Small Towns, Small Businesses – Keeping it Local!

Sunday, August 8 -

Dog Days of Summer returns to the

West Annapolis 2nd Sunday Neighborhood Green Market

Featuring Chesapeake Cats and Dogs Rescue

A Dog Parade with Ribbons Doggie Goody Bags Splash Pools & More!

Click on the Upcoming Fairs & Markets link for info!

Feature Article

Small Towns, Small Businesses – Keeping it Local!

Maybe it’s the 4^th of July that’s got me thinking about small towns. Goodness knows there’s a lot going on! Over on the Eastern Shore Rock Hall has festivities beginning July 2, with their famous parade taking place on July 3 this year. Catch “Homegrown and Green” on the air on WCTR 1530 AM Fridays at 11:30 – you can even listen live online through their website!

And this is a good opportunity to talk a little bit about WCTR – one of those truly local, homegrown enterprises.

AM 1530 WCTR originally went on the air in 1962 as a 250 watt daytime radio station, and it has faithfully been serving its local communities ever since. Now broadcasting at 1,000 watts, the WCTR studio, transmitter and 187-foot tower are located on "Signal Hill", one of the highest areas in Kent or Queen Anne's county, operating as a truly local, community-oriented broadcaster, providing local news, local weather, local sports, local information, local talk, and much, much more. WCTR is also one of the strongest community supporters around, generously providing non-profit organizations with opportunities to promote their events. Station Manager Ken Collins is the President of the Kent County Chamber of Commerce – talk about volunteer hours!

In fact, you can hear several local business people doing spots now for Downtown Chestertown Association’s Old Fashioned Downtown “Independents Day” Celebration (no, I’m not misspelling it – the focus is on locally-owned, independent businesses) and it’s great to see so many businesses stepping up. Music by Jack the Penguin Acoustic is sponsored by Chesapeake Bank & Trust, with FREE cotton candy, Sno-Cones, popcorn, lemonade, balloons and flags sponsored by PNC Bank, The Chestertown Spy, Primitive Finds, Houston’s Dockside Emporium, ELB Inc., and the Historical Society of Kent County respectively. There are $1 corn dogs and 50 cent sodas in Fountain Park, along with drawings for meals and merchandise in Fountain Park and throughout downtown – all compliments of our local businesses.

Later this month on the radio we’ll be talking to Patti Lynch who, with her husband Bill, operates Galena’s Kitchen – a fabulous neighborhood eatery with breakfasts, lunches (and now weekend dinners) that are homegrown through and through. Simple, tasty, welcoming – it’s what keeps people coming back. They’ve been there almost two years, coming from New Jersey and Bill’s long career in high end restaurants and resorts, after hankering for a slower, friendlier life. They got just what they wanted. We’re glad they’re here. Rumor has it that Bill will be a Guest Chef at one of our upcoming Farm Dinners on the Shore – can’t wait for that!

Which puts me in mind of Wayne and Marcella Lockwood, and their children Jacqueline and James, owners of Lockbriar Farms. A Chestertown staple and favorite U-Pick location for people in a tri-state area, the Lockwoods hosted our last Farm-to-Table dinner series, and we couldn’t have been more fortunate to have them. For the Lockwoods, hosting our Dinners was all about getting people out to the farm – picking berries and peaches and just experiencing the land and understanding what goes into growing the food that comes to their tables. Between their farm stand and the multiple farmers markets at which they sell, it’s the contact with the people that makes the long days worthwhile. Pictured on the left: Wayne, James (John and Liz Seidel of the Washington College Center for Environment and Society, the beneficiary of the Lockbriar Dinner series), Marcella and Jacqueline.

Come to think of it, mixed berry shortcake sounds like just the ticket for the 4^th of July. Maybe you’ll come picking your own on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

There's nothing like a small town feeling

I grew up in a small town. My Dad owned the local 5 & 10 Cent Store. Anybody remember those? It was a small town version of a Woolworth's - in other words, heaven.

I learned just about everything that is important about life in that store. I learned that small towns, and their businesses, are built on relationships and genuine caring. I learned that taking care of people - being fair, honest and ethical - is not only good business, it's also the way you should conduct yourself in every aspect of your life. I learned that when times are tough, your neighbors and your community will lend a hand to help. And when the shoe is on the other foot, that's what you do too. If there's much more you need to know about life, I'm not sure what it is.

