National Night Out to be held at new location August 1st

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

August is about to arrive with its typical steamy temperatures but there are plenty of fun activities schedule for the month. Foremost among family-oriented events is Anne Arundel County Eastern District Police’s National Night Out which will occur next Tuesday, August 1 from 6 to 8 pm. We were surprised to learn that the event has a new location this year. It will be held the athletic field at Kinder Farm Park at 1001 Kinder Farm Park Road in Millersville.

The athletic field where the Anne Arundel County Eastern District Police’s National Night Out will be held – the field normally home to the Greater Severna Park Athletic Association’s Green Hornet games. Photos by Sharon Lee Tegler

Held in previous years at Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Department, the event has been the largest of the National Night Out events in Anne Arundel County and crowds of more than 2,000 people have turned out to honor and support the police officers and firefighters that serve county residents.

Just a small part of the crowd that turned out for the 2022 National Night Out. Attendees placed their hands over their hearts as the National Anthem was sung during the opening ceremonies.

According to Liz League of the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce, which is one of the organizations helping plan the event, organizers decided to move the event due to the concern for attendees who tended to park along Magothy Bridge Road if the firehouse parking lots were full. She added that there is some concern that people won’t realize the event has been relocated to Kinder Farm Park.

Sara Gannon, who is heading the National Night Out planning committee, noted that information has been on the event Facebook page and other social media and people have been emailing it and sharing it.

“Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company is going to display on their front sign that we moved,” Gannon said. “Police are going to use an EMS board also.”

She added that Earleigh Heights VFC will have a piece of fire equipment at National Night Out. As in previous years, a great deal of fire and police emergency equipment will be on display.

There will also be 50 vendors participating including many of Anne Arundel County’s finest community organizations like SPAN, Inc., Northern Lights Against Substance Abuse, the Western Anne Arundel County Prevention Coalition and Saving Grace Animal Rescue of Maryland among others.

The Saving Grace Animal Rescue of Maryland’s booth is always one of the most popular at National Night Out events. The puppy Diane Casanova is holding is one of several from a single litter that she brought with her to the 2019 event.

National Night Out fosters good relationships between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community.  In addition to highlighting the important services of our county’s first responders and the fire and emergency equipment they depend on, Eastern District Night Out events offer demonstrations and entertainment to enjoy, snacks to sample, brochures and handouts to collect, and numerous games for kids to play.

TGIF Cookout at the Chamber celebrates the last Friday of July

TGIF Cookouts on the office lawn at 1 Holly Avenue are one of the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce’s favorite summer pastimes. This Friday, July 28th, the noontime-1:30 pm TGIF Cookout at the Chamber will be brought to you by Brandon Gulley of Modern Mind Connections.

There’s nothing like the aromas wafting from a grill to draw a convivial crowd for the casual cookouts. Attendees can enjoy all kinds of burgers including Veggie burgers, sides, dessert and more. Fresh popped corn provided by Pam Negron of the Negron Farmers Insurance Agency!

This event is free to chamber members and $15 for non-members.

Self-Defense workshop for College Students at Jing Ying Institute

Teacher Billy Greer demonstrates stepping backward and low to the ground beyond attacker Melissa Wittke’s reach. Photo by Sharon Lee Tegler

With summer speeding by and the fall semester fast approaching, we wanted to let parents and students know about a workshop called Self Defense for College Students being held at Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi on Sunday, August 6 from 2 to 4 pm. While this self-defense workshop is geared toward students currently in college or headed to college, it is open to other teens and adults. 

There are three levels of self-defense: avoidance, escape and fighting back. The photo seen here demonstrates the second level – escape. In the photo seen here, student Melissa Wittke teamed with teacher Billy Greer for a self-defense demonstration, portraying both victim and attacker. The two illustrated defensive moves like stepping backward so one is beyond an attacker’s reach or turning an attacker’s own energy against him or her.

Supporting our local farmers by visiting farmers markets and produce stands

Cool temperatures and rain during the planting season meant slow growth for corn, tomatoes, melons and other crops from many Anne Arundel County farms. We previously visited Langton Green Community Farm in Millersville where some produce was offered for sale in late June thanks, in part, to the use of greenhouses. However, two of our favorite stands in Davidsonville, Maryland and one at Turkey Point in Edgewater did not open for daily summer produce sales until after July 4th. We’ll have more news from time to time on the farms, farmer’s markets, and produce stands in Millersville, Severna Park, Annapolis and elsewhere.

