Spring (May)
2016
HOTLINE
Neighborhood Newsletter of West Laurel
President's Message
from Barbara Sollner-Webb
Gosh, how time flies! I have been WLCA President for nearly two years, and it is
very rewarding, volunteering for a civic association that is doing so many good
things for the community! We, working along with Councilwoman Mary Lehman
in many cases, have had great successes in getting many of our area roads
repaired, stormwater systems upgraded, road signage improved at many places,
and free air provided at the Shell station. WLCA holds two much appreciated
Dumpster Days a year, and this spring we added a secure document shredder
service that appeared to be very well received. We hold three informative General
Meetings each year – do come to our spring one (see below) and community pot
luck dinner/get-togethers (see page 2). We also testify at numerous county and
state hearings on the residents' behalf, and do many more worthwhile things.
But we need YOU to get involved! If you care about the quality of life in West
Laurel and observe things that could benefit from…
[continued on next page]
Come to WLCA's Spring General Meeting –
hear important info from three interesting speakers
WLCA's spring General Meeting will be Thursday, May 19th ( as always, the third
Thursday of February, May and October) at the West Laurel Community Building
(corner of Brooklyn Bridge Road and Bond Mill Road), at 7:30 PM. This is a great
time to meet up with others in our community and hear interesting information.
This month we will have three valuable presentations:
#1: Advice on Gardening in West Laurel,
from Certified Horticulturist Carl Ballas
Several wise WLCA members requested that WLCA's spring General Meeting
include a presentation from someone very knowledgeable about gardening in
West Laurel's soil – how to have the most successful garden for the least work. And
we are fortunate that one of our West Laurel neighbors is just the person. Carl
Ballas is an expert on plants and gardening in the area. He is a certified
horticulturist, has worked at Shemin Nurseries for 35 years as a hor@culturist, and in
fact was awarded Laurel's "Golden Shovel Award" for creating the most attractive
landscaping in Laurel on a project he directed. He also is responsible for all the
magnificent flowers at the Preakness horse races at Pimlico in Baltimore. And Carl
will be coming to our spring General Meeting to help give residents ideas and
advice about how to have a more successful garden and lawn, for less effort.
As there may not be time for Carl to address all the gardening questions that
may be raised during the meeting, to assure that your particular interest gets
addressed, e-mail or phone your questions or concerns to Carl at least a few days
before the May 19th meeting: <[email protected]>, cell: 301-343-1672; work:
301-421-1220 x5205.
[continued on next page]
WLCA Spring
General Meeting
Thursday, May 19
7:30 PM
Come to hear useful
gardening info,
about the new
waste pick-up, and
legislative
progress; also
WLCA elections
IN THIS ISSUE:
President's Message 1-2
Spring WLCA Meeting 1-2
Gardening Expertise 1
New Waste Plan
2
Legislative Update
2
Dumpsters & Shredder 3
Recycling/Disposal
4
Calendar of Events
4
Pot luck/Social
5
Zoning Tips
5
Meet "Officer V"
. 6
"Bike With Mike"
6
WL Rec Council News 7
When To Call 9-1-1?
7
WL Home Sales
8
Spring Tips
8
Signage Successes
9
WLCA Elections
9
WLCA Board Members 10
Useful Contact Info
10
Join the WL List-serve 10
WL Students: DI Champs 11
Helping Animals
11
Special Thanks
11
Area Map
12
[Articles and photos without
attribution in this Hotline are
from Barbara Sollner-Webb]
President's Message -- continued from page 1
attention, and you want to give back to your community, please consider coming to WLCA board meetings to offer
your input, ideally as an area representative or other board position. Being an area rep is only a small time
commitment, but does an awful lot of good for the community – please consider volunteering (we especially need
a rep from Area I; see map on back page). Please contact any board member (page 10) if you might be interested!
And do come to the spring General Meeting to vote for WLCA officers (see page 9).
WLCA's Spring General Meeting – continued from page 1
#2: Hear about the new trash/recycling/yard waste plan, the
county's fracking ban, and more from Councilperson Mary
Lehman
Our neighbor and great Councilperson, Mary Lehman, wants to personally explain the reasons for, and
advantages of, Prince George's County's new disposal plan for trash, recycling, and yard waste (see specifics below).
Mary will also present on additional new legislation, including the ban on fracking in the county – an effort that
she and Matt Dernoga successfully led. [Did you know that nearly 1/3 of Prince George's County sits over the
Taylorsville natural gas basin, which would be very attractive to fracking companies as it is near the planned Cove
Point liquefied natural gas export facility, while Virginia's extension of the Taylorsville basin already has leases for
fracking?]
