Category: AROUND THE PARK AGAIN

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

From the moment Julia Wills began her class in Annapolis Home Brew’s tasting room, participants’ eyes were drawn to a jar full of floating pancake-shaped living organisms called SCOBY’s that are essential for making the fermented beverage known as Kombucha.

Wills, the owner of Gambrills-based Joyful Days Wellness Spa and a licensed esthetician, is dedicated to nourishing people’s bodies, minds and souls in natural ways. An advocate for making naturally fermented foods and beverages like Kombucha, she initially sought out Annapolis Home Brew – a major supplier of home brewing ingredients and equipment – to purchase glass containers, bottles and other necessities.

She quickly became friends with the owners who sampled her beverages, appreciated her expertise in the art of making Kombucha and suggested she teach a Kombucha class. She’s held the classes once a month ever since.

Speaking from behind an ingredient-laden table, Wills made introductions and extended a special welcome to the class’ oldest participant, John “Jiggs” McHale who happened to have been her junior high vice-principal.

The teacher touched briefly on her background. Having studied nutrition since 2006, she’d learned about the health benefits of naturally fermented foods including Kombucha and had been drinking the beverage for years.

“Back then, Kombucha wasn’t as widely known,” she said. “Only one brand was available locally and I could only find it at one store. Outrageously priced at $4 per bottle, I couldn’t afford it as a young single mom and decided to learn how to make it at home.”

She found a recipe for it in a best-selling cookbook called “Nourishing Traditions” by nutritional expert and author Sally Fallon – a book that both she and McHale consider “their bible”.

Once she’d bought her supplies, she found making a gallon of Kombucha cost her less than $1.

Wills revealed the interesting history of Kombucha and the bacterial culture from which it is made. No one knows exactly how or when it originated but it’s believed to have been used in China as early as 221 BC before spreading around the world. Then as now, the ingredients were very basic.

Wills started her demonstration by combining organic black tea, organic sugar, and boiling water. (It’s perfectly fine to use organic tea bags.) She added 5 tea bags to a small amount of water in a large glass jar she referred to as a fermentation vessel. After stirring the tea, she briefly left the room to fetch additional boiling water.

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During the break, McHale chatted with his tablemates, Erin and Amanda O’Connor, sharing anecdotes and tips. He told them he prepares fermented foods from recipes in Fallon’s book and enjoys making his own sauerkraut from cabbages he grows.

Returning, Wills added a cup of sugar, a cup of pre-made Kombucha, and more boiling water to the vessel. She then introduced the class to the mysterious SCOBY’s in the huge jar. The letters S C O B Y stand for “symbiotic colony of beneficial bacteria and yeast”. Using tongs, she removed one gelatinous SCOBY disc to place atop the brewed tea.

Placing the SCOBY on top of the liquid, Wills covered the vessel with a breathable cloth and sealed it with a rubber band. Transferred to a warm, dark place, the mixture will take 7 to 14 days to culture and will produce a second SCOBY pancake that will float to the top.

“The SCOBY’s interaction with tea and sugar during fermentation produces the proteins gluconic acid and glucaronic acid which cleanse and detoxify the liver, neutralize free radicals, fight inflammation, reduce cholesterol, and protect against petrochemicals found in plastic,” Wills said.

“Fermentation produces numerous probiotics and digestive enzymes as well as energy boosting B vitamins. Properties generated by fermentation also are healing to the pancreas where insulin is made. Both glucosamine, which reduces arthritis joint pain and swelling, and theo-phyllin, which acts as a bronco dilator for asthmatics, are produced.”

The fun part of class began when Wills explained the bottling process during which finished Kombucha brews can be flavored and brought out samples for tasting.

She started with samples from a two week old batch that tasted somewhat sweet and fizzy with a bit of a kick. Samples from a slightly more mature batch, with more of the sugar converted, had a pleasant sweet/sour tang and even more fizz. A third sample – one to which pumpkin spice was added during the bottling process – was voted a big success. One attendee said she preferred it to pumpkin spice coffee.

Fruity watermelon and elderberry-Hibiscus flavored samples were followed by samples of “Jun” – a variety of Kombucha made from green tea and honey requiring a specific kind of SCOBY. All tasted good.

Attendees were next handed recipe print-outs and invited to make their own Kombucha under supervision with their own supplies or by purchasing Joyful Days’ handy fermentation kits which include a SCOBY.

The next Julia Wills’ Kombucha class will be held at Annapolis Home Brew off Ritchie Highway in Severna Park on Sunday, November 25 from 1 to 3 pm. For a schedule of her subsequent classes, visit https://annapolishomebrew.com/ .

There was a warm smile on the face of Winsome Brown as she rushed through the door of Garry’s Grill for a bite with a friend between clients in spite of the fact she was running late. Slightly out of breath, Brown explained she was late because she’d been looking for an Alzheimer’s client’s missing cat that they finally found in the attic.

Brown, the co-owner of a Millersville-based business with her sister called Lean On Dee Senior Care Advocates which manages in-home care for Alzheimer’s patients, is quite busy, seeing six clients each day. Nevertheless, she has organized a virtual event scheduled for October 27 from 11 am to 1:30 pm called “The Long Walk” that is being hosted online by the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce.

She is being joined for the event by Dr. Alden Gross, Maryanna Lanham, and Casey Bryant.

Gross, an Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health focuses on cognitive aging and mental health among older adults. He’s the ideal person to address the clinical aspects of Alzheimer’s.

Lanham, from Athenia Financial Services, LLC, will join the discussion to outline the costs associated with caring for an Alzheimer’s patient – whether at home with proper medical attention or in an assisted living memory care facility. She’ll address insurance and costs for long-term care (which can run to $9,000 per month plus expenses) and other treatment options for clients that supplement in-home care.

Bryant, the principal attorney and owner of The Law Office of Casey L. Bryant, will highlight the insurance and legal issues faced by families of Alzheimer’s patients. She’ll touch on documents required for admission to assisted living facilities and legalities involved in being granted “medical power of attorney”.

Brown, a Community Educator for the Greater Maryland Alzhemier’s Association will be acquainting participants with the 10 signs leading to a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s as well as the latest studies and treatment options. Her personal experience as an Alzheimer’s patient caregiver gives her in-depth insight into how best to manage her clients.

After working in New York’s financial sector for over twenty years, she was unexpectedly thrust into the role of a caregiver for her mother who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2010.

The sudden pressure to make life-altering choices on her mother’s behalf, without being prepared to do so, forever shaped her views about our health system and what was needed for seniors and caregivers.

Soon, Brown and her sister Dee, a registered nurse, formed Lean On Dee Senior Care Advocates, serving as Certified Senior Advisors and Certified Dementia Live Coaches and Caregivers. As demand for Lean on Dee’s services grows, the sisters work to bring peace of mind, resources, and education to families that find themselves in need.

