(8/2019) No rain! Last year, the entertainment portion of the celebration was canceled due to rain. What a difference a year makes. We had the sun and the Carroll Valley July 4th Celebration was such a success with approximately 4,000 in attendance. The Hubcaps entertainment was outstanding. The 50s’Rock & Roll music echoed throughout the Valley. Many in the crowd got the rhythm, so much so, that they got up and danced to the beat! The evening ended with a great fireworks display.

Thanks goes to the following people for the July 4th event: Amanda, Steve, and Jayden Bell, Dave, Leann, Noah, and Josh Hazlett, Erika Hetlyn, Jeni, Jim, and CJ Jarrell, Jessica, Jacoby, Makenzie Taylor, Caroline and Jesse Kraft, Charlee and Gayle Marthers, Cali and Hunter Paulus. The wealth of your efforts was enjoyed by those who attended the event.

I would also like to thank the major sponsors of the event: Liberty Mountain Resort & Conference Center, Adams Electric Cooperative Inc., Shealer Septic Service, Park’s Garbage Service, Inc. and the Borough Council for the continued support of the event. To see the pictures, go to ronspictures.net.

On June 24th, we had one of the best blood drives. The Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank saw 25 donors and collected 20 units of blood. Rick Pope, Donor Resource Consultant, said that they will be able to save 60 local lives. The next Blood Drive is scheduled for Monday, September 23rd, 4 p.m. at the Borough Office. Thank you.

On July 13th, E-Waste Recycling was held at Hamiltonban Township. Two 20-yard containers were filled. Ninety-nine vehicles visited the disposal site. The breakdown stats are Carroll Valley-32, Fairfield-13, Freedom-7, Hamiltonban-19, Highland-16 and Liberty-12. The following individuals help provide their support: Charlie Cool (Fairfield Borough), Ed Wenschoff (Freedom Township), Keth Bauer, Mike Higgins, Peter Klaus, Danny Frotto, Mike Hicken, Bryan Krekel, Mark Walker and Mike Harbold (all from Mid-Atlantic Soaring – Liberty Township) and LuAnn Dille (Supervisor, Hamiltonban) and Nina Farretson (Secretary, Hamiltonban Township). As the Vice President of the South Central Region of the Pennsylvania State Mayors’ Association (PSMA), I would like to thank Mayor Bob Stanley of Fairfield Borough for his outstanding presentation of his involvement in the recovery of the Apollo 11 spacecraft on July 24th, 1969. He was the 2019 PSMA Banquet Speaker held at the Nittany Lion Inn, State College.

Please mark your calendar for the 14th Annual Carroll Valley Borough’s National Night Out (NNO) event to be held on Tuesday, August 6th from 5 to 8 p.m. (rain or shine). 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. Cub Scout Pack 76 will be providing young people up to the age of 12 with a free meal consisting of a hot dog, a bag of potato chips and a drink. Adams County SPCA 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. The Western Maryland K-9 will put on a demo behind the municipal building. There will be games; fire and police display; counseling services; food for everyone to enjoy. 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.

Carroll Valley Library Summer Program "Forgotten Friend Reptile Sanctuary" (animal show) is scheduled for Thursday, August 8th at 3:30 pm. Registration is not required. The Adams County Volunteer Emergency Services Association is inviting everyone to join them for the dedication of the new "Training Tower Module" on August 10th at 1 p.m.. The dedication will be held at the Adams County Emergency Services Training Center 230 Greenamyer Lane, Gettysburg. Refreshments will be provided. The next "Movies In the Commons" event is scheduled for Friday, August 16th. The movie will be "Jungle Book" (animated). Be sure to check out the information posted on the Carroll Valley Parks & Recreation Facebook page. Don’t forget those lawn chairs. Hope to see you there.

August is usually the month that many of us go on vacation. But please do not overlook making sure your home is safe when you are away. There are several things you should consider doing to protect your home. According to the FBI, more than half of home burglaries happen during the day. Here are a few tips: (1) Lock your doors and windows if you leave your house; (2) Do not share the details of your vacation with everyone and especially on social media, like Facebook when you are on vacation – remember, if you are there, I know where you are not; (3) Make the house look as if someone is home by using light timers throughout the house; (4) Go to the Post Office and delay mail delivery; (5) Contract with a security company and when selecting one, checkout their references by going to www.bbb.org; and (6) Contact the Carroll Valley Police Department to be placed on their house checklist. And, by the way, have a great, safe, and relaxing vacation.

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 MayorRonHarris@comcast.net. Please always lock your car whether you are at home or on the road.