Floats, company vehicles, convertibles, classic cars, and participants are needed for the BBG/Pat Carpenter Memorial Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 1 at noon in North Beach! We ask ALL BBG members to participate. It's great publicity for your business. We also welcome non-profit groups, churches, everyone! Please email Bob Carpenter if you can participate or would like more information. BobCarpenter1957@gmail.com

Bake sale items are needed for the BBG Booth at the North Beach Art Fair which will be held after the Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 1 on 7th Street in North Beach. We also need volunteers to be at the booth and help us sell BBG Cookbooks. For more info, please email Kim Breedlove at kbreedlove0410@gmail.com. Proceeds will go to Shop with a Cop which allows local kids to buy Christmas presents for their families.

 We will also have Toys for Tots boxes at the Christmas Parade and at our BBG Art Fair booth to collect new, unwrapped toys for kids. All types of toys are needed for all ages - babies to teenagers. They will stay here and go to local kids who might not otherwise have a gift this year because of the economy. Toiletries and clothing are also needed and accepted. Bring your donations to the Christmas Parade and the BBG Christmas Party (a save the date coming soon!)

BBG "Taste of the Beaches" Cookbooks make the PERFECT gift for those on your list who have everything! Nice gifts for your best clients, too! The cookbooks are $20 if you can pick them up locally, or $25 shipped anywhere in the continental US! You can buy them from a variety of BBG members (click for list: http://www.beachbusinessgroup.org/BBGcookbook.htm ) or order them online by clicking here or email Bob Munro at MunroRE@aol.com. We're still offering our Baker's Dozen: Buy 12 and get a 13th cookbook free! Get yours now!

What do you do with turkey and ham leftovers? Send your suggestions and recipes to the Chesapeake Current for inclusion a column we will publish around the holidays. BBG member restaurants: this is a great way to get publicity for your establishment and chefs. Please tell your friends and ask them to send recipes as well! Please include your first and last name, town where you live and indicate in your email that you give the Chesapeake Current permission to reprint your recipe or suggestion in any publication or online. Email your leftover recipes to: ChesapeakeCurrent@gmail.com before October 31!

Time is running out to get your ad in the Holiday Chesapeake Bay Tripper! We are offering a BBG special for just $75! Or, BBG members will get 20% off regular rates for other size ads. All are full-color, and we reach more readers locally than anyone else! Deadline: October 31! Email Diane Burr at ChesapeakeCurrent@gmail.com for more info.

  The Calvert County Department of Economic Development and the Small Business Technology Development Center (SBTDC) are co-sponsoring a Women's Business Roundtable on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012, at the Calvert Library in Prince Frederick, 6 - 8 p.m. The roundtable is an open forum where professional women network and learn from each other. Everyone in attendance has an opportunity to speak about the evening's theme: Is Your Elevator Speech Taking You to the Top? Light refreshments will be provided.

 The event is FREE, but registration is required. Please contact Kathy MacAdams, SBTDC, to register:kmacadams@csmd.edu or 410-535-4583.

In September Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley launched the inaugural InvestMaryland Challenge, a $300,000 business competition designed to fuel entrepreneurship by connecting entrepreneurs with potential investors, mentors and other business resources like local incubators. The challenge offers $100,000 prizes to the most innovative companies in three categories: information technology (hardware or software), life sciences and general. To qualify, companies must employ fewer than 25 people and have annual revenues of less than $1 million. Interested companies can submit applications now through Dec. 13 and winners will be announced in March.

To learn more, visit the InvestMaryland Challenge website.