Two city councilmembers have launched campaigns to be elected Laurel mayor, and two others are considering running. The election will take place on Nov. 7.
First-term councilmember Martin Mitchell (At-Large) launched his campaign at a rally in front of the Laurel Municipal Center on April 20. Third-term councilmember Keith Sydnor (Ward 2) signed his registration
A group of nearly 30 city employees with matching medallion yellow Tshirts forced over their weathered high-visibility coveralls and Carhartt jackets assembled in the audience of the Laurel Municipal Center on March 27 to face the men in suits and ties who represent them.
City worker after city worker approached the podium to address the Laurel City Council, pleading to have collective bargaining legislation, which already exists for law enforcement in the city, extended
On a rainy Monday afternoon, artists from around the DMV, as well as from Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey, arrived at the Montpelier Arts Center, where they were greeted by members of the Laurel Art Guild (LAG). Each artist brought artwork that had been accepted for display in the guild’s 54th annual juried exhibit. By the afternoon’s end, various images, including of a butcher cutting meat, a squirrel and a sewing ma-
chine, along with a number of portraits, were propped against the walls of the gallery, waiting to be hung.
“It can’t help being an interesting show,” said Sally Davies, a guild member, whose work “Fractured Truth” captured first prize last year. “It’s a mix of different mediums and styles.”
Davies' entry this year, “Would You Like to Swing on a Star,” is a departure from her usual style, the Greenbelt resident said, adding that she is venturing into abstract paint-
ing. Featuring three musicians, the colorful painting reflects her feelings for a ukulele band she performed with outdoors during the pandemic.
“It’s playful and fun,” Davies said. “I hope people who look at it see that joy.”
Because of the gallery’s small size, the show typically showcases between 45 and 50 pieces of art, according to Teresa Ficaretta, who coordinated the exhibit. Pieces for the show were selected by Lindsay McCulloch, who
Starting May 11, the Laurel farmers market will be back in action for the first time since it was paused in 2018. The market will be held at 378 Main Street every other Thursday through Sept. 28, from 3 to 7 p.m.
The city will be running the market, which was previously sponsored by The Laurel Board of Trade. Organizers hope that city staffing and different hours will bring new vitality, along with more customers, to the stalls. The old market was staffed by volunteers, and its daytime-only hours kept some customers away.
The COVID-19 pandemic delayed plans to bring back the market, but city staff has been working behind the scenes with The Laurel Board of Trade to identify areas where improvements could be made. Because many of the vendors do other markets on the weekends, the city chose to stick with a Thursday schedule but decided to experiment with later hours to accommodate customers who aren’t available in the middle of the day.
City representatives are optimistic about the new format and see the market as a vital means of supporting the community.
“We just want to help rejuvenate the area and rejuvenate Main Street,” said Robet Love, director of the department of economic and community development. “We felt a strong farmers market would create a central place for people to gather.”
Love underscored that the market presents a great opportunity to interact with neighbors and support local farmers and artisans offering products like homemade jellies, honey or baked goods. In a tight knit community such as Laurel, Love said,
a farmers market can strengthen a small-town feel. He and his entire team are working to kickstart the market with the hope that it will become an event that vendors and customers alike look forward to.
Space fees are $25 for Laurel vendors and $50 for outside vendors for the season (11 Thursdays, total). While city staff will be responsible for organizing the farmers market, volunteers are needed during the market to man the welcoming table and for other duties.
For more information and to apply for a space, go to cityoflaurel.org/ green/laurel-farmers-market.
Mayor Craig Moe will be honored at the Laurel Historical Society’s gala, which returns June 4th after a three-year hiatus. Moe announced in April that he would not seek reelection after serving as Laurel’s mayor for 21 years.
“This evening is a fitting opportunity to honor someone who has had such an important impact on the city and on the LHS. In his 21 years as Mayor Craig Moe has been a steadfast supporter and we are grateful,” Karen Lubieniecki, LHS board chair, wrote in a press release.
With the theme All Together Again, the gala will be held at Historic Savage Mill and will feature performances and an auction, along with fine dining and drinks. Proceeds will support the society’s programs, exhibits, collections and overall operations of both the society and the Laurel Museum.
“An annual Gala is an LHS tradition we had to cancel for three years because of the Pandemic and its aftermath. We had to miss both Laurel’s 150th Anniversary and the Laurel Museum’s 25th.
Managing Editor Katie V. Jones
Katie@streetcarsuburbs.news
This year we plan to make up for lost time with a fun, joyous event that celebrates all parts of our community, its history, resilience and future,” LHS President Denise Redmond wrote in a press release.
The gala will take place June 4, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Historic Savage Mill, 8600 Foundry Street, Savage.Tickets are $100 for members and $110 for non-members. For more information, go to laurelhistoricalsociety.org.
After events at Laurel Park were suspended following several horse fatalities, scheduled competition has resumed at the racetrack.
On April 20, two horses were euthanized after back to back races. One was euthanized on the track; the second was vanned off and later euthanized.
The following day, a Friday, the Maryland Jockey Club announced that it was canceling racing at the track that weekend “to understand and address any issues of concern raised relating to recent injuries” and discuss plans for implementing updated safety protocols.
On April 22, the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and the Maryland Horse Breeders Association sent an email to the chairman of the Maryland Racing Commission.
“The death of five horses so far this month as well as other numerous serious injuries this year has called into question the safety of racetrack conditions at Laurel Park,” the email stated.
The organizations called for John Passero, who had previously been a track superintendent in Maryland, to evaluate the track at Laurel Park. The same day the letter was sent, the Maryland Jockey Club announced the re-
Business Manager
Catie Currie
Board of Directors
sults of a track inspection conducted jointly by Dennis Moore and other experts, stating, “it is clear from the above [results] that our track is not the issue.”
Just three days later, however, the organizations reached an agreement to have Passero inspect the track, with the Horsemen’s Association covering costs.
The condition of Laurel Park’s track has been the subject of concern for years. A Sept. 30, 2022 report from the Maryland Stadium Authority states that “a complete track replacement would be necessary to ensure the safety of the athletes utilizing the facilities” at Laurel Park, and indicates that the Maryland Jockey Club agreed to this assessment.
According to Horseracing Wrongs, an advocacy group working to end horse racing, 13 horses have died this year at Laurel Park.
