today’s news, opinion and information gleanings from here and there! 

• Today’s Weather! 
• Today in History!
• Traffic Cam Rts. 30 & 441
• The Official Time! – Population Clock (U.S. and World)

Quote for today… “It’s time for somebody somewhere to yell, ‘Stop.’” – Nancy Eshleman, columnist, Harrisburg Patriot-News, in a column decrying the unconscionable salary being paid to former Penn State president, Graham Spanier.

• Continuing sign of the time – “Four newsroom buildings in southcentral Pa. and the York County area on the market” – York Daily Record

• One of the three great lies: “I’m from the government and I’m here to help you.” – “With the clock ticking on how to keep the country from plunging over the so-called fiscal cliff, U.S. Rep. Joe Pitts says now is the time to come together and negotiate.” – Lancaster Intelligencer Journal/New Era

• What is the “fiscal cliff” that guys like Joe helped bring about? – “It is the punishment for previous failures of a bitterly divided Congress and White House to deal with the government’s spiraling debt or overhaul tax laws.” – Yahoo Finance

• Columbians quoted – In the above article, Columbia residents, Afton Sterling and Lamar Lehman are quoted. “Afton Sterling said lawmakers should first cut wasteful spending on entitlement programs before raising taxes on any American. ‘There is a ton of overspending going on that the average citizen doesn’t know about — that should be our first concern,’ the Columbia resident said. Lamar Lehman, also of Columbia, disagrees. ‘We can’t cut back too much on the programs that help the elderly and poor,’ he said. ‘Those who make more money and have the means should be willing to step up.’”

• “The following area students were named to the dean’s list for the summer term at Penn State University: Eric M. McConaughey of Columbia, University Park; Robert P. McMinn of Wrightsville, Harrisburg, Elizabeth M. Edkin of Columbia, World Campus; Samantha R. Gaud of Columbia, University Park.” – Lancaster Intelligencer Journal/New Era

• Un-December weather! – Harrisburg Patriot-News

• Heather Graham of Columbia has been awarded a Harrisburg Area Community College Foundation scholarship (the Lancaster Campus Annual Fund) for the fall semester. – Lancaster Intelligencer Journal/New Era

• “The number of people on food stamps has gone up in most midstate municipalities over the past year, according to figures provided … by the state Department of Public Welfare.” – Harrisburg Patriot-News

• Pet pantry seeks donations. – Lancaster Intelligencer Journal/New Era

• LEGAL NOTICE published in the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal/New Era, December 2, 2012 – “NOTICE RE PROPERTIES SOLD OR EXPOSED TO SALE AT THE LANCASTER COUNTY TAX CLAIM BUREAU JUDICIAL TAX SALE ON November 19, 2012 TO COLLECT DELINQUENT REAL ESTATE TAXES: Notice is hereby given that on November 29, 2012, the Lancaster County Tax Claim Bureau presented to the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas Petitions for Confirmation Nisi of the judicial tax sales held on November 19, 2012 in accordance with the Pennsylvania Real Estate Tax Sale Law, 72 P.S. 5860.607 of the following propert(y): 208 PoplarSt., Columbia Borough Owner: Kevin M. Noll Tax Acct #110-73991-0-0000 Docket # CI-12-02449.”