12-2023 The Laurel Independent by Streetcar Suburbs News

INSIDE Festive time at the Armory lighting, P.8 Editorial on city’s election rules, P.10 Living Hope Church helps those in need, P.11

VOL. 2 NO. 12

DECEMBER 2023

LAUREL’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

Vehicle slams into Laurel Tavern Donuts By BOB REILLY

A car crashed into Laurel Tavern Donuts on Nov. 30. COURTESY OF BOB REILLY

On Nov. 30, at approximately 8 a.m., a Honda traveling southbound on Route 1 in Laurel crashed into the side of the Laurel Tavern Donuts building. Both the vehicle and building sustained major

damage. It was reported on the scene that one person received minor injuries, The business is located at 115 Washington Boulevard. The Maryland Historical Trust lists the building as a historic site. From 1940 until 2006, the

building was home to the Little Tavern, a popular fast food and beverage business chain serving Baltimore and the DMV. In 2008, Wil and Jin Kwon purchased the building and opened Laurel Tavern Donuts. SEE CRASH ON 3 

nonprofit Sydnor sworn in as Laurel’s mayor Laurel makes a big By MELANIE DZWONCHYK

Keith Sydnor took the oath of office as Laurel’s mayor, and five councilmembers were sworn in on Monday, Nov. 27, in the council chambers at the Joseph R. Robison Laurel Municipal Center. Two back-to-back council meetings were held that evening, attended by a standing room only crowd of supporters and family members that filled the chambers. The first was the final meeting of Mayor Craig Moe and Ward 1 councilmembers Carl DeWalt and James Kole, Ward 2 councilmembers Sydnor and Brencis Smith, and Martin Mitchell (At-Large). Smith and Mitchell ran unsuccessfully for mayor, and win or lose, they gave up their council seats. Each councilmember was recognized for their work during the last two-year term, and the outgoing mayor received recognition from county and state officials as well as from the council. Following adjournment sine die (Latin for without a day), the second meeting began with Sydnor being sworn in as mayor by Mahasin El Amin, clerk of the court for Prince George’s County. Sydnor said in his remarks after the swearing-in, “Please hold me accountable because I work for you.” He recognized supporting the city’s youth as his top priority, saying he wants to get programs in place that will support youngsters and teens. Then Sydnor offered the oath of of-

diﬀerence for a small country By JESSIE NEWBURN

Keith Sydnor is sworn in as Laurel’s mayor by Mahasin El Amin, clerk of the court for Prince George’s County, while his mother, Alice Smith, holds the Bible. COURTESY OF THE CITY OF LAUREL.

fice to each of the newly elected councilmembers, one at a time: DeWalt and Kole, re-elected to represent Ward 1; Kyla Clark and Jeffrey Mills, newly elected represent Ward 2; and new at-large councilmember Christine Johnson. DeWalt has served on the city council since 2017, and Kole

has served since 2021. Councilmembers then took their seats on the dais, and a motion to elect Kole as council president moved with Mills and DeWalt voting no, Clark and Johnson voting yes, and Sydnor, as mayor, breaking the 2-2 tie. As the new council president, Kole then appointed

Clark as council president pro tem. Clark will act as council president in Kole’s absence. Among those offering well wishes and proclamations was Hyattsville Mayor Robert Croslin, who presented a proclamation saying the two municipalities are partners in their work.

In January 2022, an underwater volcano erupted off the shores of the Kingdom of Tonga, an archipelago nation of more than 170 islands, many inhabited; with a population of around 100,000. The volcano caused a 66-foot tsunami that decimated an uninhabited island and destroyed many structures in populated areas. It was one of the largest and loudest atmospheric explosion recorded by modern instrumentation. When the volcano erupted, the only secular nonprofit that included the word Tonga in its name was Friends of Tonga (FoT), a small, Laurel-based nonprofit. Overnight, FoT was suddenly on the radar of international aid organizations and philanthropic efforts offering support to the island nation. “Tonga gets clumped in with regional aid programs, but because of its small size, distant location, and extremely small SEE NONPROFIT ON 7 

INSIDE: THE DECEMBER 2023 ISSUE OF THE LAUREL LEDGER HYATTSVILLE MD PERMIT NO. 1383

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Page 2

The Laurel Independent | December 2023

FROM THE EDITOR

Give today to support your local paper W

ith a new year fast approaching, I took a moment to look over the events of 2023 as reported in The Laurel Independent. There was news: A new medical center opened, a former police chief was convicted of arson, the city’s Department of Public Works formed a union, a new mayor was elected and there were celebrations — Laurel Community Garden turned 10, the farmers market returned to Main Street, and the Laurel Multiservice Center opened. The paper also brought you features on a number of nonprofits, festivals and local businesses.

We rely on the Laurel community to fill our pages; volunteer writers submit stories, and local businesses purchase ad space. Now, we are asking our readers to help us in our fundraising efforts, too. The Laurel Independent and its umbrella nonprofit, Streetcar Suburbs Publishing, are participating in NewsMatch, a fundraising initiative sponsored by the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN). Now through Dec. 31, INN will match all donations to The Laurel Independent up to $13,000. Our goal for local donations this year is $15,000.

With additional funding, we hope to expand our coverage of government and education developments, fulfill our goal of adding Spanish-language content and to bring hyperlocal news to every home in Laurel, every month. You can donate online using the QR code posted here, or you can send a check to Streetcar Suburbs Publishing, P.O. Box 132, Hyattsville, Md. 20781. We look forward to serving you in 2024, and for many years to come! Katie V. Jones, managing editor The Laurel Independent

SCIENCE OF THE CITY

To save lives, get serious about addressing speeding This fourth and last article in our series about traffic fatalities in Prince George’s County examines why technically easy solutions are so politically difficult.

