to home UNION BRIDGE NEWSLETTER
July/August 2014

CONTENTS
From the Mayor's Desk
Grant Project Update
West Carroll Rec
Union Bridge Fire Company Events
Bureau of Aging
Cancer Screenings

  DATES TO REMEMBER

 
Council Meetings July 28 & August 25 – 7 pm.
Planning & Zoning Meetings  July 17 & August 21 – 6:30 pm.
Council Work Sessions  July 14 & August 11 – 6:30 pm.
Heritage Committee information, contact Jim Rowe 410-775-9939 or buttersburg@verizon.net
     

Town Office will be CLOSED:
- July 4th (Independence Day)

     
Articles for the September/October Newsletter are DUE IN THE TOWN OFFICE August 15, 2014

website www.carr.org/~unionbr     email unionbr@carr.org

   

FROM THE MAYOR’S DESK

     Summer has arrived, and the winter proved to be very hard on all of us.  With the very cold temperatures this winter we may experience water line leaks.  If you notice any kind of increase in your water usage, please check for possible leaks.  If you notice wet spots in the street or sidewalks please, call the town hall or after hours call Council member Amy Kalin.
     Along with the hot summer days, a lot of children have been walking to the trail to go to the stream to fish and swim.  That is great, but some of the children are very small to be swimming alone.  Please be sure they have adult supervision as there are some very deep holes along the stream.  Please be careful.
     Just a reminder that when you mow your grass, please do not blow the trimmings in the street as it runs into the storm drains and clogs the drains.
     The Community Center seems to be a hang out for a lot of people.  Please help keep the area clean and be respectful of the residents that live close by.
     The Union Bridge Business Association is trying to reorganize.  They will be meeting monthly at the VFW at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, July 14, 2014.  The association usually meets every 3rd Monday of the month.  Please try to attend this meeting.  We have some very interesting new ideas.
     Letters have been sent out about tall grass and untagged cars.  Most of the complaints come from your neighbors.  The town clerk has enough to do at the office, so when you get a letter look around you and be considerate of your neighbors.  Help keep Union Bridge a clean well- kept small town.

Perry L. Jones, Jr., Mayor

GRANT PROJECTS UPDATE
CDBG West Broadway Reconstruction Phase Two Application-
The Town of Union Bridge was awarded a $138,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for phase two to the West Broadway Street project. Phase two will include work from Whyte Street to the dead-end.

Wetlands Park Trail Extension
The Town of Union Bridge completed grant applications to the State for the planned final phase of the trail system in the town’s Wetlands Park located off of Rt. 75. Once complete, the trial will “loop” around the park for a distance of approximately one mile.

USDA Rural Development Municipal Truck Purchase
Union Bridge recently completed an application to the Department of Agriculture for a grant to purchase an all-purpose, one-ton vehicle for various town needs including hauling, plowing, towing, road work, park maintenance, emergencies, etc.

Maryland Energy Administration
The Town is currently working on a grant application for smart energy communities.  This grant will help the town implement projects to reduce energy use and save money.  Once approved, the Mayor and Town Council will decide what projects will provide the most savings and greatest energy efficiency.

For questions on these or any other projects, please call the Town Office at 410-775-2711.

Jared Schumacher, Town Consultant

WEST CARROLL REC
West Carroll serves Union Bridge, New Windsor and the surrounding areas. Anyone interested in Rec Council programs or events is welcome to attend our meetings, which are held the 2nd Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Old New Windsor School/County Government Offices/Library Administration Offices in New Windsor.

Next meeting dates will be August 11, 2014 and September 8, 2014.

West Carroll Rec. is searching to fill President and Vice President positions as the current officers will be stepping down at the end of this year.  Without these board members, there can be no Council or Programs.  If you are interested in serving, please attend one of our upcoming meetings.

For general information about West Carroll programs, contact Community Coordinator, Penny Rockwood at 410-775-1506.  See our website:www.gowcrc.com  or like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gowcrc

Another source to check for upcoming sports registrations is “RecZone”’ found in the back of the Sports section of the Carroll County Times on Sundays.

Penny Rockwood, Community Coordinator

UNION BRIDGE FIRE COMPANY

Monthly Bingo -- second Monday of every month
Doors open at 5:30 pm
Games begin at 7:00 pm
Any questions call: 410-775-7891

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY

SEWER LINE BLOCKAGES
RESIDENTS: If your sewer line becomes blocked please contact the Town Hall at 410-775-2711 before calling a plumber.
FOR WATER AND SEWER EMERGENCIES PLEASE PAGE AMY KALIN 1-410-899-1200

CARROLL COUNTY'S BUREAU OF AGING AND DISABILITIES
**SAVE MONEY ON MEDICARE EXPENSES**
     Do you or someone you know need help paying for Medicare expenses or Part D prescription drugs?  Carroll County's Bureau of Aging and Disabilities SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) is holding a free walk-in clinic with one -on -one confidential counseling at the Union Bridge Community Center on Wednesday, July 16, 2014 between 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.  This is a FREE WALK - IN CLINIC.  Not all programs are low-income programs or require asset tests.  You will also learn how to protect yourself from Medicare fraud and abuse.  For more information, contact SHIP/SMP 410-386-3800. 

