Month: April 2026

AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler

Acton Academy Maryland Curiosity Lab founders Roman and Jenny Hardgrave launched their school’s unique Children’s Business Fair four years ago in Arnold. The event kicked off with twenty-four child-owned business entries but, by 2026, with 64 entries, the event had outgrown its original site at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. Needing much more space, they partnered with the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce to relocate the 5th Annual Children’s Business Fair from its original site to Park Plaza. Bolstered by additional publicity and support from the Chamber and 11 community sponsors and the new site’s easy public access and parking, the event drew larger crowds than ever before.

Having heard good things about the Children’s Business Fair from Chamber CEO Liz League and others, we decided to check it out this year. As can be seen from the opening photo, the fair was crowded with tents and ever so busy, but we dove right in. The first child-owned business we stopped by was homeschooler Zoey Sowles’ “Have A Date” booth – a business based on chocolate covered dates.

Zoey’s booth was very professionally laid out with a printed menu complete with product photos. The first two menu items Snicker’s Dates and Coconut Joy Dates were sold out. However, there were still S’mores Dates as well as Cake in a Cup, Strawberry Shortcake, Cookies and Cream and Lemonade to be had.

Curious, we asked Zoey how she came to start her business.

“I came up with the idea to start a company three years ago and was looking for a product to market when I stumbled across making chocolate-covered dates. They tasted pretty good, so I began playing with different flavors. Then I heard about The Children’s Business Fair and thought ‘I could sell my dates there’. I began selling them at the fair three years ago and have continued ever since.”

Just across from Zoey’s booth, we met Just That Bro Bros’ Ira and Henry Olsen. The brothers had a great sales pitch and an abundance of handmade products to market. Their products included Garden Cups of Chocolate Pudding, Oreos and Gummy Worms, Potholders, Design Your Own Logo Stamps to block print on a shirt, and other items including custom art drawn by one of the bros.

Moving down the row, we came to Maryland Curiosity Lab student Jobie Schinnamon’s business Paper Garden which recycles paper and other items into viable products to sell. The flowers with which her tent was decorated were made from coffee filters. However, the regular and seed papers she was selling were created by her using a tried-and-true recycling method.

‘I create new paper from recycled paper by ripping it, putting it in a bin and adding water,” said Jobie. “I’ll let it sit for a day. Then I blend it in a blender to make it smooth, scoop the mixture onto screens on my deck to drain the water out and let the product dry. Today, I’m also selling flowers I made from unused coffee filters – a way of upcycling. I loved the idea of creating a business and felt participating in the fair was cool…and it was a way to earn extra money.”

Across from the Paper Garden, Duffy’s Dogs was running full tilt with young entrepreneur Duffy minding the grill and selling hot dogs, chili dogs and lemonade.

The Shell Sisters Claire and Margo Schieffer have been decoupaging art onto different sizes of seashells for quite a while and decided they should bring them to the Children’s Business Fair this year. Some are based on characters from fairy tales.

On our way to the next booth, we bumped into Blended Essentials manager Danielle Bowen and Anne Arundel County Council member Amanda Fiedler who were volunteering as judges. Both carried sheets with lists of entries for the age group they were assigned.

Fiedler, a judge for the fourth year, explained that awards would be given to entrants in each of three age groups for categories including most original business idea, highest business potential, and best presentation. Winners would receive $50 and a certificate.

A few minutes later, we stopped by The Bakery of Botany tent where we found middle school student and business co-owner Clay Wise. We also found Bowen there. Though The Bakery of Botany was not one of the entrants she was assigned to judge, she’d ducked into the tent to sneak at peak at the baked products.

“I’m one-half of The Bakery of Botany with my partner William Price who’s not here at the moment,” said Clay Wise. “I’ve done all the baking while William grew cat grass, succulents and transplants for sunflowers, nasturtiums, cucumbers, tomatoes and strawberries from seeds in biodegradable pots.”

