May
2
2022
| May is Older Americans Month Every May, the Administration for Community Living leads the nation’s observance of Older Americans Month. This year’s focus will be on aging in place. In other words, planning for seniors to stay in their homes and live in their communities as long as possible. Visit the ACL website: bit.ly/OAM2022Theme. This year’s theme is Age My Way. Below are programs sponsored by Prince George’s County Advisory Committee on Aging. Register for them at: shorturl.at/yJPT8. |
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| Age My Way On May 2nd, Prince George’s County Advisory Committee on Aging is presenting Part 2 of its Age My Way series: Elder Law Day – a motivational legal representation on essential documents needed by Age 55. On May 25th, Part 3 will be offered: Prince George’s Centenarians Seminar – What it truly means to “Age My Way”. Register here: shorturl.at/yJPT8. |
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| Friday Night Live in College Park The College Park Senior Committee will be one of the featured organizations at College Park’s first summer concert series, May 13th. All concerts will be held at City Hall Plaza, 7401 Baltimore Ave. Parking is free at the Downtown College Park parking garage on the corner of Yale and Knox Avenues. For more information, visit: bit.ly/FridayNightLiveCP. |
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City of College Park Seniors Program Moves
Did you know the College Park Seniors Program has moved to a new location? It is now found at 10007 Rhode Island Ave., College Park. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Staff may be reached at 240-487-3614. They encourage appointments but drop-ins are welcome.
May
1
2022
At the City Council Worksession on April 19, 2022, the Council reviewed Tree Protection Ordinance 21-O-09 and discussed options to move forward to approve the Ordinance. The Mayor and Council indicated they were leaning towards approval of an Ordinance but continued to have reservations with Ordinance 21-O-09 as drafted.
At next week’s meeting, the Council will discuss a modified proposal. The proposal asks to delay the implementation of fines and fees regarding the permits as outlined in the original ordinance for six months. During these six months, the proposal asks to implement the following steps:
1. Simple Permit for Trees with 36 – 100” in circumference
A “simple” permit shall be required for trees from 36″ to 100″ on private property; however, the application would not require any criteria to be met to remove the tree – removal will be at the discretion of the property owner (or designee). The “simple” permit shall include educational information on the importance of canopy trees and have an opt-out for a visit from the city arborist (or designee). A “Simple” permit is essentially like a visitor parking pass – it’s valid for up to 1 year, requires no fee, is available online & in a paper form, and must be signed by the property owner (or designee). No permit shall be required for pruning.
(a) Applicants can opt-out of a visit from an arborist before tree removal.
(b) A later visit from the city arborist (or designee) to confirm compliance with tree replacement(s) is required regardless of opt-outs
(c) fines/fees in lieu, a notice (e.g., warning) will be provided to property owners.
2. Full Permit for Trees with 100+” circumference
A “Full” permit in accordance with the TLB recommendations shall be required for Heritage Trees (100″+). As the TLB recommended ordinance states, this includes limited allowances for removal, a city arborist or designee visit, and other requirements.
Staff and the Tree and Landscaping board members have expressed concerns about the modified proposals because delaying the implementation of the original proposal will most likely cause continuing losses City’s tree canopy. The staff is recommending not to support the revised proposal. Instead, it asks to support the original ordinance or meet the TLB to discuss a possible revision of the original ordinance.
At next week’s meeting, the Council will discuss the modified ordinance and whether to vote on its implementation in two phases.
Apr
30
2022
In March 2021, the U.S. Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). ARPA provides funding for many programs and services to residents and small businesses of College Park.
The graph below will illustrate some of the uses and positive impacts of ARPA funding in our community.
[City of College Park]
Apr
29
2022
RESCHEDULED: Please join PG Parks for a virtual community meeting on the North College Park Community Center Feasibility Study. The meeting has been rescheduled for Thursday, May 12, 2022 from 6:30 – 8:00pm; register here: https://bit.ly/CommunityMeeting20740.
