12-2022 The Laurel Independent

Pallotti High School breaks ground for new gym and more

By Aiesha Solomon

On Nov. 16, St. Vincent Pallotti High School held a groundbreaking event for its new indoor athletic gym and outdoor practice field with students, alumni, teachers and staff, city of Laurel staff and

visitors in attendance.

“I just think we're excited,” said Pallotti’s principal Jeff Palumbo at the event. “ It's a very competitive Catholic and private school world, and we just feel like we have a lot of great things here for our students,

By Joe Murchison

It’s complicated.

That is a safe statement about an issue currently confronting Laurel’s mayor and City Council: They are being asked to figure out how to offer low- and moderateincome renters relief as they face rising apartment rents.

A group called the Laurel Housing Justice Coalition is pressuring the city to pass a rent stabilization law that would cap the amount that landlords could raise their rents each year.

There are a number of issues that factor into how the city might approach this situation.

Holiday season kicks o with traditional illumination

By Katie V. Jones

Despite a rainy morning and mild temperatures, snow was falling around the armory in Laurel on Dec. 3 to the delight of children and adults. No matter that it was made from

machines, the snow was the perfect addition to the city’s beloved holiday parade and armory illumination celebrations. Featuring a parade, Santa, holiday crafts and the traditional lighting of the armory, the event returned in all its glory

after two years of scaled-back celebrations because of the pandemic.

“We’re glad to be back together again,” said Mayor Craig Moe. “People are happy to be together. They feel safe and feel comfortable.”

By mid-afternoon, tailgaters packed the lot at Laurel Elementary School, while others lined the parade route to watch Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive. Led by carolers, Girl Scouts, Laurel High School cheerleaders, Laurel City Councilmembers and

others, the parade drew cheers from the crowd as marchers threw candy and waved. Festivities continued inside the armory, where there was a variety of activities, from multiple craft stations to throwing

ON 7 

A crowd gathers in front of the armory after the parade on Dec. 3. AIESHA SOLOMON

Th e power of community in creating public art

By Melissa Holland and Angie O’Neal

When the first 11 members of the new Laurel Arts Council were sworn in, in 2017, their mission was laid out in the council’s founding ordinance: “to encourage and invest in the visual arts, performing arts and art education” and “to coordinate the display of art in public places throughout the City and to create a vibrant arts community ... for the residents of Laurel by promoting the arts, advocacy and providing art programs.”

It was a broad mandate. Like many fledgling arts councils, the group took up the charge without paid staff or a program budget. Getting things done depended on the passion of the members, the participation of the community and the commitment of its city liaison.

In that formative period, members readily stepped forward. The first arts council chair, Kelsey Hutchinson, was then a marketing manager for Montgomery County’s arts program, and she knew how to make the new council visible. She organized the arts council into working groups, equipped them with social media and other technical tools and engaged the group in community events.

“The focus,” Hutchinson wrote at that time, “is to get the word out to the community and encourage people to come out … and meet the new Laurel Arts Council.”

By the end of 2018, the community was increasingly aware of the council and was enthusiastically participating in offerings. The council partnered with The Laurel Board of Trade to organize Second Saturday arts fairs on Main Street and also partnered with the Laurel Historical Society to host workshops for residents to make clay

tiles for a city history bench.

The council also guided the entire fifth grade class of Laurel Elementary School in making their own Laurel-themed clay tiles.

It was clear in those early days that members were energized by a love of place. Master sculptor Cheryl Dyer spoke of her “love of Laurel” when she introduced herself at the council’s first meeting. She emphasized the town’s abundant creative talent and natural resources, and she led the history bench project as well as other public art pieces that grace the town today. She found co-creators in school students, local artists and interested residents.

Another early member, Alisa Kerr, said “in my family, we’re all about volunteering.” Kerr involved her entire household in setting up and helping run arts council events around town.

Essential, too, was the encouragement of Laurel’s city government. City staff identified spaces available for public art and pointed out functional items, like planters and picnic tables, as potential canvases. Joanne Barr, the city’s Department of

Managing Editor Katie V. Jones

Katie@streetcarsuburbs.news

Parks and Recreation director at the time, cheered on the council’s proposals and made available venues and supplies. She harnessed city muscle to dig holes, pour foundations and transport materials for public art installations.

The clay-tile history bench was officially installed in Mc-

Business Manager

Catie Currie

Cullough Field in the spring of 2019. Later that year, another of Dyer’s projects, a glass mosaic water-themed mural, fashioned by Pallotti High School students, was placed at the Laurel Municipal Swimming Pool. Council members’ interests continued to drive projects.

A community newspaper chronicling the people and events of Laurel, Maryland.

Mailing address: PO Box 132, Hyattsville, MD 20781

The Laurel Independent is published monthly by Streetcar Suburbs Publishing., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. Editors welcome reader input, tips, articles, letters, opinion pieces and photographs, which may be submitted using the mailing address above or the email addresses provided. StreetcarSuburbs.News

Writers & Contributors Lenora S. Dernoga, Melissa Holland, Rabbi Varia Jacobs-Velde, Katie V. Jones, Will Kitching, Joe Murchison, Angie O’Neal, Bob Reilly, Aiesha

Solomon and Lisa Wölfl

Layout & Design Editors Ashley Perks, Valerie Morris

Web Editor Jessica Burshtynskyy

Advertising Mike McLaughlin advertising@streetcarsuburbs.news

301.531.5234

Board of Directors Joseph Gigliotti — President & General Counsel

Melanie Dzwonchyk — Interim Secretary Stephanie Stullich — Treasurer Gretchen Brodtman, T. Carter Ross, Bette Dickerson, Nora Eidelman, Maxine Gross, Joe Murchison

Katie V. Jones, Mark Goodson, Ex Officios

Circulation: Copies are distributed monthly by U.S. mail to every address in Laurel. Additional copies are distributed to popular gathering spots around town. Total circulation is 16,400.

The Laurel Independent is a member of the National Newspaper Association and the Institute for Nonprofit News.

When a drama teacher who directed a Shakespeare in the Park program joined the council, the council staged a wellattended student drama showcase in a Laurel coffee house. When painter and experienced exhibitor Angie O’Neal joined the council, she mounted a show by Laurel High School art students at the city’s municipal center; the show ran for one month in 2019 and attracted visitors daily. These collaborations with schools became annual events as the council sought to bring students’ talent to the public.

In 2020, the arts council saw an opportunity to engage an anxious and isolated public.

Then-member Monica Sturdivant, also assistant director of the Laurel Historical Society and the Laurel Museum, linked the arts council with the museum’s project to chronicle people’s experience during the pandemic with postcards, a familiar medium of expression. She invited residents to send cards reflecting their feelings.

“If we can get Laurel engaged in this way,” she said, “it could create a lot of interesting content for the arts council's social media. And it would give the history museum a whole section for a future exhibit.”

