Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce CEO Liz League mentioned weeks ahead that there would be a surprise at this year’s Community Tree Lighting in front of the organization’s headquarters at 1 Holly Avenue on December 2nd.
Indeed, there was a surprise! Glittering white lights on a historic and enormous tree loomed high above the Chamber building. Decorated by Pasadena-based Maryland Lighting & Sprinklers, the evergreen could be seen from most of Olde Severna Park and caused a collective gasp from all who saw it.
At one time or another, much of the assembled crowd walked beneath its branches while gazing up into the lights.
The “big tree” was first lit by former chamber CEO Linda Zahn shortly after the organization acquired and moved into the former Regester home at 1 Holly Avenue in 1995.
“In a few years I set my sights on a community tree. I’d wanted to light a big evergreen tree but was told it was too close to the power lines,” Zahn said. “So I lit the big holly tree right beside our building. We beefed up the power with outlets outside on the side porch and I had colorful lights custom made based on the design of the Naval Academy Alumni House tree.”
” I think the name of the guy who volunteered to climb the tree – yep, he climbed it! – was Steve Darley and we ran the lights vertically because of the shape of the holly. There was a problem with the tree being so prickly, and also the light sockets that faced up caught rainwater and shorted out. There were other issues. Eventually I retired the project and moved to the smaller holly in front of the Chamber building because it was manageable. I think it’s fantastic that folks have come up with a plan to light the big tree. So now there is a tree in front of the Chamber and also the tree at the train station.”
In keeping with tradition, the smaller holly fronting the Chamber building was lit to the singing of “Oh Christmas Tree” by the Severna Park Elementary School Chorus.
A larger than normal crowd attended the tree lighting this year to celebrate just being with each other, to take in the atmosphere, to sing along with the carols and view performances by the Dance Center of Severna Park’s Star Elite Dancers, and the Creative Force Dance Center Dancers. Some families admitted they were drawn to the event by the sight of the big tree.
Families with children made a beeline for Santa Claus or The Grinch, both of whom took time to lend an ear and endlessly posed for photos.
Instead of an open house with homemade cookies inside the chamber building as in past years, treats were served on the lawn. The Sweet Satisfaction Ice Cream Truck was there and long lines formed. Their menu board listed warm desserts including Warm Chocolate Chip Cookies, Warm Pineapple Upside-down Cake, Warm Berry Blossom, Warm Sticky Toffee Cake, and Warm Salted Caramel Fudge – all served with a complement of ice cream.
Among others, Advance Auto Parts handed out candy at one tent while, beneath The Matt Wyble Team tent, The Big Bean’s owners, Christie and Greg Coster, handed out cup after cup of hot chocolate.
The Costers had long wanted to light the big tree and found out that Matt Wyble had the same thing in mind. However, the cost was prohibitive. The three fortunately found Matt Smith from Maryland Lighting & Sprinklers who generously offered to do the lighting for half the cost as a donation if the Costers and Wyble raised the remaining half. They obviously did.
The Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber’s holiday happenings didn’t end with the tree lighting. A mere four days later on Tuesday evening, December 6 at 5:30 pm, League opened the doors of the ballroom at Chartwell Golf and Country Club for the 12th Anniversary Holiday Taste & Sip event with 20 local restauranteurs and merchants providing some outstanding food and drink.
For the 12th year, The Matt Wyble Team from Century, New Millenium was the presenting sponsor for the event but there were a total of 17 sponsors from the local business community.
Rain fell intermittently as the evening began and guests arrived in groups of two or three. In no time at all, the crowd swelled to 300 attendees. Once past the ballroom’s entrance, they were treated to a repertoire of familiar Christmas carols by the Chesapeake Harmony Chorus.
Between friends, neighbors and business associates to meet and greet, beautifully prepared food and drinks to taste, and a host of Silent Auction and raffle items to check out, there was a lot to take in.
A mix of restaurants and businesses participated (from Taste & Sip veterans like Lisa’s Cakepops, Mi Pueblo, Firehouse Subs and Cafe Mezzanotte to new ones like Green Valley Marketplace) with their wares tastefully displayed throughout the ballroom and beyond. Some were a feast for the eyes as well as the tastebuds like the extravagantly laid out table from Titan Catering. Culinary Director Daniel Hlusak’s “tastes” included sumptuous hors d’oeuvres of bourbon-glazed steak.
Still bathing in the glow of their successful appearance at the Chamber’s tree lighting, Sweet Satisfaction Ice Cream Truck’s Cindy and David Geipe added a touch of Christmas with a jolly Santa and a touch of class with delicate little ice cream cones.
