january 2019 - towson · winterfest photos 8 holiday party photos 9 pomfret & grim 10 the...

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Happy New Year! 1 Membership 101 2

MEGA Networking Event 3 Member-to-Member 5Benefits

Member Spotlight 6

New Members 7 Winterfest Photos 8

Holiday Party Photos 9

Pomfret & Grim 10

The Exchangeree 11

Gizmos & Gadgets 12

BCPL Schedule of Events 13

Towson Tavern 15

Slomin’s Shield 16

January Calendar 17

Inside this Issue

January 2019

Happy New Year to our Chamber Members and Friends!

2018 was a very challenging year for our chamber and many other groups due to the weather. We had the coldest festival in years, eight Feet on the Street concerts were cancelled, Rocktoberfest was cold and dreary, and many of our farmers markets were affected by wind and rain.

Despite all of that, though, we had a wonderful year! A few of our highlights were:• Continued increase in membership with the help of the membership/marketing committee• The placement of flower boxes and baskets around downtown Towson, made possible with assistance from the State of Maryland• The inaugural Toast of the Town, celebrating the accomplishments of local businesses • A successful Towson 4th of July Parade and 4 on the 4th Race • Over 4,175 volunteer hours clocked to ensure the success of over 100 events and projects on the streets of Towson• The designing and opening of Patriot Plaza with Baltimore County, where we will have new events starting in Spring 2019• The start of bi-monthly Membership 101 meetings where new and current members can learn how to get the most out of their chamber membership• Free monthly breakfasts and cocktail parties for our members to network with each other and expand their connections

Over the last 11 years, Towson has seen unparalleled growth. We will continue to work with our local government and the residential communities to ensure that it is smart growth.

We will also continue to provide our members with educational seminars, networking opportunities, a strong voice to our local government and tools for your success. Make the most of your membership by attending monthly meetings, joining a committee, or staying updated by following us on social media.

I am so very grateful to work for and with so many wonderful people. I wish you a prosperous new year and health and happiness to you and your family.

Nancy HaffordExecutive DirectorTowson Chamber of Commerce

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Learn more about the Towson Chamber & how to make the most of your membership

12:00 p.m.Alex Cooper Auctioneers

908 York Road Towson, MD 21204

Please cal l 410 .825 .1144 to reserve your spot . Space is l imited . Lunch wil l be provided .

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17th MEGA NETWORKING EVENT

Wednesday, January 30, 2019 (Inclement weather date: Feb. 6, 2019)

5:30 to 7:30 pmSheraton Baltimore North 903 Dulaney Valley Road, Towson, MD 21204

Network with businesses throughout Baltimore County.Includes a trade show. Show off your business for ONLY $175, includes one registration fee. $200 for non-members. Contact the chamber office to reserve your space. First Come, First Served!

Pre-Registered: Members $35, Non-Members $45 At the Door: Members $40, Non-Members $50 Cost includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and one FREE drink ticket. Cash Bar will be available.

Make sure to validate your parking ticket at the front desk for FREE PARKING!

Register today online at

Event Sponsored By: Catonsville Chamber of Commerce, Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce, Baltimore County Business Association, Chesapeake Gateway Chamber of Commerce, Dundalk Chamber of Commerce, Dundalk Renaissance Corporation, Greater Arbutus Business Association, Hereford Zone Business Association, Hunt Valley Business Forum, Northwest Chamber of Commerce, Perry Hall White Marsh Business Association, Pikesville Chamber of Commerce, and the Towson Chamber of Commerce

Towson, Baltimore County

www.towsonchamber.com

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Advertising & Promotion

Opportunities

One-Page InsertAdvertise a special sale

or promotion with

an 8.5x11” insert for

$50 in our monthly

newsletter. Advertising for

community events is free.

Email Sponsorship“Sponsor” an email that

goes out to over 1500

business contacts.

Includes your logo and

a click-through to your

website. (Costs vary)

Towson TimesAdvertise in the Towson

Times! (Costs vary)

Questions?Contact: Liz Bailey

liz@towsonchamber.com

Please Join Us!Board & Member Breakfast

Wednesday, January 16th8am-9am

Meeting starts promptly at 8am, please arrive early to check in and enjoy breakfast!

The Sheraton Baltimore North903 Dulaney Valley Road

Towson, MD 21204

Click here to register

Have you renewed your membership for 2019?

