09-2023 The Laurel Independent

Laurel Community Garden celebrates 10th birthday

By Aiesha Solomon

Laurel Community Garden at Laurel Presbyterian Church celebrated its 10th birthday on Aug. 5.

An estimated 67 guests, including Mayor Craig Moe, former councilmember Fred Smalls and Bill Bailey, the director of Laurel’s Department of Parks and Recreation, enjoyed cake and numerous activities, including a game of I Spy Vegetables during the festivities.

“The idea was to give them sort of a purpose for walking around the garden,” said Valerie Groff, garden president. “We had the 12 plants, not all in one spot, but throughout the garden so that people would walk past other interesting things as they went.”

Guests also got to see the garden’s new signs.

“We’ve never had a sign at the garden before, and we were able to get a sign,” Groff said. “We also got a second sign made, which is kind of a commemorative thank you sign, A ‘thank you’ to all the people that both helped start the garden as well as have helped [it] continue literally to grow.”

Dawn Williams launched the garden in 2011 with Smalls’ support.

“I said, ‘Councilman Smalls, I always wanted to have an urban farm of my own. I love the outdoors, and I just, I’ve always wanted to do that.’” Williams said. “And during the course of our conversation, he said, … ‘I’ll help you. I’ll help you to create a community garden here in Laurel.’”

Smalls created a plan for the garden with input from staff at the University of Maryland Extension Master Gardener Program, then proposed the project to the city council. Interested residents worked with

the city to find a site for the garden.

“I went to several properties with the city of Laurel, the mayor and the city councilman and folks on their staff to look at these different sites. We looked at about three or four and we came up with the current site that we have now, behind the Laurel Presbyterian Church,” Williams said.

“That was absolutely perfect. It was

flat. It didn’t have any trees. They were more than willing to donate the land for the purposes of the community garden. They were amazing to work with.”

The Laurel Department of Parks and Recreation prepared the site and hired a plumber to connect a water line for the garden.

By Joe Murchison

16

CANDIDATES CERTIFIED

All 16 candidates who filed to run for mayor and city council have now been certified by the Laurel Board of Election Supervisors:

Mayor: Seeta Deonauth, Martin Mitchell, Brencis Smith, Keith Sydnor and Sophady Uong

City Council At-Large (one seat): Christine Johnson, Enrico McCleary II and Adrian Simmons

City Council Ward 1 (two seats): Carl DeWalt, James Kole, Connie Lucas and Stephen Wallace

City Council Ward 2 (two seats): Kyla Clark, Melvin Lindsley, Thomas Matthews Jr. and Jeffrey Mills

The election will be on Nov. 7, with early voting on Nov. 4. Citizens registered to vote through the state of Maryland or Prince George’s County are eligible

By Jessie Newburn

St. Philip’s Episocal Church, the charming stone church with a bright red door on the corner of 6th and Main streets, is celebrating its 175th anniversary on Sept. 16.

Louisa Snowden Capron established the church in 1848, with her own money. St. Philip’s was one of the first churches in the region to have an interracial cemetery when it was founded, one of the first churches to have female priests starting in the 1980s, and one of the comparatively earlier churches blessing same-sex marriages in 2013.

While these positions may seem commonplace today, they describe the character of St. Phillip’s over generations.

Rev. Robert Bunker, who will be installed as rector during the 175th anniversary celebration said, “When I was in seminary school, we were encouraged to visit about a dozen or so Episcopalian churches, and get a sense of them. The minute I walked into St. Philip’s. I immediately felt a sense of home and I felt

Makina Tiayon plays the I Spy Vegetable game during the community garden’s birthday celebration. COURTESY OF SHANNA B. TIAYON

Laurel ties to two Major League Baseball players

By David Driver

The encyclopedic records of Major League Baseball stretch back nearly 150 years, with information available from a number of sources, including the Society of American Baseball Research (SABR), baseballreference.com and

the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

And through all those generations, only one person born in Laurel made it to the majors, according to baseballreference.com — outfielder

Jim Brown, who was born in Laurel in 1891.

“Brown was the third and

youngest child born to James Sylvester and Annie Powers Brown on March 31, 1891, in Laurel,” according to an article by Tim Copeland of SABR.

“Brown’s father was born in Ellicott City in October 1850. His mother was born in Port Deposit on February 14, 1856.

“Nicholas Snowden’s stone

flour mill opened in 1811 on the site that would eventually become Laurel Factory, Maryland. That grist mill became a cotton mill in 1824 and by the turn of the twentieth century would be Laurel’s largest employer,” added SABR. “Census records indicate that it was the source of employment for Brown’s father from the 1880s through at least 1910, when James S. Brown was listed as one of the mill’s boss weavers.”

Brown spent several years playing minor league baseball in 28 different towns, according to SABR.

He made his debut in the majors on Sept. 13, 1915, for the St. Louis Cardinals against Brooklyn. Brown came off the bench to play outfield that day, and he had one hit in two at-bats.

Hall of Fame umpire Bill Klem was behind the plate that day calling balls and strikes. Klem would work in 18 World Series as an arbitrator.

The starting shortstop for the Cardinals in that game was Rogers Hornsby, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1942.

His debut game was the only Major League match Brown appeared in that year.

In 1916, with Philadelphia Athletics of the American League, he played in 14 games, with a batting average of .238. That would be his last season in the majors. His manager was Connie Mack, another hall of famer.

Brown’s last minor league season was 1926, with a team in Dubuque, Iowa. The outfielder played in more than 1,200 games in the minors,

with 53 homers in more than 4,000 at-bats.

According to SABR, he worked as an actor, gripman, cameraman and studio worker in the LAs Angeles area in the 1930s. Records reveal he was unemployed for a time in San Diego and was in jail briefly in 1942.

Brown died Oct. 22, 1944, in Bradwood, Oregon, and was buried in nearby Astoria.

“Brown’s death certificate showed that he was a carpenter working in the movie industry and that he had been in Oregon for about two months.

The Astoria Daily Budget reported on October 23, 1944, that Brown ‘had complained of his heart recently and that death was caused by a heart attack,’ but it provided no insight as to why Brown was in Bradwood. His body was taken to Hughes-Ransom Mortuary in Astoria, Oregon, where an inventory revealed $18.39 in cash and coins and a wallet containing his Social Security card and his Selective Service registration card,” according to SABR.

At least one other Major League player lived in Laurel for a brief time and that was former Orioles’ pitcher Steve Bechler, who died during spring training on Feb. 17, 2003 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Bechler, who was 23, died of heat stroke; tests revealed the right-hander had taken supplement ephedra, which contributed to his death, according to published reports. Bechler pitched in three games for the Orioles in 2002. He was born in Medford, Oregon — about 350 miles south of where Laurel native Brown is buried.

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

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Writers & Contributors David Driver Katie V. Jones, Joe Murchison, Jessie Newburn, Jimmy Rogers, Aiesha Solomon

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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.

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ST. MARK’S EMANCIPATION DAY CELEBRATIONS

More than 100 racers participated in St. Mark’s United Methodist Church’s 5K run/walk/fun walk for diabetes on Sept. 3. The race marked the start of the church’s annual Emancipation Day celebration which featured a parade, food and entertainment. COURTESY OF JACKIE JONES

From the editor

Welcome!

In August, The Laurel Independent expanded its circulation outside the city’s limits. The paper, which launched in July 2022, was awarded a $20,000 grant by the Prince George’s County Council, and we would like to thank both the council for their generosity and Councilmember Tom Dernoga (District 1) for his efforts in securing the grant. The funding allows us to now include addresses that are outside of the city proper, which close to doubles our distribution; about 30,000 homes will now receive The Laurel Independent every month.

I’d like to offer a hearty welcome to our new readers; we hope you’ll look forward to finding us in your mailbox every bit as much as we value bringing you news and information about events in the community.

Katie V. Jones, managing editor

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Sydnor’s energetic life of community service

By Joe Murchison

This is part of a series of profiles of candidates in Laurel’s mayoral race.

Keith Sydnor, 55, grew up poor in an underserved community, part of Petersburg, Va., with a single mother and five siblings. Had he followed in the footsteps of his peers, his life would likely be different now. “Most of my closest friends, they didn’t finish [high] school,” he said.

But Sydnor chose a different path. “The elders in the community always took a liking to me because of the respect I had for them,” he said. He made a habit of aiding older neighbors, picking up groceries and medicines, taking out trash, caring for pets. He even spent nights at neighbors’ homes when they needed company.

Those relationships were a positive influ-

ELECTION

to vote in the city election. For same-day registration, residents must provide a state-issued Identification card and a utility bill showing their home address. The polling places are the Laurel Municipal Center, 8103 Sandy Spring Road, for Ward 1 and the DiPietro Community Center, 7901 Cypress Street, for Ward 2.

MILLS REINSTITUTED AS CANDIDATE

Jeffrey Mills was cleared as a candidate for Ward 2 city councilmember on Aug. 21 after the city’s board of appeals reversed a decision by the board of election supervisors to disqualify him.

