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The Friends
Inside Scoop
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December Photo
Contest Winner
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Hockey Night At The Park
by Dona Weingarten
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"Winter is not a season, it's a celebration.”
Anamika Mishra
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President’s Message
As we welcome December at Quiet Waters Park, a tranquil calm melds with a sense of excitement. The early darkness evokes a sense of peace throughout the park. While at the newly opened ice rink there is an oasis of light in which young and old are gliding gently across the ice as joyful sounds of music drift through the crisp air.
The ice rink is officially opened. Keep an eye on the county website for the most updated information about the ice rink!
Below we are thrilled to premiere the latest collection of 12 photographs captured throughout the park! Each image highlights the unique charm and beauty that Quiet Waters has to offer. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who submitted their work; every photo is a testament to your talent and appreciation for our shared space.
Early December marks a special time for our park staff and Friends volunteers to reflect on the incredible dedication and hard work that have enriched our park over the past year. The annual Volunteer Appreciation Reception is held in early December. This is an evening when we can all come together, acknowledge the outstanding contributions of both staff and volunteers and simply enjoy the company of one another.
Thank you all for making this year a truly remarkable one. Your passion and commitment shine brightly, making Quiet Waters Park a gem in our community.
A Heartfelt Thanks to Our Wonderful Team!
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Warm Regards,
Kristin Pauly, President
See you in the Park!
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Thank you to our local cultural organizations who collaborated with us to honor Quiet Waters Park and Friends volunteers! Many of them have wonderful cultural offerings throughout the holiday season for all of us to enjoy!
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Congratulations to the Winners of our
11th Annual Photo Contest
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Ten artists are displaying and selling their work: Joanne Bast (textiles), Val Bembenek (paper boxes), Chesapeake Woodworkers (wooden artworks), Firelight Glass (fused glass), Garry Fritz (ceramics), Paul Gruner (functional pottery), Wendy Johnson (acrylic, watercolor, oil paintings), Joan Machinchick (paper arts, calendars, journals, cards), Juliana Vail (silk screen paintings), Dona Weingarten (photographs) and Grace A. Mano (jewelry, during reception only).
The Visitor Center is open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm every day. Items purchased can be taken at time of sale.
COME SHOP AT THIS OUTSTANDING
SALE OF QUALITY ARTWORK
BY TALENTED REGIONAL ARTISTS!
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Grounding in Grace: A Cacao Ceremony with Sound Therapy
On December 14th from 12pm to 1:30pm, come and join our Annapolis and Quiet Waters Friends in a ceremonial cacao practice with sound therapy. This ceremonial cacao practice will take place in the Blue Heron Center. Please bring your favorite blanket, pillow (any cozy item) and favorite mug!
**This is a family friendly event hosted by Chevon, The Mystic Yogini LLC**
Benefits of Cacao Ceremony
+ Emotional Healing and Heart Opening
+ Enhanced Creativity and Clarity
+ Spiritual Connection and Expanded Awareness
+ Community Building and Sacred Relationship
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As the weather cools and the ticks are less numerous, we are ready to kick off our fall and winter invasive removal events at Quiet Waters Park. As we are sure you have noticed, there is a significant issue with the ongoing health of the forested areas in the park due to a significant number of invasive plants, English ivy, bittersweet, privet, and wineberry to name a few.
We will be holding two monthly events, one every second Wednesday, and one each month on either a Saturday or Sunday. Our next events are scheduled as follows:
When: Saturday December 13th, location to be determined closer to the date.
Training, extra tools and gloves will be provided. Bring water and bug spray!
Watch the website for additional information on future events! In the meantime, if you have any questions or would like to volunteer, contact Terri McKenna (teresa@friendsofquietwaterspark.org) or Ranger Liz Schilder (rpschi66@aacounty.org).
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Photo of Lillian Bishop taken in 1895, in Cleveland, Ohio | | Lillian and Ned Bishops' Home built by them on their Quiet Waters Farm | | |
Lillian Bishop, Quiet Waters Farm Owner and Animal Lover (Continued From Last Month)
Last month we introduced you to Ohioan Lillian Bishop and her husband Ned who purchased what was then the Laurel Bank Farm (later the Quiet Waters Farm) in the late 1930s as their summer estate. We will pick up where we left off on Lillian's love of animals and concern about animal rights decades before the concept took hold. We left off sharing Lillian's attachment to squirrels.
