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.

The Bicycle Escape is pleased to announce its relocation to 7820-E Wormans Mill Road, across from Wegman’s in the Clemson Corner Shopping Center.  “The move has been a little bittersweet as we have made a lot of good friends in our previous  location, but in order to better serve our customers we needed a larger facility,” said Tom Rinker, owner. The new shop provides a more spacious floor plan and a new state of the art service center, which will allow us to give our customers exactly what they deserve—the very best,” Rinker said.

“We were going through some major growing pains in the old shop,” stated Danielle Rinker, Tom’s wife and co-owner of The Bicycle Escape. “Our space for new products was becoming non-existent and we needed to do something, and then Clemson Corner was built and it fits our needs perfectly,” she added.

In the new store customers will find more specialized inventory and a greater variety of bikes and bicycling accessories. “What has not changed, however, is our commitment to our customers, our willingness to offer advice, and help each person choose the best possible bike for his or her needs,” Rinker said, adding, “We’d also like to expand our restoration service. It’s wonderful to see the joy on a person’s face when they see their old and rusty beloved bike after it has been transformed to its original style and  beauty,” Rinker noted.

The new store is welcoming, with its brightly painted walls and fully stocked shelves. Roger Rinker, the store’s manager, stated, “The new shop looks great and I am so excited to be a part of it. Our customers are fantastic and I love how supportive they have been through the moving process and our staff has gone above and beyond to make certain that everything was ready for opening day.”

“I can only imagine a bright future in our new location,” Tom Rinker remarked. “We have been greeted so warmly by the center’s management, fellow merchants, and the public that I can only see this as a positive step forward for our business,” he added.

In addition to owning the bike shop, the Rinker’s and their employees are passionate about cycling and their community. Tom is a founder and president of the bicycle advocacy group, The Frederick Bicycle Coalition, which promotes a more bicycle friendly Frederick, as well as bicycle safety and awareness.

For additional information visit www.thebicycleescape.com or call 301-663-0007.

The new store, located in the former 84 Lumber site at 101 Willowdale Drive, has more than 10,000 square feet of retail space.

The new store also has a drive-through donation area.

“People just pull up, we unload and they can scan their smartphone on the QR code and we email them a receipt,” Sauter said. “They don’t even have to get out of their car.”

The Goodwill store on East Church Street is now The Last Rack, where shoppers can find clothing at discount prices. There is also a store on Buckeystown Pike.

Find more information about area Goodwill Stores on the Goodwill of Monocacy Valley site. You can also follow them on Twitter.

The second Sunday of August to the following Saturday is designated as Shop Maryland Week each year. That means qualifying apparel and footwear $100 or less are exempt from the Maryland 6% sales tax. This year, Shop Maryland Week is August 14-20. Accessory items are not included.

Additionally, there will be a tax-free three-day weekend during which the sales and use tax will not apply to the sale of any Energy Star Product listed below, or solar water heater. This tax-free weekend will occur the weekend of February 18, 2012, through February 20, 2012.

Energy Star Product means an air conditioner, clothes washer or dryer, furnace, heat pump, standard size refrigerator, compact fluorescent light bulb, dehumidifier, or programmable thermostat that has been designated as meeting or exceeding the applicable Energy Star Efficiency requirements developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

It’s hard to believe it’s already time to think about going back to school.

I’m looking forward to exploring Frederick with the fresh eyes of a new downtown resident!  What are your favorite walking routes?

• Opening and Closings: The Giant on 40 is closing. The Giant on Monocacy Blvd has opened a new gas station and is getting remodeled inside and out. I assume for competing with the new Wegmans. The Lowe’s in Clemson Corner opened this past week.
• Flying Dog Backyard Ale is a collaboration between Flying Dog Brewery and Bryan Voltaggi. It made Esquires list of The Best New Beers of Spring.
• “Frederick is among the top 10 most secure places in the US, according to a recent ranking by Farmers Insurance.” Source: City of Frederick Press Release
• A review (with lots of photos) of Sumittra, the new Thai restaurant downtown.
• The Mud Dog Run lived up to its name. Very muddy indeed.