A Christmas Reflection

Christmas is a time to reflect on life. Somehow, most of society mutually agrees that we should take time aside, pause, and celebrate the transcendent.
Sure, there’s cookies, wine, eggnog, gift wrapping, and more. But they seem to come from some thing different; they aren’t the thing itself, but something connected to ‘the thing’.
A part of us senses about life that there’s gotta be something more, something it’s all about. I once heard humans described as ‘meaning-seeking’ creatures, and after reflecting on, it stuck - we are: we look for purpose, for significance, for meaning. We know our struggles, our joys, our connections, our yearnings, they’re linked to some thing.
This time of year, that thing seems to have a peculiar palpability — it feels closer to our touch, within reach for us to grasp. Maybe it’s because there seems to be an extra dose of ‘good will’ in the air. Or maybe it’s connected to the sparkling lights we see here and there. Or the scents, sounds, and shuffling about on errands for others instead of ourselves.
Whatever it is, it feels ‘with us’. It draws us closer if we’re attentive, waiting. Like the bright star piercing the night sky, crossing the expanse of the universe, traveling at the speed of light … all to be seen by our eyes, to fill us with a glow, to bring a smile to our faces. There, as we stand in the midst of the cold night, warmth is felt, we get a glint, a reflection.
Then we go back inside, hug those who are closest to us, and hold that moment in our souls, keeping its embers alive and rekindling the fire for the night ahead.
~*~
May his peace be with you this Christmas and all the nights of the year, and wishing you health & true prosperity in the new year ahead!
Historical Society / Eagle Court / Police Academy Highlights & Pics
»Laurel Historical Society Christmas Celebration«
It was a pleasure to spend time with the dedicated volunteers of the Laurel Historical Society as they marked the end of a great year of exhibits and programs helping preserve and promote Laurel’s unique history. In addition to the tasty cookies and the opportunity to revisit the hilarious pictures of the “Awkward Photos” exhibit (last day available Dec 22, from 1-4p), LHS also has a new Christmas ornament this year as part of its long-running series, this one featuring the trolley last used to run from what is now Oliver’s Tavern on Main Street all the way down into DC circa 1920s. You can pickup yours by swinging by their gift shop or ordering from their online store. And mark those calendars for the always anticipated Annual Gala, this year scheduled for May 4!

»Eagle Court of Honor: Vincent Caridi«*
I remember back when I earned my Eagle Scout award from Troop 259 here in Laurel on Main Street, and the citations and recognitions received from various public officials. So it was very surreal, and an honor, 28 years later to join with my fellow Councilman Mills at the Eagle Court of Honor of Vincent Caridi of Troop 1250 at a different section of Main Street and to share a citation and a ‘key of Laurel’ pin with the honoree. It was clear from memories and stories shared by friends and family at the Court of Honor recognition ceremony, that Vincent has grown and benefitted immensely from the Scouting program, and lives out the values and traditions of serving others. Congratulations Vincent!

(Photo credit: Councilman Mills)
»Laurel Police Community Academy Graduation«
If you have any interest in what a real ‘day-in-the-life’ of a police officer is like, or curious about neat things like evidence collection, safe use of firearms, or police ‘ride alongs’, you’ve got to check out the Laurel Police Department’s Community Police Academy! I truly enjoyed meeting the latest class of graduates during their recognition dinner and ceremony recently, and to a one, they shared how much they had gained through the program both in the neat things they got to do, and also in the new found perspective they have on what police officers handle on a day-to-day. Each of them also thanked our officers for being there to protect and serve our residents. (And keep an eye on Laurel Police’s Facebook page and other social media for announcements around the next class starting soon!)

