Croptopia Getaways, a premier source for weekend scrapbook getaways, invites you to join its first Annual Southern Getaway being held Aug. 6-8, at the Embassy Suites. Acclaimed papercrafter Jenni Bowlin will teach three workshops during the event.

Croptopia offers exciting events for avid album makers to escape the everyday demands of life and to scrapbook while enjoying the company of others, sharing ideas and having fun.

Croptopia's first annual event in Charleston will bring together everything a scrapbooker needs. Join vendors for three days of cropping and shopping in a Marketplace of exhibitors. Ignite your creativity in a Creation Station complete with Sizzix, a huge Cricut Corner and a Technology Center. Guests also will enjoy buffet meals, lots of table space (everyone has an end seat), goodie bags and prizes. A massage therapist will be on-site to help guests unwind and let the creative ideas flow.

Can't come for the weekend? Join Croptopia for an overnight or just for the day. Workshops are open to everyone (pre-registration required). Shopping is open to the public on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $1 at the door.

Croptopia was founded by Susan Shallo, a Mount Pleasant mother and entrepreneur with a passion for scrapbooking and event planning. She held her first event with 105 scrappers in November 2003, and her business has grown ever since. Other upcoming Croptopia events include a Scrapbooking Cruise to the Caribbean as well as events throughout the East Coast.

For information or to register, visit www.croptopiagetaways.com. Or, if you're on Facebook, add "Croptopia Getaways" as a friend.

Elite Gold

Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina is pleased to announce that it has been certified as a Gold Hotel by Elite Meetings International (EMI), an innovative company that offers solutions to assist top planners in researching the best properties for meetings and incentives throughout North America.

Elite Gold status is granted by EMI's Elite Meetings Advisory Board, a distinguished body comprised of meeting professionals and hospitality executives. The board considers the resorts and hotels based on a demonstrated commitment to providing an exceptional group experience. A number of criteria factor into the advisory board's assessment, including the arrival experience, accommodations, meeting and event facilities, activity options, food and beverage, and most importantly, service.

"Our goal in establishing Elite Gold Certification is to offer a peer-rated resource that supports meeting planners in recognizing properties whose high level of facilities, service and amenities place them among the best hotels nationwide," said Kelly Foy, CEO of Elite Meetings. "We're proud to offer Elite Gold Certified status to Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina. Our endorsement reflects our belief in the outstanding standards that visiting groups can expect."

"Having been chosen to be a part of Elite Meetings is a privilege and testament to the high standards we set to make each guest experience exceptional. To have our hotel be approved by both industry veterans as well as those who do business at our property is a real honor and acknowledgement of our hard work," says Tracy Mitchell, Director of Sales and Marketing for Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina.

Connectionomics Team

Pam Hartley, Founder of Momentum Marketing, announced that Melissa Hoefel has joined Momentum Marketing as a Marketing Specialist. Melissa Hoefel graduated from the College of Charleston in May 2010 with a B.A. in Corporate Communications.

Having interned all over Charleston, Hoefel brings a breadth of public relations and marketing experience to Momentum. While at the College of Charleston, Hoefel gained experience at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, the Lowcountry Affiliate of Susan G. Komen, Charleston Magazine and Harbour Club of Charleston. Most recently she interned at Elm Public Relations, where she assisted with public relations for national clients, including OfficeMax.

Momentum focuses on providing clients with the tools to compete and win in the 21st century marketing world with its "Connectionomics" strategy to new media. Hartley has developed the Connectionomics strategy that blends social media and public relations to put clients on the fast-track to success. Hoefel will be working in the social media department to provide clients with guidance, fresh ideas and delivery of weekly posts to strengthen their image and contact with customers and potential customers.

Hartley expressed the importance of integrating social media with traditional marketing to be successful in today's business world. "Just as businesses are constantly changing based on consumer demand, so must the marketing industry. At Momentum, we've educated ourselves on the viral phenomenon and can provide clients with the right tools to succeed in today's market. Melissa Hoefel's previous internship experience and eagerness to tackle our client's social media needs is a tremendous asset to our company."

Momentum Marketing is a full service advertising agency and marketing firm, representing a diverse range of clients in South Carolina, Georgia, Texas and Illinois. Momentum blends effective marketing strategies, traditional media and cutting edge personal development techniques to deliver personalized customer service approaches and marketing plans that produce instant results and instigate the power word of mouth phenomenon. With expertise in branding, web development, advertising, SEO, social media, public relations and marketing, Momentum delivers a vital collaborative edge in today's new media marketplace.

