Upcoming City events
- LVRS at 14910 Bowie Road
- LVFD at 7411 Cherry Lane
- We’ll meet and great at the Avondale parking area.
- Trash bags will be provided, as well as some tools, but if you have your own, please bring them. Please bring gloves.
- Kids are welcome to come with their parents.
- Students are welcome to come for service hours, but you must have your forms at the event for credit.
- Electronics: such as televisions, stereos, computers, game systems and their accessories.
- Sensitive papers: such as bank statements, medical bills, and other items you’d like securely shredded onsite. (X-rays and film also available, though will happen after-the-fact offsite.)
- Paint: latex, oil-based, and wood stains. (I know I’ve got some of these too.) This one does have a cost at $5/ quart or gallon.
- Lightly-used home goods: such as clothing, small appliances, and related. (GreenDrop Charity will be onsite to collect)
- Styrofoam: such as packaging, food containers, and packing peanuts.
- Free “Music at the Mansion” featuring Hispanic music Friday evening, Sep 27
- Harvest Moon Hayrides the evening for Friday, Nov 1 at Riverfront Park.
- Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting on Saturday, Dec 7 at the Armory.
- Teen trip to Hershey Park Halloween on Sunday, Oct 12.
- Martial Arts classes for kids aged 3-15.
- Couples Fight Night (learn self-defense as a couple) and Bio-fitness classes for adults.
- A Toby’s Dinner Theater night for seniors on Sat, Sep 28.
- And plenty more!
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, and Community Resource Fair. It’s free to the public and designed to help all high school students (whether going to LHS or other) to explore colleges, careers, and resources (like applying for scholarships) specially designed for them as they discern their path approaching the new chapters of their life.
I was pleased to play a small role last fall in the planning at the time I was a member of the City’s Education Advisory Committee (including some great new apprenticeship and other career resources), and it was great to see the energy and enthusiasm of the LHS staff members putting on the event, including Mrs. Rachel Mitchell.
Please be sure to pass word to any high school students in the area to encourage them to attend as I can guarantee they’ll come across something of interest or help to them – It’s often experiences like these that can help make a contact or discover something new that really makes a difference in a student finding a great path ahead!
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 outside, get some fresh air, and start the year off on a great foot!
From Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources:
First Day Hikes are part of a nationwide initiative led by America’s State Parks that encourages all 50 states to offer outdoor hiking opportunities on the first day of the new year! Join us in Maryland on January 1st for a hike at a state park near you.
For 2025, there will be three types of hikes available:
Ranger-led hikes: These hikes will be led by a Park Ranger, have specific start times, and many require pre-registration. Please read the details provided below carefully.
Self-guided hikes: These hikes will be available throughout the weekend on well-marked trails. Park staff and volunteers may be available to get you started but will not be joining you on the hike itself. Please read the details provided below carefully.
AllTrails-Guided: Maryland DNR has partnered with the AllTrails Public Lands Program to help Marylanders discover and navigate trails across our parks. Use AllTrails to navigate your hike and easily share your adventure on social!
First Day Hike “I Hiked” Stickers will be available at select locations while supplies last!
And of course, First Day Hikes can be taken wherever you preferred outdoor spot is as well. :)
You can check out Maryland DNR First Day Hike page for additional info and have some fun outdoors on January 1!
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.
Starting decades ago, churches in our community banded together to help provide a space for homeless in the winter months to avoid the dangerous overnight conditions, supported by volunteers from their congregations and in spaces the churches had. Called “Winter Haven”, this program has served hundreds over the years, and is now being facilitated at the Laurel Multiservice Center under the name “Laurel Winter Shelter” – BUT, it still relies exclusively on caring people in our community stepping forward to volunteer for evening check-in (7:30 - 10 p.m.) and/or overnight (10 p.m. to 8 a.m.).
Having done shifts at Winter Haven in the past, I can tell you, the lost sleep is hard - but it is truly worthwhile when compared to being able to provide a warm space folks can sleep for the night. There’s no special skills or training you need, food is already being taken care of separately, it’s really just each night a small band of people are needed to ensure we can keep this caring tradition going here in Laurel.
Please consider if there’s a night (or two) that you might spare between Jan 5 and Mar 31, and shoot an email to “lwsboard@groups.io” where Phillip Ott and the team at the Laurel non-profit Taking Care of Our Neighbors, Inc. will welcome you as a much-needed helping hand to join with.
