Prince George's County Residential Curbside Single-Stream Recycling Program will no longer accept plastic bags of any kind beginning July 1. Those plastic grocery bags will need to be deposited at the local grocery store recycling bins or other recycling collection sites. If you haven't started already, this is a good time to start using the cloth reusable bags or totes or request paper bags when shopping. In addition to grocery store plastic bags, items that you cannot throw in the recycling bin anymore include outer wraps from paper towels, napkins and diaper packages; newspaper bags; dry cleaning bags; fruit and vegetable bags; bubble or cling wrap; outer wrap from cases of soda, juice, water and snacks; and outer wrap from meat or cheese products. These are things that I have routinely disposed of in my recycling container; this will be quite a change in my recycling habits as I'm sure it will be for all of us.
The West Laurel Swim Club on Brooklyn Bridge Road is open for business and the parking lot has been jam-packed with cars. Families are enjoying this lovely warm weather we have been having with cool dips in our neighborhood pool. Lasting childhood friendships and memories are made at that pool. The Wahoos swim team have been practicing and gearing up for an exciting season. It is not too late to join; your family can still get a membership. It is the best deal in comparison to all other area pool memberships. For more information on how you can join the fun, contact Christy Hyder, wlswimclub@gmail.com.
With all the graduation excitement and celebration, schools are preparing for the next school year to begin on Aug. 25 in Prince George's County public schools. Kindergarten registration is ongoing. If you have a child who will be 5 years old by Sept. 1, you must register him or her for kindergarten now. Bond Mill Elementary is registering West Laurel and our boundary area 5-year-olds Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. For information about what you need to bring with you to register, call the office at 301-497-3600.
Congratulations to David Krause, who graduated from Pallotti High School. He was a National Honor Society member and played one year of football and four years of baseball for Pallotti's winning team. He is on his way to Salisbury State University in the fall. His mom and dad, Kelly and Bruce, as well as his sister and brother, Emily and Jacob, are so very proud of all his accomplishments. His family and friends celebrated his graduation with a big party at home.
Cheryl and Bruce Feeser are head over heels proud of their daughter, Helen Feeser, who graduated magna cum laude May 16 from Bridgewater College in Virginia. Helen was in the National Honor Societies of Communications, Latin Studies and Foreign Language. That's quite an achievement! Helen will intern this summer at Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission.