managed by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, is the oldest continuously operating airport in the world. Sommer noted, though, that many people in the area don’t know a lot about the facility. In the early 1900s, people would travel from D.C. just to watch planes fly in and out of the airport, he said.

The little airport has a big history, it’s true — but there’s a lot to the airport’s present and to its possible future, as well. The airport may gain direct flights to Manhattan not too far down the road — or down the runway. Tailwind Air, which flies out of Manhattan’s Skyport Marina, has recently been negotiating with officials in hopes of establishing service to College Park. Plans are currently on hold due to TSA concerns about the restricted air routes in and around the District, but Sommer hopes that Tailwind will get the go-ahead.

He is excited at the prospect of attracting more visitors that direct flights from Manhattan could bring. “They would spend some time here at the museum, or they would spend time in College Park,” he noted.

The additional workload that

a new flight service will bring doesn’t faze Sommer. “There’s stress, but there’s understanding that the stress is being modified by the fact that people working here are safe, secure and know what’s going on,” he said. Sommer added that his biggest issue with his job is actually a great problem to have: His coworkers are basically his family.

Sommer is excited to expand resources and opportunities at the airport, whether or not Tail-

wind gets the green light to fly in. He sees the College Park Aviation Museum as integral to the airport’s success. The museum’s exhibits explore aviation history and, in particular, this airport’s early role in key chapters of that history. And because of the museum’s proximity to the airport’s runway, visitors can sometimes watch pilots take off and land as they explore exhibits.

Sommer noted that the museum is expanding its interactive exhibits and play areas for kids, and added that the airport may soon have charging stations for electric planes. Not that he needs the latest in aviation technology to find fascination at work. Sommer thinks that watching planes fly is just as fascinating — and every bit as extraordinary — as watching a self-driving Tesla.

Sommer is excited about the future of aviation and sees technology as a key element to growth in the field. He is also grateful to be one of about a dozen managers who has worked, over time, at the world’s oldest continually operating airport.

“We all have passions for the job and with that passion, you want to excel to make the place better,” Sommer enthusiastically noted.

Airport manager Lee Sommer and his border collie, Aero. COURTESY OF LEE SOMMER

The College Park Airport, which is managed by the MarylandNational Capital Park and Planning Commission, is the oldest continuously operating airport in the world.

COLLEGE PARK POST THE

Deck the City Holiday Decorating Contest

Nominate your home, a neighbor’s home, or all the awesomely decorated homes in College Park!

It’s that time of year again to get into the festive spirit with 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 all the awesomely decorated homes you see in College Park! All entries must have photos of the decorations and 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. Nominated homes will be posted on the City’s Facebook page.

The photo with the most likes will be the online digital winner! The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will recieve a $100 to $25 gift card to their favorite College Park business. Winners for online voting, and the recipient of the Mayor’s Choice Award, will also receive yard signs to show off their accomplishments.

To nominate a home in College Park, visit www. collegeparkmd.gov/DeckTheCity.

2022 CONTEST RULES

• Contest is open to residential addresses within the City of College Park only.

• Nominations will be accepted beginning at 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 1, 2022. Each person can submit more than one entry for nomination.

• All entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on December 19, 2022 via online form.

• Submitted entries will be posted on the City’s Facebook page for voting from December 20 through 22, 2022.

• There are two categories for winning - Online Voting and Mayor’s Choice. Only the winners of the online vote will receive prizes.

The City’s Deck the City Contest, including rules and prizes, may change at any moment or be canceled without notice.

Let’s see your holiday spirit shine!

Questions? Contact events@ collegeparkmd.gov. For more information, visit www. collegeparkmd.gov/DeckTheCity

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute

Urgency of Now: One Community, One Love

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

As the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service, MLK Day encourages all Americans 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.

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 30, 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.

FOOD DRIVE

Throughout the month of January, the City of College Park will honor

the life and legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. with a canned food drive starting Tuesday, January 3rd through Tuesday, Jan. 31.

A collection box will be established at City Hall, 7401 Baltimore Avenue. The City will accept donations of clean, non-dented canned & boxed non-perishable food items, not past their expiration date (no homemade items will be accepted). Collections will support the College Park Community Food Bank.

VIRTUAL PANEL

Join us and our panelists on January 16th, 2023 from 7:008:00pm for a thought-provoking discussion on Dr. King’s teachings and legacy. Registration is free. Details available on our website.

