Month: November 2023

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 of us who love to #SHOPLOCAL, Black Friday revealed some beautiful decorations, great gift ideas and bargain prices from our local retailers. Choosing to start our shopping in Severna Park as darkness fell, we came across two lots selling Christmas trees. The first evergreen sale (an important annual fundraiser) was that of Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company at 161 Ritchie Highway.

Backtracking to Olde Severna Park, we discovered a “forest” of evergreen trees surrounding the familiar red & white striped tent of Diehl’s Produce at the corner of B&A Boulevard and McKinsey Road. We saw manager Jennifer Diehl standing just outside the tent which held even more Christmas trees, wreaths, ropes of evergreens and other holiday items.

“The trees just came in this morning and they look great,” Diehl said. “We unloaded and and managed to set up most of them. Additional greenery, wreaths and holiday items are available inside the tent.”

Crossing B & A Boulevard, we noted that The Blended Essentials shop was ablaze with light and a candle making workshop was underway inside.

In conversation with manager Danielle Bowen, we learned that the shop will be busy throughout the holiday shopping season.

“We’re looking forward to it,” Bowen said. “We have events like this candle making session and we have lots of special events. We’re also partnering again with The Big Bean and the shops along the strip here to do an Olde Severna Park Shop & Stroll on Sunday, December 10th from 4 to 7 pm. Though a secret for now, we’re also going to create a little something behind our shop this year that will be magical.”

We next took a shortcut to Park Plaza, found a parking spot by Park Home and spotted a Black Friday sale sign. Venturing inside, we discovered Christiana and J.R. Landsman pushing a stroller with son Joseph riding in front and daughter Isabel riding backwards in a compartment facing her father.

The Landsmans were visiting most of the stores in the shopping center and were browsing the well-stocked shelves looking for gift ideas.

In purchasing items for their holiday inventory, Park Home owners Ted and Brittany Meade considered the country’s far from good economy.

“We’ve tried to offer items that would make nice gifts at different price points,” Ted said. “A lot of times, especially if they have kids, people might set a limit on how much they want to spend. Linen napkins, table runners and placemats, dish towels, decorative cushions and unique Christmas tree ornaments are popular this year. We’re even carrying a line of hot sauces that some folks really like.”

While estimates on brick-and-mortar Black Friday sales won’t be available for some time. Fortune Magazine (Black Friday shoppers hold out for deeper discounts | Fortune) says that sales show US consumers are watching their wallets. Our excursion among local retailers last Friday indicates that Fortune’s observation may be correct.

A visit to Park Plaza at around 5 pm on Black Friday – prime shopping hours – revealed light shopping traffic. The parking lot was far from full and bargain hunters weren’t plentiful. Interestingly, it was the locally owned shops that seemed to have the most sustained flow of customers.

A chalkboard snowman on the Park Plaza sidewalk beckoned shoppers to The Cottage. The outer windows positively glowed with holiday lights.

Inside, shoppers browsed among a veritable wonderland with decorations and gift ideas as far as the eye could see.

Some holiday items were discounted for the day. In addition to the Black Friday deals, The Cottage locations at Park Plaza in Severna Park and at 149 Main Street in Annapolis will be hosting special events. They include Open Houses at both locations on November 30 and December 2, a Severna Park Ladies Night on December 6, and Midnight Madness events at the Annapolis location on December 7, 14 and 21.

Walking toward the back of the shop, one found items ranging from sunglasses, potions, lotions and jewelry to handbags and a lovely selection of women’s clothing.

We spoke with several very busy clerks including Emerson Guiser who indicated that Black Friday had been busy and hectic, with no slow points, but fun.

We asked if the economy was likely to affect the shop’s holiday sales.

“I’d say business over the summer was definitely up and down and we had to change a few prices but it’s starting to have a steady pace now,” Guiser said. “I think, over the holidays, sales will be as good as last year. We haven’t had to change any prices in a long time.”

