august 2012...a newsletter from the viewthe chamber inside this issue august 2012 president’s...

The ChamberA Newsletter from the

VIEWI N S I D E

This Issue

August2012

President’s Message 2Main Street Improvements 3Welcome New Members 5Chamber in Pictures 6When Your Go-to-Person

is Gone 82012 Calendar 11

MM ingle and network at the CatonsvilleChamber’s Summer Open House onWednesday, Sept. 26, from 5:00 pm to

7:00 pm at the chamber’s office, 924 FrederickRoad. New member Caton Auto Clinic is theGold Sponsor of this event. The evening includes delicious food from a number of ourlocal restaurants, caterers, and bakeries.Contributing to the evenings yummy menu areCatonsville Gourmet, Rolling Road Golf Club,Atwaters, Edible Arrangements and The WineBin.

We encourage our members to bring a non-chamber member guest for free and receive a complimentary gift. This is our way of introducing the chamber to prospective new members.The evening is topped off with our featured

member profile and a 50/50 raffle.Register online at www.catonsville.org or by

calling the chamber office at 410-719-9609.We look forward to seeing everyone at our

Summer Open House!

The Chamber hosted its 54th Annual Crab Feast & Auction on Tuesday, July 17 at The Lodge in Oella. Saint Agnes Hospital, We Love Catonsville and Whalen Properties were the premium sponsors again this year with Monaghan’s Pub, Harris SeafoodHouse and The Lodge providing the evening’s delicious summer cuisine. See page 6 & 7 for more photos.

Photos by Nathaniel Corn, Balance Photography

39th Arts & CraftsFestival

Sept. 9, 201210 am to 5 pm

CHAMBER HOSTS SUMMER OPEN HOUSE

2 Greater Catonsville Chamber Newsletter • www.catonsville.org

provide awesome food that attracts peoplefrom all over Maryland to come and taste?

• The vision of a property owner tospruce up a parking lot wall with art andhave many in the community step-up tomake it a reality?

• Traditions like the Chamber Crab Feastthat brings many of us together to just sit down, relax and enjoy each other’s company?

• One persons’ idea (that now involves afull committee’s efforts) to unwind on Friday evening with the family and enjoysome music on Frederick Road, that hasnow become many a family’s routine forstarting their weekend?

• Property owners going above and beyond to facilitate and remodel their investments in order to revitalize the entirecommunity?

Editor,Design & Layout

Teal CaryGCCC Executive Director

410-719-9609

PURPOSEThe purpose of the Chamber of

Commerce is to have a strong voicewith the county government, business and local community;

to affect positive change in our area;to foster growth and expansion ofour members’ businesses; and toachieve the betterment of the Catonsville community.

Chamber Web Site:www.catonsville.org

ADVERTISING & PROMOTIONOPPORTUNITIES

One-Page Insert $75Get special attention for anevent, sale, etc. with a

8 1/2 “ x 11” insert (pdf file) in The View

provided by your business.

Event SponsorshipYour company can be

highlighted at one of our monthly events.(Costs vary)

Event HostInvite the Chamber to your

location for onsite promotion.(Costs vary)

WebsiteUpgrade your membership to

“Plus Status” and have your. logo appear on the Chamber’s website.

Contact Teal Cary for more information on this great online

marketing opportunity.

Call the Chamber Office410.719.9609for more information.

VIEWThe Chamber

The Chamber Working for YouPresident’s Message

Sally Griffin2012 President

HH ello Summer!Isn’t Life Greatin 21228?

Do you find yourselfsmiling whenever yousee that bumpersticker? You know, it’snot uncommon for a

county official to mention to me that theywish they could bottle up whatever “it is”that Catonsville has so they could share itwith other communities.Got me to thinking, how do you bottle up:

• The enthusiasm and dedication of theCatonsville Celebrations Committee whoselflessly present the best 4th of July parade& fireworks in Maryland?

