About Town 11/17/19

This week's photos of Columbia

Superman in jail? The bars must be made of kryptonite.

 This will happen soon enough.

 Here's a cozy little home shrouded by snow on the first block of South 3rd.

 Last of the season, most likely

 Not necessarily good advice

 But this probably is good advice.

 The many steps to pumpkinhood

 Starling convention near the railroad tracks

 Speaking of the railroad tracks, here's a couple of fancy train cars.

 And there they go.

 Assuming the snacking stance

 When nuts aren't available, he'll settle for maple tree seeds, as shown here.

 The Keeley stoves are still inside the Market House.

 Here's the third one.

 Differing views on religion

 The Railroad Administration Office of Safety - mobile, no less

 CAT ON BOARD

 Pick yourself up afterwards

 Yes, please patrol.

 Busted windows

At the Mount Zion A.M.E Church on South 5th:

There are several unique stained glass windows, each with a memorial tribute, as shown below.

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 Contrail-riddled sky. (No, the government isn't trying to kill us - at least not like this.)

 Makes for an interesting sunset, though.

 Building for sale on Bridge Street

 There's the sign.

 The building comes complete with a ghost sign and keystone/datestone.

 Those Warthogs get lower all the time.

 There were visitors at the Elks on Saturday.

 Here's the "backstory."

 Rust-colored sign all aglow

 Yes, we did get some foliage.

Giant ice cream cone at Coffee & Cream

Columbia's "Time Wizard" works against time to restore four 19th-century church clocks

Dr. Larry Laird positions an aluminum time ring (the white part) on a wrought iron clock face. The ring is held slightly away from the surface with rubber spacers to prevent electrolysis between the aluminum and the iron.

Why is Dr. Larry Laird working against the clock? Well, to renovate a clock, of course. Or more accurately, four clocks.

Laird, who owns the local company Global Time Wizard, reluctantly took on a big project several months ago: renovating four 19th-Century clocks from an old German Lutheran church in Philadelphia. The clocks had slowly deteriorated since their installation over 150 years ago due to exposure to the elements.

Each clock face has a little square door to access the clock movement once the clocks are installed. The doors are original. Each face is four feet in diameter.

Laird and assistant Cody spent over half a year working on the project at Laird's Locust Street studio. To begin, Cody spent several months wire-brushing rust and dirt from the wrought iron clock faces, each of which measures four feet in diameter. The next step was to apply a durable exterior paint made by Sherwin Williams. Laird chose a type used on battleships that will withstand rain, snow, and ice. The paint is extremely difficult to apply and each coat takes six weeks to dry, Laird said. 

The drill press Laird is using was used to make Hamilton watches and is extremely accurate. He says it runs "like silk."

As the paint was drying, Laird made four pairs of aluminum clock hands patterned on the originals, as well as four time rings containing numerals and notches. (The aluminum is specially coated.) He applied the rings to the clock faces with stainless steel fasteners. The rings are kept slightly away from the faces with rubber spacers to avoid electrolysis between the aluminum and iron.

Cody holds a state-of-the-art "movement," which drives the clock hands. When installed, the movement shaft will fit through a delrin bearing and will self-adjust. The bearing was made at Stevens Trade.

Finally, four sealed clockworks, called movements, were ordered to drive the hands. The movements are state-of-the-art electro-hydraulic motors that will be synchronized and operated from a single power switch after installation. The movements are custom made. "Everything you see here virtually is custom made by somebody in the United States," Laird added. "We bring together all these skills from around the country."

Laird shows a specially made metal plate to facilitate lifting the clocks to the tower. An installed movement can be seen near the bottom.

The clocks will be transported by truck in specially made wooden crates to the old church, which is now part of a retirement home known as The Loft. Steeplejacks will then install them into their original settings. Laird hopes to "beat the clock" and complete the installation before the onset of winter weather.

This whimsical automaton will sit in the lobby of the church. 

Santa Claus Headed To Columbia For Small Business Saturday | TownLively

This year, Christmas festivities in Columbia Borough - including a day full of public appearances by Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, and their elves - will coincide with Small Business Saturday on Nov. 30. Recognized in towns and cities across the country, Small Business Saturday is an effort to encourage people to patronize small, locally owned businesses. As an added incentive, parking will be free in downtown Columbia on Small Business Saturday.

MORE:

https://www.townlively.com/santa-claus-headed-to-columbia-for-small-business-saturday/

Large crane to occupy street at 4th & Locust - November 21 & 22

Pyramid Construction is planning to lift materials to the roof of the new building’s steel superstructure at 401 Locust Street on Thursday/Friday, November 21-22, 2019. A crane (larger than the previous one) will be situated in the street to perform the work. The intended timeline is two (2) days, weather permitting, with the specific goal to finish late Friday (11/22). Flagger Force traffic control personnel will provide support and signage at strategic places in the one to two block area to minimize convergence of traffic when the crane is operational in the street. 

 After the Thursday workday the crane will be staged in the north parking lane of Locust Street to allow overnight traffic to flow normally. Friday work will again start early and close the street until roof material loading is completed.

[Source: Columbia Borough]

Winter coats needed for Columbia students in grades 5 through 12

Columbia Borough School District is in need of Winter coats for students in grades 5-12. If you have unused coats in good condition please consider donating it/them.

Here is more information from Superintendent Strickler:

Good Evening to Columbia Borough School District Community Partners:

The weather has turned cold very quickly.  Two years ago (2017), you helped our students obtain winter coats.  The response was so great, that the coat donations lasted until now.

At the high school and middle school level (grades 5 through 12), we gave our last coat away this week.  We still have coats remaining at the elementary level.

Our students ages 10 through 18 are in need of winter coats – male and female, all sizes.

If you know of any new or slightly used winter coats – young people style – and would like to donate them to the District, please contact me or drop them off at the District office (200 N 5th St,. Columbia, PA).  If you need items picked up, a phone call to me and it will happen!

Thank you in advance for everything you do for the students of Columbia.  Together, we are making Champions – ONE student at a Time!

Tom Strickler
Superintendent
Columbia Borough School District
Desk: (717) 681-2616

Come out and cheer our youth CBAA football players this Saturday

If you’re looking for something to do this Saturday 11/16 come out and cheer our youth CBAA C team football players on as they play in the championship game. The game starts at 3 pm at Manheim Township. Even if you’re unable to make it to the game show your support by coming out to cheer them on as the Columbia Police/Fire Department escorts them out of town. We will be leaving Glatfelters at 1 PM driving down Locust to Third and over Third to Route 30. Let’s show these kids and coaches how proud we are of them.

❤️🏈💛🌊 Roll Tide Roll

Agenda - Columbia Borough Council 2020 Budget Meeting #4 - November 14, 2019

Supplemental info is HERE.