Calvert County resident wins Miss College Park 2025
By LILLIAN GLAROS
The head that wears the crown must belong to a young woman committed to community service, full of maturity and confidence.
That sparkly crown belongs to Maddie Bronk, a 22-year-old Calvert County resident, who won the title of Miss College Park 2025 on Sept. 29 over eight other 17to 24-year-old competitors.
The pageant does not require contestants to be residents of College Park.
“I’m excited to get into the community, get active, meet all the different kinds of people, and just see what everyone would like me to do,” Bronk said.
Bronk, who graduated from the University of Maryland (UMD) last spring with a family science degree, attends the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where she is in the diagnostic medical sonography program.
The new Miss College Park won multiple prizes, including a $2,000 scholarship, personalized stationery and a photo shoot.
Bronk said she hopes to spread autism awareness as part of her new role.
College Park Day draws thousands
By LILLIAN GLAROS
Thousands of people from College Park and surrounding areas descended on the grounds of the College Park Airport for the city’s signature event Saturday.
Crowded with booths and people, from young children riding on their parents’ shoulders to elderly couples, College Park Day buzzed with conversation and music.
The event started in 2010, according to Mayor Fazlul Kabir. According to Kabir, the event
is a celebration of College Park’s diversity.
“We have long-time residents, we have a student community, we have a business community, we have people of different backgrounds, different colors, different languages, different ethnicities, and it is very important that we bring them together and celebrate that,”
Kabir said.
Multiple community organizations and city committees, such as Neighbors Helping Neighbors, the Senior Advisory Committee, the Restorative Jus-
tice Commission and the Education Advisory Committee, had booths at the event.
Local businesses, such as The Greene Turtle, a bar and grill, and The Berwyn Ballet School, also had booths,
The celebration featured a dazzling array of food, fun and the history of flight for attendees to enjoy.
Enthusiasts explored planes and helicopters, a bounty of bouncy houses, 16 food vendors and the booths of two breweries, according to Ryna Quiño-
By IJEOMA OPARA
A sports apparel store is set to move into the building formerly occupied by Target on Baltimore Avenue.
The College Park City Council on Sept. 10 approved a $130,000 grant for Rally House, which is expected to move into the vacant 13,300-square-foot space at 7501 Baltimore Ave. in October.
“I think it’ll be nice,” Sydney
Nicole, a University of Maryland (UMD) student, said. “A lot of people around this area, they wear athleisure, Lululemon, Nike, Adidas; all that’s very popular around College Park, especially with college students. So I think it’ll be really good for business.”
The city requires businesses that receive business retention and attraction grants to commit to staying in College Park
COLLEGE PARK’S
22-year-old Maddie Bronk is Miss College Park 2025 and will make at least a dozen appearances over the coming year.
LILLIAN GLAROS
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
You spoke up; we are listening
By KIT SLACK
Thank you to the more than 200 readers who took the first audience survey for College Park Here & Now and our sister publications, Hyattsville Life & Times and The Laurel Independent. I am so grateful for the thoughtful responses and excited about the conversations they are starting.
Through your survey responses, you told us that you look to us primarily for city government coverage, as well as things to do and local events.
Let me recommend our free, twice-a-month email newsletter, launched this year, to those of you looking for local event listings. Subscribers to that resource said they are especially satisfied with our comprehensive, timely listings: streetcarsuburbs.news/ subscribe.
You also rely on us for hyperlocal housing, development and land use news, and news about local businesses and environmental issues –
and you noticed that often we are the only source available for that information.
We got lots of compliments on our profiles of local community members and organizations working to improve our neighborhoods. We especially appreciated that, as we are proud of those, too, and will keep them coming.
People said they love our gardening and nature columns by local experts. Thanks Miss Floribunda, Rick Borchelt, Jimmy Rogers and all of our volunteer columnists.
In Hyattsville and Laurel in particular, readers asked for more depth and detail in our city council coverage. “You need paid reporters,” said one sympathetic reader familiar with our lean staffing model, which relies on part-time editors and community volunteers. Some Laurel readers said they miss the more comprehensive coverage that used to be provided by the weekly Laurel Leader
In terms of length of articles and broadness of coverage, you have us in a bind; some
of you note that we can’t provide comprehensive news in monthly publications at our staffing levels. Some of you asked for in-depth, magazinestyle articles on fewer topics. Others feel we should use our limited space to pack in more, shorter stories. Readers simultaneously would like us to step up to fill the gap in county news coverage and deepen our city coverage. Like us, you want to see news
that is representative of the diverse communities that get our newspapers delivered to their doors; you urge us not to forget about West Laurel, and you are interested in how we can reach Spanish-speaking readers.
We’ll keep trying to thread the needle on a tight budget, and we will be asking for your help to do it.
In the coming year, we hope to deepen and broaden our conversations with readers
and community leaders about local news. We plan to keep delivering what you value, with a priority on news and information that gives broad access to civic engagement here in your community.
I couldn’t address every survey comment in this summary. Please know that I read them all, and that they are being shared with our assigning editors and board members in each community.
City Council approves $40,000 for elementary tutoring program
By JOSEPHINE JOHNSON
The College Park City Council on Sept. 17 approved $40,000 for a tutoring program for Hollywood Elementary School’s Spanish-speaking students.
Amplify Tutoring offers reading tutoring to 24 Hollywood students in third to fifth grades.
Of the elementary school’s 301 students, 230 are learning English as a second language.
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Amplify Tutoring embeds the tutoring in the school day with the same adult instructors for each session. The teachers use instructional materials that are based on research about effective tutoring.
“They need this type of program to ensure that they’re reading, they’re listening,
Managing Editor Sharon O'Malley sharon@streetcarsuburbs.news
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they’re comprehending what they’re listen[ing] to … and then read as well as write,”
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Board of Directors
President: Marta McLellan Ross
Vice President & General Counsel: Michael Walls
Treasurer: Joe Murchison
Secretary: Melanie Dzwonchyk
Bette Dickerson, Nora Eidelman, Joseph Gigliotti, Maxine Gross, Merrill Hartson, T. Carter Ross, Stephanie Stullich
Ex Officios: Katie V. Jones, Griffin Limerick, Sharon O'Malley, Kit Slack
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Carlos Johnson, Hollywood Elementary School’s principal, said.
