june2026_laurel_web

CONTRACT TALKS: Laurel police receive pay hike, P.4

CAFFEINE FIX: Viral coffee franchise debuts in Laurel, P. 10

Konterra development breaks ground in Laurel

By JOSHUA GARNER

Decades in the making, the Konterra Town Center development took a major step forward during its

Developers behind the project have long cast a vision for a sprawling mixed-use development featuring townhomes, apartments, shops, dining and office space at the center of the Baltimore-Washington corridor

near Interstate 95 and the Intercounty Connector.

The broader Konterra project spans roughly 2,200 acres and includes plans for up to 12 million square feet of residential, retail, and mixed-use space, along

with more than 8 miles of trails and parks.

“A lot of folks don’t know that we built up a large part of Konterra already,” said Caleb Gould of Gould Property Company, whose family purchased the property in 1981.

Crowds flock to Main Street Festival

By AIESHA SOLOMON

Few traditions in Laurel have endured like the annual Main Street Festival.

Since 1981, the event—organized by the Laurel Board of Trade to spotlight local businesses—has continued to draw crowds as large as 100,000.

Jean McCants, 70, of Laurel, has attended 12 Main Street Festivals over the years. She said she enjoys the live music and opportunities to try food from local vendors.

“[The Main Street Festival] is for everybody, and that’s the good part about it. Everybody can come out and everybody

can enjoy each other,” said McCants. The 45th Main Street Festival and parade took place May 2, featuring about 200 vendors along its usual route on Main Street between Seventh Street and Route 1. To avoid conflicting with the city’s preparations for the Preakness Stakes on May 16, this year’s festival was moved up about a week from its typical date.

Attendees experienced a familiar lineup that included a parade, food vendors, and arts and crafts. Children and families could play in a moon bounce and purchase items from vendors.

“While this is the official groundbreaking, it has broken and it’s continuing to break.”

The event attracted county and state leaders, including Prince George’s County Execu-

151st Preakness Stakes draws thousands to Laurel Park

By JALEN WADE

The 151st Preakness Stakes galloped into Laurel Park on May 16, drawing thousands to the Laurel area for the race’s temporary move from Baltimore.

The Preakness, typically held at Pimlico Race Course, was held in Laurel for the first time because of renovations at the Charm City track.

By JALEN WADE

The longest-operating Giant Food grocery store in the region is still drawing a crowd at 70.

The Laurel landmark, located at 1000 Fairlawn Ave. along Route 1, is entering its septuagenarian years serving the

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Submission Information

The Laurel Independent is published monthly at the start of each month. We welcome reader input, tips, articles, letters, opinion pieces and photographs. Send by May 18 to joshua@ streetcarsuburbs.news

Managing Editor Joshua Garner Joshua@streetcarsuburbs.news

Interim Associate Editor Jalen Wade Jalen@streetcarsuburbs.news

Columnists

Agnes Pasco Conaty, Jimmy Rogers

Writers & Contributors

Rory Cahill, Agnes Conaty, Zoe Hammond, Chris McManes, Jimmy Rogers, Aisha Solomon, Anika Stikeleather

Layout & Design Editors

Valerie Morris, Ashley Perks

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For advertising inquiries, please email catie@streetcarsuburbs.news or call (301) 284-8611

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Board of Directors

President: Marta McLellan Ross

Secretary: Melanie Dzwonchyk

Treasurer: Joe Murchison

General Counsel: Michael Walls

Nora Eidelman, Merrill Hartson, Alec Lynde, Carter Ross, Tara Susman-Peña

Ex Officios: Joshua Garner, Nigel F. Maynard, Sharon O’Malley, Kit Slack

Th e Laurel Independent thanks you for supporting community news!

The Laurel Independent extends our thanks to the readers who reached out to Laurel City Council members or stood up at meetings to support the city of Laurel’s continued full funding for the city’s four page insert in our newspaper; the revenue from our contract with the city helps makes Laurel one of the few communities where local news is meaningfully available to all.

Your testimony to the council encouraged and inspired us!

We would also like to thank the council members whose support for our newspaper will help us bring free high quality local news and information to your mailbox every month during the coming fiscal year, July 2026 to June 2027.

In alphabetical order, thank you to:

Councilmember Kyla Clark (Ward 2), our former journalist on the council, who seeks both to accomplish the will of her constituents and to keep local news accessible;

Councilmember James Kole (Ward 1), who understands what it is to run a small business with thin margins like our local news nonprofit, and advocated for full funding for us;

Councilmember Jeffrey Mills (Ward 2), who advertises his own small business in our pages most months;

Councilmember Adrian Simmons (Ward 1), who believes all city residents should have information about city services and events, and the means to participate in local government; and

LETTER TO THE EDITOR GET READY FOR THE JUNE 23 ELECTION

The Laurel Independent's online guide has all the info you need on how and where to vote, and who will be on your ballot.

I am very concerned about the pro-development advocacy group “Greater Greater Washington” endorsing Martin Mitchell to succeed Councilman Tom Dernoga. GGW was a leading proponent of Gov. Wes Moore’s “Starter and Silver Homes Act of 2026” (SB36/HB239), ostensibly promoting affordable housing.

Council President Brencis Smith (Atlarge), who looks to build consensus and find creative paths forward. Please thank these council members for their continued support. The city is passing its budget as we go to press. We anticipate that thanks to your advocacy and the council’s response, we will be facing a $5,000 funding cut rather than the originally proposed $30,000 funding cut in the coming fiscal year.

ward with its long-planned town center. When Dernoga raised the SB36 proposal at a packed town hall meeting on future development, not one person raised a hand in support.

Scan the QR code to find candidate statements, campaign finance information, and select coverage of key local races, all in one place!

While affordable housing is needed near Metro stations, SB36 would have had terrible consequences for the Laurel-Beltsville area, effectively eliminating single-family residential zoning and allowing any residential lot to: (1) be developed with townhouses or duplexes; (2) have up to eight small single-family homes per acre; (3) subdivide into three lots; and (4) be free of limits on lot coverage, which surely would exacerbate flooding.

With more than 600 acres zoned for lowdensity development between Laurel and Beltsville, this bill threatened serious overdevelopment, loss of trees and much more congestion. The City of Laurel has already recently built numerous townhouses and apartments, and Konterra is moving for-

Seeking Laurel Board Members

Streetcar Suburbs Publishing is looking for volunteer board members who can devote at least eight hours a month to support our mission of offering local news and information to all Laurel residents.

We value deep ties in our communities as well as any experience in community organizing, nonprofit management, accounting, communications, marketing or local news

Email kit@streetcarsuburbs.news for more information.

The County Council tasked Tom Dernoga with taking the lead in steering the governor toward other options and stopping SB36. Working with officials and activists from around the region, he was successful. But what happens next year if the bill reappears and GGW advocates eliminating singlefamily residential zoning? I sure don’t want to rely on GGW’s endorsee, Martin Mitchell.

Barbara Sollner-Webb, West Laurel resident, past president and current chair of WLCA’s roadways subcommittee

Opinions expressed in letters to the editor belong to the author. We publish letters to the editor related to our coverage in our discretion, and may edit them for brevity and clarity.

DEMOCRATIC SAMPLE BALLOT

n Wes Moore/Aruna Miller __

n Brooke Elizabeth Lierman

n Glenn F. Ivey __

STATE SENATOR

n Jim Rosapepe __

HOUSE OF DELEGATES

n Mary Lehman

n Joseline Peña-Melnyk

n Ben Barnes __ __

COUNTY EXECUTIVE

n Aisha Braveboy __

JUNE 23

n Mahasin El Amin __

n Jolene Ivey

n Jeana Jacobs __

JUDGE OF THE CIRCUIT COURT

n LaKeecia Allen

n Scott M. Carrington

n Ada Elizabeth Clark-Edwards

n Stacey Cobb Smith

n Althea Stewart Jones

n Donnaka Varner Lewis

n Michael Ray Pearson

n Joseph C. Ruddy, III

n Todd Steuart

FYI: Circled red names are the key competitive races

Michelle García

DEMOCRAT FOR COUNTY COUNCIL

Michelle García has worked for the families of this community for many years, first as Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk’s chief of staff, then as Community Liaison for the whole 21st District Democratic Team, and in recent years as County Councilman Tom Dernoga’s chief of staff. She refuses to accept corporate money for her campaign.

DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE

n Andrew Fellows

n Dennis Grant

n JESSY MEJIA TERRY __ __ COUNTY COUNCIL AT

REGISTER OF WILLS

n Jocelyn Route __ __ CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT

JUDGE OF THE ORPHANS’ COURT

n Wendy A. Cartwright

n Jason A. DeLoach

n Athena Malloy Groves __

COUNCIL District 1 n MICHELLE GARCÍA __

CENTRAL COMMITTEE AT-LARGE

n Danielle Delgado-District 21

n Nathaniel Morgan-District 22

n Sylvia Johnson-District 23

n Richard Dickens-District 24

n Rasheim Wright-District 25

n Lamont Bunyon-District 27

n Sarahita Wyatt-Pasige -District 47 __

June 11 - 18, 2026 • 7:00am - 8:00pm

Jessy Mejia Terry

DEMOCRAT FOR CENTRAL COMMITTEE

A 26-year resident of the 21st District, Jessy Mejia Terry worked in Democratic politics and for progressive causes for years. She is running for the Democratic Central Committee to ensure our Party prioritizes affordability and community building — and does everything it can to win the 2026 and 2028 elections.