• The creativity and expertise of our localrestaurant owners whom consistently

The Chamber The CCF Corner

By Maureen Sweeney SmithCCF Executive Director

CC atonsville is a community filled withvolunteers. On an average weekend,you can see enthusiastic parents

coaching a sports team or helping to run afestival at their child’s school. In the spring,dedicated volunteers are working on trails,planting trees, delivering bags of mulch orsprucing up their church or school. In thesummer months, volunteers organize thefinest parade and fireworks in the region.Summer concerts at the Lurman Theatreand at Frederick Road Fridays are also coordinated by volunteers. We are obviously a community of volun-

teers however, not everyone is able to take

an active role. Long commutes, extendedwork hours, and caring for family membersprohibit many potential volunteers fromtaking an active role. The Catonsville Women’s Giving Circle

has found a way to tap into some of thesepotential volunteers by creating an organi-zation to meet today’s busy women. Eachmember donates $250 and this pool ofmoney is used for community grants decided by consensus. Members like havinga collective impact for a relatively modestcontribution. In 2011, they provided $8,000in grants, keeping their money inCatonsville.What are you doing for Catonsville? If

you don’t have time to volunteer, considermaking a donation to the Catonsville Community Foundation (CCF) and supportthe many organizations who are activelyworking on projects. Last month, theCatonsville Community Foundation made iteasier than ever to donate with a websitewww.donatecatonsville.org that takes youdirectly to the Chamber’s donor page. One of the CCF’s goals is to keep all the

Catonsville traditions and memories alivefor future generations. Do your part by giving at DonateCatonsville.org and keepyour dollars in the community.

continued on page 12

Greater Catonsville Chamber Newsletter • www.catonsville.org 3

Kristen LeisterEconomic Development Committee

WW hat an exciting time to be a part ofCatonsville! When you walk aroundthe Frederick Road area you can’t

help but be inspired by the new life and energythat is beginning to fill our streets, from thriving restaurants to fantastic outdoor

concerts to the amazing new murals and art weaving throughout ourtown. What is so appealing about these updates, attractions, andevents is that they add value to our community. These communityenhancements attract positive attention and raise the bar. This is whatthe people of our community have come to expect and what they deserve. The Economic Development Committee is currently working on

the topic of Main Street improvements and creative ways to helpCatonsville continue to raise the bar. We are striving to give the community what it has been asking for: a main street district to beproud of as well as a town that will continue to attract positive atten-tion. We are also studying the side streets of Frederick Road and theParadise community and looking for ways to make them more appeal-ing and more connected to the village. When you think of these sidestreet areas and the Paradise community, what enhancements cometo your mind that could foster this connection?One of the projects the committee is currently working on is the

Sponsor A Chair Campaign. This will be a fun project where localbusinesses have the opportunity to sponsor a chair or maybe a benchto be placed along Frederick Road or in local green spaces. Thesebusiness sponsors will then be paired with an artist from either TheCatonsville Artists Guild or the UMBC student body who will thendecorate the chairs. This campaign will serve to increase resident’sconnection with the village as well as support the economic and aesthetic condition of the community. Yes, the excitement is contagious in Catonsville these days, and we

are so lucky to be a part of such a growing and thriving community.

Kristen LeisterNarcissus Salon, Co-Owner28 Bloomsbury AvenueCatonsville, MD 21228

RAISING THE BAR ONMAIN

STREET IMPROVEMENTS

The Chamber Economic DevelopmentCOUNTY PROGRAMS MAY HELPWITH “CURB APPEAL” PROJECTS

BB altimore County's Commercial Revitalization Program provides low-interest loans, free architectural services, and tax credits to improve

and maintain older commercial areas of the County. Athree-person team works with businesses, community and business organizations to encourage new investmentin these established communities. In addition the Countyhas launched a marketing campaign to encourage shop-pers to Re Discover Your Neighborhood Downtown.Businesses in the 13 designated districts are eligible for

loans and other assistance to encourage investment inthese established communities. Businesses must be withina district and contact Commercial Revitalization prior inorder to apply for assistance.

ARCHITECT-ON-CALL Architect-On-Call offers up to ten free hours of

professional architectural design services to businesses improving the exteriors of their buildings. After an initialsite visit and meeting, the architect prepares a digital rendering of the building with design recommendationsand a rough cost estimate. The service is free when improvements are certified as complete.

BUILDING INVESTMENT LOANS Business Improvement Loan Program provides

interest-free loans for business improvements. • Eligible exterior improvements include windows, facade replacement, siding, and painting.

