COLUMBIA SPY

Mayor Lutz arrived at the December 22 Meeting of the Whole sporting a jacket with a Columbia Police Department logo. As the meeting wore on, his support for police became increasingly apparent in his push to include a new police cruiser in the 2015 budget. During the sometimes contentious discussion, it was revealed that the borough owns 10 vehicles, four whose mileage is 5,000 miles or less, one with 70,000 miles, and others with mileages ranging from 13,000 to 42,000. A detective's car, a van, and a street sweeper are among the 10 vehicles. "We had to look at some really tough numbers this year with the budget," Councillor Kelly Murphy said, noting that there is only one vehicle nearing the end of its life. "We didn't feel it was necessary to replace one this year," adding that the purchase of a new vehicle was pushed back one year. Lutz stated there had been a previous discussion that a new vehicle would be purchased to replace a 2005 Tahoe with 71,00...

 Mason jars at Tollbooth  Not OSHA-approved - at Third and Walnut  Coming soon - more antiques (across from Burning Bridge Antiques)  A Musser's cart in Shawnee Creek (with a scooter) A Weis Markets cart at Musser's  Enjoying the view from the Trail Services Building on a balmy afternoon last Saturday A murder of crows on Grinnell Avenue.  Yes, that's really what a group of crows is called.

Old habits die hard.  Once again, old tires are being dumped at the wooded area near South Tenth and Wright Streets. This problem reached critical mass about a year ago, with over a dozen tires being dumped, after which the borough (presumably) cleaned up the mess.

Columbia Mayor Leo Lutz Columbia Mayor Leo Lutz has vetoed the borough’s approved 2015 tax rate, which remains at 8 mills. On Dec. 22, borough council unanimously approved the 2015 budget along with an ordinance to keep the tax rate the same as in 2014. Lutz's action means that council will have to vote to override the veto in order to secure the tax rate and set the budget. Council President Mike Beury expressed surprise when called for comment. Lutz had not, apparently, officially informed council of the veto. "Unless they override my veto or change the tax millage to something I would agree to, they will have no money for the budget," Lutz said. Council President Mike Beury expressed surprise when called today for comment.  Lutz had not, apparently, officially informed council of the veto. Beury is confident the tax rate and budget will pass as proposed, despite Lutz’s veto. “He's gonna lose,” Beury said. “Everybody voted for it the first place. They will vo...

Columbia resident Shawn House has to import the starring ingredient in his Hempzels food products from Canada. He would like that to change. MORE: http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/homegrown-hemp-on-the-horizon/article_07f33556-905d-11e4-8d31-47426f4d0c15.html?mode=jqm

Last week, the federal Environmental Protection Agency, in its every-two-year review of Pennsylvania's water-quality plans, said it agreed that there is still a lack of data to declare the Susquehanna sick or not. But that determination may be soon at hand, EPA said. MORE: http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/state-could-be-ready-to-rule-if-susquehanna-is-sick/article_76bf4084-9066-11e4-9a1c-c7c7fb43fbcc.html?mode=jqm

A Christmas wish came true for a little boy named Evan. The 7-year-old's family helped him set up a video camera on Christmas Eve, and he managed to capture something magical — Santa personally delivering presents to his home in Columbia, Pennsylvania. MORE: http://wric.com/2014/12/30/little-boy-captures-video-evidence-of-santa-seriously/

Yes, let there be some. These three street lights on the first block of North Third Street (near Burning Bridge Antiques) have been out for several weeks. This issue was first brought to the attention of council at its December 8 meeting, during citizen comments. At the December 22 Meeting of the Whole, Acting Borough Manager Ron Miller said there had been a "hiccup" as lights were being strung, which had knocked out some street lights.  Are these the ones? This section of the block is very dark at night, with the only light available coming from businesses and passing vehicles.

Four new security cameras were installed Monday at the Northwest River Trail Services Building at Columbia River Park. Installation was approved November 24 at Columbia Borough Council's Meeting of the Whole. The total cost for the cameras was $9420, with half coming from a grant and half from the borough. Including an existing camera near the front of the building, the addition of the four new cameras (two outside and two inside) brings the total number of cameras monitoring the building to five.   A technician checks an existing camera near the front of the building.  Installation of this new camera on the south side of the building is almost complete. A second camera, almost ready, on the north side. A long view of the camera shown above.

