Shop Local event returns to Park Plaza with ideal weather

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

Great to see all those vendor tents – in fact so many vendors we couldn’t mention them all.

Following the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber’s blustery, less than optimal, SHOPTOBERFEST last October, the organization decided to move their Spring Shop Local Fun Festival back to the more conveniently located Park Plaza.

We’d heard that some local businesses were feeling the effects of inflation, so it was reassuring to see several dozen vendor tents as we drove into Park Plaza.

Entering the event, we found Chamber CEO Liz League telling Higgins & Friends Pet Sitting owner Jill Weissenbach that she breathed a sigh of relief when she woke up to find the previous evening’s heavy rains had stopped and the skies were clear.

We caught up to Chamber CEO Liz League and Higgins & Friends Pet Sitting owner Jill Weissenbach checking out jewelry at the Swarowski Jewelry table. League was all smiles since predicted rains stayed away. Photos by Sharon Lee Tegler

“My prayers were answered. I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day,” she told Weissenbach. “The temperatures are great and there’s even a nice breeze.”

As planned, the 2024 Spring Shop Local Festival had something to please everyone. There was plenty of fun for kids with games offered by SPAN, Inc.’s Michelle Sabean (as seen in the opening photo) and Mardy Williams and Peggy Wolfe from Trinity Bible Church. There were additional games and toys at the side-by-side tents of the Play Street Museum and Franklin’s Toys.

As always, pets were welcome visitors at the Shop Local Fun Festival. While not exactly delighted with the current state of affairs this pup was only too happy to wander among the dog friendly booths.

“Well, I’ve been to the vet, I’m wearing this thing around my neck, and now we’re shopping. I need a treat,” thought the beleaguered pup.

Luckily, the Pup Camp booth had a slew of Puppylicious Gourmet Treats that were yummy.

Then there were dog biscuits at Higgins & Friends and Pupsicles at Fieldstone Animal Inn and more dog biscuits at Ally 4 Pets.

Colorful clothing and gifts at the Naturally In Knots/120 Wellness tent drew lots of shoppers.

Festivalgoers could also shop till they dropped. In addition to stopping at Kathy Walker’s Swarowski Touchstone Crystal jewelry table, shoppers flocked to the booth shared by Naturally In Knots and 120 Wellness which featured colorful clothing, candles, gifts, and herbs as well as homeopathic remedies.

They also beat a path to Danielle Bowen’s Blended Essentials booth where there was a rush on jewelry, candles, soaps and delightfully fragrant bath products.

Danielle Bowen’s Blended Essentials booth was a popular stop for Mother’s Day gifts.

“It’s been so busy here with people looking for gifts for Mother’s Day that there’s so little left,” Bowen said. “We sold out of all of our bath bombs.”

Gifts for Mother’s Day, upcoming graduations and weddings and every other occasion were the stars of Side Street Framers & Gift Gallery that spread the length of several tables. Artwork by local artists, jewelry and crafts by local artisans, and charming floral arrangements of lavender and herbs graced the tables.

We found Side Street’s owner Dawn Wilson deep in conversation with Larry Sells of Larry Sells Consulting. The two were lamenting the recent departure from Park Plaza of 32-year anchor business Ledo Pizza which was unable to negotiate a new lease and relocated to 342 Ritchie Highway.

“It’s so sad to see the former Ledo’s empty,” Sells said. “We held a lot of events there and it was a great family place too. Sullivan’s Cove, the next storefront over, is gone too.”

Side Street Framers & Gift Gallery owner Dawn Wilson greeted friend Larry Sells of Larry Sells Consulting. Sells related the latest news from the business community before checking out the paintings.

Such is the high cost of doing business in the heart of Severna Park these days. Figuring that no one has his finger on the pulse of the business community better than Park Hardware owner Rick Miller, we stopped by his tent for a chat. We found him behind the Park Hardware car for the occasion, a 2024Tesla Cybertruck that was drawing a lot of attention.