Laurel police to receive pay bump under new contract

By JALEN WADE

Larger paychecks are on their way to officers in the Laurel Police Department after the city agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement that will also introduce a higher starting salary for officers.

Under the new contract, officers will get a pay bump of 8% starting July 1. The contract will also increase entry-level salaries from $65,000 to $70,000, which is the average of surrounding municipalities such

as Bowie, Baltimore City and Hyattsville.

The new agreement was signed by Laurel Mayor Keith Sydnor and members of the Laurel police union, the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 11, during an April 27 City Council meeting.

Members of the Fraternal Order of Police said the pay increase was needed to make the Laurel Police Department more competitive in recruiting officers amid an ongoing national police staffing crisis.

“The biggest thing is trying to

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keep competitive starting salaries, retain qualified people that we have here, and then continue to advocate for the officers that have done their service,” said Sgt. Jesse Conyngham, a Laurel police officer and union member.

Officers will now see a 3% salary increase in 2027 and 2028 and a 4% increase in 2029. The new agreement also extends the contract term from three years to four years.

“This contract allows us to stay competitive and recruit the type of people you want policing this city,” said Laurel Police Chief Russ Hamill during the signing.

Deputy City Administrator Nekesa Matlock said the increase is intended to incentivize officers to stay with Laurel rather than move to other departments because of higher pay.

“When officers get to maybe their third or fourth year of serving with the city, we would tend to lose them,” Matlock said.

The Laurel Police Department continues to follow a staffing trend throughout the region as

“The biggest thing is trying to keep competitive starting salaries, retain qualified people that we have here, and then continue to advocate for the officers that have done their service.”

Sgt. Jesse Conyngham Laurel police officer and union member

jurisdictions struggle to recruit and retain officers while offering incentives. Prince George’s County Police are offering $15,000 signing bonuses to new officers and increased the proposed FY 2027 public safety budget by 6.4%, in part to raise officer salaries. Montgomery County is offering $20,000 sign-

ing bonuses for officers, while the Metropolitan Police Department is offering $25,000.

Conyngham said that in his 18 years with the department, the agency has never been fully staffed. The department currently has 63 of its 70 officer positions filled and is seeking to hire more officers.

Laurel police have had a collective bargaining agreement since unionizing in 2012, with negotiations typically occurring every three years between city officials and police department leadership. The previous contract was signed in 2023 and was set to expire this year.

Conyngham said the longer contract term happened because union leadership felt comfortable with the agreement’s terms.

“I think in the past we had aired on shorter contracts because we found enough ground to agree, but didn’t want to put that much time in between things,” Conyngham said. “So just being able to put a little bit more time on it was something we were comfortable with at the end of the day.”

City Councilmember questions decision to close, reopen restaurant after shooting

By JOSHUA GARNER

A City of Laurel Councilmember is questioning the process that led to the city temporarily shutting down Amigos Mexican Grill after a night of violence on Cinco de Mayo that left five people injured.

The restaurant had its use and occupancy permit sus-

pended by the city’s Department of the Fire Marshal and Permit Services on May 8 after a sprawling Cinco de Mayo party on May 5 spiraled into separate shooting and stabbing incidents near the restaurant’s parking lot. The suspension was initially set for up to 30 days, but an agreement between the city and the

restaurant led to it reopening on May 15.

“The safety of our residents, visitors, and businesses remains our highest priority,” Mayor Keith Sydnor said in a statement on May 11. “The City of Laurel will continue working with our public safety and regulatory partners to ensure accountability and com-

pliance with all city requirements.”

But Councilmember Kyla Clark (Ward 2), whose ward includes the restaurant, is now criticizing the city and mayor’s office over a lack of transparency surrounding the decision to initially close the restaurant.

“[The mayor’s office] has not provided clarity. When I asked, I received the press release,” she told The Laurel Independent.

On May 11, Clark sent a memo to Sydnor and city administrators advocating for the reopening of Amigos.

“This is a cost our community cannot afford, and one I was not willing to accept without raising my voice on behalf of those business owners and their dedicated teams,” the memo read.

Clark said she believes her memo helped spur the city’s decision to allow the restaurant to reopen.

Sydnor confirmed that the city had reached an agreement with Amigos to reopen. The agreement included banning outdoor tent events on Cinco de Mayo for three years, requiring the restaurant to hire law enforcement officers from 8 p.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday and requiring the business to close at midnight.

“Our team is very excited to get back to work. We appreciate the support from the community and looking forward to seeing our amigos again!” read a message posted to the restaurant’s social media accounts on May 14.

The restaurant opened in 2023 at the Centre at Laurel shopping center in the former Applebee’s location, which closed in 2020. Since opening, Amigos has become one of the few larger sitdown restaurants on the edge of the city in Ward 2 and one of the area’s most popular dining spots, known for its large drink menu and weekday specials.

“I was concerned [about] all parties. I was concerned about the people that were injured; the people that witnessed [the violence], and the business owners,” she said. “I know how it can affect a business when they’re shut down. These people are living paycheck to paycheck or tip-to-tip to pay their bills.”

Education & Youth Opportunity ducation

Prioritizing schools, after-school prog rams, and access to quality education

“Ever y child deser ves a quality education I will support investing in schools, teachers, and programs that prepare our kids for the future ”

Economic Development & Jobs conomic

Supporting local jobs, small businesses, and creating economic opportunities for all

“I will create opportunities in every community so families can thrive without leaving the county.”

Overdevelopment & Infrastructure ve d velop ent

Preserving our communities and supporting smart growth for future generations

“We must slow reckless overdevelopment and ensure growth respects our communities, schools, roads, and quality of life ”

Justice Reform ic

Ensuring neighborhoods are safe while promoting fair policing and a transparent justice system

“I understand the impact of injustice will fight for a fair justice system that works for ever yone. ”

Because she’s

Michelle grew up in a union family. Her sister is a union member, and her father and daughter were union members, as well. She’s seen up close what labor unions mean to everyone in the family — job security, good pay, pensions, and dignity.

With Trump and his billionaire buddies raising gas prices, DOGING federal employees, and attacking Social Security, we need strong unions to stand up for us. That’s why Michelle stands with labor. From protecting collective bargaining rights and pensions, to fighting wage theft and union busting, she’s with us.

Delegate Mary Lehman

“I’ve worked with Michelle for many years, fighting for working families. With Trump’s attacks on us, her values, grit, and courage are more important than ever.

I’m voting for her and hope you will too.”

JUNE COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Find more local events all month long in our continuously updated online calendar at streetcarsuburbs.news/events.

EVENTS

Laurel Write Now! Writers group. Meets 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. 6:30pm-8pm. Robert J DiPietro Community Center.

JUNE 3

Picnic in the Park.12 pm-12 am. Riverfront Park.

JUNE 5

Friday Flicks Series - Zootopia 2. 8:30pm-12am. Granville Gude Park & Lakehouse.

Laurel Elementary 100 years celebration.

JUNE 6

Pride Bracelets. Get ready for Pride Month by creating your own bead pride bracelet. 2-3pm. Maryland City Library.

Plant Club. Get advice and best practices information to help your outdoor space thrive in the summer. 2:30-4pm. Maryland City Library.

JUNE 7

OVERFLOW EXPERIENCE

7.0. Religious break through music. 5-8:30pm. Grace2Grace Center.

Bike Ride, North Tract, Celebrating 90 Years, Patuxent Research Refuge. Observe wildlife, ask questions, learn

about this refuge’s 90 years of wildlife conservation history. 8:30-10:30am. Patuxent Research Refuge.

JUNE 10

Lunch and Learn at the Mansion. 1pm. Gude Mansion

Bike Parade. Participants then show off their safety skills in an obstacle course and parade down Montgomery Street. 6 pm. - 12am. Laurel Armory.

JUNE 12

Friday Flicks Series - How to Train Your Dragon. 8:30pm12:00am. Granville Gude Park Lakehouse.

JUNE 12 & 27

“Wingspan” Game Days: Play the award-winning board game; learn more about Birds. 10am-1pm. Patuxent Research Center.

JUNE 13

Laurel Historical Society Garden Tour. Explore stunning local gardens feature native and pollinator-friendly plants, vegetable gardens, and bird meadows. 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. $25 for members, $30 for nonmembers until June 12, children 12 and under free. Day-of tickets are $35 for all adult guests. The Laurel Museum.

VENUE INFORMATION

Event details change! For confirmation, ticket prices, and cancellations, visit websites or call.

Carroll Baldwin Hall 9035 Baltimore St. 410. 294.3561

Robert J DiPietro Community Center 7901 Cypress St. 301.497.0300

Fellowship Hall of the First United Methodist Church 424 Main St. 301.927.6133

Gude Mansion/The Mansion at Laurel 13910 Laurel Lakes Ave. 301.725.7800 cityoflaurel.org/parks

Granville Gude Park Lakehouse 8300 Mulberry St. 301. 490.3530

JUNE 16

Needlework Social: Knitting and Crocheting. Connect with others in your community who share your love for needlecraft. 6:308pm. Laurel Branch Library.

JUNE 17

Citizenship: Study Group. C & J Migrant Solutions presents a weekly workshop on the naturalization process, offering detailed information on a different step to become a U.S. citizen and reviewing the N-400 form. 6-8 pm. Laurel Branch Library.