Being able to grow up in that town and that environment was a gift. One that began to disappear in the late 1960s with the arrival of (first) strip malls, then big discounters, then mega-malls. Families went from one car to two. Women could suddenly drive to places further away to do their shopping, instead of walking downtown. Instead of going to the local green grocer and buying your food fresh everyday, you could go to a supermarket and buy pre-packaged food for a week (Ok, that's another article!). Things changed, in a big way, particularly for downtowns and small retail districts. And just maybe we lost a piece of community when that happened.

Traditional neighborhood business districts are still around. Places where you can walk from one shop to another. Where the businesses are locally owned. Where you can grab a sandwich that's made from scratch for you while you wait - or meet friends for coffee in a place where you're greeted by name. You may have to look a little harder, but they're worth discovering.

When we started the West Annapolis 2nd Sunday Neighborhood Green Market (click on the Upcoming Fairs & Markets link on the left), we wanted not only to create a terrific Green Market, but also to put it in a place that offered a "neighborhood" local business district; a place that went hand-in-hand with the personal-relationship-Market-vibe that we were building. One that allowed for meeting up with friends, shopping the Market, and sticking around to eat, shop the antiques shops and art galleries, check out the salons and spas, specialty and service businesses - all right in the neighborhood of West Annapolis www.westannapolisbusiness.org .

So let me introduce you and give you a little closer look at who and what you'll find. First, let's get you there. Start at Rowe Boulevard, just South of where it intersects Route 50. At the light where the Navy football stadium is, turn left onto Melvin Avenue. You've already entered the West Annapolis Business District. If you were to turn left at the first light which is Ridgely Avenue, you'd find the first real treasure: Ridgely Retreat www.ridgelyretreat.com. One stop shopping for wellness, healing, community and arts, Ridgely Retreat offers acupuncture, aesthetics, chiropractic, massage, naturopathic medicine, nutrition, pilates, yoga - get the idea? Relax - Reflect - Rejuvenate doesn't seem to capture everything they offer. Show up at the right time and you can probably catch a class!

Ridgely Avenue is home to a wealth of businesses - from banks to physicians, real estate-related businesses and natural health centers - the personal service sector is alive and well, and their doors are open. The same goes for Melvin Avenue - see a barber, a realtor, a marketing agency or an architect - all right here for you.

But if good, locally sourced food is what you're looking for, stay on Melvin and go one block further to Annapolis Street where you'll encounter Carla and Stacey of b.b. bistro www.bbbistroannapolis.com. You've read about them before on this page - we were touting their green and local practices offering "the best of the best Annapolis has to offer". 

One of the first restaurants in Annapolis to receive the Environmental Stewardship Certification, it's a great place to grab breakfast, lunch or a cup of coffee. You can also "power up" at Regina's Restaurant, long an Annapolis favorite for their hale and hearty breakfasts and lunches that will keep you fueled for more shopping.

And you really can shop all day! If antiques are your thing, you've come to the right place. It's home to the West Annapolis Art & Antique District www.westannapolisartandantiquedistrict.com, representing 15 different businesses. And with West Annapolis Antiques, Blue Crab Antiques www.bluecrabantiques.com and Bon Vivant Antiques www.bonvivantantiques.com all in the 100 block of Annapolis Street, you're sure to find a treasure or two. If the thrill of hunting treasures at estate sales makes you tingle with excitement, be sure to check out Chesapeake Estate Services (virtually) www.chesapeakeestate.com to get on their mailing list, or visit them at the Market!

If art is your passion, you'll find lots of stops on your tour. From The Art Space www.artspaceschool.com, which offers lessons in music, dance, theaer and the healing arts, to the gallery setting of West Annapolis Art Works and Fine Framing www.westannframing.com , to an array of supplies to meet every artist's needs (and lots more!) at Art Things www.artthingsinc.com , you'll more than satisfy your aesthetic senses.

That's not all there is to keep your creative juices flowing. A favorite with beaders and other crafty types, Bead Bungalow www.beadbungalow.com boasts an inventory second to none, and quilters will positively swoon over Cottonseed Glory Quilt Shop www.cottonseedglory.com - the largest quilt shop in a three-state area!

