AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Fishpaws Marketplace
Celebrating the seasons has always been an important part of the scene in Olde Severna Park. People who visit regularly know that by the end of September rows of colorful chrysanthemums and pansies will surround the Diehl’s Produce tents at the corner of McKinsey Road and B&A Boulevard while fat orange pumpkins will appear on the shelves inside.
Door decorations like those adorning The Carr Building at 570 Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard are popping up everywhere.
As we’re about to enter October and the “witching season”, it’s already getting a bit spooky as one can tell from the outside of The Red Apron Shoppe on Riggs Avenue where a trying-to-be-scary ghost floats near the entrance.
A stone’s throw away, on B&A Boulevard, a witch lurked just inside the door at The Blended Essentials. Likely a friendly witch, she appeared to welcome customers inside where the shop’s owner Danielle Bowen was surrounded by fragrantly scented soaps, bath bombs, and candles along with autumn decorations added by her daughter Ella.
Park Books , across B&A Boulevard in the Severna Park Shopping Village will host a spooky story time and Halloween Author Trifecta this Saturday, October 1 at 11 am. Featured books include author Rebecca Evans’ “If You Ever Meet a Skeleton”, Tracy Gold’s “Trick or Treat, Bugs to Eat”, and Rachel Kolar’s “Mother Ghost”.
If you weren’t already convinced that fall has arrived, the sign on the nearby Rita’s Italian Ice of Severna Park is a definite confirmation. No more “ice custard happiness” until spring.
There are lots more autumn events coming up. We mention a few here, with more to come.
SP CARES
We had a hot tip from Severna Park High School Drama that the organization will host SP Cares in the school auditorium this Friday, September 30 at 7 pm. The event – a night of entertainment by some talented SPHS actors, singers and dancers – is free to the public and donations will be accepted for Linda’s Legacy, a refugee support group. For information, visit Severna Park High School Drama | Facebook .
We grew curious about a couple of signs in the window at The Blended Essentials. One was for Jing Ying Institute’s Annual Halloween Party which we’ll have more details on later. But there was another that caught our attention.
PINKTOBER FEST, a benefit for IRISE ABOVE FOUNDATION
Our curiosity was tripled about this event as its being hosted by a new business – one of a trio of SOCIALS in Severna Park.
Pinktober Fest is being held at the about-to-open SOCIAL on Benfield Road on October 22 at 11 am.
(A second affiliated SOCIAL barbershop is located at 160 Ritchie Highway across from Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company. The third SOCIAL called THE SOCIAL is a restaurant at Magothy Gateway Village.)
Pinktober Fest is being held in benefit of the IRise Above Foundation, a breast cancer support organization.
American Association of University Women Booksale Nov. 3 at Severna Park location
It’s been a busy time for members of the American Association of University Women. The members have been out collecting gently used books for their annual book sale and are happy to announce that the event will be held November 3 through 6 at a new location in Severna Park.
“The sale will be held in a storefront at Park Plaza, 560-F Ritchie Hwy (to the right of JoAnn Fabrics),” said AAUW publicity chairman Cathy Crowley. “We’ll continue to collect books through October.”
AAUW’s multi-day book sales are major fundraisers supporting scholarships for women and have been held for many years at various locations. There are literally thousands of books to choose from so the annual book sale is popular not only with readers but is a major draw for collectors as well as kindergarten and elementary school teachers
We’ll have more details soon. For more information, visit AAUW of Maryland .
Millersville family continues to support critically ill children through Casey Cares
Millersville resident Nick Crivella and family hosted its 17th Crivella Family Golf Tournament on September 10th benefitting the Casey Cares Foundation which serves critically ill children, raising $85,000.
The Crivella family first came to our attention more than a decade ago thanks to Casey Baynes, the founder of Casey Cares. We initially spoke to Nick Crivella in 2011. When we spoke to him again recently, he recalled the origins of the Crivella Golf Tournament which has raised over $600,000 for Casey Cares over the past eleven years.
“Our family golf tournament started just before my wife and I were married at Musket Ridge Golf Course in Myersville, Maryland,” Crivella explained. “The golf club gave us a couple rounds of golf gratis. We had a great time and decided to do it again the following year. We never stopped and our group of participants kept building. We went from 40 players to 60 and then 70. As the tournament grew, we decided it should be charity-based and sought a charity to support.”
The Crivella Golf Tournament first benefitted the American Cancer Society giving them $12,000 which felt great for us but a small amount for such a big organization. The next year the family looked for a charity where the money would have more impact and benefitted the FBI Starship Memorial Fund providing scholarships for the children of fallen agents.
“Thereafter, we searched for a more local charity and settled on Casey Cares, a modest-sized organization where our contributions would make a big difference and that had solid leadership to use the funds wisely,” Crivella said.
Nick Crivella with golfer Marc Bastow who won the Christopher A. P. Chase Champion of Children Award in memory of family friend Christopher Chase. Photo courtesy of Nick Crivella 
Casey Baynes who founded the Casey Cares Foundation in 2000. Photo courtesy of Samantha Steltzer
The Casey Cares Foundation provides uplifting activities and programs for critically ill children and their families. The more Nick Crivella learned about the foundation, the more he was drawn to it. His father, Vince and uncle, Bart, were just teenagers when they lost their sister to cancer, so Casey Cares struck a chord with the family.
“We’ve continued supporting Casey Cares ever since,” he said. “The event is truly a collective family effort that we enjoy doing.”
Casey Baynes, who started the Casey Cares Foundation in 2000 with the help of a few families has personally organized numerous fundraisers including 5K races, a golf tournament at Chartwell Golf and Country Club in 2015, and even a fishing tournament. She gradually expanded the organization to cover 900 families in seven states.
Baynes says she is forever grateful for the contributions of the Crivella family.
“The Crivella’s tournament has grown to help so many critically ill kids. It’s awesome and extra special since Nick’s father and uncle lost a sister to cancer and understand the impact a child’s illness has on the whole family.” Baynes said.
She added that the family’s connection with Casey Cares has been amazing with Nick Crivella even serving on the board of directors.
Around The Park Again is brought to you this week by Fishpaws Marketplace, 954 Ritchie Hwy. – a family-owned business that carries fine wines, spirits and beers plus gourmet foods and specialty items perfect for football game tailgates.
