(5/2014) There are a number of holidays to celebrate in May. May 6th is National Teacher Day. It is a day Eleanor Roosevelt convinced Congress in 1953 to be set aside to recognize and honor the nation’s teachers. The National Teacher Day provides an opportunity to recognize and show appreciation for the enormous impact teachers have made on our youth. This year the Adams County Police Memorial Services will be held on Friday, May 9th at the Oak Lawn Cemetery in Gettysburg. It is a remembrance performed by all Adams County Police Departments for their fallen officers. The Memorial Services begin at 10 am.

May 11th is Mother’s Day. In 1914. Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation recognizing the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. Growing up on the streets of East Harlem in New York City, it was my mom who made sure that I understand good from bad, how to respect and help others even when it meant sacrifice. On this Mother’s Day we should all remember those "mom moments" that made us who we are today. On Armed Force Day, May 17th, as a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, I do plan to salute all the men and women who are serving in all branches of the service protecting our country.

On Sunday, May 18th the Fairfield and EMS, Adams County Company 2 will be holding their Open House event from Noon to 4 pm to celebrate EMS week. Hope to see you there. We all should recognize Memorial Day, May 26th. It is a day set aside to commemorate the men and women who have died in military service for their country. Through their sacrifice we are free.

I had the opportunity to attend the Fairfield Cub Scout Pack 76 Annual Blue and Gold Banquet on April 5th. The banquet was attended by over 80 scouts, friends and family. Seventeen Cub Scouts were advanced in Rank and were presented over 50 achievement awards for their work over the past 6-8 weeks. Troop 76 had a delegation of Boy Scouts present to accept and honor 3 Cub Scouts that were bridged over from Cub Scout to the Boy Scouts. The scouts enjoyed a variety of Outdoor/ Scouting entertainment stations that included perfecting your cast, nurf-gun shooting gallery, what to pack in your back pack, puzzle station for unscrambling your scouting principals, a knot tying station as well as a honey bee learning station with various bee keeping equipment. The banquet was enjoyed by all, establishing the outdoor themed desert contest. If interested in joining the Cub Scouts please email Jerry Holz at JerryHolz@allstate.com or call Alphie Cisar at 717-794-5418. If you want to view the picture taken, go to ronspictures.net.

I was also invited to the Mother Seton School in Emmitsburg, MD where my granddaughter, Catarina, is attending kindergarten. Her class under the guidance of their teacher, Connie Richwine, built a town. I was asked to talk about what a Mayor does and to perform the "Cutting Ribbon Ceremony" to officially open the "Red, White, and Blue Justice" town. Prior to cutting the ribbon, I presented the young town citizens a Certificate of Support & Recognition by Carroll Valley Borough. Proposed a number of town ordinances which were reviewed and approved. And, finally, passed out a "Key to the Town" to each town builder. Again I thank them for the experience and honor.

If you haven’t noticed, the old Carroll Valley Resort building is being demolition. Eric Flynn has reached out to those residents living on Country Club and Skyline Trails to see if they were interested in getting progress reports on the status of the work being accomplished as it affects their passage. A number of residents are taking advantage of the offer. The overall demolition will take roughly 3 to 4 weeks. All the building waste is being disposed of according to local codes and regulations. It should be noted that Liberty Mountain will continue to operate with golf, banquet and wedding business throughout the summer and the duration of the renovation project. Liberty Mountain is going to try their best to clearly mark appropriate areas where there will be pedestrian and golf cart crossing. You are asked to watch carefully for resort guests crossing the street and making their way around the resort during the construction period.

Finally, I believe the weather is going to warm up which means more people, young and old, will be bicycling and walking on our trails. This might be a good time to take a look at our Pennsylvania laws regarding both. In Chapter 35, Section 3510 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes book, there is a law that requires all bicyclists age 12 and under to wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet every time they ride their bicycle. As a matter of fact, it is recommended that all bicyclists wear a safety helmet when riding a bicycle. Please note that a bicycle is considered a vehicle and therefore when riding on a roadway must be operated in the same direction as required of other vehicles on the roadway.

All bicyclists are required to use hand arm signals while on the road. Section 3507 mandates that bicyclists, who ride after dark, install reflective devices or lights on their bicycle. We know that pedestrians have the "right of way". But what are your responsibilities/duties regarding walking on our trails? Well, Section 3544 states that where a sidewalk is provided and its use is practicable, it is unlawful for any pedestrian to walk along and upon an adjacent roadway. Where a sidewalk is not available, any pedestrian walking along and upon a highway shall walk only on a shoulder as far as practicable from the edge of the roadway. W

here neither a sidewalk nor a shoulder is available, any pedestrian walking along and upon a highway shall walk as near as practicable to an outside edge of the roadway and, if on a two-way roadway, shall walk only on the left side of the roadway. Bottom-line, please follow these laws. They are for you and your family’s safety on the road. For us drivers, slow down when in the Valley. Watch out for the unexpected when it comes to people walking, jogging and bicycling on our beautiful trails.

The May Borough meetings are: Planning Commission (Monday – May 5th) Topic at the Commission meeting will be a review of the Southwest Comprehensive Plan; Borough Council (Tuesday – May 13th). A public hearing of the Zoning Amendment will be held prior to start of the council meeting; and Parks & Recreation Committee (Wednesday – May 28th). The Borough Office will be closed on Tuesday, May 20th and Monday, May 26th – Memorial Day. If you have any questions, contact me at mayor@carrollvalley.org or 301-606-2021.