Voices of Laurel

09/03/2024

Welcome to September! The Fall edition of Voices of Laurel will be out early next month—here's a sneak peek at just one of the stories we're looking forward to sharing.

08/28/2024

Laurel's "first boutique" is among the History Crumbs unearthed by Kevin Leonard for his latest column:

These short bits of history tend to pile up as I do more research on various topics. Unless otherwise credited, all quotes are from the Laurel Leader.1885Laurel became the largest town in Prince George’s County.1897In September, the Laurel Leader published its first issue. The masthead contained t...

08/22/2024

Pete Lewnes' latest column puts a spotlight on mementos from Laurel Park's tremendous history. We're celebrating the legendary thoroughbred racetrack, which is slated to close after hosting the Preakness in 2026—with all Maryland horse racing then shifting to a renovated Pimlico. The city of Laurel itself was only a mere 41 years old when the track opened in 1911, making it an irreplaceable part of our hometown's fabric.

Laurel Park will be hosting its annual Jim McKay Maryland Million Day this October 12th, and we'll be sharing details soon on a very special Voices of Laurel Day at the Races event to be held on Saturday, October 26th. Mark your calendars now and plan on joining us at Laurel Park!

Laurel Park—at other times known as Laurel Race Course, or known to longtime locals simply as “The Race Track”—has been a core element of our city’s identity for over a century. Martha and I have collected pieces representing every era of the track’s history, from ticket stubs and progra...

08/20/2024

The Laurel History Boys' Richard Friend is part of this Friday's episode of "Cold Case Files: DNA Speaks" airing at 9PM on A&E.

The story focuses on the brutal 1982 abduction and murder of Stefanie Watson, who failed to show up for what was to have been her final night of work at the Greater Laurel-Beltsville Hospital before moving out of state. Her blood-soaked car was discovered in the parking lot of a Laurel high-rise days later, and a fragment of her skull was found in the woods at the end of Larchdale Road. A haunting cold case for over 30 years, it was finally solved in 2013 when blood DNA preserved from the victim's car matched that of a man already serving time for a parole violation.

The complete series, which premiered last year, is also available to stream on Hulu.

08/13/2024

Angie Kozlowski writes about the many new programs and efforts that Laurel Advocacy & Referral Services, Inc. has in store for the community this year. But LARS can always use the public's help in keeping its crucial pantries filled:

Locally sourced farm fresh produce and recent property acquisitionLaurel Advocacy and Referral Services, Inc. (LARS) is rolling out several new programs and taking advantage of grant-supported partnerships to continue to meet the needs of more Laurelites in more ways than ever before, including addi...

08/08/2024

Growing up in any of Laurel's neighborhoods over the years undoubtedly had its advantages and disadvantages. But as Richard Friend shares, one particular apartment complex was extra special—so much so that many former residents started an annual reunion, where neighbors both old and new enjoy gathering to reminisce about the community they have in common:

I frequently reminisce with my mom, who will be turning 80 this September, about my childhood in Laurel in the 1970s and 80s. And until recently, she would often lament the fact that we lived in apartments until she and my dad bought their first home in 1987. In her mind, life would’ve somehow bee...

08/07/2024

It's the season for high school reunions, and what was traditionally a posh event for one specific graduating class is frequently evolving into more informal and inclusive gatherings where graduates from multiple years can enjoy each other's company. Jim Clash discusses his experience in his latest column:

My late father once told me something about class reunions: For the 5-, 10- and even 20-year get-togethers, everyone will be bragging about their accomplishments and titles post-high school. But, by the 50th, he said, you’ll just be glad to see those classmates who are still with us.I didn’t und...

07/31/2024

For almost 10 years, families in six different counties in Maryland were victimized by terrifying arson fires to their homes and cars. The man responsible? Former Laurel Police Chief David Crawford, who kept a literal hit list of potential targets—people he apparently perceived had slighted him in some way. Part 1 of Kevin Leonard's article on his reign of terror is the cover story in our current edition:

Part 1 — What He DidIt was his gait. That’s how they knew it was him.After almost 30 years in law enforcement, first with the Baltimore Police Department; then the Prince George’s County Police, where he retired with the rank of Major; and then as Chief of Police in District Heights, David Cra...

