Closing The Door On 2024: A Look Back At The Year

The last chapter of 2024 will soon come to a close. As we reflect on the past year here at home, our pages were filled with stories of growth, giving, and when it comes to our local athletes – gold.

Here is a look back at stories that shaped the year, and the individuals and organizations who made an impact in our community and beyond.

Winter

Firefighter Mark Muckelbauer retired from the Anne Arundel County Fire Department after a storied career and nearly 40 years of service. He responded to approximately 15,000 emergencies during that time.

“Looking back, I see days when we made a difference in someone’s life, either in an emergency or just taking time with someone who needs help,” Muckelbauer said.

A widespread check-washing scheme hit home, and several residents had personal checks stolen from the mail. The Anne Arundel County Police Department estimated 20 cases of check-washing in Severna Park and Arnold over the course of six months. They recommended paying bills online. The United States Postal Inspector suggested using a gel pen when mailing checks, as that ink is more difficult to manipulate.

Maryland-based coffee chain Rise Up Coffee Roasters opened a café at a prominent Severna Park location: the corner of Ritchie Highway and Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard, adjacent to Homestead Gardens. This is its largest location west of the Chesapeake Bay, and it boasts a drive-through for customers on the go.

“I feel like being involved in the community is going to be an easy thing for us to do,” said Brandon Bartlett, operator of the Annapolis-area stores.

Rock ‘N’ Roll Revival wowed packed auditoriums at Severna Park High School once again. This was the 35th rendition of the production, themed “Greatest Hits.” The show kicked off with an energetic Michael Jackson medley and continued with heartfelt ballads, rock anthems, pop favorites and more.

“It’s very creative this year, very involved musically,” said director Karah Parks, who noted that in addition to the performers and tech crew, it takes a village of volunteers to put on “RNR” each year.

Broadneck and Severna Park indoor track athletes added some hardware to their collections from the 4A and 3A state championship meets. Carson Boteler brought home the gold for Broadneck in the pole vault, clearing 11 feet, 9 inches. Her teammate Casey Gish collected a matching medal in the high jump with her jump of 5 feet, 3 inches.

Kian Williams of Severna Park won the 3A boys high jump with a winning jump of 6 feet, 6 inches. Broadneck wrestler Austin Combs won a state title in the 165-pound division.

Pop group JAGMAC, comprised of six Arnold siblings, celebrated their 10th year of making music with a new album entitled “Ends of the Earth.”

“One of our missions is to spread love, to spread joy, to spread our talents to the ends of the Earth,” said band member Alyssa Patalinghug.

Spring

Severna Park High School alumnus Jackson Merrill made his Major League Baseball debut far from home in Seoul, South Korea, starting on Opening Day after an impressive showing at spring training. The former Falcon had quite the rookie season as the San Diego Padres’ center fielder – Merrill was selected as an All-Star and had key hits in the Padres playoff run. He was a finalist for Rookie of the Year.

“He goes right out and wants to win. He’s doing what he loves every day,” said his mom, Jennie Merrill.

The memory of another Severna Park High School graduate, who battled a rare form of neuroendocrine cancer, is being kept alive through the formation of Katherine’s Light Foundation. Katherine Mueller passed away in December 2021, three years after her diagnosis.

Katherine’s Light Foundation (KLF) works to fund research for NET cancer research and support for current patients and their families. The Foundation has also established a nursing scholarship in Katherine’s honor at Anne Arundel Community College.

“The foundation has helped to repurpose sadness into a positive movement,” said Robin Sells, Katherine’s mom and co-founder of KLF.

Parris Underground, an all-ages, alcohol-free music venue opened in Severna Park. Owner Laura MacKay, who has been active in the local music scene since she was a teen, endeavors to provide a safe space to gather, form community and allow music to ease their mental burdens.

“I’m hoping that we can be that place where people are like, ‘OK, well I’m not having a good day, but let me go hear some music,’” MacKay said.

Severna Park’s Michael Costa served up delightful dishes as the concept chef at Mediterranean-themed Zaytinya, a Washington, D.C., mainstay. His work can be enjoyed at home, too, as Costa collaborated with renowned chef and restaurateur José Andrés on a new cookbook, “Zaytinya: Delicious Mediterranean Dishes from Greece, Turkey, and Lebanon,” which features some restaurant favorites.

“I think that everything that is now traditional was once new at some point, and if you want to participate in the evolution of any kind of cooking style of food, you have to understand where the food comes from and why,” Costa said.

Three lacrosse state championship trophies landed at local schools.

The Severna Park boys team, under the direction of a new head coach Bob Zichelli, defeated Towson 8-6 for a record-setting eighth consecutive title on May 21.

The Severna Park girls set a record of their own – their 12-6 walloping of Dulaney on May 21 marked state title number 16 for the Falcons program, the most in Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) history.

In the 4A division, the Broadneck girls won their fourth straight championship, besting Urbana 10-9 on May 23.

Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) Superintendent of Schools Mark Bedell orchestrated a significant principal shuffle across the district, including at Severna Park High School. Head Principal Lindsay Abruzzo, who had only been in the role for 17 months following 12 years as an assistant principal, was moved to Magothy River Middle school. Nathan Johnson took over at SPHS.

