Stained glass windows ready to shine
By KATIE V. JONES
Colorful shapes of candles, planets and the sun hang in the windows of St. Phillip’s Episcopal Church on Main Street. Created by children attending the church’s summer camp, they are temporary substitutes for the church’s beloved stained glass windows, which are undergoing some muchneeded repair. The 10 windows date back to 1886.
“One … was bowing. It was scary for the longest time,” said Jim Martin, a member of the church’s property core team. “[With] others, you could see the deterioration in the window itself.”
A church committee researched several restoration companies to do the work before selecting Epiphany Studios, in Middletown, Va.
“They were really thorough,” Martin said. “They showed what was wrong with each window.”
While some windows could be repaired without being removed, most were trucked to the studio in July. Church staff and a number of parishioners were able to visit the studio on two occasions to observe the restoration process.
“I was really impressed.,” Martin said. “You see how they take it all apart and show the deficiencies in each one. A lady
mixes paint and duplicates the color.”
Restoring the windows will cost approximately $51,000, according to Betsy Welsh, the church’s historian. The project was funded by parishioners and through two gifts bequeathed by deceased members.
“We were very, very fortunate,” Welsh said, referring to the gifts. “We had no idea they were leaving us money.”
She is quick to point out that not all the gifted money was used for the restoration; some funding was directed to the church’s food distribution program.
“We are in tune with the needs of the
Laurel Historical Society updates walking tours, P.2
Support for young girls available, P.3
City’s new multiservice center opens, P.6
Get ready for the November election
By KIT SLACK
Early voting for the Nov. 5 election starts on Oct. 24 and ends Oct. 31, with centers open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. For a list of early voting centers, go to tinyurl.com/mr8dp977.
Mail-in ballots are already arriving in voters’ mailboxes. Deadlines for requesting a ballot are Oct. 29, if you’d like to receive your ballot by mail, and Nov. 1 if you’d like to access your ballot online .
So, who’s on the ballot besides Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, and what are the issues this election cycle?
U.S. SENATE RACE:
Voters across the state will decide whether Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks or former Gov. Larry Hogan will represent Maryland in the U.S. Senate. The winner will replace U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, who is retir-
SEE ELECTION ON 4
5 local churches team up for bazaar season
By JESSIE NEWBURN
For many, winter holiday shopping begins with church bazaars and their bounty of homemade crafts, baked goods and gently used items. With the convenience of online shopping, area churches struggle to attract shoppers other than their own members But attendance at church bazaars has good reason to be on the upswing.
This year, five local churches are not only hosting their own fall and winter holiday bazaars but are working together to make each event a success, all thanks to an innovative promotion: the Holiday Bazaar Passport.
SEE BAZAAR ON 7
LAUREL’S
Parishioners learn about the restoration process at Epiphany Studios, in Middletown, Va. COURTESY OF ST. PHILLIP’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
You spoke up; we are listening
By KIT SLACK
Thank you to the more than 200 readers who took the first audience survey for The Laurel Independent and our sister publications, Hyattsville Life & Times and College Park Here & Now. I am so grateful for the thoughtful responses and excited about the conversations they are starting.
Through your survey responses, you told us that you look to us primarily for city government coverage, as well as things to do and local events.
Let me recommend our free, twice-a-month email newsletter, launched this year, to those of you looking for local event listings. Subscribers to that resource said they are especially satisfied with our comprehensive, timely
We plan to keep delivering what you value, with a priority on news and information that gives broad access to civic engagement here in your community.
listings: streetcarsuburbs.news/ subscribe.
You also rely on us for hyperlocal housing, development and land use news, and news about local businesses and environmental issues – and you noticed that often we are the only source available for that information.
We got lots of compliments on our profiles of local community members and organizations working to improve our neighborhoods. We especially appreciated that, as we are proud of those, too, and will keep them coming.
People said they love our gardening and nature columns by local experts. Thanks, Miss Floribunda, Rick Borchelt, Jimmy Rogers and all of our volunteer columnists.
In Hyattsville and Laurel in
Historical Society launches ‘Updated & Revised: Main Street Laurel’ tours
By KATIE V. JONES
The Laurel Historical Society’s (LHS) popular walking tours are back this fall with new stops and new information to share.
“History happens every day, and the Laurel Historical Society works hard to capture, preserve and share as much of the full story as it can,”
Abby Carver, education and outreach coordinator for the society, wrote in an email.
The society’s newly updated Main Street Laurel walking tour now covers a more complete history of some of the city’s favorite establishments, Carver said — includ-
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
ing tales of alligators and horseshoes at Oliver’s Tavern.
Tour guides now cover the history of the Laurel Municipal Pool, as well. In talking about the pool, guides focus on segregation and the pool’s
Managing Editor
Katie V. Jones
Katie@streetcarsuburbs.news
Associate Editor
Nancy Welch
Nancy@streetcarsuburbs.news
Columnists
Agnes Pasco Conaty, Jimmy Rogers
Writers & Contributors
Agnes Pasco Conaty, Alaysia Ezzard, Katie V. Jones, Jessie Newburn, Kit Slack, Aiesha Solomon
Layout & Design Editors
Ashley Perks, Valerie Morris
Web Editor Jessica Burshtynskyy
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particular, readers asked for more depth and detail in our city council coverage. “You need paid reporters,” said one sympathetic reader familiar with our lean staffing model, which relies on part-time editors and community volunteers. Some Laurel readers said they miss the more comprehensive coverage that used to be provided by the weekly Laurel Leader. In terms of length of articles and breadth of coverage you have us in a bind; some of you note that we can’t provide comprehensive news in monthly publications at our staffing levels. Some of you asked for in-depth, magazinestyle articles on fewer topics. Others feel we should use our limited space to pack in more, shorter stories. Readers simultaneously would like us to step up to fill the
gap in county news coverage and deepen our city coverage.
Like us, you want to see news that is representative of the diverse communities that get our newspapers delivered to their doors; you urge us not to forget about West Laurel, and you are interested in how we can reach Spanish-speaking readers
We’ll keep trying to thread the needle on a tight budget, and we will be asking for your help to do it.
In the coming year, we hope to deepen and broaden our conversations with readers and community leaders about local news. We plan to keep delivering what you value, with a priority on news and information that gives broad access to civic engagement here in your community.
I couldn’t address every survey comment in this summary. Please know that I read them all, and that they are being shared with our assigning editors and board members in each community.
Letter to the Editor
I read the one-sided governmental perspective point of view article, “Water pipeline is worth delays” in the September 2024 issue by Joe Murchison. “Small bottlenecks and small sacrifices” is clearly inaccurate. I guess gas leaks, sewage backups, million dollar excess in expenditures, day-to-day traveling on a road that was poorly repaired, disrupting school and everyone’s life and yes, the two year delay in completion are small? This defies believability. I live on this road and live it everyday.
connection to racial turmoil in the Grove, the city’s African American neighborhood, where a home was set on fire in the summer of 1967.
“Walking tours give won-
Business Manager Catie Currie
Executive Director Kit Slack
Board of Directors
President: Marta McLellan Ross
Vice President & General Counsel: Michael Walls
Treasurer: Joe Murchison
Secretary: Melanie Dzwonchyk
Bette Dickerson, Nora Eidelman, Joseph Gigliotti, Maxine Gross, Merrill Hartson, T. Carter Ross, Stephanie Stullich
Ex Officios: Katie V. Jones, Griffin Limerick, Sharon O’Malley, Kit Slack Circulation: Copies are
There are inaccuracies in the article, as it is assumed that the construction was finished Aug. 29. The reality is that the project continued to be delayed, was still in construction and, as of this writing, will be further delayed until the third week of October. The right-of-way where the contractor is working is still a mess.
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) and Alan Meyer Construction Company are now going into its fifth year of construction for the 48th Patuxent Raw Water Pipeline along Brooklyn Bridge and Bond Mill roads in West Laurel.This project has been marred by several incidents, cost overruns, years of delays in implementation and business process, technical, resource and change management/ mismanagement.
Furthermore, even though there are state and county representatives that actually live in West Laurel, they lack the will to file a
complaint with the state’s Office of Legislative Audit to fully examine this project. I have filed such a complaint after extensive discussions with WSSC’s executives. While things have gotten much better with the new engineering leadership, our community deserves and demands better service reflected by the high rates that we pay. It is time for accountability and repairing the scars of this project. This would include paving Bond Mill Road with a popcorn asphalt material and technique, and the planting of 1,000 flowering trees.
I guess the theme of Joe’s article is who is really benefiting from this project? West Laurel has had water service for over 70 years. This new source of water is for development of housing/businesses in Northern Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, not for West Laurel, certainly. As a result of this project, West Laurel has been seriously damaged by this boondoggle and none of this was mentioned in the article. Both sides of the issues should have been explored and were not, in my opinion. I believe the article should be rewritten or retracted, as it is not in keeping with any journalistic standards or should have been described as an oped. Being an apologist for poor government service should not be the purpose of an Independent newspaper.
Paul Gentile West Laurel
The late Joe Robison leads a walking tour. COURTESY OF LAUREL HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Bernadette’s House helps girls blossom and soar
By JESSIE NEWBURN
Amina Ali was a single mother of three young children, a full-time employee and a part-time entrepreneur when she first heard of Bernadette’s House i in 2014.
An afterschool program providing a safe and supportive homelike environment for preteen and teenage girls? A one-to-one men-
profit’s founder.
“Carol mentors not only the young girls, but also the parents and volunteers. She’s passionate, persuasive and impactful,” said Cohen, who has been a board member since 2017 and is currently its president. “It’s easy to see how she attracts so many caring and capable adults into supporting the mission.”
When Nash, who is now 79, was working as a nurse in New York City, she’d often see young women trying to get their nursing careers — and lives — off the ground. Yet time and again, she saw them abandoning their goals due to drug addiction, an abusive relationship or pregnancy. She well understood that these young women had dreams they hoped to fulfill, but often lacked the support they needed to succeed.
When Nash retired and moved with her husband to Maryland, she turned her concern into action and launched Bernadette’s
Girls present their vision boards during Bernadette’s House Brains & Beauty Aeronautics Summer Day Program.
HOUSE
ELECTION
ing, and join U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, whose term ends in 2026. Husband and wife team who will be hard to beat U.S. House of Representatives, District 4: Incumbent Glenn Ivey, a Democrat, is running against Republican challenger George McDermott. Ivey is expected to win. District 4,
much of which overlaps with Prince George’s County, is one of the most partisan Democratic districts in the United States, according to the Cook Political Report. Glenn Ivey is married to Jolene Ivey.
Prince George’s County Council at large: Council chair Jolene Ivey, who is a Democrat, is expected to win in her race against Republican Michael Riker in this special election. If Ivey wins the
at-large seat, the District 5 county council seat will be vacated.
Prince George’s County judges for the Maryland Circuit Court Voters may select four of the five judges listed on the ballot. Darren Sebastian Johnson, Stenise LaNez Rolle, Cheri Nicole Simpkins and Donnell Wilfred Turner are currently sitting judges who were nominated by judicial selection commissions and appointed
by the governor. Michael Sheehan is a challenger. Read more about them in our judge’s election guide at streetcarsuburbs. news/judges-election-guide.
Yes-or-no questions:
Constitutional amendment: Question 1 on the ballot would amend the Maryland Constitution to protect individual reproductive freedom, including “decisions to prevent, continue or end the individual’s pregnancy.”
Judges: Maryland residents will be asked to vote yes or no on several judges to the Appellate Court of Maryland who seek to remain in office.
Charter amendment: County residents can vote yes or no on amending the county charter to prevent county agencies from hiring more staff than approved
in the annual operating budget, without first seeking council approval. This will give county agencies more staffing flexibility, as the current charter restricts changes in agency staffing levels by grade. A county charter review commission recommended the change.
Prince George’s County bond issuances: The county is asking voters to approve bond issuances that would allow the government to borrow more than $600 million for construction projects related to county facilities. The county asked for $500 million in 2020. According to a 2018 analysis by the Regional Economic Studies Institute at Towson University, this type of ballot measure is required in Prince George’s County (as well as in Baltimore and Baltimore County), and generally passes. They are not required in other jurisdictions in the state.
IMPORTANT ELECTION DATES
Early voting for the Nov. 5 election starts on Oct. 24 and ends Oct. 31, with centers open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Deadlines for requesting a mail-in ballot are Oct. 29, if you’d like to receive your ballot by mail, and Nov. 1 if you’d like to access your ballot online .
D e n i s e i s n o t o n l y k n o w l e d g e a b l e a b o u t
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r e a l e s t a t e n e e d s B o o k a f r e e c o n s u l
M A K E E N E R G Y E F F I C I E N T : D o o r s &
w i n d o w s a r e m a j o r c o n t r i b u t o r s t o
e n e r g y w a s t e i n h o u s e h o l d s . R e d u c e
e n e r g y l o s s & l o w e r b i l l s b y u s i n g
c a u l k , w e a t h e r s t r i p p i n g & i n s u l a t i o n .
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bring historic Enjoy gardens plants
House in October 2012, with the goal of mentoring girls from 8 to 17 years old.
“She chose that age range to pick up the slack where many pre-K and early elementary school programs cut off,” Cohen said. “Parents often can’t afford after school care, and a lot of those programs aren’t particularly supportive of girls, per se, whereas Bernadette’s House is designed to support girls just being girls without other social pressures.”
Originally located in an historic home within walking distance of Laurel Elementary School, Bernadette’s House provided a safe and supervised after-school program where girls could be tutored and get help with homework while they built relationships with other girls.
When COVID-19 restrictions went into effect, the organization’s in-person program shuttered, but the organization pivoted to offer Girls Rising, a free virtual program hosting monthly workshops. Over time, Girls Rising has evolved into a hybrid program aimed at teaching social and life skills through both virtual and in-person offerings. Each girl in the program is part-
nered with a volunteer mentor who connects weekly to provide academic, physical, mental and emotional support.
“What this organization provides with the barest-of-bones budgets and smallest of staffs is near-Herculean,” Cohen said.
Brains & Beauty, a two-week summer camp run by the organization, is a winning example of so much coming from so little.
