County officials play musical chairs
By JOE MURCHISON
Prince George’s County is in the midst of a cascade of special elections to fill political vacancies, and County Councilmember Tom Dernoga, of Laurel, (District 1) had a proposal to make them
faster and less expensive. However, a majority of the council rejected his plan.
The county held one special election on Nov. 5 to fill the atlarge council seat of Mel Franklin, who resigned in June after being indicted for using campaign
funds for personal expenses.
Three more special elections are pending.
Jolene Ivey won the at-large seat, which leaves her District 5 council seat open; a special election will be held to fill that seat. Also on Nov. 5, County Executive
Angela Alsobrooks was elected to the U.S. Senate, the first Black senator from Maryland, so her position needs to be filled. Ivey and another at-large councilmember, Calvin Hawkins, have indicated interest in running for Alsobrooks’ soon-to-be vacant
Sydnor looks back on first year as mayor
By ALINE BEHAR KADO
In early October, Mayor Keith Sydnor strode to the front desk of the Laurel Municipal Center, talking about his work, his hopes and his goals for the city. Then, with a smile, he looked over at the receptionist. “I used to ref her basketball
team,” he proudly said.
In November 2023, Sydnor made history when he was elected as the city of Laurel’s first Black mayor. His election also marked the end of former Mayor Craig A. Moe’s 21 years in office. Moe chose not to run for reelection, Sydnor, who has a background in law
enforcement, served three terms as a city councilmember and was council president prior to running for mayor. His top priority is interacting with the community.
“As a leader, you want people who bring knowledge to you,” Sydnor said. “We want to have the input from the community, because we all have to work together to make our community a great place to live.”
During his campaign, Sydnor focused heavily on economic development, housing and the environment. A year into his term, he has launched several initiatives to address these issues.
county executive seat; if either wins, a third special election would be needed to fill the council seat they would leave.
Dernoga points out that these special elections are expensive and time-consuming. Each in-
Business owner highlights early childhood education
By AIESHA SOLOMON
Laurel resident Carolina Reyes is passionate about advancing childcare. She is a memberat-large and chair of advocacy for the Maryland State Child Care Association (MSCCA), a nonprofit that promotes the growth and development of licensed childcare and learning centers. She belongs to a number of organizations that advocate for childcare, as well, and has supported legislation supporting early childhood education.
“I honestly believe that the idea of thinking that education starts at kindergarten is wrong,” Reyes said. “It start[s] much earlier.”
Reyes established Arco Iris Bilingual Children’s Center (AIBCC) in 2013 as a place “for her daughters to grow.” She aimed to create a space where immigrant families could retain their native language and sustain cultural traditions, as it is “a gift that you’re giving to your children.”
According to Reyes, AIBCC was the first bilingual preschool in Prince George’s County. The school features a Spanish immersion class-
Mayor Keith Sydnor served three terms on the city council before being elected the city’s first Black mayor in November 2023. ALINE BEHAR KADO
FROM THE EDITOR
Laurel needs public service journalism
By KIT SLACK
Dear neighbors, friends and readers, American democracy and American journalism are entwined — this is especially clear during an election year. And yet, in many places across the U.S., communities are losing news sources and the journalists they once counted on. Without access to reliable information and insights into what local government officials are doing, fewer residents vote and participate in local government, and corruption often increases.
At The Laurel Independent, since we live in the same community as you, we’re able to provide accurate, nuanced, on-theground reporting to help you understand
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the impacts of elections and legislative actions — and we can tell the stories of neighbors getting together to advocate for our communities.
During this election season, we provided to every home in Laurel, as well as to all county voters on our website:
- A voter guide explaining the judicial elections
- Voter information on debt the county is taking on that voters can approve or disapprove
- Coverage of school board elections
And we will continue to provide this type of public service.
When local independent news thrives, so, too, do communities. If this is something you care about, we invite you to
EDUCATION
room for children ages 2 and 3, while 4- and 5-year-olds are in a bilingual class.
“Bilingualism improves cognitive development, it improves memory, promotes multicultural awareness, higher academic achievement, and promotes emotional/social
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development,” Reyes wrote in an email. “Bilingual children have better attention control, better communication skills, and better long-term career opportunities in a globalized world.”
Currently, there are 45 students enrolled in the school, which is on Greenview Drive. The curriculum includes arts and crafts, dramatic play, so-
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cial studies, language and literacy, mathematical thinking, music, physical activities, science and nature, and cooking and food experiences.
Diana Villatoro, who has taught at AIBCC for three and a half years, said her favorite part of working at the preschool is interacting with children and making a positive impact on their lives.
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“We are very happy to be part of the product,” Villatoro said.
“Mrs. Carolina’s ideas for this school every year [are] growing. It’s like more famil[ies] are very interested to come.”
Reyes sees parents as being primarily responsible for their young children’s education, while the school is there to support them.
“I want to switch the mentality for the families who come through Arco Iris about who we are as educators,” Reyes said. “I want them to see that we prepare ourselves. We take professional development. We learn a lot to be able to help their children, but if they are not involved, this is never going to work.”
Christina Peusch, MSCCA’s executive director, met Reyes about five years ago at a public policy meeting.
“Carolina is a passionate advocate and [is] always interested in how to impact positive change,” Peusch said. “As a business owner, her participation and experience was and is still important to continuous improvements as well as strengthening of the childcare scholarship program.”
Reyes “has been a really important partner in making
sure that we get policies correct” and has assisted with writing bills, Maryland State Delegate Jared Solomon (District 18) said.
“I think what was even more important than Carolina’s just individual testimony is the relationships that she’s built with my colleagues in Annapolis, with other legislators, with her community representatives, and really being … an incredibly well respected and go-to partner on these types of issues,” Solomon said. “Somebody who everybody knows is going [to] give you accurate and really important information.”
Reyes first became interested in childcare when she worked with children at an orphanage in her home country, Chile, which was was under the dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet at the time. She immigrated to the U.S. in 1998.
“It’s important that people are aware that any topic that matters to you, when you share your experience or when you share with someone [who] doesn’t know, and you are trying to change the perspective of somebody else, [that] is somehow a little bit of advocacy,” Reyes said.