Directly across from The Cottage, at Nature Junction, some great gift ideas were on display in the windows. The shop’s interior was holiday perfect. There were lovely decorations including a Christmas tree containing handmade ornaments from one of owner Kim Stagi’s favorite artisans from Delaware. There were extraordinary items for nature lovers wherever one looked, from handsome books titled “Backyard Birds” and “Galaxies” to birdhouses, birdseed, birdbaths, lawn ornaments and products for other wildlife.

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Nature Junction staffers were clearly appreciative of the traffic generated by Black Friday.

“With this economy, we’ll take anything,” Stagi said.

At Side Street Framers & Gift Gallery, one of Park Plaza’s anchor businesses, sales were steady as was also the case with Side Street Framers Pasadena at 8220 Ritchie Highway – the family-owned company’s newly opened second location.

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To my surprise, Black Friday was one of the busiest we have ever had,” said the shop’s owner Dawn Wilson.

Wilson went on to announce that many of the local artists and artisans whose work is represented in both stores will be on hand for Side Street Framers Pasadena’s Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting on December 9 from 2 pm to 5 pm. In addition to what’s available in the shop, there will be sidewalk tables with items created by the artists for sale and, as a surprise for children, a small sheep named Bruno will be on hand to meet them.

Never is Franklin’s Toy Store more popular than during the Christmas shopping season… and both the Park Plaza and Annapolis locations were well prepared for Black Friday. Not only were sale signs in the windows but also just inside the entrance.

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There was a large four-tiered shelving unit full of smaller toys titled “Stock those Stockings” that we noticed. It seemed to draw a glance from shoppers passing by who’d come back later to browse or buy.

Last but not least on our list of must visits for Black Friday was Homestead Gardens Severna Park which, as you can see from the opening photograph, was as beautifully decorated as always. Signs for discounted prices were everywhere.

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Looking for the store office to get the lowdown on special prices, I spotted the familiar face of Denise Tray Rosson (who wrote the original Around The Park column in The Capital before it was taken over by Leslie Hunt and subsequently by me and carried on here as Around The Park Again).

“We were very busy throughout Black Friday,” Rosson said. “Christmas is on. We have quite a lot of sales at special discounts today but they’ll continue to be on sale. We’ll continue to have our Bella and Glenhaven ornaments at 50% off and we’ll also have 50% off our cabbage, kale, and pansies. Our Weber charcoal grills are on deep discount and our artifical trees will be going down by about 40%.”

Leading the way to a sign near the store entrance, Rosson pointed out that Homestead Gardens Severna Park was about to start a round of holiday events. They include Santa Vists which began November 25 and take place every weekend through December 17. A Santa Paws event held this Friday, December 1 from 4 t 7 pm will give shoppers an opportunity to get a photo of Santa with your dog. Lastly, the popular annual Girl’s Night Out. People need to register online for each of the events at Homestead Gardens – Garden Supplies, Nursery, and Landscaping,

Having missed one of Anne Arundel County’s most popular holiday events – Homestead Gardens Davidsonville’s “Grand Illumination” – due to another commitment, we determined to visit the festively decorated greenhouses along Central Avenue on Saturday. We can never pass up the opportunity to see the display of Christmas lights or the sprawling train display so reminiscent of bygone days.

We were not disappointed. The Holiday Lights Display was magnificent with the translucent greenhouses shining past the sparkling trees.

Not surprisingly, we found a mix of teens and younger and older couples…. but mostly families with children crowded around the train platform with its multiple tracks, tunnels, bridges, hills and villages. Many individuals were holding cups of hot chocolate provided by Homestead gratis.

It was touching to see the expressions on older individuals’ faces as they experienced once more scenes like those from childhood days.

We roamed through what seemed like fields of poinsettias and Christmas trees, both real and artificial and bare branched or decorated. But we had one last stop to make. The jolly old elf was occupied elsewhere on the grounds, but we just had to visit Santa’s Workshop. We found it cheery and bright and charming with the moon rising behind it.

Here’s hoping everyone will follow our lead and #SHOPLOCAL to support our merchants and small businesses thereby preserving our communities.