The $40,000 will allow the students to continue using the program this school year. The school offered the tutoring for four months last spring, paid for by Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS). During the prior three school years, the school used a different vendor, funded by the city, for tutoring.
Students meet virtually three times a week in groups of four for a 30-minute live tutoring session during the school day as it fits their schedules. The program focuses on students in third to fifth grades, with a goal to equip those students with the literacy skills they need for middle school.
Amplify Tutoring embeds the tutoring in the school day with the same adult instructors for each session. The teachers use instructional materials that are based on research about effective tutoring.
“Not all tutoring is effective because it’s not all strategically planned and data driven,” Lindsay Sullivan, Amplify’s associate vice president, told the
council.
Sullivan pointed to Amplify students at a Midwestern school district whose reading skills improved 37% during the 2022-2023 school year compared with a boost of 25% for students who did not participate.
College Park’s Education Advisory Committee recommended that the council approve the funding, as long as the school does not receive additional funding for tutoring from the county.
“I was very impressed with how [Amplify does] their tutoring and their success that they had [at Hollywood Elementary] in just four short months of last year, that they brought the students’ reading ability up,” City Councilmember Maria Mackie (District 4) said.
Councilmember Jacob Hernandez (District 1) said he looks forward to further success.
“If I could, I would try to carve [the] entirety of our budget to try and help the schools that we have here in College Park,” Hernandez said, “although it seems like PGCPS, with as much money as it has, still can’t figure it out.”
College Park Here & Now readers suggest what they would like to see more of in the newspaper. KIT SLACK
Vandals beat on doors of sorority houses
By ASHLEY BURKETT
Members of two sorority houses on College Avenue reported that a group of masked individuals tried to kick down their doors early in the morning of Sept. 14.
The group kicked out a panel on the front door of the Alpha Omicron Pi house at 4517 College Ave. and then kicked the door of the Kappa Delta house at 4610 College Ave. but caused no damage, witnesses said.
“Luckily nothing broke, but it was really scary,” Madalyn DiSpaldo, a member of Kappa Delta who witnessed the incident, said.
Prince George’s County Police responded to a call from the Alpha Omicron Pi house and reported no injuries. The witnesses said the culprits did not enter the house and nothing was stolen.
Katie Gray, a member of Alpha Omicron Pi, said a member of the sorority came home at ap-
proximately 12:15 a.m. to find a group of individuals at the front door. They ran off when the witness arrived, Gray said.
Gray, a sophomore business major at the University of Maryland (UMD), said she initially thought it was a harmless dingdong-ditch – an occasional prank that college students pull – but members of the group were trying to beat down the door. The incident occurred early in the morning after Friday the 13th.
“A lot of the girls heard banging and stuff. They knew that something had happened, but they didn’t know what,” Gray said.
Gray said the door, which was covered with police tape for two days, has been repaired.
A block away, a member of Kappa Delta witnessed a similar incident.
“I was sitting in our living room around midnight when all of a sudden two guys ran up to the door,” DiSpaldo, a sopho-
more business major, said. DiSpaldo said the pair kicked and punched the glass parts of the door for about 20 seconds.
“Their shirts were covering their faces,” DiSpaldo added,
noting that she could not identify the perpetrators.
Gray said two of her sorority sisters saw the same masked group the next night, yelled at them and tried to take pic-
tures, but the vandals ran away. The witnesses did not see them break anything.
The police have characterized the incidents as vandalism and have not made any arrests.
Get ready for the November election
By KIT SLACK
Early voting for the Nov. 5 election starts on Oct. 24 and ends Oct. 31, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visit the Prince George’s County Board of Elections website for a list of early voting centers. Mail-in ballots are already arriving in voters’ mailboxes. They can still be requested until Oct. 29, or, for web delivery, Nov. 1. So, what’s on the ballot besides Kamala Harris v. Donald Trump?
U.S. SENATE RACE
Voters across the state will decide whether Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, a Democrat, or former Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, will represent Maryland in the U.S. Senate. The winner will replace U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, who is retiring, and join U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, whose term ends in 2026.
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY JUDGES FOR MARYLAND CIRCUIT
COURT:
Voters may select four of the five judges listed on the ballot. Darren Sebastian Johnson, Stenise LaNez Rolle, Cheri Nicole Simpkins and Donnell Wilfred Turn-
IMPORTANT ELECTION DATES
Early voting for the Nov. 5 election starts on Oct. 24 and ends Oct. 31, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Mail-in ballots can still be requested until Oct. 29, or, for web delivery, Nov. 1.
in a special election for an atlarge council seat. That will leave open her District 5 county council seat because she will become a countywide representative. Voters will choose between her and Republican Michael Riker.
YES-OR-NO QUESTIONS:
er are sitting judges selected through a complex vetting process controlled by the Maryland governor. Michael Sheehan is a challenger. Read more about them in our judge’s election guide, streetcarsuburbs.news/ judges-election-guide.
HUSBAND AND WIFE WHO WILL BE HARD TO BEAT:
• U.S. House of Representatives, District 4: Incumbent Glenn Ivey, a Democrat, is run-
Dance event celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
By LILLIAN GLAROS
More than 100 people of all ages gathered at the “Let’s Dance: Vamos a Bailar” event hosted by the City of College Park on Sept. 20.
Featuring dancing, a salsa band, food and more, the event was organized to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, according to Ryna Quiñones, the city’s communications and events manager.
“We have a wonderfully diverse and inclusive community, and we wanted to showcase all the amazing aspects of our community, and our Latino population is absolutely one of them,” Quiñones said.
The celebration was part of Hispanic Heritage Month, which is observed nationwide from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.
The grassy area on Duvall Field in front of the Joe Falero Latin Band filled with seated participants watching dancers groove to the beat as the light faded from the sky and
day turned into night. Dancing couples, few at first, gradually graced the grass with spins and twirls.
Pupusas, burritos, ice cream and tacos were for sale at food booths and trucks, such as Taqueria Habaneros’ food truck. Attendees could also get free snow cones and popcorn.
Children played in the bounce house, or like Caroline, a 7-year-old from Hyattsville, danced to the live music.
Caroline was dancing in the grass with her mother, Kelly Ugwu-Oju, even dancing on her hands. She said her favorite parts of the event were the dancing, the bouncy house and the food. Her mother, who said she taught her daughter how to dance, said she enjoyed the music and dancing.
“I mean I’m here all for the music,” Ugwu-Oju said. “I just want to dance, hoping maybe somebody else will dance with me, but if not, I’m going to make her keep dancing with me.”
A movie, “Vivo,” was shown
ning against Republican challenger George McDermott. Ivey is expected to win. District 4, much of which overlaps with Prince George’s County, is one of the most partisan Democratic districts in the United States, according to the Cook Political Report. Glenn Ivey is married to Jolene Ivey.
• County Council at large: Jolene Ivey, a Democrat who is chair of the county council, is also expected to win in her race
• Constitutional amendment: Question 1 on the ballot would amend the Maryland Constitution to protect individual reproductive freedom, including “decisions to prevent, continue or end the individual’s pregnancy.”
• Judges: Maryland residents will be asked to vote yes or no on several judges to the Appellate Court of Maryland who seek to remain in office.
• Charter amendment: County residents can vote yes or no on amending the county charter to prevent county agencies from hiring more staff than approved in the annual oper-
ating budget, without specific Council approval. This will give county agencies more staffing flexibility, as the current charter restricts changes in agency staffing levels by grade. A county charter review commission recommended the change.
• Prince George’s County bond issuances: The county is asking voters to approve bond issuances that would allow the government to borrow more than $600 million for construction projects related to county facilities. The county asked for $500 million in 2020. According to a 2018 analysis by the Regional Economic Studies Institute at Towson University, ballot measures like these are required in Baltimore, Baltimore County and Prince George’s County, and generally pass. They are not required in other local jurisdictions in the state.
later in the evening.
Maria Weaver, a resident of Columbia, Maryland, said she came to the event to support College Park, where she used to live.
“College Park is such a multiracial … multicultural community,” Weaver said. “It’s just out here, you just blend, and we like that.”
Weaver also said she enjoyed the music and the familyfriendly nature of the event.
Multiple city, county and state politicians also attended the event.
College Park City Councilmember Alan Hew (District 1) said he enjoyed seeing people who aren’t always present at the city’s events.
“It’s a good time for residents to meet each other and enjoy celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month,” Hew said.
Jacob Hernandez, the other District 1 councilmember, said
the event is important because of the growing population of Latinos in and around College Park, and the city’s “rich culture.”
“This is just the beginning of what the future is going to look like,” Hernandez said. “I hope to be able to celebrate as many communities as we possibly can … so we can all learn from one another and truly know what it means to live in this rich, diverse College Park.”
Democrat Angela Alsobrooks and Republican Larry Hogan will face off on Nov. 5 in the Maryland election for U.S. Senate.
COURTESY OF ANGELA ALSOBROOKS FOR SENATE
COURTESY OF LARRY HOGAN FOR MARYLAND
College Park residents Susan Zhou and Louis Falasco dance to Latin music at “Let’s Dance,” a celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. LILLIAN GLAROS
Berwyn residents celebrate their neighborhood
By LILLIAN GLAROS
Dozens of people gathered Sept. 28 at Berwyn Park to celebrate Berwyn Day, which one resident described as “a picnic on steroids.”
Children played games on the grass as attendees meandered around a dozen booths that had jewelry, flowers, honey or used goods for sale.
The band Baraboo played in the background as the sun shone brightly during what was a mostly rainy week. Bike and scooter riders zoomed past the celebration on the nearby Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail, occasionally looking over to observe the going-ons.
The event, hosted by the Berwyn District Civic Association, has run since 1974, although not every year, Bob Catlin, the co-
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president of the association, said.
The celebration featured multiple booths from community organizations and local businesses, and offered face painting, roller skating, crafts and more.
Attendees could purchase raffle tickets to win gift cards from local businesses, such as Vigilante Coffee.
Food was also available for attendees. Those craving savory snacks could head to Taqueria Habanero’s food truck, and party-goers in the mood for something sweet could find it at the civic association’s bake sale.
Jennifer Lindstrom of Joyful Apiaries on Lackawanna Street said she hoped to educate people about bees and honey, in addition to getting to know her neighbors better.
“I think it’s great when we have these events just to meet more neighbors and kind of see how College Park is connected,” Lindstrom, a Hollywood resident, said.
At other booths, participants said they hoped to engage with the community.
Josanne Francis, the lead community engagement co-
ordinator at the University of Maryland’s Office of Community Engagement, said she wanted to learn how people are engaging with the community.
Some Berwyn residents also held activities at booths.
Ellen Woodbridge, who has lived in Berwyn for more than three decades, ran an arts and crafts booth with her husband and daughter. Booth participants created bracelets or greeting cards.
“I grew up coming to Berwyn, and, you know, it just feels like it’s part of my childhood, and I
like to give back to the community,” her daughter, Zoe Woodbridge, a Greenbelt resident, said.
Other attendees were former residents returning to support their old neighborhood.
Janeen Miller, a Greenbelt resident who used to live in Berwyn, said she came to support the community.
“These events are very important, particularly on the microneighborhood level, like Berwyn is,” Miller, who worked as the College Park city clerk for 18 years, said.
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Residents of the College Park neighborhood of Berwyn gather at the Berwyn Day celebration in September. LILLIAN GLAROS
NEWS BRIEFS
VISIT STREETCARSUBURBS.NEWS FOR MORE
Free food. Al-Huda School on Edgewood Road has opened a free, 24/7 mini food pantry across from the 7-Eleven on Edgewood Road.
Anyone can drop off donations of non-perishable dry and packaged foods in the green-and-orange cabinet, and anyone can take food.
Mayor Fazlul Kabir, in his blog, called the project “a symbol of hope and kindness.”
Al-Huda School is a private, pre-K to 12th grade college prep and Islamic studies school that enrolls up to 600 students each year.
You’re on video. College Park has installed cameras on nine stop signs around the city to collect data on traffic and parking.
