In and Around Morningside-Skyline
By Mary McHale 301-735-3451
Remembering the Cap Centre, now that Boulevard is being demolished
The Boulevard at Capital Centre shopping center is coming down to make way for Carillon, a new lifestyle-oriented mixed-use development. Demolition, which began in July, is expected to be complete by the spring of 2020. Eventually the site will feature a medical office building, shops, restaurants and AMC IMAX Theater.
But let’s take a trip down memory lane. Remember how excited you were when the Capital Centre arena opened in 1973?
Some of our local teens worked there, and some of us made our way there for the Bullets or Capitals, All-Star games, and major tournaments. You might have been there when boxer Jimmy Young challenged Muhammad Ali in the World Heavyweight Championship. (Ali won.)
You might have gone to the first concert at the Centre, the Allman Brothers Band. Elvis Presley played there twice and Frank Sinatra four times. And there were The Eagles, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Queen, The Bee Gees, Kiss, Sammy Davis Junior, Rolling Stones, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Styx, Chicago, The Grateful Dead, Madonna, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen and so many more. Early on, tickets were $7.50, $10 and $12.50.
On Jan. 21, 1985, Festivities celebrating President Ronald Reagan’s 2nd inauguration were moved to the Cap Centre after bitterly cold weather cancelled the inaugural parade.
In 1999, the Capital Centre closed. In 2002 it was imploded. In 2003 The Boulevard at Capital Center opened with 70 shops and restaurants. Some will remain, but 290,000 square feet are under demolition.
Then, Carillon is coming. I wonder how long it will last.
Changing landscape
The Town of Forest Heights is moving ahead with annexation of 446.88 acres, including land along Oxon Hill Road, Oxon Hill Methodist Church, Oxon Hill HS, and lots more, doubling the size of Forest Heights.
And speaking of annexation, the Town of Upper Marlboro’s Board of Town Commissioners recently introduced a resolution that would annex land, including nearby Show Place Arena.
Family Dollar, is hosting its Grand Opening at 8934 Woodward Road in Clinton, on the site of the former Rite Aid.
Coming up
The Maryland Horse & Pony Show will be at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Wednesday Sept. 11 to Sept. 15. Registration is required for participants. Info: 301-952-7900.
“St. Elizabeths: Then & Now” will be discussed by museum docent and historian David Wellington at the Surratt House on Oct. 5, 4 p.m. Admission is free. Find out why there’s no apostrophe in the name.
Census 2020: The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting thousands of people across the country to assist with the 2020 Census count. Go to 2020census.gov for information.
From the Morningside VFD website:
“Numbers are in, and it was another busy month for our volunteers. Co. 27 turned out 601 runs in the 30 days of June, while our members donated 6,170 hours of participation. Morningside is proud to serve, and it shows, a lot!”
And remember, these are all volunteers!
Dolores Steinhilber, first SCA President (continued)
In May 1970, those several hundred residents who met in the Skyline School multi-purpose room tapped Dolores Steinhilber to be the first president—of the Parkway Citizens Association!
However, that name didn’t last. Before long, we decided the name Parkway Citizens Association didn’t reflect us. After all, there was Skyline School, Skyline Restaurant, Skyline Terrace, Skyline Drive and Skyline Subdivision. On Feb. 3, 1971, we voted for Skyline Citizens Association. And so it has been for nearly half a century.
Our new President assigned Charlie Tretler chairman of the By-Laws Committee, with members Gene Dunlap, Cecil Matthews, Frank Robbins and Arthur Zdobysz.
Dolores called on Mary McGrath to issue the newsletter. Mary tapped Mary McHale to help her. But before long, Mary McGrath moved away, and the newsletter fell to that other Mary. Forty-nine years later, I’m still editing the Skyline Newsletter.
On Jan. 7, 1971, a 7-year-old-boy, on his way to Skyline School, was attacked by a dog. The Block Mothers Committee was founded.
To be continued.
Mary Bowen, wed Stanley at Temple Hills Baptist
Mary Bowen, 77, retired cosmetologist, 1960 graduate of Oxon Hill HS, died August 11. For the past 49 years she has lived in Charles County.
She met her future husband, Stanley Bowen, when she was attending Oxon Hill High. Rev. J. Suttey married them Nov. 25, 1960, at Temple Hills Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband of 48 years, Stanley; children, Susan Marie Conner, Linda D. Bennett and Stanley William Bowen; five grandchildren; five great-grands; and her brother, Charles Gaines. Services were at Raymond Funeral Home with burial at Trinity Memorial Gardens.
Glen Sweeting, Smithsonian Air & Space curator
Charles “Glen” Sweeting, of Clinton and Deltona, Fla., noted military and aviation history author, retired Air Force Master Sargent and retired curator at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, died July 1.
