Voters elect 3 new city councilmembers
By SHARON O’MALLEY
The eight-seat College Park City Council has three new members after voters in Districts 2 and 3 elected newcomers to the dais on Nov. 4.
Holly Simmons, 36, and Kelly Jordan, 48, won a three-way election for two District 2 seats that Councilmembers Llatetra Brown Esters and Susan Whitney will vacate when their terms expire in December.
Jordan, the co-president of the Berwyn District Civic Association and a professional IT consultant, beat opponent Chris Gill, 45, by three votes after city officials recounted the District 2 ballots by hand to confirm the result of the tight race.
Simmons, who works full time as the deputy zoning manager for the city of Rockville, won 235 votes; Jordan finished with 173; and Gill took 170, according to the tally announced by Board of Elections Supervisors counters on Nov. 5. The slate will be official once the board presents the results to the city council on Nov. 12.
“I wasn’t sure how it was going to be,”
By KEIRA HARDESTY
Helen Reniere, the oldest resident of Attick Towers, said there’s no secret to living to 100.
“I get up in the morning, I take my medicine and … I guess you got to put Jesus first,” she said.
Reniere, who celebrated her 100th birthday on Oct. 2, received an official proclamation from the College Park mayor and City Council later that month,
congratulating her on reaching the milestone. The proclamation praised her kindness and perseverance, describing her as a “steadfast source of inspiration.”
Born in 1925 in Jackson, Michigan, Reniere was the youngest of seven children, though two of her siblings died before she was born. At just seconds old, she had a brush with death, as she was born at home with the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck.
Reniere remembers her childhood in Michigan fondly—ice skating, fishing and sewing dresses for her dolls while sitting with her friends under the kitchen table. Her most cherished memory is of her brother George, who would pull her in a wagon through the woods to pick flowers like African violets.
She eventually moved to the District with her sister Bertha and worked as a bookkeeper and savings teller at Riggs Bank. She met her husband, Glenn, an engineer at Vitro Corp., at a theme park, and the two later married.
The couple traveled to places
By KATHERINE SCHUTZMAN
A documentary airing on PBS and produced by a College Park filmmaker explores the life and lasting influence of Baltimore’s literary icon, Edgar Allan Poe.
Filmmaker Andrew Kaplan said the two-part documentary, “In Search of Edgar Allan Poe,” intertwines Poe’s short stories and poetry with his life story. It
features interviews with scholars specializing in the 19th-century American writer, poet and literary critic.
“The documentary is not afraid to really delve into the more challenging parts of his life and also the times in which he was living,” Kaplan said. “I don’t think sadness should be swept under the rug all the time.
Voters elected Holly Simmons (left) and Kelly Jordan to the College Park City Council to replace two councilmembers from District 2 who did not run for re-election. SHARON O’MALLEY
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Here in College Park, we have something different, and something that, with your support, is built to last and to build our community: College Park Here & Now, founded in May 2020.
Our newspaper goes to every address in the city once a month, providing every resident, regardless of connectivity or social media habits, with common shared information on community volunteerism, local cultural events and the debates happening in local government. We welcome local opinion pieces, and we also publish a continuously updated website (collegeparkhere.com) and a weekly email roundup of local news and events.
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City may increase fines for violations
By KEIRA HARDESTY
Th
e College Park City Council introduced an ordinance in October that would increase fines for city code violations, including construction, fire safety, housing, noise and unruly social gatherings.
The proposal would update the city’s fine structure to align with a Maryland law that took effect Oct. 1 and allows municipalities to fine up to $5,000 for municipal infractions. Previously, cities could fine up to $1,000.
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Director of Public Services Jatinder Khokhar outlined the proposed increase in fines for the mayor and council, saying he and his staff considered fairness and consistency of enforcement when deciding on the changes.
City Attorney Stephanie Anderson, who also presented, said the city looked at fines in other Prince George’s County cities and the District while drafting the ordinance.
“We are not the highest but we want to make sure that the types of violations that are occurring are taken seriously,” Anderson said.
For individuals who fail to obtain building permits, fines will increase from $200 to $500 for a first-time of-
ule—something readers and advertisers have been clamoring for. Also, we are planning to launch a new four-page Spanish-language section to serve Spanish-speaking residents who receive the paper in their homes, which we are calling College Park Este Mes. So far in 2025, we have shared with you information you need on everything from College Park city elections to local affordable housing efforts, cycling culture, parent organizing at Parkdale High School, and the triumphs of the Parkdale soccer team.
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fense and another $500 for each day they fail to apply for a permit, according to the proposed ordinance amendment. In addition, the fine for failing to abide by a stop-work order would increase from $200 to $500, with another $500 for each day the order is ignored.
Fines for violating the city’s fire safety code, now $100 to $200, would increase
to $1,000 to $2,000.
Those found to have housing violations are fined $100, and then $200 for every repeated offense. They would be fined $500 and $2,000 under the proposed ordinance.
Other increases include fines for noise violations, from $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for repeaters to $1,000 for the first time and $2,500 after that. For holding unruly social gatherings, fines would increase from $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for subsequent violations to $1,000 for the first, $2,000 for the second and $5,000 for others.
Councilmember John Rigg (District 3) clarified that fines for noise violations should be lower than those for unruly social gatherings because unruliness is considered a threshold higher than noise.
“Noise should be bad, but unruly social gatherings almost always include noise and it includes a lot more,” Rigg said.
Fines for failing to obtain an occupancy permit and failure to prevent occupancy in the absence of a valid permit would increase from $1,000 to $2,500. Those who remove condemnation placards from their property would be fined $5,000 instead of $1,000.
The council will hold a public hearing on the changes on Nov. 12 before voting on whether to amend the law.
Fines for making excess noise or hosting an unruly social gathering are among those that could substantially increase if a proposal passes the city council this month.
ADOBE STOCK PHOTO
Award-winning chef opens Chinese restaurant
By KEIRA HARDESTY
Award-winning chef Peter Chang opened a Szechuanstyle Chinese restaurant on Route 1 in August.
The restaurant, called Peter Chang Kitchen & Bar, offers authentic Chinese dishes, including customer favorites like Peking duck, chili oilboiled flounder and scallion pancakes. Kung Pao chicken, Mongolian beef and a variety of fruit teas and smoothies are also on the menu.
“Here we’re serving the best food … more authentic Chinese food to people to help them get to know the Chinese culture,” Rogen Xuzhou, the restaurant’s assistant general manager, said.
Chang owns more than 20 restaurants across the East Coast, including Peter Chang China Grill in Charlottesville and NiHao in Baltimore. The College Park location filled a vacancy left by MeatUP Ko-
rean Barbecue.
Xuzhou said Chang visits the restaurant frequently to cook and check in on how the business is doing. The manager also said the restaurant aims to keep prices affordable for students in the area.
Prices for chef’s specialty entrees range from $18 for Northwest-style spicy chicken to $32 for baked spicy Maryland blue catfish. The menu also includes soups, dumplings, noodles and tapas.
“I just graduated [college] this year and I know that if the price is too expensive, me as a college student, I’ll probably not be able to afford it, because we have to pay for a lot of things,” Xuzhou said.
Rasheeda Childress, an editor from Greenbelt, said she was excited to see a Peter Chang restaurant open in College Park. She said she has eaten at the Charlottesville location many times while staying with family.
“We don’t have to wait for Charlottesville. We can just eat in the next town over,” Childress said.
Childress said she placed a takeout order of skewers and flounder but in the past has ordered the scallion pancakes, which she described as delicious. She said this location has a “hip vibe.”
“It seems like it’d be a great place to just pop in really quick. And also they do great takeout,” Childress said.
Fay Fan, a business manager and College Park resident, ordered the pork soup dumplings, stir-fried pork, Hunan sauteed pork belly and spring rolls. She called all of the food “perfect” and said the restaurant has easy parking and reasonable prices.
“They have some authentic Chinese dishes, which I haven’t seen much around here,” Fan said. “The portion is very friendly for one single person … so it’s very economic.”
Peter Chang opens a restaurant in the spot that MeatUP Korean Barbecue briefly occupied. KEIRA HARDESTY
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Find more local events all month long in our online calendar at StreetcarSuburbs.News/events
Our calendar includes many events and meetings sponsored by the City of College Park and local nonprofits, including arts organizations and performance venues, occurring between Nov. 13 and Dec. 6. For additional events and meetings organized by the city, see the College Park Post newsletter in this paper’s centerfold. Find more local events all month long in our new, continuously updated online calendar, streetcarsuburbs. news/events.
Please send notices of events taking place between Dec. 13 and Jan. 5 to jalen@streetcarsuburbs.news by Dec. 1.
NOV. 13
Senior Social Event
Join fellow seniors for socializing, light refreshments and community games. Free. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. College Park Woods Clubhouse (3545 Marlborough Way). To RSVP, call 240-487-3614. For more info visit https://tinyurl.com/ yuykc9zc.
NOV. 14
Friday Senior Social Free. 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Branchville Volunteer Fire Co. (4905 Branchville Rd.). To RSVP, call 240-487-3614. For more info visit https://tinyurl.com/ yuykc9zc.
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra: Brahms’ ird Symphony The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra returns to The Clarice with trailblazing conductor and
National Orchestral Institute + Festival Music Director Marin Alsop. $55, $40, $25. 8 p.m. Dekelboum Concert Hall (8270 Alumni Dr.). For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/et26txms.
Disney Channel Skate
Come out and skate to music from your favorite Disney Channel shows. Adult: $7, Child: $6. 9:30-11:30 p.m. Herbert W. Wells Ice Rink (5211 Campus Dr.). For more information visit https:// tinyurl.com/4yhau4mu.
NOV. 15
Cub Corner
Step into a world of wonder with a magical storytime reading of Fairy Walk, by Gaia Cornwall, at the College Park Aviation Museum. After the story, kids will craft their own dragon kites and set off on an enchanting fairy walk scavenger hunt through the museum. $5: Adults, $2: Students. 10:30 a.m. College Park Aviation Museum (1985 Corporal Frank Scott Dr.). For more information visit https://tinyurl. com/2t5kwkxh.
TransporTed Eggventures
Book Reading & STEM Activity
A book reading with aerospace engineer and author Natasha Gonzalez will follow 10-yearold Ted Gonzalez, an adventurous, science-loving kid who dreams, designs and tests transportation inventions. After the reading, create your own balloon lift project using balloons and egg cartons. $5:
GIVE THANKS
Thanksgiving Day Service with Holy Communion, 10:00 AM
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church 4512 College Avenue, College Park
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6-9.
St. Andrew’s is a welcoming and inclusive parish of The Episcopal Church. www.saeccp.org
Adults, $2: Students. 2-3:30 p.m. College Park Aviation Museum (1985 Corporal Frank Scott Dr.). For more information visit https://tinyurl. com/5y7f38jj.
Home
A biographical tale of country life upended by the Vietnam War, Samm-Art Williams’ Tony Award-winning play follows a young Black farm owner and his indomitable spirit as he leans on faith, love and the pull of the land in the face of losing everything, including himself. $30. 7:30 p.m. Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center (8270 Alumni Dr.). For more information visit https://tinyurl. com/58fah852.
Afro Indigenous Herbalism
Take an in-depth dive into the historical and present-day use of herbs with cultural significance in African American, Native American and Western Herbalism. $39. 1-3 p.m. Smile Herb Shop (4908 Berwyn Rd.). For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/ethfwvnt.
Raq Out: Dance e Dark Away
Come to a performance of the bellydancing group, Raq Out. Free. 7:30 p.m. Old Parish House (4711 Knox Rd.). For more information visit https://tinyurl. com/p4vse2vy.
NOV. 16
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 information visit https://tinyurl. com/4zdscuht.
Make It Sunday: Taper Candle Painting
Bring a little whimsy to your next dinner party with this taper candle painting workshop! $17. 3 p.m. Shop Made In Maryland (7401 Baltimore Ave.). For more information visit https:// tinyurl.com/4y5an35d.
NOV. 18
Book Club on Zoom Book club with a focus on female writers. This month’s book is “Poet Warrior: A Memoir,” by Joy Harjo. Free. 7-8 p.m. College Park Community Library (9704 Rhode Island Ave.). Next month, Dec. 16: The Mezuzah in the Madonna’s Foot: Marranos and other Secret Jews: A Woman Discovers her Hidden Identity, by Trudy Alexy. For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/46vd5jz9.
Mozart’s La nta giardiniera: Maryland Opera Studio Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s La Finta Giardiniera (The Pretend Gardener) is a sharp-witted comic opera that does not shy away from emotional complexity. $30. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center (8270 Alumni Dr.). For more information visit https://tinyurl. com/2f7vzhed.
NOV. 19
Jake Shimabukuro, Ukulele Ukulele player Jake Shimabukuro comes to give a performance at The Clarice. $45. 8 p.m. Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center (8270 Alumni Dr.). For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/ynmr9ups.
Writing for Repair
Join us on Wednesday evening, Nov. 19, for our upcoming “Dialogues on Resisting & Thriving, Writing for Repair.” This session will be held virtually. 6-7:30 p.m. Registration required, ux02web. zoom.us.
NOV. 20
Make It ursday: Dried Orange Garlands
Try making dried orange garlands for your mantel, window, or door frame to enjoy the warmth and citrus of the season. $20. 5 p.m. Shop Made In Maryland (7401 Baltimore Ave.). For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/4u626d9d.
NOV. 27
Senior Social Event
Branchville Rd.). To RSVP, call 240-487-3614. For more info visit https://tinyurl.com/yuykc9zc.
DEC. 2
College Park Arts ExchangeArt Club
Spend your evening creating art with neighbors. Bring your own art project and materials. This is not an art class, but each meeting will begin with a group warmup. Adults only. Free. 7:30-9 p.m. Old Parish House (4711 Knox Rd.). For more information visit https://tinyurl. com/478zjxbv.
DEC. 4
Senior Social Event
Free. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. College Park Woods Clubhouse (3545 Marlborough Way). To RSVP, call 240-487-3614. For more info visit https://tinyurl.com/yuykc9zc.
DEC. 5
Amm(i)gone
Witness a play that is a journey of heartbreak and repair between mother and son as they embark on an examination and translation of Sophocles’ “Antigone into Urdu.” Passionately mining Greek tragedy, Islam and their own memories, they seek to recover their love across faith. $35. 7 p.m. Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center (8270 Alumni Dr.). For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/ mpdeuzam.
Friday Senior Social Free. 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Branchville Volunteer Fire Co. (4905 Branchville Rd.). To RSVP, call 240-487-3614. For more info visit https://tinyurl.com/yuykc9zc.
DEC. 6
Santa Fly-in
Visit bilingual Santa as he makes his annual return to the museum for a fun day of holiday merriment. Festivities begin with ballet excerpts of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” and Santa’s flight into the airport (weather permitting). $10. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. College Park Aviation Museum (1985 Corporal Frank Scott Dr.). For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/4aujwnvk.
KNOW
College Park Arts ExchangeArt Club
Winter Wonderland
Spend your evening creating art with neighbors. Bring your own art project and materials. This is not an art class, but each meeting will begin with a group warmup. Adults only. Free. 7:30-9 p.m. Old Parish House (4711 Knox Rd.). For more information visit https://tinyurl. com/478zjxbv.
Seniors can use this event as an opportunity to engage in mentally and physically active programs, socialize and meet new friends. Join fellow seniors for socializing, light refreshments and community games. Free. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. College Park Woods Clubhouse (3545 Marlborough Way). To RSVP, call 240-487-3614. For more info visit https://tinyurl.com/yuykc9zc.
