50 Things to be Thankful For in Sykesville

This was first published in 2001. Since the town residents have recently voted for political change, it seems appropriate to republish this list of what we have to be thankful for in our town. (It has been updated to adjust for changes)
1. The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Station is completely restored.
2. The Sykesville Town House, home of local government, has undergone an exterior restoration and was repainted in the original Victorian colors.
3. The Sykesville & Patapsco Railway operates a model train layout in the Pullman Car on Oklahoma Ave the first Sunday each month..
4. The restoration of many fine homes on Springfield Avenue and elsewhere.
5. The Sykesville Gate House Museum of History.
6. The Spring History Walk, early in March.
7. Our wonderful newsletter, and the Town's effort to inform the public.
8. The Strawberry & Ice Cream Festival, the first Saturday in June.
9. The photographic work of the Jones Sisters at the Gate House Museum.
10. The legacy of the Herald Newspaper, 1914-1983
11. The Friends of Old Trinity Cemetery.
12. The Town web site, at www.sykesville.net
13. The ongoing improvements on the Howard County side of the Patapsco River.
14. The ongoing effort to paint our Historic buildings in their original colors.
15. The Warfield Complex Development Project.
16. Millard Cooper Park.
17. The other great neighborhood parks.
18. The hiker & biker trails.
19. The free 'Concerts in the Park' series each summer.
20. The Annual Fall Festival, the first Saturday each October.
21. The Main Street Master Plan.
22. Sykesville is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
23. The Christmas Open House on Main Street, first Friday evening in December.
24. Our Town Spirit.
25. The rejuvenation of the Main Street shopping district.
26. In 1985, there were 7 empty storefronts, now there are just a couple.
27. The little Sykes Railway child's amusement train ride.
28. The Interlocking Tower Post Office -Visitor's Center - Public Restrooms on Oklahoma Avenue.
29. The Town is blessed with excellent employees.
30. We Recycle like mad.
31. Our neighborhoods are the safest in Carroll County.
32 Our Police Department makes sure it stays that way.
33. The annual National Night Out Against Crime public awareness series.
34. Our Public Works and Sanitation Departments are second to none.
35. The Town is surrounded by green space.
36. Our roads are nice.
37. Main Street resembles a postcard when it snows.
38. We have 5 Churches in Town to worship in.
39. Thelma C. Wimmer.
40. The Sykesville Fire Department.
41. Sykesville Town taxes have gone down in 4 of the last 5 years.
42. We have our own Historic Sykesville "vanity" tags for our cars.
43. The Norwood Inn Bed & Breakfast offers a nice place to stay for visitors.
44. The Black School House Restoration Project-Recipient of the Maryland's Treasure of the Month Award for July.
45. There is never a lacking of volunteers for committees.
46. You can still hear the train whistle at night.
47. The Patapsco River Valley is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful in the country.
48. We have no traffic lights in Town!
49. In the most recent survey, the Town received a 76% approval rating from the residents, highest of any government
entity rated.
50. As for Our Future?
"We are on the threshold of a dream-so dream a little dream with me-for the best is yet to be."
(Paraphrased from The Moody Blues, The Mamas and Papas, and William Shakespeare.)