Detroit Lions player supports Friends of Tonga
BY QUINN MULLER
How many of us could pinpoint the Polynesian island nation of Tonga on a map of the Pacific? Perhaps not many. But that didn’t deter Detroit Lions offensive tackle Giovanni Manu from choosing to support
the Laurel-based nonprofit, Friends of Tonga (FoT) .
Manu, who was born in Tonga and immigrated to the U.S. when he was 11, sported cleats bearing Tonga’s logo and coat of arms during a game on Dec. 5 as part of the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats campaign.
The initiative’s idea began in 2013 when Brandon Marshall, a Chicago Bears wide receiver at the time, wore lime green cleats during a prime-time game in support of Mental Health Awareness Week. While he was fined for a uniform violation, the
2025 state spotlight
By Kit Slack
The Maryland General Assembly is in session through April
7. Streetcar Suburbs Publishing asked our state representatives what they plan to work on. Their answers are in their own words.
Senator Jim Rosapepe (District 21)
What are you most proud of from last year’s session?
Bringing back state investment to Laurel for local schools, local roads and road safety, and MARC mass transit, and pro-
tecting parks. The delegates and I helped pass the law allowing speed cameras near stop signs at dangerous intersections and boosting enforcement against loud and dangerous driving. We also got $3,00,000 for the new Craig A.
Director chooses plays that make you think, P.7
Residents allowed to remain in homes
By KATIE V. JONES
The city of Laurel was able to rescind the notice to vacate order for the residents of The Tiers of Laurel Lake Condominiums before the Jan. 10 deadline, as the complex was deemed safe for occupancy, city staff said.
“We have confirmation from the city that we are good to go,” Natalie Stuppard, vice president of The Tiers of Laurel Lakes Condominium Association, said. “We worked with the city to address the issues.”
Fifty-four sets of stairs were successfully brought up to code. Each of the 116 units now has two egresses and all stairs now meet the concentrated load requirement, according to T’Amani Hamlett, chief building official for the city of Laurel’s Department of the Fire Marshal and Permit Services.
“They’ve been doing a really great job getting things repaired and in place,” Hamlett said. “We
Laurel
What’s an opportunity the state legislature missed last session or an area where you hope to improve? Investing
Moe
Multiservice Center.
The Andrews family (from left) Eleven-year-old twins Jacob and Jeremiah, parents Cherisa, Aaron and Serenity, 14-months, enjoy sledding at the Laurel Medical Center on Jan. 8 COURTESY OF JOE MURCHISON
County starts senior task force, revises tax relief
By KIT SLACK
In June, Prince George’s County chartered a new task force, Holistic and Sustainable Solutions for Seniors, to give recommendations on property tax relief for seniors by Feb. 28 of this year.
At its first meeting on Jan. 8, Sandra Eubanks, director of the county’s Health, Human Services and Public Safety committee, said the task force would not make any recommendations for a year to allow county agencies to make presentations about existing services at monthly meetings.
County Councilmember Sidney Harrison (District 9), chair of the task force, said a year would give the group an opportunity to better develop solutions for a wide range of challenges for seniors.
“Food insecurity is a serious challenge in our community for all ages right now,” Harrison said, adding that food insecurity had increased 50% in the county after the pandemic. “The price of housing is astronomical.”
Harrison said that given the county’s tight budget, the committee would need to prioritize their recommendations and consider tiered or staggered approaches.
This past fall, Harrison and County Councilmember Calvin Hawkins (At-large) declined to
support revisiting tax relief for seniors, citing a looming county budget deficit and concern about preserving the county’s AAA bond rating.
A TALE OF TWO NEW TAX CREDITS FOR SENIORS
On Nov. 12, 2024, the county council changed the tax relief available to residents over 65. The Revised Elderly Property Tax Credit (CB-007-2024) would have made a larger benefit available to a smaller number of seniors as compared to the original Elderly Property Tax Credit (CB-0292022) adopted two years ago.
In December 2024, however, Acting County Executive Tara Jackson and the county council published a letter committing to withdraw the Revised Elderly Property Tax credit and introduce a new version early in 2025.
Under the November 2024 version of this credit, seniors who had lived in the county for 25 years and had homes valued at $500,000 or less could have applied to get 20% off their property taxes, in addition to any other tax credits they received.
Under the prior Elderly Property Tax Credit, passed in 2022, seniors who had lived in the county for 10 years and had homes valued at $515,000 or less could apply to have their prop-
erty taxes reduced by 20%. However, seniors got relief under the program only to the extent that other tax credits designed to support low income homeowners and prevent large tax increases had not already reduced their property taxes by 20%.
HOW MUCH DO TAX CREDITS SAVE SENIORS, AND COST THE COUNTY?
The original 2022 Elderly Property Tax Credit reduced property tax collections by $1.96 million in one year, according to a county staff report last March, saving 5,030 of the county’s seniors an average of about $390 each.
Other tax credits can provide relief of more than 20% for some seniors. The homeowner tax credit caps property taxes for households with an income of $60,000 or less. The homestead tax credit keeps property taxes from going up by capping increases in home value used to calculate taxes.
For the coming fiscal year, the homestead tax credit program caps increases in taxable home value at 3% in Prince George’s County The program is projected to reduce county tax revenues by $108 million in one year, according to the county’s fiscal year 2025 budget.
The revised elderly tax credit would cost the county as much as $98 million over the next 10 years, county executive staff
Thanks to you, Streetcar Suburbs fundraiser a success
Abig thank you to the more than 200 donors who contributed to the fundraising campaign launched by Streetcar Suburbs Publishing during the holiday season! Streetcar, parent company to this newspaper, along with the Hyattsville Life & Times and the College Park Here & Now, is grateful to donors from all three audiences who contributed an impressive $17,000, total. NewsMatch, our fundraising partner, will match $15,000. Thanks to your generosity, we are looking forward to providing the local coverage our readers value in the year to come.
-
Katie V. Jones, managing editor, The Laurel Independent
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
Managing Editor
Katie V. Jones
Katie@streetcarsuburbs.news
Associate Editor Nancy Welch
Nancy@streetcarsuburbs.news
Columnists
Rick Borchelt, Agnes Pasco Conaty, Jimmy Rogers
Writers & Contributors
Agnes Pasco Conaty, Katie V. Jones, Quinn Muller, Joe Murchison, Kit Slack, Aiesha Solomon
Layout & Design Editors
Valerie Morris, Ashley Perks
Web Editor Jessica Burshtynskyy
Advertising Sales Manager
Amanda Berard
advertising@streetcarsuburbs.news 240.408.0722
said during the November meeting, urging councilmembers not to pass the revision. Staff also raised concerns about a potential political backlash from seniors who had lived in the county more than 10 years and less than 25, who would lose eligibility because they qualified under the 2022 version of law but not under the Nov. 2024 version.
SO, WHAT TAX CREDIT WILL IT BE?
John Erzen, deputy chief of staff for former County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, said in the Nov. 12, 2024, meeting that staff were running numbers to support a proposal to be introduced by the task force. He said they were con-
sidering eligibility criteria including household income, home value and length of residency in the county. He asked the council to hold off on voting and instead wait for a Feb. 28 task force report proposing the best path forward. As of press time, the Revised Elderly Property Tax Credit had not been withdrawn and no new legislation had yet been introduced.
The window for applications for the Elderly Property Tax Credit is closed but will open again May 1 at propertytaxcredit. princegeorgescountymd.gov. Applications for the state’s homestead and homeowners property tax credit are at onestop. md.gov.
LAUREL SQUIRREL By Agnes Pasco Conaty
“New year, same cold tail.”
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 distributed monthly by U.S. mail to every address in Laurel. Additional copies are distributed to popular gathering spots around town. Total circulation is 29,000. The Laurel Independent is a member of the National Newspaper Association and the Institute for Nonprofit News.
Festive storefronts add to holiday fun
While there were fewer entries this year in The Laurel Board of Trade’s (LBT) second annual holiday storefront decorating contest, the nine businesses that did participate brought extra cheer to Main Street during the holiday season.
“We are very grateful to the businesses that do participate,” LBT board member Carla Conway said. “We would love to see more businesses get involved.”
A panel of judges selected three winners and two honorable mentions. A people’s choice winner was also selected. LBT member Ally Ramsey, a photographer, took photos of the businesses and posted them on LBT’s Facebook page.
These businesses were selected as winners:
First place; H. J. Poist, 360 Main Street, $250
Second place: Rainbow Florist, 370 Main Street, $150
Third place: The Crystal Fox,
322 Main Street, $100 Honorable Mention: 3 Gear Games, 25 C. Street, $50 Laurel Woman’s Club, 384 Main Street, $50
People’s Choice Winner Salt on Main Wellness Center, 575 Main Street, holiday gift basket - Katie V. Jones
Winning storefront H.J. Poist
Salt on Main Wellness, People’s Choice award
Rainbow Florist, second place winner
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ALLY RAMSEY
THE LAUREL INNER SPACE
Celebrating a year of giving
By AGNES PASCO CONATY
As I write this column on New Year’s Eve, I’m looking back on the year that is about to end. Which were the most rewarding events of 2024 for me? I must say that next to those that made members of my family happy, there are events that added value to people around me: I helped minorities gain life skills, I gave my students learning opportunities, and I spoke to communities about STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). What do these experiences have in common? I was volunteering my time and talent, sharing my personal resources to benefit others.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., American civil rights leader, said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” Here in Laurel, we can give of ourselves during the city’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, which will benefit cancer patients receiving care at the University of Maryland Laurel Medical Center. (For more information, go to tinyurl.com/zaa7wa65.) My family and friends in the Filipino-American community once organized blankets and bagged lunches at a similar day of service event.
That’s for starters. In the Laurel community and beyond, there are many other ways we can volunteer throughout the year. I’m listing a few of my favorites here.
Do you love animals? There are opportunities in the area to care for cats and dogs. With Laurel Cats (laurelcats.org), you can assist by fostering, helping with adoption events or participating in community outreach. At Fidos for Freedom (fidosforfreedom.org), you can help train service dogs or organize events to enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities.
Are you captivated by art? Volunteer with the Laurel Arts Council (tinyurl. com/2jjb8a75), which supports local arts in the community. Are you into live theater? The Laurel Mill Playhouse (millplayhouse.org) needs volunteers for casting, set design and behind-the-scenes support.
If you’re interested in supporting vulnerable populations, consider volunteering with Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland (mealsonwheelsmd. org). You could participate in delivering nutritious meals to homebound people in our area.
The Laurel Winter Shelter program, housed at the Craig A. Moe Laurel Multiservice Center (tinyurl.com/25wkcpcr), is seeking volunteers to support
unhoused clients. And food pantries in and around Laurel rely on donations; my family regularly provides food to Elizabeth House (fishoflaurel. org), a soup kitchen and pantry that serves bagged lunches and dinners to those in need. Food pantries and distribution centers especially appreciate receiving canned goods, rice and other pantry staples. (See the community calendar on page 8 of this issue for a list of pantries and food distribution centers in our area.)
Interested in environmental conservation? Consider volunteering at the Patuxent Research Refuge (tinyurl.com/ mw544z28) to support environmental education and wildlife conservation. Volunteers can participate in education programs, grounds keeping, trail monitoring and hosting at the visitor center. The City of Laurel Tree Board (tinyurl.com/
yc3trcx7) welcomes volunteers who are eager to participate in initiatives that protect and enhance our tree canopy.
The city of Laurel has many other advisory boards and committees that need dedicated volunteers, including the Multicultural Advisory Committee, the Parks and Recreation Citizens Advisory Committee, and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Citizens Advisory Committee. Donating your time and interest to any one of these will allow you to have a direct impact on the city’s policies and community development.
The city also hosts celebrations that rely on volunteers to organize and present — the Fourth of July, Independence Day and Juneteenth all come to mind. An online search for these events here in Laurel will offer useful information about ways you can participate, es-
New town houses on the drawing board
By JOE MURCHISON
Developers are queued up to construct another 438 homes in the city of Laurel, most of them town houses.
Miami-based Lennar Corp. has broken ground for its Anderson’s Green development on Contee Road east of Van Dusen Road. The development will consist of 63 town houses, according to Monta Burrough, director of the city’s Department of Economic and Community Development.
A second development, Oaks at Laurel, will consist of 82 town houses located east
of Van Dusen Road, behind the Laurel Park Shopping Center, with access from Park Center Drive. Burrough said the city planning commission gave the plan for Oaks at Laurel preliminary approval in September. The commission will review the final site plan on Feb. 11.
Reston-based Martin Stanley Homes is the builder for Oaks at Laurel. While the company hasn’t announced prices for homes there, the company’s website advertises prices in the $400,000s and $500,000s for their new town houses in Bowie, Hyattsville, Upper Marlboro
and Brandywine.
The third and largest development, Corridor Center, will include 293 homes — 120 threestory town houses, 132 stacked two-story condominiums and 13 one-story villa homes. The development, accessible by Contee Road and Cherry Lane, will be located east of I-95 and south of Route 198.
The city council approved the overall concept for Corridor Center in January 2023, and the planning commission approved its subdivision and preliminary site plan in September. Burrough said he had not yet received a final site plan, which
The city council approved the overall concept for Corridor Center in January 2023, and the planning commission approved its subdivision and preliminary site plan in September.
pecially as we draw closer to these events.
For many of us who catch the volunteering bug, giving of ourselves becomes a yearround involvement. Volunteering is a powerful way to learn new skills, meet new people, give back to your community — and enrich our own lives along the way. 2025 will mark yet another year of volunteering for me, and I hope you’ll join me in creating your own year of giving, too.
and environmental science adjunct
professor who also works as senior research scientist and science lead for the GLOBE Observer Program at NASA/ Goddard Space Flight Center.
the planning commission must approve before construction can begin.
The developer of Corridor Center is Atlanta-based Pulte Home Company, which describes itself as the nation’s third-largest home construction company. Attorney Edward Gibbs, who has represented the company during the approval process, said last February that 22 homes would have below-market pricing, including 11 condos with starting prices at $145,000, and 11 townhouses starting at $246,000.
Neither Gibbs nor other Pulte representatives could be reached for comment about prices for the other homes or a timeline for construction.
Agnes Pasco Conaty is a college math
Joseph Conaty donating food to Fish of Laurel staff, who manage the meal kitchen and food pantry for Elizabeth House. COURTESY OF AGNES PASCO CONATY
First robin of spring! (fooled
you)
BY RICK BORCHELT
Our unseasonably warm
December weather brought the first waves of what will be many robin reports in the local listservs, blogs, Facebook groups and Nextdoor accounts I monitor.
Never mind that the first day of winter, Dec. 21, was only a few weeks ago; one optimistic local gushed that winter was already over because the robins had returned to her yard just before New Year’s Day. Other folks were posting their concerns that robins had been fooled into returning early and might perish in the cold weather yet to come.
All assumed they were seeing the first robins of spring returning from warmer climes where they spend the winter. Throughout much of North America, cabin-fever sufferers rejoice in robins as harbingers of spring.
Usually, they’re wrong. Robins have been here all along.
American robins (Turdus migratorius) are, as their name implies, sometimes migratory. Except when they aren’t.
Even as the robin is a wellknown, iconic bird, we actually understood very little about their migratory habits until recently. A Georgetown University graduate student, Emily Williams, is working out the surprisingly complex movements of robins across the American landscape.
Williams has tracked robins from origins as far-flung as Alaska, Texas, Massachusetts, South Carolina — and D.C.
“They’re a truly cosmopolitan bird,” she told Audubon Magazine in 2020. “They may be the most widespread songbird in North America, and yet there’s so much we don’t know about them.”
Williams has determined that American robins are, for most of us in the East, with us all year long, even up into snowy New England. It’s just they may not always be the same robins. Only in extreme northern climates do they quit the neighborhood completely and migrate south.
Williams and her colleagues tracked four robins captured in Alaska’s Denali National Park and Preserve to overwintering sites in Texas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Montana, up to almost 3,000 miles from the capture location. One robin captured in Amherst, Ma., overwintered in South Carolina, 750 miles from the capture location, while two robins captured in D.C. had spent the entire year right here in the suburbs.
So, Williams notes, American robins may be as varied in their provenance as the rest of D.C.’s residents. Some robins were born and bred here and never leave, while some come from far away and soon leave again for better opportunities. Flocks in our area usually consist of both local and migrant robins.
If you’ve noticed more and more robins during winter, though, your eyes are not deceiving you. Every winter, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology organizes a citizen science
While we may think of them as quintessential harbingers of spring, American robins are in fact with us all winter.
project called Project FeederWatch, where people report sightings of birds in their yards over two consecutive days between November and April. For the past 25 years, FeederWatch data has shown that more American robins are hanging around farther north than they used to, and they’re arriving earlier, even in the northernmost parts of their range.
Robins may be responding, in part, to the warmer winters brought by climate change, but odds-on betting is that there are also more food resources now available for them through the winter. While we may think of American robins as the proverbial early bird getting the worm (and other invertebrates), their entire metabolism undergoes a radical makeover in winter from carnivory (that worm!) to frugivory, or fruit-feeding.
Their favored winter sustenance in the Mid-Atlantic is the small fruit of the now-ubiquitous invasive Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana), also known as Bradford pear. American holly, winterberry, hawthorn and crabapple berries are also at the top of the robin’s coldweather menu.
Their social behavior also switches up, from pairs or small family groups in summer to large, roving winter flocks of hundreds of birds that may fly long distances for the best fruit options. This means they’re mostly absent from lawns and gardens when it’s cold, favoring instead woods and forests with better berry crops. So while the robins are around, they just aren’t very visible to most of us — or very vocal.
When the weather warms up and the ground thaws completely, American robins will switch back to a diet of mostly worms, caterpillars and grubs. And they’ll become feisty defenders of backyard territories, with frequent clashes between males as they work out family
boundaries. Males also take up their insistent song again in spring, often singing through the night at the height of the mating season.
There’s a possible human health downside to all those robins running around, according to Indiana University researcher Alex Jahn. He and his colleagues have discovered that robins can transport Lyme disease far across the United States by hosting both the infectious bacteria that cause Lyme and the ticks that then carry it.
You can listen to a podcast about robin migration with Emily Williams, sponsored by the American Birding Association, at tinyurl.com/5xkfjkmp.
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.
COURTESY OF DAVID STIMAC
THE LAUREL LEDGER
OFFICIAL NEWS FROM THE CITY OF LAUREL, MARYLAND
TEAM WORK: CITY OF L AUREL 2024 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
As we transition from 2024 to 2025, it's an ideal moment to reflect on the achievements your local government has made over the past year. Each City Department has made remarkable progress in executing its 2024 fiscal agenda, and we are eager to sha re these accomplishments with you. Our purpose is to demonstrate our commitment to being fiscally responsible with the resources you have entrusted to us. Let ’s work together in 2025, to help our community thrive!
CITY-WIDE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Mayor and City Council held a retreat in January 2024 to discuss upcoming City goals, along with Leadership Training for City Council members and Department Heads.
Mayor Sydnor held 1st Annual Black History Essay Contest for Elementary, Middle and High School Students.
Organized the 1st Annual Veteran’s Day Breakfast event.
CITY COUNCIL OFFICE
Passed Ordinance No. 2030 to create the City’s first Public School Employee Tax Credit for Prince George’s County Public School employees owning property in the City of Laurel.
Passed Ordinance No. 2032 to amend the City Code relating to the use of City Seals and logos.
Passed Resolution No. 4-2024 approving a full rewrite of the City Council Standing Rules.
OFFICE OF THE CLERK
Served as Vice President of the Maryland Municipal Clerk ’s Association (MMCA) and selected to serve as 2025 Vice Chair of the Maryland Municipal League (MML) Legislative Committee.
Managed the City’s Digitization of Paper Records project.
Planned, implemented and oversaw the Council Vacancy nomination process and onboarded the selected Councilmember.
Worked with the Board of Election Supervisors to draft amendments to the City Charter and Code.
OFFICE OF THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR
Worked with City Departments to successfully implement the Public Works Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Continued to grow Volunteer Laurel database and worked with schools Community Service Hours students.
Nineteen residents successfully graduated from Laurel Citizens University, with numerous “students” becoming involved in City Boards, Commissions and Committees.
BUDGET AND PERSONNEL SERVICES
Bookkeeping and record management for the LMSC non-profit. Implemented Human Resources Policy updates. Created standardized forms for budget requests.
New risk management procedures for parade and public assembly permits and City Contractors. Implementation of workers compensation back to work sooner program.
5-year Renewal of the DROP program.
Launched PNC Employee Financial Wellness Program.
LAUREL POLICE DEPARTMENT
Successfully managed recruitment efforts to fill nearly all sworn positions, leaving only three openings remaining, with sworn/professional staff representative of the communities we serve.
In response to community concerns expressed over traffic-safety matters, a dedicated Traffic Unit was created to address traffic issues within the City of Laurel, which includes developing campaigns addressing speed, pedestrian, distracted driving, impaired driving, and other traffic issues.
LPD has a new camera registry program that encourages individuals and businesses to register security cameras with the LPD, which then provides the Department with information regarding security camera locations and views to assist with investigations and keep our community safer.
Graduated two successful Laurel Community Police Academy classes that continues to enhance community relationships.
PUBLIC WORKS
COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Coordinated and hosted a Mental Health Awareness Event, fostering education and reducing stigma around mental health issues.
Grand Opening of the Craig A. Moe Laurel Multiservice Center on September 10, 2024.
The Department successfully renewed the City’s Community Rating System (CRS) to ensure residents maintain their 15% discount on flooding insurance.
Resurfaced/Reconstructed nearly 2 miles of roadways being resurfaced or reconstructed.
Undertook a long overdue list of sidewalk repairs in 2024 covering over 18,000 square feet and 2,000 linear feet of concrete curbing with the assistance of robust funding available in the Capital Improvement Project and American Rescue Plan Act funding.
Made tremendous strides in fleet modernization, prioritizing fuel efficiency, alternative energy solutions, and safety enhancements.
Replaced approximately 65 High-Pressure Sodium light fixtures with new LED fixtures.
COMMUNICATIONS
PARKS AND RECREATION
Replaced two pedestrian bridges at Riverfront Park.
Opened both sides of the Laurel Multiservice Center.
Replaced 6 HOA Playgrounds through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding.
Completed the LED Conversion at Stephen P. Turney Recreation Complex.
Launched the inaugural edition of Laurel Living, the official monthly newsletter for the City of Laurel.
Completed major audio and visual upgrades in the Council Chambers to modernize the Chamber technology, enhancing both in-person and hybrid meeting capabilities.
Collaborated with the Chesapeake Math and IT (CMIT) Academy North High School on their inaugural participation in the C-SPAN StudentCam Competition. Taught students interviewing, editing, video production techniques, and how to think critically, while enhancing their storytelling abilities.
FIRE MARSHAL AND PERMIT SERVICES
Prepared and adopted Chapter 18 of the City Code.
Fully digitized the Soil and Erosion program.
Fully implemented multi-generational Fire and Life safety presentations.
ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
ECD, along with the Mayor, initiated the 1st time Home Buyer Assistance Grant Program and Laurel Thrive Small Business Grant Program
Kicked off the first Sustainability Plan and created residential Focus Groups to get input from the community.
Corridor Center Subdivision Preliminary Plan was approved to allocate several homes for sale as “affordable.” The project also is comprised of 293 residential units (Stacked townhouses, active adult villas, single-family townhomes inclusive of 12 live/work units).
Hosted Small Business Saturday, Women-Owned Business and other Networking events.
OFFICE OF INFORMATION TECHONOLOGY
Launched the City's Youth Apprenticeship program for high school students interested in IT careers.
Deployed new computer, security, and network systems at three facilities, including the new Laurel Multiservice Center.
Migrated City phone systems to SIP for scalability and reduced costs.
Created new composting campaign, rolled out composting carts to southside residents, with new educational materials, and deliveries will continue throughout the new year.
Awarded technical assistance grant from Maryland Energy Administration; grant from Department of Energy for energy audits; and grant from Sustainable Maryland for Bigbelly Smart composting containers.
Hosted Secretary of the Environment for a visual tour of our Sustainability Initiatives.
Farmer’s Market expanded to weekly Thursdays and became part of the Maryland Money Market Fund adding value to patrons using SNAP benefits. And held 1st Winter Market.
The Mayor, City Council, City Staff are excited about 2025 and eager to collaborate with our Laurel community to ensure its continuing prosperity!
City of Laurel Legislation
Listed below are recent legislative actions taken, if any, by the Laurel City Council during the past month of Mayor and City Council meetings. For further information on any of these legislative actions, please feel free to contact the Office of the City Clerk at 301-725-5300 x2121 or at clerk@laurel.md.us. For the full agendas, visit www.cityoflaurel.org
Adopted Legislation:
• Resolution No. 5-2024 - creating a Master Plan and providing an effective date.
• Resolution No. 6-2024 - declaring a temporary moratorium regarding the processing of Zoning matters within the City of Laurel, Maryland and providing an effective date.
• Ordinance No. 2033 - to amend the City of Laurel Police Retirement Plan to extend the Deferred Retirement Option Plan.
• Ordinance No. 2034 - to amend the City of Laurel Police Retirement Plan to extend the Deferred Retirement Option Plan.
Sole Source Purchase Recommendation:
• Ongoing City-wide Replacement of Existing Street Lighting Project - Department of Public Works
Contract Continuation Recommendation:
• Architectural and Engineering FirmsDepartment of Public Works
Bid Recommendations:
• First Street Improvements - Department of Public Works
• Lafayette Avenue Improvements - Department of Public Works
Appointments/Reappointments:
Michael Gray - Tree Board (12/9/24 - 12/9/26)
Donica Sutton - Education Advisory Committee (12/9/24 - 12/9/26).
January 2025 Mayor and City Council Meetings
January 6th (Monday) - Virtual Mayor and City Council Work Session (6pm)
January 13th - Virtual Mayor and City Council Meeting (6pm)
January 27th - In-Person Mayor and City Council Meeting (6pm)
January 2025 Boards and Commissions
January 14th - Planning Commission (6pm)
January 21st - Historic District Commission (6pm)
January 23rd - Board of Appeals (6pm)
January 30th - Master Plan Committee (6pm)
February 2025 Mayor and City Council Meetings
February 5th - Virtual Mayor and City Council Work Session (6pm)
February 10th - Virtual Mayor and City Council Meeting (6pm)
February 24th - In-Person Mayor and City Council Meeting (6pm)
February 2025 Boards and Commissions
February 11th - Planning Commission (6pm)
February 18th - Historic District Commission (6pm)
February 25th - Master Plan Committee (6pm)
February 27th - Board of Appeals (6pm)
Health Fair - January 18th - 10am - 1pm - Laurel Multiservice Center, 204 Fort Meade Road. Vendors, Demos, and more!
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday - January 20th - City/Passport Offices Closed. Visit www.cityoflaurel.org/calendars for adjusted collection details.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service - January 20th - 10am - 2pm Laurel Municipal Center, 8103 Sandy Spring Road. Call 301-725-5300 ext. 2109 for volunteer opportunities.
FREE Indoor Movie“Paw Patrol (2023)” - January 24th - 7pm, Partnership Activity Center, 811 5th Street.
Sustainability Plan Launch Party - January 30th - 6pm, Laurel Municipal Center, 8103 Sandy Spring Road
Black History Month Celebration - February 8th - 1 - 3pm, Craig A. Moe Laurel Multiservice Center, 204 Fort Meade Road.
Presidents’ Day Holiday - February 17th - City/Passport Offices Closed. Visit www.cityoflaurel.org/calendars for adjusted collection details.
