MY TWO CENTS
Laurel’s 10 prettiest buildings Laurel Lions disband
By JOE MURCHISON
This is my list of the top 10 most attractive buildings in the City of Laurel and surrounding area of Prince George’s County. (If I were including the portions of Laurel in Anne Arundel and Howard counties, outside our circulation area, I would have included the Laurel Park grandstand.)
The list is in descending order, from No. 10 to No. 1.
10. Harrison-Beard Building (900 Montgomery Street). It’s easy to overlook this narrow building, but its façade and history are quite attractive and interesting. It was built in 1891 as a department store, with Mayor Edward Phelps (remember that name) one of the owners. In 1935, the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department purchased the building and converted it into a fire station. (The building’s cur-
rent lower bay windows were doors for the two fire-engine bays.) An upper row of windows displays pleasing reliefs of Ionic columns and engraved flowers. The city government bought the building in 1954 and used it as city hall (with a jail in the basement) until 1972. It then became a white elephant, and
By KATIE V. JONES
For 92 years, the Laurel Lions Club has been active in the community. Whether providing medical equipment like wheelchairs and hospital beds to those in need, collecting eyeglasses to donate or co-sponsoring city events such as Spooktacular and Eggtravaganza, the club has prided itself on its community service. It takes time, funds and many hands to do all the Lions do; Donald Danneman, Laurel Lions’ head lion, noted that the club is in short supply of all three. The club made the decision to disband by January 2025.
“Laurel is going to miss us,” Danneman said. “I just felt there was no way to keep up.”
Once boasting more than 70 members, the club now has only 10, Danneman said, and three of those members, including himself, live out of state. The club couldn’t host its popular steamed crab fundraiser this year because
Peace on Patuxent to offer women a respite from cancer
By AIESHA SOLOMON
A new respite home that will give women diagnosed with cancer a place to relax and reflect is opening in Laurel, and it is free of charge.
Peace on Patuxent Inc., a nonprofit respite home for women with cancer, will be opening this month in a single-family home on Patuxent Road.
“Our mission statement is to provide a supportive environment that promotes holistic healing, spiritual reflection and self restoration for women diagnosed with cancer,” said Horatia Fagan, vice chair of the Peace on Patuxent Inc., or POPi, board of directors, in a phone interview.
Senita M. Hill, founder and chief executive officer of POPi, described it as “a
labor of love” she started after the death of her mother and her best friend from lung cancer, and her own diagnosis of MGUS (monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance), a precursor to cancer.
When the organizations Hill participated in to respect the memory of her mother and her best friend weren’t enough, she thought and prayed for an answer.
“[Hill] called me one morning and said … ‘I got the vision: Peace on Patuxent, and we’re gonna operate it right out of this house’,” Fagan said.
To stay at POPi, women will simply need to fill out a form and complete an interview.
“We’re not a medical facility,” Fagan said of the single-family home that
Above: Montpelier Mansion Right: Oseh Shalom COURTESY OF JOE MURCHISON
Laurel grandparents hope for 2nd gold for grandson
By JESSIE NEWBURN
Kyle Snyder, who at age 20 was the youngest American wrestler to win a gold medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, and holds seven senior world championship medals in the sport, is headed to the 2024 Olympics in Paris. And just as they have done throughout his career, his Laurel grandparents, Gayle and Fred Snyder, will be there cheering him on.
“It makes me smile when we go to a big match, even now,” Gayle said, “and I hear people call out, ‘How’s it going, Pop Pop?’ to Fred. Everyone knows he’s Kyle’s ‘Pop Pop.’”
Pop Pop, aka Fred, took Kyle to his first competitive match when his grandson was just 5 years old. As Kyle’s abilities and skills developed, it was Fred who had the time, resources, interest and desire to take Kyle to youth
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wrestling tournaments around the country.
“Kyle and his grandfather spent a lot of time together going to tournaments,” Gayle said. “Fred was always encouraging Kyle, telling him to do his best, reminding him that he could win if he put his mind to it, and talking about good sportsmanship and respecting others.”
“He loved traveling, staying at hotels and eating out at restaurants,” Fred said. “We had a lot of fun together. Plus, you see a lot of the same people at these tournaments over the years, and we got to meet a lot of the better wrestlers, coaches and their parents. It’s a nice group of people very passionate about the sport.”
BEGINNINGS
Growing up in Woodbine, Kyle and his older brother, Stephen, were a rambunctious lot, according to his grandparents, and
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when their baby brother was born, their parents, Tricia and Stephen Snyder, were looking for ways to “tire the boys out a bit,” Fred said.
Fred, who won the 1963 European high school wrestling championship when attending school at a German military base while his father was stationed there, suggested taking the boys to a wrestling and martial-arts club as a possible solution.
Their parents decided to give it a shot, and off the boys went.
Stephen didn’t particularly care for wrestling, preferring the martial-arts activities instead, Fred said. Kyle didn’t love wrestling at first either, although he rather enjoyed all the rolling around and playing, his grandparents said, but the plan was working: The boys were less rambunctious at home.
“I could see there was a difference in the way Kyle wrestled,
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even as a young child,” Fred said. “I could tell there was something special about Kyle and the way he approached wrestling.”
When Kyle was 10, Fred took him to the World of Wrestling Tulsa Nationals, one of the top three premiere youth wrestling tournaments where, among other things, college scouts do their scouting. Kyle won the gold medal, and from then on it was clear Kyle had a future in wrestling.
Kyle “just kept getting better and better,” Fred said. “He was beating top-level high-school wrestlers at national tournaments when he was just 12 or 13.”
Now 28 years old, Kyle has been ranked internationally in the 97kg (about 214 lbs.) category. His accomplishments include being a three-time National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) champion, a Junior World Champion, a World Cup Champion and a U.S. Open Outstanding Wrestler.
Kyle’s good spirit and good sportsmanship have been noticed by others, too. He was selected as the 2017 Team USA Male Olympic Athlete of the Year and the 2017 AAU Sullivan Award winner, where he was honored as the most outstanding U.S. amateur athlete of the year.
PARIS BOUND
Gayle, Fred and a couple dozen family members were to leave for Paris on Aug. 6 to watch Kyle compete at the Olympics starting on Aug. 8.
They will be sporting matching Snyder T-shirts, something Kyle’s mom, Tricia, makes happen, Gayle said. A few fellow wrestlers from Kyle’s days at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School (and their parents) will be attending as well.
“Wrestling meets can be long events,” Fred said. “You kinda get to know the other wrestlers and their parents when you go to a lot of the meets and tournaments, and good friendships can develop along the way.”
Gayle’s family has lived in Laurel for several generations, and she served on the Laurel City Council for seven years, where she started the city’s Civic Improvement Committee and the Beautification Committee. She’s served on the Historic District Commission and Tree Board and currently serves on the city’s Board of Appeals. She was also a founder of the annual Mayor’s Open House, the city’s Dog Show and the annual Bike Rodeo and Ice Cream Social.
Fred served as the Laurel postmaster from 1997 to 2007 and, as a veteran, is involved in American Legion Post 60. Gayle recalls the jubilation after Kyle won the gold medal at the Olympics in Rio. At a celebration dinner, “So many of his coaches were there — from high school, college, the Olympics,” Gayle said.
