Agenda from a naturalization ceremony in September 1993 where she led major roles. I honestly had a hard time writing this profile. Not because Ms. Imani-Frances Smith is uninteresting or because we didn't have the loveliest time chatting. It is because it is hard to capture her absolutely glowing essence in a mere few words. We see the houses and driveways throughout Beltsville and never really imagine who lives behind those front doors. I had the absolute pleasure of knoc

UpStage Artists, Beltsville’s resident community theater, is excited to announce that it will be performing Christopher Demos-Brown’s American Son  this June. The play is about an estranged biracial couple who must confront their feelings about race and bias after their son is detained by local police following a traffic stop. Their disparate histories and backgrounds inform their assumptions as they try to find out what has happened to their son. American Son  is a show that

Finn H wins 3 rd  in his Pack’s race This winter has been hard on the pack because if Beltsville Academy closes then we can’t meet and have our regular meetings. We decided that if we were cancelled to keep trying. It took us until March 9 th  to hold our annual Blue and Gold Dinner, but we finally held it! We are hoping that the Pinewood Derby doesn’t suffer the same fate but we think that staying away from Mondays might help. The Derby will be held on March 21 st  at the

The Beltsville West Park is getting a facelift! Beltsville West Park off Montgomery Road is getting a long overdue facelift! Hopefully, the work will be completed by the middle of April. They are running behind schedule because of the crazy March weather. KUDOS to police officers assigned to the District VI – Beltsville station, who arrested and charged a driver from Virginia who participated in an illegal car rally on March 13, 2026, in the unincorporated section of Laurel

Dear Editor, I am writing to express my strong concerns, as well as those of others in the community, regarding the recent granting of a special exception to build a crematorium to be attached to the existing Borgwardt's Funeral Home on Powder Mill Road in Beltsville, MD.  While we understand the importance of providing funeral services to our community, research supports that placing a crematorium in such close proximity to numerous schools and childcare facilities raises se

Balancing the State Budget   Balancing the state budget in a tough economy remains a significant challenge. The layoffs of federal employees and contractors, along with the closure of federal agencies, continue to impact Maryland’s families, businesses, and the state budget. At the same time, rising utility rates and gas prices are putting additional pressure on the state budget, just as they are on family budgets. As a result, the Governor and the legislature have had to mak

I attended a recent Greenbelt County Council meeting, where they discussed annexing parts of BARC (Beltsville Agriculture Research Center). I was the only representative (to my knowledge, all the speakers before and after me were from Greenbelt) from Beltsville who spoke. I expressed surprise and frustration that our community wasn’t included more in this conversation as Beltsville is literally the first word in BARC (a name-to be clear-has changed over the years from when it

Council Member Dernoga and District VI PGPD Major Saul Serpas at the March District 1 Community Conversation.   District 1 Community Conversation with CEX Aisha Braveboy Please join County Executive Aisha Braveboy and me for a Town Hall Meeting focused on the Proposed Budget and other issues. The Town Hall will be held on Thursday, April 9, at 6 PM at the BAPS Mandir, 4320 Ammendale Road, Beltsville, MD 20705. This is a great opportunity to learn about the County Executive’s

The community is invited to welcome the season at the Second Annual Spring Street Fair , a lively afternoon celebration filled with food, entertainment, and family-friendly activities. The event will take place on Sunday, May 17, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM  at 9217 51st Ave, College Park, MD 20740 . Designed for attendees of all ages, the Spring Street Fair brings together local vendors, artists, performers, and residents for a festive celebration of spring. Guests can enjoy a

District 22-C Club Officers Training at Emmanuel United Methodist Church Members of the Beltsville Lions Club are mourning the death of Lion Richard “Rick” Zerbe, who passed away on 5 March. He served in several capacities in the Lions Club, including Club President, and Board of Directors member. He was a Melvin Jones Fellow. Rick was always friendly and outgoing. His presence will be sorely missed. Rick retired from the U.S. Marine Corps as a Master Sergeant after decades

Marcellous B. Taylor, Sr., "The Professor” - Once a Marine, Always a Marine Almost 10 years ago, to the exact day of the January 2026 ice storm, long before any county trucks arrived, and while the neighbors in Vansville, Maryland were caught inside their homes due to the Blizzard of 2016, the familiar whir of the blue tractor owned by neighbor Marcellous B. Taylor, Sr. could be heard navigating its way up and down the streets of Old Baltimore Pike, Cordwall Drive, and parts

A Laurel homeowner’s quick response and the power of community connections helped reunite a 74-year-old man suffering from dementia with his family after he was found wandering alone in freezing temperatures on February 12. On February 12th, during freezing temperatures, a West Laurel homeowner opened his door to find an elderly man standing alone in his driveway. The man appeared confused and unable to speak. He was wearing only one shoe and had no socks, gloves, or identifi

Members of Scout Troop 1033 celebrating Scout Sunday on February 8 at Emmanuel United Methodist Church. Photo By Cale Fuller. February 8, 1910, marked a landmark moment in American history with the founding of the Boy Scouts of America. For 116 years, Scouting has served as a lifeline for young people and families in communities across the country. For 63 of those years, Troop 1033 has been an active presence in the Beltsville community and a valued community partner of Emman

The photo is from the January 17 vigil on Route 1, which reflected on local and national incidents, honored those impacted, and stood in solidarity with families and individuals harmed by these actions. (Photo credit: Oscar Gregory) Beltsville residents will once again gather in peaceful solidarity on Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 11AM to 1PM, as part of the nationwide “No Kings” movement. The local demonstration will take place at Beltsville Drive and Powder Mill Road, ne

We are moving forward toward a new High Point High School!! High Point High is the oldest high school in the county that has never been replaced. Over the years, there have been additions and some renovations. High Point opened in 1954 and was named for its location as the highest point in Prince George’s County. High Point will be replaced with a new, state-of-the-art 423,000-square-foot facility on the current site. Designed to accommodate 2,600 students, the new school wil

Major issues on 2026 legislative session Holding down utility rates   Electric and gas rates are too high and rising too fast. Last year, the legislature provided rebates on residential bills and directed the state Public Service Commission to crack down on PEPCO and Washington Gas rates and accelerate the expansion of cost-effective clean energy. But it’s not enough. That’s why this year Delegates Joseline Pena-Melnyk, Ben Barnes, Mary Lehman, and I are working to make sure

Local scouts and families celebrating Scout Sunday At two churches here in Beltsville, Scouting America scouts celebrated Scout Sunday. On February 8, the Scouts BSA celebrated at Emmanuel United Methodist Church. On February 15, the Scouting America Scouts participated in Scout Sunday at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church here in Beltsville. Three scouts from Pack 740 received their Religious Medals. Congratulations to them! Those attending from Pack 1031 were Dave Georges P. an

The District 1 team thanks and congratulates Daniel Douglas as he embarks on his next life chapter. While on our team, he served as a Constituent Services Specialist. He is now off to Belgium to continue his studies. He is pictured here with J.D. Perkins, President of the Vansville Heights Citizens Association (VHCA). Legislative Updates As we move into March, things are picking up in Largo and in Annapolis. Last month, I wrote about the Governor's Housing bill (HB 239/SB 36)

By the time you read this, I hope all the snow and ice we’ve had will be just a memory. We have many new things to add to our meetings this year that I think you’ll enjoy. We are offering three new trips (please bring a check to reserve your place), including a five-day excursion to Cape Cod. We will also have a “New to You” table with many gift items for you or a friend, and a hearty game of Bingo where you can win money. We will continue to offer light refreshments, a 50/50

Organizers invite families from throughout the community to attend and celebrate the Easter season together. Children are encouraged to bring a basket for collecting eggs. Church leaders note that the event is designed to provide a fun, family-friendly opportunity while also highlighting the meaning of Easter. For additional information, community members may contact the church office at 301-937-7771.