Albatwitch Day is coming to Columbia October 12

Join us on October 12, 2019 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM for Albatwitch Day, Pennsylvania's little Bigfoot at Columbia Crossing in Columbia, PA. Music, Lectures, Vendors, Food, Ghost Tour, Trolley Tour and more. Lectures on crypto creatures with Jenn Mitchell, John G Sabol Jr. Timothy Renner, and Rick Fisher with Special Guest Jack Hubley, "Creatures Beyond the Back Door". Live music by Doomwatch 13, Fever & The Thrill, Hot Mess, Pain!, Offensive, Stone Blood Creeps and The Swamp Thumpers. Variety of music for the whole family from easy listening to Punk. Games for the kids, food provided Roses Deli N More. Lectures and music are free. Vendor space is still available.

Tee-shirts: $15.00 (available at Albatwitch Registration Table

Chiques Haunted Trail Tour tickets available by calling (717)572-7149, www.eventbrite.com or at Albatwitch Day Registration table. 90 tickets available at $10.00 per person/ 30 visitors per tour

Time(s): 6:00PM 7:00 PM 8:00 PM (Meet 15 min. prior to tour)

Albatwitch Trolley Tours $5.00 per person 30-40 minute tour, tickets available at the Albatwitch Registration table from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Please follow the trolley signs for boarding

Thanks again for your support,
Christopher A. Vera

Director/ Columbia Historic Preservation Society.
PO Box 578
Columbia, Pennsylvania 17512
(717)572-7149 (C)
(717)684-2894 (M)

Columbia Borough Council accepts grant to be used toward Market House

Council voted unanimously to accept a $1.75 million state grant to be used toward renovations to the Columbia Market House and parking improvements in the downtown area. The borough is also hoping to secure a $1.2 million federal grant to help fund streetscape improvements on Locust and Walnut streets, between the Columbia Riverfront Park and the area near the market.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/regional/columbia-borough-council-accepts-grant-to-be-used-toward-market/article_f0501932-ca59-11e9-9c53-73c4bbf85faa.html

Columbia Borough Seeks to Spur Private Investment in Downtown by Building on Existing Assets | ULI Philadelphia

ULI Philadelphia released its Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) Report, summarizing recommendations to effectively spur private investment within Columbia Borough's central business district, provide adequate parking options to support commercial activity, and enhance urban connectivity through placemaking and public space enhancements. The report concludes a study comprised of a two-day convening of real estate professionals, urban planners and other experts, as well as interviews with key stakeholders.

MORE:

https://philadelphia.uli.org/columbia-borough-seeks-to-spur-private-investment-in-downtown-by-building-on-existing-assets/

Download the full report HERE.

Making a shooting gesture with hand a crime, court finds in ruling against Manor Twp. man

Making a shooting gesture at a person with one's hand can be a crime, a state appeals court ruled Tuesday in upholding a Manor Township man's conviction.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/making-a-shooting-gesture-with-hand-a-crime-court-finds/article_d8e216bc-c9df-11e9-bf6b-7f53f0033671.html

Nifty Needles at the Library Thursday, August 29

Note posted with permit claims HARB changes policy, urges HARB to help residents

Zoning permit, note and other information displayed at 401 Walnut Street

The photograph above shows a zoning permit with an accompanying note and other information that was posted recently in a window at 401 Walnut Street, a property in the borough's historic district. (Also posted is an Application for HARB Review.)  As the note states, the permit does not display a pink dot - indicating the proposed renovations were not reviewed by the Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB). The note also states that the pink dot "has been eliminated" and will be replaced with a pink placard. However, no such changes were discussed at any recent HARB meeting. A pink placard is typically posted at a property to announce an upcoming HARB review.

Close-up showing the zoning permit and note at 401 Walnut Street

Example of a pink placard indicating changes to be reviewed by HARB

The note also suggests that HARB should lobby for grants to help residents defray the costs of HARB demanded repairs. However, Don Murphy, the name entered on the permit as the applicant, is not a Columbia resident.

At this point, it is unclear who wrote the note.

The additional information posted in the window is not required by the borough to be displayed.

Example of a zoning permit with a pink dot. The pink dot indicates that changes were reviewed by HARB.