FREE Indoor Movie“Soul” - February 21st - 7pm, Partnership Activity Center, 811 5th Street.
To learn more or register for a Parks and Recreation Classes/Events, visit www.cityoflaurel.org/parks or call 301-725-7800.
Visit the City of Laurel web site at www.cityoflaurel.org, to learn more about your local government!
3
(Dates and Times Subject to Change)
(Dates and Times Subject to Change)
Black History Month Program1-3pm
Community Resources and Emergency Management: Winter Hazards Safety
Travel Safety
Reduce your risk of being involved in a winter-related traffic incident by winterizing your vehicle, practicing safe driving techniques, and building a car emergency kit.
• Winterize your Car
• Test your battery; check your tire pressure and treads; and keep your gas tank half -full
• Safety Driving Techniques
• Slow down
• Increase following distances
• Steer in the direction of a skid
• Car Emergency Kit
• Include the following items in your kit: jumper cables, flares, ice scraper, blanket, and sand or cat litter
For more information, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Indoor Heating Safety
Space heaters account for approximately 1/3 of home heating fires and 80% of home heating fire deaths annually. Adhere to safety precautions when using indoor heating equipment.
• Keep flammable items 3 feet away from heating unit.
• Clean and inspect equipment annually.
• Turn off heating equipment before going to bed or leaving the house.
For more information, visit the National Fire Protection Agency.
CONTACTS
Carbon Monoxide Safety
Carbon monoxide (CO) is often referred to as the “silent killer” as it has no smell, taste, or color. Protect yourself and family by practicing indoor heating safety, understanding the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, and installing CO detectors. Symptoms of CO exposure and poisoning include:
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Mild Confusion
• Shortness of Breath
If you are experiencing symptoms of CO exposure or poisoning, seek medical care immediately or call 911. If you are unsure about exposure to CO, contact poison control 24 hours every day at 800-2221222.
Bringing awareness through productions
By KATIE V. JONES
After reading the play “Consecrated Ground,” by George Boyd, a story about the struggles of citizens in Africville, Canada, to save their homes, Lorraine Brooks suggested to her friend Maureen Rogers that Laurel Mill Playhouse should present it.
“She told me, ‘You do it,’” Brooks said, with a chuckle. “It was not on my radar. I thought she’ll know somebody, and it will be great. People still stop me wherever I go. It really had an impact on a lot of people.”
Now, Brooks, who is 73, is working on “Fires in the Mirror,” her fourth play as director at the playhouse. Just like her previous selections, this new production is “kind of heavy,” she said.
“Whenever I direct a play, I want people to leave the theater and think,” Brooks, a professional mental health counselor, said. “I get them to learn.”
Along with “Consecrated Ground,” Brooks has directed “Miss Evers’ Boys,” by David Fedshuh and “Out of the Blue: Reflections From Ground Zero,” a play she wrote based on interviews she conducted with first Sept. 11 responders.
“Lorraine is always good at bringing over these kinds of
plays,” Rogers said. “The sort of plays you have somebody see so it doesn’t happen again.”
Rogers collaborated with Brooks as producer of “Fires in the Mirror,” which was written by Anna Dearve Smith. The play is set in 1991 and explores the aftermath of the Crown Heights riot in Brooklyn that erupted after a 7-year-old Caribbean-American boy was hit
and killed by a car driven by a Jewish man. Soon after the accident, a group of black youths attacked and fatally injured a Jewish student visiting from Australia. The play features monologues based on interviews Smith conducted that offer viewpoints of both the African American and Jewish people who were connected to the incident.
Writing helps author with grief
By AIESHA SOLOMON
Laurel resident Rishawna Gould’s life took an unexpected new path after the death of her mother 10 years ago followed a few years later by the death of her aunt. She penned a children’s book.
“A suggestion was made to me [by a therapist]. Rather than dwell on the sad portion of losing a loved one, to remember her legacy and what she wanted to do and also my aunt as well,” Gould said.
In February 2024, Gould selfpublished The Adventures of Joanie and Juliet — her first book, but likely not her last. The book recounts the adventures of two sisters, Joanie and Juliet. Joanie is based on Gould’s mother, and Juliet is based on Gould’s aunt. They travel to Italy together using the power of their special pajamas — pajamas that can take them anywhere they want to go. On their trip, they fly in an airplane, enjoy sightseeing, try unfamiliar foods, meet locals and learn a new language.
Gould noted that mother and
her aunt were not only sisters but best friends, as well.
“They were the most amazing problem solvers when you put them together, and that’s [why] that’s kind of like the theme of
The Adventures of Joanie and Juliet,” Gould said. “These two sisters have to navigate a country, sometimes by themselves, sometimes with help — but they have to problem-solve.”
The special pajamas were inspired by Gould’s mother’s love of flannel pajamas. The characters’ pajamas feature the animals that Gould’s mother and sister adored: dolphins for Joanie and
butterflies for Juliet.
Inspiration for the book came from Gould’s own experiences. Her family took annual road trips and traveled internationally.
She learned it was important to know three phrases when traveling to another country: “Friend,”
“Thank you” and “See you soon.”
“That you are willing to learn their language, their customs, their cultures. That can go so far,”
Gould said.
She also recognized that many people do not travel far from their locality.
“At the children’s level, I can begin, at least, to get them inter-
“Part of their process,” Brooks said of the actors, “is understanding the person they’re portraying. They are real people.”
A native New Yorker, Brooks has a friend in Crownsville who has sent her photos of the area to include in the stage’s background.
Brooks and the cast have largely rehearsed virtually, as the playhouse’s January production is occupying the theater. Brooks and the cast met at the Knights of Pythias Lodge, on Montgomery Street, in early January to go over choreography. While music and dance were not included in the original production, Brooks was eager to give it a try.
“It’s an important story,” Summer Moore, the choreographer said. “My main concern is I want to make sure the movement fits with Lorraine’s vision.”
“We make a lot of assumptions about each other that may or may not be true,” Brooks said. “Things happen. Be openminded and try to understand the other person’s perspective.”
While the play is set in Manhattan, Brooks discouraged the actors from attempting a New York accent — she was cautious about creating a caricature.
ested in wanting to go to other places, or just creating that desire within them so that as they grow,
While Brooks noted that there was still work to be done, she is always amazed how it all comes together at the end.
“I am having such a good time,” Brooks said. “Everybody wants to do well. Everybody does their best all the time. How often does that happen?”
“Fires in the Mirror” opens Feb. 7 at Laurel Mill Playhouse.
they can develop that desire on their own,” she said.
Gould has a B.A. in graphic design from American University and is a visual information specialist with the D.C. Office of Planning. Though she didn’t illustrate The Adventures of Joanie and Juliet, she shared her vision with the artist who did.
Joanie and Juliet’s adventures will continue, Gould said, as the sisters travel in the U.S. and abroad in future books. The Adventures of Joanie and Juliet is available on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble.
The cast of “Fires in the Mirror” rehearsing new choreography. KATIE V. JONES
COURTESY OF RISHAWNA GOULD
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Please send notices of events taking place between Feb. 11 and March 11 to nancy@ streetcarsuburbs.news by Jan. 31.
