BELTSVILLE, Md. — Mu Alpha Sigma, Inc. (MAΣ) will host “Steps Toward Peace: Ending Domestic Violence,” a community awareness walk on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the Beltsville Community Center, 3900 Sellman Road, Beltsville, MD 20705. Registration will begin at 9:00 a.m. The event will bring together community members to raise awareness about domestic violence, honor survivors, remember those whose lives have been lost, and inspire hope through unity and actio

Rick Bergmann (left), who plays Joel Cairo, works on fight choreography with director John Cusumano during a rehearsal for UpStage Artists’ The Maltese Falcon. In The Maltese Falcon, Lieutenant Polehaus asks detective Sam Spade what the titular bird is made of. Spade responds, “The stuff that dreams are made of.” That is exactly what the creative team behind UpStage Artists’ production hopes to bring to the stage—the stuff that dreams are made of. The Maltese Falcon is based

Rendering of the new James E. Duckworth Elementary School UPPER MARLBORO, MD — Prince George's County Public Schools broke ground on the new James E. Duckworth Elementary School on Tuesday, July 14, marking the final groundbreaking in the district's award-winning Blueprint Schools Phase II construction program. The new 94,000-square-foot Duckworth Elementary School will accommodate up to 700 prekindergarten through 5th grade students. Duckworth will also relieve some of the o

Jose Sanchez-Sanchez was arrested on August 5 on charges of sexual abuse of a minor. Photo courtesy of the official Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Facebook page. According to the official Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Facebook page, deputies with the Prince George’s County Office of the Sheriff arrested Jose Sanchez-Sanchez on August 5 on charges of sexual abuse of a minor. The charges stem from an investigation by the Prince George’s County Police Department into allega

Auditions for Babes In Toyland The Musical will be held on October 2 and 3 UpStage Artists is pleased to announce auditions for its holiday production of Babes in Toyland, featuring a cast of adults and children ages 8 and older. Auditions for adult roles will be held Friday, October 2, at 7 p.m., with children’s auditions on Saturday, October 3, at 12 p.m. at Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 11416 Cedar Lane, Beltsville, MD 20705. The production will feature principal roles

LARGO, MD — As required by Maryland Election Law, Moisette “Tonya” Sweat, Esquire has collected the requisite number of signatures from registered voters in Prince Georges County on her petition to run as an Independent/Unaffiliated Candidate for the Office of County Executive in the November General Election. Mrs. Sweat will file the signed petitions at the Prince Georges County Board of Elections, 1100 Mercantile Lane, Suite 115A in Largo, MD 20774, on Monday, August 3, 202

New online portal for Maryland taxes Beginning September 1, individual Maryland taxpayers may use the online Maryland Tax Connection for filing income tax returns, making estimated payments, setting up payment plans, and more. Tax Connect is already in use by Maryland businesses to file returns and communicate directly with the Comptroller’s office. Now, it will be free to use to all Maryland individual taxpayers. If you are experiencing technical difficulties, please don’t h

Two scouts, one Cubmaster and a double rainbow! This month we had a FUN time at National Night Out!! We introduced kids to one of our favorite activities- Stomp Rockets! We also caught a rainbow this week as we were trying to do a simple experiment using salt/sugar and will they make an egg float? We discovered you can’t use fresh eggs - but we saw a double rainbow!! I hope to see lots of folks at Back-to-School nights and our Join Scouting Night on Sept. 28th at our meeting

(From left to right) Retiring Sergeant Kenneth Hibbert, Council Member Tom Dernoga, Retiring Corporal Alan Jones, and Chief of Staff Michelle García at the District VI PGPD 2026 National Night Out. Data Center Update I want to update you with the latest information regarding data centers. I reviewed the 2025 Data Center Task Force report and believe that the County has not yet completed the necessary work outlined in the report to move forward this Legislative year. It is cru

The Community Was Out In Force at the 2026 National Night Out! Beltsville residents came together on August 4 for an evening of food, fellowship, and community spirit during this year’s National Night Out celebration at the Beltsville Library and Police Station. The highlight of the evening was the recognition of Cpl. Hibbert and Cpl. Jones upon their retirement. The Beltsville community is grateful for their many years of dedicated service and for the commitment they have sh