We eventually ran into event founders Jenny and Roman Hardgrave who told us that the Children’s Business Fair organized by Acton Academy’s Maryland Curiosity Lab was not the only one. The fairs were taking place across the nation which is fitting as our country is celebrating its 250th anniversary. Roman went on to explain how the school happened to partner with the Greater Severna Park Chamber of Commerce and relocate the event to Park Plaza.

“From the beginning of the Children’s Business Fair on the parking lot at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, we had support from Chamber CEO Liz League who volunteered as a judge all four years. We also were sponsored from the very beginning by Chamber members Nancy and Billy Greer’s Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi.

So, as we outgrew our original site on the parking lot at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, it seemed only natural to partner with the Chamber and move the event to Park Plaza. It’s worked out wonderfully as we’ve acquired support from 11 sponsors ranging from Art Farm Studios, and Broadneck Pharmacy to Mathnasium, LogoZone, Macaroni Kid, Naptown Scoop and The Severna Park Voice among others.”

Even though The Sweet Studio’s owner Sakina Ziot was completely sold out of bracelets, she was still selling cookies and Squeeze The Day lemonade. She was also wearing one of the inspiring blue t-shirts created by an Acton School student that many participants were wearing. It bore the slogan “The best way to predict the future is to create it by Abraham Lincoln”.

Back-to-back with The Sweet Studios’ tent was the CPD Handcrafts tent run by friends Callie Kinahan and Phoenix Loman. Their crafts ran from scrunchies and bracelets to pet rocks.

With 64 entrants and 90 children participating, we couldn’t visit them each one. However, we couldn’t resist focusing last on Willow”s Vegan Bakery. Fairly professional in her approach, owner Willow Stinchcomb had her own business cards, shirt, Facebook page, email address and an attention-getting pretzel headdress.

Willow said she has had a business of her own since she was six years old.

As the Children’s Business Fair of Severna Park wound to a close at 4 pm, there was great excitement as the judges rendered their decisions and Roman Hardgrove was about to step to the microphone and announce the award winners. Parents had their smartphones at the ready as winners from three age groups proudly stepped forward to receive their certificates.

One can hope that these ambitious and inventive youngsters will find the business climate in the State of Maryland less challenging than it is currently for entrepreneurs as they reach adulthood. For more information on the Maryland Curiosity Lab and 2027 Children’s business Fair, visit Maryland Curiosity Lab.

Tavern Talk & Tea with author Mary K. Tilghman at Rising Sun Inn on April 25th

The Friends of The Rising Sun Inn invites the public to its Tavern Talk & Tea event: Spilling The Tea with author Mary K. Tilghman at 1 pm on Saturday, April 25th. Enjoy an Elevenses Tea with tea and sweets in the beautiful surroundings of the historic Crownsville Inn while the author discusses her book “Love Letters & Gingerbread, An Annapolis Christmas”. There will be a question-and-answer period and book signing following Tilghman’s lecture The sweets served will include some of those mentioned in her book.

Tickets are $38.00 dollars per person or $68 for two people and must be purchased in advance by visiting Spilling the Tea with Author Mary Tilghman.

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

For those of us who love to garden, Spring couldn’t come soon enough. We’d been itching to get outside and spruce up our porches, lawns and gardens with plants and flowers. Was it any wonder that warm sunny weather on the day before Easter inspired us to head for local garden centers.

Truth be told, I’d already looked for some heirloom seeds I wanted to try this year in the garden sections of several stores but hadn’t been able to find them. Thus, I headed for AA Co. Farm, Lawn & Garden Center in Pasadena – long my favorite source for seeds, bulbs, transplants, flowerpots, soil amendments and other products. I had no idea I’d find the garden center parking lot packed with cars.

Entering the garden, I immediately spotted customers pulling wagonloads of plants. (Little wagons were handily placed for shoppers’ use just outside the garden fences.) Customers were later seen at the checkout window of the garden center’s picturesque red garden shed (seen in the opening photo).

There were multitudes of plants to choose from and, as you might imagine, Easter flowers ready for gifting were flying off the shelves. The outdoor checkout window was consistently busy.

