BUBBLING OVER WITH FUN AT LAKEFEST
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The city of Laurel’s $60,000 contract to include its newsletter insert in The Laurel Independent costs Laurel residents $2 each last year — just 17 cents a month — supporting the delivery of a local newspaper to each home every month.
Laurel Mayor Keith Sydnor has proposed cutting Laurel’s contract with this newspaper by 60%, even as he proposes a 7% increase in the city’s budget. We can’t absorb this fund-
ing cut and keep providing you with local news and voter information — important content that we deliver to every home in Laurel.
Our local news nonprofit keeps costs down by relying on community volunteers for reporting and editorials and by printing only once a month. We depend on a combination of donations, grants and advertising and our contract with Laurel to print city information in the newspaper’s middle pages.
We are calling on Laurel to allocate at least 0.001% of the city’s $46 million budget, or $46,000, to continue to support hyperlocal
Zen of bread baking, P.6
State legislation roundup, P. 9
budget
By JOE MURCHISON
Laurel Mayor Keith Sydnor has proposed a $46.2 million budget for fiscal year 2026, which begins on July 1. His proposed budget is 7% greater than this year’s budget but would keep city tax rates the same.
The mayor and city council began work sessions on the budget on May 1. Michele Saylor, the city’s budget director, said that the council could pass the budget as soon as May 28.
Sydnor’s proposal anticipates $30 million in property tax revenue, an increase of $2.6 million, or 9.5%, over what was expected this year. Property taxes are the city’s main source of revenue.
Saylor noted that the increase will come from the phase in of higher property assessments and $32 million in new home construction at Patuxent Greens, off Route 197, and the Westside neighborhood around Van Dusen Road and Konterra Drive.
On the spending side, the biggest single increase would be just over $1 million added to the police department’s budget. Almost all of that total is for raises that were negotiated two years ago with the Fraternal Order of Police union. The proposed budget anticipates keeping the number of police officers steady at 70.
Bernadette’s House names new CEO
BY WILL CHASE
Bernadette’s House welcomed Tanya Johnson Martin, the nonprofit organization’s new CEO, in April. Johnson Martin, who has 30 years' experience in teaching and advocating for young students, is enthusiastic about her new role.
“Stepping into the role of CEO at Bernadette’s House isn’t a career shift, it’s an extension of my work,” she said. “The focus on mentorship for young girls and creating
opportunities for them to grow and thrive is deeply intertwined with my mission as an educator and advocate, now with a specific focus — girls.”
Johnson Martin’s experiences motivate her. Her commitment to promoting equity and equality stems from a pivotal moment she experienced as a junior in high school.
“During a meeting with my guidance counselor to discuss
The city of Laurel Parks and Recreation department hosted Lakefest May 3 at Granville Gude Park. Games, hayrides, a moon bounce and a foam machine entertained participants of all ages. THADEAN THOMAS
THE SCIENCE OF THE CITY
Composting, the fertile solution to food waste
By PAUL RUFFINS
This is the second in a series of articles exploring landfills, food waste and methane emissions in Prince George’s County and neighboring jurisdictions. The series is supported in part by an Environmental Solutions Journalism Fellowship from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
At the U.S. Composting Council’s (USCC) January convention in Phoenix, Ariz., the entire first day’s workshop examined how organizations already composting garden and agricultural wastes could meet the challenges of incorporating food. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, farmers estimate that nearly 49% of the soil used to grow America’s most important crops is compromised by erosion or depleted of some nutrients. The production and use of nitrogen fertilizers for growing food accounts for about 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which is more than aviation and shipping account for combined. However, as the first article in this series explained, in March, adding food waste makes compost more nutritious and diverts food from landfills, saving space while reducing the formation of greenhouse gases.
Most attendees of the convention seemed to agree that the industry’s biggest worry is contamination. The ubiquitous plastics, PFAS and forever chemicals in the environment are ending up in compost, attracting the prospect of regulation and possibly posing a small risk to compost farmers themselves. In response, one presenter argued that it was
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absurd to consider banning PFAS in compost when they are still legal in cosmetics and dental floss.
PFAS are thousands of manufactured chemicals found in consumer, commercial and industrial products — are found in water, air, fish and soil around the world and may be toxic to humans and animals alike.
Nevertheless, most of the officials, farmers, environmentalists and manufacturers who attended the convention seemed optimistic that the composting industry will continue its explosive growth of about 10.6% a year through 2029.
The USCC has long recognized the Maryland suburbs of D.C. as national leaders in food composting. In 2022, Ben Parry, CEO of Rockville-based Compost Crew, won its Person of the Year award. In 2024, the USCC honored Prince
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George’s County for its efforts to collect food waste from more than 104,000 households (now over 180,000). The county and Compost Crew represent competing visions: large centralized operations versus farm and community-based composting.
In the 1980s, the Prince George’s County Organics Composting Facility (OCF) in Upper Marlboro was created to keep grass, leaves, lawn clippings, trees and other organic matter out of the landfill by turning them into mulch and a profitable compost sold as LeafGro.
In 2013, OCF became the largest facility on the East Coast to incorporate food waste into a product called LeafGro Gold. The facility is operated by Maryland Environmental Services, a state-owned nonprofit corporation.
