Adrian for Laurel

» Laurel Kid’s Bike Parade «

The bike parade is always a big highlight each year kiddos around town, including my own. 🙂 Hosted by Laurel’s Parks & Rec + Police, there’s bike decorations, bike safety briefing from a Laurel officer, bike helmet giveaway by the Police, plus kids get to demonstrate their skills on a course and closed-off street, all capped off with a great ice cream. Some of my kiddos have literally marked their progress in bike handling with this annual event and it’s a good reminder of how traditions like this help build memories and community. Thank you Parks & Rec and LPD for making this possible!

(Photo: City of Laurel)

» Laurel Father’s Day Breakfast «

A thank-you to Councilman Mills for hosting this now second annual Father’s Day Breakfast to help celebrate the vocation of fatherhood in our town. I was honored to share stories about my own father and father-figures in my life, including lessons learned about the ‘ministry of presence’, the importance of embracing both dimensions of gentleness and firmness, and how the most important things don’t happen on the internet. I was also deeply moved by the stories and exhortations shared by guest speakers like Arthur Thompson and Walter Fields. And I went home recharged after the event strengthened by the great testimony and camaraderie!

(Councilman Mills shares a photo of him teaching his son to fish.)

» Laurel Elementary School’s 100th Anniversary «

One Hundred Years – that’s a minute. ;) What a special opportunity to gather with educators, community members, and students to pause, reflect, and appreciate the thousands who have walked the halls of Laurel Elementary over a century, inspiring a love of learning, building lasting human connections, and preparing for what lies ahead. I was particularly struck by the kids choir singing the school song at the end – there’s nothing quite like kid voices joined in unison. :) Congratulations Laurel Elementary, and here’s to another 100 more!

(Photo: City of Laurel)

Excited to share my latest Council Connections TV interview where I had a chance to sit down and chat with host Char Freedburg to share the latest updates and key bits of information with residents, including:

• Ways in which our City supports positive youth programming in our town (including a $5k youth services grant), plus soliciting resident ideas as well

• A description of the process I use to work through decisions on Council each month;

• A question I’ve been asking scores of residents around town the last few months;

• As well as a number of tips and news notes folks may find helpful.

Check out the video below, and don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any follow-up thoughts or questions! 🙂

I keep meaning to circle back and share memories from the Laurel’s first (and perhaps only) hosting of the Preakness Stakes –

First, to extend my thanks to Mayor Sydnor for requesting from Governor Moore tickets for the City, and to Governor Moore for providing. It was an honor, as well, to be able to meet the Governor again and chat for a few minutes.

The event itself was definitely more intimate than is often associated with Preaknesses of years past – Part is that there were roughly 3,500 people in attendance, a far cry from the 80,000+ that have been known to pack into Baltimore’s Pimlico in its heyday. There also weren’t really live bands, energetic crowds, or many of the other associations you might make. And while the absence of those could lead to a feeling of letdown, it did translate into a much greater focus on the practice and tradition of the event: the horses as they paraded to the paddock, the pre-Preakness races leading up to the main event, the colorful jockey shirts, the owner families and trainers nervously awaiting the big race, etc.

(Video of the Preakness horses parading past the stands with their jockeys, trainers, and owner families.)

Horses have had a long history in Maryland, and also in Laurel. I remember growing up in south Laurel and seeing out the window of our car the horse farm near Contee and Larchdale, and you’ll still find some along Brooklyn Bridge Road today. There’s also the old track and training area I’d pass visiting friends down in the Bowie area.

And while I’ve never been into horse racing, I definitely felt some excitement well up within me as the race started – For pure nostalgia’s sake, I’d placed a $5 bet on the hometown horse Taj Mahal. And he leaped out in front and unbelievably held on to that position clear up to the final quarter, where unfortunately he fell behind and Napolean Solo sailed into the lead. But I found my foot unconsciously giving a stomp or two while I cheered him own hoping against hope. :)

(Taj Mahal [in red] being escorted to the starting gate for the big race.)

I’m not sure what the future will hold for Laurel Park – it’s been in a yo-yo these last ten years or so, even most recently announced to become the new horse training hub for the state, but now back on hold while the powers-that-be suss things out. I hope at least some of the story and appreciation of horses remain – We don’t ride horses for transport anymore, or have them assist us with farming or delivery. But there’s something to appreciating the nobility and beauty of horses that seems worth holding onto in some shape or form. I’ve even had a few folks mention to me that it’d be neat to have a tourist/ education venue worked into the existing site, which could double as a way to share this part of Maryland identity and also a good economic boon for our area.

So while the Preakness wasn’t ‘over-the-top’, I did find myself enjoying it and the celebration of horses and Maryland life. We do have something special in our state and our town, and finding more and more ways to celebrate that I think helps bring us together as a community. 🐎🙂

(Laurel Mayor and City Council - courtesy of Voices of Laurel crew)

» PG County Executive Aisha Braveboy visit «

Last month, I joined with the City team to welcome Prince Georges County Executive Aisha Braveboy town and to have lunch on Main Street at Caribe Express. Word on the street is that Caribe Express has the best Jamaican food in the area and I very much enjoyed the curry chicken, plus it was a good to connect with the municipal liason and other members of the County Executive’s team to build partnerships part of advancing our work here in Laurel

(Photo: City of Laurel)

» Maryland Municipal League 2026 Legislative Summary «

One of the memberships Councilmembers maintain is with the Maryland Municipal League (MML), an association that provides municipal education courses, opportunities for connecting with other municipal leaders, as well as advocates for municipalities at the State level. A month after the State legislative session ended in April, I attended a webinar offered by MML to provide a recap of key law changes and what passed/ didn’t pass, such as HB239/ SB36 that I had been tracking throughout the session and thankfully did not pass as it had the potential to severely limit local zoning authority (something very unique for us to have in Laurel and important to our advantage compared to other municipalities). It was good to update my briefing on the legislative landscape and also consider the issues happening at the State level and how to best integrate them into the work here in town.

» Qamaria Yemeni Coffee House ribbon-cutting «

On May 15, I was exited to help welcome the new Qamaria Yemini Coffee House to Laurel and to meet all four business owners investing in our community. You’ve got to see the absolutely beautiful decor & ambience they’ve created, plus sample some of their wonderful menu like the iced Adeni tea I’m thoroughly enjoying in the picture below. Two of the other features they highlighted to me was the group meeting room you can rent for $10/ hour and the fact that their hours go to 10 p.m. during week nights as a way to provide space for folks to gather together later in the day. Laurel is proud to host the first Yemeni coffee shop in Maryland and I encourage you to visit and enjoy the tastes and sights of Yemen at this unique and inviting new hotspot!