The elections board had ruled that Mills’ late filing of campaign finance reports after he ran for council in 2021, plus his two-year delay until May 2023 in paying $2,000 in fines related to the late filings, justified a four-year ban on his running for city office.

However, city attorney Lawrence Taub noted that the ordinance that allows such a ban links it to the commission of a misdemeanor Taub noted that any criminal charges had to be determined by a court and not by the city elections board.

Board of appeals chairman Frederick Smalls said he considered a ban on running to be too severe a penalty for late payment of the fines, even if said payment is two years late. “Once the fine is paid, you’re made whole,” he said.

MITCHELL, SYDNOR LEAD FUNDRAISING

As of the July 21 campaign-finance-reporting deadline, Martin Mitchell and Keith Sydnor raised

ence in Sydnor’s life, and he especially remembers a mentor of his, Otis Scott Jr., who was an Army veteran and college graduate. Scott took Sydnor to sports events and introduced him to a circle of ambitious friends, including a young woman who was on her way to becoming a doctor. “[Scott] just poured into my life,” Sydnor said.

These positive influences helped launch Sydnor’s careers in the Navy and in state and federal justice systems; during his stint as a correctional officer, he even earned his college degree. Sydnor was elected to the Laurel City Council in 2017. Throughout all of these experiences, Sydnor carved out time to mentor youth and serve his community.

In his youth, Sydnor joined a Police Explor-

the most money in campaign contributions.

Mitchell’s report to the City of Laurel Board of Election Supervisors showed 159 donations amounting to $15,192, of which he had spent $14,022. He received these donations between May 5 and July 19. The largest donations were $500.

Mitchell’s biggest expenses during that time were $4,970 for lawn signs; $2,590 for food and drink for campaign workers, meetings and events; and $1,908 for campaign literature. He also reported a $1,000 fine for putting up yard signs before being certified as a candidate. Mitchell was later fined another $1,000 for not removing the signs as ordered.

Sydnor’s report showed 250 donations amounting to $26,778, of which he had spent $15,601. He received these donations between Feb. 5 and July 1. The largest donation was $4,000 from CS Patuxent Greens LLC., a housing developer with a complex on a former golf course in the city. The second largest was $2,000 from GraCo Construction of Beltsville.

None of the other three mayoral candidates had raised more than $1,600. In the city council races, the top fundraiser was James Kole, an incumbent, with $1,454 in donations.

All campaign finance reports can be found on the city’s website at cityoflaurel.org/clerk/ elections-and-voter-registration.

The candidates are required to file two additional reports, one by Oct. 23 and one after the Nov. 7 election.

GROUPS PROTEST MITCHELL’S TREATMENT

Five organizations have written a letter to the board of election

Grateful for his life here, Uong wants to give back

By Joe Murchison

This is part of a series of profiles of candidates in Laurel’s mayoral race.

Sophady Uong (pronounced so-pah-dy oo-ong) wants to repay his adopted land for becoming “like heaven” to him after he survived the brutality of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia.

Uong was 7 years old in 1975 when the communist regime led by Pol Pot began a brutal four-year reign of terror. Uong, his father, pregnant mother and two siblings were ordered at gunpoint from their home in a city where his father was a teacher and mother a shop owner. They were marched 10 miles into the countryside, where they then lived in a hut that they built from coconut branches and

MILLS PROTESTS SIGNS FEATURING SYDNOR

Jeffrey Mills has launched an attack on mayoral candidate Keith Sydnor using a picture of Sydnor dressed as a city public works employee and riding on a sanitation truck.

Mills, a supporter of mayoral candidate Martin Mitchell, has placed the Sydnor photo on signs, a T-shirt and the door of one of Mills’ vehicles with the message: “Be true to Laurel! Fake news.”

Mills said on Aug. 21 that he had seen the image on a campaign mailer from Sydnor. “It disgusts me,” he said. “[Sydnor] said he was for DPW [Department of Public Works], but he was against DPW unionizing.” Mills also said he felt the picture dishonored the memory of a public works employee who was struck by a car and killed in 2017 while working on a sanitation truck.

Sydnor said he rode on the sanitation truck last spring for four hours to see what public works employees experience on the job. It was DPW Appreciation Week, and also a time when public works employees were seeking collective bargaining rights with complaints about work conditions and

supervisors protesting what they called “unconstitutional actions that you have targeted against City Council member Martin Mitchell.”

The organizations — Casa in Action, Progressive Maryland, Life After Release and two locals of the United Food and Commercial Workers union — said that the election board’s prohibition against candidates posting campaign signs before they have been certified by the board violates Mitchell’s First Amendment rights of free speech. It also questioned why Mitchell was hit with two $1,000 fines related to posting campaign signs when one of his opponents, Keith Sydnor, received no fines. The letter said Sydnor violated city election laws by accepting donations prior to fil-

palm tree leaves. They worked from sunrise to sunset clearing forests, planting rice paddies and doing other manual labor.

After six months, Uong’s father was separated from the family and sent to another work camp. Six months later, Uong was sent to a separate camp for teenagers.

“I learned how to survive,” he said. “We hardly had anything to eat.” He consumed snails, frogs, fish and rats — anything he could find. Half of the teens in the camp died of malnutrition or disease —or were executed.

In 1979, Vietnam invaded Cambodia and expelled Pol Pot. During the fighting,

pay, he said. Sydnor said he was pro-union and did not think his actions related to the killed worker.

“As a leader, you always want to go down to the front lines and find out what’s happening there.”

City workers have taken down Mills’ anti-Sydnor signs that were planted in city rights of way, said John Kish, chairman of the city’s board of election supervisors.

ing for candidacy on May 1, and also for failing to list donors’ addresses on his finance report, giving email addresses instead.

The elections board did not certify Mitchell’s candidacy until Aug. 30, which the letter said showed “authoritarian, antidemocratic tactics” against Mitchell, “for whose candidacy the City leadership objects.”

The letter was also sent to Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, U.S. Attorney Erek Barron and the Maryland State Board of Elections with a request that they investigate.

CANDIDATE FORUMS SCHEDULED

The Laurel Board of Trade will hold two candidate forums in October, which the public can attend in person or online.

A forum for candidates for city council will take place on Oct. 18 from 6 to 9 p.m. in the council chambers of the Laurel Municipal Center, 8103 Sandy Spring Road. A forum for mayoral candidates will be held on Oct. 25 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the same location. Residents can access the forums through Laurel TV (Verizon FiOS Channel 12, or Comcast Channel 996 or 71), and the events will be live-streamed at laureltv.org/watch-live.

Laurel Resist, a local grassroots organization (formerly known as the Historic Laurel Huddle), will hold four virtual forums at which candidates will be invited to present their platforms. The forums will be from 7 to 9 p.m. on Sept. 14 and 21, and Oct. 5 and 19.

Email LaurelResist@gmail.com for the Zoom links.

A sign by Jeffrey Mills featuring mayoral candidate Keith Sydnor. LAUREL BOARD OF ELECTIONS SUPERVISORS

SYDNOR

ers Program, where officers “saw potential in the way I was moving.” He joined the Navy out of high school only because he couldn’t become a police officer until he turned 21.

A firefighter and damage-control specialist and petty officer first class, he sailed to many parts of the world, including Scotland, the Persian Gulf, Hong Kong, Japan and Russia. While in Japan, he joined the Japanese-African American Friendship Association to connect with Japanese citizens. In Russia, he found residents of Vladivostok curious about his blackness: “An older lady was rubbing my skin. I said, ‘It doesn’t come off.’”

He was also stationed near his hometown in a military recruiting office in Richmond, Va. He spent some of his off-duty hours volunteering in a lunch-buddy program at a local public elementary school, and mentored one of the students for years. They even drove to Chambersburg, Pa., so the student could meet Sydnor’s mentor, Otis Scott. “That was a cool moment,” Sydnor recalled.

After 10 years in the Navy, Sydnor left active duty in 1996. He signed up for the Reserves and was hired by the Virginia Department of Corrections. He spent a year working as a correctional officer at the

state’s maximum-security prison in Jarrett, keeping order and calm in an often-hostile environment.

“There are a lot of dangerous moments,” he said. “You get threatened every day.” Once when he reported to a floor where a fellow officer had been beaten badly, one of the inmates said, “You’re next, Sydnor.”

Even more memorable was a compliment from a lifer, who told him how much he appreciated Sydnor’s calming presence and how he treated inmates with respect. “I felt like, ‘This is why I’m here,’” Sydnor said.

In 1997, Sydnor signed on with the Federal Bureau of Prisons and worked at a detention center in Brooklyn, and then at a prison back in his hometown. While working full-time in Petersburg, he enrolled in classes at Virginia State University and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in 2002. He also volunteered with a program to facilitate discussions between courtinvolved youth and their parents and coached football in a city recreation program.

In 2003, Sydnor took a job with a federal agency, the Pretrial Services Agency for the District of Columbia, where he supervised people accused of crimes as they prepared to go to trial. When he first moved to the area, he stayed with a friend from Petersburg who was living at Steward Manor

Apartments in Laurel. He realized he liked the area and has lived in the city ever since. In 2006, he bought his first home at Vistas II, where he served as vice president of the HOA.