Inside Anne Arundel Co. Farm Lawn and Garden Center there were so many clients that owner Cory Stephens was working the counter along with employee Kelly Neet.

At the opposite end of the counter from Stephens, we briefly spoke with Neet and asked her if the center was always so busy.

“In the Spring, it’s just crazy here. It’s so busy and we love it,” Neet said. “When the sun is out, like today, everyone feels that little inspiration to get out there and garden. You might have noticed that we’re also having lots of families with kids coming in to see the peeps.”

Families with children also seemed to enjoy the garden center’s outdoor Rocking Bird and Vintage Car and Truck Model display.

Our time at the garden center just flew by so we got down to business and looked for our much sought after packets of garden seeds among the Livingston displays. Along with others, I found packets for Mustard Greens, Pak Choi (a leaf type Chinese cabbage), Cress and hard-to-find Impatiens and promptly purchased them from Neet.

Back outside, I checked out a nice selection of herbs, an extensive range of vegetable transplants and a number of old-fashioned but popular plants like rhubarb. I also found, behind the red shed, various sized plastic flowerpots for a very reasonable price.

Before leaving, I caught up with Cory Stephens and observed that the garden center was as busy as I’ve ever seen it.

“We’re happy to see a little sunshine,” Stephens said. “We’ve had a cold start this spring. It was so cold and wet throughout March that people were slow getting started with planting and weren’t coming in. The bad weather also made it hard for us to get our ducks in a row so we were a little bit behind the 8-ball. But today has been great.”

Stephens also had some interesting news to share.

“We’re entered in a best-garden center competition for Fox Business News,” he said. “Our presentation was so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes. When something turns out greater than you imagined it, it’s wonderful so we’re excited. Fox will announce the finalists on October 13th after which the voting will begin.”

We’ll keep you updated.

A reminder: Children’s Business Fair of Severna Park this Saturday, April 11th

The Maryland Curiosity Lab and the Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce for Commerce are partnering for the 4th Annual Children’s Business Fair at Park Plaza this Saturday, April 11 from 1 pm to 4 pm. The Fair will be hosting 64 child-run businesses. There will be music by Bach to Rock and other surprises. The Fair is free for anyone to attend.

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

Though long aware of the Eastport Oyster Boys, I was surprised to learn the well-known Chesapeake folk music group was performing a concert at Maryland Hall in Annapolis on March 22nd celebrating their 30th Anniversary.

Curious about the group’s beginnings in 1996 and its evolution through the years, I met with Eastport Oyster Boys co-founder Jefferson Holland at Davis’ Pub in Eastport. Since we met on the first actual day of spring, the restaurant was as busy as could be and everybody that walked by seemed to know Holland and his beautiful black rescue retriever Millie.

Holland has been known to reinvent himself from time to time. Some people will have met him as a young, enthusiastic media representative for the Annapolis Boat Shows in the 1980’s. Others may have caught one of his performances as a musician and storyteller in the late ’80’s and ’90’s. From 2000 through 2014, they might have known him as the Director of the Annapolis Maritime Museum and Park. For a few years afterward, he was Riverkeeper for the West and Rhodes Rivers. Through it all, he has nurtured his love for writing songs, poetry and books.

Originally a co-founder of the musical group Crab Alley in the 1980’s, Holland partnered with Kevin Brooks in 1996 to found “Them Eastport Oyster Boys”. Asked how and why the pair chose such an unusual name, Holland responded that they simply wanted something that stood out. Because McNasby’s Oyster Company (now home to the Annapolis Maritime Museum) and the oyster industry were a mainstay of their town of Eastport for more than a century, the name was a natural.

He noted that people never did know what to make of the name – a name that has subsequently been mispronounced in five different countries and on two continents.

“Our Eastport Oyster Boys performances started out with just Kevin and I performing on the schooner ‘Woodwind’. That was a lot of fun and our audience of passengers could see that our material was drawn from all around us. You could say it lent us an air of authenticity,” said Holland.