etween 2018 and 2022, the Zero Deaths Maryland Fatal Crash Dashboard, which tracks every traffic death in the state and its cause, reported that Prince George’s County had approximately 58% more crashes than Montgomery County (97,094 vs. 61,263), despite having about 100,000 fewer residents. Earlier articles in this series explained that Prince George’s County has more roads that combine high speeds with stoplights, along with fewer drivers and passengers using their seatbelts. But what turns 58% more crashes into 179% more traffic deaths (578 vs. 207)? It’s not people driving drunk or high. Montgomery County had 64% more crash-related deaths due to impairment (28 vs. 17). “The

biggest problem is speed,” said the Rev. Robert Screen, who has spent years fighting traffic deaths on Indian Head Highway. Between December 2022 and March 2023, 58 drivers were clocked at over 100 mph on that route, with one muscle car hitting 170. “Whether drivers are aggressive, distracted or drunk, speeding amplifies minor mistakes into injuries and fender benders into fatalities,” he said. “We just don’t take speeding seriously.” One proof of this is that Maryland’s speeding laws are much weaker than those in neighboring states. In Virginia, going 20 mph over the speed limit, or over 80 mph anywhere, is considered reckless driving — a crime that can land you in jail. In Delaware, going over 90 mph is deemed reckless, while in Pennsylvania, 30 mph over the speed limit is flagged. But in Maryland, there is no rate of speed that is automatically conManaging Editor Katie V. Jones

A community newspaper chronicling the people and events of Laurel, Maryland. Mailing address: PO Box 132, Hyattsville, MD 20781 The Laurel Independent is published monthly by Streetcar Suburbs Publishing., a 501(c)(3) nonproﬁt corporation. Editors welcome reader input, tips, articles, letters, opinion pieces and photographs, which may be submitted using the mailing address above or the email addresses provided.

StreetcarSuburbs.News

Katie@streetcarsuburbs.news

Associate Editor Nancy Welch

Nancy@streetcarsuburbs.news

Columnists Jimmy Rogers, Paul Ruﬃns Writers & Contributors Melanie Dzwonchyk, Katie V. Jones, Joe Murchison, Jessie Newburn, Bob Reilly, Aiesha Solomon Layout & Design Editors Ashley Perks, Valerie Morris Web Editor Jessica Burshtynskyy Advertising Sales Manager Amanda Berard advertising@streetcarsuburbs.news 240.408.0722

sidered a crime or considered reckless driving. According to Wayne Curtis, a professor at the University of Maryland School of Architecture and Planning, reducing speeding requires both changes in roadway engineering to calm traffic and increased law enforcement. “I am a strong fan of roundabouts and speed bumps,” Curtis said. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), properly designed roundabouts, also known as traffic circles, are much safer for motorists and pedestrians (though maybe not cyclists) than stoplight intersections, while handling the same volume of traffic. By forcing every car to slow down and turn, traffic circles reduce both the chances and the impact of crashes, particularly head-on and T-bone collisions, which are the deadliest. And speed bumps effectively reduce speeding while delaying emergency vehicles by only 10 Business Manager Catie Currie Executive Director Kit Slack Board of Directors

President: Stephanie Stullich Vice President & General Counsel: Michael Walls Treasurer: Joe Murchison Secretary: Melanie Dzwonchyk Bette Dickerson, Nora Eidelman, Joseph Gigliotti, Maxine Gross, Merrill Hartson, Marta McLellan Ross, T. Carter Ross Ex Officios: Katie V. Jones, Griffin Limerick, Paul Ruffins, Kit Slack Circulation: Copies are distributed monthly by U.S. mail to every address in Laurel. Additional copies are distributed to popular gathering spots around town. Total circulation is 29,000. The Laurel Independent is a member of the National Newspaper Association and the Institute for Nonprofit News.

seconds or less on average. Unfortunately, the Maryland State Highway Administration places many restrictions on where traffic-calming devices like speed bumps can be used, traditionally prioritizing speed over safety. After a March 2023 crash on Ritchie Marlboro Road in Upper Marlboro killed one high school student and critically injured another, the Prince George’s County Department of Public Works and Transportation expressed sorrow at the tragedy but stated, “As you know, as this roadway is classified as a collector roadway, speed humps or any physical traffic calming device installation could not be considered as a mitigation effort.” (Collectors, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, are major and minor roads that connect local roads and streets with arterials; they are designed to balance mobility with land access.) As Curtis noted, the last alternative is to find a way to increase enforcement. This is difficult at a time when police departments are understaffed and traffic stops have become increasingly problematic; many Black and minority drivers fear that getting pulled over could easily escalate into brutalities. And according to the University of Illinois, Chicago, in most years, ordinary traffic accidents kill and injure more law enforcement officers than gunfire does. High-speed chases are so dangerous to police, pedestrians and innocent drivers that the Prince George’s County police and many other departments have severely limited their use.

One possible solution to these concerns is automated enforcement — using cameras to catch people speeding or running red lights. Cameras have no ethnic, racial or gender biases and have been proven to reduce speeding and accidents. But once again, Maryland’s traffic laws impose only minimal fines. In Virginia, automated speeding tickets can reach $100. In Maryland, that same ticket would be $40, even if someone is going over twice the speed limit. Our state’s automated tickets further reduce their deterrent impact with bold lettering stating that if you pay the $40 fine, your violation won’t result in points and cannot be used to increase your insurance rates. Maryland could choose to be much tougher. In California and Oregon, red-light tickets carry points as well as fines. In Arizona, both red light and speeding camera tickets can lead to a license suspension and increased insurance rates. Joseph Young, an IIHS spokesperson, points out that there are simple solutions for reducing speeding. “People who are convicted of drunken driving are often required to install an ignition interlock, so the car won’t start if they’ve been drinking,” Young said. “Well, the equipment to govern maximum speed is even simpler and has been used in trucking and fleet operations for years.” Young also feels that states could deter a lot of dangerous driving by not renewing a vehicle’s tags if an owner has unpaid moving violations from out of state, regardless of whether they were issued by an officer or a camera. Right now, neither Virginia, the District, nor Maryland has an effective mechanism for enforcing automated SEE SPEEDING ON 8 

December 2023 | The Laurel Independent

To support efforts to repair Laurel Tavern Donuts, go to gofundme.com/f/ support-laurel-taverndonuts-rebuild-aftercrash

Page 3

Your Next Address - Without the Stress I've lived in this area for years and know firsthand just how great this community is. I'm committed to making it easy for my

CRASH

clients to buy and sell their homes.

