Greenbelt News Review

07/24/2025

USDA to Close BARC as Part of “Complete Reorganization”

United States Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has announced a “complete reorganization” of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that will include closing Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC).

Citing goals of efficiency and more affordable cost of living, Rollins said USDA will be “moving our key services outside Washington DC” and relocating “much of the Washington DC area workforce” to five hub locations. There will also be reductions and consolidations. D.C. area offices slated to close are: BARC, the George Washington Carver Center in Beltsville, Braddock Place in Alexandria, and the South Building in D.C. Area offices that USDA plans to retain include the Whitten and Yates Buildings. The hubs USDA will be moving their workforce and services to are: Raleigh, North Carolina; Kansas City, Missouri; Indianapolis, Indiana; Fort Collins, Colorado; and Salt Lake City, Utah.

The News Review will be reporting further on this development in our next issue. If you are a USDA employee, we want to hear from you. Email editor[at]greenbeltnewsreview[dot]com.

07/24/2025

If you are a Greenbelter who works at BARC the News Review would like to talk with you. Please reach out to us.

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07/23/2025

Early morning on Friday, July 18, members of the Greenbelt Municipal Swim Team decorated Coach Molly Sanborn’s car, covering it in team spirit before some of their fastest swimmers headed to the Divisional Championships to represent Greenbelt on Saturday, July 19. See more on our Sports page and send us your sports news!
Photos by Jason Andrew and Barrett Bedford-Dillow

07/23/2025

The SPACE Isn’t Shrinking; Its Programs Are Expanding

There’s a buzz around The SPACE – and with good reason. As some community members have asked, “What’s happening with The SPACE?” it’s important to clarify that The SPACE is not closing. In fact, it’s growing. While asked to vacate the Upper SPACE location at Beltway Plaza, regular programs like yoga, sewing and music are continuing uninterrupted, and exciting new opportunities are unfolding.

Read more here: https://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/news-stories/the-space-isnt-shrinking-its-programs-are-expanding/

07/23/2025

Marguerite Kincius died on July 15, 2025, at Grace House Assisted Living in Silver Spring. She was a resident of Greenbelt for over 70 years. She recently celebrated turning 100 years old this past February.

A viewing will be held on Wednesday, July 23, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Borgwardt Funeral Home, 4400 Powder Mill Road, Beltsville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Hugh of Grenoble Catholic Church on Thursday, July 24, at 10 a.m.

Read her obituary here: https://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/news-stories/marguerite-kincius/

07/22/2025

Mary Emma Hooper, a long-time resident of the City of Greenbelt, died peacefully on July 10, at the age of 98, just weeks shy of her 99th birthday.

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Hugh of Grenoble Catholic Church, 135 Crescent Road, on Tuesday, July 22, at 10 a.m. A private interment will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary’s memory to Greenbelt Intergenerational Volunteer Exchange Service (GIVES) at givesgreenbelt.org/donate-today.

Read more here: https://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/news-stories/mary-emma-hooper/

07/22/2025

Indoor Pool Deck and Wading Pool Repairs Are on Schedule

The Greenbelt Aquatic & Fitness Center indoor pool remains on schedule to reopen no later than September 29, according to Andrew Phelan, assistant director of Recreation Facilities and Operations.

In addition, repairs are underway to address a leak in the infant wading pool, which has long needed repair. The wading pool is an outdoor one, located in the corner closest to the Community Center. Read more here: https://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/news-stories/indoor-pool-deck-and-wading-pool-repairs-are-on-schedule/

07/21/2025

Deep Cuts to NASA Goddard Face Bipartisan Opposition in Congress

President Trump’s budget request would drastically cut NASA – including a 50 percent cut to NASA Science that would remove nearly half (48 percent) of the approximately 1,700 civil servants at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), warned Goddard Engineers, Scientists and Technicians Association (GESTA), the union representing GSFC federal workers. There appears to be broad
Congressional support for a budget that would avoid such cuts. However, last week a Senate bill that would bolster GSFC’s funding was waylaid by a battle over the future of another site with great significance to Greenbelt: the FBI Headquarters.

Read more here:

https://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/news-stories/deep-cuts-to-nasa-goddard-face-bipartisan-opposition-in-congress/

07/20/2025

Greenbelt was under a flash flood warning Saturday evening. Here's a view from Greenbelt Lake shortly before 6 p.m. Video courtesy Nathan Gerdes

07/19/2025

Senate Blocks Funding for Trump’s FBI HQ in D.C., Supporting Greenbelt

The Senate Appropriations Committee voted last week to approve an amendment that would block the Trump administration from relocating the FBI headquarters to anywhere other than Greenbelt.

Read more here: https://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/news-stories/senate-blocks-funding-for-trumps-fbi-hq-in-d-c-supporting-greenbelt/

07/18/2025

PGCPS Will Replace StopFinder Bus Tracking App with Chipmunk

After years of parent complaints about the StopFinder app, Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) is officially phasing in a new bus tracking app, Chipmunk, in the 2025-26 school year. Read more about the change here: https://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/news-stories/pgcps-will-replace-stopfinder-bus-tracking-app-with-chipmunk/

See page 7 of this week's issue for more on the Chipmunk contract, including information about upgrades and the roll out, whose cost is set to be approximately 3.2 million in the first year:https://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GNR20250717.pdf =7

Published continuously since the New Deal City of Greenbelt was founded in 1937, the News Review is delivered free to most Greenbelt residents. In 1970 we won a landmark First Amendment case in the Supreme Court.

07/09/2025

Sanborn Joins Barracudas As Head Coach for Swim Team

The Greenbelt Municipal Swim Team, also known as the Barracudas, welcomed Molly Sanborn, a lifelong swimmer and endurance athlete, as their new head coach in June.

Sanborn began swimming when she was just 5 years old. Read more here: https://www.greenbeltnewsreview.com/news-stories/sanborn-joins-barracudas-as-head-coach-for-swim-team/