FBI Headquarters in Washington DC. Photo Courtesy of Travel Aficionado (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/) Greenbelt, MD – The City of Greenbelt acknowledges the U.S. District Court ruling blocking the relocation of the planned FBI headquarters to the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C. The ruling restores the path forward for the FBI headquarters project in Greenbelt. After years of federal review and a competitive selection process, Greenbelt was chos

There was an updated, albeit, informal community meeting at the Beltsville Library on August 18th. It was held as a hybrid meeting as well, there was a virtual option via Google meetings. There was a presentation by Donna Borgwardt-Mabry and then by Paul Seyler, from Mathews Environmental Solutions, the company who makes the possible equipment that would comprise the possible crematorium. The Maryland Department of the Environment was also on hand to answer any questions. The

The Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) after the 2001 tornado. Photo by Billy McNeel. Twenty-five years ago, this month held a lot of pain. Just after the attacks of September 11th, an F3 tornado swept our area on September 24th. It hit Beltsville, the BARC campus, College Park and the UMD grounds, and then Laurel as well. I lived in College Park at the time and my mother, who grew up in the Midwest and knew the warning signs, saw the funnel cloud and ushered myse

CHANGE FOR SEPT. MEETING: Because of the club’s Massachusetts trip, our monthly meeting will be on the SECOND Thursday instead of the third. We will meet on Sept. 10—regular time and place—10:30 a.m. at the Beltsville Community Center. Our speaker will be talking about “How to keep more of your money in retirement.” We’ve had Mr. Sciannella speak to us earlier this year on a different subject, but it should be an interesting subject and suggestions. We’ll have our usual light

6505 Belcrest Road in Hyattsville. Photo courtesy of https://www.cityfeet.com/cont/listing/6505-belcrest-rd-hyattsville-md-20782/cs7981951 Community members are organizing in opposition to the proposed expansion of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations at 6505 Belcrest Road in Hyattsville. The Metro 1 building has long housed Prince George’s County services, including programs related to food assistance, healthcare and education. An ICE law office already operat

NOTE TO OUR READERS: THERE HAVE BEEN SOME MINOR CORRECTIONS IN THIS VERSION OF THE ARTICLE. THE ONE IN THE PRINT VERSION HAD A FEW MISTAKES. Much has been said, written and even shouted, at times, about the expansion that the Borgwardt funeral home plans to add to their building on Powder Mill Road. While community meetings were held, the owners have not said much beyond what was shared and I wanted to chat and see what the situation looked like from their side. I got the cha

Peabody Conservatory graduate and Kennedy Center performer now accepting students of all levels David C. Griffiths, founder of Griffiths Vocal Studio, a Beltsville-based online vocal coaching practice. BELTSVILLE, MD — David C. Griffiths, a longtime Beltsville resident and classically trained baritone, has launched Griffiths Vocal Studio (griffithsvocalstudio.com), an online vocal coaching practice serving singers of all ages and skill levels — from teenagers preparing for sc

Emmanuel United Methodist Church has announced that its regular food pantry distribution program has come to an end following changes to its primary source of food donations. For many years, the church's food pantry has relied on food provided through the Capital Area Food Bank. The organization recently informed the church that it is ending its partnership with Emmanuel United Methodist Church as it shifts its resources toward organizations serving a larger number of househo

Our members feel a little lost since we could not meet since June. But I’m sure the kids had fun in “our” room for their “kids camp”. We will be meeting on Thursday, August 20 with songs from Dan & Cheryl DeVito. They are a terrific couple and we look forward to hearing their songs again. In September, we had to change the monthly meeting date to September 10 (second Thursday), since so many of our members will be going on the trip to Massachusetts with Diamond Tours. Our spe