FROM PAGE 1

Sean Kwon, the owners’ son, started a GoFundMe page to help raise money for repairs to the building. He noted on the page that his parents “made fresh donuts from scratch everyday at 3 a.m. and miniburgers throughout the afternoon.” Any financial support, he wrote, would “mean the world for both my mom and dad.” Go to gofundme.com/f/ support-laurel-tavern-donutsrebuild-after-crash

My record speaks for itself. I've been recognized as a "Top Agent" by GCAAR and Washingtonian, and ranked in the top 5% of realtors nationally by HomeSnap. Want to know more? Call or email me for a free consultation and let me put my expertise and enthusiasm to work for you!

Don Bunuan

DON@GOBRENTREALTY.COM

C.301.213.6332 O.301.565.2523

Maryland's 21st District Delegation

Laurel’s State Legislators - Standing Up for Working Families!

Your Legislators’ Environmental Record: 100%! Every year, the Maryland League of Conservation Voters (MDLCV) lays out an environmental agenda — and then issues a scorecard on state legislators’ votes on issues from climate change and renewable energy to green equity, forest conservation, and protecting the Chesapeake Bay. We’re proud that, this year, MDLCV rated each of our records 100%! The fight goes on! — Jim, Joseline, Ben, and Mary

Let us know how we can help you! 21stDistrictDelegation@gmail.com | (240) 712-4646 | 21stdistrictdelegation.com

Page 4

The Laurel Independent | December 2023

NATIVE GARDENING WITH JIMMY

An HOA chooses native landscaping By JIMMY ROGERS

n October 2021, Maryland became the first state in the nation to ban homeowners associations (HOAs) from interfering with their residents’

native gardens. Many gardeners breathed a sigh of relief, knowing their vibrant creations were safe from warnings, fines and destruction. But why stop there? This year, my HOA planted a huge native garden, and it didn’t

cost us a penny. I moved into a new community on the edge of Old Town Laurel around the same time that the HOA law was passed. Patuxent Triangle is tiny, with only five duplexes — 10 units total. Despite

our small size, we still have a board of directors, and by asking too many questions, I found myself elected as secretary one year and president the next. Broadly speaking, no one likes their HOA, so adopting a don’t be evil approach, responding quickly to problems and doing at least one positive thing each year goes a long way to keep the neighborhood happy. Regarding that one positive thing, my effort began when I took a stroll in a thunderstorm. From my porch, I noticed that water striking some surfaces made a splash, while striking others, it seemed to vanish. My curiosity piqued, I picked up my umbrella and inspected different landing sites. My own native garden hungrily ate up the water while grassy areas sometimes absorbed the water, and sometimes the water formed a standing pool. Native plants have deep roots and create inroads in the soil for absorption, whereas turf grass has shallow roots that do little to break up our local clay. Looking up the street, I saw a

river of storm water sliding off the shared parking lot, pooling on the HOA’s grassy common area, running over the sidewalk and flowing directly into a culvert. To put it another way, the dirtiest first flush of storm water from our parking lot, including oil and other car drippings, was flowing unimpeded into the Chesapeake Bay. Additionally, storm drains only take care of water hitting the roadways, so when private land like ours doesn’t absorb its own rainfall, it puts an unplanned load on the storm sewer system. After conferring with my fellow HOA directors about the problem, I reached out to the Chesapeake Bay Trust (CBT) to see whether we might get some funding for a project. I met with a CBT program manager who recommended a conservation landscaping practice called a swale to divert the storm water into our community’s pocket meadow. After reviewing some options, the program manager suggested we apply for funding from the trust’s Community Engagement and Restoration Mini Grant program. Worth up to $5,000, a mini grant might solve our storm waSEE LANDSCAPING ON 9 

December 2023 | The Laurel Independent

Page 5

Thank you to our Sponsors! Lead Sponsors Cutlass Systems Engineering Diamond Sponsors Sheehy Toyota of Laurel 21st District Delegation City of Laurel Gold Sponsors Emmanuel United Methodist Church Silver Sponsors Club Pilates Laurel Feet First Sports Laurel Presbyterian Church Our Savior Lutheran Church Mary’s of the Mills Catholic Church & School St. Nicholas Catholic Church St. Philip’s Episcopal Church Bronze Sponsors Jailbreak Brewing Company Premier Group Services, Inc.

Register before January 31, 2024, for the 20th Annual LARS Race Against Hunger Turkey Trot and receive a commemorative gift. Go to https://runsignup.com/Race/ MD/Laurel/LARSTurkeyTrot24 or scan the QR code.

Page 6

The Laurel Independent | December 2023

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Send your event information to Katie V. Jones at katie@streetcar suburbs.news

MONTPELIER ARTS CENTER 9652 Muirkirk Road, 301.377.7800

LAUREL BRANCH LIBRARY 507 7th St., 301.776.6790

EVENTS

Little Inspirational Etchings and Works on Paper. Images of the natural world, machines and architecture by Michael Stewart, an illustrator and printmaker. Dec. 16, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tail Waggin’ Tutors. Build your child’s confidence as they read to specially trained therapy dogs. Jan. 4, 4:45 p.m.

“A Christmas Story, The Musical.” Laurel Mill Playhouse presents the musical version of the beloved movie about 9-year-old Ralphie Parker and his quest to get a Red Ryder BB gun. Dec. 15 through 17. Laurel Mill Playhouse, 508 Main St. $18 to $23. 301.617.9906 Open House at Dinosaur Park. Come search for fossils on Dec. 16, noon to 4 p.m. 13200 Mid Atlantic Blvd. 301.627.1286 or dinosaurpark@pgparks.com Christmas Concert. Our Saviour Lutheran Church will present its concert of traditional and contemporary Christmas music. Bring nonperishable food items to donate to Elizabeth House Soup Kitchen and Laurel Advocacy and Referral Service. 13611 Laurel-Bowie Road. Dec. 17 at 3 and 7 p.m.

