5 Things You Need to Know This Week

Finals are winding down and parents are starting to pour into College Park for commencement. Weather reports predict rain, but we'll try our best to keep our heads above water. With no further ado, here are 5 Things You Need to Know This Week. 

1. We're on the hunt for a new student About Town columnist. and lover of baby photos Rich Abdill is graduating and moving on to other things, and we're looking for someone to fill his slot. Check out some of his columns, and if you think you have what it takes, send an email over to laurene@patch.com. 

2. It's Bike to Work week! Festivities will culminate in Bike to Work Day on Friday, but all the better if you can ditch your car a few days early. If you haven't registered yet, you can do so here. College Park will have its own , so make sure you sign up for a chance to win free bike stuff. 

3. University of Maryland commencement will be held on Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Comcast Center. DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the National Football League Player's Association (NFLPA) will deliver the commencement address. He'll also be joined by recently retired Terps basketball coach Gary Williams. We're going to wager there will be some serious traffic congestion around the UMd. campus as well-meaning parents and frazzled students attempt to navigate the streets. Drivers beware. 

4. The Prince George's County Police will be introducing 57 new recruits to its program this Thursday, as well as two recruits to its Fire/EMS department. The 59 additional recruits will officially graduate from their basic training class at a ceremony in Upper Marlboro at the Marlboro at the First Baptist Church of Glenarden Worship Center at 6 p.m. 

5. UMd.'s shiny new basketball coach Mark Turgeon has scored his first recruit for the upcoming season this weekend, when Fredericksburg Christian guard Seth Allen orally committed to the Terps. This is step in the right direction for Turgeon, particularly after guards Nick Faust and Sterling Gibbs were granted releases from their National Letters of Intent last week.