COLUMBIA SPY

Sunday, May 4, 2014

What I saw recently

Some shots from around town over the past few days . . .

Could Jim Morrison be around?

Tracks in the grass

Another shot of the Shawnee Creek tunnel

A lone killdeer

Antique roller skates at Burning Bridge Antiques

The way to the police station

A rusty beetle face-off

A rusty race

A grackle looking like a cardboard cut-out of a grackle.

Life imitating art imitating life

Graffiti artist in training.

Someday, a true graffiti artist might emerge from our ranks, of the caliber of Keith Haring or Banksy

Shut-off notice at Hotel Columbia/Hotel Locust

Training session

One of the two jets that patrol our skies daily

Crossing the street

Prom night

Parking brake

Over the past few days, several large utility poles have been installed in the area of Route 441 near the exit ramp to Route 30. Each pole contains large metal pulleys. A base station containing several bucket trucks has been set up along Route 441, just north of Route 30.

Friday, May 2, 2014

A good day for working up in the air

A motor-bicycle built for three

A man and two kids - all helmetless - were seen riding this Rube Goldberg-type contraption out of Columbia and over the bridge today, exceeding 50 mph.
Half bicycle and half motorcycle. This can't possibly be legal.

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Columbia council encourages citizen effort to replace Makle Park basketball hoops

http://m.lancasteronline.com/columbia/news/columbia-council-encourages-citizen-effort-to-replace-makle-park-basketball/article_1a5d804e-d0a4-11e3-805c-0017a43b2370.html?mode=jqm

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Columbia noted by Smithsonian

Columbia residents know that their little river town is full of interesting shops and restaurants, as well as rich historical significance. Apparently, the Smithsonian is also aware of Columbia's wonderful qualities, because the organization named the borough number 13 in its 2014 list of the top 20 U.S. small towns to visit.

MORE:
http://news.engleonline.com/AdDesk/Htmlfiles/Readers/article.epc?id=102189

Columbia council supports bill to allow local police to use radar guns

http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/columbia-council-supports-bill-to-allow-local-police-to-use/article_ec9aea44-cff8-11e3-af0e-0017a43b2370.html?mode=jqm

Sunday, April 27, 2014

What I saw recently

Caught a big 'un - a carp, that is.

Scooping the chicken dung at McGinness's field on Friday afternoon . . .

and placing it in the hopper.

Back to the pile for another scoop

At the Earth Day celebration at Sahd's, a young bag lady shows how many plastic bags the average American uses in a year.

Here, she's talking to the bottle guy who's showing - well, you guessed it.

A male cardinal, one of the abundant variety of birds around town.

A tunnel at Shawnee Creek, near Mill Street

The Laurel Hill Cemetery regulations have been reposted after going missing for a while.

Hey, where's Jr?

This dachsund caused a minor traffic jam on South Fourth Street on Saturday afternoon.

Oblivious to the commotion he caused, he soon sauntered off.

Old-timey gas pump

Here's another one, from when gas was 41 cents a gallon.

The Lake Meade Fire & Rescue crew practiced aquatic maneuvers Sunday morning.

Here's their truck.

Two in a row.

Why oh why do they ride their wheelchairs in the street where they can get hit,

instead of on the sidewalk where they'll be safe?

(The sidewalk curbs are handicapped accessible.)

The building that will house Little Caesar's continues to rise.

Friday, April 25, 2014

These 5 images explore Wrightsville’s bridgehead, upstream and down

http://www.yorkblog.com/yorktownsquare/2014/04/16/5-images-explore-wrightsvilles-bridgehead-upstream-and-down/

Something smells

Recently, large piles of what appear to be chicken feces and feathers have been accumulating on the grounds of McGinness's airfield near Manor and South 9th.
The recent high winds are probably capable of spreading the particulates from these piles.
Here's a link to information about the potential health hazards of chicken feces:
http://www.idph.state.il.us/health/infect/Poultry.htm
And do we even want to talk about the smell?

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Fourth Friday in Columbia, Marietta & Wrightsville April 2014

http://parivertowns.com/m/events/view/Fourth-Friday-in-Columbia-Marietta-Wrightsville-2014-02-27-0

Columbia Borough cleaning up and celebrating with spring events

Columbia Borough is doing more than an annual spring cleaning over the next few weeks — the borough is also celebrating, mulching and auctioning.

MORE:
http://m.lancasteronline.com/columbia/news/columbia-borough-cleaning-up-and-celebrating-with-spring-events/article_b76f1124-caee-11e3-b43c-0017a43b2370.html?mode=jqm

State withdraws call for office space in Lancaster County

A Department of Public Welfare call center that seemed on track to bring 300 jobs to Lancaster County beginning in October is on hold.

The eight bidders on the state's call for proposals seeking 32,900 square feet of office space for the center were informed this week that the state had withdrawn it.

MORE:
http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/state-withdraws-call-for-office-space-in-lancaster-county/article_327f6cde-cb16-11e3-82f6-0017a43b2370.html?mode=jqm

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Celebrate Earth

The community is invited to the annual Earth Day event, taking place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, at the Sahd Metal Recylcling salvage yard, located at 1045 Lancaster Ave., Columbia. Numerous businesses and organizations will set up displays and interactive exhibits for children and adults to explore. Admission and activities are free; however, interested attendees may register and complete a safety waiver by visiting www.recycleyourmetal.com/earthday.html.

The event will be held rain or shine.

MORE:
http://news.engleonline.com/AdDesk/Htmlfiles/Readers/article.epc?id=101775

Monday, April 21, 2014

Mystery solved!

Little Caesars will be going in at the former Pizza Hut site along Route 462 (Lancaster Avenue), next to Mountville Motors.

It seems fitting that a pizza place will replace a pizza place.

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Columbia police give, and receive, awards for dedication

Members of the Columbia Borough Police Department both gave, and received, awards at the Monday, April 14, council meeting.

MORE:
http://m.lancasteronline.com/columbia/news/columbia-police-give-and-receive-awards-for-dedication/article_29ed002e-c5a6-11e3-849b-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm

14-mile Northwest Lancaster County River Trail nears finish line

It's been 20 years since farsighted officials and individuals dared to dream of a 14-mile, multiuse paved trail along the Susquehanna River that would celebrate its beauty, rich transportation and industrial history, and draw visitors to its river towns.

Now, with a flurry of spring construction underway and the missing links falling into place, the reality of the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail is finally within sight.

By this fall, the public should be able to walk or bike 9 contiguous miles from the old Point Rock railroad tunnel on the northern edge of Columbia to Bainbridge's American Legion Park in Conoy Township.

MORE:
http://m.lancasteronline.com/sports/outdoors/mile-northwest-lancaster-county-river-trail-nears-finish-line/article_8eaed5c8-c803-11e3-bd91-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm