In and Around Morningside-Skyline
By Mary McHale 301-735-3451
Saying hello and goodbye to our 39th President
Jimmy Carter was inaugurated on January 20, 1977, and—as usual back then—I was there. I was standing in line on Pennsylvania Avenue, waiting for President and Mrs. Carter to pass by in the Inaugural Parade.
Their car approached. It stopped in front of us. The Carters climbed out and began to walk in the Parade. We all cheered. I reached into my pocket for a snack—and pulled out nuts. The man behind me leaned over and asked for the shells.
Only then it dawned on me—I was shelling peanuts as I watched a peanut farmer from Georgia—now President of the United States—parading past me, down Pennsylvania Avenue.
I was reminded of that event again as I watched, on TV, his hearse make its way to Andrews Air Force Base, to fly over my house, on its way back to Plains, Georgia.
It’s long-awaited Snow Time in Morningside
Every winter I hope for snow. I was born and grew up in Michigan—and we had SNOW. Lots of it. Every winter. I miss it.
So, when I woke Monday, January 6, and looked outside—there was snow. It was so beautiful. I didn’t want anything to disturb it. I wanted it to last forever.
Then, my Washington Post didn’t arrive. For three days.
In my antiquated state (95), I couldn’t leave the house—not even to check the mailbox. And my sack of birdseed was emptying fast.
The snow was beginning to lose its enchantment. I’m now ready for melting.
But I suspect some of you have a snow story to tell. Email it to me at muddmm@gmail.com.
The shovelers
Years ago, when it snowed, I’d have half a dozen boys out front looking to make some money shoveling my walk. But not now. Not a single boy showed up.
But a girl did.
She did such a good job on the sidewalk that, after I paid her, I suggested she come back the next day as the sidewalk would need it again. The next day, she returned, with her sister. They did the sidewalk again, and the driveway.
They are Kamiya Wilcox, a sophomore at Wise, and Kyra Wilcox who attends Drew-Freeman Middle School in Suitland. The Wilcox family lives on Reamy Drive in Morningside.
I can recommend them if you need shovelers for the next snowfall.
The price of snow
Conor McHale, who works at Eastover Auto Parts, thought this says it all about what snow time in Washington is like. He wrote,
“I thought you would be amused by these stats from Eastover: In the past week, we have sold: 2650 pounds of road salt, 55 wiper blades, 40 gallons of windshield washer fluid and 30 cans of windshield de-icer spray.”
Snow can be expensive!
Town of Morningside
I checked with Karen, and she reports that Morningside did a great job through the snow. They had three trucks going, keeping the roads open.
The new McDonald’s, which is in Morningside at Allentown & Suitland Roads, is about to open its doors. Will you be the first in line for a Big Mac?
Morningside will be closed Monday, January 20, for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. It will re-open Tuesday, January 21 for the monthly Town Meeting at 7 p.m.
For information about All Things Morningside, call 301-736-2300.
Milestones
Happy Birthday to Dennis Seaman, Linda Cullinan, Jan. 19; June Nicholson, Gina Glagola Hull and my sister Stella Thelen, Jan. 20; my grandson Jason Shearer, Jan 22; Mark Foland, Jan. 23; Claire Kennedy and my father, Dr. Richard Dyer Mudd, Jan. 24; Kenneth Brown and Michelle Willis, Jan. 25.
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Brandywine-Aquasco
By Audrey Johnson 301-922-5384
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (officially Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., and often referred to in shorthand as MLK Day) is a federal holiday in the United States observed on the third Monday of January each year. King was chief spokesperson for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement, which protected racial discrimination in federal and state law and civil society. The movement led to several groundbreaking legislative reforms in the United States.
Born in 1929, Martin Luther King Jr.’s actual birthday is January 15 (which in 1929 fell on a Tuesday). The earliest Monday for this holiday is January 15 and the latest is January 21. The Monday observance is similar for those federal holidays which fall under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.
The campaign for a federal holiday in King’s honor began soon after his assassination in 1968. President Ronald Reagan signed this holiday into law in 1983, and it was first observed three years later on January 20, 1986. At first, some states resisting observing the holiday as such, giving it alternative names or combining it with other holidays. Official observance in each state’s law as well as federal law occurred in 2000.
