Frederick Road Fridays - The First Night Exceeded Everyone's Expectations!

Well, It is June 14. And Last night was The First of the Frederick Rd. Friday's events.

The Weather was Perfect. The Band was Great. And everyone had an Excellent Time.

Over 400 People Participated in The Festivities, Many Stayed and Patronized the Local Businesses for Hours after the Music Stopped.

The Beer Garden at Jenning's Cafe was a Huge Success!

The Businesses that stayed open have reported that they had good nights and are looking forward to more customers during the upcoming events.



I would like to thank the following people:

George Brookhart
Teal Cary
Emory Knode
Jeff Mohler
Cathy Schneider
Jeff Utzinger
Eric Ebersole
These are the People from the Greater Catonsville Chamber of Commerce that made it all happen!





These Free Events Would not be Possible without the help of our Sponsors:

Record & Tape Traders

George Brookhart – Long & Foster Real Estate

Appalachian Bluegrass Shop

Molher and Gary Realtors

Edible Arrangements

Catonsville Optical

Peace of Sunshine

The Collectors Edge

Objects Found

The Catonsville Groomery

McFarland & Master's Attorney's at Law

ABC Rentals

Disabled Sports USA

Bill's Music House

Delmarva Farms

Cary Creative Design

Dusenberg's - An American Cafe & Grill

UMBC

Jenning's Cafe

The Columbia Bank



Please be sure to Patronize these businesses and Thank Them for supporting Catonsville's Frederick Rd. Fridays.

Frederick Road Fridays - 2008 Schedule

All Shows are 5:30pm - 7:30PM
See You There!



June 27 -Automatic Slim
July 11 –Blue Streak
July 25 –Bill Dickson & MTT

August 8 –TBA

August 22 –Reality Jones

September 12 -TBA

Catonsville's July 4th Schedule of Events

9:30 am Children's Games & Races
(High School Grounds - Valley Road Parking Lot)

11:00 am Christian Temple Concert
5820 Edmondson Ave.
Call 410-747-2041 for more information

3:00 pm 62nd Annual Parade
Frederick Rd. (starts at Montrose Ave ends at Bloomsbury)

6:30pm Catonsville High School Pre- Fireworks Musical Salute

9:00pm Color Guard Tribute

9:15pm FIREWORKS DISPLAY
at the High School
(Rain Date Saturday July 5th)

Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith Visits Site of Catonsville's Frederick Rd. Fridays

Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith met with George Brookhart -President of The Greater Catonsville Chamber of Commerce and Craig Witzke to show his support of Frederick Rd. Fridays.

The Greater Catonsville Chamber of Commerce Will be Hosting a Series of Outdoor Events this Summer. These Free Events are Called Frederick Road Fridays and will kick off Friday June 13, 2008 from 5:30pm- 7:30pm at Egges Lane and Frederick Rd. (Next door to the Santa House). There will be Live Musical Entertainment and Fun for the entire Family.The Retail Shops along Frederick Rd have been asked stay open later on these Evenings and have promotions, such as sidewalk sales. Some of the local restaurants will be offering specials on these evenings, so plan on staying around after the Music Stops!

These Free Events Could not be Possible without the help of our Sponsors:

Record & Tape Traders

U.M.B.C.

George Brookhart -Long & Foster Real Estate

Appalachian Bluegrass Shop

Molher and Gary Realtors

Edible Arrangements

Catonsville Optical

Peace of Sunshine

The Collectors Edge

Jenning's Cafe

The Columbia Bank
McFarland & Masters LLP
Jenning's Cafe
Catonsville Groomery
Whalen Properties
Object's Found
Disabled Sports - USA
Cary Creative Design
Duesenberg's - An American Cafe & Grill
ABC Rental

Schedule

(All Events Are Sceduled From 5:30pm -7:30PM)

Friday June 13 "The Al Reisinger Band" (featuring Lynn Alonso)
June 27 -Automatic Slim

July 11 -Blue Streak

July 25 -Bill Dickson & MTT
August 8 -TBA
August 22 -Reality Jones
September 12 -TBA

Officials Meet For Summit On School Violence

Baltimore Sun June 3, 2008

CATONSVILLE, Md. -- Educators, community leaders, police and religious leaders met Tuesday at the University of Maryland Baltimore County campus for a summit on school safety.
Tuesday's gathering was organized by State School Superintendent Nancy Grasmick and Rep. Elijah Cummings to come up with ideas to combat school violence. It came just two months after a high school art teacher in Baltimore was attacked by a student. The attack was recorded on a camera phone.
About 300 guests were invited to attend the event, including national experts on urban teens and youth violence. The keynote speaker was Ivan Juzang, founder and president of MEE Productions, Inc., a group that looks at social, health and educational issues that impact low-income communities throughout the country.
Juzang said that Maryland school officials need to being "trying to understand the communications culture of young people and understanding what they're bring into the classroom setting. The more you understand that, the more you can anticipate the arguments or issues they're bringing into the classroom. It better prepares you to encounter and ultimately deal with issues that may arise."
Grasmick explained that one of their first goals is to actually establish a definition of school safety and let teachers and administrators know that they have options.
"Teachers need to feel like they have power to control this, with an understanding and a communication with these students," she said.
Cummings said parents are also an important component to ending school violence. He said there is only so much that can be legislated or created by policy to deal with the violence.
"This is not a problem that we can just limit to the school system. We've got to reach into our community and make sure that we -- all partners -- are part of trying to work with our young people," Cummings said.
"Parents need help. I do believe some need help in raising their children. As the police chief said, parents are 30, the grandparent is 45 and the great grandparent is 60. Some of these parents don't have parenting skills, and that will probably be a training workshop that needs to happen," said Marietta English of the Baltimore teacher's union.

Catonsville Gourmet : Busy and Rightly So

By Elizabeth Large Sun restaurant critic
May 25, 2008

Every once in a while, a new restaurant hits the jackpot. It's the right kind of food in the right kind of location with the right kind of atmosphere. There is hardly any competition. And people are knocking down the doors to get in. No matter how much research you do as a prospective restaurant owner, it must come as a surprise when your place is an overnight success.That's the kind of response Woodberry Kitchen in Woodberry/Hampden had from the moment it opened, and that's what seems to be happening with Catonsville Gourmet Market & Fine Foods in Catonsville. It's not as innovative as Woodberry, but then few restaurants are. It's simply a very nice place to have a good meal -- as if that's ever simple.I hear Catonsville Gourmet is always very busy. It certainly was when I was there, and I was impressed by how well the staff handles the crowds. Expect a wait. (No reservations are taken.) But once you're seated, the service is smooth and the kitchen seems able to stay on track. It's high energy in a good way: Not because there's lots of loud music and crowds of people screaming to be heard over it, but because there are lots of people having a good time.The white clapboard storefront that was once Muir Hardware has been transformed into several smaller dining rooms with a beach cottage feel to them. They are done in soft green and white, with big windows and bare hardwood floors. It's a white tablecloth restaurant; but the tablecloths are covered with white bistro paper, a metaphor for the engaging combination of fine dining and comfortable food that Catonsville Gourmet offers. In back is the market; but it must be such a minuscule part of the business at this point, I wouldn't be surprised if the seafood cases get taken out to make room for more tables.


Information 829 Frederick Road, Catonsville410-788-0005, CatonsvilleGourmet.com

One of the partners, Sean Dunsworth, has been in the wholesale seafood business for a decade. (The other is a restaurateur, Robert Rehmert.) With Dunsworth's background, it's no surprise that there are six or so fish du jours every day, as well as a variety of raw bar items and seafood dishes. These might be a fat, very fresh fillet of sea bass, pan seared with a mango and avocado salsa, or a soft, sweetly flavored pecan-crusted trout with hazelnut butter, or the obligatory crab cakes.If you don't specify, the crab cakes come pan-seared. Too bad it's not acceptable these days to have them fried instead. These cakes have plenty of meat and good seasonings, but they also have binder. They would benefit from a crisp golden crust; without it, they seem mushy.One of the reasons for Catonsville Gourmet's instant success is, I'm sure, the range of the menu. You can spend quite a bit here on elaborate entrees, but there are also light fare items like an eggy seafood quiche in a wicked pastry that comes with fruit and a salad for $10.99. Some of the appetizers would serve the same purpose. An appetizer for two of rare, sushi-grade tuna with an Asian drizzle; steamed shrimp; and scallops wrapped in prosciutto with a bit of parmesan in the mix would be a fine supper with nothing more than a salad. Or you could start with the crisp little crab wontons and follow them with a bowl of soup.Oysters are given pride of place on the menu, both raw, fried and, as an appetizer, baked with prosciutto, fontina and pine nuts. That last is a lot to do to an oyster, but it's an interesting variation on the usual Rockefeller. I'd probably get them raw next time, though.While Catonsville didn't have much in the way of fine dining before Catonsville Gourmet opened, desserts were covered by SugarBakers Cakes. The restaurant wisely steps out of the way and lets this superb bakery supply the best example of Smith Island cake I've ever tasted (as well as a cheesecake).The kitchen provides its own warm apple pastry, but the only way I could get it this soft, almost mushy, would be to over-microwave it. Your fine dining dessert choice? Creme brulee, of course. Your comfort food choice? A hot fudge sundae with bittersweet chocolate sauce.The restaurant doesn't have a liquor license, but folks are welcome to bring their own, with a $5 corkage fee per table.With all the restaurants that come and go, it's interesting that three places have opened up recently that I'm betting will be not only surviving but thriving in five years. A month ago, I would have said two: Tark's Grill in Green Spring Station and Woodberry Kitchen. Add Catonsville Gourmet to that list.elizabeth.large@baltsun.com

Frederick Road Friday's - (at Egges Lane) Starting June 13th

Fun Filled Evenings for the Entire Family!