• Eligible site improvements include landscaping, signage, lighting, and parking lot improvements.

• Eligible interior improvements include painting, flooring, drywall, plumbing, electrical, HVAC systems, and store fixtures.

BALTIMORE COUNTY SMALL BUSINESS LOAN PARTNERSHIPThis fund provides real estate and fixed-asset loans

through a partnership between Baltimore County and thearea's leading financial institutions.

BALTIMORE COUNTY BUSINESS GROWTH LOANSIn Commercial Revitalization Districts, this fund is

primarily used to assist significant redevelopment projects. The maximum loan amount is $250,000 and canbe used for the acquisition and improvement of land,buildings, and equipment, including new construction and the renovation of existing facilities. Terms and interestrates are based upon the economic impact of the project.

For more information and to see if your business canbenefit from thees programs contact the Baltimore CountyDepartment of Economic Development, 400 WashingtonAvenue Towson Maryland 21204, or learn more about Baltimore County financing programs at [email protected] or call 410-887- 8000.


Wednesday, Sept. 26, 20125:00 to 7:00 pmGreater Catonsville Chamber of Commerce924 Frederick Road, Catonsville

Members: $20, Non-Members: FREECost includes drinks and heavy hors d’oeuvres courtesy of Catonsville Gourmet, Matthew’s 1600, Rolling Road Golf Club, Atwaters, The Wine Bin and Edible Arrangements.

You are Invitedto the Catonsville Chamber’s

Sponsored By: Caton Auto Clinic

SummerOpen HouseSummerOpen HouseWe welcome all our neighbor businesses to join us for this fun evening to mingle & network. Non-member businesses are welcome as our FREE guests. This is a great opportunityto learn about our Chamber and meet our members. We encourage our Chamber members tobring a non-member guest for FREE and receive a complimentary gift.

Register online at www.catonsville.org


The Chamber New Members

Sponsorship Level

The Wright AgencyJulian Wright2 West Rolling Cross Roads Suite 208Baltimore, MD. [email protected]/thewrightagency

Nationwide Insurance Agency providescoverage for Home, Auto, Commercial andFinancial services. The Wright Agency islicensed in Maryland, The District of Columbia, Virginia, Pennsylvania andMississippi.

Member Level

Caton Auto Clinic Joe Poisal6009-6013 Baltimore National Pike443-833-4590Baltimore, MD [email protected]

Caton Auto Clinic started in Catonsvillein 1975 with six service bays, and are nowone of the largest automotive/commercialvehicle repair centers in Maryland with36 service bays to serve you. Caton AutoClinic is family owned and operated, andAAA approved. They are one of the original seven shops in Maryland to beapproved when AAA first started the program in 1980. Caton Auto Clinic offerscomplete automotive & commercial vehicle services on all makes and models,including tune-ups, general repair, heating & A/C, tires, MD State inspections,transmissions, engine exchanges, electrical & computer systems, tires, alignments, and more! You will be sure to appreciate the professional, family atmosphere in their comfortable, home-like waiting room.

Diana Pon – Coldwell BankerResidential BrokerageDiana Pon 700 Frederick RoadCatonsville, MD [email protected]

Diana Pon is a realtor at Coldwell BankerResidential Brokerage Catonsville.

Country Fresh FoodsHarold Brook583 Frederick RoadCatonsville, MD 212281-800-942-5764www.countryfreshfoodsonline.com

Country Fresh Foods is a convenient homedelivery food service. They provide qualityorganic vegetables, fruits, juices and pre-pared foods. They also sell natural certifiedmeat inspected by the USDA Food SafetyInspection Services: Beef, Pork, & Poultry,all certified by the government! They alsooffer a complete line of the best in naturalfood and herbal source nutritional supple-mentation: Aloe Vera, Spirulina, Ginseng,and Peruvian Herb Products! Their customer service is open from 8:00 am to9:00 pm. Contact Country Fresh Foods fora free in-home food consultation with anexpertly trained consultant.

Energy Wizard John Capozzi206 North lake CourtStevensville, MD [email protected]

Energy Wizard sells and installs energy efficient windows, doors, sunrooms andsiding. Their decking is eco-friendly andhits very high standards. The company excels in customer service. Energy Wizardstrives to ensure customer satisfaction.35% of their business comes from past customers and customer referrals.

