Month: March 2024

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

Entering Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville at 5:30 pm last Wednesday, we followed the crowd to the lush surroundings of the store’s greenhouse where a festive Green Drinks gathering hosted by Annapolis Green was getting underway. Lines had formed at the Annapolis Green table where guests were checking in and/or making donations. A number of people had already entered and were viewing displays from 13 GreenGive partners.

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Held annually, the 2024 Green Drinks event at Homestead was a fun kickoff and way draw attention to the  GreenGive partner organizations ahead of their online fundraising drive that will take place June 4th and 5th. 

We’d been to a Green Drinks event before, so we reckoned we’d run into people we knew. Sure enough, we immediately bumped into Barbara Gill who we’d last seen at a Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber “Successful Women In Business” meeting. Gill, an eco-educator and Annapolis Green member, said she planned to return to Homestead Gardens on the weekend to display her line of Melaleuca “wellness” products at the Davidsonville Green Expo.

Wandering on, we visited a display for the Anne Arundel County Watershed Stewards Academy located in Millersville. Over the years, we’ve visited many of the capstone restoration projects undertaken by graduates of the program and have been impressed.

Projects range from stormwater runoff and watershed restoration initiatives to reforestation efforts using native species.

Next to the WSA booth, we found Severn River Association‘s Grace Weeks deep in conversation with guest Elizabeth Rosborg who is with the Arnold Preservation Council. Weeks, SRA’s Chesapeake Conservation & Climate Corps member, was explaining the importance of Water Quality Monitoring in the Severn to the organization’s Oyster Restoration program.

Nearby, we found Development and Communications Director Charlotte Graves and Community Outreach Assistant Lily Hariton similarly engaged at the Arundel Rivers Federation table. Hariton explained that the Arundel Rivers Federation is dedicated to protecting, restoring, and preserving the South, West, and Rhode Rivers and surrounding watershed.

She noted that AFR’s staff includes South, West and Rhode River Riverkeeper Elle Bassett who is responsible for patrolling local waterways, tracking down sources of pollution and identifying problems that impact water quality among other things.

Board member and volunteer Pat Morrison represented Unity Gardens which offers grants of up to $1000 to non-profits such as schools, religious organizations, scout troops and community groups to purchase native plants for conservation landscaping. 

Volunteers like Morrison not only help local communities fund their projects but educate them about using the power of native plants to address issues like stormwater runoff, pollution and habitat loss.

We paused for just a few moments to check out a tasty array of hors d’ oeuvres from Annapolis-based Bread and Butter Kitchen and enjoy being entertained by local band The Sandpipers

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Strolling about again, we briefly visited the display of the newly formed Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area which was touting the state’s upcoming Maryland Day activities. The activities included partner Severn Crossroads Foundation’s Maryland Day event at their 1840’s Schoolhouse behind Historic Baldwin Hall.

Crossing the aisle between exhibits, we spied Good Neighbors Group executive director Julie Shay with Spa Creek Conservancy board president Amy Clements. The two organizations were sharing a table.

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While Clements and other board members were touting Spa Creek Conservancy’s efforts to clean up and restore the watershed, Shay was promoting GNG’s 22nd Annual Earth Day Festival being held at Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company on April 27th from 10 am till 2 pm.

Of the remaining non-profit organizations participating, we explored the Scenic Rivers Land Trust (seen in the opening photo) which is dedicated to protecting the forests, wetlands, farmlands and other open spaces that make Anne Arundel County special. We also checked out the Maryland Reentry Resource Center seen on the right in the photo below. The MRRC seeks to ease the transition of an incarcerated individual from prison or jail back into the community.

Last of all, we noted the crowd forming around Dennis Fravek and David Rose from the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary in Lothian and waited our turn to speak with them. Though we’d once visited the sanctuary, we’d forgotten how large it was. Fravek and Rose reminded us that the wetlands are located within the tidal reaches of the Patuxent River in southern Anne Arundel County and protect about 1,700 acres of unique tidal freshwater marshes, forested wetlands, upland and riparian forest, creeks, meadows, pine and sand barrens, and fields along the Patuxent River.

Before leaving, we enjoyed being introduced to Annapolis Green’s executive director Tilly Coyle and the organization’s co-founder Lynne Forsman. They were both excited to tell us that the next Green Drinks is at Garten in Severna Park on May 16. The theme will be edible gardens, sourcing locally and highlighting sustainable businesses of Severna Park. Considering that Garten is surrounded by lovely gardens full of flowers and edible spring produce, it’s the perfect location.

