Girl Scouts Kaitlynn Kirk and Joanna Davis were recognized at the Oct. 14 Berlin council meeting for completing their Silver Award project: a garden built at the historic James T. Dill House.
“We realized that not a lot of people knew what the Dill House was or where it was located, so we decided that adding a bit of appeal to the landscaping would bring attention to it, with the bright flowers and the benches,” Davis explained.
The Dill House at 11 Jackson Road is one of the oldest houses in the borough, built in 1856.
Kirk and Davis, who are in Troop 30689, started the garden project last October, and ran workshops during its early stages for younger Scouts. They also gave tours of the house.
“The biggest thing that I learned is that little things come from hard work,” Davis said.
Councilman Len Badolato added during the regular council session that indoor Dill House renovations are coming along, and that officials are working with Camden County College on a historic or arts program there. He also said the Historic Preservation Commission received grant money to put historic designation signs around town that are made by commission member Michelle Secrest.
Badolato also noted that a new mural by resident Alysia Mackenzie has been painted on the fence of the Marie Fleche Library as part of the Downtown Berlin Revitalization Corp’s mural initiative.
In an update to last meeting’s session, where residents explained that half of the road in the Hillcroft development never received a second coat of blacktop and requested it be paved, Jake Miller shared that fellow councilman Andy Simone had inquired about moving the development up in the chain for roads to be paved. While no promises have been made, “they’re definitely in the talks to get it done,” Miller said.
In other news;
- During the mayor’s report, Mayor Rick Miller announced that Halloween trick-or-treating hours will be 3 to 7 p.m.
- He also reported that the planning board recently finalized plans for the revitalization of the old Kmart center, where a go-kart track is set to undergo construction. He anticipated the opening will be in summer of 2022.
- Councilwoman Patricia Cummings reiterated that hydrant flushing in town will take place until Oct. 29.
The next Berlin council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 10, at the municipal building. The workshop will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the regular session will start at 7.
