Agenda — Columbia Borough Council Meeting — April 14, 2026

Agenda — Columbia Borough Civil Service Commission Meeting — April 14, 2026

CORONER IDENTIFIES MAN KILLED IN COLUMBIA MOTORCYCLE CRASH

A York County man died in a motorcycle crash Saturday in Columbia Borough, according to the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office. 

Amos Stoltzfus, 78, of Wrightsville, was operating a trike-style motorcycle when he crashed near the intersection of Lancaster Avenue and South 12th Street around 6:15 a.m. No other vehicles were involved in the crash, the coroner’s office said. 

Police found Stoltzfus on a sidewalk where he was treated by emergency medical personnel before being taken to Lancaster General Hospital where he died of his injuries. 

The coroner’s office ruled the cause of death as multiple blunt force trauma and the manner of death as accidental.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/coroner-identifies-man-killed-in-columbia-motorcycle-crash/article_4edde93d-75bd-415f-bfbb-88820c09213e.html

Rep. Izzy Smith-Wade-El wants Pa. to protect youth from conversion therapy through a new law | Politics | lancasteronline.com

Conversion therapy is a controversial medical practice that attempts to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity and has been widely discredited by medical experts. The American Psychological Association has come out against the practice, citing studies that found minors who have undergone conversion therapy are at greater risk for depression and suicidal thoughts.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/politics/rep-izzy-smith-wade-el-wants-pa-to-protect-youth-from-conversion-therapy-through-a/article_34046234-a4e6-40fd-8478-7fa4fe7f7c2f.html 

Columbia Zoning Hearing Board to consider two applications at April 29 meeting

The Zoning Hearing Board of the Borough of Columbia will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the Municipal Building at 308 Locust Street to consider variance and special exception requests from two applicants.

In the first case, Yamil M. De Jesus is seeking a special exception to establish a place of worship at 40 N. 4th Street, a property zoned Downtown Commercial. The applicant is also requesting variances from two sections of the Borough Code — one governing the minimum lot area required for a place of worship and another covering the required number of parking spaces.

The second application involves 148 Church Ave., where property owner Jeffrey Sugden is requesting a series of variances to allow development of a single-family home on the High Density Residential-zoned property. Sugden's requests target code requirements for minimum lot size, side yard setback, and minimum lot width, along with the required number of parking spaces.

Members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting.

[Source: Columbia Borough legal notice issue published in LNP/LancasterOnline on April 13, 2026]

Deeds Recorded — Columbia Borough — April 13, 2026

FMJ Real Estate LLC conveyed 144 S. Sixth St. to Nathaniel W. Perry for $205,000.

Daniel M. Armold conveyed 522 S. 10th Street to 522 S. 10th LLC for $131,000.

Overstreet Christopher, Overstreet Sarah conveyed 238 S. Fourth St. to Gobran Guirguis for $130,000.

Valley View Capital LLC conveyed 162 S. Fifth St. to Hutchinson James, Hutchinson Elizabeth for $220,000.

Stoltzfus Steven Lee, Stoltzfus Lillian, Stoltzfus Lillian Rose conveyed 430 Avenue K to Union Grove Enterprise LLC for $245,000.

Wagner Marlena Therese, Markey Marlena, Markey Nathan conveyed 152 N. Seventh St. to Natnael Thehaye for $250,000.

About Town — April 12, 2026

This week's photos of Columbia 

Click on photos to see larger, sharper images. 

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

Cops and dogs . . .

*****************

Raven Ridge brought their birds to Columbia Crossing on Saturday . . .

*****************

This surveyor, sporting an Amtrak jacket, was working on the 100 and 200 blocks of Walnut Street for a couple of days. Surveyors were also on the Veterans Memorial Bridge. A project to revamp the first two blocks of Walnut is slated  to begin in about two months. A major rehabilitation project for the bridge is scheduled to begin in 2027.

*****************

A train cab out for a ride

Air-drying the laundry 

Man at work 

When you can't decide what lane you're in, just go for the middle. 

There's a guy drilling into the bridge. 

New store on the first block of North 4th 

Tiny tulips

New display at Columbia Curiosities 

*Two more doggos*

These two were running loose the other day until police caught them and returned them to their owners.

Yes, it's crumbling. 

Here's the evidence. 

Visitors on the 300 block of Chestnut 

Several people assembled at a pre-bid meeting at the former McGinness property on Tuesday. 

Part of the old canal system . . .

*****************

Scene of a fatal motorcycle crash

Public works vehicle logo

Out for a trot

[Photo by Sharon Lintner]

Half-hidden bunny at Columbia Crossing 

A lone explorer at the former McGinness property 

Men at work at the Von Hess building 

Flowers and more flowers . . .

Thanks to Lancaster historian Randy Harris, the Civil War bridge piers - along with a nearby lock of the old Pennsylvania canal - have been recognized as an authenticated site on the National Underground Network to Freedom run by the National Park Service. Unfortunately, some people defaced this pier. Many stones are missing, also.

Sunset clouds 

###