City Councilmember Stuart Adams resigns
By SHARON O’MALLEY
Serving on the College Park City Council “was somewhat different than I expected,” Stuart Adams, who represented District 3 from late 2021 until Jan. 8, recalled. “I will be candid about that. I thought it was a wonderful opportunity, but I’ll be honest, it was a lot of late nights, a lot of emails through the week.”
When he ran for re-election in 2023, he said, he didn’t realize his wife, Jessie, was expecting their second child—son Lincoln wasn’t even a year old then—or that the pregnancy, birth and first months of baby Ada’s life would be so complicated.
So Adams, 38, whose council job is part time and who works full-time as an engineer, de-
City celebrates longtime volunteer, P.2
Seniors get home repairs from Habitat, P.6 State legislative session begins, P.8
City pushes for more public art
By OLIVER MACK
A push by the city’s economic development director to bring more artwork to College Park’s public spaces is designed to do more than add a splash of color. The pieces aim to revive history, celebrate community and foster a sense of permanence in a city that seems to change with every new class of University of Maryland (UMD) students.
Michael Williams said murals, storm drain art and printed canvases created by three UMD alumni could make the city more intriguing to residents
and visitors.
“It’s kind of intriguing,” Williams said. “It’s not boring anymore. … It gives you a chance to kind of think about improvement, like even if something looks stale, we now have a cadre of artists that would love to kind of put a twist to it and make it interesting, make you think a little bit and enhance the environment.”
The group of artists, called MJM for their initials, has already completed a number of projects throughout the city, including a mural in The Hall,
Health and haircuts
College Park resident spreads medical awareness through barbershops
By IJEOMA OPARA
University of Pittsburgh professor
Stephen B. Thomas walked into a local barbershop for a haircut in 2005 and overheard a conversation between the barber and a customer who had just started taking a new medication. The barber told the customer the hypertension pills could hamper sexual performance.
“I looked at [his] face. I’m realizing that he’s not going to take those pills,” Thomas, now the director of the Center for Health Equity at the University of Maryland (UMD), said. “And his doctor has no idea there’s somebody [the barber] in the community with that kind of influence who’s not even a health professional.”
Three University of Maryland alumni are creating murals, storm drain art and canvases to add a splash of color to city buildings and streets. Shown, two murals next to the downtown building that used to house Nando’s PERi PERi.
GIUSEPPE LOPICCOLO
Yarrow resident Stephen B. Thomas, director of UMD’s Center for Health Equity, works with barbers and hair stylists to bring health education to their customers. IJEOMA OPARA
City celebrates volunteer’s 42 years of service
By CASEY GLICKMAN
From selling hot dogs during ball games at Duvall Field, to playing Santa Claus at the College Park Community Center, to coaching softball, Alan Bradford has been a College Park icon for more than 40 years.
The College Park City Council in December presented Bradford, retired from his job as a heavy equipment operator, with the 2024 Jack Perry Award, recognizing his impact as a volunteer in College Park.
“Alan’s countless acts of service … have fostered a spirit of community and improved the quality of life for residents, embodying the legacy of Jack Perry himself,” Mayor Fazlul Kabir wrote about Bradford on his blog, “Kabir Cares.”
The council established the award in 2013 to recognize the late Councilmember John Edward “Jack” Perry (District 2), who served for 26 years and was actively involved in the community, according to the city. Members of Perry’s family stood alongside Bradford as he accepted the award.
“Once the nominations came out, we as a family were very proud that you were there, and without a question … you were our choice,” Joseph Perry, Jack Perry’s son, told Bradford during the meeting.
Bradford, who grew up in Ocean City and moved to College Park in 1973, started volunteering a decade later when he became the coach for his daughter’s softball team. He flourished as a volunteer, coaching various sports for the College Park Boys and Girls Club. Suddenly, he had more than just his three kids to call his own.
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“They were like my kids. I had 100 kids,” Bradford said. “If they had trouble at home, if they had trouble with school, they could always come up and we would sit down and talk.”
Bradford eventually became the equipment manager and later the president of the Boys and Girls Club.
“Our kids grew up down on the ball field and in the equip-
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“Alan’s countless acts of service … have fostered a spirit of community and improved the quality of life for residents, embodying the legacy of Jack Perry himself.”
Mayor Fazlul Kabir
When he was not on the field, Bradford said, he was behind the snack bar, cooking food for the kids as they finished their games.
“A kid never went without a hot dog, a kid never went without a piece of candy, whether he had the money or not,” Martin Klapac, a College Park resident and longtime friend of Bradford’s, said.
“I would go home from work, and I would fix my family’s dinner, and then at 5 o’clock, I went to the College Park snack bar and fixed everybody else’s dinner,” Bradford said.
Those who didn’t spend much time on the ball field might recognize Bradford as the man behind the white beard and red Santa costume during the Christmas season.
ment room because that’s where their dad was,” Janet Bradford, his wife, said.
Sports had always played a crucial role in Bradford’s life. He played Little League baseball in Ocean City and spent time repairing the ball field.
Years later Bradford was often seen on Duvall Field, managing the lights and working on field maintenance, according to his nomination letter.
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Bradford served on the College Park Recreation Board for 18 years, helping plan events like breakfast with Santa Claus and brunch with the Easter Bunny, Janet Bradford said. When the board was looking for a new Santa, Brad-
ford volunteered on a whim, and stuck with it for the next 20 years.
“I thought he was crazy,” Klapac joked about the first time he met Bradford. “Everything he did was for the kids. His whole life just revolves around the kids being happy.”
Bradford, 73, remains involved with the city as a member of the College Park Ethics Commission, which ensures city officials and employees are held to the high ethical standards set by College Park.
“Alan has just been a part of this community forever,” College Park resident Karen Klapac, a longtime friend, said. “I can’t imagine this town without [him].”
While Bradford’s days of putting smiles on kids’ faces as a volunteer are mostly behind him, the person he continues to make smile is the one who has stood by his side through it all: his wife.
“He is a big joker,” Janet Bradford said. “He just makes me laugh.”
Alan Bradford plays Santa Claus during a Christmas breakfast hosted by the College Park Recreation Board. COURTESY OF JANET BRADFORD
several storm drain designs and wall art in multiple locations on UMD’s campus.
The artists at the heart of the movement, Maria Soboleva, who graduated from UMD in 2023, and Maddie Olek and Jak Lunsford, of the Class of 2024, will paint walls, utility poles and pavement along the Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail to highlight its historical significance.
“We’re doing a lot of locationspecific murals to show where old trolley stops used to be,” Olek said.
Another project involves a digital design with the theme of the development of the Purple Line. The artists will print it onto a canvas that will cover part of a 1,400-square-foot fence on Baltimore Avenue between Navahoe Street and Melbourne Place near McDonald’s.
Soboleva noted the city’s ongoing growth has been a key inspiration for the project.
