Aquasco-Brandywine
By Ruth Turner
SPECIALTY PROGRAMS AND PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS
Specialty Programs, Public Charter Schools Lottery Brochures, and Applications are available in public schools, Area Offices, public libraries and on the Prince George’s County Public Schools’ website at www.pgcps.org. For program information, visit www.pgcps.org or call 301-952-6300. The application deadline is March 24, 2010.
FRUIT SALE
(Reminder)
St. Paul’s Parish Church located at 13500 Baden Westwood Road, Brandywine, MD 20613 is sponsoring a Citrus Fruit Sale 2010, order deadline March 12, 2010 and pick up date March 20, 2010.
Pink Grapefruits ,Temples and Murcotts are available in March To place an order or for more information please call one of the following individuals Jack and Julia 301-579-6877, Wanda G. 301-888-9217 or Mary Jane 301-579-2230.
Thank you for your continued support. Unclaimed fruit will be sold, first come, first served.
DRUM CIRCLE
Come experience the joy of African Drumming facilitated by Brother Tsaka Dutch-Malik Community Out Reach Ministry. African Drumming will be at the Vision Center Union Bethel AME Church 6810 Floral Par k Road Brandywine Maryland 20613. African Drumming will be twice monthly Tuesday evenings or Saturday. The cost is $5.00. Drums supplied for those who need them. Please call if interested 301-372-1405.
THE PEACE CORPS THIRD GOAL
During Peace Corps Week from March 1-7, 2010 and throughout the year, I will be delivering information about my service as a former Peace Corps Volunteer. I will be available to deliver my experience at K-12 schools, youth groups, and Civic organizations.
I am telling my story because I would like to help Americans gain a true understanding of life and people in my host country and inspire the next generation of Volunteers.
I am a resident of Brandywine, Maryland and will come and give a short presentation to your group. Please contact Audrey Johnson at 301-888-2153.
GOLF TOURNAMENT
(Reminder)
Reserve the date Monday, May 3, 2010 for Prince George’s Community College Alumni Association Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament. The Golf Tournament will be held at Woodmore Country Club in Mitchellville, Maryland. Proceeds benefit the Prince George’s Community Alumni Association Scholarship Fund. Special discounted rate for Alumni Association members.
Please call 301-322-0858 for more information or e-mail alumni@pgcc.edu, or go to www.pgcc.edu/alumni.
CHRIST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
The Outreach Ministry of Christ United Methodist Church located in Aquasco, MD is sponsoring a Two-Day, One Night Theater (“Joseph at the Millennium Theater), and Shopping trip to Lancaster, Pennsylvania on June 25-26, 2010. The cost is $220 per person (double occupancy), monthly payment plan until payment due May 16, 2010. Please contact Phyllis Slater (301) 653-7345); Deborah Proctor (301) 275-2544): or Grace Bryant (301) 449-3424.
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Clinton Conversations
By Norma Fazenbaker
Happy Birthday in March to Danny McKinney, March 1, Kim DiRocco, March 4, Robert Shifflett, March 6, Tami Cruz and my great grandson, Daniel Carter, March 7, Ken Wilkins, March 9, Deanie Pounds, March 12, Mary Cowie and my daughter, Judy Lucas, March 13, Mildred Hofman and my great granddaughter, Ariel Barkhurst, March 14, my granddaughter, Jaimi Fazenbaker, March 15, Tom Best and Tom O'Connell, March 17, Doris Heath, Evelyn Bressant and Bob Lohr, March 18, Marge Thomas and Joshua Moore, March 21, my great granddaughter, Zoe Barkhurst, March 22, Natalie Summers, March 24, Doris Bowers, Louise Kirk and Alice Moyer, March 25, Marie Ridgely and Jean Toole, March 26, Evelyn Bass, March 29, Doris Moore and Cathy Freeman, March 31. As I have said before, if I have listed someone who is no longer with us, and you recognize this, please let me know. Call me or email me at nfazenbake@aol.com. Thanks.
On March 13, there will be a community organizing meeting for Mel Franklin, who is running for District 9's council seat at the Surratts-Clinton Public Library at 10:30 A.M. Mel is running on a "change of direction" for the county so if you are interested in Mel's campaign, please show up at the meeting on the 13th.
Here are some good ideas in case you have a car accident: First, stay calm; then, check for injuries; do not admit fault; contact the police; exchange information; document the crash scene, file a report with your insurance company, and keep these tips with you wherever you go. This information came from my AAA magazine.
Prior to 1910, Surrattsville High School, the second oldest school in Prince George's County, was a small frame building. Since the school was not crowded, the one-room school building at Piscataway was abolished and those students referred to Surrattsville. Many children walked long distances, rode horse-back, or came to school in horse and buggy. A small stable was provided at the school for feeding and sheltering the horses. Mr. Eugene S. Burroughs was the first principal of the school, receiving $750 a year. In 1908, the total expenses for the school was $1,673.19, which included books, teachers's salaries, fuel, and other miscellaneous expenses.
That year, the total enrollment was 107, of which 68 were in the elementary grades. Latin and French were taught, as well as the three Rs. There was also a Cadet Training Corps at the time. There were three members in the 1908 graduating class and Ms. Blanche Hurt was the only graduate in 1907. In 1910, a larger frame building, with six rooms, was built where the present auditorium now stands. In 1910, at the time the furnace was being installed, James T. Hawkins, known as "Uncle Jimmy" was hired as school custodian,. He died in October 1950 after 35 years of faithful service to the school. He left a spot which no oher can fill as far as memories are concerned. My daughter, Barbara, graduated from Surrattsville and she sent me this information that she received.
Leonardo Da Vinci invented scissors. Also, it took him ten years to paint Mona Lisa's lips.
