WINTER FUN: Check out our February local events calendar, P.7 IN MEMORIUM: Laurel mourns longtime business leader Fred Frederick, P. 11
City holds mayor’s roundtable on youth engagement
Talk centers on preventing crime, creating opportunity
By JOSHUA GARNER
Laurel Mayor Keith R. Sydnor said the city is committed to engaging young people and preventing crime during a Jan. 21 roundtable discussion he convened at the Laurel Municipal Center.
The solution-oriented event brought together Prince George’s County officials, faith-based leaders, community advocates, educators, returning citizens and teens to discuss youth engagement as both a crime-prevention strategy and a pathway to social mobility.
About 30 participants took part in the discussion, which Sydnor said was long overdue.
“When I was running for mayor, I said I wanted to do a community roundtable — to talk about what to do with young folk,” Sydnor said. “I’ve seen the worst and the best of people, so I want to be in a position now as mayor to use our resources and our talent to address the issue before it happens. Let’s focus on prevention.”
Attendees discussed expanding youthcentered programming, workforce development opportunities — including teaching young people how to use artificial intelligence — and the importance of building trust-based relationships with youth.
Teens who attended the event raised concerns about drug use in schools and said bringing in counselors and mentors who students can relate to could help address the problem.
“I’ve seen a lot of people using drugs at school, and it sets a bad example,” said Andrea Diaz, 14, a student at Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School in Laurel. “Drugs don’t only affect the person — they affect the whole family.”
The roundtable comes amid a series of vehicle break-ins in Laurel and surrounding areas in 2025. About 50 cars were broken into overnight in May, with additional incidents reported in December.
Sydnor said the break-ins were part of a larger, organized trend across the region. Still, he and other participants emphasized that prevention and youth engagement are critical to addressing these
Governor pushes for smaller, denser housing NEWS BRIEFS
By JOE MURCHISON
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has proposed a drastic change in Maryland zoning law to promote construction of more affordable homes, but officials who represent Laurel are divided on whether it would be a good thing.
Moore has introduced a bill in the Maryland General Assembly—SB 36 in the Senate and HB 239 in the House of Delegates— that would prohibit local govern-
ments from requiring more than 5,000 square feet of property per single-family house. That would allow developers to build at least eight houses per acre.
Prince George’s County’s current zoning categories for singlefamily detached houses allow only one, two, four or six houses per acre.
In addition, Moore’s legislation would not allow localities to prevent builders from constructing
Your Laurel newspaper has a new editor
Managing Editor Joshua Garner will be leading The Laurel Independent starting this month. Garner is a communications professional who has worked in print and digital news as well as corporate marketing, health advocacy, racial justice, and civil rights. As a Prince George’s County native and longtime Laurel-area resident, Garner sees opportunity for strong and innovative local news in the county.
We are sad to say goodbye to
Managing Editor Katie V. Jones.
A former staffer for both The Laurel Leader and The Baltimore Sun, Jones helped found The Laurel Independent in the summer of 2022. She is a deft and efficient editor and writer, now serving as primary news correspondent for Catholic Review Media. Her work shone light on good things happening in Laurel and made us smile every month.
Please reach out to Garner, joshua@streetcarsuburbs.news, with news tips, photos, or your interest in volunteering for The Laurel Independent
Laurel schools have more teachers
Prince George’s County Schools in Laurel have led the region in high-volume hiring since the start of the school year in August. Public elementary, middle and high schools in Laurel saw a combined 59% reduction in vacancies, outperforming the 52% countywide average. Elementary school staffing levels improved the most. The seven elementary schools serving Laurel cut their teacher vacancies by 63% since August,
Laurel Mayor Keith R. Sydnor JOSHUA GARNER
A community newspaper chronicling the people and events of Laurel, Maryland. LaurelIndependent.com StreetcarSuburbs.News
Submission Information
The Laurel Independent is published monthly and starts a new publication schedule in February 2026 to get into readers hands at the start of each month. We welcome reader input, tips, articles, letters, opinion pieces and photographs. Send by Feb. 20 to joshua@ streetcarsuburbs.news
Managing Editor Joshua Garner Joshua@streetcarsuburbs.news
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President: Marta McLellan Ross
Secretary: Melanie Dzwonchyk
Treasurer: Joe Murchison
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Ex Officios: Joshua Garner, Nigel F. Maynard, Sharon O’Malley, Kit Slack
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HOUSING
townhouses on property zoned for singlefamily homes.
House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk (District 21), who represents College Park, is a strong advocate of Moore’s proposal.
“Maryland has a housing shortage of roughly 100,000 homes,” Peña-Melnyk said in an email. “It shows up as higher rents, fewer starter homes, longer commutes and families being priced out of the communities they love.”
She added: “When people can’t afford to live here, we lose workers. We lose families. And we lose the economic growth that allows us to fund schools, transportation and public safety. That is a budget issue—and a quality-of-life issue—all rolled into one.”
Peña-Melnyk said Moore’s legislation “recognizes a simple truth: We need more housing choices. Smaller homes. Town-
Letter to the editor
A recent letter by Paul Gentile about WSSC Water’s 48-inch diameter raw water pipeline project reflects strong public interest in how we deliver safe, reliable services to our customers –an interest we welcome. Some of the details about this project have been misunderstood
houses. Accessory dwelling units. Homes that work for young families, seniors and first-time buyers. One-size-fits-all zoning no longer reflects how Marylanders live.”
State Sen. Jim Rosapepe (District 21), who also represents College Park, is less enthusiastic. “I think the administration’s heart is in the right place,” he said in an interview. “I think they have focused too much on the zoning issues and not enough on practical issues.”
Rosapepe said plenty of land already zoned for dense single-family housing is not being used.
“We need to attract developers to build in areas that are zoned for it,” he said.
Rosapepe added that the state should do more to promote the construction of homes near MARC train stations, such as the one at Muirkirk Road in the Laurel area.
“That’s where the energy ought to be going,” he said.
In fact, Moore issued an executive order
in September for his administration to seek out opportunities to convert state-owned land, such as at MARC stations, into housing developments.
Prince George’s County Councilmember Tom Dernoga (District 1) said he opposes Moore’s proposal.
In a Jan. 20 newsletter to constituents, he said, “As drafted, the governor’s SB 36 is a sprawl multiplier which will worsen congestion, pollution, school overcrowding and will strain public safety resources.”
Dernoga, who represents part of Laurel, said the county already has too many small single-family houses, and this has stunted the county’s tax base, which is significantly lower than that of surrounding counties.
Hearings on the governor’s legislation are scheduled for Feb. 4 in the Senate and Feb. 12 in the House of Delegates.