“There’s so much construction in College Park,” Soboleva said. “We want to beautify some of
the construction sites.”
The art group’s portfolio describes the artists as “versatile, flexible and passionate about creating work on non-traditional canvases with the intention to transform spaces.”
“I really love making art,” Olek said. “It’s nice to participate in the community and almost be in dialogue with the people who are there.”
Public art has surged in popularity across the U.S. in recent years, particularly since the pandemic, as cities seek ways to draw people back into shared spaces.
In College Park, the effort is about creating an identity that locals and visitors can connect with, Williams said. “The plan is for the city to engage and use public art as much as it can.”
Much of the focus has been on transforming underused or unremarkable spaces—sidewalks, empty walls and even storm drains—into visually captivating artworks, Williams said.
The murals and other public artworks are not meant to be confined to the downtown area; according to Williams, the plan
is to incorporate more artwork into neighborhoods throughout the city.
The city’s development boom, partly spurred by the construction of the Purple Line, has created opportunities to incorporate creativity into new and existing spaces, Williams said.
According to Soboleva, projects like these help foster a sense of continuity.
“College Park has a really high turnover of people who are visiting or living here,” Soboleva said. “I think some public art will last over time, over generations.”
Brian Cooperman, a College Park resident and UMD senior majoring in anthropology and American studies, said public art serves as both a mirror and a bridge for communities.
“Public art serves as a good way for communities to reflect on shared values,” he said. “Outsiders can see what makes a community, what it is, or what the heartstrings of a community are.”
Williams said he hopes local artists, including students and residents, will create future art-
work to display around College Park.
Because some of the proposed installations are on privately owned buildings, the city relies on partnerships with commercial building owners to bring them to life, Williams said.
“We can’t just start doing artwork on private property,” Williams said, adding, “Many [property] owners have been receptive.”
Williams said the projects, which have minimal material expenses, are cost-effective,
thanks, in part, to grants that pay the artists.
“But there’s no substantial cost to the city,” Williams said.
The artists said the artwork will benefit College Park.
“I have faith that art matters and people will be able to recognize the value of it,” Lunsford said. “It is important now more than ever in a world of AI.”
“Public art lasts,” Soboleva agreed. “It gives College Park more of a sense of history and identity, something that stays constant as the people come and go.”
Columbia University, College Park to develop plan for reparations
By JOSEPHINE JOHNSON
Columbia University will consult with College Park’s Restorative Justice Commission over the next six months to develop a plan to repair harm done to the Lakeland community in the 1970s and 1980s.
The College Park City Council on Dec. 3 approved a contract of nearly $150,000 with Columbia University in New York for a research team that will recommend how the city can make reparations to the community, which was all but destroyed by urban renewal.
The research project began at the start of this year and will wrap up at the end of June with a presentation of the team’s recommendations to the city council and the community.
In past projects involving Columbia’s African American Redress Network, reparations, or repairs, have included memorialization and commemoration, such as publishing researched history or placing
markers indicating historical landmarks.
“I think it’s a really great start,” Maxine Gross, founding chair of the Lakeland Community Heritage Project, said. “They’ll look into filling historical holes that they find, questions that the materials don’t answer and really look in some of those nooks and crannies for documentation that we just didn’t have access to.”
Lakeland, a once-thriving, mostly African American community in what is now College Park, started to disappear with urban renewal efforts in the 1970s and 1980s and the destruction of 104 of 150 homes.
In 2020, the College Park City Council officially acknowledged and apologized for the city’s role in dismantling the community.
In 2022, the city formed the Restorative Justice Commission to work with current and past Lakeland residents to come up with plans for how to begin reparations. Now, according to city documents,
College Park aims to establish an accurate historical record of Lakeland in a plan to embrace history and diversity.
Councilmember Susan Whitney (District 2) said she looks forward to the research report in June.
“It is important to have a wellresearched, well-documented, academically sound record of what happened in Lakeland and what parties were involved in that occurring, either by actions or inactions,” Whitney said. “There’s a lot of hurt and a lot of harm that came from that.”
The research team, with members from Columbia and the city’s Restorative Justice Commission, will determine appropriate reparations regarding economic stability, history of access to education and health care, and other effects of losing that neighborhood and social community.
Appropriate repair differs by community, but the African American Redress Network
has the experience to help determine what it means for the current and past Lakeland community, Gross said.
Councilmember Llatetra Brown Esters (District 2) said while it is impossible to completely restore the community when so much was lost, the city intends to fulfill its promise to commit to restorative justice.
“It is important that all people who live within this community feel like they matter and that they’re important, and when something so challenging and negatively impacting occurs, for the city to be able to acknowledge it,” Esters said. “It’s not enough to give things lip service. You have to follow it with action.”
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The city has hired a Columbia University research team to make recommendations for reparations to Lakeland residents. LILLIAN GLAROS
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Thank you. The director, editors and board members of the nonprofit Streetcar Suburbs Publishing—College Park Here & Now’s parent company—want to extend a super-size thank you to all of our readers who donated during our fundraising campaign over the last couple of months.
The company, which also publishes Hyattsville Life & Times and e Laurel Independent, raised more than $17,000, thanks to 200-plus donors. A bonus: $15,000 of that amount will be matched by NewsMatch, a philanthropic movement to support public service journalism.
The publisher is planning several initiatives for 2025, including the launch of a searchable online calendar of local events; voter guides, campaign finance coverage and issue analysis for the March 4 special election for county executive; and continued focus on our core city coverage.
—Sharon O’Malley
Coffee break. Employees of the Starbucks in the Knox Road shopping center voted unanimously in mid-December to join Starbucks Workers United, the coffee chain’s union.
The location is the 11th Starbucks in Maryland since 2021 to join the union, which represents 12,000 baristas at 500 stores nationwide, according to the union.
In a letter to Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol, employees said they joined the union “to protect ourselves and protect the company’s values. … We have seen a disparity between the partners who work on the floor
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and the management who make decisions, and we believe it’s time to close that gap.”
The union has said Starbucks stores are understaffed; pay low wages; offer unpredictable work schedules and unaffordable healthcare, and engage in harassment and unfair discipline.
—Sharon O’Malley
R&D. The University of Maryland (UMD) is planning to build a new research and development space near the Purple Line’s Riverdale Park station.
The project is a joint venture between the university and Maryland-based developer St. John Properties, which has built more than 40 other flex and R&D spaces across the state, according to its website.
The University System of Maryland’s Board of Regents awarded a 99-year lease of a 6.4-acre property in the Discovery District located just outside College Park to the developer in November, and the project is currently in the early design stages.
The proposed space will consist of two, one-story buildings totaling about 58,000 square feet, and is key to the university’s “broader effort to attract and retain high-tech companies” in the Discovery District, according to a report given to the board’s finance committee in October.
