The Coveted Golden Scoop

Rita’s Italian Ice has been a mainstay in Frederick for almost 14 years, delighting ice lovers of all ages with their custards, ices and frozen treats. For 12 years running, Rita’s has been chosen the Number 1 Frozen Dessert by Best of Frederick.  They also received an award for the Third Best Dessert,  and Frederick ice lovers agree! Frederick fans have made Rita’s Italian Ice in Frederick the number one store in the entire chain of 550 locations.

After winning the love and loyalty of Frederick residents, original owners Toni & Frank Rovito are transitioning into retirement and leaving the daily operation of the business in the capable hands of their daughter, Lori Rovito. After managing their Chambersburg store, and working in marketing with the corporate offices in sunny Florida, Lori came back last summer to make Frederick home.

Rita’s is Not Just About Ice

“Rita’s Italian Ice is not just about a frozen dessert. It’s about the experience of time spent with friends, sitting on the bench enjoying a frozen treat on a hot day, and enjoying all that is Frederick. It’s about our community.” Lori explains to me the aspects of being a local business owner, of being a part of a community that she treasures. It’s about seeing parents bring their young children in for an ice on a Saturday afternoon, because that’s what they did as children. It’s about saying hello to the recent college grad who spent his high school summers working at Rita’s. It’s about fundraisers for local non-profits and the community involvement and caring that follows.

Giving Back in Frederick

Fundraising for Childhood Cancer

Rita’s in Frederick not only breaks records in sales, they have raised the bar for non-profit funding within the Rita’s franchises as well. Through the sale of Paper Lemons in June, Lori holds the record as the largest corporate donor to Alex’s Lemonade Stand, the Foundation which raises money for research in childhood cancer. This year Lori promises to SHAVE HER HEAD if Rita’s of Frederick raises $5000 for the charity on her online fundraising page! I have to admit, I want to see that!

A Worthwhile Charity

Lori’s daughter Dena was diagnosed with the same cancer that Alex had, Neuroblastoma, when she was 6 months old, in October 2004. Dena was more fortunate to have the favorable strain, while Alexandra Scott had the unfavorable strain. The good news is that 8-year-old Dena has been cancer-free for 5 years!

But Lori’s life was changed forever. Her joy is contagious, “Every day is a gift. Every day we can give, and with our empty hand open, God is able to give us more.” Her motivation to live a life for God and for others is something that spills over on her employees, her customers and the lucky people she calls friends.

Rita’s Frederick Opening Day Charity Fundraiser – February 29, 2012

Rita’s of Frederick will have their 2012 Grand Opening on Leap Day, and the entire day’s proceeds will go to the top three local charities of the Frederick resident’s choice. That’s right, you get to choose a local charity to support; you can nominate your worthy local charities in 4 ways:

• You can tweet your nomination to @ritasfrederick
• You can post your nomination of Rita’s of Frederick Facebook Page.
• You can place your nomination on the Community Action form on Rita’s Website
• You can email Lori with your nomination at LoriRovito@hotmail.com

What a yummy way to help your favorite local charities! I’m looking forward to that Mango ice!! Thanks Lori for letting your light shine♥  Best wishes for a successful opening day fundraiser and a great 2012.

For more information about Alex’s Lemonade Stand, see the website.  You can “like” Rita’s on Facebook and keep up with all the latest news.  Follow @ritasfrederick on Twitter.

See you at Rita’s! Karen

Mission of Mercy does wonderful and necessary work in the Frederick area. If you’re looking for a fun way to support MoM, check out the Mardi Gras event next week… and you don’t have to travel to New Orleans to find the fun!

February 25, 2112 the Frederick Woman’s Civic Club is hosting their 51st Annual Mardi Gras Ball. On Saturday, at FSK Holiday Inn and Conference Center in Frederick, MD. (5400 Holiday Drive, Frederick, MD) the doors open at 6 pm.

This year the theme is Bourbon Street Blast! You’ll enjoy live music, a silent auction, and raffle: the lucky winner will go home with two cruise tickets!

Don your best Mardi Gras costume, though black tie or active duty military semi/formal attire are fine as well, to enjoy this event while also supporting Mission of Mercy.

