Author: wingsorb@aol.com

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Brought to you by Fishpaws Marketplace and

Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi

Judging from the smiles on their faces, Temple University student Abby Johnson and her mother Jennifer were having a great time shopping for books at the American Association of University Women of Maryland’s Book Sale at Park Plaza last Thursday. The college freshman was home for a long weekend and was delighted to make the opening day of AAUW’s annual used book sale their first stop.

According to AAUW volunteers, opening day was tremendously busy during the pre-sale period set aside in the morning for book dealers and remained busy throughout the day. For the first time in several years, the four-day sale was back in Severna Park after having been held at locations off Ritchie Highway in Pasadena.

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.

By mid-afternoon, AAUW member Linda King was seen restocking the education and foreign language book sections which had, earlier in the day, been a major focus for dealers and teachers.

“It was incredibly busy this morning and still is. Being allowed to have our AAUW Book Sale signs up ahead of time has really helped us this year, King said. “Park Plaza is turning out to be such a good location for us.”

Likewise, avid reader and veteran book sale volunteer Amber Kaltz was rearranging one of several Mystery/Thriller sections. Kaltz acknowledged that mysteries are definitely one of the most popular categories of books and shoppers flock to them.

Customers combed through the section looking for titles by their favorite authors ranging from early 20th century mystery writers like Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers to current day best-sellers like Michael Connelly, John Sanford, and David Balducci. Then, it was up to Kaltz to replenish empty spots on the tables and shelves from boxes of books at her feet.

The AAUW Used Book sale was a huge success this year according to AAUW Used Book Sale Co-Chair Stacey Hilder. 

“The Severna Park community rallied round and kept the storefront full of shoppers and buyers every day with books flying out the door as fast as we could load them onto the tables,” Hilder said. “We brought in 150% of the amount we brought in during each of the sales of the last 5 years. It was great to be back in Severna Park and to experience such an overwhelming response from the community.”

For more information about AAUW’s book collections and annual book sale or other activities visit AAUW of Maryland.

Holiday Festival at Woods (formerly the annual holiday bazaar) is coming back

The Holiday Festival at Woods (formerly known as Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church’s Holiday Bazaar) is coming back on Saturday, November 19th from 9 am to 1 pm after a two-year absence due to the pandemic. Most of the sights, sounds, and sale items familiar from 80 years of staging the annual Christmas bazaar will be recaptured thanks to the efforts of festival committee co-chairs Mary Moran and Susan Bohlman and an enthusiastic group of volunteers and generous donations from church members.

The Founder’s Room at Woods (the beautifully preserved chapel within the larger church that was constructed in 1913 as the original place of worship) was set aside to store some of the items already donated for the sale.

Liz Pringle and Lorry Danko met there with Holiday Festival co-chair Susan Bohlman to review what’s come in so far. Liz and Lorry are members of the Woods Quilters Group which will have a table in the Fellowship Hall with 50 or more quilted items for sale. They laid out a few of them along with examples of other donations.

“We began with the idea of scaling back the annual holiday sale thinking it might not be as well-attended since we had to skip two years, said Bohlman. “However, the idea has been greeted with such enthusiasm and the event has mushroomed so much, that it’s back to being pretty much a full-scale holiday bazaar.

Danko, who created the lovely Advent Calendar on the end of the table, spoke about some of the other items shown. The books and games shown are but a small example of those that will be displayed in the White Elephant Room. Among the many quilted items for sale will be four wooden doll beds created by member Andy Borland’s Monday Morning Woodworkers Group and decked out with baby dolls, mattresses, pillows and quilts made by the Woods Quilters. The quilts for each doll bed are different in color and design.

“It was so kind of Andy to give us four of these,” Pringle said. “The Holiday Festival is one of our biggest fundraisers and people love the doll beds. They are bound to sell well.”

Bohlman noted that the Holiday Festival will have many traditional elements.

“We’re bringing back the much-celebrated homemade candy table as well as the bake table. We’ll also be selling the nuts that are so popular with Woods’ congregation members.

Bohlman noted that the Founders Room will be magically transformed into a Christmas Shop during the Holiday Festival with evergreens, wreaths and table decorations. In addition to the Quilters Table, there will be a table featuring knitted items from a church member’s knitting group.

The traditional White Elephant Room will include jewelry this year as well as decorative objects and children’s items, games and books. There will also be a Children’s Secrets Room where kids can shop for inexpensively priced gifts for their parents.

There will be food – a traditional holiday event hot dog and soup menu – and Santa will be on hand.

For updates on the Holiday Festival at Woods or other events, visit Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church (woodschurch.org).

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 and specialty items for your table.

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 cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress.”  

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Brought to you by Fishpaws Marketplace and

Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi

The witching hour had apparently arrived as goblins and ghosts, fairies and princesses, bunny rabbits and superheroes descended on Severna Park Community Center’s spectacular Halloween Spooktacular. Looking down on the center’s transformed parking lot from above while listening to the buzz, it was clear that a wonderful event was in the making.

Even as the crowds swelled around the community center courtyard and Boone Station Hall, attendees continued flowing down the steps from parking areas above. They just kept coming.

The community center staff had pulled out all the stops creating the most festive Halloween scene imaginable. Decorations were everywhere – from the center’s doorways off the courtyard to Boone Station Hall and beyond.

Really getting into the spirit of the Spooktacular, SPCC executive director Sarah Elder and her staff dressed in costume – mostly as witches. Stationed by the make-believe Salem Broom Company, staffers Amy Holbrook and Sandy Ginns were bewitching indeed as they explained the inspiration behind the magical evening.

“The Halloween Spooktacular is Severna Park Community Center’s gift to the community,” Holbrook said. “It’s the first time we’ve done a Halloween event to this scale and is our thank you to area residents for supporting us and making us an integral part of the community. We like being here to help and support them in turn.”

She added that SPCC’s Board of Directors and staff decided to “go big this year” with help from the event’s primary sponsor KMA Law Office and other community businesses and organizations.

The atmosphere was animated along a midway of imaginatively decorated automobile trunks where Mutt & Joe and The Big Bean Coffee Shop served hot beverages while Donut Shack served 15 dozen donuts plus lots of candy.

Behind Holbrook and Ginns, strains of the perennial favorite “Flying Purple People Eater” rang out as five of the Dance Center of Severna Park’s Star Elite Dancers twirled into the center of the courtyard wearing bright purple tutus and performed a lively routine.

Star Elite director Barbara Wayson, who choreographed the cute number, said the dancers were already preparing routines for upcoming performances at the Severna Park Christmas Tree lighting, Midnight Madness in Annapolis, and SPCC’s Cookies & Cocoa holiday event on December 9th.

Nearby, Dance Center of Severna Park director Kellie Greer and her staff handed out treats from their tricked-out Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory trunk. Greer’s green hair and Oompa Loompa costume were sure-fire attention getters.

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The next few trunks were similar in theme. Maryland House of Delegates candidate Kerry Gillespie and daughter Kaitlin’s trunk full of skeletal pirates was scary.

So was Kennard Chiropractic & Physical Therapy’s trunk where “live” skeleton Therese High chatted amiably about her work as a chiropractic assistant while handing out candy.

As if those trunks weren’t bone-chilling enough, alarms went off big time as firefighters Corey and Morgan Stevens approached the spider web covered trunk designed by Blended Essentials owner Danielle Bowen and staff while pulling their firetruck/carriage with one daughter aboard. However, her baby sister preferred her dad’s version of the tried-and-true fireman’s carry.

Across the way, Theater In The Park founder/director Jennifer Lee Kraus and daughter/co-director Kylie Sjoie teamed up for double impact while highlighting the theme of their next show, “The Wizard of Oz”, with side-by-side trunks. According to Kraus, the show is already in rehearsal on Saturday mornings from 9 am till noon and will debut in January on the stage at Anne Arundel Community College.

