16- and 17-year-olds may vote in November election
By SHARON O’MALLEY
For the first time, 16- and 17-year-olds who live in College Park will be able to vote for mayor and city councilmembers in the upcoming city election.
The College Park City Council voted 5-3 in April to lower the voting age for city elections from 18 to 16, making College Park the ninth Maryland city to allow teens to vote.
“I think it lets the people who didn’t choose to live here have a say,” 16-year-old Lucas Rigg, who lives in College Park’s Calvert Hills neighborhood, said. Rigg is the son of Councilmember John Rigg (District 3), who championed teen voting rights
with the city council and is not running for re-election.
Teens and others must be registered to vote with the Prince George’ County Board of Elections to participate in city elections.
Voting will be at City Hall (7401 Baltimore Ave.) from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Early voting will be at Davis Hall (9217 51st Ave.) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 2.
Some College Park teens told College Park Here & Now they are ready and qualified to cast their ballots.
“I think it’s cool,” Lovisa Jordan, 16, said. “I think that it’s an option that we can get our voices and opinions heard.”
Jordan is the daughter of Dis-
trict 2 city council candidate Kelly Jordan, and lives in College Park’s Berwyn neighborhood.
“I just feel like we get to [have] our input and make decisions that impact our lives,” the younger Jordan said.
Lucas Rigg agreed, noting that when teenagers vote for local officials, it makes those in authority aware of the perspective of young people who live in the city “and what we want for the city.”
Jordan noted that preparing to vote could make teenagers more aware of what’s going on in the city and the candidates who want to run it “because when we don’t vote, we don’t really have a reason to know.”
City offers affordable options for residents seeking housing
By LILLIAN GLAROS and OLIVER MACK
This is Part 2 of a two-part series on affordable housing in College Park. Part 1, which focused on the lack of affordable housing, appeared in the September issue of College Park Here & Now
Although some officials and residents decry the lack of affordable housing in College Park, the city is home to some lowerrent apartment complexes and
homeownership programs. Some of those target specific demographics, like the elderly or disabled, while others aim for prices that lower-income tenants or potential homeowners can afford.
For example, Flats at College Park, a 317-unit affordable housing community on Baltimore Avenue, opened most of its units over the summer for tenants who earn 50%, 60% and 80% of the area’s median in-
3 run for District 2 seats in lone contested race
By SAMMY LIU and MEHEDI HASAN MAROF
College Park voters will elect a mayor and eight City Councilmembers—two from each of four city districts—on Nov. 4. (See Candidate Roundup on pages 9-11.)
In just one of those districts— District 2—three candidates are running for two seats. In Districts 1 and 4, the two incumbent councilmembers are running unopposed for re-election. In District 3, one incumbent and one newcomer are running, also unopposed.
Mayor Fazlul Kabir also is running unopposed.
The three candidates running for two District 2 seats include an information technology project manager, an IT security professional and an urban planner.
The three longtime College Park residents—Christopher Gill, Kelly Jordan and Holly Simmons—have been active in civic affairs, either through their neighborhood civic associations or on city committees.
Christopher Gill
Gill, an Oak Springs resident who has lived in College Park for more than 15 years, said he wants the city to become a place for people in all phases of life.
“People can move here as a young professional, as a student, stay here as a first-time homeowner, become a parent if they want, stay here to be a retiree if they want,” Gill said. “If somebody is having a problem with that, my goal as a councilmember would be to address them.”
can vote in November’s city election if they have registered to vote with Prince George’s County.
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Park Here & Now
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 Oct. 8 and Nov. 10. 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 Nov. 13 and Dec. 5 to jalen@streetcarsuburbs.news by Nov. 1
OCT. 8
Yoga
A gentle flow yoga class for all levels that focuses on building strength, flexibility and balance through movement synced with the breath. $10. 7-8 p.m. Old Parish House (4711 Knox Rd.). For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/5dftrh9v. Repeats every Wednesday.
OCT. 9
Senior Social Events
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.
OCT. 10
Friday Senior Social
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. 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Branchville Volunteer Fire Company (4905 Branchville Rd.). To RSVP, call 240-487-3614. For more info visit https://tinyurl.com/yuykc9zc.
Kayla Farrish Dance: Put Away the Fire, Dear Put Away the Fire, Dear is a group dancetheater work unraveling American cinema, in which six marginalized characters defy their inherited roles and reimagine new narratives for themselves. $35. 8 p.m. The Clarice Performing Arts Center (8270 Alumni Dr.). For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/yw6mm6p7.
Marc-André Hamelin, piano
Hamelin’s Clarice Presents recital begins with one of his signature performance pieces, Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 29. Better known as the “Hammerklavier,” this immensely challenging 45-minute masterpiece is a spectacular showcase for Hamelin’s stunning technical skill. $45, $35, $25. 3 p.m. The Clarice Performing Arts Center (8270 Alumni Dr.). For more information visit https:// tinyurl.com/m54j55kx.
Columbia Air Center – Determined to Fly Exhibition Opening Week Visit the museum to celebrate the open-
SATURDAY, OCT. 18
College Park Day
College Park Here & Now will participate in College Park Day for the first time this year.
College Park Day, which will be on Saturday, Oct. 18, at the College Park Aviation Museum (1985 Corporal Frank Scott Drive), will run all afternoon from noon to 6 p.m.
The free festival will feature food vendors, crafters, games for kids, local businesses and nonprofits, and city government booths. Visitors will be able to meet College Park Mayor Fazlul Kabir and other city, county and state officials.
At the College Park Here & Now booth, visitors can meet the editors, pick up copies of the newspaper and participate in a scavenger hunt. Look for a bright yellow awning and a sign with the newspaper’s name on it.
ing of the museum’s newest exhibition, Columbia Air Center – Determined to Fly! Discover the untold story of Columbia Air Center, the nation’s first licensed Blackowned airport. Children free, adults $5. 12 p.m. College Park Aviation Museum (1985 Corporal Frank Scott Dr.). For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/56at528n.
CPAE Arts Drop-In
Drop-In features fun, materials-based activities for children ages 3-8 with their caregivers, led by Ian Blackwell Rogers, a local artist and early childhood educator with 30 years of experience. Free. 12:30-2 p.m. Old Parish House (4711 Knox Rd.). For more information visit https://tinyurl. com/3t4whv6k.
CPAE Crochet Workshop
Join Fairy Ring Fibres for three simple crochet workshops. Learn the basics and progress to fun projects. Free. 2:30-4:30 p.m. Old Parish House (4711 Knox Rd.). For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/4kdafwsv.
OCT. 14
District 3 City Council Candidates Forum
WTOP radio’s Shawn Anderson will moderate a panel discussion and Q&A with District 3 city council candidates Daniel Oates and Ray Ranker, and College Park Mayor Fazlul Kabir. Free, open to all. 7:308:45. City Hall council chambers (7401 Baltimore Ave., second floor).
OCT. 16
District 2 City Council Candidates Q&A
The Berwyn District Civic Association will host College Park City Council candidates running for two open District 2 seats. Free, open to all. 7:30 p.m. Commercial property (Vital Traditions) (4912 Berwyn Road, adjacent to the Trolley Trail).
Film Screening: Life After the Gunshot, Ep. 1
Life After the Gunshot, Ep. 1 is a documentary that sheds light on the harsh realities of living in Washington, D.C., through the lens of young Black male survivors of community firearm violence. Stay afterward for a post-show discussion. Free. 7:30 p.m. The Clarice Performing Arts Center (8270 Alumni Dr.). For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/4nteman3.
OCT. 17
Kreativity Diversity Troupe Open Mic Join the Kreators of the Kreativity Diversity Troupe for an open mic night, full of music, dance and spoken word. Free. 7:30 p.m. The Clarice Performing Arts Center (8270 Alumni Dr.). For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/bdfadbf7.
Friday Senior Social 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. 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Branchville Volunteer Fire Company (4905 Branchville Rd.). To RSVP, call 240-487-3614. For more info visit https://tinyurl.com/yuykc9zc. Repeats on Aug. 22 and Aug. 29.
OCT. 18
Cub Corner
Celebrate Halloween with spooky science fun! After reading Stellaluna, by Janell Cannon, participants will make and fly their own straw rockets inspired by the world’s only freely flying mammal—bats! Adults $5, students $2, children under 2 are free. 10:30-11:30 a.m. College Park Aviation Museum (1985 Corporal Frank Scott Dr.). For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/yeyswkha.
College Park Day 2025
College Park Day is the city of College Park’s signature event, featuring live music, children’s activities, community exhibitors, food trucks, inflatables and more! There is something for everyone! Free. Saturday, Oct. 18, Noon-6 p.m. College Park Aviation Museum (1985 Corporal Frank Scott Dr.). For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/mr24jcr5.
OCT. 19
She Loves Me
Based on the 1937 play Parfumerie and memorably restaged in film over the decades as The Shop Around the Corner (1940) and You’ve Got Mail (1998), this timeless musical comedy features hilarious hijinks, enchanting songs and all the twists and turns that falling in love can bring. $30. 7:30 p.m. The Clarice Performing Arts Center (8270 Alumni Dr.). For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/4vup64u6. SEE CALENDAR ON 7
She added: “I think anyone can be uninformed and anyone can be informed, especially 16 and up. Sixteen is when people would consider teenagers to start being competent because we can get our license and stuff.”
Seventeen-year-old Lazarus McCarthy, who lives in College Park’s Yarrow neighborhood, said having the vote could entice teens to become more civically involved.
