06-2023 The Laurel Independent

High school stadium renovations set to start

By Katie V. Jones

For the first time in its history, Laurel High School (L.H.S.) athletes this fall will be able to play home night games on a turf field with stadium lighting while their supporters watch from their seats on aluminum bleachers.

“It’s big news,” said Donald Cleveland, athletic director for L.H.S. “We’re breaking ground.”

On May 9, the city of Laurel Planning Commission approved the amended site and landscape plans proposed by Prince

George’s County Schools, paving the way for the numerous renovations and improvements planned for the aging stadium to begin.

“This is one that has been on everyone’s minds for quite some time, long overdue, and we’re ready to get started,” Will Smith, supervisor of project management for Prince George’s County Public Schools, told the commission at the meeting.

Renovations include replacing the existing grass field with turf, adding LED stadium and egress lighting, replacing

the current wood stadium bleachers with aluminum, building a new press box and storage sheds, and installing new fencing. The renovations also include widening the stadium’s track to eight lanes and creating new areas for shot put, a new high jump pad, a long-jump/triple jump runway and a pole vault runway. The stadium will also include ADA access.

The project is projected to cost about $6.3 million which will be covered by county funds and a grant from the state. Work is scheduled to begin this summer,

Varsity baseball has successful season P. 11

By Joe Murchison

Laurel City Councilmember Brencis Smith (Ward 2), currently council president, is running for mayor. He is the third candidate to announce, joining fellow councilmembers Martin Mitchell (At large) and Keith Sydnor (Ward 2).

The filing deadline is July 21, and the election will be on Nov. 7.

Smith, 34, has served on the council since

By Joe Murchison

Laurel’s first vineyard and winery is taking shape in West Laurel, and the owner claims that it will be the first African-owned winery in the United States.

Ifeoma Clyopatra Onyia, who grew up in Nigeria, purchased a six-acre property on Brooklyn Bridge Road last year and planted 1,500 grape seedlings two months ago. A winery building for processing, storing – and tasting! – wine is to be constructed this summer. She, her husband and an adult son are living in the large house on the property.

Although her plants won’t be mature enough to produce usable wine grapes for two or three years, Onyia plans to purchase grapes from a vineyard on the Eastern Shore to produce her first bottles of red, white and rosé blends ready for sale by Nigerian Independence Day, Oct. 1.

Daniel Larason, a Maryland viticultural ex-

About 50 elementary-aged youth showed off their decorated bicycles and scooters in a mini-parade on Montgomery Street on June 2. Sponsored by the city of Laurel’s Department of Parks and Recreation and the Laurel Police Department, the annual bike parade featured a safety lesson and obstacle course before the parade followed by an ice cream social. COURTESY OF KYM ADAMS

THE BEAT OF LAUREL

Spotlight on Jim and Laurel Cross

By Bob Reilly

This year, I had the opportunity to have a booth set up for the annual Main Street Festival in Laurel in May. My primary goal was to promote my business, Weinot Productions, sign books and pass out copies of The Laurel Independent

My secondary goal was to write a story.

If you’re reading this column today, then I’m happy to say I accomplished my two goals.

When members of the Laurel Amateur Radio Club (LARC) walked by during the festival’s parade, I noticed a sprightly guy wearing jeans, a yellow golf shirt and a yellow cap with the embossed letters WI3N. My friend, Jim Cross.

I’ve known the Cross family for over 30 years, and I’m glad to share some insights about Jim and his wife, Laurel.

“I’m 75 years old and have lived in Laurel since 1953. Yep, a 70year resident,” said Cross, when we caught up to chat a week later. “My family moved to Laurel in 1953, and my father was directly involved in the transition from telephone switchboard operations to rotary dial telephones.”

Cross is deeply passionate about amateur radio communications technology in general. He sits on LARC’s board and the WI3N lettering on his cap is an amateur radio call sign issued and controlled by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

“In 1963 I was in the 10th grade at Laurel High School. Our shop teacher Mr. Dannels brought a ham radio friend, Bill Maida, into the classroom, who introduced us to amateur radio.”

Dannels and Maida started a tech class that Jim and his friends joined. They learned basic electronics, Morse code and the

fundamentals of amateur radio, Cross said.

“Shortly thereafter, I got my novice license, and that was the beginning of the process,” he said.

“Eventually, my license expired, and I renewed it in 1989.”

LARC, founded in 1979, is one of 14 Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (VECs) approved by the FCC to be an amateur radio operator. It is one of two clubs across the country to administer exams.

LARC is a gift to the Laurel community. It is active in many capacities, including providing communication and coordination assistance for the Main Street Festival, setting up the parade for the July 4th celebration, operating a station next to the city’s Emergency Operations Center to provide backup communications in the event of an emergency, and helping with other community events such as 10k runs.

“We have a public event on June 24 and 25 at Riverfront Park for our annual Field Day event. It runs from 2 p.m. Saturday to 2 p.m. Sunday,” Cross said. “People

Managing Editor

Katie V. Jones

Katie@streetcarsuburbs.news

can learn what we do as we get on the air and make contact with other stations around the country, and maybe the world.”

In addition to his role with the club, Cross is chairperson for The Laurel Board of Trade, the organization responsible for starting the Main Street Festival and parade, in 1981. His wife, Laurel, has been the parade coordinator since 2013.

“A big part of my role is to make contact with prior parade participants and manage their future involvement intentions. Then, of course, the day of the parade itself is a major undertaking,” Laurel Cross said. “This year we had approximately 50 groups, 80 vehicles and 900 people in the parade. Just the sheer number of people participating is a challenge in itself.”

Laurel Cross is a native of Niagara Falls, New York. She moved to the city of Laurel after she graduated from nursing school and married Jim Cross. She has been actively involved with the General Federation of Woman’s Club of Laurel for over 30 years. She is

Business Manager

Catie Currie

Board of Directors

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

Associate Editor Nancy Welch

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Joseph Gigliotti — President & General Counsel Stephanie Stullich — Treasurer Melanie Dzwonchyk — Secretary Bette Dickerson, Nora Eidelman, Maxine Gross, Merrill Hartson, Joe Murchinson, Marta McLellan Ross, T. Carter Ross, C. Michael Walls Mark Goodson, Katie V. Jones, Griffin Limerick, Elizabeth Shirley — 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.

very proud of the club, its history and its contributions to the community. The club is part of the General Federation of Woman’s Club (GFWC) organized in 1910.

“The club is very well-known for its philanthropic focus and rich history advocating for women's rights, the suffrage movement and the building of libraries,” Laurel Cross said. “We manage a local award-winning project called the Weekend Tummy Tamers. Each week we prepare 35 meals for students and their families at Scotchtown Elementary School.”

When I asked Jim Cross what he liked most about living in Laurel, he responded, “Well, you could honestly say I’m literally

MAYORAL

FROM PAGE 1

2019 and is the only current councilmember to serve two terms as council president.

A native of Hartford, Conn., Smith came to Maryland in 2012 to attend Washington Adventist University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational management. He has been working in finance and accounting for 10 years and is currently a financial analyst for a D.C.-based engineering firm. He moved to Laurel in 2015.

Smith is an avid musician who

and figuratively married to Laurel. My wife’s name is Laurel.” He continued, “I’m also married to the city of Laurel because it’s the life I’ve always known growing up. My schooling, church life, married life, family, friends, work life and community are here. This is my home.”

If you’re interested in finding out more about The Laurel Board of Trade, go to laurelboardoftrade. org; The Laurel Amateur Radio Club, go to larcmd.org or GFWC Woman’s Club of Laurel, go to; gfwcmd.org. You can also email Jim Cross at jcross3@gmail.com.

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

sings and plays piano, tenor saxophone and drums. He was minister of music at his hometown church, and is director of the children’s choir at his church in the District.

He said his vision for the city is to enhance public safety, spur economic development, improve infrastructure and initiate new recreational programming. As for public safety, the Laurel police “already do a great job,” he said, but he hopes to enhance their outreach and rapport with the public. “When no one feels uncomfortable talking to police,” crime is dampened, he said.

West Laurel home project: addition or new-build?

By Joe Murchison

During the past month, many passersby on the 15000 block of Bond Mill Road in West Laurel have noticed workers tearing down a dilapidated house and then reconstructing it. Particularly striking was that, after everything else had been torn down to the foundation, a small, tattered section of the front wall was left standing.

At one point that wall fell down but was re-erected with new boards attaching it to new floor joists. Why was the construction crew intent on keeping that wall up?

Avis Thomas-Lester, public information officer for the Prince George’s County Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement, said in an email that the owners of the house had initially obtained an addition/

remodel permit in February. She said that by May, county inspectors had determined that the project wasn’t an addition but rather was a new house, even if it used part of the original foundation. The county ordered the owners to obtain a new-home permit. The owners could not be reached for comment. Their contractor, Afolabi Abudu, said he still considered the project to be a remodel, but he has applied for the new-build permit. He said that the new permit will not increase construction requirements—the remodel plan already had included, for instance, the installation of a fire sprinkler system. (Maryland is one of the few states in the country that requires that new homes be built with sprinkler systems.) Since the new permit does not impose additional requirements, Abudu said that construction will proceed as planned.

Laurel and Jim Cross. BOB REILLY

with plans calling for the turf field and lights to be completed by Sept. 1.

“There may be delays with the bleachers,” Cleveland said.

“Worst case scenario, we’ll have the old bleachers in the fall and the new ones by spring.”

In 2019, an engineering and testing firm was hired by Prince George’s County Public Schools to evaluate the school’s athletic stadium. It was determined that “many of the stadium’s major components were lacking or needed replacement” according to the renovation report issued by the county in September 2021.

The grass field has been in bad shape for years. City of Laurel Councilmember Keith Sydnor (Ward 2), an ex officio member of the planning commission, told the commission that as a high school football referee, he would often have to fill holes in the school’s field with dirt before games.

The lack of lights limited practice and game times for the school’s sport teams. Practices were sometimes held at other locations, and some teams had to play on weekends.

“With lights, we will be able to have night games and extend practices,” said Cleveland, noting that the addition of lights will also be beneficial on weekends

for other groups to use the field for night games or practices.

“It opens opportunities for the community to use pending they get proper approval,” Cleveland

said. He noted that the track has always been available for public use when school is not in session.

“It’s a welcome,” said Mitizi

Betman, city planning commission chair. “It is great to hear the investment the county is going to put in the school and into the field. That is very, very exciting.”

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pert whom Onya has hired as a consultant, thinks the five varieties of grapes in the vineyard have a good chance for commercial success. The Regent, SK-77, Chardonell, Chambomcin and Noret grapes “are a little off the beaten path, but they make great wine,” he said. He also likes the site of the vineyard, on a hill with rocky soil.

“Grapes like a little bit of a challenge,” he said, as the rocks force the plants to push their roots deep and become hardier. The plants also don’t like “wet feet,” and the slope of the hill will carry off excess water, Larason said.

Onyia’s and Larason’s plans have received the necessary approvals from the Prince George’s Soil Conservation District. The land was already zoned for agricultural use.

Onyia has named her operation Clyopatra Winery and Vineyard, borrowing from her middle name. The vineyard is the seventh in Prince George’s County and one of more than 100 in the state.

Onyia said she’s dreamed of becoming a wine producer since childhood, when she first sampled a Nigerian drink called palm wine that came from the milkywhite sap of certain palm trees.

“You finished a glass and tried

to get up — woo. … It was very potent and really good.”

She used to gaze down the slope of a hill at a farm her father owned and ask him why he didn’t plant a vineyard on the slope. “He would laugh and say, ‘Baby, you’re going to do this for me.’” As an adult, she visited her brother, who settled in Italy, and admired the vineyards.

But she put her dream on hold, instead launching other businesses.

She grew up in what she described as a “loving, crazy” family with seven siblings in Enugu, a city in southeastern Nigeria. Her father was an engineer with the Nigerian Coal Corporation; her mother was a businesswoman who sold fabrics and dried fish.

Onyia has been an entrepreneur since her college days in London. During a trip to Italy to visit her brother, she bought clothes and brought them back to sell to schoolmates. She then started shipping British clothing to her family in Nigeria, who would sell them. She partnered with Argos, a retailer in the United Kingdom, and opened a store in Lagos, Nigeria’s capital. Then she opened a bridal business in England, selling African-themed gowns and accessories through bridal shows. By the late 1990s, she had been featured in Essence magazine and

State Legislators

honored by the House of Lords. Business was great, but Onyia’s marriage was not. When it ended, in 2000, she decided to make a new start in the United States, bringing her 3-year-old daughter, 1-year-old son and about $10,000. After a few weeks staying with a friend in Virginia, she and her kids moved to Laurel. The family moved to Bowie three years later.

While in Laurel, “I decided to open up a health care agency,” she said. Through MISS Health Care (a mix of the first initials of her name, her children’s names and the word “savior”), Onyia provided home health care and medical supplies, and even a school for training certified nursing assistants. She expanded the company to three locations — Beltsville, Hagerstown and on the Eastern Shore — and had more than 100 employees at one point.

But again, Onyia’s personal life didn’t match her business success.

In 2012 she lost a close brother to cancer, and a friend who had acted as a surrogate mother to her after she moved to the U.S. also died. “That threw me for a loop,” she said. “I just mentally wasn’t capable of running the business. … I wasn’t in the right state to love my patients.”

Despite being depressed, Onyia hung on to her business for four

years, until 2016, when she closed shop. But her entrepreneurial drive was alive and kicking, and she launched Clyopatra Couture, a retailer of high-fashion clothes that she designs. Onyia has a number of celebrity clients including, she said, “some NBA mothers,” and the online business is doing well.

In 2014, Onyia married Chidi Onukwugha, a fellow NIgerian and lawyer whose business and corporate practice is based in Laurel.

Onyia lost another brother In 2020. Shortly before he died, he told her that she should return to health care. Onyia took her brother’s advice, but decided to shift her focus from home health care to mental health. In 2021, she launched MISO Medical Center, on Cherry Lane Court. The center provides counseling, medication management and a number of other mental health services. Onyia currently employs more than 20 psychiatrists, psychologists and case managers.

Even as her high fashion and health-care businesses kept her busy, Onyia dreamed of having her own vineyard and started scouting for property. After looking at dozens of sites in Prince George’s County, she drove up a long, steep driveway off Brooklyn Bridge

Road. The large sloping field that served as a front yard and the imposing home at the top of the hill caught her attention. “This reminds me of California,” she thought. “This is going to work.”

Onyia said she will post a schedule of regular visiting hours after Oct. 1 on the winery’s website clyopatrawineryvineyard.com

ROWING IS THE SPORT FOR SUMMER

The air is warm, the water cool, and the boats are gliding!

• Youth summer program and camps

• Learn to Scull classes

• August Community Challenge

• Scholarships available BEGINNERS WELCOME!

FUN, FRIENDS, AND FITNESS!

All activities are at Bladensburg Waterfront Park 4601 Annapolis Road, Bladensburg WashingtonRowingSchool.com

202-344-0886

In 2009 we helped pass a state law allowing the County to cut property taxes for senior citizens, starting at age 65.

We’re pleased to report that Prince George’s Councilmen Tom Dernoga and Eric Olson and their colleagues voted to use this law to create a new tax credit for seniors (65 and over) if they’ve lived in their home for at least ten years and its value is no more than $500,000.

SCIENCE OF THE CITY

The county’s deadliest road

By Paul Ruffins

My first installment in this series on traffic safety and pedestrian injuries looked at fatality on a road that was recently upgraded to incorporate a number of safety measures. This second article discusses the deadliest road in the DMV.

Prince George’s County has the highest annual rate of pedestrian deaths and injuries in the DMV — roughly 12 per 100,000 residents. Statewide averages in Virginia and Maryland are three to four fatalities per 100,000, and the District’s average is about six. Locally, several stretches of Kenilworth Avenue and Univer-

sity Boulevard are particularly dangerous. These streetscapes are densely lined with stores, restaurants and apartment buildings and have streams of pedestrians trying to cross multiple lanes of typically heavy traffic.

But Indian Head Highway (Route 210), the road AAA cites as the deadliest in Maryland, doesn’t fit that description at all. On most of its 21-mile stretch, it is a multilane divided highway notched straight through a rural forest of tall trees.

Constructed by the federal government before and during WWII, it served as a military transport route between the District and the naval station at Indian Head (now known as Naval Support Facility

Indian Head). Over time, the area expanded rapidly. “That’s exactly the problem,” said Rev. Robert Screen, facilitator of the Route 210 Traffic Safety Committee, a group of concerned residents. “This isn’t a rural area anymore. [Route] 210 runs right through the communities of Accokeek, Fort Washington and Forest Heights. According to the Maryland Department of Transportation, five motorists and five pedestrians died on this road in 2022 alone.”

Most major highways in the DMV — the Beltway, Montgomery County’s I-270, Virginia’s I-66 — are limited-access roads with interchanges (often cloverleafs) that allow for reasonably safe traffic flow. In contrast, Route 210 has stoplight-regulated intersections, some of which are relatively obscured by trees.

“When I was a kid, I was taught to walk against traffic and wear light clothes at night. Unfortunately, many pedestrians around here ignore that advice,” said Ron Weiss, who used to head the Indian Head Highway Area Action Council. Weiss and Screen have been lobbying to improve Route

210 for years. “But our worst problem is speed,” Weiss added. Indeed, at one intersection dozens of swerving skidmarks stand as clear evidence that many drivers have made panic stops to avoid running the light. One camera clocked a car going 128 in a 55 mph zone. In February 2023, 12 drivers exceeded 100 mph, and a speed camera on Route 210 in Fort Washington recorded a car going over 170 mph.

“Those are killing speeds,” Screen said. “Those drivers deserve a felony conviction for being willing to deliberately risk other people’s lives.” He accepts the rapid development around Route 210 as a fact of life and said residents have pushed the state and county for the funds to redesign five particularly dangerous intersections. So far, only one has been upgraded.

“Right now,” he said, “the only answer is greater enforcement, and getting that hasn’t been easy.” Lack of funding at the state and county levels is part of the problem.

Even getting the highway’s six speed cameras turned into a major legislative battle, due to a Maryland law limiting camera use on state roads; the law allows cameras only near schools or temporary construction zones. A 2018 exception to this law allowed installation of a single camera on

Route 210. The state legislature authorized the addition of two more cameras in 2019 and another three in 2023, for a total of six.

The cameras on Indian Head Highway appear to have a limited impact, though. The 210 Safety Traffic Committee reported that due to technical difficulties, only 38% of drivers photographed speeding were issued citations. In December 2022, cameras caught 21 drivers traveling 90 to 99 mph and 10 drivers doing over 100, but none received a citation. Weiss wonders if ticketing those drivers would have made a difference. “The cameras go off if you exceed 11 mph over the limit. So if you’re going 67 mph, you’re going to get a $40 ticket. But if you’re going 100, you’re going to get the same ticket, which isn’t enough to slow down the people who love to drive that fast.” Screen also pointed out difficulties in addressing the issue: “When we tried to get the state legislature to raise the fines to $500, which would deter a lot more speeders, we got a lot of pushback.”

Paul Ruffins is a citizen scientist and professor of curiosity.

BUDGET AND PERSONNEL SERVICES: FY2024 BU DGET...APPROVED!

The City’s budget process officially starts in January each year, although administration of the budget is a year-round responsibility. Each Department is tasked with projecting and entering its Operating Budget, as well as any direct revenues and CIP projects. The Department of Budget and Personnel Services prepares the full-time salary budgets and then compiles all of the budgets and works with the Office of the City Administrator to balance the budget and submit to the City Council as required by law by May 1st each year. The FY2024 document was submitted electronically to the City Council on Tuesday, April 25, 2023.

The FY2024 General Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program was the final submitted by Mayor Moe. The largest priority of the balanced FY2024 Budget – totaling $41,341,675 - is the continuation of services our residents deserve and expect. This requires the complete dedication of Laurel residents tax dollars to fund the essential expenditures, compensation, employee insurance, property insurance, the Pension Fund contribution, debt service and the CIP, as well as contractual and legislative obligations. With the return to more normal operations, the Administration and City Staff continue to adapt to the many changes result-

ing from the pandemic. Recruiting, hiring, and retaining the City workforce continues to be a challenge as we face growing compensation budgets and adjust policies and procedures as a result in changes to Federal, State and Local codes, policies, and laws. The Administration and City Staff continue to ensure that City operations thrive despite growing costs, as well as challenges posed by delays and shortages of some goods and services.

assessed value. The tax rate for the Special Taxing District is $0.03 per $100 of the full cash value assessment. The adopted budget continues all City services at FY2023 service levels.