Sydnor worked for the agency until 2019, helping to unionize the employees. “If it weren’t for unions, we wouldn’t have middleclass America,” he said. During this time he also deployed twice with the Navy Reserves, first to Kuwait and then Afghanistan. He also became a certified drug addictions counselor, volunteered as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, coached sports teams with the Bowie and Greenbelt Boys and Girls clubs, and assisted with a children’s science program in Southeast D.C..

Sydnor’s proudest moments in his six years as a city councilman have come as he’s worked with residents to resolve issues. He has connected tenants behind on their rent with a city program that leverages funds provided by the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Sydnor has been working as a substitute teacher in local Prince George’s County schools since 2020. He also serves as a mentor with the Prince George’s County chapter of 100 Black Men of America.

Reflecting, Sydnor boiled it all down: “Everywhere I live, I get involved in the community.”

Mayoral candidates have legal records

By Joe Murchison

The Laurel Independent searched publicly available court records on all of the city’s mayoral candidates, two of whom have run into trouble with the law. Readers should be warned that this article mentions sexual assault.

Martin Mitchell was convicted of a misdemeanor second-degree assault in an incident involving a woman in November 2013. He received a five-year jail sentence, which was suspended, and he was placed on five years of probation. In an interview, Mitchell denied that he had committed the crime.

In a statement of charges in Mitchell’s case, a Baltimore County police officer wrote that a woman came to a county police station on Nov. 10, 2013, to report an incident. The woman said she was having sex with Mitchell in the bedroom of his residence in Woodlawn when the woman, who was lying face down on the bed, looked up to find that Mitchell’s roommate had taken Mitchell’s place, the statement said. She observed that Mitchell and his

roommate were laughing, according to the statement.

Mitchell said in the interview that the statement was not correct. “We finished [sex] and she realized my roommate had walked in the room,” he said. “She freaked out.” Mitchell said his roommate did not engage in sex with the woman.

In the statement of charges, the officer quoted the woman as saying she yelled at the roommate when she saw he was having sex with her and that the roommate “stepped away and pulled up his pants.”

Mitchell and his roommate were students at the University of Maryland Baltimore County at the time. The statement of charges said the university suspended them when it learned of this incident.

Mitchell and his roommate were charged with two counts of sex offense and one of assault. At their trials in September 2014, they both tendered an Alford plea to the assault charge, meaning they did not admit to committing

SEE LEGAL ON 8 

Uong’s family managed to reunite and flee to Thailand. Two years and 10 refugee camps later, they were flown to Jacksonville, Fla., for resettlement. “We were able to regain our strength, our mind,” Uong said, although he added that his unimaginable childhood “still haunts me every day.”

Uong was 14 when he entered a middle school in Jacksonville, Florida,. He spoke almost no English; “the only thing I knew, was ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ … The only course I passed was math,” he said. “I flunked the first year.” By the end of high school, Uong was fluent in English, had immersed himself in American culture, was on the honor-roll and had been accepted to the University of Florida.

He graduated six years later, in 1995, with a degree in civil engineering, having worked full-time for two of those years at an electric utility to help support his family. After graduating, he took a job with a construction company in Atlanta.

Two years later, Uong married his high school sweetheart, Dorey, a fellow Cambodian refugee who also had earned a civil en-

gineering degree. They moved back to Jacksonville, where he worked for a consulting engineering firm.

In 1999, he realized he was ready for a change. “I’d lived in Florida for many years and I was looking for something different,” he said. He and his wife both landed jobs with the Maryland Department of Transportation. They settled in Ellicott City with their two young children. Uong was involved in a number of highway projects, including construction of the Route 29/ Route 216 interchange and renovation of the Route 29 bridge over I-495.

In 2006, Uong was working with DOT on projects in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, and his wife was stationed in Baltimore. They bought a house in Laurel’s Villages at Wellington neighborhood. “We were looking for good schools and for a midpoint to commute,” he said.

In 2008, Uong left DOT and went back to the private sector, working for private construction companies for the next nine years. In 2017, he joined the Prince George’s County Department of Public Works and Transportation as a construc-

tion manager.

Uong said he is ready for his next chapter, as both of his children have graduated from college, and he is a decade away from possible retirement.

“I’m asking myself, ‘What are you going to do for the next 10 years?’” One answer: He wants to find ways to give back to his community and the country that rescued him.

He acknowledged that he doesn’t have political experi-

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ence. “I’m running as a rookie, but don’t underestimate this rookie,” he said with a chuckle.

If elected, Uong’s top priority as mayor would be to assure public safety, an issue heightened for him by unprovoked attacks on Asians across the country in recent years.

He would also strive to lower the city’s property-tax rate, secure more state and federal grants, support minority businesses, and celebrate the com-

munity’s diversity. “I would like to see more Asian and Hispanic community events,” he said. “I want to promote cultural awareness.”

And Uong would like to serve as a model of success for young people. “My childhood is different from any American childhood. Nothing was given. I had to learn to survive and to thrive. … I came to America with a bag of clothes. Forty years later, this is where I am. This is an inspiration story.”

“I passed my road test on my first try.”

the crime but acknowledged the prosecution had enough evidence to convict them. Prosecutors dropped the two sex-offense charges.

The roommate received the same sentence as Mitchell.

Mitchell said in the interview, “We decided to do an Alford plea because you didn’t have to go to trial” and risk going to jail. “Sometimes in the criminal justice system, justice isn’t always reached.”

Online court records also show that Mitchell pleaded guilty to a charge of driving while impaired by a controlled dangerous substance in April 2013, for which he received probation before judgment. He said in the interview that the incident involved a minor traffic violation he made while driving in College Park with friends. He acknowledged that he had smoked marijuana before the stop.

Brencis Smith was charged in Montgomery County with driving without a license in May 2022. When he failed to show up for a trial last January, the judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest. Smith was served with the warrant on May 2 and was released on his own recognizance. The trial is now scheduled for Dec. 1.

Smith told the judge in a hand-written motion in March that he had not received the notice for his January court date.

In motions in May and June, he requested that his trial be moved up, indicating that he wanted it resolved because he was running

for mayor of Laurel. The judge declined his request.

In one of these motions, Smith mentioned that unpaid traffic tickets had been attached to his Maryland license, causing the license suspension. In an interview, Smith said the tickets dated back to 2012 or 2013, shortly after he moved to Maryland from his native Connecticut. Smith said correspondence about the tickets must have been mailed to his former Connecticut address, and he hadn’t received any.

He said his failure to attend to the tickets was a reflection of his young age and his father’s recent death. “At 23, was that top of my mind? No. I was still grieving.”

Court records also show that Smith was sued by the owner of a Greenbelt apartment complex for $6,658 in 2018. A Prince George’s County judge entered a civil judgment against Smith for $8,867, which included the initial amount, interest, attorney’s fees and court costs. The records show that Smith had satisfied the judgment by October 2020.

Smith said in the interview that he had moved into the apartment complex around 2015, and that the management hit him with a $2,000 fine for leaving tire tracks on the grass when he moved in. He said he asked to be allowed to fix the damage himself, but management refused. He said that experience, coupled with other management practices prompted him to move out a few months later, breaking his lease.

“I understand what happens to people with predatory behaviors,” Smith said, referring to complaints he had heard from some of his Laurel constituents about their landlords.

“We’re just there for them. Whatever they need, we’re happy to assist with them,” Bailey said.

The garden opened in 2013. The Department of Parks and Recreation handles registration for garden plots, according to Bailey. The garden has 46 plots; all have been sold out since 2021.

“After an initial $100 ‘entrance fee’ for the first year of membership, annual plot fees range in price from $50-$65 depending on the plot size. Discounts are given for those who are Laurel City residents, Laurel Presbyterian Church members, Senior Citizens and/or Military.” Groff wrote in an email.

The garden not only survived the pandemic; it thrived.

“I’m so glad we had so many years under our belts before the pandemic came.

The city worked very, very closely with the garden and our garden volunteer leadership to help us to determine what the safest parameters were, in terms of actually working in your garden plot during the pandemic,” Williams said.

Gardeners had to follow strict protocols, such as not having more than 10 people in the garden at any one time, maintaining social distancing, wearing clean gloves and not sharing tools, according to Williams.

“On the other hand, it was one of the best places to be, because outdoors

was the safest place, and you could still get…what I call therapy, that only an outdoor environment and garden and putting your hands in the soil can give you,” Williams said.

In addition to paying plot fees, gardeners have to complete six community service hours per growing season, Groff said.

“Things like mowing paths between plots, weedwhacking the fence and compost bins, weeding the LARS [Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services] plot or pollinator plots, picking and delivering produce from the LARS plot, etc.,” wrote Groff in an email.

LARS has a plot for raising produce for its food pantry, Groff wrote. With this donation system in place, the garden committee has a goal each year.

“In 2022, we’ve donated 371 pounds. I’m going to say we are very close to that already this year and we have a goal of 1000 pounds,” Groff wrote. In an update, Groff said that the garden is near 500 pounds of donated produce to LARS. The garden committee has its eyes on the future, too.

“We will continue to further refine our plant varieties and support structures in the LARS plot with an aim to produce more food to donate,” Groff wrote. “We hope to build more teams to take care of specific areas and needs of the garden, such as composting and communications. These teams also further the sense of community amongst the gardeners.”

The Board of Election Supervisors (‘Board”) would like to clear up a few things regarding the Board ’s duties and responsibilities as they relate to City of Laurel Elections and the qualification and certification process for potential candidates.

Among various issues recently raised related to the number of members of the Board of Election Supervisors. As is clear, the Board’s membership was increased per Ordinance No. 2000 approved by the Mayor and City Council on September 26, 2022, from three (3) Chief Judges to f ive (5) Chief Judges, two (2) from each of the City of Laurel Voting Wards, and one (1), a Chair who is also a City resident. As presently constituted, the Board includes two (2) Chief Judges, who have at least 25+ years of experience conducting City Elections, one member who has served for the last couple of election cycles, has served on other City Boards, Commissions, or Committees and who is also an Attorney. As noted above, there are two (2) recently appoint ed Chief Judges who joined the Board after the increase of membership in 2022. Members of the Board of Election Supervisors take their roles very seriou sly and are committed to ensuring that fair and accurate elections are conducted in the City. As part of its legal responsibilities, the Board has a duty t o ensure that only citizens who meet all the requirements and qualifications are certified to run for public office.

Under the law, the Board is charged with responsibility for oversight of all aspects of election activities relating to the C ity elections, including election of members of the City Council and the Mayor. As part of those duties, the Board reviews applications submitted by persons seeki ng to be certified as candidates for elected office. Application for candidacy certification involves, among other requirements, completion of a candidate pac ket which includes four (4) required documents. The required documents comprising the candidate packet are: 1. Certificate of Candidacy form, 2. Ethics Com mission Financial Disclosure Statement (FDS), 3. Assignment of Campaign Treasurer Form, and 4. Campaign Contribution and Expenditure Report. The Board of Election Supervisors review of candidate applications also includes reports submitted to it by the City of Laurel Ethics Commission, reports and a pplications submitted by putative candidates, as well as from agencies of City government.

As part of the Board’s review of candidate packets, various agencies and departments of City government provide necessary information for Board co nsideration. For example, the Laurel City Department of Budget and Personnel Services reviews its records to determine if any candid ate is in arrears in the payment of any City tax, assessment, fine, penalty, or other financial obligation. The Department of the Fire Marshal and Permit Serv ices reviews its records to ensure that there are no outstanding property code or fire and life safety violations for any property owned by a potential candidat e. The City of Laurel Office of the City Clerk reviews records to determine that there are no outstanding Election Code or Charter violations, including the requ irement that candidates be in compliance with all reporting requirements to timely submit complete and accurate reports.

The Board first meets to open candidate packets to ensure that all the required documents are included in the packets. The in itial check of the packets for the 2023 General Election was completed on July 24, 2023. Following its preliminary review, the Board forwards each candidate ’s Financial Disclosure Statements to the City’s Ethics Commission in separate, sealed envelopes for their review. Contemporaneously, the Board makes requests to each of th e City’s affected Departments listed above for submittal of the information as required of each agency for review by the Board of Electi on Supervisors. Where the Ethics Commission raises questions about an applicant ’s Financial Disclosure Statement, the Ethics Commission provides notice to the Board of their questions and concerns. In those instances, the Board requests that a potential candidate make an appointment to meet with Board staff to affo rd the potential candidate the opportunity to amend, revise, correct, complete, or provide additional information sufficient to address the Ethics Commissio n’s comments or concerns. Potential candidates are given twenty (20) days from the date the Board notifies them of any questions or concerns to make any ame ndments or additions to a questioned report. Failure to timely, accurately, and thoroughly complete reports required to be submitted under the law is the p otential candidate’s responsibility and is beyond the control of the Board. Moreover, the failure of a candidate to observe filing deadlines for filing reports, and the failure to file complete reports affects the Board’s ability to quickly review a potential candidate ’s application.

All potential candidates are advised about the filing deadlines along with the requirement that reports contain all necessary information to be deemed complete to allow the Ethics Commission and the Board to review a report. Compliance with filing deadlines for submission of reports a nd insuring completeness in reports of necessary information are in the first instance, the responsibility of potential candidates. As in most human ende avors, some candidates are responsive to filing deadlines and the requirements to submit complete and thorough disclosures thereby dispensing with the need fo r supplementation, amendment, or correction of filed reports.

The Board and Ethics Commission through staff, attempt to advise potential candidates of their obligations to fully, complete ly and truthfully submit reports to the Board for its consideration. In those instances where a potential candidate fails to comply with reporting requirements, the Board alerts the potential candidate about perceived deficiencies in reports. Where amendments, corrections, or supplementation of reports are submitted to t he Board, the Board thereafter notifies the Ethics Commission of the revisions to reports. Thereafter, the Ethics Commission designates one of its members t o review any correction, addition, etc., made to a potential candidate ’s report. After this review, the Ethics Commission notifies the Board of its re -review of the FDS and its opinion on the changes made to the report.

In discharging its duties, the Board is guided and informed by the City Code and Charter. It has legal counsel assigned to as sist and advise it in their reviews and decisions of applications. As noted above, the Board receives information and reports from the City of Laurel Ethics Comm ission. The Board’s work is supported by the City of Laurel Staff who gathers and supplies the Board with information necessary for the review and consid eration of a potential candidate’s compliance with the qualifications outlined in the City Code. The City staff does not participate in the decisions made by the Board.

In preparation for this year ’s election, the Board initially reviewed all campaign packets to ensure that all potential candidates comply with the laws re quiring submittal of accurate, complete applications and further, that all applicants satisfy all other legal requirements and qualif ications for candidacy. For those candidates who submitted accurate, complete packets and who otherwise complied with other legal requirements, the certification process was completed within days of the filings. For candidates who did not submit complete candidate packets, or who otherwise were not in compliance wi th other requirements of the City’s Election Code, the Board notified these individuals of the items requiring completion or compliance with the City Code. For some of these potential candidates, failure to timely file Financial Disclosure Statements, and/or failure to submit sufficient information in filing s made with the Board, sufficient to allow the Ethic’s Commission and the Board to determine compliance with applicable requirements, the certification process was prolonged. Pot ential candidates were notified about questions and deficiencies in their reports and submissions. Many were able to correct outstanding issues quickly while others took longer to make the necessary corrections, or to provide complete and accurate information sufficient for the Board and Ethics Commission to confirm compliance with requirements. Other potential candidates have failed to comply with election laws, failed to pay outstanding financ ial obligations, or in some instances, failed to rectify and address other concerns thereby frustrating the Board ’s ability to certify candidacy. Continued on Page 4

STATEMENT FROM THE C ITY OF LAUREL BOARD OF ELECTION SUPERVISORS:

DECLARACIÓN DE LA CI UDAD DE LAUREL JUNTA DE SUPERVISORES ELECTORALES:

La Junta de Supervisores Electorales ("Junta") quisiera aclarar algunas cosas con respecto a los deberes y responsabilidades de la Junta en relación con las Elecciones de la Ciudad de Laurel y el proceso de calificación y certificación de candidatos potenciales.

Entre varias cuestiones planteadas recientemente están relacionadas con el número de miembros de la Junta de Supervisores Ele ctorales. Como queda claro, la membresía de la Junta aumentó según la Ordenanza No. 2000 aprobada por el Alcalde y el Concejo Municipal el 26 de septiembre de 2022, de tres (3) Jueces Principales a cinco (5) Jueces Principales, dos (2) de cada uno de los Distritos electorales de la C iudad de Laurel y un (1) Presidente que también es residente de la Ciudad. Tal como está constituida actualmente, la Junta incluye dos (2) Jueces Principales, qu e tienen al menos más de 25 años de experiencia en la conducción de Elecciones Municipales, un miembro que ha trabajado durante los últimos dos ciclos elector ales, ha trabajado en otras Juntas, Comisiones o Comités y quien además es abogado. Como se señaló anteriormente, hay dos (2) Jueces Principales nombrados r ecientemente que se unieron a la Junta después del aumento de miembros en 2022. Los miembros de la Junta de Supervisores Electorales toman sus funciones muy en serio y están comprometidos a garantizar que se lleven a cabo elecciones justas y precisas en la Ciudad. Como parte de sus responsabilidades lega les, la Junta tiene el deber de garantizar que sólo los ciudadanos que cumplan con todos los requisitos y calificaciones estén certificados para postularse para cargos públicos. Según la ley, la Junta tiene la responsabilidad de supervisar todos los aspectos de las actividades electorales relacionadas con las elecciones de la Ciudad, incluida la elección de los miembros del Concejo Municipal y del Alcalde. Como parte de esas funciones, la Junta revisa las sol icitudes presentadas por personas que buscan ser certificadas como candidatos para cargos electos. La solicitud de certificación de candidatura implica, entre otros requisitos, completar un paquete de candidato que incluye cuatro (4) documentos requeridos. Los documentos requeridos que componen el paquete del candidato son: 1. Formulario de Certificado de Candidatura, 2. Declaración de Divulgación Financiera de la Comisión de Ética, 3. Formulario de Asignación de Tesorero de Campaña y 4. Informe de Gastos y Contribuciones de Campaña. La revisión de las solicitudes de candidatos de la Junta de Supervisores Elector ales también incluye informes que le presenta la Comisión de Ética de la Ciudad de Laurel, informes y solicitudes presentadas por candidatos putativos, así como de agencias del gobierno de la Ciudad.

Como parte de la revisión de los paquetes de candidatos por parte de la Junta, varias agencias y departamentos del gobierno d e la Ciudad revisa la información necesaria para la consideración de la Junta. Por ejemplo, el Departamento de Presupuesto y Servicios de Personal de la Ciudad de Laurel revisa sus registros para determinar si algún candidato está atrasado en el pago de algún impuesto, tasación, multa, sanción u otra obligación fin anciera de la Ciudad. El Departamento del Jefe de Bomberos y Servicios de Permisos revisa sus registros para garantizar que no existan códigos de propiedad p endientes o violaciones de seguridad humana y contra incendios para ninguna propiedad de un candidato potencial. La Oficina de la Secretaria Municipal de la Ciudad de Laurel revisa los registros para determinar que no hay violaciones pendientes del Código Electoral o de los Estatutos, incluido el requisito de que los candidatos cumplan con todos los requisitos de presentación de informes para presentar oportunamente informes completos y precisos.

La Junta se reúne primero para abrir los paquetes de los candidatos y garantizar que todos los documentos requeridos estén in cluidos en los paquetes. La verificación inicial de los paquetes para las Elecciones Generales de 2023 se completó el 24 de julio de 2023. Luego de su revisión preliminar, la Junta envía las Declaraciones de Divulgación Financiera de cada candidato a la Comisión de Ética de la Ciudad en sobres sellados separados pa ra su revisión. Al mismo tiempo, la Junta solicita a cada uno de los departamentos afectados de la Ciudad enumerados anteriormente la presentación de la i nformación requerida por cada agencia para su revisión por parte de la Junta de Supervisores Electorales. Cuando la Comisión de Ética plantea preguntas sob re la declaración de divulgación financiera de un solicitante, notifica a la Junta sus preguntas e inquietudes. En esos casos, la Junta solicita que un candid ato potencial programe una cita para reunirse con el personal de la Junta para permitir al candidato potencial la oportunidad de enmendar, revisar, corregir, comp letar o proporcionar información adicional suficiente para abordar los comentarios o inquietudes de la Comisión de Ética. Los candidatos potenciales tienen ve inte (20) días a partir de la fecha en que la Junta les notifica cualquier pregunta o inquietud para realizar modificaciones o adiciones a un informe cuestionado . No completar de manera oportuna, precisa y exhaustiva los informes que deben presentarse según la ley es responsabilidad del candidato potencial y está fu era del control de la Junta. Además, el hecho de que un candidato no respete los plazos de presentación de informes y el hecho de no presentar informes completos afecta la capacidad de la Junta para revisar rápidamente la solicitud de un candidato potencial.

A todos los candidatos potenciales se les informa sobre las fechas límite de presentación junto con el requisito de que los i nformes contengan toda la información necesaria para que se consideren completos y permitan a la Comisión de Ética y a la Junta revisar un informe. El cumplim iento de los plazos para la presentación de informes y garantizar que los informes estén completos con la información necesaria son, en primera instancia, r esponsabilidad de los candidatos potenciales. Como en la mayoría de los esfuerzos humanos, algunos candidatos responden a los plazos de presentación y a los r equisitos de presentar divulgaciones completas y exhaustivas, prescindiendo así de la necesidad de complementar, modificar o corregir los informes presenta dos

La Junta y la Comisión de Ética, a través de su personal, intentan asesorar a los candidatos potenciales sobre sus obligacion es de presentar informes completos y veraces a la Junta para su consideración. En aquellos casos en los que un candidato potencial no cumple con los requisitos de present ación de informes, la Junta alerta al candidato potencial sobre las deficiencias percibidas en los informes. Cuando se presentan a la Junta modific aciones, correcciones o suplementación de informes, la Junta notifica posteriormente a la Comisión de Ética las revisiones de los informes. Posteriormente, la Comisión de Ética designa a uno de sus miembros para revisar cualquier corrección, adición, etc., realizada al informe de un posible candidato. Después de esta revisión, la Comisión de Ética notifica a la Junta su nueva revisión de la declaración de divulgación financiera y su opinión sobre los cambios realizados en el informe.

En el desempeño de sus funciones, la Junta se guía e informa por el Código y los Estatutos de la Ciudad. Cuenta con asesores legales asignados para asistirlo y asesorarlo en sus revisiones y decisiones de solicitudes. Como se señaló anteriormente, la Junta recibe información e informe s de la Comisión de Ética de la Ciudad de Laurel. El trabajo de la Junta cuenta con el apoyo del personal de la Ciudad de Laurel, quien recopila y proporcion a a la Junta la información necesaria para la revisión y consideración del cumplimiento de un candidato potencial con las calificaciones descritas en el Código de la Ciudad. El personal de la Ciudad no participa en las decisiones tomadas por la Junta.

En preparación para las elecciones de este año, la Junta revisó inicialmente todos los paquetes de campaña para garantizar qu e todos los candidatos potenciales cumplan con las leyes que exigen la presentación de solicitudes precisas y completas y, además, que todos los solicitantes cu mplan con todos los demás requisitos y calificaciones legales para la candidatura. Para aquellos candidatos que presentaron paquetes completos y precisos y que cumplieron con otros requisitos legales, el proceso de certificación se completó a los pocos días de la presentación. Para los candidatos que no presentaron paquetes de candidatos completos, o que de otro modo no cumplieron con otros requisitos del Código Electoral de la Ciudad, la Junta notificó a estas personas sob re los elementos que requerían completar o cumplir con el Código de la Ciudad. Para algunos de estos candidatos potenciales, la falta de presentación oportu na de declaraciones de divulgación financiera y/o la falta de presentación de información suficiente en las presentaciones realizadas ante la Junta, sufici ente para permitir que la Comisión de Ética y la Junta determinen el cumplimiento de los requisitos aplicables, el proceso de certificación fue extendido. Los cand idatos potenciales fueron notificados sobre preguntas y deficiencias en sus informes y presentaciones. Muchos pudieron corregir los problemas pendientes rápida mente, mientras que otros tardaron más en hacer las correcciones necesarias o en proporcionar información completa y precisa suficiente para que la Junta y la Comisión de Ética confirmaran el cumplimiento de los requisitos. Otros candidatos potenciales no cumplieron con las leyes electorales, no pagaron oblig aciones financieras pendientes o, en algunos casos, no rectificaron ni abordaron otras inquietudes, frustrando así la capacidad de la Junta para certificar la candidatura.

El proceso de la Junta sirve para asesorar a los candidatos potenciales sobre preguntas, inquietudes y asuntos pendientes que interfieren con un proceso de certificación eficiente para todos los candidatos. En ningún momento ha sido ni será la intención de la Junta no certificar a ni ngún candidato potencial que satisfaga legítimamente todos los requisitos y calificaciones para un cargo electo en la Ciudad. Continúa en la Página 4

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:

• Due to the Mayor and City Council being on Hiatus in August, no new Legislation was passed.

Bid Approvals:

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

Mayoral Appointments:

• No Mayoral Appointments came before the Mayor and City Council August 2023.

(Dates and Times Subject to Change)

September 2023 Mayor and City Council Meetings

 September 25th - In-Person Mayor and City Council Meeting (6:00pm)

September 2023 Boards and Commissions

 September 19th - In-Person Historic District Commission

 Work Session (5:00pm) Regular Meeting (6:00pm)

 September 26th - Environmental Affairs Committee (6:00pm)

 September 28th - Board of Appeals (6:00pm)

October 2023 Mayor and City Council Meetings

 October 4th - Virtual Mayor and City Council Work Session (6:00pm)

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

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

October 2023 Boards and Commissions

 October 10th - Historic District Commission (6:00pm)

 October 17th - Planning Commission (6:00pm)

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

(Da tes and Times Subject to Change)

 September 14, 2023 - Laurel Farmer’s Market - 3 - 7pm, Laurel Quill Lot, 378 Main Street. Visit their Facebook page: @TheLaurelQuillLot

 September 23, 2023 - Senior Trip - Kinta Kinte Heritage Festival - 10am, Cost $10 - Call 301-776-6168.

 September 28, 2023 - Laurel Farmer’s Market - 3 - 7pm, Laurel Quill Lot, 378 Main Street. Last Market for the season!

 October 4, 2023 - Senior Trip - Sister Act at Toby’s Dinner Theater10:00am, Cost: $75. Call 301-776-6168.

 October 9, 2023 - City/Passport Offices Closed In Observance of Indigenous People Day. Visit www.cityoflaurel.org for adjusted collections.

 October 14, 2023 - Ecycle/Paper Shredding Event - 8am - Noon, 305-307 First Street (Public Works Facility). Visit www.cityoflaurel.org for details.