Late breaking news: Community Tree Lighting rescheduled to Friday, December 8th

Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce CEO Liz League informs us that, due to rain, the Community Tree Lighting will take place Friday evening, December 8 at 5 pm at 1 Holly Avenue.

“Thereafter, we’ll walk over to the Community Center to enjoy their festivities. They are hosting our entertainers, and our sponsors will be there too,” League said.

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

It’s rare to find as amicable a gathering as the crowd of well-wishers attending the Thanksgiving Celebration held by sisters Winsome Brown and Danielle Morgan Brown to mark the successful first year of their business Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services.

Known for throwing wonderful parties, Winsome nevertheless worried that no one would come. However, from the moment she and Danielle opened the door to Lean On Dee’s office suite at 815 Ritchie Highway, friends and associates arrived in a constant stream. Self-appointed greeter Winsome was first joined by good friends Faith Harder Burns, Deborah Franz and Dr. LaVergne Andre.

Soon after, Courtney Capece from Committed Change Health & Wellness and Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce CEO Liz League arrived. Capece, a member of the chamber’s Wellness Connections group, was happy to see League and hear about plans for the Chamber’s 13th Annual Holiday Taste & Sip being held at Chartwell Golf and Country Club on December 5th.

“We’ll be using Chartwell’s ballroom and dining room and there will be two bars,” League said. “In addition to ‘tastes’ from 26 participating restaurants and businesses, we’ll have a Silent Auction and entertainment. We’ve sold about 270 tickets so far but, at 300, we’ll think about getting a tent for extra space.”

Fellow chamber members Severna Park Voice owner/publisher Diana Lancione and LaToya Nkongolo, a therapist and co-owner of Work Life Behavioral Health and Professional Training, LLC. chatted nearby.

Lancione said the Browns have been an advertising client of The Severna Park Voice since early days when, with just a small staff, Lean On Dee managed in-home care for Alzheimer’s patients, seeing six clients each day. She’s been amazed how the business has grown.

Everywhere one looked were guests associated with Lean On Dee in some way. Ellen Christian and her friend Dave McKay were comparing notes with friend Kristi Korwek. Christian’s business refers families to assisted living homes where there are patients cared for by Lean On Dee. Korwek is a Seniors Real Estate Specialist with JPAR Real Estate in Arnold.

“Actually, Ellen referred Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services to me when I was putting a senior provider group together,” Korwek said. “I like to have reliable services to refer clients to. Lean On Dee was so highly recommended by everyone who knows them. Then, on top of that, my father went through some very challenging problems with his health this past year. We were able to hire some amazing caregivers from Lean On Dee and they were top notch.”

As the celebration continued, many guests migrated to a lovely room hung with family portraits where a delicious buffet waited. There were chafing dishes and trays of hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, sweets, wines and other beverages from caterer Lara Toronto. Dawn Jones, a provider of brochures and informational materials for Lean On Dee, enjoyed sampling them.

As seen in the opening photograph, the evening culminated with remarks from Winsome and Danielle (the Dee for whom the company is named) and the introduction of their team including sister Ingrid McDonald and brother Tony Clarke, who have worked alongside them.

Winsome Brown reflected briefly on the creation of Lean On Dee. After working in New York’s financial sector for over twenty years, she was unexpectedly thrust into the role of a caregiver for her mother who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2010.

The sudden pressure to make life-altering choices on her mother’s behalf, without being prepared to do so, forever shaped her views about our health system and what was needed for seniors and caregivers. Soon, Brown and sister Dee, a registered nurse, formed Lean On Dee Senior Care Advocates, serving as Certified Senior Advisors and Certified Dementia Live Coaches and Caregivers. As demand for Lean on Dee’s services grew, they moved quickly from being a “no-touch” service doing home visits and assessments, and referring clients to other agencies, to a full care agency.

