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
In the years since founded by executive director Julie Shay to “bring neighbors together”, Good Neighbors Group has undertaken initiatives from food drives and earth day festivals to blood drives to bond Severna Park residents, businesses and organizations together.
It occurred to Shay that GNG has done a great deal to help food pantries and neighborhood charities through its S(o)uper Bowl of Caring drives during these trying economic times. However, it might be time to do something to help the small independent businesses and organizations on which the survival of the community depends. That’s when she came up with the idea of holding GNG “Good Neighborhood Pop-Up Markets”. The second of these was held last Friday, September 8th on the BD Provisions parking lot.
“I felt a pop-up market would be a particularly good way to give newer or lesser-known services or businesses like BD Provisions some exposure and to drive more traffic to this location,” Shay said.
Eight participants took part in Friday’s event at a succession of tents and tables spread across the parking lot. A wide variety of merchandise was offered for savvy shoppers. As seen in the opening photograph, Wendy Presian from Stiches Of Kindness brought along a colorful selection of handsewn products with prices starting at $1. With inflation draining family budgets, the opportunity to buy a gift for a child or a friend for $1 was not to be missed.
Make-up cases and cloth napkins in pretty prints occupied part of the Stitches of Kindness table…. 
…while fabric bowl covers, sandwich bags, change purses, and bandannas for pups spilled across the far end.
The name “Stiches Of Kindness” reflects Presian’s kind nature. She’s dedicated to helping others with the sustainable living/environmentally friendly items she makes.
“I’ve sewn all my life, for over 45 years,” she said. During the pandemic, I began making face masks and donating more than 6,000 to hospitals, nursing homes and fire departments. I was happy to help, but then I realized that there were a lot of people who needed help in other ways. So, I started Stiches of Kindness as a non-profit organization with the idea of sewing items for individuals and other non-profits needing to raise funds,” she said.
Presian added that, among other things, she’ll make items for mastectomy kits, she’ll do pillowcases for kids in the hospital or she’ll knit and crochet hats for homeless folks. A partial list of the organizations she has supported is noted on a signboard she displays.
“The big takeaway here is that I’m just trying to spread kindness one stitch at a time,” she said.
Behind Stitches of Kindness, Sandy Baressi and daughter Hannah had already shopped at BD Provisions, co-host of the pop-up and the only participant with an actual storefront.
The pair was in the process of checking out each booth or table when they stopped at the Good Neighbors Group table with Julie Shay at the helm. Shay was operating a cool spinning wheel game and selling yoga related raffle tickets. Both Sandy and Hannah were fascinated when Shay told them about her organization’s Rogue Gardners’ project to rejuvenate the pond next to Cafe Mezzanotte in hopes of recruiting them.
Beyond the GNG table were shared displays by two animal rescue organizations. Bethany Kerley, Chelsea Harrison and friendly pup Sophie from the Senior Dog Sanctuary in Severn shared a table with Cynthia Manos from Baltimore-based Animal Allies Rescue Foundation (AARF).
Manos said AARF is a volunteer run 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and adoption of abandoned, abused, homeless, and senior dogs and cats in the Baltimore region.
Kerley, director of development for the Senior Dog Sanctuary, noted that the goal of her organization is to provide a safe haven for senior dogs who are unable to be cared for by their owners, who are abandoned or abused, or face euthanasia.
Behind, and to the right of Sophie and friends, was an attractive sidewalk display from Park Home where owner and designer Brittany Meade assembled a collection of the coastal-inspired cushions and accessories the shop is known for. Meade has hosted GNG’s first smaller pop-up market at Park Home.
Among other retailers we’ve spoken to recently, Meade said Severna Park merchants have been somewhat protected from the effects inflation is having on the market but she has made some changes.
“I have noticed that people’s buying habits have changed a bit. They are more mindful of how much they’re spending and of making some of the purchases they’ve gone for traditionally. So we’re offering things that we think are at a good price point. In fact, we’re offering products tailored to customers looking for a wider variety of price points.”
Across the parking lot, designer Rose M. Walker’s Bohemian Black line of fashions beckoned. Walker, who also heads her company’s House of Design Events and Walking Roses Styling brands, brought multiple racks of late-summer dresses in shades ranging from peach and pale lavenders to something a little brighter.
Walker, accompanied by her husband Hubert, a Washington, D.C. firefighter, enjoyed chatting with shoppers about the fashions and also telling them about the Bohemian Black Festival taking place this weekend, September 16 and 17, at Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company. The two-day festival will feature live music, food, fun and fashion (Walker will launch Bohemian Black’s fall line and children’s line at the event with two distinctly different fashion shows each day). A percentage of proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Life of Joy Foundation which focuses on mental health and suicide prevention.
Walker also updated us on the opening of a new retail space to showcase all three of her brands.
“Anne Arundel County just released our permit so we have about 60 to 90 days before we open. We’ll be located in the old Listman building on Earleigh Heights Road in Severna Park which is currently being remodeled. We’ll be on the top floor.
For ticket options for one or both days of the festival, visit Festival Tickets | The Bohemian Black F (thebohemianblackfestival.com).
Recrossing the parking lot, we encountered BD Provisions co-owner Debra Saltz visiting the tent of Marni Globerman’s Globie’s Goodies.
Globerman said she handcrafted each of the glittering objects (some of which were personalized) displayed as well as all manner of clever and amusing signs. For the time being she markets her products primarily at craft shows.
We also visited the Neighborhood Sun Community Solar Tent where representative Natalia was offering shoppers a free share in a solar farm with the idea of saving one’s own energy costs.
Last but not least, shoppers made a beeline for BD Provisions. Those who hadn’t visited before were astonished by the sight of 200 plus barrels of organic food products plus oils, vinegars, spices, teas and coffees. The store is known for its fine selection of coffee beans and its regularly-scheduled coffee roastings.
Needless to say, it took shoppers some time to take everything in. You can check out BD Provisions at Severna Park Store — BD Provisions- zero waste bulk food store or follow them on Facebook.
Woods Church announces Savvy Seniors program
Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church is offering a Savvy Seniors program for the Severna Park Community. The first program, on Tuesday, September 19th from 1 pm to 2:30, will feature “Packing the Past, Unpacking the Future,” a program dealing with the complex issue of downsizing. Speakers will include Rev Nancy Lincoln Reynolds and Elder Peggy Newman, an expert in art, antiques and downsizing.
Savvy Seniors will meet every third Tuesday of the month until May. Come for refreshments, conversation and speakers knowledgeable about aging, health and wellness, insights for aging, meaningful movement and more. Contact the church office for more information: 410-647-2550.
Historic Baldwin Hall Crab Feast to be held September 24th
A quick reminder that Historic Baldwin Hall is holding its annual Crab Feast on September 24th. Tickets are available from Janice Crowe at 410-647-5370 or Janice.A.Crowe@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.
