Month: October 2021

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN By Sharon Lee Tegler

Waiting for her turn at the microphone near the end of the Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce’s SHOPTOBERFEST on Saturday, the organization’s CEO, Liz League, was astonished.

“Gosh, we’re running over, time-wise, and no one wants to leave,” she said.

Indeed, the crowds attending SHOPTOBERFEST, with its festive Trick or Treat theme, were having fun and lingering past the 3 pm closing time. The Park Plaza event drew crowds all day long and the merchants were delighted to see all the parking lots around the square of tents full to the brim.

The business community wholeheartedly supported SHOPTOBERFEST, the ultimate #SHOPLOCAL experience. A total of 47 local merchants, small business owners and organizations took part in the extravaganza., all of whom got into the Halloween spirit of the event. Some business owners wore costumes and all were well-stocked with Halloween treats like miniature candy bars. HoneyBaked Ham’s treats were quite extravagant and included well-wrapped muffins, chocolate pastries and popcorn.

Fully into the spirit of Halloween, Park Tavern and JB’s servers Kylie Whittington and Malia Phipps served finger foods from both restaurants and were particularly popular with attendees.

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For children, SHOPTOBERFEST was really fun. There was lots of entertainment including event mascots Unicorn and Peter Pumpkin who interacted with kids of all ages and were prone to break into dance at any moment – especially when SHOPTOBERFEST emcee Larry Sells announced it was time for the “kids’ dance party.

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There were puzzles, games and toys for infants to teens to check out at Franklin’s Toys – everything from child-sized coffee and tea sets to “jousting” sets. There were hands-on educational exhibits like the one at the Echoes of Nature tent where kids could touch the non-poisonous snake handled by Lakiya Oyles and admire a ferret, creepy crawlies like tarantulas and praying mantis, and an adorable Eastern Screech Owl.

Bowie-based Echoes of Nature has many exciting Outreach and Enrichment programs perfect for elementary or middle school classes. For information, visit Home | Echoes of Nature .

For adults interested in shopping local, there was plenty to see including the latest line of fall fashions from The Cottage. In addition to fashionable clothing, owner Susan Gauthier and staff brought a selection of china, cloth napkins and tableware suitable for entertaining as well as lotions, potions and accessories that would make great gifts.

Side Street Framers and Gift Gallery brought three tables of artwork and handcrafted jewelry and holiday items. Owner Dawn Wilson commented that Christmas shoppers are already coming into her Park Plaza shop where she has plenty to show them.

“Since most of what we sell is created by local artists and craftsmen, we’re not experiencing any supply chain shortages. The creators of our jewelry, paintings, drawings and holiday items like our Lifetime Candles are just a stone’s throw away,” she said.

More community businesses were represented than we have room to mention. But among them were Ledo Pizza, Griswold Home Care, CertaPro Painters, School of Rock, Keller Williams and M&T Bank. There were representatives from a proposed Severna Park Museum and community organizations ranging from Good Neighbors Group to Span, Inc., and the Severna Park Community Center.

Emcee Larry Sells emphasized over the public address system several times how pleased the chamber was to see such a healthy combination of independent businesses and the charitable organizations they support.

“The non-profits you see here do great work and all these small business owners reciprocate many times over,” he said. “Without the support of the companies that are the underpinning of the community, the non-profit organizations couldn’t exist. We need them all for a vibrant community.”

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SPAN, Inc.’s Director of Development Michele Sabean was joined by Severna Park High School Thespian Society volunteers Henry Wright, Gianna Dicks and Cooper Powell, who have been collecting donations for the organization’s food pantry since school reopened. All three are in the cast of the SPHS Drama’s upcoming show “Freaky Friday”. They were helping Sabean and her son Scott collect non-perishable food pantry items and monetary contributions, promoting SPAN’s Holiday Caring program and also running a Go Fishing game.

Good Neighbors founder and president Julie Shay and board members Susan Gumula and Joann Price were spreading the word about their group’s charitable activities throughout the greater Severna Park area and hoping to attract new members.