More information about the North College Park Community Center Feasibility Study, along with the survey link, can be found here
Apr
28
2022
County Councilman Dernoga’s office has released a list of fantastic resources on how to get scholarships. Please see that below:
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Apr
27
2022
SUNDAY, MAY 15, 2022 AT 10 AM – 2 PM
9217 51st Ave, College Park, MD 20740-1947, United States
The City’s Animal Control and Animal Welfare Committee are hosting a Rabies and Microchip Clinic for City pets on May 15, 2022 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
Appointments are required – slots are individual, you can only register one animal per spot. Appointments are in 10 minute slots, and space is limited. All animals must be leashed or properly confined to a carrier. No walk-ins. Register here: https://may2022rabiesclinic.eventbrite.com.
City residents must be able to provide proof of residence to obtain free services.
Services will be discounted for non-residents as follows (exact cash only):
Rabies vaccine, $10.00 For 1 year or 3-year Rabies vaccines, the pet owner must have a current signed rabies certificate (1- or 3-year), and vaccines will be given at the discretion of the veterinarian.
Microchipping, $20.00
Please come no earlier than 10 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. Please remain in the vehicle with your pets, and wait to be called for your appointment.
Apr
26
2022
Are you interested in serving on a City advisory board?
Serve your community, lend your talents, and meet your neighbors. The following advisory boards have vacancies:
Advisory Planning Commission – Volunteer from District 1
Airport Authority – Volunteers from District 2 and 3
Animal Welfare Committee – Volunteers from all Districts
Bee City USA – Volunteers from District 1 and 3
Board of Election Supervisors – All Districts
Committee for a Better Environment – Volunteer from all Districts
Education Advisory Commission – Volunteers from Districts 1, 3 and 4
Ethics Commission – Volunteer from District 2
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Tribute Committee – Volunteers from all Districts
Noise Control Board – Volunteer from District 2
Recreation Board – Volunteers from District 2 and 4
Seniors Committee – Volunteers from District 1, 3 and 4
Tree and Landscape Board – Volunteer from any District
Veterans Memorial Committee – Volunteers from all District
Interested in volunteering? Please complete and submit an application to jsmiller@collegeparkmd.gov or to your City Council representative by Monday, May 23, 2022. The Mayor and Council will make appointments in June 2022. For additional information on City advisory boards, please visit our website at www.collegeparkmd.gov.
More can be found here on City’s website: https://www.collegeparkmd.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=350
Apr
25
2022
Maryland Day is back! The University of Maryland invites you to unlock a world of learning, discovery and exploration on Saturday, April 30, 2022 (10 am – 4 pm). Take part in hundreds of family-friendly events and interactive exhibits during a daylong celebration and inspiring journey across campus.
Apr
24
2022
At next week’s meeting, the City Council will send a letter to Prince George’s County Council requests regarding the proposed FY23 M-NCPPC budget.
M-NCPPC facilities and programs are extremely important for our residents. The City has partnered with the Commission on many projects and services, such as the shared use of our Youth, Family, and Senior Services facility and funding M-NCPPC provides for senior services.
The requests include:
(a) For several years the City has requested M-NCPPC fund a pedestrian bridge from the Paint Branch Playground to the trail on the western side of the river. This
small connection will greatly enhance access to the playground and frisbee golf course, the Aviation Museum, the tennis facility, and other amenities. Unfortunately, there has not been any money included in the budget for this project. The Council requests that M-NCPPC include capital funding for the north College Park Community Center in anticipation of the completion of the feasibility study this fall.
(b) The Council requests that M-NCPPC fund needed renovation and equipment replacement for the Hollywood Park, the Lakeland playground, and the Paint Branch
community center.
(c) M-NCPPC has funded nice improvements to the College Park Woods playground, but the gazebo is not ADA accessible, and we request funding for
that work.
(d) The City is fortunate to have many M-NCPPC trails used by residents for recreation and commuting. The Council requests that M-NCPPC fund trail lighting in high traffic areas of the trail system in College Park, particularly the Paint Branch Trail north of MD 193.
Apr
23
2022
ROUTE ONE RAMPAGE
Sunday, April 24
8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Old Town
Note the Street Closures On Sunday, April 24, 2022 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., the City of College Park will be closing several streets in the Old Town area for a collegiate bicycle race entitled “Route 1 Rampage.”
