Category: AROUND THE PARK AGAIN

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi

and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services

Living between the Severn and Magothy Rivers, Severna Park residents enjoy both and know a great deal about them from a geographic, historical and environmental point of view. However, they’re not as familiar with Anne Arundel County’s southernmost waterways – the South River, West River and the Rhodes River.

Like the Severn and Magothy, the South, West and Rhodes rivers are tidal estuaries of the Chesapeake Bay. Our own interest in the trio of South County rivers was piqued in March when we visited the Arundel Rivers Federation booth at Annapolis Green’s “Green Drinks” event at Homestead Gardens.

ARF Communications Director Charlotte Graves and Community Outreach Assistant Lily Hariton had eye-catching displays and information at their table and did a good job explaining Arundel Rivers Federation’s mission.

Wanting to know more, we met Arundel Rivers Federation’s executive director Matthew Johnston for an interview at Pier 7 along the South River below Coconut Joe’s restaurant.

The scene was lively with small craft coming and going and the busy South River Bridge in the background. But, according to Johnston the waterway was likely much busier in the distant past. From the mid 1600’s, when settlers arrived in Anne Arundel County from the Virginia colony, through the 1700’s and into the 1800’s, traversing the rivers by boat served as the population’s main form of transportation and commerce.

“London Town, off the South River in Edgewater, Maryland, was an extremely busy port for about a century,” Johnston said. “Founded in 1683, it was also Anne Arundel County’s seat until 1694 when Annapolis became the county seat as well as Maryland’s capital. Annapolis won that privilege because it was a deep-water port while London Town’s relatively shallow waters couldn’t handle heavier craft.”

He added that London Town was a central transportation hub for the Chesapeake region. The sale of tobacco from the South County 100’s (land grants) was the primary source of trade. (Information on Historic London Town‘s website notes that trans-Atlantic tobacco ships would gather tobacco at London Town before sailing to England and Europe where the tobacco was traded for manufactured items, spices, and other goods.)

The smaller West and Rhode Rivers saw trade from tobacco and other crops but not on the same scale as London Town.

Shifting his attention to today, Johnston noted that the Arundel Rivers Federation was created on January 2, 2019, the result of consolidating the South River Federation and West Rhode Riverkeeper, Inc.

Previously, there was a South River and a West and Rhode Rivers riverkeeper. Today, Anne Arundel County native Elle Bassett is the Arundel Rivers Foundation Riverkeeper for all three rivers.

Johnston describes ARF’s mission as the protection, preservation, and restoration of the South, West, and Rhode Rivers by working with local communities to achieve clean, fishable, and swimmable waterways for present and future generations

He added that commercial and residential development of the watersheds around each of Anne Arundel County’s rivers is a real concern for the Arundel Rivers Federation. With a full-time professional staff of restoration, outreach, and grant experts, Arundel Rivers Federation often partners closely with professionals and volunteers of other local organizations including the Severn River Association, the Magothy River Association, and the Anne Arundel County Watershed Stewards Academy to help deliver environmental restoration projects across Anne Arundel County.”

Johnston’s favorite ARF initiative at the moment is the Broad Creek Stream Restoration Project. Kevin Bacon and his foundation, SixDegrees.org, joined scouts to plant hundreds of native plants for the project where 3,700 feet of degraded stream is now reconnected to its historic floodplain.

The majority of efforts ARF is involved with revolve around Streams and Wetlands Restoration, Living Shorelines Restoration, Rain Gardens, Reforestation and Oyster Restoration.

With regard to oysters, Johnston reports that they exist and are healthy near the mouth of the South River where the water is deeper and cleaner. Elsewhere, in shallower waters in inlets and creeks that do not regularly flush out excess nutrients, it’s difficult for populations of oysters to survive. The Federation has created a reef of its own. In addition, nearly 60 families will grow oysters this season through ARF’s partnership with Marylanders Grow Oysters.

Having previously served as Anne Arundel County’s first Environmental Policy Director, Johnston led county and statewide efforts to pass new forest conservation and stormwater management laws to preserve our rivers. Thus, saving forested acreage and reforestation efforts are especially important goals for him. The topographical features of each of the rivers influence its health and challenges.

From its headwaters in Crofton, the South River enters the Chesapeake Bay south of the City of Annapolis. The drainage area of the South River watershed is 36,433 acres and supports approximately 66,000 residents. Roof tops and roads and other impervious surfaces comprise approximately 4,432 acres or 12%.  At present, 16,669 acres of forest, or 46% of the watershed remain.

In contrast, the drainage area of the West River watershed, located in the southeastern part of the county, is approximately 7,809 acres. It includes the communities of Galesville, Chalk Point, Cedarlea, Avalon Shores, and Shady Side with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center on its northeast border. Land covered with woods makes up the greatest portion of the West River watershed, approximately 44%. Other significant land use/land cover categories are row crop and residential.

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The even smaller Rhode River empties into the West River, which drains directly into the Chesapeake Bay. Forests comprise 54% of the watershed. Other significant land use/land cover categories are row crop and 2-acre residential.

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For Riverkeeper Bassett and Watershed Analyst Mallory Box, monitoring the health of 34 tidal sights twice a month for dissolved oxygen and clarity, PH, temperature and salinity is all important. Box spearheads water quality data management and analysis. Her data collection will expand this year to include nitrogen, phosphorus and algae.

Bassett patrols the local waterways, tracks down sources of pollution, responds to citizen complaints, attempts to identify problems that impact water quality, and advocates for new policies that protect the waterways.

Johnston and the Arundel Rivers Federation believe two primary problems need to be dealt with by the public. The first is excessive nitrogen pollution in stormwater runoff from fertilized turf plantings (lawns) and the second is runoff from septic systems.

To inform and educate South County citizens about measures they can take to limit pollution of our waterways, Outreach Coordinator Mairin Corasaniti and Community Outreach Assistant Lily Hariton are spreading the word. Both are participating in Arundel Rivers and YMCA Camp Letts’ partnership to provide children hands-on environmental science sessions as part of the camp’s day program during its 10-week summer season. The program is made possible by a generous donation from The Brick Companies and a grant from The Chesapeake Bay Trust.

For more information about the work being done by the Arundel Rivers Federation, visit Homepage – Arundel Rivers Federation.

Chamber’s TGIF Cookout being hosted by Kinder Farms Park on May 31st

The Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce announced that its TGIF Cookout will be hosted by Kinder Farm Park on Friday, May 31 from noon till 2 pm. There will be fun for all with tours, hayrides, animals and more. Register at https://www.gspacc.com/.

Orphan Grain Train completes shipment to Appalachia

Millersville-based Orphan Grain Train had lots of good news to report this Spring. On April 18th, the volunteer organization loaded a 53- foot container headed for the Christian Appalachian Project in Paintsville, Kentucky. The shipment contained 22,600 lbs. of clothing, blankets, shoes, coats, hygiene items, medical bed frames and mattresses, medical mobility equipment, and three hospital infant warmers. Included in the load were 17 beautiful hand-crafted quilts from Ladies Ministries at Heritage Community Church in Severn, Maryland.

Closer to home, in early May Orphan Grain Train delivered eleven 7 ft. slate-topped science tables to Annapolis Area Christian School (AACS), K-12.  AACS plans to incorporate these specialized tables into their STEM program and renovation over the summer. The science tables were acquired from a High School in Indianapolis through IRN – The Reuse Network.

The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center.)

and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi

and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services

Following the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber’s blustery, less than optimal, SHOPTOBERFEST last October, the organization decided to move their Spring Shop Local Fun Festival back to the more conveniently located Park Plaza.

We’d heard that some local businesses were feeling the effects of inflation, so it was reassuring to see several dozen vendor tents as we drove into Park Plaza.

Entering the event, we found Chamber CEO Liz League telling Higgins & Friends Pet Sitting owner Jill Weissenbach that she breathed a sigh of relief when she woke up to find the previous evening’s heavy rains had stopped and the skies were clear.

“My prayers were answered. I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day,” she told Weissenbach. “The temperatures are great and there’s even a nice breeze.”

As planned, the 2024 Spring Shop Local Festival had something to please everyone. There was plenty of fun for kids with games offered by SPAN, Inc.’s Michelle Sabean (as seen in the opening photo) and Mardy Williams and Peggy Wolfe from Trinity Bible Church. There were additional games and toys at the side-by-side tents of the Play Street Museum and Franklin’s Toys.

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As always, pets were welcome visitors at the Shop Local Fun Festival. While not exactly delighted with the current state of affairs this pup was only too happy to wander among the dog friendly booths.

Luckily, the Pup Camp booth had a slew of Puppylicious Gourmet Treats that were yummy.

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Then there were dog biscuits at Higgins & Friends and Pupsicles at Fieldstone Animal Inn and more dog biscuits at Ally 4 Pets.