But some community members, including Riverdale Park Mayor Alan Thompson, have voiced concerns about the project.
Thompson said research-flex space is usually built in rural areas, and that Riverdale Park officials have always thought new development in the Discovery District area should be more dense.
“And particularly as the Purple Line is coming in, it just seems really inappropriate to put a single-story, surrounded by parking, research-flex space in that area,” he told College Park Here & Now
—Sam Gauntt
Shake up. The international fast-food chain Shake Shack opened in College Park on Dec. 11 in Union on Knox, a new student apartment building.
Customers stood outdoors in the rain waiting to enter the store, known for its burgers and milkshakes, during the grand opening event. The company promised to donate $1 for every sandwich sold that day to the University of Maryland Food Pantry and served shakes to early customers in souvenir tumblers.
“It’s been made very clear since when we first broke ground here that the students are very excited about us as a brand,” Tom Hunton, the store’s regional director of operations,
I've
said. “There’s just a ton of activity. There’s obviously a lot of development happening on campus, and we felt like this was a great time to get into the neighborhood.”
The College Park store is located at 4394 Knox Road, next to Terrapins Turf restaurant and bar and across Baltimore Avenue from city hall.
—Jalen Wade
Election lineup. Prince George’s County voters will have 12 candidates to choose from in the March 4 special primary election to replace Sen. Angela Alsobrooks as county executive.
The Democratic and Republican winners of that race will face off in a special general election on June 3.
At least five high-profile Democrats are seeking the county executive position. They are former County Executive Rushern L. Baker III, State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy, At-Large County Councilmember Calvin Hawkins, County Council Chair Jolene Ivey and state Sen. Alonzo Washington.
The other four Democratic candidates are Marcellus Crews, Ron Hunt, Albert Slocum Jr. and Tonya Sweat. The three Republicans have all sought public office before: George E. McDermott, Jesse Peed and Jonathan White.
—Maryland Matters
Vote 16. Community members can weigh in on Feb. 4 on a proposal to change the minimum legal voting age in College Park from 18 to 16.
The College Park City Council will hold a public hearing during its regular meeting, which begins at 7:30 p.m. at city hall. Councilmembers who have supported the amendment to the city charter have said that teenage voters tend to grow up to be civically engaged adults.
If the amendment passes, College Park residents who register to vote in Prince George’s County and will be at least 16 on Election Day will automatically become registered to vote in the city.
—Sharon O’Malley
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A Shake Shack burger and fries. WIKIMEDIA PHOTO
Habitat for Humanity updates seniors’ homes
By OLIVER MACK
Senior citizens who live in College Park can have wheelchair ramps and grab bars installed in their homes for free, thanks to a Habitat for Humanity program that aims to make it easier for older residents with limited incomes to continue living at home as they age.
The program, College Park Aging in Place, is part of a nationwide effort by Habitat for Humanity that also offers repairs to roofs, drywall and porches, and arranges for electrical work and water heater replacements, with an emphasis on accessibility and weatherization.
“It’s the home repair and improvements that we can help seniors with that will allow them to stay in their homes as they age,” Janeen Miller, the program lead for Age Friendly College Park, said.
Age Friendly College Park is a separate program that more broadly focuses on helping seniors maintain their independence by reducing social isolation and offering essential services like rides to doctor appointments and grocery stores, Miller said, noting that effort is 10 years old.
College Park Aging in Place began in 2024 and so far has upgraded half a dozen homes in
the city. The renovations were paid for by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding from the federal government.
Chyna Diaz, director of home preservation for Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland, said she expects the program to work on at least 10 homes a
year and hopes the College Park City Council will take over the funding once ARPA funds dry up by the end of next year.
Miller said the initiative is a key component of College Park’s efforts to better support its senior citizens.
“We would like to be a desti-
nation for seniors that are retiring and they’re looking for a place to age,” Miller said. “We think College Park has a lot to offer with the proximity to so many rich cultural resources.”
The city’s age-friendly initiative began with a 2014 city council resolution that created a task
force that recruits volunteers to help senior residents and is working to achieve the Age Friendly States and Communities designation from AARP.
“A group of residents identified a list of priorities and actions the city council could take to assist seniors with staying in College Park and in their homes as they age,” Miller said.
The group initiated the partnership with Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland to address the specific needs of older adults and their homes, Miller said.
The Habitat effort targets residents 62 and older, prioritizing those who have lived in College Park for 30 or more years, according to Diaz
Diaz said program coordinators plan to complete 200 projects a year over the next five years throughout Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.
Miller, who worked as College Park’s city clerk for 18 years until she retired last year, said Age Friendly College Park will work with the city and Prince George’s County to develop more affordable housing options for seniors looking to downsize.
Diaz said College Park’s partnership with Habitat for Humanity could be a model for other cities looking to upgrade homes and help seniors stay in them.
“When local governments or government agencies invest in their communities, there is a true impact,” she said. “There is a real impact.”
A new program from Habitat for Humanity upgrades the homes of senior citizens in College Park who want to age in place. ADOBE STOCK PHOTO
COLLEGE PARK POST
City of College Park District 3 Special Election Notice
Special Election for District 3 Councilmember to be held on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 from 8am-8pm
RESIGNATION OF DISTRICT 3 COUNCILMEMBER
STUART ADAMS
On Sunday, December 22, 2024, District 3 Councilmember Stuart Adams submitted his letter of resignation from City Council, effective on January 8, 2025. Mr. Adams has served on the City Council since November 2021.
Per the City Charter, a Special Election must be held within 65 days of the creation of a vacancy.
Details about the upcoming Special Election, including District 3 candidate packets and voting information, will be posted on the City’s website at www. collegeparkmd.gov. The candidate elected to fill the vacancy will serve until the November 2025 General Election.
DISTRICT 3 SPECIAL ELECTION
WHO:
College Park District 3 Residents
WHAT: Special Election for District 3 Councilmember
WHEN:
Tuesday, March 11, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: City Hall Community Room, 7401 Baltimore Avenue, College Park, MD 20740
WHY:
To fill the District 3 Council vacancy created by the resignation of Councilmember Stuart Adams
CALL FOR CANDIDATES
Qualifications: Candidates must be 18 years old by Tuesday, March 11, 2025, must be a United States citizen, must be a current registered voter in the City, must have resided in in District 3 since March 11, 2024.
Boundaries: A map outlining the boundaries of Council District 3 is available on our website at: www. collegeparkmd.gov/elections. Narrative descriptions of the district boundaries are in the City Code, Chapter 30, Attachment 1.
Procedure: Submit a petition with the signatures of at least 20 registered voters from District 3, and other required forms, by Wednesday, February 5,
2025, no later than 4:00 p.m. Forms are available from: www. collegeparkmd.gov/elections.
VOTE BY MAIL
District 3 Registered Voters will receive applications for absentee ballots in the mail beginning the week of February 10th.
