03-2023 The College Park Here & Now

Mayor Wojahn resigns

By Alice Carlson

College Park Mayor Patrick Wojahn was arrested March 2 on charges related to the possession and distribution of child pornography. Prince George's County Police Department (PGPD) announced the arrest in a statement released that afternoon.

Wojahn was elected mayor of College Park in 2015. In February, he was elected chair of the National League of Cities University Communities Council. He resigned from office the night before his arrest.

On Feb. 17, The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children became aware

SEE MAYOR ON 5 

Working for a healthier watershed History

By Alice Carlson

Anacostia Riverkeeper is a non-profit organization dedicated to making the river a safe and fun place for all those who live near the watershed, said Trey Sherard, who has been a member of the group since 2011. He has a hand in bringing in volunteers to help keep the river at its best.

As part of that effort, the organization has installed a series of litter traps along

By Braden Hamelin

A frigid wind swept through a small crowd on a Saturday in mid-February as they stood next to the runway at the College Park Airport. They excitedly pointed to the sky as they spotted a single-engine plane piloted by Caleb Smith, who made history in November 2021 by becoming the youngest glider pilot ever licensed in the country at that time.

Smith landed safely and carefully completed his post-flight maintenance before he made his way into the airport’s aviation museum’s conference room to

loud cheers.

Smith has been passionate about flying for as long as he can remember. As a young kid, he loved to sit in a window seat right behind the wing when his family flew commercial so he could look at the wing flaps. He was fascinated. When he was 10 years old, his father, Chazz Smith, took him on several flights designed to introduce him to some of the technical aspects of flying. Caleb Smith was more than enthusiastic.

“There was that drive for him that said, ‘man I wanna do this,’” Chazz Smith said.

Caleb Smith is down to earth, a hum-

ble teenager who just happens to have a true passion and talent for flying.

“I don’t let it get to my head — I just keep going, keep pursuing. It just came to be that I was the youngest glider pilot in the nation at that time,” Caleb Smith said. “And when I first heard about it, it was pretty amazing.”

Chazz Smith said he realized his son was extraordinary after having conversations with Caleb’s flight instructors, when his son was 15.

“I knew he had a skill set of becoming a good pilot. But once his senior aviators

Caleb Smith speaks at

County council passes temporary 3% rent cap

By Joe Murchison

As of the middle of April, Prince George’s County renters will not be subject to any rent increases greater than 3% for a period of one year.

The county council passed this rent-stabilization law on Feb. 28, to take effect 45 days after it is signed by County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. She was expected to sign the bill by March 6, according to the office of County Councilmember Krystal Oriadha (District 7), who spearheaded the bill.

The law will apply to about one-third of the county’s residents, as the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that 37% of county dwellings are rentals.

The council, which passed the measure on a 9-1 vote after more than 100 people crowded the room for a public hearing that lasted more than three hours, made clear that they in-

tend to spend the coming year crafting another measure to replace it. “We know that this is not a long-term solution,” Oriadha said. “This is to stop

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Library story time continues to build children's early literacy skills

Dear Editor,

Many of the children who have attended story time at the College Park Community Library over the years are aging out of the program. We're hoping to bring in new families eager to join our gatherings. Story time will continue on a regular schedule; we meet on Wednesdays at 10:00 am at the library, which is located at the Church of the Nazarene, 9704 Rhode Island Avenue. In good weather, we sit outside on the lawn, but when the temperature dips below 55 or it is raining, we meet in the Blue Room on the lower level of the church. Story

time is targeted to toddlers and preschoolers, 18 months to 3 years, but children of all ages are welcome, including infants and older siblings.

There are many reasons to bring your child to story time. Our program helps children develop early literacy skills they’ll need when they begin formal instruction in reading. We read books, of course, and we also sing and offer other musical activities. Singing is a natural way for children to learn about language; songs help children learn the distinct sounds that make up words, a valuable prereading skill to have. Musical

Managing Editor Mark Goodson mark@streetcarsuburbs.news

Associate Editor Nancy Welch nancy@streetcarsuburbs.news

Writers & Contributors Rick Borchelt, Alice Carlson, Micki Freeny, Maxine Gross, Braden Hamelin, Jackie Kelly, Matt Menke, Joe Murchison, Lauren Reeder, Paul Ruffins, Kit Slack

Layout & Design Editors Ashley Perks, Valerie Morris

the bleeding.”

“People are hurting in our community,” agreed Councilmember Eric Olson (District 3). “So we need to act.”

Calondra Young testified that she and her grandmother had been forced out of their Laurel apartment in 2021 by rent increases, resulting in her being homeless for a year.

Rose Thompson, a 65-yearold Laurel resident, said she had lived in her apartment on 11th Street for 25 years when a new landlord doubled her rent. The landlord later decided to reduce the increase when CASA and two city councilmembers intervened, but that adjustment was only to last a year, she said. “My time is about up. … I’m asking where I can go and how to pay rent, eat, pay gas and electric, and put gas in my car.”

dress

Web Editor Jessica Burshtynskyy

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advertising@streetcarsuburbs.news

301.531.5234

activities, such as those we do with shaker eggs and scarves, help children develop motor skills as they clap, stomp and wiggle to the music. Story time is often very young children’s first opportunity to socialize with others, and families build friendships with others in attendance.

Micki Freeny, the library’s story-time programmer, has decades of experience in presenting programs for young children and educating parents about the importance of early literacy. She formerly worked for both the Prince George’s County Memorial Library and the D.C. Public Library.

Thank you, Jackie Kelly

Advertising Sales Manager Miranda Goodson

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

The one vote against was by Councilmember Mel Franklin (At-Large), who said such rent caps don’t work and were being abandoned by the few jurisdictions across the country that had adopted them. Councilmember Ingrid Watson (District 4) was absent. Franklin, along with Councilmembers Calvin Hawkins (AtLarge) and Sydney Harrison (District 9), had unsuccessfully introduced an alternative antigouging bill that would have capped rent increases at 20% and created a rental assistance fund. He said all landlords should not be punished for the exorbitant rent hikes of, in his words, a few “bad actors.”

The new law exempts rental units from the cap during their first five years of use. Apartments that are part of a government affordable-housing subsidy program, such as federal Section 8 would also be exempt.

Dozens of renters from across the county attended the Feb. 28 hearing to testify in favor of the law, many wearing T-shirts emblazoned with Stop Rent Hikes; the shirts were supplied by CASA de Maryland, an immigrant advocacy organization. Most dramatically, Jeanette Kenne, of Chillum, said that she had fallen behind in rent during the pandemic because her cleaning clients wouldn’t allow her in their homes, and she faces eviction. “Today is the last day for me,” she said. “The property manager asked me to hand in the keys. I don’t know where I will be.” (After Kenne’s testimony, Oriadha came down from the dais and conferred with her quietly as other people continued testifying.)

Kia Jefferson, of Laurel, said she had received a notice of an $800 rent hike less than a month before it was due. Again, the landlord agreed to lower the increase for a year, but without longer-term guarantees.

Eddie Mallorca, of Laurel, said he had received a notice for a $370 rent increase. He came to Laurel 20 years ago, after fleeing the poverty and danger of his native country, he said. “Now I’m asking not to have to run again from Prince George’s County.”

Jerome Shipp, an employee of the City of Hyattsville Department of Public Works, said his Bladensburg apartment complex had hit him with a rent increase from $900 to $1,139. “Jobs don’t increase salaries to pay the rent,” he said. He added that his truck was in the shop, he was getting around on a bicycle and was now putting in hours for DoorDash in order to keep up with the rent hike.

Deloris Prioleau told of a $400 to $500 rent hike at her senior apartment complex in Upper Marlboro. “Seniors on fixed incomes cannot afford to pay increases of over 4 to 5%,” she said. Some of the residents are now turning to food banks for the first time, she added. Elected officials from three municipalities supported the renters’ pleas.