Owner Rick Miller (far left) and the Park Hardware/Zeskind’s staff really dug their modernistic ride – a Tesla Cybertruck.

Miller was enjoying a dose of satisfaction because Park Hardware’s first Native Plant Sale the previous day was a tremendous success and brought a number of new customers into the store. Having taken over ownership of the former Clement Hardware a little over a year ago, he notes that people are still getting acquainted with Park Hardware. The sight of a tent full of reasonably priced native plants on the parking lot definitely created interest.

“We didn’t have as great a winter as we’d have liked. The fact that folks are really watching their budgets has probably been a factor,” Miller said. “But business is really starting to pick up again with more and more customers coming in.”

Brand new to the Shop Local events, the All the Buzz Native & Pollinator Gardens tent was quite a hit with the crowd. Owner Erin was “giving away” Blue Eyed Grass pollinator plants that produce lovely blue flowers when in bloom and draw bees. She was also selling transplants of more specialized native and pollinator species like Mountain Mint and Coneflowers.

Erin, from All the Buzz Native & Pollinator Gardens, was giving away Blue Eyed Grass transplants and selling better-known native and pollinator species like Mountain Mint and Coneflowers with the assistance of one small daughter and one cuddly Panda.

With the Primary Elections just three days away on May 14th, several political organizations and candidates had booths.

Clad in red and blue to match the patriotically decorated Severna Park Republican Womens Club tent, Amy Leahy greeted many festivalgoers throughout the day and urged them to come out and vote in the primary.

Amy Leahy greeting visitors to the Severna Park Republican Womens Club patriotically decorated tent.

We also happened along just as LaToya Nkongolo, who was running in the Republican Primary for the Board of Education – District 5, took a break from her tent to visit the neighboring tent of Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services’ owners Winsome Brown and Danielle Morgan Brown. (We extend our congratulations to Nkongolo who won her primary.)

Sisters Winsome and Dee were spreading the word about the Caregiver Retreat their business is holding for caregivers or care partners this Saturday, May 18 from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm at Harundale Presbyterian Church. (See announcement below for details.)

One of the Spring Shop Local Fun Festival sponsors, Maryland State Delegate Heather Bagnall spent a few moments talking with her friend Mary Ann Jung who is well-known as historic reenactor whose most famous roles are those of Queen Elizabeth l and Queen Anne Boleyn and, more recently, —– and Julia Child.

This year’s Shop Local Fun Festival featured music and entertainment including a demonstration from Kwon’s Tae Kwon Do students. As with other festival sponsors, Kwon’s logo flashed from the mobile advertising screen just as the student’s performance began.

Jing Ying’s Nancy Greer and friend Marie Lovelace had time to catch up.

A sponsor as well, Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi had an elaborate booth but chose not to do a demonstration this year. That meant owners Nancy and Billy Greer had time to spend greeting people at the booth and hanging out with friends.

Two businesses associated with self-defense took part in this year’s Shop Local event. The first, In My Defense, was new. The second, Kogen DoJo Self Defense Academy, with locations in Severna Park and Annapolis, has been a Shop Local event participant for some time.

We give a nod to one more organization that is looking for a home in Severna Park. According to Severna Park Museum volunteers Mary Vogelsang and Sharon Wood, the organization has been looking for a place in which to highlight the town’s history through their collections but building rents are quite high making their quest a difficult one.

Mary Vogelsang and Sharon Wood told us that the Severna Park Museum is “looking for a home”.

The Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce’s next event is a cocktail reception being held at Garten on May 23rd recognizing the community’s Small Business Awards winners and nominees. For updates, visit Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce (gspacc.com).