Kwanzaa Essentials. A ceremony of music and educational stories shared in the African tradition. Dec. 16, 2 p.m. Brian Michael Dunn. Exhibit of everyday objects and experiences interwoven into patterns and geometric forms in acrylic paintings. Jan. 8, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Black History Month Exhibition. Celebrate Black History Month with art by regional artists highlighting the lives, stories and experiences of African Americans. Through painting, drawing, photography and more. Jan. 12, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Teen Game Day. Learn and play board games and card games at the library. Bring a game of your own or play one of the library’s. Jan. 8, 3:30 p.m. Hatchlings: Ready to Hatch. Get ready for baby through songs and fun activities. Registration is required. Jan. 13, 11 a.m.

CARROLL BALDWIN HALL 9035 Baltimore St., Savage. 410.294.3561 Savage Winter Fest. Games, storytimes, crafts, music and more. Jan. 6, 1 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Third Thursdays: Volunteer Work Nights. Hands-on projects from painting to cleaning and mortar repair. Food provided. 6 to 9 p.m.

Third Sundays: DJ Swing Dances. Hosted by Gottaswing, the event kicks off with a free lesson. 5 to 7:30 p.m. $10

tivities Center, 7120 Contee Rd. 301.206.3380

Assuage Yoga in the Library. Wednesdays from 6 to 7 p.m.

Jim Whitney Toastmasters Club. A Toastmasters International affiliate, the club teaches public speaking and leadership skills. Dec. 11 and Jan. 8, 7 p.m. St. Philips Episcopal Church, 522 Main St. toastmastersclubs.org

ONGOING

BUSINESS

Bingo at American Legion Post 60. Friday night bingo every week; 23 games with cash prizes; food and drinks for purchase. Doors open at 5 p.m.; bingo starts at 7:30. 2 Main St. 301.725.2302

The Laurel Board of Trade Happy Hour. Meet connections and grow your business at this in-person event. Dec. 21, 5:30 p.m. Entourage Hair Gallery, 595 Main St., Suite 135. For information and meeting link go to laurelboardoftrade.org, email laurelboardoftrade383@gmail.com or call 301.483.0838

Zumba with Susana Miller. Saturdays from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Every Tuesday Bingo. Hosted by the Laurel Senior Friendship Club; free admission; fee for cards. Doors open at 11 a.m. and bingo starts at noon. LaurelBeltsville Senior Activities Center, 7120 Contee Rd. 301.206.3380 Laurel Senior Friendship Club. Meets the second Wednesday of each month; program includes business meeting and musical entertainment or a speaker. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. Laurel-Beltsville Senior Ac-

FOOD PANTRIES, DISTRIBUTIONS St. Philip’s Episcopal Church. Food distributions in partnership with Capital Area Food Bank. Third Sunday of every month; next distribution is Dec. 17 from 9 a.m to noon. Sixth and Prince George sts. SEE CALENDAR ON 9 

OFFICIAL NEWS FROM THE CITY OF LAUREL

MAYOR MOE STEPS DOWN AFTER 33 YEARS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE... How do you sum up over 3 decades of service in this insert? The answer is you can’t! So, instead, below is brief pictorial view of Mayor Moe’s service to the City he loves. If you would like to learn more about all he has done for the City and its residents, be sure to pull up the Laurel Independent’s article on him at https://bit.ly/MayorMoeLooksBack. But at the heart of Mayor Moe’s historical 33 years, was his dedication to the people that make up the Laurel community. As you step down, let us step up and say Thank You for all you have done for the City of Laurel! You are simply the best! Watch Laurel TV’s final interview with former Mayor Moe: https://bit.ly/LaurelTVInterview.

WELCOME TO THE NEW MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL As Mayor Moe stepped down, a new Mayor and City Council were sworn in. Learn a little bit about your new Mayor and City Council members’ backgrounds below: Mayor Keith R. Sydnor: Served in the Navy for 24 years. Worked for 22 years in Federal Law Enforcement. Elected in 2017 as the Ward 2 Council member and has been a substitute teacher in the Prince George’s County school system since 2021. Proud to be a mentor with the Prince George’s Chapter of 100 Black Men of America. As the first African American to serve as Mayor in the City of Laurel, Mayor Sydnor says his administration will be open and transparent. He will advocate for the youth and looks to increase businesses in the City. He looks forward to serving the citizens of Laurel and says he works for you, so please do not to hesitate to contact his office. Follow him on Twitter: @LaurelMayor; Instagram: @CityofLaurelMayor; Email: laurelmayor@laurel.md.us. Council President James Kole (Ward 1): This is Council member Kole’s second term, having been elected to the Ward 1 seat in 2021. He will continue to support sustainability initiatives and be fiscally responsible. He was elected as Council President at the November 27, 2023, Mayor and City Council Meeting.

Council member Carl DeWalt (Ward 1): Having served 3 terms as the Ward 1 Council member, Mr. DeWalt is a former Laurel Police Officer and will continue to advocate for rent control and support unionization for the employees in Public Works. Council member Kyla Clark (Ward 2): This is Council member Clark’s first term. She serves on multiple City Committees and looks forward to working tirelessly for the citizens of Laurel. Council member Christine Johnson (At Large): A former employee of the City of Laurel, she is humbled that the citizens of Laurel show faith in her ability and will work with the administration to get things done.

Council member Jeffrey Mills (Ward 2): This is Council member Mills’ first term and is a business owner in the City of Laurel. He is ready to work and honored to have been elected to this position. We wish all of the newly elected officials the best as they serve the citizens of Laurel. Call 301-725-5300 ext. 2120 if you would like to speak with your representative. Page 1

GREEN INITIATIVES ON THE HORIZON

Effective January 1, 2024, new plastic bag/paper bag legislation will take effect throughout the region in Prince George’s County, Anne Arundel County, Greenbelt, and City of Laurel. On January 1, 2024, a retail establishment shall charge, collect and retain at least ten cents ($.10) for each paper carryout bag that it provides to a customer. Here are the highlights for the City of Laurel’s own Ordinance: •

• • •

A retail establishment shall post notices that advise customers to bring reusable bags and that a paper bag will be subject to a fee. The notices shall be posted at the public entrance to the retail establishment and at each point of sale and shall be in English and Spanish. The fee charged shall be paid by the customer and retained by the retail establishment. The sales receipt shall reflect both the number of bags provided to the customer and the fee collected for the bags.

