: On the Appointment Process for the Redistricting Committee During this evening’s regular Council Meeting, I raised a ‘Point of Order’ and …
: 250th Sighting! - Main Street Decal! As I was out-and-about this morning, came across a cool sight –> A shiny new decal on Main …
: PG District 1 Candidate Forum in Laurel next Thu, Apr 16 The three PG County District 1 candidates are coming to Laurel next Thursday, April 16 from 7 - 8:30 …
: Info for City Council Meeting - 13 Apr 2026 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: Join the Parade or Volunteer with the Main Street Festival on May 2! One of the great spring highlights in the City of Laurel is the annual Main Street Festival hosted …
: *Today* - Laurel Farmer's Market Kicks-off Season! It’s back! – Today, Thursday, April 2 marks the official kick-off of the Laurel …
: Info for City Council Work Session - 1 Apr 2026 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: My Position on Maryland HB 1142 Folks may have seen in our Council agenda last week an item for the Mayor and City Council to …
: Correction: 4th of July Yard Sale + Patuxent River Cleanup Date I realized after-the-fact that I got my weekends mixed up during my Council Report on Monday – …
: City Audit Reports Released I want to express my thanks to the Budget and Personnel Services Department (BAPS) for their reply …
: Info for City Council Meeting & Special Work Session - 23 Mar 2026 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: My latest Council Connections TV Interview It’s always a lot of fun hanging with the Laurel Communications crew and in this edition of …
: Info for City Council Meeting - 9 Mar 2026 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: The Baltimore Banner paper is coming to Laurel to Listen You may be familiar with the newspaper, The Baltimore Banner, formed a handful of years back as The …
: Info for City Council Work Session - 4 Mar 2026 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: Ladies Night Out next Friday, Mar 6 As part of International Women’s Month in March, Laurel Parks & Rec is hosting a …
: Vote for Laurel in the "Strongest Town" Competition! Calling all Laurelites!! 📢 – it’s time to rally the troops and show your hometown pride! …
: I'm now Certified by "Academy for Excellence in Local Government" I’m excited to share that I’ve been recently certified by the “Academy for …
: Info for City Council Meeting - 23 Feb 2026 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: Black History Month Celebration on Sun, Feb 22 This coming Sunday, February 22, celebrate 100 years of Black History Month with the City from 2 - …
: LBOT Small Biz Roundtable // Clyopatra Resort Groundbreaking -- Highlights & Pics! »Laurel Board of Trade Roundtable« Small business owners are a hardy group, and that was …
: Snow Update from tonight's Council Meeting Quick notes on updates shared by the Director Public Works and Director of FMPS about City’s …
: Receive an Update on City's Master Plan work next Thu, Feb 19 The Laurel Historical Society will host a presentation next Thursday, February 19 at 6 p.m. via Zoom …
: Info for City Council Meeting - 9 Feb 2026 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: Checkout the City's Bike Map + Cherry Lane bike lane to come! One item discussed at this week’s Work Session was upgrades to Staggers Road, including …
: Sign-up for Laurel Police Citizen’s Academy by Feb 10 Every participant I’ve talked with has shared how much they enjoyed and appreciated this program, …
: Online tool to connect Snow Shovel Volunteers with Senior & Limited Mobility Residents I’ve seen & heard of so many residents reaching out a helping hand to neighbors to dig out …
: Redistricting of Wards under Consideration At this Wednesday’s Council Work Session, Council will consider a Resolution from the …
: Info for City Council Work Session - 4 Feb 2026 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: Seeking Members for Senior Residents & Persons with Disabilities Committee The end of last year, I was re-appointed by the Mayor as Chair of the City’s Citizens Advisory …
: New date!: Feb 3 for LBOT Small Business Roundtable Originally scheduled for earlier this week, the Laurel Board of Trade has rescheduled their annual …
: MLK Wreath Laying // MLK Day Celebration -- Highlights & Pics »Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Wreath Placement« This past week included great …
: Thank you Neighbors-helping-Neighbors in the Snow! I shared during my report last night about seeing neighbors-helping-neighbors through our snow & …
: Mayor Declares Emergency State starting 6 p.m. Friday, Jan 23 UPDATE 27 Jan 2026: City Emergency State lifted today (Tue) at 11 a.m. – Trash/ recycle/ …
: Laurel Park now Expected to be Racehorse Training Facility In the latest zig-zag of an almost decade of changes to the fate of Laurel Park, it’s now expected …
: Info for City Council Meeting - 26 Jan 2026 UPDATE 21 Jan 2026: Due to snow storm forecast, this meeting has been moved to virtual. To …
: Homelessness Memorial // Eagle Court Citation // City Ethics Training -- Highlights & pics »Homeless Person’s Memorial Day« The end of December marks the longest night of …
: City marking MLK Jr. Day on Jan 16 & 19 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is coming up next Monday, January 19 and the City will be marking in two …
: Reminder: Free Christmas tree Pickups on Weds in January For all you live Christmas tree lovers out there (our family included) 😀, don’t forget the …
: Info for City Council Work Session + Meeting - 12 Jan 2026 This Monday will be a double-header for Council, featuring a Special Work Session at 5 p.m., …
: Holiday Season Recap - Highlights & pics Christmas and the holiday season has so many joys, and so many events. :) As we turn the page into …
: Changes to City’s Affordable Housing Laws The City first adopted affordable housing legislation in 2023, and following three months of …