“A lot of you were at our opening and ribbon cutting for Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services last year on November 17th, officially one year” Winsome said. “We’ve grown now to employ 51 caregivers. We want to thank all of our referring partners in the room who’ve trusted us and helped build us from three little girls and one little boy from Jamaica to managing the health needs of 43 clients. We are so grateful.”

Danielle also thanked everyone for being there and for the privilege of connecting with everyone in many different spaces and places. She said the family and staff genuinely appreciate all the support they’ve been given.

Sister Ingrid added that, though a small family group, they’ve carried out their passion – the Jamaican culture’s practice of caring for their elderly in their homes.

“To see Winsome and Dee’s vision grow and blossom and come to fruition is just wonderful and we’re enjoying it,” she said.

Tara Frame, of Frame & Frame Attorneys At Law, interrupted the proceedings to sum up most guests’ feelings.

“When we first knew you, you were doing companion care with just five people who handled everything,” she said. “We’re all proud of you and want you to know that,” she said.

The evening ended with a raffle of some really fine items. Having considered several good health-related causes, they chose to donate proceeds from the raffle to the Parkinson Foundation.

Anne Arundel County Farm, Lawn and Garden Center moving to a new location

We’d heard earlier from owner Corey Stephens that Anne Arundel Co. Farm Lawn and Garden Center might be relocating. He just confirmed to us that the popular farm co-op will be moving from its current location on Jumper’s Hole Road in Severna Park to a new spot off Mountain Road in Pasadena.

For the moment, however, the Garden Center is still open and is having a big sale.

The sale taking place has some phenomenal bargains as we could see by signs posted across the property and inside the center.

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Some bedding plants were being sold at reduced prices as well. Indoors, we saw that a few kinds of the grass seeds (the product the farm and garden store is most noted for) were discounted.

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We heard that some Christmas trees were due to arrive and would be sold from the Jumper’s Hole Road location until moving to Pasadena along with the business.

Stephens spoke with us while keeping an eye on business from his popular outdoor perch. He said he learned a few months ago that he’d need to vacate the Severna Park property by November 30.

“When we moved to this Jumper’s Hole Road location, we knew we had a short term lease here,” he noted. “We first had a three-year lease and then another two-year lease and then, finally, another year meaning we were here for six years. We’d known the property owner had a desire to build. The COVID lockdowns postponed the end of our lease, but we found that it was finally time to move on.”

Stephens added that he considered the property a wonderful spot and wished he could stay forever. Nevertheless, he felt blessed to have it for six years and to have the most wonderful crew to work with he’s had in the 40 years he’s been in the garden center business.

Anne Arundel County Farm Lawn & Garden Center is one of the highest rated centers in the county so simply closing it was not a consideration. Thus, Stephens and crew found a “beautiful place” in Pasadena at 224 Mountain Road right behind Arundel Seafood.

“The new space will have a different layout but there will be plenty of parking and an ability to pull right up to the door,” he said. “The interior of the store will have a real twist in that we’re incorporating legacy photos and items from Anne Arundel County farms including from my family’s heritage and holdings.”

The farm/garden co-op was established in 1927 in Brooklyn, then moved to Georgia Avenue in Glen Burnie in 1952 and stayed there through 1977. The business operated from 1977 to 2014 off Eighth Avenue and finally moved to Severna Park six years ago. Now 97 years old, Anne Arundel County Farm Lawn & Garden will shortly celebrate its Centennial.

In moving to Jumper’s Hole Road, the garden center brought many of its Glen Burnie customers along with it while growing a substantial customer base from Severna Park. They are very pleased that a majority of Severna Park customers say they’ll follow them to Pasadena.

Stephens said they will be closing the Jumper’s hole location November 30 and opening in Pasadena on December 4th just in time for the holiday season. The center will be decorated for Christmas and there will be free gifts during the opening. For information and directions to the new location visitAA Co. Farm Lawn & Garden | Severna Park, Maryland (aalawnandgarden.com).

A reminder: The Community Tree Lighting takes place December 1

The Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce Community Tree Lighting will be held December 1 from 5 to 6:30 pm. There will be cookies, hot cocoa, ice cream and a few other treats. Santa and The Grinch will be there too.