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Festivalgoers could also shop till they dropped. In addition to stopping at Kathy Walker’s Swarowski Touchstone Crystal jewelry table, shoppers flocked to the booth shared by Naturally In Knots and 120 Wellness which featured colorful clothing, candles, gifts, and herbs as well as homeopathic remedies.

They also beat a path to Danielle Bowen’s Blended Essentials booth where there was a rush on jewelry, candles, soaps and delightfully fragrant bath products.

“It’s been so busy here with people looking for gifts for Mother’s Day that there’s so little left,” Bowen said. “We sold out of all of our bath bombs.”

Gifts for Mother’s Day, upcoming graduations and weddings and every other occasion were the stars of Side Street Framers & Gift Gallery that spread the length of several tables. Artwork by local artists, jewelry and crafts by local artisans, and charming floral arrangements of lavender and herbs graced the tables.

We found Side Street’s owner Dawn Wilson deep in conversation with Larry Sells of Larry Sells Consulting. The two were lamenting the recent departure from Park Plaza of 32-year anchor business Ledo Pizza which was unable to negotiate a new lease and relocated to 342 Ritchie Highway.

“It’s so sad to see the former Ledo’s empty,” Sells said. “We held a lot of events there and it was a great family place too. Sullivan’s Cove, the next storefront over, is gone too.”

Such is the high cost of doing business in the heart of Severna Park these days. Figuring that no one has his finger on the pulse of the business community better than Park Hardware owner Rick Miller, we stopped by his tent for a chat. We found him behind the Park Hardware car for the occasion, a 2024Tesla Cybertruck that was drawing a lot of attention.

Miller was enjoying a dose of satisfaction because Park Hardware’s first Native Plant Sale the previous day was a tremendous success and brought a number of new customers into the store. Having taken over ownership of the former Clement Hardware a little over a year ago, he notes that people are still getting acquainted with Park Hardware. The sight of a tent full of reasonably priced native plants on the parking lot definitely created interest.

“We didn’t have as great a winter as we’d have liked. The fact that folks are really watching their budgets has probably been a factor,” Miller said. “But business is really starting to pick up again with more and more customers coming in.”

Brand new to the Shop Local events, the All the Buzz Native & Pollinator Gardens tent was quite a hit with the crowd. Owner Erin was “giving away” Blue Eyed Grass pollinator plants that produce lovely blue flowers when in bloom and draw bees. She was also selling transplants of more specialized native and pollinator species like Mountain Mint and Coneflowers.

With the Primary Elections just three days away on May 14th, several political organizations and candidates had booths.

Clad in red and blue to match the patriotically decorated Severna Park Republican Womens Club tent, Amy Leahy greeted many festivalgoers throughout the day and urged them to come out and vote in the primary.

We also happened along just as LaToya Nkongolo, who was running in the Republican Primary for the Board of Education – District 5, took a break from her tent to visit the neighboring tent of Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services’ owners Winsome Brown and Danielle Morgan Brown. (We extend our congratulations to Nkongolo who won her primary.)

Sisters Winsome and Dee were spreading the word about the Caregiver Retreat their business is holding for caregivers or care partners this Saturday, May 18 from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm at Harundale Presbyterian Church. (See announcement below for details.)

One of the Spring Shop Local Fun Festival sponsors, Maryland State Delegate Heather Bagnall spent a few moments talking with her friend Mary Ann Jung who is well-known as historic reenactor whose most famous roles are those of Queen Elizabeth l and Queen Anne Boleyn and, more recently, —– and Julia Child.

This year’s Shop Local Fun Festival featured music and entertainment including a demonstration from Kwon’s Tae Kwon Do students. As with other festival sponsors, Kwon’s logo flashed from the mobile advertising screen just as the student’s performance began.

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A sponsor as well, Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi had an elaborate booth but chose not to do a demonstration this year. That meant owners Nancy and Billy Greer had time to spend greeting people at the booth and hanging out with friends.

Two businesses associated with self-defense took part in this year’s Shop Local event. The first, In My Defense, was new. The second, Kogen DoJo Self Defense Academy, with locations in Severna Park and Annapolis, has been a Shop Local event participant for some time.

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We give a nod to one more organization that is looking for a home in Severna Park. According to Severna Park Museum volunteers Mary Vogelsang and Sharon Wood, the organization has been looking for a place in which to highlight the town’s history through their collections but building rents are quite high making their quest a difficult one.

The Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce’s next event is a cocktail reception being held at Garten on May 23rd recognizing the community’s Small Business Awards winners and nominees. For updates, visit Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce (gspacc.com).

Filling The Caregiver’s Cup with a Caregivers Retreat

Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services is hosting a Caregivers Retreat this Saturday, May 18th at Harundale Presbyterian Church, 1020 East Way in Glen Burnie from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm. The Retreat is supported by sponsors Chessie Senior Movers, Inspirations, University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center, Spring Arbor Senior Living and OutLook byThe Bay. It is designed to provide information and activities for Caregivers or Care Partners that restore and replenish the mind body and spirit of those caring for a loved one, spouse, sibling or parent. The cost is $10 per person. For information, call 410-541-6246.

Hon Style Sweets is bringing Jessica Zaleskiwicz’s fudge and chocolate back

Those who remember Coco Couture will be delighted to hear that chocolatier Jessica Zaleskiwicz will be opening a new shop she is calling Hon Style Sweets in Pasadena with a grand reopening scheduled for May 24 and May 25. Located at 2608 Mountain Road, Suite 1 by Lisa’s Deli, the shop will be carrying Zaleskiwicz’s fudge and chocolate. No doubt Hon Style Sweets will have a touch of her own unique style.

The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center.)

and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi

and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services

Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner Katherine Grote is “mobile” and frequently on the move between her Annapolis-based medical practice Integrative Family NP, LLC and patients in their homes. We caught up with her on Annapolis Street at the Bean Rush Cafe where she was checking for emails from her patients.

We’d met Grote before at the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce’s Women In Business Winetasting at Cheers & Spirits last December. From the moment she was introduced and described the medical practice she owns as “one that makes house calls”, we were all overwhelmed with curiosity.

She’d briefly explained then that she is a Registered Nurse Practitioner who treats patients virtually online, in her office at Wellsview Cottage, or in their homes.

During a recent chat with Grote at Bean Rush Cafe, we had time to delve more deeply into what a Nurse Practitioner is and does. She began by explaining the many steps she had to complete to become an NP.

“To be a Nurse Practitioner, you first need to be a Registered Nurse. That requires that you have a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing which takes four years of education,” Grote said. “The next step is getting your Master of Science Degree in Nursing. Most schools for getting your MSN require that you have at least 1,000 hours of clinical time or work experience before you’re eligible to apply.”

She said there are degrees for many kinds of nurse practitioner specialties ranging from Nurse Midwife, Nurse Anesthetist, and Acute Care Nurse to Integrative Family Nurse Practitioner which is what she is.

After getting her Master of Science in Nursing degree in Family Practice, Grote went on to additional training to acquire her Holistic Integrative Specialist certification so she could marry traditional Western medicine with alternative medicine.

Thus, like most Nurse Practitioners, she has had 11 years of schooling with a heavy emphasis on clinical experience. (In contrast, family practice doctors generally spend four years working for their Bachelor’s degree and four years of medical school, plus a residency or fellowship for a similar total of about 11 years of schooling.)

Once finished with schooling, Nurse Practitioners must sit for one of two boards. Grote sat for and passed the American Association of Nurse Practitioners board becoming nationally certified. She next applied to be licensed by the State of Maryland. Lastly, she applied to the state’s Board of Nursing for CBF and DEA Prescribing licenses (the latter for controlled substances) and a National Provider Identifying number.

Like doctors, who are similarly licensed, Nurse Practitioners are fully qualified to issue prescriptions. Their lengthy, high level of training and experience compare favorably with or occasionally surpass that of doctors. Thus, Nurse Practitioners have become an extremely important part of the medical profession across the nation – especially in rural areas.

With a family practice like the one Grote established, Nurse Practitioners treat patients from all age groups – from pediatrics to geriatrics. They treat patients for a range of health problems and generally offer more affordable health care.

“Surprisingly, when I ask my patients why they prefer being seen by an NP, they frequently answer “because nurses listen to them while doctors are inclined not to”.

Far from being a “pill pusher”, Grote is holistic in her approach preferring to combine Eastern and Western medicine and to treat the whole patient instead of treating a single symptom. She loves having her own integrative family practice that is designed to treat children and adults with flexible visit options and reasonable costs.

Patients can arrange to be seen by her through telemedicine virtual appointments, in her office at Wellsview Cottage in Annapolis or through home visits. Costs are straightforward with telemedicine and/or office visits $30 for a visit under 15 minutes, $50 for a 15-29 minute visit and graduated fees for longer visits. Home visits cost an additional $100 due to travel time and expenses. Her practice does not accept health insurance but does provide a detailed billing so patients may submit it for possible reimbursement.