: Celebrating the Semiquincentennial -- 250 years of the US of A! This year, on July 4, 2026, our country will celebrate its 250th year! And to quote Governor Moore, …
: Info for City Council Work Sessions - 7 Jan 2026 Next Wednesday, January 7 Council will have two Work Sessions — the first session is to ‘pick up …
: *First Day Hike* Fun A few years back, a friend first introduced me to the growing tradition of “First Day …
: My Christmas Reflection My wife has a very strict rule about Christmas songs before Thanksgiving – absolutely …
: UPDATE: Trash pickup Wed this week for normal Thu & *Fri* pickups Released today: Mayor Sydnor declared the City Offices closed also on this Friday, December 26 …
: Menorah Lighting *today* and Kwanzaa Celebration Sat, Dec 27 We are truly blessed with so many faith and cultural communities in Laurel, all sharing from their …
: Info for City Council Meeting - 15 Dec 2025 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: Laurel's 11th Annual Fill-A-Truck Toy Drive At this week’s Council Meeting, I shared about Laurel’s 11th Annual Fill-A-Truck Toy …
: Ideas for bringing about Affordable Housing in Laurel Right now Council is exploring the Administration’s proposed amendments to Laurel’s …
: Las Posadas Celebration this Sat, Dec 13 “Las posadas” translates literally to “the inns” and refers to a Latin American celebration that …
: Info for City Council Meeting - 8 Dec 2025 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: My thanks for HDC Resident Fee return to $-0- Residents of the Historic District may have noticed that effective July 1 of this year, their HDC …
: Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting *this* Sat, Dec 6 The holiday season is now in full swing, and with it: Laurel’s holiday parade and Armory …
: Info for City Council Work Session - 3 Dec 2025 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: Small Business Saturday *tomorrow*, Nov 29 A reminder to “think small”. 😀 While tomorrow is “Small Business Saturday”, the small businesses of …
: My Reflections from Swearing-In Ceremony on "Being Laurel" I was pleased Monday to renew my oath to serve Laurel as a Councilmember for this coming term, and …
: PSA: Thu/Fri trash pickup on *Wed* instead this week Quick public service announcement: If your trash pickup is usually on a Thursday or a Friday, the …
: LARS Turkey Trot - Race Against Hunger this Thu, Nov 27 A perennial tradition here in the Laurel, the Laurel Advocacy & Referral Services (LARS) annual …
: Info for City Council Meetings - 24 Nov 2025 Next Monday, November 24, the City will be holding two Council meetings – the first at 6 p.m. …
: Annual Towne Centre Tree Lighting *Today*, Nov 20 Okay, so we may not be to Thanksgiving just yet, but perhaps you’re in the mood for some …
: Ivy Hill Veterans Flags // Ethics Course Completion // LMSC Visit -- Highlights & Pics »Veterans Day Flag Placement at Ivy Hill Cemetary« One of the annual Veterans Day …
: Laurel Blessing Baskets returns next Wed, Nov 19 Now in its third year, the Laurel Blessing Baskets Thanksgiving tradition started by Mike Mondy of …
: Info for Work Session + City Council Meeting - 10 Nov 2025 Monday, November 10 will hold a double-header for City Council, containing a Work Session at 5 p.m. …
: Reader’s Theater Performance / LVFD 123rd Banquet / Robbins Mural Dedication -- Highlights & Pics »Reader’s Theater performance at Selbourne House« I thoroughly enjoyed the Readers …
: Official Election Results Certified Tonight at 6p The Laurel Board of Elections has finalized the tabulation of this year’s General Election results, …
: Laurel resources for those impacted by SNAP Benefits shutdown One of the many federal funding sources affected by the current federal government shutdown is the …
: Info for Special Work Session - 27 Oct 2025 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: Info for City Council Meeting - 27 Oct 2025 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: Municipal Leaders Conference / Laurel Citizens University / Eagle Court - Highlights & pics » Maryland Municipal League Excellence in Leadership Conference « The first three days …
:
Resources for Federal Workers affected by the Shutdown
As the federal government shutdown lengthens, its effects unfortunately widen. Below, I’ve compiled …
: Laurel Elections Candidate Forum *this* Wed, Oct 22 hosted by LBOT We’re essentially two weeks away from the 2025 Laurel General Elections and here’s a perfect way to …
: Seeking Your Input into AirBnB Rental Law for Laurel During Council’s Work Session held October 1, there was an update proposed to Laurel’s …
: Chandler Mural Celebration Event coming Sat, Oct 25 Be sure to mark your calendars for Saturday, October 25 from 2 - 4 p.m. to join with Laurel for the …
: Electronics Recycling, Paper Shred, & Styrofoam + More next Sat, Oct 18 From our Department of Public Works: Public Works is happy to bring back our October Recycling …
: Info for City Council Meeting - 15 Oct 2025 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: Emancipation Day 5k / Doggie Dip / Emancipation Day Parade / City Team Building - Highlights & Pics September zipped by, but I wanted to be sure to highlight a few of the great events I had a chance …
: Key Dates for Fall & Winter Events around Laurel Fall always brings the new school year, cooling temperatures, breezy leaves, and bundling up for …
: Significant Proposed Changes to City’s Youth Curfew Law At this Wednesday’s Work Session, Council will be presented a proposal for potentially significant …
: Laurel Fix-It Fair this Sat, Oct 4 I’ve seen a number of “Fix It Fairs” around our area and’ve always thought …
: Info for City Council Work Session - 1 Oct 2025 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
:
How has the City's Election Law changed since last Election?