#3: Brief legislative update from Senator Jim Rosapepe
Maryland's legislative session has wrapped up, and our great Senator, Jim Rosapepe, will come to give us a few
highlights of what happened in Annapolis this year – including funding to enable the Laurel Regional Hospital to
move forward under control of the excellent University of Maryland Medical System. [Bye-bye Dimensions!] Come
hear about this and more from Jim, and give him your suggestions for future legislation to improve the lives of
Marylanders.
Prince George's County's new disposal schedule
Hopefully all West Laurel residents already know (from the flyer most everyone received
in their mailbox, as well as numerous postings on the West Laurel Yahoo list-serve and emails from Councilwoman Mary Lehman and others) that Prince George's County has
instituted a new disposal plan for trash, recycling, and yard waste. Yard waste pick-up is
moved to Monday (to not sit around long after weekend yard work), trash continues to be
picked up Tuesday in West Laurel (but no longer on Friday), and recycling is moved to
Tuesday (so disposal containers will clutter the curbs for fewer days). All residences will also
receive one wheeled 64-gallon toter/cart later this year, without charge.
Remember that larger items are not accepted in these pick ups and must be disposed of by an alternate means.
WLCA organizes two Dumpster Days each year that accept large (nonhazardous) items. However, the county will
also arrange to pick up "bulky trash" from your house. Simply call 3-1-1 to schedule a bulky trash pick-up, available
up to four times a year. But PLEASE, DO NOT put stuff out on the curb and THEN call for a pick-up, as scheduling
can take awhile; instead, only put your stuff out immediately before your scheduled pick-up date.
Prince George's County's new disposal schedule
Monday - yard waste; Tuesday – trash AND recycling
Spring 2016
www.wlcaweb.org
clip out &
hang on
your fridge
page 2
Dumpster Day and Secure Document Shredder Event
Dumpster Day has become one of West Laurel’s big events, and our spring Dumpster Day, on April 30th, 2016,
was a great success! Cassandra Hostetler organized the dumpsters and a swell group of volunteers who helped
citizens unload stuff and packed the dumpsters as efficiently as possible. John Hebert organized an amazing group
of volunteers to pick up stuff in the homes of our disabled and/or senior residents -- a great service to our
community. We also loaded a horse trailer completely full with things that were still in good condition and
obviously reusable, which were taken to local charities and most appreciated there.
This spring, for the first time in ages, WLCA added a secure document shredder event to our Dumpster Day. At
the winter General Meeting, there was considerable outcry for WLCA sponsoring a document shredding event, and
big kudos go to Amanda Berard for finding Office Paper Systems of Gaithersburg, whose shredding is safe. They use
a "rotary grinder/Hammermill" technology that makes tiny irregularly shaped pieces as used by government
agencies on classified documents, not the less secure strips like some home shredders.] They are also quite
reasonably priced; plus, their personnel were very nice and helpful. This shredder event was announced in the West
Laurel Yahoo list-serve, by e-mail to everyone who has provided WLCA their e-mail address, by notice at the Bond
Mill voting place, and by neighbors telling neighbors. Since WLCA was paying for this service, it was only available
for our dues-paying WLCA members, but 10 residents joined that day. About 60 West Laurel families took
advantage of the shredder, and it was very well received. A great addition to the already wonderful Dumpster Day!
What a very useful morning! Thank you to Cassandra, John and all our other wonderful volunteers that day!
There generally were short lines for the dumpsters (left), and a shorter line for the shredder (right)
A screen on the
shredder shows the
documents being
shredded
Some of the great Dumpster
Day volunteers: Bob Hoke,
Pat Bedard, Mike McPherson,
Garry Cashwell, John Hebert,
Matthew Hebert, Barbara
Sollner-Webb, Phil Ott and
Cassandra Hostetler; not
shown: Terry Bader
Next Dumpster Day & Shredder Event - Sat., Nov. 5, 2016
There was a very strong sentiment to have the shredder again at our fall Dumpster Day, so it will be there, on
Saturday, November 5th. Between now and then, plan on going through your old files to sort out and collect
documents that need shredding to bring in November. Note that this shredder accepts all types of paper (such as
financial and legal documents, receipts, taxes and medical records), even envelopes with plastic windows, and
papers joined with staples or paper clips. However, it cannot accept binder clips, 3-ring binders, spiral notebooks,
folder organizers with metal inserts, or plastic or electronic items (such as credit cards, CDs, or computer disks). To
avoid having a line, we will again limit each delivery to what fits in a very large (100 gallon) recycle toter. However,
if there is no line, you can deliver more, and if there is a line, you can return later with another load.