Stay posted for information about the GreenGive and consider making a donation by visiting Annapolis Green – connect, inform & take action with local environmental info .

Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails organizing Earth Day cleanups

The Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails are organizing multiple clean-up locations along our trails on April 19 and 20. Volunteers are needed along the WB&A Trail at Odenton Babington Green on April 19. On April 20, the Friends will be working along the B&A Trail at Arnold Station, Hatton-Regester Green, Earleigh Heights (for vine removal), at Flower Beds #57 and #58, and at the Sun Station. They’ll also be working along the South Shore Trail at Millersville Road on April 20. If you are interested in joining the effort, contact the Friends at friendsofaatrails@gmail.com.

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 and Tai Chi

and Lean on Dee Senior Home Care Services

Though the Easter holiday is not officially part of SPAN’s Holiday Caring Program, SPAN, Inc.’s co-directors Michele Sabean and Maia Grabau like to mark the holiday by including something special for their food pantry clients. Thanks to a generous donation from St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Episcopal Church, Grabau was in the process of arranging 50 Easter baskets in front of the office fireplace. She had also accepted the first of a large number of Easter dinner boxes and gift cards from Our Lady of the Fields Catholic Church in Millersville.

SPAN’s food pantry shelves are full, at the moment, thanks to generous donations from the Good Neighbors Group’s S(o)uper Bowl of Caring food drive in February. In addition, food donations from Boy Scouts of America troops 855, 858, and 993’s Scouting for Food Drive came in over the past two weekends and several local churches dropped off contributions.

“We’re so grateful to Good Neighbors Group and the others,” said Sabean. “The foods we’ve received from them should last us from now through the summer (when donations drop off) till fall. Donations generally pick up again in October.”

SPAN, Inc. is best known for its food pantry according to Grabau, the organization’s Director of Development. However, since the founding of SPAN by six local churches over three decades ago, the lion’s share of SPAN’s mission has been helping families in need of financial assistance.

“Help for people with utility turnoffs is where we give out the most money,” Grabau said. “We have become more of a financial assistance provider. The vast majority of people coming to our office are seeking financial assistance.”

As Sabean, who is Director of Development, leafed through SPAN’s Annual Report looking for a graph, she explained that the primary mission of the organization is to provide food or financial assistance to qualified families to help them through a critical or emergency situation. Because of extraordinarily high energy costs, utility bills are the most urgent need followed closely by home eviction preventions and medical bills.

“For 2023, donations made it possible for us to help with more than 2.5 times the amount of emergency financial assistance we do in a typical year,” Sabean said. “On average SPAN gives about $100,000 in financial assistance a year. In 2023, SPAN provided over $287,600 in financial disbursements. The need for emergency financial assistance increased dramatically with the official end of the pandemic and its additional supports.”

She illustrated her point with the graph shown below.

Grabau added that most people have no idea how much financial aid SPAN, Inc. supplies to families in its primary service areas of Arnold, Millersville, Severna Park and Broadneck and secondary service areas of Brooklyn Park, Ft. Meade, Odenton, Crofton, Gambrills, Pasadena, Crownsville, Glen Burnie, Severn and Linthicum. Thus, SPAN, Inc. headquarters at 400 Benfield Road behind Our Shepherd Lutheran Church sees a constant flow of people seeking help.

What is amazing is that SPAN is a totally self-sustaining organization reliant on financial donations from individuals, local businesses and churches willing to help. SPAN fortunately has a small number of regular donors who are very generous. Nevertheless, its directors, board members and volunteers are always looking for monetary donations.

The number of SPAN Member Churches has risen from the original six to 13, all of whom make contributions.

Sabean and Graubau also oversee various fundraisers, one of which is coming up on April 21. For the fourth year, Severna Park native Laurette Hankins-O’Connell is producing a Cabaret Performance and Silent Auction to benefit SPAN. By now a tradition, the concert starring Hankins-O’Connell and accompanist Anita O’Connor will delight the audience with “Broadway Bonanza”, an exuberant and occasionally irreverent salute to a wide variety of Broadway and movie musicals.

Conceived as a way for actress and singer Hankins-O’Connell to give back to the community she grew up in, the concert will be held this year at St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Parish Hall. St. Martin’s generously donated the space cost-free so 100% of the proceeds from the concert and silent auction will be donated to SPAN. Tickets for the performance are $25 and may be ordered at https://www.spanhelps.org/cabaret_concert_silent_auction.