People responded to the call with prose, poems, drawings and even a hinged postcard triptych. The arts council turned submissions into a vibrant online gallery, and the museum added the cards to its unique COVID-19 archive. During 2020, Laurel Arts Council followers on Facebook grew from a handful to several hundred.

Detail from the clay tile history bench in Laurel's McCullough Field, the first public art installation by the city of Laurel Arts Council. COURTESY OF LAUREL ARTS COUNCIL

One of 10 Laurel Main Street planters with fish art, a collaboration between the arts council and Laurel for the Patuxent. COURTESY OF LAUREL ARTS COUNCIL

The city of Laurel has a lot of residents who rent, and many of them are likely struggling with local rent levels

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the city has 12,885 households, 56% of which are in an apartment or other rental home. That’s a higher percentage of renters than is the case in most municipalities around the state, and almost double the 32% state average.

City rents are higher than many of these households can easily afford. The average rent here is $2,034, according to the RentCafe website. That average adds up to $24,408 a year.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development cites 30% of income as the highest reasonable amount that a household should pay in rent.

Census data shows that 33% of the city’s households have annual income of less than $60,000. These households would have to pay more than 30% of their income to rent an average city apartment and would likely end up– being squeezed paying for other necessities, including food and, depending on the circumstances, essential utilities.

Lack of affordable housing is a nationwide problem.

Researchers estimate that the U. S. needs as many as 3.8 million additional homes to meet demand, according to Fannie Mae, the government-sponsored mortgage financier. In the decade since the Great Recession that impacted markets between 2007 and 2009, fewer homes have been constructed nationally than in any decade since the 1960s.

The shortage of homes in the Washington D.C., area is estimated at 151,463, according to Up for Growth, a national housing-affordability research and advocacy group based in the District.

Basic economic principles apply here. Low supply and high demand result in rising prices.

A report by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies summarized that “The United States is in a housing affordability crisis, with nearly half of all renter households spending more than 30 percent of their income on rent and utilities each month.”

Despite this crisis, few jurisdictions have adopted rentstabilization measures. The only jurisdiction in Maryland with a law capping annual rent increases is the City of Takoma Park. Such measures are mostly seen in a small group of major cities, including Washington D.C., New

York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and St. Paul, Minn.

In fact, 37 states have laws on the books prohibiting local jurisdictions from enacting rent-stabilization measures. Seven other states do allow such measures, but no jurisdictions in those states have adopted them.

There is a critical reason to pass a rent-stabilization measure, in Laurel and everywhere else: Shelter is a basic human need

Here and elsewhere, the insufficient supply of affordable homes is threatening many individuals with lives of grinding subsistence or even homelessness. Passing a rent-increase cap is one of the fastest ways to address this.

And then there are counterarguments

— A cap on rents could thwart a long-term solution, which is the construction of more homes to meet demand. A report by the National Multifamily Housing Council, an association of landlords, notes that new apartment construction fell in St. Paul after it passed a rent-stabilization law, while construction increased, at the same time, in neighboring Minneapolis.

— Such a measure might not only slow new construction, but also lower the number of existing rentals. A Stanford University study of rent restrictions in San Francisco found that the city’s supply of apartments decreased by 15% as landlords decided to cash out by converting rental units to condominiums.

— Rent-increase caps don’t necessarily do a good job of targeting benefits. Higherincome renters can get just as much or more benefit than those in the most need, such as lower-income families and the fixed-income elderly.

Percent of Residents Who Rent

Jurisdiction

Salisbury

Hagerstown

Laurel

Hyattsville

Greenbelt

Takoma Park

Annapolis

Rockville

Frederick

State of Maryland

Average Apartment Rents

Locale

Baltimore

Glen Burnie

Takoma Park

Hyattsville

Frederick

Greenbelt

Laurel

Silver Spring

Rockville

Annapolis

* Laurel and environs (city alone $2,034) RENTCAFE.COM

Other factors can be seen as deterrents as well.

— A rent stabilization measure could hit the city of Laurel in its pocketbook. Property taxes are the city’s single biggest source of revenue. Landlords, and especially those that own apartment complexes, are some of the city’s top property-tax payers. Limiting the landlords’ income would threaten to slow appreciation of their property values and therefore reduce the city’s future property-tax revenue.

— Rent-stabilization programs require degrees of bureaucracy. For instance, Takoma Park has one dedicated staff person to oversee its program and also

pays a consultant. It also has a commission on landlord-tenant affairs that serves a number of functions, including hearing petitions from landlords seeking special relief on account of improvement costs or other factors. (The potential added costs to Laurel, should the city establish a rent-stabilization program, could possibly be offset by new fees assessed to landlords.)

— The city might need to increase inspections of apartments to make sure landlords are not reducing normal, regular maintenance because of lower profit margins. As was stated in the beginning, it’s complicated.

From Streetcar Suburbs Publishing

By now you’ve likely gotten a sense of this new newspaper, The Laurel Independent, which started monthly publication in July. The publisher, Streetcar Suburbs Publishing, has received positive feedback from residents and the business community. We think it fills a crucial void left by the disappearance of the Laurel Leader, which published its final issue in October after 125 years in publication.

As a nonprofit, Streetcar Suburbs Publishing (which

also has papers in Hyattsville and College Park) depends on public support. Since last year, printing and mailing costs for publications such as ours have risen 40%. Ad sales provide the majority of our revenue, but don’t cover the whole budget. We see hardly any other way to fill that gap than to depend on people like you. Now is the time to donate to help sustain our new local newspaper. From now through Dec. 31, Streetcar Suburbs Publishing is eligible

for a match of each donation, dollar-for-dollar, by a national program called NewsMatch. Our goal is $10,000 in local donations, which would turn into $20,000 with the match. You can give online at StreetcarSuburbs.news/ donate. Or you can mail a check to Streetcar Suburbs Publishing, P.O. Box 132, Hyattsville, MD 20781-0132 (with “The Laurel Independent” in the memo line).

Thanks so much for your support.

15000 First Baptist Ln Laurel MD 20707

and we want to have the facilities to make sure we can continue to grow.”

The new indoor athletic center will include basketball and volleyball courts, an athletics trainers suite, a wrestling room and three classrooms. An outdoor turf field for practices (but not games) will also be installed at the site.

“We end up having kids here [until] 9, 9:30 at night waiting for practice and so we really wanted to be able to have our kids have a place to practice right after school so they can get home and take care of academics,” Palumbo said. “We wanted a place where we could do clubs, like intramural leagues for our kids who aren't on teams.”

“I think having additional space, such as [an] auxiliary gym is definitely going to help us out, and we can do more and possibly have tournaments for basketball or wrestling or any kind of other sports that’s inside,” said Patrick Courtemanche, the boys athletic director. “I think it can help attract more kids to the school.”

The new facility is phase one of a fourphase plan, Palumbo said, that also includes the creation of a new robotics, engineering and computer science lab, construction of a black-box theater and renovation of the school’s cafeteria. The project is expected to cost around $7.5 million, Palumbo said.