Hyattsville City Councilmember Danny Schaible (Ward 2) noted that more than half of that city’s residents are renters. “In 2018, 43% of our renters were considered costburdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on rent.” These renters are “one misstep away from displacement, eviction or homelessness,” he said. Schaible added

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More than 100 people jammed the chambers of the Prince George's County Council to support and oppose the rent-cap law. JOE MURCHISON

Trolley trail extension coming

By Kit Slack

Wondering why construction has narrowed Rhode Island Avenue to one lane between Melrose Skatepark and the Hyattsville courthouse?

The answer: The state highway administration is extending the Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail a half mile south from its current endpoint, which is across the street from Arrow Bicycle and next to Go Brent Realty.

When construction is finished, pedestrians and cyclists will be able to travel on a 10-foot-wide trail along the train embankment on the northbound side of the road. According to the Maryland Department of Transportation website, the new trail will stretch from Farragut Street to Charles Armentrout Drive.

Grass buffers, ranging from five to eight feet wide, will protect trail users from Route 1 traffic — extra safety for children and beginning cyclists. At bus stops, pullout lanes will replace the grass buffer. Route 1 will be reduced to one travel lane northbound, with turn lanes as well as the bus pullouts.

The narrowing of the road may slow car traffic coming into Hyattsville, giving motorists more time to notice small businesses lining the street. Those businesses include Shortcake Bakery, Maryland Meadworks, Pizza Paradiso, Streetcar 82 Brewing and five automotive shops.

The new trail should be finished by the end of 2023.

In the meantime, Cheryl Harrington, who owns Shortcake Bakery, worries that some may not know she is still open. Her bakery is near the intersection of Rhode Island Avenue and Charles Armentrout Drive, where construction has been heavy as new curbs and crosswalks are being put in place.

“People are confused by this intersection anyway, and then you add to that the construction and they are just not sure.” Still, she says, getting in and out of her business is already safer for cars now that clearer traffic signals have been installed. Both Harrington and Ken Carter, who

owns Maryland Meadworks, say construction crews have been great about getting everything cleared out and put back together so that customers can get to them by Thursdays, when both businesses open for the weekend.

Carter, a long-time advocate of the project, has been impressed with the construction’s rapid daily progress. According to Hyattsville Transportation Manager Taylor Robey, current work involves upgrading drains and digging trenches for electrical conduit.

The new trail will connect the Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail, which runs through Hyattsville and College Park, with the Anacostia River Tributary Trail system. It will also make for quicker connections to trails like Sligo Creek Trail, which winds through Takoma Park and Silver Spring, all the way up to Wheaton Regional Park. The improved trail will also connect to trails along the Anacostia that run from Bladensburg Waterfront Park down to Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.

Area residents will now be able to bike from Fairland Regional Park, outside of Laurel, all the way to the Navy Yard neighborhood on Capitol Hill in the District. Parts of the trail follow the trolley route that connected Laurel to the District from 1902 to 1948.

Hyattsville’s advocacy for the project began in 2015, and the groundbreaking took place at the end of June 2022.

According to the state highway administration, the project will cost $6.4 million. Concrete General, Inc., of Gaithersburg, is the contractor.

The trail extension project will put the focus on bicycles on a stretch of Route 1 once famous for its auto industry, adding to the bike-friendly reputation established by Arrow Bicycle, College Park Bikes and the annual Cyclocross bike race.

“This is going to be great for Hyattsville, increase bike commuting and be good for our customer base,” Carter said.

The extension will allow College Park residents to bike directly to the District, too.

The end of the Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail, soon to be extended further south. COURTESY OF KIT

the Anacostia. There are three such traps in Prince George’s County, including one in College Park that is installed in Guilford Run, right behind the Herbert Wells Ice Rink. All three traps in the county are maintained by The Stream Team, which is an offshoot of Joe’s Movement Emporium. Joe’s formed The Stream Team, in 2018, to address a range of environmental issues in the county. In addition to working with Anacostia Riverkeeper, the team’s volunteers also collaborate with the City of Mount Rainier, the Prince George’s Department of Environment, the Maryland National-Capital Park and Planning Commission, and the Chesapeake Bay Trust.

Kevin McNeill, supervisor and project coordinator for The Stream Team, noted that the floating debris traps are designed to spare aquatic wildlife.

“College Park residents should be proud to know that there is a litter trap in existence in their town/city as it's one of the first communities in the county to have one

installed,” McNeill wrote in an email. “The next step is to raise awareness of why these traps are necessary and get community members involved in slowing down if not stopping the issue. Litter and pollution are pandemics in themselves, we the people have the power to change this,” he added.

In addition to taking action to enhance the health of the

river, Anacostia Riverkeeper also promotes public education about the importance of waterways. Boat tours of the river are one of the organization’s popular activities, Sherard said.

“People are physically cut off from the river, which is a problem, because then you have to be going there on purpose to see it. So they don't have a relationship with it. A big part of

what we do is we create opportunities for people to connect with the river. The boat tours are one of the really fun ways that we do that,” he said.

The organization also sponsors Friday night fishing during summer months. While it is not yet safe to consume fish caught in the Anacostia, these fishing events provide another opportunity for public education, as Sherard noted.

Anacostia Riverkeeper is also promoting passage of a bottle bill that would place a point-of-sale deposit fee on plastic, glass and aluminum beverage containers. Similar bills in many other states have been shown to be highly effective at promoting recycling and reducing waste, both in landfills and in the environment. Anacostia Riverkeeper also sponsors cleanups, popular and productive events that bring out hundreds of volunteers and result in tons of trash being removed from the river each and every year. These cleanups take place at least once a month.

Guilford Run and Paint Branch creek are both tributaries of the Anacostia River. They add to the city’s natural beauty and provide recreational opportunities for city residents and UMD students alike — and we can, in turn, do our part to keep these waterways pristine. Anacostia Riverkeeper offers many opportunities to volunteer and is eager to work with College Park residents. For more information about organization and to explore volunteer opportunities with them, go to anacostiariverkeeper.org.

A Bandalong Litter Trap in College Park’s Guilford Woods. COURTESY OF DAN BEHREND

MAYOR

of a social media account operating in the county that was distributing child pornography and notified PGPD, according to a news release issued by the police department following the arrest. The account was identified as belonging to Wojahn; the investigation is ongoing.

The city council also held an emergency meeting and voted to remove Wojahn from all boards and committees on which he served. The city also released a statement on the mayor's resignation which included a letter Wojahn addressed to the council and city manager. “While this investigation does not involve any official city business of any kind, it is in the best interests of our community that I step aside and not serve as a distraction,” Wojahn wrote, adding, “I have great trust in the ability of Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell, the City Council, and our staff to carry forward what we have accomplished.”

Mitchell will serve as mayor pro tem until a special elec-

tion is held. The city’s election supervisors will schedule that election; by city charter,

the special election must take place within 65 days. The winner will serve as mayor until the

general election in November. The city will post details about the special election, including

THE MARKET IS MOVING!

candidate packets and voting information, on its website (collegeparkmd.gov).

The spring market is here and things are heating up - no doubt about it I listed one of these homes at the end of January and the other at the beginning of February. Both went under contract within a week with multiple offers If you ' ve been holding off on listing your home until the market perks up, now ' s the time to consider your options I offer:

Thinking about your next move? Give me a call. I'm here to help!

College Park’s

State Legislators

We appreciate the opportunity to represent you in the Maryland legislature. And we hope you can join us and other College Park neighbors Monday evening, March 27, 6 to 8 pm, at Market House at 25 Market Space, near the Annapolis dock, for good food and good fellowship.

