Laurel news
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Never hesitate to call Laurel Police right away if you ever see something suspicious – You are part of their eyes and ears into what is going on around town, and they’d much rather send a police cruiser over to drive through an area and potentially prevent something that may happen (e.g., car theft, property damage, etc.) than have something happen and only learn after-the-fact. It’s a really a service to all of us as neighbors help keep each other safe – And you can post the Laurel “non-emergency” number right on your refrigerator or store in cell phone: 301-498-0092.
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Always keep alert to your surroundings as you’re out-and-about – For example, as you go to an ATM, take stock of what’s around as you approach, keep a sense of your environment while you’re there, and avoid walking away from the ATM looking down while counting your withdrawal, but keep your head and eyes up as great preventative measure.
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If you remember you left something of value on your car seat at night, it’s a good idea to go out and get it. Visible items are an easy mark. And just being sure to lock your car doors is important too. The Chief shared a story on how officers tracking suspicious individuals late at night simply going from car door to car door, until they found one that opened – Just a little bit of friction can go a long way.
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The Police Department will also be stepping up traffic enforcement from now through New Years – It’s notoriously the time of year the most accidents from being under the influence happen and they want to stay ahead of the curve. (Just this past week one of the officers himself was hit by a driver allegedly under the influence, totaling the police cruiser and sending the officer to the hospital, though thankfully recovering at home now.) So be smart and lets all help our friends and family be smart too – celebrating the holidays is so much better when we’re all together! :)
- The section for Rules 36-46 relate to those around Public Hearings.
- Rule 40 provides each member of the public three (3) minutes to share on their topic. (This is an increase from 2 minutes previously and reflects feedback from residents received over the past year.)
- Rule 40 also describes a new mechanism where, if 5 or more members of the public are present to speak on the same subject, they can designate one member representative to speak for a longer five (5) minutes.
- Rules of Order
- Open Meetings
- Notice of Special Meeting or Work Sessions
- Election of President
- Duties - President of the Council
- Agendas
- Conduct & Decorum of Members
- Standing Committees – City Council
- Order of Business
- Public Hearing
- Report of the Mayor and City Council
- Legislative Proceedings
- Introduction and Passage of Legislation
- Appeal
- Virtual & Video Meetings
- Filling a Vacancy of the Council
- City Council - Boards/ Commissions/ Committees
- Miscellaneous
- Details around the City’s support of Eric’s Law
- An overview of the Mayor’s new First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program
- Recaps Women Entrepreneur workshop, Hispanic Heritage celebration, Clergy leader gathering, and other City goings-on.
- Info on Small Business Saturday coming up Saturday, Nov 30.
- And more!
- Homebuyers must settle on an eligible home between October 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025.
- The purchased home must be located within the City of Laurel.
- Applicants must occupy the home as their primary residence within 60 days of settlement and for at least three years.
- The household income of all owners must not exceed $100,000 at the time of settlement.
- 5 Laurel-area churches have banded together to offer a “passport” among each church’s holiday bazaars: get yours punched at them all, and be entered for a $100. A great way to help local congregations, save a little on gifts for Christmas, and see your neighbors around town.
- A helpful overview plus voting guides for federal, state, and County elections coming up Nov 5.
- Executive Director Kit Slack recaps the survey results received on the coverage readers indicated they’d like from the Independent, and how the paper will continue to evolve in response.
- Updates to the Main Street Walking Tour, and how you can sign-up for one.
- The latest in City legislation, appointments, and meeting schedules for October and November.
- Both City and local organization event calendars. (Note: Oct 19 electronics recycling/ paper shredding, Oct 24 Main Street Trick-or-Treat, Nov 1 Hayride, and Dec 7 Holiday Parade & tree-lighting.)
- Community profiles, and much more!
- Recognizing Stillborn and Infant Loss Support (SAILS) as the latest recipient of the Laurel Lights award for being a beacon of hope and healing in the Laurel community.
- Recap’ing neighborhood highlights from around town, such memories from the 4th of July parade, the new Women’s Business Center at Savage Mill, tasty stories of Dirty Dough, the latest on new stores at Burtonsville Crossing, and profile of the Whittaker Sisters' Olympic run, among many others.
