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The Mission of the Kent County Chamber of
Commerce is to serve, represent and be the leading advocate for the business
interests of its membership in ways that enhance the environment of the
business community and quality of life and well being of residents and visitors.
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From the Executive Director
Greetings,
It's Election Day! Cast Your Vote!
Shopping locally is one of the most important things we can do for our community.
We have all seen the headlines. Some of you have even called about the businesses that have left or are leaving our community and asked why they would do so. Conrad Hilton used to say, "The votes are at the cash register". While we can't set the levels that a national chain requires of its operations, we can still exert some control by "voting" at the stores.
Shopping locally is one of the most important things that you can do for our community. Businesses thrive when supported by the local population. It does not matter if the business is downtown, at the shopping center, or a roadside stand. If you shop at local businesses, you are keeping your money in our community and helping our local businesses grow. It also is our way of letting the corporations that own some of these stores know that we value their presence in our community. I can't emphasize enough the importance of spending your dollars here.
This is certainly not to disparage any store that has an on-line presence. I do, however, encourage everyone to examine whether on-line purchases are credited to the store in our zip code. This may not be applicable in all cases. If it doesn't, take the time to record the information about your desired purchase and take it to a local business. You might have to wait for them to order it, but its one more positive vote!
Additionally, patronizing Chamber member businesses is not only a way to vote for local businesses, but also a means of keeping our Chamber strong. This too will be a positive vote and will also ensure that our Chamber businesses continue to grow.
In these tough economic times, it is more important than ever to spend our money wisely and locally. The number of local businesses that are Chamber members continues to grow, as does the number of everyday people who purchase from them for themselves, family, and friends. Our Chamber member businesses contribute significantly to our local economy each year. They do so in large part because the community has chosen to use them.
Once again, in order to keep our local businesses strong and vital (and in our community), we need to patronize them at every opportunity. We need to cast our "votes" at the cash register.
With all best wishes for a happy and prosperous holiday season.
Loretta
Loretta M. Lodge
Executive Director
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Focus on New Members
Welcome to our New Members in October!
DNA Towing
10337 Augustine Herman Highway
Kennedyville, MD 21645
Owner: David W. Bell
DNA provides a full range of towing services including:
- Auto/car towing service at reasonable rates
- Real Time Quick Response
- 24/7 Service
- Jump Starts
- Lockouts
- Tire Change
- Car Recovery
- Dead Battery
- We buy junk cars too!
River City Upholstery & Sewing101 Spring Street
Chestertown, MD 21620
Owner: Diane Duke
Phone: 410/708-8278
Email: rivercityupholstery@gmail.com
River City Upholstery is a "one stop shop" offering upholstery, fabric, sewing and repairs to your furniture. The owner, Diane Duke states, "Although newly opened on Spring Street in Chestertown, I've been working at the trade since 2006 and sewing for the home all my life".
Reverend James J. Van de Wal
123 Parma Road
Chestertown, MD 21620
Phone: 410/778-4206
Email: revjames@juno.com
"When You Need A Minister"
Weddings, Commitment Ceremonies, Renewal of Vows, Funerals, Memorial ServicesBaptisms, Baby Namings, Chaplaincy, Pulpit Supply.Serving all faiths
Please join us in welcoming these new members!
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Member News Bytes
Chester River Health System
Additional Doctors to Expand Critical Care at Chester River Hospital Center
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Chester River Hospital Center is aiming to expand critical care services with the addition of new physicians. Along with the recent addition of Keri Jacobs, M.D. as director of the hospitalist program, Ricardo Conti, M.D., Ph.D. came on board October 3 as another member of the hospitalist team. Conti comes to Chester River after three years at Saint Agnes Hospital in Baltimore. Originally from Brazil, Conti attended medical school at Federal Fluminense University in Brazil and completed the Ph.D. program at Heart Institute of the University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine in San Paulo, Brazil. Conti completed five years of residency and fellowship in internal medicine and cardiology, plus another ten years of cardiology practice in Brazil. Despite all of his previous experience, when he moved to the US with his wife in 2007 he needed to complete a residency in an American hospital in order to practice here. Conti completed his "American" residency at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore in 2010. Conti is fluent in Portuguese, English, and Spanish (intermediate level). "I enjoy providing my patients with the best care to keep them healthy and to improve their quality of life. I've also always wanted to work in a small hospital that was connected to a larger university system and Chester River is a great fit," says Conti.
