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Community Corner

🌱 Local Spring Clean-Up Event + New Abortion Training Law In MD

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Laurel.

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

First, today's weather:

A downpour in the afternoon. High: 80 Low: 45.

Here are the top three stories in Laurel today:

  1. Maryland will spend $3.5 million each year to train people who aren't medical doctors to perform abortions after lawmakers overturned Republican Governor Larry Hogan's Friday veto. The training program is part of a bill that eliminates a ban on abortions performed by people who aren't doctors and requires most private health insurance providers to cover abortion procedures. Nurse practitioners, midwives, nurse-midwives, and physicians assistants will be allowed to perform abortions in Maryland starting July 1. (News Talk Florida)
  2. Laurel residents are welcome to participate in a spring cleanup that will take place in Laurel on April 16! Residents can recycle electronics, shred unwanted papers and drop off their Styrofoam and recyclable items at the city's public works department. All vehicles are to enter through the First Street entrance. Residents are asked to remain in their cars, have IDs ready to verify place of residence within city limits and place items for shredding and to be dropped off in the trunks of their cars if possible. (Patch)
  3. Governor Larry Hogan recently joined Prince George's County leaders in Largo to celebrate $2.5 billion in state funding for the county. It's the largest amount of state aid ever secured for the county during a single legislative session. "This historic state funding will deliver transformational economic growth and long-awaited entertainment and amenities for our residents," said County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. (WTOP)

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Today in Laurel:

  • Laurel Dutch Country Farmers Market—Open on 9701 Fort Meade Road (9:00 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 they are meeting on Zoom, but they hope to resume their meetings at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Laurel when it is safe to do so! Contact the church to get connected. (10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.)
  • Laurel Park Racing in Laurel (12:40 p.m.)
  • Story Time at sweetFrog Laurel—Hop on in with your little froggers for a fun story time today (April 14) for some sweet Frog Entertainment. After the stories, children can get a $4 kids cup of yogurt. What a sweet story with a happy ending! (2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.)
  • DC Sketch Comedy Happy Hour at Wunder Garten in NE D.C.—The DC sketch comedy scene celebrates the community at their annual spring happy hour. Come network to meet local sketch teams, comedy instructors and the people behind all the sketch comedy shows in DC. It will be a great evening to meet people, reconnect, and laugh as we meet face to face to discuss upcoming sketch comedy events, classes, auditions and more. We want actors, writers, filmmakers, podcasters, organizers and sketch comedy fans to stop by! Maybe you're new and interested in learning about sketch opportunities in the area. Maybe you've done virtual classes and shows and you're interested in seeing some live human sketch folks in the area. Maybe you're a veteran of the sketch comedy scene and want to catch up with everybody and see some friends. We'd love to see you there! This event will be occurring at an outdoor venue. (5:00 p.m.)
  • Charles C. Eldredge Prize Virtual Lecture with Cherise Smith—Join art historian Cherise Smith for a virtual conversation about the work and impact of artist Michael Ray Charles, whose paintings sample images of American minstrelsy from consumer culture. Through discussion of this artist's provocative paintings, learn how art has the power to engage critically with the painful history of racism in the United States. Smith is the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in African American Studies and a professor in the African and African Diaspora Studies and Art and Art History departments at the University of Texas at Austin. She was the 2021 recipient of SAAM's Charles C. Eldredge Prize for Distinguished Scholarship in American Art for her book, Michael Ray Charles: A Retrospective. (5:30 p.m.)
  • Mean Girls at the Kennedy Center in NW D.C.—Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. Soon, this naïve newbie falls prey to a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady devises a plan to end Regina's reign, she learns the hard way that you can't cross a Queen Bee without getting stung. (7:30 p.m.)
  • Holy Week Services at Our Savior Lutheran Church—Prepare your heart for the resurrection this Holy Week this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Join us in-person or online as we worship our Savior, Jesus Christ. It was on Maundy Thursday that Jesus instituted the blessed sacrament of communion. On Good Friday, He took our sins upon Himself and gave His life for ours. On Saturday at the Easter Vigil, even as Christ was buried in the tomb we remember our Baptisms and the promises of God for us. Join us early on Maundy Thursday at 6:45 p.m. to get your feet washed just as Jesus did for his disciples. (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