Grote schedules office visits on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at Wellsview Cottage which she chose because of its friendly, homey atmosphere and the fact that the facility is host to several complimentary practices ranging from Foods and Nutritional Therapy and Herbal Medicine to Acupuncture, Massage Therapy and Yoga. As the name Integrative Family NP, LLC implies, her practice considers the overall health of her patients in providing well thought out treatment plans.

Integrative Family NP, LLC is part of a growing trend. According to a study in Nurse Journal, the fastest- growing career in the U.S. is that of Nurse Practitioner.  NP jobs are projected to grow 45% over the next decade. Considering the state of the U.S. economy and soaring medical costs, it’s good that Nurse Practitioners are helping lower healthcare costs by filling the primary care physician shortage gap and improving healthcare accessibility.

Independent family practices like Grote’s are an increasingly popular alternative for cost-conscious and low-income patients. Furthermore, the mere mention, during speaking engagements, that she makes house calls brings smiles to the faces of those listening to her. People old enough to remember when medical care was affordable and doctors made house calls are nostalgic about those days and wish they’d make a comeback. Younger folks say they find the idea of a Nurse Practitioner who makes house calls appealing since sitting in a doctor’s office is the last thing they want to do if they are sick.

People interested in making an appointment with Grote can reach her by email at Katherine.groteCRNP@outlook.com or by calling or texting 443-534-4793. She’s happy to set up a brief “Meet and Greet” by phone or in person at no cost.

Chamber’s Spring Shop Local Fun Festival rescheduled for this Saturday, May 11

Last week’s heavy rains forced the postponement of the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce’s “Spring Shop Local Fun Festival” at Park Plaza to this Saturday, May 11 from 11 am to 3 pm. Chamber CEO Liz League and a host of local business owners are crossing their fingers while chanting “rain, rain stay away” till late in the day.

When we last checked, over 60 local businesses are expected to participate with exhibits. As always at the Shop Local Fun Festivals, there will be food, music and lots of fun for kids.

For updates, visit Facebook.

Hatton-Regester Green concert schedule announced

The Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails kicked off their season of free concerts in the gazebo at Hatton-Regester Green with the return of the popular Carribbean-influenced trio Guava Jelly on May 5.

There are three more concerts in the series beginning this Sunday, May 12 with a Mother’s Day concert featuring acoustic duo Josette & Bill. They’ll be performing popular tunes from across the decades.

On Sunday, May 19 Incidental Brass – a classical brass group will be playing a mix of show tunes and jazz with a patriotic number or two for good measure.

Lastly, on Sunday, May 26, Sparks and McCoy, a classic rock duo will appear to round out the spring series of concerts.

The concerts are brought to us through a grant from the Performing Arts through Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks. All concerts held on Sundays between 4 pm and 6 pm and are weather dependent. Attendees are invited to bring a blanket or chair. For information, call Dave Greene at 443-994-8074.

The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center.)

and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi

and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services

Located on the Broadneck Peninsula between the Severn and Magothy Rivers, the once rural community of Arnold, Maryland was, and is, a major hub of Anne Arundel County commerce. As is the case with most of the peninsula, few traces of Arnold’s rich history remain due to unchecked residential and commercial development.

Once a thriving cattle farm situated on a rolling acreage owned by the Mueller family, the barn seen below still exists and as seen in the opening photograph, has been restored as part of the Anne Arundel Community College campus on College Parkway.

In an effort to preserve a portion of the diminishing amount of acreage in and around their community, a group of 100 concerned citizens formed the Arnold Preservation Council. We met with past president and current board member Elizabeth Rosborg to learn what we could about the organization’s efforts to preserve Arnold’s open lands and the culture, traditions and flavor derived from them.

When asked to describe her community, Elizabeth Rosborg is fond of quoting the words of the late Alberta Stonetta, author of the book “Arnold Maryland and Neighbors on the Broadneck.” 

In the preface of her fascinating history, Ms. Stornetta noted:

Arnold is not a town, but it has a post office. Arnold has no city hall or mayor, but it has a fire house. Arnold has no town center, but there is a pharmacy, restaurant, liquor store, doctors’ offices and a MacDonald’s.

A lifelong Arnold resident, Rosborg continues to be astonished that thousands of people pass through the community on Ritchie Highway every day and never even know they have been there. Aside from a shopping center on the site of what was once a B&A Railroad stop called Arnold Station, there is no distinguishing landmark. Because of that fact, Arnold has seen mostly residential, rather than commercial, development and managed to hold on to a bit of the rural feel it was known for.

We met Rosborg behind the shopping center on the B&A Trail covering railroad tracks at the spot originally known as Arnold Station. While seated trailside at a picnic table in front of the 75-acre property she grew up on, Rosborg filled us in on what the Arnold Preservation Council is trying to do.

“My grandparents bought the property behind us that I live on in 1954. When I was younger, we used to take the tractor up the long drive to the original post office located on this corner. That was great because the post office was also a candy store,” she said. “The office of the traveling doctor was located on the same corner.”

According to Rosborg, Arnold has never been incorporated as a town, complicating some of the efforts of the Arnold Preservation Council. It does have its own zip code, 21012. Within the last few years, the community has become part of the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce giving it some recognition.

The boundaries of Arnold within the zip code 21012 and are far ranging. The community is bordered by Severna Park to the northwest, Cape Saint Claire to the southeast, Annapolis to the southwest, and Lake Shore (in Pasadena) to the northeast. Arnold’s neighborhoods straddle Maryland Route 2 (Ritchie Highway) and College Parkway all the way to Bay Dale Drive.

Historically, there is evidence (at the community of Ulmsted and elsewhere) that the part of the Broadneck Peninsula that is now Arnold was hunting grounds for Susequenook and Algonquin Indians who found shelter along the rivers. The first area settlers were Puritans fleeing from religious persecution in Virginia who arrived in 1649 to establish a settlement they called Providence on land in or near Greenbury Point.

The earliest settlements that later comprised Arnold were located along the rivers and based on land grants. They included communities along the Severn River like Rugby Hall, Joyce, Winchester On The Severn and, along the Magothy, Shore Acres, Cape St. Claire and Podickory Point.

As is the case with neighboring Severna Park, few traces of Arnold’s interesting history remain but there are a handful to marvel over and, hopefully preserve. The home of John Arnold, the first Arnold to settle in the community in the early 1800’s still exists on Freshfields Lane off of Shore Acres Road.

John’s second son Thomas Hamilton Arnold, for whom Arnold is named, established a store on land inherited from his father he called The Depot. It no longer exists but was located approximately where Cheers & Spirits sits today in the shopping center. When the Baltimore & Annapolis Short Line Railroad came through his property in 1887, Thomas became station master at Arnold Station and the U.S. Post Office was operated from his store. According to Rosborg, though a development is planned near Thomas’ gravesite, it is one of the historic sites being preserved with access off the Broadneck Trail.

John Arnold’s eldest son, Elijah Redmond Arnold built a home at the intersection of Old County Road and Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard with an attached smaller building he operated as Arnold’s Store. Records from the U.S. Postal Service indicate that a post office was established at the store in 1852. Renovated and modernized several times as a private home, the building still stands proud.

The 108-year-old Baltimore Annapolis Railroad Powerhouse building near the northern boundary of Arnold is now home to Ann Arundell Historical Society’s Shop at Jones Station.

Erected in 1907 as a midpoint electrical substation between Baltimore and Annapolis, it channeled 22,000 volts of current through three 300-kilowatt transformers to lower it to 6,600 volts and feed it directly to overhead lines. In 1933, the former powerhouse became an ice house for Miss Etta’s Store & Rustic Inn and later for the Wagon Wheels restaurant. Briefly the building housed the historic society’s headquarters before moving to the Benson Hammond House.

Nearby, the community of Rugby Hall still stands on its basic footprint. Within it is the beautiful property known as Wroxeter On Severn. The mansion was built in the early 1900’s by a gentleman named Edwin Pugh Baugh and named Uchllyn-on-Severn. A little over a decade after Baugh’s death, the mansion was operated as a prestigious restaurant named Rugby Hall from 1935 to 1941. During World War II, the home was used as a USO hall. Six years later, it became Wroxeter School, a private co-ed prep school. The date 1947, when it became a school, can still be seen on the gates to the estate.

Today a private residence, the estate is still quite beautiful though not as isolated as it once was.

According to Rosborg, land in Rugby Hall has been purchased a forthcoming development called Wroxeter Estates. However, there is a memorandum of agreement between the developer and the Rugby Hall Homeowner’s Association to limit the development and preserve what is known as “the farm”. The agreement is legal, binding and has been filed with the State of Maryland.

We couldn’t neglect to mention what many people consider an Arnold treasure. Fishpaws MarketPlace has been a traditional stopping point for locals and travelers. A tavern and gas station in the 1930’s, the store was owned by the Fishpaw family from the late ’40’s through the 60’s. It changed hands a couple times before being purchased by Kim Lawson and her parents, Brad and Chris, in 1982. In 2004, the Lawsons tackled a major reconstruction becoming a marketplace that features deli and gourmet foods, and a selection of beer, wines and spirits. 

