COLUMBIA SPY

Citizen Comments, Part 1, 1/22/2019 Columbia Borough Council Meeting Comments at last week's council meeting focused primarily on the recent municipal tax hike and revolving loan fund, with sentiments - pro and con - evenly divided. Of the 21 residents who signed up to speak, not all did so - for various reasons. 12 commented on the tax hike/loan fund, and four spoke on other issues. As with the month's previous council meeting, the atmosphere was contentious, with some comments eliciting groans or laughter from the audience. The meeting was also punctuated by several outbursts, with one man shouting from the back of the room as a resident began to speak at the lectern, and a woman shouting as she left the room. An audience member also repeatedly shouted "Vote 'em out!" several times during the meeting. Heather Zink: "I struggle to think of any business that would continue to operate at a deficit, pulling money out of savings while still spending larg...

If you have a home-based business in Columbia Borough and have installed a Knox Box, or you were told by the borough to install one, please contact Dr. William Kraft at 717-684-3981 for information and advice on the issue.

Wednesday, 1/30/2019, Columbia Borough School District on 2-hour delay

According to source, a strong drain cleaner spilled from a container as it was being taken to a dumpster at Our Lady of the Angels School, 2nd and Union, this afternoon. Students were evacuated as a precaution, and the fire department and HAZ MAT were called out to help mitigate the spill.

Veteran horror film actress Sarah French during filming of "The Special" at Smith's Hotel in Columbia. JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY  A horror film at a Columbia hotel? Yes! Over the past few days, a film crew took over Smith's Hotel along Route 462 to make just such a film. Director B. Harrison Smith , whose credits include Zombie Killers and Death House , said his latest film, The Special , is a "horror story about addiction." He describes it as something you might see on Tales from the Crypt or Creepshow and that it has a "very odd feel to it." (For more information on the film, go  HERE .) B. Harrison Smith directs actor Tony Barber in a scene at Smith's Hotel. Smith, and Bob Smith (no relation) of Smith's Hotel allowed Columbia Spy unrestricted access to the film set this past Thursday and Friday, which included the bar area and second-floor hotel rooms. Besides the director, the contingent included several actors, plu...

This week's photos from around Columbia (Click/tap on photos for larger, clearer images.)  Guitars and tires. And that's all you'll ever need.  Heart to heart  Hearts for hearts' sake  That's what happens when you don't keep up with your workouts.  Falling monument  For those really big snows  He keeps coming back.  The new truck in action  Burned by the trolley failure, the borough tries another means of conveyance.  Broken sign, just like the one that was broken elsewhere last week. Targeting? Who would do such a thing? Yes, who? Hmmm, let's see . . .  Enforcement of various things at various times  Columbians will temporarily have to travel far and wide for their booze. The local store is closed for renovation.  Here's the permit.  Some folks were still hopeful.  Folded wings  Reflecting  The river's hig...