 Tickets are only sold in advance. More information and registration can be found The Frederick Woman’s Civic Club website.Enjoy!

Treat Your Love to a Valentine’s Day Dinner Out in Frederick!

Several Frederick Md Restaurants have a special Valentine’s Day Menu, make sure to make a reservation:

• Brewer’s Alley (plus a Chocolate Ale Beer! hmmm… I’m curious:)
• The Cellar Door
• Quynn’s Attic
• Outback
• Schroyer’s Tavern at Maryland National Golf Club
• Red Horse Steak House
• Atlantic Grille

If a Valentine’s Gift is what you’re looking for, look not further than our friends at Frederick Basket Company for some beautiful Valentine’s Day Gift Baskets.

Happy Valentines Day! Karen

ImageChef.com

Now that the Holidays are over, the feasting and imbibing have ended and the resolutions have been made… How are those Resolutions going?  If you’re like me, you’ve probably already slipped up on a few. Sometimes some of us just need a little assistance. After looking at common list of New Year’s Resolutions, I thought I’d pass on some names of several local Frederick Md business people who may be able to help:

Top 4 New Year’s Resolutions:

1. Lose Weight.

This one isn’t a surprise given the latest statistics that 30% of Americans are overweight. When my neighbor lost 40 pounds last year, he got the attention of everyone on the block. His secret: A weight loss program called Ideal Protein.

Chiropractor Steven Digles from New Life Chiropractic Clinic has been helping Frederick residents lose weight effectively and permanently for 3 years. In that time, Frederick has lost 10,000 pounds of fat! Yes, that’s 5 tons that have disappeared. They have trained coaches that give weekly support. If my neighbor is any indication, the program really works!  You can visit their website, or call Dr. Steve @301-668-2222

2.  Get Organized.

Wendy Campbell is the owner of a business called Organize My Frederick Life.  Project Management for Home or Business.  Raised a military-brat, Wendy has moved over a dozen times and has a lot of experience organizing… (plus, she just really loves to do it:) She will work with homeowners or businesses, she’ll help with paperwork or household items, she uses MS Office to simplify your life. She has a package for every need, whether you just want suggestions and a prod to get going, or whether you want to give Wendy the reins, she will work out a plan to meet your organizing needs. Reach Wendy Campbell at orgaizemyfredericklife@yahoo.com

3.  Get Better at Social Media. 

The use of Social Media is growing. According to comScore, an online data gathering site, on average, we spend 20% of our online time on social networks. Whether to keep in touch with friends and loved-ones, or to keep up on the latest news and happenings, Americans are using social media in ways they didn’t in 2007, when social media took up only 7% of our internet use. It’s not a surprise that one of the top New Year’s resolutions is to get better at it.

Frederick businesswoman Kimba Green, of White Lion Social has been passionate about social media since 1997. With 33 years experience in project management and the corporate training industry, she’s always been good at spotting trends. After a layoff in 2008, she eventually found freelancing a great choice and in 2010, she started her own business. She brings her long list of corporate experience to provide Social Web Training & Management to associations, corporations, small business owners and individuals.

“For many years companies have worked hard to build a separation between business and social, to no avail. I think many are coming to realize that it was a losing battle because there is no distinction between social and business any more. Many times my job is to teach businesses how to merge the two” Kimba sees there is a need to ease people’s fears of social media as well as train them in its best practices. Her services can include:

• Developing Protocols and Guidelines
• Creating a Marketing Strategy and integrating Social Media into a Marketing Strategy
• Training and implementing a Social Media Strategy
• Tool Assessment for Time Management

Kimba can be reached in many ways, Twitter: @KimbaGreen,  Kimba Green @LinkedIn, White Lion Social Facebook Page, email: Kimba@WhiteLionSocial.com

 4. Keep in Touch.

One of the top New Year’s resolutions is to do better at keeping in touch with friends, loved-ones and business associates and clients. Even in this age of social media and technological wizardry, we still feel we need to do a better job of keeping in touch.

