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Community Corner

🌱SweetFrog Hosts "Noon Year’s Eve" Party + Carjacker Arrested

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)

Happy Friday, people of Laurel! Let's get this day started. Here's everything you need to know about what's happening in Laurel today.

First, today's weather:

Patchy morning fog. High: 58 Low: 50.

Here are the top three stories today in Laurel:

  1. Jedidiah Ogboi Gibson, an 18-year-old man, was arrested in Laurel after an armed carjacking and vehicle theft that occurred on Dec. 27. Police arrived to the 14800 block of Belle Ami Drive for the report of an armed carjacking. The victim of the carjacking was threatened at gunpoint at his home by Gibson who went on to take the victim's cellphone and vehicle. Officers found Gibson and took him into custody without incident. (wmar2news.com)
  2. A Maryland mom and her four children are safe after being reported missing. According to police in Laurel, Cassie Marie Thomas and her children were safely located by mid-morning Thursday. (NBC4 Washington)
  3. Earlier this month, University of Maryland announced a $4.75 million gift to its Department of Mathematics to expand research in pure and applied mathematics and statistics. Mathematics Professor Emeritus Michael Brin, his wife Eugenia and the Sergey Brin Family Foundation are establishing the Brin Mathematics Research Center. It will provide a platform for the university to expand and showcase its mathematics and statistics research excellence both nationally and internationally. (University of Maryland)

Today's Laurel Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at Verizon. They're building the fastest 5G network in the country. To learn how 5G is going to change life for you and your community — and to get access to this amazing technology — click here. And thank you Verizon for sponsoring this community resource in Laurel!

Today in Laurel:

  • Laurel Dutch Country Farmers Market—Open on 9701 Fort Meade Road (8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.)
  • Noon Year's Eve Party at SweetFrog Laurel—A Noon Year's Eve Party for kids with a countdown to noon! Party includes drinks, snacks, kids cup yogurt, music and games. From 11:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. on New Year's Eve. Dance, play games, eat snacks and pizza, have a yogurt and then celebrate with a countdown to noon that includes noisemakers! Fun for all ages! This is not a drop-off event. No charge for parents/chaperones. Adults may purchase yogurts during the event for normal weigh-and-pay. (11:00 a.m.)
  • NOON Year's Eve—Have your child celebrate New Year's with The Thrifty Teacher! Session includes a New Year's painting and a Noon Year's toast with sparking cider. Recommended for Ages 5+; masks required. (12:00 p.m.)
  • Noon Year's Eve Skate!—Join us in Crofton for Nick @ Noon, a New Year's Eve Party, Nickelodeon style! Enjoy fun family games plus a balloon drop filled with prizes! (12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
  • Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations— This event will take place at Kennedy Center Opera House. (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

  • City of Laurel - Government: Here's a quick reminder that the City of Laurel will ban plastic bags at retail establishments beginning on January 1, 2022. (Facebook)
  • City of Laurel: *Attention Parks and Recreation Customers* Our Administrative Offices are moving! Administrative staff will provide assistance at their temporary location (Robert J. DiPietro Community Center, which is located on 7901 Cypress Street). Please call 301-725-7800 or email Parks@laurel.md.us to ensure someone is available to provide assistance. Thank you for your understanding as we relocate. (City of Laurel)
  • Laurel Volunteer Fire Department: Family, friends and the brothers and sisters of Howard County Fire and Rescue and LVFD recently laid Rich Blankenship, Jr. to rest. If you were unable attend the funeral, here is the link to that service. (Facebook)
  • City of Laurel Department of Economic and Community Development: With bittersweet feelings, we wanted to announce that Economic Development Coordinator Leigha Steele will be leaving the City of Laurel on January 3, 2022. Leigha's dedication to the local business community has helped shape economic development in the city today and going into the future. We want to thank Leigha for her years of service and wish her all the best in her future endeavors! Until further notice, you can contact ECD Director Robert Love with any questions related to economic development within Laurel at rlove@laurel.md.us (Facebook)
  • Laurel Parks & Recreation: *Effective Dec. 31* Due to the rise in COVID-19 cases, the Department of Parks and Recreation will temporarily suspend ALL basketball programs through Jan. 18, 2022. This includes all drop-in basketball programs at both the Robert J. DiPietro Community Center and Laurel Armory as well as the WISE Basketball League. (Facebook)
  • Nextdoor Neighbor, Emerson: Looking for recommendations for a contractor to build a deck. (Nextdoor)
  • Nextdoor Neighbor, Old Sandy Spring Road: Waited until the last minute to get your hair done? Don't worry! I have holiday sales going on and a few open slots before the new year. Don't start your New Year looking like last year! (Nextdoor)

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Hey everyone! Happy New Year's! I hope you enjoy this "New Year" edition of the Daily. Please know that, like most of you, I will be taking the day off to enjoy the festivities, so there will not be a newsletter in your inbox tomorrow. We hope you all understand the slight pause in the Laurel Daily. But don't worry—we will be back to our normal routine Monday morning!

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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