As the year draws to a close, it's not unusual to receive letters from a variety of charities and foundations, each seeking a donation for a specific cause. One such letter arrived recently asking for support on behalf of the Laurel Historical Society. Hopefully, you took time to open and read the correspondence when it arrived, and are considering making a tax-deductible contribution to this local organization.
In the letter, dated Dec. 1, the executive director of the group, Lindsey Baker, recounted some accomplishments for 2014. "This year has been a big one for the Laurel Historical Society. We've expanded attendance, increased access to our collection, continued to provide high quality programming, and revealed our most popular exhibit to date."
Baker was referring to the opening of the "Lost and Found Laurel" exhibit, which achieved record-setting numbers for a new exhibit, with more than 150 former and present residents attending the first day of the display.
I was fortunate enough to be among the crowd that day, and as I've summed it up before, "It felt more like a family reunion than a museum event." Friends old and new crammed in to see the display of memorabilia from shops, stores and local businesses. The catch phrase of the day was "I remember that."
Among this year's improvements are expanded accessibility of the research library, which boasts not only a digitized yearbook collection, but also decade's worth of the Laurel Leader now available in the same format.
Should you desire, you can make your donation online at laurelhistoricalsociety.org/pages/donations.html, or by check sent to Laurel Historical Society, 817 Main St., Laurel, MD 20707. Call 301-725-7975 for more information.
Now available in the museum gift shop is the 2014 Christmas ornament. In a nod to the success of the aforementioned exhibit of "Lost and Found Laurel" several now defunct retailers are prominently featured, among them are Cook's Laurel Hardware and Tastee-Freez. Cost is $18. Ornaments from previous years are also available.
For most, the upcoming Christmas season is a time for family and friends. We honor long-standing family traditions. For those grieving a loss, it can be an especially somber time of reflection. First United Methodist Church invites those of you who have had significant life-altering events, the death of a family member, end of a relationship, or other personal, unforeseen changes in life, to attend its Blue Christmas Remembrance Service, Sunday, Dec. 21, at 6:30 p.m. at 424 Main St.
The service will have a quieter, more muted feeling than the traditional holiday worship service. Scripture readings, meditation and music will focus on comfort during dark times. Call Becky Boeckman, 301-725-3093 for more details.
Laurel Lions Club continues holding its annual Christmas tree sale in the parking lot next to Capital One Bank at the Laurel Shopping Center. Prices vary from $30 to $50. Hours are Monday through Friday, 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. till 7 p.m.
Best wishes for a joyous, safe, and happy holiday season!