(8/2013) The Carroll Valley Borough July 4th Celebration was a tremendous success this year with an attendance of approximately 5,000 people. It was "The Place To Be" on the 4th of July to enjoy our Nation’s birthday. The weather worked out. No rain! I believe everyone had a great time and the evening entrainment, what can I say. We had Major General Chaplain David H. Hicks give the invocation. Then, the United States Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus performed a 1 ½ hour concert that was outstanding.

These "Musical Ambassadors" travel thousands of miles each year presenting concerts throughout the nation and we were so fortunate to have them visit our town on the 4th and perform for us. The celebration ended with a fireworks display on top of Ski Liberty Mountain. This "family picnic" which only attracted approximately 500 people back in 2006 has evolved into what they call today a "Happening." A couple who were visiting from Charlotte, North Carolina wrote in an email to me, "Dear Mayor Harris, Many thanks to you, and the citizens of the Borough of Carroll Valley for hosting the U.S. Army Field Band and Chorus on July 4th. Our visit to Carroll Valley and listening to the band, was one of the highlights of our trip to the greater Gettysburg area."

The success of the day would not have been achieved without the continued involvement of many individuals and local businesses. It is through their participation that we were able to enjoy the day. Special thanks go to the Carroll Valley Municipal Services crew: Steve Fitez, Bruce Pecher, Jack Ringler, Donny Shaffer, Sterling Shuyler, Terry Weikert, and Jeff Wise for their tireless efforts preparing the Carroll Valley Commons for the day’s event. I would like to thank the members of the July 4th (J4) Planning Group who planned the event under the outstanding leadership of Gayle Marthers over a period of a year. The Planning Group members are: Brenda Colesanti, Charles Dalton, Mary Ellen Jester, Robert Jester, Gayle Marthers, Larry Noel, Dan Sanders, Marie Schwartz, Tim Skoczen, James Whittington and Chuck Whitlow. I would also like to express my appreciation to the following individuals for making it such a special day: Travis Arnold, Dave Baker, Amanda Bell, Councilman Frank Buhrman, Carl Kelly and family, Robert Burriss, Lori Davidson, George Fisanich, Erika Hetlyn, Mandra Jester-Burriss, Shannon Lewis, Ben Marthers, Charlee Marthers, Hunter Paulus, Kasey Robison, Emmy Rines, Brieanna Short, Makenzie Taylor, and Jenna Taylor. A special thanks to William McCleaf Jr. and family. Mr. McCleaf Jr. provides, at no charge, the July 4th Hayride. From what I have been told, he continued through the evening until 9 pm because he didn’t want to refuse anyone from taking the ride. He also allows us to use his land for parking. Carl Keller and family make sure the farm land is ready for our guests. I would like to also recognize the generosity of our Fireworks Major Sponsors: Adams Electric Cooperative Inc., Borough of Carroll Valley, and Liberty Mountain Resort & Conference Center.

Other special contributors were: ACNB, Alexander’s Plumbing/Heating, Amvets Post 172, Bergdale Insurance, Buchanan Automotive Inc., Buchart Horn, Inc., Carma Industrial Coatings, Carroll Valley Citizens Association, Comcast, CRS Insurance, Electric Powers, Emmitsburg Osteopathic, Fairfield Amvets, Fairfield Borough, Fairfield Fire & EMS, Fountaindale Fire Company, Granite Hill Campground, Hamiltonban Township, Harrington’s Equipment Service, Harrington and Sons, Historic Fairfield Inn, J & J Wivell Construction, Jester’s Computers, Jon Stough, Kilmer Insurance, Jubilee Foods, Karen Graff, KPI Technology, Lockwood Business Support, McLaughlin’s Heating Oils, Med One Pharmacy, Mike Ball State Farm, Monahan Funeral Home, Park’s Garbage Service Inc., Paul’s Pit Stop, Randy Smith Financial, Realty Leasing & Management Company, Salzmann Hughes, School Safaris Inc., SGI, Shealer’s Septic Tank Service, Sites Realty, Strawberry Hill Nature Center, The Benecon Group, The Carriage House, and Trish Rowe Realty.

Finally, I personally again would like to express my appreciation to Gayle Marthers who managed the day’s event to a successful completion and to Dave Hazlett, our Borough Manager, for his outstanding managerial and technical skill in preparing all the marketing information, raising funds for the event and in creating a very attractive and intuitive July 4th website. As I have said before, Dave is definitely a "Man for All Seasons"! If interested, visit www.ronspictures.net to view the pictures taken that day.

I had the honor to be invited to the Fairfield Boys Scout Eagle Scout Court of Honor held for Kevin M. Aughinbaugh. On July 14th, Kevin receive the rank of Eagle Scout. Eagle Scout Aughinbaugh attends Fairfield Area High School and plans to go on to college and major in environmental science. He said he wants to become a wild life officer or work for the United States Forestry Department. He has been on the high honor roll list since 2010. His Eagle project was the construction of a 32 foot long bridge at Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve. The bridge is a cable bridge with a wood platform. The construction started in April 2011 and was completed November 2012. The project totaled 234 hours of work. Congratulations Kevin on your personal achievement. Go to www.ronspictures.net for pictures taken at the ceremony.

At the July Borough Council meeting, our Carroll Valley Police Officer, Corp Clifford J. Weikert, was presented a Life Saver award by Holly Cookerly, RN, M.Ed., WellSpan Outreach Service Coordinator for the action he performed on September 22, 2012. Officer Weikert responded to an ambulance call in Fairfield and found an individual in cardiac arrest. Utilizing an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED), he was able to restart the individual’s heart, keeping him alive. While the individual eventually succumbed, the individual was able to spend some precious time with his family. This award was given to recognize Officer Weikert’s efforts in this incident to help a man to try to survive. As explained by Chief Richard L. Hileman II, the Carroll Valley Police Department is proud to partner with WellSpan’s effort to place AEDs in police vehicles. This effort allows our officers, if first on the scene, to perform early intervention in cardiac arrests until medical personnel arrive. As Mayor, I would like to say, "Job well done Officer Weikert. You make us proud."

Please mark your calendar for Carroll Valley Borough’s National Night Out (NNO) event to be held on Tuesday, August 6th from 5:00 to 8 p.m. NNO is celebrated each year across the United States to increase awareness for safety within the community, and to educate residents on how to protect their families and familiarize them with available services. All events are FREE. Talking about free, tickets will be given out to young people up to the age of 12 for a free meal consisting of a hot dog, a bag of potato chips and a drink. Children should bring their bikes and helmets for a bike rodeo. There will be K-9 demonstration and if available the STAT MED-EVAC will make a visit; child identification packets and fingerprinting; children’s games; fire and police displays; counseling services; food and much more. NNO is a time to strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships. The children should see our police officers as people who can help them in their time of need. I do hope you take the time to come and join us.

The Borough meetings for August are: Planning Commission (Aug 5th), Borough Council (Aug 13th) and the Parks and Recreation Committee (Aug 28th). If you have any questions, call me at (301) 606-2021 or email me at mayor@carrollvalley.org. Please slow down when driving in the Valley.