Wednesday, January 31, 2024

PennDOT cleans bridge, but no rehab in store until at least 2027



PennDOT workers have been cleaning the Veterans Memorial Bridge for the last two days to remove salt and gravel, but the public shouldn't expect the planned rehabilitation project any time soon. According to Columbia's borough manager, PennDOT has delayed construction until the beginning of 2027 so the state can find money for the project, estimated at more than $230 million.

In 2018, the project was slated to begin in 2020-21 at a cost of $54-60 million, as Columbia Spy reported HERE.





[LNP | LancasterOnline] Pythons and lizards up for emergency adoption after owner in Columbia dies

Nine pythons, two lizards and a scorpion are in urgent need of new homes after their owner, a Columbia resident, died unexpectedly.

The Elm-based Forgotten Friend Reptile Sanctuary, which is offering the animals emergency housing, reported that the reptiles were all well cared for and that the owner's family told his building manager he would want to see them sent to good homes.

The sanctuary is hosting an adoption event on Saturday at That Fish Place - That Pet Place, 237 Centerville Road, in East Hempfield Township from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Updates on the adoption event can be found at lanc.news/pythonadoption.
MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/pythons-and-lizards-up-for-emergency-adoption-after-owner-in-columbia-dies/article_8f62931e-c051-11ee-ba23-3f934769826a.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share 

3 arrested on Perry Street on various charges Wednesday morning

 


On 01/31/24 at 6:30 a.m. the U.S. Marshalls' Fugitive Task Force and the Columbia Borough Police served arrest warrants for three suspects at a residence on the 300 block of Perry St. 

The suspects, Destiny Delgado-Diaz, Sammie Lane, and Alexander Delgado-Diaz were wanted in connection with a robbery of a motor vehicle which occurred on 12/31/23 in Columbia Borough. 

All three suspects were located at the Perry St. residence and taken into custody without incident. Officers with the US Marshalls Service, PSP, Lancaster County Sheriff's Department, and Columbia Borough PD conducted the warrant detail. 

In addition, Columbia Police provided overwatch with an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) to better protect the officers and residents. 

Destiny Delgado-Diaz, Sammie Lane, and Alexander Delgado-Diaz were arraigned before MDJ Miles Bixler and committed to Lancaster County Prison in lieu of $150,000 bail. 

All Defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty by a Court of Law.

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/arrests/delgado-diaz-alexander-e-1-count-robbery-motor-vehicle-f1-and-3-additional-charges



LINK

LINK




[LNP | LancasterOnline] Homelessness Coalition conducts Point-In-Time homeless count in Lancaster County


Volunteers last year counted 526 people experiencing homelessness in Lancaster County. The Jan. 24, 2023, PIT count found 107 unsheltered people and 419 staying in shelters. That was an 11% increase from 2022, when 472 people were counted. Of the 472 people counted in the Feb. 23, 2022, PIT count, the number of unsheltered people was 20 and the number of people staying in shelters was 452.
MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/homelessness-coalition-conducts-point-in-time-homeless-count-in-lancaster-county/article_68df2e5c-bfa5-11ee-ba62-83e03c1b1f95.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share 

Lancaster County municipalities consider tax credits to boost firefighter recruitment [Lancaster Watchdog] | Local News | lancasteronline.com

In November 2023, Fire Chief Scott Ryno and volunteer firefighters from the Columbia Borough Fire Department thanked the Columbia School Board for passing a tax credit program that benefits firefighters and their families.

Columbia Borough started offering property tax credits to firefighters in 2018. (The Columbia School District did so in 2023.) Volunteers are required to respond to calls, attend department meetings and participate in fundraisers to receive either a 10% or 20% rebate from the borough's 8.0 mill property tax. (One mil equals $1 in property tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. So the owner of a $200,000 home in the borough would pay $1,600 in property taxes.)
MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/lancaster-county-municipalities-consider-tax-credits-to-boost-firefighter-recruitment-lancaster-watchdog/article_9ed3b21e-bfad-11ee-917c-27f24857fec2.html 

Police activity reported on Perry Street Wednesday morning



Columbia Borough, PA:

The 300 block of Perry Street was temporarily closed due to Police activity. Police cleared the scene and the roadway is now open to traffic.

