COLUMBIA SPY

On 8/29/18 at approximately 5:06pm a Columbia Borough Police Officer was handling a dog complaint in the 800 block of Houston Street when he heard and observed a barrage of firework activity coming from a rear yard in the 100 Block of South Eighth Street.  The fireworks were going off in close proximity to several homes.  The Officer walked to the rear access alley leading to the residence where the fireworks were being set off and saw a man, Geraldo J. Maldonado, Jr. who is known to the Officer.  Maldonado said that he was sorry and that he did not think the fireworks display would be that big.  The Officer notified Maldonado that he would be cited for Disorderly Conduct.  Note:  All parties are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Arrest Date:  Wednesday, August 29, 2018 Case Number:  35508-8-29-18 Charges: Disorderly Conduct Source:  Columbia Borough Police Department https://lancaster.crimew...

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Construction at Starview Brews, 224 Locust Street, is expected to begin in mid-September. The brew pub hopes to open in December or January. MORE:  LINK

A 36-year-old Columbia man was charged with public drunkenness and disorderly conduct after getting into a fight with two trash cans, police say. MORE: https://fox43.com/2018/08/29/columbia-man-charged-after-fighting-with-trash-cans/

Questions about regulations for the borough's public parking lots were raised but not fully answered at the August Public Property & Public Works Committee meeting. A resident told the committee that his car was ticketed recently when it was parked in the public parking lot at the bottom of Locust Street, even though it was registered, insured, and inspected. He also said two vehicles belonging to a neighbor were towed from the lot. He said his vehicle was ticketed for violation of the so-called "48-hour rule" regulating parking in the borough, although there is no sign posted with regulations for the lot. He said he regularly parks there to allow neighbors curbside parking and has done so for years, and was surprised at being ticketed. "There's no precedent for it. None," he said. Currently, there is no borough ordinance regulating parking in public lots but there is one regulating parking on highways and streets. That ordinance states, in part: ...

A West Manchester Township police officer shot and mortally wounded Logan Montgomery, 29, of Columbia, Lancaster County, in the hallway of a Motel 6 on Sunday after law enforcement said he pulled a gun and fired it. MORE: https://www.ydr.com/story/news/crime/2018/08/27/logan-montgomery-motel-6-shootout-west-manchester-police-involved-addiction-heroin/1111690002/

This year the NAWCC National Watch & Clock Museum is expanding its Blue Star summer program to offer free, year-roundadmission for the nation's active-duty military personnel and their families, including the National Guard and Reserve. Each summer since 2010, the Blue Star Families organization promotes free museum admission events with museums across America under the Blue Star Museum program, supported by the NEA and the Department of Defense. MORE: https://mb.nawcc.org/threads/museum-offering-free-admission-to-military-families.154210/

Water covers part of Grinnell Avenue. Water from an underground spring is creating headaches for residents and borough officials alike, according to a discussion at the August Public Works & Property Committee meeting. Currently, water is continually being pumped from a property at 11th Street and Grinnell Avenue onto those streets. Water empties from a sump pump outlet pipe onto 11th, then trickles around the corner to Grinnell Avenue, where it flows and spreads out, covering part of the street. According to Mayor Lutz, neighbors have complained about the ever-present water, and some claim to have slipped on it. Public Works Director Ron Miller said that the street was recently so slippery due to algae in the water that the highway department had to power wash it. Lutz said the source of the water is a spring under the house. Water empties from a sump pump outlet pipe onto 11th Street. According to Miller, the issue was originally a dilemma for the borough, since the...

This week's photos from around Columbia...  A face from the past  "Temporarily immortalized" on the mural at Eastern Drillers  Work in progress  Contact info Uh-oh A wider view The finished project will look something like this. ***** Knox box  Since the passage of the key lock box ordinance, businesses are beginning to comply. Looks like this building at Front and Bridge has had a box in place for some time.  Even though there's no roof. Here's a few more around town: Even the judge has one. *****  That fence on Heritage is bent again.  Time for another fix. Oh wait, someone already tried a fix. ***** Some date stones from around town... *****  Hands across the pillar  Some of Columbia's vintage architecture Neoclassical  One the 300 block of Chestnut: two more examples of Columbia's unique architecture, here...