(Photo credit: Laurel Police’s Department)
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 “Big Guy” (Santa) for this year’s Christmas Parade. One of the highlights for me was the community groups that come out to participate in the parade, this year including the American Legion Riders, the Laurel Boys & Girl Club Wildcats, neighborhood families with angel costumes, our emergency response teams at Laurel Volunteer Fire Department and Laurel Volunteer Rescue Squad, and more. If you’ve thought about entering your group into one of the City’s parade, let me be an encouragement to you to do it - it’s a lot of fun and a great way to share! :)




(Photo credit: City of Laurel)
»Pearl Harbor Remembrance by American Legion Post 60«
Right before the parade, I was also honored to join with the American Legion Post 60 Color Guard to mark the remembrance of ‘a day that shall live in infamy’, the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec 7, 1941. Thank you to John Musgrove and the Guard for bringing solemnity to the memory of those who sacrificed for our country that day.

(Photo credit: American Legion)
»Winter Market«
This is the first year the City has hosted a “Winter Market”, and it was great to see small business vendors and crafters selling their wares at the Quill Lot on Main Street. The Winter Market builds on the success of the Farmer’s Market earlier this year, and I hope to see it back as an event next year as I know many more folks had hoped to make it. (And I’ve shared the idea with the City team to perhaps even hold it in tandem with Small Business Saturday activities as a great tie-in.) I showed up at the Market at just the perfect time, as the skies were beautiful overhead with the warm bursts of sunset colors: amazing! :)

»Christmas Tree Lighting & Armory Illumination«
Our Parks & Rec team continues to out-do themselves with the wonderful display they put up at the Laurel Armory – And a lucky young participant got to be the ‘official tree lighter’ by flipping the switch that started all the magic – She was the cutest and did a great job! I was able to capture a video of some of the special effects too, including ‘snow’ coming from the rooftop of the Armory. It was great to see all the families who came out for the event, the kids having fun with the activities inside the Armory, photos with Santa, and more. It’s a great and memorable way to kick-off the holiday season here in Laurel!

(Photo credit: City of Laurel)
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 appointed by the Mayor to the Historic District Commission (HDC), and tonight marks my first meeting.
The HDC was established in 1975 ‘to promote the preservation of Laurel’s historic sites and buildings in order to safeguard the heritage of the City’s built environment’. As many folks may be aware, while Laurel was incorporated 154 years ago in 1870, its roots trace back even further into the mid-/late-1700s and in its early life it was called ‘Laurel Factory’ for the factory and mill located along the banks of the Patuxent River.
The Historic District itself is comprised of seven individual, but contiguous, districts illustrated below and the HDC follows the design guidelines listed in Article I, Div. 14 of the City’s Unified Land Development Code.

If anyone has any questions, suggestions, ideas, or other as they related to the HDC, Laurel’s history, or other, please do not hesitate to reach out to me and I’m happy to be of assistance, and additional information about the Historic District Commission can also be found on its page on the City’s website.
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 Prince George’s County level – the gist:
- With County Executive Angela Alsobrooks' election to the U.S. Senate and County Councilmember Jolene Ivey’s election to the At-Large seat from District 5, there are two open roles: County Executive & District 5.
- March 4 is set for the Primary Election
- And May 27 is set for the General Election
So keep an eye on your mailbox for election ballots (and since Laurel is in District 1, the ballot would only expected to contain County Executive voting).
More details available in the TLI article and I’ll also look forward to their coverage of the County Executive candidates.

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 of the highlights:
- A tribute to Marcus Colbert by his sister, Cynthia Colbert, who recently released a book remembering and honoring him.
- A call to help staff our Winter Shelter at the new Multiservice Center – If you have the ability to volunteer for a night or overnight sometime between Jan 5 to Mar 31, please wholeheartedly consider signing up for one of the 420 time slots (email [email protected]).
- Historical recognition for Laurel’s black community in Bacontown.
- Highlights from Laurel’s Small Business Saturday program.
- Many upcoming events like: “Christmas Carol” at Laurel Mill Playhouse weekends of Dec 13 & 20, Wreaths Across America on Dec 16, Photos with Santa opportunity on Dec 23, Free viewing of “The Grinch” at Partnership Hall on Dec 23, Christmas tree collections starting Jan 8
- And much, much more!
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.🔥And consider donating in support of local journalism, it’s needed!

