Chris Cherry Brings Creativity to City's Recreation Program
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GREENBELTTT eview News R An Independent Newspaper VOL. 66, No. 8 15 Crescent Rd., Suite 100, Greenbelt, MD 20770-1887 JANUARY 16, 2003 Chris Cherry Brings Creativity West Coast Gourmet Chef Gives New Life to Café To City's Recreation Program by Dorothy Sucher by Sabine Hentrich “My sons tell me, ‘Cooking size”) and an electric wok she isn’t your profession – it’s your picked up at a yard sale. “It “Greenbelt is full of amaz- “I am a product of the Prince different field.” Cherry knew obsession,’” says Ellen Siegel, limits us, slows us down,” she ingly talented people,” ex- George’s County School system,” early on that he did not want to the new kitchen manager at the admits. “It makes operating the claimed an always-cheerful Chris he said with a chuckle. Cherry is pursue his job as a lawyer. “The New Deal Café in Greenbelt’s Café – interesting.” Cherry. Since Cherry is a play- a graduate of Oxon Hill Senior pressure and how confrontational Roosevelt Center. At the Café, Quite a change for a chef wright, musical composer, teacher High where his first job was it was just wasn’t for me; it Siegel is facing a unique new who once cooked breakfast for of musical appreciation classes shelving books at the Oxon Hill didn’t make me happy,” he said. challenge after her more than 30 Julia Child. And yet Siegel’s life for seniors, faculty member of Library Branch. Later he attended In 1992 he moved into his years as a career chef and baker has amply prepared her to meet the Shakespeare Theatre’s Master College of William and Mary in GHI home in Greenbelt and be- on the West Coast. a challenge. She’s one of those of Fine Arts (MFA) degree pro- Williamsburg, Va., where he ob- gan his career shift to the per- The New Deal, one of people who thrive on crises. gram (in conjunction with tained a degree in government. forming arts. He studied the Greenbelt’s many co-ops, serves “I’m not a good sitter,” she says. George Washington University), He then moved on to law school Alexander acting technique (a an important function as commu- “I like the stress and the hustle.” coordinator of Creative Kids at the University of Virginia, “learning method that lots of nity meeting place, eatery, music Ellen Siegel was born and Camp and one of Greenbelt’s where he graduated in 1986. He performing artists take. It helps venue and gallery for local art- grew up in the Washington, D.C., Recreation Coordinators – to practiced law for a litigation firm people perceive and set aside ists. But the Café perpetually area, the youngest of two daugh- mention just some of his current in Washington, D.C. until he quit habits that impede their best per- hovers on the brink of financial ters of Pearl and the late Irving accomplishments – he undoubt- the profession in 1992. formance,” he explained) for collapse and the cooking facili- Siegel of Ridge Road. In the edly qualifies as one of these “I was always interested in three years. He now is the acting ties can be charitably described sixties, at the age of 17, she took amazingly talented people. politics and government because instructor in the Alexander tech- as “improvised.” Even a restau- off for California and remained The story of Cherry’s artistic of my dad but I was [also] al- nique for the Shakespeare rant range and hood are lacking there for over 30 years, working career is as interesting as it is un- ways interested in theater and Theatre’s MFA program, where and much of the cooking is as a chef at a number of restau- usual. Cherry was born in Texas music.” According to Cherry, it he teaches in addition to his done two nights a week in the rants in the San Francisco Bay and grew up in a family of five. was a combination of things that full-time commitment at the Community Center kitchen. area, Marin County and Los An- His father was a politician. When kept him from heading straight Community Center. (Cherry has As for the rest, “Give me a geles. Last July she moved to Cherry was six years old, his fam- into a career in the performing also taught acting at Catholic hot plate and I’m good to go!” Greenbelt to be with her mother, ily moved to Prince George’s arts. One of them was that his University in Washington, D.C. declares Siegel, who cooks soups who turns 80 next week. County after his father became older brother had studied theater and Manhattanville College in and other items at the Café on a When Ellen announced her the administrative assistant to a and music and Cherry wanted to couple of electric griddles U.S. Senator from Texas. “strike out on my own into a