Month: January 2026

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Though pretty while it fell, last weekend’s snow turned to sleet and icy rain as an Arctic cold front dropped temperatures close to zero. Even after the storm stopped, the heavy crust of ice atop the snow showed no sign of melting and made digging out and clearing roads an extremely difficult task.

Equally, or more problematic, were below-normal temperatures that meant that, even for those with their thermostats set lower, the heat ran continuously. For many people, the latest bills issued January 13th were double what they were for the same period of time in 2025. People are gritting their teeth when considering what their next bill will be.

Michele Sabean, Director of Development for SPAN, Inc. which provides financial assistance to people whose gas and electric bills are overdue, says people are talking about it.

“We’re not being approached for assistance yet because BGE has not been turning people off,” Sabean said. “The BGE website states that ‘in accordance with a recent order from the Public Service Commission, all residential turn-off notices have been canceled, and customers will not be disconnected for non-payment from December 30, 2025, through February 28, 2026’. This will be an issue for us because bills are still increasing during this time when they are not doing turn off notices and for many the amount owed is increasing during this time. We anticipate we’ll be feeling the effects in the near future.”

Why, we are all wondering, are our gas and electric bills so high? In view of the fact that the price of oil is going down, high home energy costs have even been an important topic of discussion during the current session of the Maryland House of Delegates.

Some important clues could be found in a Fox 45 news article written by Gary Collins on August 15, 2024 titled “Marylanders brace for skyrocketing energy costs in 2025 as fossil fuel power plants close”.

“The region’s power grid operator (PJM Interconnection LLC) and local utility companies informed FOX45 News that Maryland is facing a trifecta of escalating problems contributing to a mounting statewide energy crisis,” Collins noted.

“Energy conglomerates said that rapid power plant closures, increasing energy demands, green energy policy priorities and an outdated power grid are driving up the cost and complexity of keeping the lights on.”

The FOX 45 investigation found that price increases began with Maryland’s deregulation policy dating back to 1999.

Before deregulation, utility companies “obtained, produced and delivered electricity to their customers within their designated service areas” ensuring that customers paid the actual cost of energy production. However, with deregulation, utility companies were required to sell their power plants. Suppliers like Baltimore Gas and Electric Company had to collaborate with electric grid operator PJM and the new power plant owners to whom they sold their infrastructure to deliver power to the same customers. When many of the new owners subsequently shut down their power generation operations, BGE was forced to work with PJM to import energy from surrounding states.

Since 2018, the closure of power plants has led to a decrease of 6,000 megawatts (MW) of generated power in the state. It was expected that Maryland’s energy production would decline even further in June 2025 when the Herbert A. Wagner, Brandon Shores and Vienna power plants were set to close. 

Our own research determined that PJM and a broad coalition of the Maryland Public Service Commission, Maryland customers, and electric utilities, agreed on terms by which owner Talen Energy will operate its Brandon Shores and H.A. Wagner power plants until May 31, 2029. Both plants are located in Anne Arundel County near Glen Burnie. As far as we could tell, while scheduled to close this month, the Vienna Generating Station on the Nanticoke River in Dorchester County is still operating.

Lest we forget, the Calvert Cliffs Clean Energy Center located in Lusby, Maryland is still in operation. Owned and operated by Constellation Energy, it is Maryland’s only nuclear power plant.

A recent article by Rico Ordona for a My Town column posted August 27, 2025 – Why Your BGE Bill Went Up — And What’s Behind The Rate Hikes – The BayNet – noted that BGE raised rates for customers in June in Baltimore City as well as Baltimore, Harford, Cecil, Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery, Anne Arundel, Prince George’s and Calvert counties. The price hikes effect both electricity and gas.

Ordona points out that BGE’s own press release, published in January of 2025, explained that the average monthly cost for a combined gas and electric customer would increase by $26.06 per month. The company attributed the price increases to causes ranging from increased delivery costs to supply reduction from the retirement of fossil fuel-powered generators and the Maryland General Assembly’s changes to the EmPOWER Maryland program.