Join us for dinner in Annapolis March 27!

To RSVP, use our QR code, go to neartail.com/us/21districtnight or call (240)712-4646 to reserve your seat.

We’ll be joined by other state and local leaders who represent College Park.

If you'd like to come early, we will arrange a tour of the State House. If you'd like to stay after dinner, you can see the Senate or House in action at 8 pm, just let us know.

And, if you just want to come to dinner by bus with College Park neighbors, reserve your seat when you RSVP

Finally, if you have questions, just email 21stDistrictDelegation@gmail.com

We look forward to seeing you!

— Jim, Joseline, Ben and Mary

started talking to me offline about his skills, that’s when I really knew,” Chazz Smith said.

Now a junior in high school, Caleb Smith, who lives in Prince George’s County, has been training at the College Park Airport to earn his single-engine private pilot license. Indeed, he was training on that frigid Saturday when the excited crowd watched him touch down.

Despite his otherworldly skills in the sky, Caleb Smith’s speaking appearance that day, his first major presentation, was completely down to earth. College Park Aviation Museum Director Kevin Cabrera was at least as excited as the crowd that watched Caleb Smith land.

“The airport and the museum is known as the field of the first, and we call it the field of the first because you’ve had so many firsts in aviation occur out of this airfield,” Cabrera said.

Cabrea said the museum is revamping its exhibits with a focus on important people in

aviation who have ties to College Park and Prince George’s County. He noted that there will be a gallery dedicated to the history of Black aviation, a history that Caleb Smith is actively contributing to with his every accomplishment.

Caleb Smith also serves as a mentor to a number of young Black kids who are interested in aviation, and two of them were at the airport that day.

“I remember my first mentee a couple of years ago was that little girl that came up, and it was a little strange for me to teach,

but I liked it,” Caleb Smith said, “So I grew a passion for teaching others how to fly.”

Caleb Smith said he wants to be an example for people who want to follow his footsteps, proof of concept that dedication and passion can help you achieve your goals.

“For those [people] who don’t know what they want to do with their life. I just want to make sure and let them know that they can explore out to see different avenues and see what passions they have,” Caleb Smith said.

that the Hyattsville City Council has been working on rentcap legislation of their own.

Bladensburg City Councilmember Jocelyn Route (Ward 1) also urged passage. “My residents have been affected greatly by rent gouging,” she said, telling of an 80-year-old constituent who was evicted after her rent was doubled to $1,500. City officials were able to negotiate a lower increase and return the woman to her home.

Laurel City Councilmember Martin Mitchell (At-large) brought a petition of support signed by 142 residents.

In addition, Shannon Mouton, executive director of Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services (LARS), spoke in favor of the measure. She said LARS was on track to spend $600,000 toward eviction prevention during the year ending on June 30. “Remember, the best way to prevent homelessness is to keep people in the homes they already have,” she said.

People testifying against the bill also numbered in the dozens. Gabrielle Duvall, executive vice president and general counsel of Southern Management Companies, told the council that her county-based business manages 11,027 rental units in Prince George’s County – 1,000 of them in the city of Laurel. She said that the average rent increase for these homes during the past year was only 2.59%. She also noted that 8.9% of its tenants, in 981 homes, were delinquent in rent payments by more than 60 days.

After the hearing, Duvall said that rent caps are counterproductive because they reduce the supply of rental housing, as investors avoid the jurisdiction and landlords convert apartments to condos or to other uses. She noted that a rent cap in St. Paul, Minn., drove down the number of residential building permits

in that city from 1,391 in April 2021 to 200 in April 2022.

Dean Hunter, CEO of the Small Multifamily & Rental Owners Association, said 40% of the county’s rental housing is held by landlords who own fewer than 25 units, and these individuals and families are trying to cope with rising costs of supplies, labor, property taxes and utilities. He said an example of the law’s unfairness was that it would allow him to levy only a $45 rent increase for a unit that he needed to repair after a renter did $1,500 in damage.

Carl Starling, who owns two rental units in College Park, said, “I’m being pushed out of the market because of this legislation.”

Boyd Campbell agreed. The real estate broker, who has served on a number of affordable housing task forces at both the county and state levels, said he owned two rental units to help with his retirement. “I feel I’m being personally attacked by this bill. You’re going to chase people like Boyd Campbell out of the county. I’ll sell everything I have and buy in Charles County.”

Terry Sween testified that his Minnesota-based company, Dominium, which specializes in building lower-thanmarket-rate housing through contracts with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, would not be able to continue doing business in Prince George’s County under a rent-cap system. Dominium is currently constructing 245 apartments in Landover Hills for which no renter will be charged more than 30% of their income, he said.

Under the new law, landlords violating the cap will be subject to a $500 fine for the first offense and $1,000 for each subsequent infraction. Oriadha noted that if a rent cap is retained after this law sunsets in a year, the county will need to hire personnel to enforce it.

Caleb Smith, who was once the world’s youngest glider pilot, speaks with fans in College Park. COURTESY OF PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION

College Park Aviation Museum Director Kevin Cabrera said the museum is revamping its exhibits with a focus on important people in aviation who have ties to College Park and Prince George's County. He noted that there will be a gallery dedicated to the history of Black aviation.

COLLEGE PARK POST

City of College Park Summer Scholarships Now Open

Youth in grades K-12 for the 2023-2024 school year that live in the City of College Park are eligible to apply

The City of College Park’s annual summer camp scholarship applications are now open!

Youth (rising K-12) who reside in the City of College Park are eligible to apply. Scholarships are granted up to a maximum of $400 per student. Students are eligible to receive a scholarship for one camp session only. Priority is given to youth who did not receive a City of College Park scholarship in previous years.

In the past two years, the City extended the use of the scholarship to include camps hosted by Prince George’s County Department of Parks & Recreation and Prince George’s Community College. The option is available again for summer 2023.

Scholarship applications are due by Friday, April 14, 2023 at 5:00pm. Apply now at www.collegeparkmd.gov/ SummerCampScholarship2023.

For updated information and details on camps offered by each organization, please visit their individual websites listed below.

Please note that updated summer camp information may not be available currently. Some camps are still finalizing plans for the summer. Please check the websites frequently for updates.

Camp Website Information:

• University of Maryland: https://search.umd. edu (Go to search, type in “2023 Summer Camps”)

• Prince George’s County Department of Parks & Recreation: http://www.pgparks.com

• Prince George’s Community College: https://www.pgcc. edu/summercamp/

Frequently Asked Questions:

• I have more than one child. Can each child be awarded a scholarship? Yes. However, please fill out a separate application for each child.

• My child is homeschooled, can I still apply? Yes, if the child is entering grade K-12 (2023-2024 school year) and lives in the City of College Park.

• How will I be contacted that I have or have not received the scholarship? You will be contacted by email or U.S. mail with the addresses you provided on your application about your child’s application status.

For a full list of Frequently Asked Questions, please visit www.collegeparkmd.gov/ SummerCampScholarship2023.

Photo Credits: (Header) TerpQuest Camp

(Above) Summer Reading Camp & M-Power UMD Summer Camp

Statement from Denise Mitchell, Mayor Pro Tem

Released March 2, 2023

Today has been a very difficult day for the residents, staff and elected officials in College Park. Like our community, we are shocked and disturbed by the arrest and charges filed against the former mayor. As this is an on-going and active investigation, the City will respect the judicial process and cooperate fully with the investigation.

While we continue to process everything that has happened today, City services and work cannot and will not stop. It is vital for our community and our residents to know that City services will continue to operate, uninterrupted.

The City’s Board of Election Supervisors will meet tomorrow to discuss the Special Election that will need to be held to fill the vacant Mayor’s seat, and we will update our community with this information next week. In the meantime, I encourage all residents to stay tuned to the City’s website and to like, follow and subscribe to City emails and official social media channels.