For FY2024, the City of Laurel Adopted Budget was presented without a tax rate increase, maintaining the City's real property tax rate since FY2009 of $.71 cents per $100 of assessed valuation; however, any property owners with increased assessments will receive an increased real estate tax bill. The Personal Property tax rate will remain $1.69 per $100 of

The CIP includes continued funding of the renovations to 204 Ft. Meade Road for the Laurel Multiservice Center; traffic signal upgrades; traffic-calming devices; conversion of small power equipment from gas to battery; Londonderry Court, Fenwick Court, Van Dusen Road, Laurel Avenue and Carroll Avenue street improvements; stabilization of the dam ruins; Main Street and Greenview Pools improvements; vehicle replacements; and technology improvements with a total of $37,995,817. Funding for projects are provided through American Rescue Plan funds; state grants, speed camera net revenue and operating funds. The FY2024 General Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) was adopted without changes by a unanimous vote of the Mayor and City Council at the May 22, 2023 meeting.

To view a copy of the FY2024 Budget and CIP document, visit the City’s website at www.cityoflaurel.org.

LAUREL POLICE DEPARTMENT: CONNECTIONS, CONVERSATIONS and COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT!

As this summer begins, the Laurel Police Department is as committed as always to connecting with the community we serve. There are many opportunities this summer to get to know the women and men of the Laurel Police Department.

To kick off the summer, join us for family fun at the 2nd Annual Laurel Block Party!

To celebrate the first official summer break weekend for the kids in Prince George’s County, we will be hosting a Block Party at the Towne Centre at Laurel on June 24th from 12pm to 3pm.

Food, family fun, games, DJ and dancing, Kona Ice truck and much more can be enjoyed at this free event for all!

National Night Out is held annually on the first Tuesday in August. This year ’s National Night Out will be held on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, from 6pm to 9pm at Gude Park. This event focuses on the relationships between neighbors and law enforcement while fostering a true sense of community and fellowship involving all aspects of the community at large. This is a free event for all!

Are you going on vacation? We provide House Checks while you are out of town. Please call us to schedule a house check at 301-498-0092.

The 2023 Laurel Citizens Police Academy will graduate on June 22, 2023. This 12-week

long class brings hands on experiences to citizens to better understand policing. This class has had the opportunity to have open, honest, and engaging conversations on all the important topics affecting law enforcement today.

Stay tuned for the dates of future Laurel Citizens Police Academies!

Finally, be proactive and don’t provide the opportunity for a thief to steal from your vehicle:

• Lock your doors

• Take items with you

• Park in well lit areas

• NEVER leave a running vehicle unattended

If you see something, say something. Report suspicious activity to the Laurel Police Department at 301-498-0092.

ORGANIC COMPOSTING L EGISLATION

Get ready for it! The Mayor and City Council have approved an ordinance that will make it mandatory for residents to separate their organic waste from the trash.

Organic waste is defined as food scraps, food waste, food-soiled paper, and compostable plastic. You’ll also have to separate out green waste too. That’s your leaves, grass clippings, and other landscape debris.

Laurel is the first municipality in the state of Maryland to introduce legislation that makes residential composting mandatory. It was approved by the Mayor and City Council at the May 22, 2023, meeting. Don’t worry though. You’ll have some time to get used to the new rules. The ordinance doesn’t take effect until July 1, 2025.

Mayor Craig A. Moe says, “This type of composting program will reduce the amount of money the City pays to process our waste. I congratulate the City Council for moving forward with this, and we will all work together to make sure the community is ready when the program begins in 2025.”

You can expect an increase in how to videos; face-to-face community meetings (by request); composting and recycling tips on the City of Laurel Green Living resources page; and a new cart that will allow residents in condo communities to compost.

If you have any questions about the benefits of composting, how to sign up, education and outreach, or would like to have a presentation given to your HOA, contact Michele Blair, the City of Laurel Environmental Programs Manager, at greenliving@laurel.md.us or call 301-725-5300.

FARMER’S MARKET AT THE LAUREL QUILL LOT

The Laurel Farmer’s Market is open every other Thursday from 3:00 7:00pm, so come join us and help support our local farmers and small businesses! The Farmer ’s Market is located at 378 Main Street, formally known as the Quill Lot. And to stay up to date on all the vendors and events that go on at the Quill Lot, be sure to follow them on Social Media: Facebook @TheLaurelQuillLot; IG - @ThelaurelQuillLot; Twitter - @laurelquilllot. Learn more about the Laurel Farmer s Market vendors at www.cityoflaurel.org/green!

SERVICIOS DE PRESUPUESTO Y PERSONAL

El Presupuesto Operativo General y el Programa de el Mejoramiento de Capital para el año fiscal 2024 fueron los últimos presentados por el alcalde Moe. La mayor prioridad del presupuesto equilibrado para el año fiscal 2024, que totaliza $41,341,675, es la continuación de los servicios que nuestros residentes merecen y esperan. El Presupuesto Operativo General y el Programa de Mejoramiento de Capital del año fiscal 2024 se adoptaron sin cambios por voto unánime del alcalde y el concejo municipal en la reunión del 22 de mayo de 2023.

DEPARTAMENTO DE POLICÍA DE LAUREL

Al comenzar este verano, el Departamento de Policía de Laurel está tan comprometido como siempre a conectarse con la comunidad a la que servimos. Hay muchas oportunidades para conectarse con las mujeres y los hombres del Departamento de Policía de Laurel este verano y puede encontrarlas todas en línea en www.cityoflaurel.org/calendars.

Legislation

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:

• Charter Resolution No. 179 - to amend Section 357 to allow for Collective Bargaining for certain employees of the Department of Public Works, but per State law, does not become effective until 50 days after the date of approval unless it is petitioned to referendum by July 3, 2023.

• Ordinance No. 2011 - Adopting the General Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program for the FY July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024 and to levy property taxes and to authorize the collection of such taxes.

• Ordinance No. 2010 - to amend Laurel City Code, Chapter 7 “Garbage, Waste Weeds, Recycling, etc.” to include the mandatory diversion of organics from the waste stream and providing for an effective date.

