01-2023 The Laurel Independent

FISH of Laurel demonstrates power of community

By Lysha Williams

In 1976, Elizabeth Colnaghi opened a food pantry in her basement. Affectionately known as Betty, Colnaghi soon offered additional services out of that basement, including emergency financial aid and transportation for families in need. Colnaghi incorporated FISH of Laurel that same year.

In 1998, a generous resident donated a home, at 308 Gorman Avenue, to the nonprofit. In 1990, the organization dedicated the home as Elizabeth House in honor of Colnaghi’s years of service.

Elizabeth House has become a powerhouse of support in the city, with 2021 and 2022 tracking

SEE FISH ON 2 

Small nominated for GRAMMY Award

Building for a challenge

By Katie V. Jones

Sounds of delight and frustration filled the T. Howard Duckett Community Center on Dec. 21 on as members of the West Laurel Brick Busters team watched their LEGO® robots either succeed (or not) in completing the tasks they were programmed to do.

Whether it was placing water units into a reservoir or dropping energy units into a bin, the various LEGO® models in the FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge will have to complete a set of tasks correctly and in a timely manner if the team hopes to win thier first competition, which is scheduled for Jan. 21 at Southern Regional Technology Center in Fort Washington.

Rush Kester formed the FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge team for youth in grades four through eight about three years

ago. While most teams are based in schools, Brick Busters is community-based and is sponsored by the West Laurel Recreation Council.

"Different divisions do different things with LEGOs," said Kester, a semiretired computer programmer. "Robots at this level are enough to be interesting to me and simple enough for kids to master. I do it more for kids to get experience engineering."

The theme of this year's competition is Superpowered and deals with energy and power sources. The competition details 15 possible missions for robots to complete. Each team member is required to build and program his or her own robot to push, lift and move whatever a given mission requires, and team members may not touch or otherwise assist their robot. Points are given for each completed mission, and the team with

SEE BUILDING ON 4 

By Katie V. Jones

From nothing comes ideas. That’s what Tony Small, director of fine arts at St. Vincent Pallotti High School, learned during his first years as an arts educator in Chicago more than 30 years ago. With no funding to purchase music or the rights to shows, Small wrote his own music and shows to give his students the opportunity to perform.

“I didn’t have books; it drove me crazy,” he said, as he sat in his office on a Monday afternoon in December. “Necessity is the mother of invention. You create as you go.”

Small said that those challenges largely shaped him as an educator and helped him standout and be recognized as one of 10 finalists for the 2023 Music Educator Award presented by the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum. The award “recognizes educators

SEE GRAMMY ON 6 

Rush Kester, coach of the West Laurel Brick Busters, works with Jahvon Gordon II and Nikhila Boreddy. KATIE V. JONES

Making friends in the golden years

By Maya Patel

Laurel Senior Friendship Club (LSFC), which was founded in 1966, provides opportunities for those 50 years and older to meet other seniors and share the growing-old experiences.

“Seniors may become lonely when they retire, especially if family members aren't close or they lose a spouse, so we encourage them to keep active, not only with our club but also utilizing the wonderful Laurel-Beltsville Senior Activity Center,” said Gail Johnson, 72, LSFC president.

The group meets monthly to share information and news, and members often join in an activity — Carol Leong held a hula dancing lesson at the November meeting. Members also attend educational programs, participate in recreational

activities and attend various trips to places like Cape Cod, in Massachusetts, and destinations like Delaware, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

The Laurel Senior Friendship

Club also partnered with the All Together for Laurel-Beltsville Area Seniors group to help build the center, where they meet monthly. Prince George's County Council member Tom

Dernoga also supported the center's creation. Together, they were able to raise money for construction of the center.

LSFC had more than 100 members prior to the pandemic, but membership has dropped to 73. Johnson attributed this decline to people’s ongoing concerns about COVID-19.

“People are slowly coming back,” she said. “ “We are looking for more people to come in.”

While Johnson joined 12 years ago to travel, she found herself devoting additional time and energy to the LSFC and has been the group’s president for seven years. She organizes events and hosts monthly meetings.

Janice Baker, 75, has been an LSFC member for almost six months. Originally from

New Mexico, she moved to the Washington, D.C. area to be closer to her son. Baker found the club through Johnson.

“I didn’t know anyone,” she said.” Now I am expanding and getting to know more people.”

Baker, like many others in the club, found a vibrant community through the LSFC.

The organization gives senior citizens opportunities to meet others and stay active, which can be hard to do as a retiree, Baker noted.

Club membership is $15 annually, and individuals over 88 may join for free. Meetings are held the second Wednesday of every month and bingo is held weekly on Tuesdays at the Laurel-Beltsville Senior Activity Center; games are open to everyone.

For more information, call 301.206.3380.

record-breaking, according to the FISH of Laurel website. During 2022, the food pantry distributed goods to 1,940 families — or about 6,598 people — a dramatic increase over the previous year’s count of 305 families. The kitchen has served 32,996 meals — more than double the prior year’s 12,078 meals. FISH of Laurel distributed approximately 33,010 lunches this year, twice as many as the 11,940 lunches in 2021.

Over the 2021 winter holidays, volunteers distributed 159 Thanksgiving bundles, 160 Christmas bundles, 52 Christmas gift cards and 48,489 pounds of produce.

"We are proud of the work we are doing on behalf of the Laurel community,” said Stephanie Hammond, president of the organization’s board. “We are forever grateful to all of our vol-

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

unteers and donors and remain committed to serve until there’s no longer a need.”

Volunteers are the lifeblood of the organization, and their tireless and dedicated support is what fuels the nonprofit’s mission to deliver services every day of the year, including holidays. Nearly 380 new volunteers signed up in the past year to con-

Managing Editor

Katie V. Jones

Katie@streetcarsuburbs.news

Writers & Contributors

Lenora S. Dernoga, Katie V. Jones, Jessica Nichols, Maya Patel, Bob Reilly, Paul Ruffins and Lysha Williams

Layout & Design Editors

Ashley Perks, Valerie Morris

Web Editor Jessica Burshtynskyy

Advertising Mike McLaughlin

advertising@streetcarsuburbs.news

301.531.5234

Business Manager Catie Currie

tinue FISH's mission according to Hammond.