The EmPOWER Maryland Energy Efficiency Act of 2008 created the EmPOWER Maryland program. The Act mandated that the five largest power companies in the state offer incentives to reduce greenhouse emissions and increase energy efficiency including free or discounted energy audits, weatherization, and efficient appliances. To fund these incentives, the companies are allowed to charge their customers a fee on electricity.

According to Ordona, for residents powered by BGE, this fee increased in January from $0.00899 to $0.01028 per kilowatt-hour, or $1.16 per month for the average customer.

BGE asserted that the fee increase stems from the General Assembly changing the program’s goal from reducing electricity use to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and a mandated accounting change in how BGE collects and disburses the program’s funds.

The Maryland Office of People’s Counsel, a state agency that advocates for residential utility consumers and ensures that utilities are reliable and conform to Maryland’s environmental and climate goals, charges that BGE’s rates have risen above what would be reasonably expected to cover inflation, decreased supply and increased demand.

The Agency points out that there is a large unpaid balance for EmPOWER programs that is costing customers in interest. The General Assembly has reduced the interest rate on this balance and mandated that utilities begin paying down the principal balance to save consumers in the long run OPC maintains, but this does lead to higher costs for customers in the present.

The disagreement between BGE and OPC extends to more recent infrastructure projects such as the Baltimore Peninsula, revival project which began in 2016. Differing views on whether consumer bill increases relate to BGE’s investment in infrastructure to build-out the project bear on the rate increases Severna Park and other locales are seeing.

On December 19, 2025 Governor Wes Moore (whose penchant for Green Energy is well-known) signed an executive order focused on simplifying bureaucratic obstacles to attracting new power providers. In a December 19 press conference, Moore acknowledged that the executive order would not lower energy bills in the short term.

Moore’s order established an energy sub-Cabinet led by Maryland Energy Administration Director Kelly Speakes-Backman and a Maryland Energy Advisory Council made up of legislators, utilities, PJM and consumer advocates.

The utilities and environmental groups claim they are trying to improve the situation in Maryland but for rate-paying Severna Parkers and residents across the state, their words are cold comfort.

Quick Reminder: Save The Dates for Gallentine’s Day events

BD Provisions invites you to join them on February 12 from 6 to 8 pm for their Galentine’s Sip & Shop. They’re partnering with other local businesses for a really fun event.

Bohemian Black at 1915 Towne Center in Annapolis will host a Gallentine Experience on February 13 at 5:30 pm. Rose Walker fans know she’ll pull off the celebration with style. There will be mini styling sessions, a charm bar and beauty bar, fashions to shop and other fun things.

Stay tuned for a few more Gallentine’s Day events in next week’s column.

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. From health-defense to self-defense, Jing Ying provides fitness with a purpose for the whole family!

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.

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

“You are a wunderkind, you are an amazing young entrepreneur,” said Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce CEO Liz League as she introduced MAD Soaps’ founder and owner Christian Buchleitner to the crowd as a ribbon cutting ceremony got underway. The ceremony was but one part of the January 16th Grand Opening for MAD SOAPS, Inc.’s new headquarters at 2830 Solomons Island Road in Edgewater.

We’d earlier interviewed Buchleitner as well as his Operations Supervisor Gavin Bryant (who is seen with him in the opening photo).

Having first met the young business owner and his then partner Travis Wray at the Chamber’s Small Business Awards on the patio at Garten Restaurant at the end of May in 2023, we were impressed. That was the first time Christian Buchleitner was chosen Young Entrepreneur of the Year. He would be chosen Young Entrepreneur of the Year for a second time in 2025 based on his outstanding level of success.

We kept an eye on Buchleitner and MAD SOAPS as the business grew. We’d actually bump into the MAD SOAPS crew at a number of the chamber events that they sponsored and/or participated in. Among other things, they entered floats in Severna Park’s 4th of July Parade including their patriotic 50th Anniversary float for 2025. Seeing the MAD Soaps gents decked out in powdered wigs and 1776 attire aboard their makeshift Revolutionary War era “ship” garnered cheers from spectators all along the parade route.

While his staff was setting up tables and chairs and making space for the caterer prior to the Grand Opening festivities, we chatted with Buchleitner about how the business began back in 2018 and evolved to the point of opening a great new facility.

“We just moved into our new building at Oak Grove Marina in Edgewater and are still settling in,” he said. “We were right next door at Gingerville Marina for three or four years prior to the move. Before that, we came from a 20 x 20-foot storage unit in Annapolis and, before that, I started the company out of my Acura MDX that I also had to sleep in for several months.”

Getting a business started was no easy matter for someone so young. Christian had graduated high school and completed almost a full year at Anne Arundel Community College when he dropped out.

“I’d been about to go into math class and cheat on a test,” he said. “I thought ‘What am I doing? I’m not really learning anything and I’m about to cheat on this test. Where is this going to get me if I cheat my way through college?”

“I decided, instead, that I was going to do something that might not pay off now, but would pay off later. That’s when I just started cleaning people’s cars at no money. Then my buddy Travis Wray joined me but, before long, he left to join the Navy. I just kept on washing cars, grinding it out. I’d walk to Starbuck’s in downtown Annapolis basically doing car washes and detailing every day for free because I knew I had to build a brand and it wasn’t going to be easy.”

That’s what Christian Buchleitner did for a long time as he established his company, originally calling it Mobile Auto Detailing. He worked on alone, offering $10 mobile car washes, figuring he wouldn’t make money for many more months. But he was certain it was vital to get his brand out there because there was a lot of competition for the detailing of boats and cars in this area.

MAD SOAPS remained a one-man operation until Buchleitner hired his first employee when he was 19 years old. Unfortunately, it didn’t go well and scared him away from hiring anyone else for about two years. Luckily, he began working on a lot of boats and the “auto” part of the name became irrelevant. That’s when a customer suggested shrinking the name to MAD SOAPS.

Finally, when Buchleitner was 21, he hired another employee and it worked out very well. MAD SOAPS grew to 5 employees, then to 10 and 15. Last year, his younger brother Jackson joined the staff.

“We’d had to start with no money, keeping our expenses at zero and just trying to prove ourselves for a long time,” he noted. “Thus, when we considered going to 25 employees this spring, we decided to scale back instead. For now, we’ll stay with 15 employees and optimize our systems thereby increasing revenue per employee versus taking on more.”

Building a name, achieving positive growth and the ability to raise prices for services was difficult but MAD SOAPS achieved those goals. The company has built its brand so well that they now draw clients from Ocean City, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and Pennsylvania.

“Clients actually bring their stuff to us now,” the company’s proud young owner said. “We evolved from doing free jobs, mobile jobs and traveling out to jobs to having people come here to our facility. Now that we’re located at Oak Grove Marina, there are clients that come by water. Though we still do a lot of cars, we mostly cater to boats in the Annapolis area these days.”

As time drew near for the Grand Opening to begin, Christian had to head off to attend to a few details but his friend Gavin Bryant had a few more moments to spend. He said he truly enjoys his job and the fun things that come with it. Bryant started working summers at MAD SOAPS in 2022 while attending college and continued doing so through 2024 when he graduated. He came to work fulltime as Operations Supervisor in 2025 and is primarily responsible for quality on all jobs. His number one priority is making sure service for each and every client is above and beyond expectations. He also does a lot of in-person estimates and diagnostics.

As attendees began to drift in, Christian greeted them personally. Among the first to arrive was BD Provisions’ owner and Severna Park & Arnold Chamber member Debra Saltz who brought a beautiful gift bag for the event’s Silent Auction that featured a handsome insulated coffee mug and a few of her shop’s excellent coffee blends.

Soon to arrive, and warmly greeted by her son, was Christian’s mother Carolyn who broke into a smile as she spied the rapidly growing Grand Opening gathering of friends, clients, business associates, chamber of commerce members and employees.