Lillian kept a large cage of squirrels in her bedroom, and the squirrels traveled back and forth with the Bishops to their winter home in Bradenton, FL. At Quiet Waters, Lillian built a tube through their home where the wild squirrels could enter and exit. Every afternoon around 4:00 pm, the staff would ring a bell and the outdoor squirrels learned to come running - even without the bell!
The Bishops expressed their love of animals through their philanthropy. Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, Bishop Animal Shelter, and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) both in Anne Arundel County and Manatee County, Florida.
In next month's 'History Corner' we will trace how the original 333 acres of Quiet Waters Park came into the hands of Ned and Lillian Bishop.
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• If you are enjoying Project FeederWatch (which is underway until April), you may also be interested in Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count for the month of December.
• Brrrrr!!! Winter weather is coming, and birds will be busy at feeders bulking up on fatty foods. Birds burn through about 75-80% of their fat reserves overnight just keeping warm, which can be equivalent to losing about 10% of their body weight in a single night. Serving high fat foods like suet this time of year is sure to turn up the activity at your feeders. Suet is also a favorite of woodpeckers, so you can expect to see more woodpeckers visiting your feeders when you serve this valuable food source.
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• Speaking of fatty foods…have you tried our Winter SuperBlend™? Our high fat seed blend is specifically formulated to provide birds with the essential energy and fats needed to survive whatever winter throws at them! This super food is packed full of sunflower chips, pecans, peanuts, tree nuts, bark butter bits and more. It is highly attractive to a wide variety of birds and available in loose seed or seed cylinder so you can serve this valuable food source to your birds in many ways!
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Increase in Park Access Fees | | |
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Lock In Your 2026 Annual Park Pass Before December 31st!
Don't miss your chance to lock in the current rate for your 2026 Annual Park Pass! Prices are increasing on January 1, 2026, but you can secure the 2025 rate by purchasing before December 31st. Click the link below to purchase on-line.
Current Price:
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Resident Pass: Just $30 (Increases to $40 Jan 1, 2026)
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Non-Resident Pass: Just $40 (Increases to $50 Jan 1, 2026)
And the pass grants you access to all Anne Arundel County's beautiful regional parks, including Quiet Waters, Kinder Farm, Fort Smallwood, Downs, Beverly Triton Nature Park. Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary annual pass is only available for purchase at its visitor center, not currently on Your Pass Now.
Don't miss out!
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Join the Anne Arundel Bird Club on their monthly walk on December 21 in Quiet Waters Park on paved paths through habitat that includes mature deciduous forest, wood edges, mowed fields, wetlands, and a native plant garden, along with sweeping views of the open waters of the South River and Harness Creek. Meet at the parking lot at the end of Quiet Waters Park Road past the Visitor Center, the amphitheater and dog park. For further information contact Jim Collatz, jcollatz@aol.com, 301-254-0188.
This event is recurring the 3rd Sunday of each month September through May.
Time is 8:00-10:30.
600 Quiet Waters Park Road
Annapolis, MD 21403
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Nature Center Sundays
Join the park ranger every Sunday from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm for Nature Center Sundays, a special opportunity to immerse yourself in the beauty of the outdoors.
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Infant/Toddler Hike
Join Ranger Liz every Tuesday for a fun winter hike! The location changes each week, so ask the gate attendant where we are.
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Individual annual memberships are only $25 and help us fund projects & events in the Park.
Become a member today!
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Not ready for a membership, but would still like to donate? Click below to donate today!
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Honor Your Loved One
While Helping Your Favorite Park!
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Next time you are in the Visitors Center, visit the Memorial Tribute Tree in the entrance foyer installed by the Friends of Quiet Waters Park and park staff. The tree offers those wishing to honor loved ones an opportunity to purchase gold, silver, and copper leaves and special features such as acorns or mini trees. These will be custom engraved with your personal messages. The engraved feature will be a perpetual tribute to your loved one and proceeds benefit the park.
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ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BECOMING A SPONSOR OF PROGRAMS IN QUIET WATERS PARK?
THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FRIENDS OF QUIET WATERS PARK ARE SUPPORTED IN PART BY OUR LOCAL SPONSORS. CONTACT US TODAY TO LEARN MORE:
Info@friendsofquietwaterspark.org
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Friends of Quiet Waters Park
www.fqwp.org
Stay Connected via Facebook
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