Although Laurel Park accepted entries for a race scheduled for April 27, the race was canceled due to insufficient response. After a stretch of bad weather, racing resumed on Saturday, April 29, apparently without injuries.
VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER HONORED FOR WORK AS CAREER FIREFIGHTER IN HOWARD COUNTY
Laurel Volunteer Fire Department (LVFD) President Vic Whipple, Chief Jim Codespote and members of the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department congratulate volunteer firefighter Andrew Stanton for receiving the Firefighter of the Year Award during the Howard County and Fire Rescue awards ceremony April 13. Stanton is a career firefighter with Howard County Fire and Rescue Services, where he serves in Station 8/Bethany in Ellicott City.
When he joined the department in 2019, Stanton became the fourth generation Stanton to be part of the LVFD. The first member of his family joined the department in 1920.
in Laurel. Canceled the last few years due to the pandemic and then bad weather, the popular event is scheduled to return on May 20.
“It's a great way to see people, reconnect with people, meet new people and discover the different types of businesses on Main Street,” said Marilyn Meiselbach Johnson, a board member.
The festival opens with a parade at 9 a.m. featuring numerous groups, including city councilmembers, Scout troops, the American Legion Post 60 honor guard and local high school cheerleaders. Laurel Elementary School’s chorus will also be featured this year. Laurel TV will film the parade and upload the footage to YouTube.
When the parade ends around 10 a.m., residents can expect a variety of craft vendors, food trucks and live music on Main Street. New children's events, including chalk painting, games and activities, a caricature artist and possibly a photo booth, are planned, too, according to Jim Cross, a board member.
Businesses on Main Street will also be open. One of the biggest reasons for continuing the festival is to help local businesses get publicity, according to Cross. The event brings people to Main Street to not only check out the vendor booths, but to look at the stores along the way, too.
“We’re here to try to help Main Street and the local businesses,” Cross said.
WHG Discounts Outlet will offer special prices during the festival, according to Claudia Grant, owner, who is excited to attend the event.
“We are very small, so the festival is a nice little boost to make people aware of our business,” Grant said.
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In a press release, LVFD wrote “This is a big job the volunteers do for our community, and we couldn’t be prouder when they make the choice to make it a career. Congratulations F/F Stanton on your well-deserved award.”
Since 1981, The Laurel Board of Trade’s Main Street Festival has been a beloved May tradition
Most of the planning efforts, including details like porta-potty locations, food permits and security detail, are done by volunteers. The board is dedicated to keeping the festival safe and making sure it’s a success for both the businesses involved and the people attending.
“We probably spend as much time organizing the Main Street Festival as the federal government does celebrating the Fourth of July on the mall,” Johnson said. “Mark your calendars, come and have fun, and see the new and improved Main Street Festival.”
The Laurel Board of Trade Main Street Festival takes place May 20, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Main Street. For more information, go to laurelboardoftrade.org.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 statistics, the population of Laurel is 29,490 people. Laurel is the 10th largest city in the state of Maryland, with a population density of approximately 5,000 people per square mile. The median age for people living here is 36.
The racial composition of Laurel, according to the most recent American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau, is as follows: Black or African American: 50.73%, White: 23.53%, other: 10.28%, Asian: 8.28%, two or more races: 6.59%, Native American: 0.58%, .
Considering the above statistics and the diversity of our population, our city's individual and corporate needs are great indeed. One person who realizes the many needs of Laurel residents is Mayor Craig Moe.
I had the opportunity to catch up with Moe recently in front of the Laurel Municipal Center. I asked him, “What do you believe are the top three needs in Laurel?”
Without hesitation, he said, “From my standpoint, here are the three greatest needs of our city. I would say volunteers are needed across the spectrum of organizations, government, nonprofit and otherwise. As a matter of fact, the city of Laurel will have our volunteer fair on April 19. The growing fentanyl and other hybrid opioids crisis is severely impacting our community. The Laurel police, first responders, hospital personnel and families of the overdose victims are experiencing this crisis first-hand. Our community and families need to be better educated in this area. Finally, the ever-present need for revenue, or money, for our city.“
So, there you have it: Volunteers, fentanyl and revenue are Moe’s top three.
For this column, I will highlight volunteerism.
“No city can run efficiently without volunteers,” Moe said. “Communities with little volunteer engagement suffer a great civic loss. An engaged community grows and thrives together.”
Logically, if the city’s workforce is supported by volunteers, their capacity to serve Laurel residents is greater.
My next stop was the city of Laurel Volunteer Fair at the Laurel City Municipal Center on April 19.
The event drew a capac-
ity crowd with standing room only for the presentations. The group consisted of a mix of city staff and residents seeking information on volunteering. Moe provided opening remarks and turned the microphone over to Carreen Koubek, special assistant to the city administrator, who introduced presenters. Each presenter
talked about their organization’s current and future needs and emphasized the importance of volunteering.
Specific values they discussed included the benefits of investing in one’s community, how developing new skills boosts self esteem and the ways in which volunteering creates and reinforces individuals’ connections
within the community. Presenters also underscored that students can earn community service hours through volunteer work.
And, of course, volunteers have some fun!
Following the presentations, attendees filled the adjoining hallway to peruse information tables and talk with representatives
from participating organizations. I asked Koubek if she could highlight some of the city’s current and long-term needs for volunteers..
“Laurel is bringing back the popular farmers market on May 11. We need assistance there. Juneteenth and the Fourth of July events are almost upon us as well. May 20 is our annual Main Street Festival, so there could be last minute needs to support the festival,” Koubek said. “Looking toward the fall, we definitely need help with the Pride event on October 14 along with election judges for early voting and Election Day in November.”
If you’re interested in finding out more about these and other volunteer opportunities in Laurel, go to cityoflaurel.org and click on Volunteer Laurel, then scroll down to the volunteer form. You can also reach out directly to Koubek at 301.725.5300 ext. 2109.
Let’s build our volunteer workforce together to make Laurel a stronger, robust community.
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papers and put up his campaign website the first week of May.
Council President Brencis Smith (Ward 2) and former councilmember Frederick Smalls both said they were considering entering the race. The filing deadline is July 21.
This year’s mayoral election will be the first in 21 years without an incumbent as candidate.
Long-time Mayor Craig Moe announced his decision not to seek a sixth term earlier this spring.