 October 26, 2023 - Main Street Trick or Treat - 6-9pm

 October 27, 2023 - Take-Away Treat Spooktacular - 6:30-8:30pm, Robert J. DiPietro Community Center, 7901 Cypress Street.

 October 31, 2023 - Trick or Treat in the City of Laurel - 6-8pm; Turn on your porchlight to let Trick or Treaters know you have goodies to hand out!

For More Election/Early Voting/ Ballot Information, Visit www.cityoflaurel.org

Para obtener más información sobre elecciones, votación anticipada y boletas, visite www.cityoflaurel.org

PUBLIC WORKS

The Board’s process serves to advise potential candidates of questions, concerns and outstanding matters that interfere with an efficient certification process for all candidates. At no time has it been, nor will it ever be, the Board ’s intention not to certify any potential candidate who legitimately satisfies all the requirements and qualifications for elected office in the City.

The Board of Election Supervisors is committed to ensuring that City elections be conducted fairly and without prejudice or partiality to any potential candidate(s). In so doing, it is essential that all potential candidates conduct their respective campaign activities in strict compliance with the applicable law. All candidates must abide by the same rules and procedures. A hallmark of fair election processes is where all candidates observe the same rules and procedures, with no one candidate seeking to gain an unfair advantage in any aspect of campaign activities. Fairness dictates that the playing field be level for all candidates. The failure to have a uniform set of rules applicable to all candidates poses a threat to the integrity of free and fair election processes.

Supervisores de la Junta Electoral continuaron ...

La Junta de Supervisores Electorales se compromete a garantizar que las elecciones de la Ciudad se lleven a cabo de manera ju sta y sin prejuicios ni parcialidad hacia ningún candidato potencial. Al hacerlo, es esencial que todos los candidatos potenciales realicen sus respectivas a ctividades de campaña en estricto cumplimiento de la ley aplicable. Todos los candidatos deben cumplir con las mismas reglas y procedimientos. Una característi ca distintiva de los procesos electorales justos es que todos los candidatos observan las mismas reglas y procedimientos, sin que ningún candidato busque obtener una ventaja injusta en ningún aspecto de las actividades de campaña . La equidad dicta que el campo de juego sea nivelado para todos los candidatos. La falta de un conjunto uniforme de reglas aplicables a todos los candidatos plantea una amenaza a la integridad de los procesos electorales li bres y justos.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

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

EVENTS

Open House. Search for fossils at Dinosaur Park, Sept. 16, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 13200 Mid Atlantic Blvd. dinosaurpark@pgparks.com 301.627.1286

“The Play That Goes Wrong.” A play-within-a-play murder mystery by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shield, produced by special arrangement with Concord Theatricals. Laurel Mill Playhouse, Main St. Sept. 15, 16, 22 - 24, 29 and 30. Oct. 1 and 5 - 7. Times vary. $12-$24. For more information call 301.617.9906 or go to laurelmillplayhouse.org

Historic Laurel Homes. An exhibit of Susanne Pfeifer’s watercolor paintings of Laurel homes circa 1890. Sept. 23 through Oct. 6. Columbia Art Center, 6100 Foreland Garth, Columbia. 410.730.0075

Beatle Legends! A dinner and show featuring the best of the Beatles along with $25 toward dinner and drinks at Olive on Main. Oct. 15, 2 p.m. Laurel Mill Playhouse, 508 Main St. $45. For more information go to lmp508main@gmail. com or call 301-617-9906!

Steamed Crabs. Laurel Lions Club is selling steamed crabs $60 to $325. Advance orders through Oct. 18. Walk-in sales as available. Oct. 21, 1 to 4 p.m. City of Laurel Department of Parks and Recreation Maintenance Facility, 7705 Old Sandy Spring Road. 301.467.0605

Craft Fair. The Willows at Victoria Falls, a senior retirement community, hosts a sale of unique crafts. Oct. 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, and Oct. 29, noon to 3 p.m. 13701 Belle Chasse Blvd.

MONTPELIER HOUSE MUSEUM 9650 Muirkirk Road 301.377.7817

Goode Inventions Home School

Days: Discover the power of innovation and learn. Sarah Goode and other African American inventors. Scavenger hunts and hands-on activities for students ages 8 - 12. Sept. 20, 10 a.m. $5. Reservations required; call 301377-7817 no later than Sept. 18.

Souls Seeking Freedom Walking

Tour: The Untold Story of the Enslaved of Montpelier. Learn about slavery and resistance at Montpelier, more broadly in the state and beyond. Oct. 7, 1 p.m. $10.

Hidden Spaces Tour. A behindthe-scenes look at construction, preservation and restoration of Montpelier. Oct. 8, 3:30 p.m. $20.

MONTPELIER ARTS

CENTER 9652 Muirkirk Road 301.377.7800

Exhibits

Patrick Cromwell. Abstract prints by center instructor Patrick Cromwell. Through Oct. 22.

Ngoc Le. Installations made by Le with everyday objects. Through Nov. 5.

Hispanic Heritage Art Exhibit

- Love, Hope and Art: Woven Thread. Abstract paintings and portraits reflecting Hispanic culture. Through Nov. 5.

Concerts

Avon Dews. This harmonicaplaying District native will perform his mix of classic jazz, blues and funk. Sept. 14, noon. $15.

Allyson Bennett. The Bostonbased soprano will perform selections from various operas. Sept. 17, 3 p.m. Free.

The Lao Tizer Band. Led by keyboardist and composer Lao Tizer, the jazz group will perform selections from “Songs from the Swinghouse” (for a taste, go to tinyurl. com/3zjkwjwe). Sept. 23, 8 p.m. $25.

LAUREL HISTORY

MUSEUM 817 Main St.

301.725.7975

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

McCeney March. A 1.25 mile walk honoring LHS board member James McCeney Proceeds benefit LHS educational programs and scholarships. Celebrate at Laurel Municipal Pool with pizza, 2023 James B. McCeney scholarship winners and Cold Oven Pound Cake challenge. Walk starts at the Laurel History Museum. Sept. 30, 10 a.m. to noon.

LAUREL BRANCH

LIBRARY 507 7th St.

301.776.6790

Coming to America: Why More Immigration Isn’t So Bad. Join author Bear Afkhami and library staff for a brief history of immigration in the U.S. and a discussion about the economic benefits of more open immigration policies. Sept. 13, 6 p.m.

Festival of Cultures. Experience the rich diversity of the U. S. through stories, dance and performances. Sept. 30, 10:30 a.m.

Music Performance by Liah Perez. Experience the heartfelt

melodies and soulful storytelling of Dominican-American singer and songwriter Liah Perez. Oct. 7, 1 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

Night Hike. Join a ranger and explore the North Tract at night to learn about bats, owls and coyotes. Sept. 15 and 29, 8 p.m.

Bike Riding at the Refuge. A 12mile guided ride. Bring your own bike, helmet, water bottle and snack. Sept. 16, 10 a.m.

Photo-Adventure Scavenger Hunt. Learn about the history and features of the refuge on a scavenger hunt for all ages. Oct. 7. 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

SEE CALENDAR ON 15 

July 24th at the Board of Election Supervisors meeting approximately 1:06 into the meeting which is televised on YouTube, Chairman Kish actions caused a room full of Laurel citizens to be curious and angry. Why, because the term “benefit of the doubt “ was used by Chairman John Kish when it came to the candidate who had not turned in her expenditure form with her candidate packet. I took noticed that Rhonda Whitley, Esquire said that she could not sign off on this female’s packet because the packet was missing vital information, but the Chairman wanted the Chief Judge Rhonda Whitley to sign off anyway as if all was good. Give her the benefit of the doubt Chairman Kish says.

Earlier this summer before any candidates were approved by the Board of Election Supervisors, there was an email sent to John Kish from a concered citizen that stated that Council member Keith Sidnor was campaigning for Mayor in early February and was requesting and raising funds prior to May 1st and siliciting through mailers and door hangers, but Chairman Kish has yet to respond to this curious and concerned citizen. Sara Green, City Clerk told Coucilman Mitchell that he could not raise funds prior to becoming a candidate because its considered shadow campaigning and its against the law. The now candidate Sydnor has been using these very funds which are in his financial disclosure forms to gain a lead in this race. Candidate Sydnor should be fined and disqualified to run this race. I don this “Be true to Laurel” shirt because Councilman Sydnor sent this picture OUT siliciting his candidacy perpetrating as if his down with DPW. It’s a disgrace and Very disrespectful to the family members and friends of the young brother that got killed on the job on this very road. They are owned an apology. The driver was never charged either. The term benefit of the doubt comes to mind for everybody who is doing wrong, but those who are doing right are being cheated and charged.

In this same meeting July 24th 1:11 there was a curios and concerned citizen that questioned about this term, “benefit of the doubt” and he was yelled and cursed at by John Kish, Chairman. The Chairman was asked to pipe down by Cheif Judge Rhonda Whitley and some of the other citizens that were attended this meeting. John Kish later said in the meeting that he would apologize to the board, but he did not apologize to the curious and concered citizen. Nor did he give him “benefit of the doubt.” If this citizen was running for any candidate seat, the Chairman would have fined him $1000 from sec 6-35 City Codes for conduct when it was Chairman Kish’s immoral conduct that was very concerning.