Bid Approvals:

• No Bid Approvals came before the Mayor and City Council in May 2023

Mayoral Appointments:

• Ralphenia Tia Clark, Board of Election Supervisors, Chief Judge, Ward 2 - Appointed 5/8/2023

• E. Michael Greene, Chairman, Board of Pension Trustees - Appointed 5/22/2023

• David Johnston, Board of AppealsAppointed 5/22/2023

• Michelle Keating, Board of AppealsAppointed 5/22/2023

Gover nment Mee tings

(Da a tes and Times Subject to Change)

June 2023 Mayor and City Council Meetings

 June 12th - Virtual Mayor and City Council Meeting (6:00pm)

 June 26th - ***CANCELLED***

June 2023 Boards and Commissions

 June 20th - Virtual Historic District Commission (6:00pm)

 June 27th - Virtual Environmental Affairs Committee (6:00pm)

 June 29th - Virtual Board of Appeals (6:00pm)

July 2023 Mayor and City Council Meetings

 July 5th - Virtual Mayor and City Council Work Session (6:00pm)

 July 10th - Virtual Mayor and City Council Meeting (6:00pm)

 July 24th - In-Person Mayor and City Council Meeting (6:00pm)

July 2023 Boards and Commissions

 July 11th - Planning Commission (6:00pm)

 July 18th - Historic District Commission (6:00pm)

 July 27th - Board of Appeals (6:00pm)

City Announceme nts & Events

(Da a tes and Times Subject to Change)

 June 17, 2023 - Juneteenth Celebration - 12pm - 4pm, Granville Gude Park, 8300 Mulberry Street. See flyer.

 June 19, 2023 - City/Passport Offices Closed In Observance of Juneteenth. Visit www.cityoflaurel.org for adjusted collections.

 June 20, 2023 - First Day of Camp and Summer Shenanigans - Visit www.cityoflaurel.org to register.

 June 23, 2023 - Outdoor Concert - 7:00pm, Granville Gude Park.

 June 28, 2023 - Teen Trip - Luray Caverns, from 8:00am - 8:00pm, $20.

 2023-2024 Preschool Registration – Residents: Monday, June 26th; Nonresidents: Wednesday, June 28th.

 July 1, 2023 - Laurel Independence Day Celebration - 11am - Parade; Car Show - 12pm; Music by Oracle - 5:15pm; Fireworks - 9:15pm

 July 4, 2023 - City/Passport Offices Closed In Observance of Independence Day. Visit www.cityoflaurel.org for adjusted collections.

 City Hall in the Park - 6:30pm, Overlook Park.

Laurel City Council President Brencis D. Smith had the opportunity to represent and speak on behalf of the City of Laurel at the University of Maryland Laurel Medical Center Ribbon Cutting ceremony last month on May 17, 2023. The Laurel Medical Center officially opened on June 4, 2023, “replacing the older facility on the same campus, representing phase 1 of a multi-phase plan to create a health and wellness destination campus” in Laurel.

Pets are important members of the family, so they need to be included in your family’s emergency plan. To prepare for the unexpected, follow these tips with your pets in mind: Make a Plan, Build an Emergency Kit and Stay informed.

If you have a plan in place for you and your pets, you will likely encounter less difficulty, stress and worry when you need to make a decision during an emergency. If local officials ask you to evacuate, that means your pet should evacuate too. If you leave your pets behind, they may end up lost, injured or worse.

Just as you do with your family’s emergency supply kit, think first about the basics for survival, such as food and water. Have two kits, one larger kit if you are sheltering in place and one lightweight version for if you need to evacuate. Review your kits regularly to ensure that their contents, especially foods and medicines, are fresh.

Being prepared and staying informed of current conditions are important during and emergency. Be sure to pay attention to wireless emergency alerts and warnings sent by state and local public safety officials. To sign up for Emergency Notifications from Laurel, register at https://bit.ly/ AlertLaurelRegistration.

Remember to ALWAYS bring pets indoors at the first sign or warning of a storm or disaster. Learn more at www.ready.gov/pets.

Police training for citizens

By Tara Goldstein

Residents of Laurel can dive deep into everything police related, from patrolling to addressing impacts of the opioid crisis, as participants in the Laurel Police Department’s Citizen’s Police Academy.

During the 12-week program, participants experience handson instruction and discussions that cover a variety of policing practices including officer safety tactics, undercover investigations, arrest techniques and more.

Community outreach is a big reason for the program, allowing citizens to understand the police better, according to Laura Guenin, the police department’s spokesperson and director of the program. The atmosphere is casual, and students can talk with each other and the officers about what they are being taught. Participation and questions are highly encouraged.

“I think what's special is Laurel is such a tight knit community, and with this program you can really get to know the police officers,” Guenin said.

My experience in the Citizen's Police Academy

When hands-on activities are featured, Guenin can really see the enthusiasm among participants. For a session on active shooters, participants have to react to the image of a shooter projected on a screen. It's interesting, Guenin said, to see how fast everyone’s reflexes are and how they react. Another session focused on DUIs and involved a group of volunteers, including participants’ friends and family members, drinking throughout the two-hour class. Students saw how the volunteers changed as they continued to drink and learned how to perform sobriety field tests.

Graduation is scheduled for June 22. At last year's ceremony, students gave speeches about why they enrolled in the program. It was eye opening, Guenin said, to hear how much the class meant to them.

The free program is currently offered annually. Residents and police officers are eager to add a second session, Guenin said, and the department tentatively plans to offer it again in September.

For more information, go to cityoflaurel.org/police

By Naomi McMillen

Idecided to sign up for the Laurel Citizen’s Police Academy because I was curious to see if some of the generalizations and stereotypes I had about law enforcement were true.

Throughout my youth and young adulthood, visions of cops pulling up to high school house parties with their lights and sirens on, and that chirp-chirp sound and the associated feeling of dread when a cop pulls you over, played into my generalizations of police. When I got older, I became influenced by what I saw online and on TV — racism and the abuse of force. I grew to see police officers as people not to be trusted.

For 12 weeks, I and others from the Laurel community meet every Thursday evening at the Laurel Police Department. Each week, we are taught different aspects of policing, including traffic stops, DUIs, community policing and active shootings.

I was skeptical that first week. As Police Chief Russ Hamill gave his introductory speech, I couldn’t help but think that this was all a PR ploy to get me to donate to their annual fundraising drive or

something similar.

Was I wrong.

The first class — active shooting drills using a real simulator — exceeded my expectations.

The conversations and the candidness with which officers responded to questions were illuminating.

The next sessions were equally interesting. While collecting and analyzing evidence at a fake crime scene, I learned that policing could be much more detailoriented and scientific than I thought. We learned how to do CPR and operate an automated external defibrillator. Over the course of two hours every Thursday evening, I got to know the other participants, the officers and police department staff. I started to let my guard down, which enabled me to learn and get more from the experience.

A major theme of the academy is safety and helping others. During a session on the opioid and fentanyl crisis’ impact on our community, officers shared their experiences with helping people that were overdosing and how drugs impact their work. We were taught how to administer Narcan (naloxone) to someone who

was overdosing and were given two doses each, to take home. As someone who had a close family member die of an opioid overdose, I appreciated knowing how to save someone’s life.