Last Saturday, we visited Chase’s Produce in South County on Route 424 (Davidsonville Road) which was offering fresh-from-the fields corn, melons and cantaloupes, cucumbers, squash, green beans and other items last Saturday. The popular produce stand had actually been open in the spring for strawberry season but then took a break. Chase’s is known throughout the county and as far away as Washington, D.C. for its Pick-Your-Own Strawberry Days.

According to both Bob Chase and wife Marge, this spring’s strawberry season was the best they’ve experienced over the eight years they’ve been growing and selling the berries.

Set up at the edge of one of the farm’s fields, Chase’s Produce was doing a brisk business last Saturday.

“With cool temperatures and hardly any rain, the season was incredible. The weather could not have been any better,” Marge said. “We held the strawberry pickings daily and started the first Sunday of May and continued until June 11th which is quite long.”

In contrast, Chase’s produce season started off “quite rough”

“Though the cool weather was ideal for strawberries, we’re paying for it now because low temperatures are bad for produce,” Bob Chase said. “When temperatures finally rose and we got a little rain, crops really jumped so now there’s a lot of green in the fields.”

Chase was less than thrilled, however, with a recent hailstorm that temporarily destroyed his cucumber and squash crops. Regardless, both are now plentiful. Chase’s Produce is open seven days a week through Labor Day after which they open Friday through Sunday. You can follow Chase Produce’s schedule and keep tabs on what’s available at Facebook or by visiting Chase’s Produce – Fruits and Vegetables, Fresh Produce (chasesproduce.com).

We couldn’t resist stopping at nearby Marco Ridge Farm also on Davidsonville Road. In addition to fresh corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, melons, peaches, and flowers, we saw an amazing new variety of pattypan squash.

The Marco Ridge Farm produce stand is currently open Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and opens at 6 am. Follow them on 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.

Musician Peter Mayer and son to appear in concert benefitting SPAN

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 Health Care Services

Our Shepherd Lutheran Church chair of Service and Outreach Alex McKeague and his friend Tom Patterson were on a mission in Olde Severna Park Tuesday afternoon spreading the word about a benefit concert for SPAN. The concert, being held at the church on July 27th stars Peter Mayer, singer, songwriter and lead guitarist for Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band for over three decades.

Singer, songwriter Peter Mayer is best known as lead guitarist for Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer band for the past thirty years but is also a star in his own right.

In addition to working with Buffett, Nashville-based Mayer is a well-known touring musician with a tremendous following. He’ll be appearing in the concert with son Brendan Mayer and 20% of the event’s proceeds will be donated to SPAN.

Brendan Mayer. a lead singer for several groups, is also a songwriter with a lyrical, melodic sensibility.

The father/son duo tours together often. Brendan, a musician and songwriter with a following of his own, is delighted to appear with his dad for such a worthy cause.

For both men, combating hunger and food insecurity are important causes. That’s why they were impressed with SPAN’s decades-long dedication to assisting neighbors in need with food or financial assistance.

According to Alex McKeague, the idea for the concert was born during a meeting of Our Shepherd’s unique bible study group that meets weekly for “Tavern Talks: Bibles, Beverages and Bourbon”.

“A buddy of mine and I came up with the idea for the talks while our pastor was on sabbatical a few years ago,” McKeague said. “We decided to get together monthly for bible readings at each other’s homes which we’d then discuss. In doing this, we both liked bourbon so we’d try different bourbons at each meeting and critique them prior to the readings. We called our discussions Bibles and Bourbons. We soon invited other guys to join. Since a few of them didn’t share our love of bourbon, we expanded the choices and called the discussions Bibles, Bourbons & Beverages.”

He added that, as the membership grew, the meetings were referred to as Tavern Talks, a throwback to Martin Luther, founder of the Protestant Reformation, who was known for having table talks in taverns.

McKeague, third from left, and other members meeting for Tavern Talks in an actual tavern. In this case, the beverages of choice were beers and ales rather than bourbons. Photos courtesy of Alex McKeague

The bourbons and beverages were, indeed, fine. But the readings were the primary focus of the meetings. Discussions about them were lively with plenty of opportunity to comment, question or even offer an alternative viewpoint.

