Westminster previews Miracle on Main Street, food-forest planting; police announce holiday patrols

Westminster department heads used their reports to highlight upcoming holiday programming and recent volunteer projects.

The Recreation and Parks Department and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay recently planted a ‘‘food forest’’ in Wakefield Valley, adding native fruit and nut trees, shrubs and beneficial plants to improve soil health and wildlife habitat, staff said. Recreation staff also outlined Miracle on Main Street, set for Saturday, Nov. 29, with free family activities including games, crafts, face painting, live entertainment on Locust Lane and the library stage, an ice rink in Locust Lane, a Jingle Bell run, a parade and a ceremonial tree lighting in the evening.

Public Works and parks staff were thanked for downtown lighting and decorations. Council members emphasized supporting downtown merchants during the holiday season and noted the parking-meter waiver approved in the same meeting to encourage turnover and access to Main Street businesses.

Police Chief Price told the council the department will ‘‘be deploying additional resources, in the form of holiday patrols.’’ He said the efforts will include high-visibility patrols in shopping corridors and dedicated impaired-driving enforcement during evening hours to promote safety over the holiday season.

Provenance: Food forest and Miracle on Main Street details are in the recreation and parks report; Chief Price’s statement on holiday patrols appears in the police department report.