Volume XXXIII No. 12 Bell Tower Building • Cumberland, MD 21502 December 2015

December 2 8:00 am Legislative Committee Meeting Chamber Boardroom December 3 Noon Annual Membership Meeting Cumberland Country Club December 10 7:30 am Education Committee Meeting Center for Career and Technical Education 4:00 - 7:00 pm Member Holiday Reception Windsor Castle December 11 7:30 am Pre-Legislative Breakfast Cumberland Country Club December 15 8:00 am Leadership Allegany! Steering Committee Meeting All. Co. Dept. of Social ServicesDecember 16 8:00 am Economic Development Committee Meeting Chamber BoardroomDecember 21 8:00 am Leadership Allegany! Alumni Committee Meeting Chamber Boardroom

December Calendar

The Chamber’s annual membership meeting and election of directors will be held on Thursday, December 3rd at noon at the Cumberland Country Club. Candidates are vying for six seats on the Board of Directors. Each qualified member’s vote is important to the candidates and all voting members are encouraged to attend. RSVP’s to the Chamber office are requested.The holiday season is a time to be reminded to “Buy Chamber” whenever possible. Buying from a Chamber member ensures money recirculates locally in our commu-nity. Chamber members are your friends and neighbors providing jobs and opportunity for all of us. If everyone shifted even a small portion of their out-of-area spending to a local business, the difference would be im-pactful. While it may be true you can’t find everything you need locally, there are many opportunities to purchase that perfect gift at a reasonable price right here in Allegany County. Take a look around, you may be pleasantly surprised.The Maryland General Assembly convenes in Annapolis on January 13th for its 436th session with much optimism continuing to surround the new administration. The Chamber’s Pre-Legislative Breakfast will be held on Friday, December 11th at the Cumberland Country Club. The Western Maryland Delegation will be providing their insights on the upcoming legislative session and will take questions from the floor. Now is the time to share your priorities with our delegation. The event begins at 7:30 am at a cost of $20 for Chamber members and $30 for non-members with a buffet break-fast provided. While the General Assembly is in session the Chamber’s Legislative

Executive Director

Chamberthe

Committee meets weekly on Wednesdays in the Chamber boardroom. Maintaining our voice in Annapolis is critical.Thank you to U.S. Cellular for hosting the November “Chamber After Hours”. National Road Autosport was selected as the winner of the $1,000 Network & Win cash drawing. Since no

one from National Road Autosport was present at the event, the cash prize grows to $1,250 for the January “Chamber After Hours” to be hosted by Azad’s of Cumberland at their new location on North Centre Street on January 27th.The highlight of networking opportunities in December is the Chamber’s Annual Holiday Reception. This year’s Holiday Reception is again being held at Windsor Castle, 210 South Centre Street, Cumberland on Thursday, December 10th from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm and is sponsored by Allegany Aggregates, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Hunter Douglas, Potomac Edison/First Energy Corporation, Rusco Home Improvement, State Farm Insurance – Terry McLarney and the Western Maryland Building & Construction Trades Council. This continues to be one event you don’t want to miss. We look forward to seeing you there to celebrate the season.The holidays mean many things to different people. One thing for me is the opportunity to increase my focus on what’s truly important. People are our most valuable asset in life and everyone makes a difference. Realize and appre-ciate the impact people have on each other and believe in the power of you. “Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?”, Clarence Oddbody, Angel Second Class, It’s a Wonderful Life.May the joy of the holiday season be yours. Thank you to all that continue to make the Chamber the force for business advancement and positive change in Allegany County. I look forward to working for you in 2016. Stu Czapski Executive Director

Inclement Weather PolicyIf you are wondering if a

committee meeting or Chamber event will be held during inclement

weather, please contact theChamber office at 301-722-2820.

The Chamber’s voice mail will be programmed to include

details of any cancellation or time change that may be necessary

due to snow or inclement weather conditions.

New Members(Patronize these members and welcome them to the Chamber)

Greenwill Consulting Group92 Franklin Street, Suite 202Annapolis, Maryland 21401410-490-1309 www.greenwillgroup.comContact: Ivan Lanier, CEOEmail: ilanier@greenwillgroup.com Category: State and Local Government AffairsDescription: A highly regarded bipartisan boutique government relations firm located in Annapolis, MD.