Colleen Strube, Independent Distributor & Certified Trainer with Send Out Cards provides a solution for businesses and entrepreneurs, as well as individuals who want to do better at keeping in touch with loved ones, friends, clients and customers. Colleen has a passion to help people build their businesses, and has been selling Send Out Cards since 2007.  Send Out Cards is a cost effective way to send greeting cards, calendars, photo books and a variety of gifts.

How does it work? Seamlessly. You upload addresses, choose from 10′s of thousands of card designs, or design your own with logos or photos, then click send. Six high quality printers do the work in their headquarters in Salt Lake City, where the cards are printed, addressed, inserted into a white envelope, and stamped with a first-class stamp. Then, they are mailed the next business day to your recipient. For the 10-card monthly subscription the cost is approximately .99 cents per card (plus postage). For the 50-card monthly subscription, the cost is .62 cents.

Busy business owners will appreciate the savings in time as well as money. Send Out Cards includes a contact management system that allows pre-scheduling and reminders of special events or follow-up communications. And there is no contract, so if you find that the system doesn’t fit your needs, cancellation is also seamless.

Try it out for free at www.ColleenStrube.com, or check out the business itself at Send Out Cards to see about becoming a distributor. email: info@colleenstrube.com or call 301-748-8841.

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Frederick Md is full of creative, hard-working entrepreneurs who can be a possible solution to your New Year’s Resolution.

Best Wishes for a Successful 2012, Karen

February ♥ in Frederick Md

February is a short month…but we’re not short on fun things to do in Frederick Md.

First Saturday in the Historic District

The theme for February’s First Saturday (Feb. 4th) is “Fire In Ice”, my favorite First Saturday, with over 30 beautiful ice sculptures sponsored by downtown merchants. The Evangelical Lutheran Church, 31 E Church will offer babysitting services in the Schaeffer Center from 6—10pm for a flat price of $10 per child. They are raising money for their youth group’s summer trip to the National Youth Gathering. Some of the fun events:

• Live ice carving demonstrations
• Interactive ice playground for the kids
• Marshmallow roasting stations Hot Chocolate
• Live Music on several corners
• Gallery exhibit openings and more…
• More info at Downtown Frederick Partnership

Here’s the video I put together of last year’s event:   Enjoy:)

February Events in Frederick

The Arts in Frederick:

• Weinberg Performances for February, The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra will play this month:)
• February means comedy at Maryland Ensemble Theatre  The MET has 12-week theater and film classes for adults or children that start Feb. 6
• Art Select at The Cultural Arts Center, 15 W. Patrick Street. An art lottery to benefit Frederick Festival of the Arts.
• Improv with the Stars @ the Cultural Arts Center, 8 pm Feb. 3rd. Comedy with local celebrities: Stephen Parnes, Bob Miller, Delegate Kelly Shulz, Alderman Michael O’Connor, Rick Weldon.

February is Black History Month

• The Monocacy Battlefield Visitor Center will have an exhibit all month on slavery in Frederick County.
• National Archives will have several films and exhibits.
• Discover Ellington Festival at the Strathmore

For the Kids

• Daddy-Daughter Dance Feb. 4th 6-8:30 pm at the Frederick Fairgrounds, 797 E. Patrick St.
• Hello Kitty! Breakfast at Adventure Park USA. Feb 11.
• History Hour, the Historical Society of Frederick County, 24 E. Church St., has preschool History Hour programs, the first and third Tuesday of the month from 1 to 2 pm.

Frederick Non-Profits

• Frederick Literacy Council will host the Read-A-Thon Party at the C.Burr Artz public Library, Feb. 11, 10:30 AM to 4 PM.
• The Frederick Women’s Civic Club will have the 51st Annual Mardi Gras Ball, February 25, Frederick Holiday Inn.  Rock & Roll Relics will play, proceeds go to Mission of Mercy

Dining Out in Frederick:

• The Winter Progressive Dinner – Tuesday, February 28, 2012 from 6pm-10pm. Cellar Door, the Orchard, Olive’s and the Wine Kitchen, $90.
• Special Valentine’s Day Menus at several local restaurants.

Feel Free to add any events in the comments! Stay warm!