NOV. 28
Friday Senior Social Free. 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Branchville Volunteer Fire Co. (4905
Come enjoy holiday cheer at this community event with carolers, arts and crafts, story readings and a petting zoo. There will also be the lighting of the City of College Park’s holiday tree. St. Nick is expected to make an appearance. Free. 2-8 p.m. City Hall Plaza (7401 Baltimore Ave.). For more information visit https:// tinyurl.com/37pht2u2.
NEWS BRIEFS
VISIT STREETCARSUBURBS.NEWS FOR MORE
Top 40. For the second year in a row, Northwest Chinese, located at 7313 Baltimore Ave., made Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema’s list of the “40 Best Restaurants In and Around D.C.” this fall.
In a writeup of the restaurant, Sietsema said the local favorite “is celebrated for its bold northeastern Chinese flavors and casual, no-frills setting.” He pointed to the restaurant’s hand-pulled noodles and cumin-spiced meats as his favorites.
The list is the final one for Sietsema, who has announced he is leaving The Post after 25 years.
Milestone. The University of Maryland (UMD) and the City of College Park will celebrate the 100th homebuyer in the Live+Work College Park program on Nov. 12.
The program provides $20,000 in down payment or closing cost assistance to full-time employees who work in College Park or the nearby Discovery District. The support comes as a seven-year, zero-interest, forgivable loan.
Since 2015, the program has helped 103 people purchase homes, generating more than $40 million in local home sales. In 2024, eligibility expanded to all full-time College Park employees, and the assistance amount increased from $15,000 to $20,000.
The 100th participant, Rebecca Owen, works for the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine in the Discovery District. The program allowed her to move closer to her workplace.
City and university officials scheduled to attend the Nov. 12 ceremony include Mayor Fazlul Kabir, UMD Assistant Vice President of Real Estate Ed Maginnis and Maryland Housing Secretary Jacob R. Day, a 2004 UMD graduate. State grants have contributed more than $1.3 million to the program.
According to Live+Work College Park, the initiative encourages homeownership, reduces commutes and helps employees live near their jobs while supporting the city’s housing and sustainability goals.
Small wonder. Wonder, a food hall chain offering takeout and delivery, opened its first Maryland location on Nov. 6 on Baltimore Avenue in College Park, in the space that once housed Bagel Place.
The College Park location features food from more than 15 brands, including Bobby Flay Steak, Tejas Barbecue and Detroit Brick Pizza, all part of New York–based Wonder Group, which also owns Grubhub. Each
Wonder location operates multiple restaurants out of a single kitchen.
City officials, including Mayor Fazlul Kabir and Councilmember John Rigg, attended the opening. Rigg said the smaller, single-kitchen setup could help Wonder thrive in College Park. “We want them to be successful, and we want them to be here for a long time,” he said.
Wonder fills a building left empty since Bagel Place closed in 2021. “This is the epicenter of downtown College Park,”
Michael Williams, the city’s economic development director, said.
Wonder, founded in 2018 by entrepreneur Marc Lore, has more than 70 East Coast locations. The chain plans a second Maryland site in Baltimore on Nov. 13.
Protest. Dozens of protesters gathered along Route 1 on Oct. 18, holding signs with anti-Donald Trump messages just blocks from where the city’s annual College Park Day festival was taking place at the same time.
About 1,500 members of Indivisible Route 1 Corridor and allies joined the event, which stretched from College Park to Mount Rainier. The protest was part of No King’s Day, a nationwide effort to show that the country is governed by the people, not dictators, said organizer Laura Usher.
The Route 1 protest aimed to support democracy, free speech
and immigrants, Usher said, citing ICE raids and the federal government shutdown.
In College Park, protesters stood near the University of Maryland and Trader Joe’s, holding signs on issues from immigrant rights to health care. Participants came from Hyattsville, University Park, Silver Spring and beyond.
For some, the protest was personal. College Park resident Blaine Rivas, whose father emigrated from Mexico, held signs reading “We support immigrants” and “Together we are strong.” Others, like graduate student Lixin Zheng and retirees
Dana and Lise Nau, said they came to speak out about the administration’s policies.
New avor. Arepa Zone, a Venezuelan fast-casual chain, opened its first Maryland location on Sept. 1 beneath the Aster apartments on Calvert Road. The restaurant specializes in arepas—corn patties filled with meat, cheese or vegetables—and also offers cachapas, tequeños and desserts like tres leches.
Co-founder Gabriela Febres said the restaurant aims to introduce Venezuelan cuisine to new customers while providing
a gathering spot for the local Venezuelan community. The College Park location features coffee, juice and a full bar with 10 specialty cocktails, and a small market selling Venezuelan art and candy.
The chain has six other locations in the District and Virginia, but this is the only one with a bar. Febres said the owners chose College Park because of success in college communities. Students and residents praised the food’s authenticity and the colorful, open interior. Febres said the restaurant plans future events, including karaoke, live music and trivia nights.
Task force proposes ways to lower child care costs
By KEIRA HARDESTY
A committee of College Park residents asked the city council in October to offer grants to home-based child care providers and property tax credits to established centers in an effort to expand the number of local day care businesses.
The College Park Child Care Task Force, which the city council appointed in January, also suggested that the city create a website listing all licensed providers in College Park to give families an easier way to find information.
“If you’re able to even increase the amount of businesses here that can survive and care for children, we’re going to be a real standout city in this entire metropolitan area,” Gavin Neubauer, a University of Maryland (UMD) public policy student and a member of the nine-member task force, said at the Oct. 7 city council meeting.
Task force members presented a report recommending nearly 20 actions for the mayor and city council to lower child care costs and increase availability in the city.
Neubauer and College Park Estates resident Christina Martin Kenny, the mother of two, presented the report, which the group compiled after conducting interviews with local parents and
child care centers and analyzing state data.
Neubauer said from February 2020 to October 2024, the number of child care providers in Maryland has dropped by 15.5%.
He added that the average cost to parents for center-based care is more than $15,000 a year, and a state program offering child care scholarships has been frozen since May.
“We have a competitive child care market where there is a lot of very strong demand as families move into this area, but there’s
little information and high cost throughout,” Neubauer said.
According to the task force’s report, College Park has 18 licensed child care providers, including 11 day care centers, five homebased providers, and two taxexempt religious organizations offering after-school care.
Kenny said no member of the task force with children younger than 5 years old has children enrolled in these facilities.
“In my own community, the options for child care in the city of College Park are neither afford-
able nor accessible,” Kenny said. “There’s just too few of them.”
She added that some day care centers charge expensive fees to parents on their waitlists, without the guarantee they will ever secure spots for their children.
The committee proposed capital projects grants or zerointerest loans of up to $2,500 for home-based providers to establish their programs and make their homes safe for children.
Other ideas included subsidizing CPR and other training for employees, a city event to con-
According the College Park Child Care Task Force’s report, the city has 18 licensed child care providers, including 11 day care centers, five homebased providers, and two taxexempt religious organizations offering afterschool care.
nect parents and providers, and extended hours and city scholarships until the state program resumes.
Mayor Pro Tem Denise Mitchell (District 4) said offering funds to home-based centers is a good idea because some parents prefer to place their children in smaller environments. She also suggested working with Prince George’s Child Resource Center to achieve some of the recommendations.
Mayor Fazlul Kabir initiated a round of applause for the task force and its work after a 40-minute presentation. He suggested that the council hold a future workshop to further discuss the report.
“Part of our calling is we want to increase the quality of life of people,” Councilmember Maria Mackie (District 4) said. “So I’m supportive of trying to move forward on some of your ideas.”