Grace2Grace Center 7911 Braygreen Road 301.437.9441

Laurel Armory 422 Montgomery St. Call or text Gail Gibson at 301.452.7700 or email book62worm@hotmail.com

Laurel Branch Library 507 7th St. 301.776.6790 pgmls.info

The Laurel Museum 817 Main Street, Laurel. 301. 725.7975

Maryland City at Russet Library 3501 Russett Common. 410.222.1070 https://www.aacpl.net/ services/maryland-city-atrussett

Montpelier Arts Center 9652 Muirkirk Road. 301.377.7800 pgparks.com

Patuxent Research Refuge South Tract & National Wildlife Visitor Center, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop. 301.497.5772 fws.gov/refuge/patuxent

North Laurel Community Center 9411 Whiskey Bottom Rd,410.313.0390

Riverfront Park Avondale Street

VOLUNTEER SERVICE

The Laurel Volunteer Firefighters are looking for new members. If you are interested in joining their ranks, go to www.LaurelVFD.org to sign up!

Outdoor Movie Screening: The Wiz. 7:30 pm. Carroll Baldwin Hall.

Juneteenth Family Celebration. 6-7pm. Laurel Branch Library.

JUNE 23

Book Discussion: “Buckeye” by Patrick Ryan. 7-8pm. Laurel Branch Library.

JUNE 25

Kickoff Summer Prince George’s. Kick off Summer Prince George’s (SPG) at your

local branch! Drop by to sign up for SPG and enjoy other activities and prizes. 4-5pm. Laurel Branch Library.

A Visit to Kofi’s Village. An imaginary visit to an African Village where participants experience the sights and sounds of percussive musical instruments. 6-7pm. Maryland City Library.

JUNE 26

Friday Flicks Series - The Bad Guys 2. 8:30pm. Granville Gude Park & Lakehouse. SEE CALENDAR ON 9 

JUNE 27

Meet Critters! with The Baltimore Critter Society. Learn about different types of small animals, their care and how to handle them with The Baltimore Critter Society. 2:30-4:30 pm. Maryland City Library.

Wild Bird Meet & Greet: Eastern Screech Owls! 2-3:30pm. Patuxent Research Refuge.

JUNE 28

Chesapeake Brass Authority Concert.This free concert will feature several music styles in a brass quintet format. 3pm. Carroll Baldwin Hall.

JUNE 29

Beyond the 4th: Stories of Laurel’s Freedom Celebrations. Join the staff of the Laurel Historical Society to learn how Laurel celebrated the 1876 Centennial, the 1926 Sesquicentennial, and the 1976 Bicentennial. 6-7pm. Maryland City Library.

ART EXHIBITIONS

Opens June 12. The 45th Annual Invitational Sculpture Exhibition. 10:00am-5:00pm. Montpelier Art Center.

JUNE 20

Hollingsworth Wildlife Art Gallery. Eleven members of the Bowie-Crofton Camera Club will exhibit their inspiring and beautiful wildlife and nature photographs, exploring landscapes, animal denizens and the lives of their local wildlife “neighbors.” Gallery Reception and a Meet & Greet with the Camera Club Photographers, 1:30-3:30 pm. Patuxent Research Refuge

THROUGH JUNE 21

Melissa Burley, surrealist found object sculptor.10 am5pm. Montpelier Arts Center.

OPENS JUNE 27

Aaron Oldenburg: Night Walks. Aaron Oldenburg creates artworks using game engines, coding languages, 2D and 3D digital art creation software, and audio sampling. 10am.5pm. Montpelier Art Center.

KIDS & TEENS

JUNE 4

Dinosaur Story Time. Have fun and enjoy a variety of stories, songs, and activities all related to dinosaurs while building early literacy skills. 6-7pm. Maryland City Library.

JUNE 13

Science Saturdays: Bristlebots. Build and decorate a bristlebot, a tiny toothbrush robot, and try it out.10:30 am. Maryland City Library.

JUNE 15

Kids Create: Erupting Volcano Slime. 4-5pm. Have fun making art and crafts while learning new skills. Laurel Branch Library.

JUNE 16

Teen Art Club: Celebrating Pride Month. 5:00pm. Maryland City Library.

JUNE 22

Legos: Freestyle. Build, create, and explore with legos. 4-5pm. Laurel Branch Library.

JUNE 29

Summer @ Your Library Celebration - Unearth A Story. “Unearth a Story” with crafts and activities to celebrate AACPL’s summer reading adventure!. 4-7pm. Maryland City Library.

Kids’ Discovery Center. Crafts, puzzles, games, nature. Patuxent Research Refuge.

June: Reptiles/Snakes - Some climb, some swim; they eat whatever their mouths can fit

in. But what else can they do? Come discover! Large groups: Register 2 weeks ahead: Email Jason, michael_cangelosi@fws. gov. Others register: 301-4975772, 10 am-4pm Wed.-Sat. Patuxent Research Refuge.

Library storytimes. Laurel Branch Library: Mondays at 10:30am (ages 2 to 3), Wednesdays at 7pm (ages 3 to 5) and Thursdays at 10:30 and 11:15am (ages 0 to 2). Maryland City at Russet Library: Mondays at 10:30 & Tuesdays at 11:30 (ages 0-5); Tuesdays 10:30 to 11am (toddler time).

StoryTrail: Sunrise to sunset (except Tuesdays: till 4 pm). All Ages. “Bugs for Lunch/Insectos Para El Almuerzo” by Margery Facklam. Patuxent Research Refuge.

LANGUAGES

ASL Conversation Club for Beginners. 4pm. Wednesdays at Laurel Branch Library.

Virtual Spanish Conversation Club. Beginners meet at 4:00pm and intermediate learners at 5:00pm every Wednesday. Reservations not required. Laurel Branch Library.

Maryland. At its best.

UM Capital Region Medical Center has been

six

recognized as High-Performing in

conditions and procedures.

U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals 2025-2026.

Italian Club welcomes all on the second Wednesday of each month. 6:30 p,m, St. Mary of the Mills Church, 114 St. Marys Pl. Call Jo Saunders at 301.490.8237.

French Conversation Club Virtual. Every Thursday at 7 pm. Laurel Branch Library.

SENIORS

JUNE 6

Get Active:Chair Yoga and movement class for seniors. 11 am. Laurel Branch Library.

Chess. All levels are welcome. Thursdays. 2pm Laurel-Beltsville Senior Activity Center.

BINGO. Every Tuesday at Laurel Senior Friendship Club, doors open at 11am bingo starts at noon. Laurel-Beltsville Senior Activities Center. Also Every Tuesday at Laurel Elks Lodge #2283. Doors open at 5pm, bingo starts at 7pm Every Friday at American Legion Post 60. Doors open at 5pm and bingo starts at 7:30pm.

Second Friday Senior Book Club. June 12: “Broken Country,” by Clare Leslie Hall. 2 to 3:30pm, Laurel Armory: email book62worm@hotmail.com.

Viral coffee brand launches cafe in Laurel

By ZOE HAMMOND

A Middle Eastern-inspired coffee franchise that has drawn hundreds of thousands of views on social media has opened a new store in Laurel.

Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co. opened May 15 in the Laurel Park shopping center along Van Dusen Road, serving coffee made with 100% Yemeni beans along with traditional Middle Eastern sweets such as basbousa and baklava. The chain is known for its fusion of drinks that bridge the gap between classic Middle Eastern coffee traditions and modern Western tastes.

“The idea is to bring a sort of unique brand of coffee to the area … whether it’s teas, coffees, things that aren’t as common in other places,” said Mobeen Vaib, a co-owner at the Laurel location.

The cafe marks the first location in Maryland, with three locations in Vienna, Glen Allen and Sterling, Virginia, and more than 40 franchise locations in 15 states.

The brand has found success on social media platforms like

TikTok and Instagram, where thousands of people have used its hyperlocal hashtags to go viral through videos featuring its highly stylized drinks and desserts. Its cafes also attract Gen Z and millennials because they stay open later than most coffee chains. The Laurel location closes at 10 p.m. during the week and midnight on Friday

and Saturday.

Vaib said some of the owners noticed that high school, college and post-college students don’t have many places to go after 8 p.m. He added that coffee shops such as Qamaria work well for nighttime hangouts.

“We have a relaxed environment that’s authentic as well,” said co-owner Salah Ayoubi.

“That was super important to us.”

The shop in Laurel contains a prayer space, meeting room, floor seating and nook seating featuring Middle Easterninspired furniture and decor.

Ayoubi and Vaib said they were excited by the response they had received from the community so far, adding that the grand opening event drew

a large crowd.

“The early response has been great in the community,” Vaib said. “It was crazy here.”

Ayoubi sees the cafe potentially helping revitalize the Laurel Park shopping center with increased traffic.

“We brought some life back to this area,” Ayoubi said. “Some of the shop owners were here thanking us for having this shop, bringing out more folks in the area.”

Customers, too, said they’re glad the store is bringing something new to Laurel’s coffee scene.

Aneeqa Tajammala of Laurel said Qamaria is within walking distance of her home, and she is excited to have “something spacious and nice, [with] good coffee and pastries” open nearby.

Ayoubi said the cafe was designed to become both a cultural and community gathering space.

