Lackawanna County Eliminates Four More Jobs

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Lackawanna County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Lackawanna County is eliminating four more positions, bringing to 28 the number of county jobs slashed over the past two months to help balance the 2013 budget.

Cutting the four positions will save $184,837 in salaries and benefits next year, according to figures provided by the commissioners’ office.

Chief of staff Maria Elkins said Thursday the latest cuts include the elimination of a secretary’s position in the Department of Human Resources, which will result in a layoff.

Two vacant positions will also be cut, effective at the end of the year, she said. They are an accountant position in the treasurer’s office and a clerk position in the clerk of judicial records office.

Read more:  http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/lackawanna-county-eliminates-four-more-jobs-1.1422148

Scranton School Board Passes Budget With No Tax Increase

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Lackawanna County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Scranton residents will see one tax bill stay the same for 2013.

The Scranton School Board on Thursday night unanimously approved a $120.4 million budget that calls for no tax increase.

With a city tax increase of about 25 percent and a 4 percent increase in Lackawanna County taxes, Scranton school directors said they wanted to give residents a break.

Directors had been looking at a tax increase of 1.35 percent, but with interest rates for tax anticipation notes coming in lower than expected, finding additional health care savings and using $1.18 million in capital improvement money to pay down debt, officials balanced the budget.

Read more:  http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/scranton-school-board-passes-budget-with-no-tax-increase-1.1422154

New Year’s Eve Celebrations Abound In Lancaster County

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Lancaster County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you’re planning to ring in 2013 on New Year’s Eve Monday, Lancaster County has got you covered:

On tap at the third annual 3…2…1! Lancaster celebration are more than 20 different family-friendly festivities and activities at Clipper Magazine Stadium, 650 N. Prince St., and the Lancaster YMCA, 256 Harrisburg Ave.

The entertainment, which starts at 5 p.m., includes live stage acts, musicians, balloon artists, ice skating, hands-on activities and kids’ crafts.  There will be an early fireworks display for kids of all ages who can’t stay up until midnight.

Ticket prices are $10 in advance and $12 on event day.  Children 3 and under are admitted free.

Night owls can attend a midnight fireworks display and lowering of the Red Rose in Binns Park, 100 N. Queen St.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/797158_New-Year-s-Eve-celebrations-abound-in-county.html#ixzz2GMZsMe5X

LancasterHistory.Org Is Set To Move Its Expanded Lancaster County Collection Into Its New $8.6 Million Building

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Lancaster County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“Lancaster County‘s attic” has a new home.

That includes the ostrich egg from the Colonial-era Juliana library, the Oscar statuette awarded to RCA for making the first color picture tube, leather buckets from Lancaster’s Union Fire Company No. 1 and donated pewter, handmade cradles and racks of paintings.

Those items, 2,750 in all from the Heritage Center collection, have formally joined the 15,000 artifacts from LancasterHistory.org in a newly renovated and expanded facility.

The $8.6 million “Campus of History,” at Marietta and President avenues in Lancaster Township, will open to the public Feb. 1.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/797224_LancasterHistory-org-is-set-to-move-its-expanded-Lancaster-County-collection-into-its-new–8-6-million-building.html#ixzz2GMWo3rqN

Retirement Of 100-Watt Light Bulbs Causing Consternation

Diagram showing the major parts of a modern incandescent light bulb. Glass bulb Inert gas Tungsten filament Contact wire (goes to foot) Contact wire (goes to base) Support wires Glass mount/support Base contact wire Screw threads Insulation Electrical foot contact (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Sight and sound play a major role in the human experience, to be sure, so it’s always difficult when somebody suggests we’re getting too much of either.

The brightness of light bulbs and the loudness of internal combustion toys are under scrutiny, and it appears certain that changes are in the works.

I have deep passions when it comes to motorcycles and I understand why others may feel that way about other often noisy recreational motor vehicles. I have especially fond memories of things that go vroom in the dirt, which interest me more than light bulbs, but I’ll try to contain myself until we get the latter out of the way.

On Wednesday, The Morning Call’s front page divulged that Lehigh Valley light bulb lovers are hoarding 100-watters as the federal government pushes a scheme to force everybody to buy light-emitting diodes or compact fluorescent lights.

Read more:  http://www.mcall.com/news/local/carpenter/mc-pc-light-bulb-100-watts-20121227,0,2323522.column

2012’s Most Annoying Words Are ‘Whatever,’ ‘Like’

NEW YORK— “You know,” “whatever” is a really annoying term — “like” “you know.  ” We’re “just sayin’.”

When it comes to the most annoying words or phrases used in conversation, those four top the list in 2012, according to the annual Marist Poll.

“Whatever” headed the list, cited by 32 percent of adults, and next came “like,” which 21 percent didn’t like.

Read more:  http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc-whatever-like-2012-annoying-words-20121227,0,3660199.story