(12/2021) The 2022 proposed budget for the Carroll Valley Borough has been tentatively adopted with no tax increase for 2022. The final adoption of the proposed budget and tax resolutions is scheduled for the regular Borough Council meeting on December 14th at 7 pm. If interested, the proposed budget is available for inspection at the Borough Office on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. until December 14th. The distribution of the total tax paid approximately breaks down as follows: Carroll Valley is 13.60%, Fire Tax is 1.39%, Adams County is 23.25%, and Fairfield School District is 61.77%. You also can review the document online by visiting the Carroll Valley website – www.carrollvalley.org.

Hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving. The holiday season is definitely upon us. Life speeds up – trying to rush to the next store to get the best buy on a gift. This is positively true if you are not purchasing online or have waited until now to start looking for gifts. Do you know where I’m going with this – if you are using the car, don’t rush, and the most crucial advice for all of us is to buckle up. You may not be rushing, but the other driver may. The safety program executed by state and local police officers this past November called "Click it or Ticket" is still good advice anytime traveling in the car. Whether you’re on a municipal road/trail or the interstate, in a minivan or an SUV, whether traveling cross country or just somewhere in the borough, buckle your seat belt every trip, every time.

Winter officially starts Tuesday, December 21st. This day also is known as "winter solstice" and is the shortest day of the year. Hanukkah is celebrated from Sunday, November 28th to Monday, December 6th. Christmas is on Saturday, December 25th, and the first day of Kwanzaa falls on Sunday, December 26th, and ends January 1st. During this holiday season, please consider helping other families in need.

The Borough of Carroll Valley’s Parks and Recreation Committee along with the Council, Committees, and Staff are collecting the following items to make Holiday Meal Kits for local families in need: Turkeys, Roasting Chicken, Instant Mashed Potatoes, Canned Yams/Sweet Potatoes, Canned Vegetables (corn, green beans), Canned Cranberry Sauce, Stuffing Mix, Desserts (non-perishable or mixes), and Dinner Rolls. Drop off donations at the Borough Office, 5685 Fairfield Road, or cash donations are accepted as well. Please make checks payable to the Borough of Carroll Valley. Pick-up will be on December 19th at 3 p.m.

Ruth’s Harvest program is about feeding hungry children. It is a volunteer program that provides hungry children with a backpack of food to eat when they are not getting school lunches. They receive individually packed servings of food to cover seven meals and two snacks for Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday. There are three ways to help: donate food, make a monetary contribution, and/or volunteer your time in distributing the food packages. A Ruth’s Harvest collection box in the Borough’s lobby contains a brochure that describes all food items needed, where a check can be sent, and the point of contact person for volunteering.

Interested in knowing where will be traveling in our communities. Families, please mark your calendars for Sunday, December 5th, and Sunday, December 12th. Three events are scheduled in which Santa plans to visit. On December 5th, children are invited to have Milk & Cookies with Santa at the Liberty Worship Center on 29 Carroll Tract Road in Hamiltonban Township. The event starts at 12:30.

The Tree Lighting Program will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on December 5th in Carroll Valley Borough. The program will begin with making crafts then story reading by Miss Crystal from Carroll Valley Library, followed by a visit by Santa. Finally, those in attendance will gather around the Christmas Tree, sing several holiday carols, and then light the Christmas Tree. On December 5th, when our local young residents visit the Carroll Valley Borough building, they will be excited to see life-size red Santa Mail Postal Box in the lobby. Santa letters dropped in this special mailbox are guaranteed to be delivered directly to Santa. There will be no weather delays. On Sunday, December 12th, noon to 2 the Fairfield Fire & EMS will hold a Lunch with Santa event. Cost is $5 while children ten and under are free. Look forward to seeing you and your family at these community events.

I wish to congratulate our local candidates on their re-election to the council (David Lillard, Richard Mathews, Robert Verderaime), the tax collector (Phyllis Doyle), and the constable position (Stephen Bean). I also would like to thank you for re-electing me as your mayor. Having been re-elected for a fourth term has never been a more humbling moment in my life. Based on your faith in me, I hope to continue to serve you as I have in these past 12 years. I promise to work on your behalf to ensure your needs and concerns are voiced and considered. Thank you for your trust in me. I am honored to serve you. Wishing you and your family "Happy and Safe Holidays"! You can always contact me at 301-606-2021 or email me at MayorRonHarris@comcast.net.

Be careful driving on the trails during the winter weather events.