Spring 2016
Hotline – The Neighborhood Newspaper of West Laurel
page 3
How to Recycle/Dispose of Other Items the Trash Won't Take
For most items – including big old TVs (but not hazardous materials or construction debris) – simply call 3-1-1
and the county will arrange to pick up it/them at your house, free of charge. But do not put the item(s) outside until
your arranged pick-up date! More items, including hazardous waste (car batteries, used motor oil, antifreeze; also
tires and appliances) can be disposed of by driving them down to the Prince George's County's Brown Station Road
Sanitary Landfill and Hazardous Waste Collection Site at 11611 White House Road, Upper Marlboro, free for
residential use; charges for commercial usage. Hours are Mon. – Sat. 8 AM – 3 PM except hazardous wastes and
electronics: Thurs. – Sat. 8 AM – 3 PM (for information, call 3-1-1 or 301-952-7625).
WLCA is attempting to assemble information on nearby places where one can dispose of or recycle other items
that can not be legally put into the trash. If you know of any such nearby facilities for a commonly used item,
please contact Barbara Sollner-Webb (<[email protected]>, 301-604-5619), for inclusion in the next Hotline. So
far, we have heard the following:
Electronics:
Staples (including the one on US1 in Laurel) offers free recycling of office electronics of "any
brand of office technology in any condition, regardless of where they were purchased" (<http://www.staples.com/
sbd/cre/marketing/about_us/recycling-solutions.html>). And for old TVs, as noted above, the county will arrange to
pick them up at your house, free of charge, by calling 3-1-1. [Because of these convenient disposal modes and the
fact that having an electronics dumpster at Dumpster Day reduces the number of general purpose dumpsters from
three to two, which were never enough, WLCA no longer has electronics disposal at Dumpster Day.]
Styrofoam:
Alert WLCA member Linda Ashton reported that Styrofoam (which the County facility does not
accept) can be recycled at My Organic Market (MOMs). The website <https://www.dartcontainer.com/environment/
ps-foam-recycling/> shows the nearest is at 9827 Rhode Island Ave., College Park, MD, 443-661-4254, MondaySunday 9 AM-8 PM, a service available to all MOMs' customers (so go and buy something when you drop off your
Styrofoam). {This is closer than the Crofton styrofoam disposal location reported in a previous Hotline.]
Latex Paint:
Let it dry, uncovered, and when it is solid, then throw it in the normal trash. Stores like Ace
Hardware sell a product to greatly speed such drying of latex paint.
Batteries:
We heard from a user of Dumpster Day (whose name I unfortunately forgot to record), and Bob
Hoyt confirmed, that Decker Brothers Recycling, 9385 Washington Blvd (doors 9, 10, 11, and 12) across Route 1
from CarMax, in North Laurel, recycles car-type batteries. See their web site <http://www.deckerbrosrecycling.com/>
for their hours, additional things they take, and that they even pay a nominal amount for the batteries, etc.
Other Products: Calling 1-800-RECYCLING or visiting <www.1800recycling.com> gives information, but
does not say if there is a cost associated.
Calendar - Upcoming Events in West Laurel
from Melissa Daston &
Barbara Sollner-Webb
All Events are at the West Laurel Community Building unless noted otherwise
All residents are invited to WLCA
Thurs. May 19, 7:30 PM WLCA General Meeting
board meetings, always 7:30 PM
Fri. May 20, 6 PM
WLCA/WL Rec Council Police – Community Bike Ride
nd
Thurs. June 2, 1 PM
Police Coffee for Seniors at the Laurel Senior Center the 2 Thursday of the month,
except room conflicts moved the
Mon. June 6, 7 PM
Neighborhood Watch Meeting
summer ones to Tuesday July 12
June TBA
Infant to Teen Clothing Swap – and Tuesday August 16.
[Date to be announced on the Discussion Board]
Fri. July 15, 8 PM
West Laurel Community get-together and potluck dinner (second annual!)
Fri. July 22, 8 PM
WL Rec Council Movie at Supplee Park. Movie will be G or PG-rated.
Fri. Aug 12, 8 PM
WL Rec Council Movie at Supplee Park. Movie will be G or PG-rated.
Thurs. Oct 20, 7:30 PM WLCA Fall General Meeting
Sat. Nov 5
Fall Dumpster Day and Secure Document Shredding Event (more in the next Hotline)
Spring 2016
www.wlcaweb.org
page 4
Come to WLCA's Community Party/Potluck Dinner/Sing Along
It will be held on Friday, July 15, starting at 6:30 PM at the West Laurel Community Building, and will be "on" rain
or shine (either inside or outside). This will be our second annual community social/potluck dinner/guitar singalong/and all-around fun evening. Bring a yummy dish to share (assume folks will be hungry, so bring a generous
amount). WLCA is providing the plates, plasticware, and drinks. Also please bring your guitar and singing voice (if
you have either). Adults and children (hopefully at least moderately disciplined) are all welcome. Come meet, or
renew friendships, with other WLCA members. It should be a fun time.
Zoning – What’s legal and what’s not?
from Melissa Daston
In the past several months, several neighbors have reached out with questions and complaints about businesses
operating in the community and commercial vehicles parking overnight in West Laurel. So I thought it might be
helpful to give a short synopsis of the zoning code on both of these issues, then give information on whom to call.
Businesses. The Prince George's zoning code identifies the businesses listed below as permissible in the R-80
zone (single family homes). The larger R-R zone (rural residential) allows some additional businesses. In addition,
there are some special exceptions and temporary uses permitted, but they require filing paperwork through the
county and receiving approval. Note this is not an exhaustive list:
-- Accountants, architects, clergymen, engineers, lawyers, medical practitioners, and similar recognized and
learned professionals, as an accessory use in a dwelling
-- Church or similar place of worship located on a lot between 1 and 2 acres in size; cemetery, accessory to a
church, convent, or monastery
-- Family day care
-- Congregate living facility for NOT more than 8 elderly or physically handicapped residents; group residential
facility for more than 8 mentally handicapped dependent persons, or for 5 or more other dependent persons
-- Animal Hospital, veterinary office is allowed in the R-R zone with a special permit
The office responsible for enforcing zoning is the Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement. To
report a problem call 311 or the D-PIE Enforcement Division at 301-636-2090 or 301-883-6168, or register a
complaint on County Click 311 (<http://countyclick.princegeorgescountymd.gov/>).
Commercial Vehicles Overnight in the the R-80 zone. There have been an increasing number of complaints
about commercial vehicles being parked overnight in West Laurel. It’s important to note that the county code
divides commercial vehicles into two categories – heavy vehicles like dump trucks and light vehicles such as panel
vans. This is what is permissible on a lot in the R-80 residential zone (Prince George's County Code, Subtitle 27):
-- Not more than 1 camping trailer
-- Not more than 1 commercial vehicle:
-- If it has a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight specification up to 8,500 pounds -- permitted only if no
advertising (other than a firm name or similar designation not exceeding 4 inches high); not permitted: vehicles
exceeding 300 cubic feet of load space, stake platform trucks, dump trucks, crane or tow trucks, and vehicles with
dual rear axles
-- If it has a maximum manufacturer's gross vehicle weight specification of up to 17,000 pounds -- and may
include unlimited advertising on the side of the vehicle, but must be parked within a wholly enclosed private
parking garage; parking in a side or rear yard is NOT permitted.
Parking enforcement is done by the Prince George’s County Revenue Authority and may also be enforced by the
police. To register a complaint, use County Click 311 (<http://countyclick.princegeorgescountymd.gov/>) or call 301772-2060.
For full details on either of these topics, go to the Prince George's Zoning code, Subtitle 27, Part 5 (Residential
Zones), Division 3 (Uses Permitted) (<https://www2.municode.com/library/md/prince_george's_county/codes/
code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIITI17PULOLAPRGECOMA_SUBTITLE_27ZO> ).
Please note that WLCA is not trying to incite harassment of good neighbors, merely to inform residents of what is
legally permitted and not permitted, and how to address the latter.
Spring 2016
Hotline – The Neighborhood Newspaper of West Laurel
page 5
Our new Community Police Officer
WLCA members who attended our winter General Meeting got to meet West Laurel's new Community Police
Officer, POFC Michael Velasquez. He says it is fine to just call him "Officer V". Officer V has already been very helpful
to our community. Come to our spring General Meeting to get to know him personally. We warmly welcome Officer
V, and hopefully he will be with us for a long time. Of course we will miss Cpl. Beasock, who was wonderful in
working with the community for many years. All the best to Cpl. Beasock in his new assignment.
Cruising With Officer V
from Officer Velasquez
It’s been a busy four months since I was assigned to West Laurel as your Community Police Officer. What I’ve
heard from you is that you care about your community and your neighbors. It shows. I’ve been working on the
issues that have been voiced by you – in particular speeding. The speed gun has gotten a work out particularly
along Bond Mill and Brooklyn Bridge roads. Most folks got warnings but there were also tickets issued. This is a
chronic issue that I’ll continue to work on. So slow down, please!