Oliver Mathewes

On Saturday, April 24, more than 2,000 Charleston area residents showed off their team spirit and their love for babies by participating in this year's March of Dimes - March for Babies. Walkers raised more than $360,000 in support of babies that need help to survive and thrive. As a result, fewer families will experience the heartache of having a baby who has to spend weeks or months in neonatal intensive care.

The money raised will help the March of Dimes organization continue to fight for health insurance for all pregnant women and children; advocate for newborn screening that can save lives and prevent mental retardation; provide comfort and information to families with a new born in intensive care; support vital research to find more ways to prevent premature birth and birth defects and fund local programs that help mothers and babies.

Carolina One Real Estate's commercial broker/manager, Oliver Mathewes, Chairman of this year's March for Babies event, was selected to the March of Dimes Circle of Champions and honored as the Top Adult Fundraiser for having raised more than $1000. Mathewes, who has been selling real estate since1981, is a native of Charleston and holds a BS degree in Accounting and Economics. He is very involved with several non-profit groups and community service projects. In 2000, he received the distinguished Dave O'Shaughnessy Service Award for his many unselfish contributions to the community.

Allstate

Allstate Insurance Company has recognized Allstate exclusive agency owners Jerry Bacon (North Charleston), Paul Langston (Mount Pleasant) and Steve Peper (North Charleston) with the President's Conference award for high standards in customer satisfaction, customer retention and profitable business growth.

Their agencies are now among the top Allstate agencies in the nation in auto, property, commercial, power sports insurance and financial services sales.

With their teams, this group is dedicated to helping customers meet their protection and retirement needs while managing a successful small business.

Bacon Insurance Services, Inc., is located at 4892 Ashley Phosphate Road in North Charleston, and can be reached at 569-0680, or via e-mail at jerrybacon@allstate.com.

The Paul Langston Agency is located at 1143 Chuckdawly Blvd. in Mount Pleasant, and can be reached at 849-7477, or via email at paulglangston@allstate.com The Peper Agency is located at 2128 Ashley Phosphate Road in North Charleston, and can be reached at 572-5511, or via email at stevepeper@allstate.com.

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the "You're In Good Hands With Allstate<0x00AE>" slogan, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to help more than 17 million households insure what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow. Consumers access Allstate insurance products and services through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, as well as via www.allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate<0x00AE>.

Protecting history

The Morris Island Lighthouse, which was built in 1876, has been sitting in the Atlantic Ocean since Morris Island eroded out from under it about 70 years ago. In addition to the wear and tear caused by the Atlantic Ocean, the Lighthouse's foundation of wood pilings and cross timbers has served as food for sea worms, also known as Marine Borers.

Sea worms are one of the most destructive marine organisms, feasting on immersed wood. An infestation of Marine Borers causes wood pilings to weaken and eventually collapse, which is exhibited in the lighthouse structure. The pilings supporting the Morris Island Lighthouse are infiltrated with sea worms. Palmetto Gunite Construction of Ravenel, S.C. hired Palmetto Exterminators' Graduate Entomologist Bert Snyder to investigate and make recommendations regarding possible ways to treat the Marine Borers and to prevent any future infestations.

Palmetto Gunite Construction was awarded the $1.9 million contract to put concrete pilings under the tower. The plan is to bore holes into the foundation next to the current pilings and feed caissons through the holes into the ocean floor. They will then fill the caissons with rebar and concrete, essentially building support beams from the marl up. The poured cement will overflow onto the current pilings encasing them in cement; this cutting off the oxygen supply to the Marine Borers. This phase of the restoration work should be complete by September 1st. "Finally there is a way to seal the pilings, once and for all solving the sea worm problem and saving the lighthouse."

Graduate Entomologist Bert Snyder said, "I am pleased to be a part of this restoration and preservation project."

Palmetto Exterminators, a family owned and operated business has been protecting people's health, their property and the environment since 1960. With eight locations serving customers in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia and two graduate Entomologists on staff, Palmetto Exterminators strives to lead the industry in innovation. For more information regarding Palmetto's termite, pest and mosquito control programs please visit www.palmettoexterminators.net or visit our Facebook page.