The Chamber - Catonsville Chamber

A Newsletter from the
November
2014
INSIDE
VIEW
The Chamber
This Issue
President’s Message
Small Business Saturday
2
Business Tips Column
by Dennis Sullivan
4
5
Welcome New Members
Annual Crab Feast
& Auction Photos
What is Senior Care?
6
8
12
Chamber Launches
“Shop the ‘Ville” Campaign
Photo by Balance Photography
It has been a busy fall for the Chamber. We hosted our
56th Annual Crab Feast & Auction in September at the
Lodge in Oella.The evening included all the crabs you
could eat steamed on site by Harris Seafood and a
delicious buffet provided by Monaghan's Pub.
(See page 6 for more crab feast photos). In October
the Chamber’s Open House (inset) provided the perfect
venue for members to connect and potential members
to learn the benefits of chamber membership.
NEW LEGISLATORS SPEAK AT ANNUAL
CHAMBER LUNCHEON
Mark Your Calendar:
2014 Holiday Party
Thursday,
December 11
12 Noon
W
hat can we expect from our new
lawmakers as they prepare to begin
the 2015 legislative session? Find
out at the Annual Legislative Luncheon hosted
by the Greater Catonsville Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, November 20. The event
begins at 12 noon at the Beaumont Banquet
Facility (home of the Knights of Columbus Patapsco Council 1960) located at 1010 Frederick
Road.
Sponsored by McFarland & Masters, LLC, the
luncheon provides a chance for Chamber
members to meet with their local elected officials in a relaxed, intimate setting. Each legislator will discuss the work of past sessions and
preview the agenda for the upcoming legislative
session. After all the legislators have had a
chance to speak, they will take questions from
attending members.
continued on page 5
VIEW
The Chamber
Editor,
Design & Layout
Teal Cary
GCCC Executive Director
410-719-9609
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Chamber of
Commerce is to have a strong voice
with the county government,
business and local community;
to affect positive change in our area;
to foster growth and expansion of
our members’ business; and to
achieve the betterment of the
Catonsville community.
Chamber Web Site:
www.catonsville.org
ADVERTISING & PROMOTION
OPPORTUNITIES
One-Page Insert $75
Get special attention for an
event, sale, etc. An 8 1/2 “ x 11”
insert (pdf file) in The View
provided by your business.
Event Sponsorship
Your company can be
highlighted at one of our
monthly events.
(Costs vary)
Business After Business Host
Invite the Chamber to your
location for onsite promotion.
(Costs vary)
Website
Banner Advertising
Sidebar Advertising
Check the Homepage of the
Chamber’s website for additional
opportunities to promote your
business
The Chamber Working for You
President’s Message
Sally Griffin
2014 President
I
have to say that
Catonsville really
knows how to enjoy
fall weather. The farmers
markets are still going
on, in fact, because of
the weather and turnout, the Sunday market
has been extended into November. Many
schools, businesses and churches are having
their fall events in the hopes of raising
money to give back to non-profits in
Catonsville and surrounding areas. Kids of all
sizes are running around playing soccer on
Saturdays, and the high school students are
attending their Friday night football games
and homecoming dances.
There is ALWAYS something going on in
Catonsville! It doesn’t seem to matter what
time of the year it is, this community is filled
with such creative and supportive people!
One of the jobs of the Chamber of Commerce is to promote our local businesses and
also spread the word about how awesome
Catonsville is. I want to give kudo’s to our
economic development committee because
they have been spending the past year creating a marketing campaign to raise awareness
of the businesses in Catonsville and highlight how cool the community is. The first
phase of the campaign will be unveiled at the
annual tree lighting ceremony at the Santa
House in November when “Shop the ‘Ville”
bags will be distributed. Such a simple concept, “Shop the ‘Ville”, so much hard work
to implement the plan and that is where a
big THANK YOU goes out to that committee
for persevering and coming up with such a
great promotional idea. Not bad for a bunch
of volunteers! The committee’s hope is that
this campaign will bring more business to
your doors and remind people how awesome Catonsville is to dine, chat & chill!
See you around town!
GET READY FOR SMALL BUSINESS
SATURDAY- NOV. 29
S
mall Business Saturday is an American shopping holiday held on the Saturday after
Thanksgiving during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year. First celebrated
on in 2010, it is sandwiched between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which feature
big-box stores and e-commerce stores respectively. By contrast, Small Business Saturday,
(SBS for short)encourages holiday shoppers to patronize brick and mortar businesses that
are small and local. In 2013, customers spent an estimated $5.7 billion at small, independent businesses on the day
Your Catonsville Chamber of Commerce wants to encourage our members and the community to patronize our local Catonsville merchants on Saturday, November 29. Small Business Saturday is all about celebrating small business owners, the engine that keeps our
economy going, and all they do for their communities. Customers are also encouraged to
help promote their favorite businesses through Facebook and Twitter.