When I witnessed someone who was clearly high and possibly overdosing in front of my house, I had my Narcan ready to go but a neighbor called the police, and the individual drove away when the cop pulled up. What struck me was that the cop was responding not to hurt but to help this guy. Many times when an officer responds to a call, they are seeking first and foremost to help, not hostilely engage or kill the vibes.

While not all my questions were answered, I feel some of the preconceived notions I’ve held about police officers and what they are about are not true. There may certainly be cops out there that are fun suckers, or are even dangerous, but most are not, and certainly not the officers that I interacted with during my Thursday evenings at the Laurel Police Department. It is important to remember that assumptions are often wrong, and it's important to question our preconceived opinions of others.

Principal retires after 22 years at Laurel Elementary

By Jessie Newburn

Sometimes people know their path and follow it. Sometimes their path finds them. For Melinda Lee, who is retiring this year after serving as principal of Laurel Elementary School (LES) for 22 years, her path found her. And what a path it has been.

As a young woman, she dreamed of being a stewardess, so she went to travel school. When she realized she needed a college degree, she left school and returned to her small hometown in Bloomsburg, Pa. Her former third grade teacher, who owned a preschool and

daycare, offered her a job. A month into the job, Lee knew that she wanted to be a teacher, so she enrolled in college in the late 1980s. Her first teaching job was in a small, rural town on the Eastern Shore in Maryland. Soon, she was running the science program at Tayac Academy Elementary School in Fort Washington, Md., and was stepping into additional leadership roles whenever she could. Seven years later, she became an assistant principal at Overlook Elementary School, in Linthicum Heights, and then became principal at LES.

“The job never became stag-

nant,” Lee said. “Changing demographics and a big uptick in our ESOL population was one of the core changes we had to work with.”

Lee noted that LES.’s student population was about 50% African American and 50% white when she became principal. Now, about 70% of the school’s students are Latino, about 20% are Black and about 5% are white. Fortyseven percent of the school’s students are in the English as a Second Language program.

Lee and her staff were able to get Title 1 classification for the school, which provided additional funding and enabled the school to reduce class sizes. Staff were able to personalize attention for students, some of whom were two or three grade levels behind their peers.

While the pandemic caused upheaval for schools nationwide, the low economic status of many LES families, many of whom lacked adequate technical skills and access to digital technology, created additional challenges for Lee and her team.

They worked with Prince George’s County to provide hotspots for families who didn’t have internet access and provided

evening workshops to help families get up to speed with Google Classrooms. Staff even visited families at home to ensure their devices were set up properly.

Lee developed relationships throughout Laurel, including with businesses, nonprofit organizations, the police department, city councilmembers and more.

During the pandemic’s early months, the school partnered with the Washington Food Bank to distribute food boxes. “Police officers, city councilmembers and even the mayor came out and helped us prepare the produce bags,” Lee said. The school has continued weekly food distributions to further support at-risk families.

“We know when students can read by second grade their chances of graduating from high school are significantly higher,” Lee said. “Families need to be healthy and able to support children in order for students to be successful.”

Lee has created an open-door atmosphere for staff, students and parents. “Parents talk to me about all sorts of concerns,” she said.

“There are families where we’ve taught all their children … and then gone on to teach their children’s children. When possible, we

really get to know not just the students, but their families, as well.”

Lee’s passion for science and the environment has grown over the years. She was able to get her school accredited as a Green School by the Maryland Green Schools Award Program for LES' environmental literacy curriculum program, and she is on the county’s steering committee for environmental education.

“Melinda is incredibly supportive of staff creativity,” said Jennifer Yerlam, a fifth grade team leader at LES. “I’ve worked with Melinda since her first days at this school. She is everything you could ask for in a principal and more. Her infectious laugh, her support of teacher creativity and her love of the students will be missed.”

When she retires, Lee will be working with preschoolers enrolled in the early education program at St. Matthews Methodist Church in Bowie.

“After a full career in helping ready students for middle school, I’ll now have an opportunity to help students get ready for elementary school,” Lee said. “And I’m really looking forward to being number two in the hierarchy and not having to make all the decisions.”

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

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

EVENTS

Amateur Radio Field Day. The Laurel Amateur Radio Club will compete with other amateur radio clubs and stations to make as many contacts in 24 hours as possible. June 24, 2 p.m., through June 25, at 2 p.m. Riverfront Park, Main Street. larcmd.org

Corridor Conversations. Gabe Popkin, of Mount Rainier Community Food Forest will talk about the food forest and foraging for wild-growing foods. Zoom session presented by Hyattsville Aging in Place, Helping Hands University Park, Neighbors Helping Neighbors of College Park and Explorations on Aging. June 24, 2 to 3:30 p.m. hyattsvilleaginginplace.org

Fidos for Freedom Charity Classic. Single golfers and teams welcome. Blue Mash Golf Course, 5821 Olney-Laytonsville Road, Laytonsville. July 17. Shotgun start at 9 a.m. Registration fees vary. Email diane.bernier@ FidosForFreedom.org or call 301.490.4005.

ENTERTAINMENT

Savage Mill Bluegrass Festival at Savage Mill. Performances by Satyr Hill, Geraldine, Moose Jaw Bluegrass and Dilweed. Food, beverages, vendors and ax throwing. $15. June 17, noon to 4 p.m. 8600 Foundry St., Savage. 410.792.2820.

MONTPELIER ARTS CENTER 9652 Muirkirk Road 301.377.7800

Current Exhibits

Sushama Parikh. A showcase of the resident artist’s work featuring ceramic wall tiles, horse sculptures and more. Through July 2.

Chris Malone: An exhibit of mixed-media sculptures, dolls and figures that tell the story of artist Chris Malone’s life. Through Aug. 6.

LAUREL HISTORY MUSEUM 817 Main St. 301.725.7975

Main Exhibit. "It’s All Laurel: City Limits and Beyond." Through August 2024.

LAUREL BRANCH LIBRARY 507 7th St. 301.776.6790

Playday at the Library: Baby Water Play. Outdoor water play, weather permitting. June 23. 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Container Gardening: Plant

Your Own. Tour the Laurel community garden and plant your own seeds to take home. Participants are encouraged to bring their own small planting container to learn how containers can be upcycled for gardening. June 24. 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Community Led Book Discussion: Book Lovers, by Emily Henry. June 27, 7 p.m.

Tail Waggin' Tutors. Build your child's confidence as they read to trained therapy dogs. July 6: 4:30 p.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

Bike Riding at the Refuge. A 12-mile guided ride. Bring your own bike, helmet, water bottle and snack. June 24, 10 a.m.

South Tract, 10901

Scarlet Tanager Loop

Easy Butterfly Habitat Gardens. Learn how to create basic habitat to attract common native butterflies and birds to your yard. June 17. 2 p.m.

Family Fun: Welcome Wildlife to Your Yard. Learn ways to attract and help wildlife with hands-on activities, games and crafts. June 23 and 24. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Pollinators in a Pot. Create a wildlife home in the limited space of a patio or deck. Native plants available for adoption. June 24. 2 p.m.