Another addition to Chester River's critical care team is William Trainor, M.D. Though Trainor has been with Chester River since 2000, he has only recently come on full time. Trainor is a pulmonologist and is now the director of critical care services at Chester River Hospital Center.
The additions of Conti and Trainor as full time components of Chester River Hospital Medical Staff are part of a movement towards more expansive critical care services. This means more complex and complicated surgeries will be performed here at CRHC, instead of having to transport patients to other facilities. Conti's expertise and experience in cardiology and internal medicine teamed with Trainor's established place in the community as well as his pulmonology and critical care experience make them great additions to the Chester River Hospital medical staff.
Sultana Projects
Announces New Kayaking Program and Staff Expansion
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In 2011, Sultana Projects will be making a significant expansion to its paddling programs. Currently, Sultana Projects provides educational canoe trips for approximately 500 students annually through its John Smith Trail Expeditions program. Established in 2008, the Expeditions program provides local students the opportunity to explore portions of the new 2,500-mile Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Water Trail on tributaries located within close proximity to their schools. Sultana's Expeditions program has met with significant success and has operated at capacity for the past two years. In order to meet the excessive demand, Sultana Projects recently purchased a mobile rig of 16 kayaks to complement its existing 10-canoe rig. The new kayak rig will be used to provide educational programs for middle-school, high-school and adult groups, while the canoe rig will continue to be used primarily for elementary school groups. The purchase of Sultana Projects' new kayak rig was made possible by a generous grant from the Davenport Family Foundation.
As part of the expansion of its paddling programs, Sultana Projects also plans to hire three additional staff in 2011, including a full-time Director of Educational Programs (click here for Job Description) and two seasonal educational staff. Through the addition of these new positions, Sultana Projects plans to increase its canoe/kayak program capacity by 300% over the next three years.
The first major expansion of Sultana Projects' paddling programs will take place in the summer of 2011, when the organization will offer week-long kayaking trips as part of its Chesapeake Adventures summer program. Chesapeake Adventures provides a variety of educational trips on the Chesapeake Bay - including live-aboard trips on the schooner Sultana - for students ages 11-14. The new Chesapeake Adventures kayak programs will consist of week-long trips that will see participants paddle on several major rivers on Maryland's Eastern Shore, including the Sassafras, Chester, Choptank, Nanticoke, and Pocomoke rivers. Official dates and locations for all of Sultana Projects' Chesapeake Adventures programs will be announced in January of 2011.
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If you or a member you know is making headlines, please submit a brief description to Loretta at kentchamber@verizon.net
Please be sure to use the subject line: "members in the news."
Send it to us and we'll include it in our next issue!
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Chamber News & Events
~~~ NOTICES & REMINDERS ~~~
To Kent School's Director of Admissions, Beth Collins and Interim Headmaster, Peter Cowen for hosting the Chamber's October Mixer at Kent School. Once again, we were blessed (?) with a rainy day, but still had a nice turn-out of Chamber members and visitors for an engaging and informative evening. Beth gave a wonderful tour of the school to anyone who was interested. If you would like information about Kent School, please give her a call at 410/778-4100.
Thanks again Beth & Peter!
- SCORE (Senior Core of Retired Executives)
Invites retired executives to become counselors for new and existing local businesses. Contact Bart Stolp at SCORE to get more information: bartstolp@gmail.com
- Help Us Help You. Keep Your Business information Current!
Please remember to contact Loretta in the Chamber office if you have any changes or updates to your business contact information. We want to keep all of our members' information current.
- The 27th Annual Small Business Week 2011 Sponsored by the U. S. Small Business Administration
Know a Biz Whiz? A real champion of small business? If so, take part in National Small Business Week by nominating an outstanding entrepreneur or advocate in the annual awards competition.
Award categories and nomination guidelines are available at
www.sba.gov/md Nominations are due in early December 2010. Winners will be honored at a special ceremony Friday, May 20, 2011.
