AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Fishpaws Marketplace and
Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi
Judging from the smiles on their faces, Temple University student Abby Johnson and her mother Jennifer were having a great time shopping for books at the American Association of University Women of Maryland’s Book Sale at Park Plaza last Thursday. The college freshman was home for a long weekend and was delighted to make the opening day of AAUW’s annual used book sale their first stop.
According to AAUW volunteers, opening day was tremendously busy during the pre-sale period set aside in the morning for book dealers and remained busy throughout the day. For the first time in several years, the four-day sale was back in Severna Park after having been held at locations off Ritchie Highway in Pasadena.
The book sale is the major fundraiser for the American Association of University Women’s scholarship program. Proceeds from the event fund scholarships for girls and women who are Anne Arundel Community College grads transferring to a university and for the Women to Women program for individuals returning to the workplace or opening businesses and needing further education.
By mid-afternoon, AAUW member Linda King was seen restocking the education and foreign language book sections which had, earlier in the day, been a major focus for dealers and teachers.
“It was incredibly busy this morning and still is. Being allowed to have our AAUW Book Sale signs up ahead of time has really helped us this year, King said. “Park Plaza is turning out to be such a good location for us.”
Likewise, avid reader and veteran book sale volunteer Amber Kaltz was rearranging one of several Mystery/Thriller sections. Kaltz acknowledged that mysteries are definitely one of the most popular categories of books and shoppers flock to them.
Customers combed through the section looking for titles by their favorite authors ranging from early 20th century mystery writers like Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers to current day best-sellers like Michael Connelly, John Sanford, and David Balducci. Then, it was up to Kaltz to replenish empty spots on the tables and shelves from boxes of books at her feet.
There were occasional treasures to be found in all the sections but, especially the Classic Literature section.
The Arts section along the front window also yielded a few treasures including one pictured here titled “Show Biz” – a well-thumbed-through chronicle of hit tunes from 20th century musicals and films circa 1904 to 1953 from London music publisher Robbins Music Corporation.
As usual, an extensive selection of Romance novels attracted many shoppers as did the Biography section.
Given a corner location, the Home & Garden section was a popular destination for those with green thumbs. It was not surprising to see empty spaces on the shelves considering the price list for books that was taped to the wall. Gardeners could afford more than one.
Book lover and AAUW Book Sale veteran Tunisha Drummond, whom we’d met buying books at previous sales, was wheeling a carryall of books through the General Fiction and Mystery/Thriller sections. She eventually made it to the checkout counter where volunteers included Barbara Marder, Gail Burke, Dianne Dezio and Gabriella Gick. They were delighted to see her again.
Drummond offloaded about a dozen books with the help of Marder. In the few moments it took to price them a line formed behind her.
The AAUW Used Book sale was a huge success this year according to AAUW Used Book Sale Co-Chair Stacey Hilder.
“The Severna Park community rallied round and kept the storefront full of shoppers and buyers every day with books flying out the door as fast as we could load them onto the tables,” Hilder said. “We brought in 150% of the amount we brought in during each of the sales of the last 5 years. It was great to be back in Severna Park and to experience such an overwhelming response from the community.”
For more information about AAUW’s book collections and annual book sale or other activities visit AAUW of Maryland.
Holiday Festival at Woods (formerly the annual holiday bazaar) is coming back
The Holiday Festival at Woods (formerly known as Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church’s Holiday Bazaar) is coming back on Saturday, November 19th from 9 am to 1 pm after a two-year absence due to the pandemic. Most of the sights, sounds, and sale items familiar from 80 years of staging the annual Christmas bazaar will be recaptured thanks to the efforts of festival committee co-chairs Mary Moran and Susan Bohlman and an enthusiastic group of volunteers and generous donations from church members.
The Founder’s Room at Woods (the beautifully preserved chapel within the larger church that was constructed in 1913 as the original place of worship) was set aside to store some of the items already donated for the sale.
Liz Pringle and Lorry Danko met there with Holiday Festival co-chair Susan Bohlman to review what’s come in so far. Liz and Lorry are members of the Woods Quilters Group which will have a table in the Fellowship Hall with 50 or more quilted items for sale. They laid out a few of them along with examples of other donations.
“We began with the idea of scaling back the annual holiday sale thinking it might not be as well-attended since we had to skip two years, said Bohlman. “However, the idea has been greeted with such enthusiasm and the event has mushroomed so much, that it’s back to being pretty much a full-scale holiday bazaar.
Danko, who created the lovely Advent Calendar on the end of the table, spoke about some of the other items shown. The books and games shown are but a small example of those that will be displayed in the White Elephant Room. Among the many quilted items for sale will be four wooden doll beds created by member Andy Borland’s Monday Morning Woodworkers Group and decked out with baby dolls, mattresses, pillows and quilts made by the Woods Quilters. The quilts for each doll bed are different in color and design.
“It was so kind of Andy to give us four of these,” Pringle said. “The Holiday Festival is one of our biggest fundraisers and people love the doll beds. They are bound to sell well.”
Bohlman noted that the Holiday Festival will have many traditional elements.
“We’re bringing back the much-celebrated homemade candy table as well as the bake table. We’ll also be selling the nuts that are so popular with Woods’ congregation members.
Bohlman noted that the Founders Room will be magically transformed into a Christmas Shop during the Holiday Festival with evergreens, wreaths and table decorations. In addition to the Quilters Table, there will be a table featuring knitted items from a church member’s knitting group.
The traditional White Elephant Room will include jewelry this year as well as decorative objects and children’s items, games and books. There will also be a Children’s Secrets Room where kids can shop for inexpensively priced gifts for their parents.
There will be food – a traditional holiday event hot dog and soup menu – and Santa will be on hand.
For updates on the Holiday Festival at Woods or other events, visit Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church (woodschurch.org).
The column is brought to you this week by Fishpaws Marketplace, 954 Ritchie Hwy. – a family-owned business that carry fine wines, spirits and beers plus gourmet foods and specialty items for your table.
and 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.”