Recently, several complaints have been aimed at HARB regarding inconsistent enforcement of ordinances related to properties in the historic district. Zoning and Planning Officer Jeff Helm is charged with enforcing these types of ordinances within the historic district. HARB is a recommending body and does not pass or enforce ordinances.

Entries being accepted for Columbia Mardi Gras Parade - Theme is "Animal Adventures"

Columbia Borough Meetings - Week of August 26, 2019

Sparrow Websites to host Open House Thursday, August 29, 4-8 p.m.

336 Locust Street

Sparrow Websites, a Columbia-based web design company, has moved offices and is now located in 336 Locust St., a former printing press and now the new Ignite building in downtown Columbia. To celebrate the move, Sparrow is hosting an open house on Thursday, August 29 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event is designed to share the newly renovated Ignite building with the community, and anyone is welcome to attend. The open house includes building tours, refreshments, and a chance to meet the team at Sparrow.

Sparrow is not the only business operating out of Ignite. The building also offers affordable and flexible co-working spaces for local entrepreneurs and small business owners. Drop in anytime and meet the Sparrow team, check out their new web design studio, and enjoy some food and drinks. Catch the latest from Sparrow and get the inside scoop on the exciting opportunities coming to Columbia.

To RSVP for the event, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ignite-building-grand-opening-tickets-69386628273 and reserve your free ticket. For any additional other questions, please contact hello@sparrowwebsites.com or call 717-537-1311 and view the website at www.sparrowwebsites.com and check out the new Ignite website at www.ignitecolumbia.com.

[Source: Press release]

Agenda - Columbia Borough Council Meeting - August 27, 2019

The council packet can be downloaded HERE.

About Town 8/25/19

This week's photos of Columbia

Morning reverie

First day of school

This sign could bear some looking into.

 They turn this color at dawn, for a few minutes.

 He must be a patriotic canine.

Sidewalk median

 Newly painted lines, just in time for the first day of school

 Double barrel

Sidewalk seats

 Peace, love, hope, unity, faith, joy, kindness

 Sidewalk abuse

He finds it fascinating, so who are we to judge?

 You don't see this end too often.

Binary system, with a crow in between

On the grounds of the former firehouse on Front Street

 Recycling

 Balancing act

 Bottoms up!

 He may have made it to the top . . .

 . . . but the smorgasbord is down here.

Global vision

Old look at 203 Walnut

Unique pillar at 203 Walnut

 Already in season

At the Nick Mills memorial at 3rd & Walnut

Just a reminder - Put your used flags here (at the Elks on the 400 block of Chestnut).

This was once known as the Cookman Church.
(6th & Chestnut)

 Evil little Volkswagen

 "Board" meeting filled with bird-brains. Most board meetings are.

Even a work glove deserves a break.

Soon-to-be saw cuts at 4th & Locust 

The lot at 4th & Locust is now a staging area for construction equipment.

 Alice went through there.

Almost hidden away

Sign near 3rd & Cherry

 Generation gap

Shifter

Left behind

 Under the bridge

 126 Walnut

Here a weed, there a weed, everywhere a weed-weed

 Man emerging from a horse's neck

 They must be supervisors. They're standing around doing nothing.

Here are the workers. They're working.

 Cleaning up at Mount Bethel

 Meanwhile, over at Garfield Road

A lot of this lately -

This time at 7th & Maple.

Right vs . . .

Left

Shiny plane flying low

 Pumped up

 Portable shower

 Beauty strip

 This used to say FIRE ESCAPE (at Hotel Locust).

 Right on through at Living Stones on Front Street

 There's a Jeff Foxworthy joke that goes: "If you mow your lawn and find a car, you might be a redneck."

Discount rail travel

Corrugated sign

 When you want to keep your safety barrels safe

Welcome to the jungle.

 Wanted: technician to work on bods

 Biplane over River Park

Waiting outside Stover's

 Anatomically correct - in the window of Burning Bridge Antiques

 "Take Away Refuge" = a portable shelter?
(So that's what those hoppers are for.)

 Reminder

 Flying into frame

 Sumac shadows - 

Back in the day, this might have been called "op-art."

 Long Level as seen from Laurel Hill

 Egret fishing for breakfast

This Rube Goldberg-like contraption...

...actually worked.

There really is a Transylvania County. It's in North Carolina.

He refused to look at the camera.

Something extra, just in case