“There’s a great community here as well, and it just felt like a place that needed a little bit of culture, and, you know, we felt like this could be a great addition to the community,” he said.

LAUREL LEDGE R

BUDGET AND PERSONNEL SERVICES: PREPARING FOR FY2027 BUDGET

The Department of Budget and Personnel Services plays a vital role in protecting the financial stability of the City of Laurel and safeguarding public funds on behalf of its residents. The department is responsible for ensuring that strong financial controls are in place to maintain accurate records of all financial transactions and preserve the integrity of the City’s fiscal operations.

A key objective of the Department is to achieve the high standards necessary for a favorable certified audit each year. To accomplish this, the department emphasizes strict cash controls, diligent monitoring of financial activity, and timely reconciliation of funds to maintain adequate cash flow throughout the fiscal year.

The City of Laurel operates on a fiscal year that runs from July 1 through June 30. For example, Fiscal Year 2027 (FY2027) spans

from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. Each year, the Mayor, City Administrator, and Director of Budget and Personnel Services work collaboratively with Department Heads to develop the City’s spending plan, known as the Mayor’s Proposed Budget. This process is designed to align financial resources with the City’s operational priorities, community needs, and long-term goals. The City Code requires the Mayor submit a balanced budget and capital improvement program to the City Council by May 1st each year with adoption required by June 30th

The adopted budget serves several important purposes. It establishes the level of municipal services to be provided, determines tax rates, and outlines the programs and activities that will be funded during the fiscal year. Through this process, City leadership ensures that public resources are allocated responsibly and strategically.

An essential component of the City’s financial planning is the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). These projects may include, but not limited to, street improvements; information technology improvements; and a redesign of the Laurel TV studio, as well as infrastructure upgrades, facility improvements, vehicle replacements and

The City of Laurel has announced adjustments to its residential collection schedule following the observance of the Independence Day holiday, which has been moved from Friday, July 3, 2026, to Monday, July 6, 2026. Due to the holiday schedule change, trash, recycling, and composting collections will be shifted for the week. Residents who normally receive Monday service will instead be collected on Tuesday, July 7th. Tuesday collections will move to Wednesday, July 8th, while Wednesday collections will remain on their regular schedule with no changes. Residents are encouraged to place all materials curbside by their normal collection time and plan ahead for the adjusted holiday service schedule.

The City also announced that there will be no bulky item pickup service during the holiday week. The next scheduled bulky item collection day will be July 15, 2026. Yard debris collection, however, will continue as scheduled on July 8th. Contact Public Works with any questions at 301-725-0088 or email dpw@laurel.md.us.

information technology improvements such as fiber installation and equipment. The Capital Improvement Program allows the City to balance the need for public improvements with the financial resources available to support them. By planning projects over multiple years, the City can prioritize investments while maintaining sound fiscal management.

The FY2027 Proposed General Operating Budget includes the following:

• Real Property Tax remains at $0.71 per $100 of assessed value

• Personal Property Tax rate remains at $1.69 per $100

• Special Taxing District rate remains at $0.03 per $100

Real estate tax revenue is the City’s largest revenue source at 63% of the total budget. Employee compensation is the largest expenditure at 54% of the total budget. Expenditures also include employee insurance, debt service, a contribution to the pension plans and an operating transfer to the CIP to fund projects. To view the City Budgets, scan the QR Code.

CONSTRUCTION DROP - OF F EVENT

City residents will have an opportunity to dispose of construction-related materials during a special drop-off event hosted by Laurel Public Works on Saturday, June 27th. The event will take place at 305 First Street from 8:00am until Noon.

The drop-off event is intended to help residents safely and responsibly dispose of construction and renovation debris. Officials noted that the program is available exclusively for City residents and is not open to commercial businesses or contractors.

Residents are encouraged to arrive early and follow any on-site instructions from Public Works staff to help keep traffic moving smoothly throughout the event. Contact Public Works with any questions at 301-725-0088 or email dpw@laurel.md.us.

It’s Easy B eing Grreen!

IT’S BEEN ONE YEAR! ARE YOU COMPOSTING?

We are approaching one year since our Public Works Department completed the delivery of the tan curbside organics recycling carts! Check out how we are doing and visit www.cityoflaurel.org/425/Organics -Recycling-Composting-Program. The new and improved web site also offers helpful “hacks” to reduce bugs/smells during the summer months. Have a question about what goes where? Download the Recycle Coach app or ask for a 2026 Sustainability Division/Public Works Service Guide (also available on the web site in digital form). Both the app and the guide show you the best way to recycle and compost and reduce refuse overflow. Need a larger cart or additional recycling or composting carts? Larger carts are available upon request. Remember, loose leaves and grass clippings are also acceptable in your curbside compost cart. Still have questions? Come to the Laurel Farmer ’s Market Welcome Tent and meet residents that are Compost Ambassadors to get some fun “hacks” and answer any questions. Click the QR code to go directly to the organics recycling page for more information. Our Farmer’s Market is back in full swing. We are very excited to once again accept SNAP/EBT benefits and be part of the Maryland Market Money program, giving our shoppers extra market cash to shop with. Stop by the Welcome Tent to get tokens. The Market is open every Thursday from 3 - 7pm at 378 Main Street through October 29th. Visit and Like our Facebook page, @LaurelMarketOnMain, for weekly updates!

With the rain and warmer weather on its way, mosquitoes will start being very active! To help combat the spread of mosquitoes , the City of Laurel will once again participate in the Maryland Department of Agriculture ’s (MDA) Mosquito Control Program, but residents can be proactive and help reduce the mosquito population and the need to spray. For more ecofriendly ideas like Tip It or Toss It, visit the Green Living page at www.cityoflaurel.org/431/Mosquito -Control-Program and https://www.cityoflaurel.org/1478/ Mosquito-Control-Program for more detailed information on how to contact MDA. Our spray night is scheduled for Sundays, as needed.

Want to be part of the sustainability solution? Join a Sustainability Action Group (SAG)! We have a few residents that are dynamic and committed to making Laurel a great sustainable community now and for future generations and we need more! Our Composting Ambassadors are already on the move, engaging with residents and promoting our curbside program. We have volunteer opportunities to help with the pollinator gardens around the City, as well as other “green initiatives”. For more information and to see what we are up to, like and follow us on Facebook, @SustainableLaurel and on our web page, www.cityoflaurel.org/greenliving!

PREPARACIÓN DEL PRESUPUESTO PARA EL AÑO FISCAL 2027

El Departamento de Presupuesto y Servicios de Personal desempeña un papel vital en la protección de la estabilidad financiera de la Ciudad de Laurel y en la salvaguarda de los fondos públicos en nombre de sus residentes. El Departamento es responsable de garantizar la implementación de sólidos controles financieros para mantener registros precisos de todas las transacciones financieras y preservar la integridad de las operaciones fiscales de la Ciudad.

La Ciudad de Laurel opera bajo un año fiscal que abarca desde el 1 de julio hasta el 30 de junio. Por ejemplo, el Año Fiscal 2027 (AF2027) se extiende desde el 1 de julio de 2026 hasta el 30 de junio de 2027. Cada año, el Alcalde, el Administrador de la Ciudad y el Director de Presupuesto y Servicios de Personal trabajan en colaboración con los jefes de departamento para elaborar el plan de gastos de la Ciudad, conocido como el Presupuesto Propuesto por el Alcalde. Este proceso está diseñado para alinear los recursos financieros con las prioridades operativas de la Ciudad, las necesidades de la comunidad y los objetivos a largo plazo.

El Presupuesto General de Operaciones Propuesto para el AF2027 incluye lo siguiente:

• El impuesto sobre bienes inmuebles se mantiene en $0.71 por cada $100 de valor tasado.

• La tasa del impuesto sobre bienes muebles se mantiene en $1.69 por cada $100.

• La tasa del Distrito Fiscal Especial se mantiene en $0.03 por cada $100.

LAUREL POLICE MONTHLY CRIME REPORT

APRIL 2026

List of Laurel Police Crime Reports can be found at www.cityoflaurel.org/1896/LPDCrime-Reports

You can also read the full monthly Laurel Police Crime Reports in the Laurel Independent!

Legislation

Listed below are recent legislative actions taken, if any, by the Laurel City Council during the past month of Mayor and City Council meetings. For further information on any of these legislative actions, please feel free to contact the Office of the City Clerk at 301-725-5300 x2120 or at clerk@laurel.md.us. For full agendas, visit www.cityoflaurel.org

Adopted Legislation:

 Resolution No. 2-2026 - to adopt the City of Laurel Bikeway Master Plan.

 Resolution No. 4-2026 - for approving an agreement between the City of Laurel and the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 11.

 Ordinance No. 2054 - to amend and renumber former Section 18-181.1 “Trimming of Hedges, Shrubs, and Trees” to Section 18-181.3 and Renumbering Former Section 18-181.2 “Snow and Ice Removal” to Section 18-181.4, and Renumbering Former Section 18- 181.3 “Prohibited Disposal of Refuse on Property of Another Without Consent” to Section 18- 181.5 of the Laurel City Code to Permit Intentional Native Plantings, Pollinator Gardens, and other Managed Landscapes as an Exemption from the Weed Height Requirement, and to Update Requirements for the Trimming and Maintenance of Hedges, Shrubs, and Trees along Streets and Sidewalks to Ensure Pedestrian Access, Visibility, and Public Safety; and providing an effective date .

