The Maryland Municipal League and the Maryland Mayors Association invites 4^th grade students throughout Maryland to participate in a statewide contest, "IF I WERE MAYOR, I WOULD…". Essay is not to exceed 250 words. Essays must be received no later than MARCH 3^rd. Winners will be notified by MARCH 31, 2001. There is more information at Elmer Wolfe Elementary School.

With spring coming up, lets try and clean up the town as much as possible. Everyone knows how hard it is to clean with all the construction at Lehigh that is making our town dirty. It will be a challenge, but we will make it through. May is carnival time and we will do the best we can for that week.

The traffic light at Main and Broadway has created a lot of talk lately. State Highway has suggested taking the light out when we get to the revitalization of Main Street. There are a lot of mixed feelings. No final decision has been made yet.

There is also a lot of talk about Sheppards Mill Road. That will one day be our access road in and out of town during flooding, and also help to get the large trucks off Main Street.

As part of the town’s plan to revitalize Main Street, The Town of Union Bridge applied for $500,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, to construct new patterned sidewalks, install decorative streetlights, and replace parking meters. This past August, the Mayor and Council and the Main Street Revitalization Committee coordinated the completion of the Union Bridge 2000 Main Street Plan. This study recommended several improvements to Main Street to replace its deteriorated infrastructure.

Replacing the run-down looking and deteriorated infrastructure is considered one of the most important "first steps" toward revitalization. Main Street serves as the town’s only central location where people, businesses, historic buildings, and public spaces are concentrated. If the town were a sick patient talking with its doctor, it would say the place where it hurts most is "my infrastructure." Much of Main Street’s infrastructure dates back to the early and mid 1900's, and is badly in need of replacement.

As part of Smart Growth, the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) has initiated a "Neighborhood Conservation Program" to improve Main Street. However, the SHA will only fund improvements primarily within its existing right-of-way. To augment the improvements proposed by SHA, and to implement the town’s revitalization plan, CDBG funds are requested for the activities listed below. It makes a lot of sense to complete all the needed improvements during the time when Main Street is "torn-up" and under construction by SHA, then to tear it up again at a later date.

SIDEWALKS. The SHA plans to install about 22,000 square feet of new sidewalk (and curb and gutter). The SHA will fund a "standard" concrete sidewalk specification only. The town feels strongly that a pressed concrete or "patterned" sidewalk finish would be much more appropriate for the downtown. At their November 2000 meeting, the Union Bridge Revitalization Committee approved a design pattern known as "Riverside slate" (see "Patterned Sidewalk"). Patterned sidewalk is not only attractive, but will establish a visual "node" for motorists, shoppers, and residents that they are "in" the downtown area. Patterned sidewalk will provide passers-by with the feeling of being separated from the street. The contrast in color (the concrete will have a color), gives a pleasant transition from the sidewalk to the road, and creates a psychological separation between pedestrian and vehicular spaces. As an added safety benefit, the patterned sidewalk comes with a slip-resistant finish.

A major benefit of new sidewalks will be the construction of handicapped ramps at intersections and other public places by SHA. There are currently no ramps for ADA accessibility.

The new sidewalks will extend from the Western Maryland Railroad Station and Museum, at #41 North Main Street, to about the Brethren Church, a distance of 2,500 linear feet. If the project is approved by CDBG, Union Bridge will also install approximately 1,200 square feet of new patterned sidewalks on two intersecting local streets (Broadway and Locust Street). The town is requesting $61,000 in CDBG funds (this is the cost difference to pay the additional expense of patterned concrete).

STREETLIGHTS. When studying the issue of streetlights, it became readily apparent that to enhance Main Street, better lighting would be needed. Augmented lighting would improve pedestrian and resident safety, inhibit loitering, encourage nighttime shopping and dining, improve roadway visibility, highlight a building’s architectural features, and better illuminate entrances and parking areas for historic buildings, businesses and dwellings during the nighttime hours. The existing "highway lights" attached high on utility poles, are insufficient in meeting these goals.

The town proposes to install 36 decorative streetlights along Main Street from the Western Maryland Railroad Museum to the Brethren Church, a distance of 2,500 linear feet. SHA will install all streetlight concrete footings (for the bases), and the underground conduits. Allegheny Power will deliver and install the lights, poles, fixtures, and electric meter service. The town is requesting $77,700 in CDBG funds to purchase and install the 36 decorative streetlights.

PARKING METERS: The revitalization plan calls for the removal of the current 48 deteriorated parking meters, and the installation of 24 new double-headed meters. Parking meters will be installed on the West Side of Main Street from about 35 N. Main to about 8 S. Main. SHA will design for the meter connection near the curb line at their expense. The estimated cost is $700 per double-headed meter. The town is requesting CDBG funds for the purchase and installation cost of $18,700.

