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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

Autumn of 2024 has been a joyous time for Rose Walker. Two years after agreeing to take a space in the historic Listman building at 45 W. Earleigh Heights Road, she finally opened the brick-and-mortar version of her fashion boutique Bohemian Black by Walking Roses.

Walker had been looking for a space to open her boutique two years ago when introduced to the Listman property by the owners of Weboshe who asked if she’d like to share a space on the building’s top floor with them. She immediately saw the potential of the property’s location at the corner of Earleigh Heights Road and the Baltimore Annapolis Trail opposite the Ranger Station. She accepted their offer.

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Unfortunately, the owners of the Listman property became tied up in the process of applying for permits and carrying out the extensive renovations required since buying the property in 2021. The length of time the upgrades have taken became a problem for Walker. She badly needed space to accommodate her growing inventory of clothing and couldn’t afford to wait much longer. So, the owners agreed to remodel and restore a former garage attached to the store’s first floor for her as a temporary space where she could display her wares in a Pop-Up Shop type setting.

The restoration/remodel took place fairly quickly and Walker opened Bohemian Black on September 22nd. As expected, the shop’s location proved a good one. Close to the Severna Park Taphouse and B&A Trail and opposite The Yoga Barn and The Coffee Trailer, it’s also on the way to Kinder Farm Park.

“The B&A Trail is huge,” Walker says. “I get a lot of customers and clients coming from off the Trail.”

The Bohemian Black brand was created by Walker in November of 2021 as an outgrowth of her styling company Walking Roses which does personal styling helping individuals select the right apparel for their body types while removing the stigma of sizing. The company actually originated in conjunction with Walker’s mother – a talented seamstress who created the apparel. Sadly, she passed away. Daughter Rose managed to revamp the concept of the business while keeping her mother’s legacy in mind.

Local residents first became aware of Bohemian Black at the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber’s SHOPTOBERFEST 2022 when Walker used an exotic tent to market fall fashions with a BoHo Chic vibe. Needless to say, shoppers were drawn to the display like bees to honey.

Walker displayed similar creativity while marketing her stylish clothing at various events throughout greater Severna Park and Arnold, and through the Bohemian Black Festivals and fashion shows she’s held in collaboration with other vendors at Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company.

Now that she’s opened her storefront, Walker has the opportunity to expand her curated collection of women’s and children’s fashions to include men’s apparel and boho home decor. Soon, she’ll be able to expand the collection more. It seems the owners’ restoration of the Listman building has taken so much longer than intended that the owners of Weboshe were compelled to move on to a different location. Thus, Walker will have the entire top floor to herself.

She’s currently sourcing her lines of clothing, jewelry and home products from a variety of sources through apparel manufacturers and trade shows. But, more and more, she’s bringing in products and apparel from local designers and craftsmen.

Seen on the table next to Walker is chemist Tracey Kearse’s AcArre Bioactive Scalp & Skin Care. Next to it is a collection of Marie Halos fragrances by local resident Odessa and her husband who create both the jars and the scents. The hat she’s touching in the photo below is a Rees & Plums creation from Ginny who does custom burn designs on all the hats. (There are several scattered throughout the shop.)

Moving on to racks of clothing, she noted how much fun it is to help her customers select fashions that complement them. Rose Walker has a magical way of putting pieces together in the most stylish way possible. Noting that “denim is hot this fall,” she pointed to a denim vest and jeans covered by a stylish kimono-styled coat with a red scarf and gold cross the perfect accessories. Below the outfit is another of Ginny Rees’ burnished hats.

Walker pointed out that she also works with artists and designers local to Severna Park. She’s currently carrying two lines of jewelry. One is by the mother of Severna Park High School graduate Parijita Bastola who was a semi-finalist on NBC’s “The Voice”.

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As always, Bohemian Black carries one or more elegant versions of the basic black dress that can be kept simple or made far more glamorous with the right accessories.

Rose Walker can’t wait for the restoration of the Listman building to be compete so she can take over the top floor. Meantime, she’s preparing an event for the holidays that she’s calling Gilded Winter, a Bohemian Black Styling Affair – “an exclusive evening of holiday styling magic” that will take place at 6:30 pm on November 21st at the store. She’ll bring together hair, makeup, beauty and fashion experts to help attendees create their perfect holiday looks with Bohemian Black. To keep abreast of what’s happening, visit Facebook.

Severna Park Community Center “Halloween Spooktacular” spectacular!

Why did the chicken cross the road Friday evening, October 25th?

To get to the Severna Park Community Center’s “Halloween Spooktacular” of course. Having eyed the fun-filled spectacle from the parking lot above, the chicken determined it was an event that shouldn’t be missed.

Crossing the street as well, we entered the central avenue of the event which was crowded beyond expectations to the joy of the community center staff and board members. They’d found it necessary to postpone a Fall Festival they’d originally planned for September 28 because of questionable weather. Thereafter, they decided to combine the festival with the Halloween Spooktacular as one big event.

Believe it or not, we caught up with the chicken moving forward in line with others waiting for a complimentary cup of cider or cocoa courtesy of The Big Bean. Obscured by the crowd to their left Donut Shack was giving out free donuts. We believe the chicken waited in that line too.

Nearby, Dodge Arrows owner Louben Repke took a few minutes away from his popular archery game to visit with baby daughter Wren and wife Sara. Wren looked adorable while celebrating her first Halloween as, what else? A baby bird.

Dodge Arrows’ opportunity “to Shoot Arrows at Your Friends” drew a constant crowd as did the wide range of costumed Trunk or Treaters, each group with its own theme.

Approaching the community center building where there were 11 vendors set up inside, we caught up with SPCC Marketing Director Amy Holbrook who told us how pleased the organizers were that the Halloween Spooktacular has grown so much every year. The event had already drawn more than 600 people and the evening was still young.

We arrived in front of the building just in time for a “spirited” performance by young students from the Dance Center of the Severna Park.

By the time we left the Spooktacular, the lines for cider, cocoa and donuts as well as Dodge Arrows were snaking the entire length of the parking lot.

The next big event for the Severna Park Community Center will be Cookies and Cocoa with Santa on December 13. To follow all the center’s events and activities, visit Events from November 5 – December 13 – Severna Park Community Center (spcommunitycenter.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.

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

From the moment it opened Saturday at 11 am, the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber’s SHOPTOBERFEST 2024 fairly bustled with shoppers. Granted, the first hour drew more adults wanting to check out the vendors than children. Dozens of vendor tents stretched across the Park Plaza parking lots. The closest rows contained tents for M & T Bank, Sidestreet Framers & Gift Gallery, Play Street Museum, St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Episcopal School and Providence Pottery & Arts Studio among others.

By noon, however, the witching hour was upon the crowd and costumed youngsters began to appear at the Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services tent, their Trick or Treat Bags at the ready. “Good witches” Winsome Brown and sisters Mia and Micayla Alexander had expected to give out lots of candy to the kids. But they were amazed to see their folders and brochures picked up by adult shoppers as quickly as they could put them out.

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Trick or Treaters had also been stopping at the St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Episcopal School tent, with and without their parents. Director of Admissions Kira Dickson filled her trusty basket with candy and, as can be seen in the photo below, it was going fast.

Dickson also had some exciting news to share with visitors to the St. Martin’s tent. The school was about to welcome its new Interim Head of School Kathleen Mahar who’d served most recently as President of Archbishop Spalding High School.

With an hour to go before the Children’s Costume Contest, there was lots to see with playful pirates, fanciful creatures and mystical apparitions everywhere. Wolf Zelda and chicken Daphne took it all in but steered clear of the scary mummy (Jacquei Shade) behind them with Mr. Toad (Thomas Shade) from the classic book “The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad”. The mummy would crop up elsewhere from time to time.

Following Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi’s much anticipated Lion Dance, the Lion’s head became disconnected from its body enroute to the martial arts school’s tent. Moments later, event Gold Sponsor Jing Ying’s owners Nancy and Billy Greer brought out an example of the institute’s newest attraction, a Dragon Ribbon in celebration of the Chinese Year of the Dragon.