A city committee is in favor of offering grants and tax credits to day care centers to make the service more affordable and available. ADOBE STOCK PHOTO
COLLEGE PARK POST
College Park gets festive at Winter Wonderland
Celebrate the season with music, lights, and family fun on December 6 from 2–8pm.
Join the City of College Park at our annual Winter Wonderland Holiday Market and Tree Lighting on Saturday, December 6, 2025, from 2PM to 8PM at City Hall Plaza!
This free community event brings the holiday spirit to life with an afternoon and evening full of music, family fun, and festive cheer. The plaza will sparkle with lights and decorations, creating the perfect setting to kick off the season with your friends, neighbors, and loved ones.
A DAY OF HOLIDAY FUN
There’s something for everyone to enjoy! The event will feature live music, carolers, arts and crafts for kids, storytime, ice carving, and the Winter Wonderland Science Spectacular. Families can sip on warm beverages, enjoy sweet
treats, and take part in joyful holiday activities throughout the day.
SHOP, EAT, AND CELEBRATE
Browse through the Holiday Market, featuring handcrafted goods, art, and unique products from Shop Made in Maryland vendors and artisans. It’s the perfect opportunity to find oneof-a-kind holiday gifts while supporting small businesses. Food and drink vendors will be on site serving delicious seasonal treats to keep you cozy as you explore.
SPECIAL MOMENTS & FESTIVE HIGHLIGHTS
At 4:45PM, keep an eye out for a special visit from Santa Claus, who will spread extra cheer and take photos with families and children. Don’t miss the
official Tree Lighting Ceremony at 6:15PM, when the City’s holiday tree will come alive with twinkling lights—a magical moment that brings the entire community together.
A CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY
Winter Wonderland has become one of College Park’s most beloved holiday traditions,
uniting residents, performers, and businesses in a celebration of community spirit. Whether you’re here to shop, sing, or simply soak in the atmosphere, it’s the perfect way to welcome the holidays and create lasting memories.
For more information, visit www. collegeparkmd.gov/events or email events@collegeparkmd.gov.
esou ces o ose Affected by the Federal Shutdown Resource hose s d b
Federal Worker Resources
City, County, and State Programs Offer Relief for Affected Workers and Families
The City of College Park, Prince George’s County, and the State of Maryland are providing support for residents impacted by the federal government shutdown. Some programs are open to all residents, while others specifically assist federal employees and contractors.
STATEWIDE SUPPORT
The Moore-Miller Administration has announced several relief measures for Marylanders affected by the shutdown. The Maryland Public Servants Resource Website offers information on unemployment benefits, career and training programs, legal services, and employment rights.
Visit response.maryland.gov/ federalpublicservants/shutdown.
COUNTY AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE
Prince George’s County provides food, emergency, and temporary
cash assistance. Learn more at princegeorgescountymd.gov.
• WSSC Water: Waiving late fees and suspending shutoffs through Nov. 30.
• PEPCO: Flexible payment options at pepco.com/ BillSupport.
• BGE: Visit bge.com/heretohelp.
LOCAL SUPPORT
The Pathways Forward Resource Hub and Employ Prince George’s connect jobseekers to career coaching, skills training, and employment opportunities. Visit employpg.org.
The City’s Financial Assistance Program helps College Park residents with urgent needs such as food, rent, shelter, and medical costs. Assistance is based on residency and financial hardship, with a maximum of $2,500 per household.
For more information, visit collegeparkmd.gov.
City of College Park 2025 General Election Results
Official results and upcoming inauguration details
The 2025 General Election has concluded, and all ballots have been counted. The final official results will be presented to the Mayor and Council on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. The inauguration is scheduled for Tuesday, December 2, 2025.
ELECTION RESULTS
• Mayor: Fazlul Kabir
DISTRICT 1
COUNCILMEMBERS:
• Jacob Hernandez and Alan Hew
DISTRICT 2
COUNCILMEMBERS:
• Kelly Jordan and Holly Simmons
DISTRICT 3
COUNCILMEMBERS:
• Daniel Oates and Ray Ranker
DISTRICT 4
COUNCILMEMBERS:
• Maria Mackie and Denise Mitchell
When looking at the election results, you may have some questions about the voter counts and tallies. Some people when
voting chose to only vote for the Mayor, their Council candidates, or a single candidate. When a voter only chooses to vote for one or some of the candidates, they are eligible to vote for on the ballot, that is called undervoting. An undervote can occur when no vote is cast or when the number of choices selected by a voter in the election is less than the maximum allowed for that election. The City received ballots from eligible voters that did not vote for all allowable choices.
The City’s districts are determined by the sum of population and actual voters. While some districts have more registered voters than others, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they have less eligible voters, just that those were the number of voters who registered and could vote in City elections. University students, for example, may be eligible voters but may not have registered to vote in City, County, or State elections.
For full election results and information, visit www. collegeparkmd.gov/elections.
Curbside Leaf Collection Begins This Month
Collections Begin November 3 and Continue Through Mid-January
The City’s annual curbside leaf collection program begins Monday, November 3, 2025, and will continue through mid-January 2026. Crews will visit each neighborhood multiple times during the season to collect leaves for composting and reuse through the City’s SMARTLEAF® compost program.
Residents should look for posted signs in their neighborhoods to know when collection will occur. Schedules are tentative and depend on weather conditions, so please have leaves at the curb by the first day listed for your area. Although calendars may show multiple days, crews collect once per street per cycle, and each area is scheduled to be serviced at least four times during the season.
To help crews stay on schedule, trucks cannot return once a street has been completed. Leaf piles must be accessible from the street, as vacuum hoses cannot reach around parked cars, trash cans, or other obstacles.
CURBSIDE LEAF COLLECTION
DO’S AND DON’TS:
• No bagging needed. Grass may be mixed with leaf piles, but no sticks, branches, vines, or woody materials— these require a separate collection.
• Rake leaves to the curb, not into the street. Keep piles clear of vehicles, sidewalks, and storm drains.
• Remove debris. Rocks, trash, and large limbs can damage equipment and cause delays.
• Expect some noise and dust. Dry weather can increase dust during collection.
• Participation is optional— residents may also choose to leave leaves in gardens or flower beds to enrich soil and create habitat for native pollinators.
For the most up-to-date schedule, visit www.collegeparkmd.gov/ leaf collection or contact the Department of Public Works at 240-487-3590 or publicworks@ collegeparkmd.gov.
Municipal Government Works Month
Celebrating the people who keep College Park running
Did you know November is Municipal Government Works (MGW) Month? Each year, communities across Maryland recognize the vital contributions of local governments and the employees who make them thrive.
This month, we’re celebrating the City of College Park staff— the dedicated individuals who work behind the scenes to deliver the programs and services that enhance our daily lives. While the Mayor and Council are elected by the community, it’s City staff who carry out the initiatives that make College Park a great place to live, work, and play.
The City is made up of several departments, each serving an important role.
PUBLIC WORKS: Trash, recycling, compost, streets, landscaping, parks, engineering, and snow removal.
PUBLIC SERVICES: Animal control, code enforcement, public safety, and parking.
YOUTH, FAMILY, AND SENIOR SERVICES: Counseling, family support, youth programs, and senior advocacy
PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: Housing, zoning, micromobility, and City grant programs.
ADMINISTRATION: City Clerk, Finance, Human Resources, Communications and Events, Economic Development, and IT.
Each department operates under the leadership of the City Manager, appointed by the Mayor and Council to ensure efficient, day-to-day operations.
From curbside collections and youth outreach to events like College Park Day, our staff are proud to serve the community year-round.
City Announcements & Events
More information: www.collegeparkmd.gov; Sign up for City newsletters at collegeparkmd.gov/cpconnect
HOLLYWOOD FARMERS MARKET
Saturday, November 1 | 10AM–2PM | Hollywood Shopping Center
Shop fresh produce, meats, baked goods, and handmade items at the Hollywood Farmers Market.