Mitchell, 32, is a public affairs consultant. He said clients have included organizations pushing for a state referendum to legalize recreational marijuana (successful in 2022) and advocating for legalizing assisted suicide (so far unsuccessful).
He is a lifelong Laurel resident who attended Laurel High School and graduated from Bowie State University. He was a nationally competitive wrestler in both high school and college, and has coached and mentored wrestlers at Laurel High and the Laurel Boys and Girls Club. Martin also served as president of the Prince George’s County Young Democrats, and as chairman of the NAACP’s Maryland State Conference PAC.
Mitchell noted in his launch speech, “Laurel is 153 years old, and has never had a black mayor. … I’m going to change that.”
He cited his efforts to pass a rent-cap law in the city and his support for collective-bargaining rights for the city’s publicworks employees as examples of his advocacy for working families. ”Mitchell also said he wants to expand community policing to achieve a more collaborative partnership between police and residents. He also mentioned his vision of bringing a boutique hotel to the city.
Sydnor, 54, retired from 12 years of active duty in the U.S. Navy and 22 years as a corrections officer for the state of Virginia, the District of Columbia
and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. He grew up in Petersburg, Va., and graduated from Virginia State University. His military service, including 12 years in the Navy Reserves, took him to six continents and included tours in Kuwait and Afghanistan.
He moved to Laurel in 2003, and currently works as a substitute teacher at Laurel High and other local schools. He was president of the city council from 2019 to 2020. He is a member of 100 Black Men of Prince George’s County and mentors young people through the organization.
Sydnor said his law-enforcement experience spurs him to support crime-prevention efforts aimed at youth, such as a pre-apprenticeship training program focused on construction trades for which he secured funds. He organized the city government’s first job fair, first criminal-record expungement workshop and first Kid Fit Day to promote physical fitness. He also championed designating Juneteenth as a city holiday and renaming Columbus Day Indigenous People’s Day.
Brencis Smith and Frederick Smalls, both potential candidates, said they wanted to hear more from their constituents before deciding whether to enter the race.
“If the constituents want me to do that [become a candidate], I will do it,” Smith said. He is a financial analyst for an engineering company in the District and is serving his second term as councilmember and second term as council president.
Smalls said, “I’m getting calls regularly from supporters … encouraging me to run.” But he added that he was leaning away from running because of a lack of motivation he previously felt about the race. Smalls was a city councilmember for 17 years, from 2002 to 2019. He currently serves as Maryland’s assistant secretary of state for administration and finance and was formerly board president with Laurel Regional Hospital.
WRITERS WANTED! Laurel’s community 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.
to their department.
This was the second city council meeting in which the employees of the Laurel Department of Public Works gathered in an attempt to convince the council to grant them unionization and collective bargaining rights, according to Raymun Lee of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local Union 1994.
The department employees returned once again in full force, wearing their uniforms, to attempt to convince the city council of their case on April 24, this time supported by an increased number of UFCW workers whom they wish to unionize with, according to city councilmember Martin Mitchell (At-Large)
“You have the power to do more than just say you support public works. Today we ask you to go above and beyond for us just as we do for your constituents every day and show your support with your actions,” said Kate Wright, administrative assistant with the Laurel Department of Public Works and 14-year resident
during the March 27 council meeting.
According to Mitchell, a city worker and union representative first approached him in December to voice the desire of the public works department to unionize.
The Laurel Police Department has had the ability to collectively bargain since September 2012, when a resolution was approved by Mayor Craig A. Moe, according to Charter Resolution Number 158.
“What is so complex about this, when you already have collective bargaining law in place for one specific group? All you have to do is amend that legislation and expand it to the rest of the workforce,” said Lee, special assistant to the president in field services and organization at UFCW.
In an interview, Mitchell said that the city workers’ fight was originally put on hold in December until this past January for an investigation by the administration.
“One of the things that I said is ‘what do they need to investigate?’ Because at the end of the day, we all agree that this is something that should happen,” Mitchell said.
According to Mitchell, the discussion concerning passing legislation for the Laurel Department of Public Works to unionize was then further postponed until June.
“We have four [councilmembers] who spoke publicly saying they support unionization,” city of Laurel Council President Brencis D. Smith (Ward 2) said.
On March 1, the mayor wrote a letter to the councilmembers requesting more time to discuss the matter with a labor attorney and his senior administration staff. The majority of the council agreed to give Moe and the administration until June, according to an email from Smith.
“We needed to decide which way we wanted to move. Do we want to take the piece of the code that we did for the police department and add public works? Did we want to try to write a separate piece of the code? Did we want to try to combine them? Those things we just weren't sure about until we were able to talk to a labor attorney,” Moe said.
According to Mitchell, the council has since hired labor attorney Leonard Lucchi, of
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O'Malley Miles Nylen & Gilmore.
“Let me make this clear, there was no postponement. No nothing. We asked for time because you have to get an attorney on board. You have to do your research,” Moe said.
The first reading of a charter resolution for the Department of Public Works to unionize was held on April 24, with a second reading and vote scheduled for May 8, according to Mitchell and Smith.
“I am confident it will pass on May 8, 2023,” wrote Smith in an email. “After it passes, the next thing to be done is for the city to rewrite the labor code. The process is and was always moving forward.”
This legislative process precedes a summer recess in August as well as mayoral and city council elections in November.
“Like this council, you [public works] are top priority to protect our citizens and make it a safer city where our citizens can live and work. And along with you and the police department, you are essential in a lot of things,” said Councilmember Carl DeWalt (Ward 1).
employee Lloyd Holloway, the Laurel Department of Public Works is responsible for bluecollar work ranging from laying asphalt and tree service to painting road lines. Holloway also said that the laborers at the department collect the city's trash and recycling daily.
Holloway shared his frustration when discussing new rules being created in the department, including one that forced sanitation employees to work longer hours after being exposed to harsh weather on their garbage routes.
In 2017, Marcus Colbert of the Laurel Department of Public Works was crushed by an SUV and died as he loaded trash into the rear of his truck..
“We put our life on the line every day. Laurel police, they have a union. They got approved for theirs. But they didn't have a hard time with theirs,” Holloway said.
In an interview, Holloway spoke about job safety, pay and benefits creating issues in his role as Laborer II for the department and serving as motivation for his drive to unionize.
“Let’s give them their union, right?” Mitchell said. “This is going to be the very last line.”
The City/University Partnership is working with all of us to share the joy on the annual Trolley Trail Day of music, food, drink, fun runs, yoga, and more!
