🌱 Pasta Plus Restaurant Closed + Win Super Bowl Tickets In L.A.

Alexis Goring
Updated ·5 min read
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Morning, Laurel! Here's everything you need to know to get this Friday started off right.

First, today's weather:

Turning sunny; breezy, colder. High: 30 Low: 15.

Here are the top five stories in Laurel today:

  1. Gov. Larry Hogan recently announced that Maryland is opening 10 COVID-19 testing sites, some of which will be fully operational by the end of next week. The Laurel Medical Center will be one of the new COVID-19 testing sites. Gov. Hogan said all sites will offer walk-up testing with no appointment needed. (WBAL TV Baltimore)

  2. According to Patch reporter Kristin Danley-Greiner, the annual Child Care Fair will be held Saturday, Feb. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the North Laurel Community Center, located at 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road in Laurel. Masks are required. Admission is free. (Laurel Patch)

  3. Pasta Plus Restaurant & Market on Gorman Ave, a much-loved staple of Laurel is going out of business after nearly 40 years of serving the community. The owners announced Wednesday that they have decided to close their doors. They did not say the reason. (WJLA)

  4. Kyle Elio Ripper, 24, of Laurel, pleaded guilty on Jan. 6 to enticement of a minor. The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron, Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore, and Sheriff Joseph Gamble of the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office. Law enforcement discovered evidence that an adult male had sexual contact with a 14-year-old male. (Bay Net)

  5. Donor blood levels are down in Maryland and across the country, so the American Red Cross and the NFL are partnering for National Blood Donor Month by inviting football fans and blood donors to join their lifesaving team and help patients in need. In appreciation of donors who are helping during a time when the Red Cross blood supply is at historically low levels, those who give blood from Jan. 1- Jan. 31, will automatically be entered to win two tickets to Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles. (American Red Cross)

From our sponsor:

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Today in Laurel:

  • Food Bank: Hosted by Our Savior Lutheran Church in Laurel (9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.)

  • Ladies Small Group: Participate in a discussion style Bible study on the book of Jonah. Enjoy fellowship time, snacks and prayer time. Contact Gena Persons for more info. This event will be hosted at Christ Reformed Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Laurel. (9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.)

  • French Beaded Wildflowers with Donna Dickt (Zoom Only): Attend this event at Bead Soup in Laurel. (11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

  • New Year Resolutions ZUMBATHON GLOW Party: Visit Fitness Revolution in Laurel to PARTY with The Zumba Tribe Dance off that holiday weight! We'll help you stick to those New Years Resolutions! (12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.)

  • Boys JV & Varsity Basketball v. College Park Academy (5:30 p.m.)

  • Girls Basketball @ College Park Academy (5:30 p.m.)

  • LAUGH. Live Standup Comedy Showcase: Every Saturday we showcase the best national and local comedy acts from HBO, SHOWTIME, NETFLIX, AXSTV, Comedy Central, Last Comic Standing, Conan, Fallon, Kimmel, Colbert, MTV, VH1 and FX., in the Event Room at Nottinghams in Columbia (Md.) at The Columbia Comedy Club. (10:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

  • City of Laurel - Government: The first snow storm of the year was challenging. It also provided some stunning views of the beauty all around us. Thank you Michael McLaughlin for sharing this shot of the snowy river with us. Beautiful! (Facebook)

  • City of Laurel - Government: Mayor Craig A. Moe was on hand as Governor Hogan announced a drive through COVID-19 testing site is opening at UM Laurel Medical Center. Ten new centers will offer rapid tests and PCR tests. (Facebook)

  • City of Laurel - Government: Laurel Public Works will collect live Christmas trees for recycling on Wednesdays — Jan. 12, Jan. 19 and Jan. 26. You are not required to call in a request for a tree pickup, but doing so is recommended to ensure your tree is not missed. (Facebook)

  • Nextdoor Neighbor, Maryland City West: Anyone in Maryland City able to help me finish shoveling my driveway and sidewalk? My husband has broken ribs and is unable to help. Will pay but not looking to spend a lot. (Nextdoor)

  • Nextdoor Neighbor, Stansfield Road: Is anybody missing a small beagle? He/she was just running around at Morningside Stables at Columbia Horse Center. (Nextdoor)

  • Nextdoor Neighbor, Montpelier: Frozen tree down on westbound Muirkirk near Old Muirkirk Road. Be careful. That section of road is not well scraped. (Nextdoor)

  • Sergeant Erika Monroe, Prince George's County Police Department: Residents are requested to remove snow and ice from the sidewalks abutting your property, as required by County Code. Please be a good neighbor and assist those who are unable to clear snow by themselves. (Nextdoor)

  • Nextdoor Neighbor, Old Town Laurel: Does anyone have any suggestions for good ski resorts near Laurel that also have snow tubing? (Nextdoor)

  • Nextdoor Neighbor, Russett: Does anyone know a good place to donate books? I have unused notebooks, sketchbooks and reading books. (Nextdoor)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

Events:

  • 7th Annual No One Can Survive Alone Concert for Bald Ballerina (January 9)

  • FREE WEBINAR | “Michelangelo and the Terrible Pope” Presented by Dr. Rocky Ruggiero (January 11)

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You're all caught up for today. 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.

This article originally appeared on the Laurel Patch