Mrs. Patsy KoontzLifetime Dreams Real Estate Services, LLC21 Sold Team Way Ridgeley, West Virginia 26753304-813-5645Fax: 304-738-4103 www.LDRES.comContact: Patsy Koontz, Real Estate SalespersonEmail: patsy@thesoldteam.orgCategory: Real EstateDescription: Real estate professionals serving clients in Western Maryland and Eastern panhandle of West Virginia.

Love’s Travel Stops13300 Ali Ghan RoadCumberland, Maryland 21502301-759-0170 www.loves.comContact: Rick Cowsert, General Mgr.Email: store537@loves.comCategory: Fuel StopDescription: Fuel stop; convenience store

The Morguen Toole Company130 Center StreetMeyersdale, PA 15552814-634-9900 www.morguentoole.comContact: Jeremy and Andrea Hoover, OwnersE-mail: morguentoole@gmail.comCategory: Restaurant, Banquet Facility Hotel/Motel, Pub/BeerDescription: Restaurant and pub with banquet facilities to serve 250 and lodging/hotel accommodations

Maryland AHEC – West39 Baltimore Street, Suite 201Cumberland, Maryland 21502301-777-9150 • 301-777-2649 www.wmahec.orgContact: Susan Stewart, Executive DirectorE-mail: sstewart@wmahec.orgCategory: Non-Profit, Health/EducationDescription: Serve area to promote quality in healthcare through educational partnerships by collaborating with local, state, federal and private organizations

Annual Membership MeetingThe Chamber’s Annual Membership meeting will be held on

Thursday, December 3, 2015 at Noon at the Cumberland Country Club. The cost to attend is $20.00 per person which includes lunch.

Reservations are required – please rsvp to amy@alleganycountychamber.com or directly to the Chamber 301-722-2820.

ELECTIONS:Six individuals will be elected during the meeting to serve a three-year term

on the Board of Directors:

William G. Boyer, III, Chick-Fil-A in the Country Club MallJeremy G. Irons, Carl Belt, Inc.

Debra M. Langan, Langan General Contracting/Anchor HomesNicole Alt-Myers, Myers Building Systems

Jeffery D. O’Neal, Western Maryland Health SystemTroy A. Raines, The Lions Center for Rehabilitation and Extended Care, Inc.

Member Holiday ReceptionMark your calendar for the Annual Member Holiday Reception scheduled for

Thursday, December 10th from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Windsor Castle, 210 South Centre Street, Cumberland, Maryland. Make plans to join us for the festivities – stay for an hour, a few moments or the entire time – we look forward

to seeing you and wishing you a very happy holiday season. This year’s reception is sponsored by:

Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and blissful liquid refreshments.Entertainment will be provided by Hot Sauce Willie – including dancing and

at least one round of musical chairs. This is one event you do not want to miss!! There will be great food, drink, fellowship, dancing and unlimited networking – we hope you can join us. The reception provides the Chamber an opportunity

to say “thank you” to you, our membership, for all the hard work and dedication you have provided us throughout the year. We look forward to seeing you on December 10th.

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Pre-Legislative Breakfast

Friday, December 11, 20157:30 am

Cumberland Country Club

Member Profile: Charis Winery 17 Howard Street, Suite C5 Cumberland, MD 21502 240-581-3875 www.chariswinery.com What began as a hobby was birthed into a business May 1st 2013. After 2 years of research and preparatory work Charis Winery opened as a fully operational winery at the Canal Place Shops in down-town Cumberland with a limited production for its first year. That first year Charis pro-duced six different wines. Three years later production had more than quadrupled with a product line of fifteen wines between two brands. Charis endeavors to continue to develop its wines to a higher quality. Several wines have been award winners in Maryland and abroad. Charis wines include premium reds and whites as well semi-sweet and sweet fruit-grape blends. Chuck Park, the “wine-maker” states; “it is our desire to produce wines that people enjoy whether they are just beginning to drink wine or have a well-seasoned mature palate.”Charis host a number of activities from walk-in tasting to private wine tasting parties to the Art Wine and Canvass painting events. About 78 percent of the folks that visit the tasting room are from out of town. This fall there have been folks from many of the states surrounding Maryland and beyond as well visitors from England, Italy, China and Russia, to list just a few.Moving forward Charis continues to increase production each year. One goal for 2016 is to begin making wine available in restaurants and wine shops throughout Maryland. Charis is also working to expand the hours