The Greater Catonsville Chamber of Commerce Will be Hosting a Series of Outdoor Events this Summer. We will be promoting the businesses in Downtown Catonsville.

These Free events are Called Frederick Road Fridays and will kick off Friday June 13, 2008 from 5:30pm- 7:30pm at Egges Lane and Frederick Rd. (Next door to the Santa House).
Catonsville is going to be treated to some Good Old Fashioned Fun!

Family Nights.

Residents of the surrounding neighborhoods are encouraged to take this as an opportunity, to walk over and enjoy these festivities. There will be Live Musical Entertainment and Fun for the entire Family.
The Retail Shops along Frederick Rd have been asked stay open later on these Evenings and have promotions, such as sidewalk sales. Some of the local restaurants will be offering specials on these evenings, so plan on staying around after the Music Stops!



These Free Events Could not be Possible without the help of our Sponsors:

Record & Tape Traders
U.M.B.C.
George Brookhart – Long & Foster Real Estate
Appalachian Bluegrass Shop
Molher and Gary Realtors
Edible Arrangements
Catonsville Optical
Peace of Sunshine
The Collectors Edge

Jenning's Cafe
The Columbia Bank




Frederick Rd. Fridays Committee members
Craig Witzke
George Brookhart
Cathy Schneider
Teal Cary
Emory Knode
Jeff Utzinger
Eric Ebersole
Jeff Mohler
Lisa Akchin

Frederick Road Fridays - 2008 Schedule

Friday June 13, 2008 5:30 -7:30 pm
"The Al Reisinger Band” (featuring Lynn Alonso)
Band members: (Dr.) Al Reisinger (mandolin and lead guitar); Jeff Pecore (guitar); (Dr.) Lynn Alonso (vocals and guitar)

All of these band members have interesting Catonsville connections – Al and Jeff both attended Mount St. Joe (Class of ’74); Jeff grew up nearby in Edmondson Heights; Lynn and Jeff (They are married) met for the first time out in front of Bill’s Music House – Al introduced them. The three of them also play with the band “The Notations”, which played its first gig at the Caton Tavern and often appeared at private gigs in Catonsville.
Three of the band members have been playing music together since 1979 when they played their first gig at a University of Maryland Medical school coffee house called “The Synapse” – Lynn and Al were in the same medical school class. Al and Jeff have been playing music together (including playing Italian music as strolling minstrels in Italian restaurants in Baltimore) since 1971.
These 3 Musicians are part of the 6-person acoustic group “The Notations”, which features 3-part harmony – that group is on hiatus and Al, Jeff & Lynn wanted to get back to theirr 1979 roots as a trio during the time off.
Their song list includes tunes by: Mary Chapin Carpenter, Linda Ronstadt, Smokey Robinson and other Motown, Carly Simon, Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Mamas & Papas, Joni Mitchell, Laura Nyro -- all featuring Lynn’s vocals, Al’s mandolin, and Jeff's rhythm guitar.

June 27 -Automatic Slim

July 11 –Blue Streak

July 25 –TBA
August 8 –TBA
August 22 –Reality Jones
September 12 -TBA

Chesapeake Bay Guitar Project

The Chesapeake Bay Guitar Project Festival is scheduled for Saturday, May 17 from 12 – 4 p.m. at Appalachian Bluegrass Shoppe located at 643 Frederick Road .
Stop by and meet the guitar builder, Dave MacCubbin, and just talk guitars. In addition, the folks from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation will be on hand to share updates about the health and recovery of the Chesapeake Bay .
The Chesapeake Bay Guitars are a unique, one-of-a-kind guitar project that is made to showcase the natural beauty of the Chesapeake Bay and to raise the awareness of the importance of restoring the Bay to its original splendor. Each instrument has been hand crafted by Maryland luthier, Dave MacCubbin. Dave uses the finest woods available. The fingerboard has been inlayed by Craig Lavin.
A significant portion of the money raised from the sale of these guitars will be donated to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, so please bring your checkbooks. Call 410-744-1144 for more information

Catonsville Hair Company

In recent Month's there has been a lot of attention focused on the businesses in the 800 Block of Frederick Rd. While my Original Intention when creating this Blog was to seek input from the Community and keep the Neighborhood informed about the re-development of Muir's Hardware and the surrounding properties, most of the work, except for a few smaller projects, has now been completed. But, there is still a lot to share about Whats Going On In Catonsville.

Catonsville is more than just one block. And there are many other Great Businesses & People worth visiting. I just visited The Catonsville Hair Company, in the 600 Block of Frederick Rd. where I ran into several friends and met a few new people. The place is a beehive of activity, clients constantly coming and going. Sharing stories with the stylists and each other. If you have not been there, it is certainly a first class place and one that I would recommend.

After he cut my Hair, Glen Boller and I went next door to the Indian DeLight for lunch. Several readers of this Blog have written about how much they like this Restaurant. I must admit that this is not a Restaurant that I frequent. However, at Glen's Suggestion we walked over for the buffet lunch. It was the perfect way to try a little sampling of a variety of different foods. I will eat there again, soon for sure!

Catonsville. What a Great Place to Live.

One World Emporium is Now Open with Regular Hours

ONE WORLD EMPORIUM
825 Frederick Road- Rear
Catonsville, Maryland, 21228
410 744-5575

In The Gardens of Strawberry Fields

ONE WORLD EMPORIUM opened May 3rd, 2008 and we are very excited about all the friendly and wonderful people we have met so far and eagerly look forward to all the new customers who have yet to visit.

One World Emporium, (O.W.E.) is a unique gift shop committed to the sale of: FAIR TRADE, GREEN-FRIENDLY and ORGANIC PRODUCTS.

Our shop is a Vendor for A Greater Gift/Serv. Corp. offering hand-made gifts from around the Globe, Our hope is our customers will treat themselves and help others at the same time. We like to refer to this as: GUILT-FREE SHOPPING or BUYING=HELPING.

As part of our commitment to feature works of artists from both FAR and NEAR- please visit our CATONSVILLE CONNECTIONS display, exhibiting:
Marty Spence- THE GARDENERS HOUSE COLLECTION OF FINE ARTS.
Lori Mellendick-FIVE SISTERS ART AND PAINTED TILES.

Providing a tranquil and consumer friendly environment along with quality merchandise at affordable prices,we hope, will contribute to our goal of a positive and rewarding shopping experience for our valued customers.

Store Hours:
Mon.-Thurs.- 3:00- 7:00 p.m.
Fri.- 2:00- 7:00 p.m.
Sat.- 11:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m.
Sun.-12:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. Look for the OPEN FLAG !

You may have to look to see our shop but remember- IT IS ONLY THE TRULY SPECIAL PLACES THAT ARE SOMETIMES HARD TO FIND!
We Look Forward To Meeting You, Larry & Alexey

Fundraising For Jeremy

Scott, Amy and the entire Morse Family are on Pins and Needles Every Day as They Pray for Jeremy to gain the Stregnth he needs to To Reach New Milestones Everyday.

Below I have Copied a Page From Heather Owens' Website which I think is worth Sharing. Craig



Published May 8, 2008 photography
From the Heather Owens' Website:
http://photosbyheatherowens.wordpress.com/2008/05/08/fundraising-for-jeremy/

Well, God is good! Little Jeremy needed a quiet, restful week, and that is exactly what God gave him. Here is an excerpt from Amy’s post today:

God has heard our prayers, Jeremy is showing improvement. We couldn’t be more thankful to God !! We also thank all of the doctors, nurses, and RTs, your hard work and dedication is paying off. Last but not least, we are so proud of Jeremy. He is working so hard and proving again just how strong he is! We also appreciate our family and friends for EVERYTHING that they do to help us get on with the daily tasks of life.

Jeremy is currently on 65% oxygen, which is very close to our goal. He has come down on the mean airway pressures and some of the blood pressure medicines. We are hopeful that Jeremy will continue walking a bit more briskly in this direction.

He still has a long road, so keep those prayers coming!

Fundraising efforts have begun for the Morse family. We are currently selling 50/50 raffle tickets at $10 each. The initial order was for 1,000 tickets, but they seem to be selling very well, so we may be looking at getting more. The drawing will be held May 31st, so if you are interested in buying a ticket (or 10), please let me know. I will be selling them at Holy Nativity this Sunday after the late service. I also have blue bows for your trees and blue ribbons to wear. The blue bows are peppered throught Catonsville and surrounding areas…they can be seen most prominently down Frederick Road where many businesses have posted them along the street to show support for Jeremy and his family. Here is a collage of just a few bows I saw on some of those businesses this week:

Jessica Nelson wrote a great essay on the significance and importace of the bows:

Wrapping the Town in Blue

Yellow bows tied to homes, trees and porches are a sign of support, love and prayer for American soldiers in times of war. In a similar effort of support, love and prayer, blue bows have been tied to many area businesses and homes in support of Catonsville’s own brave little soldier, 5-month-old Jeremy Morse. Sweet little Baby Jeremy was taken to the hospital on April 1, 2008 to treat dehydration. While in the ER, he went into cardiac arrest and was placed on life support. So began the roller coaster ride for him and his family.