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

Curbside Leaf Collection Has Begun

ARPA Assistance Grants For Business and Hospitality

The City of College Park is pleased to announce that it has given more than $1.9 million in grants to 51 College Park businesses to help them in their recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Since launching its ARPA Assistance Grants Program in 2021, the City has received more than 60 applications and continues to accept applications from City businesses.

“The COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the business community was massive; thanks to the federal government’s ARPA program, the City has been able to help our local restaurants and businesses survive and begin to thrive once again during this recovery period,” said Mayor Patrick L. Wojahn.

The City has provided more than $1.5 million to approximately 20 restaurants and 30 other businesses including Hanami Japanese Restaurant, NY Deli, Azteca Restaurant & Cantina, The Jerk Pit, RJ Bentley’s, and Cornerstone Grill and Loft. Funds have been utilized for a variety of business-related expenses like payroll, leasing, and maintenance costs. The City has also issued more than $450,000 in Hospitality Grants to local hotels The Hotel and Cambria Hotel. The City will continue to issue funds to approved businesses that apply until funds are depleted.

To read the full release, visit www. collegeparkmd.gov.

Upcoming City Events

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 www. collegeparkmd.gov/CurbsideLeaf 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.

Details & Calendar at www.collegeparkmd.gov

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNITY MEETING

Monday, January 9, 7:30pm

https://zoom.us/j/96024845217

Join City elected officials, police, Department of Public Services staff, and your neighbors from all around the City, for an informative monthly community meeting. This meeting will discuss City-wide crime statistics, recent incidents of public interest, neighborhood watch tips, and special public safety related topics. To facilitate City-wide participation, these will be recorded virtual meetings that you may join in from your home.

Curbside Food Scrap Collection

Start composting this holiday season!

Quite a bit of food scraps get placed in the trash during the holidays. Keep organic waste out of the landfill by signing up for the Curbside Food Scrap Collection program!

Community Survey 2022

Take the survey to make sure your voice is heard! of the survey will be available.

The City is partnering with the ETC Institute to conduct a comprehensive community survey.

This 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 translation

If you have recieved your paper survey in the mail, please complete and submit that form.

If you did not receive a paper survey in the mail, we still want to hear from you! Please complete the survey online at https://bit.ly/ CPCommunitySurvey22

Your participation in the survey is very important. The results will help City officials better serve the College Park community, so please complete the survey to make sure your voice is heard. 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 and social media for more information.

Voter Survey 2022

Tell us about your voter experience

The City of College Park is conducting a short survey about voter engagement in City elections.

Whether you vote in every City election, and especially if you have never voted in a City election, your opinion is important to us!

The next City election is in November 2023.

Give your feedback on voting habits and processes! Your reflections can help improve voter experience in College Park.

Complete the survey before December 19 at https://bit.ly/ VoterSurvey22

For more information, call the City Clerk at 240-487-3501.

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 costshare container.

How Do I Sign Up?

Residents can sign up online and choose container(s). 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 240-4873590 or visit www.collegeparkmd. gov/foodscraps.

The City has established programs to assist businesses, non-pro ts, and residents address negative nancial impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The American Rescue Program Act (ARPA) has provided funds that the City is using for these and many other projects.

Did

College Park Residents of all ages may be reimbursed for up to $5,000 per household for mental health services received OR invoices may be paid directly to service providers.

Complete

Have questions? Email ARPA@collegeparkmd.gov with questions on any of the City’s ARPA assistance programs.

ARPA Mental Health Assistance

Use ARPA funds to cover mental health expenses

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 delivered $350 billion to state, local and tribal governments to aid in recovery from the COVID-19 emergency. The City of College Park received $22 million as a part of the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program. Over $2,000,000 has been designated in City COVID-19 assistance.

The City has established programs to assist businesses, nonprofits, and residents address the negative financial impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 ARPA Financial Assistance Program for Individuals and Families provides financial

assistance to eligible College park individuals and families who have been directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

College Park residents of all ages may be reimbursed for up to $5,000 per household for mental health services received OR invoices may be paid directly to service providers.

Applicants must be a resident of the City of College Park, and provide evidence of need due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information, and to access the application, visit www. collegeparkmd.gov/ARPA.

City Announcements

More information: www.collegeparkmd.gov

HOLIDAYS

All City offices will be closed on Monday, December 26 in observance of the Christmas holiday.

All City offices will also be closed Monday, January 2, 2023 in observance of New Years Day.

