(11/2018) As of November 1st, we are 23 days to the unofficial or official start of the holiday shopping season. I guess if you want to make it seem like it is a longer period of time, you could always say you have 552 hours or 33,120 minutes left before you start on Black Friday. This year Black Friday falls on November 23rd which is the day after Thanksgiving. If you are wondering why it is called Black Friday it is because it relates to businesses recording their losses in red ink and gains in black. I don’t think that helps.

One good thing though is this year we turn back the clocks and say goodbye to Daylight Saving Time in the early hours (2 a.m.) of Sunday, November 4th. That means an extra hour of sleep, and at my age, I want all the sleep I can get even if the rest of the nation wants to join in. You could use that extra hour to go online and shop! It is also a good time to check all your smoke alarms. Election Day is November 6th (Tuesday). The polls will be open from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.. All voting will be held at the Carroll Valley Community & Education Complex (the new building). If you have any questions regarding the election polls and voter ID, contact Ms. Monica Dutko, Adams County Director of Elections and Voter Registration at 717-337-9832.

For your information, the positions & candidates up for election are: U.S. Senator – Lou Barletta (R) and Bob Casey, Jr. (D); PA Governor – Scott R. Wagner (R) and Tom Wolf (D); Lieutenant Governor – Jeff Bartos (R) and John Fetterman (D); U.S. Congress (13th District) John Joyce (R) and Brent Ottaway (D); PA General Assembly (91st District) Dan Moul (R) and Marty Qually (D). Your vote counts! Please vote!

On November 10th, our nation celebrates the birth of the United States Marine Corps. Did you know that the Marine Corps was created during the Revolutionary War? They are celebrating their 242nd birthday. Veterans day falls on Saturday, November 11th. It is a day we honor all Armed Forces veterans who have served our country. As they do each year, Fairfield School is holding a "Veteran’s Day Breakfast" on Monday, November 12th from 8:00 am to 10:00 am in the Fairfield High School cafeteria. All veterans as well as their spouse or guest are invited to attend. For more information, you can call the office at 717-642-2045 or email fasdvets@fairfield.k12.pa.us. RSVP’s are necessary by November 5th. As a 20-year veteran, please accept my heartfelt appreciation for your service and for your family’s support. We celebrate Thanksgiving this year on November 22nd.

The Pennsylvania House and Senate passed Senate Bill 961 which increases penalties for people who repeatedly drive under the influence (DUI). This legislation creates the first-ever felony DUI in Pennsylvania for a person convicted of their third DUI with a BAC of .16 or higher and all persons convicted of their fourth or subsequently DUI. Additionally, the bill increases the minimum penalty for homicide by vehicle while intoxicated from three to five years if the person has one prior DUI and from three to seven years if they have two or more prior DUIs. It also increases the penalties for driving while under suspension for a prior DUI from a fine of $500 and imprisonment of at least 60 days to a fine of $1,000 and imprisonment of at least 90 days. A third or subsequent offense would result in a fine of $2,500 and at least six months in jail. Please do not drink and drive.

The Fairfield Fire & EMS sent a letter out to its membership informing them that they have decided to merge their ambulance service with the Adams Regional Emergency Medical Services, Inc. (AREMS). AREMS is 501c3 nonprofit corporation formed solely to provide emergency medical care and transportation. This transition will allow Fairfield Fire & EMS to have 24 hours per day, 7 days per week coverage within our regional area. A full-time paid crew will be housed at Fairfield Fire & EMS. AREMS will be paying a monthly fee to house their ambulances and to have sleeping quarters. The current ambulance Fairfield Fire & EMS memberships that our members and citizens have will continue to be honored. This is a proactive move to guarantee continued ambulance service and is supported by all our municipalities.

The 2nd Annual Trunk or Treat Spooktacular and end-of-the Movie in the Park series was an overwhelming success with approximately 300 in attendance of which 100 young entered the Halloween Costume Contest. Thanks goes out to everyone involved to create an extraordinary night for our attendees, especially the youngsters. A special appreciation is extended to the event organizers/managers, Gayle Marthers and Amanda Bell and to the costume judges and helpers: Frank Buhrman, Councilor Bruce Carr, Dave Hazlett, Councilor Jared Huster, Councilor Richard Mathews, Councilor Sarah Skoczen, Councilor Robert Verderaime and LeAnn Hazlett.

Based on the results of the October 16th Council and Finance Committee Workshop review of the Carroll Valley draft 2019 Budget prepared by our borough manager, Dave Hazlett, the current Borough tax rate will remain at 2.45 mills or .00245 of assessed value of land and buildings – meaning No Tax Increase. The next steps – Council approves the advertisement of the budget for public review at the November meeting and, if no changes, the tax ordinance will be signed at the December meeting.

The Borough Office will be closed November 6th (Election Day), November 12th (Veterans Day) and November 23rd and 24th (Holiday). Meetings this month will be November 5th (Planning Commission), November 13th (Council Meeting), and November 28th (Recreation Committee). Please reduce your speed to make sure you, your loved ones, your friends and neighbors will be safe. If you have any questions call me at 301-606-2021 or email at MayorRonHarris@comcast.net.