06-2024 College Park Here & Now

Wedding season in full swing at Memorial Chapel

By TOMI BRUNTON

Roughly 55 local couples marry every year in the iconic Memorial Chapel that sits on the University of Maryland (UMD) campus facing Route 1.

About half of the couples who marry in the interfaith chapel’s two wedding venues are UMD alumni, according to chapel manager Denise McHugh. Most couples marry in the summer and fall.

“This June, I think we have about eight weddings booked, and then we also have weddings in July and August as well,” McHugh said.

“Through the three months, we have about 25 weddings currently booked, with … space for more.”

The building has a large main chapel that can seat up to 300. A smaller chapel on the lower level, the Garden Chapel, can fit 100.

“On a given weekend, we can do weddings in both spaces,” McHugh said. “We … stagger them so both ceremonies aren't happening at the exact same time, but it is possible for us to do … more than one wedding a day because of those two spaces.”

McHugh noted that the chapel

Shake Shack, Chopt coming to College Park this fall

By KAYLA NAZAIRE

Chopt, Duck Donuts and Shake Shack will open their first Prince George’s County eateries in College Park this fall.

The three national franchises, which have eateries in the District, Northern Virginia and Montgomery County, are set to open on the first floor of a new student housing building, Union on Knox, at the beginning

of the fall semester.

Developer Ken Ulman said the restaurant chains have already begun construction at the development, which will be an 800-student apartment building on the lot where the 7-Eleven once stood.

“Shake Shack, you know, frankly, they have been looking for a location in College Park for a number of years,” Ulman said. “Prior to that, there hadn’t been a lot of new oppor-

tunities to locate in College Park. … So we’re excited to welcome them.”

Ulman is the president of Terrapin Development Co., a real estate and economic development organization jointly established by the City of College Park, the University of Maryland (UMD) and the University of Maryland College Park Foundation. The partnership has developed a number of mixed-use projects, such as

By SHARON O’MALLEY

The College Park City Council on May 21 adopted a $27.4 million operating budget for fiscal year 2025 that includes the city’s first residential property tax rate increase in 10 years.

The approved budget includes a residential rate increase of 11% that calculates out to an additional 3.32

Eight couples will marry this month in Memorial Chapel, which sits on the edge of the University of Maryland campus. BODE RAMSAY

Council questions future of annual spring parade

By SHARON O’MALLEY

Next spring’s parade in North College Park could be the city’s last.

After an estimated 1,500 performers and onlookers participated in the third annual parade on the rainy morning of May 4, some members of the College Park City Council have determined that the event might not be worth the cost.

“I’m going to be a little bit unpopular and suggest that the city strongly consider getting out of the parade business,” Councilmember John Rigg (District 3) said during an event debrief on May 21. “I just don’t think it’s working out.”

The city spent $34,000 on this year’s Star Wars-themed parade and invested approximately 1,000 staff hours worth another $34,000, Ryna Quiñones, the city’s communications and events manager, said during the debrief.

“This event is challenging for us,” she noted.

Rigg said the total funding for the parade boils down to approximately $47 per attendee. “That’s not good,” Rigg said. “I can’t think of any way to justify that.”

Quiñones said city staff had difficulty recruiting volunteers to run the event and struggled to find performers to march in the parade.

Of the 35 individuals and groups scheduled to be part of the procession along Rhode Island Avenue, nine were paid by the city to appear. A few did not show up for the event because of the rain.

Quiñones said city staff invited 200 organizations to apply for spots but received just 43 applications.

“We would love to see more participation, and we haven’t gotten it,” Quiñones said. “We would love to see more attendees.”

She called parade attendance over the past three years “stagnant at best.”

Quiñones also said the lack of volunteers has strained staff, who would like to rely more on students and residents to pitch in with planning, setup and staffing of the event.

In fact, the parade takes place in early May instead of on the Fourth of July, as it did three years ago, because the timing is better for University of Maryland and public school students to volunteer, perform and attend.

During negotiations for the city’s fiscal year 2025 budget this spring, the council had decided to stop hosting the parade to save money. After receiving more than a dozen emails from residents asking the council to reverse the decision, however, the council restored $33,000 to the proposed budget for next year’s parade.

During the debrief, council-

members offered alternatives to the parade beyond 2025.

Rigg suggested hosting a music festival, while Councilmember Susan Whitney (District 2) floated the idea of a North College Park version of Friday Night LIVE!, a summer concert series the city hosts at city hall plaza.

Most councilmembers agreed that the objective of the parade is community-building.

“We do indeed need to understand what we want to achieve,” Councilmember Llatetra Brown Esters (District 2) said, suggesting that the goal is “engagement and bringing people together. My question: Is this the way we want to continue to do this, or are there other things that can be done?”

Mayor Pro Tem Denise Mitchell said the council should agree about whether to continue to host the parade — the city’s most-expensive event after College Park Day — rather than leave it to the staff to decide. However, the discussion did not result in a decision about future parades.

“We will continue to have this discussion,” Brown Esters said.

“We need to engage the members of that community who live in North College Park. … We need to continue to engage. We need to be thoughtful about it.”

City Manager Kenny Young noted that “none of us wants to be delivering an event that’s not successful and wasting taxpayer dollars.”

City pays many employees less than other governments

By KATELYNN WINEBRENNER

As many as 74 City of College Park employees will see salary increases after a study showed they earn less than their peers in other cities in the region. The salary increases could cost the city about $240,784, according to an estimate by Paypoint HR, the company the city contracted to conduct the study, which was presented in April to the city council by Rick Campbell, the organization’s technical director.

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The study compared the salaries of the city’s employees with those of workers from 25 other Maryland and Virginia cities and counties with similar socio-economic makeups to College Park. These included cities like Hyattsville, Greenbelt and Rockville.

“To our surprise, many of our employees fell below comparison,” Teresa Way-Pezzuti, College Park’s director of human resources, said. “After many discussions, the city decided that we would like to be at

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least at the 50th percentile.”

Being at the 50th percentile of the 25 cities surveyed means that College Park would be right in the middle, with half of the cities paying a higher salary for the same work and the other half paying less.

As a whole, city employees earn, on average, 1.2% more than the 50th percentile of the cities surveyed. However, when city salaries are evaluated by department averages, half of the city departments fall below the 50th percentile,

Advertising Sales Manager Miranda Goodson

Business Manager Catie Currie

Executive Director Kit Slack

Board of Directors

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, Sharon O'Malley, Kit Slack

Circulation: Copies are distributed monthly by U.S. mail to every address in College

according to the study.

“Relative to the 50th percentile … you're overall at pace, but there are some job titles that … [are] a little bit out of alignment,” Campbell said.

When measured by this comparison, College Park administrators earn, on average, 3.2% below the middle of the market. Employees in two city departments — Public Services and Youth, Family and Senior Services — earn, on average, 2.6% and 0.7% below the middle of the market, respectively.

On the other hand, employees in the Department of Finance earn, on average, 8% more than the middle of the market; employees of both Planning (5%) and Public Works (5.4%) also had salaries higher than the middle of the market.

After the presentation, councilmembers voted unanimously to increase salaries to reach the city’s goal.

“I think it's vitally important for us to bring our employees to a fair compensation and wage, especially if we want to maintain them,” Councilmember Llatetra Brown Esters (District 2) said. “We often talk about how wonderful our employees are. I think this is an important

step in showing them how important they are.”