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Steven Birchfield, operations manager of the food composting operation, explained that mulch can be made from any untreated shredded wood, including trees and pallets, and is primarily used to retain moisture and prevent weeds.
“Compost,” he said, “is legally regulated by the Maryland Department of Agriculture as a soil amendment. It’s similar to fertilizer because it adds nutrients to the soil and must be safe to be used on food crops.”
Making compost requires microbes that grow best with a carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of approximately 30:1 by weight. Generally, brown and dry organic matter, such as autumn leaves and wood chips, is higher in carbon. Materials that are moist and green, like grass clippings, are higher in nitrogen.
The Montgomery County Yard Trim Composting Facility, in Dickerson, is typical of a large operation that doesn’t incorporate food into its compost.
The facility collects yard trim and grass in the summer, leaves
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during the fall, and wood yearround. It then mixes them in the right proportions, grinds them and forms the mixture into long, narrow, triangular piles, called windrows, about eight feet high. The windrows are then regularly turned and aerated to reduce the formation of methane. In any type of composting, the biological reactions should cause the compost to heat up to between 140 and 160 F, which is hot enough to kill pathogens and unwanted seeds. With the right amounts of moisture and oxygen, windrows that are turned create compost in about eight or nine months. Adding food can threaten nearby communities by generating odors and attracting birds and vermin. This is why College Park and some other municipalities that make compost don’t include food.
In 2015, the USCC named Prince George’s OCF the best large-scale composting facility in America because it had adopted a then-state-of-the-art pi-
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Laurel Independent
Donta Dobbs (L) and Thomas Fazio cleaning out air holes in the ECO City composting bunker
COURTESY OF PAUL RUFFINS
college plans, she told me that I’d be better off attending a community college rather than a fouryear university. That statement stopped me in my tracks,” Johnson Martin said. At the time, she was an above-average student with many extracurricular activities.
“That experience opened my eyes,” she said. ”The counselor had
made assumptions about me — not based on my abilities, but on the color of my skin.”
Johnson Martin set out to dismantle systemic messages that may tell certain students they don’t belong.
“From that point forward, I became intentional — not only in teaching but in mentoring, empowering and advocating for policies and programs that give every student, especially
A Legacy of Love Deserves a Plan
those often overlooked, the opportunity to see themselves as capable, worthy and destined for greatness,” Johnson Martin said. “That moment continues to fuel my work today, both in the classroom and as CEO of Bernadette’s House, where we provide a safe, nurturing space for young girls to build confidence, develop leadership skills and believe that they belong wherever their dreams may lead.”
The nonprofit matches young girls with mentors who help them develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that may have a positive impact on their future. The core values of Bernadette’s House are trustworthiness, respect, excellence, belief, compassion and citizenship.
Denise Redmond
c : 4 1 0 - 8 7 8 - 5 5 9 7 o :
Laurel Garden Apartments fire
A two-alarm fire April 17 at Laurel Garden Apartments impacted 12 units at 906 and 908 Park Avenue. One person was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The fire is under investigation, but it is believed to have started accidently on a balcony.
The American Red Cross provided emergency assistance to residents. The city offered the Multiservice Center’s facilities, which offer hot meals and access to laundry services and showers, to those affected by the fire.
“We know this has been a frightening experience for those affected,” Mayor Keith Sydnor said in a
“Her evolution from participant to leader is a living example of what’s possible when a girl is nurtured in a safe, empowering environment,” Johnson Martin said.
“Amara’s story reflects the heart of our mission — transforming potential into purpose.”
Amara Harris began her journey with the organization as a mentee, and through her mentor’s guidance and encouragement, she blossomed into a confident young woman. A college graduate, Harris is now on Bernadette’s House board and is the organization’s programming assistant.
Laurel Garden Apartments suffered a two-alarm fire April 17 COURTESY OF MELANIE DZWONCHYK
statement. “In difficult moments like this, it’s important for our community to come together. If you’ve been displaced, please don’t hesitate to use the services available. We’re here to help you through.”
Katie V. Jones
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City council pays tribute to Maryland’s Emancipation Day
By NANCY WELCH
At their April 4 work session, Laurel Mayor Keith Sydnor and city councilmembers affirmed a resolution formally recognizing Nov. 1 as Emancipation Day in the city. The date pays tribute to Nov. 1, 1864, the date on which the state adopted a new constitution that abolished slavery. Council President Kyla Clark (Ward 2) briefly described the state’s history of slavery and emancipation for the mayor and council, as well as city residents attending the virtual work session.
The city of Laurel’s resolution parallels the Maryland legislature’s actions; lawmakers are considering a bill that would formalize Nov. 1 as a state holiday. If passed, the bill would grant state employees leave on that date. In formalizing the holiday, the bill would also release the governor from the responsibility of annually declaring the importance of the date.
Maryland’s history of slavery spanned more than 200 years. In 1642, 13 Africans were brought to St. Mary’s City, the colony’s first European settlement and capital. The city, founded in 1634 on the banks of the Chesapeake Bay, was the fourth-oldest European settlement in the colonies.
Slaves were brought to Maryland largely to work in the labor-intensive tobacco growing and processing industries. The neighboring colony of Virginia imported slaves from Africa for this purpose, too.