Anyone, including high school students, church members, retirees and veterans, is welcome. Youth volunteers must be at least 12 years old.

There are two critical teams — one being the prep crew that cooks and prepares the meals and bag lunches between 4 and 6 p.m.,

Board of Directors

Joseph Gigliotti — President & General Counsel

Melanie Dzwonchyk — 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.

and the second being the serving crew, which serves the meals and cleans up between 5:45 and 8 p.m.

Elizabeth House regularly provides formal training for team leaders. Volunteers are given a 5-minute crash course in safety and sanitation practices and can work on their first day. Individuals are encouraged to donate food and other items, which volunteers accept daily between 4:15 and 5:15 p.m.

“The FISH of Laurel made me feel like I could make a difference in the community. I really enjoyed the times I was there!” said Cameron Ward, a volunteer who has helped on both the prep and serving crews.

Financial support, food donations and volunteers are also provided by a group of dedicated and loyal businesses and government entities, including PG County Food Equity Council; TJMaxx; Eastern Automotive; a host of churches, mosques and synagogue; Laurel

Mayor Craig Moe; and Prince George’s County Councilman

Tom Dernoga (District 1).

"The city of Laurel is always proud to partner with organizations like Elizabeth House that offer nutritious meals for those in need,” said Carreen Koubek, special assistant to the city administrator. “Mayor Moe, Laurel City Council and the Office of Emergency Management recognizes the immense jobs that these services provide in our city and they always believe in community helping community. Also, with the holidays coming up, FISH of Laurel is going to need all the help they can get to offer this assistance to Laurel families.”

If you or someone you know is in need of help, call 240-547-9023. To donate, go to fishoflaurel.org and click on the donate button.

Join the email list at volunteers@ fishoflaurel.org for a

Delores Montgomery, Sabrina Ellis and Janice Baker at the November meeting of Laurel Friendship Club. COURTESY OF MAYA PATEL

weekly list of shifts.

(Left) Elizabeth House (Above) Marie Popil, team lead on Sunday, Oct. 16, works a prep shift. LYSHA WILLIAMS

THE BEAT OF LAUREL

Hidden gem discovered in Laurel

By Bob Reilly

People will often share how they discovered a hidden secret, whether it be a vacation getaway or a unique dining experience. This kind of word-of-mouth information, information that’s based on personal experience, may convince people to seek out that thing, or that experience, themselves.

So, let me take a minute to share some information, just between friends, about a shining little gem right here in Laurel.

I recently dropped in at the Laurel-Beltsville Senior Activity Center, at 7120 Contee Road, adjacent to the University of Maryland Laurel Regional Hospital — and I’m glad I did. The facility is under the auspices of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), Department of Parks and Recreation in Prince George’s County.

Upon arrival, I was immediately greeted by the front desk receptionist, Catarina Wood, who cheerfully gave me a tour of the facility. She was so sweet and helpful that I spontaneously broke into a short serenade. We laughed, and then I heard a voice from down the hall calling out, “Young man, are you a musician?” Well, whenever someone refers to me as a young man, I perk up. “Yes, I am! Can we talk?”

I walked over to a table down the hall and was invited to sit down with three members of the center, Betty, Mary and Lee. We chatted about many things, but mostly how much each of them loved the facility, with its bingo games, special activities, arts and crafts, community-focused outreach, seminars, guest speakers, courses, classes and concerts. There’s never a dull moment.

Before I departed, the ladies insisted I sing them a song, so I sang a few verses of “My Girl” by The Temptations., They happily joined me in the chorus, and we became quick friends.

Bottom line, I love this place.

I reached out to Nancy Pfeffer, who manages the center, for the center, for more infor-

mation and comments about this gift to the community.

I inquired about the cost to join, and Pfeffer noted that the senior center is ”for people who are 50 years or older. For seniors over 60, the facility is free.”

“We partner with the Laurel-Beltsville Senior Friendship Club. This group is housed in our building. They offer special activities including the popular bingo on Tuesdays,” she said. “We offer fitness classes, Spanish lan-

guage classes, Zumba dance classes, computer classes, Bid Whist card games and seasonal outdoor events, which cater to a broad range of special interests. Annually, we’re directly involved with countywide events such as the veterans celebration, the senior picnic, the senior line dance party, Bingo-Fest and senior health and fitness day.”

The center also does several community outreach events, including Soup for the Soul, a free offering where

people can receive a bag with soup and other goodies. Loving Hands, an offspring of the Laurel-Beltsville Senior Friendship Club, meets weekly to knit blankets for cancer patients.

I was especially curious about the workout room, the great room, the meeting rooms and the kiln in the ceramics classroom.

“Yes, we have a wonderful workout room complete with treadmills, cycles and other exercise equipment," Pfeffer

told me. "The Great Room, and several smaller meeting rooms, are used for many events. They are all available for rent with individual fees based on capacity and other needs. The ceramic firing kiln room, and creative arts classes are quite popular with our members. We showcase much of the artwork throughout our building. We even have an Avenue of The Arts, which highlights works from local artists.”

The city of Laurel bus will drop people at the center, and residents can also use the Call-A-Bus service for transport.

So, there you have it. Get over there, enjoy yourself, learn something new, get a good workout and have some fun. Nancy, Catarina, Betty, Mary, Lee and the entire staff are ready to welcome you with open smiles.

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

The center also does several community outreach events, including Soup for the Soul, a free offering where people can receive a bag with soup and other goodies. Loving Hands, an offspring of the Laurel-Beltsville Senior Friendship Club, meets weekly to knit blankets for cancer patients.

BUILDING

FROM PAGE 1

the most points at the end of the competition wins.

"A lot of it is strategy. You have to decide what points to get," explained Kester, as it is impossible for a robot to complete all the challenges in the given time

frame. "Where do I start? Where do I take it? You have to calculate."

The team's top two robots, those that earn points in every mission, will go on to compete in the robot games portion of the challenge.