Earlier this year, approximately twelve months' worth of work came to fruition when Council voted to …
: Last "City Hall in the Park" this Thu, Sep 25 (UPDATE 25 Sep 2025: Cancelled due to rain.) If you haven’t made it out just yet to one of …
: My latest Council Connections Interview Here’s a video of my latest interview for Council Connections, LaurelTV’s show series …
: Vote on Monday on Social Media Policy for Council At the Council Meeting Monday, we’ll be voting on the adoption of a Social Media Policy for City …
: Need Money to Revitalize Your Historic Home? If you have a historic home that you’d like to make repairs or upgrades to, you’ll want …
: Info for City Council Meeting - 22 Sep 2025 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: Download my Elderly & Veterans Tax Credit presentation Recently I met with group of seniors here in Laurel to share about the Laurel Elderly & Veterans …
: Laurel Rides the Rails / City Hall in the Park -- Highlights & Pics »Laurel Rides the Rails at the Laurel Museum« Over the summer, I took the kiddos to see …
: Info for City Council Meeting - 8 Sep 2025 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: Changes to How Cities Get their Money Last week, I attended a webinar hosted by the Maryland Municipal League (MML) on changing how …
: Laurel Elementary Back-to-School Bash - Highlights & Pics I recently enjoyed visiting Laurel Elementary School for their Back-to-School Bash kicking off their …
: Info for City Council Work Session - 3 Sep 2025 Council is back from its August recess and kicks-off the fall with our first Work Session next …
: Adding Instagram & Bluesky to My Social Channels If you’re an Instagram and/or Bluesky user, I’ve got some news – You can now find …
: City Hall in the Park *this* Thu, Aug 28 The latest in the City’s summer series of City Hall in the Park is this Thursday, August 28. This …
: New session of Laurel Citizen's University now Open! Everyone I’ve talked to who’s participated in this program has had great things to say. …
: Back-to-School Fair at Laurel High today, Aug 19 In search of a backpack giveaway for the new school year? How about free hair cuts and vaccines? …
: City Election Scheduled for Nov 4 -> Candidates & Resources Reminder that this fall, our City will be holding a General Election – Some key bits of info …
: PG County Real Estate Trends + Proposed Property Tax Change Prince George’s County is considering changes to its “municipal tax differentials” – the …
: What are those Bump-outs on Main Street about? If you’ve made your way down Main Street lately, you’ve likely seen the series of newly installed …
: Laurel Police host National Night Out next Tue, Aug 5 National Night Out is an annual community-building event that promotes police and community …
: Important Changes to Konterra Master Plan + Your Voice Konterra has been ‘under development’ for almost half a century, but ground finally started to break …
: Juneteenth / MML Conference / City Hall in the Park - Highlights & Pics »Juneteenth Festival« The first half of the summer has been chock full of great …
: Caring for the Patchwork of Alleys in Old Town You may not even notice them if you’re not looking, but scattered all across Old Town in …
: Konterra Plan Town Hall on Mon, Jul 28 One of the biggest impacts to the Laurel area over the next 5-10 years will be the development of …
: A Field of Community Fun at Touch-A-Truck + Helicopter Visit I couldn’t help but be struck by the view as I walked across McCullough Field with my kiddos …
: Info for City Council Meeting - 28 Jul 2025 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: City Hall in the Park on Thu, Jul 24 Laurel City Hall is coming to you in the next installment of the City Hall in the Park series …
: Touch-A-Truck kid event *tomorrow*, Tue, Jul 20 So many kids love trucks! 🛻 And here’s a way to get up close and personal – Everything …
: I’m Exploring Updates to Use & Occupancy Permits for Small Businesses I shared in Monday’s Council Meeting that I’m currently working on a project to explore …
: Native Plant Garden Tour tomorrow, Jul 20 You may have noticed all types of new ‘native gardens’ popping up around town and …
: General Election Candidate Info Session on Tue, Jul 15 Tomorrow, Tuesday, July 15 at 6 p.m., the City will conduct a Candidate Information Session for …
: Mayor has issued Executive Order for Temporary Juvenile Curfew Just released: Effective beginning today, July 11, the Mayor has released an Executive Order for a …
: Info for Special Work Session & City Council Meeting - 14 Jul 2025 Monday, July 14 is a double-header for Council, containing (a) Special Work Session at 5:30 p.m. …
: My Proposed Updates to Compost Ordinance Enforcement Provisions In a previous post, I shared that in 2023, the then-sitting Council adopted a mandatory composting …
: Bike Parade / Father’s Day Breakfast / SAL Flag Retirement Ceremony — Highlights & Pics »Bike Parade« The Bike Parade has become one of my kids’ favorite events around town as …
: Laurel's 4th of July Celebration Set to Begin! It’s almost here! - Celebration of the 4th of July in Laurel, a long and proud tradition! As …