Kit Slack is the executive
Arco Iris Bilingual Children’s Center director and owner Carolina Reyes. COURTESY OF AIESHA SOLOMON
The playground at Arco Iris Bilingual Children’s Center. COURTESY OF AIESHA SOLOMON
Seeing math in the world around us
By AGNES PASCO CONATY
As I take in the seasons in my West Laurel backyard, I often think about math — an oak leaf’s balanced symmetry, the triangular shape of a poplar leaf, the perfection of a pine cone’s spiral. Everywhere I look, I see nature’s examples of geometry, symmetry and the visually pleasing golden ratio. And we humans create and construct on a foundation of math, too. I walk around our neighborhood every day for exercise, and I often take a route that brings me to a traffic roundabout. Walking around that full circle, I’m following its circumference. If I walk from one side of the circle through the center point and straight to the other side, I’m marking the circle’s diameter. And as I walk, I’m thinking about the math under my feet: Dividing the circumference by the diameter, I
get the number pi.
A number of our local historic structures offer examples of bilateral symmetry: Snowden Hall, at Patuxent Research Refuge, and the Montpelier Mansion come to mind. If you draw an imaginary line right down the center of either building, the right and left sides are mirror images of each other. And if you wander into Montpelier, you may spot the main staircase’s beautiful bannister, which flows upward from a gracefully spiraling curve that was designed with mathematical precision.
Bilateral symmetry is a mathematical principle that denotes side-to-side sameness — and we can see it not only in architecture.. This kind of symmetry allows most creatures, from the smallest (think tiny insects) to the largest (dinosaurs!) to move through the air, on land and in water. Bilateral symmetry can create elegance and beauty, too,
especially in faces — the exquisitely symmetrical faces of Grace Kelly, Angelina Jolie and Shania Twain are good examples.
And the golden ratio, another mathematical principle, is all around us, too. This principle, a close relative of the Fibonacci sequence, defines the balance of elements, say parts of a line, that is most pleasing to the eye. (For more on the ratio, go to tinyurl. com/ycynnjyu). Euclid offered the first known description of the golden ratio around 300 BCE, and artists and architects have relied on this principle for centuries. Indeed, Leonardo da Vinci incorporated the ratio in many of his most famous works, including the Mona Lisa and the Vitruvian Man (see more at tinyurl.com/3ase4hdr).
Examples of the golden ratio and Fibonacci sequence are abundant in nature, too: the spiral of seeds in a sunflower head (which also captures maximum
sunlight), the perfectly arranged chambers of a nautilus shell, a pinecone’s scales.
We can even see the golden ratio in the structure of our own bodies. Take our faces: If you divide the height of your face (chin to the top of your head) by its width, you’ll get a number close to the golden ratio, which is 1.618. The width of your mouth divided by the width of your nose will produce close to this same number. (There are at least two more ways to measure your face that will produce close to the golden ratio, too.) Your arms, hands and fingers also offer examples of the golden ratio — and the structure of our DNA does, too.
As you walk around your own neighborhood, you can be on the lookout for these principles of math, just like I am. Look for the bilateral symmetry that allows your neighbor’s cat to move effortlessly through tall
grass (each blade of that grass has bilateral symmetry, too). Check out the symmetry in leaves littering lawns. Birds in flight, falling maple seeds, that squirrel jumping from limb to limb, high in a tree: All of these movements demonstrate mathematical principles.
And if Mother Nature showers us this winter with her magical math miracle, the snowflake, we’ll be playing in fractals, the repeating pattern of hexagonal shapes that make every single flake unique. And as you fashion the face of your snowman, you’ll have a chance to create bilateral symmetry, right down to that big carrot nose!
who also works as senior research scientist and science lead for the GLOBE Observer Program at NASA/ Goddard Space Flight
Agnes Pasco Conaty is a college math and environmental science adjunct professor
Center.
Celebrate at The Mansion at Laurel
By ALINE BEHAR KADO
The city of Laurel purchased the Gude Mansion in 2018 and has worked to revitalize the building while retaining its historic charm. Renamed The Mansion at Laurel, the building is home to the Laurel Parks and Recreation Department. The depart-
ment is promoting the mansion as a wedding venue; the facility is also used for community events.
“Our job here is to offer recreation opportunities, whether it’s walking in a park, whether it’s coming to a community event,” Divina St. Peter, recreation programs specialist with the Laurel Parks and Recreation Department, said. “Our goal is just offering something for people to do, because recreation is extremely important.”
Weddings at the mansion come in four different packages, with ballrooms, porches and bride and groom rooms available. Each package can accommodate a maximum of 75 guests. A couple at its first open house in May decided to rent the facility for their wedding, the first celebrated at the mansion.
“We did a lot of preparation for the open house,” St. Peter said. “We did a lot of staging for it. Just to make sure that everything kind of worked out for what people want to see in their wedding.”
The week before the October wedding was even busier.
Workers renovated the roof and planted flower beds, attending to every last detail for the occasion.
“This first wedding has been a lot,” Jennifer Carmen said. “It’s a learning process.” Carmen is office manager wtih the department.
The historic property is an ideal venue for community events, too. “A lot of our events are … not just events, but classes, programs ... are all very affordable. They’re all open to the public,” Divine said.
Music at the Mansion is a popular event for adults. The series’ October event celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with handmade crafts, a live band, drinks and a food truck.
“It’s really nice,” Marce Vermeesch said. “A lot of people came to know about our culture.” Vermeesch owns Krafty Kre8tions and sold handmade gifts at the event.
“It’s enjoyable, there’s good food, there’s drinks, the ambience is cool,” Laurel resident Jorman Balecia said. “We should do this more often.”
The city celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with a Music at the Mansion event. ALINE BEHAR KADO
REWILDING ROUTE 1
The hummingbirds of winter
By RICK BORCHELT
Iwas working in my garden on Halloween 2010, consigning spent pepper and tomato plants to the compost pile and seeding winter lettuce and chard in the space they left behind. There was still quite a bit in bloom: old-fashioned red cannas, pineapple sage, cypress vine in the mornings before it turned warm during the day. One of those perfect October days we sometimes get here in the D.C. suburbs.
I had taken down and cleaned my hummingbird feeder a few weeks earlier; the big push of southbound ruby-throated hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris, our only breeding hummingbird in the eastern U.S.) had come and gone.
Imagine my surprise, then, when a very plain but very vocal hummingbird showed up, scolding me for blocking access to the garden. I retired to the porch
steps to watch as it worked over the flowers, figuring it would tank up on nectar to fuel its migration south, and eventually over the Gulf of Mexico, to join its fellow ruby-throats in the tropics.
Next morning, though, the bird was back. And kept coming back. A week. Two weeks. I got out the hummingbird feeder and restocked it with sugar water, and the little avian sprite visited avidly. All this time, it kept up a near constant chatter, so unlike what I expect from our summer hummingbirds.
Thanksgiving neared, and I managed to snag a few decent photos of the hummer to send around to colleagues in the local birding community. The response was almost immediate: While my photos weren’t definitive, the late date and vocalizations suggested this was decidedly not a ruby-throated hummingbird.
It turns out that Maryland hosts a number of other hum-
mingbird species, even in the winter. Who knew?
Many of these appear to be birds that nest in the Rockies, and they mostly migrate up and down that mountain range. Sometimes, though, a few of those western hummingbirds overshoot their mountain migratory route and keep going. There’s not much to stop them as they fly east until they hit the Atlantic — and that drops them right here in Maryland.
While some continue to follow the coast south, a surprising number decide to stick it out here through the depths of winter. Even then, Maryland must seem a balmy respite from the chills in the high reaches of the Rockies.
Every year, a few ruby-throats hang on here for the winter, to be sure. But we now know they are usually outnumbered by visiting species. Of the wandering hummingbirds we’re most likely to see in our area during the cold months, most belong to the genus Selasphorus. Rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) tops the list with many more local winter sightings than any other species, but Allen’s (Selasphorus sasin) and Calliope (Selasphorus calliope) hummingbirds also make the roster from time to time.
Another winter hummingbird we occasionally see here is a closer relative of the ruby-throat, the black-chinned hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri). This aberrant migration pattern was probably happening long before anyone started hanging up feeders to tide hummingbirds over during the dearth of flowers. Their winter diet likely consisted mostly of insects and their eggs, with occasional visits to drink carbohydrate-rich sap welling from holes that sapsuckers and other woodpeckers drill.
While the original purpose of hummingbird feeders was to provide winter sustenance for the birds during a dearth of flowers, the feeders also draw the birds closer, making it easy for us to spot them.
So I hung my feeder in a sheltered spot, bringing it in after dark so the sugar water wouldn’t freeze solid, and rehanging it at first light. My hummingbird visitor arrived every morning at sunrise.
Eventually, Bruce Peterjohn, who was head of the Bird Banding Laboratory at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center at the time, heard about my College Park visitor and came to identify it. ID required trapping the small bird in a cage that he hung over the feeder — it took just a few min-
utes for the bird to fly in. Bruce grabbed it deftly and quickly ascertained (based mostly on the pattern of white on the hummer’s tail when it spread it) that it was a first-year female rufous hummingbird. While he had it in hand, Bruce fitted the bird with a tiny leg band with a unique code so it could be identified if it were trapped later at another location.
Unfazed by the trapping experience, the rufous hung around in the yard, alternately tapping the feeder and snapping up tiny fruit flies that gathered around rotting apples and bananas I hung up in the trees as fly bait. Christmas came. We had a 6-inch snowfall that my visitor shrugged off as she went about her business. We had a couple of cold snaps; I fixed up a light bulb to hang next to the feeder to keep it from freezing.
But at sunrise on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, no hummingbird showed up, and that was the last I saw of my visitor. Mid-January is about the time when western hummingbirds overwintering in the tropics start to get restless to move back north toward their summer range in the Rockies. Likely my visitor was seized with the same wanderlust.
Every year since, in eternal optimism, I’ve kept my hummingbird feeder up past Thanksgiving, cleaned and filled with fresh sugar water, in the hopes of snagging another winter hummer. Maybe 2024 will be the year!
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.
Male rufous hummingbird, undaunted by a snowstorm. COURTESY OF DAVE WETH
NATIVE GARDENING WITH JIMMY
Lawns in Laurel becoming gardens
By JIMMY ROGERS
Native gardening has not only grown more popular in recent years, but the techniques and approaches have matured as well. Where home gardeners might have once added a few native plants among their existing ornamentals or dedicated a garden bed to supporting butterflies, more and more, gardeners are casting their gaze to the lawn and asking, “Why not there, too?”
Jessica Bolz and Brian Coyle are the leaders of Laurel for the Patuxent (L4P), a nonprofit that seeks to promote sustainable communities along the Patuxent River. In 2023, they began looking for a way to help interested Laurel homeowners learn how to replace turf grass with native plants. They partnered with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) on a grant application to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and won enough funding for five gardens.
Calling their initiative the Laurel Native Habitats program, Bolz and Coyle asked residents in the greater Laurel area to apply to have a portion of their lawn replaced with native plants. As L4P’s gardens project manager, I helped narrow 19 applicants down to five. The task was difficult, as we received many stellar applications. Ultimately, we chose a group of
participants spread across Laurel’s neighborhoods who had each done a little native gardening on their own.
During this time, I had the chance to meet with Mirele Goldsmith, who holds a doctorate in environmental psychology and is on the NWF Sacred Grounds team. Goldsmith is an expert in changing human behavior to solve environmental problems, and she suggested the pivotal approach to combine our participants into a single cohort that would learn and garden together for the duration of the program. Suddenly, our program focused on community, not just free plants and training.
We took the cohort idea and ran with it. Instead of conducting site assessments individually, we invited the whole team to visit each other’s yards, so they could see where their peers were starting from and share challenges they had faced so far. I took these opportunities to teach plant identification and the benefits of native plants, and discuss the phases of garden creation. Each site visit ended with a mini design session so the team could start planning their new gardens with me.
Next, we brought in wood chips to smother the existing grass. Veteran Tree Services, a Laurel business, offered to bring wood chips
Spend time in the food pantry or at one of the Holiday events
Get your family, friends or colleagues involved and collect food & toys for LARS families
EMAIL: LARSevents@laureladvocacy.org for additional information.
from shredded trees right to each of our participants.This dramatically simplified our project, as we didn’t have to load and move chips from a central location.
The cohort model provided another unexpected benefit: savings on labor costs. We had planned to hire professionals to move the wood chips and install the plants. However, with five energized team members, plus a few additional volunteers, we had no trouble spreading the wood chips ourselves. In fact, I think our group bonded most closely during the hours we shoveled wood chips together.
When I sat down to finish the garden designs, I realized we could plant twice the expected area, a little more than 100 square feet per garden, because we saved so much on labor. In order to choose the most appropriate native plants, I started with the conditions. Most lawn areas have dry, full-sun conditions and poor, compacted soil. Fortunately, many meadow plants thrive in such conditions, so I could rely on a wide selection of native species. I also tried to add a unique spin to each design, such as creating a native cactus and yucca garden for a couple who recently moved to Laurel from New Mexico.