During weekly team meetings, members work individually but

We Train Dogs Of All Ages

• In-Home Training & Behavior Consultation

• Puppy Socialization

• Group Classes

• Serving Laurel & Surrounding Areas

Jody

Broughton CPDT-KA

(240) 882-4765

www.socialtailwaggers.com socialtailwaggers@gmail.com

can call on each other and Kester when they need help. Members are not required to have programming experience to join the team, Kester said, noting that "they learn as they go through the season."

Powerpoint tutorials explain programming, from how to control the right and left wheels differently to turn the robot, to how to get the robot’s arm to lift or push.

"Each mission takes about two weeks to figure out and program," said Nikhila Boreddy, 11. "I like the programing, but even more, the project."

Besides the robot design and robot game challenges, the competition also includes the completion of an innovation project and a core values portion. Teams participating in this year's chal-

lenge were asked to design a better energy future for their innovation project.

"It is typically related to a problem the world is having," Kester said. "Last year, we focused on supply chain issues."

Bhaskar Boreddy, Nikhila's father, likes the club because, as he said, "it makes them think."

"They have the opportunity to do a lot of research on what to do," he added. Boreddy helped organize a field trip to an Amazon warehouse last year so members could see how robots prepare packages for shipping.

A team demonstrates CORE values by showing their strength in working together, respecting each other, exploring new ideas and enjoying what they can do together to improve their world, according to the FIRST® LEGO® League website. CORE values are listed as discovery, innovation, impact, inclusion, teamwork and joy.

Jahvon Gordon II, who is 11, thought he was joining a normal LEGO® building club when his dad enrolled him in Brick Busters.

"I was kind of surprised," he admitted. "It was kind of good. I like it when I program

it with challenges. I feel accomplished."

"This is priceless," Jahvon Gordon II’s dad, Jahvon Gordon I, said. "He is building and creating, and this has the science to challenge him."

As Nikhila and Jahvon hovered around the game mat with their robots, Kester pointed out why something did or didn't work and provided suggestions on how to tweak the robots' programming.

"Like the real world, programs don't always work," Kester said. "Wheels slip; there's not the same traction each time. You have to be careful where your starting point is."

A Brick Busters team must have between two and 10 members; this year’s team has five. Kester has loaner robots the team can use, or they can purchase their own. All other materials, including the game mat and the blocks to build the various missions, are covered by a small registration fee. Laurelbased Pro-Spex Residential and Commercial Inspections provided the team with logo T-shirts.

"There are a lot of smart kids in West Laurel," Kester said. "This is a fun thing to do."

Our training is positive, humane, and fun!

Rush Kester and Nikhila Boreddy, left, help Jahvon Gordon II program his robot. KATIE V. JONES

Jahvon Gordon II and Nikhila Boreddy run their robots through the course. KATIE V. JONES

A team demonstrates CORE values by showing their strength in working together, respecting each other, exploring new ideas and enjoying what they can do together to improve their world, according to the FIRST® LEGO® League website.

Niland shares story of war-torn Iraq

By Katie V. Jones

Joe Niland has never really been able to openly talk about his multiple jobs with U.S. government agencies, including with the National Security Agency, FBI, CIA and Defense Intelligence Agency (the POW/MIA division.) Working in an investigative capacity for more than 27 years, he was deployed to Iraq five times between 2006 and 2011 where he worked to locate hostages in war zones.

“A lot of people in Laurel know someone, or someone who knows someone, who works at NSA, Fort Meade or the Defense Department,” said Niland, a Greenbelt native. “What they do, some of the really risky and dangerous plans and things, some of these analysts usually sitting in the shadows, is critical."

Niland started writing a book after retiring from the government, in 2015. Calling on his own experiences hunting for hostages and looking for kidnappers in war zones, Niland worked on his writing full time until he started working as an instructor for the Secret Service in 2017, a position he left in May 2021.

The pandemic gave him an opportunity to “lean into it again,” he said.

“I was nudged by people over the years,” Niland said. “The subject matter, a series of cascading events I found myself in over an extended period of time, was so out of the norm.”

Scheduled for release in late January, his self-published book, “Just Kill the Hostages,” tells the story of two FBI agents looking for hostages in Iraq with the help of an NSA analyst. Niland describes the book as historical suspense fiction inspired by real events.

“June 2007 to February 2008 was a real violent period in Iraq,” he said. “It was a difficult place to be. The book is just a small fragment of events.”

Peter Moore, a British citizen, knows firsthand what it was like to be in Iraq at the time. An IT expert, Moore was training finance ministry workers in Baghdad when he was kidnapped in May 2007; he spent 31 months in captivity. Held with some Americans, Moore was under Niland’s radar at the time. The two have remained in touch following Moore’s release as part of a prisoner exchange in December 2009.

“I have seen little snippets of it and know little bits of it,” said Moore, referring to Niland’s book. “He has an interesting perspective. It will be very factual. It is so extreme and beyond normal daily life, there is no reason to embellish or make it up.”

Niland admits that his book doesn’t always present the government in a flattering light. Many people, he

believes, will think that he’s revealing classified secrets and perhaps shouldn’t have even written it. Niland submitted his book to the FBI and other agencies for clearance in advance of publication.

“There are no real names, no pictures,” he said. “Some of the details, the day-to-day mundane details — the pain-in-the-ass stuff you have to do just to get food. Anybody who spent a lot of time in a war zone can relate.”

Niland said that he wrote the book, which is free of jargon, for anybody to read.

“Joe Niland introduces what I call creative non-fiction,” said Mark Opsasnick, a childhood friend of Niland’s and a fellow author, in an email. “Yes, it's a novel with fictional characters and scenarios, but the people in the story and their accompanying adventures are grounded in reality, with the author's incredible range of counterterrorism experience contributing to a riveting account that only someone close to the reality of such missions can provide.”

Niland is considering writing a second book but is waiting to see how “Just Kill the Hostages” is received. He is busy connecting with local book clubs to promote his book, including participating in discussions when it is released.

“This is a full-time thing. I don’t know how to do book writing and self-marketing and have a full-time job,” Niland said. “It is not easy.”

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.

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

The cover of Joe Niland’s book “Just Kill the Hostages.” COURTESY OF JOE NILAND

who have made a significant contribution to the music education field,” according to the GRAMMY Awards website.

“I’m just honored,” Small said. “I don’t know who nominated me.”

