today’s news and information gleanings from here and there! Today’s Weather!   Today in History!

Quote for today… “Feeling good about government is like looking on the bright side of any catastrophe. When you quit looking on the bright side, the catastrophe is still there.”─ P.J. O’Rourke

• LEGAL NOTICES published in the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal/New Era: “Notice of Proposed Budget The Board of Education of the Columbia Borough School District approved a proposed 2011-2012 budget on May 12, 2011, in the amount of $20,619,290. This budget will be funded by anticipated revenues of $20,005,225 with the remainder appropriated from available fund balance (estimated to be $614,065) for one-time expenditures and for budget reserves, if needed. Said budget is to be funded by proposed real estate millage of 25.37 mills, no increase over the 2010-2011 tax rate ($.2537 per $1,000 of assessed valuation of taxable property). It is an increase of .3466 mills from the PDE adjusted millage of 25.0234 resulting from an expiring exception effective July 1, 2011. This proposed increase is 1.4% which is within the Columbia Borough School District approved index of 2%. Said budget is available for public inspection at the District Administration Center, 200 North Fifth Street, Columbia, PA, during normal working hours, and on the District website, www. columbia.k12.pa.usunder “District, Business Office, Financial Documents.” The Board of Education shall adopt said budget with any modifications thereto deemed necessary at the regular board meeting to be held on June 16, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at the District Administration Center. Laura E. Cowburn Board Secretary.” –  “Notice of Joint Special Public Meeting to Conduct a Public Hearing to Receive Comment on the Draft Regional Comprehensive Plan and Consider the Plan for Adoption Notice is hereby given that the Board of Supervisors of East Donegal Township, the Mount Joy Borough Council, and the Marietta Borough Council, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, will hold a joint special public meeting on Wednesday, June 1, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. at the Donegal Springs Elementary School, 1055 Koser Road, Mount Joy, Pennsylvania to deliberate, discuss and/or take official action on any matter which may lawfully come before such governing body and for the purpose of conducting a Public Hearing, pursuant to the requirements of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, to obtain public comment and consider for adoption the Donegal Region Comprehensive Plan. The Elected Officials will be considering comment on and adoption of the following document: The March 2011 Draft Donegal Regional Plan. A copy of the plan is available for public inspection at the offices of each municipality during regular business hours. Jeffrey L. Butler Township Manager East Donegal Township.”
• From the York Daily Record: “Frank Bodani: Former Nittany Lion long snapper drawing attention with trick video.”
• From the Harrisburg Patriot News: “3,500+ Pennsylvania state employees earn $100,000 or more a year” (count the zero’s: that’s more than  $350,000,000) – “The number of state employees making more than $100,000 has grown by about 500 people since a Patriot-News review of state salaries in 2007 showed 3,042 people in state government in the $100,000 club. The highest-paid state employee, Chancellor John C. Cavanaugh of the State System of Higher Education, makes $327,500, records show.”
• from the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal/New Era: Jane Holahan’s column in today’s newspaper gives 10 answers to the question, “Why bother to vote?.” Her column, “Election Day: Let your vote be your choice,” is timely and well-directed.