09-2023 College Park Here & Now

INSIDE

Wild fruit with Rick, P.2

Major improvements slated for area trails, P.6

How are public schools spending their money, P.9

Vehicle disturbances in Hollywood neighborhood

By Jordan Williams

A College Park resident attending a town hall meeting raised concerns about motorcycle speeding and reckless driving in her neighborhood

near Rhode Island Avenue and Branchville Road.

Major James Keleti, the Hyattsville Division 1 police department commander, attended the meeting and confirmed that the police department

was aware of the issue and is familiar with the local repair shop the resident had described. “We have been dealing with that motorcycle shop for years … We do try to stop the motorcycles and ATVs,” Keleti

Campus Village Shoppes closing at end of September

By Elizabeth Shirley

Route 1 will soon be facing more construction as the Campus Village Shoppes strip mall is closing down to be replaced with

student housing.

On Aug. 1 more than a dozen local businesses were given notice to move within 60 days. Two of the businesses — College Park Liquors and Pandora’s Cube — have been

said. “When they run from us, we can’t chase them. We have a no-chase policy when it comes to motorcycles and ATVs that are not involved in violent crime, such as a carjacking.”

Residents divided over upcoming ballot question

By Lydia Hurley

Residents and College Park’s elected officials are gearing up for the Nov. 5 citywide election. In addition to electing a new mayor and councilmembers, voters will be able to weigh in on a non-binding advisory question about switching from two-year to four-year terms for elected officials. Councilmember Stuart Adams (District 3) discussed the ballot question, in an interview with the College Park Here & Now

City code currently mandates an election to fill the mayoral and council seats every two years, with special elections held as necessary to fill vacant seats. The most recent regular election was in November 2021 and brought in the current council and mayor pro tem. Mayor Fazlul Kabir assumed office after the special election in May.

tenants of the strip mall for over 26 years. More than half of the retailers were uncertain if they would reopen after vacating the Campus Village Shoppes location, citing high rent costs along Route 1.

The notice to vacate was not unexpected, as LV Collective purchased the strip mall last year with the intention of building mixed-use student housing. A manager from one of the shops, who asked to remain anonymous, said “we kind of knew it was

Adams noted that this year’s ballot question will give voters an opportunity to reconsider how city council elections will be scheduled. Voters will be able to weigh a staggered schedule, which would give councilmembers staggered four-year terms, with one seat in each district open every two years.

ELIZABETH SHIRLEY

Down yonder in the pawpaw patch

By Rick Borchelt

Welcome to “ha’siminikiisfwa,” or pawpaw month in the Shawnee tongue — the month we know as September. Along the region’s woodland rivers and streams, and in our sheltered coves and valleys, pawpaw trees are dropping fat, fragrant fruit during this brief autumn window. The pawpaw’s a strange tree with strange tropical fruit, and we’re lucky to have them here.

Strange, because no other tree in the Mid-Atlantic has the pawpaw’s combination of huge leaves — a foot-and-a-half or more long and half as wide — on a small, 20-foot-tall trunk that bears large, fleshy fruit: indeed, the largest of any native fruit north of Mexico. The pawpaw is the only temperate-climate representative of Annonaceae, a large family of tropical trees. Their fruit are commonly called custard-apples for their sweet, yellow flesh.

Pawpaws are known to science as Asimina triloba, the genus name Asimina being an adaptation of several similar Native American names for pawpaw, through the colonial French to the standard scientific Latin. The common name pawpaw is likely a corruption of papaya; European colonists may have been misled or confused by the two species’ similar fruits. Pawpaws have an abundance of other regional common names, too — wild banana, prairie banana, Hoosier banana, Ozark banana and banango among them.

Despite its tropical origins, pawpaw currently grows wild in 26 eastern and midwestern states. One reason for the pawpaw’s widespread distribution

here, outside the tropics, may be that the species was deliberately cultivated and traded by Indigenous peoples well north of Maryland, up into the New York area, long before European settlers arrived on the continent.

The pawpaw’s ecological backstory predates European exploration by hundreds of thousands of years. Its large fruit and huge black seeds suggest it evolved with the giant megafauna of the Pleistocene epoch — ground sloths, tapirs, and gi-

Managing Editor Elizabeth Shirley elizabeth@streetcarsuburbs.news

ant, armadillo-like glyptodonts among them. These large animals would have been able to eat the six-inch fruit whole and

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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.

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Associate Editor Nancy Welch nancy@streetcarsuburbs.news

Writers & Contributors Rick Borchelt, Christine Folivi, Lydia Hurley, Zachary Intrater, Sarah Meklir, Sophie Gorman Oriani, Elizabeth Shirley, Jordan Williams, Jerry Zremski

Layout & Design Editors Ashley Perks, Valerie Morris

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President: Stephanie Stullich

Vice President & General Counsel: Michael Walls

Treasurer: Joe Murchison

Secretary: Melanie Dzwonchyk Bette Dickerson, Nora Eidelman, Joseph Gigliotti, Maxine Gross, Merrill Hartson, Marta McLellan Ross, T. Carter Ross Ex Officios: Katie V. Jones, Griffin Limerick, Elizabeth Shirley

swallow the large seeds, which the roaming animals would later deposit in their dung perhaps miles from where they ate their meal. These large mammals were wiped out in North America about 12,000 years ago; since then, pawpaws have been spread naturally by lessefficient herbivores like black bears and raccoons — and by Indigenous peoples deliberately cultivating them.

Left to their own devices, though, pawpaws don’t rely exclusively on spreading seeds to expand their territory. These trees often mass in large orchards along streams and riverbanks as a parent tree sends up new shoots from its spreading roots. These large pawpaw patches are actually a single tree, with all the clones still

connected by a root system to the parent pawpaw.

You can also collect seeds from ripe fruit and grow pawpaws yourself. I now have a sizable orchard of a half-dozen trees in my backyard from a single seed I planted a decade ago.

If the pawpaw’s slightly smelly, maroon flowers are successfully pollinated in spring, the tree will grow fruit over the summer that looks like a fat, green oblong banana. Unlike most fruit, pawpaws stay green until they’re ripe, which allows the fruit to contribute energy to the tree through photosynthesis as it ripens. The skin develops dark brown or black blotches that signal it’s ripe and ready to eat. Fully ripe fruit falls to the ground, which is where most

Pawpaws hanging from a pawpaw branch along Northeast Creek in College Park. RICK BORCHELT

If the pawpaw’s slightly smelly, maroon flowers are successfully pollinated in spring, the tree will grow fruit over the summer that looks like a fat, green oblong banana. Unlike most fruit, pawpaws stay green until they’re ripe, which allows the fruit to contribute energy to the tree through photosynthesis as it ripens.

of its Pleistocene diners would have eaten it.

That the Shawnee and many other tribes had their own words to honor the pawpaw hints at its long history with Indigenous peoples of the Americas. Pawpaw seeds and fibers have been found at Native American sites dating back millennia. The first post-colonization reference to pawpaws is attributed to Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto, who in 1541 described Mississippian Indian cultures growing and eating the fruit.

Modern pawpaws also have their share of devotees. While most pawpaw aficionados prefer to eat the fruit fresh, some split them and use the fragrant flesh for baking bread, or in puddings and custards. The taste of the fruit varies considerably among different populations of pawpaws; people describe the taste as being similar to mangos, bananas or papayas. Mammals aren’t the only fans of pawpaws, though; the leaves are the sole food source for the caterpillars of one of Maryland’s iconic butterflies, the

zebra swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus). If you see a zebra swallowtail on the wing, you can bet you’re in the presence of a significant pawpaw patch!

Over the next few weeks, you can find your own pawpaws in nearby woodlands along Northeast Branch, Paint Branch and Indian Creek; at Lake Artemesia; along the Anacostia; and along the Patuxent River in places like the Patuxent Wildlife Research Refuge, near Laurel, and Governor Bridge Natural Area in Bowie. Pick from the fruits that have already fallen but are not yet decaying; these will be ripe, while the green fruit still on the tree is almost always too astringent to eat.

But you’ll have to beat the foxes and their friends to the feast, and you can’t wait too long — pawpaw season is short!

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.

SHOPPES

coming along” but that they had not expected the notice to come so soon. All previous discussions they had about the strip mall closing suggested that the change would happen in 2024.

Vladimir Cruz said he had worked at College Park Liquors for only about a year but has seen ample community support for the store, including from students returning to the area. “It’s nice to have them say they miss the store,” he said.

College Park Liquors will be unable to relocate in the immediate neighborhood, due to high rental costs in the area. The shop is promoting a GoFundMe at their checkout counter in order to raise funds to stay in business elsewhere. “We will dearly miss you, the Lakeland Community and all of our loyal customers. Thank you for all your support through the years, you are ‘Simply the Best,’’’ the site says. As of press time, the GoFundMe had received just over $1,000 of the $100,000 goal.

Locals voiced support on-

line of Hanami, the Japanese restaurant which has been at the location since 2005. In the Facebook group “Support Prince George's County Restaurants,” Corey Slavitt posted that they were “stunned” to hear about the closures, and Maria Paoletti expressed her disappointment. “Hanami and several other restaurants there are beloved mainstays,” she wrote. The Diamondback

included Hanami in a list of the best sushi and Japanese food locations in College Park.

The closure will result in a significant loss of local business representation on Route 1. The tenants of Campus Village Shoppes have until the end of September to move, and some, including Pupuseria La Familiar, plan to stay open until the very last day.

Locals voiced support online of Hanami, the Japanese restaurant which has been at the location since 2005. In the Facebook group “Support Prince George's County Restaurants,” Corey Slavitt posted that they were “stunned” to hear about the closures, and Maria Paoletti expressed her disappointment. “Hanami and several other restaurants there are beloved mainstays,” she wrote.

“If the people vote yes, the city won’t actually change things until the council votes on it. The ballot question’s purpose is to gather information,” Adams said.

The Maryland Municipal League, a nonprofit that advocates for residents and municipalities throughout the state, did not respond to the Here & Now’s requests for input about the official ballot language.

Adams also noted that the city included an advisory question on the November 2019 ballot, too. That question also asked residents if they would prefer four-year terms and whether these terms should be staggered.

Voters’ response to the 2019 question did not support a change, but the city staff is again polling residents to see if opinions have changed since then.

Resident Aubrey Batten weighed in on the matter during the council’s July 18 meeting. “I understand why this proposal is advantageous to candidates and incumbents. Less campaigning is cheaper and easier,” she said. “This is not a compelling argument. I take exception to the assertion by certain councilmembers at last week’s discussion that residents need to be educated about this issue so that we change our minds. Our voice was made clear by the 2019 vote that we prioritize accountability over making it easy to campaign,” she added.

Adams, who is a first-term councilmember, generally supports two-year terms over the suggested four-year staggered terms. “I think with the amount of transient community, we have a lot of new resi-

dents every two years, and we should take that into mind,” he said.

“I know that there are quite a few [jurisdictions] that rely on four-year terms. I don't know the exact number, but my understanding is it's best practice to have these staggered terms. That's really important,” said

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Councilmember Kate Kennedy (District 1), who is not seeking re-election this fall.

Some College Park residents, including Maria Cordone and Judy Blumenthal, strongly oppose having the question on the ballot in the first place.. They also said they see the city as being in a unique posi-

tion, and that comparisons to other local jurisdictions are irrelevant.

“I think Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell in the July 18 meeting took the lead on saying that the City of College Park is like Rockville. Well, we're not. Then that became the big comparison. Only the City of College Park houses a global university,

a mega university. When you do comparisons like that, the population and environment has to be similar,” Blumenthal said in an interview.

“The question itself should not even be put on the ballot,” Cordone said in an interview. “We have been running elections every two years since the inception of the election process here in 1945. And why are we changing it now? If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it,” she added.

Blumenthal raised concerns about the legality of the ballot question and how a possible change would be implemented, an issue that city attorney Suellen Fergurson raised during the July 18th meeting. Blumenthal was also concerned about what she felt was a lack of transparency, noting that the city had not made the ballot language available to residents prior to the council meeting.

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“The ramifications of the question are phenomenal. It was not clear to residents whether it was binding or not. People need to have eyes wide open because this will make a

difference in the information they have when they vote and who they vote for,” Blumenthal said.

Blumenthal also said that polling residents about staggered terms could be overwhelming for election volunteers if the question is not worded well. She noted that city elections are often crowded and understaffed, and said that she sees issues with the organizational setup.

“I would like to see what the residents have to say at the polls. I am very concerned about how the question is worded and I feel that the residents will be confused. I offered a simpler wording, but my colleagues didn't support it. I feel that four years is a big commitment, and I think that the people of College Park deserve to make choices more frequently,” Councilmember Maria Mackie (District 4) said in an interview.

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Trail improvements underway for Hyattsville and beyond funded by federal government

By Jordan Williams

To the delight — and relief — of many bicyclists in the area, the county trail network is on the verge of numerous renovations, thanks to a $25 million federal RAISE grant. Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity, or RAISE, is a federal program designed to fund local transportation infrastructure projects. The program was recently bolstered with funding from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 to allow for more projects.

In partnership with agencies in Montgomery County and the District of Columbia, Prince George’s County applied for a RAISE grant to help renovate existing trails and build new ones. County Executive Angela Alsobrooks said in a June newsletter, “The $25 million in RAISE funding will accelerate more than $70 million in regional projects that help build the Central Avenue Connector Trail, Suitland Parkway Trail, and Prince George’s County Connector, complete the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, and rehabilitate Sligo Creek Trail and Northwest Branch Trail.” This is the second RAISE grant that the county has received. The first, received in 2022, allocated $20.5 million to fund construction of the New Carrollton Multi-Modal Transportation Station.

According to a 2021 survey from the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), “19% of residents in county households reported unmet

needs regarding walking, hiking and biking trails.” These projects are meant to address those underserved communities.

The most relevant projects for Hyattsville include the Sligo Creek Trail, the Prince George’s County Connector, and a 1.3-mile repaving project on the Northwest Branch Trail in Montgomery County. Sligo Creek and Northwest Branch connect Hyattsville to Montgomery County, and the County Connector will connect the Northwest Branch Trail from Chillum to the Metropolitan Branch Trail in the District.

Bob Patten, the trail development program manager for the M-NCPPC, said in an interview that the tentative time frame of the Northwest Branch and Sligo Creek trails is three to four years, and major trail closures are unlikely. Since the County Connector is still in the early planning phases, there is no timeline or completion date yet, according to Patten.

Sligo Creek Trail is one of the oldest trails in the region and will see the most renovations, with 6.7 miles of the total 10.2-mile trail to be repaved.

Four road intersections will receive improved pedestrian crossings — the two most notable ones being the EastWest Highway/Route 410 and the Riggs Road/Route 212 intersections. For years, residents have expressed particular interest in the renovations at these intersections due to the need for more safety features.

SEE TRAIL ON 11 

COLLEGE PARK POST

College Park Day

October 7 from 12-6pm

Join us for College Park Day on Saturday, October 7th from 12:00 to 6:00 pm at the College Park Museum and Airport (1985 Corporal Scott Dr. College Park, MD 20740)! This annual festival, hosted by the City of College Park, will have free activities and entertainment for all ages to celebrate the community.

Live entertainment on two stages will feature a variety of music and kids’ performers. Be there to hear Laundry World, Starlight Anthem, So Fetch, and Black Masala perform live on the main stage. Check out the family stage for family-centered performances by Mad Science of Washington, The Great Zucchini Magic Show, Bridgette Childrens’ Music, Zig Zag Magic Show, and Silly Goose & Val.

The day’s other special guests include clowns, mimes, jugglers, stilt walkers, and face painters. There will also be a climb wall, bounce houses, inflatable obstacle course, pumpkin painting, and big wheel races for kids up to 8 years old or shorter than 50 inches.

Aviation enthusiasts of all ages will enjoy browsing the airport museum’s extensive exhibits, for free only on College Park Day. There will even be a helicopter flyin; be there to earn your wings!

College Park Day not only brings one-of-a-kind experiences but also unique eats. Food vendors this year highlight the diverse offerings of local restaurants. For a list of this year’s food vendors, visit www. collegeparkday.org

Like College Park, this event has something for everyone. Free Parking is available near the event site and shuttle service is available from the UMD Campus, City Hall, & CP-UMD Metro Garage. Bike Racks are available. Find more information at www. collegeparkday.org.

City General Election for Mayor and Council

The City of College Park will hold its General Election for the offices of Mayor and eight District Councilmembers (2 from each district) on Sunday, November 5, 2023.

ALL ABOUT ELECTIONGUARD

Voters will see something new at the polls in this fall’s General Election. The City is partnering with ElectionGuard on their third trial of new election technology that lets every voter confirm that their ballot was counted, and provides independent verification that the election results are correct.

HOW DOES ELECTIONGUARD WORK?

ElectionGuard runs alongside an existing voting system. Voters mark paper ballots as usual. When the ballot is scanned, ElectionGuard encrypts the ballot and prints a confirmation code for the voter to use to verify that their ballot is included in the final count. All of the encrypted ballots are used to create a snapshot of the in-person votes for the election. This snapshot is then used to check the results of the election without revealing how any individual voted.

WHO ARE THE ELECTION GUARDIANS AND WHAT DO THEY DO?

Election Guardians are trusted, independent members of the community who help set up ElectionGuard. They have a special role in creating the cryptographic locks that secure the election:

• Before the election, Guardians create a special lock and key. The lock is loaded on the

City Elections will be held on Sunday, November 5, 2023 ballot scanners to encrypt all of the ballots for the election.