This year’s camp theme was aeronautics. Camp staff partnered with a number of organizations, including the local nonprofit SciTech2U (scitech2u.org), to create activities for the girls. Campers were able to experience a flight simulator, and some even went up in a Cessna. The girls learned to fly drones (and were each gifted with one to take home). The camp also partnered with Laurel Mill Playhouse for a drama program where the girls worked on costuming, makeup and set design, culminating in a play they presented to family and friends.
Outside of camp, another partnership with PNC Bank helped the girls learn about smart money, investing and the importance of managing their finances over time.
“We are open to supporting people who want to help the girls,” Cohen said. Mohan Gu-
jral, who is also a board member, wanted to offer a STEM-focused robotics program. He now leads a free, 16-week program about robotics, including the basics of block coding and electronics.
Though small in staff and tiny in budget, Bernadette’s House is well run. In addition to providing full financial transparency, the organization works to ensure measurable outcomes and as part of this effort applies metrics to track volunteers’ hours.
“We recruit for mentors to pair up with the girls twice a year, and we’re always looking for new board members, and particularly for people who seek leadership opportunities,” Cohen said.
Cohen, who writes grants in her full-time job, said that while the organization is proactive in applying for grants, funding doesn’t always come through. The organization is always grateful to local businesses that make regular donations, and Cohen noted that having a volunteer to help with fundraising would be a boon.
For more information about Bernadette’s House, including programs, volunteering, mentoring, leadership opportunities and donating to the organization, go to bernadetteshouse.org.
GLASS
Three separate windows did not need any repairs. One intact window was moved years ago to the church hall after a door was installed where the window once hung That window’s stained glass includes an alpha symbol, and staff assumed there was once an Omega window, too. Welsh said they haven’t found evidence, though, of a companion window.
Another large stained glass window behind the altar can’t be seen from inside the church.
“In the 1970s, we got a new
organ and had to put the pipes some place,” Welsh said. “We blocked this window.”
Join us for a traveling exhibit celebrating the hilariously awkward family moments captured on film, along with a display of cameras and photographs and Laurel’s very own Awkward family! community,” Welsh said. “Our food pantry serves 100 folks a month.”
Fortunately, one can see the window from the church’s cemetery. The window is fully protected and didn’t need any repairs, but Welsh hopes the church will install backlighting to illuminate it.
The windows will be dedicated on All Saint’s Day, the first Sunday in November though Martin doesn’t anticipate that all of the windows will be in place as the restoration company needs more time.
“We will have half of them,” he said. “The other half will be in the new year. That’s the plan I’m getting right now.”
St. Phillip’s Episcopal Church’s stained glass windows were removed to be repaired. COURTESY OF ST. PHILLIP’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
City celebrates multiservice center opening
By ALAYSIA EZZARD
On Sept. 10, Laurel celebrated the opening of the Craig A. Moe Multiservice Center. The center is in a former athletic facility on Fort Meade Road. Following an extensive study by the City of Laurel Homelessness and Community Services Task Force, the city purchased the facility for $2.4 million in 2020. The center’s primary goal is to support unhoused individuals by providing resources essential to health and well-being.
The center’s day program offers a number of services for free, including bathrooms (with showers) and a laundry room. The center also provides free clothing, hot evening meals and an onsite barber and hairstylist.
“Come in here, pick out some items that you might need,” Marchelle LeBlanc, director of the multiservice center, said.
“Hoodies, jackets — we’re gonna have boots, gym shoes. We have toiletry items. All those things they can pick up for free.”
For those searching for a job, job training and job placement services are available. Educa-
tion workshops and wellness programs are also planned.
A transitional housing program is scheduled to open 19 rooms in January 2025 on the second level of the facility. The program, operated by Laurel Advocacy Referral Services, will offer housing, including ADAcompliant rooms, to adults 25 and over.
“Come to a safe place, relax.
Take advantage of connecting with a variety of service providers,” LeBlanc said.
Two rooms on the first level will act as a winter shelter, with 13 beds for women and 26 beds for men. Both rooms will be open from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
“People can come off the street, have a place to sleep, and then in the morning, if necessary, they can come to the day
Local news...
center, access the laundry, the shower facilities, get some coffee and just relax,” LeBlanc said.
“If you don’t have anywhere to go, now you can come to the center and get some support.”
The center has security measures in place, including cameras throughout the building and metal detectors. A security guard is also on site, and staff members are trained to provide
basic security-related support.
“We’re trained in de-escalation, being trauma informed, just treating everybody with respect and kindness, knowing that we’re going to have some challenges that kind of come with this type of service, but I think we can meet the need and help people, even in the midst of all of that,” LeBlanc said.
Individuals are already utilizing the facility.
“One gentleman told me he’s been living in an abandoned building for three months, and he almost never gets to shower, so he was just so happy that this place is here,” Sandra Price, operations manager, said.
Price chose to work at the center primarily to provide resources to those in need. She noted that volunteers are always welcome.
“The day center, the traffic has already quadrupled,” she said. “We just need help to keep things going, and ongoing.”
The multiservice center, which currently has modified hours, will open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. starting Nov. 4.
The Craig A. Moe Multiservice Center ALAYSIA EZZARD
VOL. 3, NO. 10 OCTOBER 2024
COMMUNICATIONS IS TH E KEY TO STAYING IN THE KNOW!
Community Media Day, celebrated annually on October 20th, shines a spotlight on the importance of accessible, independent media platforms that foster free speech and inclusivity for citizen journalists, artists, and storytellers around the world. Founded in Brooklyn, New York, by Alease Annan through her work with Brooklyn Free Speech TV, this day has grown into a global celebration, empowering local voices and encouraging open dialogue across communities.
In the City of Laurel, the celebration of Community Media Day highlights the many opportunities available for residents to engage with local media. Residents can step into the spotlight by producing their own television shows on Laurel TV, showcasing their unique perspectives and talents. For those who prefer the auditory medium, starting a podcast is another fantastic way to connect with the community and share important conversations.
“As a City, we believe in giving everyone the platform to share their voice and their stories,” said Mayor Keith Sydnor.
“Community Media Day is a reminder of how vital local media is in educating and empowering our residents. I encourage everyone in Laurel to take advantage of these resources to broaden their knowledge and discover all that Laurel has to offer.”
Additionally, the City of Laurel is committed to transparency and civic engagement, offering recordings of all Mayor and City Council meetings, as well as other important City gatherings. By making these accessible to the public, Laurel ensures that residents stay informed and actively participate in local governance, strengthening the values of accountability and involvement.
Laurel TV is also excited to share its plans for an upcoming rebrand, focusing on expanding its educational and community driven programming. The rebrand will include more shows that spotlight local events, provide educational content, and highlight the stories and voices that make our City unique. This evolution reflects Laurel TV's commitment to being a platform for learning, engagement, and fostering a deeper sense of community among all residents.
“Our goal with this rebrand is to ensure that Laurel TV becomes a true educational
VOLUNTEER APPRECIATI ON: ANDY KOSTAS
As we mentioned in last month’s edition of the Ledger, volunteers are truly the heart and soul of any organization, particularly here in the City of Laurel. Last month, we had the pleasure of recognizing one outstanding volunteer, Andy Kostas!