“After each reading, we ask ourselves ‘What is God calling us to do to help others?” McKeague said. “As a result, we’ve come up with some great initiatives. We’ve done Habitat for Humanity Chesapeake builds, Habitat for Humanity for the Eastern Shore of Virginia builds, a home expansion for a church member needing a room for her father and we built a sidewalk for an elderly gentleman in Pittsburgh. Doing something to help SPAN through this concert is an extension of that.”

Some of the Tavern Talk members during a Habitat for Humanity Eastern Shore of Virginia build. The group doesn’t mind putting in a little hard work to help others.

With the beginning of the COVID pandemic in March of 2020, the group transitioned to holding their Tavern Talks via ZOOM. The upside was that it was easy and made it possible to hold the meetings weekly. Nowadays, the fellows are back to getting together in-person. Nevertheless, they continue to ZOOM the meetings too since some members live too far away to regularly attend.

It was through Tom Patterson’s involvement with Tavern Talks, that the members were able to engage Peter and Brendan Mayer for their concert. One of the members who has attended the Tavern Talk meetings for years invited his pal Tom to participate in one.

Patterson is not an Our Shepherd Lutheran Church member, he’s a Roman Catholic, but he truly enjoyed the bible study talk and has attended them regularly ever since.

Patterson is a longtime friend of Peter Mayer who is, interestingly, the son of a Lutheran missionary. Aware that, in addition to continuing to play with Buffet, Mayer has a group of his own that appears in the Annapolis area regularly at venues like Rams Head Onstage, he thought the duo of Peter and Brendan would be a great draw for a concert benefitting SPAN.

It’s a thumbs up from Tom Patterson during a recent appearance by Peter Mayer, son Branden and the group at The Ram’s Head in Annapolis. Alex McKeague is wearing red beneath the window while Peter Mayer is directly behind Patterson’s head with son Brendan next to him. Photo courtesy of Tom Patterson

According to SPAN, Inc.’s director of development Michelle Sabean, the summer months are typically times of low donations, so the organization needs help to replenish the pantry and coffers. Cash donations are used to aid families with utility turn-offs, court ordered evictions, and prescription or medical needs during times of emergency.

“I’m pleased the Tavern Talk members from Our Shepherd Lutheran Church, on whose property we are located thought of holding their concert starring Peter and Brendan Mayer as a fundraiser for SPAN,” Sabean said. “I love how their group asks ‘What is God saying to us? What are we doing about it?’ They believe – love each other and love our neighbors and find many ways to help them such as this concert for us.”

Sabean and co-director Maia Grabau are particularly thrilled that the Mayers offered to donate 20% of their ticket sales to SPAN at such a critical time.

The concert will begin at 7 pm on July 27 in the church sanctuary. Tickets are $25 each and may be obtained at Peter Mayer (Severna Park concert).

Sad news from St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Episcopal School

Head of School Tony Shaffer of St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Episcopal School shared news on Tuesday of the passing of beloved teacher Ellen Stanton on June 17th after a long illness.

He said Mrs. Stanton is fondly remembered as a life-long educator who spent the majority of her career at St. Martins in the Field Day School.

The Stanton family has established the Ellen Stanton Memorial Fund at St. Martin’s Episcopal School to support Lower School enrichment field trips, which were prominent in Mrs. Stanton’s teaching philosophy. Those wishing to support this fund in honor of Mrs. Stanton, can visit the school’s Giving Page.

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.

The ever-changing face of Severna Park’s business community

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

Over the past couple months, a couple of new businesses have opened in Severna Park. The newest is the Tropical Smoothie Cafe which opened at 366 Ritchie Highway in the former Mariner Bank building.

Reimagined, the building is home to the area’s second Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise following an extensive renovation. The franchise for the new cafe is held by Sandip Patel who currently operates the other Tropical Smoothie Cafe at 8000 Jumper’s Hole Road in Pasadena. It now features a bright, modernistic interior with a tropical vibe.

The idea behind Tropical Smoothie Cafes is to make eating better easy with fresh, made-to-order smoothies, wraps, flatbreads and quesadillas that instantly boost your mood. 

Severna Park recently bid a fond farewell to Clement Hardware after five decades as a family business while, at the same time, welcoming its successor. In March, owner Gordon Clement sold the business to friend, former customer and family business owner Rick Miller in one of the most seamless and amicable business transactions we’ve ever seen.

By the beginning of April, Miller had taken over the business. We met with both of them and learned that Clement will stay involved in his already existing real estate business.