Severna Park Community Center members were promoting their Halloween Hootenanny at Boone Station Hall this Friday, October 29. The FREE community event combines trick-or-treating, arts and crafts and games and prizes with a Halloween story time with Melody from Park Books. For information, visit Park Books – Park Books & LitCoLab (parkbooksmd.com)

There was fun to be had wherever you looked. There were books to be browsed at Park Books and Mariah Johnston and Chloe Neff’s dalmatians – Corvus and Lyra -to be admired by dog lovers.

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The children’s costume contest was marvelous. Comely witch Maria Zeruto was one of approximately 20 contestants. She’s seen here with her mother Anne Marie, who recorded the event with her camera, and father Ed.

The dog costume contest drew even more contestants who were decked out as everything from honeybees and ladybugs to angels and hot dogs. Strolling back from the judge’s circle, Lydia Rolfe’s dog Major, costumed as a “hot dog”, took second place in the original category.

Entertainment was scheduled throughout the day with martial arts students from Kwon’s Taekwondo among the last to perform. Their complicated movements looked deceptively easy but must have required considerable skill and strength.

…..and recently returned from a Star Wars inspired light saber battle with a few of his students Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu And Tai Chi shifu (teacher) Billy Greer was still in costume. Seen with him by the Jing Ying tent is his wife and partner Nancy who was a judge for the costume contests.

Near closing time, League said the Chamber’s board of directors had been worried about SHOPTOBERFEST’s return after being postponed for a year due to COVID. They needn’t have been concerned.

“I’m on Cloud Nine,” League said. The event was so well attended. Every table was busy all day. The Octoberfest Gods were smiling on us and we made a very good impression.”

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Oriental in design, the entrance to the Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi, with its scrolled portico, mossy garden and tinkling blue bells, hints at what lies within.

Inside, the Arnold-based school’s owners and teachers, Nancy and Billy Greer, flow from one graceful movement to the next as they demonstrate the martial arts of Kung Fu and Tai Chi.

Having recently celebrated the school’s 20th Anniversary, the couple reflected on how they have sustained a small business focused on teaching martial arts while, at the same time, taking an active role in the greater Severna Park and Arnold communities and helping local charities.

Nancy was quick to mention that in the decades since opening their school there has been steady growth in the disciplines of Kung Fu and Tai Chi. Having originated within families in China as a self-defense mechanism, the complimentary arts are, at once, active, cerebral, communal and meditative.

“It’s amazing that the martial arts forms we were drawn to as a young couple became a major part of our lives,” she said.

Billy Greer picked up their story, going back to the very beginning.

“Growing up in the 1970’s, Bruce Lee movies from Hong Kong were very popular.,” he said. “On Saturday mornings, my brothers and I loved watching “Kung Fu Theater” which presented two or three of Lee’s badly-dubbed films at a time. However, becoming an actual participant in martial arts I owe to Nancy. ”

Dating while attending colleges near each other, Nancy became aware of Billy’s interest in Kung Fu. She bought him a pair of nunchucks – a weapon popularized by Bruce Lee consisting of two pieces of wood connected by a short piece of rope. His appetite for martial arts whetted by her gift, Billy’s interest turned serious.

During the early years of the Greers’ marriage, he was reading about and studying the subject. Figuring it was time for him to stop talking about martial arts and get involved, Nancy gave him an anniversary present of lessons at a local martial arts school.

Billy says he enjoyed the training but the school was more focused on karate which didn’t feel quite right. After the trial was over, he tried another school and then another which taught Kung Fu. Right away, the second school clicked so he and Nancy both signed up for lessons in the same form of Kung Fu they teach today.

“Like in the movies, the school was right above a laundromat,” Nancy remembered.

The pair learned the differences between karate, which can be compared to a stick used intuitively and forcefully, and Kung Fu which is like a properly used whip which is more circular and soft. It’s the softness that paradoxically develops the hardness and power.

Kung Fu is taught dynamically to develop speed and power while Tai Chi , a form of Kung Fu, slows everything down. The purpose of slowing down is to make everything faster. By training and relaxing the muscles and eliminating wasted motion, practitioners enhance their coordination. Then, when they speed up the motion, they’re moving very precisely.

Sadly, the school closed. But fate moves in mysterious ways. There were no similar facilities in the area. So, wanting to keep the training going, Billy formed a club for students of the former school. Able to use facilities at a local high school, they held lessons once a week and sometimes had guest teachers. When new schools opened in the area, the club dissolved.