The school has raised $5 million for the project, Palumbo said, and a capital campaign to raise the remaining funds is in the works.

“We've been raising money over the course of the years. We had raised some money in the past for a football stadium that the plans fell through, so we had that as our seed money,” Palumbo said. “We've been able to raise just about what we need for phase one, and then we are going to continue our capital campaign to be able to complete the rest of the project after we complete the athletic facility.”

The plan suffered several setbacks during the pandemic, Palumbo noted.

“It took us 13 months to get our stormwater management plan through. We started it during COVID[-19], and I guess

the county didn't have a lot of people that were able to work with that. It's pretty complicated and technical, so it took us a long time to get the permits,” Palumbo said.

The stormwater management plan ensures that water run-off is under check to ensure that the watershed is protected from changes due to due to construction.

“Underneath our practice field, the turf field, is a huge stone drainage system, so all the water needs to be cleaned up or kind of filtered before it goes into the watershed,” Palumbo said. “A big part of this project was figuring out how we could do that in a clean, safe way.”

Phase two of the project will usher in the robotics, engineering and computer science lab.

“When the trainer moves into the new building, there's a whole big space that we're going to break into and create what's called a makerspace, where they can do all their drilling and soldering and cutting and things that you shouldn't do around the laser printers and the computers,” Palumbo said.

Phase three of the plan calls for construction of a 200-seat black box theater with classrooms, rehearsal space and a dance studio. A black box theater is a simple performance space, typically with black walls and a flat floor rather than a stage.

“Right now our theater is in our cafeteria,” Palumbo said. “Once we build the theater, then we can do some renovations in the cafeteria because we won't need the stage in the cafeteria any longer.”

Phase four plans for renovating the cafeteria have not been drawn yet, Palumbo said.

The current goal is to have the first and second phases of the plan completed by Fall 2023. After the school gets the needed funds, construction of the black box theater will start, according to Palumbo.

“Our freshmen, our sophomores that will, hopefully, see it to completion, maybe junior class as well, they're extremely excited,” said Pallotti’s Girls Athletics Director LeeAnn Elman. “We haven't had those types of facilities ever, so it's going to be, it'll be very nice.”

Foster parents aren’t replacements — they’re extra support for children and their families in need.

Los padres de crianza o acogida temporal no son reemplazos. Representan una ayuda adicional para niños y familias que lo necesitan. El

del Condado de Prince George está esperando por alguien como usted para ayudar a cambiarle la vida a un niño.

Si usted vive en el Condado de Prince George y desea más informacion sobre como ser un padre de crianza o acogida temporal, llame al

From left: Khadejah, SGA president; Dan Florenzo, capital campaign chairman; Joanne Barr, Laurel deputy city administrator; Jeff Palumbo, Pallotti High School president and principal; Sister Karen Lester, sponsorship director; Rev. Larry Young, St. Mary of the Mills Church; and Rick Wilson, the president of Pallotti High School's board of directors, at the groundbreaking ceremony in November. AIESHA SOLOMON

The council partnered with Laurel for the Patuxent, and local artists, led by Dyer, created fish sculptures that volunteers installed in planters on Main Street. Dyer noted that the fish, which were nestled in pollinator-sustaining native grasses, were intended to “ call attention to the Patuxent River

watershed and the need to safeguard it.” This installation still delights and informs passersby.

As the pandemic began to ease, council member Michael Spears, a regionally acclaimed painter, urged his colleagues to think bigger.

“We need funding if we’re going to move forward,” he said.

Earlier this year, Spears helped draft a funding request to Mayor Craig Moe, citing the arts coun-

cil’s impressive track record. In an affirming gesture, the mayor and City Council approved a modest fiscal year 2023 budget for community events and a special mayor’s appropriation for public art. With this budget in hand, new Laurel Arts Council Chair Kaleigh de la Puente is moving ahead. “We’ve been working hard to find new places and spaces in the city that might

be a location for artwork or creative activity,” she said. “ We found some unique possibilities including the city’s traffic signal cabinets, crosswalks and vacant store windows.” De la Puente’s ambitions are bolstered by new members, including musician Tony Small, a Grammy award semifinalist and director of the Pallotti High Arts Academy, who envisions

community-wide concerts. Artist and art teacher Anjali Wells is planning arts for wellness events in response to a growing national awareness that art can heal and transform lives. The Laurel Arts Council depends on partnerships in the community, partnerships that inspire projects and support our creative work in bringing those projects to life.

Dernoga elected to lead Prince George’s County Council

Laurel resident Tom Dernoga (District 1) was elected chair of the Prince George’s County Council on Dec. 6. It was his third one-year election as leader during his 12 years on the council. County law limits County Council members to two consecutive four-year terms. However, Dernoga served on the council from 2002 to 2010, then ran for a third term in 2018 after an eight-year interim. He won his fourth term as an unopposed candidate in the November election.

According to a county press release, Dernoga has created a leadership team of council

committee chairs that skews toward newer council members. They include newly elected Wala Blegay (District 6) of Kettering, who was elected council vice chair; newly elected Krystal Oriadha (District 7) of Seat Pleasant; newly elected Eric Olson (District 3) of College Park (although Olson previously served two terms from 2006 to 2014); one-year councilmember Ed Burroughs (District 8) of Temple Hills (who won his seat in a special election in late 2021); and Jolene Ivey (District 5) of Cheverly, who has just begun her second term.

— Joe Murchison

THE ASSETS OF...THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND PERSONNEL SERVICES

The Department of Budget and Personnel Services (BAPS) is an 11-member team that has three major responsibilities: Finance, Human Resources and Risk Management, and there is a whole lot of work that goes into those three divisions. The Department of Budget and Personnel Services administers all financial activities of the City government, administers all employee benefits and advises and assists the City management staff in all other personnel matters.

Budget

We prepare and administer the General Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program; maintain and reconcile the general ledger and City bank accounts. BAPS also works closely with the other Departments to compile and create their budgets, allowing them to provide services to City residents and property owners such as events, refuse, recycling and compost collection, improve and repave streets, maintain, repair and upgrade buildings and parks, and of course police services. We make all payments for the purchases of supplies and equipment, as well as utilities for all City-owned facilities. On top of all that, BAPS also invoices for business personal property tax and refuse and recycling services, reviews and records all revenues collected at multiple locations, and manages the records of City-owned property and equipment.

Personnel

BAPS manages and administers all Human Resource (HR) functions including employee compensation, employee benefits, retirement and retiree benefits, as well as record management. Additionally, HR has implemented a new applicant tracking system that will streamline the application and hiring process, ensuring the City has the best talent to serve our community.

Risk Management

All facets of insurance coverage for City -owned property and equipment is also included in our Department and handled under Risk Management: responsible for the procurement of the City’s various lines of property and workers comp insurance coverage; oversees and works closely with the City’s insurance broker of record, insurance consultants; subrogates for damage or losses to City-

A MULTI - SERVICE CEN TER IS COMING TO LAUREL!

