The March Citizen's Association meeting will be on Wednesday, March 21, at 7 pm. We meet at Beltsville Academy. We will discuss two development issues. The first will be a proposed rezoning/redevelopment for the commercial building at Route 1 and Prince George's Avenue, where Sam’s Barbershop is currently a tenant, as well as the land between the commercial office building and the detached single-family homes on Prince Georges Avenue and Harford Road. Also, there is a proposal to build a Restaurant Depot on Konterra.
Tip O'Neil once said, "politics are local...." 2018 is one of those years. Beltsville will definitely see a change in elected officials. Term limits will bring a new county executive, state’s attorney, and council member for District 1. We have two new at large county council seats. Delegate Barbara Frush has announced her retirement. The Beltsville, Calverton, and Vansville Heights Citizen's associations along with the Greater Beltsville Business Association will sponsor a candidate forum in March, April, and May.
The March forum will be held on Tuesday, March 27, from 6–9 p.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, 4545 Ammendale Road, Beltsville, MD. Here is a list of the speakers for the March forum: council District 1 candidates Tom Dernoga and Craig Moe, county council at large seats candidates Calvin Hawkins, Geron Levi, Juanita Culbreath-Miller, Mel Franklin, Karen Toles, and Jonathan White, and candidates for sheriff Anthony Ayers, Dave Grogan, Melvin C. High, Sylvester E. Jones Sr., Percy Reeder Sr., and Kendal Wade.
The April forum will feature candidates for state delegates; we elect three. The candidates are Chike Anyanwu (R), Ben Barnes (D), Matt Dernoga (D), Mary Lehman (D), James E. McDowell Jr. (D), Joseline Pena-Melnyk (D), Fernando Raffucci (D), Brencis Smith (D), and Ray Ranker (I). Maryland senate candidates James Rosapepe (D) and Lee Havis (R) will also be there.
The May forum will feature candidates for county executive and state’s attorney. Watch future issues of The Beltsville News for details.
If you have a community concern or question, I can be reached at 301.937.3490 or karenmcoakely@msn.com.
Please join us on March 21 and March 27 for the candidates’ forum and bring a friend.