And if your talents run more to admiring (and shopping for!) wonderful things already created - you have lots of options as well. The-Well Dressed Nest www.thewelldressednest.com has wonderful gifts and decor including window treatments, wallpaper, flooring and design services. Tiger's Eye will charm you with Asian influenced art, gifts, design and fine jewelry. Pris' Paper www.prispaper.com, a Capital Reader's Choice award winner, has stationery galore and more, and a magical experience awaits you at Tara's Gifts and Parties of Distinction www.tarasgifts.com, specializing in unique gifts, elegant tea parties and gift baskets.

A little something for the kids might be your next stop, and one of Annapolis' finest traditions is right here on the block - The Giant Peach www.thegiantpeachonline.com. For over 25 years they've been outfitting Annapolis' classiest kids in clothes both "fine and funky".

Maybe your pooch needs a little pampering, or your backyard critters want new digs. There's plenty for them as well! Spruce them up at Grand Paws, a new, fun grooming boutique that will satisfy even the most discriminating pooch! Or grab a treat at Woofs & Whiskers Pet Boutique www.woofswhiskers.com, which promises "Everything you and your pet can't live without"! For the birds and squirrels who grace your life, you'll absolutely want to include a stop at Wild Bird Center www.wildbird.com/franchisee/anp, offering food, feeders, bird baths, cards, gifts, and eco-friendly totes (get two - you'll need them for all that shopping!).

But maybe it's time to focus on YOU - and the opportunities abound! From the healing arts at Balance for Life, the expert skin care at Skin Sense www.skinsense-annapolis.com , to West Annapolis Pilates www.westannapolispilates.com, this is the destination to pamper and get in shape. If a new "do" is in order, you can choose from some of Annapolis' premier salons and spas. From the newest kid on the block - Halo - A Color Salon, to the neighborhood classic Salon West offering hair and skin care, and Morgan-Gerard Salon and Spa www.morgangerardsalon.com, a favorite full-service salon known for providing the ultimate in mind, body and beauty, you'll appreciate their full complement of relaxation services after your full day in the delightful neighborhood of West Annapolis.

I guess it's not surprising that when I'm in West Annapolis I'm reminded of what it felt like to grow up in my small town, and to be a part of a community whose strength lies in its ties to, and support of, one another. And I kind of like how that feels, and the way it keeps me connected and rooted. It makes life "personal" - and I'm all for that.

Green & "Green" - Together & Thriving

We're on the road, looking for Green Markets wherever we go. We've found some great ones - in West Palm Beach at the Satuday Green Market you can dine like a king on samples ranging from heirloom tomatoes and clam chowder to guacamole, goat cheese and juice concoctions! It is definitely THE PLACE to be on Saturday mornings! We scored some great pasta and found a terrific seafood connection. And if you're in the market for orchids - the West Palm Beach Green Market is your destination! www.wpb.org/greenmarket

And then there's the Oceanside Green Market - nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal in Lake Worth www.oceansidefarmersmarket.com. Here you'll find luscious pastries and breads, goat cheese creations that are out of this world (try the one with figs and almonds!) - and even a vendor from Vermont selling homemade chicken pot pies! The dogs who accompanied their owners were having a grand time with the dog biscuit vendor generously offering samples.

You'll have to wait for the update on the Delray Beach Farmers Market - rain and COLD temps prevented a visit - so today you'll get the report from one of Florida's hottest Markets - The Lincoln Road Farmers Market and Antiques Market - on the main drag in South Beach, Miami!

Every Sunday Lincoln Road boasts a Green Market, offering the region's most delectable produce and plants - yes, more orchids - www.themarketcompany.org. You can see their banner on the right, and if you look closely you'll also see something quite unusual for Florida - a winter coat! Florida is experiencing a real cold snap - yesterday's high in Miami Beach was a whopping 44 degrees - but that didn't stop the farmers from delivering the goods. Take a look at those papayas!!!

But there's more happening on Lincoln Road than vegetables & plants - several Sundays a month you can also catch the Lincoln Road Antiques Market! www.antiquecollectiblemarket.com. This Market is a real treasure - stretching for blocks through South Beach - with vendor stalls mixed in with the outdoor tables of some of South Beach's swankiest restaurants and boutique shops.