On November 4, 2022, Mayor Craig A. Moe signed Executive Order No. 2022 -05, a Multi-Service Center Governance.

When the Laurel Homelessness and Community Services Task Force completed their report and submitted it to Mayor Moe and the City Council in June of 2020, the Administration was given the go ahead to move forward with the Task Force ’s recommendations.

Shortly after, the old SportFit building at 204 Ft. Meade Road was purchased and since then, with the help of the 21st Legislative District and members of the City Council, over $5million has been

secured through State funding to renovate the facility. The Mayor also appointed a Board of Directors to continue the efforts of working on applying for grants for management of

owned property: designs, reviews, and establishes guidelines for the administration of the City’s claim processes; monitors the current trends in the insurance industry; and serves as the City’s Health and Wellness Coordinator.

We’re not part of the City staff that’s out in the community, but we have an important role in all that the City is able to provide our citizens. We celebrate each of our team member’s birthdays throughout the year and no Department shows as much spirit for every holiday or any special cause with full Department decorations like the Department of Budget and Personnel Services does! The work may be repetitive and cyclical, but what we lack in excitement, we make up for with dedication to the importance of our mission. To learn more about BAPS, visit www.cityoflaurel.org/baps.

the facility and a Multi-Service Center Director was included in the FY2023 Budget.

The mission statement is “To promote stability and selfsufficiency amongst vulnerable populations through the provision of human services. Such efforts aim to promote hope for the future, equity of services and strengthening of community throughout the Greater City of Laurel area.”

Keep your eyes and ears posted for more news as it becomes available!

IT’ S EASY BEING GREEN…

Compost in the news…..

Compost Captains take the helm and lead Scotchtown Hills Elementary School into the next generation of composters and recyclers! Team Compost and Recycling Captains man three different carts where students separate their leftovers food waste, recycling and trash. Working together, under the guidance of teachers and custodians, Scotchtown Hills students are becoming environmental champions.

Their understanding of the importance of composting our food scraps, switching to compostable food trays and separating out their recyclables in the lunchroom has created a system of teamwork and efficiency.

Become an environmental champion and join the City’s curbside food waste composting program. It’s free and twice a year Public Works will make available Leafgro Gold® compost for residents participating in the program.

Green Tip

Tree-Cyle is back! Residents may recycle their live Christmas trees curbside for free starting in January 2023. To prepare your tree for pickup, you MUST remove all decorations, lights, wires, tree skirts, stands and nails, Do NOT use plastic snow or spray-on fake snow on your tree. Trees with fake snow cannot be collected for recycling and will require a Bulky Item pickup to be scheduled. Do NOT put the tree in a plastic tree bag. You may set the tree out on top of a plastic tarp or an old sheet or blanket, they will not be collected with the tree. Trees inside of plastic bags will not be accepted. Finally, place the tree at the curb by 7:00am on the Wednesday morning for pickup (we recommend putting it out Tuesday evening).

Environmentally Friendly De-icing Products

Icy sidewalks are no fun! Prevent slips and slides by using an eco -friendly ice melt product. Eco-friendly products can be found online and also in home improvement stores. Make sure to look for products that are children and pet safe and that are salt chloride free.

New Format for the 2023 Calendar

The calendar will be available electronically to all residents by the end of the year. Residents that have signed up for Green Living and/or Public Works updates, will receive the calendar via e -mail. The 2023 Calendar will have tips on how to live green, special collection days, holiday schedule changes and more! Let us know your thoughts on this new format by emailing greenliving@laurel.md.us.

We Want to Hear from YOU! Begin receiving Green Living updates and sign up at greenliving@laurel.md.us.

EL DEPARTMENTO de ERVICIOS de PRESUPUESTO y RESCURSOS

El Departamento de Servicios de Presupuesto y Recursos Humanos (BAPS) es un equipo de 11 miembros que tiene tres responsabilidades principales: finanzas, recursos humanos y gestión de riesgos, y hay mucho trabajo en esas tres divisiones. El Departamento de Servicios de Presupuesto y Recursos Humanos administra todas las actividades financieras del gobierno de la Ciudad, administra todos los beneficios de los empleados y asesora y ayuda al personal administrativo de la Ciudad en todos los demás asuntos de personal. Para obtener más información sobre BAPS, visite www.cityoflaurel.org/ baps.

El 4 de Noviembre de 2022, el alcalde Craig A. Moe firmó la Orden Ejecutiva No. 2022-05, una Gobernanza del Centro de Servicios Múltiples. La misión es “Promover la estabilidad y la autosuficiencia entre las poblaciones vulnerables a través de la provisión de servicios humanos. Dichos esfuerzos tienen como objetivo promover la esperanza para el futuro, la equidad de los servicios y el fortalecimiento de la comunidad en toda el área de la Gran Ciudad de Laurel”.

¡Mantén tus ojos y oídos atentos a más noticias a medida que estén disponibles!

JOIN LAUREL’S FOOD W ASTE PROGRAM!

EL CENTRO MULTI - SERVICIOS PRONTO LLEGA A LAUREL

Laurel Counci l Connections

Legislation

Listed below are recent legislative actions taken by the Laurel City Council during past Mayor and City Council meetings. For further information on any of these legislative actions, please feel free to contact the Office of the City Clerk at 301-725-5300 x2121 or at clerk@laurel.md.us. For the full agendas, visit www.cityoflaurel.org

Adopted Legislation:

 Ordinance No. 2002, an Ordinance Amending the General Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, MD, for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, and to provide an effective date, adopted October 12, 2022.

Bid Recommendations:

 9-Yard Mini Rear Loader for mini refuse truck, awarded to Currahee Waster Products Inc., of Eastanollee, Georgia, for $64,152 - Department of Public Works

 (2) 2022 Chevrolet 2500 HD Pick-up Trucks, Sport Chevrolet of Silver Spring, MD, $107,568 - Department of Public Works

 2023 M2 Freightliner 25 Yard Rear Loader Trash Truck – Gran Turk of Baltimore, MD, $241,556.40Department of Public Works

 Riverfront Park Pedestrian Bridge Replacements (2) – Purchase and installation of two replacement bridges to VKM Contracting of Alexandria, VA and Forestville, MD, a Maryland Department of Transportation Certified Minority/Small/Disadvantaged Business Enterprise as well as Veteran owned, $494,043 - Department of Parks and Recreation

 Granville Gude Path Lights - Labor and material to install new path lightsHartman Electric, LLC, Baltimore, MD, $687,500.00 - Department of Parks and Recreation

Gover nme nt Mee tings s

(Da tes and Times Subject to Change)

December Government Meetings

 December 20th - Virtual Historic District Commission (6:00p)

 December 22nd - Virtual Board of Appeals (6:00pm)

 December 26th - Mayor and City Council Meeting - CANCELLED

January 2023 Government Meetings

 January 4th - Virtual Work Session (6:00pm)

 January 9th - Virtual Mayor and City Council Meeting (6:00pm)

 January 10th - Planning Commission (6:00p)

 January 17th - Historic District Commission (6:00pm)

 January 23rd - In-Person Mayor and City Council Meeting (6:00p)

 January 26th - Board of Appeals (6:00pm)

Ci ty Anno unceme nts & Even ts

(Da tes and Times Subject to Change)

 Senior Services December Tea at the Cabana - December 14th at 1:00pm. Visit cityoflaurel.org/senor-services to sign up or call 301-776-6168.

