From the Office of Council Member Tom Dernoga September 2026
Upcoming General Election
Make your voice heard and vote for your state and local representatives in the upcoming General Election on November 3, 2026. Early voting will take place from October 22nd to October 29th. Polling locations will be open from 7 AM to 8 PM during both early voting and on Election Day.
You can vote in three ways: by early voting in person, by mail-in ballot, or in person on Election Day. To vote in person on Election Day, find your assigned polling place at voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/PollingPlaceSearch.
The following mail-in ballot drop boxes are in and near District 1: 1) Beltsville Community Center - 3900 Sellman Road, Beltsville 20705, 2) College Park Community Center - 5051 Pierce Avenue, College Park 20740, 3) Deerfield Run Community Center - 13000 Laurel Bowie Road, Laurel 20708, 4) Laurel-Beltsville Senior Activity Center - 7120 Contee Road, Laurel 20707, 5) Riderwood Wellness Center - 3138 Gracefield Road, Silver Spring 20904.
To register to vote, confirm your registration, request a mail-in ballot, update your information, or see which candidates will be on the ballot, visit the Maryland State Board of Elections (SBE) website at elections.maryland.gov. You can also register to vote at your polling place on Election Day. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked or placed in a designated ballot drop box by 8 PM on November 3rd to be counted.
Spicknall’s Farm Development Update
A pre-application meeting was held on Wednesday, September 2nd, regarding the BAPS Religious Complex’s application for construction on the former Spicknall’s Farm property. Now that this has taken place, the applicant will file a Preliminary Plan of Subdivision (PPS) and a Detailed Site Plan (DET), along with companion applications.
The proposed construction would include a place of worship, a cultural facility, a monastery, and walking trails. An environmental assessment has already taken place, and an extensive traffic study is planned for the surrounding Ammendale Road and Old Gunpowder Road.
Once an application is officially submitted, residents can register as a Person of Record for future opportunities to engage. Stay updated by searching the address of the proposed development (12011 Old Gunpowder Road) through the Planning Department’s Development Application Review Tracking System (DARTS) at tinyurl.com/DARTSPG.
Apply for Utility Assistance
Beginning in January 2027, most low-income customers who are signed up to receive assistance through the state’s Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP) will automatically have their utility bill capped at, on average, 6% of their income. This results from a decision by the Maryland Public Service Commission.
I encourage everyone to apply for assistance through OHEP to see if you are eligible for any grants and to potentially benefit from this incoming discount.
You can apply in three ways: 1) at your local OHEP office (Prince George’s County Department of Social Services, 425 Brightseat Road, Landover, MD 20785), 2) by mail (download the application at myohepstatus.benefits.maryland.gov/), or 3) online at benefits.maryland.gov.
For help understanding the application, you can watch the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel (OPC)’s training, “Master the Energy Assistance Application”, at tinyurl.com/OPCEnergyApp.
Contact Us
Please keep in touch by emailing us at councildistrict1@co.pg.md.us or calling 301-952-3887.
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