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Dragon Ribbons are used with students of all ages during classes at the Arnold-based school. But, in China, their use is considered a popular form of exercise for “elderly” Tai Chi practitioners. Billy Greer provided a demonstration of how the ribbons work while Nancy commented that exercising with one requires getting into a steady rhythm.

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The day following SHOPTOBERFEST, the Jing Ying Institute Team rallied at Sandy State Park for the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s. The Greers note that the Jing Ying Team is still collecting Alzheimer’s Walk donations through Thanksgiving. You can make a donation online through 2024 Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Annapolis, MD (Anne Arundel): Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi | Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

Time passed ever so quickly. The Costume Contest was scheduled for 1 pm, but costumed kids began arriving ten minutes early from all points of the compass. Soon, Chamber CEO Liz League announced over the loudspeaker that the costume contest was about to begin. She asked that all competitors form a line before the judges. The line was colorful and very long stretching from one end of the parking lot to the other.

After announcing that prizes would be awarded for the most original, cutest and scariest costume, the event’s emcee proceeded to speak with each child and have them explain the character they were portraying. He had great fun speaking with Cinderella, a princess, a pirate (who’d win Cutest Costume), two Minions, a werewolf and Beetlejuice (who’d win a prize for Scariest) but was astonished when Abraham Lincoln recited the first lines of the Gettysburg Address.

Storybook characters included the monkey Curious George and companion in the yellow hat (who captured the prize for Most Original). The black hooded phantasm flitted here, there and everywhere.

The costume contest over, it was back to Trick or Treating for the children while their parents enjoyed more shopping. An oh-so-popular draw for everyone was the Eco Adventures tent where Dorito the Corn Snake and his handler Nathan greeted visitors.

Corn Snakes are native to Maryland. Dorito, an excellent specimen, is one of Eco Adventures animal ambassadors. There were other animal ambassadors behind Nathan.

After leaving Dorito, we once more came upon the mummy minding the Good Neighbors Group stand. The mummy, aka Jacquei Shade, was the epitome of GNG’s goal to “Recycle, Reduce, and Renew”.

“I made my mummy costume from one of my husband’s old dress shirts that was stained, a GNG donation of midshipman’s pants that were too stained to pass on, and an old white baseball cap topped by some sheer fabric gathered around an elastic band,” Shade said.

There were so many vendors at the event that we can mention just a few. Some, like SHOPTOBERFEST Gold Sponsor SERVPRO, Kwon’s Taekwondo, Sidestreet Framers & Gift Gallery and Ally 4 Pets have been at virtually every one of the spring and fall SHOP LOCAL events.

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Others were new this year. Brand new to Severna Park and quite colorful was the CottonWood quilting, arts and antique shop now located at 548 Benfield Road and owned by Julie and D.J. Antinucci. Another was Nothing Bundt Cakes.

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Nissa and Aiden, who were selling the bundt cakes nonstop, were with the Waugh Chapel branch. The original shop is located in Annapolis and there is about to be a Nothing Bundt Cakes shop opening in Park Plaza in two months.

Before leaving SHOPTOBERFEST, we couldn’t help but notice that the Singing Pirates seen spinning cotton candy in the opening photo were just as busy as they had been throughout the day with long lines of customers trailing across the parking lot. The cotton candy in flavors ranging from blue raspberry to cherry berry was free to everyone courtesy of the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber.

The Chamber was delighted with SHOPTOBERFEST 2024. The day couldn’t have been more beautifulm the crowds good and steady sales for the vendors.

AAUW Book Sale to be held October 31 thru November 3

Another reminder that the annual AAUW Book Sale will be held from Thursday, October 31 to Sunday November 3 at Chesapeake Square, 6714 Ritchie Hwy, Glen Burnie, MD (south of Ordinance Road, west side of Ritchie Hwy, in shopping center with Chap’s Pit Beef).

Doors open for the presale from 8:00 to 10:00 AM on Thursday, October 31 ($40 entry) then free to all from 10:00 am to 7:00 PM. The sale continues Friday, November 1 from 10:00 am to 7:00 PM, Saturday, November 2 from 9:00 am to 7:00 PM and Sunday, November 3 from 9:00 am to 3:00 PM. For more information, visit AAUW ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY USED BOOK SALE | Facebook.

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.

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

Pumpkins, chrysanthemums and straw bales provided a spectacular setting for celebrating Park Tavern’s 10th Anniversary on the golden afternoon of October 4th.

Though the Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce would be conducting the official anniversary program along with a ribbon cutting in front of the restaurant, longtime patrons of Park Tavern were already celebrating inside.

As is usually the case, Chamber CEO Liz League showed up early to greet those attending the program and was soon trading the latest business news with Tommy Sommers, owner of LogoZone Promotions, and Phil Savard from Ace Hardware.

The group quickly grew as more people from the Severna Park business community arrived. Maryland State Delegate Heather Bagnall had invited her Chief of Staff Rory Nolan to accompany her as he had never visited Park Tavern before. He was eager to see what it was like.

Bagnall related a bit about the history of Park Tavern and other properties of the 206 Restaurant Group to her young chief of staff.

“I really like that the restaurant group partners buy long established properties that may have lost their sheen like the Deep Creek Restaurant in Arnold. The partners restored and transformed it into something really special,” Bagnall said. “When the restaurant group took over ownership of the former Woodfire Restaurant and Back Room and transformed it into Park Tavern, they created a truly wonderful dining exerience which has become a really important part of the Severna Park community. Each of the restaurants they’ve opened is different and distinct from the others.”

Folks attending the anniversary celebration continued to stream in and formed conversational groups along the restaurant sidewalk. Anne Arundel County Council member Amanda Fiedler, who would be presenting a citation to Park Tavern owner Don Kelly and his partners, caught up with fellow presenter Aysia Rodriguez representing Maryland State Delegate Brian Chisholm and Severna Park Voice publisher Dianna Lancione.

Moments later, 206 Restaurant Group partners Don Kelly, Justin Dvorkin and Greg Keating, their families and staff filed out onto the front steps of Park Tavern as League called everyone together for the official Anniversary Program.

The program got underway with League interviewing Don Kelly about his vision in opening Park Tavern and his take on what’s happened in the 10 years since.

“Ten years has flown by, with a little curve ball in the middle in 2020 with the COVID pandemic, which we’d never experienced before. But this tavern was the one establishment we never closed down. That was not what we had in any of our other locations. Severna Park really supported us, and we thank them to this day, ” Kelly said.

“Over that 10-year period, we opened Donnelly’s Dockside with our partner Dan Donnelly and our sports bar JB’s which sits directly opposite Park Tavern. We’ve been delighted how well JB’s and Park Tavern complement each other and continue to thrive. We hope we’ll be here with both for another 20 years.”

In response to League’s question about what sets Park Tavern apart from the 206 Restaurant Group’s other properties, Kelly responded he’d looked to provide something the community didn’t have – to fill a niche. He wanted to reinvent the neighborhood tavern, with good food, a menu that changed two or three times each year, and great service. He noted that, when customers come into the Tavern, they’ll see six or seven of the original staff members and others who know their clientele well.

Kelly and partners Dvorkin and Keating spent a few minutes speaking about their other properties – each with its own personality. In addition to Park Tavern and JB’s, they include their Baltimore landmark pub, the cozy Pratt Street Ale House and Donnelly’s Dockside with waterside dining the partners have taken to another level. The threesome also shared the exciting news that their well-known Oliver Brewing Company is moving from East Baltimore to a site on Jumper’s Hole Road in Millersville. The craft brewer of American ales and taproom will be a welcome addition to the Millersville community and will bring 20 to 30 fulltime jobs to the area.

League easily segued into the next part of the celebration introducing several state and local government officials with citations to present to Park Tavern.

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The official ceremony over, the partners, family members and staff came together across the tavern’s front entrance for photographs and a chamber ribbon cutting. A half dozen original staff members and several others who’ve worked at Park Tavern for a least six or seven years were praised by the partners.

Meantime, indoors, Park Tavern regulars were already celebrating.

The bar already fully occupied when the anniversary celebration got underway at 4 pm, longtime Park Tavern patrons Kati Elliott and friend Lauren Garber found a table with other longtime customers and enjoyed the celebration. They had a great time selecting goodies from the trays of complimentary hors d’ oeuvres and shooters the waiters were handing out.

The official anniversary festivities were over at 6 pm, but many of those attending stayed on.

Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere

Autumn is fleeting but, on these bright beautiful days who can resist visiting one of our local produce stands where pumpkins share star billing with chrysanthemums. Diehl’s Produce in Severna Park has a great variety of pumpkins in all sizes – from those suitable for making pies to those that are decorative – plus a wide variety of winter squash. A shock of fodder makes a great background for some of those vibrant hued chrysanthemums.

A limited amount of produce is still available including some crispy apples from Adam’s County, Pennsylvania. Diehl’s Produce will remain open through Halloween, then will observe a pause until reopening to sell Christmas trees.

Driving about, we found the proliferation of pumpkins positively picturesque at Pumphrey’s Farm on Veteran’s Highway in Millersville.

Pumphrey’s Farm still has plenty of vegetables and fruits available including several varieties of apples and pears from Carroll County. The stand will remain open till Thanksgiving.

SHOPTOBERFEST with a Trick or Treat Twist at Park Plaza this Saturday

The Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce reports that over 40 vendors will be appearing at the annual SHOPTOBERFEST with a Trick or Treat Twist at Park Plaza this Saturday from 10 am till 3 pm. There will be a Kids Costume Contest at 1 pm followed by a Costume Contest for Dogs. There will be food to sample, music and entertainment to enjoy, and the chance to SHOP LOCAL in support of our community businesses.

Cypress Restaurant & Bar to open at Park Plaza

We happened to notice while driving through Park Plaza that work is in progress on the new Cypress Restaurant & Bar being opened in the space that was once home to Sullivan’s Cove. Attractive signage was being installed but brown paper still covered most windows, so we were unable to peek inside.

A Facebook page states that the restaurant will serve fresh, local dishes but an opening date is not yet listed. You can check it out at Facebook.

AAUW Book Sale to be held October 31 thru November 3

We booklovers are delighted to hear that the annual AAUW Book Sale will be held from Thursday, October 31 to Sunday November 3 at Chesapeake Square, 6714 Ritchie Hwy, Glen Burnie, MD (south of Ordinance Road, west side of Ritchie Hwy, in shopping center with Chap’s Pit Beef).

Doors open for the presale from 8:00 to 10:00 AM on Thursday, October 31 ($40 entry) then free to all from 10:00 am to 7:00 PM. The sale continues Friday, November 1 from 10:00 am to 7:00 PM, Saturday, November 2 from 9:00 am to 7:00 PM and Sunday, November 3 from 9:00 am to 3:00 PM.

As always, the sale offers a wide variety of books including fiction, biography, history, science, religion, arts and crafts, cookbooks, coffee table books, children’s books and more. Cash, check or credit card accepted.

Proceeds of the sale go to scholarships for Anne Arundel County women. For more information, visit AAUW ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY USED BOOK SALE | Facebook.

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.

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

The elementary-school-aged youngsters seated behind the row of sewing machines in Wendy Preslan’s Stitches of Kindness workshop were completely absorbed in their work.

Having been taught all about the machines, their operation, and how to sew straight lines by Preslan, the students were now putting the skills they learned to use by creating simple projects meant to help organizations, individuals or patients that needed them.

The children found the Stitches of Kindness light-filled workshop and hum of the machines comforting as they stitched together pieces of fabric to complete the afternoon’s project – making syringe driver bags for hospital patients. They’d earlier stood at a large cutting board measuring and cutting out rectangles of fabric and straps for the colorful shoulder bags designed to hold devices that deliver medication to a patient.

The kids were clearly enjoying themselves while creating something worthwhile “one stitch at a time” observed Preslan.

Her wonderful Stitches of Kindness organization was born at the outset of, the COVID 19 pandemic. Like many people, Preslan found her career as a photographer at a standstill because of virus-related restrictions. Her business, Nana Sue Photography Healing Images, could no longer do the children’s workshops that were her passion.

“I was getting bored sitting at home with nothing to do, Preslan said. “My daughter, a nurse called me one day from the hospital. She said “Mom, the hospital is running out of masks and we’re having to double up. Could you sew a mask? It would be so appreciated’.”

“Well, I’d sewn all my life and had even sewn commercially at one time. But, as my children grew my interests shifted and I’d stopped altogether. Regardless, I pulled out my old commercial sewing machine, cleaned it up and oiled it and made one mask.”

She next photographed herself modeling the mask at posted the picture on Facebook to inspire others to do the same. Then she got busy, sewing and donating 6,000 masks. Most went to hospitals, especially to their shock trauma units. But others went to firefighters, other emergency responders and a few organizations.

Once finished making masks, she found she could sew other useful items for hospitals, organizations and individuals who needed them. From the outset of these endeavors, she realized how much she missed interacting with children in a workshop environment. She knew she could teach them valuable skills while giving them a sense of purpose. So she created the non-profit Stitches of Kindness and she and husband Mark set about converting the lower level of their home to a workshop.

It was at this point that we first met Wendy Preslan who was selling Stiches of Kindness items for $1 apiece at a Good Neighbors Group Pop Up Shop hosted by BD Provisions. She was donating the proceeds to various charitable organizations. (Stiches of Kindness currently contributes to nine such organizations.)

The Stiches of Kindness workshop quickly took shape. Located along the far wall is a built-in counter with six sewing machines with a work-station at the end featuring a cutting board.

On the opposite wall is a converted closet featuring a counter with two additional sewing machines and shelves above for storing fabric and supplies. Students are quite happy working in the space. There is also a second room with a couple more sewing machines that is used from time to time.

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The Stitches of Kindness Workshop is fortunate to receive many donations of partially used bolts of fabric, colorful threads, zippers and other supplies as well as items that can be upcycled like denim jeans. Being a “no-waste” workspace, nothing is ever wasted in the workshop, so storage space is an ongoing problem. Yarn for crocheting and scraps of cloth found a home on a standalone shelving unit. Shelves were added beneath the cutting board counter to hold extra bolts of cloth.

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An all-important ironing board set up at the end of the room for pressing seams is balanced on yet another small storage cabinet with baskets full of cloth scraps suitable for quilting squares next to it.

The day-to-day operation of the workshops is fairly simple. People find out about Stiches of Kindness through Facebook or word-of-mouth and get in touch to arrange one or more workshops for their child or group of kids. The age range of participants is from eight or nine years old through the teens.

“I like to start children young and eight or nine is a really good age because they are very receptive and eager to learn but I find that kids of all ages do well,” Preslan says.

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First things come first though. She teaches her workshop students the basics, acquainting them with the different parts of the sewing machines, showing them how to operate and care for the machines and how to thread a bobbin. Then she asks them to practice sewing straight lines, sometimes stitching on paper. At that point, they are ready to sew actual items. They learn that sewing is fairly easy but requires patience. There is no pressure. If a mistake is made sewing a seam, for example, they are encouraged to simply rip it out and resew it.

“It’s rewarding for me to give the kids skills, like how to sew a hem, that will come in handy throughout their lives while encouraging them to be creative in their choice of materials. Some may be inspired to seek more training or even make sewing a part of their careers,” Preslan said. “Mainly, I enjoy seeing their sense of accomplishment and how good it makes them feel to know the items they created, one stitch at a time, will be very much appreciated by those who receive them.”

Some of the things the children have made that are donated or sold to raise money for charitable organizations include healthcare items like the aforementioned syringe driver bags, mastectomy pillows or bands, crocheted chemo caps or colorful pillowcases for kids in the hospital. They sew bandannas for dogs to be sold or donated to shelters, cloth napkins in pretty prints, cloth bowl covers or sandwich bags and zipper pouches for any number of uses. Stiches of Kindness participants are also taught the art of crocheting and crochet hats for homeless populations.

As previously mentioned, the “no-waste” workshop recycles, upcycles or uses everything including the empty spools pictured below. At Good Neighbors Group executive director Julie Shay’s suggestion, the spools and donated thread are turned into sewing kits that are distributed to homeless individuals, alone or as part of zippered pouches of hygiene items.

