Friday, December 31, 2021
No contamination, hazardous waste found at McGinness Airport site recently purchased by Columbia Borough
When: Columbia Borough Council meeting, Dec. 14.
What happened: Recent searches found no evidence of hazardous waste or buried barrels at the newly purchased McGinness Airport property, ending more than four months of speculation and accusations that the site was contaminated, Borough Manager Mark Stivers said after the meeting.
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Thursday, December 30, 2021
NYTimes.com: What Are the Symptoms of Omicron?
From The New York Times:
What Are the Symptoms of Omicron?
While there are subtle differences between the latest coronavirus strain and previous ones, so far the signs of infection look pretty similar.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/21/well/live/omicron-variant-symptoms-covid.html?smid=em-share
What Are the Symptoms of Omicron?
While there are subtle differences between the latest coronavirus strain and previous ones, so far the signs of infection look pretty similar.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF OMICRON?
One possible difference is that Omicron may be less likely than earlier variants to cause a loss of taste and smell. Research suggests that 48 percent of patients with the original SARS-CoV-2 strain reported loss of smell and 41 percent reported loss of taste, but an analysis of a small Omicron outbreak among vaccinated people in Norway found that only 23 percent of patients reported loss of taste, and only 12 percent reported loss of smell. It's unclear, though, whether these differences are because of Omicron or some other factor, like vaccination status.
Indeed, many Covid-19 symptoms vary depending on a person's vaccine status. Maya N. Clark-Cutaia, an assistant professor at the New York University Meyers College of Nursing who has been following up with Covid-19 patients throughout the pandemic, said that vaccinated patients with Delta or the original coronavirus tend to present with headache, congestion, sinus pressure and sinus pain, while unvaccinated patients are more likely to have shortness of breath and cough, along with flulike symptoms.
With Omicron, Dr. Clark-Cutaia said patients she's talked to in Pennsylvania are presenting with similar symptoms to Delta. Vaccinated Omicron patients complain of headaches, body aches and fever — "like a really bad cold," she said. Unvaccinated people have the same shortness of breath, cough and flulike symptoms she saw among unvaccinated people with Delta.
One other difference between Omicron and other variants is that Omicron seems to have a shorter incubation time — after a person is exposed, it takes as few as three days for them to develop symptoms, become contagious and test positive compared with four to six days with Delta and the original coronavirus, said Dr. Waleed Javaid, the director of infection prevention and control at Mount Sinai Downtown in New York City. That could be because the variant's mutations help it attach to and go inside cells, he added.
What about the claim that Omicron infections are milder than Delta infections? According to last week's data from South Africa, after controlling for vaccination status, the risk of hospitalization for adults diagnosed with Omicron was 29 percent lower there than in the first wave of the pandemic, and hospitalized South African Covid-19 patients have been less likely to be admitted to intensive care.
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https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/21/well/live/omicron-variant-symptoms-covid.html?smid=em-share
CRIMSON TIDE EARNS CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY
NORTHEASTERN YORK HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT
Columbia 56, Northeastern York 53 — The Crimson Tide earned the championship trophy thanks to a 17-12 third-quarter surge. Mackenzie Burke was the hero; she drilled six 3-pointers and bucketed a season-high 22 points for Columbia, which trailed 24-22 at the break. Brie Droege chipped in with 16 points for the Tide, which improved to 8-0.
Monday, December 27, 2021
2 Columbia establishments are on the list: Lancaster County restaurant inspections, Dec. 24, 2021
Bully's Restaurant & Pub, 647 Union St., Columbia, Dec. 14. Pass. Cooked rice, a refrigerated, ready-to-eat time/temperature-control-for-safety food in the reach-in cooler, was date-marked by the facility but was beyond the seven-day use- or sell-by date and requires discarding. Deeply scored cutting boards not resurfaced or discarded as required. A grease buildup inside the fryer cabinets and on the floor beneath them. Peeling and chipping paint on the floor of the basement food preparation area. Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration of chlorine bleach for the mechanical dishwasher. Hand sanitizers stored next to packets of condiments.
Level Up Pizza, 237 Locust St., Columbia, follow-up, Dec. 14. Pass. 13 water-stained ceiling tiles in the customer area. Prepackaged flan and cakes are not labeled properly with the name of product, ingredient statement, net weight and distributed by statement. Prepackaged flan and cakes are not labeled to clearly indicate any “Big 8” allergen ingredients and/or the allergen warning statement.
Level Up Pizza, 237 Locust St., Columbia, follow-up, Dec. 14. Pass. 13 water-stained ceiling tiles in the customer area. Prepackaged flan and cakes are not labeled properly with the name of product, ingredient statement, net weight and distributed by statement. Prepackaged flan and cakes are not labeled to clearly indicate any “Big 8” allergen ingredients and/or the allergen warning statement.
Christmas tree recycling 2021: Where and when to take your tree to the curb in Lancaster County
Columbia: Drop off at Columbia Fire Company at the corner of 10th and Manor streets or the Columbia Borough Yard Waste Center on Blue Lane on Saturday, Jan. 8 from 8 a.m. to noon.
Sunday, December 26, 2021
Photos of Columbia from the past week
Recent photos of Columbia
(Click/tap on photos to see larger, sharper images.)
The holiday is almost over - but not just yet.
Christmas lights at 4th & Chestnut
Night light, old school
Continued progress at Locust and Bank Avenue.
The peaked roof in the back section differs from the original plans.
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Someone broke the windows of the train near Florence and Mill.
