Upon entering the nearly full, Town Hall Council Chamber, I was handed a container of the new “Official Berlin MD Dessert”.   And, shortly thereafter, we listened to a lovely presentation about the now former, famed, Berlin area, Harrison Orchards by Sandra Dewey (nee Harrison). Continuing, amid the ‘clatter’ of busy utensils, our Mayor, Gee Williams and the Council members unanimously decreed that the ‘Peach Dumpling’ would become our Town’s official dessert – beautifully baked, flakey, tender pastry filled with flavorful peaches topped with a dollop of flavored whipped cream!  What fun and how delicious!

For now though – we’ll have to wait a bit for a second (and third….) helping. Still busy with remodeling within the Main Street location formerly known as “The Pink Box”, the new bakery is not yet open to the public.  Soon, I hope – be assured, it’s worth the wait.  This offering has me waxing poetic!

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During the past year a reasonable number of our tax dollars have gone toward a major upgrade of our Town’s communication equipment – the ‘hardware’ that allows computations, data storage and plain old communication to take place within and without the various Berlin governmental departments. The ‘within’ portion of the work is done; the ‘without’ is incomplete – we remain having a poor face for our Town’s website.  Take a look…  Compared with surrounding Towns throughout Delmarva, Berlin’s website is confusing and dull; giving the casual visitor no sense of what Berlin MD really has to offer; certainly showing no sense of pride.  Actually though, contained in our Town Government website is a wealth of valuable, up to date information – it’s the ‘face’, the lipstick if you will, that needs to be fixed.  One year ago our Mayor & Council budgeted for this final step – for the IT (those eight syllables again) Committee folks to move forward by reviewing the info and selecting a web design firm to complete this face.  One year – it’s time to finish the job!

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• Limited to no more than six hens (sorry, no fellows allowed)
• Must be penned and have adequate shelter – not less than 25′ from any residence
• Must be registered with the proper local authority
• No pecking on lawns (or some such wording)

This last one was a little blurry for me…the whole point of producing ‘free range’ quality eggs is to enable the hen to have a variety diet; to forage.  It was suggested at the meeting that the pen be portable and be moved frequently.  That’s a possibility however probably not an option for many of us.  Oh well, short of creating another Town position – that of Chicken Police, I think that we may rest assured that we now can raise a few hens and enjoy the delicious eggs they produce.

The final reading with Public Hearing on this issue will be tomorrow night (Janaury 11th) beginning at 7 pm in Town Hall.  Come join us!

Update:  Hold your Chickens!  No vote.  Ordinance missing a couple of words…to be added in time for final vote at next meeting!

1. Chickens lay eggs – a noted source of high quality protein in the human diet.
2. After being cracked open, eggshells may go right into the compost pile or bin – thereby decomposing to offer excellent soil amendment!
3. Chicken manure is also an excellent soil amendment for the home garden – both for flowers and vegetables.
4. Chickens eat bugs and worms – offering an effective and natural, larva and mature insect control.

Does your dog or cat do this?  No?  Well, neither does mine.  He is cute and cuddly (at times) and he’s loyal beyond measure.  Yet, having raised both chickens and dogs I’ve found they both require about the same amount of care – feeding, watering, containment, proper waste disposal, etc.

Recently, someone mentioned that ‘bird flu’ was a factor…not so!  I will quote the following from the Murray McMurray Hatchery catalog – http://www.murraymcmurrayhatchery.com -

IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT AVIAN INFLUENZA (THE BIRD FLU)

H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (also know as “bird flu”) is not in the United States and never has been.  Avian Influenza is not passed from the hen to the embryo in the egg.  A baby chick hatching from an egg does not carry the disease.

You can NOT get avian influenza from properly handled and cooked food. Microorganisms of all kinds are destroyed when the product reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.  McMurray Hatchery is concerned about all poultry diseases not only Avian Influenza.  Here at the hatchery we have very stringent biosecurity procedures, vaccination program, and testing to insure you receive healthy chicks.

