Community Corner
🌱 Johns Hopkins Lab Gets New Building + Zebras Still Loose
The quickest way to get caught up on everything worth knowing around town today.

Hey, Laurel! Let's get this Thursday started. Here's everything you need to know about what's happening today in Laurel.
First, today's weather:
Partly sunny, nice and warm. High: 76 Low: 55.
Here are the top five stories in Laurel today:
- People are eagerly awaiting the launch of legal sports betting in Maryland. The Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (SWARC) canceled a meeting last week, just when three casinos were expected to be approved for sports betting licenses. If the meeting went on as scheduled, Horseshoe Casino, Live! Casino & Hotel, and MGM National Harbor would have been well-positioned to be the first three casinos taking sports bets in the state of Maryland. (GamingTodaySlotsToday)
- Not so long ago, Michael Merryman wanted to make a living outside of his family business but the lure of a life he had always known won out. Merryman, 29, is among the latest generation of successful Merryman horsemen carrying on a family tradition in Thoroughbred racing. Nowhere has that success been more evident than in the Maryland Million, which will celebrate its 36th year Saturday at Laurel Park. The Merrymans own 25 wins as breeders, owners and trainers. (Paulick Report)
- The Prince George's County Council on Tuesday approved minor changes to a controversial council redistricting proposal. The changes were approved 6-4. The vote mirrored one taken last week, when the Council introduced and advanced a proposal that differed substantially from the map created by an independent commission. The changes approved on Tuesday were cast as a "compromise," though none of the council members who opposed Councilmember Derrick Leon Davis's proposal last week supported them. (MarylandMatters.org)
- The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab has a new building in Howard County where visitors may encounter a molecular biologist who is helping to crack the code on COVID-19. This new building provides an additional quarter of a million square feet of space. Governor Larry Hogan said the sky is the limit for the Applied Physics Lab. (wmar2news.com)
- There's a new plan to capture the zebras that escaped from a Prince George's County farm and are still loose, roaming Upper Marlboro. Original reports said five zebras escaped, but county Department of the Environment spokesperson Linda Lowe said the owner reported that three zebras got loose. One of those zebras died after being caught in a snare last month. (WTOP)
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Today in Laurel:
- Soccer v. CMIT South - CMIT Academy North - High Public Charter (3:00 p.m.)
- Laurel Dutch Country Farmers Market — Open on 9701 Fort Meade Road (9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
- Laurel Park Racing (12:35 p.m. to 4:52 p.m.)
- Sherry Serafini "Bead Soup" — All kits will be purchased from Sherry the day of the class. Students may ghost this class but you must pay the instruction fee and the kit fee to be able to receive the instructions. Limit of 25 people per class. All classes need to be paid in full at the time of registration. There are no refunds or transfers for Zoom class. (11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
- HH with Paesani —Always a fun time with Paesani! While we can't hold our regular dinner meetings, let's at least take advantage of this chance to get together. (4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
- Happy Hour with AAAO DC (Nearby Laurel) — Come join AAAO for our monthly happy hour. For our MD based folks, we are heading to SoBe Lounge to kick off the night right! (5:30 p.m.)
Laurel Patch Notebook
- Laurel Police Department: In loving memory of K9 Reno who passed away in August, we have been nominated for the Aftermath K9 Grant and you can help us win! Please share and vote daily for the Laurel Police Department in memory of our beloved Reno. (Facebook)
- City of Laurel - Government: With the arrival of Fall, cooler temperatures and the shortening of daylight, remember to #StayAlert for Deer when you're driving on the roads because their unpredictable patterns to travel across the roads will increase from now to the end of November. (Facebook)
- PGCPS: In PG13 Episode 6 get a unique look at how sports, family, and relationships intersect in this feature piece on Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. Coach DaLawn Parrish! (Instagram)
- City of Laurel - Government: W.I.S.E. is looking for LAX players for its club! Join today! There will be a six-week training session. Practices begin Oct. 25. (Facebook)
- City of Laurel - Government: Know someone in need of help? Refer them to a local food pantry. (Facebook)
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Events:
- [Webinar] Is Solar Right For Me? (October 21)
- Spooky Woods - Family Friendly Halloween Trail (October 22)
- Autumn Festival at The Mandala School (October 30)
- Verbal Beginnings Trunk Or Treat! (October 30)
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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with a new update. If you're loving these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to follow along. 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? Contact me at alexiswritesforpatch@gmail.com.