About Town — September 6, 2026

Photos of Columbia, PA

Week ending 9/6/26

Click on photos to see larger, sharper images.

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY

The Susquehanna River Creative Conspiracy placed a painted piano at Coffee & Cream (above) and another at Columbia Crossing. 

Letters at Art Printing

Flag at the Samuel Miller Mansion 

One side completed at Angry, Young and Poor 

Haitian Maranatha Bible Church 

It's time for this to come down.

The public works crew will need to mow some of the former McGinness airfield to prepare for fireworks to be held there on Saturday, September 26.

Newly installed at 15th & Manor — but by whom?

And why at a "no outlet"?

The Christmas stuff is out already at the Re-Uzit Shop. 

Cops on duty

Amtrak on the tracks 

A new sign?

Chairs for sale at Tollbooth Antiques 

Either the inlet is too high, or the puddle is too low. 

Demolition is slowly underway. 

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

Rails along Heritage Drive 

New sign at 5th & Locust 

At the Walnut Street project 

Whoever used Columbia Crossing left a mess.

A friendly cat

Deteriorating bridge 

The mayor talks to WGAL about traffic.  

Wanted posters at Bootleg Antiques 

The Coffee & Cream flamingo was recently festooned with autumnal foliage.

###

A birthday, a bridge, and a creative conspiracy

https://columbiacourier.blogspot.com/2026/09/a-birthday-bridge-and-creative.html?m=1

Native Trees Available to Columbia residents| TownLively

https://townlively.com/native-trees-available/?fbclid=Iwb21leAUHhJVjbGNrBQeEjXBkb2YBZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEe1KzH4_-4qmOsWFg_n-8_MwbMKCMpy_JObnw12s9VsXbj0crZf9evLnataB8_aem_H1n-POs3oIGGKJL92GBtZA 

Suspect in July 4 shooting that injured woman in Columbia has case proceed to trial

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/suspect-july-4-shooting-injured-191956363.html 

Columbia mayor weighs changes after pair of crashes in August - WGAL

https://www.wgal.com/article/columbia-third-chestnut-crash-safety-changes/73587085?fbclid=Iwb21leAUHgpljbGNrBQeClnBkb2YBZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEemeG0j93ar-dUjlfpFSoTixWZ7gg7jzO0pTOQL12jmH_BcgNegVNRBr1Ztkw_aem_iXBryXpxvieDL52TPAw1Ig 

Lawmakers wrestle with the proliferation of e-scooters on Pa. roadways • Pennsylvania Capital-Star

https://penncapital-star.com/transportation-infrastructure/lawmakers-wrestle-with-the-proliferation-of-e-scooters-on-pa-roadways/?fbclid=Iwb21leAUHgnJjbGNrBQeCb3Bkb2YBZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEeK6NCjNBZkXgctwDcyERwItCZsdxI504Q17aWJ_cxRsQ4B8zNSX8sYG7FWpE_aem_4z5eeUKtWM-GJTdsmaOrGw 

Columbia Mini Mural Fest proposed for summer 2027

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

Columbia Borough Council heard a pitch at its September 1 workshop for a new public art initiative aimed at bringing color and community engagement to the borough's parks starting next summer.

TJ Carrozza, founder and executive director of the Susquehanna River Creative Conspiracy (SRCC), presented plans for the "Columbia Mini Mural Fest," proposed for the Columbia Crossing River Trail Center in early summer 2027, with potential expansion to other borough parks in future years.

Carrozza said the concept originated when a colleague [Eric Tonzola] suggested installing pop-up murals in Columbia's parks.

The plan is for up to 12 selected artists to create temporary mini-murals on constructed outdoor panels. The long-term vision is for an annual arts event supporting tourism and community identity.

Artists would apply through an open call with a $20 submission fee, with SRCC Studios and Switchboard Studios and Gallery serving as coordination hubs. All materials would be SRCC-supplied.

Potential construction of 6 double-sided mural walls (up to 12 mural surfaces). Each structure will be approximately 8 feet tall by 4 feet wide and secured into the ground, with coordination of the construction and placing with the proper Columbia Borough officials and staff.

Carrozza said the structures would use 4x4 posts set in concrete, with mural panels bolted on so they could be removed and rotated to other locations. He also suggested making panels double-sided to display more art.

Carrozza proposed debuting a prototype mural structure at this month's Albatwitch Harvest Festival to build early buzz. 

The X's show the proposed placement of the murals structures.

Heather Zink, council vice president, raised concerns that the proposed site would be used as a heavy-equipment access route during the upcoming Veterans Memorial Bridge project that could last up to five years and potentially damage the installations. Carrozza acknowledged the concern and suggested relocating structures closer to the park driveway.

Zink also questioned how mural designs would be vetted. Carrozza said SRCC had no formal review process yet but planned to create a submission form and possibly a review committee to ensure content stays "family-friendly" and not overly controversial.

Zink raised free speech concerns about the borough directly approving or rejecting individual artwork, comparing it to challenges with the borough's sign ordinance. She suggested the borough should approve SRCC's overall values and guidelines rather than reviewing each piece individually. Carrozza agreed.

"I don't want it to be planned that a group of council members are going to be approving the artwork," Zink said.

Council did not vote on the issue Tuesday night but indicated it would continue coordinating on the project, as planning continues ahead of the 2027 launch.

About SRCC
Carrozza described SRCC as a nonprofit dedicated to music and art that has operated a music and communal art studio on Lancaster Avenue for the past three years. The organization began about four years ago in a warehouse on Avenue H that "just didn't end up working out."

The SRCC logo incorporates the Veterans Memorial Bridge in its design.

"I didn't start out on this with the intention of being a nonprofit. It just kind of organically went that way," he said.

He also mentioned he had eyed the former Keystone Firehouse that was damaged recently by a tornado as a potential future home for SRCC, noting he was assembling investment plans for the building on the very day the storm hit.

Carrozza also highlighted SRCC's painted piano program, which has placed pianos at Columbia Coffee & Cream and the Columbia Crossing building at Columbia River Park. He credited the Lancaster nonprofit "Music for Everyone" with inspiring the effort.