Bid Recommendations:

 Microsoft Data Governance ImplementationInformation Technology

Appointments/Reappointments:

 Sabrina Jones (Reappointment) - Education Advisory Committee, 04/27/26 - 04/27/28

 Anthony Taylor (Reappointment) - Environmental Affairs Committee, 4/27/26 - 4/27/28

 Arie Baker Fox (Appointment) - Ethics Commission - 5/11/26 - 5/11/29

 Redistricting & Ward Boundary Advisory Committee:

The Honorable Fred Smalls, Chair (Ward 2) Dr. Nana Atokatha Brew (Ward 1) Gabriel Whitfield (At-Large)

William Wellford, Board of Election Rep

Dennis Grant, Planning Commission Rep

Government Meetings s

Ex-Officio (Non-voting members): Sara A. Green, CPM, MMC, City Clerk Jay Meashey, Director, ECD (Dates and Times Subject to Change)

Job Fair

July 1, 2026

10:00am2:00pm

Craig A. Moe

Laurel Multiservice Center

204 Ft. Meade Rd.

June 2026 Mayor and City Council Meetings

 June 3rd - Virtual Mayor and City Council Work Session (6:00pm)

 June 8th - Virtual Mayor and City Council Meeting (6:00pm)

 June 22nd - In-Person Mayor and City Council Meeting (6:00pm)

June 2026 Boards and Commissions

 June 9th - Planning Commission (6:00pm)

 June 16th - Historic District Commission (6:00pm)

 June 25th - Board of Appeals (6:00pm)

July 2026 Mayor and City Council Meetings

 July 1st - Virtual Mayor and City Council Work Session (6:00pm)

 July 13th - Virtual Mayor and City Council Meeting (6:00pm)

 July 27th - In-Person Mayor and City Council Meeting (6:00pm)

July 2026 Boards and Commissions

 July 14th - Planning Commission (6:00pm)

 July 21st - Historic District Commission (6:00pm)

 July 23rd - Board of Appeals (6:00pm)

City Announcements & Events

and Times Subject to Change)

 Pride Month Flag Raising - May 31st - 12:30, 8103 Sandy Spring Rd.

 Laurel Municipal/Greenview Drive Pools Opened May 23rd - Pricing for Pool Passes change on July 1st. Visit www.cityoflaurel.org/parks for details.

 Free Friday Flick, “Zootopia” - June 5th - at Dusk, Gude Park, 8300 Mulberry St. Bring a blanket and enjoy a family, friendly movie.

 Bike Decorating Parade & Ice Cream Social - June 10th - 6pm, Laurel Armory, 422 Montgomery St. Family fun for elementary-aged kids! Helmets required and supplies provided.

 Free Friday Flick, “How to Train Your Dragon” - June 12th - at Dusk, Gude Park, 8300 Mulberry St. Bring a blanket and enjoy a family, friendly movie.

 Juneteenth Flag Raising - June 19th - 10:00am - 8103 Sandy Spring Rd.

 June 19th - Juneteenth Holiday - City/Passport Offices will be Closed. Visit www.cityoflaurel.org for details on adjusted collections.

 100 Fathers’ Day Breakfast - June 20th - 10am-12pm, LPD Partnership Activity Center, 811 5th St. Celebrate Laurel’s Fathers! Register at https:// forms.office.com/g/Tj0LP6j9e4.

 Juneteenth Celebration - June 20th - 4 - 7pm, Emancipation Park (New Location), 8th Street. Music, Food, Vendors and Fun for All!

 Free Friday Flick, “The Bad Guys 2” - June 26th - at Dusk, Gude Park, 8300 Mulberry St. Bring a blanket and enjoy a family, friendly movie.

 Independence Day Celebration - July 4th - 3 - 10pm - 250th Birthday of Our Nation! Parade: 3pm, 4th Street (Starts at Marshal Ave.) Family Fun, Vendors Music and Fireworks: 4 - 10pm, Gude Park, 8300 Mulberry Street.

 Mon., July 6th (Note Change in Holiday) - 4th of July Holiday - City/Passport Offices Closed. Visit www.cityoflaurel.org for collection details.

3

KONTERRA

tive Aisha Braveboy, Maryland

House Speaker Joseline PeñaMelnyk and Prince George’s County Council member Tom Dernoga (Dist. 1), many of whom said they had spent years working to move the project forward.

“This project is a masterclass in leadership and a testament to what happens when the private sector and the community share a vision,” Braveboy said. “This partnership proves what we can achieve when we work together towards a common goal.”

Officials described the project as part of a broader wave of economic development across Prince George’s County.

“We have over $18 billion in economic development projects happening in Prince George’s County,” Braveboy said during the ceremony. “This means more than just new buildings. It means more jobs, a stronger tax base for our schools, and a premier destination for the entire Mid-Atlantic.”

The groundbreaking marks the start of Phase 1 of the Konterra Town Center East project, which includes about 214 town-

FESTIVAL

The goal of the event is “for the City of Laurel and people outside the city to either be a vendor or come and enjoy the day … [and] to keep [the Main Street Festival] going,” said Jim Cross, chairman of the Laurel Board of Trade.

Gemma Kuijpers, 70, of Laurel, said she values the community aspect of the event.

“It’s a nice community event. We all enjoy the same thing at the same time, which is rare in this day and age of technology,” said Kuijpers.

tival] the day before Mother’s Day. The idea being that people could come buy mom a gift, take it home, and give it to her the next day,” said Cross.

The date change did not deter May Wannasiri, of Mark’s Thai Taste, who traveled from Alexandria, Virginia. She said she wanted to return this year due to enhanced safety measures following a vendor fire that shut down last year’s festival.

homes being built by Caruso Homes as part of the larger vision for a 1,400-acre walkable downtown development. No retail tenants have been announced yet.

Developers said beginning with housing was critical to attracting future retail and corporate tenants.

“We’re starting with the residential program … to attract the very best retail [and] corporate tenants,” Gould said.

Residents living near the project said they hope the development will bring new shopping, jobs and investment to the area.

“I’m excited about the opportunity of stores that will be close to the community—that’s definitely going to help the value of our economy,” said Chantell Stevenson of Beltsville, who lives less than a mile from the project.

Still, Stevenson said she has concerns about traffic, security and the types of businesses that may eventually move into the development.

“The way the economy is right now, I don’t see a lot of new businesses opening,” she said. “I’m hoping we do get upscale stores and not just smoke shops and liquor stores.”

But the event is not just about community; it also serves as a revenue stream for the Laurel Board of Trade, which started the event under its former name, the Main Street Merchants Association.

“This is what has provided us with enough money to pay the rent, pay the administrator, [and] pay the bills,” said Cross.

The change in date, along with higher insurance costs, led to a dip in vendor turnout, which typically reaches about 250, according to Cross.

“Our standard operating procedure is to have [the fes-

“We see how they [are] organized. That’s why we were able to come back this year and be more prepared, and we feel more safe here,” Wannasiri said.

Still, Laurel City Council member James Kole, Ward 1, said the continued interest in the festival shows Laurel is a thriving community.

“The economy is booming here. We’ve got everybody coming into town for [the] Main Street Festival, for Preakness. It’s really helping out our local vendors and our businesses here,” he said during the event. “This is Laurel’s homecoming. This is the tradition where everyone comes back to Laurel for what they remember.”

Join us for a stroll through stunning private gardens in West Laurel and Old Town, featuring pollinator-friendly plantings, vegetable gardens, bird meadows, and Bay-Wise and Wildlife-certified gardens.

Saturday, June 13, 2026 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Nature’s smallest worlds tell a much bigger story

By AGNES PASCO CONATY

As a child growing up in the Philippines, I was a curious observer of the garden surrounding our family’s ancestral home in the province. There were all sorts of fruit trees, palm trees, flowering plants and mossy, damp, overgrown areas underneath stepping stones. Turning over rocks brought some surprises: wriggly centipedes, salamanders or slimy earthworms.

Although I wasn’t fond of amphibious animals—let alone reptiles— I found the activity enchanting. It was from this environment that my fascination with science and the natural world began.

In West Laurel, our home backs up to the woods and a little creek. From late spring to early fall, my family encounters wildlife, mostly uninvited, as they trespass into our backyard. They graze our yard like a salad bar, then leave their tracks as currency. These wander-

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ing animals are hard to miss, but there are living organisms so tiny that we mostly overlook them — and those are what I would like to pay attention to.

Why should we care about the miniature world under leaves and rocks?

There are summer days when my family visits the waters down by the gazebo, the silvery vernal pool so clear we can see minnows and tadpoles swimming. Here, the life cycle of a frog comes full circle. Connected to this is a food web where algae and insecteating frogs become food for larger predators such as snakes and birds. The absence of a link in this chain carries consequences for the ecosystem.

Around the creek lies a thick detritus of fallen leaves that shields a quiet living world underneath. And that is just the top layer. If you dig a little deeper, you’ll discover layer upon layer of microcosms; damp soil provides moisture, shelter, temperature protection and breeding grounds for insects, fungi, spiders, salamanders, pollinators and microorganisms.

Microhabitats are valuable

Environmental protection involves taking care of the hidden life in neighborhood creeks, which plays an essential role in sustaining ecological balance.

observation zones where families, communities and school groups can participate in citizen science activities, providing opportunities for young children to explore nature outdoors. By going outside more, students can be trained to document observations of insects, fungi, birds, mosses and soil organisms. These are teachable moments that inspire lifelong curiosity and environmental stewardship.