07/29/2024

A truly original voice of Laurel passed away on Saturday, July 27th. Pat Walsh not only owned and operated the wonderful Something Special coffee shop on Main Street throughout the 1980s and 90s, he was instrumental in launching the Laurel Cable Network, which later evolved into what is now Laurel TV. Here's a clip from 2016, where Pat visited City of Laurel - Government to share a quick history of how the studio grew from a literal janitor's closet in the old city hall building: https://fb.watch/tDS-1oQQZg/

Our condolences to all of Pat's countless friends and family members. He will forever be remembered in Laurel as something special indeed.

07/27/2024

Like any town, Laurel has its share of crime. But it also has a prolific crime fiction writer, as our Diane Mezzanotte discovered:

Every day, from his home in the Laurel neighborhood of Montpelier, Dana King sits at his computer, looks out at the wooded lot behind him, and then delves into grittier worlds: the dark underbelly of urban crime, filled with murder, drugs, and corrupt public servants. An accomplished crime fiction n...

07/24/2024

Did you know that Laurel counts a Grammy-nominated musician among its residents? The multitalented Raul Midón has worked with the likes of Bill Withers, Herbie Hancock, Jason Mraz, and more—and he sat down with our Angie Latham Kozlowski to discuss his incredible journey.

North Laurel’s Grammy-Nominated Multitalented MusicianDime con quién andas y te diré quién eres.The well-known Spanish saying literally means “tell me with whom you walk, and I’ll tell you who you are.”There is no better way to begin to describe the talent and career of North Laurel resid...

07/21/2024

Wayne Davis' latest column shines some light on a little known area in North Laurel called Snelltown, whose history goes back more than 170 years—to a time when a freed slave purchased land near what is now Whiskey Bottom Road and became neighbors with his former owner.

There is a historic Black cemetery at Snelltown off Whiskey Bottom Road. The small, well-maintained cemetery is in the middle of a development, but very little information is known about it other than it was the cemetery of the Snell family. The closest site listed in the Maryland Inventory of Histo...

07/19/2024

Our new Summer issue is the first to feature Neighborhood News coverage for ALL of Laurel's regions: Oldtown, North Laurel, South Laurel, West Laurel, and Russett/Maryland City. If your neighborhood has an upcoming event, news item, or if you just want to highlight a special neighbor in the community, please reach out to Caitlin, Angie, Diane, Ginny, or Brenda—the fantastic volunteer columnists who work hard to tailor each issue to your part of town.
https://www.voicesoflaurel.com

07/17/2024

The last time a presidential candidate was shot, it happened at Laurel Shopping Center in 1972. The Laurel History Boys' Kevin Leonard was there that day, and recalled the experience to Fox 5's Bob Barnard:

As the shock of the attempt on Trump's life still reverberates across the nation, many here in the D.C. area remember another near-assassination of a presidential candidate more than 50 years ago: the shooting of Alabama Governor George Wallace in Laurel, Maryland.

07/16/2024

07/15/2024

The Summer 2024 digital edition is here! You can view individual articles as well as download a PDF of the complete print edition (and all back issues) for free. And if you haven't already, pick up a free print copy from our Voices of Laurel newspaper boxes around town (in front of the Post Office on Main Street, in the train station commuter parking lot, and in the lobby of Food Lion on Sandy Spring Road). You'll also find stacks at the Laurel Library, the Maryland City at Russett Library, the Laurel-Beltsville Senior Activity Center, the Joseph R. Robison Laurel Municipal Center, and at select locally-owned small businesses. Our boxes will be restocked as needed weekly throughout the summer.

The Laurel History Boys have been producing Voices of Laurel since January 2021. It was the first new community newspaper to fill the void when the Laurel Leader folded after 124 years, focusing exclusively on news and stories that directly relate to Laurel. A free newspaper produced entirely by loc...

07/13/2024

Hot off the presses and hitting the street today, our Summer edition of Voices of Laurel includes the bizarre story of convicted serial arsonist David Crawford—who, back in 2006, had actually been appointed Chief of the Laurel Police Department. The digital edition will be available at voicesoflaurel.com Sunday.

