Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Laurel Patricia Larsen Beck returned peacefully to her heavenly home on May 1st 2025 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease She was surrounded by family at her time of passing and will be deeply missed to Guy Edward Larsen and Lorna Young McCullough Larsen She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and kindness and always saw the bright side in any situation She spent nearly thirty years working at Lakeview Hospital in Bountiful as the volunteer coordinator and blessed countless lives with her work there and Jordan (Stefanie); and her grandchildren: Cassandra (Jacob) She is also survived by her sisters Susan and Julie All are welcome to remember and celebrate the life and legacy of this remarkable woman Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors by Jessica James and Brad Bell (7News) — More than 100 vehicles were broken into and valuables stolen out of cars on Sunday in Laurel Laurel Police Department reported a total of 47 car break-ins Prince George's County Police Department confirmed 38 car break-ins in their section of Laurel and Howard County reported 17 break-ins in their jurisdiction Police have footage of a group of people roaming around parking lots and smashing windows to break into the cars Residents are being asked to review any Ring doorbell footage or home security cameras to see if they also picked up these break-ins on camera or any other suspicious activity. They are also being asked to share videos through a QR code posted on the police department's Facebook page or call 301-498-0092 to report any incidents Laurel police said surrounding areas have also seen a rise in vehicle break-ins and the department is sending additional resources into the affected areas to combat this issue Per the Laurel Police Department on Sunday afternoon: “During the early morning hours of May 4 more than 47 vehicles in the city of Laurel were broken into Our partners in surrounding jurisdictions have also experienced a surge in vehicle break-ins The footage from the community that we have received so far shows a group of individuals roaming through parking lots and breaking car windows to gain entry We urge residents of the city of Laurel and the greater Laurel area to review footage from their doorbell and home security cameras for any suspicious activity that may have captured these incidents Use the QR code in this post to share your footage directly from your phone to the Laurel Police Department The Laurel Police Department will be directing additional resources into the affected areas to combat this problem We encourage anyone who sees anything suspicious or who witnesses any incident like this in the future to call us immediately at 301-498-0092 A Maine state legislator has been prohibited from speaking or having her votes counted—all for a social media post critical of transgender athletes participating in women's sports. Rep. Laurel Libby (R–Auburn) has attempted to challenge the legislature's actions against her in court but has faced several defeats. This week, Libby filed an emergency injunction asking the Supreme Court to intervene "If this statement were made by a non-member of the legislature it would clearly be constitutionally protected," Nadine Strossen the former president of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) tells Reason "So the only argument they can possibly make is that somehow you have fewer First Amendment rights when you are an elected member of a state legislative body than an ordinary citizen would have which is completely counterintuitive and counter to not only fundamental First Amendment principles but fundamental principles of representative government."  In February, Libby made a post on Facebook and X criticizing the state's decision to allow a transgender girl to compete in a high school track championship The post included the name and an unblurred photo of a transgender athlete who had won the girls pole vault after previously competing as a boy In the wake of the post, the Maine legislature voted to censure her. The censure resolution stated that Libby should "accept full responsibility for the incident and publicly apologize to the House and to the people of the State of Maine." However when summoned to the well of the House of Representative's chamber According to legal documents Libby later filed Ryan Fecteau (D–Biddeford)—the Speaker of the Maine House—then found her in violation of a House rule that any member who "is guilty of a breach of any of the rules and orders of the House … may not be allowed to vote or speak that doesn't mean her First Amendment rights weren't clearly violated "The core of legislative immunity is to shield lawmakers for what they say or how they vote during legislative debate and processes as we want to promote free and open debate in our Houses and Senates," JT Morris an attorney at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) "But it's hard to reconcile immunizing lawmakers who engage in free and open debate and immunizing these Maine lawmakers who are punishing Representative Libby for her speech by stripping her ability to participate in legislative debate and voting." Get a daily brief of the most important stories and trends every weekday morning when you subscribe to Reason Roundup Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Emma Camp is an associate editor at Reason Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Crews returned to Laurel Lake this morning for a second day of searching for missing 26-year-old John Myrick Myrick has not been seen since a Sunday afternoon accident where strong currents by the city dam pulled a boat occupied by him and another man underwater more than five agencies continue their recovery mission for Myrick "You got the current that's coming in there so you can't get the boats too close to the dam," Fish and Wildlife Game Warden Austin Baker said The current and the debris in the water makes it too dangerous for divers so searchers are dragging the lake on tethered boats and using sonar to search near the dam Baker said that crews have to use these tools far too often "You know sadly it's a common occurrence," Baker said "When it comes to the water it happens a lot more often than people would think." Baker says that no family should have to stand on the banks of Kentucky's waterways waiting for a miracle like Myrick's family has for two days Seeing the family coming out and all the volunteers and stuff like that Baker has one message for anyone who gets out on the lake this season: keep your life jackets accessible or on your person at all times The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office says they are searching for 26-year-old John Myrick from Gray after he apparently fell from a capsized boat close to the dam near the 312 bridge in southern Laurel County at approximately 12:15 p.m The LCSO says that Myrick was last seen wearing a gray and black jacket and blue jean pants Kyle Clark with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife said one man made it to shore "They got close to the dam and got caught in some currents and capsized their boat," said Clark Several agencies searched for hours Sunday; they called it a recovery mission trying to see if they can find anything," said Clark Laurel County DPS and Emergency Management LEX 18 will keep you up-to-date with the latest information as it becomes available on-air and online Report a typo 2025 6:57PMA tractor-trailer hauling trash caught on fire along I-295 in Mt (WPVI) -- A tractor-trailer hauling trash caught on fire along I-295 in Mt For the latest traffic in your area, click here. or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading Please purchase a subscription to continue reading click through to verify your information to receive free access We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription Your current subscription does not provide access to this content Please use the button below to manage your account or sign up for a new account tocontinue reading We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content Cup-shaped