JAN. 17 AND 24
“The Wisdom of Eve.” A play by Mary Orr about New York’s theatre world. Weekends of Jan.17 and 24. Laurel Mill Playhouse, 508 Main St. For times and tickets, go to tinyurl.com/ mpmxfsr6 or call 301.617.9906
JAN. 18 AND FEB. 1
Fossil Day. An opportunity to look for fossils at Dinosaur Park. Noon to 4 p.m. 13100 Mid Atlantic Boulevard. 301.637.1286
JAN. 18 AND FEB. 6
Guided House Tours. A staffled tour with unique insights about Montpelier House Museum. 2:30 p.m. 9650 Muirkirk Road. 301.377.7817
JAN. 20
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Fill Care for Cancer packages for patients under the care of the University of Maryland Laurel Medical Center’s Oncology Department. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Laurel Municipal Center, 8103 Sandy Spring Rd. Call 301.725.5300 ext. 2109 or go to tinyurl.com/zaa7wa65
JAN. 24
Coffee and Conversation. Community-led discussion focusing on current events. Free. 10 to 11 a.m. Laurel
Branch Library, 507 7th St. 240.455.5451
JAN. 25
Guest Historian Speaker Series Richard Bell, author of the new book Stolen, talks about the five boys who changed the fight against slavery. 3 p.m. Montpelier House Museum, 9650 Muirkirk Road. 301.377.7817
FEB. 1
Goode Inventions. Learn about Sarah E. Goode, the first African American woman to receive a U.S. patent and create a scrapbook about pioneering inventions. 2 p.m. Montpelier House Museum, 9650 Muirkirk Road. 301.377.7817
FEB. 7
First Friday Film and Speaker Series. Free screening of “The Power of One Voice: a 50-Year Perspective on the Life of Rachel Carson” followed by a discussion by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service historian Mark Madison and Robert Musil, president of the Rachel Carson Council. Free. Guided tour of National Wildlife Visitors Center exhibit at 4:15 p.m.; movie and discussion from 5 to 7 p.m. Patuxent Research Refuge South Tract, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop. 301.497.5772
FEB. 17
County Executive Candidate Forum. Co-sponsored by the D9 Coalition for Civic Engage-
ment and the local chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. 6 to 8:30 p.m. High Calling Ministries Church, 401 Prince George’s Blvd, Upper Marlboro
ONGOING
January at the Hollingsworth Gallery. Wall tapestries depicting scenes of nature by Alexander Winch. Patuxent Research Refuge South Tract, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop. 301.497.5772
A Good Government Job. Exhibit explores the complicated history of how Black federal employment shaped Prince George’s County. Opens Jan. 27 through Feb. 28. Montpelier Arts Center, 9652 Muirkirk Road. 240.264.3415
RECURRING
Kids’ Discovery Center Crafts, puzzles, games, nature exploration. January’s theme is raccoons and skunks. Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Patuxent Research Refuge South Tract, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop. 301.497.5772
Ready to Read Storytime. Mondays at 10:30 a.m. (ages 2 to 3), Wednesdays at 7 p.m. (ages 3 to 5) and Thursdays at 10:30 and 11:15 a.m. (ages 0 to 2). Laurel Branch Library, 507 7th St. 240.455.5451
Virtual Spanish Conversation Club. Beginners meet at 4 p.m. and intermediate learners at 5 p.m. every Wednesday. Reservations not required.
H. Dwayne Taylor, REALTOR
Laurel Branch Library, 507 7th St. 240.455.5451
Family Fun at Patuxent Learn about winter weather and the water cycle through hands-on activities, games and crafts. Ages 3 and up; 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday for dropin/independent exploration. Staffed from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 17 and 18. Patuxent Research Refuge South Tract, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop. 301.497.5772
“Wingspan” Game Day. Play the board game “Wingspan” and learn about birds. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan.25. No experience needed. Games provided (personal sets welcomed). Patuxent Research Refuge South Tract, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop. Registration required. 301.497.5772
Italian Club welcomes all on the second Wednesday of each month. 6:30 p,m, 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. LaurelBeltsville 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 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. LaurelBeltsville 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
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, and Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Monday evenings from 5 to 7:30 p.m. 311 Laurel Ave. For an appointment, call 301.776.0442
Fish of Laurel Food Pantry. Thursdays and Saturdays, 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
more in apprenticeships to create career opportunities for Laurel’s young people and reduce skills shortages for local businesses. This is particularly important for the Laurel Medical Center, other local health providers, federal contractors and construction firms. Making the tax system more fair for working families by closing tax loopholes for big corporations and the rich.
How do you anticipate that your work this session will change life for residents in your district specifically? The delegates and I are going to fight to protect state investment in local schools and roads and mitigate climate change. We are supporting legislative bond initiatives for the Laurel Boys and Girls Club, allowing them to make important facility improvements that will allow them to serve more youth in the community.
Delegate Joseline PeñaMelnyk (District 21)
What are you most proud of from last year’s session? Last session, I’m proud of key achievements that advanced health care
and technology in Maryland. The Artificial Intelligence Governance Act established policies for state agencies’ use of AI, promoting transparency and oversight, while the Information Technology Modernization Act streamlined IT processes, ensuring efficiency and innovation. In health care, the Access to Care Act expanded health insurance access for Maryland residents, and Lochlin’s Law implemented life-saving sepsis protocols. Additionally, the Maryland Maternal Health Act strengthened maternal and infant health measures, while the establishment of Assisted Outpatient Treatment Programs ensured better mental health care for those with severe mental illness. These initiatives reflect a commitment to improving lives across the state.
What’s an opportunity that the state legislature missed last session, or an area where you hope to do better? One missed opportunity was addressing prior authorizations and access to behavioral health care, particularly acute psychiatric services. Hospital overstays and the need for better oversight of behavioral health facilities remain concerns. Additionally,
act sparked the interest of other players. In 2016, My Cause, My Cleats was formed to give players a way to raise awareness of the causes they care about.
After their winning game against the Green Bay Packers on Dec. 5, Manu’s shoes were auctioned off. One-hundred percent of the proceeds raised by the initiative go to the causes players support.
“Tonga holds a special place in my heart,” Manu said, in a video released by the Detroit Lions. “Anything they give back to them to let people know how important it is to me really helps.”
The rookie described the cleats as being “everything I wanted” in the video, which included a surprise unveiling of them.
A group of former Peace Corps volunteers founded Friends of Tonga in 2018 to aid the kingdom’s recovery following Cyclone Gita. The nonprofit gained global attention in 2022, when an underwater volcanic eruption caused a 66-foot tsunami that devastated the archipelago nation.
Since then, FoT has built kindergartens designed to withstand impacts of climate change; these schools are key to promoting English literacy, according to Michael Hassett, FoT president.
Over the years, the organization, which provides support on a pro bono basis, has raised over $500,000 for
the Patient Accumulator Bill, which would allow patients to use manufacturer coupons and discounts regardless of deductibles, could have provided critical financial relief. Expanding pathways for licensing foreigntrained physicians is another area where progress is needed to address workforce shortages.
How do you anticipate that your work this session will change life for residents in your district specifically?
This session, I will prioritize initiatives that directly benefit residents of College Park, Hyattsville and Laurel. Strengthening Affordable Care Act (ACA) protections will ensure continued coverage for preexisting conditions and essential health benefits, safeguarding affordable care for our community. To make medications more accessible, we will address cost-sharing for prescription drugs, reducing out-of-pocket expenses such as copayments and deductibles. Additionally, expanding the authority of the Prescription Drug Affordability Board will further our mission to lower prescription drug costs and keep essential medications affordable for all residents.
disaster relief and related services, Hassett said. The Kingdom of Tonga boasts a number of now-international rugby players who have rallied to support disaster efforts across the nation’s 70 inhabited islands through Friends of Tonga.
Hassett, a Laurel High School graduate, hopes to use the funds Manu raised through the My Cause My Cleats campaign to work on projects in Tonga that the player is especially passionate about.
“Once in a lifetime weather events are happening annually, and there are very real people that are bearing the brunt of this,” Hassett said. “It will really take global action, innovative technology [and] innovative problem solving to address it.”
Expanding telehealth services is another key focus, as it improves healthcare access and equity, particularly for underserved populations. Together, these efforts aim to enhance healthcare access, affordability and innovation for the residents of District 21.
Delegate Mary A. Lehman (District 21)
What are you most proud of from last year’s session? I was proud to successfully pass our street racing bill which has already had an impact on dangerous activities across the state, alongside 4 other bills now officially signed into law.
What’s an opportunity that the state legislature missed last session, or an area where you hope to do better? The Maryland General Assembly only meets for a short 90 days a year, and considering the time frame I feel we have achieved an extraordinary amount of change through the 1,053 bills passed last session!
How do you anticipate that your work this session will change life for residents in your district specifically? We
SPECIAL ELECTION
A special election to select a new county executive will be held on March 4. Early voting will run from Feb. 26 to March 3.
are currently working on passing a bill to resolve the housing crisis impacting backstretch workers on the Laurel racetrack which will hopefully provide adequate housing support, social services and medical care for this marginalized community. We are also looking to support local newspapers, provide benefits to first responders and dispatchers, and establish an online dashboard for the opioid restitution fund. And though these efforts are not exclusive to CP, Hyattsville or Laurel they will definitely improve the livelihoods of constituents in these districts as well.
Delegate Ben Barnes did not respond to our inquiry as of press time. Some Laurel residents are in District 23, which includes South Laurel. District 23 representatives did not respond to our inquiry. Any additional submissions we receive this month will be published on our website.
Detroit Lions offensive tackle Giovanni Manu selected the Laurel-based Friends of Tonga as his cleat. COURTESY OF DETROIT LIONS YOUTUBE PAGE
NATIVE GARDENING WITH JIMMY
The weeds of winter
By JIMMY ROGERS
When I first began learning about garden plants, it surprised me how many non-native weeds share a common origin. During colonization and their successive waves of immigration, Europeans brought numerous plants to North America from their home countries. These settlers spread some of the weedy plants intentionally as forage for chickens or fodder for larger livestock. Other non-native plant species came mixed into agricultural grains or even trapped in pant cuffs and boot heels. Most of these plants are edible, so a familiar hitchhiker might have been a welcome
If you’re worried about seeds from a new weed spreading, try to pull it by the time you see flowers appear. If the plant is already fairly common in your garden, you might consider only cutting them short.
extra plate of greens during the early spring starving times, when winter food stores had run low and the first spring crops had yet to produce.
This year, I noticed hoary bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta) as the first of the winter weeds to emerge. It forms a low, circular spray of stems and tiny leaves called a basal rosette. During favorable conditions, it puts up little white flowers and eventually seed pods that catapult their seeds in every direction when touched. Foragers prize bittercress as a salad green with a mildly peppery flavor. This makes sense, as it’s a brassica, and related to mustards, cabbages and kales.
Another couple of plants, henbit and purple dead nettle (both Lamium species) spread vigorously this time of year. They have the distinctive square stems that mark all mint relatives (the Lamiaceae family), and they tend to first creep along the ground and eventually grow about as tall as your ankle. Dead nettle more closely resembles culinary mint, with heart-shaped leaves, while henbit has rounded, toothy leaves. They will present tiny pink flowers at each leaf node in the spring, and they’re popular with bees of all kinds. Both plants are also edible as greens and are sometimes made into tea, as is common with many mints. Chickens like them, too, as you might have guessed from the name henbit.
I tend to notice two more plants a little later, perhaps in February. Birdeye speedwell (Veronica persica) spreads across the ground with dense tangles of tiny leaves and blooms with tiny blue flowers in the spring. Various types of chickweed (numerous species in the Caryophyllaceae family) have a similar appearance but bloom with tiny white flowers instead.
HOMES
are able to keep all the residents in their homes.”
Mayor Keith Sydnor issued the Jan. 10, 2025 vacate order on Nov. 21 after explaining to a standingroom-only crowd at Joseph R. Robison Laurel Municipal Center that the situation with deteriorating staircases left the city no choice. He originally had set the date for Dec. 9 but had extended it due to the holiday season.
“When we found out, we came up with a plan, a solution, to get us up to code,” Marcus Brooks, president of the The Tiers of Laurel Lakes Condominium Association, said. To allow work to begin, Omega Contracting and Consult-
Once again, both are popular greens for humans and chickens alike.
Creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea), also known as ground ivy, resembles henbit and spreads linearly, invading mature stands of garden perennials as well as wild spaces. Unlike the other winter weeds, it is a perennial and can be difficult to fully remove once established.This qualifies it as an invasive species, and it can displace native species in the wild. I’ve had birds spread it to my garden, and I am quick to pull it after spotting it. On the plus side, it mixes into your salad just as well as the others.
Creeping Charlie aside, winter weeds do little harm to your garden. They are annuals with shallow roots, so they are extremely easy to rip from the ground. However, all that ripping does disturb the soil, which tells weed seeds that it’s time to grow, so you will soon have the same weeds coming up in the same place. This ruderal behavior is how the ecosystem detects bare, eroding soil and uses pioneer plants to protect the soil from washing away. Instead, I recommend a more proactive and systematic approach that will eventually prevent weed germination. First, when working in your garden, do what you can to eliminate bare soil and soil disturbance, so that weeds will be less likely to germinate. Avoid tilling the soil or letting the soil lie bare for long periods. Use whole leaf litter or pine needles to cover your garden beds in the fall, especially after planting.
Next, as you’re designing garden beds, plan a layer of native ground cover species across each bed, alongside each of the taller plants. This will ensure your natives completely take over the beds and hold onto them
ing, the company that handled all the repairs, were “generous enough to offer a loan … of a couple hundred-thousand dollars,” Brooks said.
Repairs started in earnest before Thanksgiving, according to Hamlett. They were finished Jan. 4, just before the area’s first major snowstorm.
