Issuu

INSIDE Board games are big business in College Park, P. 3 Fallen tree lives on through community, P.8

VOL. 5 NO. 1

JANUARY 2024

COLLEGE PARK’S AWARD-WINNING COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE HERE & NOW!

New laws eﬀective Jan. 1, 2024 By JIMMY TARLAU and STEPHANIE STULLICH

PLASTIC BAG BAN Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties have both instituted plastic bag bans that took effect on Jan. 1; this follows a similar ban adopted by the City of College Park last year that became effective on Sept. 1, 2023. Plastic bags are still permitted for certain items such as raw meat and bulk goods. Retailers will have to charge a minimum of 10 cents for paper bags in most cases, to encourage shoppers to bring reusable bags. The Environmental Protection Agency esSEE LAWS ON 12

Students beat the drum to welcome legislators to PGCPS’ inaugural legislative day. KIT SLACK

PGCPS asks for state funds, proposes budget By KIT SLACK On Dec. 15, beats from a live drumline filled the parking lot at DuVal High School in Lanham as uniformed Air Force JROTC students stood at attention along a red carpet. Students were welcoming elected state and county officials, arriving at the invitation of leaders of Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS). Millard House II, who is serving his

first year as PGCPS superintendent, laid out the school system’s plans to advocate in the state capitol this coming legislative session, which runs from Jan. 10 to April 8. The event was the first of three December announcements of PGCPS priorities. House went on to publish a proposed $2.8 billion operating budget on Dec. 18 and, on Dec. 19, a 90 Day Plan Report, described as a roadmap for immediate action.

COLLEGE PARK WILD

Sleeping in silk sheets

MORE STATE MONEY, FEWER STRINGS ATTACHED

By RICK BORCHELT

According to the legislative platform presented Dec. 15, the school district is advocating more state funding to offset the end of federal COVID-19 relief, as well as full funding under the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, state legislation passed in 2021 to dramatically increase school funding over 10 years. PGCPS seeks state funds for stu-

ome a warm, still late afternoon in May, a male cecropia moth — Hyalophora cecropia, the largest native moth in North America — begins to shiver on the shaded perch where he’s been napping the day away. Shivering not with cold, but with anticipation. Somewhere in a nearby forest, a female cecropia is beginning to force her way out of the cocoon that has been her home since October. Even before she is fully clear of the tough

SEE BUDGET ON 7

SEE SILK ON 5

INSIDE: THE JANUARY 2024 ISSUE OF THE COLLEGE PARK POST HYATTSVILLE MD PERMIT NO. 1383

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Page 2

College Park Here & Now | January 2024

FROM THE EDITOR

Thanks for helping us to keep bringing you good news in 2024 By PAUL RUFFINS

he College Park Here & Now’s definition of good news is news, features and commentary that consistently feature good writing that underwent thoughtful editing. It doesn’t mean only serving up stories that make people feel good. That’s not reporting, it’s propaganda, and our readers would immediately set our ears on fire for neglecting our role as neighborhood watch dogs as well as community cheerleaders. Unlike the internet and social media, our writers use their real names, and when we print mistakes, our editors work to correct them. Overall, we feel that 2023 was a vintage year for our brand of local coverage. In November,

we reported that newly unionized workers were protesting against retaliation. Last July, we reminded readers that the Canadian wildfires were only one cause of the region’s chronically poor air quality. In May, we celebrated as the University of Maryland welcomed back alumnus Jeff Kinney. Kinney drew a cartoon in The Diamondback before creating the blockbuster Diary of a Wimpy Kid series of books and movies. Healthy communities require honest reporting to make important local decisions and need informed opinions to explore how regional issues relate to national concerns. That’s a tall order and a high expectation for a nonprofit, community-based publication. The only reason we largely manage

to succeed is because you, our neighbors, keep offering us a high level of support. Last month, you generously opened your wallets and helped us take advantage of a matching grant from the NewsMatch fund to support investigative and public service journalism. Each month, it’s overwhelmingly volunteer writers who fire up their keyboards to craft our coverage. Every month, our unpaid board members and our part-time paid staff approach the next edition as a nearly fulltime labor of love. After all, the real financial benefits go to the local businesses who understand the value of reaching every home in our town. You are why the College Park Here & Now has been able to stay in print after most local

publications have gone bankrupt. Your donations, your photos, your writing and your criticisms are critical to our success. Thanks again for letting us bring College Park the gift of

Dancing in Silence celebrates 15 years in University Park By PAUL RUFFINS Early Saturday mornings, the University Park Church of the Brethren, at Tuckerman Street and Route 1, hosts a small cadre of people led by a true believer. They open their moving meditation with a healthy serving of what Janet Thomas calls “eating our bitter greens, which may not be pleasant but keep us healthy.” Thomas is the founder of the Dancing in Silence martial arts center, and her bitter greens are the qigong exercises that form the basis for tai chi, as practiced primarily for health purposes rather than fighting. Thomas moves with the suppleness of a light middle-

weight boxer and speaks with the soothing cadence of a yoga teacher. “Your body is upright like the top of your head is suspended from the ceiling by an invisible string,” she chants quietly. “Your shoulders hang low, your tailbone hangs low, and your weight is equally distributed on both feet.” New students often find it surprisingly hard to spend just three minutes standing up perfectly still. The newsletter of Harvard Medical School praises tai chi as a form of moving meditation, explaining that, “Tai chi differs from other types of exercise in several respects. The movements are usually circular and never forced, the muscles are relaxed rather Interim Managing Editor Paul Ruﬃns paul@streetcarsuburbs.news

A nationally-recognized community newspaper chronicling the here and now of College Park. Mailing address: PO Box 132, Hyattsville, MD 20781 The College Park Here & Now is published monthly by Streetcar Suburbs Publishing., a 501(c)(3) nonproﬁt corporation. Editors welcome reader input, tips, articles, letters, opinion pieces and photographs, which may be submitted using the mailing address above or the email addresses provided.

StreetcarSuburbs.News

Associate Editor Nancy Welch nancy@streetcarsuburbs.news Columnists Rich Borchelt, Mike Menke, Paul Ruﬃns Contributors Kathy Bryant, Luke Rowe, Stephanie Stuillich, Jimmy Tarlau

Layout & Design Editors Ashley Perks, Valerie Morris Web Editor Jessica Burshtynskyy Advertising advertising@streetcarsuburbs.news 301.531.5234 Advertising Sales Manager Miranda Goodson

A substantial body of scientific research suggests that tai chi is probably the single best exercise for senior citizens. It offers many of the non-impact and cardiovascular benefits of swimming without requiring a pool. Business Manager Catie Currie Executive Director Kit Slack Board of Directors

President: Stephanie Stullich Vice President & General Counsel: Michael Walls Treasurer: Joe Murchison Secretary: Melanie Dzwonchyk Bette Dickerson, Nora Eidelman, Joseph Gigliotti, Maxine Gross, Merrill Hartson, Marta McLellan Ross, T. Carter Ross Ex Officios: Katie V. Jones, Griffin Limerick, Paul Ruffins, Kit Slack

Circulation: Copies are distributed monthly by U.S. mail to every address in College Park. Additional copies are distributed to popular gathering spots around town. Total circulation is 9,600. CPH&N is a member of the National Newspaper Association and the Institute for Nonproﬁt News.

than tensed, the joints are not fully extended or bent, and connective tissues are not stretched. Tai chi can be easily adapted for anyone, from the most fit to people confined to wheelchairs or recovering from surgery.” A substantial body of scientific research suggests that tai chi is probably the single best exercise for senior citizens. It offers many of the non-impact and cardiovascular benefits of swimming without requiring a pool. And, while most beginning yoga exercises take place on the ground, tai chi offers the same breathing and meditative benefits but is practiced the way most people actually move, which is on both feet, standing up. Thomas is an anomaly, a woman in electrical engineering, a field dominated by men, and an African American teaching old-style Lao Yang Family tai chi and Taoist longevity exercises. In 2008, she decided to offer classes at the church as a form of community healing. Thomas’ chi energy draws an unusual concentration of scientists, other Black martial artist practitioners — and sometimes both. One of her newest students is Andi Huberty, who holds a doctorate in entomology from the University of Maryland and started studying with Thomas in the spring of 2023. Huberty, who grew up playing soccer and danced as an adult, said, “I never considered the fighting aspect of tai chi at all.

good local journalism, whether the news is difficult to hear or a joy to behold. Please scan the QR code here and show your continued support.

