Arbutus Business & Professional Association

Arbutus is preparing for Santa's arrival with a pre-holiday decorating event Saturday, Nov. 22, at 10 a.m. The Arbutus Business and Professional Association is coordinating the volunteer effort at the Santa House on the grounds of the Ice Cream Cottage on Stevens Avenue.

Starting Saturday and continuing for the next week, holiday banners, wreaths and lights will go up around the community in readiness for the big day.

On Nov. 29, the Santa House will officially open for the season with Santa's arrival by fire truck, courtesy of the Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department.

At 6 p.m., the Arbutus Town Hall will open for visitors of all ages, with an emphasis on the little ones.

ABPA members will provide small gifts such as coloring books, crayons and candy canes.

Carolers and the Boumi Temple clowns are expected.

Santa House hours will be Fridays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. starting Dec. 5; Saturdays, 2-4 p.m. and 6:30-8:30 p.m. starting Dec. 6; Sundays 2-4 p.m. starting Dec. 7 and Thursdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m., starting Dec. 11.

The last date for Santa in Arbutus this year is Dec. 21. After that, it's off to the North Pole to get ready for his big trip!

Volunteers are needed to help make all of these activities a success.

If you can help with decorations Saturday, call Patti Sue Nolan at 410-242-9177.

ABPA members interested in offering promotional materials and gifts during the Nov. 29 event should call Kim Nicholson at 443-324-1272.

Those who would like to be trained to take photos of Santa and youngsters should call Jeff Utzinger at 410-247-4816.

No penalty for red card

Pete Packer, owner of LC Benefits Solutions, presented the ABPA with an intriguing idea during the group's monthly meeting last week.

Building on the theme of supporting local and small business, Packer proposed the creation of an "Arbutus Discount Card" available for free or at a nominal fee that would offer community residents incentives to shop locally.

Participating businesses could offer either a percentage or fixed dollar discount, good for one year, to enrollees.

A similar program is in place for University of Maryland, Baltimore County students. Packer also noted there are others offered by the Frederick News-Post in Frederick County and the North Glen/North County Grand Slam Savings Card in Anne Arundel County.

Cards typically have space for up to 12 advertisers and offer discounts for food or services, including automotive shops, dry cleaning and salons.

UMBC's Red Card program participants are listed on the school's Web site.

ABPA members were intrigued enough to ask Packer to do more research and bring his findings back to the board at a future meeting.

New committee formed

ABPA members approved a proposed change to the by-laws that will add an Economic Development Committee to the list of standing committees.

Terry Nolan has been informally spearheading the effort and will now take the leadership role.

The committee will make a field trip to College Park to see how the businesses and college community interact in that area.

The committee plans to focus on the ways in which the ABPA can build partnerships with area commercial property owners, UMBC, county agencies and others interested in revitalizing Arbutus.

Update from legislator

At last week's meeting, Del. Jim Malone told the members about a Dec. 1 event at the Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department during which the Maryland Fire, Rescue and Emergency Caucus will hold a rally and news conference in support of the Medivac program. The event is scheduled for 10 a.m.

Malone also provided the membership with these updates:

* Amtrak is concluding the preliminary work needed to advance construction of the long-awaited platform and station at the Southwestern Boulevard MARC facility.

When completed, the elevated platform will provide for easier access by riders, and the location of the platform will be moved farther south toward Washington Boulevard.

While not part of the station improvements, a proposal has been made to the State Highway Administration to proceed with the addition of a ramp from Southwestern Boulevard to the northbound Beltway to relieve traffic backups that now occur as train passengers cut through Arbutus on their way to the existing Beltway entrance on Leeds Avenue.

* Field lighting will be installed at Arbutus Middle School in time for Opening Day ceremonies in 2009.

Both the upper and lower fields will be lighted for more and safer use of the fields.

Night of networking

A rainy night didn't keep ABPA members and guests from enjoying an evening of networking at the 4th annual Most Fun Networking event at the Fish Head Cantina.

Cantina owner Scott Fisher provided a great buffet and drinks and members enjoyed meeting and renewing business contacts.

The ABPA would like to thank Mary Bunting who originated the event and has continued to organize it successfully each year.

Gift certificates, wine and gift baskets were provided by Melanie Bishop (Crown Title), Tonya Crowl-Gifford (RAF Consulting), Nancy Hackley (Hackley & Associates Appraisals), Jill Black (YMCA of Maryland), Lulu Lancelotta (Melaleuca) and Bettina Tebo (Abbey Bail Bonds).

Thanks to all for making the evening a success.

New Members

Winning Way Center

The Alliance for Career and Education

East Drive

Ira Greene and Frank Luca

The center supports a student transition and career entry program helping young people to make educational and career choices by exploring college prep, workforce and military career tracks.

Call 410-988-7149.

Tradewinds Studio, Inc.,

Beth Johnson

Custom embroidered and silk-screened products including shirts, athletic apparel and tote bags for schools, athletic organizations and businesses.

Call 410-242-1700.

Calendar of events

Nov. 19: The UMBC women's basketball team hosts George Mason University in the Retriever Athletic Center at 7 p.m.

Admission is free with a canned food donation. Items collected will be donated to Southwest Emergency Services.

Dec. 11: ABPA breakfast meeting at Leon's Triple L Restaurant, 5309 East Drive, at 7:30 a.m. The Maryland Food Bank has been invited to make a presentation.

Anyone interested in attending should call Jill Black at 410-747-9622.

Dec. 16: The Greater Catonsville Chamber of Commerce Christmas Party at Overhills Mansion, on Rolling Road, from noon to 2 p.m.

For information, go to www.catonsville.org.

Dec. 16: The Lansdowne Business and Professional Association meets at the Lansdowne Library, 500 Third Ave., at 4 p.m.

For information, call Charles Kountz at 410-242-0100 or go to www.lbpaonline.com.

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