  • City of Laurel - Government: Two-year-old Marley has been missing since about 10:15 p.m. Sunday night (4/10) in the area of Sandy Spring Road and Van Dusen. Please help Shelia and her family locate their precious pup. (Facebook)
  • Laurel Police Department: In recognition of the heroes that you don't see, the calm amidst the chaos, we would like to introduce you to our dispatchers. The first dispatcher we would like to introduce to you is PCS Xavier Sykes. (Facebook)
  • Prince George's County Police: We are happy to announce our newest way to serve our community! Our police cadet program offers college credits and a salary! (Instagram)
  • City of Laurel - Government: It's the unofficial start of summer in Laurel. Lakefest is back. We hope to see you on May 14 in Granville Gude Park! (Facebook)
  • City of Laurel - Government: See something, say something. Call the Laurel Police Department at this number: 301-498-0092. (Facebook)
  • City of Laurel - Government: Laurel Police are asking for the public's help in reference to a shooting in the Bowie Road area on April 11. (Facebook)
  • Laurel Parks & Recreation: We have another clean-up opportunity this weekend! Join us on April 16 at 10:00 a.m. at Granville Gude Park for our annual Earth Day Clean-Up. Volunteers are asked to arrive at 10:00 a.m. at the lake house. (Facebook)
  • City of Laurel - Government: Enter to win $3,000 toward your annual utility bills, water saving fixtures, and other prizes through April 30. All you have to do is let us know how you will be saving water and energy during Earth Month. (Facebook)
  • Prince George's County Planning Department Carly Brockinton, Prince George's County Government: The Placemaking Riverdale project is having a virtual kickoff event. Join us on April 26 at 6:30 p.m. to participate. (Nextdoor)
  • Corporal Kurt Schnitzenbaumer, Prince George's County Police Department: Do you want to be the next Traffic Safety Champion? Department of Public Works and Transportation are holding a traffic safety video contest. (Nextdoor)
  • Corporal Kurt Schnitzenbaumer, Prince George's County Police Department: "Stop the Killing, Start the Healing." Join us on April 30, where we will be celebrating the life and legacy of Darryl A. Hairston II. The event will start at 11:00 a.m. and end by 6:00 p.m. (Nextdoor)
  • Nextdoor Neighbor, Russett: Can anyone refer a good OB-GYN? Not too far. I'm new to the area and Google is not the best nowadays. (Nextdoor)
  • Maryland Office of People's Counsel, Director of Consumer Services, Brandi Nieland, State of Maryland: *Home Safety Tips for Wet Weather* Here are some tips for preparing your home for the rainy season. (Nextdoor)
  • Social Media and Digital Marketing Specialist Kevin Wegman, Prince George's County Government: Is your little one ready to learn the game of soccer? Join our non-competitive soccer league that prepares children ages 3-5 for organized soccer! (Nextdoor)
  • Sergeant Erika Monroe, Prince George's County Police Department: *WSSC Assistance Program* Attn: Beltsville Division VI, please see attached flyer about WSSC Water Assistance Program. (Nextdoor)
  • Sergeant Erika Monroe, Prince George's County Police Department: *DEA Drug Take back* Please see attached flyer for DEA National Drug Take back. This event is being held on Saturday April 30 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (Nextdoor)
  • Sergeant Erika Monroe, Prince George's County Police Department: April is National Child Abuse Prevention month. There's no excuse for child abuse, keep our children safe. (Nextdoor)
  • Sergeant Erika Monroe, Prince George's County Police Department: Our first, all-Spanish Community Police Academy. We are finally getting the opportunity to host a Community Police Academy that will be exclusive taught in all-Spanish! (Nextdoor)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Thursday. See you all 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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