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WSSC Water installed 2.5 miles of new 48-inch diameter raw water pipeline from our Rocky Gorge Raw Water Pumping Station to the Patuxent Water Filtration Plant located in West Laurel. The new pipeline increases the plant’s production of safe, clean water, ensuring infrastructure resiliency. Construction started in December 2020, three years prior to the current General Manager’s tenure, and was complete in Fall 2025. This large, complex project experienced delays due to severe rock conditions and supply chain disruptions. We sincerely apologize to the West Laurel community – especially those living along Bond Mill Road – for those delays. To ensure community needs were addressed, WSSC Water convened a task force comprised of Prince George’s County Council Member Tom Dernoga, county public works and transportation
representatives, and civic association leadership, including Terrance Martin, president of the West Laurel Civic Association, and immediate past president Barbara Sollner-Webb. Through this coordinated effort, WSSC Water implemented sidewalk safety improvements, including repairs to decades-old tripping hazards and the installation of raised crosswalks, as a good-faith response to community concerns.
In keeping with our commitment to transparency, WSSC Water proactively retained an independent consulting firm to conduct a comprehensive peer review of the project. The purpose was to provide an impartial assessment of project performance and identify clear, actionable recommendations. To ensure openness, the consultant presented findings during our November 19, 2025 commission meeting, which was open to the public.
We are actively addressing all the findings. Several recommendations have already been implemented.
Mr. Gentile also brought up concerns about a recent water main break located near the raw water pipeline. We want to assure the community that these are
two separate pipelines and the distance between them meets industry design standards. Protecting drinking water quality is our top priority, and there was no risk to water quality because of this incident.
We recognize that trust is earned through actions, not words. We are openly examining this project, sharing the findings publicly and implementing meaningful improvements. We are grateful to the West Laurel community for their patience and grace throughout this challenging project.
Chuck Brown Communications Director WSSC Water
The recording of the Nov. 19 public meeting can be found at tinyurl.com/WSSCNOV19, and the link to the report can be found at wsscwater.com/patuxentrwp. The consultant will host a community meeting with the West Laurel Civic Association on February 11, 2026, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at WSSC Water’s Support Center, 14501 Sweitzer Lane, Laurel, MD 20707, to discuss findings and answer questions. A virtual option will also be available.
A proposed change to zoning law would allow builders to construct houses on smaller plots of land. Shown, single-family houses on Old Gunpowder Road south of Laurel. JOE MURCHISON
CRIME WATCH
This report includes incidents reported by Laurel police from Dec. 20 to Jan. 19. (A rash of vehicle break-ins on Dec. 20-21 was reported in our January issue.)
It also includes incidents reported by Prince George’s police from Jan. 1 to 21.
STOLEN VEHICLES
12/20 - 7800 blk Contee Rd (Acura)
12/21 - 900 blk Nichols Dr (Kia)
12/23 - 800 blk Fifth St (Toyota)
12/27 - 14100 blk Bowsprit Ln (Honda)
1/2- 6300 blk Julie Place (Jetta)
1/3 – 9500 blk Muirkirk Rd (Honda)
1/9 – 14700 blk Laurel Bowie Rd (Hyundai)
1/11 - 6900 blk Andersons Way (Acura)
1/12 - 14700 blk Fourth St (Acura)
1/13 – 8800 blk Hawthorne Ct (Honda)
1/13 - 14000 blk Vista Dr (Honda)
1/14 - 14100 blk West Side Blvd (GMC)
1/15 - 8200 blk Harvest Bend Ln (Acura)
1/15 - 14000 blk Downdale Dr (Infiniti)
1/16 – 9600 blk Muirkirk Road (Range Rover)
1/18 - 14300 blk West Side Blvd (Acura)
1/18 - 6900 blk Andersons Way (Toyota)
1/19 – 9600 blk Contee Rd (Kia)
1/19 – 11700 blk South Laurel Dr (Infiniti)
1/20 – 13400 blk Baltimore Ave (Toyota)
VEHICLE BREAK-INS
12/21 - 7800 blk Contee Rd
12/21 - 8100 blk Fenwick Ct (multiple)
12/29 - 6900 blk Andersons Way
1/2- 14400 blk Chelsea Garden Ct
1/5 – 14300 blk Cherry Lane Ct (tools)
1/8 – 8700 blk Contee Rd (shoes)
1/9 - 9400 blk Nicklaus Ln
1/11 – 13300 blk Baltimore Ave (wallet)
1/12 – 13300 blk Edinburgh Ln (items from trunk)
1/14 - 14400 blk West Side Blvd
1/17 - 14800 blk Sweitzer Ln (wallet, other items)
1/19 – 15600 blk Mews Ct (rims, tires)
PACKAGE THEFT
12/22 - 800 blk Fifth St
1/10 - 7800 blk Contee Rd
1/13 - 14700 blk Fourth St
REGISTRATION PLATE THEFT
12/22 - 100 blk Main St
1/9 - 15600 blk Dorset Rd
1/9 - 14300 blk Oxford Dr
1/12 – 13000 blk Old Stagecoach Rd
1/12 - 6900 blk Andersons Way
1/12 - 800 blk Fifth St
THEFTS – OTHER
12/20 - 7900 blk Braygreen Rd (cellphone)
12/29 - 900 blk Park Ave (construction items)
1/9 - 14300 blk Baltimore Ave (power tools)
1/12 - 8000 blk Braygreen Rd (catalytic converter)
1/13 - 14700 blk Fourth St (clothing)
1/15 - 14200 blk West Side Blvd
1/19 – 8600 blk Cherry Ln (catalytic converter)
1/20 - 7900 blk Cypress St (multiple catalytic converters off vehicles)
1/20 - 300 blk Montrose Ave (jacket)
BURGLARY – BUSINESS
12/24 - 1 blk Second St
BURGLARY – RESIDENTIAL
1/16 - 7500 blk South Arbory Ln
1/16 – 9500 blk Muirkirk Rd (attempt)
VANDALISM
1/15 - 8200 blk Harvest Bend Ln
City police also reported 19 cases of shoplifting and three cases of driving under the influence. The Laurel Independent used AI to help organize data received from Laurel police.
T H E 2 1 D I S T R I C T D E L E G A T I O N
Associate Editor for The Laurel Independent Sought
The associate editor for The Laurel Independent helps edit, works with our columnists, and produces content for our nonprofit news organization.
Send applications to Joshua@ streetcarsuburbs.news with the subject line “associate editor.”
I N V I T E S Y O U T O . . . S T night!
District
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R S V P e a r l y t o re s e r v e a s e a t o n t h e b u s f ro m L a u re l a n d C o l l e g e Pa
Prince George’s County planning board approves Laurel day care, drive-thru
By JALEN WADE
More child care options could be on the way to Laurel after the Prince George’s County Planning Board, on Jan. 8, approved a detailed site plan for a 12,750-squarefoot day care facility, along with site improvements and signage for a future drive-thru restaurant.
The day care and the drive-thru will be on the northwest corner of Konterra Drive and Sweitzer Lane in an office park area.
Darryl Barnes, chairman of the planning board, said that this is a golden opportunity for the community.
