Month: December 2011

Report concerning needs of Lancaster Public Library (Duke Street)

Lancaster Public Library (LPL) required a new Strategic Plan to guide it through the 2012-2014 period. To assist in this effort, the Library requested and received a Capacity Building Grant from the Lancaster County Community Foundation. The grant allowed the Library to conduct a broad user needs study in the communities we serve and to translate these needs into a strategic services and funding action plan.

The 8 Biggest Financial Heroes and Villains of 2011

From the DAILY FINANCE: In a year saturated with big financial headlines — the debt-ceiling debate, Occupy Wall Street protests, the ongoing mortgage crisis and the eurozone meltdown, just to name just a few — identifying the fiscal heroes and villains is bound to be an exercise in oversimplification. But even against the constantly shifting backdrop provided by those major events, a handful of people and institutions grabbed and held the spotlight, for good or ill.

Herewith, DailyFinance presents our picks for the best good guys and the worst bad guys of the financial world for 2011….

LANCASTER NEW ERA

Editorial “The Saga that is … Penn State” states “Under legislation introduced earlier this month by two Pennsylvania lawmakers… witnesses of child abuse would be legally obligated to report it to authorities, not merely to supervisor.”

Thank G-d for Google

In the household where the Watchdog grew up, public affairs and history were subjects for ongoing discussions, especially when college friends of older brothers were at the Sunday dinner table. (Arlen Specter was representative of the college group.) But one had to be able to substantiate whatever was said. With 3rd son home for a […]

Clashes erupt as protests spread across Syria

ALJAZEERA: At least 32 people have been reported killed during fresh protests against the Syrian government, as hundreds of thousands of demonstrators flooded streets across the country. Activists said the deaths on Friday came as protesters, emboldened by the presence of Arab League observers in the country, took to the streets after noon Muslim prayers. […]

Bonds Prove Best Financial Asset to Own for First Time Since at Least 1997

BLOOMBERG: For the first time since at least 1997, the bond market produced the highest returns of any financial asset, beating stocks, commodities and the dollar as Europe’s sovereign-debt crisis threatened the global economy. Led by U.S. Treasuries, fixed-income securities worldwide returned 5.81 percent, including reinvested interest, this year through Dec. 29, Bank of America […]

High-deductible health plans on rise

This is what Obama’s health reforms are leading to — more expensive health insurance with higher deductibles that people are forced to buy.  This will lead to more bankruptcies and foreclosures caused by health crisis suffered by people with insurance. KZ THE TENNESSEAN: Corporate employers, small businesses and nonprofit organizations are increasingly requiring their workers […]

Corporate Government Taking Hold in Europe, Threatening Social Safety Net and Euro Democracy

From IT’S OUR ECONOMY: An American style corporate-government is taking hold in Europe, revolving doors between corporations and government, policies that support big business interests and polices that undermine the social safety net.  Below is a report from a watchdog website, the Corporate Europe Observatory on how it threatens European democracy — as it has […]