WE GOT HIT!

High winds and stormy weather ushered in a cold front this afternoon, downing trees, damaging vehicles, and creating general havoc in the borough. Here are some photos of the event:

 A wall cloud develops.

 The clouds descend.

 The storm hits.



The aftermath:

 Sign down

 Take Away Refuse along Front Street lost its roof.

 Another view of the blown-over roof

 Siding at North Second and Avenue H

 The siding blew off the side of this house on North Second.

 A Good Samaritan gathered nails from the road to prevent flat tires.

 This lamp at the Historical Society was hit by a piece of flying debris.

 A vehicle on the 500 block of Manor didn't fare too well.

 It was hit when the high winds snapped off this tree.

 A trampoline blew onto school grounds near North 9th & Purples Lane.

 Broken bench on Kinderhook

 A fallen tree on the 1000 block of Ironville Pike

 Underneath the tree was this truck.

 Our friends at News 21 showed up to cover the story.

 Another downed tree on Ironville Pike

 A fallen tree at Mount Bethel Cemetery

 Another one at Mount Bethel

 This one's listing a bit.

 Meanwhile, at Locust Street Park . . .

 Loose sign at Columbia River Park

  This lamp lost its head

 A missing tree at the Watch & Clock Museum

Finally, the clouds subsided.

Proposed group home denied by Zoning Board

443 Union Street

A group home proposal for 443 Union Street was denied by the Columbia Borough Zoning Hearing Board.

During a two-hour public hearing held on Wednesday February 22, Daniel DeLeon presented plans for the home. DeLeon is director of The Way Recovery Houses, a faith-based Christian recovery house program. DeLeon, a former addict turned minister, was represented at the hearing by attorney Nathan Saxton.

DeLeon said that although the name is "The Way Recovery Houses," no clinical treatment would be provided at the planned Union Street house which therefore would not need to be licensed. The house would still be defined by borough code as a group home. DeLeon presented several photographs of two of three other group homes in Lancaster County but did not show any photographs of the Union Street home.

The Union Street property, a planned recovery house for women, would have housed six, unrelated women. Each resident would be required to complete designated chores and find work in order to contribute to the expenses. A Columbia resident, Lakeisha Finks, had volunteered to serve as an on-call 24/7 house supervisor with an office at the recovery house. Her role was described as "domestic missionary."

Steven Funk, the home's owner said the property consists of three second-floor bedrooms, with another on the third floor to be used as an office. The house also has two bathrooms, a new kitchen, living room, dining room, and a laundry area in the basement. Funk estimated the total square footage at 1,250. He stated there is no off-street parking. He added that he has owned the home for 30 years and had planned to sell it to Way Recovery below market value.

Planning Commission member Annette White told the board that no one representing Way Recovery attended the commission's meetings. White said the issue had been on the agenda for three months. DeLeon said he was not aware that was part of the process. His counsel offered no explanation.

After deliberating at Wednesday's meeting, the zoning board announced its decision to deny the request.

Columbia fire calls slightly above county average

Data sources: Lancaster County-Wide Communications annual reports, U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey

LNP analysis and graphic by Tim Buckwalter

Columbia Borough averaged 51 annual fire calls per 1,000 population in 2014-16, according to THIS LNP article. The county average was 43. Marietta Borough was the highest - twice the average - at 86. Akron was the lowest: 19.

SCCA to host Frank Morgan works today

The Susquehanna Center for the Creative Arts will feature the work of Wrightsville artist Frank Morgan for February's Fourth Friday Celebration today, February 24.

The event will also feature a group show and art reception from 5 to 9 p.m.

SCCA is located at 224 Locust Street, Columbia.

Knit and crochet at Market this weekend

Saturday, February 25th: Knitting 101 at 12 p.m. with Penny Weir.

Sunday, February 26th: Crocheting 101 at 12 p.m. with Penny Weir.

Weekly Hours of Operation: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Land purchased for Northwest Lancaster County River Trail, more eyed

The final 3 miles of the 14-mile trail, which follows the Pennsylvania Canal northward from Columbia, are to be paved and ready for public use in 2018.

MORE:

http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/land-purchased-for-northwest-lancaster-county-river-trail-more-eyed/article_a05a0e10-f941-11e6-85e2-ffe3cb594bd9.html

Borough Committee will host QRS / SVEMS talks next Tuesday

Borough Council's Public Safety Committee will host talks between and among Columbia Quick Response Service and the Susquehanna Valley Emergency Medical Service on Tuesday, February 28, at 1 p.m. in Council Chambers in the Municipal Building at 308 Locust Street. 

The public is invited to attend.