“Our job is to look at these things objectively and make a
“Love
never ends…”
1 Cor. 13:4, 8
Estate Planning is a selfless act of love. Protect your loved ones and gain peace of mind by making a plan today.
decision on how we can be helpful in moving that project along,” Barnes said. “It creates a win, win for their community.”
The day care is planned to be for approximately 200 children, and the neighboring 2,000-square-foot eating and drinking establishment will have drive-thru service. Lord Charter
Six, the owner of the site and a subsidiary of Baltimore-based St. John Properties Inc., is applying to the planning board for permission to do the work.
According to Robert Antonetti, lawyer with the law firm Shipley & Horn who is representing the owners, they plan on doing the renovation themselves and seek to begin as soon as possible. Currently they are waiting on permitting which may take six to ten months.
“This is an opportunity to help lift up this existing employment area,” he said. “To provide greater opportunities for new tenants, to support existing tenants, and to support the commercial tax base.”
Barnes, who has been with the board for six months, said that he has yet to have a personal conversation with Antonetti or his law firm. Barnes said during the meeting that he is frustrated that the project, which was first approved in September of last year, has not seen much movement. He said that he wishes to see movement within the next 90 days and to have a personal meeting with the law firm to better understand the situation.
Manuel Geraldo, vice chair of
the board, had concerns about public safety. Geraldo said that while the daycare is necessary, he wants the building staff to be sure that children could not wander into the road or into the path of cars from the drive-thru.
“I’m sure you know, daycare centers are needed,” Geraldo said. “I wish we could deal with the issue of affordability, but we can’t do that. That’s not our job, but I think it’s an important part ... for the day care center to be near where their mothers and their fathers may work.”
Antonetti confirmed that the builders are also working to meet environmental standards. He said that the building will be energy efficient and a sustainable redevelopment of already developed lots.
“We’re preserving as much woodlands on the site as possible,” Antonetti said. “We’re providing enhanced stormwater management devices, which will meet current state and local regulations regarding quality and quantity of stormwater runoff, primarily, and the materials of this building will be quality. They’ll be energy efficient, faucets, lights, HVAC, all those things.”
Guiding Graceful Transitions and Preserving Family Legacies, since 1995
AI’s take on Laurel
By JOE MURCHISON
Last month I decided it was time to acquaint myself with artificial intelligence (AI) to see what all the fuss was about. So I poked ChatGPT with a provocative question: “Is Laurel the best city in Maryland?”
I knew the question was silly. There isn’t a best city in Maryland — nor a worst one. All of the state’s cities have strengths and weaknesses, and they appeal to (or repel) people for many different and complex reasons.
To AI’s credit, after thinking about this question for about five seconds, it gave a quite reasonable response. “It depends a lot on what ‘best’ means to you (e.g., cost, safety, amenities, commute). But I can give you a breakdown of Laurel’s strengths and drawbacks.”
ChatGPT first talked about strengths: good commuting range of Washington, D.C., Baltimore and employment hubs like Fort Meade; good diversity; and good average household
income. The app also noted Laurel’s sense of place as a historic mill town, complete with its Main Street and old neighborhoods. I appreciated that ChatGPT cited its sources for the information.
Then the app got into the city’s weaknesses, including the high cost of living, high housing costs; high property crime rate and heavy traffic. Again, ChatGPT cited sources. Wait a minute, I thought. The high cost of living measure was extracted from a nationwide index compiled by a website called HomeSnacks. How reliable did that sound, I wondered, especially when the website characterized its information as “infotainment”? And could I rely on ChatGPT’s report of high property crime, based on information obtained from a website called Areavibes?
I also noted that the app didn’t mention schools. I think that’s a big oversight.
At the end of its lengthy answer, ChatGPT dropped its bottom line on me. “If I were to pick one or two ‘best’ cities in Mary-
land overall, I’d probably lean toward places like Annapolis, Frederick, or Columbia (depending on priorities), because they combine strong quality of life, relatively good safety, and good community feel.”
Hmm. I have to admit that many people might say those three cities are nicer than Laurel, based on perceived levels of affluence, quality of schools and visual appeal. So ChatGPT’s conclusion seems fairly reasonable (although factors like strong quality of life and good community feel are highly subjective and nonquantitative).
On the other hand, relatively good safety — one way to talk about crime — is quantifiable. Could the app be trusted to provide solid numbers?
I decided to see what data ChatGPT would give me when comparing Laurel’s crime rate to the rates in Annapolis and Frederick. (I had to leave out Columbia because it isn’t a similarly incorporated city with comparable reporting by a police department.) I asked the app, “What is the best data source for comparing crime rates in different cities?” ChatGPT came back with the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports. I then
spent two hours on the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer web page compiling data on property crimes and violent crimes for the three cities in 2022, 2023 and 2024. I then adjusted for population differences (in 2024, Laurel had 30,238 residents, Annapolis had 40,689 and Frederick had 89,537).
My hard-earned results were these: Laurel had the highest three-year incidence of property crimes, but was second to Annapolis in incidence of violent crimes (so much for ChatGPT’s best city, Annapolis!). Frederick came in lowest in both categories.
I then asked ChatGPT for the same information — specific crime data for the three cities from 2022 to 2024 — from the same FBI records. Five seconds later, the app spit out numbers that were not exactly the same (but were very close) to the numbers I’d calculated. Close enough to suggest I had wasted two hours of my life.
I decided to test one more inquiry: How did housing costs in the three cities, plus Columbia, compare? ChatGPT delivered information in four seconds. But the app cited different data sources for different cities,
which undermined my confidence that the numbers were comparable. So I went to RentCafe.com for rental averages and Zillow for home costs. At $1,926 per month, Laurel had the lowest average rate for rentals (take that, best cities!). The city had the second lowest Zillow average home value, at $472,843.This is well below average values in Annapolis and Columbia, and slightly above Frederick.
I have to admit, I learned that ChatGPT can be a very useful tool, when asked the right questions and when used with care. That’s what the fuss is about. Another positive outcome was that my AI experiment got me thinking about my relationship to Laurel. The city has provided me with good jobs, opportunities to make a difference in the community, a nice house in a pleasant neighborhood, a good place for my children to grow up, a good church in which to worship, and a place where my wife and I could develop deep friendships with people of diverse ethnic backgrounds. For me, Laurel is the best city in Maryland. Thanks, AI, for reminding me!
Denise Redmond
d e n i s e . r e d m o n d @ L N F . c o m
c : 4 1 0 - 8 7 8 - 5 5 9 7 o : 3 0 1 - 4 4 1 - 9 5 1 1 Contact:
Now serving MD & DE!
