Russett/Maryland City
Local news covering the Russett and Maryland City areas
New Luxury Senior Living Coming to Watershed
Harmony at Laurel, a new 55+ housing development by Rycon Construction, is scheduled to open its doors in late 2026. Located on Route 198 near Route 32 and part of the Watershed Laurel community, Harmony at Laurel will offer modern apartment homes and exceptional care options, with no buy-in fees. According to Nikia Thomas, Director of Sales and Marketing, the development is designed to meet seniors “exactly where they are—whether they are looking to downsize for stress-free living or require daily assistance.”
The community features three distinct care tiers:
Independent Living designed for an active lifestyle with curated wellness amenities and planned social events
Assisted Living offers personalized 24/7 support with daily activities and on-site rehabilitation services
Memory Care boutique-style neighborhoods managed by a dedicated team specially trained in dementia care
A variety of spacious floor plans are available, and residents will have access to top-tier amenities designed to make daily life easy, balanced, and enjoyable:
chef-prepared, restaurant-style dining, an on-site pub, and a movie theater
beautifully maintained gardens and patios for relaxation and social gatherings
concierge services to assist with daily needs
a unique life enrichment program that gathers residents’ life stories and personal details to completely customize their care and enhance overall well-being
According to Thomas, early birds who reserve their spaces soon can secure an independent living charter member, which includes a 4% rate cap on annual rent increases for the first three years, a reserved priority parking space, and up to $1,500 credit toward moving expenses for an easier transition. For more information or to reserve your spot, contact NikiaThomas@harmonyatlaurel.com.
Bagels, Shmears, and More: Einstein Bros. Opens in Maryland City
Einstein Bros. Bagels, located near Old Annapolis Road and Laurel Fort Meade Road, has joined the growing lineup of new eateries in the Maryland City/Russett area. The bakery opened in mid-September and offers more than 20 bagel varieties, including Classic, Signature, and Gourmet flavors, baked fresh throughout the day.
Customers can enjoy a bagel plain or topped with one of seven signature double-whipped cream cheese shmears. Other options include classic egg sandwiches, deli lunch favorites, and other menu items beyond bagels.
And yes, they have a Rewards Program, through which customers can earn points with every purchase and redeem them for favorite menu items.
Maryland City Elementary School Gifted with Backpacks
On August 20, a school supply event was sponsored and hosted by Harmony at Laurel, in partnership with PJ’s Coffee. Volunteers met to help ensure that The Pencil Promise, “Every Pencil Holds a Possibility,” was fulfilled. More than 50 back-to-school backpacks filled with notebooks, pencils, and other essential supplies were delivered to the Maryland City Elementary School administrative team, who will ensure they reach the students who need them most.
Have You Been Flocked?
Way back in January 2024, I reported about the recent appearance of Flock cameras on poles extending across Route 198 near Russett—something new to many of us at the time. Those particular Flocks were installed by the Maryland State Highway Administration at the request of the Maryland State Police, who stated at the time that their purpose was to “eliminate crime and keep your community safe.” Most of us are now more aware of how much data these cameras capture, using high-resolution photos and artificial intelligence to populate a database with personally identifying information about car owners.
According to the Associated Press, more than 120,000 Flock cameras are now being used in 49 states. In Maryland, approximately 100 law enforcement agencies use Flock; Anne Arundel County has 88 fixed locations, including those along Route 198.
If you’re concerned that Flock-gathered information about you has been accessed, there is an easy way to find out: check the Have I Been Flocked website (haveibeenflocked.com), an independent website that collects Flock Safety audit logs obtained through public records requests and makes them searchable. You can enter your license plate number to see whether it is in the police search logs.
Brenda Zeigler-Riley is a retired educator and entrepreneur with a marketing, public relations, and fundraising background. Please send information on Russett/Maryland City (historical pieces, stories from first responders, hometown memories, resident profiles, etc.) to russett.mdcinfo@gmail.com.
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