We learned an important lesson about smothering grass during the project. Following a procedure that has worked for me many times, we cut the grass low, buried it in 8 to 12 inches of
wood chips and left it to cook in the sun for five weeks. Normally a layer of wood chips that deep is enough to begin hot-composting the grass into mud, roots and all. We were surprised, though, to see wire grass (Cynodon dactylon) climbing up through the wood chips. One of our gardeners also had quite a lot of other grasses remaining after we pulled back the wood chip. My theory is that the extreme drought during the smothering period kept these grasses from decomposing. We also didn’t see mushrooms popping up on a daily basis, which normally happens during deep chip smothering. In future years, I plan to try watering the wood chips if I don’t spot mushrooms in the first few weeks.
With the grass mostly defeated, I sourced more than 100 plants for each garden through my company, Vibrant Gardening. We got all five gardens planted in nine days, creating about 565 square feet of new garden, total, and reducing the same amount of lawn. Each garden will bloom continuously from March to November and will eventually grow
LAUREL HORIZONS: NEWS FROM THE LAUREL MUSEUM
dense enough to suppress most weed growth. These five gardens contain a total of 39 species of plants native to Maryland.
I hope everyone in Laurel will congratulate our new gardening ambassadors on their new gardens and new skills. We plan to weed together in the spring.
If you’re interested in participating in Laurel Native Habitats yourself, L4P is planning to organize another cohort next year. You can find more information at laurelforthepatuxent.org or follow us on Facebook.
Also, NWF Sacred Grounds is always eager to find new congregations to work with, so if you belong to a house of worship in Prince George’s County that’s interested in planting a native garden, do reach out to Naomi Edelson, the program director, at edelsonn@ nwf.org.
History of bronze markers in Old Town
By CINDY LONG
Visitors to the Laurel Museum regularly ask volunteers about the purpose of bronze markers on historic homes in the city.
tectural interest reveal the changing character and various stages of development of the town. It is impossible to include them all, so this sampling is offered,” Compton wrote in the newsletter.
The city of Laurel purchased many of the markers, with assistance from a number of residents whose homes have been designated. The program is not on-going; these buildings were marked solely for the 2006 walking tour.
the 49 sites and photos. Although some of the locations on the map have changed since 2006, many remain the same. Some highlights of the tour include the former Phelps and Shaffer store, the Laurel All-Stars Sandlot baseball team’s playing field, the Stone Machine Shop (now I Care), Fairall Foundry (on First Street) and the Laurel Armory.
The markers were installed in 2006 to designate 32 homes and businesses that are featured on the city’s walking tour. Located on or near Main Street, from the Laurel Cotton Mill area to the Railroad Station, these sites were identified by a committee consisting of Betty Compton, Joe Robison, Sidney Moore, Jean Anastasi and Lou Ann Crook, according to Laurel Historical Society’s newsletter “Laurel Light,” March 2006 edition.
“The prevalence and diversity of structures of historical or archi-
The markers do not indicate that these buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which is a federal designation for historical and artistically valued properties.
Prince George’s County and private businesses funded printing of a map for the 2006 tour featuring short narratives about
The walking tour map also includes a brief history of the city of Laurel and the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department. The Laurel Museum has copies of the 2006 map; stop by during open hours and start your walk today. For more information, go to laurelmuseum.org.
Jimmy Rogers is an avid native gardener in the city of Laurel.
Cindy Long is a Laurel Historical Society board member.
Laurel Native Habitats program participants (from left): Justin Prister, Stacey Doran, Holly Leopardi, Frank Morgan and Dawn Turney, Shirley Marc. (not shown: Tiffany and Wulfe Prister, Tauno Palomaki) JIMMY ROGERS
The Laurel Police Department (LPD) consistently seeks innovative and traditional methods to build public trust through strategic planning. Our Community Policing initiative collaborates closely with residents to maintain safety in our City. Here are some ways YOU, as a community member, can partner with the police to help keep Laurel safe.
LPD is pleased to announce their new Personal and Business Security Camera Registry. This fast and easy registry helps to keep everyone in our community safer. They are asking residents of the City of Laurel to share the location of your security cameras, but by no means does sharing the location of your cameras grant the Laurel Police Department access to your cameras.
You will incur no additional cost to share the location of your cameras with the LPD and they will never share the information you provide with anyone else.
How will this information be used? If a crime occurs in the vicinity of a camera location in the registry, LPD will contact them to request a viewing of their security camera footage. Working together as one, united Laurel community to ensure the safety of everyone one camera at a time!
To register your camera, visit https://
www.cityoflaurel.org/lpdcameraregistry.
As the holiday’s approach, you will be doing more online shopping and expecting many more package deliveries to your homes. Criminals are on the hunt at this time of year to look for unattended packages on doorsteps and at apartment mailboxes:
• Set text/email alerts for when they are delivered.
• Set up delivery for when you are home.
• Require a signature for delivery.
• Use curb-side pickup if possible.
• Use Amazon lockers.
• Have a trusted person accept for you. Check out the online shopping tips under Emergency Management to ensure your online accounts stay safe this season!
Vehicular Crimes
Carjackings and car thefts are on the rise nationwide and the City of Laurel is not immune from this crime. Help to make yourself a tougher target by following the following safety tips:
• Always be vigilante of your surroundings
• Look around before exiting your vehicle
• Remove headphones to hear around you
HISTORIC LAUREL DAM TO GET A FACELIFT!
• Park in well lit areas.
• Keep windows up and doors locked when driving.
• Never leave car running unattended.
• Make it a habit to lock your doors as soon as you enter your vehicle.
• Remain vigilante when parking in or near your driveway.
• Look for suspicious people loitering in the area or sitting in parked vehicles.
Call LPD immediately if you are the victim of a crime. If you see any suspicious behavior in your neighborhood, call us as soon as you see it so that we can respond and hopefully stop the crime as it is happening. If you see something, say something! The Laurel Police Non-Emergency number is 301498-0092 and their Emergency Number is 301-725-3000.
The City of Laurel takes its history very seriously and on October 8th, we took one step closer to ensuring the restoration of a historical local site. Thank you to Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, and Congressman Glenn Ivey, who presented a grant check for $850,000 to be used to restore the historic Dam Ruins at Riverfront Park!
Information from the historic marker at that site says, in 1811, Nicholas Snowden established a grist mill at the riverfront location, harnessing water from the Patuxent River to power it. By 1824, the facility was transformed into a cotton mill. In 1836, Snowden's son -in-law, Horace Capron, expanded the mill to manufacture canvas duck for sails of Baltimore clipper ships and covers for Conestoga wagons. The mill suffered a fire in 1855, but was rebuilt the following year, equipped with automatic sprinklers. By the late 19th century, it became the largest employer in Laurel. Today, remnants of the mill, dam, and millrace can be observed along the Riverfront Park Trail.