After being nominated and filling out an application, Small found out that he was a quarterfinalist in June and was asked to submit video testimonials and classroom footage. He learned that he was a semifinalist in October, and in December, Small got word that he was a finalist. According to the GRAMMY Awards website, the 2023 finalists hail from 10 cities across eight states and were selected from more than 1,205 nominations.

“I love my students; I really do,” Small said. “They’re the ones who make me proud.”

Long after the bell had rung at St. Vincent Pallotti High School that afternoon in December, Small stood next to the piano in his office while John John Singh, a senior, played. Humming and swaying along, Small nodded his head and made suggestions as Singh took mental notes.

“He helped me improve my sight reading; I really play much better,” said Singh, who has been playing the piano since he was 3 years old. “He does task me with a bunch of things and has given me good basics. “

Joy Charbonneau-Lovaas, 15, said Small helped her perform her “best show ever”

in the role of Telly in the school’s fall production of “Godspell.”

“He found time to work with me and go over every piece of the song,” said Charbonneau-Lovaas, who sang “All Good Gifts” in the musical. “He wears many hats at Pallotti. It’s amazing how he finds time for every student.”

Small came to Pallotti in 2021, after working with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington for 14 years; while there, he created the organization’s teen arts program. As the director of the Pallotti High School Arts Academy, Small leads the chorus and teaches, including classes in music theory and keyboard.

“The arts here are valued,” he said. Small noted that he is impressed with the program’s foundation and support. “I step back and allow … [students] to make mistakes. I’m kind of laid back and allow them to take risks and chances,” he said.

One of Small's favorite classes to teach is beginning piano, which is new to the curriculum this school year. A piano teacher for 30 years, Small boasts he can teach anyone to play the piano in three months, and he points to his Pallotti class of mostly athletes as proof.

“They are really decent piano players,” he said. “They stop attacking the piano and learn how to play. They have fun.”

If chosen for the Grammy, Small will receive a $10,000 honorarium and a matching grant for Pallotti’s music program. And even if he does not win, as a finalist, he will receive a $1,000 honorarium and

a matching grant for the school’s art department.

The winner will be announced during GRAMMY Week 2023, which takes place before the 65th awards show on Feb. 5.

“When you get awards, you get a lot of offers,” Small said. “It’s good to be at a place with options. Pallotti is the place I need to be. I love the kids here.”

Both Singh and Charbonneau-Lovaas appreciate the extra things Small does for his students, including stocking a snack drawer in the bottom of a filing cabinet and keeping an always-open door. He even helped Singh fix a flat tire.

“He is such a busy guy and so supportive of students and the arts,” CharbonneauLovaas said. “He is an incredible person.”

Tony Small listens to his student John John Singh rehearse a piece. KATIE V. JONES

Ci ty of Laurel Ledg er

WORKING FOR YOU: 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM THE CITY OF LA UREL DEPARTMENTS

The City of Laurel is excited to share some of the many accomplishments we have achieved since the previous year ’s report. These accomplishments illustrate the City’s hard work over this past year to support the City’s priorities while continuing to address the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as maintaining the necessary services the community counts on. To that end, below are just a few of the accomplishments each of our Departments brought to you in 2022 and we look forward to even furthering these accomplishments and more in 2023!

MAYOR’S OFFICE

 For the 16th straight year, the City of Laurel was named a Banner City by the Maryland Municipal League. Mayor Moe’s key initiatives that helped earn this designation include City Hall in the Park and the My Time with the Mayor programs.

 The City of Laurel had its first annual Juneteenth Community Celebration and its first Pride Day Celebration.

CITY COUNCIL OFFICE

 Researched, purchased and implemented new meeting agenda and minute management software program.

 Continued the preservation of historical City documents with the original minutes of the Mayor and City Council meetings beginning in 1890.

OFFICE OF THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR

 City received $1 million in matching bond funding from Maryland Department of General Services for the restoration of the Dam Ruins at Riverfront Park.

 City received $2.5 million in non-matching bond funding from Maryland Department of General Services for the Engineering, Architecture and Construction of the Laurel Multi-Service Center.

 Held the first Laurel Citizens University. An 8-week course to help residents learn more about their local government. Well received by the 17 attendees.

BUDGET AND PERSONNEL SERVICES

 Implementation of new finance, budget, HR and payroll software. Though it is a product of the same company, Tyler Technologies, it was a complete platform change, which required setup, testing, training of and by BAPS team members.

 Implemented Civic HR, an online application and hiring system. This software takes the vacancy process from the Department ’s request to fill a vacancy to application to recommendation to hire.

LAUREL POLICE DEPARTMENT

 Increased its community engagement efforts by participating in/hosting activities within the community and working in partnership with a variety of groups through the City. LPD reinstated its Cops Camp; held a Citizens Academy and graduated 11 attendees; assisted at the numerous community events; held our annual National Night Out; participated in food drives and coat giveaways; and held Coffee with a Cop events, just to name a few.

 With an uptick in violence in 2022, Officers within the Laurel Police Department have remained diligent in their commitment to helping maintain community safety. Year to date, our officers have made 42 gunrelated arrests and taken 74 illegal guns off of our streets.

OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

 Created emergency action plans for City facilities and conducted training with all staff on the plans, as well as conducted multiple training drills and exercises to enhance the City’s emergency response.

 Successfully managed ARPA funding to fund projects such rental/food/utility assistance, McCullough Field Universally Accessible Playground, Laurel Library Digital Equity Program, and support to local businesses.

PUBLIC WORKS

 Implementation of the One and Done Program.

 Conducted a comprehensive Citywide Traffic and Safety Study to establish strategic street and roadway priorities to assist in determining the need for, and types of additional traffic control devices (TCD) to optimize traffic flow and improve operations and safety along Citymaintained streets.

PARKS AND RECREATION

 Completed a major renovation and expansion to Discovery Park, which updated the facility to be more of an inclusive destination with new surfacing, fencing, new parking area, inclusive equipment, solar charging bench and waterless bathroom facility.

 Successfully relocated its administrative offices to the Gude Mansion, located at 13910 Laurel Lakes Avenue, and serves as a new rental facility.