Andy joined the City in May 2023, initially assisting at the Laurel Farmer ’s Market, and his contributions quickly expanded. He became actively involved in various City events, including Black History Month, the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Laurel Multiservice Center, garden builds, and much more! This year alone, he dedicated over 110 hours! On September 12th, at the Farmer’s Market, we bid farewell to Andy as he embarks on an exciting new chapter...he has enlisted in the United States military, committing himself to keeping the rest of us safe. We want to take this moment to express our gratitude to you, Andy, for all you have done for the City and for what you will now do for our country. Wishing you the best of luck in your future endeavors and stay safe!
and cultural hub for our community,” said Natalie Williams, Director of the Department of Communications for the City of Laurel. “We want residents to see Laurel TV as a resource to explore new ideas, learn about their local government, and highlight the diversity of our community by sharing their own stories.”
Also, we invite you to read our inaugural edition of “Laurel Living”, our new monthly newsletter dedicated to keeping you informed and engaged with the latest news, initiatives, and developments within our City. Visit www.cityoflaurel.org/newsletter to read it today. Then visit Laureltv.org to learn more about our TV and Podcast studio. Together, we can build a more informed and engaged community.
As we send Andy off in style, this is a great time to remind everyone that we are working hard to bring you multiple opportun ities for volunteering in the City of Laurel! Please take a moment and look at your schedules and see if you would have a few hours to give back to your community, then fill out our online volunteer application at www.cityoflaurel.org/volunteerapplication! Whe n you sign up, we add you to our database and send out emails letting you know of upcoming events and connecting you with local organizations in need. And mark your calendars for our Volunteer Laurel Fair coming in April of 2025!
GREEN HAPPENINGS IN LAUREL!
Organics Recycling (Composting)...Take It For a Test Drive!
Public Works crews will continue to deliver composting carts to select neighborhoods throughout the City. Residents can expect to receive: a kitchen countertop container; educational information; a refrigerator magnet and a roll of compostable bags, along with the locking outdoor cart. The information provided makes it easy for residents to sort out what can go into their compost carts...it is so easy! Remember, what goes in your mouth is compostable!
All foods, even expired products, paper napkins/paper towels and pizza boxes are just some examples of what can be put in your composting cart. Just finished mowing your lawn or raking leaves? Reminder that loose leaves and grass clippings are also acceptable in your curbside compost cart.
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. Be on the lookout for the City’s updated web site showcasing the City’s curbside program, when residents can expect to see their cart arrive, new educational information, videos from our recent trip to the County’s composting facility and a dashboard highlighting our success in reducing methane gas emissions at the landfill!
We want to improve the program and get feedback from residents on what they would like to see! Send an e -mail to greenliving@laurel.md.us
GREAT NEWS!
Due to popular demand our Farmer’s Market will extend its season into October! The final dates will be October 3rd, 17th and 31st. Make sure you come by and support our vendors that answered your call to come back for extra days. We will continue to accept SNAP/EBT benefits and participate in the Maryland Market Money program, giving our shoppers extra market cash to shop with! Stop by the Welcome Tent to get tokens. Be sure to check out our Facebook page, The Laurel Quill Lot, and our City web site at thttps://www.cityoflaurel.org/1617/Laurel -Farmers-Market.
Want to get the most recent information about the City’s sustainability initiatives. Follow us on https://www.facebook.com/ profile.php?id=61558113916065. This is a place where we can share ideas, highlight upcoming events and residents can stay informed on all things Sustainable. Also check out the new look of the Green Living website – www.cityoflaurel.org/greenliving.
¡LAS COMUNICACIONES ES LA CLAVE PARA MANTENERSE IN FORMADO!
El Día de los Medios Comunitarios, que se celebra anualmente el 20 de octubre, destaca la importancia de plataformas de medios accesibles e independientes que fomenten la libertad de expresión y la inclusión de periodistas, artistas y narradores ciudadanos de todo el mundo. Fundado en Brooklyn, Nueva York, por Alease Annan a través de su trabajo con Brooklyn Free Speech TV, este día se ha convertido en una celebración global, que empodera las voces locales y fomenta el diálogo abierto entre las comunidades.
Laurel TV también se complace en compartir sus planes para un próximo cambio de marca, enfocándose en expandir su programación educativa y comunitaria. El cambio de marca incluirá más programas que destaquen eventos locales, brinden contenido educativo y resalten las historias y voces que hacen que nuestra ciudad sea única. Esta evolución refleja el compromiso de Laurel TV de ser una plataforma para el aprendizaje, la participación y el fomento de un sentido más profundo de comunidad entre todos los residentes.
Lo invitamos a leer nuestra edición inaugural de “Laurel Living”, nuestro nuevo boletín mensual dedicado a mantenerlo informado y comprometido con las últimas noticias, iniciativas y desarrollos dentro de nuestra ciudad. Visite www.cityoflaurel.org/newsletter para leerlo hoy.
LAUREL POLICE MONTHLY CRIME REPORT
AUGUST 2024
List of Laurel Police Crime Reports can be found at www.cityoflaurel.org/police/community
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. 2029 - amending the General Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program of the Mayor and City Council for FY July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025 and to provide and effective date.
Bid Recommendations:
• Public Works - Fourth and Fifth Street Improvements ($210,000 - E&R Services)
• Public Works - Compton Avenue Alley Improvements ($80,000 - SFMA, LLC)
• Public Works - Virginia Manor Court Improvements ($131,000 - E&R Services)
• Community Resources/Emergency ManagementBack-up Generator Replacement Project - Phase I (Federal Grant: $245,399.25; City Costs: $25,831.50; Total Cost: $271,230.75)
Purchase Requisitions:
• Environmental Programs - Rehrig Vision Service Verification Hardware/Software ($113,700) Appointments/Reappointments:
Monta Burrough - Director of Economic and Community Development.
Jimmy Rogers - Tree Board (9/9/24 - 9/9/26)
Oscar De La Puente Historic District Commission (9/9/24 - 9/9/27)
Stanley Spaulding - Planning Commission (9/23/24 - 9/23/29)
Now that the doors have opened at the Craig A. Moe Laurel Multiservice Center (LMSC), they are in need of volunteer s to hel p those who walk through the door s looking for assi stance If you have the ti me, plea se email sprice@laurel md us
COUNCIL O FFICE
301-725-5300 ext. 2120
clerk@laurel.md.us
(Dates and Times Subject to Change)
October 2024 Mayor and City Council Meetings
October 16th (Wednesday) - Virtual Mayor and City Council Meeting (6pm) October 28th - In-Person Mayor and City Council Meeting (6pm)
October 2024 Boards and Commissions
October 15th - Historic District Commission (6pm)
October 22nd - Planning Commission (6pm)
October 29th - Board of Appeals (CANCELLED)
November 2024 Mayor and City Council Meetings
November 4th (Monday) - Virtual Mayor and City Council Work Session (6p)
November 4th (Monday) - Virtual Mayor and City Council Meeting (6pm)
November 25th - In-Person Mayor and City Council Meeting (6pm)
November 2024 Boards and Commissions
November 12th - Historic District Commission (6pm)
November 19th - Planning Commission (6pm)
Board of Appeals - Date TBD (Check www.cityoflaurel.org for updates)
(Dates and Times Subject to Change)
Breakfast with Santa (December 7th) - Registration Opens October 1st - Cost: $15/person.
