Page 5 - March Banner 2018_Neat

Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com www.TheCatoctinBanner.com The Catoctin Banner Newspaper March 2018 Page 5

Emmitsburg F r o m the Thurmont F r o m the

Mayor Don Briggs M a y o r Mayor John Kinnaird M a y o r

My February calendar started off with the Maryland Municipal League The Maryland Legislature is currently in session, and I recently attended
Winter Mayors Conference. Featured speakers included Thomas V. “Mike” a House Hearing on a bill that would restore the Highway User Revenue
Miller, Jr., President of the Senate; Michael E. Busch, Speaker of the House (HUR) funding to our municipalities. Simply stated, HUR funding is
of Delegates; Secretary Mark J. Belton, Department of Natural Resources; collected by the state through gasoline and diesel taxes, tag renewals,
and, Secretary Kenneth C. Holt, Department of Housing & Community and other sources related directly to the use of our streets and roads.
Development. Though I did not attend all of the events this year, I did attend These funds are then distributed to Baltimore City, the counties, and
grant programs and small group discussions. On everybody’s mind was the municipalities. In 2008, almost $45 Million in HUR funds were distributed
status of the state giving back to the municipalities its earned share of the statewide; it fell to $1.6 Million in 2010. This year, we are expecting to
highway user revenue. receive $27 million, almost 50 percent short of the funding from 2008! The
Like most months, February comes with opportunities and, oh yes, often HUR funds help us repair and improve our streets and are an important
obstacles to those opportunities. The foremost obstacle, understandably, has source of funding for our community. Since 2008, Thurmont has seen as
been the intractable cold, damp weather affecting everything, in particular, much as $1 million in reduced HUR funding. This has caused us to delay
delays and inconvenience to all with regards to the sidewalk – square the repair and maintenance on our streets. The funds are being collected at
revitalization project. I know, ‘tis the season, and we come into it disarmed the state level, but are not being returned to our communities to help repair
and lulled by the mild late fall weather, but the state contractors cannot do our streets. I hope that this year the Legislature will correct this issue and
concrete work when the temperature is below 32 degrees and cannot lay bricks restore the HUR funding we need.
when there is high moisture content in the air, as it affects the application sand There are some great events coming up soon in Thurmont. Be on the
seam bonding material. Patience. We are doing something special for the town. lookout for the Annual Business Showcase and A Taste of Thurmont,
The town “scape” is improving. featuring many local restaurants. The Thurmont Green Team will be hosting
But, spring is out there, and the first gate to it has been Lent. My Lent the Thurmont Green Fest on Saturday April 21, 2018, at the Thurmont
this year, besides the usual girth/related abstinence issues, will include a Regional Library. This event will feature over twenty-five exhibitors and
commitment to visit the aged and a ramp-up in seasonal-related readings and vendors, as well as music, tree planting, live demonstrations, kid-friendly
gatherings. Lent always reminds me that, if I have worries, get above them and activities, and more. The Green Fest is the place to learn about living
in front of them through giving, caring, and prayer for others. sustainably while having fun. It will soon be Farmer Market season. The
The Mount Relay for Life, sponsored by Mount St. Mary’s University, Thurmont Main Street Farmers Market is the place to be for fresh, locally
in conjunction with the American Cancer Society, will be held on March grown fruits and vegetables, fresh cut flowers, jams, fresh eggs, and other
23, 2018. To donate or enter a team, go to the Mount St. Mary’s University goodies!
website, then to “Mount Relay Page.” Great time, great event, and great cause. As the weather improves and we get back outdoors, you will notice that
The second to the gate is St. Patrick’s Day. And what is St. Patrick’s Day more of the damaged ash trees in the Community Park have been removed.
without Irish poetry? To that, here are a couple Irish quotes/poems: The town has successfully been treating a number of the ash trees, and we
will continue this program in an effort to retain as much of the mature
canopy in the park as is possible. As you walk through the park, you will
“There are no strangers here, only friends you haven’t yet met.” notice the large number of new trees that have been planted. There are a
— W.B. Yeats wide variety of trees, including flowering trees and others, that will replace
the ash trees. The trees are being planted with the help of the Thurmont
“I composed habits for those acres Green Team and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
As always, I can be reached via email at jkinnaird@thurmont.com and by
So that my last look would be phone at 301-606-9458. I hope everyone has a great month.
Neither gluttonous nor starved.
I was ready to go anywhere.”
Go to page 9 to play the Where Am I? and Hidden
— “Land” Seamus Heaney Object games! You could be the next winner
From Ireland: Failte and Slainte of a gift certificate to one of our advertisers!