Who knew that, by sheer coincidence Dorothy (Kelly Bocskor) would show up with Toto (her daughter Lucy) accompanied by Brian Bocskor. Even more amazing was the fact that an unidentified Wicked Witch of the West turned up behind them.

There was so much more to see outside and a solid trick or treat line formed from the Escape Time Escape Rooms’ haunted house past Jessee Hall’s lovely Once Upon a Time trunk, Ali Matthew’s Donut Shack display, and Dave Born’s Ferrari themed racetrack trunk to Mutt & Joe’s trunk full of coffee.

After a peek at the film Hocus Pocus inside Boone Station Hall, we crossed the courtyard to explore the activities inside the community center.

There, we found arts and crafts, lots of local vendors, representatives from the Severna Park Branch of the Anne Arundel County Public Library, Park Books, Celebree School of Severna Park and MacaroniKID Pasadena plus a Halloween photo booth and some additional treats.

The interior vendors were too numerous to mention but a few added sparkle like Deb Vincent’s Opulenza Designs gems. Others attracted attention through costuming like Disability Case Management experts Angela and Danny Jacob.

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It was impossible to resist visiting the Eco Adventures booth where Emma Brison cradled Onyx, a Bearded Dragon in her arms while Amber Powell held a baby American Alligator named JoJo. Critters belonging to the Millersville-based conservation education organization are always popular with kids but, in this case, the treats won high marks too.

One final exploration led to the photo booth run by Payton Huber who sported a superhero costume. She helpfully held packages of swag collected by bunny Alyssa, witch Saniah, and Lady in Waiting Leah while their mother shot a few photos – the perfect way to end a perfect day.

On exiting the Halloween Spooktacular, we had a chance to speak with Sarah Elder who was very pleased with the evening. She reported that Mutt & Joe’s, The Big Bean, Donut Shack and all the trunk or treat participants had been told to prepare for 250 attendees. However, to everyone’s surprise and pleasure the crowd swelled to 500.

Holbrook added that SPCC had to send someone out to buy tons more candy to give to the trunk or treat folks because they were running out.

“We were so delighted,” she said. “Now we’ll be concentrating on getting ready for our holiday Cookies and Cocoa event.”

For information on upcoming programs and events, visit THE SEVERNA PARK COMMUNITY CENTER – SPCC Home (spcommunitycenter.org).

Falcon Drama to debut the musical Footloose this Friday evening

We received last-minute news from Angela Germanos that Falcon Drama and the SP Stage Company are presenting the musical “Footloose” at Severna Park High School beginning tomorrow, Friday, November 4th at 7 pm. Additional performances are scheduled for Saturday, November 5th at 7 pm as well as Friday, November 11th at 7 pm and Saturday, November 12th at 2 pm and 7 pm. For more information and tickets, visit www.sphsdrama.com.

Around The Park Again would like to welcome our new sponsor Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi.

Thus, 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 and specialty items for your table.

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 cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress.”  

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Brought to you by Fishpaws Marketplace

Exhibitors and attendees alike took SHOPTOBERFEST’s Trick or Treat theme to heart. Park Plaza’s main parking lot was filled to the brim with colorful autumn-themed tents beneath which costumed vendors offered myriad treats. “Spooky” was the byword at the SERVPRO tent where pirate wench Allison Taylor and witch Lindsay Straiton oversaw a table featuring a gilded pumpkin, a copper-colored cat, and buckets filled with toy footballs and candy. They were aided by Straiton’s daughters, “swamp creature” Harper who won the costume contest prize for scariest, and black and white spotted “moo cow” Micah.

Organized by The Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce, SHOPTOBERFEST featured entertainment, a costume contest for kids and a costume contest for dogs and drew a total of 51 exhibitors making for a festive event.

Macaroni KID had quite a presence at SHOPTOBERFEST with a tent that matched the blue of Saturday’s skies.

Macaroni KID Annapolis publisher Darla Winstead and daughter Kat, who masqueraded as Minnie Mouse, manned the tent. Meanwhile, Macaroni KID Pasadena publisher Laura McElwain Colquhoun was helping with the costume contest.

It seemed only fitting that there were rows and rows of spooky skeletons decorating the DeMaio Family Chiropractic & Physical Therapy Tent. Needless to say, the skeletons didn’t keep little ones away from the candy-filled pumpkin and skeleton’s head.

Even more kids were drawn to the Kwon’s Taekwondo tent where owner Young Kwon was making balloon animals for everyone.

Familiar faces from other SHOP LOCAL events included Winsome Brown and her well-known Lean on Dee team of professionals for in-home care for seniors. Headmaster Tony Shaffer and Kira Dickson were also on hand from St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Episcopal School. Another SHOP LOCAL favorite was Kelli Dilman’s Fieldstone Animal Inn tent. As usual, Kelli brought along an abundant supply of dog biscuits for SHOPTOBERFEST’s canine attendees.

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Every now and then, SHOPTBERFEST visitors stopped circulating through the tents to take in the entertainment including a much- requested Lion Dance from students of Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi and a dramatic lightsaber exhibition by the school’s Shifu (leader/teacher) Billy Greer.

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Later, Greer strolled about with a Lion Dance lion marionette delighting everyone – especially Cub Scouts Vincent Niemeyer and Robert Buck, Jr. and Robert, Sr. who was helping them. Based at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Troop 450 members are participating in the Wreaths Across America effort through the holidays.

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Excitement grew among the youngest SHOPTOBERFEST attendees as the costume contest drew near. Miniature Minnie Mouse Avery Fleck and her tree-frog brother Camden waited anxiously with their mother Allison and grandmother Cindy Hudoniot who made their costumes.

Soon SHOPTOBERFEST emcee Jeff Hughes called for costume contest competitors to come forward and Avery and Camden joined a long line of participants. From Pokemon to Wonder Woman, a slew of princesses and a Royal Guard, the competition was fierce.

Judges eventually awarded the Most Original costume prize to a pint-sized competitor known simply as Taco Bell who was wearing a perfectly painted model of the well-known eatery. A colorful goodie bag prize was awarded to her and the other winners.

The second prize was won by a contestant we’d seen before at the SERVPRO tent – none other than Harper Straiton as a Swamp Creature.

The final choice for Best Overall was a dual costume effort requiring an unusual amount of imagination and skill to pull off. Dubbed “Alien Abduction with Alien Mom”, it wowed spectators and judges alike.

We somehow missed the Dog Costume Contest but discovered the Most Original Prize winner – angel dog Luna with mistress Everly Hendricks – making their way back through the crowd.

The pair wound through a gaggle of political candidate’s tents on the extremely busy midway. In the midst of it all, the 206 Restaurant Group was handing out highly popular samples of foods from JB’s and Park Tavern.

Anne Arundel Community College Open House was an adventure

“Choose your own adventure was the theme for Anne Arundel Community College’s Open House on October 20th and there was plenty to explore around the now sizeable campus. A handy Open House brochure contained a campus map of buildings housing educational facilities ranging from the School of Liberal Arts to the School of Business and Law. A majority of them were open for prospective students to tour.

We had received a tip beforehand to visit the School of Health and Life Sciences building which had some remarkable technologies to reveal and did not disappoint.

We followed several Open House visitors into the lobby of the building where they were directed forward.

All were welcomed by Assistant Dean David Thomas along with more than a dozen AACC representatives who were stationed at various tables.

“This building is phenomenal. It’s almost like a mini-hospital,” Thomas said. “We’re showcasing some of the programs we have at our Health and Life Sciences building this evening including the largest which is nursing. Our nursing program occupies most of the second floor while the third floor has facilities for medical assistant and physical therapy assistant trainees, massage therapy, and medical lab sciences.