COMMUNICATIONS

 Won two International Telly Awards for Take the Shot Laurel PSA and for a local bike racing phenom story. Also won two Communicator Awards from the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts for the COVID-19: One Year Later: The City of Laurel’s Survival Story and for Take the Shot Laurel PSA.

 Leased state of the art LIVE television broadcasting equipment and provided LIVE coverage of the One and Done Press Conference, Main Street Festival Parade and City of Laurel Armory Illumination, just to name a few.

FIRE MARSHAL AND PERMIT SERVICES

 New residential housing developments in Laurel still in progress. Have conducted many building, electrical, fire suppression close in, and final building inspections at: Patuxent Greens, Overlook and Westside.

 Inspections performed, as well as issued Use and Occupancy Permits for commercial establishments that opened in 2022: Mezah Grill, Cheesesteak Charlies, Navy Federal Bank, Five Below Expansion and Tesla Charging Station and Dash-In Shell Station.

ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

 ECD completed the Unified Land Development Code Update with Phase 5 and Phase 6 in 2022. The Update took 3 years overall, six phases, and covered over 150 sections.

 Through the ECD ARPA Grant Programs, the Main Street Façade Grant, the Main Street Relocation Grant, and the Main Street Micro Grant, we were able to allocate funds of over $900,000 to local commercial and residential properties in 2022.

OFFICE OF INFORMATION TECHONOLOGY

 Expanded the City's fiber network to service the Laurel Museum, Greenview Pool, and upcoming 204 Ft Meade Rd Multiservice Center.

 Spearheaded development of a new City web site to be launched January 2023.

GREEN LIVING

 Received Bee City certification.

 First Sustainable Saturday event held in September 2022 and first Blink EV charging station opened up at free City parking lot.

 Obtained a grant from The Recycling Partnership to support the City ’s transition to One and Done Public Works collections.

As we move into the New Year, here’s to working together for a brighter, stronger 2023!

Laaurel Counci l C Connections

Legislation

Listed below are recent legislative actions taken, if any, by the Laurel City Council during the past month of 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:

 There was no legislation passed.

Bid Recommendations:

 Bid Recommendation - Replacement of the City's Greenview Drive asphalt pathDepartment of Parks and Recreation$58,500

 Bid Recommendation - Laurel Multiservice Center Phase I Renovations –Department of Parks and Recreation$4,159,575

Appointments:

 E. Michael Greene - Reappointment to the Board of Trustees for the City of Laurel Retirement Plans

Gover nme nt Mee tings

January 2023 Government Meetings

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

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

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

February 2023 Government Meetings

 February 1st - Virtual Mayor and City Council Work Session (6:00pm)

 February 13th - Virtual Mayor and City Council Meeting (6:00pm)

 February 14th - Planning Commission (6:00p)

 February 21st - Historic District Commission (6:00pm)

 February 23rd - Board of Appeals (6:00pm)

 February 27th - In-Person Mayor and City Council Meeting (6:00p)

Ci ty Anno unceme nts & Even ts

(Da tes and Times Subject to Change)

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

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

 FREE Indoor Movie“Rise of the Minions” - January 20th at 7:00pm at Partnership Activity Center, 811 5th Street.

 Teen 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.

 Senior Services International Spy Museum Trip - February 2nd at 10:00am. Visit cityoflaurel.org/senor-services for costs/to sign up or call 301-776-6168.

 Teen Trip to Columbia Ice Skating Rink - February 3rd at 8:15pm. Visit cityoflaurel.org/parks to sign up or call 301-725-7800.

 My Time with the Mayor - February 13th from 4:00 - 6:00pm at the Laurel Municipal Center, 8103 Sandy spring Road. Mayor Moe looks forward to this opportunity to meet with residents to hear about any issues happening in their neighborhood.

 FREE Indoor Movie“The Princess and the Frog” - February 17th at 7:00pm at Partnership Activity Center, 811 5th Street.

 Presidents’ Day Holiday - February 20, 2023

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

 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 Glance

DPW@laurel.md.us

Laur el Of f ice of Emergency Management: Staying Safe Durin g Cold Weather

Know the difference between Frostbite and Hypothermia!

Frostbite can lead to a loss of feeling/color in the areas it affects, usually extremities such as the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, and toes and can permanently damage the body. Severe cases can lead to amputation. If you see: white or grayish -yellow skin area, skin that feels firm or waxy, and/or have numbness, take immediate action! If a person shows signs of frostbite, but no signs of hypothermia, and immediate medical care is not available, get the person into a warm room as soon as possible (DO NOT walk on feet or toes that show sign of frostbite if able). DO NOT rub the frostbitten or massage the area. This can cause more damage. Put the extremities affected in warm, not hot, water (the temperature should be comfortable to the touch) or warm the affected area using body heat. DO NOT use a heating pad, heat lamp, or the heat of a stove, fireplace, or radiator for warming. Affected areas are numb and can easily burn.

Hypothermia, a more serious cold-weather illness, is caused by prolonged exposures to very cold temperatures. When exposed, your body begins to lose heat faster than it ’s produced. Lengthy exposures will eventually use up your body’s stored energy, which leads to lower body temperature. Body temperature that is too low affects the brain, making the victim unable to think clearly or move well. This makes hypothermia especially dangerous, because a person may not know that it ’s happening. The symptoms of hypothermia are shivering, exhaustion, confusion and/or memory loss and slurred speech in adults. For infants, symptoms are bright red, cold skin and low energy. Take the person’s temperature. If it is below 95° F, get medical attention immediately! If you are not able to get medical help right away, warm the person up by getting them into a warm room/shelter, remove any wet clothing the person is wearing, and warm the center of the person’s body ie; head to groin area, using an electric blanket, if available, or use skin -to-skin contact under loose, dry layers of blankets, clothing, towels, or sheets. After body temperature has increased, keep the person dry a nd wrap their body, including their head and neck, in a warm blanket. Make sure they are checked by a health care provider ASAP! For more tips, follow us on our social sites @LaurelCityOEM or visit the City’s website at cityoflaurel.org.

