COLUMBIA SPY

[Columbia Spy file photo] With regard to the homebuyers program for eligible low- to moderate-income first-time homebuyers, LHOP's Ray D'Agostino says the borough agreed to provide a match to LHOP's $5,000 closing cost assistance no-interest loan, which raises the figure to $10,000. In the program's first 10 months, there were 15 new homeowners in the borough, he says. The homeowner rehab program is just getting underway, so he does not have any data for that program. MORE: http://lancasteronline.com/alwayslancaster/lancaster-city-columbia-hot-spots-for-home-sales/article_da167a3e-337a-11e8-9d69-53921d86b0cc.html

Street sweeping will resume on Monday 04-02-2018. Please remember to check the signs in your neighborhood to see what day and times the sweeper will be in your area. Source:  Columbia Borough Police Department https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/post/street-sweeping-0

Columbia Mayor Leo Lutz [Columbia Spy file photo] Today, Columbia is embarking on a very aggressive marketing strategy, downtown revitalization and neighborhood-improvement campaign. Columbia is open for business and homeownership. MORE: http://lancasteronline.com/alwayslancaster/leo-lutz-columbia-mayor/article_4c0a7a8e-32c0-11e8-a8b8-9b0cfab9dd6f.html

In a well-reported incident documented in local newspapers, five fish wardens sent to Columbia had their boat overturned by locals. When they swam to the Columbia shoreline they were assaulted by residents. They spent the night locked inside a room in a local hotel while an angry mob milled outside. MORE: http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/shad-wars-a-long-violent-period-in-lancaster-county-over/article_48c6e18a-3281-11e8-bbdd-c3310badc12c.html

16 year old juvenile male Columbia Borough resident Charged with- Possession with Intent to Deliver Heroin/Cocaine and Crack Cocaine; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia- Committed to Youth Intervention Center (YIC) MORE: https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/lbop/19659/post/seu-drug-arrest-recovered-stolen-handgun-400-blk-new-dorwart-st-03262018

Possession of Marijuana Arrest, 2:02 a.m., Sunday, March 25, 2018, 1000 block North Duke Street (MT) – Philip N. Benson, M/45, of Columbia, PA, was charged with the above offense following a traffic stop. Officers searched Benson’s vehicle which yielded 11.89g of marijuana. A criminal complaint was filed. Arrest Date: Monday, March 26, 2018 Case Number: 2018-MT-03021 Charges: (1) Count Possession of Marijuana (1) count summary traffic violation Source: Manheim Township Police Department MORE: https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/manheimtwppd/53783/arrests/benson-philip-n-1-count-possession-marijuana-and-1-additional-charge

56 photos from the last two weeks... The borough has been notifying residents of the upcoming street sweeping season with these yellow warning tickets. Next time (starting March 26, 2018) will be the real deal, and it'll cost you. Even the codes car got a warning ticket.  Good thing the street sweeper is running again. Here's a view of the 400 block of Locust a week or two ago. The sweeper hadn't been operating since late last year. The borough should have issued corn brooms and dust pans in the interim.  Anyway, here's a line of jeeps at River Park.  And here's a posterior view.  These two were tethered to a parking meter in front of Stover's. Hopefully, the owner plugged the meter with a quarter. Or would it be two quarters in this case?  They terrorized people going in and out of the store.  But quickly got their act together when they spotted the paparazzi.  Cannabis - not just for stoners anymore....