BERLIN MD BLOG

Berlin’s Public Works Department – the ‘Town Guys’

After I lurched (no one over 50 leaps!) out of bed this morning, I went to the window to check and see if any of the previously forecast snow had fallen overnight!  Nothing – YET!  Then I began to think about how nice it is when snow does arrive in Berlin MD knowing deep down that the elements would not really threaten my day.  Living here for going on 14 years now I’ve never once been discommoded – inconvenienced by weather events.  Yes, there’s been some ‘high’ water due to heavy rain and perhaps some ice but nothing serious.  This feeling of security is mostly due to the consistency and quality of work performed by the men of the Berlin MD Public Works Department – aka our ‘Town Guys’.  From setting up for our many Historic Downtown Main Street Town Events; hanging electric drops, setting street barricades, emptying trash cans and doing the obligatory Victorian Christmas downtown decorating to street sweeping, keeping street drains clear, sorting our recycling and snow plowing on Town streets, these guys are on it!  Often when passing the ubiquitous white pick-ups with the blue, Berlin Town emblem I wave.  That’s my little acknowledgement; a small gesture of ‘Thank you’.  Perhaps you will too?

If you’d care to leave a comment, double click on the title!

Viral Networking – it’s communicable!

First, apologies for the bad pun!  Couldn’t help myself!

Tuesday morning’s free presentation in Snow Hill by Mindie Burgoyne from the Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development went a long way to help me on that previously mentioned journey – learning to go from ‘Geezer to Geek’.   Ms. Burgoyne gave an inspiring talk citing examples of her own path; how the social media helped build and expand real life friendships and how from these friendships, developed many and varied social and professional opportunities.  Although an author – Haunted Eastern Shore, Mindie pointed out ways in which an expanded social network could benefit all of us.  From sharing nearly instantaneous photos of far away grandkids to receiving that much hoped for job opportunity to finding that long, lost ‘rich’ uncle – social media works!  And, best of all; it’s just plain fun!

Rumor has it that Berlin’s own Economic and Community Development guy, Michael Day is working to have Mindie come here to Berlin MD and spread the word. Watch for an announcement soon!  Don’t miss it.  Be ready to enrich you life with communication.

If you’d care to leave a comment, just double click on the title of this post.

Note:  The Berlin Lion’s Club is holding their famous, annual ‘whole hog’ sausage sale on February 6th beginning at 8 am!  You know where…at the Lion’s Den just south of Main Street on Rt. 113.

The Resuscitated, Rejuvenated & Revitalized…Berlin Chamber!

While sitting at my worktable yesterday I glanced at a just received email in my computer ‘in box’…a weekly update from the Berlin Maryland Chamber of Commerce.  Within a new, very appealing visual format was advertised an upcoming Chamber Business After Hours, the current Chamber Member Drive, a note of applause for recent local donations to the victims of the earthquake in Haiti; a ribbon cutting for a new nearby venue, a date for the Atlantic General Hospital Flu Clinic, another date – for the Maryland Coastal Bays Program Citizen’s Advisory Committee meeting, an announcement for a business related seminar in Snow Hill next week; and more!

No longer must we wait for a ‘sometimes’ monthly, hard copy newsletter to arrive via snail mail – Great!  And, concurrent with these media improvements, our Chamber now has an actual physical presence, a public, walk-in office on Main Street (across from Victorian Charm) where visitors and locals alike may drop by and get up to the minute recommendations for local dining, shopping and services – learn about town history, whatever!  Wow, our Chamber is finally becoming a real Chamber of Commerce – doing the work of a real Chamber; supporting local business interests, which in turn support our Town and its people in many ways!

I suspect these long overdue but truly welcomed improvements are due to a shift in management philosophy.  Thank YOU!  No matter the reason I am delighted!  As an already proud resident, our Chamber (having arisen almost Phoenix-like), is making me ever more proud to call Berlin MD my hometown!

GEEZERS into GEEKS…via facebook!

