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

Quote for today … “Americans are great bill-payers, but they are horrible savers.” – Michael Chadwick, CEO of Chadwick Financial Advisors in Unionville, Conn., in this USA Today article: “Many Americans don’t expect to ever retire.”

• Just keeps happening: “Manheim woman, 28, charged with sexuslly assaulting a juvenile” – FOX43

• OPINION: “I will not purchase another Mr. Coffee.” – Lancaster Independent Press

• Bunch of listings for Sheriff Sale of properties –  Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office Website

• Columbia man tried to kill woman with drug overdose, police allege – MyColumbiaNews

• The chairman of Columbia’s Planning Commission was on the town hall program of presenters the other night. He stated that Columbia would be on the receiving end of funding totaling $180,000 from the Lancaster Housing Opportunity Partnership (LHOP). He said that the team of folks he’s working with is in the process of identifying the area of town that will benefit from the funds. An August 13 newspaper article at the LHOP Website says: “A committee is in place in Columbia to select a list of available properties for rehabilitation.” When a citizen attending the meeting asked which part of Columbia will be benefitting from the funding program, the chairman declined to say, though more than a few citizens have told Columbia news, views & reviews that properties in the 300 to 500 blocks of Third Street have been defined.

• At the same meeting, School board president, Tom Stickler, provided a non-Power Point presentation, overviewing events, successes, opportunities and challenges with the Columbia Borough School District. He mentioned that the search for a new school superintendent continues. He restated that Columbia has a high share of “transient students” who do not return books with them when they move out and get replacement books when they move back. He cautioned that it’s not the transients who are costly for the District; special education costs are. When a citizen challenged the excessive school tax rate and compared it with neighboring Hempfield’s, some in the audience said that West Hempfield Township’s Earned Income Tax provides more revenue than does property tax receipts. H-m-m-m; there is a difference between a municipal budget and a school district budget. And Hempfield’s School District budget shows that 87% of local funding is projected from property taxes. Columbia’s budget derives 82% of local funding from property taxes.
  

West Hempfield surrounds Columbia

• The School Board president responded to a citizen comment suggesting that Columbia ought to consolidate with another school system. He said he’s approached another district to discuss a merger but the school district declined saying they don’t want Columbia. When asked why he didn’t talk with other districts, he said state law permits only consolidation between school districts with shared physical borders … and Columbia is surrounded.

• Success: Circles® – in Columbia – Representatives from the Circles® program attested to the programs intent and successes in Columbia. This well-written article in the October 6, 2013 Sunday News focused on some of the successes. “Circles® is an evidence-based program that is currently being implemented across the US to fight poverty, and has recently launched within the communities of Lancaster and Columbia. Circles® uses an empowering approach to connect individuals and families who are living in poverty with new relationships and resources to build their circle of support.” The program is looking for local “allies.”

• Volunteer: For more information or to learn more about volunteer opportunities with Circles®, please contact Reed Reynolds at rreynolds@caplanc.org, 717-431-1027 ex. 3203 or Megan Leaman Heinly at mheinly@caplanc.org or at 717-431-1027 ex 3207.

• Columbia’s municipal budget shows an expense item (410.135) of $3,500 for K-9 services.