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Community Corner

🌱Local Author Writes Children’s Speech Therapy Book + Leaf Truck

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, people of Laurel! Alexis Goring here with a fresh edition of the Laurel Daily.

First, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy. High: 52 Low: 39.

Here are the top four stories today in Laurel:

  1. Laurel-based Myles B. Nobles, a Black Speech-Language Pathologist, released a new book to help children overcome speech impairments. The Courageous Lion in Milo is a children's speech therapy book that the author wrote to help kids overcome their communication obstacles, grow confidence in their communication abilities and strengthen their self-esteem. Milo's journey to overcome his speech impairment and fear of public speaking shows a child with communication challenges that other children are just like them, which helps them feel less alone and more understood. (Black News)
  2. Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks recently announced the Right of First Refusal Preservation Fund which is intended to help with the availability of affordable housing. The fund was launched with $15 million from the American Rescue Plan. Alsobrooks said that this county is "committed to preserving housing affordability." The fund will be used to help implement its Right of First Refusal (ROFR) program. (WTOP)
  3. The City of Laurel's leaf vacuuming has been extended! The leaf vacuum truck will run until Friday, Dec. 17. If Laurel residents have any leaves left to collect, get them out as soon as possible! In the event of snow, residents are encouraged to place their leaves in paper bags for collection. After the snow melts, if DPW is still collecting leaves, residents can begin to place leaves back at the curb for collection. (City of Laurel)
  4. Bowie State students won third place in the Microsoft Bot-a-Thon Challenge for their design of an academic advising chatbot. The student creators gathered data on advising sequence issues and interviewed students to determine the most frequently questions asked of advisors. The goal of the chatbot is to provide academic advising for students in the College of Business. (Bowie State University)

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Today in Laurel:

  • Caregivers Monthly Support Group (Virtual) — The Caregivers Monthly Support Group is designed for those actively caring for a loved one with a chronic illness. This group will provide attendees with an opportunity to connect with other caregivers and learn about resources, coping strategies and more, all in a safe, therapeutic space. The group will meet virtually via Zoom for Healthcare. Registration is required and can be completed by calling 888-501-7077 or emailing griefinfo@chesapeakelifecenter.org. Visit www.hospicechesapeake.org/events for a complete listing of in-person and virtual groups and workshops. (10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.)
  • Weight Management Program—Dr. Butler's Weight Management Program is designed for people who want to learn how to maintain a healthy weight. Get the information, education, support, tools and accountability to help you reach your health goals. This is an active participant program. Only for people who are dedicated, committed and willing to do the work to make the change. Limited space for each round. (6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.)
  • Visit Santa at Westfield Annapolis Mall—Santa will be at Westfield Annapolis until December 24th in Crate & Barrel Court! We encourage pre-booking your Santa Magic photo experience. Walk-up visits are available as space permits. The health and wellbeing of our staff, Santa and Guests is top priority. (10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.)
  • Auricular Acupuncture at MUIH Main Campus—Master's level acupuncture students, under supervision by licensed and experienced faculty, are providing safe and effective auricular treatments. Limit: Six participants per seating to ensure a safe, physically distanced, and peaceful experience. (5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.)
  • GALA Film Fest: Latin American Innovation—Enjoy powerful films by emerging female filmmakers from Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Peru who touch on issues that resonate with us all. From comedies to heart-felt dramas to documentaries, topics such as immigration, gender identity, social justice, and ecology are the center of the festival, which includes four DC premieres. Join us for dynamic discussions and receptions hosted by Latin American Embassies after the screenings! Tickets are $10 per film. (7:00 p.m.)
  • Wellness Workshop: Effective Communication Skills—Communication is at the core of all of our relationships. Explore the different styles of communication, see which styles you use the most, and learn about best practices for communicating with the people around you. This is a skill-building workshop and is not a therapy space or confidential. The workshops will close to new participants 15 minutes after the start of the workshop. (4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

From my notebook:

  • City of Laurel - Government: Laurel City Councilmen Carl DeWalt and Martin Mitchell presented a check on Monday to Laurel Elementary School Principal Melinda Lee. The money was intended to continue feeding those in need during the pandemic. The funds were part of the American Rescue Plan Act money that Mayor Craig Moe and the City of Laurel received earlier this year. Lee says the school will use the money to provide food boxes to needy families for the holidays. (Facebook)
  • City of Laurel - Government: Time to light up the night and the trees at the Laurel Armory. Attend this event on Saturday, Dec. 4 at 5:15 p.m. We look forward to this all year! (Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Wednesday! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with another update. If you're into 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? Reach out anytime to alexiswritesforpatch@gmail.com.

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

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