While they continue to deal with the ups and downs family members and friends are struggling to show their support in every way. Their utmost request has been for prayers. The millions of prayers said for Jeremy and his family have clearly helped the family stay afloat during these difficult times.



Thousands of visitors from all over the country have flocked to the website (http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jeremymorse) to view the nearly daily updates. There are several fundraising efforts and blood drives taking place and in the works to help with the mounting medical expenses for this miracle baby.



But the blue bows are something extra special. They started cropping up at local businesses along Frederick Road in Catonsville in the weeks after Jeremy was hospitalized. Passers-by wondered, “what are those bows for?” When they learned the story behind the blue bows, that meant more thoughts and prayers to buoy the spirits of the fighting Jeremy and his amazingly strong parents.



The blue bows also mean something special to Jeremy’s older sister and brothers who now notice every blue bow tied to honor their little brother.



Every time you see a blue bow, stop and say a prayer. As the blue bows continue to spread that will add up to a lot of prayers…..and that is what the Morse Family and Baby Jeremy really need right now.



Please consider buying a bow, raffle ticket, or just making a donation. The medical bills that are piling up are unimaginable. Some of his treatments and meds are ‘experimental’ and not covered at all by insurance. You can only imagine what 39 days and counting at Hopkins adds up to.

To See How You Can Make a Donation - Please Contact me at:

http://photosbyheatherowens.wordpress.com/2008/05/08/fundraising-for-jeremy/

And above all else, keep those prayers coming!

One Step Forward Three Steps Back

The Momentum has been building we have been Realizing the Vision. Main Street Catonsville has been on the course of becoming a Destination Town. We have been Attracting New Restaurants and Retail Shops.



I guess it was inevitable, that not everyone would share the Vision. I am sure they have their reasons. Maybe they are driven by taking profits (the lure of a fast buck), over creating value ( long term improvement). Whatever, their Motivation, Some Property Owners are responsible for changes to Frederick Rd. that are heading our way soon. These Changes could affect the feel of our business district.



The Beautiful Stone Building at the Corner of Frederick Rd. & Newburg Ave, with it's great display windows, the one that used to house Ray Persinger's Photo Studio, has been leased to a construction Company. While I understand that this is a fine company and that they plan on putting a nice display in the Front Window, it is a shame to loose such a high profile retail site, one that could have been a Great Shop or Boutique, to a business that will be primarily used as offices and a Billboard - targeting drive by traffic. We were just starting to shake the image that - CATONSVILLE IS A DRIVE-BY TOWN.



Word is out that the Building which Houses- Record & Tape Traders, is under contract to be sold and that the new Owners are going to use the Entire Building as Offices for a Staffing Company. That they will Kick Record & Tape Traders Out! I think that it would be awful if Music City Maryland were to lose it's only Record Store.

MUSIC CITY MARYLAND DOESN'T HAVE ANY LIVE MUSIC AND NOW WE ARE FACED WITH LOSING RECORD & TAPE TRADERS.

It was just a few short Months ago, that Value Music, of Atlanta Georgia, bought the Records & Tape Traders Chain and we faced the possibility of losing this Anchor Store, from our business district. I had the good fortune to meet with the President of Value Music, just this past month. He shared his company's desire to stay here on Frederick Rd. and expand their offerings. He told me that they were very interested in purchasing the building that they had been leasing, but, apparently it was too late. There was already a contract in place to purchase the building.



The Mattress Store moved out after a very short stay(Yea!) and we got a Nice Dress Shop in it's place. Now, the Neighbors next door -Shockett's Fabric's and Printed Apparel -have both closed shop and left. Hopefully, Joe Loverde, who manages these properties will be able to Negotiate an Agreement between the Owner's of these properties and Value Music, an Agreement that will KEEP RECORD & TAPE TRADERS ON FREDERICK RD.



Bill's Music has expanded into the large building that he built behind the Building that Once Housed Wilson's Lumber. Now Bill's Music has all of their operations under one roof. Good for them, I hope this makes things a little easier for them. It is quite a Shame though to see that the Old Bill's Music has been leased to what can only be described as a Medical Supply Superstore. I am sure, with all of the Elder Care Facilities in the area that business is booming. And I am happy for them that they needed to move from their smaller store on Frederick to a larger location, but, do they really need to be on Frederick Rd? Wouldn't it have been great to see Bill's create another Landmark in Catonsville instead?. Maybe a Restaurant that featured LIVE MUSIC. Wow, imagine having a place, Like The Ram's Head, right here in Music City Maryland!, another great opportunity lost.



It is not that any of these businesses are bad businesses, or that any of these people are bad people. But, when Property is Leased or Sold and Prime Retail Space is utilized for Office's or a business like the Medical Supply Store, it drastically changes the Feel of our Business District. How many people are going to travel to Catonsville to buy a wheel chair and then stay to shop or dine in Catonsville? How many People will even visit the store to make their purchases? Isn't most of this type of business done over the Telephone and delivered? Or through Insurance? Office Buildings employee workers, that will park their cars all day, making it more difficult for Our Retail Businesses to succeed. Small Retail Shops depend on parking spaces turning over many times during the day, bringing in new customers. The fact is ...More Retail businesses bring more Retail Customers. Office Buildings bring Office worker's. Office worker's usually leave by 5:30 PM and go home, more often than not without supporting the local Restaurants for dinner. This is what causes the feeling that CATONSVILLE ROLLS UP IT'S STREETS AND CLOSES AT 6PM. Please support the Shops and Restaurants on Frederick Rd. and encourage your friend's that own Property on Frederick Rd. to bring more Stores - NOT OFFICES - to Frederick Rd.

Perfect for Mother's Day

One World Emporium is now open from 3pm - 8pm everyday.
They are located in the Carriage House on the Courtyard at Strawberry Fields.
Plenty of parking is available. Be sure to stop in and pick up that Special Gift for MOM!

Catonsville Farmer's Market

The Catonsville Farmer's Market begins tomorrow, May 7
It is held in the parking lot at the Bloomsbury Center.
The market will be open from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. every Wednesday until late November.

The Village's Hidden Furniture Store

Here is one of Catonsville's hiiden gems It is a shop on Mellor Ave. that has been there for three years. This shop would be a great addition to Frederick Rd., but, for now it will have to remain a secret, shared by only those "In the Know". They sell vintage mid-century modern furniture. Stop by if you get a chance they are open Sat 12-5 and Sun 12-5 or you can visit their website http://www.homeanthology.com/

Robert Degenhard
Nini Sarmiento
Home Anthology, Inc.
91 Mellor Ave.
Catonsville, MD 21228
410-744-0042

The Catonsville Gourmet Makes Maryland's Best !

The Catonsville Gourmet Market & Fine Foods, is the First (and only) Establishment in Baltimore County to make the "Maryland's Best" Website. The Catonsville Gourmet Market & Fine Foods, carry's local seafood and other local products.

If you have not visited them yet, stop in the Market and pick up dinner tonight.

Or even better, bring a nice bottle of wine and enjoy some of Chef Rob's excellent cooking in their Casual yet elegant Restaurant.

Maryland's Best is a website maintained by the Maryland Department of Agriculture's Marketing and Agribusiness Development division. It is your source to find the best local products from Maryland farmers. From produce, seafood, and specialty foods to grains, nursery items, and ag-recreational activities.

http://www.marylandsbest.net/

Blue Ribbons on Frederick Rd.

You may have noticed the dozens of Baby Blue Ribbons that are tied to the fronts of businesses along Frederick Rd. and homes throughout the surrounding community. These purpose of these ribbons, is to call attention to and show support for a wonderful family that lives here in Catonsville and comfort them during this terrible time.

Scott and Amy Morses' , Four Month Old Son Jeremy, was hospitalized on 4/1/08. While in the ER to treat dehydration, Jeremy went into cardiac arrest and was placed on life support.

Please see www.morselawmd.com/Jeremy.html for permanent postings of information and events about Jeremy, like the upcoming blood drives, donation information, etc.

A Message from Scott & Amy:

What began as a visit to alleviate dehydration and to rule out any complications as a precaution, quickly changed to our worst nightmare. Jeremy went into cardiac arrest for one hour and was placed on an ECMO machine for life support. Looking back we are thankful to have had the insight to bring him to Hopkins where he has received the best care in the world. Jeremy has been held in the palm of the Lord's hand, he has the best medical team, and the love and support of so many. Jeremy has survived the first 48 hours post cardiac arrest and as of now we have been asked to take it one minute, one hour, one challenge at a time. Anything can happen, but we choose to remain hopeful that he WILL survive. Please pray for our son and share our story with as many people as you can. We know the Lord will hear our prayers. We know that Jeremy's life is in his hands.