Get the recognition you deserve or nominate a client, resource partner or employee!
For more information, see www.sba.gov/md or call 410/962-6195, ext. 330 or email rachel.howard@sba.gov
- Member-To-Member Benefit Program
This program allows any Chamber member to offer discounts on their products and services
to other Chamber members and their employees. Even if you do not offer a discount to fellow members, as
a Chamber member, you may take advantage of the discounts offered by other members.
Don't miss out! Sign up for this program today.
Call Loretta at 410/810-2968 or email at kentchamber@verizon.net
The following members are participating members.
Please support these businesses.
Aquafit
Eastern Shore Home Cleaners
ESS-Geiger Promotional Products
Kent Athletic & Wellness Center
DNA Towing
Performance Water Systems
Sassafras Sailing Excursions & Lessons
Salon
ShoreToBeFun.com
Work Safe
~~~ UPCOMING CHAMBER EVENTS ~~~
KENT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
BOARD MEETING
Thursday, November 18, 2010*
12:00 P.M.
Chamber Office, 122 N. Cross Street, Chestertown
*Please note date change from the usual second Thursday of the month.
The meeting is open to all members. Please contact Loretta at 410/810-2968 or kentchamber@verizon.net in advance if you plan on attending.
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CHAMBER MIXER
Friday, November 5, 2010
5:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.
Fish Whistle Restaurant
98 Cannon Street
Chestertown
Please join us for an evening of enjoyment with your fellow Chamber members at the Fish Whistle Restaurant on the beautiful Chester River in downtown Chestertown.
See You There!
PLEASE HELP OUR HOSTS PLAN THIS EVENT
BY LETTING US KNOW IF YOU PLAN ON ATTENDING
RSVP: Betty Carroll at 410/778-3566
OR
Loretta at 410/810-2968
OR
Online at kentchamber.org
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Member News & Events
ARTWORKS
ANNUAL STUDIO TOUR
November 6-7
10:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. , Rain or Shine
Meet some 50 artists and artisans throughout Kent County and parts of Queen Anne's County. Visit their studios, learn about their techniques and treat yourself to great original art at studio prices. Stop in at Artworks to preview examples of each artist's work and plan your itinerary for this free tour.
Brochures providing directions to studios along with a fold-out map are available at area shops and restaurants. For full information visit www.artworkschestertown.org.
CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE
FALL COMPUTER COURSES
Excel - Levels & II, Mail Merge, Access-Levels I & II, QuickBooks-Level I & II,
PowerPoint, Introduction to Social Networking
All classes meet 9 am to 4 pm in the
Economic Development Center - EDC 26
Chesapeake College, Wye Mills Campus
Course fee $99 - handouts included
All courses are now using MS Office 2007
Hands-on Computer use and significant opportunity for questions and group interaction
For more information, please call Leanne at 410-827-5851
or Joyce at 410-822-5400 ext. 360
CHESTER RIVER HOME & HOSPICE
Hosts an Evening with Mary Lynn McPherson, Pharm.D."FACTS: JUST THE FACTS!"Thursday, November 116:00 P.M.
In celebration of National Home Care and Hospice Month, Chester River Home Care & Hospice (CRHC&H) is hosting an evening presentation of "Facts: Just the Facts!", which is about end-of-life pharmacology on Thursday, November 11 at 6:00 pm, featuring Mary Lynn McPherson, PharmD. McPherson is known nationally for her consultant services she provides to national hospice and palliative care programs, specifically focusing on pain management at end-of-life.
Cindy Bach, director of Chester River Home Care and Hospice, says "Last year's conversation with Dr. McPherson was well attended and very positively received by our community-many requested that we offer this event again. This is one speaker everyone should try to hear. She is funny, articulate and makes complex information palatable and understandable. There is so much mystery about end-of-life care." In honor of November being observed as National Home Care and Hospice Month, CRHC&H is providing the community the opportunity to learn more about their options for care regarding life limiting illness. McPherson is a Professor at University of Maryland, School of Pharmacy. She serves as a consultant pharmacist for both local and national hospice and palliative care programs, and has designed a critical thinking process for appropriate drug use in end-of-life patients. She serves on the board of the Hospice Network of Maryland, chairing the education and outreach committee. She also serves on the board of the Maryland Pain Initiative and the advisory board of the American Society of Pain Educators. McPherson is also a recipient of various honors for her work, including the American Pharmacists Association Distinguished Achievement Award in Specialized Practice and the Maryland Pharmacists Association Innovative Practice Award. She has written three books, and many chapters and peer-reviewed articles on pain management and palliative care.
