(11/2023) We have had some beautiful days with warm temperatures – walking days. This year, the day to roll clocks back by an hour falls on Sunday, November 5. The official time for the change is 2 a.m. I get confused. Will I gain an hour of sleep, which I need, or will I lose an hour of sleep I need? There is a straightforward expression to remember to answer this question, "Spring forward. Fall back." Are you saying you knew? Well, I don’t remember knowing it. This old age is catching up with me.

The Senate has passed legislation to permanently end the practice through the proposed Sunshine Protection Act, which would end Daylight Saving Time. However, it is still awaiting a vote in the House before President Biden can sign it into law. So, does that mean I can hold on to my extra hour of sleep? Just thinking about the answer to that question will keep me up. As you can see, I have a problem sleeping. This is an excellent time to check your smoke alarms. At the same time, you should replace your smoke alarm batteries and the batteries in your Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarm.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 7, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Borough Building, 5685 Fairfield Road. Please note the last day for the Board of Elections to receive a voted ballot is by 8 p.m. Ballots received by mail in the Elections Office after 8 p.m. election day will not be counted. The date of the postmark is not a factor. To see a sample ballot, visit the Adam County government website at adamscountypa.gov. Scroll down the homepage and click on Election Info (Election Guide).

On the Adams County Election Resources, under Sample Ballots, click on Abbottstown-Hamilton Sample Ballots, and you will be brought to a list of sample ballots. Scroll down the alphabetized list of ballots to Carroll Valley. The Borough has also printed some sample ballots. These are available in the lobby by the Administrative window. Please come out to vote. In this 2023 ballot, you are asked to select a total of five council members – four candidates for a four-year term and one for a two-year term.

Veterans Day will be celebrated on November 11. It is a day to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

When browsing online, be aware of the so-called Phantom Hacker, which involves convincing victims that their financial accounts have been hacked. According to the FBI, perpetrators of the Phantom Hacker scheme gain victims' trust in three phases: First, they pose as a tech support representative and convince the victim to download a piece of software. Then, they call a second time, pretending to be from the victim’s bank or another financial institution. Finally, they claim to be an employee of a federal agency. The scam aims to convince people to move their money into an "alias" account, where the scammers can steal it. The fraud can include emails, texts, phone calls, and even letters sent via the U.S. Postal Service. You should be extremely cautious when receiving unsolicited texts, phone calls, or emails, which could lead scammers straight to your bank account. Think twice before providing any personal information. If you are suspicious, call your financial institution directly using a phone number you know to be affiliated with the institution. If you feel that you have been a victim of the Phantom Hacker, you are urged to report any fraudulent or suspicious activities to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov. Suspected fraud can be reported at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Call the Borough and speak with Chief Cliff Weikert at 717.642.8269 Ext. 182.

Fairfield Neighbors Helping Neighbors (NHN) would like to thank all the volunteers who helped with the clothing giveaway on October 21. NHN couldn't make it happen without all of them! Also, thanks to those who donated items and came out to shop! At the end of the month, NHN plans to send out information on their collection of toiletry items for the area nursing homes for the Christmas holidays.

When the toiletry list is ready, it will be posted on Facebook for sign-ups. For questions, contact Robin Dicken at 717-642-6578. Around this time of year, the question always comes up whether someone can hunt in Carroll Valley. To clarify the rules, Carroll Valley cannot, by law, change state law regarding hunting; however, current state rules make legal hunting in Carroll Valley difficult.

Pennsylvania has what is called "Safety Zones." In a safety zone, it is unlawful to hunt for, shoot at, trap, take, chase, or disturb wildlife within 150 yards of any occupied residence, camp, industrial or commercial building, farmhouse or farm building, or school or playground without the occupants' permission. Shooting into a safety zone is unlawful, even if you are outside of the zone. Driving a game without a firearm or bow within a safety zone without permission is unlawful. Consider a safety zone about one and a half of a football field for comparison. Hunting on hospital and institutional grounds and in cemeteries is also prohibited. It is unlawful to discharge a firearm within 150 yards of a Game Commission vehicle whose occupants are releasing pheasants.

The safety zone for archery hunters statewide, including those using crossbows, is 50 yards. Archery hunters carrying muzzleloaders during any muzzleloader season must abide by the 150-yard safety zone regulation. Around playgrounds, schools, or day-care centers, the safety zone remains 150 yards. For further information, refer to www.pgc.state.pa.us. If you think someone is hunting too close to a residence, call the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Dispatch Center in Huntington at 814-643-1831, and an officer will check for violations. If you see persons hunting from vehicles or after dark, call Adams County Dispatch at 717-334-8101 or 9-1-1 to get the quickest response." Call my cell at 301.606.2021 if you have any questions.