🌱 Patch AM: How will this year’s holiday squeeze hit College Park wallets?

Greetings College Park! We’re your go-to source for what’s happening in town. Read on to get plugged in! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How will this year’s holiday squeeze hit College Park wallets?
• How a College Park car salesman pulled off a $204K theft
• How new Berwyn Heights staffing could change 911 responses in College Park

Also on today's calendar: ASO presents: Holiday Pops with Bowie State University Concert Choir and 6 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the boat dock say when it was arrested? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Saturday: Mainly cloudy, with a high of 46 and low of 27 degrees.
• Sunday: Mostly cloudy and colder, temps: high: 33, low: 19. ⛄️ Brr!
• Monday: Mostly cloudy and cold, with a high of 33 and low of 22 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Shoppers can expect higher prices this season (streetcarsuburbs.news) — Holiday shoppers in College Park are likely to see fewer big discounts, leaner store inventories, and higher prices this season, especially as many local federal workers still feel the sting of layoffs and a recent shutdown. A University of Maryland expert says tight budgets and gloomy consumer sentiment are already denting sales at College Park restaurants and shops, though higher-income residents may help by spending and donating more.
   

2. States Attorney Announces Conviction in $204k Vehicle Theft Scheme from College Park Nissan Dealership (smnewsnet.com) — A former salesman at Darcars Nissan in College Park has been convicted on 17 charges for stealing four vehicles worth more than $200,000 from the dealership’s lot. Prosecutors say he repeatedly used his employee access to remove cars over several days. He now faces up to 20 years in prison, with sentencing set for March 2026.
   

3. Paid firefighters return to Berwyn Heights (streetcarsuburbs.news) — College Park residents can expect faster emergency responses now that paid firefighters and EMTs have returned to the nearby Berwyn Heights station, which frequently backs up the city’s two fire companies. Local officials say the restored day-shift staffing eases volunteer burnout, strengthens coverage for College Park and the University of Maryland, and is part of a broader county effort to rebuild fire/EMS capacity.
   

4. UMD President Darryll Pines cleared of plagiarism allegations (thebaltimorebanner.com) — University of Maryland’s College Park president Darryll Pines has been cleared of plagiarism allegations after a yearlong independent investigation ordered by the University System of Maryland. Reviewers found reused introductory text in older co-authored papers but no scholarly misconduct or responsibility on Pines’ part. Regents and system leaders say they continue to support his leadership at the flagship campus.
   

5. How Maryland handled overtime and adversity to beat Minnesota (thenexthoops.com) — Maryland’s women’s basketball team followed a dramatic double-overtime comeback at Minnesota by crushing Delaware State 91–21 back home in College Park, even while missing several key players to injury. Coach Brenda Frese leaned on transfers and freshmen, highlighting how new leaders like Yarden Garzon, Oluchi Okanawa, and Saylor Poffenbarger are keeping the Terps’ season on track despite a depleted roster.
   

📸 Around College Park

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🗓 Upcoming Events in College Park

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Sunday December 14

• Girl Scout Troop 23031
  City of College Park, Maryland Calendar , 4601 Calvert Road , College Park
  2:30 pm

Monday December 15

• Berwyn Ballet School
  City of College Park, Maryland Calendar , 4711 Knox Road , College Park
  5:15 pm
• District 1 Discussion
  City of College Park, Maryland Calendar , 9217 51st Avenue , College Park
  7:00 pm
• Tree and Landscape Board Virtual Meeting
  City of College Park, Maryland Calendar
  7:00 pm
• Education Advisory Committee Virtual Meeting
  City of College Park, Maryland Calendar College Park, MD 20740
  7:30 pm

Tuesday December 16

• Berwyn Ballet School at The Old Parish House
  City of College Park, Maryland Calendar , 4711 Knox Road , College Park
  4:30 pm
• Restorative Justice Commission Virtual Meeting
  City of College Park, Maryland Calendar College Park, MD 20740
  6:00 pm
• College Park Arts Exchange - Art Club
  City of College Park, Maryland Calendar , 4711 Knox Road , College Park
  7:30 pm

Sunday December 21

• ASO presents: Holiday Pops with Bowie State University Concert Choir
  Bowie State University , 14000 Jericho Park Rd , Bowie
  3:00 pm

📣 College Park Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Saturday December 13

• MARYLAND CONCEALED CARRY + HQL
  Williams Tactical Consultant Group , 11890 Old Baltimore Pike Ste D , Beltsville
  9:00 am
• Holiday Gingerbread House Extravaganza w/ CSK (Parent/Child)
  Harriet Tubman Cultural Center , 8045 Harriet Tubman Ln , Columbia
  10:00 am
• Queens' Brunch: Honoring Hearts & Inspiring Hope
  Busboys and Poets , 5331 Baltimore Ave , Hyattsville
  10:00 am
• Ready 2 Read Storytime: Ages 35
  Hyattsville Branch Library Hyattsville -
  10:30 am

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:

• Greenbelt SITY Stars — (301) 679-5100
  35% Off - Jump Rope Classes
• Brysis Realty International — (240) 510-5693
  25 years of experience, helping buyers and sellers...
• Dogtopia of Downtown DC — (475) 338-3501
  Dogtopia – Dog Daycare, Boarding, Spa & Wellness

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Happy almost Chanukah!
  Chabad will be lighting a Menorah at the Bear Square at the Station at Riverdale Park! Hot Latkes! Dreidels! Choc. Gelt! Menorah and candles to take… (Nextdoor Knox Rd)

• Bright Horizons Family Solutions posted a job opening for Associate Teacher in College Park. Apply here.
• Snipes posted a job opening for Stock Personnel in Greenbelt. 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 demand a jury of my piers.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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