: Mandatory Composting takes effect today, July 1 In May 2023, the then sitting City Council passed Ordinance 2010 establishing a mandatory organic …
: How to Share Your Voice at Council Meetings The “public hearing” component of Council Meetings are the most important in my opinion, because …
: Info for City Council Work Session - 2 Jul 2025 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: Join me in taking The Dignity Pledge for Political Discourse I’m recently back from the Maryland Municipal League summer conference (an annual gathering of …
: 31,000+ Radio Amateurs will be Live on Sat, Jun 28 The Laurel Amateur Radio Club (LARC) invites all curious or interested individuals (kids & …
: Happy Juneteenth + City Festival *this* Sat, Jun 21 June 19 is celebrated annually to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States, marked on …
: My Update in the Laurel Living Newsletter, June 2025 Below is my report to residents in the latest edition of the Laurel Living newsletter published by …
: Changes to 4th of July Parade Route + Registration This year, the City has updated the 4th of July Parade to start at 4th Street and Marshall Avenue …
: Utility Price Increases start Jun 1 + Temporary Refund BGE recently reached out to the City to share information around rate increases residents are …
: Info for City Council Meeting - 6 Jun 2025 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: MD Black Chamber Meetup / Crepes on Main Launch / Memorial Day Service - Highlights & Pics »Maryland Black Chamber of Commerce Small Business Mixer« It was a great pleasure to be …
: Info for City Council Work Session - 4 Jun 2025 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: Kids Bike Parade this Wed, Jun 4 A perennial favorite, this Wednesday you’ll want to be sure not to miss Laurel’s Kids Bike Parade …
: Info for Special Work Session & City Council Meeting - 28 May 2025 Wednesday, May 28 is another double-header for Council, containing both (a) another Work Session at …
: Joint Memorial Day Service this Sunday, May 25 Memorial Day Weekend is here, a time certainly for family and food, but also an important time to …
: Preakness Preview // City Hall in Park // Main Street Festival - Highlights & Pics »Preakness Preview Race held at Laurel Park« Laurel Park race track hosted Preakness …
: Budget Funding for The Laurel Independent Restored I’m happy to report that, in no small part due to you sharing your voice, the Administration …
: Donate toward beautiful Robbins Mural on Main Street A number of residents have shared with me that they’d love to see more beautiful murals around …
: Seeking your Input on Budget Funding for The Laurel Independent (UPDATE 13 May 2025: Budget funding was restored for the Independent – See related blog post …
: Info for Budget Work Session & City Council Meeting - 12 May 2025 Monday, May 12 is another double-header for Council, containing both (a) another Work Session at 5 …
: Celebrate Laurel at our Main Street Festival this Sat, May 10! It’s one of Laurel’s BIG traditions, and heralds the arrival of early summer each year …
: Metro Bus System Complete Route Changes start June 29 After two-and-a-half years of planning, Metro is launching a completely new bus route system on …
: Info for City Council Work Session - 7 May 2025 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: The City's Proposed FY2026 Budget is Out This Thursday, May 1 from 6 - 8 p.m. the City Council will have its first Budget Work Session to …
: Summary of Proposed Changes to Laurel's Election Laws The complete re-write of Laurel’s elections laws are back before Council this coming week …
: LBGC Cleanup Day // Historical Society Gala // Volunteer Fair + Other Upcoming Events It’s that time of year and the calendar is stacked with so many great events – three …
: Info for City Council Meeting & Special Work Session - 28 Apr 2025 On April 28, the Council will have two meetings: (a) Special Work Session starting at 5 p.m. to …
: Ways to Help Residents Impacted by Park Avenue Apartment Fire (LAST UPDATED 22 Apr 2025 - see bottom of post) Laurel residents are very generous and thank you to …
: Electronics Recycling & Paper Shredding this Sat, Apr 19 This a super helpful event our Department of Public Works puts on a couple times a year for City …
: Info for City Council Meeting - 14 Apr 2025 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: Tip: West Parking Lot on Main Street now Free! It’s been this way for a little already, but I recently had confirmed that the parking lot at …
: LBOT Ribbon Cutting / Selbourne House / Multiservice Center Grant Highlights & Pics » Laurel Board of Trade new HQ Ribbon Cutting « It was good to gather with members of …
: Key Spring & Summer Dates around Laurel As good weather finally starts to emerge, so too do all the great marquee spring and summer events …
: Info for City Council Work Session - 2 Apr 2025 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: Free Income Tax Prep at Laurel Armory Sponsored by AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, free tax preparation is being offered in-person at the Laurel …