Fall Leaf Vacuuming begins October 7th. Visit www.cityoflaurel.org/169/ Public-Works for more details. To schedule yard debris pickup, please email DPW@laurel.md.us or call 301-725-0088.
Pride Day Celebration - October 12th, 11am - 4pm, Granville Gude Park. Join the City of Laurel Pride Committee for an afternoon of fun!
Indigenous Peoples’ Day - October 14th - City/Passport Offices Closed. Trash/Recycling/Composting Collections will be adjusted that week. Visit, www.cityoflaurel.org for details.
Electronics Recycling/Paper Shredding Event - October 19th, 8am12pm, Public Works Facility, 305-307 First Street. MUST be a City of Laurel resident/business to participate. Details at www.cityoflaurel.org.
Halloween Spooktacular - October 25th, 6:30 - 8:00pm, Robert J. DiPietro Community Center, 7901 Cypress Street. Find your costume and grab a treat bucket and enjoy Laurel Parks and Recreation’s deck-out Halloween Hall!
Halloween in Laurel! October 24th, 6 - 8pm, Laurel Board of Trade’s annual Main Street Trick or Treat and October 31st, 6 - 8pm, Trick or Treating in the City of Laurel.
Harvest Moon Hayride - November 1st, 6:00 - 9:00pm, Riverfront Park, Cost: $4/pre-register or $5/on site. Enjoy a brisk autumn hayride along the Patuxent River, ending at a roaring bonfire! Drinks, snacks & games aplenty!
Teen and Adult Trips - If you have a teen between the ages of 13 and 18 or are an adult over 18 years of age, check out the Parks and Recreation Fall Brochure! Visit www.cityoflaurel.org/159/Parks-and-Recreation for details!
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.
C
ommunit y Resoourc es and E mer genc y M anagement: Impor tance of M ental Health!
October is a month filled with various observances, from Breast Cancer Awareness to Fire Prevention, which, depending on the situation, can often lead to feelings of stress and anxiety. This brings us to an important day in October that deserves our attention: World Mental Health Day is on October 10th!
Mental health refers to a state of well -being that allows individuals to handle life's stresses, recognize their potential, learn effectively, work productively, and contribute positively to their communities. It plays a crucial role in our overall well-being.
At any given moment, a variety of individual, family, community, and structural factors can either support or hinder mental health. While most people demonstrate resilience, those facing challenging situations, such as poverty, violence, disability, and inequality are at an increased risk of developing mental health issues.
To manage stress, anxiety, grief, or worry, be sure to take breaks from news stories, including those on social media; eat healthy; get enough sleep; move more and sit less; limit alcohol intake; avoid using illegal drugs or prescription drugs in ways other than prescribed; avoid smoking, vaping, and the use of other tobacco products; make sure to get your annual physicals; make time to unwind; take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate; participate in activities you enjoy; connect with others; talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling; and connect with your community -based or faith-based organizations.
Mental health is one of the most prevalent health issues and is also highly treatable. However, the stigma associated with it often leads to it being one of the least addressed conditions. Let's take this opportunity to educate ourselves about mental health challenges and support those who are struggling. Remember, YOU ARE NOT ALONE! For further information, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/index.htm.
HOLIDAY BAZAAR PASSPORT EVENTS
St. Nicholas Catholic Church, 8603 Contee Road. Fall Bazaar. Oct. 18, 2 to 8 p.m: German dinner and outdoor beer garden; Oct. 19, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Breakfast, lunch and an Italian dinner, as well as market stalls, raffles, crafts, teacher gifts and more.
First United Methodist Church, 424 Main Street. Man-zar . Oct. 19, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Light focus on all things men love such as tools, electronics, hardware, car parts, furniture, DIY items, baked goods and more Drawings every half hour.
Laurel Presbyterian Church, 7610 Sandy Spring Road. Fall Bazaar. Oct. 19,
opportunities within the church itself.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Huge selection of fall and holiday crafts, plus flea-market and whiteelephant tables loaded with housewares, toys, games and more.
Resurrection of Our Lord Church, 8402 Brock Bridge Road. Christmas Bazaar. Nov. 9, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Breakfast with Santa, Surprise gifts, new gifts, Martha’s Attic (flea market), silent auction, raffles for prizes up to $750, bake shop and Mexican food.
St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, 522 Main Street. Holly Days Bazaar. Nov. 23, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Crafts including toys, holiday decor, kitchen items, quilts and holiday ornaments; raffles and silent auctions; baked goods and lunch plus a visit from St. Nick.
The passport, which shoppers can pick up at any participating church, lists all of the bazaars, their dates and where each is held, on a card that shoppers can have stamped at each bazaar they go to. Participants who get their passport stamped at all five bazaars are entered in a drawing with a $100 prize.
“The main purpose is for people to come out to the bazaars, enjoy the food, meet some congregants, and do some fun gift and bargain shopping,” said Pat Farmer, a member of St. Nicholas Catholic Church. Farmer volunteers to work the bazaar, which is the first of the season.
The passport program premiered last year, largely thanks to Farmer. She suggested the churches create an incentive to encourage more people to turn out.
“We had about 20 qualified passports in 2023,” Farmer said. “With the increased publicity and cross-promotions we’re doing, we hope to get many more attendees and more prize-drawing entrants this year.”
Hosting bazaars provides both tangible and intangible benefits. Income generated can be directed toward local church activities or regional and national church programs. Laurel Presbyterian Church directs some of its bazaar profits to support Laurel Advocacy & Referral Services. First United Methodist Church is earmarking income from the bazaar for building maintenance. Several of the churches even send a portion of their funds to international efforts, including Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and Episcopal World Relief.
The up-front costs of hosting a church bazaar are reasonably low, since many of the items sold have been donated, hand-made,
or baked or cooked by church members, Farmer said.
Church bazaars also bring in outsiders. Some shoppers take time to meet members, check out the facility, and ask questions about services and other offerings.
Anyone who’s worked behind the scenes on an all-volunteer project knows that collective spirit can build a sense of shared purpose and deepen relationships. If that project is a church bazaar, working together may even open doors to leadership
The bazaar at Resurrection of Our Lord Church provides a “way to bring our community together, have a little fun along the way and help people find that little gift for a dear friend or family member as we celebrate the Christmas season,” Debbie McNally said, who helps with the bazaar. Church members have enjoyed wrapping more than 500 items to sell at the bazaar, she said. These surprise gifts will sell for $1 to $5. Cherilyn Hostetler, who is a member of First United Methodist Church, is organizing the church’s first-ever MAN-ZAR. Touted as a bazaar for all things men, the event will feature tools, electronics, hardware, car parts, DIY items and more. There will even be a bake sale extravaganza to “feed all those manly appetites,” Hostetler said.