For a few brief hours this afternoon I attended an enlightening presentation held at the  Art League of Ocean City…on the ‘social media revolution’.  The presenter was  Dr. Ira S. Wolfe.   Dr. Wolfe is the author of the book, “Geeks, Geezers, and Googlization“. Wait a minute…what’s that you say…’what is social media revolution?’  Here’s a video that may help understand this concept…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIFYPQjYhv8

Seems I’m a bit late to this party – time’s already made me a geezer, however the good news is that information is turning me into a geek.  Since joining facebook two weeks ago I’ve found that there are a lots of ‘already geeks’ – aka ‘friends’, right here in Berlin MD.  In the meantime, I’ve also reconnected with long lost schoolmates from all over…(what happened, they look old!) and made closer connections with my kids and their kids – the grands, who live far away!  Uh Oh, Grammy’s lookin’! Finally, I’ve found and leaned more about many of our local organizations and businesses – all on facebook.  Surely, there’s more to learn…and I’m looking forward to the opportunity.

Come on…there’s still time, join the party!

Note:  You may have noticed that this old blog has a new look…many thanks to my new friend, Rodrigo Galindez of Cordoba, Argentina.  This generous and brilliant young man is the web design artist who created this beautiful blog space – called Modern Clix, which is now available as a free upload.  There are more in the works…you may visit Rod at http://rodrigogalindez.com to learn more about graphic design, typography and web development – more of that fascinating geek stuff.

Berlin Becomes Chicken (hen) Sanctuary!

The most recent edition of the ‘add on’ amendment to Chapter 107 of the Berlin MD Town Code involving the keeping of hens in Town was read at the December 28th Mayor & Council meeting. Seems the chickens may stay with the following provisions…

• 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!

Pets with “BENEFITS” in our neighborhood!

Reading and listening with interest to the many comments on the now great ‘Berlin Chickens as Pets” debacle nowhere have I found listed the true benefits of owning a couple of laying hens.  I think perhaps it’s time to learn some facts about backyard chicken culture.

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.

CLICK and VOTE to do more…We all WIN!

Beginning tomorrow evening and throughout this three day annual Berlin MD ‘Fiddlers’ Convention ‘ showcase weekend please remember to stop by the Grow Berlin Green booth. I think you’ll find something very interesting going on!
Despite the reports of the growing Texas-sized island of plastic trash floating around in the Pacific Ocean, one has only to flip to any media source to learn of the viable and strong counter measures to this and other alarming environmental phenomena that are taking place throughout our country and our world. Here in our town the Grow Berlin Green group is promoting these efforts. Although a young organization it is already wise – showing its wisdom by teaching the small, everyday but nevertheless significant ways by which each one of us can make a difference. We can be proud and we can support these ongoing efforts not only in practice but also by promotion of this group…
To that end, there is a contest – sponsored by Tom’s of Maine Community Award Sponsorship. Tom’s is a line of natural personal care body products featured in many of our local stores (Food Lion) – the one with the white and blue packaging. Seems Tom’s has selected our Grow Berlin Green team effort as one of the top 50 final entries. Depending on the vote count we can win an award – and $20,000, which could go a long way to continue the beneficial grass roots education being offered within our own community!

To learn more about Grow Berlin Green – click here!

To learn more about Tom’s of Maine and CAST YOUR VOTE for Berlin’s team under Assateague Coastal Trust – click here!  Voting ends October 30th!
(we’re still pretty far down that list of 50 entries – so be prepared to scroll!)

To learn more about the Texas-sized island of plastic trash – click here!

