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Month: July 2019 Page 1 of 3

College Park Nursery School Open House

College Park Nursery School is a cooperative nursery school that has been serving College Park and the surrounding communities for more than 50 years with half-day nursery school for 2-5 year olds. Parents have the opportunity to be involved in the classroom alongside experienced teachers.

CPNS is truly a wonderful resource here in our city – we are a community that supports children’s natural drive to play, learn and explore, and we believe parents are the most valuable educators in the lives of their young children. Because parents volunteer in the classrooms, the school is able to keep our tuition costs low. They also offer financial aid.

The school has spots still available for 2019-2020 for 2- and 3-year-olds. We are hosting an open house next Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 5:30pm.

Please see below a flier with more information.

City Hall Move Announcement

I recently came across the following announcement (at the end of my post below) about the City Hall move on NextDoor.

As the City Council has been discussing the new City Hall project, it has directed staff to look for a new place to move City offices, in case it finally approves the construction budget in the end. Please note that though the Council has supported the new location (through resolution 19-G-37), the Council has not approved the timing of the move. The Council has yet to decide/vote on two critical motions (bond ordinance and resolution) on the City Hall funding – in the next two months. Ideally, no one should be guessing the outcome on these two votes. Because of this uncertainty on these pending votes, the City Council has been cautious about stating the availability of the City Hall in the upcoming months. When the Council voted last month on the new polling place at Richie’s Coliseum, part of the motion was amended from “the City Hall WILL not be available” to “the City Hall MAY not be available” in November.
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City Hall is Moving!

City Hall is moving! With construction of the new City Hall scheduled to begin early next year, the current City Hall at 4500 Knox Road is closing. Beginning September 1, 2019, all Mayor and Council meetings will take place at Davis Hall (9217 51st Avenue).

On Monday, October 7, the Department of Planning, Community & Economic Development and the Parking Enforcement Division of the Department of Public Services will relocate to 8400 Baltimore Avenue Suite 340 (co-located with the Department of Public Services).

Parking permits will still be issued at the current City Hall until October 14.

On Monday, October 14, Administration, Finance and Human Resources will relocate to 8400 Baltimore Avenue Suite 375. Effective October 15, 2019, the new mailing address for City Hall will be 8400 Baltimore Avenue Suite 375, College Park, MD 20740.

City phone numbers and office hours (Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) will remain the same. For more information about the City Hall project, please visit www.collegeparkmd.gov/cityhall.
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Beltway May Still Be Expanded in College Park and Prince George’s, But May Not in Montgomery

The MDOT has recently agreed to a proposal to MoCo’s Plan for traffic relief.

According to the announcement, the plan calls for “active traffic management and spot improvements” along the Beltway from Bethesda to Adelphi, using existing right of way.

The new proposal envisions improvements to MARC commuter rail service, a network of bus rapid transit lines, new park-and-ride facilities and “activity center connections” to give commuters new options.

Additionally, the plan proposes the construction of new “managed lanes” — a mix of free and variable toll lanes — on the American Legion Bridge, I-270 from a point north of I-370 south and the connecting portion of I-495.

Unfortunately, new managed lanes also would be constructed on the I-95 median, from the Intercounty Connector (MD-200) to the Beltway and east through Prince George’s County to National Harbor.

The plan also creates new reversible managed lanes between Frederick County and northern Montgomery that would run south in the morning and north at night.

Missing Person from the 9600 block of 51st Avenue

Please see below the BOLO (Be on the Lookput) regarding a Missing Person from the 9600 block of 51st Avenue, College Park.

Police Community Meeting – August 1, 2019

This Thursday: Tax Credits For Residents Resource Workshop

Please join this Thursday for the second workshop in a series of events to bring county resources to residents!

Staff members from the County’s Office of Finance will present information about tax credits for homeowners and renters on Thursday, July 25, at the New Carrollton Branch of the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System, 7414 Riverdale Road. They will give the same presentation at both 6:15 pm and 7:15 pm with plenty of time after each presentation to answer your questions.

