What’s New in Maryland
For you Merliners out thereArchive for February, 2009
Harvest for the Hungry Spring Food Drive March 7-14
The Maryland Food Bank’s Spring Food Drive is here March 7-14.
Put a bag of food out by your residential mailbox during the week of March 7-14 and representatives from the Baltimore Area Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts of Central Maryland, or U.S. Postal Service will pick it up and take it to the Maryland Food Bank. This service applies to all residences in Maryland, but there are also drop-off locations that include Safeway stores, post offices, and Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage offices.
The food will be given through the Maryland Food Bank to over 900 soup kitchens, shelters, and food pantries across the state.
Local Businesses in Maryland
What’s New in Maryland has added a section to help promote local businesses in MD. Do you have a local business you’d like to see profiled? Whether it’s in an exciting, in-demand industry, offers exceptional service, has an interesting product, or is award-winning, submit a description of your Maryland business and you just may see it profiled on Local Businesses.
Winning Business Plan Gets Cash Prize
Rockville Economic Development, Inc. (REDI) will be having a contest for new businesses (less than two years old) in Maryland, DC, or Virginia that are at least 51-percent women-owned.
Enter the contest known as the 6th Annual StartRight! Women’s Business Plan Competition by submitting an executive summary and $25 entry fee to Rockville Economic Development, Inc. by March 29, 2009. Full business plans must be submitted to Rockville Economic Development, Inc. by April 1, 2009. For details on what should be included in the business plan, click here. Semi-finalists will be contacted to present their plans before a panel of judges.
First Place: $10,000 sponsored by Eagle Bank
Second Place: $5,000 sponsored by Shulman, Rogers, Gandal, Pordy, and Ecker, PA
Third Place: $2,500 sponsored by Foster, Soltoff and Love, Ltd.
Brightline Media, Intelligent Office, and Montgomery County Department of Economic Development will be offering additional benefits in addition to the cash prizes.
REDI will also be offering free business plan seminars on writing (Wednesday, March 11, 2009) and presenting (Wednesday, April 8, 2009) business plans at the Rockville Regional Library at 21 Maryland Avenue from 9am to 12pm.
Win a Solar Water Heater
Solar installation company AtisSun (based in Annapolis) is giving away a professionally installed solar water heater to one lucky Maryland homeowner. To apply, visit http://www.marylandsolargiveaway.com/
The water heater is valued at $9,842 and will be professionally installed.
Reduce your energy bills and help the environment with a water heater that uses 100% renewable energy from the sun. With increasing popularity and benefits to going green, purchasing a solar water heater is something homeowners are doing to help the environment, increasingly reduce energy bills over a period of time, and take advantage of various tax incentives.
Visit http://www.marylandsolargiveaway.com/ to fill out the form and see if your home qualifies. Entries are currently being accepted, with the giveaway ending May 31, 2009.
Soup and Southern Rock in Mt. Airy
Sunday February 22nd – Singer / songwriter Dean Crawford performs at Linganore Winery from 1-4pm.
All natural soups from Chesapeake Gardens will be available for purchase or to sample. Admission is $5 at the door. Photo ID needed for wine tasting.
For information on directions, hours of operation (7 days a week), tours (12pm, 2pm, and 4pm), and other events at Linganore, visit http://www.linganorewines.com/
Photo ID needed for wine tasting.
Chocolate Affair Winners
Last night was the Chocolate Affair at M&T Bank Stadium to benefit Healthcare for the Homeless.
There was so much chocolate. So delicious. Truffles, cake, pudding, candies, hot chocolate, chocolate covered strawberries, fudge, brownies, ice cream, other sweet desserts like baklava and flavored fortune cookies. After just a few samples, I realized I was so thirsty. Good thing for the water I got with my drink ticket. There was also some savory samples mixed in, like shrimp, bagel pieces and soup which were a nice break from the sweet tastes.
Here’s a list of the winners:
Tastiest Chocolate Treat: Ice cream from Coldstone Creamery
Tastiest Savory Treat: Shrimp from Bonefish Grill
Tastiest Candy: Edible Favors
Best Booth Display: Kali’s Mezze
Best Food Presentation: Hershey Entertainment and Resorts
Most Creative Use of Chocolate as an Ingredient: Sascha’s Catering
Best Beverage: Testimony Teas
Best New Vendor: Sweet Fortunes – flavored fortune cookies
Best Vendor (participating at least 5 years): Chef’s Expressions – chocolate truffle with sea salt for one thing
Wished I had grabbed a few more wrapped candies. At the the time I felt like I couldn’t eat any more chocolate.
