Columbia Borough to hold public hearing on community needs and planned projects

Columbia Borough has announced a public hearing to discuss community needs and planned projects under Lancaster County's Fiscal Year 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. The hearing will take place during the regular monthly Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

Columbia Borough Council invites affected residents, property owners, and other stakeholders to attend the meeting, which will begin at approximately 7:15 PM at Columbia Borough Hall at 308 Locust Street. The Borough Council will present their proposed project and gather community input on additional needs that should be addressed.

The primary project under consideration is a $200,000 rehabilitation of the 300 block of Union Street. This initiative would include installation of new curbs and sidewalks on both sides of the street, ADA-compliant curb ramps, and complete street repaving.

The public can submit comments or questions for consideration until 4:00 PM on the day of the meeting via email at skaufhold@columbiapa.net or by phone at (717) 684-2467. For those unable to attend in person, the meeting will be streamed live (provided the borough's system works) on the borough's YouTube Channel at LINK.

The proposed project aligns with priorities outlined in Lancaster County's Fiscal Years 2021-2025 Consolidated Plan. Following the public hearing, the project will be submitted to the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Lancaster for consideration.

Pennsylvania State Police to stop using shotguns

HARRISBURG, Pa. —

News 8 continues to look into the use of shotguns in police departments in the Susquehanna Valley.

This comes after the York County district attorney revealed last week that Officer Andrew Duarte was killed by pellets from a fellow officer's shotgun when law enforcement opened fire on a gunman at UPMC Memorial Hospital in West Manchester Township in February.

MORE:

https://www.wgal.com/article/pennsylvania-state-police-will-stop-using-shotguns/64692006 

Agenda - Columbia Borough School District Committee Meetings - May 6, 2025

Agenda - Columbia Borough Council Workshop - May 6, 2025

 

Download the 18-page meeting packet HERE.

[LNP | LancasterOnline] Ex-Hempfield Fire Department firefighters headed to court on firestarting charges

Two of the three former Hempfield Fire Department volunteer firefighters charged with deliberately setting fires last year will have their cases decided in Lancaster County court.

Joshua Lightcap, 23, of Columbia, and Mason Howard, 21, of Akron, waived their preliminary hearings on Friday.

A 16-year-old junior firefighter from Columbia was also charged, and that case is being handled in juvenile court. That case is still pending.

In a preliminary hearing, prosecutors must present sufficient evidence that a crime was committed and that the person charged probably is responsible and, therefore, a jury or judge should hear the case at the county court level. The hearings often are waived.

According to prosecutors, two of the fires were set to sheds and the rest to fields and brush. All fires occurred between late October and late November in 2024.

No one was injured in any of the fires.

A Nov. 9, 2024, fire in Penn Township destroyed 220 corn fodder bales, causing more than $15,000 worth of damage.

Lightcap's most serious charges include arson and conspiracy to commit arson, and agricultural vandalism, which are felonies. One of his arson conspiracy charges relates to a Nov. 2, 2024, fire set at an Amtrak building in Landisville.

Howard's most serious charge is agricultural vandalism.

Other charges Lightcap and Howard face are reckless endangerment, dangerous burning, conspiracy and possession of an instrument of crime.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/ex-hempfield-fire-department-firefighters-headed-to-court-on-firestarting-charges/article_64612bd8-d727-4e98-9ada-568235119548.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share 

Deeds Recorded - Columbia Borough - May 5, 2025

Carol A. Farrington conveyed property on a public road to Farrington Kristin Noeleen for $1.

Knighton Blake H., Knighton Cole F. conveyed property on a public road to Knighton Blake H., Carroll Thomas, Carroll Rachel for $115,000.

Rittenhouse Dennett, Anderson Dennett, Rittenhouse Dennis conveyed 705 Chestnut St. to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC for $123,000.

About Town - May 4, 2025

This week's photos of Columbia

Click on photos to see larger, sharper images.

The SPCA was in town this week.

They left notices at a residence.

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Workers used a giant crane to hoist materials onto the roof of the National Watch & Clock Museum. 

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Trucks at the 4th Street truck terminal 

Saturday morning at the Market House 

Signs down!

Historic house on Chestnut 

Free landlord/tenant guides detailing renters rights and other topics are available at the municipal building, 308 Locust Street. The Spanish version (left) contains 97 pages, and the English version has 93. 

This is still in effect. 

Lights on at the bridge plaza

Cannon, partially hidden 

Bricks, partially hidden 

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It's that time of year.

Please don't litter.

Possum, not playing possum

Shawnee Run in the morning 

Hidden in plain sight

Out in the open

A formidable doorway at the former Cookman Church

 Now on the 600 block of Chestnut 

Five units are planned near 4th & Linden.

Meeting at Columbia Crossing 

Advertisement along Route 441

Black snake, apparently right after a meal

Two boneheaded beanie buddies

The Cathouse, Columbia, PA

Borough council members

Collection day

Up the highway and onto the sidewalk 

3-wheeler

On March 26, 2025, Manor Street Apartments LLC conveyed 745 Manor St. to WG Sponsor LLC, WG Manor I. LLC, WG Manor II LLC, WG Manor III LLC for $1,500,000. In the sale listing, Bennett Williams described the building as "a workforce housing apartment community..." - whatever that means. The listing also stated "the Property consists of 14 units with an opportunity to build an additional 36-60 new apartments." 

This structure at 1020 Manor is slated for demolition.  

It's wise to be prepared. 

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Here are a few from Todd Stahl:

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Low-hanging branches on South 4th

[Photo: Bull Warfel]

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