In 1664, the Maryland Assembly established what was known as perpetual slavery, mandating that enslaved people would be slaves for life. To ensure that the enslaved population would remain relatively stable over time, the state also mandated that their lineage would be matriarchal –passing from mother to child (in contrast to the European tradition of patriarchal lineage).
Under these laws, children
born to enslaved parents would never see freedom. A child born to a white father and an enslaved mother would be enslaved for life, too.
By the mid-1700s, the state had also outlawed manumission, the freeing of a slave by their owner.
“Maryland’s path to emancipation was a little unique and complex,” Clark said during her presentation. “As a border state during the Civil War, Maryland remained in the Union but still permitted slavery.”
The Emancipation Proclamation, which President Lincoln signed in 1863, freed slaves only in states that were in rebellion during the Civil War. In adopting the new state constitution, in 1864, Maryland freed approximately 87,000 enslaved people. The 13th Amendment, which freed slaves throughout the nation, was passed on Dec. 6, 1865 – 13 months later.
Clark noted this timing. “This date [in 1864] is particularly
significant because Maryland ended slavery … before the 13th Amendment abolished slavery nationwide,” she said. “Instead, Maryland achieved emancipation through its own constitutional process, after a heated debate and political struggle, and voters narrowly approved a new state constitution that abolished slavery.”
Emancipation Day has long been recognized in Maryland, especially in communities with significant African American populations. “[Emancipation Day] is celebrated with educational programs, some community gatherings and ceremonies honoring this crucial moment in the state’s history,” Clark said.
She noted that many locations mark Emancipation Day on the first Saturday in November.
“But here in Laurel,” she said, “We have a long-standing tradition where it is celebrated the first Saturday in September … at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church. Laurel’s Emancipation Day celebration has also been in existence for more than 100 years.”
Councilmember Jeffrey Mills (Ward 2) asked if formally recognizing Nov. 1 as Emancipation Day would override celebrations at St. Mark’s or if the council’s resolution would mandate a second annual observance in
the city. “When you mention the celebration at St. Mark’s Church … is there going to be two celebrations, or this is a resolution for setting [this observance] into law?” he asked.
Clark emphasized that the resolution recognizes the importance of Nov. 1 but does not diminish or replace celebrations taking place on other dates. “St. Mark’s is a very large celebration within our city, right? And it’s great to also recognize [Nov. 1] locally … it shows extra emphasis that it’s really important to us, and we cherish our residents and acknowledge it locally,” she said. In closing her presentation, Clark underscored why recognizing Maryland’s Emancipation Day holds value for the city of Laurel. “This local recognition shows that our city values this history as our own identity and heritage, not just as a state observance. It also provides Laurel the opportunity to highlight our city’s unique historical connection to emancipation and contributions of formerly enslaved people directly connected to Laurel,” she said, adding, “Lastly, it sends a powerful message about our values towards equality, freedom, promoting inclusive civic identity … while acknowledging some difficult historical truths.”
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Th e Zen of baking bread
By JOE MURCHISON
Bread has a bad reputation in some circles these days. Too many carbs. Makes you fat. Makes people with gluten allergies sick.
This reputation saddens South Laurel resident Tracy Bowman, who has become obsessed with making good homemade bread over the past five years. Bread’s bad rap “is a shame, because it’s kept people alive for millennia,” she said, standing in her kitchen as she prepared a cranberry, sage and pecan loaf.
Bowman agreed that a lot of commercial bread is insipid, with taste, texture and a good deal of nutrition engineered out to prevent spoilage. But a simple mixture of 5-year-old sourdough starter, wheat special-ordered from Oregon, water and salt can result in “a miracle,” she said. “You take things that are indigestible, mix them together and make them digestible.”
Bowman, a retired informationtechnology specialist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, had extra time on her hands when the pandemic lockdown started in March 2020. She had occasionally
tried her hand at making bread using commercial yeast but decided to see if she could create a sourdough starter. This starter is a mixture of flour and water that draws yeast (a fungus) and bacteria out of the air and begins to ferment, creating carbon dioxide that causes the mixture to expand.
Even though she majored in microbiology in college, Bowman was skeptical. “‘It probably won’t work,’” she remembered thinking. “I was wrong; it worked.” After letting the starter ferment for a few days, she scooped out part of the pancake-batter-looking mixture, which she calls her microbial community. She mixed it with flour, water and salt and made her first loaf. “It was delicious!” she said.
Thus began five years of steady breadmaking. Bowman feeds her starter more flour and water once or twice a week and scoops out part of the resulting mixture as the base for new loaves.
Each loaf takes two days of fermenting, with periodic “folding and stretching,” Bowman said. She works the dough for about 10 minutes at a time, repeatedly pulling apart the sticky dough ball and
folding it over on itself. She said this has a Zen-like effect on her, especially if she’s stressed: “It’s not in your head; it’s in your hands. … It keeps you in the present.”
About a year into this new hobby, Bowman thought, “This is okay, but maybe I can up my game.” She found a series of online courses taught by Teresa Greenway, an amateur-turned-expert sourdough baker in the Pacific Northwest. Ten courses later, she had learned to bake many types of bread — “baguettes are hard!” — and learned such intricacies as how to avoid over-proofing her loaves and how to score the tops of her unbaked loaves to produce the marks many people are familiar with in baked loaves.