The study also analyzed each position in terms of the 60th percentile, which changed the ratio such that 40% of surveyed cities pay more than College Park while 60% pay less. This would make city salaries more competitive.

Mayor Pro Tem Denise Mitchell said the city could aim to meet this benchmark in the future.

Overall, the city pays, on average, 6.7% below the 60th percentile of comparable cities in the region, according to the study.

“This is showing you that overall, you'd be less than 7% behind the market,” Campbell said. “Again, that is a strategic choice because it does involve allocation of taxpayer dollars.”

However, Councilmember John Rigg (District 3) said he believes reaching these goals is important.

“Fifty percent is good, but it's probably insufficient for the quality of our staff, for the labor market and the pressures that we confront,” Rigg said. “I appreciate that we're average for our peer group, but I will say that everybody in College Park is above average.”

The city’s annual parade costs more than any other event except College Park Day, leading city councilmembers to question whether to continue it. SAM GAUNTT

Purple Line construction to close multiple streets

By LILLIAN GLAROS

Purple Line construction will close sections of a half dozen streets this summer, most of them on the University of Maryland (UMD) campus.

Off-campus, a part of Rivertech Court at River Road near College Park Academy will close from June 15 to Aug. 25 for track construction.

“Our main intention is to complete [two] tracks … between Presidential Drive and the curve of Adelphi Road,” Javier Devesa of Maryland Transit Solutions said. “So we intend to complete some tracks that are leading to the station and install the station works this summer.”

To that end, Campus Drive will close from Adelphi Road to Championship Lane, which is near the College Park Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, from May 30 to Aug. 20.

Purple Line representatives met with more than 30 College Park-area residents on May 16 to update them about the light rail construction. The virtual meeting was part of a series of hyperlocal updates for residents of cities in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties.

Construction on the aboveground light rail will lead to traffic

detours and reroute pedestrians.

For example, a River Road detour would allow drivers to reach River Road by passing through Baltimore Avenue and Campus Drive.

Workers will construct a driveway (east of Presidential Drive) to ensure access to University Baptist Church and University United Methodist Church during one of the partial Campus Drive closures.

Devesa said some of the foundations for the line’s electrical systems will also be constructed during the summer. He also noted that portions of a bike path and sidewalk between Alumni Drive and Campus Drive have been completed.

Construction of tracks in multiple locations around the city also will begin this summer, and work on Purple Line stations, including the College Park-UMD station, are underway. Construc-

tion of the Adelphi Road-UMGCUMD station will begin soon.

The Riverdale Park-North station is largely complete, and workers are installing underground utilities.

“This time next year, you can expect to see the Purple Line light rail vehicles begin testing on a new test track located in Prince George’s County,” Ray Biggs II, senior project director for the Maryland Transit Administration, said in a video played at the presentation.

Meeting attendees expressed concerns about the impact of construction and asked questions about scheduling and completion.

Devesa responded to a question about when the intersection at the M Circle on campus would be completed, citing dangers to pedestrians.

The same attendee asked when Campus Drive, from the College Park Metro station to Baltimore Avenue, will be repaved, citing issues about drivers making unsafe moves to avoid potholes.

“We’re definitely going to try to do some action to try to minimize the effect of the bumps,” Devesa said.

STREET SHUTDOWNS

Purple Line construction will shut down sections of a number of streets this summer in and around College Park, including the following:

Rivertech Court at River Road near College Park Academy, from June 15 to Aug. 25

Rossborough Lane between Baltimore Avenue and Diamondback Drive, beginning around June 11

Fieldhouse Drive near the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center, from May 28 to Aug.20

Preinkert Drive from South Library Lane to Lot A, May 28 to June 30

Campus Drive between the Benjamin Building and Regents Drive, from May 23 to Aug. 20

Campus Drive from Adelphi Road to Championship Lane, near the College Park Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, from May 30 to Aug. 20.

Construction of the purple line will be in full swing on and around the University of Maryland this summer, closing parts of half a dozen streets for up to three months. LILLIAN GLAROS

NEW RESTAURANTS

Bandit Taco

Dog Haus Biergarten

Eastern Gourmet

GrillMarx Steakhouse & Raw Bar

Iron Rooster

Little Blue Menu

Popeye’s Chicken

Roots Natural Kitchen

Smoothie King

Terrapin Station

NEW RETAIL & MORE

AllCare Primary and Immediate Care

Crunch Fitness

PNC Bank

Shop Made In Maryland

Third Eye Comics

Trader Joe’s

VCD Auto Repair

Wawa

COMING SOON

Chopt

Concentra Urgent Care

Green Turtle

PrimeTime at Cambria Hotel

Shake Shack

Taqueria Habanero

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Our calendar includes many events and meetings sponsored by the City of College Park and local nonprofits, including arts organizations and performance venues. For additional events and meetings organized by the city, see the College Park Post newsletter in this paper’s centerfold. Please send notices of events taking place between July 9 and Aug. 5 to nancy@ streetcarsuburbs.news by June 28.

JUNE 7

Friday Night LIVE! Join fellow enthusiasts at College Park City Hall Plaza for a live concert featuring Bongo District’s energetic reggae, ska, Latin and funk music. Free concert with food and beer available for purchase. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. 7401 Baltimore Ave.

JUNE 8

Trolley Trail Day and Porchfest!

Full day of fun celebrating the Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail. A fun run, kids activities, local music, food and drink, and more along the trail’s 3.8-mile stretch from Hyattsville to College Park. Free. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with activities at College Park’s Old Parish House (4711 Knox Ave.) from noon to 4 p.m. For more information, go to trolleytrailday. org and for a list of performers, go to cpae.org/arts/event/trolleytrail-day-2/

Second Saturday Lecture Series. University Park resident and historian Sam Walker discusses his book, Prompt and Utter Destruction, Truman and the Use of Atomic Bombs against Japan. Free. 4 p.m. Church of the Brethren, 4413 Tuckerman St., University Park

JUNE 9

College Park Arts Exchange: Needlework Club. Bring your own project and craft with fellow enthusiasts. Free. 5 to 8 p.m. Old Parish House, 4711 Knox Rd.

JUNE 14

The Clarice’s Outdoor Movies: “West Side Story.” Bring a blanket and your picnic to the courtyard at UMD’s The Clarice Center for this screening of the 1961 movie, which won 10 Oscars. Free. 8:30 p.m. 8270 Alumni Dr. For more information, go to tinyurl.com/49z2bccb

JUNE 15

College Park Aviation Museum: Cub Corner, Tails of Flight. Gather around for Spider in a Glider, by Lesley Sims, and a crafting activity based on the short story. Free with museum admission, registration not required. Ages 5 and under. 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. 1985 Corporal Frank Scott Dr. For more information, call 301.864.6029 or email collegeparkaviation@ pgparks.com

JUNE 18

College Park Arts Exchange Book Club. Virtual discussion of Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands, an illustrated memoir by Canadian cartoonist Kate Beaton. 7 to 8:30 p.m. Email info@cpae.org for Zoom link.

FOURTH OF JULY

See our brief on page 7 for local parades and fireworks!