College Park City Council-
members will discuss the data at their Oct. 8 meeting and could decide to keep the cameras, take them down or add monitors to additional signs.
Councilmember Stuart Adams (District 3) said the city located the cameras at heavily trafficked intersections, “but there could be more review later.”
State Delegate Anne Healey (District 22) sponsored legislation in the spring that gave cities in Prince George’s County the authority to install stop sign monitors.
“There have been a lot of people that have talked to me about people just ignoring the stop signs, just running right through them, sometimes very fast and not slowing down at all, and near misses and accidents and people getting hurt,” Healey said. “So I expect that once the cameras are in place and people start getting tickets, they will change their behavior and actually stop at the stop signs where the cameras are.”
Livable. A website that ranks the best places to live chose College Park as the fifth-best Washington, D.C., suburb.
Alexandria topped Livability’s list, followed by Gaithersburg, Frederick, Fairfax, College Park and Fredericksburg. The site noted that College Park is attractive to young professionals because of the University of Maryland’s “vibrant art scene, encompassing dance, theater and African-American visual arts.”
And it pointed to the city’s free, family-friendly summer concert series and its proximity to the District as notable draws.
Also highlighted were Col-
lege Park’s bike trails, cafes and diverse population.
College Park Mayor Fazlul Kabir said the city deserves the pat on the back.
“Our residents deserve it,” he said. “Our community deserves it … for many reasons. Our community is so diverse, and we have many other amenities.”
Caught. District police have arrested a man they believe is known as the College Park cuddler or the Georgetown cuddler.
Ernesto Ramon Mercado, 54, of Arlington, was charged as a suspect in several home invasions in the Georgetown area and one case near the University of Maryland.
From 2006-2012, the socalled cuddler broke into the homes of women, crawled into bed with them and, in some cases, assaulted them. Using rape kits and crime scene evidence, police said, they were able to link Mercado to the incidents. He has been charged with three counts of first-degree sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances and five counts of seconddegree sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances. If he is convicted, Mercado could face a life sentence.
Fly away. College Park has an unwelcome new tenant: the spotted lanternfly.
The College Park Animal Welfare Department has asked that residents report sightings of the invasive fly, which poses a risk to trees and agricultural crops and has even been spotted in some home gardens.
Reports can be posted to https://ow.ly/Eyi050Tpnt4.
COURTESY OF BIBI MOHAMED
COLLEGE PARK POST
Beating Seasonal Blues
Beating Seasonal Blues
Combat seasonal depression this winter - take care of your emotional well-being and mental health!
Did you know that October is recognized as Emotional Wellness Month and Depression Education and Awareness Month?
More specifically, October 10th is commemorated as World Mental Health Day—a timely reminder to reflect on our mental health and emotional well-being while encouraging support for those experiencing mental health issues.
Depression can manifest through various symptoms, such as persistent sadness, feelings of hopelessness, irritability, and guilt, decreased energy or appetite, and, in severe cases, thoughts of suicide.
For some, the shift in weather can cause seasonal depression, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). For those who experience SAD in the winter months, additional symptoms can include oversleeping, overeating or withdrawing from social activities. These conditions impact how you feel, think, and handle daily activities.
The goal isn’t to be happy all the time, but to strengthen our ability to navigate life’s stresses and adapt to change and difficult times. To achieve your healthiest self, remember to:
• REDUCE STRESS: everyone gets stressed at times, but chronic stress is harmful to your health. Setting priorities and breaking down large projects or problems can minimize your stress level.
• PRACTICE MINDFULNESS:
Stay present in the moment by connecting to your breath and meditating to reduce negative thought patterns and promote a sense of calm and balance. Practices like meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises can reduce stress and improve your mood.
• GET OUTSIDE: Even on cold or cloudy days, try to spend some time outside. Feeling and breathing in some cold, crisp air will
increase the levels of oxygen circulating in your blood which in turn will increase your levels of serotonin, the feel-good hormone. Natural light is also a mood booster.
• MAINTAIN A ROUTINE: Establishing a daily schedule can provide structure and a sense of normalcy. The predictability of a well-structured routine allows you to remain in, or sometimes regain, control of your daily life and work towards emotional stability.
• STAY ACTIVE: Regular exercise can help relieve symptoms of depression. Aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days. Some easy ways to fit this into your routine include going for a walk, taking a fitness class, or challenging a friend to a 10k steps-a-day challenge. If it fits your budget, you can get a walking pad and try going for a walk while watching your favorite tv show!
• FIND HELP FOR DEPRESSION: The City of College Park is committed to ensuring that residents can easily access mental health resources, thanks to our partnership with Care Solace. Through this program, City of College Park residents can recieve support with mental health, food and housing insecurity, substance use treatment, and affordable medical and dental care. This service is available 24/7/365 in over 200 languages.
To connect with Care Solace, call 888-515-7881 or visit www.collegeparkmd.gov/ caresolace. These services are free, confidential, and designed for ease of use.
If you or a loved one is experiencing a lifethreatening emergency, call 911 or text/call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Remember, Care Solace is not an emergency response service.
Spotted Lanternfly Sighting
Report sightings of this invasive insect
The City of College Park’s Animal Welfare Department has received reports of the invasive insect, the Spotted Lanternfly, within City limits.
Clean Up Saturdays
October 12* & 19 | 7:30AM - Noon | Public Works
The City of College Park Public Works facility will be open on selected Saturdays this fall for City residents to drop off bulky trash, white goods, electronics recycling, brush, and yard trim.
Bulk trash brought on Clean Up days does not count toward bulk trash limits, nor are any fees applied for appliances, televisions, or monitors.
You must be a resident of the City of College Park and bring proof of City residency to participate. For Clean Up Saturday details, visit www.collegeparkmd.gov/ CleanUpSaturdays.
Smartleaf® compost and wood mulch are available for anyone to purchase and pick up as supplies last – residency is not required.
DISPOSE OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:
• Fluorescent light bulbs and tubes (small quantities) –must be intact. Includes LED lamps, U-shaped or circular fluorescent lamps, High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps, Ultra Violet (UV)
lamps, Halogen or Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL’s).