He emphasized that the first floor is the location for Emergency Medical Services training with a state-of-the-art lab, a radiological technology lab and, right behind those, a brand-new dental clinic.

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There is already a dental assistant program and the school hopes to launch a dental hygiene program in the fall of 2023.

Also situated on the first floor was the state-of-the-art Simulation Center which Thomas said was a “must see”.

Mock or simulation patient care provider experiences are used for all EMS, nursing and other training situations according to Thomas. However, EMS students go out with trained EMS professionals in the county on occasion.

The Simulation Center more than lived up to expectations. We met AACC Director of Simulation Education Justin Gyurik behind the center’s nurses station desk, then followed him as he led middle school students on a tour of four realistic looking hospital rooms. The rooms all featured pre-programmed mannequins as patients.

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He began by showing the students an expansive area set up as a maternity ward where a “pregnant” mannequin was about to give birth. Opposite her, a recently delivered infant was being cared for.

He demonstrated that, at a signal from his smart phone, the mannequin could open her eyes, move her head and perform as if giving birth like an actual human being. Gyurik definitely captured the students’ attention when he mentioned that all the mannequins could bleed like real patients. A few seemed squeamish, but others loved it.

The simulation director led on to the next hospital room where a mock seriously ill female patient was being treated.

One curious middle-schooler asked of the pretend patient “Does she ever scream or moan?”

Another asked if she vomited.

Gyurik said all the mannequins do both and demonstrated that, with the touch of his finger, she could indeed scream and did. In another room, he allowed students to shine a light from their smart phones in a male patient’s eyes to see how his pupils dilated.

In private conversation following the tour he noted that there is a lot of simulated screaming during classes in the Simulation Center as that is what actually happens in a hospital.

“We get students used to screams as well as many of the other stresses,” he said. “We have everything set up in the rooms exactly as it would be including drips and monitors.”

The realistic atmosphere of the Health and Life Sciences programs was amazing. For more information about them or the other schools at Anne Arundel Community College, visit Home – Anne Arundel Community College (aacc.edu).

Woods Music Benefit Concert set for November 14

Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church invites the community to join them for an exciting evening of music on November 12 at 7 pm.

The evening will feature piano and organ solos/duets from Pastor Randy Bush and Ted Markle in addition to new works by local artists.  Composers include Andy Rollins, David and Elysia Merrill, Alan Becknell, Sarah Kent, Josh Huff, and Drew Sharpe.  This is a FREE concert with all donations going to support the Woods Church music department.

For more info email David Merrill – dmerrill@woodschurch.org. The event will also be livestreamed.  

Around The Park Again is brought to you by Fishpaws Marketplace, 954 Ritchie Hwy. – a family-owned business that carries a great selection of fine wines, spirits and beers, gourmet foods and specialty items perfect for fall entertaining. It’s not too early to start thinking about those holiday dinners.

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Brought to you by Fishpaws Marketplace

Take a look around the Severna Park business community and you’ll see it’s choc-a-bloc with eateries. Pulling into the parking lot at 366 Ritchie Highway on the way to Cakes & Confections, we discovered yet another. A sign in front of the former Howard Bank announces the opening of a Tropical Smoothie Cafe.

We found the franchise for the new cafe is held by Sandip Patel who currently operates the Tropical Smoothie Cafe at 8000 Jumper’s Hole Road in Pasadena. Work has already begun to transform the former bank into a similar facility; however, the renovation will not be finished for a couple months. (Anne Arundel County requires anyone serving or preparing food on premise to have a 1,000-gallon grease interceptor, three-compartment sinks, and mechanical and HVAC capacity.)

The Tropical Smoothie Cafe menu will feature flavorful smoothies made with real fruits and vegetables and an array of healthy foods including flatbreads, wraps, sandwiches, quesadillas and bowls.

According to Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber CEO Liz League, there are several new businesses being launched in the area, a few of which will be on hand for SHOPTOBERFEST with a Trick or Treat Twist being held this Saturday, October 22 from 11 am to 3 pm.

SRA again hosts in-person events with John Wright Speaker Series

Happy to be holding in-person events following two years of virtual interaction, the Severn River Association held October’s John Wright Speaker Series talk at Forward Brewing on Fourth Street in Eastport. The guest speaker was Patuxent River naturalist Greg Kearns who gave a presentation about Ospreys – fascinating birds sometimes referred to as “fish hawks” or “seahawks”.

Ospreys are an incredibly familiar sight to those who live along the Severn or other Anne Arundel County Rivers.

“Ospreys are a single subspecies found throughout the world (though there are four subspecies). Nowhere are they more numerous than the Chesapeake Bay region where there are between 8,000 and 10,000 pairs,” Kearns said.

He added that the North American species found in the United States and Canada generally migrate to South America for the winter but return here in the spring to breed and raise their young. Some Ospreys overwinter in Florida and, curiously, some have wintered off Virginia Beach in recent years.

As Ospreys have come to prefer manmade structures for their nests, their populations have increased along local waterways thanks to nest boxes built by locals and a proliferation of cell phone towers.

Kearns appearance was the second of SRA’s in-person events, the first being the organization’s annual membership meeting which was held on September 30 at Cafe Mezzanotte in Severna Park. According to SRA Executive Director, Jesse Iliff, the next of the John Wright Speaker Series events will again be held at Forward Brewing in November, will pause during December and will return to Cafe Mezzanotte for the January event.

Iliff also announced some good news for SRA. The organization has received funding from the Chesapeake Bay Trust to design and build types of stormwater management projects that will slow down, spread out, and soak up the stormwater from two communities in the City of Annapolis – the Nautilus Point community in Eastport and the Wardour community in West Annapolis. Both projects will reduce pollution flowing into the river.

SRA also won a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to make a thorough study of the Severn River watershed and identify areas where future restoration efforts can make the biggest impacts.  For more information on the Severn River Association, visit Severn River Association.

American Association of University Women’s Booksale begins November 3rd

The American Association of University Women’s Fall Used Book Sale has moved to a new location according to book sale co-chair Stacey Hilder.

“Instead of Pasadena, AAUW’s used book sale will this year be held in a storefront at 560F Ritchie Hiway in Severna Park’s Park Plaza to the right of Joanne’s Fabrics from Thursday, November 3 through Sunday, November 6, ” Hilder explained.

AAUW members look forward to the complicated process of setting up the sale from boxes and boxes of books they’ve collected during the summer and early fall. They’ll work wonders separating them by category.

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As is customary, a Public Presale will be held from 8:00 am to 10:00 am on Thursday, November 3 with a $25.00 entrance fee.  The sale will then open to the public at 10:00 am with no entrance fee thereafter. 

The hours of the sale are Thursday, Nov 3 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, Friday, Nov 4 from   9:00 am to 7:00 pm, Saturday, Nov. 5 from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm and Sunday, Nov 6 from    9:00 am to 3:00 pm.   (Sunday is Bag Day when a bag of books is offered at a reduced price.) For more information see AAUW Anne Arundel County | Facebook.

Baldwin Memorial United Women in Faith Holiday Craft Show & Bazaar Nov. 5th

The Baldwin Memorial Church’s Fellowship Hall in the Education Building at 911 General’s Highway in Millersville is the site for the annual Holiday Craft Show & Bazaar to be held on November 5 from 10 am till 3 pm. The festive bazaar will feature holiday decorations, craft tables, UWF’s “fabulous” bake table, books and jewelry. There will also be a special visitor from the North Pole.

Proceeds from the rental of craft space and from the sale of baked goods, holiday decorations, and other items will support United Women of Faith Mission Projects.

For additional information, call the church office on (410)923-1166.