The Morning Flag ceremony at Cub Day camp Friday, July 17th. This month a couple of scouts from Cub Pack 1031, and Regina Halper, attended Cub Day Camp at Allen Pond in Bowie. This year’s theme was Dinosaurs! The scouts learned about Dinosaurs, played games, went fishing and hiked to the other side of the park! On the 27th of June fishing event led by scouts from Troop 214G, most of the scouts caught fish!! We will be at National Night Out and finish the summer with a Rain Gu

Beltsville has been blessed with dedicated police officers who have served on the COPS Unit. Cpl. Jones and Cpl. Hibbert are retiring. Please join us at Police National Night Out as we celebrate Cpl. Jones and Cpl. Hibbert as they enter the next chapter in their lives. Police National Night Out is Tuesday, August 4th 6-8 p.m. at the Library/Police Department, 4321 Sellman Road, Beltsville. Cpl. Jones served as a Patrol Officer in District III from 2006 to 2012, as a COPS Offi

(From left to right) Chief of Staff Michelle García presenting a proclamation to Acting Principal Michelle Campbell for James E. Duckworth Elementary School, celebrating their groundbreaking as part of Phase 2 of the Blueprint Project through Prince George’s County Public Schools. Transitions Now that the Primary Election has passed and Michelle García has been certified as the winner of the District 1 County Council seat, with no opposition in the General Election, expect h

Help with insurance for storm-related damage This summer has already seen several destructive storms come through our area. If you have suffered any damages from these storms or other natural disasters, the Maryland Insurance Administration can assist you. They are on standby to provide contact information for your insurer or by helping you with questions about how to file a claim. Please visit https://insurance.maryland.gov/Consumer/Pages/postDisaster.aspx to learn more. Mon

Ned Kieloch and Tiffany Jackson in UpStage Artists production of American Son As the director of UpStage Artists' recent production of American Son, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended one of our performances over the past two weekends. Community theater thrives because of the support of its audiences, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who chose to spend an evening with us. What makes your support especially meaningful is that American Son

Emmanuel United Methodist Church would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended and supported the church's annual Community Yard Sale on Saturday, June 13. The event brought together neighbors, families, local organizations, and visitors from throughout the area for a day of fellowship, bargain hunting, and community spirit. From household treasures and unique finds to homemade baked goods and lunch offerings, the yard sale provided something for everyone

The Prince George’s County Police Department is inviting local businesses, organizations, and vendors to take part in National Night Out 2026, a community-building event designed to strengthen relationships between residents, businesses, and law enforcement. This year’s event will take place on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, with vendor setup beginning at 5:00 p.m. Participation is being offered free of charge, providing local businesses with an opportunity to showcase their produc

Ted Ladd, Advertising and Business Manager for the Beltsville News Our profile this month is of our very own Ted Ladd! He is The Beltsville News’s Advertising and Business Manager. · When did you get started with The Beltsville News and what is your role now? · I was asked to help editor Walter Sadler during mid-1997 with ads in the paper. I visited Mr. Sadler and provided some limited aid until August 1997, when Mr. Sadler passed away at age 85. At this point, I

Thomas and Sharon Procida, owners of Calverton Grocery Outlet It has been two years since Thomas and Sharon Procida opened their grocery outlet store in Calverton. I joined them at the store to see how they felt after two years of being in this community. It didn’t take long at all to hear their thoughts: “We are blessed to be in this community!” The enthusiasm was palpable in talking to both of them. I learned that when in training to lead a story, you can request a particul

(From left to right) District 1 School Board Member Dr. Tiffini Andorful, Ms. Yvette Korvin, Liya Shewakena, and Council Member Dernoga celebrating Ms. Korvin’s 37 years of service as a High Point High School teacher. Concrete Spilled on Rhode Island Avenue Since January 2026, my team and I have been in touch with the Department of Public Works & Transportation (DPW&T) to advocate for a remedy for the concrete tailings that spilled along Rhode Island Avenue between Powder Mil

Webelos scout tossing frisbees with her denmate and family Cub Pack 1031 is having a fun time doing our summertime activities! We went to the Baysox game, stomped rockets, a small nature and picked up trash along the Little Paint Branch Trail and Frisbees! Coming up on the 27th of June scouts from Troop 214G are leading a fishing day at Cash Lake. We have plans to do hikes, biking, National Night Out and finish the summer with a Rain Gutter Regatta! We are a family unit (boys

