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
Part garden party with a tropical vibe, part wine-tasting with 75 vintages to sample with foods to complement them, and part fundraiser for the Baltimore Washington Medical Center Foundation, there is no event quite like Corks for a Cause. Sponsored and hosted by Homestead Gardens Severna Park and Fishpaws Marketplace with additional support from the philanthropic organization Next Gen, the event brings together products from some of the world’s finest vintners and foods from some of the area’s finest retailers and restaurants.
Now in its fifth year, we found the fundraiser off to a fine start with the parking lot filled to the brim and every space taken. Locating a space in a nearby lot, we entered the store and found Fishpaws’ owner Kim Lawson making sure things were running smoothly at the check-in area.
Once checked in, guests were given gift bags containing tasting glasses and other gift items put together by Next Generation. Obviously, a majority of the guests headed straight for the gardens to taste the wines and mingle with friends.
Down every long corridor of plants and flowers we’d find one or more of the wineries beneath a bright umbrella surrounded by “tasters” eager to sample a vintage or two.
Corks for a Cause guests waiting for “a taste” at the J. Lohr Vineyards booth. 
Looking down another “winery row” with vintners on either side eager to sell guests a case or two of their product.
As always, Corks for a Cause was a fashionable affair with summery frocks, picture hats and colorful casualwear in evidence. Friends Christine Bennett, Brian and Meghan Wexler and Chirag Chaudhari were having “a great time” together.
Throughout Corks for a Cause, vocalist and steel drummer Orlando Phillips “musically brought the Carribean to the party” thanks to a generous entertainment sponsorship from Brad Kappel of Sotheby’s International Realty.
Annapolitan Brad and wife Barbara were delighted to be on hand for the fundraiser…especially since it was held in such a beautiful setting.
“We wouldn’t have missed it,” Barbara said as cameras clicked around them to record the occasion.
The couple stayed on, listening to some of Phillips’ tunes before moving on to explore other areas of the event.
Fresh from his own successful fundraiser at Severna Park Taphouse on June 15, Katherine’s Light Foundation Music Festival & Charity Event organizer Larry Sells fairly bubbled as he shared some good news with Severna Park Voice publisher Dianna Lancione.
“The music festival netted $50,000 and we are giving away every cent of it to The Katherine Mueller Fund for NET (Neuroendocrine Tumor) Research and three other charities including The Wellness House of Annapolis , a Katherine Mueller Nursing Scholarship at Anne Arundel Community College and a Baltimore Washington Medical Center Foundation fund to help cancer patients who can’t afford transportation, food or medications.
Sells added that further money will be raised on August 3 when Nashville recording artist Chad Bearden & Band will be appearing at the Severna Park Taphouse and will donate $5 from every ticket sold to the Katherine’s Light Foundation NET Research Fund.
Having explored vintages from about a dozen wineries ranging from J. Lohr Vineyards in Paso Robles, California to Treasury Wine Estates with vineyards in Australia and New Zealand, we headed back indoors to have our tastebuds tempted by chefs from some of the area’s finest restaurants and retailers.
Starting near the entrance, we found the staff from the Green Turtle Sports Bar in Gambrills readying servings of chips with Crab Dip.
Opposite them was a table from Severna Park’s Garten where owner Jeremy Hoffman and Chef De Cuisine Greg Anderson were serving Falafel with Hummus & Leoneh with pickled cucumber.
Nearby, The Hideaway’s clever and charming sign caught our eye. We, naturally, were curious to see what was being served by the Odenton eatery. Turns out they were offering the restaurant’s award-winning Naked Wings, Pork Sliders and coleslaw.
The Hideaway’s cute sign was attention- getting 
…as was the food served by Charlene and Patti.
Heading right, we happened upon Executive Chef Frank Copeland and John Braden Jacobs manning the Carrol’s Creek Cafe table. Always popular with the Corks for a Cause crowd, Carrol’s Creek may just have topped last year’s selection by serving Crab Salad Tarts with Aioli as well as Goat Cheese Tarts.
Shared tables can be fun and that was the case with Pretzel Chef Marcus Moore and Bake Believe Bakery’s Sarah Neiburg. Moore offered samples of Moore Crunch pretzels which one might have expected. However, we were surprised to see Neiburg’s adorably packaged hand-crafted artisan marshmallows, s’mores and mallow treats!