SPAN Turkey Trot 5K and 1 Mile Fun Walk at Kinder Farm Park Nov. 5

SPAN, Inc’s largest fundraiser is back for the first time since 2019 according to the organization’s Director of Development Michele Sabean. SPAN is inviting everyone to Stride for SPAN on Saturday, November 5 at Kinder Farm Park. Sabean knows from experience that the Turkey Trot event is really fun whether you are a runner or a walker. The funds raised go to help area families in need.

Registration is still open for the event with a few spots left. Registration fees are modest. You can register at 2022 Stride for SPAN Turkey Trot – Millersville, MD 2022 | ACTIVE or you can make a donation.

Chesapeake Harmony Chorus presents “It’s The Music” at Historic Baldwin Hall

Chesapeake Harmony Chorus returns to Historic Baldwin Hall Sunday, November 13 at 2 pm for a fun afternoon of music, light refreshments, door prizes and a raffle. The 20-member chorus will entertain the audience with a concert themed “It’s The Music”.

Executive director Sally Burton noted that the group will be performing the barbershop harmonies they’ve perfected as Sweet Adelines International chapter members and competitors. CHC’s Second Star Quartet and Bearfoot Quartet will also be featured.

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Ticketing is online only for this concert by visiting Chesapeake Harmony Chorus. Tickets are $20.00 per person, $15.00 for students (6-25) and under 6 free. For questions, please call (410)315-8198.

Around The Park Again is brought to you by Fishpaws Marketplace, 954 Ritchie Hwy. – a family-owned business that carries a great selection of fine wines, spirits and beers, gourmet foods and specialty items perfect for fall entertaining. It’s not too early to start thinking about those holiday dinners.

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Brought to you by Fishpaws Marketplace

Whether visiting the pumpkin patch, stuffing a scarecrow, finding their way through a straw maze, trying their luck at pumpkin bowling or just plain roaming Kinder Farm Park to check out the animals, kids thoroughly enjoyed attending Fall Fun Day…as did their parents.

Fall Fun Day was held last Sunday from 11 am to 3 pm and families were coming and going throughout the day on a pathway leading to and from the main parking lot, passing the barns and silos as they came and went.

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The Fall Fun Day was a somewhat scaled down version of the annual Kinder Farm Park Harvest Fest held each October until interrupted by COVID. Still, it was a delightful way to spend an autumn afternoon.

Like most measures undertaken by the park over the past two years, the decision to hold a fall fun day grew out of a response to the pandemic.

“The first year of the pandemic we cancelled the fall event altogether,” said Ranger Samuel Ziff. “Last year we wanted to do something as a link to what we’d done in the past, but we kept it very small – just a pumpkin patch and some hayrides. This year we decided to bring the fall event back incrementally – to hold a smaller, more manageable event with some of the same elements as the harvest festival.”

Ziff added that the last harvest festival in 2019 had drawn 14,000 people which really strained resources. This year’s Fall Fun Day drew a crowd of between 3,000and 3,500 people which made things more comfortable and enjoyable.

Games for children were scattered throughout the grounds and were extremely popular. Pumpkin bowling was a favorite for young Michael Hamorsky. He managed to knock down all the bowling pins as family, friends and spectators cheered him on.

Smaller children seemed to prefer the Duck Pond game or the Frog Flipping game. As with the former harvest festival, all the games and food items required tickets.

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Kinder Farm Park’s 4H Livestock Club’s enterprising members not only had some animals on display but had their own stand with a selection of beverages and snacks for sale.

Animal ambassadors from both KFP’s 4H Club and its Farm & Livestock Education Program could be seen here and there welcoming visitors. Sassy the goat and handler Lara Mackey enjoyed the Sunday sunshine and the company.

The barns and pens were open for folks to tour though many of their inhabitants preferred to be outside basking in the sun.

The Farm & Livestock Education Program barn is host to sheep and dairy cows but also to the Kinder Farm Park Goat Squad. The Goat Squad’s mission is to clear invasive plants at the park.

As the day wore on, some families could be seen leaving the park with scarecrows in tow that they’d made from materials in the scarecrow stuffing shed. The scarecrow below was the proud creation of Sydney Kish. She named him Rooster. Because Rooster was immense and awkward to maneuver, Colin Arndt volunteered to carry him for Sydney. Even so, the pair trailed behind other family members.

There was still much more to do and see, however, and adults enjoyed exploring the area near the Kinder Farm Park Historical Society farmhouse museum where a half a dozen vendors tents were set up. Country Critters Boarding & Training Facility, which is located nearby off Jumpers Hole Road, even brought along Debbie Morgan’s pup Clover who served as a kind of family-friendly mascot.

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In addition to hayrides which took place around the edges of the park there was a craft making barn and club displays including well-crafted wooden items and “how to” demonstrations by the Chesapeake Wood Turners.

Volunteers Paul Paraocha, Johnny Riganati and Katum Sale from Severna Park High School accepted tickets and directed visitors into the spooky straw maze behind them.

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Families seemed happy as they filtered out of Fall Fun Day, their children carrying balloons and cotton candy.

Luckily more fun fall events lay ahead. We list a few of them here.

Anne Arundel Community College Open House, October 20

Anne Arundel Community College will be holding an open house on its campus at 101 College Parkway in Arnold on Thursday, October 20 from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. The open house will provide potential students an opportunity to tour the campus, meet with faculty and students, and meet admissions and financial aid representatives.

Attendees can experience hands-on demonstrations, visit classrooms and labs and learn about AACC’s degrees, certificates, and skilled trades programs. To learn more, visit AACC Open House – Anne Arundel Community College. Reservations are recommended.

SHOPTOBERFEST with a TRICK or TREAT TWIST at PARK PLAZA

The Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce’s autumnal SHOP LOCAL event is back. This year’s SHOPTOBERFEST promises to be bigger than ever with dozens of exhibitors participating. As before, the Shop Local extravaganza will again have a Trick or Treat Twist with trick or treating at the various booths, a costume contest, music, entertainment, games and a photo booth. As in past years, exhibitors are encouraged to dress up and have plenty of treats on hand.

SHOPTOBERFEST, a free event, will take place at Park Plaza on Saturday, October 22 from 11 am to 3 pm. For information, visit Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce (gspacc.com)

SEVERNA PARK COMMUNITY CENTER HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR

Severna Park Community Center has planned a double-barreled Halloween event for Friday, October 28 from 5 to 9 pm. A free Trunk or Treat event is planned for the community center parking lot from 5 to 8 pm with costumes, crafts and games. Later on, participants will move into Boone Station Hall to watch Hocus Pocus and enjoy some movies. There will also be a performance by the Dance Center of Severna Park’s Star Elite dancers.

Simultaneously, an optional Spooky Splash for young children (infants to 6-year-olds) will be held in the center’s therapy pool from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. Non-swimmers must be accompanied by an adult and there will be a fee of $10 for each swimmer. Registration is required for the Spooky Splash. For information on both events, visit THE SEVERNA PARK COMMUNITY CENTER – SPCC Home (spcommunitycenter.org)

A reminder: Jing Ying Institute’s Halloween Party is October 29

A reminder of another fun event we reported on in greater detail in last week’s column. Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi in Arnold will host it’s free annual, family-friendly, Halloween party on October 29 from 3 to 4:30 pm with a costume parade for people of all ages.  For information, visit Best Martial Arts Program in Annapolis, Severna Park (jingying.org).

Around The Park Again is brought to you this week by Fishpaws Marketplace, 954 Ritchie Hwy. – a family-owned business that carries a great selection of fine wines, spirits and beers plus gourmet foods and specialty items perfect for that Halloween party or perhaps a football game tailgate party.

