In and Around Morningside-Skyline
by Mary McHale 301 735 3451
Celebrate the 4th of July with the Morningside parade & fireworks!
Morningside’s 34th Annual Independence Day Parade will begin staging at the Fire House at 10:30 a.m. on July 4 and will kick off promptly at 11:30, and march or cruise up Suitland Road to the VFW. As usual, I’ll be waving a flag and cheering from beneath the big tree at the Suitland Road Baptist Church. Former Morningsider Rose Hoffman has said she’ll be driving up from Prince Frederick for the parade.
Fireworks will light up the sky over Morningside beginning at dusk. I’ll be there, on a blanket, with whatever family is available. Come on over. I promise you won’t be disappointed!
Back when I was younger
Fifty-six years ago this week the McHales moved to 4304 Skyline Drive where I still live. The FBI had transferred my husband Jack from San Francisco to Washington. We moved in with five children. But over the next three years, we added two more daughters.
When we came, there was no Beltway nor were there traffic lights on two-lane Allentown Road. I did my shopping in Suitland at Safeway, Bo Peep Shop, Lane Shop, Scheer’s Men’s Wear, Ernest Hardware, People’s Drugs and Suitland Pharmacy. And closer to home, Morningside Variety Shop and G.I. Grocery. The I.C.E. Club (now VFW) was across the way and we ate a few times at the Lamp Post Inn (now gone).
I registered son Mike at Mrs. Smith’s Co-operative Kindergarten in Morningside, and daughter Kathleen at the recently-opened Morningside School. We attended Sunday Mass in the multi-purpose room at Morningside School because St. Philip’s didn’t have a church yet.
West Real Estate in Suitland was our realtor, but John McAllister (attorney and realtor), who lived around the corner from us on Pine Lane, had listed our house. Ted and Lee Burke lived on one side of us and Tom and Gladys Cave on the other. Two doors down were Paul and Virginia Stine. Morningside Baptist Church was on Suitland Road. It’s still there, but now it’s Suitland Road Baptist.
We loved our new community and we loved all the trees. We loved being 15 minutes from the dinosaurs at the Smithsonian. Jack could catch the bus on Suitland Road and be at the FBI in half an hour. But we had to get used to the air traffic overhead.
It’s been a good 56 years.
Neighbors
Benn Cann, newly-elected to the Morningside Town Council, has been tapped to be the new vice-mayor. He takes over from James Ealey who served well in that capacity for a number of years.
Shirley Eppard’s fantastic spaghetti will be featured at the annual Dante Ross Spaghetti Dinner at St. Philip’s on Saturday, July 26, at 6 p.m. The late Dante Ross lived in Skyline and was a much-beloved deacon at St. Philip’s. All proceeds from the dinner will befit the Dante Ross Scholarships.
Linda Cullinan, principal at St. Philip’s School for 17 years and educator for 40 years, was honored at Mass and a reception on June 1. The school choir sang for the Mass.
The Skyline Citizens Association provided subs, chips and sodas for the teachers at Skyline School, on June 17, their last day of work, cleaning out their classrooms.
Too many shoes?
Make a difference and donate your gently-used shoes! M-NCPPC is partnering with Soles4Souls to supply those in need with shoes, across the United States and around the world. Drop off your shoes or sneakers from June 14 to August 8 at Harmony Hall Regional Center, 10701 Livingston Road in Fort Washington.
1 LYFE Memorial Basketball Tournament
The 7th Annual Skyline Day will be held at Patterson Park, in Morningside, on Aug. 9, noon to 8 p.m. Ed Kittrell founded this community outreach event in memory of a Skyline friend who took his own life. He uses Skyline Day, with uplifting speakers and brotherhood, to call attention to the tragedy of depression and suicide, particularly among young adults.
Basketball teams, performers, speakers, vendors, sponsors and volunteers are still needed. Call Ed at 240-640-3387.
May they rest in peace
John Patrick Stakem, Sr., 77, of Odenton and a longtime Suitland resident, died April 9. He was born in Washington to the late James and Dora Swann Stakem. He made a career in insurance, was a member of the Knights of Columbus and a devoted supporter of the Forestville Pregnancy Center. Survivors include his wife Joan McConchie Stakem; children and their spouses, John and Suzie, Chris and Marianne, Mary and Steve Crane, Kathy and Troy, Tim, Tom and Denise, and Stephen; nine grandchildren; and his brothers James, Martin and Cecil. Mass of Christian Burial was at St. Joseph’s in Odenton with burial at Resurrection Cemetery.