Fortunately, Greer continued his training with good teachers. He explains that, instead of a system of rankings, Kung Fu has more of a “family” structure of students and teachers. He’s has mastered the training to the point where he has become a teacher and Shifu or a “father”. He is also a “disciple” of Kung Fu Master Willy Lin who brought the art to the United States 40 years ago and Tai Chi Master Chen ZhengLei – rarely bestowed honors.

In 2000, following the closing of another school in Annapolis, the Jing Ying Institute opened at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard in Arnold, teaching Kung Fu and Tai Chi to students from ages four to 94. The Greers took over the school and after making it their full-time business, it has steadily grown in the years since.

Easygoing and generous by nature, the Greers easily adapted to the tenets of Kung Fu, creating a welcoming, family and community oriented exercise environment that also extends to the Wednesday morning classes they hold weekly at the Severna Park Community Center.

Students are drawn to Jing Ying Institute classes for many reasons, not the least of which is the health benefits derived from Kung Fu and Tai Chi. Modern scientific studies, including a Harvard medical study conclude that Tai Chi, specifically, improves bone density, blood pressure, reduces stress, and improves strength, flexibility and balance. It encourages healthy socialization and also is meditative in that your thoughts are totally focused on the movement you are performing screening out random thoughts and calming your mind.

“We like to say Jing Ying emphasizes Self Defense and Health Defense,” Nancy said.

From the beginning, Jing Ying Institute honored the Kung Fu objective of “becoming good persons” by becoming involved with the community. They encouraged students to participate with them in causes ranging from raising funds for huge disasters like the Southeast Asian Tsunami of 2004 to raising funds for local institutions like SPAN.

In addition to learning how much their students wanted and appreciated opportunities to help their community, the Greers made a very important discovery.

“We realized we were of too modest means to be philanthropists ourselves but we have a space in which to bring the community together to make individual contributions and our students, in particular, welcomed the opportunity to do so.,” Billy said. “Altogether, we raised $115,000 for charities ranging from SPAN, Inc., Bello Machre and the Bernie House to Ark of the Chesapeake among others.”

For the fifth year, the Greers and students will participate in the “Kick Alzheimer’s to the Curb!” Walk to End Alzheimers at Sandy Point State Park on Sunday, October 17.

Jing Ying Institute and the Greers, personally, have contributed much by helping to organize and participating in community events. Nancy is a past president and board member of The Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce and still chairs various committees. Among other events, she has helped organize the Anne Arundel County Police Eastern District’s National Night Out at Earleigh Heights Firehouse. She’s also an ASPIRE award winner and a Maryland Small Business Association Women In Business Champion.

Jing Ying students are champions too. Though tournaments are not really a feature of the school and not a focus of the training, students do participate in an occasional competition as a way of sharpening their skills. Thus, they have collected an impressive array of trophies over the years that the school displays above one wall.

In addition, the Greers and their students take part in many local events including the Severna Park Independence Day Parade and National Night Out performing martial arts demonstrations and their famous Lion Dance. The Jing Ying Lion (which some people mistake for a dragon), a product of an artist’s imagination, originated because there were no lions in China.

Nancy and Billy Greer and the Lion tend to pop up at many different events and will be doing so again as Gold Level sponsors and participants at the Greater Severna Park and Arnold’s Shoptoberfest next Saturday, October 23 from 11 am to 3 pm. They’ll also be hosting Jing Ying’s Halloween Drive-Thru at the school on Saturday, October 30 from 2:30 to 3:30 pm. Decorate your car and/or wear a costume and grab a Grab-and-Go Treat Bag. The Drive-Thru is a “free” community event open to the public but you must pre-register at JingYing.org. You can also check out Jing Ying Institute’s schedule of children’s and adults classes at Best Martial Arts Program in Annapolis, Severna Park (jingying.org)

SHOPTOBERFEST, the ultimate #SHOP LOCAL event

Looking for the ultimate #SHOPLOCAL opportunity? You’re in luck. The Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber’s SHOPTOBERBEST is being held at Park Plaza on Saturday, October 23 from 11 am to 3 pm.

Chamber CEO Liz League tells us that 45 local businesses will be participating. For just a sampling, they range from The Cottage, Lisa’s Cakepops, and Bulldog Schwinn and Sports, to Side Street Framers & Gift Gallery, Park Books, Blended Essentials, JB’s, Park Tavern and so many others. Sponsors include Landmark Roofing, Kogen Do Jo and Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi.