Cookies and Cocoa with Santa at Severna Park Community Center

Join Severna Park Community Center for a magical evening at the “Cookies & Cocoa with Santa” event on December 8, 2023, from 5:00 – 8:00 pm.  There will be a choir, cocoa, arts and crafts and a performance by the Star Elite Dancers. For information, visit Cookies & Cocoa with Santa – THE SEVERNA PARK COMMUNITY CENTER (spcommunitycenter.org)

The Dance Center of Severna Park will perform “The Nutcracker” on December 16

Another reminder that The Dance Center at Severna Park Community Center is staging its upcoming performance of “The Nutcracker” on December 16th at Severna Park High School. The performance will begin at 5:30 pm, and tickets are available for just $10 each.

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 Tai Chi & Kung Fu

and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services

Networking events staged as special occasions are a trademark of the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber’s “Successful Women in Business” group. Each networking event gives the business hosting it maximum exposure. However, the gatherings’ most important mission is giving attendees an opportunity to share information about the products or services of their specific company or organization.

The Successful Women in Business Wine Tasting we dropped in on last Thursday at Cheers & Spirits in Arnold Station at 1460 Ritchie Highway was fun, informative and definitely a treat for the tastebuds.

Arriving just as the wine tasting was about to begin, we observed SWIB committee chairs Nancy Greer, Danielle Ortiz and Jennifer McAndrews putting finishing touches on the Door Prize table. Cheers & Spirits was looking great with gracious displays of food and wine. We were greeted by the shop’s general manager Lacey Barry who acted as hostess for the affair.

According to Barry, Cheers & Spirits took over the business in May of 2022 and was already seeking to branch out and hold some events when approached by SWIB co-chair Nancy Greer.

“We were delighted and immediately reached out to DMV Distributing for a selection of five wines to pour and offer to SWIB members at a discounted price,” Barry said prior to introducing us to the company’s Regional Sales Manager Monica Conners. “Monica will be highlighting the finer points of each wine as the tasting proceeds.”

Conners noted that , as regional sales manager, she now oversees the reps to who usually do the tastings. However, she decided to personally handle the SWIB tasting for Barry.

Danielle Ortiz, distributor for Q Sciences and co-chair of the SWIB Committee really enjoys participating in the networking events for the wide range of sites they are held at and for the casual atmosphere and sociability of each. She popped up everywhere and is seen below chatting with Chamber CEO Liz League and, later, with Tammie Neall from Anne Arundel Community College’s School of Health Sciences.

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Having checked out several Successful Women In Business events over the years, we agree with Ortiz that they are, indeed, diversified. One of SWIB’s First Cup Club events we attended was held early in the morning at the former Good Life Organic Market featuring a splendid breakfast created by the market’s on-site chef using fresh organic ingredients from the store. Another was a Kombucha making demonstration and tasting in Annapolis Home Brew’s tasting room. Another was a “Diamonds, Wine & Chocolates” event held at Zachary’s Jewelers with help from Fishpaw’s Marketplace.

Carrie Baquie, a well-being empowerment coach and True You life coach Debbie McTammany, who regularly attend SWIB events, had a great time catching up with each other and chatting about previous events. Meanwhile, McAndrews welcomed newcomer Katherine Grote to the group.

Greer, who’d suggested the wine tasting at Cheers & Spirits to co-chairs Ortiz and McAndrews, recalled how popular “tastings” have been with the networking group in the past.

“They’ve been among our most interesting events. We’ve also been wanting to bring more attention to businesses in Arnold and this wine tasting was a perfect opportunity,” Greer said. “Learning that Lacey Barry was raised in Arnold at Winchester on the Severn was a happy coincidence.”

We ran into longtime chamber member Barbara Gill, founder of Chesapeake Coffee Connections and McAndrews who were intrigued by Integrative Family Nurse Practioner Katherine Grote’s description of her medical practice which includes “house calls” for patients.