JEREMY'S PAGE

This is a temporary page dedicated to my critically ill son, Jeremy Morse, with information about contacts and events.
For more information about Jeremy, visit www.caringbridge.org/visit/jeremymorse.

We are incredibly appreciative and thankful of all of the love, care, support, and encouragement of family, friends, and strangers, who are supporting us through this very difficult time!

Blood Drives in Honor of Jeremy:

Blood donation takes about 1.2 hrs, please see http://www.redcross.org/ for donation rules/regs/restrictions

4/29/08, Tues, 2-8 pm @ Christ Lutheran Church Gym, 5700 Edmondson Ave, Catonsville
- this is a scheduled event so please contact Jen Stauffer to sign up, 410-788-6928, jenstauffer@cavtel.net
- volunteers and donors needed5/12/08, Mon, 8:30a - 2:30p @ Laureate Education Corporate Offices, 650 S. Exeter Street, Baltimore

Date to be determined - Early June 2008, Cedarmere Elementary School, Reisterstown

Donations:


Many have expressed an interest in supporting the family with the overwhelming medical costs and financial obligations that will come about as a result of Jeremy’s intensive and long-term care.

If you wish to support the family in this manner, you may do so in whatever amount you choose. An account has been established in Jeremy’s name. Donations should be sent to:



Jeremy Morse
c/o Kelli Nelson
761 Sussex Court
Eldersburg, MD 21784

Checks or money orders should be made out to: Jeremy Morse

(Please do not send cash through the mail).


If you’d like more information, please contact Kelli at (410)781-0369 or email: belle2gabby@yahoo.com


Meals/Food:

Meals and food are being coordinated by friend Joan Robinson, chef_joan@comcast.net

Childcare:

Childcare is being coordinated by sister-in-law Patti Morse, plmorse@comcast.net



Thank you everyone and God Bless!

Ex -hockey player's new power play comes in radio booth

Ken Sabourin operates his insurance business out of our property located at:
1011 Frederick Rd. Lower Level, Catonsville, MD 21228
you may reach him for all of your insurance needs at 410-869-0405

04/23/08 Catonsville Times TOM WORGO Email this story to a friend

Professional ice hockey

Ken Sabourin has seen the National Hockey League playoffs from both sides.
The Catonsville resident, 41, played parts of four seasons for the Washington Capitals and Calgary Flames during the 1980s and 1990s.
He and his wife, Angela, moved to Catonsville three years ago to be closer to St. Mark's School, where two of his three children are enrolled.
For Sabourin, it's a fairly easy commute to the Verizon Center in Washington to continue a broadcasting gig as a color radio analyst for the Capitals on Washington-based 1500AM.
After playing his last NHL game 17 years ago, he is back in the thick of the playoffs, the annual chase that ends with the victorious team drinking from the Stanley Cup.
Sabourin said he hasn't been this excited about hockey since his playing days.
The best-of-seven games Capitals-Philadelphia Flyers matchup, which will end this week (series tied, 3-3 at press time), is the second playoff series Sabourin has broadcast during his five years as a part-time broadcaster.
His first was in 2003 when the Capitals lost in six games to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round.
"It really gets my juices going," Sabourin said about the playoffs. "I am having a ton of fun, especially with the playoffs. I can feel myself getting excited, and I get right into it. I used to be in the playoffs, and you grind it out."
The Scarborough, Ontario native had a reputation as a bruising, stay-at-home defenseman during his 13 years of professional hockey, which included 11 years in the minors.
He had a two-year stint with the now-defunct Baltimore Skipjacks (1991-93) of the American Hockey League.
After his last season in the minors (1998-99) with the Orlando Solar Bears, Sabourin moved into broadcasting with the Florida-based team.
"I did eight games on TV for the Sunshine Network," Sabourin said. "I really enjoyed it."
Even before Sabourin broadcast Orlando games, he was intent on doing radio or television work once his on-ice career ended.
"I thought about it my last couple of years in the minors," Sabourin said. "I also did some radio stuff when I was suspended or hurt. I enjoyed doing it."
Sabourin owns an insurance brokerage company in Catonsville -- Sabourin Insurance Services -- so he is not with the club as much as broadcasting partner Steve Kolbe, who works full time for the team.
That poses a unique challenge.
"He is not around the club as much as full-time announcers," said Joe Benenati, the Caps play-by-play announcer for Comcast Sports Net. "He has to do a lot of work in a short amount of time. I think that points to his preparation skills. I would like to get the opportunity to work with him."
Sabourin's favorite game-day calls usually are prompted by Washington star forward Alexander Ovechkin, an MVP candidate who set a new single-season record for goals by a left wing this season.
Yet, Sabourin also enjoys talking about the sport's physical aspects and its game-winning goals.
"The goals, fights and hard hits," he said, breaking down the essence of hockey at the highest level. "Everything like that. I love to see when they are grinding it out and watching the excitement and celebration with this team. It gets me going, too."
Kolbe said Sabourin, who has broadcast Caps 200 games, has the perfect on-ice background to help fans understand the sport's nuances.
"It's never easy to break in, but he has grown leaps and bounds as a broadcaster and should be doing this for a long time," Kolbe said. "Some guys are meant to be in the game at some level, and Ken is one of those guys. He's probably been in almost every situation on ice that he can possibly talk about."
E-mail Tom Worgo at mailto:tworgo@patuxent.com

The Matress Store Has been Replaced!

We have a New Pretty Window Display on Frederick Rd. and a Nice New Shop to go along with it.

Variety and service ring true for bridal shop owner

Catonsville Times 04/23/08By Marcia Ames

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Joseph and Deborah Blackwell recently opened a bridal shop called Paris Couture on Frederick Road. The white bridal gown adorning Paris Couture's display window in Catonsville pales further in contrast to the colorful dresses packed into the showroom.
Bright shades of turquoise and pink, also known as "Rio turquoise" and "bubblegum" in a coordinating men's vest collection that store owner Deborah Blackwell recommends, dominate the selection of bridesmaid and prom dresses.
"Those are the hot colors this year," said Blackwell, a first-time business owner. "But whatever color somebody wants, I can get and make them look beautiful."
She can also make it happen in a timely fashion.
A bride following timeline advice from The Knot, a popular Web- based resource for all things wedding-related, would order her gown eight to 10 months before a walk down the aisle.
Yet for those in a hurry, Blackwell says she can fill an order for bridal, bridesmaid or prom dresses within 10 days, possibly three for a rush job.
She credits a good relationship with dress companies and Catonsville seamstress Linda Felder for the rapid service.
But "individual customer service" is her main selling point to wedding parties or anyone needing a special-occasion dress.
"I give them my undivided attention," she said.
The Owings Mills resident opened Paris Couture March 1 in the former site of a Mattress King store that moved out in January this year, according to Joe Loverde.
His JLT Management Co. handles leasing for the property at 707 Frederick Road, which is owned by Elmer and Gertrude Morsberger.
Where bedding once filled the bill, a selection of white, cream and ivory-colored wedding gowns hangs at the rear of the showroom near a row of curtained dressing rooms.
Strapless and corset styles are among the popular items, Blackwell said.
Sashes and other trims can be used to provide color for a pale gown.
Photographer Kevin Brown, another Blackwell collaborator, describes Paris Couture as a "one-stop shop" for weddings.
In addition to the gowns, customers can utilize Blackwell's connections with Brown and with her husband of almost 25 years, videographer Joseph Blackwell, as well as florists, bakersand other event-critical vendors.
Her display of resources also includes a brochure from Cy's Tuxedos at 719 Frederick Road, Marvin and Bella Meyer's family-owned business that offers ties and vests in a wide array of colors to match almost any dress a bridesmaid or prom goer would choose.
"We coordinate everything along the way with the girls," said Karen Miller, a manager at the nearby store and one of the Meyers' daughters. "Sometimes the girls bring their dresses in."
Paris Couture is open from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from 12:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
A Web page is under development at www.pariscouture.net.
E-mail Marcia Ames at mames@patuxent.com

Taste of Catonsville - Promo

http://wjz.com/local/taste.of.catonsville.2.702325.html

Annual Mustard Garlic Picking Event

Once again Spring is in the air and it is time to think about the Villain of the Valley - that nasty invasive plant called Garlic Mustard! We need your help to take a BITE OUT of Garlic Mustard. The Friends of the Patapsco Valley and Heritage Greenway need you to help raise awareness of "invasive plants" and the importance of trying to maintain the a proper balance in nature. Environmental education is one of the main goals of the Friends of the Patapsco Valley and Heritage Greenway and our 9th Annual Garlic Mustard Challenge does a great job but it can do a better job with your help.

We invite you to support the 9th Annual Garlic Mustard Challenge, to be held on
May 4, 2008 from 1PM to 5Pm in the Glen Artney Area of the Patapsco Valley State Park.

We are recruiting teams of volunteers to pull garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata. Immigrants brought this plant here for culinary and medicinal purposes. Now it is crowding out native wildflowers. In past years we have picked as much as a ton of garlic mustard in one afternoon! We also sponsor a Cook’s Challenge in which amateur chef’s create tasty dishes using the weed. We also have games for the kids and a Poster Contest run through neighboring schools with a $100 Savings bond as a prize for first place. Prizes for every one.

