Shop Local Delmarva Day this Saturday

The second Saturday of every month is Shop Local Delmarva Day.  If everyone were to shift their spending by 10% towards our locally owned and operated businesses, the local economy would see a boost to the tune of $350 million new revenue and fifty to one hundred new jobs created. 



Truth in labeling - a boost for our local watermen?

House Bill 913, introduced by Delegate Eric G. Luedtke (D), aims to protect the integrity of Maryland's proud seafood industry and may help boost our local watermen's livelihood.

In short, all seafood sold in Maryland would be required to be labeled with the species' name and where it was caught.  It also bans the selling of any crab product labeled "blue crab" unless the product is made of Callinectes Sapidus, the species of blue crab native to the Bay, Atlantic, and Gulf States and the crab product must be labeled with the state the crab was harvested in.

For those who strive to support our local watermen, the law goes a long way in helping consumers in making "buy local" decisions.  A diner ordering crab cakes at a restaurant in Ocean City, for example, won't have to wonder if the "Maryland crab cakes" are truly Maryland blue crab caught by Maryland watermen or not.  The law mandates that the restaurant needs to post the origins of the crab meat used in the crab cakes as well as what kind of crab was used.

Shop Local Delmarva encourages everyone to support HB 913.  The Eastern Shore was founded on a proud seafood industry, and industry almost wiped out in one generation by greed and over-regulation.  HB 913 is a small, but important, step in restoring that proud heritage and placing Chesapeake Bay seafood back at the top of the seafood delicacy list.

For more information or to contact your representatives to show your support, please follow the links below.

HB 913 (full text in .pdf format)

Contact your representative (easy reference list by county)

The Seafood Industry's Dark Side (A historical perspective of the collapse of Maryland's seafood industry)
 

Old habits die hard

<sigh> Old habits die hard.

Almost two months ago, I realized that supporting our locally owned and operated businesses can mean more than just stopping in a local business once in awhile. Every Saturday, I buy beer, and it's always Budweiser, in a bottle. I have a few decades-long brand loyalty to Bud. When I asked for suggestions to switch to a comparable locally produced beer, Lee Weldon, ...a strong supporter of this site and manager of Habitat ReStore, suggested National Premium, the favorite old beer that has gained new life through the efforts of the owner in Easton. (In fact, I had an interesting learning tour of the efforts of entreprenuers across the country bringing back the old brands of various products that had long since disappeared off our shelves.)

Long story short (too late, I know), National Premium is a bit more expensive than Bud, but I vowed to treat myself to a six-pack every once in awhile. After a long day at work (only a ten-hour day, today, no breaks or lunch), I stopped at my locally owned and operated liquor store and bought...Budweiser. Just habit. Tired from a long day, grabbed my beer, and headed home. Cursed myself out once again for not getting the National Premium after I had gotten almost halfway home.

Yes, old habits die hard, especially when one gets up in age. I refuse to accept that I am an old dog so I am getting me a six-pack of National Premium this week even if I have to walk the thirty miles uphill, both ways, to the nearest store in subzero temps and in a raging blizzard.

Welcome Accurate Car Care Center

Let's welcome Accurate Car Care Center to the family of locally owned and operated businesses.  With over thirty years of experience, Accurate Car Care Center has verything your car needs, from tires to brakes and from oil changes to transmission flushes.  Owner Chris Luongo is one of only a handful of ASE certified mechanics on Delmarva.  Acurate Car Care Center will treat your car as if it were their own.

Welcome Mallet's Property Maintenance

Let's welcome Mallet's Property Maintenance to the family of locally owned and operated businesses.  Located in Sussex County and serving coastal Delmarva from Milton to Long Neck to Ocean City.  Licensed and insured, Mallet's Property Maintenance offer complete services for your home from winter watching to yard work to gutter maintenance to handyman jobs including everything from towel racks to ceiling fans to painting to floor installation.  If something needs to be done in or around your home, give us a call!  If we can't do the job, we can recommend who can.

Welcome Sub Runners

Let's welcome Sub Runners to the family of locally owned and operated businesses.  Located in Wicomico County, has their award-winning cheese steaks, subs, wings, pizzas, salds and more.  Eat-in, take-out, or delivery.  If you are having a party, check out their party subs and platters!  Sub Runners makes your order when your order it - nothing is pre-made!

Welcome Ridgely Pharmacy & Ice Cream Parlor

Let's welcome Ridgely Pharmacy & Ice Cream Parlor to the family of locally owned and operated businesses.  Located in Caroline County, Ridgely Pharmacy & Ice Cream Parlor is a full service pharmacy and more.  The converted old barn also serves as a gift shop and parlor, serving ice cream and light lunches.  Grab a bite to eat and browse the gift shop as you wait for your prescription to be filled.  Don't have a prescription to fill?  Stop in and grab a bite to eat anyway!