- Reminisces by County Councilman Tom Dernoga about when Laurel almost became home to Redskins stadium in 1994.
- An FREE invitation to a “Day at the Races” on October 26 hosted by Voices of Laurel.
- A profile of Oliviah Walton, the kicker on Palotti High School’s football team and all-around soccer athlete and student.
- Not to mention much, much more!
- Pictures from the City Strategic Plan launch with City staff along with the 4 initiatives identified in the Plan: (a) Sustainable development, (b) Effective communication, (c) Safe & health community, and (d) Premier workplace for City employees.
- Nifty clickable links to videos, such highlights from the 9/11 push-up challenge with the Mayor.
- Featured Laurel Board of Trade small businesses in town, such as Clyopatra Winery & Vineyard, Krafty Kre8tions, Chez Yiamme’s Catering & Functions, and Leda Rose Poduszka Agency.
- Announcement for the Hispanic Heritage Month event coming on Saturday, October 19 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Robinson Municipal Center.
- Updates on Main Street’s Outback Leather plans to come back even better than before after their recent fire (and ability to help displaced tenants via GoFundMe).
- Pics on Laurel High School’s new and slick $7 million athletic field.
- Uncovering of a beloved racing horse’s gravesite at Laurel Park.
- Great information on ways to volunteer in community organizations and the City via City’s Volunteering webpage.
- The Farmer’s Market is in its final month, every Thursday until Sep 26 at the Quill Lot on Main Street.
- Leaf vacuuming coming Oct 7; Main Street Trick-or-Treat coming Oct 24; and other fun City calendar events.
- And more!
- Updates from resident journalists covering their five Laurel areas,
- Fascinating snippets and reminisces from Laurel’s history,
- A warm send off for my predecessor, Councilman Carl DeWalt,
- Coverage of City of Laurel government developments,
- And more!
- New Maryland law passed outlawing “exhibition driving” and sponsored by our District 21 Maryland Delegate Mary Lehman
- A new President elected for The Woman’s Club of Laurel. (Proud to say my mom was a member many moons ago before her passing.)
- Coverage of our City’s Juneteenth celebration
- And other great articles of interest.
- Exercises good financial stewardship of the monies entrusted to the City by its residents
- Thinks to the future on how to lay a foundation on which residents can build true community
- Promotes a spirit of unity and collaboration
- Serves as a personal connection residents can reach out to for answers and to know that their voice is heard
Cautionary words from Laurel Police Chief
At last night’s Council Meeting, Laurel Police Chief Hamill shared notes and important reminders based on recent events and the upcoming holiday season, including:
Thank you Chief Hamill for these helpful and important reminders and for your and your team’s work to keep our community safe!
Breakdown of New proposed Council Standing Rules
At the coming Council Meeting on Monday, Nov 25, the Council will potentially vote on adopting new “Standing Rules” that govern the basic operations of the City Council and its meetings. Many of the items are heavily procedural, but there’s a couple items with impact to residents that I wanted to highlight for you:
For reference, the sections of the document are:
You can download a copy of the latest version as of today, and also look to the City of Laurel Official Meetings page for any updates that are included for consideration in future meetings.
Please reach out to me directly with any thoughts or feedback, and feel free to join us on Monday, Nov 25 to share your thoughts for Council on any item as well.
November 2024 issue of “Laurel Living”
The latest edition of Laurel Living, the official newsletter for the City of Laurel, is available today! – Highlights include:
Flip on through to see what’s been going on, and what’s ahead for the City. (Paper copies to be available at most City buildings, the Laurel Library, some senior centers, and other locations.)
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 First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program, designed to provide financial support to first-time homebuyers looking to purchase a home within the city limits of Laurel, Maryland.
Through this initiative, the City of Laurel has allocated $60,000 from its FY2025 budget to offer $5,000 grants to 12 qualified first-time homebuyers. These grants can be used to assist with down payments or closing costs on a single-family home, townhouse, or condominium within the city limits.
Key Eligibility Requirements:
See more details on the announcement page and, soon, on Department of Economic Development page.