Filling The Caregiver’s Cup with a Caregivers Retreat

Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services is hosting a Caregivers Retreat this Saturday, May 18th at Harundale Presbyterian Church, 1020 East Way in Glen Burnie from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm. The Retreat is supported by sponsors Chessie Senior Movers, Inspirations, University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center, Spring Arbor Senior Living and OutLook byThe Bay. It is designed to provide information and activities for Caregivers or Care Partners that restore and replenish the mind body and spirit of those caring for a loved one, spouse, sibling or parent. The cost is $10 per person. For information, call 410-541-6246.

Hon Style Sweets is bringing Jessica Zaleskiwicz’s fudge and chocolate back

Those who remember Coco Couture will be delighted to hear that chocolatier Jessica Zaleskiwicz will be opening a new shop she is calling Hon Style Sweets in Pasadena with a grand reopening scheduled for May 24 and May 25. Located at 2608 Mountain Road, Suite 1 by Lisa’s Deli, the shop will be carrying Zaleskiwicz’s fudge and chocolate. No doubt Hon Style Sweets will have a touch of her own unique style.

Chocolatier Jessica Zaleskiwicz showing off her chocolate high heels at Coco Couture in 2015.

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.

Wish doctors made house calls? That’s why Integrative Family NP is part of a growing trend

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

Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner Katherine Grote is “mobile” and frequently on the move between her Annapolis-based medical practice Integrative Family NP, LLC and patients in their homes. We caught up with her on Annapolis Street at the Bean Rush Cafe where she was checking for emails from her patients.

Longtime chamber members Barbara Gill and Jennifer McAndrews welcomed newcomer Katherine Grote to the Women In Busines group.

We’d met Grote before at the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce’s Women In Business Winetasting at Cheers & Spirits last December. From the moment she was introduced and described the medical practice she owns as “one that makes house calls”, we were all overwhelmed with curiosity.

She’d briefly explained then that she is a Registered Nurse Practitioner who treats patients virtually online, in her office at Wellsview Cottage, or in their homes.

During a recent chat with Grote at Bean Rush Cafe, we had time to delve more deeply into what a Nurse Practitioner is and does. She began by explaining the many steps she had to complete to become an NP.

“To be a Nurse Practitioner, you first need to be a Registered Nurse. That requires that you have a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing which takes four years of education,” Grote said. “The next step is getting your Master of Science Degree in Nursing. Most schools for getting your MSN require that you have at least 1,000 hours of clinical time or work experience before you’re eligible to apply.”

She said there are degrees for many kinds of nurse practitioner specialties ranging from Nurse Midwife, Nurse Anesthetist, and Acute Care Nurse to Integrative Family Nurse Practitioner which is what she is.

After getting her Master of Science in Nursing degree in Family Practice, Grote went on to additional training to acquire her Holistic Integrative Specialist certification so she could marry traditional Western medicine with alternative medicine.

Thus, like most Nurse Practitioners, she has had 11 years of schooling with a heavy emphasis on clinical experience. (In contrast, family practice doctors generally spend four years working for their Bachelor’s degree and four years of medical school, plus a residency or fellowship for a similar total of about 11 years of schooling.)

Once finished with schooling, Nurse Practitioners must sit for one of two boards. Grote sat for and passed the American Association of Nurse Practitioners board becoming nationally certified. She next applied to be licensed by the State of Maryland. Lastly, she applied to the state’s Board of Nursing for CBF and DEA Prescribing licenses (the latter for controlled substances) and a National Provider Identifying number.

Like doctors, who are similarly licensed, Nurse Practitioners are fully qualified to issue prescriptions. Their lengthy, high level of training and experience compare favorably with or occasionally surpass that of doctors. Thus, Nurse Practitioners have become an extremely important part of the medical profession across the nation – especially in rural areas.

With a family practice like the one Grote established, Nurse Practitioners treat patients from all age groups – from pediatrics to geriatrics. They treat patients for a range of health problems and generally offer more affordable health care.

“Surprisingly, when I ask my patients why they prefer being seen by an NP, they frequently answer “because nurses listen to them while doctors are inclined not to”.

