Ocean City, Maryland Business Briefs

During a recent gathering in Washington, D.C., of art students and their families from across the 1st District of Maryland, Congressman Wayne T. Gilchrest announced the winners of his annual Arts Caucus competition.
Awards were presented in seven categories: painting, drawing, collage, print, mixed media, computer generated art and photography. The winner gets to have his or her artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for a year.
The overall winner was Michelle McGaughey, a senior at Broadneck Senior High School in Anne Arundel County. Her drawing, “Sports,” won the Best in Show award.
Local Lower Shore winners are:

• Breon Ayers, 10th grader at Snow Hill High School, honorable mention for his painting, “Rotating Colors.”
• Holly Marie Pierson, 12th grader at Worcester Prep, first place for her painting, “REVEALation.”
• Cody Wodkins, 11th grader at Snow Hill High School, third place for drawing, “My Shephard.”
• Woody Sheperd Harrington, 12th grader at Worcester Prep, first place his drawing, “Struggle,” and second place in computer-generated category for his work, “Untitled.”
• Amy Patrick, 11th grader at Snow Hill High School, first place for her print, “The Bird is Hungry.”
• Lauren Price, 10th grader at Worcester Prep, third place for photography, “Pinhole Photograph Girl crossing Footbridge.
• Rachel Davidson, 12th grader at Snow Hill High School, second place for photography, “Blown Fuse.”

Raymond M. Thompson, president and C.E.O. of Calvin B. Taylor Banking Company, has announced that Alysson Smith has joined the staff as a personnel and benefits administrator. 

Smith graduated from Salisbury University in the fall of 2007 with a bachelor's degree in business management, with a concentration in human resources management.

She was the president of SU's Student Society for Human Resource Management and now serves on the Eastern Shore Society for HR Management and is studying for her Professional of Human Resources designation.

The second Ocean City Restaurant Week will take place Sunday, June 1 through Saturday, June 8. Organized by the Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association, this eight-day “culinary experience” will encourage visitors and residents to try the finest restaurants in Ocean City.

Guests can indulge on the best fare Ocean City has to offer from a special price fixed three-course menu for $30 or a two-course lunch menu for $20 (tax, gratuity and alcohol not included). Log ontowww.oceancityrestaurantweek.com to peruse the menus from participating restaurants, and take a peek at the biographies of local chefs. Reservations are not required but are encouraged.

Bayside Rug Company & Brasure's Carpet Care will feature the work of Claire Murray at its shop in the Village of Fenwick from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 18.

Murray is known for her hand-hooked rug designs. During the event, collectors will have an opportunity to meet Murray as well as view her and-hooked rugs, dinnerware, gift items and fine paper.

Della Wilson, with RE/MAX Premier Properties, has qualified for the RE/MAX Platinum Club Award for 2007, which honors agents who have earned at least $250,000 in commissions in the past year. In 2007, only four percent of all RE/MAX Associates received the Platinum Club Award.

Wilson has been working in the real estate industry for more than five years and has extensive experi¬ence in residential properties, commercial properties and new construction projects. Her achievements include induction into the RE/MAX Hall of Fame 2008 and being named Top 25 Agent in 2006 and 2007.

A Novel Idea in Pines Plaza will celebrate its grand opening Saturday, May 10.

The store opens at 9 a.m. and there will be giveaways, grab bags, items with the Ocean Pines theme, and tickets for a drawing at 6 p.m. The Ocean Pines Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m., with authors, artists and photographers on hand signing their work.

Phyllis Brodsky, Colette Sink, Joe Moore, Tom Range, Mary Corddry and Cathy Halligan will make appearances during the day, which will also feature music by Susan Beverly and greetings by the Standard Poodle, Josh. For more information, call 410–641–5211.

Rita’s has arrived in Ocean Pines and the Ocean Pines Area Chamber of Commerce will mark event on Thursday, May 8, with a 3 p.m. ribbon cutting at the Manklin Creek Shopping Center, near the south entrance to the community.

A local chef and one of the resort’s top draws were honored at the Restaurant Association of Maryland’s annual gala at Martin’s West in Baltimore on April 28.

At the 54th Annual McCormick & Company “Stars of the Industry” awards gala, Seacrets Bar & Grill was recognized as the “Favorite Bar & Tavern.”

Chef of the Year honors went to Gary Leach of the Ocean City convention center Centerplate.

Pat Terrill has joined Prudential Carruthers as a rental manager.

Terrill, a consistent top producer in the sales office, is past president of Coastal Association of Realtors, and she has past rental management experience.

Gov. Martin O’Malley has appointed Greg Shockley, owner of Shenanigan’s Irish Pub on the Boardwalk at Fourth Street, to the Maryland Tourism Development Board.

Also appointed to the board is Christopher S. Schardt, senior general manager at Harborplace & The Gallery in downtown Baltimore. The appointments will become effective at the start of the new fiscal year, July 1.