Between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., driving and parking will be prohibited along the race course which includes: 4500 – 4600 blocks of College Avenue; 4600 block of Norwich Road; 7400 – 7500 blocks of Hopkins Avenue; 4500 – 4600 blocks of Knox Road; 7500 block of Rhode Island Avenue; and 7400 block of Yale Avenue.
Crossing of the race course will only be permitted on foot when bicyclists are not present. All driveways not directly on the race’s course are accessible to Baltimore Ave via other side streets. Please see the map below for more information. Expect traffic delays during this time.
Route One Rampage map
Zone 6 City permit holders who normally park along the race’s route need to relocate their vehicles to the City’s Parking Garage located at 4509 Knox Road (above Ledo’s Pizza) beginning on Saturday, April 23rd at 6:00 p.m. Cars still parked on the race course by Sunday, April 24th at 6:00 a.m. will be towed to the lot behind The Hotel.
The public is encouraged to spectate at the Route 1 Rampage. This bicycle race is organized by the University of Maryland Cycling Team and draws collegiate riders from across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions.
Please see the route map here.
Apr
22
2022
Prince George’s County Forestry Board Tree Giveaway
Saturday, April 23, 2022
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Watkins Regional Park‘s Nature Center
301 Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774
The Prince George’s County Forestry Board will be giving away 300 trees to Prince George’s County residents. These are 1′ to 2′ tree seedlings. Must register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/
Please bring your driver’s license or any official identification card showing that you are a Prince George’s County resident and a plastic bag to put the tree in. Limit of two trees per family.
Apr
21
2022
If you registered for the City’s first tree giveaway, please plan to pick up their trees this Saturday, April 23, from 8:00 a.m. – Noon at the Department of Public Works (9217 51st Avenue).Please bring a printed copy of your submitted form. The trees are 5-to-7-gallon size, and should fit in small vehicles. Bring a tarp or plastic to protect the car’s interior and contain soil in the pot when it is laid down for transport. Included with the tree are instructions on how to plant the tree and watering instructions for the watering ring.
Residents who receive trees during the giveaway are encouraged to use the water rings to establish the newly planted trees on their property.
Have questions? Email the City Horticulturist at horticulturist@collegeparkmd.
The City’s Tree and Landscape Board will be at the event and looks forward to meeting the residents of College Park at the Earth Day Tree Giveaway event!
[City of College Park]
Apr
20
2022
On Saturday, April 30, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the University of Maryland Police Department in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration is participating in the 22nd National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. During this event, members of the community can safely dispose of their unwanted, unused and/or expired prescription drugs at the Pocomoke Building (7965 Baltimore Avenue, College Park, MD). This service is free and anonymous. No questions asked.
Collection sites will accept tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Liquids (including intravenous solutions), syringes and other sharps, and illicit drugs will not be accepted. DEA will accept vaping devices and cartridges provided lithium batteries are removed.
Drug overdose deaths are up 16 percent in the last year, claiming more than 290 lives every day. According to a report published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a majority of people who misused a prescription medication obtained the medicine from a family member or friend. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that in the United States, more than 106,000 people died as the result of a drug overdose in the 12-month period ending November 2021, marking the most drug-related deaths ever recorded, with opioid-related deaths accounting for 75 percent of all overdose deaths.
For more than a decade, DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day has helped Americans easily rid their homes of unneeded medications—those that are old, unwanted, or no longer needed—that too often become a gateway to addiction. Working in close partnership with local law enforcement, Take Back Day has removed more than 15 million pounds of medication from circulation since its inception. These efforts are directly in line with DEA’s priority to combat the overdose epidemic in the United States.
If you will not be in the College Park area on this day, please visit https://takebackday.dea.gov/ to find a collection site near you.
Apr
19
2022
Please mark your calendar. The M-NCPPC will be hosting a community meeting on April 28 to get feedback about the proposed community center in north College Park. Please see below a flyer about the community meeting.
Also, the M-NCPPC is asking us to fill out the following survey about the proposed Community Center in north College Park: https://forms.gle/s29usFn3s92HzknH8.
UPDATE (4/25/2022): The M-NCPPC told us that the domain for their RSVP system had been down for 3 days. While it is now up and running, they want to make sure as many residents can join the community meeting and provide their input. For this reason, they will be rescheduling the community meeting. As soon as we have a new date, I will share it.
