(9/2102) On August 7th the 2012 National Night Out event was held at Carroll Valley Commons. The purpose was to strengthen the relationship between the citizens and first responders. Over 485 adults and children were in attendance. The Good Samaritan Lodge #336, Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania of Gettysburg fingerprinted and videoed approximately 63 children as part of the Child Identification Program. Specials thanks goes to our Carroll Valley Borough Police Secretary, Jo Ann Myers, and our Police Chief Richard L. Hileman II. I would like to thank the following who met with our residents: the helicopter crew of STAT Med Evac, Adams County Constables Association, Adams County Sport Handgunners Association, Cub Scout Pack#76 who held the Bike Rodeo, Mid-Atlantic Dogs/Thurmont K-9 Search & Rescue Team, the Battlefield Harley Owners Group, Keeney Fire Extinguisher Company, Strawberry Hill Nature Center, PA Counseling Service Collaborating for Youth, Tobacco Prevention Task Force, Children’s Advocacy Center, Safe Kids, RABBITT Transit Authority, Adams County Sheriff James Muller, SPCA Mobile Neuter/Spray Hospital. Also, special thanks go to our first responders: Fairfield Fire & EMS, Fountaindale Fire Department, and the police departments of Carroll Valley Borough, Cumberland Township, Hamiltonban Township, and Liberty Township.

Where are we on the calendar? September 1st means that we are 60 days from Halloween, 66 days to the presidential election, 81 days from Thanksgiving, 115 days from Christmas, and 121 days until 2013. Do you realize that when you are young you want to be older and time goes by so slowly? However, when you do get older the time seems to go so much faster than when you were young. The month of September brings with it a time to honor the American worker on September 3rd. Labor Day was first celebrated in 1882 by the Central Labor Union in New York City. September 6th has been set aside to celebrate Fight Procrastination. The theme of the day is best expressed by Mark Twain, "Never put off until tomorrow, what you can do today." Make a decision.

On a more somber note, September 11th is a time to reflect on the lives lost during a terrorist attack on our homeland during the morning of September 11, 2001. Nineteen militants hijacked four planes. Two planes hit the north and south towers of the World Trade Center in New York (2,606 victims). One plane hit the Pentagon in Washington D.C. (125 victims). And, the fourth plane crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania (40 victims) because of the heroic efforts of the passengers. It was thought that the fourth plane’s target was the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. I encourage you to take a moment on September 11th to reflect on this horrible event and say a prayer for the victims who died and their families, especially the children.

School has started which means school buses will be on the road again. Let us partner with the parents, teachers, administrators, and transportation personnel to keep our young residents safe when they are being transported to and from school. How do we do that? Follow the law. According to the Pennsylvania’s School Bus Stopping Law, when you meet or overtake a stopped school bus with red signal lights flashing and stop arm extended you must stop. When you approach an intersection where a school bus is stopped with red signal lights flashing and stop arm extended, you must stop. You must stop at least 10 feet away from the school bus. You must wait until the red lights have stopped flashing and the stop arm has been withdrawn before moving. And most important, do not move until the children have reached a place of safety.

The Adams County Conservation District’s West Nile Virus (WNV) Program is conducting mosquito control operations in a number of Adams County municipalities. WNV is a virus that is transmitted by infected mosquitoes. These mosquitoes spread the virus from birds to humans and other animals. Based on the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) only one in 150 people infected with WNV will develop severe illness. Symptoms include disorientation, headache, high fever, numbness, and paralysis. Symptoms may last for several weeks and the neurological effects may be permanent. Approximately 80% who are infected will not show any symptoms.

If you do experience symptoms, see your physician. What can be done? There is no WNV vaccine. The Pennsylvania DOH recommends that children and adults wear mosquito repellent (that contains DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus) during the mosquito season (April thru October) and especially during dusk and dawn when the mosquito are actively feeding. You also may want to give some thought to performing some home yard protective steps such as: (1) remove any standing water around the house; (2) turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use; (3) clean clogged roof gutters that may allow the pooling of rain water; (4) Do not allow water to stagnate in either bird baths or ornamental ponds; (5) Use landscaping to eliminate standing water that routinely collects on your property; and (6) maintain good screens on your windows and doors to keep those mosquitoes out of the house.

If you want any further information, you should browse the following website: www.westnile.state.pa.us/index.html and/or call the Adams County Conservation District’s West Nile Virus Program Coordinator, Matthew Stough at (717) 334-0636 or email at mstough@adamscounty.us.

The Borough has initiated the 2013 budget process. The Borough Manager provides the first draft to the Finance Committee on October 5th. This draft budget will be reviewed in detail at the Finance Committee meeting on October 8th. A detailed review by the Borough Council is scheduled for October 23rd and again on October 29th, if needed. The reason I bring these meetings to your attention is that these are the times in which you can participate and voice your opinion on how you believe your tax dollars should be spent. Also be aware that when reviewing the Borough’s budget, we are only addressing a small portion of the total taxes we pay. You need to also consider voicing your opinion to the Fairfield Area School District and Adams County on how they should spend your tax dollars. Check their websites to find out when their 2013 draft budgets will be available for review. Please participate in your school, local and county government affairs especially during the budget process.

Borough meetings to be held in September are: Planning Commission (Sept 4th), Public Safety Committee (Sept 10th), Council Borough (Sept 11th), and Parks/Recreation (Sept 26th). Remember Carroll Valley’s Farmer’s Market is on Thursdays in the Borough Office parking lot from 2:00 to 7:00 pm. Please reduce your driving speed when you are in the Valley. If you have any questions call me at (301) 606-2021 or email me at mayor@carrollvalley.org.