of operation of the Tasting Room to give more folks opportunity to taste a part of local Allegany County flavor!When asked why operate a local winery: Chuck shares a quote by Robert Mondavi, “Wine to me is passion. It’s family and friends. It’s warmth of heart and generosity of spirit. Wine is art. It’s culture. It is the essence of civilization and the Art of Living.” – Cheers!

Annual MeetingThursday,

December 3, 2015Noon

Cumberland Country Club

Leadership Allegany! Stocking Stuffers

The Leadership Allegany! Alumni Committee has coffee mugs

for sale that would make great stocking stuffers for alumnus members.

Cost: $12.00

To order please contact the Chamberoffice at 301-722-2820

ChambertheStuart C. Czapski, Executive Director

Allegany County Chamber of Commerce 2015 Officers Chair: Maureen T. Brewer First Vice Chair: Jeremy G. IronsSecond Vice Chair: Debra M. LanganImmediate Past Chair: James J. “Snake” Robertson

Bell Tower Building 24 Frederick Street, Cumberland, Maryland 21502 301-722-2820 • 301-722-5995 Fax e-mail: info@alleganycountychamber.comwww.alleganycountychamber.com

The Chamber News is published monthly by theAllegany County Chamber of Commerce

Pre-Legislative BreakfastThe Allegany County Chamber of Commerce

Pre-Legislative Breakfast will be held on Friday, December 11, 2015 beginning at 7:30 am

at the Cumberland Country Club. The program is sponsored by the Legislative Committee

of the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce.

The Western Maryland Delegation will be in attendance to discuss issues with the 2016 Legislative Session.

The delegation comprised of Senator George Edwards, Delegate Wendell Beitzel, Delegate Jason Buckel and

Delegate Michael McKay will also take questions from the floor. The meeting will conclude by 9:00 am.

The cost to attend is $20.00 for Chamber members. To make reservations, contact the Chamber at

301-722-2820, fax 301-722-5995 or email: amy@alleganycountychamber.com or

peg@alleganycountychamber.com.

Ribbon Cutting CeremonyThe Allegany County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, November 13, 2015 to celebrate the new location for U. S. Cellular, now located at Winchester Court, 12317 Winchester Road, Suite 300, LaVale, Maryland. U. S. Cellular is the fifth-largest full-service wireless carrier in the United States, providing national network coverage and industry-leading innova-tions designed to elevate the customer experience. To learn more about them visit their website at www.uscellular.com.

Front Row Pictured left to right:Stu Czapski, Executive Director, Allegany County Chamber of Commerce, Kim Furey, U. S. Cellular, Staci Love, U. S. Cellular, Josh James, U. S. Cellular, Tessa Sawyers, U.S. Cellular, Sandy Pattison, U.S. Cellular,Brenton Renner, U. S. Cellular, Tim Arnold, U.S. Cellular, Chasity McKenzie, U.S. Cellular, Maureen Brewer, Board of Director Chair, Allegany County Chamber of Commerce, Annette Wolford, Membership Committee Member, Allegany County Chamber of Commerce,James Robertson, Board of Director Member, Allegany County Chamber of Commerce, and Steve MacGray, Board Member, Allegany County Chamber of Commerce. Back Row:Amanda Thomas, U. S. Cellular, Tony Shillingburg, U.S. Cellular,Rod Barker, Membership Committee Chair and Board Member, Allegany County Chamber of Commerce, and Stacey Bingaman, Board Member, Allegany County Chamber of Commerce

Member Holiday ReceptionThursday,

December 10, 20154:00 – 7:00 pmWindsor Castle