It seems to me that if your not a friend of this Board of Election Supervisors who are volunteers and who are NOT professionals, you’re subject to be fined $1000 from ONLY sec 6-35 of the City Codes.

In no way am I being rude or disrespectful to this board or the board of election supervisors. William Wellford, Chief Judge in this same meeting stated at 1:13 and I quote, “the board of supervisors would like to make the election fair to everybody and on the up and up with all the things that go on with elections across the country, not the world, we try to make this little city election to be transparent, open and fair, mainly fair to everybody because that’s my pet pev.” I’ve been doing this for 25 years.” (end quote) If you’ve been doing something for 25 years, that would make you a professional! But, what concerned us all, (those citizens in the meeting and who now see this meeting on social media), both Mr.Wellford and Mr. Kish stated that they were not professionals and are just volunteers.

In a July 27th Board of Election Supervisors meeting requested by Council At-Large Member Martin Mitchell, he was also fined $1000 from sec 6-35 because some signs were placed in a right away. I have in the past, have seen some of at the time Councilman Smalls signs in the right away. Curious and concerned citizens ask though, has he been fined $1000 by the Board Election Supervisors or was he giving the benefit of a doubt?

LET’S GET TO ME!

Here are the basic issues with my situation. While the Board of Election Supervisors is clearly incorrect, my failure to file Campaign Finance Reports has given the Board an opening that they are exploiting. The Board reference Section 6-35 .... specifically, subsection (a) without stating it.

Per Laurel City Code Section 6-35- A person who violates the subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction is: (1) subject to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or imprison-

ment not exceeding sixty (60) days, or both and (2) Shall be ineligible to hold any public office for a period of four (4) years of the date of the offense. This legislation was in effective beginning on January 11, 2021 and remains in effect to this day, making you ineligible to run for elective office in the 2023 General Election. Therefore, the Board of Election Supervisors will not certify your candidacy.

This is from the letter John Kish, Chairman or The Board of Elections Supervisors sent me on August 10th, 2023. In his letter also states, in the 2021 General Election in which I was a candidate for council, I failed to file my Campaign Financial Reports per Laurel City Code Section 6-31Election reports to be filed by treasurer. I was my own treasurer and yes I filed late, but not due to my on account. Chairman Kish says in a letter that the candidate book has all forms in it, but my book just so happen to not have all the financial disclosure forms in it. I wish to appeal the Boards decision of not certifying my candidacy.

My argument comes from Section 6-31 (Election reports to be filed by treasurer) provides for filing a timely election report. Section 6-31(e) provides for violations to be punishable under Section 6-36. There is no Section 6-36 in the Code, so therefore I am requesting a reimbursement of the $2000 that I paid to the City on July 10th, 2023 due to the Chairman’s inability of understanding the City of Election Laws, Political Campaign Laws and Laurel City Code Chapter 6 Article / Sections 6-1 through 6-35.

Sec. 6-31. Election reports to be filed by treasurer.

(a) The treasurer designated by a candidate prior to an election shall file reports or statements of contributions and expenditures as prescribed by the board of election supervisors.

(2) Unsuccessful candidates shall file a final campaign report that is accepted and approved as sufficiently itemized and complete by the election board or its designee within thirty (30) days of the election.

(e) A violation of this section shall be punishable in accordance with section 6-36.

AGAIN, THERE IS NO SECTION 6-36!

Arguably, in circuit court a judge shall say that only Section 6-36 may be used for punishment and therefore there is no 6-36 so there is NO punishment.

Or, a judge may recognize that the intended cross reference is to Section 6-35(c) “Assessment of late fees and penalties.” This subsection, which is directly on point for a violation, only provides for a financial penalty ($20 per day), presumably with a $1,000 total limit.

Without basis, the Board is relying on Section 6-35(a) (Penalties for certain prohibited conduct). However, subsection (a) refers to violations of section 6-35(a) (i.e., itself) being a misdemeanor which can bar a person from being a candidate for a period of four (4) years, but Section 6-35(a) does not state any prohibited conduct. This language provides a confusing circular reference. One would expect that the cross reference is incorrect and that the intended reference is to Section 6-34 (Prohibited conduct) which specifies various activities that are prohibited conduct. Notably, the conduct prohibited in Section 6-34 generally comprises serious fraudulent activities or voter interference, and pointedly not mundane matters such as late filed campaign reports.

When one looks at the structure of “ARTICLE VII. VIOLATIONS OF ELECTION LAWS AND APPLICABLE PENALTIES”, there are only two Sections. Section 6-34 lists Prohibited Conduct. Section 6-35 provides the penalties for “prohibited conduct”, with subsection (a) intended to provide the criminal penalties for violations of Section 6-34.

In the Chairman’s own letter, states that I being the treasurer who filed late is subject to a penalty under Section 6-31 and (e) a violation of this section shall be punishable in accordance with section 6-36. In closing, there is no section 6-36, so there is Emphatically NO VIOLATION!

Respectfully, all my requests should be granted and the Chairman’s grossly incompetence of the law that he is to have knowledge of should step down and or be removed. All monies should be reimbursed to myself and I should be an approved candidate.

Please don’t violate my first amendment rights......

Sincerely

Jeffrey W. Mills, Potential Ward 2 Candidate

175 YEARS

welcomed. I knew St. Philip’s was where I wanted to serve.”

Being a welcoming congregation is at the heart of St. Philip’s mission — the church has a long history of reaching out to the community. In the 1920s, when few people had cars and life was more local, the church’s basketball court and performance stage were open to everyone. Today St. Philip’s routinely opens its doors for Toastmasters and Narcotics Anonymous meetings.

Laurel Advocacy & Referral Services, which serves local lowincome and homeless people, was founded by members of the parish, and Elizabeth House (similar to a modern-day soup kitchen, which feeds the homeless and working poor in the Laurel area) was also founded by a church member. Today, about 80 people a day receive a hot dinner and a bag lunch from Elizabeth House from its location on Gorman Avenue.

Other than a hiatus during two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Philip’s has been providing the community with Thanksgiving dinners, serving as many as 375 people annually, according to Bunker. The church spares no

expense to make Thanksgiving festive and welcoming.

St Philip’s, along with other local churches, participates in the Winter Shelter program, a free offering that provides food and shelter, along with laundry services and showers, to unhoused people in the community.

St. Philip’s also runs a pantry to address food insecurity in the community. The Little Chapel Food Pantry provides basics to as many as 70 families once a month.

With its 175th anniversary slogan of “open hearts, open minds, open doors,” the church’s true nature — past, present and future — rings loud and clear. “We meet people where they are. We welcome them as they are. We accept them as they are … in life, in their faith; it doesn’t matter; we welcome them,” Bunke said. “The pandemic really showed us who we were,” he added. “It showed us the church is not the place of worship; the church is the people.”

“We have people who help with our food pantry and others who show up when we ask for support, having already made and bagged, for example, 20 lunches to donate … and some of them aren’t even members of our church,” Bunker said. “We provide a place to work together, serve together

and, for some, worship together.”

As the church approaches its 175th anniversary, volunteers have been combing through boxes and bins and drawers full of photographs and memorabilia, organizing them and turning to older members to help identify people in photos. The Laurel Historical Society has been helping out as well.

Betsy Welsh, who sits on the anniversary celebration committee, has been a St. Philip’s member her whole life. Her mother was 12 years old when she joined St. Philip’s, in 1930.

“I was in the choir and youth groups, as a teen, and I volunteer

and serve in many ways now,” Welsh said. “My five sons were also active in youth groups, ushering, helping with the annual Thanksgiving dinner and other acts of service. They’re older now and most of them outside of Maryland, but several of my grandchildren have been baptized at St. Philip’s and several have attended the Camp St. Philip’s summer program. It’s quite special to have generations in our family connected to, supported by and serving St. Philip’s.”

The attendee list for the celebratory anniversary dinner has filled quickly with current and former parishioners, some of

who live outside the area, along with priests and other leaders who served the congregation in the past.

To learn more about St. Philip’s history, read A Church and its Village St.Philip’s Episcopal Church, Laurel Maryland, by Sally Mitchell Bucklee, a parishioner (available on Amazon) or go to stphilipslaurel.org.

SAT.

OCTOBER 7 | 12 - 6PM

COLLEGE PARK AVIATION MUSEUM & AIRPORT

1985 CORPORAL SCOTT DR.

Live Music & Performances

Free Museum Entry

Food & Drink

Kids & Game Zones

Helicopter Fly-in Family Entertainment

COLLEGEPARKDAY.ORG

Free Parking available near event site and shuttle service available from UMD Campus, City Hall, & CP-UMD Metro Garage. Bike Racks available.