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN By Sharon Lee Tegler

Brought to you by Fishpaws Marketplace

Our return visit to Severna Park’s newest restaurant, Garten by Preserve, was a revelation. We’d last seen the property in July when it was in the exterior painting and construction phase. Touring the beautifully landscaped grounds last Friday, we could easily understand the air of expectation we sensed while taking a peek inside during a staff meeting. Newly hired waiters were paying rapt attention to absorb every detail ahead of the restaurant’s soft opening Wednesday and official opening tomorrow, Friday, October 7th.

The renovation and construction work begun by proprietors Jeremy and Michelle Hoffman following Preserve and Harmony Hospitality’s purchase of the former Cafe Breton in June is now complete and their vision of the property as a modern European-style biergarten has become a reality.

All lies in readiness, from the lovely facade to views of the biergarten and flower-filled gardens at the back.

It’s what lies behind the Wine and Beer Shop door and the restaurant’s garden gate, however, that will ultimately draw customers.

Patrons interested in picking up wine and beer can enter a door marked Wine & Beer Shop from the parking area. But most will want to amble through the vine-covered archway pictured above that leads to the main entrance off the gardens.

We stepped inside the restaurant and were impressed with what we saw but, not wanting to interrupt a meeting in progress, we did not walk through. While it wasn’t yet set up for serving diners, the interior renovations seem to have opened up and updated the appearance of the restaurant capturing the same European beer garden feeling as the outdoor spaces.

We also had a look at the menu which is now posted on Garten’s website at Our Story — Garten (garten-eats.com) and on their Facebook page at Garten | Facebook. Its owners consider the restaurant a natural wine and beer garden and source products for their menus locally and sustainably from local partners like Binkert’s Meat Products out of Baltimore, Lyon Bakery in Hyattsville, Annapolis’s Chesapeake Smokehouse, and Pherm Brewing in Gambrills.

The Hoffman’s, who are also owners of the Annapolis-based Preserve restaurant, wanted to carry Preserve’s farm-to-table concept, with its emphasis on in-house pickled, preserved and fermented foods, to Garten. At the same time, they wanted to implement a modern take on Northern French or Alsatian region beer garden food. They chose, as Chef De Cuisine, Greg Anderson (who has worked at Preserve since it opened) to carry their vision through.

Chef Anderson has come up with a flavorful menu with a diverse array of starters and salads and sandwiches that may intrigue beer garden fans. Among others, there are Schnitzel sandwiches, G Burgers with griddled bratwurst patties and all the trimmings, and Garden Brats featuring plant-based sausages.

Entrees include dishes like a Sausage Platter with a choice of two sausages, a Chicken, Bacon and Corn Potpie or a Brown Butter Trout Fillet. Reservations are now being taken through Garten’s website listed above. We also learned that a Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting celebrating Garten’s Grand Opening will be held October 12 at 10:30 am.

Walking back through the gate pictured above to the back side of the property, we found a gardener transplanting cool weather vegetables in four or five raised beds of what will eventually be a fully functioning kitchen garden supplying fresh produce for Garten’s farm-to-table cuisine.

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Diners with time to spare can walk through the gardens which, at the moment are filled with blooming flowers, bird houses, and even a beehive personally tended to by self-appointed beekeeper Michelle Hoffman.

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Realizing that their new restaurant, at 849 B&A Boulevard, is located in a residential area that has expanded greatly since its earliest years under other ownership, the Hoffman’s are sensitive to the business’ interaction with the surrounding neighborhoods.

Baldwin Hall Craft Fair draws steady stream of shoppers in spite of rain

When board member Janice Crowe noted in Baldwin Hall’s advertising that the organization’s 2nd Annual Craft Show and Flea Market in Millersville would be a “rain or shine event” taking place October 2, she never expected to be experiencing successive days of rain associated with Hurricane Ian.

Originally slated to be held outdoors as well as indoors, the event had to move entirely into Historic Baldwin Hall.

“Since the terrible weather forced us indoors, the show ended up being mostly Craft Tables,” Crowe said. “Our food truck cancelled on Saturday night so everyone had to get food on their own. We had a steady stream of shoppers, but it could have been better. The rain did put a damper on things.”

Built in 1861, the beautiful hall was a nice setting for a craft show on a rainy day. There was room for quite a few tables.

The wide array of crafts available included jewelry, candles, artificial flower arrangements, toys, games, artwork, Christmas stockings, honey from a Crownsville farm, and much more.

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The craft show was a good fundraiser for Baldwin Hall last year and did well enough this time that the board plans to try it again in the spring.

Jing Ying Institute Halloween Party and Silent Auction upcoming

Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi in Arnold will host it’s free annual, family-friendly, Halloween party on October 29 from 3 to 4:30 pm with a costume parade for people of all ages. According to owners Nancy and Billy Greer, the costume parades are always great fun.

There are costume categories for children, teens and adults and each person who dresses up and marches in the parade will get an entry in Jing Ying’s grand prize drawings. They will also receive a ticket to enter a raffle.

There will be refreshments, games, giveaways and contests. The event will also mark the beginning of Jing Ying’s Silent Auction for the local charity Good Neighbors Group. Silent auction donations are welcome up until December 10 and the auction will run until December 17. For more information, visit Best Martial Arts Program in Annapolis, Severna Park (jingying.org).

Around The Park Again is brought to you this week by Fishpaws Marketplace, 954 Ritchie Hwy. – a family-owned business that carries fine wines, spirits and beers plus gourmet foods and specialty items great for autumn entertaining or perhaps a Halloween party.

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Brought to you by Fishpaws Marketplace

Celebrating the seasons has always been an important part of the scene in Olde Severna Park. People who visit regularly know that by the end of September rows of colorful chrysanthemums and pansies will surround the Diehl’s Produce tents at the corner of McKinsey Road and B&A Boulevard while fat orange pumpkins will appear on the shelves inside.

Door decorations like those adorning The Carr Building at 570 Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard are popping up everywhere.

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As we’re about to enter October and the “witching season”, it’s already getting a bit spooky as one can tell from the outside of The Red Apron Shoppe on Riggs Avenue where a trying-to-be-scary ghost floats near the entrance.

A stone’s throw away, on B&A Boulevard, a witch lurked just inside the door at The Blended Essentials. Likely a friendly witch, she appeared to welcome customers inside where the shop’s owner Danielle Bowen was surrounded by fragrantly scented soaps, bath bombs, and candles along with autumn decorations added by her daughter Ella.

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Park Books , across B&A Boulevard in the Severna Park Shopping Village will host a spooky story time and Halloween Author Trifecta this Saturday, October 1 at 11 am. Featured books include author Rebecca Evans’ “If You Ever Meet a Skeleton”, Tracy Gold’s “Trick or Treat, Bugs to Eat”, and Rachel Kolar’s “Mother Ghost”.

If you weren’t already convinced that fall has arrived, the sign on the nearby Rita’s Italian Ice of Severna Park is a definite confirmation. No more “ice custard happiness” until spring.

There are lots more autumn events coming up. We mention a few here, with more to come.

SP CARES

We had a hot tip from Severna Park High School Drama that the organization will host SP Cares in the school auditorium this Friday, September 30 at 7 pm. The event – a night of entertainment by some talented SPHS actors, singers and dancers – is free to the public and donations will be accepted for Linda’s Legacy, a refugee support group. For information, visit Severna Park High School Drama | Facebook .

We grew curious about a couple of signs in the window at The Blended Essentials. One was for Jing Ying Institute’s Annual Halloween Party which we’ll have more details on later. But there was another that caught our attention.

PINKTOBER FEST, a benefit for IRISE ABOVE FOUNDATION

Our curiosity was tripled about this event as its being hosted by a new business – one of a trio of SOCIALS in Severna Park.

Pinktober Fest is being held at the about-to-open SOCIAL on Benfield Road on October 22 at 11 am.

(A second affiliated SOCIAL barbershop is located at 160 Ritchie Highway across from Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company. The third SOCIAL called THE SOCIAL is a restaurant at Magothy Gateway Village.)

