Plants, peeps, and prêt-à-porter draw out area shoppers

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi

and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services

Signs of Spring are evident throughout the county as March draws to a close. From its picturesque wagon of tulips and daffodils and gardens filled with spring flowers and vegetables to the baby peeps inside, Anne Arundel Farm, Lawn & Garden has all the hallmarks of the season.

Pansies are in full bloom at the Pasadena-based center just in time to welcome shoppers to this Saturday’s Spring Kickoff from 7:30 am to 6 pm. Farm and garden products and plants will be on sale for 10% off all day (or 15% for early birds the first hour-and-a-half).

Entering the gardens, shoppers will find shelves and shelves of easy-to-grow and maintain pansies. Photos by Sharon Lee Tegler

Venturing further into the garden area, there are shelves and shelves of transplants that allow enable cool weather gardeners to get a head start including multiple varieties of lettuces, kale, spinach and other greens.

Multiple varieties of lettuce transplants line these shelves along with kale and spinach.

For those who love tulips like me, but didn’t have time to plant bulbs in the fall, the garden center is selling large pots of ready-to-bloom tulips and daffodils.

Hanging baskets of spring flowers, large pots of soon-to-bloom tulips and flats of other early blooming plants and flowers share another section of shelves.

In one part of the garden, we discovered a section whimsically labeled Strawberry fields forever! featuring a healthy collection of plants meant to go into the ground now to produce juicy red berries in May.

Wonder why the Beatles tune of the same name kept going through my mind.

For homeowners or gardeners interested in growing their own peaches, nectarines or cherries, a miniature orchard of fruit trees occupies another part of the garden.

In addition to Dogwoods, Redbuds and other flowering trees, there is a miniature orchard of fruit trees on the far side of the garden.

Next comes a trip indoors where more fun begins. Walking past the seed potatoes and onion sets (all of which I’ve grown) and rows of garden seed packets, I began to hear chirps.

Following the sounds, I happened upon the limited number of baby chicks that remain for sale. (AA Farm, Lawn & Garden sold out quickly this year.)

While admiring them, along with other shoppers, a clerk appeared to select five yellow peeps and three darker hued peeps for an excited pair of children who adored them. The kids (and their mother) also seemed to take the job of raising them seriously.

Before leaving, we made sure we knew all the details for the Saturday, March 29 Spring Kickoff Sale. In addition to $1,000 worth of raffles and giveaways, free hot dogs and soda will be served between 10 am and 3 pm. To find more information on Anne Arundel Farm, Lawn & Garden, visit them at Facebook or on their website at A.A. Co. Farm Lawn & Garden | Pasadena, Maryland (aalawnandgarden.com).

Shortly, thereafter, our spring adventure took us to the Bohemian Black boutique at 45 W. Earleigh Heights Road in Severna Park where we found that owner Rose Walker’s prêt-à-porter collection of Spring fashions was not the only thing new. An upper floor was recently added to the storefront.

Opened less than a year ago, the brick -and-mortar version of Walker’s Bohemian Black by Walking Roses began life in an unexpected way. It was formerly a garage attached to the first floor of the historic Listman Building opposite the Ranger Station on the B&A Trail that was restored and remodeled by the property’s owners. The addition of the upper floor completes its transformation providing additional display room, a pair of changing rooms, a children’s section and a small men’s section.

Rose Walker wasn’t on hand to show us around as she was in a meeting. However, employee Lena Slade was happy to lead us up the stairs to the new spaces which are light and bright with just enough space.

The stairs open on the new display space.

The addition of a waiting area and changing rooms has been a great help.

Back downstairs, which remains much the same, Lena showed us a few of her favorite spring fashions. She loves the short but surprisingly flattering purple dress she is holding.

The flouncy purple and white dress Lean Slade is holding is one of her favorite spring fashions. The floor length dress next to her is turning out to be a popular item with shoppers.

“I’m not usually a fan of dresses with short skirts but this one is so flattering,” she said. “I love the shirred waist which is fitted and the dress is flowing and comfortable to wear.

The floor-length dress, which is one of Rose Walker’s favorites, is quite interesting and will be perfect to wear from spring through summer. According to Lena, the material is much like a silk scarf and the dress is open on the sides so you can simply slip your arms through.

Another fashion that caught my eye, as well as Lena’s, is a floor-length culotte or “romper” in summertime green. She noted that you can dress the garment up.

In fact, the dress was a hit with one woman who came in looking for a dress for a casual wedding she was planning to attend.

One reason we stopped by Bohemian Black is that we heard Rose Walker is planning an elegant “Let’s Be Friends” Brunch on Sunday, May 25th at 11:00 am. We’ll have more details later. Meantime, you can follow the activities of the boutique at Facebook or by visiting the website Bohemian Black by Walking Roses (bohemianblackbywr.com).

A new parking lot for Fishpaw’s Marketplace

Spring is a time for rebirth and renewal but the last thing we expected to see as we drove down B&A Boulevard is Fishpaw’s Marketplace owner Kim Lawson standing on a corner sidewalk directing traffic Thursday afternoon as her parking lot was being repaved. She did a marvelous job and told her customers their cars would be fine while they went inside.

I proceeded to do just that and went indoors to look for two of my favorite things – a bottle of wine and one of the fine cheeses for which Fishpaws Marketplace is noted. I found the same familiar faces behind the counters and the store is looking great.

You can check out Fishpaws Marketplace by visiting the website at Fishpaws Marketplace Severna Park MD, Severna Park, MD. at Instagram or at Facebook.

Green Expo at Homestead Gardens Davidsonville this Saturday

Homestead Gardens at Davidsonville is hosting the annual Green Expo this Saturday, March 29th, from 10:30 am till 2 pm. Area businesses and community and environmental organizations will be on hand to inform attendees about their services. And, of course, Homestead Gardens will be at its best with gorgeous spring plants.

The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center. From health-defense to self-defense, Jing Ying provides fitness with a purpose for the whole family!

and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.

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St. Patrick’s Day themed fundraiser helps with Historic Baldwin Hall roof replacement

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi

and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services

Historic Baldwin Hall was looking festive even before the doors opened for Severn Cross Roads Foundation’s St. Patrick’s Day-themed Wine, Cheese & Chocolate fundraiser last Saturday. The candles were lit in each window and the white lights on the shamrock tree shone through as well. Shamrock-bearing elves on each door welcomed guests to step inside.

Severn Cross Roads Foundation, Inc. was formed in the 1970’s as a non-profit 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt organization for the purpose of restoring and preserving Baldwin Hall for use as a community center. Its trustees are tasked with seeking grants and raising funds to pay for maintenance, restoration work and needed improvements. This year’s Wine, Cheese & Chocolate affair, one of the foundation’s best fundraisers, was particularly important since money is needed for a new roof.

The organization’s president Pamela Aulton and treasurer Gail Campbell had been busy inside making sure the hall was decorated to the hilt. In the entrance corridor, there were decorations in multiple shades of green. A small tree at one end sparkled with white lights, shamrocks, miniature elves and upside-down horseshoes for good luck.

On one side of the hall, a festive “grazing buffet” was being set up on white linen-draped tables by local caterer The Jive Chive. The main table held charcuterie of meats, cheeses, fruits and veggies while a second table held an abundance of chocolates that ranged from high-end miniature chocolate bars to chocolate truffles and chocolate brownies.

On the opposite side, Silent Auction donations from local businesses had been arranged and ran the length of the wall

On a stage at the far end of Baldwin Hall, entertainer Richard Walton was getting set up behind an impressive line of spirits meant to be raffled off later in the evening.

On the stage at the front of Baldwin Hall, musician/vocalist Richard Walton was getting set up.

Beneath the balcony at the back of the room, a selection of wines donated by Gina of General’s Wine & Spirits was being served. The Crownsville-based shop’s donation also included the spirits displayed on the stage that were part of a raffle with winners declared at the end of the evening.

Gina from General’s Wine & Spirits served guests wine from a table beneath the balcony and also offered bottled water and soft drinks.
Spencer and Jana Leech

No sooner had the doors opened at 7 pm, than guests streamed through the doors looking for friendly faces. As the annual fundraiser is a well-known social occasion for Baldwin Hall supporters and people from the community, the event drew many people who knew each other. Among them were Spencer and Jana Leech who were drawn to the fundraiser because they live nearby.