Following the rollout, residents will be able to report non-compliant stores through online reporting or a hot line. So, avoid the fee and bring your own bag! Residents may not get plastic bags at checkout, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’tt plastic film to be recycled. Residents can bring all plastic film to the City’s new drop-off off containers. The containers are located at Joseph R. Robison Laurel Municipal Center (8103 Sandy Spring Road), the Robert J. DiPietro Community Center (7901 Cypress Street), the Laurel Armoy (422 Montgomery Street) and the Laurel Police Department (811 5th Street). What’s New with Recycle Coach? The new and improved Recycle Coach is available. Do you have questions about what can go into your blue cart? Not sure when the next yard debris or special pick up is? Sign up for Recycle Coach! You can type in your question such and download our digital calendar right on your phone. Set up reminders about collections, holiday schedules and special pickup days. It is free and easy! Find the app on the City’s website at https://www.cityoflaurel.org/green, then click on Recycle Coach. Interested in being part of the City’s First Sustainability Plan? Contact us at greenliving@laurel.md.us or call Michele Blair, Environmental Programs Manager at 301-725-5300 ext. 2203. Together, we can find the solution for a sustainable Laurel! Green Living Calendar!! The new year is right around the corner and the new 2024 Green Living calendar will be ready for residents in January. LAUREL POLICE MONTHLY CRIME REPORT

Desde el Alcalde y Ayuntamiento, Deseamos a todos nuestros residentes, empresas y organizaciones unas temporadas seguras y festivas!

OCTOBER 2023 List of Laurel Police Crime Reports can be found at www.cityoflaurel.org/police/community-info/ crime-reports.

Page 2

Legislation Listed below are recent actions taken by the Laurel City Council during past Mayor and City Council meetings. For further information on any of these actions, please feel free to contact the Office of the City Clerk at 301-725-5300 x2121 or at clerk@laurel.md.us. For the full agendas, visit www.cityoflaurel.org.

COUNCIL OFFICE 301-725-5300 ext. 2121

clerk@laurel.md.us

Approved Ordinances/Resolutions: •

•

Resolution No. 10-2023 - A Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland to Receive the Returns of the 2023 General Election from the City of Laurel Board of Election Supervisors. Resolution No. 11-2023 - A Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland to Authorize the Director of the Department of Budget and Personnel Services to Pay the Election Officials for the 2023 General Election .

Bid Approvals: •

No Bid Approvals for November

Mayoral Appointments/Reappointments: •

No Appointments in November

December 2023 Mayor and City Council Meetings  December 25th - CANCELLED December 2023 Boards and Commissions  December 19th - Historic District Commission (6:00pm)  December 28th - Board of Appeals (6:00pm) January 2024 Mayor and City Council Meetings  January 3rd - Virtual Mayor and City Council Work Session (6:00pm)  January 8th - Virtual Mayor and City Council Meeting (6:00pm)  January 22nd - In-Person Mayor and City Council Meeting (6:00pm) January 2024 Boards and Commissions  January 9th - Planning Commission (6:00pm)  January 16th - Historic District Commission (6:00pm)  January 25th - Board of Appeals (6:00pm)

(Dates and Times Subject to Change)     

December 25, 2023 - City/Passport Offices Closed In Observance of Christmas. Visit www.cityoflaurel.org for adjusted collections. January 1, 2023 - City/Passport Offices Closed In Observance of New Year’s Day. Visit www.cityoflaurel.org for adjusted collections. January 15, 2024 - City/Passport Offices Closed In Observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Visit www.cityoflaurel.org for adjusted collections. January 15, 2023 - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service - Visit www.cityoflaurel.org/calendar for upcoming details. Learn more about Laurel Parks and Recreation’s Adult Trips, Teen Club, Senior Activities and Classes by calling 301-725-7800 or visit www.cityoflaurel.org

From the Mayor and City Council, wishing all of our residents, businesses and organizations a Safe and Happy Holiday Season! Page 3

CUT ALONG DOTTED LINE. PLACE ON YOUR REFRIGERATOR.

Virtual Mayor 8 and City Council Meeting - 6pm

Virtual Mayor and City Council Meeting - 6p

Planning Commission 6pm

Virtual Mayor 3 And City Council Work Session 6pm

Virtual Work Session - 6p

15 HCoismtomricissDiiosntri-ct 16

Planning Commission City Offices Closed6p

In-Person 22 23 Mayor and City Historic Council Meeting - District 6pm Commission -

Holiday Illumination/ Parade 6-9pm - Armory

Employee Holiday Party - Offices Closed 1—5pm

25 Free Friday 26

Sustainability Plan Kick Off Meeting 5:30pm - Council Chambers Board of Appeals 6pm

Leaf Vacuuming Ends—Extension TBD

6pm

CUT ALONG DOTTED LINE . PLACE ON YOUR REFRIGERATOR.

