Published on: Thursday, March 07, 2013

By Mary McHale

Playground opening soon at Cedarville State Forest

A new playground — built entirely of natural things — is scheduled to open this spring at Cedarville State Forest, in Brandywine. Already waiting for you to see is a canoe made from a downed tree.

Cedarville State Forest was originally a winter camping ground for the Piscataway Indians. Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission purchased it in 1930. Three years later, the Civilian Conservation Corps developed roads and trails in the park, planted plantations of loblolly pine, and built two pavilions, which are still in use.

Several years ago I went letterboxing at Cedarville with my sister Rosie. According to their website, letterboxing is “an intriguing pastime combining navigational skills and rubber stamp artistry in a charming treasure hunt style outdoor quest.” We found one letterbox.

It’s a beautiful place. Plan to visit the new playground.

Neighbors

Maj. Raphael Grant, the new commander of Prince George’s County Police Department’s District IV; Carletta Fellows, our newly-elected Board of Education member; and County Councilman Mel Franklin were guest speakers at the February meeting of the Skyline Citizens Association. It was a very stimulating evening.

At the meeting we had our usual collection of canned goods for the Oxon Hill Food Pantry. A table was nearly filled with bags of food, later delivered to the pantry by Betty Cottrell.

John Howie, of Suitland High’s Class of ’63, was discharged from Suburban Hospital on March 4 and is recovering at home. Among those who visited him recently were his Morningside friends Patty and her brother Marty Loughmiller. I got the news from Sue Mason who wrote that John had been King of Suitland and his classmate Karen Knott was Queen. They married after graduation and had a son but, sad to say, Karen died suddenly soon after. John and his wife Nancy currently live in Bryantown.

Alicia Hinds Ward, a relocation assistance contractor at Joint Base Andrews, has been selected as the Washington, D.C. 2013 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year. Eighteen women from across the country, and every branch of military service, have been selected, and the national winner was due to be announced March 9.

My former Skyline Drive neighbors, Evelyn Poe with her daughters Sharon Parker and Terry Wright, dropped by for a visit in February. They were in the area to visit Evelyn’s husband Joe at Cedar Hill Cemetery on the 5th anniversary of his death, Feb. 17, 2008. The Poes were among the first residents of Skyline. Evelyn now lives at Wildewood Senior Living in California, Md.          

It’s Lent

How about a Lenten Fish Fry? Mount Calvary School, located at 6704 Marlboro Pike in Forestville, is holding a fry Friday, March 15. Dine-in and carryout are available. Dinner includes two sides — choice of potatoes, green beans or cabbage — bread or cornbread, and beverage, $10; sandwich, $7. Advance orders are strongly recommended. For more information, call Celeste Locke at 202-841-2741.

The light is on for you! On Wednesday evenings during Lent, visit any Catholic church in the Washington Archdiocese for confession, now called the Sacrament of Reconciliation. At St. Philip’s, the time is 6:30 to 8 p.m. At Mount Calvary, it’s from 6 to 8 p.m.

Family-owned Bethlehem Christian Olive Wood Carvings will be available for sale in St. Philip’s Parish Hall on March 9 after the 5 p.m. Mass and on March 10 after the 9 and 11:30 a.m. Masses.

May they rest in peace

Elder Walter Stinson Parson, 84, of Suitland Road Baptist Church, died Jan. 2. A native of Scottsville, Va., he was the first of his family to graduate from college — Knoxville College, master’s at Coppin State, Bowie State and Washington Bible College. At Suitland Road Baptist, he was superintendent, Sunday School teacher, Board of Trustees and choir member. He loved to work with old cars and to help kids build racers for soapbox derbies. At 75 he began building a two-seater airplane and at 82 he started flying lessons. Survivors include his wife Jackie C, two children, two sisters and a brother.

Edwin Comer Eads, 85, of Wake Forest, N.C. and formerly of Ft. Washington, died Feb. 23. He was president of the Oxon Hill Lions Club and member of the Heritage Golf Club and Legends. Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Shirley Thorne Eads; children, Deborah Reishman, Susan Carskadon and Christopher Eads; brother Howard Eads; four grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Milestones

Happy birthday to Jon McKlveen, Shirley Dodgson and my grandson Richard Shearer, March 9; Angelo Meoli, John F. Latimer, Karl Kaufman Jr., Alberta M. Smith and my son-in-law John Mudd, March 10; Karen Cordero, Blake James Shipman and Father Scott Hahn, March 11; Harold Wilson, Rebecca Turner and Marcy Richardson, March 12; Kathy Elborne, Pamela Woodall, Cordelia Bland, Shirley Carruth and Gregory Ritter, March 13; my daughter Therese Gallegos and Belinda Benavidaz, March 14.