We offer several opportunities for you to help:

1. Three levels of ads in our Garlic Mustard Almanac

a. Full page ad 41/2" w x 71/4" h cost $200
b. Half page ad 41/2" w x 31/2" h cost $100
c. Business card (1/3 page 41/2" h x 25/16 h cost $25

2. There are 4 categories of "Major Sponsors":

a. Cascade Donor $100
b. Tiber Hudson Donor $500
c. Patapsco Partner $1,000
d. Chesapeake Sponsor $5,000

We offer several publicity opportunities for the Chesapeake and Patapsco Partner levels of sponsorship including (but not limited to) Press Releases, Poster, Fliers and our famous Almanac. In the past this event has gained national attention from the Travel Industry Association of America, and coverage in the Baltimore sun, the Washington Post, the Business Monthly and on WBFF TV.

3. Join the picking challenge. See how much Garlic Mustard you can pick in two hours. Win a prize. Challenge and beat your competition. Raise morale in your company. Help the environment.

4. Join in the Chefs challenge. All are welcome. Bring your entry and go up against the best in the region. It takes a Master Chef to turn wild garlic Mustard into a culinary masterpiece.

5. Donate prizes. We need prizes to reward our great pickers, chefs and winners. Toys, candy, hats, etc. Something with your name and logo is even better.

So cook up a tasty dish to enter in the Cook’s Challenge, come pull weeds on May 4th and/or simply contribute to our efforts to enhance the Patapsco Valley! Find out more about The Friends by visiting our WEB site: www.patapscoheritagegreenway.org.

We are delighted to present this opportunity for you to lend your name and support to this most worthwhile environmental effort to help restore the natural ecosystem of the Patapsco Valley in a fun and educational way.

Upcoming Events In Catonsville

Justice for Victims - Crime Prevention Seminar
As part of National Crime Victims' Rights Week, the Greater Catonsville Chamber of Commerce will partner with the Baltimore County Police Department – Wilkens Precinct, CCBC Foundation, CCBC School of Justice, the Arbutus Business & Professional Association, the Lansdowne Business & Professional Association, St. Agnes Hospital, UMBC and the Wilkens Police and Community Relations Organization to hold a Justice For Victims Crime Seminar at CCBC Catonsville on April 15. Some of the topics that will be discussed are crimes against persons and property, gangs, workplace violence, domestic violence and a panel question and answer session. There will also be a presentation by Baltimore County State ’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger. The seminar will be held in the Q Theatre from 6 – 10 p.m. The seminar is free and open to all. National Crime Victims' Rights Week is the week of April 13 – 19, 2008. Light refreshments will be served. For more information contact the Chamber office at 410-719-9609. If you are planning to attend this important event, please contact the chamber office so that we have some idea as to how many people will be attending. Please car pool if possible!


Rolling Road Golf Club to Host 12th Annual Taste of Catonsville
The Greater Catonsville Chamber of Commerce presents the 12th Annual Taste of Catonsville on Monday, April 21st, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m., at the Rolling Road Golf Club, 814 Hilltop Road . The finest restaurants and catering services in the area will have samples of their best recipes during a festival of food, music, and community spirit. Security Square Mall, Indigo Ink, Rolling Road Golf Club and Catonsville Engine & Transmission are sponsoring this year’s event.

Attendees will be delighted to see perennial favorite restaurants and caterers .We are also welcoming many new restaurants that have made an important impact on the culinary scene in Catonsville. The atmosphere of the evening will be enhanced by the music of Nick Margaritas, “The Piano Man.”

Tickets are $30 per person with advance ticket purchase and $40 at the door. Tickets are available at the Chamber office, 822-A Frederick Road , M-F 10-3, or online at www.Catonsville.org. A portion of the proceeds support Catonsville ’s 4th of July Parade and Fireworks. The winning ticket for the 50th Annual Crab Feast table will also be drawn.



Catonsville Annual Book Fair & Authors Night at the Catonsville Library
An event you don’t want to miss. On Thursday, April 24th there will be a FREE “Authors Symposium”. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions to a panel of local authors to get the ins and outs of writing a book and getting it published. This event will be at the Catonsville Public Library and will start at 7PM.

Friday, April 25th will be the Wine & Cheese Party with seventeen local authors. Come mingle and talk with some of Catonsville ’s most creative people. You will have an opportunity to purchase their books and get them autographed. There will also be light music and Poetry Readings from students of Catonsville Senior High School . This event starts at 6:30 and the cost is $20. For more information contact Maggie Schorr at schorr7@comcast.net or call the Catonsville Public Library 410-887-0954.


“Frederick Road Friday’s” Is still in the planning, but this will be a major event to hit Catonsville. The anticipated start date is Friday, June 13th at 5:30pm. It will feature live music and fun for the kids and family. The location has not yet been determained.

Chamber of Commerce Crab Feast
Now is the time to reserve your table for the 50th Annual Crab Feast & Auction. The event is Tuesday, July 15th at The Lodge. A table of 10 is $550. You can reserve a table by calling the Chamber office at 410-719-9609. Confirmations are granted only after payment is received. Payment is accepted via VISA, MasterCard, American Express, check, or cash. Individual tickets will go on sale in June.



OnStage Theatre Presents Heaven Can Wait by Harry Segall
Heaven Can Wait follows the afterlife of Joe Pendleton, an up-and-coming boxer, accidentally taken before his time. Through a series of fantastic and farcical circumstances, Joe's quest to regain a suitable body inadvertently sets right a number of other people's "wrongs," and leads him to meet the love of his life. Heaven Can Wait is appropriate for theatre-lovers of all ages.

April 4-6, 11-13 & 18-20
Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm at St. John's, 1000 S. Rolling Road, Catonsville, MD 21228
$12 General Admission
$10 Groups of 10 or more, Seniors, military, students and children under 18.
Purchase tickets online at www.onstageplayers.org or call the box office at 443-844-6481.



Baltimore County Residents Encouraged to Recycle Old Telephone Books
What is the largest and heaviest single item residents look to get rid of each year? It just might be an old telephone book! As new telephone books are distributed throughout Baltimore County , the Bureau of Solid Waste Management encourages residents to recycle their old phone books. Combined, the Yellow Pages and White Pages amount to a large volume of paper, stack more than four inches high, and weigh more than eight pounds. Recycling old phone books is an easy way to reduce trash and conserve resources.

Residents in single-family homes or town homes can recycle telephone books on paper collection days in Baltimore County ’s recycling collection program. The telephone books should be placed in sturdy paper bags or cardboard boxes for collection.

Or You can place your old phone books and any old newspapers in the Paper Retriever Bin located on the parking lot at Strawberry Fields!

el Nayar

el Nayar has leased the space where the former Pinnochio's Restaurant was. Look for them to open this summer. You can read more about the restaurant be clicking on the link listed under favorite links.

Saturday Night Menu

The Catonsville Gourmet now has Saturday Night Sushi

California Roll
Crabmeat, Cucumber and Avacodo. With Tobikko

Volcano Roll
Bay Scallops, Dikon Radish Sprouts, Avacodo and Sriracha - Topped with Tempura Crisp and Tobikko

Titanic Tuna Roll
Fresh Tuna, Cucumber,Wasabi Aioli and Dikon Radish Sprouts

Spider Roll
Tempura Fried Soft Shell Crab Roll. With Cucumber, Avocado and coated with Tobikko

Veggie Roll
Shitake Mushrooms, Cucumber, Avocado and Dikon Radish Sprouts

And be sure to try the ever popular - Flash Fried Ahi Tuna Roll available on the regular menu

Jeremy Morse

Scott Morse, Esq. has been a part of the family at Strawberry Fields since 2007. His office is at 9 Newburg Ave.
Scott and his wife Amy have a 4-month old baby boy, Jeremy, who was admitted to Johns Hopkins Hospital Tuesday night and has been fighting for his life ever since. He has apparently contracted an infection that has attacked his heart. He is in critical condition and remains on life support. Some of you may know Jeremy and his family, they live in Catonsville.
Please say a prayer for Jeremy and the entire Morse family.
If you want to hear more about what they are facing and get updates, you can visit www.caringbridge.org and type in "jeremymorse" (no space between the names)under the site name. And, if you would like to help them out with a meal, you can visit www.carecalendar.org (calendar ID: 3757 and Security Code: 9812). There are also some photographs and updates on Jeremy's condition on this site. Craig

Destination Catonsville

Catonsville is in the News again! What a great place to Live.
(Click on the Link above to see the Pictures or better yet - pick up a copy of Todays Baltimore Sun Paper)

Destination: Catonsville

Browse the shopping district's music and craft shops, then satisfy your palate with a sweet treat

By Stephanie Shapiro Sun reporter
April 5, 2008
A monthly feature exploring the stores, restaurants and sights of Maryland neighborhoods.