• During the election, Guardians each keep their part of the key secure. Having a small group of Guardians means that no one person can unlock the election on their own.

• When it’s time to count the ballots, Guardians return to unlock the election. They bring their keys back to the election office to unlock the tally and create the ElectionGuard record.

It is a simple but critical role to ensure that no single person can access election results. With several people acting as Guardians, they add independent security to the ElectionGuard lock and key process. Guardians do not replace the City’s appointed Board of Election Supervisors, who are still in charge of running the election.

PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION ABOUT ELECTIONGUARD AND THE HART VERITY VOTING SYSTEM:

You are invited to a public information session on Wednesday, September 27, to learn more about how ElectionGuard works and how it will be used in the upcoming College Park election:

• Meet the election vendors.

• Take part in a mock election.

• Run a challenge ballot.

• Test the voting equipment

ELECTIONGUARD PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

7:00P.M. AT COLLEGE PARK CITY HALL, 7401 BALTIMORE AVENUE

Parking is free in levels 3-5 of the Downtown Parking Garage, located at 7308 Yale Avenue.

ACCESSIBLE VOTING:

For those who cannot hand-mark a ballot with a pen, the City is using the Hart InterCivic Verity Touch Writer as the ballot marking device to support accessible voting. The Verity Touch Writer has accessible features that allow the voter to make their selections through an electronic interface, and to print a marked ballot when complete. Once Touch Writer prints a ballot, the voter will cast the ballot through the scanner. We will offer hands-on demonstrations of the Touch Writer at the September 27 information session.

341-7300, or visit www. elections.state.md.us.

PLAN YOUR VOTE:

TO VOTE BY MAIL: Absentee ballot applications are posted on the City’s website. Apply for a mailin ballot before October 23, 2023.

• If you join the state’s Permanent Vote By Mail list before September 15, you will automatically receive a ballot for this election.

• To sign-up for the state’s Permanent Vote By Mail List, visit https://www.elections. maryland.gov/voting/ absentee.html

TO VOTE IN PERSON:

EARLY VOTING:

VOTER

REGISTRATION CLOSES OCTOBER 21, 2023

You must be a City resident and a registered voter to vote in this election.

• If you are new to the City, please complete a Voter Registration application on line at https://voterservices. elections.maryland.gov/ OnlineVoterRegistration/ InstructionsStep1.

• If you are already registered to vote with the Prince George’s County Board of Elections at your current City address, you are ready to vote in this election.

• If you have moved or changed your name since you registered, update your Voter Registration. Call the Prince George’s County Board of Elections at 301-

Wednesday, October 25

8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Davis Hall, 9217 51st Avenue College Park OR

Thursday, November 2 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. City Hall, 7401 Baltimore Avenue College Park

ELECTION DAY:

Sunday, November 5, 2023

10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. College Park Community Center 5051 Pierce Avenue, College Park

WHO ARE THE CANDIDATES?

The list of qualified candidates will be posted on the City’s website on September 15.

For more information about the upcoming City Election, please contact Janeen S. Miller, City Clerk, at 240-487-3501.

Elecciones Generales para Alcalde y Concejales

Las elecciones municipales se realizarán el domingo 5 de noviembre de 2023 candado y una llave especial. El candado se carga en los escáneres de papeletas para encriptar todas las papeletas de las elecciones.

La Ciudad de College Park celebrará sus Elecciones Generales para los cargos de Alcalde y ocho Concejales de Distrito (2 de cada distrito) el domingo 5 de noviembre de 2023.

TODO ACERCA DE ELECTIONGUARD

Los votantes verán algo nuevo en las urnas electorales utilizadas en las elecciones generales de este otoño. La Ciudad se ha asociado con ElectionGuard en su tercera prueba de la nueva tecnología electoral que permite a cada votante confirmar que su papeleta ha sido contada y proporciona una verificación independiente de que los resultados electorales son correctos.

¿CÓMO FUNCIONA ELECTIONGUARD?

ElectionGuard funciona junto con un sistema de votación existente. Los votantes marcan las papeletas como de costumbre. Cuando se escanea la papeleta, ElectionGuard encripta la papeleta y proporciona al votante un código de confirmación que puede utilizar para comprobar por sí mismo que su papeleta está incluida en el recuento final. Todas las papeletas encriptadas se utilizan para crear una instantánea de los votos presenciales de las elecciones. Esta instantánea se utiliza para comprobar los resultados de las elecciones sin revelar el sentido del voto.

WHO ARE THE ELECTION GUARDIANS AND WHAT DO THEY DO?

En el proceso de ElectionGuard participan miembros de la comunidad, conocidos como Guardianes, para ayudar a organizar el equipo ElectionGuard. Tienen un papel especial en la creación de los candados criptográficos que aseguran las elecciones:

• Antes de las elecciones, los Guardianes crean un

• Durante la elección, los Guardianes guardan cada uno su parte de la llave. Contar con un pequeño grupo de Guardianes significa que ninguna persona puede desbloquear la elección por sí sola.

• Cuando llega el momento de contar las papeletas, los Guardianes vuelven para desbloquear la elección. Llevan sus llaves a la oficina electoral para desbloquear el recuento y crear el registro de ElectionGuard.

Se trata de una función sencilla pero fundamental para garantizar que ninguna persona pueda acceder a los resultados electorales. Con varias personas actuando como Guardianes, añaden seguridad independiente al proceso de bloqueo y llave de ElectionGuard. Los Guardianes no reemplazan a la Junta de Supervisores Electorales designada por la Ciudad, que sigue siendo la encargada de administrar las elecciones.

SESIÓN INFORMATIVA PÚBLICA SOBRE ELECTIONGUARD Y EL SISTEMA DE VOTACIÓN HART VERITY

Le invitamos a una sesión informativa pública el miércoles, 27 de septiembre para conocer mejor cómo funciona ElectionGuard y cómo se utilizará en las próximas elecciones de College Park:

• Conozca a los proveedores electorales.

• Participe en un simulación de elecciones.