Pinktober Fest is being held in benefit of the IRise Above Foundation, a breast cancer support organization.

American Association of University Women Booksale Nov. 3 at Severna Park location

It’s been a busy time for members of the American Association of University Women.  The members have been out collecting gently used books for their annual book sale and are happy to announce that the event will be held November 3 through 6 at a new location in Severna Park. 

“The sale will be held in a storefront at Park Plaza, 560-F Ritchie Hwy (to the right of JoAnn Fabrics),” said AAUW publicity chairman Cathy Crowley.  “We’ll continue to collect books through October.”

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AAUW’s multi-day book sales are major fundraisers supporting scholarships for women and have been held for many years at various locations. There are literally thousands of books to choose from so the annual book sale is popular not only with readers but is a major draw for collectors as well as kindergarten and elementary school teachers

We’ll have more details soon. For more information, visit AAUW of Maryland .

 Millersville family continues to support critically ill children through Casey Cares

Millersville resident Nick Crivella and family hosted its 17th Crivella Family Golf Tournament on September 10th benefitting the Casey Cares Foundation which serves critically ill children, raising $85,000.

The Crivella family first came to our attention more than a decade ago thanks to Casey Baynes, the founder of Casey Cares. We initially spoke to Nick Crivella in 2011. When we spoke to him again recently, he recalled the origins of the Crivella Golf Tournament which has raised over $600,000 for Casey Cares over the past eleven years.

“Our family golf tournament started just before my wife and I were married at Musket Ridge Golf Course in Myersville, Maryland,” Crivella explained. “The golf club gave us a couple rounds of golf gratis. We had a great time and decided to do it again the following year. We never stopped and our group of participants kept building. We went from 40 players to 60 and then 70. As the tournament grew, we decided it should be charity-based and sought a charity to support.”

The Crivella Golf Tournament first benefitted the American Cancer Society giving them $12,000 which felt great for us but a small amount for such a big organization. The next year the family looked for a charity where the money would have more impact and benefitted the FBI Starship Memorial Fund providing scholarships for the children of fallen agents.

“Thereafter, we searched for a more local charity and settled on Casey Cares, a modest-sized organization where our contributions would make a big difference and that had solid leadership to use the funds wisely,” Crivella said.

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The Casey Cares Foundation provides uplifting activities and programs for critically ill children and their families. The more Nick Crivella learned about the foundation, the more he was drawn to it. His father, Vince and uncle, Bart, were just teenagers when they lost their sister to cancer, so Casey Cares struck a chord with the family.

“We’ve continued supporting Casey Cares ever since,” he said. “The event is truly a collective family effort that we enjoy doing.”

Casey Baynes, who started the Casey Cares Foundation in 2000 with the help of a few families has personally organized numerous fundraisers including 5K races, a golf tournament at Chartwell Golf and Country Club in 2015, and even a fishing tournament. She gradually expanded the organization to cover 900 families in seven states.

Baynes says she is forever grateful for the contributions of the Crivella family.

“The Crivella’s tournament has grown to help so many critically ill kids. It’s awesome and extra special since Nick’s father and uncle lost a sister to cancer and understand the impact a child’s illness has on the whole family.” Baynes said.

She added that the family’s connection with Casey Cares has been amazing with Nick Crivella even serving on the board of directors.

Around The Park Again is brought to you this week by Fishpaws Marketplace, 954 Ritchie Hwy. – a family-owned business that carries fine wines, spirits and beers plus gourmet foods and specialty items perfect for football game tailgates.

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Brought to you by Fishpaws Marketplace

The sultry sounds of the Brazilian Jazz Quartet echoed across the appealing setting of the courtyard at Cafe Mezzanotte as musicians and artists worked their magic beneath sunny skies.

Presented by Jazz Beyond Borders, the event was an enjoyable showcase for musical groups from far and near and for local artists whose work is represented in several Severna Park galleries.

On arriving, most Art In The Park attendees sauntered by various artists at work along the sidewalks before gathering at white linen-draped tables beyond the restaurant’s bountiful gardens.

Three jazz groups performed throughout the afternoon on an improvised stage at one end of the courtyard. The Alex Laquement Trio kicked things off with music that was a crossover between bluegrass and jazz. In addition to Baltimorean Laquement on bass, the trio featured Luke Chohany on electric guitar and E.J. Shaull-Thompson on drums.

They were followed in mid-afternoon by The Brazilian Jazz Ensemble Quartet featuring Rose Moraes from Sao Paulo, Brazil on vocals, leader Leo Lucini from Rio De Janeiro on bass, Jose Luis Martin on keyboards and Lucas Ashby on drums. Their mix of sambas, bossa novas and Baiao music transported the audience south to Brazil.

Along the sidewalks art lovers found a veritable feast for the eyes beginning with the tables of Side Street Framers and Gift Gallery’s wide array of handcrafted jewelry and paintings by local artists. For more than three decades, the family-owned Park Plaza shop has been known for carrying the work of our area’s most talented creators.

Owner/manager Dawn Wilson brought artist Paul DeRemegis with her and displayed a number of his paintings at one end of the shop’s display. DeRemegis’ works are among those most sought after by local art collectors.

An easel set up at the far end of Side Street Framer’s exhibit contained two still-in-progress works of artist Jane Ferguson who’d gone off to view other artists’ work.

Finding their own shady spot close to the musicians, friends John Anderson, Ann Bangert and Lindy Anderkin were thoroughly enjoying themselves sipping tea, cocktails and quaffing snacks, grooving to the Latin rhythms and trading neighborhood news. All three had been to Jazz at the Mezz events, in coordination with Jazz Without Borders, at Cafe Mezzanotte before.

“Jazz at the Mezz” takes place at Cafe Mezzanotte every third Sunday of the month and the next one is inside on October 1st, Anderkin said. “But this time being outdoors, it’s just so lovely.”

There was much more to see. A large indoor gallery opened to the courtyard was filled with art from Gallery 564 and Benfield Gallery.

The space was divided between the two, with one half featuring a wide range of art from Gallery 564. Located in the heart of Olde Severna Park, Gallery 564 showcases paintings, photography, and fine art objects from Severna Park, Annapolis and Baltimore artists.

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Among the artists represented was Sandy Travis Bildahl who had two abstract acrylic works on canvas on display. Bildahl’s work has also been exhibited at the Mitchell Gallery and MFA Circle galleries in Annapolis among other places. Sandy’s husband, well-known photographer John Bildahl – a partner in Gallery 564 with Michael Brown – had several images on display as well.

Moving on to the opposite half of the gallery we discovered an incredible array of paintings and fine art objects from Benfield Gallery on Jumper’s Hole Road. According to gallery representative Cheryl Farquhart, the works exhibited included several giclee prints from the McBride Gallery in Annapolis with which they are affiliated. However, most pieces were created by artists unique to Benfield Gallery.

Farquhar added that several of the artists represented at Art In The Park also have pieces in Benfield Gallery’s current show “Rythm in Blue”. In fact, popular artist Kathy Dawalt’s acrylic collages, seen here, are also part of that show. Dawalt will be having a solo show at the gallery starting October 1st.

We caught up with Cafe Mezzanote owner and Art In The Park host Tommie Koukoulis and wife Pohai who brought their whole family to the event to absorb and enjoy the music and atmosphere. According to Koukoulis, Cafe Mezzanote began Jazz at the Mezz as a kind of supper club with jazz at the suggestion of customer Theresa Sise. A budding jazz vocalist who also works for Jazz Without Borders, Sise had stopped to dine at the restaurant with her mother and was taken with the cordial atmosphere and Mediterranean cuisine.