Miller, who has renamed the store Park Hardware, maintained the staff and services of Clement Hardware but is updating and transforming the interior. For the first time, he entered the Park Hardware truck in the Severna Park Independence Day parade along with one from the fourth-generation family business Zeskind’s of which he is also a part.

Sadly, we’ve had to say goodbye to some of our favorite shopkeepers this year. We’ll miss their friendly faces.

April 1 was the final day of operation for Cakes and Confections Bakery Cafe. It was always such fun to chat with amiable owner and chef Michael Brown while trying to decide which yummy sweets to buy. We also had a great time meeting friends for lunch in the cafe where the quiches were superb. For 12 years Michael and Julienne Brown operated Cakes and Confections from their original location in Annapolis before moving to Severna Park in 2014. The family bakery had a wonderful customer base but, after 22 years the Browns decided it was time to retire. We wish them well.

Cakes and Confections owner Michael Brown behind one of the glass display cases featuring cookies, truffles, cakes, tarts, and old-fashioned homemade pies.

More recently, Lisa Edelman Schneiderman and husband Glen announced that they were retiring from creating and marketing their custom pops and closing the Lisa’s Cakepops storefront off Ritchie Highway to move to Florida where most of their family lives.

Having started making cakepops in her California kitchen, sharing them with friends and then marketing them, Lisa saw her business take off after moving to Severna Park. We’d see her displaying her fabulous pops at almost every community event. After adding an e-commerce element, Lisa’s Cakepops expanded dramatically. Lisa and Glen finally fulfilled a dream of hers by opening their storefront with its commercial kitchen. By the beginning of 2023, they were producing thousands of cakepops for catalog companies along with their regular business.

Lisa’s Cakepops were a popular draw at community events. Lisa and Glen are seen here at the 2019 holiday Taste & Sip event.

An official goodbye party was held for the couple at the storefront by the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber on June 29th.

A well-known local business has plans to take over the storefront/commercial kitchen’s lease and sublease it to different bakers. We’ll have more on this in an upcoming column.

Area shoppers, DIY types and antiques collectors definitely miss stopping by the Red Apron Shoppe where owners Mary Ann and Cam Neal could often be found. While not entirely gone from the scene thanks to their primary business Red Apron Estate Sales, the pair was sorry to leave the shop behind. However, a substantial increase in rent for the property made the cost of doing business there unsustainable.

Surrounded by other Red Apron Shoppe furnishings, Mary Ann Neal enjoyed chatting with shoppers from the high-end sofa she didn’t really want to part with but eventually sold.

In addition to filling the Red Apron Shoppe with a mix of contemporary pieces, vintage finds, and collections of China, glassware and furnishings gleaned from the estate sales they handle, the Neal’s also tried to bring back the neighborhood feel Severna Park was known for by selling penny candy for kids, homemade breads from local bakers, eggs from local farms, and crafts from local crafters. We understand that the Neals are looking for a new location for the shop though it may not be in Severna Park. Meantime, they’re offering shop items through their website.

Another long-time Severna Park business, Kirsten’s Cakery, also closed its doors in May. Owner Kirsten Klein opened her original shop at Park Plaza in 2011 but reopened Kirsten’s Cakery at its new location at 541 Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard in Olde Severna Park in March of 2016. For over a decade, locals would meet Klein at the numerous community events she’d participate in where the Cakery’s truffles were always a hit.

Kirsten Klein working on one of the wedding cakes for which Kirsten’s Cakery was noted shortly after relocating to Olde Severna Park.

We’ve been unable to reach Kline to determine if she’ll be retiring for a while to spend time with her family or moving on.

Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce CEO Liz League noted that there are few new businesses opening due to the high costs associated with launching a new enterprise. However, a number of businesses are celebrating anniversaries.

“The chamber will be doing a ribbon cutting for the grand openings of the new businesses Atlantic Blue Water Service and The Sheridan in Severna Park assisted living community. Those celebrating anniversaries include Healing Paws Veterinary Wellness Center and Delmarva Financial Group,” League said.

She added that a new indoor pickle ball facility will open this fall. Though called The PutAway of Severna Park, it will actually be located on Nogales Road in Millersville.

According to business publication WIX.com, there was an 11.2% increase in producer prices from a year ago meaning businesses and consumers face a similar problem. Who will absorb the rising costs of supplies?