Firefighters couldn't get water from this hydrant at Plane and Manor during this week's fire on Manor Street, according to scanner chatter.
Columbia and beyond on a foggy morning, as seen from Laurel Hill.
Some folks partied hardy over the holiday.
Looks like not all flights were canceled.
Half-lit bridge
Looking upriver
Looking across the river
Bridge lights
Down at Floyd's
More bridge lights
Sunday morning at Tollbooth Antiques
Weather vane
There's also one at the Watch & Clock Museum.
Seen in Avenue F
The DAC
Bags holding cold weather wear at Washington Boro Park
Also in Washington Boro -
Apparently, there was no room at the inn.
Friday, December 24, 2021
UPDATE: Columbia fire damages 3 houses, 3 families displaced
Residents of three Columbia row houses were displaced a fire Friday morning.
Firefighters were dispatched just before 7 a.m. to 519 Manor Street, where flames were coming through the third-floor attic roof when firefighters arrived, Columbia Borough Fire Chief Scott Ryno said.
The fire spread to the 517 and 521, causing minimal damage, but the homes will be uninhabitable until water and electrical issues can be addressed, Ryno said.
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Columbia girls fend off Penn Manor, remain undefeated with thrilling nonleague victory
Alas, Penn Manor couldn't quite pull the trigger, was whistled for a turnover just before the clock hit zeroes, and Columbia hung on for dear life for a riveting 55-53 nonleague victory before a raucous crowd in the Tide's home gym.
Columbia, currently ranked No. 1 in the District 3 Class 2A power ratings, remained perfect, improving to 6-0 overall. Penn Manor dipped to 3-3, but the Comets are in the thick of the Section 1 chase at the holiday break checkpoint.
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Columbia fire damages two houses
Fire damaged two rowhomes in Columbia on Friday morning.
Firefighters were dispatched just before 7 a.m. to 519 Manor Street, where flames were coming through the roof. The fire spread though the roof to 517 Manor.
Further details were not immediately available.
Columbia Borough Fire Dept. and other departments including Bainbridge, West Hempfield and Mount Joy responded, as did the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal.
Thursday, December 23, 2021
Lancaster County man creating new holiday traditions by remembering Christmas past in Columbia
A Lancaster County man has come to be known as "the Keeper of Christmas" thanks to his involvement at a special local holiday attraction. -
"One of the more popular exhibits is 'A Christmas Story,'" said Enterline.
Or, take a stroll through a re-creation of 1950s Columbia, Pennsylvania, where Abel grew up.
"Before the malls, the shops in each town, they put lights up," said Morrison. "And it would all be decorated."
He says his memories of that time gone by are "so special" and he wanted future generations to be able to experience that same feeling walking by the storefronts.
There are four stores you can walk in and experience, including Woolworth's and a Sweet Shop. Abel says Morrison is "a visionary" in putting together this entire collection, calling it "amazing."
Or, take a stroll through a re-creation of 1950s Columbia, Pennsylvania, where Abel grew up.
"Before the malls, the shops in each town, they put lights up," said Morrison. "And it would all be decorated."
He says his memories of that time gone by are "so special" and he wanted future generations to be able to experience that same feeling walking by the storefronts.
There are four stores you can walk in and experience, including Woolworth's and a Sweet Shop. Abel says Morrison is "a visionary" in putting together this entire collection, calling it "amazing."
MORE:
Wednesday, December 22, 2021
Shots fired in Columbia neighborhood Tuesday night: police
Several shots were fired in a Columbia neighborhood Tuesday night, though no one was injured, according to borough police.
The shooting took place in the 600 block of Plane Street around 7:19 p.m., police said in a news release.
A small dark colored car was seen in the area at the time of the shooting.
No one was injured in the shooting, and police are not aware of any property that was damaged.
MORE:
Columbia High School briefly evacuates over potential threat Wednesday
Columbia High School was evacuated for several hours Wednesday after a potential threat was called in, according to the Columbia Borough School District.
The school received the threat at 10:55 a.m. and immediately evacuated students and staff, following district procedures, the school district said in a news release. Police were also immediately notified.
Law enforcement determined around 12:45 p.m. that it was safe for students and staff to return to the building. The school then resumed normal operations for the rest of the day.
The school district did not state what type of threat was made toward the school.
MORE:
THREAT REPORTED AT COLUMBIA HIGH SCHOOL [UPDATED]
UPDATE:
Monday, December 20, 2021
Photos of Columbia from the past week
Recent photos of Columbia
(Click/tap on photos to see larger, sharper images.)
Here's a Christmas scene at 9th & Manor.
Residents who were saddened about the removal of the giant sycamore along Lancaster Avenue might be heartened to know that this other massive "tree" is still alive and well in Columbia. It's most likely two sycamores that have grown close together and share the same root system. You can see this phenomenon at the entrance to 525 Mill Street at what used to be known as Black Sox field.
Height is estimated at 40 to 45 feet.
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This sign at the bridge plaza is looking a bit worse for wear.
Here are a few new signs around town:
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A vivid sunrise
Tollbooth Antiques is getting into the Christmas spirit.
Here are a couple of antiques for sale there.
Yet another photo of a sunset
This is how it looked about 10 minutes later.
The flag keeps getting hung up at the District Administration Center.
Here are some sidewalk snowflakes on the 200 block of Poplar.
More Christmas lights are shown below.
Last but not least, the star atop the Christmas tree at Locust Street Park
Happy Holidays!
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