I ’ m t h r i l l e d t o a n n o u n c e t h a t I a m n o w
o f f i c i a l l y l i c e n s e d t o a s s i s t c l i e n t s i n b o t h
M a r y l a n d a n d D e l a w a r e ! W h e t h e r y o u ' r e
l o o k i n g t o b u y o r s e l l i n t h e s e a m a z i n g
a r e a s , I ’ m h e r e t o h e l p g u i d e y o u t h r o u g h
e v e r y s t e p o f t h e p r o c e s s .
I f y o u o r s o m e o n e y o u k n o w i s l o o k i n g f o r
a t r u s t e d r e a l e s t a t e p r o f e s s i o n a l i n M D o r
r e a l e s t a t e d r e a m s a r e a l i t y !
R e a c h o u t a n y t i m e !
D E , I ’ d l o v e t o c h a t a n d h e l p m a k e y o u r
LAUREL LEDGER
PUBLIC WORKS: WINTER STORM PREP AND GOAL S FULFILLED
It has been a cold winter, and snow can happen at any time, so Public Works has been working hard to make Laurel’s roads safe for travelers.
How Public Works Preps for Winter
Before a winter storm, the Department of Public Works pre-treats priority 1 and 2 roads with a brine solution, a tool added to their resources in 2024, which helps mitigate snow and ice build-up if used to treat within 48 hours.
During snow removal, emphasis is placed on Snow Emergency Routes, high -priority streets, and hazardous locations such as hills, sharp curves, and busy intersections. Once these high-priority areas are treated and cleared of snow, side streets are treated. Snow removal is a monumental task, so we ask residents for patience. City
crews work around the clock to clear streets and maintain regular services. While efforts are made to avoid blocking driveways when plowing, it cannot always be avoided. When clearing driveways, please do not shovel snow back into the street. When a Snow Emergency is in effect, residents cannot park on the evennumbered side of the street of snow emergency routes. ODD IS OK!
Busy Year for Public Works
The Department of Public Works completed extensive roadwork this year, applying nearly 2,500 tons of asphalt across nine streets and installing 17 bump-out islands on Main Street to improve pedestrian safety. In the historic district, aged brick sidewalks are undergoing replacement with durable stamped concrete, while new rapid -flashing beacons were added at the 7th Street Library crossing.
The City also secured a $451,200 federal grant to launch a "Vision Zero" safety plan with a primary goal of zero fatalities or serious injuries involving road traffic, and
continued transitioning streetlights to cost-saving LEDs. Maintenance crews managed the Van Dusen Road Dam repairs, planted 33 new trees, and coordinated complex traffic diversions following major incidents on I-95.
Mark Your Calendars: Spring Recycling & Shredding Event
Get a head start on your spring cleaning! The Department of Public Works is hosting its annual Spring Electronics Recycling and Paper Shredding event on Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 8:00 am to Noon. To provide a one-stop shop for residents, GreenDrop will be on-site to collect lightly used household goods, while Yuck Old Paint will be available to recycle old paint for a small fee. Please note that this event is exclusively for City residents, and staff will be checking IDs at the gate. Don't miss this opportunity to safely declutter and dispose of your unwanted items right here in Laurel!
If you have any questions about services provided by the Department of Public Works, please call us at 301-725-0088 or email dpw@laurel.md.us.
The 9th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service event took place on January 19, 2026, and the response was overwhelmingly positive, with over 120 attendees and volunteers! The venue was filled to capacity, thanks to successful collaborations with community organizations such as the Tau Delta Zeta Chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, the Eta Theta Chapter of the Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, the Nia Maryland Graduate Chapter of Swing Phi Swing Social Fellowship, Incorporated, and the Northern Maryland Graduate Chapter of Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship, Incorporated. With support from Mayor Sydnor, the Laurel City Council, and city staff, this program has flourished, and it is because of YOU that we managed to assemble 200 care packages! Dr. King’s dream is indeed alive and thriving in the City of Laurel!
The program commenced with inspiring remarks from Mayor Sydnor and Council President Smith, followed by delightful performances from the Laurel High School Choir, directed by Kevin Lewis, celebrating their recent win in the WASHFM 97.1 Best Choir in the DMV Contest. Local author Cortland Jones shared how Dr. King has inspired him throughout his life, while Nina Harding graced us with a powerful dance performance to “Tired” by Labrinth and Zendaya. We concluded with a stirring speech by Spoken Word Artist Angela Alexander, encouraging everyone in attendance to embody Dr. King’s dream!
This year's care packages were distributed to the seniors at Morningside House Assisted Living facility. While we may not change the world with our actions that day, we certainly changed the world for each senior who received a care package filled with your kindness and love. That, my friends, is the true essence of why we gather every year to fulfill Dr. King’s dream!
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KI NG, JR. DAY OF
It’s Easy B eing Green!
THE CITY OF LAUREL R EVISITS ITS SUSTAINABILITY PLAN!
Our Sustainability Year in Review: Thank you for joining us on January 29th! We look forward to working with the community in 2026 and staying connected. Our next set of community projects will include working at the Larry T. Smith pollinator garden and getting it ready for our baby pollinators and hosting an indoor workshop to highlight the many benefits of using native plants in our landscape designs.
Stay connected via the Green Living Resource Page, www.cityoflaurel.org/greenliving, download the Recycle Coach app and follow us on Facebook, @SustainableLaurel. This is a place where we can share ideas, highlight upcoming events and residents can stay informed on all things Sustainable. Check out our new dashboard at www.cityoflaurel.org/composting!
Thank you to everyone that filled out our short survey! It gives us a better idea of how you, the residents, want us to keep you up to date on City events and programs.
We are trying something new! The 2026 Sustainability and Public Works Guide to Services is available online and in print (upon requests). Here you will find in-depth information about how to recycle right, best practices for organics diversion, monthly event reminders and much more!
We are now accepting Farmer’s Market applications for the 2026 Season, www.cityoflaurel.org/ laurelfarmersmarket! Our season has been extended from the first Thursday in April to the last Thursday in October!
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.
OBRAS PÚBLICAS: ¡PREPARACIÓN PARA EL INVIERNO!
Este invierno ha sido frío y la nieve puede caer en cualquier momento, por lo que el Departamento de Obras Públicas ha estado trabajando arduamente para garantizar la seguridad de las carreteras de Laurel. Antes de una tormenta invernal, el Departamento de Obras Públicas aplica una solución salina a las carreteras de prioridad 1 y 2, una herramienta incorporada a sus recursos en 2024, que ayuda a mitigar la acumulación de nieve y hielo si se aplica dentro de las 48 horas previas. Durante la remoción de nieve, se priorizan las rutas de emergencia para nieve, las calles de alta prioridad y los lugares peligrosos como cuestas, curvas pronunciadas e intersecciones concurridas. Una vez que estas áreas de alta prioridad están tratadas y libres de nieve, se procede a la limpieza de las calles secundarias.
LIMPIEZA DE PRIMAVERA: ¡Adelántese a la limpieza de primavera! El Departamento de Obras Públicas organizará su evento anual de reciclaje de aparatos electrónicos y trituración de papel el sábado 18 de abril de 2026, de 8:00am - 12:00pm. Para obtener más información, envíe un correo electrónico a dpw@laurel.md.us.