1 New Year’s City Offices Closed

Indoor Movie: Super Mario Brothers Movie Partnership Activity Center 7pm

City Offices Closed

Board of

PUBLIC WORKS

301-725-0088

DPW@laurel.md.us

BEING PREPARED FOR WINTER TRAVEL

The weather has a habit of changing quickly, especially during the winter. With forecasters predicting a higher than average amount of snow for this season, now is the time to prepare yourself for winter travel. As we have learned from past experiences, powerful winter storms can bring considerable amount of snow, ice, and strong winds, creating whiteout conditions. Temperatures can drop 50 degrees or more in only a few hours. These hazards can occur with little to no warning! Educate yourself now about how to travel in hazardous winter conditions and how to be prepared. Following are just a few tips on preparing for winter road travel: Check Road Conditions Along Your Route: Weather conditions can change quickly when traveling, check the hourly conditions at your local National Weather Service Office. • Have A Winter Weather Emergency Kit Ready: Your kit should include items such as jumper cables, flares/reflective triangles, ice scrapers, cell phone chargers, blankets, a map, tire chains or sand. • Winterize Your Vehicle: Keep your vehicle in tip top shape to tackle the winter weather by switching to winter tires, installing winter wipers, and keeping your gas tank above half full. • Stay Connected: Using your mobile phone, you can receive the most up-to-date weather warnings from the National Weather Service. For more winter travel and safety tips, visit https://www.ready.gov/winter-weather or https://www.weather.gov/lwx/ . •

CITY CONTACTS www.cityoflaurel.org Page 4

MAYOR’S OFFICE

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S OFFICE

LAUREL POLICE

301-725-5300 ext. 2125

301-725-5300 ext. 2242

Non-Emerg: 301-498-0092 Emerg: 301-725-3000

laurelmayor@ laurel.md.us

cadmin@ laurel.md.us

lpd@ laurel.md.us

PARKS AND RECREATION

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301-725-7800

301-725-5300 Ext. 2208

parks@ laurel.md.us

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December 2023 | The Laurel Independent

NONPROFIT FROM PAGE 1

population, it tends to get forgotten,” said Michael Hassett, FoT president and co-founder. “Very little aid is given to the country, and very few organizations provide direct assistance to them.” The unexpected influx of support, along with FoT’s minimal overhead, clear mission and few layers of administration, allowed the nonprofit to underwrite some of the first aid directed to Tonga following the disaster. Most notably, the international rugby community helped. “There are quite a few Pacific Islander rugby players internationally, and they’re a tight-knit community,” Hassett said. “Apparently, they found out about our organization, rallied and raised funds for us. We were shocked and thrilled!” Hassett and his wife, Chiara Collette, founded FoT after Tonga was hit by Cyclone Gita in 2018. The two met while in the Peace Corps, teaching English in Tonga, and they worked with other former Peace Corps volunteers to form the nonprofit. “People naturally want to help in times of crisis, but often forget

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about a nation or place in the long aftermath of a crisis,” Hassett said. “We’re here for the long haul, and we’re partnering with other region-focused organizations, as many of the climatedisaster issues these neighbor nations face are similar.” The nonprofit’s initial focus was providing scholarship funds for children in need so they could continue their education; FoT has granted more than 100 scholarships over time. FoT provided funding and helped coordinate construction of the country’s first cyclone- and earthquakeresistant school and is on track to build two more schools in the next year or so. The nonprofit also has been working with local leaders (especially those on the more remote islands), government agencies and local organizations to address water-scarcity issues. Their collaborative efforts have led to the purchase and installation of more than 60 largecapacity community cisterns for water collection and storage. FoT purchases the cisterns, then the local communities provide the labor and coordinate with the Civil Society Forum of Tonga (CSFT), a local nonprofit, to install and maintain them. “When volcanic ash blanketed

Tonga, roof-based rain collection and access to safe drinking water became an urgent issue for many villages,” says Drew Havea, CSFT founder. “Friends of Tonga helped get large community water tanks installed and even provided small tanks for people with disabilities who couldn’t easily fetch their water. The organization’s support and dedication has helped improve basic quality of life for so many people hit by the recent climate disasters.” “Particularly, when it comes to foreign aid, local communities need to have skin in the game,” Hassett said. “The community is invested in the result because they helped make it happen.” To support teachers, parents and students, Hassett and Collette created a free video readaloud program in which native English speakers (including a number of the couple’s friends, neighbors and colleagues) volunteered to record themselves reading a children’s book. Using a free Adobe Spark account that connects a book’s pages, text and illustrations with the reader’s voice and a short video, children, along with their parents and teachers, are able to follow along with the books and improve their English skills.

“All of our education programs are opt-in,” Hassett explained. “We don’t swoop in and tell a community what to do; that doesn’t empower people.” Because FoT’s board members are a mix of former Peace Corps volunteers, Tongan expats and Tongan nationals, the nonprofit is “able to think about issues and how to best address them given the specific challenges and circumstances of this nation,” Hassett said. In 2021, the nonprofit received praise and recognition from the Library of Congress’ Literacy Awards Program with an honorary best-practices mention, along with a financial grant, for their program’s innovation and efficacy. “Being able to speak English provides economic and job opportunities for many Tongans, but children on remote islands are hindered and have fewer learning opportunities,” Hassett said, noting FoT’s goal of providing 200 read-aloud book recordings — essentially a book for every school day of the year. Collette, who taught at Laurel-based Monarch Global Academy after serving in the Peace Corps, also set up a pen pal and cultural exchange program between U.S. and Tongan

schools. She’s also helped coordinate cross-cultural education programs and has created materials for teachers aids so students in both countries can learn about their own and the other country’s transportation issues and needs. “In any country, at any time, children want to learn, communities need safe drinking water, and families want to invest in their children’s futures,” Collette said. “Meeting those desires is challenging enough for any small, isolated group of people. Add the looming and probable climate disasters to the mix, and you see Pacific Islanders have a lot of cards stacked against them.” The Kingdom of Tonga was ranked as the third most at-risk country for natural hazards (cyclones, flooding, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and drought), along with sea-level rise, in the 2021 World Risk Report published by Germany’s Ruhr University Bochum. “We hope to play a small part in providing future generations of Tongans the skills, resources and access to education they will need to meet these challenges head on,” Colette said. For more information about Friends of Tonga go to friendsoftonga.org.

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The Laurel Independent | December 2023

ARMORY LIGHTING A HOLLY, JOLLY TIME

SPEEDING FROM PAGE 2

aurel kicked off the holiday season on Dec.2 with festivities throughout the day, starting with a breakfast with Santa, hosted by the Laurel Police Department. The afternoon brought a holiday parade which wound through town to the Laurel Armory, where free craft activities and goodies, along with a photo session with Santa and Mrs. Claus, delighted the crowd. Festivities concluded with a lighting ceremony hosted by Mayor Keith Sydnor.