 Christmas - December 26, 2022

 City/Passport Offices CLOSED. Visit cityoflaurel.org/calendars for adjusted collection details.

 Senior Services Trip to Symphony of Lights - December 15th at 4:00pm. Visit cityoflaurel.org/senor-services to sign up or call 301-776-6168.

 Senior Services Christmas Maze of Lights Trip - December 29th at 4:00pm. Visit cityoflaurel.org/senor-services to sign up or call 301-776-6168.

 New Years - January 2, 2023

 City/Passport Offices CLOSED. Visit cityoflaurel.org/calendars for adjusted collection details.

 Christmas Tree Collections Begin January 4th. Live trees with no decorations will be collected every Wednesday in January. Call 301-725-0088 for details.

 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday - January 16, 2023

 City/Passport Offices Closed. Visit cityoflaurel.org/calendars for adjusted collection details.

 FREE Indoor Movie (TBD) - January 20th at 7:00pm at Partnership Activity Center, 811 5th Street.

 Teen (13 - 18 yrs) Trip to UMD Women’s Basketball Game - January 26th at 4:00pm. Visit https://www.cityoflaurel.org/parks/teen-adult-family-excursions to register or call 301-725-7800.

 To learn more or register for a Parks and Recreation League, visit www.cityoflaurel.org/parks/adult-sports-activities or call 301-725-7800.

Public Works Monthly

According to Microsoft, at least 63% of holiday shopping was done online last year and less than half they surveyed said they consider the safety and security of their personal information. Therefore, as you begin to make holiday purchases this season be sure to consider these holiday online safety tips provided by the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

Tip #1: Check Your Devices – Before making any online purchases, make sure the device you’re using to shop online is up-to-date. Next, take a look at your accounts and ask, do they each have strong passwords? And even better, if two -factor authentication is available are you using it?

Tip #2: Only Shop Through Trusted Sources – Think about how you’re searching online. Are you searching from home, on public Wi-Fi? How are you finding the deals? Are you clicking on links in emails? Going to trusted vendors? Clicking on ads on webpages? You wouldn’t go into a store with boarded up windows and without signage, the same rules apply online. If it looks suspicious, something’s probably not right.

Tip #3: Use Safe Methods For Purchases – If you’re going to make that purchase, what information are you handing over? Before providing personal or financial information, read/review the website ’s privacy policy. Make sure you understand how your information will be stored and used.

For more Online Shopping Safety Tips, visit CISA’s website at https://www.cisa.gov/shop-safely.

And be sure to follow the Office of Emergency Management on Social Media at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: LaurelCityOEM. We will post safety tips, weather watches and warnings and more. Stay in the Know and Be Prepared!

ILLUMINATION

rings on a reindeer’s antlers. Costumed characters, including Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, strolled through the gathering while Santa and Mrs. Claus posed for photos on the lower level.

‘Our parks and recreation [staff ] do a great job,” Moe said. “They are very creative.”

A tradition in Laurel for more than 20 years, the event has been held “in snow, rain and cold, cold weather,” according to Bill Bailey, director of the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation. The illumination event was streamed live in 2020 without an audience and in 2021 with a small crowd but no inside activities, Bailey said.

“It goes on no matter what,” he noted, with a touch of pride.

The day kicked off with the Department of Parks and Recreation’s Breakfast with Santa. Councilmember James Kole (Ward 1), who attended the breakfast, was decked out in Christmas lights and a Santa hat.

“It’s been a busy day,” Kole said, as he strolled around the armory. “I’ve never been to the inside activities. I was told we would be packed. It’s awesome.”

It was also the first time Jennifer and Diego Svarez attended the event. Their daughter Izzy, 5, marched with her Daisy Scout troop in the parade.

“I didn’t know this happened, and I’ve been here forever,” Jennifer said. “She’s had a blast.”’

June Gray, 3, got to see Santa and snow for the first time according to her mother, Andrea Smith-Gray. The family moved to Laurel from Phoenix, Arizona, just a few weeks ago.

“She went up to him and said ‘Hi,’” said Smith-Gray, laughing, as she watched June run around the holiday tree outside. “This is cool. You get to meet neighbors.”

Rosa Maher, a member of Laurel Volunteer Fire Department, and Christina Cornwell, the city’s emergency manager, were handing out free hot cocoa.

“I got married in this building in 1968 when it was still an

Armory,” said Maher, who has lived in Laurel her entire life and enjoys volunteering at the city’s many events. “The community comes out to see the lights. There is camaraderie between all the neighbors.”

Watching the snow fall, City Councilmember Carl DeWalt (Ward 1) was all smiles.

“This is very nice,” DeWalt said. “It is a good way to start … [the holiday season] off.”

Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive at the armory after the end of the holiday parade. KATIE V. JONES

The crowd enjoys the lights after the official lighting of the armory and tree on Dec. 3. COURTESY OF THE CITY OF LAUREL

Carolers perform in front of the armory’s tree. AIESHA SOLOMON

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Send your event information to Katie V. Jones at katie@streetcar suburbs.news

EVENTS

Blood Drive: Hosted by Residents for a Better Beltsville. Dec. 16, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. MDTA Konterra detachment break room, 13201 Konterra Drive. For more information, call 800.733.2767 or go to RedCrossBlood.org

Call for Entries: Laurel Art Guild is accepting entries for its 54th open juried exhibition to be held May 6 through June 4, 2023. Six cash prizes will be awarded. The contest is open to adult residents of Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. Deadline to apply is March 20, 2023. To apply, go to laurelartguild.org. For more information, email lagopen@ laurelartguild.org

MONTPELIER HOUSE MUSEUM, 9650 Muirkirk Road 301.377.7817

Current Exhibits: Regional Textile Showcase: Features work by local artists, including members of the Uhuru Quilt Guild, the Montpelier Arts Center rug hooking class and Laurel’s own Stitching Pretty needlework designers. Through Dec. 18.

Artists’ Boutique: Shop for ornaments, fiberart and crafts created by local artisans. Through Dec. 23.

MONTPELIER ARTS CENTER, 9652 Muirkirk Road. 301.377.7800

Sounds of Harmony: Holiday classics brought to you by this Doo Wop and acapella group.Dec. 15, noon. Free.

