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AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

A bit disappointed that Park Plaza will not be holding it’s annual holiday celebration this year, Park Home owners Heather and Scott Summers went all out with beautiful decorations to make their store as warm and welcoming as possible.

From the moment Tuesday’s mask-wearing shoppers caught sight of the antique sleigh filled with Merry Christmas pillows, the modernistic tree decorated with collectible Christmas balls or the gorgeous grapevine wreaths surrounded by baskets of grape and eucalyptus stems, their spirits were lifted and their imaginations fully engaged.

Owner Sue Gautier was on hand Tuesday to personally greet and chat with customers. She’s pleased that her business is doing well going into the Christmas season.

“We’re hangin’ in there,” she said. “We’re very thankful for our loyal local customers. They’ve supported us all along on our website and now they’re coming by to shop in person. We didn’t even have a website before COVID but its been good for us. To follow current guidelines, we must be careful about how many people can be inside at one time, By having the website, we can still offer online service…especially for those who most need to stay safe.”

Ceramic angels bade welcome to shoppers at Side Street Framers & Gift Gallery along with co-owner Dawn Wilson who was on hand to welcome them personally.

Wilson loved showing off the work of local artisans like pretty sea glass earrings by Cathy Kelly, clever wire jewelry by Jessica Graves, or amazing glass ornaments by Terri Hechler that featured miniaturized images of vintage trucks, seashells or blue crabs. Long involved with Park Plaza Christmas celebrations and with Severna Park’s #ShopLocal efforts, she believes purchasing an item from a local artist or crafter is, in essence, helping a neighbor.

Wilson said Side Street Framers took special pains this year to stock multiple shipments of refillable “lifetime candles”. They’re always popular at holiday time and seem to sell out year after year.

Next door to Side Street Framers, Franklin Toys was pleased to be doing well. Business picked up considerably since the lock-down ended and sales were brisk. They’d even sold out of 2020’s most popular toy – a robotic hand. From holiday ornaments to plush Santas or penguins, crafts and games of all kinds, fanciful dress-up togs for budding princes or princesses, and 1,000-piece puzzles, there is something to please “kids of all ages”.

Leaving Park Plaza by car, shoppers had to go merely a block to enter the Christmas wonderland at Homestead Gardens Severna Park at the corner of Ritchie Highway and Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard. There is so much to do, see and buy that shoppers can easily spend an hour shopping.

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From forests of sparkly trees, red and white poinsettias and deeply green hollies to…..

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……photo ops with reindeer and elves and a very lifelike Santa, there is something for everyone.

According to general manager Heidi Tyler and hardgoods manager Steph Stowell, when Homestead Gardens learned they couldn’t have a live Santa due to virus restrictions, they brought in a dozen elves and a reindeer they posed in front of Santa’s workshop and are inviting customers to use the Christmas village as a backdrop for individual or family photos. They also brought in a lifelike model of the jolly old elf complete with reindeer and Christmas tree – again, the perfect setting for a photo.

Just around the corner, Kirsten’s Cakery was still preparing Thanksgiving orders but was already thinking about the cakes, cookies and pies they’ll be making for the holiday season boom. Among new dessert items Kirsten and her talented staff of bakers recently added are mini-cheesecake tarts with red and white striped toppings that are both delicious and festive enough for the Christmas table.

Neighbor Savvy Consignment was particularly busy Tuesday. In fact, they’d just sold two sofas according to owner Stacey Cassidy. People were shopping for gifts but also for clothing and items to spruce up their homes for the holidays. They were also shopping for gift certificates. A sign in Savvy’s window says it all.

Almost all local retailers are offering gift certificates including Savvy’s neighbors across B&A Boulevard – The Big Bean with its special blends of coffee and Blended Essentials with candle making classes, soaps, scented oils, candles and more.

There are several additional retail shops favored by Severna Park shoppers that are beyond the town’s borders. Though a little out of the way, Whimsicality – an upscale gift shop and destination store for Scout bags and coolers – is located at 1350 Cape St. Claire Road.

