(4/2011) I am sure you are enjoying the warmer weather and have changed your clocks. Well, I too, finally did it. I just hate to lose that hour of sleep. But showing up so early for appointments didn’t go well. Actually, Daylight Saving Time has been in use since World War I. It was an effort to conserve fuel needed to produce electric power. Maybe the practice will help our energy expenditure today.

I had the pleasure of being invited to and attended the Blue and Gold Banquet held by Cub Scout Pack 76 of Fairfield, PA at the Carroll Valley Park pavilion. The theme of the banquet was "Building Character for the Next 100 Years," and was highlighted mid-way through the program when the Pack 76 Cub Scouts competed in a Lego-building contest during which they built structures that illustrated how they would improve the community they live in.

The winning entry by Christopher Shaffer and Jeremy Whitmore showed people doing volunteer service in their community. Kevin Bream, father of Webelos scout Cameron Bream, opened the banquet by reading a Gettysburg Times newspaper article from 1958 that described the first Blue and Gold Banquet ever held by the Fairfield Pack. Special guests in attendance at this year’s banquet were Pastor Christopher Fry of St. John Lutheran Church in Fairfield, the charter organization for the pack; Gene Pecher of the Fairfield Lions Club; and a contingent of Fairfield Boy Scout Troop 76 scouts and assistant scoutmasters. Tiger scouts Aidan Baker-Miller, Alphie Cisar, and Ross Clements earned their Tiger ranks and Bear scouts Christopher Shaffer and Jeremy Whitmore earned their Bear ranks, all of which will be awarded at the March 31 Pack Meeting. The Tiger den leader is Alphie Cisar and the Bear den leader for the Pack is Bill Randall.

The Arrow of Light awards, the highest award in Cub Scouts, were awarded to Webelos II scouts Cameron Bream and David Randall. Cameron and David then bridged to Fairfield Boy Scout Troop 76 and were welcomed into the Troop by assistant scoutmaster Kent Benjamin, senior patrol leader Mateo Benjamin, and Boy Scouts Christopher Bream, Anthony Venzin, Austin Mackey, Bradford Shughart, Evan Hull, Ian Clements, and Kevin Auginbaugh, as well as assistant scoutmasters Matt Hull and Roger Venzin. The Fairfield Cub Scout Pack 76 always welcomes new scouts from grades one through five. For more information, launch their website www.BeAScout.org or call 717-642-8471.

On March 6th I watched Jacob Arbutus receive an Eagle Scout award, the highest honor a Boy Scout can achieve in Scouting, at the Court of Honor ceremony held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fairfield. Jacob has been a member of Troop 76 since 2006. He served as Patrol Leader and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, and is a Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow Scouting honorary. Jacob is a 10th grader at Fairfield High School who has excelled academically, earning high honors each semester. He played for the Fairfield High School Junior Varsity Soccer Team last Fall and competed in the shot put for the Fairfield High School Track Team last Spring.

To earn the Eagle Scout, Jacob had to progress through each of the Scouting ranks and complete a minimum of 21 merit badges, of which 12 were required. In addition, he had to be active in his troop and patrol, demonstrate spirit by living the Scout Oath and Scout Law in his everyday life, serve in a leadership position for at least 6 months as a Life Scout, complete a community service project, and pass an Eagle Scout Board of Review. Jacob’s Eagle Scout community service project entailed raising funds for the project, gathering a team of Scouts, and purchasing and planting 10 October Glory and Sunset Maple trees on the property at St. Mary's Catholic Church. A representative for U.S. Representative Todd Platts presented Jacob with a United States flag that had been flown over the U.S. Capitol, and said that Congressman Platts wanted Jacob to know how proud we all are of his achievement and service to the community. State Representative Dan Moul representing himself and Pennsylvania Commonwealth Senator Rich Alloway also acknowledged Jacob's achievements and the vital role of Eagle Scouts. If you are interested in seeing the pictures go to www.ronspictures.net.

2011 begins the commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War. As part of the "Invasion of Pennsylvania" – a series of four Sesquicentennial kick-off events are scheduled in Adams and Franklin Counties. Fairfield is hosting a celebration on April 22nd and 23rd and Gettysburg is hosting their celebration on April 29th and 30th. In Fairfield, planned activities include a Civil War era Good Friday service at St. John Lutheran Church, a Civil War Vigil and Main Street Illumination. The evening will conclude with the playing of "taps" and reading of those who lost their lives in the Battle of Fairfield. On Saturday, you will be able to visit re-enactor encampments, and join a Civil War house tour. At noon, experience "High Tea" at the Fairfield Inn.

The reenactment of the Battle of Fairfield will be held on the Landis farm. Later in the afternoon, the Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart’s raid of Fairfield and the kidnapping of the Postmaster and Justice of the Peace will be reenacted. There is lot to experience and to learn about Fairfield area’s involvement in the American Civil War. A fascinating yet in-depth account of the area’s involvement has been brilliantly recorded in an 84-page book entitled "Fairfield in the Civil War". The book costs $8.00 and worth the read. You can purchase it online at www.thomspublications.com or at various locations through the local area including the Carroll Valley Borough Office. All the proceeds are being used to fund the 150th Kick-off events in Fairfield.

CVCA has invited Bicky Redman, Director of Environmental Services for Adams County, to speak at their next meeting on April 15th. CVCA will be holding their annual Carroll Valley Trail Walk on Saturday, April 16th. It is a great chance for residents to walk up and down their Trail and pick up trash. Contact Charles Dalton at (717) 642-5844 for further information. The Borough will be holding the following meetings in April: Planning Commission (Apr 4th); Finance Committee (Apr 11th); Borough Council (Apr 12th); Sewer & Water (Apr 25th); and Parks & Recreation (Apr 27th). Check our website for the details on the Carroll Valley Fishing Derby scheduled for the morning of April 23rd. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me by email at mayor@carrollvalley.org or by cell at (301) 606-2021.