Current Exhibits: The 34th Annual Prince George’s County Juried Exhibition: Artists who live, work or maintain a studio in the county are featured. In the Main Gallery through Jan. 6.

e Hanukkah message

By Rabbi Varia Jacobs-Velde

Hanukkah is such a beautiful and powerful holiday in the Jewish tradition. Although it often is misunderstood as a Jewish Christmas and a sweet and fun festival of lights, its sacred story tells how the Maccabees searched for, and miraculously found, sacred oil to light. It is a message about light that is much deeper and important to come back to year after year.

Hanukkah takes place at the dark time of year; the moon is waning, and we’re in the shorter days of winter. As a festival that lasts for eight days, it always starts at the end of one moon cycle, or Jewish month, and continues into the next moon cycle

or month.

Hanukkah is the only Jewish holy day that takes place at the end of the moon cycle. All other Jewish holy days either start with the new moon, take place early in the moon cycle, or, in the case of five of Jewish holidays, take place around the full moon, when the moon is shining most brightly. What’s the deeper wisdom that we can understand in this unique situation? During Hanukkah, we have the tradition of lighting one candle on the first night of Hanukkah and then adding a candle each night for a total of eight nights. How may we understand this? Hanukkah begins not only when we are surrounded by shorter days and the darkness of winter, but also when the

Symbiosis: Painter Marilyn Banner and Mary McCoy, a multidisciplinary artist, come together for this exhibit of lichens. In the Library Gallery through Jan. 8.

LAUREL HISTORY MUSEUM, 817 Main St. 301.725.7975

Foods of Fiction: “A Christmas Carol” The Laurel Historical Society and the Laurel Library hold a culinary and literary lecture series to explore historical contexts and share recipes. Dec. 14, 6:30 p.m. Laurel Public Library, 507 7th St.

Current Exhibit:

What’s Cookin’ Laurel? Restaurants, Recipes and Community. Exhibit explores the many ways we connect with our past and each other through food. Discover Laurel’s farmers, restaurants, food stores, African American traditions and community cookbooks. Free. Fri. - Sun., noon to 4 p.m. Through Dec. 18.

PATUXENT RESEARCH REFUGE. Programs are free; some require advance registration, and all may be subject to change or cancellation due to weather or low enrollment. For more information and to register, call 301.497.5887

South Tract, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop.

Kids Discovery Center: December’s theme is Tracks & Traces. Youth ages 3 to 8 years old can discover the signs that animals leave behind on trails through crafts and activities.

ONGOING

Bingo at American Legion Post 60. Friday night bingo every week; 23 games with cash prizes, food and drinks for purchase. Doors open at 5 p.m.; bingo starts at 7:30 p.m. 2 Main St. 301.725.2302

Every Tuesday Bingo. Hosted every week by the Laurel Friendship Club; no admission fee, fee for cards. Doors open at

A community Hanukkah celebration

By Will Kitching

Josh and Varia Jacobs-Velde, co-rabbis of Oseh Shalom Synagogue, invite the community to join them in celebrating the first night of Hanukkah on Sunday, Dec. 18. Festivities will include sing-alongs, band and choir performances, traditional Hanukkah food (including latkes), a fire and light juggler, and the ceremonial lighting of the community menorah.

Hanukkah starts on Dec. 18 this year and takes place over eight nights, ending on Dec. 26 . Also called the Festival of Lights, it centers around the lighting of a candle each night in recognition of a miracle that reportedly took place around 167 BCE, when a small band of rebel Jews, the Maccabees, reclaimed their temple from invading Greek Syrians. They were able to keep a candle lit for eight days, despite only having enough oil for one night.

Events begin at 4 p.m. at Oseh Shalom Synagogue, 7515 Olive Branch Way. To register, go to oseh-shalom.org

moonlight is getting fainter as the moon wanes day by day. We can thus feel overwhelmed by the physical and symbolic darkness that slowly surrounds us.

Judaism reminds us during these dark days to attend to our own light. to make sure we nourish and nurture it. When it is most dark, we must search and

11 a.m.; bingo starts at noon. Laurel-Beltsville Senior Activities Center, 7120 Contee Rd. 301.206.3380

Friday Food Festival: American Legion Post 60 hosts Friday dinners, with Canteen 60 providing meals the first and third Friday of the month and P&G Catering serving up on the second and fourth. 5:30 to 8 p.m. 2 Main St. 301.725.2302

ENTERTAINMENT

Laurel Mill Playhouse presents “A Christmas Story,” the memoir by Jean Shepherd that became a beloved holiday movie about a young boy’s wish for a Red Ryder BB gun. Tickets are $15 to $20. Dec. 16 and 17 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. 508 Main St. For more information, call 301.452.2557 or go to laurelmillplayhouse.org

Our Savior Lutheran Church presents a Christmas concert featuring praise team and choir, accompanied by organ, strings,

find ways to light up the sacred light that is our own candle. We must light this oil not at a superficial level, but at a deep level, so that it may last, even as it can never last just on its own. Each night then, as we light another Hanukkah candle, we are invited to look for the many ways that we can join our light with the other lights that are shining around us. Together we can create the bright light so needed by our souls and for all beings. By the eighth night of Hanukkah, one week later, we are shining exponentially more brightly, for our one candle has been joined by seven more.

Meanwhile, what has happened with the moon? The moonlight has continued to diminish in brightness, and the darkness outside has become strong, even so strong that there is eventually no light at all from the moon. But by increasing our own light and joining it with the light of others around us, we can step into a conscious and intentional partnership with the energy of the universe to start growing again. As Hanukkah comes to an end, a new Jewish month begins, and we can see the sliver moon.

The word Hanukkah is related to the word for dedication, and for education. The gift of Hanukkah is to educate ourselves about where we can find light that we can join with our own light, and then to dedicate ourselves to doing just that.

SEE CALENDAR ON 9 

Enjoy traditional holiday desserts with a plant-based spin

By Lenora S. Dernoga

The holidays are here, and that means parties, entertaining and family get-togethers — all of which may center around food. If you’re trying to scale back on or even eliminate dairy products ingredients for health, environmental or ethical reasons, you don’t have to sacrifice any deliciousness. You can still enjoy decadent desserts by putting a plant-based spin on most of your traditional holiday foods.

More Than Java Café, on Main Street, makes plant-based holiday entertaining easy with its delicious vegan desserts. If cookies are your thing, check out its chocolate chip, coconut, oatmeal rai-

sin and peanut butter treats. The café also offers apple or peach cobbler, and a creamy banana pudding. The shop’s goal is to provide fresh, vibrant, high-quality food in a warm, comfortable atmosphere. It also offers other vegan alternatives on the menu, along with plant-based milks for teas and coffees. You can order online for delivery, takeout and catering. For more information, call 301.490.3200.