Language AdvantageKen Kennedy318 Lakeview AvenueEdgewater, MD 21037410-988-2103ken.kennedy2@gmail.comwww.kidsforeignlanguages.com

Language Advantage provides foreign language programs for children ages 3-12using a variety of teaching approaches designed to help children learn and develop a foundation for foreign languages.

Non-Profit Level

Heritage Players, Inc.Katherine Sheldon5726 Richardson Mews SquareHalethorpe, MD [email protected]

Since its inception in 1975, The HeritagePlayers, Inc. has offered good family entertainment at affordable prices to thecommunity. Their productions includedramas, mysteries, comedies & musicals,some well-known & some original scriptsby talented local writers. The HeritagePlayers has donated over $38,000.00 tocharitable organizations in the BaltimoreMetropolitan area.

Catonsville Business Connectors Dan Swearingen6600 Baltimore National PikeBaltimore, MD 21228410-744-6974

Business Development and Growth

SUNDAYMARKET SEESRECORDCROWDSFOR 3RD

SEASON

The SundayFarmersMarket located at 730 Frederick

Road, in the parking lot behindFriendly’s, opened for its third season onSunday, May 6 and will run, rain orshine, until Sunday,November 4. Timesfor the market are 10:00 am until 1:30pm.Our weekend market includes a

wonderful variety of foods from Mary-land farmers, from poultry, pork andeggs, to produce, fruits and herbs withFrench bread and crepes, baked goods,coffee, salsa, and sweets rounding outthe offerings. Visit our website,www.catonsville.org for a complete listof this year’s vendors and follow us onour market facebook page.


The Chamber In Pictures

54 Years of GreatCrabs and Fun


Photos by Nathaniel Corn, Balance Photography


By: Ryan McShaneHuman Resource Officer BaltimoreCounty Department of Aging

WW e all have them, a go-to-person in our organization.You know the one. They have

been there and done that. They know allthe ins and outs and worked on the bigprojects as well as the extraneous littleones and they know all the personalitiesinvolved and more importantly how toget things done!We call on them when no one else can

(get ‘r done) and when we need it doneyesterday. And… we do this often.So, what happens when your go-to is

gone? He or she has decided to retire ormove to greener pastures. This is the real nightmare employers

are now beginning to face, whether dueto a down economy and subsequent layoffs or through baby boomer retirements.Either way it is happening, employers areleft wondering whom they are going to“go-to” now? Poor economy or not, wecannot leave our customers/clients ormissions wanting. A few years ago, we realized that most

persons at our Agency’s Administrativetable had a number of years invested inthe organization. OK, I’ll get to the point;they were of the Boomer or Veteran Generations. We became concerned when thinking

about the potential for turnover due toretirement and all the recruiting thatwould need to be done. Our concernturned to alarm after crunching the num-bers. In an organization of 230, 76 wereeligible to retire within 5-10 years. Of the76, 80% were in management and upper-level management positions. After several deep breaths… several

deep breaths, we began to plan how tomitigate the impact of impendingturnover and establish systems to retainthe institutional knowledge of each per-son before it left with them to a sunnybeach in Delaware or Florida.We had to re-examine everything! Our

recruiting and retention plan, our careerand personal development systems, poli-

cies and procedures, were they servingus? Could our current systems supportthe impending need now upon us?

We knew the answer and it was an emphatic, NO! We weren’t equipped.But, it wasn’t long before we were. Yousee, this was the golden opportunity andwe were fortunate enough to recognize itas such. Within 12 months, the Agency had a

knowledge management system inplace, an internal coaching program,cross-training program, learning com-mittee, and a recruitment/retentionstructure yielding goal and outcome oriented human resources.It is here that I want to focus on two of

the above elements that are easily replic-able and can provide a huge return in organizational effectiveness, knowledgemanagement and recruitment/retentionstructures.I soon discovered when I came to