blooms with frilly edges of mountain laurel are peaking in the foothills and lower elevation mountains of northwestern North Carolina Mountain laurel blossoms on the Brushy Mountains are weighed down with water from an early May shower Pseudocercospora leaf spot is a common disease on mountain laurel It isn’t considered a serious threats to the plants Mountain laurel blooms are especially prolific this spring on rocky slopes of the foothills and lower mountains of northwestern North Carolina Botanists say winter weather is among many factors impacting how well mountain laurel bloom each year Thickets of these native shrubs with wildly twisting branches can be as impenetrable as those of rhododendron Mountain laurel is also is known as “mountain ivy,” hence place names like Big Ivy in northern Wilkes County sometimes called the “father of American botany,” was an early admirer of mountain laurel and sent samples to England in the mid-1700s Artist and naturalist Mark Catesby included a painting of mountain laurel in bloom in “The Natural History of Carolina “Kalmia: Mountain Laurel and Related Species,” by Richard A is considered one of the best sources on mountain laurel Mountain laurel tolerates conditions ranging from full sun to full shade plus leaf spots and blights can be a problem The University of Massachusetts -Amherst Center for Agriculture Food and the Environment said it isn’t considered a serious threat when present but can be unsightly This source said remedies include pruning and discarding infected leaves before new growth emerges and using protective fungicides as new leaves expand State University Cooperative Extension Service all parts of mountain laurel are poisonous to humans and livestock because they contain andromedotoxin and arbutin Honey bees typically don’t gather nectar from the star-shaped flowers of mountain laurel but instances of bees producing “mad honey” that is toxic to humans have been reported The pollination strategy of mountain laurel is notable Research at Harvard University determined that pollen in anthers in the 10 stamens of each flower are held under spring-like tension that is released when a pollinating insect touches the stamen thus catapulting pollen onto the pollinator’s body there was a competing belief that wind caused the release of pollen Mountain laurel is considered highly flammable and therefore is among plants that shouldn’t be planted very close to homes The native range of mountain laurel covers much of the eastern United States Stay Informed: Sign up for our newsletter so you can receive news updates every publication day Sign up today to have our e-edition delivered to your inbox there are no recent results for popular videos there are no recent results for popular commented articles House Select Committee is recommending that the General Assembly change a state law forcing districts to start school the Monday closest to Aug 26 and end no later than the Friday clo… Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Roughly 50 reports of car break-ins were called into the Laurel Police Department in Prince George's County early Sunday morning Roughly 50 reports of car break-ins were called into the Laurel Police Department in Prince George’s County early Sunday morning “We had over 47 vehicle break-ins that we took reports for this morning,” said Laura Guenin a spokeswoman for the Laurel Police Department “They happened in the early morning hours of today We got our first call around 4 a.m.” and I saw the glass on the ground and glass everywhere My middle console was open and it seemed like they were in a rush to grab whatever they could find,” said Cierra Major Investigators believe there are at least three assailants involved two who actually break into the vehicles and one driver They did not target any specific type of vehicle and would only sometimes steal belongings from the vehicle “The manner in which each one happened it seems so that they’re connected,” Guenin said not even checking to see if door handles are open We even had some instances where there was money in plain view but there were instances they did not take (money that was out).” “A backpack was in my car that I think (belonged to) the neighbor My mom’s purse was in the driver’s seat and then her purse was in (another nearby) car,” said A.J. who also had his driver’s side window smashed I don’t know what the motive was or is I don’t know what they were looking for Guenin said the department has never seen this many reported car break-ins at one time “We are getting vehicle break-ins happening every weekend sometimes during the week,” Guenin told 11 News “It’s on an uptick for the city of Laurel The most recent string of car break-ins happened in the southern part of the city of Laurel as well as parts surrounding the city in the county Police are asking the public to turn in any video footage, that may be related to the break-ins, at this link and the flagship stations for the Baltimore Ravens Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs which means we may get paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites.©2023 on behalf of WBAL NewsRadio 1090 and FM 101.5 unexpectedly returned to her heavenly home on Friday to the late Kimbyl Bindrup Gessel and Penny Connor Gessel Humphreys After spending her childhood in Utah with her family she exchanged Mount Timpanogos for Sandia Peak in Albuquerque living her later teen years with her Uncle Randy and Aunt Bonnie Gessel and cousins Laurel met the Ozzie (Jimmy Flowers) to her Sharon Theirs was a marriage about which most people only dream while WWF Raw played on TV in the background Jim and Laurel welcomed their own Kelly (Jessica Paige Flowers) Laurel loved motherhood so much a second child (Brady James Robert Flowers) made his appearance three years later giving her "all" to whatever role or responsibility came her way She had a keen mind and understanding for business She loved crafting and creating things and was always ready to explore her next hobby Laurel loved traveling with her sweetheart especially the past twelve years to various tropical resorts and beaches One of her greatest joys was spending time with her grandsons Laurel was welcomed to the spirit world by her father grandparents Brandt and Roma Nell Gessel and Marlin and Dorothy Connor Beloved Laurel leaves behind her devoted husband Jimmy Flowers daughter and son-in-law Jessica and Colton Davis her dad's twin Uncle Randyl (Debbie) Gessel "Gigi is our beautiful angel." She is deeply loved and will be profoundly missed Funeral services will be held Friday May 2 at 11 am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel Interment to follow at Sunset Memorial Park 924 Menaul Blvd NE In lieu of flowers or donations we ask you to be like our powerhouse Laurel and love fiercely Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Near Kachina (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) – Search crews are still working to locate a missing boater in Laurel County after an incident at Laurel Lake According to the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office 26-year-old John Myrick was reported missing Sunday afternoon after his boat capsized near the city dam around 12:15 p.m Officials say another person was also on the boat but managed to swim to shore safely More updates will be provided as the situation develops Get important news about your town as it happens Get the top stories from across our network Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from daily updates A wave of chaos hit a Maryland town overnight when nearly 50 vehicles were broken into in one night sending police in Prince George's County scrambling to find the suspects responsible for the mass theft One of the break-ins reported in Laurel overnight The early morning crime spree unfolded on Saturday when more than 47 cars in the City of Laurel were broken into and valuables stolen the Laurel Police Department announced to the community Multiple suspects — some wearing headlamps — were captured on residential surveillance video smashing car windows and rifling through vehicles across town “Our partners in surrounding jurisdictions have also experienced a surge in vehicle break-ins,” police said Laurel PD is now asking residents in the city and surrounding neighborhoods to review their doorbell and security camera footage and submit any videos showing suspicious activity from that night Police have created a secure portal for community members to upload footage directly from their phones Extra patrols are also being directed to affected areas “Don’t hesitate — call us as soon as you see something,” police said Want breaking news in the DMV as it happens, or want to contribute? Join the DMV All Incidents Facebook group. Pseudocercospora leaf spot is most common on mountain laurel plants growing in heavy shade. Sign up today to have our e-edition delivered to your inbox. Stay Informed: Sign up for our newsletter so you can receive news updates every publication day. Partly to mostly cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. High around 70F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Partly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low around 45F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Intervals of clouds and sunshine. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 72F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Clear to partly cloudy. Low 47F. Winds light and variable. Cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later at night. Low 52F. Winds light and variable. Mainly cloudy. Low 52F. Winds light and variable. Partly cloudy skies. Low 48F. Winds light and variable. Partly cloudy. Low around 50F. Winds light and variable. Partly cloudy. Low 53F. Winds light and variable. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. An N.C. House Select Committee is recommending that the General Assembly change a state law forcing districts to start school the Monday closest to Aug. 26 and end no later than the Friday clo… TRACK RADARFamily of 5 last seen in Laurel Maryland have been found safe in Virginia: Policeby 7News Staff LAUREL, Md. (7News) — After being reported missing by the Chesapeake City Police Department police said a family of five was located safe Thursday morning This comes after a family member on Wednesday reported not hearing from the missing family since Monday Police on Thursday morning said Alejandra Portorreal Frias were located innorthern Virginia and are safe Anyone with information is asked to call the Chesapeake police or the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP or submit a tip online But finding the space necessary maintain state funding can be difficult In Mount Laurel, school district leaders wanted a plan that wouldn't put another tax strain on residents after a bond referendum in the 2018-2019 year They put feelers out for community partnerships and administrators at the Greater Philadelphia YMCA answered a building refurbished to meet childcare needs in Mount Laurel has 10 classrooms housing district preschoolers while the others are reserved for YMCA programming More: Atilis Gym Bellmawr defied COVID shutdown orders. Owner is now suing for $10M. The district also has an early learning center location through partnership with the YMCA along Commerce Parkway "It was the right thing to do," Shaun Elliott Greater Philadelphia YMCA president and CEO said of investing a significant amount in building refurbishments to serve as an early learning center when school officials began looking for community partners "How you get started in life is so important Success in school is a predictor of a lot of things." Inside the doors of the Briggs Road early learning center and through the windows smiling children sit on colorful carpets for circle time or prepare to line up in the hallway with a finger to their lips and a hand on their hip Elliott said that setting up a licensed childcare center is a large undertaking with specific requirements that don't always match the timeline of state funding "(The) school district is only able to enter into contract for a year with a local provider I think this would preclude many organizations," Elliott said Greater Philadelphia YMCA administrators had to enter a seven-year lease for their location resulting in what Elliott called a "mismatch between the government funding and our lease period." director of early childhood education for the school district this mixed delivery system is what's recommended by the New Jersey Department of Education as a way to support community businesses and give families the option to select potentially familiar childcare providers or centers What other districts are doing is actually unique," said DeSimone who noted that he previously taught in Camden City where their program was split about 50/50 between providers and district classrooms at the time and also a good number of my staff also came from that sort of a model." When the universal pre-K program began in the district Mount Laurel was able to partner with a provider in the township that could quickly provide spaces that fit the state requirements The next year the YMCA was able to jump on board making the financial lift to contribute a hub of classrooms for early childhood education "When we found out we were eligible for the grant we didn't have enough appropriately sized classrooms in the district to be able to do the expansion so we recognized up front that this partnership was going to be incredibly needed and meaningful," DeSimone said which will be the fourth year of the universal pre-K program Mount Laurel projects to serve 720 students which equates to approximately 81% of the district's preschool universe Mount Laurel will boast the largest preschool program in Burlington County Additional classrooms are expected to be made available from a handful of providers for the upcoming school year each of the YMCA centers have 10 district classrooms DeSimone said the overall district program consists of 40 classrooms including three special education classrooms and six inclusion classrooms in the district The main difference between the YMCA contribution and that of other providers in the district is the sheer amount of classrooms provided in one space which is a result of the YMCA's investment to configure the early learning centers with the district's needs in mind but it is a way," Elliott said of how other districts YMCA's and nonprofits could take on a similar partnership Kaitlyn McCormick writes about trending issues and community news across South Jersey for the Courier-Post The Daily Journal and the Burlington County Times And subscribe to stay up to date on the news you need or sign up for a new account to continue reading Since you viewed this item previously you can read it again no promotional deals were found matching that code co-owner of The Knight Butcher in downtown Laurel stands behind the counter of custom meats inside the store at Commerce Street and Central Avenue Knight Butcher Celebrating a decade in downtown When a passerby strolls through downtown Laurel One of them is at the corner of Central Avenue and Commerce Street owned and operated by Chad and Terri Knight has become a staple of the good things the city has become being a major part of downtown Laurel’s growth “Everyone has really taken to us over these years.”  and quickly recalled how she still had the original ribbon cutting photos from 10 years ago when the shop opened “It was just him and me when we first opened the shop,” she said “We started really small and have continuously grown.”  