Far from being a “pill pusher”, Grote is holistic in her approach preferring to combine Eastern and Western medicine and to treat the whole patient instead of treating a single symptom. She loves having her own integrative family practice that is designed to treat children and adults with flexible visit options and reasonable costs.

Patients can arrange to be seen by her through telemedicine virtual appointments, in her office at Wellsview Cottage in Annapolis or through home visits. Costs are straightforward with telemedicine and/or office visits $30 for a visit under 15 minutes, $50 for a 15-29 minute visit and graduated fees for longer visits. Home visits cost an additional $100 due to travel time and expenses. Her practice does not accept health insurance but does provide a detailed billing so patients may submit it for possible reimbursement.

Nurse Practitioner Katherine Grote schedules office visits at Wellsview Cottage at 611 & 613 Ridgely Avenue in Annapolis.

Grote schedules office visits on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at Wellsview Cottage which she chose because of its friendly, homey atmosphere and the fact that the facility is host to several complimentary practices ranging from Foods and Nutritional Therapy and Herbal Medicine to Acupuncture, Massage Therapy and Yoga. As the name Integrative Family NP, LLC implies, her practice considers the overall health of her patients in providing well thought out treatment plans.

Integrative Family NP, LLC is part of a growing trend. According to a study in Nurse Journal, the fastest- growing career in the U.S. is that of Nurse Practitioner.  NP jobs are projected to grow 45% over the next decade. Considering the state of the U.S. economy and soaring medical costs, it’s good that Nurse Practitioners are helping lower healthcare costs by filling the primary care physician shortage gap and improving healthcare accessibility.

Independent family practices like Grote’s are an increasingly popular alternative for cost-conscious and low-income patients. Furthermore, the mere mention, during speaking engagements, that she makes house calls brings smiles to the faces of those listening to her. People old enough to remember when medical care was affordable and doctors made house calls are nostalgic about those days and wish they’d make a comeback. Younger folks say they find the idea of a Nurse Practitioner who makes house calls appealing since sitting in a doctor’s office is the last thing they want to do if they are sick.

People interested in making an appointment with Grote can reach her by email at Katherine.groteCRNP@outlook.com or by calling or texting 443-534-4793. She’s happy to set up a brief “Meet and Greet” by phone or in person at no cost.

Chamber’s Spring Shop Local Fun Festival rescheduled for this Saturday, May 11

Last week’s heavy rains forced the postponement of the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce’s “Spring Shop Local Fun Festival” at Park Plaza to this Saturday, May 11 from 11 am to 3 pm. Chamber CEO Liz League and a host of local business owners are crossing their fingers while chanting “rain, rain stay away” till late in the day.

Situated amidst rows and rows of tents, Bulldog Bikes and Floats exhibits always attract a lot of attention at Shop Local Fun Festivals

When we last checked, over 60 local businesses are expected to participate with exhibits. As always at the Shop Local Fun Festivals, there will be food, music and lots of fun for kids.

For updates, visit Facebook.

Hatton-Regester Green concert schedule announced

Annapolis-based Guava Jelly performing at Hatton-Regester Green.

The Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails kicked off their season of free concerts in the gazebo at Hatton-Regester Green with the return of the popular Carribbean-influenced trio Guava Jelly on May 5.

There are three more concerts in the series beginning this Sunday, May 12 with a Mother’s Day concert featuring acoustic duo Josette & Bill. They’ll be performing popular tunes from across the decades.

On Sunday, May 19 Incidental Brass – a classical brass group will be playing a mix of show tunes and jazz with a patriotic number or two for good measure.

Lastly, on Sunday, May 26, Sparks and McCoy, a classic rock duo will appear to round out the spring series of concerts.

The concerts are brought to us through a grant from the Performing Arts through Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks. All concerts held on Sundays between 4 pm and 6 pm and are weather dependent. Attendees are invited to bring a blanket or chair. For information, call Dave Greene at 443-994-8074.