WIC and SNAP accepted. Last market day: November 22. More info: www.hollywoodmarket.org
CITY TUTORING PROGRAM 2025–2026
The City of College Park is continuing its free online tutoring program for the 2025–2026 school year to support students and residents of all ages.
Through Imagine Learning, participants can access help in reading, math, GED prep, and college readiness from home.
Fill out an interest form to be notified when registration opens.
For more information, visit www. collegeparkmd.gov/2025tutoring.
COLLEGE PARK’S TURKEY TROT 2025
Thu, Nov 27 | 9AM | Acredale Community Park
Free, family-friendly 5K run/walk on the Paint Branch Trail—all ages welcome.
Register at parkrun.us/collegepark (required).
Post-race coffee at Bagels ‘n Grinds. Questions: collegepark@ parkrun.com.
CITY OFFICES CLOSED FOR THANKSGIVING
All City of College Park offices will be closed on Thursday, November 27, 2025, in observance of Thanksgiving Day.
Refuse and recycling will occur one day later than normal during the holiday week. Curbside food scrap collection will take place as scheduled.
Special collections for brush and bulky items will be available
COLLEGE PARK
on Friday, November 28. To schedule a pickup, call 240-4873590 or email publicworks@ collegeparkmd.gov.
RABIES & MICROCHIP CLINIC
Sunday, November 23 | 10AM–1PM | Davis Hall
The City’s Animal Control will host a Rabies and Microchip Clinic for pets on Sunday, November 23, 2025, from 10AM to 1PM at Davis Hall (9217 51st Ave).
Appointments are required—one animal per slot. All pets must be leashed or in a carrier; no walk-ins accepted.
City residents: Free with proof of residency. Non-residents: Rabies $10 | Microchip $20 (cash or check only)
Register at nov2025rabiesclinic. eventbrite.com.
PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING
Monday, December 1 | 7–8:30PM | Virtual via Zoom
Join City officials, police, and Public Services staff for updates on crime trends, safety tips, and neighborhood watch efforts.
Register at www.collegeparkmd. gov/publicsafetymeeting.
WINTER WONDERLAND
Saturday, December 6 | 2–8PM | City Hall Plaza (7401 Baltimore Ave)
Celebrate the holiday season at the City’s annual Winter Wonderland Holiday Market and Tree Lighting from 2–8PM at City Hall Plaza.
Enjoy an afternoon filled with live music, ice carving, crafts, storytime, a petting zoo, and festive food and drinks. Santa arrives at 4:45PM, followed by the Tree Lighting at 6:15PM.
Performances include School of Rock Silver Spring, Hat & Hair Acoustic Duo, and Fast Eddie & The Slowpokes—plus free cocoa and cookies while supplies last!
Learn more at www. collegeparkmd.gov/events.
OBSERVANCE 2025
TUESDAY, NOV. 11 @ 11:00AM
COLLEGE PARK VETERANS MEMORIAL (ROUTE 1 AND GREENBELT)
Only unpainted pumpkins or gourds are accepted.
Curbside food scrap participants may place one pumpkin on top of their container in November, in addition to any pumpkins or gourds that can fit inside the container.
Curbside food scrap participants may place one pumpkin on top of their container in November, in addition to any pumpkins or gourds that can fit inside the container.
You may also drop-off your pumpkins or gourds at one of our 24-hour drop-off locations: Public Works, 9217 51st Avenue, or 7501 Columbia Avenue near the Community Garden.
Sign up today for Curbside Food Scrap Collection. https://www.collegeparkmd.gov/foodscraps
You may also drop-off your pumpkins or gourds at one of our 24-hour drop-off locations: Public Works, 9217 51st Avenue, or 7501 Columbia Avenue near the Community Garden.
Sign up today for Curbside Food Scrap Collection. https://www.collegeparkmd.gov/foodscraps
City of College Park Veterans Memorial Committee
College Park Day features music, food, vendors
By MEHEDI HASAN MAROF
College Park Day filled the College Park Aviation Museum and airport grounds from noon to 6 p.m. Oct. 18 with live music, children’s activities and food and craft vendors as families moved between stages, inflatables and aviation displays.
“This is an event that we have been organizing since 2009, so this is the 15thyear celebration,” Mayor Fazlul Kabir said. The festival, he added, was created “to bring the community together in one place—our longtime residents, our student community, our business community, and people of different backgrounds, different ethnicities, different nationalities and everything.”
Kabir said the festival has grown with its budget.
“We started with only about a $500 budget [in 2009]; I think now we have a $55,000 budget,” he said, noting that the city runs about 20 events a year to help neighbors connect.
Music acts rotated on outdoor stages, drawing lawn-chair crowds and families drifting through food lines and kids’ areas. Vendors served ice cream, kettle corn, tacos, seafood rolls and barbecue, while craft sellers worked under pop-up tents.
A Maryland State Police helicopter drew steady crowds. Pilot Claude Boushey said the agency’s presence was about meeting visitors and explaining its work.
“People have questions about the helicopter,” Boushey said. “This is a state government helicopter, so it’s an asset for everybody in the state of Maryland to use. Our primary mission is to fly patients to the hospital. We also do medevacs,
search and rescue, and law enforcement, but flying patients is our main focus.”
College Park resident Tara McNamara, 41, stopped with her daughter and son to inspect the aircraft. Boushey, who has flown for 31 years—17 with the State Police and 14 in the Army—said walking kids through the cockpit is fun, though “you’ve got to kind of dumb it down a little bit.”
Afterward, McNamara guided her children to the inflatable slide and cheered as her 4-year-old daughter hesitated at the top, and then slid down.
“So far, it’s a fun time,” McNamara said.
Quantum research center to open in Discovery District
By OLIVER MACK
A new Microsoft quantum research center is set to open at the University of Maryland’s (UMD) Discovery District next year, according to Gov. Wes Moore’s office and Microsoft.
The research center, which will be located at 5700 Rivertech Court in the Discovery District on the edge of College Park, will join several other quantum startups in the area as part of Moore’s Capital of Quantum initiative, launched in January.
“This is a part of a long-term strategy of the University of Maryland and the state of Maryland to really position College Park, Riverdale Park [and] the Discovery District as a leading hub in the nation for quantum technologies,” UMD’s Chief Strategy Officer for Economic
Development Ken Ulman said.
Quantum research focuses on understanding physics at the smallest scale in order to advance computing, communication and sensing technologies.
The center will support hardware and software development and work with government agencies, the university and other startups in the area, Microsoft Quantum Partner Charles Tahan said in a statement.
The center is a product of the DARPA Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, run through the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Quantum technology companies can apply to the program and receive federal funding if selected.
Tahan added that the new center will “support hands-on research, test and evaluation activities, and provide direct
“It’s nice to see all of the different community people here and good, healthy community fun for the kids.”
Painter Frankie Alika displayed canvases inspired by trips to Georgia and a rainy first visit to New York.
“Everywhere I go, I try to bring out something that I saw over there,” Alika said. “Even if I’m looking at you, I’m having something else playing in my mind to paint.”
Families stopped to look at his work, including College Park resident Murali Nageswara and his three children.
A nearby table offered free children’s
books through a city initiative.
“We let kids self-select what they read,” said Carolyn Bernache, chair of the College Park Education Advisory Committee. “To see that children have access to a book, because reading is so fundamental to their future.”
Elsewhere, children decorated mini pumpkins as volunteers from the College Park Arts Exchange guided their designs.
“It’s really nice, the weather’s good, the music’s nice,” said Brendan Davis, 26, a volunteer with the arts exchange. “I’m really happy to see all these kids getting out and about, enjoying themselves.”
access to DARPA’s test and evaluation team, enabling rapid prototyping, validation and benchmarking of quantum technologies in collaboration with federal programs.”
Researchers will start working in the coming months in the Discovery District, and the center is expected to open sometime next year.