See CHERRY, page 5 (“they’re not even commercial See SIEGEL, page 12 ACE Reading Club Seeks Reading Club Hosts City Council Honors Pitkin Writing Contest Members in Grades K-12 The ACE Reading Club, es- For Decades of Service The ACE (Advisory Committee The ACE Reading Club is tablished by the Greenbelt Advi- by Virginia Beauchamp on Education) Reading Club has hosting a High School Poetry sory Committee on Education been visiting Greenbelt schools and Short Fiction Contest for (ACE) and funded through a Former 23rd dis- over the past month, reintroducing students in grades 9 through 12 grant from the Governor’s Office trict Delegate Joan the club to students. The club (see details in a separate article). of Crime Control and Prevention, Pitkin, who served in held school assemblies in The ACE Reading Club is is hosting a High School Poetry the Maryland state Springhill Lake Elementary voluntary and open to all and Short Fiction Contest. This legislature for 24 School and Greenbelt Middle Greenbelt students grades K contest is open to all high years, was warmly School where the students were through 12 or children residing school students (grades 9 praised by members very excited to learn how they in the city. It is designed to in- through 12) who are residing in of the Greenbelt City could join. Liz Murray, coordina- spire and encourage students to Greenbelt or attending a school Council at the Janu- tor of the ACE Reading Club, read and enjoy books, develop a in Greenbelt. ary 13 regular coun- visited several Greenbelt Elemen- life long interest in reading and Registration forms and contest cil meeting. She was tary School classrooms to speak explore a basic skill for success. guidelines can be requested from present to receive with the students about possible The committee wants to send the the student’s English teacher, council’s parting gift Reading Club activities and the message that “reading is fun!” school librarian or by contacting in recognition of her television project. The television Anyone interested in the ACE Liz Murray at the ACE Reading devoted service to PHOTO BY BEVERLY PALAU BY BEVERLY PHOTO project allows the students to read Reading Club, book review pack- Club (High School Contest), City the city of more Former Delegate Joan Pitkin receives ac- a book of their choice and write ets, the High School Poetry and of Greenbelt, 25 Crescent Road, than two decades. colades from the Greenbelt City Council. a short book review. The students Short Fiction Contest or addi- Greenbelt, MD 20770. Winning She had unavoidably are then videotaped reading their tional information should contact entries will be presented by the missed the January 5 council re- also took the lead on review and that tape is aired on Liz Murray, ACE Reading Club student authors at a Winner’s ception for all Greenbelt’s former teleworking, another issue of im- the City of Greenbelt’s cable coordinator, at 301-345-6660 or Reading, which is to be taped representatives because of the portance to the city. channel at a later date. [email protected]. and aired on the City of heavy snowfall on that day, “My heart is really here in Greenbelt’s local cable channel. which, since she is on crutches Greenbelt,” Pitkin said. She All entries should be sent to Liz following a recent knee opera- commented on her constructive Murray/ACE Reading Club (High tion, made the possibility of driv- relationship over the past two What Goes On School Contest) at the above ad- ing too treacherous. decades with five different may- Monday, January 20, dress. Entries must be received Since her defeat in the 2002 ors – Gil Weidenfeld, Richard City and GHI offices closed for Dr. Martin Luther no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, election, when the 23rd district Pilski, Richard Castaldi, King, Jr. birthday. March 28. delegation was diminished by Antoinette Bram and now Davis. Tuesday, January 21, Winners will be announced one member through redistrict- She quoted a state office worker 6 p.m., Playground meeting, Springhill Lake play- on Friday, April 18 through the ing, she has been appointed by as describing the “old” 23rd dis- ground. local cable channel, local news- Prince George’s County Execu- trict as the most active in the 7 p.m., ACE meeting, Municipal Building. paper and City of Greenbelt web tive Jack Johnson as paid con- state in generating and respond- Wednesday, January 22, site. All participants will be in- sultant to serve as the county’s ing to legislation. “I’m proud 8 p.m., Senior Citizen Advisory Committee meeting, vited to the ACE Reading Club lobbyist during the legislative of the activism,” Pitkin said.