Melanie Dzwonchyk
Melanie Dzwonchyk is editor of the Laurel Leader and news editor of the Howard County Times and the Columbia Flier. A Laurel resident for more than 30 years, she started as features editor of the Leader in 1995.
Recent Articles
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Thank you for the journey of a lifetime [Editorial]
In the holiday rush of wrapping-up packages this month, I’m wrapping up something big of my own. After 22 years at the Laurel Leader and a total of 43 years in the business of newspapers as a proofreader, typesetter, designer, writer and editor, I have decided to retire. My last day is Dec. 29....
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Open house at Laurel Volunteer Fire Department
The Laurel Volunteer Fire Department, 7411 Cherry Lane, will hold its annual Fire Prevention Open House on Sunday, Oct. 22 from noon to 4 p.m. This year’s Fire Prevention Week theme is “Every second counts: Plan two ways out,” which reinforces having a fire escape plan. The open house will include...
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Laurel Board of Trade to hold candidates forum
The Laurel Board of Trade will hold a forum for City Council candidates on Wednesday, Oct. 18 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Laurel Municipal Center, 8103 Sandy Spring Road. Elections will be held Nov. 7. Voters will choose chose one candidate for City Council at-large and two candidates each from Ward...
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Laurel police union endorses incumbents, challengers in City Council race
Laurel’s police union endorsed two incumbent Laurel City Council members and two challengers in November’s election, choosing no endorsements for the at-large seat. The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 11, the union that represents the Laurel Police Department, held a forum for candidates Thursday,...
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Friends of the Laurel Library to gather donations for September book sale
Members of the Friends of the Laurel Library will be collecting donations for the group's Giant Book Sale scheduled for September. Donations of gently used children's books, hardback and paperback adult and teen fiction and nonfiction books, DVDs and CDs and be brought to the lobby of the Laurel...
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Laurel mayor enters Prince George's County Council race
Laurel Mayor Craig Moe plans to throw his hat into the ring for the 2018 county council race. An announcement released Thursday said Moe, who has served as mayor since 2002, plans to file as a candidate for Prince George's County District 1. The seat is currently held by two-term Councilwoman Mary...
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Living the legacy of a pioneering newspaper woman
As the Laurel Leader approaches its 120th year this September, one editor was at the helm for a good third of its life. Gertrude Poe, who died July 13 at the incredible age of 101, is widely recognized as a pioneering woman in journalism who guided her weekly broadsheet as four decades of American...
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Police report fatal shooting in South Laurel
Prince George's County police said a Baltimore County man was found fatally shot in a car in South Laurel Tuesday night. Police identified the man as Dustin Khoury, 17, of Sparrows Point, and said they are investigating this as a non-random shooting. Police found Khoury around 8:25 p.m. Tuesday...