We met a wide range of attendees, from Severna Park & Arnold Chamber and Southern Anne Arundel County Chamber members to local politicians, employees and folks from the Edgewater community. Early on, we spied Liz League chatting with Maryland House of Delegates member Seth Howard who represents District 30B. The two were comparing notes about the high cost of energy for heating our homes.

A foursome of GSPACC members was at a table behind them that included Jay Wenhold from Green Home Solutions, Dave Compere from Primerica, Tommy Sommers from LogoZone and Laura McElwain Colquhoun from Macaroni Kid Pasadena & Annapolis.

While mingling with the crowd, we also bumped into Jackson Buchleitner and his girlfriend Mary. Jackson was happy to chat with us about his role in the company. He currently acts as general manager overseeing operations, working with the company’s secretary and helping with sales. Asked what he did before coming to MAD SOAPS last year, he kind of charmed us with his reply.

“Before coming to MAD SOAPS, I wanted to come to MAD SOAPS,” he said. “Christian is eight years older than I am and I was in middle school when he graduated high school and started his company. As soon as I graduated from high school, my parents gave me the option of going into the trades, the military or college. I chose the trades though they didn’t really want me to, but I wanted to. I tried out other trades for a little while but then I gravitated to MAD SOAPS. And I’ll tell you, there’s nothing better than working with family.”

With the Grand Opening well underway, GSPACC’s Liz League stepped forward with microphone in hand to conduct one of the most sincere and heartfelt ribbon cutting ceremonies we’ve observed with an assist from Julia Howes who heads the Southern Anne Arundel Chamber of Commerce.

League began by noting how generous Christian Buchleitner and MAD SOAPS have been to the Severna Park & Arnold Chamber since having joined the organization almost from the beginnings. She noted that MAD SOAPS has sponsored and participated in many Chamber events. They’ve also supported a host of other local charities. (They’ll next be entering a float in the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Annapolis in March.)

League then asked Christian to step forward, to great applause, and began her impromptu interview by asking him how he became a young entrepreneur.

“It was not just one thing that did it,” he said. “It was a lot of different things, a lot of sacrifices I made over many years. I was motivated by things around me, by things I’d see on social media, and by following the right people. Don’t listen to everybody about everything but listen to the right people, people you want to become.”

In answer to League’s question, “How did you choose what you’re doing?”, he related much of what he’d told us but emphasized that it was hard, taking many years of breaking even or losing money to be able to advance his company to where it is now.

Responding to a question about services provided, Buchleitner noted that MAD SOAPS offers marine protection film servicing, bottom paint, gelcoat repair, ceramic coating, and mobile and shock services. More lighthearted questions like what’s the largest boat you’ve worked on and what’s the most famous car you’ve worked on elicited equally lighthearted answers – a hundred-footer at the Annapolis Yacht Club and Larry King’s Superbird Plymouth Road Runner.

Asked who he’d like to recognize, he immediately pointed to a nearby gaggle of employees, family and friends, with the simple words “All of them.”

Once again, Southern Anne Arundel Chamber’s Julia Howes stepped forward to announce those who would present citations to MAD Soaps. They included Southern Anne Arundel Chamber board member Darryl Hagner, State Delegate Seth Howard from the Maryland General Assembly, Steve Adams from the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation and Olivia Cook from the Southern Anne Arundel Chamber.

At last, the magic moment for the ribbon cutting arrived and most of the people in attendance crowded into a space along the far wall behind Jackson and Christian Buchleitner who wielded an enormous pair of scissors.

We imagined that the ensuing snip must have been very satisfying. The ribbon-cutting gang could soon be spotted in line at the buffet or at a table with plates full of food. Soon enough Buchleitner and MAD SOAPS would get back to business, making boats from the County and further afield sparkling and “ship shape”.

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. From health-defense to self-defense, Jing Ying provides fitness with a purpose for the whole family!

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.

