“What the world needs now is love sweet love, it’s the only thing that there’s just too little of. What the world needs now is love sweet love, no not just for some but for everyone. Lord, we don’t need another mountain, there are mountains and hillsides enough to climb, there are oceans and rivers enough to cross enough to last until the end of time. Lord, we don’t need another meadow, there are cornfields and wheat fields enough to grow, there are sunbeams and moonbeams enough to shine…” Dionne Warwick
“Everyone’s happy, finally it’s the weekend all the hard works behind me, yeah and I just invited all my friends. I’m bout to throw something on the grill and get together and play some cards, yeah a backyard party. We’re just having a backyard party yeah! Oh I thank god it’s summer ’cause it feels so good to be outside, yeah and the music sounds like heaven yeah” R Kelly
Backyard parties are this summer’s hottest hit, with more people entertaining in their homes. Cleatus Parker and Sean kicked off the 2017 summer party at their magnificent home located in the picturesque Loch Raven community. The welcoming décor from the curb of his home with the inviting front porch, and throughout the house to the “backyard party.”
Guests were enjoying the exotic plants, flowers and teardrop lights highlighting the house.
George, Kay-Bee and Grant Ray invited family and friends to their well-appointed Kings Park home with Chef Irvin on the grill. Guests drank champagne, mimosas and Diddy Ciroc Lemonade while dining on ribs, salmon and more. Guests flowed freely throughout the evening sipping and chatting.
When a Queen summons you, you respond, knowing it’s going to be a royal party with plenty of fun at the home of Albert and Myra Queen in their beautiful Windsor Hills estate. Myra invited a few friends and her book club members for drinks on the deck. The well-appointed deck adorned with colorful flowers, china and fluffy cushions complimented the gorgeous deck and furnishings. Guests sipped summer cocktails and munched on specialty finger foods. Members of The High Brow Honeys Book Club in attendance were: Bunny Burnette, Blanche Templeton, Dora Harris, Rhonda Thompson, Pat Davis. Special invited guests included: Brenda Sykes, Jacqueline Richardson, Michelle Briscoe Carter, Cynthia Jackson, and Francena Bean Waters.
“If the rain spoils our picnic, but saves a farmer’s crop, who are we to say it shouldn’t rain.” Tom Barrett
Good neighbors, Merrial and Michael Alston, Marguerite and Ike Brown, Pamela and Steve Grimes, Jackie and Dennis Howell, Leslie Hyman, Sylvia and Johnny Jones, Pamela and Charles Pinder and newcomers to the block Jai and Sandy Matthews are celebrating 40 Years as a great neighborhood. The families have lived in the 8000 block of Montwood Road in Baltimore County for 40 plus years and continue to host a huge picnic for family and friends at Patapsco State Park for 30 years, on the first Saturday in July. Originally, the party was on the block until the families increased with grandchildren and great grandchildren. They have watched their children grow up, finish school and some have married.
The parents have passed the torch to the 2nd generation, with sons, Brian Howell, Antonio Jackson, Anthony Jenkins, Timothy Jones and Shawn Jones continuing the tradition. The young men set up the pavilion, maintained the grills, provided games for the children and kept the music jumping. Minus a brief storm, the weather was perfect; the rain didn’t damper the mood or the spirit of the day, perfect ingredients for, “sitting in the park.” It was like, “the sound of music,” when the sons said, ‘See you in 2018.’
“Remember love notes, the teacher found in school. The whole class laughing, gee I felt just like a fool, but here comes a very funny, funny line I had to write one thousand times that I love you, I love you, girl, I love you one thousand times… From then until this very same day, I still feel that same old way. ‘Cause I love you, I love you one thousand times.” The Platters
Singing in my best Platters voice, happy anniversary, “one thousand times,” to Gloria “Tutti” and James “Peck” Bogans and Jo Evelyn and James “Big Lew” Lewis each celebrating 50 plus years of marriage and happy 25th anniversary to AJ and Carole Miles.
Happy birthday Takiea Hinton, James Bentley, Kit Adams, Marian Finney, Dorothy Boulware, Keirston Woods, Mary Demory, Wanda Watts and Warrior Lawyer J Wyndal Gordon. Celebrating milestone birthdays are Ariel Pulley 13, LaTonya Dennis 40, Everene Johnson-Turner 65 reached the speed limit with James “Jimmy” Newton 70, and Leonard Smackum who is still speeding at 85. A special birthday wish to AFRO Publisher and CEO John “Jake” Oliver.
“It may be possible to gild pure gold, but who can make his mother more beautiful?” Mahatma Gandhi
Sending our prayers to Dr. Walter Thomas and family on the death of his mother Lillian Thomas, to Alaina Allen and family on the death of her mother Rosena Allen and to Anthony Woodfolk on the death of his grandmother Shirley Tillie.
“What really touches me is the outpouring of love from the community; I never took for granted that I was immune to the city’s violence.” TJ Smith, Chief Spokesperson, Baltimore City Police Department.
Sending prayers to TJ Smith, on the murder of his younger brother Dionay Smith. Also, to famed criminal defense attorney Warren Brown and Donyelle Brown mourning the murder of their son Louis “Cody” Young and the grandson of attorney William Dorsey and his wife Betty Dorsey.
“What’s happening”!
The Friday Night Bunch is celebrating Delegate Antonio Hayes at the historic Arch Social Club, July 14, from 6 to 9 pm. There will be music food and a good time.
2017 NAACP Delegates Reception July 22, at the Arch Social Club featuring Dr. Phil Butts & the Sunset Band. www.archsocialclub.com