COLUMBIA SPY

Our Susquehanna Story - Claire and Leo of Columbia GO HERE: http://youtu.be/RdzOLVlQ1k0

Most of the roses were casualties of sidewalks replaced when those mayfly-attracting art deco bridge lights were installed in June. Rose roots had encroached on the old sidewalks, so flowers and roots were removed with the concrete. MORE: http:// m.lancasteronline.com /opinion/ the_scribbler /where-have-all-the- columbia -roses-gone/article_463e9f56-0e7d-11e4-97a0-001a4bcf6878. html ?mode= jqm

http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/columbia-woman-killed-in-car-crash-on-pennsylvania-turnpike/article_aeb8cd5a-18b3-11e4-8c8c-0017a43b2370.html?mode=jqm

There was a time when you would not hesitate to eat a fish caught in the Susquehanna River. As recently as 2005, Bassmaster Magazine listed the Susquehanna as one of the best “smallmouth (bass) destinations” in the country. But if you catch a smallmouth bass in the river today, you might be grossed out by what’s at the end of the line. The Susquehanna is now home to transsexual and mucus- and lesion-covered smallmouth bass. Because the fish do not tolerate pollution well, it’s a strong indication that the river is polluted. MORE: http://lancasteronline.com/opinion/editorials/a-sick-river-susquehanna-should-be-declared-impaired/article_051275e6-182f-11e4-8ed2-0017a43b2370.html

The regular monthly meeting of the Columbia Borough Council Committee of the Whole was held Monday, July 28, at 6 p.m. at Borough Hall, 308 Locust Street. Highlights of the meeting are as follows: Council President Mike Beury announced that voting will no longer take place at Committee of the Whole meetings but only at regular monthly council meetings. Topics will require a motion in order to be taken up at the next council meeting, at which time a vote would take place. Exceptions would be an emergency or situations involving a deadline. When councillors questioned the new procedures, the meeting briefly turned contentious, with Beury stating he would step down as president and challenging any councillor to take his position, saying, "Who wants to take president? I'll step down." He added he would prefer going back to committee meetings (as opposed to meetings of the whole). Columbia Historic Market House Trust:  Council discussed concerns about the trust...

Columbia Borough Council's unanimous decision Monday to send the Columbia Historic Market House Trust a letter, claiming violations of the trust's agreement for managing the market, was prompted, in part, by a petition from market vendors and by missing financial reports from the trust. Once notice is given, the trust has 45 days to correct the problems or it will be in default of the management agreement with the borough, formalized in January 2012. MORE: http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/it-s-deja-vu-for-vendors-of-struggling-columbia-market/article_4c9e57d6-1802-11e4-b7b9-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm

Columbia Borough Council is making sure that enforcing the law is a priority and that borough departments have the resources they need to deal with violations. MORE: http:// m.lancasteronline.com / columbia /news/ columbia -council-orders-crackdown-on-code-violations/article_b64e4146-176c-11e4- af3c -0017a43b2370. html ?mode= jqm

Some drivers are still confused by the route of the recent detour.  This trucker turned down Walnut Street from Second and, after seeing the signage at the end of the street, turned right onto Front Street.  Similar replays have occurred in the surrounding blocks over the past two days.

The detour route for the railroad crossing closure on Route 441 in Columbia Borough has been changed to repair a sinkhole. MORE: http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/sinkhole-reroutes-detour-during-railroad-work-in-columbia/article_c69e73be-1739-11e4-bdf5-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm

Don't forget: Parking meter rates recently doubled from 25 cents for 60 minutes to 25 cents for 30 minutes. Plug the meter for the appropriate amount. Violators will be ticketed.

Construction on the railroad crossing on Route 441 between Locust and Union Streets and adjacent areas along the railroad tracks got underway today.  Detours have been set up to reroute traffic around the area.