GREEN HAPPENINGS IN LAUREL!
Composting is the number one way residents can reduce methane gas emissions at our landfills, reduce the cost of tipping fees and reduce trash overflow. If you want to know more about the Organics Recycling program, be sure to check out the NEW and improved website! The updated website highlights 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!
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 ’s That Easy! 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. Remember, loose leaves and grass clippings are also acceptable in your curbside compost cart.
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.
Compost Your Pumpkins!
Remember to remove all wax and candles before putting your pumpkins in your curbside cart.
Goodbye to the Laurel Farmer’s Market!
Our Farmer’s Market last day of the season was October 31st. We had a wonderful season and we hope you enjoyed our returning vendors and loved meeting our new additions. Be sure to check out our Facebook page: @thelaurelquilllot, and our City web sit e at www.cityoflaurel.org/1617/Laurel -Farmers-Market for updates about next year’s market. Thank you for supporting our local vendors!
Sustainable Laurel
Want to get the most recent information about the City’s sustainability initiatives. Follow us on Facebook at @SustainableLaurel. 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 at www.cityoflaurel.org/greenliving!
CONSEJOS DE SEGURIDAD PARA LA COMUNIDAD Y DÍAS FESTIVOS DEL LPD
El Departamento de Policía de Laurel (LPD) busca constantemente métodos innovadores y tradicionales para generar confianza pública a través de una planificación estratégica. Nuestra iniciativa de Policía Comunitaria colabora estrechamente con los residentes para mantener la seguridad en nuestra ciudad. A continuación, se muestran algunas formas en las que USTED, como miembro de la comunidad, puede asociarse con la policía para ayudar a mantener segura a Laurel.
Desde su nueva iniciativa, Registro de cámaras de seguridad personales y comerciales, que el LPD utilizará solo cuando se haya producido un delito en las inmediaciones de una cámara, hasta consejos para prevenir robos de paquetes, robos de automóviles y robos de vehículos, ¡la policía de Laurel siempre está trabajando para mantener seguros a los ciudadanos y visitantes de Laurel! Si nota algún comportamiento sospechoso, llame al Departamento de Policía de Laurel de inmediato a su número de emergencia, 301-725-3000. Si tiene alguna pregunta, llame a su número que no es de emergencia al 301 -498-0092.
LAUREL POLICE MONTHLY CRIME REPORT
SEPTEMBER 2024
List of Laurel Police Crime Reports can be found at www.cityoflaurel.org/LPD-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. 2030 - to add a New Section 1613 to the Laurel City Code, Chapter 16 "Taxation", Article I "In General" Section 13 "Public School Employee Tax Credit Program: and to Provide an Effective Date.
• Ordinance No. 2031 - to amend the General Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland, for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 and to Provide an Effective Date.
• Ordinance No. 2032 - to Amend Chapter 2 "Administration", Article I Entitled "In General", Section 2-3 Entitled "City Seal, City Department Seals and Logos, and Official City Branding Logos", of the Laurel City Code to Change the Section Title to "City Seal, City Department Seals and Logos, Official City Board, Commission, and Committee Logos, and Official City Branding Logos," and Require Written Permission of the Mayor to Use the City Seal, or City Department Seals and Logos, Official City Board, Commission and Committee Logos, and Official City Branding Logos for Non-City Related Use, in Accordance with the City's Policy on the Use of City Seals and Logos and Providing an Effective Date.
Bid Recommendations:
• No Bid Recommendations
Purchase Requisitions:
• No Purchase Requisitions Appointments/Reappointments:
Bill Wellford, Chairman - Board of Election Supervisors (10/16/24 - 10//16/28).
Kenneth Ford - Emergency Services Commission (10/16/24 - 10/16/29)
Tawana LaMar - Juneteenth Executive Committee
Kia Young - Juneteenth Executive Committee
Hon. Donna Crary - Community Redevelopment Authority (10/28/24 - 10/28/27)
William Chase - Juneteenth Executive Committee
If you have a holiday party, bridal shower, wedding or company retreat, and you are looking for the perfect venue, call 301-725-7800 and ask about the Mansion at Laurel!
COUNCIL O FFICE
301-725-5300 ext. 2120
clerk@laurel.md.us
(Dates and Times Subject to Change)
November 2024 Mayor and City Council Meetings
November 25th - In-Person Mayor and City Council Meeting (6pm)
November 2024 Boards and Commissions
November 12th - Virtual Historic District Commission (6pm)
November 19th - Planning Commission (CANCELLED)
November 28th - Board of Appeals (CANCELLED)
December 2024 Mayor and City Council Meetings
December 4th - Virtual Mayor and City Council Work Session (6pm)
December 9th - Virtual Mayor and City Council Meeting (6pm)
December 23rd - In-Person Mayor and City Council Meeting (CANCELLED)
December 2024 Boards and Commissions
December 10th - Planning Commission (6pm)
December 17th - Historic District Commission (6pm)
December 19th - Board of Appeals (6pm)
(Dates and Times Subject to Change)
Fall Leaf Vacuuming 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.
Veterans’ Day - November 11th - City/Passport Offices Closed. Trash/ Recycling/Composting Collections will be adjusted that week. Visit, www.cityoflaurel.org for details.
Thanksgiving Holiday - November 28th and 29th - City/Passport Offices Closed. Trash/Recycling/Composting Collections will be adjusted that week. Visit, www.cityoflaurel.org for details.
Breakfast with Santa - December 7th - 9am - Preregistration is required. Cost is $15. Visit www.cityoflaurel.org/parks.
Holiday Parade and Armory Illumination - December 7th - Parade kicks off from the Laurel Municipal Center at 3:45pm. Email gwade@laurel.md.us if you would like to participate in the parade. Armory Illumination at 5:15pm.
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.
To learn more about:
• Senior Social at the Cabana - Nov. 13th
• Preschool Registration - Ongoing
• Rental - The Mansion at Laurel
• And more!
Check out their seasonal brochure on the City’s web site at www.cityoflaurel.org.
As the Holiday Season begins, many of us will be shopping online to purchase gifts for our loved ones, friends, neighbors, and coworkers. Unfortunately, the ease and convenience of online shopping makes the holiday season the perfect time for cybercriminals to take advantage of unsuspecting online shoppers. Three common ways that attackers take advantage of online shoppers are creating fraudulent sites and email messages, intercepting insecure transactions and targeting vulnerable computers
Fortunately, many cyber-threats are avoidable. When shopping online during the holiday season and year-round, here are some tips to ensure your accounts stay safe:
• Use the sites of retailers you know and trust. Type their trusted URL into the address bar instead of clicking on a link.