Brown, Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber CEO Liz League, and Lanham came up with the event’s name “The Long Walk” because the disease can be ongoing for 10 to 15 years, Brown said she’ll describe the Alzheimer’s experience through the eyes of a family. She’ll explain the difference between forgetfulness due to normal aging and dementia associated with problems ranging from memory loss and problem solving issues to not recognizing time, days, dates or seasons, occasional paranoia and other problems.

“The whole point of our business is to hold on to these people’s soul even if they can’t remember everything you do with them,” Brown said. “One client loves to play pool. He can’t remember that we played pool ten times in a row but he is excited each time and it makes him happy.”

Keeping clients engaged in life is important to Brown. She has one patient, for example, who loves to build things. Brown has him build birdhouses but he isn’t good at decorating them. She has another patient who loves to paint. When her “builder” finishes a birdhouse, Brown passes it on to her “artist” client to decorate. Both are very happy to be doing something they love.

For information on Lean On Dee Senior Care Advocates, visit https://www.leanondee.com/ .

Jing Ying Team plans to “Kick Alzheimer’s to the Curb on Sunday

For the fourth year Nancy and Billy Greer, the owners of Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi, are gathering a team for the “Kick Alzheimer’s to the Curb” walk this Sunday, October 18 at noon. As always, the walk will be dedicated to the memory of Nancy’s mother Cora Willard who had the disease.

Thanks to loving care from her husband Glenn and visits from Nancy and Billy every weekend, Cora was able to remain in her Northern Virginia home until one week before she passed away at a nursing facility.

Nancy comments that she was always happy spending those weekends with her mom -sometimes putting on music so they could dance or taking her parents for dinner at a local Ledo’s where they were known to the staff and treated royally.

She mentioned how difficult it was seeing her mother go through the different phases of Alzheimer’s – especially the scariest one when she failed to recognize her husband and had a fear “of that stranger living in the house”.

Following her mother’s death in October of 2017, Nancy and Billy did their first Alzheimer’s fundraising walk in downtown Annapolis. Nancy was Team Captain and they raised $11,000. They raised similar sums of money over the next two years. All told, their walks have raised $30,000 for research, care and support of Alzheimer’s patients and caregivers.

“Because of COVID-19, this year’s walk will be different and smaller,” Nancy said. “We’ll gather at Jing Ying Institute at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard in Arnold for a virtual opening ceremony and then “Kick Alzheimer’s to the Curb” by walking circuits around our building.”

For information about Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi, to make a donation to the Kick It to the Curb fundraiser, or to check out their Drive-By Halloween Celebration on October 31, visit http://www.jingying.org/.

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Celebrating the opening of Sullivan’s Cove at Park Plaza on January 3, owners Eric Leatherman and Sean Martin felt their new restaurant’s future looked bright. That was just before COVID 19 hit…..and hit them hard.

Forced to close down on March 13, they struggled for a few months doing carry-out only. As summer approached and outdoor dining was permitted, they partnered with two other restaurants to rent an expensive tent to keep the business running and brought back most of their staff. In quick order, they lost one chef to illness and another to stress and, when an employee tested positive for the virus, were forced to shut down another couple weeks.

On edge, short-staffed, and suffering supply disruptions, they found it hard to be on their A game according to Leatherman.

“We’ve experienced sometimes long delays serving our customers. Though some were understanding, we’ve gotten bad reviews as a result. We’ve been deeply distressed by the problems but we’re not going anywhere,” Leatherman said. “My wife Franny explained our frustrations best in a Facebook post she sent out explaining the situation we find ourselves in.”

Franny’s post began with an eloquent poem by Morgan Harper Nichols titled “Empathy” and followed with an an explanation of what’s taken place during what she described as “the hardest weeks of their lives”. She also expressed thanks to the staff and management team, their families, and the supporters who continue to be there for Sullivan’s Cove.

Leatherman noted that they’ve been receiving some welcome support as a result of her post. Nevertheless, each day brings a new problem.

“Our latest frustration has to do with the tent which, though very expensive, allowed us to double our capacity,” said Leatherman. “Now it’s starting to get cold and County Executive Stuart Pittman won’t allow us to add sides to the tent to provide warmth and still be able to serve people outside. We can only serve 50% of customers inside to comply with social distancing. That puts restaurants like us in a tight spot. It’s hard to break even or make any profit. We’ve already been through the wringer and they need to let us make some money.”

He and partner Sean Martin would love to get back to what Sullivan’s Cove does best – serving comfort foods made from fresh, locally grown ingredients.

Check out Sullivan’s Cove at https://www.sullivanscovesp.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SullivansCoveSP/ .

Some small businesses and restaurants are fortunate to have survived and thrived and are doing their best to help families in need. We highlight two.

Diehl’s Produce helps families with gifts of fresh fruits and vegetables

Diehl’s Produce is one of the businesses doing well enough to reach out a helping hand to the community.

Jennifer Diehl and daughter Madeline came up with a practical way to help families that are struggling. As is their practice, Diehl’s Produce only takes cash or checks. For people that don’t want to accept change, they simply round up the total and donate the balance to families in need through gift certificates for fresh produce. Thus far, they’ve donated more than $3,000 in gift certificates with most, but not all, going to SPAN – an amazing accomplishment considering they’re operating under COVID-19 guidelines.

“This year has been highly stressful even if business was good,” Jennifer Diehl said. “Supply problems, being short handed after having to make employees quarantine for fear of exposure, and people being hostile when we ask them to wear their masks and not lick their fingers. Some people have been terrible to my staff. And some people have been absolutely wonderful. All in all,, we’ve been lucky. Donating the gift cards has been ‘the most rewarding thing’ this whole summer season.”

Delighted to be the recipient of their largess, SPAN, Inc’s development director Ellen Kinsella commented after Jennifer’s latest delivery of gift cards, that they were overwhelmed by the generosity of Diehl’s Produce.

“How wonderful to be able to give our clients the gift of fresh produce in addition to non-perishable food,” she said.

Garry’s Grill provides a helping hand through boxes of food

From the moment he became the owner of Garry’s Grill & Catering in 2008, Eddie Conway has been a positive force in the Severna Park community. Challenged by the effects of COVID-19 like other local businesses, he initiated a carry out and delivery policy, devised innovative grocery boxes and created an outdoor dining space when the weather warmed. Thanks to the many customers and friends that continued supporting the restaurant throughout the pandemic, he’s done well enough that he wanted to give back.

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Garry’s Grill’s latest giving back effort involved teaming with Baltimore Washington Medical Center in a “Hungry Harvest” initiative. The restaurant handed out meal boxes to nearly 200 families at Belle Grove Elementary School in Brooklyn Park. The effort made the local TV news.

