Brandywine-Aquasco
By Audrey Johnson, 301-922-5384
RIDGELEY ROSENWALD SCHOOL
“Ridgeley School was opened in 1927 as Colored School No.1 in Election District 13. The small school was located in central Prince George’s County in the African American community of Ridgely. A recipient of a Rosenwald Fund grant, the school was one of nearly 5,000 Rosenwald schools built in the south for African American children. The fund provided seed money for the schools, and the local African American community provided the rest with tax revenue, cash, and in-kind donations. Along with a nearby church and society hall, also named Ridgely, the school was one of the focal points of the community until it was closed in 1954. Ridgeley was then used as a special education center and as administrative offices.”
“Having remained largely intact, the Ridgeley School is one of the best examples of a Rosenwald school in Prince George’s County. The building originally consisted of two large classrooms (each of which served at least three grades), a central passageway; and an entrance flanked by two cloakrooms. A third classroom was added by the 1950s. Of 27 Rosenwald schools built in Prince George’s County, the Ridgeley School is one of nine that remains. Newly restored, the school has retained many of the original design elements. The facility is operated in partnership with the Prince George’s County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. The school address is 8507 Central Avenue, Capitol Heights, Maryland. Telephone 301-333-6560. This facility is operated by the M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County, and the Natural and Historical Resources Division.”
SENIOR PROM NIGHT
Dance the night away and relive the magic of Senior Prom Night. Whether you went to prom, you missed it, or went but wish the memory could be rewritten, this night is for you. Our Senior Prom for Ages 45 & Better is a night created specially to celebrate life and joy. Come solo. Come with friends. Come with your sweetheart. Come dressed in Royalty. Saturday, August 15 from 6 p.m. to 11:30 a.m. This isn’t just a dance, it’s a moment of restoration. Event is 5 hours 30 minutes. Location: Life’s Journey Banquet Hall, 2960 Technology Place Suite 102 b, Waldorf, Maryland 20601. Eventbrite for tickets. Refunds up to 7 days before event.
ZION WESLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Join us for Zion Wesley 148th Church Anniversary Sunday, March 29, 2026, at 3 p.m. Church address is 11500 Berry Road, Waldorf, Maryland, 20603. Guest Speaker will be Rev. Nurbert Hughes, Pastor Alexandria Chapel United Methodist Church, 5605 Chicamuxen Road, Indian Head, Maryland, 20640.
MAKE THIS SUMMER UNFORGETTABLE
Get ready for sunshine, smiles, and adventure. M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County Summer Day Camps are perfect for kids to make new friends, explore the outdoors, and discover new talents. Every day brings something exciting, from creative arts and sports to nature walks and splash days. Most camp sessions are two weeks long, but many sites offer one-week sessions. Most camps offer before and/or after-care to help working parents with safe children options. Join us for a season of laughter, learning, and lasting memories. This summer, the Department of Parks and Recreation offers more than 450 camp sessions.
Summer Day Camps June 15–August 21, 2026. Ages 4–17. Before and After Care available. One week or two-week sessions. Hours 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Variety of camps: art, sports, nature, coding, sign language, video games. Fee Assistance available. Payment scheduling is available with deposit of $50 per child, per session.
SHOW PLACE ARENA
“The Show Place Arena is a 5,800-seat multi-purpose arena just south of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, which is used for sporting events, concerts, boxing and professional wrestling events, consumer shows, trade shows, religious services, graduations and other events.” Wikipedia. Address: 14900 Pennsylvania Avenue, Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20772. Capacity: 5,800. Opened: 1993. Phone: (301) 952-7900.
BILL PICKETT INVITATIONAL RODEO
Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo for Kids’ Sake will be held Friday, September 18, 2026, 10 a.m. at Show Place Arena, 14900 Pennsylvania Avenue, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, 20772.
KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND
Enjoy KC and the Sunshine Band on Friday, March 27, 2026, at 8 p.m. MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill, Maryland. Box office hours on show days; 3 hours prior to ticketed event. Location from the Hotel Valet enter the hotel doors and
proceed right, past the Lobby Bar and proceed right, past the Lobby Bar, and down the escalators. The Theater will be immediately on your right. From the Casino Valet.
CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH
Celebrate Juneteenth. Understand the history and celebrate the emancipation of African Americans from slavery in the United States at National Harbor. Our Annual National Harbor Juneteenth Celebration is back on Friday, June 19 starting at 11 a.m. National Harbor’s Black owned Marketplace, Rhythm & Roots Stage Performances.
CLINTON UMC VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
Save the dates: Vacation Bible School will be held at Clinton United Methodist Church Monday, July 13 through Friday, July 17, 2026, from 9 a.m.–Noon. This will be a fun week of Arts & Crafts, Science, Recreation, Music, Bible Story Telling, Music, Reflections and Snacks. Please contact Audrey Johnson VBS Director 301-922-5384 or email ajohnson@yahoo.com. Registration forms will be on the church website by the end of March, or I can mail you a registration form.
