AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Fishpaws Marketplace
By the second week of August, hairstylists at the Hair Cuttery in Park Plaza were experiencing a round-the-clock boom in business.
“This is our busiest season of the year when the college age kids come in for haircuts before starting the fall semester,” said stylist Holly Mollick. “It’ll stay just as busy for the next couple weeks as parents bring their younger kids in for their back-to-school haircuts.”
Elsewhere, back-to-school fundraising events were taking place and, considering the inflationary prices for school supplies, were needed more than ever. The scene was busy at Spring Arbor Senior Living’s “Food for Thought” event on August 16th. As can be seen from the opening photo, the mood was festive with mellow music from the Good Measure Band playing in the background as attendees filled bins on tables and several wagons with donations of schools supplies and food pantry items. There were fun games for kids too.
Executive Director Maressa Henry said Spring Arbor residents came up with the concept for the occasion based on smaller food drives they’d done in the past
Community Program director Leah Abendschoen revealed how the idea was born and evolved.
“What started as two separate, resident driven ideas, merged into one event,” she said. “During a resident council meeting, one resident suggested we keep school supplies in our community’s General Store. She also mentioned she’d like to buy some folders to donate to a ‘fill the backpack’ style fundraiser at her church. Another resident (who is a little hard of hearing) said, ‘Folgers? Like the coffee? I don’t think school aged students need coffee…'”
“Though unintentionally funny, the comment snowballed into recognizing the need for both a food drive and a school supply drive for our county. Both BAYADA, our in-house therapy provider, and Hospice of the Chesapeake were on hand to help make this a really great event. Dr. Abigail Ritinski of Hearing & Balance Solutions also jumped on board and was there to set up some fun giveaways. The Sweet Satisfaction ice cream truck provided the soft serve and Good Measure Band provided the tunes.”
Informally referred to as their “Food for Thought” event (to which the general public was invited) the residents turned out with their families and grandchildren for what turned out to be quite a fun occasion.
With the help of Spring Arbor’s residents, their families, and the community, the Food for Though event collected five full totes full of school supplies, as well as two wagons of non-perishable food items. There were also several monetary donations which totaled to over $200 dollars and will go toward more supplies and canned goods!
Spring Arbor residents felt gratified that their biggest event did so well and collected so many donations of food, school supplies and money. 
There were sponsor- donated games and gift bags for everyone.
“We had a fantastic turnout and I know we will continue to do this at the end of each summer season for students and teachers in Anne Arundel County,” Abendschoen said.
In mid-July Walk the Walk Foundation’s director Nicole Dolan launched the organization’s first Back-to-School Backpack Donation/Packing event of the year and the initiative is ongoing.
Walk the Walk Foundation partners with the Department of Social Services and others to figure out where the need is. Then, using financial donations from supporters, they purchase backpack items in bulk at a discount. They next bring the items to a specific location, like a church, where supporters can donate $30 and pack a backpack for a child.
In filling the backpacks, WTWF follows guidelines on the standard list of school supplies provided by Anne Arundel County Public Schools. There are generally 24 items – things like composition notebooks, crayons, pens, dry erase markers, dry erase sleeves, water bottles, Ziplock bags, and more. The effort is ongoing as WTWF partners with Tyler Heights Elementary School in Operation Welcome Back…Pack. Here is the direct giving link: https://ddock.co/e1d18c3a or, for information, you can email nicole@wtwf.org.
Dolan noted that, ordinarily, parents spend quite a bit more than $30 for a backpack and school supplies. Spring Abor’s Maressa Henry agreed. She said she just spent between $60 and $70 dollars for her daughter’s back-to-school materials.
Parent Atalie Justice Payne already shopped online for a few things for her daughter Elise, who attends Rockbridge Academy, including a mouse pad and mouse for the school Chrome books. To keep costs down, she’ll shop for other items during Maryland’s Sales Tax Free Week at Walmart or Target. Luckily, her 17-year-old son Ezra, who attends Severna Park High School, does most work online and already had most of what he needs.
School opening schedules and other information
Opening day for private schools Severn School and St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Episcopal School is August 31. For St. John the Evangelist School, opening day is August 29 and for Rockbridge Academy, it’s August 30.
The schedule is a bit different for Anne Arundel County Public Schools. August 29 is the start date for grades 1-5, and 6 and 9. All students (grades 1 through 12) return August 30.
Like public schools across the nation, AACPS is dealing with a teacher shortage this year. As of August 17, the county has 311 classroom teacher vacancies that impact all school levels.
In addition, there are 67 bus driver vacancies, 57 crossing guard vacancies, 227 food service worker vacancies and 87 custodial staff vacancies. Staff in the Division of Human Resources are continuing around-the-clock work to aggressively recruit and hire high-quality classroom teachers and other workers to fill vacancies across the system.
Those interested can apply online at Anne Arundel County Public Schools / Homepage (aacps.org) and click the Join Our Team button at the top of the page, then scroll down and click Apply Now for lists of openings.
American Association of University Women book donation drop-offs August 27th
American Association of University Women‘s Anne Arundel Co. branch book donation drop-off locations will be in operation on Saturday, August 27 and include:
St Martin’s-in-the-Field Episcopal Church at 325 Benfield Rd, Severna Park (parking lot)
The Y of Central Maryland, at 1209 Ritchie Hwy, Arnold (AACC parking lot opposite the Y)
St. Phillip’s Episcopal Church at 730 Bestgate Rd, Annapolis (parking lot)
All sites will be open from 9 am to 12 noon and AAUW volunteers will be on hand to help. For more information, visit AAUW Book Collections and Sales | Anne Arundel County (MD) Branch.
Severn River Lions and Cub Scout Pack 688 celebrate with Pack Trailer Ribbon Cutting
On Saturday, August 27 from 10 to 10:30 am, a ribbon cutting will be held to celebrate Cub Schout Pack 688’s acquisition of a Pack Trailer. The ribbon cutting will be held in the parking lot at the Shipley’s Choice Swim & Tennis Club at 947 Rustling Oaks Drive in Millersville. For information call Severn River Lions Club at 410-439-5770.
NEWS FLASH! License for liquor superstore denied
Local liquor store owners found out in February that a proposed liquor superstore to be called Robinson Liquors and located off Robinson Road near Aldi’s Supermarket had applied to the Anne Arundel County Board of License Commissioners for a liquor license. The local owners opposed the issuing of a license at a hearing before that board initially scheduled for March 8 at the County Council Chambers in Annapolis on the basis that there were already 24 liquor stores in the area (seven in Severna Park). All were small independent businesses.
No decision was made. A second hearing followed with local owners in attendance again. Since then, they’ve waited to hear the result. We received news today that the license was denied. We’ll report back on the reaction from the owners next week.
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 a summer party.
