The Frederick County Chamber of Commerce became the first chartered Chamber in the United States on May 21, 1912. The business organization plans to celebrate its 100^thanniversary on Monday with a Centennial Gala at the National Cancer Institute’s new Advanced Technology Research Facility (8560 Progress Dr., Frederick).

The event begins with a networking reception at 5:30 p.m. Remarks and introductions will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Advanced Technology Research Facility (ATRF).

More than 600 guests are registered to attend the Chamber Gala and ATRF Ribbon Cutting.

Congrats to the Chamber, here’s to another 100 years of helping Frederick businesses.

This year the West Frederick Farmer’s Market will sound the first opening bell of the season on May 5, 2012 at 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.

The market will be hosting 27 vendors this season packed full with all of the town’s favorite fruits, vegetables, baked goods, fresh meats, pottery, jewelry, plants, and other various crafters. Vendors are getting ready for the last push this week as they prepare for the first Saturday market.

Every year the farmers market continues to grow as the people of Frederick begin to realize the value of buying fresh from the local farmer’s and in turn supporting the local economy. Last year, The West Frederick Farmer’s Market participated in the American Farmland Trust’s America’s Favorite Farmers Markets contest placing 3^rd in the state and 15^th in the nation, a testament to the ever growing devotion of its consumers.

This year expect to see many of the same of vendors, live music, special events, a couple of contests, lots of fresh food, fun, and a nice long season to reap all of the benefits that the market has to offer.

Here is a link to the West Frederick Farmer’s Market’s Facebook page.

The West Frederick Farmer’s Market is located on Baughman’s Lane off Route 40 and is open every Saturday until mid-November.

In order to move forward with plans to replace the aging Fredericktowne Mall, the owners want the property rezoned to accommodate retail shopping without a residential element.

David Severn, a Frederick lawyer representing the DLC Management Corporation, which owns the mall, requested a change in zoning in a letter to Joe Adkins, the city’s director of planning. The mall was previously zoned for general commercial, but switched to mixed use in 2005, when the owners envisioned a shopping center that includes retail and residences. But Severn said there are no tenants ready to build on the site.

“There’s nobody that’s agreed to do anything there,” Severn said, adding that the owners are open to many types of retail, including big-box stores.

Severn said the desire to revert to the previous designation is because the types of shopping centers that included apartments are no longer desirable.

Make sure you read the whole article and if you haven’t been to the mall lately here is a video from a couple months ago:

Via the Gazette’s Twitter feed.

Sabor de Cuba, a restaurant that offers authentic Cuban food, opens today at 9 E. Patrick St., former location of the Ethiopian restaurant in downtown Frederick. The restaurant’s owners, Irieska Caetano and Angel Gattorno, gave us a rundown on the business.

You can check out the menu and get their hours on their website and follow them on Facebook.

Anyone try Sabor de Cuba out yet? If so let us know how it was in the comments.

• You can now register for the 4th annual New Media & Technology Conference presented by the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce
• The interior of Brewer’s Alley was remodeled, photos and details from Frederick & Food.
• Thinking Out Loud took a trip to Lucky Corner and brought a camera. Looks good.
• The Frederick police have released data showing a drop in crime over the last year.
• Wee Man from Jackass was spotted in Frederick.

 follows six diverse community acupuncture patients and shows the impact of affordable acupuncture on their lives and communities. Lindstrom tells the story of the community acupuncture movement: how a small group of loud-mouthed, over-educated, under-employed activists and a massive group of ordinary people with average incomes revolutionized healthcare services by using large empty rooms, old recliner chairs, and two-cent needles.

All the information can be found here.  Tickets are $10 and the stub can be redeemed at the Turning Point clinic for one free acupuncture session.

Doors at MDL Holiday Cinemas will open at 6:00 pm on January 30th, with the screening beginning at 6:30.  Tickets for the documentary are $10 and are redeemable for one free acupuncture session at The Turning Point.  Tickets can be purchased in advance at The Turning Point, 243 W Patrick Street in downtown Frederick.  They will also be available in advance and at the door at MDL Holiday Cinemas.

There is also a very nice article in the FNP today about Jessica, the clinic and the documentary.  I can’t think why I would need it but in the interest of full disclosure, I have been a patient at The Turning Point for a while now and was in the clinic the day the camera crew was filming scenes for the documentary, although I don’t think the camera ever made it over to me.

This is a great opportunity to support a local business owner and to perhaps learn about and try something new!

The Entrepreneur Council of Frederick County, in partnership with the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, will launch the Emerging Entrepreneur Breakfast Club in February. The new forum will allow local business owners to share ideas, solve common problems, and improve their operations.

The new Breakfast Club will meet on the third Tuesday of each month, from 7:30 to 9 a.m., beginning in February. Meetings will be held at the Frederick Chamber’s office at 8420-B Gas House Pike, Frederick. Space is limited to 15 participants. Interested business owners must apply by January 25, 2012, and will be notified of acceptance by the end of January.

More information about the program, including the application to join, can be found on the Chamber’s website.

• Frederick County is launching a new emergency notification system. The alerts will ” … contain only vital information such as flash flood warnings, Amber Alerts, the status of county government, road closures and other notices.”
• You can have birthday parties at the Catoctin Creek Park. Related, the still popular post, Where to Have a Kid’s Birthday Party.
• Food and Frederick, a new blog covering ” … delicious photos & commentary on the social and culinary scenes that exist in the great little corner of the world that is Frederick, MD.” Give them a follow.
• Top 5 Events, Attractions and Commemorations for Visitors to Frederick County in 2012, some upcoming Frederick fun to keep in mind courtesy of Frederick Tourism.
• This shot of Sweet Angela’s Cupcakery makes me a bit hungry, anyone try them yet?
• Frederick Works is an initiative to encourage businesses in Frederick County to be a part of the unemployment solution, by creating and/or filling at least one new job in 2012. You can also follow them on Twitter.
• “The U.S. General Services Administration has awarded a $191,596,000 contract for the Social Security Administration’s new national data facility in Urbana … ” according to the FNP.

Seven underperforming Bloom stores will close including the Bloom in Walkersville located on Woodsboro Pike. The store closed its doors for business last night.

That’s the third grocery store to close in Frederick in the past year, right? The Giant on 40, the Superfresh by Ballenger Creek, any others?

The new 90-seat restaurant will be a modern take on the classic American diner, Voltaggio said, with an industrial, stainless steel look and food to match. Favorites including meatloaf and french fries will be brought up-to-date with new spices and combinations.

“It won’t be hash on a plate. … I’m not going to serve you a $1.99 platter from Denny’s,” Voltaggio said. “It will be the same style as Volt, but with much simpler food.”

Food prices will not mimic those of Volt — the milkshakes will be kept reasonable — but the use of local agricultural products and high-quality ingredients will be reflected in the prices, he said.

The diner will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, he said, and aim to attract a wide variety of customers, from Fredericktonians to visitors passing through along I-70 and I-270.

The Washingtonian reports the current target date for the diner to open is April.

P.S. I tried the Lunchbox this week. I had the Cuban, a cup of soup, and a Mexican Coke for a total cost of about 10 bucks.  The line was long even though it was a rainy day, but it moved pretty quick.