Also making spirits bright, literally, were Teri Pheobus, Ally Edwards and Teri Schroeter from Fishpaws Marketplace. The trio had bottles of Campo Viejo Cava chilling on ice, an aged Gouda to complement the Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau, and Sweetland Cellars Spiced Wassail from Boordy Vineyards warming and ready to ladle into cups.
Nick Jacob from Adam’s Taphouse Grille was serving barbequed pork sandwiches and barbequed ribs, both of which are favorites of Karen Osborne. It was great to see Osborne, owner of Karen Renee Designs, back in town from Florida. She was attending the event with her mother-in-law Betty Winkelmeyer Wells who has attended every one of the chamber’s 12 previous Taste & Sips.
Looking glamorous for the occasion, Donut Shack’s Robin Bardinali and Ally Matthews served the shop’s newly created Bread Pudding from a silver chafing dish along with cups of Donut Holes. The pair had fun greeting old friends and making new ones.
Among the many folks they knew from the business community were Anita Dewling from the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation and Larry Sells of Larry Sells Consulting, LLC and Jessica Morgan Wilson and mother, Dawn Wilson, from Side Street Framers & Gift Gallery.
Long-time chamber members Anita Dewling and Larry Sells. 
Many-time Holiday Taste & Sip guests Jessica Morgan Wilson and Dawn Baumgarten Wilson.
What Taste & Sip Holiday event would be complete without some excellent offerings from veteran participant Cafe Mezzanotte? Owner Tommie Koukoulis and Michael Reigioa offered an assortment of tastebud teasers including duckfat-braised guinea hen – a rare treat.
A Silent Auction table wound its way across the entire room with donations from businesses throughout the greater Severna Park area. Donations ranged from baskets filled with fruit or wines – or, in the case of Jing Ying Institute’s Nancy Greer, a plush panda – to gift certificates for veterinary services or children’s exercise at Rolly Pollies.
For this year’s Holiday Taste & Sip, the 206 Restaurant Group’s Park Tavern and JB’s joined forces with two offerings from each restaurant. Park Tavern’s Braised Bacon Bites and Bloody Mary Shrimp Ceviche and JB’s Garlic Knots and Boneless Wings were quite a hit. Veteran Taste & Sip participants Greg and Christie Coster from The Big Bean provided after dinner coffees and sweets while chatting about their success in lighting the big tree.
According to Liz League, the 12th Anniversary Holiday Taste & Sip event, the organization’s biggest fundraiser, was wildly successful financially bringing in enough funds to permit a donation of $1,000 to the Anne Arundel County Foodbank and donations to a number of other charities. She noted that the number of attendees exceeded expectations and, while lots of chamber members were in the crowd there were many new faces.
“Everyone was so pleased to be out seeing everyone,” she said.
Santa on the B&A Trail on December 10th
The Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails organization has announced that between 10 am and 3 pm on Saturday, December 10th, Santa will be traveling along the Baltimore & Annapolis Trail in his sleigh. He’ll make a total of nine stops. Families may visit with Santa (Mark Garrity, Superintendent of Anne Arundel Co. Recreation & Parks) and his elves (Park Rangers) at each of those stops where they will be handing out candy canes and collecting non-perishable food items for the Anne Arundel County Food Bank.
The scheduled stops will begin at Arnold Station at 10:00 am, Jones Station at 10:45 am, Hatton Regester Green at 11:15 am, Robinson Road at 11:45 am, Whites Road at 12:15 pm, Earleigh Heights Ranger Station at 12:45 pm, Jumpers Hole Shopping Center at 1:45 pm, Harundale Shopping Center at 2:15 pm and Sawmill Creek Park at 3:00 pm. (In case of rain, the park rangers will still be at the various stops collecting non-perishable food donations.) For information, call 410-222-6141.
19th Annual Holiday Party and Silent Auction for Charity for Jing Ying Institute
A Silent Auction benefitting the non-profit Good Neighbors Group will be part of Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi’s 19th Annual Holiday Party on Saturday, December 17 from 3 to 4:30 pm.
Good Neighbors Group was chosen for the holiday silent auction because the organization strengthens communities by engaging people to help one another in and around Anne Arundel County. Some of their projects are ongoing like their regularly scheduled blood drives for Anne Arundel Medical Center. Among their best-known projects is their S(o)uper Bowl Food Drive uniting 44 neighborhoods from Severna Park and across the Broadneck Peninsula in collecting non-perishable foods for area food pantries.
Jing Ying Institute has raised over $125,000 for a variety of charities that help others.
The column is brought to you this week by Fishpaws Marketplace, 954 Ritchie Hwy. – a family-owned business that carry fine wines, spirits and beers plus gourmet foods. Holiday gift sets are now on the shelves and, on December 17th, an artist will be on hand to engrave customers’ bottles with personalized holiday greetings.
and 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 cardiovascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying’s classes would make a great holiday gift.