: Coulson Funeral / LARS Movie Premiere / Joanne retirement Highlights & Pics » Laurel Volunteer Fireman Robert Coulson « It was an honor to join with family, …
: Info for City Council Meeting - 24 Mar 2025 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: I’ve introduced Legislation to Update Elderly & Veteran Tax Credit I’m pleased to introduce legislation this month to the Laurel City Council to update the City’s …
: Small Biz: MD proposing 2.5% Sales Tax on Services - Share your Voice At tonight’s Council Meeting, I shared that a Maryland bill was just introduced late and is …
: Info for City Council Meeting - 10 Mar 2025 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: Laurel Women's History Month celebration *this Sat*, Mar 8 Come on out to the Laurel Multiservice Center this Saturday, March 8 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. to …
: Resources for Adversely Impacted Federal Workers Tonight, Mar 6 If you’ve been impacted by the major shifts in the federal workforce this past few weeks, you …
: Reminder: PG County Executive Primary Ends Today & Tomorrow, Mar 4 Reminder that the primary for the Special Election for the new Prince George’s County …
: Info for City Council Work Session - 5 Mar 2025 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: My Interview with LaurelTV’s Council Connections It was a neat experience to be in-studio with the LaurelTV team for my first Council Connections …
: Help Alleviate Homelessness at LARS -No Address- Movie Premiere, Feb 27 ‘A day before its nationwide release, Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services (LARS) will be …
: Clippings from the Feb 2025 edition of The Laurel Independent This month has gone by way too fast - in part as our family has getting back up-and-running after a …
: Info for City Council Meeting - 24 Feb 2025 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: 10 Fast Facts for Laurel Historic District Commission Residents The last few months as a new member of the Historic District Commission (HDC), I’ve had the pleasure …
: 10 Fast Facts for Laurel Historic District Commission Residents The last few months as a new member of the Historic District Commission (HDC), I’ve had the pleasure …
: Small biz Roundtable / Black History Month / Town Hall Highlights & Pics »Laurel Board of Trade Small Business Roundtable« Thank you to the Laurel Board of Trade …
: Clippings from VoL, Winter 2025 Edition If you haven’t had a chance to pickup a copy of the latest edition of the Voices of Laurel, I …
: Join L4P Neighborhood Litter Clean-up this Sat, Feb 15 Hello neighbors! – Extending an invitation to the Laurel for the Patuxent’s …
: Snow Emergency Declared starting at 1 p.m. today, Feb 11 Mayor Sydnor has declared Snow Emergency status effective starting at 1 p.m. today, Tuesday, …
: Submit your Master Plan Community Survey before Feb 17 It happens only once every 10 years, so be sure to get your feedback and ideas into the Master Plan …
: Laurel’s Black History Month event Sat, Feb 8 Celebrate Black History Month here in Laurel by coming out to the Multiservice Center from 1 - 3 …
: Info for City Council Meeting - 10 Feb 2025 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: FREE screening of The Six Triple Eight movie on Feb 12 As part of honoring Black History Month, the Greenbelt Cinema will be hosting a special screening of …
: Mayor's Town Hall Listening Session tomorrow, Thu, Feb 6 Mayor Sydnor extends an invitation to all residents to come to a Town Hall Listening Session …
: MLK Wreath / Eric’s ID / Troop 1250 Highlights & Pics » Laying of Martin Luther King, Jr. Wreath « Walking along the garden pathway next to …
: Re-Write of City Election Laws currently before Council Following the 2023 election season, the Board of Election Supervisors, in consultation with the …
: Info for City Council Work Session - 6 Feb 2025 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: Announcing Passage of My Co-Sponsored Legislation on Disabilities & Seniors I was pleased to join with Councilwoman Christine Johnson to propose, and on Monday pass, …
: Clippings from the Jan 2025 edition of The Laurel Independent I haven’t yet had a chance to share from the latest edition of The Laurel Independent, but …
: Master Plan Committee 1st Meeting on Wed, Jan 29 The loosely year-and-half-long process of the Master Plan Committee kicks off tonight at the …
: PG County Executive Candidate Forum in Laurel on Jan 30 You’ve probably already received your mail-in ballot for the special Primary Election on Mar 4 …
: My Vote on Charter Amendment 180 on Dividing CREM Department Thank you so much to members of the public who reached out via email and who came to tonight’s …
: Preserving the Dam behind the City The story of Laurel in many ways traces its roots back to the Patuxent River – you might even …
: Laurel: A Community of Communities (An article I wrote for the Jan 2025 edition of ‘Voices of Laurel’ – See links at …
