Chad E. Noll Memorial Ride

Dozens of motorcycle enthusiasts from around the area roared into Columbia on Sunday afternoon to show their support for Chad Noll and The Cycle Den.  Chad Noll, The Cycle Den's former owner, passed away earlier this year at age 39, following an illness of several months.

The day's event included the ride, which progressed westward on Route 462, followed by a meal at the Columbia VFW and a silent auction and 50/50 raffle.

Proceeds will be donated to the Mayo Clinic's Calciphylaxis Research Fund.

Chad E. Noll

 Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray rode to show his support.

Dozens of motorcycle enthusiasts from around the area attended the event to ride and show their support for Chad Noll and The Cycle Den.

Bike riders left The Cycle Den parking lot to form a procession headed west on Route 462.

An October Surprise

October's overcast skies were the perfect canopy for a unique car show in Mount Bethel Cemetery on Saturday. Hearses, some transporting denizens of the dead, lined the roadway inside the grounds, as grim and silent tombstones looked on.  One vehicle in particular sported blood stains and a bloody handprint, possible evidence of a zombie attack. Inside the Superintendent's House, an actual human skeleton (named Harry) greeted visitors. The show was a joint endeavor of the Mohnton Professional Car Club and Mount Bethel Cemetery.

The hearses . . .

A skeleton named Harry . . .

A skeleton named Harry reposed inside the Superintendent's House.  His backstory is presented above.

Accompanying Harry were bottles of mortician's chemicals and other potions, as well as a 19th-century undertaker's certification.

The motorcycle hearse . . .

A motorcycle hearse, owned by Unique Limousines of Harrisburg, was one of the show's highlights.

 Bob Kline, a chauffeur for the company, often rides the Harley-Davidson Road King with the custom hearse in tow.  A reverse transmission was mounted on the 1570cc motorcycle to allow it to back up, if needed, during a passenger's final ride.

The hearse was designed by the Tombstone Hearse and Trike in Bedford, PA.

Other items . . .

An open casket was available for donations.

The Hambones's vintage 1940-era truck made an appearance.

A hearse owned by Clyde W. Kraft Funeral Home of Columbia . . .

transported a cremation urn in the back.

POLICE: Drunk driver didn’t see elderly man crossing Columbia road in fatal crash

http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/police-drunk-driver-didn-t-see-elderly-man-crossing-columbia/article_d3cf54d4-4fd5-11e4-8384-0017a43b2370.html?mode=jqm

More questions on Locust Street Park

This letter appeared in today's Intell/New Era. It's in response to a letter published on Monday.

A couple of dates

Stickin' around

Sam the dog was being trained by his owner to fetch a stick from the Susquehanna, at Columbia River Park this afternoon.

Sam seemed to be enjoying it.

Columbia Park concerns

The letter shown above appeared in this morning's Lancaster Intell/New Era.

Pier around the corner

The piers from the bridge burned during the Civil War can still be seen near the Veterans Memorial Bridge, running next to its north side. The bridge was burned by Columbia militiamen to thwart the advance of Confederate forces planning to invade Union territory. 

Thanks to Lancaster historian Randy Harris, the piers - along with a nearby lock of the old Pennsylvania canal - have been recognized as an authenticated site on the National Underground Network to Freedom run by the National Park Service.

The pier shown below is in remarkably good condition, considering its age and the trauma it withstood, but charring can be seen on some of the stones.

More information about the recent historical designation can be found HERE.

"Wood" you look at that!

 Recently, this boat, laden with wood, was moored at one of the docks at Columbia River Park. 

 Workers soon showed up to load it onto a waiting trailer at the boat-launch ramp.

 Two young people stared in amazement at the undertaking.

One of the workers (apparently the captain of the vessel) continued to work alone, loading the wood by hand and with the help of a small jib crane. Perhaps, a similar scene (minus the modern devices) occurred along this stretch of the river 200 years ago.

Community rallies to raise more than $65,000 and counting for stabbing victim

In just under one month since Annika Horn was brutally attacked, donations have come pouring in from all over the world to help cover medical and counseling costs, lost work and to provide her a safe place to live.

MORE:
http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/community-rallies-to-raise-more-than-and-counting-for-stabbing/article_27fd402e-4a64-11e4-a497-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm

Just planted

Arborvitae trees were planted recently at the NRTSB, aka Visitors Center, at Columbia River Park.

Head-On!

A head-on collision occurred Friday afternoon on South Fifth Street near Avenue N. A gray Saturn traveling north allegedly crossed lanes and struck a yellow Mustang facing south.

Seen at Columbia Post Office

Can it help?

Property taxes are generally affordable, advocacy group finds

According to the report, residents in Columbia, Cocalico, Donegal, Lampeter-Strasburg and Octorara are paying a bigger share of property taxes in relation to their taxable personal income than those living in other parts of the county.

MORE:
http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/property-taxes-are-generally-affordable-advocacy-group-finds/article_ebf50c76-4a5c-11e4-9147-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm

Mount Bethel Car Show October 11

What I Saw - October 1, 2014

 Ironville Pike work crew

Nevermore

STOP! Be aware of new stop signs

New stop signs have been installed recently at 9th & Locust, 8th and Locust, and 9th & Ridge Avenue. The signs have flashers on top, as can be seen in the above video, shot today at 9th & Ridge Avenue.