PBA Update

The Pasadena Business Association held its annual tree lighting with a crowd of 1,000 people in attendance. We had games, cookies, hot chocolate, a photo booth and, of course, the most popular Santa and his elf. Pictures with Santa were a highlight for the evening.

We want to thank the businesses that make this evening possible: Ace Hardware & Hearth, Arundel Federal Savings Bank, Atlantic Coast Charters, Bay Country Rentals, Bruster’s Ice Cream, Calvert Veterinary Center, Katrina Krauss Photography/Free State Photo Booth, Macaroni Kid, Marco Pizza, Mojo Creative Digital, Mutiny Pirate Bar & Island Grille, the Greene Turtle, Two Rivers Steak & Fish House, and Welcome to Neverland.

We also want to thank DJ Marcus for the great music and dancing, the Eastern District Police and Reserve officers, Lake Shore and Riviera Beach fire departments, Russ Schlick Ladder Truck, Delegate Nic Kipke and his family for lighting the tree, and Santa and his elf for taking time from their busy schedule.

We need to thank all of our PBA members who helped to make this a special night for all of the children: Pasadena Pawn & Gun, the Pasadena Voice, Ace Hardware, Coffee News, Idea Weaver Promotions, Edward Jones – Brian Conrad, JB Machine, AVON – Gina Cook, Arundel Federal Savings Bank, Dick Parrish Design, The Ice Shack, Secure Solutions Lock & Key, An Extraordinar Limousine, Gab Communications, Friends of Downs Park and Gable.

The Pasadena Business Association was able to adopt 73 children from 27 families this year for Christmas with the help of our business partners and members of the community. We thank everyone for their contribution to this project. It is truly a blessing that we are able to provide for those less fortunate. The Pasadena community is so giving.

Many thanks to Calvert Vet, Marie Johnston, Chesapeake High School cheer and football teams, Chesapeake robotics, John and Bunnie Clark, Stephanie Molony, Brown’s Toyota, North Arundel Federal Savings Bank, Fay’s Bus, Melanie Meeks, Stacey Mork, Friends of Downs Park, Jenni Smith, Leah Stocksdale, Cityline Business Park, Clark and Anderson, Holly Bair, Ace Hardware, Jet Blast, Crabby Crawlers, Chesapeake High School faculty, Baker Sisters Dentistry, Northeast High drama department, Arundel Federal Savings Bank, Absolute Underground, The Office, Victory Lounge, Pat’s Select, Michele Dunn, Huff Insurance, Lauer’s Supermarket, BB & T Bank, Margie Englert, Peggy Preloh, Carmie Buckey, Kelly Murphy, Sue and Josh Chiasson, Bay Country Rentals, Shirley Jacobs, Bonnie Dausch, the Bank of Glen Burnie, PBA Leads Group, David Moore of Coldwell Banker, Diana Levine, Arundel Business Builders, Idea Weaver Promotions, and anyone who made a donation at the tree lighting, bought an ornament or brought a toy.

The Pasadena Business Association held its elections in early January. Our officers for 2017 are President Jerry Nicklow, Huff Insurance; Vice President Doug Cashmere, Ace Hardware & Hearth; Treasurer Linda Loane, Pasadena Pawn & Gun; Secretary Angela Balsamo, Coffee News. Our board of directors: Hayley Bowerman, Gab Communications; Mary Brodowski, BB&T; Brian Conrad, Edward Jones; Lisa Hart, Arundel Federal Savings Bank; Larry Sells, Pasadena Voice; Ruth Toomey, An Extraordinar Limousine. The board of directors will appoint a seventh member to fill a one-year term left open when Angela Balsamo moved to the secretary position.

This is a great time to join the Pasadena Business Association. The dues are a small investment into a great organization. Our Membership Directory and Community Guide is a great tool used by the community to find goods and services, so join now and don’t miss your opportunity to be included in the directory. (Deadline is March 31). We just celebrated 30 years and are proud of our group of businesses.

If you are looking for a business for repairs, lawn care, plumbing, electrical, financial, community services, medicines, dining, catering, sweets, heating/air conditioning, specialty services, or promotional items, pick up our directory at area businesses or check our website. Try to shop local whenever possible so we can keep our hard-earned money in Pasadena. These local businesses support our community, so we need to support them.

We are gearing up for our annual scholarship fundraiser on March 4 from 7:00pm to 11:00pm at Kurtz’s Beach. Dust off your parachute pants, members-only jackets, stirrup pants and leg warmers, and come rock to the ‘80s. We will have a bull and oyster roast, and a dance featuring the ‘80s cover band Guys in Thin Ties. All proceeds go toward scholarships for local high school seniors. We will have a silent auction, raffles and costume contest. Tickets are $40 each if purchased by February 24 and $50 each after that date. Food, draft beer, wine, soda, coffee and tea are included. There will be a cash bar for mixed drinks and bottled beer.

This event is open to the public, so if you are interested in investing in our future, buy some tickets and have some fun. For tickets, to donate a silent auction item or to volunteer, contact Jerry Nicklow (Huff Insurance, event chair) at 410-647-1111 or Jerry@Huffinsurance.com. Tickets are on sale at BB&T, located at 3030 Mountain Road; Huff Insurance at 8349 Ritchie Highway; and Arundel Federal in Lakeshore Plaza. You must pay by check or cash at these locations. You can pay by credit card on the website, www.pbafundraiser.com, or mail a check to the PBA office, PO Box 861, Pasadena, MD 21123-0861.

We have sponsorship level if you are interested in promoting your business. Check out the website listed above. If you would like to donate a prize to the silent auction, let Jerry know.