“Luckily, we’ve had the backing of longtime customers and the whole Severna Park community to support us and help us get through this COVID situation” Conway said. “So, in my mind, it’s imperative to give back to those who need it because not everyone is as fortunate.”

In the beginning, Garry’s Grill would host “Give-Back Tuesdays” where 5% of total sales would be given to a specific community organization including the Severna Park Community Center, SPAN and Partners In Care. “We helped, too, by doing little things like $6 burger nights on Wednesdays when we’d ask people to guess the number of burgers sold that day and, whoever came out closest won $25.”

Conway has always loved helping people but he’s very humble and feels strange about publicizing the fact. He prefers to give credit to others – especially the community organizations that have operated throughout the pandemic like SPAN and ACAN.

Food pantries benefit from donations

In spite of the loss of their executive director Janet Pack, who died in May, the Asbury Church Assistance Network (ACAN) has been able to carry on. ACAN has continued distributing food, paper goods and other items through their Drive Up Pantry throughout the pandemic thanks to donors like Schmidt’s Bakery and a majority of area grocery stores. ACAN is located at 429 Asbury Drive in Severna Park. Visit them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ACANAssistance/

SPAN, Inc. has benefited from generous donations from individuals, neighborhoods, churches, high schools, and companies ranging from small businesses like Diehl’s Produce, The Big Bean and Side Street Framers to larger enterprises like the Bank of Glen Burnie, Chartwell Golf & Country Club, and Keller Williams Flagship of Maryland to name just a few.

The donations have allowed SPAN to continue its drive-through food pick-ups behind the SPAN house at 400 Benfield Road. SPAN volunteers also see clients for eviction, utility or medical expense assistance in an outdoor setting. For information, visit https://www.spanhelps.org/.

“Pieced Together” documentary premiers on MPT

Area quilters who attended the debut of filmaker Julianne Donofrio’s  “Pieced Together” documentary about barn quilts at Kinder Farm Park will be interested to know the film will be making its Broadcast Premiere on Maryland Public Television on Saturday, October 10th at 7:00.

One of two barn quilts painted by Severna Park High School graduate Julia O’Mara on the barns at Kinder Farm Park is featured in the film. View a trailer for the film at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwokgoWGIFA&feature=youtu.be.

At a table near the entrance at Annapolis Home Brew, four members of the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber’s Successful Women in Business group attended their first in-person networking event in months.

Aside from the joy of seeing each other, the women delighted in sampling small glasses of home brew. Brittany Billings wore a surprised expression as she tasted Kombucha for the first time while Lauren Gerlach, Angela Smith and Angela Balsamo savored samples of Blonde Ale.

Gerlach from Challenge Auto, Smith from Flaherty Solutions, Balsamo from Coffee News and Billings from Consolidated Insurance and Risk Management.traded local business news. All four giggled when host Steve Bolton dropped by the table and announced, “This is the most women we’ve ever had in here”.

Nearby, Cheryl Pace from Change Your Pace Therapeutic Massage and Body Works was saying she detected a raspberry taste in her Kombucha. Bolton told her that he flavors the beverage with raspberry or pineapple and ginger to improve the taste.

Everyone attending the event wore a mask but, as usual, conversation flowed freely. SWIB co-chairs Nancy Greer of Jing Ying Institute and Pam Spearman of Mary Kay Cosmetics were pleased to hear multiple women exclaim what fun it was to see everyone …..or to see anyone for that matter.

Noting what a “rare thing” it was to be attending a networking event, Laura Wegman of Laura’s Eyes Photography summed up the entire group’s feelings.

“It’s good being around all these people that I really like but am never seeing,” she said.

The doorbell sounded and Lisa Edelman Schneiderman from neighboring Lisa’s Cakepops walked through the door with a tray of delicious looking chocolate covered pops. Greer and Spearman gratefully accepted her gift for the snack table.

Minutes later, they called the meeting to order in Annapolis Home Brew’s kitchen/workroom surrounded by bottles, jars, boxes of yeast and brewing equipment.

As is traditional, members were invited to introduce themselves and talk about their businesses.

Each member’s description of her company was interesting and some members had news to share. Greer extended invitations to Jing Ying’s Halloween Drive-By taking place Saturday October 3 from 1:30 to 2:30 pm. She also highlighted Team Jing Ying’s participation in Anne Arundel County’s “Kick Alzheimer’s to the Curb” Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Sunday, October 18.

Schneiderman announced that Lisa’s Cakepops is taking orders for Halloween custom cakes and Halloween-themed cakepop decorating kits while Spearman drew attention to a Mary Kay lipstick sale.

Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber CEO Liz League thanked everyone for coming out. Then the program was handed over to Steve Bolton. who provided a bit of history about Annapolis Home Brew with help from his German Shepherd Letty.

Surrounded by bottles, jars, buckets, cardboard boxes of yeast and brewing equipment in Annapolis Home Brew’s kitchen/workroom, host Steve Bolton addressed the meeting. Surrounding him, left to right, are Successful Women In Business members Angela Smith Brittany Billings, German Shepherd Letty, GSPACC CEO Liz League and event co-chair Pam Spearman.

“i’m one of the owners who took over the business three years ago but Annapolis Home Brew has actually been at the same location at 836 Ritchie Highway for 18 years,” Bolton explained. “We’re off the beaten path here but we’re a destination for people who need our products to make wine or cider or Meade or cheeses.”

Because the business is considered an essential grocery business since yeast and other food products are needed for the fermentation process, the shop remained busy throughout the COVID pandemic and even picked up customers new to the hobby.

Bolton described the basic fermentation method for making beer, wines, and other beverages. He emphasized that yeast does all the work. so the process is easy and said the shop holds classes from time to time.

He talked briefly about Kombucha, a healthy fermented beverage made by combining organic black tea with organic sugar and a yeast cake called a scoby. The mixture ferments for about two weeks transforming into a slightly sour beverage that is packed with probiotics and is good for the digestion.

For Bolton’s official tasting there were two beers, Chardonay and Kombucha on tap plus some special products made by Annapolis Home Brew or its clients.

“For us, it’s not about what we can make, it’s about what you can make,” he said. “I have the best job in the world because people bring me bottles of their beverages to taste for my opinion.”

The tasting was a fascinating experience.

“Steve was very funny,” League said. “He served us an Apple Pie beverage, Spiced Cider, some absolutely delicious Rasberry Chocolate Port and something he called Cherry Bombs. We had a great time.”

For information about Annapolis Home Brew, visit https://annapolishomebrew.com.

Blessing of the Animals Drive-Through at Woods Church

If Fido is shy or nervous, he’ll love this year’s Drive-Through Blessing of the Animals at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church this Sunday, October 4.

According to committee member Cheryl Querry, pets will be able to stay in the car with their families this time.