“The younger groups … might not even consider how they can impact the community around them,” McCarthy said. “It gives people time to get involved with their community.”
Still, McCarthy said he does not intend to vote, partly because he only recently learned that he could.
“I’m not sure how [the elections] affect me at all,” McCarthy, a DeMatha Catholic High School student, said. “I’m not sure what role [the mayor or councilmembers] would play in my life, specifically.”
Jordan, who attends DuVal High
School, and Rigg, a DeMatha student, said they will vote.
But Dylan Cooney-Barrera, 17, said he will not.
“I think that [16 and 17] is a little bit too young,” said Cooney-Barrera, who also attends DeMatha and lives in College Park’s Old Town neighborhood. “Younger kids are too influenced by social media and stuff. They won’t make a thought-through decision. I don’t believe that every single teen would be able to do that, do their correct research about all these politicians.”
Still, he said, he plans to vote when he is older.
“I do think of it as a duty, when I turn as an adult, to contribute … to the city. But for right now
… I need to educate myself a little bit more.”
McCarthy noted that voting in a local election at a young age could prepare teens for casting their ballots in state and national elections later.
“When they get to the presidential election every four years, they can be more experienced on how to vote,” he said.
McCarthy added that the city should partner with high schools to let teenagers know that they’re allowed to vote in local elections.
“If they just educate the students, maybe they can use this as a learning opportunity,” he said. “That’s probably the most direct way to reach” potential teen voters.
CONCERTS
CUANDO NO SABES A DÓNDE RECURRIR PORQUE ALGUIEN BEBE DEMASIADO.
Hay esperanza y ayuda para las familias y amistades de los alcohólicos en Al-Anon.
Grupos Familiares Al-Anon, llamen al 1-888-425-2666 (1-888-4AL-ANON) Al-Anon.org
All Hallows’ Eve Concert | 9:15 pm, October 31 Music will include JS Bach’s fabulous Toccata in D minor. Candles will be lit. Costumes are welcome!
Choral Evensong| 5:00 pm, November 2
A beautiful, candlelit service of evening prayers. All are welcome to attend.
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church at 4512 College Avenue
St. Andrew’s is a welcoming and inclusive parish of The Episcopal Church. www.saeccp.org
October 18, 2025 | 12 - 6PM
College Park Aviation Museum & Airport
1985 Corporal Frank Scott Dr.
helicopter & plane fly-in free museum entry & more! FREE
live music
food & drink vendors
artist alley activities & games
Free nearby parking, metro access, bicycle racks, and shuttle service.
City considers annexing several nearby properties
By OLIVER MACK
College Park officials in September discussed the possibility of making the soon-to-bevacant Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) and several other nearby properties part of the city.
City Manager Kenny Young on Sept. 9 presented research by city staff showing 7.86 square miles of property valued at $580,294,600 that borders College Park and could potentially be annexed—a procedure that expands a city’s boundaries to incorporate adjacent land.
College Park currently covers 5.68 square miles.
“We’re kind of just barely in the initial stages of talking about it,” Councilmember Jacob Hernandez (District 1) told College Park Here & Now “We’re trying to take a common-sense approach to every single one of these areas.”
Young outlined 17 potential annexation sites, mostly small plots on the city’s northern and western borders.
“Each parcel’s property is unique, and the potentials are also unique,” College Park Mayor Fazlul Kabir said. “It doesn’t need to be annexed unless the city and the community see that it is beneficial.”
Kabir said the city would consider annexing land to protect it, for economic development or to boost population.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it will vacate BARC to move employees out of the Washington region and into states with more agricultural land. The council discussed annexing parts or all of that property to protect the land and advance sustainability initiatives such as the city’s tree canopy program.
Other sites that could be annexed include land west of the University of Maryland and the Paint Branch Golf Complex, Young said. Some areas on the list, like the Seven Springs and Westchester Park apartment complexes, already have College Park mailing addresses even though they are outside of city limits.
“Should a property fall within the city limits, the residents of College Park have much more of a say in what gets built there,” Hernandez said during the meeting. “When we talk
about the BARC [property], there’s a lot of residents who oppose any sort of development. … We have so much more of a say if that property falls within the limits of College Park.”
Hernandez said annexations are not new to the city. Recent additions include the property where IKEA sits, in 2003, and Domain, a student apartment building on the edge of the UMD campus, in 2010.
“I’d like to ensure that we get the community involved as much as we can, and we become very transparent in terms of pros and cons,” Kabir said in an interview. “It is a residents-driven process.”
Officials said annexation discussions will require input from residents, property owners and county, state and federal governments. If the city intends to annex private land, property owners would have to agree, Kabir said. For publicly owned property, the process would involve approval from government officials.
Annexation would allow the city to expand its tax base while giving the owners of annexed property access to city resources.
Councilmembers said they
are open to considering annexations for at least some of the properties staff identified.
“I think that there are a lot of pros with this annexation,” District 4 Councilmember Maria Mackie said at the meeting. “As we look at the different sites, we should maybe just say, ‘What are the pros and what are the cons of each of the sites?’ and see what is most beneficial for our city.”
The soon-to-be-vacant Beltsville Agricultural Research Center may become part of the city. JALEN WADE
City Council considers doubling members’ pay
By SHARON O’MALLEY
The College Park City Council will hold a public hearing on Oct. 7 on a proposal to double the part-time salaries of councilmembers from $10,000 to $20,000 a year.
The proposal, which was unanimously endorsed by councilmembers at two meetings in September, also would boost the part-time mayor’s salary from $15,000 to $25,000 and the mayor pro tem’s from $12,500 to $22,500.
“Everyone on this dais works incredibly hard for the residents that we care for,” Councilmember Jacob Hernandez (District 1) said during a lengthy discussion at the council’s Sept. 9 meeting. “I don’t think any of us do it for the compensation. … The responsibility can be awesome, but taxing.”
The proposed salary increase, he said, “might not be extraordinarily significant, but it does help cover the costs.”
The bump in pay, which would cost the city $90,000 a year, would take effect in January.
The officials’ last salary increase was in 2023, when
councilmembers were making $7,000 a year and voted to increase their pay to $10,000 a year. At that time, the mayor pro tem’s compensation increased from $7,000 to $12,500, and the mayor’s, from $10,500 to $15,000.
Before that, the last pay raises for the mayor and council were in 2014.
“We do it for the love and passion of being part of the community,” Mayor Pro Tem Denise Mitchell (District 4) said during the Sept. 9 council meeting, noting the council has raised its compensation only twice during the eight terms she has served on the council since 2009. “That needs to be taken into consideration.”
Members also considered a staff recommendation that the city’s elected officials be offered retirement and health benefits, and free executive training and conferences in addition to the city-issued mobile phones and laptops that they already receive. The council decided to delay that decision.
The city’s Compensation Review Committee, whose members are residents, compared the compensation and benefits of city officials with those of
more than a dozen Maryland municipalities, ranging from large cities like Frederick, which pays its full-time mayor $134,800 a year and its councilmembers $43,735, to small towns like Berwyn Heights, whose part-time mayor and councilmembers earn $3,000.
The committee’s conclusion: “Our mayor and council needed an increase” based on that comparison, Teresa WayPezzuti, the city’s director of human resources, said.
Hernandez suggested that a higher salary might entice more community members to run for seats on the city council
Councilmember Ray Ranker (District 3) agreed.
“Clearly, if the pay was $1 million, more people would probably run for office than if the pay were $0 per year,” he said.
Councilmember John Rigg (District 3), suggested that the council could amend city law to tie regular pay raises to cost-of-living increases every two years.
“If we do this,” Mitchell suggested, “we don’t have to come back every two years or every three years to discuss this.”
Hernandez noted that any discussion among members about giving themselves pay raises is awkward.
“Obviously, this is a very uncomfortable conversation for us all to have … because we’re talking about literally our own pay raises,” he said.
Indian restaurant opens at The Varsity
By KEIRA HARDESTY
Maryland Tandoor celebrated its grand opening on Sept. 22 on the street level of The Varsity College Park apartment complex on Route 1.
Colorful balloons and signs decorated the exterior of the restaurant to welcome guests to the fast-casual Indian restaurant. Customers enjoyed free chai tea and mango lassi, a yogurt beverage, with their meals.
The menu features a variety of authentic Indian dishes, including butter chicken, goat curry and kabobs.
“I think the best thing [about the restaurant] is that there’s nothing Indian around here,” Neel Kamal, the owner and chef, said.
He said he focused on making good-quality, affordable food targeted toward College Park’s large student population as he planned the restaurant.
Customers can purchase combination curry platters that include lamb, chicken, goat or a vegetarian palak paneer with rice, naan and chana masala, a chickpea dish, for less than $16.
The restaurant is open every day from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. for dine-in and takeout meals.
Kamal owns multiple finedining restaurants, including
Maharani Palace in Herndon, Virginia, but Maryland Tandoor is his first venture into fast-casual dining.
He said he wants to be a source of help to the community by opening the restaurant for fundraising events and offering jobs to students.
“So far I am absolutely loving it,” customer Aditya Bajaj, a senior mechanical engineering major at the University of Maryland (UMD), said at the grand opening.
“The naan is fresh, the biryani is absolutely delectable,” Bajaj said. “The chicken is soft, the rice is warm and also soft.”
Many customers, including Bajaj, said they are happy to see an Indian restaurant open in College Park. The most unique thing for Bajaj, he said, was how hospitable and polite the staff was when he entered.
