Lee Marston is one of nine founding members being honored at the Severna Park Community Center’s 25th Anniversary Gala in October. Referred to as “the heartbeat of the community”, the center’s many programs and activities attract residents from Severna Park and neighboring communities as well as from across the state. But, according to Marston and SPCC’s executive director Sarah Elder, it nearly didn’t happen.
“Back in 1966, the late realtor Hammond S. Carr challenged Nancy Pascal, Art Morris and I to raise the funding and build the original outdoor pool for the Severna Park YMCA ,” Marston said. “The Y owned the pool and its small support building but Woods Church owned the land However, by the early 1990’s, the Y was failing financially. and we had to figure out a way to save it. That’s when the idea for a community center came up.”
In 1995, Marston and a group comprised of Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church members worked tirelessly to save the pool by building a new, modern community center around it.
The Woods Church members, inspired by Rev. Terry Shoener, were very involved from day one. Member Andy Borland spearheaded a Capital Campaign which raised $4.6 million to support the transition. Borland’s outstanding fundraising efforts were aided by fellow anniversary honorees Marston, Mark Corneal, Carl Gutschick, Charlie Kreter,, Jeff Norris, Terry Schoener, John Strange and Joan Tiernan,
Completed in 1995, the facility features two indoor swimming pools, a dance studio, art room and fitness center as well as the Andy Borland Gymnasium. From theater, art and dance to swimming, martial arts and pickle ball, there’s something for everyone.
Marston and Elder are eagerly awaiting the moment the center can reopen, resume its regular schedule of classes and programs hold four exciting anniversary events.
She noted that SPCC’s schedule of classes, activities and events was upended by the virus. Governor Hogan’s Stay At Home Order of March 23 not only closed the community center to the public but forced the cancellation of the already-sold-out anniversary gala slated for April 18th. Closing caused untold hardships.
“For non-profits like us, it’s hard to hang in there. The shutdown meant no revenue coming in so we had to furlough most of the staff.,” Elder said. “Luckily, we were able to get a PPP loan so we’re bringing them back a few at a time.”
To maintain essential systems, a handful of staffers have been working in the building through the shutdown. Someone had to run water in all the pipes and make sure the mechanical systems were working and do visual inspections of the property to make sure there were no leaks in the pools. Temperatures and chemical balances had to be maintained in both.
Instead of following SPCC’s normal practice of shutting down for a week in August to drain and clean the main pool before refilling it, the staff chose to do it now. In the process, they discovered a serious crack near the expansion joint and were able to repair it along with minor leaks.
Funds must soon be raised for a full resurfacing. Past records indicate the last time the pool was resurfaced was 25 years ago when the “outdoor pool” became part of the new community center.
Repainting and renovations to freshen and update some areas of the center have been undertaken to make the facility more welcoming to visitors and users.
SPCC’s board of directors and staff are already in discussion about starting up again and rescheduling the anniversary events when they get the governor’s all-clear.
The first anniversary event is planned for September 27, a community picnic to be held offsite at Kurtz Beach in Pasadena. It’s also an event also meant as an expression of appreciation for SPCC’s hardworking staff.
The 25th Anniversary Gala will follow on Saturday, October 24 at 7 pm. For the first time, it will be held at the Hilton Hotel in Linthicum Heights near BWI. With 350 tickets sold, the organizers found they’d outgrown their previous venue Chartwell Golf and Country Club. Themed “An Evening of Glamour and Giving”, the gala is bound to be as opulent as ever.
Lee Marston with 2013 Gala honoree Andy Borland and his wife Katie. Both men will be Silver Star honorees at the 25th anniversary gala. 
The 2015 Gala honorees Rev. Terry Shoener and his late wife Brenda. Rev. Shoener will be a Silver Star honoree at this year’s anniversary gala.
SPCC’s annual galas began as fundraisers for maintaining the facility and repaying mortgages and were quite glamorous.
One of the most beloved of all Severna Park Community Center fundraising events, its friendly neighborhood Spaghetti Dinner, is being brought back for the anniversary. Originally planned for March and cancelled, it will now be held in early November in the center’s Andy Borland Gym.
The fourth and final anniversary event will be a Holiday Open House held on December 6. Yet to be determined time-wise, there will also be a Grand Re-Opening to which the public is invited.
Signs of life for small business retailers at Park Plaza
According to owner Sue Gautier, The Cottage was hoping to hold a sidewalk HOBO Purse Trunk Sale on the sidewalk at Park Plaza last Friday. However, at the last minute, restrictions on sidewalk sales for non-essential businesses were kept intact though county restrictions on curbside pick-up were finally lifted.
“Instead, we’re doing a virtual trunk sale on Facebook Live. We’re pleased that online orders that can now be picked up curbside,” she said. “Other retailers here are offering curbside pick-up too as you can see by the sign at the Wild Bird Center.”
Egg-citing news!
Fond of our feathered friends? Comcast Business recently partnered with Severna Park residents and apprentice raptor rehabilitators Mark and Heather Jeweler to deliver a live video feed of a local nesting pair of ospreys. The ospreys have a new addition to the family. One of their three eggs has hatched .
The live video feed of the nest is from a Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE)-constructed platform outside Severna Park High School. Join the hatch watch at http://www.severnaparkospreys.com.