It was recently announced that Stiches of Kindness has partnered with Good Neighbors Group – an initiative that allows people in the community who like to sew at home to donate items like those made by the workshops to individuals, hospitals, assisted living homes or organizations. They can drop off completed items to GNG partners Park Home, Long & Foster Real Estate, and All For The Pet in Severna Park and Dr. Mariaileen Sourwine’s office at 277 Peninsula Farm Road in Arnold. The items will then be distributed by Stitches of Kindness or GNG.

Always looking for new projects, the workshops are tackling a few upcycling projects using material from discarded jeans or trousers to make fashionable tote bags. On a more personal level, Preslan is also sharing some of Stitches of Kindness’ guiding principles and sewing techniques with classes she’s teaching at Anne Arundel Community College.

For more information about Stiches of Kindness, schedule a workshop or to make a donation, visit Facebook or call 410-507-9315.

Orphan Grain Train seeks help for its Hurricane Disaster Relief Efforts

Orphan Grain Train Maryland Branch representative Marie Fries reports that hurricane relief efforts are already underway. The national headquarters of Orphan Grain Train in Nebraska responded quickly to the disaster in North Carolina and sent a truck with 45,000 pounds of food that arrived on October 5th.  OGT also sent a water tanker and second truck with 125,000 mercy meals, personal hygiene and flood clean-up kits. They are working on sending a medical clinic with a doctor and nurse.

Fries notes that Orphan Grain Train’s Mayland Branch is collecting disaster relief buckets and hygiene kits. Directions for assembling these kits are below. OGT encourages you to invite friends, neighbors, church groups and/or co-workers to get together and assemble these kits.

Hygiene Kit should contain:

• One hand towel (15 x 25 –17 x 27 inches)
• One washcloth
• One sturdy comb
• One toenail or fingernail clipper
• Bath-size soap (3 oz. bar or larger) – In original packaging
• One adult toothbrush – In original packaging
• Unopened toothpaste
• Small hand sanitizer
• Small shampoo
• 10 adhesive band-aids (¾ by 3 inches)

Place all items in a one-gallon size resealable bag.

Disaster Cleaning Buckets should contain:

1. Scrub brush
2. Ajax scrub powder
3. Long cleaning gloves
4. Sponge
5. Cleaning solution concentrate (Mr. Clean or Pine-Sol)
6. One hand towel
7. Window cleaner spray
8. Chlorox bleach concentrate
9. Roll of paper towels
10. Hand Wipes

Place all items in a 5-gallon bucket with a lid.

If you have any questions, please contact Marie Fries at weezie68@verizon.net.

OGT is also collecting toilet paper, paper towels, large trash bags, tarps (all sizes), children’s diapers, and feminine hygiene products.

Completed kits, as well as the above-mentioned items, can be dropped off at the OGT warehouse at 621 East-West Boulevard, Millersville, MD. The warehouse will be open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday mornings from 9:00 until noon, Tuesday evenings from 5:00 until 7:00 pm and Saturday, October 12th, from 9:00 until noon.

The deadline for dropping off kits is Monday, October 21st. For more information, visit Maryland | Orphan Grain Train | Sharing resources and bringing Christ’s name and character to needy people both far and near. (ogt.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.

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 Homecare Services

After nearly a week of dreary weather and intermittent rain, sunshine, blue skies, and frothy white clouds returned just in time for Langton Green Community Farm’s 10th Anniversary celebration on Saturday afternoon, September 28th.

Walking in from the parking area toward the Millersville farm’s picturesque garden gate, I couldn’t help smiling as I spotted two of three of Langton Green’s pigs heading for the shade of their shed to escape the heat and humidity. A third pig was wallowing in the mud on the far side of the enclosure.

The farm looked bright and beautiful as I made my way to the gate and walked through into the garden. Beds overflowed with herbs and flowers stretching into the distance and there were decorative elements everywhere including colorful murals from artist Cindy Fletcher Holden.

Aside from the buzzing of bees drawn to the profusion of pollinator plants, all was quiet, and I seemed to be alone. Evidently, the anniversary celebration had already begun on a stage toward the back of the expansive property. That was fine with me because walking there would take me past some of my favorite things about Langton Green Community Farm.

A partially filled wheelbarrow by beds of oregano and thyme hinted at ongoing work by volunteers.

Since being founded in 1984, Langton Green, Inc. a non-profit Anne Arundel County-based residential community has supported adults with intellectual disabilities. Langton Green Community Farm was later established as a place where people with varying needs and abilities can work and make a positive impact on the surrounding community.  Produce goes for free to Langton Green’s residential community consumers. Excess produce is sold to CSA and other customers and donated to community food pantries serving low-income Maryland residents.

Ten years of hard work, especially by current farm manager Elizabeth Snyder, her farm crew and some dedicated volunteers, have made the farm very productive. Following a row of squash vines peppered with yellow blossoms along a fence led me to one of the farm’s hoop houses brimming with tomatoes and peppers that will continue to grow through the early frosts.

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Over time, the farm has also become a center of community life through various programs and events for the public, some of which are held in the Danny’s Day Memorial Pavilion (made possible by a generous donation from Pat and Neysa Ernst honoring the memory of their son). Food was already laid out there in chafing dishes ready for serving later.

Skirting past the pavilion and one of the chicken houses, I found myself on the somewhat muddy road past greenhouses and fields where spent summer crops had been plowed under and planted with cover crops to enrich the soil.

Walking on, I arrived at the back fields where blueberry bushes, paw paws and orchard trees are grown. The Anniversary Program was already underway at the outdoor stage. As I approached, I found a crowd stretched along the bank that was made up of local families, farm volunteers, staff members, and some of the individuals with developmental disabilities that work on the farm.

The featured musical group, The Pretty Big Deal Trio, had already completed their first set and the crowd was enjoying a reading by local poet Hiram Larew. Following the reading, Maryland State Senator Sarah Elfreth, who represents Annapolis and Southern Anne Arundel County, addressed the crowd. Noting that she was visiting Langton Green Community Farm for the first time, she said she was mightily impressed.

The official 10th Anniversary program ended as it began with a second set by Micheal Kocher’s popular Pretty Big Deal Trio with Kocher and Neal Bumgarner on guitar and P.J. Thomas on vocals.

More was in store for Anniversary celebration attendees, however. Back at the Danny’s Day Memorial Pavilion, steaming chafing dishes filled with foods prepared with vegetables and eggs from the farm looked amazing as did some of the farm produce being displayed.

Anniversary celebrants flowed in and out of the pavilion at leisure. Everyone seemed to have a great time.

Even the chickens and goats seemed pleased. To follow the activities of Langton Green Community Farm on a daily basis, visit Facebook.

Trinity Bible Church had sunshine too

Happening at exactly the same time on Saturday as the Langton Green celebration, Trinity Bible Church’s Fall Festival was taking place in Severna Park and its organizers couldn’t have been more delighted to see the sun. Located at 99 Truckhouse Road, the church had plenty of space for games, pony rides, a Moon Bounce and cooking out.

The Fall Festival went off without a hitch and not only attracted families from the congregation but members of the public too. For more information, visit Facebook.

Though cloudy, Sunday’s events were a success too

There wasn’t a moment’s doubt that Art In The Park at Cafe Mezzanotte would be held on Sunday, rain or shine. Produced by the Severna Park Voice in cooperation with Cafe Mezzanotte, arrangements were made to hold the event partially beneath attractive tents. The participating artists and vendors were given indoor space to display their wares. The music and arts festival featuring The Grilled Lincolns, was a great success and benefitted Partners In Care Maryland .

To the Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails, it was both a surprise and relief that they were able to move ahead with their 30th Anniversary Celebration at Hatton-Regester Green. Though cloudy, Severna Park residents turned out to celebrate and enjoy a performance by the very popular Old Mill High School Steel Drum Band.

Severna Park Community Center Fall Festival rescheduled

Originally scheduled to be held Sunday as well, rains the night before meant a number of vendors were hesitant about setting up outdoors. So, it was decided to cancel the event and reschedule it. The Fall Festival will be combined with the Halloween Spooktacular being held October 25 from 5 to 8 pm. More information will be forthcoming shortly.

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.

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

By 5 pm on Monday, rain was falling at Historic Baldwin Hall as a much looked forward to Community Resource Fair was getting underway. One could see from cars in the parking lots that attendees had already arrived.