6:59 AM, January 31, 2024

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

[LNP | LancasterOnline] County Democrat officials don’t endorse congressional candidate, back four candidates in state House races

Brad Chambers 

The party endorsed Brad Chambers, a labor administrator for Penske Corp., in the primary race for the 41st District, which includes Columbia Borough and East and West Hempfield townships. Chambers ran for Columbia Borough Council last year but fell 29 votes short of winning a seat.

If he wins the Democratic primary, Chambers will likely face incumbent East Hempfield Republican state Rep. Brett Miller in November's general election. Miller didn't face a Democratic candidate in his 2022 reelection bid, defeating Libertarian Favyan Asia by about 7,000 votes.
MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/pennsylvania/county-democrat-officials-don-t-endorse-congressional-candidate-back-four-candidates-in-state-house-races/article_8232fe32-bd5d-11ee-a531-8f55c9f97d67.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share 

Yes, it's high - the river, that is

 

The river was reading five feet above the normal of 227 on the scale under the Veterans Memorial Bridge Tuesday morning. As shown above, part of Columbia River Park was flooded.

Monday, January 29, 2024

Wright's Ferry Mansion overhang gets attention as roofing project continues

 


The roofing project at the Wright's Ferry Mansion continued Monday morning as workers removed the old shingles from the overhang in preparation for applying new ones. (Note the worker on the far right.)

The main roof was replaced over the past few months.

Deeds Recorded - Columbia Borough - January 29, 2024


Charlene J. Evans conveyed property on South 14th Street to Charlene J. Evans for $1.

Julie Bigler Agent For Gwendolyn M. Bigler conveyed property on a public road to Julie Bigler for $0.

The estate of Rose M Morrison conveyed 1143 Manor St. to Ronald B. Carson for $1.

The estate of John R Filizzi and Susan M. Filizzi conveyed 236 Union St. to Nathan Filizzi for $1.

Charlene J. Evans conveyed property on South 14th Street to Charlene J. Evans for $1.

Sunday, January 28, 2024

About Town - January 28, 2024

 Photos of Columbia from the past few weeks

(Click/tap on photos to see larger, sharper images.) 


Fog rolled in on Friday morning and hung around into evening . . .






This heron was at its station on the pier.

So was this one, on the next pier over.

The recent rain and snow yielded a lot of water.

Speaking of snow, we got hit twice in one week this month.

This man spread icemelt in a parking lot on Manor Street after the first snow.

A lot of debris drifted down the river recently.

Not everyone cleared their sidewalk, even days after the second snow...


Here's a look at Shawnee Run as seen from 4th Street.

And here's a study in basic perspective.

Don't eat the yellow snow, but what about fuchsia?

Before every plowable snow, the borough spreads brine on the streets to make plowing easier.

The remnant of a snowman

Some night clouds illuminated by the moon

The winter weather creates some interesting skies, including this one above the former home of Columbia's General Shannon.


Some random shots around town . . .

New rails arriving . . . via rail.

Jesse does good work!

Oil slick rainbow emanating from a Mondrianesque meeting of sidewalk seams

Moss around a water shutoff, with gravel "donated" by PennDOT

Front doors of the former General Edward C. Shannon Armory

Colored lights

Bridge lights

Not a hotline to Wrightsville, just sunlight reflecting off a wire

Nutcracker at Front & Locust

Medical Dept. at former Grinnell/Anvil

Vulture on Elks

Cargo plane with landing gear deployed

This biker keeps cool with a back vent.

Cat caught in the act of rummaging through unattended trash bags.

Morning DAC


Todd Stahl sent the following photos showing how swollen the river has become recently . .  .