Over the years, we’ve gotten state funds to improve
information on job, scholarship, and other opportunities!
Hope you can join us.
In this and my next few columns, I’ll be taking a look at the high rate of pedestrian fatalities in Prince George’s County. This installment focuses on a crash study of a local road.
At the intersection of Hamilton Street and Ager Road, across from the West Hyattsville Metro station, is a small memorial of flowers and a cross honoring Helen Jorgensen, who was killed by a car on August 13, 2021. She was 61, and her death added to a terrible trend. According to Pamela Sebesky, chair of the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board, 360 lives were lost on roads in the greater metropolitan area that year; the total includes deaths of pedestrians, drivers and passengers, and bicyclists. “This represents a 12% increase in fatalities from the prior year and the second year in a row that fatalities have risen. Serious injuries also rose,” Sebesky wrote. In the last five years, the num-
ber of pedestrian fatalities has increased much faster than the overall number of traffic accidents. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, pedestrian deaths have increased 59% from 2009 and account for 17% of all traffic deaths. (Fatalities involving bicyclists are at 2%.) Prince George’s County has had an unusually high number of pedestrian deaths. According to figures from regional police departments compiled by the DCist, an online newsletter of WAMU, the pedestrian death rate in Prince George’s County was 11.8 per 100,000 residents in 2022, 240% higher than the District’s rate (4.9 per 100,000) and 274% higher than that of Montgomery County (4.3 per 100,000).
Prince George’s County is implementing the Vision Zero program, which aims to reduce traffic injuries and deaths. Vision Zero grew out of an initiative that has reduced traffic fatalities in Sweden, the Netherlands and New Zealand by more than 50% since the mid1990s. Other nearby jurisdictions
have adopted the Vision Zero program as well.
Rather than focus on the mistakes of individual drivers or pedestrians, this data-driven approach prioritizes structural issues such as roadway design and targets areas that are inherently more dangerous. Some of the most dangerous local areas are University Avenue from Edwards Place, in Langley Park, to West Park Drive in Chillum, and Kenilworth Avenue from Carters Lane to River Road, in Riverdale Park. The area in Chillum where East-West Highway, Riggs Road and Ager Road come together is particularly dangerous. Jorgensen, however, was hit in a crosswalk in a stretch of Ager Road specifically designed to be safe.
The Jorgensen accident was the subject of a recent crash analysis discussion organized by civic leaders and local activists. Hyattsville City Councilmember Danny Schaible (Ward 2) nominated the crash for investigation. “It took place on a 1.28 mile section of the recently completed State High-
way Administration’s Ager Road Green Complete Streets Project, near the West Hyattsville Metro station, which won a 2023 design award from the American Society of Civil Engineers,” he wrote in a recent email. The project was intended to improve stormwater runoff and make Ager Road safer for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. Upgrades to the road included two 11-foot travel lanes, a 6-foot bike lane, continuous 6-foot sidewalks, 11-foot turn lanes, and ADA-compliant sidewalks, driveway entrances and bus stops. (The State Highway Administration currently has sidewalk safety projects along Route 1 in College Park under construction, as well.)
The Jorgensen accident didn’t occur at the site of her memorial, but in a crosswalk in the 5600 block of Ager Road where the posted speed limit is 30 mph. According to police reports, the crash had several complicating factors. The victim was intoxicated and may have been crossing on a red light, and the driver originally left the scene before returning and might have been distracted
by an electronic device he was using. Speed may have been a factor — even a significant factor. After tracking 600 vehicles with a radar gun, volunteers from the Washington Area Bicyclist Association determined that speeds along this block of Ager Road ranged from 19 to 55 miles per hour, with close to seven in 10 drivers exceeding the speed limit. More than 7% of drivers were going more than 10 mph over the limit.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has determined that speed is a critical factor in traffic accidents. Speed doesn’t only increase a vehicle’s momentum at impact, it lengthens stopping distances, and reduces a driver’s ability to handle curves. According to the IIHS, a pedestrian hit by a car going 17 mph has a 10% chance of being killed or seriously injured. That risk rises to 90% when the car’s going 45 mph.
Trends in pedestrian fatality suggest the same.
The City of Laurel has many events that happen throughout the year and one great source for staying in the know is through the Department of Communications. Read further to find out how you can learn about all the happenings in and around the City, or how you can get the information to the Department for dissemination to the public.
For Communications Director Audrey Barnes, a standing room only crowd at the City’s recent Volunteer Fair was a perfect opportunity to explain how to get connected to the City’s many different communications platforms so you never miss out on the news and special events happening in Laurel.
Another key way to stay on top of all things Laurel is through our many social media accounts. Number one on the list is the City of Laurel-government Facebook page.
“The Department of Communications keeps the City’s Facebook page stuffed to the brim with information about our neighborhoods, businesses, and even State-wide things that affect us all,“ Barnes says.
Many other City Departments have Facebook pages too that you should LIKE and follow, including the Laurel Police Department, City of Laurel Department of Economic and Community Development, Laurel City OEM, and the City of Laurel Department of Parks and Recreation. We’ve also recently added Facebook pages for the City of Laurel Juneteenth and Pride Planning Committees. Most of the posts that go on the Facebook pages will also appear on the associated Instagram page too. There are some key sites you will definitely want to follow on Twitter, including @cityofLaurel, @laurelcityoem, @laurelpio, @laurelparksrec, @laurelpd, and @LaurelECD.
The City’s public access television station, known as Laurel TV, is also a great way to be entertained and informed. Airing on Comcast Channel 996 and 71 and Verizon Channel 12, Laurel TV broadcasts all the government meetings and more than 70 individual stories about community news and events. If you miss a broadcast, you can view it on the LaurelTVOfficial YouTube channel.
“If you would like to get City of Laurel press releases, including emergency notifications and volunteer opportunities, you should sign up to be added to our email distribution list,” Ms. Barnes told the group. “Everything we send out will go straight to the inbox on your PC or your smartphone.” The best way to get on the list is to send an email to laurelpio@laurel.md.us. You’ll receive a welcome email back to let you know you ’ve been added.
Laurel City Administrator Christian L. Pulley, CPM, has been selected to participate in the Senior Executives in State and Local Government training this June. The program, held through Harvard Kennedy School of Government, focuses on developing productive solutions and continuing to build that bridge between residents and their City government.