College Park Mayor Fazlul Kabir said this new hub could help offset federal job losses among College Park residents that began early this year.
“This new facility will be adding more jobs to our area,” Kabir said. “We need more companies,
more businesses to come into this area.”
Microsoft’s center will work to form deep collaborations with UMD students, faculty and researchers, Ulman said.
The Capital of Quantum initiative is a public-private partnership intended to drive more than $1 billion in investments in Maryland’s quantum industry. Since launching the initiative at the IonQ College Park headquarters in January, nearly a dozen quantum startups have been welcomed into the Discovery District, according to Moore’s press release.
“Maryland is making big bets
on the future to grow our economy and drive innovation,” Moore said in a press release. “Quantum is at the center of that strategy.”
UMD President Darryll Pines said this is a “landmark moment” for the university and the state, according to the release. He said the center reflects years of quantum research and will power the next scientific breakthroughs.
“We are proud to work alongside Governor Moore, Microsoft and our federal partners to drive the next wave of quantum breakthroughs—and to do it right here in College Park,” Pines said in the release.
A new quantum research center reportedly will occupy the former Raytheon building on Rivertech Road in the Discovery District. COURTESY OF CITY OF COLLEGE PARK
College Park Day drew families from around the area to games, music, crafts and food on Oct. 18.
MEHEDI HASAN MAROF
Jordan said after the city published preliminary results shortly after the polls closed, showing Gill ahead by one vote. A count of mail-in and drop box ballots tipped the tally in Jordan’s favor the next day.
“I know that [all three District 2 candidates] serve our communities a lot but in very different ways, so I wasn’t sure how that was going to connect with the residents,” Jordan said.
In District 3, first-time candidate
Daniel Oates, 37, won the seat that Councilmember John Rigg has held for eight years and will leave in December at the end of his term.
Oates, who works for the federal government, ran unopposed for the vacant seat.
Candidates for mayor and city council seats in Districts 1 and 4
ran unopposed. Councilmembers Jacob Hernandez and Alan Hew (District 1) reclaimed their seats, as did Councilmember Maria Mackie and Mayor Pro Tem Denise Mitchell, both of District 4, and Mayor Fazlul Kabir.
Councilmember Ray Ranker (District 3), who won his seat during a special election in March, ran unopposed during the November election and will return to the council.
“It’s a good feeling,” Jordan said after the final tally was announced.
“I’m happy to be able to serve the residents and excited about the next two years.”
Jordan said she will spend her early days as a councilmember getting “the lay of the land. I do consulting, so getting dropped into something that is somewhat unfamiliar is something I do on a regular basis. I see how everyone does things; I read a lot of background
information and get up to speed as quickly as possible.”
Likewise, Simmons said her first action will be to “listen and learn. I think there’s a lot of important work that’s underway in the city.”
Simmons said her opponents “both ran great races. I think at the end of the day, all three of us clearly care about District 2 and the city so much, and are ready to serve in whatever capacity necessary.”
Gill admitted “it doesn’t feel great” to lose, especially by such a slim margin. But he noted, “I feel good about my message. I know that I worked hard and this is really close. … This is the point where I can’t beat myself up too much. I feel like I gave it my all.”
He said the two winners are “both smart; I think they both care about the community. … I think [the district] will be in good hands.”
The new councilmembers will be sworn in on Dec. 2.
Who voted?
The Nov. 4 election marked the first time 16- and 17-year-olds were allowed to cast ballots in city elections.
According to the Board of Elections Supervisors, six teenagers voted, including two who voted early on Nov. 2 and four who cast their ballots on Election Day, Nov. 4.
Fifty-three 16- and 17-year-olds registered to vote in the election for mayor and all eight College Park City Council seats.
All told, 1,598 people voted this time around, accounting for 9.9% of registered voters in College Park, where 16,146 residents are registered.
Mayor Fazlul Kabir, who ran for re-election unopposed, won 1,480 votes. The top votegetters for council seats were District 1 incumbents Jacob Hernandez, with 536, and Alan Hew, with 492. Both councilmembers ran for re-election unopposed.
like Rhode Island and Key West to test torpedoes for Vitro Corp. before settling in Wheaton, Maryland, where they had two children, a son and a daughter.
More than 40 years ago, Reniere moved to Berwyn Heights, living with Bertha before moving into College Park’s Attick Towers, an affordable apartment building for seniors and people with disabilities. She mentioned that she used to work at Joann Fabrics and Crafts in Greenbelt.
She lives alone in an apartment, doing tasks like bathing and getting dressed completely unassisted.
She spends her days watching “Wheel of Fortune,” listening to a Catholic radio station and talking on the phone with her son, who lives in Arizona.
“He told me anything I wanted he’d get for me,” she said. “I don’t
need anything. All I’m happy for is that we have a lot of nice people in this building. Everybody is nice in this building.”
Reniere said the biggest challenge she faces at her age is her carpal tunnel syndrome, which makes it hard to take her pills. Her greatest blessing, she said, is her friendship with Charlotte Davis, a staff member at the apartment complex.
“The best thing in my life is Charlotte,” Reniere said. “She’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Reniere and Davis formed their friendship in February 2024, bonding when they both lost their boyfriends around the same time. While navigating her own grief, Davis said, she wanted to ensure Reniere stayed positive as well.
“Don’t look at [grief] as loss,” she said. “Look at it as love that needs somewhere to go. And I just start inviting her down every morning. ‘Come have break-
fast with me, come have lunch with me.’”
Davis said that in the two years she has worked at Attick Towers, Reniere, who once isolated herself, has become loved and protected by her community. She described her as generous and open-hearted, creating a loving and caring environment for those around her.
Attick Towers residents and staff joined Reniere for a party on her birthday, complete with balloons, a custom banner, music and dancing. There was an array of food, including birthday cake, lasagna and chicken, which Reniere requested.
A few weeks after the party, the mayor and council celebrated the centenarian, who received a standing ovation.
“Everybody was just so into celebrating her,” Davis said.
Another Attick Towers resident, Lloyd Bondurant, will celebrate his centennial birthday on Nov. 17.
100-year-old Helen Reniere accepts a birthday proclamation from College Park Mayor Fazlul Kabir (left) and City Councilmembers Susan Whitney and Llatetra Brown Esters (District 2). PHOTO COURTESY OF CHARLOTTE DAVIS
… It’s part of history, it’s part of life.”
The film premiered on Oct. 25 on PBS stations in Los Angeles and Spokane and on the PBS app. It reached East Coast audiences in the District on PBS station WFPT and in Salisbury and Baltimore on Nov. 1 on Maryland Public Television.
Originally released on Tubi in 2024, the film is also available through select public libraries nationwide and can be streamed on YouTube, Amazon Prime Video and other platforms.
The documentary explores how Poe, who lived in Baltimore from the 1830s until his death in 1849, helped shape modern literature, coining more than 1,000 terms and phrases, and influencing genres such as detective fiction and science fiction, according to Kaplan.
Poe’s work influenced writers including Herman Melville and Agatha Christie. The film highlights figures often overlooked in Poe’s life, including his mother-in-law, Maria Clemm, and his wife, Virginia.
“We want to give a voice to some people who never really got it in other documentaries,” Kaplan said.
Kaplan founded College Parkbased East Rock Films in 2019.
“In Search of Edgar Allan Poe” is the third in a series of films under the “In Search Of” tag, following “In Search of Walt Whitman,” which also aired on PBS, and “In Search of Thoreau,” available on YouTube.
Kaplan said he spent more than a year researching the documentary, reading Poe’s letters and other documents.
His colleague, Alfred Robert “AR” Hogan, a historical consultant and script editor at East Rock Films, also contributed heavily to research. Hogan met Kaplan at the University of Maryland’s journalism college in 2005 while both were graduate students. Their first collaboration was “In Search of Walt Whitman.”
