(Sept. 29, 2016) The Berlin Parks Commission discussed the following items during a meeting at town hall on Sept. 13:
Fall Just Walk
The commission had preliminary discussions of the next Just Walk event, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 12 and starting at 9 a.m.
Likely to be included are health screenings by staff at Atlantic General Hospital and “small raffles,” according to commission liaison Mary Bohlen, the administrative services director with the town.
Bohlen said the fall Just Walk would follow the same route as its spring counterpart, starting at Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services.
Berlin Youth Club
Programs of the Berlin Youth Club have wrapped for the year, according to coordinator Amanda Chaffee. Participation was high throughout all of the events, generally drawing about two-dozen children, she said.
Recent trips included two that were sponsored by the Berlin Police Department: Jolly Roger Amusement Park in Ocean City and Stratosphere Trampoline Park in Delmar, Maryland.
Chaffee said participants also helped around town, including a gardening project at the multipurpose building on Flower Street on “the hottest day of the summer.”
“Overall, the kids had a really good summer,” she said.
Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services, which organizes the youth club, recently held an annual awards banquet at the Francis Schott Key Family Resort. Honorees were Annemarie and Jim Dickerson, Robin Tomaselli and Suzy Taylor.
Movie Nights
This year’s Summer Movie Nights series, a collaboration with the Berlin Arts & Entertainment Committee, was considered a success. Committee Chairman Mike Wiley said the event seemed to be growing in popularity, but that it was probably “right at the right amount” as a six-movie series, spread out over the summer at three different locations in Berlin.
“Runaway Bride” and “Tuck Everlasting,” which both filmed in Berlin, have been staples of the annual event. The committee also discussed making “The Wizard of Oz” part of the returning staple of films.
Screening locations were Stephen Decatur Park, Dr. William Henry Park and downtown, on Jefferson Street.
On the subject of allowing outside vendors to sell snacks or refreshments, the committee expressed a preference to keep the event free.
“People appreciate people not trying to reach into their pocket,” committee member Patricia Dufendach said. “In the park, during the movie, I would have problems with distractions.”
Park restrooms
The town is apparently still discussing vendor and location options related to installing permanent bathrooms at Henry Park. Bohlen said potential spots would likely not displace existing playground equipment, but that town needs to determine where the water and sewer lines are.
Grant money will pay for the new restrooms, which the committee said would be prefabricated, in part because those structures are easier to clean.
Planting projects
A grant application with the Maryland Association of Forest Conservancy District Boards and Maryland Urban and Community Forest Committee was discussed. Bohlen said the maximum grant, which would be used for town planting projects, was $1,500.
She added that the commission also had money in the town budget that could be used for plantings.
Bohlen said the committee would likely learn whether it received the grant within 30-60 days. Committee members hope to have plants “in hand” in time for the next Clean-Up Berlin Day, next year.
Fall Just Walk
The commission had preliminary discussions of the next Just Walk event, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 12 and starting at 9 a.m.
Likely to be included are health screenings by staff at Atlantic General Hospital and “small raffles,” according to commission liaison Mary Bohlen, the administrative services director with the town.
Bohlen said the fall Just Walk would follow the same route as its spring counterpart, starting at Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services.
Berlin Youth Club
Programs of the Berlin Youth Club have wrapped for the year, according to coordinator Amanda Chaffee. Participation was high throughout all of the events, generally drawing about two-dozen children, she said.
Recent trips included two that were sponsored by the Berlin Police Department: Jolly Roger Amusement Park in Ocean City and Stratosphere Trampoline Park in Delmar, Maryland.
Chaffee said participants also helped around town, including a gardening project at the multipurpose building on Flower Street on “the hottest day of the summer.”
“Overall, the kids had a really good summer,” she said.
Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services, which organizes the youth club, recently held an annual awards banquet at the Francis Schott Key Family Resort. Honorees were Annemarie and Jim Dickerson, Robin Tomaselli and Suzy Taylor.
Movie Nights
This year’s Summer Movie Nights series, a collaboration with the Berlin Arts & Entertainment Committee, was considered a success. Committee Chairman Mike Wiley said the event seemed to be growing in popularity, but that it was probably “right at the right amount” as a six-movie series, spread out over the summer at three different locations in Berlin.
“Runaway Bride” and “Tuck Everlasting,” which both filmed in Berlin, have been staples of the annual event. The committee also discussed making “The Wizard of Oz” part of the returning staple of films.
Screening locations were Stephen Decatur Park, Dr. William Henry Park and downtown, on Jefferson Street.
On the subject of allowing outside vendors to sell snacks or refreshments, the committee expressed a preference to keep the event free.
“People appreciate people not trying to reach into their pocket,” committee member Patricia Dufendach said. “In the park, during the movie, I would have problems with distractions.”
Park restrooms
The town is apparently still discussing vendor and location options related to installing permanent bathrooms at Henry Park. Bohlen said potential spots would likely not displace existing playground equipment, but that town needs to determine where the water and sewer lines are.
Grant money will pay for the new restrooms, which the committee said would be prefabricated, in part because those structures are easier to clean.
Planting projects
A grant application with the Maryland Association of Forest Conservancy District Boards and Maryland Urban and Community Forest Committee was discussed. Bohlen said the maximum grant, which would be used for town planting projects, was $1,500.
She added that the commission also had money in the town budget that could be used for plantings.
Bohlen said the committee would likely learn whether it received the grant within 30-60 days. Committee members hope to have plants “in hand” in time for the next Clean-Up Berlin Day, next year.