MARYLAND–Susan G. Komen Maryland announced last week the recipients of six small grants, totaling $55,000, which will be invested into the Maryland community. The small grant program has a rolling enrollment. Funding is available for programs that provide screening and diagnostic services or emergency assistance services. The rolling enrollment is in part to the Jacqueline… Read more »

BERLIN—“On November 30, let’s get out and Shop Small,” is the tag line that American Express is using this year to encourage holiday shoppers to patronize small independently owned retailers, in the third year of a nationwide campaign it created and marketed for the first Saturday after Thanksgiving. Steve Frene, co-owner of Main Street mainstay… Read more »

 I’m often asked about what reports or news that I think are the most important when gauging the health of our economy. Following are the 10 most important in my opinion. Jobless Claims. The number of people who file for unemployment benefits in a given week. This data is collected by the Department of Labor,… Read more »

 BERLIN—Hunter and Devon Bostic grew up on the water and their parents are entrepreneurs, so it is no big surprise that their first venture, Sea-La-Vie, would open with the type of atmosphere and seasoned polish that drew crowds into the repurposed North Main Street studio at 11 Artisans Way on Oct. 19. Actually, the robust… Read more »

BERLIN—Nancie Corbett enjoyed working at the nursery at 11207 Racetrack Rd. that is now called Bluebird Farms so much that she worked for free for a month and a half after the owner retired. A transplant from Baltimore County, who has lived in the area for the past 20 years, Corbett worked as a furniture… Read more »

I’m often asked; what is estate planning? To answer that question, let’s look at estate planning from different age perspectives; the 30 to 50 group; the 50 to 70 crowd and the 70 and above age bracket. Between ages 30 to 50 you’re either getting started with a career and a family or have them… Read more »

The following are eight areas of your financial life you should probably review on a yearly basis: INVESTMENTS. Review your investment strategy – make sure it’s in line with your current investment goals. Look over your portfolio positions and revisit your asset allocation. Are you still adhering to your investment policy? Do you have an… Read more »

OCEAN PINES—Worcester County will host a commercial bus tour of the Lower Eastern Shore on Sept. 27 to highlight areas ripe for commercial development and familiarize potential investors with the area. The county’s Economic Development Director Bill Badger said the tour will begin at Harrison’s Harbor Watch at the Ocean City Inlet and commence up… Read more »

BERLIN— After a chance encounter in the local Wal-Mart parking lot with state officials recruiting local entrepreneurs, a business owner could realize one of her dreams. Sheneka Nichols, a 38-year-old mother of six, said she bought Stages Early Childhood Learning Center, Inc. two years ago after she and her husband, Clayton, faced an emergency need… Read more »

Following are some “untruths” about retirement that I’ve observed over the years. You will not need as much money during retirement as you do now. The general rule of thumb says that you will need approximately 70% of your pre-retirement income in order to maintain a lifestyle similar to that which you currently have. This… Read more »