Gayle and Fred said they don’t have too many plans to travel while in Paris, but did note that the Olympic wrestling venue is located right outside the Eiffel Tower.
Kyle Snyder with his grandmother Gayle Snyder (at left) and his grandfather Fred Snyder (above).
COURTESY OF GAYLE SNYDER
REWILDING ROUTE 1
Th e dog days of cicadas
By RICK BORCHELT
Cicadas were all over the media this spring: Every newscast ran a story on the mass emergence of billions of periodical cicadas in the Midwest, recounting the cacophony of the double-brood overlap of 13- and 17-year periodical cicadas.
Although I did travel to the Midwest to see and hear the cacophony, all you need to do to observe cicadas in our area is walk any shaded street in the afternoon during the dog days of August.
Cicadas come in two flavors: annual and periodical. Periodical cicadas — red and black with scarlet eyes — don’t appear every year, but rather on a regular schedule with a decade or more between emergences. And when they do appear, they show up in deafening swarms of millions or billions; those
swarms no doubt give rise to their often-used but erroneous alternate name of locusts (that name technically refers only to certain kinds of migratory grasshoppers).
Annual cicadas, by contrast, are with us every summer and represent the greatest diversity of cicada species in Maryland (and worldwide). In the suburbs around D.C., we can easily tick off 10 or more kinds of these brownish or greenish cicadas with light eyes on a good day in August.
Few of us see adult cicadas, though. Our species live high in trees, having spent a year or more underground sucking sap from shrub and tree roots. What we see more often are the dried brown husks left behind when immature cicadas (called nymphs) dig out of their underground nurseries and find a local tree (or brick wall, even) to climb before they rip
their way out of their nymphal skin and emerge butterfly-like as diaphanous, green-winged creatures. After an hour or so their color darkens, and their wings expand and harden; the adults then fly up into the trees to sing (if they are male) and mate, leaving behind the castoff shell. You can see a cool time-lapse video of the process at tinyurl.com/5dvetsp9.
While we did not have the astonishing periodical cicada emergence seen in the Midwest, here in our Streetcar Suburbs, any decent patch of trees will have cicadas singing this month. They might sound like salt shakers rising and falling in volume (that would be Linne’s cicada, Neotibicen linnei), or like someone rasping a file against a piece of metal (Robinson’s cicada, Neotibien robinsoniana), or like the pulsating of a police siren (scissor-grinder cicada, Neotibicen pruinosus). You can
listen to all these, along with other likely cicada singer suspects, at the Songs of Insects website, which also includes crickets, katydids and other sixlegged songsters.
Our most common annual cicada is the swamp cicada (Neotibicen tibicen), the very name of which reminds us that much of our area used to be wet forest and swamp. All cicadas sing louder and more energetically as the temperature rises; their song is a sure sign the dog days of summer have well and truly arrived.
Both nymph and adult cica-
das find a place on the menus of songbirds, squirrels, chipmunks, snakes and even a large wasp, the Eastern cicada killer (Sphecius speciosus), which specializes in hunting cicadas.
Male cicadas are especially prone to predation because they sing, and their song attracts predators and parasites alike. Only the males have a sound-producing organ, called a tymbal, on the abdomen, just behind the wings. Females lack tymbals and so can’t produce the high-decibel whines and buzzes of male cicadas, but
Adult annual cicada male COURTESY OF BLAKE LAYTON/MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY
of lack of volunteers to help. A few years ago, the club stopped holding its Christmas tree sales, an annual event that raised $43,000 at its peak.
“If you don’t have a fundraiser, what do you have?” Danneman said. “How do you support all your events?”
The group has actively tried to recruit new members, attending
various city events to offer information on what the club does, but to no avail.
“People are not interested in joining a service group,” Danneman said. “It takes a lot of time. People are busy with family and this and that.”
At one time, the club had a “star-studded career” with a “a lot of movers and shakers of Laurel” as members, according to Bob Mignon, a member since 1994 and a former king lion.
“It’s a sign of the times,” Mignon said, noting that many of the services the Lions provided over the years are more broadly available now. Eyeglass exams, which the club used to provide, are now offered in schools, and free use of medical equipment, another Lions service, is largely covered by health insurance.
Even the club’s camaraderie can also be found elsewhere, he said.
“Younger people, many have
challenging jobs and careers, are starting a family, and their children play sports and different extracurricular activities,” Mignon said. “The need for camaraderie is met through other avenues.”
The club consistently provided donations to the city’s police department, rescue squad, fire department and the Fourth of July committee, but had to stop offering scholarships to graduating seniors at Laurel and St. Vincent Pallotti high schools.
“There is a huge hole to fill with them leaving,” said Bill Bailey, head of the City of Laurel’s Parks and Recreation Department. “It is a shame there is not enough people stepping up to keep this organization running.”
The city will continue to host the Spooktacular and Eggstravaganza events, Bailey said, and will look for other groups to co-sponsor them. The Lions donated funds for candy and plastic eggs and volunteered at each event.
The club has already emptied a city shed where they used to store medical supplies, Bailey said. Danneman took some supplies to donate to a Lions Club in Pennsylvania, and the city will distribute the rest through senior programs and to its multi-service building, which is slated to open this fall.
The group has actively tried to recruit new members, but to no avail. “People are not interested in joining a service group,” head lion Donald Danneman said. “It takes a lot of time. People are busy with family and this and that.”
“If you don’t have a servitude heart, you don’t want to do this kind of work,” Danneman said. “You won’t get anything in return. Just the satisfaction you’re helping other people.
“I don’t think you will find anyone starting a new Lions Club in Laurel after we go,” he added. “I was always asking people to join the Lions club.”
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Celebrating our urban meadows
By JIMMY ROGERS
Often our built environment can feel harsh, structured and devoid of natural beauty. We plant specimen trees and create gardens to provide visual relief, while pushing back wild spaces with each new development. However, some communities invest not only in parks, but in wild-space creation, so that residents can engage with native flora and fauna close to home.
Continuing last month’s theme of observation as a basis for designing a native garden, I want to highlight Wells Run Park, a walkable meadow space in University Park (UP) where the town now celebrates its annual Meadow Day.
The town’s pollinator meadow occupies about an acre of parkland between a stretch of homes and Wells Run Creek.
THE LAUREL INNER SPACE NATIVE GARDENING WITH JIMMY
The meadow’s easy to find, just across the street from the Hyattsville Branch Library, on Adelphi Road. The town mows the margin around the meadow, which makes the intentionality of the space clear to visitors. Signage at the entrance describes some of the plants and animals living in the meadow. At this time of year, the showiest flowers and insects are easy to find floating above the grasses.
I had a blast attending this year’s UP Meadow Day, which was held on July 13. The University Park Sustainability Committee brought in numerous local organizations to teach residents about all the ways they can bring nature and sustainable practices back to their own yards and gardens. There were tours of the meadow, activities for kids, booths about free city programs, and educa-
tional displays about plants and wildlife. Volunteers from Prince George’s Audubon Society Wildlife Habitat Program and Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay Chapter were on hand, giving away native plants and answering questions about native gardening.