To vote by mail, return your application as soon as possible. A ballot will be mailed upon receipt of your application. Applications may also be downloaded from the City website.
Three ways to return your ballot:
• By Mail: Must be postmarked no later than Tuesday, March 11, 2025
• Hand delivered to the poll: No later than Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at 8:00 p.m.
• Hand delivered to the Election Drop Box at Davis Hall, 9217 51st Avenue or City Hall 7401 Baltimore Avenue: No later than Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at 8:00 p.m.
VOTE AT THE POLL
If you choose not to vote by mail, you may vote at the poll:
City of College Park Community Room, 7401 Baltimore Avenue, College Park, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
REGISTER TO VOTE
You must be registered to vote at your current address by Thursday, February 20, 2025. If you have been voting regularly and haven’t moved or changed your name, you should be all set.
To check your voter registration status, or to make updates to your name or address, you may:
• Use Maryland’s Online Voter Registration System (24/7) if you have a valid Maryland Driver’s License or ID Card, Thursday, February 20, 2025
• Or, register with the Prince George’s County Board of Elections:
• In person: By Thursday, February 20, 2025, 4:30 p.m.
• By mail: Postmarked by Saturday, February 15, 2025
For questions or futher information, contact the City Clerk, Yvette Allen, at 240-487-3503 or cityclerkoffice@ collegeparkmd.gov.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Celebrate the Civil Rights leader on January 20, 2025
Celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on January 20, 2025 with the City of College Park! This holiday recognizes the contributions of the great Civil Rights leader and his advocacy for racial equality.
Watch his legacy come to life with a stunning laser show, a thoughtprovoking movie screening, and a book giveaway. Don’t forget a donation to our food drive to be a part of the change!
BLACK HISTORY TRIBUTE LASER PROGRAM
January 20 | 1:00 & 2:00PM | City Hall (7401 Baltimore Ave.)
Blast into the past and honor the incredible contributions of African Americans to our nation’s history!
This dazzling 40-minute program combines an enchanting laser light show with an inspiring soundtrack, transporting students through time and highlighting the profound impact of African Americans on our culture and history. Perfect for students of all ages, this engaging show is a fantastic way to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Admission is free, however space is limited and tickets are required. Register at collegeparkmd.gov/ mlk25.
BOOK GIVEAWAY
January 20 | 1:00 & 2:00PM | City Hall (7401 Baltimore Ave.)
As part of the program, we will be giving away free books focused on Black history and the life of Martin Luther King Jr. to children attendees!
This is a wonderful opportunity to inspire young minds, promote literacy in our community, and learn about African American history.
MOVIE SCREENING: SELMA
January 20 | 4:00PM | City Hall (7401 Baltimore Ave.)
After the laser show, join us for a special screening of the powerful film “Selma” at 4PM. This criticallyacclaimed movie chronicles the historic 1965 voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery, highlighting the struggle for civil rights and the enduring legacy of Dr. King.
Admission is free, however space is limited so tickets are required. Register at collegeparkmd.gov/ mlk25.
SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY
January 1-31
Throughout the month of January, we will be collecting food donations at City Hall (7401 Baltimore Ave.), Davis Hall (9217 51st Ave.), and Youth and Family Services (4912 Nantucket Rd.) to support the College Park Community Food Bank. Please support those in need by donating non-perishable food items.
Spay & Neuter Services
Free services available for eligible residents
Hey, pet parents of College Park! The City is rolling out an amazing program to help you and your furry friends live your best lives.
We’re offering free spay/neuter services to eligible residents, making it easier than ever to keep your pets healthy and prevent stray litters from roaming our streets.
Spaying or neutering your pet reduces health risks and curbs unwanted behaviors. Your pet can also recieve their rabies shot, or be microchipped.
Who’s eligible?
If you live in the City of College Park or reside within the 20740 zip code and meet certain income or benefit criteria (such as EBT, Medicaid, or VA Disability), you’re in!
Fill out an application at www. collegeparkmd.gov/pets. Remember to bring proof of income and residency.
Let’s work together to reduce stray pets and make College Park a pawsitively awesome place!
City Announcements
More information: www.collegeparkmd.gov and receive a decision within 10 business days!
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY HOLIDAY AND INAUGURATION CLOSURE
All City of College Park offices will be closed on Friday, January 17 and Monday, January 20 in observance of the Presidential Inauguration and Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
There will be no bulk trash collection on Friday, January 17. All collections will slide forward one day during the holiday week.
• Monday collections will occur on Tuesday, January 18
• Tuesday collections will occur on Wednesday, January 19
• Wednesday collections will occur on Thursday, January 20
Special collections will only occur on Friday, January 21 of this holiday week.
You must call 240-487-3590 or email publicworks@collegeparkmd.gov to schedule a pickup before setting your items out to the curb.
RETAIL REINFORCEMENT MINI-GRANT PROGRAM
Has your retail business been impacted by construction along Route 1 or the Purple Line corridor?
Construction impacts can be tough, but the Retail Reinforcement MiniGrant Program (CPRRG) is here to help you bounce back and grow stronger.
This special grant, powered by PNC Foundation funding, offers $5,000 to $30,000 in quick, accessible financial support for businesses that have experienced operational or financial hardship due to local development activities.
WHO QUALIFIES?
Small, brick-and-mortar businesses within 0.25 miles of Route 1/Baltimore Ave or the Purple Line in College Park.
HOW TO APPLY:
1. Learn more and complete the online application form at www.collegeparkmd.gov/ retailgrant.
2. Provide supporting documents (e.g., burden statement, sales records, tax returns).
3. Submit your application
Questions? Contact Rakhmel Rafi at rrafi@collegeparkmd.gov or (240) 487-3542.
ENVISIONING PIERCE
AVENUE POCKET PARK
A community poll is underway to determine the future of the Pierce Avenue lot in the Lakeland neighborhood. Submit your opinion by February 1, 2025 at www.collegeparkmd.gov/ piercepark.
COYOTE SAFETY TIPS
Coyotes are becoming a bit more common in Maryland, but you can protect yourself and your pets with these simple steps:
• Avoid feeding pets outside • Keep pets leashed & supervised
• Report concerns to DNR at 1-877-463-6497
If a coyote seems unafraid, use hazing techniques like loud noises, small objects, or a spray bottle to scare it away. As always, any sick or injured wildlife can be reported to the City of College Park Animal Control office, however, we cannot remove or mitigate healthy wildlife for nuisance purposes.
By following these guidelines, you can help ensure both your safety and the well-being of local wildlife. Remember, coyotes are an important part of the ecosystem, but it’s essential to take precautions to keep them at a safe distance from human activities.
Learn more at www.collegeparkmd. gov/coyotes.
PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING
February 3 | 7-8:30pm | Hybrid Join City Elected Officials, Police, Department of Public Services staff, and your neighbors from all around the City, for an informative community meeting. This meeting will be hybrid - in City Hall (7401 Baltimore Ave.) and online via Zoom.
Register in advance for this meeting at www.collegeparkmd. gov/publicsafetymeeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Snow and Ice Removal
Be prepared for winter
The City of College Park’s priority during a snow event is public safety. Our goal is to clear snow and ice as quickly and efficiently as possible, restoring safe travel for emergency crews, motorists, and pedestrians.
CLEARING SIDEWALKS
Property owners, occupants and merchants are reminded of the City requirement to remove accumulated snow and ice from all walkways, driveways, parking lots and other areas used by pedestrians or automobiles. The owner or occupant of any property that abuts the sidewalk must clean all ice, sleet and snow from the full width of the public walkway.
It is required that snow and ice be removed within the first 24 hours after the winter weather event ends (per City Code Section 141-5 and Prince George’s County Code 23150).
If you are a senior or have accessibility needs and would like help removing snow, there are two local organizations that can help. More information can be found at www.collegeparkmd.gov/snow or www.collegeparkmd.gov/seniors.
Failure to comply with this regulation in a timely manner could result in fines or be used as evidence by someone injured on or adjacent to your property in a civil suit. Non-compliance can be reported 24/7 at www. collegeparkmd.gov/tellus.
BE PREPARED
Keep snow shovels and salt ready for the next storm, and plan to have help available if necessary to make your walkway safe as soon as the snow stops falling. For more information about the City’s Guide to Winter Weather, please visit www.collegeparkmd.gov/snow.
SENIORS PROGRAM SNOW POLICIES
When Prince George’s County schools are closed due to snow,
neither the City’s Senior bus nor the Senior Activities will operate.
Public Works crews plow and salt City streets and City parking lots to clear snow and ice. Things you can do to help include:
• Move parked cars off the street so the snow plows can clear snow to the curb.
• The City is not responsible for clearing snow from driveways or driveway aprons - this is the resident’s responsibility. If you begin to remove snow before the trucks are finished, be mindful that your driveway may need to be cleared more than once.
• After the snowplows have finished cleaning your street, clear snow and ice from the sidewalks, storm drains and fire hydrants in front of your residence.
• Have patience: crews work around the clock during snow emergencies to clear City streets. Visit www. collegeparkmd.gov/snow to track our snow plows during a winter weather emergency.
REFUSE AND RECYCLING
In winter weather conditions, refuse and recycling collections may occur later in the day than normal, or they could be delayed a day.
Place all trash and recycling bins by the curb, but not on the street. Make sure that bins are not covered in snow and are accessible for crews.
FOR MORE INFO AND ALERTS
Please stay tuned to the City’s website, social media, and email for updates during winter weather storms. Sign up for City email news and alerts at www. collegeparkmd.gov/cpconnect.
For more information, call 240487-3590 or email publicworks@ collegeparkmd.gov.
At that moment, an idea came to Thomas: If he could bring accurate medical information to people through community hubs like barbershops and salons, members of vulnerable populations might wind up healthier.
“What if the barber would have said: ‘If you are having side effects, erectile dysfunction, tell your doctor, don’t be ashamed, they can adjust the medication?’”
Thomas, who lives in College Park’s Yarrow neighborhood, asked. “And that’s where the whole idea of HAIR was born.”
Shortly after, Thomas, a public health professor, started Health Advocates In-Reach and Research (HAIR), an initiative that trains Black barbers and stylists to educate their customers on health issues.
Thomas said he has always been interested in medicine.
Born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1953 as the third child of six, he grew up with his family in Hilltop, then a predominantly white neighborhood.
One of the things Thomas eagerly anticipated as a child was starting school, in part because his sister, Barbara, was the first Black student at West Mound Elementary School, which he would later attend.
He didn’t realize until much later that the school’s white principal walked Barbara home every day–which Thomas believed at the time was an honor–because she had been the victim of racial violence and the principal’s company was for safety.
Hoping to become a dentist, Thomas, now 71, did not pass a chalk-carving exercise–which required students to fashion an enamel tooth from a long piece of chalk–and did not qualify. So he studied zoology and health
education instead, earning his bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University in 1980 while working as a respiratory therapist at different hospitals in Ohio. He earned a master’s degree in 1981 from Illinois State University and a Ph.D. in 1985 from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.
Thomas began his career as a professor at UMD in 1986 before joining the faculty at Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in Atlanta in 1993, and then moving to the University of Pittsburgh in 2000.
Ten years later, Thomas returned to UMD, where he founded the Center for Health Equity.
Almost immediately, Thomas started recruiting local barbers to participate in HAIR.
His first recruit was Mike Brown, who manages The Shop Spa in Hyattsville.
“It’s been an amazing journey,” Brown said on a recent Saturday afternoon as he carefully trimmed a client’s hair and reflected on The Shop Spa’s earliest program around colorectal cancer.
Brown’s father had died of colorectal cancer, so when he saw a “chance to swing back at cancer,” he grabbed it and has held on since then, he said.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Thomas and Brown organized Shots at the Shop to bring vaccines to customers at The Shop Spa.
The novel initiative attracted the attention of the White House, which endorsed Thomas’ effort to train 1,000 Black barbers and stylists across the country to combat the spread of COVID-19 disinformation.
Approximately 100 barbers and stylists have joined the HAIR network.
“We are not actual doctors ourselves, but the symptoms that
we do speak of, clients have got checked out and found out something was wrong,” Brown said.
At The Shop Spa on the Saturday before Christmas, clients held conversations in small clusters over the whirring sound of clippers. Thomas had invited Kimberly Boddie, a lupus patient who works for The Lupus Foundation of America, to visit the barbershop that day and give a brief presentation.
“Sitting here in this barbershop today has been very impactful,” Boddie said. “Some people didn’t even know what lupus was.”
Lupus, an autoimmune disease, causes the body’s immune system to fight healthy tissues.
For Boddie, the ailment led to a hysterectomy and double mastectomy.
One barbershop client, Reginald Walker, left the barbershop clutching at some reading materials Boddie shared.
“I just came in for my regular shape up and just so happened to
health care to underserved communities.
In 2014, he collaborated with Catholic Charities DC to launch the Mission of Mercy and Health Equity Festival in Prince George’s County. The group offered free dental care to more than 1,000 people who lined up overnight outside of UMD’s Xfinity Center waiting for service.
The group held the festival again in 2016 and 2019, but has not organized it since the pandemic.
Still, the two-day event’s success did not come without challenges. Thomas said he faced opposition, especially in 2014, when some colleagues pushed back at the idea of having the festival on campus.
“Somebody said: ‘Are you bringing all these poor people on campus?’” he said.
hear her talk about lupus,” Walker said. “My cousin suffers from it, and she’s actually on a list to have her kidney transplant.”