Children enjoy arts and crafts activities in the Laurel Armory gymnasium before the outdoor lighting ceremony. AIESHA SOLOMON

tickets on out-of-state vehicles. The District occasionally boots scofflaws who park on the street — but still has over $800 million in uncollected fines for moving violations. Like Screen, Young believes that reducing speeding isn’t primarily a technical problem, but a very tough attitudinal and political problem which kills and injures thousands more people per year in the U.S. than in Europe. “Almost no one would ever tell a stranger that they frequently drive drunk,” Young said. “But in our surveys, a large percentage of drivers will honestly admit that they regularly exceed the speed limit. It’s almost like they feel there’s some American right to drive too fast, even though it risks other people’s lives.” Paul Ruffins is a citizen scientist and professor of curiosity.

Santa and Mrs. Claus, ready to welcome children and their wish lists. AIESHA SOLOMON

(From left) Councilmember Christine Johnson (At-Large), Council President James Kole (Ward 1), Mayor Keith Sydnor, Laurel Director of Communications Audrey Barnes, Ward 2 Councilmembers Jeffrey Mills and Carl DeWalt and Bill Bailey, director, Laurel Department of Parks and Recreation, gather for a short presentation before the lighting ceremony. AIESHA SOLOMON

December 2023 | The Laurel Independent

LANDSCAPING FROM PAGE 4

ter problem and also allow us to create a whole new garden for our community. I will spare you details of the ensuing 10 months of planning, working with neighbors, applying for the grant, endless waiting, celebrating the grant award, having a land owner back out, replanning the entire project and eventually starting the work. Ultimately, we received a grant for the full value, and our contractor on the project, Howard EcoWorks, matched the grant with funding they had previously received from the National Wildlife Federation for such projects. What started as my curiosity taking me out in the rain had blossomed into a $10,000 garden design and tree planting project. We received such a large sum in part because our neighborhood is in a historically underserved area, but there is generally a lot of money earmarked right now for projects like ours. Finding myself with a huge

Page 9

budget to build the swale, acquire plants and hire labor to plant them, I got to work on the design. I marked out 125 feet of relatively barren or eroded land along Montgomery Street and divided it up into beds with different sunlight and moisture conditions. From there, I created a low-resolution diagram on Excel, one cell per square foot. I also kept a list of plants, so I could see which species were used where, when each would start blooming, and how quantities and prices would impact our total cost. The design took up a lot of my time and needed many revisions, but it saved us $1,000 to do it ourselves, and it gave me a lot of control over the final outcome. Taking what I’ve learned from ecologists and the native gardening community, I included many insect-hosting plants, planned for a wide variety of bloom times, and featured berry-producing shrubs to feed birds. Additionally, I built the groundcover layer first to ensure we could claim the newly disturbed soil and prevent encroachment by non-

native weeds. Only then, did I start adding taller herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees. Speaking of trees, I found a home for one canopy tree, a white swamp oak (Quercus bicolor), and two berry-producing understory trees called serviceberries (Amelanchier canadensis). Howard EcoWorks helped us source most of the plants, and we targeted a week in October for installation. However, we had agreed to prepare the ground ourselves to save money. We needed to smother turf grass in several spots, so I ordered a load of arborist wood chips through ChipDrop, which connects gardeners with arborists. I was fortunate to find Laurel neighbors (both in and out of the HOA) willing to help shovel 20 cubic yards of wood chips into several locations, and then remove the chips again after five weeks to make way for topsoil and plants. (If you’re curious where we put the chips afterward, we moved them to another neighbor’s yard to begin smothering his grass.) With the ground prepared, the

installation could proceed, and I appreciate the hard work and dedication shown by the Howard EcoWorks crew. Altogether, in a long and narrow garden of 800 square feet, we planted about 800 native plants representing almost 50 species. The garden will bloom from March to November and host hundreds of types of insects. As the garden grows, the roots will pull carbon below the surface, enrich the soil and increase the land’s ability to hold water. As the new trees grow, they will shade the ground and provide shelter for birds and other animals. Should you find yourself in Old Town, visit the 1000 block of Montgomery Street and see the garden for yourself. I expect it will be quite a sight in late spring and again in high summer. If you’d like to learn more about our project or opportunities for your own organization to build a native garden, you can reach me at nativegardenguy@gmail.com. Jimmy Rogers is an avid native gardener and a member of the Laurel Environmental Aﬀairs Committee.

CALENDAR FROM PAGE 6

Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services. Food pantry is open by appointment only Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Monday evenings from 5 to 7:30 p.m. 311 Laurel Ave. To schedule a visit, call 301.776.0442 Fish of Laurel food pantry, Thursday and Saturday, from 10:15 a.m. to noon, 308 Gorman Ave. By appointment only; call 240.547.9013 Living Hope Church distributions, Tuesdays from 1 to 2:30 p.m. 613 Montgomery St. For more information, call 301.497.6424 St. Mary of the Mills food pantry, Thursdays, 9 a.m. while supplies last. Kessler Centers. 114 St. Mary’s Pl. Call before you come. 301.725.3080 Gospel Assembly Church food pantry, first and third Saturdays, 9 a.m. 8740 Cherry Ln, Suite 12

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The Laurel Independent | December 2023

FROM WHERE I STAND

Election rules need some reworking By JOE MURCHISON

he Laurel city election process could use some changes. The election last month was the most active in the city’s recent memory, with more candidates (16 total) and more heated contention between the candidates. The Laurel Board of Elections caught some of that heat. Some of the candidates disput-

ed rules established by the board. Others said some of the rules were new and surprising. And five organizations, including Progressive Maryland and CASA in Action, complained to the Maryland Board of Elections that the Laurel board had treated mayoral candidate Martin Mitchell unfairly and that one of its rules applied against him was unconstitutional. (The state elections board replied that it had no jurisdiction

Your community newspaper needs you! We welcome new tips and photos, as well as letters to the editor and op-eds on topics of local interest. We are looking for volunteer reporters and columnists to help us cover what is happening in our communities more completely. Email katie@streetcarsuburbs.news if you can help out.

