(10/2015) It is October. The leaves will start to change into brilliant colors – a last "hoorah" before they fall. The farmers in the area will finish harvesting their crops. The birds will migrate south. National Fire Prevention week is observed from October 4th to October 10th. This week is observed to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire that started on the Sunday evening of October 8th.

The 2015 National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) theme for National Fire Prevention Week is ""Hear the Beep Where You Sleep; Every Bedroom Needs An Alarm". Half of home fire deaths result from fires reported between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most people are asleep. One quarter of home fire deaths were caused by fires that started in the bedroom. Three out of five home fire deaths happen from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. One third of Americans have both developed and practiced a home fire escape plan. Almost three quarters of Americans do have an escape plan; however, more than half never practiced it.

These statistics collected by NFPA indicate a number of things for you to think about. First and foremost, make sure you have working smoke alarms. Check them. Be sure that you installed a smoke alarm in each bedroom as well as throughout the house. Finally do you have an escape plan? How to do get out from the second floor if need be. Please take care. For more information on what you should do during the week to protect your family go to www.nfpa.org website.

On Sunday, October 11th the Fairfield Fire and EMS is holding an "Open House" from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Come down and visit your fire volunteers who protect you. We honor Columbus’ arrival in America on Oct 12, 1492 and celebrate this event on Monday, October 12th. And then, on October 31st children and adults will dress up in "strange looking" costumes to celebrate Halloween by going around the community proclaiming "Trick or Treat".

Sarah Skoczen, Carroll Valley Council member, with the help of Dr. Lisa Wolkind, DVM and many volunteers implemented the Trap Neuter Return (TNR) program in Carroll Valley Borough. This trapping, surgery, and release occurred over the period September 17th through September 20th. If you are not familiar with TNR, it is the strategy that is being used in Carroll Valley to humanely stabilize and reduce free-roaming domestic feline population. This approach prevents suffering among the cats, protects the public health, and reduces stress on the surrounding wildlife.

The non-profits involved were: Nobody's Cats, SNAP, Forever Love Rescue and Adams County SPCA. The individuals who really stepped up and took an active role in implementing this program were: Pam Mikesell, Dani Mikesell, Lisa Mikesell, Melanie Briggs, Niki Fergusan, Tim Skoczen, Rachel Skoczen, Amber Skoczen, Dani Redding, Evelyn Redding, Alaina Redding, Tyler Pyles, Mercedes Lavendar, Jensen Hanks, Dorothy Dreschler, Tyler Karsteter, Joan Musselman, and Tyler Karsteter. Total cats trapped were 15 from the K section and 8 cats from IW/W Sections. Thank you all for your participation – a "Job Well Done". Pictures taken are displayed on ronspictures.net.

The Rapid Bridge Replacement Project (RBRP) is project awarded by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to the Plenary Walsh Keystone Partners (PWKP) consortium with the task of replacing 558 aging Pennsylvania bridges in three years. All bridges are to be replaced by the end of 2017. One of the bridges to be replaced is the Muddy Run Bridge on Route 116 about a mile outside of Fairfield. Your local officials and first responders are trying their best to keep one lane of the bridge open during the replacement to minimize the impact on the emergency response times. According to the RBRP website, the construction timeframe is July to October 2016.

Adams County Commissioners’ Town Hall Meeting is being held on October 6th from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Brethren Home, Nicarry Meeting House, New Oxford. The topic is "Adams County Mental Health Program". There will be two Adams County Commissioner Candidates Forums: one will be held on October 22nd from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Brethren Home, Nicarry Meeting House, New Oxford and the other will be held on October 28th from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Fairfield Fire & EMS banquet hall in Fairfield.

Please consider buying a ticket to the Cash Bash to be held on October 17th at the Fairfield Fire & EMS banquet hall in Fairfield. Dinner, DJ and Dancing until 11 p.m. is on the menu. Doors open at 5 p.m. Dinner served at 6 p.m. Drawing begins at 7 p.m. Every 10th ticket is a winner. $4,500 in prices and a top prize of $1,000 will be waiting to be taken home. Ticket price is $20. The fundraiser is for the July 4th fireworks.

Borough meetings to be held in October are: Planning Commission (Oct 5th), Finance Committee (Oct 12th), Borough Council (Oct 13th), Borough Council Finance Workshop (Oct 20th), Borough Council Finance Workshop (Oct 27th), and the Parks/Recreation (Oct 28th), if needed. Please reduce your speed to make sure you, your loved ones, your friends and your neighbors will be safe. If you have any questions call me at (301) 606-2021 or email at MayorRonHarris@comcast.net.