The HAIR program has spread to Montgomery County and Baltimore. In Houston, a team of Black barbers and stylists started a screening campaign in 2004 about peripheral artery disease (PAD). Thomas said he hired a computer gamer and graphic designer to create an online game, “Padmaster,” to help people learn more about PAD.
Beyond HAIR, Thomas has explored other ways to bring
Funding the event also was a challenge. Thomas said he raised $160,000 for each festival, adding that he will bring it back only “if there is institutional commitment” from the university and the community. For now, Thomas is working with stylists to create a new program under HAIR, called Tea Time, to focus on sexual wellness and HIV treatments. He is also working with barbers and stylists to combat opioid abuse.
“The most important thing is that we are being hyperlocal and we are prioritizing the most vulnerable,” he said.
Mike Brown, manager of The Shop Spa in Hyattsville, was the first barber to join HAIR, Health Advocates In-Reach and Research. IJEOMA OPARA
2025 State Spotlight: A look ahead
The Maryland General Assembly will be in session from Jan. 8 to April 7. College Park Here & Now asked the senator and delegates from District 21, who represent College Park, what they will be working on during the session. Their answers are below.
(DISTRICT 21)
What are you most proud of from last year’s session?
Bringing back state investment to College Park for local schools, roads and road safety, Metro and MARC mass transit, and the University of Maryland. The delegates and I helped pass the law allowing speed cameras near stop signs at dangerous intersections and boosting enforcement against loud and dangerous driving. We also got $1 million to improve Paint Branch Parkway Park Trail.
What’s an opportunity that the state Legislature missed last session or an area where you hope to do better?
Investing more in appren-
ticeships to create career opportunities for College Park’s young people and reduce skills shortages for local businesses. This is particularly important for health care and cybersecurity. Making the tax system more fair for working families by closing tax loopholes for big corporations and the rich.
How do you anticipate that your work this session will change life for residents in your district specifically?
The delegates and I are going to push for the state to begin planning safety and other improvements to U.S. Route 1 north of Greenbelt Road, similar to the ones recently completed south of Greenbelt Road.
DEL. JOSELINE PEÑA-MELNYK (DISTRICT 21)
What are you most proud of from last year’s session?
I’m proud of key achievements that advanced health care and technology in Maryland. The Artificial Intelligence Governance Act established policies for state agencies’ use of
AI, promoting transparency and oversight, while the Information Technology Modernization Act streamlined IT processes, ensuring efficiency and innovation. In health care, the Access to Care Act expanded health insurance access for Maryland residents, and Lochlin’s Law implemented life-saving sepsis protocols. Additionally, the Maryland Maternal Health Act strengthened maternal and infant health measures, while the establishment of Assisted Outpatient Treatment Programs ensured better mental health care for those with severe mental illness. These initiatives reflect a commitment to improving lives across the state.
What’s an opportunity that the state Legislature missed last session, or an area where you hope to do better?
One missed opportunity was addressing prior authorizations and access to behavioral health care, particularly acute psychiatric services. Hospital overstays and the need for better oversight of behavioral health facilities remain concerns. Additionally, the Patient Accumulator Bill, which would allow patients to use manufacturer coupons and discounts regardless of deductibles, could have provided critical financial relief.
Expanding pathways for licensing foreign-trained physicians is another area where progress is needed to address workforce shortages.
How do you anticipate that
your work this session will change life for residents in your district specifically? I will prioritize initiatives that directly benefit residents of College Park, Hyattsville and Laurel. Strengthening Affordable Care Act protections will ensure continued coverage for pre-existing conditions and essential health benefits, safeguarding affordable care for our community. To make medications more accessible, we will address cost-sharing for prescription drugs, reducing out-of-pocket expenses such as copayments and deductibles. Additionally, expanding the authority of the Prescription Drug Affordability Board will further our mission to lower prescription drug costs and keep essential medications affordable for all residents.
Expanding telehealth services is another key focus, as it improves health care access and equity, particularly for underserved populations. Together, these efforts aim to enhance health care access, affordability and innovation for the residents of District 21.
What are you most proud of
from last year’s session? I was proud to successfully pass our street racing bill, which has already had an impact on dangerous activities across the state, alongside four other bills now officially signed into law.
What’s an opportunity that the state Legislature missed last session, or an area where you hope to do better?
The Maryland General Assembly only meets for a short 90 days a year, and considering the time frame, I feel we have achieved an extraordinary amount of change through the 1,053 bills passed last session.
How do you anticipate that your work this session will change life for residents in your district specifically? We are currently working on passing a bill to resolve the housing crisis impacting backstretch workers on the Laurel racetrack, which will hopefully provide adequate housing support, social services, and medical care for this marginalized community. We are also looking to support local newspapers, provide benefits to first responders and dispatchers, and establish an online dashboard for the opioid restitution fund. And though these efforts are not exclusive to College Park, Hyattsville or Laurel, they will definitely improve the livelihoods of constituents in these districts as well.
Delegate Ben Barnes (District 21) had not responded to our inquiry as of press time. Any additional submissions we receive this month will be published on our website.
SEN. JIM ROSAPEPE
DEL. MARY LEHMAN (DISTRICT 21)
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
JAN. 18
Zine Workshop
Learn how to create your own small, eight-page zine. Materials will be provided. $10. 4-6 p.m. Old Parish House (4711 Knox Rd.). For more information visit https:// tinyurl.com/ykt6kk8h.
Love of Lettering Workshop
Work with teaching artist Eileen Cave to create your own lettering techniques and illuminated letter design motifs, using a variety of media, stencils and stamps. $10. 2-4 p.m. Old Parish House (4711 Knox Rd.). For more information visit https:// tinyurl.com/hzw8pyj4.
Needle Arts Club
Participate in community building through stitching with the needle art of your choice. Free. 5-8 p.m. Old Parish House (4711 Knox Rd.). For more information visit https:// tinyurl.com/4x7zzxev.
JAN. 20
Tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. Celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with the city through various community events. Free. 1-4 p.m. College Park City Hall (7401 Baltimore Ave.). For more information visit https:// tinyurl.com/3t2hvxcm.
JAN. 21
Zoom Book Club
This month’s book is “Antarctic Pioneer: The Trailblazing Life of Jackie Ronne,” by Joanna Kafarowski. Free. 7-8 p.m. College Park Community
Library (9704 Rhode Island Ave.). For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/ ybm7stza.
JAN. 22
“Inside My Head: The Musical”
The National Alliance on Mental Illness Maryland will present “Inside My Head,” an autobiographical musical about one person’s journey with bipolar disorder. Broadway performer Zak Sandler tells a story of his first manic and depressive episodes during his junior year at Yale University. $20, VIP $100. 8 p.m. Gildenhorn Recital Hall. (8270 Alumni Dr.). For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/yax774hh.