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.

Arnold Preservation Council strives to save community land and landmarks

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

Located on the Broadneck Peninsula between the Severn and Magothy Rivers, the once rural community of Arnold, Maryland was, and is, a major hub of Anne Arundel County commerce. As is the case with most of the peninsula, few traces of Arnold’s rich history remain due to unchecked residential and commercial development.

Once a thriving cattle farm situated on a rolling acreage owned by the Mueller family, the barn seen below still exists and as seen in the opening photograph, has been restored as part of the Anne Arundel Community College campus on College Parkway.

The barn as it appeared when the property was a cattle farm owned by Ernest Mueller in the 1930’s and ’40’s. Photo courtesy of Bill Mueller

In an effort to preserve a portion of the diminishing amount of acreage in and around their community, a group of 100 concerned citizens formed the Arnold Preservation Council. We met with past president and current board member Elizabeth Rosborg to learn what we could about the organization’s efforts to preserve Arnold’s open lands and the culture, traditions and flavor derived from them.

When asked to describe her community, Elizabeth Rosborg is fond of quoting the words of the late Alberta Stonetta, author of the book “Arnold Maryland and Neighbors on the Broadneck.” 

In the preface of her fascinating history, Ms. Stornetta noted:

Arnold is not a town, but it has a post office. Arnold has no city hall or mayor, but it has a fire house. Arnold has no town center, but there is a pharmacy, restaurant, liquor store, doctors’ offices and a MacDonald’s.

A lifelong Arnold resident, Rosborg continues to be astonished that thousands of people pass through the community on Ritchie Highway every day and never even know they have been there. Aside from a shopping center on the site of what was once a B&A Railroad stop called Arnold Station, there is no distinguishing landmark. Because of that fact, Arnold has seen mostly residential, rather than commercial, development and managed to hold on to a bit of the rural feel it was known for.

Though not a “town center” in the traditional sense, the Arnold Station shopping center built in the 1970’s at the corner of Ritchie Highway and Arnold Road, has become something of a landmark. Photos by Sharon Lee Tegler

We met Rosborg behind the shopping center on the B&A Trail covering railroad tracks at the spot originally known as Arnold Station. While seated trailside at a picnic table in front of the 75-acre property she grew up on, Rosborg filled us in on what the Arnold Preservation Council is trying to do.

Behind the shopping center runs the Baltimore Annapolis Trail over the former railroad tracks at Arnold Station – a major hub of transportation for Anne Arundel County farm produce. Arnold’s tiny original post office and traveling doctor’s office were located on the corner just beyond the intersection.

“My grandparents bought the property behind us that I live on in 1954. When I was younger, we used to take the tractor up the long drive to the original post office located on this corner. That was great because the post office was also a candy store,” she said. “The office of the traveling doctor was located on the same corner.”

According to Rosborg, Arnold has never been incorporated as a town, complicating some of the efforts of the Arnold Preservation Council. It does have its own zip code, 21012. Within the last few years, the community has become part of the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce giving it some recognition.

The boundaries of Arnold within the zip code 21012 and are far ranging. The community is bordered by Severna Park to the northwest, Cape Saint Claire to the southeast, Annapolis to the southwest, and Lake Shore (in Pasadena) to the northeast. Arnold’s neighborhoods straddle Maryland Route 2 (Ritchie Highway) and College Parkway all the way to Bay Dale Drive.

Historically, there is evidence (at the community of Ulmsted and elsewhere) that the part of the Broadneck Peninsula that is now Arnold was hunting grounds for Susequenook and Algonquin Indians who found shelter along the rivers. The first area settlers were Puritans fleeing from religious persecution in Virginia who arrived in 1649 to establish a settlement they called Providence on land in or near Greenbury Point.