So how can you start get your business ready for Small Business Saturday now? Social
media! It’s a great (free!) way for you to promote your business’ involvement in this profitable
day, while highlighting the
Teach the Importance of Small Business Year-Round
Call the Chamber Office
410.719.9609
for more information.
Promoting your involvement in SBS through social media is definitely a smart marketing
tactic — but don’t forget that you can also use sites like Facebook and Twitter to spread the
“shop local” message year-round. Educating your followers about the benefits of shopping
locally helps them become more aware of where they’re choosing to spend their money,
whether it’s on SBS or any other day of the year.
Small businesses tend to have a significant impact on the character of a community and
that’s what business owners need to communicate to consumers. If small businesses can’t
continued on page 11
2 Greater Catonsville Chamber Newsletter • www.catonsville.org
Legislative
Luncheon
November 20, 2014
Topics will include a synopsis of the last Legislative Session
and key issues that are going to be addressed in the coming Session.
Baltimore County Executive and District 1 Councilman will discuss
economic development projects and local issues in the southwest area.
Sponsor:
McFarland & Masters, LLC
Guest Speakers: New District 12 Legislators,
Baltimore County Executive, District 1 Councilman
When: Thursday, November 20, 2014
Where:
Knights of Columbus Hall
(Beaumont Holding Corp.)
1010 Frederick Road, Catonsville
Time:
12:00 noon
Featuring: Networking, Featured Member Profile Drawing,
Door Prizes, 50/50 Raffle
Cost:
The Knights of Columbus Hall
1010 Frederick Road
$20 for members (with advance reservation & payment)
$25 for members at the door, $35 non-members
Register online at www.catonsville.org or by calling the Chamber office at 410-719-9609
Greater Catonsville Chamber Newsletter • www.catonsville.org 3
STEAL THIS AND USE IT TO BUILD
YOUR TESTIMONIALS
How to get customers to sell for you
Dennis Sullivan, Executive Director
Center for Business Innovation, CCBC
Contributing View Columnist
I
n a recent article, I talked about why most testimonials
stink. See if this looks familiar: “The staff was wonderful and my experience was fantastic. Thanks!”
The problem? The testimonial can apply to just about
any product or service. And it doesn’t tell others how
much better their life is because of their experience.
Here’s a better example: “Before I talked with ABC Insurance I just couldn’t
seem to get a straight answer from other insurance agents. They just seemed
interested in making a sale. And it was a nightmare just to try and get someone on the phone to answer our questions. But our agent at ABC Insurance
Group took the time to talk with me and he genuinely cared about me and
my family. I know I made the right decision by going with ABC. Plus, we’re
saving $2,200 every year and we’re getting better coverage!”
It’s a bit longer than the typical testimonial but it tells a story. And people
love to hear stories.
So how do you collect testimonials like that? Call your best customers and
ask them about their experience. Here is a script I give to clients for them to
regularly collect stories from customers…
Hello, this is ___ from ___. You may recall I worked with you on your recent
purchase.
I’m just calling some of our clients to make sure they were happy with their
experience.Let me ask you, how would you rate your experience on a scale of
0 to 10, with 10 being excellent – you would recommend us to a friend – to 0 –
you wish you never heard of us?
Then you want to ask additional questions to get their story. Some questions you may want to ask are:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Why was it such a good experience for you?
Why did you choose us?
What made you decide to do business with us?
Why did you choose us over someone else?
Were you skeptical about what we could do for you?
Have you had bad experiences with other companies in the past?
How did we compare?
• What was happening before you decided to call us?
• What problems were you experiencing?
• Would you do business with us again? Why?
That’s great to hear. We have so many people telling us what a great experience they’ve had that we’re people if they don’t mind if we share their stories. I’d
like to include your story if I could. I would be glad to write a short paragraph
based on what you just told me because it’s such a great story and we’re trying
to help more people just like you.
I’d be glad to send you an email to make sure you’re OK with us using it, and
of course you can change anything you want.
Is that OK with you?
There is nothing wrong with you writing down prospects’ comments and
having them edit and send it back to you. Plus, you’re also getting their permission to use their testimonial in your marketing. The most credible testimonials also include the customer’s picture, full name, city and state.
Nine times out of 10 you’ll get the person’s authorization and you’ll get a
very powerful testimonial from customers who will help sell your product.
