AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu Tai Chi
and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services
Having risen from the Park Plaza parking lot early Saturday morning, a miniature oasis of 70 colorful vendor tents looked picture perfect by the time the Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber’s Spring SHOP LOCAL Fun Festival got underway at 11 am.
A SHOP LOCAL marketplace that was bigger, busier and better than ever stretched out before the crowds. Shoppers moved busily up and down the aisles lingering from time to time to shop, collect information or giveaways, or sample various foods.
You could immediately tell from the names emblazoned on the signs or tents of businesses, that there was a nice balance of longtime SHOP LOCAL supporters like Side Street Framers & Gift Gallery, SERVPRO, Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi, Franklin’s Toys, Bruster’s Real Ice Cream and Ledo Pizza, more recent participants like Park Hardware, Bohemian Black, Blended Essentials, and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services, and businesses new to the event like Schmidty’s Kettle Corn, Harbor City Music Company, GYMGUYZ Personal Training, and Baking on the Magothy.
The “longtime supporters” mentioned above have actually participated in the Chamber sponsored SHOP LOCAL events from the very first one. Side Street Framers & Gift Gallery owner Dawn Wilson was instrumental in starting Severna Park’s SHOP LOCAL movement and Jing Ying Institute owner Nancy Greer was one of the initiative’s earliest and most ardent supporters. Both women have been helpful in attracting new businesses to the chamber and its SHOP LOCAL activities.
In fact, Greer introduced us to Robin Mohns, franchise owner of Midas Auto Service Shops in Annapolis, Laurel, Pasadena and Wheaton, who started the Chris Gives Foundation in memory of her late husband Chris Mohns. The foundation provides help to individuals struggling to pay for auto repairs and provides scholarships for high school students in the auto repair curriculum.
Not to be overlooked was the fact that the Spring SHOP LOCAL Fun Festival had a full day of entertainment starting off with a performance by a Priddy Music Academy Music group and a K-9 Demo from the Anne Arundel County Sheriff’s office.
Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi came next in the program, opting to use their demonstration to provide an insider’s look at what is involved in one of their well-celebrated Lion Dance performances. To begin, Nancy Greer explained that the “lion” is frequently mistaken for a dragon and how to tell the difference. Then, Jing Ying Institute Shifu Billy Greer and Lane Robinson demonstrated how to don the suit and perform the choreographed rhythmic movements that are part of the dance.
Finally, the lion is seen dancing away into the crowd.
Though the order of the performances changed a bit, there were still two more groups scheduled to entertain.
For the first time at the SHOP LOCAL Fun Festival, there was to be a Preview Performance by Children’s Theatre of Annapolis cast members from the May 10th show “Feeling All The Feelings”. The theatre was also promoting a trio of Summer Camps for kids and teens.
There would also be a demo by another of our favorite martial arts groups, Kwon’s Taekwondo, with the entire gang of expert practitioners on hand.
Back to strolling about, we stopped by the Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services tent and discovered that there was a new addition to the usual crew. In addition to owners Winsome Brown and Danielle (Dee) Morgan Brown, Dee’s baby daughter Callie joined the staff wearing a charming matching outfit complete with ruffles.
As usual, the Lean On Dee group was busy all day handing out Caregivers Support Kits and informational brochures about their services as well as some great giveaways.
For picking up the latest news, you can’t beat spring’s large-scale community events, and the SHOP LOCAL Fun Fest was no exception. We had a great time talking with Park Hardware/Zeskind’s owner Rick Miller and his father Rick Miller, Sr., better known as the “face of Zeskind’s” since the late 1960’s.
The pair couldn’t help bragging just a bit. Park Hardware’s 2nd annual Spring Native Plant Sale held April 26th opened at 8 am and they were completely sold out by 9 am.
“We’d tripled the amount we ordered from Providence of Maryland to 1,500 plants but were sold out within one hour,” Miller said. “I’m going to have to increase the number of plants even more for the next one.”
Both Millers were pleased to share the news that the fourth-generation hardware business will be holding its Centennial Celebration in the fall. (The business has its origins in the establishment of Zeskind’s in 1925.) It will be held in the Park Hardware parking lot and will be open to the community.
We picked up more news when we visited the Bohemian Black by Walking Roses tent and found owner Rose Walker welcoming shoppers and introducing them to her favorite spring and summer fashions. In addition to Walker’s Severna Park boutique at 45 W. Earleigh Heights Road, she has opened a second location at Annapolis Town Center.
In addition, Walker has a Let’s Be Friends Brunch & Fashion Show coming up on May 25. She’s also introduced something new dubbed SECOND HAND by Bohemian Black, A Curated Pop-Up of Pre-Loved Style.
With 70 vendors, it wasn’t possible to visit every booth, but there were many familiar faces – business owners who take part in every SHOP LOCAL event. They included Dwayne Bowie and Donnie Dove from Kogen Dojo and Dave Noce from SERVPRO of Annapolis/Severna Park.
But there were also first-timers. We ran into Jody Buck whom we’d met last year when she opened her new KeyGroup Realty office in Millersville. Then, we discovered an interesting young man named Danny Schmidt whose company Schmidty’s Kettle Corn was doing quite a business. Schmidt is proud of the fact that he is a successful disabled businessman with his own company.
Chamber member Pam Booth introduced us to Matthew Ryan, owner of the new company Baking on the Magothy. We were surprised to run into some other “first-timer’s” to the SHOP LOCAL Fun Festival – members of the nationally known, award-winning Harbor City Music Company Show Chorus.
We’d have been remiss if we didn’t seek out Ledo Pizza owner Martin Gorman. He is another of those businessmen who strongly supported Severna Park’s SHOP LOCAL movement from the moment of its inception. Amazingly, the Ledo Pizza booth was located in front of Gorman’s original Ledo’s Pizza & Pasta. Last March 25th, Ledo Pizza & Pasta closed its doors after 32 years as one of Park Plaza’s anchor businesses. Unable to come to terms on a new lease, the owner relocated the restaurant to 342 Ritchie Highway. The former location continues to sit empty.
There was plenty more to see. Suffice it to say that the Spring SHOP LOCAL Fun Festival was a hit with those who attended. Chamber CEO Liz League said she was thrilled to have such wonderful weather which definitely contributed to the festival’s success. She added that, from what she could observe, the vendors were busy throughout the event.
To follow chamber activities and events, visit Greater Severna Park and Arnold Chamber of Commerce (gspacc.com).
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.