Time with the Mayor 4-6pm Laurel Municipal Center

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

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

Call for Entries: Laurel Art Guild is accepting entries for its 54th open juried exhibition to be held May 6 through June 4. 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

CLASSES

Mat Yoga: Sharon MorrisSmith will lead Assuage Yoga in the library on Wednesdays from 6 to 7 p.m. Carroll Baldwin Hall, 9035 Baltimore St., Savage. 410.294.3561

Gottaswing Dance Classes: A beginner and intermediate class meets on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Carroll Baldwin Hall, 9035 Baltimore St., Savage. 410.294.3561

MONTPELIER HOUSE MUSEUM, 9650 Muirkirk Road. 301.377.7817

“Goode” Inventions, Good Intentions: A hands-on Black History Month STEM program about Sarah Goode and Miriam Benjamin, the first two African American women awarded a U.S. patent, Jan. 28, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

MONTPELIER ARTS CENTER, 9652 Muirkirk Road. 301.377.7800

Current Exhibits:

Tree: An exhibit by David Brosch that explores the important components and beauty of trees. In the Resident Artist Gallery through Jan. 22.

Anti-Black Violence and Resistance in the Diaspora: The annual Black History Month exhibit highlights the history of African Americans in Prince George’s County and surrounding area. Runs Jan. 28 through March 26.

LAUREL HISTORY

MUSEUM

Closed until February.

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

North Tract, 230 Bald Eagle Drive

Intro to Photography: Learn to use your camera to get the photo you want. Jan. 22, 1:30 p.m.

South Tract, 10901

Scarlet Tanager Loop

Winter Bird Walk: Look for ring-necked ducks, whitethroated sparrows, hermit thrush and more. Jan. 14, 9 a.m.

Welcoming Creatures to Your Backyard: Learn how to create a basic habitat for native creatures. Jan. 21, 2 p.m.

Meet an American Kestrel: Informal show-and-tell time to see an American kestrel. Jan. 21 at 1 p.m.

Family Fun, Winter Wildlife: Look for wildlife outside by scouting for footprints and other evidence they leave behind. Hands-on activities, games and crafts. Jan. 27 and 28, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Winter Wonderland: A park ranger will talk about how animals survive in the cold weather during this interactive program for kids. Jan. 28, 2 p.m.

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. 2 Main St. 301.725.2302

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

Laurel Senior Friendship Club meets the second Wednesday of each month in the Great Room of the LaurelBeltsville 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

ENTERTAINMENT

Laurel Mill Playhouse presents “Towards Zero,” an Agatha Christie murder mystery set in a clifftop house. Tickets are $15 to $20 Jan. 20, 21, 27 and 28 at 8 p.m., Feb. 3 and 4 at 8 p.m. and Jan. 29 and Feb. 5 at 2 p.m. 508 Main St. For more information call 301.617.9906 or go to laurelmillplayhouse. org

Ritmo De La Noche Winter Blues Bash: Dress in blue attire for a salsa dance night. Beginner and intermediate lessons provided. Jan. 21, 8 p.m. $15-$20. Laurel Race Track, 198 Racetrack Road. 443.415.7085

BUSINESS

Laurel Board of Trade Monthly Networking. Virtual opportunity to meet and network with local business people; BOT membership is not required. Jan. 19. 12:15 p.m. For more information and meeting link go to laurelboardoftrade.org, email laurelboardoftrade383@ gmail.com or call 301.483.0838

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 Jan. 15. 9 a.m to noon. Sixth and Prince George sts.

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

Our Saviour Lutheran Church Smiling Souls Food Bank, Saturday, Jan. 14, 9 to 11 am. 13611 Laurel Bowie Road. 301.776.7670

PEXELS

Laurel leaders share their New Year’s resolutions

By Katie V. Jones

With the arrival of a new year comes New Year’s resolutions, a tradition that began in 2000 B.C. with the Babylonians. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac website, the Babylonians pledged to return borrowed farm equipment and pay their debts during a 12-day New Year festival held at the start of the farming season. The Romans continued the tradition of resolutions at the new year, but shifted the celebration to Jan.1 with the acceptance of the Julian calendar, in 46 B.C. The practice continued through the Middle Ages, with knights renewing their vows to chivalry on a peacock, roasted or alive.

Here are a few resolutions made by various leaders in Laurel.

Ann Bennett, executive director, Laurel Historical Society, wrote in an email, “I tend not to tie myself into NY resolutions but take the opportunity to reflect on the year just passed and see what the blessings and challenges were. I try to use that as guidance for the year ahead and it is helpful to break it down into monthly goals or inspirations or things to work on that way. I appreciate the sense of freshness and renewal that comes with the changing

of all the seasons, and try to use that throughout the year to refresh and motivate myself without getting stuck on one day.”

Holly Burnham, historian and education manager with the Montpelier House Museum, shared in an email, “I used to make them, but it's too easy to break them, and then I feel defeated. So instead now I set intentions, the difference being I will do my best each day, keeping in mind that I'm only human, and will make mistakes. So, my intention this year is to be healthy in mind, body and spirit. There are a million ways to do this, and everyone's different, but tonight I'm attending an online workshop called, 'Goal Setting and Eating from MyPlate Nutrition Workshop,' which, obviously is about physical health, offered by the Prince George's County Department of Parks & Recreation.”

Karen Lubieniecki, chairman of the Laurel Historical Society board of directors, wrote in an email, “Honestly, I've never done New Year's Resolutions. Usually around New Years I'm just trying to (finally) get some Christmas cards out. Perhaps my resolution should be to do some New Year's Resolutions!”

Mayor Craig Moe said he does both

personal resolutions as well as some for the city. His personal resolutions, he said, were “Health and happiness and to spend more time with family and friends.”

He said his resolutions for the city are, “To make sure in the upcoming year we do what’s best for taxpayers’ money and to continue to provide the best services possible.”

“I could give you numerous resolutions but I think that is enough right now,” Moe said.

Shannon Mouton, executive director of Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services, said “I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions. I used to, but then I learned better. Too much pressure.” That doesn’t mean she doesn’t have a plan for the year, she said, but she is “old enough to know,” that she can only do what she can do, but life and the universe play a role, too.

