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Community Corner

🌱Laurel Mourns Beloved Employee + Diffusing Violence With Hope

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)

Morning, people of Laurel! Alexis Goring here with a brand-new edition of the Laurel Daily.

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny; breezy, cooler. High: 50 Low: 20.

Here are the top three stories today in Laurel:

  1. Janet Chavrid, former Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Laurel, passed away and the city mourns the loss. Chavrid was hired by the City of Laurel on September 21, 1965, as a Recreation Leader in the Department of Parks and Recreation. She was promoted to Assistant Director of the Department in 1967, then appointed to Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation in January 1979. She continued in that position until she retired in July 1990. Chavrid's contributions to the Department of Parks and Recreation and her dedication to the City and its residents are described as "immeasurable." (City of Laurel)
  2. Young people committing violent crime is on the rise again. Leaders in Prince George's County have created a new program as a solution. County leaders recently announced this program in hopes of harnessing the ability of government — along with local community groups already in action — to help turn things around. County Executive Angela Alsobrooks admitted she is frustrated by what's going on. She said that the solution goes beyond policing and government programs. Therefore, they created an initiative called "The Hope Collective." It will work with nonprofit groups to diffuse violence and provide "hope" to kids who just stopped caring about life and their communities — and show them a different way. (WTOP)
  3. The surge of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 peaked in January in Maryland and filled hospitals to capacity. But even though the surge is now essentially over, with coronavirus hospitalizations dipping to only 391 statewide, hospital officials say they are still struggling. Some hospitals paused or reduced non-urgent surgeries during the worst of the surge and are now seeing influxes of patients with non-COVID-19 needs. (Maryland Daily Record)

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Today in Laurel:

  • Adelphi Walk-in COVID-19 Vaccination—Mary's Center in Adelphi is offering COVID-19 vaccination on a walk-in basis for any Maryland resident. No appointment, insurance, medical order, or payment is needed. (9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.)
  • Laurel Dutch Country Farmers Market—Open on 9701 Fort Meade Road (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
  • First Thursdays: Maryland Center for History and Culture—Enjoy free museum admission in Baltimore every first Thursday of the month. Explore the spacious museum galleries and shop in the Museum Store. (10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
  • In Freedom's Name—Enjoy this touring exhibit that celebrates the military service and sacrifice of Black Marylanders throughout history. The exhibit features 38 panels that include 63 major stories and 245 photographs and images. It explores the stories of Marylanders and Prince Georgians whose courage and service are an inspiration for young people and adults alike. (10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
  • Manna For Moms—Study the Bible with other Moms. We can share our struggles and celebrate our joys together. We meet every Thursday. Right now it is meeting on Zoom, but they hope to resume the meetings at Our Savior Lutheran Church when it is safe to do so! Contact the church to get connected. (10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.)
  • Outdoor Ice Skating at Washington Harbour—Experience D.C.'s largest outdoor skating rink at The Washington Harbour! It's open for skating every day, including the holidays. Open for general admission, as well as private rentals. (11:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.)
  • We are all in this together: A Virtual Job (and Internship) Search (3:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.)
  • Rodney Atkins & Rose Falcon: The Rod + Rose Tour—She was a Rock & Roll princess, whose first record deal was at age 15 and whose songs have been recorded by Faith Hill, Lady A and Eric Paslay. He is the established country voice of multiple chart-toppers; a working man's songwriter who understands how people feel. Together they are Rod & Rose, the merging of lean songwriting and pure poetry, straight up country intertwined with a little bit of roots. For Rodney Atkins and Rose Falcon – married since 2013 – it's the perfect merger of songs, love, life and the way two people from different places perfectly complement one another. In a world where differences often drive a wedge, these two create music that embraces that diversity. And they sound so good doing it. Enjoy their performance! (8:00 p.m.)
  • The Hideout Comedy Lounge 1st Thursdays in Laurel—The Hideout runs comedy shows every first Thursday of every month. The best place in Laurel for comedy is at the Hideout. You will be hard-pressed to find a more fun and friendly atmosphere in the area than The Hideout. Come in for great comedy with delicious food and drinks! (8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.)

From my notebook:

  • Laurel Police Department: The Laurel Police Department is requesting the public's assistance identifying a suspect in an armed robbery. If you have any information about this suspect please contact Detective Kropff at 301-498-0092. (Facebook)
  • City of Laurel - Government: Flags at the Laurel Municipal Center have been lowered to half staff in honor of former Parks and Recreation Director Janet Chavrid who has passed away.(Facebook)
  • City of Laurel - Government: "My Time with the Mayor" to take place on April 11 is cancelled. "City Hall in the Park" to take place on April 20 is also cancelled. (Facebook)
  • Laurel Parks & Recreation: Registration for our Kiddie (3-4 years) and Kidz (5-6 years) basketball class has been extended a week! If you are interested in registering your child, please visit our website to register online or register in-person. (Facebook)
  • Associate Commissioner, Consumer Education & Advocacy Joy Hatchette, Maryland Insurance Administration: "Guaranteed issue"- What does it mean? Watch this video for the definition. #WordOfTheDay" (Nextdoor)
  • Social Media and Digital Marketing Specialist Kevin Wegman, Prince George's County Government: Is your child a soccer fanatic and between the ages of 6 and 19? Registration is officially underway for the Prince George's County Youth Soccer League! (Nextdoor)
  • Nextdoor Neighbor, Patuxent Greens: Does anyone know what I can do with an incontinent dog over 18 years old that has sight problems that I can't take care of anymore? I got him almost four years ago, thinking I would keep him comfortable during his last days. (Nextdoor)
  • PEPCO Team, Pepco: *Beware of Utility Imposters* Scammers have an increasing number of ways to mislead customers into thinking their utilities are contacting them for urgent payment. (Nextdoor)
  • Maryland Office of People's Counsel, Director of Consumer Services, Brandi Nieland, State of Maryland: *Safety tips for preventing frozen pipes at home* Frigid temperatures can cause frozen and bursting pipes. Since water expands when it freezes, metal and plastic pipes are at risk of breaking in the freezing temperatures. (Nextdoor)
  • Nextdoor Neighbor, Russett: Has anyone used Camp Bow Wow in Columbia for boarding and daycare? If so, how was your experience? (Nextdoor)

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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! See you tomorrow for another 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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