NATIVE GARDENING WITH JIMMY

Winter leaves grow summer wings

By Jimmy Rogers

Afew weeks ago, a dazzling butterfly perched gracefully atop one of my milkweed flowers. I followed the standard procedure for these situations: chase it all over the garden with my phone to take the perfect picture. I fed the image into Google Lens to determine which species had visited me. Upon learning it was a variegated fritillary, I realized that a long-term gardening project had finally come to fruition.

I caught the native gardening bug last year and designed several garden beds to replace my front lawn. The design depended on a living-mulch strategy, meaning I needed lots of low-growing plants to defend against invasive weeds. Searching the native gardening community, I discovered that almost everyone was willing to share native violets. They are leafy, stay quite short and produce purple flowers in the spring.

As I collected violets at plant shares and the home gardens of

generous neighbors, I began to research what ecological value violets might have. I was surprised to learn they are the host plant for the fritillaries, which are a group of beautiful butterflies. And unlike other butterflies, you might never see their caterpillars.

Rather than laying their eggs on violet leaves, female fritillaries lay them in nearby leaf litter. In order to evade predators, the caterpillars wait until night to crawl out of their leafy homes and munch on violet leaves. Before day breaks, they’re back in hiding. This means that if you’re a hopeful butterfly farmer like me, violets are only a host plant if our gardens contain leaf litter.

Once I learned about the enigmatic life cycle of this otherwise showy butterfly, I added leaves to my garden design. Each autumn, I let leaves lie where they fall in my garden beds. If they land somewhere inconvenient (like, say, the sidewalk), I pick them up and put them between my plants. Turf-grass lawns can also benefit from a layer of leaves, as long as the tips of the grass are poking through to al-

low for gas exchange. Wherever you leave your leaves, you will be regenerating the topsoil and suppressing weeds. If you end up with more leaves than you can use, ask your neighbors who don’t have many trees (like me) if they would like some of yours. As a child, I remember many seasons of passing our leaves through a vertical chipper and then bundling them in plastic yard waste bags. Now I know we were not only shipping away free mulch (in single-use plastic, no less), but we were literally shredding any of the insect life that had grown in our garden through the spring and summer, especially the eggs and caterpillars. If you’re gardening for wildlife, do what you can to preserve whole leaves in your garden beds, rather than chipping them or running over them with a lawn mower. And think: You won’t need to invest in more bark mulch every year, either. One criticism I’ve seen of this approach is that the leaves will blow away in the first breeze. This depends a lot on your garden’s plant density. If plants are spread apart as much as a foot and surrounded with bark mulch, then leaves will likely escape. Closelyplanted individuals will act more

like a net, grabbing and holding the leaves until they can break down. If your garden is sparsely planted, fall is a great time to add native ground covers, which will help keep the leaves in place as soon as they fall.

While spreading those extra leaves, you may also appreciate your plants heading into winter dormancy. Many plants change colors or leave sculptural stems for winter interest. There is no need to clean up a standing stem, especially if it still holds seeds for hungry granivorous (seed-eating) birds. However, if you do need to cut spent foliage to manage your garden, consider leaving stems to 18 inches long (or even longer), so that stem-nesting bees can stash their eggs and bee bread, a mixture of pollen, nectar and bee saliva, there next summer. This year, I saw my first stem-nesting bee taking residence in one of last year’s beardtongue stems.

While on the topic of cleanup, I encourage you to consider the chop and drop method, which allows old stems and twigs to break down in the leaf litter. This saves us time we might otherwise spend bagging or tying stems for curbside pickup. If you have a lot of stems, consid-

er making a brush pile, which can become home to groundnesting bees, lizards, birds and small mammals.

If butterflies and bees charismatically wing through pollinator gardens in the spring and summer, who comes to inhabit a winter garden covered with leaves? As you may have guessed already, almost all of the insects we love to see in summer finish their life cycles in our leaf litter (or underground). Fireflies and giant luna moths are particularly well known for their dependence on decaying leafy material.

This year, Laurel’s Bee City sub-committee is encouraging all residents to leave the leaves. Not only can we save ourselves the chore of hauling leaves to the curb, we can renew the soil, suppress weeds and promote insect diversity right in our own gardens.

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

CONNIE LUCAS

RUNNING FOR LAUREL CITY COUNCIL, WARD 1

WHY I’M STEPPING UP:

I once believed casting my vote was doing my duty as a citizen. However, I now recognize I need to actively participate in community policies to make a difference in the City of Laurel. I would encourage all citizens to consider engaging in our local, county, state, and federal governments.

WHAT I STAND FOR:

US Citizenship & Voter ID

I advocate for U.S. citizenship and Voter ID requirements in all elections. Several municipalities in California, Maryland, Vermont, and Washington D.C. permit foreign nationals to vote in local elections. Maryland municipalities that permit non-citizens to vote in local elections include Barnesville, Cheverly, Chevy Chase Section 3, Garrett Park, Glen Echo, Hyattsville, Martin’s Additions, Mount Rainier, Riverdale Park, Somerset, and Takoma Park. This is not the direction I envision for Laurel.

Election Integrity

Given concerns about election security, I encourage and support single-day voting with paper ballots. Rather than electronically transmitting election totals, I advocate for physical transport of the electronic totals ensuring system integrity. Results would be disclosed the following day. Paper ballots are a forceful way to verify elections. Let’s restore faith in our elections that every single vote cast is counted!

I OPPOSE:

• Same-day voting registration.

• Unrestricted mail-in voting with exceptions made for specific cases by submission of an absentee ballot request.

Financial Prudence

I’ll push against needless city tax hikes, advocating for a leaner, more effective budget while maintaining employee wages and benefits.

Staying Connected

Backing Our Laurel Police

Throughout my many years in Laurel, I’m a firm believer in the dedication, impartiality and respect our Laurel Police Force consistently shows to our community. Our Officers deserve our full support.

Gender Views

Everyone’s private life is their own. Personal choices are consensual, adult matters, but discussions on topics like transgender issues shouldn’t be imposed on minors. We must also be vigilant against human trafficking.

Education

Our children’s education is falling behind. Let’s partner by prioritizing core educational standards. Parents should be the primary educators regarding political and religious beliefs.

• Hiring non-citizens in critical roles, such as our police force, as seen in Illinois and Washington DC.

• Adopting electric vehicles until batteries made-in-USA are used and solar-powered charging stations are feasible.

Encourage all council meetings and mayor sessions be held in-person with virtual access available to residents.

Accountability

Every citizen has a right to see where their tax dollars go. Publish Laurel City Council votes in The Laurel Independent on every agenda item with a simple pro and con explanation.

While consensus is rare, our community’s best interests were served by our past Laurel City Council. I promise to carry on this legacy. Despite being bound by county and state regulations, I pledge to prioritize Laurel’s interests. I’m eager to represent Laurel City and make decisions based on our residents’ wants and needs to the betterment of all.

Questions: www.connieforlaurelcitycouncil.com

Together, We Can Ensure Laurel Remains A Great Place To Live!

LAUREL CITY COUNCIL, WARD

South Tract, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop

Hollingsworth Art Gallery. Ron Orlando’s nature paintings. Orlando is a member of Artists for Conservation. Through September.

Family Fun: TREE-mendous Trees! Hands-on activities, games and crafts about how trees help wildlife and the environment. Sept. 22 and 23, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Winterizing Your Butterfly Garden. Learn seed collection and storage methods for growing next year’s gardens. Oct. 7, 2 p.m.

CARROLL BALDWIN

HALL 9035 Baltimore St. Savage. 410.294.3561

Third Thursdays: Volunteer Work Nights. A variety of projects from painting to cleaning and mortar repair. Food provided. Sept. 21, 6 to 9 p.m.

Third Sundays: DJ Swing Dances. Hosted by Gottaswing, the event kicks off with a free lesson. Sept. 17, 5 to 7:30 p.m. $10

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 serving the first and third Friday of the month and P&G Catering 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; program includes business meeting and musical entertainment or a speaker. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. LaurelBeltsville Senior Activities Center, 7120 Contee Rd. 301.206.3380

Jim Whitney Toastmasters Club. A Toastmasters International affiliate, the club

teaches public speaking and leadership skills. Sept. 11 and 25, 7 p.m. St. Philips Episcopal Church, 522 Main St. toastmastersclubs.org

BUSINESS

The Laurel Board of Trade Monthly Networking. Virtual opportunity to meet and network with local business people; Membership is

not required. Sept. 21, 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. Food distributions in partnership with Capital Area Food Bank.

Third Sunday of every month; next distribution is Sept. 17 from 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

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 10:00 AM

Laurel Museum

817 Main Street, Laurel, MD

Join the Laurel Historical Society for the 8th annual McCeney March through historic Laurel in honor of community activist, LHS board member, and avid walker Jim McCeney. All proceeds will go toward local educational programs and scholarships.

10:00 AM — Noon: Self-guided, 1.25 mile walking tour with stops featuring in-depth history presentations.

Noon - 1:00 PM: Pizza lunch, pound cake challenge judging, and scholarship winners

Noon - 4:00 PM: Laurel Museum open with exhibit “It’s All Laurel: City Limits and Beyond”

For more information, or to register for the McCeney March, visit laurelhistoricalsociety.org