The cost of the recent mayfly cleanup on the Veterans Memorial Bridge was absorbed by the  construction company, according to Ahmad Mahmoud, project manager for Kuharchik. Borough Manager Sam Sulkosky said that instead of multiple cleanups, they waited until the mayfly season was over. "There's no use cleaning it up and coming back two weeks later to do it all over again," he said. In the future, the borough will be responsible for maintenance, including mayfly cleanup, which will cost about $2,000 for labor and supplies. MORE: http://www.yorkdispatch.com/breaking/ci_26227450/wrightsville-bridge-now-clear-mayflies

 At Locust Street Park today, Puerto Rican Americans rallied to promote the addition of Puerto Rico as 51st state of the United States.  The rally coincided with various rallies around the country, including those in New York, New Jersey, and Washington DC. Island residents were granted U.S. citizenship in 1917, yet they cannot vote in presidential elections, though Puerto Ricans living in the continental United States ca n. Today's date also marks the birthdate of  Dr. José Celso Barbosa   (July 27, 1857 – September 21, 1921) a  Puerto Rican   physician ,  sociologist ,   and political leader known within Puerto Rico's  New Progressive Party   as the father of the "Statehood for Puerto Rico" movement.

 At River Park this morning, mallards were busy scooping up mayfly carcasses, some of which may have been washed off bridge lights last week, as seen  HERE . Unfortunately, many live ones are hanging on, like the one seen above on the window of Burning Bridge Antiques, which appears to be trying to mate with its reflection(s).

The Columbia Borough Council Committee of the Whole Meeting will be held tomorrow, Monday, July 28, at 6 p.m. at Borough Hall, 308 Locust Street, Columbia, PA 17512.

 This past Friday, Ron Mable, volunteer superintendent of Mount Bethel Cemetery, gave an informative tour of the cemetery grounds.  The tour was sponsored by the Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce.  The 300-year-old cemetery holds the remains of veterans from all our country's major wars, as well as local personages from the past, including Columbia poet and painter, Lloyd Mifflin, and his father, John Houston Mifflin. Currently, the cemetery is struggling financially.  If it "goes under," Columbia Borough will take over ownership and be responsible for the maintenance of the grounds. Here, Ron Mable shows the grave marker of Joseph S. Hagman, a Union Civil War veteran who was a prisoner at Andersonville, a Confederate prison in Georgia.

From around town . . .  A "drive" wheelchair at BruceKie's. Just don't drink and "drive."  Down on Second Street, it's time to mow the sidewalk or break out the RoundUp. The detour starts tomorrow. More info  HERE .

From around town . . .  Follow those Marines!  to the reception at the Hambones.  Go home, Bear - you're drunk. (He even fell off the chair!)  With a little TLC . . .   these post offices lights could really look like something.  I don't know whether to call this "Faded Glory" or "Stars and Strips." I guess I'll just call it a disgrace.  Have a seat . . .  from this line-up.

From around town . . .  Wingin' it  Mirror image  Fixing the dings and wiping the glass  Roll out the barrels - or at least the barrel lids Movin' on

Some pics from around town over the last week or two or three . . .  Quite a catch  A flathead catfish  A big 'un  The tying of the shoe Abandoned stroller - and bike (It's there, deep in the foliage.)  Abandoned ancient technology  Abandoned modern footwear  This way 'n' that  At Laurel Hill  At CHS  Y ?  Biking is good exercise  Now we know why the rates went up - to pay for the paint.  Delivering the goods Keeping a watchful eye

South Front Street will be closed between Union and Locust streets until Aug. 18. The road will be closed at the crossing in both directions. A detour will be posted. MORE: http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/repairs-set-to-begin-monday-at-railroad-crossing-in-columbia/article_fda51928-1435-11e4-bb74-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm

The following flyer was distributed recently at the Columbia Plaza on Lancaster Avenue.  The "facelift" will be undertaken by Paul Risk Associates, Inc., whose websites are  HERE  and  HERE . More on this as it develops. These barriers are being stored beside The Dollar Store at the Columbia Plaza.