Even in this year’s baking heatwave, the meadow, a mix of grasses and herbaceous plants, was the vibrant center of the event. Along the meadow’s path, I saw wild senna (Senna hebecarpa), a member of the pea family with distinctive foliage. Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) decorated the grassy expanse with pops of cotton candy pink. Cascading goldenrods (Solidago species) swayed among tall, clump-forming grasses such as switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) and big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii).
Campfire talks: Why family stories matter
By AGNES PASCO CONATY
My family delights in gathering together in the backyard, listening to music and talking by the campfire on clear summer nights. This is how we began our family storytelling. Over time, our collection of family stories has grown to reflect where we came from and who we are. But why record your family story? As English writer Henry Graham Greene said, “There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in.” My family treasures looking back and imagining forward.
Before visiting my mother in the Philippines, in 2023, I started pulling together my family’s collective personal essays, poems, anecdotes and photos, and assembling them in a binder. That binder held memories of growing up with my maternal grandparents, our family reunions on New Year’s Day, Christmas traditions and essays my son wrote based on his dad’s stories. My son also wrote about his Lola (my mother) during the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines, and he reflected on his experience of the pandemic. Months later, we turned to that binder for material as we wrote a book about our family history, “Wicker Baskets: Family Vignettes & Poetry.”
I had compelling reasons for writing this history, including my desire to share my own memories of my father with family members who had never met him. My father enlisted in the Philippine Army
The air above the meadow buzzed with native bees, dragonflies and butterflies. I saw a lot of skippers and at least one tiger swallowtail butterfly, and an occasional bunny hopped off in surprise when a visitor got too close to its hiding spot.
Long expanses of uncut meadow are rare in residential areas and create a unique opportunity for wildlife. A few miles away from the meadow is another rewilded area, where the Friends of Sligo Creek collaborated with Pepco to let a powerline cut grow tall. Once the meadow matured, volunteers observed American kestrels, a type of falcon, nesting among the power line poles. It turns out that in addition to hosting over 120 species of flowering plants, the lengthy expanse of grassland under the lines is a perfect hunting ground for these highspeed birds of prey. If more utility lands can be managed for wildlife, these islands of restored habitat could become a corridor for biodiversity across the
right after college and served as a military police officer alongside American soldiers in World War II; he was one of Cabanatuan’s Skull Battalion who survived the Bataan Death March. Seven years ago, I had the honor of receiving on his behalf a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal at the United States Capitol.
I also wanted to record my family’s beautiful oral history, and since my mother is in her 90s, time was of the essence. I treasure her recollections of growing up by the railway station in San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines, where she and her sisters sold food and water to Japanese soldiers. She met my father when he was working as a civil engineer and boarded at her parents’ home. My mother is the oldest surviving member of our family now, which makes her stories even more valuable. I wrote down what she told us during her few visits to my home in Laurel.
And our collection will keep family stories alive for my son, and my nieces and nephews; having a written history allows them to pass our family stories down to their own children and grandchildren. This family memoir preserves the love that binds us together, even across great distances and time.
So what can you write about your family? Think about the small things in life that hold you together in big ways, like those treasured recipes relatives ask for from potlucks and reunions. Or the photos in albums up in an
attic that you could dust off and digitize. Your collection might include scenes from right here in Laurel: kids posing with the Easter Bunny at the community center. Families lining Main Street to celebrate the Fourth of July parade, and later that evening, turning their faces up in awe to watch the fireworks at Granville Gude Park. Those great walks you took with your kids and the terrific restaurant tastings with your parents at the Main Street Festival.
So how to pull your own mementoes and memories together? Teamwork and some research can help. Pull in your teens, ask grandpa to tell you that story one more time so you can write it down. Talk with your family about what matters the most to them as you share memories and collect stories. For my family, the stories that reflect our values, dreams and hopes quickly became the most important. And we looked for anecdotes capturing our family’s humor and humanity.
Someday, someone dear to you will come across your own memoir, that treasured collection of family stories and photos and say, “Wish I’d met my grandfather; I would have really liked him.”
Agnes Pasco Conaty is a college math and environmental science adjunct professor who also works as senior research scientist and science lead for the GLOBE Observer Program at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center. The Conaty family’s book is available on Amazon.
Agnes’ mom, Josefina Pasco, shows off her omelet during one of her visits in West Laurel. AGNES PASCO CONATY
Your newspaper’s new plan
By KIT SLACK
The board of directors for Streetcar Suburbs Publishing, the nonprofit that publishes this newspaper, approved our first strategic plan on June 27. Over the next five years, we will strengthen and connect three distinct, diverse communities in Prince George’s County — Hyattsville, College Park and Laurel — through high-quality local journalism.
This year marks our 20th anniversary. We started in 2004 as Hyattsville Community Newspaper Inc., publishers of the Hyattsville Life & Times — a tiny paper that, nonetheless, frequently wins national awards.
From the beginning, we have focused on celebrating the civic organizations that bring people together in our communities, and on providing the information that allows com-
munity participation in local, municipal democracy. Four years ago, during the pandemic, College Park residents started the College Park Here & Now under our nonprofit umbrella, and we became Streetcar Suburbs Publishing Inc. And in 2022, a committee of volunteers in Laurel helped start The Laurel Independent, our third newspaper.
In 2023, we conducted an internal review that led to the hiring of our first executive director (that’s me). Over the past year, we built on that review to develop our strategic plan, studying local journalism needs in our area, and working together to identify opportunities within our organization to grow our revenue, expand our service and support our staff. The strategic plan we created is already in motion. We have chosen four key priorities to focus our work:
Priority 1: Provide in-depth local journalism to reach audiences wherever they are.
To accomplish our first priority, we are investing more in covering city government and community organizations, our core coverage focus. We are strengthening our digital services, in particular our social media presence, so we can meet residents more fully in the places they go looking for news and information. And to address the gap that has grown as other sources of county news have dried up, we are expanding our coverage to include countywide issues affecting residents of Hyattsville, College Park and Laurel. We have also launched a bi-weekly email newsletter, with easy sign-up on our website.
Priority 2: Deepening community connections, including exploration of how we can better serve Spanish-speaking residents. To reach new and
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underrepresented readers in our communities, our staff and board members will engage with diverse community leaders throughout our service area, networking one-on-one, attending community meetings and building partnerships. We also plan to have a more consistent presence at city forums and events, and to communicate with our readers throughout the year about the work of our organization so readers can get to know us better.
Priority 3: Grow financial sustainability to invest in our staff and in local journalism. In order to accomplish our first two priorities, we are already working to ensure our financial sustainability by increasing revenue from grants, donations and advertising. Our next step will be to conduct audience surveys so we can learn more about what you value about our service and build from there.
We have four key priorities: Providing indepth local journalism to reach audiences wherever they are; deepening community connections, including exploring how we can better serve Spanishspeaking residents; growing our financial sustainability; and investing in our people across all levels of the organization.
EXCITEMENT BUILDS FO R GRAND OPENING OF LAUREL MULTISERVICE CENTER
The City of Laurel is buzzing with anticipation as it prepares to unveil its state -of-the-art Craig A. Moe Laurel Multiservice Center (LMSC) at 204 Fort Meade Road. This visionary facility, aimed at supporting marginalized populations, particularly low -income residents and people experiencing homelessness, is set to become a cornerstone of community support and a beacon of hope for many. Everyone is welcome to join us for the Craig A. Moe Laurel Multiservice Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Tour of the Center on September 10th, from 11:00am – 1:00pm.
