Not just in the midwest – Tornado in northwestern Pennsylvania damages buildings, no injuries

Authorities say a tornado touched down in northwestern Pennsylvania, where no injuries were immediately reported but some buildings were damaged and at least one mobile home was destroyed.
The National Weather Service office in Cleveland, Ohio said a tornado warning was issued for Erie County shortly before 8 p.m. Tuesday after a funnel cloud was sighted.

MORE HERE:
http://m.ydr.com/yorkdaily/db_32169/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=0XmZq3gh

PA’s crumbling roads are costing drivers thousands

WPMT FOX43
The problems on Pennsylvania’s roads are well-documented.  Over 5,500 bridges across the state are considered structurally deficient.  Many roads are in need of serious repair.  A new study, set to be released today, shows that you the driver are feeling the pinch to the tune of nearly $2,000 a year.  It’s a problem that some legislators say they are ready to fix but it’s not going to come cheap.

MORE HERE:
http://fox43.com/2013/05/29/pas-crumbling-roads-are-costing-drivers-thousands/

The Prelude To Gettysburg Marks 150 Years

ENGLEONLINE
June 28, 1863, is the day that local history changed forever.

It was on this date, with Confederate troops advancing with the goal of crossing the Susquehanna River at Wrightsville, that Columbia residents sprang into action, burning the bridge and preventing the Confederates from entering Lancaster County.

“We like to think that the burning of the bridge had an impact on the battle of Gettysburg,” said Claire Storm, Civil War 150 River Towns committee chair.

Committee member Kathy Hohenadel explained that other Confederate troops were already heading to Gettysburg. However, she noted, the number of Confederates at Gettysburg increased because the troops that were unable to cross the Susquehanna River via the Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge then changed course and traveled to Gettysburg.

“(The bridge burning) played a huge role (in the Civil War),” Storm added. “It’s probably one of the most important events in the history of this area.”

MORE HERE:
http://news.engleonline.com/AdDesk/Htmlfiles/Readers/article.epc?id=86114

Have a Bigfoot story? Join this man Saturday

LANCASTERONLINE
Rick Fisher will discuss Bigfoot sightings, evidence of the creature's existence, hoaxes and methods for investigating reports during “Bigfoot in Pennsylvania,” a presentation from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the National Museum of Mysteries and Research Center at 301 Locust St., Columbia.

MORE HERE:
http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/854812_Have-a-Bigfoot-story–Join-this-man-Saturday.html

Columbia bids fond farewell to Meiskey

LANCASTERONLINE
Columbia Borough Manager Norman Meiskey received a fond farewell from council on Tuesday during a committee meeting.

All borough officials and a small handful of guests extended thanks and applause as Michael Beury, council president, presented Meiskey with a certificate of appreciation.

MORE HERE:
http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/854969_Columbia-bids-fond-farewell-to-Meiskey.html

Feds will build Pennsylvania health insurance exchange, but will the uninsured come?

PENNLIVE
Love it or hate it, a big part of the Affordable Care Act — Obamacare to many — is coming to Pennsylvania.

A new online health insurance marketplace, called an exchange, is scheduled to open for business Oct. 1.

MORE HERE:
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/05/exchange_corbett_obama_afforda.html#incart_m-rpt-2

Memorial Day 2013

Columbians showed their patriotism this Memorial Day by displaying American flags, specifically on the 800 block of Plane Street – and on the 100 block of South Sixth Street, as pictured above.
 Unfortunately, some folks did not obtain new flags and continued to fly worn ones that should have been disposed of in a dignified manner, as shown above at a local residence . . .

and here, in front of a local business.

Fanfare for the Common Man

A Fanfare for the Common Man Aaron Copland
(1900-1990)
Shortly after the beginning of World War II, Cincinnati Orchestra conductor Eugene 
Goosens requested patriotic fanfares from eighteen American composers for performance during 
the orchestra’s 1942-43 concert season. Each concert opened with one of these fanfares designed, 
as Goosens envisioned, to boost morale for the war effort. Amongst the composers who 
answered Goosens’ call were notable American musicians like Morton Gould, Howard Hanson, 
Darius Milhaud, Walter Piston, Virgil Thomson, and Aaron Copland. Of the eighteen, the ten 
fanfares composed for brass and percussion alone were selected for publication.
Copland’s fanfare was performed for the first time on the March 14, 1943 concert. Along 
with the composition, each composer had been requested to supply his own title. Asked many 
years later about the selection of his title, Copland responded, “I sort of remember how I got the 
idea of writing A Fanfare for the Common Man – it was the common man, after all, who was 
doing all the dirty work in the war and the army. He deserved a fanfare.”