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Community Corner

🌱Snow Challenges Laurel Park + COVID Cleaning For Local Walmart

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)

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

First, today's weather:

Cloudy. High: 43 Low: 32.

Here are the top three stories in Laurel today:

  1. The first snow of the season presented a challenge to the new surface of Laurel Park. The new dirt racing surface has survived 10 racing dates and nearly a month of training without a major injury after being closed for 11 days in late Fall 2021 after eight equine fatalities. However, this week's snowstorm followed by a sharp drop in overnight temperature challenged this track that has historically been prone to problems during winter weather. Training was cancelled at Laurel on Monday and Tuesday but will reopen today at 6:30 a.m. (Thoroughbred Daily News)
  2. Walmart temporarily shut almost 60 U.S. stores in COVID-19 hotspots, including the store in Laurel, last month in order to sanitize them against the virus. This is a sign that the new Omicron variant is disrupting the retail industry. According to a company spokesperson, Walmart stores were closed for two days for cleaning to present a safe and clean in-store environment for our associates and customers. (Reuters)
  3. Prince George's County's Woodmore Towne Centre, one of the largest open-air shopping centers in the D.C. region, has been sold to New York-based Urban Edge Properties for $193.4 million. The shopping center, anchored by the popular Wegmans, covers 83 acres in Glenarden. According to Urban Edge, it had six million shopper visits in 2021. (WTOP)

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Today in Laurel:

  • Crafternoon: Let it Snow—Enjoy an afternoon of crafting your own snow globes and indoor snowballs. Largo-Kettering Branch Library will host this event (2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.)
  • Strategies for Success: Legalization in Maryland with Delegate Jazz Lewis—Join Tea Pad with Delegate Lewis for provocative conversation on strategies to ensure equity in Maryland's adult-use cannabis industry. This event will be held at Busboys and Poets in Hyattsville. (6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.)
  • Seth Kibel Trio at the New Deal Cafe—Attend this event in Greenbelt. (7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

  • Laurel Police Department: Everyone loves a good Snow Day, and it definitely brings out the kid in each of us! PFC Hernandez enjoyed a snow sledding race with a few local kiddos! We hope you all enjoyed the snow too. (Facebook)
  • City of Laurel - Government: How much snow did we get in the City of Laurel? We found a car that appeared to have been parked way before the snow started. Our very unofficial measurement looks like 4 inches after a little rain. So probably like 5-7 inches before the rain. (Facebook)
  • City of Laurel - Government: City Ordinance requires all property and business owners and occupants to clear ice and snow from sidewalks fronting their property within 12 hours after the snow stops falling or ice stops accumulating. Failure to clear your sidewalk may result in a fine. Please clear your sidewalk for the convenience and safety of pedestrians. Don't shovel ice and snow from your driveway or sidewalk onto the street. (Facebook)
  • Mayor and City Council Work Session: A virtual meeting will be held tonight from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (City of Laurel)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with 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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