Of slumlords, drugs, and thugs - The cancer that's eating Columbia

Nick Meley: "I think it should be Columbia Borough's motto: 'We can't do anything about it.'"

The citizen comment section of the August borough council meeting was raw with criticism of the way slumlords and criminal activity are being dealt with in the borough. Walnut Street resident Nick Meley suggested a new motto for Columbia: "We can't do anything about it," saying that's the answer he has heard over the past 20-25 years. Meley likened slumlords to a disease, saying the borough "can't put band-aids on this cancer." He told council that one landlord owns 11 properties in one block, each with peeling paint, rotting wood, and weeds. Meley came to the meeting with a solution: Regulate the slumlords.

Meley suggested implementing a progressive surtax on non-resident multiple property owners or progressive licensing, and a "three-strike procedure" for code violations. "Nothing is being done about the real problem," he said. "Make the landlord responsible for the violations, and not the tenants." Meley said he was assaulted in the borough and blamed several factors, notably the fact that "the thugs, the lowlife, the Section 8 tenants know that this town is that kind of place. They congregate here," he said.

Meley noted the previous month's council meeting in which he cited a Michigan township that banned Section 8 and restricted the number of rentals. He said the borough solicitor at the meeting admitted he didn't know what they do in Michigan. "He seemed pretty proud of his ignorance," Meley said. Meley asked what specific statutes prevent council from passing such legislation. Solicitor Barry Handwerger did not answer directly, merely saying that he does not give legal advice without researching the issue.

Meley said that although the renovated library, the trail, and the Columbia Crossing were positives, "It borders on delusional to think that new businesses and new residents are going to come to this town because of a renovated library when the streets are like they are."

Shirley McBride of Perry Street echoed many of Meley's points. She said that when she called the borough about slumlords and trouble on her block, she experienced retaliation: Her car was keyed and her house was egged. "I was threatened. Welcome to my world," she said, noting she has lived in Columbia for 54 years. "This is a nightmare."

She said neighbors scream at two and three in the morning and she was told nothing could be done. "I thought we had a three strikes you're out," she said. "I live in fear." She said her neighborhood is going downhill and compared it to Detroit or Chicago. "Drugs are just rampant in this town," she said. "It's up to you to do something about it. We let this go too long, and now you've got a crisis on your hands. I would not in any circumstances tell someone to move to Columbia because of the slum landlords."

McBride pleaded with council to regulate slumlords. "Please, please, please, please, I'm begging you, do something with the slum landlords. You know who they are. You hear it, and I'll bet you there isn't one person in this borough that can't tell you who they are."

Frank Doutrich of Ironville Pike recommended having a police dog in place in the borough "to let the thugs know." He told council that his house was recently broken into and money was taken. Doutrich has often publicly emphasized the need for a police dog, an assertion the mayor continues to reject. Several months ago, Doutrich hung a banner at his North Ninth Street property, which reads: "FIGHT CRIME AND DRUGS WITH POLICE DOGS!"


[Columbia Spy will continue to post relevant citizen comments.  The borough has not posted citizen comments consistently since October 2017. In addition, the borough still has not posted minutes of the July 2018 borough council meeting, as of today's date.]

CBFD covers after Willow Street loses fire chief

Members of the Columbia Borough Fire Department covered at the Willow Street Fire Company after Willow Street's recent loss of Fire Chief Mike Reese.

Five members of the Columbia Borough Fire Department stood by with one of its engines at the Willow Street Fire Company this morning due to Willow Street's recent loss of Fire Chief Mike Reese. Reese, 53, passed away suddenly at home on August 23 after responding to an auto accident that morning. CBFD covered from 12 to 6 a.m. with no calls and was relieved by the Blue Rock Fire Department. Numerous departments are stepping up and taking turns every six hours.

Hall of Fame to induct members Friday, Sept. 7

The Columbia High School Athletic Hall of Fame will hold its 11th annual induction and reception on Friday, Sept. 7 when the Crimson Tide football team entertains Section 3 rival Donegal. A reception for the Class of 2018 will be held in the high school cafeteria beginning at 5 p.m. The induction ceremony will take place at halftime of the football game. Kickoff for the football game is 7 p.m. The public is invited to attend both events.