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AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

For more than a dozen years Carla Flemings has served the Severna Park community as Director of Ministries for Asbury Town Neck United Methodist Church . She’s also taught bible classes and handled media relations. It was Flemings who first made us aware of the 138-year-old church on Asbury Drive’s renowned Johnson Male Chorus. She also acquainted us with the dedicated volunteers of the Asbury Church Assistance Network Food Pantry.

These days, however, Flemings is becoming well-known as a first-time author with her book, “Dementia, Hope Awaits”.

It had been a while since we’d last visited her office for an interview, but we found her busy as ever bouncing back and forth between her computer and paperwork on her desk. But she did manage to save time to autograph some copies of her book while speaking with us about what inspired her to write the book.

“Dementia, Hope Awaits” was “born out of necessity,” Flemings explained.

Her mother was diagnosed with the Lewy Body form of dementia (LBD).

“Our family had lots of questions and wanted to know what the expectations were and nobody was giving us any information.”

She added that the book details what she learned about dementia in the hope that other people “do not have to start at ground zero like we did,”. The book outlines what people should expect.

“On the cover, you’ll see the words ‘read this book first’. I did that to let readers know, if they happen to be walking the journey of caring for a person experiencing dementia, that the person is no longer the same,” Flemings said. “Mom or dad may end up cussing, for example, where they have never cussed before because the part of their brain that controls language may have an issue. Different lobes control different things and, if those areas don’t get enough oxygen and the nerve endings aren’t communicating, their function is affected.”

The first chapter of the book explains the brain and the function of each of four lobes and also describes the four types of dementia. The Lewy body type of dementia experienced by Carla Fleming’s mother, for instance, is caused by abnormal protein deposits called Lewy bodies in the brain. Symptoms can include cognitive fluctuations, delusions, visual hallucinations and movement disorders.

Flemings next addressed the issue of home care versus assisted living options, describing key factors for home care consideration or for seeking an assisted living care facility. She said she was strongly motivated to write a chapter on how to choose the “best” care for the patient.

“I break down the things you must consider if you are going to take care of the patient at home – things you will not know until you are knee-deep in it and literally experiencing on-the-job training,” she said. “The same thing applies to finding a facility to care for a dementia patient.”

“We initially started off taking care of my mother at home and did that until we couldn’t due to safety issues and the fact that my sister and I both worked. One thing it’s very important to realize is that you’d better seek the help needed before it’s too late.”

Flemings added that some people put off making a decision until the patient is so impaired it’s beyond their ability to properly care for them. By that point, if the patient is unable to understand or communicate or is incontinent a care facility may not accept them. It’s important to get your loved one into assisted care as early as possible (they are not going to get better) so they can take advantage of the benefits of living in a place where they can ride out the next few years with a quality of life that includes dietary management, medication, socialization and exercise.

“I can’t stress enough how important exercise is to a patient,” she said. “When patients exercise, the blood is flowing and carrying oxygen to their brain. When our mother exercised, she was really in-the-moment.”

One chapter is dedicated to being present in the dementia patient’s life whether caring for them at home or especially if they are in a care facility. Other chapters deal with financial, legal and end-of-life issues.

The book is also filled with practical tips and illustrations from Fleming’s own experiences on how to best deal with a variety of situations. She strongly advises that if you plan to travel with a dementia patient, “go First Class”. When traveling with her mother, she handed the flight crew one of the Grace Extended cards she had printed up and still gives out saying “The person I am with has some memory challenges. Thank you for your patience, kindness and understanding.”

We chatted with Carla Flemings about what it was like getting her first book published. She noted that, since traditional publishing is hard to find and her time was very limited, she self-published her book through Amazon which turned out to be a much easier process than she expected. She appreciated the fact that Amazon will help push your book if the content is good.

Update on development of Severna Park Golf Center property

Last week, County Councilwoman Amanda Fiedler provided an update on a bill she introduced (Bill 5-26) that, if passed, would “prevent the proposed residential development at the Severna Park Golf Center from achieving the potential 60 home density bonus they are seeking in order to fulfill a county requirement, and instead would allow for the original plan of a smaller number of homes.”