Laurel Presbyterian Church
holds craft workshops all year so parishioners can sell high-quality crafts at the bazaar, according to Eleanor Howe. She noted that this year marks the 42nd anniversary of the church’s fall bazaar. St. Nicholas Church created a bazaar-specific Facebook page to highlight some of the particularly special items for sale at each bazaar. Farmer noted that more items will be posted on the page, along with information about upcoming events. All of the churches hope they’ll do better by supporting each other’s success.
Holiday bazaar passports are available at each participating church’s event, beginning with St. Nicholas Catholic Church’s on Oct. 18 and 19. Passports must be stamped at each of the five bazaars to qualify for the drawing. For more information, go to tinyurl.com/7zbz52wh.
The 2023 Resurrection of Lord Church’s Christmas Bazaar COURTESY OF RESURRECTION OF LORD CHURCH
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Please send notices of events taking place between Nov. 12 and Dec. 10 to nancy@streetcar suburbs.news by Oct. 25.
OCT. 17
National Disability Employment and Awareness Month Job and Resource Fair. Sponsored by Prince George’s County. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. New Carrollton Branch Library, 7414 Riverdale Rd., New Carrollton
OCT. 19
Health and Resource Fair. Food, music, vendors and more.11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Laurel Racetrack,198 Laurel Race Track Rd.
Workshop: Pollinator-Habitat Container Gardens. Learn how to plant, overwinter and manage perennials for pollinators in containers and in your yard. Container pots and free native plants provided. 2 to 3 p.m. Free. Patuxent Research Refuge South Tract, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop.
OCT 24.
Stay Safe Online, Seniors. American Association of Retired Persons presents tips and strategies to protect yourself from online scams and how to keep your personal information secure. 3:30 to 5 p.m. Laurel Branch Library, 507 7th St. To register, go to tinyurl. com/3a7h2yhj
OCT. 26
Birding at Patuxent. Bring water and a snack, sunscreen, bug spray and binoculars and/or camera. 8 to 11 a.m. Patuxent Research Refuge North Tract, 230 Bald Eagle Dr. Free, registration required. To register, go to tinyurl. com/62e56ppv
Talking about Prostate Cancer. Panel discussion with survivors and experts in the field hosted by the Men’s Ministry and Wellness Ministry of Emmanuel Baptist Church. PSA testing available (no exams). 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (light breakfast at 9:15) Maryland City Baptist Church, 326 Brock Bridge Rd. For more information, email Patricia Clark at abby_clark@verizon.net
Laurel Chapter of ARRA Meeting. Join the Laurel Chapter of American Rosie the Riveter Association and learn about the women who gave so much to the World War II effort. 11 a.m. First United Methodist Church, 424 Main St. For more information, call 240.762.3895.
Orangefest. Family fun fall festival with vendors, beer and wine tasting, live music and games. Free. Noon to 6 p.m. Cultural Enrichment Center, 7419 Van Dusen Rd.
NOV. 2
Wildlife Holiday Bazaar. Friends of Patuxent’s annual bazaar offers unique holiday shopping, educational experi-
SPOOKY OR FUN HALLOWEEN ACTIVITIES FOR ALL
Oct. 9: Happy Haunts? History of unique burials in central Maryland. 7 p.m. Virtual presentation hosted by the Laurel Historical Society.
Oct. 24: Trick or Treat on Main Street: an evening of festive fun sponsored by the Laurel Board of Trade, 6 to 8 p.m.
Oct. 25: Spooktacular at the Robert J. DiPietro Community Center, 6:30 to 8 p.m. 7901 Cypress St.
Oct. 26: Fall Festival. Towne Centre Laurel, 14828 Baltimore Ave. 1 to 3 p.m.
Oct. 29: Haunted Horror Trivia Night. Test your knowledge of horror films and books for prizes. 6 to 7
ences, a bake sale and Baldy’s Bargains Thrift Shop; Live animals, story times and arts and crafts. Eat lunch at the Crane Café. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Patuxent Research Refuge South Tract, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop.
The Craft of Writing Quickly. Two editors lay out tips and tricks for developing good writing habits. 1 p.m. Laurel Branch Library, 507 7th St. To register, go to tinyurl. com/5a4mxtyn
ONGOING
October at the Hollingsworth Gallery. “Vanishing World,” nature photographs by Liz
p.m. Laurel Branch Library, 507 7th St.
Oct. 31: Happy Halloween! Remember to turn on your porch lights if you want trick or treaters from 6 to 8 p.m.
Nov. 1: Harvest Moon Hayride along the Patuxent River. Drinks, snacks and entertainment by a bonfire. $5. 6 to 9 p.m. Riverfront Park, Avondale St.
Prince George’s County government issued the following Halloween safety tips: An adult should always accompany young trick or treaters and carry a flashlight Encourage kids to wear face paint or a hat instead of a
Guertin. Also, works with sustainability and ecology themes by Heather Kerley, mixed media & fiber artist. 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Patuxent Research Refuge South Tract, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop. 301.497.5772
Awkward Family Photos. A traveling exhibit of family photos. Through Dec. 22. Laurel Museum, 817 Main St. 301.725.7975
“Crazy for You.” Laurel Mill Playhouse presents George and Ira Gerswhin’s musical about a city slicker falling for a hometown girl. Opens Oct. 11. Performance dates and times vary. Tickets $18-$23. 509 Main St. 301.617.9906
RECURRING
“Wingspan” Game Days at Patuxent. Play the board game “Wingspan” and learn
mask, but if they do wear a mask, make sure they can see well with it on.
For maximum safety, especially after dark, put reflective tape on costumes and candy bags If your trick or treaters are older and able to go out on their own, make a plan first so you know the route they’ll take and be sure they carry a cell phone. Encourage them to go with friends; a group of four or more is good. Tell your older kids to trick-or-treat only at homes with lights on. They should never go inside someone’s house for treats.
Encourage your older kids to be cautious around parked cars and to be wary of anyone they don’t know.
about birds. Second Friday and fourth Saturday of every month. Free, registration required. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Patuxent Research Refuge South Tract, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop. 301.497.5772. To register, go to tinyurl.com/62e56ppv
Family Fun at Patuxent. Learn about birds’ fall migration season: Hands-on learning activities, games, crafts for ages 3 and up; 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays - Saturdays for dropin/independent exploration. Staffed from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 25 and 26. Patuxent Research Refuge South Tract, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop.
Laurel Art Guild holds free meetings featuring talks about art every second Monday of the month at 7 p.m. through Nov. 11. Montpelier Art Center, 9652 Muirkirk Rd. Go to laurelartguild.org
SEE CALENDAR ON 11
NATIVE GARDENING WITH JIMMY
Foundational issues
By JIMMY ROGERS
Few areas challenge gardeners like the strip of land closest to our homes. Builders will often plant shrubs to screen the unadorned foundation of a new house, and this sets the tone for how many of us continue to maintain that area. Let’s walk through some of the surprising complexities of foundation beds and how to plant for success.
Like any garden area, we must first consider conditions before planting. Builders usually use backfill, a mixture of the material originally excavated during construction, to underlay the lawn and garden areas closest to the house. In Maryland, this soil usually has a high clay content, which withholds water from foundation plantings. Additionally, many foundation beds are positioned directly against a house and partially covered by a roof overhang; this creates what we call a rain shadow, an area where rain never strikes the ground. And unless trees shade a foundation bed, it receives a good deal of sun for as much as half the day. These conditions combine to create a sunny, hot and dry bed where it
can be challenging to establish new plants.