There will be good traffic management for two lanes. Two pastors will give the blessings – Rev. Dr. Susan DeWyngaert and Rev. Nancy Lincoln Reynolds.

People with last names beginning with the initials A through K are being asked to arrive and 11 am Sunday and people with initials L through Z may come at 11:30 am.

Following the blessings, each pet will receive a Certificate of Blessing, a treat bag.and a bandanna.

“Obviously there will be one kind of treat bag for dogs and one kind for cats,” Querry said.

In past years frogs, a chicken and a pony have shown up to be blessed so there are additional treat bag options. For information, visit http://www.woodschurch.org/.

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Arriving for school in the morning looks somewhat different for St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Episcopal School students these days. Each day they arrive by automobile with a parent, have their temperatures taken and masks checked while still in the vehicle, then enter the school through one of multiple entrances earmarked for their particular class.

Once in the classroom, they head for desks that are set the prescribed distance apart.

According to Head of School Jamey Hein, the guidelines and protocols for the 209 member student body of preschool through eighth grade children are strictly adhered to and teachers receive tremendous support.

“We maintain classrooms of no more than 14 students with proper social distancing,” Hein said. “We see a great deal of outdoor time for the various classes. In addition to regular recesses, each student is given a St. Martin’s towel which they bring outside with them to the shaded areas or pavilion where some classes take place.”

Outdoor games for small groups like one imaginatively named “Gaga Ball” give children a chance to stretch their legs. Resembling 4 square/dodgeball , the game is great for burning off excess energy.

Wide-open spaces on St. Martin’s Benfield Road campus allow plenty of room for socially distanced mask breaks.

Though aware that adjustments may be needed on the long road ahead, Hein is pleased that the plans drawn up by a task force of administrators, staff and medical consultants enabled the school to “hit the ground running so our children are learning in person again”.

Good weather or bad, St. Martin’s spacious new Learning Center (opened last December) allows room for adequately spaced classes and small-group lunches while the adjoining Parish Hall provides ample overflow room for activities.

Hein observed that the school has a slightly different look and feel this year due to an increase in the size of the student body by 50 students – a quarter of the previous student population.

“We’re told by parents that the enrollment of our new students is completely due to where the public schools are at this time,” he said

Hein said the teachers are doing really well, the children seem happy to be back, and their families are ecstatic. He believes watching the process unfold over the past couple weeks has given them all a growing confidence.

St. John the Evangelist Catholic School, like all schools of the Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore, opened for in-person learning the week before Labor Day. The preschool through eighth grade parish school at the corner of Ritchie Highway and Cypress Creek Road is once again abuzz with activity.

From learning basic skills to projects like a fifth-grade science lab exploring how pressure affects the viscosity of fluids, students were enjoying learning.

“It feels good to be back,” said Principal Casey Buckstaff. “Our families have the option for their children to interact through remote learning or to be here in person. So our staff and teachers have been working extraordinarily hard.”

Though the school has expanded through new construction in recent years, enrollment was limited to more or less its standard target numbers to insure that there would be enough space for proper social distancing.

“The teachers are doing such a wonderful job and they love being back,” Buckstaff said. “They certainly have risen to the challenge of teaching in two places at once – being on-camera teaching children at home while also teaching the children in front of them.”

Severn School opened the school year with a “hybrid model” that combines on-campus learning with remote learning for grades 2-12 according to communication specialists Nicole Anderson and Erin Lewis.

The goal is to have as many students on campus as possible and still meet mandated physical distancing restrictions. Severn’s carefully considered plan divides students into two groups where one will be on campus and the other will be at home engaging with their teacher and fellow classmates via technology.

A several page online Return To School Plan gave parents a large amount of detail about health and safety protocols, family support, in-person and remote learning models and classroom technology.

Preschool and first-graders at the Lower School’s Chesapeake Campus on Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard in Arnold will be accommodated on-campus as fully as possible.

Other Lower School, students, along with Middle School and Upper School students from the Severna Park campus at 201 Water Street, will be able to  attend school on campus for part of the week (2 or 3 days ) and will be able to attend classes remotely using technology on the remaining days.  Thus far, the plan is working well.

Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament a great success

Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber CEO Liz League couldn’t be more excited. The organization’s Driving Force For Business Golf Tournament on September 14 was a great success.

A major fundraiser, the event was held at Chartwell Golf and Country Club and was the first staged by the Chamber since COVID-19 caused the cancellation of most other events.

“Oh my gosh, the tournament was spectacular,” League said. “The weather was outstanding and we had 113 golfers. We also had thirty sponsors and were able to position many of them on the holes. There was great food and many give-aways and people just had a blast.”

She added that many sponsors were quite involved like Lean On Dee Senior Advocates who provided the hot dog tent.

There was so much space for everyone that there were no problem social distancing.

Tournament winners shone including First Place winnerTeam Conway from Garry’s Grill,
Second Place winner Team Wyble from The Matt Wyble Team of Century 21 New Millennium , and Third Place winner Team Cassilly from Cassilly Financial Group. The Putting Contest was won by Chris Schenick of Chick-fil-A.

A final piece of interesting news from League was that Landmark Roofing sponsored a “Pro Shot ” opportunity that raised $1,000 for the Severna Park Community Center.

A trio of churches combine to create Severna Park Youth Collective

Aware that their relatively small congregations were having difficulty attracting youth, Pastor Stephen Mitchell of Trinity Bible Church, Pastor Dave Brown of Severna Park Baptist Church and Pastor Brian Miller of Bay Life Church joined forces to create a new in-person weekly youth ministry.

Each meeting begins with a game or activity that everyone can participate in. Photo by Pastor Dave Brown

“We’d all been struggling with our youth ministries when Pastor Dave Brown approached us with this idea,” Pastor Mitchell said. “It’s a project we’ve never attempted before but we felt the time is right to try this approach.”

The concept of partnering together with other churches to be able to attract more middle school and high school students to a faith-based youth group occurred to Pastor Brown while considering Severna Park Baptist’s track record in attracting teens.

“We’ve had highs and lows with our numbers kind of like a roller coaster over the ten years I’ve been here,” he said. “Looking at how I could be more effective, I came up with the idea of partnering with two similar sized churches to make it more of a community effort.”

Severna Park Baptist and Trinity Bible Churches had worked together last year on a Grad Bag gift project for graduating seniors so coming together seemed natural. Bay Life Church recently had to relocate from Glen Burnie and is holding its worship services at Severna Park Baptists Church so they were a good fit Pastor Brown said.

“We alternate between the churches in hosting the weekly meetings,” Pastor Brown explained. “We meet Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 8 pm. Our purpose is to encourage youth in developing friendships and encouraging them in their Christian faith. We have activities, food, and a Bible lesson each week.”

