AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi
The Park Hardware/Zeskind’s 100th Anniversary celebration began early in the morning on September 20th. The atmosphere both inside the store and outside on the parking lot was welcoming and shoppers arriving by 8 am were treated to a Glazey Day donut.
Honoring the company’s 100 years in hardware, September 20th was also the day customers could redeem Park Bucks they’d earned. For every $1 spent between August 1 and September 19, shoppers earned $10 in Park Bucks. Thus, there was an air of expectation.
A string of events was scheduled throughout the day including a Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting ceremony. Chamber CEO Liz League officiated introducing three generations of the family business including third-generation owners Rick Miller, Sr. and wife Deborah, 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 earlier this year.
League and the Millers reflected that the family business was started in 1925 by Rick’s grandfather and grandmother Sam and Rose Zeskind at the corner of McHenry and Payson Streets in Baltimore. Rick, Sr. grew up working with his grandfather at that store and, in 1973, he and wife Deborah bought the store from Sam.
Like his father, Rick Miller, Jr. worked at Zeskind’s from the time he was 13. Later he became its vice-president with a 50% ownership, grew the business and completed a buyout of Zeskind’s in 2019, opening a showroom in Arnold. In April of 2023, Miller arranged to buy Clement Hardware from Gordon Clement renaming the store Park Hardware and folding the Zeskind’s showroom into the back half of the building. Rick, Sr. is still very much involved with the hardware side of the business.
We found Rick, Jr. later in the day as he chatted with numerous friends, business associates and customers. Asked how the day had gone, he beamed with pleasure.
“It’s been a great day with the family getting together, even one of the Zeskind sisters (that grew up working in the store with Sam) was here,” he said. “The turnout has been wonderful with demonstrations for attendees to see, raffles to enter and great food to sample from the vendors you see located around the parking lot.”
Go Melvo Sno-Balls and the Tacos Friday truck opened their windows to shoppers for free servings at staggered times of the day.
Both Milwaukee Tools and Napoleon Grills began demonstrations and giveaways at 11:30 pm. The team from Napoleon Grills went on with their demonstrations for quite some time, grilling meats and handing out samples to anniversary celebration customers who loved them. Park Hardware/Zeskind’s also sponsored a raffle to win a Napoleon Rogue 425 Grill.
There was even an interior paint class in the parking lot at 3 pm with Bob Appolin. All-in-all a pretty fine way for the Park Hardware/Zeskind’s family to celebrate its 100th year in the hardware business. Topping off the day for many was a visit to the Zeskind’s Showroom where an abundance of doors, windows and hardware awaited them.
On entering its 101st year, the store has many more offers and activities planned. To stay abreast of what’s happening, visit Facebook.
Pumphrey’s Farm Produce Stand, an echo of Anne Arundel County’s agricultural past
By September 22nd, autumn had officially begun and there was much to see in our area. Nothing says “harvest time” like a wagonload of pumpkins – especially if they are the smaller pie pumpkins cooks are so fond of. We found them at Pumphrey’s Farm Produce Stand at 8220 Veterans Highway in Millersville.
From the rustic sign off Veteran’s Highway to the aging and weatherworn building, the Pumphrey’s Farm produce stand is one of few remaining vestiges of Anne Arundel County’s storied agricultural past. And I ask you, where else will you find homegrown lima beans?
We were cheered to find farmer Nat Pumphrey behind the counter as usual telling all who’d like to listen about his beautiful vegetables.
“They come from right here in downtown Millersville,” he says. “We have 4-1/2 acres behind the stand and a larger acreage across I-97.”
A member of the well-known Pumphrey farming family, Nat is proud of his heritage. He said the house he grew up in, behind a big red barn off the southbound side of Interstate 97, was a wedding gift from his great grandparents to his parents. Involved in the farm from an early age, he figures agriculture is in the Pumphrey DNA.
Long-abandoned farm equipment can still be spotted on occasion behind the stand as is the case with this long-abandoned tractor and even old plow beyond the stand.
No doubt, some of the antiques that are also sold by the stand come from the farm as well.
Nat Pumphrey loves to experiment with growing different types of vegetables. The hot peppers he grows are among the fieriest and are prized by chili aficionados. He also grows a wide selection of heirloom tomatoes as well as standard Big Boys and other types suitable for sandwiches.
He offers late season sweet corn as long as it lasts along with a host of melons and vegetables from the farm. As has long been the case, Pumphrey has brought in apples from Baugher’s Farm in Carroll County for the fall season.
And, of course, autumn wouldn’t be autumn at Pumphrey’s Farm Produce Stand without chrysanthemums to decorate the entrance.
Pumphrey’s Farm Produce Stand generally stays open through October until Thanksgiving depending on the weather.
Lifeline 100 Century Ride takes place this Sunday, October 5 at Kinder Farm Park
The Lifeline 100 Century Ride, a rain or shine event benefitting many local charities, takes place this Sunday with both start line and finish line at Kinder Farm Park. Information regarding registration and packet pick-up, ride start times for the 100-mile, 65-mile, 30-mile and 15-mile rides, course markings, rest stop locations, and other pertinent information can be found at Lifeline 100 Rides – Supported Bike Rides For All Riders Throughout Anne Arundel County.
Your hosts for the 2025 Lifeline 100 Rides are the Anne Arundel County Police Department, the Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation & Parks and
Bicycle Advocates for Annapolis & Anne Arundel County (“BikeAAA”).
Art In The Park at Cafe Mezzanotte this Sunday, October 5th
From 1 to 5 pm, the lawns at Cafe Mezzanotte will once more come alive with the sounds of music as the 5th Annual Art In The Park takes place. Presented by The Severna Park Voice and Cafe Mezzanotte, the festival will feature live music by ISHTA with special guest Gracie Jay, local artists and art galleries, a Wine Garden sponsored by Park Hardware/Zeskind’s with 20+ wines, and an All You Can Eat Gourmet Picnic sponsored by KMA Law Office. Tickets at https://checkout.square.site/…/MVIEM4WPWSXXMVUNJX4XEKWS.
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.