Representatives from a dozen county agencies and non-profits were set up inside to provide information about services and resources for local families.

Indoors, we found several familiar faces as one entire side of the building was set aside for organizations and churches closely related to the Crownsville and Millersville neighborhoods surrounding Baldwin Hall. Foremost among these was Severn Crossroads Foundation trustee Carolyn Woody. The foundation is the non-profit organization responsible for restoring and maintaining Baldwin Hall. Woody was surrounded by an impressive display of photographs and documents detailing the hall’s rich history.

“We start with information on the construction of Baldwin Hall as the Old Cross Roads Church by the Methodist Society in 1861. We next make note that in 1896 the “crossroads church” was moved across Indian Landing Road to make way for the building of the current Baldwin Memorial Church. The original church was then used as the church school and parish hall until about 1970,” Woody said.

“There was much debate whether to destroy the old church hall in favor of a larger facilty. However, members tirelessly worked to raise funds for the hall, with its lovely Carpenter’s Gothic architecture, to be saved and moved once more. Some of the pictures we have here are from when the building was moved across Generals Highway to its current location and renamed Baldwin Hall.”  

The history theme prevailed as representatives from nearby John Wesley Waterbury United Methodist Church were at the next table. The church, which is located at 962 Generals Highway in the Waterbury community of Crownsville, was founded in 1845. The original church was a log building that was later destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt in 1863. The third church was built in 1901 and given the name John Wesley Methodist Episcopal (M.E.) Church and is today known as John Wesley United Methodist Church.  Sunday worship services conducted by the church pastor, Rev. Frederick Price, Jr., and a wide range of activities keep the church as vibrant as ever.

Not to be outdone, there was also representation from Baldwin Memorial United Methodist Church directly across General’s Highway from Historic Baldwin Hall at 921 General’s Highway. The lovely granite church resembling an English country chapel was constructed and completed in 1896 as the Cross Roads Church. It replaced the Old Cross Roads Church (now Historic Baldwin Hall). Soon thereafter, the name of the church was changed from Cross Roads Church to Baldwin Memorial Church in recognition of the tireless support to the congregation by Mr. and Mrs. William Henry Baldwin. Even today, some locals refer to Baldwin Memorial UMC as “the stone chapel”.

Moving on, we met Scoutmaster Carl Aten and Charter Organization Representative Annie Medford from Boy Scouts of America Troop 804. We’d last encountered the troop, along with members of Girl Scout Troop 192, as they presented the colors during Baldwin Hall’s Re-Birthday Celebration in June. Troop 804 is sponsored by the Severn Crossroads Foundation and meets at the hall.

Moving toward the back of the Community Resource Fair, we discovered a clever “Community Sing” booth from Chesapeake Harmony Chorus. Manned by chorus director Sally Burton and member Marge McGugan, the booth was designed to inform attendees about the chorus and quartets, its many fun appearances and activities, and perhaps inspire a few of them to join. (Both Burton and McGugan are also Severn Crossroads Foundation trustees.)

Crossing over to the agency side, we discovered Patrick Hughes and Maddie Lane from the Anne Arundel County Office of Planning & Zoning. To residents from the history rich crossroads area (located along General’s Highway, the famed Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route), zoning is important. People fear the encroachment of development. So there were many questions for Hughes and Lane.

Nearby, Bonnie Paucar, an information specialist from the Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities brought plenty of giveaways to attract attention but also had some great information to share. She handed out directories listing a variety of services for senior citizens as well.

Located parallel to one another we found Alison Flores and Alejandra MeInyk from the Office of Hispanic/Latino and Multicultural Resources at one table and Andrea from Anne Arundel County Public Schools at the other. Flores and Melnyk were providing lots of useful information but were also inviting attendees to attend the Anne Arundel County Hispanic Heritage Awards at Liv2! Casino & Hotel on October 10th.

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Andrea, on the other hand was hoping to attract workers to fill openings with the public school system’s Food & Nutrition Services. She was also giving out packets of Smarty Plants seeds with adorable Cheer Pins attached.

We next happened upon some old friends we’ve encountered before. Lisa Dannielle and Cindy Manos from the non-profit Senior Dog Sanctuary said they are currently focused on matching senior dogs with seniors.

“We’re always looking for people to volunteer, adopt or foster our older dogs. Senior citizens often love dogs but can’t afford to have them,” Dannielle said. “Our organization is making it affordable by arranging to supply free dog food, health care and other services for the senior dogs so they can have a home and companionship with a loving senior.”

Lastly, we encountered two agencies we consider very important. Jorge Paucar from the Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management was providing Guides to Emergency Preparedness along with little emergency medical kits with Band-Aids, sterile alcohol pads, etc. as well as sunglasses and other items. Next to him an Anne Arundel County Crisis Response System member was handing out equally important information along with tote bags, self-contained notebooks with items helpful in emergency situations like writing paper, post-it notes and stick-on labels and other supplies.

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Altogether a good representation of community services for a rainy September evening at Historic Baldwin Hall.

Speaking of rain, we have five great events scheduled for this weekend some of which may be affected by the weather while others might not. We’ll start with those being held on Saturday.

Trinity Bible Church’s Fall Festival on Saturday, September 28

As mentioned last week, a fun-filled Fall Festival is being held at Trinity Bible Church at 99 Truckhouse Road this Saturday, September 28 from 11 am till 2 pm. The FREE community event for people of all ages, will offer food and entertainment for the whole family.  The celebration should go off rain or shine as it could easily be moved from outdoors to indoors.

Langton Green’s 10th Anniversary Celebration this Saturday, September 28

The public is invited to join the celebration of Langton Green Community Farm’s 10th Anniversary this Saturday, September 28 from 1 pm till 4:30 pm. There will be food, concessions and family fun. Thanks to a sponsorship by Bay Ridge Lawn & Landscape, there will be live music by the Pretty Big Deal Trio. There will also be a few poetry readings and people are invited to enjoy a walk about the farm.

Should the weather surprise us and be sunny, attendees are invited to bring a blanket or lawn chair. If there is rain, we are assured by Langton Green Community Farm communications director Patricia Dempsey that the event can and will be held inside. The farm is located at 844-846 Generals Highway in Millersville.

Moving on to Sunday, we have three more events.

Art In The Park at Cafe Mezzanotte this Sunday, September 29

The 3rd Annual edition of Art In The Park held at Cafe Mezzanotte in partnership with the Severna Park Voice is scheduled for this Sunday from 1 till 5 pm. The live Music & Arts Festival is being sponsored by KMA Law with proceeds to benefit Partners In Care.

There will be live music by The Grilled Lincolns featuring Andy Hall with The Betas. In addition to a Beer & Wine Garden Picnic Pavillion, there will be local ice cream, gifts, artists and art galleries. Tickets for the rain or shine event are $58 per person In Advance, $68 at the Door. You can call Cafe Mezzanotte at 410-647-1100 for any other questions.

Rain is not a problem as there are tents and part of the event could be moved inside if necessary.

Severna Park Community Center Fall Festival this Sunday, September 29

Severna Park Community Center’s annual Fall Festival is scheduled for this Sunday, September 29 from 1 to 4 pm. This free community event is also sponsored by KMA Law. In addition to live music, food trucks, artisan vendors and family activities like pumpkin decorating, there will be children’s activities ranging from face painting, games, music and art, Dodge Arrows and critters from Eco Adventures.

We’re told this event is weather-sensitive. Due to the fact that most activities are centered on being outdoors, it could be postponed (probably to October) if there is heavy rain. Stay tuned. We’ll try to keep you updated.

Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails 30th Anniversary at Hatton-Regester Green

The Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails‘ 30th Anniversary Celebration is scheduled to be held from 4 to 6 pm this Sunday, September 29 at Hatton-Regester Green. The Old Mill High School Steel Drum Band will be performing beginning at 4:00 P.M. Ken’s Hot Dogs will be on hand. There will be door prizes, a raffle, and lot of great music.

This event is weather-sensitive. The Friends are hoping the rains will be over by 4 pm. If not, the celebration will have to be cancelled.

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.

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

Following on the success of its inaugural Spring Native Plant Sale on May 4, Park Hardware again teamed with Providence of Maryland to hold its first Fall Native Plant Sale on Saturday, September 14.

