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

Quote for today… “I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” – NOTE, there is no pause before “under God.”

comparison of the TOTAL COMMUNITY INVESTMENT line items, 2015 vs 2014 budgets

• When the borough’s councillors were hammering out the 2015 budget a few months ago, they approved a 2015 budget that excluded distribution of funds for the Columbia Fire Police and the Columbia Quick Response Service (QRS). At the same time, the Parks and Rec Commission’s funding was reduced by $5,000, too. Last night, QRS’s executive director, Frank Splain, petitioned the council to reinstate the funding … and the councillors voted to redirect $5,000 earmarked to the Community Re-Investment line item to the QRS.

• The QRS executive director also asked the councillors to allow QRS to buy fuel for its vehicles from the borough fuel’s program. Currently, the director said, things are not working out with their current fuel source. He suggested that QRS, in essence, establish a bond amount of money with the Borough, and draw against that amount monthly as fuel is purchased via the borough gas program. Each month, he said, QRS would pay an amount to replenish the stipulated amount. Columbia news, views & reviews reported in November, 2011, “Columbia QRS principal, Frank Splain, Jr. appealed for ‘more time’ from the borough to catch up on outstanding fuel charges. Councilor Kelly Murphy explained that the council has fiscal accountability to the citizens of Columbia and a responsibility to maintain integrity and consistency with the other agencies who enjoy the use of the ‘Borough issued fuel card’ and pay on time. The overdue amount is in excess of $2,000.” Council did agree to revisit the suggestion from the QRS director.

• Hear that furnace humming: heating oil prices?

• “ … temperatures will plunge to painful and dangerous levels … ” – PennLive

• UGI asks Customers to ” set thermostats to 65 degrees at night” – FOX 43 TV

• House passes “cyber bullying” bill – WHTM Channel 27

• The code: “It is hereby declared to be unlawful for any owner, keeper or custodian of any dog or cat to permit his or her dog or cat to discharge such animal’s excreta upon any public or private property, other than the property of the owner of such dog or cat, within the Borough if such owner, keeper or custodian does not immediately thereafter remove and clean up such animal’s excreta from the public or private property.
  It shall be unlawful for any owner, keeper or custodian to have under his or her control or custody any dog or cat while on any public or private sidewalk, parkway, walkway, street, public park, public way, public grassy area or any other public areas, or upon private premises owned by any person, firm, or corporation other than the owner, keeper or custodian of such dog or cat, without having on his or her person a device which would be capable of removing any offal, feces or excreta of such dog or cat, which device shall not include the hands or feet of the owner, keeper or custodian.”
• There’s a novel idea! – West Hempfield Township takes its supervisors’ meeting on the road – Legal Notice – LNP – Always Lancaster

• Now that’s “fracked up!” – Some NY folks want to secede from NY to become part of PA … so they can benefit from fracking. – Lancaster Online

• Hempfield School District wants more tax money – LNP – Always Lancaster