• Ejecute un ejercicio de votación.

• Pruebe el equipo de votación.

• Pruebe el equipo Hart InterCivic Verity Touchwriter.

SESIÓN INFORMATIVA

PÚBLICA SOBRE ELECTIONGUARD: MIÉRCOLES, 27 DE SEPTIEMBRE – 7:00 P.M. AT COLLEGE PARK CITY HALL, 7401 BALTIMORE AVENUE

El estacionamiento es gratuito entre los niveles 3 y 5 del Downtown Parking Garage (Garaje del centro de la Ciudad), situado en 7308 Yale Avenue.

VOTO ACCESIBLE

La Ciudad está utilizando el equipo Hart InterCivic Verity Touch Writer como dispositivo de marcado de papeletas. De este modo, las personas que no pueden marcar a mano con un bolígrafo pueden votar de forma accesible. El Verity Touch Writer tiene características accesibles que permiten al votante elegir selecciones a través de una interfaz electrónica, e imprimir una papeleta marcada cuando esté completa. Una vez que Touch Writer imprime una papeleta, el votante la emite a través del escáner. En la sesión informativa del 27 de septiembre se hará una demostración del Touch Writer.

EL REGISTRO DE VOTANTES SE CIERRA EL 21 DE OCTUBRE DE 2023

Para votar en estas elecciones debe ser residente de la Ciudad y estar inscrito en el censo electoral.

• Si usted es un nuevo habitante de la Ciudad, por favor complete una solicitud de Registro de Votantes en línea en https://voterservices. elections.maryland.gov/ OnlineVoterRegistration/ InstructionsStep1

• Si ya está inscrito para votar en la Junta Electoral del Condado de Prince George en su dirección actual de la ciudad, está listo para votar en estas elecciones.

• Si se ha mudado o ha

cambiado de nombre desde que se inscribió, actualice su Registro Electoral. Llame a la Junta Electoral del Condado de Prince George al 301-341-7300, o visite www.elections.state.md.us

PLAN YOUR VOTE

TO VOTE BY MAIL: Absentee ballot applications are posted on the City’s website. Apply for a mail-in ballot by October 23, 2023.

• If you are on the state’s Permanent Vote By Mail list by September 15, you will automatically receive a ballot for this election

• To sign-up for the state’s Permanent Vote By Mail List, visit https://www.elections. maryland.gov/voting/ absentee.html

PARA VOTAR EN PERSONA

VOTO ANTICIPADO

Miércoles, 5 de octubre de 2023

8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Davis Hall, 9217 51st Avenue College Park

Jueves, 2 de noviembre de 2023 8:00 a.m. a 7:00 p.m. City Hall, 7401 Baltimore Avenue College Park

JORNADA ELECTORAL

Domingo, 5 de niviembre de 2023 10:00 a.m. a 6:00 p.m. College Park Community Center 5051 Pierce Avenue, College Park

WHO ARE THE CANDIDATES?

The list of qualified candidates will be posted on the City’s website on September 15.

Para más información sobre las próximas elecciones municipales, póngase en contacto con Janeen S. Miller, Secretaria Municipal, llamando al 240-487-3501.

City Announcements

More information: www.collegeparkmd.gov

COLLEGE PARK CONNECT

The City of College Park is excited to launch College Park Connect, a new mobile resident engagement application and website powered by GOGov. The app and website allow residents to have a direct line of communication to request services and report issues such as potholes, graffiti, animal issues, litter, and more. The app will also be a great source of information with links to the City website, news, and upcoming events.

To report any non-emergency concern or issue, visit www. collegeparkmd.gov/tellus. To download the free app, go to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and search “College Park Connect” to find the app. As always, residents can call the City’s 24/7 Hotline at 240-487-3588 to report non-emergency issues including noise complaints. For emergency assistance, call 9-1-1 immediately for police, fire, or EMS assistance.

City staff will leverage powerful dashboards and reporting tools to identify hot spots, increase productivity, streamline communications, and prioritize projects. This app will further support the City’s Department

of Public Works’ Bulk Trash Program by tracking and reporting all bulk trash collection data.

TUTORING FOR THE 20232024 SCHOOL YEAR

The City of College Park is preparing to offer online tutoring for the 2023-2024 school year! This program will be offered through Imagine Learning and offer support with GED, College Prep, reading, and math for residents of College Park. Learn more at www. collegeparkmd.gov/2023Tutoring and fill out an interest form to be contacted when registration opens.

TEEN TALK

This group program provides a safe space for Prince George’s County students ages 14-17 to discuss and explore everyday familial, educational, societal, and peer concerns. Through activities, sharing ideas, and talk sessions, we will build positive relationships with others and self! The group meets on select Wednesdays from October through December. To receive community service hours, participants must commit to all 10 in-person sessions. To register, call the Department of Youth, Family, and Senior Services by September 21 at 301-487-3550.

City Events

More information: www.collegeparkmd.gov/events

NIGHT AT THE MOVIES

September 22 | 8:00PM | Duvall Field

Join us for a FREE Night at the Movies on Friday, September 22 at 7PM at Duvall Field (9100 Rhode Island Ave.).

Enjoy a moon bounce, games, popcorn, and treats starting at 7PM before a screening of the feature film, “Minions: The Rise of Gru.” Bring your picnic baskets, lawn chairs, and blankets to watch a movie under the stars with the whole family! Show-time is at sunset.

NATIONAL CLEAN UP DAY

September 16

The City of College Park is participating in National Clean Up Day! Take action against litter - form a team, or volunteer by yourself to clean up any street or natural area of your choice. Register at collegeparkmd.gov/ cleanupday2023. For local information, contact sustainability@collegeparkmd.gov or call 240-487-3593.

GO ELECTRIC

September 23 | 10AM - 1PM | Hollywood Shopping Center

Learn about electric cars, scooters, and e-bikes! Join the City of College Park’s Committee for a Better Environment to see electric cars, talk with local EV owners and e-bike/scooter vendors, and test ride e-bikes. Rain date is September 30th.