Ragamuffins, also on Main Street, offers some scrumptious vegan options, including morning glory muffins, cranberry orange scones, mini gluten-free apple cider muffins and three varieties of bagels. The café also offers almond, soy and oat milks for its

NEWS BRIEFS

NEWS, VISIT STREETCARSUBURBS.NEWS

LAUREL’S MOSES BAILEY IS AN UNDER ARMOUR WINNER

Fifteen-year-old Laurel resident Moses Bailey is one of 10 nationwide winners in Under Armour’s Athlete No One Saw Coming campaign.

The campaign recognizes talented athletes who overcome challenges to succeed. Bailey, a varsity defensive starter for Reservoir High School’s football team, is undersized and has a learning disorder and ADHD.

“He is a local kid who is thriving with certain limitations,” said his father, Daniel Bailey. ”Everybody learns differently.”

Moses has been playing football since he was 5 years old. He also plays baseball for his high school team and has participated in indoor track. He was selected as a winner in October after submitting an essay about his experiences as an athlete.

“It was nice. Good camaraderie,” said Moses, about his visit to Under Armour’s

CALENDAR

handbells and harp. Free, with child care provided and reception following the performance. Please bring a canned good for Elizabeth House or LARS to share with the Laurel community. Dec. 18, 3 and 7 p.m, at 13611 Laurel-Bowie Rd. (Route 197). 301.776.7670

BUSINESS

Laurel Board of Trade Monthly Networking. Virtual opportunity to meet and network with local business people; BOT membership is not required. Dec. 15. 12:15 p.m. For more information and meeting link go to laurelboardoftrade.org, email laurelboardoftrade383@gmail. com or call 301.483.0838

beverages. Ragamuffins’ goal is to provide a comfortable space where people can gather over handcrafted coffees and teas. The shop also offers music, yoga and coffee-brewing classes — and more.

Even as a vegan charcuterie board sounds like an oxymoron, considering charcuterie means cured meats, you can make a delicious and impressive one. The key is to include a range and balance of foods including items that are salty, sweet, savory and spicy. Salty offerings can include olives, pickles, tapenade or pickled veggies. Sweet includes chocolates, candied nuts, fruit, dates and jam. Savory and spicy items could be vegan cheeses, hummus and a

lively dip, along with crackers, bread or veggies. Artfully arrange everything on a large cutting board, and place it as a delectable centerpiece at your next party. When it comes to plant-based baking for the holidays, consider swapping out butter for a plantbased alternative, like Country Crock plant butter or Miyoko’s Creamery vegan butter. You can use a mix of flaxseed and water in place of eggs (three tablespoons ground flax mixed with one tablespoon water—let stand for 15 minutes to thicken), and swap dairy milks and creams for nondairy milks and coconut creams. Here are a few recipes to get you inspired:

Almond Oatmeal Cranberry

Cookies: Chock full of almonds, oats and cranberries, these scrumptious, festive-looking morsels contain healthy fats, fiber and just the right amount of sweetness. curlyredcafe.com/ almond-oatmeal-cranberrycookies

Easy Vegan Eggnog: Made with a blend of creamy, dairy-free milks and naturally sweetened with maple syrup and subtly spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg. minimalistbaker.com/easyvegan-eggnog

Cranberry Orange Bread: Perfectly moist, naturally sweetened and made using wholesome ingredients. thishealthykitchen.com/vegancranberry-orange-bread

Baltimore facility on Nov. 5. He and the nine other winners, who hail from Florida, Oregon, Illinois, Alabama, North Carolina, Georgia, Massachusetts and Glen Arm, Maryland, met with trainers and athletes, and participated in a bootcamp style workout.

“They gave great info on how to be an athlete,” Moses said. “The facility was beautiful.”

Moses also received a $5,000 grant and Under Armour gear for a year.

Under Armour’s Athlete No One Saw Coming campaign launched in September, according to the company’s website The campaign’s mission is to provide athletes ages 14 to 17 with “resources to improve their performance on their journeys to compete.”

— Katie V. Jones

CLUBS

Laurel Senior Friendship Club meets the second Wednesday of each month in the Great Room of the Laurel-Beltsville Senior Activities Center on Contee Rd. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. followed by a business meeting and then either musical entertainment or a speaker. 301.206.3380

FOOD PANTRIES, DISTRIBUTIONS

St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, in partnership with Capital Area Food Bank, offers food distributions on the third Sunday of every month; next distribution is Dec. 17. 9 a.m to noon. Sixth and Prince George sts.

Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services, Food pantry is open by appointment only Monday,

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS

Yoshiko Slater was a member of the women's soccer team that made school history for Boston’s Emerson College when they won the 2022 NEWMAC Championship and advanced to the NCAA III tournament. The team then lost to Westfield State in the opening round.

Quante Redd, a member of the football team at Shenandoah University, in Virginia, earned a 2022 All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference honor when he was named as a third team selection for his role as a defensive back during the 2022 season.

At the conclusion of summer semester, the Georgia Institute of Technology awarded degrees to Christopher Crowley, Catherine Demos, Eli Jensen and Ivan Mba Kevin Munford received The James B. Moore Memorial Award during the November undergraduate awards cer-

Wednesday, Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Monday evenings from 5 to 7:30 p.m. 311 Laurel Ave. To schedule a visit, call 301.776.0442

Fish of Laurel food pantry, Thursday and Saturday, from 10:15 a.m. to noon, 308 Gorman Ave. By appointment only; call 240.547.9013

Living Hope Church distributions, Tuesdays from 1 to 2:30 p.m. 613 Montgomery St. For more information, call 301.497.6424

St. Mary of the Mills food pantry, Thursdays, 9:45 a.m. while supplies last. 114 St. Mary’s Pl. Call before you come. 301.725.3080

Gospel Assembly Church food pantry, First and third Saturdays, 9 a.m. 8740 Cherry Ln, Suite 12

emony at Maryland’s McDaniel College. Established in 1968, the award is given to a member of the sophomore class who during their freshman year showed superior qualities of character and leadership in all phases of campus life and activity, including ROTC.

Tatiana Hamilton was named to the Omicron Delta Kappa national leadership honor society at McDaniel College, in Maryland.

William Tarpine was named vice president of Pi Kappa Phi, a fraternity, at Pennsylvania's Albright College. Southern New Hampshire University added Douglas Snyder, Britni Cralle, Desmond Sensie and Zachary Perry to the 2022 president’s list.

Elijah Johnson, a student at McDaniel College, performed at the school’s Jazz Night on Dec. 1

— Katie V. Jones

VOLUNTEER WRITERS WANTED!

Laurel’s new newspaper, The Laurel Independent, has hit the ground writing and reporting, but we need your help to bring home the news every month.

If you have a local story to tell or if you just have a writing itch that needs to be scratched, contact our managing editor, Katie Jones, at Katie@StreetcarSuburbs. News.

