By MELANIE DZWONCHYK
Laurel resident Karen Lubieniecki was honored as an outstanding community service volunteer by the Maryland State Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) at its annual conference in May.
Lubieniecki was nominated for the honor by the Colonel Thomas Dorsey Chapter, of Ellicott City. She was one of 15 nominees recognized at the state conference.
“I was so honored to be part of such a distinguished group of volunteers,” Lubieniecki said. “It was a very special honor. I’m grateful to the chapter and state society.”
Lubieniecki said her interest in history led her to the Laurel Historical Society (LHS) after she moved to Laurel in the 1980s. She has supported research, public relations, events and fundraising at LHS and has been involved in close to 30 exhibits at the Laurel Museum. She is currently chairman of the society’s board of directors.
Lubieniecki said she dove into Laurel’s Civil War history with her late husband, Ken Skrivseth, and together they explored the lives of Laurel Cotton Mill superintendent George Nye and Laurel founder Horace Capron, about whom Lubieniecki developed on-site and online exhibits for the museum. She also worked with other LHS members and preservationists in 2001 to save Laurel’s historic Fairall Foundry from demolition.
Lubieniecki also spearheaded the Save Our Stop effort, in 2015, after a proposed development at Laurel Park racetrack threatened to eliminate commuter rail service at the city’s historic train station.
Lubieniecki also chaired a voter task force and served on the city of Laurel’s Historic District Commission. She currently serves on the city’s ethics commission.
“Lubieniecki’s work in historic preservation has impacted not only Laurel residents, but the surrounding community,” Colonel Thomas Dorsey Chapter Regent Mary Ann Lees said. “Our chapter saw a strong nominee based on her lengthy service of volunteerism.”
DAR is a nonprofit, nonpolitical women’s service organization dedicated to promoting historic preservation, education and patriotism. All members are direct descendants of patriots of the Revolutionary War. Founded more than 130 years ago, DAR currently has more than 190,000 members around the world.