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There is quite a bit of history associated with Arnold. But it seems the speed with which change has occurred since Elizabeth Rosborg’s childhood – when there were plenty of wide-open spaces to roam – has accelerated. Each step forward – from the coming of the railroads and building of the major highways to the completion of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge spans – drew more people to the Broadneck Peninsula.

The Arnold Preservation Council is doing its best to slow or moderate changes related to overdevelopment and population density. At present, they are fighting a proposed Chic fil A to be built in an area along Ritchie Highway that already sees very heavy traffic flow. Having observed “traffic stacking” at the Chic-fil-A in Severna Park, the community is very concerned.

In addition to being a board member of the council, Rosborg is part of the Anne Arundel County Citizens Advisory Committee planning for what the county will look like in 2040. She notes that residential development continues to be intense and is a difficult challenge. The committee strives to update the antiquated county code meant to control development and save 30,000 acres by 2030.

The members further plan to target future development to areas that have sufficient infrastructure to support it. Roads and transportation are an exceptionally difficult problem across the Broadneck Peninsula.

“Route I-97 was built to relieve Route 2 but it hasn’t,” Rosborg says. “Now, they are planning to expand Route 2 Northbound and Route 50 to Route 10.”

Unfortunately, new roadways seem to be a magnet for new development which is why the Arnold Preservation Council is doing as much as it can to preserve undeveloped properties. The members work in conjunction with organizations like the Greater Severna Park Council, the Broadneck Council of Communities and Growth Action Network.

“We keep the information flowing between us, share tools and help each other out,” Rosborg said. “However, preserving land is an endeavor that takes a lot of time and money which is currently in short supply in both the State of Maryland and Anne Arundel County.

Rosborg and her brothers are doing what they can to help. They are going to preserve the family’s 75-acre waterfront parcel of land through a conservancy.

For information on the activities of the Arnold Preservation Council, visit Arnold Preservation Council | Home.

Raindrops held off for most of Good Neighbors Group Earth Day Festival

Coming from another event beneath overcast skies on Saturday, I crossed my fingers and kept driving hoping it wouldn’t rain before I arrived at the Good Neighbors Group Earth Day event. I pulled into the parking lot at Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company just as a few rain drops began to fall. At first, the rain was light and attendees were still visiting the vendors’ booths.

GNG’s 2024 Earth Day Festival featured a plant sale for the first time. Providence Center Nurseries had a wonderful display of edible and ornamental plants and customers were still buying them in spite of the rain.

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Severna Park wedding and event florist Alex Waldorf from Romenta Plants was selling pretty and very popular bouquets of flowers. Once a TV producer who traveled the world for shows, Alex has a passion for flowers and gardening that was impossible to ignore. It’s clear that she loves what she’s doing.

Rain didn’t seem to be bothering Emily Brown’s bees at the Save The Bees display. The Save The Bees’ beehive never fails to draw the curious and Brown is good at informing the public about benefits of bees as pollinators and all about the process of extracting honey from the hive. Save The Bees’ honey, beeswax candles and other products sell well.

The critters at Millersville-based Echoes of Nature didn’t mind the rain either, in fact, the turtle rather liked it to say nothing of the snakes.

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As the rain grew a bit heavier, we noticed owner Nancy Greer and the team from Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi packing up and taking down their tent. (Actually, they were off to their third event of the day.)

Naturally, we stopped by the Good Neighbors Group tent where we found executive director Julie Shay talking with Wendy Pressian from Stiches Of Kindness. Both were smiling broadly, pleased that the Earth Day Festival was rain-free for most of the day and drew a nice crowd.

The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center.)

and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon LeeTegler

Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi

and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services

With our country’s aging population, it seems the number of individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia has increased significantly. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 5 million Americans are living with dementia. Without changes in prevention, this number could reach 14 million by 2050.

It was astonishing to learn that more than 80% of care for dementia patients is provided at home by family members, friends or other unpaid caregivers. The challenges involved in doing so are monumental.

For perspective on what it’s like to provide the level of care needed for a dementia patient to continue living at home, we spoke with two women who have experienced it firsthand.

Business owner Nancy Greer and her husband Billy were deeply involved in caring for her mother Cora Willard, an Alzheimer’s patient.

“My father Glenn Willard was deeply devoted to my mom and determined to care for her at home along with my sister Gail and Billy and me. “Since my parents lived in Virginia and my sister did too, Billy and I would drive down and spend every weekend helping care for my mom at what we came to refer to as “the cozy house”.

While still living in New York, Winsome Brown cared for her mother Elaine Clarke, also an Alzheimer’s patient, in her home while supported by her sister, a registered nurse, and other family members.

The experience – and lessons learned from it, inspired Brown to start her Severna Park business Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services with sister Danielle Morgan Brown (Dee). They were soon joined by sister Ingrid McDonald and brother Tony Clarke. (Today Winsome is caring for her mother-in-law at home.)

A Community Educator for the Greater Maryland Alzhemier’s Association, Brown also participates in community activities where she shares the latest information about the disease.

While Nancy Greer had never seen one of the transparent backpacks on the table that Brown designed for her caregivers to use with patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, she smiled knowingly. Some of the items Brown pulled from the backpack were similar to things she’d used caring for her own mother.

“The whole point of what I wanted to do is to hold on to these people’s souls even if they can’t recall everything you do with them,” she said. “They can’t remember that we played a game or did an activity ten times in a row but they are excited each time and it makes them happy.”

Serious for a moment in her role as an Alzheimer’s Association educator, Brown explained the differences between the disease and other forms of dementia.

Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia, making up 60% to 80% of all cases. The main features of the progressive brain disorder are abnormal brain structures called plaques and tangles.

There are three other forms of dementia. They include vascular dementia resulting from a reduction in blood flow to the brain that is sometimes associated with a stroke. A second form, dementia with Lewy bodies is a type of progressive dementia cause by build-up of a protein called alpha-synuclein that damages brain cells. A third is frontotemporal dementia, a group of disorders related to progressive cell degeneration.

Greer pointed out that, like her mother, most Alzheimer’s patients are in denial when symptoms first appear and try to cover it up. It’s difficult to persuade them to seek a diagnosis. Making plans thereafter and finding help is extraordinarily challenging.

“If you wish to care for a patient at home, it’s hard to find good services to help,” she noted. “In the later stages of my mom’s illness, we were part of an innovative program associated with the hospital that sounded good on paper but the reality was different. Caregivers came to the house for one hour to fix breakfast and dress mom. Then a van would come get her and take her to a day program, then bring her home when a caregiver would come back for a second hour to help out. The problem was that there weren’t enough caregivers and some lacked experience.”

Brown explained why that program just doesn’t work.

“It’s hard to find someone who will come and work for an hour,” she said. “A normal paycheck is for forty hours a week. But you’re asking this person to come for an hour in the morning, care for someone, then leave and come back at night for an hour. That’s only two hours a day and doesn’t provide a livable wage.

Brown’s own agency keeps its profit margins slim in order to pay good quality caregivers (CNA MEDtech’s) at higher-than-average rates of $20 per hour. The company can’t afford to provide caregivers for just two hours. Instead, using four-hour shifts provides enough monetary compensation to make working as a caregiver worthwhile and ensures a higher level of care for the patient.

Brown and Greer outlined some of the experiences typical of patients and those who care for them.

“Caring for my mom was a bittersweet experience in some ways because, while Billy and I were going down to the house every weekend, we actually grew closer to my parents.”

The family found that routine was really good for Cora. She loved flowers so they always kept fresh flowers in the house or provides lovely bouquets. She loved music so Nancy made a tape for her of 200 familiar songs.

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Gradually, she and Billy recognized that routine was actually good for both her parents and would regularly take them to Ledo Pizza and Trader Joe’s. At Ledo’s, the workers got to know us and would look out for mom and dad when they were out on their own. At Trader Joe’s, a young man from Africa and another from Pakistan admired that the couple took such good care of their parents which is more common in their countries of origin. Like the Ledo’s staff, they’d always look out for them.

But things didn’t always run smoothly.

“We could deal with Mom not knowing who we were. We just wanted her to feel loved and safe.” Greer said. “The hardest time was when she was scared. I’d sometimes be on the phone with her and she’d be saying ‘There’s a man in the house’. It was dad but she’d be terrified.”

Brown observed that there is so much more to dementia or Alzheimer’s disease than memory loss – especially the “fear factor” that her family is living with now. By now, her mother-in-law is afraid to be left alone in the house so someone must always remain behind. Simple things like eating, that everyone takes for granted, are a concern for the family because dementia patients don’t remember to eat. They forget how to cook or, sometimes, even use a fork. Not eating results in weight loss.