“We’ve been doing Jazz at the Mezz for two years now very successfully even when we went virtual for a couple months during the pandemic. We’ve worked with Jazz Without Borders to bring in local, regional and international jazz groups. This is the second annual Art In The Park we’ve held with the help of our sponsor, The Severna Park Voice.

Toward the end of the afternoon, we met Jazz Beyond Borders Executive Director Paula Phillips who’d been busy keeping everything running smoothly and was happy to take a break. Phillips, a well-known educator and promoter of the arts, has worked hand-in-glove with Koukoulis on all Cafe Mezzanotte’s jazz events. Phillips was pleased with the mix of music presented and still looking forward to the final performance by Bethesda-based bassist Phil Rivita’s Ravita Jazz with renderings of tunes from Miles Davis, Chick Corea and other artists.

A reminder: Baldwin Hall’s 2nd Annual Craft Fair & Flea Market October 2

Historic Baldwin Hall’s 2nd Annual Craft Show & Flea Market Fundraiser will be held Sunday, October 2 from 11 am to 3 pm. There will be booths and tables of handmade crafts, jewelry and flea market treasures across the grounds and also inside the Hall. There will be food available as well from Hotdog Hideout. Baldwin Hall is located at 1368 Millersville Road in Millersville.

Shoptoberfest with a Trick or Treat Twist on October 22nd

The Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce announced that this year’s autumn SHOP LOCAL extravaganza at Park Plaza will be held Saturday, October 22 from 11 am to 3 pm. In addition to shopping, there will be trick or treating, a costume contest, games, and entertainment. More details to come.

Around The Park Again is brought to you this week by Fishpaws Marketplace, 954 Ritchie Hwy. – a family-owned business that carries fine wines, spirits and beers plus gourmet foods and specialty items perfect for football game tailgates.

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Brought to you by Fishpaws Marketplace

Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi’s long-postponed Anniversary Open House took place Saturday afternoon. Originally planned as a 20th anniversary celebration but postponed for two years due to COVID restrictions, the event finally took place on September 10th, Jing Ying’s 22nd anniversary.

A substantial crowd turned out for the festivities which included a dragon dance following the opening, a celebratory ribbon-cutting by the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce, martial arts demonstrations by students, and a buffet featuring Asian-influenced dishes, fruits and sweets.

Jing Ying Institute’s always entertaining dragon dance did not disappoint. Then came the excitement of the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting – one of the biggest we’ve ever seen conducted. Following the snip, several citations were presented to the school’s owners Nancy and Billy Greer for their many contributions to the community. Among the presenters was Maryland State Delegate Heather Bagnall who commended the Greer’s for not only contributing their time but for raising and donating more than $100,000 to local charities.

Next came some well-coordinated Kung Fu and Tai Chi demonstrations that were a delight to observe.

Watching son Jackson Parrish perform a series of Tai Chi movements at the front of large group of Jing Ying students was a proud moment for his mother Nicole Parrish and grandfather Joe DiMarino . Following the demonstration, Jackson rejoined his family to watch other demonstrations and enjoy the buffet.

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According to students Debbie Zoerkler and Melissa Wittke, it was fun showing off their skills in the demonstrations. In fact, Wittke teamed with teacher Billy Greer for a self-defense demonstration, portraying both victim and attacker. They illustrated defensive moves like stepping backward so one is beyond an attacker’s reach or turning an attacker’s own energy against him or her.

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Jing Ying’s anniversary event was also a celebration of The Mid-Autumn Festival held throughout the Far East and also known as the Moon Festival. In accordance with tradition, the Greers featured Moon Cakes in their buffet along with other sweets, fruits from the autumn harvest, and dishes with an oriental flair like fried rice and eggrolls.

Cascades of Wellness owner Danielle Ortiz contributed to the menu, serving cups of healthy pink and green beverages referred to as bubble water.

It was surprising to see children like Avery and Elise Glendaniel suddenly turn up in the buffet line with bat, dragon or tiger designs painted on their faces. We’d discover how that happened later.

In addition to the familiar family feel Jing Ying students and their families are accustomed to, the anniversary celebration had a neighborhood feel. As part of a Charity Challenge launched by Nancy Greer, several community organizations were invited to participate. Nancy personally welcomed each starting with April Stup, the volunteer coordinator for Partners In Care Maryland .

Stup told attendees about PIC’s “neighbors helping neighbors” services and about the Partners In Care Upscale Resale Boutique in Pasadena.

SPAN, Inc. development director Michelle Sabean described her organization’s food pantry, financial assistance and other services. Good Neighborhoods Group executive director Julie Shay explained her members’ environmental projects, food drives and other initiatives. During breaks, the two had a great time catching up with each other.

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Paula Borinsky Hendry from the Annapolis Area Dolly Parton Imagination Library spoke about her organization’s dedication to promoting early literacy – getting kids to love books early so that, by the time they get to kindergarten, they’re ready to learn how to read. Imagination Library sends free, new, high-quality books to over 600 children in the Annapolis area each month.

Anne Arundel County Watershed Stewards Academy representative Lynn Rockenbauch not only touted the environmental projects undertaken by the organization’s well-trained stewards, but she is a Jing Ying Institute student as well and was happy to share her experiences.

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“I’ve been a Tai Chi student for five years and this is a fun group,” she said. “I’m not a self-motivated exerciser so having regularly scheduled classes is perfect for me.”

Rockenbauch added that it’s been interesting to see how practicing Tai Chi has positively affected her body and her health, changed her dimensions and improved her posture and balance.

Each organization had been invited to set up an exhibit or talk about their services during a recent Jing Ying class or event. Anniversary open house gift bags handed out included ballots so students and guests could vote for their favorite exhibit. The winning organization will receive a $500 donation to be awarded during the chamber’s SHOPTOBERFEST in October.

For kids or adventurous adults, a final bit of fun awaited upstairs where Lucky Ducky Art face painter Lexi Cucina was working her magic on a couple Jing Ying students. Cucina was not only great at face painting but proved to be expert at creating temporary tattoos.

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A BROADWAY BONANZA BENEFIT for SPAN, INC.

Back for a return engagement at Boone Station Hall following a two-year gap because of the pandemic, Laurette Hankins-O’Connell waited backstage with her accompanist Anita O’Connor. The stage at the Hall last came alive with the sound of music on June 6 of 2019 when Hankins-O’Connell performed her one-woman show “Broadway Goes to the Movies” and donated the proceeds to SPAN, Inc.

Once again, the Severna Park resident performed a cabaret-style concert as a benefit for SPAN on September 10 at 7 pm – her way of giving back to the community where she grew up. After graduating from Severna Park High School she attended Duke University where she performed in musicals prior to starting her “first career” in the professional theater as an actress and singer.

Her new show, “Broadway Bonanza”, was designed to include songs from three shows currently doing revivals on Broadway: “Funny Girl”, “Music Man” and Stephen Sondheim’s “Company”.

As showtime approached, the scene at Boone Station Hall was lively as concert attendees Silent Auction items or stopped by the concessions counter.

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Gradually, the lights dimmed the audience took their seats, waiting expectantly for the show to begin. SPAN’s Director of Development Michele Sabean, who we’d seen earlier at Jing Ying’s open house, stepped into the lights for opening remarks.

Greeting the audience, she revealed that shortly after she started working at SPAN a year-and-a-half ago, Hankins-O’Connell contacted her and offered to do another benefit concert. She would again donate all the proceeds to SPAN. Since more donations were needed as the economy weakened and more families sought help, Sabean gratefully accepted.

Hankins-O’Connell opened with a spirited rendering of “A Comedy Tonight” from “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”, followed by “You Can’t Get a Man with a Gun” from “Annie Get Your Gun” – numbers that showed off her fine voice, expressive delivery and sense of humor.

O’Connor, an accomplished pianist and vocalist, not only provided accompaniment but sang harmony on a few numbers.