I joined to focus on my breathing and become more aware of how my body is moving in space. I chose to study here because the group is very accepting of new students and willing to help you.” Thomas’ oldest student is probably Keith Preddie, 85, a retired engineer who saw her class practicing in the parking lot while he was driving up Route 1. He recruited his younger son, Darryl, 54, who is an architect and his older Dexter, who is also an engineer. As a young man, Darryl had taken karate classes and fought in World Champion Sugar Ray Leonard's boxing gym in nearby Palmer Park. Now he’s one of Dancing in Silence’s five other instructors. “We’re incorporated because we need the same liability insurance as yoga studios and boxing gyms,” he said, “but as far as I’m concerned, it’s really like an extended family healing circle.” Like Thomas, Preddie is a strong proponent for the restorative powers of tai chi. “After I developed a case of diabetes, Janet convinced me to really start reading the labels on what I was eating and pay more attention to the qigong exercises for cleansing and health. They do a world of wonder for the mind and body.” Another student who focuses on the healing aspect is Madeline Simpson, who said, “I study this traditional Lao Yang style here with Janet. But over at the Cedar Heights Community Center, I teach a style called Dr. Paul Lam’s Tai Chi for Arthritis and Balance.” SEE DANCING ON 7 

January 2024 | College Park Here & Now

Page 3

by two graduate students at the University of Maryland’s (UMD) Robert H. Smith school of business. Looney Labs, publisher of the award-winning FLUXX series of card games, which are available in more than a dozen different languages, was created by Kristin and Andrew Looney, two UMD graduates who gave up aerospace engineering careers to publish games. The city is the home of Board and Brew, which was founded in 2014 and may be one of the oldest board game cafés in the

College Park’s board game boom This year marks the 50th anniversary of the release of Dungeons & Dragons, the board game that revolutionized the

industry by allowing players to assume different characters’ identities — innovative then, a standard feature now. Over the years, College Park has become a creative center of board gaming and game

SEE GAME ON 11 

Your community newspaper needs you!

Break My Game’s fundraiser at Game Kastle COURTESY OF LUKE ROWE

By LUKE ROWE and PAUL RUFFINS

country. College Park is also the birthplace of Break My Game (BMG), a nonprofit organization founded by UMD graduate Daniel Palmer. BMG helps developers playtest their games by getting feedback from experienced players who try them out, testing to see if a game is broken by awkward, boring or illogical features. BMG held a fundraiser at Boyd Stephenson’s Game Kastle store last November — Stephenson declared the event an absolute success. It was also a

development. The industry saw $2.2 billion in U.S. sales in 2022 and is projected to grow at over 8% annually through 2027. The NorthStar Game Studio in Bethesda was started

We welcome new tips and photos, as well as letters to the editor and op-eds on topics of local interest. We are looking for volunteer reporters and columnists to help us cover what is happening in our communities more completely. Email kit@streetcarsuburbs.news if you can help out.

Maryland's 21st District Delegation

College Park’s State Legislators - Standing Up for Working Families!

Join us for f r dinner in Annapolis fo Annap a olis January ap r 29th! ry We appreciate the opportunity to represent you in the Maryland legislature and hope you can join us and other College Park neighbors on Monday, January 29th, 6-8 pm, at Market House in Annapolis for good food and fellowship. We’ll be joined by other state and local leaders who represent you. If you want to come to dinner by bus with College Park neighbors, reserve your seat when you RSVP. Questions? Email us at 21stDistrictDelegation@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you! — Jim, Joseline, Ben, and Mary

To RSVP and reserve your seat, visit bit.ly/District21Night or call (240) 712-4646.

Page 4

College Park Here & Now | January 2024

State legislative preview The Maryland General Assembly will be in session from Jan. 8 to April 10. We thought our readers would want to know what their representatives will be working on, so we asked each of your state senators and state delegates the following questions: 1. What are your top priorities for this legislative session? 2. In what areas will you be seeking more transparency, accountability or budget cuts? 3. What are some district-specific issues you plan to take on? 4. With tightening budgets, how do you see public school funding being affected? Their answers are below.

DISTRICT 21 (College Park and Laurel) Senator Jim Rosapepe Top priorities • Protecting state investment in public safety, local schools,

roads (particularly Route 1 and city and county streets in Laurel and College Park), and transit, health care, local businesses and fighting climate change • Boosting state investment in expanding apprenticeship job opportunities for young people to enter good career paths and for local employers to get the skilled workers they need • Improving public safety by requiring state, county and city agencies to boost cooperation and to reduce recidivism by creating robust pathways for prisoners to get skills they need to go right to work in honest jobs when they’re released Transparency, accountability or budget cuts Primarily in the use of state investment in public safety and education District-specific issues • Oversight of Route 1 and Purple Line light rail line construction through College Park • Seeking a major state grant for the Laurel Multipurpose Center, which will expand help for the homeless, as well as for recre-

ation facilities for the whole community Public school funding We’ll do all we can to protect it. The issue is that, several years from now, the state and the county will need to invest more to make the major improvements in pre-K, mental health, reading and math, college prep, early college and apprenticeships starting in high school, which is required by the Blueprint school reform law already passed. Delegates Joseline Pena-Melnyk, Ben Barnes, Mary Lehman and I are focused on how to do this in a way which protects other important public services and is fair for working and retired families. Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk Top priorities As chair of the House Health and Government Operations Committee, my top legislative priorities for this session revolve around critical areas such as public health, insurance, pharmaceuticals, health occupations, long-term care, be-

havioral health and government operations. One primary focus is on expanding the authority of the prescription drug affordability board to address the escalating costs of medications. Additionally, the committee aims to enhance health benefits and reduce the number of uninsured Marylanders through targeted legislative measures. Notable priorities within this context include Assisted Outpatient Therapy, Access to Care, and Death with Dignity, reflecting a commitment to improving mental health services and health care accessibility. Transparency, accountability or budget cuts Given the tight budgetary constraints this year, a concerted effort will be made to ensure transparency, accountability and prudent financial management. There will be a cautious approach towards any unnecessary spending, and the creation of new programs requiring substantial state fiscal investment will be limited. This aligns with the necessity to navigate the challenges of a constrained budget while still addressing vital legislative responsibilities.