Severna Park and Arnold residents have expressed widespread opposition to the development, citing a host of issues including congestion due to what appears to be unchecked development of the Broadneck Peninsula.

Fiedler explains that the property has been zoned “residential” for many years and recently received “R5 Zoning” – a residential zoning classification that allows for medium to high-density housing, including apartment buildings, two-flats, and townhouses.

Fiedler said she’s “sad” that the proposal is on the table but acknowledges the right of every property owner to develop their property to the degree zoning allows.

Development was originally planned to include 74-75 detached single family homes as allowed by the zoning. Fiedler’s bill would still allow that number of homes to be built.

However, 135 homes are now proposed for the 19-acre (5 homes per acre) property because of a change to county law this summer in response to the Housing Attainability Act (HAA) – an Anne Arundel County bill sponsored by Councilwoman Pickard, Councilwoman Rodvien, Councilwoman Hummer, Councilman Pete Smith and County Executive Pittman.

The bill “creates an inclusionary housing policy requiring developers to make a
percentage of new units affordable to moderate income residents under certain circumstances.”

Consequently, the property developer adjusted the design of the development to “make the proposal work” according to Fiedler.

She further explained that the “anticipated revenue loss” for the developer due to the county’s Act would be offset by “a 50 percent reduced fee to connect the lower cost homes to county utilities and a density bonus of up to 150 percent if a development could achieve 100 percent of underlying zoning capacity (maximum number of units allowed).

Left unsaid is how the reduced fee and the “density bonus” would be paid for. Will county taxpayers be on the hook for payment despite widespread opposition to the development?

Fiedler said that her bill would set “a narrowly tailored moratorium on the requirements of the HAA law, within a 5-mile radius of College Parkway and Rt 2. “

She points out that the HAA bill passed 4-3 the first night it had a hearing, adding that “no amendments would be entertained to adjust it – despite concerns from the public and dissenting members of the council.”

Fiedler said she voted against the HAA bill because of the volume of homes proposed from the density bonus allowance.

“I voted against the HAA bill, not because I am against making home ownership more affordable, but because of the unintended consequences I knew the offsets/incentives could create somewhere in the county,” she stressed. “It is important to balance the need for affordable home ownership and housing with areas that can absorb the impacts of the incentives. I want to see future generations as first time home buyers in our county, but I also want to make sure they and their neighbors can get to and from daily activities as simple as grocery trips, school, doctors appointments etc., without crippling traffic congestion.”

Bill 5-26 will have a public hearing on Monday February 2nd, 7pm in County Council chambers located at 44 Calvert St. Annapolis. Each person testifying will get 2 minutes to speak.

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. From health-defense to self-defense, Jing Ying provides fitness with a purpose for the whole family!

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.

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

We were so impressed on by our first visit to Julie and D.J. Antinucci’s CottonWood in the Park after its opening on October 13, 2024 that we vowed to keep tabs on the business. We loved the shop’s mix of antique quilts and furniture, fabrics, yarns, vintage jewelry, artwork and art supplies.

We returned to the attractive shop at 548 Benfield Road yesterday afternoon. Entering, our eyes were immediately drawn to the beautiful antique quilt suspended from the ceiling. It was just one of many quilts displayed throughout the store.

The most significant change we noted was that the business had expanded, taking over a space next door. Now, instead of the original classroom area at the front of the shop with a limited amount of sewing machines, there was a dedicated classroom off to the right.

We took a quick peek but would further explore the classroom later. Meantime, a stroll down the aisles proved as interesting than ever. A display near the entrance epitomized the mix of new materials with antiques and other treasures from a bygone era.

Venturing on, we discovered row after row of the gorgeous fabrics that draw folks who enjoy sewing to CottonWood like bees to honey. There is also a tremendous selection of quality threads.