Proposals: The idea of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a holiday was promoted by labor unions in contract negotiations. After King’s death, Representative John Conyers, a Democrat from Michigan, and Senator Edward Brooks, a Republican from Massachusetts, introduced a bill in Congress to make King’s birthday a national holiday. The bill first came to a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1979. It fell five votes short of the number needed for passage. Two of the main arguments mentioned by opponents were that a paid holiday for federal employees would be too expensive, and that a holiday to honor a private citizen would be contrary to longstanding tradition (King had never held public office). Only two other figures have national holidays in the U.S. honoring them: George Washington and Christopher Columbus. Information from Wikipedia.
2025 MLK HOLIDAY DC ANNUAL PEACE WALK & PARADE
The Annual MLK Holiday DC Peace Walk & Parade will be IN-PERSON on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at the Entertainment & Sports Arena, 1100 Oak Drive, Southeast Washington, DC 20032. Theme: Commit To the Noble Struggle for Equal Rights Doors open at 10:30 a.m. IMPORTANT: The MLK Parade will take place indoors at Entertainment & Sports Arena and tickets are required to enter. Tickets can be bought online. Organized by www.mlkholidaydc.org.
TEEN VOCAL SHOWCASE AUDITION 2025
Teen Vocal Showcase Audition 2025 presented by M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation will be held on January 18, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration is free. Pre-teens ages 10–12 and teens 13–18, must be 18 yr. by March 30, 2025. This event is free. Must attend and show proof of Prince George’s Public Schools via school ID, school max, etc. Audition Video Fee is $10 (email address required) Audition Attire is DRESS TO IMPRESS taken on day of audition. Location is Publick Playhouse, 5445 Landover Road, Cheverly, Maryland 20784.
Calling all Youth Teen Vocalists. Prince George’s County participants will have a chance to perform and complete in a showcase at historic Publick House for prizes. First place prize $1,000, second place prize $500.00. Audition Music: Acapella, song selection-no lyrics, music on thumb drive for audition. Must come prepared to sing song day of audition. Audition time allotted is five minutes, time slots from 10:05 a.m.–3 p.m. Tickets www.pgparks.com/event_list/teen-vocal showcase.
ANNUAL PRE-Big Football Day SPAGHETTI DINNER
St. Philip’s Church Baden Parish will have their Annual Pre-Big Football Day Spaghetti Dinner Sunday, February 2, 2025, at 11 a.m. Donation $8.00, children 10 and under $4.00. Pre-orders and pre-paid only. Dinners include Homemade spaghetti (Beef or Turkey), salad, garlic bread, homemade desert. Pre-orders accepted until January 26, 2025. Cash App available-$stphilipschurchbaden. Address: 13801 Baden Westwood Road, Brandywine, Maryland 20613. Telephone is 301-888-1536. Contacts are Michele Chase 240-882-3369, Doretha Savoy 301-233-3136, Vivian Rich 804-301-9530.
VALENTINE’S DAY BRUNCH
Brunch is in the air at (SAARC) Southern Area Aquatics & Recreation Complex, 13601 Missouri Avenue, Brandywine, Maryland 20613. Telephone 301-782-1442/ TTY: 301-699-2544. Join us for a morning of food and fun at our Valentine’s Day Brunch Friday, February 14, from 9:30 a.m.–11 a.m. FEE: $12 PARKS DIRECT: SPPD-SPEC-GA-20250214.
FALL FACTOR FITNESS WITH GALA
Come and partake in exercise that builds leg strength and improves body mechanics and balance, which is all important to reducing falls on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, from 11–11:45 a.m. Free in Program Room B at (SAARC) Southern Area Aquatics & Recreation Complex, 13601 Missouri Avenue, Brandywine, Maryland, 20613. Telephone 301-782-1442/ TTY: 301-699-2544.
CELEBRATING US FASHION SHOW
Just us for a family fun event while we showcase various styles, African Attire, Urban Style, Smart Casual, semi formal-formal. Saturday, February 22, 2025, from 2 p.m.–4 p.m. Admission: Adults $15, children 5–17: $5 (under 5 Free). Address is St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, 13801 Baden Westwood Road, Brandywine, Maryland 20613. Proceeds: Benefits St. Philip’s. Ticket Contacts: Mrs. Butler 301-520-3145, Mrs. Hall 703-201-3863, Mrs. Somerville 240-682-3657.
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