07/11/2024

Since its opening in 1911, Laurel Park has been a constant in our town—which, as a result, has long been synonymous with thoroughbred racing. Laurel Park will have the honor of hosting the 2026 Preakness while Pimlico undergoes renovations, but will likely close afterward for good. While it's still here, The Laurel History Boys and Voices of Laurel are celebrating the tremendous history of this unique race course that helped put Laurel on the map. Look for special features on Laurel Park in upcoming issues and here on Facebook. There'll also be some exciting news coming soon on an event you won't want to miss, giving YOU the chance to be a part of history at the race track, too.

07/01/2024

Can you believe it's July already? As you're getting ready for the City of Laurel - Government's Fourth of July parade and fireworks this Saturday, be sure to visit their website for important road closures that morning: (https://www.cityoflaurel.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=327). Here's a look back at some Independence Day celebrations of the past from our Pete Lewnes in the Summer 2021 edition.

06/29/2024

An unexpected discovery on the roof of Laurel Manor House Bed and Breakfast—what do you make of it? Was it a tribute to the original 19th century homeowner? A whimsical “Easter egg” hidden by an early
construction team? Something supernatural? Let us know what you think!

A new discovery was made at Laurel Manor House! We are in the midst of having the house exterior repainted, and Mark from B&W Painting Company snapped this pic of one of our spires. We are now curious to know whether carving faces at the top of spires was a common practice in 19th century Laurel.

06/25/2024

Juliette Whittaker, from Laurel, has made the U.S. Women's Olympic 800m team!

(Photo: Chuck Aragon)

06/22/2024

Looking for something cool to do inside on this dangerously hot Saturday? The Laurel History Boys have uploaded over 800 images to a new History Contributors page on their website highlighting a Laurel High School time capsule spanning from 1949 to 2003. https://www.laurelhistory.com/laurelhighschoolhistoricalsociety

06/16/2024

The staff of Voices of Laurel is pleased to announce that the second recipient of the Laurel Light Award is Cheryl Poulos. Cheryl was nominated by the Board of Directors of the Woman's Club of Laurel, citing numerous unsung volunteer efforts that Cheryl regularly takes on throughout the community. We'll have a full story on the award in our Summer issue coming out in early July. Congratulations and thanks for all that you do, Cheryl!

Photo: John Kozlowski. (Left to right): Richard Friend, Tracy Maclaren, Lorraine Kelly, Laurel City Council Member Christine Johnson, Angie Latham-Kozlowski, Kevin Leonard, Cheryl Poulos, Diane Puls, Laurel Cross, Amy Dunham, Diane Mezzanotte, Stephen Poulos, Jim Cross.

06/13/2024

It may seem hard to believe, but Towne Centre at Laurel—which replaced the former Laurel Centre Mall in 2014—is already nearly 10 years old. While the old mall's legacy was secured in its first decade, its decline was steady. How has the new facility compared in its first ten years?

(Laurel History Boys collection)

06/01/2024

Congratulations to our own Diane Mezzanotte for her Laurel Pride logo design!

Last night, we unveiled our new Laurel Pride logo. 🥁Congratulations to Diane Mezzanotte for being selected as our Laurel Pride logo contest winner! 🥳

A little about the logo: The L incorporates a rotating series of colorful lines that represent the diverse makeup of the Laurel LGBTQ+ community and allies. The Lambda symbol also resembles a high-heeled shoe often worn by drag performers, and the heart jewel on the “toe” symbolizes our community leading with love.

Thank you, Diane! We will soon have merchandise with the new logo available. In the meantime, get your passport books and enjoy Pride month! 🏳️‍🌈

05/29/2024

Councilman Carl DeWalt has retired and moved out of state to spend more time with his family—a move he's been planning since last Fall. As he tells Voices of Laurel, leaving the town he loves was not an easy decision.

City Councilman Retires, Relocates Councilman Carl DeWalt (second from left) with The Laurel History Boys' Richard Friend, Kevin Leonard, and Pete Lewnes at the October 2023 dedication of the Joseph R. Robison Laurel Municipal Center.The Laurel History Boys are saddened by the resignation of Laurel....