Those to be inducted into the Hall of Fame include a former college president, a state championship team, a PIAA runner-up, a four-sport standout, college All-American and longtime CHS teacher, spanning the years 1948 through 2012. The inductees are: Jerry Afari (2003), Michael Burke IV (2012), Joe Fry (1975), the late Charles Reinhart (1964), Dr. Frederick Sample (1948) and the 1975 PIAA Class B track and field championship team. Here are brief biographies of the inductees:

Jerry Afari

AFARI: A 2003 graduate, Jerry Afari won nine letters in football, wrestling and track. In football, Afari started three years at linebacker and one at fullback. He was a first team selection at linebacker for three years, Linebacker of the Year in 2002 and third team All-State as a linebacker in 2003. On the mats, Afari was 105-16 and recorded 66 pins. In 2002, he set a school record with 117 takedowns. He was a first team All L-L League selection and in 2002-03 he was a Lancaster-Lebanon League and Sectional Champion. In 2003, Afari was also a District Three and Regional champion and finished second at the PIAA Class AA championships in the 215-pound weight class. In track, he participated in the 400 meter run, 300 hurdles, discus and 400-meter relay. Upon graduation, Afari received a wrestling scholarship to the University of Maryland where he was a four-year starter and team captain and a third place finisher in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament. Currently he lives in Maryland and is a Detective with the Washington Metropolitan Police Department.

Michael Burke IV

BURKE IV: A 2012 graduate, Michael Burke received 10 varsity letters in football, basketball, baseball and track. In football, Burke was a three-year starter where he was a wide receiver, kirk and punt returner, safety, outside linebacker and punter. As a senior, Burke IV gained 1,673 all purpose yards and scored 18 touchdowns. For his career, Burke caught 181 passes for 2,662 yards and 32 touchdowns. He also rushed for 459 yards and six scores. On defense, Burke IV had 160 tackle, 10 sacks and six interceptions. He was a team captain of the 2011 District Three championship team. He was Columbia's Offensive Player of the Year ajd Triple Effort Award winner in 2010 an 2011, first team Section Three Defensive Back (2011) and Wide Receiver (2009-11) and Section Three Receiver of the Year (2010 and 11). He was named to the Pennsylvania Football News All-State team and Pennsylvania Small School All-State team and Mini-Maxwell Award winner. In basketball, Burke IV was a team captain, first team Section Four All-Star and participated in the East-West All-Star game in 2012. Burke IV played baseball for three years and hit .400 with 11 home runs. He was a first team All-Star in 2011. As a senior, Burke IV switched to track and qualified for the District Three championships in three events, the 100, high jump and javelin. He was eighth in the high jump and won the District Three Class AA championship in the javelin. Upon graduation from Columbia, Burke IV received a football scholarship to Villanova University, where he played 29 games and caught 37 passes for 460 yards and scored three touchdowns and was a special teams captain. He currently lives in Philadelphia and works as a financial advisor.

Joe Fry

FRY: A 1975 graduate, Joe Fry won three letters in football and three in baseball. In football, Fry played defensive back, wide receiver, tight end, halfback, and was a kick returner and punt returner. He was a tri-captain in 1974. As a senior, Fry recorded 52 tackles and intercepted five passes. He also appeared in the Lancaster-Lebanon League All-Star game in 1974 and was a first team All-League Defensive Back in 1974 and in 1998, honored as one of the all-time best defensive backs as part of the school's 100th anniversary of Columbia's football celebration. He was a three-year letter winner in baseball as a centerfielder and co-captain in 1975. Upon graduation, Fry attended Franklin and Marshall College where he played four years at defensive back and a punt returner. He had 62 career tackles and returned 48 punts for 388 yards and one score. He also picked off 11 passes. He was a three time College Division All-American and one of seven F&M athletes to receive Academic All-American honors and the first F&M athlete to be recognized as a first team all-star for two years and a Middle Atlantic Conference All-Star.
Fry lives in Florida where he serves as CFO for Famous Tate's and also works for the NFL and Tampa Bay Bucs in the player participation area.

Charles Reinhart

REINHART: A graduate of the Class of 1964, Charles Reinhart is being honored as a Friend of the Athletic Program and Columbia High School. Reinhart, who died in March, is also having the Hall of Fame program dedicated in his honor as well as being inducted into the Hall of Fame. At Columbia High School, Reinhart played football for a year and was a commencement speaker. After graduating from college, Reinhart returned to CHS where he spent 35 years as a chemistry, biology and physics teacher and was honored in 2003 when he served as Alumni Commencement speaker. He was a charter member of the Tide Pride Club and Columbia Education Foundation and was chairman of the Columbia High School Athletic Hall of Fame from its inception on 2008 through 2018. Reinhart served as public address announcer for Columbia High School football for 25 years and also announce track meets.