“We’re already getting some great Silent Auction items donated by local businesses including a week’s stay at an Ocean City condo. This year for the first time, we’ll put the auction online prior to the concert so people can take part in the auction even if they can’t make it to the event,” Sabean said.

SPAN seeks donations by participating in local events including the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber’s 2024 Shop Local Fun Festival coming up May 4th. They’ll also be participating, as usual, in the Severna Park 4th of July Parade and collecting donations along the parade route. Both Grabau and Sabean are excited because they are already working to upgrade their float this year.

SPAN’s second biggest fundraiser, the Twelfth Annual Turkey Trot 5K or One Mile Fun Walk will be held November 2 at Kinder Farm Park. The autumn weather is usually beautiful and SPAN is able to raise a lot of money through the event from sponsors who participate year after year. Generally, there are about 200 participants including runners, walkers and volunteers. It’s so much fun that the event always draws good-sized crowds.

“We’re doing a mailing this week for Early Bird Sponsors who will receive four free entries with their donation,” said Sabean.

SPAN’s Holiday Caring Programs for Thanksgiving and Christmas are, by far, the organization’s most impressive, initiative matching donors with families needing help. Each year, between 150 and 200 families learn about the program through schools or Social Services and sign up for the program The donors are incredibly generous and, because of them, between 150 and 200 families can have happier holidays.

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Grabau, Sabean and the volunteers who work with clients are often touched by the stories of people seeking help. Many have issues that far exceed their immediate financial needs.

“One woman who came in with a very large BGE bill had recently undergone a triple bypass surgery. Shortly, after her surgery, her son was tragically murdered,” said Grabau. “She has two remaining children. Because of all she’d suffered, she was unable to work for some time and had gotten behind paying her bills. Though we cannot heal her broken heart, we try to do our part to help lighten the load for clients like her. We gave her assistance with her utility turn-off and encouraged her to sign up for the Christmas program. When people are suffering emotionally, just knowing someone cares can give them the strength to keep going.”

SPAN’s budget for monies going out far exceeds the amount brought in by fundraisers so financial donations are needed and greatly appreciated. To learn more about SPAN or to make a donation, visit SPAN Serving People Across Neighborhoods (spanhelps.org).

Partners In Care’s Spring Fling With Bling on April 17th

Partners In Care invites everyone to join them at Bleues On The Water on
Wednesday, April 17th from 11:00am – 2:00pm for the 18th Annual Jewelry Extravaganza – Spring Fling With Bling! Guests will enjoy luncheon and a fashion show, then shop an abundance of fine and costume jewelry from PIC’s Upscale Resale Boutique, as well as designer clothing, shoes, purses, and other tempting treasures.

Tickets are $40 per person and it is advised that you purchase them soon by visiting https://partnersincaremd.salsalabs.org/springfling/ as they are expected to sell out.

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 and Tai Chi

and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services

If you are seeing few For Sale signs in front of homes in your neighborhood, you are not alone. Wondering why that is happening, we sought out two of our area’s busiest residential realtors.

We caught up with realtor Matt Wyble, who is Managing Partner of Next Step Realty South, in his Annapolis office. Having merged with area brokerage Next Step Realty a year ago, Wyble and his managing partners Lynn Peaper and Joe Smith III will be opening a Severna Park branch shortly.

In the meantime, with the weather warming, we’ll likely find the Severna Park native and 4th generation realtor Wyble grabbing a cup of coffee between client meetings behind The Big Bean in Olde Severna Park.

We arranged to meet with realtor Theresa Kurtz, between showings at an Edgewater restaurant last week.

Kurtz, who operates more or less independently, told us that, following a slowdown in late autumn and winter, home sales have really picked up. The real estate market she covers in the Anne Arundel, Charles, Harford and Prince George’s County areas as well as Kent Island and the Eastern Shore is so hot that only about a month’s inventory of houses currently exists. She’s now receiving multiple offers for every property. On Kent Island, she sold a house to a young man last spring and he’s already sold it for more than he paid for it.

“There’s also a huge Four Seasons 55 Plus community that’s building on Kent Island that is kickin’ and offering condos for $600,000 to a million dollars.” she said.

She admits that demand is high so it’s easy to find prospective buyers. Finding sellers is much harder, however, which is why we’re seeing so few “For Sale” signs.