The earliest settlements that later comprised Arnold were located along the rivers and based on land grants. They included communities along the Severn River like Rugby Hall, Joyce, Winchester On The Severn and, along the Magothy, Shore Acres, Cape St. Claire and Podickory Point.

John Arnold home.

As is the case with neighboring Severna Park, few traces of Arnold’s interesting history remain but there are a handful to marvel over and, hopefully preserve. The home of John Arnold, the first Arnold to settle in the community in the early 1800’s still exists on Freshfields Lane off of Shore Acres Road.

John’s second son Thomas Hamilton Arnold, for whom Arnold is named, established a store on land inherited from his father he called The Depot. It no longer exists but was located approximately where Cheers & Spirits sits today in the shopping center. When the Baltimore & Annapolis Short Line Railroad came through his property in 1887, Thomas became station master at Arnold Station and the U.S. Post Office was operated from his store. According to Rosborg, though a development is planned near Thomas’ gravesite, it is one of the historic sites being preserved with access off the Broadneck Trail.

John Arnold’s eldest son, Elijah Redmond Arnold built a home at the intersection of Old County Road and Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard with an attached smaller building he operated as Arnold’s Store. Records from the U.S. Postal Service indicate that a post office was established at the store in 1852. Renovated and modernized several times as a private home, the building still stands proud.

The home built by Elijah Redmond Arnold at the intersection of Old County Road and Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard with an addition built on to house Arnold’s Store and the U.S. Post Office in the mid-1850’s. The home has been a familiar sight to those passing by on B&A Boulevard for 172 years. Photo by E. J. Tegler

The 108-year-old Baltimore Annapolis Railroad Powerhouse building near the northern boundary of Arnold is now home to Ann Arundell Historical Society’s Shop at Jones Station.

The Baltimore Annapolis Railroad Powerhouse sits at the corner of Jones Station Road and B&A Boulevard next to the B&A Trail.

Erected in 1907 as a midpoint electrical substation between Baltimore and Annapolis, it channeled 22,000 volts of current through three 300-kilowatt transformers to lower it to 6,600 volts and feed it directly to overhead lines. In 1933, the former powerhouse became an ice house for Miss Etta’s Store & Rustic Inn and later for the Wagon Wheels restaurant. Briefly the building housed the historic society’s headquarters before moving to the Benson Hammond House.

Nearby, the community of Rugby Hall still stands on its basic footprint. Within it is the beautiful property known as Wroxeter On Severn. The mansion was built in the early 1900’s by a gentleman named Edwin Pugh Baugh and named Uchllyn-on-Severn. A little over a decade after Baugh’s death, the mansion was operated as a prestigious restaurant named Rugby Hall from 1935 to 1941. During World War II, the home was used as a USO hall. Six years later, it became Wroxeter School, a private co-ed prep school. The date 1947, when it became a school, can still be seen on the gates to the estate.


The weathered gates guarding the driveway at Wroxeter On Severn proclaim the date of 1947 when the mansion became home to Wroxeter School. The school closed after 32 years. Photo from the J.D. Tegler collection.

Today a private residence, the estate is still quite beautiful though not as isolated as it once was.

Now a private residence, Wroxeter on Severn stands as proudly as when it was originally built 77 years ago.

According to Rosborg, land in Rugby Hall has been purchased a forthcoming development called Wroxeter Estates. However, there is a memorandum of agreement between the developer and the Rugby Hall Homeowner’s Association to limit the development and preserve what is known as “the farm”. The agreement is legal, binding and has been filed with the State of Maryland.

We couldn’t neglect to mention what many people consider an Arnold treasure. Fishpaws MarketPlace has been a traditional stopping point for locals and travelers. A tavern and gas station in the 1930’s, the store was owned by the Fishpaw family from the late ’40’s through the 60’s. It changed hands a couple times before being purchased by Kim Lawson and her parents, Brad and Chris, in 1982. In 2004, the Lawsons tackled a major reconstruction becoming a marketplace that features deli and gourmet foods, and a selection of beer, wines and spirits. 