Pets

RESIDENT GUIDE 2022

The latest edition of the City of College Park Resident Guide is now available at www.collegeparkmd. gov/ResidentGuide.

Read the spanish translation at www.collegeparkmd.gov/ guiadelresidente.

as Holiday Gifts

From the City’s Animal Welfare Committee

Impulse buying is a problem that many of us have, especially around holidays. Sometimes, the impulse includes adding a pet to the family or worse, to someone else’s family.

It is important to remember that a pet is a financial and time commitment that can last for up to 20 years. When taking on the responsibility of a new “family member” there are important things that must be considered such as: Who will care for the pet on a daily basis (feeding, exercising, walking, if a dog, grooming, etc)?

If the pet is a “gift “for a child (under 15), parents need to assume that they will be the ones to monitor and provide care for the family pet. Can you afford the additional expense of food, grooming, and, most importantly, adequate veterinary care? Routine vet care can cost hundreds of dollars per year for vaccinations and routine

exams. This amount will probably increase as the pet ages. Food, cat litter, toys, etc. add to the monthly household expense.

It is also important to be aware of the county and municipal animal codes such as leash laws, codes prohibiting tying animals outside on a chain/rope, required vaccinations, and licensing regulations.

If considering a dog, it is important to think about fencing your yard so you don’t have to walk them in the dark or in bad weather.

When the time comes, and you are ready to add a furry or feathered creature to your family, consider adoption first. Many healthy and friendly animals are in need of homes. Check out local rescue groups and animal shelters when you’re ready to add to your family and save an animal.

Gas Stoves and Air Quality From the City’s Committee for a Better Environment

With the weather cooling and the holiday season upon us, many are gearing up for sustained bouts of cooking turkeys, pies, and casseroles. For those of us with gas stoves, this likely also means contending with poor indoor air quality, because gas stoves are a primary source of combustion (burning) pollution inside the home.

If you use a gas cooking appliance, the holiday season is a great time to consider switching to electric, and reducing its impacts on you and your family’s health. Cooking with gas can spike emissions of nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide to levels that would violate outdoor pollutant standards.

Children are more susceptible to illnesses associated with air

Snow and Ice Removal

Be prepared for winter

The City of College Park’s priority during a snow event is public safety. Our goal is to clear snow and ice as quickly and efficiently as possible, restoring safe travel for emergency crews, motorists, and pedestrians. Snow and ice removal are considered an emergency operation and takes precedence over other Public Works tasks.

The snow plan will go into effect upon the order of the City Manager or the Director of Public Works. The plan consists of an Alert Phase and an Operation Phase. The alert phase may include pre-treating designated streets with salt brine to prevent snow and ice adhesion to the road surface. Snow or icy precipitation, which requires roadway treatment, will be considered an emergency under the operational phase.

These steps will be followed during a snow emergency:

• Snow removal equipment will be dispatched to predetermined routes when snow or ice is imminent. Salting operations usually begin at the onset of precipitation, depending on pavement temperature and the forecast.

• First application of salt will be ordered by the Director or Assistant Director. Plowing operations will commence when there is accumulated snow or slush on the roadway.

• Initially, one lane will be plowed on all streets followed by widening of the plowed lane. All streets will be plowed curb to curb, as conditions allow.

Public Works crews plow and salt city streets and city parking lots to clear snow and ice. Things you can do to help include:

• Move parked cars off the street so the snow plows can clear snow to the curb.

• If off-street parking is not available during predicted snowstorms, park on the EVEN side of the road (EXCEPTION: if your address is odd-numbered and the area across from your house is undeveloped, park on the odd side of the street)

• The City is not responsible for clearing snow from driveways or driveway aprons - this is the resident’s responsibility. If you begin to remove snow before the trucks are finished, be mindful that your driveway may need to be cleared more than once.

• After the snowplows have finished cleaning your street, clear snow and ice from the sidewalks, storm drains and fire hydrants in front of your residence.

• Have patience: crews work around the clock during snow emergencies to clear the streets. Although your street may not be plowed as quickly as you would like, our crews will make their way to you. Your patience is appreciated during these times.

pollution than adults, due to their higher breathing rates and greater level of physical activity, higher lung surface to body weight ratios and smaller bodies, and immature respiratory and immune systems.