UMD Chapel Open House
Take a tour of the UMD Memorial Chapel, a venue for weddings, memorial services, conferences, concerts and meetings. Free. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. (7744 Regents Dr.). For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/4avb4ry5.
JAN. 25
Couples Workshop
This workshop series by the University of Maryland includes six sessions led by relationship and financial experts. Free. 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. School of Public Health Building, (4200 Valley Dr.). For more information visit https:// tinyurl.com/y9pvjhxc.
JAN. 28
Restorative Justice For Lakeland
Join professor Justin Hansford for a community listening town hall. Come learn how
reparative actions, focusing on urban renewal and its impacts on housing, education, transportation, public safety and sustainable development, can help the Lakeland community. Free. 1-3:30 p.m. Spellman House Apartments (4711 Berwyn House Rd.). For more information visit https:// tinyurl.com/bp7fcj2f. This event repeats on the 29th at a different location. 7:30 p.m. Embry AME Church (5101 Lakeland Rd.).
JAN. 30
Atsuko Okatsuka: “Full Grown Tour”
Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka brings her sharp and sweetly naive humor to The Clarice. $60, $45, $30. 8 p.m. Kay Theater (8270 Alumni Dr.). For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/2vdpbtu7.
FEB. 6
Deepe Darkness
Deepe Darkness is a physical theater performance combining dance, theater and experimentation. $30. 8 p.m. Kogod Theater (8270 Alumni Dr.). For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/2se84vws.
FEB. 7
RE | STORE: Edmond Dédé’s “Morgiane”
Witness the world premier of a four-act French grand opera from composer Edmond Dédé in the presentation of his neverbefore released work. Witness a performance 138 years in the making. Free. 7 p.m. Dekelboum Concert Hall (8270 Alumni Dr.). For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/yn3y73w4.
Stamp’s All Niter
Visit this UMD party themed around the 2000s. Free. 5 p.m.12 a.m. Adele H. Stamp Student Union (3972 Campus Dr.). For more information visit https:// tinyurl.com/3sp6muna.
REPEATING
Line Dance
Jessie’s Soul Line Dancers offers a class with step-by-step instruction, and students then perform dances to soul, gospel and pop music. Free. Every Friday from 10-11 a.m. Zoom. For more information and the registration link email info@ cpae.org.
Story Time for Children
Story-telling session geared to infants and older. Free. Every Wednesday. 9:30-10 a.m. (9704 Rhode Island Ave.). For more information email bokays100@ juno.com.
The 2nd Thursday Book Group
Take part in a discussion of books ranging from nonfiction, fiction and historical fiction.
Free. 7-8:30 p.m. College Park Community Library (9704 Rhode Island Ave.). For more information email bokays100@ juno.com.
Feb. 13’s book is “Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood” by Alexandra Fuller.
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETINGS
Calvert Hills Citizens Association (CHCA) Meeting for Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. on Zoom. For more information email lakelandcivic@gmail.com.
North College Park Civic Association (NCPCA)
Second Thursday of the month. 7:30-9 p.m. Davis Hall (9217 51st Ave.). For more information email NCPCivic@gmail.com.
Berwyn District Civic Association (BDCA)
Regular meetings of the BDCA are held on the third Thursday of each month. 7:30 p.m. For more information email bdca-board@myberwyn.org.
ADOBE STOCK PHOTO
2 candidates come forward for city council
By SHARON O’MALLEY
Two candidates so far have announced they will run for the District 3 College Park City Council seat vacated by the resignation of Councilmember Stuart Adams.
Michael Meadow, who lives in Old Town, and Ray Ranker, a College Park Estates resident, told College Park Here & Now they hope to win the March 11 special election the city will hold to fill the vacancy.
Candidates have until Feb. 5 to collect 20 signatures on a petition and register with the city at collegeparkmd.gov. College Park Here & Now’s February issue will feature profiles of any additional candidates who sign up by that deadline.
Meadow, a lifelong resident of College Park and a University of Maryland (UMD) graduate, said he would focus on helping the city “grow and prosper, but at the same time I want to take care of the small business owners.”
An engineer who works for the federal government, Meadow, 44 and recently married, said he hopes to raise a family
in the city where he grew up.
“I’ve seen the city through the eyes of a child, through the eyes of a University of Maryland student, through the eyes of a working professional, someone who is starting a family,” he said. “I love this community and I want to make sure it grows in a very sustainable and smart way. It’s come a long way from 44 years ago.”
Ranker, 42, also graduated from the University of Maryland and moved back to College Park 12 years ago to raise his family. He said he is running “not just because I want to have a seat at the table personally, but because I want to think of our government as a way to engage people more broadly. So while there are issues that I’m pas-
sionate about, I’m really passionate about bringing people to the table who have expertise on issues that matter.”
Ranker, who is UMD’s Lutheran chaplain, added: “There’s only so much one person can do for the community. With our neighbors, with others who live and work in College Park, we can really do amazing things.”
As a member of the council, Ranker said, he would advocate for a city that is “livable, walkable, bikeable, a place that can offer support to students, to families, to seniors. I want to keep building on those pieces. I also want to keep an eye out especially for the most vulnerable in our city, making sure they can also access services.”
Ranker, who speaks Span-
ish, said he “wants to make sure that those whose primary language is not English, that they’re not left behind.”
Meadow, who is running for office for the first time, said he would push for a balance between development and the well-being of locally owned businesses.
“Route 1 is definitely completely flipped with all the development,” he observed. “It’s unfortunate that with that development, a lot of our momand-pop stores … are getting pushed out and we’re not filling the vacancies as quickly as we’d like to.”
As a member of the council, Meadow said, “I’d like to preserve our mom-and-pops, help them out as much as we can … and help others get started here.”
Ranker, who made an unsuccessful run for the Maryland House of Delegates in 2018, said he supports development that promotes “people living near where they work and study. … I’m a big proponent of smart growth in general, concentrating the growth in sustainable ways to offer good quality of life
for people.”
That includes students living in the city, Ranker said. A longtime member of the committee that organizes Good Neighbor Day—a partnership that brings College Park residents and UMD students together for a day of service, Ranker noted, “There are so many other possibilities around that,” pointing to a campus ministry project that pairs college students with children at Hollywood Elementary School in North College Park for tutoring and mentoring.
Ranker, who helped revive College Park Estates’ Civic Association and regularly hosts neighborhood get-togethers at his home, served on a city commission tasked with recommending term lengths for elected officials.
Meadow serves on the city’s Advisory Planning Commission and volunteers for a committee focusing on historic preservation.
Both candidates said they oppose another residential tax increase—the city raised taxes last year for the first time in a decade—and do not support starting a city police force.
q u a r a n t i k i i s c l o s e d f o r s e a s o n , b u t t h e
g o o d t i m e s r o l l o n i n s i d e . . .
P l e a s e c h e c k o u r F a c e b o o k & I n s t a g r a m f o r u p d a t e s !
