A new coffeehouse, Spill the Beans Organic Coffee and Chat House, has opened up recently on Elkins Street in Mount Vernon.

"It was a dream of my wife Donna to open and run a small coffee house in the neighborhood" said Mario Memmo. "It took a while to write up the business plan but she did and we opened five months ago. Since then business has been steady and building."

In addition to tea and a variety of coffee drinks and beverages, Memmo has planned a number of weekly and monthly events. Mr. Skip comes on Fridays at 12:30 p.m., Homework Happy Hour is on Tuesdays at 3 p.m., check www.spillthebeansva.com for open mike evenings and other activities.

Last Sunday, local jewelry designer Tricia Thackston held a trunk show of her designs. Thackston has been selling her designs for almost four years now. "I have been making jewelry since I was a child, and with encouragement from my family and friends, I decided to start a business." Thackston’s one-of-a-kind pieces are made with precious metals, semi-precious stones, pearls and Swarovski crystals.

A percentage of the profits from all sales are being put towards her donation to the upcoming AVON Walk in May. Thackston has walked the 39.3 mile course for the past three years.

This year her son Connor, 10, has been selected to be on the Walk’s Youth Crew. Each crew member must raise $600. Connor, with the help of his younger sister Mia Rose, is selling "Fairy Crowns" in red and pink. Mia Rose, a first grader, designed and made the crown kits. Connor is also planning to organize a special school fair this spring to help with the fund-raising. For more information on Trish Thackston’s jewelry visit www.trishthackston.com.