You can help by following biosecurity guidelines recommended by the United State
Department of Agriculture. For more information click on this link:
Biosecurity For The Birds.

OK, so what’s this fuss all about?  Having been present at the recent Berlin Board of Zoning Appeals hearing whereby a resident of Ann Drive was taken to task by some neighbors all I can determine is that ‘neighborliness’ or really, the lack thereof, was the contributing factor.  Apparently, the noise from several types of poultry – a couple of chickens, ducks and possibly geese owned by one neighbor, squawked too much – often disrupting the sleep of other neighbors.  To my recollection, except for my barnyard boss, a nasty old rooster, the ‘girls’ made little sound except for a brief protest when laying their daily egg…frankly, I would too!

The way too rapid, knee jerk response to this complaint is a proposed change to an ordinance of the Berlin Town Code abolishing all domestic poultry from within the Town limits – our neighborhood.  No, is what I say – that’s plain silly.  Am I going to attempt to abolish all pet dogs that bark in the night or local cats that dig (mess) in my gardens?  Hardly!  Let’s please take another look at this over reaction and try and behave like real neighbors by finding an equitable solution that doesn’t impinge on everyone wanting to enjoy these ‘Pets with Benefits’.

If you are interested in this debate please attend the regular meeting of the Berlin Mayor and Council at Town Hall on Monday (November 8^th) beginning at 7 pm.

Still fresh in my mind, a discussion at the most recent meeting of the Berlin Mayor & Council, along with a looming significant birthday, has kept my thoughts turned toward a most important issue. Specifically, the real need for senior housing in our community; the need cannot be denied, the how and what and where is causing some concern. That evening’s Town discussion focused on the request of the developer/builder/manager planning a modest senior community here in town asking for a 10 year long declining/proportional abatement of Town property taxes to meet the requirements of Maryland State subsidized housing for those over 62 years of age. Sounds alarming – Berlin ‘giving’ up tax income and with an already depleted economic situation? Not at all – the math has been done – a spreadsheet produced, and the total loss to the Town over the 10 years requested – a mere $31,500 (one or two employee vehicles?) while the ultimate benefit to all of us is immeasurable!
Immeasurable in many ways…no matter how we choose to ignore or deny facts we are all growing older, every day. If we live out our time as hoped, in relatively good health we may still reach a point of needing at least some assistance; in poor health this time could come sooner. Many may find that our single-family homestead has become ‘too much’ to maintain on our own. The loss of a helpmate or a temporary disability combined with diminishing income could cause careful consideration of, or in the event of a catastrophe a rapid, move to a smaller, more sustainable independent living arrangement. Yikes! As for ‘diminishing income’, unless very prudent or darned lucky, during our recent world-wide economic ‘shake-down’ most have seen a decline in value of our 401K’s, retirement and certainly our Social Security benefits (no COLA through 2011 planned) leaving us with less – in straightened circumstances with less to sustain our later years. Because of the dearth of affordable senior housing here, for many of us this would mean a move to another town. It would mean the giving up of all things familiar; our friends and neighbors, nearness to our families, our Church, familiar shops, doctors, banks and pharmacies. Disquieting, unhealthy and certainly nothing to which I envision for my ‘golden’ years!
The model for our proposed community is available for your inspection (see above) – The Cottages at River House are located off Pemberton Drive in Salisbury. Drive over and take a peek. I’ve looked and the community is lovely – flowers on the patios – people busy outdoors and smiling! The area is walk-able, beautifully landscaped and well maintained. The residences are single story, generously windowed and definitely safe. Having others nearby too heightens comfort and furthers that ever-important sense of community as we age.
This project and the accompanying request for a pittance tax abatement could just provide the answer to many – if approved by the Council it would mean that the Town of Berlin Maryland would become a viable part of the solution to this nationwide growing dilemma and offers both opportunity and immeasurable benefit to all of our town citizens.
The next regular Berlin Town Council Meeting will be held on Monday, September 14th beginning at 7 pm. To hear more about this subject, come on out!