You can score jewelry, furniture, vintage clothing (this week the vintage furs were in demand!) decorative accessories - there's even a vendor selling Oriental rugs! For 16 years the Lincoln Road Market has been going strong, and it's no wonder. With an average of 125 vendors, set in the perfect environment for shopping, browsing, outdoor dining and soaking up some sun, the Lincoln Road Antiques Market is a real treasure.

There are vendors who are local, others from the north who migrate south to ply their trade and hawk their wares during the winter months. The result is a mix of multi-regional antiques and collectibles to delight every taste. From a 19th century cupboard (on the left in the photo below),

to the hippest Mid-Century Modern goods, you can find it here.

And the crowds do come to find it. Even on a windy, 44 degree day, they are out shopping and looking for treasures. (We found a terrific pair of little Italian Desimone Mid-Century pottery bowls!) Gives you a real sense of the devotion of the shoppers, not to mention the determination of the farmers and vendors, to be out doing business in an unexpectedly inhospitable environment.

But that, after all, is the thrill of the Markets. It is commerce being done as it has been done for centuries - in an outdoor marketplace where goods and services are offered by those who make their living doing so, snapped up by those eager to have them.

Our visit wouldn't be complete without a Cuban Coffee from David's Cuban Cafe - positively addictive!

We'll visit Lincoln Road again later this month, hopefully without our winter coats next time! But before that we'll report in from the Delray Beach Farmers Market as promised, and from one of the grandaddys of Green/Antiques Markets - Renningers - from their Mt. Dora location.

Meanwhile, plans for the 2010 season of the West Annapolis 2nd Sunday Neighborhood Green Market continue to evolve, with more vendors signing on and special events being planned. Stay tuned!

Til then, it looks like we'll ALL be wearing our gloves and hats!

On the Hunt for "Greener" Days

I'm pretty sure in a previous life I must have been a camel trader. Just put me out in the middle of an open air market to savor the aromas and flavors of the fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices, and hunt for treasures among the vintage and the craft, and I am in my element, all senses satisfied.

So it's no surprise that I live for Spring, Summer and Fall, when Markets abound. Our successful new West Annapolis 2nd Sunday Neighborhood Green Market had our final Market of the year in November - a terrific Holiday Market with lots of great vendors who had lots to offer to complete your holiday shopping list. We're looking forward to our 2010 season beginning in April - many favorite vendors will be returning and more will be joining us as we head into our second year!

Of course, West Annapolis is still buzzing for the holidays. December 9 brings us Holiday Magic in West Annapolis Old Fashioned Christmas from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. www.westannapolisbusiness.org. Lots of wonderful entertainment, and activities throughout the business district, 20% off at participating merchants, and Annapolis' new Mayor Josh Cohen will escort Santa in by horse drawn carriage at 5:30. There will be Free Carriage Rides from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m., a collection of toys & food for dogs and cats (and clean used towels) at the SPCA of Anne Arundel County's Mobile Unit. Donations of non-perishable food items will be accepted for the Light House Shelter. A great way to support both local businesses and local organizations serving our community.

And I just got an email that the Anne Arundel County Farmers Market at Riva Road and Harry Truman Parkway will run through December 19, and will host a special Holiday Festival Saturday, December 5 - hot cocoa, visits with Santa and a performance by the Asbury United Methodist Bell Choir, as well as their 1st Annual Moonlight Madness on Wednesday, December 9 from 7 pm to 11 pm.

In spite of the merriment, for me it's a bittersweet time of year. As we head into Winter, my opportunities to be at open air markets begin to dwindle. Of course, the Chestertown Saturday morning Farmer's Market continues through December, and I can satisfy myself with beef, chicken and eggs from Lew and Marilyn Dodd at Cedar Run Farms www.cedarruncattle.com. The folks from Lockbriar Farms www.lockbriarfarms.com and Colchester Farms www.colchesterfarm.org continue to offer a wonderful selection of winter crops - who can resist those huge stems of brussel sprouts! And our friend Don Biggar at Galena Blooms www.galenablooms.com honored us with his last bouquet of the year a few weeks ago - he'll still be around with his soaps and vinegars. In Annapolis we'll still be able to catch the Westfield Annapolis Winter Farmer's Market, running January through March on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month www.aaedc.org. But nonetheless, I face my annual challenge to fill the void I always feel when the markets close up.