CARROLL BALDWIN HALL

9035 Baltimore St. Savage. 410.294.3561

Juneteenth Celebration. Music, games and food trucks organized by Leona’s Sewing Studio and Carroll Baldwin Hall to

Directed by founding Artistic Director Christopher Dwyer, this 1980s-infused tale follows Prospero, who is stranded on a deserted island, as he decides whether to enact revenge on his brother who has just washed up on shore. Complete with magic, faeries, and physical storytelling, this fast-paced 90-minute outdoor adventure is perfect for the entire family. Bring your lawn chair, a picnic, and enjoy the Bard under the stars. For up-to date information and rain dates, visit pgparks.com and search “The Tempest tour.” For more information call 301-446-3238 or email megan.merchant@pgparks.com.

celebrate this national holiday. June 19, 5 to 8 p.m.

Ongoing

Third Thursdays: Volunteer Work Nights. A variety of projects from painting to cleaning and mortar repair. Food provided. June. 15, 6 to 9 p.m.

Third Sundays: DJ Swing Dances. Hosted by Gottaswing, the event kicks off with a free lesson at 5 p.m. $10. June 18, 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Concert series

Small Ensembles Concert. June 11, 3 to 6 p.m.

Columbia Big Band with Gottaswing. July 5, 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Classes

Zumba with Susana Miller

Total body workout to Latin and world rhythms. Saturdays starting June 17. 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Assuage Yoga in the Library Mat yoga with Sharon MorrisSmith. Wednesdays, 6 to 7 p.m. SEE CALENDAR ON 10

Sunday, June 25 Fairwood Community Park

Thursday, June, 29 Patuxent River Park

Friday, June 30 National Harbor, Plaza Stage

Saturday, July 1 Fort Washington Park

Wednesday, July 5 Riversdale House Museum

Thursday, July 6 Montpelier House Museum Grounds

Saturday, July 8 Meadowside Nature Center

Sunday, July 9 Brookside Gardens

Wednesday, July 12 North Four Corners Local Park

Friday, July 14 Watkins Regional Park

Saturday, July 15 David C. Driskell Community Park

Sunday, July 16

Prince George’s Publick Playhouse

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org)

For more information, please email Customer Service at arts@pgparks.com or call 301-699-2255; Maryland Relay 7-1-1 for customers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability. Our front desk staff has access to an over-the-phone interpretation service and can help in over 150 languages. Please ask for assistance when you call or visit us.

The Department of Parks and Recreation encourages and supports the participation of individuals with disabilities. Register at least a minimum of two weeks in advance of the program start date to request and receive a disability accommodation.

Prince George’s County Public Schools is not sponsoring, endorsing, or recommending the activities announced in this flyer/material.

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 by the Laurel Senior Friendship Club; free admission; 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 at the Laurel-Beltsville Senior Activities Center on

Contee Rd. Business meeting and musical entertainment or a speaker. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. 301.206.3380

Jim Whitney Toastmasters Club. A Toastmasters International affiliate, the club teaches public speaking and leadership skills. June 12 and 26 at 7 p.m. St. Philips Episcopal Church, 522 Main St.

BUSINESS

The Laurel Board of Trade Monthly Networking. Virtual opportunity to meet and network with local business people; BOT membership is not required. June 15, 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

June 18, 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

COUNCIL VOTES IN FAVOR OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS

On May 22, Laurel City Council passed a charter amendment granting employees of the city’s Department of Public Works (DPW) the right to collective bargaining.

While the vote was unanimous, comments from both the council and the union organizer revealed the underlying tension.

John Barry, United Food and Commercial Workers International 1994/Municipal & County Government Employees Organization organizer, told the council he was “glad we are getting to this point where we are able to approve this amendment,” as it “took a long time to get to this point.”

Councilmember Keith Sydnor (Ward 2) took offense to Barry’s characterization of negotiations, stating that he first learned about the DPW's desire to unionize during the Feb. 27 council meeting’s public hearing. He then asked each councilmember when they learned about it. While Councilmembers James Cole (Ward 1) and Brencis Smith (Ward 2) said that they also learned about the issue on Feb. 27, Councilmember Carl DeWalt (Ward 1) said he couldn’t recall when he heard, and Councilmember Martin Mitchell (At-Large) admitted he knew about it in December.

“Withholding information from the council is a lack of integrity,” Sydnor said. “If Councilmember Mitchell had come to us as a councilman to tell us what’s going on, we wouldn’t have this problem. You guys are misleading the public.”

Syndor stressed that he cast his vote to “make it loud and clear for the record” that the council completely supported the employees’ desire to unionize.

Mayor Craig Moe noted that he knew when the Laurel Police Department received approval to unionize, in September 2012,

that other departments would follow The police department is currently the city’s only unionized department.

“This is no big secret, I’ve been around. There is no issue with this,” Moe said. “This is the first time that I’ve heard, when it came up on the 27th, under everybody’s report, that they supported this. I don’t think anybody was opposed to anything.”

Moe noted that the process had “moved very quickly for a charter resolution we found about on the 27.” The city and union now have 50 days to develop a labor code.

- Katie V. Jones

NEW MEDICAL CENTER OPENS

On June 4, the University of Maryland Laurel Medical Center opened its doors. With an emphasis on wellness and preventive care, the center offers a range of outpatient services, including expanded emergency services and advanced surgical care.

The center has two operating rooms, two procedure rooms, 10 observation beds and 20 emergency department bays. There are several waiting rooms, including one for patients and one for children, and a small café.

A behavioral health center has its own entrance and offers emergency care and day treatment programs.

The center is not designed for trauma or extended care. Patients who require higher level of care will be stabilized at the center, then transferred to an appropriate facility, according to Gloria Oniha, UM Capital Region Health’s director of nursing and operations.

The 83,742 square foot building replaces the UM Laurel Medical Center (formerly Laurel Regional Hospital). The older facility will be demolished later this year. A medical office building is under construction adjacent to the new center.

- Katie V. Jones

NATIVE GARDENING WITH JIMMY

Welcoming wild bees into your garden

By Jimmy Rogers

The image of the bee is everywhere. T-shirts and coffee mugs proclaim their owners to be queen bees. Hexagons decorate honey-colored phone cases. Bakeries and coffee shops invoke the bee’s busy, buzzy nature.

Yet, that superstar bee isn’t one of our bees — not one of over 4,000 species native to the United States and Canada. Instead, it’s the honeybee (Apis mellifera), a long-ago domesticated species that originated in Asia, migrated westward and was introduced to North America by Europeans in the 1600s. In fact, the honeybee is an invasive species, as their comparatively massive hives can gobble up the pollen and nectar on which our native bees depend.