Whimsicality owner Tricia Hylind notes that the shop carries Nordic Beach fashions, jewelry, scarves and, for the holiday season, lots of whimsical ornaments, greeting cards, gift bags and even candy.

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Can’t leave out Cakes & Confections at 342 Ritchie Highway. Locals just love Chef Michael Brown’s marvelous holiday yule logs, Christmas cookies and homemade pies. These are just some of the businesses doing their best to spread Christmas cheer. They hope you’ll keep the small business community healthy by #ShoppingLocal.

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Almost a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, many small businesses were struggling and some were forced to close their doors. Though it may be difficult to imagine anyone wanting to risk starting a new business, two were launched during October.

j.lolly

Friends Tammi Molavi and Michelle Hickman started the first – an online business called j.lolly that creates beautiful table settings for at-home entertaining that customers can “rent”. They offer complete tablescapes for gatherings of from two to 24 diners and guarantee no-contact delivery and pick-up.

The partners have created several different tablescapes to choose from, the most popular of which has been “All Out Autumn” pictured here. Each place setting includes a muted green charger, round white china dinner plate, squared salad plate in the same hue, an antique butter pat plate, cloth napkin in napkin ring, and a copper mug. Special touches include a lovely bouquet of sunflowers in a white mason jar.

Occupying the far end of the table are selections of tarts and cookies and appetizers from a Severna Park catering company Molavi and Hickman have teamed with called April’s Table which can supply a sumptuous take-out menu if requested.

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Hickman explained that the idea for their company was generated by their common interests and the fact that they’d long wanted to do something together. Having met volunteering for a Severna Park Middle School drama department show their kids were in and further bonded as “costume moms” for Severna Park High’s Rock ‘N Roll Revivals, they found they both had a passion for party and event planning and a penchant for collecting china, glassware, linens and decorative items.

Restricted to their homes with time on their hands during the COVID-19 lock down, the pair tackled housekeeping chores and rediscovered treasures from their collections.

“During our daily phone calls, we’d detail what we came across – like my collection of antique butter pat plates and Michelle’s rustic candle holders,” Molavi said. “We were wondering how we could put these lovely pieces to use when we came up with the idea of renting out ready-to-use table settings.”

They realized that, even during a pandemic, people need to celebrate the little things. Providing an easy, no-contact way of entertaining could be a valuable service.

By pooling their collections, they had enough items to create six different tablescapes. “All Out Autumn” came together easily.

Special touches like Molavi’s individual butter pat plates were easy to come up but it was more challenging finding napkin rings in the shape of leaves. Calling on their creativity, they added cleverly designed background decorations.

j.lolly’s equally lovely tablescapes include “Bespoke Blush”, a positively “pretty in pink” setting, while “Envious Emerald” mixes dark green elements with bright whites that even St. Patrick would admire. “Woodsy Chic” combines sky blue china and blue and white checked napkins with lush greenery. “Amazing Greys” impresses with subtle elegance that relies on graphic patterns in china and linens. “Coastal Cool” captures a waterside vibe with vintage sea glass and matching blue table linens. All six tablescapes come with easy to follow set-up directions.

According to Hickman, the name j.lolly was chosen for the business to commemorate the beginning of their friendship when their children were in the show “Schoolhouse Rock”.

“The ‘J’ is for Tammi’s daughter Josee who played Interplanet Janet and ‘Lolly’ is for the song my son Sam sang during his first musical appearance.”

Both women have solid experience behind them. Molavi owned the Paper Trousseau in Olde Severna Park which handled wedding and event invitations and related materials while Hickman, a former teacher, had a home staging business. An added advantage is having Josee, now a teacher at St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Episcopal School, as their unofficial social media advisor.

The partners say they’re starting small while people are still sticking close to home. But they believe the possibilities for expansion once the virus runs its course are endless. There are excellent opportunities to work with local businesses like April’s Table. Prospective customers run the gamut from young couples without storage space for china or glassware to busy professionals pressed for time… or older adults looking for an easier way to host a holiday family dinner.

A website is in the works which will be www.jlolly.com. Meantime, visit @setbyjlolly on Instagram or https://www.facebook.com/setbyjlolly on Facebook.

Atalie Day Photography

The second business to launch in October was Atalie Day Payne’s Atalie Day Photography.

Well-known to area residents as Atalie Day Brown through her work for The Capital and Maryland Gazette newspapers, Payne first submitted images as a free-lance photographer in 2012, became the paper’s West County columnist in 2013, and took over as the Around Pasadena columnist in 2015.

She spent five years covering Pasadena before leaving The Capital in April of 2019 when son Jasper was born. Even while taking a breather to spend more time with Jasper, daughter Elise, 4, and son Ezra, 15, she missed the artistic outlet that working for the newspaper provided.

“I’m someone who loves art. I enjoy drawing and painting and I have a degree in photojournalism from George Washington University’s Corcoran School of the Arts and Design” said Payne. “I’ve always loved photography since my dad brought me my first film camera when I was 14 and I learned darkroom techniques and development. It’s part of me.”

Not being able to exercise her artistic muscle proved difficult for Payne and she’d long nurtured a dream of being a portrait photographer. With Jasper reaching the toddler stage and family members eager to babysit, she found she now had enough time to pursue that dream.

As a first step, she sought a mentor-ship with a photographer she greatly admired and had previously hired for Payne family portraits. The two met at length and discussed portraiture processes and the ways in which taking portraits is a unique discipline.

“Portraiture and photojournalism are quite different,” Payne said. “As a photojournalist, you move yourself wherever necessary to capture the action.. The posing aspect of a photo shoot was new to me.”

Building on skills she gained through her newspaper work and through a business she and husband Jared had recreating tintypes, she moved ahead and sought her first clients.

The budding portraitist has already completed a variety of Atlaie Day Photography assignments. Thus far, all have taken place in the natural settings she prefers. She’s done maternity photo shoots, taken engagement pictures and most recently photographed a wedding. But she’s mostly done family portraits which she seems to have a real knack for. She is particularly good working with children.

A recent photo session took place on the Shiloh family’s three acre working farm in Pasadena. Photographing C. J. and Jim Shiloh and their 3-year-old daughter Carol Sue against a backdrop of newly mowed fields and autumn leaves was a joy. The fact that chickens and sheep appeared from time to time simply added to the fun.

Choosing locations is always a challenge for Payne, even more so if she has acres at her disposal. And she likes to schedule her sessions for evening during the “golden hour” when the light is magical and is something that can’t be replicated indoors. She aims for a mix of images. Some shots are posed and formal. For others, she uses her photojournalist background to capture a family’s interactions, be it playing with a child, sharing a laugh or simply enjoying each other’s company.

Processing the digital photos she takes involves editing using an Adobe Lightroom software program, sometimes employing filters. Then she uploads them for the clients. At that point, clients can take the photos to whichever printer they prefer. There are now companies that specialize in portrait photographs that Payne can recommend.

The most challenging part of starting her portrait photography business has, thus far, been attracting clients. As word of Payne’s new endeavor spread, several families contacted her including friends from her church. But other clients discovered her through social media. She’s in the process of building an Atalie Day Photography website. For now, you can check out her work and contact her through her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Atalie-Day-Photography.

Doing sessions for several happy couples who discovered Atalie Day Photography through Facebook was both enjoyable and inspiring. She particularly liked working with newly engaged couple Trenda and Will Davidson.

“The love they felt for each other was palpable during the entire session and I know they’ll be very happy together,” she said.

To further her experience and exposure, Payne’s arranged to work as a second shooter for a friend who is a well established wedding photographer.

And, she’s already put plans for her next step into action.

“I’ll be hosting Christmas photo sessions November 21, 28 and Dec 5 from 2-4 p.m. The cost is $100 but 25% of my profit will be donated to a good cause, like historic Hancock’s Resolution farm in Pasadena.,” she said.

To that end, she recently purchased a new full frame high quality digital camera. She also bought a vintage velveteen sofa for those holiday mini-sessions – a whimsical prop that will add to the fun.

