Terrapin’s Turf

Terrapin’s Turf

Long-awaited bar and restaurant Terrapin’s Turf added a countdown clock to its website this week, posting a new opening date of Oct. 4.

Owners Salomeh, Mohammad and Yasmine Afshar previously declined to release an official opening date, citing a number of delays since they acquired the property.

The most recent opening date comes after more than a year of problems with renovations, a faulty sprinkler system and difficulty acquiring permits.

Michael Stiefvater, College Park’s economic development coordinator, confirmed the restaurant needs one more inspection before opening, though the Afshars have faced inspection delays in the past.

Rick Perry

Texas Gov. Rick Perry had one message for Maryland business owners during his visit to the state Wednesday: You’d be better off in Texas.

Perry, who has said he will not seek re-election as governor next year, touted Texas’ tax rates when he met with business owners in Bethesda and urged them to consider moving south.

“If you want to be free, if you want to live free — free from overtaxation and over-litigation, free from overregulation — in a place that’s got a great, skilled workforce, move to Texas,” Perry is quoted as saying in The Washington Post.

The governor also toured a Beretta USA gun factory in Accokeek, a move that provoked criticism from some gun control advocates who called it insensitive to victims of Monday’s Navy Yard shooting, according to NBC News.

West Virginia Marching Band

West Virginia fans were upset this week when they learned the Pride of West Virginia marching band would not be allowed to perform at the halftime show of tomorrow’s football game against the Terrapins.

The Terps take on the Mountaineers at 3:30 p.m. at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, the second time the teams are meeting at a neutral site. Because the Terps are considered the home team, this university’s athletic department said it would uphold its practice of only having the Mighty Sound of Maryland perform on the field.

“While the visiting team bands do not perform on the field, we are always pleased to set aside a section of seats within the visiting team section for them, and we encourage the visiting team band to attend and perform from their seats for the enjoyment of their team and fans,” the athletic department said in a statement.

After criticism from some Mountaineers fans of this university’s policy and marching band, the athletic department said it informed West Virginia band representatives of its home-game policies in June. The West Virginia band also posted an update on its Facebook page.

“We appreciate the outpouring of support in light of the unfortunate news that we have been denied the permission to perform this weekend at the WVU vs. UMD game in Baltimore,” the band wrote. “Please understand that this decision did NOT come from the Maryland Band. We support the ‘Mighty Sound of Maryland’ and wish them well in their performances this Saturday.”

Matthew Popkin

City Council Elections

In the days since university graduate student Matthew Popkin announced his candidacy for a seat on the College Park City Council, several council incumbents have indicated their plans to run for re-election.

At Tuesday’s city council work session, District 4 councilwoman Denise Mitchell and District 3 council members Robert Day and Stephanie Stullich said they all intended to run. District 4’s Marcus Afzali said in a phone interview he will not seek re-election.

It’s the first time a university student has run for a council seat since 2009.

The deadline to file candidacy is Sept. 20, and an official announcement of all running candidates is expected Monday. Elections will take place Nov. 5.

Senior staff writers Laura Blasey, Jenny Hottle and Lauren Kirkwood contributed to this report.

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