Leaders from across the world will enhance their knowledge on topics such as strategic management, negotiation, policy modeling and implantation through a combination of traditional and hands-on learning experiences.
City Administrator Pulley said, “This is an opportunity of a lifetime and I very excited! I want to thank the Mayor and City Council for being an advocate for professional development and allowing me to attend this training. By the end of this Program, I look forward to having additional skills in my toolbox to continue to be an effective leader, as well as build strong, resilient relationships with the Laurel community and beyond.
“If you are not into social media and not a big tv watcher, we have a communications tool that would be perfect for you,” Ms. Barnes said. “Our community events and media phone line number is 240-294-1307. We update it frequently with the latest news and event information. You can also leave your upcoming events on the line for us to review and post when appropriate too.”
the William S. Schmidt Outdoor Education Center hosted the event at the Schmidt Center on April 26th. The Envirothon is a competition geared towards students learning about the natural world. Envirothon teams are made up of 5 students who work together to study the five areas. These are: Aquatics, Soils, Wildlife, Forestry, and a Fifth Issue that changes each year. This year the Fifth Issue is Climate Change. These tests involve a combination of hands-on activities and knowledge-based activities. Each member of the Laurel High winning team won a $1500 scholarship.
The Green Team has brought the composting program back to life at Laurel High School. Seniors Javier Fuentes, Kayla Collins, and Alison Ayala were the leaders of this effort and pulled together the student body, the school administration and have made this program a success once again. The Green Team created posters, a video (which you can see on Green Living), and captained school lunches to educate students about what is compostable. The program originally started in 2020 was derailed by Covid, but that didn’t stop the determination of the Green Team to revitalize the program. Starting slowly and building momentum, LHS has diverted 12,932 pounds of organic waste from our landfill so far this year!
Diverting food waste from our landfills is the easiest way for all of us to do our part in reducing harmful methane gas. Food waste and other acceptable organic materials, such as pizza boxes, napkins contaminated with food waste, dryer lint, etc.) that are brought to an organics recycling facility are made into organic compost. Using organic compost helps to retain water, reduce erosion, sequesters carbon, and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers.
Let’s follow the example of the Green Team at LHS and join in the City’s curbside composting program.
Thanks to Blink and Paniagua’s Enterprises Incorporated for making this happen! Blink is a well-known and respected leader in building EV infrastructure in this area.
The City of Laurel has partnered with Blink to provide additional EV charging stations to residents and we currently have three locations with two (2) charging stations: 312 Main Street, 8103 Sandy Spring Road (Laurel Municipal Center) and the Robert J. DiPietro Community Center, 7901 Cypress Street. Look for two (2) more charging stations to be added at Sandy Spring Road and Cypress Street by the beginning of summer.
We are happy to announce that by the time you are reading this article, the Laurel Farmer ’s Market will be opening. The season begins on May 11th from 3:00 to 7:00pm, every other Thursday, and will run until September 28th. Come join us and help support our local farmers and businesses! The Farmer ’s Market is located at 378 Main Street, formally known as the Quill Lot. Learn about all of these great Green Living initiatives and more at www.CityofLaurel.org/green!
La Ciudad de Laurel tiene muchos eventos que ocurren a lo largo del año y una gran fuente para mantenerse informado es a través del Departamento de Comunicaciones. Si desea recibir comunicados de prensa de la Ciudad de Laurel, incluyendo notificaciones de emergencia y oportunidades de voluntariado, debe registrarse para ser agregado a nuestra lista de distribución de correo electrónico. La mejor manera de ingresar a la lista es enviar un correo electrónico a laurelpio@laurel.md.us. Otras formas clave de mantenerse al tanto de todo lo relacionado con Laurel son a través de nuestras numerosas cuentas de redes sociales, Laurel TV, o llamando a nuestra línea telefónica de eventos y medios de la comunidad al 240-294-1307.
LAUREL POLICE
MONTHLY CRIME REPORT
MARCH 2023
Listed below are recent actions taken by the Laurel City Council during past Mayor and City Council meetings. For further information on any of these 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.
Approved Ordinances/Resolutions:
• Ordinance No. 2009 - An Ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland Granting a Non-Exclusive Cable Television Franchise to Comcast of Maryland, LLC., to Construct, Operate and Maintain a Cable System within the City of Laurel, Maryland, Pursuant to the Provisions of Chapter 5 of the Laurel City Code, and to Approve a Cable Franchise Agreement.
Bid Approvals:
• Fleet Acquisition - Purchase of a Ford 2020 Transit Van for Department of Parks and Recreation Senior Van Service - Department of Public Works - $49,935
• Video Detection Systems - Three (3) intersections – Department of Public Works$95,041.25
• Radio Grant - Purchase of Twenty-seven (27) Motorola Next Generation N70 Public Safety Radios - Department of Information Technology - $199,919.08 (funds obtained with help from Senator Chris Van Hollen. Funded through Justin Byrne Justice Assistance Grant)
Mayoral Appointments:
• Nicole Gore, Pride Day Celebration Committee - Appointed 4/10/2023
• Former Mayor Robert J. DiPietro, Board of Trustees - Retirement Plans - Appointed 4/24/2023
• Jacki Ricks, Board of Election SupervisorsAppointed 4/24/2023
• Christina Cornwell, Director, Department of Community Resources and Emergency Management (CREM) Appointed 4/24/2023,
(Da tes and Times Subject to Change)
May 2023 Mayor and City Council Meetings
May 22nd - In-Person Mayor and City Council Meeting (6:00pm)
May 2023 Boards and Commissions
May 16th - In-Person Historic District Commission (6:00pm)
May 17th - Emergency Services Commission (7:00pm)
May 23rd - Virtual Environmental Affairs Committee (6:00pm)
May 25th - Board of Appeals ***CANCELLED***
June 2023 Mayor and City Council Meetings
June 7th - Virtual Mayor and City Council Work Session (6:00pm)
June 12th - Virtual Mayor and City Council Meeting (6:00pm)
June 26th - Mayor and City Council Meeting ***CANCELLED***
June 2023 Boards and Commissions
June 13th - Planning Commission (6:00pm)
June 20th - Historic District Commission (6:00pm)
June 27th - In-Person Environmental Affairs Committee (6:00pm)
June 29th - Board of Appeals (6:00pm)
(Da tes and Times Subject to Change)
Main Street Festival - May 20, 2023 - 9:00am - 4:00pm, Laurel’s Main Street, Parade, Music, Vendors, Fun!