About Dennis J. Sullivan: Dennis is a full-time faculty instructor at CCBC teaching business
management, marketing, and sales and is the Executive Director of the college’s Center for
Business Innovation. He is also owner of Breakthrough Pros, a full-service marketing and
consulting company specializing in lead generation, sales conversion and product launches.
Contact information: [email protected] or at [email protected]
4 Greater Catonsville Chamber Newsletter • www.catonsville.org
2015 SLATE OF
OFFICERS AND
BOARD MEMBERS
A
ccording to the by-laws of the Greater
Catonsville Chamber of Commerce, a
slate of Officers and Board Members
shall be presented to the Chamber membership. The Nominations Committee is
recommending the following persons for
the Board of Directors for 2015:
Officers
Elected for one-year terms:
Cathy Schneider . . . . . . . . . .President
Dan Swearingen . . . . . Vice President
Brian Wolfe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Treasurer
Sue Plitt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Secretary
Board Members
Elected for a 1-year unexpired term:
Linda Sauer (2015)
Elected for a 2-year unexpired term:
Woody Powell (2016)
Elected for a three-year term:
Sally Grace (2017)
Marlene Griffin (2017)
Sally Griffin (2017)
Kristen Leister (2017)
Board members:
Fulfilling their three year terms:
Cathy Schneider (2015)
Dan Swearingen (2015)
Karen Gatzke (2015)
Jack Murphy (2015)
Joe Poisal (2015)
Sue Plitt (2016)
Brian Wolfe (2016)
Omar Jennings IV (2016)
Danae McDevitt (2016)
NOTE: Lou Weinkam, Jr. will serve as Legal
Counsel, a non-voting position.
The Slate of Officers, Board Members, and the
2015 Budget will come to a vote at the Holiday
Party on Thursday, December 11, 2014.
The Chamber New Members
Sponsorship Level
Member Plus Level
Chaney Haukebo LLP
Mr. Rooter Plumbing
Musselman’s Dodge Inc.
Pam Chaney
1206 Frederick Road
Catonsville MD 21220
(410) 730-9200 Fax (410) 730-9206
[email protected]
www.chaneyhaukebo.com
Jamie Smith
3701 Commerce Drive, Suite 105
Baltimore MD 21227
(410) 628-2011
[email protected]
www.mrrooter.com/baltimore
Chaney Haukebo LLP is a full-service law
firm providing quality legal services that
contribute to the economic success of
small to mid-size businesses, their owners
and employees. Their practice areas
include: corporate governance, transactional, and compliance work; tax
planning and controversy resolution;
employment and contract development
and negotiations; bankruptcy; and estate
planning and administration. They are
licensed in Maryland and admitted to
appear before the U.S. Tax and Bankruptcy courts. The Chaney Haukebo LLP
offices are conveniently located at 1206
Frederick Road in Catonsville.
Mr. Rooter Plumbing provides both
residential and commercial plumbing
services. Staffed by friendly, courteous
plumbers, Mr. Rooter Plumbing takes
pride in its superior customer service and
competitive pricing gaining the company
a loyal client base. Their superior labor
practices have made them the recipient of
two Angie’s List awards. Mr. Rooter
Plumbing also offers 24/7 emergency
service without overtime charges.
John Cornelius
[email protected]
J. D. McDaniels
[email protected]
5717 Baltimore National Pike
Baltimore MD 21228
(410) 744-7400 Fax (410) 788-2514
www.musselmansdodge.com
Dance Connections, Inc.
Jennifer Aversa
8001 Hillsborough Road
Suite A-C
Ellicott City MD 21043
(443) 574-8990
[email protected]
www.danceconnectionsinc.com
Dance Connections, Inc. offers fun and
affordable classes in a positive and noncompetitive environment. The studio
offers classes for ages 3-adult in ballet,
pointe, Cecchetti ballet, tap, modern, jazz,
hip hop, and musical theater. Dance
Connections also offers performance
opportunities with a spring recital and
three service based student dance companies that perform for local fundraisers,
charity events, community fairs, local
nursing homes and preschools.
Miss FIT
Shelley Sharkey
6600-C Baltimore National Pike
Catonsville MD 21228
(410) 747-1680
[email protected]
www.missfitbaltimore.com
Miss FIT is an all female fitness and
training center committed to empowering
women, building confidence, and creating
community through motivating physical
challenges in an encouraging and
supportive environment.
Musselman’s Dodge has provided the
community with new Dodge and Ram
vehicles as well as “Quality Certified Used
Vehicles” for over 25 years. In addition,
they maintain a professionally staffed
Service and Body Shop and a well-stocked
Mopar Parts Department.