Obviously, there were too many purveyors of food and fine wines to keep track of, but we moved on to a few others, stopping briefly at the tables of Glen Burnie-based Arturo’s Trattoria and The Lodge from Annapolis.
At the Two Rivers Steak & Fish House table, Kasey Schaffner was doling out servings of Italian meatballs. According to Schaffner, the Pasadena restaurant is also known for its catering services and the tasty meatballs are one of the most requested items for events.
As a sponsor of Corks for a Cause, Fishpaws Marketplace’s Kim Lawson wore many hats. She was involved in organizing the wineries and distributors and acted as the point of sale for each. Fishpaws Marketplace would also serve as the official pickup point for any wines ordered.
Thus, she left the Marketplace’s official table in the capable hands of Pamela Meador and several staff members.
They chose to serve olive tapenade with special crackers along with fruit and Dutch Kanaal Cheese which is carried exclusively at Fishpaws. They also had local Poplar Hill Honey from a farm located off Route 2 in Annapolis.
Wandering back out into the gardens, we arrived just in time for remarks from Baltimore Washington Medical Center Foundation’s Susan Iaquinta and Next Generation Group’s new chairman Kimberly Hilliard.
Iaquinta thanked Homestead Gardens and Fishpaws Marketplace for again hosting the fundraiser and explained that the funds raised were being used to renovate BWMC’s Healing Garden which was created 20 years ago and is used for some of the hospital’s Wellness Programs including yoga sessions.
Before introducing Hilliard, she explained that the New Generation Group is made up of volunteers who raise funds for the Foundation. Hilliard also thanked Homestead, Fishpaws and all of the food and wine purveyors who helped make Corks for a Cause a success. With remarks at an end, the entire group of BWMC volunteers came together for a group photo.
BWMC Foundation’s Suzan Iaquinta (on the left) and New Generation’s Kim Hilliard capped off the event with remarks and thank you’s…. 
….to the event hosts and the many BWMC volunteers seen in the group photo.
For more information about the Baltimore Washington Medical Center Foundation or to make a donation visit BWMC Foundation | UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center (umms.org).
Independence Day is fast approaching, and hints are everywhere
Folks walking, running or cycling the Severna Park section of the B&A Trail have likely noticed the patriotically decorated Gold Star Family Memorial or, on closer inspection, have noticed the small statue erected in memory of one of those lost, Eric Matthew Kavanagh, United States Army/Private First Class.
Or, if traveling further past the Arnold Station section of the trail, they may have seen the beautiful patriotic display created by Rick and Elizabeth Rosborg and family along their front gate.
We’ve also spotted Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce CEO Liz League out and about making arrangements for this year’s Severna Park 4th of July Parade. From what League tells us, the parade’s theme, “Stars & Stripes Forever” is bound to inspire some very patriotic entries.
League will be overseeing colorful tents being set up on the Chamber lawn for Parade sponsors, of which there are many this year.
“As before, the Parade will step off from staging areas at St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Church and Our Shepherd Lutheran Church at 10 am along a route down Benfield Road onto Evergreen Road, turning left onto Riggs Avenue into the center of Olde Severna Park,” she said. “At the end of Riggs Avenue, the Parade will turn right onto B&A Boulevard, proceed past Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church and turn left onto Cypress Creek Road where it will end opposite Cypress Creek Park. Spectators can watch from anywhere along the route. There will be 20 Anne Arundel County police officers on hand to manage traffic and ensure spectators safety at major crossing points.”
She added that the Chamber is grateful that many of the Parade’s sponsors and entries have participated for many years. Among other traditions, Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services will again be sponsoring The Decorated Bike Contest and marching in the parade. The enormous Nathan McDavitt American Flag will once more be carried by a veritable army of Scouts and volunteers in memory of McDavitt and other military service members who have lost their lives serving our country. Vintage car collector Wayne Gerst will be returning to the parade with five priceless antique automobiles on rollbacks. And, of course, kids’ favorite Lion will be Lion Dancing for the crowds along the parade route with Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi martial arts students.
We understand that there will not be a high school band this year but there will be music from several groups. Notably, the Chesapeake Harmony Chorus will be returning to the Parade with a selection of patriotic tunes.
There will be new sponsors and entries… including from one business we’re curious about called Sweet Bamboo Boba which we hear is a self-serve tea shop.
Regardless of how you are spending the day, we wish everyone a happy 4th of July.
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.