JUNE 21

The National Orchestral Institute + Festival: Chamber Music 2.0. NOI+F fellows take chamber music back to its roots. Free. 7:30 p.m. UMD’s The Clarice Center, 8270 Alumni Dr. For more information, go to tinyurl.com/mr2memvd

JUNE 22

College Park Aviation Museum: Afternoon Aviators, Tails of Flight. Learn about prehistoric skies and flying dinosaurs. Ages 8 – 12. Free with museum admission, registration not required. 1 to 2 p.m. 1985 Corporal Frank Scott Dr. For more information, call 301.864.6029 or email collegeparkaviation@pgparks. com

Corridor Conversations: Living (and Aging) Well with Technology. TechMoxie will discuss how older adults and others can safely use technologies

like voice assistants to manage tasks with less frustration. Program is hosted by a number of local nonprofits serving cities along the Route 1 Corridor. Virtual. 2 p.m. To register, go to hyattsvilleaginginplace.org/ events

JUNE 24 – 28

Adult Broadway Jazz Intensive. College Park Arts Exchange hosts Elta Goldstein for a week of daily classes capped by an informal showcase. Classes open to all levels, including newcomers and beginners, with emphasis on basic technique and choreography. $50. 6:30 to 8 p.m. each evening. Old Parish House, 4711 Knox Rd. To register, go to tinyurl.com/4cfyux3m

JUNE 28

The National Orchestral Institute + Festival: Philharmonic/New Directions. Unique concert experience hosted by NOI+F Music Director Marin Alsop featuring works by NOI+F composition fellows. Tickets $10/$20. 7:30 p.m. UMD’s The Clarice Center, 8270 Alumni Dr. For more information and tickets, go to tinyurl. com/48nfwu78

JULY 6

The National Orchestral Institute + Festival: Cinematic Music of John Williams. Richard Scerbo conducts

favorites from “Lincoln,” “Harry Potter” and “ET,” to “Star Wars” and beyond. $10 to $40, depending on seats. 7:30 p.m. UMD’s The Clarice Center, 8270 Alumni Dr. For more information and tickets, go to tinyurl.com/2a3k37c2

RECURRING

NOI+F Spark Lounge: Live Jazz. Every Saturday during June, the 2024 National Orchestral Institute + Festival brings smooth jazz to UMD’s The Clarice Center. Free. 9 p.m. 8270 Alumni Dr. For more information, go to tinyurl.com/ mtab3mx8

College Park Community Library Children’s Story Time. Wednesdays from 9:30 to 10 a.m. Meet on the lawn in sunny weather and indoors in rain. Free. College Park Church of the Nazarene, 9704 Rhode Island Ave.

Line Dancing with Jessie. The College Park Arts Exchange hosts Jessie Barnes, of Jessie’s Soul Line Dancers, for an upbeat virtual dance session — with an emphasis on fun — every Friday from 10 to 11 a.m. Free. For more information and to register for the Zoom workshop, email info@cpae.org

Salsa Night at The Hall CP. Featuring Latin music, free salsa lessons by Luis Delga, along with a rotating taco menu. Every Tuesday from 5 to 9 p.m. The Hall CP, 4656 Hotel Dr.

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CP Academy students design lacrosse stick for use with wheelchair

By SHARON O’MALLEY

A wheelchair-bound 9-year-old who’s into sports will be able to play lacrosse with a custom-made stick that allows her to launch a ball by pulling on a string. Stella Stakolosa, who has cerebral palsy, also swims and has participated in cheerleading and horseback riding. She accepted the lacrosse stick on May 28 from a group of high school juniors and seniors from College Park Academy who designed the accessibility device, adorned with her name, for the Anne Arundel County resident.

“It’s awesome,” Megan Stakolosa, Stella’s mother, said after the girl used the stick to shoot a goal into a net during a demonstration as part of the presentation. “She wants to be able to do things by herself.”

The 19 high school students who designed the hot pink adaptive device are part of a program called Engineering for Us All (e4usa), which was founded by University of Maryland President Darryll J. Pines, an engineer, along with the American Society for Engineering Education.

“I love projects like these, where students can use their creativity to come up with an engineered solution that truly impacts the life of a real person in a positive way,” Pines said during the presentation at College Park Academy.

The e4usa program started in 2018 with a $4 million grant from the National Science Foundation and is active at approximately 90 schools in 25 states. Students learn engineering principles and take on projects that benefit the community.

Through the program, UMD trains high school teachers who don’t have an engineering background so they can teach the engineering class.

“It makes you feel proud; happy that I am guiding the students to help improve somebody’s life,” teacher Brendan McCarthy said.

Pines said the class attracts a diverse group of students.

“We need to value diversity of expertise, backgrounds, experiences, and we need to focus our effort and resources into making our community a more welcoming and inclusive community,” Pines said at the event. “If we do all of that, then we

know that a new type of lacrosse stick isn’t just a new type of lacrosse stick. It represents what’s possible for Stella, for us and for everyone else.”

Engineering students from the Riverdale Park-based charter school designed a special bike last year for a 22-year-old with Down syndrome, complete with a remote-controlled brake that his mother can operate.

Engineering student Elizabeth Ayeni said working on the lacrosse stick taught her that “engineering can be anything. Solving problems is really fun, and you can apply that anywhere in life.”

The bendable stick was mounted to Stella’s wheelchair and will make it easier for her to play in a lacrosse league through Parkville Adaptive Lacrosse,

which was founded in 2001 for disabled players.

Although coaches taught her how to play the game, Stella, who has had two open-heart surgeries and a stroke, found it difficult to hold the stick, which sometimes caught in the spokes of her wheelchair’s wheels. Once she was connected with the high school students, she met with them via Zoom to describe what she wanted. One accessory: a rearview mirror for her chair that allows her to see players approaching from behind.

“She came to us with a problem, and we were able to find a solution,” said Ayeni, one of the seniors who described the team’s work on the lacrosse stick. “It means a lot to make someone’s life a little easier or a little nicer.”

Stella Stakolosa takes a shot with the adaptive lacrosse stick custom-designed for her by College Park Academy students. COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND

COLLEGE PARK POST

Edition 49

Creating Safe Spaces

Celebrating Pride Month by committing to actions that support the LGBTQ+ community

In June the City of College Park is recognizing Pride Month! Pride Month is dedicated to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender pride, and is an opportunity for everyone to affirm equal rights for all persons regardless of sexual orientation.

Pride Month also commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Uprising that followed police raids on the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City. Gay residents fought back against this government persecution, and their actions now mark the beginning of the gay rights movement in the U.S.

Since 1970, Pride celebrations have occurred each June to remember the activism of the Stonewall Uprising and to raise awareness about LGBTQ+ rights. President Bill Clinton was the first president to declare June “Gay & Lesbian Pride Month,” and President Barack Obama expanded the commemoration to “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month.” Today, the LGBTQ+ acronym represents a diverse spectrum of gender identities and sexual orientations.

In College Park, we strive to foster a community that makes everyone feel safe, respected, and welcome. Even if you do not identify as LGBTQ+, you can support the

community as an ally and help create safe spaces for others to be their authentic selves. To create safe spaces, make sure to:

• Acknowledge the range of gender identities and sexual orientations among us and recognize that stereotypes on gender and sex may harm your neighbors.

