The Maryland House of Delegates passed a bill Wednesday to allow hunting of deer on select Sundays in Frederick County.

The bill was originally requested by the Frederick County Sportsman's Council. The bill would permit bow hunting for five Sundays in October and November on private property, and rifle hunting on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, also on private property.

Frederick County Delegation Chairman Paul Stull said the bill will help limit the deer population. Deer eat crops and cause accidents on the road, he said.

The measure is pending before the Senate.

County expands recycling

Curbside recycling will be expanded Monday to serve all single-family homes in the county.

Nearly 16,000 new households will join the program, Frederick County Commissioners President Jan Gardner announced Thursday.

"This is the biggest expansion of recycling (in the county) since recycling was introduced in 1991," she said.

The county will distribute recycling containers and information packets to households new to the program starting Monday.

The packets will include a brochure describing the program, recycling pickup schedules and an informational DVD.

Households in the southern part of the county near Adamstown will receive their containers first.

Distribution of containers and information packets should be finished by June.

For information, visit www.co.Frederick .md.us/recycle.

Students to clean up park

To encourage community involvement, students in seventh through 12th grades at Frederick Christian Academy will hold their first Community Service Day today from 10 a.m. to noon at Pinecliff Park, 8350 Pinecliff Park Road, Frederick .

The public is welcome to help the students clean up the park. For information, call the school at 301-473-8990.

Park areas closed for weekend

Increased security measures will close areas of Catoctin Mountain Park from about 3 p.m. today through 8 p.m. Sunday, the National Park Service reports.

Park Central Road will close between the Camp Misty Mount and Camp Greentop entrances. Manahan Road will close to vehicles north of Park Central Road.

Reservations for Poplar Grove and Camp Round Meadow will be honored. Poplar Grove can be reached on foot from the Round Meadow parking area.

Hikers may use trails to Thurmont Vista, Wolf Rock and Chimney Rock, as well as the Falls Nature Trail from the visitor center trailheads. The Catoctin Trail will remain open.

Trails to Blue Ridge Summit Overlook and Hog Rock will be closed.

Picnickers may use the Chestnut Picnic Area.

Anyone with questions may call the visitor center at 301-663-9388.

Town to hold bulk trash pickup

Middletown -- Bulk trash pickup is scheduled for Saturday.

Residents may place two items at the curb by 6 a.m.

For a list of acceptable items, visit the town's website at www.Middletown .md.us.

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