COLUMBIA SPY

SARAH NICELL | LNP Staff Writer Ellie Winslow, Mik Trapp and Mel Buckley usually spend their Friday afternoons tattooing walk-in clients at their Columbia shop. But things looked a little different at Clover Tattoo on Jan. 30. For one: They had free desserts and no walk-ins.  The trio of tattoo artists huddled on the bench of Clover's sun-streaked window. They made collages and hand-scrawled encouraging notes to stick on the glass, advertising free coffee, water and snacks. In a box beside them sat free cupcakes, which had gone mostly to delivery workers. They chatted about an upcoming Beatles biopic and the dog groomer across the street as Buckley scrounged almost enough letters to finish a sentence: "ICE is a terrorist organization." "Pass me a big capital T," Buckley said. Winslow quickly found one in the pile of entertainment magazines. Activists nationwide called for a strike against work, school and shopping Friday to protest recent activity by federal age...

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY  At the Columbia Borough Council meeting on January 27, 2026, resident Lucian Selman asked about the borough's stance on enforcement cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), following recent events in Minneapolis. Selman (at podium): "Does Columbia Borough Council currently have any agreements in place to collaborate with ICE immigration enforcement?" "Does Columbia Borough Council currently have any agreements in place to collaborate with ICE immigration enforcement?" Selman asked. Eric Kauffman, council president, said no formal agreements exist beyond a resolution passed in 2024. "We passed a resolution. We do follow federal law," Kauffman said. Heather Zink, council vice president, said, "No, we do not have anything in place." Discussion of Columbia Borough Council's stance on cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) (Submitted video) Selman asked if council planned to re...

Members of the Columbia Borough Police Department, in a show of support, stood with new officers Kohler and Schaffner (center) at Tuesday's council meeting.  Mayor Leo Lutz swore in new officer Blaine Matthew Schaffner. Officer Schaffner graduated from Warwick High School and recently from the Reading Police Academy.  Lutz also swore in new officer Toby Jay Kohler.  Officer Kohler graduated from Northeastern High School and recently from the Reading Police Academy.

MORGAN HUBER | FOR LNP | LANCASTERONLINE When: Columbia Borough school board meeting, Jan. 22. What happened: The board unanimously approved the 2026-27 budget for the Lancaster County Career & Technology Center. The center requested Columbia Borough School District pay $466,362, or 1.7%, of the budget. This is a $19,105 increase over the current year. Background: All 16 districts served by the trade school are required to vote on their share of the budget. The proposed budget for the year totals nearly $27.2 million. What’s next: The school district is expected to pay the first 15% of its share, or $69,954, by July 1, followed by 25% by Sept. 1, and then another 15% every other month through May. Columbia school projects: The school board approved $1.96 million in renovation projects through the 2030-31 year. These initiatives, all of which are funded through the district’s capital improvement fund, will start during the 2026-27 year with the interior painting of Hill Campus and ...

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY  At the January 27 Columbia Borough Council meeting, residents voiced frustration over what one speaker characterized as "chaos" when independent contractors plowed snow on public streets after Sunday's snowfall.  “It is illegal to push snow on a borough street without a contract with Columbia Borough," Mayor Leo Lutz responded. "Residents cannot push that snow, or someone with a pickup truck can't go down the street and plow the street. That's illegal.” Residents may pile snow in front of the borough highway department on Front Street, according to Lutz. Piling snow at intersections can reduce visibility and cause flooding when the snow thaws, Lutz said.  He cited operators of pickup trucks with plows, ATVs with plows and bobcats as examples of recent violators of borough ordinance. Councilman Kelly Murphy said the ordinance states that the fine for a violation "shall not exceed $600." Lutz said enforcement will be s...

https://crimewatch.net/us/pa/lancaster/columbia-boro-pd/10552/post/columbia-borough-and-columbia-police-department-lobby-new-hours  

https://crimewatch.net/us/pa/lancaster/columbia-boro-pd/10552/post/snow-emergency-columbia-borough-end-wednesday-600am  

Due to limited safe pathways to school, the Columbia Borough School District will operate on a Flexible Instruction Day (FID)/ Virtual Learning Day on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.

Click  HERE  to download the meeting packet. 

Kolten helped his dad clear snow at hydrants this morning. [Submitted photos] Columbia resident Bull Warfel and his son Kolten spent the morning clearing snow from around fire hydrants in the borough to help firefighters. Snow and ice around hydrants can hinder operations during an emergency. The Columbia Borough Fire Department would like to remind citizens that it is essential to clear snow around fire hydrants. Follow the recommendations shown above when clearing snow at hydrants.

https://crimewatch.net/us/pa/lancaster/columbia-boro-pd/10552/post/columbia-borough-offices-closed  

Marano Armando P, Marano Connie L. conveyed 34 Devonshire Place to Myers Joseph E, Myers Christina Frances for $332,000. Valley View Capital LLC conveyed 311 Perry St. to Cornejo Roberto Carlo for $225,000. Shelby L. Tallarico conveyed 123 N. Fourth St. to Florival Melissa N, Pierre Charles for $191,000. Miller Omar, Miller Omar H. conveyed 263 Walnut St. to Miller Omar, Miller Sadie S. for $1.

This week's photos of Columbia (and area) Click on photos to see larger, sharper images.  JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY Even a snowstorm doesn't discourage the Amish on a Sunday. [This photo and the three following were submitted by a reader in West Hempfield.] A man was using this front-end loader to clear snow from driveway entrances that were plowed shut. ***************** On Friday, Columbia Borough workers put down brine on the streets in anticipation of the snow. Earlier in the week, this crossing guard at 5th & Locust braved temperatures in the teens to help children cross the street safely. These two black vultures on Chestnut Street were trying to stay warm. Some small birds can go into a sort of suspended animation if the temperatures get too low, but this one seemed okay. The goddess Ganymede on Locust Street received a few coins—possibly to help pay the heating bill. The low temperatures seem to have affected the lights on the clock at 5th & Chestnut. The cold ...