Membership can be renewed by sending a check to the

chamber office or over the phone via credit card:

410-825-1144

Questions? Contact Joan Selllers: joan@towsonchamber.com

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Member-to-Member BenefitsEnjoy these specials offered exclusively for members of the Towson Chamber. Businesses may

reference the Chamber Directory, or contact the Chamber office to confirm eligibility.

AAA Mid-Atlantic – Nicholas Starr, NStarr@aaamidatlantic.com $50 Classic Primary Membership for 1st year (Normally $74), One FREE classic associate for the first year (normally $46), Waived Enrollment Fee (Normally $15), Additional $5 Discount for Perpetual Membership. To claim this discount, use the code: “TOWSON”

Drive Now LLC – Natasha Itheme, niheme@drivenowllc.com $50 off Driver’s Education class, $10 off Driver Improvement or Drug & Alcohol Class , $15 off private driving lessons, Free Driver Improvement Training class for Fleet Drivers within 30 days of writing a Drive Now Insurance Commercial Auto Policy, Instant Insurance quotes geared specifically for new drivers and international license holders, License plates tag return - free pickup within 5 mile radius.

Roland Park Chiropractic – Dr. Silke Laub, DrLaub@rolandparkchiropractic.com Utilize this link for a 20% special discount on all supplements for chamber members. From Vitamin D or multivitamins, special men’s health or women’s health supplements: https://wellevate.me/silke-laub

THB Bagels & Deli – Steve Warrick, stwarrick@thbgroup.biz Free Dessert Platter ($29.95 value) to all Catering Lunch orders over $100. Monday through Thursday. Pickup or delivery between 10 am and 2 pm. Not valid for Breakfast orders. Must mention the Member to Member promo. Place the order at www.eatTHB.com or call 443-912-2249

The Point in Towson – Erica Russo, erica@thepointrg.com 20% off to all members for food, beverages and catering. Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion.

Zerodraft Maryland – Kurt Pfund, kpfund@zerodraftmd.com NO COST Quick Home Energy Check-up (LED bulbs, efficient-water measures, pipe insulation, etc., installed by a trained energy technician), 5% Chamber discount on Commercial LED Lighting Upgrades, 5% Chamber discount on Home Performance Energy Upgrades

Slice of Towson – Paul Rizas, sliceoftowson@gmail.com 20% off any and all 20” XXL Family Sized pizzas

Brown Rice Korean Grill - Eric Lin, eric@brownricekgrill.com 20% off your catering order

Pure Water Technology - Travis Rugemer, 443-487-4908 Free water test -- we’ll test your business’ tap or well water for lead, copper, iron, chlorine, nitrate, PH, hardness and more!

Fully Promoted Towson - Jessica Joyce, jessica.joyce@fullypromoted.com One free digitizing of company logo ($69.00 value) to all chamber members. Must mention member-to-member promo.

The 10% RuleKeep your business local and make 10% of your expenditures stay within Towson. Just think of the

impact... If a company grosses $300,000.00 per year and they see an additional 10% or $30,000.00, that could mean hiring someone, expanding product lines, or making their interior and exterior look better.

Keep business in Towson and create a positive environment for our community!

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University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center Receives an ‘A’ for Patient Safety in Fall 2018 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade

University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center was awarded an ‘A’ from The Leapfrog Group’s Fall 2018 Hospital Safety Grade, a large improvement from receiving a ‘B’ in the spring. The designation recognizes UM St. Joseph Medical Center’s efforts in protecting patients from harm and meeting the highest safety standards in the United States. The Leapfrog Group is a national organization committed to improving health care quality and safety for consumers and purchasers. The Safety Grade assigns an A, B, C, D or F grade to hospitals across the country based on their performance in preventing medical errors, infections and other harms among patients in their care.

“As guided by our True North and our mission of loving service and compassionate care, providing exceptional, safe, quality care to our community is what makes UM St. Joseph Medical Center such a special place,” says Dr. Thomas B. Smyth, MD, President and CEO. “It is because of the hard work and dedication of our talented employees that UM SJMC has been awarded this safety grade.”

“Leapfrog’s Hospital Safety Grades recognize hospitals like UM St. Joseph Medical Center that focus on advancing patient safety. This ranking provides an important resource for patients, and a benchmark for hospitals, to determine how care at one hospital compares to others in a region,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “Hospitals that earn an A Hospital Safety Grade deserve to be recognized for their efforts in preventing medical harm and errors.”

Developed under the guidance of a National Expert Panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses 28 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,600 U.S. hospitals twice per year. The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public.