She’ll be doing the mini-sessions in half hour blocks by appointment. They may be arranged through Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Atalie-Day-Photography or by calling 301-697-1307.

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Conducting a Floating Classroom aboard a 20-ft. maritime skiff called Sea Girl on a beautiful late October morning was fun for Emi McGeady. She enjoyed teaching students how oxygen and salinity levels – which the kids measured – affected oyster habitat, oyster restoration efforts, dead zones and wildlife dependent on the river.

“Back in the field” at Jonas and Anne Catherine Green Park at Greenbury Point, McGeady reverted to her role as the Severn River Association’s new field investigator.

Her primary task is running the organization’s water quality monitoring program. Owing to above-average rainfall, algae blooms, and fish kills this year, the testing program took on added importance.

“Every week, I go out with volunteers on our skiff from Back Creek to 44 monitoring stations – 11 along the mainstem of the river and 33 in the Severn’s creeks and coves. We monitor all the way from headwaters at Indian Landing down to Whitehall Bay and Lake Ogleton,” she said.

The monitoring stations are spread across approximately 3,650 acres so it’s impossible to monitor them all in one trip. Thus, they split them into four manageable tours. Because of COVID regulations, only four volunteers go out at a time and everyone must wear a mask. SRA continues to need volunteers of all ages – who needn’t be members – to perform this important task.

“Each tour takes us two to three hours. The shortest tour is six stations and the lengthiest 11 sations,” said McGeady. “At each station, we lower a YSI probe with computerized instrumentation over the side of the boat on a long cord…. as much as eight meters down to just above the bottom though each station is different. The instruments provide a profile of conditions from the bottom to the surface.”

What SRA is most interested in are readings taken from just above the bottom of the river where the oxygen is lowest. It’s also the area where oysters, crabs and other aquatic lifeforms live.

The instrument readings include water temperature, salinity, PH and percentage of dissolved oxygen. A Secchi disk, a 12-inch disk lowered into the water until no longer visible, is used to determine water clarity. Weather conditions, including wind, are also recorded. McGeady uploads all the data they collect to the Chesapeake Monitoring Cooperative.

This summer’s heavy rains resulted in a lot of runoff with bacteria and nutrients entering the water resulting in algae blooms and a mahogany tide when the algae died, decomposed and depleted oxygen levels. This caused dead zones near the river’s bottom.

There was also a large-scale fish kill resulting from Tropical Storm Isaiah churning up the waters and depleting oxygen before the fish could swim away. Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 menhaden died at Sullivan’s Cove in Round Bay and another 7,500 near the mouth of the Severn at Lake Ogelton.

Based on her daily research, McGeady feels SRA’s oyster restoration project is invaluable. Every week, she and several volunteers visit each of five oyster reefs inspected by SRA to make sure oxygen levels, salinity, PH, and temperature readings are sufficient to allow the oysters to grow.

Standing at the park’s shoreline, she explained that all of the oyster reefs SRA monitors in partnership with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Oyster Restoration Project are located between the two Severn River Bridges.

“There were four historic places on the Severn River, dating back to 1911, that had naturally occurring populations of oysters,” she said. “Unfortunately, they were over harvested and completely disappeared. In 2008, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers came in and prepped all four of those sites using concrete slabs to create artificial structures protruding from the mud on the bottom that oysters could cling to. (Oysters can’t live in mud.)

Two of the four sites were Weems Creek and Weems Upper on the southern shore near the Rt. 50 Severn River Bridge. Another was directly in front of Manressa. The fourth was opposite the hilly area above Manressa known as Peach Orchard.

In 2018, SRA’s “Operation Build A Reef” program partnered with the Oyster Recovery Partnership to raise $50,000 in private donations and plant three of the four sites with 47 million oyster spat-on-shell from the University of Maryland’s Horn Point Hatchery off the Choptank River near Cambridge. (Spat are seed-sized oyster larvae that have metamorphosed onto a hard shell. )

In 2019, a salinity collapse in all Maryland rivers due to high rainfall meant there was too much fresh water and too little salinity off Horn Point to produce and provide enough spat for another reef to be filled.