COLLEGE PARK DAY

October 7, 2023 | 12:00 - 6:00PM | College Park Aviation Museum & Airport, 1985 Corporal Scott Dr. College Park Day is on Saturday, October 7, 2023, from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the College Park Aviation Museum and Airport (1985 Corporal Frank Scott Drive)! This is the City of College Park’s signature event and features a wide array of activities, entertainment, and fun or the whole family to bring together our residents and celebrate College Park as a community. The event is open to the public and free to attend. Learn more at collegeparkday.org.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

SAVE THE DATE

Bach Cantata Series at The Clarice. Conductors in the UMD graduate program lead short performances of Bach’s 200 cantatas. Free. Sept. 14 at 1:30 p.m. 8270 Alumni Dr. For more information, email contact-theclarice@umd.edu

ACTnow: The Evidence of Things Not Seen. Nehprii Amenii discusses the history of African American puppetry and the place of puppetry in community healing. Free, registration required. Sept. 14 at 5:30 p.m. For more information and to register, email tickets-theclarice@umd.edu

Arts Drop-in for Kids. Ian Rogers leads free arts activities for children ages 3-8 (with caregivers) Sept. 16 at two locations: College Park Community Center, 5101 Pierce Ave. from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. and the Old Parish House, 4711 Knox Road from 12:30-2 p.m. For more information, email info@cpae.org

Dinosaur Park Open House. Walk the same ground the dinosaurs did millions of years ago and discover secrets of Prince George’s County’s prehistoric past. Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 13100 Mid-Atlantic Blvd., Laurel. For more information, email dinosaurpark@ pgparks.com

Faculty Artist Series: Steven Bailey, piano. UMD faculty member Steven Bailey presents a recital featuring works by Scarlatti, Debussy and Scriabin, as well as four operatic transcriptions. Free. Sept. 16 at 8 p.m. Gildenhorn Recital Hall, 8270 Alumni Dr. For more information, email contact-theclarice@umd.edu

Virtual Book Club. The College Park Arts Exchange will lead a virtual discussion of The Moor’s Account, by Laila Lalami, on Sept. 19. from 7 to 8:30 p.m. For the Zoom link, email info@cpae.org

Upgrading to an Advanced Treatment Septic System

Join a virtual discussion to learn about the Bay Restoration Fund and the Best Available Technology grant program. Free. Sept. 20 from noon to 12:45 p.m. To register, email lazur@umd.edu

Kreativity Open Mic. Join the Kreativity Diversity

Troupe for an open mic night of music, dance and spoken word. Free. Sept. 22 at 7:30 p.m. At UMD’s Cafritz Foundation Theatre, 8270 Alumni Dr. For more information, email contact-theclarice@ umd.edu

Yarrow Neighborhood Potluck. Meet your neighbors and local leaders Sept. 23, 4 to 7 p.m. Bring your own chairs and drinks to 7328 Baylor Ave. For more information, email wendybird85@yahoo.com

College Park Community Food Bank Benefit: School of Music Chamber Ensembles. UMD School of Music chamber groups present a recital to raise funds for the community food bank. Free, donations encouraged. Sept. 24 at 3 p.m. Gildenhorn Recital Hall, 8270 Alumni Dr. For more information, email contact-theclarice@umd.edu

Girls in Aviation Day

Discover the possibilities of a career in aviation. Try hands-on activities, and learn about the different roles women hold in aviation. Ages 6-18. Free. Sept. 30, at the College

Park Aviation Museum, 1985 Corporal Frank Scott Dr. For more information, email collegeparkaviation@ pgparks.com

Symphonic Celebration.

UMD’s Wind Orchestra presents works by Igor Stravinsky and Florent Schmitt. General admission $25; students $10. Oct. 6 at 8 p.m. At Dekelboum Concert Hall, 8270 Alumni Dr. For more information, email tickets-theclarice@umd.edu

Souls Seeking Freedom Walking Tour. Learn about slavery and resistance on this guided tour of the grounds at Montpelier’ House Mansion. Register through Parks Direct, keyword "Souls." $5 resident; $10 nonresident. Oct. 7 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. 9650 Muirkirk Road. For more information, email holly. burnham@pgparks.com

Hidden Spaces Tour. See spaces normally off limits during this behind-the-scenes look at the Montpelier House Mansion. $15 resident; $20 non-resident. Oct. 8 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. 9650 Muirkirk Road. For more information, email montpeliermansion@ pgparks.com

Open House at the Institute of Applied Agriculture. Explore opportunities for study, financial aid and

scholarships, and world-class facilities at the institute. Free, registration required. Oct. 9 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information or to register, email rjones98@umd.edu

Latinas in Aviation. Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with the College Park Aviation Museum. Pilots featured in the book, Latinas in Aviation, will fly into the airport and share their experiences and passion for aviation. Free. Oct. 14. For more information, email collegeparkaviation@pgparks. com

ONGOING

Friday Dance Workshops

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

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

Community Meals. College Park United Methodist Church’s kitchen staff cook healthy and delicious meals

for all every Tuesday and Thursday. 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 June through October from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m. The group meets in the courtyard of the College Park Church of the Nazarene, 9704 Rhode Island Ave. Rain relocation to the Blue Room on the lower level of the church.

