Centreville earns "Main Street" Designation!

Downtown Centreville

Just this week, the Governor announced that Centreville was one of only three Maryland Communities to join "Main Street Maryland".

Main Street Maryland is comprehensive downtown revitalization program, which has been nationally recognized model for Smart Growth.

This program was created in 1998, and before Centreville was added, there were 23 communities in 16 counties statewide.  This is the first Main Street Maryland designation in Queen Anne's County.  According to the Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development, this program has resulted in the opening of 1,392 new businesses and the creation of 5,574 new jobs.

One of the successful downtown Block Parties on West Water St.

"Paint the Town Pink" Breast Cancer Awareness Event

This effort was started in 2009, with the creation of "Centreville Alive!", a downtown business association.  Centreville Alive (www.centrevillealive.org), has sponsored many annual activities, including a summer time block party, "Paint the Town Pink" events, Fall Festivals, Christmas Tree decorating on Lawyer's Row, and "A Taste of Centreville".

Kara Snyder, President of Centreville Alive, along with Centreville Alive Board Member Gene Magary present a $4000.00 check to the Town Council to help defer costs for the annual 4th of July Fireworks

This designation will enable the town to be eligible for special state grants for economic revitalization.  We will also hire a Main Street Manager who will be responsible for economic redevelopment, attracting new businesses to town, and coordinating town & business activities.

"Strong main streets with thriving business districts and neighborhoods are the foundation for healthy, sustainable communities," said Governor Martin O’Malley. "These three towns will be great additions to the Main Street Maryland program due to their strong commitment to downtown revitalization, and they will surely serve as great examples of Smart, Green & Growing communities."

"I’m happy to welcome Centreville, Ocean City and Sykesville to the Main Street Maryland program," said Maryland DHCD Secretary Raymond Skinner. "With public and private investment in our traditional commercial districts, we can enable entrepreneurship and job creation in these communities. The Main Street Maryland program has a proven track record of using precious state resources to support local strategies and expertise as well as leveraging community resources to create a better future for our cities and towns."

The Town Council looks forward to it's continued commitment to the economic revitalization of Downtown Centreville, and the entire commercial district.

Northbrook Traffic Signal now working!

The Signal Switch

At about 10:45am this morning, the Northbrook Traffic Signal was turned on to 'flash' mode.  The Town Council had a 'lighting countdown' this morning, assisted by several Northbrook residents, local Law Enforcement Officers, representatives from SHA, and the Northbrook Developer Tom Sperl. 

A worker adjusts the traffic light

After almost 10 years of waiting, this morning it went live!  The contractor took just over 2 months to install the light, exactly on schedule.  There were some final adjustments that needed to happen this morning, but other than that, everything functioned as expected.

The "Brain" of the traffic signal

Centreville Town Council with local Law Enforcement Officers (from L to R): Frank Ogens, Vice President, Centreville Town Council, Major Williams, QAC Sheriffs Department, Tim McCluskey, President, Centreville Town Council, Lt. Duane Boardman, Maryland State Police, Chief Charles Rhodes, Centreville Police Department, George "Smokey" Sigler, Member, Centreville Town Council

10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...0...

 

 

It works!

According to the SHA, the signal will 'flash' for approximately 72 hours, at which time, it will become a fully operational traffic signal.  It is our hope that the signal will make traveling this section of Rte. 213 & the entrance/exit to Northbrook and Spaniard Neck Road safer for everyone.

New Town of Centreville Website

The new Town of Centreville Web Site

The Town of Centreville has recently unveiled an all new website.  As another upgrade to our focus on communication with our residents, the town enlisted Corsica Technologies, a local business, to build out our new site. 

New features include a town-wide business directory, a planning & zoning page with lots of information to make the permitting process easier.  Agendas and meeting minutes are also prominently featured, as well as an interactive calendar function.

Along with our newsletter, and email communication tool, this new website should provide our citizens with ample ways to communicate with the town.  While a considerable amount of time and effort went into upgrading the site, it is a work in progress, and we anticipate additional features will be incorporated as time goes on.

Check it out: http://www.townofcentreville.org

Christmas Parade Winners 2011

On Friday, December 2nd, the Town of Centreville held our annual Christmas Parade.  I believe this is the largest parade on the Eastern Shore, and this year, we had over 100 groups!  The parade theme this year was "Toys For Tots!"

The groups and observers were very generous, donating hundreds of toys to the program.


At our January Town Council Meeting, we handed out trophies to the winning floats/groups.  This always seems to be our most popular (and crowded) meeting.

We had 2 categories of awards for the parade:
"Keeping with the Theme"   and
"Most Original"

Third Place: "Keeping with the Theme": Farm to Market 4H Livestock Club

First Place: "Keeping with the Theme": Cub Scout Pack 496

Third Place: "Most Original": Brownie Troop 1271

First Place: "Most Original": Gunston Day School

Gunston Day School also won the Overall Most Original Trophy.  Great Job everyone!

This was also the third year that Lawyers Row was decorated with Christmas Trees by local groups.  We gave out awards for these as well:

First Place Winner: Girl Scout Troop 419

Totland pre-school decorated 3 trees this year.  They won second and third place

Totland receiving their second place trophy!  The young man accepting the award is no other than the son of Goodwill Fire Company Chief Nathan Powell.  Great Job.

Day Care Inc., received an honorable mention certificate for their tree decorating.

Girl Scout Troop 487 also received an honorable mention certificate for their tree decorating.

Kent School received an honorable mention certificate for their tree decorating.

The "Centreville Connection" Quarterly Newsletter: Fall 2011

Attached is a link to the November 2011 edition of the town newsletter.  This is our third installment of the newsletter. If you have suggestions for future content, please email me.
The Centreville Connection is a quarterly newsletter, which will provide important information and a means of communication between the Town government and the citizens it serves.

Many thanks to all the contributing writers, including:

Carolyn Brinkley
Eva Kerchner
Bob McGrory
Lisa Raley
Charlie Rhodes

Also--thanks to Kellen McCluskey for some of the photos!

A special thanks to Kerry Brandt who provided the layout and design expertise.  Thanks so much for your efforts.