Local news covering the Oldtown area Laurel Cats held a grand opening celebration for its new mobile vet surgery service on March 4. (Photo: Caitlin Lewis) The Cat’s Meow: Laurel Cats Builds on Success with New Way to Help Cat Owners In 2012, Oldtown resident Helen Woods and a small group of volunteers saw a need in Laurel: the feral cat population was huge, with feral cat colonies all over Laurel, and the main method for dealing with the excess cats was euthanasia. Woods con

Local news covering the North Laurel, Savage, and Scaggsville areas Howard County Executive Calvin Ball holds a press conference to announce plans for mixed-income houses in North Laurel. (Photo: Manny Locke Jr./WMAR) Photo: Team USA North Laurel is Home to Olympic Bobsledder Bryan Sosoo, a Laurel native, made his Olympic debut at the 2026 Winter Games in Italy as a push athlete in four-man bobsled. A 2014 graduate of Reservoir High School, Sosoo was a track standout at Monmo

Local news covering the Russett and Maryland City areas Columnist Brenda Zeigler-Riley with Catherine’s owner Donovan Vassell. (Photo courtesy of Brenda Zeigler-Riley) Catherine’s Restaurant Draws Crowds to Corridor Marketplace Have you ever had Italian-Caribbean food? I recently had dinner at Catherine’s Restaurant, located in Corridor Marketplace. The restaurant was packed; however, my 6 pm reservation was honored. (I advise that reservations be made, especially if dining

Local news covering Laurel Lakes, Victoria Falls, Oakcrest, Montpelier, and the Route 197 corridor The Laurel Manor Recreation Center in The Villages, Florida, is named after Laurel Park Racecourse. (Photo: Diane Mezzanotte) The “Six Degrees of Laurel, Maryland” Most of us are familiar with the social science theory called the “six degrees of separation.” (Think Kevin Bacon and that American Express commercial.) I have come to believe that there is also a “Six Degrees of Laur

Local news covering the West Laurel and Burtonsville areas The newly renovated Burger King in Burtonsville. (Photo: Russ Geis) Nationwide Policy Actions Can Have Local and Personal Impacts A recent action by the U.S. Government has hit close to home in West Laurel. The current administration sought to terminate the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 350,000 Haitian nationals living in the United States under protective status because of the dangerous situation in their home

Local news covering the Oldtown area (Above): The former home of Bertha Moore, at 622 Tenth Street. (Right): Ms. Moore, in an undated photo courtesy of The Laurel Historical Society. A Profile of Bertha Moore With Black History Month approaching, it seemed fitting to write about one of Laurel’s own extraordinary Black women. When Bertha May Levi Moore died on July 2, 1981, her obituary was printed in The Washington Post . While it mentioned her surviving children, grandchildr

Local news covering the North Laurel, Savage, and Scaggsville areas Kechy Pizza Co., a Baltimore-based restaurant chain, is planning to open in Savage on the former site of Ma’s Kettle. It will be the chain’s third location—a second is in Westminster. (Photo: Instagram/kechypizzaco) New Route 1 Corridor Campus Will Benefit Families in North Laurel, Savage, and entire county In late September 2025, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball and Community Action Council of Howard Coun

Local news covering Laurel Lakes, Victoria Falls, Oakcrest, Montpelier, and the Route 197 corridor Greater Washington Deliverance Temple, a small church on Locust Grove Drive in Oakcrest, is led by Pastor Karen Rutherford. (Photo: Diane Mezzanotte) Second-Generation Minister Leads “Love-Filled” Oakcrest Church Tucked among homes on Locust Grove Drive in South Laurel’s Oakcrest neighborhood is a church. I used to walk past it daily, many years ago, when my son was still in a s

Local news covering the West Laurel and Burtonsville areas The breakfast tacos (above) and omelette (right) offered at Eggspectation at Burtonsville Crossing, where the food is delicious, the atmosphere pleasant, and the service great.. (Photos: Russ Geis) WLCA Dedicates Garden, Will Sponsor Job Fair The West Laurel Civic Association (WLCA) will be dedicating a memorial garden to honor Melissa Daston, an active WLCA member who passed away in 2024. The native garden will be lo

Local news covering the Russett and Maryland City areas A new public playground has opened near the community pool in Russett. (Photo: Brenda Zeigler-Riley) New Playground Opens in Russett Congratulations to Russett resident Felicia Bond—a wife, mother of two, and an assistant principal—and to the members of the Russett Amenities Committee for bringing the concept of a new playground to fruition! As the only member of the committee with young children, Felicia recognized the

Local news covering the Russett and Maryland City areas Donovan Vassell, owner of Catherine’s, in front of a mural honoring his mother. ...

Local news covering the North Laurel, Savage, and Scaggsville areas Esen Paradiso’s winning design for a new Howard County flag (center)...

Local news covering the West Laurel and Burtonsville areas Wellness for Life is located at The Gardens Ice House. (Photos: Kathy May)...

Local news covering Laurel Lakes, Victoria Falls, Oakcrest, Montpelier, and the Route 197 corridor Gude Mansion, now known as The Mansion...

Local news covering the Oldtown area Examples of the volunteer-painted trash cans at McCullough Field featuring pollinator-themed...

Local news covering the Oldtown area Jessie and Jonah Norton hold newborn twins Josephina and John, with Daniel, Gabriel, and Hannah...

Local news covering the North Laurel and Scaggsville areas The Boyd Cru wine tasting room at Savage Mill. (Photo: Brenda Zeigler-Riley)...

Local news covering Laurel Lakes, Victoria Falls, Oakcrest, Montpelier, and the Route 197 corridor A mural in the dining room of La...

Local news covering the West Laurel and Burtonsville areas Most of the businesses are now open at Burtonsville Crossing. (Photo: Russ...

Local news covering the Russett and Maryland City areas A sneak peek at the ambiance at Blue Sunday. (Photo: Brenda Zeigler-Riley)...