Since then, she has joined two breadmaking Facebook groups and acquired all kinds of tools: scorers, scrapers, an electric proofer to keep fermenting dough at a precise temperature, another proofer for her precious starter, French proofing baskets, a 25-lb. Dutch oven for baking and a freezer for her 12 kinds of flour. And she is working her way through The Perfect Loaf, a weighty bread cookbook by Mauricio Leo, a
bread influencer on social media.
Bowman convinced her daughter to buy the book for her for Christmas.
Despite her passion for breadmaking, Bowman says she bakes bread only twice a month or so. She’d developed some arthritis in her hands, which makes the folding and stretching a bit painful. She recently bought an electric dough mixer to help with that.
“People say, ‘You should open
a store.’ Heck, no!” she said. She notes that commercial artisan bakers have a hard life — the toll on their bodies from working large quantities of dough, the early rise, long before dawn, to feed their starter and prepare loaves for the oven.
Bowman plans to remain a highly skilled amateur, enjoying the fact that “what I am doing is making bread the way people have done for millennia.”
Tracy Bowman holds a loaf of her lemon and herb sourdough bread just out of the oven. COURTESY OF JOE MURCHISON
THE LAUREL LEDGER
OFFICIAL NEWS FROM THE CITY OF LAUREL, MARYLAND
PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT S AND HARD WORK TO ENHANCE THE CITY OF LAUREL!
As the vibrant hues of spring unfold, the City's Department of Public Works is diligently working to enhance the safety, functionality, and beauty of our community throughout May and into the summer. Our dedicated teams will be actively engaged in a variety of projects, all aimed at improving the quality of life for our residents.
One important initiative this month involves the meticulous pruning of City street trees. This essential maintenance ensures the safety of pedestrians and drivers by removing any potentially hazardous branches. Furthermore, this careful pruning contributes to the overall aesthetic appeal of our streets and neighborhoods.
For residents wishing to manage their yard waste effectively, please remember that our yard debris collection service will be operating on both Mondays and Wednesdays throughout May. To take advantage of the Monday collection, please ensure your request is submitted by the preceding Thursday. For Wednesday pickups, kindly make your request by the Monday of that week. This service helps keep our neighborhoods tidy and prevents yard waste from cluttering our streets.
In our ongoing commitment to maintaining and improving our infrastructure, several road maintenance projects are scheduled for May. These vital efforts include the refreshing of road markings to ensure clear visibility for motorists and the repair of asphalt surfaces to provide smoother and safer roadways for everyone.
Specifically, significant improvements are planned for Main Street. To address existing sight distance issues at intersections and enhance pedestrian safety, concrete bump-outs will be added at corners. These bump-outs effectively shorten crossing distances for pedestrians and improve visibility for drivers.
On Irving Street, we will be deploying a hydrodynamic separator. This innovative device plays a crucial role in protecting our waterways by capturing trash and debris that enter stormwater drains during rainfall. The collected material is then periodically removed, preventing pollution and maintaining the health of our local ecosystem.
Exciting progress is being made on the 8th Street Improvement Plan. The project is nearing its 100% design completion. This comprehensive plan prioritizes pedestrian safety and includes numerous enhancements such as new crosswalks, ADA-compliant upgrades to sidewalks, and the installation of a rectangular rapid-flashing beacon (RRFB).
Design work is also underway for the resurfacing of Carriage Hill Drive and Lane. This project encompasses the complete resurfacing of the streets, along with necessary ADA upgrades, sidewalk replacements, and the installation of new crosswalks. These improvements will enhance both the driving and walking experience in this neighborhood.
Adding to our efforts for a more sustainable future, residents will soon notice the delivery of beige compost containers throughout the City. This initiative is in preparation for the official launch of our composting program on July 1st. Each household will receive a small green countertop container for collecting food scraps indoors, a larger beige container for curbside collection, biodegradable bags, and detailed information outlining what materials are compostable. Please be on the lookout for your containers as we take this important step together towards a greener and more environmentally conscious City.
Project is moving forward with plans for a complete roadway resurface, as well as the installation of new sidewalks, curbs, and gutters. These upgrades will contribute to a more functional and aesthetically pleasing streetscape.
The Department of Public Works is proud to serve our community and looks forward to a productive summer!
This year, the City of Laurel Department of Parks and Recreation celebrates it's 60th Anniversary! Beginning in January of 1965, Judith Nigh was hired to determine the recreation and park needs of the community and to make recommendations for the development and implementation of a Parks and Recreation Department. With the passage of state enabling legislation in May 1965, the City adopted Ordinance No. 449, establishing the Laurel Department of Parks & Recreation!
The Department of Parks and Recreation began with a children's Day Camp at Avondale Mill, then expanded over the years, adding facilities like the gymnasium at the old Laurel High School, the Laurel Pool, and the Harrison -Beard Building for seniors. By 1975, the Department had moved some operations to the National Guard Armory, now known as the Laurel Armory Anderson and Murphy Community Center, and grew to 8 full -time employees managing 65 acres of parks. Today, after 60 years, the Department has expanded to 29 full -time employees, over 60 seasonal staff, and maintains numerous facilities including three (3) gymnasiums, two (2) outdoor pools, and 15 parks across 280 acres and staff continues to fulfill their mis sion of providing diverse leisure services to enhance the quality of life for Laurel residents.
Celebrate our 60th Anniversary this summer with us! Join the celebration on June 27th, from 6 - 8pm, register for new programs, or visit our parks. We appreciate our past and present staff and look forward to serving the Laurel Community for many more years. Happy 6 0th Birthday Parks and Recreation!
It’s Easy B eing Grreen!
THE LAUREL FARMER’S MARKET IS BACK!
Farmers’ Market News!!! We are back again! The Farmer’s Market started Thursday, May 1st, and will run through October 16th, 3pm to 7pm, at 378 Main Street. Many of your favorite vendors will be returning and you will see some new businesses. Residents can enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables from our local farmers, bakers, locally sourced meat and poultry, organic handmade skin care products and candles and so much more! Music and cooking demonstrations are just a few of the special activities we have planned for our 2025 market season. If you or someone you know is interested in being a vendor for the 2025 season, have them e -mail greenliving@laurel.md.us. Follow us on Facebook at our newly named @LaurelMarketOnMain and the Green Living website for updates and a list of market vendors.
Thanks to everyone that participated in this year ’s No Mow April! Because of each of you, our pollinators got a secure chance to make it through the cold snaps, receive extra nutrients and come back stronger! This is your reminder to please turn in your signs at the Laurel Municipal Center, 8103 Sandy Spring Road, so we can use them next year. Just another way the City of Laurel is wor king to be a Sustainable City! If you have any questions, please call Michele Blair, Sustainability Manager, at 301 -725-5300 ext. 2203.
Want to be part of the sustainability solution? Join the Sustainability Action Group (SAG)! We have a few residents that are dynamic and committed to making Laurel a great sustainability community now and for future generations and we need more! Our Composting Ambassadors are already on the move, engaging with residents and promoting our curbside program and the Voices Group is looking for innovative ways to reach more residents and get the word out. There is a place for everyone – from installing yard signs to attending public events and talking about your sustainable passion. For more information and to see what we are up to, follow us on Sustainable Laurel Facebook page @SustainableLaurel and the Green Living website at www.cityoflaurel.org/ greenliving.
The City received Energy Savings on the Go kits courtesy of EmPower Maryland. These kits contain a surge protector, weather stripping, aerators for kitchen and bathroom sinks, and a low -flow showerhead. Kits are limited to City of Laurel residents. One kit per household. Residents can get kits at the weekly Farmer’s Market, the Mayor’s City Hall in the Park meetings and any event that SAG members attend, while supplies last. For more information on how to obtain kits, e -mail greenliving@laurel.md.us.
Want to get the most recent information about the City’s sustainability initiatives. Follow us on Facebook at @SustainableLaurel. This is a place where we can share ideas, highlight upcoming events and residents can stay informed on all things Sustainable. Also check out the new upcoming look of the Green Living web page at www.cityoflaurel.org/greenliving!
OBRAS PÚBLICAS: ¡TRABAJANDO DURO PARA USTED!
Con la llegada de los vibrantes colores de la primavera, el Departamento de Obras Públicas de la Ciudad trabaja arduamente para mejorar la seguridad, la funcionalidad y la belleza de nuestra comunidad durante mayo y el verano. Nuestros dedicados equipos participarán activamente en diversos proyectos, todos destinados a mejorar la calidad de vida de nuestros residentes.
En nuestro compromiso continuo con el mantenimiento y la mejora de nuestra infraestructura, se han programado varios proyectos de mantenimiento vial para mayo. Se planean mejoras significativas para la calle Main y el Plan de Mejora de la Calle 8 está próximo a completarse al 100%. Este plan integral prioriza la seguridad peatonal e incluye numerosas mejoras, como nuevos cruces peatonales, mejoras en las aceras que cumplen con la Ley para Estadounidenses con Discapacidades (ADA) y la instalación de una baliza rectangular de destello rápido (RRFB).
El Departamento de Obras Públicas se enorgullece de servir a nuestra comunidad y espera un verano productivo.
LAUREL POLICE MONTHLY CRIME REPORT MARCH 2025
List of Laurel Police Crime Reports can be found at www.cityoflaurel.org/1896/LPD-
Public Works Monthly Gl ance
E mer gency Management: 2025
Severe Storms and Hurricane Pr epared ness
June 1st marks the start of the Atlantic Hurricane Season with preliminary outlooks calling for 17 named storms. Although Mar yland may not be impacted by as many tropical storms as southern states, damaging severe weather can still occur. With its varied geographies and numerous waterways, Maryland can be impacted by hazards such as flooding, hail, tornadoes, lightning, and high winds. Flooding is the top weatherrelated hazard in Maryland.
During Severe Storms Awareness Week and Hurricane Preparedness Week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOA A) and the National Weather Service (NWS) provide educational information and resources defining the hazards associated with severe weather, how they form, and what you can do to be ready if and when they happen. This year, Severe Storms Awareness Week occurred April 7 – 13, 2025, and Hurricane Preparedness Week will occur May 4 – 10, 2025. For more information, please visit the Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) at https://mdem.maryland.gov/Pages/severe-storms-week.aspx and NOAA at https://www.noaa.gov/hurricane-prep.