N e w , f r e s h , s e a s o n a l f o o d a l l y e a r r o u n d !
c o m e g r a b a b e e r f r o m o u r f a n t a s t i c b r e w m a s t e r j e f f
h a n c o c k ! t h e r e ’ s a l w a y s s o m e t h i n g n e w t o t r y
g i f t s , t o y s , c a n d y , b e e r , w i n e , t h e u n i q u e & t h e o d d
a v a i l a b l e e v e r y d a y i n t h e g e n e r a l s t o r e !
r e s t a u r a n t h o u r s : S u n d a y - T u e s d a y 1 1 a m - 9 p m ,
W e d n e s d a y - S a t u r d a y 1 1 a m - 1 0 p m .
G e n e r a l S t o r e : o p e n e v e r y d a y 1 1 a m - 9 p m !
q u a r
Ray Ranker. IJEOMA OPARA
Michael Meadow. COURTESY OF MICHAEL MEADOW
cided earlier this year that he would not seek re-election in November 2025.
But during a business trip before Thanksgiving, Adams found himself juggling day-job work with council business in a hotel room. “I thought to myself, ‘I’d rather worry about Facetiming my kids,’” he said.
So he decided to resign a few months early—perhaps in the spring. Then, when the holidays allowed him some time to reflect on his priorities, he turned in his resignation even earlier— just before Christmas, and left the council on Jan. 8.
“I just knew that my ability to dedicate the time that the council involved … was constrained,” he told College Park Here & Now
Looking back, though, Adams said he did “everything I could to make sure I was available, make sure I was participatory. … I recognized my responsibilities had changed and that’s the primary reason for stepping back.”
The city will hold a special election to fill Adams’ seat, which represents College Park’s southernmost neighborhoods, including Yarrow, College Park Estates, Old Town and Calvert Hills, on March 11. Two candidates so far have announced they will run (see related story on Page 10).
Adams joined the council in 2021 after unseating Councilmember Robert Day, who had served for a decade, by 35 votes. Adams represented District 3 alongside Councilmember John Rigg.
“Stuart brought a lot of creative and extremely helpful ideas to council,” Rigg, a councilmember for seven years, said of his colleague. “He’s very moti-
SPECIAL ELECTION
College Park will hold a special election on March 11 to replace City Councilmember Stuart Adams (District 3), who resigned.
Candidates may register until Feb. 5, when a 20-signature petition and other forms are due to the city.
Voting information:
Tuesday, March 11, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
City Hall, 7401 Baltimore Ave.
lege Park divide,” noting, “We’re all in this together.”
Still, he said, “I don’t see any regrets.”
“I recognized my responsibilities had changed and that’s the primary reason for stepping back.”
Stuart Adams former city councilmember
vated to accomplish the things he set out to do. I can’t think of too many councilmembers, who in two-and-a-half years, have started as many conversations as he has.”
Adams led the conversation about vacant and blighted properties in College Park, which prompted the council to appoint a committee to recommend ways to encourage owners to maintain and fill their buildings. He was the architect of a pilot program to subsidize
the rents of University of Maryland students living in Route 1 apartments.
Rigg said the subsidy “opened [councilmembers’] eyes and their hearts in considering students a part of the community more than they had.”
“It’s a loss for us,” College Park Mayor Fazlul Kabir said of Adams’ departure. “He’s very smart, he has done quite a bit of work, even though it’s been only three years now. … He asks good questions, really engages the staff and city council in the decision-making. And he offers some good suggestions.”
In Adams’ resignation letter, he asked the mayor, councilmembers and residents to “continue to push” a number of projects he has championed during his three years in office, including the Calvert Hills stormwater drainage project, affordable childcare and what he called “the fictitious north/south Col-
He recalled that he decided to run for office in 2021, in part, after opposing a University of Maryland plan to remove a substantial number of trees from the 15-acre Guilford Woods near UMD to make room for townhomes and graduate housing. Shortly after Adams joined the council, the effort prompted the university to scrap its plan.
“That was great,” he said.
He also said he is “proud of what we’ve been able to do” to promote affordable housing and food security with pandemic-era American Rescue Plan Act funding from the federal government.
In an emotional farewell to his council colleagues on Jan.
7, Adams said they could expect to hear from him via email about issues on future agendas.
“I’ll watch more council meetings than the average resident,” he told College Park Here & Now, adding that he will offer himself as a resource to the candidate who wins his seat on March 11.
For now, though, Adams said, “I’ll get 10 to 20 hours a week back for me to have a decision on what to do. I’ll focus on family, I’ll focus on overall general health and wellness, and also participate in community events and other items as my time allows instead of that it’s something that I’m required to do.”
And he did not rule out a return to the dais in the future, once his children are older.
“I love being on council,” he said. “I’m bullish on the city of College Park.”
College Park City Councilmember Stuart Adams (District 3) resigns about a year before his term ends, citing family responsibilities. Shown, Adams’ family in October, from left to right: Ada, now 7 months; Adams’ wife, Jessie; Adams; Lincoln (now 22 months). COURTESY OF STUART ADAMS
Attick Towers starts third year of renovation project
By JALEN WADE
Attick Towers, a 108-unit apartment building for tenants ages 60 and up, is starting its third year of a renovation project that could last up to five more years.
The public housing development, owned by College Park’s Housing Authority, is located in North College Park on Rhode Island Avenue across the street from the Branchville Volunteer Fire Department.
Michelle Johnson, the Housing Authority’s director, said repairs that have been needed for decades began on the building in March 2023 and could cost up to $16 million.
“It’s a building that’s, you know, about 50 years old, and there’s a lot of deferred maintenance,” Councilmember Susan Whitney (District 2) said. “I mean, the federal [Department of] Housing and Urban Development, you know, HUD, has not really, over time, provided enough funds to any housing projects around the country to really maintain those buildings in a way that’s necessary.”
So far, the repairs have included replacing more than 170 heating and air conditioning units and modernizing the elevators and piping. Following projects will include replacing the building’s generator, cooling tower and boiler by next year, according to Johnson.
“The Housing Authority needs around $14 million right now,” said Johnson, who explained that the money so far has come from the city’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and Prince George’s County grants.
The College Park City Council allocated $1.25 million in ARPA
funds toward the renovations in 2022. The city council on Sept. 24 allocated an additional $750,000 of federal ARPA money toward the renovation, bringing the amount raised for the project to nearly $3 million.
The recent $750,000 allocation came when the city council reallocated funds it was
saving for Meals on Wheels of College Park to move from Riverdale back to College Park, but the move fell through. To keep the project running smoothly, Johnson said she is continuing to apply for grants and hopes to be able to eventually refinance the building to help pay for repairs.
Attick Towers, a public housing development in North College Park, is undergoing renovations and repairs that could total $16 million. JALEN WADE