A crowd lines up for a free burrito at California Tortilla when it opened in 2005
	LOCATIONS: Frederick's California Tortilla (The Shops at Monocacy on Md. 26) 1700 Kingfisher Drive, Suite 15 Frederick, Md. 21701 Phone: 301-631-1996 Hours of Operation: Monday to Saturday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday: 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.

What's in it for the one who holds No. 5 million?

"A very exciting ceremony," according to a press release sent out by the Rockville headquartered company today, including a robe, a crown, and a free burrito each week for a year.

"To serve 5 million burritos is a tremendous feat for our company and franchise owners," said California Tortilla President Bob Phillips. "We normally focus on making one darn tasty burrito at a time. It was a great surprise to take a step back and see how many customers we have had the privilege to serve."

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	Scholarshop recipients are honored for academic merit and their interest in pursuing a STEM-related career.

For those not in the know, that's science, technology, engineering or math.

The recipients are Andrea Carras of Middletown High School, Michael Foote of Tuscarora High School, Robert Hoffmaster of Brunswick High School, Lauren Zenner of Frederick High School, Nancy Rogan of Tuscarora High School, Noe Turcios of Maryland School for the Deaf, Tory Fogle of Walkersville High School and Tiffany Green of Governor Thomas Johnson High School.

Frederick County Workforce Services and the Workforce Development Board honored the students based on academic merit and their interest in pursuing a STEM-related career.

Want to know about next year's STEM Scholarship Program? Call Helen Riddle at 301-600-2758.

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Awards

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	Some top awards: Weinberg Center for the Arts, seats for renovation: $25,000 Celebrate Frederick, Summer Concert Series, holidays, etc.: $20,000 National Museum of Civil War Medicine, Civil War Museum promotion: $10,000 Weinberg Center for the Arts Ads promoting Weinberg Center events: $11,500 Downtown Frederick Partnership, First Saturday Gallery Walks: $25,000

Not only is the revenue from the 3 percent added to room-rental bills helping pay for a brand new tourism center, part of the redevelopment of East Street in downtown Frederick, but it’s goes into a fund to promote local tourism-related non-profits and events.

In the coming fiscal year, 2008, $200,000 has been earmarked through the Tourism Reinvestment in Promotion and Product program (or TRIPP), a third more than this, fiscal 2007, which ends June 30.

Nineteen organizations were picked from 26 applicants by a five-member selection committee. The committee recommended how to allocate the money.

“With very competitive applications submitted, the committee had many hours of work evaluating them to determine which programs will bring the most return on our investment,” said TRIPP program chair, Randy McClement, owner of Market Street Bagel and Deli.

TRIPP grants will be awarded in two categories: $80,000 for tourism product development projects; $120,000 in advertising expenditures.

I’ll let you know how it all shakes down on tomorrow’s business page. Check the breakout to the right for some of the top awards.

If you can't wait 'til tomorrow to see who got the dollars, check out TRIPP on the Tourism Council website.

UPDATE 1:46 p.m.: I had a free moment, so I went and had a look at the county budget page to see hotel-motel tax income for the past few years: In 2005, $687,000; in 2006, $850,000; and, as mentioned above, in 2007, $1.1 million.

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Awards

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