How do we protect these oftentimes overlooked spaces?

Fallen logs, decaying wood and scattered leaves appear messy and disorganized in our gardens and may be headed for yard waste. If possible, leave some leaf litter and natural debris in garden beds. In the woods, we let them be unless they pose a hazard to health or human life.

Allow portions of lawns to grow naturally. Protect wet areas and stream buffers from disturbance. Plant native species of flowering plants, shrubs and trees suited for Maryland conditions. Create pollinator-friendly spaces that attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and others throughout the seasons.

Environmental protection is not limited to cleanups of community parks or national forests. It also involves taking care of the hidden life in neighborhood creeks, which plays an essential role in sustaining ecological balance.

How to bring a garden back to life

By JIMMY ROGERS

Do you have a garden bed that causes you to wince as you pass by? Whether it’s filled with a tangle of overgrown weeds or simply dead plants, it can make you feel embarrassed or like a failed gardener. You’re not alone—every gardener has faced this at some point.

Fortunately, nature’s magic is immortal, and you can always start over. Here are some steps to give your garden a better chance at long-term beauty.

Looking Inward

Before you start a project to revive your garden, ask yourself how it got this way in the first place. If you inherited the garden from someone else, then you’ll need to think about the kind of care you’re willing to provide going forward.

If you planted the garden yourself, consider whether you’re expecting to care for the new plants any differently than the old ones. Using the same approach for this garden as the last one will deliver the same results and an eventual eyesore. Consider waiting a while until you’re able to give the project more of your energy and attention.

However, if you plan to do more research, spend more time and generally follow through more consistently with the new garden, you have cleared the first hurdle to becoming a successful gardener.

Assessing the Site

Before forming any firm opinions about your new garden bed, you’ll want to investigate the aspects you can’t change. Is it wet

‘Living

or dry most of the time? Does it receive very hot sun in the summer, or is it under cooling shade? Next, I recommend you make a sketch of the bed and measure the edges with a tape measure. This will give you some rough square footage to work with. One plant per square foot will ensure a denser, weed-resistant garden. Also, if the center of your bed is 3 feet from the nearest edge, then you’ll want to choose plants of no more than 3 feet in height, with shorter plants as you approach the edge. Tall plants right along the edges of a garden can look messy to the passerby. At this stage, I suggest you hold off on removing any weeds or dead plant material, as that is the only thing keeping your soil from eroding and growing fresh weeds.

Forming a Vision

The most important step is casting a vision. Looking at the space and your sketch, imagine how it might look and what would bring you the most joy. Do you want a prim, symmetrically arranged planting, or a vibrant patch of pollinator plants? How tall of a plant can you tolerate visually? Are you looking to incorporate native shrubs, most of which need at least 5 feet of elbow room?

Designing and Planting

Once you know the constraints of the space and have a vision, you can start designing. If you’re planning any new paths or hardscaping, work on those first so you know where all your edges are. I recommend choosing plants

in Rumortown’: Parents seek answers on immersion program cuts

By RORY CAHILL

Parents voiced their concern over the future of the Chinese immersion program in Prince George’s County Public Schools during a town hall in Laurel on May 20.

The meeting, held at the Laurel Branch Library, was hosted by Prince George’s County Council member Tom Dernoga (Dist. 1) and Prince George’s County Public Schools Board member Tiffini Andorful (Dist. 1). The presentation included the nomination process for a new superintendent and the county’s plans to rebuild High Point High School in Beltsville.

But it was the cuts to the school system’s immersion program that many of the roughly 15 parents in attendance rallied around. The Chinese immersion program, which costs about $1.9 million annually, would be eliminated under a proposed budget for the next fiscal year as the school system tries to close a $150 million budget shortfall.

After pushback from parents, the Prince George’s County Board of Education rejected plans to phase out the program, which is currently offered at Paint Branch Elementary School, Greenbelt Middle School and Largo High School. However, the proposed

that match your site conditions from the new Maryland Native Plant Guide, available for free on the University of Maryland Extension website. When in doubt, plant shorter plants, as they’ll be easier to manage.

If you feel too overwhelmed to choose plants, consider getting the help of a professional designer. I recommend finding someone who can not only design the space, but supply the plants and help you with installation.

If you relish the hunt for new plants, I suggest visiting a native plant nursery. The Maryland Department of Agriculture has a list of growers and retailers on the Maryland’s Best Native Plants website.

Only when you have your new plants will you want to clear the

fiscal 2027 budget for schools would remove $2.5 million in funding for language immersion programs.

Several parents at Wednesday’s meeting criticized the school system for poor communication over the fate of the program.

“I feel like I’m just living in rumortown,” said Danielle Rose, whose three children all participate in the immersion program in elementary, middle and high school. “I don’t know what’s going on. Not only that, I can’t get answers.”

Andorful said the county had not decided on funding for the immersion program and that a decision would not be made until the Board of Education’s working groups had finished their analysis. Andorful’s presentation said the groups were monitoring “academic program continuity” and “long-term resource alignment and sustainability.”

ground of dead or weedy plants. Invasive species will require hand-digging to make sure the roots are removed. Otherwise, weedy annuals can be gently ripped off at ground level. In most cases, there’s no need to amend the soil with compost or fertilizer. Plant directly in the ground, keeping the soil level even with how it was in the nursery pot. Water thoroughly to help the roots take hold. Beyond digging your planting holes, try to avoid disturbing the soil or compacting the ground, as this will cause more weeds to germinate.

Maintaining Your Investment

New garden beds require time and money to establish, like any investment. For the first few weeks, I recommend you observe your garden closely each day and water every few days if it hasn’t rained recently. Pretty soon, you’ll start to see new growth and flowers. By staying in touch with your garden, you’ll know when invasive plants appear or more water is needed.

All of this may seem like a lot. If you follow through, learn from experts and put in the time, it will pay off. Few things offer a return on investment like a garden.

Rogers is an avid gardener and the owner of Laurelbased Vibrant Gardening LLC. Send your native plant gardening questions to him at: nativegardenguy@gmail.com.

“There’s a lot of information provided to the members of those working groups. They’re digging into [the] budget … and really talking about other options, whether it be breaking up the programs or an alternative,” she said.

But questions persisted from the crowd, with some parents claiming the working groups didn’t include staff from the Chinese immersion program.

“This was all done with zero input from [immersion program academic dean], from the school principal, from the actual stakeholders,” said Alexandra Tyukavina, whose child attends Paint Branch Elementary School in College Park.

The budget for Prince George’s County public schools, along with the overall budget for county government, will be adopted by the County Council by June 1 and finalized by June 30.

Laurel revises code for wildlife gardens

By JIMMY ROGERS

For years, City of Laurel residents—and those in surrounding counties and municipalities— have had to navigate a gray area when growing wildlife gardens. A widely used legal code dating to the 1970s made no distinction between tall native plants, such as milkweed and goldenrod that support monarch butterflies, and invasive plants that can overtake abandoned properties.

In Prince George’s County and elsewhere, the policy has led to native plant gardeners receiving code violation notices and mow orders from enforcement officers. Now, following the example set by Hyattsville, College Park and other nearby municipalities, the City of Laurel has moved to distinguish native plant gardens from actual weeds.

On April 27, the mayor and City Council approved a new ordinance, sponsored by Councilmember James Kole, permitting

“intentional plantings,” defined as “an area deliberately established and actively maintained as an alternative to traditional turf grass or formal planting beds, including but not limited to wildflower gardens, meadows, pollinator or native plant gardens, wildlife habitat gardens, rain gardens, xeriscaping, or other low-impact landscaping practices.”

Under the ordinance, city code enforcement officers may evaluate gardens using factors such as “plant composition, habitat function, presence of pollinators, clarity of borders, and evidence of maintenance. Certification by a conservation organization” may also be considered.

No formal registration process is required, and the ordinance took effect immediately.

Instead of the previous 8-inch height restriction for weeds and grass, residents are now only required to maintain a 12-inch maximum height for the first foot where intentional plantings border sidewalks or neighboring properties. Residents may also use a mowed strip, mulch border, hedge or fence along those edges.

For guidance on managing the height of native garden plants, see “Cutting Keeps Garden Edges Appealing” in the April edition.

Residents press Maryland comptroller on rising energy costs, affordability

By JOSHUA GARNER

Prince George’s County residents sought answers from Maryland’s comptroller on affordability and rising energy costs during a May 7 meeting at the Laurel-Beltsville Senior Activity Center.

Comptroller Brooke Lierman took questions from roughly 50 residents who attended the District 1 Community Conversation event hosted by Prince George’s County Council member Tom Dernoga (Dist.1). The event focused on updating residents on the legislative impacts on the state level and the comptroller’s State of the Economy Report.

Mark Tomassoni of Laurel wanted to know why energy costs continue to climb across the state.

“Costs are going up and up and up,” he said. “What are you doing to [address the cost]?” Lierman agreed with residents that energy costs have become a major challenge throughout Maryland and are

contributing to affordability issues for households. She said much of the increase is tied to the state’s aging infrastructure and Maryland’s inability to generate enough electricity to power itself.