District-specific issues In terms of district-specific issues, collaboration with fellow district representatives is key. Together, we plan to prioritize funding for essential projects like the replacement of air conditioning and heating units for Village Commons in Gambrills and the installation of elevators at the Beltsville Volunteer Fire Department to enhance ADA accessibility. By addressing these and other local needs, we aim to directly contribute to the well-being and infrastructure improvement of our community. Public school funding Despite budgetary constraints, the commitment to public education remains steadfast. The implementation of the 10-year Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education reform plan will continue, with a focus on expanding early childhood education, hiring and retaining high-quality teachers, preparing students for various career paths, and providing additional resources for students in need. This ensures that educational priorities are maintained, even in the face of tightening budgets. Delegates Ben Barnes and Mary Lehman had not responded to our inquiry as of press time.

January 2024 | College Park Here & Now

Page 5

Male (left) and female cecropia moths locked in amorous embrace. COURTESY OF PAUL HARRISON/CREATIVE COMMONS

SILK FROM PAGE 1

brown outer silk, she begins releasing pheremones, potent airborne chemicals, to scent the air.. For up to a mile away, every male cecropia picks up the heady scent. Male cecropias have wider, more plumose antennae than females do, antennae that bear a precision array of thousands of chemical sensors, each exquisitely tuned to pick up even a few molecules of a female’s potent sex lure. That male on the shaded perch has been waiting for this cue for days, and the scent sets his whole body to vibrating. His anticipation building, he soon flutters off in search of that female. Meantime, she pumps excess fluid from her plump abdomen into wing pads that expand to five inches or more wide before they harden in the air while she waits for her suitors. All the while, she releases more pheromones from a special gland she extrudes from her abdomen, just in case males out there missed the news. The male follows the trail of her scent molecules, zigzagging over the landscape in what seems a random pattern to anyone watch-

ing him fly. In reality, he’s detecting slight differences in pheromone concentrations on the breeze and follows wherever the trail is smelliest, a path that may take him through dense trees, across fields and streams, over hills and highways, or through suburbia. All sorts of hazards await him on his nuptial journey. Bats are fond of these large flying burritos, and screech owls also find them a worthy snack. The female of at least one species of spider, the bolas spider, secretes a mimic pheromone that lures male moths close enough for her to fling a sticky ball of silk to ensnare the hapless moth. We have four species of bolas spiders lying in wait for moths in Maryland; the most common is the toadlike bolas spider, Mestophora phrynosoma. And our male moth might also get distracted by bright lights. In addition to following pheromone trails, silk moths normally navi-

gate their environment by moonlight and starlight. There is truth to the old saying, “like a moth to a flame.” Moths (and many other nocturnal insects) find the illumination of street lamps, porch lights and neon signs irresistible and, once enraptured by the bright light, remain enthralled until the light is turned off, dawn arrives. It’s likely he is not traveling alone. Other male cecropias may also be winging toward the source of the scent, and it’s a race to see who finds the female first and locks her into a breeding embrace that shuts down her pheromone factory. They stay locked together for up to 24 hours, at which point she will knock him loose, and they go their respective ways — he to perhaps find another female and she to find a suitable plant on which to lay her eggs. Mating accomplished, neither is long for this world. Like other

members of the giant silk moth family, cecropias have no mouth or gut — they have to live on whatever stored fats they brought into the cocoon with them the previous fall. A two-week-old cecropia is practically a moth Methuselah. So the female cecropia can waste no time; she has more than a hundred creamy white eggs to lay. Here in Maryland, young caterpillars typically feed on maple, willow, cherry and birch; the female may visit dozens of these trees, depositing small clumps of eggs on leaves each time. When she’s done, she dies. The eggs hatch in about two weeks. Life is very uncertain for these young cecropias — they’re on everyone’s menu. If they survive, they’ll molt four times, from rice-grain-sized, spiky black larvae to 2-inch-long, bright green behemoths. As they reach this final stage, they wander off to find a suitable spot to spin a cocoon. They molt for the last time inside the cocoon, leaving a hard, brown bullet-shaped pupa snuggled in silk. The cocoon itself is a woven marvel of three separate insulating silk layers, the outer one tough and water repellent, often wrapped in leaves. But even these tough sheaths are not proof against predators. Mice, chickadees and downy woodpeckers have all figured out there is a tasty meal inside the lumpy cocoon. Cecropias that survive the winter in their silk chambers will wiggle, squirm and muscle their way out of the cocoon, using a special escape hatch they spun into the weave.

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Populations of giant silk moths of all kinds are declining dramatically in eastern North America, mostly due to human-induced causes. The caterpillars are very susceptible to insecticides, especially mosquito sprays like Mosquito Joe. Forest spraying for pest caterpillars like spongy moth, aka gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), takes a huge toll where it is done. But probably the worst culprit is a parasitic fly, Compsilura concinnata, that was introduced from Europe with the best intentions of being a biological control agent for spongy moth (also a European import). Unfortunately, the fly proved to be only mediocre as a control agent for the pest; it much prefers larger targets like giant silk moths. Most of the silk moth cocoons you find in the winter in our region have been parasitized by the fly, and the pupa inside is dead. Winter, with its bare branches, is the time to look for cocoons on trees and shrubs. If you do find a viable giant silk moth cocoon on a tree branch in the winter, resist the temptation to bring it indoors. If you do, it’ll hatch too early in the warmth of your home, and there will be no other moths around to create or follow their airborne scent trails.

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Page 6

College Park Here & Now | January 2024

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Local News Journalism Today. A discussion with retired reporter Peter Pichaske, Ken Weiss, author of Still Trending: A Divided America from Newspaper to Newsfeed (due out next August), faculty from UMD’s Merrill College of Journalism, and staff and board members of Streetcar Suburbs Publishing. Free. Jan.13 from 4 to 6 p.m. University Park Church of the Brethren, 4413 Tuckerman St., University Park

String quartet concert. University Park residents May Ing and Karen Hogan (violons), Doug Julin (viola) and Bob Park (violoncello) play music by Josef Haydn, Wolfgang Mozart, Antonin Dvorak, Josef Strauss and Scott Joplin. Free. Feb. 10 at 4 p.m. University Park Church of the Brethren, 4413 Tuckerman St., University Park. For more information, email davidcbrosch@comcast.net. ADOBE STOCK

Brentwood Arts Exchange Film: "Riding Giants." Start your winter off warm with this documentary about the art of big-wave surfing in Hawaii. Free. Jan. 18 from 7 to 9 p.m. 3901 Rhode Island Ave., Brentwood. For more information, go to brentwoodarts@pgparks.com or call 301.227.2863 Kids’ Art Drop In. Hands-on creative session hosted by the College Park Arts Exchange and led by an experienced teacher for ages 3-8 accompanied by caregivers. Free. Jan. 20 at two locations: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at College Park Community Center, 5101 Pierce Ave. and 12:30 to 2 p.m. at the Old Parish House,

4711 Knox Road. For more information, email info@cpae.org Open Auditions for Summer 2024 Shakespeare in the Parks. Here’s your chance to get into the act, whether you’re a beginning talent or an experienced thespian. Register by Jan. 19 for auditions on Jan. 21 at pgparks.com/ event_list/shakespeare-in-theparks-auditions. Email megan. merchant@pgparks.com for more information. College Park Arts Exchange Needle Arts Club. Are you a sharp little sew-and-sew? Meet up with other folks who like to sew, knit and crochet. Jan. 21, 5

to 8 p.m. Free. Old Parish House, 4711 Knox Road. For more information, go to cpae.org/arts/ course/needle-arts-club/ Experimental Dance Concert. The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center presents choreography by graduate dance students. Jan. 27 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Free, tickets required. For more information and to register, go to tinyurl.com/4nz2r247 Mardi Gras Skate. Your whole family can get their glide on at the Herbert Wells Ice Rink. Feb. 2, 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. 5211 Campus Dr. Admission $5 adults, $4 children; $2 skate rental. For more

information, call 301.277.3717 Teddy Bears Indoors Picnic. Kids are invited to bring along any stuffed friend of any breed for a snack, parade, music and stories. Free. Feb. 10 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Old Parish House, 4711 Knox Road Unshrink My Heart. Come make Valentine's gifts from Shrinky Dinks® craft sheets at this holiday workshop. Free. Feb. 10, from 2 to 4 p.m. Brentwood Arts Exchange, 3901 Rhode Island Ave., Brentwood. Email brentwoodarts@pgparks.com for more information.