I’ve been by Bond Mill Elementary School and met with Principal Fitzgerald. I’ll be stopping back before the end
of the school year to visit with the kids during lunch time. This way, I’ll know some of the younger members in our
community before the Community/Police bike ride on May 20th.
Finally, crime in West Laurel remains low. We’ve had a few minor events, but if you’re the victim, even a minor
event is more than you want to have happen. So remember to lock your car, house and shed doors – you don’t
want to invite criminals in. Call 911 if you see something suspicious – we’re here to answer your calls.
If you see me cruising through the neighborhood, feel free to flag me down to say hi or discuss issues of
concern.
"Bike With Mike" (Officer Michael Velasquez)
from Melissa Daston
Community/Police Bike Ride – Friday, May 20th. The District 6 police, West Laurel Recreation Council, and
West Laurel Civic Association are pleased to say the annual bike ride is scheduled for May 20th. Meet in the parking
lot of the West Laurel Community Building at 6 PM. Children and adults are encouraged to join us in this event. As
is traditional, there are two parts to the ride. First will be a short 0.5-mile ride on flat ground along Brooklyn Bridge
Road with police escort for younger children, and then there will be an additional loop for older riders. Based
on feedback from last year, the 2nd loop will be slightly longer. Of course, all finishers will be treated to ice cream
at the end of the ride.
[Photo from Melissa Daston, of the 2015 bike ride.]
[Note:
Watch for children when you drive, especially in the summer when school is out!]
Spring 2016
www.wlcaweb.org
page 6
More from West Laurel Recreation Council (WLRC)
from Melissa
Daston
Our last event, the Spring Egg Hunt, was again highly enjoyed by many families
in West Laurel. Complete with candy stuffed eggs, golden tokens for special prizes,
the Spring bunny, and about 60 kids, we had a hilarious event. Thanks to Kay, Jenn,
Malaika, Cynthia & Roger, Rush & Barbara, Phil & Myrlene, and all the families who
joined in the fun.
Photos from
Jessica Drew,
MD & BS-W
Upcoming Events:
-- Reminder of the Community-Police bike ride (May 20th): Come join in the fun! See article on previous page.
-- Movie nights:. Mark your calendars for July 22 and August 12 for outdoor movies at the WL Community
Building. Plan to bring your lawn chairs and relax while watching a classic family movie. Full information will be
posted on the West Laurel Yahoo Discussion Board.
-- Classes. The Rec Council currently sponsors two classes – karate and kidengineering. We are working to add
new classes to the curriculum. We are talking about sponsoring a card making class and a class on prysanka
(Russian egg decorating). If you have ideas for classes, please send a note to Melissa Daston
(<[email protected]>) or Rush Kester (<[email protected]>).
Unfortunate news: Finally, it is with great sadness we note the news of Kim Passmore’s passing. Kim was a
dedicated volunteer who led the West Laurel Recreation Council for many years. She was dedicated to her family
and the West Laurel community, always willing to lend a hand to help others. May her memory be eternal.
.
When to Call 9-1-1
from Melissa Daston
Earlier this month, a West Laurel resident sent a note to the WLCA regarding suspicious activity in her
neighborhood. At 2 AM, a car with strangers pulled up, and they started walking around. She was concerned but
decided this was not an emergency and did not call it in until the next day. When contacted later, our new
community police officer, Michael Velasquez, said, for something like this, to definitely call 9-1-1 immediately!
Many of us face similar decisions – what to do when solicitors knock on the door, or a strange vehicle pulls up in
front of your house and sits staring at your house, or if you hear your neighbors in the midst of a domestic dispute
that you think might result in harm, or a worrisome situation like above. What to do? Call 9-1-1 if you feel
threatened or concerned that something is not right. Don’t hesitate to call 9-1-1. Your call may stop a crime from
happening. Calling 9-1-1 is not limited to only if you see a crime in progress.
Prince George’s County has also implemented a nonemergency dispatch number, 301-352-1200, that is
monitored 24/7. Call here for a loud party or noise complaint, a parking violation, vandalism or property damage
that has occurred, or to report that you were a victim of a crime that happened in the past and the suspect is no
longer on the scene. Because the same people answer these calls as answer 9-1-1, there may be a delay in
answering calls on the nonemergency dispatch number, so please be patient; the hold time is usually brief.
This information was just provided by the Prince George’s County police to members of the Police Citizen
Advisory Council. I represent West Laurel at our District VI monthly meetings. So if you have questions, or are
interested in becoming more engaged in this, please contact me (<[email protected]> or 301-776-2314).