Melissa Holland, a member of the Laurel Arts Council, wrote in an email, “My resolution is to keep making mistakes, and to see them and celebrate them, because without them, as the writer Neil Gaiman said, you're not ‘learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world.’”

Make a resolution to improve your health

By Lenora S. Dernoga

Happy New Year! It’s a classic time for resolutions, and one of the best ones you can make is to transition to a healthier diet. Especially now, during cold and flu season, study after study has shown that a diet rich in whole, plant-based foods is one of the best ways to boost your immune system, prevent diseases and maintain a healthy weight. Eating more plant-based foods can help you experience your best quality of life.

“A diet that focuses on eating plants will increase your intake of phytonutrients and fiber, which are protective for your health,” said Elizabeth Owens, director of applied integrative health at Mary-

land University of Integrative Health (MUIH). “Focusing on whole foods will also help

minimize the intake of harmful processed foods.”

Located on Montpelier Road in Laurel, MUIH emphasizes nutrition in its wellness plans. The university trains students to conduct nutrition assessments for each client, looking at their dietary intake, nutritional needs, lifestyle and medical history. By looking at the entire picture of a person’s health, students can help determine which foods to emphasize or minimize to help the client reach their health

goals while addressing their medical concerns.

“We see many people who would benefit from eating more plants,” Owens said. “Our students are trained to take a holistic approach and guide clients in including colorful plant foods into their diet, as well as whole food plant-based cooking.”

Research has shown that many chronic diseases can be managed or even prevented using medical nutrition therapy. If you are interested in

Lentils, a proteinpacked legume, contain almost no fat. PEXELS

MUIH’s nutrition programs and educational degrees, or if you think you could benefit from nutrition guidance, go to ncc.muih.edu for more info. Here’s a healthy, plant-based recipe that’s perfect for winter:

Smoky coconut lentil stew: curlyredcafe.com/smokycoconut-lentil-stew

Lentils are a protein-packed legume that contain almost no fat.

“I used to make them, but it's too easy to break them, and then I feel defeated. So instead now I set intentions, the difference being I will do my best each day, keeping in mind that I'm only human, and will make mistakes.”

Holly Burnham historian and education manager, Montpelier House Museum

THE SCIENCE OF THE CITY

When it comes to cars, parts are greater than the whole

By Paul Ruffins

The signs are all along the Route 1 corridor:

“We pay up to $700 for unwanted cars, vans, trucks towed free” and “We buy all used cars $150-$600.”

The posted prices are loosely based on world-wide commodity prices, and the size and condition of the car. A car is a storehouse of hazardous materials — gasoline, oil, brake fluid, AC refrigerant, antifreeze, asbestos and more.

Cars built after 1999 have at least two highly explosive airbag inflators, too. Despite these hazards, someone will pay at least $150 for the opportunity to tow one away.

“Automobiles have the highest recycling rate of any consumer product,” noted Greg Condon, president of the Maryland Association of Car and Truck Recyclers. “Approximately 80% of a car is recyclable, and an extremely high percentage of cars are ultimately reused.” Condon is also president of Condon’s Auto Parts in Westminster.

Auto parts seem to defy the law of the conservation of matter, which states that the whole is equal to the sum of its parts.

There is an ongoing conflict between car manufacturers, who would like to have a monopoly on replacement parts, and independent mechanics and insurance companies, who have to pay for them.

Dealerships charge very high markups. A 1999 study commissioned by the Alliance of American Insurers found that assembling a car that would have been worth $25,000 on a new-car lot using individual parts purchased from a dealership would have cost $100,000. And that was almost 25 years ago; imagine what it would cost now. Car companies claim, though, that remanufactured and recycled parts are inferior.

This is why scrounging for parts from a wreck can be so lucrative. Condon says, “if I paid $1,500 for a 2012 Toyota Camry with 145K miles and a body in good condition, but a bad transmission, I would aim to sell the parts for $4-$5,000. The most expensive vehicle I ever bought was a luxury SUV, a 2018 Yukon Denali with 60,000 miles, which had been totaled in a collision. I paid

$14,000, because I could sell the engine alone for $7,000.”

Condon’s company is a member of the Automotive Recyclers Association, (ARA) which supplies premium green parts — used original parts that have been tested and are guaranteed for at least six months (lifetime warranties are available on some used parts). Condon bought the Denali at an insurance auction; he likely could have retrieved its complete maintenance records from Carfax.

It may make sense to invest $7,000 in a late-model luxury SUV that’s still in good shape. But why would anyone pay even $150 for a rusty 1990 Camry with 300,000 miles and a blown engine? There’s a good reason: Scrap cars can fetch a good price. And while prices do fluctuate, the scrap metal valuation site iScrapapp.com lists the average price for scrap steel in the DMV at $158 per ton this month.

Most scrap yards, including century-old Joseph Smith & Sons, on Kenilworth Avenue, will only buy wrecks that have been depolluted. At minimum, the depolluting process involves removing the battery and tires, and punching a large hole in the gas tank. A thoroughly depolluted wreck has had all fluids drained, and the gas tank and airbag inflators removed. Removing all

fluids and specific parts keeps Smith’s giant shredder from bursting into flames and produces scrap that can be safely exported around the world.

A depolluted Camry would probably be worth $150 for its steel alone. Some parts of an old wrecked car, such as the seats, are usually worthless, but almost everything else can hold some degree of value. That Camry has at least a dozen electric motors and about a mile of wiring — that amounts to about 50 pounds of copper. Bare copper wire sells for more than $3 a pound these days — more than $6,000 per ton as scrap. Scrap aluminum goes for about $1,000 per ton. And any car manufactured in the U.S. since 1975 has a stainless steel catalytic converter that’s loaded with extremely expensive materials, including platinum, palladium and rhodium. That Camry’s converter is worth at least $180. So what choices do you have on the table for your 2012 Sonata that needs a new starter? Your options might hinge on how quickly you need to have your car back on the road and how fat your wallet is. College Park Hyundai has new starters in stock priced at about $389. Purchase one online from another Hyundai dealer, and it might set you back $266 — but take three days to get to you. Or you could

parts recycler, such as Andy’s Auto Parts in Bladensburg, which is an ARA member. Andy just might have the right starter in a wrecked car on his lot that he might even be able to pull out in a half hour. He recently had just the part for that Sonata and would have sold it to me for $50, and with a 60-day guarantee.

head to the NAPA store on Berwyn Road and pick up a rebuilt starter for $148.99 plus a $38.50 core charge; bring your old starter back to NAPA for recycling, and they’ll refund the extra charge. The starters (and other parts, like alternators and water pumps) on the shelves at AutoZone, Pep Boys and NTB are usually remanufactured, which means they have been restored to like-new quality.