Black History Month Art Exhibit. Harmony Hall Arts Center presents their annual exhibition in honor of Black History Month. Free. Jan. 27 to March 31. 10701 Livingston Road, Fort Washington. For more information, go to harmonyhallarts@pgparks.com or call 301.203.6070

ONGOING Tai Chi Workshop. Ancient moving meditation for health and fitness led by a master teacher. Free. Saturday mornings at 8 a.m. Church of the Brethren (basement), 4413 Tuckerman St., University Park. For more information, go to dancinginsilence.com or call 301.466.5894

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JANUARY 2024

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Commemorating the civil rights hero’s legacy and life accomplishments The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is a time set aside each year, where we as a country, work together to serve others and make our communities more equitable. We annually observe this day each year on the third Monday in January. As the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service, MLK Day encourages all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. This year, our City stands as a testament to the dreams of diversity and inclusion that Dr. King dared to envision. His legacy reminds us of the impact each individual can make in fostering positive change for generations to come. College Park residents are encouraged to reflect on the teachings of Dr. King by joining us in January for:

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Register at mlkday2024. eventbrite.com by January 14. • Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, (9am & 10am) is a one-man production, will introduce you to the modern civil rights advocate and how this American hero helped to transform our society. This timely program explores the life of Dr. King, beginning with his childhood, to the peak of this career and ultimately to his untimely demise. • The Spirit to Overcome (1pm & 2pm) is a show that follows the first female slave stepping ashore from a slave ship to Michelle Obama, the first African American First Lady. All women of color have faced daily challenges and struggles in the fight against prejudice, bias, social and political limitations. They shared “The Spirit To Overcome.”

THE COLLEGE PARK POST | JANUARY 2024

FLEE! STORIES OF FLIGHT: MARYLAND IN BLACK & WHITE EXHIBIT | JAN. 24 TO MAR. 7 | CITY HALL The Underground Railroad touched all parts of society, enslaved and free, black and white. This exhibit explores previously unknown stories of slave owners, fugitives and accomplices to show how slavery and the flight to freedom shapes the lives of all Marylanders. The Maryland State Archives produced this exhibit as part of its ongoing effort to study the legacy of slavery in Maryland.

BOOK GIVEAWAY | JAN. 15 As part of our tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the month of January, the City is also hosting a book giveaway! Students in grades K - 6 can receieve free copies of three books that educate and inform about Dr. King’s life and his work towards

Civil Rights on January 15, 2024.

FOOD DRIVE | JAN. 2-31 Throughout the month of January, the City of College Park will honor the life and legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. with a canned food drive starting Tuesday, January 2nd through Wednesday, Jan. 31. A collection box will be established at the City Hall Building (7401 Baltimore Ave.). Davis Hall (9217 51st Ave.), and at Youth & Family Services (4912 Nantucket Rd). The City will gladly accept your donations of non-perishable, clean, non-dented canned and boxed food items, not past their expiration date (no homemade items) to support the College Park Community Food Bank.

DAY OF SERVICE In Dr. King’s spirit of service, we are sharing other community service opportunities in College Park and the surrounding areas! Visit www. collegeparkmd.gov/mlk.

PAGE 1

Join the parade force!

Register to be a part of College Park’s third annual parade! This year’s cosmic celebration is Star Wars- themed. From seasoned Jedis to baby Yodas, everyone is welcome to dress up and participate. Use jedi mind tricks to convince your friends and neighbors to join you!

collegeparkmd.gov/ cpforce2024

Interested in volunteering to help with the parade? email volunteers@collegeparkmd.gov

THE COLLEGE PARK POST | JANUARY 2024

PAGE 2

Snow & Ice Removal Prepare for this winter - follow these tips in a snow emergency The City’s priority during a snow event is to clear snow and ice as quickly and efficiently as possible, restoring safe travel for emergency crews, motorists, and pedestrians. Snow and ice removal are considered an emergency operation and takes precedence over other Public Works tasks. The snow plan will go into effect upon the order of the City Manager or the Director of Public Works. The plan consists of an Alert Phase and an Operation Phase. The alert phase may include pretreating designated streets with salt brine to prevent snow and ice adhesion to the road surface. Snow or icy precipitation, which requires roadway treatment, will be considered an emergency under the operational phase. During a snow emergency: • Snow removal equipment will be dispatched to predetermined routes when snow or ice is imminent. Salting operations usually begin at the onset of precipitation,

depending on pavement temperature and the forecast.

street so the snow plows can clear snow to the curb.

• First application of salt will be ordered by the Director or Assistant Director. Plowing operations will commence when there is accumulated snow or slush on the roadway.

• If off-street parking is not available during predicted snowstorms, park on the EVEN side of the road

• Initially, one lane will be plowed on all streets followed by widening of the plowed lane. All streets will be plowed curb to curb, as conditions allow. • Designated crews will be dispatched to clear sidewalks, bus stops, RRFB cross walks, and the trolley trail locations throughout the City. • Snow and ice-clearing operations will be carried out in accordance with established priorities as circumstances permit. Public Works crews plow and salt City streets and City parking lots to clear snow and ice. Things you can do to help include: • Move parked cars off the

THE COLLEGE PARK POST | JANUARY 2024

(EXCEPTION: if your address is odd-numbered and the area across from your house is undeveloped, park on the odd side of the street) • The City is not responsible for clearing snow from driveways or driveway aprons - this is the resident’s responsibility. • After the snowplows have finished cleaning your street, clear snow and ice from the sidewalks, storm drains and fire hydrants in front of your residence. • Always plan to set your refuse and recycling carts out for your regularly scheduled day during snow events. Refuse and recycling collections may occur later in the day than normal, or they could be delayed a day.

Care Solace Partnership for Mental Health Creating easier acceess to mental health services The City of College Park has entered into a contract with Care Solace to assist all residents more easily access mental health care and social services. Care Solace will serve as a liaison between first responders, justice systems, social agencies, and community-based mental health providers to connect individuals with the right resources and appropriate care, including assistance with mental health, food, housing, substance use treatment, and affordable medical and dental care. The service is available 24/7/365 in more than 200 languages. Care Solace’s coordination services are free, confidential, and accessible via: Phone: Call 888-515-7881 24/7 Website: Search anonymously by answering just a few questions at caresolace.com/md-collegepark.

PAGE 3

City Announcements More information: www.collegeparkmd.gov CITY HOLIDAY CLOSURES All City offices will be closed on Monday, January 15th in observace of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. There will be no trash or recycling collections on January 15th; all collection days slide forward one day (Monday collections will occur on Tuesday and so forth), and Friday is the only special/ bulk trash collection day for that week.

