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
Having shopped till they dropped at the jewelry and merchandise tables, a few guests at Partners In Care Maryland’s Spring Fling With Bling at Bleues On The Water waited in line to settle up before hurrying back to their tables as lunch began.
Though unfamiliar with the new Glen Burnie location for the event, most all of the attendees were familiar with the wonderful selection of jewels and merchandise from the Partners In Care Maryland Upscale Resale Boutique in Pasadena.
Among the most enthusiastic guests were friends Jennifer McAndrews and Melissa Pittman who’d visited every display, rack of dresses and jewelry counter and emerged with their share of treasures.
Asked what they liked best, the friends were had-pressed to answer given that they had liked so many things. They’d been mighty impressed by a table of fashion accessories and costume jewelry in shades of blues and greens but positively gobsmacked when they discovered a pair of pastel green designer shoes by Gucci for $50. Later, PIC volunteer Vicki Wasmus who prices merchandise for the boutique noted that, if new, they’d be priced at $250.00.
Elsewhere, other customers were drawn to different items like the sophisticated jacket seen below. At the same table, handbag designer Kristin Sirota from Baltimore was intrigued by the design and vintage feel of the necklace she held.
The sleek jacket and matching costume necklaces displayed on this table caught everyone’s eye while….. 
….at the same table Baltimore-based handbag designer Kristin Sirota admired one of the necklaces.
Color-coordinated displays of finery, costume jewelry and artwork drew lots of eyes and many purchasers. According to the event’s organizer Lynn Bujanowski, Partners In Care brought back its Spring Fling With Bling for the first time in four years because of multiple postponements related to the COVID pandemic.
“Though we changed our location, the number of people attending this year’s Spring Fling With Bling” increased since our previous one in 2019,” Bujanowski said. “We feel it’s due to the fact that people are happy to be going out again and once more dressing up for special occasions.”
We had only a moment to catch up with PIC president and CEO Mandy Arnold who was busy supervising the check-out area. Like Bujanowski, Arnold said the Spring Fling event was doing very well. Asked why the event had a new location this year, she noted that Partners In Care previously used Chartwell Golf & Country Club. However, in the four years during which the event was postponed, Chartwell had changed its layout and no longer had a space big enough to accommodate the event. Luckily, they were able to find Blueues on the Water which is known primarily as a wedding venue.
Every item of merchandise selected for the Spring Fling was chosen for maximum appeal. Still most attendees flocked to the glass-encased displays of fine jewelry that were highly sought after.
As time for lunch approached, the crowd in the dining room grew thick and we saw many familiar faces. Longtime supporter Brenda Yarema, who always takes a table at Partners In Care events was bubbling with news and tipped us to the fact that the Severna Park Republican Women’s Club fashion show would take place shortly at Chartwell Golf & Country Club. We also spoke with Suzanne Price, a friend of Yarema’s who told us she’d been supporting and shopping at Partners In Care for years since her mother was a member who’d actually received transportation to doctor’s appointments and other services which was wonderful.
At one table dressed with gold and blue linens, we spoke with regular PIC shopper Sonia Peralta and volunteers Marlene Miller and Gail Burkhoff who were awaiting the arrival of the “two Judys”. Judy Kulawiak and Judy Stailey actually met during orientation to become Partners In Care volunteers.
“We hit it off and decided we’d like to work together as cashiers,” said Stailey. “Six weeks later Judy [Kulawiak] suffered a major stroke. Regardless, we have been good friends ever since.”
Sonia Peralta, Marlene Miller and Gail Burkhoff were awaiting the arrival of….. 
…the two Judy’s – Judy Kulawiak and Judy Stailey who met through volunteering with PIC and became best friends.
Volunteer Vicki Wasmus, who we mentioned above, arrived at the table and showed off some of the jewelry she’d just purchased including a pretty necklace for her niece. Wasmus specializes in researching and pricing the merchandise donated to the Partners In Care boutique. She noted that they realize they need to set prices lower than typical second-hand market rates because sales of the merchandise largely fund the organization.