Spring 2016
Hotline – The Neighborhood Newspaper of West Laurel
page 7
from Lenora S. Dernoga,
REALTOR
West Laurel Home Sales/Housing Values
Sales are booming again this spring in West Laurel! Despite a frigid start to the new year, the combination of
attractive, low mortgage rates and limited inventory is creating a strong pattern of home sales. Fewer foreclosures
and short sales are keeping West Laurel prices at a healthy high.
The chart below shows home sales for the first quarter of 2016 and compares them below to the first quarter of
2015. For more info, visit the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation at <http://www.dat.state.md.us>.
Address
16607 Brooklyn Bridge Ct.
15816 Wayne Ave
6006 Windham Rd.
5905 Maple Terrace
6505 Darwin Road
15819 Bond Mill Rd.
BR/BA Acres
5/3
.26
5/3
.25
4/3
.46
4/2
.50
4/3
.26
4/4
.28
List Price
$394,900
$375,000
$349,900
$289,000
$347,900
$374,900
ANALYSIS
1st Quarter 16 2015
Average SOLD Price
$356,211
Low SOLD Price
235,000
High SOLD Price
$585,000
Avg Days on Market
56
SOLD Price
$370,000
$375,000
$350,000
$289,000
$347,900
$374,900
Days on Market 126
58
73
25
3
10
1st Quarter 2016
$351,133
$289,000
$375,000
49
Conclusion: The average SOLD price has decreased only slightly, 1.4 %, from 1st quarter
2015 to 1st quarter 2016. The average days on the market have decreased by 12.5%.
from Lenora S. Dernoga,
REALTOR
3 Ways to Green Your Spring Maintenance Routine
Spring has sprung, and the change of season means one thing for homeowners: maintenance. This
year, introduce eco-friendliness to your spring maintenance routine. Many of the green fixes below require just one
or two more steps in projects likely already on the docket.
1. Aerated Interior: There’s no better sign that spring has arrived than opening your windows to let fresh air
sweep through your home. Opening windows removes indoor air pollutants, like radon, secondhand smoke and
VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), which results in cleaner air inside. If you have HVAC maintenance on the
agenda this spring, trim shrubs planted near the A/C unit and hose off debris – any obstructions to your unit may
result in higher utility bills come summer and increased energy consumption.
2. Responsible Landscaping: If your lawn is looking worse for wear after winter, repair patches as soon as
possible – any erosion can disrupt the surrounding environment. When you begin mowing, do your best to leave
grass clippings on your lawn. Even though the blades have been severed from the roots, they still hold nutrients
that can be recycled for the remaining grass underneath.
For those who’d rather keep clippings off the lawn, consider composting them into soil. Soil produced
from composting retains moisture better than store-bought fertilizer, so you’ll conserve water and save money
in the process. When composting, follow the brown/green rule: include a brown element, such as twigs or dead
leaves, and a green element, such as the clippings or food scraps.
3. Sustainable Plumbing: Whether you’re planning a small spring spruce-up or cleaning your home top to
bottom, swap out any toxic cleaning agents for water-based products. Don’t pour chemical cleaners down the
drain – doing so can damage plumbing and harm the environment through contaminated runoff. Most state
websites list hazardous waste collection centers. (Keep in mind that some facilities operate on a seasonal schedule.)
Are you planning to have your septic tank pumped this spring? Take it a step further by inspecting your
plumbing for leaks (a leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons of water a day!) and installing inexpensive fixtures
that conserve water, like low-flow faucets or shower heads.
For more tips on how to spring green your home, visit <www3.EPA.gov>.
Spring 2106
www.wlcaweb.org
page 8
Multiple Signage Successes (and one weirdness)
WLCA is delighted that several signage issues have been positively resolved. These have been written about on
the West Laurel Yahoo list-serve so will only be briefly summarized here.
First, the Prince George's County entrance sign where Riding Stable Road becomes Brooklyn Bridge Road that
was covered with profane graffiti (partly misspelled!) had been called in to 3-1-1 for several months, with no action.
But recently at a Community Partners Meeting, I showed a photo of this sign to Michael Harris, the Assistant
Director of DPW&T (who had been to our last WLCA General Meeting). Happily, he was disgusted by it and had the
defaced sign pulled down within two hours and a clean new sign put up within half a week. Thank you, Michael!
Second, after MUCH lobbying by WLCA, SHA did remove one set of
the duplicative (old and new) signs at the Old Gunpowder Road/Rt
198 intersection, which were intended to show permissible lane
movements but had appeared to encourage drivers to turn left from
the right lane (see photo). That had caused many near-accidents with
drivers who were legally going straight from the center lane.