UM St. Joseph Medical Center was one of 855 acute care hospitals across the United States awarded an A in the Fall 2018 update of grades. To see UM St. Joseph Medical Center’s full grade details, and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit www.hospitalsafetygrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Twitter and Facebook.

About The Leapfrog Group Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American health care. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey collects and transparently reports hospital performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections.

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NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHTWelcome to the Towson Chamber !

INTERESTED IN SERVING ON A CHAMBER COMMITTEE?

The Chamber is looking to fill the following committees:• Towsontown Spring Festival• Towson Gardens Day• Winterfest• Golf Tournament

If interested, please contact the Towson Chamber of Commerce at 410.825.1144 or email Nancy Hafford at info@towsonchamber.com

• Ambassador• 4th of July Parade• Taste of Towson

WSMT InsuranceRobert Jacomen1614 E. Churchville RoadBel Air, MD 443-987-0593 | rob@wsmt.comInsurance

TRG NetworkingAlbert Blaize11436 Cronhill Drive, Ste. 4BOwings Mills, MD 21117410-363-6980 | albert@trgnetworking.comComputer Services/Networking

Mid-Atlantic MediaJacqueline Ruane11459 Cronhill Drive, Ste. AOwings Mills, MD 21117410-404-2039 | Jrstar17@gmail.comMedia/Communications

Earthkare LandscapingKraig Leatherman9 Nightingale Way, Unit C5Lutherville, MD 21093443-324-2774 | earthkare@gmail.comLandscaping

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TOWSON WiNTerfeSTThank you to all of the sponsors and volunteers who made Winterfest a month of fun for the whole family!

Photos courtesy of:

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Thank you to everyone who celebrated the holidays with us at last month’s Towson Chamber Holiday

Party at Charles Village Pub!

10Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC

Is your 401(k) or other Retirement Plan in compliance with today’s ever-changing regulatory environment?

If you are not sure, contact us to complete a complimentary, comprehensive review.

James J. Pomfret, ChFC®, CLU®, AIF®

Managing Director – Investment Officer

(410) 494-6822

james.pomfret@wfadvisors.com

Michelle Harf-Grim, CRPC®

Vice President – Investment Officer

(410) 494-6870

michelle.harf-grim@wfadvisors.com

Sarah R. Telljohann, CFP® ChFC®,

Senior Registered Client Associate

(410) 494-6820

sarah.telljohann@wfadvisors.com

Pomfret & Grim Private Wealth Management Group

of Wells Fargo Advisors

2350 W. Joppa Road | Lutherville, MD 21093

(800) 777-8714

CAR-1118-00131

is proud to support

TOWSON WiNTerfeST

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Teens Drop Spindle Teen, adult For those with a basic knowledge of spinning or for adventurous begin-ners, make your own drop spindle and learn how to spin wool. Ad-vanced attendees learn to ply multi-ple strands to make stronger yarn. Supplies provided. Jan 15 Tue 6:30 PM LGBTQ+ Teen Meetup Teen Create your own blackout poetry with fellow middle school- and high school-age members of the LGBTQ+ community. Snacks and supplies provided. Sponsored by the Friends of the Towson Library. Jan 22 Tue 7:00 PM Adults Trivia Night Adult Have fun and compete to win prizes with other trivia aficionados. Spon-sored by the Friends of the Towson Library. Jan 2 Wed 7:00 PM Yoga and Meditation for Begin-ners Adult Simple yoga and meditation for your well-being. Bring a yoga mat or tow-el. Registration required (online, by phone, or in branch). Jan 6 Sun 2:00 PM Ready, Set, Go! Nuts and Bolts of Starting a Business Adult The Maryland Small Business De-

velopment Center teaches you how to write a business plan and other aspects of starting a business. Reg-istration required. Contact 240-342-9410 or visit marylandsbdc.org to register. Jan 8 Tue 6:00 PM Zentangle® Adult Learn a new way to relax by creating works of art using the Zentangle® Method. Zentangle® uses structured doodling called "tangling." This can calm and reduce stress, improve focus and build self-confidence. Becky Boynton, a certified Zentan-gle® teacher, demonstrates step-by-step how to use simple patterns and shapes like lines and circles to cre-ate your own work. No art experi-ence necessary. All supplies provid-ed. Sponsored by the Friends of the Towson Library. Registration re-quired (online, by phone or in branch). Jan 10 Thu 7:00 PM Jan 15 Tue 2:00 PM Decorative Altered Cigar Boxes Adult Use mixed-media art to create your very own decorative altered cigar box. Your final creation can be used as a personal gift or gift container, as a home decoration or for storage of small items. Sponsored by the Friends of the Towson Library. All supplies provided. Registration re-quired (online, by phone or in branch). Jan 12 Sat 2:00 PM Computers for Beginners Adult Interested in learning computer ba-