National Kids to Park Day - May 20, 2023, from 3:00 - 7:00pm, Granville Gude Lakehouse, 8300 Mulberry Street.
City Hall in the Park - May 24, 2023 at 6:30pm at Discovery Community Park, Corner of Green Hill Avenue and Harrison Drive.
Laurel Pools Open May 27, 2023, at 12Noon!
May 29, 2023 - City/Passport Offices Closed In Observance of Memorial Day. Visit www.cityoflaurel.org for adjusted collections.
Bike Decorating Parade/Ice Cream Social - June 2, 2023, at 6:00pm, Laurel Armory, 422 Montgomery Street.
June 19, 2023 - City/Passport Offices Closed In Observance of Juneteenth. Visit www.cityoflaurel.org for adjusted collections.
Council Member Keith Sydnor was recognized at a ceremony on April 15, 2023, as Zeta Phi Beta year anniversary. Zeta Phi Beta President Darkesha Moton presented the President ’s THRIVE Award to Council Member Sydnor for his dedication to country and community.
Mr. Sydnor serves on several City Boards and Commissions. His dedication to education is evidenced by his return to the classroom as a substitute teacher for Prince George ’s County, and he is a consistent, unwavering volunteer with many area organizations.
Mayor Craig A. Moe officially Proclaimed April 10, 2023, as Expand and Service Day in the City of Laurel and thanked the sisters of Zeta Phi Beta for their service to the community. City Administrator Christian Pulley, Deputy City Administrator Joanne Barr and State ’s Attorney for Prince George’s County, Aisha Braveboy were in attendance to honor the Zetas and Council Member Sydnor. Page 3
Laurel has two (2) dams to the north: T. Howard Duckett, in conjunction with the Rocky Gorge Reservoir, and Brighton, in conjunction with the Triadelphia Reservoir, along with Van Dusen Dam and multiple water branches in the City. Because of this close proximity to our City, Laurel City OEM knows how important it is to be ready and stay in the know about dam safety.
National Dam Safety Awareness Day is May 31st and seeks to encourage and promote individual and community responsibility and best practices for dam safety, as well as what steps can be taken to prevent catastrophic dam failures. This year's theme is "Dam Safety is a shared responsibility. Know your risk, know your role, know the benefits of dams and take action."
Dam Safety Awareness Day was created in memoriam of the 2,220 people who lost their lives in the 1889 South Fork Dam failure near Johnston, Pennsylvania. The collapse of the South Fork Dam was a tragedy and is not an isolated incident. Proper maintenance, routine inspection, necessary upgrades, and implementation of an Emergency Action Plan can ensure optimal conditions, protecting public health, safety, and welfare.
For more information about Dam Safety, visit https://damsafety.org/NDSAD
A pair of power outages the first weekend in April at the Food Lion on Sandy Spring Road resulted in an overflowing dumpster and may have contributed to a spike in rats in the area. WUSA9 News reported on the incident in an April 17 newscast that captured the frustration of neighbors living near the store.
Audrey Barnes, director of communications for the city of Laurel, said that officials learned about the matter in an April 5 email from a resident. Inspectors from the city’s Department of the Fire Marshal and Permit Services went to the store to investigate.
The inspectors saw no rats on the premises during the inspection, and they found the Food Lion management to be actively taking steps to clean up areas where the dumpsters are located. Marcus Butler, manager of the store, has taken additional steps to clean pavement and install new locks on the dumpster perimeter fence. He has also taken measures to lock the dumpsters themselves to discourage people from dumpster diving or illegal dumping.
On May 2, Lisa Crawford, Food Lion Corporate communications specialist, listed additional measures the store
had taken in an email, including: obtaining a new waste grease container with a steel lid; upgrading and servicing the exterminator bait station; and changing the trash service schedule to twice-a-week pickup instead of the previous once a week.
According to Barnes, Food Lion provided proof of the store’s rodent control measures to city inspectors. “Food Lion was very responsive. We are happy with their response, and now the residents have to do their part, and we’re here to help,” she said.
As part of the city’s response to complaints about the rats, inspectors went door-to-door at homes closest to the store, handing out copies of the city’s rodent control guide and encouraging neighbors to work together to eradicate the pests. The guide, which can be found on the city’s website, offers detailed instructions on how to approach infestations and discusses steps residents can take to prevent or eliminate rats on their property. The guide, which is being translated into Spanish, is available at cityoflaurel. org.
Rat infestations are not unusual in the city and are best addressed if residents work cooperatively to mitigate them. Down the road from Food Lion, resident Catherine Simmons lost last
year’s garden to rats, she said. Outdoor cats used to keep the rodents from her Sandy Spring Road neighborhood, she said, but several died, and the rats returned. She was not aware of the recent rat sightings near the Food Lion, but had seen bait boxes and an occasionally overflowing dumpster there. A parent of young children, Simmons is concerned about the possible health issues rats might signal. She does not allow her children to go barefoot outside and has them wash their hands when they come in from playing in the yard. As for her garden, this year she intends to stick with herbs and greens that are less appealing to the rats. No home-grown corn, cucumbers, tomatoes or melons.
Simmons and her husband have hired an exterminator to address their rat problem, but she recognizes the need for a community response as well. She noted that some of her neighbors have reported seeing rats but is unsure if they’ll collectively take action. She plans to take some of the steps mentioned in the city’s guide, such as trimming up bushes and clearing the ground under them. She also said she hopes that the city will take actions to help homeowners and that officials would consider options for exterminating the rodents.
As part of the city’s response to complaints about the rats, inspectors went doorto-door at homes closest to the store, handing out copies of the city’s rodent control guide and encouraging neighbors to work together to eradicate the pests.
Send your event information to Katie V. Jones at katie@ streetcarsuburbs.news
EVENTS
Yard Sale and Book Fair. Bond Mill Elementary School PTO is hosting a yard sale to raise money for the school’s new playground. Reserve a parking spot to sell your household items. Tables available to rent. May 13, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bond Mill Elementary School, 16001 Sherwood Avenue. BondMillPTO@gmail.com.
Yard and Garage Sale. Victoria Falls Community
residents. June 3, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 13701 Belle Chasse Blvd. There is no rain date. Call 410.813.0090 if unsure about weather.