Gill mentioned to McAndrews and Grote that she was about to mark the 13th Anniversary of Chesapeake Coffee Connections with a celebration at SOMA in Annapolis Harbour Center on November 14.

Though not a member of the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber, Monica Ingson, general manager for CertaPro Painters of Annapolis, learned about the SWIB wine tasting, decided to give it a try and was pleased that she did.

Throughout the event, the women couldn’t help noticing the only gentleman in the shop behind a counter on the far side of the store which they thought might be a “bar” area. It turns out the young man was the very knowledgeable Michael May who was standing behind a “counter” from which customers could purchase a wide variety of miniatures. Next to the miniatures, a high-end area contained the shop’s most expensive products like Dom Perignon vintage Champagne, a Clase Azul premium tequila, and a rare Utopia Sam Adams in an elaborately designed porcelain bottle.

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As is the tradition with Successful Women In Business events, attendees next formed a line (as shown in the opening photo) and, by turns, described their businesses, organizations or services. They began with their hostess Lacey Barry who described what Cheers & Spirits has created since taking over the business in 2022 and noted that all the wines were being offered to attendees for the evening at 25% off. They then moved on through League, Ingson, Neall, (who is about to be Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce president), and everyone else in turn.

In response to Greer’s invitation to share any upcoming events, Cheers & Spirits highlighted several including bringing back the popular Polar Express Lionell Train Display designed by her father last year – which will run from December 1 thru 31. League mentioned a dozen upcoming holiday events including the Community Tree Lighting at the Chamber on December 1.

Greer took the opportunity to report that the Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi Team completed the Alzheimer’s Walk raising $8,200. The team walked this year in honor of her father Glenn who passed away last February. Glenn was a loving and dedicated caregiver for Greer’s mother who’d suffered from the disease. Not yet finished raising money, Jing Ying Institute is holding a Silent Auction through December 16. (People may still donate for the cause by visiting Best Martial Arts Program in Annapolis, Severna Park (jingying.org).

Door prizes were awarded and the floor was turned over to Monica Conners for the highlight of the evening – a wine tasting featuring five delightful vintages including Vinyes Ocults – a Malbec from Argentina, Sidney Back – a Chardonay from South Africa, Tussock Jumper – a Prosecco from Italy, a Finca Bacara – a Monstrell from Spain and a Vinha Da Coutada Velha Red Blend from Portugal.

Stay tuned for the next Successful Women In Business networking event which you’ll find mentioned on the chamber’s page at Facebook.

UPCOMING “SAVE THE DATE” OCCASIONS

Community Tree Lighting at the Chamber on December 1

The Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce has announced that the Community Tree Lighting will be held December 1 from 5 to 6:30 pm. There will be cookies, hot cocoa, ice cream and a few other treats. Santa and The Grinch will be there too.

Cellos by Candlelight Concert at Woods Church on December 2

Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church will celebrate the start of the Christmas season with a program called Gloria Deo! A Cello Christmas Concert. The concert will be held in the church sanctuary and will begin at 7 pm.

According to music director David Merrill, the program will feature a professional cello octet and small orchestra from the DC/Baltimore area. In addition, the church’s Adult Choir, Praise Team, Seek Singers, and Children’s Choir will appear along with dancers performing choreography by Elysia Merrill. The concert is Free but a ticket is required. Please visit woodstix.org.

Elves for Elders program in progress at Partners In Care

Aware that the holidays can be a difficult time for people, Partners In Care, Maryland has begun an “Elves for Elders Holiday Stocking Drive”. They are asking folks to spread holiday cheer by stuffing a stocking for an PIC member or make a donation. The stockings will be delivered by volunteers. Partners In Care needs the stockings or donations on or before Saturday, December 2. Donations can be made by visiting Donate – Partners In Care Maryland.

Chamber’s 13th Annual Holiday Taste & Sip to be held December 5

The Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber’s 13th Annual Taste & Sip will be held from 5 to 8 pm on December 5th at Chartwell Golf & Country Club with delicious food and drink from 21 of the area’s finest purveyors. We’ll have more details soon. Meantime, visit Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce (gspacc.com) for an update.

