COLUMBIA SPY

During today's heavy rain, potholes formed again at the area under repair in the Columbia Plaza parking lot.

Columbia Borough Council heard from two altruistic groups — one offering help, and one needing it — on Monday, March 24. MORE: http://m.lancasteronline.com/columbia/news/new-columbia-foundation-will-support-pet-rescue-groups/article_0e12d2f4-b690-11e3-8abe-0017a43b2370.html?mode=jqm

COLUMBIA: District Judge Robert Herman on Friday dismissed all charges against Lance M. Jones, 37, of 225 S. Fourth St., Columbia, related to a March 10 domestic dispute at his home, a judge’s spokeswoman said. Borough police had charged him with aggravated assault, simple assault, and terroristic threats.

 Plans for the former Pizza Hut on 462? Phase Two of the pothole repair at Columbia Plaza. (I hope someone remembered to fix the leak or run a drain line.)

The second part of this article gives a list of "firsts" for the Veterans Memorial Bridge. GO HERE: http://m.lancasteronline.com/opinion/the_scribbler/milling-art-not-flour-on-mill-creek/article_7430dfaa-b680-11e3-9e55-0017a43b2370.html?mode=jqm

Where were you? LOTS OF PICS &INFO HERE: http://m.lancasteronline.com/th-anniversary-of-the-nuclear-accident-at-three-mile-island/collection_d43bdfb8-b5bc-11e3-874c-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm

Repairs are currently underway at the Columbia Plaza parking lot.  A water leak had been evident for quite some time and had begun to create numerous potholes. Workers excavated the area and filled it in with gravel in the first phase of the repair.

The hiking grandmother from Columbia who wanted to raise money for impoverished African villages by hiking the length of the Appalachian Trail is off the famed pathway after three days of hiking. Brenda Petroski, 60, cited “some sickness and just plain fatigue,” in her Appalachian Trail journal posting on Monday. MORE: http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/hiking-grandmother-from-columbia-forced-off-appalachian-trail/article_d4c6bdf0-b449-11e3-a52d-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm

No body is buried in the concrete of the old Columbia bridge. A long-time rumor is false that a worker died and was embedded in concrete as it was poured to create the Route 462 bridge across the Susquehanna River. MORE: http://m.lancasteronline.com/opinion/the_scribbler/columbia-bridge-rumor-laid-to-rest/article_af6fd5f6-b425-11e3-a637-0017a43b2370.html?mode=jqm

 Congrats, Columbia!  NO                                                              ParKing the blocks say.  "Wood" you look at that?  Part of the clockworks to the clock tower at the National Watch & Clock Museum Also seen at NAWCC: vehicles from all over . . .  On Sunday, a vehicle dueled with a pillar at the Wells Fargo building.  The big bank won, as they always do, and the vehicle limped away, battered and broken, leaving a trail of defeat.

Emergency personnel responded to a vehicle accident Class 2 early this afternoon on the 600 block of Chestnut Street.  A PT Cruiser hit a parked Jeep Cherokee.

The Lancaster County Deputy Coroner was among those called to a Walnut Street residence this morning. Several Columbia Borough police officers were at the scene, also.

Emergency personnel responded to reports of a gas leak with one person unconscious at 11:39 this morning on North Second Street. At the scene, two children were found unconscious. Two ambulances were dispatched. Personnel evacuated the children and their grandmother, and the children were transported to the hospital. Firemen wearing oxygen masks checked inside the properties at 341 and 343 North Second and found concentrations of gas and carbon monoxide. Fans were set up in the doorways to ventilate the houses, and UGI was called to turn off the gas supply to the properties. Firemen enter 341 North Second. Personnel donned oxygen masks. Fire Chief Scott Ryno coordinated efforts at the scene. A fireman took readings for gas and CO. Once more into the breach. Paul Miles gave directions on positioning a fan.

