AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi
and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care
Crossing her fingers for good weather for the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber’s SHOP LOCAL Fun Fiesta at Park Plaza Saturday paid off for CEO Liz League. The day’s sunshine and blue skies were perfect for one of the town’s most convivial events.
By 9 am, the SHOP LOCAL table and sponsor’s tent were set up with the American flag and a banner listing Gold, Silver and Bronze level sponsors flying in the breeze. When finished, League was free to make her rounds and check on all 70 of the vendors participating.
One of the best things about the twice-yearly SHOP LOCAL events is the familiar sense of community attendees feel. Many businesses participate year after year so it’s like “old home week” for shoppers as they are reacquainted with merchants. Side Street Framers & Gift Gallery’s Dawn Wilson, seen below, helped create the SHOP LOCAL movement and has been a presence at the events ever since.
Longtime chamber and SHOP LOCAL supporter Tommy Sommers, CEO of Logo Zone Promotions, was on hand with Alex Mari to highlight the company’s printing, promotional and apparel products. Regular SHOP LOCAL participant Winsome Brown, from Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services, was there too with sister and co-owner Dee (Danielle) Morgan Brown (for whom the business is named). Having cared for their mother, an Alzheimers patient, the sister’s formed Lean On Dee as Certified Senior Advisors and Certified Dementia Live Coaches and Caregivers in 2020 and quickly expanded to a full care service.
Logo Zone owner Tommy Sommers and Alex Mari with examples of promotional products. 
Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services’ Winsome Brown offered smiles, candy and information. Not pictured, her sister/partner Dee was on hand too.
The familiar bikes and kayaks from Bulldog Bikes and Floats, as seen in the opening photo, were, as always, a cheery sight at the SHOP LOCAL event as was the sign featuring the company’s mascot Huffy the bulldog. The chartreuse tent of event Gold Sponsor Serve Pro stood just beyond them while the Mathnasium tent, with its bright red logos. was next to them. With games and snappy patter, instructors Dustin Ruby, Anastasia Quinn, Johnny Riganati, Anna Minut and Abbey Toro captured the attention of many parents and math-challenged students.
Mascot Huffy the bulldog fronts Bulldog Bikes and Floats colorful display of cycles and kayaks beyond. 
In addition to a game to play, Mathnasium’s (l.to r.) Anastasia Quinn, Dustin Ruby, Johnny Riganati, Anna Minut and Abbey Toro offered lots of information.
With so many vendors, it is impossible to mention everyone but stalwarts like Kogen Dojo’s Coach Dwayne Bowie, Robert Van Valkenburg and Andrea Bowie return every year.
A number of new businesses appeared for the first time. Among them were David Bashore’s Severna Park-based Fairwinds Travel, Erik Lyles’ Sugar, Butter, Love decorative sweets, and Lash Lounge which will be opening in Annapolis by the end of May. We also discovered JK Organizing, LLC and picked up one of their nifty magnet clips shaped like a house.
David Bashore of Fairwinds Travel 
Erik Lyles’ Sugar, Butter, Love. 
Fayth Ribero with Lash Lounge which is coming to Annapolis.
Aside from Lyles’ sweets, traditional SHOP LOCAL supporters JB’s and Park Tavern supplied wings, meatballs and garlic knots served by Katie Wiseman and Hannah Fleishman. Donut Shack owner/manager Ali Matthews and staff arrived at the SHOP LOCAL Fun Fiesta with donuts – hundreds of them. Matthews said Donut Shack, which reopened in February 2020, survived the COVID pandemic and soaring inflation challenges thanks to support from the community. Giving away donuts is Donut Shack’s way of thanking them.
Hannah Fleishman and Katie Wiseman served wings, meatballs and garlic knots from JB’s and Park Tavern. 
Donut Shack’s Ali Matthews and staff served donuts to the crowd to thank the community for supporting them.
Regular attendees were particularly pleased to see Bohemian Black owner and SHOP LOCAL supporter Rose Walker return this year with a new line of stylish fashions. For the past few years, the designer has worked from home and retailed her clothing online. But she is about to open a brick & mortar storefront in the former Listman building on Earleigh Heights Road.
Entertainment was definitely part of the SHOP LOCAL Fun Fiesta. There was an arcade kids loved, a Selfie Station, and martial arts performances by Master Kwon of Kwon’s Taekwondo. Kids loved being taught the fine art of board splitting.
Earlier, students of Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi students had an opportunity to run the show as they entertained the SHOP LOCAL Fun Fiesta crowds own their own since owner/operators Nancy and Billy Greer were away on a trip. Students Lane and Andrew were thrilled to have an opportunity to perform the Lion Dance but equally thrilled to cool down afterward.
SHOP LOCAL events have something for everyone… and for their pets. Doberman Cinder and cattle dog Swiper were curious to know if there were dog cookies at Higgins and Friends Pet Sitting. At the Fieldstone Animal Inn tent, Hannah Peterson and Liv Williams talked mostly to humans.
Doberman Cinder and cattle dog Swiper liked the Higgins and Friends stand. 
Hannah Peterson and Liv Williams represented regular vendor Fieldstone Animal Inn
There was much more, from The Blended Essentials teaching children to make soap to the Dance Center of Severna Park Star Elite Dancers performing.
The spring edition of SHOP LOCAL was another success. If you missed it, don’t worry. The fall edition will be here before you know it. Meantime, Severna Park’s Independence Day Parade is just around the corner. For details, see Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce (gspacc.com).
Filming of TV pilot segments at Woods Church went smoothly
The sidewalk was filled with camera and sound equipment and blackout curtains covered a back entrance at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church Saturday. Inside, in several classrooms of the Woods Child Development Center, a film crew was setting up to film scenes for a TV pilot for a comedy called “Body Snatchers”.
“Body Snatcher’s” screenwriter/producer Devin McCord – a Severna Park High School graduate who attended preschool in the very Woods Child Development Center classroom they were shooting in – interrupted filming for a few minutes to fill us in.
“Today, we’re filming the first episode of a TV comedy pilot called ‘Body Snatchers’, which is a cliff-hanger,” McCord said. “The film’s protagonist, Eli, an anatomy student from Johns Hopkins University, finds himself stuck in a small town called Mullingrove.”
He added that, to create the fictional Mullingrove, the crew is filming part of the pilot in Severna Park… and another part in Ellicott City for that slightly spooky small-town energy.
McCord is part of production company Gubz.Co. The director and film crew members are primarily from Washington, D.C. while actor Adam Nurimatsu, who plays a doctor in the scene being shot, is also a native of Severna Park.
“It’s been a great experience filming here. Woods Church and the Severna Park community have been wonderful to us,” said McCord. “I was even able to borrow a skeleton for some of the anatomy class scenes from a teacher at Severna Park High.”
We’ll stay tuned for an update about “Body Snatchers”
Severna Park Republican Women’s Club Luncheon and Fashion Show on May 17th
We visited the table of the Severna Park Republican Women’s Club at the SHOP LOCAL Fun Fiesta and learned they are hosting a luncheon and fashion show at Chartwell Golf & Country Club on May 17 at Noon. For information and reservations visit Severna Park Republican Women’s Club (sprwc.org).
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.