All three ministers were pleased with the launch meeting on September 16. Drawing teens from each of the three churches, they ended up with a sizable group. With a socially distanced game to loosen everyone up, plenty of food, and a tent for a properly distanced Bible lesson, it was fun.

Hopefully, word will spread and other teens will join future meetings. For information, visit www.spbcmd.com

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

There couldn’t have been a more fitting day than September 11 for the dedication of the Gold Star Memorial & Heroes Monument at Hatton-Regester Green in Olde Severna Park.

Looking down on the ceremony from the Woods Church and Severna Park Community Center parking lots past a long line of police vehicles, latecomers were awed by the size of the crowd. Crossing B&A Boulevard, they were stirred by the sight of county and state police standing at attention saluting as singer Hannah Hall began the National Anthem and the American Legion color guard approached.

Flanked by American and Maryland State flags, Gold Star Memorial & Heroes Monument committee member Bob Bauman took the podium to introduce the guest speaker, retired colonel Mark E. Mitchell.

Marking the day as one of remembrance for the sacrifices of many following the day in 2001 when the War on Terrorism came to America’s shores, he related Mitchell’s background of service with the 5th Special Forces Group. The unit entered Afghanistan by helicopter, then traveled by horseback while working with the Northern Alliance. Mitchell led a fifteen-person special forces team of British and Americans to stop a prison uprising involving John Walker Lindh at Qala-i-Jangi. For his actions during the battle against 600 Taliban, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

Subsequently serving in Iraq, he commanded the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Arabian Peninsula and later was Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict for the Department of Defense.

 “It’s my privilege to introduce Mark Mitchell to dedicate this Gold Star Family Memorial to commemorate our own fallen heroes” said Bauman. “I can’t think of anyone more worthy to do so. Please give a warm welcome to one of America’s finest….the decorated horse soldier himself, Colonel Mark Mitchell.”

Warmly applauded by the audience of law enforcement and military personnel, veterans, Gold Star families, American Legion members and local residents, Mitchell said he was humbled to be chosen to dedicate the memorial. He thanked the members of American Legion Post 175 and project sponsors for their determination to make the monument a reality.

Then he began an eloquent speech noting that he was honored to be with those gathered for the commemoration of that fateful day 19 years ago – to acknowledge and remember the victims of those attacks and to keep alive the memory of those who made the supreme sacrifice in service to our nation in the battles that followed.

“Today our focus is and must be on these men – PFC Eric Kavanaugh, Lance Corporal Eric Herzberg, Lance Corporal Taylor Wild, and Airman First Class Nathaniel McDavitt.,” he said. “I want to extend my humble gratitude to these men for the sacrifice they made and my sincere condolences to their families.”

Referencing his own pride in being a soldier, Mitchell emphasized that it takes a different kind of young person to volunteer to defend his or her country.

He acknowledged the mix of emotions of pain and pride the soldiers’ families must be feeling and expressed his gratitude to them. Then he moved to each memorial plaque and solemnly read the words inscribed thereon.

After reading the words on a central plaque dedicated to Gold Star Families and their sons who served in Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, he ended his speech as movingly as it began with the simple words, “We’ll never forget their sacrifice.”

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Following Mitchell’s touching address, Maryland State Delegate Brian Chisholm spoke on behalf of the memorial committee acknowledging and thanking the Severna Park businesses, Anne Arundel County political dignitaries, sponsors, committee members and American Legion members that made construction of the memorial possible.

The attractively designed and sturdily built gazebo – fitting tribute to the young men replaces an aging, original gazebo built when the Severna Park section of the B&A Trail was laid over the pre-existing Baltimore Annapolis Railroad tracks.

At the conclusion of the event, Chisholm invited attendees to step forward and visit the memorial and read the beautifully displayed plaques. He also invited attendees to a luncheon hosted by American Legion Post 175.

He noticed that much of the crowd gathered to chat with friends while examining the plaques. They remained there even as he stepped down to greet dignitaries including George Owings, III, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs, Maryland State Delegates Sid Saab and Nicholaus R. Kipke and other dignitaries, business owners and committee members that supported the project.

For information or to make a donation, visit http://www.heroesofsevernapark.com/

A new business flowers on Severna Park streets

A very cheerful sight can be spotted these days across from The Big Bean on B&A Boulevard every Friday afternoon.

The Peaceful Petals Flower Truck is a joy to behold with flowers ranging from roses, hydrangeas, lilies, and lavender to vivid purple iris. Owner Megan Taylor and her “partner in crime” Suzanne Evans are doing very well with the budding business.

“I came up with the idea for the flower truck because I throw a lot of parties and have always loved to decorate,” Taylor said. “I began doing parties for friends and was kind of an an amateur event planner. But I work full-time so I didn’t want to do it professionally but as a labor of love.”

An inspired solution appeared in the form of a unique truck from Salt Lake City, Utah – the ideal portable retail platform.

Living in New York City before moving here, Taylor routinely purchased bouquets of fresh flowers from corner bodegas. She missed that convenience and was inspired to put “Petals to the metal” with the truck providing seasonal, locally-sourced fresh flowers to the people of Severna Park and surrounding Anne Arundel towns.

“We’d looked for a while, went to a bunch of auctions, and had our eyes set on this vintage 1958 VW transporter truck for all last year. We finally bought her in November and named her Josephine,” she said.

A friend from Image 360 created the floral scheme for the adorable truck as well as business cards, stickers, and other paraphernalia.

Not yet a year old, the business positively boomed as a flower delivery service from the onset of the COVOD-19 pandemic. They continue to do online sales at https://www.peacefulpetalsflowertruck.com/ but love bringing the flowers to the customer.

The truck attracts a lot of attention and they have lots of happy customers. After stopping to make a quick purchase, customer Tammi Molavi could be seen crossing the street with a Big Bean smoothie in one hand and a bouquet of lilies in the other.

Taylor and Evans park the truck in Severna Park each Friday, in front of a friend’s store called Details and Designs in Eastport on Saturdays, and next to a Blendabowl Food Truck on Ritchie Highway on Sundays. The schedule can be seen on their website.

In-season, they get much of their stock from local Maryland flower farms and out of season they work with wholesalers. Both women say they enjoy the camaraderie of selling flowers on the street.

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Familiar faces about town, Treebranch Group, LLC partners Jennifer Triplett and Denise Hightower can be spotted at many community events. Partner Nelsa Nichols completes the talented trio that transformed their IT, website and marketing business from a small operation to one serving 90 clients.

Treebranch Group provides independent businesses the creative marketing services they need to grow as well as web site hosting, development and design, eCommerce solutions and virtual event support.

The expanding company recently moved into new, larger offices at 8375 Jumper’s Hole Road in Millersville. Added studio space for photographic and video equipment and training is enabling them to work more efficiently. That wasn’t always the case.

Triplett, the founding partner, president and creative director, recalls running the firm from her basement in its earliest years.

