(12/2018) On Tuesday, November 13th, the Borough Council met and approved the advertisement of the proposed 2019 Budget. This action made the proposed 2019 Budget available for residents’ review prior to its final adoption at the December 11th Council meeting. The 2019 Budget is the end-product of a three-step review process over a three-month period.

The first review was performed by the Borough Manager when analyzing the Borough Department submissions. The second review was performed by the Finance Committee. The third review was performed by the Borough Council during their Budget Workshop. At the November meeting, the public was given the opportunity to review the proposed budget. The tentative budget is based on a millage rate of 2.45 mills that is 24.5 cents on each one hundred dollars of assessed valuation which means there will be no Carroll Valley Borough tax increase for 2019.

The Borough, County and Fire Taxes are remaining at the same level as last year. The distribution of the total tax paid approximately breaks down as follows: Carroll Valley is 14.12%, Fire Tax is 1.44%, Adams County is 24.15% and Fairfield School District is 60.29%. The proposed budget can be reviewed at the Borough office or at www.carrollvalley.org for the online version.

Thanksgiving is behind us and now on to December. The start of winter, also known as "winter solstice" is December 21st (Friday). This is the shortest day of the year. Hanukkah is celebrated from December 2nd through December 10th. National Chocolate Covered Anything Day is celebrated on December 16th. I had to include this one for those chocolate lovers who need an excuse to have a piece of you know what. Christmas is on December 25th and the first day of Kwanzaa falls on December 26th and ends January 1, 2019.

It is unfortunate, but please keep in mind, that house break-ins spike during December through January, the holiday season. There is a lot of information on the internet on how to prevent this from happening. However, maybe the approach should be doing those things that reduce the risk of a burglary. Let’s review some facts: (1) Break-in occurs when no one is home; (2) Entry is by a basement/first level window/patio door; (3) Burglary occurs during the day because the criminal can use the daylight to determine whether someone is at home and/or able to look into the house to determine whether it is worth the gamble; and (4) the Burglar wants to be in and out in the shortest period of time, probably about 5-6 minutes.

If these are the facts, some things to consider: (1) Do those things to give the impression there is someone at home; (2) Landscape around your house in such a way to make it difficult for someone to gain entry into the house through basement/first level windows. One suggestion, place thorny rose bushes under windows which may make thieves think twice before going in that way. Also, trim bushes so no one can use them as a concealment cover when casing the house; (3) Do not leave valuables (laptops, tablets, etc.) in plain view of a window or patio door (use sheer curtains that let in light but block the view); and (4) Place your valuables in places that will take time to find. Remember, reduce the risk. If you come home and discover a break-in, do not touch anything and immediately leave the house. Call 911 for assistance.

The months of November and December bring to mind the feelings of the approaching holiday season – the spirit to give to those less fortunate, especially children. Two programs to consider to satisfy that urge to help are: Toys for Tots and Ruth’s Harvest-Fairfield. Toys for Tots began as a Los Angeles charitable effort in 1947. Major Bill Hendricks, USMCR, was inspired by his wife Diane when she tried to donate a homemade Raggedy Ann doll to a needy child but couldn't find any organization to do so. At her suggestion, he gathered a group of local Marine reservists. They collected some 5,000 toys for local children. Their efforts were so successful that, in 1948, Toys for Tots was launched as a national campaign. In 1991, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation was created. Their mission was to collect new unwrapped toys and distribute those toys to less fortunate children at Christmas. There is a Toys for Tots box in the Borough’s lobby. Toy donations will be picked up on December 8th.

The Ruth’s Harvest is about feeding hungry children. It is a volunteer program that provides hungry children with a backpack of food for them 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. There is a Ruth’s Harvest collection box in the Borough’s lobby that contains a brochure that provides a description of all food items needed, where a check can be sent and the point of contact person for volunteering.

Breakfast with Santa will be held on Saturday, December 8th from 7:30 am to 11:00 am at the Fairfield Firehall. Breakfast is $5 while children 10 and under are free. I have been told by an air traffic controller that Santa plans to arrive at 8 a.m. Sensitive Santa will be available at 11:30 a.m. by appointment. Call Gayle Marthers at 717-642-9270.

December Borough meetings are: Planning Commission (Dec 3rd), Borough Council (Dec 11th), and Parks/Recreation Committee (Dec 11th). The Borough Office will be closed on Dec 24th and Dec 25th. 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 MayorRonHarris@comcast.net. Happy Holidays! I wish you and your family good health and happiness topped with loads of good fortune in 2019. Happy New Year!