COLUMBIA SPY

The theme for this year's Columbia Mardi Gras Parade is "Dynamic Duos." The parade, sponsored by the Columbia Lions Club and the Sunsnappers, is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 23.

There's a punchline there somewhere.

At Columbia River Park today, vehicles without trailers were ticketed for being parked illegally.  The deadline on this restriction runs out tomorrow, Labor Day. Last but not least, the construction fence at the front of the Visitors Center was down again.

http:// m.lancasteronline.com /news/local/civil-war-predominates-at-caring-for-heritage-in- columbia /article_56b0adb4-3076-11e4-a88c-001a4bcf6878. html ?mode= jqm

GO HERE: http://m.lancasteronline.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/park-goers-being-bullied-in-columbia/article_fd539472-2df3-11e4-b874-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm

The regular monthly meeting of the Columbia Borough Council Committee of the Whole was held Monday, August 25, at 6 p.m. at Borough Hall, 308 Locust Street. Highlights of the meeting are as follows : Community Development   Councillors Steph Weisser and Jody Gable are coordinating with Columbia Historic Preservation Society President Chris Vera to give guidance to new businesses and otherwise help promote Columbia Borough. Although the borough is not directly involved in the endeavor, Weisser and Gable will serve as a conduit back to the borough. Vera had previously given a presentation with goals for marketing the town, especially focusing on Locust Street storefronts.  He is also developing a website featuring storefronts available.  Quarterly seminars will be part of the plan in providing business guidance. The board of directors is to be announced. Councillor Barry Ford said, “I want to be make sure all businesses are going to be involved.” Gable said,...

http://m.lancasteronline.com/columbia/news/two-columbia-residents-voice-concerns-about-neighbors-possibly-illegal-activities/article_2ac149b4-2e43-11e4-b8fc-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm

Columbia has none. MORE: http:// m.lancasteronline.com /news/local/ lancaster -county-school-districts-have-armed-personnel-on-campus- octorara /article_96d76894-2e26-11e4-876d-0017a43b2370. html ?mode= jqm

Details to follow

On Saturday, Sept. 11, 1926, Dan Foster walked from Lancaster to Columbia with a 10-quart bucket. The bucket was half-filled with water. The water had three goldfish in it. More of the story   HERE .

$ 9.6 million has been allotted to resurface Route 30 from the York County line to Marietta Avenue (Route 23); construction is scheduled to begin next year. More information  HERE

Emergency responders are checking out a 12:46 p.m. report of a body found at Long Level Marina on the Susquehanna River, a county dispatch supervisor said. MORE: http:// m.lancasteronline.com /news/local/update-report-of-body-found-in- susquehanna -river/article_99224558-2bc2-11e4- ad2f -001a4bcf6878. html ?mode= jqm

http:// m.lancasteronline.com /sports/highschool/football/l-l-football- columbia -shifts-focus-to-running-game/article_357fe1f4-1d94-11e4-a287-001a4bcf6878. html ?mode= jqm

http://www.yorkdispatch.com/breaking/ci_26401639/police-release-name-missing-wrightsville-area-boater

Columbia Borough School District is beefing up security at their recently reconfigured elementary school, Park Elementary. On Thursday, Aug. 24, the school board unanimously approved the purchase of a video surveillance system for the K-4 building, consisting of 16 video cameras and costing the district $13,220. MORE: http://m.lancasteronline.com/columbia/news/new-security-cameras-to-keep-an-eye-on-park-elementary/article_6f506cb2-2c6e-11e4-bf64-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm

http:// m.lancasteronline.com /news/local/one-boater-located-one-still-missing-after-canoe-overturns-in/article_99224558-2bc2-11e4- ad2f -001a4bcf6878. html ?mode= jqm

Jasmyn "Jazzy" Smith The second annual Jazzy's Day, a celebration of the life of Jasmyn Smith, was held in Columbia's Makle Park on Saturday, August 23, with several hundred people attending.  Jasmyn, affectionately known as "Jazzy," passed away in 2012 at age 11.  The event was sponsored by Aevidum, a national organization that helps support children and young adults through troubled times.  The organization's philosophy is "I've got your back."  Aevidum's website is  HERE . During the course of the afternoon, about 350 backpacks – out of the 500 available - were given away to local students. Remaining backpacks will be held until next year's giveaway. Backpacks were collected and then donated to the event by the American Legion and other local organizations. The event also featured music, face painting, a raffle, games, and refreshments. A balloon release in remembrance of Jazzy topped off the day's activities. ...

Police are trying to determine if four home break-ins are linked in Columbia Borough. MORE: http://fox43.com/2014/08/23/police-investigating-rash-of-burglaries-in- columbia -borough/ MORE: http://m.wgal.com/news/columbia-borough-police-investigate-3-burglaries-in-the-same-area/27696742

http:// m.lancasteronline.com /business/ local_business /state-mulls-tattoo-shop-regs-like-in- lancaster -city- columbia /article_4b6b4f4c-2a20-11e4-a438-0017a43b2370. html ?mode= jqm

[Following is an article submitted to this website today. I added the title and graphic.] Over the years, I have heard (repeatedly) how high the taxes are in Columbia Borough.  I was born here and have been a property owner since 1986.  When I was young, I simply accepted whatever the taxes were and paid them without question.  Taxes were part of the mortgage payment and therefore I (like many other young people) made the payment and ignored the tax part.  The closer I get to retirement, the more I realize it may be impossible to continue living in this borough.  I wanted to see what other options might be available and this became quite an eye-opener.  Hearing that taxes are "high" is not enough, we need to look closer to see clearly just how high they really are.   Currently, there are a few homes for sale that have a Columbia address, but are actually in West Hempfield. I found an example of this with two homes of comparable square foot...

MORE: http:// m.lancasteronline.com /news/local/map-what-s-new-and-different-in-your-school-district/article_995fd776-27b0-11e4-a61c-0017a43b2370. html ?mode= jqm