Like Poe, Hogan is a Boston native, which he said gives him a personal connection to the project. As a career science journalist, he contributed to the documentary’s science fiction segment.
“[Poe] is a giant of literature from the 19th century, and he had … such a varied and enduring impact on both writers and even scientists,” Hogan said. “I think people will have a full appreciation of this major figure in literature” after watching the documentary.
Kaplan acknowledged that not all viewers may have the
attention span for a three-hour film. However, he said it was important to dive deeply into Poe’s story to fully understand his life and character.
“I wanted to get to know him a lot better,” Kaplan said. “What inspired him? What were his lifelong ambitions? What did he really love in life? … I always knew his story was a little sad, but I didn’t know quite how.”
Actor Paul Synowiec, who
voiced Poe, said working on the documentary expanded his knowledge and pushed him out of his comfort zone.
“I felt like this was going to be something that definitely added to the body of knowledge out there about people’s awareness about Poe, and it’s always great to be involved with a project that is important like that,” Synowiec said.
In developing Poe’s character,
Synowiec worked closely with East Rock Films associate producer Nora Krasniqi, whose poetry knowledge and insight helped bring out his best performance, he said. Kaplan said he hoped to allow viewers to experience the melancholy and challenges
Poe faced, including a drinking problem and the loss of loved ones.
“Everyone always tries to pretend everything’s perfect all the time, and it’s not, and that’s OK,” Kaplan said. “I mean, that’s life. That’s the human experience.”
A College Park filmmaker has created a documentary about Edgar Allan Poe, airing on PBS. ILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF EAST ROCK FILMS
College Park Shoppers closes
By MACKENZIE PRINCE
The Shoppers Food Warehouse in College Park closed for good on Nov. 8, along with the chain’s stores in Coral Hills near Capitol Heights, Laurel and Germantown.
Shoppers’ parent company, United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI), declined to explain why the chain closed the stores.
“As we work to strengthen our retail business for the future, we’re taking steps to optimize our footprint where necessary while continuing to enhance the customer experience in our remaining stores,” a spokesperson wrote in a statement to College Park Here & Now on Oct. 28.
The decision follows a series of shutdowns in the D.C. area this fall. Four additional Shoppers locations in Essex, New Carrollton, Waldorf and Westminster closed Oct. 11.
College Park Economic Development Director Michael Williams said this may be part of a larger UNFI initiative to close most of its locations in Prince George’s County.
UNFI is a wholesale distributor of organic and specialty groceries and health, beauty and wellness products, according to its website—unlike Shoppers, whose focus is not organic foods.
The distributor, which supplies
grocery stores like Whole Foods, “has made the health-wound sector [and] the organic sector their focus, so I believe that Shoppers has become a little bit expendable,” Williams said.
According to Williams, the College Park Shoppers was one of the company’s top-performing locations over the past two years and had “several years” left on its lease at 4720 Cherry Hill Road near Ross Dress for Less.
Williams said he expected the store would close but added, “It hurts.”
College Park is home to four other grocery stores—Lidl, MOM’s Organic Market, ALDI and Trader Joe’s—as well as several cultural markets selling specialty foods. Williams said he is looking to quickly bring in a new grocery store.
Customers taking advantage of Shoppers’ half-price goingout-of-business sale on a recent Saturday said the store’s closing is another bump in the road for buying groceries.
Danielle Smith, a resident of Chillum, said she has been a
Shoppers customer for several years and recently started buying from the College Park location when another store near her home closed.
Now, Smith said, she may abandon Shoppers altogether.
“This is a great store, [and] I’m just upset we didn’t even get a notice that they were leaving,” Smith said. “I’m coming to do my shopping and this is what I get.”
Other longtime College Park customers said they weren’t informed until they saw a sign at the entrance reading, “Store
Closing 50% Off Grocery.”
Lara VanPelt of Laurel said she has shopped at the College Park location for many years. VanPelt, an employee at Wood’s Flowers and Gifts on Baltimore Avenue, said she frequently stopped in after work to grab groceries.
Shoppers employees said the closing was a shock to them as well.
Deyci Castillejos, who has worked for Shoppers for 18 years, moved to the College Park store to work as a customer service manager just a few months ago and said she is unclear about her future.
Castillejos said employee compensation remains unclear and she is waiting for word from the employee union, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. Unionized employees and officials demonstrated outside of the College Park Shoppers on Nov. 3.
In the store’s final days, Castillejos said she noticed that customers seemed sad about the closing.
“Our customers enjoy shopping here,” Castillejos said. “A lot of people have been shopping [with us] for 30-plus years and they have been saying that they will miss the location.”
“Every time we get a number of employees getting laid off or out of work, it hurts,” Williams said. “I feel for the loss [experienced by] employees, especially the ones who call College Park home.”
Committee urges reparations for displaced Lakelanders
By KEIRA HARDESTY
A city-appointed committee in October urged the College Park City Council to address the harm done to the Lakeland neighborhood during urban renewal in the 1970s and 80s by offering financial compensation, housing priority and free college tuition.
The 20-member Restorative Justice Commission, which the council established in 2022, also recommended creating a designation called Lakeland Legacy Members for those who lived in Lakeland for at least 10 years from 1969 to 1981, or for their direct descendants. These people would be the primary recipients of the proposed restorative measures, commission member Ruth Murphy said.
“When you talk to people who experienced Lakeland before urban renewal, they speak of a vibrant community,” Maxine Gross, the chair of the commis-
While the council did not vote at the meeting, Mayor Fazlul Kabir said city staff will help the commission identify what action the city can take to help meet the community’s goals.
sion, said. “A place for caring people who work together to meet everyone’s needs.”
The recommendations stem from a period of urban renewal from 1969 to 1981 that displaced most Lakeland residents and demolished their homes and businesses. While College Park gained a new elementary
school, student housing and an increased tax base, the people of Lakeland were left without a community.
Commission members Karin Brown and Murphy said the panel is calling on the city, county and state governments and the University of Maryland (UMD), among others, to help carry out their recommendations.
Part of the Oct. 7 presentation to the city council focused on how to return former residents to Lakeland. Brown suggested adopting a right of first refusal policy for real estate within Lakeland’s borders, giving former residents who wish to buy property in the neighborhood first choice for any home that goes on the market.
Brown said committee members want to increase the percentage of owner-occupied homes in Lakeland to greater than 40%. Statewide, 71% of homes are owner-occupied.
The committee also asked the city to compensate Lakelanders who were forced out of their homes—even if they did not own them—during urban renewal.
Another proposal would establish a Lakeland Legacy Scholars Program to offer free tuition for legacy members to any of the University System of Maryland’s 12 universities. In addition, Murphy said a “community-based supplemental education program” should be created and housed at the historic Lakeland High School site. According to the commission’s report, the program would offer remedial education for K-12 students, along with vocational, life skills and cultural education to residents and legacy members.
While the council did not vote at the meeting, Mayor Fazlul Kabir said city staff will help the commission identify what action the city can take to help
meet the community’s goals.
Mayor Pro Tem Denise Mitchell (District 4) said she wants to allocate time at a future meeting to discuss the recommendations of the commission.
Councilmember John Rigg (District 3) said while he supports this effort, the harm occurred many years ago. He said he wants to prioritize actions that the city can take now as opposed to those that will take years to complete.
Councilmember Llatetra Brown Esters (District 2) said she and Councilmember Susan Whitney (District 2) are committed to moving the project forward before their council terms end in December. Neither ran for re-election in early November.
“So I don’t want us to think about this as something as … this long past history,” Whitney said. “This is still now, and this is something we need to address.”
The Shoppers Food Warehouse in North College Park is among eight Maryland locations to close this fall.