Member Level
Senior Helpers
Laura Wagner Thibodeaux
8601 LaSalle Road, STE 208
Towson MD 21286
(410) 453-6172
Cell (410) 330-8111
Fax (410) 821-1218
[email protected]
www.seniorhelpers.com
Senior Helpers provides professional care
to seniors who desire to maintain their
independence at home. They match
caregivers to clients based on their personalities and have extensive experience in
hiring compassionate and dependable
employees. Senior Helpers can provide
medication management, companion/
personal care, hospital sitters, and transportation to doctors’ appointments in
addition to other services to help keep
seniors healthy and independent. Working with dementia patients is their
specialty.
Baltimore Acupuncture
for Health
Jill Ellen Smith, L.Ac. Dipl.of NCCAOM,
M.Ac., RN, MSN
307 Patleigh Road
Catonsville MD 21228
(410) 788-1851
[email protected]
www.baltimore-acupuncture.net
Baltimore Acupuncture for Health is not
exclusively focused on acupuncture, but
the treatment of the “whole” person. With
45 years of health care and nutrition
training, acupuncturist Jill Ellen Smith
incorporates lifestyle coaching with pain
management. She is a Network Marketing
Professional with The JuicePlus Company
and she blends her vast nursing and
nutrition background into her acupuncture treatments covering a wide variety of
physical, emotional and spiritual issues.
ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE LUNCHEON
continued from page 1
Although the list of legislative guest speakers will not be finalized until after the election
on November 4, in past years, speakers have included the Baltimore County Executive and
our local county councilman, as well as state senators and delegates from the districts
covering the greater Catonsville area.
The event includes a savory lunch buffet and a featured member drawing. Admission is
$20 for members registered in advance, $25 at the door, and $35 for non-members.
Register online at www.catonsville.org or call the Chamber office at 410-719-9609.
Greater Catonsville Chamber Newsletter • www.catonsville.org 5
The Chamber In Pictures
Enjoying the Blue
Crab at annual feast
6 Greater Catonsville Chamber Newsletter • www.catonsville.org
Photos by Balance Photography
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Photos by Balance Photography
21st Annual Catonsville
TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY
Saturday, November 29, 2014, 6:30pm
Catonsville Fire Department, 754 Frederick Road
Holiday
House Hours
Fridays 6–8pm
Dec. 5, 12 & 19
•
Saturdays 2–4pm
December 6, 13, 20
•
One Sunday Only 2–5pm
December 21
J
oin your neighbors and friends
as we welcome the holidays to
Catonsville on the Saturday
after Thanksgiving.
Special holiday shopping for
“Catonsville” gifts and extended
dining hours at Village restaurants
add to the event’s festivities.
So bring your family for a nostalgic
evening in Catonsville where you
will enjoy FREE refreshments,
seasonal music and wonderful
company!
BE A HOLIDAY SPONSOR
The Tree Lighting Ceremony and the Holiday House are popular events in the
Catonsville area.The programs are run by volunteers on a small budget.
We welcome donations.
If your family or business would like to become a sponsor, please
contact Lou Weinkam, Jr., Santa House Committee Chairman,
at 410-744-3256.
Greater Catonsville Chamber Newsletter • www.catonsville.org 7
AVOID THE ACHES OF AUTUMN
Safety tips for yard clean-up
C
hange is in the air. Leaves are
falling, the days seem shorter, and
temperatures are cooler. Even
yard work changes as you trade the lawnmower for a rake. The aches and pains of
autumn can lead to more than a few sore
muscles.
Protect yourself by warming up with a
few stretches and use the right tool for
the right job. Yard work sends thousands
of people to the doctor’s office every year,
so ease the strain and pain by taking a
few simple steps:
• Avoid twisting your body while raking. Use your legs to shift your weight instead of twisting your back.
• Lift with your legs, not your back,
when moving bags of leaves or mulch.
Get help if something is too heavy to
move or lift by yourself.
• Wear work gloves to avoid blisters.
• Drink plenty of fluids. The temperature may be cooler but you can still get
dehydrated.
About Patient First
Patient First currently operates 54 centers in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. It opened its first facility in
Richmond, Virginia in 1981 and developed many automation-based operating
systems and practices that were considered innovative at the time and which
have been continually improved to meet
the needs of today’s patients
SPONSORSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE
2014 HOLIDAY PARTY
O
n Thursday, December 11, the Catonsville Chamber of Commerce will host its
annual Holiday Party at Overhills Mansion, 916 S. Rolling Road at
12 Noon. The annual Holiday Party is a great sponsorship opportunity.
Platinum- $500
• 4 tickets to the event ($120 Value)
• Display table at the event for your business
• A special time to promote your
business at the event
• Recognition in news releases, flyers,
The Chamber VIEW, and at the event
Gold - $250
• 2 tickets to the event ($60 Value)
• Display table at the event for
your business
• A special time to promote your
business at the event
• Recognition in news releases, flyers,
The Chamber VIEW, and at the event
Silver - $100
20
Holiday14
Party
S
ponsors
hips Ava
ilab
When:
Where:
Time:
Featuring:
Thursday
, Decem
ber 11, 20
Overhills
14
Mansion,
916 S. Ro
12 Noon
lling
le
Rd.
