COLUMBIA SPY

 Snow garland around the post  Snow-capped Jesus #1  Snow-capped Jesus #2  Shiny stuff at Trin's  Snowman in the window Lights in the snow

Even though Columbia got 3-4 inches of snow today, holiday lights (like this one) on the posts along Locust Street held their own against the winter weather.

 

Some people say this town don't look good in snow. "Ventura Highway" - America Actually, this town does look pretty good in snow . . .  Strange graffiti on the Barber Street railroad cars . . .  Buzzards overseeing the tower . . . Support the local economy.

Go  HERE .

The Microsoft-sponsored NORAD tracking site is  HERE . The Google-sponsored tracking site is  HERE . A word of warning: The sites do not agree on Santa's precise location at any given time.

http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/795819_Food-giveaway-benefits-Columbia-students-and-families.html

Too bad it's the last one we'll ever see, since the world is ending today. Isn't it? Some ancient prediction said so.

        653 Locust Street - Columbia, Pennsylvania 17512 717.681.9400                                    http://www.jonalgallery.com/ Open: Thursday - Friday - Saturday  10:00a.m.-5:00p.m.           Fourth Friday Celebrations: 5:00-9:00p.m*           *Jonal Gallery/Alverta Arts Shop will open Fourth Friday, December 28, 2012 10am-5pm only .              ****************************************                 "Angels Bright - Angels Dark"      Exhibit continues through January 5, 2012     ...

Celebrate it at Weavings, INK 208 Hellam Street Wrightsville, PA Friday, December 21, 5-8 p.m.

This morning, I received the following email thread relating to former Columbia Market House Manager Carmen Swinehart's ongoing attempts to receive severance pay from the borough. In the email dated July 18, 2012, Councilman Kelly Murphy states that the borough is responsible for paying Carmen's "requested cost." So far, this has not been done.  Today is December 19.  It is almost the end of the year.  I would hope the council would want to pay this bill and get it off their books (especially since it's almost Christmas and it would be the decent, Christian thing to do).  Council, you can easily make this matter go away with a few strokes of the pen.  Please do the right thing.  (Some of the following email addresses have been redacted to protect the privacy of the correspondents.)  On Dec 19, 2012 8:45 AM, < Carmen Swinehart > wrote: Norm,  Mr. Pfannebecker,Esq Please find the letter below. I would like to close this m...

From around town . . .  Along Chestnut Street, near the Elks  Gazebo in the park Angel at Sahd Salvage

Go  HERE  for the story.

Go  HERE  for the details.

Time for some cheering up. Interesting how the producers of this special were afraid it was going to bomb - and then it became an American classic.  Ask anyone if they know what a Charlie Brown tree is. They'll know. Great music by Vince Guaraldi.

 The big cow that was formerly in front of the Turkey Hill Experience is gone. It disappeared sometime between Friday and Saturday, leaving only these marks behind. The creamery left.  The cow left.  What else is left? This cow stands in front of the Visitors Center.   Is it the one that was at the THE?  If so, why was it moved?  Liability issues?  Better promotion?  Who moved it?  And exactly what time was it moved?

A song from the early 80s by one of my favorite bands. The lyrics seem relevant today.

Pat Oliphant Cartoon -  © 2012 UCLICK, L.L.C.  Copyright ; ©2009 Universal Press Syndicate I like Punk the penguin's comment in the lower left corner.

down around the Canoe Club 12-16-12.

http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/793718_Area-churches--groups-to-hold-free-Christmas-Day-dinners.html

http://mobile.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2012/12/16/snl_silent_night_saturday_night_live_has_new_york_children_s_chorus_honor.html

What I see is insanity Whatever happened to humanity? Whatever happened to humanity? Whatever happened to humanity? "The Power of Equality" - Red Hot Chili Peppers I don't feel safe in this town anymore. I don't feel safe anywhere, really, in light of yet another senseless, mass killing. There is no shelter from this tragedy, nor is there relief from the sorrow, anger, frustration, and helplessness we feel. We search for meaning and find none. We look for solace that can't be found. There is no balm in Gilead. We find we can't run away and hide our heads this time. We have to look at our starkly violent society staring us directly in the face and decide who we are as a people. I had a college philosophy professor named Dr. Winter, who described himself as a "flaming liberal" and would go on the occasional - but fascinating - rant about how dysfunctional our society has become. "We live in a sick society!" he'd exclaim ...

Pennsylvania is number 20 on the list. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/12/15/states-with-the-most-legal-guns-in-2012.html

http://www.salon.com/2012/12/15/how_americas_toxic_culture_breeds_mass_murder/

When will it end? Will it ever end? http://timelines.latimes.com/deadliest-shooting-rampages/

Clarence Tyrone Taylor Go  HERE .

Andrew Moyer and Brianna Michael Go  HERE .

Anthony McQueeney Go  HERE .

Go  HERE .

at Kleen-Rite, on 9th (12-13-12).

Click  HERE .

Celebrate the Mayan End of the World in a unique art gallery setting. Survivors of the last day of the Mayan Calendar can enjoy drink and refreshments of a Mexican flavor. For those waiting out possible extinction before doing their holiday shopping, Weavings, INK is a perfect place to begin and end your purchasing. The gallery is filled with gift ideas for everyone who is left... on your list.   (Celebrate 5-8 p.m. on Friday, December 21, 2012.) Weavings, INK is located at 208 Hellam Street, Wrightsville, PA. Check out the Holiday Open House 1-5 p.m. this coming Sunday, December 16. Nifty Mayan hex signs like this one will be on sale at the gallery for $12.00, with half the proceeds going to the Red Cross.  The hex sign was designed by artist Bob Hammer.

A worker finishes decorating a lamp post.  Three blocks of posts along Locust Street are now draped with lights and topped off with ribbons.

He keeps tabs on you then reports back to his boss. More information here: http://www.salon.com/2012/12/10/elf_on_the_shelf_santas_little_voyueur/

A meeting of the Columbia Borough Council will be held on Monday, December 10 at 7 p.m. at the Borough Office, 308 Locust Street. Several commenters to this blog have questioned the council's recent decision to hire a Sewer Enforcement Officer at an annual salary of $45,000 to inspect 60 in-ground tanks, when cheaper options are available. This meeting will provide an opportunity for concerned citizens to have these questions answered.

Go here for the story: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/790969_Volunteers-clean-up-Mount-Bethel-Cemetery-in-Columbia.html

Go here: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/790744_Police-arrest-2-after-fight-at-pizza-place.html

As I was in the left turn lane at 3rd & Chestnut waiting to turn north on route 441, a truck driver turned left in front of me, from the right lane (December 5, 2012).  Another reason to have a truck bypass. And here is the license number.

The truck driver turned left from right lane at eastbound exit on route 441 (December 5, 2012).

On this, the 71st anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, consider that the United States is now ranked lower than Germany and Japan (the two main Axis powers) on the Corruption Perceptions Index 2102 , recently presented by Transparency International .  The index measures perceived levels of public sector corruption.  The US is number 19 on the list of 176 countries/territories, and has a score of 73 out of 100.  Germany is 13th, with a score of 79, and Japan is 17th, with a score of 74. Our ranking should be a powerful incentive to start paying attention to what our government is up to. Otherwise, we may as well just watch the bright, red choo-choo going by (on its way back to Sahd's (December 5, 2012)). [That was an awkward segue, but I wanted to get the train pics in there somehow.]