A BALANCING ACT A Balancing Act is an online budgeting tool that the City is incorporating to make the process of getting budget feedback from you, our community, even easier. We are in the early stages of preparing the proposed budget for fiscal year 2025, which begins July 1st of 2024. The City wants to hear from you what you think are the most important initiatives for the City to invest in. To accomplish this, we have set up a survey of 16 core initiatives, plus a suggestion box. You can take the survey at www.collegeparkmd. gov/budgetfeedback. There, you’ll be able to select and

rank the five services you think are most important. If there is an idea or priority that we have not identified, you can add it in via the “your suggestion” box. Whether it’s better streets, additional police patrols, or more community events, let us know what areas are crucial to helping the City accomplish its mission of providing excellent services, transparent and inclusive governance, and advocating for our residents to enhance the quality of life for our diverse community. Share your thoughts on how we can make College Park an even better place to live. Help shape our community before January 12th, 2024 at www.collegeparkmd.gov/ budgetfeedback.

ELDERLY PROPERTY TAX CREDIT APPLICATION Elderly Property Tax Credit Application available now! Effective 2024 (FY24), which began July 1, 2023, the City of College Park will provide a $150 credit of the City portion of the property tax bill for up to 5 years for owners aged 65 and over. Learn more at www.collegeparkmd.gov/ elderlytaxcredit.

CITY ANNOUNCES NEW DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICES January 3, 2024 – The City of College Park is pleased to announce that Jatinder Khokhar has been selected to serve as the City’s new Director of Public Services. Mr. Khokhar will start his tenure on January 8, following the retirement of Director Robert Ryan. “We are excited to have Jatinder join the City as the new Director of Public Services,” said Kenny Young, City Manager, “he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this important position from municipalities across the country.” Mr. Khokhar comes to the City with more than 30 years of experience in Building and Code administration. Previously, he served as a Combination Plan Reviewer for the City of Fairfax.

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He holds credentials as a certified Residential Combination Inspector, Certified Building Official, and holds a B.S. in Engineering. Mr. Khokhar will replace long-time Director of Public Services, Bob Ryan. In November of 1998, Mr. Ryan began his career with the City of College Park as Director after previously serving at the University of Maryland. After more than 25 years with the City, Mr. Ryan will retire from the City of College Park on January 5, 2024.

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Mr. Khokhar has a breadth of experience in plan review, building inspection, code enforcement, and training.

He has also held positions of Inspection Services Director, for the City of Seattle, Washington; Director of Community Development, for the Town of Dumfries, Virginia; Chief Building Official, Inspection and

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PAGE 4

January 2024 | College Park Here & Now

BUDGET FROM PAGE 1

dent welfare: for universal free lunch, counselors, addiction and crime prevention, immunization and school-based wellness clinics. The school district also wants more state funding for virtual education and to pay more competitive wages to information technology staff. School construction is a big focus of the PGCPS legislative platform, including construction to support expansion of pre-kindergarten and career and technical education programs. School construction, according to PGCPS, should be exempt from “uncommonly rigorous stormwater management requirements, including during the construction period.” PGCPS wants flexibility and control over testing and assessments, and opposes dedicating more classroom time to state tests. When it comes to staffing and recruitment, the school district says the state should require uniform teacher career ladders in districts throughout Maryland, which would make it more difficult for other school districts to recruit teachers away from the county. PGCPS advocates waiving standardized testing requirements for teachers who fail repeated attempts to pass required exams but are deemed highly effective in the classroom, according to PGCPS evaluations. PGCPS also advocates lifting the requirement that teachers from out of state recertify in Maryland. PGCPS advocates a significant increase in funding for special education, in particular, including for incentives to attract qualified staff and for tuition at non-public schools. The school district also seeks more state funding for transportation, electric buses

Page 7

and bus driver recruitment. Among other points calling for less state interference in the board of education’s operations, the platform says the county school board should have authority to appoint the superintendent. Currently, the county executive selects the superintendent with the help of a three-person committee whose members are selected by the governor and the state superintendent.

SHOW OF UNITY, START OF DIALOG After laying out PGCPS’ legislative platform, Superintendent House and school board chair Judy Mickens-Murray invited state and county legislators to join PGCPS officials in lobbying efforts around shared priorities. The PGCPS legislative day was a new event and a significant step for a district that, as recently as 2021, began the legislative session with a dispute between board members over issues including a state lobbyist’s contract. Former board chair Juanita Miller grabbed the microphone at the end of the presentation to thank state legislators in attendance for their advocacy for county students at the state level in prior years. “I don’t want anybody to walk away from here today thinking that our state legislators have not provided for this county and our education system,” Miller said, to loud applause, adding, “I am so happy that the superintendent and the chief of staff brought them and brought us together today, because we’ve been working in silos, and we’ve got to start working together.” State and county officials had questions for PGCPS leadership. Wanika Fisher, a county councilmember (District 2) who served as a state representative from 2019 to 2022,

DANCING FROM PAGE 2

Simpson was introduced to Dancing in Silence by Eric Jordan, who taught her another modern version of tai chi known as 24, which is widely practiced all over the world. Jordan also recruited Gloria Hicks, who teaches at another community center. Jordan is the school’s instructor who seems the most like a warrior and has earned the honorific title of "shifu" or teacher. Not surprisingly, he is a retired military systems engineer. “I started studying hard styles of karate like tai kwan do when I was in college,” he said. “And then I learned kempo, kickboxing, and several

asked for plans and data on improving parent engagement as well as data showing specifically how increased state funding was helping students in the county. Addressing history curriculum mandates, Fisher said “Latino, Black and brown students need to know where they are coming from,” citing a need for LGBTQ+ history as well. Judith White, PGCPS chief academic officer, outlined county curriculum reviews designed to ensure that “every student sees a mirror of themselves” and the “goodness in their people, in their contributions in the world and how they will continue to build on that.” Staff reiterated, however, that the school district opposes unfunded curriculum mandates at the state level. Nicole Williams, who leads the state delegation for District 22, asked what PGCPS is doing to address achievement gaps and chronic absenteeism. PGCPS Chief Accountability Officer Douglas Strader told legislators that six out of 10 PGCPS students come from families who live in poverty, and one out of four PGCPS students speak more than one language, factors often not taken into consideration when looking at achievement data. House said that he welcomes ideas from state legislators and wants PGCPS to be at the table crafting solutions that hit the “sweet spot around accountability and supporting our students.” Rahsheen Davis, the county’s chief of schools, cited new plans to address absenteeism, including educating parents about the importance of elementary students arriving on time and informing parents earlier in the day about student absences. Currently PGCPS informs parents of student absences via an evening robocall.

Jolene Ivey, current chair of the county council, expressed caution about state requirements for what the county spends on schools. Ivey previously told The Washington Post that high property taxes and a looming county budget deficit made state requirements for school funding problematic.