• Educate yourself on gender identity, sexual orientation, and the history of gay rights in the U.S.

• Address discrimination immediately: bullying and harassment are not okay.

• Respect each person’s lived experience! Find ways to connect with members of the LGBTQ+ community.

• Use the pronouns people use to introduce themselves.

• Amplify the voices and stories of the LGBTQ+ community and advance initiatives for equal rights and inclusion.

Join us on June 7 at Friday Night LIVE to show your Pride in a community art piece! A local art nonprofit, the Creative Supply Social Club, will assist residents with making a communal work of art that celebrates love, diversity, and respect. The finished painting will be displayed in City Hall during the month of June.

JUNE 2024

Recognizing Outstanding Local Leaders in College Park

Nominate an individual or business for the City’s annual awards to highlight those who make a difference

THE JACK PERRY AWARD

In February 2013, the College Park City Council established an award in recognition of Councilman John Edward “Jack” Perry.

Councilman Perry served on the College Park City Council from 1979 to 1983 and from 1989 to 2011, for a total of 26 years. From the time he moved to College Park’s Berwyn neighborhood in 1969, until his death in 2012, Jack was deeply committed to serving his community, which he demonstrated by spending many hours working to improve the quality of life for all who lived and worked in College Park.

Through the years, he volunteered on numerous associations, boards, coalitions, task forces and committees at the neighborhood, city, county, and state levels. This Award will recognize a member of the community who emulates Councilman Jack Perry’s legacy of public service.

ELIGIBILITY:

To be eligible for the award, a person must be at least 18 years of age and a registered voter or legal resident of College Park.

CRITERIA:

The Jack Perry award will recognize a College Park resident who has participated to an extraordinary degree in neighborhood, civic, or municipal affairs within the City in a manner that improves public spaces, fosters community cohesion, eradicates blight, informs discussion of public issues, provides leadership, and/ or furthers the best interests of the City as a whole.

NOMINATIONS:

From May 15 to July 15 each year, any resident, neighborhood association or organization in the City may submit a nomination for the Jack Perry Award.

Nominations should be submitted in writing to the City Clerk for the City of College Park, 7401 Baltimore Avenue, Suite 201, College Park, MD, 20740, or by e-mail to cityclerkoffice@collegeparkmd. gov. Nominations will be reviewed by a Committee that includes a member of the Perry family.

This non-monetary award will be presented by the City Council in the fall.

BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Nominate an outstanding City of College Park business that goes above and beyond to positively contribute to the community and serves as an example to others.

Nominate a business in the City of College Park by August 31!

Visit www.collegeparkmd.gov/ businessaward24 to nominate or for more information.

Red Fox Sightings in College Park

How to coexist with this native wildlife speicies; From the City’s Animal Control Officer

There have been an increased number of sightings and reports of foxes being seen in College Park. In an effort to keep the public informed, we’d like to share some information about this native species and wildlife.

The red fox is a native, furbearing mammal in Maryland. They are omnivores, which means that they eat plants and animals. The diet of the red fox is snakes, birds, mice, insects, rabbits, berries and fruit. They raise their young from March to July. They den or burrow in underground areas, which can include under sheds, in abandoned groundhog holes, and under decks. During the time of year that they are raising their young, they are more often seen being “standoffish” hissing, standing their ground and sometimes barking. This is usually the mother, the vixen, is protecting

her young or den. It is best to leave any fox alone and advise others to do the same.

Red foxes have become very adapted to living around humans, we’re a constant source of food via trash, refuse, and housing for them under our sheds and homes. It is not uncommon to see foxes out during the day, and if you see one out in the daytime it is not an automatic indicator of an illness.

In Maryland, a furbearing animal by law cannot be trapped and/ or relocated without a furbearer permit, or a wildlife control cooperator permit. From the Maryland Department of Natural Resources website, “Relocation of rabies-vector species (raccoon, skunk, and fox) is prohibited under the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 08.03.15.24.

This restriction is necessary to prevent human-assisted spread of this disease and is an important component of the state’s nuisance wildlife control program.”

City Code in College Park prohibits the Animal Control Officer from removing any wildlife that isn’t an immediate threat to Public Safety (§ 102-10 Capture and removal.)

To best coexist with these beautiful animals, we suggest:

1. Do not approach, feed or try to pet wildlife. Educate children on the importance of keeping wildlife wild.

2. Keep trash on your property secure, and don’t dump food outside.

3. When encountering foxes that come close, make loud noises, to keep wildlife fearful of humans.

4. Keep pets away from wildlife, don’t allow your pet to chase or harass wildlife, as this is only putting your pet at risk of injury or disease.

5. Report any wildlife with any obvious signs of sickness, or disease to the City’s Animal Control Officer, or DNR. This includes stumbling, aggression, or foaming at the mouth.

6. If you wish to prevent animals from raising their young on your property, close all entryways underneath buildings, and fill in any holes.

You can contact the City’s Animal Welfare department MondayFriday 8am-5pm at 240-487-3588.

You can contact the Department of Natural Resources sick and injured wildlife hotline at 1-877-463-6497.

City Announcements

More information: www.collegeparkmd.gov

CITY OFFICES CLOSED FOR JUNETEENTH

All City Offices will be closed on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 in observance of the Juneteenth holiday. All collections shift forward one day day and bulk and special collections pickup will only be on that Friday (appointments required).

FREE SUMMER PARKING

Visit downtown College Park for FREE this summer! Starting May 25th, park for free in the Downtown Parking Garage on weeknights after 5pm and all-day on Saturdays and Sundays. Explore all the amazing dining, shopping, and entertainment options our City has to offer. See you downtown!

MOSQUITO CONTROL

Warm spring weather can cause mosquito larvae to become active, producing adult mosquitoes. The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) will begin applying mosquito larvicide control products to standing water in known breeding areas to prevent the development of larvae into biting adult mosquitoes.

For permanent areas of standing water (ponds, rain barrels, etc.), mosquito “torpedoes” slowly and continuously release an insect growth regulator into the water that prevents larval mosquito development into adults for up to 2 months. The City offers mosquito torpedoes for residents – visit the Department of Public Works for more information.

The adult spray portion of MDAs program is scheduled to start in late May/early June and run through September to trap and control mosquito populations. More information can be found on our website www.collegeparkmd. gov/mosquito.

REQUEST FOR EXEMPTION FROM ADULT MOSQUITO CONTROL SERVICES

Residents can request exclusion from the adult spray program by completing an exemption form annually and return it to:

Program Supervisor, Mosquito Control Section

50 Harry S. Truman Parkway Annapolis, MD 21401

If you don’t have a printer, the local office for MDA Mosquito Control in College Park has offered to send

residents a form via DocuSign. Send an email to skeetermd1. mda@maryland.gov to request the form be sent via DocuSign.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Visit the MDA’s Mosquito Control website (https://mda. maryland.gov/plants-pests/ pages/mosquito_control.aspx) for more details about the program, including their policy, insecticides used, product labels and material safety data sheets (MSDS), and more.

PEPCO LINE CLEARANCE WORK

Asplundh, Pepco’s contractor, plans to prune or remove trees for power line clearance for their fouryear maintenance cycle. The work is tentatively scheduled to start the 1st week of June 2024 and will last for approximately one month.

