In and Around Morningside-Skyline
By Mary McHale 301-735-3451
Father McCann, an Irishman who left us a message
Very Rev. Charles McCann, who served as Pastor or Vicar for a number of local parishes, died July 7 in Lissan, Northern Ireland. He was 85.
I consider him a special friend because he talked me into joining his tour of Ireland, and later of Italy. Both tours were remarkable, and I’ll forever thank him for introducing me to Europe.
Father Charlie (as many knew him) was born in Lissan on May 16, 1939. He attended St. Patrick’s College, taught in a primary school in Manchester and worked in insurance for Lloyd’s of London before ordination on June 8, 1969, in Ireland, but for the Archdiocese of Washington.
In the U.S., he served as Parochial Vicar (assistant pastor) for Blessed Sacrament, Washington; St. Bernadette, Silver Spring; St. Stephen Martyr, Washington; Sacred Heart, Bowie; and St. Jerome, Hyattsville. Then he was named Pastor at St. Peter Claver, St Inigoes; St. Philip the Apostle, Camp Springs; and St. Peter’s Capitol Hill, before retiring to Jesus, The Divine Word, in Huntingtown. I believe, in retirement, he lived at St. John’s in Clinton for a while, before returning to his native Lissan, Ireland.
Father Charlie is buried in the cemetery at St Michael’s, Lissan. He’s survived by his brothers Malachy, Desmond, Brendan and family circle.
He left a letter for his parish of Lissan in County Tyrone, where he had both begun and ended his faith-filled Journey. Included in the letter were these words, which can be for all of us: “My prayer is that you continue to grow in love and faith. May you always find comfort and strength in one another and in the presence of God.”
Town of Morningside
Morningside has lost its oldest person, Lorenza Arcia, who would have turned 102 in August. I interviewed her and her daughter a few months ago. I’ll find my notes and tell you about her in next week’s column.
Night Out Against Crime is coming up August 6, 5:30–8:30 p.m. The Morningside Website invites, “Lock your doors and spend the evening outside with your neighbors! Effective Crime Prevention begins with strong neighborhood and community relationships. Join us as we celebrate our community and police partnerships.”
There’ll be no Work Session or Town Meeting in August. For information, call 301-736-2300.
Neighbors & other good people
Air Force Col. Jun S. Oh, the new 316th Wing Commander, was installed at Andrews on July 9. Col. Oh previously served as the 374th Operations Group commander at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Outgoing Wing Commander, Col. Todd E. Randolph, will next serve as the Air Force fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.
Miss Anna Martin, voted in as the 87th Queen Nicotina, is the recipient of the 2023 $1,000 Scholarship Award, donated by PNC Bank of La Plata. She’s a graduate of Lackey H.S.
Taraji P. Henson, graduate of Oxon Hill H.S., has been named an Icon and one of Time
magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. You may have seen her in “The Color Purple,” “Benjamin Button,” or my favorite, “Hidden Figures.”
Happy Birthday!
To Alexandria, Virginia, on turning 275! They celebrated the occasion with an overflowing guest list, 3,000 cupcakes, fireworks, and musical performances, including from the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra.
Happy 100th birthday to the Charles County Fair
Charles County is celebrating its 100th Anniversary with a Big County Fair, September 12–15 at the Fair Grounds, even though a recent fire caused massive damage and destroyed several barns!
Plan to come for the judging of sheep, goats, horses, mules, poultry, rabbits, crops, tobacco, pumpkins, dairy products, quilting, fine arts, and more.
Come for rides. On Thursday, Sept. 12, you can ride all evening for one price, $20 wristband. And on the 13th, “Kids Day” all rides reduced. Come for the Kris Kringle Christmas Market. Among other things, the Fair has a museum and the historic McConchie one-room schoolhouse.
Admission: Ages 11 & over, $5; 10 & under, free; 4-day pass $25. Free shuttle bus. Hours: Thursday, 4–9:30 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Information, 301-932-1300 or www.charlescountyfair.com.
Changing landscape
A $1 billion gift to Johns Hopkins University from billionaire Mike Bloomberg will make medical school free for most students! It will also increase financial aid for those enrolled in nursing, public health and other graduate programs.
Penn Forest Shopping Center, in Forestville, was sold to Alexandria-based Woodmont Properties for $7.4 million on June 20.
The Prince George’s County Council passed a resolution on July 16 that will allow several new County schools to be built through a public-private partnership.
The Washington Post announced that “corporate greed is gone!” To prove it, fast-food chains have been slashing prices. First came the Burger King $5 Your Way Meal and McDonald’s $5 Meal Deal. Taco Bell joined the fray with its $7 Luxe Cravings Box. (Does anyone cook anymore?)
A home at 6004 Elmendorf Drive, in Skyline, has been sold for $386,000.
Milestones
This list is long because I didn’t have a column last week. But that’s okay. Make it even longer by sending your birth date to muddmm@gmail.com.
Happy Birthday to Chrissy Bennett, Bea Desmarais and Marie Golihew, July 6; Father Kevin Cusick, Charles “Tony” Haley, Sue Richards and Suitland Road Baptist Church Pastor Rev. Dr. Kelvin McCune, July 7; Jimmy Gromen and Anthony Curcio-Bobbitt, July 8; Karlyn Davis, John Anthony III and my grandson Zachary Seidman, July 9; my daughter Elaine (McHale) Seidman, July 10; Kevin Kline, Nicole Wade, Dee (Curcio) Brown and Dave Williams Jr., July 11; Carolyn Pruitt, July 12.