PGCPS PROPOSES BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR Security and online learning programs account for the biggest staffing increases in Superintendent House’s proposed operating budget, released Dec. 18, the Monday after the Friday session with legislators. The budget proposes 59 new full-time equivalent security positions across the district’s 200 schools and 41 more employees for virtual classrooms. The budget forecasts an increase from 55 to 600 students who will require in-home and hospital teaching. The budget would also add 23 full-time equivalent employees for school athletic programs. The school board will approve the final operating budget this summer, after adjusting for state and county funding decisions made this spring as well as public feedback and revisions by the school board. The $2.8 billion proposed budget is a 0.9% increase over this year’s, with a projected enrollment increase of 0.7%, to 133,000 students. Nearly $21,000 would be spent per K-12 student. The proposed budget forecasts an $86 million reduction in federal funding as COVID-19 relief money runs out. It includes about $960 million in county funds, an increase of about $16 million over the prior year. About $1.6 billion comes from the state, a $43 million increase over the prior year. The budget shows

other techniques in the military. Wherever I was stationed around the world, I would drop into local martial arts schools just for fun. Eventually, I studied Healing Hands Tai Chi then Yang 24.” Jordan found Dancing in Silence through a meet-up app. “ I discovered it almost by random chance,” he said, “but I stayed for the mindfulness, breathing and relaxation. Because of my background, I can help other students with both their fundamentals and advanced techniques. Most importantly, this school draws a lot of accomplished people who are still growing.” For more information, go to dancinginsilence.com

Janet Thomas (left) teaching Andie Huberty tai chi. PAUL RUFFINS

PGCPS carrying over a $120 million fund balance, $50 million more than the prior year’s balance.

SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE’S 90-DAY REPORT AND ROADMAP Dec. 19, a day after House published the proposed budget, he released a report explaining new initiatives he intends to take on this school year. House said he has commissioned a transportation audit and a website functionality audit. As previously reported in these pages, PGCPS is installing metal detectors in all high schools this school year and is requiring high schoolers to wear clear backpacks. House listed new strategies for learners with special needs as a top priority in terms of equity, though the report did not include specifics. House said he intends to convene and collaborate with parent, student, principal and teacher advisory committees and is considering hiring more parent engagement assistants. About 80 schools in the county currently have a staff person in that role, according to House’s report. “We can’t do this alone,” House said in a video released with the report. “We need your active participation, your partnership and your accountability. Moving forward, please know that your feedback will continue to be valued in our decision making and in everything we do. We are not just building a school district, we are crafting a community-driven future.” Residents can attend public hearings on the PGCPS proposed budget Jan. 25, Feb. 1 and Feb. 15, at 7pm. For more information go to pgcps.org/ offices/board-of-education. Reviewed by T. Carter Ross, a member of PGCPS' Parent and Community Advisory Board, and Streetcar Suburbs Publishing's board.

Page 8

College Park Here & Now | January 2024

A family tree lives on as wooden treasures By KATHY BRYANT On July 12, 2022, I was terrified when a howling wind started violently shaking my house. After the storm subsided, I discovered that my giant pecan tree had fallen and destroyed my porch. Warner T.L. Taliaferro, my great uncle and a professor of agriculture at the University of Maryland (UMD), had planted the tree around 1888, when he built the Queen Anne victorian our family has lived in for four generations. About three years ago, an arborist measured the tree and said it was the largest pecan in Maryland. When I saw it splayed across my yard and two neighboring properties here in Old Town College Park, I felt like I was watching a family funeral. I felt strongly that something special should be done with the wood. But first, I had to fight off the tree-trimming contractors who showed up the next morning, eager to clear it away. In honor of my great uncle’s background in agriculture, I decided to donate as much of the wood as possible to the university. I connected with Ted Baker, who lives in Calvert Hills, through the neighborhood listserv. Baker manages Terrapin Works’ woodshop, which is under the auspices of the UMD School of Engineering. Baker was delighted to hear my offer and explained that pecan is one of the hardest North American

Crew removing tree from my house. KATHY BRYANT

Crew transporting the enormous trunk. KATHY BRYANT

hardwoods and is challenging to work with if one is building fine furniture. It has beautiful contrasting light sapwood and dark chocolatey heartwood that make it a very striking material. He wrote, in an email, “Some of the wood will be used to build a workbench for use in the Woodshop. As an avid woodworker myself, I’ll use the remaining wood for projects that I build for myself, family, and friends as I find opportunities to show off its remarkable properties and get to building something beautiful that will last for generations to come.” I thought my uncle would have

loved the perfect cosmic circle for the tree to end up at the university as raw material for skilled artisans. Because there were so many moving parts and people involved, the trunk wasn’t moved until the following July, a full year after the storm. Chesapeake Tree Service removed the main section, and the company’s owner said that at 8,300 lbs, it was the biggest trunk he had ever seen or moved. Baker had to search the entire state to find a sawmill that could process a trunk that large. Jonathan Weizman, who is with Makers Woodshop, in Windsor SEE TREE ON 9 

Gary Guenther shows off his magic wand KATHY BRYANT

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Page 9

Christmas ornament by Jeff Struewing KATHY BRYANT

Warner T.L. Taliaferro, (alone last row) on the Good Corn Train with other faculty members COURTESY OF KATHY BRYANT

I thought my great uncle Warner T.L. Taliaferro, a professor of agriculture at the University of Maryland, would have loved the perfect cosmic circle for the tree to end up at the university as raw material for skilled artisans.

Several treasures by Eliot Feldman KATHY BRYANT

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TREE FROM PAGE 8

Mill, coordinated removal of the trunk. Weizman runs one of the largest bandsaw mills in Maryland and will be cutting the trunk into slabs and other shapes for Baker and others at the woodshop to use. Smaller pieces of the tree have already taken on a new life. When Mark Goodson, who lives in Berwyn (and is former managing editor of the College Park Here & Now), heard that the tree had fallen, he immediately came and cut some firewood for his outdoor stove. He also took some branches to give to a friend in Takoma Park who makes pipes. Mark Hill, who lives in Calvert Hills, picked branches to send to his brother-in-law in Boston, who makes wooden spoons. Alan Hew, a city councilmem-

ber, directed me to members of Montgomery County Woodturners, who fashion artworks out of wood. When Gary Guenther, past president of the organization, alerted the group to the availability of pecan logs, he got an immediate response. Jeffrey Struewing, of Takoma Park, made me an exquisite wooden tray and spatula, and named the wood Taliaferro Pecan, after my great uncle (he carved this onto the bottom of the tray). He also made three spatulas that he gave to me to present to panelists at a recent Montgomery County Woodturners meeting. Struewing made the tray from a log Guenther initially rejected and left behind “because it was too wormy,” Struewing said. He explained that it was turned thin and finished with Tried & True Original Wood Finish, which is linseed oil and wax, and that the cracks were filled in with colored epoxy. The coloration and spalting are gorgeous, and the worm holes add character. Guenther, who is making a magic wand for me out of wood

from the tree, wrote, “The woodturning community is known for being generous and caring. If woodturners are presented with raw wood, it is customary to gift a turned item back to the provider. Woodturners enjoy working with a variety of different wood species, for diversity and experience, and it is a pleasure to get locally-rare or unusual types of wood to work with. Occasionally, wood with a special provenance may become available, and this is highly prized.” Eliot Feldman, a former UMD professor, made a special cup for me. And Michael Colella, another woodturner in the club, who exhibited at the Renaissance Festival, is planning to make me another magic wand. It's been many months since the tree came down, but it’s finally ending up exactly where I had hoped it would be — in the hands of people who treasure the wood and want to make something beautiful. I don't know if the magic wands will actually cast spells, but holding one in my hand will certainly conjure enchanted memories.

Page 10

College Park Here & Now | January 2024

ON THE HOUSE

tripping. It can also make it very frustrating to track down exactly where the reset button actually is when the GFI trips and all the other outlets in the circuit stop working.

When sparks fly By MATT MENKE

his month, we’re talking about the electrical wiring that powers everything in your house. In the last few decades, new technology such as three-prong plugs, grounded outlets and ground fault interrupters (GFIs) have reduced the chances of getting a shock or having a fire. But unless your home has been professionally remodeled or rewired in the past few years, it may have many outdated features that you should understand for your protection.