Third. after many months of lobbing by WLCA for signs to deter people from driving the wrong way on Rt 198
from Bauer Lane to the Shell station, SHA did a month-long study they claimed was needed to determine if such
signage was necessary, and they found it was. [Surprise!]. Happily, they finally put up the appropriate signs on Rt
198, and the illegal maneuvers have greatly diminished.
But unhappily, and presumably without any study, SHA also installed a "Do Not Enter" sign abutting the
entrance to Riding Stable Road from Rt 198. While presumably to prevent drivers from going the wrong way on Rt
198 -- a move no one ever does there -- twice I have seen cars start that left turn and then back up, presumably
thinking the sign means to not enter Brooklyn Bridge Road. Seems dangerous, but SHA is not responding. {Yet!}
It is time for WLCA Elections
Each year at the spring General Meeting, WLCA elects half its board members, who serve two year terms. So
come to the meeting, to vote for your WLCA Board. In the last Hotline and verbally to many individuals, we asked
WLCA members to step up for a position and are herewith repeating this
request;
wewith
especially
Area
Byron
and Tony
the signneed
they built
Representatives but encourage candidates for all positions. As noted on page 2, almost all of these positions take
very little time and do a great deal of good for the community. [We prefer to have at least one if not two alternate
Area Representatives from each area -- see map on last page of this Hotline -- because it is often difficult for the
regular Area Reps to come to every Board Meeting. Alternates are encouraged to attend as often as possible and
participate in all discussions but will not be voting members unless filling in for an absent Area Rep.]
The positions to fill and the current slate of candidates are listed below. If interested in being added to the
slate, please contact a board member (see page 10) or volunteer at the General Meeting.
Candidates for the May 19, 2016 election, for half the position on the WLCA Board, for 2016-2018
Positions to Fill
Candidate
President
Barbara Sollner-Webb
Second Vice President
Thomas Dernoga
Recording Secretary
[position vacant - needs a volunteer!]
Area I Representative – 2 year
John Hebert
Area I Representative – 1 year & alternate [positions vacant – needs volunteers!]
Area II Representative – 2 year
Melissa Daston
Area II Representative – alternate
[position vacant - needs a volunteer!]
Area III Representative – 2 year
Mike McPherson
Area III Representative – alternate
[position vacant - needs a volunteer!]
Area IV Representative – 2 year
Tony Spezio
Area IV Representative – alternate
Jason Float
Area V Representative – 2 year
Phil Ott
Area V Representative – alternate
Elizabeth Schwartz; hoping for a second alternate
Spring 2016
Hotline – The Neighborhood Newspaper of West Laurel
page 9
AREA REPRESENTATIVES
AREA I
John Hebert
(vacant)
AREA II
Francesca Pagan-Umar
(vacant)
AREA III
Ryan Faggard
Mike McPherson
Lars Kvale
AREA IV
Tony Spezio
Lucy Grimes
Jason Float
Doris Reynold
AREA V
Steve Steenrod
Elizabeth Schwartz
Heather Hicks-Mello
Phil Ott
301-604-5619
301-498-0894
410-792-0332
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
301-490-1384
[email protected]
301-549-1129
[email protected]
917-246-7216
[email protected]
301-979-9665
301-776-5021
240-568-8976
301-498-3436
301-490-0414
443-765-5300
301-490-8639
301-725-6835
301-776-0542
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
301-604-4788
Wanted- Volunteers for the West Laurel Board:
WLCA OFFICERS
President
Barbara Sollner-Webb
1st Vice President
Cassandra Hostetler
2nd Vice President Tom Dernoga
Rec. Secretary
(vacant)
Treasurer
Helen Harrington
The WLCA Board has vacancies for Recording
Secretary and Area I & Area II reps, and alternates. If
interested in joining the Board or volunteering on
special projects, please contact a board member.
Current WLCA officers and area representatives
Additional Useful Prince George's County Numbers to Post on Your fridge!
kindly provided by Helen Harrington
Animal control
(301) 883-5957
Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE)
Report the smell of gas
(800) 685-0123
Report Street Light Out
(877) 778-2222
Report Down Wires
(877) 778-2222
Bulky Trash Pickup
311 or (301) 883-4748
Code enforcement
311
Laurel Fire Department
(nonemergency)
(301) 883-7749
PG County Police
Emergency
Nonemergency
911
(301) 352-1200
Pothole Repair
311 or (301) 499-8520
Prince George’s County Schools:
Bond Mill Elementary
(301) 497-3600
Scotchtown Hills Elem.
