The Monday Roundup

Laurel Communities Become Frontline in Effort to Eliminate Invasive Trees

Prince George's County officials plan to hold their ground in Laurel to stop the spread of an invasive species of trees, according to The Gazette.

The county's Department of Public Works and Transportation are combating the Bradford peer; its branches can grow to pose a threat to power lines, cars and people. The county will spend $1.5 million for the removal of 3,000 trees starting in the Montpelier and Andover Heights communities.

"They have become a hazard within the county. These trees have fallen on cars, fences, sidewalks, roadways, and have, in fact, had close encounters with adults and children," Susan Hubbard, spokeswoman for the Prince George's County DPWT, wrote in an e-mail to The Gazette. "It is in the best interests for the safety of our residents that the trees are removed because they only will continue to cause more damage as they continue to age."

Read more here.

WSSC Completes Street Paving Project

After two years, $3 million, and four miles, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission has finished its project to replace and/or repair water and sewer lines in Laurel and repaving streets affected by the project, according to the Laurel Leader.

According to the Leader:

"Each year, WSSC officials repair 40 miles of water-main pipes in Prince George's and Montgomery counties. After their inspections were done to determine which pipes would be replaced in 2009, it was determined that the cast iron, unlined pipes in Laurel had many breaks and other damages, and were in worse condition than any other municipality's pipes in the county. At the time, WSSC officials said the water-main lines identified for repair work in Laurel had not been repaired in more than 70 years."

The project hampered traffic patterns in the City of Laurel, closing streets, including a 2.1-mile section along Fifth Street.  Read more here.

Firefighters Honored During Anniversary Celebration

The Laurel Volunteer Rescue Squad honored some of its own during its 59th anniversary and Annual Awards Banquet in March at the American Legion, according to The Gazette.

"Chris Ruehl, John Deck, Mike Haggerty and Justin Titman received the Members of the Year Award for their efforts in rescuing several people trapped in a burning building in Howard County. Pam doCarmo, Scott Globerman, Gary Chatters, Ross Nelson and Barry Johnson were recognized for assisting the organization, the community and the public during the last year by working with the mass casualty unit and the volunteer paramedic ambulance."

Read more here.