The weather was beautiful, the plants looked great, and foot traffic was heavy all day (as seen in the photo above). The event was a resounding success according to media representative Christine Hickey.

Park Hardware owner Rick Miller asked Providence greenhouse manager Rachel Carey and her group of vocational trainees to bring a wide selection of native plants over and arrange them for sale at the far end of the Park Hardware property beyond the parking lot. They did an amazing job.

The plants were healthy, hardy, beautiful and very interesting. We’d gotten an advance peek at them Friday evening and were fascinated with the way they were presented.

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There were quite a few plants I was unfamiliar with such as Woodland Stonecrop and Foamflower which make good groundcovers. There were signs with each section of plants describing them in detail. There was also an entire row of plants that are longtime favorites like Purple Coneflowers, Goldenrod and Garden Phlox.

For casual gardeners or those new to the hobby, the Anne Arundel County Master Gardeners staffed a booth and answered questions for shoppers. In addition, they signed some folks up for free Bay-Wise yard visits to help homeowners assess their yard’s potential to reduce stormwater runoff and create backyard habitat using native trees, shrubs, perennials, and grasses.

Plant sale shoppers were asked to pay for their purchases inside the store. Park Hardware owner Rick Miller and manager Mike Clarke posted themselves by the entrance to greet them and direct them to a counter to pay for their purchases.

Both men were very pleased that the Fall Native Plant Sale brought new customers to Park Hardware.

According to Hickey, the fall plant sale was successful beyond their expectations.

“Over the weekend, Park Hardware saw well over 100 customers perusing the plant sale and sold over 700 pots of 40 species of native perennials like milkweed, bee balm, phlox, and Black-eyed Susan’s,” she said. “Native plants can be hard to find, so Severna Park residents were out in droves, as well as visitors from around Anne Arundel County and from as far away as Pikesville, Maryland.”

“All the native plants were grown by Providence of Maryland, whose Arnold greenhouse complex employs adults with developmental disabilities,” added Hickey. “Customers repeatedly commented on how healthy and robust the plants looked, as well as the astounding variety of species. Park Hardware looks forward to continuing to partner with Providence to bring more native plants to Severna Park.”

Plans are already in the works to make the Spring and Fall Native Plant Sales annual events. 

Trinity Bible Church’s Fall Festival scheduled for September 28

A fun-filled Fall Festival is being held at Trinity Bible Church at 99 Truckhouse Road on Saturday, September 28 from 11 am till 2 pm. The FREE community event for people of all ages, will offer food and entertainment for the whole family. There will be burgers, hot dogs, chips and drinks plus a moonbounce, photo booth, games and crafts, snow cones, bingo, and more! For more information, visit Trinity Bible Church | Severna Park, Maryland | (trinitysevernapark.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.

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 those who enjoy the Saturday morning ritual of shopping for farm grown meat and produce and locally made baked goods and crafts, the Severna Park Farmer’s Market never disappoints. While some vendors come and go over the course of a summer, most are regulars. Eastern Shore farmer Pat Hochsmuth of Pat’s Produce and Gourds (pictured above) is a farmer’s market veteran of more than two decades.

Likewise, the beautiful bouquets and plants Joyce Martinek sells at her Joyce’s Flowers & Herbs stand have been one of the Severna Park Farmer’s Market’s biggest attractions since it opened in 1996. Martinek has raised flowers and herbs on her acreage in Elmhurst off Quarterfield Road for decades and has sold them at the market every summer for 28 years. Her bouquets are so popular with shoppers that her operation has grown over the years from one table to three tables of them. These days, she’s so busy greeting and chatting with longtime or new customers that she usually brings along a helper – most often her son Danny Martinek.

As mentioned before, Pat Hochsmuth has been participating in the Severna Park Farmer’s Market almost as long as Martinek, bringing an excellent selection of vegetables and melons up from his farm in Delmar, Maryland every Saturday. Like Martinek’s business, Pat’s Produce has done well and grown so much over the years that he, too, needs help running the stand.

Nearby, farmer’s market regular David Haberkorn of Morris Hill Farm was selling fresh eggs and chicken, duck, turkey, beef, pork and lamb from pasture-raised animals. Haberkorn’s first season at the market was 2019 after moving to his Tracy’s Landing farm with wife Vicki from Florida where they had a similar farm and learned to use regenerative farming practices that avoid harmful pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals.

To Haberkorn’s left was the colorful stand of another market regular, Lyon Rum, from St. Michaels, Maryland. Lyon Rum is the flagship spirit of Windon Distillery founded in 2012 by Jamie Windon. It’s made from Louisiana sugar cane in small pot stills with no additives or preservatives.

Considering the rather large number of canine companions seen with their owners at the farmer’s market each Saturday, it’s not really surprising that The Spoiled Dog Bakery has become such a hit. Owner Dianell Ashe created all manner of gourmet treats for dogs that, frankly, look good enough for humans to eat. They include Blueberry Bacon or Peanut Butter dog biscuits, Turkey Pumpkin Jerky, Cinnabons and Cinnamon Pumpkin biscuits in the shape of pumpkins.

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Keeping to the same side of the market, we came upon one of the most interesting vendors. My Nana’s Kitchen owner Anita Robertson, who also manages the farmer’s market, creates old fashioned homemade jams, spreads, sauces and condiments. She even has a sour dough starter. Robertson’s Chow Chow relish, Pickled Beetsand Rhubarb or Strawberry, Wild Blueberry or Whole Cherry Fruit Spreads bring to mind recipes made by her customers’ own grandmothers.

Crisscrossing the market, we came to the stand where veteran vendor Tyra Mack sells her Mack’s Mixes products. Considering the fact that that the mosquito and tick populations are at an all-time high this summer, the sign advertising Mack’s all-natural insect repellant certainly attracted my attention. Tyra’s nourishing soaps, shampoos and other products are also made with all-natural herbs, spices, butters and oils.

A stand or two further down and easily identifiable by its trademark green and white checked tablecloths, another farmer’s market favorite, the Zahradka Family Farm Stand, was doing brisk business as usual. The Essex, Maryland-based farm brought a vast range of vegetables and fruits. Starting at one end, there were enormous heads of cabbage and bunches of radishes, peppers, eggplants, lettuces, jalapeno peppers, tomatoes, sweet corn and fruits including apples, pears, cantaloupes and melons. There are farm-grown meats as well.

We noted loaves of fresh-baked bread at The Breadery, luscious looking butterhead lettuce and watercress at the booth of Green View Hydroponics from Suddlersville on the Eastern Shore, soy candles at Evie & Park, lemonade from Astral Sugars, and blade sharpening at Sharp Hamptons. Lest we forget, there was also a group of Master Gardeners from the University of Maryland Extension Service offering advice to gardeners and touting their Plant Clinics.

The Severna Park Farmer’s Market will be open through October and, if all goes as planned, will be back in early December with its annual Christmas Market. To follow the weekly schedule and activities of the farmer’s market visit Facebook.

Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Department lands $454,000 grant for Air/Light Unit

We just received word from Fire Chief Dave Crawford that Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company has received a Federal Grant for $454,000 to buy an Air/Light Unit to support fire ground operations. The unit will take about 3 years to build.

When you need to supply the scene with additional breathing air and scene lighting, Air/ Light Fire Trucks are the ultimate support vehicles according to Crawford. The truck EHVFC has ordered from Colorado-based SVI is similar to the one shown on the right. Such trucks can be customized for salvage and overhaul operations, or equipped for medical, rehabilitation and all-hazards response.

Crawford already has received drawings from SVI depicting the Air/Light Unit being built and customized for EHVFC in detail.

“It will be a very valuable asset for us for fighting fires or other emergency situations,” the fire chief said. “We’ll be able to generate light and fill our SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) bottles. We’ll also be able to make our Air/Light Truck available for all of the emergency responders in the area.”

Fall Native Plant Sale this Saturday at Park Hardware

Park Hardware, at 500 Ritchie Highway, is holding a Fall Native Plant Sale this Saturday (September 14) featuring a fine selection of autumn perennials. The sale will begin at 8 am and will last until the plants run out. Experts from the Anne Arundel County Bay-wise Program will be on site to offer advice.

