Pictured, from left, are Carlos Mir Operations Manager of Apple’s Berlin location; Dean Coffelt, Apple Drugs Marketing Manager; Cathie Quinn Home Instead Senior Care Recruitment & Retention Coordinator; and Kim Richardson, Home Instead Senior Care Home Care Coordinator. Submitted Photo
Apple Discount Drugs recently received certification as an Alzheimer’s Friendly Business. Home Instead Senior Care, a non-medical home care provider who serves the lower Eastern Shore, facilitated the training for the Apple employees in the Berlin and Fruitland locations. The training provided insight into Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, and offered tips for how to handle common issues that may arise from customers with this disease. All three Apple locations received the training and were issued the Alzheimer Friendly Business certification.
“If a customer approaches the pharmacy counter and has problems communicating their needs, our staff is now trained to remain calm and reassuring and speak slowly to troubleshoot the problem and find a solution for the individual,” said Jeff Sherr, president, Apple Discount Drugs. “We thought this was important information and training for our staff to undergo because we are in the healthcare business and many times we are serving an older demographic in our community. We need to make sure we can understand their needs and help them make informed decisions about their health and well-being.”
Blazer To Attend Stormwater Conference
OCEAN CITY — Long-time Ocean City Environmental Engineer Gail Blazer has been named the recipient of one of two scholarships awarded by the Maryland Association of Floodplain and Stormwater Managers.
The association recently offered two scholarships to its 11th annual conference and Blazer was announced as one of the recipients. The scholarships are aimed toward community officials who would not otherwise have an opportunity to attend the conference and who would benefit greatly by implementing lessons learned upon their return to their communities.
Blazer has been working in the field of floodplain stormwater management for over 30 years. Her attendance at the conference will help the Town of Ocean City be more prepared in answering floodplain and stormwater questions and inquiries. The scholarship waived the registration fee and the 2016 annual membership per individual awardee.
“I’m thrilled to have been chosen as a recipient of this scholarship,” she said. “I’m excited to learn about current issues and programs that can be implemented in Ocean City for flood protection and water quality improvements and I am positive attending the conference will help me better service our community.”
Agent Recognized
OCEAN CITY — The Mark Fritshcle Group/Condominium Realty has announced that one of the company’s top producing Realtors, Dave Whittington, has been recognized as a featured agent in the September Nationwide & International Edition of Top Agent Magazine.
Dave Whittinghton
Top Agent Magazine is the premier real estate magazine featuring the best real estate agents in the USA, Europe, Canada and Australia. The real estate magazine also features articles on up-and-coming real estate agents who are making an impact in their market as well as industry experts and associated businesses that provide real estate agents with important information that could impact their success.
Whittington, an Associate Broker with GRI and e-PRO designations, has been a full-time licensed Realtor since 1999 serving Ocean City, West Ocean and Ocean Pines.
Acquisition Announced
FENWICK ISLAND — Island Watersports LLC has announced the acquisition of Action Watercraft Inc.
Island Watersports has been providing Delmarva residents and visitors with quality boat rentals along with wakeboarding, watersports equipment, and bait and tackle sales.
The company is proud to now be a full service marina, consisting of new and used boat sales, boat service and repair, boat and trailer storage, public boat ramp, fuel dock and over 50 wet slips for seasonal use including slips with boat lifts. In addition to the marina, Island Watersports plans to offer parasailing rides, personal watercraft rentals, and stand up paddle board rentals and sales in the spring of 2016. After a show room renovation occurring this winter, Island Watersports will have a fully stocked pro shop to meet your watersports, accessory and apparel needs.
Island Watersports is located on the Maryland-Delaware line with direct access from 142nd Street in Ocean City and off Route 54 in Fenwick Island right next to Harpoon Hanna’s. The newly acquired five-acre complex will make Island Watersports the largest watersports location on the Delmarva Peninsula and one of the largest on the eastern seaboard.
Employee Promotion
WILLARDS — Atlantic/Smith, Cropper & Deeley has announced a promotion within the transportation practice.
The transportation industry is critical to the economy of the entire nation and unique insurance coverages are needed to protect transportation workers and the companies who employ them.
Gwen Tingle has been promoted to the Transportation Practice Team Leader. She has 25 years of experience in the transportation insurance industry. She joined the Atlantic/Smith, Cropper & Deeley team in 1998 and has years of experience in transportation claims.
Market Data Report
SALISBURY — The number of homes sold increased in much of Maryland’s Eastern Shore region in August, according to The Long & Foster Market Minute reports. The Eastern Shore market includes Worcester, Wicomico, Dorchester, Queen Anne’s, Talbot and Caroline counties.
