Columbia's Gene Sweeney: From Silence to Significance

Gene Sweeney with Kathleen Scheydt, Hearing Instrument Specialist, at the HearingLife Presidents Club 2026, on April 19.

Gene Sweeney traveled to Texas recently to tell his story in order to help others like him who are hearing impaired. Speaking at HearingLife Presidents Club 2026 at the Gaylord Texan Resort, Gene, accompanied by Hearing Instrument Specialist Kathleen Scheydt, shared the following story.

Gene's Story

Gene Sweeney grew up in Camden, New Jersey amid drugs, violence, and instability — and did so largely in silence. He suffered six ear surgeries by age 5, and went without hearing aids until he was 41 years old. Unable to hear, he was isolated at school, constantly bullied, labeled "the bad kid," and unable to defend himself. Without family support, he found refuge with drug dealers who provided food and shelter.

One of his earliest memories captures the heartbreak of his condition: as a young child, he tried to clean up what he thought was a finished meal — not realizing it was his father's drugs on the table. He simply couldn't hear what was happening around him.

The Road to Hearing Aids

Gene first approached HearingLife in February 2018 — not by his own initiative, but brought in by a friend. Skeptical and guarded after a lifetime of hearing "no," he didn't expect help and didn't particularly want it. The clinic couldn't fit him that day, but they didn't give up on him. They continued calling him back every six months for hearing tests. In 2022, after years of annual nominations, Gene was selected for hearing aids through the Campaign for Better Hearing.

Hearing for the first time as an adult was overwhelming — the sound of running water confused him, turn signals startled him, and his seatbelt alarm was entirely new. But it changed everything.

Paying It Forward

With his hearing restored, Gene threw himself into community service. Currently, he rescues and trains German Shepherds, and donates them to veterans with PTSD. He volunteers at feeding programs in Los Angeles (serving 500 homeless people at a time), and participated in Tony Robbins' Dream Center relief efforts in California, distributed aid to wildfire victims.

Sheena's Story

While volunteering at a homeless shelter, Gene recognized a woman named Sheena who was being screamed at and couldn't understand why — the same body language of confusion and withdrawal he knew from his own life. Using pen and paper, he communicated with her, kept her from being thrown back onto the streets, and connected her with HearingLife. He also separated her from her abusive partner by getting them placed in different facilities far apart.

Sheena went on to receive hearing aids through the Campaign for Better Hearing. She is now on the Dean's List in college, has her own home, is starting a business, and has been reunited with her children. She also fought and survived cervical cancer — crediting her hearing as essential to advocating for herself through that battle.

Gene was joined by good friend Jr.

Gene's Message

When asked what he would say to his former self, he reflected:

"I'm sorry and thank you for all the struggles and all the things I had to go through — they made me who I am today. Get up, stand up, and never give up. Help the people. Help your people."

As a surprise, HearingLife presented Gene with new Oticon Intent hearing aids, replacing a pair that had broken just before the eveinformation.

Final thoughts

Gene was the first winner of hearing aids for the Campaign for Better Hearing.  He and Kathleen have now gotten 10 people hearing aids.

A video of Gene's Hearing Testimonial is HERE.

HearingLife is a major North American hearing care retailer that operates over 600 locations across 42 U.S. states and roughly 350 stores in Canada. It is owned by the Demant Group, a global leader in hearing healthcare and the world’s second-largest hearing aid manufacturer. 

[Photos: Gene Sweeney]

Deeds Recorded — Columbia Borough — April 20, 2026

Weaver Patricia A, Weaver P. conveyed 321 Perry St. to Maverick Equity LLC for $30,000.

William C. Gochenauer conveyed 343 N. Third St. to Robert Reyes for $170,500.

Karen Derr conveyed 305 Cherry St. to First Choice Home Buyers LLC for $100,000.

Heaps Amanda, Bedwell Amanda M. conveyed 292 S. Fifth St. to Heaps Amanda, Heaps Chris for $1.

Santiago Jose A, Murillo Jolinda A. conveyed 170 S. Fifth St. to Allen Tyrone A, Frey Allen Chasity, Allen Chasity Frey for $295,000.

Halterman Corey S, Halterman Corey conveyed 138 S. Sixth St. to Galicia Diana Emperatriz Arevalo for $220,000.

The estate of Eugenia L. Clinton conveyed 531 Manor St. to Olivia Clinton for $1.

Awakened Properties LLC conveyed 852 Blunston St. to FMJ Real Estate LLC for $144,000.

Valley View Capital LLC conveyed 30 S. Fifth St. to Kauffman Property Group LLC for $205,000.

Brothers Brothers Properties LLC conveyed 495 Manor St. to Krystal L. Campbell for $185,000.

Alec Cannon conveyed 46 S. Eighth St. to Luttman John, Yarnall V, Yarnall Kayla for $220,000.

About Town — April 19, 2026

This week's photos of Columbia 

Click on photos to see larger, sharper images. 

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

Enjoying the view 

Also at the river was this 3D camera that operators were using to take photos of the bridge, in preparation for the upcoming rehabilitation project. The camera is similar to the one on the Google car used for photographing street views.

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Working on the railroad: Workers unloaded this prefab track switch.

It arrived by rail. Well, of course it did.

This structure, which has been sitting there for over a decade, most likely figures into the project somehow. 

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There's some artfully done sidewalk graffiti.

Victoria's Cleaning and Maintenance drove by. The phone numbers are on the car. 

More dirt is being moved at the South 9th Street project. 

Exclusive offers out along the highway 

Those unsightly trailers at the former Cycle Den have finally been removed. 

Don't forget to set your yard waste bags out in the morning. 

State Senator James Malone was at Tuesday's borough council meeting. 

One of the topics discussed was e-bikes. Mayor Lutz said bicycles are not permitted on the sidewalk.

This chart has been posted on the Columbia Borough Police page and differentiates between a motorized pedalcycle, an e-bike, and a bicycle. It also states that e-bikes and bicycles are permitted on sidewalks, except in the business district. 

However, a Columbia Borough ordinance states this: 

§ 86-11 Regulations for riding bicycles.

Code/Ch 86: Bicycles

[Amended 7-9-1979 by Ord. No. 555; 12-16-2003 by Ord. No. 726] No person shall ride a bicycle upon any sidewalk, park, schoolyard or other public place so as to obstruct pedestrian traffic or endanger another person's safety. No person shall park or let a bicycle stand upon any sidewalk, park, path or any public place where it is an obstruction to pedestrian traffic. No person shall ride a bicycle upon any sidewalk.

Electric scooters, such as the one on the right shown above, are not permitted anywhere on public property.

Scooters on roadways are dangerous, especially when riders veer into the opposing lane, between oncoming traffic and parked cars.

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Problems crop up with former McGinness property: Mosquitoes and bid process

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

Problem #1: Mosquitoes at the quarry 

A borough resident is raising concerns about standing water at the former McGinness property, warning that the site's quarry may be breeding mosquitoes that are affecting nearby homes and businesses.

Tom Steiner brought the issue before Columbia Borough Council on Tuesday, saying he had spoken beforehand with Derek Rinaldo, borough engineer, and Heather Zink, council vice president. Steiner said that over the past three to four years he has seen a noticeable increase in mosquitoes near his home, despite having no standing water on his property. He noted that he hired a pest control service to spray his yard and has resorted to running fans on his deck and front porch to keep the insects away.

Steiner, who said he has years of firsthand experience with the quarry from swimming there, pointed out the west end of the quarry as a potential problem area. He described that section as largely untouched, overgrown with trees and vines and filled with debris — conditions he said make it a prime breeding area for mosquitoes. He noted that mosquitoes are capable of traveling one to four miles in search of food and pose a health risk to people as well as pets. He also pointed out that the local fire company has a deck just 300 to 400 yards from the quarry.

Steiner asked council to arrange for someone to inspect and analyze the quarry to determine whether it is a breeding ground. He added that certain government agencies and the board of health may be able to conduct such an assessment at no cost to the borough.

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Problem #2: The 60-day rule

The borough's attempt to sell the property is facing challenges, because a provision in the borough code requiring the sale to close within 60 days of the bid award is raising concerns that it could cool buyer enthusiasm and drive down the final sale price.

“This whole 60 days to close from the bid award is killing us,” Zink said. She added that the 60-day requirement is "ironclad in the borough code." Under the rule, a buyer must submit full payment within 60 days of the bid being awarded. Zink said that timeline is discouraging potential buyers and could adversely affect the price.

According to Zink, if the first round of bidding fails, the borough still has options. After the property is bid twice without success, council is permitted to work outside the bidding process, directly with a realtor or a buyer.

Bids for the property are due on Friday, May 15 by 4:30 p.m. Bid openings are scheduled for Monday, May 18 at 10 a.m. 

Resident Frank Doutrich noted that only one potential buyer attended the recent pre-bid meeting, meaning just one person is currently eligible to submit a bid.

Fire companies respond to woods fire at Chickies Rock County Park

[Photos: Lape Brothers Photography]

A woods fire erupted Thursday afternoon near the Breezy View Overlook at Chickies Rock County Park in Lancaster County, prompting a significant response from area fire companies.

The blaze was reported shortly after 1 p.m. in the wooded area around the park. 

How The Columbia Spy looked 173 years ago today

A digitized edition of the front page of The Columbia Spy from April 16, 1853 reveals the preoccupations, commerce, and moral culture of mid-19th century small-town America.

A front page of The Columbia Spy, a weekly family newspaper from Columbia, Pennsylvania, dated exactly 173 years ago today, is shown above. Printed by Brown & Greene and devoted to "Literature, Science, Morality, Education, and General Intelligence," the issue paints a vivid portrait of life several years before the Civil War.

Patent Medicines Dominate the Ads

Much of the paper's commercial space is given over to patent medicine advertisements, reflecting a booming industry that preceded modern pharmaceutical regulation. Holloway's Pills are promoted through testimonial letters claiming cures for disordered livers, rheumatic fever, dropsy, and gout. Alongside them, Dr. Houghton's Pepsin — billed as "Another Scientific Wonder" — promises relief from indigestion and dyspepsia, with a pointed disclaimer: "No Alcohol, Bitters, or Acids."

Moral and Religious Reflection

True to its mission, the Spy devotes considerable space to devotional content. 

An essay addressed to skeptics invokes Bacon, Newton, and Locke as defenders of the Christian faith, while a German-translated meditation on contentment uses a thirsty bird and a foraging bee as lessons in gratitude. A father's parting advice compares the faithful life to a patient sailor working with wind and tide until he reaches his destination.

Humor and Community

The paper also finds room for levity — a judge laments two laborers whose legal dispute cost three times the disputed sum, and Dr. Irving famously silences a restless congregation by sitting down mid-sermon to "wait until the chaff has blown off."

Priced at $1.00 per annum, The Columbia Spy blended patent medicine advertising, moral instruction, local commerce, and gentle humor — a distinctly Victorian American mix in which science, religion, and community were still being actively negotiated.

[This article is AI-generated.]

Agenda — Columbia Borough School Board Meeting — April 16, 2026