Indoor Face Mask Policy Mandate + Famous Jockey Comes To Laurel

Good day, people of Laurel! It's me again, Alexis Goring, your host of the Laurel Daily.

First, today's weather: Overcast throughout the day. High: 83 Low: 64.

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Here are the top five stories in Laurel today:

1. The Prince George's County Planning Board of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) directed the agency's managers last Thursday to develop new worker guidelines for face coverings and vaccinations to combat the growing spread of COVID-19 and the Delta and other variants in Prince George's County. (Press Release Desk)
2. The Maryland Jockey Club will begin requiring horsemen to receive permission from its racing department to run an MJC-stabled horse at a track outside the state in September. The MJC, which owns and operates Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, made the announcement in an open letter to horsemen that said that the restriction was being put in place in order to maximize their field sizes and maintain a healthy purse account. (Daily Racing Form)
3. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has walked back some mask-wearing guidelines, recommending fully vaccinated people return to wearing masks indoors in parts of the country where the coronavirus is surging. (WTOP)
4. Jockey Ruben Silvera, well-known in Pennsylvania, may soon be bringing his talent to Maryland on a more regular basis. The 33-year-old Panama native is in the midst of a career year with 144 wins, already having topped his previous high of 124 from 2020 and ranking in the top 10 nationally. According to his trainer, Jamie Ness, Silvera is going to try to be at Laurel more in the fall as he's trying to get his foot in the door. Laurel Park will have horses back on the grounds next week and open its calendar year-ending fall meet Sept. 9. (laurelpark.com)
5. Mayor Craig A. Moe announced Thursday that the City of Laurel is reinstating its indoor face mask policy for everyone entering a city building or facility. The mandate went into effect at 8:00 a.m. on Friday and applies to vaccinated and unvaccinated people. (City of Laurel)

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Today in Laurel

• Visit the Dinosaur Park! (10:00 a.m.)
• MahoganyBooks National Harbor Store Grand Opening Celebration — "Black Books Matter" Party! MahoganyBooks is thrilled to open their second location at the wildly popular National Harbor in Oxon Hill. Join PGCMLS at the grand opening for an afternoon of dope music, giveaways, treats and powerhouse authors. (12:00 p.m.)
• Family Games: Summer Olympics Tournament — Join this outside event for games and crafts in celebration of the 2021 Summer Olympics. (1:00 p.m.)
• Laurel Dutch Country Farmers Market — Open on 9701 Fort Meade Road (8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.)
• Geometric Necklace with Edgar Lopez — Learn how to create a beautiful necklace through Zoom. Learn multiple bead weaving techniques that will teach you all about beaded beads and the creation of a necklace to highlight them. (11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
• Photography: Digital Level 1 — Attend this educational event at the Montpelier Arts Center. (10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.)
• Outdoor Zumba Class — Join three of the best DMV Zumba Instructors. Dance to salsa, merengue, soca, afrobeats and reggaeton while sweating off those calories! (11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)
• The Field Trip: Urban Air — Access all Ultimate Attractions: Sky Rider, Ropes Course, Climbing Walls, Wipeout, Warrior Course, Tubes Playground, Battle Beam, ProZone and the Basic Trampolines. Meet new people, and enjoy a meet and mingle in a reserved party room! (3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
• Uhuru Quilters Guild Exhibit — Montpelier House Museum presents the latest creations of the Uhuru Quilters Guild. Come see these beautiful works, a mix of full size and challenge size quilts featuring traditional as well as original designs. The Uhuru Quilters Guild seeks to promote the work and accomplishments of African American quilters and to preserve the tradition, culture and history of quilting. (10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)

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Laurel Patch Notebook

• Laurel Police Department: Yesterday, we celebrated the retirement of PFC Steve Crass. He has dedicated over 30 years of loyal service to the City of Laurel and its citizens. (Facebook)
• City of Laurel - Government: HEADS UP: Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced that due to the rising COVID-19 cases, effective August 8 at 5:00 p.m., all residents and visitors over the age of five will be required to wear masks in all indoor public venues and businesses in Prince George's County, even if they are fully vaccinated. (Facebook)
• PGCPS: Are immunizations on your back-to-school list? All students must have the required immunizations before the start of school! (Instagram)
• City of Laurel - Government: Help us wish a long and happy retirement to PFC Crass after serving the citizens of Laurel for 30 years! (Facebook)
• Lost & Found Pets of PG County Md: All dogs found between 8/1/21 and 8/3/21 are at Prince George's County Animal Shelter in Upper Marlboro. Contact the shelter directly for owner redemption, rescue or adoption info. The shelter is open by appointment only. To make an appointment to reclaim a pet, call 301-780-7241. (Facebook)
• Prince George's County Police: The newest officers that will serve and protect the citizens of Prince George's County. Congratulations to the graduating class of Session 145! (Instagram)
• City of Laurel - Government: If you find you have to go shopping for school supplies and uniforms, WAIT! Maryland's Tax Free Shopping Week is coming up, so take advantage of this tax break on certain items from August 8 through August 14! (Facebook)
• City of Laurel - Government: There will NOT be any spraying for mosquitoes in the City of Laurel this Sunday, August 8. (Facebook)
• City of Laurel - Government: There is still money available if you need rental assistance and have been financially impacted by COVID-19. Apply online. (Facebook)

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From our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Vintage Car Show (August 8)
• Enjoy a Free Performance by Ayreheart (August 12)
• [Webinar] Roof Replacement 101: Everything You Need to Know (August 14)
• Webinar: Is Solar Right for Me? (August 19)

Job listings:

• Teaching Assistant Position (Details)

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You're officially in the loop for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another update! If you're loving these newsletters, consider bringing some friends and neighbors into the fold. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— 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.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Laurel Daily? I'm all ears. You can reach me at Laurel@Patch.com.