I'm surprised at all the recent negativity aimed at Columbia's mention in Smithsonian Magazine as one of the "20 best small towns to visit." And by negativity, I'm referring to name-calling, snarky comments, and outright condescension. Some people's eyes must be going funny from all the looks they're giving down their noses. In this blog, I've sometimes been critical of the town, and with cause, but I've also given credit where it's due. Most of the time, my criticisms are aimed at prodding local officials and pointing out problems. I was born and raised in Columbia and still live here. I walk and drive its streets. I patronize its businesses almost daily, and I've paid taxes for years. For those reasons, I reserve the right to be critical. Can the naysayers cite similar claims for the right to be derogatory? Is there a valid justification for it? For current residents who are consistently negative about the town: What have you done...

The memories are flowing on the "You know you're from Columbia PA if" Facebook group, which began just a month ago and already has more than 4,000 members. MORE: http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/you-know-you-re-from-fill-in-the-blank-if/article_88a2fe80-b051-11e3-b70d-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm

GO HERE: http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/tom-foster-hermansader-art-s-in-his-blood/article_9c8106a8-aeae-11e3-b3fa-0017a43b2370.html?mode=jqm

Columbia School District's long search for a new superintendent came to a close on Thursday when the school board approved the hiring of Carol Powell as the district's new leader.  Powell will begin her term at Columbia on July 1 at a salary of $115,000 for a three-year term. MORE: http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/carol-powell-named-superintendent-for-columbia-school-district-takes-post/article_8f007c8e-b11f-11e3-9434-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm

Columbia has earned recognition by the Smithsonian Magazine as a top U.S. town for visitors, being named as one of “The 20 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2014.” The magazine, in its April issue, cites Columbia’s historic areas, attractions like the National Watch & Clock Museum and its access to nearby recreation. Smithsonian listed Columbia as the 13th-best town to visit. MORE: http://m.lancasteronline.com/columbia/news/columbia-named-one-of-best-small-towns-to-visit-in/article_22835ff2-b13a-11e3-9ff1-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm

Columbia Borough Police Department's former K-9 officer, Max, died on Tuesday, March 18, said Connie Beury, chairwoman of the Columbia K-9 Campaign. Max retired at age 9 in January. MORE: http://m.lancasteronline.com/columbia/news/former-columbia-police-dog-max-dies-at-age/article_d6a7c3ba-b0ef-11e3-8a6f-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm

 A seagull who knows how to use the crosswalk.   That makes him smarter than some of the people I see around town, who disregard the lines, walk in front of moving cars, ignore traffic signals and are all-around oblivious.  And this bird's not jaywalking.  Gull-walking maybe, never jaywalking. Speaking of birds, there are chickens on 7th Street.  Yes, chickens.  Is this even legal? I thought keeping livestock within borough limits is not permitted.  An idea whose time has come? Columbia Plaza parking lot - The water keeps flowing, and the potholes keep growing.

Chad Noll, manager of The Cycle Den, succumbed to a rare disease and passed away recently.  Family members have written a Letter to the Editor to Lancaster Newspapers detailing his struggle.  The letter can be found  HERE .

The Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual "Taste of River Towns" restaurant fair on Sunday, March 30, at St. John's Herr Estate, 200 Luther Lane, in Columbia. This year's event is sponsored by St. John's Herr Estate, a Luthercare Community, and by the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority. The fair, which will run from 4 to 7 p.m., features samplings of food and beverages from area restaurants such as Bully's Restaurant and Pub, Café Garth, Columbia Chicken Shack, Columbia Historic Market House, Columbia Kettle Works, Hinkle's Restaurant, Keagy's Produce, Nissley Winery, Prudhomme's Lost Cajun Kitchen and St John's Herr Estate. Tickets cost $15 per person and are available at the SVCC Visitor Center, 445 Linden St., Columbia, and at St. John's Herr Estate. You also can call Mary-Jo Liskey at 684-0678. Directions to the event and parking locations are available with the purchase of your ticket or ...

Workers began renovating the vacant restaurant building across from Anvil International, on Route 462, today.  The building will eventually house the offices of a used car dealership.