Is There Ice Cream In Our Future?

It’s been a while since I blogged – a smashed elbow in July took a lot of my energy and attention – but it is now well on the road to recovery – plus the fall season is well upon us and it’s time to get the conversations going again.

While I wasn’t at the Mayor’s Town Hall meeting some news has filtered my way that may be of interest.

Seems an ice cream store is planning to open on Montgomery Street 2 doors up from the Harrison Beard building. Great news to have an ice cream store – but I have to wonder why it’s not going to Laurel’s Main Street. Main Street would have the traffic, there are plenty of open storefronts and an ice cream parlor would draw a variety folks not just Old Town locals. Once again Main Street seems to be getting the shorter end of the stick – in this case the ice cream stick.

Other hints from the meeting suggested there will be news soon on the Police Station – and let’s hope it’s something that will get rid of what can only be described as a building well past its prime and a site in desperate need of development.

And what’s with the walking path around Laurel Lakes? It’s been closed again forcing walkers to detour up and around the block. Surely pedestrians and the local folks on the street can come to some agreement so the community isn’t blocked from walking around the lake on a path their tax $$s pay for.

Other news: confirmed by talking with the folks at Montgomery Cleaners: they’re moving across the street to the site of the previous appliance store. They seem excited, and I think this means they’ll have an air conditioned building!.

Starting Sept 2. The Laurel Museum will have a very modest exhibit “Laurel Remembers 9/11”. The commemorative book for visitors that was available to people after that tragic event will be on display – and visitors to the 10 year anniversary are encouraged to read some of the comments, and also write their own thoughts ten years after.

That’s all for now: coming soon the upcoming political season in Laurel.

Car Fire Comments and a Don't miss Laurel Video

I don’t like the thought that someone targeted city official Marty Flemion and set fire to his official car (and evidently tried to do the same to his personal vehicle). In front of his house. It’s disturbing, and a little scary to all concerned: family, neighbors, and I’m sure his co-workers. It’s a sad commentary on current society, and part of my lingering regret that Laurel is losing some of that small town feel that’s made it feel more like a community than just an extension of Washington and Baltimore. (see last week’s post). Accessibility is what differentiates big and small towns, and people like that one arsonist threaten not just an individual, but a whole way of life.

I know Marty works hard – and participates in many of the city’s civic activities apart from his official job. A city official shouldn’t feel he or she can’t list their name or address or phone number in the phone book, or that someone might track them down to their home. I hope they catch who ever did this soon.

And speaking of that small town feeling (OK, it’s a rough segue)…if you haven’t looked at this video documentary produced by students at Towson about A.M. Kroop’s http://bit.ly/Kroops on C Street just off Main Street you’ve missed a real treat. That’s what a small town business, – albeit one that’s threatened, too, is all about. Randy is featured in the LHS’ current exhibit, too. www.laurelhistoricalsociety.org. We talked with Randy for the exhibit – did you know her father didn’t let her go to the races as a child? And if you haven’t ever visited Kroops…well, you should go.

Laurel Museum's 15th: We Should All Celebrate

While many Laurel folks will be focusing on the Main Street festival this weekend, my attention is focused on the following Sunday: May 15. when The Laurel Museum is celebrating its 15th Anniversary.

I'm always a little disappointed when I run into someone, like I did the other night at Salute on Main Street, who not only had never visited the Laurel Museum (817 Main Street), but didn't even know Laurel had a museum. Maybe you're one of those folks. Or maybe you've been meaning to visit and just haven't. And are you missing a real gem -- which has outdoor river walks right next to it. What a deal. And it's free.

Granted the Museum is only open 3 days a week (hey, volunteer to docent: more volunteers, more open hours). but Laurel's local community museum has been a remarkable plus for Laurel. More than 15 exhibits, school tours, special programming just for kids for kids, interesting speakers for adults. Lots of new insights into all parts of the town's history from them mill, to the 1950s, to WWII. I didn't grow up in Laurel, but find its transitions from mill town to early suburb to today's very diverse community that's been touched by some very major historical events (think Civil War, Civil Rights, 9/11 to name just a few), very interesting.

