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
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index, wholesale prices have gone down considerably over the past year. The Producer Price Index for final demand rose only 1.1 percent from May 2022 to May 2023. This is down from the increase of 11.1 percent for the 12 months ended in May 2022. Yet prices for food, household goods, clothing, fuel and other necessities remain at an all-time high.
Many individuals and families are finding it hard to cope and exploring ways to save money that they haven’t tried before. Their strategies include checking supermarket circulars for sale prices and shopping more than one store to save even a few cents. We spent Tuesday following a couple of tips from friends.
Our first stop was at Partners In Care Upscale Retail Boutique at 8151-C Ritchie Highway in Pasadena. According to PIC communications specialist Derek Milley “every day is a day to save money at the boutique thanks to our schedule of yellow, green and purple ‘tag’ sales”.
He explained that each month a calendar is posted near the counter showing green, yellow or purple tags for each week with a percentage of price discounts printed on them. (The calendars can also be seen on the PIC website.) Tuesday, we saw a predominance of green and yellow tags with a few purple ones. Green tags promised 25% off with yellow tag items 50% off. “On Tuesdays, there’s an additional 10% off every purchase for senior citizens and a daily 10% discount for veterans,” Milley said. “There are also regular Wacky Wednesday specials and, on Fridays, customers get $5 off with a $20 purchase.
Yellow tag sales (as illustrated in the opening photo) represent the biggest savings by far. With the 75% yellow tag discount, the complete set of China shown sold for $40 as opposed to price tags in the several hundred-dollar price range for sets of high-end dishes in other parts of the store.
A second set of green-tagged China sold for $40 – quite a bargain for a young couple setting up housekeeping…. 
….as opposed to China not on sale including this set by a high-end maker priced at $400.
Were I looking for a “wear-it-one-time” to a formal wedding, anniversary celebration or gala dress, I’d have had a hard time passing up several evening wear selections bearing yellow tags.
A deep purple lace creation with floaty trousers beneath was one of them.
It was hard to believe the garment was priced just $15.00.
Well-made, it would look wonderful with a pair of strappy silver evening sandals… and perhaps a piece of sterling silver jewelry from the boutique’s new jewelry counter.
The PIC boutique is renowned for its jewelry collection. Yet, pieces are very well priced in relation to jewelers throughout the area.
Summer clothes were abundant and green and yellow tags were everywhere, even on the hats, handbags, and silk scarves.
Summer clothes were plentiful and tags were everywhere… 
…even on summery hats and handbags.
Switching to more practical matters, whether passionate about cooking or baking or simply looking to outfit a kitchen, customers appreciate that the boutique has an extensive amount of kitchen appliances and cookware on display. On Tuesday, quite a few items wore green, yellow or purple tags.
There were lots of practical things – from now rare but much appreciated incandescent lightbulbs to drills, gutter guards and a bird feeder. There were tablecloths, table runners and brand-new pillowcases.
Male customers liked this section with pracitical items – especially the drill, electrical cords and toolboxes some wearing purple tags. 
Some of the tablecloths and napkins looked new.
There was lots more to see and more savings to be accrued – even a sidewalk sale of $5 items put together by Chief Operations Officer Dawn Eberhardt. Before leaving, we touched base with Member Care Director Sharon Zentgraf who mentioned that Partners In Care would be hosting a Veterans Day event this autumn and also celebrating its 30th Anniversary with a Bull & Oyster Roast on November 3rd from 6 to 10 pm at La Fontaine Bleue. For more information on Partners In Care, visit Home – Partners In Care Maryland.
Our second stop on Tuesday was at Anne Arundel County Farm, Lawn & Garden on Jumpers Hole Road where we spoke with longtime owner Corey Stephens. Having always grown our own herbs, greens and tomatoes, we grew many more this year and were eager to have Stephens’ opinion about whether other families were doing the same thing.
Stephens purchased the popular farm cooperative 23 years ago when it was still in Glen Burnie before relocating it to Severna Park in 2017. Thus, he’s seen the ins and outs and ups and downs of the garden business but said he’s never seen anything like this season.
“We’ve been quite busy. People are definitely interested in saving money by growing their own vegetables,” Stephens said. “They’re also interested in eating fresh, nutritious, quality foods from their own gardens and having their children involved in growing them.”
He added that a lot more people have purchased packets of garden seeds this year which is the most inexpensive way to grow crops and flowers but takes the most time. Considering the price of lettuces and other salad greens at the supermarket, those seeds were especially popular.
“I’m sure you noticed the empty racks in our seed displays,” said Stephens. “We sold so many seeds that we had to remove 12 ft. of empty shelving and rearrange the seeds that were left.”
Garden vegetable transplants were reasonably priced and went fast this season too. As with the seed racks, there were a lot of empty spaces among the tomato seedlings well before the end of the planting season.
Pepper plants were completely sold out but some summer squash and cucumber transplants remained along with a limited number of herbs.
The A.A. Co. Farm, Lawn & Garden staff came up with a budget-friendly option for customers who do container gardening. They are offering used pots that are perfectly good but might otherwise be discarded. The smaller pots are 10 cents apiece while the larger ones are $1 apiece.
For news, product information or for delivery, visit AA Co. Farm Lawn & Garden (aalawnandgarden.com).
Independence Day Parade fast approaches and we have late-breaking news
The Severna Park Independence Day Parade will be held Tuesday, July 4th from 10 am till 12 pm. Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce CEO Liz League reports that the parade is sponsored this year by Chick-fil-A, Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi, AE2 Creative, and Maryland State Delegate &Heather Bagnall. The theme for this year is “Broad Stripes, Bright Stars, Big Hearts”. As before, the parade will travel down Benfield Road, head left onto Riggs Avenue past the judges’ stand, make a right onto Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard past the Severna Park Community Center and turn left on Cypress Creek Road and ending opposite Cypress Creek Park.
Severna Park Community Center Executive Director Sarah Elder tells us that the Severna Park Community Center will open the doors of Boone Station Hall to the public during the parade as a kind of comfort station where people may cool off or use the restrooms.
We’ve heard from SPAN’s Director of Development Michelle Sabean that the organization will have a float in the parade this year. (They’ll also accept donations as they do each year.
“In the past, we’ve often partnered with Chartwell Young Leaders and will do so again,” Sabean said. “But this time look for our truck decorated just for SPAN! We’re very excited to be using the large food items we began constructing last year and now we have a flatbed truck to display them on! Look for our Cheerios, Mac and Cheese and other items!”
We’ve heard that volunteers will be meeting on July 3 to decorate the Orphan Grain Train float. We’ve also heard that several neighborhood floats are expected to be in the parade. It’s always fun to see what the competitive neighborhoods of Olde Severna Park and Round Bay come up with.
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.