Miraculously, the previously planted oysters survived the collapse and donations kept coming toward a 2020 planting. In July, SRA used those donations to plant 16.9 million baby oysters on the Weems Creek Reef.

Through a program begun in 2009 called Marylanders for Oysters (whereby volunteers grow oysters in cages off their piers) SRA planted oysters on their reef downriver from the Rt. 50 Bridge at Trace’s Hollow which it’s maintained for 11 years.

SRA also partners with DNR and ORP to plant oysters on Wade reef. Now the organization is looking for additional clear water areas suitable for reefs. One possibility is a part of Round Bay called Eagle’s Nest which, though shallow, has clear water and high oxygen levels.

According to McGeady, the Severn River is designated a “sanctuary river for oysters” and none can be harvested.

Some spat die off before maturing, but many oysters live for years. A mature oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water daily. It would take 10 billion living oysters to sufficiently clean the river and make it healthy.

Oyster reefs provide a great habitat for other marine life including worms, crabs, fish and underwater grasses. Submerged grasses also filter water and dampen wave energy. McGeady monitors aquatic vegetation along with trees and plants onshore that prevent runoff and erosion.

In fact, a clump of earth dislodged from the riverbank caught her eye. Examining it, she found the clump contained phragmites, a non-native invasive species of reeds that crowds out native species animals depend on. She further investigated, spotting phragmite reeds among the native grasses .

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Emi McGeady loves her job as a field investigator. She’s always enjoyed being outdoors. especially at her grandfathers house in the woods of North Carolina. Having grown up in Chartwell, she attended Severna Park High School where she found teacher Sue Hannah’s AP environmental science class fascinating.

After graduating, she attended the University of North Carolina with the idea of becoming a veterinarian. She, instead, fell in love with the school’s environmental science classes, switched her major and had lots of great hands-on experience.

“I went shark tagging, did a reforestation research project in Kentucky, and did research using drones, “she said. “I really enjoyed marine biology, so I thought the best place to apply my knowledge and talents was the Chesapeake Bay.”

She subsequently joined the Chesapeake Conservation Corp of the Chesapeake Bay Trust. The conservation corp provides grants for its members to work on a restoration or ecological program. SRA’s Executive Director Tom Guay had applied for the program on behalf of the organization. The two seemed a perfect match and McGeady’s Chesapeake Conservation Corps grant enabled her to join Guay at SRA in August.

SRA recently elected Erik Kreifeldt as its new president and acquired a new development director Suzanne Martin to lead its fundraising, event and development efforts. For information on the Severn River Association, visit https://severnriver.org/.

Severn River Lions traditional fruit sales are back

The Severn River Lions are holding their first fruit benefit sale. But this year they are having customers pick up their orders at Cypress Creek Park off Cypress Creek Road on Saturday, November 21.

Florida Navel Oranges, Ruby Red Grapefruit and Mandarin Oranges are being featured. Prices and quantities are listed and orders may be placed online and pre-paid by credit card at SRLCFruit.com, https://shop.floridaindianrivergroves.com/ecommerce/1014813.

Orders must be placed by Friday, Nov. 13. Pick-up on Saturday, November 21 is between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Fruit purchased may be delivered direct to the customer but there is a delivery charge of $6.95 per box ordered.

Customers are asked to wear a mask for pickup and should bring their email receipt. For questions, please email fruitorders@severnriverlions.org or call 410-518-9863.

Your purchase helps the Lions support: hearing and vision programs, youth programs, Meals on Wheels, SPAN, Cub and Boy Scouts, the Severna Park Middle School LEO club, Teen Court, children’s eye screenings at elementary schools and other projects.

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

If ever there was a white glove event, Severna Park Community Center’s 25th Anniversary Drive-By Gala was it. Elegantly dressed, in keeping with the fundraiser’s “Hollywood Premier” theme, community center staffers, board members and volunteers greeted supporters who’d purchased Anniversary Gala dinner packages as they arrived in their cars.