Shane Perrault, a psychologist who owns a counseling practice in Greenbelt, shared that he had been waiting for three months for the restaurant to open. He ordered lamb curry, goat curry and lamb biryani to share with a lunch companion on the day of the opening. He said he was excited to eat at an Indian restaurant, noting he had only tried the cuisine at buffet-style restaurants.
“This is exquisite,” Perrault said. “It really has a very posh feel to it, very upscale.”
Yvette Winkfield, a retired nurse from Chicago, called the salmon tikka “the best [salmon] I’ve tasted at an Indian restaurant or any other restaurant.” Winkfield noticed Maryland Tandoor while walking on the street and was attracted by the interior of the restaurant.
“The table and chair decor is very modern, just like everything is new,” Winkfield said, pointing out the wood flooring, high ceilings and chandeliers.
Devesh Ratra, a senior computer science student at UMD, said he appreciated the large portion sizes and said the restaurant would be a convenient place to pick up food after class.
Maryland Tandoor, a fast-casual Indian restaurant on Route 1, opened for business on Sept. 22. KEIRA HARDESTY
CALENDAR
Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus of North America
This ensemble, which has roots from as far back as a century, comes to perform at the Clarice. $35. 2:30 p.m. The Clarice Performing Arts Center (8270 Alumni Dr.). For more information visit https://tinyurl. com/kkcsxjy6.
OCT. 21
College Park Arts Exchange - Art 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.
UMD University Orchestra
October Concert
The UMD University Orchestra performs its October concert. Free. 8 p.m. Dekelboum Concert Hall (8270 Alumni Dr.). For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/5n8bfbvu.
OCT. 24
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra: Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique
A selection of spirited and virtuosic works marks the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s (BSO) first performance of the season at The Clarice. $55, $40, $25. 8 p.m. Dekelboum Concert Hall (8270 Alumni Dr.). For more information visit https://tinyurl. com/2jj6f2p4.
OCT. 25
Family Flights and Frights: Trick or Treat at the Museum
Come for an evening filled with trick-or-treating in the gallery, and spook-tacular games and crafts. Come dressed in your favorite costumes and get ready for a high-flying Halloween adventure. Registration is required by Oct. 18. $5, free for children under 2. 5:30-7:30 p.m. College Park Aviation Museum (1985 Corporal Frank Scott Dr.). For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/bdf4r9a7.
for the Performing Arts (8270 Alumni Dr.). For more information visit https://tinyurl. com/4wy4hvry.
Halloween Parade
Join the Calvert Hills Community for this spooky party. Free. 6:00-7:15 p.m. Rhode Island Ave. and Drexel Rd. For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/2s3k66wa.
Good Neighbor Day
Join in on this national day of service that brings together residents of College Park and neighboring communities. Free. 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. For more information and service locations within the city visit https://tinyurl.com/42n3nuss.
OCT. 26
Cradle & Cuddle Co. Baby Bash Celebration
Expecting parents can attend this baby shower session designed to equip parents with a financial growth plan, with an interactive game and giveaway. Free. Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center (7801
Experimental Performance Series
The Experimental Performance Series is a collection of self-produced works from undergraduate and graduate students in theatre and dance, ranging from established works to brand new plays and choreography. Free. 7:30-10 p.m. Clarice Center
Alumni Dr.). For more information visit https://tinyurl. com/3kbuykty.
NOV. 2
Early Voting
Come out for early voting at Davis Hall. Free. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Davis Hall (9217 51st Ave.). For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/4efdejan.
NOV. 4
Election Day
Take part in the election for College Park’s mayor and city council. Free. 8 a.m.-8 p.m. City Hall Community Room (7401 Baltimore Ave.). For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/yfcrfnju.
NOV. 5
Senior Social Events
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
4 weekends: October 30 - November 23 Tickets: $26/$24/$14; $4 discount opening weekend Barney & Bea Rec. Center, Good Luck Rd. www.madtheater.org
(3545 Marlborough Way). To RSVP, call 240-487-3614. For more info visit https://tinyurl. com/yuykc9zc.
Yoga
A gentle flow yoga class for all levels that focuses on building strength, flexibility, and balance through movement synced with the breath. $10. 7-8 p.m. Old Parish House (4711 Knox Rd.). For more information visit https://tinyurl. com/5dftrh9v. Repeats every Wednesday.
NOV. 7
Friday Senior Social 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. 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Branchville Volunteer Fire Company (4905 Branchville Rd.). To RSVP, call 240-487-3614. For more info visit https://tinyurl.com/ yuykc9zc.
Lakecia Benjamin, saxophone Five-time-Grammy-nominee saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin comes to play at the Clarice. $35. 7:30 p.m. The Clarice Performing Arts Center (8270 Alumni Dr.). For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/4mpfu275.
Developer boots 5 businesses for apartments
By OLIVER MACK
The developer scheduled to build an apartment complex at 7313 Baltimore Ave. has given the five businesses operating there until Dec. 31 to move out.
Northwest Chinese Food, Ritchie’s Colombian Restaurant, Kung Fu Tea, Jerk at Nite and Mr. Smoke will close to make room for what the property’s owner, Terrapin Main Street, has described as a student-oriented multi-family housing complex, possibly called Terrapin House.
“It’s something we’ve been really trying to focus a lot of staff attention and time on,” College Park City Councilmember John Rigg (District 3) said. “Those businesses have been very suc-
cessful there and they have a following. They’re very popular in the city.”
The new complex, at the corner of Hartwick Road and Route 1, will include street-level retail space after construction is completed, Rigg said.
The city’s economic development director, Michael Williams, said he’s working to help the businesses stay in the city.
“My office will do everything that we possibly can do to help find space and to work with the owners [of the restaurants],” Williams said. “There’s such an effort to move your kitchen, you know, and then you’ve got to hold on to your employees.”
Still, it can often be difficult for businesses to successfully
relocate, even if it’s in the same city, Rigg said.
“Running a small business in this, in any community, can be a really tough proposition,” Rigg said. “Things don’t always play out the way you want them to play out.”
Rigg said the city has some funds to help displaced businesses relocate within College Park.
Representatives for Terrapin Main Street did not respond to College Park Here & Now’s request for comment.
College Park Mayor Fazlul Kabir said the county, not the city, approves property owners’ decisions about what to build, but noted that the city council is trying to retain the displaced businesses.
“These are staple businesses and restaurants in our community,” Kabir said. “We will do everything possible to keep them in College Park.”
Proposed program would pay for $100 energy audit
By KEIRA HARDESTY
The College Park City Council is considering a pilot program that could help residents save up to $15,000 on new energyefficient heating and cooling systems and water heaters.
At its Sept. 9 meeting, members discussed a proposal by Councilmember Jacob Hernandez (District 1) to reimburse single-family homeowners $100 for an energy audit that could qualify them for the savings.
The rebates come from the EmPOWER Maryland program for air sealing and insulation, heating and cooling equipment, Energy Star windows and doors, heat pump water heaters, duct sealing and smart thermostats.
“I’m trying to pitch to my colleagues [that] the savings are astronomical,” said Hernandez, who estimated he saved $13,000 on a new furnace, air conditioner blower and insulation for his North College Park home. “These are significant savings.”
To qualify for the full $15,000, according to Pepco, the homeowner must switch from a combustion-fuel furnace, boiler, or water heater to an energy-efficient electric heat pump. Combustion fuels include oil and gas, for example.
Others can earn up to $10,000 in rebates.
Hernandez said he proposed that the city help homeowners pay for the audit after seeing complaints on social media
from North College Park renters about unusually high energy bills.
A city-funded pilot program would help residents pay for Home Performance with Energy Star audits. The audits, which cost $100 through Pepco, involve a contractor visiting the customer’s home to evaluate its energy efficiency.
Hernandez said covering the cost of the audit would lead more homeowners to learn why their energy bills are high and how they can lower them by replacing inefficient equipment.
According to Bryan Crawford, Pepco’s portfolio manager of Maryland energy efficiency programs, customers can save up to 20% a year on their energy bills through the upgrades.
The discounts are one part of the EmPOWER Maryland program, created in 2008 to offer incentives for customers to reduce their energy use, according to Ben Baker, a senior adviser for the Maryland Public Service Commission.
The program helps the state meet energy reduction targets and achieve the commission’s goal: “Serve electricity at the most cost-effective manner as possible,” Baker said.
EmPOWER Maryland has distributed $4.1 billion to Maryland homeowners, according to Pepco. The money comes from a surcharge that Pepco and electric utilities elsewhere in Maryland collect from all customers on their monthly utility bills. According to the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel, the average monthly surcharge amounted to approximately $12.41 in September.
Ritchie’s Colombian Restaurant is one of five businesses on a strip at 7313 Baltimore Ave. that will close by the end of the year to make way for student apartments. OLIVER MACK
COLLEGE PARK POST
College Park Day Returns October 18!
Join the City for its Signature Annual Festival Oct. 18 from 12-6pm at the College Park Aviation Museum and Airport
The College Park Day annual festival is the City’s biggest event of the year and features something for everyone, whether you’re a music lover, foodie, thrill-seeker, or aviation enthusiast!
This year includes three live music and performance stages! Dance and sing along to an exciting lineup of local bands! On the Main Stage, you’ll hear everything from rock and roll to blues and jazz from artists like The Beach Bumz, Hello 1979, and Vertigo Red.
The Family Stage features interactive entertainment perfect for kids and their grownups! Be there to enjoy the Science Guys of Baltimore, Guava Jelly Duo, Kangaroo Kids, 1 2 3 Andrés, and The Great Zucchini!
At the performance stage, check out Ocho de Bastos, Gymkana and Grupo Folklorico Internacional! Discover cultural dances, music, and amazing live demonstrations throughout the day.