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 hold any improvements – The State of Maryland is expecting about a $1 billion deficit in the current year, it’s expected to grow to $2.7 billion the next two years, and continues on a pace all the way to $5.9 billion by 2030 (only six years away). Those numbers are per year, so they stack on top of each other the more time goes by.

The main squeeze comes from spending commitments made the last couple years combined with revenue stagnation – As reports from the Maryland Comptroller’s Office have revealed, the wage income, business income, and sales tax income have not been strong, and Maryland is lagging behind many other states in its exit from COVID-era disruptions. Here’s a Maryland growth outlook chart I picked up from Maryland’s Director of Bureau of Revenue Estimates, Mr. Robert J. Rehrmman at the Maryland Municipal League Fall Conference:

As you can see, Maryland is limping along at somewhere between 2-3% growth, and the component from Personal Income Tax (darker blue) is shrinking. This is nowhere near what’s needed to fund spending commitments, and is even further compounded by Maryland’s dependence on the federal sector as the specter of looming federal layoffs and cutbacks in federal contractor spending will drive a further stake in Maryland revenue sources.
Of course, my focus as a Councilman is on the impacts to Laurel, and as a City, we’re currently beginning our annual budgeting process headed up by the Mayor’s Office and driven by the Budget & Personnel Department. The City team is assessing risk exposure, stress testing funding, and evaluating spending priorities. And as a Councilman, my focus is to help contribute to the team conversation with the aim that we don’t find ourselves in a situation similar to the State. The full numbers aren’t yet available for Council review, but know that it is definitely top of mind. And please feel free to share your thoughts, questions, and observations into the process.
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:
- LVRS at 14910 Bowie Road
- LVFD at 7411 Cherry Lane
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.)

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 suspending rules that safeguard the passage of legislation. Those rules call for two “hearings” before a vote can be taken on Resolutions, and the Council was short-circuiting that to one. For anyone who may be interested further on why, I’ve provided the below.
Big picture:
- Ultimately, our City belongs to the people. And rules around our City’s legislative process are put in place to ensure that all residents: (a) are allowed adequate notice about what’s going on in their city, and (b) are provided adequate time to reach out to their representatives to share their thoughts and have those integrated into the decision-making process.
- Especially when situations impose new requirements on citizens, or when there’s a material commitment being made by the City, these changes are required to have two (2) “hearings” – This means that the agenda item has to appear in two separate meetings and the public provided two separate opportunities to comment, propose changes, disagree, support, etc.
- Occasionally, an emergency or other compelling circumstance may arise where the legislature may consider suspending the rules to avoid adverse impacts that might otherwise occur. To accomplish, a majority of the body must vote in favor to ‘suspend the rules’.
- Absent those types of scenarios, in my opinion, a legislature should not invoke suspension powers out of respect for the prerogative of the people.
Particular to tonight’s agenda:
- I learned 2-3 hours before the meeting that Council would be considering suspending the required two-hearing rule for the four Resolutions on the agenda.
- The circumstance cited was that our normal Second Meeting of the month had been cancelled (and not rescheduled), since it fell on the Monday of Christmas week.
- In my judgment, our resident’s rights aren’t any less in December simply because Council opts to cancel its second meeting.
- In the short time left before the meeting, I was able to confirm from our legal counsel that there would be no adverse impact to taking up the affected Resolutions at our next scheduled Regular Meeting on January 13 as normally required. Two of the Resolutions related to the DROP program, and it was very important to me that Police and City employees rights were protected.
- The DROP program is the Deferred Retirement Option Plan and it was being considered for extension for four years. The final bits of the program had just been shared with me over the weekend, and I was in the process of digesting the information, hearing others’ thoughts, and arriving at a vote decision.
In my opinion, the safeguards around the passage of legislation exist for a reason, and that is to ensure the people have their voice. To me, even if many times no one is present in the room, we always need keep them forefront in our mind and protect their space for whenever it is needed.
I like to think of it like the old Motel 6 commercial, grounded in good hospitality: “We’ll keep the light on for you.” To me, when we short-circuit the rules, we usurp the power that is the people’s. And absent a sufficiently compelling reason, we’ve sacrificed for convenience’s sake the very trust we purport to uphold.
Preserving the Beauty of our Night Sky
Earlier this fall, a resident shared with me a resource she found called Dark Sky International – I then ran into it again a month later at the Smithsonian’s Natural History Museum when I visited with my son for his birthday. Wouldn’t it be cool if our city’s night sky looked like this?