: Info for City Council Meeting - 27 Jan 2025 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Today Honoring the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. today and the monumental work he led with those …
: My Visit to the Maryland General Assembly yesterday Yesterday, I put on my “CPA hat” and had the pleasure of visiting the Maryland General …
: Laurel High School College & Career Fair on Jan 16 This Thursday, Jan 16 from 6 - 8 p.m., Laurel High School will be holding its first College, Career, …
: Jan 9 designated as Marcus Colbert Day Last week I was out of town with family, but I wanted to be sure to pause and give special …
: Info for City Council Meeting - 13 Jan 2025 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: MD Real Estate Tax Assessments up 21+% Each year, the MD State Department of Assessments and Taxation re-values a third of the roughly 2 …
: City has declared State of Emergency Update to let residents know that the Mayor has declared a State of Emergency effective 9 p.m. today …
: Info for City Council Work Session - 6 Jan 2025 UPDATE for WINTER STORM —> City offices are officially closed on Monday, January 6, but the …
: Head Outdoors for a First Day Hike on Jan 1 An emerging tradition on New Year’s Day are “First Day Hikes”, a chance to get …
: Join in to help "Laurel Winter Shelter" Jan 5 to Mar 31 It gets quite cold in a Maryland winter, and the thought of being outside overnight is harrowing. …
: A Christmas Reflection Christmas is a time to reflect on life. Somehow, most of society mutually agrees that we should take …
: Historical Society / Eagle Court / Police Academy Highlights & Pics »Laurel Historical Society Christmas Celebration« It was a pleasure to spend time with …
: Christmas Parade / Pearl Harbor / Winter Market / Tree Lighting Highlights & Pics »Christmas Parade« It was a lot of fun joining with Council, the Mayor, and the …
: My New Appointment to the Historic District Commission I’m pleased to share that with the new term starting the end of November, I’ve been …
: PG County Elections Mar 4 & May 27 coming By Mail Thanks to The Laurel Independent for the breakdown around the confusing scenario happening at the …
: The Laurel Independent, Dec 2024 edition out! Just finished perusing my copy of December 2024 edition of The Laurel Independent and here’s a few …
: Maryland's Budget Outlook Worst Seen in 20 Years I’ve been sharing about this topic over most of this year, and the latest news doesn’t …
: Help LVFD & LVRS Fill-A-Truck with Christmas Cheer! Christmas is a wonderful season of giving! It’s true shopping can be wearisome, but perhaps …
: My Vote Against Rules Suspension at Tonight’s Council Meeting Those tuning into tonight’s Council Meeting may have seen that I voted three times against …
: Preserving the Beauty of our Night Sky Earlier this fall, a resident shared with me a resource she found called Dark Sky International …
: Gorgeous Sunset Skies this Past Weekend For those out-and-about as the sun set Saturday evening, you were in for quite a treat — I just …
: Info for City Council Meeting - 9 Dec 2024 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting Tomorrow, Dec 7! Don’t forget that tomorrow, Saturday, Dec 7 is the annual City Christmas Parade & Tree …
: LARS Turkey Trot / Blessing Baskets / Small Biz Saturday Highlight & Pics Laurel Advocacy & Referral Services (LARS) 20th Annual Turkey Trot One thing I learned for sure: …
: Nominate Your Neighbors for Christmas Decorating Contest! We all love homes that go all-out decorating for Christmas 🎄✨🎅🦌– Let’s show them our …
: Info for Council Work Session - 4 Dec 2024 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: “Thank God for this Thanksgiving Day” song Over the last few years, my family has adopted a new small part into our Thanksgiving traditions of …
: Grab hot drink + Small Business Passport this Saturday! Come on out to Laurel’s Quill Lot (378 Main Street) this Saturday to grab a hot drink, some …
: Cautionary words from Laurel Police Chief At last night’s Council Meeting, Laurel Police Chief Hamill shared notes and important …
: Stretch those legs at the LARS Turkey Trot this Thursday! What would Thanksgiving be without a jaunt for the Laurel Advocacy & Referral Services (LARS) …
: Our first snow of the season here in Laurel! ❄️☃️🌨️ Don’t want to get too ahead of the holiday …
: Breakdown of New proposed Council Standing Rules At the coming Council Meeting on Monday, Nov 25, the Council will potentially vote on adopting new …
: Council Meeting - 25 Nov 2024 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: My Learnings from Maryland Municipal League Fall Conference The week before last, I attended the Maryland Municipal League’s (MML) fall conference - Titled …
: LPD Awards / Diwali / Veteran's Day Highlights & Pics Laurel Police Department Yesterday, I was pleased to be with the Laurel Police Department for their …
: Meet the new PG Education Board Member Andorful on Nov 20 in Laurel In the just-completed election, a new PG County Board of Education member was elected to represent …
