It's game day. Is College Park a Purple city? And will the Redskins fans around here be rooting for the Ravens this playoff season? Take the Patch Poll and let us know.

Jack Perry

An institutional presence is absent from the 2012 College Park Mayor and Council meetings: Jack Perry retired after 26 years as a city councilman. In addition to being dedicated to the city, Perry is a dedicated family man.

Cafritz

Cafritz developers could be cutting the tiny College Park portion out of the Whole Foods Market project that sits primarily in Riverdale Park, after City Council voted 6-2 Tuesday to oppose the developers' rezoning application. This is after College Park, University Park and Riverdale Park agreed upon a list of conditions with the developer, including a trigger system for building a bridge over the CSX tracks. Representatives from the area municipalities and the county executive office testified on Thursday for seven hours before the Prince George's County Planning Board, which ultimately recessed until February, so that it could review the conditions.

Maryland Book Exchange

City Council unanimously voted against the design for the Maryland Book Exchange student housing project. Meanwhile, some city leaders are encouraging residents to not show up next week to testify at the county's planning board hearing. "We’re suggesting people save themselves for the District Council,” Bob Schnabel said.

Purple Line

In further development news, residents and officials gathered this week to discuss the possible revitalization near the future West Campus Purple Line station. The big need? More safe pedestrian options, residents said.

President’s Mansion

Even though no University of Maryland funds or tax payer money will be used for the $7.2 million demolition and re-building a new president's home and event center, the majority of Patch readers who took this poll say they don't approve of the project. What do you think?

Education

The County Council said it will work with County Executive Rushern Baker to keep teacher pensions from becoming a county obligation. (The state is currently responsible for the pensions.) And Prince George's County Public School principals could soon have more control over the education budget.

Crime

Four suspects were identified and two charged in the December rape of a 24-year-old College Park woman outside of the Greenbelt Metro Station. Thank you, Greenbelt Police.

Parenting

Mom Columnist Gretchen Schock said that each New Year's she will try to get her kids to reflect on the past year. Turns out, kids don't really reflect, but live in the moment instead.