Thank you!
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 there’s no purer antidote than helping give to someone you may never meet. 🙂
The crews at Laurel Volunteer Fire Department at Station 10 and Laurel Volunteer Rescue Squad Company 49 are challenging Laurel to help them Fill-A-Truck. Monetary or gift card donations are accepted, as well as traditional items like new toys, all sizes of new clothing, and non-perishable foods. Just stop by either station in Laurel anytime to drop off:
Questions can be directed to Clyde Williams of LVRS at 301-346-1839 or clydelvrs49 @aol.com.
Thank you to Clyde and the entire teams at both LVFD and LVRS! (And of course, keep your eye out for Santa coming around on a fire truck near you – check out LVFD’s Facebook page for the latest updates on where he’s making an appearance night-to-night.)
Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting Tomorrow, Dec 7!
Don’t forget that tomorrow, Saturday, Dec 7 is the annual City Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting!
The parade kicks off at 3:45 p.m. from the Municipal Center on Sandy Spring Road, will wrap around onto Montgomery Street, then end at the Laurel Amory at 4th & Montgomery. (Rumor has it that City Council has mini-candy canes for kids, so come see us on the parade route for your Christmas sugar boost!) 😉
And the tree lighting/ Armory illumination will happen at 5:15 p.m., marking the official start to the season for Laurel! :) But you’ll want to definitely take part in the photos with Santa, Christmas music, kids games, treats and more – so stick around for a spell and soak up some Christmas magic. 🎄✨
More details below and from Laurel Parks & Rec – See you there! 🎅
Nominate Your Neighbors for Christmas Decorating Contest!
We all love homes that go all-out decorating for Christmas 🎄✨🎅🦌– Let’s show them our love by submitting their name to Laurel Parks & Rec so they’ll be entered for some recognition! :)
Notice a great-looking house as you drive or walk by? – Then send an email to parks@laurel.md.us or give a ring to 301-725-7800. And no need to be a Grinch – nominate as many folks as you see & like! 😀 (Note: They do need to be within the City limits.)
More details below, and remember – get those nominations in before Dec 13 to be in time for the judging!
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 snacks, and most importantly: your Small Business Passport book!
Say “hi” to neighbors while enjoying this holiday weekend, then over the course of the coming weeks, stop in at Laurel small businesses for your shopping (Christmas or other) and get your passport book stamped. Collect enough stamps and you can submit for a prize – And in the process, discover some new gems we have here in town!
It’s a great way to celebrate the shops that make Laurel unique, to let them know we value what they bring to our town, and to support them so they can stay and be a part of the fabric that is our community – So stop by and I’ll see you there! 😀
(And thank you to Laurel’s Economic and Community Development team for making this possible + all the participating Laurel retail businesses!)
Stretch those legs at the LARS Turkey Trot this Thursday!
What would Thanksgiving be without a jaunt for the Laurel Advocacy & Referral Services (LARS) annual Turkey Trot – Celebrating their 20th anniversary this year! You can run, you can walk, and you’ll get a special commemorative 20th anniversary finisher medal (sure to be a collectible). 🏅😀
So head on over to the LARS Turkey Trot registration page, get yourself registered, and start the day off right on Thanksgiving helping others in need – it’s guaranteed to enhance the flavor your turkey and gravy when you sit down to dinner later in the day. 🦃🍗
The race starts at 8 a.m. at the McCullough Field in Old Town and afterwards you can even pop on over to Ragamuffins Coffee House on Main Street for a FREE drip coffee for showing your race bib ☕ – Now can’t beat that!
Spread Thanksgiving Blessings with Blessing Baskets
Thanksgiving is approaching quickly and is a great time of year to reflect on all the many true blessings we have that are so easy to forget in the hustle-and-bustle of day-to-day – things like food, shelter, family, community, health, freedom, faith, and more.
From that well of thankfulness, it’s only natural to want to give and share – The original Thanksgiving itself was in its ideal form a coming together of peoples to share what they had in the common fellowship of life. Your church and many of our Laurel-based non-profits have great outlets to link arms with community to do so, and I also wanted to share about a newer one organized by Mike Mondy and The Moving in Maryland Group of Keller Williams Realty: Laurel Blessing Baskets.
The Laurel Blessing Baskets drive encourages folks to assemble a laundry basket of goods for a Thanksgiving meal (and optionally, some helpful home items) to help families in need. You can assemble and/or drop-off your basket of goods on Wednesday, Nov 20 from 4 p.m. - 9 p.m. at KB Karnival Hall located at 555 Main Street (drive around to the backside off Main Street) where others will also be mingling. And if you’re unable to make it but still want to be a part, you can also contribute to the drive’s GoFundMe campaign.
“A thankful heart is a happy heart” ❤️ - I guarantee finding a way, small or big, to bless someone this Thanksgiving will help make your family’s Thanksgiving all the more full as well. 🙂🦃
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 helping place flags on graves at the Ivy Hill Cemetary. 🇺🇸 You’ll be joining with others in our community helping to honor veterans for their service and expressing our thanks as a community for their sacrifice that has made possible the freedoms we enjoy today as a nation.
Thank you to all who have served! - We treasure your service. 🫡❤️🙏
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 invasive vines at Riverfront Park plus pickup trash on Main Street — a “choose your own adventure” as the event listing says. 😀
From the event page:
Check out the link above for more details, and come on out to enjoy the beautiful weather while being a part of helping beautify our City! ☀️
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 emptying :) – Mark your calendars for next Saturday, October 19 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. to empty your house (or local business) of:
This service is only available to Laurel City residents or businesses in the City, so be sure to have your driver’s license (with address) on hand or mail addressed to the City of Laurel business location.
More details (including a map to confirm you’re in the City) are available Department of Public Works Event Page – so gather some things together this coming week, and be free of them come next Saturday! 🧹😀
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 FREE half-day, in-person workshop at the Laurel Municipal Center on October 16 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This looks like a great opportunity and from the event page:
The Total Package is a hands-on workshop tailored for women entrepreneurs aiming to elevate digital marketing for their small businesses, implement effective public relations strategies, and refine their personal brand and style. Engage in interactive sessions led by industry experts covering topics including: developing your brand online, creating engaging social media content, mastering storytelling in public relations, and defining your “Signature CEO Style.” The Total Package empowers women small business owners to enhance their visibility, influence, and success in their respective industries and fields.
Space is limited, so if you’re interested, I encourage you to apply today! (applications accepted on a rolling basis)
Multi-service Center launches today
Today is the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of the Laurel Multi-Service Center and the August edition of The Business Monthly newspaper has a great write-up describing the origins and plans for use of the space.
… providing a central location for a variety of human services and space for new self-sufficiency and transitional housing programs. It’s designed to streamline service provision, limit transportation barriers, and improve access to services.
Among the services identified:
catering and prepared meals, mail services, a barber and hair salon, a food pantry, a job training and learning center, a medical suite, clothing distribution center, laundry room, and shower facilities.
There is also a gymnasium side of the building that houses shared office space and provides a venue for health fairs, fundraisers, and other community activities. On the housing side of the building is a men and women’s shelter space featuring cots and other amenities that will provide respite on excessively cold or hot days, and overnight, temporary shelter during the winter months (the Winter Haven program you may be familiar with).
Both City Departments and local nonprofits like Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services (LARS) and FISH of Laurel will collaborate to provide the services.
Additional details are available in the article linked above, and be sure to tune in to City media channels to see more of the ribbon-cutting event, and look for various of the operations to come online over the months ahead. This looks to be a great service to the City and its people!
Fall Parks & Rec Activities Announced!
Resident should see in their mailbox this week the latest Parks & Rec brochure for fall activities. Whether fall community events, adult or youth trips, fall sports leagues, the City’s pre-school program or more, there’s sure to be something for everybody. :)
Some highlights that caught my attention:
Be sure to peruse your copy in the mail (or browse online) then mark your calendars for your favorite community events and even sign up for class or two to have some fun this fall. :)
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 enforcement groups we have here in Laurel – It’s a great night to be out for Laurel Police’s ‘41st National Night Out’ event at Granville Gude Park at Laurel Lakes from 6 - 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug 6.
We have a truly great law enforcement crew and it’s good to get to know them, get some tips about safety, and also learn about what services are available to you as a resident of Laurel.
Plus, did I mention -> the hot dogs! 🌭😉
