(9/2013) On August 6th the 2013 National Night Out event was held at Carroll Valley Commons. The purpose was to strengthen the relationship between the citizens and first responders. Over 400 adults and children were in attendance. The Good Samaritan Lodge #336, Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania of Gettysburg fingerprinted and videoed approximately 58 children as part of the Child Identification Program. Specials thanks goes to our Carroll Valley Borough Police Secretary, Jo Ann Myers, our Police Chief Richard L. Hileman II, and the Carroll Valley Municipal Services. I would like to thank the following who met with our residents: Representative Dan Moul, Adams County Constables Association, Adams County Sport Handgunners Association, Cub Scout Pack#76 who held the Bike Rodeo, 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, and the Adams County Sheriff James Muller The SPCA Mobile Neuter/Spray Hospital administered 60 rabies shots and micro-chipped 15 animals. Carroll Valley, through the Boy Scouts, handed out approximately 117 free hot dogs to children. New this year was the Adams Electric Cooperative high voltage demonstration. Also, special thanks go to our first responders: Fairfield Fire & EMS, Fountaindale Fire Department, and the police departments of Carroll Valley Borough, Cumberland Township, and Liberty Township. If you are interested in seeing the pictures of the event, go to www.ronspictures.net.

Where are we on the calendar? September 1st means that we are 59 days from Halloween, 65 days to the general election, 80 days from Thanksgiving, 114 days from Christmas, and 120 days until 2014. 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 2rd. 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. In order to show gratitude to all the first responders in our area, the Knights of Columbus of St. Mary’s Church will sponsor a special "Blue Mass", on Sunday, September 8th, at 8:00 a.m. Following the mass, a monument on the church grounds honoring first responders will be dedicated. This monument is the result of an Eagle Scout project of a young man, Anthony Venzin, who felt the need to recognize the work of so many brave men and woman who frequently put their lives on the line for others. If you time, attend the dedication.

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.

On September 18th, the Carroll Valley Borough Council, Fairfield Borough Council, Fairfield Area School Board and Hamiltonban Township Board of Supervisors will hold a joint workshop at 7:00 PM at the Fairfield Fire Company Community Building. The purpose of the workshop will be to receive a presentation by the appointed members of the Peer to Peer Study Group for Recreation in the Southwest Region that was funded by a DCNR grant. This meeting is open to the public.

On September 20th from 6:30 to 9:30 pm, the Carroll Valley Citizens Association plans to hold their 2013 Exhibit of Local Artists in the Carroll Valley Common pavilion. The general guidelines are: it is open to resident artists of Carroll Valley, Fairfield (zip code 17320); 16 years old or older; and you will be asked to pay a fee of $10 to enter up to three pieces of art. The art should reflect the best work of experienced amateurs or professionals. CVCA reserves the right to reject artwork that is not properly presented. Work must be original art, two-dimensional, and may be oil paint, watercolor, acrylic, pastel, mixed media, drawing, collage, or hand-pulled print. No artworks from prior years' CVCA art shows are eligible. No sculpture, tole, decorative painting, photography, or computer-generated art will be shown. Winners will be determined by a paid judge. Prizes of $100 for 1st, $50 for 2nd, and $25 for 3rd, will be awarded as well as two ribbons for honorable mention. If you are interested, please contact Jale Dalton, email jaledalton@aol.com or call/text her cell at (717) 420-0743 or work at (717) 642-5844. Carroll Valley’s Founders’ Day will also be celebrated. Come down and join your fellow neighbors and enjoy a piece of cake.

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.

Borough meetings to be held in September are: Planning Commission (Sept 3rd), Public Safety Committee (Sept 9th), Council Borough (Sept 10th), and Parks/Recreation (Sept 25th). Please reduce your driving speed when you are in the Valley and watch out for our young citizens walking to and from school. If you have any questions call me at (301) 606-2021 or email me at mayor@carrollvalley.org.