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Community Corner

🌱BSU Has Tuition-Free Degree + UMB/UMCP Treats Brain Cancer

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)

Happy Friday, people of Laurel! Let's start today off on an informed note. Here's everything you need to know today in Laurel.

First, today's weather:

A little morning rain; warmer. High: 54 Low: 28.

Here are the top three stories today in Laurel:

  1. Brilliant minds are working together to develop a "novel technique" that will treat glioblastoma, which is the deadliest and most common type of adult brain cancer. Recently, the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Department of Neurosurgery and the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) Fischell Department of Bioengineering (BIOE) awarded the inaugural Neuro-Link program grant to a team of UMB/UMCP researchers. The goal of this program is to accelerate and elevate the impact of joint UMB/UMCP research projects to create innovative new systems, approaches, and technologies to improve patient care. (UMD)
  2. Bowie State University students pursuing master's degrees in special education can complete the degree tuition-free. The first 14 graduate students enrolled in the program this semester at BSU can earn a master's degree in special education at no charge through a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education and the Special Education Support Services. (Bowie State)
  3. A reward of $25,000 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest and indictment of the suspect or suspects involved in the shooting of Caron Simpkins, 18, of D.C. The motive is unknown. Police found Simpkins's body on the ground near John Carroll Elementary School in Landover when they responded to the 1400 block of Nalley Terrace for a report of a shooting. (WTOP)

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Today in Laurel:

  • Laurel Dutch Country Farmers Market—Open on 9701 Fort Meade Road (8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
  • Laurel Park Racing (12:25 p.m. to 5:01 p.m.)
  • Family Friday: Snowy Day with Hot Cocoa Bar — Create this painting with your family member and make it match (or not!). Classes are suggested for school-aged children (ages 5+), though all are welcome. Every class has a 15-minute on topic story and hot cocoa bar fill-up as drying break mid-class. Pricing: In Studio: $25 Family member discount tickets are available for $10 for every child registering at the same time. This event will be hosted by The Thrifty Teacher in Laurel. (6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.)
  • Sip and Paint with Mercedes — Visit "Your Spot Studio" in Laurel and enjoy step by step paint instruction, great energy and drinks, in a fun and hip space! (7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.)
  • Caleb Synan perforate at the DC Comedy Loft and Bier Baron Tavern in NW DC—Caleb Synan is one of the hottest young comics in the country. His unique background as a preacher's kid from a small southern town gives him the ability to relate to any and every crowd — even though he's a big old millennial who lives in LA. (7:30 p.m.)
  • BSU Theatre 10 Minute Play Festival — Now in its 9th year, Bowie State University Theatre showcases new work written, performed and directed by rising artists. (7:30 p.m.)
  • Driving Miss Daisy — Join UpStage Artists at Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Beltsville as they present their winter production of Driving Miss Daisy! Driving Miss Daisy is Alfred Uhry's Pulitzer Prize-winning play about the growing respect and friendship between an elderly Jewish widow and her African American chauffeur. This heartwarming story is set in Atlanta and spans twenty-five years, 1948 to 1973. Daisy teaches Hoke to read and write, while Hoke encourages Daisy to let go of her insecurities. Uhry's delicate drama explores the experience of aging while the world around you moves forwards at great pace. (7:30 p.m.)
  • Ballet Theatre of Maryland presents "Momentum"—Ballet Theatre of Maryland in Bowen Theatre in Annapolis, showcases the versatility of dynamic dancers with newly commissioned and existing classical and contemporary works. This show will push the boundaries of dance as an art form to explore emotions and themes relevant to all of us presented through a medium that reaches beyond words and into the soul. (7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.)
  • Dunne and Durang One Act Festival at Laurel Mill Playhouse (8:00 p.m.)
  • UMD Symphony Orchestra and UMD Concert Choir—The UMD Symphony Orchestra celebrates its spring return with Gustav Mahler's "Resurrection Symphony." Mahler's transcendent masterwork grapples with the meaning of life and death while culminating in redemption. Reminiscent of a funeral march, it took Mahler a period of seven years to compose all five of the movements of this epic. The final movement and centerpiece of the symphony is a beautiful choral work that will feature the UMD Concert Choir along with soloists Rehanna Thelwell, mezzo-soprano, and Amber Monroe, soprano. This event will be hosted by The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center in College Park. (8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.)
  • Special Engagement: SUMMER OF SOUL—Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson's acclaimed debut documentary, unearthing rare and mostly forgotten film footage of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival celebrating African American music and culture, is not only a treasure trove of performances by legendary musicians in the prime of their careers but also an invaluable reclamation of recent history that had unjustly been overlooked by keepers of the cultural and artistic record. This event will take place at the AFI Silver Theatre and Culture Center in Silver Spring. (9:15 p.m. to 11:15 p.m.)

From my notebook:

  • Prince George's County Planning Department Carly Brockinton, Prince George's County Government: The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is constructing a new headquarters building in Downtown Largo. (Nextdoor)
  • Economic Development Corporation - Communications Specialist Jordyn Tillman, Prince George's County Government: Takeout Tuesday - Via Roma - Takeout Tuesday is bringing true Italian cuisine to your screen! Via Roma's Owner and Operator, Biagio Cepollaro, proudly hails from Naples, Italy. (Nextdoor)
  • Citizen Services Specialist Jorhan Santana, Prince George's County Government: Learn about the new curbside collection of bulky items for County residents receiving County-provided waste collection services. (Nextdoor)
  • Nextdoor Neighbor, Haines Ridge: We recently moved to Laurel and would love to know all the best places to eat in the Old Town Laurel area! We're big foodies and love exploring new places. (Nextdoor)
  • Maryland Office of People's Counsel, Director of Consumer Services, Brandi Nieland, State of Maryland: Were you illegally signed up with a gas or electric supplier without your permission? Always check your gas and electric bill! Make sure you were not signed up for a retail supplier without your knowledge. (Nextdoor)
  • Nextdoor Neighbor, Laurel Crossing: Lost dog sniffing around the trash. Ran off. Looks like an older pug mix. (Nextdoor)

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  • Lornwood Daycare Closing/Renovation Sale. Everything Must Go (February 26)
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  • Brilliant, Bold, Confident, Beautiful Girls Support Group Struggling with Self-Esteem Issues (March 9)
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You're all caught up for today! I'll be 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.

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

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