Depending on which door of the shop you walk into and the smell of homemade fudge will likely hit your nostrils before smoked chicken or jerky does when you walk in through the Central Ave You’ll be met with the aroma of spices or the scent of a ribeye sandwich you’ll always be greeted with a friendly smile and exceptional service they’ve added little by little to their equipment and lunch menu Terri noted how they have three cases for meats now and now a full menu for lunch that includes quesadillas and their housemade meats we only had a couple of specials that we could do for just a couple of hours a day we wanted to make sure we were offering things to make people want to come back Chad and Terri left Mississippi for four years in 2011 with Chad honing his butcher craft through various butcher shops in Seattle as he had been in the industry for over two decades and had taken Meat Processing and Merchandising at Jones County Junior College Terri is a USM alumnus and graduated in 2009 with a BA in Sociology and had worked in sales her entire life business management and tutorials on different animal breakdowns Terri took notes on what could be favorable items to sell when and if they made their way back to the Free State of Jones the couple made the decision to start the process of moving back to start the shop and they requested an info packet from Laurel Main Street the couple did make their way back to Laurel and decided to begin the biggest endeavor of their life: The Knight Butcher but be involved in the community,” Terri said “Downtown was quote—unquote ‘dead’ to some people but to be a part of that and be considered a cornerstone is huge to us The couple wanted to bring something to Laurel that the town did not have Terri also wanted to be involved with community organizations which led her to be involved with Laurel Main Street leading him to have live music at the shop and Laurelpalooza but we wanted to make an impact and make Laurel a better place We want to continue to grow and do things,” Terri said While Terri said The Knight Butcher has never been on the verge of going out of business thanks to good business practices made things stressful for the couple and their shop “We did whatever we needed to do,” Terri said “We were resilient and tried to figure it out.”  they saw their best year because they were able to utilize local meat from farms and didn’t limit what people could buy “We took orders out to people’s cars or trucks COVID was probably the most stressful point It was a hard couple of years with it and the construction.”  Both Chad and Terri are looking forward to the next decade of business that comes with offering more high-end meats something that locals have been asking for but said they love where they are in the heart of downtown Laurel “We are going to do what we can with what we have because we love this location,” Terri said “There could be an expansion of a different production or kitchen site at some point but we have dreams for the patio to cover it and upgrade our lunches and things like that.”  A new retail-restaurant-bar concept is launching in the Bay Area, set to highlight Japanese food and goods, the San Francisco Business Times reports it’s a project from chef and restaurateur Jerome Ito and the Times has taken to calling it “a new Eataly-esque concept.” Reportedly opening later this year at the 6,000-square-foot space that formerly housed Corner Bakery Cafe Yutori will fold in a full-service restaurant and bar alongside a cafe retail shop the cafe will offer Ito’s takes on grab-and-go items like the ever-popular convenience store egg sandwiches the restaurant will offer Japanese breakfast items There will also be an addition of a Japanese garden to the outdoor patio Oops. Something went wrong. Please enter a valid email and try again. Mayor: Run-off between Mouton and West.Councilmember At-Large: Turner and Williams Ward 1: CrenshawWard 2: HilliardWard:3 Sherwood Beaumont — The main lanes of Interstate 10 eastbound and westbound at Laurel Avenue have reopened after their closure from 8 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday for the Maury Meyers Bridge demolition. All traffic was diverted to the frontage roads and several underpasses were also closed, including IH-10 & Calder Avenue, Harrison Street, North Street, 11th Street, and US 69 & Delaware Street. Personalized news alerts with our mobile app Photos from Billings Central High School at Laurel High School baseball at Thomson Park in Laurel on Saturday, May 3, 2025. Laurel's Ryan Berube attempts to tag Billings Central's Oliver Prill during a baseball game at Thomson Park in Laurel on Saturday, May 3. Billings Central's Oliver Prill bats during a baseball game against Laurel at Thomson Park in Laurel on Saturday, May 3. The Billings Central baseball team gathers during a game against Laurel at Thomson Park in Laurel on Saturday. Billings Central's Kole Reas pitches during a baseball game against Laurel at Thomson Park in Laurel on Saturday, May 3. Billings Central's Porter Dahlberg steps up to bat during a baseball game against Laurel at Thomson Park in Laurel on Saturday, May 3. Laurel baseball fans cheer on the Locomotives during a baseball game against Billings Central at Thomson Park in Laurel on Saturday, May 3. Laurel's Mason Wilson pitches during a baseball game against Billings Central at Thomson Park in Laurel on Saturday, May 3. The Laurel baseball team watches from the dugout during a game against Billings Central at Thomson Park in Laurel on Saturday. Laurel's Parker Knaub bats during a game against Billings Central at Thomson Park in Laurel on Saturday, May 3. Billings Central's Porter Dahlberg slides into second base during a baseball game against Laurel at Thomson Park in Laurel on Saturday, May 3. Both teams believe they are improving and share a passion for the sport.  The daffodils at Laurel Ridge Farm in Litchfield at their peak in late April 2024.A visit to the farm on April 10 showed that only a few daffodils were in bloom.Peak may be in another week or two. “And then my heart with pleasure fills “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud,” by William Wordsworth are inscribed on a stone marker at Laurel Ridge Farm in the Northfield section of Litchfield It rings true to visitors who go to see the more than ten thousand daffodils and narcissus that were planted at Laurel Ridge Farm beginning in the early1940’s The bulbs were planted in a field considered too rocky to plant crops The stone marker that holds the poem by Wordsworth also explains: “These daffodils were planted for all to enjoy by Virginia and Remy Morosani the Morosani family has maintained the daffodils and set up a foundation for their care Maintenance includes digging up and separating bulbs when they become over-crowded A visit on April 10 found that only a few daffodils were in bloom A couple who goes yearly and had come to check predicted The daffodils at Laurel Ridge Farm in Litchfield thousands of visitors are welcomed to see the daffodils They also ask that no one park on the east side of the narrow road so that emergency vehicles gain access if needed It is a magical experience to walk the more than ten acres of meandering paths surrounded on all sides by daffodils and narcissus in shades of yellow from pale The Visit Litchfield CT Facebook page (www.facebook.com/VisitLitchfieldCT) posts updates and will post when the daffodils peak Laurel Ridge Daffodils Facebook page also posts updates on when the peak is expected Laurel Ridge Farm is located at 66 Wigwam Road 1.3 miles south of the intersection withRoute 254 A sign for Laurel Ridge Farm is at the beginning of Wigwam Road It is open from sunrise to sunset while the daffodils bloom A detail of a whorl of hydrilla pulled from the shallow waters at O’Hara’s Landing Marina in fall of 2024 SALISBURY — The Twin Lakes Association is taking an earlier and more aggressive approach to fighting the spread of invasive hydrilla in East Twin Lake by dosing the whole northeast bay with low-level herbicide treatments instead of spot treatments the TLA’s vice president of lake management is to sustain herbicide concentration over the 2025 growing season That plan of attack will continue over a period of 60 to 90 days beginning May 21 Conklin explained during the association’s April 30 membership meeting via Zoom which drew 60 attendees TLA officials were encouraged by the chance to stop the spread and hopefully destroy the thick mats of the unyielding invasive plant hydrilla verticillata referred to as the Connecticut River variant after two years of chasing new growth around the lake’s north bay Dense patches were first discovered in the summer of 2023 in shallow waters around O’Hara’s Landing Marina and the nearby state boat launch and the plant has since migrated further into East Twin Past treatment efforts