(301) 497-3994
Martin Luther King, Jr.
(301) 572-0650
Laurel High School
(301) 497-2050
St. Vincent Pallotti
(301) 725-3228
Join West Laurel's List-Serve -- to Stay Up to Date with West Laurel Events
West Laurel's Yahoo list-serve is free, easy to join, enjoyable to read and valuable to stay up to date with your
community. Posting an inquiry there is a great way to find repair people, sitters, doctors and more, whom your
neighbors and friends recommend. Membership is exclusive to West Laurel residents.
To join, go to <groups.yahoo.com>, type in "West Laurel", and then click the button to join. You may choose to get
each message as it is posted. Or, to minimize clogging your inbox, use their "daily digest" option and receive only
one e-mail a day with all the day's postings. Once you are a member of the West Laurel list-serve, you can post new
messages or respond to posted messages simply by emailing to <[email protected]>.
The more residents who become list-serve members, the better our community can stay in touch. Please join!
Spring 2106
www.wlcaweb.org
page 10
West Laurel Students Head to Destination Imagination Globals
[Note: this is a BIG deal!]
information from Chris Folks
West Laurel should be incredibly proud of "our" young people! Two teams winning first place in regional
competitions, then first place in state competitions, and now going to the Global competition of Destination
Imagination (DI) -- an amazing competition for brainy creativity (kind of like the Olympics is for sports). Bond Mill Elementary has an amazing tradition of prize-wining DI teams. And this year 4th-grade students
Carolyn Appleby, Trevor Bateman, Kisakye Kirabo, Sabrina Pillai, Nathan Sokolowsky, Nolan Vernor and Mia Reese, encouraged by teachers Donna Albrecht and Stacie Vernor, investigated different forms of camouflage and then
creatively presented their findings, to win their division at the regionals and state. Congratulations!
But what happens to Bond Mill students after they graduate? Seven Bond Mill graduates (now 6th
graders) Haley Bateman, Kenny Graninger, Evelyn Jah, Marcus Jones, Rahel Maniand and Michael Stroud at Martin
Luther King Middle School and Amy Lepore at College Park Academy, fielded MLK's first-ever DI team. Armed with
experience of past prize-winning DI competitions and encouraged by coaches Cheri Batemen, Tracey Goodridge
and Vickie Johnson, they explored and utilized different modes of propulsion, winning their division at the
regional and then the state competitions. Sure seems that their education and experience at Bond Mill paid off! These West Laurel representatives will join more than 8,000 students (more than 1,400 teams) at the Global DI
Finals in Tennessee, May 25-28. All the very best to our young achievers! Makes you wonder if West Laurel is the
smallest residential area in the entire country to send so many students to the DI Global competition.
The winning
teams from
MLK and
Bond Mill
[photos from
Chris Folks]
Helping Less-Fortunate Animals with Old Towels and Bedding
Prince George's County's Department of the Environment still
wants donations of used towels, blankets, sheets, bath or kitchen
mats, dog beds, and stuffed animals to make the lives of the
animals in the County Animal Shelter more comfortable. For
those not wanting to drive to the County's Animal Shelter (3750
Brown Station Road, Upper Marlboro), I have taken people's
donations there, so far from about 35 kind WLCA members. On
the last trip (my car was totally packed), the lady there (who
knows me already) almost cried with delight and said this big
delivery was like Christmas. [See photo at the right on unloading
the car.] She said West Laurel residents are the best and most
[Donation in only one of the trips down there]
caring people, to make these extremely appreciated donations!
So please keep bringing your old/unwanted towels, blankets, sheets, bath/kitchen mats, dog beds, and stuffed
animals to me (call or e-mail first: 301-604-5619, <bsw@jhmi,edu>), and I will be happy to take them down.
Special Thanks!
ENORMOUS gratitude goes to Ty Pritchett, Terry Ledley, Merry Peters and Denis Webb, also Francesca PaganUmar, Helen Harrington, and Melissa Daston, for most helpfully proofreading the draft Hotline. You guys are
wonderful! Great appreciation also goes to folks who contributed articles and/or information for the Hotline!
Spring 2016
Hotline – The Neighborhood Newspaper of West Laurel
page 11
West Laurel Civic Associa@on P.O. Box 387 Laurel, MD 20707 Mee#ng May 19, 7:30 PRSRT STD UD POSTAGE PAID SOUTHERN MD PERMIT #4229 HOTLINE – Spring 2016 The Neighborhood NewsleWer of West Laurel also NEW BIRMINGHAM ROAD south of Rt. 198 The area of the West Laurel Civic Associa@on