LAUREL POLICE MONTHLY CRIME REPORT NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2025
List of Laurel Police Crime Reports can be found at www.cityoflaurel.org/1896/LPDCrime-Reports.
You can also read the full monthly Laurel Police Crime Reports in the Laurel Independent!
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 full agendas, visit www.cityoflaurel.org
Adopted Legislation:
• Due to the new production schedule from Streetcar Publishing, the approved legislation for each month will be delayed and will appear in the next month’s edition.
Bid Recommendations:
• Information Technology - 10 Additional Axon Fleet 3 Systems for Police Vehicles.
Appointments/Reappointments:
Francesca Valencia (Appointment) - Arts Council - 1/12/26 - 1/12/28
Matthew Nabinger (Appointment) - Arts Council - 1/12/26 - 1/12/29
Melissa Mawyer (Appointment) - Arts Council1/12/26 - 1/12/29
Hon. Christine Johnson (Appointment) - Senior Residents and Persons with Disabilities - 1/12/26 - 1/12/28
Inka Patel (Reappointment) - Arts Council1/12/26 - 1/12/29
Davonia Bryant (Reappointment) - Education Advisory Committee - 1/12/26 - 1/12/28
Goverrnment Meetings
(Dates and Times Subject to Change)
February 2026 Mayor and City Council Meetings
February 4th - Virtual Mayor and City Council Work Session (6:00pm)
February 9th - Virtual Mayor and City Council Meeting (6:00pm)
February 23rd - In-Person Mayor and City Council Meeting (6:00pm)
February 2026 Boards and Commissions
February 10th - Virtual Planning Commission (6:00pm)
February 17th - Virtual Historic District Commission (6:00pm)
February 26th - In-Person Board of Appeals (6:00pm)
March 2026 Mayor and City Council Meetings
March 4th - Virtual Mayor and City Council Work Session (6:00pm)
March 9th - Virtual Mayor and City Council Meeting (6:00pm)
March 23rd - In-Person Mayor and City Council Meeting - (6:00pm)
March 2026 Boards and Commissions
March 10th - Planning Commission (6:00pm)
March 17th - Historic District Commission (6:00pm)
March 26th - Board of Appeals (6:00pm)
City Announcements & Events
(Dates and Times Subject to Change)
Family Valentine’s Day Brunch - February 7th - 9am Sharp, The Mansion at Laurel, 13910 Laurel Lakes Avenue. Registration required. Visit www.cityoflaurel.org/parks.
Presidents’ Day Holiday - February 16th - City/Passport Offices Closed. Visit www.cityoflaurel.org/calendars for adjusted collection details.
FREE Indoor Movie“Elio” - February 20th - 7pm, Partnership Activity Center, 811 5th Street.
Black History Month Celebration - February 22nd - 2 - 3:30pm. Laurel Municipal Center Chambers, 8103 Sandy Spring Road.
Women’s History Month Meet Up - March 6th - 6 - 8pm. The Mansion at Laurel, 13910 Laurel Lakes Avenue.
To learn more or register for Parks and Recreation Classes/Events, visit www.cityoflaurel.org/parks or call 301-725-7800.
Senior Services provides recreational and leisure opportunities at multiple locations throughout the city, as well as exciting trips. Call 301-776-6168.
Scan the QR Code for the online volunteer application and start to get involved in your community today!
Black History Month Essay Contest for City of Laurel studentsWrite an 800 word essay about music, cultural movement, or a person/organization that played a pivotal role in African American History. For more information, email LaurelMayor@laurel.md.us! Page 3
FEBRUARY COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Find more local events all month long in our continuously updated online calendar at streetcarsuburbs.news/events.
Send March events to kit@streetcarsuburbs.news by Feb. 20.
Feb. 2 and 16. Jim Whitney Toastmasters Club. 7 pm, St. Philip’s Episcopal Church. For more information, email contact-1063187@ toastmastersclubs.org
Feb. 3 Book discussion and Feb. 10 film screening: Percival Everett’s novel “Erasure” and film adaptation “American Fiction.” Novel and film explore and skewer Black stereotypes in fiction and racism in the publishing industry. Free. Ages 18+. 7 to 9pm. Montpelier Arts Center.
Feb. 7. Family Valentine’s Day Brunch. Brunch buffet, kid-friendly activities, sweet treats, family photo booth, surprises. Dress in your Valentine’s best. Registration required. 9am Gude Mansion/ The Mansion at Laurel. Call 301.725.7800 or email parks@ laurel.md.us
Feb. 10 Chess Club all ages, 6pm Laurel Branch Library.
Film Screening: “Amazing Grace.” Documentary of Aretha Franklin recording her live album, “Amazing Grace,” with an assembled choir, in 1972. Free. 2 to 5 pm Montpelier Arts Center.
Feb. 13 and 28. Wingspan Game Day. Play the board game Wingspan and learn about birds. No experience needed. Games provided (personal sets welcomed). 10 am to 1 pm Patuxent Research Refuge South Tract. Registration required: tinyurl.com/5n8thbe2 or call 301.497.5772
Feb. 14 Free Expungement Clinic & Holistic Wellness Fair by Martin Mitchell, Community Legal Services of PGC 11am Laurel Branch Library.
Feb. 17 Curly Hair Caire and Culture (Black History and Culture), 6pm Laurel Branch Library.
Feb. 17 Seventh Street Ravelutionaries crocheting and knitting group. Bring your project and exchange tips, ideas and conversation. 6:30pm to 8pm Laurel Branch Library.
Feb. 17 Veterans Dinner and Book Group. Active service members and veterans join this
monthly small-group reading and discussion dinner series centered around books which relate to military experiences or offer a veteran’s perspective. Ages 18+. Free; registration required. 7 to 9 pm Montpelier Arts Center.
Feb. 20 DIY Jazz Quartet and South Hill Revival (blues/ funk) Benefit for Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services. Suggested donation $10. 7-9 pm Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.
Feb. 20, 21 & 28, 8pm. By the Way, Meet Vera Stark, play by Lynn Nottage about a Black maid in the 1930s who becomes a film star. Laurel Mill Playhouse.
Feb. 22 Voices from the Past: Black Music of the Colonial Period and Forgotten Patriots Recital by Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts, 4pm Montpelier Arts Center.
ART
Exhibitions run all month unless otherwise noted. Check venue websites for hours.
Black History Month Exhibit at Montpelier Arts Center with artists Anita Carrington, Jeffrey Felten-Green, Angie O’Neal, Lydia Peters, Chris Malone and Jenathel Shaw. Public reception Feb. 20. Also at Montpelier Arts Center: Spring art classes starting in drawing, painting, animation, ceramics, flute-making.