A couple of weeks ago I was online seeking time and place information regarding our annual Memorial Day parade and celebration party to be held at Henry Park here in town. I went to our official Town website – TownofBerlinMD.com and under the third column on the home page at the bottom, clicked on ‘Town Events‘. This link redirected me to the Berlin Chamber of Commerce website at BerlinMDCC.org where I then went to the left side and clicked on ‘Event Calendar’. A page quickly popped up saying – “There are no events this week”. Wow, I had struck out there – at which point I had to ask myself for probably the 500th time – WHY?

And yet, I can probably answer my own question. For the past several years the Berlin Chamber has limited events to be listed on their website calendar to ‘member only’ activities. If a Chamber member business wants something to be listed they must email or phone a request to the Chamber office. Yet, falling further short, it seems that very few Chamber member events are ever listed. What’s with that? To my mind it stands to reason that to fully support Berlin businesses, encouraging publicity is primary – positive marketing is key. A few signs along the local roads may help, however folks from afar – never see these – (and they do not have access to the local info crawl on TV) they do however, when planning a trip to our big sister town of Ocean City Maryland – like to be aware of activities area wide. I was one of these folks for many years. And, because at that time, Berlin and it’s Chamber of Commerce having NO website, this town didn’t exist for me! Another story – another time.
Which brings me back to the official Berlin MD Town website. Yes, we have a website – although having pertinent information – unfortunately it is not attractive and certainly not truly representative of our community as are many other Town websites up and down Delmarva. Our new mayor, after having listened patiently to many complaints, some months back proposed that we have an IT (Internet Technology) Committee – made up of a few interested citizens along with our new Administrative Director and Deputy Director. (I’m now one of the ‘complaining’, citizen committee members.) It was decided during one of the three meetings held during the past five months that an overhaul of the Town ‘hardware’ would be first on the agenda – requiring a lot of our tax payer dollars – that’s fine and determined necessary. It was then proposed that money for a new website (requiring far fewer of those dollars) be held off and put into the new 2010 budget. OK, we’re there. The budget has been passed *. When’s the next website planning meeting?  Berlin Maryland proudly hosts some of the best events around, enjoying much public participation – and we could welcome more!
In the meantime, this very frustrated citizen will, in the next few weeks attempt to place a comprehensive and interactive Berlin Community Calendar of Events on this site and with your participation put up public-welcomed activities pertaining to any and all non-profit organizations within our Town limits. I’ll keep you posted as to the progress of this venture.

* The 2010 Town of Berlin budget was passed last week including a 3% raise for Town Staff at the same time many in our community were receiving news that there would be NO cost of living increase for FY 2010 in Social Security benefits. And, what’s with that?

As is custom, near the conclusion of each Town meeting the Town Administrator reads off a list of Purchase Orders to be approved by the Council. My understanding is that any purchase over the amount of $1,000 is to be brought forth and voted upon before the public. Actually seldom is any expenditure questioned although the totals bi-monthly may run into the tens of thousands of dollars. On occasion however, my favorite fiscal “watchdog”, Councilperson Paula Lynch, will ask if a contract was let out for open bid, question the particular reason for the expense or evaluate the inherent VALUE afforded. She will even sit and hypothetically add and subtract items like the good bookkeeper that she is. I like this line of questioning – it’s what we do in our homes, with our own budgets in order to meet current and future needs. It’s what we must do with our businesses – in order to make a profit, or these days, to even stay solvent. I consider it a huge value that I’m getting this same level of intense scrutiny in the Town budget funded with my tax dollars.

In these times and with the Town elections now behind us, it’s time to ask, and yes – even demand, for that much promised VALUE for our votes! We are owed just that!