“I am pleased that the necessary repairs have been completed and that the building has successfully passed all required inspections,” Sydnor wrote in a statement. “It brings me great relief to know that our residents can remain in their homes with the assurance of their safety. The well-being of our residents is always our top priority. I want to sincerely thank the Management
throughout the growing season, preventing opportunistic weeds from germinating. I’m several years into my own native garden, and I rarely see weeds pop up in the middle of my beds because my native plants have claimed the ground as their own.
When deciding what and when to weed, there are two considerations. If you’re worried about seeds from a new weed spreading, try to pull it by the time you see flowers appear. If the plant is already fairly common in your garden, you might consider only cutting them short, rather than pulling up the roots, when they are blocking the light from reaching your other plants. Some weeds will need several cutbacks before they die, but cutting instead of pulling will reduce soil disturbance over time.
If you’re not yet certain which plants are which, consider the wait and see method. It can be hard to identify baby plants, and you want to avoid pulling a native volunteer by accident. In the winter, wood sorrel, violets, cranesbill geranium, golden alexanders, golden ragwort and columbine all push out fresh leaves that may not yet resemble their mature form. If I’m not sure what an emerging plant is, I often let a few weeks or months go by until it is larger and easier to identify. Winter weeds can be frustrating, especially in new gardens, and often lead to a lot of weeding in spring. However, they deserve a second look before you pull them, or possibly a dash of balsamic vinaigrette if you do.
Company and the Board for their diligence and urgency in addressing this matter. Your commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of our residents is deeply appreciated.”
Hamlett noted that while the repairs passed inspection, they were temporary. The property management company and home owners have until March 2026 to find a permanent solution.
“There is going to be a second phase,” Brooks said. “This just got us up to code to keep us in our houses. Not sure what happens next, but we’ll figure it out when it comes.”
For now, during these cold weather weeks, “People are happy to be staying in their homes,” Stuppard said.
Jimmy Rogers is an avid native gardener in the city of Laurel.
The following residents were recognized for their academic achievements:
David Fair was named to the fall 2024 dean’s list at Angelo State University, in Texas, and William Lewis earned a Bachelor of Security Studies in intelligence and analysis.
Shenandoah University, in Virginia, announced that Kelsey Boettcher performed as a cheerleader with the school’s marching band at London’s New Year’s Day parade.
Christina Fumbui was elected to membership in Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest all-discipline collegiate honor society, at University of Maryland Global Campus.
East Stroudsburg University student Sidikie Daramy participated in a philanthropic pickleball tournament on campus that featured 32 teams and collected more than 250 items to benefit the university’s food pantry.
McDaniel College awarded Sophia Braun a scholarship valued at $33,000 annually
over four years.
Isaac Jensen earned a Master of Science in computer science from the Georgia Institute of Technology, in Atlanta.
Southern New Hampshire University named the following students to the summer 2024 dean’s list: Ezinwanne Ileka, Sydney Provence, Shainna Medina, Gloria Gardiner and Nina Diaz.
Ariana Perez was named to the fall 2024 dean’s list at Lasell University, in Massachusetts.
Jacob Fato, Kaitlyn Hendershot and Natalia Travers were named to the fall 2024 dean’s list at York College of Pennsylvania.
Brooke Miller was among more than 600 student musicians and vocalists from Belmont University, in Tennessee, to perform in the university’s annual Christmas concert, which was live-streamed for the first time byAmazon Music.
The following students graduated from the University of Maryland Global Campus in
summer 2024: Deon Cox, associate of arts; Adeen Masood, B.S., cybersecurity management and policy; Alicia Wilson, B.S., health services management; Amad Aulakh, B.S, management information systems; Andrea Grant, B.S., legal studies; Apoorva Verma B.S, cybersecurity technology; Bruce Mayo, B.S., computer networks and cybersecurity; Calvin Mathew Sarfo-Mainoo, B.S., cybersecurity technology; Dillon Means, B.S., management studies; Ebone Glenn, B.S., psychology; Ekanayake Ekanayake, B.S., criminal justice; Eric Jackson, B.S., human resource management and management studies; Imani Harvey, B.S., business administration; Jo Woody, B.S, general studies; Joseph Miller, B.S., cybersecurity management and policy; Manoella Sindjui, B.S., biotechnology; Nkiru Mokwunye, B.S., cybersecurity technology; Oluwabunmi Esho, B.S., accounting; Abisola Orenuga, MBA; Ahniya Roberts, MBA; Cheryl Battle, MBA; Monisha Williams, MBA; Yusef Ali, MBA; Bria Wallace, Master of Science, cybersecurity technology; Israel Oyebode, Master of Sci-
ence, cloud computing systems; Jewel Morgan-Martin, Master of Science, cyberaccounting; Katrina Donaldson, Master of Science, cybersecurity technology; Marcel Ebini, Master of Science, information technology; Shaun Wright, Master of Science, management; Summer Stephens, Master of Science, management.
The following students were named to the University of Maryland Global Campus’ summer 2024 dean’s list: Joy Abah, Justice Aidoo, Oluwakemi Akinsehinwa, Michael Akonnor Jr., Kimberly Alvarez Pica, Danielle Atabong, Abiola Bakare, Joseph Bamisaiye, Astha Baral, Grant Billard, Elizabeth Bloss, Kristina Bockover, Helen Butler, Andranese Carter, Daniel Castellon, Jessica Chauvin, Elizabeth Corbett, Tyia Coston, Michael Cryan, Marcia Daniels, Jessica Deal, Grant Denny, Ekanayake Ekanayake, Charity Ekwalor, Kyle Fuller, Erin Gallagher, Colby Geris, Sarah Gibson, Bethel Girum, Ebone Glenn, Andrew Gray, Victoria Green, Samuel Hsu, Eric Jackson,
Dianne Jackson, Makayla Jantuah, Yolanda Johnson, Davonte Johnson, Katelyn Johnson, Krishnaben Joshi, Timothy Kemp, Bianca King, Quindiashu Kunde, Neha Kunwar, Henry Leadbeater, Gaetano Lehn, Shermeen Luther, Janelle Mayberry, Bruce Mayo, Katherine Mcgarry, Jennifer Mejia, Ndape Mesame, Nicole Middleton, Sabrina Mikelll, Joseph Miller, Lanita Moore, Sabrina Moore, Parker Morris, Mohsin Naseem, Keneth Ngong, Charles Nji, Fabrice Numbu, Laura Nunez, Lauhis Gaithan Nzuwo Fotsi, Mercy Ofori Boateng ,Sikiratu Olayinka, Het Patel, Wendy Perez Batres, Megan Peterson, Sophia Powell, Antonio Price, Jiovanni Ramos, Brian Reinhard, Alexa Rios, Rodolfo Roldan, Manuel Ruiz, Brandon Sindjui, Alexis Smith, Ginel Smith, Kevin Soderberg, Oluwadamilola Sosanya, Apoorva Vema, Nicole Vallee, Kevin Vargas, Marylou Walcott, Andrew Walters, Gregory Wilkinson, Ross Wojcik, Jo Woody, Garrett Workman, Henry Casimir and Iman Hussain.