Lierman pointed to the Maryland Utility RELIEF Act, recently passed by the General Assembly, which would reduce household energy bills by about $150 annually and increase oversight of utility companies.

“[Energy costs are] a huge challenge,” she said. “It’s unacceptably high at this point.”

Still, Lierman explained to residents that the Maryland Comptroller’s Office primarily serves as the state’s financial and tax administrative agency and does not create the state budget or dictate spending priorities.

But questions from attendees continued, ranging from property taxes and casino revenues to the state’s fiscal health.

“How competitive is Maryland in terms of bringing in business?” asked Sheila Car-

penter of West Laurel. Lierman told the audience the state remains fiscally stable, but faces increasing pressure from reductions in federal spending, federal layoffs and the depletion of surplus funds generated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adding that Prince George’s County is particularly vulnerable to fiscal challenges caused by federal policy changes.

“Prince George’s County has a higher percent of its revenue come from federal wages, [more] federal wages than any other county [in the state],” she said Lierman added that Maryland will continue navigating a structural deficit as revenues fail to keep pace with inflation and rising costs. She said lawmakers will face difficult choices involving spending cuts, funding priorities and potential revenue increases tied to taxes.

“Revenues are going up, but they’re not going up at the same clip as our expenses,” she said. “There are very hard decisions to be made.”

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Backlogs, delays dominate Prince George’s Register of Wills race

By JOE MURCHISON

Among the races to be decided in the Prince George’s County election primary June 23, the county register of wills election is one of the least noticed. Yet this year’s race is consequential, according to two lawyers who regularly deal with that office.

Zachary Worshtil, who practices law in Upper Marlboro, said that in the past two years the office has been slow in processing wills of deceased county residents, creating unnecessary stress on grieving families.

“Other attorneys have complained about delays,” he said. Worshtil is co-chair of the Prince George’s County Bar Association’s Committee on Probate, Estates, Trusts and Elder Law.

For example, he said the Register of Wills should be able to process a final report on an estate’s assets, thus allowing the

final distribution of the property, within four to six weeks. But he has clients who are still waiting for action on final reports that he filed seven to nine months ago.

“It’s a train wreck,” said Tom Downs, an estate attorney in Laurel. “Cases are not being processed.”

He said the family of one client has been waiting more than a year for final-report approval.

“It should have been done by June [2025],” Downs said. He said he had written the current register of wills, Cereta Lee, asking for a meeting to discuss this issue. “No response, nothing,” he said.

Downs said he knew many of the office’s employees “are working their tails off; they’re just not being led.”

Lee, who has served as register of wills for 20 years after a career as a manager at Verizon, is not running for reelection. In response to Worshtil’s and

Downs’ criticism, she said in an interview, “The probate process can take months, years, days; it depends on the case.”

She added that Prince George’s County generates more than 3,000 probate cases a year.

“It’s a large county,” she said. “There could be a backlog depending on the situation.”

She said her office has 40 employees to handle the load.

As for Downs’ alleged unanswered request for a meeting, Lee said, “That doesn’t sound right. … I’m very approachable.”

Eleven people have entered the race to replace Lee. Since all of them are Democrats, the June 23 primary will determine Lee’s successor. Whoever assumes the office will receive a salary of up to $172,463 after the state General Assembly passed a pay raise in this year’s session.

Requirements to be a candidate do not include being an attorney or having any particular legal expertise, but Worshtil and Downs said they thought that could be helpful. They said perhaps more important is that the officeholder has experience leading a large organization.

The Laurel Independent sent two emails to all candidates, asking that they answer four questions. Six candidates responded.

One of them, Rosalyn Pugh, is an attorney and former clerk of the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County. As clerk, “I hired and supervised over 160 employees and administered a state budget of millions of dol-

lars,” she wrote.

Pugh also noted that in her current private law practice, she has represented many estate-settlement clients in dealing with the register’s office.

“The Register’s Office could benefit from streamlining the probate process through the enforcement and/or establishment of internal processes and controls and checks and balances to ensure that matters do not fall through the cracks and advance in a timely fashion (time standards need to be established and enforced),” she wrote.

Another candidate, Kayla Bryant, wrote that she is in her last year of law school and formerly had served in the Register of Wills’ Office in a deputy position.

“I worked directly with families during some of the hardest moments of their lives, sitting with them one-on-one, walking them through probate paperwork, explaining the process,” she said.

Bryant said the office needs more staff training and a better document management system.

Belinda Queen Cunningham wrote that she had served on the Prince George’s County Board of Education from 2018 to 2022.

“My responsibilities included oversight of a budget exceeding $1.2 billion, 208 schools, approximately 132,000 students and more than 20,000 employees,” she said.

Cunningham said the Regis-

ter’s Office needs to improve its processing of documents.

“Residents would benefit from faster service timelines, clearer communication regarding case status, and a more streamlined submission process,” she said.

Stephanie Overton Stanard wrote that she had served as assistant deputy secretary at the U.S. Department of Education and now has her own consultancy, SOS Human Capital Solutions LLC.

“I advise organizations on strategic growth and organizational transformation, proving my ability to manage both people and processes,” she said.

Stanard said she had experienced the probate process in Prince George’s personally and believed the office needs greater automation.

“Currently, many processes remain manual, leading to unnecessary delays during an already stressful time for families,” she said.

Jocelyn Route wrote that she had served as a senior public health adviser in the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, overseeing millions of dollars in grant programs. She also has served on the Prince George’s County Board of Education and Bladensburg Town Council, she said.

Route said her former work as a social worker brought her into frequent contact with court systems.

The Register of Wills Office “should do more to simplify information, improve communication and ensure residents understand what documents are needed and what steps to expect,” she said.

Starsha Sewell, executive of her own cybersecurity company, Cyberdemics LLC, wrote that she had provided cybersecurity solutions to court systems, government agencies and the U.S. military’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. Formerly, she was a professor and academic dean at Strayer University, “where I oversaw digital learning systems across 49 campuses.”

On improving the Register’s Office, she said, “I am prepared with solutions on day one. Under my leadership, Prince George’s County residents will benefit from a people-centered approach grounded in cybersecurity governance.”

The other candidates are Antwan Brown, David Jack, Januari McKay, Desdemona Smith and Linda Thornton Thomas.

Early voting for the primary election will run from June 1118.

VOTE

RON OLIVER

A SHERIFF FOR ALL

A Prince George’s County Public Safety

Professional with 43 years of Law Enforcement and Fire Department service.

Born and raised in Prince George’s County, graduated from Crossland High School.

RON’S VISION

 Transparent Leader who cares for all

 Engage with the entire county to build stronger relationships

 Reestablish the Office of the Sheriff’s core functions with the courts, civil service and warrants

 Arrest domestic violence offenders and empower the victims

 Continue to mentor the youth and assist our seniors

 Rebuild a broken agency, to deliver the best service to all, while maintaining open, transparent communication

ABOUT RON

Ronald J. Oliver Jr., was appointed and sworn in as Assistant Sheriff for Prince George’s County, Maryland, in 2022 and retired in 2025 as Chief of the Bureau of Administration. In this role, he oversaw multiple divisions, including Budget and Finance, Human Resources, Training, and Special Operations. Ron’s public safety career began even earlier, in 1983, as a volunteer firefighter. He rose through the ranks to become Fire Chief of the Morningside Volunteer Fire Department, where he was on the departments board of directors and remains a life member. He currently serves as District VI Director for the Prince George’s County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association and was inducted into the Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association Hall of Fame, in recognition of his decades of dedicated service. One of his favorite annual community events is the Fire Department’s Toys for Tots bicycle drive; a reminder, he says, that “we can never give back enough to the community that needs us.”

“Great leaders never stop learning”

PUBLIC SAFETY ENDORSEMENTS

• PG Sheriff’s Lodge 112

• PG Police Lodge 89

• PG Fire IAFF Local 1619

• MD Park Police Lodge 30

• University of MD PD Lodge 23

• MD State FOP Lodge

• MCGEO Local 1994

• Bowie City PD Lodge 140

• The Honorable Cererta A. Lee, Register of Wills for Prince George’s Co.

• Craig Moe, Retired Mayor for Laurel City

• James V. Aluisi, Retired Sheriff, Prince George’s County

Scan to learn more about Ron or visit www.ronoliverforsheriff.com

Laurel’s Taj Mahal leads Preakness much of the way but fades at end

Horse was vying to be state’s first since 1983 to capture Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown

By CHRIS MCMANES

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) and his wife, First Lady Dawn Moore, were pulling for Taj Mahal to win the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 16, at Laurel Park. They were not alone.

When the starting gate opened, the 3-year-old Laurelbased colt went off as the betting favorite at 9-2.

For more than half of the 1 3/16-mile dirt race on a sunny afternoon in Laurel, Taj Mahal appeared in position to capture the middle jewel of the Triple Crown and send bettors home happy.

He led along the rail at the quarter-mile mark in 22.66 seconds and maintained the lead at the half-mile mark in 46.66 seconds with Napoleon Solo on his outside.

Not long after the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:12.08, Taj Mahal’s lead disappeared. Jockey Sheldon Russell kept the horse among the leaders but could not find the extra speed needed to improve the Florida-bred colt to four victories in four starts.

By the time the horses crossed the finish line, Napoleon Solo was the winner, Iron Honor finished second and Chip Honcho placed third. Taj Mahal faded to 10th.