ENTERTAINMENT
“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” A musical comedy about six youths who vie for the spelling championship. Laurel Mill Playhouse, 508 Main St. May 12, 13, 14, 19, 20 and 21. For times and additional information, go to laurelmillplayhouse.org
Puppies:
Jen Boyd-Morin
CPDT-KA, PMCT, FFCP www playandtraindogs com info@playandtraindogs com
240 583 1887
All Ages:
LAUREL HISTORY
MUSEUM. 817 Main Street 301.725.7975
Main Exhibit. It’s All Laurel: City Limits and Beyond. Through August 2024.
All Together Again. Annual gala takes place June 4, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Great Room at Savage Mill, 8699 Foundry St., Savage.The black-tie optional event will feature food, drinks, special performances and an auction. Ticket prices vary.
MONTPELIER HOUSE MUSEUM, 9650 Muirkirk Road 301.377.7817
Free Tours. In celebration of National Preservation Month, free tours of the house on Sundays in May. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Fighting Destiny Walking Tour. Learn about slavery and resistance at Montpelier on a guided tour of the grounds. May 13 and 27, 2 p.m.
Sankofa Mobile Museum. Two virtual-reality themes exploring aspects of Prince George’s County’s history:Piscataway and
Chesapeake Native People and the Fight for a Clean Environment, or The Spark to Protect the Planet: A Latina’s Fight for Environmental Justice. May 14, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Hidden Spaces Tour. Tour Montpelier behind the scenes for a look at how the mansion has been preserved and restored. $20. May 14, 3:30 p.m.
MONTPELIER ARTS CENTER, 9652 Muirkirk Road 301.377.7800
Current Exhibits
Maggie Gourlay. Wallpapers for the Warming World. Exhibit runs through May 13. Wallpaper patterns that look at patterns in the environment.
Julie Polt. Momento Mori. The exhibit explores the concept of remembering our mortality and the fragility of life. Through May 14.
Events
Sandra Bears. Also known as Sandra Love, Bears performs R&B, soul and blues. $12, May 18, noon.
Renee Collings Georges. The singer/songwriter performs her Songs of the Season concert. $25. May 19, 8 p.m.
Tanya Langolois. The mezzosoprano performs. Free. May 21, 3 p.m.
LIBRARY,
Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: Causes and Impacts. This presentation will discuss factors contributing to Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine. It will also discuss existing and future impacts on both American and global security. May 10, 6 p.m.
Playday at the Library: Teddy Bear Parade. Bring your teddy bear or other stuffed friend with you to play and socialize at the amphitheater. Event will take place in Meeting Room B in the event of inclement weather. May 19, 10:30 a.m. SEE CALENDAR ON 10
Training inspired by kindness, informed by science, & designed to be fun!
Local candle business ABT Collective decided to kick start a new venture with a candle pouring class geared toward fellow Laurel residents.
"I try to do anything that's people first," owner Shaijra Brown, 39, explained, “and I wanted to give the community something fun to do.”
The first class was held on March 9 in the Laurel Armory building. Brown kicked off the class with some music and introductions. All of the materials for the 10-person class were laid out along with snacks and refreshments.
Throughout the session, Brown provided explicit instructions and explained safety procedures while discussing the candle-making process. She talked about the type of wax used to make the candles, and she made sure to keep everyone up to speed.
Most of the guests found out about the event on Facebook, but Brown also went the extra mile by going door to door and leaving posters to make sure residents knew about the class.
Jeanie Anastasi decided to sign up to have something fun to do.
She and Julia Ruli, who signed up because of her love for candles, said they had a great time.
“After having a tough week of life, this experience made things so much better,” Laurel resident Sherri Dotson said after attending the class.
Brown started making candles as a hobby after suffering a miscarriage in 2020. The process was therapeutic for her, she said, and in 2021, she turned it into a successful business.
"I used candle making as my therapy because my world had stopped," she said.
The first candle she made, which she named Baby Angel, was scented with baby powder.
FROM PAGE 1
served as this year’s juror. McColloch is an art professor at Anne Arundel Community College.
Mary Ellen Simon, president of LAG, spoke to the juror’s role. “Deadline for entries was in March. That allows plenty of time for the juror to look over all of the entries to choose which ones merit inclusion in the show,” she said.
dens and at Patuxent Research Refuge.
“It is really a nice group of artists,” said Simon, of the guild’s 46 members. “They are very supportive.”
From the start, LAG has been holding its monthly meetings and hosting its juried show at Montpelier Arts Center.
Brown has since expanded her brand and sells a variety of scents including fruity loops, wine cork, Irish cream coffee and strawberry pound cake. All of her products are made of soy wax, which she explained is better for one’s lungs and the environment.
Brown created new scents that were exclusive for the class including cherry blossom, bamboo & coconut and sandalwood vanilla & lemon. Her products, including her premade candle tins, were available for sale at the class for a discount.
Brown is offering additional classes on May 11, June 15, July 13 and Aug. 10. For more information, go to abtcollective.com.
Simon added that one of her pastels, “Snow Shadows,” was accepted for this year’s show. Ficaretta also had one of her works selected, an oil painting titled “Alterations.” She noted that the piece took her six months to complete and that she benefited from a critique session the guild held at one of its meetings.
“I got stuck on it,” Ficaretta said. “That’s what’s great about this group. Every meeting we have something of value for everyone.”
LAG holds 10 monthly educational art programs a year, Simon said. Topics range from demonstrations and learning different painting techniques to to critiques offered by guild members or guest speakers. The guild also displays members’ artwork at local venues, including at Wheaton’s Brookside Gar-
“We have a long history and a great partnership,” said Beth Crisman, the gallery director at Montpelier. “The juried exhibit tends to exhibit not just members, but nonmembers from out of state. It brings a lot of people together.”
It is the group’s camaraderie that Davies likes. A professional illustrator and graphic designer by trade, Davies enjoys meeting with the other artists and attending LAG’s meetings as she branches out into new mediums and styles for her art.
“For so many years, I was doing my own thing,” Davies said. “They have great programs and wonderful guest speakers. There are lots of opportunities to paint with other people. It’s been very nice.”
The Laurel Art Guild 54th Annual Open Juried Exhibition runs through June 4 at the Montpelier Arts Center, 9652 Muirkirk Road. For more information, call 301.377.7800.