Background and Development
The property was acquired with a clear mission: to develop a comprehensive multiservice center that could serve the diverse needs of the Greater Laurel community. The LMSC aims to streamline human services in coordination with various local agencies, ensuring seamless delivery and accessibility for those in need.
The creation of the LMSC can be traced back to 2019 when the City of Laurel Homelessness and Community Task Force embarked on a mission to enhance community wellness and reduce homelessness. The Task Force conducted an in-depth capability analysis and feasibility study to identify resource gaps and infrastructure needs, laying the groundwork for the services the LMSC will offer. These recommendations formed the foundation of the LMSC’s services, which include a learning center for job training, a medical suite, a clothing distribution center, transitional housing, overnight winter sheltering, a meal service kitchen, a postal and package delivery area, a barber and hair salon, a food pantry, laundry facilities, and showering amenities.
Innovative Services and Support
The LMSC represents a unique onestop-shop approach to human services, addressing critical needs within the community through wraparound services provided by the LMSC staff and partners. Individual and family short-term housing units, overnight sheltering, and a suite of essential services are designed to support those in transitional phases, offering a
secure and nurturing environment. LMSC's on-site facilities include a prepared meal service kitchen, a learning center for job training, 19 transitional housing units, and a medical suite equipped for comprehensive care by physician and nursing staff. Additionally, the LMSC provides practical amenities to ensure dignity and comfort for all who seek assistance.
The LMSC has partnered with several local non-profit organizations who support marginalized community members on their journey from economic instability to sustainable security. Current partnerships include: the Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services (LARS), who will manage the transitional housing program, and offer additional services for clients; FISH of Laurel, who will provide daily meal services; Employ Prince George’s, who will serve as a bridge between job seekers looking to begin or change careers, and businesses looking for skilled workers; the Department of Social Services for Prince George’s, Anne Arundel, and Howard Counties, who will assist clients with SNAP benefits, healthcare insurance, and more. Taking Care of Our Neighbors, who will manage our winter shelter program (late November through March); JustLiving Advocacy, who will provide supportive services to lowincome, single-parent households; Hope House, who offers treatment of substance-use disorders, co-occurring mental health challenges and problem gambling; and Touch Stones Financial Wellness Services, who will provide financial literacy and counseling services. The LMSC will continue to
explore additional partnerships, based on the needs of the community.
Mission and Vision
The mission of the LMSC is to promote stability and self-sufficiency among vulnerable populations through equitable service provision. By creating a hub for essential services, LMSC will aim to enhance wellness, foster independence, and strengthen community ties throughout the Greater Laurel area. The vision of the LMSC is to reduce homelessness and promote independent living through a combination of immediate support and long-term resource access.
Serving the Community
LMSC is strategically located to serve communities in Prince George’s, Anne Arundel, and Howard counties, and easily accessible to public transportation, making it a vital resource for those who need it most. Despite the existence of 19 shelters in the surrounding areas, many individuals remain underserved due to accessibility and availability barriers. The LMSC seeks to fill these gaps by not only providing temporary housing, but also offering resources to prevent potential homelessness and support individuals in their journey towards selfreliance.
As the LMSC prepares to open its doors, the City of Laurel stands proud of this monumental step forward in supporting its most vulnerable residents. LMSC is poised to make a lasting impact, providing a lifeline to those in need and fostering a stronger, more resilient community.
For more information, contact the Laurel Multiservice Center Director, Marchelle LeBlanc, at mleblanc@laurel.md.us, or 301-725-5300 ext. 2204.
GREEN HAPPENINGS IN LAUREL!
Composting is the number one way that individuals can reduce methane gas emissions at our landfills, reduce the cost of tippi ng fees and reduce trash overflow. During the summer months, our kitchen countertops are very attractive to fruit flies and ants . So how to avoid and conquer? Here are some helpful tips to reduce smells and pests that may be feasting on your kitchen countert op compost containers:
• Freeze compost directly in the bag provided by DPW or any certified compostable bag.
• Keep the kitchen countertop container out of the sun and keep the lid closed!
• Line the bottom of your compost container with a layer of newspaper.
• Sprinkle baking soda on the newspaper lining the bottom of your containers.
• Mix some organic tea tree oil with water and spray on the newspaper.
• Empty compost every 2 to 3 days.
• Dry the container before adding a new liner.
• Throw a sprig of fresh mint in your compost.
• Use organic essential oils. Lavender, lemongrass, eucalyptus, or peppermint help keep the fruit flies at bay
• Wash your fruit! Fruit flies can travel on the fruit you purchase outside of your home - just remember the egg story from above and you will always want to wash your fruits and veggies.
• Spraying some organic essential oils such as tea tree, peppermint or cinnamon can act as an ant deterrent.
• Ants are also not fond of white vinegar and lemon juice.
Our Farmer’s Market is in full swing! Come out and visit your favorite vendors from last year and meet some “new” favorites, pick up some tasty food and relax and listen to music in the shade. We also accept SNAP/EBT benefits and are now participating in the Maryland Market Money program, giving our shoppers extra market cash to shop with. Stop by the Welcome Tent to get tokens. The Market is open every Thursday, from 3 -7pm, through September 26th. Be sure to check out our Facebook page (https:// www.facebook.com/thelaurelquilllot) and our City website (https://www.cityoflaurel.org/1617/Laurel -Farmers-Market).
The Maryland Department of Agriculture will spray on Sunday evenings in Laurel, as necessary. If you find that you are exper iencing a large mosquito population around your home or if you would like your property to be exempt from the program, visit https://mda.maryland.gov/plants -pests/Pages/mosquito_control.aspx for more details. For more ecofriendly, proactive ideas like Tip It or Toss It, visit https://md-laurel.civicplus.com/1598/Informational-Videos.
Want to get the most recent information about the City’s sustainability initiatives. Follow us on Facebook at Sustainable Laurel. This is a place where we can share ideas, highlight upcoming events and residents can stay informed on all things Sustainable
GRAN INAUGURACIÓN DEL CENTRO MULTISERVICIO LAUREL
La ciudad de Laurel está llena de anticipación mientras se prepara para presentar su Laurel Multiservice Center (LMSC) de última generación en 204 Ft. Camino Meade. Esta instalación visionaria, destinada a apoyar a las poblaciones marginadas, en particular a los residentes de bajos ingresos y a las personas sin hogar, se convertirá en una piedra angular del apoyo comunitario y un faro de esperanza para muchos. Todos son bienvenidos a unirse a nosotros para la ceremonia de inauguración del Centro Multiservicios de la ciudad de Laurel y el recorrido por el Centro el 10 de septiembre, de 11:00 a. m. a 1:00 p. m. Ubicado estratégicamente para servir a las comunidades de los condados de Prince George, Anne Arundel y Howard, el LMSC es fácilmente accesible a través del transporte público, lo que lo convierte en un recurso vital para quienes más lo necesitan. A pesar de la existencia de 19 refugios en las zonas circundantes, muchas personas siguen desatendidas debido a barreras de accesibilidad y disponibilidad. La LMSC busca llenar estos vacíos no solo proporcionando alojamiento temporal sino también ofreciendo recursos para prevenir una posible falta de vivienda y apoyar a las personas en su camino hacia la autosuficiencia.
