If Scott Strzelczyk has his way, Maryland’s iconic shape — stretching from the mountains around Deep Creek Lake to the Atlantic coast and creeping alongside the nation’s capital as it hugs the Chesapeake Bay — would cease to exist. The Carroll County resident is spearheading the Western Maryland Initiative, which aims to create a new… Read more »

BALTIMORE, MD — While many offices are more relaxed during the summer months and some businesses even change their dress codes to reflect this, considerate behavior shouldn’t go on vacation. I often hear my clients complain about an absence of etiquette today (mostly related to the use of cell phones by younger people) and I’m… Read more »

What if they held an environmental crisis and no one cared?

What if a law moving through Congress would significantly harm clean water, open space, the Chesapeake Bay?

You’d hear the alarms, strong and clear, from the largest national groups to the smallest Chesapeake organizations. But you won’t, because this law is “only” about population, about significantly… Read more »

BALTIMORE–A federal judge’s ruling last week that upheld the ubiquitous and evenhanded practice of criminal background checks before employment signals that some measure of common sense still has a place in the nation’s courts. In a strongly worded opinion, U.S. District Judge Roger W. Titus dismissed the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s attempt to cast… Read more »

BALTIMORE—Upon reading my “Out of office and off the grid” automated e-mail message, a client responded, “How do you DO that?” Being disconnected from his electronic tethers was beyond comprehension. And I suspect this is the case for many small business owners. Our work and personal time have fused into a boundary-less blur without traditional… Read more »

Development of Ocean Pines did as much to alter the landscape of the coastal region as the appearance of high-rise condominiums in Ocean City. This month, the community will celebrate a milestone anniversary with a host of events. In 45 years, Ocean Pines has evolved from a rural vacation home and campground in its earliest… Read more »

Editor, This letter is in response to the article concerning the tables and signboards in Berlin. My business, the Berlin Coffee House, is located behind the Atlantic Hotel on Jefferson Street. Because we are off Main Street, we do not have the advantage those merchants have when visitors come to town. Our sandwich board is… Read more »

Editor, I’m a merchant in the downtown area of Berlin, and have been for many years. I am a past president of the chamber and have done lots of community works for our lovely town. I wish to take issue with some of the recent events a few overzealous members of our community are spearheading…. Read more »

(The following letter was sent to Berlin Mayor Gee Williams and to Bayside Gazette for publication.) Dear Mayor, I have heard rumors in town regarding the removal of all “sandwich board” signage for downtown business per the request of the Berlin Historic Committee.  I would like to express my disapproval and disappointment in even the… Read more »

When was the last time you called your county commissioner? If you are not one of the fewer than 40 business owners they moved heaven and earth to protect — at the expense of the rest of the county’s taxpayers and business owners — the answer is “Not recently enough.” Last year, 23 businesses were… Read more »