Long-term, experts recommend converting to induction or electric stoves. Induction stoves are faster, safer, and cleaner than gas. If that’s not feasible, individuals with gas stoves should cook with an exhaust hood that vents to the outdoors (many only recirculate indoor air), cook on the back burners whenever possible, run an air purifier with a HEPA filter, and install carbon monoxide detectors. It is also important to stay up to date on appliance maintenance and replace gas appliances with high-efficiency electric ones when the gas stove dies.

• Designated crews will be dispatched to clear sidewalks, bus stops, RRFB cross walks, and the trolley trail locations throughout the City

• Snow and ice-clearing operations will be carried out in accordance with established priorities as circumstances permit.

• Always plan to set your refuse and recycling carts out for your regularly scheduled day during snow events. Refuse and recycling collections may occur later in the day than normal, or they could be delayed a day

Be prepared for winter- visit the Public Works webpage, for information related to snow removal operations at https:// www.collegeparkmd.gov/snow. For more information, call 240487-3590 or email publicworks@ collegeparkmd.gov.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

SAVE THE DATE

Perry Plaza Lighting. Berwyn District Association lights Jack Perry Plaza for the holidays!

Dec. 15 at 6:30 p.m.

College Park Community Library Book Club. The library’s book club will discuss The Man who Could Move Clouds, by Ingrid Rojas Contreras, on Jan. 12 at 7:00 p.m. Outdoors, weather permitting, or indoors on the lower level, 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

See “The Nutcracker” in College Park. Ballet Company M presents Tchaikovsky’s classic at UMD’s The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center on Friday, Dec. 16 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Free. Reserve tickets at theclarice.umd.edu/events

Jazzy holiday concert. The Foundation for the Advancement of Music & Education presents a holidaythemed concert at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. $20. Saturday, Dec. 17 from 2 to 4 p.m. Tickets at theclarice. umd.edu/events

Trains and Planes at the College Park Aviation Museum. Dec. 16, 17 and 18. Free with museum admission: adults $5, seniors $4, children $2; children 1 and under free. 1985 Corporal Frank Scott Dr. For more information call 301.864.6029

“The Polar Express” storytime at the College Park Aviation Museum. Dec. 17 at 10:30 a.m. Free with museum admission: adults $5, seniors $4, children $2; children 1 and under free. 1985 Corporal Frank Scott Dr. For more information, email kimberly. schwartz@pgparks.com

Community Concert. The College Park Arts Exchange presents a show featuring talented dancers and musicians who live in the community. Free, donations accepted. Dec. 18 from 7 to 9 p.m St. Andrew’s Episocpal Church, 4512 College Ave. Join the Chorus. Christmas caroling on Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. Meet on the trolley trail at Guilford Rd. and Rhode Island Ave.

Virtual Book Club. The College Park Arts Exchange invites you to discuss Without You, There is No Us, by Suki Kim, on Dec. 20 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. RSVP by emailing info@cpae. org

Blue Sky Puppets. Your local puppet production team tells the story of Rufus, a lost and lonely dog who finds friendship and learns about acceptance and inclusion. Free. Jan. 14 at 11 a.m. Old Parish House.

ONGOING

ROCC Holiday Art Sale. Support Route 1 Community Cares by going to its holiday art sale online at go.dojiggy.io./ roccholiday2022

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. There will be no story time on Dec. 28 or Jan.

4. College Park Church of the Nazarene, 9704 Rhode Island Ave.

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

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. Have extra time this holiday season?

Game Kastle’s winter 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 age 18 and over. For more information, email Suchitra Balachandran at cp_woods@yahoo.com

Berwyn District Civic Association. BDCA’s monthly meeting will not be held in December. The next meeting will be on Jan. 19 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 Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m. For more information, go to myncpca.org

Lakeland Civic Association. Next virtual meeting will be on Jan. 12 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

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

Calvert Hills Citizens Association. Meeting information will be posted in the new year at calverthills.weebly.com. You may email the board at calverthillscitizensassn@gmail. com

UNSPLASH

American Legion Post 217, on Baltimore Avenue.

The team at the post raked up leaves, put down mulch and pruned shrubs, all in preparation for installing the garden, which showcases native shrubs, along with butterfly houses and bee hotels. Sean Phelan came up with the idea for the project, and Antonya da Silva served as team leader for the installation; the two are both UMD staff members. Da Silva said she was grateful for the volunteers’ contributions to the effort, noting that veterans now have a garden where they can reflect and feel happy.

“I'm really excited about this because … my twin sister is a veteran. She was in the Air Force as a flight medic for seven years … her and her partner are both veterans, and it's really important to me,” Da Silva said.