Eventually, dementia patients can no longer make decisions for themselves so their families must make hard-to-face decisions for them and the need for caregivers increases by the day. Barely a year after opening, Brown’s business has served more than 150 clients in their homes or for supplemental care at assisted living facilities. She notes that assisted living costs can run between $4,500 and $10,000 per month with private duty aides, if needed, an extra $30 per hour.

Both Brown and Greer are deeply worried that the country’s aging population, weakening economic situation and soaring healthcare costs are already a crisis. Basic medical care is beyond some individuals’ ability to afford, and long-term health insurance is also beyond their means. The women wonder aloud if any of the safety nets that currently exist will be available for them.

According to Brown, in spite of years spent searching for a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, none has been found. However, three types of drugs have been approved by the FDA to treat cognitive symptoms. To raise funds for continued research, Brown and her team have participated in the annual Alzheimer’s Association Walks several times raising modest amounts of money.

Nancy and Billy Greer and a team of their students from Jing Ying Institute have participated in Alzheimer’s Walks in Annapolis and at Sandy Point multiple years beginning in 2017. Having dedicated the first walk to the memory of Nancy’s mother Cora and last year’s walk to the memory of her father Glen, they have raised over $53,000.

Nancy Greer and Winsome Brown gave us just a brief look at what it is like to care for a loved one suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease at home. They urge those looking for information, seeking help, or wishing to make a donation to visit Alzheimer’s Association | Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia Help.

Ledo Pizza’s opening celebration of new location followed by a ribbon cutting

It was great seeing the familiar faces of Ledo Pizza owner Martin Gorman, his staff and numerous friends from Severna Park’s business community during the restaurant’s official reopening celebration following their move to 342 Ritchie Highway.

The renovations and remodeling of the former site known as Cakes & Confections complete, the sleek exterior gave way to an equally sleek and colorful interior.

Just inside the entrance we ran into Maryland State Delegate Heather Bagnall talking with Larry Sells of Larry Sells Consulting and Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber CEO Liz League who introduced us to Louben Repke, the owner of Dodge Arrows in Millersville. Shortly thereafter, we encountered Repke showing one of his soft-tipped arrows to Macaroni Kid Pasadena editor Laura McElwain Colquhoun and her son Quinten.

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The atmosphere was lighthearted and quite noisy. We didn’t know everyone, but we spotted BD Provisions owner Debra Saltz and, later, bumped into Severna Park Voice editor Dianna Lancione and Severna Park Automotive owner Mike McNealey. It was great to see familiar Ledo staff members like waitress Katherine Ramiras as well. Ramiras said she is enjoying seeing the customers she served at the former Park Plaza location coming in.

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As guests nibbled pizza and other treats from a sumptuous spread behind them, League conducted what she referred to as a “fireside chat” with Gorman in front of a colorful wall patterned after the Maryland State Flag. She began by thanking him for opening the restaurant that was a staple at Park Plaza since 1998 and congratulated him on opening the “bright and beautiful” Ledo Pizza. League noted how many social media posts she’d seen when the move to the new location was announced from people who’d had their first job a Ledo’s or their first date there. She then asked him to talk about the history of the establishment.

“Years ago I’d been in the information technology business but wanted to start a business of my own and looked into everything from car washes to hardware,” Gorman said. “I’d grown up with the Bells whose grandfather started the first Ledo’s pizza parlor in College Park in 1965. They’d heard I was interested in establishing a business and contacted me because they’d been opening more franchises including one in Severna Park. So, we opened at Park Plaza in 1998 and later expanded the restaurant to the building next to us adding 60 seats. I’ve been building on that original success ever since. We now have Ledo Pizza locations in Millersville and on Kent Island and we’re partners in the one at BWI.”

Among other things, Gorman noted that he had kept his entire staff from the Park Plaza location and paid their salaries for the three weeks they closed down to remodel and make the move.

League highlighted the fact that Ledo Pizza has been incredibly active in the community supporting numerous charities and events, a practice the owner plans to continue.

Following the fireside chat, a number of awards were presented to Gorman. Afterward, guests were invited outside by League for an official ribbon cutting. We wish Ledo Pizza Severna Park another 26 years of success.

The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center.)

and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi

and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services

Having shopped till they dropped at the jewelry and merchandise tables, a few guests at Partners In Care Maryland’s Spring Fling With Bling at Bleues On The Water waited in line to settle up before hurrying back to their tables as lunch began.

Though unfamiliar with the new Glen Burnie location for the event, most all of the attendees were familiar with the wonderful selection of jewels and merchandise from the Partners In Care Maryland Upscale Resale Boutique in Pasadena.

Among the most enthusiastic guests were friends Jennifer McAndrews and Melissa Pittman who’d visited every display, rack of dresses and jewelry counter and emerged with their share of treasures.

Asked what they liked best, the friends were had-pressed to answer given that they had liked so many things. They’d been mighty impressed by a table of fashion accessories and costume jewelry in shades of blues and greens but positively gobsmacked when they discovered a pair of pastel green designer shoes by Gucci for $50. Later, PIC volunteer Vicki Wasmus who prices merchandise for the boutique noted that, if new, they’d be priced at $250.00.

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Elsewhere, other customers were drawn to different items like the sophisticated jacket seen below. At the same table, handbag designer Kristin Sirota from Baltimore was intrigued by the design and vintage feel of the necklace she held.

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Color-coordinated displays of finery, costume jewelry and artwork drew lots of eyes and many purchasers. According to the event’s organizer Lynn Bujanowski, Partners In Care brought back its Spring Fling With Bling for the first time in four years because of multiple postponements related to the COVID pandemic.

“Though we changed our location, the number of people attending this year’s Spring Fling With Bling” increased since our previous one in 2019,” Bujanowski said. “We feel it’s due to the fact that people are happy to be going out again and once more dressing up for special occasions.”

We had only a moment to catch up with PIC president and CEO Mandy Arnold who was busy supervising the check-out area. Like Bujanowski, Arnold said the Spring Fling event was doing very well. Asked why the event had a new location this year, she noted that Partners In Care previously used Chartwell Golf & Country Club. However, in the four years during which the event was postponed, Chartwell had changed its layout and no longer had a space big enough to accommodate the event. Luckily, they were able to find Blueues on the Water which is known primarily as a wedding venue.

Every item of merchandise selected for the Spring Fling was chosen for maximum appeal. Still most attendees flocked to the glass-encased displays of fine jewelry that were highly sought after.

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As time for lunch approached, the crowd in the dining room grew thick and we saw many familiar faces. Longtime supporter Brenda Yarema, who always takes a table at Partners In Care events was bubbling with news and tipped us to the fact that the Severna Park Republican Women’s Club fashion show would take place shortly at Chartwell Golf & Country Club. We also spoke with Suzanne Price, a friend of Yarema’s who told us she’d been supporting and shopping at Partners In Care for years since her mother was a member who’d actually received transportation to doctor’s appointments and other services which was wonderful.

At one table dressed with gold and blue linens, we spoke with regular PIC shopper Sonia Peralta and volunteers Marlene Miller and Gail Burkhoff who were awaiting the arrival of the “two Judys”. Judy Kulawiak and Judy Stailey actually met during orientation to become Partners In Care volunteers.

“We hit it off and decided we’d like to work together as cashiers,” said Stailey. “Six weeks later Judy [Kulawiak] suffered a major stroke. Regardless, we have been good friends ever since.”

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Volunteer Vicki Wasmus, who we mentioned above, arrived at the table and showed off some of the jewelry she’d just purchased including a pretty necklace for her niece. Wasmus specializes in researching and pricing the merchandise donated to the Partners In Care boutique. She noted that they realize they need to set prices lower than typical second-hand market rates because sales of the merchandise largely fund the organization.

Following lunch with a main course of lasagna, the Spring Fling With Bling fashion show began. Five PIC volunteers had great fun modeling a fashionable selection of clothing from the Partners In Care Upscale Retail Boutique.

Model Jerri enjoyed a lighthearted romp across the impromptu stage wearing a high-end designer jacket over slim black slacks and strappy gold sandals. An announcement of the winner of a raffle for a diamond followed.

For information about the activities of Partners In Care, visit Anne Arundel – Partners In Care Maryland .

Ledo Pizza opening/ribbon cutting reminder

A REMINDER that Ledo Pizza Severna Park‘s new location at 342 Ritchie opened its doors Tuesday and the restaurant’s Grand Opeing and Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting will take place as planned on April 23rd at 4 pm.

Life of Joy Foundation receives Nonprofit for the Year Small Business Award

We extend our congratulations to the Life Of Joy Foundation which was recently recognized as Nonprofit for the Year during the Anne Arundel Couty Chamber of Commerce ‘s 2024 Small Business Awards breakfast. The 501 (c)3 nonprofit organization fosters a holistic approach to mental health and suicide prevention. Among the regularly scheduled events Life of Joy sponsors are two we wanted to highlight.