sics and want to improve your typ-ing? Join us for an introductory com-puter course. Registration required (online, by phone or in branch). Jan 14 Mon 7:00 PM Drop Spindle Teen, adult For those with a basic knowledge of spinning or for adventurous begin-ners, make your own drop spindle and learn how to spin wool. Ad-vanced attendees learn to ply multi-ple strands to make stronger yarn. Supplies provided. Jan 15 Tue 6:30 PM

History Book Club Adult Join us as we discuss The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey by Candice Mil-lard. Jan 16 Wed 7:00 PM

Towson Branch • 320 York Road • 410-887-6166

bcpl.info

All branches will be closed on January 1 for New

Year’s Day and on January 21 for Martin Luther King,

Jr. Day

See other side for more events!

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Looking for Restaurant Specials and Happy Hour deals in Towson? Local eatery that would like to promote your business?Join our Facebook group!

Towson Restaurant Deals & Happy Hours

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January 2019

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1

Chamber Office closed

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9 12-1pm Membership 101 Location: Alex Cooper Auctioneers 5:30-6:30pm Festival Committee Meeting Chamber Office

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14 12:00-1:00pm 4th of July Parade Committee Meeting Chamber Office

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16 8-9am Monthly Board Meeting & Member Breakfast Sheraton Baltimore North

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30 5:30-7:30pm MEGA Networking Event Sheraton Baltimore North

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Brandon Simpson, Palisades of Towson

Chuck Connolly, Farmers Insurance

Colin Exelby, Celestial Wealth Management

C.R. Hogendorp, American National Insurance

Craig Carmichael, St. Joseph’s Medical Center

Deb Moriarty, Ph.D., Towson University

Debbie Phelps, BCPS Education Foundation

Edward Kilcullen, Maryland CASA Association

James Pomfret, Wells Fargo Advisors

2018-2019 TOWSON CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Tim Bojanowski Past President

Zest Social Media Solutions

Mary Fran StromyerTreasurer

Kenneally & Co., P.A.

Sarah RyanPresident

SECU

BOARD MEMBERS

OFFICERS

Lisa BiseniusVice PresidentTowson Town

Center

Edouard S. MutabaziSecretary

Vision Iconique

Joe Shagena, Destiny Mortgage Group

Lynne Lochte, Goucher College

Mark Shulman, DDS

Melony Wagner, Charles Village Pub

Nancy Hoffmann, LiveTowson.com

Pam Gilmour, Financial Fitness

Paul Schwab, Azrael, Franz, Schwab, & Lipowitz

Todd Huff, Brooks-Huff Tire and Auto Centers

Nancy HaffordExecutive Director

Liz BaileyMarketing Director

Joan SellersMembership Coordinator

Towson Chamber Staff:

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2018-2019 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONBusiness Name:

Contact Person:

Address:

Phone: Fax:

Email:

Website:

Number of Employees:

Type of Business as listed in the Yellow Pages:

How did you hear about us?

Please check the appropriate values:

1-5 employees: $250

6-20 employees: $275

21-30 employees: $350

31-45 employees: $400

46-75 employees: $475

76-100 employees: $525

Over 100 employees: $1,000

Plus $30 one-time application fee

= Total Investment $

Return this application with your dues investment made payable to: Towson Chamber of Commerce44 W. Chesapeake AvenueTowson, MD 21204To pay by credit card, please call the chamber office: 410-825-1144

Add sponsorship opportunities for 2018-2019

Winterfest & Baltimore County Tree Lighting

Towson Beautification Program

Towson 4th of July Parade

Taste of Towson

Chamber Golf Tournament

Towsontown Spring Festival

For more information on sponsorship packages, contact the

chamber office: 410-825-1144

Please Be Advised:Internal Revenue Bureau Cumulative Bulletin, No 2, page 105 reads: Membership fees or dues by individuals to a Chamber of Commerce are deductible from gross income as a business expense provided the memberships is employeed as a means of

advancing the business interests of the individual corporation.

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Towson Chamber of Commerce44 W. Chesapeake Avenue

Towson, MD 21204

info@towsonchamber.comPhone: 410-825-1144

Fax: 410-832-5863