Easter Bunny comes to Morningside March 16

Morningside’s annual celebration of Spring and Easter will be the Bunny Brunch on Saturday, March 16, at the town hall.

Admission includes lunch, egg hunt for independent walkers to age 12, and a visit from the Easter Bunny himself. Bring your own basket and get your picture taken with him.

Admission is $7 per person. Children, age 1 and under (lap seating only) are free but must be accompanied by a paying adult. Reservations and pre-payments are required. Seating is on first come-first served basis. Call 301-736-2301 to register and with questions.

Town of Morningside: vehicle auctionMorningside is auctioning two vehicles from their fleet, a 20ll Ford Crown Victoria (mileage 116,498) and a Chevrolet Silverado LS Extended Cab and Dump Body Bed 4x4 with snow plow (mileage 47,835). Both sold As-Is. If interested, submit your highest bid in a sealed envelope, with the vehicle listed on the outside of the envelope and drop it off at the town hall between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at which time the cars can be viewed (but not driven). Deadline is March 18; Bids will be opened March 19.

March meetings: Work session, Tuesday, March 12, and town meeting, Tuesday, March 19. Both beginning at 7 p.m. For information, call 301-736-2300.

Morningside has a new website — I’ll tell you more about it after I review it myself.

Surratts-Clinton Branch Library has reopenedFinally!! But it’s been worth the wait. It’s beautiful. Daughter Sheila and I visited on the second day it was open. I chatted with patrons — there were quite a few — and librarians and all agree it’s amazing and they’re so glad to have it back.

For children, it offers a Discovery Bay-themed area with sailboat-shaped reading nooks, a lighthouse for children to sit on and read, a wall mural of animals and fish of the Chesapeake Bay, seagulls flying from the ceiling.

Larger meeting room with a stage, a room for children and a room for teens. A vending café, a fireplace, a comfort room for parents, and a stained-glass mosaic near the entrance which depicts views the Chesapeake Bay from Calvert Cliffs State Park.

There’ll be a grand opening event with Library officials at the first opportunity. In the meantime, the library will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Surratts-Clinton Library was originally dedicated in January 1980. It was built on land once owned by the Piscataway Nation and is named for two historic area names. It closed for renovations the summer of 2019 during which time, a temporary pop-up location was at Davies Unitarian Universalist in Temple Hills.

Neighbors & other good peopleJohn Mudd, of Laurel, my remarkable son-in-law, recently celebrated 35 years with Local 26 IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers). During those 35 years, he worked for Giant Food and Al Gleeson Electric.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) presented its 2024 Congressional Award to Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) for his steadfast support to veterans, service members, their families and survivors.

Yes, I have a March 12 birthday, and this year it’s my 95th! Maybe I’ll bore you with My Life & Times next week.

I would like to announce high school graduates for 2024 in an upcoming column. Email me (muddmm@gmail.com) with name, school, and plans for the future.

Changing landscapeThe annual guess-when has begun. The last I saw was March 19-23, for the cherry blossoms, according to the National Park Service..

Yummy Halal —New York Street Food — has opened at 5744 Silver Hill Road in District Heights. They specialize in desserts, gyros, salads and wraps.

The D.C. health department has moved its headquarters and more than 600 workers from North Capitol Street to a new building in historic Anacostia.

A new hospital, Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center, is set to open next year on the St. Elizabeths East Campus.

Kingman Island, a 40-acre spit of land in the Anacostia River, across from RFK Stadium, is getting revitalized. Last month it was cleared of debris — some of it toxic — that had accumulated over decades. Various plans have been being discussed for the island, including making it parking for RFK (that was dismissed). A park is possible.

Macy’s plans to close 150 of their department stores. I didn’t know there were still that many around. I miss the Macy’s in Marlow Heights, and even more, I miss the Macy’s in downtown DC. And Woodies and Hecht’s. Ah, those were the days!

A home at 4312 Ridgecrest Drive, in Skyline, just sold for $405,000.

Ms. Betty, always with a bookBetty Jean Walker, 77, of Upper Marlboro, died Jan. 31, with her husband at her side. To many in Bridgepoint and the community, she was known as Ms. Betty.

She was born in Washington, daughter of Raymond Marwood and Georgia Samuel. She graduated from McKinley Technology HS and worked at Washington Fur and Storage, Control Data.

However, her most beloved career was at New Image Child Development Center. Though she “birthed no children, she loved all children that came across her path. She loved them and they loved Ms. Betty.”

Betty married John T. Walker on Nov. 26, 1977, and they had “44 great years” until her death. He composed a poem for “My Precious Wife.” One sweet stanza: “I miss our talks, and the special way you’d understand, I miss the closeness that we shared, and how you’d hold my hand.”

She loved fashion and made her own clothes. Did crosswords and loved reading, always had a book, with another book ready.

In addition to her husband John, survivors include sisters Juanita and Dorothy and brother Aaron. Services were at Marwood Senior Apartments, Upper Marlboro, where the Walkers lived. Bishop Clyde L. Hargraves, Sr., officiating Pastor.

MilestonesHappy Birthday to Karen Proctor, Constance Bennett and my great-grandson Riley McHale, March 16; Sharon Ryan, Helene Williams, Judy Bornman and Alysha Perez, March 18; Kristopher Calhoun and Audrey Pridgen, March 19; Russ Kyser, Matthew Curcio‑Bobbitt and Dejuh Bedewi, March 21.

Happy Anniversary to Morrine and Harold Wilson on March 22.