The next meeting of Life of Joy’s Faith & Mental Health Group is this Friday, April 19 from 6:30 till 8pm at Severna Park Evangelical Presbyterian Church at 110 Ritchie Highway. The peer support group for adult men and women centers all around the intersections of faith and mental health.

The second event is the upcoming Life of Joy Teen Support Group meeting that will be held Monday, April 22 at 7pm at Stage & Screen Studios at 215 Najoles Road in Millersville. For more information visit Life of Joy Foundation, Inc.

Jing Ying Institute hosts World Tai Chi Day event at Severna Park Community Center

 Each year, on the last Saturday of April, in hundreds of cities in over 80 nations, World Tai Chi events are held. The Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi, a participant in this global event for two decades, will be celebrating World Tai Chi Day on Saturday, April 27th at the Severna Park Community Center. As seen in the photo below, the event will be held outside, under the trees, beside the center’s Boone Station Hall from 10:00am to 11:00am. All ages and fitness levels are welcome. If it rains, the event will be held inside the community center’s gym.

During the event, there will be demonstrations of Tai Chi followed by free mini-workshops of tai chi and qigong suitable for all levels of fitness. While not required, people are encourage to register for the event at: www.JingYing.org where they can also find information about special follow-up tai chi classes on April 30, May 1, and May 3.

Good Neighbors Group’s 22nd annual Earth Day Festival April 27th

It’s hard for founder and executive director Julie Shay to believe Good Neighbors Group’s 22nd annual Earth Day Festival is happening in just nine days. The much-loved event is taking place on April 27th from 10 am till 2 pm at Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company.

“So many exciting things are planned for our Earth Day Festival this year,” Shay says. “We’ve got community art projects, a native plant sale, yoga demonstrations, vendors, a silent auction and more.”

Two of the Festival’s sponsors will be on hand to help out. The event’s Oak Sponsor – the tattoo studio Oxblood Ink – is lending its talented artists to head the Festival’s Community Art Project. The Red Maple Sponsors – realtors Jean Andrews and Christine Joyce – are leading GNG’s Donations Before Dumpsters program. Festival attendees are encouraged to bring items to donate that can be recycled, ranging from clothes to kitchen items or tools.

BD Provisions will also be on hand with their popular Midnight Joe Coffee.

Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber Shop Local Fun Festival

The Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce’s spring Shop Local Fun Festival is scheduled to take place at Park Plaza on May 4th from 11 am to 3 pm.

The fun, FREE, family event will have music, shopping, dancing and more. We always find the Shop Local Fun Festival an amazing showcase for the community’s small and independent businesses. Exhibitors will be selling products and services at their booths.

For updates on the Festival and other Chamber events, visit Facebook.

The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center.)

and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi

and Lean On See Senior Home Care Services

It was impossible to miss the colorful 1st Anniversary sign on the sidewalk near the entrance to BD Provisions at 844 Ritchie Highway.

Fully a year after opening in April of 2023, it was reassuring to see the store’s co-owner Phil Peters standing by his 14-pound coffee roaster. He was about to roast 11 pounds of the store’s popular in-house blend, Midnight Joe – a combination of Columbian, Brazilian and Indian Monsoon beans.

BD Provision stores are noted for their on-site coffee roasting and coffee roasting is Peters’ specialty so he’s a perfect fit. He roasts every Saturday morning, creating marvelous blends from barrels of coffee beans from around the world. The store is always busy on those mornings as customers love the heavenly aroma of roasting coffee and can’t wait for their first cup.

In a celebratory mood, Peters expressed his delight that the store survived its first year and said he looks forward to many more. He noted that, when he and co-owner Debra Saltz opened Connecticut-based BD Provisions’ first out-of-state franchise last spring, they had a steep learning curve ahead of them. Saltz agreed.

“Phil and I are friends of the founders of BD Provisions and fans of their main store in Newton Connecticut, but we were novices at running such a business,” Saltz said. “Nevertheless, we felt we could succeed and were eager to learn,” said Saltz who handles all the ordering.

“Coming into this, I had no retail experience and had to pick up things on the fly. I first had to learn about all the products which ranged from grains and beans to spices, teas, coffees, oils and chocolates. The biggest challenge was tackling the ordering process on my own – figuring out how much of each bulk-buy product to stock and how best to package and present each item.”

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The partners have grown used to running the business and have made surprisingly few mistakes in ordering products that weren’t good enough to put on the floor. They love the community and all the support they have received and the ever-growing number of regular customers who come in. They are proud of bringing good quality products to Severna Park.

Peters credits Saltz’s ambitious marketing plans and use of social media to expose their products for drawing and expanding the customer base. She’s also been creative in generating a buzz in the community by marketing special products and gift baskets for holidays. He touted the great response they’d had to their selection of Halloween candy and gift items and prepackaged chocolates, drink mixes and gifts for Christmas.

“But carrying Valentine’s Day candy when no one else in Severna Park was doing so was a brilliant idea,” he said.

Likewise, Easter candies and customized Easter cookies were hits with Severna Park children.

The partners are increasingly marketing their products at community events. Peters treated guests to coffee at the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber’s Holiday Taste and Sip event.

They’ll be serving coffee at the Good Neighbors Group’s Earth Day Festival at Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company on April 27th and will also appear at the Chamber’s upcoming Shop Local Fun Festival at Park Plaza on May 4th.

BD Provisions is forming wholesale partnerships with area restaurateurs and chefs and with other businesses that are eco-friendly and sustainable. They also host occasional classes, events and networking opportunities. They welcomed Benny’s Woodfired Pizza & Eats food truck to participate in their anniversary festivities. Peters marveled that chef/owner Ben Buglisi has a coal-fired oven inside the pizza truck.

According to Saltz, she has already placed orders for 4th of July candies, pretzels and other items in reds, whites and blues and is pleased to announce that BD Provisions has created a special gift-wrapping corner behind the main counter where manager Cornelia Wikar is helping a customer in the photograph below.

For directions or the latest information on BD Provisions, visit Severna Park Store — BD Provisions- zero waste bulk food store.

Ledo Pizza Severna Park ribbon-cutting postponed

Due to a delay in opening, Ledo Pizza Severna Park owner Martin Gorman announced that the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting originally planned for today (April 11) has been rescheduled for April 23rd at 4 pm.

Savvy Seniors meeting at Woods Church on April 16 at 1 pm

On Tuesday, April 16 from 1 till 2:30 pm, Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church Deacon Steve Hilbert and Continuity of Care Coordinator will lead an “across the kitchen table” discussion focused on lessons learned through personal experience with aging parents. The discussion will touch on legal matters, advancing chronic illnesses, transitioning from independent to assisted living and palliative-hospice care. For more information, visit Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church (woodschurch.org).

Langton Green 10th Anniversary Plant Sale, April 20

As part of its 10th Anniversary celebration, Langton Green Community Farm will host an Earth Day Plant Sale on Saturday, April 20 from 10 am till 2 pm. The event will be held rain or shine and there is free parking.

Located at 844 Generals Hwy in Millersville, the farm will be selling vegetables, herbs, flowers and fruit plants help get every garden growing and the farm grounds will be open for those who wish to take a walk, enjoy the animals or view the murals by Cindy Fletcher.

Proceeds from the sale will support Langton Green Community Farm’s operations. The Farm provides meaningful work opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities as part of Langton Green, Inc.’s vocational programs. For more information see Home – Langton Green.

Wine, Cheese and Chocolate Fundraiser to be held at Historic Baldwin Hall on April 27th

The Severn Crossroads Foundation will be hosting its annual Wine, Cheese and Chocolate Fundraiser at Historic Baldwin Hall in Millersville on Saturday, April 27 from 7 till 10 pm. Wine, craft beer, soft drinks and water plus delicious cheeses, fruits, veggies, and chocolate will be served at the social and there will be a musical performance by Richard Walton. There will also be a silent auction, raffles and door prizes. Tickets are $50 and may be obtained by calling 410-409-0187 or through email at gcampbell8185@gmail.com.

The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center.)

and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi

and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services

The first quarter of 2024 has seen change for several Severna Park businesses and organizations. The most significant transition has been the closing and relocation of yet another well-known community enterprise. On March 25th, Ledo Pizza & Pasta closed its doors after 32 years as one of Park Plaza’s anchor businesses and began work on the transformation of its new location at 342 Ritchie Highway.

According to Ledo Pizza’s owner Martin Gorman, he bought the restaurant from previous owners in 1998 and believes it was originally opened in 1992. In the 26 years he’s operated the popular eatery, his customer base has grown by leaps and bounds. Ledo Pizza is well-known for participating in and supporting numerous charitable causes and Severna Park events. Because Gorman and his staff have become friends with so many of their patrons, he hates to leave Park Plaza.

“Unfortunately, we lost our lease and couldn’t come to successful negotiations on a new deal. Basically, the rents were raised and we couldn’t remain profitable at those rates,” he explained.