The pruning work will occur in the following neighborhoods: College Park Estates/Yarrow, Berwyn, Branchville, Oak Springs East & West, Daniels Park East & West, Hollywood East & West, Sunnyside, Cherry Hill, University View, Crystal Springs, and Kropps Addition.

Tree work will include the removal of five trees as follows: a Bradford Pear on Sweetbriar Drive, an Ailanthus (Berwyn) and a Honey locust (Old Town) on Rhode Island Avenue, a Willow Oak on Blackfoot Road, and a Silver Maple on 52nd Avenue.

These trees are in poor condition or are dead and require removal to prevent damage to infrastructure. Any line clearance tree work affecting privately owned trees has been discussed with the property owner. Replacement trees will be provided by Pepco and planted in the fall of 2024. For more information contact the City Arborist at 240-487-3602.

WOOD MULCH AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE

After a long wait for processing, wood mulch is finally available. Mulch is $12.00 per cubic yard, and material may be picked up Mon.Fri. between 8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Delivery can be scheduled for an additional fee. Click here to schedule a delivery. For more information on wood mulch click here. For further questions call 240-487-3593.

“Determined” Exhibit

New exhibit on display at City Hall examines fight for freedom “We are determined to be people.” -Martin Luther King, Jr. from the speech, I’ve Been to the Mountaintop, delivered on April 3, 1968 at Mason Temple, Memphis, Tennessee.

Determined: The 400-Year Struggle for Black Equality examines the long history of black Americans as they have fought for freedom, equal justice, and access to opportunities. Their actions have pushed our nation ever closer to its ideal of universal equality.

This June, we’re celebrating Juneteenth and African American history with a new exhibit on display at City Hall! Visit the first floor (7401 Baltimore Avenue) from 8AM- 5PM June 7 through August.

Through profiles of 30 individuals, more than 100 evocative objects, and multimedia interpretive content, Determined explores:

• the black experience in Virginia from 1619 to 2020;

• the pivotal role black Americans have played in shaping America’s national identity and culture; and

• the key Virginians and Virginia events that have defined the meaning of American democracy, equality, and justice.

Their stories help us to understand the origins of today’s problems and to reckon with the painful legacies of slavery, segregation, and white supremacy. These determined individuals also inspire us to create a better future.

On loan from the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, the City of College Park is pleased to make this exhibition available to our visitors and residents.

This month, we commemorate Juneteenth (June 19th) to remember the day the Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to free 250,000 enslaved individuals. This pivotal moment in history marked the emancipation of all African Americans.

The holiday, and the Determined exhibit, provides a moment to honor the resilience of African Americans and the courage of abolitionists and activists who have tirelessly fought for civil rights throughout the years.

The City of College Park will also be hosting a free kid’s book giveaway in honor of the Juneteenth holiday! Request a free copy of “The History of Juneteenth” by Arlisha Norwood (ages 6-9) to learn more about the holiday. Sign up at www. collegeparkmd.gov/juneteenth.

Governor advises UMD graduates to ‘choose tough’

By LILLIAN GLAROS

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore told University of Maryland (UMD) graduates in a May 20 commencement speech to “choose tough.”

“When you choose tough, there’s never anything that you’re going to see in your life that is ever going to make you flinch,” Moore said.

Moore told the students his first “choose tough” moment happened when he was a teenager. He joined the army at 17, which, he said, prepared him for the challenges of building his family, running his business and becoming the first Black governor of the state.

Moore spoke to thousands of graduates and their family members at UMD’s SECU Stadium.

The governor said he drew on this preparation from his young life after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in Baltimore in March.

“When people asked me what kind of training helped you to respond to the unthinkable when it happened, my answer was not, ‘Well, I have a bachelor’s of arts in international relations,’” Moore said.

NEWS BRIEFS

Former College Park resident Joan Vassos will be ABC’s first Golden Bachelorette when the reality dating show premiers this fall.

Golden girl. A one-time College Park resident and 1985 graduate of the University of Maryland will be ABC’s first Golden Bachelorette when the series debuts this fall.

Rockville resident Joan Vassos,

Maryland

“The answer was that I chose tough. That was my preparation.”

He emphasized that education is not about the diploma, but the journey students take as they earn their degrees — the journey that can make them tough.

“It's the struggle of balancing coursework and a campus job. ... It's the hours you spend engaging in the biggest de-

61, was a contestant on the premiere season of The Golden Bachelor, which featured a 72-year-old bachelor, who dated 20 women in their 60s and 70s last fall before proposing to, quickly marrying and then filing for divorce from the winning contestant.

Vassos, a widow with four adult children and two grandchildren, left the show in Week 3, saying she had to return home to tend to a family medical emergency.

ABC declined to make Vassos available for an interview with College Park Here & Now. Vassos, who works as an administrator at Landon School in Bethesda, told CNN she would not move away from Maryland — at least full-time — if she were to meet her second husband on the show.

bates that our world is wrestling with right now,” Moore said. “It's all the tough choices you have made.”

He spotlighted members of the Class of 2024 as examples of those who have chosen tough.

Marie Brodsky, for example, witnessed her grandfather struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic and created an or-

Neighborhood in the news The Washington Post showcased the North College Park neighborhoods of Hollywood, Branchville and Daniels Park in a lengthy April 10 feature article about the advocacy efforts of their residents.

“The community benefits from engaged neighbors who know how to work together,” reporter Iris Vukmanovic wrote, pointing to residents' efforts to save the Hollywood Farmers Market through an email-writing campaign that flooded College Park City Councilmembers’ inboxes with nearly 100 messages of support.

ganization to help older Americans deal with isolation.

Moore also spoke of Luke Kues, who created a CPR-training organization.

And he said Gustavo Lang Jr. met the challenges of balancing work, school and family as he strove to become an engineer. At the beginning of Moore’s speech, the governor emphasized that education cannot substitute for real-world experience. He encouraged the new graduates, surrounded by thousands of family members and friends, to reach outside of their comfort zones and work to be prepared for all that life can throw at them.

Moore told them to choose the paths others might not understand, paths that require late nights and early mornings. He urged graduates to answer the call, to be brave and forgiving, and to push in order to prevail.

“It will not be glamorous, it will not be simple, it will not give you a short-term reward,” Moore said. “If life has taught me anything, it is this: The things that are hard are the things that will last. The things that come easy to me are the things that do not matter.”

The article traces the history of the neighborhoods, beginning in the early 1900s, and notes “the community’s passion for walking and biking” and its “sense of community in part because of its tremendous diversity.”

Fireworks. The closest fireworks to College Park this Fourth of July will show in Greenbelt, Bladensburg and Laurel.

College Park discontinued its holiday extravaganza — which featured music, food and fireworks on the University of Maryland campus, in 2022 because of lingering, post-pandemic supply chain issues and did not

reinstate it last year because of Purple Line construction around the campus parking lot where the festivities had been held.

The city will not have a fireworks display this summer.

Greenbelt will host fireworks on July 4, beginning at dusk, at the Buddy Attick Lake Park. Bladensburg is having fireworks, along with food trucks, amusements and pony rides, starting at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 5, at the Bladensburg Waterfront Park. Laurel’s show begins at 9:15 p.m. on Saturday, July 6, at Laurel Lake Field after a day featuring a parade, car show and family activities.