June was a good meeting, despite the heat that returned. We DO NOT MEET in July because the Community Center uses the community room for their “Kids Camp.” I don’t know yet what August will bring to the Beltsville Young at Heart Club, but I’ll let you know later in July. If you have questions, call me at 301-498-9736. “Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You, too? I thought I was the only one.’” — C. S. Lewis

The Beltsville News is pleased to welcome Beltsville resident Jillian Schweitzer as the newspaper’s newest community correspondent. As an active member of the local community, Schweitzer brings a passion for Beltsville and an interest in sharing the stories, events, and people that help make the area unique. In her new role, she will contribute community-focused coverage and help highlight the voices and experiences of local residents. We are excited to have Jillian join our

Election Year in Maryland 2026. As former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill famously said, “All politics is local.” With that in mind, I am focusing on our local elections. I sent two questions to the candidates running for the Prince George’s County Council District 1 seat and the two At-Large County Council seats. District 1 includes Beltsville, Calverton, and Vansville Heights. There are three candidates running for District 1 and eight candidates seeking the two At-Large s

Bear Scouts making a Marble Maze using recycled materials! It has been a busy month for Cub Pack 1031! Our active scouts have completed their rank and now we move to summertime activities. For the Bear scouts they ended the regular indoor meetings completing Marble Madness!! We have a full month planned with a Scout Night at the Baysox, two fishing days including one led by BSA scouts from Troop 214G at Cash Lake. We have plans to do hikes, biking, stomp rockets launch, Natio

(From left to right) Michelle García, Chief of Staff, Caleb Gould, and Council Member Dernoga at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Konterra Town Center. Subregion 1 Minor Plan Amendment: Upcoming Hearing On Monday, June 8, at 6 PM, the County Council is holding a Joint Public Hearing regarding the Minor Amendment to the 2010 Approved Master Plan and Sectional Map Amendment for Konterra and the surrounding area. This will be held at the Wayne K. Curry Building, 1301 McCor

Residents of Beltsville and the surrounding area are invited to attend an upcoming educational seminar focused on estate planning and the important differences between trusts and wills. Hosted by St. John’s Episcopal Church in partnership with DK Law Group, the seminar will take place on Saturday, June 27, 2026, from 10 to 11 a.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, located at 11040 Baltimore Avenue in Beltsville. Presented by Diana Khan of DK Law Group, the seminar is designed t

Beltsville is one of the last unincorporated towns in Prince George’s County. We do have, of course, the County Council and our District representative and our state folks (whom we deeply appreciate for all of their work!), but we don’t have anyone who is boots on the ground, specifically for Beltsville. Laurel does, College Park does and Greenbelt does. With encroachment from both College Park and Greenbelt and the threat of BARC being seized by the federal government, I bel

June 23 is the 2026 primary election — with mail-in and early voting before then. Beltsville has lots of needs, from keeping the Beltsville Volunteer Fire Department open and fixing local streets to improving public safety, services for seniors, and good schools. Your most important opportunity to express your priorities and concerns is in the elections — first in the June 23 primary and then in the November election. Whether you’re a Democrat or Republican, I urge you to vo

Our May meeting had a speaker on “How to fool the scammers.” It was a very interesting subject. The Beltsville Community Center is having problems with some plumbing, so the bathrooms are being remodeled. They have “jiffy-johns” set up to take care of any needs for the next couple of months. Our June meeting, Thursday, June 18, will be a “Bingo for prizes” event. Members who wish to play need to bring a wrapped prize (value of $5-$15), so that the winners will have an incenti

A local organization with roots stretching back to the 1950s is at a crossroads—and turning to the community it has long served for support. The Beltsville Garden Club, now known as the Greenbelt-Beltsville Garden Club, was originally established by personnel from the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC). For decades, the club has brought together residents with a shared love of gardening, community beautification, and environmental stewardship. Today, however, the