It appears that Park Plaza may be attempting to achieve lease pricing parity with new commercial construction retail sites like Town Center in Parole. Ledo Pizza is the second long-term business to leave Park Plaza based on lease cost concerns. Joann’s Fabrics closed in January.

Ledo Pizza’s new Severna Park location will already be familiar to those who visited the site’s former occupant, Cakes & Confections, (whose owner Michael Brown decided it was time to hang up his chef’s hat, retired, and closed his popular bakery).

Pulling to the curb in front of the eatery last weekend, we could see that the windows were covered with brown paper. However, we opened a door at one end, entered, and were allowed to preview the partially finished space within.

At first glance, we saw that interior construction was in various stages of completion. The walls were freshly painted in shades of pale gray and black, however, the floors had not yet been laid.

To our immediate right, we found a yet-to-be finished front counter with the kitchen area concealed behind the back wall.

To our left, there seemed to be ample room for rows of tables and booths. As soon as the flooring is down, the furnishings will be installed and signage, artwork and decorative items added.

Screens on the walls will enable sports fans to follow televised sports.

Gorman noted that all of the restaurant’s inspections have been completed and he is shooting to open this Friday or Saturday barring any problems with final inspections. He’s looking forward to seeing his customers again and mentioned that a Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting is scheduled for April 11 at 4 pm which should draw a nice crowd. For a definitive opening date and time, follow the Ledo Pizza Severna Park Facebook page.

Renovations and rebranding of Severna Park Community Center unveiled

Equally newsworthy is the recent revelation of an ambitious refurbishment, updating and rebranding of the Severna Park Community Center. Maintenance has been an ongoing priority for the community center but, after 25 plus years of operation, the facility was due a rather extensive renovation. We were taken on a tour of the facility by SPCC executive director Sarah Elder to observe some of the changes.

We first took a peek at the well-outfitted Fitness Center with its welcome mat spelling out the organization’s purpose as a place for users to Gather, Play, Grow and Thrive.

Then, we headed downstairs where Elder was eager to show off The Dance Center where much of the renovation work took place. We were impressed by the innovative transformation of what used to be a storage area beneath the stairs into a cozy children’s play space – a place where young family members can settle while older siblings attend class in one of three dance studios.

“We love our new Dance Center at Severna Park Community Center logo that was designed by its director Kellie Greer,” Elder said. “You’ll see the logo repeated throughout the lower level.”

A lovely bistro with cafe tables lies just around the corner where older kids can have a snack or do their homework while waiting for their classes to begin.

All three of the center’s dance studios have been revamped. Along with the creation of the new logos, the studios were assigned appropriate names. Instead of being referred to as Studios A, B or C, they are now the Chesapeake, Cypress Creek and Bodkin Creek Studios in honor of local bodies of water.

Primarily used for Youth Classes for ballet, tap, jazz, pointe or Cecchett, for Adult Sessions or for Star Elite Dance Program classes or rehearsals, the studios are occasionally used for other purposes. While we were there, the Cypress Creek studio was being used for an arts and crafts class.

Coming back upstairs, Elder drew our attention to the Center’s community bulletin board which had been moved from a crowed wall inside to a better location in the entrance where it grabs visitors’ attention. Below the bulletin board are shelves of pamphlets describing SPCC programs and classes, and programs offered by community center partners like the Chesapeake Ballet Company, Theater in the Park and Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi.

Walking toward the community center pool, Elder veered off to the right as she wanted show off the extensive remodeling of the men’s and women’s locker room/shower areas. She admitted they were previously somewhat shabby and needed a lot of work. The women’s locker room is freshly repainted a pleasant shade of light gray. The Gather, Play, Grow, Thrive motto carries through the entrance and the mural extending down the hallway creates a spa-like atmosphere. There is new flooring that is much improved.

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The newly redone shower room is now tiled from floor to ceiling.

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Similar updates were made to the Men’s locker room.

Renovations did not just occur in the community center building but also in the courtyard between it and Boone Station Hall (which SPCC operates for Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church). Wooden benches that had succumbed to weathering were replaced with weatherproof benches donated in memory of loved ones no longer with us.

Upgrades previously executed by the Woods Church REHAB group to the interior of Boone Station Hall included the building of storage cabinetry and a complete remodeling of the service kitchen. The REHABBERS built a wall to enclose the far side with a door but left the front counter facing the stage open. They also installed kitchen cabinets and equipment and added subway tile throughout.

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As far as rebranding is concerned, the Severna Park Community Center website is being updated to be more user-friendly. It’s now easier to find the facilities, programs, classes or events you’re interested in.

As for events, SPCC will be host to a number of its traditional events this year. For now, however, Elder said she is very excited about the community center’s third Black Tie & Boots fundraising gala on Saturday, April 27th at Chartwell Golf & Country Club. This year’s gala honors philanthropist Carl Gutschick who has been a supporter of the community center since 1998, serving on the Board of Directors and contributing his time and treasure to the center’s ongoing facility needs.

“This will be the last of our Black Tie and Boots events before switching to a new theme next year so we’ve planned a great evening with a farm to table dinner, live entertainment and many western-themed surprises,” Elder said.

She added that tickets can be purchased at the center’s front desk or online at Home – Severna Park Community Center (spcommunitycenter.org).

Park Hardware’s Native Plant Sale scheduled for May 4th

Park Hardware will be hosting a Native Plant Sale on the store parking lot on Saturday, May 4 from 9 am till 2 pm with complimentary burgers and hot dogs for shoppers. The Park Hardware sale is the place to buy your favorite perennial native plants while supporting Providence of Maryland. Choose from selection of five native perennials in 6 inch pots at $7 apiece.

Broadway Bonanza Cabaret Performance to benefit SPAN, Inc. on April 21st

For the fourth year, Severna Park native Laurette Hankins has created a wonderful Broadway musical-themed concert and silent auction benefitting SPAN, Inc. that will take place at St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Parish Hall on Sunday, April 21 at 4pm.

Pianist Anita O’Connor will accompany Hankins as she performs a wide array of show tunes hand-picked from seven decades of Broadway’s best musicals. Tickets are $25 with 100% of net proceeds going to SPAN. They may be purchased by visiting Cabaret Concert & Silent Auction – SPAN, Inc (spanhelps.org).

The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center.)

and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi

and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services

Entering Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville at 5:30 pm last Wednesday, we followed the crowd to the lush surroundings of the store’s greenhouse where a festive Green Drinks gathering hosted by Annapolis Green was getting underway. Lines had formed at the Annapolis Green table where guests were checking in and/or making donations. A number of people had already entered and were viewing displays from 13 GreenGive partners.

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Held annually, the 2024 Green Drinks event at Homestead was a fun kickoff and way draw attention to the  GreenGive partner organizations ahead of their online fundraising drive that will take place June 4th and 5th. 

We’d been to a Green Drinks event before, so we reckoned we’d run into people we knew. Sure enough, we immediately bumped into Barbara Gill who we’d last seen at a Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber “Successful Women In Business” meeting. Gill, an eco-educator and Annapolis Green member, said she planned to return to Homestead Gardens on the weekend to display her line of Melaleuca “wellness” products at the Davidsonville Green Expo.

Wandering on, we visited a display for the Anne Arundel County Watershed Stewards Academy located in Millersville. Over the years, we’ve visited many of the capstone restoration projects undertaken by graduates of the program and have been impressed.

Projects range from stormwater runoff and watershed restoration initiatives to reforestation efforts using native species.

Next to the WSA booth, we found Severn River Association‘s Grace Weeks deep in conversation with guest Elizabeth Rosborg who is with the Arnold Preservation Council. Weeks, SRA’s Chesapeake Conservation & Climate Corps member, was explaining the importance of Water Quality Monitoring in the Severn to the organization’s Oyster Restoration program.

Nearby, we found Development and Communications Director Charlotte Graves and Community Outreach Assistant Lily Hariton similarly engaged at the Arundel Rivers Federation table. Hariton explained that the Arundel Rivers Federation is dedicated to protecting, restoring, and preserving the South, West, and Rhode Rivers and surrounding watershed.

She noted that AFR’s staff includes South, West and Rhode River Riverkeeper Elle Bassett who is responsible for patrolling local waterways, tracking down sources of pollution and identifying problems that impact water quality among other things.

Board member and volunteer Pat Morrison represented Unity Gardens which offers grants of up to $1000 to non-profits such as schools, religious organizations, scout troops and community groups to purchase native plants for conservation landscaping. 

Volunteers like Morrison not only help local communities fund their projects but educate them about using the power of native plants to address issues like stormwater runoff, pollution and habitat loss.

We paused for just a few moments to check out a tasty array of hors d’ oeuvres from Annapolis-based Bread and Butter Kitchen and enjoy being entertained by local band The Sandpipers

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Strolling about again, we briefly visited the display of the newly formed Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area which was touting the state’s upcoming Maryland Day activities. The activities included partner Severn Crossroads Foundation’s Maryland Day event at their 1840’s Schoolhouse behind Historic Baldwin Hall.