The volunteers’ “white gloves” not only added the perfect touch of class to the event but were one of several COVID-19 precautions taken along with wearing masks and having supporters remain safely in their cars while picking up their dinner boxes.

CEO Sarah Elder, programs director Shelly Beigel, dance center director Kellie Greer and 18 others pitched in to make the event happen.

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Beautifully turned out in silks, satins and pearls, Beigel and board member Patt Haun hailed each car as it entered the community center parking lot, greeted drivers and passengers and directed them around a circle where Greer and others sent them on to one of two Drive-By Stations to pick up their Anniversary Gala dinner boxes.

Haun and Beigel seemed pleased that the drive-by aspect of the fundraiser was going smoothly. They said the gala was going well with every dinner box ticket sold and an online auction/raffle continuing till midnight.

They admitted that switching from SPCC’s original plans for a glamorous 25th Anniversary event held in a hotel ballroom to a mostly online endeavor with a drive-by finale was challenging.

“Creativity has been the name of the game for 2020,” Beigel said. “We worked hard putting together the great dinner packages and coming up with the little touches you see here today.”

One such touch – taking place just below the outdoor stairway where Haun and Beigel were posted – was the appearance of the Arundel High School Jazz Band which serenaded attendees as they drove around the circle. Since the Severna Park Community Center draws visitors from throughout the county, band members considered performing there quite the feather in their caps.

“It’s the band’s first performance this year,” said Beigel. “They’re very happy about it.”

Automobiles heading around the circle past historic Holy Grounds were welcomed by greeters along a row of faux Oscar statuettes and a red carpet to their right.

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To their left, behind a rope line, was an impressive display of exotic cars with Dr. Diane Lebedeff, the board member who’d arranged the exhibit through a friend, upholding tradition by acting as “glamorous spokes model”

Opposite the autos, Drive-By Station #1 was manned by 25th Anniversary Gala honoree Lee Marston, wearing his signature orange paisley tuxedo jacket, former board member Larry Sells and volunteers Sylvia Marston and Joan Tiernan.

At Drive-By Station #2, “Marilyn Monroe” joined volunteers Jean Andrew, Pam Henel, and Ellen Kleinknecht in handing out over 100 anniversary dinner boxes.

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Kleinknecht, SPCC Board secretary, showed off one of the boxes which had labels emblazoned with the logos of companies that sponsored the event to the tune of $1,000 each. She explained that each box contained a split of champagne, a champagne flute, a special dessert and a gift certificate for $50 to one of a variety of local restaurants.

From the champagne and desserts to the gift certificates, everything in the boxes was donated by local restaurants, businesses and bakeries,

According to CEO Elder, the event was a huge success.

“We’ve tabulated all of our fundraising efforts including sponsors, tickets, raffle, and online auction,” she said on Monday. “We raised just shy of $50,000 and made our goal, which is the best news of all!”

Elder noted that there are more upcoming events for the community center.

This Friday, October 30, SPCC is holding a Halloween Parade for kids of all ages from 11 am to noon outdoors in the parking lot There will be treats, take-home crafts and selfies in front of a spooky backdrop.  The event is free but reservations are required. Call 410-647-5843.  

On Sunday December 6, the public is invited to SPCC’s 25th Anniversary Holiday Open House from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm:  Held outside, there will be a strolling Santa, a fun backdrop for socially distanced selfies, carolers, hot chocolate, treats for kids, fun crafts an artisan marketplace and more. The event is free to the public.

The 25th Anniversary Spaghetti Dinner is being held February 13 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm in the center’s Andy Borland Gymnasium. They’ll have both in-person and take-out dinners this year and family tables for eating in with lots of social distancing. Tickets are available at https://www.spcommunitycenter.org/.

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Food pantries benefit from donations

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

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

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

“Pieced Together” documentary premiers on MPT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The tasting was a fascinating experience.

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

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

Blessing of the Animals Drive-Through at Woods Church

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A trio of churches combine to create Severna Park Youth Collective

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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