I thank our community for their support, and our staff for maintaining excellent City services today and every day. Thank you.

For all City statements, please visit www.collegeparmd.gov.

City Tree Programs

Interested in having a tree planted at your residence?

The City is gauging interest in a potentially new tree-planting program for residents. Planting is planned for the spring. If you are interested in having a tree planted on your property by a contractor, please complete the online form at www.collegeparkmd.gov/ TreeRequest.

Select “Tree planting on residential property” and fill out the remainder of the form or contact arborist@ collegeparkmd.gov.

Livable Community Action Plan

Give your feedback!

The Senior Advisory Committee and City staff worked with consultants through a grant from M-NCPPC. The consultants drafted an age-friendly livability action plan, based on AARP’s five domains of livability, which encompasses all residents of the College Park community, regardless of age. The Committee is collecting feedback on the Action Plan and would like to hear form you! To review the action plan visit www.collegeparkmd. gov/livablecommunity. Click the link to view the entire action plan on the right-hand side of the page. Comments and feedback may be emailed to: livablecommunity@ collegeparkmd.gov

Celebrating Women’s History Month

March is Women’s History Month!

Since 1911, International Women’s Day has been commemorated on March 8th. In March of 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation and declared the week of March 8 as “Women’s History Week.”

After being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress expanded the week into a month in 1987 and designated March as “Women’s History Month.”

While many achievements have been accomplished with the support of women around the world, women have historically been discriminated against because of their gender. The holiday celebrates the contributions women have made throughout history to break down barriers of sexism.

All month long, the City of College Park City Councilwomen will share their stories and reflections on women empowerment.

Be sure to follow the City of College Park on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to hear their stories!

City Announcements

More information: www.collegeparkmd.gov

CURBSIDE FOOD SCRAP COLLECTION

The tonnage of food scraps collected for composting has significantly increased since curbside collections have begun. This demonstrates that as diversion methods are simplified, participation increases.

Each of us can make a difference! Join the program at www. collegeparkmd.gov/foodscraps.

City residents can join the program by signing up and purchasing containers at www.collegeparkmd. gov/curbsidecollectionapp. Once you pick up your containers, your collection service will start the following week.

CITY GENERAL ELECTION

The next City general election for Mayor and Councilmembers will take place this fall. In addition to Vote-By-Mail, the City will offer Early Voting at City Hall and Davis Hall during the two weeks prior to the election. Election Day is on Sunday, November 5, at the College Park Community Center.

Candidacy packets for residents interested in running for office in the general election will be available in July. In the fall of 2022, the City’s Board of Election Supervisors mailed postcards to all households in the City requesting participation in a resident survey regarding City elections. When the survey closed in early January, 233 responses had been received. Although the response was low, there were some informative takeaways.

Residents who responded said they were interested in having more candidates to choose from when they vote, and in receiving more information about the candidates who are running. Direct mail was seen as the best way to receive information about elections. Voting by mail and Early Voting were chosen as the preferred voting methods.

The complete survey results and responses to the questions are available at www.collegeparkmd. gov/ElectionSurveyResults2023.

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

COLLEGE PARK PARADE

Join the City of College Park on May 6, 2023 at 10:00am to celebrate our community! Spectators can line up along Rhode Island Avenue to see local groups, organizations, entertainers, performers, and more!

We need you! Register your band, group, club, school, organization, business, classic car, equestrian club, or performer today. The deadline to participate is April 28, 2023. To register (and for rules and regulations), please visit: www.collegeparkmd.gov/ paradeentries2023.

Want to volunteer? Sign up today to be notified when volunteer positions become available (including those for SSL hours) at www.collegeparkmd.gov/ volunteers.

FREE WOOD MULCH FOR CITY RESIDENTS

The Department of Public Works is giving away free wood mulch to City residents! Proof of residency is required. Pick up material at Public Works, 9217 51st Ave., College Park, Monday -Friday, 8am to Noon and 1-3pm.

SMARTLEAF COMPOST AND WOOD MULCH

Get your garden ready with Smartleaf Compost and Wood Mulch from the Department of Public Works!

Deliveries resume in March, or material can be picked up Monday through Friday from 8:00-11:30am and 1:00-3:00pm. Visit collegeparkmd.gov/compost or call 240.487.3590 for more information.

CLEAN UP SATURDAYS

The City of College Park Public Works facility will be open on April 1, 15*, 29, and May 13 for City residents to drop off bulky trash, white goods, electronics recycling, brush, and yard trim. Document shredding will be held on April 15 only. You must be a resident of the City of College Park and bring proof of City residency to participate. Bulk trash brought on clean up days does not count toward bulk trash limits, nor are any fees applied for appliances, televisions, or monitors; $4 fee for tires. For more information, visit www.collegeparkmd.gov/ CleanUpSaturdays.

Start Your Seedlings

prepare for early-season planting

With spring approaching, it is time to prepare for early-season plantings. Many native plant seeds can be sown directly into the ground in spring or fall, depending on their germination needs. Some more highly cultivated vegetable plants, however, may be more sensitive to cold. You can sprout these indoors and plant the seedlings outside in your garden beds (or larger pots) when the threat of freeze has passed.

It is best to plant seeds in small individual containers or compartments so that the roots of the plants do not tangle. An egg container with small holes poked in the bottom of the compartments for drainage is an ideal, cheap, and easy option. You can cover your container with clear plastic in order to help retain moisture and heat, but be careful to allow some air circulation to avoid oversaturation or mold. Start seeds in compost or a commercial potting mixture labeled peat-free. Peat moss, a key ingredient in many commercial potting mixtures, is harvested from peatlands to the detriment

of local ecosystems, reducing their carbon sequestering capacity and accelerating climate change. You can buy compost and backyard compost bins from the city. For details, see https://www. collegeparkmd.gov/compost.

After planting your seeds in their individual compartments and watering them, choose a place for your container(s) where they will receive light and will not be disturbed by children or pets. A south-facing window sill is ideal. Keep the seeds above 60 degrees Fahrenheit, do not allow the growing medium to dry out, and wait for your seeds to sprout. Note that different plants have different germination requirements. Some may need a cold dry or cold wet period before they will sprout. Others may require scarification to the outer hull with an acid or an abrasive. Be sure to follow the specific procedures appropriate to your plants.

From the City’s Committee for a Better Environment

No Mow April

Refrain from mowing your lawn in April to support pollinators!

The City of College Park and Bee City USA Committee encourage residents to refrain from mowing their lawns during the month of April to support local pollinators!

Pollinators are necessary for the reproduction of native plants as well as food crops, without them we wouldn’t be here! Participating in No Mow April is a small and easy step we can take to help earlyseason pollinators foraging for food sources and habitat.

Early spring is a critical time for pollinators and the plants on which they rely. By eliminating lawn mowing and avoiding the use of pesticides and herbicides in our lawns, we will allow these plants to flower and provide nectar and pollen that help native pollinator populations grow and thrive.

There is no registration for No Mow April -- the College Park City Council passed Resolution 22-R-13 to permanently designate April as No Mow Month and waive the tall grass enforcement for College Park residents during April.

Signage, denoting participation in No Mow April, is optional, and the City has a limited number of these colorful yard signs available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Residents who want to display support or help spread awareness of No Mow April may pick up a yard sign at Davis Hall, 9217 51st Ave, during business hours. Signs do not need to be returned at the end of the No Mow Month.

Interested in learning what more you can do to help our native pollinators? Visit www. collegeparkmd.gov/pollinators.

Watch for Baby Bunnies

Every year, there are at least a few calls for injured baby bunnies when the time comes for residents to cut their grass for the first time. It may be some time before we’re all warming up the lawnmower again, but it’s never too early to inform yourself on how to avoid disturbing a nest.

