Each summer, Ella Davis and her husband, Dr. Alon Davis, go through the same mental exercise: trying to match their three children up with appropriate summer camps. “We have a young child who loves ballet and gymnastics, a pre-teen who is focused on sports and music, and a young teen who prefers to be indoors playing video games, cooking and hanging out,” said Ella, who runs her husband’s medical practice. “It’s a lot of pressure trying to make sure everyone will be happy.”   No doubt: picking a summer camp for your child can be stressful. Day camp. Sports camp. Art camp. Adventure camp. Sleep-away camp. And then parents have to consider factors such as transportation, cost, safety, location, quality of instruction, supervision … the list is long and often stressful.   According to Kate Gaddis, Recreation Superintendent at Ocean City Recreation and Parks and a working mom, in the race to find programs, parents sometimes forget to... » Click here for the full story.

On February 20, some of the area’s most respected and celebrated citizens gathered at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center in Ocean City to celebrate what was arguably the most formative influence of their lives aside from their immediate families – their childhood alma mater, Worcester Preparatory School.   “Worcester Prep not only prepared me for college brilliantly,” said Troy Purnell, president of Purnell Resort Real Estate and vice-president of Purnell Properties, “it prepared me for essentially every challenge life would have in store for me.”   Purnell attended the school from its founding in 1970, when he was in third grade, through high school. He represented the Mallards in soccer, as a halfback, and baseball, as both pitcher and catcher (though, as he pointed out, not at the same time). But according to the real estate executive and Berlin town councilman, he has good reason for an even deeper attachment to the place than m... » Click here for the full story.

Twenty years ago, the one-story building situated at 1315 Old Ocean City Rd. in Salisbury was home to the adorable Buttons & Bows Child Care Center. But then one day, a silver-haired cyclone of change blew in from the northwest – one whose dusty wake would etch a legacy that in a bold, new way would put that site on the academic map permanently.   That cyclone is otherwise known as Sheila Zimmer, a diminutive dynamo whose vision and courage transformed a former daycare center into one of Maryland’s premier institutions of primary education – Wicomico Day School.   “There can be absolutely no doubt that the driving force behind WDS is Sheila Zimmer,” said Jackie Lanza Jennings, freelance writer and former news anchor/news director for WBOC-TV in Salisbury. “Speak with her for just a few moments, and you will understand exactly why the school has been so successful. Not only is she well educated and completely committed to educating ... » Click here for the full story.

Not knowing the whereabouts of your child is perhaps the most frightening scenario imaginable for a parent. In the initial moments after a disappearance, the simplest of information about a child, such as age, height, weight and hair color, can escape the mind forgotten as panic replaces logic. These crucial details are vital in assisting others to help identify and return the child to his or her loved ones.   Susan Curtis, owner of Curtis & Associates Insurance and mother of two, has spent a good part of the spring traveling to schools, daycare facilities and after-school programs, such as gymnastic and dance academies, to provide a little peace of mind for parents.   Curtis purchased a state-of-the-art child identification system that photographs, digitally fingerprints, and lists essential subject information and outputs it on a credit card-sized form – and she routinely does it free of charge. She often laminates them, too.      “Beco... » Click here for the full story.

Creamy Vanilla Panna Cotta with Balsamic Glaze and Strawberries   Ingredients: 2 tablespoons cold water ½ packet of unflavored gelatin 2 cups heavy whipping cream 1 cup whole milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or a whole vanilla bean split open, seeds stripped out ½ cup sugar plus 2 tablespoons & extra for Balsamic Glaze ½ cup sour cream 1/8 of a tsp of salt 1 cup balsamic vinegar 2 pints of sliced ripe strawberries   Instructions: In a saucepan, combine the heavy cream, whole milk, ½ cup of sugar plus 2 additional tablespoons and the salt. Put on medium and allow the sugar to fully melt and heat everything through, but be sure not to boil. In a small bowl, mix the gelatin and cold water and allow to bloom. Once your milk/cream mixture is steaming, remove from the heat. Stir in vanilla extract or the bean and seeds. Allow to cook for around 5 minutes and then whisk in the bloomed gelatin. The consistency will have changed drast... » Click here for the full story.