Summer

The sky was blue and the sun scorching hot for the annual Fourth of July parade, marshaled by Anne Arundel Community College president Dawn Lindsay. The theme of this year’s parade was “Stars and Stripes Forever.” Best Overall Float went to the Linstead on the Severn neighborhood, whose residents hauled an enormous patriotic whale, created entirely with recycled materials, through the streets of Severna Park.

“The last two evenings (before the parade), the entire community came together to assemble the float, and much to the chagrin of their parents, the kids painted their hands to leave handprints all over the float,” said John Velasco, Linstead community member.

A new sign was installed along the Baltimore-Annapolis Trail at the Jones Station Crossroads. The sign offers direction to both local and national routes, and it was dedicated to cyclist Arthur Carter Jr., who was tragically killed in a cycling accident in 2020 along East College Parkway.

County officials and local cyclists who were friends of Carter were present for the dedication.

The Anne Arundel County Council passed a budget 4-3 along party lines. The budget included funding for training 70 new firefighters, fully funded the AACPS budget request, including a stair-stepped wage increase for teachers, and supported the Anne Arundel County Food Bank. Opponents of the budget decried further tax hikes for residents; proponents called those increases modest and worth the investment.

Severna Park’s Mark Viviano bid adieu to his 40-year career in sports broadcasting. Viviano intends to shift his focus to his family and his faith.

“This is going to give me the time that I need to be with my family at home, and time to devote to God’s calling to all of us to help those in need in our community and to help lead and mentor our young people,” Viviano said.

Half a century after the Vietnam War, a new nonprofit was established to honor the five Severna Park and Arnold soldiers killed in action. Severna Park Heroes of the Vietnam War Memorial LLC strives to honor those soldiers - Major Ronald Britz, First Lieutenant Charles “Art” Bedsole, Chief Warrant Officer Edward “Louie” Mortimer Jr., and two men with the specialist fourth class rank, Danny Quaite and Richard Nitsche Jr. - and give them the respect not given from the public during the war.

“I feel indebted to them,” said Doug Nichols, a Vietnam veteran, Severna Park High School graduate and co-founder of the group.

In collaboration with the county, the nonprofit plans to construct and dedicate a memorial site at Hatton Regester Green in 2025.

Students returned to school for the 2024-2025 school year, and schools in the AACPS system were met with a few policy changes. Superintendent of Schools Mark Bedell rolled out a new grading policy aimed at increasing student responsibility. The most notable changes are coming at a high school level where students will have fewer opportunities to redo their work, and late work will be subject to a penalty structure.

Additionally, all AACPS schools have implemented a new cellphone policy in an effort to maximize focus in the classroom and improve mental health.

Fall

Asbury Church Assistance Network (ACAN) marked 20 years of service to the community. What started as a modest effort to combat local food insecurity has now grown into one of the largest food pantries in Anne Arundel County. They expected to serve more than 20,000 individuals in need this year.

“We have the best volunteers who are doing this out of compassion,” said Andre Smith, ACAN president and board member.

The fourth annual Art in the Park, held at Cafe Mezzanotte, featured The Grilled Lincolns, artist demonstrations and fantastic food.

Hurricanes Helene and Milton slammed into the southeastern United States, and locals stepped up to help. Pediatrician Andre Gvozden served on a volunteer medical mission through Heart to Heart International, offering free medical care to storm victims in North Carolina.

“I would like to help people remain mindful that people are hurting. Even if it didn’t affect us, we are all in this world together,” Gvozden said.

Longtime Severna Park resident Tim Stevens set out on an epic cycling journey in honor of Jimmy Buffett and his own retirement. Stevens rode 1,900 miles from Ocean View, Delaware, to Key West, Florida, stopping in the Tampa Bay area to assist with the post-hurricane cleanup effort.

“The amount of destruction here is more than I have ever personally seen. Most everyone’s yard is piled with the ruined contents of their home,” Stevens wrote on his blog.

Donald Trump was elected president in November. Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan was defeated by former Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks in his bid for the United States Senate. Severna Park’s Dana Schallheim was re-elected to the Anne Arundel County Board of Education.

Beloved former Severna Park High School band director Richard “Dick” Thomas Powell died at the age of 79 in late November. For nearly 50 years from 1967 to 2014, Powell was a mainstay at SPHS, where he taught teens about music, but he also taught them life lessons.

He told the Voice in 2015 that he had one favorite memory from his time as band director, and it was the entire time he was at the school.

The Lady Falcons won a trifecta of state championships to close out the year, with cross county, field hockey and soccer all bringing home Maryland 3A titles to Severna Park High School.

The girls cross country team left their competition in the dust, finishing with a total score of 48 at the state meet, held at Hereford High School. This is the program’s third state championship in a row, and ninth overall.

Severna Park girls soccer won their second consecutive state title, dominating Towson in a 4-0 win.

The Severna Park field hockey team reclaimed their crown with the same score – 4-0 – over Westminster in the final. Their 2024 title marks the Falcons’ 26th in program history.