• Always think twice before clicking on links or opening attachments, even if they appear to be from people you know, legitimate organizations, your favorite retailers, or even your bank. Messages can easily be faked. Use known, trusted URLs instead of clicking on links. And only open known, expected attachments. When in doubt, throw it out!
• Before searching for that perfect gift, make sure your device, apps, and anti -virus/anti-malware software are up to date.
• Protect your passwords. Make them long and strong, never reveal them to anyone, and use multi -factor authentication (MFA, also called two-factor or 2-step authentication) whenever possible.
• Look for https:// (not http) in the address bar before using your credit card online.
• Check your credit card and bank statements regularly. If there is a discrepancy, report it immediately.
Board of Appeaals6pm
On the road with Laurel seniors
By ALINE BEHAR KADO
Two chatting women weren’t the least bit bothered by the rattling and creaking of the bus on their trip to Waterford Fair, in Waterford, Va. The women were deep in discussion about their children and grandchildren. They were eager to get to the fair, Waterford’s 80th annual event. And they were eager to join future city-sponsored trips, too.
“When you go, you feel happy,” said Kay Miller, 77, a regular participant of Laurel Parks and Recreation Department’s day trips for seniors.
The division plans at least three trips each week for seniors; each trip calls for a minimum of five participants to happen. Trips are open to city residents and seniors who live nearby. Fees generally range from $10 to $30.
“When you’re talking beach, Ocean City, Rehoboth Beach, you’re going to sell out,” said Gena Wade, director of senior services. “Twenty people, 25, you’re gonna have a waiting list a mile long.”
The city uses its own vehicles for transportation and can accommodate wheelchairs.
Wade is open to seniors’ suggestions and recommendations for trips. She often scouts out locations beforehand to ensure that there are no apparent obstacles.
“They love old homes, they love to see how people used to live, but they also like to try something new,” Wade said. “So that’s where the street festival is really popular, in addition to beaches — any place that’s far away that they will not drive to on their own, that’s
The Laurel Parks and Recreation Department plans at least three trips each week for seniors; each trip calls for a minimum of five participants to happen. Trips are open to city residents and seniors who live nearby. Fees generally range from $10 to $30. HIGHLIGHTS
a day trip now.”
“It’s awesome for the community, Lisa Butler, 55, said. Butler recently went on a senior trip to Larriland Farm, in Woodbine.
“The price is phenomenal, so you can’t beat that. You get to keep your car at home, don’t have to worry about parking, and you get to meet other people that live in the same place you live.”
The department sponsors other events and activities, too, such as jewelry making and painting.
“It’s senior recreational services. We don’t do the social work part at all,” Wade said.
“We’re about the recreational side of providing seniors with
activities to do, biggest thing being socialization, so they’re not isolated and alone.”
And talking about being on the road, the department also provides transportation services for seniors living within city limits.
“Every day, we send two vehicles out on the road to transport seniors back and forth, from their homes to doctors, to the grocery store, to visit a friend, to the senior center on Contee,” Wade said. “So that’s also very helpful, and it’s only $30 a year for that service.”
For more information on programs and services for seniors, call the Department of Parks and Recreation at 301.776.6168
We Train Dogs Of All Ages
Our training is positive, humane, and fun!
• In-Home Training & Behavior Consultation
• Puppy Socialization
• Group Classes
• Serving Laurel & Surrounding Areas
Jody Broughton CPDT-KA (240) 882-4765
www.socialtailwaggers.com socialtailwaggers@gmail.com
On Nov. 4, Laurel councilmembers voted in favor of an amendment to the city’s general operating budget and capital improvement plan for the fiscal year 2025, which started in July of this year. The amendment reallocates $35,035 of American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funds to projects that can be completed by the act’s December 2024 deadline.
Michele Saylor, director of the city’s budget and personnel services, informed the council that the funds would be used to cover shovel-ready projects. The funds would be used to offset the cost of improvements at Van Dusen Dam and to Morton Place, Stanley Place, 4th Street and Park Avenue, including gutter, curb, sidewalk and street light upgrades, and alley improvements. The remaining funds allocated for the now-completed repairs at Compton Avenue would also be covered. The funds would also go
toward the purchase of a new emergency rescue vehicle for the Laurel Police Department. Funding for the emergency vehicle was included in the FY2025 budget but the cost has increased. Laurel Police Chief Russ Hamill said that having an armored vehicle would allow officers to rescue individuals from dangerous situations. Such a vehicle has features the chief did not want to discuss in public, as well.
The council also approved funding for $306,610 to purchase curbside compost supplies, including 35-gallon and 12-gallon composting carts, kitchen countertop containers and compostable bags. Michele Blair, the city’s environmental program manager, informed the council that these supplies will allow the city to provide composting kits to single-family and town home residents not currently in the city’s program.
Katie V. Jones
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Please send notices of events taking place between Dec. 11 and Jan. 10 to nancy@streetcarsuburbs.news by Nov. 29.
NOV. 14
Smooth Sounds for Seniors. Known for her four-octave climb, singer Karen Linette performs a jazz mix.. $15. Montpelier Arts Center, 9652 Muirkirk Rd. 301.377.7800
The World Wars in Laurel. Webinar. An overview of Laurel’s involvement in WWI and WWII. 7 p.m. Go to laurelhistoricalsociety.org
NOV. 15
Got My Own Sound. The DMV-band performs its blend of R&B, hip hop, jazz fusion and funk. 8 p.m. $22 to $25.
Montpelier Arts Center, 9652 Muirkirk Rd. 301.377.7800
NOV. 16
Fiber Arts Tea. An afternoon tea. 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Montpelier House Museum, 9650 Muirkirk Rd. 301.377.7817
Open House. Look for fossils while exploring the grounds. Noon to 4 p.m. Dinosaur Park, 13100 Mid Atlantic Boulevard. 301.627.1286,
Fall Perennial PollinatorHabitat Planting. Create a pollinator-habitat garden. Free native plants and containers provided. 2 p.m. Patuxent Research Refuge South, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop. Call 301.497.5772 or register at tinyurl.com/43upts4e
Pasco Conaty
NOV. 17
Classical Recitals. Opera singer Brian J. Alvarado performs. 3 p.m. Free. Montpelier Arts Center, 9652 Muirkirk Rd. 301.377.7800
NOV. 23
Magic: The Gathering! Learn and play the strategic card game Magic: The Gathering! Cards provided and a basics lesson. 1 p.m. Laurel Branch Library, 507 7th St.