Domestic violence spikes during holidays

By Lisa Wölfl

The winter holidays are here, and for many, this season is one of reflection and quality time with family. For victims of domestic violence, however, this time of year can be especially dangerous. As Gwen McCraw explained in an interview, calls to shelters typically increase over the winter holidays, as well as around July Fourth and over Labor Day weekend. McCraw is director of Safe Passages, the only domestic violence shelter in Prince George’s County. Community Crisis Services, Inc. (CCSI), which runs the 43-bed Safe Passages shelter, along with the county’s homeless shelters, has its offices in Hyattsville. The address of the domestic violence shelter remains protected as a safety measure. CCSI operates an emergency hotline and an online chat. Shelter and hotline services are available 24 hours a day, while the online chat is available from 8 a.m. to midnight daily.

Holidays can be stressful, and if a partner has violent tendencies, the added stress can worsen abuse, McCraw explained. And

GET HELP

• Emergency assistance: 911

• CCSI's 24-hour crisis intervention hotline: 301.731.1203

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1.800.799.7233

• Hyattsville Police Department (nonemergency): 301.985.5060

alcohol, which is often in the mix over holidays, can loosen inhibitions. “We hear this a lot: ‘If they’re not drinking, they’re fine. When they drink, that is when abuse occurs. That’s when they throw things. That’s when they punch the wall. That’s when they will hit me,’” she said.

McCraw stressed that domestic abuse isn’t confined to physical violence. If a person is controlling their partner’s every move or finances, that is abuse, too. “We see a lot of coercion, where the partner will keep getting them pregnant, take the birth control from them,” McCraw said. According to her, some survivors don’t even realize that they’re being abused. For survivors who have managed

to leave an abusive relationship, the holidays can be “depressing,” said Jennifer Pollitt Hill, executive director of the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence, in a phone interview. They might not have resources to buy gifts for their children and may be mourning the lost relationship.

The upcoming holidays could put further strain on emergency shelters that have been at or close to capacity since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since 2020, the Safe Passages shelter has hit capacity multiple times, McCraw said. “[People are] losing their jobs, [experiencing a] lack of food, getting behind on bills. I’m not saying that is a reason for you to become violent

with someone, but that added more stress in the household."

During fiscal year 2022, Safe Passages served 211 women, 238 children and 10 men, and provided 14,332 safe nights, according to McCraw, a 43% increase in nights compared to fiscal 2019.

Prince George’s County Council approved a total of $500,000 in the fiscal 2023 budget for nonprofits that address domestic violence, including $55,000 to fund CCSI's Safe Passages shelter.

“Domestic violence remains a major challenge in the County, so we are incredibly grateful for the work of our nonprofits who provide critical service support to survivors of domestic violence and their families,” wrote At-Large County Councilmember and Chair Calvin S. Hawkins II, in a press release.

The increased demand for shelter in the county mirrors the situation throughout the state, according to Pollitt Hill. Instances of domestic violence are occurring more frequently, and the violence has gotten more severe since the start of the pandemic, she said.

A study by the National Commis-

sion on COVID-19 and Criminal Justice found that domestic violence incidents increased by 8.1% nationwide after the government imposed stay-at-home orders in 2020.

Some Maryland shelters have been overwhelmed by the demand. According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence, in 2020, a statewide lack of resources led to 248 unmet requests for help in Maryland. Of these unmet requests, 24% were for housing or emergency shelter.

McCraw said that she and her staff have never had to turn away someone seeking shelter. When Safe Passages reaches capacity, those still in need of support are housed in hotels or other safe places until a bed at the shelter becomes available.

McCraw urges even those not yet ready to leave an abusive situation to reach out for help. The shelter’s hotline also supports friends and family who are concerned that someone close to them may be experiencing abuse. McCraw offers this advice: “When in doubt, just call.”

THE BEAT OF LAUREL

The human GPS

By Bob Reilly

Like most people, when I entered the world of rideshare as a driver, I considered ridesharing as more of a glorified taxi service. Rideshare drivers pick up people and move them from point A to point B, like your typical cab service, but in most cases, the drivers own or lease their vehicles.

The rideshare software that makes it all work is relatively sophisticated and easily managed by an app. Because there is no cash transaction, most riders and drivers find the process safer to use than a cab and more discreet because the vehicles are not covered with the sort of signs, logos and phone numbers normally found on a cab.

There are two common denominators between cab enterprises and ridesharing companies.

One is the use of some form of a Global Positioning System (GPS), the same satellite-based system that navigation tools such as Waze or Google Maps use. Most drivers utilize some form of GPS mapping to get around. Smart-

phone technology has evolved to the point where phones can easily replace stand-alone GPS systems.

The other common denominator is people.

I would like to introduce you to a unique and interesting rider: the Human GPS.

Almost daily, riders will ask me to revise the route to their destination, going against what the navigation system, otherwise known as the GPS, indicates as the best route.

As a rule, there is actually very little significant change in the estimated time of arrival on most of these rider-driven changes —on average, usually no more than 1 to 3 minutes.

But about every 1,000th ride, I am unforgettably greeted by the Human GPS.

These high-control creatures quickly (and quite efficiently, I might add) slip into your vehicle, and before you can even say hello, the conversation goes something like this:

THGPS: "Turn off your GPS!"

Me: "Okay. We will go with your route preference. I’m turning off

the GPS, per your request. Which way should we go?"

THGPS: “Head up Main Street for three blocks. Make an immediate left turn right past the hardware store. Drive about ½ a half mile, and when you see flashing lights, slow down. Go through the flashing lights and stay alert. You will come up suddenly on a fork in the road. This time of day you may see an elderly woman walking her two Shih Tzu dogs on the right side of the street before you reach the fork. If not, look for a bright yellow house, with a green awning, on the left side of the street. The next turn is five houses past the yellow house. Go right at the fork in the road, then make a sharp left turn on Striker Lane. Stay on Striker for eight blocks and turn right on Georgia Ave. Stay on Georgia Ave. for approximately six minutes, and you will see the signs for 495. Take the West exit towards Virginia. It’s a sharp turn so keep your eyes open!

Are you listening to my directions? Got it so far?"

Typically, at this point, the person is physically entering the car, preparing to close the door, and reaching for their seat belt.

Me: “Yes, of course, I’m listening. However, I’m a little slow this early in the morning. My coffee

isn’t kicking in. So, can you please direct me, block by block, as we’re heading toward your destination?"

THGPS: (with a big, exasperated sigh), “I suppose so. Come on, let’s get moving!"

I’ve learned there is no sense in trying to explain the potential pitfalls of ignoring the navigation system, or as I like to call it, the eye in the sky, to the Human GPS. It is a one-way street, so to speak.

Their resolve is unwavering, and my not complying with their steely determination is a possible set-up for a long, uncomfortable ride.

I might even be rewarded with a rider complaint to the rideshare company in the end if I’m not careful.

Much better, based on hardearned personal experience, to suffer the relatively brief experience and bow to the strong will of the Human GPS.

Ultimately, that is the right course.

Bob Reilly is an author, songwriter and rideshare driver living in Laurel.