The Dance Center of Severna Park will perform “The Nutcracker” on December 16

The Dance Center at Severna Park Community Center has announced its upcoming performance of “The Nutcracker”. The holiday classic will be presented on December 16th at Severna Park High School. The performance will begin at 5:30 pm, and tickets are
available for just $10 each.

Choreographed by dancers Jill Weeks and Kathryn Quigly, “The Nutcracker” will showcase a condensed but delightful rendition of the ballet with beloved favorites such as The Sugar Plum Fairy, and the Waltz of the Flowers.

Thirty-five students from the dance program at The Dance Center will participate, showcasing their hard work and dedication. The doors will open 30 minutes prior to the performance for general admission. Tickets can be purchased in advance at The Nutcracker Campaign (spcommunitycenter.org) or at the door.

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 by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services

There were a lot of very happy faces as booklovers, young and old, browsed through the shelves after finding their way to the new location for the American Association of University Women Anne Arundel branch’s annual book sale at Chesapeake Square in Glen Burnie.

Arriving on the second day of the sale, we were told that lots of people came up from Severna Park and Pasadena to shop, but there were also many new customers. Among them we found first timers, Madison Nobile and Jaden Rucker from Brooklyn (who are seen in the opening photo) combing through a section of novels. Both girls said they loved that the books were so inexpensive.

Planning had already begun for the 2023 AAUW Booksale following last year’s event at Park Plaza in Severna Park – the most successful the organization ever held. They’d looked forward to repeating that success this year but were disappointed to learn the shopping center had no empty storefronts available in which to hold the four-day event.

By August, with the Booksale scheduled for November 2 thru 5, booksale committee chair Alice Harrison, sent out emails asking for help in finding a new location.

“We’re currently searching for a site to hold our annual sale,” Harrison wrote. “So far we are not having any luck.  Everything is leased — all the empty stores that you see around the area are said to be already leased.”

Luckily, they found a two-room space in Chesapeake Square at 6714 Ritchie Highway that was perfect. Worried people might not find them, the committee publicized the event heavily. AAUW members and volunteers worked for 7 days carefully sorting and setting up the books by category.

They opened their doors at 8 am sharp on Thursday, November 2 for a two-hour Pre-Sale period for dealers… followed by their usual 10 am opening for the public. They were happily very busy for the remainder of the day and for the three days that followed.

Luckily, the AAUW Booksale website gave good directions to the storefront in Chesapeake Square which we visited on the second day of the sale. Walking in, we immediately spotted the familiar face of AAUW member Gabby Gick who works the sale every year.

“Though I moved to Pennsylvania, I’m still a member of the Anne Arundel branch and I come back every year to work this event because I love it so much,” Glick said. “It’s empowering for the women of our organization to put together an event like this and empowering for everyone to have access to so many great books.”

The immense collection of used books is assembled by AAUW members each year through donations by local residents at summer Book Dropoff sites they set up at shopping center or church parking lots. They also pick up books from estate sales or from residents wanting to donate their own collections. The books are stored through summer and fall, then trucked to the sale site, unloaded, unpacked from boxes, sorted and arranged in sections by members and volunteers.

Books, from any and all categories, may be valuable. Book dealers from a wide geographic area pay $25 to attend the 8 to 10 am Pre-Sale on the first day. But individuals who are collectors also attend the event and are particularly attracted to a section with a sign marked “Possible Treasures”.

“One man spent two hours looking at the treasured books (printed before 1940) and others in the rest of the sale,” said Harrison. “His wife, who is also fond of reading old books, was out of town but sent him a text saying ‘Go to this book sale’.”

Marked with signs, the categories were as diverse as ever. There were shelves and shelves of general fiction and romance novels. The mystery/thriller sections were amazing with books by some of the 20th Century’s most impressive and best-selling authors from the genre ranging from Dick Francis, Robert B. Parker and Ian Rankin to Michael Connelly and David Baldacci – books still in print but not available in some of our libraries.