Simultaneous to CottonWoods’ opening in 2024, JOANN’s Fabrics and Crafts closed nationwide, an immediate boon for the store.

“We listened to comments from our customers about things that were missing after JOANN’s closed and added a lot of products, a lot of yarns, and a lot of different kinds of fabrics, not only for quilting, but for clothing making,” Julie Antinucci said. “We even started carrying the threads that JOANN’s carried because people so loved them.”

Along with fabrics, threads, and yarns, something new has been added. CottonWood in the Park is now selling Bernina, Juki, and Bernette brand sewing machines and they are displayed throughout the store. The store also has three technicians to service them.

Circling back through the store, we met Julie in the new classroom.

“It’s been just over a year since opening and we’ve exploded in growth,” she said. “We’ve undergone tremendous changes, the most important of which was expanding the store to a space next door and adding a dedicated classroom to teach.”

“We’ve really expanded our classes to include not only sewing and quilting but embroidery, crocheting, knitting and needlework. We also have children’s classes with a dedicated curriculum for kids,” Antinucci said.

The latest equipment for students’ use (and also for sale) includes the long arm machines seen below that hold a quilt together in three pieces for stitching.

We commented that the Antinucci’s seemed to be bringing back all of the “lost arts” associated with homemaking – skills that were prevalent through most of our history.

Both Antinucci’s agree and feel that one of the great things about CottonWood is that those arts have always been interesting but, with the advent of technology our worlds have gotten smaller and we’ve only kept those crafts alive in the home. The classroom and shop provide a lot of opportunities for people to get together while doing them.

“The friendships that are made here are what we are so proud of,” Julie said. “On Thursday nights we’ve outgrown our well-known Maker’s Table and have to bring in additional tables. The people who use our maker’s space are doing all kinds of projects from crocheting, knitting and needlepoint to journals – just a bundle of creativity. And we can eat or have birthday parties and other great things.”

Though their schedule is crowded, the Antinucci’s still go out in search of antiques and quilts. They just spent several days in Rhode Island and found some really unique items including a tiny vintage sewing machine. Since they’re planning to carry vintage clothing in the near future, they also discovered some great hand-knit sweaters. Their passion for antiques and quilts is stronger than ever and is apparent to all those who visit CottonWood in the Park.

Among new programs that are being added in the New Year is a CottonWood Quilts of Valor group they’ve started and are calling The Sewing Stars to make quilts for veterans. They just held their second meeting during which they completed three quilts with a fourth on the way. The group is sponsored by American Legion Severn Post 175 which gave them a $500 grant with which to by fabrics and other supplies.

CottonWood in the Park is open seven days a week including Mondays from 10 am to 5 pm, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 am to 7pm, Thursdays from 10 am to 8:30 pm, Fridays from 10 am to 5 pm, Saturdays from 11 am to 5 pm and Sundays from 11 am till 4 pm. For more information, visit Cottonwood: A full quilt shop, antique shop and art supply shop in one, Facebook or Instagram.

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. From health-defense to self-defense, Jing Ying provides fitness with a purpose for the whole family!

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.

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Severna Park experienced a series of milestones in 2025 including the 50th Anniversary of the Severna Park Independence Day Parade (pictured above). The year began, however, with something entirely new. The Grand Opening of nurse practitioner Katherine Grote’s first-of-its-kind medical practice in the community took place on January 17th.

 For Grote, a Nurse Practitioner who worked hard to achieve success in her profession and establish a practice of her own, opening Integrative Family NP LLC was a dream come true. Her passion for taking care of people inspired her belief in treating patients on a well-rounded basis that is integrative and holistic.

In April of 2025, two separate celebrations marked the 35th Anniversary of the founding of SPAN, Inc. and honored the organization’s founders, volunteers and recipients. The first event, on April 1st, took place with an official ceremony at Our Shepherd Lutheran Church followed by a reception for attendees just across the lawn at the SPAN headquarters building.

As the reception ended, an invitation was extended to guests to join supporters at the second celebration – SPAN’s 35th Birthday Fest held Saturday, April 5th at Severna Park United Methodist Church on Benfield Road. 

