The Daily Record News Briefs: November 18, 2008

Daily Record, The (Baltimore), Nov 18, 2008

Gaddy center seeks donations

With less than two weeks remaining until Thanksgiving, the Bea Gaddy Family Center is seeking donations to support its annual ThanksGaddy Dinner that is expecting to provide 50,000 hot meals to disadvantaged Baltimore families and individuals. This will mark the 27th anniversary of the annual Thanksgiving dinner started by the late local philanthropist and community volunteer, Bea Gaddy. Last year more than 42,000 meals were served. The center, at 425 N. Chester St. in Baltimore, is open 24/7 to accept turkeys and non- perishable food items, new or gently used winter clothing, paper supplies and monetary donations. Volunteers also are needed to help prepare and serve the ThanksGaddy Dinner. For information, call 410- 563-2749.

Biofuels plant to move here

New Generation Biofuels Holdings Inc., of Houston, a provider of renewable fuels, said it will move its existing biofuel pilot facility from Cincinnati to Baltimore, where the company recently announced plans for a 25 million gallon-per-year, full-scale production facility at the port location of Atlantic Terminaling. The pilot facility, which can be scaled up at full capacity to produce up to eight million gallons annually of advanced, second- generation biofuel, is expected to be back in service by year-end, and will be used primarily to support early sales commitments, the company said in a release.

Leased by First Potomac

First Potomac Realty Trust, of Bethesda, announced two large leases totaling 79,000 square feet. The U.S. General Services Administration leased 51,279 square feet in First Potomac's Interstate Plaza, a two-story, 109,000-square-foot building in Alexandria, Va. GSA is taking the entire upper level of the building and is scheduled to occupy the space in January 2009. The second lease is by weather equipment maker Sutron Corp., the lead tenant in a newly constructed building in the Sterling Park Business Center in Sterling, Va. Sutron will occupy 27,817 square feet in May 2009.

COPT starts Aberdeen project

Corporate Office Properties Trust, of Columbia, announced it is breaking ground on the first building at North Gate Business Park in Aberdeen, a 765,000-square-foot business park that will include a small portion of retail space. The project, located on Route 22 at the north entrance of Aberdeen Proving Ground in Harford County, is expected to attract defense contractors moving to Aberdeen from Fort Monmouth, N.J., as a result of the Base Realignment and Closure process. COPT has two buildings under development, the first containing 80,000 square feet with an anticipated completion date of fourth quarter 2009, and the second totaling 85,000 square feet with an anticipated completion date of second quarter 2010.

Fund-raising effort succeeds

Upper Chesapeake Health Foundation, the fund-raising arm of Bel Air-based Upper Chesapeake Health, announced that it raised $12.2 million in a two-year-long capital campaign, $200,000 more than the original $12 million goal. Funds have been used to support community outreach, expansion and renovation projects at Harford Memorial Hospital and Upper Chesapeake Medical Center. The campaign, titled "We're Here for Life," was the largest in Upper Chesapeake's history. Officials said the funds support new services that will be needed as the region prepares for an influx of new residents tied to the BRAC process, and the increased demands of an aging population.

Md.'s gloomy retail outlook

For the first time in more than two decades, Maryland's retailers are being told not to expect any sales increases for the holiday shopping season. The Maryland Retailers Association has delivered pre-holiday sales forecasts for 22 years, but this is the first year the group has not predicted at least a modest sales increase. In its report, the MRA cited declining home values, stagnant wages, growing unemployment and this year's increase in the state sales tax. The MRA based its sales predictions on a survey of its members and what it called "a review of industry data and economic indicators."

Farecards' sales outlets

The D.C. Metro system's plastic, reusable farecards soon might be available at local pharmacies. The transit agency is in negotiations with nearly 200 CVS drug stores to sell SmarTrip cards. If the Metro board approves a plan this week, passengers will able to buy the cards at the stores for $10. The cards will come loaded with $5 of fares. The transit system will eliminate paper bus transfers in January. SmarTrip cards can now be purchased online and at Metro sales offices, commuter stores and vending machines at subway stations with parking facilities. Some Giant Food supermarkets also sell the farecards.

Hotels housing homeless

Montgomery County is paying to house homeless families at motels. The head of the county's Health and Human Services Department, Uma Ahluwalia, said the county has been overwhelmed by the number of people needing shelter. She said the worsening economy has made it harder for the county to find permanent housing for the growing number of homeless people. The county is paying $5,720 per day to house 52 families at motels. Ahluwalia told the County Council last week that the county will run out of money to pay for motel rooms in April.