work for the Agency that it is commonpractice in local government to haveclass specifications and not job descrip-tions. These class specifications are de-veloped for the purpose of developingcompensation ranges, rather than artic-ulate a specific job and the major dutiesof the position. As such, if I were to handyou a class specification and say “go towork”, you would know no better how toperform that job than if I hadn’t givenyou the class specification, this due tothe very generic nature language used todescribe the position’s functions. So, over the next 12 months we

worked diligently to create job descrip-tions for each position in the Agency.Using the concept of “knowledge man-agement”, we captured information forthe more efficient use of that same infor-mation. We compiled each job into adatabase, accessible by all staff and usedthe information for vacancy postings(job advertisement), interview ques-tions, on-the-job training, career devel-opment plans and retention of explicitknowledge on how to perform a specificjob.We wanted everyone to be able to see

how each job is to be performed and thequalifications of each job. One of the

many benefits of our knowledge manage-ment system was to provide a generalunderstanding across the Agency of thevarious programs and how one job com-plimented another in the accomplish-ment of the Agency mission. Finally, wewere on the same page! We now had atool that provided concrete data fed intoestablished systems that now, developour next generation of leaders.Our recruitment and retention struc-

ture was similarly general as the classspecifications and provided little interms of a targeted approach to attract-ing, developing and retaining a qualityworkforce. We had to begin by asking the tough

questions, “What makes us an attractiveplace to work?” What are seniors,boomers, generation X and millennialssaying they want in an employer and arewe offering it? Is our internship programproviding a pipeline of talent? Once theemployee is here, are we developing himor her? Are we providing incentives tostay? Are we capturing explicit knowl-edge through our systems and tacitknowledge through mentoring relation-ships?In each case above, we had a lot of im-

provements to make before we could say“YES!” to any one of these questions.We found a common ingredient of-

fered by “employers of choice”, as well as,that which is sought after by experiencedand highly skilled workers… The ingredi-ent? Flexibility!A growing expectation that cuts across

all workforce age demographics is that offlexibility. Flexibility to work alternativeschedules, telecommute, part-time rota-tional schedules, project-based work, jobsharing and the like, provide thework/life balance that seniors, boomers,generation x and millennials commonlydesire. Boomers and seniors often seekflexibility for their caregiving roles ofelder family members and grandchil-dren, generation x and millennials forcaregiving of children and/or parentsand pursuit of other interests.Employers must go beyond the tradi-

tional model of full-time and part-em-

WHEN YOUR GO-TO-PERSON IS GONE!Are you prepared if your go-to employee leaves?


Matthew DuniganEdward Jones Financial AdvisorContributing View Columnist

TT he investment world can be complex — soyou may not want to navigate it alone. Butwhen it comes to getting professional ad-

vice, you certainly have an abundance of choices.How can you know which approach is right for you? The answer depends, to a large extent, on how you choose to

work with a qualified financial advisor — someone with the trainingand experience to help you work toward your financial goals. Whenyou work with a financial advisor, he or she will analyze your finan-cial situation — your income, current assets, family status andshort- and long-term investment goals, such as helping pay for yourchildren’s (or grandchildren’s) college education and attaining acomfortable retirement. You can choose different ways of working with a financial advisor

— and a deciding factor may be how “hands on” you want to bewith your investment strategy. To illustrate this concept, let’s look attwo common ways investors interact with financial advisors:• Taking recommendations and making choices — After evaluat-

ing your financial situation, goals, risk tolerance and time horizon,your financial advisor can recommend appropriate investments.Over time, your financial advisor will communicate with you regularly to keep track of changes in your life and to suggest anychanges you may need to make in your portfolio. Of course, youhave the final say in accepting or rejecting these recommendations,which is why this method is considered a hands-on way to invest.• Investing through a managed account — In this situation, your

financial advisor will help you create, implement and refine yourlong-term financial strategy, but the money managers will make thedaily investment decisions, relying on a variety of criteria pertainingto your situation. For example, if your portfolio has become over-weighted in a specific asset class, such as stocks or bonds, and is nolonger aligned with your goals, it may automatically be broughtback into balance. So which method of investing is better for you? There’s really no

one right answer for everyone. If you’re the sort of person who likesto make all your own decisions, then you might be better off follow-ing the hands-on approach with your financial advisor. On the otherhand, if you are particularly busy and just don’t feel you have thetime to be actively involved with day-to-day investment decisions,you might want to consider a managed account. In any case, you’ll want to be comfortable with the method of

investing that you’ve chosen. So do your homework beforehand.Whether you’re interested in a hands-on relationship or a hands-offapproach, you still need to interview several financial advisors tofind one who has worked with people in your situation and whoseems genuinely interested in helping you. During these interviews,make sure you understand everything related to working with afinancial advisor — the fees involved, the way decisions will be communicated to you if you choose a managed account, and so on. Deciding how you want to invest is your first step in working to-

ward your financial goals — so make the choice that’s right for you.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