were hampered by delayed permits from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to treat the hydrilla with herbicides in an area where a rare plant had been identified as any protected plant species in the path of hydrilla would likely not survive anyway but it is going to be if we don’t do something about the hydrilla.” so we spot treated it … and were always chasing it.” is to treat the entire northeast bay with the herbicide Sonar in both liquid and crystal form at a very low levels so that the herbicide’s contact time with hydrilla will be extended for a longer period over 60 to 90 days “We know from past experience that it is much easier to kill the plant when it’s small,” Conklin explained green weed before August when it crowns and splits into numerous growing points that are capable of growing at the rate of an inch a day discussion also focused on a pilot program for enhanced cyanobacteria monitoring at Twin Lakes to be headed by TLA director Jessica Swartz a resident of West Twin Lake and biotech executive with Pfizer “It’s very visibly challenging to identify cyanobacteria blooms,” Swartz explained as it can easily be confused with pollen on the surface of the water dead vegetation or different types of algae important phytoplankton in lake ecosystems occur when there is an abundance of sunlight elevated phosphorus levels and warm temperatures Given the current escalation in overly-nutrient rich waterbodies and rising temperatures due to global climate change the frequency of cyanobacteria blooms is increasing and Twin Lakes has occasionally experienced localized blooms the association will be implementing a pilot testing program with greater frequency and at more locations than currently conducted by the TLA’s limnologist The goal of the pilot program is to work out the process of collecting reliable data over time that helps inform whether cyanobacteria blooms are occurring Sample test kits have been ordered for five or six testing sites across East and West Twin TLA president Grant Bogle invited Swartz to give an update at the association’s upcoming June 14 membership meeting at Camp Isola Bella Despite rising lake management costs projected at $500,000 this year Bogle reported that the TLA is in strong shape financially heading into the 2025 season as it received another $75,000 grant from DEEP and $25,000 from the Bates Foundation to support the Watershed Study the town of Salisbury has earmarked $75,000 for Twin Lakes this season and the TLA membership has “responded generously” contributing more than $300,000 since August 2024 when the group started its 2025 fundraising campaign Bogle also encouraged members to attend the May 12 public meeting of the Salisbury Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Commission which is expected to address proposed changes to the Upland Review Area encompassing the town’s lakes Download directly KENT — Frederick Wright Hosterman passed away peacefully in his home in Kent on April 16 He attended a one-room schoolhouse just outside of Brownville The little brick schoolhouse is still standing Fred attended the University of Nebraska (Lincoln) eventually earning a master’s degree in agronomy where the company was a pioneer in applying biotechnology to agricultural sciences Fred and Dorothy moved to New York City for several years in the early 1960s and Fred bought a large tract of land on Carter Road in Kent which he maintained until his death at age 95 he spent the following decades working on his property and spending time with his children and grandchildren Fred had a jovial and close relationship with many of his neighbors all willing to share a cup of coffee or receive various bits of wisdom from Fred on any number of projects Fred was predeceased by his parents; Helen and Arch Hosterman He is survived by his three children and their spouses; John and his husband Eric of Northfield He is also survived by his five grandchildren; Nicky doing a little “dance” for almost anyone he met Another of Fred’s favorite hobbies was chopping down trees on his land this started out as a necessity for fueling his wood stoves tree-clearing projects were aimed at enhancing the magnificent view from his house high atop Carter Road Fred was frequently on his excavator moving boulders or building a retaining wall passed away peacefully in her sleep at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington She was the second youngest of five children where she graduated from Northwestern Regional 7 High School Nancy is predeceased by her husband and the love of her life Often nicknamed “the love birds,” they were true soulmates and shared many wonderful years together filled with love Nancy is also survived by 11 nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly — Lori She was a special aunt leaving behind so many happy and joyful memories She never missed attending her nieces’ and nephews’ special events Nancy worked for over 20 years at Raynard and Pierce in Canaan There she made many friendships and brightened the day of everyone who went through the door greeted by her smile and jovial spirit aunt and friend and will be missed by all who’s lives she touched A graveside service will be held at Collinsville Cemetery on Huckleberry Hill Road in Canton on Saturday followed by a reception at 5 Cherry Brook Road Memorial donations may be made in Nancy’s name to the Berkshire Humane Society where Nancy adopted her loving cat and faithful companion (LEX 18) — After more than 100 years of operation Laurel Grocery Company has announced its closure resulting in layoffs for dozens of employees and leaving independent grocers uncertain about their future Among those affected is Fitch’s IGA in Jessamine County a beloved local grocery store deeply ingrained in the community Wilmore," has been a fixture in the town since 1956 who often stop by not just for groceries but to share a moment with him I really believe it’s the best town in the United States,” Fitch expressed last week brought unsettling news for Fitch when he learned that his distributor was shutting down its wholesale operations and laying off a portion of its workforce but there is so much competition out there right now,” he noted The closure has left Fitch searching for alternative distributors which presents a significant challenge for his store and that’s definitely a big item in a grocery store,” he admitted Fitch remains optimistic about the future of his grocery store but we’re going to fight as long as we can," he said “We hope the Lord will help us get lined up with another distributor that will take care of us.” Laurel Grocery Company acknowledged the challenges it has faced due to increased competition from big box discounters and e-commerce they mentioned their deep appreciation for their employees and the impact of their closure on the communities they served They are working with other wholesale providers to assist the independent grocers affected As Fitch's IGA and other local grocery stores navigate this sudden change the community's support remains crucial for their survival and continued service Brown’s week: The Filles’ speedster opened her week last Tuesday with victories in the 100 and 200-meter dashes in Laurel Highlands’ victory over Belle Vernon that clinched the section straight Section 2-3A championship Brown won the 100 in 13.09 and the 200 in 26.91 Shayla Dues and Righteous Richardson in winning the 400 relay in 52.02 Brown and Richardson teamed with Taylor Schwertfeger and Isabella Baker to earn a victory in the 1,600 relay in 4:33.99 Brown had a strong follow-up performance last Saturday in the Fayette County Coaches Association Track & Field Championships at Mustang Field in winning the Track and Overall MVP awards on a rainy and windy day that hindered many opportunities to achieve a PR (personal record) Brown was pleased to win her section straight FCCA MVP and help the Fillies to another county meet team title She was on the winning 1,600 meter relay team of Schwertfeger Baker and Bethany Byrne that crossed the finish line in 4:34.02 “I think that’s really good that we have been able to keep a team to be the best in the