Happening this week in and around Cecil County:
“We want to bring it back to what it once was,” Chad Johnston said of Buck’s Restaurant and Tavern in Rising Sun.
Johnston said he is in search of “the right group with a little bit of knowledge” to operate the restaurant at 314 East Main Street in Rising Sun, which his family has owned since it opened in January 1992.
“Our family ran it for about three years then we leased it to Wayne Reeves and Rodney Vanderzee at Blue Marlin Catering,” Johnston said. “They were extremely successful. They worked hard. They worked smart.”
Then they retired. New operators moved in and operated Buck’s for a year.
“We found another group out of Pennsylvania and they ran it straight into the ground,” Johnston said. Buck’s closed again in January and the search is on for new operators.
Buck’s Restaurant seats nearly 100 and there are 8 tables and 20 bar stools in the tavern. Johnston hopes the building keeps its name, since it had a following for so many years and a reputation for fine dining.
“There’s a lot of value in the Buck’s name,” he said, but added the name is negotiable.
Interested parties should connect with Johnston at Johnston’s Liquors at the same East Main Street location.
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Port House Grill, FIN Outdoor Recreation and Bay Venture Outfitters is now under one roof at 15 North Main St. in North East in a joint venture that Hudson Benson and his son Kelly Benson say will become a center for outdoor experiences.
“This brings together three unique experiences,” Hudson said. Bay Venture Outfitters, FIN Outdoor Recreation and a hub location is where one can make reservations for a mountain bike, kayak or stand up paddleboard, shop for gear for these activities and buy Port House Grill crab cakes.
Kelly Benson said a person can park in their lot and rent a bike, for example, ride it down to Cemetery Road and tour the Mason Dixon Trail, Elk Neck and Turkey Point, then come back at the end of their experience.
“It’s more about an experience than a mode of transportation,” he said. End the day by taking home Port House Grill crab cakes to cook for dinner. For visitors, equipment can even be delivered. FIN still has the rental stations in Cecil County and Bay Venture Outfitters continues to offer kayak rentals at the end of Church Street in North East.
“This was built to accommodate a different business model,” Hudson Benson said. The father and son knew they wanted something different after a fire in November 2021 damaged the restaurant.
“This is a retail space and showroom that brings our brand under one roof,” Kelly said. “We want this to be a hub of outdoor recreation.”
While a grand opening celebration is being planned, Bay Venture Outfitters, FIN and Port House Grill will be open by Memorial Day weekend and will be open throughout the summer.
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How should Maryland’s new recreational cannabis laws affect your company? The Maryland Commission on Civil Rights aims to help you make that determination with a June 13 seminar at the Francis King Carey School of Law at the University of Maryland in Baltimore.
Pre-registration is required for this free seminar runnings from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. All sessions will discuss the impacts and implications of the decriminalization of marijuana on employment.
Go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cannabis-and-the-workplace-tickets-636604470107 to register.
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Northrop Grumman‘s Elkton location may be in line for a $9.8 million federal contract for 3D printing and additive manufacturing.
Air Force Test Center at Arnold Air Force Base in Tennessee needs the 3D printing and additive manufacturing to test its hypersonic missiles and aircraft. The Northrop Grumman Propulsion Systems & Controls Division on Thiokol Road is in line for that 5-year contract. The parts would be made in Elkton and shipped to the Hypersonic Aerothermal and Propulsion Clean-Air Testbed (HAPCAT) facility in Ronkonkoma, N.Y.
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West Cecil Health Center in Conowingo has been recognized as a Patient-Centered Medical Home Program by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.
“I am delighted to share that the NCQA has bestowed upon West Cecil Health Center the recognition of being a Patient-Centered Medical Home. This achievement is not just an accolade, but a testament to our commitment to providing the highest standard of comprehensive and coordinated healthcare,” said John Ness, President and CEO of West Cecil Health Center. “For our patients, this means they can expect more personalized care with improved communication and better coordination among their healthcare providers. They will have a more active role in their healthcare decisions and a comprehensive understanding of their health and wellness.”
It’s a model for other providers to follow, according to the committee based in Washington, DC.
“NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition raises the bar in defining high-quality care by emphasizing access, health information technology, and coordinated care focused on patients,” said NCQA President Margaret E. O’Kane. “Recognition shows that West Cecil Health Center has the tools, systems, and resources to provide its patients with the right care at the right time.”
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Chester County Hospital has received American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain – MI Registry Gold Performance Achievement Award for 2023.
The award comes from the hospital’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of care for patients experiencing cardiac issues.
Dr. Timothy Boyek, Medical Director of the Chest Pain Center, called it gratifying to be recognized by the national organization, saying it was a direct result of the hard work and dedication of staff.
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The president of Harford Community College, Theresa B. Felder, has been named to the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society as a 2023 Paragon Award for New Presidents recipient.
Felder received the award last month at PTK Catalyst 2023, the society’s annual convention held in Columbus, Ohio.
“I am honored to receive this award and proud of the many accomplishments of our PTK students here at Harford Community College,” Felder said. “I know that I speak for each and every member of our faculty and staff when I say that we are dedicated to doing everything we can to ensure that our students reach their academic goals.”
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Fulton Bank has announced that Mark Hoffman is the new Chief Investment Officer for Fulton Financial Advisors and Fulton Private Bank.
Hoffman has almost two decades of experience in asset management and strategy. He comes to Fulton from PNC Asset Management Group where he was head of Portfolio Management.
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ChristianaCare has added a Sleep Wellness Center to its Medical Arts Pavilion II at the Newark Campus.
Accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the nearly 5,000-square-foot center has seven beds and offers on site and virtual appointments.
Dr. Shilpa Kauta is the medical director of the ChristianaCare Sleep Wellness Center.
“Sleep disorders affect members of every race, socioeconomic class and age group, but despite the high prevalence of sleep disorders, many people remain undiagnosed and untreated,” Kauta said. “At the ChristianaCare Sleep Wellness Center, we offer the full range of sleep care services in one place, with the expertise to help people with all kinds of sleep disorders.”
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Delmarva Power is inviting municipalities and non profits in its service area to apply for the Sustainable Communities Grant Program.
There are two grants available within the program. One is awarded for projects that address community resources in the time of emergency and the other is for open space preservation or other conservation efforts.
The deadline to apply is June 30. To get information on the process including eligibility go to https://www.delmarva.com/SafetyCommunity/Community/Pages/Environment.aspx .
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Cecil County Chamber of Commerce hosts its quarterly Non-profit Roundtable Wednesday May 31 from 3 until 4 p.m. United Way of Cecil County will lead this hybrid meeting online and in person at Susquehanna Workforce Network, 1275 West Pulaski Highway in Elkton.
This is a free event geared toward helping community organizations support each other. Register in advance at https://cecilchamber.chambermaster.com/eventregistration/register/6698 .
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Minority-led small businesses in Maryland can apply now for a share in a $15 million funding program called State Small Business Credit Initiative. The state is partnering with Lendistry, a minority-led small business and commercial real estate lender.
“Lendistry is committed to giving small businesses the best possible chance at fair and responsible financing they need to grow, and I’m confident this partnership will make a significant impact,” said Lendistry CEO, Everett K. Sands.
This partnership helps the state assist more businesses.
“The Neighborhood BusinessWorks program is a great resource to stimulate investment in communities that are prime for revitalization,” said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day. “The funds allow us to go above and beyond the department’s regular lending capacity and serve even more businesses across the state.”
Meanwhile, Delmarva Power announced its purchase of a record amount of goods and services from diversity-certified suppliers in 2022. In fact, compared to 2021, the company spent $28 million more in 2022.
“We take tremendous pride in growing our commitments with local and diverse suppliers,” said Rodney Oddoye, senior vice president of Governmental, Regulatory and External Affairs at Pepco Holdings, which includes Delmarva Power. “These supplier diversity partnerships are just one of the many ways that our customers and communities benefit from our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We make these investments to power the economies of the local and diverse communities that we serve.”
Business Beat is a weekly column on business happenings in and around Cecil County. If interested in having your business featured in this column, contact Jane Bellmyer at jbellmyer@cecilwhig.com or 443-245-5007.
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