Severe Storms Awareness Week Topics:
• Flooding
• Damaging Winds
• Tornadoes
• Hail
• Lightning
Hurricane Preparedness Week Topics:
• Know Your Risk: Wind & Water
• Prepare Before Hurricane Season
• Understand Forecast Information
• What a Storm Threatens
• Stay Protected During Storms
• Use Caution After Storms
• Take Action Today
As Maryland boating season kicks into high gear, it is important that all waterway users - whether boating, kayaking, canoeing, swimming, or fishing – take proper precautions on the water. The National Safe Boating Council encourages Marylanders to participate in National Safe Boating Week, which will occur May 17 – 23, 2025. The campaign kicks off with Wear Your Life Jacket at Work Day on May 16, 2025. For more information, visit https://safeboatingcampaign.com/
Laurel Pride FundraiserOliver’s Old Town Tavern 1-4pm
CRIME WATCH
MARCH 12 - APRIL 11 2025
This crime blotter is based on the most recently available month of crime data from the city of Laurel, and does not include all police activity for the period.
March 12
800 blk Eighth St: Acura reported stolen by unknown means.
800 blk Eighth St: Registration plate stolen from vehicle.
300 blk Montrose Ave: Male observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
Unit 1 blk C St: Unknown suspects attempted to steal a BMW.
14700 blk Fourth St: Package stolen.
15100 blk Baltimore Ave: Male observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
March 13
13600 blk Baltimore Ave: Group fled without paying for services.
600 blk Washington Blvd: Male observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
March 14
800 blk Fifth St: Registration card stolen from vehicle.
900 blk Fourth St: Unknown suspects attempted to steal a Hyundai.
March 15
800 blk Main St: Hyundai reported stolen by unknown means.
800 blk Fifth St: Multiple items stolen from a vehicle.
800 blk Main St: Stolen Kia recovered
March 16
Unit 1 blk Second St: Ford stolen via stolen key.
14700 blk Baltimore Ave: Nintendo switch stolen.
8200 blk Harvest Bend Ln: Female observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
15100 blk Baltimore Ave: Male failed to pay for services.
14100 blk Baltimore Ave: Male observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
14700 blk Baltimore Ave: Group observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
March 17
14000 blk Vista Dr: Honda reported stolen by unknown means.
13700 blk Baltimore Ave: Catalytic converter stolen off of vehicle.
200 blk Fort Meade Rd: Multiple vehicles vandalized, airbags stolen.
800 blk Fourth St: Chevy reported stolen by unknown means.
1000 blk Fairlawn Ave: Female observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
900 blk Carroll Ave: Residence broken into, multiple items stolen.
March 18
1100 blk Beall Pl: Multiple vehicles vandalized, airbags stolen.
600 blk Prince George St: Unknown suspects entered unsecure Dodge with keys left inside, fled scene.
400 blk Prince George St: Multiple vehicles vandalized, airbags stolen.
14900 blk Silver Trail Ln: Stolen Hyundai recovered.
14500 blk Edenmore Ct: Residence broken into, multiple items stolen.
800 blk Fifth St: Package stolen.
March 19
14600 blk Baltimore Ave: Business broken into, safe stolen.
900 blk Park Ave: Vehicle broken into.
13600 blk Baltimore Ave: Unknown suspects forced entry into a business, attempted to steal items.
14200 blk West Side Blvd: Dodge reported stolen by unknown means.
800 blk Washington Blvd: Purse stolen from vehicle.
300 blk Montrose Ave: Bank card stolen.
800 blk Fifth St: Package stolen.
March 20
14100 blk Riverbirch Ct: Acura broken into, stolen.
800 blk Karen Ct: Vehicle broken into.
13700 blk Baltimore Ave: Vehicle broken into.
14200 blk West Side Blvd: Volkswagen reported stolen by unknown means.
300 blk Montrose Ave: Group observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
600 blk Washington Blvd: Male observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
March 21
9300 blk Hilltop Ct: Residence broken into, multiple items stolen.
14200 blk Baltimore Ave: Male observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
March 22
9600 blk Fort Meade Rd: Chevy reported stolen by unknown means.
800 blk Fifth St: Unknown suspects attempted to break into a vehicle.
300 blk Montrose Ave: Male bserved shoplifting, fleeing scene.
900 blk Montrose Ave: Registration plate stolen from vehicle.
900 blk Park Ave: Vehicle broken into.
9300 blk Spring House Ln: Unknown suspect fired shots out of a vehicle.
March 23
300 blk Montrose Ave: Group observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
15100 blk Baltimore Ave: Male observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
March 24
15100 blk Baltimore Ave: Male observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
900 blk Washington Blvd: Male attempted to take a tip jar.
100 blk Second St: Male observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
March 25
6900 blk Andersons Way: Dodge reported stolen by unknown means.
14300 blk Baltimore Ave: Male observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
14700 blk Fourth St: iPad stolen.
14700 blk Baltimore Ave: Wallet stolen.
300 blk Montrose Ave: Male observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
14700 blk Fourth St: Package stolen.
14000 blk Baltimore Ave: Male observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
9600 blk Fort Meade Rd: Purse stolen from vehicle.
300 blk Domer St: Male observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
14700 blk Baltimore Ave: Both registration plates stolen off of a vehicle.
