Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Could your Christmas tree become a fire hazard in seconds?
Happening soon: ASO presents: Holiday Pops with Bowie State University Concert Choir on the College Park Patch calendar
Good morning College Park! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Could your Christmas tree become a fire hazard in seconds?
- How much of Maryland’s $69.5M boost lands in College Park?
- How close is the Purple Line to serving College Park riders?
Also on today's calendar: ASO presents: Holiday Pops with Bowie State University Concert Choir and 8 more events.
Find out what's happening in College Parkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in College Parkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Thursday: A little afternoon rain, with a high of 47 and low of 43 degrees.
- Friday: Breezy with clouds and sun, temps: high: 58, low: 26.
- Saturday: Partly sunny and cooler, with a high of 44 and low of 36 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. UMD shows dangers of dry Christmas trees during the holiday season (wbaltv.com) — A fire-safety demonstration at the University of Maryland in College Park showed how a dry Christmas tree can erupt into a deadly blaze within seconds, underscoring the danger for local households. Experts from UMD’s Fire Protection Engineering department urged residents to keep natural trees well-watered, watch for drying needles and brittle branches, and remove trees promptly to reduce the risk of holiday home fires. 
2. Governor Moore Announces $69.5 Million in Awards for Statewide Community Revitalization and Economic Development (wgmd.com) — College Park is set to benefit from new state funding, including down payment assistance for homebuyers and support for the new IonQ headquarters. These awards are part of nearly $70 million Governor Wes Moore is directing to community revitalization projects across Maryland, targeting disinvested neighborhoods with housing, business, and infrastructure improvements.
3. Montgomery Parks Reopens Ellsworth Urban Dog Park in Downtown Silver Spring (sourceofthespring.com) — Purple Line construction has reached a key milestone, with live wire testing now extending to the College Park station as the 16‑mile light rail line moves past 84% completion toward a planned Winter 2027 opening. Nearby in Silver Spring, Montgomery Parks has reopened Ellsworth Urban Dog Park and a section of Sligo Creek Parkway after construction-related closures, improving regional connectivity for College Park commuters and pet owners who travel through the area.
4. Maryland commission to study reparations after veto override (thehill.com) — Maryland has created a commission to study reparations for descendants of enslaved people, after lawmakers overrode Gov. Wes Moore’s veto. For College Park residents, the story connects to local history through Frederick Douglass’s statue on the University of Maryland campus, underscoring the state’s role in slavery and current efforts to address its legacy.
5. Maryland State Education Association (marylandeducators.org) — Educators from around Maryland can gather at the College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center on February 28, 2026, for MSEA’s IPD Conference focused on “One Big Union: Learning, Advocating, and Empowering.” The member-only event offers full-day professional development strands, a keynote by Dr. Cierra Kaler-Jones, and PD credits for attendees who participate all day.
📸 Around College Park
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🗓 Upcoming Events in College Park
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- ASO presents: Holiday Pops with Bowie State University Concert Choir
Bowie State University, 14000 Jericho Park Rd, Bowie
3:00 pm
Sunday December 21
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- College Park Youth Choir Concert
Old Parish House , 4711 Knox Rd , College Park
6:30 pm - Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Virtual Meeting
City of College Park, Maryland Calendar , 7401 Baltimore Ave , College Park
7:00 pm - Friday Senior Social
City of College Park Seniors , 4905 Branchville Road , College Park
10:30 am - Learn Tennis Now Graduation Party
JTCC , 5200 Campus Dr , College Park
7:00 pm - Berwyn Ballet School at The Old Parish House
City of College Park, Maryland Calendar , 4711 Knox Road , College Park
8:45 am - Gift Basket Workshop W/ IKEA Gaithersburg
IKEA , 10100 Baltimore Ave , College Park
12:00 pm - CPAE - Folk Dance
City of College Park, Maryland Calendar , 4711 Knox Road , College Park
2:00 pm - Sacred Circle Dance
Old Parish House , 4711 Knox Rd , College Park
2:00 pm - Hepcat Hoodie: HCH @ Brews & Barrels
Brews & Barrels , 625 Center Point Way , Gaithersburg
7:00 pm - SFS 1-10: Rites of Rekindling [Lvls 1-2]
Game Kastle College Park , 4748 Cherry Hill Rd , College Park
12:00 pm
Thursday December 18
Friday December 19
Saturday December 20
Sunday December 21
📣 College Park Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
- Caseworker in the Library
Spaulding Branch Library Spauldings - Group Study Room 1
10:00 am - Pins and Needles
New Carrollton Branch Library New Carrollton - Large meeting room 1
10:00 am - Senior Social Events
College Park Woods Club , 3545 Marlbrough Way , College Park
10:00 am - Ready 2 Read Storytime: Ages 02
Greenbelt Branch Library Greenbelt -
10:15 am
Thursday December 18
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making College Park PatchAM possible:
- Dogtopia of Downtown DC — (475) 338-3501
Dogtopia – Dog Daycare, Boarding, Spa & Wellness - Brysis Realty International — (240) 510-5693
25 years of experience, helping buyers and sellers... - Greenbelt SITY Stars — (301) 679-5100
35% Off - Jump Rope Classes
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Does anyone in the tagged area recognize this cat and does he have a home?
I first saw him a few weeks ago when I was passing through this neighborhood on my way home. I saw him running along the road and followed him for a… (Nextdoor Hollywood) - A vehicle fire on the 4700 block of Southern Ave SE has been extinguished, and normal travel has resumed in both directions.
3:01PM on Dec 16: A vehicle fire on the 4700 block of Southern Ave is causing road closures in both directions, with DCFEMS on the scene. (Nextdoor )
- Cava posted a job opening for Team Member in College Park. Apply here.
- Against All Odds, Inc. posted a job opening for Cashier in Hyattsville. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near College Park here.
Ok College Park! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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