Many community museums create one exhibit, and remain largely static for years and years. In Laurel you see something new every year. That's really remarkable, and is a direct result of some very wise decisions made before I became involved. (full disclosure: I'm a Board member and past president). For me, the Laurel Museum has not only given an opportunity to meet some truly dedicated, smart, interesting people, but a chance to do original historical research, actually open a museum, see it grow, and see the fruits of my (and others) labors become real museum exhibitions. How cool is that?

Right now, the exhibit is focusing on the fact that the Laurel Race Track is celebrating it's 100th Anniversary. And They're Off! 100 Years of Laurel Race Track 1911-2011. Not only are there famous race horses and celebrities, but a kind of behind the scenes look at the Race Course and the impact it's had on Laurel for the past 100 years. Whether you like to go to the track or not -- the track has been a part of this community for a long time. Will it be in the future? Who knows?

The Laurel Museum's community celebration: 15 on the 15th runs from 1:30-3:30. www.laurelhistoricalsociety.org is free, very family friendly, and includes horse related games to tie into the current exhibit. So I hope you'll drop by Sunday the 15th (free, and there will even be refreshments).
I think you'll be glad you did -- and pleasantly surprised if you haven't visited before.

Me, I'll be there having fun, but also thanking many people who were there at the beginning, and still are, like Betty Compton, and the City of Laurel. As you'll sometimes see in future posts, I don't always agree with what's happening in the City, but with regards to the Laurel Museum, they've been spot-on and a great partner. May 15 I'll also be thinking of some LHS friends who aren't with us any more like Jane Cole, the Museum's original Co-Director, Louise Eldridge, Clare Bergeron and others. I miss them, and think they'd be pretty pleased with where we've come and what we've done.

Snow Removal Part Deux

Well, like they say, it's been a while. And my main topic today is pretty much a retread of an earlier blog. Snow removal. OK folks. It's been two + weeks since the big snow. The City of Laurel was kind enough to let folks off the hook re: snow removal when we got 30+. But now people are actually trying to walk around, and there are too many places -- many of them commercial -- that haven't shoveled. Show a little respect for your neighbors and shovel that sidewalk's ice or your corner lot's other side. Most irritating: the people who shovel a personal path from their house to their car -- and leave the rest to slip and slide. Also: a personal shout out to Pat Quill who used his front-loader to great effect and helped clear 2 parking spaces in front of our house when he saw me shoveling. Also to the Laurel City plow guy who did not block my driveway and also pushed snow to the side. See --work to remove snow and you are rewarded!

The BOLD (Bring Our LIbrary Downtown) folks will be presenting at the Lions Club tonight -- and we'll have a part of the BOT table at the Mayor's Open House. BOLD is also on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/BOLD-Bring-Our-Library-Downtown/309065206422?ref=ts . Please become a Fan.


Two other exhibits: Try to see Old Town Resident Cheryl Dyer's piece at the Montpelier Art Center, and the new exhibit at the Laurel Museum: Snapshots in Time, Our Community 1910 and 2010. Both very worthwhile

Elementary Police Work

I was at the Laurel Museum yesterday to help with a tour of 5-year olds from Laurel Elementary who were visiting the current exhibit on the 1950s. The kids were great. The entire LES is visiting the Museum, and this is a terrific partnership between our schools and the LHS. One of the reasons it was so appealing for the LES was because the kids could walk to the Museum -- saving $$ on buses. A sad commentary on tight finances -- but a good opportunity to showcase a local resource -- and I think they'll be back..

The youngsters' arrival and departure also sent home a message about Laurel as a small town. The Laurel Police Department sent an escort for the little ones as they walked. And in the 1:00 group, PFC Amirah All-Dinar even came in between comings and goings. She saw the Museum for the first time -- and sat with the kids as they worked with Silly Putty. What a great way to show kids that Police officers can be friendly.