“Not in my backyard” – beyond our boundaries…

Self-interest, fear of the unknown or just plain bigotry (prejudice); were these the all too human of motivations for the ‘vibrant’ citizen testimony during last night’s regular Berlin’s Mayor and Council meeting?  At issue again was the abatement of a total $31,500 in property tax contributions from the developer/builder/manager to be spread over 5 to 10 years for the proposed 12 buildings (housing 40 units) senior housing complex to be located along Broad Street.  No matter, there was a litany of objections – location being the most often mentioned.  Specifically, ‘seniors have a slower reaction time when driving and Broad Street cannot handle it’.  I thought about this, (while stifling an internal snicker) – if some of these objectors could view their own driving performance, trying to navigate one handed with a cell phone stuck to their ear, then that couldn’t possibly be construed as a valid reason.  Daily, sitting at the stop sign on the corner of Broad and West Sts. I get to see some pretty fancy and unsafe maneuvers by some of our good town folks.   If the speeds necessitated by this tiny intersection weren’t already so reduced these oh so busy, ‘younger people’ could cause some ‘big bangs’.

Another impacting ‘infrastructure’ problem mentioned  – that of most ‘west side’ residents experiencing an already reduced water pressure.  This, despite the fact that the property is already located on an approved plat for residential development and anything that speaks to ‘infrastructure’ comes under the purview of Berlin’s Planning and Zoning Department and Berlin’s Utilities Depts.  Our Town’s Director of Water, Jane Kreiter spoke to that by saying that a test model had been constructed and the impact of an additional 12 EDU’s was negligible – at most, under extreme circumstances, a reduction of 2 psi.  Perhaps, again the objectors could look at the widespread use of lawn irrigation throughout our community (mostly on the west side).  Often, I’ve seen local ‘sprinklers’ at work on a rainy day.   What’s with that?

For grins, let’s imagine placing the ‘senior housing’ at the location most suggested last evening –Route 346 – beside a platted but yet as yet undeveloped assisted living facility, creating essentially a segregated community of old folks.  There, the road width differs not – in fact the speed limit is higher making the nearest intersection far more dangerous.  The already existing lack of ‘west side’ water pressure and the overall Town need for more water still then could only be remedied by a new ‘water tower’ and the placement of such would necessitate building it in closer proximity to Broad Street.  Would we then hear again the refrain, “Not in my backyard”?  We continue to seek control beyond our own boundaries.

Opportunity & Immeasurable Benefits – Housing for Seniors in Berlin!

NOTE: SEE FOR YOURSELF…EVERYONE WELCOME – Open House for ‘Cottages at River House’ in Salisbury, Saturday, September 12th, 2 until 4 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!

Summertime in BERLIN – done ‘just right’!

On Sunday, September 13th beginning at 1 pm the Berlin Main Street group will sponsor an Old Fashioned – Victorian Picnic on the Lawn at the Taylor House Museum to benefit the purchase of permanent decorations for our annual Victorian Christmas celebration.  Tickets are available at MR Ducks, Treasure Chest and Stuarts’ Antiques through September 7th.
Now that those niggling details are out of the way…WOW, we’re having a Town picnic where everyone is welcome to join in.  Admittedly, the Taylor House Museum lawn is the very best place Berlin has to offer for this event – spacious, with soft, green grass, seasonal color flowerbeds and large, lofty trees offering cool shade on a warm day.  In the background, our favorite ‘home of history’ too will lend a special feeling to this day.  As for the day’s main event – the picnic fare – Toni Stuart, chairperson has assured us that the catered Fried Chicken, Potato salads, Baked beans and HOMEMADE pies will be just right – of course, accompanied by fresh lemonade and iced tea!  We’re also told that there will be lawn games, old time photo ops and music for those with excess energy.  For the more staid among us there will be a live auction of oil paintings by our Town’s own artist of renown, Lynn Lockhart, as well as a silent auction of other special stuff.  And for those that like to take a chance – this is your opportunity – a 50/50 raffle with tickets at $100 each – the odds, pretty good…only 250 to be sold!  To mention again – the proceeds will go toward the purchase of special holiday decorations to be placed around town in December – so everyone shares in the winnings! Following the picnic that day, beginning at 6 pm the Museum will hold their monthly summertime Lawn Concert!
Come on – come out and enjoy an old fashioned, summertime Sunday afternoon in your town – done just right!