Once construction is complete, builder-installed gardens at new homes often include boxwoods (Buxus sempervirens) and other waxy, evergreen shrubs that can survive in harsh environments. Nandina (Nandina domestica) is often used, possibly because their presence is considered a sign of good fortune in front of Japanese homes. However, nandinas are an invasive species here in America and their red, cyanide-laden berries are toxic to dogs — and to some birds, notably cedar waxwings. Look out for burning bush (Euonymus alatus) in your foundation planting as well, another invasive shrub.
These shrubs can help screen a foundation from the road, and together with a lawn, they can create a uniform, static look reminiscent of European formal gardens. But they add little personality, must be regularly pruned and look noticeably uneven if one shrub in the bed dies. A replacement can take a long time to fill in the space and restore the look.
So what are we to do with this tricky area? First, I recommend reevaluating the layout. Any plants directly against
NEWS BRIEFS
BETMAN STEPS DOWN FROM PLANNING COMMISSION
Mitzo Betman resigned from her position on the City of Laurel Planning Commission at the Sept. 10 meeting. Betman, who was the current chairwoman of the commission, served for 14 years.
She noted that when she was invited to join the commission, her father, former Laurel Mayor Joe Robison (now deceased), warned her that the job was “not a commission you show up to …it’s a commission that takes work.”
“You drive to somewhere, you talk to people, you listen,” Betman said, recalling what her father told her. “I am so glad he gave me that advice and I am glad that I accepted the position,” she said.
She thanked both current and past staff members, commissioners and council reps for their support.
the wall of a house are harder to maintain because you can only access one side. Consider creating a utility corridor between the foundation and the back of the bed; this space will make it easier to weed, prune and plant from both front and back. If you have a rain shadow, consider setting the bed far enough forward so rain reaches all of it. Some homes already have a corridor like this where the builders installed a strip of gravel to catch rain from the roof, thus preventing backsplash against the foundation from rain hitting soil.
After redesigning the layout, you can reimagine the aesthetic. Few native shrubs keep their leaves all year round, and those that do, like inkberry (Ilex glabra), require periodic cutbacks to remain dense like European evergreens. Instead of going for an “all green, all the time” look, you can welcome seasonal changes with colorful fall leaves and the sculptural beauty of stems in winter.
If you’re looking for a taller shrub, ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) is an excellent choice. It excels at growing in dry, sunny conditions and, with roots as deep as 16 feet, it doesn’t wilt during a drought. Ninebark drops its leaves in fall to reveal exfoliating bark, much like that of a river birch. It can also be pruned to size without too much trouble. I
recommend planting only the straight species, which offers broad benefits to wildlife, rather than a cultivar.
On the end of a bed, I love to see a mass of shrubby St. John’s wort (Hypericum prolificum). Its yellow flowers will dazzle visitors in mid-summer, and it stays low for a number of years, generally topping out at four feet. It too tolerates dry conditions.
Perhaps the most dominant landscape feature of the traditional foundation bed is mulch. Homeowners often plant shrubs and then cover any exposed ground with wood bark mulch, the part of the tree that repels water. For a more vibrant garden space, you can turn to native herbaceous plants and grasses instead of annual mulch. Adding more roots to the soil around your shrubs will make the ground more porous and able to absorb rainfall. Foliage also reduces the temperature outside much more than turf grass or mulch, an increasingly important factor in our changing climate.
When considering herbaceous plants, look for those with a maximum height lower than that of your shrubs. False sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides), New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) and goldenrods like showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa),
will combine into a late-season display. Taller native grasses such as switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) are also deep-rooted and can help fill vertical spaces.
I also frequently see foundation bed edges mulched when they could be planted. Short perennials such as moss phlox (Phlox subulata), plantain pussytoes (Antennaria plantaginifolia) and blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) can tolerate a lot of dry sun and will bloom in the first half of the growing season. You can also plant taller species such as perennial black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia fulgida) and blue mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum) that can grow right up against a lawn or pathway border, though you may need to trim fallen stems later in the season.
However you approach your foundation beds, I hope you will pause to examine whether that area is supporting wildlife and fits into your larger goals for stewarding your land. No one will arrest you for digging up those boxwoods, I promise.
“I have learned a great, great deal,” said Betman. “It is very fulfilling.”
Betman said afterward that she was resigning for personal reasons. Since the death of her husband in December, she has been spending more time with family traveling, and working with new groups, including onewhich meets on the same night as the planning commission, she said.
“There’s lots of things going on. It was time,” Betman said.
— Katie V. Jones
CITY CELEBRATES COMMUNITY, CULTURE DAY
The city of Laurel’s Community and Culture Day, which took place on Sept. 14 at Alice B. McCullough Field, showcased dancers representing a number of cultures and featured more than 30 vendors offering clothing, art, books and refreshments, to an enthusiastic crowd.
“[The event] an opportunity to bring our culture to a diverse audience,” Kaosochi Obi, founder of NK Dance Troupe, said. “Igbo dancing is so diverse, in the sense that it’s something that everybody can be a part of. It’s very energetic. It’s a great way of keeping fit, being active and having fun.”
Julie “Asala” Tharrett, who performed an Egyptian belly dance during the event, valued the festival’s focus on creating connections.
“It’s helpful in our communities to learn about everyone around us, and I think it helps to make everyone more aware of how beautiful different cultures are and the similarities,” she said. “Dance is a universal language.”
— Aiesha Solomon
FALLING BACK TO STANDARD TIME
Standard Time kicks back in on Nov. 3 at 2 a.m., so don’t forget to turn clocks back one hour.
Jimmy Rogers is an avid native gardener in the city of Laurel.
NK Dance Troupe performs at the city’s Community and Culture Day on Sept. 14. COURTESY OF AIESHA SOLOMON
Written in stone: Geology in our region
By AGNES PASCO CONATY
Many structures in the District — the monuments and museums, the federal buildings — reveal much of the underlying geological history of this region. Take the Washington Monument, for instance. The marble exterior faces have a number of characteristics, including shades of color, that indicate the stone was sourced from different quarries, including two right here in Maryland. The core of the structure is bluestone gneiss and granite, also quarried in Maryland, while the interior walls are faced with Maine granite. When finished in 1884, this 554-foot-7-inch monument was the tallest structure in the world. It’s the world’s tallest obelisk and predominantly-stone structure to this day.
Right here in Laurel, we can take a geologic walking tour of historical landmarks, too, that might be seen as monuments, of a sort, to our region’s geology: The Montpelier Mansion and St. Mary of the Mills Catholic Church are two good examples of how geology influenced both architecture and construction in earlier eras. Like most of the city’s historic buildings still standing, the mansion and church were constructed of bricks and clay, which were standard materials in the 18th and 19th centuries.
I’m fascinated by these historic examples of local geology, and my fascination prompted me to learn more about the ground my home in West Laurel stands on. What lies beneath its foundation — and even beneath my own feet? To answer these questions,
I turned to easy-to-access, reliable sources including the U.S. Geological Survey (pubs.usgs. gov) and the Maryland Geological Survey (mgs.md.gov).