How do I identify a Rabbit nest?

Nests are made by our Native rabbit, the Eastern Cottontail Rabbit. Usually, they occur in tall grassy areas. The mother rabbit will scratch a shallow hole in the ground that she fills with her own fur and covers with dried vegetation. In your yard, this will look like a dead patch of grass.

Mother rabbits only feed their babies once at dawn and once at dusk. So, if you don’t see her checking on the nest, this is totally normal. The Mother rabbit doesn’t want to give away the location of her nest to predators. Scan your yard for any patches of these dead grass areas before mowing!

How long will they be nesting?

Breeding season for Cottontail’s are around February to September. About 16 days after birth, the “kits” or baby bunnies will be old enough to wander around the yard and forage independently. At around 21 days of age, they are no longer nursing. Baby bunnies that are at least 4 inches long are old enough to be on their own.

What can you do if you find a nest?

The first and most important thing to do is to leave the nest alone as much as possible. Baby bunnies are very delicate and are best cared for by their mother. If you need to cut your grass, mark the nest with a Cone, cover with a lawn chair, or any other item that marks the area to avoid mowing and doesn’t prevent the mother from checking on the babies. It’s ok to cut your grass, the mom won’t abandon the nest if you cut the grass in your yard. Try to keep your pets away from the nests. You can cover the nest during bathroom time for your pets, and then remove the cover when finished.

I’ve accidentally disturbed a nest, what do I do?

If the bunnies aren’t injured, return them to the nest and cover them back up with the material the mother had placed on top of the nest. Your scent on the bunnies will not stop the mom from returning to the nest, and remember, that mom only visits the nest twice a day. It will be uncommon for you to see her visiting the nest at all.

If there are injured bunnies, call Animal Control or, MD Dept of Natural Resources at 877-463-6497.

You can reach the City of College Park’s Animal Control officer during business hours via (240)375-3165 or at animalcontrol@ collegeparkmd.gov.

Check for baby bunnies in your yard before mowing

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

SAVE THE DATE

Meet Aisha Braveboy

Celebrate Women’s History Month at a program sponsored by PG Terps and featuring State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy. March 9 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the College Park Aviation Museum, 1985 Corporal Frank Scott Dr. To register, go to tinyurl.com/ hk62arpc

College Park Community

Library Book Club. The club will discuss The Cartographers, by Peng Shepard, on March 9 and Still Life, by Sarah Winman, on April 13. Both sessions at 7:00 p.m. Lower level of the College Park Church of the Nazarene. New members welcome! 9704 Rhode Island Ave. For more information, email Carol Munn at donkinc@msn.com

Oral Health Fair. Free oral health summit hosted by the Narratives and Medical Examination (NAME) project, with dental screenings and information available. Hyattsville Branch LIbrary, 6530 Adelphi Rd. March 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Kitchen Guild Open House. Visit the Riversdale House Museum and watch kitchen guild members cooking food that was popular in enslaved communities in the region in the 19th century. March 12 from noon to 3 p.m.; registration required by March 8. For more information, call 301.864.0420 or email riversdale@pgparks.com

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

The College Park Arts Exchange invites you to a free celebration of St. Patrick on March 17 at 7 p.m. Old Parish House, 4711 Knox Rd.

Harriet Quimby: Living History. Actress Sara Sincell will fly into the College Park Airport, portraying Harriet Quimby, the world’s first aviatrix. A living history demonstration will follow the flyin. March 18. Time TBD. Free museum admission to visitors coming to the fly-in. 1985 Corporal Frank Scott Dr. To register, go to pgparksdirect.com and search for keyword CPAM

Beech Tree Puppets. Visit the Old Parish House for a free

performance of Anansi and the Talking Melon, by Eric Kimmel. Recommended for all ages. March 18 at 3 p.m.

Virtual Book Club. The College Park Arts Exchange will lead virtual discussions of Christina De Stefano’s The Child is the Teacher on March 21 and Laila Lalami’s Conditional Citizens on April 18. Both sessions from 7 to 8:30 p.m. To join either/both Zoom sessions, email info@cpae. org

Early Easter Egg Hunt. The College Park Arts Exchange hosts an early Easter egg hunt at Duvall Field. Free. March 25 from 10 a.m. to noon. 9119 Rhode Island Ave.

Sock Monkey Workshop

Craftswoman Carol Petrucci hosts a workshop on making sock monkeys at the Old Parish House. $15 fee, materials provided. March 25 from 1 to 4 p.m. To register, email info@ cpae.org

Felting Workshop. Ingrid Hass hosts a felting workshop at the Old Parish House. April 1 from

Lose weight. Gain confidence.

If you’re considering weight loss surgery, the multidisciplinary team at Luminis Health is here to help. From your first consultation to keeping the weight off after surgery, our team will support you. At Luminis Health, you will find:

• Nutrition counseling: As your body changes, a dietitian helps create a personalized nutrition plan.

• Physical therapy: We designed a bariatric optimization program to help you prepare for and recover from weight loss surgery.

• Support groups: We offer support groups for patients to share their experiences. There’s no cost to attend.

1 to 5 p.m. $10 fee, materials provided. To register, email info@cpae.org

“When Aliens Fall From the Sky” Reading. Tony Awardwinning poet and performance artist Lemon Anderson returns to the stage in this one man show of autobiographical monologues. The Clarice Smith Center for Performing Arts. March 31 at 7 p.m. For tickets, email tickets-theclarice@umd. edu or call 301.405.2787

Azalea Classic. Start training now to participate in University Park Elementary’s 5K fundraiser. Starter gun will sound on April 29 at 9 a.m. For additional information and to register, go to azaleaclassic. com/contact

ONGOING

Friday Dance Workshops. Join instructor Karen Stewart, of Jessie’s Soul Line Dancers, every Friday from 10 to 11 a.m. for

Bouqu CLUB

The Little Walters Flower Farm Bouquet Club is designed for customers to experience the entire season of locally-grown flowers with a bouquet each month from April to August. Pick up your monthly bouquet on Saturdays at our farm located in the Hollywood neighborhood of College Park.

• Body contouring: If you have excess skin after surgery, we offer body contouring. Our plastic surgery team can remove excess skin and improve the shape of the supporting area.

• Leading technology: We stay at the forefront of bariatric surgery. This includes using robotic-assisted da Vinci® surgery. The benefits of this procedure include shorter hospital stays, less pain, faster recovery and more.

The Luminis Health Weight Loss and Metabolic Surgery program has locations in Annapolis, Lanham and Easton. To sign up for a free webinar with one of our surgeons, visit Luminis.Health/WeightLossSurgery or call 443-481-6699.

sites of care, including Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center, J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center and Pathways in Annapolis, as well as Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center and Doctors Community Rehabilitation and Patient Care Center in Lanham.

ON THE HOUSE

Water, water, everywhere

By Matt Menke

We’ve all seen it — those stains, trickles, puddles and outright floods in our basements after a heavy rain. Ruined finishes, dead appliances and mold aren’t far behind. As frustrating as the damage can be, homeowners can also face a dizzying range of opinions about possible fixes, too. And the advice you may receive? Whoever owns a backhoe thinks you should waterproof your foundation. The sledge hammer guy is happy to sell you a french drain. The drywall dude is eager to rip everything out and refinish your entire basement — again. What to do?

At first glance, waterproofing your foundation might seem like a silver bullet. Improving grading and drainage in your yard may be a better bet, though. Effectively managing stormwater outside can often dry things inside, and at a much lower cost.