“Wingspan” Game Day at Patuxent. Play the board game “Wingspan” and learn about birds. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Patuxent Research Refuge South Tract, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop. 301.497.5772.
NOV. 28
Turkey Trot. Laurel Advocacy & Referral Services Inc. hosts the 5k and one-mile walk as a fundraiser. Race starts at 8 a.m. Alice B. McCullough Field, Montgomery and 8th streets. To register, call 301.776.0442 or go to.laureladvocacy.org/ turkeytrot.html
DEC. 1
Children’s Day at the Museum. Children can explore photography with crafts and snacks. 1 p.m. Free, but donations are accepted. Laurel History Museum, 817 Main St. 301.725.7975.
DEC. 6-8
Holiday Open House. Shop for unique gifts and enjoy light refreshments and homemade goodies. Laurel Historical Society, 817 Main St. 301.725.7975.
SUPPORT LOCAL KIDS IN FOSTER CARE
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), a national nonprofit advocating for children in foster care, is seeking volunteers for CASA/Prince George’s County. Volunteers typically serve about 12 hours per month, meeting with the child they support once or twice, and advocating for that child’s care, access
DEC. 7
Local Author Expo. Celebrate the writing community in Prince George’s County by meeting talented local authors. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Laurel Branch Library, 507 7th St.
ONGOING
November at the Hollingsworth Gallery. Southern Comforters Quilt Guild of Bowie features nature- and wildlife-themed quilts. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. 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 History Museum, 817 Main St. 301.725.7975
“A Murder is Announced.”
Laurel Mill Playhouse presents Agatha Christie’s tale of a murder, with Ms. Marple investigating, once again. The weekends of Nov. 15 and 22, times vary.
Tickets $15-$20. 509 Main St. Go to tinyurl.com/bdcskvds or call 301.617.9906
RECURRING
Family Fun at Patuxent. Learn about birds’ fall is migration season: Hands-on learning
to services, and placement in a safe, permanent home. Volunteers are asked to make a year’s commitment, and many continue for as long as the child is in foster care. For more information about the organization and advocacy program, go to pgcasa.org, email volunteer@pgcasa.org or call 301.209.0491.
activities, games, crafts for ages 3 and up; 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday for drop-in/independent exploration. Staffed from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 15 and 16. Patuxent Research Refuge South Tract, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop.
Laurel Art Guild. A talk about art, Nov. 11, 7 p.m. Montpelier Art Center, 9652 Muirkirk Rd. Go to laurelartguild.org
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. Call Jo Saunders at 301.490.8237
Chess. All levels welcome. Thursdays. 2 p.m. Laurel-Beltsville Senior Activity Center, 7120 Contee Rd. Call Mike Farmer at 240.302.9133.
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 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 Activi-
LAUREL SQUIRREL By Agnes
Councilmember called ‘not like us’
By ALAYSIA EZZARD
Councilmember Kyla Clark (Ward 2) has been receiving criticism from residents as well as her colleagues on the council, but that isn’t stopping her from performing her duties.
“My initial goal for running was to provide diversity on the council. That comes with diverse perspectives, and I’m going to continue to go forward with that diverse perspective whether that be a female perspective, whether that be a Black woman perspective,” Clark said, in an interview.
“I want to make sure that that’s contributed to this council in whatever that looks like.”
At the Sept. 23 city council meeting, Clark discussed two instances where she felt her integrity had been questioned.
MAYOR
Sydnor worked to establish the Laurel Thrive Small Business $10,000 Grant Program, which aims to attract new businesses to the city and incentivize small businesses to stay. The program helps to cover staffing, equipment and furnishing expenses. (The deadline for applying to the program was in September; the city is currently reviewing applications.)
“Laurel was the first place that allowed me to have space for my business,” Shajira Brown, the owner of ABT Collective, a soy wax candle business, said. The city helped Brown promote her shop and host classes through popups and local events, including one at The Mansion at Laurel. In late October, Sydnor announced the city’s First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program. Sydnor allocated $60,000 from the city’s fiscal year 2025 budget to provide $5,000 grants to 12 qualifying low-income, first-time homebuyers so they can settle in
The first instance Clark discussed occurred in July, after she was the first to motion the appointment of Adrian Simmons to the vacant Ward 1 seat on the council. Afterward, a resident told Clark face-to-face that she was “a ‘traitor and not for the people,’ being the African American community in Laurel,” Clark said. Clark stated that she assumed that the resident was referring to the city’s Black population, as Simmons is a white man.
The second instance Clark discussed occurred in September.
“On Sept. 10, I received a text message meant for someone else that stated, ‘she is not like us,’ and that ‘I don’t mind disrespecting
city limits.
“The city of Laurel is a city that’s very supportive of growth and looking at different avenues to grow,” Monta Burrough, director of Laurel’s Department of Economic and Community Development, said. “One thing I know about Laurel is [that] Laurel supports each other.”
Sydnor introduced the Youth Apprenticeship Program earlier this year, which supports afterschool activities and the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council. The program trains high school students in various job fields to prepare them for the workforce.
“I’m very excited about that program, because if we can do this inside the city of Laurel, just imagine (the) other 27 municipalities throughout Prince George’s County,” Sydnor said. “They’ll start hiring kids, and then businesses will start hiring kids, and they earn while they learn.”
Sydnor also works as a substitute teacher, a high school basketball and football official, and
the Black man’ because I listened to ‘one white lady complaining,’ as they said it,” Clark said, noting the text was in reference to her supporting the appointment of Monta Burrough as the director of the Laurel Department of Economic and Community Development. at the council meeting on Sept. 9. Two councilmembers abstained and three voted in favor of Burrough’s appointment, including Clark.
During the Sept. 23 council meeting, Mayor Keith Sydnor confirmed that he texted Clark the text, saying that he sent it by mistake. He sought to apologize to Clark by text, phone call and in a letter. He again apologized to Clark during the council meeting.
“I was very frustrated because of the appointment of Mr. Burrough ... there was some things going on
as a mentor with Prince George’s County Chapter of the nonprofit mentorship organization, 100 Black Men of America Inc. These interactions allow him to see firsthand what children, youth and families need.