March 26
14100 blk Lauren Ln: Acura reported stolen by unknown means.
14700 blk Baltimore Ave: Male observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
March 27
300 blk Montrose Ave: Male observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
300 blk Domer St: Power tools stolen.
14800 blk Baltimore Ave: Group observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
March 28
14300 blk Baltimore Ave: Tools stolen.
14800 blk Baltimore Ave:
Package stolen.
900 blk Montgomery St: Bike stolen.
13600 blk Baltimore Ave: Victim robbed at gunpoint.
1000 blk Fairlawn Ave: Money stolen.
March 29
500 blk Washington Blvd: Unknown suspects attempted to break into business.
14700 blk Baltimore Ave: Business robbed at gunpoint.
300 blk Montrose Ave: Male observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
March 30
15100 blk Baltimore Ave: Male observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
3300 blk Montrose Ave: Male observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
70100 blk Montgomery St: Vending machine broken into.
7800 blk Contee Rd: Honda reported stolen by unknown means.
March 31
9600 blk Fort Meade Rd: Backpack stolen.
April 1
600 blk Main St: Honda reported stolen by unknown means.
7700 blk Haines Ct: Vehicle broken into.
600 blk Washington Blvd: Male observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
400 blk Main St: Registration plate stolen from a vehicle.
15600 blk Dorset Rd: Multiple items stolen from a vehicle.
April 2
8300 blk Ashford Blvd: Acura reported stolen by unknown means.
7800 blk Contee Rd: Registration plate stolen from vehicle.
14800 blk Fourth St: Multiple items stolen from vehicle.
April 3
1000 blk West Ct: Airbag stolen out of vehicle.
15100 blk Baltimore Ave: Male observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
14400 blk West Side Blvd: Vehicle broken into.
14800 blk Baltimore Ave: Male observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
300 blk Montrose Ave: Group observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
13500 blk Konterra Dr: Box truck reported stolen by unknown means.
400 blk Sandy Spring Rd: Male observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
April 4
14900 blk Fourth St: All four tires stolen off of two vehicles.
9100 blk Huntington Ct: Multiple vehicles broken into.
13900 blk Baltimore Ave: Multiple vehicles broken into.
14100 blk Baltimore Ave: Pet food stolen.
14200 blk Baltimore Ave: Male observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
April 5
9400 blk Spring House Ln: Motorcycle reported stolen.
300 blk Washington Blvd: Male observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
13600 blk Baltimore Ave: Purse stolen.
April 6
300 blk Second St: Male observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
400 blk Marshall Ct: Package stolen.
April 7
14300 blk Baltimore Ave: Male observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
800 blk Fifth St: Multiple lawn items stolen.
600 blk Washington Blvd: Male observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
9100 blk Scott Adam Ct: Electronics stolen from vehicle.
200 blk Fort Meade Rd: Vehicle broken into.
14100 blk Baltimore Ave: Male shoplifting, fleeing scene.
April 9
100 blk Ninth St: Safe stolen. 15100 blk Baltimore Ave: Male observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
April 10
7900 blk Braygreen Rd: Registration plate stolen off vehicle. 14700 blk Baltimore Ave: Male observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
300 blk Domer St: Group observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
300 blk Domer St: Male was observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
April 11
100 blk Bowie Rd: Male observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
600 blk Washington Blvd: Vehicle broken into.
7900 blk Braygreen Rd: Toyota reported stolen by unknown means.
14700 blk Baltimore Ave: Group observed shoplifting, fleeing scene.
400 blk Washington Blvd: Dodge reported stolen by unknown means.
Slime time!
By RICK BORCHELT
Readers of a certain age will likely remember Steve McQueen’s first starring role in “The Blob” as a teen crusader trying to warn oblivious villagers in bucolic Phoenixville, Pa. of impending danger from space. The 1958 movie’s main character isn’t McQueen, though — it’s a supersized intruder that hitched a ride on a meteorite that oozes across Phoenixville and absorbs people, growing larger as it does. Luckily Steve and his friends find the alien’s Achilles’ heel (if said blob actually had a heel) — freezing temperatures — and Earth gets a reprieve from being subsumed by the ever-growing blob by shipping the amorphous menace to an Arctic ice field. Working in my garden last week brought “The Blob” to mind: A neon-yellow blob of my own had sprung up overnight on the wood chip pile after our last rain. Every time I turned my back, it seemed to grow larger, ending up about a foot long and equally wide by the next day. A few days later, the slimy yellow mess had turned
hard and cracked open to expose a black mass inside.
Similar yellow, tan or cream blobs are turning up in gardens, lawns and decaying mulch across the region as the weather turns warm. But we can give a more specific name to this alien-looking creature than simply the blob — it’s the dog vomit slime mold, Fuligo septica
Dog vomit slime mold is just one of about 60 slime mold species found in Maryland, all members of the puzzling taxonomic class Myxgrastia (sometimes also called Myxomycetes). Red raspberry slime (Tubifera ferruginosa), chocolate tubes slime (Stemonitis splendens), wolf’s milk (Lygogala epidendrum) and tapioca slime (Brefeldia maxima) are some of the fanciful names for other slime molds of Maryland.
