BERLIN — The one thing that Richard and Debbie Seaton agree on without question is that it is nice to have a little breathing space. As the owner and person primarily responsible for running Toy Town Antiques, Debbie is happy not to have to hold her breath every time more than three people are in… Read more »

BERLIN — When Jeffrey Auxer started offering Saturday glassblowing classes it was primarily to get people introduced to the art. It started with making Christmas ornaments but quickly grew to include flowers and paper weights and solidly-booked Saturdays. There is something so primitive in the feeling one has molding molten glass into an object and… Read more »

BERLIN — The primary notion behind small town chamber’s of commerce is to promote their area not only as a retail destination, but also to develop business-to-business opportunities within their membership. Over the past several years, the Berlin Chamber of Commerce has become even more aggressive in conceiving and fostering opportunities and events that have… Read more »

BERLIN — Peggy Hagy and her son Jason started the Berlin Coffee House in what has so far been one of the worse years to open a business this century. As they prepare to celebrate their third year in business, the almost feel ready to breathe a sigh of relief. “We’ve really gotten to a… Read more »

WEST OCEAN CITY — Giuseppe O’Leary’s is just the right kind of dark for a pub. The dining area that doubles almost as an anteroom filters the light from the street such that the pub can be lit by that, the televisions and the fireplace alone should the mood require it. The fireplace, set against… Read more »

WEST OCEAN CITY — Peggy Hammond is perfectly at ease in one of the swivel chairs just off the styling floor at Avery Hair Salon. Her surroundings are a paradox of stark modernity and personal coziness. Call it comfortable-chic. She joked that several of her friends have asked when she is going to paint the… Read more »

BERLIN — Setting aside the fight to prevent and cure disease, the medical watchword — phrase, really — of the decade is pain management. Advances in nutrition and healthcare have allowed Americans to be more active for longer than ever before. But with expanded life-expectancy and the quality of life that it tends to inspire,… Read more »

WEST OCEAN CITY — Jan and Louise from CraZy LadyZ want you to recall Dear Aunt Sally. You may remember her from eighth grade math class as My Dear Aunt Sally — the mnemonic device for the order of operations — but if you happen to you’re already way ahead of the game. The game,… Read more »

BERLIN — Patricia Fischer was doing double duty, manning the Town Center Antiques counter and flipping through the store’s financials. Mid-morning is typically a quiet time in the Main Street shop and the owner was taking advantage of the lull to catch up on some paperwork and talk about the company’s newest destination — the… Read more »

WEST OCEAN CITY — Having the Dew Tour come to Ocean City was driven, in part, by the fact that for decades, Northern Worcester County has been home to a thriving skate and surf subculture. Although to be a subculture  a group has to be defined by more than what its clothes, the clothes act… Read more »