The Monday Roundup

Laurel Wins Big in Annapolis

State funding is on its way to Laurel; before the close of the legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly in Annapolis, the District 21 Delegation was able to negotiate deals for the area, according to the Laurel Leader.

Some of the wins include:

•  $200,000 bond bill to pay for repairs and renovation work at the Anderson-Murphy Armory, on Montgomery Street.
• $100,000 bond bill to complete renovation work on the Laurel Police Station's community room.
• $6 million for the Laurel Regional Hospital, a part of the Prince George's Hospital System, for renovations and equipment upgrades.

Laurel School Goes Green

Students at  Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School are going green as the school has established its first Green Club, according to The Gazette.

The club will educate students and local citizens about environmental issues, and will oversee the school's recycling program and clean and beautify local habitats.

Students kicked off their first major event earlier this month when about 20  seventh- and eighth-graders planted five trees at the back of the school to celebrate Maryland Arbor Day. Prince George's County Councilwoman Mary A. Lehman (D-Dist. 1) of Laurel was on hand to help.  Read more here.

Alley 13 to be Named After Former Councilwoman

A former Laurel councilwoman known for having a significant impact on Laurel's growth will soon have a street named after her.

Peggy's Way, named after former council member Peggy Anderson, will take the place of the city's Alley 13 after council members passed a resolution to honor Anderson, who died last year at the age of 86.

Anderson spent more than 40 years in city government. She was the second woman elected to the council in 1970. She pushed to have Laurel Regional Hospital built and was a key factor in stopping parts of Laurel from falling into Anne Arundel County.

According to the Laurel Leader:

Currently the one-block alley, which runs from Seventh to Eighth Street behind the homes in the 700 block of Montgomery Street, is known as Alley 13. City Council members said renaming it to Peggy's Way was a fitting tribute to someone who loved the city; and who, in addition to her service as a three-term council member, worked tirelessly on various local committees and commissions during her lifetime.

"My kitchen looks out on this alley, and I look at her house every day," said City Council President Gayle Snyder. Naming the alley Peggy's Way "is fine with me," she said.