Hospice offers pain and symptom control, dignity, and spiritual and emotional care for those facing the end-of-life and their loved ones when a cure is not possible. Individuals with a life-limiting illness or a prognosis of six months or less are eligible to receive hospice services.
The evening presentation of "Facts: Just the Facts!" is a free event and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.
For more information about home care and hospice services please call Chester River Home Care & Hospice, at (410) 778-1049 for a confidential conversation about your specific needs.
CHESTER RIVER HOSPITAL CENTER
HEALTHY KNEES FOR LIFE
FREE SEMINAR
November 2, 2010
6:00 P.M. - 7:30 P.M.
Chester River Hospital's Conference Center Join Chester River Hospital Center's orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Andrew Cumiskey, and Joanna Blackburn, physical therapist, for a free interactive seminar on November 2 in Chester River Hospital's Conference Center. From 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm, our experts will answer your questions about knee pain and discomfort, degenerative joint disease and what is available to relieve the pain and recent treatment advances. You will learn how general exercises can maintain and restore knee health. The latest surgical procedures for knee replacement will also be discussed. Refreshments will be served.
Dr. Cumiskey is a board certified orthopedic surgeon who has been with Chester River since 2006. He graduated from Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, PA and completed his residency at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD.
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SAFE SITTERŪ PROGRAM
November 13 & 20, 2010 9:00 A.M. - 3:30 P.M.
Chester River Hospital Center is offering a two-day Safe SitterŪ program for young people, ages 11 to 13 years of age. The program focuses on first aid, rescue skills and behavior management techniques necessary for handling medical or household emergencies, which may occur while caring for a young child. The session includes two classes held on consecutive Saturdays, November 13 and November 20, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The instructors are nurses from the hospital's pediatric department.
To complete the Safe SitterŪ program, participants must pass a practical and a written test to prove that they have mastered the key concepts and skills necessary to handle an emergency. Students who attend both classes and pass the test earn a certificate.
There is a fee for the course, which includes an instructional manual and book bag. Class size is limited and pre-registration is required. Classes are held in the Education Center at Chester River Hospital Center. To register and for more information, please call (410) 778-3300, extension 2175 or email cnelson@chesterriverhealth.org.
CROW FARMSTAY B&B
Interactive Cooking Classes at Crow Farmstay B&B
With Robbie Jester, of the Harbor House 11/15 Contemporary Comfort Food 12/6 Holiday Baking & Pastry Gift Giving 6 to 9 pm Interactive presentation with food sampling beverage parings Cost $50.00
Register Early 410.648.5687 crowfarmmd@gmail.com 12441 Vansants Corner Rd. Kennedyville, MD
KENT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
*Kent County High School Marching Band
to Play at The Gator Bowl!*
January 1, 2011
Jacksonville, Florida
The Kent County High School Marching Band, under the direction of Dr. Keith Wharton, will be traveling to Jacksonville, Florida to participate in the 5 mile Wynn Dixie Parade on December 31, 2010. The highlight of the trip will be the band's halftime performance on the field during the Gator Bowl on New Year's Day.
The KCHS Music Boosters are currently in the process of raising money to cover the cost of the trip, including over $10,000 for transportation. As a result of their "Cow Plop Bingo" event held during Rock Hall's 4th of July Celebration at the Civic Center, they raised over $5,500 towards the trip. As you can see, they still have a long way to go in their fund-raising efforts. They are asking local businesses and organizations for contributions so that their students can experience this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity & represent Kent County with Pride! Contributions are being accepted at: KCHS Music Boosters c/o Grace Eyler, TreasurerP.O. Box 210 Chestertown, MD 21620
Checks can be made payable to: KCHS Music Boosters THE PRINCE THEATREERIN DICKINS IN CONCERT
Friday, November 5
8:00 P.M.