You can also expect non-stop action with wandering performers,
artist walk/arts vendors, crafts & games, face painters, races, bounce houses, obstacle courses, and surprises around every corner!
The day also includes free admission to the College Park Aviation Museum. Explore historic aircraft and discover why our City is a birthplace of American aviation! And don’t miss the helicopter and plane fly-in – where you can get up close to some really cool modes of flight.
Participating food vendors include Taqueria Habanero, PhoWheels, Catalyst Hot Dogs, Cousins Maine Lobster, D’s Tropical Breeze, Jet Set BBQ, Kona Ice, Fun Stuff 4 Kids, Lameera Ice Cream, Maryland Kitchen, Mister Magic, Monroe Suggs, Pupuseria Y Taqueria El Solecito, Soul Food Elements, Two Smooth Dudes Food Truck, Cakelady Desserts, and Capitol Kettle Corn.
For those interested in local brews, Denizens Brewing Co. and Streetcar 82 Brewing Co. will also be on hand.
Free parking and complimentary shuttle service from select locations make getting there easy! The event site is just a short walk from the College Park-UMD Metro Station on the Green Line. Prefer to bike? Take one of the several hiking/biking trails and use our convenient bicycle racks at the event site.
Get the latest updates, performance schedules, parking info/directions, and FAQs at collegeparkday.org.
Come celebrate what makes College Park soar! College Park Day is on Saturday, October 18th from 12:00 to 6:00 pm at the College Park Aviation Museum and Airport (1985 Corporal Frank Scott Drive).
2025 General Election
The City of College Park will hold its General Election for the offices of Mayor and Council on Tuesday, November 4
The City of College Park will hold its General Election for the offices of Mayor and eight District Councilmembers (2 from each district) on Tuesday, November 4, 2025:
ELECTION DAY VOTING:
Tuesday, November 4, 2025 City Hall, Community Room, 7401 Baltimore Avenue 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
EARLY VOTING:
Sunday, November 2, 2025
Davis Hall, 9214 51st Avenue 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
CANDIDATE INFORMATION:
Residents interested in running for elected office must be a citizen of the United States, a current registered voter in the City, and must have been domiciled in the City for at least one year immediately preceding the date of qualification. At the time of taking office, which will be December 2, 2025, the elected official must be at least 18 years old. The Mayor must continuously reside in the City during their term, and each Councilmember must continuously reside in their respective district during their term. Terms are for two years. A Candidate Guide with information and forms to run for office is available from www. collegeparkmd.gov/elections; or make an appointment with the City Clerk (240-487-3501) to pick up a hard copy of the Guide. Candidacy petitions and other required forms are due by 4:00 p.m. on September 12, 2025.
VOTER REGISTRATION
• If you are already registered to vote with the Prince George’s County Board of Elections at your current City address, you are ready to vote in this election.
• If you have moved or changed your name since you registered, update your Voter Registration. Call the
Prince George’s County Board of Elections at 301-341-7300, or visit www.elections.state. md.us
• If you are new to the City, please complete a Voter Registration application on line at https://voterservices. elections.maryland.gov/ OnlineVoterRegistration/ InstructionsStep1
DO YOU PREFER TO VOTE BY MAIL? ARE YOU ON THE STATE’S PERMANENT VOTE BY MAIL LIST?
The State of Maryland now has a permanent Vote By Mail list for anyone who always wants to receive and vote a mail-in ballot. Once you are on the state’s list, we will send you a mail-in ballot for each City election you are eligible to vote in. You won’t have to submit an application for each election.
To sign up, please visit the Maryland Board of Elections at: https:// voterservices.elections.maryland. gov/onlinemailinrequest/ InstructionsStep1.
VOTE 16
Thanks to a new Charter Resolution by the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park, all residents aged 16 and older who are registered with the Prince George’s County Board of Elections are now eligible to vote in College Park elections. Note: You can only vote in College Park elections if you live within the City limits.
To vote, you must:
• Be at least 16 years old on Election Day
• Live within the City of College Park
• Be registered with the Maryland Board of Elections
Register online or learn more at elections.maryland.gov. It expands voting rights and empowers more young residents to shape the future of their city. Visit collegeparkmd.gov/elections.
PUMPKIN CARVING CONTEST
Indigenous Peoples Day
Honoring their history, culture, and enduring presence
Long before the founding of Prince George’s County in 1695, the land now known as College Park was inhabited and cared for by Native peoples and tribes. Maryland’s first inhabitants were Paleo-Indians who came more than 10,000 years ago from other areas to hunt large game like mammoth, great bison, and caribou. By 1,000 BCE, more than 8,000 Native Americans in about 40 different tribes were located in Maryland. By 1,000 CE, permanent villages were established.
Before the English set foot on Maryland shores, approximately 50,000 people called this area home. Their communities were organized under chiefdoms each lead by one leader. Some of those chiefdoms and tribes include the Powhatan, Piscataway, Susqehannock, Patuxent, Nacotchtank (Anacostan), Choptank, and Nanticoke.
In College Park (as in other areas), many of our street names come from the Native peoples that called this area home. The three major language families represented in this region were Algonquian, Iroquoian, and Siouan; from those came dozens of dialects. For instance, the name Chesapeake came from the word “Chesepiuk,” an Algonquin name for a village.
Indigenous peoples in the Chesapeake Bay region were among the first to encounter Europeans colonists in the mid-
Atlantic. While the Italian explorer, Giovanni da Verrazano was the first European to visit the Chesapeake, the English arrived in 1607 and established the Jamestown colony in Virginia.
These powerful tribes thrived as sovereign nations before colonization; they cultivated the landscape and established rich cultures. However, by the time of the founding of the Maryland Agricultural College in 1856 (now known as the University of Maryland), European colonization had already caused Indigenous nations to face displacement, disease, and forced assimiliation.
Indigenous Peoples Day is celebrated on October 13, 2025 to honor the enduring presence of the Indigenous communities – past, present, and future – and their contributions to our region and country. We join communities across the nation in recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day in honoring their history, culture, and enduring presence. This holiday is a call to reflection and action, reminding us that the land we now call home has a history that predates the founding of the State of Maryland and the City of College Park.
In observance of Indigenous Peoples Day, all City of College Park offices will be closed on October 13, 2025. For adjusted collection schedules, visit collegeparkmd. gov.
Community Survey 2025
Share your perspective on living in the City of College Park
Did you receive a City of College Park Community Survey in the mail?
Randomly selected households throughout the City will receive survey in the mail to gauge their views on a variety of City services and overall quality of life.
If you received one, we encourage you to complete it — your feedback is important! The survey is anonymous and will be used to help guide future decisions and initiatives.
If you didn’t get a mailed survey, don’t worry, because an online version is also available for all residents to share their thoughts about living in College Park.
Take the survey here: collegepark. etcsurvey.org.
Your voice helps shape the future of our community. Ensure your voice is heard! Thank you for participating!
Clean Up Saturdays
October 4 & 25* | 7:30AM - Noon | Public Works
Clean Up Saturdays are coming back this fall!
The City of College Park Public Works facility will be open on selected Saturdays for City residents to drop off bulky trash, white goods, electronics recycling, brush, and yard trim.
This fall, Clean Up Saturdays will be held on October 4 and 25, 2025 from 7:30AM - 12:00PM at the Deaprtment of Public Works (9217 5st Avenue).
Bulk trash brought on Clean Up days does not count toward bulk trash limits, nor are any fees applied for appliances, televisions, or monitors.
You must be a resident of the City of College Park and bring proof of City residency to participate
For Clean Up Saturday details, visit www.collegeparkmd.gov/ CleanUpSaturdays.
Smartleaf® compost and wood mulch are available for anyone to purchase and pick up as supplies last – residency is not required.
DISPOSE OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:
• Fluorescent light bulbs and tubes (small quantities) –must be intact. Includes LED lamps, U-shaped or circular fluorescent lamps, High Intensity Discharge (HID)
lamps, Ultra Violet (UV) lamps, Halogen or Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL’s).
• Household batteries (small quantities). This includes rechargeable batteries such as Li-Ion, Ni-Cd, Ni-MH, NiZn; Single-use alkaline such as AA, AAA, 9V, C, D button cell, and lithium primary. No damaged batteries; no automotive batteries.
• Block Styrofoam (coolers and large blocks of packing material).
• There is a $4 fee for all tires NOT ACCEPTED:
• Bricks, concrete & rocks
• Hazardous materials such as shingles, propane tanks, car batteries, paint, etc.
DOCUMENT SHREDDING
*Document shredding is one day only, on October 25, 2025 from 8:00AM to noon.
Bring your old tax records, medical paperwork, and any other confidential information to be shredded while you wait! All paper will be recycled.
You must be a City of College Park resident and bring proof of residency to participate.
City Announcements & Events
More information: www.collegeparkmd.gov; Sign up for City newsletters at collegeparkmd.gov/cpconnect
PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING
October 6 | 7PM - 8:30PM | Zoom
Stay safe and stay informed! The Public Services Department is hosting their next hybrid public safety meeting to share important safety tips and hear from local public safety officials.
Register at collegeparkmd.gov/ publisafetymeeting.
TEEN TALK 2025
This group program provides a safe space for Prince George’s County students ages 14-17 to discuss and explore everyday familial, educational, societal, and peer concerns.
Through activities, sharing ideas, and talk sessions, we will build positive relationships with others and self! The group meets on Wednesdays from 6:00-7:30PM on October 22 & 29; November 5, 12, & 19; and December 3, 10, & 17. To receive community service hours, participants must commit to all 10 in-person sessions. The program is free but registration is required.