Community Led Book
Discussion: Join us for a lively discussion about "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng. May 23, 7 p.m.
Container Gardening: Plant Your Own. Tour the Laurel community garden. Participants are encouraged to bring their own small planting container to learn how containers can be upcycled for gardening. May 27, 10:30 a.m.
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
Trail Closings. Portions of the refuge will be closed for turkey hunting until noon on the following dates: May 13,15, 20 and 22.
Night Hike. Take an evening stroll on Merganser Pond Trail and look for bats and beavers while you listen to frogs and crickets. May 12, 8:30 p.m.
Riding Bicycles. A 12-mile guided ride. Bring your own bike, helmet, water bottle and snack. May 20, 10 a.m.
Photo-Adventure Scavenger Hunt. Use clues to hunt for sculptured stones, mystery objects, plants and animals and record them with a camera or phone. May 27, 9:30 a.m.
South Tract, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop
Family Fun: Reduce, Rescue, Recycle! Enjoy hands-on activities, crafts and games while learning how to reduce, reuse and recycle in order to generate less trash. May 12 and 13, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Easy Pollinator-Habitat Gardens. Learn how to help wildlife by planting native plants. May 13, 2 p.m.
Bugs and Slugs. Take a rangerled nature walk to learn how bugs are nature’s recyclers. For ages 4 to 7 years old. May 13, 2 p.m.
Pollinators in a Pot. Learn how to create a wildlife home in the space of a patio or deck and take home a native plant. May 20, 2 p.m.
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. Admission is free; fee for cards. Doors open at 11 a.m. and 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. Program includes followed by a business meeting and then either musical entertainment or a speaker. 301.206.3380
Jim Whitney Toastmasters Club. A part of Toastmasters International, a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs, meets on May 22 at 7 p.m. at St. Philips Episcopal Church, Wyatt Hall meeting room, 522 Main St. toastmastersclubs.org.
The Laurel Board of Trade Monthly Networking. Virtual opportunity to meet and network with local business people; BOT membership is not required. May 18, 12:15 p.m. For more information and meeting link go to laurelboardoftrade.org, email laurelboardoftrade383@gmail. com or call 301.483.0838
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 May 21, 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
Many first-time native gardeners start their journey at a local hardware store or garden center. In July, one might find a display of purple coneflower and Mercury Rising coreopsis, both labeled as native and promising visitation by bees and butterflies. The purple coneflower has broad leaves beneath wide, purple flowers and the coreopsis has a cloud of thin leaves topped with blood-red flowers. It seems like a cartload of these plants is a ready-made native garden, complete with varying texture and flower color. There is something wrong with this picture, however. For those of us in Laurel, these are not precisely native plants. In this article, we’ll define some terms, talk through a little ecology and provide some excellent resources for verifying and choosing native plants for your garden.
According to the National Wildlife Federation, “a plant is considered native if it has occurred naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, or habitat without human introduction.” To assess a given plant, then, we need to know where we are. State boundaries are helpful to a degree, but plants will often cross these lines. Many gardeners will be familiar with the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone designations (Laurel is in 7a), which slice the country up horizontally into temperature ranges. These zones are useful for guessing which crops and non-native ornamental plants will survive but tell us nothing about whether a plant is native to a particular zone.
Fortunately, we can organize the map with ecoregions. These are regions where the ecosystem and environment are fairly consistent. Here in Laurel, we straddle two ecoregions: the Maryland piedmont to the west of I-95, and the Maryland coastal plain to the east. When you’re searching for native plants, these terms serve as keys to unlock whether a plant is native or non-native.
Let’s look again at our two garden center plants and see if they’re native to Laurel. If we search for purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) on the Maryland Plant Atlas (marylandplantatlas.org), we
see that while it occurs naturally in Illinois prairies, it’s nonnative in Maryland. Researching Mercury Rising coreopsis is a little more challenging. After some googling, I found that Mercury Rising is a cultivar of pink coreopsis (Coreopsis rosea). Pink coreopsis is considered native (if rare) in the coastal plain ecoregion. Does that mean the cultivar is native and beneficial, too?
A cultivar is any variety of plant with desirable traits that humans have encouraged through selective breeding. In the world of native plants, these can most easily be identified by quotes around an appealing name, such as Mercury Rising. In the case of pink coreopsis, the flowers are typically pale pink in the straight species, and growers have selected for a dark red mutant flower.
If you’re a part of the native
gardening community, native cultivars, or nativars, are a hot topic. There are concerns that changes to wild plant attributes can disrupt the relationships a plant has with native insects. If the color of foliage changes, does that mean an insect that eats the leaves will find it toxic? If a flower’s color changes, will its specialist bee be able to find it, and is the pollen still nutritious? Not all of these questions have been studied thoroughly, but when entomologists run experiments, they find that some cultivars do seem to disrupt these ancient relationships.
So, we’ve established that confirming if a plant is native can be complicated. Is all of this research worth the effort?
The best reason to choose native plant species is to garden for wildlife. With so much habitat disrupted or destroyed in the last century, sharing a little bit
of your space with our wildlife is both impactful and easy. When we plant native plants in our gardens, we invite largely invisible insects to chew on those plants, and, in turn, provide critical prey for our birds and other animals. If we choose almost-native species or almost-functional plants (ecologically speaking), we may feel better about our choices, but we may not be making a real impact.
Now that we know the terminology and a little bit of the ecology, let's select some plants. First, take a look at your garden bed and identify whether it gets full sun, full shade or falls somewhere in between (part sun). Next, assess whether the ground is usually dry, a little moist or usually wet. Lastly, let’s consider what habitat we can mimic. Does your garden most resemble a meadow (lots of sun, few trees, either wet or dry soil), a woodland (at least some trees, often with leaves covering the ground) or a wetland (where the ground is very wet, or even flooded, much of the time)? These are all keywords to remember.
To choose plants, you’ll need a plant listing for your region. For the Chesapeake Bay watershed, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s “Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping” guide is an excellent list categorized by ecoregion, habitat and degrees of sun and moisture. The guide also includes useful details for designing, such as height, flower color and bloom time. Helpfully, the Alliance for the Chesapeake has turned the list into a searchable database on nativeplantcenter.org.
Jimmy Rogers is an avid native gardener and a member of the Laurel Environmental Affairs Committee.
Our training is positive, humane, and fun