Gov. Wes Moore (center) reacts to a light moment on stage during UMD’s May 20 commencement ceremony, where he was the keynote speaker. COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND

Just to Summerize: Passive heat sources rob homes of comfort

By MATT MENKE

Heat, humidity and major thunderstorms are the three biggest challenges for our homes in the summertime. Let’s take a look at some often-overlooked things we can do to put ourselves in control of the elements, rather than being at their mercy.

Even if you love warm weather, the long months of summer can get to be too much of a good thing for your home. Being comfortable and saving on air conditioning costs are two great reasons to pay attention to how our houses passively heat up. During home inspections, I often see issues that, if unattended, could rob your family of comfort and also increase utility bills. I’ll explore four of the most common here and offer suggestions for resolving them.

First up is radiant heat, heat from the sun that warms up your home. You can take relatively simple steps to reduce this heat; one of the easiest is installing insulating curtains or well-fitted cellular blinds on south-facing windows and using them during the day. If you don't have modern low-E window glass (glass that has

a microscopically thin coating that makes your windows more thermally efficient), insulating curtains or blinds can keep a ton of radiant heat out of your home. And consider closing your storm windows, too. You’ll keep that wind-driven rain from pelting the glass, and the layer of air held between the storm and the window is a great insulator.

Second on my list is a common issue that’s easy to address — and inexpensive, too. Remember those cold drafts coming around your doors last winter? Caulking gaps and weatherstripping doors for summer is a good move because those gaps

that let in the chill are now letting in warm, muggy air. And you’ll thank yourself come next winter, when you see those utility bills go down because you’re not losing so much heat.

Third is about your attic, that space that’s easy to overlook. Do you feel heat radiating down from there at night? Poor air circulation up there allows the space to get superheated, which makes your air conditioner work much harder — and all that heat also shortens the lifespan of your roof. Adding an attic fan to an older, gabled roof can make a big difference. If you’re planning to reroof, consider adding soffits

and ridge vents as part of the design. And if you already have soffits, be sure they’re clear of insulation. Amazingly, many installers insulate right over soffits, which leaves the attic starved for fresh air. And adding insulation, up to the modern standard of 16 inches deep, is helpful year round — providing you steer clear of any soffits you may have.

And fourth on my list: dealing with dampness. Humidity is even sneakier than heat in warm weather, creeping into your home 24/7. I see many homes with air conditioning running, and the owners have windows or doors open for the breeze. Even if you don't mind the high utility costs of trying to have both cooled and fresh air at the same time, keeping your windows cracked invites the humidity in, and it will stay. If you insist on feeling a breeze, consider using ceiling fans and shades to keep the cool feeling instead of overworking the a/c. And think about all that humidity you generate when you shower. Don't leave windows cracked open or vent fans left running long after they’re done; both of these allow cooled air to escape the house (along with only some of the humidity from

that shower). If you do crack a window or run that fan after you shower, be sure to always close up again. You could also consider adding timer switches to your bath vent fans so you can dial them in to stop after they vent the steamy air. In addition to taking action against passive heat, consider the impact of big summer rains on your home. Even if you cleaned your gutters last fall, remember the big oak pollen clumps and bird nests that can be up there now. Take a walk outside during a heavy rain and look closely at all your gutters to see if any overflow or leak. Keep that water away from your foundation using downspout leaders that deliver the water at least eight feet away. And check for water puddling where those downspout leaders discharge. You may have low spots where adding clay soil will improve the grading enough to direct water away more fully. Remember, mosquitoes love it when you forget to summerize.

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

2 UMD students fill roles with city council

By KATELYNN WINEBRENNER

Two new University of Maryland (UMD) student liaisons will start their year-long terms with the College Park City Council in June.

Erica Otte, a junior government and politics student, and junior philosophy, politics and economics major John Fahmy will serve as liaison and deputy liaison, respectively.

They replaced student liaison Dhruvak Mirani and deputy student liaison Gannon Sprinkle, whose terms ended in May.

“I’m very passionate about advocacy,” Otte said. “I wanted to bring that passion towards the city council liaison position.”

The liaisons serve on the council as nonvoting representatives of UMD’s Student Government Association (SGA). Even though they cannot vote, they work closely with councilmembers on projects involving students and spread awareness of any city issues relevant to students.

In April, a panel made up of the mayor, two councilmembers and three SGA members interviewed seven applicants, Councilmember Maria Mackie (District 4), who was on the panel, said.

“It was really nice to see the passion of the students and their desire to be part of the city,” Mackie said. “It was really hard to choose, but I think we chose very well.”

The panel selected Otte, and the SGA approved her during a general meeting on April 24.

Otte said one of her goals for her term as student liaison is to “make it easier for students to connect with the broader community, maybe [through] some opportunities or events here on campus, and to make it easier to raise a family in College Park, especially after graduating.”

Otte has held internships in local and national government.

Last summer, she interned for the Harford County Parks and Recreation Department, where she worked with children with disabilities and special needs.

During the first half of this year, she was a congressional intern for U.S. Rep. Andy Harris (District 1-Maryland).

This summer, Otte will balance her new position with an internship with the juvenile crime division of the Maryland

Office of the Public Defender.

Otte is also involved in multiple on-campus organizations, such as Empowering Women in Law. Her plan is to become a child advocacy attorney.

“It’s very specific, and that's kind of why I have the initiatives plan that I do,” she said, “but hopefully I can broaden those initiatives and include more things that aren't kid-related.”

Mackie said this vision is what set Otte apart from the competition.

“The biggest thing was her real desire to build bridges between students and long-term residents,” Mackie said. “She doesn’t want to do the ‘us and them’ thing.”

After her confirmation, Otte, in consultation with the mayor,

Student liaisons Erica Otte and John Fahmy will serve on the College Park City Council as nonvoting representatives of UMD’s Student Government Association. They'll work with councilmembers on projects involving students.

selected Fahmy to serve as deputy student liaison.

“I applied to the position hoping that it would be an opportunity for me to sort of step in and provide a voice for the students … and work toward improving the city and making it a better place,” Fahmy said. “I just want to be able to give back to the community in any way that I can.”

In the past, Fahmy interned for the Harford County Bar Association and shadowed a judge with the Harford County Circuit Court.

Both student liaisons expressed interest in continuing

the work of those who held the positions in the past, including Mirani and Sprinkle.

“Beyond any opportunities that get students to connect with the wider community, I also would love to continue the initiatives of past liaisons,” Otte said.

Mirani and Sprinkle spearheaded several projects during their term, including a student rent subsidy pilot program.

“Erica and I are definitely in touch with Dhruvak and Gannon,” Fahmy said. “We do plan to continue what they started. I don't think their vision is going to die out with our start.”

Erica Otte, a government and politics major at the University of Maryland, is the new student liaison to the College Park City Council. KAYLA NAZAIRE

isn’t booked solid this June.

“Even though we have quite a busy summer planned, we still have spaces,” McHugh said. “But a lot of the prime time, of course … is taken at this point,” noting that the most popular time for a wedding at the chapel is 2 p.m. on the weekends.

The least popular time of year is winter, so the chapel offers discounted prices during those months. McHugh noted, however, that January and February are “still quieter compared to the rest of the year.”

McHugh recalled a particularly unusual call: Someone getting married the next day hoped to have the wedding at the chapel.