ARE YOU A “HANDS-ON”INVESTOR?

ployment if they want to attract the best and brightest. Oneexample can be found in project-based assignments. Youknow…the project that, if only we had time or extra handswe would have completed months or even years ago. Well,who better to assume this role than an experience retired orunder-employed person who has the time and accumula-tion of expertise to tackle a specific project and move on.Employers must also think about developing incentives

for “go to” employees to stay or come back. Possibilities forthis retention model include phased retirement and job re-design. I know within our Agency we have an antiquatedpolicy that states once retired you can come back to workfor the County Government for six (6) months maximumand then never again shall you receive a paycheck from theCounty. So, one must also look at policy and procedures todetermine what barriers exist to knowledge and skill reten-tion programs and incentives. The economy has stalled and the wave of retirements

(previously anticipated) turned it into a trickle. Yet, ourAgency has found a best practice originally created to miti-gate the impact of boomer turnover now translating to amore diverse, capable Agency. No matter the economic cli-mate or workforce demographics the changes we institutedwill result in knowledge retention, continuity of quality serv-ice, and continuous adaptation through highlyskilled/highly trained staff ready to serve. As they say, weneed the right people in the right seats, on the right bus.Whether you are a non-profit, public agency or the privateindustry, capacity for flexible human resource practices en-ables you to be an employer of choice and attract/retainhigh quality staff to fulfill your mission.As much as we would like to always keep the “go-to” from

going, we have to face reality. They are going to go, it’s just amatter of time. The question is do you have the benefitstructure of flexibility, developmental systems in place tomaximize staff potential and keep them as long as possible,grow our bottom line and capture institutional knowledgebefore they go? If you said “no”, to any part of this questionthe following may be true for you:

1. You are working in a traditional model that no longer serves your staff or your community and mission.

2. You are letting your best and brightest slip through your fingers.

3. Your competitor is grinning from ear to ear!

To learn more about each phase of the Agency’s HumanResource Strategic plan: knowledge management, internalcoaching, cross-training, continuous learning committee,and recruitment/retention or to schedule a presentationcontact Ryan McShane, Human Resource Officer for Balti-more County Department of Aging.


Commercial Real EstateProperty Available

821 FREDERICK ROADAVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE LEASE

TT his 1200 +/- storefront space underwent a completerenovation in 2008. Plenty of parking. Attractive

Courtyard. In the middle of the areas finestrestaurants. Leasefor $2,000 a month.For more

information and to schedule a tourcontact Craig at410.302.2381 or [email protected].

609 FREDERICK ROADAVAILABLE FORLEASE ORPURCHASE

TT his was home to Chesapeake Bank and Six Mile Coffee.

The building has two levels.Each floor is @ 1,200 sf w/separate utilities and separate bathrooms.Lease is $3,000 a

month NNN or sale$650,000.For more information

and to schedule a tourcontact Craig at410.302.2381 or [email protected].

827 FREDERICK ROADAVAILABLE ON SEPTEMBER 1

TT his property is now home to Believe in Tomorrow, but the space will become available for lease beginning September 1, 2012. Lease is $1000 a month

NNN. Contact Craig at 410.302.2381 or [email protected].

The Chamber Member News

SUN SAFETY TIPS FROMPATIENT FIRST

Summer is upon us. Whether you plan to spend a day at thebeach, attend a sporting event, or fire up the grill, the fore-cast this weekend is a hot one.

Warm rays are welcomed by many –yet provide some reasonsfor caution. So then, what are some risks of too much sun exposure.

What are some of the dangers of excessive sun exposure?

Excessive sun exposure can damage the skin and lead to wrinkles, discolored areas of the skin, spider veins, and skin cancers, including melanomas.