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 to homebound residents available. Please provide contact information (as above) for persons in need of home delivery. No one turned away, even without a reservation. Pickups after 2:30 p.m. at a central location. For more

PEXELS

CALENDAR

information, or to volunteer to deliver, call 301.864.5267

COLLEGE PARK CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS

Yarrow Civic Association

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

College Park Estates Civic Association. For more information, email Ray Ranker at rayranker@gmail.com

West College Park Citizens Association. Membership is open to all residents of West College Park age 18 and over. For more information, email Suchitra Balachandran at cp_woods@yahoo.com

Berwyn District Civic Association. Next meeting Sept. 21 at 7:30 p.m. For more information, go to myberwyn.org or email president@myberwyn.org

North College Park Community Association. The NCPCA hosts a regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month. For more information, go to myncpca.org

Meeting your audio-visual needs close

Lakeland Civic Association

For additional information, please email lakelandcivic@ gmail.com

Old Town College Park Civic Association. For information about this neighborhood association, email Kathy Bryant at kdbryant20740@gmail.com

Calvert Hills Citizens Association. The next regular meeting will be held Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. For more information, email the board at calverthillscitizensassn@gmail. com PEXELS

Some school expenses, big and small, remain a mystery

By Jerry Zremski, Sarah Meklir, Christine Folivi and Zachary Intrater

If you take a look at some of the ways Maryland school districts spend your tax dollars, you may be left with an obvious question: Why?

In one major case, it’s not a question the spokesman for Anne Arundel County Public Schools was willing to answer.

As a result, the third-largest school expenditure in the state remains unexplained.

However, other school districts explained far smaller but surprising expenses for catering at an Italian restaurant chain and retirement gifts at a local jewelry store.

Here is a look at some of the most mysterious expenses the Local News Network found when examining more than 26,000 vendor payments of $25,000 or more made by Maryland’s school districts between the 2018-2019 and 2021-2022 academic years:

In Anne Arundel County, the school district paid just over $694 million to something noted as Electronic Funds Transf Program.

It’s common for individuals, businesses and government entities to transfer funds electronically; you do that if you pay your bills online. But bank statements specify who got paid via electronic transfer. They don’t do what the Anne Arundel school district did, which is simply note that a huge amount of money has been transferred electronically without any clear indication of why or where it was transferred.

Mysterious as it is, Anne Arundel’s payments to Electronic Funds Transf Program ranked as the third-highest allocation to a public school vendor in the state, behind only CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield and Kelly & Associates Insurance Group.

The Local News Network contacted Bob Mosier, chief communications officer for Anne Arundel County Public Schools, multiple times to inquire about payments to the Electronic Funds Transf Program.

At first, Mosier promised answers — but then he stopped responding to emails. As a re-

sult, Anne Arundel County’s biggest vendor outlay remains a mystery.

In Howard County, the public school system paid $746.5 million over from 2019 to 2022 to Kelly & Associates Insurance Group. That made Kelly & Associates the second-highestpaid vendor among the 6,009 companies that Maryland school districts did business with during that time.

“Prior to this fiscal year, we used Kelly & Associates Insurance Group to manage the payments for each of our benefit providers (medical, dental,

vision, etc.) and Kelly & Associates Financial to manage all employee/employer payroll taxes and garnishments,” wrote Brian Bassett, director of communication and engagement for the Howard County Public School System. While the project Local News Network conducted focused on school expenses between fiscal years 2019 and 2022, one 2018 expenditure stood out In Baltimore County: a $1.57 mil-

lion payment to an “unknown vendor.”

In other words, district officials don’t know exactly where $1.57 million went. Charles Herndon, a spokesman for the district, blamed it on a massive ransomware attack that hit the school system’s computers in November 2020.

That attack led to a “catastrophic compromise of all BCPS functions and operations,” Herndon said. The data

breach happened when a district employee opened an email attachment that was really a phishing attack. Recovering from that data breach cost the district more than $10 million, district officials said. As for the data that was lost, “instead of creating thousands of individual vendors, a generic ‘unknown vendor’ was used to restore the accounting,” Herndon said.

SEE SCHOOLS ON 12 

Three Brothers Italian Restaurant in Hyattsville has done tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of business with the Prince George's County Public Schools. COURTESY OF JERRY ZREMSKI

Mosquito-borne illnesses on seasonal rise

By Sophie Gorman Oriani

After a temporary lull caused by summer dryness, mosquito populations in Maryland are on the rise, sparking renewed concern about mosquitoborne illnesses. The first mosquito-borne illness many people think of in this area is West Nile virus, which was detected in mosquitoes in the county this summer, but there are other illnesses of concern as well.

The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) conducts mosquito surveys and traps mosquitos to monitor mosquito-borne illnesses. The mosquito surveillance traps collect adult female mosquitoes, which are then analyzed at a lab to determine the species and numbers. Based on the results of the trapping, the MDA may conduct extra spraying in a particular area. (Routine spraying is also a standard

part of mosquito control efforts in the county; while residents may opt out of the routine sprays, they may not opt out of the extra sprayings.)

In the month of August, the MDA has conducted 10 extra sprayings in areas of Prince George's County, as opposed to seven extra sprayings in 2022 and six in 2021. Affected areas include Laurel, Riverdale Park, Greenbelt and unincorporated Hyattsville. Daniel Schamberg-

er, a mosquito control administrator with the MDA, told the Hyattsville Life & Times that although mosquito-borne illnesses have been getting more attention recently, it’s pretty typical to see a small rise in mosquito numbers in the late summer and early fall, as increased rain provides them with more pooled water in

which to breed.

West Nile virus is generally a mild illness, with a high percentage of infected people having no symptoms at all. Most who do show symptoms report a fever, body aches or a headache; only very rarely is the disease severe enough to require medical attention. The Mary-

Seeking Volunteers

land Department of Health has not reported any diagnosed cases of West Nile virus in the county this year, despite the fact that some mosquitoes caught in traps tested positive for the virus.

However, and more concerningly, in mid-August, a Maryland resident living in the National Capital Region, which includes Prince George’s County, tested positive for a locally acquired malaria infection. According to the Maryland Department of Health, the state sees about 200 cases of travel-related malaria per year, which occur when someone travels abroad, is infected with malaria in a different country, and then brings it back home. However, this is the first malaria case in Maryland that has been identified as not travelrelated in over 40 years. Two other states, Florida and Texas, have also seen locally acquired malaria this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Malaria symptoms include high fever, chills, body aches,

diarrhea and vomiting. Malaria can be very serious if not treated promptly.

