Is Columbia racist?

A reader sent us the following recent post from Craigslist:

 https://lancaster.craigslist.org/apa/5744803140.html

Workers brave the rain to fell trees at Bethel

Workers from Doug's Tree Service spent most of the day today cutting down two trees at Mount Bethel Cemetery on Locust Street.  One tree was along Locust Street - the other on the cemetery grounds. A half-hour afternoon deluge almost put the damper on the project, but several workers muscled through the rain and succeeded in felling the trees. 

                         A few small repairs

The rain begins, with what appears to be St. Elmo's Fire emanating from the tip of the crane.

This worker was undaunted by the downpour.

August 2016 - NOT what The Doctor ordered

August has been a record month by itself: Currently there have been 22 days with high temperatures in the 90s - which ties the record from 1980. If we make it to 90° this Wednesday afternoon (as we should), a new record will be set of 23 out of 31 days in August with highs at least 90°.

Three of these days were not just in the 90s, but in triple-digit territory. Averaging the month's temperatures together, it will end up as the warmest August on record.

LINK

Columbia narrowly approves purchase of tree well grates

http://lancasteronline.com/insider/community/columbia-narrowly-approves-purchase-of-tree-well-grates/article_bdaa1be6-6e17-11e6-a778-67867fe4de53.html

For Boys - AND GIRLS - in blue

Mount Bethel projects - keeping an old cemetery alive

Maintaining the graves of soldiers who played pivotal roles in the Revolutionary War, Civil War and both world wars:

http://lancasteronline.com/news/community/mount-bethel-cemetery-projects-tackle-upkeep-on-soldiers-graves/article_473397a8-6d81-11e6-af94-cfe4cc00a264.html

Columbia businesses chosen for Readers Choice Awards

Congratulations to Smith's in Columbia, Hinkle's Pharmacy, and Susquehanna Blue Smoke on being chosen for Readers Choice Awards in today's LNP.

Milt Friedly to exhibit at Keystone Art Center

Milt Friedly, Director/Curator for the Susquehanna Center for the Creative Arts will exhibit his sculpture at Keystone Art and Culture Center, 420 Pearl Street, Lancaster, PA. September 2 -28 and to be extended thru October, 2016.

Public Receptions are scheduled for September 2 and September 22 from 5-9 p.m.
Gallery hours outside the reception dates are by appointment.

Milt's sculptural works are crafted from traditional media, found objects and experimental media. His work investigates the dichotomy between nature and use of industrial materials and the effects consumption and time have on the human condition. Friedly makes personal and universal statements through use of common materials in uniquely crafted works of art. Some works are interactive, time based, which are completed by an audience. Some include live objects, water, sound and video.

New works include: "Ali - Move like a butterfly, Sting like a Bee"; "Corn - Chip"; "Breathe in the Conestoga"; "Displacement"; "Remove Ashes Daily" and others.

Special thanks to George Mummert, Director of Keystone for generously offering the space for this exhibition and to Martin's Potato Chips.

Teens accused of firing at police had criminal pasts, records show

Court records and interviews reveal the teenagers — who are cousins — had troubled pasts, and that they were not unfamiliar with the criminal justice system.

MORE:

http://www.ydr.com/story/news/crime/2016/08/28/teenagers-charged-with-attempting-to-kill-police-officers-in-columbia-lancaster-county-had-troubled-pasts/89048230/

Trail to be closed Aug. 29 & 30

DEP tells how to reduce mosquito activity

The Department of Environmental Protection is asking residents of Lancaster County to do the following simple activities to reduce mosquito activity in their area:

• Dispose of cans, buckets, plastic containers, ceramic pots, or similar containers that hold water.
• Property dispose of discarded tires that can collect water.  Stagnant water is where most mosquitoes breed.
• Drill holes in the bottom of outdoor recycling containers.
• Have clogged roof gutters cleaned every year as the leaves from surrounding trees have a tendency to plug drains.
• Turn over wheelbarrows and plastic wading pools when not in use and don’t let water stagnate in birdbaths.
• Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with fish.
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools not in use and remove any water that may collect on pool covers.
• Wear insect repellant during times of mosquito activity.  Aedes mosquitoes are active during daylight hours.
• Keep doors and windows tightly closed, or ensure that screens do not have holes or tears that can allow mosquitoes to get inside the house.

Columbia has urgent need for crossing guards

Volunteers sought for Market house committee

Dozens gather to bid farewell to Joe Mohr

Dozens of area firefighters, EMS, and QRS personnel gathered at St. Paul's Episcopal Church this morning to pay their last respects and bid farewell to Joe Mohr, who passed away on August 20. 

Joseph Michael Mohr was the Conoy Township Emergency Management Coordinator and previously served on the Standards Committee for new fire apparatus. Most recently, he worked at Masonic Village as a switchboard operator.

His obituary is HERE.