AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi
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.
