(7/2017) The Open House and Dedication of the Carroll Valley Community and Educational Complex building was held on May 30th approximately 10 months after we broke ground last July. Ninety people attended. State, county, municipality officials, Adams County Library representatives, and local area residents were among the visitors to celebrate the building’s dedication.

Those government officials were Pennsylvania State Senator Richard Alloway II, State Representatives Dan Moul and Will Tallman, County Commissioners Randy Phiel and Marty Qually, Mayor Bob Stanley, Supervisors Bob Gordon, Coleen Reamer and Bob Jackson and Carroll Valley Council members Sarah Skoczen, Robert Tyler Pyles, Bruce Carr, Ken Lundberg, and Tom Fitzsimmons. The library members who participated were the Executive Director – Carla Trout, Board President – Bob Shuey, Financial Administrator – Beth Cool and Librarians Sherrie DeMartino and Crystal Durbin. During the ceremony, the Borough honored Senator Alloway by including his name on the building plaque.

This was done to thank him for his help in securing a $1 million state grant to fund the project through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program. He was also presented with a wooden replica of the new building. I would like to thank all those involved especially, Dave Hazlett, Gayle Marthers, Amanda Bell, JoAnn Myers, Beth Cool, Sherrie DeMartino, Crystal Durbin, Chief Richard Hileman II and our police officers.

Our new building houses not only a larger, brighter, expanded Library, but community meeting rooms and an outdoor stage area, enhancing our community park. This building will greatly help programs and services to fulfill the needs of our wonderful community. I, along with the Borough staff, truly appreciate all your support and hope in the years to come you will enjoy all the amenities this facility has to offer you and your family.

The 13th Annual July 4th Picnic Celebration will be held on Tuesday July 4th starting at 2 p.m. There are many activities in which to participate. There is a climbing wall, a youth obstacle course, live bands, laser tag, moon bounce, and hay rides. Sign up for the Horseshoe tournament. The 7th Annual 3 vs. 3 Team Basketball Tournament will start at 3 pm. The Championship game will be played in the evening under the lights. Besides food vendors serving up delicious food, we have service and craft vendors to visit. The Lip Sync competition was so successful the past two years that it is back again. It should be a lot of fun cheering for your favorites on our new stage. Come out and share your talent.

The celebration ends with fireworks being launched from on top of Ski Liberty Mountain. Free Parking at Ski Liberty. You will be bused over to the park. Hope you and the family will be able to join us. Check it all out by going to www.cvjuly4th.com. It is going to be a great day to celebrate our country’s Birthday. I hope to be there taking pictures.

Summer has started which means those heat alerts are going to be broadcasted again. There are three types of messages that are sent out to the populace and they are: Excessive Heat Outlook, Excessive Heat Watch and an Excessive Heat Warning/Advisory. An Excessive Heat Outlook is used to indicate that a heat event may develop and the emergency management and public health officials should be prepared. An Excessive Heat Watch means an excessive heat event may occur in the next 12 to 48 hours. Finally, an Excessive Heat Warning/Advisory is issued within 12 hours of the onset of the following criteria: heat index of at least 105E F for more than 3 hours per day for 2 consecutive days, or heat index of more than 115E F for any period of time. Why pay attention? According to the NOAA National Weather Service, the statistical data shows that heat causes more fatalities per year than floods, lightning, tornadoes, and hurricanes combined. What to do?

Here are a few tips. Slow down and do not perform any strenuous activities. Drink plenty of water or other non-alcohol fluids even though you may not feel thirsty. If you have problems retaining fluids, consult your physician before increasing your fluid intake. Eat light meals to decrease your metabolic heat production. Wear lightweight light-colored clothing. And naturally, try to spend time in an air-conditioned place.

Please mark your calendar for Carroll Valley Borough’s National Night Out (NNO) event to be held on Tuesday, August 1st from 5 to 8 p.m. (rain or shine). This year it will be held back in Carroll Valley. 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. Young people up to the age of 12 will receive 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 many children’s games; fire and police displays; counseling services; a Fairfield Fire water rescue, and food for everyone to enjoy. The ACSPCA will provide dogs with rabies shots ($10) and microchips ($25). Dogs only. Take advantage of these low-cost options and get that required rabies shot. 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.

For your information, there are two topics that will be discussed at the July Borough Council meeting and they are: (1) Allowing a limited number of chickens to be raised in the municipality and (2) Rescinding the ordinance that requires new homes to install a sprinkler system. There will be a public hearing on the sprinkler system starting at 6:00 pm on July 11th followed by the Council Borough meeting at 7:00 pm. The other Borough meetings in July are: Planning Commission (July 3rd) and Parks/Recreation (July 26th). The Borough Office is closed July 4th. Please reduce your driving speed when you are in the Valley. If you have any questions call me at 301-606-2021 or email MayorRonHarris@comcast.net. I have an office now. Give me a call. Come and visit.