Edmond “Ed” Brzozowski, 89, of District Heights, an electrical engineer for the Navy Department, died June 15. A native of Salem, Mass., he served in the military, was a member of the Knights of Columbus, and enjoyed polka dancing. He was the husband of Rena Brzozowski, father of six daughters, grandfather of 15, great-grandpa of 12 and great-great-grandfather of three. Mass of Christmas Burial was at Mount Calvary with burial at Cheltenham.
Milestones
Happy birthday to Charles “Chuckie” Henry, Rose Hoffman, Veda Curcio, Shawn Kumra and Cathryn Cordero Pracht, June 27; Mike Dudding, Juanita Eppard, Erica R. Webb, EvaMarie Anthony and my granddaughter Leah Katherine Mudd, June 28; Faith “Dycki” Brown, Alexis Schuler and my great-grandson Wesley McHale, June 29; Karen (Beardmore) Ellis, June 30; Ruth LaBelle and Jordan Foster, July 1; Sharon Simms, Matthew Clark and Megan Frostbutter, July 2; Gloria Grapevine, Pat Richardson Conlon, Sarah Booth and Jack Hay II, July 3.
Happy anniversary to Jack and Kimberly Hay, their 28th on June 28; and Carl and Sue (Stine) Mason, their 29th on June 29.
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Brandywine-Aquasco
by Ruth Turner 301 888 2153
CLUB 300 GROUP WALK
Seniors are invited to join Club 300 for the Summer Walking Program. You will be walking through Patuxent River Park, Jug Bay Natural Area together. Walking is an easy way to stay in shape. The Summer Walking Program is free. The Park is located at 16700 Croom Airport Road, Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Telephone number is 301-446-3400
BIRTHDAY GREETINGS
Happy Birthday to Glen Brown, Jeremy Hall, Ron Jackson, Alicia Johnson, Bradley Johnson, Wendell Lee, Kevin Millard, Tameka Pinckney, Valerie Pinkney, Rosalind Pinkney, Corwayne Pyle, Gynell Simms, Leisha Singleton, Rhoda Slade and Shondell Wilkerson, who are celebrating birthdays during the month of July.
HARD BARGAIN FARM
Hard Bargain Farm will be at the Surratts-Clinton Branch Library Wednesday, July 30, 2014 at 10:30 AM. Come and meet some chickens and a rabbit. You will be able to make and eat a simple snack. Audience is all ages. Bring the whole family and enjoy a day of fun and excitement. The Library is located at 9400 Piscataway Road Clinton, Maryland.
LITTLE TREASURES DAY CARE
Play, learn and grow together. Little Treasures Day Care provides Parent’s Night Out, Full-Time, Part-Time, Drop-In’s, Summer Programs, Before & Aftercare., and Summer Programs. For additional information contact the office at 240-244-5607 or www.treasurechildren.com.
WORLD VIEW SUPER SUMMER CAMP 2014
World View has four locations in Brandywine, Clinton, Temple Hills and Waldorf for ages 5 and up. The camp offers Music, Cheerleading, field Trips every day, Art, Cosmetology, Sports Camp, Drama, Dance and Academic Enrichment. Call for more information at (372-0053 or visit web: www.worldviewchristiancenter.com or e-mail: info@worldviewchristiancenter.com.
WORLD VIEW AFTER SCHOOL
World View after School Club House has four locations in Clinton, Brandywine, Tempe Hills and Waldorf for ages 5-12. They offer sports, academics and free transportation to and from area schools. Cameras are in all classrooms. Homework check and assistance is provided. Video games, basketball, Karate, Bowling, Dance, Gymnastics and XBOX 360 are provided.
Open House is July 17 at Temple Hills (Evangel Assembly) and Waldorf at New Hope Church of God. Call for more information at (301) 372-0053 or visit www.worldviewchristiancenter.com.
PERFORMING ARTS CAMP
Sunday-Friday July 27-August 1 from 9:00 M-3:00 PM children will be able to attend a Performing Arts Camp. The cost for children entering 2ND-8th grade is $145.00 /child. There are special incentives for early registration. For more details and to register please go to www.lamplightartist.com.
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