Holiday
Do
Featured or Prizes, 50/50
Raffle,
Member
Cost:
Drawing
$30 in ad
va
nce, $40
PAYMEN
at the do
T IS REQU
or
IRED
with adva
The Electi This event will
nce regist
als
on of the
rations
Board and o include importa
nt Chambe
Officers
for 2015
and adopti r business:
on of the
2015
Regis
ter today
410.719.
!
9609 or
www.Cat
onsville.
org
• 1 ticket to the event ($30 Value)
• A special time to promote your
business at the event
• Recognition in news releases,
flyers, The Chamber VIEW, and at the event
The Chamber also uses this occasion to elect its 2015 Officers and Board of
Directors and to adopt the 2015 budget.
Contact Teal Cary, 410-719-9609 or e-mail [email protected]
for more information.
8 Greater Catonsville Chamber Newsletter • www.catonsville.org
Budget.
NOMINATIONS
SOUGHT FOR
CHAMBER'S
2014 BUSINESS
AWARDS
O
n Thursday, January 15, 2015 our
Chamber of Commerce will host
its annual Catonsville Business
Awards in combination with our annual
New Year Kickoff meeting. Each year the
Chamber celebrates small businesses
and the contributions they make to our
community and the economy.
Are you ready to win an honor for your
company? Make your employees proud?
One of the best ways to instill pride and
set your business apart in customers’
minds is to be honored for your accomplishments and active participation in
your community.
You can nominate a fellow business, or
nominate your own business in one of
our five categories. Don’t be shy! No one
knows better than you the contributions
you make to our community that may go
unnoticed or acknowledged.
Look for the insert in this newsletter
for the nomination form, or go to this
link to nominate a buisness online:
http://catonsville.org/events/business
awards.php
The deadline for nominations is Nov.
17, 2014, so please don’t delay sending in
your nomination form today.
2014 Chamber Business Awards Nominations Form
The Greater Catonsville Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the Annual Catonsville Business Awards and New
Year Kickoff Meeting on Thursday, January 15, 2015. It will be held at the Overhills Mansion.
The Awards Committee is seeking nominations from the Chamber membership. You are invited to nominate your
business, or any other Chamber business for the following categories. If you know a business worthy of recognition,
please complete the following form and mail or fax to the Chamber office by November 17, 2014.
BUSINESS AWARDS CATEGORIES
Entrepreneurial Spirit
Community Enthusiast
Service/Retailer
Revitalization
Legacy
A new Catonsville
business that has opened
within the last 3 years
and has positively
impacted the greater
Catonsville community.
A Catonsville business
or organization that
supports area nonprofits
and/or projects that
enhance the greater
Catonsville community.
A Catonsville business
or organization in any
industry that continues
to provide superior
customer service and
products that enhance
the greater Catonsville
community.
A Catonsville business
or organization that has
contributed to aesthetic
improvement, preservation or renovations to the
greater Catonsville
community.
A Catonsville business
or organization that has
been in existence for 10
years or more and has
consistently made an
impact in the greater
Catonsville community.
OTHER AWARDS PRESENTED THAT EVENING INCLUDE:
President’s Award
Business Person of the Year
Selected by the Chamber’s President, this award winner has
demonstrated an enthusiasm and commitment to the success
of the Chamber through volunteer and committee
participation.
Selected by the Business Development Committee, this award
winner has demonstrated long-term or significant business
success. This person has consistently shown strong and active
community involvement. A recognized business leader, he or she
is a role model who has demonstrated flexibility and adaptability.
Please have your nominations form completed and sent to the Chamber by November 17, 2014.
Person nominating the business:
Please describe why you are nominating this business:
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Name of the nominated business:
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Category business is being nominated for:
____________________________________________________
(Please check off appropriate Award Category)
____________________________________________________
❏ Entrepreneurial Spirit Award
____________________________________________________
❏ Community Enthusiast Award
____________________________________________________
❏ Service/Retailer Award
____________________________________________________
❏ Revitalization Award
____________________________________________________
❏ Legacy Award
____________________________________________________
Contact person for nominated business:
____________________________________________________
Phone number for nominated business:
____________________________________________________
Mail or fax completed nomination to:
Greater Catonsville Chamber of Commerce
924 Frederick Road, Catonsville, MD 21228
Fax: 410-744-6127
Email : [email protected]
The Chamber Member News
Senior Helpers Provides Much
Needed Services for Elderly
H
ome care or
private duty
care is often
overlooked or
misunderstood as
a viable option to
remaining independent at home.