This is Flagstaff, Arizona – The first city certified in the U.S. as a “Dark Sky Community” in 2001. The idea is that with thoughtful lighting both from municipality and residents, we can all look up at night and marvel at the sky. 🙂🔭 (Btw, did anyone catch the aurora borealis earlier this year?)
A big part is just knowing the basics, like: (a) what types of lights are best, and (b) the 5 principles of outdoor lighting, as illustrated below:


And there’s absolutely no need to sacrifice safety – In fact, studies show that properly lighted areas that aren’t ‘over-lit’ are actually safer for pedestrians, homeowners, and businesses. (Ever get blinded by a car’s headlight at night and couldn’t see anything around the perimeter of the lit area? – Same thing can happen around your house or business.)
Dark Sky’s website has a plethora of resources, like:
- A list of lighting products
- Helpful fact sheets to educate yourself
- Sample municipal codes
- Success stories
- And more …
So hopefully something in here has sparked your interest too, to search for and help preserve our ability to wonder at the sparks of beauty in our night sky! 🌃
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 happened to be walking from the Winter Market on Main Street to the Armory on Montgomery for the tree lighting ceremony, and it was drop-dead gorgeous. Multiple times, I couldn’t take any more than 10 steps and I just had to stop, admire, marvel, and smile. 😀
I tried to capture a few photos shared here below, but believe it or not, these don’t do it a full justice. In any event, I hope you enjoy, and it was beautiful reminder to me always look up to appreciate! :)



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 for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me as your voice helps me shape legislation and decisions.
AGENDA
- Call to Order - Council President Kyla Clark
- Roll Call - Sara A. Green, CPM, CMC, City Clerk
- Approval of Minutes: November 25, 2024 Regular Meeting; December 4, 2024 Work Session
- Report of the Mayor and City Council
- Mayoral Appointments: Michael Gray, Tree Board, 12/09/2024-12/09/2026; Donica Sutton, Education Advisory Committee, 12/09/2024-12/09/2026
- General Public Hearing
- Bid Recommendation- First Street Improvements- Department of Public Works
- Sole Source Purchase Recommendation-Ongoing City-wide Replacement of Existing Street Lighting Project- Department of Public Works
- Bid Recommendation- Lafayette Avenue Improvements- Department of Public Works
- Architectural and Engineering Firms Contract Continuation Recommendation- Department of Public Works
- Introduction and First Public Hearing on Resolution No. 5-2024- A Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland Creating the Master Plan Review Committee and Providing an Effective Date
- Introduction and First Public Hearing on Resolution No. 6-2024- A Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland Declaring a Temporary Moratorium Regarding the Processing of Zoning Matters within the City of Laurel, Maryland and Providing an Effective Date
- Introduction and First Public Hearing on Ordinance No. 2033- An Ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland to Amend the City of Laurel Police Retirement Plan to Extend the Deferred Retirement Option Plan
- Introduction and First Public Hearing on Ordinance No. 2034- An Ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland to Amend the City of Laurel Employees Retirement Plan to Extend the Deferred Retirement Option Plan
- Adjournment
Watch live online via LaurelTV or the MyLaurel app, or on your TV via Comcast Channel 996 (HD)/ 71 (SD) or Verizon FiOS Channel 12. And if you’d like to register to speak, simply reach out to the City Clerk’s office.