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 the highlights I took note of:
Check out articles on Streetcar Suburbs News website and a full digital, flippable version should be posted soon to their Streetcar Suburbs News Issuu page — Physical copies also come via mail and are available in many hotspots around town. (Always good with a cup of coffee.) :)
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, and it packs lots of interesting and informative stories from around town, including:
Pickup a copy at one of the news stands around town (includes Municipal Center, Food Lion, Laurel & Russett libraries, & more) check out the PDF version online, or peruse the posts of the Voices of Laurel website.
While you’re there, perhaps even consider making a donation to this non-profit powered by volunteers - I know they’ll appreciate it! 👍
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 City of Laurel.
Some highlights from inside:
Flip on through and see the latest from the City team!
September Laurel Independent edition is out!
The September edition of The Laurel Independent is out — Some items that caught my attention:
Check out articles on Streetcar Suburbs News website and a full digital, flippable version should be posted soon to their Streetcar Suburbs News Issuu page — Physical copies also come via mail and are available in many hotspots around town. Thanks TLI!
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!
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 your eyes peeled for a new city grant program intended to give you some financial support to accomplish – The new Laurel ‘Thrive Small Business’ grant applications will open in September, so not much longer now. Details will be released by the Department for Economic & Community Development, so check in with them when the time comes.
I really believe small business are a key part of the unique personality that makes Laurel – a huge thank you to all the small businesses that build that community here, and happy to see the City continuing to create paths and space for the small business community to truly thrive!
Reminder: Council in Recess for August
Reminder that the Laurel City Council is in recess for the month of August, and our next regularly scheduled Council meeting will be the Work Session on Wednesday, September 4, followed by the Council Meeting (virtual) on Monday, September 9. (I’ll share details for these as separate posts once available.)
Many of the City’s Boards and Commissions are also in recess for the month, such as such as the Board of Appeals or the Historic District Commission.
Of course, there’s still plenty going on around town this month, and one of the places you can checkout is the Community Calendar maintained by The Laurel Independent (scroll towards the bottom and click on “Laurel” to expand).
Hope you’re enjoying your August & the final weeks of summer! 😃☀️
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 helpful to residents in the new Westside Development – That’s the one near the intersection of Van Dusen Road and Konterra Road.
Whether you’re from Ward 2, Ward 1, or the greater Laurel area, be sure to complete the online survey by Aug 30 – Around 6 simple questions that take 3 minutes, so pop on over there now to complete. :)
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 quarterly issue contains a host of topics including:
Voices of Laurel is always an interesting read where you can discover something new, you feel like you grow closer to Laurel’s past and present, and it is well produced by a committed group of volunteers. Check out this latest edition online, pick up a paper copy (my preference) at a local newspaper stand, and consider donating to the cause direct from their website.
The Laurel Independent, Jul 2024 edition is out
The latest monthly edition of The Laurel Independent is out with lots of good information for goings-on in Laurel. This month’s edition includes yours truly with coverage around my election and swearing-in, while also containing much more helpful information 😉 like:
One of the sections I like to peruse is the City’s Insert pages highlighting legislative actions as well as a handy Community Calendar where you can see what activities are coming up this and next month – For example, I see “Touch-A-Truck” is scheduled for July 23 from 6:30 - 8 p.m at Emancipation Park and it’s always a favorite of my little guys to come out and climb around rescue vehicles, tow trucks, John Deere tractors, and more.
For this and more, be sure to check out the edition in your mailbox, local retail store, or right online. And to donate to this community-supported journalism effort, be sure to visit the website of the non-profit publishing the paper, Street Car Suburbs.
Amazing, surreal, honored
Amazing, surreal, honored. Three of the many emotions I felt tonight in the process of being selected to fill the vacant Ward 1 seat on the City Council.
Thank you to the Council for your confidence. And thank you to the voters and residents for your support in last fall’s election - Although we came up just short at the time, your strong support in the last election cycle (highest among all unseated candidates) was a major factor in tonight’s result. Please accept my heartfelt thanks! :)
During my closing statement, I shared my vision for the role of a Councilmember - One who:
I now take it as my task to live these out on behalf of you and our City. And I want to encourage us all to continue building our friendships, churches, neighborhood organizations, small businesses, hobby clubs, civic organizations, and more — Each one of the small moments shared between people is truly what makes Laurel great!
And happy 4th of July! :)
(Photo credit: City of Laurel)