Catonsville's shopping district is already known for its splendid hodgepodge of possibilities for artisans and musicians. It's easy to get lost in the corridor's sensory pleasures, from looking at bolts of mesmerizing batiks at Seminole Sampler to listening as a customer tries out a 12-string guitar at Bill's Music Store.Proclaimed "Music City Maryland" by the state legislature in 2002, Catonsville has long drawn musicians from afar to its cluster of music shops.With a side-by-side trio of stores specializing in the needle arts, the shopping district is also a haven for lovers of traditional crafts. Now, after a recent streetscape makeover supported by the national Main Street program and the repurposing of several historic storefronts, the commercial district centered on Frederick Road awaits new visitors in search of an afternoon's diversion -- and perhaps a ukulele. Here are some ideas for spending time in Catonsville:

Begin in the soothing atmosphere of Seminole Sampler in the Mews shopping complex, where employees guide quilters around tricky corners and through piecing puzzles. Bolts of gorgeous fabrics, coordinated by color, are therapeutic, even for the non-sewer. But even she or he may leave with a pack of "fat quarters," inexpensive fabric remnants that may inspire a first foray into an enduring art form.

2. The Stitching Post, 10:30 a.m.67 Mellor Ave. 410-788-7760 Next door, the Stitching Post has everything required for doing cross-stitch and needlepoint, including all-important magnifiers for fine work. Needlepoint charts (patterns) range from $4 for small designs to $40 for large, intricate projects. Business has prospered in part from the economic downturn, says shop owner Melinda Zachary. "People are staying home and looking for something to do with their hands in the evening."

3. Appalachian Bluegrass, 10:45 a.m.643 Frederick Road 410-744-1144 appalachianbluegrass.comAround the corner from the Mews, Appalachian Bluegrass holds plugged-in pop culture at bay with its collection of acoustic guitars, mandolins, dobros, autoharps, banjos and ukuleles. On Saturdays, the shop is a "destination drive" for musicians from as far away as New York and Pittsburgh, says owner Emory Knode. They come to buy, to have instruments repaired and to share lore with the shop's knowledgeable staff. And if you've ever thought about picking up an instrument but feared you'd flop, take heart from Knode, who says, "No one is truly tone deaf." Besides, starter ukuleles only cost $29.

4. Plymouth Wallpaper, 11 a.m.720 Frederick Road 410-788-8500 Because it is a mainstay -- and a quirky one at that -- the Plymouth Wallpaper company is a must-see. You'll find miles of wallpaper patterned with apple blossoms, sunflowers and such. Beyond the sign "Welcome to Border City," there's a room dedicated, naturally, to wallpaper borders. You can also score a genuine sea sponge for $1.89, a secondhand fur coat or a cookie jar shaped like a Hawaiian shirt.

5. SugarBakers Cakes, 11:15 a.m.752 Frederick Road 410-788-9478 sugarbakerscakes.comDuck into SugarBakers to ogle its stupendous wedding cakes or purchase an apple-pie cheesecake for $24 or a lemon tart for $3.50. When a frilly little room in the bakery isn't in use for wedding-cake consultations, you can take a seat there and sip some coffee before continuing on your Catonsville.

6. Objects Found, noon 818 Frederick Road 410-744-9000 objectsfound.com Get lost in Objects Found: Antiques, Art and Stuff on Consignment. Owner Reggie Sajauskas has also scheduled a rotating roster of art exhibits, displayed on the walls among other decorative items. Her shop, located in a former Army/Navy recruiting center, meanders through a warren of rooms filled with jewelry, vintage Barbie and Ken clothing, original Fiestaware, Depression glass and wonderfully kitschy pieces such as a mint-condition 1950s planter in the shape of a marlin for $50.

7. Peace of Sunshine, 12:30 p.m.819 Frederick Road 410-788-0942 peaceofsunshine.com
Across the road, Peace of Sunshine will make your 1960s dreams come true in the form of tie-dye T-shirts and Grateful Dead souvenirs. Pseudo-psychedelic fleecy pajama bottoms make a groovy purchase for the college kid.

8. Catonsville Gourmet, 12:45 p.m.829 Frederick Road 410-788-0003The upscale Catonsville Gourmet meets a long-term need for a white-tablecloth establishment, but without too much fuss. In the former Muir Hardware store, the restaurant is a fusion of Eastern Shore comfort and yuppie sensibilities. "The Ultimate Soup Meal" ($11.99) included a delicious cup of spicy seafood gumbo, artisan potato chips and half a turkey sandwich. Had I room for dessert, it would have been a slab of Smith Island cake from SugarBakers. In the rear of the restaurant, there's a butcher, a seafood dealer and carryout items.

9. Little Sugar Shack, 1:45 p.m.821 Frederick Road 410-744-4330If you didn't order dessert at Catonsville Gourmet, be sure to stop at the Little Sugar Shack to sample the hand-dipped caramel/chocolate apples, chocolate-covered marshmallows and peanut paws. Shoppers with a nostalgic streak will find a selection of penny candy, including nonpareils and green-apple-flavored sourballs.

10. Bill's Music House, 2 p.m.743 Frederick Road 410-747-1900 billsmusic.comThe afternoon draws to a close, but a stop in Bill's Music House, the mother lode for garage bands and countless other combos, is mandatory. Revel in the infinite musical possibilities found in a shop where entire sections are devoted to drumsticks and cymbals.


More of Catonsville:If you have more time, Catonsville has more to show you
Record & Tape Traders, where thousands of used and new CDs beg for your ear. 806 Frederick Road, 410-788-6767, recordandtapetraders.com.

A.W.O.L. skateboarding store. 827 Frederick Road, 410-788-2965.

Jennings Cafe, a long-time Catonsville establishment. 808 Frederick Road, 410-744-3824, jenningscafe.com.
Cloverhill Yarn Shop, which specializes in knitting supplies. 75 Mellor Ave., 410-788-7262, cloverhillyarn.com.
The Candy Box, a local landmark filled with sweet treats as well as candy-making supplies. 1610 Frederick Road, 410-747-5291.
The Benjamin Banneker Historic Park & Museum is dedicated to the self-taught African-American astronomer and surveyor. 300 Oella Ave., 410-887-1081.
If the suburban wilderness calls, take a stroll on Trolley Trail No. 9, a paved route for bikers, runners and walkers that runs from Edmondson Avenue to Ellicott City.
Streetcar Trail No. 8 is a shorter path between Catonsville Junction and Frederick Road. For an interactive map, go to home.comcast.net/~crtt/.Nearby Patapsco Valley State Park offers a wealth of trails and picnic spots. Call 410-461-5005 or go to www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/central/patapscovalley.html.

(Note: The Business Names Highlighted in Green are Part of Strawberry Fields)

Maryland Living

Steve Rouse of WMAR-TV's, new Sunday Morning Show "Maryland Living" spent the better part of the day on Wednesday March 26th, filming here in Catonsville.
Maryland Living is a new show that highlights local communities. So far they have aired segments on Ellicott City, Federal Hill and Annapolis. I think that Catonsville was chosen, so early on in the series, because of all of the exciting things happening here.
Steve and his crew visited the Catonsville Gourmet Market & Fine Foods, The Catonsville Groomery, The Sugar Shack, Appalachian Blue Grass Shoppe, the Piano Man and a few other locations.
Look for the show to air on Channel 2 this Sunday at 9am. Thanks Steve!

Catonsville Gourmet - In the Baltimore Sunpaper

Table Talk: Seafood is king at Catonsville spot
Catonsville Gourmet, on Frederick Road, is both an 80-seat restaurant and a gourmet market. (Sun photo by Monica Lopossay / March 21, 2008)
By Elizabeth Large Sun Restaurant Critic
March 26, 2008

Sean Dunsworth has been in the wholesale seafood business for the past decade, and his partner, Robert Rehmert, has worked in the kitchens of places as diverse as Tiber River Tavern in Ellicott City, Radisson Plaza Lord Baltimore downtown and Rocky Gap Lodge and Golf Resort in Cumberland. Together, they should be able to produce some very fresh fish at their new venture, Catonsville Gourmet (829 Frederick Road, 410-788-0005) in Catonsville.It's primarily an 80-seat restaurant that serves classic American seafood with an Asian accent; but it's also a gourmet market, with cases in the back of the second dining room containing seafood, meats, prepared foods and desserts to take out.The location where the Muir Hardware store once was has been extensively renovated and has what Dunsworth calls an "eclectic, antique look" and a bistro feel, with paper covering white tablecloths.The heart of the menu is a daily offering of six different fish. Customers pick the method of cooking and the sauce they want. Three or four different oysters are available every day at the oyster bar, along with clams and mussels. The Asian influence is obvious in dishes like crispy crab won tons and tempura nori tuna roll, both appetizers.
Related links
Filet Four Ways dish Photo
The owners are hoping to get a beer and wine license, but right now the place is BYOB, with a $5 corkage fee per table, not bottle."People must like it," Dunsworth says. "We threw away a hundred empty bottles this week."Catonsville Gourmet is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Send restaurant news, trends, questions of general interest or observations to me at elizabeth.large@baltsun.com or fax me at 410-783-2519. Snail mail works, too: Elizabeth Large, The Sun, P.O. Box 1377, Baltimore 21278.