While perusing the mystery books, we bumped into Janet who asked us for advice. She explained that, though unfamiliar with mysteries herself, she was shopping for her brother who had asked her to buy him one or more. We suggested titles by several authors we felt her brother was bound to enjoy.

The biography and history sections were heavily shopped as expected but other categories held some surprises. There was a Finance category, a State of Maryland section, multiple Science sections, Nature sections and, of course, Travel sections. Particularly interesting was a How-To section with books titled everything from “Practical Gunsmithing”, “Table-Sawing Techniques”, the “Complete Guide to Kitchens” and “The Songwriter’s Idea Book” to “Tips for Quilters” and an old original “Singer Sewing Book” (possibly collectible).

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Member Roxann King, who’d volunteered to work the checkout counter proudly told us that, sales wise, AAUW had had its second best First Day (following the best First Day which occurred at last year’s sale in Severna Park). She added that she’d greeted many repeat customers who shop the Booksale every year like Dorothy McGuiness.

We spotted one shelf of dictionaries and several shelves of once invaluable encyclopedias as well as world almanacs …and that was just in the first room. We moved into the second room and found that it was devoted primarily to books for children and teens but also held several arts and entertainment sections.

We came across Michelle Soileau and her husband shopping there with grandson Ben. They were looking for books for their six grandchildren. Soileau said she had learned about this year’s Booksale from a member of her book club who was also an AAUW member. She’d already picked out several children’s books. However, Ben had ideas of his own. His choices somehow ended up on the floor.

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Having accumulated a small cardboard box of books ourselves, we decided we’d better check out the prices which were conveniently placed on the walls of both rooms. With paperbacks just $1 and hardbacks $2, we figured we were in good shape.

On our way past one of the Old Books sections, we ran into two young men who said they were looking for some different things to read that were “not political”. They held up two books.

One, titled “Lin McLean”, was an old Western written in 1905 by Owen Wister. Even the cover was evocative of another time and place.

The second vintage book was a biography of Will Rogers written by P. J. O’Brien in 1935. The book contains a personal inscription inside the cover which reads, “Brinkley Barrett, Christmas 1935, Happy Birthday from W. G. Kinne”.

Following the AAUW Booksale, we caught up with committee chair Alice Harrison who seemed quite pleased.

“We found our site at a very late date and it was farther north than we had been before.  But through our Facebook page (AAUW Used Book Sale) and other avenues, people found us,” Harrison said.

“The site itself in the Chesapeake Square Shopping Center gave us plenty of space to sort and display our books. We had a steady stream of visitors on each of the four days of our sale and they seemed to be very happy with our books. All in all we feel that it was a very successful sale!”

The book sale is the major fundraiser for the American Association of University Women’s scholarship program. Proceeds from the event fund scholarships for girls and women who are Anne Arundel Community College grads transferring to a university and for the Women to Women program for individuals returning to the workplace or opening businesses and needing further education. For more information about the activities of the members, visit AAUW Anne Arundel County (MD) Branch

Life of Joy Foundation’s Songs of Hope benefit concert November 11

A reminder from founder Joy Cortina to get your tickets now for Life of Joy Foundation’s “Songs of Hope” benefit this Saturday, November 11 at The Church at Severn Run. “Songs of Hope” is a faith-based benefit concert supporting those impacted by suicide, depression and other mental health challenges. For tickets or information, visit Life of Joy Foundation, Inc.

Thanksgiving Celebration at Lean On Dee November 16

Sisters and owners Winsome Brown and Danielle Morgan Brown are hosting a Thanksgiving Celebration (also fondly referred to as a “Friendsgiving Celebration”) at the Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services offices at 815 Ritchie Highway, Suite 213 on November 16th and the public is invited. A raffle will be held during the event with all proceeds going to the Alzheimer’s Association. The Thanksgiving Celebration, which begins at 5:30 pm, is an opportunity to mix and mingle with various businesses as well as celebrate going into the holiday season.

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.