GO HERE: http://m.christianpost.com/news/five-ridiculous-targets-of-atheist-groups--131799/

Good riddance to bad rubbish. Associated Press HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The gap between what wealthy districts and poor districts spend to educate children has widened dramatically in the four years since GOP Gov. Tom Corbett took office, amid deep budget-balancing cuts in state aid under Republican-controlled Harrisburg and long-delayed pension obligation payments coming due. MORE: http://lancasteronline.com/news/pennsylvania/gap-between-rich-poor-schools-doubled-in-years-under-gov/article_53334702-5bf0-50cf-a772-6e4cd841dfd9.html And according to spundge.com, he's one of the villains who approved a gas tax increase: "The Republican governor did approve a gas-tax increase in November as part of a more than $2.3 billion transportation package. The increase for gas and diesel is charged at the wholesale level, but  multiple businesses have said they have to pass the cost along to consumers. The increase is being phased in over multiple years, and the  Allegheny I...

Oh, those tax-and-spend Republicans. GO HERE: http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/driving-in-pennsylvania-will-get-more-expensive-in/article_9f2984a2-8f90-11e4-83d2-f35088534f06.html?mode=jqm

The state Department of Environmental Protection has issued a consumption warning for channel catfish longer than 20 inches. Samples of the fish showed unacceptable levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, often called PCBs. MORE: http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/pcb-contamination-causes-fish-consumption-advisory-for-catfish-caught-from/article_ea4fd690-8f93-11e4-9e96-97713c0276f0.html?mode=jqm

More new "bridge" lights Workers began installing lights on the surface of the new facade at Columbia Plaza today. (The structure resembles the Veterans Memorial Bridge.)

The holidays have this effect on a lot of folks.  Some of us need a holiday from the holidays.

We know that too much salt is bad for your health, but it can be bad for the health of concrete structures, also. Rock salt (sometimes called "road salt" due to its use on icy roads) currently being stored under the Veterans Memorial Bridge may be contributing to spalling and cracking on bridge piers in close proximity to the salt pile, and  PennDOT may require the borough to move the salt in the near future . At Columbia Borough Council's Meeting of the Whole last Monday, Mayor Lutz stated the need for a pole barn or shed to contain the salt. The salt is used by borough and school district maintenance personnel. Lutz said that  in the next year or two the bridge will undergo the largest bridge restoration project in Pennsylvania.   A salt pile under the Veterans Memorial Bridge  Deterioration at the base of a pier near the salt pile  Spalling and cracking on one of the soldier piers, shown here and below

The York City School District  has entered receivership , according to a ruling Friday in York County court. Could it happen here? Should it? MORE: http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/pennsylvania-will-control-york-city-school-district/article_4e77892e-8d19-11e4-ab64-fbf0cf40816a.html?mode=jqm

Winter begins today at 6:03 P.M. EST

Tires were slashed on about 30 vehicles in Columbia Borough, apparently sometime Friday evening, according to police.  Police said they began getting calls about 9 p.m. and found vehicles with slashed tires in the following streets: 200 block of South Second Street; 200 block of Lawrence Street; Mill Street; Furnace Avenue; the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Manor Street; 600 block of South 11th and 14th streets and the 1300 block of Central Avenue. Damage is estimated in the thousands of dollars. Anyone with information is asked to contact Columbia Borough Police Department at 717-684-7735. http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/tires-slashed-on-vehicles-in-columbia/article_801c899e-889a-11e4-bb46-fb8acff90b3a.html

Waterways Conservation Officer Jeff Schmitt talking to boaters.  New siding  A spy caught watching for Santa On Letort Road

The  National Watch and Clock Museum  in Columbia, Lancaster County, recently hired a new curator of collections to replace Carter Harris, who retired in August. MORE: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/12/national_watch_and_clock_museu.html

Workers were at it again today at the Columbia Plaza project.  Even the cold winds didn't slow them down.  The section on the left looks to be almost finished. The facade is looking more like the Veterans Memorial Bridge each day. Meanwhile, in town . . .  Locust Street, and Eddie Shupp is showing photographs Of every head he's had the pleasure to know, And all the people that come and go Stop and say hello.  And catty-corner from Shupp's - what's this? The sidewalk is closed?

GO HERE: http://www.gopsusports.com/genrel/121714aac.html

THE SHARP THINGS is a longstanding, multi-member NYC-based collective led by singer/songwriter/pianist Perry Serpa. Over their 15-plus years in existence, THE SHARP THINGS have taken in over 40 musicians, shared stages all over the place with the likes of Metric, Broken Social Scene, Tindersticks, Evan Dando, Joan As Policewoman, the late Vic Chesnutt, and many more.  MORE: http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/6330770

" I would like to take Ryder for hyperbaric oxygen therapy at the Robert Lombard HBOT center in Columbia, Pa." INFORMATION HERE: http://www.ldnews.com/local/ci_27144569/richland-family-hopes-miracle-disabled-4-year-old

The historic rail diesel car just rolled into Columbia to be refurbished at Rail Mechanical Services. (See previous posts.) These photos were taken on Fourth Street near Manor.