“It was a small wedding — there were only a few people — but still, that was a first for us,” McHugh said. “But it worked out. We made it happen. … We'd like a little bit more time, but we

BUSINESSES

the new city hall, with a retail block featuring Shop Made in Maryland, and Aster, on Calvert Road, with Trader Joe’s.

Ulman said Union on Knox, which will offer 20,000 square feet of retail space, will house up to nine retailers and restaurants, including Chopt Creative Salad Co. and Duck Donuts, a coffee, donut and dessert shop.

City Councilmember John Rigg (District 3) said he is excited that the food chains are coming to downtown College Park.

“I have a passion for small businesses, but I know these will be great additions to College Park that members of the community will enjoy,” Rigg said.

Patrons will be able to ac-

can work with unique schedules.”

The chapel’s grounds offer a restive space, the Garden of Reflection and Remembrance, which opened in 2010.

McHugh said the garden includes a labyrinth walk, a spiral path leading inward to the center of the garden.

“You enter [the labyrinth] with either just a wish to be present, or you enter with, maybe, something on your mind,” McHugh said. “You can stay in the center for as long as you like to continue to meditate or be present in the environment.”

At the center of the garden, McHugh added, are five benches with community journals that anyone can write in.

The chapel dates to the 1940s, when four UMD undergraduates were inspired to create a space for campus religious groups, according to McHugh.

“They had this groundswell of interest from campus, students

cess the new restaurants and businesses from Sterling Place, a paved pedestrian walkway named after the street where the 7-Eleven and UPS were previously located. Along the road, the storefronts will have outdoor seating and draped lights.

“There are not many vegetarian options around here, and I'm vegetarian, so I’m really excited about Chopt,” said Sahil Patel, a junior computer science major at UMD.

Rigg said he loves a good salad but is more excited about Duck Donuts.

“Bad businesses don’t last long in College Park,” he said.

“Our residents tend to know good stuff when they see it and go back again and again.”

The development will address traffic congestion by featuring the first underground parking garage in downtown College Park. The garage will serve both retail customers and the build-

and others, and that got the ball rolling,” McHugh said. “They presented the petition to the Board of Regents for the university system,” she added. The chapel was completed in 1952.

McHugh said UMD was “looking for a way to honor the University of Maryland students and former students who had been connected to World War II,” so the Board of Regents dedicated the chapel to veterans who studied at the university.

“That connection remains until this present day,” McHugh said. We “hold a vigil each year on Veterans Day, especially in remembrance of UMD-connected individuals, but staff and students who died … while serving our country.”

McHugh said religious groups on campus use the chapel about half of the time.

“[We] have 14 chaplaincies, and these are individuals who represent different religious faiths who are connected to the chapel,” she

said. “We have Christian chaplains, a Muslim chaplain, two Jewish chaplains and a Hindu chaplain. … Over the years, those numbers have grown and this broader expanse of denominations or faith backgrounds have been added.”

The Rev. Raymond Ranker, the Lutheran chaplain, said the chapel brings together people from “different faith backgrounds for discussions, for meditation sessions, for different kinds of programs that really show ways that we are all connected.”

“It's really important that … the chapel is an interfaith chapel,” Ranker said. “Some might look at it, might think, ‘Oh, this is a church.’ Well, no.”

According to Ranker, the chapel sometimes organizes interfaith cohorts for groups of university students from different religions to meet and learn about each other.

“The Muslims would host in their space and share about

ing’s tenants.

Another restaurant is slated to open this summer farther north on Route 1. Primetime, a nearly 6,000-square-foot, upscale sports-themed restaurant,

will open in the lobby of Cambria Hotel. The venue bills itself as an alternative to the typical sports bar.

“Instead of wall-to-wall TVs everywhere, the decor will focus on sports legends throughout history, both male and female,” Heather Kingry, the restaurant’s spokesperson, said.

their religion, what they believe, what their practice is,” Ranker said. “And then, you know, we'd rotate. So then the Jews would invite the folks over … and then the Christians would invite them to a Christian worship space, and then we'd come back to the chapel and … debrief about that.”

Ranker said many of the religious gatherings in the chapel are open to the community, though some are exclusively for UMD students.

“For daily Mass, anybody in the community could come,” Ranker said. “I don't think anybody's going to get turned away. But … our Tuesday Bible study is for students, staff and faculty.”

In addition to hosting weddings and religious gatherings, the chapel serves as a venue for funerals, concerts and group retreats, McHugh said. Some campus and community groups also use the chapel as a meeting space.

Images of sports heroes like Lou Gehrig and Jim Brown will adorn the restaurant’s walls, but Kingry said diners could also expect to see tributes to UMD and Maryland-native sports figures. Sports fans will be able to watch games on TVs throughout the venue.

The George Martin Group, which owns Primetime, is known for its New York-based restaurants, including George Martin The Original and George Martin’s Strip Steak. The chain recently opened two restaurants, Grillfire and Añejo Rose, in Hanover, Md. “When this opportunity [in College Park] came up, it was just kind of an organic, natural fit,” Kingry said.

The restaurant is not yet hiring but will create between 65 and 80 jobs, Kingry said.

Rigg said the new restaurants are a part of the city’s strategic economic growth plan.

“As much as we want to be attractive to new businesses, we also want to retain the businesses we already have,” Rigg said.

Construction is underway on Union on Knox, a student apartment building that will house three national chain restaurants on its first floor. KAYLA NAZAIRE

cents per $100 of a home’s assessed value, moving the rate from 30.18 cents this fiscal year to 33.5 cents in 2025.

“We do not take proposing a property tax increase lightly,” Gary Fields, director of the College Park Department of Finance, said at a May 7 budget hearing. “It’s the last thing we want to do. … We’re looking to the future to make sure we stay financially sound.”

Councilmembers voted to lower the rate from a proposed 34.18 cents to 33.5 cents on May 7 after a public hearing on the budget, during which a handful of residents objected to the tax increase. In addition, nearly 20 residents wrote emails to the council objecting to the change. The original proposed increase would have raised the rate by 13%, or by 4 cents per $100 of assessed value.

At the public hearing, Daniels Park resident Brian Roan urged councilmembers to restrict the amount of the tax increase, warning that some homeowners in College Park are considering leaving the city because of rising costs.

“We’re looking at a massive drain of families and long-time residents who wanted to stay here but decided they cannot,”

Roan said. “Some of the things in the budget sort of reflect the outlook of the people who are being driven away … not just the taxes.”

Others suggested a tax increase would be unnecessary if the city cut spending.

“I am not in favor of a … property tax increase, especially to help pay for things such as a rental subsidy to support college students to pay these highprice rents near the university,” long-time College Park resident

Bonny Davis wrote in an email. “Residents of CP should not have to bear the burden of rental assistance for UMD college students.”

In April, the city council approved $150,000 to fund a needsbased student housing subsidy pilot program.

But City Manager Kenny Young, who called this year’s budget process “a daunting task,” noted that increases in city services, inflation, sustainability efforts, and new city parks and facilities have created a need for a larger budget.

In addition, the city will increase the salaries of 74 of its 130 employees, whose pay is less than

50% that of workers in nearby governments with similar positions, according to a recent compensation report.