His collection of uniforms, weaponry and other WWII items were procured by the Imperial War Museum in England and are on display in the Sweeting Room.
He was the husband for 68 years to Alice Joyce Sweeting, father of Linda Sweeting and Thomas Sweeting. Services were at Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home with burial later at Arlington.
Milestones
Happy birthday to Joseph R. Maiden, Jr., Aug. 23; Edith Hull, Aug. 26; Shirley Holmes, Chris Busky, William Fowler and twins Anthony and Avery Simmons, Aug. 27; my daughter-in-law Michelle McHale, Aug. 29; and Lavine Callicott and her husband Bill, both on Aug. 29.
Happy 16th anniversary to John and Stacie Smith on Aug. 23.
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Brandywine-Aquasco
By Audrey Johnson 301-922-5384
IT’S A BACK-TO-SCHOOL COOK-OUT
Come and enjoy fellowship, games, waterslide and basketball at our back-to-school cook-out Sunday, August 25, 2019 from 12 p.m. until 3 p.m. at St. Philip’s Church, Baden Parish. The cook-out will be held at the outdoor parking lot (rain or shine). The church address is 13801 Baden Westwood Road, Brandywine, Maryland 20613.
Hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and drinks will be provided. Please bring your own lawn chairs and blankets. Admission is back to school supplies. Benefit: Peter A. Gross Sr., Scholarship/Memorial Fund Inc.
WESTPHALIA COMMUNITY CARNIVAL
Join the fun at our Community Carnival Saturday, September 28, 2019 from 12 Noon–6 p.m. This is a free event for all ages. There will be food stations, games and entertainment rides. Dr. Timothy West, Pastor. Church address is 9363 D’Arcy Road, Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Telephone number is 301-735-9373. Website: www.westphaliaum.org. Email: Info@westphaliaum.org.
PATIENT AMBASSADORS
“Do you have a sunny outlook? Do you enjoy listening to people and bringing comfort and support to others? Do you have four hours or more you would to donate per week to a great cause? If so, you may be right for MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center (MSMHC)’s Patient Ambassador Program”.
“Patient Ambassadors take a cart on rounds of patient rooms, providing comfort items like tissue, word and sudoku puzzles, crayons, headphones or coloring books for young visitors. Ambassadors are also tasked with visiting patients to make sure their stay is going well. They must be friendly, warm, positive and caring. If this describes you, we invite you to fill out an online application. We ask for a commitment of at least four hours per week for at least three months.”
Visit MedStarSouthernMayland.org/Patient Ambassador to find an application online for MSMHC’s Patient Ambassador Program.
PGCPS SYSTEMIC ORIENTATION DAY
Systemic Orientation Day: Pre-K and Kindergarten students will be Thursday, August 29, 2019 all day at all schools and centers. Please check with your child(children)’s school for more information about this day.
Systemic Orientation Day: New 6th and 7th Middle Schoolers and New 9th Graders will be Friday, August 30, 2019 at all schools and centers. This day is only for new 6th graders, 7th grade middle-schoolers and new 9th graders. This is a full day activity. Check with your school for the day’s schedule.
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY FOOTBALL JAMBOREE
The Prince George’s County Football Coaches’ Association, in partnership with the Office of Athletics will conduct a Football Jamboree for the school community to provide a snapshot of the 2019 football teams. The Jamboree will be held Wednesday, August 28, 2019 from 3 p.m.–8:30 p.m. at Charles Flowers High School, 10001 Ardwick-Ardmore Road Springdale, Maryland 20774. Teams will play for 30 minutes each. Athletics office number is 301-669-6050.
THE SURRATT HOUSE MUSEUM
Freebie Fridays at the Surratt House Museum, cool history in a cool house every Friday in August at 9118 Brandywine Road, Clinton, Maryland. Telephone number is 301-868-1121. Visit the website at www.surrattmuseum.org history.pgparks.com. Parks & Recreation MNCPPC.
NAACP
NAACP founded 1909 Charles County Branch #7016 NAACP 32nd Annual Freedom Fund Gala will be held Saturday, September 7, 2019 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Middleton Hall Renner Road, Waldorf, Maryland. Dinner, Dancing and celebrating 110 years of Civil Rights History. Advanced tickets are $55, limited tickets at the door are $65.
CHARLESCOUNTYNAACP.ORG. Cheryl Botts 301-580-0487 and William Braxton 301-481-2745.
ALUMNI DAY
Pomonkey High School Alumni Day was held Saturday, August 10, 2019 from 1–6 p.m. It was a day to return, engage, connect and discover. We had lighting of Memorial Candles, honoring class of 1969, roll call of classes 1924–1969, and recognized School Teachers. Music provided by The Sounds of Leon.
All proceeds will benefit restoration of the old Pomonkey High School and Scholarship Fund. Thanks to everyone who helped to make our day a great success.
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