Founded in 1990 by six local churches, the Severna Park Assistance Network (SPAN) opened its doors in April of that year with a mission to provide emergency assistance to families in crisis with dignity and compassion. The number of SPAN’s member churches has grown from the original six to 13 most of which were represented at the Birthday Fest.

The originals were Our Shepherd Lutheran Church, St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, St. Martins in-the-Field Episcopal Church, Severna Park United Methodist Church and Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church. They were joined by Asbury United Methodist Church, Baldwin Memorial United Methodist Church, Bay Area Community Church, Brooklyn Community United Methodist Church, Our Lady of the Fields Roman Catholic Church, St. Andrew by the Bay Roman Catholic Church, Severna Park Baptist Church and Trinity Bible Church.

July 4th of 2025 saw the community celebrate the 50th Year of the Severna Park Independence Day Parade. As Grand Marshall at the head of the 50th Anniversary Parade, Severna Park historian Scott Jay was warmly received by the crowd.

With 100 parade entries, there were many floats. The Olde Severna Park Improvement Association float managed to capture the early 70’s spirit of the year the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber launched its first parade five decades ago.

 From the “Peace, Love, Groovy” sign on the front of the float to the kids on board wearing tie-dyed t-shirts, psychedelic sunglasses, and crowns of daisies in young girls’ hair, all hinted at the bygone era when float designer Lew Heck created his Peace Dove Float from chicken wire and Kleenex.

Time flew by and the culmination of the year-long Park Hardware/Zeskind’s 100th Anniversary celebration began early in the morning on September 20, 2025. A string of events throughout the day included a Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting ceremony with chamber CEO Liz League highlighting three generations of the family business beginning with third-generation owners Rick Miller, Sr. and wife Deborah. Next came fourth-generation owner Rick Miller, Jr., his wife Joannie, daughter Chloe and son Jax. Chloe officially became a fifth-generation member of the family business when she joined the Park Hardware/Zeskind’s staff early in 2025.

October 17, 2025 saw another important anniversary as the Severna Park Community Center opened its doors to the public for a 30th Anniversary Open House from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm that culminated in a Birthday Party with a fabulous cake and cupcakes.

With the sun setting in the courtyard where the party was held, Executive Director Sarah Elder acted as hostess greeting longtime and current community center members and other guests. Across the courtyard, guests gravitated toward the center’s entrance where they were invited to tour the facilities.

November 15th saw Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi celebrate its Quarter Century mark with a festive Open House hosted by owners Nancy and Billy Greer. A ceremony and ribbon cutting midway through the event was conducted by Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber CEO Liz League and ended with special honors for a team of students led by Billy Greer. Anne Arundel County Councilwoman Amanda Fiedler presented citations to Greer and two of the three students who saved heart attack victim Scott Stengle’s life.

Before we knew it, the Christmas season arrived with numerous events to attend including The Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce’s 15th Annual Holiday Taste & Sip Extravaganza on December 9th at Chartwell Golf & Country Club. As can be seen from the photos below, the event was the year’s largest and most glamorous fundraiser featuring an enormous Silent Auction, some of the area’s finest food and wine purveyors and great entertainment.

Longtime participants in the holiday event included four of the 206 Restaurant Group restaurants seen above – JB’s Severna Park, Park Tavern, Donnelly’s Dockside and Oliver Brewing Company as well as Adam’s Taphouse and Grille. Entertainment was provided, among others by the Chesapeake Harmony Chorus and the Harbor City Music Company Show Chorus under the direction of Michael Gellert (seen above.)

I very much enjoyed covering local events and businesses for the Around The Park Again column over the past year while highlighting some of our area’s history. However, 2026 is lining up to be an interesting year and I look forward to sharing the latest news with you.

My best wishes to all of our readers for a very happy New Year.

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. From health-defense to self-defense, Jing Ying provides fitness with a purpose for the whole family!

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.