Volunteers from UMD’s Reserve Officers Training Corp (ROTC), along with Junior ROTC members from Eleanor Roosevelt High School, in Greenbelt, worked together to install the garden.

“To me, I thought it was really important for Army ROTC

and the American Legion to be connected within our community, just because like military backgrounds, it's always good to have some mentorship and be connected with your community,” said Aubrey Hoover, a UMD ROTC member.

Students from Eleanor Roosevelt High School were forthcoming about why they volunteered on Good Neighbor Day.

“I'm just helping out our community because you know, as a JROTC, one of our key factors is community service … that's

one of our main pillars, which is what we're trying to express to our cadets,” said Tashane Freckleton.

Members of Post 217 planted and mulched alongside the volunteers, learning from each other as they bonded through

work, stories and shared sentiments.

Samuel Gamble, a 52-year-old veteran and member of Post 217, reflected on the day. “So, it’s not quite often that, you know, we get a camaraderie like this. So I enjoy it … it brings me back to those old memories … in the Army … people get together and get things done for the community,” he said.

Harlem Williams, 9, and UMD graduate student Moraynia Guo working together. ANTON VAN DE MOTTER

Volunteers from UMD’s Reserve Officers Training Corp (ROTC), along with Junior ROTC members from Eleanor Roosevelt High School, in Greenbelt, worked together to install the garden.

COLLEGE PARK WILD

Good berries, bad berries

By Rick Borchelt

Amockingbird staked out a deciduous holly at the corner of the house this week. The holly’s bearing heavily this year, filled with bright scarlet berries, and the mockingbird is going to make sure he has exclusive dibs on it through winter, until the berries are gone. Male mockingbirds set up territories so they can defend and protect bushes with edible berries during winter the same way they defend nest sites and females in the spring — with song and aggression displays, lifting their gray wings to expose the white patches as warning flags to other mockingbirds.

Mockingbirds, which are members of the thrush family, are so protective of holly bushes because the berries are a major food source for them during the winter. Like other thrushes we’re familiar with, they have a fruitrich diet as adults, which earns them the name frugivore — fruit eater. Some thrushes —notably wood thrushes, veeries and catbirds — are critically dependent on fruit as they fly south for the winter. Thrushes that spend the winter here — mockingbirds, along with robins, hermit thrushes and bluebirds — need berries to get them through the cold season. Native berries provide not just a sugar fix but also complex proteins and fats.

We have both evergreen and deciduous native hollies here. Our evergreen species, the American holly (Ilex opaca), is a common understory tree in Maryland, while our deciduous holly (Ilex decidua) — commonly known here as winterberry — is typically found in wetlands in our area. Berries of the deciduous holly are often featured in floral arrangements and wreaths this season.

But there are other, non-native berry producers that frankly are much more of a problem for frugivores than they are a help.

Chief among these bad berries producers are Asiatic bush honeysuckles, especially Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii). These shrubs have red berries that they often bear in abundance. Many wildlife ecologists fear that bush honeysuckle berries act as bird crack — they are high in sugar but low in nutrition. Migratory birds require a diet higher in fats that fuel their long flights to Central and South America; in contrast to those sugary crack berries, na-

tive berries offer balanced fats and fill this bill.

The New York Botanical Garden introduced Asian bush honeysuckles in the U.S. in 1898, and with their early spring flowers and red berries, they became popular — and widespread — during the 20th century. Ironically, Amur honeysuckle was originally touted by state and national wildlife officials as a good option for wildlife cover and food; indeed, the shrub was distributed for free to many homesteads and farms. Another bad berry that is even more sinister, one that actually poisons birds when they eat it, is the fruit of heavenly bamboo, also simply called nandina (Nandina domestica). Nandina is another Asian species that was deliberately introduced,, in

1804, into the U.S. horticultural trade. It is prized for ferny green foliage, brilliant fall color and abundant clusters of scarlet fruit, and you can readily find the shrub at many plant nurseries in growing zones 6 - 12. But nandina’s fruit and leaves contain cyanogenic glycosides, chemicals that convert to hydrogen cyanide when eaten. (Yes, the same cyanide that figures in so many whodunit crime shows and every other Agatha Christie novel.) Birds tend to bypass nandina berries as long as there are juicy native edibles around, but in

poor berry-crop years, or late in the winter when nutritious berries are no longer available, birds will turn to heavenly bamboo berries, even as a large serving can prove to be fatal.