LAUREL POLICE MONTHLY CRIME REPORT
JUNE 2024
List of Laurel Police Crime Reports can be found at www.cityoflaurel.org/police/community -info/crime-reports.
Legislation
Listed below are recent actions taken by the Laurel City Council. For further information on any of these actions, please feel free to contact the Office of the City Clerk at 301-725-5300 x2120 or at clerk@laurel.md.us. For the full agendas, visit www.cityoflaurel.org.
Adopted Legislation:
• Ordinance No. 2028 - amending the General Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 and Providing an Effective Date.
Bid Recommendations:
• Bid Recommendation - Granville Gude Park Path Banners - Parks and Recreation. ($109,580)
• FY2025 CIP - Fleet Replacement SchedulePublic Works. ($1,308,597)
• Fleet Leasing Purchase - FY2025 - Laurel Police Department. ($287,017)
• Bid Recommendation - Ammunition PurchaseLaurel Police Department. ($55,000)
Appointments/Reappointments:
Bharati Dhruva - Arts Council - 7/8/24 - 7/8/27
COUNCIL O FFICE
301-725-5300 ext. 2120
August 2024 Mayor and City Council Meetings
clerk@laurel.md.us
August 7th - Mayor and City Council Work Session (CANCELLED)
August 12th & 26th - Mayor and City Council Meetings (CANCELLED)
August 2024 Boards and Commissions
August 13th - Planning Commission (CANCELLED)
August 13th - Environmental Affairs Committee (CANCELLED)
August 20th - Historic District Commission (CANCELLED)
August 22nd - Board of Appeals (CANCELLED)
September 2024 Mayor and City Council Meetings
September 4th - Virtual Mayor and City Council Work Session (6pm)
September 9th - Virtual Mayor and City Council Meetings (6pm)
September 23rd - In-Person Mayor and City Council Meeting (6pm)
September 2024 Boards and Commissions
September 10th - Planning Commission (6pm)
September 10th - Environmental Affairs Committee (6pm)
September 17th - Historic District Commission (6pm)
September 26th - Board of Appeals (6pm)
National Night Out, August 6th, 6 - 9pm, Gude Park, 8300 Mulberry St. Join the Laurel Police for safety demos, live music, food, games and more!
FREE Outdoor Concert, August 9th, 7 - 9pm, Gude Park, 8300 Mulberry Street. Enjoy the tones of DuPont Brass.
My Time with the Mayor, August 12th, 4:00 - 5:30pm, Laurel Police Department, 811 5th Street.
City Hall in the Park, August 28th, 6:00 - 8:30pm, Greenview Drive Pool, 14403 Greenview Drive.
Doggie Dip Day, September 7th, 10am - 12pm, Greenview Drive Pool, 14403 Greenview Drive. Cost is $5 per dog.
Grand Opening of Craig A. Moe Laurel Multiservice Center, September 10th, 11am - 1pm, 204 Fort Meade Road.
Community and Culture Day, September 14th, 12 - 3pm, McCullough Field, 8th and Montgomery Streets. Celebrate and explore different cultures! Call 301-725-7800.
Senior Services Trips and Events - Laurel Senior Services has great trips and local events for our 55 and over group. Call 301-776-6168 for details.
Laurel Citizens University (LCU) Coming This Fall! October - November 2024! Learn about your local government from City Directors and staff! For more info, call 301-725-5300 ext. 2109. Register at www.cityoflaurel.org. Visit the City of Laurel web site at www.cityoflaurel.org, to learn more about your local government!
3
Communit y Resoourc es and E mer gency M anagement: Heat S afet y
With the arrival of the warm, sunny days of summer, also comes the risk of heat -related illnesses like hyperthermia, heat exhaustion and heat stroke when temperatures get over 90 degrees and humidity makes it feel like 100!
Hyperthermia occurs when your body absorbs or generates more heat than it can release, causing muscle cramps, heat rash and heat stress. Heat Exhaustion is more serious, causing symptoms such as nausea, dizziness or feeling weak. The most serious of the heat -related illnesses is life -threatening Heat Stroke, with symptoms including, but not limited to, delirium, dizziness, pale skin, nausea, seizures and low/high blood pressure.
To stay safe during extreme heat, use the following tips:
• Limit outdoor activity to early morning or early evening.
• Wear loose-fitting, light -colored clothing.
• Stay hydrated!
• Minimize direct exposure to the sun.
• Make use of public space with air conditioning.
And make sure to keep your family and friends safe! Check on elderly and/or disabled adults to ensure they have air conditioning and electricity, and NEVER leave anyone in a vehicle, as interior temperatures can become deadly in minutes.
Also, with September just around the corner, we are gearing up for Emergency Preparedness Month, focusing this year on Emergency Notifications. So why not stay ahead of the game and sign up today at www.cityhoflaurel.org/230/Stay -Informed and begin to receive notifications that will keep you in the know during a weather -related or man-made emergency!
NEWS BRIEFS
A MINI-GOLF EVENT
More than 30 people attended Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services (LARS)’s first ever Mini Golf Event on July 31, raising $4,000 for the nonprofit and its programs.
“We wanted to do something new, something we had not done before to attract new people,” said Naira Hirz, community engagement assistant for LARS. “I think it went well.”
Funds will be used to purchase backpacks and school supplies for LARS’ Back-toSchool Backpack Bonanza on
Aug. 17, Hirz said.
The nonprofit’s biggest fundraiser, the annual Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning, will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year on Nov. 28 at 8 a.m.
THIRD TIME NOT A CHARM
A decision on a proposed 302 residential development by Pulte Homes on Contee Road was delayed for the third time on July 16 during the City of Laurel Planning Commission meeting.
Chairwoman Mitzi Betman announced at the meeting that
the developer requested more time to revise its original plans to submit to city staff for consideration. City staff will then need time to respond to those revisions.The matter remains on the table until the commission’s next meeting on Sept. 10.
“We are all thankful and hopeful that the work behind the scenes is getting done,” Betman said, to those in attendance. “We are hopeful the materials will be up in plenty of time for you to review those and we obviously invite you back to speak.”
The proposed development has met resistance from local residents and the nonprofit Laurel for the Patuxent over concerns about increased traffic and the loss of parkland.
THE LAUREL INDEPENDENT WINS AN AWARD
At the 2024 National Newspaper Association Better Newspaper Contest, writer Sophie Gorman Oriani’s article “Major fossil discovery at Dinosaur Park” received an honorable mention for The Laurel Independent in the category of stories Preserving Local History.
We call this group annual cicadas because we see the adults every summer. In fact, though, their underground stage could last two to five years, depending on the species and the weather conditions.
both sexes have sophisticated acoustic sensors, tympani, to pick up the sounds of other cicadas.
While they don’t sing, females produce a variety of clicks and other sounds to alert males that they are receptive to mating. Males and females engage in a complicated auditory Marco-Polo courtship in the tree canopy and, if all goes according to plan, the male finds the female, and they mate. The female uses a saw-like appendage at the tip of her abdomen (often sheathed, so it isn’t always apparent) to make slits in thin branchlets high in the trees into which she deposits her eggs.
After a few weeks, the rice-grain-sized nymphs hatch and fall to the ground — at least that’s the hope. If they land on a sidewalk or road, or in a spider web, or in a bird bath, it’s game over. But if they land on moist soil, they dig down until they hit a tree root, insert their strawlike mouthparts into it, and begin to drink sap.
We call this group annual cicadas because we see the adults every summer. In fact, though, their underground stage could last two to five years, depending on the species and the weather conditions. Unlike periodical cicadas, though, their emergence is not synchronized as a massive brood.
Then one summer, the nymph obeys some environmental command and begins its crawl upward. It will wait just below the surface, sometimes for a week or more, until a rain softens the soil. Then it fully emerges and begins its long slog up some vertical surface so it can then complete its transformation into a winged adult high in the treetops, where, if it’s a male, he provides our soundtrack for the heat of summer.
Have questions for Rick about the world of nature in and around the Maryland suburbs, or suggestions for future columns?
Drop him a note at rborchelt@gmail.com.
Priority 4: Invest in our people — our greatest asset — across all levels of the organization. Our organization relies on board members who are strong nonprofit managers and organizational leaders; many of them are also news industry veterans. And we rely on the strong writers and careful editors who make up our staff. As we increase our financial sustainability, we aim to better compensate our newsroom staff, and by growing deeper and broader connections in our communities, we are eager to recruit more voices from underrepresented communities. Here at Streetcar Suburbs,
what we most love about our jobs is working with and for you, our readers, and we look forward to connecting with you even more as we go forward. Please subscribe to our new newsletter, The Streetcar Suburbs Spotlight, at streetcarsuburbs.news/subscribe. Keep an eye out for our reader survey, coming soon. And as always, send us your news tips and ideas, and consider donating to support our work. Thank you for joining us in this effort!
PUBLIC POLICY VOLUNTEERS
The University of Maryland’s Legacy Leadership Institute on Public Policy is looking for volunteers age 50+ to serve during the 2025 session of the Maryland General Assembly. Classroom training begins on September 16, 2024, two days per week at the College Park campus, with site visits to the state complex in Annapolis. The volunteer assignment will be for a minimum of two days per week, starting in January 2025, in the Annapolis offices of various senators and delegates.
For more information or an application, contact Wesley Queen at wqueen@umd.edu or call (301)-405-2529
Jeff Bingham, permanent supportive housing case manager for Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services, takes a swing at the mini-golf fundraiser. COURTESY OF LAUREL ADVOCACY AND REFERRAL SERVICES
Kit Slack is the executive director of Streetcar Suburbs Publishing.
LAUREL
Explore some of the exhibit and program highlights from the Laurel Museum
By ABBY CARVER
When the Laurel Museum’s current exhibit, “It’s All Laurel,” opened in February 2023, one of the things that most excited the museum staff was the ability to highlight all four of the counties that call Laurel home. In the 18 months since, we have had the honor of featuring several local churches, Laurel’s own Tracy Camilla Johns (an actress), the historic 2023 Laurel mayoral election, the Laurel Pride Celebration and more. With the closure of “It’s All Laurel” at the end of August to make way for a new exhibit, let’s explore some of the exhibit and program highlights.
When the exhibit first opened, the museum was honored to feature dinosaur bones from Laurel’s own Dinosaur Park. These fossils have been a highlight for visitors young and old. In the summer of 2023, J.P. Hodnett, along with other Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission staff and volunteers, unearthed a bone bed, or an area where bones of one or more species are concentrated within a geologic layer, at the park. This was the first bone bed discovery in Maryland since 1887!
Do you recall the DART mission from 2022? The DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) spacecraft guided itself toward the as-
teroid Dimorphos for a direct collision; this was the first successful planetary defense test in history.
In April 2023, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab’s DART Lead, Ed Reynolds, was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People.
In October 2023, Tina Simmons presented the webinar, “History and Horrors of Forest Haven Asylum - Laurel, MD” with Laurel Historical Society Executive Director Ann Bennett. Simmons is instrumental in local genealogy research and her work has helped solve several family mysteries. In December 2023, Simmons worked to reunite a tombstone belonging to the Mullikin family that had been missing from a private Laurel cemetery since the early 1970s.
“What is that log house by Bethany Community Church?” is
invasive species and introducing new native species.
region.
What can we take back home from these rewilded spaces? First, while they resemble their naturally occurring counterparts, urban meadows are intrinsically disturbed sites. We tend to manage them by mowing, pulling
This means that despite their wild appearance, these sites share traits with our residential gardens, where the plants that thrive are those that can best handle disturbances like soil compaction and erosion. These plants are also good at pioneering new areas. Plan for them to spread widely, or
a question that visitors ask museum volunteers and staff regularly. The Caleb Carr house is a log cabin that dates back to 1790 and was named after its original owner. This house is one of the only remaining log cabins in the area. In the 1990s, the sons of the late James Smith, who purchased the property in the 1940s, donated the log cabin to Bethany Community Church with the requirement that the church restore it. Funded by the Maryland Historical Trust, volunteers from the church helped with the restoration of the cabin by cleaning, painting and landscaping the grounds.
February 2024 marked the opening of the museum’s temporary exhibit, “Visions and Voices: The African American Voting Experience 1920-2023.” One highlight of the exhibit was the historic elec-
you can plant equally aggressive species together for a matrixed look.
tion of Reginald “Reggie” Parks, the first African American to serve on the Laurel City Council. Elected in 1992, Parks won more votes than any other candidate in the 1992 race. Parks served one term as a city council member and did not seek re-election in 1994.
July 2024 ended with the opening ceremonies of the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France. Juliette Whittaker (track and field), Isabella Whittaker (track and field), and Jessica Stevens (trampoline) all call Laurel home or train at a Laurel facility. While their accomplishments were not included in the exhibit, their information was shared on social media and added to the society’s research library. Congratulations to these athletes and the many others who hail from Maryland competing this year.
August 2024 marks the 220th anniversary of Horace Capron’s birth. Capron came to Maryland in 1829 and after marrying Louisa V. Snowden in 1834, he came to reside in Laurel. The Patuxent Manufacturing Company, of which Capron was the head, was officially chartered by the state of Maryland in June 1835. Its cotton mill, lands, houses, stores, machine shop and road down to the newly opened B&O Railroad station became the foundation for today’s Laurel. Capron, recognized as a founder of Laurel and builder of many mill worker houses, also enslaved four people:
one woman and three children. Unfortunately, records only show us the name of one of those who were enslaved, Betsey, who was 30 years old in 1851.
The “It’s All Laurel’’ exhibit highlights several items related to the historic Laurel Park racetrack. Laurel Park opened in 1911 and sits in two of the four counties that call Laurel home. Triple Crown winners, including War Admiral, Secretariat and Affirmed, all raced at Laurel. Although there is currently some uncertainty surrounding Laurel Park’s future, in 2026 the Preakness Stakes will be held at Laurel Park. Did you know that Laurel had a second horseracing track? From 1948 to 1990, the Freestate Raceway harness racing track was located on Route 1 southbound in Howard County, near the intersection with Gorman Road and where CarMax is now located.
