What I Saw - March 20, 2014

 A seagull who knows how to use the crosswalk.  

That makes him smarter than some of the people I see around town, who disregard the lines, walk in front of moving cars, ignore traffic signals and are all-around oblivious. 

And this bird's not jaywalking.  Gull-walking maybe, never jaywalking.

Speaking of birds, there are chickens on 7th Street.  Yes, chickens.  Is this even legal?

I thought keeping livestock within borough limits is not permitted.

 An idea whose time has come?

Columbia Plaza parking lot - The water keeps flowing, and the potholes keep growing.

Chad's story

Chad Noll, manager of The Cycle Den, succumbed to a rare disease and passed away recently.  Family members have written a Letter to the Editor to Lancaster Newspapers detailing his struggle.  The letter can be found HERE.

When will Spring arrive?

Taste of River Towns set for March 30 in Columbia

The Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual "Taste of River Towns" restaurant fair on Sunday, March 30, at St. John's Herr Estate, 200 Luther Lane, in Columbia.

This year's event is sponsored by St. John's Herr Estate, a Luthercare Community, and by the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority. The fair, which will run from 4 to 7 p.m., features samplings of food and beverages from area restaurants such as Bully's Restaurant and Pub, Café Garth, Columbia Chicken Shack, Columbia Historic Market House, Columbia Kettle Works, Hinkle's Restaurant, Keagy's Produce, Nissley Winery, Prudhomme's Lost Cajun Kitchen and St John's Herr Estate.

Tickets cost $15 per person and are available at the SVCC Visitor Center, 445 Linden St., Columbia, and at St. John's Herr Estate. You also can call Mary-Jo Liskey at 684-0678.

Directions to the event and parking locations are available with the purchase of your ticket or at the SVCC website, PaRivertowns.com.

Proceeds benefit the Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center.

http://m.lancasteronline.com/columbia/announcements/taste-of-river-towns-set-for-march-in-columbia/article_d13b0c3e-aeab-11e3-85ed-0017a43b2370.html?mode=jqm

Out with the old, in with the new

Workers began renovating the vacant restaurant building across from Anvil International, on Route 462, today.  The building will eventually house the offices of a used car dealership. 

Mobile ag lab cultivates farm knowledge in Columbia

http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/mobile-ag-lab-cultivates-farm-knowledge-in-columbia/article_7aa0db80-adf0-11e3-a839-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm

Vehicle accident - Class I

Two vehicles collided at the intersection of 8th & Locust this afternoon at about 2:20.

Police call at 855 Chestnut

Columbia Borough and West Hempfield police responded to a call this morning at about 9:30 regarding an open door at 855 Chestnut Street.  The property is the former Long's Funeral Home and has been vacant for several years.

Columbia man and his father to be tried in kidnapping

A Columbia man and his father are headed to trial for allegedly kidnapping a pair of young boys from a Lancaster city home last month.
The violent Feb. 6 abduction of Erielys Ahorrio, 3, and John Ahorrio, 4, prompted state police to issue a national Amber Alert.

MORE:
http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/columbia-man-and-his-father-to-be-tried-in-kidnapping/article_96347fb6-ac90-11e3-b419-0017a43b2370.html

Columbia's water supply - Is it secure?

During this period last year, we were undergoing a water contamination scare. (Link: http://columbiapa-17512.blogspot.com/2013/03/columbia-water-customers-should-not.html?m=0)
After workers found evidence of tampering at the water storage tanks located between Chickies Hill Road and Laurel Hill Cemetery, it was thought possible that someone had contaminated Columbia's water supply. An investigation ensued, and the water was later deemed safe.
On September 3, the PUC conducted a public hearing on an unrelated matter: Columbia Water Company's rate hike request. At that hearing, I asked Water Company representatives what, if anything, had been done to ensure the safety of the water storage tanks. I don't recall their attorney's exact reply, only that it was vague and tentative, which leads me to believe the company had not implemented any measures except, perhaps, the hope that the crisis would be forgotten.
Well, we have not forgotten. Therefore, I am asking publicly - once again - of any Columbia Water Company representatives who might be reading this, or of anyone else "in the know": What safety and security measures have been put in place to protect our water supply?

Columbia to digitize borough ordinances

Columbia Borough Council authorized an agreement March 10 between the borough and General Code to digitize the borough's ordinances.

Ordinances have not been fully available, and searchable electronically, since 2008. The core issue that drove the decision was the inability for people to search for technical details about legislation when paper versions of ordinances were scanned into PDF format.

Instead, officials and residents alike have been relying, primarily, on binders.

MORE:
http://m.lancasteronline.com/columbia/news/columbia-to-digitize-borough-ordinances/article_ba5acefe-aaf1-11e3-b1ea-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm

That'd be great

From the Police Log - March 12, 2014

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

COLUMBIA: Lance M. Jones, 37, of 225 S. 4th St., Columbia, was charged Monday with aggravated assault, simple assault, and terroristic threats after a domestic dispute at his home. He was accused of advancing on a woman with a knife while swinging a shovel, threatening to kill her, striking her with his closed fists and choking her until she passed out. He was committed to Lancaster County Prison in lieu of $75,000 bail.