SHOPTOBERFEST, with its Trick or Treat Twist, will provide the perfect opportunity to get acquainted or reacquainted with our local businesses. – a chance to shop till you drop. And it will be fun!

The FREE event will include trick or treating and a costume contest for kids as well as a costume contest for dogs. Can’t wait to see Rover or Fido decked out in the latest Halloween fashions. There will be music and entertainment and a photo booth. Best of all, you’ll be supporting community businesses. As Liz League likes to say, “Withoug community businesses, you don’t have a community.”

For information, visit Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce (gspacc.com) .

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

The afternoon sun filtering through the trees on the grounds surrounding Historic Baldwin Hall provided a lovely setting for the Severn Cross Roads Foundation’s Craft Fair and Flea Market. Held between 11 and 4 pm on Sunday, October 3, the event was the foundation’s first fundraiser since the beginning of the COVID pandemic – a benefit for Baldwin Hall.

The combination of sunny skies, mild temperatures and the determination to get out and do something interesting drew people to the Millersville landmark from all over the county. Held both inside the historic hall and along a winding path circling the the building, the craft fair and flea market was a fun experience on many levels.

Groups of friends already familiar with Baldwin Hall like Nina Parks, her son Logan, Judy Dewese, and Diane Taylor loved coming together at one of their favorite places to browse indoor and outdoor tables and booths for colorful crafts or flea market finds .

“We all live near BWI but we’re longtime fans of Baldwin Hall. Its a beautiful day so we decided to drive down,” Nina Park said. “It’s definitely great attending a live event.”

The group looked to be heading toward the Greek on the Street food truck when they spied a customer coming down the steps of the hall carrying what might have been an antique clock and changed course.

Other shoppers began their explorations at the start point of a circular pathway where they found Crownsville crafter Coleen “Tateen” Kane’s table. Known as Tateen’s Trinkets and things, her business is noted for its handmade jewelry including earrings, bracelets, necklaces and bejeweled ornaments.

“I’ve been a local craftswoman making gifts and jewelry for over 10 years now,” Kane said.

Customer Martha Preston, who has served on the board of Baldwin Hall, stopped by her table. A longtime fan of Kane’s work, she was delighted to see her friend’s newest designs.

Moving on, one couldn’t possibly miss The Big Purple Barn booth since it was bright “purple”. For people who love horses and assorted farm critters, visiting the Big Purple Barn booth was a must.

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The booth was manned by Amy Myer, Amber Austin and Austin’s daughter Amelia. Both Myer and Austin are volunteers for the Bowie-based non-profit farm. All of the handmade crafts being sold were created by Austin while nature inspired tumblers were by Myer. Profits from all sales were donated to the barn – a horse, pony and farm animal sanctuary that provides care to many special needs animals.

Myer handed out flyers about the organization.

“Like all non-profits, we were hard hit by the COVID pandemic so any sales or donations are appreciated,” she said. “Among other things, The Big Purple Barn uses its animals as outreach ambassadors to the community offering access to farm critters, an introduction to urban agriculture and environmental education. To further its access, The Big Purple Barn is hosting a Halloween Open House this Sunday, October 10th with trick or treating around the barnyard, a costume contest with prizes, arts and crafts for sale and a food truck. For information, directions and details, visit Home – The Big Purple Barn Horse Sanctuary Bowie, MD (thebigpurplebarnbowie.org) .

Exhibitors at the Fair were quite varied. One crafter, in particular, was making her debut. So new a business its owner didn’t yet have business cards or a website, it was Julie Golihew’s Cottage & Lace Crafts.

For a first-time effort, the Davidsonville resident’s autumn themed decorations and dried flower arrangements drew well.

In addition to being a great shopping opportunity for craft fair and flea market devotees, some attendees were visiting Historic Baldwin Hall for the first time and there was a lot to discover.

The Charles W. Baldwin Hall was built in 1861 as the Cross Roads Methodist Episcopal Church at the southwest corner of the Severn Cross Roads (where the Stone Church, or present Baldwin Memorial United Methodist Church, was erected in 1895-96). The builder of the 1861 church was William Jones, a member of the congregation.  