county,” Brown said “I am very excited that our team qualified for the team playoffs It will be a good meet with solid competition.” Brown qualified for the state meet last season in the 400 but hadn’t ran the event until the county meet With the team portion of the season winding down Brown is looking to step up her training in preparation for the WPIAL Class 3A Individual Track & Field Championships on May 14 at Slippery Rock University “I think I did OK in the meet against Belle Vernon and at the county meet,” Brown said “I want to get some more conditioning in to get ready to do the 400 and then I have practice with my dad for the 400 In her genes: When your sister is a multiple-time state champion and holds school records your brother is a school record-holder and your dad is a personal track & field coach it is a pretty good guess you will take up the sport is a WPIAL Hall of Famer after winning eight WPIAL gold medals and six PIAA championships in sprints during her high school career that began at Uniontown her freshman season before competing her sophomore junior and seniors seasons at Laurel Highlands is the boys record holder at Laurel Highlands in the 400 He also qualified for the state meet in the event Breehana Jacobs won three state titles in the 100 “Track & field is definitely a family thing for me,” Brown said “I felt pretty good at track from the state One of my goals is to break some of my sister’s records at Laurel Highlands.” The fun sport: Brown competes for the school in volleyball but doesn’t take it as seriously as track & field “I don’t do any other team sports which got me thinking about doing the high jump in track & field Getting stronger: Brown does quite a bit of weight training when she is not working on her starts and interval training needs the power to get out of the blocks quickly “I want to compete in track & field at the next level so I know I have to get stronger because having that strength is very important in sprinting,” Brown said but you get that little extra boost when you are stronger and that can really make a difference in the bigger meets It was such a big meet and a lot of competition I am glad to have that experience because I know what to expect this year.” If you have an account and are registered for online access sign in with your email address and password below Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe Copyright © Herald-Standard | Contact | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy In which we pick the races from Laurel Park each day… Carryovers: Chesapeake Jackpot Pick 6 (races 4-9) — $976Jackpot Super High 5 (race 6)— $4,755Late Pick 5 (races 4-9) — $0 Check out our other handicapping here We’re starting a racing week with this condition at this distance and surface for the second week in a row #5 Salted Carmel (8-1) broke his maiden second time on grass at Gulfstream Park last out splitting rivals late to win in professional style Keri Brion and Martin Chuan have teamed up to cross the wire first with a horse at the meet; however this one looks like he’s getting good at the perfect time #1 Primed to Go (9-5) took advantage of a runaway loose leader last out and briefly hit the front when that rival tired One Bite had a better late kick from further behind and finished ahead of this one by a nose While this one probably won’t get as hot a pace to close into he showed great form on grass throughout last year the Duarte barn has been cold to start the meet- all five of their starters have missed the board #8 Rector (8-1) was my top choice in this class last week but he couldn’t get settled and showed little first off an 18-month break Madison Meyers clearly wasn’t that bothered by that effort as she wheels him back and switches pilots to Weston Hamilton Three of these exit the same race at this condition on April 5 #5 She Be Hoppin (5-2) was the only first-time starter in the field but she received a decent amount of action at the windows She showed some mild late life and just missed third with a very solid brisnet figure of 58 She might not have to improve much to beat this bunch #4 Born Charmer (1-1) was no match for the impressive winner but she ran on well behind that runaway victress and finished a clear-cut second with a career-best 64 She’s shown slow and steady improvement throughout the year and is certainly capable of getting the job done #1 Sweet Izzy (12-1) looks the best of the three first-time starters having worked well over the past few weeks for Brandon McFarlane He doesn’t send out too many debuters but he had one high-profile one fairly recently: 61-1 Miss Harriett in the 2023 Maryland Million Lassie #13 Jam’s Paper Moon (5-1) needs some help to draw into this race She ran a 73 and an 81 in her two career grass starts while no one in here has ever run better than a 72 on this surface She’s worked well since her dismal last effort on the Gulfstream synthetic #7 Delayed (9-5) drops for a tag fore the first time on grass and showed some life on the lawn at Tampa Bay Downs for Graham Motion Motion’s 5-for-10 in the money with his grass starters so far #5 Clare Court (6-1) makes her grass debut for Madison Meyers #7 Mucho Tigger (6-5) went off as the odds-on choice at this level last out and finished second to gate-to-wire winner Dine and Dash She improved sharply in that race to a career-best 76 and may get even better second off an 11-month layoff #3 Girl Gone Wild (10-1) crossed the wire second last out but was elevated to victory when the winner was disqualified after the fact for whipping violations This one ran a big race on the rail on a day where the outside was the place to be and showed more early speed that day than she ever had before #4 Noel’s Dream (15-1) beat a very soft bunch at third asking last out but nonetheless did so with a much-improved 70 and is the only one in the field who hasn’t lost against winners #8 Happybirthdaycorey (15-1) stumbled at the start last out got thrown well behind a very slow early pace she won after rating off the pace at Penn National going two turns She has a great post from which to utilize her tactical speed and gets the nod in a race where many of the contenders have question marks #5 Coal Mine (5-1) raced on the disadvantageous April 12 rail last out and stopped badly She worked a bullet four furlongs in 48 seconds flat on April 25 trainer Troy Singh has done well at the spring stand so far #7 Genieinabridle (9-5) finished a solid-closing second to odds-on choice Haleigh B last out with a career-best 84 she had a claim on her voided by the vet that day #4 She Is Wisky (9-5) raced only once last year a victory at this level towards the end of grass season and drops her into a level where she should thrive She beat allowance rivals twice in 2023 with marks in the 80s #3 Catch the Kitten (5-1) ran figures just a notch below those of She Is Wisky last year and has been racing on dirt all winter long Caitlin Keil has probably been waiting for a spot like this for a while #6 Bali Kuta (4-1) faded after showing speed in the She Is Wisky race but ran well on grass last year and has been working well at Keri Brion’s Fair Hill base (although she did not get a point-to-point prep) #3 Frosted Dreams (5-2) was a clear-cut second behind the impressive Brittany Russell trainee Grayson’s Girl last out running in the 70s for the second time in as many career starts She’ll have every chance to sit the trip and convert #4 Cynthia Gail (8-1) improved sharply against a tough field at Colonial Downs at second asking last out running a 70 after showing nothing on debut #7 Oppose (9-2) made ground from well off the pace on debut at Gulfstream Park #1 Derbyness (8-5) was thrown out of his element after a bad start last out at Aqueduct He’s run at least an 87 in each of his last three races the only one in the field who’s come close to doing so #4 Bold Diversion (12-1) was in over his head in the Federico Tesio Stakes last out but he’s in improving form and has early speed This looks like a much more realistic spot for him #3 Bill of Rights (7-2) sat a great trip to beat starter optional claiming rivals last out and will hope that Bold Diversion will make