Kenard Simms, July 13; Laverne Peggy Simms, Krista Lanehart and Laura Thompson Hoffmann, July 14; Helen Jurney, July 15; Norma Wright and Gary Lewis, Jr., July 16; my granddaughter Claire Mudd and Michael Busky, July 17; Allyssa Frederick and former Morningside Council Member Russell Butler, July 18; Mike Fowler Sr. and Eddie Hall, July 19; Donna Buchin, Dorothy Gessner and Tina Nichols, July 20; Mary Hay and Jeff Frederick, July 21; Ryan Simms and David Cook, July 22; Angela Surratt, July 24; Bill Curcio and Thomas DeGraba, July 25.
Happy Anniversary to Dave and Carolyn Williams, their 49th on July 11; my daughter Sheila and John Mudd, their 34th on July 20; Percy and Barbara Crawford, their 52nd on July 22; and Steve and Tessie Johnson, their 24th on July 22.
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Brandywine-Aquasco
By Audrey Johnson 301-922-5384
BRANDYWINE SAARC
Southern Area Aquatics and Recreation Complex center in Brandywine, Maryland is located at 13601 Missouri Avenue, Brandywine, Maryland 20613. Telephone (301)-782-1442. The Recreation Complex (SAARC) is the first multi-generational recreation complex in Prince George’s County. This simply means that SAARC was designed with every member of the family in mind from the preschoolers to the grandparents. It is a place where all members of the family can participate in activities together. SAARC also provides a space for fitness and health goals to happen.
The Guardians by Judy Sutton Moore. Judy Sutton Moore is the artist who created “The Guardians”, an imposing 22-foot steel sculpture posted at the entry to SAARC. The inspiration for this outdoor work is the majestic 150-year-old willow oak tree that resides on the SAARC site. Using an actual leaf that had fallen from the tree, the artist fashioned the design concept which developed into “The Guardians.”
Waters Promise by Heidi Lippman greets you as you pass through the doors’ entering SAARC. It is a 12-foot high and 20-foot-wide wall displaying an explosion of color comprising many thousands of pieces of cut glass of varying sizes and luminosities. Maryland artist Heidi Lippman designed this master mosaic work titled “Waters Promise.” According to Heidi, the inspiration for “Waters Promise” is drawn from the ancient willow oak tree that is now protected on the site of SAARC.
Family Tree/Community Circle by Martha Jackson Jarvis. For inspiration, Martha was struck by how the architect for SAARC used the basic structure of a “Y” shape to represent the 150-year-old willow oak tree in design elements throughout the building. In addition, Martha states, “Family Tree/Community Circle” celebrates the family tree as the essential structural building block of a community.”
ADULT DAY SERVICES
The Arc Prince George’s County’s Adult Day Services provide a variety of recreational, enrichment, vocational, community, and therapeutic experiences, ensuring that the people we support enjoy a meaningful day. The Arc has three day centers providing services for the Northern, Central, and Southern areas of Prince George’s County. These facilities are in Laurel, Temple Hills, and Largo.
The goal of Arc’s Day Services is to support community integration and provide exciting experiences for all participants in the programs. Supported by an Arts, Personal Development, and a Fitness Coordinator, the specialists and staff at each center offer a wide range of activities and excursions related to the arts, movement and dance, fitness, music, personal development skills and enhancements, technology.
Through community partnerships with arts and cultural organizations, fitness and recreation facilities, the Maryland-National Capitol Parks and Planning Commission, local business and civic organizations, participants are provided an exciting range of outings and enrichment opportunities. Community links is a pilot program launched in 2015 that works to further integrate clients into the community with skills-based learning and volunteering opportunities. Participants are collected into small groups on geography and interests. This intentional small grouping has succeeded in creating a “new Community” among participants.
All applicants must be approved to receive services from the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA). Please call each individual office regarding specific office hours. Services this program provides are exercise and fitness, daytime care, adult daycare, recreation, daily life skills, transportation. The population this program serves are adults, young adults, teens, seniors, developmental disability, intellectual disability, caregivers.
For information call 240-532-6001 to get more information. Website: Program’s Website, Facebook: Program’s Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/thearcpgc/), Twitter: Program’s Twitter (https://www.twitter.com/https://twitter.com/thearcofpgc). Eligibility: Must be approved to receive services from the Developmental Disabilities Administration. Languages: English. Cost is free.
This program covers residents of Prince George’s County, Maryland. Temple Hills Day Program, 6001 Southgate Drive, Temple Hills, Maryland 20748. Phone: 301-894-2915, Fax: 301-894-2919. Please call for office hours. The Arc Building, 1401 McCormick Drive, Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20774. Phone: 301-925-7050, Fax: 301-925-4384. Please call for office hours. Largo Day Program & Transportation Services, 9700 Martin Luther King Junior Highway Suite G, Lanham, Maryland 20706. Phone: 301-925-2730, Fax: 301-925-8935. Please call for office hours. Saturdays and Sundays closed.
CASTING CALL
Conversations in Faith casting call for a stage play coming fall 2024. Based on the stage play “Conversations in Faith” by Jocelyn B.D. Moore. Talk show hosts interview Cain, Jonah, Queen Jezebel and other Godly and ungodly notable figures from the Bible. Calling men and women ages 21-74. Amateurs, professionals, singers, and musicians are welcome. Audition is cold reading.
Audition dates and times are flexible. Auditions have been extended to Saturday, July 27, 2024. Please call 240-755-9008 to schedule. Please email your headshot and resume to jocelyn@jmentertainment.info. Audition location: Educational Wing of Providence-Fort Washington United Methodist Church, 10610 Old Fort Road, Fort Washington, Maryland 20744.
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