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

Quote for today… “Call 717-405-0604.” – The telephone number listed at the Borough of Columbia Website to get for more information about Fourth Fridays in Columbia. Here’s the response when the call to 717-405.0604 is answered: call to 4th friday number – So far, there’s been no return call providing more information about Fourth Fridays! Not exactly Customer friendly!

• There’s a deal for you! “An East Hempfield man was paroled Friday after six months in prison for a lavish lifestyle that he and his wife purchased with bad checks.” – LancasterOnLine

• “Meet The Artists” on Sunday, Feb. 10 at the Marietta Art House

• Pennsylvania will lead the nation … in gas tax. – The Times-Tribune, Scranton

• “Second Friday lights up Elizabethtown” – Lancaster Intelligencer Journal/New Era [NOTE: This article speaks to the successes that Lancaster County communities enjoy when citizens work together to promote the uniqueness of the community. E-town’s Second Friday has a facebook page and invites visitors and citizens learn more like this: “If you are interested in participating in this monthly community event, email us at  Etown2ndFridays@gmail.com.” It’s not a local government event; it’s not an unknown person or an unidentified telephone number event … it’s a community event.

• Sara Gambone of Columbia was named to the provost list for the fall semester at Hofstra University. – “Afton Garrett-Edwards of Columbia was named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at the University of Massachusetts Boston.” – Lancaster Intelligencer Journal/New Era

• POLICE LOG: “EAST LAMPETER TWP.: Tyler James Marchlewski, 23, of Columbia, was taken into custody and charged with taking $35.30 worth of items at Walmart, 2034 Lincoln Highway East, Tuesday.” – Lancaster Intelligencer Journal/New Era

• Columbia is one of four Lancaster County municipalities that has received a state grant “to develop and implement recycling programs. “Columbia will use the state dollars to get new equipment for its yard-waste collection and composting program,” according to a Department of Environmental Protection spokesperson. – Lancaster Intelligencer Journal/New Era

• LEGAL NOTICE published in the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal/New Era, February 8, 2013 – “INVITATION TO BID Sealed proposals will be received by the Borough of Columbia, 308 Locust Street, Columbia, PA 17512 until 10 am on Thursday March 7, 2013 for the following approximate amounts of road materials: 1700Tons of 9.5mm Superpave Asphalt 250Tons of 25mm Superpave Asphalt All proposals must be upon forms furnished by Columbia Borough, which may be picked up during normal business hours of Monday-Friday 8 am-4:30 pm at the above address. Bids will be opened and read publicly at 10am, at the above address on Thursday, February 24, 2013. Borough Council will award the bid to the lowest qualified responsible bidder at its regular public meeting on March 11, 2013, 308 Locust Street at 7pm. Columbia Borough reserves the right to reject any and all bids or bid items. Norman B. Meiskey, III, Borough Manager.”