🌱 Why Friendship Farm’s new national honor matters for Charles County residents
La Plata, Maryland Patch AM: a 4 min readHi La Plata! We have the latest buzz right here. Let's keep you in the loop and get this morning started right! ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Why Friendship Farm’s new national honor matters for Charles County residents
- How did La Plata students rank at Maryland’s big STEM showdown?
- What did Charles County planners decide on controversial data center zoning?
Also on today's calendar: Maryland Delegate Candidate Yonelle Moore Lee Encourages District 27A Voters to Make a Plan to Vote and 7 more events.
Today's riddle: What did the carpenter ant say when he walked into the bar? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Wednesday: Plenty of sun, with a high of 84 and low of 54 degrees.
- Thursday: Very warm with sunshine, temps: high: 89, low: 61. 🌶 Hot!
- Friday: Partly sunny and hot, with a high of 92 and low of 66 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Friendship Farm Added to Underground Railroad Freedom Network (southernmarylandchronicle.com) — La Plata readers now have a nationally recognized Underground Railroad site right in Charles County, as Friendship Farm Park joins the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. The Nanjemoy-area park preserves historic buildings and tells the story of Scipio Grantt’s 1840 escape from enslavement. Officials hope the designation boosts cultural tourism, school field trips, and public understanding of Southern Maryland’s African American history. 
2. Diggs, Mudd and La Plata Place at State MESA Day (southernmarylandchronicle.com) — Local students from La Plata High School and two Charles County elementary schools just brought home top honors from the statewide MESA STEM competition, including a third-place finish for La Plata’s engineering design team. Their projects tackled real-world issues like equity, environmental cleanup, and athlete safety, while district STEM coordinator Simone Young earned a new statewide award for her leadership expanding hands-on STEM opportunities.
3. After Hours Of Testimony And 'No Data Centers' Chants, Charles County Planning Commission Recommends Denial Of Data Center Zoning Amendment (thebaynet.com) — Local residents packed a La Plata meeting where the Charles County Planning Commission unanimously recommended that county commissioners reject a proposed data center zoning amendment. After hours of testimony about noise, utility costs, farmland, and wildlife, the commission cited concerns over project size, decommissioning plans, and environmental and socioeconomic impacts. County commissioners will now decide whether to approve, modify, or deny the proposal.
4. 2026 Quarters Mark 250 Years of American Liberty in Change (southernmarylandchronicle.com) — You’ll soon start seeing special 250th-anniversary quarters in your La Plata bank withdrawals and everyday change, as local institutions help distribute the new design. The coin honors the Declaration of Independence with Thomas Jefferson and the Liberty Bell. Southern Maryland’s role in the Revolutionary era is highlighted, and the Mint expects the design to spark fresh interest in local history.
📸 Around La Plata
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🗓
Upcoming Events in
La Plata
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
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Maryland Delegate Candidate Yonelle Moore Lee Encourages District 27A Voters to Make a Plan to Vote →
2500 Davis Rd, Waldorf
11:59 pm
Tuesday June 23
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
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Baby Music & Movement
La Plata Branch Library La Plata Branch -
5:30 pm -
Pre-K Music & Movement
La Plata Branch Library La Plata Branch -
6:00 pm -
Mini Pride Flag Party
La Plata Branch Library La Plata Branch - -
Cuddle Time
La Plata Branch Library La Plata Branch -
9:00 am -
Morning Story Time
La Plata Branch Library La Plata Branch -
10:00 am -
Mini Pride Flag Party
La Plata Branch Library La Plata Branch - -
Parent & Me Paint Date →
Joyful Studio, 115A La Grange Ave # 103, La Plata
5:00 pm -
Mini Pride Flag Party
La Plata Branch Library La Plata Branch - -
The GovCon Summer Soiree - Federal Contractors NETWORKING EVENT →
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F St NW, Washington
6:00 pm
Wednesday June 3
Thursday June 4
Friday June 5
Saturday June 6
Monday June 22
📣 La Plata Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
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ABCD's of Medicare
Potomac Branch Library Potomac Branch -
2:00 pm -
Baby Music & Movement
La Plata Branch Library La Plata Branch -
5:30 pm -
Spring Concert
Malcolm Elementary Waldorf, MD 20601
6:00 pm -
Pre-K Music & Movement
La Plata Branch Library La Plata Branch -
6:00 pm
Wednesday June 3
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Happy Monday!!
Does anyone have a good garage door mechanic? My garage door keeps beeping and I need some help with it. Thanks. (Nextdoor Steeplechase)
- Family Dollar posted a job opening for Assistant Manager I in La Plata. Apply here.
- Texas Roadhouse posted a job opening for Dishwasher in La Plata. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near La Plata here.
Ok La Plata! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Is the bar tender here? (Thank you W. M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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