The Lion’s Club mobile health unit visiting Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Beltsville Members of the Lion’s Club hone their skills on equipment to screen vision, hearing, and eye pressure abnormalities Lions Club members from around Lions Clubs International District 22-C gathered at Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Beltsville on Saturday, 18 April, to hone their skills in using equipment to screen vision, hearing, and eye pressure abnormalities. The effort was organ

Election Year in Maryland 2026. “All Politics is Local,” according to former Speaker of the House, Congressman Tip O’Neill. I am focusing on our local elections. I sent two questions to the candidates running for County Council District 1 and the At-Large Council seats. District 1 includes Beltsville, Calverton, and Vansville Heights. There are three candidates for District 1 and eight candidates for the two At-Large County Council seats. 1) What do you believe is the Top C

Beltsville and Calverton Residents came together for No Kings Demonstration on March 28. On Saturday, March 28, approximately 300 community members gathered at the intersection of Powder Mill Road and Beltsville Drive for the second “No Kings” demonstration, hosted by Beltsville United. The event marked the group’s third community gathering, following an initial demonstration and a recent vigil that brought neighbors together in reflection and solidarity. The turnout reflecte

Dear Editor, A report on today’s activity at the Beltsville Young At Heart Club-3rd Thursday of each month. This is a news report by a member. We had a wonderful concert by Johnny Seaton, our local Elvis impersonator. Almost two hours of Elvis singing and sharing history with two dozen seniors at the Community Center on Sellman Road. A free concert and it was a wonderful time. And as always, coffee, food, and friendship. A few trips are in the future, day trips and extended t

Join us once again at the Beltsville Community Festival I hope you will join Delegates Joseline Peña-Melnyk, Ben Barnes, Mary Lehman, and me at the family-friendly Beltsville Day Community Festival on Saturday, May 9, from noon until 4 p.m. at the Beltsville Community Center, 3900 Sellman Road. There will be a variety of free games, numerous food options, activities, and entertainment for children and adults of all ages. And join the Delegates and our staff at our annual post

(From left to right) Chief of Staff Michelle García, Jim Soltesz, Sejal Patel, Council Member Tom Dernoga, County Executive Aisha Braveboy, Kush Patel, and Karan Patel at the April District 1 Budget Town Hall. 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 Ammen

Get ready to hunt for hidden gems, score great deals, and connect with your neighbors! Emmanuel United Methodist Church (11416 Cedar Lane, Beltsville, MD 20705) is hosting a lively Community Yard Sale on Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.—and everyone is invited to join the fun. Whether you’re searching for a bargain, clearing out some space at home, or just looking for a great way to spend a Saturday, this event has something for you. Hosted by the United Women i

It’s hard to believe that it is now over two years since the first community meeting packed Station 31’s meeting room, listening to former Fire Chief Tiffany Green and assorted county staff describe how the station needed to be re-organized with career staff moving off site due to health concerns. (See original write up that was featured in the newspaper: https://www.beltsvillenewstoday.com/post/pg-fire-chief-tiffany-green-removing-paid-staff-from-beltsville-vfd) Since then,

Pinewood Derby Winners 2026 Rosa M. 3rd Pl, Rowan M. 1st Pl and Nate C. 2nd Pl We did it!! Our pack Derby was held on March 21st at the Beltsville Community Center! Arrow Scout Rowan M. won the P1031 Pinewood Derby with Bear Scout Nate C. coming in 2nd place and Bear Scout Rosa M. coming in third place. Opening of the Arrow of Light Crossover on April 13th with Pack 1031, Troops 1033, T214G and T643G On April 13th the Arrow of Light Scouts bridged over to Scouts BSA: Rowan M.

Have you ever wished for a place to go once a month where you can spend time with mature and interesting people your own age? Well, that place is the Beltsville Young at Heart group. We meet on the third Thursday of each month at the Beltsville Community Center, located at 3900 Sellman Road. The only requirement is that you be 55 years of age or older. You do NOT have to live in Beltsville to join us—we have members from Bowie, Greenbelt, College Park, and several other areas