Around The Park Again by Sharon Lee Tegler
Area bowlers were thrilled to learn, on June 19th, that Severna Park Lanes had reopened after being closed for three months. Immaculately clean, with a refreshingly updated decor, the popular 32 lane bowling alley at 840 Ritchie Highway is as welcoming as ever.
General Manager Curt Pezzano says it’s not only a pleasure to welcome back many regulars, but newcomers as well.
Patrick LaBelle and sons Wyatt and Vincent were having a ball visiting Severna Park Lanes for the first time. Wielding a bowling ball almost bigger than he was, Wyatt did his best to send it down the lane just like his dad.
“This is the first time we’ve been out together in a long time and its great, Patrick LaBelle said. “It’s very, very clean here and you can see that they’ve obviously taken every precaution. Everything’s been sanitized and we’re just very comfortable.”
Shuttering one of the area’s oldest and most popular businesses for more than three months was challenging according to Pezzano.
In uninterrupted operation since 1962, when opened by original owner Bill Davidson, Severna Park Lanes closed its doors mid-March in compliance with Governor Hogan’s COVID-19 orders. The bowling alley is host to 18 leagues that were midway through an active season.
“We’d never been through anything like this,” Pezzano said. “We weren’t able to reopen the lanes until June 19 at 5 pm. Like other businesses, the closure had quite an impact on us . However, we did use the months we were closed well.”
Not everyone was laid off, so the staff took the time to clean and sanitize, replace lighting and flooring and generally refresh the facility.
The staff went through extensive training regarding COVID-19 sanitation procedures. From the moment a novice bowler walks in, he can see that all the balls are wrapped in plastic having been disinfected beforehand in a special sanitizing room.
On entering the center, bowlers are led to their own area and encouraged not to move around. Tables, balls and shoes will have been sanitized prior to their arrival and re-sanitized once they leave. Food and beverage manager Brittany Danner will now come down to each lane to see if bowlers would like something to eat or drink and personally deliver their orders.
Tables and chairs will be re-sanitized every time a party leaves.
……and bowlers will see social distancing reminders throughout the facility.
Sanitation information is displayed on each table.
And, of course, everyone is required to wear a mask.
The staff adapted to these procedures well – in part because they realize the importance of making everyone feel comfortable and safe. And the procedures are working well with bowlers reporting that they feel very protected.
“We expected business to be a little slow when we opened back up but we’re encouraged to see it picking up week after week,” Pezzano noted. “A big part of regaining our normal flow of business is letting people know that bowling centers are open. (Severna Park Lanes is one of three owned by Hall Investments Annapolis, Inc.)
Though summer is a time when the leagues are not active, some of the first customers back were league bowlers. They all reported that they missed the exercise, competition and socialization with other league members. A meeting of autumn league officers is scheduled shortly to discuss adjustments to guarantee they’ll operate safely. By late August, the members will be back piling up those strikes and spares.
Severna Park Lanes still offers birthday parties and outings for children and adults….. with proper precautions and a size limitation of no more than ten in a group. They’ll also be offering their Saturday youth league programs. The youth programs are comparatively affordable at $13 per week which includes three games of bowling, shoes and coaches that work with the kids.
Hospice of the Chesapeake hosts Camp Phoenix for teens
For years, Hospice of the Chesapeake’s Chesapeake Life Center has been hosting much appreciated camps for teens who are grieving the death of a loved one. Many were held at Arlington Echo.
This year Camp Phoenix will take place for teens 13 to 18 from 10 am to 8 pm Saturday, August 15 at Terrapin Adventures at Historic Savage Mill.
As before, professional counselors will use team building exercises and other activities to help the teens get to know each other and discover “they are not alone as they navigate the emotions of grief while also having some fun”.
The outdoor event has limited participation so the counselors feel confident they can offer a safe experience for the teens. All necessary precautions and guidelines from the Center for Disease Control will be observed. Registration is required by Aug. 3. The cost for the program is $40 and includes snacks, meals, activities and a T-Shirt. Scholarships are available. Inquire by calling 888-501-7077 or email griefinfo@chesapeakelifecenter.org.
Rotary Crabs to Go!
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Rotary Club of Annapolis is unable to hold its traditional crab feast at Navy Marine Corps Stadium – an enormously popular event that draws 2,000 plus guests each year from Annapolis, Arnold, Severna Park, Millersville, Pasadena, Glen Burnie and as far away as Delaware, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Instead, the club is replacing it with Rotary Crabs to Go! .
According to media representative Anne Myers, the organization briefly considered canceling the event, However, they quickly realized that numerous community charities depend on donations from funds generated by it. The members came up with idea of Rotary Crabs to Go! to provide crabs and raise funds in the safest way possible.
Myers said the crabs may be ordered online at http://www.annapolisrotary.org/crabfeast They will be freshly steamed onsite at the stadium and packaged for travel.
Patrons can specify their pick-up windows in half hour increments from 4:30 pm until
7:00 pm. Rotarians (with PPE) will deliver your order as you drive to designated spots in the stadium lot. There’s no need to get out of your car.
(Best #1) crabs are priced competitively:
1 dozen crabs ($65)
2 dozen ($125),
half bushel ($150)
Bushel ($290) – to include corn on the cob
Schools slated to reopen this fall
Among private and church-affiliated schools planning to open this fall are Rockbridge Academy on Generals Highway in Crownsville, St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Episcopal School on Benfield Road in Severna Park, Messiah United Methodist Preschool on Furnace Branch Road in Glen Burnie, and St. John the Evangelist School at the corner of Ritchie Highway & Cypress Creek Road in Severna Park. (In fact, it’s reported by staff that all K-8 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore will be back to full operation.) All of the schools state they’ll be opening with required PPE and social distancing.
As more news comes in, we’ll keep you posted.