Wyble and partners’ Next Step Realty South team of 95 agents handles the sale of residential properties across Maryland with emphasis on Anne Arundel, Howard and Queen Anne’s Counties as well as Baltimore City and surrounding Baltimore County. He notes that Anne Arundel County sees the highest number of sales. There’s only a two-week inventory of homes available in highly desirable Severna Park and prices are soaring higher and higher.

“When I started in the real estate business with Champion in 2010, I remember our office manager saying if the governor shut down all new listings and we had to sell everything that was active before we could list something new, we had almost four years of inventory at that point,” Wyble said. “Now, in Severna Park there are between five and twenty buyers for every house. I’m seeing “Sold” signs pop up on all the properties we have listed within a very short window of time.

Kurtz believes high interest rates have definitely impacted the tight housing market.

“People who have a house to sell are saying to themselves ‘Oh, gosh, where am I going to go and not pay 7% interest?’ But sometimes they’re in a situation where they have to sell,” she said. “What works in the seller’s favor, though, is that we’re back to multiple offer situations now. The market is so competitive I just had five offers on a home in Severna Park, which has the highest per capita income in the state, that sold for $66,000 over the asking price.”

Kurtz feels that inflation’s downward pull on the economy – with credit card debt through the roof – causes people to think twice about relocating. However, she is handling sales for some “downsizers” who mostly want to move out of Maryland to states like Tennessee or North Carolina because of the tax breaks.

From Matt Wyble’s point of view, several factors are at play beyond high interest rates. He and managing partners Peaper and Smith noticed that the lengthy Covid pandemic made people realize just how important a home is to them.

“We’re now four years from the start of the pandemic when people had time to reflect on whether they liked or loved living where they were,” Wyble said. “People who lived in the city were envious of friends who lived in the suburbs and could play with their children in their backyards while they were stuck inside their apartments. People who lived in the suburbs envied those who lived in the country where there was more land or small farms. People also realized that remote work expanded their horizons. What resulted was pent up demand in the post-Covid market for houses in the burbs or the countryside. What we’re left with is the lack of inventory Covid helped create.”

For Next Step Realty South, Severna Park properties comprise the most concentrated market for buyers and command the highest prices – going for $700,000 and upward. Wyble believes the reason is threefold. In his experience, the two biggest buyer groups were people who were militarily or privately relocating for work. Another group has been made up of people like him who graduated from college and wanted to move back. Recently, there’s another group of people, from across the country, that have no ties to Severna Park but have heard about the community, its water access, and its good schools and they want to move here. Neither Kurtz or Wyble deal with rental properties but both are aware that the problem of low inventory is even more critical in that market and rents are historically high and evictions are on the rise.

Michelle Sabean, development director of SPAN, Inc., pointed to a report from the Arundel Community Development Services (which administers the federal eviction funds in this area) noting that as 2023 ended evictions were increasing with the end of Pandemic financial support.

“SPAN has seen the need for emergency financial assistance increase dramatically – more than 2.5 times the amount SPAN assists with in a typical year,” Sabean added.

While both Matt Wyble and Theresa Kurtz think residential real estate prices are likely to continue on their upward swing even if the Federal Reserve drops interest rates by a percentage point or two, there could be a few positive developments.

Kurtz said she’s recently encountered a number of downsizers. She reports that most plan to move out of the state and that may free up a few more properties.

We were finishing our interview when realtor Jessica DuLaney (with The W Home Group of Next Step Realty) walked into the office. She announced that she’d just written an offer on a house in Towson built in the 1930’s and located in a cute neighborhood, pleasing Wyble no end.

“We had seven offers with six buyers waiving the inspection. The house went for $60,000 over the asking price,” she said.

Wyble hopes to be seeing more great properties on the market. He and his partners are close to settling on a location for the Severna Park branch of Next Step Realty and he’ll keep us posted.

Celebrate Maryland Day with the Severn Crossroads Foundation

The Severn Cross Roads Foundation will be participating in a statewide Maryland Day Celebration this year. On Sunday, March 24, they’ll be hosting an Open House in their 1840’s schoolhouse behind Historic Baldwin Hall at 1358 Millersville Road. Docents will be on hand from 1 pm to 3 pm to share stories about the history of the schoolhouse and about education in the mid-19th century.

Light refreshments will be available. Severn Crossroad Foundation members invite you to bring your children and grandchildren to get a little glimpse of the history of the Severn Cross Roads area. For information, visit Winter/Spring 2024 | baldwinhall.

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.