• Household batteries (small quantities). This includes rechargeable batteries such as Li-Ion, Ni-Cd, Ni-MH, NiZn; Single-use alkaline such as AA, AAA, 9V, C, D button cell, and lithium primary. No damaged batteries; no automotive batteries.
• Block Styrofoam (coolers and large blocks of packing material).
• There is a $4 fee for all tires.
NOT ACCEPTED:
• Bricks, concrete, rocks, hazardous materials such as shingles, propane tanks, car batteries, paint, etc.
DOCUMENT SHREDDING
Document shredding is one day only, on October 12, 2024 from 8:00AM to noon. Bring your old tax records, medical paperwork, and any other confidential information to be shredded while you wait!
This insect is native to eastern Asia, but was first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014. Their eggs hatch from mid-April to June on a variety of trees and flat surfaces. The eggs are laid in groups of approximately 30-50 and then coated with gray wax. However, the fully grown insects can be spotted starting in July.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture requests that sightings
of the Spotted Lanternfly be reported via their online reporting form at mda.maryland.gov/ spottedlanternfly.
When submitting a report, please be sure to provide the exact location where the lanternflies were spotted. The form allows you to select the location on an interactive map or submit the address. A photo of the insect is required to complete the form, so be sure to snap a picture before leaving the area.
Questions and complaints about the form should be directed to dontbug.md@maryland.gov.
All paper will be recycled. You must be a City of College Park resident and bring proof of residency to participate. Every Saturday 10AM - 2PM April - November
ELECTION DAY CLOSURE
All City of College Park offices will be closed on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 in observance of Election Day.
Refuse and recycling will occur one day later than normal during this holiday week:
• Tuesday collections will occur Wednesday, November 6
• Wednesday collections will occur Thursday, November 7
Special collections for brush and bulky items will only be scheduled for Friday, November 8, of this holiday week. You must call 240487-3590 or email publicworks@ collegeparkmd.gov to schedule a pickup before setting your items out to the curb.
VETERANS DAY CLOSURE
All City of College Park offices will be closed on Monday, November 11, 2024 in observance of the Veterans Day holiday.
Refuse and recycling will occur one day later than normal during this holiday week:
City Announcements
More information: www.collegeparkmd.gov
• Monday collections will occur Tuesday, November 12
• Tuesday collections will occur Wednesday, November 13
• Wednesday collections will occur Thursday, November 14
Special collections for brush and bulky items will only be scheduled for Friday, November 15, of this holiday week. You must call 240487-3590 or email publicworks@ collegeparkmd.gov to schedule a pickup before setting your items out to the curb.
VETERANS DAY EVENT
The City of College Park will hold its annual Veterans Day Observance on Monday, November 11, 2024, at 11am at the College Park Veterans Memorial, at the intersection of Baltimore Avenue and Greenbelt Road. For more information, visit www.collegeparkmd.gov/ calendar.
OIL DROP OFF REOPENS
The Oil Drop-off has reopened at the Deaprtment of Public Works. Oil drop-off will only be accessible during regular business hours:
Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and during Cleanup Saturdays.
SMARTLEAF© COMPOST
NOW AVAILABLE AT DPW
Smartleaf© Compost is now available at the Department of Public Works (9217 51st Ave)!
Compost is $28.00 per cubic yard, and wood mulch is $12.00 per cubic yard. 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.
To schedule a delivery and learn more, visit www.collegeparkmd. gov/compost. For further questions, call 240-487-3593.
ADVISORY BOARD VOLUNTEERS WANTED
Serve your community, lend your talents, and meet your neighbors by serving on a City Advisory Board. Applications are now being accepted for the following boards:
• Bee City USA Committee
• Committee for a Better Environment
• Education Advisory
Committee
• Noise Control Board
• Restorative Justice Commission
• Veterans Memorial Committee
• Housing Authority of the City of College Park
If you are interested in volunteering, please complete and submit an application at www. collegeparkmd.gov/boardapp by Wednesday, November 27, 2024. The Mayor and Council will make appointments in December for terms that begin on January 1.
GOOD NEIGHBOR DAY
Good Neighbor Day is on October 26, 2024 from 8:30AM-12PM! This annual event brings the College Park community together for a day of service. Make a difference in the City by volunteering for one of this year’s 25 community-led projects!
This event is eligible for 3.5 Student Service Learning (SSL) through the M-NCPPC Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County.
Learn more and register at www.collegeparkmd.gov/gnd.
NOVEMBER 2, 2024 | 10:30AM - 12PM Davis Hall (9217 51st Ave.) or Zoom (https://zoom.us/j/98380365574)
Create a greener College Park! Want ideas for going green in your life? Ideas for how the City could be greener?
On November 2, the Committee for a Better Environment is inviting residents to join in a conversation about steps we can take to make our city more sustainable!
The committee will present out on a recently conducted survey about what sustainability issues matter most to College Park residents, what residents are doing to make the city greener and what more residents want to see the city do. This is the second survey of residents and the committee will be sharing what’s changed in the past few years.
Join the committee and City Council members for this important discussion.
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 Nov. 12 and Dec. 10 to jalen@streetcar suburbs.news by Nov. 1.
OCT. 8
Masterful Strings: Daniel Kurganov, violin, with Constantine Finehouse, piano. The Kurganov-Finehouse Duo perform a medley of string works by Franck, Beach and Debussy. Free admission. 8 -10 p.m. Gildenhorn recital hall. For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/3hysskas.
OCT. 10
Book club. Join this book club that meets on the second Thursday of the month. This month’s book is “Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker” by Jennifer Chiaverini. Free. 7-8 p.m. College Park Community Library (9407 Rhode Island Ave). For more information visit https://tinyurl. com/5n88wzmj.
OCT. 12
CPAE Children’s Arts Drop
In. Features fun, materialsbased activities for children aged 3-8 with their caregivers, led by Ian Rogers, a local artist and Early Childhood Educator with 30 years experience. Free. 2:30 p.m. Old Parish House. For more information visit https://tinyurl. com/5d7t6pak.
OCT. 13
Haydn and Beethoven, the Smithsonian Academy Orchestra. The newly formed Smithsonian Academy Orchestra performs a medley of works by Haydn and Beethoven. Free. 2-4 p.m. Dekelboum Concert Hall. For more info visit https:// tinyurl.com/3fhmzp4e.