Councilmember John Rigg (District 3) acknowledged at the May 21 meeting that “it was a tough budget year. … I think we came to a place to where not everybody on this dais, not everybody in the city is satisfied, but given the constraints, I think we got to a place of compromise that is a very reasonable compromise for our residents and still moves forward our important priorities while constraining spending in some important ways.”

The residential property tax increase is the first since fiscal year 2014, when the city raised taxes from 32.2 cents per $100 of assessed value to 33.5 cents.

Between 2020 and 2023, the city lowered property taxes by 10%, from 33.5 cents to 30.18 cents. The newly approved tax increase brings the rate back to the amount homeowners paid between 2014 and 2019.

“That was our standard rate,” Councilmember Stuart Adams (District 3), said at the May 7 meeting. “It’s bringing us back to where we were only a few years back.”

Programs help homeowners save on property taxes

By SAM GAUNTT

Multiple programs offered by the city, county and state could take some of the sting out of paying property taxes, especially now that College Park has raised its residential tax rate by 11%. Here’s a look at some of the credits that could lower your property tax bill — but only if you apply for them.

HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAX CREDIT

When the value of a home in-

creases, so does the amount of property tax the homeowner owes. The state’s Homestead Property Tax Credit limits how much that bill can increase.

This state program limits the increase in property taxes after a change in the property’s assessed value to 10% per year. To be eligible for this credit, homeowners must claim the property as their primary residence and must have lived there for more than six months.

Counties and cities may place

stricter limits on the increase, however, and College Park does, setting the limit at 0% per year — which means the homeowner does not owe additional property taxes based on an upward assessment.

“I would say without hesitation that College Park has some of the most generous property tax credits of any municipality in Prince George's County and some of the strongest in the entire state,” College Park City Councilmember Stuart Adams (District 3) told

Adams noted that the assessed property values in the city have increased over the years, effectively raising property taxes for many homeowners.

In 2024, commercial property taxes for apartment and office buildings in the city increased by 3 cents per $100 of assessed value, from 30.18 cents to 33.18 cents. Until 2024, the city applied a single tax rate to both residential and commercial property.

The newly approved budget increases the commercial tax rate to 38.5 cents, down from an original proposal of 40 cents.

“Looking at the landscape of tax rates across the county, this is well within the range of the difference between residential and commercial tax rates in municipalities that have that breakdown,” said Councilmember Susan Whitney (District 2), who proposed lowering the originally agreed-upon residential and commercial tax increases.

Whitney said the 38.5 cent commercial rate would be the lowest in Prince George’s County among cities that charge a different rate for residential and commercial properties.

College Park Here & Now

To apply to the Maryland Homestead Property Tax Credit Program, go to tinyurl.com/yttnb9r4.

HOMEOWNERS’

PROPERTY TAX CREDIT

Another state program, the Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit, gives a break to homeowners who earn less than $60,000 a year. This program limits the amount of property taxes residents have to pay on a sliding scale depending on their income. The lower the combined household income, the lower the total property tax bill.

To be eligible for this credit, homeowners must declare the property as their primary residence, and the homeowners' net worth, not including their property value or retirement savings, must not exceed $200,000.

College Park offers a further discount for homeowners approved for the state credit, supplementing the state credit with an additional 15% credit.

To apply, go to tinyurl.com/ yttnb9r4

ELDERLY TAX CREDITS

Both Prince George’s County and College Park offer property tax credits to homeowners age 65 and up.

The county’s Elderly Property Tax Credit offers residents a credit of up to 20% of their county

property tax bill. This credit incorporates discounts from the Homestead and Homeowners’ credits, meaning for residents who are already receiving a 20% or more decrease on their county property tax bill, the Elderly Property Tax Credit will not provide any further advantages.

To be eligible for the elderly tax credit, the homeowners must have lived on their property for more than 10 years and the value of their property must not exceed $515,000.

College Park has an additional Elderly Property Tax Credit, separate from the county’s. City homeowners can save an additional $150 on top of the credit offered by the county. To be eligible, the homeowner must be older than 65 and have resided on the property for at least 10 years. The value of the property must not be greater than $500,000.

To apply for the county’s credit, go to tinyurl.com/5n8dpwsh

To apply for College Park’s credit, go to tinyurl.com/52zdwp7p

ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES CREDIT

County residents who have installed an accessibility feature on their property, such as a wheelchair ramp or a chair lift, can apply for the Accessibility Features Tax Credit. This credit covers either 50% of the cost of the feature or $2,500 – whichever is less.

To apply for this credit, go to tinyurl.com/yk98eu44

Red foxes venture out during daytime: reports

By BODE RAMSAY

College Park residents have been reporting more red foxes in the city this spring.

Joshua Tabora, a furbearer biologist for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, said the foxes, which are nocturnal animals, often emerge during the day in the spring as they search for food for their newborn kits. Furbearer biologists are professional wildlife biologists who monitor populations of furbearing mammals.

Foxes “are having their young early- to mid-April until the middle of June,” Tabora said.

People sometimes misinterpret the foxes’ daytime presence as a problem, he said.

“There’s the old wives’ tale that if you’re seeing a nocturnal animal out during the daytime that it must be unhealthy or that there must be something wrong,” Tabora said.

Ryna Quiñones, the city's communications and events manager, said foxes usually are not a threat to people.

A red fox “does not usually pose a problem, unless humans start to try to approach wildlife, which is always dangerous,” Quiñones said in an email. “Usually when left alone, red foxes are passive to humans and pets.”

However, Tabora said red foxes can become somewhat territorial around their young.

Tabora said pet owners might see a fox following them as they walk on a trail or through the woods and interpret this as a sign of aggression.

In reality, however, the red fox is monitoring what it sees as a potential predator from a distance to protect itself and its young, Tabora said.

“A fox may appear agitated, but [it] will typically maintain a safe distance,” Tabora said.

If a fox does get too close, making loud noises will scare it and keep it fearful of humans, according to a press release issued by the city.

The city issued the release after a number of reported sightings to alert residents that they might see the nine-

to 12-pound mammals inside city limits. .

The release advised residents to keep children and pets away from foxes and also warned residents not to feed them.

Tabora also advised residents to secure trash cans, close entryways and block holes around their homes. This could prevent a fox from being

though they are known for killing rabbits and chickens, Tabora said.

In fact, red foxes typically prey on rodents, birds and insects; they also eat some types of fruit, Quiñones said.

Red foxes sometimes contract rabies, so the city has urged residents to report sightings to the College Park animal control officer.

Symptoms of rabies in animals include foaming at the mouth, excessive drooling, appearing confused or lethargic, and losing natural fear of humans and animals, Tabora said.

attracted to kitchen scraps and denning on the property.

The press release added that people should not try to capture a fox on their property.

In fact, Maryland law forbids anyone without a furbearer or wildlife control permit to trap or relocate any wild animal.

Foxes do not pose much danger to pets, like dogs or cats,

Rabies can neurologically compromise the animal and cause it to walk around in circles for a long period, Tabora said. Rabies also could cause a red fox to become aggressive and bite someone. Rabies in humans can be managed but rarely cured and can lead to serious illness or death.

The red foxes could all but disappear during the day by July, as the fox kits become more independent, Tabora said.

Red foxes, which are primarily nocturnal, have been spotted during the day by several College Park residents. ADOBE STOCK PHOTO