AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
From the Anne Arundel County Animal Care & Control tent, where children were admiring “Two Toes” the bunny, to the farthest end of Severna Park High School’s front sidewalk where recycled books were being given away, the return of Good Neighbors Group’s Earth Day Festival was a happy occasion indeed.
Cradled in the arms of Jessica Galuardi, “Two Toes” (so named because she’s missing a couple toes) was just one of the adoptable bunnies and pups brought along to call attention to the organization, its work and its need to find permanent homes for the animals it cares for.
Opposite A.A. Co. Animal Care & Control were booths along the front sidewalk including those of Power Factor Company , specializing in solar installations, and Echoes of Nature. Popular throughout Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia, Echoes of Nature brought along its own “animal ambassadors” ranging from snakes and lizards to birds of prey like their red tailed hawk. The animal ambassadors were primarily adopted by EON from rescues and shelters.
The footprint of the 2022 Earth Day celebration seemed larger than the last time the event was held two years ago. Booths extended from the school courtyard across the sidewalks on both sides of the buildings. Even the parking lot was used to accommodate a line of trucks from charitable organizations. Among others was a truck from Millersville-based Orphan Grain Train – the ultimate recycler of much needed clothing, home goods and medical equipment that is sent to countries overseas including sub-Saharan Africa and Ukraine. Another truck was from Hope for All in Glen Burnie – a non-profit that helps those transitioning from homelessness through local residents’ donations of furniture and household goods as well as shoes, clothing and personal care items.
The sidewalk booths were busy from the moment the festival opened as can be seen in the photo below with Severna Park High students unpacking and laying out gently used books they’d collected to be given away.
Inside the courtyard, the array of exhibitors was quite diverse. Magothy River Association president Paul Spadaro and member Bob Royer’s booth not only held information about conserving the watershed but also a supply of the organization’s new educational Magothy River game. They’d spread one out across the pavement for kids and adults to play.
Royer, who also heads Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church’s environmental and sustainability projects, reported that the church recently won an Interfaith Power & Light Cool Congregations Annual Award for Sustainability. They also were awarded the Energy Saver Award for reducing their energy consumption by 52%. (Woods’ Renew campaign significantly reduced the church’s energy usage through installation of ultra-high efficiency HVAC systems, upgrades to LED lighting, installation of highly efficient windows and building insulation improvements for a cost savings of $30,000 per year.)
In keeping with the Earth Day Festival’s theme “Do a World of Good, Think Outside the Landfill”, there was an entire table devoted to recycled donations that attendees were welcome to add to or take home at no cost. Items ranged from a stroller to wallpaper, books, candlesticks, garden seeds, cleaning supplies, fabric and batting and a coffeemaker.
One of the simplest, yet most helpful and efficient exhibits at the Earth Day festival was that of Baltimore-based CNR Lighting (C.N. Robinson Lighting Supply Co.). CNR representative Angela Schwartz explained that the various bins on her table were marked for attendees to deposit used fluorescent and LED lights and used batteries (all of which are extremely toxic to the environment if consigned to landfills).
According to Schwartz, CNR sends the batteries collected to a company called Veolia Environmental Services which recycles them through a process that extracts environmentally dangerous metals which can be reused.
The sight of Jing Ying Institute owners Nancy and Billy Greer performing an educational Tai Chi demonstration mid-courtyard brought a smile to everyone’s face. The pair was fresh from their earlier World Tai Chi Day celebration on the lawn of Boone Station Hall where dozens of practitioners joined them in performing the art’s graceful movements. Jing Ying Institute has participated in every local Earth Day festival and, though late, the Greers were determined to carry on the tradition.
On the far side of the courtyard, Brittany Neff, Isaac Sears and Nathan Wheeler from Let’s Grow in Pasadena were selling cactus, succulent and foliage plants while entertaining customers with a running commentary about the interactive plantscape-themed private parties the company hosts. The miniature flowerpots containing easy-to-grow cacti and succulents were particularly appealing to children
One booth over, at Pasadena-based Rise Above Animal Rescue & Sanctuary, kittens and cats were the order of the day though the organization takes in other pets. The non-profit focuses on animals that need help including those injured, elderly or in need of medical care and relies on volunteers and families that are willing to foster them.
In addition to being a boon for those who like to purchase local eggs, herbs and plants, Amy Timme’s pretty Chesapeake Homestead booth was a lesson in organic, sustainable agriculture. Eggs fresh from the family farm’s flock of 60 pasture-raised chickens shared the table with adorably witty egg containers, bundles of freshly picked herbs, and pots of farm-grown plants ready to be transplanted. They included organically raised red, yellow and green pepper plants, red raspberry plants, and tomato plants among others.
“By June, our homestead farm store in Pasadena will be selling freshly picked vegetables, fruits and flowers. We’re also raising turkeys for Thanksgiving and have some jars of our homemade brine mixture for those who like to prepare early,” Timme said.
Jewelry designer Felicite Hawkins shared a table on which Sasswell co-owner Kate Langston (with Laura MacKay) had an array of health-related products. Langston and MacKay practice therapeutic massage, yoga and other healing techniques and just opened a new Severna Park location off Ritchie Highway behind Donut Shack. Hawkins, seen here trying a pair of earrings on Langston, sells her unique handcrafted jewelry on Etsy
Nearby, at the Mom’s Organic Market stand, Earth Day festival visitors were encouraged by Aaron Montillano, Alysse Betha and Scout Yardumian-Grubb to take a free banana, consider a cloth shopping bag, or drop off cell phones no longer in use. The trio was from the Jessup branch of the organic food market which got its start in Rockville, Maryland but now has branches in Washington, D.C. and five states.
Next to them, bins at hand, was Greg Brummitt from Annapolis Compost, a local non-profit with curbside collection services.
Almost at the end of booths at the far end of the school, festival attendees had the pleasure of checking out and perhaps selecting several titles from the books, by then well arranged, at the SPHS student’s Books & Our Earth Display for free.
Aware that only 20% of children are currently found to read regularly, the students were determined that more kids should be introduced to the joy and adventure found in books. Judging by their wide-ranging selection of recycled children’s storybooks, novels, mysteries, biographies and scientific tomes, there was something for everyone.
Catching up with Good Neighbors Group president and primary organizer Julie Shay as the event was winding down, she noted how happy she was to have had such a beautiful day for the 20th Annual Earth Day Festival.
For information on Good Neighbors Group’s upcoming activities, visit Home – Good Neighbors Group .
BREAKING NEWS: SHOP LOCAL FUN FIESTA rescheduled to Saturday, May 14
Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce CEO Liz League announced this morning that due to the National Weather Bureau’s rainy weather forecast for this weekend, the organization’s SPRING SHOP LOCAL FUN FIESTA has been rescheduled to Saturday, May 14 from 11 am to 3 pm.
There will still be food, games, animals, and fun for the whole family. For additional information, visit Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce (gspacc.com) .