To attend, register students with the City of College Park’s Department of Youth, Family & Senior Services by calling 240-487-3550.
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN SURVEY
The City of College Park’s Committee for a Better Environment is developing an Environmental Action Plan— and they want your input! Share your thoughts on how the City can continue building a greener, healthier community for all.
Please complete the survey by October 31: https://www. surveymonkey.com/r/RFPCHR8.
WOOD MULCH IS NOW AVAILABLE
Wood mulch is made from natural wood waste collected in the city such as branches, tree stumps, sticks, shrubs, and logs. Our products are not chemically treated or dyed.
The City’s wood mulch costs $12.00 per cubic yard including tax. You don’t need to be a resident to purchase. We accept cash, check and credit card* (VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover).
A service fee of $1.50 will be added to all credit card transactions.
Pick up material at Public Works, 9217 51st Avenue, College Park, MD 20740. Hours: Mon. – Fri. 8 to 11:30 am and 1 to 3 p.m. Delivery is also available for an additional fee. To schedule a delivery, complete the form at www.collegeparkmd. gov/compost.
CITY OFFICES CLOSED FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY
All City of College Park offices will be closed on Monday, October 13 in observance of Indigenous Peoples Day. Refuse and recycling will occur one day later than normal during this holiday week (Monday collections will slide forward to Tuesday, and so forth). However, curbside food scraps will be collected on their regularly scheduled day.
Special collections for brush and bulky items will only be scheduled for Friday, October 17, of this holiday week. You must call 240487-3590 or email publicworks@ collegeparkmd.gov to schedule a pickup before setting your items out to the curb.
GOOD NEIGHBOR DAY
Good Neighbor Day is a collaborative partnership between the University of Maryland, the City of College Park, and The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) Department of Parks & Recreation, Prince George’s County taking place on Saturday, October 25.
This annual event brings together residents of College Park and neighboring communities, staff and patrons of M-NCPPC, and University of Maryland students, staff, and faculty, and alumni for a day of service. Volunteers participate in service opportunities provided by our community partners.
Sign up at http://goodneighborday. umd.edu.
MICROMOBILITY
PARKING REMINDER:
Users of shared micromobility devices including e-bikes and e-scooters are reminded that they must park vehicles in designated parking areas in an upright position and may not block or obstruct
sidewalks or trails. To report an issue with a parked micromobility vehicle, please contact the service provider directly or use the College Park Connect app to submit a request for service.
RESOURCES FOR WORKERS IMPACTED BY RECENT FEDERAL ACTIONS
The Governor has announced a series of actions to help Marylanders impacted by federal workforce layoffs, firings, and changes to federal funding like the federal shutdown. Resources include Unemployment Insurance, Housing and Utility Resources, Loan Programs and other Financial Assistance, and Resources for Veterans.
Learn more at response.maryland. gov/federalpublicservants/ and response.maryland.gov/ federalpublicservants/shutdown.
MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS
Suicide Prevention Month, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Unity/Anti-Bullying Day in September and October
remind us of the importance of compassion, connection, and community action in supporting those who may be struggling. By fostering safe spaces, amplifying voices, encouraging open conversations, and offering support we strengthen our collective commitment to prevention, healing, and hope.
Together, we can build a culture of care that uplifts every individual and promotes resilience, physical and mental wellness.
The City of College Park offers a free 24/7 mental health concierge service for those who live and work in College Park called Care Solace.
Care Solace’s coordination services are free, confidential, and accessible via:
Phone: Call 888-515-7881 at any time.
Website: Search anonymously by answering just a few questions at caresolace.com/md-collegepark.
If you are having a life-threatening emergency, please call 911 or call/ text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Care Solace is not an emergency response service.
College Park Election Candidate Roundup
College Park voters will head to the polls in November to elect eight College Park City Councilmembers and a mayor.
Early voting will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 2, at Davis Hall (9217 51st Ave.). Election Day voting will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 4, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the City Hall Community Room (7401 Baltimore Ave.) All College Park residents–including, for the first time, 16- and 17-year-olds–may vote for mayor. For city council, residents may vote only for the candidates running in the district where the voter lives. Here is a roundup of the candidates for mayor and for the eight council seats. The following information was provided to College Park Here & Now by the candidates.
MAYOR
Fazlul Kabir
Age: 63
Neighborhood: Hollywood
Community Involvement
I am the current mayor of College Park, where I have lived with my family since 2003. Elected mayor after serving six terms on the city council, beginning in 2011.
During my first mayoral term, I led efforts to reimagine College Park by strengthening the city’s finances, opening new community spaces and welcoming businesses that created jobs. I worked to make neighborhoods safer, more walkable and better connected, while also embracing and celebrating the city’s diversity. I’ve been instrumental in building community traditions and resources, helping to start the College Park Here & Now newspaper, cofounding the annual College Park Day and launching the Hollywood Farmers Market.
My leadership has also secured tangible investments in residents’ quality of life. I helped complete the first phase of Route 1 reconstruction, obtained funding for a new community center, free online tutoring and an after-school program to support local students. I
championed the development of more than 300 units of affordable housing and backed the construction of the College Park Woods Clubhouse, ensuring growth benefits all residents. I also write a daily blog at http://KabirCares.org.
Professional Experience
I work for the federal government. I have a Ph.D. in engineering from the University of Manchester. I also taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland for eight years.
Statement to Voters
Looking ahead, I am committed to building a stronger, more vibrant College Park by expanding affordable housing and family support—bringing more childcare options, investing in senior housing and creating opportunities for youth. I will keep our city safe and connected by securing fair police services, strengthening community partnerships, and making our neighborhoods more walkable and bikeable.
I plan to invest in our neighborhoods by revitalizing parks and community spaces, reducing blight and preserving the character of our communities, while also supporting local businesses, attracting new ones and creating good jobs. At the same time, I will champion sustainability by addressing stormwater and flood challenges, planting more trees, expanding recycling and foodscrap programs and investing in solar projects to reduce emissions. Finally, I will complete key projects already underway, including Duvall Field, the North College Park Community Center, the Lakeland restorative justice effort, and major infrastructure upgrades like the Purple Line/Route 1 redevelopment and Calvert Hills flooding solutions.
Fun Fact
I love to stay active and connected with our community. Every Saturday morning, I bike along the Rhode Island Avenue bike lane to join the College Park parkrun, where I run 5K with about 200 fellow residents. It’s one of my favorite ways to combine fitness, friendship and the spirit of College Park.
DISTRICT 1
Jacob Hernandez Age: 33 Neighborhood: Oak Springs
Community Involvement
District 1 councilmember (2023-2025), North College Park Civic Association, American Legion Post 217 leadership
Professional Experience
I began my career in public service at 17 when I joined the U.S. Air Force, where I proudly served on active duty and now continue in my 15th year as a member of the U.S. Air Force Reserve. I went on to earn a master’s degree in national security from Georgetown University and, for the past four years, have worked at the U.S. Department of State. I currently serve as a civil servant in the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, where I support U.S. efforts in hostage negotiations around the world. Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of Jacob Hernandez and do not reflect the official policy or position of the U.S. Air Force, Department of War, Department of State or the U.S. government.
Statement to Voters
Over the past two years, we’ve accomplished so much together, and I am honored to have served our community. I humbly ask for your vote so that I can continue working on projects that support our residents, strengthen our neighborhoods and move College Park forward.
I hope to continue bringing strategic vision and leadership to build on the strength of our community. My plan is to continue my goals of improving communication to/from the residents, enhancing educational opportunities, and advancing the representation of our residents’ concerns while also focusing on thought-
ful economic development across the city, especially north of Maryland 193, while forging strategic partnerships and empowering our community in a manner that benefits both existing and future residents. I hope to do this for all College Parkers. Learn more at https://www.jacobthernandezforcp.com/
Fun Fact
This term I hope to jog more paths around the city to better familiarize myself and meet our neighbors.
Alan Hew Age: 57 Neighborhood: Autoville
Community Involvement
I’m proud to be running for re-election to represent District 1. I’ve lived in the Autoville neighborhood for over 20 years and have served as your councilmember since June 2022. Previously, I served on the council for District 4 from 2013 to 2015.
I hold a B.S. in natural resources management from the University of Maryland, with a focus on environmental education and parks management. I’ve been actively involved in city affairs since 2008, when I served as a liaison between the Monument Village development, the city and the county—helping ensure strong outcomes for our community.
While on council, I’ve served on several regional and intergovernmental committees, including:
• Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
• Climate, Energy & Environment Policy Committee
• Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee—currently serving as Vice Chair representing Maryland
• National League of Cities
• Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee
• University Communities Council
• Asian Pacific American Municipal Officials
• University of Maryland & Community Engagement
• UMD Institutional Biosafety Committee
• Good Neighbor Day Committee
• Ongoing collaboration with UMD’s
Center for Community Engagement
Professional Experience
To better serve you, I’ve completed public safety and leadership training, including:
• Citizen’s Police Academies (PG County, UMD, and PG County Sheriff’s Office)
• Fire Ops 101—Maryland Fire & Rescue Institute
• Fellowship—Academy for Excellence in Local Governance, UMD School of Public Policy
One of my passions is environmental stewardship. In 2014, I helped plant and maintain the Permaculture Garden on the Trolley Trail, a project close to my heart that supports pollinators and sustainable practices.
Statement to Voters
I believe that community involvement is essential to building a city we can all be proud of. I will continue to listen to your concerns and work hard to make College Park the best it can be.