Dr. Frederick Sample

SAMPLE: A 1948 graduate of CHS, Frederick Sample won six letters in football, basketball and baseball. In football, Sample was the first CHS quarterback to run out of the T-Formation and served as co-captain in 1947. On the courts, Sample's basketball teams had a two-year record of 41-5 and were Section champs in 1947 and Section and League champs and District Three runners-up in 1948. He was a catcher for the baseball team. Upon graduation, he attended Lebanon Valley College where he played football and baseball. Upon graduation, he served as a football coach, teacher, principal and school superintendent before serving as President of Lebanon Valley College from 1968-1984 where he received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1987 and was inducted into the LVC Hall of Fame in 1988.

1975 PIAA Class B track and field championship team

1975 TRACK TEAM: Coached by Jack Yohe and Les Schoelkoph, the Tide finished the regular season with a 6-2 record and traveled to Penn State for the state meet where they were involved in a tight team championshp battle with Solanco. State qualifiers were Mike Keiper (high jump and pole vault), Scott Zeamer (100, 200 and 880 relay), Neal Howard (300 hurdles and mile relay), Rick Bowers (mile relay), Paul Meshey (880 relay and mile relay), Terry Proctor (880 relay and mile relay), Oscar Plowman (880 relay and mile relay) and Bob Holdsworth (triple jump and long jump). In the 880 relay, the Tide team of Plowman, Proctor, Meshey and Zeamer reached the finals of the event but were disqualified. Holdsworth advanced, made the first cut in both of his events while Howard missed the finals in the 300 hurdles. Keiper brought home the gold in the high jump with a leap of 6-7.75 and also finished fourth in the pole vault with a jump of 12-9, which was big in the Tide's pursuit of the team title. Zeamer won the Tide's second gold in the 100, finishing just ahead of the four second place finishers. The team title came down to the mile relay and the team of Bowers, Proctor, Meshey and Howard pulled out the win, coming from behind in the last leg to win the gold. That gave the Tide three gold medals, tied with Solanco but Keiper's fourth place finish in the pole vault was good enough to give the Tide the state team title. Committee members are Jim Smith, chairman; Karen Kuhn, secretary; Jeff Deascenti, Mike Burke Jr., Jack Yohe, Mark Wisler, Don Arndt, Brandi Gambler, Abby Smith, and Barry Ford.

[Source: Press release]

Brookline Builders brings another property back to life

Another Columbia Borough property has been given new life after sitting idle for several years. Thanks to Brookline Builders (in association with the Lancaster County Land Bank), 511 Cherry Street has been renovated and is now on the market for $157,900. For the next five years, tax revenue from the property will be split: Half will go to the Land Bank, and half will be divided by the borough and the school board. After five years, all tax revenue will go to the borough and the board. For more information on the Land Bank - its purpose and how it works - go HERE and HERE.

Brookline also renovated 839 Blunston Street, which recently sold for $145,000. (Columbia Spy posted the story HERE.) Brookline is currently renovating 494 Manor Street and 208-210 Locust Street. Jon Owens of Brookline, hopes to have the Manor Street property completed next year.

Following are photos of 511 Cherry Street, recently renovated, and 494 Manor Street, a work-in-progress:

 511 Cherry Street, newly renovated

*****

494 Manor Street, a work-in-progress, is shown below:

The house dates back to the late 19th Century. The back half of the property, a separate building on Florence Street, was once a butcher shop.

Brookline's Jon Owens (right) recently gave Columbia Spy a tour of the building.

Bricks for military personnel are still available - Deadline is October 1

Order form for bricks

A second install of commemorative bricks at the Veterans Memorial Bridge plaza is scheduled for this month. The deadline for this install was July 2.

A third install is slated for November. The deadline for the November install is October 1. 

The bricks commemorate those who have served, or are currently serving, in the United States Armed Forces. Military personnel do not need to be from Columbia to qualify for a brick.

The cost is $50 per 4” x 8” brick, each of which may have up to three lines of text, with up to 15 characters per line. Bricks will be engraved in all capital letters and will be placed in a walkway at the Veterans Memorial Bridge plaza to honor veterans and provide a grand entranceway to Columbia Borough from the bridge.

Bricks at the Veterans Memorial Bridge plaza -

These bricks were installed in May of this year.

A close-up of one of the bricks

Completed purchase forms along with payment should be sent to:

VFW Veterans Memorial Flag Project
c/o Kevin Kraft
PO Box 231,
Columbia PA 17512

Questions should be directed to Kevin Kraft at 717-684-2370.