Tickets $10
Manhattan Transfer founding member Erin Dickins presents an evening of jazz and sultry ballads to celebrate the release of her long-awaited CD, "Nice Girls." Erin will make her Prince Theatre debut with accompaniment by the incomparable jazz pianist - Stef Scaggiari.
SASSAFRAS RIVER BUSINESS COUNCIL
OPEN HOUSE
November 2
Galena Antiques
Main Street, Galena
5:30 P.M.
Hosted by: Dan Fleming and John Carroll
SCORE
Upper Shore SCORE
Announces the next in the series of BREAKFAST BUSINESS WORKSHOPS
Franchising: Is it Right for You?
QA County Commissioner's Hearing Room County Administration Bldg. - 2nd Floor
Corner of Liberty St (Rt. 213 South) and Broadway
Centreville, Maryland
Featuring Tom Thompson of FranNet,
a regional consultant on franchising opportunities.
Would you like to start a business? FranNet has been helping entrepreneurs find the best business opportunities since 1987. Find out which business franchise is best for you! Whether you are ready to buy a franchise or just want free expert assistance reviewing franchise opportunities and general business startup assistance, plan to attend this workshop.
Pastries and coffee will be provided. There is no charge to attend the workshop.
The SCORE workshop series is co-sponsored by the Chambers of Commerce of Kent and Queen Anne's Counties, the Kent County Department of Tourism and Economic Development, and the Queen Anne's County Department of Economic Development, Agriculture and Tourism.
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A Message from Kathleen Snyder
President, Maryland Chamber of Commerce
If You Care About Business Taxes
Now is the time to speak up
Dear Chamber Action Network members, the business tax issue is ready for prime time with the state commission holding a public hearing the evening of Nov. 9 in Annapolis. See Ron Wineholt's letter below. We need you and your members who care about combined reporting, single sales factor, gross receipts taxes and broadening the sales tax base to join us in Annapolis. I will be testifying on behalf of the MD Chamber and would welcome as many of you/your members who can attend as possible. Please let Ron and me know who will represent your organization. I will be happy to have sandwiches/coffee ready at the MD Chamber office at 5 p.m. so we can gather ahead of time.
Kathy Kathleen T. Snyder, CCE President/CEO Maryland Chamber of Commerce 60 West Street Suite 100 Annapolis, MD 21401 Phone: 410-269-0642 Fax: 410/269-5247 ksnyder@mdchamber.org
Friday, October 15, 2010
From: Ronald Wineholt
If You Care About Business Taxes, Now is the Time to Speak Up!
The Maryland Business Tax Reform Commission yesterday announced that it will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, November 9th at 6:30 p.m. in Annapolis in the Joint Hearing Room, Legislative Services, 90 State Circle to take public testimony on the options it is considering for changing (increasing) business taxes in Maryland. I've attached a full list of the issues they are considering, which include:
- Combined reporting for corporate income taxes - Other corporate income tax changes such as tax rates and single sales factor apportionment - Alternatives to the corporate income tax, including alternative minimum tax, gross receipts tax, and value added tax - Broadening the sales tax base - Requiring additional information from businesses receiving tax incentives
The Business Tax Reform Commission has been meeting for two years on these issues, and we are now at the end game. Note that all substantive decisions and votes will be made after the election. Here is their remaining schedule:
- November 9th - Public Hearing - November 16th - Voting Session - December 7th - Review Draft Report - December 13th - Approve Final Report
The Maryland Chamber of Commerce will be offering testimony on these issues at this hearing, urging the Commission NOT to recommend additional taxes on business. We would urge other businesses and business organizations to join us and will be glad to work with you in signing up witnesses and coordinating testimony. See the Commission's website for background info. http://btrc.maryland.gov/ Please contact me for further details.
Ronald W. Wineholt Vice President of Government Affairs Maryland Chamber of Commerce 60 West Street, Suite 100 Annapolis, MD 21401 (410) 269-0642 x114 (301) 261-2858 x114 (410) 269-5247 (fax) rwineholt@mdchamber.org
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