From the Office of Council Member Tom Dernoga December 2025

(From left to right) BAPS Sadhu Pujya Viveknidhidas Swami and Council Member Tom Dernoga celebrating Diwali at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Beltsville, for which this year’s theme is Unity. Photo courtesy of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir.

Preparing for Winter Storms

As winter approaches, please pay attention to all weather advisories and winter storm warnings! During winter storms, the Department of Public Works & Transportation (DPW&T) prioritizes primary, secondary, and residential county roads to provide "passable" conditions. Stay on top of DPW&T in active snow operations by entering your address on the Snowplow Tracking website at PGCTrackSnow.com. Explore further details on what to expect during a winter storm at tinyurl.com/WinterStormDPWT.

            During a snow and ice event, residents are asked to wait 48 hours after the precipitation has stopped to report dangerous roadway conditions or snow removal to PGC311 (by calling 3-1-1, visiting PGC311.com, or utilizing the PGC311 App, which you can download via your phone’s App Store).

            To fully understand the County agencies’ plan for Winter 2025, sign up to attend the Virtual Snow Summit on December 11, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM. This meeting will feature presentations from agency leadership, emergency management officials, and other partner organizations that play a vital role in ensuring public safety and service continuity during winter weather events. Visit tinyurl.com/DPWTVirtualSnowMtg2025 to register. Visit dpwt.mypgc.us to access the presentation after the meeting.

Reporting Downed Trees, Branches, and Power Outages

As winter arrives, please report all fallen trees, fallen branches, public power outages, and other storm-related concerns to PGC311. If your issue is not addressed promptly, don't hesitate to contact our team and share your service request number at 301-952-3887 or CouncilDistrict1@co.pg.md.us. We will assign your case to a team member who will follow up with the appropriate agency.

Support Families in Need for the Holidays

With the holidays around the corner, this is a perfect time to give back to community members in need. The LindaBen Community Food Hub hosts food and diaper distributions several times each month. They are located at 10739 Tucker Street, Suite 222, Beltsville, 20705. Each Tuesday and Wednesday, from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM, they offer food and diaper distribution. Each Saturday, from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM, they offer food distribution. Please consider signing up to volunteer for a 2 or 3-hour shift at tinyurl.com/LindaBenVolunteer.

The Beltsville Adventist Community Center (BACC) houses a food pantry for individuals who are unable to get assistance through food stamps or whose food assistance is insufficient. BACC accepts donations of canned goods only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM. They are located at 4220 Ammendale Road, Beltsville, 20705. Please consider donating canned goods to support BACC’s food pantry.

            The Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Beltsville hosts a monthly Community Food Distribution on the 4th Saturday from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM, free for all in need. They are located at 11416 Cedar Lane, Beltsville, 20705. The next giveaway will be on Saturday, December 20, 2025. They are in need of volunteers to assist with distribution. Please contact them at 301-937-7114 or office@eumcbeltsville.com to volunteer.

If you are in need of food assistance or a Holiday meal, please explore our list of ongoing food assistance in District 1 at tinyurl.com/D1FoodAsst. For further assistance, please reach out to us.

Learn about Permitting with the Planning Department

The Prince George’s County Planning Department hosts a monthly “Brown Bag Series” covering various Development Review topics at the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) Largo Headquarters, along with a virtual option. For the December 2025 session, the focus will be on permitting. This will be on Tuesday, December 9, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. Register at least a week in advance at pgplan.org/brownbag.

            If you have any questions, contact the Planning Department at 301-780-2231 or Marian.Honeczy@ppd.mncppc.org.

Join our District 1 eNewsletter

We will email you about twice a month to provide you with updates on local events and, on occasion, alert you to important county news. Sign up at https://bit.ly/D1eNewsletterOptIn.

 

Contact Us

Please keep in touch. You can email us at councildistrict1@co.pg.md.us or call 301-952-3887. Se habla español. Follow us on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram: @TomDernogaD1.