AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi
and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services
Plans for the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber’s December 1st Community Tree Lighting had gone swimmingly with sponsors, vendors and entertainers lined up – until pouring rains caused the event to be postponed to December 8th. The magical hour of 5 pm arrived with quite a crowd assembled along with four Severna Park High School cheerleaders on hand to cheer on the lighting of, not one, but two community trees.
Simultaneously, Severna Park Community Center was decorated to the hilt and getting underway with its December 8th “Cookies & Cocoa with Santa” event. As can be seen in the opening photo, SPCC community outreach director Amy Holbrook did a masterful job of decorating the portico of Boone Station Hall for Santa complete with a hearth and easy chair. Families flocked there from the outset.
Due to the rescheduling, the Community Tree Lighting ceremony was kept simple so as not to conflict with the holiday event at the community center. Arriving in Olde Severna Park at 5 pm, we were walking in from the parking lot with other attendees when first one, and then a second larger tree lit up the night sky over the assembled crowd.
The illumination for both trees was provided by Pasadena-based Maryland Lighting & Sprinklers.
The enormous historic evergreen soaring above the chamber building was first lit by former CEO Linda Zahn after the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber acquired and moved into the former Regester home at 1 Holly Avenue in 1995. Zahn had colorful lights custom made for the tree based on the design of the Naval Academy Alumni House tree.
By the mid 2000’s, the lighting of the big tree became too difficult and was abandoned in favor of a smaller tree. However, there was a longing in the community to see it illuminated again. At community members Christie and Greg Coster and Matt Wyble’s suggestion, Maryland Lighting & Sprinklers was contacted by chamber CEO Liz League and agreed to illuminate it at half the cost with community businesses donating the rest. The giant tree once more sparkled to life December 2, 2022. No less awesome this Christmas, the tree was instantly thronged with admirers.
Again, so as not to conflict, GSPACC arranged for their tree-lighting performers and vendors to appear, instead, at the community center event. Not realizing this, the crowd milled about and many wandered into the Olde Severna Park Railroad Station to see the Severna Park Model Railroad Club’s holiday train display.
The crowd milled about not realizing the rest of the program was integrated into the community center event. 
Many lined up to enter the Severna Park Model Railroad Club’s holiday train display.
Luckily, cheerleaders Ivy Bauer, Caitlyn Cortez, Brennan Karney and Laurel Coard from Sevena Park High School, who helped countdown the tree lightings, led crowd members to the chamber’s pre-determined traffic crossing at B&A Boulevard leading to the community center.
Once a smallish holiday gathering held primarily around an angel tree in the lobby, Cookies and Cocoa with Santa has grown into a sizeable event featuring an indoor Christmas market, games and displays inside the community center to entertainers in the courtyard, food vendors in Boone Station Hall with Santa in the portico and food trucks in the parking lot.
A touching “Advent & Christmas at Woods” display by the community center entrance emphasized the real meaning of Christmas. It featured Mary and Joseph, (portrayed by Jacquei Shade and John Strange), a shepherd (portrayed by Thomas Shade) and an angel (portrayed by Jessica Walsh) gathered around the Nativity scene the young lady in the photo below is studying so intently. The group also handed out Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church’s schedule of Advent & Christmas Eve Services.
Christmas Eve services include 3 and 4 pm showings of the Family Christmas Pageant, a 6 pm Contemporary Candlelight Service, an 8 pm Traditional Candlelight Service and a 10 pm Traditional Candlelight Communion Service.
Entering the community center’s Christmas Market, we bumped into Board of Directors chair Ellen Kleinknecht and husband Scott who were pleased with the turnout.
“The streets are packed,” said Kleinknecht. “The board members each baked cookies to give out at Boone Station Hall but we’ve had to buy more.”
Items for sale ranged from pottery from Rudie’s Woodwork and Gruner Pottery and evergreens from Artish Soul to vintage jewelry from Amy Heath’s Hip Mod Vintage.
We saw evergreens, woodwork and hats among other things at Artish Soul. 
Amy Heath’s Hip Mod Vintage collection sparkled. In 12 hours, she’d be at Severna Park Farmer’s Market.
The night’s biggest draw, of course, was the jolly old elf himself. Dozens of children enjoyed reciting their wish lists for him in the portico.
However, a veritable flood of families filed past them to The Big Bean table where cups of hot cocoa were handed out.
Many attendees filtered out into the courtyard between the center and Boone Station Hall where the Severna Park High School Jazz Ensemble (courtesy of Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber tree-lighting sponsors) played Christmas carols. Additional entertainment included The Dance Center at Severna Park Community Center’s Star Elite Dancers and local choirs.
Others explored the parking lot where Movable Mixtures was providing libations while the Sweet Satisfaction food truck (a GSPACC member and tree lighting sponsor/vendor) provided mini peppermint sundaes.
Having taken it all in, we still had one more item to check off. We were invited by Director Kellie Greer to preview The Dance Center at Severna Park Community Center’s dress rehearsal of “The Nutcracker” getting underway in a studio downstairs. The classical ballet by Tchaikovsky will be held December 16 at Severna Park High School beginning at 5 pm.
Choreographed by dancers Jill Weeks and Kathryn Quigly, “The Nutcracker” will showcase a condensed but delightful rendition of the ballet set on Christmas Eve with beloved favorites such as The Sugar Plum Fairy, and the Waltz of the Flowers.
We found a number of very excited dancers lined up by the costume closet where Weeks was handing out costumes which most were seeing for the first time.
Immediately upon receiving crinolines, dresses and sashes, mouse costumes or whatever, the dancers slipped them on over their leotards, checking the mirrors while doing so. They could shortly be seen helping each other apply the finishing touches or tie each other’s bows.
It was especially fun to see the “mice” catch their reflections in the mirror and then adjust their ears or noses.
Once dressed, the dancers exited to adjoining studios to wait for their cues. At Weeks’ direction, the dancers for the first act found their places. Three of the male dancers were not dance center students but friends of Jill Weeks’ daughters. They had never before danced but volunteered to appear in the production as a favor to Weeks who coached them a bit.
The music sounded and the cast engaged in a playful scene in which soldiers Johnathan and Lucas and man about town Ryan appeared for the first time ever.
From that point on, the rehearsal seemed to go fairly well. Thirty-five students from the dance program at The Dance Center will participate in the production. The doors will open 30 minutes prior to the performance for general admission. Tickets can be purchased in advance at The Nutcracker Campaign (spcommunitycenter.org) or at the door. Greer noted that those planning to buy tickets at the door will need to use a credit card.
Jing Ying Institute’s annual Silent Auction and holiday party December 16
Billy and Nancy Greer invite the public to join them this Saturday, December 16, for Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi’s holiday party and 20th Annual Silent Auction benefitting the Alzheimer’s Association. The party and auction take place from 3 to 4:30 pm at Jing Ying Institute, 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. in Arnold. There are so many wonderful items to bid on that we can’t list them all but they range from Baltimore Symphony Orchestra concert tickets, gift baskets from The Old Fox Books & Coffeehouse and The Big Bean among many others, and bracelets from Aid to Trade to Laughing Panda Chocolates.
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.)
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.