things interesting for Derbyness and set a hot pace #2 Saint Grace (6-1) got bet on debut at Charles Town going off as the 5-2 second choice as the lone firster in the field Odds-on choice Sunshine Hazel broke on top and ran them off their feet in the 4 1/2-furlong contest but Saint Grace ran on very well and got up for second by a neck after sitting in third in the early stages She looks primed to improve second time out #3 Riley’s Cry Baby (8-1) showed speed and backed up first off a 7 1/2-month layoff last out but has a bullet workout since than and adds Lasix for her second race of the season She ran a big race on debut after getting pressed on the pace on Timonium opening day last year #4 Notiptoni (8-5) has had her chances (0-for-11 lifetime with five runner-up finishes) but she’s been in improving form at Gulfstream and is also first-time Lasix CHECK OUT THE LATEST OFF TO THE RACES RADIO John Piassek is currently the communications manager for the Maryland Horse Breeders Association He's written for Thee Racing Biz since 2015 and has also written about mid-Atlantic racing for Danonymous Racing and the Daily Gallop He graduated from Loyola University Maryland in 2018 with a degree in marketing and is a member of the inaugural Maryland Thoroughbred Career Program class of 2017 COMMENTdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id" "ae30ba870573045fd7877afb6f4e1f6f" );document.getElementById("hd0d9363dc").setAttribute( "id" Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress Join our mailing list to get our latest news delivered to your inbox each week we never sell our lists or share your info with outside parties Laurel Park hosts an action-packed weekend of racing to close out its spring meet Saturday’s card is highlighted by the season’s first 2-year-old race in Maryland — a $47,000 maiden special weight sprint in race 2 — while Sunday’s program marks closing day Saturday’s stakes-level allowance action kicks off in race 6 with the return of Post Time Trained by Brittany Russell and owned by Hillwood Stable LLC the 5-year-old gray son of Frosted makes his first start of 2025 and second since a runner-up finish in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile last November With blinkers on for the first time in his 15-race career Post Time looks to add to his $1.2 million bankroll he’ll tackle 1 1/16 miles in this $56,000 allowance event Forever Souper returns to the grass following a solid second-place finish in the Turf Classic at Tampa Bay Downs the 6-year-old gelding by American Pharoah boasts nine wins and five stakes victories — three on turf and two on synthetic Trained by Michael Trombetta for Live Oak Plantation Forever Souper has never been worse than third in three starts at Saturday’s 1-mile turf distance Sunday’s closing day features mandatory payouts of all wagers and some intriguing storylines Trained by Brittany Russell and owned in part by SF Racing and Starlight Racing Lionel is out of the graded stakes-placed mare Sweetgrass and was an $875,000 yearling purchase He began his training at Santa Anita before coming East and has posted one work for Russell The Kentucky-bred colt is Triple Crown-nominated and makes his career debut in a maiden special weight at a mile seasoned campaigner Malibu Beauty makes her 7-year-old debut for trainer Gary Capuano A Maryland-bred mainstay with 12 wins and over $780,000 in earnings she returns from a winter layoff after a successful 2024 season in which she won four races This consistent mare brings back her battle-tested form in a $56,000 allowance over 1 1/16 miles We keep an eye on things - so you don't have to "ad6041e11ca473bd832c3f440e299441" );document.getElementById("hd0d9363dc").setAttribute( "id" CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE TDN FOR FREE! Remember Ben with a gift to Thoroughbred aftercare Subscribe for FREE to the Daily PDF or the News Alerts Home » Archive » Top News » Authentic's Lionel Strong on Debut at Laurel Park — Brittany Russell Racing Stable (@BTRracingstable) May 4, 2025 Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts. Copy Article Link Editor / News Stories:editor@thetdn.com Advertising:advertising@thetdn.com Customer Service:customerservice@thetdn.com Click Here to sign up for a free subscription Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInTEXARKANA (KSLA) - A teenager was injured in a shooting in Texarkana Friday afternoon (April 25) in the 3200 block of Laurel Street near E 32nd Street A 19-year-old male was taken to a local hospital after being shot The teen’s injuries are considered non-life-threatening Police go on to say the victim was found outside of a home on Laurel Street and that the suspect got away on a bicycle was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and battery in the first degree “Law enforcement continues to work diligently to ensure the safety of our community and we encourage everyone to remain vigilant If you have any information related to this case or notice anything suspicious please contact the local police department immediately,” says the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department (TAPD) Anyone with details about what happened is asked to call Sergeant Freeman at 903-798-3154 2025 at her residence surrounded by her family at the Faith Community Church in Laurel with the Rev Burial will be at the Belden Cemetery in Belden Visitation will continue on Wednesday one hour prior to services Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Laurel You may watch a livestream of the funeral at www.facebook.com/WintzRaylive Honorary pallbearers will be her grandchildren and great grandchildren She was baptized at Theophilus Evangelical Church near Winside and attended schools near Hoskins and District #51 near Wayne before graduating from La Habra High School in California at the United Presbyterian Church in Laurel they made their home in Laurel and shared many wonderful years until Terry’s passing in 2018 She worked for 21 years at Providence Medical Center in Wayne and was a long-time and faithful member of Faith Community Church in Laurel Betty had a heart for serving others and a gentle spirit that touched all who knew her and spending time with her grandchildren—who were the light of her life She is survived by her children: Scott (Coleen) Carr of Columbia She is also survived by her brother Rick (Connie) Mann of Lincoln AZ; a grandson Logan (Brooke) Hansen; three granddaughters Morgan (Ben) Barelman and Ashley Whitehead; two great grandchildren Aleeya and Justice; nieces Betty was preceded in death by her parents Terry Graf (2018); stepsons Jim Graf and Rod Graf; and her brother-in-law and deep love for her family will be remembered always While CHS is celebrating Capitol Hill’s growing roster of restaurants with late night eats we should also recognize the latest cafe/bar joint to serve the neighborhood truly both day and night CHS told you about Laurel’s lovely light-filled debut on E Olive Way in January as the cafe part of the project got its start with a name inspired by neighborhood food and drink entrepreneur Kate Opatz’s mom and for the natural imagery it evokes and plenty of plants and colorful tiles in the space formerly home to the Crumble & Flake bakery The espresso martini will also give you a buzz — at 10 AM or 10 PM (Image: Laurel) the latest food and drink venture from Opatz has fully rounded its service and is now open daily from 8 AM to 2 AM the Laurel Irish Coffee might just be the place’s quintessential drink is in charge of the seasonal menu of craft cocktails now being served at Laurel Laurel runs double happy hours with an early run from 2 to 4 PM and another from midnight to 2 AM and fresh pastries imported all the way from E Roy and The French Guys You can find Laurel at 1500 E Olive Way. Visit laurelseattle.com to learn more + SUBSCRIBE TO CHS: Support journalism dedicated to your neighborhood. SUBSCRIBE HERE TODAY Got a tip? E-mail CHS — [email protected] — Call or text (206) 399-5959 — About CHS Join the Capitol Hill Seattle Facebook Group 🗣️ Let’s talk about the neighborhood TRAFFIC CAMS (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — Multiple