Two-prong outlets in a three-prong world Older two-prong outlets are not as safe as three-prong outlets and get even worse when people try to get around them by cutting off the third prong off an appliance cord to make it fit an old outlet. An adapter with a little wire that screws into the faceplate might work to ground the cord, but only if there is an uninterrupted connection all the way back to the breaker box. Wiring in many mid-century homes had no dedicated ground wire. It is required now, and old, ungrounded wires should be upgraded whenever you remodel. Most rooms these days are on multiple breakers with more outlets, making it less tempting to overload single outlets and less likely to leave you in the dark.

Old/full circuit breaker boxes Years ago, most people had fewer appliances. Modern re-

frigerators, air conditioners and washing machines are much more efficient, but your home’s main electrical panel might not be big enough to handle all the circuits you need. In the 1960s it was common for fuse boxes (and later circuit breaker panels) to be wired for 100 amps or fewer, which could only handle about six to eight circuits. These days, a large, luxury home might require 400 amps. In this area, it would be common for a 2,000-square-foot home with central air or electric heat to have a 200 amp breaker box with space for 24 or more 15 and 20-amp breakers because the circuits are not all used at the same time. But some items like a garbage disposal should have their own circuit, and an electric hot water heater might take up two spaces for a 30-amp breaker. Resist the temptation to use half-size breakers to squeeze in a few more circuits or to run extension cords. With stoves, hot water heaters and furnaces moving away from gas to electricity, you will probably need more room in the near future. Time for a new, larger electrical box or at least a sub-panel.

Switches that play tricks

A ground fault interrupter outlet with test buttons and green indicator light NANCY WELCH

spin and vibrate, so they need to be mounted on the wood joists in the ceiling, not on a tiny electrical box that might be ok for a light. There are mounting kits available that attach between joists and can be installed through the little hole in the ceiling.

Beware of hanging new ceiling fans from old fixtures

Faulty ground fault interrupters GFI outlets can save your life. They usually have a tiny green light and a reset button, and will instantly cut the power if you accidentally drop a toaster into the sink or a hair dryer into a tub. They began to be required for outdoor receptacles in 1971 and should be installed anywhere something electrical might get wet.

Ceiling fans are great for circulating air and cutting utility bills, and it seems easy to install one using the power from an overhead light fixture. Bad Idea. That old light might only weigh a pound or so, and one nut might be enough to support it. But fans can easily weigh 25 pounds, and they

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Many of our homes were built before GFIs became common, but they’re legally required upgrades when renovating bathrooms, kitchens and other areas. The problem is that some electricians have become very creative in finding ways to keep costs down by not replacing all the outlets required but adding a single GFI outlet between the electrical panel and the other regular outlets in the circuit. This might not protect you or it could cause frequent

The lights over most hallways and staircases usually use what are called three-way switches. They have an extra wire running between them so as you walk through the house, you can turn the light on from one place and switch it off from another. Unfortunately, there are many ways that homeowners or inexperienced electricians can wire these switches that might work but are not up to code. Switches can also wear out to the point they get floppy rather than make a good connection and then stay in the proper position up or down. When a switch flops it can allow sparks to jump between the wire connections. If you ever see dark char marks on the cover plate, a visible spark or hear a loud pop, replace that switch. Upgrading old switches and circuits is always the safe choice, but the high cost makes it tempting to take shortcuts. The best advice is to find a licensed electrician with a solid local track record who is familiar with vintage homes. Dodgy wiring is never the charming part of our quirky old houses. Matt Menke is a College Park resident and licensed Maryland home inspector.

Managing Editor for the College Park Here & Now Sought Streetcar Suburbs Publishing is seeking a managing editor for this newspaper, the College Park Here & Now. The managing editor is responsible for connecting story ideas with writers and photographers, editing copy as it comes in, monitoring beats, and attending city events as needed. The editor must be able to contribute editorial content, recruit and manage volunteer staffing, and ensure that content conforms to house style and standards. This part-time contract position is home-office based with flexible hours, but requires some weekend and evening availability. To receive a full position description, email kit@streetcarsuburbs.news

Cover letters and resumes should be sent to kit@streetcarsuburbs.news and stullich@ earthlink.net.

January 2024 | College Park Here & Now

Page 11

THE SCIENCE OF THE CITY

GAME

Winter helps us tell native plants from invasive foes

FROM PAGE 3

By PAUL RUFFINS

n a few months, this region will explode with solid walls of green leaves that often reach from ground level to the tops of the tallest trees. This biomass helps clean the air, prevent soil erosion and absorb stormwater runoff. Porcelain berry vines produce flowers that feed local pollinators and edible, speckled berries that nourish birds. However, all that summer greenery can camouflage a deadly conflict. In early winter, after many species have gone dormant but before it snows, it’s easier to see that many plants are fighting each other for survival. Many local species are losing ground to invaders. Porcelain berry is beautiful, but a menace to native trees and shrubs. Along Route 1 from Mount Rainier to far beyond the Beltway, several patches of bamboo are growing out of control. Near the corner of Calvert Street, in College Park, is a towering maple that has shed all of its leaves. But most of its trunk and branches remain bright green because it’s under assault from English ivy. This evergreen shades branches from sunlight, competes for nutrients, and holds moisture which can rot tree’s bark. On the bike trail from the West Hyattsville Metro station to Lake Artemisia, native shrubs are buried beneath dense mats of kudzu, and trees are dragged down by ropey vines of Chinese wisteria. Some invasive species, like the Burmese python or the snakehead fish, were probably introduced by accident. By contrast, many invasive plants were deliberately sown for their positive attributes. Kudzu is the ultimate example of unintended consequences. According to the Georgia Public Policy Foundation, “The ‘Dust Bowl’ 1930s also saw millions of acres of cropland in the South badly eroded and continuing to erode. The newly created federal Soil Conservation Service encouraged farmers to plant kudzu — a perennial legume introduced from Asia in the 1870s as an exotic vine — on their eroded and gullied lands. Some farmers were paid as much as $8 per acre by the Service to do so.” Kudzu is a good forage for cattle, with a nutritional profile similar to alfalfa. It can grow as much as a foot a day and helps restore the damage done by soildepleting crops such as cotton, corn and tobacco. During the Great Depression, it seemed like a godsend. Over 2 million acres