There is quite a bit of history associated with Arnold. But it seems the speed with which change has occurred since Elizabeth Rosborg’s childhood – when there were plenty of wide-open spaces to roam – has accelerated. Each step forward – from the coming of the railroads and building of the major highways to the completion of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge spans – drew more people to the Broadneck Peninsula.

The Arnold Preservation Council is doing its best to slow or moderate changes related to overdevelopment and population density. At present, they are fighting a proposed Chic fil A to be built in an area along Ritchie Highway that already sees very heavy traffic flow. Having observed “traffic stacking” at the Chic-fil-A in Severna Park, the community is very concerned.

In addition to being a board member of the council, Rosborg is part of the Anne Arundel County Citizens Advisory Committee planning for what the county will look like in 2040. She notes that residential development continues to be intense and is a difficult challenge. The committee strives to update the antiquated county code meant to control development and save 30,000 acres by 2030.

The members further plan to target future development to areas that have sufficient infrastructure to support it. Roads and transportation are an exceptionally difficult problem across the Broadneck Peninsula.

“Route I-97 was built to relieve Route 2 but it hasn’t,” Rosborg says. “Now, they are planning to expand Route 2 Northbound and Route 50 to Route 10.”

Unfortunately, new roadways seem to be a magnet for new development which is why the Arnold Preservation Council is doing as much as it can to preserve undeveloped properties. The members work in conjunction with organizations like the Greater Severna Park Council, the Broadneck Council of Communities and Growth Action Network.

“We keep the information flowing between us, share tools and help each other out,” Rosborg said. “However, preserving land is an endeavor that takes a lot of time and money which is currently in short supply in both the State of Maryland and Anne Arundel County.

Rosborg and her brothers are doing what they can to help. They are going to preserve the family’s 75-acre waterfront parcel of land through a conservancy.

For information on the activities of the Arnold Preservation Council, visit Arnold Preservation Council | Home.

Raindrops held off for most of Good Neighbors Group Earth Day Festival

Coming from another event beneath overcast skies on Saturday, I crossed my fingers and kept driving hoping it wouldn’t rain before I arrived at the Good Neighbors Group Earth Day event. I pulled into the parking lot at Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company just as a few rain drops began to fall. At first, the rain was light and attendees were still visiting the vendors’ booths.

GNG’s 2024 Earth Day Festival featured a plant sale for the first time. Providence Center Nurseries had a wonderful display of edible and ornamental plants and customers were still buying them in spite of the rain.

Severna Park wedding and event florist Alex Waldorf from Romenta Plants was selling pretty and very popular bouquets of flowers. Once a TV producer who traveled the world for shows, Alex has a passion for flowers and gardening that was impossible to ignore. It’s clear that she loves what she’s doing.

Wedding and events florist Alex Waldorf’s Romenta Plants stand was a popular draw.

Rain didn’t seem to be bothering Emily Brown’s bees at the Save The Bees display. The Save The Bees’ beehive never fails to draw the curious and Brown is good at informing the public about benefits of bees as pollinators and all about the process of extracting honey from the hive. Save The Bees’ honey, beeswax candles and other products sell well.

Save The Bees beehive once again drew the curious and Emily Brown, daughter Ellie and friend Joey were full of information about the bees and the process of extracting honey.

The critters at Millersville-based Echoes of Nature didn’t mind the rain either, in fact, the turtle rather liked it to say nothing of the snakes.

As the rain grew a bit heavier, we noticed owner Nancy Greer and the team from Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi packing up and taking down their tent. (Actually, they were off to their third event of the day.)

Naturally, we stopped by the Good Neighbors Group tent where we found executive director Julie Shay talking with Wendy Pressian from Stiches Of Kindness. Both were smiling broadly, pleased that the Earth Day Festival was rain-free for most of the day and drew a nice crowd.

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.