Fun Fact
Originally from Hawaii, I enjoy dancing hula, playing the ukulele and spending time with my wife and our three cats.
DISTRICT 2
Chris Gill
Age: 45
Neighborhood: Oak Springs
Community Involvement
• Member of the College Park Vacant & Blighted Property Tax Committee, 2024-Present
• Chair of the College Park Advisory Planning Commission, 2015-2020, member for a total of seven years
• Former board member, College Park Community Foundation
Professional Experience
I work as an IT project manager at the National Institutes of Health. As a project manager, I work to deliver functional products to our users, on time and on budget. A large part of delivering quality service successfully comes down to listening, determining client needs and analyzing how best to deploy available resources; all skills that are incredibly relevant to civic service.
Statement to Voters
I’m running to make College Park the best city in the region to grow up in, raise a family in and retire. That means affordable housing, safer neighborhoods, walkable streets and real opportunity for every family. That vision
will take hard work and bold leadership—exactly what I’m ready to deliver. I believe good government starts with listening. As one of your representatives on the city council, I will be an advocate for our community, someone who hears your concerns, values your ideas and works collaboratively to find solutions. Together we can build a city that meets the needs and aspirations of every resident.
Fun Fact
When not volunteering in my community or at work, you can find me playing board games with friends, designing lighting and animation systems for Lego sets or cutting up the Herbert Wells ice rink with my family.
Kelly Jordan Age: 48
Neighborhood: Berwyn
Community Involvement
I am in my third year serving as copresident of the Berwyn District Civic Association (BDCA) and my fifth year on the board of directors. Within the BDCA I have partnered with local city and community organizations to hold events and help with projects to increase quality of life in College Park. I initiated the translation of the Berwyn News newsletter into Spanish. I helped reinstitute Berwyn Day. During my tenure, the BDCA worked with Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and adopted the Berwyn Neighborhood Park. I have been on the board of directors of the Paint Branch Elementary School PTA for the past seven years. I also volunteer with my church, where I teach children’s Sunday school and teach university students about financial literacy.
Professional Experience
IT consultant in security and process optimization for hospitals around the country. I have worked in this capacity in multiple roles, as a project manager, trainer, curriculum designer and analyst. During my time as a project manager for Kaiser Permanente, I oversaw a $2 million project. I have degrees in physics from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Wisconsin and have given talks about my research around the world.
Statement to Voters
I will work for all the residents of District 2 to increase quality of life, support local businesses and put tax dollars to good use.
Fun Fact
I used to perform as a soprano singing opera and oratorio.
Holly Simmons
Age: 36
Neighborhood: Berwyn
Community Involvement
Acting treasurer, Berwyn District Civic Association, appointee to the Old Town Historic District Local Advisory Committee (2023-present); Committee for a Better Environment member (2020-2023, where I co-led the storm drain painting project).
Professional Experience
My professional background is driven by a passion for local government. I’ve spent nearly a decade working as a community and urban planner in nearby jurisdictions, focused on helping cities grow in ways that are more equitable, sustainable and thoughtful. I currently serve as the deputy zoning manager for the city of Rockville, where I lead a multi-departmental effort to rewrite the city’s zoning code in its entirety.
Previously, I was the acting director of community and economic development in the city of Hyattsville, overseeing strategy and implementation for planning and economic development priorities. Earlier in my career, I worked in development review with a particular focus on environmental compliance. These experiences have given me a deep understanding of how local policy translates to impact, which is knowledge I would bring to the District 2 council seat if elected.
Statement to Voters
I moved to the city nine years ago to attend grad school at the University of Maryland. It wasn’t long after I arrived that I realized how many amazing things College Park has to offer. We have excellent trails, green spaces, public transit and local businesses. Most of all, I love the community I have found here. I chose to stay, build a life and buy a house in College Park, and I am especially proud to call District 2 my home.
With new leadership coming in with this election, we have a chance to carry forward District 2’s momentum while also embracing fresh ideas. If elected, I’m committed to continuing important work already underway, including around affordable housing and restorative justice for Lakeland, while also listening carefully and acting thoughtfully on new opportunities and challenges ahead.
I’ve built a career turning policy into action. I believe good governance begins with listening and collaboration. I know that my experience in local government and my deep connection to this city would help me serve District 2 well. It would be an honor to represent this community.
Fun Fact
I recently read that you can make cookies from acorn flour, so the other day, I went out and started collecting acorns. I’ll have to let you know how they turn out!
DISTRICT 3
Daniel Oates
Age: 37
Neighborhood: Calvert Hills
Community Involvement
• President, Calvert Hills Citizens Association 2021-2025
• Vice President, Calvert Hills Citizens Association 2020-2021
Professional Experience
I am an international tech policy leader with 15 years of experience as a federal government civil servant at the U.S. Department of State. I currently serve as acting deputy director in the Office of Emerging and Critical Technology Policy in the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy. My experience building coalitions, leading negotiations, engaging with stakeholders, managing and developing teams, and advising senior officials will contribute toward making me an effective representative on the city council. At heart I am a diplomat who seeks to understand all perspectives, while not shying away from taking on complex policy decisions.
Statement to Voters
I love College Park and I’m committed to making the city a place we’re all proud to call home. I have lived in College Park for 11 years, first moving to the city to attend the University of Maryland for a master’s degree in engineering and public policy, and later moving back to College Park to settle down and start a family with my wife, Meg.
I have a strong track record over the last four years as president of the Calvert Hills Citizens Association, facilitating community events and advocating with city, county and state officials on behalf of District 3 residents. My deep understanding of city governance has enabled successful collaboration with Mayor Kabir and current and former councilmembers, and other local leaders to advance the interests of District 3 and College Park residents.
I hope to help address key issues in our community, including neighborhood quality of life, community wellbeing, affordable housing, smart growth and infrastructure improvements, and transparency and community engagement. You can learn more about me and my key issues at www.danoates.net.
Fun Fact
I have traveled to more than 40 countries for work and for fun.
Ray Ranker Age: 43
Neighborhood: College Park Estates
Community Involvement
• College Park City Council, March 2025-present
• Good Neighbor Day Planning Team, 2016-present
• Soccer and basketball coach (with the Boys and Girls Club of Berwyn Heights) 2021-present
• College Park Estates Civic Association leader, 2017-2024
• LuMin National Board president and member, 2022-2025
Professional Experience
I am a chaplain at the University of Maryland in my 15th year of service. Every day I get to listen to, care for and interact with people who are experiencing joys and sorrows, exploring their role in the world and growing as young adults. I manage a team that builds community on many levels, including through three afterschool tutoring and mentoring programs, weekly spiritual programming, yearly domestic and international learning trips, and a weekly free meal near campus, among other things. I was also a student at the University of Maryland from 2000-2004, where I held numerous leadership positions including in the Student Government Association. I am active at Hope Lutheran Church in College Park, where I was previously on staff and where my family and I are currently members. I have served as an international volunteer in Argentina for one year, and shorter term volunteer in South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Jerusalem, Bosnia and Brazil.
Statement to Voters
I care about the people who live here in College Park. We have a great city, and I am committed to making sure that all residents, especially the most vulnerable, benefit and thrive. I want to help shape our city to be more equitable, just, verdant, safe and full of opportunities.
It has been an honor to serve a partial term for the last six to seven months, and I am seeking a full term on the council to continue to work hard to support our residents and communities.
Fun Fact
I speak Spanish (and at one time spoke Portuguese and French, but haven’t used them in years and so I get them confused). I like Taylor Swift, board games, playing sports (especially with my two kids) and watching my favorite teams, including UMD teams, Orioles, Penguins (my family is from Pittsburgh) and more.
DISTRICT 4
Maria Mackie Age: 64
Neighborhood: College Park Woods
Community Involvement
For many years I’ve been involved in my community, serving where needed, whether it be on the College Park Woods Swim Club, Neighborhood Watch or our civic association. I participated in many service projects throughout the city over the years, removing invasive species and planting trees, stream restoration/stream clean up and working on tackling food insecurity issues, to name a few.
I served on the Board of Election Supervisors as the District 4 chief judge for the city of College Park and as an election judge and chief judge for Prince George’s County. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I worked as a vaccination site volunteer. I am very active in my church, serving in various ministries. In addition to my duties as a councilmember, I am active on several committees and am always willing to help with city activities.
Professional Experience
I am a retiree. I started my career as an agricultural specialist and later worked for 26 years as a homeschool teacher. In recent years, I have worked as a substitute teacher, childcare worker, tutor and aging-at-home assistant. I believe my life experiences have prepared me well to
serve on the city council. During my six years on council, I have taken many opportunities to stretch myself and increase my knowledge. I am well prepared to serve another term.
Statement to Voters
I have a long history with College Park. I grew up here and chose to move my family back here in 1994. Today, three of my five children, along with my grandson, live in College Park, giving me strong family ties to the city. I have served as a councilmember for six years, and have learned a lot and built strong working relationships.
I have always been committed to all of the residents of College Park and want to make sure that we focus on enhancing the quality of life for everyone. I am not one to say a lot; I like to listen and make thoughtful decisions. I want to make sure College Park remains a city focused on safety, smart growth, protecting the environment, offering choices for education, and expanding housing options, health care choices and addressing traffic issues. I am also fiscally conservative and want to make sure College Park lives within its means. I look forward to continuing this work and hope that you will engage with me to ensure that College Park leaves a positive legacy for the future.
Fun Fact
I love to play with my grandson at the various parks and playgrounds throughout the city. We both love the slides the best.
