AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi,
Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services,
and Midas of Annapolis and Pasadena
Some local farmer’s markets and produce stands are already open for the season. However, those of us who love to cook delight in buying field-to-farmstand fruits and vegetables so we keep an eye on the cornfields and faithfully follow the Facebook pages of our favorite farms.
That’s why we were thrilled when the Chase’s Produce – Fruits and Vegetables, Fresh Produce (chasesproduce.com) website and Facebook page proclaimed that the stand would open July 1st. We, naturally, made a beeline for it that very day driving across Rt. 424 through Davidsonville and arriving in the early afternoon.
While the farmstand is generally busy, we never imagined we’d have trouble finding a parking place. Fortunately, a car pulled out and we slipped into the empty space.
We quite enjoyed the bustling scene before us as farm owners Bob and Marge Chase hustled to wait on customers. They were helped by this year’s part-time workers Natalie and Miranda who stood out from the crowd in their blue and red Chase Produce shirts featuring smiling corncobs. This year is Miranda Whetzell ‘s ninth working at the stand. Along with a second part-time job, working at Chase’s Produce each summer enabled her to attend and complete her education as a psychology major at the University of Maryland without any debt.
First-of-the-season vegetables, ranging from tomatoes, zucchini and yellow squash to peppers, cucumbers, potatoes and corn, looked great and were well priced.
Customers had a ball picking out the tastiest looking fruits and vegetables with an eye to what they’d be serving for dinner. Almost all the shoppers flocked to the orange baskets spilling over with sweet corn and selected anywhere between three and a dozen ears.
Six-dollar boxes of tomatoes and peaches were selling quickly along with cherries and other fruit. Bob Chase could occasionally be seen behind the stand putting together additional boxes of each to replace empty spaces on the shelves.
Cantaloupes were definitely in demand with just six left on the shelf and only half a dozen more in the bed of the wagon. At that point, Chase took off on a farm ATV across one of his cornfields to resupply, leaving wife Marge and the girls to run the stand. Luckily, Marge found time between waiting on customers to update us on how the 2025 season has been progressing at the farm.
She reminded us that the produce stand was temporarily open back in May for their annual Pick Your Own Strawberry season. The popular event draws pickers from around Anne Arundel County and as far away as Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.
“Contrary to what we figured might be a foreshortened picking season due to intermittent rains, we found our fields and berries held up well,” she said. “We did great and managed to sell plenty of strawberries.”
We learned from Marge that the farmstand will be open weekdays from Monday through Thursday from 2 pm till 6:30. This Friday, July 4th and on Saturday and Sunday the stand will open at 10 am and close at 5 pm. For daily updates on the schedule visit Facebook or Chase’s Produce – Fruits and Vegetables, Fresh Produce (chasesproduce.com).
Chase’s is one of the few farmstands that primarily sources its produce locally along with nearby Marco Ridge Farm. The Marco Ridge stand customarily opens for the season on the 4th of July but, as their Facebook page notes, the corn is not quite ready so there will be a slight wait. There are cucumbers for sale, however, on the wagon in front of the stand. Stay tuned for opening day by visiting Facebook.
Our Anne Arundel County farmer’s markets opened in April with early-season vegetables primarily from the Eastern Shore. Diehl’s Produce in Severna Park and Diehl’s Produce of Annapolis also opened in April as they source some of their flowers and produce from states further south.
Located close to the Severna Park 4th of July Parade route at B&A Boulevard and McKinsey Road, Diehl’s is a popular stop-off for attendees. In fact, we’ll be among those visiting.
We did happen to visit the Pumphrey’s Farm stand in Millersville last week and found it fully open with a full selection of vegetables (with the exception of their usual hot pepper varieties). Curiously, no one was minding the stand while we shopped so we paid on the honor system.
Grandmaster Chen ZhengLei’s Light of Tai Chi training camp opens July 11th at Jing Ying Institute
Since its inception in 2011 by Grandmaster Chen ZhengLei, The Light of Tai Chi training camp has traveled to a variety of locations each year. Last year marked the first time the event was held on the East Coast, and it is returning this year to the Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi from July 11 through July 14.
We learned from Jing Ying Institute owners Nancy and Billy Greer that, in addition to the training camp for registered students, there will be free public events, including special closing ceremonies and presentations on Monday July 14 from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.
The Greers added that Grandmaster Chen ZhengLei has been officially recognized as a Top Ten Living Martial Artist of China and has traveled to over 40 countries to share his family art. He is a descendant of the gentleman credited with creating tai chi. Over the years, he has met with a number of world leaders.
Maryland is one of the few states ZhengLei visits regularly when he comes to the USA and Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi is the only official branch of the Chen ZhengLei TaiJiQuan Federation in the USA. For more information on the event, visit Best Martial Arts Program in Annapolis, Severna Park (jingying.org).
Severna Park’s 50th Anniversary 4th of July Parade from 10 am till noon Friday
A reminder from the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce that Friday’s 50th Anniversary Severna Park 4th of July Parade will be held from 10 am till noon. Parade entries will step off from either Our Shepherd Lutheran Church or St. Martin’s in-the-Field Episcopal Church at 10, traverse the length of Benfield Road, turn right onto Riggs Avenue and proceed to the center of Olde Severna Park where the Judge’s Stand is located. Serving as Grand Marshall of the parade this year is Severna Park historian Scott Jay. We’ll see you there.
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 whilereducing 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.
And Midas of Annapolis and Pasadena, A family- owned business with four locations (Annapolis, Pasadena, Laurel and Wheaton). With 40 years’ experience and the backing of a national brand, they are committed to earning customers’ trust by offering the expertise, value and responsiveness drivers expect – “every time they visit us.”