OUR NATIVE

BEES

While native bees may not make harvestable amounts of honey, they perform a wide variety of services for us. For instance, prior to the widespread use of honeybees in agriculture, native bees pollinated many of our food crops, such as cherries, blueberries, apples, squashes and okra. Even today, many crops such as tomatoes require the extrastrong wings of a bumblebee to shake loose the pollen — a phenomenon known as buzz pollination.

Over 500 species of native bee

reside in the Mid-Atlantic region, and they come in all shapes and sizes. Carpenter bees and bumblebees are among the largest bees and sport familiar black and yellow stripes. On the other end of the spectrum, sweat bees, which shine like metallic green jewels, can be as small as a quarter of an inch. Most native bees live in solitary holes in the ground or alongside neighboring bees, a bit like a bee condo. These subterranean queens socialize far less than honeybees, busily foraging pollen for their own baby bees. Most will also not defend their homes or flowers from humans, are much less likely to sting us than honeybees and do not induce allergic reactions.

The next time you’re walking down Montgomery Street in old town Laurel, take note of the redbud trees. If you see large, circular pieces of leaf missing, then a leafcutter bee has harvested material to build its nest. Mason bees and carpenter bees will build their homes from mud or rotten wood, respectively. Those who build nests above ground often hollow out old plant stems before packing them with their preferred nesting material.

BEE-FRIENDLY PRACTICES

The easiest and most rewarding way to be a friend to native bees is to plant native plants. Our farmers now rent honeybee boxes to pollinate their fields be-

Laurel High’s varsity baseball team wins 4A championship

By Angie Kozlowski

The Laurel High School boys varsity baseball team started their Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association 4A postseason play by winning sole possession of the Prince George’s County Public School 4A Baseball Championship — a first since 1988 — by beating Frederick Douglass High School 14-3 on May 9.

The Spartans were cochampions in 2021 due to continued game and season modifications because of the pandemic. This year was a regular season.

The Spartans went on to win their third regional championship with victories over High Point (7-2) and then Duvall (4-

cause we have destroyed nearby woodland and meadow bee habitats. Growing native flowers that produce pollen and nectar in your garden or on your balcony can help a new spring queen find enough food to establish her nest. Some bees only feed on a single type of plant, so planting a variety of species will multiply your impact.

Pesticides are a no-go in beefriendly gardens. According to Doug Tallamy, an entomologist at the University of Delaware and author of Bringing Nature Home, residential mosquito sprays only kill a small percentage of mosquitoes but kill bees, butterflies and other insects we can’t afford to lose. Tallamy recommends a low-cost, homemade mosquito trap instead. You can make your own by filling a five-gallon bucket half-full with water and adding a few leaves or weeds. Lean a sturdy stick against the inside, so larger animals can escape if they fall in. Into this place a quarter of a Mosquito Dunk, for sale at any hardware store, which is full of BT toxin. BT is harmless to adult insects, but when mosquitoes lay their eggs in the stagnant water, the BT will kill larvae, stopping the next generation. Replace the water and the dunk once a month until it gets cold outside. When fall arrives, you can leave the leaves to support our bees and many other insects, such as

butterflies, moths and lightning bugs. A large number of pollinators complete their life cycles in leaf litter. Avoid chopping up your leaves, as that will destroy most overwintering insects. Instead, leave whole leaves on your garden beds and lawn. The leaves will break down in their own time and return valuable organic matter to soil. If leaves accumulate so densely that you can’t see your grass at all, rake some into your garden beds in place of commercial mulch. Not only will this practice support pollinators, the whole-leaf mulch will help suppress early weeds in the spring.

EXPANDING OUR BEE KNOWLEDGE

Here in Laurel, we live just down the road from the Patuxent Research Refuge, home to the U.S. Geological Survey’s Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab (BIML). Known around town as the bee lab, it’s one of the nation’s foremost research facilities for studying native bees. The researchers there have amassed an incredible inventory of highresolution bee images, helping to document and define our evolving knowledge of North American bee diversity. At the moment, they are working with local organizations such as Laurel for the Patuxent (laurelforthepatuxent. org) and the National Wildlife Federation’s Sacred Grounds pro-

gram (nwf.org/sacredgrounds) to grow native plants for new planting projects and residential giveaways. Much of the information in this article was sourced from the BIML website, which you can find on usgs.gov.

If you’re looking for a great summer read, consider Our Native Bees, by Paige Embry. Featuring images from the BIML, Embry first digs deep into our agricultural relationship with honeybees and surveys the major groups of native bees, exploring whether they might have a bigger role to play in the future of our food production.

On Saturday, June 17, College Park’s Bee City USA committee is collaborating with Bee Campus UMD to host a pollinator resource fair at the University of Maryland campus from 1 to 4 p.m, at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center and screening the documentary film, My Garden of a Thousand Bees, from 1 to 2:30 p.m, including a Q&A afterward. The city of Laurel is also a Bee City USA affiliate; the program, which is run by the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, promotes pollinator-friendly communities throughout the country. You can sign up to learn more about local activities at beecity@laurel. md.us.

Jimmy Rogers is an avid native gardener and a member of the Laurel Environmental Affairs Committee.

1) in the finals. Fresh on heels of those victories, Laurel beat Eleanor Roosevelt (8-5) to advance to the state semifinals game, where they came in as the No. 4 seed and the 4A South Region 1 Champions for the third year in a row. Their run ended at the hands of top seed Urbana High School, who beat the Spartans 10-0 on May 23. Despite the loss, Laurel parents, family, friends and community members cheered loudly as the players left the field when the game ended.

Darlene Bunkley cheered for her son, senior Ethan Bunkley, and smiled broadly as she shared details of his plans to attend Towson University next year to study information technology and cyber security.

Senior catcher Victor Jovel also enjoyed the support of a large number of friends and family, including his mother, Cynthia Contreras, and Maika Contreras, his aunt. His mother Cynthia was proud of her son’s high school baseball career. “Victor played varsity all four years,” she said.

Freshman pitcher Chris Ross was on the mound for the Spartans in his first state semifinal game. His father Rod Ross said “Chris has been playing baseball since the age of 3, and he treats these [post season] games like just another game,” adding, “It’s been cool for him to have the support of the Laurel community.”

Cleveland, in wrapping up his team’s 2023 season, said his season highlight was the team’s April 22 comeback win over Bowie, who had beaten them in the first game of the year. Down 3 to 2 going into the seventh inning, the team scored three runs to take the

game in a 5-3 victory.

Cleveland had high praise for his top two pitchers: Jovel, who pitched the most innings and was catcher to Ross, who pitched and caught for Jovel. Cleveland further highlighted Bunkley, who was the team’s best hitter and scored the most runs, and the strong contributions from sophomore Aiden Lee, who had the most at bats,

the most hits and best batting average as a first-year varsity player.

The team will lose four seniors to graduation this year.

“It won’t be easy to replace those four important players,” Cleveland said “With remaining players improving and playing summer and fall ball, we should be just fine,” he added.