Kitty Conley’s Scratching Post, Feb. 2

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Updated: January 31, 2012 4:03PM

Happy Birthday

Feb. 1: Todd Olthof

Feb. 2: Dana Keller

Feb. 3: Cindy Orlich and Michelle Quinn

Feb. 6: L.B. Angel

It is nice to see the Center Township Cash and Investments Combined Statement for 2011. They will have plenty of money to continue paying for fire service since they collected $560,333 from their taxpayers last year and only had to pay out $243,978.67 to the City of Crown Point for fire protection in 2011 and just $375,000 in each of 2012, 2013 and 2014. At the end of the year, even after paying the city fire department they had close to one-third million dollars more than was in that account at the beginning of 2011. The township’s cumulative fire fund, which is used to buy equipment, has close to one-half million dollars.

Every year, the Cedar Lake Chamber of Commerce buys both the American flags and Indiana flags that line the main streets in town. They would like to buy American-made flags. The cost to buy them is much greater than flags made elsewhere. In order to “Buy American” they need your help. Please send your checks — not cash — to Cedar Lake Chamber of Commerce, 7925 Lake Shore, P.O. Box 101, Cedar Lake, IN 46303.

A birdie told me that the Crown Point High School Music Department has new representation at the state level this year. Junior song-bird Rachel Qualizza will be singing. To say that she has a beautiful voice is an understatement.

Thank you to the Crown Point Street Department. On Thursday of last week, the men were out with two pick-up trucks and a front-end loader cleaning the snow away from the storm drains. That morning on Greenwood Avenue east of Pettibone a woman drove east around a pickup spraying the workers with slush, and then drove into the west bound lane around the backing-up (beep-beep-beep) front-end loader. She is lucky that driver is very good at his job.

February 11 is Holy Spirit Catholic Church’s third annual Mardi Gras party. It is from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Winfield church on 109th Avenue. It includes a buffet dinner and DJ for listening and dancing. The cost is $20 per person in advance and $25 at the door. Adults only. Location: Joseph Murphy Parish Life Center next to the church. Tickets available at church office during the week from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Now for some silly stuff:

For those who have reached 50 or are over 60 and heading towards 70 or beyond.

There is noting left to learn the hard way.

You can eat supper at 4 p.m.

You get into heated arguments about pension plans.

You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.

I just saw this sign on Facebook: Senators should wear uniforms like NASCAR drivers so we could identify their corporate sponsors.

The Hoosier State Press Association announced just before 2 p.m. on Wed. Jan. 18 that Indiana Senate Bill 92, allowing judges to levy civil fines when public officials violate state access laws, passed out of committee 10-1. It has now passed one house and headed to another.

If you wish to call the University of St. Francis Crown Point about their nursing program: Sandie Phalen at phone (219) 488-8888 or (877) 803-8870 or e-mail sphalen@sf.edu.

The pundits and supporters are out in full swing. One gives me a severe case of giggles and the other has steam coming out of my ears. This season both are out in force.

Giggles: I was happy to watch the national cable talk shows from both sides of the issues concerning the Republican primary in South Carolina and Florida. The battle for the nomination is very serious. It is the conversation and blunders of two of the candidates and their supporters that has me in full giggle. I am referring to Willard “Mitt” Romney and Newton Leroy “Newt” (McPherson) Gingrich. The pundits are no better. They all suffer from hoof and mouth disease. In the past I have referred to election time as the silly season, and this is true now. Mommas watch what you name your babies.

Steam: The other talk this weekend that had me fuming was the blind support for a man that was in a position of authority that did nothing to protect defenseless little boys. Joe Paterno’s image is and always will be sullied because he did not have the guts to turn one of his staff over to the police when he was informed about the sex abuse of little boys that was committed by a man Paterno put into a position of authority. Paterno knew how to win games but not how to be a man. His non-action was that of a coward. In the end it is not how much money you had, how much fame you had, but the effect you had on the life of a child that counts.