Amid inflation, small businesses hesitating to raise their prices must pay that difference themselves or be forced to transfer some of those costs over to customers, potentially losing loyal clients in the process.

A 2022 Goldman Sachs survey found that 91% of small business owners already struggled with the current economy’s impact on their industries, and 56% said the situation worsened since the beginning of 2023, painting a bleaker picture for the coming months.

Hopefully, area residents’ efforts to SHOP LOCAL will insulate our small independent merchants from the high costs of doing business.

Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church receives environmental award

We just received word from Karen Royer that Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church has been awarded one of the five Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) Sustainability Leadership Awards for 2023.

Woods Church’s environmental achievements include reducing energy usage by more than 50%, capturing storm water runoff from rooftops and paved surfaces in rain gardens and wooded areas, planting over 1000 native trees, shrubs and perennials, restoring the habitat for a variety of birds, wildlife and pollinators and refurbishing 500 sanctuary chairs for donation to other congregations in Baltimore, Delaware and North Carolina.

We were unable to report the float contest winners last week as they’d yet to be released. Luckily, we have a few of them down

Severna Park Independence Day Parade float winners

There were many wonderful parade entries and floats including the most patriotic entry – the massive Nathan McDavitt Memorial Flag. However, we’ve chosen to feature the four “Bests”.

Voted the Best Overall Float was the Linstead on the Severn community float with its well-crafted Blue Heron

The Best Overall Theme award went to Orphan Grain Train which perfectly conveyed the parade’s theme, “Bold Stripes, Bright Stars, Brave Hearts.

The Best Commercial Float winner was Homestead Gardens 50th Anniversary Float while the Olde Severna Park community took Best Community Float prize.

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.

Produce bursting forth, parade and fireworks signal that summer is really here

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

There is nothing like a long holiday weekend to explore and appreciate the many joys of summer whether headed for the beaches or hitting the local byways. We found plenty to do, see and taste close to home.

We started with a visit to Langton Green Community Farm where we’d learned produce was on sale to the public every Saturday from 10 am till 2 pm and prices were very reasonable.

Though running late and not arriving till 1:10 pm, we found there were plenty of vegetables still to buy. Farm manager Elizabeth Snyder pointed us to items on sale outside the Langton Green headquarters building that included huge heirloom tomatoes, the remaining jalapeno peppers and some charming bouquets. However, the day’s most popular items, boxes of blueberries, sold out early.

Snyder then led us indoors where the farm maintains an excellent cold storage area to keep fruits and vegetables fresh. She explained that produce is harvested twice a week – on Tuesdays and Fridays.

“Most of what we harvest on Tuesdays is offered free to Langton Green’s residential community consumers while excess fruits and vegetables are donated to community food pantries serving low-income Maryland residents,” she said.

(The non-profit residential and farm programs support adults with intellectual disabilities while serving the community around them.)

“What we harvest on Fridays is primarily held for sale to the public,” Snyder said. “Our strawberry season from mid-May to mid- June was great this year. The plants were prolific and we sold a lot of berries. Our blueberries were in demand too – so much so that we hope to plant additional blueberry bushes. We still have some early season greens like lettuces and kale, carrots and radishes but the season for those is coming to an end.”

Farm manager Elizabeth Snyder is delighted to have a cold storage area where crops harvested from the fields can be kept as fresh as possible.

According to the Langton Green Newsletter, prices for veggies are reasonable. Still, we were surprised and delighted to find cucumbers, yellow summer squash and zucchini priced at 50 cents apiece.

Summer squash in the Curcubit Greenhouse are interplanted with marigolds, nasturtiums and onions as a means of pest control.

In order to offer tomatoes, cucumbers and summer squash early, Snyder raised transplants under lights and planted them in greenhouses like the one seen in the opening photo and the one opposite assuring an abundant supply.

She noted that the farm is currently transitioning from spring to summer fruit and vegetable crops. Soon, multiple varieties of herbs, tomatoes, cucumbers, squashes and leeks will be available.

Particularly exciting is the fact that blackberries are beginning to ripen and, by late July, Pick-Your-Own-Blackberries will be ready.

By the end of July, this row of blackberries (that seems to go on and on forever) will be ripe and a Pick-Your-Own-Blackberries schedule set. We tasted one of the berries that ripened early and it was large, juicy, sweet and superb.

