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Community Corner

🌱 Racing Returns To Laurel Park + New Bowie State COVID Mandates

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Laurel.

Alexis Goring, Neighbor
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(Patch Media)

Welcome back, Laurel! Let's get you started this Friday with everything you need to know going on in town today.

First, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy. High: 60 Low: 42.

Here are the top four stories in Laurel today:

  1. Horse racing is returning to Laurel Park today, featuring the third and fourth legs of the Stronach 5! The third leg, Laurel's eighth race, an allowance event for fillies and mares around two turns, drew a field of eight including 8-5 favorite Award Wanted, a three-length winner against restricted company last out for John Robb. Laurel's ninth race, a $10,000 claiming event for fillies and mares, is a wide-open seven-furlong event. (laurelpark.com)
  2. Bowie State University is dealing with its own outbreak of COVID-19. University officials have identified 80 positive COVID-19 cases. As a result, new policies are going into effect for students and staff on campus. University President Aminta Breaux ordered enhanced cleaning protocols on campus, the dining halls now only offer takeout meals and all social gatherings have been canceled. (FOX 5 DC)
  3. WSSC Water recently approved more than $400 million in contracts to upgrade and improve aging water and sewer infrastructure in Maryland's Montgomery and Prince George's counties. This includes two $200 million contracts to rehabilitate sewer pipes across Montgomery and Prince George's counties, along with two contracts totaling nearly $60 million to replace water mains along Allentown Road and Old Branch Avenue in Prince George's County. Based on the budget's 7% average rate increase, a typical customer with a family of three, using 55 gallons of water per person per day, would see a quarterly increase of $16.99 in their bill. (WTOP)
  4. Tammy Holt, a local author, writes books for children and adults to help empower their inner superhero. Becoming a self-proclaimed "Superpower Ambassador" is her most prized accomplishment. Tammy's mission is to help others realize and harness their true power. Her latest book, Superpowers Activate: The Journey to Power, is a whimsical rhyming story for children that follows a group of caped comrades on an incredible adventure. The friends learn many lessons along the way, including how to activate their superpowers. Purchase Holt's new read anywhere books are sold. For more information visit www.superpowersactivate.org.

Today's Laurel Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at Verizon. They're building the fastest 5G network in the country. To learn how 5G is going to change life for you and your community — and to get access to this amazing technology — click here. And thank you Verizon for sponsoring this community resource in Laurel!

Today in Laurel:

  • Laurel Dutch Country Farmers Market — Open on 9701 Fort Meade Road (8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.)
  • Holiday Shoppe Final Night and Grab & Go Craft — Laurel Woods Elementary School will host this event. Stop by the LWES café with your child to see what gifts they would like to buy! The PTO will provide "grab and go" hot chocolate and holiday craft each night! (4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
  • Girls Varsity Basketball v. College Park Academy (5:30 p.m.)
  • Festive Fridays: Family Fun Friday — Attend this event in Downtown Columbia Lakefront! (5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.)
  • Kid's Night Out: Happy Feet—Have a Kid's Night Out where the kids hang out with us! We'll watch a movie and do a project! Only $28 to attend and participate! (6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.)
  • Boys Varsity Basketball @ Tall Oaks (7:00 p.m.)
  • Sing! An Irish Christmas — Keith and Kristyn Getty will perform live on the World Stage Theater tonight! The Gettys and friends will be performing Sing! An Irish Christmas, a concert previously aired to millions on TV, this year's performance features seven new songs in addition to your favorite traditional Christmas Carols. The Gettys are here for two nights only and won't be performing anywhere else in the Washington, D.C. area. (7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.)

From my notebook:

  • City of Laurel Department of Economic and Community Development: January is right around the corner and moving forward from that date, the use of plastic bags will be banned at Laurel retailers. Are you prepared to make the switch from single-use plastic bags to environmentally friendly bags? The City is here to help! Call Environmental Programs and we can answer your questions! (Facebook)
  • Laurel Police Department: *INFORMATION NEEDED* If you have any information on the individual pictured below please call us immediately at 301-498-0092. (Facebook)
  • City of Laurel - Government: Mayor Craig A. Moe was joined by Council members Martin Mitchell and James Kole to present a check for $2,000 to New Day Maryland to help the organization provide needed services for Laurel residents. (Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with your next update!

— Alexis Goring

About me: My name is Alexis A. Goring. I'm a Bowie area resident with a pulse for people, news and feature stories! I've worked as a freelance writer/editor/proofreader in the media industry for 15 years. I'm also a published author, experienced blogger, and founder of Writer at Heart Editorial Services. Visit my website for more details about me and my work. Here's the link: https://alexisagoring.jimdofree.com.

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

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