William Michaels, marine biologist, exhibits photos at Hollingsworth Wildlife Art Gallery at Patuxent Research Refuge.
Uhuru Quilter’s Guild Black History Month Exhibit at Montpelier Historic Site and Museum. Guided tours of site & museum 2:30pm Feb. 12, 21, 26.
SENIORS
Feb. 4. Laurel Senior Friendship Club. Business meeting and musical entertainment or a speaker. Doors open at 9:30 am Laurel-Beltsville Senior Activities Center, 7120 Contee Rd. 301.206.3380
Feb. 13. Second Friday Senior Book Club. “The Lion Women of Tehran,” by Marjan Kamali. 2 to 3:30 pm Laurel Armory, 422 Montgomery St. For more information, call or text Gail
Gibson at 301.452.7700 or email book62worm@hotmail.com
Chess. All levels welcome. Thursdays. 2 pm Laurel-Beltsville Senior Activity Center, 7120 Contee Rd. Call Mike Farmer at 240.302.9133.
Bingo. Every Tuesday at Laurel Senior Friendship Club, doors open at 11am, bingo starts at noon. LaurelBeltsville Senior Activities Center, 7120 Contee Rd. Also Every Tuesday at Laurel Elks Lodge #2283. Doors open at 5pm, bingo starts at 7pm, 8261 Brock Bridge Rd. Every Friday at American Legion Post 60. Doors open at 5pm and bingo starts at 7:30. 2 Main St.
KIDS
FEB. 21 Black History Month at the Laurel Branch Library: Ready 2 Read Art: 11 am (preschool) Kids Create: Rainbow Graffiti, 2 pm (elementary).
Kids’ Discovery Center Crafts, puzzles, games, nature exploration. February: field mice and voles, do they differ? Ages 3 to 10, w/adult. Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 am to noon (35-minute time slots, on-hour). Patuxent Research Refuge.
Family Fun Winter Wildlife. Even when we don’t see animals in winter, we can find signs that they’re around! Staffed 10 am-1 pm Feb. 27 & 28, Patuxent Research Refuge.
VENUE INFORMATION
Event details change! For confirmation, ticket prices, and cancellations, visit websites or call.
Gude Mansion/ The Mansion at Laurel 13910 Laurel Lakes Ave. 301.725.7800 cityoflaurel.org/parks
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church 7607 Sandy Spring Rd. 301.725.1666 htlclaurel.org
Laurel Branch Library 507 7th St. 301.776.6790 pgmls.info
Laurel Mill Playhouse 508 Main St. 301.617.9906 laurelmillplayhouse.org
Montpelier Arts Center 9652 Muirkirk Road. 301.377.7800 pgparks.com
Library storytimes. Mondays at 10:30 am (ages 2 to 3), Wednesdays at 7 pm (ages 3 to 5) and Thursdays at 10:30 and 11:15 am (ages 0 to 2). Reservations not required. Laurel Branch Library.
LANGUAGES
ASL Conversation Club for Beginners. 4pm Wednesdays at Laurel Branch Library.
Montpelier Historic Site & Museum (Montpelier Mansion) 9650 Muirkirk Rd. 301.377.7817 pgparks.com
Patuxent Research Refuge South Tract & National Wildlife Visitor Center, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop. 301.497.5772 fws.gov/refuge/patuxent
St. Mary of the Mills Catholic Church 114 St. Marys Pl. 301.725.3080 https://stmaryslaurel.org/
St. Phillips Episcopal Church 522 Main St. 301.776.5151 stphilipslaurel.org
The Hideout 9855 Washington Blvd N. 240.360.4713 hideoutlaurel.com
Virtual Spanish Conversation Club. Beginners meet at 4:00 pm and intermediate learners at 5:00 pm every Wednesday. Reservations not required. Laurel Branch Library.
Italian Club welcomes all on the second Wednesday of each month. 6:30 pm St. Mary of the Mills Church. Call Jo Saunders at 301.490.8237
NATIVE GARDENING WITH JIMMY
Mastering the Matrix
By JIMMY ROGERS
Starting a new native garden from scratch can feel overwhelming, especially that blank page. Fortunately, there is one technique that will get you designing immediately, ease maintenance, and imitate patterns seen in nature: the groundcover matrix. I use a matrix in almost every garden I design and I hope to inspire you to do the same.
Native plants often move around our gardens over time. A patch of blue mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum) might evaporate from one bed and materialize in another over the span of a
few years. Some plants will fade away and others will volunteer from seeds dropped by birds. If native plants move around as it suits them, why does it matter where we first plant them?
Well consider the first few years of a native garden. When you start with bare soil, it will take some time for the garden to fill in and begin resembling a low meadow or shady verge. If you plant in a geometric pattern, the garden will not only look intentional to friends and neighbors, you’ll also have an easier time recognizing new growth in the spring and distinguishing it from undesirable weeds.
VALENTINE’S DAY
YOUR HARDEST WORKER
Native plants have distinct jobs in a wildlife garden, and groundcover plants work harder than any other group. While the term groundcover sometimes lumps together any plants that creep across the ground, in the native gardening context these plants must be relatively low-growing and semi-evergreen so they can defend the ground from weeds in early spring. They generally bloom early as well, which provides forage for the first bees of the year. Perhaps most important to the gardener, these plants apply root pressure to taller, later-season plants, causing them to grow deeper and stand stronger. This is why dense meadows stand straight and tall.
LAYING OUT THE MATRIX
When I design a matrix, it looks a lot like a checkerboard. I divide the garden into one foot squares and make every other plant a groundcover species.
If you’re doing the math at home, you may realize that I’m calling for a lot of plants (one per square foot of garden). While this may seem like a lot, and potentially cost a lot, consider how closely native plants grow in the wild. Two plants can grow quite happily with only a centimeter between them. The density I suggest is a good compromise, as your plants will not start too far apart and can fill in the rest of the way over the next few years. As the ground becomes fully enclosed, new weeds will drop close to zero.
WHAT ABOUT MASSING?
Experienced gardeners of any style may notice an omission so far, that of massing. In contrast to a matrix, mass planting is the practice of planting a large number of one species together, so that visitors can easily spot large clumps of similar plants, which
gives a sense of order. To me, this technique has major drawbacks for the native gardener. Imagine a five-square-foot area planted entirely with aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium). In late summer we would see a huge mass of purple flowers blanketing that area, alive with bees and butterflies. But in March through May, the ground might be completely bare with only a few remnant stems or the first asters poking up through the dirt.
Those late summer asters would also lie flat on the ground, as no competing plants had forced them to grow tall and strong. The garden would lack a connection to its wild counterpart, as plants rarely grow in a monoculture in the wild. This in turn would bring in a heavy crop of winter weeds unless mulch was applied, a chore that must be repeated each year, forever. I have seen this style of planting fail again and again.