Denise Mitchell Age: 62
Neighborhood: College Park Woods
Community Involvement
• Served on the city council, 20092015, and 2017-present
• West College Park Civic Association Board of Directors (2005-2009)
• Member, co-chair, and chair of the city of College Park Education Advisory Committee, 2005-2009
• Chair, Board of Directors, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Foundation (2025-present)
• Board of Directors, Metropolitan
Washington Council of Governments (2022-present)
• Member, Transportation Committee, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (2022-present)
• Member, FARM Committee, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (2024-2025)
• Past President, Maryland Municipal League (2023)
• Member of Board of Directors, Maryland Municipal League (20132015 again, 2021-2022)
• Board of Directors, National League of Cities (2021-2025)
• Board liaison to the University Community Council to National League of Cities (2022-2023 and 2024-2025)
Professional Experience
For the past three years, I have had the honor of serving as the director of constituent services and municipal outreach for a Prince George’s County Councilmember. In this role, I am responsible for addressing residents’ concerns, connecting them with resources, and finding solutions that help maintain and improve their quality of life.
Previously, I worked as an early childhood administrator, managing programs and supervising more than 500 employees. I also facilitated negotiations and served as a trainer, ensuring high-quality programs and effective team development.
Statement to Voters
I am running to continue serving our community with integrity, transparency and dedication. My vision is simple: build a stronger, more connected city where every resident feels valued, included and heard. Over the years, I have worked hard to:
• Protect essential city services and keep them sustainable for the future
• Advocate for affordable housing and responsible development that benefits all residents
• Strengthen partnerships with our schools, local businesses and regional leaders
• Ensure that your voice shapes the decisions we make as a community My record shows that I do not shy away from tough choices but always put residents first. With your support, I will continue to focus on the basics that matter most—safe neighborhoods, reliable services and opportunities for all families to thrive. Together, we can continue to move forward.
Fun Fact
I love to cook and watch the celebrity British chef, Mary Berry.
Monarch Preschool expands with state grants
By KATHERINE SCHUTZMAN
Monarch Preschool College Park has enrolled an additional 34 students since last year thanks to two state grants that cover all or part of tuition for low-income students as well as those who have special needs or whose first language is not English.
The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future and Prekindergarten Expansion grants enabled the private pre-kindergarten school to add three classrooms and increase salaries for the three teachers assigned to them.
The grant programs’ goals align with the city of College Park’s mission to ensure equal access to pre-K education, said College Park Mayor Pro Tem Denise Mitchell (District 4), a former education professional.
“We have always been looking for, as a city, to offer pre-K and early childhood to our families who are looking for quality care but need an income sliding scale,” Mitchell said. “Having Monarch gives an equal balance of meeting parents where they are economically.”
Monarch, located in the United
Methodist Church on 50th Avenue, is a five-year-old nonprofit school serving 3- to 5-year-olds.
Tuition for full-time students who attend five days a week is approximately $1,330 per month without financial aid.
“We want to have more classrooms to get more students, because those little young ones are out there. We’ve just got to find them,” Monarch Director Krissie Taylor said.
Taylor said the grants have helped move the 65-student school—which is permitted to enroll up to 120 students—closer to “universal pre-kindergarten access.”
The Prekindergarten Expansion grant targets early education for 3- and 4-year-olds from families whose income falls below 300% of the federal poverty level, which varies based on household size.
The Blueprint grant serves as a second step, supporting a classroom of 4- and 5-yearolds who progressed from last year’s expansion grant-funded class.
“The grants allow schools to ensure that when children
are coming to kindergarten, they’re demonstrating readiness, academically and socially and emotionally,” said Andreia Searcy, director of early learning for Prince George’s County Public Schools.
Monarch was the only one among College Park’s four private pre-kindergarten schools to receive the state grants—administered by the county—for the 2025–26 school year.
Taylor said the new class-
rooms “are still expected to do the same curriculum, the same expectations and the schedule” as those the school already operated before receiving the grants.
The school is using part of the grant money for furniture, snacks and technology—including Chromebooks in the new classrooms, which are available for use by all of the school’s students, she said.
Some of the students benefiting from the grants are English
language learners. Taylor noted that children at Monarch come from homes where families speak any of eight different languages.
Access to free or reduced-cost tuition has opened up early education opportunities for many of these families, Taylor said. She added that the experience has already helped the children grow more independent and resourceful.
“Having them come into a space where they don’t know anybody … and seeing them blossom,” she said. “Those light bulb moments over the days, weeks, months, and just becoming friends with other children that they weren’t exposed to.”
According to Mitchell, thousands of families in Prince George’s County receive housing vouchers and require child care assistance—making programs like these essential.
Taylor said Monarch plans to continue reapplying annually for grants, with a focus on opening more spaces to prepare children for kindergarten.
“The grants,” she said, “are making that possible.”
Monarch Preschool College Park Director Krissie Taylor says two state grants are helping the school prepare its students for kindergarten.
KATHERINE SCHUTZMAN
CITY OF COLLEGE PARK
News You Can Use College Park Seniors
October 2025
Welcome to the first edition of College Park Seniors News You Can Use. This page will appear quarterly in the College Park Here and Now Newspaper (October, January, April and July) with resources and information for College Park residents.
ABOUT US
In June 2021, the City became an AARP Age-Friendly Livable Community.By joining this program, the City Council committed to identify and implement age friendly policies, practices and programs that support residents of all ages. The College Park Age Friendly Workgroup, part of the City’s Senior Advisory Committee, is working to achieve the goals of an Action Plan approved by City Council in 2022.
WHERE TO FIND INFORMATION
The City has a Seniors Newsletter that is emailed to residents who sign up for it. There are three ways you can sign up:
• Visit collegeparkmd.gov/ cpconnect and enter your name and email address, select “Seniors Newsletter,” then click “Sign Up.”
• Send an email to seniors@ collegeparkmd.gov and ask to be subscribed to the Seniors Newsletter.
• Call 240-487-3614 and ask to be subscribed to the Seniors Newsletter.
SENIORS PROGRAM
Part of the City’s Department of Youth, Family and Senior Services, the Seniors Program can assist College Park residents age 62+ with Social Security and Medicare, medical assistance, health insurance and prescription plans, medical providers, and information and referral to community and County services. They can be reached at 240-487-3614.
EVENTS
The Seniors Program sponsors a variety of trips, events and activities for City seniors. The monthly Seniors Social Event Calendar is available at City buildings or on the City’s website calendar at www.collegeparkmd.gov/ calendar . Monthly events are typically held on Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. at the College Park Woods Clubhouse (3545 Marlbrough Way) and Fridays at 10:00 a.m. at Heroes Hall, Branchville Fire Department (4904 Branchville Road). This schedule is subject to change. Check the calendar or call first for specific information. The Senior Newsletter will also include the monthly schedule.
The City’s Senior Advisory Committee also holds events at the College Park Woods Clubhouse. The schedule for the remainder of 2025 is below.
• Wednesday, October 15, 1:00, Games
• Wednesday, November 5, 10:00, Coffee and
Conversation – Online resources for seniors
• Wednesday, November 19, 1:00, Games
• Wednesday, December 3, 10:00, Seasonal holiday party with music and refreshments.
The City recently partnered with WISE Connect to organize social activities in College Park for residents over age 55. Local businesses will host the group, offering discounts and more. In September, the participating businesses included Proteus Brews, The Greene Turtle, The Board & Brew, Sardis, Dog Haus Biergarten, Shop Made in MD, Bowlero, and Ledo Pizza. Visit the program’s website at WISE Connect to find out about the current calendar of events. Have a favorite spot to meet? Let the team know! Contact them at contact@wisecities.us or call 571.354.6626 .
TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES
The City’s Seniors Program provides transportation for local medical appointments, as available, Monday through Friday, within Prince George’s County and an 8-mile radius of the City. Make your request once you know the date and time of your appointment. Minimum 2-day notice required. As scheduling allows, rides to shopping centers can be arranged by appointment. Call the City Seniors Program office at
240-487-3614 and be ready to provide your name, address, telephone number, time and date you need transportation, and the address and telephone number of where you want to go.
ShuttleUM: City residents may ride the University of Maryland Shuttle Bus at no charge. Passes are available from City Hall, Davis Hall and Youth and Family Services. Proof of residency required. For bus schedules, visit transportation.umd.edu.
Prince George’s County Call a Bus: Curb-to-Curb service available for residents who are not served by, or cannot use, existing bus or rail services. Priority is given to seniors and persons with disabilities. Advance reservations required. Call 301-499-8603.
Prince George’s County Call a Cab: Reduced cost mobility for County seniors (age 60+) and/or County persons with disabilities. Eligible residents may purchase coupon books that can be used to pay for rides with participating cab companies when Metrobus, Metrorail, and/or Call-A-Bus are not available. For more information call 301-4998603.
come (AMI), according to Danny Copeland, a vice president for RST Development, which built the complex. The community is income restricted, he added.
At Flats, the maximum rent for a one-bedroom apartment for tenants earning 80% of AMI is $2,190, and for those with incomes of 50% AMI, it’s $1,320. If multiple tenants share the apartment, rent is based on their combined income, according to RST.
Flats was financed, in part, through the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, Copeland said.
That U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program allows tax credits for developers to buy, rehabilitate or build rental housing for lower-income households.
RST Development also received a reduction in real estate taxes from the county, Copeland said.
Another affordable housing option in College Park is Atworth, a 451-unit apartment
building located next to the College Park–University of Maryland Metro Station. Tenants there may not have incomes more than 80% AMI.