Following lunch with a main course of lasagna, the Spring Fling With Bling fashion show began. Five PIC volunteers had great fun modeling a fashionable selection of clothing from the Partners In Care Upscale Retail Boutique.
Model Jerri enjoyed a lighthearted romp across the impromptu stage wearing a high-end designer jacket over slim black slacks and strappy gold sandals. An announcement of the winner of a raffle for a diamond followed.
For information about the activities of Partners In Care, visit Anne Arundel – Partners In Care Maryland .
Ledo Pizza opening/ribbon cutting reminder
A REMINDER that Ledo Pizza Severna Park‘s new location at 342 Ritchie opened its doors Tuesday and the restaurant’s Grand Opeing and Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting will take place as planned on April 23rd at 4 pm.
Life of Joy Foundation receives Nonprofit for the Year Small Business Award
We extend our congratulations to the Life Of Joy Foundation which was recently recognized as Nonprofit for the Year during the Anne Arundel Couty Chamber of Commerce ‘s 2024 Small Business Awards breakfast. The 501 (c)3 nonprofit organization fosters a holistic approach to mental health and suicide prevention. Among the regularly scheduled events Life of Joy sponsors are two we wanted to highlight.
The next meeting of Life of Joy’s Faith & Mental Health Group is this Friday, April 19 from 6:30 till 8pm at Severna Park Evangelical Presbyterian Church at 110 Ritchie Highway. The peer support group for adult men and women centers all around the intersections of faith and mental health.
The second event is the upcoming Life of Joy Teen Support Group meeting that will be held Monday, April 22 at 7pm at Stage & Screen Studios at 215 Najoles Road in Millersville. For more information visit Life of Joy Foundation, Inc.
Jing Ying Institute hosts World Tai Chi Day event at Severna Park Community Center
Each year, on the last Saturday of April, in hundreds of cities in over 80 nations, World Tai Chi events are held. The Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi, a participant in this global event for two decades, will be celebrating World Tai Chi Day on Saturday, April 27th at the Severna Park Community Center. As seen in the photo below, the event will be held outside, under the trees, beside the center’s Boone Station Hall from 10:00am to 11:00am. All ages and fitness levels are welcome. If it rains, the event will be held inside the community center’s gym.
During the event, there will be demonstrations of Tai Chi followed by free mini-workshops of tai chi and qigong suitable for all levels of fitness. While not required, people are encourage to register for the event at: www.JingYing.org where they can also find information about special follow-up tai chi classes on April 30, May 1, and May 3.
Good Neighbors Group’s 22nd annual Earth Day Festival April 27th
It’s hard for founder and executive director Julie Shay to believe Good Neighbors Group’s 22nd annual Earth Day Festival is happening in just nine days. The much-loved event is taking place on April 27th from 10 am till 2 pm at Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company.
“So many exciting things are planned for our Earth Day Festival this year,” Shay says. “We’ve got community art projects, a native plant sale, yoga demonstrations, vendors, a silent auction and more.”
Two of the Festival’s sponsors will be on hand to help out. The event’s Oak Sponsor – the tattoo studio Oxblood Ink – is lending its talented artists to head the Festival’s Community Art Project. The Red Maple Sponsors – realtors Jean Andrews and Christine Joyce – are leading GNG’s Donations Before Dumpsters program. Festival attendees are encouraged to bring items to donate that can be recycled, ranging from clothes to kitchen items or tools.
BD Provisions will also be on hand with their popular Midnight Joe Coffee.
Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber Shop Local Fun Festival
The Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce’s spring Shop Local Fun Festival is scheduled to take place at Park Plaza on May 4th from 11 am to 3 pm.
The fun, FREE, family event will have music, shopping, dancing and more. We always find the Shop Local Fun Festival an amazing showcase for the community’s small and independent businesses. Exhibitors will be selling products and services at their booths.
For updates on the Festival and other Chamber events, visit Facebook.
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.
