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
As members of Orphan Grain Train-Maryland Branch’s fundraising committee, volunteers Linda and Steve Zahn have been busy helping to organize and publicize the organization’s “SPARE No One – Helping the Needy” Bowling Fundraiser being held September 14 at Severna Park Lanes. Last Thursday, they were at the bowling alley spreading the word about the upcoming event.
According to the Zahns, the committee settled on a bowling event as a fun way for the 501(c)(3) organization to raise money for operating expenses.
“Orphan Grain Train- Maryland Branch is an all-volunteer ministry to the needy located on East-West Boulevard in Millersville,” Linda said. “As a 501(c)(3) organization, it has a Charity Navigator rating of 4, the highest. It is one of 28 Orphan Grain Train branches nationwide. That means, basically, that 98 cents out of every dollar goes to help the needy.”
Steve added that the branch’s 6,300 square foot warehouse allows collection and distribution of goods to those in need locally, throughout the country and throughout the world. However, the branch must find a way to pay for everything it does.
The Zahns noted that costs for shipping humanitarian aid to war-torn countries in Africa and Europe, including Ukraine, have soared as have costs for sending natural disaster relief. Most recently, they’ve given aid to residents effected by Baltimore’s Key Bridge collapse and have transported food, clothing, educational supplies, medical supplies and equipment, and even a donated church organ to towns in Appalachia. Of late, there has been a significant increase in requests to send food.
As the pressing need for money to cover costs once more gained the attention of OGT’s fundraising committee, the members looked for a new kind of event that would attract attention. The Zahns had a suggestion. Since retiring as the former CEO of the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber, Linda and husband Steve have volunteered with the Glen Burnie-based charity, Hope For All. They attended, observed and admired how successful Hope For All’s bowling fundraiser was and felt it could work for OGT.
The committee favored the idea because, unlike with a golf tournament they’d tried before, people of all ages and skill levels would be able to participate fairly economically. The committee members agreed and picked the location of Severna Park Lanes and the date of Saturday, September 14 from 5 to 7 pm for the bowling fundraiser.
As Steve and Linda continued spelling out the details, Severna Park Lanes’ owner Mike Hall stopped to say hello and ask how things were going and express interest in becoming a sponsor of the fundraiser. Hall, who also owns Greenway Bowl and Annapolis Bowl, supports numerous charities and is currently a vice-president of Katherine’s Light Foundation and a member of the Baltimore Washington Medical Center board.
“Our bowling centers have been community event locations for many years so we’re always sponsoring or hosting different events,” Hall said. “Orphan Grain Train is another great organization to be involved with so we’re looking forward to having them here.”
Back to the details, Steve revealed that the Presenting Sponsor for Orphan Grain Train’s Bowling Fundraiser is Marriottsville-based Thrivent Liberty Team Financial Advisors. Tickets for the “SPARE No One – Helping the Needy” Bowling Fundraiser are $45 per person (max. 5 per lane). Your registration includes two games and shoe rental for Ten Pin or Duck Pin Lanes plus pizza, soda and dessert. ($30 for non-bowlers including a pizza and soda ticket). There will also be a Silent Auction. To register, visit http://www.ogt.org/md, For questions, contact Linda Zahn at 443-517-9557 or at znam23@verizon.net.
Grand Opening of Sugar Shoppe a Sweet Success
Ever-so-adorable door decorations hinted that the Grand Opening of The Sugar Shoppe at 4 Riggs Avenue was bound to be something special.
Sure enough, inside the shop, there was a blur of activity as friends of owners Jamie Denton and Eloise Patton, families with kids, trendy teens and members of the business community came together to celebrate Sugar Shoppe’s grand opening and to admire the completed renovation of one of Olde Severna Park’s most historic buildings.
Even before admiring the shop’s beautifully renovated interior, many guests headed directly to the middle of the room where the “candy table” beckoned invitingly. Told by Denton and Patton to help themselves, they sampled seven kinds of candy ranging from all-time-favorite M&M’s to chocolate covered pretzels and homemade marshmallows on a stick.
We discovered Penelope Mann, who actually works at the Sugar Shoppe, and her friend Chase happily enjoying the marshmallows on a stick and were tempted by them to try one. They were, in fact, delicious.
Among several entrepreneurs at the opening, we spotted House of Design & Co. and Bohemian Black fashions’ owner Rose Walker at the counter while contractor Bruce Wills made a purchase. A moment later, she introduced us to Wills, the contractor who did the renovations to the Sugar Shoppe.
Walker has been putting her plans on hold for more than a year to move her company into a permanent location at the historic 1928 Listman General Store property opposite the B&A Trail Ranger Station off Earleigh Heights Road. Unfortunately, the owners of the property have been held up with renovations to the building due to county permitting issues and ongoing plumbing and sewer line work. Meantime, Walker learned that the property owners are transforming a garage on the property into two units and can make one of them available to Walker to host pop-up shops featuring her fashions.
We ran into local businesspeople galore including Larry Sells from Larry Sells Consulting, Anne Arundel County Economic Development Corporation business development director Anita Dewling, and Jill Weissenbach from Higgins & Friends Pet Sitting. We later ran into Danielle Bowen from Blended Essentials, Tommy Sommers from Logo Zone Promotions and Debra Saltz from BD Provisions who are seen in the photo to the right.
To cap the Grand Opening off in fine fashion, a Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting was planned. The organization’s CEO Liz League made what must have been her shortest trip ever from the Chamber offices directly across Riggs Avenue to the Sugar Shoppe. As always, League conducted a warm and interesting interview with owners Eloise Patton and Jamie Denton.
Asked how they came to open a candy shop, Patton said she and Denton were at the beach one day reminiscing about how they each had candy stores that they loved during their childhoods. They realized that there wasn’t a candy shop in Severna Park and decided that they would like to open one – one that was “super cute” and a place where parents and grandparents came to make memories for their kids or families. They’d also include gift shop items.
Patton had worked in the clothing business while Denton had worked in retail but neither woman had any experience running a retail business. Regardless, they’d long wanted to have some sort of business together and moved ahead with full support from their husbands and families.
Both owners thanked the friends and business associates who had helped and supported them including Wills and his team who carried out their every dream and specification to create the fun interior with its imaginative themes and pastel colors.
A brief series of presentations of congratulatory citations followed with one from Maryland State Senator Dawn Gile, a Severna Park resident “who just happened to live right down the street”.
The Grand Opening celebration ended with a ribbon cutting held in front of the Sugar Shoppe.
BD Provisions Roast & Toast Parent’s Morning Out
BD Provisions Severna Park co-owner Debra Saltz clued us in to the fact that the store is partnering with Macaroni Kid Pasadena MD for a fun celebration on Tuesday, September 3 at 8:30 am. Now that the kids are back in school, their parents are invited to take a well-deserved break at BD Provisions at 844 Ritchie Highway. The Roast & Toast includes:
A Complimentary cup of coffee
Mocktails
Shopping specials at BD Provisions
Tai Chi lessons by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi
A Make and Take Decorated Oyster Shell with The Half Shell MD
Chair Massages from Stretch Life Wellness Company
…and Door Prizes and Giveaways from Macaroni KID Pasadena-Severna Park-Glen Burnie.
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.