OCT. 15
Book club. Join online in a discussion of monthly literature. This month’s featured book is “The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks” by Jeanne Theoharis. Free. 7-8 p.m. College Park Community Library. For more info visit https://tinyurl. com/4yv2tjs9.
OCT. 17
Bach Cantata Series UMD Choral Activities. Come see a performance of Bach by the UMD Concert Choir. Free.1:30-2 p.m. Clarice Center Grand Pavilion. For more info visit: https://tinyurl. com/3msfcj9e.
University Orchestra October Concert. The University Orchestra performs its October concert. Free. 8-10 p.m. Dekelboum Concert Hall. For more info visit https://tinyurl. com/34jrjfv7.
OCT. 18
Friday Night Live - UMD Fan Night. The City of College Park is hosting a series of concerts featuring a variety of musical genres, Free. 6:30-8:30 p.m. City Hall Plaza 7401 Baltimore Ave. For more info visit https://tinyurl.com/5d7t6pak.
Rude Ruth: Julian Lage, Margaret Glaspy, Jorge Roeder, Dave King. Folk rock group Rude Ruth comes to the Clarice Center. General public. $30. Students and
youth. $10. 8 p.m. Clarice Center Kay Theater. For more info visit https://tinyurl. com/2p8zvmz3.
OCT. 19
Art Workshop: Abstract self portrait. Abstract self-portrait on charcoal paper with oil pastels. You can bring a photo of yourself and incorporate flowers or other images of personal significance. $10. 1-4 p.m. Old Parish House. For more info visit https://tinyurl. com/5d7t6pak.
Belly Dancing. Older members of the community can enjoy an evening of belly dance at the Old Parish house. Free. 7-9 p.m. Old Parish House. Targeted toward adults. For more information visit https:// tinyurl.com/5d7t6pak.
OCT. 25
University and Community Band Concert. The University Band is joined by the Maryland Community Band for a concert of traditional and contemporary wind music. Free. 8-10 p.m.
Dekelboum Concert Hall. For more info visit https://tinyurl. com/3crf2j9y.
OCT. 26
Good Neighbor Day. This annual event brings together residents of College Park and neighboring communities along with members of the UMD community for a day of service in the community. Free. 8 a.m - noon. Davis Hall (9217 51st Ave). For more info visit https://tinyurl.com/udpe52jd.
Spooky Kid Disco! Parents and kids can come out to this funky Halloween dance party. Costumes welcome. Free. Old Parish House. 2-4 p.m. For more info visit https://tinyurl. com/5d7t6pak.
Tree Decorating event. The NCPCA is planning a tree decorating event. There will be refreshments and arts and crafts for kids to make Halloween/Fall decorations and then decorate the tree. Free. 1-4 p.m, corner of 52nd Avenue and Narragansett. For more info visit https://tinyurl.com/ k95zvec7.
OCT. 28
UMD Big Band Concert with Keyon Harrold. UMD Jazz Ensembles are joined by trumpet player Keyon Harrold. Free. 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Dekelboum Concert Hall. For more info visit:https://tinyurl.com/ bddmdta4.
NOV. 10
St. Martin’s Day Lantern Festival. Make German paper lanterns, followed by an outdoor walk at twilight. Free. 3:30-6 p.m. St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church (4512 College Ave). For more info visit https://tinyurl. com/5d7t6pak.
REOCCURRING
Hollywood Farmers Market. Come out to this College Park farmers market made up of diverse community-run stalls. Free. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. every Saturday starting April 13 until Nov. 23. 9803 Rhode Island Ave. For more information visit https://tinyurl. com/3nnjh5rd
ADOBE STOCK PHOTO
Route 1 to get another student apartment building
By SAM GAUNTT
A Texas-based development company is planning to build a mixed-use housing complex at the site of the former Campus Village Shoppes, a recently-demolished strip of restaurants and small businesses. The development, referred to by city planners as Project Turtle, will add a privatelyowned student housing option to the current selection of apartments along Route 1 in College Park. The project is expected to open in fall 2027.
The seven-story building will consist of 299 units – or about 1,000 beds. It will also contain approximately 13,000 square feet of retail space on its ground floor, and will house the Lakeland Legacy Center, a planned 2,000-square-foot community space for residents of the city’s Lakeland neighborhood, a historically Black community.
“With each development, we look for creative ways to collaborate with the community, embracing its history and honoring its character and
culture,” Andreé Sahakian, a senior development manager at LV Collective, the developer, said in a statement. “We have worked closely with the city of College Park and the Lakeland community to create this development that will bring value and vibrancy to this neighborhood and honor its identity.”
The Lakeland Legacy Center will contain a large open space for presentations or events, a catering kitchen, a library and an archival room, Sahakian said during a June 3 College
Park City Council meeting.
But the project faced some community backlash last year after LV Collective, the owner of the former strip mall, sent 60-day closure notices to the tenants of the former Campus Village Shoppes.
Some of those businesses have been invited to return to the space once the building is finished, while others have moved to different locations, College Park Here & Now previously reported.
The affected businesses included several community favorites, such as Taqueria Habanero, which now operates a food truck in College Park, Hanami Japanese and Town Hall Liquors – a popular bar and liquor store that had operated in the city since 1949.
City Councilmember Susan Whitney (District 2) told College Park Here & Now in August the closure of the Campus Village Shoppes “really hit the city hard.”
“We’re really, really trying to keep a lot of those beloved businesses here,” Whitney said. “And we are having, I think, some pretty good success in doing that.”
The planned building will also contain a coffee shop, owned and operated by LV Collective, on its ground level, and a “co-working mezzanine” on its second floor, the com-
pany said in a statement.
The development will also include a 286-space parking garage for residents of the building.
Construction costs for the project are estimated at about $124 million, according to a presentation prepared by the city’s Department of Planning & Community Development in June.
During the city council meeting on June 3, Sahakian said the project will include two courtyards, with one containing a walking path and seating areas, and the other having a heated pool, grilling stations and grassy areas.