FREE CANCER SCREENING SERVICES PROVIDED BY CARROLL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT GRANTS
For Women: Carroll County Health Department offers assistance in providing free services to eligible women.  Mammograms and GYN exams are given to income eligible women age 40-65 who are uninsured or who have insurance with high deductibles or co-pays.  Funding is also available for additional services related to abnormal mammograms or pap tests.  Please call 410-876-4423 for more information or to enroll.
For Men and Women: Carroll County Health Department offers assistance in providing free colonoscopies to eligible county residents.  Participants must be income eligible, uninsured or have insurance with high deductibles or co-pays.  Please call 410-876-4443 or 410-876-4966 for information or to enroll.

2013 ANNUAL DRINKING WATER QUALITY REPORT
     The 2013 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report can be picked up at the town hall or may be viewed on the town's website at www.carr.org/~unionbr

NEW TRASH SERVICE
    On July 3, 2014 Union Bridge new trash collector will be Hughes Trash Removal.  Pick up will still be on Thursday.  Please be sure to put your trash out on Wednesday evenings. Trash service is for pick up of household trash only, no bulk items, yard waste or construction materials.

ATTENTION
The newsletter is posted six times per year: January, March, May, July, September, and November and may be viewed on the town’s Web site at www.carr.org/~unionbr Also, upon request, paper copies may be picked up at the Town Hall (410-775-2711)  or at any local business. 

YARD WASTE PICKUP
Yard waste pickup will begin in April. Bags for yard waste must be purchased at the Town Hall for $1.00. This charge helps to defray the cost of the pickup.

PET OWNERS
The town is getting calls about residents not picking up after their pets.  Please consider those who come after you on your walk.  Put yourself in their shoes – literally.  Please be a good neighbor and pick up your animal droppings.  Union Bridge Code, Chapter 10, The owner of every animal shall be responsible for the removal of any excreta deposited by his animal(s) on public property, including sidewalks, recreation areas or on private property.

GRASS & WEEDS
The Town of Union Bridge Code, Chapter 130, 4; C2: Owners and occupants of occupied premises and owners and persons in charge of unoccupied premises, including vacant lots, are hereby charged with
the duty of maintaining an grass on such premises at a  height of not more than six (6) inches, and the further duty of maintaining such premises free of noxious weeds and dense underbrush.

LIONS CLUB BLOOD DRIVE
Union Bridge Community Lions Club Blood Drive
4770 Ladiesburg Road
Wednesday, July 9 Noon - 5:30p.m.
To donate contact Wayne Adams at 410-775-2625

POST OFFICE
Union Bridge Post Office prohibits skateboarding, scooters and playing on their property. It is a very dangerous spot for children due to traffic.

PERMITS
Please call the town's Zoning Administrator, Selby Black, at 410-775-2718, if you have a question about whether or not a permit is needed for what you plan to do at your home.  Some items that do need permits are new construction, sheds, pools, driveway entrances sidewalks, signs, fences, etc.

YARD WASTE PICKUP
Yard waste pickup will begin in April.  Bags for yard waste must be purchased at the Town Hall for $1.00.  This charge helps to defray the cost of the pickup.

DROP SLOT
A drop slot was installed a number of years ago near the front door at the town hall. This was requested by residents and installed for your convenience. Payments or correspondence can be left at any time or on any day.

UNION BRIDGE COMMUNITY CENTER
Is available for weddings, parties and reunions. Call the town office at 410-775-2711 to inquire about renting the center for your function.

MD STATE POLICE DRUG TIPS HOTLINE 410-875-0936
THEY CAN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOUR HELP!!!

PLEASE RECYCE
The Town of Union Bridge is requesting that all residents of Union Bridge make an effort to recycle everything they possibly can. The cost for trash that is picked up in town is a combination of the cost for the pick-up of the trash plus the tipping fee at the landfill. When you recycle, the town pays only for the pick-up service; there is no tipping fee associated with recyclables. Therefore, the more we recycle, the less it costs the town. There is information at the Town Hall and County Office Building explaining what you can put in your recycle bins. Everything that is recyclable can be put into the same container, as Carroll County is doing single-stream recycling.
*IT’S STATE LAW.
*IT’S ENVIRONMENTALLY SMART.
*IT SAVES THE TOWN MONEY (YOUR TAXES).
*THE MORE YOU RECYCLE THE LESS TRASH YOU PUT INTO LANDFILLS.

HAVE A SAFE AND RELAXING SUMMER!