Cedar waxwings, also a frugivore, seem to be especially vulnerable to nandina’s poison, though the leaves and berries are also toxic to other birds — and to dogs, cats, horses and even people. What to do about the bad berries? Amur honeysuckle should be cut back before the berries ripen, at the very least — and pulled or dug up if possible.

Nandina can still be enjoyed in the landscape if homeowners are diligent about removing those berry clusters that they probably bought it for in the first place. But all is not lost. The nandina berries make good holiday decorations, and if cut off before the new year, they’re unlikely to present a problem for hungry birds.

Bird migration in the fall is carefully timed so that they can take advantage of autumn berry crops. Early migrants hit the early berries — dogwood and spicebush. Later migrants dine on fruit that ripens later — persimmons, rose hips, viburnums. And the overwintering birds feast through the cold season on persistent fruit, like the hollies’ berries.

This delicate choreography, though, is coming undone because of climate change. Berries are ripening earlier, and birds that still arrive on their customary schedules may now find their usually filled native larders diminished or even fully depleted — so they turn to those less-nutritious, nonnative berries.

You can learn more about this complex relationship in a recent Audubon magazine article, which you can read at tinyurl.com/8uv83ajy

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

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Bad berries on Amur honeysuckle, left, and good berries on a native deciduous holly. RICK BORCHELT

Students struggle to find affordable housing in the city

By Auzinea Bacon

John Evans, who transferred to the University of Maryland (UMD) from a community college, in 2016, has struggled to find affordable housing in College Park since he landed here. He and his partner lived at The Alloy, on Berwyn House Road, until management at the complex increased rents by 11% and doubled the price of parking. Evans and his partner decided to trade proximity to the university for more manageable rent, and now live in a walk-up apartment at the Oasis Condominiums, on Tecumseh Street. They would have been paying $2,400 at The Alloy; their monthly rent at the Oasis is just under $1,800.

UMD students have struggled to find affordable housing that meets their needs for years, and this challenge has intensified as the city has grown.

Jennifer Lindstrom, manager for housing partnerships at the UMD’s Department of Resident Life, said that $500 would be a dream price for adequate housing, and that students should expect to pay anywhere from $600 to $800 monthly for a room in a house.

The state housing price index has increased by nearly 12% since 2021. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, fair market rents in College Park should be around $2,300 per month for a three-bedroom apartment. This is a steep price

to pay for college students without a steady income who may have to foot the bill for a range of other regular expenses, too.

In College Park, many apartments require a by-bed lease instead of a single lease that occupants share, Lindstrom said, noting that this is not always feasible for some students.

“Sometimes it’s more affordable for folks to have an apartment or a house lease that they can divide amongst a total number of people as opposed to an individual lease,” she said.

Lindstrom said that the offcampus housing office advises students who have an ideal home in mind to consider compromises.

“If they can only pay up to a certain amount, that might mean that they have to move their proximity, or the amenities might have to change,” she said. “Convenience is very expensive.”

The office manages a database that students can access to navigate options (ochdatabase. umd.edu).

Evans sees a lack of competition as a primary driver of highend development in the city.

“It really comes down to lack of competition and lack of will by the local and state governments to make changes to zoning,” he said.

Evans noted that because there are so many luxury apartment complexes under construction in the area, there may be a surplus of available units that leads to a reduction in demand and leading to increased competition among landlords to attract renters.

Michael Williams, the city’s economic development manager, said there are single family homes and luxury apartment buildings in each of the city’s 17 neighborhoods. While students find the luxury apartments appealing, these complexes are primarily intended for young professionals who are just entering or are established in the workforce, according to Williams.

Williams also noted that an apartment in College Park might carry a higher price tag than would a comparable unit elsewhere in the state.

“We probably look a bit more expensive because so many of the other colleges in Maryland

are in more suburban spaces,” he said.

Williams noted that there is housing in the city for renters who can’t afford luxury units with a full range of amenities, adding that while county regulations govern and in some cases also limit the amount of parking developers can provide, the city does have lots with available which offer monthly parking for renters, though for a fee.

Lindstrom, who has been with the university for 8 years, said that the growth rate of development in College Park is the highest she’s ever seen in College Park. Four new housing complexes are on track to open in fall 2023, and Lindstrom hopes that these new developments will face competition that prompts them to adjust their pricing.

“It’s my hope that with more beds available, prices will go down,” she said.