Maxine Gross, the founding chairwoman of the Lakeland Community Heritage Project, said during the meeting that LV Collective has been “really open” to the thoughts of the community in the creation of the Lakeland Legacy Center. But, Gross said, she was concerned the city lacked a plan ensuring new housing developments include an adequate amount of affordable units.
She said previous housing developments in Lakeland have prioritized the needs of students, rather than the yearround residents.
“I think it’s time to kind of turn that thing around and make the ship work for the whole community, not just one portion,” Gross said.
A privately-owned student apartment building will open at the site of the demolished Town Hall Liquors in fall 2017. Shown, an artist’s rendering of the building. COURTESY OF LV COLLECTIVE
‘Golden Bachelorette’ recalls days as UMD student
By ASHLEY BURKETT
A former College Park resident and University of Maryland (UMD) graduate is starring on the first season of “The Golden Bachelorette.”
Joan Vassos, a Rockville resident, graduated from UMD in 1985 with a degree in computer science and minors in math and business.
“I always wanted to go to Maryland, so I ended up there, and I loved my four years,” she told College Park Here & Now. Part of the “Bachelor” franchise, “The Golden Bachelorette” premiered on Sept. 18 and features 24 men, ages 57 to 69, courting Vassos. During each of the show’s nine weeks, Vassos eliminates a few of her suitors until, on the final episode, only two remain.
Contestants on prior “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” seasons have often finished with a marriage proposal, but Vassos has told the media she will be happy leaving the show in a committed relationship, even if it doesn’t involve an engagement ring.
During her years at UMD, she was a member of the Delta Gamma sorority, located in Old Town at the corner of Knox Road and Princeton Avenue. She served as vice president of her pledge class, was in charge of philanthropy and lived in the house, Vassos told College Park Here & Now Vassos lived in Elkton Hall on campus during her freshman year and spent two years in the College Park Towers on Hartwick Road.
She said she was a good student but enjoyed the College Park nightlife.
“I studied a lot, but I have to admit that I would go to bars … Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights,” she said.
Vassos said she spent a lot of time at the Rendezvous Bar, known to UMD students as “the Vous,” in the space now occupied by the Cornerstone Grill & Loft. She also frequented sporting events on campus.“I was very active. I went to all the sports,” Vassos said.
“Football games are so big, and we were really good,” she said. “It was when Boomer Esiason was the quarterback,” said Vassos, noting, “I dated a football player for a little while, so I was required to go to the games by him.”
After college, she worked as a coder at AT&T for about six years.
Filming of “The Golden Bachelorette” wrapped up in August, so Vassos is back home in Maryland, on a leave of absence from her job at the Landon School in Bethesda.
“I have a lot to do for” the
show, she said. “I do a lot of the press stuff and the media stuff, and you know, I get to do fun things.”
Vassos said she occasionally visits College Park. Two of her four kids attended UMD. Her son, Nicholas, earned his MBA there and one of her daughters earned a master’s degree in education.
“I still have a strong link with UMD,’ she said. “It’s not just me now. It kind of goes to my kids also, so we have a lot of Terps in my house.”
Vassos said she enjoyed “The Golden Bachelorette” experience, but she is happy to be back in Maryland.
“I loved every minute of it, but there’s nothing like being at home with your grandchildren close by, and your dog, and your comfortable bed, and the coffee maker you like and all of the comforts of home,” she said.
One-time College Park resident Joan Vassos is the star of ABC-TV’s “The Golden Bachelorette.” COURTESY OF ABC
NASA’S MAD Theater presents Disney and Cameron MacIntosh’s
formed, entranced by the staccato-like movements.
nes, the city’s event and communications manager.
Long lines emerged in front of booths featuring Indonesian food, ice cream, hot dogs, burritos and more.
Entertainers amused the crowd from three stages.
In addition, Terp Lions, a University of Maryland (UMD) club for Chinese lion dance, performed at the event. Members in lion costumes danced around to the sound of drums as a crowd
The club members decided to perform at College Park Day to expose the larger community to lion dance, Crystal Yee, a senior at UMD, said.
The festival also featured face painting, balloon figures, a climbing wall and a reptile exhibit. Turtles, snakes and lizards galore populated an exhibit by Reptile Wonders.
Attendees got free admission into the College Park Airport Museum. The airport is the oldest continuously operating air-
port in the world.
A booth frequented by many families was the College Park Arts Exchange.
Among other activities, attendees who visited the booth could decorate pumpkins, a craft many attendees said they and their kids enjoyed.
One of the main attractions of the event was its family-friendly nature, multiple people said.
“College Park Day is the best event of the year, in my opinion, for children and adults,” Laura Hillstrom, a Hyattsville resident, said. “We just always have
a really great time.”
Hillstrom said her son enjoyed getting balloons, decorating pumpkins and taking free children’s books from the Education Advisory Committee’s booth.
Saturday’s warm and sunny weather was also an attraction.
“It’s always fun to just be out and about,” said Nicole Hand, a University Park resident. “It’s finally beautiful weather.”
Many kids participated in a tricycle race for those shorter than 50 inches.
Hakeem Rogers, a Washington, D.C., resident, said he came
to College Park Day because it had a lot of activities his 3-yearold son would enjoy.
“He loves airplanes,” Rogers said. “He loves pumpkins. It was a perfect match.”
City Councilmember Jacob Hernandez (District 1) said he enjoyed the opportunity to talk with constituents.
He said one of his favorite aspects of the day is its emphasis on bringing the city together.
“It is something extremely special,” Hernandez said. “It is a celebration of who we are as a community.”
Above: A lion dancer in costume performs at College Park Day.
Left: 6-year-old Betty Hand from University Park enjoys a snow cone at College Park Day. Her mom, Nicole Hand, brought her to the festival.
PHOTOS BY LILLIAN GLAROS
for at least five years. In addition, because Target left the building before the end of its lease, Rally House will sublet the space from Target for the initial two years, making its commitment seven years, according to the city’s Director of Economic Development Michael Williams.
Kansas-based Rally House offers shoppers sports jerseys, Tshirts, caps, workout wear and other logo clothing representing local NCAA, NFL, NBA, MLB and MLS teams. The chain has approximately 200 stores in the U.S. This will be its first Maryland location.
