This appeared in today’s issue of Shelf Awareness (www.shelf-awareness.com)Congratulations to Susan L. Weis, proprietress of breathe books, Baltimore, Md., who was named Merchant of the Year by the Hampden Village Merchants Association, her local business association. She was cited for running a successful business, for many events that “bring lots of people to Hampden”–she has 73 planned in April alone–for being “a positive, creative force for our community” and for her work for the association, where she has been secretary for two years. (Incidentally, Benn Ray, owner of Atomic Books, is president.)

Weis, who is also on the ABA’s Bookseller Advisory Council, contributes to New Age Retailer and last but not least does a column on New Age topics and is a reporter on occasion for Shelf Awareness, wrote: “I was very excited to win. My bookstore has only been open three and half years and to be recognized by my peers whom I greatly admire, was really wonderful.

“Fittingly for our eclectic, funky little neighborhood, the Merchant of the Year Award is a giant golden cup, reminiscent of a bowling trophy! Everyone who wins gets their name engraved on the side. The winner keeps the trophy until he or she must relinquish it to the next years’ winner. I keep the cup atop a stand behind the counter. It’s a nice reminder of what it means to be in business in a warm and caring independent business culture such as this little haven called Hampden in Baltimore.”