The show was peppered with interesting, amusing anecdotes and, occasionally, Hankins-O’Connell adopted other personas like that of a child. There were also romantic songs like “Till There Was You”.

The show’s finale – a special version of “OKLAHOMA”, with Hankins-O’Connell’s own lyrics about the State of Maryland was a huge hit with the audience.

For both performers, the best thing about Broadway Bonanza was that it raised more than $3,500.00…all of which was donated to SPAN.

Having recently retired after 14 years as Associate Dean of Development and Alumni Relations for the University of Maryland School of Nursing, Laurette Hankins-O’Connell will be performing much more often. As for Anita O’Connor, she’s happy being a music teacher at Indian Creek School where she also teaches drama.

Around The Park Again is brought to you by Fishpaws Marketplace, 954 Ritchie Hwy. – a family-owned business that carries fine wines, spirits and beers plus gourmet foods and specialty items perfect for entertaining.

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Brought to you by Fishpaws Marketplace

The early fall of leaves just after Labor Day suggests that summer is on the wane. But if you are reluctant to give up eating fresh from the field fruits and vegetables, you’ll be happy to see the list below of local farms, markets and stands where they’re still available:

Severna Park Farmer’s Market, at Ritchie Highway and Jones Station Road, will continue to be open Saturday mornings from 8 am till noon through October 29th.

Diehl’s Produce, on B&A Boulevard at McKinsey Road in Olde Severna Park will be open through October 31.

Diehl’s Produce of Annapolis, at 921 Chesapeake Avenue, will also be open through October 31.

Pumphrey’s Produce at 8220 Veteran’s Highway in Millersville, is open through Thanksgiving.

Wildberry Farm’s Saturday Field Markets, at 1047 St. Stephen’s Church Road in Crownsville will be open through November.

Chase’s Produce, on Rt. 424 in Davidsonville, will be open only on weekends through September.

Marco Ridge Farm Produce stand officially closed on Labor Day but will have their garden cart of vegetables available daily on a serve yourself basis through the growing season.

Most stands will have autumn offerings like apples, cider, pumpkins, gourds and winter squash.

It’s orchard time. If you’re in the mood for a trip, you can visit one of 17 well-known Maryland orchards from the Eastern Shore to the mountains of the Blue Ridge and Western Maryland.

We’ve frequented several but it’s particularly fun to visit Pryor’s Orchard in breathtakingly scenic Catoctin Mountain Park near Thurmont, Maryland. The three-generation family farm’s vast fields and orchards overflow with produce through the first frosts. For an after- shopping treat, several vineyards are nearby.

Close to home, we’re edging toward the promise that Fall offers with three events kicking off this weekend. Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi’s Anniversary Open House is being held from 12:30 to 3 pm on Saturday, September 10 followed by the Broadway Bonanza concert to benefit SPAN, Inc. at Boone Station Hall that evening beginning at 7 pm. On Sunday, September 11, Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church’s annual Kick-Off Sunday Picnic will be held on the church lawn from 12 noon till 2 pm.

Anne Arundel County Fair an annual delight

The 70th Anniversary Anne Arundel County Fair will open its gates on Wednesday, September 14 and run through the 18th with its traditional carnival midway, rides and foods. A full slate of activities includes daily livestock shows, a livestock auction for animals raised by 4H and FFA members, indoor exhibits, quilting, wool spinning and other demonstrations, antique tractor pulls, draft-horse pulling contests, jousting, Friday and Saturday night concerts, and much more.

As the Fair celebrates its 70th anniversary with parties featuring bands Oracle and The NoWhere Men, there’s quite a history to look back on. The idea for the event was conceived and initiated by a woman known only as Mrs. Lee of Annapolis. Mrs. Lee grew up in Frederick, Maryland where there was a huge annual fair and felt Anne Arundel County should have one. With approval by the Maryland State Fair Board and help from local families, the first fair was held in the fall of 1952 at the Labrot Racetrack near Sandy Point.

There were cattle, poultry, farm produce, home goods, food and clothes, pigs, sheep, a horse pulling contest, rides, games, a queen contest and educational exhibits. Over 20,000 people attended from all over the county.

Needing more space, the fair moved to Sandy Point State Park in 1953 where it remained for 25 years. As revenues increased and the Fair changed from a stockholders’ corporation to a non-profit membership organization, a permanent fair site was sought. The Anne Arundel County Fair officially moved to Crownsville in 1984.

Fair hours are Wednesday: 5 pm – 10 pm, Thursday: 5 pm – 10 pm, Friday: 5 pm – 11 pm, Saturday: 9 am -11 pm, Sunday: 9 am – 8 pm.

Admission to the fair is $10 for individuals aged 10 and over and free for children 9 and under. Admission includes entrance to the fair but does not include carnival rides or games. For information or tickets, visit Anne Arundel County Fair | A Tradition Passed Down Thru the Generations (aacountyfair.org)

Kinder Farm Park Fall Fun Day

Get ready for a fun time during Kinder Farm Park’s Fall Fun Day on Saturday, October 8th from 10 am to 3 pm. Though scaled down compared to previous Kinder Farm Park Harvest Fests, the event still has much to offer including hayrides around the farm.

There will also be scarecrow stuffing, one of the park’s most popular activities ever that is loved equally by children and adults. The finished scarecrows make great imaginary playmates for kids and fabulous Halloween porch decorations for the adults.

Activities for younger children will include games and crafts and a pumpkin patch from which they can select a pumpkin.

Tickets for activities will be sold throughout the locations and beverage vendors will be on hand. For more information, visit Friends of Kinder Farm Park.

Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails Fall Concert Series underway

The Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails Fall Concert Series got off to quick start at Hatton-Regester Green on September 4th with a concert featuring bagpiper/guitarist Jeff Herbert. The second of the four-concert series takes place this Sunday, September 11th and features 2021 Wammy Award finalists, King Street Bluegrass.

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The third concert of the series taking place Sunday, September 18th will have a Motown vibe from the Crownsville-based band Supreme Temptation. For the final concert of the series on September 25th, the Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails welcome back the group Guava Jelly following the immensely successful Spring Concert Series appearance.

All concerts are free and open to the public and begin at 6 pm. For more information, visit Anne Arundel County Trails | The Friends of AACo Trails (friendsofaatrails.org).

Historic Baldwin Hall in full swing with Fall events

Following two difficult years, Historic Baldwin Hall is back in full swing with several fall events scheduled according to board member Janice Crowe. The Friends of Historic Baldwin Hall are hosting the first – a Crab Feast Fundraiser at the hall on Sunday, September 25th from 2 pm to 5 pm. A wonderful afternoon of delicious food and fellowship is planned. For information or tickets email janice.a.crowe@gmail.com.

Following the success of last year’s event, Baldwin Hall’s 2nd Annual Craft Show & Flea Market Fundraiser will be held Sunday, October 2 from 11 am to 3 pm.

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Lunch will be available from the food truck, Hotdog Hideout. The friends of Baldwin Hall invite the public to come out and enjoy a fun day. Please save the date and let them know if you would like to rent a space at the event by contacting janice.a.crowe@gmail.com.

In addition to Severn Crossroads Foundation meetings, Crowe reminded us that Balwin Hall is the rehearsal venue for the Chesapeake Harmony Chorus. The latest news from chorus director Sally Burton is that the singers are learning new songs and preparing for a show to be held at the Hall on Sunday, November 13, 2022. The theme will be “It’s the Music…” .

You can follow the activities of the chorus at Chesapeake Harmony Chorus.

Around The Park Again is brought to you this week by Fishpaws Marketplace, 954 Ritchie Hwy. – a family-owned business that carries fine wines, spirits and beers plus gourmet foods and specialty items perfect for entertaining.