Chinese wisteria and porcelain berry overgrowing native shrubs PAUL RUFFINS

were planted in the south, onethird of which were planted with government subsidies. “The problem,” said Andrew Kling, of the University of Maryland Agricultural Extension Service, “is that it grew much faster than the cattle could eat it. Over the last century, kudzu has marched steadily north and overrun hundreds of millions of acres.” Since several invasives are already deeply established in this area, do they play any positive role in the local ecosystem? According to Jodi Beder, a member of the master gardener program in Prince George’s County, “Some of these plants might help absorb runoff water or purify the air, but none of them do that nearly as well as healthy trees. College Park, Hyattsville and Mount Rainier are all so concerned about preserving their tree cover that they’ve instituted hefty fines for cutting large trees without a permit. But invasives are killing far more trees than homeowners.” If damaging trees is the worst sin an invasive can commit in the suburbs, the worst offender is probably English ivy. In his newsletter, “The Invasives in your Woodlot,” Kling explains why the vine is such a threat: “This evergreen vine threatens habitats at all heights. At ground level, its leaves shade out seedlings and herbs, forming acres of monoculture and attracting rodents. In trees, it engulfs branches, shading and slowly killing them. Its weight topples trees in wind, snow, or icy conditions. It serves as a reservoir for bacterial leaf scorch, a serious disease of trees including maples, oaks, and elms. Vines mature in trees, then flower and bear toxic berries which induce birds to vomit them out, ensuring spread.” A College Park survey determined that the majority of its tree cover is in residential neighborhoods — this pattern probably holds for Hyattsville, Laurel and

many other jurisdictions. As a result, there have been several efforts to enlist residents in the battle to uproot English ivy or at least cut it off of tree trunks. Volunteers from Hyattsville’s Green Team teamed up with Hyattsville Aging in Place members to remove English ivy from the property of elderly residents. As part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s (M-NCPPC) adopt-a-park program, a group of trained volunteers removed English ivy and other vines from College Park Woods. Unfortunately, the fight against English ivy is ongoing, and the number of people who volunteer for these formal efforts can be limited because the M-NCPPC and other organizations require that volunteers undergo fingerprinting and background checks. This makes sense for school volunteers but can be a lot to ask of someone who just wants to cut down vines for a day or two. Therefore, the most efficient solution might be to mobilize resiSEE INVASIVE ON 12 

perfect occasion to observe how today’s board games have evolved far beyond 1960s favorites such as Monopoly, The Game of Life and Risk. First, there are simply more games of many different types. Game Kastle has shelves upon shelves of games with names such as Catan, Star Wars Legion and Mystic Vale, and each game is surrounded by expansion packs and new versions. The store also carries absurdist card games like Exploding Kittens or Infinite Jonathans. As BMG’s Palmer explained, “In an older game like Monopoly, a lot of what happened was up to chance. A roll of the dice determined how far you went or if someone else landed on one of your properties. Newer games combine many different techniques to make the action go, which is why they need to be playtested.” BMG aims to promote diversity and inclusion in the field of game design. “I think that … designers, in general, have a desire to tell stories,” Palmer said. “There are so many stories out there and so much we can discuss through board games.” Elizabeth Hargrave, whose games typically explore complex and personal topics, was one of 15 designers at the fundraiser. Her game Wingspan has been listed as a consistent favorite on boardgamesgeek. com. The game transforms players into birdwatchers and challenges them to create habitats for different species of birds. According to Hargrave, one of her main inspirations was watching birds and waterfowl while visiting Lake Artemisia. She told the

Hyattsville Wire, “I realized if I wanted a game to be about something I was actually interested in, I might have to make it myself.” Even though Hargrave made Wingspan herself, she didn’t have to make it entirely by herself; the game benefited from conversations at Game Kastle and Board and Brew — and she developed it on their tables, too. Some gaming proponents point to the communal aspect of playing as an important tool for public health at a time when many Americans are suffering from loneliness and isolation. Board and Brew’s Ben Epstein said, “Me and my partner, Brian McClimens, started this place because we wished we had something like it when we were undergraduates at Maryland. College Park has a million loud places to drink too much, but how often do people really connect there? This is a low key environment where people come together to spend quality time in small groups.” Mack Creel, Board and Brew’s resident game guru, believes that contemporary board games have many social advantages over video games and even long-established games like chess. “Chess is useless if more than two people want to play at once,” he said. Creel noted that while many board games can be played online, they gain a different dimension when people are face to face. “Look around you,” he said, pointing around the room to the small knots of friends engaged in their games. “Nobody is on their cell phone, people are actually playing together without needing a distraction.”

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LAWS FROM PAGE 1

timates that only 10% of plastic bags are recycled, much lower than the figure for paper bags and other paper (21%). “Plastic pollution is a real problem,” said Prince George’s County Councilmember Eric Olson (District 3). “This will remove over 300 million plastic bags a year from the waste stream in Prince George’s County alone.”

STOP THE SPAM CALLS ACT A new Maryland state law restricts telephone solicitations, prohibiting the use of automated systems to make calls to solicit people to purchase, lease or rent goods or services, offer a gift or prize, or conduct a poll. Automated surveys are also prohibited if the results will be used directly to solicit the purchase of goods or services. Violations are punishable with a fine of up to $1,000 for the first offense and up to $5,000 for each subsequent offense. The prohibition does not apply to noncommercial telephone solicitations for religious, charitable, political or educational purposes.

College Park Here & Now | January 2024

MINIMUM WAGE INCREASES TO $15 PER HOUR The state minimum wage in Maryland went from $13.25 to $15 per hour starting Jan. 1, which is more than double the federal minimum wage of $7.25. It is estimated that this will affect over 160,000 workers. For tipped workers, such as waiters and bartenders, employers are not required to increase the base wage but must ensure that their total pay and tips is at least $15 per hour. Tipped workers may be paid an hourly wage as low as $3.63 per hour, but if actual tips do not raise their compensation to $15 per hour the employer must make up the difference. Workers younger than 18 can be paid 85% of the state minimum wage, which would be $12.75. Maryland Del. Joseline PenaMelnyk, a co-sponsor of the bill, said that the higher minimum wage is still too low, but it’s a step in the right direction. “People are barely getting by. Even $15 an hour is not enough; we should have a living wage. But it’s a balancing act between the needs of people and what the businesses can handle right now.”

DIAGNOSTIC INSURANCE COVERAGE Health insurers in Maryland will be required to cover biomarker testing start-

ing Jan. 1. Biomarkers are genes, proteins and other substances that provide information about cancer. Testing for biomarkers not only helps to detect cancer but can also inform treatment. The effective date for Maryland’s Medicaid program to cover biomarker testing is July 1, 2025. A related law requires insurers to provide coverage for certain lung cancer diagnostic imaging. This law also limits copayments, coinsurance or deductibles that insurers can impose for lung cancer screening and diagnosis.

MEDICAID AND GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE Under the Trans Health Equity Act, the Maryland Medicaid program is required to cover a wider range of gender-affirming treatments. Under the previous law, Medicaid covered a more limited set of procedures, such as mental health services for gender dysphoria, hormone replacement therapy and gender-reassignment surgery. Under the new law, additional covered procedures include body contouring, hair alteration, voice modification surgery and therapy, puberty blockers, fertility preservation and certain cosmetic surgeries. Revisions and reversals of prior treatments also would be covered. As under prior law, minor persons (under age 18) must have parental consent and are usually prescribed a more limited range of treatments.

INVASIVE FROM PAGE 11

dents to act in their own self-interests and remove the English ivy on their own property. Todd Reitzel, a member of the College Park Tree & Landscaping Board, has been an active proponent of this approach. In 2023, he urged the city to make and distribute door hangers asking residents to remove English ivy from their trees. He also suggested creating a video on how to do it safely and effectively. Simply pulling it off can damage the bark of the tree, and though it isn’t as dangerous as poison ivy, the sap of English ivy can irritate some people’s skin. Bieber thinks this is a great approach but said, “Unfortunately, I don’t know of any community that has succeeded in convincing large numbers of homeowners to remove English ivy. If people saw thick loops of Chinese wisteria vines hanging down from their trees, they’d probably suspect that something was wrong. But we’ve all seen movies featuring magnificent old mansions covered in ivy. Some people like it because it’s evergreen and think that it’s safe because it’s sold at Home Depot. So we’ve got to do a huge education job to teach people to get rid of it because it’s viciously attacking their trees.” Paul Ruﬃns is a citizen scientist and professor of curiosity.