How do you prevent sun-related skin damage?

Sun-related skin damage can be prevented by avoiding excessive direct sun exposure, especially between 10 am and 4pm when the sun’s rays are the strongest. If being in the sun isunavoidable, sunscreen with SPF (sun protection factor) of 15 orgreater should be applied 30 minutes prior to sun exposure andreapplied every 2 hours.

How can one determine if a skin lesion is a melanoma ora non-cancerous mole?

One can use the “ABCD rule” when attempting to determine ifa mole is a melanoma:

A = Asymmetry – If a line is drawn through the centerof the mole, the halves would not match.

B = The Border of the mole is irregular.C = The Color of the mole is uneven with shades of

brown, black, tan, red, white, and/or blue.D = Change in the Diameter of the mole.

If any mole is of concern, whether it meets the above criteria ornot, you should seek the advice of your health care provider.Are certain people more susceptible to damaging their skin

with excessive sun exposure?Yes, the risk of skin damage with excessive sun exposure is

greatest in people who have fair skin or freckled skin, whichburns easily. But people of all skin colors can get cancer from thesun’s ultraviolet rays. Skin damage from exposure to the sun canoccur in everyone.

Enjoy the sun, but do so safely. The following tips can help:

In addition to avoiding uninterrupted sun exposure between10 am and 4 pm whenever possible:

• Cover-up when you can with long-sleeved shirts and pants.• Hats are fine, but remember baseball caps won’t protect your ears and neck from the sun.

• Always use sunscreen with a minimum of 15 SPF, even whenit’s cloudy, and reapply at least every 2 hours.

THIS MONTH’S EVENT

AUGUSTOpen House event rescheduled for September 26

SEPTEMBEREvent: 39th Annual Catonsville

Arts & Crafts Festival

Date: Sunday, September 9, 2012

Time: 10 am to 5 pm

Place: Frederick RoadCost: Free

Event: Chamber Summer Open House

Sponsor: Caton Auto Clinic

Date: September 26, 2012Time: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Place: Chamber Office

924 Frederick Road

Cost: $20 pre-registered & pre-paid

FREE for non-members

Event: “Good for Business” BreakfastTopic– Starting, Purchasing & Runninga Franchise

Sponsor: Edible Arrangements

Speakers: Chamber Member Franchise Owners Panel

Date: Friday, September 28, 2012

Time: 7:30 am

Place: Knights of Columbus

Cost: $10

OCTOBEREvent: Catonsville Business Awards

Date: Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Time: 5:30 pm

Place: Rolling Road Golf ClubCost: TBA

Event: “Good for Business” BreakfastTopic– The Art of Networking


Speakers: Susan Katz- Business Coach

Date: Friday, October 26, 2012

Time: 7:30 am


Cost: $10

NOVEMBER

Event: MEGA Networking EventJoint event with the other Chambers andBusiness Associations throughout Baltimore CountyDate: November 7, 2012Time: 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Place: Overhills Mansion916 S. Rolling Road

Cost: $20 pre-registered & pre-paid$25 at the door, $30 non-members

Event: Legislative LuncheonSponsor: TBAGuest Speakers: Local LegislatorsDate: November 14, 2012Time: 12:00 noonPlace: Knights of Columbus

Frederick RoadCost: $20 pre-registered & pre-paid

$25 at the door$35 for non-members

Event: “Good for Business” BreakfastTopic– Saving on your 2012 Taxes


Speakers: Bruchey Tax Service

Date: Friday, November 30, 2012

Time: 7:30 am


Cost: $10

DECEMBEREvent: Holiday Party

Date: Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Time: 12:00 noon

Place: Overhills MansionCost: $30 in advance with payment,

$40 at the door


The Chamber 2012 Calendar

NOTE: Times, locations, and costs aresubject to change.

2012 Concert Schedule:August 3 ...........................High Strung

August 10 ................Against the Grain

August 17...............................Revolver

August 24 ......................Jay Cleaver &the Love Leaders

August 31 ................The Players Band

“GOOD FOR BUSINESS” BREAKFAST SERIES: OWNING A SUCCESSFUL FRANCHISE

TT he chamber will host its sixth “Good for Business” breakfastmeeting on Friday, September 28th at the Knights of Columbus,1010 Frederick Road, at 7:30 am.