Private duty care
is a wonderful
option that offers
people a range of
services in their
Laura Wagner
Thibodeaux, Senior
own home. ServHelpers Community
ices can be comRelations Coordinator panion in nature,
for example meal
preparation, errands, light housekeeping
and medication reminders. Or can be
more hands on care or personal care, for
example assistance with bathing, dressing and toileting in addition to the companion services. These services
encourage proper diet and nutrition,
proper hydration, safety in the home by
identifying fall risks and reducing loneliness. Home care is a great way for family
members to have peace of mind that
while they can’t be there all of the time,
we can be their back up or sometimes
their eyes and ears particularly if there is
no family living locally. We will customize
a schedule that works for each individual’s needs whether that is one hour or
round the clock care as well as respite
care (short term for acute illness or to
cover vacations).
Unfortunately, major medical insurance and medicare do not cover these
services but there are sometimes other
options for funding. Senior Helpers has
been in business since 2001 and they
have developed many relationships with
community partners that can sometimes
assist with finding other funding options.
In addition, they have an in house expert
that can talk with you about Veterans Aid
and Attendance Pension Benefit. This is a
pension benefit that specifically looks at
supplements the cost of home care or assisted living expenses for Veterans and
surviving spouses of Veterans.
Senior Helpers is a local, family run
company. They believe in demonstrating
the highest levels of honesty and integrity
in all interactions with our clients. Their
mission is to ensure a better quality of life
for our senior clients and their families by
providing dependable and affordable
care. Contact Senior Helpers at 410-4536172 for more information or find us on
the web at www.seniorhelpers.com/
baltimore.
Charlestown to Begin Construction
of New Continuing Care Buildings
C
harlestown retirement community
has received approval from Baltimore County to raze four
outdated buildings that serve as
residences on its campus and
replace them with two updated
buildings along with a parking lot
expansion.
The construction will cost $70
million, with the first of the two
development phases to cost
approximately $40 million.
The new buildings will provide 87
short-term rehabilitation and long term
care units, 114 assisted living plus memory care units and 96 assisted living units
to a total of 321 residents, according to the
development plan. The 297 units will accommodate 321 residents and replace a
total of 320 rooms with a capacity for 331
residents.
It is expected that 95 parking spaces
will be added to a parking lot next to the
buildings, according to the plan.
Construction is expected to begin
November 2014, with the final site work to
be complete in July 2019. Hord Coplan
Macht Inc., is the architecture firm
designing the project.
A design rendering of the proposed assisted
living building at Charlestown Retirement
Community on Maiden Choice Lane (illustration by Hord Coplan Macht).
MEMBERSHIP DUES INCREASE
SLIGHTLY IN 2015
B
eginning with your Chamber membership renewal in January 2015, there
will be a slight increase in membership dues. The Chamber’s Board of
Directors voted to increase the Chamber dues by $20 for each membership
level, with the exception of the Advocate Membership. This is a small increase and
amounts to only $1.67 a month.
Although this is a very small increase to our members, it will contribute greatly
to the Chamber’s on-going expenses.
The Chamber is also continuing the up-graded membership levels that we
launched in 2011. Many members have already taken advantage of these new
membership levels. Now you can package your membership dues with the
advertising opportunities available through the Chamber which include
advertising in the Chamber’s directory and having your logo appear on the
Chamber’s website which links to your business website.
With the convenience of writing one check and the incentive to take advantage
of the opportunities Chamber membership has to offer, these new levels give our
members a “one-stop-shop” for many of the benefits the Chamber provides.
Remember, these packages include your dues!
On December 1, 2014, we will mail your membership renewal. That mailing will
includea a registration form for these new levels. We encourage you to review the
up-graded membership packages and consider the benefits these options provide
for your business.
Greater Catonsville Chamber Newsletter • www.catonsville.org 9
PREPARE FAR AHEAD FOR
LONG-TERM CARE COSTS
Matthew Dunigan
Edward Jones Financial Advisor
Contributing View Columnist
N
ovember is Long-Term Care Awareness
Month – a month dedicated to educating
the public about the need to prepare for the
potentially devastating costs of long-term care. And
the more you know about these expenses, the better prepared you will be to deal with them.
To begin with, just how expensive is long-term care? Consider this:
The average cost for a private room in a nursing home is more than
$87,000 per year, according to the 2014 Cost of Care Survey produced
by Genworth, a financial-services company.