Crossing the aisle between exhibits, we spied Good Neighbors Group executive director Julie Shay with Spa Creek Conservancy board president Amy Clements. The two organizations were sharing a table.

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While Clements and other board members were touting Spa Creek Conservancy’s efforts to clean up and restore the watershed, Shay was promoting GNG’s 22nd Annual Earth Day Festival being held at Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company on April 27th from 10 am till 2 pm.

Of the remaining non-profit organizations participating, we explored the Scenic Rivers Land Trust (seen in the opening photo) which is dedicated to protecting the forests, wetlands, farmlands and other open spaces that make Anne Arundel County special. We also checked out the Maryland Reentry Resource Center seen on the right in the photo below. The MRRC seeks to ease the transition of an incarcerated individual from prison or jail back into the community.

Last of all, we noted the crowd forming around Dennis Fravek and David Rose from the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary in Lothian and waited our turn to speak with them. Though we’d once visited the sanctuary, we’d forgotten how large it was. Fravek and Rose reminded us that the wetlands are located within the tidal reaches of the Patuxent River in southern Anne Arundel County and protect about 1,700 acres of unique tidal freshwater marshes, forested wetlands, upland and riparian forest, creeks, meadows, pine and sand barrens, and fields along the Patuxent River.

Before leaving, we enjoyed being introduced to Annapolis Green’s executive director Tilly Coyle and the organization’s co-founder Lynne Forsman. They were both excited to tell us that the next Green Drinks is at Garten in Severna Park on May 16. The theme will be edible gardens, sourcing locally and highlighting sustainable businesses of Severna Park. Considering that Garten is surrounded by lovely gardens full of flowers and edible spring produce, it’s the perfect location.

Stay posted for information about the GreenGive and consider making a donation by visiting Annapolis Green – connect, inform & take action with local environmental info .

Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails organizing Earth Day cleanups

The Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails are organizing multiple clean-up locations along our trails on April 19 and 20. Volunteers are needed along the WB&A Trail at Odenton Babington Green on April 19. On April 20, the Friends will be working along the B&A Trail at Arnold Station, Hatton-Regester Green, Earleigh Heights (for vine removal), at Flower Beds #57 and #58, and at the Sun Station. They’ll also be working along the South Shore Trail at Millersville Road on April 20. If you are interested in joining the effort, contact the Friends at friendsofaatrails@gmail.com.

The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center.)

and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi

and Lean on Dee Senior Home Care Services

Though the Easter holiday is not officially part of SPAN’s Holiday Caring Program, SPAN, Inc.’s co-directors Michele Sabean and Maia Grabau like to mark the holiday by including something special for their food pantry clients. Thanks to a generous donation from St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Episcopal Church, Grabau was in the process of arranging 50 Easter baskets in front of the office fireplace. She had also accepted the first of a large number of Easter dinner boxes and gift cards from Our Lady of the Fields Catholic Church in Millersville.

SPAN’s food pantry shelves are full, at the moment, thanks to generous donations from the Good Neighbors Group’s S(o)uper Bowl of Caring food drive in February. In addition, food donations from Boy Scouts of America troops 855, 858, and 993’s Scouting for Food Drive came in over the past two weekends and several local churches dropped off contributions.

“We’re so grateful to Good Neighbors Group and the others,” said Sabean. “The foods we’ve received from them should last us from now through the summer (when donations drop off) till fall. Donations generally pick up again in October.”

SPAN, Inc. is best known for its food pantry according to Grabau, the organization’s Director of Development. However, since the founding of SPAN by six local churches over three decades ago, the lion’s share of SPAN’s mission has been helping families in need of financial assistance.

“Help for people with utility turnoffs is where we give out the most money,” Grabau said. “We have become more of a financial assistance provider. The vast majority of people coming to our office are seeking financial assistance.”

As Sabean, who is Director of Development, leafed through SPAN’s Annual Report looking for a graph, she explained that the primary mission of the organization is to provide food or financial assistance to qualified families to help them through a critical or emergency situation. Because of extraordinarily high energy costs, utility bills are the most urgent need followed closely by home eviction preventions and medical bills.

“For 2023, donations made it possible for us to help with more than 2.5 times the amount of emergency financial assistance we do in a typical year,” Sabean said. “On average SPAN gives about $100,000 in financial assistance a year. In 2023, SPAN provided over $287,600 in financial disbursements. The need for emergency financial assistance increased dramatically with the official end of the pandemic and its additional supports.”

She illustrated her point with the graph shown below.

Grabau added that most people have no idea how much financial aid SPAN, Inc. supplies to families in its primary service areas of Arnold, Millersville, Severna Park and Broadneck and secondary service areas of Brooklyn Park, Ft. Meade, Odenton, Crofton, Gambrills, Pasadena, Crownsville, Glen Burnie, Severn and Linthicum. Thus, SPAN, Inc. headquarters at 400 Benfield Road behind Our Shepherd Lutheran Church sees a constant flow of people seeking help.

What is amazing is that SPAN is a totally self-sustaining organization reliant on financial donations from individuals, local businesses and churches willing to help. SPAN fortunately has a small number of regular donors who are very generous. Nevertheless, its directors, board members and volunteers are always looking for monetary donations.

The number of SPAN Member Churches has risen from the original six to 13, all of whom make contributions.

Sabean and Graubau also oversee various fundraisers, one of which is coming up on April 21. For the fourth year, Severna Park native Laurette Hankins-O’Connell is producing a Cabaret Performance and Silent Auction to benefit SPAN. By now a tradition, the concert starring Hankins-O’Connell and accompanist Anita O’Connor will delight the audience with “Broadway Bonanza”, an exuberant and occasionally irreverent salute to a wide variety of Broadway and movie musicals.

Conceived as a way for actress and singer Hankins-O’Connell to give back to the community she grew up in, the concert will be held this year at St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Parish Hall. St. Martin’s generously donated the space cost-free so 100% of the proceeds from the concert and silent auction will be donated to SPAN. Tickets for the performance are $25 and may be ordered at https://www.spanhelps.org/cabaret_concert_silent_auction.

“We’re already getting some great Silent Auction items donated by local businesses including a week’s stay at an Ocean City condo. This year for the first time, we’ll put the auction online prior to the concert so people can take part in the auction even if they can’t make it to the event,” Sabean said.

SPAN seeks donations by participating in local events including the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber’s 2024 Shop Local Fun Festival coming up May 4th. They’ll also be participating, as usual, in the Severna Park 4th of July Parade and collecting donations along the parade route. Both Grabau and Sabean are excited because they are already working to upgrade their float this year.

SPAN’s second biggest fundraiser, the Twelfth Annual Turkey Trot 5K or One Mile Fun Walk will be held November 2 at Kinder Farm Park. The autumn weather is usually beautiful and SPAN is able to raise a lot of money through the event from sponsors who participate year after year. Generally, there are about 200 participants including runners, walkers and volunteers. It’s so much fun that the event always draws good-sized crowds.

“We’re doing a mailing this week for Early Bird Sponsors who will receive four free entries with their donation,” said Sabean.

SPAN’s Holiday Caring Programs for Thanksgiving and Christmas are, by far, the organization’s most impressive, initiative matching donors with families needing help. Each year, between 150 and 200 families learn about the program through schools or Social Services and sign up for the program The donors are incredibly generous and, because of them, between 150 and 200 families can have happier holidays.

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Grabau, Sabean and the volunteers who work with clients are often touched by the stories of people seeking help. Many have issues that far exceed their immediate financial needs.

“One woman who came in with a very large BGE bill had recently undergone a triple bypass surgery. Shortly, after her surgery, her son was tragically murdered,” said Grabau. “She has two remaining children. Because of all she’d suffered, she was unable to work for some time and had gotten behind paying her bills. Though we cannot heal her broken heart, we try to do our part to help lighten the load for clients like her. We gave her assistance with her utility turn-off and encouraged her to sign up for the Christmas program. When people are suffering emotionally, just knowing someone cares can give them the strength to keep going.”

SPAN’s budget for monies going out far exceeds the amount brought in by fundraisers so financial donations are needed and greatly appreciated. To learn more about SPAN or to make a donation, visit SPAN Serving People Across Neighborhoods (spanhelps.org).

Partners In Care’s Spring Fling With Bling on April 17th

Partners In Care invites everyone to join them at Bleues On The Water on
Wednesday, April 17th from 11:00am – 2:00pm for the 18th Annual Jewelry Extravaganza – Spring Fling With Bling! Guests will enjoy luncheon and a fashion show, then shop an abundance of fine and costume jewelry from PIC’s Upscale Resale Boutique, as well as designer clothing, shoes, purses, and other tempting treasures.

Tickets are $40 per person and it is advised that you purchase them soon by visiting https://partnersincaremd.salsalabs.org/springfling/ as they are expected to sell out.

The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center.)

and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.