over local election boards.) Given these controversies, here are some suggestions for improving the process. Allow candidates to start campaigning earlier. The elections board adopted a rule that no candidate could begin campaigning before the board had officially certified them. Certification included verifying that their application information was correct, that they were in good standing with the city in payment of taxes and other obligations, and that they were complying with campaign finance rules. This seems reasonable. But what seems less reasonable is that the elections board didn’t begin their certification process until the filing deadline of July 21, even though candidates were allowed to submit their applications as early as May 1. Are candidates supposed to wait for up to two and a half months after filing for candidacy and refrain from doing any campaigning? That puts restraint (and initiative) to an unreasonable test. Most of the mayoral

candidates consequently broke this rule. Instead, the elections board should begin the certification process for candidates as soon as they submit their applications. Let candidates who show the initiative to file early be rewarded with an earlier start on their campaign. This also would avoid a possible constitutional issue. The five organizations that wrote to the Maryland Board of Elections noted that U.S. District Judge Peter Messitte in 1999 struck down a Prince George’s County Board of Elections rule that prohibited the posting of campaign signs more than 45 days before an election. The rule impinged on candidates’ First Amendment rights of free expression, Messitte ruled. Require campaign-sign permissions. Speaking of campaign signs, they were a source of contention during the recent election in ways beyond the city’s rule against posting them prior to a candidate’s certification. Candidates posted them along roads on public property — a definite no-no. Candidates posted them on private property without permission, simply adding them to other candidates’ signs that had

been approved by the property owner. Several candidates also complained of having their signs vandalized or destroyed. Signs are inevitably going to cause issues. But how about this: require candidates to obtain written permission from all property owners where they would like to post signs and submit these documents to city election officials. That would cut down on the number of signs posted without permission. City officials could quickly verify which signs among a cluster of signs on a commercial property were there with permission, and which were not. The officials then could take action to have the illegal signs removed. Clarify rules on campaign contributions. The winner of the mayoral race, Keith Sydnor, submitted his first campaign finance report with email addresses of his donors rather than their home addresses. The elections board should make clear that home addresses are required; citizens deserve to know where a candidate’s donations are coming from. (The elections board did eventually require Sydnor to fix the list and supply donors’ home addresses.) Sydnor began raising camSEE ELECTION ON 11 

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December 2023 | The Laurel Independent

Page 11

Thanksgiving for those in need, thanks to Living Hope Church By AIESHA SOLOMON On Nov. 21, Laurel’s Living Hope Church welcomed anyone in need of pantry staples and a cooked Thanksgiving dinner. The church overflowed with food and household supplies, and volunteers welcomed visitors and handed out meals in take-out containers. “2021 was the first time we did it. We just knew that people needed [an] extra meal, needed a hot meal, and also that they needed groceries just to help them create a Thanksgiving dinner,” said Brenda Sterling, outreach pastor at Living Hope, in a phone interview. Sterling noted that it takes about two to three weeks to organize the dinner. Volunteers do the

ELECTION FROM PAGE 10

paign funds from donors prior to his certification as a candidate; other mayoral candidates did, too, prior to being certified. This was against the election board’s rules, yet Sydnor was not penalized. An elections board spokesperson said Sydnor was allowed to collect money because he still had a campaign fund dating back to his last run for city council, in 2021. Sorry, but that isn’t fair. Sydnor was clearly collecting money for a mayoral campaign, not a city council one. A candidate who has previously held office shouldn’t gain that kind of campaign advantage over an opponent who hasn’t. Clarify when candidates will be fined, why and by how much. Martin Mitchell received two $1,000 fines for posting signs before he was certified to run for mayor and for refusing to take them down. But other candidates distributed campaign literature before certification and were not fined. The elections board needs to create written guidelines on which campaign violations will

cooking, following safety regulations. The church provides ingredients, including the turkeys. “Just a lot of preparation as far as where people are going to be, what are they going to do, and making sure we secure the food in time, because it is Thanksgiving, so everybody’s buying turkey,” Sterling said. Audrine Harper, who has been a Living Hope member since 2018, volunteered for the event for the first time. “It’s always something that I wanted to do with my kids, so they could kind of give back to the community and to understand that there’s a lot of individuals, families, children just like them, and they don’t have their basic

result in fines and how much the fines will be. For instance, should posting signs in public rights of way result in a fine? If so, should the fine come on the first violation, or the second or the third? How much should the first fine be? If the candidate continues to violate the public right of way rule, how much should additional fines be? Such guidelines might not anticipate every type of campaign violation or controversy, but creating them will help the board treat all candidates equally and fairly. Finally, these suggestions are not to negate the great thanks we owe the volunteers who served on the elections board. Their unpaid efforts are crucial to our democracy, and their job is not easy. We are fortunate for their service.

needs met,” Harper said. Tarell Jenkins found out about the food giveaway online. “Right now, I’m in between jobs. My family’s out of town, so I’m trying to make my own little Thanksgiving feast between myself and my daughter,” Jenkins said.” I didn’t know this was a whole food drive. Everybody’s working hard together.” Living Hope held the giveaway on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, so as not to conflict with other community dinners. “It’s just an extra hot meal for people,” Sterling said. “We always make it that week of Thanksgiving ‘cause we knew that the groceries would be extra helpful.” Sterling noted that Harris Teeter donated 300 grocery bags. “Some of the food for the giveaway, we get from stores. A lot of it is also just donated again from people in our church,” she said. “This year was the first time we had such a really big donation from a store of Harris Teeter.”

Living Hope Church worked with other organizations, including Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services, Elizabeth House and the city of Laurel, to distribute fliers advertising the event throughout the community. Fliers were also translated in Spanish “We know that there’s someone in Laurel or Beltsville, Colum-

bia, wherever in proximity to the church, that needs food. We know that there’s someone that may be struggling and that may need an extra meal that week,” Sterling said. “We believe that our responsibility as a church, or being in this community, is to just love on our neighbors, and we believe in doing it in the most practical way.”

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The views expressed in this column belong to its author. The Laurel Independent reserves the right to edit “From Where I Stand” submissions for brevity and clarity.

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The Laurel Independent | December 2023

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