For potential homeowners, the College Park Community Preservation Trust, run by the College Park City-University Partnership, buys single-family homes and then sells them, but not the land underneath them, according to Orlando Velez, the director of operations and housing initiatives.
Because the partnership owns
FARMERS
the land, the homeowner can sell the house only with the trust’s permission, Velez said. The two-year-old trust, which targets those who earn less than 140% of AMI, has sold nine homes so far.
This kind of trust has been used by many communities across the country to incorporate affordable housing, starting in the 1960s with the Civil Rights Movement, Kendra McAbee, the partnership’s communications coordinator, said. Another program, Live+Work
College Park, offers full-time employees who work in College Park zero-interest $20,000 loans to help with down payments or closing costs if they purchase a home in the city, according to David Varnado, the senior program and operations manager.
Homeowners who stay in their homes for seven years do not have to repay their loans.
The nine-year-old program, which does not have income restrictions, is for buyers who do not already own property in College Park, Varnado said.
RIVERDALE PARK
THURSDAYS
The program has issued more than $1.65 million in down payment assistance and helped its 100th homeowner buy a house in July.
“That funding can really be that last little piece they need to get them across the finish line,” Varnado said.
Another city initiative, the New Neighbors Homeownership Grant Program, offers grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to help with down payments or closing costs for College Park residents, UMD graduate students and first responders.
The city owns an apartment building offering lower-thanmarket rate rents.
The 108-unit Attick Towers on Rhode Island Avenue sets rents at 30% of an individual’s income for those 55 and older or disabled, according to Michelle Johnson, executive director of the Housing Authority of the City of College Park.
Several residents said without Attick Towers, they wouldn’t be able to afford to live in College Park—or perhaps anywhere.
“I’d probably still be on the streets or still out there looking for housing,” one resident, Constance Ferguson, said.
COLLEGE PARK
The 317-unit Flats at College Park offers reduced rents for lower-income tenants. JALEN WADE
Gill, 45, an IT project manager at the National Institutes of Health, said housing affordability is a major challenge and expressed concern about owner-occupied homes being flipped into rentals.
That trend, he said, disrupts neighborhood stability and contributes to rising housing costs. “I don’t want people to be pushed out of their community,” he said.
As a dad with 9-year-old twins, Gill said he wants to improve walkability and trail connections. He noted the Trolley Trail, which he and his kids use to bike to Berwyn and Lakeland or past Lake Artemesia, is a major asset.
“But it doesn’t often connect to the right places,” he said, pointing to difficulties at the intersection of Route 193 and Rhode Island Avenue.
Gill, who ran for city council in 2017, said he’s running again because “it is a time when people need to step up.” He is a former member of the city’s Advisory Planning Commission and serves on a committee tracking vacant and blighted property.
“I have experience and insight that I can offer on these issues,” Gill added.
Kelly Jordan
For nearly a decade, Jordan has been a steady presence in District 2 civic life—from co-leading the Berwyn District Civic Association to serving as treasurer of her children’s elementary school PTA.
Now, at 48, she is seeking to extend that service by running for city council.
Jordan, who grew up in South Carolina and moved to the Berwyn neighborhood nine years ago, said her campaign is rooted in representation.
“I want to make sure that there are lots of different interests that all get heard from and incorporated into the decisionmaking that goes into the policies,” she said. “I want to be a part of that.”
In fact, she said, she sees stu-
I
dents as a key constituency, noting that District 2 councilmembers represent many University of Maryland dormitories and student homes.
“A lot of students don’t realize that they are eligible to vote in city elections,” she said. “And so I want to reach out to both the residents who are long-time or recently moved to College Park, but also the student body itself.”
Jordan’s career began in condensed matter physics, when she published research and traveled internationally to present it, before pivoting a decade ago into IT security.
That scientific background, she said, defines her approach to policy, as does her experience as the parent of four school-age children.
Although this is her first run for elected office, Jordan said
she has long been active in community leadership.
“I’ve been on boards before, but I’ve never been on the governing body in this sense before,” she acknowledged.
Holly Simmons
When Simmons moved to College Park nine years ago, it was as a graduate student at the University of Maryland. Nearly a decade later, she said, “I really love the community that I found here.”
Simmons, who lives in the Berwyn neighborhood, said she has a passion for local government, adding, “Having someone who … really cares about District 2 and the community … will really serve the community well.”
She has nearly a decade of experience in urban planning and local government, hav-
ing worked for municipalities in Prince George’s County. She now serves as an urban planner for the city of Rockville.
“I think it will help with my understanding of local government and kind of how things work, how to build consensus in that context, and how to work for solutions and with community members,” said Simmons, who is the acting treasurer of the Berwyn District Civic Association and has served on several city committees.
Simmons said she hopes to focus on affordability, restorative justice and livability. She pointed to the city’s efforts with affordable housing and the restorative justice initiative for the Lakeland community as priorities she would continue.
Simmons, who grew up in Florida, described District 2 as “the heart of College Park,” a diverse area bisected by Greenbelt Road and home to both long-term residents and a large student population from the University of Maryland.
“Students are integral to the community, truly,” she said. “I started as a student at the University of Maryland, which is what brought me to College Park, and I chose to stay because of the experiences that I had in College Park during that time.”
Christopher Gill, Kelly Jordan, Holly Simmons COURTESY OF THE CANDIDATES
N. College Park mini-mall to get facelift
By EVONY SALMERON and SHARON O’MALLEY
A mini-mall at the intersection of Edgewood Road and Rhode Island Avenue that locals have called an eyesore is undergoing a gradual facelift.
Known locally as the Saab property, Hollywood Plaza, which houses New York Deli, a West African grill and grocery store, two small churches, a hair salon and a few other businesses, is under new ownership.
Two sisters, Randa Najjar and Sarah Saab, inherited the property from their father, Randy M. Shaban, who lived in Europe as the property fell into disrepair, the new owners said.
Saab said her father moved overseas when he retired and “really had in mind that everything was how it was 28 years ago.” The sisters took over the property earlier this year after
Shaban passed away.
“I didn’t know that we were this pariah in the neighborhood,” Saab said at a July community meeting organized by City Councilmember Jacob Hernandez (District 1).
Residents at the meeting complained of a retaining wall that is falling down and an overgrown field of grass.
Saab said the sisters, who graduated from the University of Maryland and live in the Annapolis area, “weren’t aware of the situation.”
Still, she said at the meeting, they have invested $100,000 of their own money into refacing the property and asked the neighbors to be patient as they do the work.
“We are two people, not a conglomerate,” Saab said. “We’re going to do the best we can. Since taking it over, we’ve done more work than has been done
for the past 20 years.”
Saab said the upgrades so far have included landscaping and repaving the parking lot.
“We understand your concern; it doesn’t look good,” Saab said. “We’re trying to fix that.”
“It was really a great opportunity for us to convey where we’re at … and we’re new at this, and we’ve made, I think, significant improvements in the short time that we’ve acquired it, you know?” Najjar told College Park Here & Now. “Like they’re our neighbors, but we’re their neighbors as well, and we want to be good neighbors.”
The audience was receptive.
City Councilmember Alan Hew (District 1) called the property “part of the heart and soul of our community.” Others said they would welcome any improvements.
Still, the condition of the property remains a concern for
Rockville teen wins Miss College Park
By KATHERINE SCHUTZMAN
Rockville High School senior Blakely Pfaff is the 33rd Miss College Park.
Seventeen-year-old Pfaff, a Montgomery County resident, won the crown at the College Park American Legion on Sept. 28 over seven competitors. She replaced Madelyn Bronk, Miss College Park 2025.
The competition’s $2,000 scholarship prize motivated her to participate, Pfaff said, adding she is looking forward to the community involvement that will accompany her new title.
“College Park has such a rich
sense of community spirit that I’m so excited to be able to fully immerse myself in it, get to know the people who live here and be able to promote it the best way I can,” said Pfaff, who previously
was Miss Bethesda Teen 2024 and serves as Miss Washington County’s Teen 2025.
Miss College Park competitors are judged and scored based on an application and portfolio, their first impression, a personal interview and overall appearance and poise. Contestants must live, work or go to school in Maryland to be eligible.
Angie Rodriguez, the pageant’s executive director, started the contest in 1991. She said she loves watching the winners grow throughout their terms.
Rodriguez dedicated this year’s pageant to RJ Bentley’s founder John Brown, who died last year.
some neighbors.
“One of the things that struck me was I had previously, and very publicly, received a lot of concerns about this property, mostly because of the state of how it was in the past,” Hernandez said. “We had some more frank and serious discussions regarding some of, just, the conditions, including some of the overgrown grass, some of the falling signs.”
Realtor and long-time Hollywood resident Arellis Perez called the place “quite an eyesore.”
“I am all for small business owners, retail and anyone that wants to do business in College Park,” Perez, a single mother who said she plans to age in place here, told College Park Here & Now. “What I have an
issue with is for those that do business in College Park and do not invest in our beloved city. It’s wonderful that you live in Annapolis, Davidsonville. I’m all in. But where you’re getting a return on investment is where? The city of College Park, District 1, Hollywood.”
Hernandez said he is optimistic the new owners will be good neighbors and more present as landlords. Perez said she hopes to see major improvements to the property by the end of next year.
Najjar said she is not so sure. “It all depends on what help we can get,” Najjar said. “We’re doing the best we can. And I would love to continue to hear from the community. I hope they’re pleased with what we’ve done so far.”
Blakely Pfaff, Miss College Park 2026 CREDIT