(12/2023) The Carroll Valley "Trunk or Treat – Halloween Spooktacular" was a tremendous success with over 400 people in attendance, 100 children participating in the Halloween costume contest, and 30 trunks were elaborately decorated for children to challenge the bizzard dressed proprietor with the words "Trick or Treat"? The Carroll Valley Council, Recreation Committee, Borough staff, and Maintenance crew were involved in planning and managing this special occasion.

The Best Decorated Trunk was Holmes Family & Mrs. Reinecker (The Addams Family); Best Costume: Eli & Byce Leatherman (UPS Truck w/Delivery men); Most Original: Jaxson & Lawson Lease (Little Blue Truck Characters) and Josiah Crouse (White Owl); Scariest: Mia Eyler (Creepy Pumpkin Head); Funniest: CJ Heltmuller (Old Man) and Abby McClain (Princess Peach); Zada & Zoe Thompson (Bluey & Bingo) and Drew & Grayson Kober (Cinderella & Gus-Gus).

The food trucks providing food to those in attendance were Sarah’s Creamery, The Mexican Food Truck, Cracken Catering, and What’z Poppin Kettle Corn. Thanks to the following sponsors: Deja Brew, El Vista Orchards, Exeter Supply, Fairfield Auto Service, Feedbag Country Cooking Carryout, Harrington’s Equip Company, Main Street Cutique, Taverna 5450, Ventura’s, Village Book and Table and the Snyder Family – Stone Ridge Manor. Thank you all. To see the pictures, go to ronspictures.net.

Cliff Weikert, Chief of Carroll Valley Police Department(CVPD), reported that on October 28, 149.5 lbs. of drugs were collected when the Medicine Take Back program was open from 10 to 2. CVPD was assisted by Cumberland Township Police Department and Collaboration for Youth organization.

Thanksgiving is behind us, and now on to December. The start of winter, also known as the "winter solstice," is December 21. Winter solstice is the shortest day of the year. Hanukkah begins on Thursday evening, December 7, and continues through Friday, December 15. National Chocolate Covered Anything Day is celebrated on December 16. I had to include this one for those chocolate lovers (me, me, me) who need an excuse to have a piece of you know what. Christmas is on Monday, December 25; the first day of Kwanzaa falls on December 26 and ends on January 1.

For several years, Neighbors Helping Neighbors has done up a little gift bag with toiletries, etc. They will be doing the same thing again this year. Following is the information for the link for the items for the nursing homes and the students in need at school. If you are willing to donate, click the link for signups and mark your donations. The link is www.signup.com/go/NaCJbvK.

Thank you in advance for your continued support of our neighbors! If you have any questions, please call Robin at 717-642-6578. You have glass bottles you want to get rid of. Then, you might be interested in dumping them off at the new Glass Recycling Center at the Department of Emergency Services building site, 230 Greenamyer Lane, Straban Township. The center is open the first Saturday of each month through the winter.

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 also accepted. Please make checks payable to the Borough of Carroll Valley.

Ruth’s Harvest program is about feeding hungry children. It is a volunteer program that provides hungry children with a backpack for food 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. If you have any questions, contact Gayle Marthers at 717-752-0063.

On November 25, when our local young residents visit the Carroll Valley Borough building, they will be excited to see a 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. The last day to drop a letter and expect a reply written by Santa is noon, December 15 (Friday). On December 5 at 7 p.m., see the Traveling Santa. The Fairfield Community Fire Company will transport Santa Claus from the Fairfield Post Office parking lot through Main Street – Fairfield to the Carroll Valley parking lot. Also, the Fairfield Community Fire Company will hold Breakfast with Santa Claus on Saturday, December 9. The doors open at 8 a.m. Santa arrives at 9 a.m. All meals (adults & children) are $5 per person. For more information, call 717-642-8842 – No reservations needed! December 16, at noon, you can have Cookies with Santa at the Liberty Worship Center. Hope to see you there.

Wish you all Happy Holidays. Be careful driving in the evening, especially in our neighborhood. We are not surprised if we see a deer on the trail or standing in our driveway when we get home. Understanding when you’re most likely to see deer on the road can help keep you and them – safe. Deer are most active at dawn, dusk, and for a few hours after the sun sets. They are more prevalent during mating season, which runs from October to January. If you see a killed deer on the side of the road, slow down. Deer travel in groups – others could be nearby. If you have any questions, please email MayorRonHarris@comcast.net.