“When my children were born, I left my corporate position of many years,” she said. “However, I’d enjoyed the work and using my creative skills so I didn’t want to leave it behind entirely. In 2011, I began working on something for St. Martin’s-in-the-Field School and started the company which I initially called TreebranchDesign.”

Triplett is ideally suited for the work. Her background includes degrees in commercial and advertising design as well as environmental science.

She soon began popping up at community events including a volunteer thank-you brunch hosted by SPAN, Inc., an early client. She simultaneously joined The Greater Severna Park Chamber of Commerce, supported their many events, and became involved with various committees.

Over the next couple years, Triplett increased her client base and moved into actual offices. By 2014, Treebranch was further expanding its horizons through clients like the Annapolis Film Festival. .She served on the PR committee led by the late Carolyn Sullivan and the Social Media and Web teams. During the event, she provided professional photography and video for broadcasting. She continues to support the film festival.

By 2018, Triplett took on two partners – Hightower, who’d worked with her in the business almost from the beginning, and Nichols who happens to be her mother.

Hightower’s outgoing personality in combination with a Management Information Systems degree and 23 years in the IT world made her a perfect fit as Web services director.

Like Triplett, Hightower has been part of the Annapolis Film Festival PR and Social Media Teams and co-leader of the Website Team.

Nichols handles marketing communications coaching. She served as marketing director for Hiac Royco, a division of Pacific Scientific, for over 20 years. Her responsibilities there ranged from producing national magazine ads and international newsletters to trade show management, web site development and support and writing patent specifications. 

At the same time, she was a graduate advisor in the Computer Science Department of the University of Maryland where she participated in beta testing programs for the products that became the Mac and first IBM personal computers. 

The staff at Treebranch Group is rounded out by graphic designer Ali George and Spanish translation consultant Paulina Aguilar Snow.

Considering themselves equal parts techies/creatives, the partners work with or support community organizations and various local charities. They do platform design, video production, Spanish translation services and production support for the Maryland State Child Care Association’s Conference By the Sea 2020 for 800 attendees on September 24 – 27.

Triplett has recently devoted time to several chamber of commerce programs.

Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber CEO Liz League said Triplett is currently co-chairing a committee for the organization’s online program “Learn and Lead”.

The next program, “Learn and Lead with Todd Popham -Getting Things Done and Becoming a Productive Leader”, is next Tuesday, September 15 at 7:45 am. You do not need to be a member of the Chamber to attend and it is through Zoom  https://web.gspacc.com/events/Learnand%20Lead%20%20Getting%20Things%20Done%20Becoming%20a%20Productive%20Leader-326/register .

“Jenn and her co-chairman Todd worked very hard to put the program together,” League said. “When COVID first started they were doing it weekly and did a great job helping people learn how to work in cyberspace and keep their businesses functioning.”

Triplett also volunteers for a new organization – the Life of Joy Foundation which is dedicated to promoting mental health and preventing adult suicides. She’s providing support with virtual event production for the organization’s upcoming livestream concert-fundraiser.

To learn more about Treebranch Group, visit https://treebranchgroup.com/.

Fall Learn to Ride Classes begin at Pedal Power Kids

Pedal Power Kids owner Rachel Varn said safe, socially-distanced small group Learn to Ride classes and Bike Clubs for the autumn season will start Monday, September 14 in Annapolis and Severna Park.

Varn noted that Pedal Power Kids kept lessons going throughout spring and summer as a safe activity. Classes are small and the children are out in the open air and distant from one another.

Bicycle riding is not only fun but is a very healthy form of exercise for children during a time when options for physical activity have been limited. For information or to register your child, visit https://pedalpowerkids.com/ .

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN By Sharon Lee Tegler

This year has been devastating for businesses nationally and locally due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a multitude of restrictions stemming from it. But, as in any crisis where commerce suffers widely, there are some businesses that manage to be successful or even thrive.

With the local real estate market “red hot”, signs like realtor Deborah Laggini’s are popping up across the state. Laggini, an agent for Long & Foster Christie’s International Real Estate through Annapolis Fine Homes, focuses on a circle of properties ranging from Annapolis and Arnold to Severna Park, Millersville, Crownsville, Gambrills, Davidsonville, Edgewater and Riva.

“Housing sales picked up tremendously starting at the end of June and beginning of July,” Laggini said. “The first few months of COVID, we didn’t seem to know what to expect or how to move forward. Things were slow because sellers that didn’t have to sell were reluctant to show their properties for fear of exposure to the virus.”

She explained that local agents pulled together through multiple networking groups and Zoom meetings to come up with a COVID protocol that the governor would approve and would keep everyone safe.

“Once we figured that out buyers really came out of the woodwork,” the realtor said. “The combination of an already existing low inventory of homes that became even lower and low interest rates caused the demand for sale properties to explode in July. Buyers were literally waiting at the gate for anything nice that came on the market with multiple offers. Offers going above list price became the norm..”

Business continued to boom through July and August into September but Laggini isn’t certain whether it will last.

The Matt Wyble Team of Century 21 New Millennium based in Millersville is also experiencing explosive sales. The company serves Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Queen Anne’s, Prince George’s, Montgomery and Washington Counties.

President Matt Wyble said the combination of historically low interest rates, historically low inventory, and the fact that the Maryland market never closed (like other states) has fueled the residential real estate market to power through any negative effects of COVID-19.

“Many sellers who are priced correctly for their home’s condition are receiving multiple offers and using the proceeds to move-up or right-size. Even though the market is highly competitive for buyers, the good news is that their buying power is up roughly 12% from last year due to the low interest rates,” he said.

“We surpassed 2019 totals for sales and volume as of Sept 1. With no signs of the rates going up and inventory staying low, I see the hot market lasting well into the fall and possibly into an early spring market.”

Clement Hardware continued serving the public throughout the pandemic

From day one of the COVID-19 pandemic, Clement Hardware owner Gordon Clement was determined to keep his Severna Park store open as a place to buy household essentials and personal protective equipment.

Deeply involved with Severna Park customers through the family business opened by his father David in 1969, Clement felt he should keep the store open as a service to the public.

“I think staying open was good for our customers and good for us,” he said. “It kept our people working. At the beginning, given a choice, 45 percent said they didn’t want to work through the virus. But, after three weeks, they wanted to come back to work.”

According to Clement, the store remains extremely busy but not like in the earliest days of the pandemic when they were one of few retailers open.

“For the first three months, the store was so busy I don’t see how we could sustain it. I’ve never seen anything like it. We generally do well through hurricanes, snow storms, ice storms or wind storms but this seemed like a snow storm that never ended,” he said.

Essentials like toilet tissue, paper towels and masks and hand sanitizers flew off the shelves but people were also coming in for tools, paint and hardware for home improvement projects.