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.

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

August 19th was an exciting day for Severn River Association Program Officer Tom Guay and other members of the staff assembled to watch as the Oyster Recovery Partnership (ORP) craft Papa Francis headed up the Severn toward a section of restored reef at Trace’s Hollow near the Severn River Bridge laden with 12.5 million oysters to be planted.

It was the second time oysters would be planted there and the observers couldn’t wait for the healthy flow of crustaceans from the side of the boat onto the reef to begin. SRA Operations and Communications Manager Sarah Winchester captured digital images of the entire operation including the actual planting as seen in the opening photograph.

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To acquaint us with the exact locations of the ten oyster reefs the Severn River Association has been restoring, Guay stood on a bank overlooking the Severn at Jonas and Anne Catharine Green Park and pointed to each. He started with those nearest him on the north side of the river.

“There is the reef just off the historic property Manresa on the hill in the distance and a second reef near the boat in the foreground referred to as Peach Orchard,” Guay said.

Pointing to the Severn River Bridge over Route 50, Guay identified a reef in front and toward the far side of it as the MGO reef. Then, he pointed toward the southern shore slightly below the MGO reef to the Trace’s Hollow reefs 1 and 2.

Shifting his stance, he pointed southward to the Severn River’s biggest reef off the community of Wardour at Weems Creek known as Weems Upper. It has been planted heavily over the years and is the river’s most populous reef. Just north of Weems Upper off Priest Point is another reef referred to as Wade. An additional reef nearby is a “hot spot” for oysters known as Wade 2.

Finally, turning around to face the Naval Academy Bridge, he pointed to the mouth of the Severn River beyond The Naval Academy where two additional reefs are located at Tolley Point near Bay Ridge and Chinks Point near Back Creek.

The Severn River Association’s impressive oyster reef restoration projects began back in 2009 during the administration of Governor Martin O’Malley according to Guay.

“O’Malley asked the State legislature to make some financial commitments to bring oysters back to Maryland waters,” he recalled. “Fortunately, the Severn River was included in the plan.”

The first project launched – an educational outreach program to residents who owned piers all along the river – was called Marylanders Grow Oysters (MGO). The SRA jumped on the program under the leadership of Bob Whitcomb who was president at the time and it was very successful.

The Severn River Association is now the biggest and most effective organization in the State involved with the MGO project. SRA has more than 300 oyster growers who receive free oyster larvae growing on oyster shells – a combination known as spat on shell – in September. They grow them in cages off their piers over the winter. When ready in June, the spat on shell are collected and planted on the MGO reef by the Severn River Bridge.

In 2018, the SRA members realized that, at the pace they were going, it was going to take a very long time to restore the reefs. They’d been planting approximately half a million oysters a year with the MGO program. However, they had a goal of one or two billion mature oysters in order to filter and refresh the water in the Severn River each week

Led by Bob Whitcomb and Ted Delaplaine, the SRA board decided to do something more aggressive and partnered with the Oyster Recovery Project and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to create a project called Operation Build A Reef as an experiment.

Working with ORP and DNR, SRA members raised private money to do their first major planting of 40 million oyster spat on shell with hopes of restoring two traditional Severn River reefs.

“We went to the hatchery at Horn Point and bought 40 million spat on shell, put them on one of Horn Point’s oyster boats, the Robert Lee, and planted them on the Manresa and Peach Orchard reefs,” Guay reported. “We next planted 15 million spat on shell on the reef we refer to as Trace’s Hollow A2. That is the same area we reseeded on August 19 by planting 12.5 million new oysters right over those previously planted there. All-told, we’ve planted over 200 million spat on shell.”

“We think all those oysters are doing really well and we can back that up. SRA has a water quality monitoring program, and we monitor the entire river including the oyster reefs which we visit every week. We monitor the water at each, measuring the levels of oxygen and salinity, particularly at the bottom where the oysters live. Over time, since 2018, we can show that the salinity and oxygen levels are of good enough quality for our oysters to be thriving.”

Guay added that the monitoring is followed up with an annual dive conducted on reefs planted with hatchery oysters the year before by volunteers who are experienced scuba divers. The divers take samples and are able to count, within a square meter, how many of the oysters are alive.

Thus far, the dives reveal that year-old oysters are thriving on the reefs. The minimum requirement to say a reef has been restored is 50 live oysters per square meter. SRA is getting 86 live oysters. In one spot, there were 150.

Guay revealed what a clump of healthy one-year old oysters looked like with a photo he took. He noted that, by the time the oysters are three years old, they have reached their full potential to filter up to 50 gallons of water each day.

The dives and underwater drones sent down to photograph the Weems Upper reef showed that from the surface to 12 and 14 ft. down the water is murky. “However, down right on top of the oysters, suddenly, the waters clear and you’re able to see the oysters,” Guay said. “You can actually view the oysters in the photographs. They do seem to be helping with the clarity.”

It’s fortunate that the Severn River has brackish water with salinity levels in drier years that are high enough for oysters and crabs to reproduce. When those conditions occur, there are enormous spawns allowing the oysters to reproduce themselves. If that happens often enough, the reefs can become self-sustaining.

Though the Severn River Association has many excellent programs, from floating classrooms for students to creating living shorelines, the organization is justly proud of its efforts to bring back the estuary’s historic reefs. SRA’s ultimate goal is to create favorable enough conditions in the Severn that there are enough fish, oysters and crabs for the local populations to share.

To learn more about the Severn River Association and explore opportunities to volunteer, visit Home – Connect Restore Protect | Severn River Association

Walk the Walk Foundation continues to grow by leaps and bounds

Thanks to help from generous donors and volunteers from Thrive Gym Annapolis and The Rotary Club of Parole (Annapolis), Walk the Walk Foundation completed the collection and distribution of more than 500 school backpacks to students at Mills Parole Elementary School on August 22.

WTWF director Nicole Dolan said she was incredibly pleased with the success of the organization’s 2024 school backpack drive.

“Since Walk the Walk Foundation can purchase school supplies for a much lower cost in bulk, we purchase the supplies up front and invite volunteers to join in filling backpacks,” Dolan said.

The busy director and her volunteers travel to communities, churches, offices, or schools where generous donors can fill a backpack for a $30 donation. The $30 covers the cost of one backpack along with all the necessary school supplies.

From the time Dolan and her husband Jeff took over the leadership of Walk The Walk Foundation from founders Dave and Kim Mitchell in 2022, the organization has grown by leaps and bounds and there has been lots of good news to share.

By far, the best news of all concerns one of WTWF’s most important initiatives – its Diapers for Babies program. At the end of July, the organization received a remarkable donation of 213,000 diapers from Huggies and The National Diaper Bank Network. The diapers were delivered in a 53 ft. trailer. Thankfully, a crew of volunteers helped the Dolans unload boxes and boxes of them.

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Walk the Walk Foundation’s Diapers for Babies program now supports 16 pantries across Anne Arundel County.

Aside from ongoing efforts to package diapers for distribution to those who need them, the foundation will be participating in their 3rd annual Bay Bridge Run/Walk Fundraiser on November 10th. Through WTWF’s Christmas for Children program, they’ll also be asking the local community to sponsor children for the holiday by purchasing Christmas gifts for families who otherwise would not be able to afford them

Since started by Dave and Kim Mitchell in 2005, over 10,000 children have been sponsored for Christmas by caring donors over the past 18 years. For more information about Walk the Walk Foundation or to volunteer for one of its programs, visit Walk the Walk Foundation | Annapolis MD (wtwf.org).

Homeschool businesses and organizations gather at Jing Ying Institute this Friday

Tomorrow, September 6, Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi is hosting a Homeschool event. The event will provide Anne Arundel County homeschool families an opportunity to meet local businesses and organizations that have homeschool programs and/or extracurricular activities appealing to students of all ages from elementary school through high school.

From 11 am till 2:30 pm, parents and students will be free to meet with vendors. From 12:30 to 1:30 pm, there will be a free Kung Fu class for kids. There will be free school supplies for students and other giveaways. There will also be a raffle. You may register your student or students for the kids’ kung fu class in advance at https://bit.ly/HSKungFu.