And the average cost of an assisted living facility, which provides a
level of care that is not as extensive as that offered by a nursing home,
is $42,000 per year, according to the same Genworth study. All longterm care costs have risen steadily over the past several years, with no
indication that they will level off.
Many people, when they think about long-term care at all, believe
that Medicare will pay these costs — but that’s just not the case. Typically, Medicare only covers a small percentage of long-term care expenses, which means you will have to take responsibility. Of course, if
you are fortunate, you may go through life without ever needing to
enter a nursing home or an assisted living facility, or even needing
help from a home health-care aide. But given the costs involved, can
you afford to jeopardize your financial independence — or, even
worse, impose a potential burden on your grown children?
To prevent these events, you will need to create a strategy to pay for
long-term care expenses — even if you never incur them. Basically,
you have two options: You could self-insure or you could “transfer the
risk” to an insurer.
If you were going to self-insure, you would need to set aside a considerable sum of money, as indicated by the costs mentioned above.
And you would likely need to invest a reasonably high percentage of
this money in growth-oriented investments. If you chose this self-insurance route, but you never really needed a significant amount of
long-term care, you could simply use the bulk of the money for your
normal living expenses during retirement and earmark the remainder
for your estate. However, if did need many years of nursing home
care, you could end up going through all your money.
As an alternative, you could transfer the risk of paying for longterm care to an insurance company. Many plans are available these
days, so, to find the choice that is appropriate for your needs, you will
want to consult with a professional financial advisor. Here’s a word of
caution, though: The premiums for this type of protection rise pretty
rapidly as you get older, so, if you are considering adding this coverage, you may be better off by acting sooner, rather than later.
None of us can know with certainty what the future holds for us.
Ideally, you will always remain in good shape, both mentally and
physically, with the ability to take care of yourself. But, as you’ve
heard, it’s best to “hope for the best, but plan for the worst.” So, take
the lessons of Long-Term Care Awareness Month to heart and start
preparing yourself for every scenario
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local
Edward Jones Financial Advisor.
10 Greater Catonsville Chamber Newsletter • www.catonsville.org
STEALING YOUR
IDENTITY THROUGH
TAX REFUND FRAUD
Patryc Barnes, LegalShield Associate
Contributing View Columnist
W
hat if I told you someone could
steal your identity from you
without knowing your name,
address, or any of your financial information? Well they can with stolen identity tax
refund fraud. The IRS estimates that tax identity theft cost
taxpayers 5.2 BILLION dollars last year.
It is a growing problem that is hard for the government to
solve. Criminals can steal, buy, or even make up a social
security number, and that’s all they need. Whether or not all
the other information is correct, if criminals file a tax return
with your social security number before you do, they receive
your money.
Many individuals don't know that they have been a victim
until they file their return, which we all know, could be very
close to April 15th. Then they receive a notice or electronic
alert telling them that they have already filed and their payment sent to them.
How can this happen? More and more individuals are
filing electronically and no supporting documents are
needed. Therefore, the IRS may not catch the mistake until
after July when they have received your W2 form from the
Social Security Administration. According to CNBC, it takes
an average of 180 days for the IRS to resolve these fraudulent
cases.
In the meantime, you have another problem --your social
security number has been “violated,” and is therefore at a
higher risk of being sold or used by other criminals.
According to Money Magazine protect yourself by:
● Protecting your social security number
● Shred personal documents
● Never email sensitive information to the IRS, they will
not request this information by email
● If you believe the IRS has called you directly. Hang up
and call back before giving them your social security
number (800-829-1040).
As with most crimes, we think we will never be a victim.
But even the United States Attorney General Eric Holder’s
social security number was stolen and used for false tax
returns, so be careful.
Patryc Barnes is an independent LegalShield Associate that helps
educate and consult families and businesses on legal and identity theft
services. Contact information: [email protected] or at
301-346-7589.
2014 Chamber Events Calendar
NOVEMBER
Annual Turkey Drop
Event:
T
Legislative Luncheon
he Little Sisters of the Poor ask the
community to support their
annual TURKEY DROP. Donations of a turkey or ham can be
dropped off at St. Martin\'s Home,
a Choice Lane, between 9
601 Maiden
am - 2 pm on Saturday, November 8.
Sponsor: McFarland & Masters, LLC
Guest Speakers: Newly Elected Local
Legislators
Date:
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Time:
12:00 noon
Place:
Knights of Columbus
1010 Frederick Road
Cost:
$20 pre-registered & pre-paid
$25 at the door
$35 for non-members
DECEMBER
Event: Holiday Party
Sponsors: Needed
Date:
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Time:
12:00 noon
Place:
Cost:
Overhills Mansion
$30 in advance with payment,
$40 at the door
NOTE: Times, locations, and costs are
subject to change. Always check the
Chamber’s website for the most
updated information.