The pandemic nor only brought people back to the store, there were lots of new faces. Traffic counts were really good which is important since the last few years were challenging with Amazon and online sellers hurting retail.

“The three months of heavy sales not only sustained our business but provided a cushion for months when sales are slower,” Clement said.

Like other retailers, Clement Hardware sold completely out of many things and is having difficulty reordering and getting shipments due to supply chain problems. Otherwise, Clement and staff expect the usual seasonal slowdowns unless there are rain or snowstorms.

M&T Bank met challenges to thrive while helping others

Like all other M&T Bank branches in the Baltimore/Washington region, the drive-in window and ATM at the Severna Park branch remained open throughout the COVID-19 shutdown. Customers didn’t seem to mind waiting in line. They were able to make appointments to meet with a banker inside the branch if they needed to to discuss loans or other business.

According to M&T senior public relations manager, Scott Graham, the branches adapted well to handing a heightened load of customer transactions.

Graham added that, in the Baltimore-Washington region, M&T Bank approved 9,862 loans that provided nearly $1.75 billion in funds to help businesses cover payroll expenses for three months. … Those loans supported 191,006 jobs.

In addition, the bank approved more than 35,000 payroll protection program loans (more than any other bank Graham says) for upwards of $7 billion. Those loans supported about 756,500 jobs throughout the mid-Atlantic region. M&T also is the region’s leading SBA lender.

Obviously, foot traffic inside all the branches went down during the shutdown. But the corresponding move by customers was to do more of their banking with M&T online.

“While we anticipate branch traffic to rebound to pre-shutdown levels – and in some cases it already has – we also expect customers to continue to do more banking digitally,” said Graham.

He added that M&T is back to business as usual. An appointment is no longer necessary to visit one of the branches. But safety precautions like Plexiglas barriers between tellers and customers are still in place. Customers also are still required to wear a mask inside the branch.

M&T’s mortgage business was doing very well through the first half of the year, mainly because of refinancing. The booming real estate market can only bode well.

Severna Park Automotive increasingly busy

Severna Park Automotive, like Clement Hardware, is considered an essential business and was open and on-call from the moment the COVID-19 pandemic began.

“At first, things were very slow as everyone was home-bound and we were only doing emergency calls or essential repairs through April,” said owner Mike McNealey. “By adapting and offering free pick-up and delivery without the customer needing to leave the house and thorough sanitizing of the vehicle, we were able to maintain some sort of work flow. We reduced our employees’ hours but were able to keep them working.”

McNealey said, by mid-May and early June when things loosened up and people were going out, there was an absolute tsunami of car repairs. A lot of cars that had been sitting for a month wouldn’t start. Then there were folks that put off maintenance or repairs they’d have otherwise done.

“Everybody seemed to come in at the same time,” McNealey said. “We’re still very busy.”

Severna Park Automotive’s owner has a sense the people really want things to go back to normal so he doesn’t expect a downturn. However, business sometimes slows down as kids go back to school, Of course, going back to school has a different meaning this year so the staff doesn’t know what to expect.

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN By Sharon Lee Tegler

At 8:30 am Saturday, August 22, Hollyberry Garden Club member Peggy Turnblacer met Eagle Scout candidate Sammy Watson and members of Boy Scout Troop 975 on the sidewalk at the Severna Park Community Library. Dressed for work and wearing masks, the Scouts prepared to complete Sammy’s Eagle Scout project for the garden club – building and installing wooden planters for the library’s entrances.

Hollyberry Garden Club members created and maintain the gardens surrounding the library. But, in 2016, they’d collaborated with aspiring Eagle Scout Alek Frederiksson of Troop 993 who built a wheelchair accessible planter at Genesis Healthcare Severna Park. Naturally, when faced with old and rotting wooden planters at the library’s entrances, they thought to seek help from the Boy Scouts.

They reached out to Troop 975 Scoutmaster Ben Eloff and were put in touch with Sammy who was looking for a community-oriented Eagle Scout project.

A senior at Old Mill High School this year, Sammy served as junior assistant Scout Master and a Senior Patrol Leader of his troop. He accepted the garden club’s challenge and planned and implemented the building project from start to finish.

 Providing the library with detailed drawings and views of the planters he wanted to build along with lists of materials and costs, he raised the money for the project. Then members of Troop 975 built the planters under his supervision.

According to Sammy’s mom Sherri, he’s pleased with the project and happy to be able to get it finished. She said he began working on it in March but was held up by the COVID lock down.

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There were plenty willing hands to help the scouts install the planters Saturday morning including those of Eagle Scout coach Karen Scheel , a retired teacher and assistant principal , Sammy’s parents Sherri and Jeff Watson, garden club members and Sarah Reftovich from sister troop 1975.   ,

Eloff, District Membership chair for the Four Rivers District explained that Eagle Scout projects give candidates insight into qualities of leadership and management of interpersonal relationships. 

With his project complete, Sammy will formally deliver a report detailing its highlights and how he demonstrated leadership as he implemented it.  After final approval by the Council, he will be awarded his Eagle Scout badge.

Thanks to the Scouts, dirt, plant material and the dilapidated wooden barrels have been removed so the Hollyberry gardeners are looking forward to replacing the plants – perhaps adapting autumn themed flowers like asters and chrysanthemums.

Turnblacer said the garden club was very impressed with Sammy and Troop 975 while Severna Park Library was thrilled and grateful to have new planters.

The partnership between Hollyberry Garden Club and Severna Park Library is longstanding.  In addition to designing and maintaining the beautiful native gardens, the club holds its annual Christmas Greens Sale in the library’s lobby.  Each spring, Hollyberry members celebrate the season by hosting “Books in Bloom” highlighting literature-themed floral arrangements from members of several garden clubs.

Stage & Screen Studios prepares to film “You Can’t Take It With You”

The COVID-19 pandemic “directly impacted Stage & Screen Studios closing down productions” according to owner/director Pete Garvey. He said the company is slowly getting back to operating normally while adhering to COVID related guidelines and social distancing, Students are finally permitted in the studio for one-on-one instruction in acting, television and film techniques. However, the company’s on-site stage productions still aren’t allowed to have audiences.

Garvey said they’ve live-streamed individual actors’ work and recently filmed and streamed a recital by singer Hannah Hall that attracted was highly praised. However, the studios are having to get very innovative.

“We’re currently rehearsing a straight play that only requires a small cast,” the director said. “We’ll film our production of “You Can’t Take It With You” with a cast of 12 actors. Then, it will be shown during Stage and Screen Studios virtual ‘Film Festival’ the third weekend of September.”

For updates on Stage & Screen Studios, visit www.stagescreenstudios.com.

Chesapeake Harmony Chorus, Quartets at a standstill

Unable to do live performances because singing is considered a possible way to spread COVID 19, members of Chesapeake Harmony Chorus and its Quartets had to cancel all their practices and concerts.