Wherever you look on the farm, there are flowers planted that are not only effective at drawing crucial pollinators like bees, moths, butterflies and insects but are beautiful. An entire field planted with a cover crop of buckwheat is abloom with white flowers – purely to draw pollinators to the tomato hoop house and fields beyond.

Watching bumblebees alight on a patch of zinnias near the Curcurbit Greenhouse was fascinating as they dashed from one flower to the next. They seemed to fly in the opposite direction of a bed of leeks next to them opting instead to enter the greenhouse.

Beds of Anne Arundel musk melons (an heirloom variety of cantaloupe) intrigued us as did beds of heirloom corn suitable for grinding. Both are experimental but, if a success, they may end up on the sale table.

Spotting an amazing harvest of garlic curing in the sun, we determined to visit Langston Green Community Farm again. For information on the farm and to view the newsletter, visit Home – Langton Green.

July 4th at town center in Olde Severna Park

Located at the corner of Riggs Avenue and Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard in Olde Severna Park, the judge’s stand for the 2023 Independence Day Parade was ideally situated to view the Nathan McDavitt American flag as it rounded the corner and assess the finer points of a multitude of entries.

Organized, as always, by the Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce, the event sponsors were Chick-fil-AJing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi, Johnson Lumber and ServePro of Annapolis and Severna Park.

Familiar sights and sounds included patriotic color guards, fire engines, motorcycles, antique cars and Grand Marshall Wayne Gerst riding in a vintage Oldsmobile.

This year sponsored by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services, the Decorated Bike Contest riders pedaled into town followed by the Lean On Dee gang.

Riders from the Decorated Bike Contest pedaled proudly into town looking their patriotic best. The annual contest was sponsored this year by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services.
Lean On Dee owners Winsome Brown and Danielle Morgan Brown, family and staffers.

The Decorated Bike Contest, which dates back almost to the beginning of the event, was judged prior to the start of the parade at 9 am at the Chamber so the winners were already known. However, winners from all the contests, including the floats competition have not been officially announced. Hopefully, we’ll have them by next column.

The Miller sisters Morgan, Paige and Kaitlyn rocked their red, white and blue from the center of town.

The crowds at town center seemed to be a bit lighter for this year’s parade though just as enthusiastic. The Miller sisters Morgan, Paige and Kaitlyn, from Linstead, found a comfortable spot on the steps overlooking the intersection of Riggs and B&A Boulevard from which to watch the parade. Paige wore red, Morgan blue and Kaitlyn white.

Red, white and blue were seen everywhere one looked. Seated on a shady hill overlooking the parade, young Robbie Wilson was all about stars while his friend Mila sported stars on her clothing as well as stripes on her red, white and blue hat.

Many parade veterans were spotted in the line-up. Everyone was pleased to see that SPAN, Inc. at last obtained a truck so the macaroni and cheese, Cheerios, Giant Reduced Fat Milk and Food Pantry Cabinet wouldn’t have to hoof it. Even so, SPAN development director Michelle Sabean and several volunteers took turns pulling wagons in which to collect donations for the organization’s food pantry.

SPAN, Inc. finally managed to arrange for a truck to decorate and transport the food packages volunteers cleverly constructed.

Music reappeared in the parade courtesy of the Woods Praise Band, a duo called Ivy League, some members of the Severna Park High School Band and singers from the Chesapeake Harmony Chorus.

Parade spectators generally agree that their favorite thing about the Severna Park Independence Day Parade is the community-built floats though the floats representing businesses and organizations are great too. We’ll show you just a few.

The crowds cheered loudly when Old Severna Park’s float came into view recalling the Apollo program space flights and moon landings. Olde Severna Park is always competitive in vying for the Best Community Float prize.

Olde Severna Park’s entry paid tribute to the Apollo Space Program.

Linstead on the Severn created an amazing Blue Heron for its parade entry in an obvious attempt to capture the Best Community Float prize.

Linstead on the Severn went to great pains to create a realistic Blue Heron for its community float.

One more among the many was the Chartwell Young Leaders entry which went all out depicting the parade theme “Broad Stripes, Bright Stars, Big Hearts”.

The Chartwell Young Leaders went purely patriotic this year is support of the parade theme “Bold Stripes, Bright Stars, Big Hearts”.

We ended the holiday weekend with a stop by Diehl’s Produce followed by a fireworks display in the evening that we could view from our front porch.

We hope everyone had a fun 4th of July.

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.