Then there’s your local green

So, which part might end up in your Sonata? If you’re not replacing the starter yourself, you’ll likely have to rely on your mechanic to figure that out — just hope you’re working with an honest one who will do some research, find a good part at a reasonable price and give you a guarantee. “Many environmentalists believe that businesses should take back and reuse almost everything they sell,” said Sandy Blalock, ARA’s executive director. “Well, about 25% of the steel in new cars has been recycled,. And many of the old starters and alternators that our members can’t use become cores that are re-manufactured for the auto parts chains. We’re leading the world in reducing prices and pollution by reusing and recycling.”

VOLUNTEER WRITERS WANTED!

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.

Paul Ruffins is a citizen scientist and professor of curiosity.

A load of cars heading for the shredder. COURTESY OF PAUL RUFFINS

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA NEEDS VOLUNTEERS

On Dec.17, about 250 volunteers placed wreaths on the graves of veterans at Ivy Hill Cemetery for Wreaths Across America, a nonprofit that honors veterans with remembrance wreaths each December. According to the organization’s website, wreath-laying ceremonies are held at more than 3,700 locations across the United States. Lisa Wright has been the location coordinator for the annual event in Laurel for the last six years..

This year’s event began with a short ceremony at Laurel Municipal Center with

remarks by Laurel Mayor Craig Moe and Shirley Luby, commander of American Legion Post 60. The Laurel Police Department Honor Guard then led a march to the cemetery, where volunteers placed wreaths on 296 veterans’ graves. Mission BBQ’s Greenbelt and Laurel locations donated funds from their American Heroes cup campaign to cover the $15 cost of each wreath.

Volunteers are now needed to remove the wreaths during an event starting at 11 a.m. on Jan. 21. All are welcome, and registration is not required. Ivy Hill Cemetery is located at 1201 Sandy Spring Road. — Katie V. Jones

Volunteers are needed to help remove wreaths at Ivy Hill Cemetery. COURTESY OF LISA WRIGHT

Laurel Councilmember and President Brencis Smith (Ward 2) lays a wreath during Wreaths Across America on Dec. 17. COURTESY OF LISA WRIGHT

Volunteers march to Ivy Hill Cemetery to lay wreaths. COURTESY OF LISA WRIGHT

PULLEY GRADUATES FROM LEADERSHIP MARYLAND

Leadership Maryland, a statewide program for senior-level executives, recently announced that Laurel City Administrator Christian Pulley has completed a professional development program. Pulley was one of 49 applicants chosen by a committee to complete Leadership Maryland’s eight-month learning program. The session focused on Maryland’s five main geographic regions and the issues impacting economic development, education, health and human services, criminal justice, the environment and multiculturalism/diversity.

“This is a remarkable group of professionals, diverse in experience and talent, and we look forward to seeing how they will influence our state with the knowledge and connections they’ve gained this year,” said David Fike, president and chief executive officer of Leadership Maryland, in a press release.

LAUREL RESIDENT SENTENCED IN 40-YEAR-OLD COLD CASE

Laurel resident Howard Jackson Bradberry Jr., 64, was sentenced Jan. 5 by Howard County Circuit Court Judge Richard Bernhardt to 25 years in prison for second degree murder in a 40-year-old cold case.

CLEANUP DAY

Laurel for the Patuxent is hosting a community litter cleanup day on Saturday, Feb. 11 from 10 a.m. to noon. Participants are to meet at the Avondale Pavilion at Riverfront Park or at the stage area at McCullough Field. Supplies will be provided. In case of inclement weather, a rain date is scheduled Sunday, Feb. 12, from noon to 2 p.m. For more information, contact Laurelforthepatuxent@ gmail.com.

On March 29, 1982, Laney Lee McGadney, 28, was found dead in a vacant lot in Columbia now known as Water Lily Way. The mother of four children had left her apartment to walk to a grocery store in Owen Brown Village Center. At the time, witnesses described seeing her being abducted as she walked along Oakland Mills Road, according to the Office of the State’s Attorney for Howard County. Despite a lengthy investigation, police were unable to identify a suspect until 2021, when DNA results linked Bradberry to the crime, according to a press release from the office of the district attorney.

Bradberry entered an Al-

ford plea on July 12, 2022 to a charge of second-degree murder. In an Alford plea, a defendant maintains their innocence but admits that the prosecution’s evidence would likely result in a guilty verdict.

“I want to thank Howard County police and our prosecutors for working so diligently on this case," State Attorney Rich Gibson said in a press release.” We know today’s sentencing cannot bring back the matriarch of this family, but we do hope it provides some much-needed closure for her 4 kids, 22 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren knowing Bradberry will spend the rest of his life in prison for the innocent life he took and heinous crime he committed.”

— Katie V. Jones

TABERNACLE CHURCH HOSTS SEVERAL OUTREACH PROGRAMS

When Bishop Randolph Gurley and his wife took over the Tabernacle Church in South Laurel in the late ‘90s, they supported neighborhood families by providing child

and youth ministry, basketball and after-school programs, and back-to-school neighborhood block parties.

The church continues to lead by example by being one of the most consistent Laurel points to offer free food to the community. The church's food pantry ministry has blossomed and flourished throughout the years.

The ministry is currently led by a longstanding church and community leader, Deaconess Sheila Townes. The food pantry is open on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays are possible. Call Townes at 301-490-3838.

On the first Friday of every month, the church distributes fresh, pre-packaged groceries to families while supplies last. Call Townes to volunteer to help build boxes and/or help distribute the groceries. Free bread and other foods are also distributed at the church following Sunday services, which begin at 11 a.m. Tabernacle Church is at 11601 South Laurel Drive.

— Jessica Nichols

PEXELS