Sam's Bagels

I have been an "on again, off again" regular at Sam's Bagels, ever since they first opened in Catonsville. Over the last year or so it has been very difficult to find the time to enjoy many leisurely visits there with my friends & the breakfast bunch. So, of course I was very pleased to find out about this site. Sue, thanks for keeping us updated as to the going's ons, of the cast of characters. I am glad to see that they continue to work diligently solving the problems of the world over coffee at Sam's Bagels ! Craig
http://samsbagels.blogspot.com/

NOW OPEN !! Catonsville Gourmet Market & Fine Foods

Friday March 7th was the test. Over 100 people came for a "rehearsal dinner" and everything went perfect.
The staff looked great. They were very attentive and polite. It was great to see so many "locals" working there.
The food tasted excellent. It was well priced and served in generous portions.
The Fisherman's sampler, as well as the Crab Cakes, Fresh Fish and Steaks were all very popular items and loved by all who ordered them.
Some of the other must try, items included : Lobster Mac and Cheese, Crab Dip and Calamari. You are truly missing out if you don't try Chef Rob's famous soups.
The Chicken Wings were outstanding. Sean and Rob, thank you for the recognition on what I am sure will be one of the most loved appetizers.
The process of opening this venture has truly been a labor of love, for everyone involved.
When you visit, either the Market or the Dining Room, there is no doubt that you will see and feel what a special place this is! Craig

Now Open for Lunch and Dinner 7 days a week
11am - 9pm
829 Frederick Rd.

Pub Crawl Off to a Good Start

Reprinted from the Catonsville Times

03/05/08By Keith Meisel

Talk finally turned into action March 1 as the Catonsville Men's Civic Association hosted its first Catonsville Pub Crawl.
"We've been talking about doing something like this for a while," said Larry Davis, the association president.
"We wanted to draw attention to what we do and promote businesses in the Catonsville area," he said.
About 20 men and women paid $20 for a Catonsville Pub Crawl T-shirt and discounted drinks at Sea Hut Inn, Morsbergers, G.L. Shack's, Jennings Cafe and Ship's Cafe during Saturday afternoon's event.
"We just wanted to try and help the guys out any way we can, that's the main reason," said Shacks' co-owner, Ricky Shackleford.
"It's a fundraiser for us," said Davis, noting that the association provides annual events such as an Easter Egg Hunt and Fourth of July games and races at Catonsville High School, a Halloween party at the Catonsville Library and a night at the movies for residents of The Children's Home.
The event was sponsored by Strawberry Fields Witzke Properties and Crown Title.
The group met at Catonsville Gourmet on Frederick Road for a sneak peek at the new restaurant and carry-out, which is scheduled to open later this week, before walking down Frederick Road.
Co-owner Sean Dunworth, a Catonsville native who said he grew up in the restaurant industry, supplied hot crab dip and crab balls to fortify the group for its march of about a mile down and back on Frederick Road.
Davis said establishments such as Matthew's 1600 further west on Frederick Road had been considered, then rejected so that participants could walk to each destination.
Craig Witzke, a member of the association for more than 25 years, said the state's recent smoking ban, which went into effect Feb. 1, made the pub crawl more attractive.
"There are certain establishments where people say they would love to go there, but it's so darn smoky," Davis said. "Now the places are clean and fresh."
Davis said he was pleased with the turnout.
"You try not to overthink things," he said. "We wanted to put a little fun in fundraiser.
"We meet the first Wednesday of every month, so this week we'll go over what worked and what didn't work."
E-mail Keith Meisel at Keith Meisel@patuxent.com

Preview The Catonsville Gourmet

The Market area of the Catonsville Gourmet quietly opened today March 6th at 4pm. They will be open until 9pm tonight and from 11am - 4pm tomorrow.
Stop in and get some fresh seafood, some great meat selections or a delicious salad and all of the accompaniments. While you are there you can enjoy some steamed shrimp or a few raw oysters and take a look at the wonderful transformation that has taken place!

The Dining Room is not open yet, but will be very soon. Sean and Rob want to make sure that everything is running perfect before it opens.

In the meantime, stop in and tell them that you have been reading the blog. Craig

Original Souls

Although their business is not located in Catonsville, Diane and Shelia are the newest members of our Family of Tenants. We encourage you to stop by and visit them. Craig


Original Souls
8120 Main Street
Ellicott City, MD 21043
410-461-2300
http://www.originalsouls.net/


Diane Standeven and Sheila Morrison would like to invite you to visit Original Souls located in historic Ellicott City. We are opening our doors on
Thursday, February 27th, 2008. Store hours are Wed.-Sun. 11-6.

Setting up the Shop has been a labor of love and we think you will like our efforts. It is said that it takes a village to raise a child and our community of friends and family surely helped us birth Original Souls. We deeply thank all of you for your support, work, food, ideas and joy.

Our Grand Opening is Saturday, March 29, 2008. Members of the Centennial High School Jazz Band will help us celebrate our opening. They will be performing from 1- 3 p.m. We will also have a reception with desserts and wine. Please join us on March 29, 2008.

To inaugurate our vision of operating a socially responsible business, we will donate a portion of our profits to the Keeley Imel Fund.

We are looking forward to seeing all of you.


Diane and Sheila

To read more about Original Souls visit http://awalkintothepast.blogspot.com/

Catonsville Nabs Gourmet Shop

Friday, February 29, 2008
Reprinted from the Baltimore Business Journal - by Julekha Dash Staff

Two Catonsville entrepreneurs are biting into Baltimore County's dining scene.
Sean Dunworth and Rob Rehmert will next month debut a restaurant and food market in downtown Catonsville at the site of the former Muir J. Allan Inc. hardware store.
The pair have invested more than $500,000 to open the Catonsville Gourmet Market & Fine Foods at 829 Frederick Road. The business partners obtained funding from a bank loan, personal money and a U.S. Small Business Administration loan.
Open for lunch and dinner, the restaurant will sell meat, seafood and American dishes with an Asian flair. For instance, the menu will include crab wontons and hoisin teriyaki wings

Catonsville Pub Crawl

THIS SATURDAY ……MARCH 01,2008
WE WILL MEET AT THE CATONSVILLE GOURMET (MUIRS HARDWARE)
REGISTRATION WILL BEGIN AT 1:30pm.
FROM THERE OUR STOPS WILL BE:
· SHIPS CAFÉ AND SPORTS BAR
· JENNING’S CAFÉ
· SEA HUT
· MORSBERGERS
· G. L. SHACKS
FOR A SMALL DONATION OF $20.00 YOU WILL RECEIVE A TEE SHIRT AND SPECIAL DRINK AND/OR FOOD PRICES.
COME OUT AND SEE THE CLEAN------- SMOKE FREE RESTAURANTS OF THE VILLAGE OF CATONSVILLE!
HELD BY THE CATONSVILLE MEN’S CIVIC ASSOCIATION
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK:
CROWN TITLE AND
STRAWBERRY FIELDS/ WITZKE PROPERTIES
FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THIS EVENT
e-mail :info@cmca-md.org w/questions

Please send this to all your friends !!!

The View

Nothing to get hung about

Strawberry Fields welcomes its newest (and possibly final) tenant. From the ocean.

David Sattler

A psychedelic anthem of forty years ago led to a fish market: as the Grateful Dead would say, what a long, strange trip it’s been.

Owner/developer Craig Witzke, an area native, has long called the area around the intersection of Frederick Road and Newburg Avenue by a Beatle-esque name: Strawberry Fields. Sometime next month, the final piece of his development puzzle will swim into place, when the Catonsville Gourmet opens.

And what was once Muir’s Hardware will be a combination restaurant, carry-out and fish and prepared foods market. When Catonsville Gourmet opens toward the end of this month or the beginning of February, Witzke said his property will be fully leased, “ahead of schedule.”

Named by Witzke, a fourth generation Catonsvillian and former funeral director, for the wild strawberries which once grew there, Strawberry Fields is a collection of buildings and land on Frederick Road and Newburg Avenue. Witzke has spent months attending meetings, buttonholing people on the street and maintaining a blog, whatsgoingoncatonsville.blogspot.com, to see what folks wanted him to do with the property.

“I could have just sold the property to a drug store and been done with it,” Witzke said. “That would have been easier.”

Easier, perhaps, but not his vision. From the start, he wanted a mixture of stores and restaurants that would bring people, especially Catonsville residents, to the area. People requested stores and restaurants unlike any that were already here, according to the responses posted on his blog, and the existing mix, which includes a surf/skate/snow shop, a candy store, a dog groomer, a soon to open fair trade gift shop and the gourmet shop, along with offices, certainly seem to meet that goal.

“It didn’t turn out exactly as I thought it would,” he noted, “but it’s turning out great.”

For example, Witzke said he would have “never guessed” that a shop for snowboarders, skateboarders and similar folks would have been on a “most wanted list,’ but “I was approached by more than one person” and leased the space to the “one that was the best.” He couldn’t bring the Trader Joe’s, Wegman’s Whole Foods or Starbucks a number of people requested, but the Catonsville Gourmet could be the hometown equivalent in some ways.

Sean Dunworth, a St. Timothy Lane resident and one of the partners in the new venture, enthusiastically shows off plans for the old hardware store that includes a restaurant, seafood market, prepared foods deli and raw bar.

“You can try something in the restaurant, then bring it home ready made for someone else to have the next day, or pick up the ingredients and make it yourself,” Dunworth said. “You can buy raw, steamed, whatever you like.”