There are many pros and cons for students in College Park’s current housing climate. New apartments and stores open every year — the recent opening of Trader Joe’s, for example, is notable. Students can also expect to find housing close to their classes as new apartment complexes increasingly surround the university. But in their search for a perfect apartment, students often have to compromise on certain things — amenities or location, for instance — to afford rents.

Some new complexes, like EcoGrads, at Route 1 and Quebec Street, are owned by developers who claim they are trying to solve housing concerns. However, the initial proposal for the EcoGrads complex did not offer enough on-site parking spaces, which meant the developer would have to reduce the number of apartments to comply with county regulations.

Students continue to speak out about their frustrations with the lack of housing in the city that fits their budgets. Some have felt that newer complexes like Tempo and The Nine have not turned out to be as highend as advertised, but hope that more recently built complexes — perhaps EcoGrads and Aster — will offer a good range of amenities for lower rents.

UNSPLASH

ALVARADO

A second proposal, the Plan 3A map, was one of the redistricting commission’s original recommended maps and was the second option the council had been considering. The redistricting commission saw this plan as a good option, in that it would distribute the University of Maryland’s student population relatively evenly among the city’s four districts. While students count towards the city population, they are far less likely to vote than are permanent residents. This leads to an imbalance in participation, as districts with higher student populations will have lower voter turnout than districts with higher populations of permanent residents.

A number of residents voiced concerns at a public hearing that took place prior to the council’s Nov. 15 meeting.

Resident Mary King supported the Plan 3A map. ”I think it is sound in what the city needs,” she said.

Tanya Lervik, who also lives in the city, spoke in favor of the October Plan 1 map, noting that she does not want her district to change.

Each councilmember explained why they supported the October Plan 1 map. Councilmember Susan Whitney (District 2) also spoke against the Plan 3A map, noting that the map, had it been approved, would have unevenly distributed the city’s civic associations.

“The fact that so many civic associations would be concentrated in District 2 really shows an imbalance,” she said.

District 4 Councilmembers

Maria Mackie and Denise Mitchell believe that the October Plan 1 map is best for the city, but both were discouraged that their district will lose the Cherry Hill and Autoville neighborhoods to District 1 under that map.

“One of the reasons that Autoville and Cherry Hill will no longer be in District 4 is because they’re the means to allowing District 1 to come down into [areas with student housing]. I think that’s very important that people understand that,” Mackie noted. “Although I’ll be very sad to lose those two neighborhoods in my district, this isn’t just about me — this is about all of College Park.”

Councilmember Kate Kennedy (District 1) also supported the October Plan 1 map, though she expressed concern that District 1 would have a disproportionately high number of active voters. She said this

District 1 City Councilmembers Fazlul Kabir and Kate Kennedy at city hall. ANTON VAN DE MOTTER

may discourage residents in the district from running for council against incumbents, as campaigning would call for knocking on more doors in the district.

“We’re doing a disservice to our [District 1] residents to have so many active voters in that district,” Kennedy said. District 3 stood to be divided by the commission’s original maps, but the October Plan 1 map hardly changes the district’s borders at all. Councilmember John Rigg (District 3) surmised that most people will be satisfied that the city’s core neighborhoods will remain intact.

“October Plan 1 seems to receive a lot more support from people who’ve been speaking with us in public session, but also in private conversation, since these were announced,” he said.

Councilmember Llatetra Brown Esters (District 2) added that she wants students to become more involved with the council in hopes that more of them will choose to vote, too; this could lead to more balanced distribution of voters among the districts.

“Despite whatever this redistricting plan becomes, I do hope that students will get

involved in voting, as they live in the city, and we want them to have more of a voice,” Brown Esters noted.

Under provisions of the new map, District 1 will include Hollywood, Edgewood and most of Daniels Park, with the additions of Cherry Hill and Autoville. The northern boundary of the district is unchanged, extending to the city limits just north of Interstate 495.

District 2 will continue to include Berwyn, Lakeland, Branchville and a portion of Daniels Park. The October Plan 1 map adds portions of the university’s campus to the district, including the engineering buildings, the farm and some student housing. The portions of south campus currently in District 2 will be redesignated to District 4.

District 3’s boundaries remain largely unchanged. The district will include Old Town, Calvert Hills, Yarrow, College Park Estates, the Lake Artemesia area and the College Park Airport.

decision to temporarily close his restaurants due to the pandemic, like so many other restaurant owners, his main concern was not about losing business but rather his employees.

