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Community Corner

🌱BOE To Rescind Mask Mandate + $600k May End College Park Floods

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)

Hello, neighbors! Alexis Goring here with a brand-new issue of the Laurel Daily.

First, today's weather:

Breezy; a shower in the a.m.. High: 69 Low: 32.

Here are the top three stories today in Laurel:

  1. The State Board of Education voted Tuesday to rescind a statewide mask mandate, approving Governor Larry Hogan's call to end mandatory mask policies in all Maryland schools, and instead return that power to individual school districts and counties based on local metrics. Maryland State School Superintendent Mohammed Choudhury said, "The conditions are better, there's more testing, there are more vaccines that are readily available...the conditions have kept our schools open."Hogan praised the decision. (WUSA9)
  2. Neighborhoods in College Park are experiencing a flooding problem. The College Park City Council is expected to pass a measure Tuesday that would address the issue head on. The council is expected to approve spending $600,000 from 2021 economic stimulus federal funding to hire engineers to analyze flood prone areas and come up with ways to reduce the flooding. (WTOP)
  3. Bowie State University students participated in the launching of a new era of professional sports in the DMV earlier this month when former NFL stars visited the campus to help promote the Washington Commanders football franchise, which is the new embodiment of the Washington Football team. For the past 18 months, the organization has been known as the Washington Football Team after decades of being called the Washington Redskins. Veteran members from Washington football glory days arrived at BSU in vehicles wrapped in the new logo bringing lots of excitement about the new brand. (Bowie State)

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Today in Laurel:

  • Spanish Club (in-person)—Attend this in-person Spanish Club in Laurel! It's interactive, creative fun that will teach you Spanish or deepen your Spanish skills. It's for a multi-aged group, meaning all of your students can join at the same time. (10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.)
  • Swahili Live Wednesdays | AfroHouse & AfroBeats: After Work Social—The after work social takes place at Swahili Village - The Consulate DC. Enjoy amazing food, VIP Bottle Packages and Great Music Vibes. Celebrate life! Must be 21+ to attend. IDs required. (5:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.)
  • Cocoa and Canvas—This is a kid-friendly event that combines sipping cocoa and creating a family tree. Paint and supplies will be provided as well as sweet treats. It will take place this evening in the Chesapeake Life Center's Prince George's County office in Largo. The cost is $10 per participant. Registration is required and can be completed by calling 888-501-7077 or emailing griefinfo@chesapeakelifecenter.org. (6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.)
  • Musical Jam February—A musical improv jam led by iMusical's Michael O'Connor at the Washington Improv Theater in NW DC. These jams are a high-fun, low-stress environment where you can connect and play with fellow improvisers in a supportive environment. Jams are a great place to be silly, practice a skill, and/or connect with new and old friends over the collaborative world of yes-and. Improvisers of all experience levels are welcome to join. No musical improv experience required. Please note that this is intended as an all-play jam, which means that there will be no improv instruction. (7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.)
  • Comedy Down at Dupont Underground—Comedy Down at Dupont Underground Series brings comedians from all over the world. This show helps support the Dupont Underground and things art in DC. Make sure to come out and help keep art alive in DC and also just to laugh.
    The Dupont Underground is transforming a public work – the subterranean streetcar station in Dupont Circle – into a new public infrastructure to support creative exchange, contemporary arts practice, and an ongoing conversation about the city. Audiences will meet some of the best up and coming comedians from the area and abroad. Proceeds from these events help us do more in the arts community of Washington D.C. (7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.)
  • John Mayer: Sob Rock Tour 2022—John Mayer is a pop rock singer-songwriter and musician from Bridgeport, Connecticut. He will be performing one event in Washington today (Feb. 23) at the Capital One Arena. (7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.)
  • Faculty Artist Series: Pianissima—Join us in person at The Clarice or watch the livestream from the comfort of your home. UMD School of Music piano faculty Larissa Dedova and Mikhail Volchok are joined by their daughters and UMD alumnae Daria Scarano and Anastasia Voltchok to present a recital that is truly a family affair. Program repertoire includes pieces by Rachmaninoff, Milhaud and Ravel, along with a composition by Mikhail Volchok. (8:00 p.m.)
  • The Best Comedy Show in The World (Stand-Up Comedy) at Town Tavern DC—See the best comedians in the world (and DC) in a stand-up showcase! (8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

  • City of Laurel - Government: Donate to the Laurel Police Department's Sock Drive if you can! New socks only. Deadline is March 4, 2022. (Facebook)
  • Nextdoor Neighbor, Patuxent Greens: How much to replace rear light on a 2016 GMC terrain? My light is out. I purchased the light and asked someone else to do it but it hasn't happened yet and I need someone ro do this. Anyone available this week? (Nextdoor)
  • Nextdoor Neighbor, Cardinal Forest: Unfortunately, the ROWC was not able to come to an agreement of terms in order to hold our March luncheon at Club Meade. Therefore, the ROWC March 1 luncheon will be from noon to 2:00 p.m. at the All American Steakhouse. (Nextdoor)

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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with a new 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.

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