The seafood and some of the menu will be seasonal, he noted, with an ever-changing variety, and not all seafood.

“We’ll see what people like and want,” he said, trying different prepared dishes in the deli case to see what proves popular. If people like his seafood lasagna, for example, the deli case might offer it every Monday. Or one day a week the shop might concentrate on Asian inspired food, Mexican another night, Italian a third.

Dunworth, in fact, has spent most of his life in the food and restaurant business, beginning “as a busboy” when his mother was comptroller of the Maryland Inn. His other worked for other restaurants as well, while his father once owned a Jerry’s Subs and Pizza franchise. Dunworth formerly owned Opie’s, the ice cream and snowball stand on Edmondson Avenue, as well as Kelsey’s in the Normandy Shopping Center in Ellicott City. For the past few years he’s sold wholesale seafood, and the man says he knows his seafood: give him an oyster or something similar and with one taste he can tell you where it came from.

“Diamonds of the Sea,” he calls them.

For his part, Witzke isn’t finished. The carriage house which is slated to be a gift shop isn’t yet, and a contract or letter of intent isn’t the same as a business paying rent. And, now that he’s had a taste of development, he’d like to find another property or two and try it again.

Until then, he’s occasionally going out for lunch or dinner with Dunworth, learning about seafood and other foods he’s never tried. And there’s at least one other person, besides Dunworth, that Witzke credits with helping him realize his vision that Strawberry Fields become a vibrant, varied retail center. “(County Executive) Jim Smith has been incredibly supportive,” said Witzke. “He does a lot for the commujities.”

2008 CZMP

For those of you that may be interested, here is some information From The Baltimore County Web Site explaining the Comprehensive Zoning Process. I have also included my explanation about our request for a Zoning Change for the properties at 9& 11 Newburg Ave.

The CZMP takes place every four years on a schedule specified in the County Code. Any citizen or organization may request a zoning change on any property in the County. The permitted use for a property is determined by its zoning classification. Changing the zoning classification on a property may change the permitted uses and the intensity of those uses. The potential for land use changes makes it important to be an active participant in the 2008 CZMP.
The 2008 CZMP covers a period of approximately 12 months and concludes with the County Council making the final decisions on all the rezoning requests. A descriptive narrative of the 2008 CZMP indicating the key decision makers and the relevant milestones can be accessed at the 2008 CZMP timeline. A graphic timeline (PDF) is also available.
One of the key decision makers in the 2008 CZMP is the Planning Board. Before the Planning Board makes its recommendations to the County Council, the Planning Board conducts a hearing in each councilmanic district. At the Planning Board’s hearings, the Planning Board will hear testimony on the rezoning requests for the specific councilmanic district. The Planning Board’s 2008 CZMP hearings have already been scheduled. For the dates, times, and locations of the hearings, please see 2008 CZMP Planning Board hearings. The County Council has scheduled their 2008 CZMP hearings, please see 2008 CZMP County Council hearings.
Rezoning requests made during the 2008 CZMP are given an Issue Number. The Issue Number is the unique identifier that will allow you to track the progress of the Issue as it moves through the relevant milestones. The Log of Issues is a compilation of all the rezoning requests made during the 2008 CZMP in summary format reflecting the decision at key points. It also will be updated at the end of the 2008 CZMP to reflect the County Council’s final decision. Zoning on all properties which were not included in a rezoning request during the 2008 CZMP is re-enacted without a change. You can access the Log of Issues and Issue Maps from prior CZMP processes and the most current Log of Issues at 2008 CZMP Log of Issues.
The Office of Planning has a Community Planner assigned to each County Council district. You can determine the appropriate Community Planner by viewing the Planners by District map. The Community Planner is most knowledgeable about his or her Council District and is the usual point of contact concerning the 2008 CZMP and rezoning requests filed through the 2008 CZMP.
The first step of filing for a rezoning request must be filled out on-line. The final review and the filing fee must be paid in person at the Office of Planning in order for the rezoning request to be given an Issue Number and be considered complete. There is a filing fee associated with each zoning request. See the appropriate link for more information on the Fee Schedule and Fee Determination Guidelines.
The petitioner is also responsible for assuring that a sign(s) is/are posted on the property that is within the Map Issue, that is subject to the rezoning request. This public notice is required by Section 32-3-215 of the Baltimore County Code. It must occur a minimum of 15 days prior to the Planning Board Public Hearing for each respective Councilmanic district. For detailed sign posting procedures, please review 2008 Sign Posting procedures. For a list of approved sign posters, please review 2008 Baltimore County Approved Sign Posters (PDF).
Rezoning request made by the Office of Planning, the Planning Board and the County Council are considered publicly filed issues. Publicly filed issues may have an impact on properties that have filed a concept plan, a development plan or a limited exemption plan. For further information on this topic, please review the information on publicly filed issues.

As you may be aware, we have applied to have the zoning changed on the properties at

9 & 11 Newburg Ave. They are currently zoned and occupied as RO or Residential/Office. With an approved variance allowing the rear of the properties to be used to provide parking for the business located at 821-829 Frederick Road as well as 9&11 Newburg Ave. We have carefully selected tenants whom we have felt will be unobtrusive, and good neighbors, to occupy these two properties.

We have requested a zoning change to BL or Business local. Our main reason for requesting this change has to do with our ability refinace the properties. The lender will not refinance or allow us to negotiate better terms with the "split zoning" which is currently on the property. We would like to be able to do this so that we may finish the whole project this year.

I have stated publicly ever since we bought these properties, that we have no intention of tearing down any of the buildings on the properties. Had that been our intention, we would not have invested so much in them. I would like to assure you that we are not just trying to make a "fast buck" we are looking at this as a 50 year project. That is, as someone that was born, raised and still lives in Catonsville, we are working to create something that the residents of Catonsville will be proud of 50 years from now!

If anyone has any concerns or questions about this zoning request. Or you would like to help. Please feel free to call me at 443.830.0310. We are eager to work out an agreement that will protect the neighbors best interests.

Thank you for all of your support. Craig

A Sneak Peek at the Catonsville Gourmet's Menu

The Catonsville Gourmet Market & Fine Foods is on schedule to open in February 2008.

The Incredibly Fresh Foods that will be available in the market, will also be available in the Dining Room. Here is a sampling of the Menu:

There will be a Variety of Delicious Sandwiches, Salads and Appetizers plus these delicious Entrees -

Oysters Muir
Flash fried oysters with bacon and asparagus served on toast points and finished
with a horseradish hollandaise, accompanied by garlic mashed potatoes

Bouillabaisse
Our “fisherman’s stew” is full of shrimp, clams, mussels and fish in an herb-garlic
broth with toast points

Pecan Crusted Rainbow Trout
A fresh water classic sauteed and topped with hazelnut burre blanc, served with
rice and vegetables

Peppercorn Crusted Rib eye
Cajun spiced & Peppercorn encrusted Rib eye, topped with an au poivre
demi-glace served with French green beans and pomme frits

Balsamic Chicken
Airline chicken breast, root vegetables and red potatoes, finished with a balsamic
reduction

Meatloaf
Generous portion of beef, served with gravy, crispy onions and garlic mashed potatoes

Twin Pork Chops
Honey mustard marinated, bone-in chops topped with apple-onion slaw,
served with garlic mashed potatoes and vegetables

Spaghetti and Meatballs
Our famous meatballs served over angel hair pasta and topped with
Rob’s homemade marinara sauce

Filet Four Ways
Filet Mignon prepared the way you like, served with garlic mashed potatoes and French green beans
Lobster Style topped with lobster and drizzled with butter
Scampi Style topped with shrimp and garlic butter
Chesapeake Style topped with crabmeat and béarnaise
Simply Elegant seasoned and cooked to your specifications



B.Y.O.B Policy
Catonsville Gourmet invites you to bring in your own Alcoholic beverages, provided you are 21 years of age or older.

Many Thanks,
Sean and Rob

Gift Certificates are Now Available For The Catonsville Gourmet Market & Fine Foods

Join the Excitement. Get Your Gift Certificates Now for The Catonsville Gourmet Market & Fine Foods. Gift Certificates are available by emailing catgourmet@yahoo.com or calling The Gift Certificate Hot Line at 443.695.1341 Available in $25 and $50 increments these gift certificates are the Hottest things going in Catonsville. They are redeemable in both the Market and Dining areas of Catonsville Gourmet Market & Fine Foods.

Strawberry Fields Promo

Something for Beatles Fans ! Check out this fun Promo
circa 1969.
(Click on the title)

Catonsville Gourmet Market & Fine Foods is Hiring for all Positions

Positions are availible in the restaurant, gourmet market & kitchen.
The Restaurant is looking for:
- experienced waitstaff, hostesses, bussers,and raw/tasting bar
personel and bartenders. Management position upon exp.
The Gourmet Market is looking for:
- Deli / Counter help , raw bar-steamer , cashiers and food prep.
The Kitchen is looking for:
- Line cooks, prep cooks, expeditors, dishwashers and other...
If you would like to join this eclectic-restaurant / market TEAM please send info to : catgourmet@yahoo.com
or mail resume to: 829 Frederick Rd. Catonsville, MD 21228 Attn: Sean Dunworth