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! 🎅
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: Rain cannot dampen the spirits of the dedicated runners nor the LARS volunteers for their annual Turkey Trot, a Laurel tradition now reaching it’s 20th year. I was all prepared to steel myself against the elements and grind through lending a hand awarding medals at the finish line, but I got so pumped and buoyed seeing the energy, enthusiasm, and fun that was being had that I left the morning with more energy than I started and a great way to kick off Thanksgiving morning with the fam'. :) Thanks LARS for the invitation to come out and join you, thank you runners for your support of this great organization – you all are making a difference our community! (Check out the LARS website for the multitude of ways you can join forces to help them combat hunger and homelessness in our community.)



Blessing Baskets
A shout to Mike Mondy of Moving in Maryland realty for his initiative and happy to have been just a small part of his huge effort in organizing the 2nd annual Blessing Baskets campaign. Coordinating with local schools, friends, businesses and community members across town, the campaign was able to assemble over 200 baskets to share with local families in need during the holidays. There was great energy and great people making a great impact – what being a good neighbor is all about. I also got to meet LaNita Cousin, the small business owner of KB Karnival Hall off Main Street where Blessing Baskets was hosted – she’s renovated the space over the last few years and provides a great venue to birthday parties, sweet 16s, small wedding receptions, and more, so be sure to check out the link if you’re in need!


Small Business Saturday
And last Saturday I headed on out to Laurel’s Small Business Saturday event at the Quill Lot on Main Street hosted by the Economic & Community Development department – There I was able to pickup the Small Business Passport book, where residents can collect stamps from small businesses around town and enter the completed book for prizes. (Don’t forget to drop yours off at the Municipal Center by this weekend to count!) Thanks Director Burrough and Economic Development Coordinator Sadaf Parveen for braving the cold. And I was so lucky to be walking down Main Street right after and wander into the awesome candy shop Gladley’s who are open special for the holiday season with all their delicious treats – You just gotta try their Chew La La (caramel taken to another level) or their Laddie cookie or their My Oh Mys, and more. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed with anything you get there! 🍬🍫


Maryland Municipal League (MML) follow-up
Lastly (and if you’ve read this far, thank you!) :), MML released some additional photos from the Leadership Conference I was at earlier this fall that I just had to share – Both for the education sessions I was in (I think the one I’m pictured asking a question in was on ‘Risk Management for Municipalities’) and for the time to connect with municipal leaders both inside and outside Laurel.



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 [email protected] 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!
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 for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to myself and members of the Council as we want to serve you and the people of Laurel.
AGENDA
- Call to Order - Kyla Clark, Council President
- Bid Recommendation- First Street Improvements- Department of Public Works
- Sole Source Purchase Recommendation-Ongoing City-wide Replacement of Existing Street Lighting Project- Department of Public Works
- Bid Recommendation- Lafayette Avenue Improvements- Department of Public Works
- Architectural and Engineering Firms Contract Continuation Recommendation- Department of Public Works
- Resolution No. 5-2024- A Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland Creating the Master Plan Review Committee and Providing an Effective Date
- Resolution No. 6-2024- A Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland Declaring a Temporary Moratorium Regarding the Processing of Zoning Matters within the City of Laurel, Maryland and Providing an Effective Date.
- Ordinance No. 2033- An Ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland to Amend the City of Laurel Police Retirement Plan to Extend the Deferred Retirement Option Plan
- Ordinance No. 2034- An Ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland to Amend the City of Laurel Employees Retirement Plan to Extend the Deferred Retirement Option Plan
Watch live online via LaurelTV or the MyLaurel app, or on your TV via Comcast Channel 996 (HD)/ 71 (SD) or Verizon FiOS Channel 12. And if you’d like to register to speak, simply reach out to the City Clerk’s office.

“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 watching Ben Rector’s “The Thanksgiving Song”. He’s an artist we’ve really enjoyed as a family, and he wrote this song during COVID - It expresses so many sentiments from then and now that help set the stage and day for Thanksgiving. We hope you enjoy it too, and all your family’s Thanksgiving traditions as well!
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!)

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:
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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! :)
Thank you Chief Hamill for these helpful and important reminders and for your and your team’s work to keep our community safe!

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!