Sally and Steve Burton

We next spotted Sally Burton and husband Steve. Sally is a Severn Cross Roads Foundation Trustee but she is best-known as the former director of Chesapeake Harmony Chorus which uses Historic Baldwin Hall as a rehearsal space and concert venue. She still sings with the chorus and is part of the award-winning Second Star Quartet. She told us about an upcoming performance at Baldwin Hall.

“As preparation for our regional Sweet Adeline’s competition, Chesapeake Harmony Chorus members and quartets will be performing for their first Friends and Family Night under new director Mary Beth Whisman on March 26th at 7:30 pm,” Sally said.

She then introduced us to four of Severn Cross Roads Foundation’s trustees who were overseeing the fundraiser and persuaded them to pose for a photograph with her. They included the organization’s new president Pamela Aulton, secretary Gail Campbell, Carolyn Woody and Marge McGugan.

Five of the Severn Cross Roads Foundation trustees were on hand to supervise the festivities. Left to right were Sally Burton, president Pamela Aulton, Carolyn Woody, secretary Gail Campbell and Marge McGugan.

Janice Crowe, on the right, and friend Linda were having a ball.

One had only to look about to find more acquaintances. Long-time Severn Cross Roads Foundation member Janice Crowe was having a fine time talking to her pal Linda and greeting everyone who walked by. With music and conversation with friends to enjoy, the evening was moving along nicely.

Susan Ingram, leprechaun Mark Campbell and Jim Woody.

We next discovered a convivial Leprechaun by the name of Mark Campbell who was wearing a tall green top hat, bow tie and vest. He was seen here, there, and everywhere, frequently appearing at the grazing buffet. We ran into him while he was carrying on a lively conversation with Susan Ingram and Jim Woody.

We moseyed on and eventually caught up with Baldwin Hall building manager Annie Medford who was chatting with friends Joanie and Rich Clough about Baldwin Hall’s need for a new roof.

“We have a cedar shake roof like the one original to the building that was last replaced about 20 years ago,” Medford told us. “It has reached the end of its life with some damage to the cedar shakes. They’ve started to curl and break off and the roof has started to leak. We’ve made repairs to prevent any damage, but we have to go ahead with a roof replacement. It’s a big project that is rarely done anymore so it will be a challenge.”

Rich and Joanie Clough with Historic Baldwin Hall building manager Annie Medford.

As the evening wore on, the buffet line tended to swell and then ease off a bit as people filled their plates and then returned for seconds or thirds.

The food was delicious and the sweets divine. It’s no wonder the buffet remained the most popular place to gather.

However, there were Silent Auction items still to bid on. People could be seen up and down the long row of tables writing out their bids. The auction donations included baskets of goodies from businesses like Be My Guest Caterers, baskets from a local nursery containing plants, and myriad gift certificates to area restaurants among other things.

Unable to stay to the end of the event when auction and raffle winners would be announced, I couldn’t resist one last look.

We hope to have an update on the progress of the roof replacement project soon. Meantime, you can keep up with Historic Baldwin Hall’s future activities by visiting Facebook or Home | baldwinhall.

Cheers to 35 Years for SPAN, Inc. in Severna Park the first week of April

It’s hard to believe but SPAN, Inc. is celebrating its 35th Anniversary with two events at the beginning of April. On Tuesday, April 1 at 4 pm, SPAN’s Anniversary Milestone Recognition Service and Open House will be celebrated at Our Shepherd Lutheran Church at 400 Benfield Road with speeches, a ribbon cutting and light refreshments.

On Saturday, April 5 from 12 noon to 4 pm, SPAN’s 35th Birthday Fest will be held at Severna Park United Methodist Church on Benfield Road in the parking lot. The public is invited to enjoy a free community celebration with live music, carnival games hosted by SPAN’s member churches and community groups, and food trucks with food available for purchase. (In case of rain, the celebration will move indoors to the Fellowship Hall.)

The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center. From health-defense to self-defense, Jing Ying provides fitness with a purpose for the whole family!

and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.

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Langton Green Community Farm welcomes spring with new farm manager, successful seed propagation operation

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi

and Lean on Dee Senior Home Care Services

Riding around Langton Green Community Farm on a UTV with farm director John Iaquinta on a sunny spring day was bound to be fun. Passing by several farm workers pruning blackberry bushes and a flock of hens, we headed for one of the farm’s hoop houses to meet new farm manager Sam Garrett.

Now that he’d completed transferring seedlings from the greenhouse to the long, perfectly formed rows in the hoop house, Garrett was keeping an eye on them – especially since the roof blew off its frame a few days ago in the recent winds and had to be wrestled back on.

Luckily, the atmosphere inside was warm and pleasant when we stepped in.

“In combination with moisture and light, our well-prepared rows with their balanced mix of nutrients are perfect for growing greens, ” he said. “We’ve planted tiny seedlings of leeks, kale, spinach, lettuces and arugula and they are loving it.”

We followed Garrett back to the farm’s headquarters where he and Iaquinta led the way to a room flooded with pink light from two layers of specially designed florescent tubes. Both men acknowledged that the lighting is an experiment – one that seems to be working well.

The pink-tinged dwarf tomato plants thrived well in the pink lighting

“These are dwarf tomato plants which only grow to about 12 inches,” noted the farm manager. “You can see that they are already flowering. We have an orange variety, a yellow variety and a typical red. The fruit will be standard cherry tomato sized.”

Iaquinta added that the dwarf tomato seedlings are one among many varieties of flowers and vegetables being grown for Langton Green’s annual Spring Plant Sale being held at the Millersville-based acreage on May 3rd.

Stepping past farm cat Atticus in the hall, we entered a room with dozens more plants that were hale and hearty thanks to an abundance of windows that provided optimum lighting conditions.

The busiest place of all was a nearby greenhouse where there were hundreds of flats of seedlings at various stages of growth. Garrett and farm assistant Madison Smith (also seen in the opening photo) were pleased with the progress of the tomatoes and super healthy lettuce they are growing hydroponically along with regular plantings of the Asian salad green tatsoi, multi-colored chard and mustard greens.

Farm manager Sam Garrett and assistant Madison Smith tried raising some newer varieties of salad greens that included, left to right, mustard greens, multi-colored chard, tatsoi and a nice mix of lettuces.

Allegheny blackberry transplants were easy for Garrett to grow from cuttings, but growing cotton as an experiment has him crossing his fingers. He said it takes up to 180 days till it’s ready for harvest. He’ll plant the cotton in a few different locations to see where it does best.

Rosemary, lavender, thyme, and primrose transplants gave way to adobo and golden Bell pepper plants and several purple potato plants. Even the youngest seedlings need attention from Sam and Madison with watering and occasional weeding.

Now in its 11th year of operation, Langton Green Community Farm has undergone many changes and made considerable progress according to John Iaquinta.

“We’ve had several different farm managers over the years, each with a different agricultural background and different set of skills. They’ve made a big difference in elevating our operation to the professional gardening level.”

When the COVID pandemic hit, there was more of a shift to environmental science. The farm brought in managers focused on soil process who established a blueprint for what is being done now.

According to Iaquinta, the farm managers, workers and volunteers initially concentrated on growing summer produce. But they are now pushing to grow produce 12 months of the year. They’re planning to sustain production by growing cool weather varieties, utilizing the greenhouses, and adding some hydroponically raised salad greens.

Garrett plans to experiment with the science of aquaponics wherein you introduce a fish or a shrimp to the irrigation water for whatever plant you are growing, using their waste as the main nutrient source.

With the arrival of spring, the farm will pick up the pace. Langton Green’s CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program will begin on March 17th. Participants will pay an initial flat rate of $200 to get an entire summer’s worth of handpicked produce. There will be six to eight things in each box ranging from salad greens, tomatoes, peppers and other vegetables to strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and fruit from the orchard.

Iaquinta said the farm can now support up to 25 or 30 CSA customers, supply produce for farm donors and sponsors, and supply produce and fresh eggs for Langton Green’s homes for developmentally disabled individuals. They also partner with SPAN, Inc. to provide fresh produce for their clients.