Trying to find the source of the problem water is the first step. In the next hard rain, outside and watch exactly where water is coming from — and going. If water has already found a path below grade, you may never see a puddle outside afterward. Try to capture photos of how stormwater moves through your yard so you don’t have to rely on your

potentially frazzled memory once the sun’s out again. Getting a sure feel for how water moves across your yard can be key to figuring out how to manage the flow.

French drains typically address one problem: water running down your wall and across your floor — but they can create other problems, at the same time. Outdoor water suddenly has a direct path in, and that same path eventually will fill up with soil. Your sump pump might fail in a heavy thunderstorm, right when you need it most. All that water is still leaching minerals out of your masonry, and installing a French drain is no walk in the park. It also requires removing your basement finishes before it can be installed.

Remember that gravity is your friend. (And It’s free and never has a power outage)! The first rule of stormwater is that it falls from the sky. The second rule of stormwater is that it always flows to the lowest point — think of it as gravity in motion. Those mossy patio spots on your patio, those muddy spots where dirt and small debris wash up — all good clues about low spots.

Many of College Park’s older homes have had time for soil around the foundations to settle; builders didn’t systematically grade new neighborhoods

until relatively recently. Time, and established foundation plants, that lift the grade, often cause soil to slope towards, rather than away from foundation walls. And hardscaping — walkways, patios and driveways — can also settle over time and end up channeling water directly to your home. All of these issues, along with the increasingly strong storms we’re experiencing, add up to a sizable problem for many of us. Sizeable stormwater problems call for creative solutions. Once you have a good sense of how water flows through your yard, it’s time to think about grading soil away from your foundation. Grading is not rocket science, but it can be physically demanding, and the right degree of incline (a 6-inch drop across the first 10 feet from your foundation) is critical to achieving optimal results. Once you’ve considered the grading improvements you may benefit from, think about working with a landscaper who specializes in grading and drainage if you’re not up to all that work yourself. An experienced landscaper can often work around existing plants and trees, reset sunken hardscaping and create swales and culverts to direct water in a more constructive way. Imagine a stone in a stream, diverting the

flow of water around itself. And they may incorporate clay in their plans — in many instances, it’s a bit of a miracle worker — Clay is dense, so water tends to run off rather than sink into it, and it also wicks moisture from below that then can evaporate. Best not to place tarps or plastic sheeting below grade; while they may divert surface water, they also trap and hold moisture underneath. Drying the ground around your foundation between storms is a critical part of keeping your basement dry.

Window wells let light in, and they also allow ground water to evaporate before permeating your foundation. The metal wall of a window well should extend 4-6 inches above the grade to keep standing water and snowmelt out. You can top a window well with a rainproof cover so long as there is a sizable opening for air circulation, which is critical to that evaporation. Gravel in the well should ideally be 18 to 24 inches deep; this increases the surface area to evaporate moisture. Keeping the well clear of leaves and debris is essential. Ditto with floor drains in exterior stairwells. If your property has major challenges that are beyond your skillset — a steep hill directing water your way, for example, or a finished basement that’s

critical to your household — you may need to turn to not only a landscaper, but a contractor experienced in waterproofings. Be careful, be thoughtful, and ask questions. Get referrals from satisfied (or unsatisfied) friends in the neighborhood. Check listings in Washington Consumers’ Checkbook; their independent research is unbiased and their customer reviews can’t be gamed as with some other lists.

The Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Rain Check Rebate Program may be a resource, offering both solutions and savings. The program provides rebates on qualifying landscape projects that specifically reduce stormwater runoff. Rain gardens, rain barrels and installation of permeable surfaces (think driveways, walkways, patios) may qualify. The program offers a roster of approved contractors who’ve gone through their training program and will know how to tackle stormwater management on your property.

Knowledge brings power, and I hope that reading this column has been informative for you. So, what are you going to do? I hope you can't wait for the first big rain after the project, so you can go outside and watch your new systems work wonders. Let me know how your water works by emailing me at matt@ fivestarhomeinspection.net.

Matt Menke is a College Park resident and licensed Maryland home inspector.

Cherokee Lane Elementary showcases community school model

By Braden Hamelin

For the first time since the start of the pandemic, Cherokee Lane Elementary School students are back on the road, for field trips and other events co-sponsored with local organizations. As part of this program, Cherokee Lane is partnering with D.C. United to bring 100 students to a soccer game, one of a number of events that speaks to the reach of the model program, which Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) launched in 2019.

Cherokee Lane is one of nearly 100 public schools in the county designated as a community school. These schools serve as hubs that leverage local resources to turn the schools into community centers. Since becoming a community school, in 2019, Cherokee Lane Elementary has built a network of community partners that includes D.C. United, Redline Athletics and Artwork Now, according to Gesireth Mariscal, who coordinates the program at the school.

Some of the school’s partners, including D.C. United, host events that give stu-

Since becoming a community school, in 2019, Cherokee Lane Elementary has built a network of community partners that includes D.C. United, Redline Athletics and Artwork

Now, according to Gesireth Mariscal, who coordinates the program at the school.

dents opportunities to explore the community beyond the schoolyard. Mariscal noted that there are field trips scheduled for the next three months..

“This year, I think everyone’s really excited to finally be on the trip, especially after COVID[-19],” Mariscal said.

Mariscal says the partnerships can offer students experiences and exposure they normally might not have.

“As a community school coordinator we search out different vendors or businesses that are interested in partnering up with the school. … And then we get them to come into the school to help fulfill our needs. So at the beginning of the school year we do a needs assessment where we survey our community, our families, our staff, and see what’s really needed,” Mariscal said.

Cherokee Lane Elementary’s partners have helped with a range of issues, including food insecurity, and also offer kids with after-school sports programs.

“I think the kids are really starting to see the difference. They’re learning how to eat healthy. They have after-school activities; they have mentors they can reach out to; they have mental health support,” Mariscal said.

Cherokee Lane specialist teacher Amy Comisiak noted that the program strives to address changing needs within the community. Much of Comisiak’s work

focused on families who’ve just moved to the United States and often need help settling in. She works collaboratively with the community school team to boost families’ access to both educational and community resources.

“With collaboration with the community school funds, we’re gonna get to take 392 students on field trips to things they probably haven’t gotten to see before,” Comisiak said, “I know when I was a kid, my parents took me to museums and stuff, but when the cost of transportation is an issue, that’s where the school gets to step in and create experiences for them that they may not have gotten on their own.”

PGCPS sees the initiative as a blueprint for schools across the country; indeed, the enrichment program is proving to be successful and popular here in Prince George’s County. And as word of the program spreads, more community partners are eager to get on board.

“It seems like everybody wants to jump in and help, and that’s really cool,” Comisiak said.

LAKELAND'S LEGACY

Historic Lakeland’s ties to the university

By Maxine Gross

Lakeland is nestled between Paint Branch and Indian creeks, just northeast of the main entry to the University of Maryland (UMD), on Route 1. The university has benefited greatly from Lakelanders’ presence on campus — but has the university been a blessing for Lakeland? Much about the community's contributions to the university has been clear for decades, but the institution’s true impact on the lives of Lakelanders has only recently been brought to light and examined.

UMD Researchers and volunteers with the Lakeland Community Heritage Project (LCHP), an organization I helped found, are delving into this complicated relationship.

In 1965, I was a member of the first grade class at Lakeland Elementary School. My classmates and I grew up knowing that many of our parents and others in the community — and members of three or four previous generations of Lakelanders, too — worked at the university, or, as we said back then, “on the hill.” We knew how hard they worked, and we were proud of them. Our parents staffed kitchens and dining halls, drove trash trucks, kept the grounds, cleaned the buildings and moved furniture. More than a third of my first grade classmates’ families relied on income from the university. And even as so many Lakelanders worked at the university, none of them held professional or administrative posts there. Those positions were not open to African Americans.