A third mosquito-borne illness, the Zika virus, which can be spread by the Aedes mosquito or by unprotected sex with an infected person, remains without any known locally transmitted cases in Maryland, according to the Department of Health.

The Zika virus can be very dangerous for pregnant women as it can cause serious birth defects in the developing child; however, it is generally a mild disease that doesn’t require hospitalization. Symptoms include fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis (red and itchy eyes).

Schamberger said that, despite the positive malaria test, there is no reason for county residents to worry unduly. “In general, people should just be concerned overall about mosquito-borne disease,” he said.

Schamberger recommended taking preventative measures against mosquitos, such as wearing long clothing or using mosquito repellents, as well as avoiding going outside when mosquitoes are most active (right

at dark and in the early morning).

Most importantly, Schamberger stressed the need for county residents to monitor their yards for containers of standing water and dump them out or clean them regularly, to prevent mosquito larva from developing inside. “You can really help eliminate mosquito problems,” he said.

For more information on mosquito spraying or to report high mosquito numbers, go to mda.maryland.gov/plantspests/pages/mosquito_control.aspx.

“The Sligo crossings at 410/ East-West and 212/ Riggs are terribly unsafe and scary,” said Hyattsville resident Melissa Schweisguth in an email to the Hyattsville Life & Times Schweisguth uses the trails daily to run errands. “I always dismount on my bike and cross these roads lane by lane unless there are no cars around,” she said.

Schweisguth was involved in a 2020 petition sent to the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (SHA), suggesting possible improvements to the crossings. The petition was unsuccessful at that time — but with the RAISE grant, the county was able to secure a partnership with the SHA and incorporate safety measures. According to Patten, the project is still in the planning phase, so the specific safety features are not clear; however, he alluded to improved traffic lights and better marked pedestrian crosswalks.

Patten said that the RAISE

grant was critical in securing a SHA partnership. Because so many groups want to work with SHA, the administration is very particular about the projects it takes on. “The RAISE grant funding made us a higher priority to the SHA and put us on the top of their list,” he explained.

The County Connector — another important project for Hyattsville — will connect the Northwest Branch Trail to the Metropolitan Branch Trail in the District. While the planned trail is relatively short, at 0.8 miles, the connection will provide county bicyclists with another route into D.C. that avoids main roads.

Riverdale Park resident Dan Behrend, who bikes to work in the District, is particularly excited about the County Connector. “They have been talking about the PG Connector for years — since before I moved here [in 2013],” Behrend told the Life & Times “I’m glad this grant allows them to finally get the project off the ground.”

For more information on mosquito spraying or to report high mosquito numbers, go to mda.maryland. gov/plants-pests/ pages/mosquito_ control.aspx.

While many districts didn’t report any 2018 school spending data because the law didn’t require them to do so, Baltimore County has been reporting that information since 2011, which is why the Local News Network was able to find that 2018 expenditure.

In Prince George’s County, the public school district spent $87,596.83 at Three Brothers Italian Restaurants between fiscal years 2019 and 2022.

To be more specific, the district spent $55,321.53 at Three Brothers in Greenbelt during the 2018-2019 school year and another $32,275.30 at the restaurant’s Hyattsville location in the 2021-2022 school year. The district appears to have a longstanding relationship with Three Brothers. While most school districts in the state didn’t start reporting their vendor expenses to the state until 2019, Prince George’s County has been doing so since 2012. Those older figures show the school district spent $82,505.60 at Three Brothers in 2017 and 2018.

Raven Hill, the district’s associate superintendent for com-

munications and community engagement, indicated Three Brothers is a go-to caterer for school events.

“The catering expenses were spent across many schools, generally for student celebrations and staff/family meetings,” Hill wrote. “For context, schools often provide food at parent meetings to encourage attendance. Meals were also provided to students at several community schools (low-income population, wraparound services) as incentives.”

In Calvert County, school district officials haven’t been just buying school supplies, textbooks and computers. They’ve been buying wristwatches, too.

The district spent over $25,000 at JW Jewelers, a locally owned jewelry store in Prince Frederick, in 2021.

The expenditure was for 118 watches, costing roughly $218 apiece, that were gifted to retiring employees, according to Scott Johnson, the district’s chief financial officer.

The Local News Network is a student-powered nonprofit news organization led by professionals at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland.

FROM PAGE 1

Jeff Brown is a service advisor at Rising Sun Motors, which is located on Rhode Island Avenue. In an interview with the Here & Now, he said, “[The recklessness] has become so common that I am desensitized to it, but I haven’t seen them as much lately.”

Brown added that Rising Sun staff used to regularly hear and see groups of motorcyclists and ATVs speeding on Rhode Island Avenue, but said he does not know where they come from or where they go. Some interviewees indicated that the disturbances are linked to a motorcycle repair shop on 51st Place. The shop does not appear to have a name or an online presence, and a mechanic at the shop said that they did not know anything about the issue. “All the bikes that come here are not running. We don’t know of any disturbance,” he said. According to residents in the neighborhood, the shop tests motorcycles they repair, revving engines and speeding.

There are reports of residents who own motorcycles and

ATVs causing disturbances on neighborhood streets, too.

The city installed speed bumps along 51st Place last year in response to a community petition. The city also put up signs around the area, urging people to keep vehicle noise to a minimum. Residents said that the interventions improved the situation somewhat, though some bikers simply drove around the speed bumps, sometimes on the sidewalks.

Multiple individuals interviewed for this article reported that speeding and recklessness has lessened in recent months, though others claimed that there are ongoing problems. “It is a daily occurrence,” one

local business owner noted. “They speed around doing wheelies and disturbing the peace.”

Bryan Haddad, who lives in the Hollywood neighborhood, has been vocal about the street racing culture and has proposed ways to curb it. He has suggested that police could leverage code enforcement to issue tickets to individuals who illegally modify vehicles to make the engine louder than normal.

The Here & Now reached out to the Prince George's County Police for a comment and update on the vehicle disturbances, as well as their thoughts on Haddad’s proposition, but they did not reply.

JORDAN WILLIAMS