Langton Green Community Farm to celebrate 10th Anniversary on September 28

President John Iaquinta and the staff at Langton Green Community Farm invites local residents to join in as they celebrate the farm’s 10th anniversary on Saturday, September 28th from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm. There will be live music provided by Pretty Big Deal Trio, food, and family fun. The farm is located at 844 General’s Highway in Millersville. For more information, visit Home – Langton Green.

Hatton Regester Green Fall Concert Series resumes

The Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails‘ Concert Series at Hatton Regester Green got underway on September 1 with a concert by the duo Two Stories. The next concert will be held Sunday, September 8, from 4 to 6 pm and will star Sparks & McCoy playing classic acoustic rock.

Sunday, September 15 will see Ginger and the other Dave singing and harmonizing. Both play guitar with Ginger also play fiddle on pop, rock, country and folk music. Sunday, September 22 will feature Caribbean influenced trio Guava Jelly – a Hatton Regester favorite. September 29 will feature the Old Mill High School Steel Band.

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.

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

As members of Orphan Grain Train-Maryland Branch’s fundraising committee, volunteers Linda and Steve Zahn have been busy helping to organize and publicize the organization’s “SPARE No One – Helping the Needy” Bowling Fundraiser being held September 14 at Severna Park Lanes. Last Thursday, they were at the bowling alley spreading the word about the upcoming event.

According to the Zahns, the committee settled on a bowling event as a fun way for the 501(c)(3) organization to raise money for operating expenses.

“Orphan Grain Train- Maryland Branch is an all-volunteer ministry to the needy located on East-West Boulevard in Millersville,” Linda said. “As a 501(c)(3) organization, it has a Charity Navigator rating of 4, the highest. It is one of 28 Orphan Grain Train branches nationwide. That means, basically, that 98 cents out of every dollar goes to help the needy.”

Steve added that the branch’s 6,300 square foot warehouse allows collection and distribution of goods to those in need locally, throughout the country and throughout the world. However, the branch must find a way to pay for everything it does.

The Zahns noted that costs for shipping humanitarian aid to war-torn countries in Africa and Europe, including Ukraine, have soared as have costs for sending natural disaster relief. Most recently, they’ve given aid to residents effected by Baltimore’s Key Bridge collapse and have transported food, clothing, educational supplies, medical supplies and equipment, and even a donated church organ to towns in Appalachia. Of late, there has been a significant increase in requests to send food.

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As the pressing need for money to cover costs once more gained the attention of OGT’s fundraising committee, the members looked for a new kind of event that would attract attention. The Zahns had a suggestion. Since retiring as the former CEO of the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber, Linda and husband Steve have volunteered with the Glen Burnie-based charity, Hope For All. They attended, observed and admired how successful Hope For All’s bowling fundraiser was and felt it could work for OGT.

The committee favored the idea because, unlike with a golf tournament they’d tried before, people of all ages and skill levels would be able to participate fairly economically. The committee members agreed and picked the location of Severna Park Lanes and the date of Saturday, September 14 from 5 to 7 pm for the bowling fundraiser.

As Steve and Linda continued spelling out the details, Severna Park Lanes’ owner Mike Hall stopped to say hello and ask how things were going and express interest in becoming a sponsor of the fundraiser. Hall, who also owns Greenway Bowl and Annapolis Bowl, supports numerous charities and is currently a vice-president of Katherine’s Light Foundation and a member of the Baltimore Washington Medical Center board.

“Our bowling centers have been community event locations for many years so we’re always sponsoring or hosting different events,” Hall said. “Orphan Grain Train is another great organization to be involved with so we’re looking forward to having them here.”

Back to the details, Steve revealed that the Presenting Sponsor for Orphan Grain Train’s Bowling Fundraiser is Marriottsville-based Thrivent Liberty Team Financial Advisors. Tickets for the “SPARE No One – Helping the Needy” Bowling Fundraiser are $45 per person (max. 5 per lane). Your registration includes two games and shoe rental for Ten Pin or Duck Pin Lanes plus pizza, soda and dessert. ($30 for non-bowlers including a pizza and soda ticket). There will also be a Silent Auction. To register, visit http://www.ogt.org/md, For questions, contact Linda Zahn at 443-517-9557 or at znam23@verizon.net.

Grand Opening of Sugar Shoppe a Sweet Success

Ever-so-adorable door decorations hinted that the Grand Opening of The Sugar Shoppe at 4 Riggs Avenue was bound to be something special.

Sure enough, inside the shop, there was a blur of activity as friends of owners Jamie Denton and Eloise Patton, families with kids, trendy teens and members of the business community came together to celebrate Sugar Shoppe’s grand opening and to admire the completed renovation of one of Olde Severna Park’s most historic buildings.

Even before admiring the shop’s beautifully renovated interior, many guests headed directly to the middle of the room where the “candy table” beckoned invitingly. Told by Denton and Patton to help themselves, they sampled seven kinds of candy ranging from all-time-favorite M&M’s to chocolate covered pretzels and homemade marshmallows on a stick.

We discovered Penelope Mann, who actually works at the Sugar Shoppe, and her friend Chase happily enjoying the marshmallows on a stick and were tempted by them to try one. They were, in fact, delicious.

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Among several entrepreneurs at the opening, we spotted House of Design & Co. and Bohemian Black fashions’ owner Rose Walker at the counter while contractor Bruce Wills made a purchase. A moment later, she introduced us to Wills, the contractor who did the renovations to the Sugar Shoppe.

Walker has been putting her plans on hold for more than a year to move her company into a permanent location at the historic 1928 Listman General Store property opposite the B&A Trail Ranger Station off Earleigh Heights Road. Unfortunately, the owners of the property have been held up with renovations to the building due to county permitting issues and ongoing plumbing and sewer line work. Meantime, Walker learned that the property owners are transforming a garage on the property into two units and can make one of them available to Walker to host pop-up shops featuring her fashions.

We ran into local businesspeople galore including Larry Sells from Larry Sells Consulting, Anne Arundel County Economic Development Corporation business development director Anita Dewling, and Jill Weissenbach from Higgins & Friends Pet Sitting. We later ran into Danielle Bowen from Blended Essentials, Tommy Sommers from Logo Zone Promotions and Debra Saltz from BD Provisions who are seen in the photo to the right.

To cap the Grand Opening off in fine fashion, a Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting was planned. The organization’s CEO Liz League made what must have been her shortest trip ever from the Chamber offices directly across Riggs Avenue to the Sugar Shoppe. As always, League conducted a warm and interesting interview with owners Eloise Patton and Jamie Denton.

Asked how they came to open a candy shop, Patton said she and Denton were at the beach one day reminiscing about how they each had candy stores that they loved during their childhoods. They realized that there wasn’t a candy shop in Severna Park and decided that they would like to open one – one that was “super cute” and a place where parents and grandparents came to make memories for their kids or families. They’d also include gift shop items.

Patton had worked in the clothing business while Denton had worked in retail but neither woman had any experience running a retail business. Regardless, they’d long wanted to have some sort of business together and moved ahead with full support from their husbands and families.

Both owners thanked the friends and business associates who had helped and supported them including Wills and his team who carried out their every dream and specification to create the fun interior with its imaginative themes and pastel colors.

A brief series of presentations of congratulatory citations followed with one from Maryland State Senator Dawn Gile, a Severna Park resident “who just happened to live right down the street”.

The Grand Opening celebration ended with a ribbon cutting held in front of the Sugar Shoppe.

BD Provisions Roast & Toast Parent’s Morning Out

BD Provisions Severna Park co-owner Debra Saltz clued us in to the fact that the store is partnering with Macaroni Kid Pasadena MD for a fun celebration on Tuesday, September 3 at 8:30 am. Now that the kids are back in school, their parents are invited to take a well-deserved break at BD Provisions at 844 Ritchie Highway. The Roast & Toast includes:

A Complimentary cup of coffee
Mocktails
Shopping specials at BD Provisions
Tai Chi lessons by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi
A Make and Take Decorated Oyster Shell with The Half Shell MD
Chair Massages from Stretch Life Wellness Company
…and Door Prizes and Giveaways from Macaroni KID Pasadena-Severna Park-Glen Burnie.

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.