The Hotline is red-hot off the presses and every resident in West Laurel should have received theirs in the mail very recently. The Hotline is the West Laurel neighborhood newsletter that is distributed by the West Laurel Civic Association. WLCA president Barbara Sollner-Webb writes and produces the newsletter just prior to our seasonal meetings. Read it and find out interesting history of the names of our streets.
The WLCA Fall General Meeting is Thursday, Oct. 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the West Laurel Community Building. All West Laurel residents are invited and encouraged to attend. This meeting will encompass so much information. The first speaker, Tom Dernoga, who is our neighbor and also a past Prince George's County Council member, will discuss and explain what the ballot questions on the November ballot are actually about. Ever go to vote and skip the questions because they are too difficult to interpret in three minutes or less? Tom will simplify the questions so we can make informed decisions.
Lee Flick, with the Prince George's County Department of the Environment, will discuss and encourage feedback on the topic of "zero waste" in our community. The landfills are becoming full and we need to help with creative ways to decrease waste. Find out ways you can be a part of this focusing on "re-use, re-purpose and recycle."
West Laurel has always been a progressive community and will continue that tradition with the leadership of our West Laurel Civic Association.
Mark your calendars for the next West Laurel Dumpster and Secure Document Shredding Day on Saturday, Nov. 5 at the West Laurel Community Building from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. or when dumpsters become full. This service is offered for West Laurel residents who are dues-paying members since the WLCA pays for the shredding services. Check your Hotline to see what is accepted and not accepted on Dumpster Day as well as for the shredding. Hazardous materials such as oil, tires, propane tanks, glass, televisions and computers are never accepted. Household items such as broken or unwanted toys, old (smaller pieces) of furniture, mattresses and light construction debris from your personal home projects (no contractors) are accepted. Don't bring large sofas or the like but instead call the county's bulky trash to schedule a curb-side pick-up 301-883-4748, or go online which is easy at bulkytrash.princegeorgescountymd.gov. Senior citizens or those with disabilities can arrange to have WLCA volunteers come to their home to pick-up household items and dispose of them on Dumpster Day. If you need items picked up or shredding done, contact volunteer Jason Float at 443-765-5300 or Jason.float@gmail.com in advance to schedule a pick-up. Please contact Jason before Oct. 27 so he can plan with his volunteer crew.
Volunteers are needed to help Jason with the pick-ups and to help with unloading vehicles and filling dumpsters at the community building. High school students can get community service hours. To volunteer contact Cassandra at ctsekares@comcast.net or Jason at email above.
If you haven't paid your WLCA membership dues for 2016-2017, autumn is when you do it. Of course, this is optional but the $15 per household is a great deal. Our civic association fights our zoning battles and they have done so since the late 1950s. If you haven't paid since 1999, join again. It is so important to support our civic association. Use the envelopes that were sent in the mail or come to the meeting to join and/or pay your dues.
St. Mary of the Mills' Holiday Bazaar will be held on Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Keesler Center. Grannie's Attic, filled with the biggest and grandest yard sale, will be in the church basement. There will be great food, beautiful handmade items, games and activities for the kids, lots of raffles and games for the adult kids. Circle Nov. 5 on your calendar.
The annual Bond Mill craft fair will be held Saturday, Nov. 19 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Bond Mill Elementary School. Creative souls and crafters are wanted. If you have a specialty that you would like to share, contact the school office 301-497-3600 or cfolks@pgcps.org. Table spaces rent for $25 each. This is a very well attended event every year. All proceeds benefit the fifth grade's end-of-the-year activities. Mark your calendars now for Nov. 19.