As mentioned previously, Langton Green Community Farm’s Spring Plant Sale will take place on May 3rd when most of what’s being raised in the greenhouses will be offered to the public.

Between 26 and 30 community plots will shortly be made available to the public as well. There will be no charge for the plots, but participants are asked to volunteer four of five hours of labor to the farm.

Limited “Pick Your Own” days for strawberries, blueberries or blackberries are on the agenda for this spring and an online “storefront” is being launched where customers can order fruits or vegetables from the Langton Green website Langton Green Community Farm | (langtongreenfarm.com) or by visiting Facebook. The produce ordered will be handpicked on Fridays and be ready for pickup on Saturdays.

A visit to Langton Green Community Farm is always entertaining. Twenty-five adults with disabilities work there tending the livestock or working in the gardens or greenhouses. There are 35 to 40 chickens of various breeds, four goats and a similar number of pigs that children just love to visit. Artwork is woven throughout the grounds amidst raised flower and vegetable beds. Best of all, there are programs and activities to enjoy including “First Saturday” events featuring musical performances, storytelling or other forms of entertainment.

Though located off busy General’s Highway in Millersville, a visit to the farm feels like going to the country. The produce raised there is great throughout the spring, summer and fall and the prices are super competitive.

A reminder: Tickets still available for Severn Cross Roads Wine, Cheese and Chocolate St. Patrick’s Day fundraiser being held this Saturday, March 15

The Severn Cross Roads Foundation still has some tickets available for Historic Baldwin Hall’s annual event – the Wine, Cheese and Chocolate Fundraiser being held this Saturday, March 15th from 7-10 pm.  Tickets for the St. Patrick’s Day themed event may be ordered by calling 410-409-0187, by emailing: gcampbell8185@gmail.com or they may be ordered online at https:PayPal.me/BaldwinHallMD.

The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center.)

and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.

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Reynolds Tavern owner celebrates the 250th Anniversary of the passing of a historical Annapolis figure

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi

and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services

Known today as the owner of The Reynolds Tavern, along with husband Dave, Diane Rey has reenacted the role of Annapolis’ favorite founding mother, Anne Catharine Green since 2011. Acclaimed for her portrayal of Green, she’s devoting considerable time to helping Historic Annapolis commemorate the dynamic 18th century woman with tours on March 29th.

Following the death of her husband, printer Jonas Green in 1767, Anne Catharine was named Printer to the Province of Maryland and became the publisher of The Maryland Gazette, the only newspaper in colonial Maryland.

Two-hundred and fifty years have come and gone since Green passed away, an anniversary Rey and her colleagues are keen to highlight.

“We couldn’t let this milestone event go by without a proper sendoff for Mrs. Green,” Rey said. “So, the idea for a celebration began with some of the Historic Annapolis staff and reenactors wondering ‘How could we mark this occasion?’ Their combined ideas grew into the Life and Legacy of Anne Catharine Hoof Green Tour.”

Sharing tea and scones in the south dining room of the Reynolds Tavern, Rey showed us a copy of a flyer for the event, adding that there will actually be two tour outings – one at 11 am and one at 2 pm on Saturday, March 29th – a week after Anne’s death on March 23, 1775.

The tour starts on Statehouse Hill where reenactor Marcos Salaverria from will talk about Anne’s work printing the laws coming out of the General Assembly and her public role as Printer to the Province. It was a position of particular importance, designating Green as printer of the province’s paper currency. Salaverria will point out the Treasury Building where the money she printed was stored. Built in 1730, it is Maryland’s oldest public building. (It’s currently shrouded for renovations.)

The tour then moves on for a second stop – Anne Catharine Green’s home on Charles Street which she moved into in 1738 after her marriage to Jonas. It is now a private residence. The owners have generously opened the home for the tour so it can highlight her life. But because it marks her death as well, reenactors including Ben Bartgis, Phil Hosea and Vicki Embrey will be sharing 18th Century mourning rituals and funerary customs which took place in the home. Reenactor Pat Turlington, who portrays midwife Charlotte Small, will talk about those customs. (In the 18th Century, midwives not only brought life into the world but also cared for the bodies of those who passed away.)

Tour visitors will get a sense of how the family would have responded to the death and what the house would have looked like. The mirrors will be draped with black cloth. In the parlor the visitors will see reenactors wearing mourning gowns and other attire appropriate for an 18th century wake. The tour will next exit into the dining room where guests will see the kinds of food and drink the family was expected to provide for mourners.

It was so expensive to provide the alcohol and fancy foods customary for such an occasion Rey noted, that 18th Century wake attendees were often given tickets in order to limit the number of people attending.

In the dining room, visitors will also see examples of little remembrances for guests called “memento moir” – a mourning fan for example, a pair of gloves or mourning jewelry – an example of which Rey showed us from her own collection.

A locket from Rey’s own collection is an example of memento moire. Photos by Sharon Lee Tegler

Though not appearing in costume because Mrs. Green is “recently deceased”, Diane Rey will be on hand as herself to explain what life was like for Anne Catharine during the 22-year-long period between her marriage to Jonas and taking over the business after he died. She gave birth to and raised 14 children, maintained her home and printing office therein and helped her husband run the enterprise. Rey will show off some original pieces Anne printed.

The third spot on the tour is St. Anne’s Church on Church Circle where Anne and all of the Greens were interred. Reenactors will explain some of the burial customs of the times and, likely, a discussion will follow as to whether Anne’s body still lies there. The churchyard was much larger in the 18th Century but, as time moved on, some of the graves became buried beneath the Annapolis streets while others were moved to a cemetery on College Creek.

The final part of the tour will take place in Reynold’s Tavern’s 1747 Pub where participants will raise a glass of Printer’s Punch toasting Anne Catharine Green’s influential and accomplished life.

For Rey, the commemoration and tour mark the end of her 13-year stint reenacting Green’s powerful contribution to Maryland history. In fact, she is currently searching for a slightly younger reenactor to replace her as Anne Catharine Green 3.0. Diane started portraying Mrs. Green when she was 49, the same age Green was when she sat for a portrait by Charles Wilson Peale. She feels it would be nice to find someone that could cover a slightly earlier time in Green’s life.

Rey has a passion for history. She not only owns historic Reynolds Tavern but owns a 100-year-old home in Rehoboth and a 150-year-old townhouse in Annapolis as well, all of which she has spent many hours researching.

Reenacting historic figures since moving to Annapolis while in her early twenties, she has appeared routinely as Mrs. Green in town and at 164 events outside the city. Rey was so devoted to learning everything she could about Green, that she has traveled twice a year to Williamsburg to work with the master printers.

Diane Rey as Mrs. Green working with master printers at Williamsburg. She is seen here carrying out the laborious process of inserting type from a printer’s tray onto to a composing stick that will then be transferred onto the bed of the printing press.

She even created a small replica printers’ tray with plastic letters representing type when explaining the printing process to children. Each square is marked with a letter and the kids must place the proper plastic letters in the proper tray.

Rey shows off a small replica printers’ tray she made and uses when explaining the printing process to children. Each square is marked with the letter it is meant to hold. The larger squares are intended to hold the most used letters.

She carries a handbasket holding props she’s collected and uses when doing a reenactment, some of which are authentic pieces. They include some wooden toys, some type, a spoon made from a cow’s horn, one of the animal skins used to pay for printing and some tobacco which was also used as payment.

The basket also holds the mob cap, fan, portable pockets that tie around the waist and the ink-stained printers’ apron Rey is wearing in the opening photo as well as the photo from Williamsburg.

A hand basket containing practical items that Mrs. Green would have carried about with her. Just a few are spilled out on the table including an inkwell and quill, a copy of The Maryland Gazette from January 13, 1774, a locket, some small type and a toy replica of a printing press.

Rey’s last appearance as Anne Catherine Green will be prior to the commemorative anniversary tours and will take place on Maryland Day (March 22nd) from 11 am to 3 pm at Hogshead at 43 Pinkney Street in Annapolis. This will probably not be the last time she will appear in 18th Century costume.

“After 13 years, I felt it was time to hang up Mrs. Green’s straw hat up in the ‘reenacting year of 1775’,” she said. “But there are countless possibilities for other historic characters.”

The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center.)

and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.

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An evocative musical production, Woods Church’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” not for kids

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi

and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services

Few of our local churches are known to present ambitious musical or theatrical productions with large casts. But that is precisely what Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church has been doing for the past eight years. Thanks to David Merrill, Woods’ multi-talented and innovative Director of Music and the Arts, the church has produced large-scale productions ranging from “Jesus Christ Superstar” to last year’s “The Secret Garden”.

Attending an early rehearsal om the church sanctuary for this year’s musical, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”, we realized what a challenge staging this complex production will be. As the production’s director, Merrill was taking the cast through a tavern scene featuring Chinmayee Balachandra as the beautiful Esmeralda who was kidnapped when she was an infant and raised as a Romani (gypsy) woman. During the scene, Balachandra skillfully portrayed Esmeralda pursuing her livelihood as a street dancer from atop a picnic table.

Rehearsal for “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” began with a tavern scene featuring Chinmayee Balachandra. as Esmeralda, performing a dance from atop a well-placed picnic table. Photos by Sharon Lee Tegler

Following the scene, Merrill provided us an overview of the show. He said it is based on Victor Hugo’s novel “Notre-Dame de Paris” published in 1831. Set in 15th Century Paris, the story revolves around the deformed bellringer Quasimodo and his guardian, the Archdeacon Claude Frollo who falls in love with Esmerelda but is rejected by her. Turmoil, destruction and multiple deaths ensue before there is a glimmer of hope.

“The title of Hugo’s book was focused on Notre Dame Cathedral where the story unfolds,” Merrill said. “However, our Woods Church production is based, in part but not entirely, on the 1996 adaptation of Hugo’s novel in the Disney animated film ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’. The version we chose to produce differs from the film and is closer to the actual novel and much darker. It’s a show that we don’t recommend for children.”

He added that one theme of the production is an exploration of what it means to be a misfit in society – an “other”. It’s a theme that is reflected in the song “God Help the Outcasts”.

Costumer Susan Bohlman holds the green cloak she designed for hunchback Quasimodo.

Merrill, called our attention to the actor who plays Quasimodo, Lucas White. We caught up with White just after he’d tried on the green cloak that costume department head Susan Bohlman designed for him and is holding in the photo at right.

“Luckily, the cloak Susan made for me has the hunchback’s hump built into the back. The hump, in combination with changing my posture, enables my transformation to a deformed bellringer.”

Asked what it’s like to play Quasimodo, White thought for a moment.

“It’s really special, very different from any other role I’ve ever played,” he said. “Quasimodo has been confined to the cathedral bell tower for years by his guardian Archdeacon Frollo. When he finally leaves the cathedral, he is experiencing everything that happens to him, good or bad, for the first time. His emotions are so genuine.”

While doing the fitting with White, Bohlman was joined by volunteer Jacquei Shade who’d returned from scouting for costumes and accessories. Together, they carried several garments to a balcony level costume storage area above the church sanctuary.

Bohlman showed off racks of colorful costumes and chests of accessories she’d thus far assembled for the show.

The colorful costumes thus far accumulated for “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” are kept in a storage room adjacent to the balcony above the sanctuary.

She pointed out that it is challenging to find or design costumes resembling clothing worn in the 1490’s timeframe in which the musical is set. Fortunately, Colonial Players loaned Woods Church a number of pieces. Bohlman took particular joy in showing off one of the dresses Balachandra will wear as Esmeralda.

Bohlman held up one of three costumes that will be worn by Chinmayee Balachandra as Esmeralda.

Both Bohlman and Shade emphasized that it takes a lot of manpower to stage such a large production. “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” has a 62-member cast. In addition, a full orchestra and a 40-member choir will provide the musical background from the balcony above the sanctuary. Woven throughout the show, the choir will be performing chants and masses in Latin.

According to Merrill, the show will be a fully realized theater experience for the volunteers who will be working on the sets, the sound, the graphics and slides projected during the production, the costumes and the hair and makeup for the actors.

Moving to the balcony proper – the perfect place to watch the rest of the rehearsal – we observed that it was being conducted by the musical’s choreographer Elysia Merrill (David’s wife) and was focused solely on dance sequences. The staging of dance and movement throughout the show is vital to the multi-faceted production’s success and Elysia was looking to perfect every movement.

Looking down on the rehearsal from the balcony where a full orchestra and 40-member choir will be seated while providing the music for the show.

Back down on the main floor, we observed the choreographer working hard to be sure the performers were properly positioned to segue into the fast-paced tempo of a fiery gypsy dance.

Positioned is such a manner that they can burst into the fast tempos of the gypsy dance they are performing, the dancers hold for a couple of counts. You’ll notice that several of the women are wearing practice skirts as they will be swishing them throughout the dance.

The next part of the dance is quite a challenge.

The dancers must coordinate claps with the fiery rhythms of the music and the fast-paced steps as they rush forward from the raised platform to the floor.

They found it hard to keep on clapping while descending to the floor stopping just short of where the audience will be seated, then exiting down the aisle.

The next part of the program being rehearsed had a more leisurely pace and a certain beauty and it is one for which Elysia Merrill demonstrated some of the steps for the dancers to copy.

A more leisurely dance that was rehearsed featured Esmeralda and other Romani women.

Along with congregation members, Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church invites the public to enjoy their production of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” which will be held March 28 – 30 & April 4-6 in the church sanctuary. For a schedule of showings and to register, visit Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church PC(USA) (onrealm.org).

An update on Anne Arundel County Council Bill 2-25

Good news from Magothy River Association and Berrywood Environmental Committee member Karen Royer.

She tells us that Anne Arundel County Council member Amanda Fiedler submitted an amendment to Bill 2-25 that removed the “Critical Corridor” designation from the Ritchie Highway corridor in the heart of Severna Park, and the amendment passed.  

“That’s great news for everyone who has to travel on this already extremely overcrowded part of Ritchie Highway.,” Royer said.

She added that the amended version of Bill 2-25 will be back for a vote on March 3rd.

The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center.)

and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.

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BD Provisions’ Gallentine’s Day Party a heartwarming event

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi

and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services

Hearts could be seen here, there and everywhere during BD Provisions‘ February 13th Gallentine’s Day Party, creating the perfect atmosphere for an event that was a combination social gathering and shopping experience. Initially a vision of BD Provisions’ co-owner/host Debra Saltz and Hip Mod Vintage proprietor Amy Heath, the party was a great opportunity for attendees to find unique Valentine’s Day gifts.

Located just inside the store’s entrance, an eye-catching display of jewelry from Hip Mod Vintage drew customers like bees to honey. Woven throughout the collection were heart-shaped rings and necklaces featuring hearts like the one seen in the opening photo.

Heath, is well-known as a longtime vendor at the Severna Park Farmer’s Market selling her recycled and perfectly restored vintage jewelry and other upcycled treasures. She also sells items from her equally well-known daughter Ellie Heath’s Three Blue Bunnies‘ collection of stylish jean jackets and other accessories she created from recycled materials.

Hip Mod Vintage owner Amy Heath greeted customers non-stop during the Gallentine’s Day Party. Photos by Sharon Lee Tegler

“The farmer’s market actually opens a week earlier this year on April 19th and Hip Mod Vintage will be there,” Amy told us. But Ellie won’t be on hand as she’s living in Newport, Rhode Island where she’ll graduate this year from Salve Regina University. Luckily, she’s sending me new items she is creating for Three Blue Bunnies including trendy tote bags made from donated fabrics.”

Other vendors marketed heart-themed products at the Gallentine’s Day event. At the end of the first aisle, we spotted vendor Caren Bach (who can be seen on the far left in the opening photo). We worked our way to the Cookies by Caren booth and sampled her adorable heart-shaped cookies as well as cookies she made entirely from BD Provisions’ products. They were yummy.

Cookies by Caren’s heart-themed cookies were the perfect gift for Valentine’s Day.

Turning a corner, we happened upon Rebecca Gillin’s delightful Me Time LLC Bath Bomb, Soaks and Scrubs booth.

Gillin’s love of bath bombs was the inspiration for creating a whole range of products – products so successful she has been in business for three years.

“My children and I really loved bath bombs and I bought a lot of them. So I started making them myself and then expanded to other products,” Gillin said. “The children even helped me and the colorful beaded bracelets I’m displaying were made by them.”

For those who love to soak like Gillin, the Me Time products are ideal.

“I have a husband and two sons, so I was the only woman in the house. I could frequently be heard saying ‘I need a little me time’ which was the inspiration for the name of my business,” Gillin said.

Gallentine’s Day Party guests were having a wonderful time. They sipped complimentary Sparkling Cider, entered the raffle with its heart-shaped tickets, roamed the aisles and carried their purchases in heart-embossed gift bags.

Curiously, we noticed a few men attending the Gallentine’s Day Party, likely husbands or boyfriends eager to know what it was all about.

We were surprised to see several men at the Gallentine’s Day Party…but then, a party’s a party.

In addition to its normal wide array of chocolates and other candies, BP Provisions had Valentine’s Day specialties including those hard-to-find candy hearts of various kinds. They also had Valentine Candy Gift Boxes put together by the staff.

There were a few children attending the event including young Poppy who was being helped to a piece of candy she selected by BD Provisions’ owner Debra Saltz.

Yum indeed… thought young Poppy when handed a piece of chocolate by BD Provisions co-owner Debra Saltz.

Poppy came to the Gallentine’s Day Party with her mother Taryn Gilbertson and aunt Jantra Silbert, two of three sisters (along with Dara Robinette) who own the nearby Stellaluna Raine Boutique. The sisters were drawn to the event because they know the vendors and have also visited BD Provisions on occasion.

BD Provisions is becoming known for hosting community-oriented special events that are fun – often featuring vendors. They frequently post those events at Facebook or Instagram.

St. Patrick’s Day Wine, Cheese & Chocolate Fundraiser at Baldwin Hall March 15th

The Severn Cross Roads Foundation recently announced that Historic Baldwin Hall in Millersville will once again be decorated with shamrocks on Saturday, March 15th when the organization’s St. Patrick’s Day Wine, Cheese & Chocolate Fundraiser takes place from 7 to 10 pm. A much-anticipated social gathering, the annual event also raises funds needed for the preservation and maintenance of the beautiful Georgian Colonial-style structure built in 1861 as the Cross Roads Methodist Episcopal Church. Today the hall is a center of numerous community happenings.

Bathed in light, shamrocks on the doors of Historic Baldwin Hall welcomed guests to the annual St. Patrick’s Day Wine, Cheese & Chocolate Fundraisers. Photo by Sharon Lee Tegler

Tickets are $50 and include wine, craft beers, and soft drinks along with an array of fruits, vegetables and cheeses to tempt anyone’s tastebuds. Guests will enjoy live music by vocalist Richard Walton, a Silent Auction, a Basket of Cheer Raffle and 50-50 Raffle, Door Prizes and the company of friends, neighbors and supporters who appreciate Baldwin Hall’s fascinating history and architecture.

Tickets may be order tickets by calling 410-409-0187 or by sending an email to: gcampbell8185@gmail.com or they may be ordered online at https:PayPal.me/BaldwinHallMD.

The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center.)

and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.

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County development plans could increase congestion, resource demand in Severna Park

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi

and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services

High-rise apartments, townhouses and high-density development areas resembling Annapolis Town Center (seen in the photograph above) could be in the near future for Severna Park if a bill being debated by the Anne Arundel County Council is passed.

We were alerted by friend and Severna Park resident Amy Badger Laque’s repost of a Magothy River Association Facebook post notifying the public that the Anne Arundel County Council is debating Bill 2-25 which would fast-track such high-density construction in several locations throughout the county including the Route 2 (Ritchie Highway) corridor.

Badger’s repost urged her friends to view the MRA post (including the map seen below) showing the area of the community affected and then reach out to the County Council. Like many residents who moved to Severna Park for good schools and a high standard of living, she’s disappointed and disillusioned by the overdevelopment of the area.

The Magothy River Association map showing the narrow corridor between the Severn and Magothy Rivers that would be affected by the development plan referred to in Anne Arundel County Council Bill 2-25.

“For example, there are five public storage facilities within half a mile of my home off Jumper’s Mill Road, none of which are at capacity,” she said. “The amount of building is unconscionable and completely contradicts County Executive Steuart Pittman’s purported stance. It’s also a bit ironic, considering the Green Infrastructure Master Plan.”

In addition to opposition from the Magothy River Association, Bill 2-25 has also been a topic of concern at two successive meetings of the Greater Severna Park Council according to board president Maureen Carr York.

“We first met two weeks ago to discuss the matter after which board members Craig Meyers and Doug Nichols wrote up a statement of concern regarding the bill which was proposed by County Executive Pittman,” Carr said.

She further noted that, because the Council has existed since the 1960’s to preserve the character and small town feel of Severna Park, similar issues have come up before. The members are overwhelmingly convinced that Bill 2-25 and similar proposals would be overwhelmingly bad for the community and residents feel the same way.

In 2012, Carr was a member of a Citizens Advisory Committee regarding the Transportational Functional Master Plan for 2040.

“At that time, the planners were advocating for transit-oriented development and high-density housing in areas they described as ‘much bigger than Annapolis Town Center’ with high-speed buses,” she said. “We didn’t favor the plan.”

The GSPC board’s second meeting, with Amanda Fiedler, Anne Arundel County Council member for District 5 in attendance, was held February 11. Fiedler, who strives to preserve the character of the community while protecting the environment of her district, was working on an amendment to Bill 2-25.

Deeply committed to Severna Park and other areas of District 5, Anne Arundel County Councilmember Amanda Fiedler is often seen out and about. On Earth Day of 2019, she and son Alex volunteered to plant trees for the restoration of Cattail Creek project. Behind her were Berrywood Restoration Project Leader Molly LaChapelle and Governr Hogan’s Chief of Staff Stephen Shatz. Photos by Sharon Lee Tegler

Fiedler told us that Bill 2-25 allows an area labeled a Critical Corridor to be redeveloped, skipping “both the sketch plan and preliminary plan steps of development.”

The councilmember says “she doesn’t have as much concern with this” as there would still be public meetings about the redevelopment and the two steps apply primarily to development on undeveloped tracts of land.

The Pittman administration said the bill was intended for more blighted areas with vacant retail space, Fiedler explains. 

“The bill increases the potential residential units for a multi-family dwelling (apartment type complex) from 15 units per acre to 22 units per acre, if a commercial property is redeveloped,” she says.

It also does away with the requirement to have half the floor area of a redevelopment on a commercially zoned property actually be commercial. 

“This means the redevelopment doesn’t have to have any commercial space at all,” she adds. “It could be redeveloped to all residential.”  

Bill 2-25 also subsidizes development forcing local taxpayers to foot the bill for a 50% reduction of connection fees (water and sewer) for developers, presumably as a spur to development.

“The Pittman administration stated that the bustling retail space in Severna Park is unlikely to be appealing for redevelopment, so it probably won’t take place in the near future,” Fiedler says. 

“My position is that, if the bill was not intended for an area like Severna Park but more blighted areas, then let’s remove the bustling commercial and residential areas from the bill.  We most certainly do not need to have established active and robust communities identified as properties that are ripe for redevelopment.”

“I am working to identify amendment language that would remove the Severna Park area from Bill 2-25,” Fiedler concludes.

Having previously discussed challenges firefighters face in dealing with high-rise buildings with Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company Chief Dave Crawford, we also sought his input.

“The upper floors of some three-story assisted living homes in areas we’re responsible for are a struggle to reach with our current equipment,” Crawford says. “Aerial platform firetrucks are going for $2 million today. When I first priced the firetruck we need, it was going for $731,000. Just a year later, the price has risen to one million dollars.

Crawford, in the midst of organizing EHVFC’s annual Bull & Oyster Roast taking place this Saturday, February 15 (announcement below), hopes for a good turnout for the fundraiser. The volunteer fire department is self-sustaining. Thus, it receives no money from Anne Arundel County taxpayers and must raise funds for operating expenses, equipment and a new firehouse. The chief offers some food for thought. “

“A legislator mentioned to me that 8,000 high income tax bracket homeowners have moved away from Severna Park recently. No one wants to live in a metropolis considering the examples we have of Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. So, they move here and are entirely unaware that our services are not supported by taxpayers,” he says.

“We have to raise money. We sent out mailers asking for donations to 27,000 homes. Only 4,400 sent back a donation. We also sent mailers to 200 businesses and only two came back with donations…and some are huge businesses that are fully served by us.”

Crawford feels that, though not unexpected, the prospect of even denser residential development will add to the expense and burden of serving a nighttime population of 25,000 to 27,000 people that swells to a daytime population of 60,000 or 70,000 counting the workforce and students.

While more appropriate for a location within the boundaries of an already existing city, projects like the Annapolis Town Center tend to be a magnet for similar high-rise construction. Multiplex buildings are visible beyond the center in the photo below. Newly completed construction of additional high-rises can be seen nearby on Riva Road.

Multi-plex buildings peer out over the rooflines of conventional storefronts north of Annapolis Town Center while, nearby, there are other newly constructed high-rise buildings on Riva Road. Photo by Sharon Lee Tegler

The Anne Arundel County Council meeting concerning Bill 2-25 is being held on February 18 at Arundel Center at 44 Calvert Street in Annapolis for those who’d like to attend. For those who wish to make their feelings known to the Council, they may submit online testimony or comments by visiting County Council Meeting – February 18 | Anne Arundel County Government (aacounty.org).

Reminder: Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company Bull & Oyster Roast this Saturday

Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company’s annual Bull & Oyster Roast takes place Saturday, February 15 at the firehouse at 161 Ritchie Highway from 5 pm till 10 pm with food, music and fun. The menu is terrific with pit beef, ham and turkey and raw oysters, oyster stew, and oyster fritters plus all the trimmings and dessert. There will be 50/50 Boards, Big 6, Showdown Poker, Pull Tabs and Lottery Board adding to the fun. For tickets which are $50 in advance or $60 at the door see Earleigh Heights VFC (ehvfc.org).

EHVFC’s annual Bull & Oyster Roasts are among the fire company’s most popular fundraising events. Photo by Sharon Lee Tegler

Unity Gardens annual Spring Lecture at St. Phillips Epsicopal Church on February 22

Magothy River Association member Karen Royer tipped us that Unity Gardens has scheduled its annual Spring Lecture for 10 am on February 22 at St. Phillips Episcopal Church, 730 Bestgate Road, Annapolis.

“Unity Gardens is a small nonprofit that gives grants to civic organizations across Anne Arundel County to plant native trees, shrubs and perennials,” Royer says. “These grants help to control stormwater as well as provide habitat for birds, pollinators and wildlife. The Magothy River has benefitted from grants given to schools, churches, libraries, HOA’s, garden clubs and Scout projects in our watershed.”

This year’s lecture, titled “Nature’s Blueprint: Designing for Resiliency with Native Plants” features Ryan Drake, McCausland Natural Areas Manager of Morris Arboretum & Gardens, University of Pennsylvania. The lecture is a good way to learn about native plants and support the ongoing Unity Gardens grants. Tickets are $40. For information or tickets, visit Unity Gardens – Unity Gardens.

The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center.)

and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.

 

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Romenta Plants owner Alex Waldorf seeds her business even out of season

Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi

and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services

There’s never a time when Romenta Plants owner Alex Waldorf is not busy. A wedding and event florist, she’s also an avid gardener who grows some of the blooms used in her floral arrangements in her own Severna Park yard. She sources additional flowers, whenever possible, from Anne Arundel County farmers.

For several months of the year – basically wedding season from March through June and from September through November – Waldorf is extremely busy. However, the winter months are challenging for her, from both the gardening and wedding perspectives. She’s luckily able to offer her services as a freelance floral designer for other companies’ projects and markets floral arrangements through her website.

A mason jar Valentine’s bouquet.

She’s currently offering Valentines bouquets in three sizes – medium-sized mason jar bouquets, larger luxury bouquets or smaller handheld bouquets tied with ribbon – that can be pre-ordered by visiting Flower Delivery, Local Flowers, Annapolis Flowers, Maryland Flowers, Anne Arundel Flowers, — Romenta Plants.

Romenta Plants is also teaming with The Coffee Trailer at 44 W. Earleigh Heights Road near the Yoga Barn to provide a Valentine’s Day Coffee and Flower Combo for $18.00. The combo can be preordered for pickup on February 14th by visiting Home | The Coffee Trailer (bestcoffeetrailer.com).

In addition, Waldorf works every week doing bud vases for Cafe Mezzanotte in Severna Park. Even as her garden sleeps through the chilly weather, however, she’s simultaneously preparing her land and growing seedlings for the coming season.

“I consider myself a ‘garden florist’, she says. “For a lot of my designs I work with seasonal blooms that are locally sourced and give off a garden vibe. Depending on the season, I source 20% or more flowers from my garden and most of the rest from area farmers.”

Seasonal flowers like sunflowers, Common Boneset and thistles combine well with roses and greenery in this autumnal bridal bouquet. Photo courtesy of Romenta Plants.

We came across Alex Waldorf while covering Good Neighbors Group’s Earth Day Celebration last April. She’d already sold quite a few of her fresh-as-the-breath of spring mason jar bouquets and herbs at her Romenta Plants booth. She enjoyed trading gardening tips with her customers and found that being a vendor was also good exposure for the wedding and event side of her business.

Alex Waldorf’s Romenta Plants booth was an irresistible draw for visitors to Good Neighbors Group’s 2024 Earth Day celebration last April. Her colorful bouquets sold well. Photo by Sharon Lee Tegler

Waldorf loves being a floral designer for weddings and large events though it’s hard work. For instance, she preps flowers on Thursday for a wedding on Saturday.

“You also have to carry dozens and dozens of flowers, buckets of water, ladders, tons of equipment and all the mechanics and bases to the wedding location,” she said. “There’s always so much to do that, these days, I hire a team of freelancers to help me as needed.”

Fortunately, Waldorf comes from a producer background having worked in television and film production for ten years traveling all over the world. She’s managed crews and equipment for programs ranging from National Geographic and the Discovery Channel to the Food Network so she was used to lugging around gear on random stages in random locations. (In fact, she’s currently working on the production side of the 2025 Annapolis Film Festival which takes place March 27-30 – a nice way to supplement her floral design business during a down time for weddings.)

Wedding season will soon be upon us, however. We asked the designer what some of her favorite weddings have been.

“I love brides who give me free rein to use different colors and different textures,” she said. “Delicate pink and white blooms with some contrasting blues work wonderfully for spring weddings. Autumn weddings generally call for more vivid hues so you can incorporate late season sunflowers, zinnias, dahlias, mums and marigolds which are abundant.”

Waldorf used dozens of vividly hued flowers for this autumn wedding. Photo courtesy of Romenta Plants.

Brightly colored casual bouquets graced not only the head table at the lovely wedding above but every table.

Autumn-hued flowers were abundant on the head table as well as every other table at this wedding. Photo courtesy of Romenta Plants.

Another favorite wedding design meant covering the ceiling of a 60 x 40 ft. tent at Herrington on the Bay with trailing plants and flowers. A third was a wedding with a Gothic vibe. The bride had a specific vision that allowed the florist to go out of her comfort zone.

“The wedding was so interesting,” Waldorf said. “The bride wore a black wedding dress that was beautiful. I created table designs featuring tall black candles surrounded by lush greenery and flowers in near black and deep purple shades with touches of dark crimsons and blues. It was outstanding.”

The upcoming spring wedding season coincides perfectly with the spring growing season and gardener Alex Waldorf has already given herself a head start. She’s employing a method known as cold stratification which involves scattering seeds on the ground while the weather is still freezing. Within a couple months, the seeds will sprout and pop through the ground healthy and hardy. She said winter sowing with seeds for sweet peas, calendulas, strawflowers, milkweed and poppies and other varieties of flowers has been failproof so far.

Waldorf’s passion for gardening runs deep and is integral to Romenta Plants’ success, truly a foundation for the business. The florist reflected that the most fun and most challenging aspect of her work is finding the growers she sources flowers from. After starting her business, she found a website that lists all the farmers and growers. The first thing she did was use that website to call to call growers nonstop to see if they would sell to her.

“After finding a farmer online, I’d check out the location and then ask if he or she would let me cut their blooms, she said. “Sometimes I’d work out a deal that, if I could come cut, they’d sell them to me cheap. Or I’d trade a bit of labor cutting and processing the flowers to get them ready for my use but also for the farmer’s other customers.”

Waldorf was immensely pleased to discover local growers in Annapolis and Davidsonville. If necessary, she could always go to wholesalers but it’s not really her style so she works local as much as she can.

Since moving to Severna Park, with its sandy soils, three years ago, her gardening challenges have been significant. In newly establishing her land, she’s learned it’s essential to add lots of amendments to the soil every year to have even a chance of growing a garden like those she’s had in the past when she lived in Washington, D.C. For now, she’s kind of a chaos gardener placing plants in the ground wherever there is space in hopes they’ll grow and taking lots of notes. But, in a few years’ time, she believes she’ll have a well-organized flower field with rows of blossoming plants of numerous colors and varieties. You can follow Alex Waldorf’s work on her website romentaplants.com) or @RomentaPlants on Facebook or Instagram.

Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company Bull & Oyster Roast February 15th

Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company’s annual Bull & Oyster Roast will take place Saturday, February 15 at the firehouse at 161 Ritchie Highway from 5 pm till 10 pm with food, music and fun. As always, the menu will be terrific with pit beef, ham and turkey and raw oysters, oyster stew, and oyster fritters plus all the trimmings and dessert. There will be 50/50 Boards, Big 6, Showdown Poker, Pull Tabs and Lottery Board to grab your attention. The yearly event is always fun. For tickets which are $50 in advance or $60 at the door see Earleigh Heights VFC (ehvfc.org).

The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center.)

and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.

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Bagel business bonks – Bank to bring new activity to corner of Route 2 and McKinsey Road

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi

and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services

For more than two decades a popular local eatery, the former Einstein Bros. Bagels has been closed since October and currently sits lonely and forlorn at the corner of Route 2 and McKinsey Road. The signage is completely gone – presumably consigned to one of the gigantic trash bins in the parking lot.

Sad to see the former Einstein Bros. Bagels fenced off and looking sad and it begins a transformation to something different. Photos by E. J. Tegler

Fences have sprung up on all sides featuring signs for Morgan-Keller Construction and it appears that a transformation of the site is in the works.

The property is now fenced off and a sign from Morgan Keller Construction has appeared.

We would learn a bit more about that transformation later. Meanwhile, we reflected on the history of the restaurant. We’d heard, but were unable to confirm, that it was initially constructed as a Roy Rogers restaurant but closed in the 1990’s.

Not long after the Einstein Bros. Bagels chain was born in 1995 as an outgrowth of the Boston Market restaurant corporation, the Severna Park franchise opened its doors. Almost immediately, it became a popular gathering place. Friends would meet for breakfast or lunch there. Local organizations and businesses would hold meetings there. People enjoyed the food and appreciated the friendly service.

Business was good from the late 1990’s through the first decade of the 21st century until the bakery/restaurant temporarily closed due to damage from a fire that occurred on August 2, 2010 – a fire that caused $150,000 worth of damage.

The “rebirth” of the much-missed eatery in the final days of 2010 was exciting. Fans of Einstein Bros. Bagels were thrilled when the shop reopened for business on December 10 following extensive reconstruction.

We noted when visiting that the exterior looked much the same and the interior was bright and cheerful. Einstein’s was bustling with customers during lunch hour on Christmas Eve. Among the longtime patrons who’d returned for one of their favorite meals were Doug and Cindy Schafer.

Cindy and Doug Schafer were delighted to be grabbing Christmas Eve lunch at Einstein Bros. Bagels in 2010. It was their first time back at the popular eatery since it reopened on December 20 after reconstruction following the August 2 fire. Photo by Sharon Lee Tegler

“We’re happy to be back, we love it,” said Cindy as she munched a chipotle turkey wrap.

Prior to the fire, Donna and Clifford Silbiger frequented Einstein’s often. They echoed the Schafers’ sentiments.

“I’m extremely happy that Einstein’s is open again. I was quite a regular as it’s close to where I live,” said Donna. “I got to know all the staff here and I love their food. I’m ecstatic that they’re back.”

Moving into January of 2011, the shop quickly resumed its role as a favorite spot for impromptu business, political and club meetings. It was even a great place to do an interview. That was the case when we met former homicide detective and author Steve Danko at Einstein’s (where he was a familiar face) to discuss his new book “Tour of Duty”. The memoir recounted the years Danko served with the Baltimore Police Department from 1962 till 1987 and his next quarter of a century as an insurance fraud investigator.

Meeting former Baltimore detective Steve Danko at Einstein’s in 2016 after authoring his first book “Tour of Duty”. He was presigning some copies prior to a January 23 book signing. Photo by Sharon Lee Tegler

Einstein Bros. Bagels remained much the same happy place until former Governor Larry Hogan’s COVID guidelines were issued in March of 2020 leading to the restaurant chain’s decision to offer only drive-thru service with no in-store seating – a policy that remained in effect after most COVID restrictions had been lifted. The policy was likely a factor in location’s eventual demise.

The business continued to operate with drive-thru only service until last October. A Severna Park Voice Facebook posting on October 22 announced that Einstein Bros. Bagels employees were informed the restaurant would close at 2 pm the following day. Needless to say, the post shocked those who saw it. By October 23, the announcement had drawn 339 comments and 256 shares. The respondents’ comments ranged from “shocked” and “sad” to expressions of astonishment that the employees were let go with no notice and no offer of placement at other branches. Nevertheless, a great many comments were focused on customers’ pleasant memories of their visits to the establishment over the years.

Doing some research on the Einstein Bros. Bagels website, we discovered that there are other franchises relatively near us that remain open. There is one in Silver Spring, several near Washington, D.C. and a few in Baltimore. The closest franchises for Severna Park residents are the Einstsein Bros. Bagels at Soloman’s Island Road and Sommerville Road in Annapolis and the one at Baltimore Washington International Airport – Concourse C off Farm Fuel Road in Glen Burnie. While some of the shops have re-opened their dining rooms, many smaller ones like the location on Sommerville Road have been transitioned to takeout-only.

By now, with ongoing activity at the Severna Park location, people are wondering what sort of business will be replacing the former restaurant. We managed to get in touch with Frederick, Maryland-based Morgan Keller Construction and were told by company representative Rachel Potts that a Chase Bank will be opening on the site. She said the project will be starting soon.

Potts added that she’s been told that local residents have been upset to be losing Einstein’s. We can’t help but wonder if Chase Bank will be as successful in such a competitive financial market as Severna Park.

Jing Ying Institute celebrates Chinese Lunar New Year of the Snake with several events

Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi has been celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year. The school first marked the occasion on January 26 with a Chinese Calligraphy Class taught by Wendy Ng.

On January 27, Jing Ying Institute owners Nancy and Billy Greer commemorated the Year of the Snake in a novel way. While making an appearance at Eco Adventures’ Chinese Lunar New Year festivities to perform a Lion Dance, they stood arm-in-arm and allowed an unbelievably long python to be draped across their shoulders. On January 28, the Institute held its traditional Lunar New Year Cleaning Celebration.

Lunar New Year events yet to come include the following:

On Wednesday, February 5th from 4:45 to 5:30 pm – A “free” Introductory Family Kung Fu Class will be held that is suitable for children ages 5 to 10. The class is an introductory lesson in Kung Fu and includes a Lunar New Year craft to take home. A parent/guardian and older siblings are welcome to join the class. Register at: www.JingYing.org.

On Sunday, February 9th from 2 to 3:30 pm Jing Ying Institute is presenting a Tea Tasting with Tea Expert Lynayn, a certified tea specialist of The East West Team Emporium. Attendees will try several delicious teas, learn about their proper preparation, and learn about their health benefits. They’ll also receive a gift to take home. The cost for this enjoyable and informative event is $25. However, the cost increases to $35 after February 2nd. The number of spots is limited, so register soon at www.JingYing.org.

Looking ahead, the school is offering a “free” Valentine’s Day Tai Chi Class on February 14th and a “free” Valentine’s Day Homeschool Kung Fu Class. Register for either or both at www.JingYing.org.

Gallentine’s Day Party at BD Provisions on February 13th

BD Provisions, at 844 Ritchie Highway, is teaming up with Hip Mod Vintage for a Gallentine’s Day Party on February 13th from 6 pm to 8 pm. BD Provisions’ co-owner Debra Saltz hopes you and your friends will join her for sparkling cider, a gift basket raffle, and the chance to shop for jewelry and accessories from Amy Heath’s Hip Mod Vintage and perhaps a few other vendors plus food, decor, cookies and candy.

The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center.)

and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.

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Integrative Family NP, LLC a first-of-its-kind medical practice for the greater Severna Park area

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi

and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services

Excitement was contagious as guests entered the offices of Katherine Grote’s new medical practice, Integrative Family NP LLC, for its Grand Opening on January 17th. It was a dream come true for Grote, a Nurse Practitioner who worked hard to achieve success in her profession and establish a practice of her own.

From the doorway of one of her offices, Grote greeted newly arriving guests. Photos by Sharon Lee Tegler.

A veritable crowd of guests flowed through the suite of offices and Grote did her best to personally welcome them all.

Among the first people we spotted were Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce CEO Liz League, who’d be emceeing the occasion and organizing a ribbon-cutting, and Beth Kuhl who was covering the event for What’s Up Magazine.

We next bumped into Trillium Wellness’ co-owners Carol Heckman and Lisa Manning who were chatting with Lisa’s mother Sharon.

Wandering on, we came upon a room that attendees seemed to be flocking to see.

Everyone wanted to take a peek into this room. We did too.

On entering, we discovered a colorful, art-filled children’s exam room-turned-playroom full of youngsters putting together puzzles, creating artwork, or playing with toy cars and trucks. The children surrounded Grote’s daughter Betty who was helping out for the Grand Opening by supervising them.

Lots of fun activities went on in the children’s exam room-turned-playroom where the Grand Opening’s youngest guests surrounded Katherine Grote’s daughter Betty who was supervising them.

One young lady preferred to watch the goings on from her perch on the children’s exam table designed to look like a bus full of animals. Artist JoAnna Conte created he wonderful artwork and signage on the walls throughout the Integrative Family NP, LLC offices. She’ll be adding a few final touches.

Meantime, plants and flowers added a lovely touch to the rooms. They also hid the chamber member LogoZone Promotions’ Tommy Sommers happened to be talking to.

Wonder who the mystery woman talking to LogoZone’s Tommy Sommers from behind the flowers was?

Family and friends who have supported Katherine Grote every step of the way to opening her own business were there to celebrate the occasion. Mother-in-law Fanny Grote lent a hand by welcoming guests and handing out water.

“I’m excited for Katherine,” Fanny said.

She thoroughly enjoyed chatting with her daughter-in-law’s close friends Katie Lukic and Susie Murphy.

Katie Lukic and Susie Murphy were pleased to run into their friend Katherine’s mother-in-law Fanny Grote who was helpingwith the Grand Opening.

Grand Openings tend to be great networking opportunities, and this one was no exception. There seemed to be a nice mix of friends, family, and people from local and state government and the business community.

Jessica Terenyi from JK Organizing LLC had an opportunity to chat with Asia Rodriguez from Maryland State Delegate Brian Chisholm’s office and also met Cape St. Claire residents Ron and Donna Baronati.

With most guests already arrived, it was time for Chamber CEO Liz League to conduct the official Grand Opening ceremony which included an interview with Katherine Grote about her background and her one-of-a-kind holistic integrative family medical practice.

We’d first met Katherine during a chamber sponsored Successful Women in Business Wine Tasting at Cheers & Spirits at Arnold Station in 2023.

Asked, on that occasion, to describe her business by SWIB event co-chair Nancy Greer, she stunned attendees by announcing that she was a Nurse Practitioner who’d started a family medical practice that included the almost forgotten custom of making “house calls”.

Following League’s welcome to the Grand Opening’s guests crowded around her, she introduced Integrative Family NP LLC’s innovative owner and asked her how she began.

Even families with children crowded around as Liz League began the Grand Opening ceremony with the introduction of Integrative Family NP, LLC owner Katherine Grote.

“I was originally a floor nurse. I started as a nurse assistant with a belief in climbing the ladder,” Grote said. “I began climbing the ladder at that point and was determined to keep going.”

What Grote did not reveal was her extensive educational background. To be a Nurse Practitioner, you first need to be a Registered Nurse. That requires that you have a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing which takes four years of education. The next step is getting your Master of Science Degree in Nursing. For getting your MSN, most schools require that you have at least 1,000 hours of clinical time or work experience before you’re eligible to apply.

After getting her Master of Science in Nursing degree in Family Practice, Grote went on to additional training to acquire her Holistic Integrative Specialist certification so she could marry traditional Western medicine with alternative medicine.

Like most Nurse Practitioners, she had 11 years of schooling with heavy emphasis on clinical experience. (In contrast, family practice doctors generally spend four years working for their Bachelor’s degree and four years of medical school, plus a residency or fellowship for a similar total of about 11 years of schooling.)

When starting out with her own practice, Grote combined virtual telemedicine with house calls and offered limited office hours at Wellsview Cottage in Annapolis. The idea of offering house calls was inspired by personal experience. She is a triplet and, when her family had four children under the age of 15 months, it was too difficult to transport them all to a doctor’s office. Luckily, the family doctor came to them at home.

Patients really like the nurse practitioner’s ability to make house calls and her integrative approach to medicine. Thus, her business grew…. and continued growing. Eventually, she realized that she needed an office of her own.

She’d also wanted an office space in order to become a preceptor and give nurse practitioner students clinical experience.

(Clinical preceptors are experienced advanced practice registered nurses who combine their expertise in patient care with teaching ability to guide nursing students through their clinical rotations.)

“Getting the required hours of clinical experience in an active office is hard for nurse practitioner students,” Grote said. “Medical practices often don’t have formal relationships with NP’s so it’s hard to find an office where they can get and apprentice-type experience. Since I really enjoy teaching, I really want to offer this opportunity.”

Grote has a passion not only for taking care of people but for helping them improve their overall health. Thus, treating patients on a well-rounded basis that is integrative and holistic is important to her.

“I’ll be treating patients from newborns on up to 110,” she said. “I’m not a pill pusher and offer some Western medicine alternatives by working collaboratively with others who offer services like yoga, massage or acupuncture. I offer some pediatric vaccinations but do not require them.”

Ever supportive, husband Dan has contributed greatly to his wife’s success.

League brought her interview with Grote to an end by asking if there was anyone she’d like to thank and, of course, there were several – the most important being her husband Dan, an accountant who helped her every step of the way.

She also thanked her secretary Brenna Cummings, who will be giving massages at the practice in the evenings, and her administrator Tia Tyler who keeps her on schedule. She added a special thank you to artist JoAnna Conte for her artwork and for the cheerfulness and energy she brought to the practice.

A very special moment occurred when Katherine Grote held up a stethoscope she had in her hand and asked daughter Betty, who hopes to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become an NP, to step forward.

“I’m presenting you with this stethoscope given to me years ago by a doctor when I began my own journey to become an NP,” she said as she placed the instrument around her daughter’s neck.

Holding a stethoscope given to her by a doctor when studying to become a Nurse Practitioner presented the stethoscope to her daughter Betty who is planning to follow in her mother’s footsteps.

Betty was thrilled – so much so that she immediately used the stethoscope to examine her mother.

The Grand Opening ended with the presentation of several citations by Asia Rodriguez on behalf of Delegate Brian Chisholm, by James Golden of Golden Consulting on behalf of Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman, and Carol Heckman of Trillium Wellness on behalf of the Anne Arundel County Council among others. A Chamber ribbon cutting followed.

The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center.)

and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.

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