MISSING SOMETHING HERE…?
NOTE: One day after this blog was posted, the message, ‘Fiddlers Convention’ and the dates – September 25, 26 and 27 appeared on the mentioned sign. A very grateful THANK YOU to whomever. This town; its people and businesses are far too important to be neglected or further politicized!
En route to someplace located near U.S. Route 50 yesterday I passed OUR town sign located in the median strip across from the Maryland State Police Barracks. I had to do a double take to see if the back looked the same as the front. Yep, it too was bare!
My thoughts also took a quick turn – aren’t we preparing for the largest and most popular event that our town holds annually – The Berlin Fiddlers Convention? Sure we are, I saw a poster through email the other day. And, isn’t this coming ‘end of summer’ weekend (and the one that follows) historically the last and best – with visitors traveling right past the sign to our beautiful beach in Ocean City Maryland? As I recollect, a lot of interested people spent time and money having the original sign erected in the late 1990’s. It’s a good informational sign about our town and along with the billboard at Camp Whaley, serves notice to folks traveling in our direction that Berlin is here and we are an active, fun, and interesting place to visit also!
The responsibility for keeping this sign up to date has been on the Berlin Chamber of Commerce membership – specifically, member Steve Frene, who did a great job. I have no idea to whom this responsibility has fallen now. It matters not who though – it just needs doing!
If the Chamber is having a problem finding someone to do this – then perhaps both the purpose and means needs to be re-examined. In addition to our busy event calendar being listed here throughout the year, the space could be thrown open to Chamber member businesses for a small fee and a brief time. Something like, “New Chef at Globe”, or “Vera Bradley Sale at Victorian Charm”. It’s just a thought, however this would offer further opportunity for Berlin to strut and brag, which is why the sign was placed there originally!
There is NOTHING missing in Berlin except someone to put up the letters!

Ms. Beaman:
Excuse the note as a comment here, but I couldn’t find a private way to contact you.
My name is Liz Viall, and I am a doctoral candidate in the School of Journalism at Indiana University. I am currently working on a dissertation about citizen journalism sites across the United States and would like to talk to you about your Everything Berlin MD site.
Might we schedule a telephone interview to talk about your site and online journalism practices? I believe your insights would add value to my research, and I would enjoy talking to you about citizen journalism. The interview will take 10 to 15 minutes.
I am scheduling interviews beginning next Thursday from 8 a.m. to noon, but can certainly call you at another time if you prefer. Thank you for your time. If you can participate, I will send you a study information sheet – or please send me an email address, and I’ll mail it right away.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Viall
Indiana University
Doctoral Candidate