The simple, elegant building was moved twice – first from its original site across Indian Landing Road in 1895 so the Stone Church could be built on property donated by the Morgan family and, again, on June 2, 1981, when trucked across Old General’s Highway to its present location.

It was not at all surprising to see visitors taking a leisurely stroll around the building to admire its charming architecture. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in March, 1983, Baldwin Hall was described as a significant example of 19th century country church architecture. The molded battens, tiny arches, louvered vent, shutters, and tall arched side windows with clear glass on a rectangular block were characterized as creative and well executed embellishments of an earlier form.

Walking a bit further, visitors were able to see the 1840s School House reconstructed by the Severn Crossroads Foundation near its original location. The schoolhouse later served, from 1936 to 1970, as the community library.

Needless to say, many children were at the craft fair. It was fun observing them try to decide what to spend their money on.

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Friends and Baldwin Hall neighbors Ainsley Bachmann and Rachel Schwartz fancied some books and trinkets from the Baldwin UMC Parish Hall flea market tables manned by Laurie and Kim Parks. But, then again, the Greek on the Street Food Truck beckoned.

According to Greek on the Street’s Brian and Effie, who were taking a breather after a busy afternoon serving pita wraps and burrito bowls, they’d worked hard..

“We did really good today,” said Brian.

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Late in the afternoon, Historic Baldwin Hall building manager Annie Medford commented that adding a food truck and an ice cream truck to the fundraiser was “such a good idea”. She further noted that the day was turning out to be a great success. All the vendors (of which there were 16 inside and 17 outside) were happy.

There was still more to see, however. Self-described as the “Crazy Face Mask Lady,” Amy Burford was set up beneath a shady tree. Burford’s business, Mama Amy’s Creations, was marketing face masks and T-Shirts, many of which had a fall theme.

Next to Amy Burford’s booth was the GIbson Woodworking booth manned by Sharon Burford and Matt Gibson – first-time exhibitors at a Baldwin Hall event. Gibson’s finely crafted hope chests, tool chests, treasure boxes and patriotic wooden flags created a lot of interest.

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Spotted on the steps of Baldwin Hall toward the event’s 4 pm closing time, volunteers Carol Ann Trembley Gass, Patti Platt and Sally Burton said they were exhausted. According to Gass and Burton, who are Severn Cross Roads Foundation board members, if there is one thing they’d change in planning a similar event for next year, it would be to end at 3 pm instead of 4 pm.

“While people still arrived after 3:00, there weren’t enough to sustain and extra hour Gass said. “We’re exhausted. It’s taken us two hours to pack up inside, where many flea market tables were located, as well as outside.”

She was pleased, however, that sales were good through most of the day. All three women are involved with Baldwin Hall in multiple ways as they are also members of the Chesapeake Harmony Chorus which holds its weekly rehearsals and occasional performances there.

Platt is the team coordinator for Chesapeake Harmony Chorus and Burton is its musical director. Both were excited to announce that the chorus will be performing once again at the Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce Taste & Sip event at Chartwell Golf and Country Club in November.

“We’re really looking forward to it as all of our 2020 performances were cancelled due to the pandemic,” Burton said. “We’ll be singing by the entrance of the Chartwell ballroom as the guests arrive. It will be festively decorated so we will love doing it.”

Return of Hospice of the Chesapeake Golf Tournament raises $200K

After being postponed last year due to the COVID pandemic, the Hospice of the Chesapeake’s September 30th Golf Tournament at Queenstown Harbor Golf Course roared back with phenomenal success.

Though a challenge, the 2021 Golf Tournament was the Hospice’s most successful ever netting $35,000 over the amount raised in 2019 for a total of more that $200,000.

The annual golf tournament is a top fundraiser for the non-profit providing financial support across Anne Arundel, Charles and Prince George’s counties for the programs and services it provides for those living with advanced illness.

Seen here with Jerray Slocum of Severn Bank, Hospice of the Chesapeake President and CEO Mike Brady noted that the success of the tournament was made possible by the generous support of a dozen sponsors like Severn Bank and Permits Plus, Inc. For more details and information check out Hospice of the Chesapeake’s informative website at Homepage | Hospice of the Chesapeake (hospicechesapeake.org) .