Step 1 is staying true to the principle that underlies the markets - shop local. Not hard to do with the variety offered by our diverse local merchants on both sides of the Bay. I can get great meals produced with local foods at any number of places, but one of my favorites is Carla Lucente & Stacey Jackowski's b.b. bistro in annapolis

www.bbbistroannapolis.com,

one of the first restaurants in Annapolis to receive the Environmental Stewardship Certification. "bb" stands for "best of the best" - local ingredients and products are the basis for their creations. You can see their Herb Garden that grows in front of the restaurant. Wonderful, yummy food in the heart of West Annapolis. Plan a visit to them (and their website) to get the taste (and their story!)

While I was at bb bistro yesterday I picked up a "Take the Pledge! Shift to Buy Local" flyer put out by the Annapolis Sustainable Business Alliance www.buylocalannapolis.com. Encouraging us all to Buy Local, the Pledge asks that we shift $100 of our existing spending to support the local independent businesses we love. It makes a huge difference in the strength of our local economy - over 2/3 of every dollar spent in locally owned businesses stays in our community.

On the other side of the Bay, I'm already looking forward to Chef Robbie Jester's Tasting of Tuscany Wine Dinner, Saturday December 19 at Harbor House Restaurant www.harborhousewcm.com. Take a look at this menu: Cichetti, Zuppa Yukon Gold Potato and Mushroom “Espresso”, Porcini Powder, Roasted Garlic Froth, Primi Meditteranean Mussels, Pancetta, Lemon, Saffron Beurre Blanc, Pasta Roasted Cedar Farms Chicken “Open” Ravioli, Sage, Shallot Sauce, Intermezzo Lemon Basil Sorbetto, Secondi Braised Veal Osso Bucco Tradicionale, Buckwheat Polenta Contorni Roasted Brussel Sprouts Dulce Kahlua Tiramisu, Espresso Chocolate Sauce, Chocolate Covered Coffee Bean. Chef Jester will be working with Sous Chef Tyler Parsons, and Wine Pairings will once again be done by Jason Hopwood.

Speaking of Jason Hopwood, that takes me in two other directions. First, over to Cassinelli Winery www.cassinelliwinery.com, where our friend Al Cassinelli has gift baskets and chocolate dipped wine bottles ready for holiday giving. You can visit the winery, located on Route 213 in Church Hill on the Eastern Shore, on Saturdays and Sundays. You may be lucky enough to be greeted by this fellow on the right, or maybe by his friends the buffalo on the left. Either way, it's a great gift -make sure to pick up a bottle or two for yourself!

Just yesterday I was coming over to Annapolis and I spied a group of skipjacks dredging for oysters in the Chesapeake Bay - all the months ending in "R" are oyster months. And later at Annapolis' Whole Foods Market www.wholefoodsmarket.com sure enough there in the seafood department they were featuring Kent Island oysters. You have to give them credit for really living up to their promise of offering locally grown and produced foods. Every so often I run into Chef Glenn May who formerly ran the Kennedyville Inn with Chef Jason Hopwood (small world, isn't it?) and is now at Whole Foods in the prepared foods section. And Marketing Director Amy Chase has been a great friend to the West Annapolis 2nd Sunday Green Market - providing dog treats for the August "Dog Days of Summer" event.

It's great to see the new things friends are doing - just yesterday I got an email from Andy Goddard of Andy's of Chestertown fame that she has started a practice as a trained Green Irene Eco-Consultant for the Chestertown and Kent County area. helping households and small offices implement proven green solutions to lead a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle www.GreenIrene.com/AndyChestertown. I'm hoping we'll get her on Homegrown and Green on WCTR Radio sometime soon. I'm already looking forward to the December 4 show about Chestertown's 25th Annual Holiday House Tour www.holidayhousetour.org on Saturday, December 12, 2009 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  This tour of notable private residences and public buildings decorated for the holidays benefits the students of H.H. Garnett Elementary School located in downtown Chestertown. Get your tickets now so you won't miss it!

And we're hoping you haven't finished your holiday shopping because I'll be joined on the radio by two secret shoppers who have scoured Kent County to find great gifts you can buy locally for everyone on your list! Maybe I'll add one of Andy's Green Irene Consults to mine!

And when the holidays are over and Winter sets in in earnest, I may just throw a few things in my (recycled) bag and go looking for Green Markets. Stay tuned to see what we find. In the meantime, please join me and

Shop Local, Eat Local, Give Local!