February 14th is Valentine's Day. It is a day to pause to remember loved ones. Mark your calendar for the 8th Annual Daddy Daughter Dance – Under the Sea scheduled for Saturday, February 18th, 6 to 9 p.m. at the Fairfield Fire & EMS Banquet Hall. The cost is $50 per couple and $15 for each additional child. Seating is limited. To register visit www.cvdaddydaughter.eventbrite.com. For further information, call the Carroll Valley Borough Office at 717-642-8269.

Don't miss the Mom-a-Razzi, Bubble Magic Show, awesome DJ, finger foods and desserts served all night, fabulous raffle prizes, and more! Hope to see you there! I will be the guy with the camera. It is a fantastic event! February 27th is "Fat Tuesday," the day before Ash Wednesday and the last day of Mardi Gras. It was the custom of the German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania to use up all the fat in their house before Lent by making the fastnacht. It is a square doughnut without a hole, fried in lard. I hope you enjoy your fried cakes.

Our local Adams County Library – Carroll Valley Branch is offering several February activities:

February 2nd (Intro class) and February 16th at 2 p.m.: Bring your diamond painting project and join other diamond painting enthusiasts! New to diamond painting? Come to the introduction class that will be held once a month.

February 2nd 6:30 p.m. Teen/Tween – Book Club: You are invited to join our new tween book club! Bring a snack to share. February's selection – A Wrinkle in Time by Hope Larson/Madeleine L'Engle. Ages 10-19. Registration required.

February 2nd 6:30 p.m. – Whipped Hot Chocolate: Soothe your sweet cravings by making some refreshing and delicious whipped hot chocolate! Ages 11-18. Registration required.

February 6th 6:30 p.m. – Barks and Books: Reading to a therapy dog helps to build confidence in new or reluctant readers. Bring your child to the library to read to Danny, our favorite KPets pup!

February 9th 6:30 p.m. – Potluck Dinner: Bring a covered dish and your appetite to the library for an evening of food sampling! We will have a Valentine's Day theme. Ages 16 and over. Registration required.

February 13th 6:30 p.m. – Valentine's Day Bingo & Craft: Come to the library to make a Valentine's Day craft and play a few rounds of Valentine's Day bingo! Ages 5-10. Registration required.

February 15th 2:00 p.m. – Adult Book Club: Join us for good company and conversation! February's selection – Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford.

February 16th 6:30 p.m. – Family Storytime Dogs, Dogs, Dogs!: Join us and our favorite therapy dog, Danny, for a fun doggy story time, a craft, and a snack (for the humans)! Registration required!

February 23rd 6:30 p.m. – How do animals stay warm in the winter?] Join Mrs. Spalding for fun and educational experiments to discover how different kinds of animals keep warm in their winter habitats. Ages 5-10. Registration required.

If you haven't done it yet, renew your dog license with the County at www.adamscountypa.gov. On the homepage, click the link 2023 Dog License Available. All dogs three months of age or older must be licensed in Pennsylvania. Annual licenses are $8.50 and lifetime licenses are $51.50. For dogs that are spayed or neutered, the annual license is $6.50. Discounts are available for senior citizens and owners with disabilities. Under Pennsylvania law, owners who fail to license and/or immunize their dogs could face fines of up to $300 per violation for each dog. Cats are not required to be licensed. They must have a great lobbyist in Harrisburg — I guess.

Winter can be hard on animals, both domestic and wild. We want to help but also, we must be careful about how we provide that help. For example, should we feed the deer population during winter? According to Pennsylvania Game Commission, the answer is "No." It is believed that during winter, the deer move less and rest more to conserve energy and safeguard their fat reserves.

Setting up a feeding area can lure deer away from their protected areas, using their fat resources for little gain. If you have an animal friend such as a dog or cat, clean their legs, feet, and stomachs after an ice and snowstorm. Remember, our trails are treated with salt and chemicals. These items are ingested when the animals clean themselves. If you park your car outside, bang your car's hood to frighten any animals away before you start your vehicle. During cold weather, some animals (cats, squirrels, etc.) climb under the hood to spend time next to the warm engine.

I wish to thank our residents for answering the Borough's call for individuals to fill the vacancies on the Planning Commission, Parks and Recreation Committee, Public Sewer Advisory Committee, and Zoning Hearing Board. The Council will make the appointments at their next meeting on February 14th. Our residents’ willingness to share their knowledge and expertise will benefit our community.

Borough meetings in February are Planning Commission (February 6th), Borough Council (February 14th), and Public Sewer Advisory Committee (February 27th). The Borough office will be closed on Monday, February 20th. Please reduce your speed to ensure your loved ones, friends, and neighbors will be safe. If you have any questions, call me at 301-606-2021 or email MayorRonHarris@comcast.net.