AROUND THE PARK AGAIN By Sharon Lee Tegler
At 8:30 am Saturday, August 22, Hollyberry Garden Club member Peggy Turnblacer met Eagle Scout candidate Sammy Watson and members of Boy Scout Troop 975 on the sidewalk at the Severna Park Community Library. Dressed for work and wearing masks, the Scouts prepared to complete Sammy’s Eagle Scout project for the garden club – building and installing wooden planters for the library’s entrances.
Hollyberry Garden Club members created and maintain the gardens surrounding the library. But, in 2016, they’d collaborated with aspiring Eagle Scout Alek Frederiksson of Troop 993 who built a wheelchair accessible planter at Genesis Healthcare Severna Park. Naturally, when faced with old and rotting wooden planters at the library’s entrances, they thought to seek help from the Boy Scouts.
They reached out to Troop 975 Scoutmaster Ben Eloff and were put in touch with Sammy who was looking for a community-oriented Eagle Scout project.
A senior at Old Mill High School this year, Sammy served as junior assistant Scout Master and a Senior Patrol Leader of his troop. He accepted the garden club’s challenge and planned and implemented the building project from start to finish.
Providing the library with detailed drawings and views of the planters he wanted to build along with lists of materials and costs, he raised the money for the project. Then members of Troop 975 built the planters under his supervision.
According to Sammy’s mom Sherri, he’s pleased with the project and happy to be able to get it finished. She said he began working on it in March but was held up by the COVID lock down.
There were plenty willing hands to help the scouts install the planters Saturday morning including those of Eagle Scout coach Karen Scheel , a retired teacher and assistant principal , Sammy’s parents Sherri and Jeff Watson, garden club members and Sarah Reftovich from sister troop 1975. ,
Eloff, District Membership chair for the Four Rivers District explained that Eagle Scout projects give candidates insight into qualities of leadership and management of interpersonal relationships.
With his project complete, Sammy will formally deliver a report detailing its highlights and how he demonstrated leadership as he implemented it. After final approval by the Council, he will be awarded his Eagle Scout badge.
Thanks to the Scouts, dirt, plant material and the dilapidated wooden barrels have been removed so the Hollyberry gardeners are looking forward to replacing the plants – perhaps adapting autumn themed flowers like asters and chrysanthemums.
Turnblacer said the garden club was very impressed with Sammy and Troop 975 while Severna Park Library was thrilled and grateful to have new planters.
The partnership between Hollyberry Garden Club and Severna Park Library is longstanding. In addition to designing and maintaining the beautiful native gardens, the club holds its annual Christmas Greens Sale in the library’s lobby. Each spring, Hollyberry members celebrate the season by hosting “Books in Bloom” highlighting literature-themed floral arrangements from members of several garden clubs.
Stage & Screen Studios prepares to film “You Can’t Take It With You”
The COVID-19 pandemic “directly impacted Stage & Screen Studios closing down productions” according to owner/director Pete Garvey. He said the company is slowly getting back to operating normally while adhering to COVID related guidelines and social distancing, Students are finally permitted in the studio for one-on-one instruction in acting, television and film techniques. However, the company’s on-site stage productions still aren’t allowed to have audiences.
Garvey said they’ve live-streamed individual actors’ work and recently filmed and streamed a recital by singer Hannah Hall that attracted was highly praised. However, the studios are having to get very innovative.
“We’re currently rehearsing a straight play that only requires a small cast,” the director said. “We’ll film our production of “You Can’t Take It With You” with a cast of 12 actors. Then, it will be shown during Stage and Screen Studios virtual ‘Film Festival’ the third weekend of September.”
For updates on Stage & Screen Studios, visit www.stagescreenstudios.com.
Chesapeake Harmony Chorus, Quartets at a standstill
Unable to do live performances because singing is considered a possible way to spread COVID 19, members of Chesapeake Harmony Chorus and its Quartets had to cancel all their practices and concerts.
Musical director Sally Burton, who is also a member of the quartets Carpe Diem and 2nd Star, said the singers felt terrible about cancelling their shows and sorry for the venues that depend on events like theirs for revenue.
Most of all, they miss.each other.
“Though not the same, chorus members have been singing together regularly over Zoom every Wednesday evening,” Burton said. “We may try to follow the example of some choruses and record a virtual performance.”
Plans for the chorus’ traditional holiday appearance at Baldwin Hall are up in the air. To stay updated, visit https://www.chesapeakeharmony.org/.
Theater In The Park opens classes
Following the success of its theater summer camps held at Severna Park Community Center, Theater In The Park will begin holding regular classes the week of September 21.
“Our summer camps were so great. They were very safe with social distancing and masks,” said Theater In The Park owner/director Jennifer Lee Kraus. “We held our musical theater workshops with small groups of eight kids and adopted the theme ‘Under The Big Top’. The campers loved it put on a very entertaining shows at the end. ”
Kraus noted that the upcoming workshops will be small, with 10 children to a group divided by age. They’ll be conducted in accordance with COVID-19 guidelines. A fun theme of “Once Upon a Time – a Fractured Fairy Tale” has been chosen.
Classes will meet for 50 minutes each Saturday for 10 weeks. At the end of the 11th week, class members will perform a show for their parents. For more information, visit https://www.theaterinthepark.net/.
Tonight’s “Virtual Variety Night” courtesy of Benevolent Baskets
Tonight at 7 pm, online viewers can attend Benevolent Baskets‘ “Virtual Variety Night Fundraiser and Online Auction”.
Benevolent Baskets, the non-profit organization that provides life skills and job training to formerly homeless women through its growing gift basket business is hosting this unique fundraiser. Both entertainment and demonstrations will be featured.
Viewers will see Baltimore singer Justin Trawick in concert plus demonstrations by Classic Catering, mixologist Liz Dabecco, and wrapping expert Gary Godbe. For $25 tickets or $100 VIP tickets, visit https://www.benevolentbaskets.org/2020-fundraiser-tickets .