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In and Around Morningside-Skyline
By Mary McHale
Longtime Camp Springs resident spent 70 years in Sunday School
Ruth Bernice Sellner, of Camp Springs and a lifelong member of Bells United Methodist Church, died Jan. 12 at the age of 91. She was born July 12, 1918 to William and Ruth Pyles Affron, on her grandparents’ truck farm adjacent to Bells Church on land that’s now a part of Andrews AFB. She was delivered by her uncle, Dr. Chester Pyles.
As a child, she was lovingly taught to sew by her grandmother, Alice Jane Pyles, and took piano lessons from Catherine Carrico Sampsel. She first attended school in Washington, then at Camp Springs School. In 1936 she graduated from Surrattsville High School.
Ruth met her future husband, Charles William Sellner, at the corner near Bells’ old white church. In time they married and had three daughters. After taking classes at Strayer College and mastering the Addressograph-Multigraph machine, she went to work for the D.C. Procurement Office,
She began teaching Sunday School when she was 14 and continued for 70 years. She was a member of Bells’ Quilters and enjoyed china painting with her friend Mary Crowley.
Her husband Charles died ten years ago. She was the mother of Bonnie Jo Ann and Charlene Yvonne Sellner and Nancy Jane Costello; sister of David Affron and the late Helen Johnston Tate; grandmother of Melissa and Christopher Costello. Pastor Gerald L. Elston conducted the service at Bells Church. Music was by Bonnie Sellner and The Brethren and readings were by Cynthia Newton, Beverley Bailey Watts, JoAnn Grimes, and Charlene Sellner. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Suitland High grad, class of ’59, dies
Robert Lee “Bob” Ditmars Sr., longtime Morningsider and GPO retiree, died Feb. 10 at his home in Owings. He was 68.
He was born April 13, 1941 in Washington to Myron Lee and Helen Campbell Ditmars and grew up in a home at 309 Woodland Road in Morningside. His parents were among the founders of the Town of Morningside and his father Lee (as he was known) served as a member of the Town Council from 1974 to 1976.
Bob graduated from Suitland High School in 1959 and went to work for the Government Printing Office as a printer. In 1963 he enlisted in the Army and served with the Signal Corps until 1966. He returned to the GPO for 31 more years, finally retiring in 1997.
He was a member of the Printers’ Local 185 of the Graphic Communications Conference/International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
He moved from District Heights to Owings in 1975. He enjoyed fishing, weight lifting, cooking and watching TV.
His parents, Lee and Helen, died three months apart in 2003. Bob is survived by four children, Robert Lee Jr., Charles Lee and David Wayne Ditmars, and April Lynn Welch; four grandchildren; and brothers Frank and Mike Ditmars.
Neighbors
Kendra MacLean, a textile design major at Philadelphia University’s College of Textiles, recently participated in a Foamex competition. Her group finished second with a project involving presentation of a bedding topper and appropriate packaging. She is the daughter of Audrey Pridgen-MacLean, of Skyline Drive.
I’m collecting Snow Heroes, those good people who helped their neighbors, without recompense, during the recent snowstorms. Here are few names I’ve been given: Ashby Harmon, Floyd Shields, Fred and Joan Newman, Shirley Holmes and her family, Mehret Woldu, all of Skyline, and Sylvester Davis, of Clinton. I want to add my son-in-law who drove from Laurel to shovel out my sidewalk and driveway.
Monsignor Michael Farina, 86, who died Feb. 10, was former pastor of Mount Calvary and Holy Spirit parishes in Forestville, and associate pastor of Holy Family in Hillcrest Heights. He was founder and director of Paul VI Institute for the Arts in Washington and one of the founders of the Catholic Historical Society of Washington.
Applause
Barry Schlossberg, of Upper Marlboro, is the recipient of the annual Prince George’s County Civic Federation Cup Award—an award that recognizes continuous service to the community. His service work includes Volunteers in Police Services, Community Emergency Response Team, District Five Citizens’ Advisory Council and the Department of Public Works & Transportation’s community partners group. He is a lifelong resident of Prince George’s County.
Changing landscape
Installation may have been delayed due to the recent snows, but six U.S. territory flags are planned for the front of the Visitor Control Center at Andrews.
Also at Andrews, the grand opening of the Community Airmen’s Center was scheduled for Feb. 5 with billiards, the latest in video games, food and prizes.
Scrub Pro Uniforms has moved into the space that once was Blockbuster and before that, the Hot Shoppes Cafeteria in Marlow Heights. What can we do to get Hot Shoppes back?
Milestones
Happy birthday to Angela Hutchinson, Feb. 27; Gerry Joliffe, Feb. 29; Winifred Lanehart and Charlie Fortner, March 1; Karen (Elborne) Stern and Harold Titus, March 2; and Jennifer Vilky, March 3. Also, in memory of the late Bob Smith whose birthday was Feb. 16. Bob was treasurer for the Morningside Fire Department for 30 years.
Happy anniversary to Clifford and Nancy Lantz on Feb. 26 and to Freda and Michael McDonald, their 30th on Feb. 28. is married to Carolyn. Dave III and his wife Lori live on Woodland Road and are parents of the bride, Jessica, and grandfather of Tara.
The Davis family: Robert “Bossy” and Jean Davis, lived on Forest Grove Dr. Their daughter Carolyn was the first wife of Dave II and is now married. She is the mother of Dave III, grandmother of Jessica, great-grandmother of Tara.
The Butler family: John and Marion Butler were parents of Joanne, now deceased, who was mother of Tereena, grandmother of Jessica, and great-grandmother of Tara.
John Butler, one of Morningside’s oldest residents, still lives on Morgan Road.
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Suitland Beat
By Janice A. Euell
 Check back next week.
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