WATER LINE AND METERS. Following the completion of preliminary engineering reports, it was recommended that a new 8" water line be installed in Main Street. This would involve the installation of a minimum 2,150 linear feet of a new water main, water meters, and service lines, also from about the Western Maryland Railroad Station & Museum to near the Brethren Church.

Obviously, the town and State would like to complete the water line in conjunction with the SHA and town revitalization street improvements, so the street will not have to be torn up again in the future. The cost of this program is estimated to be about $275,000. No CDBG funds are being requested. The town has been approved for a low interest rate loan from the Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

SEWER LINE EXTENSION. To provide public sewer service to about 32 homes along N. Main Street, Union bridge Road, and Honeysuckle Lane, the town plan’s to install about 2,320 feet of 8" sewer main to this community. The area has been annexed into the town limits. Existing private disposal units are about 35 years old and in poor condition. Failing septic systems may be contaminating ground water supplies. Almost all the systems are on small lots that do not have sufficient septic drainage replacement areas, even if suitable soils were present. Since this area is directly contingent to the town’s existing sewer line in N. Main Street (near the elementary school), public sewer can be reasonably and economically extended. The town’s wastewater treatment plant has the capacity to treat the additional sewage. The Maryland Dept. of the Environment concurs with the project, and has approved the use of grant funds and a low interest rate loan to assist the town. The town is requesting $277,000 from CDBG to provide the remaining funds needed for this project.

OTHER MAIN STREET PROJECTS. No CDBG funds are requested for the projects listed below. They were included in the application because they confirm the investment and commitment of others who are part of the Main Street revitalization effort.

1. Shepherd’s Mill Road Truck Bypass. This joint State and Carroll County project will likely divert almost all the heavy truck traffic away from the downtown area. Currently, hundreds of Lehigh Cement Company’s large trucks travel directly on Main Street each week to points north and east. Reducing most of the truck traffic will greatly diminish noise, dust, vibration, road damage, maintenance, and traffic volume. Road funding, design and specifications are approved. The project has been advertised for bids.

2. Western Maryland Railroad Station and Museum Building Improvements. The Western Maryland Railroad Historic Society is currently restoring the historic railroad station and museum at 41 North Main Street. Society members serve on the Revitalization Committee and have approved the idea of using their building as a town visitor center.

3. Little Pipe Creek Park. This truly beautiful park system has been a very successful partnership between the town and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Department of the Environment. The stream banks have been restored, wetlands created, and a trail with footbridge are ready for bid advertisement. The area will be full with wild flowers and trees (over 5,000 trees and flowering bushes will be planted). A wildlife area will also be preserved. The entrance to the new park is on Main Street, just a few feet north of the historic Western Maryland Railroad Station & Museum.

If you have any questions regarding the CDBG application or the Main Street program, please contact the town office at 410-775-2711.

Breakfast will be served at the Community Center on Sunday, March 18^th, 2001. In April, we will serve you breakfast the Sunday AFTER Easter – April 22^nd, 2001. Come and enjoy: pancakes, bacon, chipped beef gravy, home fried potatoes, and eggs cooked to order. You can always take something home from our delicious bake table for an afternoon treat. Volunteers are needed. If you are able to help for a few hours, please call Kathy Kreimer at 410-775-7400.

The Union Bridge Area Recreation Council announces the two winners of the Sony Play Station 2 raffle. The winners are Bruce Gravel and Jennifer Conner.

The Union Bridge Recreation Council is currently planning spring programs including softball, baseball, and lacrosse. Volunteers are also needed. The Council meets on the 3^rd Monday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Union Bridge Town Hall. For more information concerning sponsorships or volunteer opportunities, call Community Coordinator, Anita Staley at 301-898-9451.

On Saturday, March 10, 2001, the FSK Music Boosters will be hosting Basket Bingo at the FSK Cafeteria. Doors open at 5:30p.m. with the games starting at 7:00p.m. Cost is $10 per person, which includes one set of cards for 20 games of Bingo. Prizes will include the 2001 Easter Baskets, the 2001 Inaugural Basket and the retired 1999 Lots of Luck Basket!!! Platters, sandwiches, desserts and other refreshments will be available.

This is a fund-raising event for the music program at FSK, which supports the marching and concert bands as well as the winter indoor guard. Your attendance will help benefit all the students participating in the FSK music program. Please join us for a night of fun and fantastic prizes!!!

For information or tickets, please call 410-751-9425 or 410-775-7420.