DRUG CHARGES

COLUMBIA: Andrea L. King, 28, of Delaware, was charged Monday with possession of drug paraphernalia and committed to county prison in lieu of $2,500 bail.

COLUMBIA: Travis W. Mengle, 18, of Ephrata, has been charged with possession of drug paraphernalia at 6th and Cherry streets Feb. 28.

CHS To Present New Take On "Ugly Duckling" Tale

Columbia Borough School District will present "Honk!", a musical tale of "The Ugly Duckling," on Thursday through Saturday, March 13-15.

Shows are at 7 p.m. each night. There is also a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee.

Performances will be in the high school auditorium.

MORE:
http://news.engleonline.com/AdDesk/Htmlfiles/Readers/article.epc?id=98703

Rooftop unit installed

A new rooftop unit was being installed at the Columbia Borough offices this morning.

Bob Hammer at Weavings INK

A note from Bob Hammer:

Hello Everyone,
    I would like to extend an invitation to an Artist's Reception this Saturday from noon til 4pm at Weavings INK Gallery in Wrightsville.  In this solo exhibition, I interpret selected events from American history by em-
ploying symbols and imagery found in tarot cards.  Each card image is first illustrated using pen and ink.  The image is then scanned and colored using computer software.  The resulting print features the card presented in front of a background image that also relates to the historical event.  Both originals and prints will be on display and available for purchase.
     The reception is free and open to the public.  Refreshments will be served.    In addition to attending the artist’s reception, I will be gallery sitting during regular gallery hours for the duration of the show.  The Gallery is located at 208 Hellam Street in Wrightsville.  Hope to see you there.  Thanks for your support.

Robert Hammer 

Daylight Saving Time

What I Saw - March 9, 2014

 Snow on the field

 On Barber Street, a guy wire (far right) has somehow broken free from its anchor rod and is dangling.  Already, the utility pole it's connected to is beginning to lean.

I'm pretty sure the perpetrators live down the street at a converted laundromat.  They stand on the porch and watch as their dog craps on properties along the street.

 Being a music aficionado, I was tempted to take these, as I'm sure they're worth a few bucks, but I didn't want to get into the middle of what might be an alleyway divorce.  And not being a member of the Geritol generation, I couldn't bear the thought of having to turn on the bubble machine as Perry Como croons me to sleep.  Besides, I don't have a bubble machine.

 Three walking . .  and one riding?

It's right around the corner.  Literally.  It's on Cherry Street, right around the corner from Fifth.

More flyovers today

What I Saw - March 8, 2014

 Evidence of a hard winter

Evidence of a Codes Department

Who needs Middle Creek?

These snow geese were spotted along Charlestown Road last Wednesday.

Columbia & Reading Railway sees new growth in upgrading old railcars

Brenden Friedenfeld appreciates Columbia’s robust past as a railroad town.

He wants it to have a robust future as a railroad town too.

MORE:
http://m.lancasteronline.com/business/local_business/columbia-reading-railway-sees-new-growth-in-upgrading-old-railcars/article_4c53497a-a571-11e3-a82e-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm

Go in the back, Jack

A resident enters the back window of the borough office to have a little talk with Osborne.

Flying over Columbia

Helicopters like this one have been intermittently flying over town today, back and forth on their way to who-knows-where.  I wonder if these maneuvers are in response to the events in Ukraine and Crimea.

Beware the Ides of March

I'm calling BS on this story before it takes off:

"Right now, computer models are suggesting that some type of a storm accompanied by snow, sleet and rain will spread through the Ohio Valley, with a secondary storm taking shape somewhere along the Mid-Atlantic coast. The time frame for this potential winter storm would fall right around March 12-13.

"Hail Caesar!'"

MORE:
http://mobile.philly.com/news/?wss=/philly/news&id=248946691

Amish Mafia through the years: Here's why it's fake and always has been fake

Well, duh . . . Now they should do a story on the fakery of "Duck Dynasty."

MORE:

http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/amish-mafia-through-the-years-here-s-why-it-s/article_d45cea48-a3a4-11e3-9cc3-0017a43b2370.html?mode=jqm

What I Saw - March 6, 2014

It was a good day for carrying things around near 2nd & Walnut . . . 

 including a giant stuffed pig . . . 

and a desk.

Pizza robbery suspect arrested

From the police log:

ROBBERY ARREST

COLUMBIA: A 17-year-old Columbia youth was charged with robbery and simple assault after he assaulted and robbed a Domino’s Pizza deliveryman of a $60 pizza order on Feb. 23 in the 400 block of Walnut Street, police said. The victim suffered injuries to his face and mouth. The suspect is in the Lancaster County Youth Intervention Center on unrelated charges.

Vehicle collision leads to arrest

A Ford Mustang collided with a Nissan this afternoon on Route 462, near Glatfelter's Field.  The driver of the Mustang was given a field sobriety test by Columbia Borough police and was subsequently arrested.  The occupants of the Nissan, two women and a girl, appeared to be unhurt, although medical personnel at the scene checked the girl's condition.

The Mustang collided with the front driver's side of the Nissan.

The driver of the Mustang being given a field sobriety test.

Sidewalk still not cleared

This is the sidewalk along 462, near 6th Street, still not cleared and worse than ever.
A few minutes before I shot this photo, I saw an elderly woman carrying bags of groceries, trying to navigate this ice field.