fire departments responded to a commercial structure fire Thursday night in Laurel County According to the Laurel County Fire Department on May 1 to assist the Lily Fire Department with a blaze on South Highway 25 Officials say crews worked the scene until about 1:30 a.m The cause of the fire has not been released Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here a third-level allowance with a $55,000 claiming option at 1 1/16 miles “That’s my doctor,” the jockey said Russell had every reason to be in a giving mood reigning Maryland-bred horse of the year Post Time dissected a solid group of horses in his 2025 debut “It’s the best three-other-than I’ve ever rode,” Russell said “It was a blessing that we still had this condition.” a Grade 2 winner with three Grade 1-placings on his record including a runner-up finish in last year's Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar “I [was] hanging onto him [last year] because in behind horses he travels so good,” Russell said about the equipment change “It’s when the real running starts Russell felt the blinkers made a huge difference “It was the perfect race to try him,” he added I had three of them in a line [in front of me] I tipped him out and jumped on the right lead I think we’re this close to him being a great horse.” drawing away to score by 13¼ lengths over stakes-placed Union Fleet in 1:41.31 over the fast track Stakes-placed Feeling Woozy finished a head behind the runner-up Then came stakes-winners Shaft’s Bullet Goodafternoonoscar and Bestsugardaddy completed the order of finish Stakes winner Be Better clipped heels and lost jockey Ismerio Villalobos Both rider and horse escaped without serious injury Seven’s Eleven and Wild Vine scratched Bred by Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Dr. Brooke Bowman, and Milton Higgins III, Post Time is a 5-year-old by Frosted out of stakes winner Vielsalm by Fairbanks Ellen Charles’s Hillwood Stable and boasts a record of 10 wins and three third-place finishes from 16 starts for earnings of $1,266,550 there were a couple of times when Sheldon felt like he had to hold onto him longer than you would have liked,” trainer Brittany Russell said after Post Time completed a schooling session on Friday afternoon “He has that tendency to lean on horses a bit Maybe [the blinkers] help him step forward to what we’re trying to accomplish.” and Sheldon Russell indicated that Post Time might try to achieve the feat in Saratoga’s $1-million Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at one mile on June 7 and the debates surrounding trainer Bob Baffert This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page is a town of about 4,000 located in Western Sussex County it has a rich history — with more historic buildings than any other town in Delaware — and was once home to a thriving downtown area But Laurel has experienced a significant decline over the past several decades and has seen its once robust and thriving economic base for the community slowly drift away.  Now, thanks to efforts by the University of Delaware’s Delaware Sea Grant and Delaware Cooperative Extension the downtown area of Laurel is being revitalized partnerships and a civic sense of pride back to the community.  a nonprofit organization dedicated to revitalizing the community; Sussex County Habitat for Humanity; Milford Housing Development Corporation; the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance; and other organizations are leading the charge to rebuild the downtown area of Laurel Delaware Sea Grant’s Sustainable Coastal Communities Initiative (SCCI) has been working with the Town of Laurel to help redevelop the town’s waterfront district.  Delaware Sea Grant’s Sustainable Coastal Communities Initiative (SCCI) became involved with Laurel in November of 2012 when Ed Lewandowski a community development specialist for Delaware Sea Grant and a board member of the LRC co-led a land use and growth scenario process and recommended nutrient reduction strategies to protect water quality in the Broad Creek a tidal tributary to the Chesapeake Bay.  a Watershed Implementation Plan was completed which was requested by the State of Delaware to meet federally mandated Chesapeake Bay regulatory requirements leaders of the town approached Lewandowski and asked if Delaware Sea Grant could help bring visitors residents and jobs back to downtown Laurel.  I had hardly any experience with community redevelopment,” Lewandowski said “My career had centered around estuarine science I gravitated to getting the community focused on how it might redevelop its Broad Creek waterfront.” From that initial conversation sprung the Waterfront Redevelopment Plan, known as the Ramble, developed by Lewandowski; Jules Bruck, a former professor at UD’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and now the Director of the School of Landscape Architecture and Planning at the University of Florida; and graduate and undergraduate students from UD.   Using stakeholder input from members of the Town of Laurel a nature-based playground and a wetlands education area a kayak launch would serve paddlers and outdoor enthusiasts The plan was imagined with sustainability in mind which helped attract funding to conduct an environmental assessment as well as develop green infrastructure plans to limit pollution runoff into the creek.  The Ramble is moving from a conceptual plan to a reality as construction on the riverwalk that runs alongside Broad Creek will begin soon and Tidewater Park which showcases some of the history and folklore of the Nanticoke Indian Tribe has a children’s playground and community-friendly amenities such as walking paths shaded seating areas and a picnic pavilion.  a business offering breakfast and lunch to the community has recently signed a lease with LRC to occupy a rehabilitated historic building located on Central Avenue and is expected to open by fall 2025.  a specialty coffee business operating out of a food truck has opened on a vacant lot that was formerly a brownfield site now converted to commercial space by the LRC One of the goals of the Ramble was to develop affordable housing for the residents of Laurel Nearly half of Laurel’s residents are renters so affordable housing was needed in the town “We recognize that affordable housing is not only a nationwide crisis but certainly a Sussex County crisis and about 50% of the residences in Laurel are rental units and not necessarily nice ones,” Lewandowski said “We wanted to promote owner-occupied housing one of the components of the Ramble was a sustainable affordable housing subdivision.” A $500,000 state grant allowed five homes to be built by Sussex County Habitat for Humanity at Hope Hill said the remaining funds were used to rehabilitate and refurbish some of the existing homes in the area “Habitat for Humanity cleaned the homes up and we transformed that area into something that was more appealing,” Lewandowski said The LRC is now partnering with Nalley Ventures One of the projects they are undertaking is the development of the Promenade cottage style subdivision designed to offer affordable owner-occupied units that cater to the local workforce the LRC built four new affordable homes on Central Avenue at the former Centenary Church property which saw its church razed because it was falling into disrepair Two of those homes recently settled and a third is expected to be occupied by a new owner soon “Prior to our involvement in Laurel’s housing market there had only been three new housing starts in three years Laurel has seen more than 20 new residences constructed with another 28 on the way,” Lewandowski said “There’s a lot going on right now in Laurel with new homes so there’s some energy there and people are starting to get excited about the town again.” See More Stories Contact us at ocm@udel.edu Contact us at 302-831-NEWS or visit the Media Relations website 919-996-2383 Michele Cordaro DirectorAlyssa Drake Assistant Director  Get DirectionsKnow Before You Go Laurel Hills Park has a pond and nature area to explore View other playground locations. 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