FILLING IN THE WINDOWS
Fortunately, the matrix offers all of the benefits of massing without any of the downsides. In the windows between the groundcover plants, I place my seasonal interest and filler plants. Seasonal interest plants are those that most gardeners think about first: taller plants that create large numbers of flowers in the summer. Fillers are also later blooming, and they tend to appear and disappear over time, as I mentioned earlier with blue mistflower.
If you want the same effect as a mass planting, consider a pop, which I define as three or more of the same plant in adjacent one-foot-square windows. This is great for plants like butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), which, in natural environments, tends to pop up in small clumps among other plants.
GROUNDCOVER SPECIES
Here are some groundcover plants for sun and shade to get you started.
Sun-loving:
Golden alexanders (Zizia aurea)
Sundrops (Oenothera fruticosa) Virginia strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)
Plantainleaf pussytoes (Antennaria plantaginifolia)
Shade-loving:
Golden ragwort (Packera aurea) White wood aster (Eurybia divaricata)
Jimmy Rogers is an avid Laurel gardener and owner of Laurelbased Vibrant Gardening LLC.
A sample matrix design with a sun-loving groundcover, Zizia aurea, and spaces for 1, 2, and 3 foot plants between. COURTESY OF JIMMY ROGERS
Volunteers make care packages, celebrate Martin Luther King
By JALEN WADE
Over 100 Laurel residents, officials and students came together for the 8th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Day of Service.
The event took place in the Laurel Multiservice Center gymnasium. Organizer Carreen Koubek, special assistant to the city administrator, said the event was a way to continue getting out King’s message.
“We put the word out for needing volunteers,” Koubek said. “This community just steps up every time because they believe. . . in all the events that we do, coming together to help others. I can just tell you, I see it every day, and it just warms my heart.”
During the event volunteers put together care packages containing clothes and snacks such as nutrigrain bars for seniors at the Morningside House of Laurel assisted living facility.
Speakers included Laurel Mayor Keith Sydnor, At-large Laurel City Council President Brencis Smith, Clerk of Circuit Court Mahasin El Amin, District 1 County Council Member Tom Dernoga and author and empowerment coach Cortland Jones.
“Dr. King was momentous, he was monumental,” El Amin said. “But we cannot forget that he started off not with 1,000 people, not 100 but just a few. . .
that helped him lead the charge and collectively to stand up and fight for the rights that we hold over here and that are being destroyed and chipped away.”
During his speech, the mayor challenged the audience to go and listen to King’s speech ‘The Other America’, so that they could see the problems spoken of there are still occurring today.
The event featured performances from the award winning Laurel High school choir, a dance from performer Nina Harding and a poem from spoken word
artist Angela Alexander.
Kevin Lewis Sr, the director of the Laurel choir, said that it’s important to him that his students are actively involved in community service so that they can see a bigger picture than themselves.
“I want them to understand how fortunate they are ... We have students who come from great families and students who have a lot of needs,” Lewis said. “It’s important that we do serve because it’s not a day off from school, it’s a day of service.”
During the event, the crowd
VOLUNTEER WRITERS WANTED!
Laurel’s community newspaper, The Laurel Independent, has hit the ground writing and reporting, but we need your help to bring home the news every month.
If you have a local story to tell or if you just have a writing itch that needs to be scratched, contact our managing editor, Joshua Garner, at Joshua@ StreetcarSuburbs.News.
of volunteers raised $500 to help with the delivery of a new piano that had been donated to the school.
Meisha Howard, a senior with the Laurel choir, said the event was a wonderful experience.
“It’s important because it’s to really reconnect the community,” Howard said. “There’s people out there who need things and who need help, and it’s not
just you getting able to relax on your day off. You can reconnect and say, ‘Hey, there’s something that I can do to help our community’.”
The event drew out community members of all ages. 10-year old Reed Holmes came with his mother Miranda Stephens to volunteer.
“It’s helpful,” Holmes said. “Anybody should do it, it’s a good thing.”
“My ducks are absolutely not in a row.”
Volunteers make care packages for seniors. JALEN WADE
LAUREL SQUIRREL By Agnes Pasco Conaty
Dancer Nina Harding performs at Laurel’s Martin Luther King Day of Service. JALEN WADE
Making a case for values
By AGNES PASCO CONATY
Last month, I wrote about how Laurel might prepare for America’s 250th anniversary. That kind of planning matters. But preparation isn’t only about events or timelines. It’s also about the habits we keep and the values we pass along without much fanfare.
I’ve been thinking about that in small moments—watching fami-
lies walk together at community events, listening to the conversations that happen after meetings end, noticing who stays behind to help when everyone else is ready to leave. Those moments rarely get noticed, but they shape a place.
Three commitments keep coming to mind: love of God, love of country, and love of family. Not as slogans. Just as things people try to live out, usually imperfectly.
Love of God: What Grounds People
I grew up in a culture where faith was simply part of daily life. It wasn’t dramatic or performative. People prayed, people helped one another, and life went on. But there was a shared understanding that how you treated others mattered—even when no one was paying attention.
Over the years in Laurel, I’ve recognized that same grounding in quieter ways. I’ve seen people bring meals, check on neighbors, step in when something needs doing. Often it’s connected to faith, but it’s rarely announced. It’s just how some people choose to live.
That kind of moral grounding matters. A community can’t rely entirely on rules and enforcement. Love of God, at its best, shapes conscience—doing the right thing because it’s right, not because someone is watching.
Love of Country: Responsibility, Not Display
My understanding of love of country has never come from slogans. It’s come from watching people take responsibility for the places they live.
One image that sticks with me
ROUNDTABLE FROM PAGE 1
types of crimes — particularly during the hours after school dismissal and before parents return home, when many young people are unsupervised.
“We’ve got to find a way to connect with these kids,” said
is standing in line at a Laurel polling place. No speeches. No drama. Just people of different ages and backgrounds waiting their turn, making time in the middle of an ordinary day to participate. It’s not glamorous, but it’s essential.
Here in Laurel, patriotism often looks like that—showing up, paying attention, caring about what happens next. It’s people who volunteer, serve, and stay engaged even when it’s inconvenient. That quiet sense of responsibility is what actually sustains a country.
As we approach America’s 250th year, it’s worth remembering that self-government depends on citizens who treat it as something entrusted to them, not something to consume.
Love of Family: Where It’s Practiced Daily
Family is where most of us first learn patience—and how difficult it can be. It’s where we learn how to live with others, how to carry responsibility, and how to keep showing up.
In Laurel, I’ve watched families juggle work, school, caregiving, and community commitments. I’ve seen grandparents deeply involved in daily life, parents stretched thin but still present, and families doing their best to make time for one another. It’s
Joe Fisher, a former Howard County Public Schools teacher and CEO of First Generation College Bound Inc., a Laurelbased nonprofit that supports students and families in achieving high school graduation and college admission.
Yolanda Tully, a workforce strategist who attended the event, said communities should develop comprehensive frameworks that address young people’s needs in one place.