The university had firm racial barriers in place back then, and Lakelanders, as African Americans, were not fully integrated in the institution’s culture. With so many adults from our neighborhood working on campus, we children were welcomed in the kitchens and storerooms where they spent their days, even as racism shaped the character of those places. Through the years, we kids learned a lot about our parents’ work at the university, but there were things they didn’t share, too. We rarely heard about their limited employment opportunities or low pay, and they shielded us from the demeaning incidents so many of them faced

on the job. Having steady employment mattered.

UMD researchers have recently begun to explore and acknowledge the many ways a legion of Lakelanders, along with other African Americans, contributed to the university’s history, and the university now belongs to a consortium, Universities Studying Slavery. According to the consortium’s website, members are “committed to research, acknowledgment, and atonement regarding institutional ties to the slave trade, to enslavement on campus or abroad, and to enduring racism in school history and practice.” As part of their work with the consortium, UMD launched The 1856 Project, an initiative designed to develop a deeper understanding of the university’s relationship to race and discrimination in higher education.

In the fall of 2022, and as part of The 1856 Project, Dr. Henry “Quint” Gregory’s students, along with university archivists, began to dig into records of Lakelanders employed by the university. (Gregory is director of UMD’s Michelle Smith Collaboratory for Visual Culture.) The students examined long-forgotten accounting ledgers and budgets in the university’s archives; LCHP volunteers have also studied these employment records of Lakelanders — and of their white counterparts, too. The papers list the names of people

who worked at the Maryland Agricultural College, (now the University of Maryland), their home addresses, and their positions and pay. Even as so many of our parents worked on campus, we were surprised to find how many Lakelanders actually were employed there; the familiar names of Bill and Charlie Dory, Chesley Mack, of course, but then so many others: Samuel Stewart, Ashby Tolson, Chesley Mack, Alice Nickens, Beatrice Thomas, Ben Briscoe, Richard Walls, John Spriggs, James Gray, Oscar Gray and Victor Randall — and many more, too. A whole community within the institution. Uncovering these names confirmed the stories we Lakeland children grew up with — all those tales of grandparents and great-grandparents who once worked on the hill.

Additional documents, including census records, confirmed the roles Lakelanders played at UMD. Even as many from our community worked for the railroad and streetcar operations, Lakelanders’ presence on campus was robust. Draft records from both World Wars show many Lakelanders employed there, and most households in Lakeland were connected to the

university throughout the 1900s.

By matching census information to old ledgers and documents, LCHP volunteers have been able to identify the race of individuals listed in those records. Putting together these puzzle pieces confirmed another truth: The type of work African Americans did and their pay levels were defined by race. By comparing the pay for the laborers at the university whom I could identify by race, I was able to determine that in the late 1910s, African American laborers earned an average of $361 annually, while whites in similar positions made an average of $588.

By the 1960s, African Americans working at the university were still in blue-collar jobs. Indeed, the 1963 copy of Polk's College Park, Hyattsville, Mount Rainier, and Riverdale City Directory showed nearly a third of Lakelanders working for the university, all of them confined to posts like cook, cleaner, chauffeur and gardener. Reading through that book, I see the names of members of my family and parents of my friends. What was work life like for these Lakelanders? Some of the university’s yearbooks bring campus culture into sharp focus. They include images that suggest how African Americans working on campus were viewed, images that hint at some of the treatment those employees endured. Some of those images are frightening and many are immensely dehumanizing. The yearbook collection depicts insulting characterizations of individual employees as well as broader racial and ethnic stigmatizations

of the group, as a whole. Some images even glorify emblems of racial oppression with depictions of lynching, of a robed Klansman and of white students frolicking in blackface. Some photos show smiling fraternity brothers posed with a Confederate flag. Most of the racist yearbook material published by the university was from the early 1900s, but images like these persisted well into the 1960s. Why would generations of Lakelanders continue to work under these conditions? Some of the answers are straightforward: The university was close, and the commute was easy. Because so many Lakelanders worked on the hill, they had the benefits of a built-in support system of family and friends on campus. I wonder how things might have unfolded differently if these Lakelanders had received fair pay and equal employment opportunities.

As the full history of my community’s complex relationship with the university, and the university’s complicated relationship with Lakeland, is still being written, will we be able to fully understand the implications of those relationships? And I have to now ask, how can past harms be addressed, even as Lakeland continues to face housing pressure, and more, from the university? Will there be a time when we can convincingly say that the University of Maryland has been a blessing to Lakelanders?

FUN, FRIENDS,

Offer

Maxine Gross is chair of the board of directors at the Lakeland Community Heritage Project.

Sex among the sparrows

By Rick Borchelt

All winter long, whitethroated sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis) are the most common sparrows at my backyard bird feeders.. They usually show up in late October and keep mostly to the brush pile or dense shrubs, unless they are on the ground picking up the small seeds that other birds kick out of the hanging feeders. As the winter days lengthen toward spring, they’ll begin singing their distinctive Grand-OldCanada-Canada-Canada refrain that will serve them so well, attracting mates and defending their territories in the boreal forests, where they spend their summers. By May, most of them have moved north until the following fall. With their boldly striped heads and bright throats, these sparrows are distinctive yard visitors, and sometimes a dozen or more are scratching under my feeders. I rarely see them up on the hanging platform feeder or the squirrel-busting seed tube, though, ground feeders that they are.

White-throated sparrows are so common that I take them for granted most days. When I walk around Lake Artemesia, I can easily spot 100 or more. And even if you don’t see them, you’ll hear their high-pitched tseet calls, especially toward dusk as they find their nighttime roosts.

The flock of sparrows in my yard is a mix of birds with bright white head stripes

and throats, and some with tan head stripes and darker throats. I shrugged off the color differences between the whites and tans for years. Even my 1940s era Peterson Field Guide to Birds noted simply that the tan birds were immatures that had not yet grown into their adult plumage. It takes a couple years for bald eagles to acquire their characteristic white head, too.

A Canadian ornithologist working with the birds on their breeding grounds in the early 1960’s figured out that white-striped birds are white-striped for life, and tanstriped birds are tan-striped for life. And this isn’t related to gender; about half of all males of the species have white-striped heads and half have tan-striped. Same holds true for the females.

Curiously, field naturalists noted that when it comes to settling down with a partner, white-striped sparrows of both genders choose a mate of the opposite color. The mystery behind this assortative mating pattern started to unravel in 2016, when scientists did a deep dive into the genetics of white-throated sparrows. They noticed that there is a major genetic difference between the two forms, or morphs. The tanstriped morphs have normal chromosomes, white-striped birds have a large scrambled section of one of their chromosomes.

This scrambled genome does more than dictate the color of the stripes on the birds’ heads. White-striped males are super-

aggressive, sing louder and actively bully tan-striped males on their breeding grounds. Female white-stripes are also a bit on the assertive side. While it’s usually the male birds that sing in the avian world, whitestriped female sparrows sing, too. Male and female tanstripes, in contrast, both seem to live more low-key lives.

Following common wisdom, we might expect that the female of this species of both color morphs would choose hypermasculine white-striped males for partners. But in practice field observers found otherwise. Turns out that tanstriped males make better mates, choosing better nesting sites and helping more with feeding hungry nestlings when they hatch.

White-striped males and females both seem to be more interested in chasing other birds than enjoying domestic bliss. Tan-striped males and females are the epitome of homebodies, faithful partners, and good neighbors: quiet, calm, and intent on the business of raising the kids. You need a tan-striped sparrow in the mix to have a good household!

In practice, this curious behavioral anomaly ends up creating a sparrow species with functionally four sexes — male white-striped, male tanstriped, female white-striped and female tan-striped. And the mate-selection rules are quite rigid: More than 90% of all these sparrows follow the white-with-tan dating rule.