They occasionally performed on other craft like the deadrise workboat, “Miss Lonesome” seen below, that was built by Perry Rogers in Shady Side in 1923. 

Brooks and Holland wrote all of the songs themselves. They’d started out thinking they would rediscover some of the songs watermen would have been singing 100 years ago and bring them back to life. But, after years of research, they didn’t find a single one.

“It turned out that, if the waterman would have been singing anything, it would have been out of the Methodist hymn book,” Holland said. “There were only a couple of Chesapeake Bay oriented songs in existence. So, we made up our own. The idea was to write about the boats, people, places and events that made our area special. We came up with songs like ‘Back Creek Bay’ which we wrote in 1981.”

The duo decided early on that they never wanted to perform in bars, so they did festivals, concerts and events. They would appear each year at an event called “Eastport ‘A Rockin'” and people would come up to them mentioning that they played trumpet or some other instrument and asking if they could play with them. After a while, the group grew. It is seen below during an appearance at the Boatyard Bar & Grill in the late 1990’s.

Eventually, the group compacted.

“I actually left the The Eastport Oyster Boys in 2011,” Holland said. “By 2011, I was director of the Annapolis Maritime Museum and we were involved in ongoing reconstruction from the effects of Hurricane Isabel. Nowadays, joining Kevin Brooks on banjo are Andy Fegley on trumpet, Tom Guay on guitar, and Mike Lang on keyboards. I’ll still make guest appearances three times a year though the group’s emphasis has changed from our original mix of stories, tall tales and poetry that fit so well with our appearances on the schooner.”

Holland joined the group onstage at Maryland Hall for the “Shuck It Tour” 30th Anniversary concert which he said went very well.

Named Poet Laureate of the City of Annapolis for 2024 through 2026 by former Mayor Gavin Buckley, Jefferson Holland is doing what he’s always wanted to do – creating and presenting a combination of poems, stories and songs, all with the theme of Annapolis, the Chesapeake Bay, people, boats and dogs. He relishes his appearances in the role several times a month.

In addition to a weekly column he writes for The Capital newspaper, he’s authored a book called “Walk Around Arundel: 52 Places to Hike with Your Dog (and Other Best Friends)” from New Bay Books. He’s recently written a new song called “That’s My Maryland” that you can listen to on YouTube on a channel by the same name.

Circling back for a moment to talk about the Eastport Oyster Boys, it occurred to me that Jeff Holland and his wife Louise are longtime Eastport residents. Thus, I thought him the perfect person to ask about the changing nature of the town.

“Yes, the town has changed. It’s become Yupified,” he said. “This very restaurant where we’re sitting, Davis’ Pub, used to be the neighborhood black bar. The original owner was a waterman who liked serving fellow watermen. I used to come here when it was a great local hangout and most of Eastport’s black families lived along this very street.”

“Following the Civil War, the Eastport/Annapolis area was one of few places in an otherwise segregated society where white and black families lived side-by-side. But, starting in the 1970’s with the advent of the Annapolis Boat Shows, people became aware of Eastport as a desirable location and things began to change. People came here because they love it but, by doing so, they ruined it for those already here.”

Holland notes that the town has fortunately preserved some of the older buildings associated with the oyster industry. He thinks aquaculture may bring the industry back to some extent but not remotely like it used to be.

“Though some of the town’s traditions seem to survive like the annual Eastport Sock Burnings celebrating the Spring equinox and beginning of the boating season, the biggest change to the community known by many as the ‘Maritime Republic of Eastport’ is gentrification.”

Those who would like to learn more about Jefferson Holland’s work may check out his website at Home.

Children’s Business Fair of Severna Park on April 11th

The Maryland Curiosity Lab is partnering with the Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce for Commerce for the 4th Annual Children’s Business Fair taking place at Park Plaza on Saturday, April 11 from 1 pm to 4 pm. According to Chamber CEO Liz League, The Fair will be hosting 64 child-run businesses. There will be music by Bach to Rock and a few other surprises. The Fair is free for anyone to attend.

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.