Most slime molds are microscopic, but some — the plasmodia slime molds, including dog vomit slime mold — are created when swarming masses of individual cells give up their solo lives for communal life. They coalesce to form one big bag of cytoplasm, which is essentially a single, giant
Venus Theatre returns to Laurel for a day
As the founder of Venus Theatre, a regional woman’s theater, Deb Randall helped produce more than 70 plays by women in 22
years. Many of those productions took place on C Street in Laurel, where Venus Theatre was located for 15 years, from 2007 to 2022.
cell. That’s the faux dog vomit I saw creeping over the compost. When conditions turn unfavorable for this gelatinous mass, the slime mold forms tiny, drought resistant spore capsules that can survive freezing, drying and other environmental indignities. One of the world’s thousand or so species of slime mold survives easily in the Sonoran Desert; others inhabit the high Arctic and the Antarctic (so much for the final solution for “The Blob”!).
Slime molds start their lives as free-living amoebae, single-celled organisms that can change shape and move across their microscopic landscapes by extending and retracting “feet” formed by the flexible cell wall. In response to certain chemical signals, these amoebae come together in a slime mold version of a rave concert to fuse into a gooey sac containing thousands of individual cell nuclei — a mass that behaves like a single organism. This is the life stage that gives the group its common name of slime mold; they are slimy and sticky to the touch.
In this stage, the slime crawls over its habitat, engulfing and devouring microorganisms like bacteria and yeast, algae, and other organic matter in its path. The slime mold flows around po-
“I love everything we did there,” Randall said. “I am grateful for everything, including where I am now.”
Theater, Randall said, is not “made of brick and mortar”; rather, it is “made of people.”
And while Venus no longer has its physical space, it lives on through traveling productions and retreats. In celebration of the theater’s 25th birthday this year, Randall wrote not one, but two books, venUs, Randall’s memoir, and Frozen Women/ Flowing Thoughts, an anthology of 76 monologues for women.
“Instead of producing plays, I started to finish a project that took 10 years,” Randall said of
tential food, then dissolves the cell wall around its intended dinner and simply absorbs it. These slime molds can move quickly, for a microorganism (more than an inch an hour), although not as fast as the time lapse camera in this BBC video might suggest. Some slime molds can be as large as a square meter; a sizable tapioca slime mold can weigh more than 40 pounds. When environmental conditions change, in hours or days or weeks, the blob transforms from its creeping phase (the plasmodium) into a spore-producing phase (the sporangium). The blob dries out and either bursts open to release spores directly, or grows spore capsules on top of short stalks that split open. The spores can be carried by the wind or splashed around by rain droplets to new habitats. Some are even transported by slime mold flies and small beetles that specialize in eating slime molds.
Dog vomit slime mold, Fuligo, has a pretty cosmopolitan distribution across temperate regions of the world, as its many vernacular names can attest. In Finland, it’s called “paranovi” — butter of the familiar spirit — in the old belief that it was used by witches to spoil milk. In Dutch it’s “hekensboter” (witch’s butter), and in Lav-
her memoir, which a friend told her was a “love letter to theater.”
The anthology came together naturally, she said, as she reflected on Venus’ past productions.
“To hear all the different voices in one book is really cool,” Randall said. “I love it.”
Randall will be reading from her book at a signing hosted by The Crystal Fox (311 Main Street) on May 18 from 1 to 3 p.m. She will be joined by four Venus veterans, Ann Fraistat, Myrrh, Rebecca Herron and Ellie Nicoll, who will each do readings from Frozen Women/Flowing Thoughts.
-Katie V. Jones
tian “ragansviests” (witch’s butter) or “raganu splaviens” (witch’s spit). Whatever they’re called, slime molds are one of Earth’s most ancient lineages of life. Recent DNA research suggests that the common ancestor of all slime molds may have evolved a billion or more years ago, hundreds of millions of years before what we think of as true plants. All those ancient slime molds would have had to eat would have been algae and bacteria.
There’s no need to worry that the dog vomit slime mold on your garden mulch is going to eat your garden, much less you or your pets or your town. It will quickly run its course and decompose. Hosing it down will only spread it, and replacing your mulch is at best a temporary solution. Let it be, and enjoy the brief color and curiosity that slime mold adds to your yard.
Borchelt is a local naturalist and science writer who writes and teaches about natural history, gardening and the environment. Reach him with questions about this column at rborchelt@gmail.com.
CALENDAR
FROM PAGE 9
Montpelier Arts Center, 9652 Muirkirk Rd. For more information, call 301.377.7800
ONGOING
Monarch Magic at Patuxent Research Refuge. Explore the life cycle of monarch butterflies. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Visitor Center, South Tract, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop. 301.497.5772
May at the Hollingsworth Gallery. Photographer and poet Ann Rohlfing’s visual study, “A Forest Over Time, More than Trees,” documents the life around a stormfelled, 300-year-old oak. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Patuxent Research Refuge South Tract, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop. 301.497.5772
RECURRING
Second Friday Senior Book Club. June’s selection is Sonny Boy, a Memoir, by Al Pacino, and July’s selection is The Jackal’s Mistress, by Chris Bohyjalian. 2 to 3:30 p.m. Laurel Armory, 422 Montgomery St. Call or text Gail Gibson at 301.452.7700 or email book62worm@hotmail.com
Rick