Musical director Sally Burton, who is also a member of the quartets Carpe Diem and 2nd Star, said the singers felt terrible about cancelling their shows and sorry for the venues that depend on events like theirs for revenue.

Most of all, they miss.each other.

“Though not the same, chorus members have been singing together regularly over Zoom every Wednesday evening,” Burton said. “We may try to follow the example of some choruses and record a virtual performance.”

Plans for the chorus’ traditional holiday appearance at Baldwin Hall are up in the air. To stay updated, visit https://www.chesapeakeharmony.org/.

Theater In The Park opens classes

Following the success of its theater summer camps held at Severna Park Community Center, Theater In The Park will begin holding regular classes the week of September 21.

“Our summer camps were so great. They were very safe with social distancing and masks,” said Theater In The Park owner/director Jennifer Lee Kraus. “We held our musical theater workshops with small groups of eight kids and adopted the theme ‘Under The Big Top’. The campers loved it put on a very entertaining shows at the end. ”

Kraus noted that the upcoming workshops will be small, with 10 children to a group divided by age. They’ll be conducted in accordance with COVID-19 guidelines. A fun theme of “Once Upon a Time – a Fractured Fairy Tale” has been chosen.

Classes will meet for 50 minutes each Saturday for 10 weeks. At the end of the 11th week, class members will perform a show for their parents. For more information, visit https://www.theaterinthepark.net/.

Tonight’s “Virtual Variety Night” courtesy of Benevolent Baskets

Tonight at 7 pm, online viewers can attend Benevolent Baskets‘ “Virtual Variety Night Fundraiser and Online Auction”.

Benevolent Baskets, the non-profit organization that provides life skills and job training to formerly homeless women through its growing gift basket business is hosting this unique fundraiser. Both entertainment and demonstrations will be featured.

Viewers will see Baltimore singer Justin Trawick in concert plus demonstrations by Classic Catering, mixologist Liz Dabecco, and wrapping expert Gary Godbe. For $25 tickets or $100 VIP tickets, visit https://www.benevolentbaskets.org/2020-fundraiser-tickets .

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN By Sharon Lee Tegler

No matter what the season, pulling into a space on the parking lot at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church can be a surprising and delightful experience thanks to thoughtfully designed islands of plants and flowers between the rows.

In the spring, visitors approaching the entrance to Woods can’t help smiling as they walk past the lovely “Bell garden” with its profusion of Lynnhaven Carpet flowers that resemble daisies. An early blooming native, Lynnhaven Carpet is both an erosion control and a food source for early emerging bees.

Among other early bloomers in the parking lot gardens are Common Blue Violets, Golden Ragwort with its cheerful yellow petals, and the native flowering shrubs Black and Red Chokeberry, Spicebush, Fothergilla, and New Jersey Tea.

By summer, a total of eight parking lot islands are abloom with colorful native Coneflowers (Echinacea) and Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia) augmented with multi-hued Zinnias.

All eight were specifically designed by the Woods Gardening Team as pollinator gardens and have been a tremendous success. Bees and butterflies constantly flit among the blooms and birds alight singly or in flocks to sample seed heads.

By autumn, Common Boneset and pale purple asters have added color to the gardens as some flowers begin to fade. Both attract even greater numbers of bees and butterflies.

According to Woods Garden Team co-leaders Peggy Newman and Karen Royer, the idea for the innovative parking lot gardens was born three years ago.

“Peggy, who really heads our group and was the organizing force, convened a group of us at her house,” Royer said. “She explained that horticulturists were alarmed that the bees and butterflies that pollinate crops were disappearing and urged all gardeners to include native plants that attract them in their landscapes. We all liked her idea and seconded her motion to plant some.”

For many years, gardener Jane Iglehart and her husband Charlie cared for the church’s plants and flowers but moved on and were succeeded by the late Elizabeth Wyble. Thereafter, professional landscapers maintained the grounds but kept the ornamental shrubs and flower beds just as they were.. There were no native plants in the gardens.

Eager to heed horticulturists’ and ornithologists’ warnings and halt the disappearance of birds, bees, butterflies, moths and other pollinators by adding native plants, Peggy and the group set a goal of dedicating 70 percent of the Woods campus to them.

The planting project was a learning experience for all of them. Researching daylillies, hostas, iris and other plants already established on Woods grounds, they found out they were not native plants. They were wondering what to do when they received help from an unexpected source.

Round Bay resident Alison Milligan introduced herself to Royer during a Green Give environmental fundraising event. Retired from the military, the former engineer is a master gardener, a watershed steward and an expert on Maryland native plants. Though not a church member she volunteered to work with the group and her advice has been invaluable.

A central question for the group was “where do we plant the native species?” Looking for spaces that had full sun exposure, it occurred to the group that the islands between rows in the parking lot had full sun all day. But they worried that the soil would be too poor until Milligan assured them that Maryland’s native plants do well in poor soil, are drought resistant and absorb storm water preventing run-off and erosion.

Armed with a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service guide obtained by Newman – called “Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat & Conservation Landscaping: Chesapeake Bay Watershed” – the 22 member team began. Thanks to grants from Unity Gardens, they created a total of one large and 30 discreet gardens. Within a year, pollinators and wildlife were already visiting them.

In autumn, purple asters, Common Boneset and Viburnum attract butterflies by the hundreds.

In addition to Alison Milligan, the Woods Gardening Team is fortunate to have two other master gardeners – Karen Strange and Frank Goetschius – among its ranks. The group’s projects have expanded to include plantings that capture storm water runoff and control erosion.

” For erosion control, we planted Lynhaven Carpet and Asters along with 200 plugs of Coneflowers that the birds just love,” Newman reported. “As autumn approaches we leave the heads of both Coneflowers and Black Eyed Susans in place as they are an important winter food source for birds.”

In the spring, the team added new plants called Winecups for color and because they are good for stopping erosion. Note the sign identifying them. Signs identifying the plants in each of the gardens are greatly appreciated by those who stop to admire them.

This summer, a brand new erosion control project designed by Milligan was carried out following the long-awaited repaving of the road between Woods Church and office buildings fronting on B&A Boulevard. Being good stewards of the land surrounding the church, the group was well aware that the rainwater from the part of the property overlooking the road ran directly downhill, eventually draining into the Magothy River.

To counter that effect, they planted over 100 native shrubs and plants along the newly paved road including American beautyberry, inkberry, chokeberry, American spreader hollies, New Jersey tea, witch hazel, fothergilla, arrowwood viburnum, St John’s wort and amsonia.  The plants were chosen to secure the hillside from erosion and to provide flowers and food for birds and pollinators. 

For information about Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church and its many groups, missons and ministries visit http://www.woodschurch.org/ .