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

Quote for today… “Retirement can be the best of all possible worlds — only if you don’t actually retire.“ — Patrick Murphy, in a letter to the editor writer in today’s Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era.

• A Columbia news, views & reviews reader sent along this info. The Columbia Housing Steering Committee has a Website. Coming Home to Columbia which features “The projects of Columbia’s Housing Steering Committee. Here’s the news from their North Third Street property under contract. And here’s yesterday’s post inside the property at 255 North Third Street. The Borough Website also pointed to the Steering Committee’s Website.

• The Columbia Housing Steering Committee’s facebook page.

• Those summer nights! Last night was the opening night of the Long’s park Summer Music Series. The audience seemed unusually large … perhaps due to the spectacular weather; perhaps because of the unusually long, harsh winter and perhaps, because people were ready for Mingo Fishtrap, the first of the season’s performers on Sunday evenings at Long’s Park. No matter which, the evening in the park was a delight.  Here’s the remainder of the season’s offering.

• How lucky are we, though! Columbia is midway between the rapid growth of Lancaster and York County. We get to go to another great summer music series just across the bridges. Springettsbury Township’s spectacular “Sounds of Summer Concert Series” kicks off next Sunday with and equally impressive fare of music offerings. The first of the season show is: “The world’s greatest surf and beach party band. The Surf City All-stars were formed in the early 80’s with the band members who were touring with both the Beach Boys and Jan & Dean. When you hear the band, you get the authentic ‘SURF’ sound and harmonies that were taught to the All-Stars by Brian Wilson and Mike Love of the Beach Boys, and Jan Berry of Jan & Dean.”

• Here’s the Springettsbury Township “Sounds of Summer” schedule. NOTE that theses concert offerings are every Wednesday and Sunday! Here’s how to get there: “Take US-30 to the PA-24/Mt. Zion Road exit. Turn Right onto PA-24/Mt Zion Road. Turn Right onto Pleasant Valley Road (parking is available off of this road on the right). Or continue on Pleasant Valley Road, turn Right on Williams Road (parking is available off of this road on the right).

• While the shows are free, we’re pretty certain each of the concert series providers appreciates donations to continue the summer music.

• Columbia Borough Police Department opens its facebook page and updates it!

• From State Representative Ryan Aument’s e-newsletter: “The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is offering food vouchers to be used at area farmers markets. The vouchers are offered through the Farmers Market Nutrition Program. Individuals who are at least 60 years old, reside in Lancaster County and have an annual household income of $21,590 ($29,101 for two) or less are eligible for the vouchers. This program does not include seniors who are living in nursing homes or other residential facilities where meals are provided. Vouchers will be distributed on Tuesday, June 3 or Wednesday, June 4, beginning at 9 a.m. depending on location. They are distributed on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, as funding is limited. Click here for a full list of voucher distribution locations. In Columbia, vouchers will be available at the Columbia Senior Center: 684-4850, June 4.