Stephen Smith, Merchant and Abolitionist

See the article about him on the Civil War Blog here:
http://civilwar.gratzpa.org/2012/07/stephen-smith-merchant-and-abolitionist/

Curator of . . . What?

A website with a photograph purporting to show Columbia artist and poet Lloyd Mifflin in front of his house at Norwood.
Go HERE.

What I Saw - Sunday, July 29, 2012

 I'm not even going to try to explain this photo.

 Two guys were rolling a tire back and forth across Sixth Street.  Harmless enough . . .

 . . . but they kept rolling it as vehicles used the road . . .  

 . . . causing the vehicles to slow down . . .

. . . or stop.

What I Saw Recently

Photos from around town over the last month or so  . . .

 The ubiquitous Bill and Cookie Morehart

 Girl walking on the railroad tracks while looking down and wearing earbuds

 NOT the Joker

(Everyone knows the Joker has green hair.)

 Notice of Public Tax Sale

This property will be sold if back taxes are not paid. More evidence that, unless you hold an allodial title, you never really own your home; you just rent it from the government. And it's also an argument for the abolition of property tax.

Yesterday, this lookout kept watch over the Susquehanna from his post at River Park.

Police Arrest Home Invasion Suspects

Go HERE.

Fourth Friday - July 27, 2012

"From the Garden and Beyond"

Jonal Gallery

653 Locust Street

Columbia, Pa. 17512

  Join us Friday, July 27, 5-9 p.m. for the Artist Opening Reception featuring the works of Leona Cauley. 

Leona's exhibit "From the Garden and Beyond" includes:

Watercolors, Mixed Media, Collage and select pieces from her "Fabric-Scrap" series. 

Show continues through August 19, 2012. 

Don't miss this one!!! 

See you at the Gallery . . . 

Dale and John

The Prudhomme's Controversy Continues

I've tried to steer clear of the recent controversy surrounding Prudhomme's policy offering a discount to anyone bringing in a church bulletin.  A follow-up comment to a Lancaster Newspapers article, however, prompted the following response from me. (The original comment can be found by clicking HERE.)

My response to the commenter:

I get the gist of your comment about lawsuits, and I understand you mean the fart remark figuratively, but your comment about starting one's own restaurant and giving a discount for atheists misses the point entirely.  Prudhomme's policy is not that its customers have to be believers to get the discount; they just need to present a church (and I assume synagogue or mosque) bulletin.  Why then would you counter as you did, since the argument is not about believers vs atheists? 

In addition, your offhand criticism of Columbia is not well thought out or clearly stated.  What “mentality” are you referring to?  Your comment seems to support Prudhomme's, so it can't be referring to that.  If it's about the controversy itself, then remember that the lawsuit was brought by a man from Manheim Township.  Possibly you are referring to your own mentality that tells you Columbia has a bad name.  If so, I'd like you to expand upon that thought, and tell me what bad name Columbia has and how you think it has earned it.  In addition, since it appears you live in Willow Street, please tell us how and what you know about Columbia, i.e., verifiable facts and first-hand information, not rumors or gut feelings.  As a lifelong Columbian, I find your assertion offensive.

Your comment ends with an incongruous twist on an old adage.  Why would someone be free to throw stones only after their own windows are clean?  But if one accepts the logic of your statement, then it follows that you must have just spent time with a bottle of window cleaner before you submitted your comment.

Columbia to Get Rail Firm

Go HERE for more info.

An Appropriate Comment

Pat Oliphant cartoon Copyright 2012 UCLICK LLC

Copyright 2009 Universal Press Syndicate

I read a comment today about the Joe Paterno statue controversy, which said the statue should not be removed but simply turned around so that it is looking the other way.

Limbs on Fire

This afternoon's storm broke off limbs on South 10th Street.  A power outage at the surrounding blocks occurred when the limbs made contact with electrical wires and ignited.  Fortunately, PPL's Bruce Dolly and an assistant remedied the situation and restored power.

Detail of the photo above

Happy 110th Birthday!

110 years ago today, Willis H. Carrier invented what would become the modern-day air conditioner.

I am eternally grateful.

The man was a genius.

LINK

Accident at 8th & Locust

Yesterday afternoon at about four o'clock, a black Nissan pickup and a Chevy SUV collided at the intersection of 8th and Locust Streets.

Photos by Sharon Lintner

The Last of the Cycle Den Pics

Photos by Sharon Lintner

What I Saw - Sunday Afternoon - July 15, 2012

 With all the hit-and-miss showers this afternoon, some folks kept an umbrella handy, just in case.

And this pooch wore his rain slicker - just in case.

What I Saw - Sunday, July 15, 2012

 Three fishing rods and a paddle . . . 

He actually caught a fish while I was there.

 One sentinel and three swimmers

And then the sentinel swam away, too.

 Ancient rusty bicycle - 

Only 20 bucks at the Toll Booth

 Weather-beaten carriage at the Toll Booth - 

I don't know how much.

Desert Storm vet

Security issues:

 Keys left on the step at 432 Locust - 

No one around

 Keys left in the lock at Fourth and Locust - 

No one around

Gate with lock, left open on Locust - 

No one around

Doors, windows left open all weekend at Front and Bridge Streets - 

No one around

And last but not least - more graffiti!

Shooter Suspect Caught

Go here:
http://www.whptv.com/news/local/story/UPDATE-Suspect-Captured-in-Columbia-shooting/TxhDlv-OQEygYJ3uo3dvbg.cspx

Daniel Enchautegui

What I Saw - Saturday, July 14, 2012

 Puddle of water from last night's much-needed rainfall

which also cleared up the river water near shore.

Police Look For Shooting Suspect

Police looked for a shooter Saturday afternoon on Locust Street.

Police Search For Shooting Suspects

Columbia and West Hempfield Police are currently searching for two suspects involved in a shooting on Blunston Street.  A perimeter was set up around Laurel Hill Cemetery and Columbia High School.  K-9 units have been assigned.  The suspects were described as two Hispanic males, one wearing a red shirt, the other wearing a white or gray tank top, with his hair pulled into a ponytail.

 Laurel Hill Cemetery

 Ninth Street

 Near Ninth and Blunston

900 block of Blunston Street

What I Saw - Friday, July 13, 2012

Another parking violation at River Park
This vehicle was parked right at the sign, as if to be defiant, even though other spaces were available.  In this case, all of the other spaces were available (except the ones for vehicles with trailers).

Brazen . . .

Even though . . .

As well as . . .

Some other pics . . .

 Talking it over

 Waving "Hello!"

 Rescue personnel practicing

 Still my favorite bridge in the world

 This road rage incident occurred late this afternoon on the 500 block of Locust Street.  The burgundy Chrysler (at an angle, near the middle of the frame) was blocking traffic, because the driver was taking an inordinate amount of time trying to park.  Seconds before I shot this photo, the black Saturn (now at the front of the line) had suddenly pulled out from the end of the line and raced down the opposite lane to get to the front.  Fortunately, no vehicles turned right from route 462 onto the street, or there would have been a head-on collision.  Another driver (at the end of the line in above photo) tried following the Saturn driver's example but - as can be seen from the photo below - decided against it.  The Saturn driver risked an accident, but didn't gain anything, because she had to stop for a red light anyway.