What happens when the

birds break the color barrier? As you might expect, two white-striped birds together argue and irritate each other — a lot. Two tan-striped birds together just don’t get a lot accomplished, and they often have difficulty maintaining their nest territory and protecting their young. You need the best of both for nesting success.

You can see this behavior playing out under the feeders in your backyard, too. Whitestriped birds rule the playground; tan-striped ones hang back. As they start to sing in March and April, you’ll notice the white-striped birds start earlier in the season and sing more often.

This curious quadrisexual arrangement is, as far as we know now, unique in the ani-

mal world. It just shows how the most amazing animal lives play out right under our noses — or at least under our bird feeders. While the deep mysteries of the lives of the plants and animals that share our Earth so often elude our understanding, sometimes all it takes is a keen eye and some time in the field with them to plumb the complicated secrets of their lives.

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

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

A tan-headed morph of white-throated sparrow. COURTESY OF CEPHAS/CREATIVE COMMONS

The challenges of recycling tires

By Paul Ruffins

In December 2022, an environmentalist discovered that nearly a thousand scrap tires had been dumped from Interstate 295 down into Anacostia Park. As of press time, no one knows who made the toss, but two local Maryland cases provide clues as to why they may have done it.

In April 2022, Jonathan Meadows, of Riverdale, pleaded guilty to illegal transportation of scrap tires and littering. He had rented a truck and dumped scrap tires in the woods behind a commercial property in Upper Marlboro at least five times. “Meadows chose to ignore the law in favor of illegally pocketing a few bucks,” stated then-Attorney General Brian Frosh. Under Maryland law, commercial businesses disposing of scrap tires must use a licensed hauler, and those haulers must dispose of the tires at a licensed facility. Illegal haulers try to skirt the law by simply dumping them and pocketing the fees they collect.

In May 2019, a licensed scrap tire hauler pleaded guilty to a similar violation. At the time, Thomas Okoronkwo, of Glenarden, owned auto repair and tire shops in Brentwood, Suitland and Capitol Heights. Okoronkwo admitted that he was dumping tires at a Midas service center in Upper Marlboro to avoid being fined for storing too many at his own locations.

Why do tires get dumped?

While the scrap metal and parts in used cars have the highest recycling value of any consumer product, tires stack up in a very different category. The physical properties that make modern tires strong enough to survive potholes also make them uniquely difficult and expensive to recycle. And there are a lot of them; the Maryland Department of the Environment estimates that the state amasses almost 6 million scrap tires annually.

THE ECONOMICS OF DISPOSAL

At Prince George’s Brown Station Road Sanitary Landfill, residents can drop off up to five tires a year for free. Businesses, which are charged $25

a ton to dump scrap steel, pay a whopping $400 a ton to dump tires, in part because those tires can’t go into landfills in Maryland — this restriction holds in 37 other states, as well. Instead of being disposed of, tires are sent for processing, which is paid for by the hefty dumping fee at the landfill. A compact SUV’s tires weigh approximately 30 pounds each, and tires on large SUVs and pickup trucks can weigh as much as 60. Assuming an average of 40 pounds per tire, then, 50 tires weigh in at a ton. Work the math: A commercial tire hauler would currently pay about $8 to dispose of each tire at the landfill, not factoring in their own hauling costs. They could probably save money by selling them to a company that recycles tires, but those companies can be hard to find.

WHY ARE TIRES SO HARD TO HANDLE?

Once they’re no longer useful on the road, tires present significant challenges. They’re noncompressible, and their shape makes them tend to rise to the top of ever-shifting landfills. They hold water, making them a perfect breed-

ing place for mosquitoes and other pests. And they present a considerable fire risk. In October 1983, a tire fire in Mountain Falls, Va., sent toxic smoke across four states. The fire burned for nine months and consumed some 5 to 7 million tires, and cleanup cost $11.8 million. In 1996, a tire fire destroyed a portion of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia; a similar fire laid waste to Interstate 85 in Atlanta in 2017. Because of this fire risk, many states strictly limit the numbers that can be stored at a single location.

CAN TIRES BE REUSED?

Worn-out passenger car tires are rarely reused on vehicles. According to Consumer Reports, it was common to retread passenger car tires when bias-ply tires only lasted 10,000 to 20,000 miles. This practice became obsolete when the gas crisis of 1973-74 led to the widespread adoption of steel-belted radial tires, which get better fuel mileage and can last 60,000 to 80,000 miles. On the other hand, commercial truck or rear bus tires, which can cost as much as $375 to $400 each, can safely be retreaded three or four times.

HOW ARE TIRES RECYCLED?

Recent data from the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association gives us a glimpse into how tires are recycled. In 2021, 32% of America’s scrap tires were used to manufacture tire-derived fuel, 32% for ground rubber, 17% were landfilled (but only in states that allow this), and 6% were used for civil engineering projects. The remaining 13% went to unspecified uses. Tire-derived fuels. Tires produce approximately the same energy per ton as coal and oil, so many tires are simply shredded and burned to help power cement kilns and steel mills. While burning tires does conserve other fuels (and keeps tires out of landfills in states with restrictions), there is concern that using tires as a supplement to other fuels produces more toxic pollution than burning coal alone. Fortunately, the percentage of scrap tires being burned has dropped from about 48% a decade ago to 32% in 2021. (A process known as pyrolysis turns tires into diesel fuel, but it’s rarely used in the U.S.)

Ground rubber, which is simply rubber from scrap tires that’s separated from

the steel wire and shredded, is combined with asphalt to improve pavement performance and reduce noise. Ground tire rubber is also used to give spring and durability to athletic fields and running tracks. Used as fill between railroad ties, it absorbs sound and vibrations. In civil engineering, whole tires can be used to build retaining walls and underlay concrete roadbeds or septic drain fields. Shredded tires are often used as a backfill dirt equivalent, in part because the material is often cheaper than soil. Tires are also used as soundproofing, as blasting mats to buffer controlled explosions and as bumpers on loading docks. Even as tires can be put to good use after their road years are over, we still burn or landfill about 125 million tires every year in the U.S. You can help bring this number down by buying quality tires, keeping them properly inflated and rotating them regularly to make them last as long as possible.

Paul Ruffins is a citizen scientist and professor of curiosity.

Tires stored at an auto recycling business in Bladensburg. PAUL RUFFINS

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

Creative Nonfiction Writing Class. The College Park Arts Exchange presents an engaging and fun series of six workshops on the craft of personal narrative writing. Cost for the series is $295. Classes are on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. beginning March 14 at the Old Parish House, 4711 Knox Rd. For more information, go to cpae.org

Community Meals. Each Tuesday and Thursday, the College Park United Methodist Church’s kitchen staff cook healthy and delicious meals for all who are interested. You can reserve meals in advance and also donate a meal. For every meal donated, the church gives 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

College Park Community Library Story

Time. Story time with Micki Freeny every Wednesday from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. The

group meets outdoors on the lawn of the church or indoors in the Blue Room if the temperature is below 55. Masks are recommended but not required. College Park Church of the Nazarene, 9704 Rhode Island Ave.

Produce Available

Berwyn Permaculture Garden Cleanup Event

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 Presbyterian 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.

COLLEGE PARK CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS

Yarrow Civic Association. Annual membership meeting and election will be held on Zoom on April 22 at 2 p.m. 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. The next meeting will be on March 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Tacos a la Madre, 5010 Berwyn Rd. To register, email president@ myberwyn.org

North College Park Community Association. The NCPCA will meet on March. 9 at 7:30 p.m. For more information, go to myncpca.org

Lakeland Civic Association. Next virtual meeting will be on March 9 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

When new meeting information is available, it will be posted at calverthills. weebly.com. You may email the board at calverthillscitizensassn@gmail.com