(6/2102) This month, we celebrate our national flag and honor our fathers. National Flag Day is June 14th. Flag Day was officially established by the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30, 1916. On August 3, 1949, President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day. Be proud! Fly the flag that day. This year Father’s Day will be celebrated on June 17th. Father’s Day originated in 1909 when a woman named Sonora Dodd came up with the idea to celebrate her father who was born in June. She encouraged others to honor their fathers in June. It didn’t become an official holiday until 1972 when President Nixon issued a proclamation declaring the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. I did come across a bizarre holiday to celebrate in June, the National Chocolate Ice Cream Day on June 7th. Could not find the origin of the special day. However, who cares! Be sure to celebrate the day with some chocolate ice cream.

One of our local citizens, George Fisanich, had the honor to be the guest speaker at the 7th Annual Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) Military Ball held in Gettysburg. Two hundred people were in attendance. George is a World War II veteran. He was assigned as an assistant gunner to a light machine squad in the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. He saw action in Germany and had the honor to march in the victory parade in New York City at the end of the war. George shared his wartime experiences and how he used the G.I. bill to pay for his college degree and made a career in the federal government. Thank you George for your service to our country.

Don’t know if you are aware that at our next Borough Council meeting (June 12th) the Carroll Valley Comprehensive Plan will be presented for approval. Why the interest? A municipal comprehensive plan (MPC) by definition documents the municipality’s goals, objectives and policies that guide the future growth and development within that community. As such, this Comprehensive Plan is a strategic planning document. It contains the implementation strategies (the changes) that are projected to be completed within 10 years. The process that is followed to approve the plan for action involves seven steps: (1) the Planning Commission present the draft plan to the public for comment; (2) the Planning Commission discusses and approves changes to the plan; (3) the Planning Commission recommends the final draft plan to the Borough Council; (4) the Borough Council distributes copies to the Adams County Planning Commission, adjacent municipalities (Fairfield Borough, Hamiltonban and Liberty Townships), and the Fairfield Area School District for review and comment. The review comments received from these entities are discussed and approved changes are used to edit the document; (5) Borough Council holds a public hearing on the final draft plan pursuant to a public notice; (6) Borough Council votes to adopt the plan by resolution; and finally, the Borough Council approves and publishes the Carroll Valley Comprehensive Plan for execution. We are at step #4. If you want to see what is planned for Carroll Valley for the next ten years, go to the Carroll Valley Borough website at www.carrollvalley.org and read the plan. If you have any comments, contact the Borough or come to the next Borough Council meeting. The future growth and development in Carroll Valley is in your hands.

It’s June. The weather will be warmer and with school ending more people, young and old, will be bicycling and walking on our trails. This might be a good time to take a look at our Pennsylvania laws regarding both. In Chapter 35, Section 3510 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes book, there is a law that requires all bicyclists age 12 and under to wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet every time they ride their bicycle. As a matter of fact, it is recommended that all bicyclists wear a safety helmet when riding a bicycle. Please note that a bicycle is considered a vehicle and therefore when riding on a roadway must be operated in the same direction as required of other vehicles on the roadway.

All bicyclists are required to use hand arm signals while on the road. Section 3507 mandates that bicyclists, who ride after dark, install reflective devices or lights on their bicycle. We know that pedestrians have the "right of way". But what are your responsibilities/duties regarding walking on our trails? Well, Section 3544 states that where a sidewalk is provided and its use is practicable, it is unlawful for any pedestrian to walk along and upon an adjacent roadway. Where a sidewalk is not available, any pedestrian walking along and upon a highway shall walk only on a shoulder as far as practicable from the edge of the roadway. Where neither a sidewalk nor a shoulder is available, any pedestrian walking along and upon a highway shall walk as near as practicable to an outside edge of the roadway and, if on a two-way roadway, shall walk only on the left side of the roadway. Bottom-line, please follow these laws. They are for you and your family’s safety on the road.

For us drivers, slow down when in the Valley. Watch out for the unexpected when it comes to people walking, jogging and bicycling on our beautiful trails.

I hope you are planning to attend our July 4th Celebration. It is being held on Wednesday, July 4th. Click on www.cvjuly4th.com to see all that is going on that day. There will be three live bands entertaining the people and they are: Niel & Shannon, Static Trees, Sprinkler Heads, and the Dyin’ Eyler Brothers. The train ride for the kids is back again this year as well as a number of new children rides. They are all free. Checkout the website. There is so much to do in such a short period of time. The evening ends with Fireworks being launched onto of Ski Liberty Mountain. Make plans to be there. If you want to see pictures of past July 4th events, go to www.ronspictures.net. Please consider buying a raffle ticket to support the event and possibly win the $1,000 cash prize.

You are invited to attend the dedication of the new Veterans Pavilion in Carroll Commons on June 12th at 6:45 pm. Borough meetings to be held are: Planning Commission (June 4th); Public Safety (June 11th); Borough Council (June 12th) and Parks & Recreation (June 27th). Please be sure to mark your calendar for our July 4th Celebration. If you have any questions, call me at (301) 606-2021 or email at mayor@carrollvalley.org.