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

Quote for today … “Our legislators, in light of their frantic dysfunction, also conjure up a vision of the Dutch Boy of legend, except that their thumbs are firmly inserted in an anatomical location far removed from a dike in the Netherlands.” – from a letter-to-the-editor composed by Jeffrey W. Fasnacht in today’s LNP – Always Lancaster.

• At Monday night’s council meeting, councillor Mary Barninger reminded everyone to be especially careful about fire safety during the holiday season. The US Fire Administration message below identifies some areas of vigilance – make your holiday a safe, happy one.

• A lucid column, too, appears in today’s LNP – Always Lancaster: Berry Friesen writes, “GOP was better when it resisted foreign wars.”

• What’s this? Another day with loads of MUNICIPAL BRIEFS AND SCHOOL BRIEFS listed at the online version of LNP – Always Lancaster … and none from Columbia!

• “Crews will be cleaning, televising sewer mains to assess pipe conditions and update mapping in Columbia Borough. They will also be locating, uncovering and inspecting manholes.” – Lancaster Area Sewer Authority

• More poop about poop – “Sewage enforcement officer—An official of the local agency who reviews permit applications and sewage facilities planning modules and issues permits as authorized by the act and conducts the investigations and inspections that are necessary to implement the act and regulations thereunder.”
  A permit is required for every new septic system that is installed and for any repairs or modifications of an existing system. Any existing system that fails is required to obtain a repair permit before system repairs may be completed. On-site inspections are designed to identify problems at an early stage and typically can result in repairs prior to the onset of noticeable problems.

• STANDARDS FOR ONLOT SEWAGE TREATMENT FACILITIES | “A structure may not be occupied before the sewage system is finally inspected, approved and covered. Except when the sewage enforcement officer requires a change to the installation schedule because of weather and soil conditions, the permit may be modified with conditions to be established by the local agency to allow use of a septic tank as a temporary holding tank. In these instances, § §  71.61 and 71.63(b)(1) and (2), (c)(1) and (2), 73.61 and 73.62(b) do not apply. Absorption areas shall be covered by the permittee within 5-calendar days after final inspection and approval to prevent damage.” – Pennsylvania Code

• LASA’s sewer hook-up charges and fees – Lancaster Area Sewer Authority

• The Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act (Act 537 of 1966, as amended) requires local agencies (local municipalities, group of municipalities or County Health Department) to administer a permitting program for the installation of onlot sewage disposal systems. The purpose of this permitting program is to ensure uniform standards of system design and installation and thus prevent outbreaks of environmental and public health problems from substandard or malfunctioning onlot systems.” – Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

• Columbia Borough Sewer Regulations

• CHI St. Joseph Children’s Health provides $10,000 grant to provide Portable Prevention dental program. CHI St. Joseph Children’s Health will soon be in downtown Columbia providing services. Sometime after the first of the year, Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI)  St. Joseph Children’s Health, a leading force in the effort to improve the health and well-being of children in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania Community, will occupy the entire first floor of the Cimarron Investments, LLC owned building at 401 Locust Street. The Murphy’s, principals of Cimarron Investments, Inc. have procured and reinvested in Columbia’s new image with the building across Fourth Street from this site.
• Are you scared yet? How about now?

We are … read the FOX 43 report about these warriors?