: Spread Thanksgiving Blessings with Blessing Baskets Thanksgiving is approaching quickly and is a great time of year to reflect on all the many true …
: Honor Veterans by Placing Flags Today at 2 p.m. at Ivy Hill If you’re free this afternoon, I’d encourage you to consider taking an hour to mark Veteran’s Day by …
: PG County Fire Dept Reallocation Impact - Community Meeting this Thu, Nov 14 You may already be aware, but there’s a significant reallocation happening within PG County …
: The Laurel Independent, Nov 2024 edition out Just finished perusing my copy of November 2024 edition of The Laurel Independent and here’s a few …
: Small business retailers apply by Nov 8 to be in Passport Book Small Business Saturday is coming up later this month on Saturday, Nov 30 — But tomorrow, Friday, …
: November 2024 issue of “Laurel Living” The latest edition of Laurel Living, the official newsletter for the City of Laurel, is available …
: Help Clean Riverfront Park & Main Street on Sat, Nov 2 The volunteers of Laurel for the Patuxent have an event scheduled this Saturday, Nov 2 to help cut …
: Council Work Session + Meeting - 4 Nov 2024 Because of scheduling complexities for November, next Monday will be a combination Council Work …
: Voting has Started for Nov 5 Elections A few resources if helpful to you for the current voting season: The Laurel Independent voting …
: “Eric’s ID Law” for Non-apparent Disabilities Through my work as Chair of the Citizen Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities, I’ve been …
: Hispanic Heritage / Laurel VFD Banquet Highlight & Pics Laurel Volunteer Fire Department 122nd Awards Banquet It took a minute to sink in, but I couldn’t …
: Mayor Launches First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program From the City’s announcement page: The City of Laurel is proud to announce the launch of its …
: Council Meeting - 28 Oct 2024 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: “50 Best Places to Live in US”? #1 Silver Spring, MD After evaluating 2,000 cities across almost 200 data categories, Fortune Magazine found Silver …
: The Laurel Independent, Oct 2024 edition out Just finished perusing my copy of October 2024 edition of The Laurel Independent and here’s some of …
: FREE Recycle electronics, Paper shred, Paint drop-off, & more on Oct 19 A great service Laurel provides its residents are opportunities during the year to do a great house …
: Voices of Laurel, Fall 2024 edition out Just picked up my copy of the latest Voices of Laurel edition outside the Main Street Post Office, …
: Fidos creating Freedom in Laurel Yesterday, I had the pleasure of touring the Fidos for Freedom facility on Sandy Spring Road and …
: Council Meeting - 16 Oct 2024 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: New "Laurel Living" newsletter, Oct 2024 edition out Hot off the presses, check out the latest edition of Laurel Living, the official newsletter for the …
: PG County public school employee Tax Credit under consideration At last night’s Council Work Session, legislation was introduced (Ordinance 2030) with …
: Women Entrepreneurs Free Workshop on Oct 16 In honor of National Women’s Small Business Month, the City is co-sponsoring with Pyne Creative a …
: Faith & Blue at St. Mark's this Saturday, Oct 5 2024 is the fifth anniversary year of Faith & Blue – locally organized community-officer …
: Council Meeting Schedule Explained + 2025 Calendar “When are the meetings for City Council?" – I’ve gotten this question a few …
: Join Voices of Laurel for a “Day at the Races” Laurel Park, 113-year home of horse racing in Laurel (and the state), will be closing in 2027. Join …
: Council Work Session - 2 Oct 2024 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: Useful Alternative Spray for Kitchen Fires We had a small oven fire in our home last year 🔥 – Grease from a turkey spilled over the drip …
: Neighborly Tradition of Cleanup Days Revived I want to give a shout out to Kathie Peterson - She helped organize a group of neighbors this past …
: Facebook Page Launched! For those in Facebookland, wanted to announce that I recently launched an ‘elected …
: Free Fire Detectors + Women's Club Fundraiser Here’s two events going on this weekend I recommend you check-out🌞 –> The PG County …
: Council Meeting - 23 Sep 2024 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: Emancipation / Multi-Service / Andy Kostas Highlights & Pics With September in full swing, it’s that time of year where everything kicks into full gear! 😀 Among …
: September Laurel Independent edition is out! The September edition of The Laurel Independent is out — Some items that caught my attention: …
: Multi-service Center launches today Today is the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of the Laurel Multi-Service Center and the …
: Free Mission BBQ sandwich on 9/11 for Fire, Police, & First Responders We probably all remember where we were on 9/11 – I was working in downtown Baltimore at the …
: Council Meeting - 9 Sep 2024 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: Van Dusen Road improvements coming At this week’s Work Session, Kelly from Century Engineering presented a Concept Study overview for …