The state’s site has a map showing six distinct but connected landforms, five of which, stretching from the state’s western border east to the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic, we can explore on foot. (The sixth is the Atlantic Continental Shelf, which is offshore.) Laurel, along with the greater D.C. region, is located along the north-south border between the Piedmont and the Atlantic Coastal Plain, the landform that gives way to the continental shelf.
Rocks found in Maryland’s Piedmont, to our west, are primarily igneous and metamorphic; igneous rocks form from volcanic activity and, with sufficient pressure over time, transform into metamorphic rocks.
The Atlantic Coastal Plain, spreading out to out east of Laurel, has primarily sedimentary rocks (i.e., sandstone, limestone and shale). Sedimentary rocks form when small rock fragments, typically resulting from weathering or erosion, are compressed over thousands of years. Many sedimentary rocks in our area, for instance, have formed from deposits of the Patuxent and Patapsco rivers.
Dinosaur Park, a 22-acre tract under the auspices of the Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation, offers us an unusual geological glimpse into our region’s history. In 1858, African American workers mining iron ore at the site discovered dinosaur fossils, the first ever found in Maryland.
Since those first finds, scientists have discovered hundreds of dinosaur teeth and bones at the site; most are from sauropods
(long-necked herbivores), and theropods, which, like the Tyrannosaurus rex, were large predatory carnivores. The majority of these fossils date to the Cretaceous period, which followed the Jurassic period, taking place 145 million to 66 million years ago.
Dinosaurs roamed most of the Mid-Atlantic region during a period that lasted roughly 158 million years. I work at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, and we have an exhibit of dinosaur artifacts, most of which were found right here in Greenbelt by Ray Stanford, an amateur paleontologist with an extraordinary knack for finding dinosaur tracks.
During excavation of a Goddard parking lot in 2012, Stanford unearthed the footprint of a nodosaur, a heavily armored plant-eating dinosaur from the late Jurassic period, some 145 million years ago. (You can read Stanford’s account of his finds in this article in Nature magazine: tinyurl.com/yuw8p56t). Subsequent excavations at Goddard have uncovered sauropod tracks like those found at Dinosaur Park, as well, and scientists excavating the parking lot also found pterosaur tracks. Not the ancestor of a bird or bat, and not a dinosaur (though on a branch of the same family tree), the pterosaur was the earliest-known vertebrate capable of flight.
My office at Goddard is a few yards from this intriguing exhibit of digs, and sometimes I spend my lunch break looking at a cast of a fossilized dinosaur poo.
If you’re eager to learn about rockhounding, there are clubs you can join to connect with others who share your inter-
ests. I can recommend three clubs right here in Maryland: the Maryland Geological Society (mdgeosociety.org/), the Baltimore Mineral Society (tinyurl. com/2hpe3z3h) and the Southern Maryland Rock and Mineral Club (smrmc.org/).
A quick search online will turn up numerous guides to common rocks and minerals, including specimens you may easily find in our area. Rockchasing.com has a particularly good section about Maryland’s rocks and minerals that includes a list of sites where you can find each type. Rockchasing’s Maryland resources are at tinyurl.com/yfrw7d2b.
One of the very best ways to experience rockhounding is to start in your own backyard (like I did) — you may be surprised what you can find right under your feet! If you live near a creek (like I do), you may find rocks and minerals, maybe even shells, that have been polished as they’ve been tumbled, over time, by moving water. I encourage you to get a nice journal so you can describe your digs and draw them in detail. If you catch the rockhounding bug, consider investing in a hand lens and a rock pickaxe, too. It’s never too late to follow your curiosity and dig right in.
derful bits of information,”
is an LHS board member and a veteran tour guide. “You learn things you never knew about Laurel. Interesting factoids.”
According to Betty Compton, LHS co-founder, the first walking tour took place in 1976 as a bicentennial activity organized by Laurel Horizon Society (now LHS). Twenty-seven historic buildings were featured on the tour.
“We were a small group then and I remember sometimes planning the walks in two sections if the group wanted to divide to give more time to discussion and take the second half of the tour,” Compton wrote in an email.
The updated and revised tour is based on one developed in 1994 by Joe Robison, the city’s former mayor and chief of the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department.
“Joe was a passionate his-
torian and supporter of the Laurel Historical Society, and it was under his tenure as mayor that LHS finally had a place to call home — 817 Main Street, now the Laurel Museum,” Carver wrote in her email.
A life-long Laurel resident, Robison was “a fountain of information,” according to Lubieniecki, and he had extensive knowledge about many of the buildings on Main Street.
“On Main Street, people tend to not look behind the modern facades,” Lubieniecki said. “The fronts have changed so much, but the original buildings are still there.”
The first stop of Robison’s 1994 tour was First United
Pasco
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.
Methodist Church. Participants on the newly updated tour will learn how the church had several earlier homes before settling at 424 Main Street. The new tour also includes a brief overview of African American Methodism. “You can take the same tour with two different people, and it will be different,” Lubieniecki said. “People emphasize different things and have different personalities. People ask different questions, too.”
Updated & Revised: Main Street Laurel tours take place rain or shine on Oct. 19 and 26. For more information, go to laurelhistoricalsociety.org or call 301.725.7975.
MAD Theater presents Disney and Cameron MacIntosh’s
Agnes
Conaty is a
Agnes Conaty holding her team’s 2024 Robert H. Goddard Honor Award for Excellence in Outreach in front of the exhibit of dinosaur digs at Goddard Space Flight Center. AGNES PASCO CONATY
said Karen Lubieniecki, who
CALENDAR
FROM PAGE 8
Italian Club welcomes all on the second Wednesday of each month. 6:30 pm at St. Mary of the Mills Church, 114 St. Marys Pl. For more information, call Jo Saunders at 301.490.8237
Chess. All levels welcome. Thursdays. 2 p.m. Laurel-Beltsville Senior Activity Center, 7120 Contee Rd. For more information, call Mike Farmer at 240.302.9133
Every Tuesday Bingo at Laurel Elks Lodge #2283. Twenty games with cash prizes; food drinks available for purchase. Doors open at 5 p.m. and bingo starts at 7 p.m. 8261 Brock Bridge Rd.
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
Every Friday Bingo at American Legion Post 60. Friday night bingo every week; 23 games with cash prizes; food and drinks available for purchase. Doors open at 5 p.m. and bingo starts at 7:30. 2 Main St. 301.725.2302
Friday Food Festival. American Legion Post 60 hosts Friday dinners, with Canteen 60 serving on 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 and musical entertainment or a speaker. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. Laurel-Beltsville Senior Activities Center, 7120 Contee Rd. 301.206.3380
Jim Whitney Toastmasters Club. Meets the second and fourth Monday of each month. 7 p.m. St. Phillips Episcopal Church, 522 Main St. 1063187@toastmastersclubs. org
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 Rd, Beltsville 301.498.9736
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, 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
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
“Luke ... I am your fodder!”
LAUREL SQUIRREL By Agnes Pasco Conaty