The Long & Foster Market Minute reports are based on data provided by Metropolitan Regional Information System and Coastal Association of Realtors and their member associations of Realtors and include residential real estate transactions within specific geographic regions, not just Long & Foster sales.
The Eastern Shore real estate market saw some positive trends in the number of homes sold in August. In Queen Anne’s County, the number of homes sold increased by 29 percent, followed by a 26-percent jump in Caroline County and a 22-percent increase in Wicomico County. Talbot County experienced a 14-percent increase in the number of homes sold, and Dorchester County saw a 10-percent increase. In Worcester County the number of homes sold decreased by 2 percent.
The median sale price varied across the Eastern Shore region, with Caroline County seeing a 19-percent increase and Dorchester County seeing an 11-percent increase compared to the same month last year. In Worcester County, the median sale price rose by 4 percent. Other areas experienced declines from 1 percent to 10 percent.
Inventory decreased in many parts of the Eastern Shore region when compared to year-ago levels, according to August data. Worcester County experienced the largest drop at 16 percent, followed by Caroline County at 13 percent. Wicomico County saw active inventory decease by 8 percent and Queen Anne’s County saw inventory decrease by 3 percent. In Dorchester County, the Long & Foster Market Minute reported no change, while Talbot County saw a 2-percent increase in active inventory.
In most areas of the region, homes are selling in two to six months on average, according to the August data. Caroline County experienced an average days on market (DOM) of 65 days, followed by Wicomico County at 103 days. The rest of the region saw homes selling between 105 to 174 days on average.
“Despite concerns about the global economy and the stability of China’s economy and its worldwide impact, consumers in the United States remained confident in the month of August. Consumer spending continued to increase in the U.S., and this was reflected in the real estate industry, including in our local markets,” said Jeffrey S. Detwiler, president and chief operating officer for The Long & Foster Companies. “The Eastern Shore region continued to see improvements in the number of homes sold, and we’re looking forward to a strong fall market.”
Association Head Named
SALISBURY — Delmarva Power Senior Safety Coordinator Robert “Buzz” Gregory has been named president of the Delmarva Safety Association (DSA) for 2015-17.
Robert Gregory
The DSA is a non-profit organization that works to reduce injuries, occupational illnesses and economic losses in the workplace and communities on the Delmarva Peninsula through education, promotion and advocacy in safety.
Gregory becomes the first-ever Delmarva Power employee to serve as president of the DSA board of directors, which is composed of business owners, managers and safety officers from across the Delmarva Peninsula.
“It is an honor to serve as president of the DSA, which brings together a dedicated group of volunteers who are committed to making a positive impact on reducing injuries in the workplace,” said Gregory. “We offer educational safety and health conferences that provide valuable training for employees here on the Delmarva Peninsula.”
Delmarva Power region vice president John Allen said, “We are proud of Buzz taking this leadership role with the DSA. Buzz is a dedicated safety professional who is passionate about keeping our employees safe and enjoys serving the DSA to promote safety in the community.”
A native of Salisbury, Gregory joined Delmarva Power in 1985 and entered his current safety role in 2007 after working as a lineman for 22 years. Gregory is involved in an array of community activities including serving as pastor of the Delmarva Evangelistic Church and as sectional commander of the Royal Rangers on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Bank Leadership Change
VIRGINIA BEACH — Hampton Roads Bankshares, Inc., the holding company for the Bank of Hampton Roads and Shore Bank, has announced the resignation of Douglas J. Glenn as president and chief executive officer and as a director of the company.
Charles M. Johnston, chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors, will serve as the interim chief executive officer of the company while the company conducts a search for Glenn’s replacement. The company also announced it has promoted Donna Richards, president of the Bank of Hampton Roads, to president and chief operating officer
“The company has accomplished a great deal over the past several years. I have been blessed with a great team that was fully committed to establishing the foundation necessary to move the company forward. I am confident that the company’s best successes are still to come,” Glenn said.
Johnston said, “We are extremely grateful to Doug for his years of leadership and dedicated service to the Company, particularly in the difficult years following the recession. Under his leadership, we positioned ourselves for the future with a strong capital base, improved profitability, a better credit risk profile and an enhanced regulatory standing. We will continue to build on that foundation as we search for a strong individual to lead the Company and build shareholder value in the future.”
Richards said, “I am excited about my expanded role and look forward to continuing to work with the great Hampton Roads team to deliver the best products and services to our customers.”