“When you make a decision to close or to open a restaurant, you have a lot of people that [your employees] support,” said Alvarado.

Alvarado credits his employees with the success of his restaurants, all of which have reopened. He goes the distance to treat his employees fairly and well, noting that some of his employees are single mothers — he happily welcomes the kids to hang out in his restaurants while their moms are at work. Alvarado emphasized that he sees his employees as his equals.

“I feel very happy when we get recognized, and people say this is the best El Salvadorian eatery, best Mexican place, it’s the best Latin American place in the area,” he said. “It’s very good when people recognize your effort, your work ethic, the successful of the business, but me particularly, I am very focused on the communities,” he added. “After 22 years working in the restaurant industry, I want to make all the negatives that I passed throughout; I want to make a little positive.”

Alvarado, who has lived in the area for several years, is eager to contribute to his Hyattsville and College Park communities beyond providing food. He believes his experience could be valuable to newcomers in the restaurant industry and envisions mentoring individuals, including partnering with the University of Maryland (UMD) and Catholic University. And he is ready to contribute in more fundamental ways, too.

“If there is any institution or any people who need my support with money or with food or a special request for older

people, or any kind of situation,” he said, “I am more than able to do it.”

Gloria Aparicio Blackwell, director of UMD’s Office of Community Engagement, attested to Alvarado’s generosity and sense of community.

“You can pick up the phone and say ‘Hey Carlos. I have this situation,’” Blackwell said. “And without any hesitation, he will say ‘Tell me, Gloria. What is it you want me to do?’” Blackwell said that Thanksgiving has always been a centerpiece for Alvarado. “He’s there to provide that kind of assistance,” she added.

At Thanksgiving, patrons who ordered meals online from Cocineros instead received meals as gifts from Alvarado.

Comedor San Alejo and Cocineros are located on EastWest Highway, in Hyattsville, and Taqueria Habanero is at 8147 Baltimore Avenue, right across from The Varsity apartments.

"I feel very happy when we get recognized, and people say this is the best El Salvadorian eatery, best Mexican place, it’s the best Latin American place in the area. It’s very good when people recognize your effort ... but me particularly, I am very focused on the communities."

Carlos Alvarado

University group brings twist to Shakespeare

By Aanisah Husain

The University of Maryland’s Shakespeare theater group, the Maryland Shakespeare Players (MDSP), offers a creative twist to Shakespeare’s timeless plays. Their latest production, “Twelfth Night”, was set in 1970s California. Jack Benedict, a senior economics major who directed the production, said it includes “a lot of mayhem, cross dressing, gender swapping and love triangles.

“What’s so wonderful about Shakespeare is that his language is so fluid that we can allow [a change] to happen, and we can make that change without it impacting the plot and messaging detrimentally,” he said.

The group’’s production ran in the Kogod Theatre at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center from Dec. 1 to Dec. 3.

“Everything that we cut, everything that we add, every change that we make, we think out very thoroughly to make sure it makes sense for our setting and our vision,” said Liam O’Donoghue, MDSP treasurer and a junior mechanical engineering major.

MDSP is a student-run theater group that has been performing studentproduced and student-directed Shakespearean plays at the university for about 17 years. The group attracts not

only theater majors, but also students on many different academic tracks.

“It’s become a special thing … it’s a way for all these people who wouldn’t

really be given the chance to interact with normally outside of this space [to] come together over theater,” O’Donoghue said.

According to stage manager Alana Isaac, the group is highly focused on creating a “fun, carefree environment.”

“What’s nice about MDSP is that it’s not only that everyone has to be professional all the time,” said Isaac, a sophomore theater major. “It’s not always work all the time. It’s a lot of focus on having fun and getting to know each other.”

O’Donoghue added, “We expect a lot from our actors, [but] we expect people to have fun and goof around just a little bit.”

Zoe Gallagher, who is MDSP’s event administrator and a senior public policy major, is a newly minted fan of Shakespeare’s work.

“Every time you read the script, you discover something else, or you discover another joke that you might have missed just because the language is antiquated,” she said

Benedict noted that being involved with MDSP has been a high point of his time at UMD and motivated him to do even more with the group.

“MDSP has had such a positive impact on my college experience, and I wanted to do something greater,” said Benedict. “I just felt once I was involved with MDSP, I thought it was such a good community that I at least wanted to give something more than I had before.”

Mikey Howerton playing Malvolio. ANTON VAN DE MOTTER