Williams told College Park Here & Now that Rally House is expected to hire up to 70 employees.
The storefront has been vacant since Target moved out in May 2023.
Williams said the vacancy has been economically detrimental to the city.
“The contagious part of a commercial vacancy is that
when you’re trying to show off the city or make sure that the other commercial merchants are doing their jobs, the one constant question will always be, ‘Hey, what about that space?
… What’s the weakness in your economy that you cannot come out and fill this space of 13,300 square feet?’” he said. Recently, at least two win-
dows at the store were smashed in what some residents said they suspect was vandalism. Williams said while the incident will not affect Rally House’s move to the city, it is one of the disadvantages of a long vacancy.
Rally House attorney Dan Zmijewski said the chain chose College Park because it is home
to a Big 10 sports program. He said college towns “have a need for our product. … College Park is one of those perfect examples.”
Some councilmembers expressed concerns over Rally House’s location.
Councilmember Jacob Hernandez (District 1) pointed out that North College Park
needs new businesses. Councilmember Llatetra Esters (District 2) suggested reducing the $130,000 grant to $100,000 or less.
Still, councilmembers voted 7-1 to approve the funds, which Rally House will use to pay for signs, awnings and interior renovations, according to its grant application.
A former feature twirler at UMD, she said she also hopes to host baton twirling camps to share her skills.
The new Miss College Park said she appreciates the skills she has learned as part of the pageantry world.
“I’ve grown up kind of doing pageants and I love the communication aspect of it and how it really preps you for the real world,” Bronk said.
That real-world-preparation is a key part of the pageant, Angie Rodriguez, who has been the executive director of the pageant since its beginning in 1991, said.
Rodriguez said skills displayed in the pageant, such as application writing and interviewing, are critical for a young woman’s success.
“We kind of wrap all of that into a nice, neat little bow here and do it, and hopefully they have fun and earn scholarship money in the process,” Rodriguez said.
To begin the process, competitors must submit a resume, community service essay, transcript and photo. They give a short introduction, or elevator speech, to pageant judges, Rodriguez said. A more in-depth personal interview follows.
“We’re really looking for a girl who embodies what College Park is all about, which is growth, enhancement, fun and personality,”
Kristena Stotts, one of the judges, said. “College Park has a lot of personality, so judging this conversation is always really, really fun.”
Another element of the competition is overall appearance and poise. An adaptable, approachable Miss College Park is what the competition seeks, and the winner must be confident enough to make appearances on her own, Rodriguez said.
Miss College Park 2024, Elena Arguetta, made more public appearances than any previous titleholder, Rodriguez said.
The lifelong College Park District 1 resident said she loved making appearances during her reign.
“I felt like people were happy to see me, and I was just as happy to see them, maybe, if not happier,”
Arguetta said.
Community service is also important to the competition.
“As a pageant competitor, you want to be able to give back to your community and let people know that you’re there for them,”
John A. Morris, who judged the community service essays, said. “You are representing their community.”
Contestants won several awards.
Victoria Ofori-Okyere, a Towson University student studying elementary education, won Miss Congeniality, an award Rodriguez said is for the “nice girl backstage” and is voted on by the competitors themselves.
Brock also won an award for highest GPA for a college student and the Symphony Dixon Elegance and Poise Award.
The winner of the highest GPA
award for a high school student was Eleanor Roosevelt High School senior Alena Beckmann, who was first runner-up.
Nicole Rodriguez Soares, a junior at UMD studying aerospace
“I’ve grown up kind of doing pageants and I love the communication aspect of it and how it really preps you for the real world.”
engineering, won second runnerup.
And Liv Bacasnot, a senior at Arundel High School, won the Community Service Award.
Rally House, a sports apparel retailer, will move into the Route 1 building left vacant when Target moved out in May 2023. SAM GAUNTT
Newly crowned Miss College Park 2025 Maddie Bronk will make at least a dozen appearances over the coming year.
LILLIAN GLAROS
Maddie Bronk Miss College Park 2025
City asks legislators to review day care rules
By ASHLEY BURKETT
College Park Mayor Fazlul Kabir sent a letter to state legislators in September asking for a review of day care rules that require one staff member per three children if they are younger than 24 months.
In the letter, which the College Park City Council approved on Sept. 24, the mayor noted that the cost of child care creates “significant economic burdens on families in College Park.”
In the letter to District 21 lawmakers, Kabir said Maryland has “perhaps one of the most restrictive staff/child ratios in the United States for infants and toddlers.”
In a report to the council, Councilmember Stuart Adams (District 3), who has a child in day care, said tuition at the University of Maryland (UMD) Child Development Center on Calvert Road runs $27,744 a year for infants and toddlers younger than 24 months.
One caregiver is assigned to every three infants and toddlers in College Park’s day care centers, a number some on the city council say is too high. ADOBE STOCK PHOTO
infants from 0-16 months old, according to Adams’ report.
Adams said many local parents can’t afford the cost of the UMD Child Development Center, a joint venture of the city and UMD.
The city leases the space to the center for free. In exchange, the center gives priority to city residents who work for the university, and holds 14 spots for those who live in the city but are not affiliated with UMD, according to Christina Cross, the day care’s director.
“It’s for university faculty and it’s for residents of College Park,” Adams said. “I know of people that are in that situation and they’re not sending their kid there because it’s just so economically impractical for them.”
The center has an enrollment of 24 infants, 12 toddlers, 24 2-year-olds, and 47 preschool and kindergarten-prep children, according to the UMD Division of Administration Communications.
The Maryland Family Network reported that Maryland residents are spending upward of 32% of their income on child
care, while the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that parents spend no more than 7% of their income on child care.
Adams said the required small child-to-staff ratio in Maryland “kind of was a big … determin-
ing factor for cost.”
He said Maryland’s ratio is the most restrictive of any state that he found during his research.
The District has a ratio of one staff member per four 0-24 month olds, and Virginia requires one provider per four
He noted that if the ratio is increased, parents could have more opportunities to find suitable, affordable, high-quality child care.
Adams predicted a change in the state’s required staff-tostudent ratio could take two or three years.
