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🌱 Patch AM: How a UMD professor is redefining Salvadoran identity in greater D.C.

Make time for "New Chapters" BINGO on the College Park Patch calendar

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Tuesday January 13th Patch AM
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Morning College Park! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How a UMD professor is redefining Salvadoran identity in greater D.C.
  • A UMD College Park grad helped power this Golden Globe–winning hit
  • How a UMD College Park scholar reshaped Black literary studies

Also on today's calendar: "New Chapters" BINGO and 8 more events.

Find out what's happening in College Parkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: My dog used to chase people on a bike a lot. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in College Parkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Tuesday: Breezy in the afternoon, with a high of 53 and low of 39 degrees.
  • Wednesday: Rather cloudy, temps: high: 53, low: 30.
  • Thursday: Becoming windier and colder, with a high of 36 and low of 18 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!

📰 News we're reading

1. Book Talk: Ana Patricia Rodríguez (popville.com) — A University of Maryland, College Park professor is spotlighting the rich, often overlooked Salvadoran community that has reshaped the greater D.C. region. Ana Patricia Rodríguez’s new book, Avocado Dreams, explores how Salvadoran writers, artists, and “artivists” have forged intergenerational identities alongside Black Washingtonians and other neighbors, offering College Park readers fresh insight into nearby immigrant experiences.
   

2. At Golden Globes, another shining moment for ‘Golden' and a Maryland native (thebanner.com) — A University of Maryland, College Park alum is part of the team behind Netflix’s hit KPop Demon Hunters, whose song Golden just won a Golden Globe. Montgomery County native Rei Ami, class of 2018, celebrated in Beverly Hills as the film and its chart-topping single continued their record-breaking run and eyed possible Oscar recognition.
   

3. Book Talk: Mary Helen Washington — Paule Marshall (popville.com) — College Park readers may be interested that Distinguished University Professor Emerita Mary Helen Washington, who built Black literary studies at the University of Maryland, College Park, has a major new biography of novelist Paule Marshall coming in February. The piece highlights Washington’s decades of work recovering Black women’s writing and her national influence, along with details about her upcoming book and her conversation partner, Georgetown scholar Soyica Diggs Colbert.
   

4. Railroads and their regulators thwart safety fixes, costing lives (nbcmontana.com) — Reported from College Park’s University of Maryland, this investigation finds federal rail regulators have implemented only a handful of safety recommendations despite thousands of accidents nationwide. It details how industry lobbying, delayed fatigue rules, and reduced human inspections may be putting communities along rail lines at risk, including those in Maryland.
   

📸 Around College Park

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🗓 Upcoming Events in College Park

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📣 College Park Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

    Tuesday January 13
  • English Conversation Club
    Bladensburg Branch Library , Bladensburg Study Room 3 , Bladensburg
    1:00 pm
  • Play and Grow: Ages 03
    Bladensburg Branch Library , BL Activity Room , Bladensburg
    2:00 pm
  • Sew it Seams: Open Sewing Lab
    New Carrollton Branch Library New Carrollton -
    3:30 pm
  • Needlework Social
    Hyattsville - Learning Lab
    4:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Nextdoor users report a large police and emergency response presence at Bowie Town Center near Aroma restaurant.
    7:04PM on Jan 11: Police activity at Bowie Town Center, Bowie, Maryland, per local source (Nextdoor )
  • Crime Report
    1/4/26-1/10/26 1/10/26 • Breaking & Entering at the 5600 Ruatan St • Stolen auto at the 8600 blk of 34th Ave 1/9/26 • Theft from auto at the 7400… (Nextdoor )
  • Five Guys posted a job opening for Shift Manager - 4036 in College Park. Apply here.
  • Denny's posted a job opening for Service Assistant - Franchise in College Park. 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 took its bike away.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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