MACKENZIE PRINCE
14th Good Neighbor Day engages volunteers
By IJEOMA OPARA and SAMMY LIU
By 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25, at least 35 volunteers had gathered on Paint Branch Drive to pull invasive plants and replace them with native species.
The group—mostly University of Maryland (UMD) students— was one of many across the city participating in College Park’s 14th annual Good Neighbor Day, which brought together more than 100 volunteers at 20 service sites throughout the city and campus.
“It gets wet kind of soon in there, so if you start walking on muddy stuff, just go back out and start over,” called out Meg Smolinski, outreach coordinator for UMD’s Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. The Arboretum has been part of Good Neighbor Day for more than a decade.
“My goal is that by the time I retire, I will have removed invasive species from one acre of campus,” Smolinski said.
On the southwest edge of campus, electrical engineering senior Isabelle Bryden led about 50 volunteers to clean up Guilford Run, a small stream.
“This year was our largest turnout yet, and we made it the furthest we’ve ever made it,” Bryden said.
Across Baltimore Avenue, College Park’s Lakeland neighborhood hosted its first Health & Wellbeing Fair, where for one activity, residents gathered around a litter of kittens under
the care of Beltsville Community Cats. Rescue coordinator Adaeze Offorbuike said she hoped some student volunteers would sign up to foster the kittens.
Other volunteers, including former College Park Mayor Andy Fellows and members of College Park Scholars, hosted the inaugural Discover Technology event as part of UMD’s Data Justice program.
“The reason we are doing the Data Justice program is to work with students to think about how to use technology to make
things more fair,” Fellows said. Not far away, inside Virtual X Kitchen on Roanoke Place, restaurant owner Nomie Hamid moved between the stoves and drink bar, checking the butter chicken and chickpea masala that student volunteer Olivia Linus was stirring.
“I felt like doing something in the community, and you don’t really get to do this often,” said Linus, a senior cell biology and genetics major. Hamid, a College Park resident for more than a decade, and his team prepared 500 boxes of food to
City endorses Old Calvert Road bridge
By KEIRA HARDESTY
The College Park City Council sent a letter to the MarylandNational Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) in October supporting the construction of a bridge connecting Old Calvert Road Park to the Northeast Branch Trail.
The council requested that the bridge be built near the parking lot by the park’s playground, crossing the Northeast Branch of the Anacostia River to the trail.
“We don’t want to spend another month waiting,” Councilmember Ray Ranker (District 3) said. “We want to get [construction] started … tomorrow.”
Ranker said his constituents have waited a decade for a bridge to connect the park to
the trail system.
Sonja Ewing and Bob Patten, who presented the findings of a study by M-NCPPC at the Oct. 7 council meeting, said the only way to travel from the park to the trail is to use the sidewalks on Campus Drive, which, they said, are not safe.
The estimated cost for the proposed bridge is about $2 million, not including expenses for design consultants, flood plain and environmental studies, as the location is a floodprone area, or permit applications, they said.
“The biggest challenge with that location is the permitting process and the going through the design and all the approvals that you need to actually have a new bridge,” Patten said.
The council also considered
a less-expensive option, which would modify the Campus Drive bridge by narrowing the road and adding bike lanes with bollard barriers. Ranker said under that plan, cyclists would still have to cross traffic to get from the trail to the park.
Councilmember John Rigg (District 3) pointed out that the Campus Drive bridge has only five years of usable life left.
“I have almost unanimously … have heard from those residents that [the Campus Drive bridge] option … is not where we want to spend any of the money,” Ranker said.
Ranker added: “This has been something that our community has been asking for for at least 10 years. It’s a really great park and it’s just … really difficult to get to.”
years—mechanical engineering sophomore Bennett Vitek assembled a book box for the clinic’s library. PAC Executive Director Mary Jelacic said many parents cannot read in English, so volunteers read to children while their parents are in appointments. The book box built on Good Neighbor Day will be placed at the clinic’s entrance.
On the College Park Trolley Trail near Greenbelt Road, more than 20 volunteers uprooted weeds from the permaculture garden’s plant bed. “Most of the plants are edible, so neighbors can walk up when things are in bloom and just grab what they want,” said Alec Lynde, a Berwyn resident and organizer.
Councilmember Alan Hew (District 1) said volunteers were removing weeds first and then layering shredded wood to suppress new growth. They also planted American persimmon trees in the garden.
distribute throughout the city, including to senior facilities.
“I’m a food person. I love feeding people,” Hamid said. “Everybody should have food. Everyone should always be eating.”
At the Pregnancy Aid Center (PAC) on Erie Street—located in College Park for 51
“It’s really lovely and beautiful, but weeds come every year,” said Jewel Tomasula, a Hollywood resident who often bikes by the garden. “Pulling up the weeds is something you have to do regularly, and many hands make light work. So it’s nice to have this coordinated day.”
University of Maryland student Olivia Linus stirs chickpeas at Virtual X Kitchen on Good Neighbor Day. The takeout-anddelivery restaurant distributed food that day to senior citizens around the city.
SAMMY LIU
Panthers break winning streak with semifinal loss
By KEIRA HARDESTY
Parkdale High School’s boys soccer team fell to Walt Whitman High School 4-0 on Nov. 8 in the state semifinal match, ending its undefeated season.
The Panthers finished the season 15-1, earning their first-ever Prince George’s County championship and first regional title since 2013.
“Unfortunately our undefeated streak has come to an end, but zeal, will and determination still move on,” head coach William Sama said. “That one can never be defeated.”
Parkdale dominated the regular season, winning all 11 games. The team scored 51 goals and allowed eight. In half of those matches, no goals were scored against them.
Sama said the team’s games against Laurel and Bowie high schools were the most memorable. Parkdale won both after trailing at times, forcing the Panthers to fight harder. The Panthers also beat Walt Whitman 3-0 in the preseason.
“I just like their belief and tenacity,” Sama said. “We tell them jump; they just say, ‘How high?’”
On Oct. 20, Parkdale won the county championship against Oxon Hill 5-1, and then defeated Charles Herbert Flowers 8-0 in the regional semifinals on Oct. 24. Four days later, the Panthers earned the Class 4A South Region 2 title with a 4-3 win over DuVal.
After losing the regional championship the previous two seasons, the victory over DuVal was especially meaningful.
On Nov. 1, Parkdale beat Dulaney High School 1-0 in the
state quarterfinals, securing a spot in the semifinal against Whitman.
Sama credited the team’s success to discipline off the field. He requires players to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA and has removed talented athletes who didn’t meet the standard.
He said the players’ camaraderie is another strength. Many have played together since middle school, and they hold each other accountable.
The Panthers’ success came despite limited resources. The team shares one field with other sports and can’t practice after dark because it lacks lights. Coaches donate their stipends for equipment. A turf field is planned for 2029, but Sama hopes lights can be added sooner.
He said he reminds players to stay humble and keep an “underdog mentality” against tough opponents.
“Enjoy this moment, but do
not take it for granted,” Sama said. “We’ll always find a way to keep them humble, get confident and ready to prove a case.”
Heading into the semifinal, Sama said the team’s “mental fortitude of practice, discipline, dedication all year round” had paid off.
The coaches studied film from Whitman’s previous games and drilled strategies repeatedly.
Whitman scored two minutes into the match, and then added two more goals in the first half. Despite multiple corner kicks and shots on goal, Parkdale couldn’t convert. Whitman scored once more eight minutes before the final whistle, ending Parkdale’s season.
After the game, center defender Mauricio Lozano said the team is already preparing for next year.
“Although it was a good season, I think we’ll be better next year,” center defender Luis Manzanares agreed. “This year has been great. I think no one would’ve ever expected us to go this far and go undefeated.”
Reporter Wesley Schnell contributed to this story.
Parkdale High School midfielder Eric Rodriguez makes a run up the field during the state semifinal soccer game on Nov. 8. The Panthers lost 4-0, their first loss of the season.
KEIRA HARDESTY