It has been a joy for everyone involved with the museum to explore Laurel, city limits and beyond, with visitors the past 18 months. From the dinosaurs of 115 million years ago to the 2024 Olympics, collecting stories and objects to tell the most complete story of the Laurel community continues to be one of our highest priorities. After all, “It’s All Laurel.”
Abby Carver is the education and outreach coordinator for Laurel Historical Society.
And meadows remind us to integrate grasses into our garden designs. Even seasoned native gardeners can forget to add grasses to their beds, leading to exposed mulch around the base of taller plants. Grassy texture can ease this harsh look. Grasses can overwhelm small gardens, though, so clumping species like those mentioned above will help the eye mark out a distinct design. Choosing smaller grasses like little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) can help scale down the look of a meadow as well.
And finally, keep in mind that meadows organize themselves in masses and pops. Grasses, goldenrods, asters and mountain mints (Pycnanthemum species) tend to spread widely, while white beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis), pink wild bergamot, orange butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) and yellow cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata) tend to pop up and
out. The eye will be drawn to those pops first before soaking in the dense green beneath. I hope I’ve convinced you to take a field trip to a local meadow. Whether it’s the University Park pollinator meadow, a local unmown lot or some other wild space, try to fit a visit to one into your Saturday. Thirty minutes spent breathing a
summer breeze among the goldenrods will melt away a weekday care or two.
Jimmy Rogers is an avid native gardener in the City of Laurel.
Laurel Historical Society Executive Director Ann Bennett leads a tour of the exhibit. COURTESY OF LAUREL HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The University Park Pollinator Meadow JIMMY ROGERS
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Please send notices of events taking place between Sept. 12 and Oct. 8 to nancy@streetcarsuburbs. news by Aug. 30.
AUG. 10
Travel Writing Workshop. Adults with any level of writing experience are invited to try their hand at travel writing. Free. 10 a.m. Laurel Branch Library, 507 7th St. 240.455.5451
Live Music. Folk/Americano duo Mike and Barb perform at Ragamuffins Coffee House. 5 p.m. 385 Main Street. ragamuffinslaurel.com
AUG. 14
Summer Book Club. A discussion of “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer, a nonfiction book about the teachings of plants. Presented by Patuxent Research Refuge in partnership with Maryland City at Russett Library. 6:30 p.m. 3501 Russett Common. 301.497.5772
AUG. 15
Metal Heads. Learn about the history of the iron industry, from Africa to Maryland, with craft and science projects. Free. 10 a.m. Also on Aug. 22 and 29. Montpelier House Museum, 9650 Muirkirk Road. 301.377.7817
AUG. 16
Nature Walk. Walk around Cash Lake at Patuxent Research Refuge (South Tract). Free. 9 a.m. Patuxent Research Refuge, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop. 301.497.5772
AUG. 17
Guided Tour. See the interior of this 1780s house and learn about all who lived here, both free and enslaved. 2:30 p.m. Montpelier House Museum, 9650 Muirkirk Road. 301.377.7817
How to Help and Attract Pollinators. This workshop explores ways to attract pollinators anywhere—even on decks and patios—and how to get started. Pick out a free native plant to take home. 2 p.m. Patuxent Research Refuge, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop. 301.497.5772
AUG. 19
Kids Create: Sensory Bottles. Have fun exploring, crafting and creating with hands-on experiments and activities. 4 p.m. Laurel Branch Library, 507 7th St. 240.455.5451
AUG. 20
Manga and Anime Club Party. Discussions, activities and screen-
ings. Free. 6 p.m. Laurel Branch Library, 507 7th St. 240.455.5451
AUG. 23
STEAM Story Time. Explore history, art and science themes through stories and activities. 11 a.m. Laurel History Museum, 817 Main St. 301.725.7975
AUG. 31
TECU Plant Therapy Garden Club. A certified emotional intelligence coach will lead participants through a journey of self-discovery and relaxation by creating tabletop gardens. 1 and 2:30 p.m. Laurel Branch Library, 507 7th St. 240.455.5451
SEPT. 7
Family Art Time. Presented by Kyle’s Art for Autism World Inc, this program aims to spread autism awareness while offering a creative and welcoming space for individuals with exceptional needs to express themselves. All ages welcome. Free. Noon. Laurel Branch Library 507 7th St. 240.455.5451
ONGOING
“The Wizard of Oz”: Burton Players present six performances starting Aug. 9. Tickets $18/$23. Laurel Mill Playhouse, 508 Main St. Contact Maureen Rogers at 301.617.9906 or imp508main@gmail.com
“It’s All Laurel: City Limits and Beyond.” Exhibit reminds visitors that Laurel extends beyond Prince George’s County into Howard, Anne Arundel and even Montgomery counties with communities having distinctive personalities. Free. Laurel Museum, 817 Main St. 301.725.7975
Birds, Bees, Butterflies and Patuxent. An exhibit of David Jonathan Cohen’s photographs of birds and other wildlife around the world. Proceeds from any photo purchased will go to the Friends of Patuxent Research Refuge. Opening and
Beltsville Young at Heart. Meets the third Thursday of each month; entertainment, speakers, trips. Ages 55 and up. 10:30 a.m. Beltsville Community Center, 3900 Sellman Road, Beltsville 301.498.9736
Jim Whitney Toastmasters Club. A Toastmasters International affiliate, the club teaches public speaking and leadership skills. Aug. 12 and 26, 7 p.m. St. Philips Episcopal Church, 522 Main St. For more information, go to toastmastersclubs.org
reception Aug. 10 from 2 to 4 p.m. John Hollingsworth Gallery, Patuxent Research Refuge, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop. 301.497.5772
Chris Kirages: “Today I Get To…” Originally a painter, Montpelier Arts Center resident artist Chris Kirages also works in sculpture. Exhibit displays his affinity for ceramic work with new pottery from the wheel. Through Aug. 10. Montpelier Arts Center, 9652 Muirkirk Road 301.377.7800
RECURRING
Every Tuesday Bingo at Laurel Elks Lodge #2283. Twenty games with cash prizes; food and drinks available for purchase. Doors open at 5 p.m, and bingo starts at 7 p.m. 8261 Brock Bridge Road. 301.604.2975
Every Tuesday Bingo at Senior Center. 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 Road. 301.206.3380
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. and bingo starts at 7:30 p.m. 2 Main St. 301.725.2302
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 a business meeting along with musical entertainment or a speaker. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. Laurel-Beltsville Senior Activities Center, 7120 Contee Road. 301.206.3380
18. from 9 a.m. to noon. Sixth and Prince George Sts.
Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services. Food pantry is open by appointment 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
MBC Toastmasters Club. Learn communication skills in a supportive environment. Virtual meetings on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month, 7:15 p.m. For more information, email mbctoastmasters@metropolitanbaptist.org
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 Aug.
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, 8:30 a.m. while supplies last. Kessler Center, 114 St. Mary’s Pl. Call before you come. 301.725.3080
Gospel Assembly Church Food Pantry. 8740 Cherry Lane, Suite 12. For dates and times, call 301.605.3756
LAUREL SQUIRREL By Agnes Pasco Conaty “To Squirrel-lock Holmes, it is always the acorn.”