“He got away good and they were moving along fine, but the winner also sat right on his flank,” Taj Mahal trainer Brittany Russell said. “He did what we thought he would do. He just didn’t kick on. You knew he was going to have to run a little faster than he has been.”

Brittany Russell, Sheldon Russell’s wife, has been Maryland’s leading trainer in each of the past three years. Taj Mahal was her first Triple Crown racehorse. The colt drew the pole position for the 151st Preakness and quickly assumed the lead.

Napoleon Solo started in the No. 10 position.

Sheldon Russell said he was pleased with how the horse broke from the gate in his first competition since winning the Federico Tesio on April 18, also at Laurel Park.

“I knew he would bounce out of there no matter what the post [position] just because of the way he broke last [time],” he said. “For him to have crossed over from the [No.] 14 path [in the Tesio] and now we’re going to be on the rail, he probably went a little fast the first quarter. I was trying to sort of slow him down, but he gets a little racy.”

Drawing the inside post position may not have benefited Taj Mahal.

“I had to take the turn on the rail, and he sort of thought that was his cue to go,” Sheldon Russell said. “Last time I sort of kept him off the rail, and he sort of switched off. But no excuses really. We got our own way.”

Napoleon Solo’s winning time historically slow

Napoleon Solo, who won his first two races last year as a 2-year-old, had finished fifth in each of his previous two races.

The gray colt, purchased for $40,000, was guided through the 14-horse field by jockey Paco Lopez.

“I could see Paco was right there, right next to me and sort of used me as a lead horse,”

Sheldon Russell said.

Lopez, originally from Mexico, won his first Triple Crown race Saturday. For trainer Chad Summers, it was also his first Preakness appearance.

“We had a perfect run,” the 5-foot, 113-pound Lopez said.

“I was able to keep the horse in the right position and got away from the gate well, which

PREAKNESS

helped. And Chad had him ready. There was a lot of speed in that race, and he was patient until it was time to move.”

“The distance and everything was right for my horse today.”

Napoleon Solo’s victory earned his ownership group, headed by Al Gold, $1.2 million. Following traditional racing practices, Summers and Lopez will each receive 10%, or $120,000.

The winning time of 1:58.69 was the slowest Preakness winning time since 1951, when Eddie Arcaro rode Hill Prince to victory in 1:59.2.

Just as Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo’s handlers chose to skip the Preakness, Summers said Napoleon Solo would not run in the Belmont Stakes on June 6 in Saratoga Springs, New York. Instead, the colt will be prepared for the Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey, on July 18.

The Russells have not announced when Taj Mahal will race again. Sheldon Russell said he hopes the horse “comes back good and we’ll regroup. Hopefully there will be another big [race] in the future.”

Laurel Park, Pimlico future

The Preakness, which began in 1873, was staged at Laurel Park for the first and likely only time while its traditional home, Pimlico Race Course, undergoes a roughly $400 million renovation. Pimlico is expected to host the 152nd Preakness and operate about 120 racing days annually.

After the Maryland Stadium Authority approved $48.5 million to purchase Laurel Park, the facility will be redeveloped into a horse training center. The track, which opened Oct. 2, 1911, is expected to receive a $100 million to $120 million renovation. The updated facility will include 1,200 stalls and new dirt and turf training surfaces.

“We are excited to continue the tradition and legacy of Preakness at Laurel Park for this historic first,” said Tiffani Steer, vice president of communications for 1/ST, which owns and operates the race. “The Laurel community has been a wonderful home for the 151st running of the Preakness Stakes, preserving the guest experience and worldclass racing that have defined this iconic event.”

This year’s event was smaller and more curated, with ticket sales capped at 4,800 because of venue capacity constraints.

Inside the main building, guests gathered around bars and betting stations while crowds moved between indoor viewing areas and the track outside.

On the terrace overlooking the course, visitors socialized in 70-degree weather with drinks and betting guides as vendors sold Black-Eyed Susan cocktails. Spectators watched the early races from the stands.

Nicole Dorcy of Frederick attended the event for her first horse racing experience. Dorcy said she had success betting on the horse “I Love Giraffes.”

“The [appeal is] the fashion but also the competitive nature and just the chance to be outside,” Dorcy said. “I think the excitement of the crowds also makes it a lot of fun.”

Visitors wore traditional raceday attire, including suits with fedoras, colorful dresses and decorative hats. Some attendees wore suits patterned with Maryland flags.

Jari Villanueva, 70, a five-time Preakness bugler and Baltimore native, said the atmosphere felt more subdued because of the smaller crowd, though he expected attendance to increase later in the day.

“The Preakness is a great event that really shows Maryland to the rest of the world,” Villanueva said. “It’s hopeful that the

racing industry in Maryland keeps growing, because it really contributes so much to our Maryland economy.”

Businesses in Laurel also anticipated increased activity from race visitors. Laurel Golf Center hosted a viewing event as well as parking and shuttle transportation to the racetrack.

According to a 2025 statement from the Maryland Stadium Authority, Maryland’s equine industry accounts for 25% of the state’s agricultural base, supports 28,000 jobs and generates $3 billion in economic impact.

For some visitors, the event served as a family outing as much as a sporting event.

Richard Cohen of Hunt Valley attended the race with his 12-year-old daughter, Olivia, who is a fan of horses.

“I did pretty terribile [betting] but it’s still fun when you’re with your family,” Cohen said.

As races ended, cheers and frustrated reactions spread through the crowd as horses crossed the finish line.

Molly Harris of Kentucky attended the race to watch “The Hell We Did,” a horse she helped raise as a foal. Harris said seeing the horse compete in the Preakness felt like a full-circle moment.

“My whole job was to raise them from when they were babies,” Harris said. “And now that they’ve grown into adult racehorses, I’m seeing them actually run and compete at the top of their class.”

Maria Derisavi, the 2025 winner of Miss Maryland, attended the race wearing a tiara and Miss Maryland sash. Derisavi called the Preakness an “iconic Maryland event.”

“I’ve met people all the way from Kentucky, all over the country, and then lots of people who are local,” Derisavi said. “So I think it’s really exciting to have so many people come together over such an exciting sport.”

Laurel area this fall. The store opened Nov. 14, 1956, during a multiday grand opening event and has continued serving a growing population in Laurel.

The store’s iconic sign, which sits an estimated 100 feet above Baltimore Avenue, remains one of Laurel’s most recognizable landmarks and has largely remained unchanged since the store opened.

Karen Lubieniecki, a 35-year resident of Laurel, said she has been shopping at the store for as long as she has lived in the city.

“One would hope the sign will always be preserved,” Lubieniecki said. “I think today it really is a landmark for the community.”

Jonathan Arons, external communications and community relations manager for Giant Food, said the sign has stood since the store opened and is the last remaining original sign from the company’s earliest locations.

“It’s essentially a fabric of Laurel and the shopping center,” Arons said. “It’s just got that nice reminder of what that community used to be and just how it’s evolved.”

Arons said the sign’s over-

sized design reflected how grocery stores marketed themselves during the rise of automobile culture in the 1950s.

“This new Laurel Supermarket bears the famous trademarks of service and features not found in ordinary stores,” reads an article published when the store first opened. “Among the many top features of the Laurel Shopping Center’s Giant Food store, are unusual delicacies and gourmet foods imported from all over the world.”

Despite changing shopping trends, the store has remained competitive along the Route 1

corridor. Several grocery chains have come and gone since the Giant opened in the 1950s. Over the last year, two Laurel-area Shoppers Food stores either closed or announced plans to close. The location on Contee Road closed in November.

Jay Meashey, head of economic development for the City of Laurel, attributed Giant’s longevity to its central location and surrounding population density.

“I think that part of it is just that Laurel has always been growing,” Meashey said. “I know the Shoppers grocery store out

on the southern end of town closed within the last year or so, and that is an area that just has fewer residences.”

Meashey said Giant’s location near apartments and houses allows residents to walk or drive there easily. He also said the store’s national significance as the site where presidential candidate George Wallace was shot in 1972 contributes to its landmark status.

Historians said the store and its sign also represent a period of Americana and consumerism when spending money was viewed as a patriotic duty and advertising experienced a massive boom.

Catherine Gudis, director of the public history program at the University of California, Riverside, and author of the book “Buyways: Billboards, Automobiles, and the American Landscape,” said large roadside signs became increasingly important as more Americans traveled by car.

“They were trying to attract people who are moving at a faster speed [in their cars], and also to sort of get them at a distance, so they knew what was coming up,” Gudis said. “You needed something way bigger and preferably in an unusual shape in order to draw people

to get them in off the road.”

Arons said the store has become part of the Laurel community’s legacy, with workers watching child customers grow into adults with children of their own.

“The customers and neighbors who live in the community, they’ve been able to rely on that store for generations to come,” Arons said.

Ward 2 Councilmember Kyla Clark said Giant also reflects the Laurel community through its diverse food offerings.

Clark said one of her favorite items to buy at Giant is empanada dough and frozen soursop.

“It’s culturally rich, multilingual, full of families with deep roots all around the world,” Clark said. “But when I shop at Giant I see that diversity on the shelves, and that means so much to me.”

“Sometimes when grocery stores don’t make enough money they have to make a business decision and they leave,” Clark said. “But Giant, I’m sure there had to have been some ups and downs, but through those ups and downs, they have stayed with the Laurel community, and the Laurel community has stayed with Giant.”