“Folks, they don’t see the work we do behind here, you know, but they see you in the community, and they want you in the community because they want to talk to elected officials,” Sydnor said. Sydnor is also collaborating with the Prince George’s County Crisis Mobile Team to help the city’s departments deal with mental illness incidents.
Councilmember Kyla Clark (Ward 2) supports Sydnor’s efforts. “I am appreciative of the progress we have made together fostering a stronger, safer community,” she said. “As we move into the new year, I am hopeful for increased collaboration, allowing us to further strengthen our efforts, implement impactful initiatives, and achieve even greater outcomes for the people we serve.”
Sydnor aims to establish programs and partnerships to address the needs of underserved populations, including veterans and seniors. He is also interested in funding English language education for the city’s immigrant community.
“We are only going to thrive when we have people engaging in the community,” Sydnor said. “We only can be successful as a community, getting involved … so that’s why we have those coffee with the cops, town hall meetings and everything. We want to have the input from the community, because we all have to work together to make our community a great place to live.”
and like any human being, I made a mistake, I got frustrated,” Sydnor said. “I sent a text message just to talk to a mutual friend of ours about the situation and end up sending the text message to councilman Clark and I tried to apologize to councilman Clark.”
Simmons said the council was aware of the situation and remained committed to working together.
“One of the things I think that can serve us well in this process, is the ability to listen to each other, seek out our commonalities and find ways to overcome any difficulties,” Simmons said in an interview. “It is hard work, requires vulnerability, candor, courage and more. But it is the only path to help Laurel grow to fulfill its great potential and deepen the ties that bind us all
CALENDAR
ties 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. For more information, email contact-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
together. I believe the members of council, the mayor and others have a commitment to this path, and I know I am committed to it myself.”
At the meeting, Clark, who is Black, talked about the importance of diversity in leadership, suggesting that it leads to wellrounded policymaking.
“I’m going to take your accusations that I am not Black enough as a challenge and an opportunity to remind us all why diversity is critical,” Clark said. “Moving forward, I urge us as a city to focus on what truly matters, serving the people of this city. So, let’s move past diverse rhetoric and instead come together to celebrate our differences and find strength in our shared commitment to making this community a better place for all.”
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. 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. Call 301.776.0442
Fish of Laurel Food Pantry. Thursday and Saturday, from 10:15 a.m. to noon, 308 Gorman Ave. Call 240.547.9013
Living Hope Church Distributions. Tuesdays from 1 to 2:30 p.m. 613 Montgomery St. 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 301.725.3080
Gospel Assembly Church Food Pantry. 8740 Cherry Lane, Suite 12. For dates and times, call 301.605.3756
COUNTY
volves a primary election in which each party picks its candidate and a general election where the party nominees run against each other. A countywide special election, such as those for county executive and at-large council members, costs about $4.2 million. A district special election, such as the one to fill Ivey’s District 5 seat, costs about $660,000.
Dernoga introduced two bills in September, one for the county executive seat and one for county councilmembers positions, that would eliminate the first stage of special elections, the primary, leaving all candidates to run in an open general election. He noted that no Republican has been on the ballot for county executive since 2002 and that only six Republican candidates have run in the 47 county council elections that have taken place since 2006. A county council staff analysis of Dernoga’s bills stated, “This change would provide multiple benefits to the County, including a reduction in the costs of special elections, a decrease in the amount of time between a Council vacancy and when that vacancy is filled, and a decrease on the
Councilmember Tom Dernoga (District 1) points out that special elections are expensive and time-consuming.
A countywide special election costs about $4.2 million. A district special election costs about $660,000.
demands of the Board of Elections.”
The majority of the council voted to table Dernoga’s bills in favor of bills by Councilmember Wanika Fisher (District 2). Fisher’s bills leave special elections in the current two-stage process but extend the time from vacancy to primary election to 100 days, with the general election taking place 100 days after that.
The existing county law permits a special primary election to be held within 45 days of a seat becoming vacant and the general
election within 45 days after the primary. But the county received a letter from the Maryland Attorney General’s Office in June saying county law violated state law by not leaving enough time for the voting process, including receiving ballots from military personnel serving outside the country.
Fisher said her bills, which will be up for a vote on Nov. 19, are emergency legislation intended to get the county into compliance with the state. She said Dernoga’s bills raised major issues without allowing sufficient time to solve them.
For instance, she said the Prince George’s County Office of Law found that under Dernoga’s bill, candidates would not be able to designate their party on the ballot if the general election were open. Also, thresholds for entering a race without party approval would have to be established, including collecting a certain number of citizen signatures, she said. “What Tom was proposing does not exist in Maryland. … It’s a policy choice, and a really big one.” Fisher said she would be open to discussing other possible changes in the special-election process next year.
Whether a special election will be needed to replace Alsobrooks
is up in the air. County law requires a special election when the county executive vacates the seat in the first two years of the fouryear term. After that, the county council is tasked with choosing a successor to fill out the term.
Alsobrooks’ first two years expire on Dec. 5. She will not be sworn in to the Senate until Jan. 3. She can decide to resign as county executive before Dec. 5, prompting an election, or remain in office beyond that date, triggering a county council appointment. If Fisher’s legislation passes, a special election would leave the post open for about seven months, during which time, by law, Alsobrooks’ chief administrative officer, Tara Jackson, would carry out the county executive’s duties.
Neither Alsobrooks nor a spokesperson could be reached for comment.
OTHER DERNOGA BILLS
Dernoga has four other bills before the county council that will be voted on at the council’s final legislative session of the year, on Nov. 19.
The bills seem likely to pass, given that the majority of councilmembers have signed on as co-sponsors.
CB-72 would prohibit the sale
and planting of bamboo and require property owners with current bamboo to take measures to keep it from spreading to adjacent properties. “Everyone knows it’s a problem,” Dernoga said.
CB-83 would create a two-year pilot program to install a few noise cameras on roads to measure the decibel level of passing vehicles and take their pictures. Dernoga said owners of vehicles that exceed legal noise limits would be required to have a mechanic reduce the noise.
CB-84 would enable the county to install speed cameras on stop signs near schools. Dernoga said he would like a camera to be installed at Bond Mill Road and Sherwood Avenue in West Laurel, near Bond Mill Elementary School.
CB-88 would require that the county’s minimum wage be indexed to the region’s consumer price index. The baseline would be the state’s minimum wage of $15, which would go up at the rate of inflation. Montgomery County has used a similar indexing system since 2017.
Before voting on these bills, the county council will hold a public hearing at 10 a.m. on Nov. 19. Citizens can sign up to speak or submit written comments on the bills at tinyurl.com/yu3tavpw