Our Sunday Farmers Market
has all the fixings for your
Thanksgiving Feast.
Stop by to see the new
vendors and delicious
offerings for fall.
Remember the Market continues
until November 23, 2014.
St. Martin’s Home,
Little Sisters of the Poor
601 Maiden Choice Lane
Baltimore, MD 21228
Contact: 410-744-9367
@littl i t
fth
lb lti
Planning Ahead...
Mark Your Calendar Now for Our
GET READY FOR SMALL BUSINESS
SATURDAY- NOV. 29
continued from page 2
compete with extensive business prices
and promotions, they have to offer something the customer wants more than a
deal: an experience.
No matter how much influential business retailers spend on advertising, it’s
hard to provide the same welcoming and
knowledgeable atmosphere with centralized headquarters, minimum wage employees, and high turnover.
The goal, then, is to get people in your
front doors to make positive impressions
and remind them why they should be
shopping local. According to the Retail
Merchants Association, “For every $1.00
spent at local businesses, 45 cents is reinvested locally.” [Tweet this] “Non-local
purchases keep, at most, 15 cents in your
local community.” [Tweet this] It’s a strong
reminder to consumers that they’re also
investing in their community by choosing
local business over large business.
Aside from participating in the annual
SBS, you can encourage people to shop locally year-round by banding together with
other small businesses in your community. The Small Business Administration
(sba.gov) offers a myriad of free resources
for all types of business. You can also join
local associations, like Local First and
Balle to strengthen your involvement in
your local community as well as network
with other local business owners.
Annual Catonsville
Business Awards &
January Kickoff Meeting
Thursday, January 15, 2015
5:30 pm
Overhills Mansion
916 South Rolling Road
Catonsville, 21228
&
The 13th MEGA
Networking Mixer
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
5:30 to 7:30 pm
Sheraton Baltimore North
903 Dulaney Valley Road
Towson, MD 21204
Greater Catonsville Chamber Newsletter • www.catonsville.org 11
CHAMBER LAUNCHES
“SHOP THE ‘VILLE” CAMPAIGN
C
atonsville is in the midst of a true
renaissance with a resurgence in
many areas, including new shops
and restaurants, outdoor musical concerts, enhanced markets and fairs, and a
general sense of excitement to live and
work here. To help our members benefit
from the growing interest in our community, the Economic Development Committee of the Greater Catonsville
Chamber of Commerce is developing
smart marketing to encourage people in
the area to shop local. Our new “Shop
the ‘Ville” campaign is a year-long project that will encourage people to spend
their dollars here at our shops and
restaurants.
“Shop the 'Ville” will first hit the streets
with a billboard sponsored by the Chamber beginning in mid-November, 2014
that highlights the Catonsville shopping
and dining experience. The billboard, located on Frederick Road heading east
from Ellicott City, will include a beautiful
“Shop the ‘Ville” logo designed to include
a link to a web page devoted to the campaign. Then on Small Business Saturday,
November 29, the campaign officially
kicks off at the Tree Lighting Celebration
at the Santa House on Frederick Road,
where hundreds of holiday revelers will
be gathered to ring in the holiday season.
Chamber volunteers will distribute special “Shop the ‘Ville” nylon shopping
bags sponsored by local businesses.
To gain additional benefits from the
“Shop the ‘Ville” campaign, Chamber
member businesses can offer a discount
or free items to customers who bring in
“Shop the ‘Ville” bags and make a purchase. The discount is optional, but the
more businesses who participate, the
See Videos of Our Special
Events on
more people will be drawn to come back
and shop.
“Shop the ‘Ville” will be promoted on
several local radio stations and streamed
on the web at iHeartRadio throughout
2015 and additional billboards will go up
June and November of 2015. Updates and
comments about the campaign will be
featured on the Chamber’s Facebook
page. New Frederick Road lamp post
banners and vibrant signage will help
drive the message home to the thousands of travelers along Rt. 144.
Follow us online
Quote for November
Any member of the Greater Catonsville
Chamber of Commerce is eligible to participate in the “Shop the ’Ville” campaign
for free. To join in the promotion, simply
contact the Chamber with information
about the discount, giveaway, or other
special promotion you plan to offer and
then stop by the office to pick up your
“Shop the Ville” window decal so that
shoppers know that you’re part of the
program.
For more information call the Chamber at 410-719-9609.
Like us on
Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate
on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.
Oprah Winfrey
12 Greater Catonsville Chamber Newsletter • www.catonsville.org