It’s good to be cool.
That’s what Michael Day, economic and community development director for the Town of Berlin, is working hard to do.
He wants Berlin to be, if not the coolest small town in Maryland, than at least in the coolest top 15 nationally.
During Monday’s Berlin Council meeting, Day referred those in the chamber to vote for Berlin by starting at www.mdscoolestsmalltown.com. That will take voters to the Budget Travel Web site.
As of press time Tuesday, Berlin had some 867 votes. The nation’s leader was Buckhannon, W.Va. with almost 3,000 votes.
“I know we’re not going to get number one,” Day said Tuesday after the council meeting, but the goal is to be among the top 15 by Tuesday (Dec. 3).”
Day said he is getting the word out. Budget Travel will take the top 15 and then open those small towns up for voting to determine final rankings.
All of the towns have populations of less than 10,000.
“It means a lot of free publicity,” he said. “The Baltimore Sun named us once Maryland’s coolest small town.”
Day said he does travel around the state quite a bit, and he hears “a lot of good things about Berlin.” He said he’s asked how the town became one of the state’s – and possibly the nation’s – top small towns.”
The evening’s longest discussion, however, took the council to a more somber area, as it involved the Nov. 8 pedestrian fatality along Route 113 that resulted in the death of Berlin youth Tymeir Dennis, 16, and serious injuries to his brother Tyheim Bowen, 18.
Mayor Gee Williams lauded the community meeting held last week that brought together residents for an evening of cathartic discussion and planning.
One of those plans was the creation and distribution of a petition signing effort.
Names will be collected and will be delivered to the State Highway Administration.
Community activists are asking that SHA help in areas of speed limit reduction, pedestrian walkways and other ways to reduce the danger on the highway, which has seen seven fatalities since the year 2000.
Patricia Dufendach gave a report of the community meeting to the council.
That’s what Michael Day, economic and community development director for the Town of Berlin, is working hard to do.
He wants Berlin to be, if not the coolest small town in Maryland, than at least in the coolest top 15 nationally.
During Monday’s Berlin Council meeting, Day referred those in the chamber to vote for Berlin by starting at www.mdscoolestsmalltown.com. That will take voters to the Budget Travel Web site.
As of press time Tuesday, Berlin had some 867 votes. The nation’s leader was Buckhannon, W.Va. with almost 3,000 votes.
“I know we’re not going to get number one,” Day said Tuesday after the council meeting, but the goal is to be among the top 15 by Tuesday (Dec. 3).”
Day said he is getting the word out. Budget Travel will take the top 15 and then open those small towns up for voting to determine final rankings.
All of the towns have populations of less than 10,000.
“It means a lot of free publicity,” he said. “The Baltimore Sun named us once Maryland’s coolest small town.”
Day said he does travel around the state quite a bit, and he hears “a lot of good things about Berlin.” He said he’s asked how the town became one of the state’s – and possibly the nation’s – top small towns.”
The evening’s longest discussion, however, took the council to a more somber area, as it involved the Nov. 8 pedestrian fatality along Route 113 that resulted in the death of Berlin youth Tymeir Dennis, 16, and serious injuries to his brother Tyheim Bowen, 18.
Mayor Gee Williams lauded the community meeting held last week that brought together residents for an evening of cathartic discussion and planning.
One of those plans was the creation and distribution of a petition signing effort.
Names will be collected and will be delivered to the State Highway Administration.
Community activists are asking that SHA help in areas of speed limit reduction, pedestrian walkways and other ways to reduce the danger on the highway, which has seen seven fatalities since the year 2000.
Patricia Dufendach gave a report of the community meeting to the council.