Park Chamber

ELLEN R. SAUERBREY, former Republican gubernatorial candidate, will be the speaker at Greater Severna Park Chamber of Commerce's annual installation dinner Wednesday at Loews Annapolis Hotel. She will discuss "Making Maryland Competitive."Registration at 6 p.m. will be followed by dinner at 7 p.m.County Council Chairwoman Diane R. Evans will swear in the new officers. They are; Jim Coulter, president; Garry Anderson, first vice president; Judy Harris, second vice president; Tonia Hill, secretary; Ken Menzies, treasurer, and David McCollough, chairman of the board.

Severna Park merchants have seen the handwriting on the wall, and they don't like it.Within a matter of weeks, stores in strip shopping centers along Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard, including the Severna Park office of Champion Realty Inc. and Academy Imprints, have been sprayed with blue and black scrawls."

MOTHER NATURE'S chilling preview last Thursday of coming winter attractions put most of us on notice.But preparing for winter is a continuing process at the Severna Park Assistance Network. SPAN is collecting donations for its annual Holiday Sharing Program."Last year SPAN helped over 120 families, which included about 50 seniors," says director Cindy Burkert. "We anticipate at least that many this year." Food and money are needed to fill food baskets for Thanksgiving and Christmas.A list of nonperishables to complete a holiday dinner is available at the SPAN office behind Our Shepherd Lutheran Church on Benfield Road.

MOTHER NATURE gave us a delightfully cool and comfortable day for the Greater Severna Park Chamber of Commerce's Independence Day Parade.As I parked at Park Plaza Thursday morning, I wondered where all the other cars were. It turned out they were parked at Our Shepherd and St. Martin's-In-the-Field churches, where the majority of Severna Park residents were preparing to march in the parade.Growing in size each year, this wonderfully patriotic event, sponsored by the Severna Park Chamber of Commerce, inspires creativity in individuals, businesses and entire neighborhoods.

For years, motorists driving east on Benfield Road and north and south on Ritchie Highway have been greeted with huge "WELCOME TO SEVERNA PARK" signs.If the Westhaven Homeowners Association has its way, a new sign will be posted for drivers westbound on Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard."It's high on our list of things to get done," said Mark Jacobs, vice president of the association that represents 261 homeowners in Stewarts Landing.The civic group is leading a drive to raise $1,200 to pay for a sign.

APPARENTLY Alfred Hitchcock has returned to conduct auditions for a remake of "The Birds."At least every starling on the East Coast thinks so.For the past two weeks, the central county has been inundated with noisy blackbirds waiting to be discovered as the next Edgar Allan Poe's raven or Woody Woodpecker.Do you suppose the NBC peacock got started this way?Busy chamberThe Greater Severna Park Chamber of Commerce is as busy as a bunch of robins on a spring morning. The chamber's second annual Golf Fore Business Classic is scheduled for May 28 at Walden Golf Club.

PeopleNorth county chamber elects officers, directorsThe Northern Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce recently elected new officers and a new board of directors.The officers are:President, John Smith, attorney; president-elect, Elaine Stevens, NationsBank; vice president,Christine Cogliano, The Red Rose; secretary, Kirk Falk, Innovative Financial Solutions; and treasurer, Pat Armiger, Plus & Minus Services.The new directors are:Barbara Floyd, Property Tax Reduction Specialists; John Foard, Edward D. Jones & Co.; Sandra Hartzell, Magic Moment Creations; Virginia Jones, VK Jones PC Strategies; Arnold Lord, Commercial Carpet Cleaning Service; Gary Rankir, Chesapeake Printing & Mailing; Hilda Hambruch, Wyman Park; Jeff Jefferson, Baltimore Gas and Electric Co.; Gregory King, Samuel Meisel & Co.; Andrew Meyer, Anne Arundel Community College; Bob Nobel, Westinghouse; Nick Schaus, Maryland Aviation Administration; and Leslie Smith, Elkridge Bank.

The Anne Arundel County Council last night postponed a vote on a measure that would relax restrictions on roadside vendors who peddle everything from fruit to velvet Elvis posters.Although the legislation that removes parking and commercial area restrictions enacted by the council in July was expected to be approved, an amendment introduced last night required the council to schedule a public hearing on Jan. 16.The amendment would require vendors to pay a $50 relocation fee in addition to the $250 yearly license fee if they want to move to a spot other than the one listed on their license.

Anne Arundel County lawmakers appropriated $230,000 Monday to purchase a two-story house along the Baltimore-Annapolis Trail in Severna Park and convert it into a rest station and community center."

County Councilwoman Diane Evans and several community groups want to buy a two-story house on a third of an acre along the Baltimore-Annapolis Trail for a park and community center.Ms. Evans is to ask the council next week to approve spending $205,000 for the Regester property in the first block of Holly Ave. Meanwhile, the Association for Severna Park Improvement, Renewal and Enhancement (ASPIRE) plans to raise $25,000 toward the purchase and improvement of the house along the hiker-biker trail with the help of other community groups.