Cirque Italia presenting “PARANORMAL CIRQUE” IN HARRISBURG, August 23-26

Do you love thrilling, wicked, sexy, or even dangerous things? Be ready to escape to a new world! Paranormal Cirque will expose you to a unique creation of combined theatre, circus, and cabaret with a new European style flare. Cirque Italia is now presenting a brand-new show for a mature audience!

This innovative horror story features different shades of sexy and an incomparable storyline - the only thing you can be sure of during this unique experience is that you will not know what to expect! It might be hard to divide reality and illusion! Are you intrigued yet? Dare to let yourself get wicked for one night under our Big TOP and live on the edge with Paranormal Cirque show! You will fall into a parallel world and end up surrounded by monstrous creatures with hidden talents that will amaze you with the circus arts.

Even from a distance you need be careful……….our dark “CASTLE” (also known as the Big Top) has been known to mesmerize many with its swirling Black and Red hypnotic colors. Be prepared as soon as you step through our welcoming Entrance gates to experience our unrivaled pre-show which is like no other. We welcome you into this sensually thrilling and chilling environment which employs mysterious creatures to help you to your seats for a two-hour hypnotizing and enchanted show.

The latest trends of the industry are challenged with every Cirque Italia appearance and this 3rd unit is not going to be any different. A careful casting selection has united the best artists from all over the world. Cirque Italia believes in multi-culturalism as one of our strongest assets. Just a few of the circus arts you can expect to see in this new production include the jaw-dropping Wheel of Death, mystifying magic, a woman hanging high in the air – but only by her hair, 6 men on a horizontal pole (yes ladies, you read that correctly……….), the infamous cyr wheel, and the always sexy yet dangerous silks. Our new third unit also follows our strict animal-free policy.
The Italian entrepreneur Manuel Rebecchi, President and Owner of Cirque Italia, combined his vision with the flawless direction of the COO, Chanté DeMoustes, and has turned this once romantic project idea into a successful production known and acclaimed all over the country. Rebecchi wanted to create a show to cater to an adult audience where viewers could escape to another world. His desire to challenge and reinvent the concept of circus is a unique quality that audience members appreciate! Demoustes focused on this idea of reinvention when creating the new look for Paranormal Cirque. She says that “There are many hidden details, and when one experiences this show it will be unforgettable.”

Paranormal Cirque is a crazy yet fun fusion between circus, theatre, and cabaret, all working in perfect harmony and resulting in the evolution of a show that takes you into a world of dreams…..... or perhaps more accurately a world of nightmares and fantasies. Fear, amusement, and surprise are only a few of the ingredients from our potion we use to give you a mixture of emotions that will be impossible to forget. This is truly a Paranormal experience like no other.

For more information visit www.paranormalcirque.com and make sure to check all our social media accounts. Tickets can be purchased now starting at $10.00-$50.00 depending on availability. Restricted – under 18 requires accompanying parent or guardian. This show has adult language and material. Paranormal Cirque is offering a special promotion: $2.00 off any full priced ticket purchased in levels 1, 2, or 3. This offer cannot be combined with any other offers, discounts or deals. Please call 941-704-8572 to get the promo code for your location.

When: August 23-26

Where: 3501 Paxton Street, Harrisburg, PA 17111

At: Harrisburg Mall

Near: behind Bass Pro Shops

—Under the stunning Black & Red Big Top Tent


· August 23 – Thursday: 7:30pm

· August 24 – Friday: 6:30pm& 9:30pm

· August 25 – Saturday: 6:30pm & 9:30pm

· August 26 – Sunday: 4:30pm & 7:30pm


Box office hours:

The box office opens on-site on Tuesday, the week of the show.

Non-show days: 10am – 6pm

On show days: 10am – 10pm


You can purchase tickets through our website (paranormalcirque.com/tickets) or by phone: (941) 704-8572

[Source: Press release]

Columbia Borough is looking for Building Professionals to Serve on the Columbia Borough Board of Appeals

The Borough will be selecting five individuals with experience and training on matters pertaining to property maintenance (i.e., General Contractors, HVAC Technicians, Electricians, Plumbers, Historic Renovation Specialists, Property Managers, or Landlords) to fill vacancies within the Columbia Borough Board of Review and Appeals. 

The Board will hear appeals from residents regarding property maintenance matters, including violations of existing Borough Ordinances. 

Should you be interested in serving on the Board please forward your interest in a letter or email to Rebecca S. Denlinger, Borough Manager, at rdenlinger@columbiapa.net not later than Wednesday, September 5, 2018.