“The Wizard of Oz” opens Aug. 9 at Laurel Mill Playhouse. COURTESY OF JOHN CHOLOD
the city almost demolished it in 2001 after a tornado tore off the roof. Fortunately, it was restored and now serves as a private office.
9. Laurel Manor House (1110 Montgomery Street). This engaging Victorian house, with its playful tower and eaves, was built by Mayor Edward Phelps (yes, the very same one) in 1888. Originally a residence, it’s now a bed and breakfast owned and run by Lisa and Dave Everett.
8. Laurel MARC station (22 Main Street). The station was built by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in 1882. Architect Francis Baldwin used a Queen Anne design for this small structure, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Baldwin also designed the rear wing of the State House in Annapolis.
7. Laurel Boys and Girls Club (701 Montgomery Street). This building was constructed in 1899 by Mayor Edward Phelps (there he goes again) as the first Laurel High School — indeed, the first public high school in Prince George’s County. The building displays the impressive symmetry and ornamentation found in typical institutional
architecture of an earlier era. Its attractive cupola was used during World War II to watch for enemy planes. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.
6. St. Mary of the Mills Roman Catholic Church (114 St. Mary’s Place). The original stone church, with its well-proportioned steeple and stainedglass windows, was built in 1843 through the efforts of Dr. Theodore Jenkins, who was married to Juliana Snowden (remember the name Snowden). The oldest church in continuous use in Laurel, St. Mary’s enlarged
the sanctuary in 1890, using the same exterior stone, which added to its elegant appearance.
5. St. Philip’s Episcopal Church (522 Main Street). This church was built in 1848, largely through the efforts of Louisa Snowden Capron, Juliana Snowden’s sister, and Louisa’s husband, Horace Capron, who was head of the cotton mill that was then Laurel’s key industry. (Continue to hold onto the name Snowden.) St. Philip’s may have been the first building in the city designed by a professional architect. It embodies the loveliness of an old stone church in the English countryside.
4. Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission headquarters (14501 Sweitzer Lane). This 13-story glass tower, completed in 1992, is the tallest building in Prince George’s County, and, with a price tag of $60 million, it is the largest and costliest structure in the Laurel area. But the building is not only big: The deep blue hue
of its glass walls shimmers like sunlight on a lake, perfect for a water and sewer agency.
3. Laurel Branch Library (507 Seventh Street). The building was completed in 2016 to replace the city’s previous library, and it won an American Institute of Architects award for library design in 2018. The stone and glass exterior and two roofs pitched at distinct angles give the building a soaring openness, and interior lighting creates a warm glow for evening passers-by on Route 198. The backlit, multicolored obelisk in front adds to the effect.
2. Oseh Shalom (7515 Olive Branch Way). This gem of religious architecture by Travis Price is both lovely and richly symbolic. Completed in 1991, the building’s exterior design suggests the earth tones of Jerusalem, the blue of the Israeli flag, the Wailing Wall, Sukkot booths, tefillah straps, a yarmulke and more.
1. Montpelier Mansion (9650 Muirkirk Road). Laurel’s oldest and grandest house, Montpelier was built in the 1780s by Maj. Thomas Snowden, a plantation and ironworks owner (and
enslaver of more than 160 individuals). Its graceful Georgian architecture and expansive front lawn, which swept down to the Patuxent River before Rocky Gorge Dam was built, make it Laurel’s most beautiful spot.
Runners-up: Snow Hill Manor (13301 Laurel-Bowie Road), Laurel Armory – Anderson & Murphy Community Center (422 Montgomery Street), Laurel Museum (817 Main Street), McCeney House (400 Main Street), Laurel Volunteer Fire Department Station 10 (7411 Cherry Lane), Gude Manor House (13910 Laurel Lakes Avenue), and Patuxent Place (600 block of Main Street). Since this is a highly subjective list, readers are welcome to let me know where I have gone astray or omitted a deserving building. Just send your opinion to joe@streetcarsuburbs.news. We hope to publish some of your replies in the September issue.
Joe Murchison is a Streetcar Suburbs board member and a frequent contributor to The Laurel Independent.
Laurel Branch Library COURTESY OF JOE MURCHISON
houses Peace on Patuxent, “so they would have to be vibrant and able to take care of [themselves].”
There are no ethnic, income or educational requirements, according to the POPi website.
“Peace on Patuxent is not just exclusive for brown and black women. It’s open for Asian women. It’s open for Hispanic women. It’s open for Caucasian women. It’s open for everyone,” said Miriam Rendon-Ponce, marketing director and a POPi board member. “We’re open to a young woman, 18 years old, or to an older lady.”
Eligible women will be able to stay at POPi for two days and two nights, from Friday to Sunday, with breakfast and lunch provided. Dinner will not be provided for overnight guests, but “they’re able to go out into the community and dine,” Hill said, or they can meet with their family if they live locally. Day retreats will be offered on Saturday and include the meditation garden; lunch is also provided.
Meals will cater to the guests’ nutritional needs, with plans to offer garden-to-table food, ac-
cording to Hill.
Rotating activities that will be available to guests include yoga, meditative writing, expressive writing, meditation and possibly poetry and music, Hill said.
“When we interview the women, we will ask them what they’re looking for, what they like and sort of pattern the activities according to the women,” Fagan said.
There will be two women allowed for the two-day/twonight stay, and four women are allowed for the day retreat in the meditation garden.
“It becomes a community [of] six women where they’re able to exchange, communicate [and] have communion with each other,” Hill said.
Car service for overnight guests is in the works, which will drop guests off at POPi’s Patuxent Road property on Friday and return them home on Sunday, Hill said.
“We want her to feel like this is really about her. She is the queen. We want to treat her. Whether it’s your mom, sister, daughter, niece or co-worker, to me, she’s precious, and we should treat her as such,” Hill said. “Bring her and allow her to just decompress at the property.”
Only one overnight stay will be allowed every five years, though guests are still welcome to the garden, Hill said.
In the first year, Hill said Peace on Patuxent will only open one weekend a month.
“After the first year, we would like to open every weekend and expand from two women overnight to four women,” Hill said.
“We have room for expansion, so the work is just beginning. We’ve just done the groundwork.”
Creating Peace on Patuxent Inc. has cost more than $40,000, Hill said, in an email. It has been mostly self-funded by Hill, and has received donations, too. “We’re trying to get the funding, so that she won’t have to [pay] out of her pocket as much because yes, it’s her vision, but now it’s the community,” Fagan said.
“Anyone with cancer should have a nurturing space, where they can feel in power, where they can feel like they find a community, where they’re able to hope and where they can just have, like, a space to put their feet up and be able [to] think because sometimes when they are diagnosed, or when [they’re] going through the journey, it’s so difficult,” Rendon-Ponce said. “I think Peace on Patuxent gives them a moment to just be them, to put their feet up, enjoy the garden and enjoy themselves with other women that are also going through the same thing.”
Peace on Patuxent Inc., 228 Patuxent Road, will have a ribboncutting ceremony and reception on Aug. 22 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For more information, call 301.383.5266.
Senita M. Hill, founder and chief executive officer of Peace on Patuxent Inc.
COURTESY OF SENITA HILL
