I am looking for ways to promote safety for our children in town. The law says that children under 15 years old must wear a bike helmet. I believe hat helmets should be worn when riding bikes, skateboards, and in line skating. The ruling may sound harsh, but most people got used to wearing seat belts for safety in cars, and know it’s fine. Think of the safety of your children. Stop and think, helmets would make a nice Christmas gift. I am getting information together to have some safety programs after the first of the year. More to come after the holidays.

I would also like to have a junior or senior from Francis Scott Key to sit in on council meetings as a representative.

The town is looking for someone who would like to work for the town cleaning the streets and doing odd jobs. Interested persons should contact council member Donald Wilson or the town office. This person will work under the direction of Donald Wilson.

Final development and testing of the Whyte Street test well by Earth Data Inc., will begin in a few weeks. Their written report recommended that the Whyte Street well be developed as a back-up water supply for the Town. The final results will be forwarded to the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) for approval. The MDE is partially funding the water improvements.

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay is hosting a "tree day" at Little Pipe Creek Park in Union Bridge. It will be held on Saturday, November 4th from 10:00 a.m. until noon. Come and bring the family. Learn about local fish, trees, turtles and insects in the environment in which you live. Help improve the water in the streams by planting a tree. Look for the big tent behind Stambaugh's along Route 75.

Ongoing tree planting demonstrations will be held and a local forester will instruct participants in the best method for planting trees. Those who watch a demonstration will be able to take home a FREE tree to plant in their yard. Also, there will be an opportunities to take part in planting and mulching trees in Little Pipe Creek Park.

On the banks of the stream, a water expert will catch and display fish and tiny water creatures for everyone to examine. And, take time to stop and visit the hands-on turtle exhibit.

You can find out how close you live to streams and forested areas by using our aerial photograph of the area. Locate your house and place a flag next to it. Then, take the opportunity to be one of the first to walk along the proposed pathway and check out the plans for the new park's completion scheduled for next summer.

For residents and visitors who can’t walk to the event, parking is available at the Elmer Wolfe Elementary School. Limited parking is also available at Stambaugh’s and Maryland Midland Railway’s parking lots. Please park in appropriate areas only.

The Main Street Revitalization Committee has completed another phase in the process toward our goal. Whitney Bailey Cox & Magnani, the consultants hired under our successful Community Development Block Grant, submitted the "2000 Union Bridge Main Street Plan" in August 2000,

and presented their recommendations to the committee and to the Town Council. A copy of this report is on file at the Town Office and available for review by the public. The report will be a working document to frame the continuing work of the committee and to apply for future grant money that will accomplish specific projects outlined in the report.

The committee met with the involved parties on September 28 to coordinate the town-wide water improvements by the town engineer, with the streetscape improvements to be done by the State Highway Administration (SHA). If all the design and funding details remain on schedule, the SHA will start work on Main Street in spring 2002.

The committee also met with Dave Roush of Lehigh Portland Cement Company on October 4 to discuss the Lehigh expansion project, and the County's proposed Shepherds Mill Road. Construction on that road is scheduled to begin in spring 2001, and completion expected by spring 2003. Although these preliminary dates are set by the county and the state and subject to change, the ideal scenario would be for Shepherds Mill Road to be completed before work begins on Main Street. However, the committee feels that the town stands to receive the best chance for state funding, given the current financial climate, if we keep the current schedule suggested by SHA. The committee will work to keep the community informed as work progresses to minimize delays and other inconveniences.

The committee is currently writing its next grant application that will be submitted in February 2001. That application will include a request for funds for the following work: replacement street lighting with coordinating historic reproduction benches and trash receptacles, replacement parking meters; development of a municipal parking lot with handicapped parking, security lighting and landscaping; new street signs and historic markers; and development of a town square. Selections of these amenities must be made before January in order for the price quotes to be included in the grant request. Therefore, the committee will meet on November 8 and November 29 at 7:00 p.m. at the Town Hall. For information on these meetings and future meetings, please contact Joan McKee (410-775-2976).

The Town Hall Funding Committee presented a check for $7,000 at the October council meeting. This will be used as a payment on the principal of our Town Hall. The money was raised from our breakfasts and our recent September Fall Fest. THANK YOU to all of our volunteers and those of you who attended for making our Fall Fest a success. This year we moved to a new location at Lehigh Park. Children’s games, craft items, great food, Lehigh tours, auction and a variety of entertainment, helped to create a fantastic event. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors for their support. Lehigh Portland Cement Co., Campanella & Associates, VFW Post 8806, Union Bridge Church of the Brethren, Tracy Alban our auctioneer, Bob Alexander (fire truck rides) Farmers & Mechanics National Bank, Fogles Refuse & Septic Service, Hyder Consulting Inc., Stambaugh’s Inc, Maryland Midland Railroad, Drain Works Inc., R.L.S. Contracting, York Waste Disposal, Rager, Lehman & Houck, P.C. Whitney, Bailey Cox & Magnani, Arlene Hoy, Jim Schumacher, Visual Dialogue, Union Bridge Volunteer Fire Company, and Western Maryland Railroad Historical Society.

We have already started serving our home cooked breakfasts at the Community Center on the third Sunday of the month. We hope to see you at the next breakfast in November. We will NOT serve breakfast in December because we will be busy decorating the tree, and practicing our singing.

The holiday season is coming soon. Join us at the town square on Tuesday, December 5^th at 6:30pm for Christmas caroling and tree lighting. Afterwards come to the Town Hall for some light refreshments and a visit with Santa.

The Town will celebrate the Holiday Season with a Decoration Contest. All homes within the Town limits are eligible to win. Prizes will be awarded in the following categories: Traditional – Best Lighting – and Most Original. (1^st prize - $25, 2^nd prize - $15, and 3^rd prize - $10)

Did you know that there is a place around the corner that offers activities for senior adults (60+)? The Taneytown Senior Activities Center offers line dancing, ballroom, square, and couples country dancing. It also offers art classes, quilting and sewing, pinochle, bridge, billiards, exercise, yoga and much more. A class recently started was "Military History", led by Jay Graybeal, Director of the Carroll County Historical Society. Periods being covered are the Revolutionary War through the Korean War. The class takes place each Wednesday from 3-4:30pm and also explores the role that this areas had in military conflicts. Call if you would like to join the group.

The center also offers a free blood pressure screening each month and a hot or cold lunch is offered each day.