Morningside’s Independence Day Parade shoves off at 11:30 a.m. from the Morningside Firehouse on Suitland Road. The parade marches up the hill, passes by the Suitland Road Baptist Church, and ends at the VFW. I expect to be under the Baptist tree, waving my flag. Join me.
Family Fun Day activities begin at 1 p.m. at Patterson Park in Morningside and continue until 5. There’ll be loads of free food and games.
Come dusk, there’ll be great Fireworks!
I was a member of the Morningside Recreation Council back in the ‘70s or ‘80s when we started discussing July 4. I think there was already a Parade, but Fireworks was a new idea. The Council suggested it and the Town found the money to do it.
Now, it’s great to see how Morningside celebrates America’s Independence Day.
Volunteers are still needed to help with the Parade and Family Fun Day. Call 301-736-2301 to volunteer.
Neighbors & other good peopleCongressman Steny Hoyer announced the students who’ve been appointed to U. S. Service Academies. The Prince George’s County, 5th District, appointees are: To West Point, Karl Kraske and Andrew Righi. To the Naval Academy, Andrew Lambert and Julienne Wakefield.
M-NCPPC Department of Parks and Recreation in Prince George’s has confirmed Germaine Haywood as its new Chief of Park Police, “With an illustrious career spanning 19 years with the Department and a proven track record of leadership, Chief Haywood brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this vital role.”
David Lawrence Shreve died May 25 after battling Parkinson’s disease. He was the husband of Johanna Elizabeth (Saunders) Shreve; father of Brittany; grandfather of Brandon Monger, Antonio, Antwan, Adam and Timothy Hill, Teeka Duplessis, Jy’Zayahm, Malia, Nya, and Davina. Memorial Service was at Wiseman Funeral Home, Camp Springs. Ashes will be scattered at a later date.
Changing landscapeRuth Mexican Food Truck is now parked at one of our local gas stations. I love enchiladas—are they’ll likely to be on the menu? Guess I’ll give Ruth a try.
I don’t know if this is County-Wide, but I’ve gotten a postcard announcing, “You have a NEW Trash and Recycling Collection Day!” Starting July 1, our day will be Tuesday (replacing Thursday). Which is fine with me. It also announces their new service increases the number of acceptable curbside bulky trash items from two to four. It also includes a monthly curbside scrap metal and electronics recycling pickup, scheduled by appointment only.
A home at 6509 Randolph Road, in Morningside, recently sold for $285,000.
Places to go & things to doClaggett Farm (11904 Old Marlboro Pike) has organic, nutrient-dense vegetables every week from mid-May to mid-November. They donate half of their produce to soup kitchens and homeless shelters. They have grass-fed beef and lamb, Christmas trees and wreaths and more. Check it out.
Shakespeare in the Parks, sponsored by the Folger, begins its annual tour through Prince George’s County. Admission free. Go to pgparks.com.
Alexandria is marking its 275th anniversary. Lots going on, like ALX Jazz Fest @ Portside. visitalexandria.com.
Now hiringPrince George’s County Public Schools is hiring School Bus Drivers. Among the amenities: paid CDL (Commercial Driver’s License Program) training, health insurance, retirement benefits, personal and sick leave, summer opportunities. Info: pgcps.org/drivewithus.
Remembering when we cameBack in mid-June 1958, the McHales moved from Mill Valley, Calif., to 5904 (now 4304) Skyline Drive. Attorney John McAllister, of Pine Lane Drive, had listed the house for sale. An essential for Jack’s work at the FBI, the house was only half-a-block from the bus-stop.
Since he rode the bus, I had the Chevy station wagon to haul the kids.
We arrived with five, Kathleen, Michael, Therese, John and Brian (two more, Elaine and Sheila, born later). I loved the roomy brick house. I loved the trees--in California we had none. We bought the house for just under $21,000.
Our next-door neighbors were Cora Lee & Ted Burke on the one side, Gladys & Tom Cave on the other side, and two houses over, Paul & Virginia Stine. Across the street, lush woods (now four houses).
We registered kids for school: Kathleen at Morningside Elementary, Mike at Mrs. Smith’s Morningside Co-op Kindergarten. We found a Catholic Church (St. Philip the Apostle) — but there was no church building yet. So, parish men built an altar, and Sundays for a year or two we attended Mass in the multi-purpose room of Morningside School.
We bought our groceries at G I Market and at Safeway in Suitland. We made multiple trips to Ernest Hardware, People’s Drugs, and a delightful children’s clothing store (Bo Peep?), all in Suitland. For entertainment, we frequented the Coral Hills Drive-in. And we were thrilled to be able to drive 15 miles into Washington for the free museums. We did them all.
When winter came, we searched for a frozen ice-skating pond. Our favorite was School House Pond in Upper Marlboro. I loved skating and watching the fish swimming in the pond below the ice. I loved the bonfire at dusk.
Jack coached softball for local kids at Morningside School, and later, at Patterson Park (named for our neighbor Doug Patterson). One of Jack’s teams was McHale’s Navy, the name borrowed from TV. I loved that the local schools had summer classes of all sorts, thanks to the Rec Council. My sons were all Cub Scouts and, later, Boy Scouts with Troop 282, Irene & Roscoe Smith, at Bells U.M. Church.
I loved standing along Suitland Road, watching dignitaries—or sometimes hearses, coming down (or up) Suitland Road.
For 66 years, I have loved my home at 4304 Skyline Drive. I’ve enjoyed being involved in Morningside and Skyline activities. Thank you to all, past and present, who’ve made it possible.
MilestonesHappy Birthday to Ruth LaBelle and Jordan Foster, July 1; Sharon Simms, Matthew Clark and Megan Frostbutter, July 2; Gloria Grapevine (her 99th), Pat Richardson Conlon, Sarah Booth and Jack Hay II, July 3; Grace Carruth, Matthew Ryan White and Nya Nichols, July 4; Jean Ihrig and Timothy Hollowsky, July 5.
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