Top of Page
In and Around Morningside-Skyline By Mary McHale 301-735-3451 97th-birthday biographyLast week I threatened to do a biography for you. Well, here it is:
I was born March 12, 1929, at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, to Dr. Richard Mudd, an intern from Washington D.C., and Rose Krummack Mudd, a nurse from Nebraska.
I grew up in Dearborn, Michigan; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Saginaw, Michigan; and got my education with the nuns at several Catholic schools.
By 1941, America was at war. Dad moved us to Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas, where he headed the medical department, and I attended Our Lady of the Lake High School.
World War II ended. The Mudds—Mom and Dad and seven kids—house-trailered back to Saginaw. Then, I went off to St. Mary’s College in South Bend, Indiana. It was there that I met Jack McHale at a tea dance. (Tea was never served. Instead, we gathered in the Social Hall with a Victrola and stack of big-band records.)
I danced with Jack McHale, a Notre Dame journalism major from Houston, Texas. In 1950 we both graduated. On Jan. 3, 1951, we were married at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Saginaw. Then, we packed the car with all my earthly belongings and motored to Houston where Jack was a reporter for The Houston Press.
However, shortly thereafter, Jack joined the FBI. So, we drove to Washington for FBI training and to meet J. Edgar Hoover.
Jack’s first FBI office was Los Angeles. Then San Francisco. In 1958, we transferred back to Washington and settled in Skyline where we raised our seven children. I still live in the same house.
As my children grew up and moved away, I became a librarian at St. Philip’s School and continued my education by earning a master’s degree in Library Science at Catholic University. I retired from St. Philip’s Library in 1999.
I started editing the Skyline Newsletter in 1970 and began writing this column in 1976.
In 2004, I lost my husband Jack and in 2016, my son Brian. I miss them so much!
This year, my March 12 birthday was busy! I had visits from son John McHale, and Will Foreman (and I missed a visit from Jim Reilly), plus many phone calls and emails. For lunch, I enjoyed eggplant parmesan and a glass of wine at Nonna Angela’s in Crofton. Daughters Kathleen Shearer and Elaine Seidman, and grandson Conor McHale were there, as was nephew Mike Mudd, who was nice enough to grab the check.
I especially appreciated that Mike drove since it was snowing as we left the restaurant—a surprising difference from the 84-degree weather we’d had the day before.
Now, I have a stack of 126 birthday cards, six bottles of wine, five puzzles, and a variety of snacks to keep me busy.
Oh, thank you so much to those of you who wished me a happy 97th birthday.
Town Council seats up for electionCandidate petitions were due March 2. The seats are currently held by John Anthony and Sharon Fowler, the only candidates to turn in petitions by the deadline.
Voters can register at the Town Hall by 9 p.m., April 6. The election will be at the Town Hall on May 4, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Upcoming Town meetings include the March 10 work session at 7 p.m. and the regular meeting March 17, at 7 p.m. See you there!
2nd Allentown Road speed camera has arrived!When I was visiting Karen Rooker at the Town Hall, Councilman Todd Mullins stopped by to chat. He is the Council member who oversees streets and roads, and he’s had his hands full recently.
Todd reports that, after several months of preparation and study, Morningside has installed a speed camera on the Joint Base Andrews side of Allentown Road. It joins the camera that covers the Andrews Manor side, which was installed last summer.
The speed limit for this stretch of road also has dropped. Previously, it was 40 mph on that side of the road, even though it was 35 mph in the other direction. Now, Allentown Road in front of Andrews Manor is 35 mph in both directions.
Slow down!
New red-light camera, and potholesMorningside also is installing a new red-light camera on Allentown Road at the Suitland Road intersection. This traffic light had a camera in the past, but it has been gone for several years. The new camera is operated by a different vendor and will have upgraded technology.
Councilman Mullins also mentioned that the new development on Suitland Road had cut into the road pavement to run utilities to the six house sites. That work resulted in four strips of patched pavement. The recent snowstorms—and subsequent plowing—produced some substantial potholes at those patches. A couple of Morningside residents suffered flat tires and bent wheel rims courtesy of those potholes, before the developer redid the patches.
Once weather is warmer and the construction work finished, the road will be resurfaced across those patches for a more permanent fix. Until then, I advise you to pay a little extra attention when you’re driving that stretch of road, especially if, God forbid!, we get more snow.
MilestonesHappy Birthday to Kristopher Calhoun and Audrey Pridgen, March 19; Gladys Davidson, March 20; Russ Kyser, Matthew Curcio-Bobbitt, and Dejuh Bedewi, March 21; Ruth Anthony, my great-grandson Jack McHale, and Hudson Murphy Glaubitz, March 23; Lewis Woods, March 24; Ken Kyser and Jay Rollins, March 25.
Happy Anniversary to Morrine and Harold Wilson, March 22.
Top of Page