“In New York City, there was a comprehensive youth center —
not tidy, but it matters. Families shape the future long before anyone talks about civics or public service. Values are learned there first, whether we intend it or not.
Why This Still Matters
As America’s 250th anniversary approaches, there will be celebrations and ceremonies, and those have their place. But what carries a country forward is culture—the everyday choices people make when no one is keeping score.
Love of God, country, and family aren’t efficient or trendy. They ask something of us. They slow us down. And they don’t always come with recognition.
But if Laurel is thinking seriously about the next 250 years, some of that work will happen quietly—in homes, in congregations, in classrooms, in moments that never make it into a plan or a program.
That kind of preparation doesn’t announce itself. You usually only notice it later—when it’s missing.
tutoring, health care, counseling, martial arts, basketball, entrepreneurial programs — open in the evenings,” Tully said. “It was a safe place. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel. We can build the infrastructure.”
Sydnor said the roundtable was intended to lead to action, noting that city officials will consider ideas raised during the discussion as they begin budget planning for the next fiscal year. “If we put more money into prevention,” he said, “then we probably have fewer problems.”
Agnes Pasco Conaty is a college math and environmental science adjunct professor.
Laurel business leader Fred Frederick Jr. dies
By JOE MURCHISON
S. G. “Fred” Frederick Jr., 94, founder of the Fred Frederick Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership in Laurel and a business and civic leader for many decades, died on Jan. 7, 2026.
Frederick was a leader of the Laurel business community, serving as president of the former Laurel Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the Laurel Board of Trade. He also was a leader in the automotive industry, serving as a chairman of the Chrysler National Dealers Council, on which he served for 42 years, and chairman of the Washington Auto Show Board.
In 1996 a Washington-area dealer association nominated him to be the Time Magazine Dealer of the Year.
Other civic leadership positions included chairman of the Greater Laurel Hospital Board and president of the University of Maryland Terrapins Club.
Frederick grew up in Coldwater, Mich., and attended Michigan State University before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps. After leaving the military, he
settled in Hyattsville, working as a mechanic and then as a salesman at Lustine Chevrolet. There he met his wife, Betty Anne Jackson, then a student at the University of Maryland. They married in 1956 and moved to Laurel.
In 1959, Frederick opened a DeSoto-Plymouth dealership
Route 1 in Laurel, housed in what was once the only service station between Baltimore and Washington. The dealership, with its expanded franchises, is now operated by Frederick’s four children and has a second location in Easton.
Frederick is survived by his wife, Betty Anne; children Cyn-
far exceeding the 48% reduction rate for elementary schools across Prince George’s County.
Middle schools serving the city reduced staff vacancies 58%, surpassing the 55% district average for the middle school level.
The two high schools where most Laurel teens are enrolled reduced their teacher vacancies by 55%, edging out the 54% average for high schools countywide.
The shift is part of a six-month countywide effort to rebuild the school district’s talent pipeline through aggressive signing bonuses, a new “fast-track” hiring model and a state law that raised starting teacher salaries to more than $60,000.
“We have cut vacancies in half in just one year, which shows how quickly we can move when systems are aligned and people are supported,” Interim Superintendent Shawn Joseph said in a press release.
In a PGCPS press release, County Executive Aisha Braveboy noted that fuller teacher rosters mean “our young people are reaping the benefits, including stability in the classroom.”
The county is calling the combined 52% reduction in vacancies
across all school levels “historic,” with total vacancies in the county dropping from 52 to 21 in the Laurel area, and 900.5 to 434 countywide, since August.
Vacancy figures are based on an AI-assisted analysis of the PGCPS Priority & School Staffing Vacancy Dashboard as of Jan. 15, 2026.
WSSC TO REHAB LAUREL SEWERS
As first reported by I Heart Laurel, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) starts work this February, weather permitting, on a sewer rehabilitation project that will continue at least through the Fall of 2027. WSSC will replace sewers up to property lines in much of the City of Laurel, and repair manholes, generally working between the hours of 9am and 3:30pm. For updated information and a map of impacted streets, search wsscwater.com for Project ID# CR7682A24.
NEW AFFORDABLE VETERINARY SERVICE BEGINS
H.E.A.R.T., Inc. (Helping Every Animal Receive Treatment, Inc.), Laurel Cats and the City of Laurel are opening a new low-cost veterinary clinic that will spay and neuter cats and dogs among
other services. The clinic is in a mobile surgery vehicle at 7705 Old Sandy Spring Road, and will open by early February.
“This mobile clinic is a powerful example of what can happen when compassion and collaboration come together,” said Mayor Keith Sydnor, “helping ensure that cost is not a barrier to responsible pet ownership.”
For information or to volunteer, write to info@heart4animals.org, call 410-927-8900 or visit heart4animals.org.
COUNCIL APPROVES
BODY CAMERA TECH FOR NEW POLICE CARS
At its Jan. 12 meeting, the Laurel City Council unanimously approved a $100,000 expansion of an existing contract with Axon Enterprise, Inc., an Arizonabased company that supplies law enforcement with weapons and technology. The contract will pay for technology that links tazers, body cameras, and in-car systems, including sirens, speed monitors and crash sensors, for 10 new Laurel police cars that the department is purchasing separately. The contract goes for three years, ending when a previous five-year contract for the department’s other vehicles ends. The technology includes
and Jeff Frederick
nine grandchil-
and four great-grandchildren.
An obituary posted by Donaldson Funeral Home is at https://www.donaldsonlaurel. com/obituaries/sg-frederick.
storage and retrieval systems for body camera footage. The contract will be part of the budget for Laurel’s Department of Information Services.
AMENDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING ORDINANCE MOVING FORWARD
The Laurel City Council now plans to require new developers building 20 homes or more to offer at least 8% of those housing units for sale at a lower price, no more than 70% of market price. Those who earn up to 80% of Area Media Income will be eligible to buy the units. For a family of four, 80% of Area Median
Income is currently $135,440. The council is making an exception for developers who received final approval for their plans during 2025. They can provide 6% affordable units. The only person to testify at the Jan. 12 public hearing on this affordable housing ordinance was attorney Edward Gibbs, who appeared on behalf of Pulte Homes, developer of Corridor Center. Gibbs expressed support for the ordinance and the exception, which benefits his client.
A final public hearing on the ordinance is scheduled Jan. 26, as this newspaper goes to press.
Above: S.G. “Fred” Frederick Jr. Left: An undated photo shows the Fred Frederick at Chrysler-Plymouth Sales Service
LAUREL HISTORICAL SOCIETY, RICHARD COMPTON COLLECTION
on
thia Frederick, F. Craig Frederick Sr. (Helen), Christopher Frederick (Karen)
(Janell);
dren;
S.G. “Fred” Frederick Jr. stands outside Fred Fredericks Autos LAUREL HISTORICAL SOCIETY, RICHARD COMPTON COLLECTION