If you have ever considered purchasing a franchise business and wantadvice from our successful member franchise owners on how they got started and whathas helped make their business model a success, then be sure to join us on September28th. Owners from McDonald’s, Edible Arrangements, 7-11, Liberty Tax and EmbroidMe will make up our panel of experts willing to share their experiences.Cost is $10 and you can register online at catonsville.org or call the Chamber office at

410-719-9609.This “Good for Business” breakfast series is sponsored by Edible Arrangements

Catonsville, who generously donates the delicious fruit and pastries for each meeting.

Frederick RoadfridaysfridaysCelebrating Music & Fun in Catonsville


Quote for this Month There is no royal, flower-strewn path to success. And if there is, I have not found it. Forif I have accomplished anything in life, it is because I have been willing to work hard.

C.J. Walkeran American businesswoman, entrepreneur and philanthropist, commonly regarded as the first African-American millionaire.

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Three bwtech@UMBC CompaniesNamed Winners in the“2012 Maryland Incubator Company of the Year” Awards

bwtech@UMBC Research and Tech-nology Park is pleased to announcethat two of its incubator companies

and a former affiliate company wonawards at the 2012 Maryland IncubatorCompany of the Year Awards ceremonyon June 14, 2012.Noxilizer, Inc., www.noxilizer.com, has

been named the Life Science Companyof the Year. The company has developeda unique and superior NO2-based sterili-zation technology that is revolutionizingtwo major sterilization markets — med-ical device/pharmaceutical/biotechnol-ogy manufacturing and hospitals. Forthe manufacturing market, Noxilizerprovides sterilization services for next-generation medical devices anddrug/device combination products. Forhospitals, Noxilizer is developing a sys-tem especially for the sensitive, high-tech equipment used in minimally-invasive surgical procedures.StormCenter Communications, Inc.

(SCC), www.stormcenter.com won theaward in the Cyber/Homeland SecurityCompany categories. The company wasalso a finalist in the Technology Profes-sional Service Company category. SCC isan innovative environmental communi-cations company with two key areas of

operation: the Envirocast program, whichcreates partnerships with federal, state,non-profit and corporate entities, andthe media to accomplish StormCenter'sgoal of "Increasing the Environmental IQof America". SCC also develops decisionsupport systems for emergency manage-ment, NOAA National Weather Serviceand the media. Former Clean Energy Technology

Incubator affiliate SemaConnect,www.semaconnect.com, received theaward for Green Company of the Year.SemaConnect is a leading developer andproducer of smart networked electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and sophisticated electric vehicle software forstation owners and EV drivers.Secured Sciences Group (SSG),

www.securedsciences.com. (SS, a tenantof the Cyber Incubator, was also a finalistin the Cyber/Homeland Security Com-pany category. SSG, is a woman-ownedsmall business whose principle offeringsare: cybersecurity services, governance,Risk & compliance (GRC) products andsolutions, information technology services and management support. The Maryland Incubator Company

of The Year Awards began in 2000 to acknowledge the achievements of com-panies and graduates of Maryland incu-bator programs. The finalists are chosenby a selection committee made up of area industry leaders and early-stage in-vestors. The awards are sponsored by TheMaryland Technology Development Cor-poration (TEDCO), McGladrey, Maryland

Department of Business & Economic Development (Maryland DBED), and SaulEwing LLP.

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President’s Messagecontinued from page 2

• Volunteers who provide labor andsweat equity to clear trails for the community to use?

• The hard work and dedication ofmany volunteers who bring us the week-end Summer Concert Series at the Lurman Woodland Theatre, now in its’20th year?

• Someone’s idea to create a simplestatement, Life is Great in 21228, and itbecomes one of the most sought afterbumper stickers around AND you see it all over the United States?

I could keep going on and on becausethis is only a fraction of what happensaround town all year long. We never sit still. Our energy cannot be mass produced or bottled. It is a selfless, nontangible characteristic, passed along fromone person to the next. Sort of like thefamily potato salad recipe, nothing writ-ten down, you just watched and learned.

See you around town!

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