Tax credit applications are due annually in September, so this is the perfect time to learn more about your eligibility.

Purple Line Long-Term Lane Closure Notice

From Maryland Purple Line:

Beginning on or about August 7, 2019, crews will be closing the eastbound lanes of Campus Drive long-term between the Paint Branch Trail and River Road. Traffic will be shifted to the westbound lanes, with one lane open in each direction. Purple Line staff informed City staff about the new tentative date.

As work continues, we will strive to keep you informed of the progress of this exciting project. For information on construction activities, schedules and other updates, please visit www.purplelinemd.com/construction. For immediate construction concerns, please email us at outreach@pltcllc.com or call the construction hotline at 240-424-5325.

All activities are subject to change due to traffic, weather or emergency situations

Hollywood Gateway Park Construction Update: 

City’s Planning Department has given the following update of he Hollywood Gateway Park construction peoject.
  • The pavilion and ramp foundation walls have been completed
  • Sitework related to utility installation (water, electric and storm drain) is getting underway.
  • Next week, the maintenance of traffic plan along Edgewood Road will be implemented so that demolition of the existing curb and sidewalk and installation of new can begin.
  • Shop drawings for the pavilion have been approved and offsite fabrication will begin soon.

An early October completion date is anticipated. I’ll keep you posted as the project approaches completion.

Police Conducts Canvass in Berwyn Neighborhood

According to the Prince George’s Police Department, the Homicide Unit detectives canvassed Berwyn neighborhood last Thursday evening as part of their investigation into a fatal shooting that occurred in May. The victim is 33-year-old Ronnie Jacobs, Jr. of no fixed address. A reward of up to $25,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case. (please see below the reward poster below)

The canvass started at 7:00 pm in the 8700 block of Rhode Island Avenue.

On May 22nd, at approximately 6:00 am, patrol officers responded to the 8700 block of Rhode Island Avenue in the City of College Park for the report of an unresponsive man. Officers discovered Jacobs outside suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

“At this point in the investigation, it does appear Mr. Jacobs was randomly targeted. He was located next to a park bench he often slept on. This murder has understandably caused a lot of concern among residents in that area. We want them to know we continue to actively investigate this crime. We also need any and all information that could help us to this solve this case. You never know what piece of information will be the clue that leads us to finding the person who is responsible for his death. Please don’t hesitate to call,” said Major Brian Reilly, Commander of the Criminal Investigation Division.

Local Cooling Centers Open to Public

Excessive heat advisories are in effect today, tomorrow and Sunday from 11 am to 9 pm. Please take precautions when outdoors. Check on the condition of family and neighbors.
Due to high temperatures the County has also set up Cooling Centers that open when temperatures reach 90 degrees or higher and provide seated spaces for citizens to escape the heat. My office wants to make sure everyone stays safe and knows where to find a local Cooling Center.

See below a list of Cooling Center locations near District 1. To view a Countywide list click here.

College Park Community Center Park and Soccer Complex –
5051 Pierce Avenue, College Park
301-441-2647; TTY 301-445-4512

Vansville Community Center –
6813 Ammendale Road, Beltsville
301-937-6621; TTY 301-445-4512

Laurel-Beltsville Senior Activity Center –
7120 Contee Road, Laurel
301-206-3350

Senior residents and their families are also encouraged to contact the Prince George’s County Department of Family Services Administration on Aging at (301) 265-8450 for information and/or assistance.

For more information on Extreme Heat link to Extreme Heat:

Also review the list of Cooling Centers available thought out the County:

Cooling Centers may be activated during the summer months for individuals who are at risk of heat-related illnesses. Senior Citizens and their families should contact the Prince George’s County Department of Family Services Administration on Aging at 301-265-8450 for information and/or assistance.

Sign up for alerts regarding severe weather, including heat warnings and more, at alert.mypgc.us.

To view the alert on the Alert Prince George’s system.

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