Chamber Update

By Linda Zahn, CEO, GSPCC

Happy holidays from the Greater Severna Park Chamber of Commerce!

We hope you’ll join us for one of our beloved community events – the Community Tree Lighting. This event will be held on Friday, December 7,on Holly Avenue in Severna Park. Holly Avenue is between Riggs and Evergreen. We’re beside the Old Severna Park Railroad Station with the B&A Trail right in our back yard. Holly Avenue will be closed to traffic from 5:00-6:30pm that evening.

Promptly at 5:00, Michael Binnie will begin the evening’s festivities with bagpipe music, followed at 5:30 by Severna Park Elementary School’s Chorus. At 5:45, attendees will be delighted by Maryland Performing Arts Center’s East Coast Dance Company’s performance under the direction of Kelsey Kocur. Vocal Director Eric Arceneaux will sing as well as unveil their newest ensemble of singers known as “The Stars of Tomorrow.”

Refreshments will be served in the chamber’s community meeting room following the tree lighting. Oak Hill Brownie Girl Scout Troop 1848, under the direction of Tara Stoudt and Karen Calish, will help host the open house. Gino Mezzapelle will entertain attendees with holiday tunes, and outside, Katie Thompson of Welcome to Neverland will provide face-painting for the youngsters.

The Severna Park Model Railroad Club train display will be open from 5:00-6:30pm that evening. The train display will also be open Saturday and Sunday, December 8 and 9, from noon to 5:00pm.

The evening will continue at Park Plaza with Santa Claus, holiday entertainment, free sleigh rides and great holiday shopping. Bring a healthy non-perishable food item for the United Way holiday food drive and receive a free photo with Santa through 8:00pm.

Our appreciation goes to our corporate sponsor M&T Bank for their support and assistance. We also thank Dynasplint Systems, Inc. and BankAnnapolis for supporting this event. Our appreciation goes to Mr.& Mrs. Rod Mann and the Law Office of Elmore, Throop and Young for providing help with staging this event for the community.

Please consider donating a new pair of socks or mittens as a way to help the homeless in the coming winter months.

The season keeps on rolling with our Successful Women in Business Holiday Luncheon at Café Bretton on Wednesday, December 12. The cost is $27 per person and there is a choice of entrée. There will be holiday favors for everyone, and the opportunity for members to be table sponsors. For more information, please call 410-647-3900 or visit www.severnaparkchamber.com for registration.

The Greater Severna Park Chamber of Commerce will hold the last business mixer of 2012 on Tuesday, December 18, at Side Street Framers in Park Plaza. The event runs from 5:00-7:00pm and the fee is $10 for members and $15 for non-members. Proceeds for this holiday mixer benefit the YMCA’s education programs.

In closing, remember to SHOP LOCAL and support our local business community as you shop for the holidays this year. It really does matter!