City tips
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The Laurel Independent voting guide, including guide for judge elections (often harder information for voters to come by).
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Early voting started Oct 24 and ends this Thursday, Oct 31. The closest early voting site to Laurel is the Laurel-Beltsville Senior Center at 7120 Contee Road, open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. those days.
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You’ve probably already received your Sample Ballot in the mail, but you can also download a copy from the PG County Board of Elections page, which also includes other useful resources like ballot drop boxes and voter registration lookups.
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Election Day is Tuesday, Nov 5 and polls will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. that day – Identify your polling place to cast your vote using the Maryland Election Board lookup tool which also has a number of great references and resources. (Note: Your General Election polling place is most like not the same place you cast votes for the City of Laurel elections last year – so be sure to double-check if you’re unsure.)
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City Council meetings typically consist of: (a) Work Sessions, and (b) regular Council Meetings.
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“Work Sessions” are opportunities for Councilmembers to hash through details of bids, Ordinances, Resolutions, or other items that are under consideration, but no votes are cast in this type of meeting. They are typically held virtually on the 1st Wednesday of each month and are always open to the public to attend, but because of their nature, don’t contain a ‘public hearing’ component for the public to comment.
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“Council Meetings” are where agenda items for consideration are discussed further if needed, members of the public can attend and share their thoughts & insights, and votes are taken. These meetings typically occur on the 2nd Monday (virtually) and 4th Monday (in-person) of each month. (Pro Tip: Ordinances and Resolutions usually need to appear in two Council Meetings before a vote can be taken, while Bids need appear in one Council Meeting before being voted on.)
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Sometimes this normal schedule pattern of ‘1st Wednesday - 2nd Monday - 4th Monday’ has to be shifted due to holidays or other events that conflict. (For example, the ‘2nd Monday Council Meeting’ that would typically be on Oct 14 next month, will actually be on Oct 16 due to a holiday.) You can always see the latest meeting date/ information on the City’s official meeting page.
- 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!
- Age 8-17: $11 (covers Youth Drop-in Activities, Youth Open Gym Activities, & Open Game Room)
- Age 13-17: $77 (covers Fitness Room access only)
- Age 18-54: $117 (covers Adult Drop-in Activities, Adult Open Gym Activities, & Fitness Room access)
- Age 55+: $77 (covers Adult Drop-in Activities, Adult Open Gym Activities, & Fitness Room access)
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Some examples of Youth Drop-in Activities are: Games Club on Tuesday evenings, Friday Night Teen Club on Fridays, and Family Basketball on Sunday mornings. Add this to Youth Open Gym times and Open Game Room times, and you can get a great value for $11.
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Examples of Adult Drop-in Activities are: Basketball, Badminton, Danceroom, Pickleball, Indoor Walk-and-Talk, and Volleyball. Add this to Adult Open Gym times plus Fitness Room access, and you can also find yourself with a great value for $117 (or just $77 for 55+).
- City of Laurel Government: Useful for official meetings & city-wide announcements.
- Laurel Police Department: For police-sponsored community events or updates on law enforcement around town.
- Office of Emergency Management: For preparedness tips and alerts on current goings-on.
- Parks & Recreation: For all of the fun events hosted by our City for residents of all ages.
- Economic & Community Development: For the latest in local businesses, farmer’s market, and resident economic programs.
- LaurelTV: For real-time streaming of official meetings plus special programming featuring Laurel businesses, non-profits, residents & more.
Voting has Started for Nov 5 Elections
A few resources if helpful to you for the current voting season:
Hope that helps and here’s a great letterpress print by the ACPA that I love! :)
Council Meeting Schedule Explained + 2025 Calendar
“When are the meetings for City Council?" – I’ve gotten this question a few times over the last couple weeks and thought it’d be a perfect opportunity to share the ‘crib notes’ version 📝 of City Council meetings. :) –>
Hopefully the above is helpful to get an idea of the normal ‘rhythms’ of the meetings of City Council, and bonus material for you having read this far: 😉 Here’s an unofficial copy of the 2025 City Council calendar of meetings if you’d like to get yourself setup for the new year.
And of course, don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly any time if you have question – happy to be of service!
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 weekend to walk around their neighborhood picking up trash and helping things look tidy. Then afterwards, hosted brats and beverages so the dedicated crew could enjoy time just socializing together. It’s something she used to help spearhead before the days of COVID, and wanted to revive.
To me, that’s what Laurel is all about: folks reaching out to say “hi” to the neighbor next door or down the street, taking time to share some stories of what’s going in their lives, and even doing various things around town that help make a place a community.
Thank you to Kathie and all those who were able to come out on Saturday! And I know I find inspiration in it for myself as well – Doesn’t have to be something big, sometimes low-key/ no-frills is even better, but connecting with those around where you live in small ways is what helps create the welcoming sense of coming home all across Laurel.
(P.S., And if you’d like to have a simple ‘cleanup day’ in your neighborhood, also know the Parks & Rec Department has ready-to-go “Community Cleanup Kits” they’ll provide for free with easy-to-carry trash buckets, hand trash grabbers, and more. Simply give a ring at 301-725-7800 and they’ll get you setup!)
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 next Tue, Sep 3 and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
The grant amount is $10,000, is for a business in the City limits, and can be used toward equipment, furniture, remodeling, exterior renovations, and more. (Excluded items are payroll, architectural fees, rent, and others.)
Be sure to read the full requirements and have all your items ready, then head on over to the Thrive Small Business Grant page to submit your application.
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. :)
Modified Trash Schedule for Labor Day
Quick reference from the Department of Public Works for the modified trash schedule around the Labor Day holiday next week.
Enjoy your Labor Day Weekend everyone!
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 Admission Passes. These passes provide residents access to the amenities at both of Laurel’s two Community Centers (Laurel Armory & DiPietro Center) and the annual passes are priced at:
Options are also available at 6-mo., 3-mo., 1-mo., and Daily rates (plus adjusted rates for non-residents).
The best neighborhood resource for a fun outlet & healthy activities (plus the opportunity to make new friends) may be right around the corner from you - So if any of the above sounds up your alley, swing on over to the Parks & Rec Community Center’s page for more information or step on into one of the two Community Centers listed above to get your pass.
(Photo: City of Laurel)
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 is through the City’s social media streams. Whether Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), or Instagram, below are some helpful infographics prepared by our City team listing where to look. They include announcements from:
