Greenbelt’s Own Billy Smith Receives Wall of Fame Honor
On January 17, 2020, a beloved father of three, a cherished husband, friend, local youth athletic coach and mentor to many, lost his life at the age of 41 after a struggle with armed intruders during a home invasion. Billy Owens Smith has been described by many as the “embodiment of sunlight,” and since his […]
Greenbelt Police Honor Corporal Christine Peters with New Sign
The Greenbelt Police Department paid tribute to the life and service of Corporal Christine Peters on November 5 with a memorial sign on Kenilworth Avenue/Route 201, north of Cherrywood Lane. Peters died from injuries on January 14, 2021, after she was struck by a car while attending to a car crash there on January 2. […]
V.P. Kamala Harris Is Excited About Research at Goddard
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris spoke on Friday, November 5 at Goddard Space Flight Center, focusing her speech on climate change and the opportunities space may have to help solve the climate crisis. “It has literally been decades since a sitting U.S. president or vice president has visited our center,” Center Director Dennis J. Andrucyk […]
Newly-elected Council Starts With a Wobbly First Meeting
Prior to the first meeting of the new council on Monday, November 8, there was a meeting of the previous council in which there was some discussion of whether this last session of the old council should be closed or open – or should include the newly-elected members. The prior councils’ members then present – […]
Co-op Annual Meeting Celebrates Complicated but Successful Year
The Greenbelt Cooperative Supermarket, familiarly and fondly known as the Co-op, held its annual meeting on Saturday, November 6 via Zoom. Nearly 60 members attended to hear about the store’s epic 2021. When all was said and done, Co-op had an excellent year and on the strength of it, Co-op members will receive a dividend […]
Emmett Jordan Gets Top Vote; Council Geographically Diverse

Greenbelt voters chose Emmett Jordan for the position of mayor after a long election season that ended on November 2. Furthermore, the 2,675 participating voters chose a city council that is the most geographically diverse council ever elected. Three members are from Greenbelt East, two members from Greenbelt West and two from Greenbelt Center. […]
Greenbelt’s Annual Utopia Film Festival to Open November 20
With a focus on safety, Greenbelt’s Utopia Film Festival returns for its 17th year on Saturday, November 20 through Monday, November 22. This year the festival will offer 35 independent films. “This year’s festival has been significantly more challenging to plan,” said Utopia Executive Director Chris Haley, whose committee met online through Zoom to organize. […]
“That Could Have Been Bad” Orienteering for Challenge, Fun

Why is it that the most out-of-shape person in Greenbelt insists on doing so many outdoor activities? This is what I thought to myself as I lay on my bed for five straight hours Sunday afternoon, unable to move, staring mournfully at the ceiling. Occasionally I’d yell for Dan, saying things like “errrggghhhh” and “uggggggh,” […]
In-person Voting Held Tuesday For City Council Elections
After months of campaigning and city council forums, Greenbelt residents had the opportunity to vote in person on Tuesday, November 2, for the 2021 to 2023 Greenbelt City Council. The five precinct locations in town – the Community Center, Springhill Lake Recreation Center, the Greenbelt Police Department, Greenbriar Community Building and Schrom Hills Park – […]
Acquisition of Armory Offers Options and Issues for City
The City of Greenbelt has begun the process of acquiring the Greenbelt Armory. At the October 18 worksession, the Greenbelt City Council instructed City Attorney Todd Pounds to contact the state, which has ownership, to begin discussions on transferring the property, both the building and the adjoining area, into the holdings of the city. Council […]