December Woodsboro News-Briefs

(12/2024) Parking Banned On West Side of 2nd Street

Citing concerns over the ability of cars to pass each other on the first three blocks of 2nd Street, the Council has banned parking on the west side of 2nd Street from Coppermine Road to Elizabeth Street.

Burgess Heath Barnes said that while the new townhouses being built on 2nd Street would each have a garage and a driveway, he fully expected the new owners to also park on the road. "Since you can park on either side of 2nd Street right now, I can see cars having to weave left and right as they drive down 2nd Street to avoid cars parked on either side of the road. Parking was never a concern when the block where the new townhouses are going was a vacant lot, but with all the additional cars, we are just asking for an accident to happen."

Commissioner Cutshall added that the parking on both sides of the street would also make it impossible for a fire truck to pass down the street if it met with an oncoming car.

There was little discussion nor any public opposition to the proposal and the decision to ban parking passed immediately, unanimously.

Ground Breaking Set For New Town Hall

Almost one year to the day when Burgess Heath Barnes told the Council and the public attending last year’s November Town Council meeting that he was hopeful that construction could get underway before winter set in, a date for the groundbreaking has finally been set!

Barnes told the Council at this month’s Council meeting that "construction flags" that are used to indicate where digging would occur have now appeared on the Town Hall lot. "Hopefully that means work will soon begin," Barnes said. And he was right. The groundbreaking is set for December 18th at 11.

When asked if he was still concerned about the impact of cold weather on the construction, Barnes simply shrugged his shoulders.

Town To Cease Reserving Pavilions On Sundays

Citing the cost of preparing pavilions in the park for use on Sundays, those seeking to reserve them verses the number of times they have been reserved, the Town has opted to cease taking reservations for the pavilions for Sunday use.

Town staff told the Council that the clean up and readying of a pavilion after a Saturday event costs the Town "four hours of Comp Time, even if the Town employees only had to spend 20 minutes emptying trash cans. When we call someone in on the weekend, by Town Code, we have to give them four hours of Comp Time. As the Town only charges $75 to reserve a pavilion, last year’s ten reservations only brought in $750 – yet those ten reservations cost the Town 40 hours of employee Comp Time. So we are losing money on every Sunday reservation.

"Saturday reservations, however, cost the Town nothing, as all the preparations can be done on Friday when the Town’s maintenance staff is on duty, and can include any preparation tasks necessary before they head home for the day."

Pavilions will still be available for public use on Sunday, however, their use will now be based upon first come – first served, and no efforts will be made to clean them up after a Saturday use.

Woodsboro To Host Wreaths Across America

At noon on December 14th, the Mt. Hope Cemetery, along with the Rocky Hill Lutheran Church Cemetery, the Oak Hill Church of God Cemetery and the St. John’s United Church of Christ Cemetery, will all participate in the national Wreaths Across America program, which places wreaths on veteran graves.

Wreaths Across America is a national nonprofit whose year-long mission is to remember the fallen, honor those who served, and teach our children the value of freedom. The organization’s theme for 2024 is: "Live with Purpose."

Each year, millions of volunteers and patriots gather in local, state, and national cemeteries across all 50 states and abroad to pay tribute to our nation’s service members and their families. This year’s theme, "Live with Purpose," draws inspiration from the remarkable stories of these volunteers, whose impactful work in their communities is a beacon of inspiration for all.

Woodsboro’s participation in the event is led by Mt. Hope Cemetery. Those looking to participate in the wreath laying are encouraged to assemble at Mt. Hope Cemetery at 11:30 in the morning on December 14. Following the laying of wreaths at Mt. Hope, wreaths will be laid at the other three cemeteries.

For those who cannot participate, but who wish to contribute to the event by helping to buy wreaths, are asked to send checks to the Mt. Hope Cemetery, P.O. Box 481, Woodsboro, 21798.