: Maryland Police Task Force busts 11 illegal car rallies Over the weekend, members of the Maryland State Police Car Rally Task Force broke up 11 illegal car …
: New Baby Arrived! Wanted to share on a personal note, that my wife and I welcomed our new little tyke last month! - …
: New Small Business Grant Opens Sep 3 on First-Come Basis The new Laurel Thrive Grant I mentioned earlier this month was just launched - applications open …
: Fall Parks & Rec Activities Announced! Resident should see in their mailbox this week the latest Parks & Rec brochure for fall …
: Council Work Session - 4 Sep 2024 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: Modified Trash Schedule for Labor Day Quick reference from the Department of Public Works for the modified trash schedule around the Labor …
: Access the Amenities at Laurel’s 2 Community Centers Last week, our family went to the Laurel Armory to get Department of Parks & Recreation Annual …
: Join the St. Mark’s Emancipation Day 5k on Sep 7 It’s time for the 12th Annual St. Mark’s Emancipation Day 5k! If you wander by McCullough Field on …
: Pedestrian deaths are up in Maryland, opposite national average For me, one of the things that can make for good community are a variety of easy and safe ways to …
: New Laurel 'Thrive Small Business' Grants open in September Thinking about opening a business in Laurel? Or maybe moving your business to Laurel? Well, keep …
: Reminder: Council in Recess for August Reminder that the Laurel City Council is in recess for the month of August, and our next regularly …
: Back-to-school clothing Tax Free from Aug 11-17 Getting geared up for back-to-school is fun, but expensive. 💸 The State of Maryland will help shave …
: Mural Art provides Everyday Beauty If you’ve been to the Laurel Quill Lot on Main Street recently (perhaps for a Farmer’s …
: Free Nats tickets for Kid Summer Readers Looking to help motivate your kid to read more, or to spend more time reading with them? How about 2 …
: Laurel Police Aug 6 National Night Out Come grab a free hotdog, visit with a K-9 unit, catch live music, and connect with the various law …
: Maryland Funds for Maryland Businesses The MD Comptroller’s Office is hosting a series of lunch-and-learns in August to share with …
: PG County Special Primary Election July 31 - Aug 6 Prince George’s County is holding a Special Primary Election from Wed, Jul 31 to Tue, Aug 6 to …
: AAE Training & Security Assessments This past week as part of standard Council training, we all participated in a course about ‘Active …
: Council Meeting - 29 Jul 2024 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: Take Survey by Aug 30 for What Businesses to Have in Westside Development The Mayor is soliciting input from the community on the types of businesses that would be most …
: Maryland Wastewater Showing Spike in Viral Activity You may have noticed anecdotally that a lot of friends, family, neighbors, and kids seem to be …
: Touch-A-Truck a Bubble Blast It’s been a favorite of my kids for a number of years, and from the looks of it Tuesday night, …
: Prince George's County passes rent stabilization On July 16, the Prince George County Council passed 10-0 a rent stabilization bill that had been in …
: Council Meeting - 22 Jul 2024 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: Safe Summer Nights Last night, I was happy to lend a small helping hand at Mayor Sydnor’s Safe Summer Nights …
: Random bump into The Laurel Independent team This morning, I happened to bump into members of the Board and Staff of The Laurel Independent while …
: Laurel Board of Trade - Business Networking event It was my pleasure to participate in Laurel Board of Trade’s (LBOT) Business Networking event …
: Voices of Laurel, Summer 2024 edition is out It’s one of those months where both of Laurel’s newspapers hit stands, and Voices of Laurel’s latest …
: The Laurel Independent, Jul 2024 edition is out The latest monthly edition of The Laurel Independent is out with lots of good information for …
: Follow Laurel's Socials for the Latest A great way to learn about upcoming events or stay in touch with what’s going on around Laurel …
: Gov. Moore proposes cutting state budget $150 million This week, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore proposed further cutting the state budget by $150 million in what …
: Council Meeting - 8 Jul 2024 See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest …
: July 4th Celebrations in Laurel! Growing up as a kid here in Laurel, I’ve long known that Laurel takes its July 4th fireworks …
: Council Work Session - 5 Jul 2024 I participated in my first Council Work Session immediately after my swearing-in ceremony. See the …
: Swearing-in Ceremony Memories Truly memorable for me to have my wife and little guys with me for the administration of the Oath of …
: Celebratory Drinks at Skyvibe! Following the results of Monday night’s election, friends and I went out for celebratory drinks at …
: Amazing, surreal, honored Amazing, surreal, honored. Three of the many emotions I felt tonight in the process of being …