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

Quote for today… “Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it.  If it keeps moving, regulate it.  And if it stops moving, subsidize it. – Ronald Reagan

• LEGAL NOTICES: Click “read more” at the bottom of the column.
• The scary prospect of financial collapse: read more in this article, “Will Wall Street Snap?”
• County schools weigh sports and other costs – “Before many school districts made tough decisions about furloughing staff or eliminating positions, extracurricular activities were among the departments that had to slash their budgets. ‘Here, we’re basically on par, maybe a little more, with other departments,’ Columbia athletic director Jim Rhoads said of his budget cuts. ‘The primary focus for school is education, even though the other things are important. “The classes and education part of school will continue regardless of how many sports we offer.’ (Lancaster Intelligencer Journal/New Era)
•  Flashback to Borough Council Meeting, May 9, 2011. During this meeting, there was a motion made by Councilor Beury and seconded by Councilor Murphy which was carried by the Council. The motion was “to authorize the Zoning Officer to issue a Cease and Desist order to the owner of 400 Locust Street for the use of the space as a parking lot and any other unlawful purpose.” A second motion was made and carried by council to “authorize the Highway Department to perform the necessary work to return the curb at 400 Locust Street to the original condition and take appropriate action to collect any and all costs.” Wonder whether any of these motions have been acted upon?
• LEGAL NOTICES (published in the July 26, 2011 Lancaster Intelligencer Journal/New Era) – “SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY NURSING AND REHABILITATION CENTER, LLC 745 Old Chiques Hill Road Columbia PA 17512 AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICY Susquehanna Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is and will continue to be an equal opportunity employer. The selection and promotion of employees are made on the basis of appropriate education, training, experience, character, reliability, past work records, skill and aptitude, without reference to age, handicap, race, color, national origin, sex, disability or creed except as a bona fide employment qualification. All employment practices and policies of Susquehanna Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, including but not limited to, compensation, fringe benefits, layoffs, transfers, training, social and recreational programs and termination, are administered without regard for race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, ancestry, handicap or disability. This policy is communicated to all outside recruitment sources, including schools, newspapers and agencies, as well as internally to all employees of Susquehanna Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Stephen Diffenderfer Administrator” – SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY NURSING AND REHABILITATION CENTER, LLC 745 Old Chiques Hill Road Columbia PA 17512 NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY In compliance with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, Title VI of the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Buildings and Facilities Accessibility Standards, and all requirements imposed thereto; Susquehanna Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center reaffirms our open admissions and employment policy as follows: It is the policy of Susquehanna Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center to admit and employ persons without regard to race, color, age, gender, ancestry, national origin, religious creed, handicap, or disability. The non-discriminatory policy of our facility applies to patients, physicians, and all employees. Under no circumstances will the application of this policy result in the segregation or re-segregation of buildings, wings, floors and rooms for reasons of race, color, age, gender, ancestry, national origin, religious creed, handicap, or disability. In addition, it is our policy to comply with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1974 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 which protect physically and mentally handicapped and disabled persons from discrimination. All persons and organizations that have occasion either to refer patients for admission, or recommend Susquehanna Valley for employment, are advised to do so without regard to the person’s race, color, age, gender, ancestry, national origin, religious creed, handicap, or disability. Stephen Diffenderfer Administrator” – “The regularly scheduled meeting of the West Hempfield Township Zoning Hearing Board will be held on Tuesday, August 9, 2011 at 7:30 PM in the West Hempfield Township Municipal Building located at 3401 Marietta Avenue, Lancaster, PA to hear the following cases: 1. Case 1134 – Patrick & Marla Redding, 3260 Greenridge Drive, Lancaster, PA continued from July 12, 2011. 2. Case 1135 – Hempfield School District, 200 Church Street, Landisville, PA for a Special Exception to Section 303.2.B.3 to allow construction of a new elementary school on property they own located at 695 Prospect Road, zoned R-2. 3. Case 1136 – McDonald’s USA, LLC, 3025 Chemical Road, Suite 100, Plymouth Meeting, PA for five variances to Section 708.9.Table 2. Part A and two variances to Section 708.9.Table 2.Part B to allow additional new signs at property owned by Plaza K. Realty – Columbia LLC located at 1788 Columbia Avenue, zoned C-2. 4. Case 1137 – Jeffery J. Seibert, 101 S. 11th Street, Columbia, PA for a variance to Section 303.3.A.1 for minimum lot size to construct a single family dwelling on a lot owned by John R. Hess located at 522 Betty Lane, zoned R-2. Daryl S. Peck, Secretary West Hempfield Township Zoning Hearing Board”  
• A census bureau report reveals “The wealth gaps between whites and minorities have grown to their widest levels in a quarter-century. The recession and uneven recovery have erased decades of minority gains, leaving whites on average with 20 times the net worth of blacks and 18 times that of Hispanics.” Read the entire article here.