Published on: Wednesday, January 02, 2013

By Mary McHale

Morningside Rescue Engine 27 featured in ‘Firehouse’

Morningside Fire Department’s new rescue engine gets yet another national nod, this time in the November 2012 issue of Firehouse magazine.

The engine made two sections. The first was in the Apparatus Showcase section, where it was pictured and featured for Spartan Chassis. The second was in the Apparatus Architect column, where the engine was highlighted for its ability to operate as a squad or an engine company.

Rescue Engine 27 went into production in January 2012, after a thorough design process, and was delivered in April. It’s the pride of the department.

Baby Katelyn

Ruth Sanford, of Morningside, has a new great-granddaughter, Katelyn Morgan Brown-Sandoval, born in Baltimore Nov. 30 to Kevin and Kerri Sandoval. She weighed in at 7 pounds, 11 ounces. Ruth’s daughter Linda Sandoval is the proud grandmother.

Neighbors

A group of residents, most from Offut Drive, gathered on the street Dec. 18 to meet with Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission inspectors and other authorities, to point out how water is coming up right through the newly paved street, apparently from new-laid pipes, though maybe from springs. The investigation continues.

Nita Boone, formerly of Suitland Road, called from her new home in Pennsylvania to report that she had been here, visiting family and friends, when she stopped at the ESSO station, on the corner of Suitland and Skyline Drive, to get gas. She was having problems with the pump when a nice man said, “I’ll help you.” He directed her to another pump and pumped the gas for her. She asked me to say that there are nice people everywhere.

Congratulations

To Wise High School — now attended by Morningside and Skyline high schoolers — on toppling Quince Orchard to win the Class 4A State Title. The Pumas went undefeated this season. By the way, the school name is Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School.

To Selena Holmes, a student at Suitland High, who created Stanley, a life-size octopus made of chicken wire, cloth, surgical gauze, dowel rods, paper mache, marbles, lights and bottle tops, to win first prize in the category of workmanship at the 11th annual Maryland Department of the Environment Rethink Recycling Sculpture Contest on Nov. 16. First Lady Katie O’Malley presented Serena with her award, a Nook Tablet.

To Mason Arroyo, second grader at St. Mary’s School of Piscataway, on being awarded 1st Place for the Christmas card he designed for the Catholic Standard newspaper’s annual Christmas Card contest.

Morningside memories

On Oct. 5, 1982, Tommy Wiman was honored with a surprise party on retiring as manager of Skyline Restaurant, which he had owned since 1968. Hosts were the Morningside Sportsmen Club, Dick Jurney and restaurant employees. Among the guests were Delegates Joe Vallerio, John Wolfgang and Bill McCaffrey.

May they rest in peace

Gwendolyn M “Dodie” Savoy, 47, a cook at Shady Oak Inn in District Heights, died Dec. 6. She was the daughter of William Fletcher and May Savoy, mother of Phillip and Delonte Savoy, Derrell Owens and the late Nakia Savoy. She is also survived by four siblings and two grandchildren. Her friend and co-worker Chuckie Henry called to give me the sad news and said he had planned to take her to Ocean City on her next birthday, May 7.

Thomas J. Allshouse Sr., 61, marketing executive and a 1969 graduate of McNamara High School, died Dec. 8. He is survived by his wife of 12 years, Kit; sons, Thomas J. Sr. and Brian M. Allshouse; stepson, Broc Wilkerson; six siblings; and a grandson.

Milestones

Happy birthday to Christopher Garris, Anne Lucas, Patsy Anderson and my granddaughter Samantha McHale, Dec. 28; Brayden Proctor, Dec. 29; Amy Anthony and Robert Tretler, Dec. 30; Pat Spry, Dec. 31; Sister Haimanot, Dorothy Cullinan and Bridget Vilky, Jan. 1; Carmina Young and Evelyn Lozano, Jan. 2; Gene Desmarais and Courtni Bland, Jan. 3.

Happy anniversary to my grandson David and Nina McHale, their 12th on Dec. 30; Tom and Monique Laws, on Jan. 3; my grandson Conor and Heather McHale, their 9th on Jan. 3. And to my Jack, in heaven, happy 62nd anniversary. We were wed at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Saginaw, Michigan, at 9 o’clock in the morning, Jan. 3, 1951.