Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Keeping an eye on things

Four new security cameras were installed Monday at the Northwest River Trail Services Building at Columbia River Park. Installation was approved November 24 at Columbia Borough Council's Meeting of the Whole. The total cost for the cameras was $9420, with half coming from a grant and half from the borough. Including an existing camera near the front of the building, the addition of the four new cameras (two outside and two inside) brings the total number of cameras monitoring the building to five. 

 A technician checks an existing camera near the front of the building.

 Installation of this new camera on the south side of the building is almost complete.

A second camera, almost ready, on the north side.

A long view of the camera shown above.

Prudhomme's controversy noted in 'The Christian Post'

Monday, December 29, 2014

Gap between rich, poor schools doubled in 4 years under Gov. Corbett

Good riddance to bad rubbish.
Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The gap between what wealthy districts and poor districts spend to educate children has widened dramatically in the four years since GOP Gov. Tom Corbett took office, amid deep budget-balancing cuts in state aid under Republican-controlled Harrisburg and long-delayed pension obligation payments coming due.
MORE:
http://lancasteronline.com/news/pennsylvania/gap-between-rich-poor-schools-doubled-in-years-under-gov/article_53334702-5bf0-50cf-a772-6e4cd841dfd9.html

And according to spundge.com, he's one of the villains who approved a gas tax increase:
"The Republican governor did approve a gas-tax increase in November as part of a more than $2.3 billion transportation package. The increase for gas and diesel is charged at the wholesale level, but multiple businesses have said they have to pass the cost along to consumers.
The increase is being phased in over multiple years, and the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy, a think tank that says it’s dedicated to rolling back the size of government, calculated that it equals a minimum 27-cent per gallon increase for gas by 2017. The minimum increase would be slightly less than that by 2018.
The minimum increase would be higher for diesel.
The increases could be higher, depending on average wholesale prices calculated by the Department of Revenue."

Driving in Pennsylvania will get more expensive in 2015

PCB contamination causes fish consumption advisory for catfish caught from Susquehanna River in Lancaster County

The state Department of Environmental Protection has issued a consumption warning for channel catfish longer than 20 inches. Samples of the fish showed unacceptable levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, often called PCBs.
MORE:
http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/pcb-contamination-causes-fish-consumption-advisory-for-catfish-caught-from/article_ea4fd690-8f93-11e4-9e96-97713c0276f0.html?mode=jqm

Let there be lights

More new "bridge" lights
Workers began installing lights on the surface of the new facade at Columbia Plaza today. (The structure resembles the Veterans Memorial Bridge.)

Pooped out

The holidays have this effect on a lot of folks. 
Some of us need a holiday from the holidays.

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Salt must go before bridge project begins

We know that too much salt is bad for your health, but it can be bad for the health of concrete structures, also. Rock salt (sometimes called "road salt" due to its use on icy roads) currently being stored under the Veterans Memorial Bridge may be contributing to spalling and cracking on bridge piers in close proximity to the salt pile, and PennDOT may require the borough to move the salt in the near future. At Columbia Borough Council's Meeting of the Whole last Monday, Mayor Lutz stated the need for a pole barn or shed to contain the salt. The salt is used by borough and school district maintenance personnel. Lutz said that in the next year or two the bridge will undergo the largest bridge restoration project in Pennsylvania.

  A salt pile under the Veterans Memorial Bridge

 Deterioration at the base of a pier near the salt pile

 Spalling and cracking on one of the soldier piers, shown here and below


Sunday, December 21, 2014

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Tires slashed on 30 vehicles in Columbia - LancasterOnline

Tires were slashed on about 30 vehicles in Columbia Borough, apparently sometime Friday evening, according to police. 
Police said they began getting calls about 9 p.m. and found vehicles with slashed tires in the following streets:
200 block of South Second Street; 200 block of Lawrence Street; Mill Street; Furnace Avenue; the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Manor Street; 600 block of South 11th and 14th streets and the 1300 block of Central Avenue.
Damage is estimated in the thousands of dollars.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Columbia Borough Police Department at 717-684-7735.

What I saw today - December 20, 2014

Waterways Conservation Officer Jeff Schmitt talking to boaters.

 New siding

 A spy caught watching for Santa

On Letort Road

National Watch and Clock Museum names new curator | PennLive.com

The National Watch and Clock Museum in Columbia, Lancaster County, recently hired a new curator of collections to replace Carter Harris, who retired in August.
MORE:
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/12/national_watch_and_clock_museu.html

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Borough offices to be closed

Last day to pay property taxes is Dec. 31

What I saw today - December 18, 2014

Workers were at it again today at the Columbia Plaza project.  Even the cold winds didn't slow them down.



 The section on the left looks to be almost finished. The facade is looking more like the Veterans Memorial Bridge each day.


Meanwhile, in town . . .
 Locust Street, and Eddie Shupp is showing photographs
Of every head he's had the pleasure to know,
And all the people that come and go
Stop and say hello.


 And catty-corner from Shupp's - what's this?

The sidewalk is closed?

Columbian among 72 student-athletes to earn fall academic All-Big-10 honors

'Sharp Things' band started with demo in Columbia

THE SHARP THINGS is a longstanding, multi-member NYC-based collective led by singer/songwriter/pianist Perry Serpa. Over their 15-plus years in existence, THE SHARP THINGS have taken in over 40 musicians, shared stages all over the place with the likes of Metric, Broken Social Scene, Tindersticks, Evan Dando, Joan As Policewoman, the late Vic Chesnutt, and many more. 

MORE:

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Pete Andrelczyk coming to Columbia Library

Family 'hopes for miracle' for disabled 4-year-old son, hopes to use Columbia facility

" I would like to take Ryder for hyperbaric oxygen therapy at the Robert Lombard HBOT center in Columbia, Pa."
INFORMATION HERE:


It's here!

The historic rail diesel car just rolled into Columbia to be refurbished at Rail Mechanical Services. (See previous posts.)



These photos were taken on Fourth Street near Manor.












Wheels without a car

This truck holds the wheels of the train car that will be arriving in Columbia from Harrisburg today for refurbishing. (See previous post.) The truck is currently at 4th and Manor.



Monday, December 15, 2014

Historic railroad car coming to Columbia for an upgrade

The Bellefonte Historical Railroad Society is sending a 1953 Budd Company RDC (Rail Diesel Car) to Columbia for refurbishing. Rail Mechanical Services will be doing the work.



Read more here: http://www.centredaily.com/2014/12/15/4510188_historic-railroad-car-moved-for.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy

MORE INFO HERE

Market House Trust Board of Directors - Update


Don Haines of the Columbia Historic Market House Trust has provided the following update on the organization's Board of Directors:

VOTING MEMBERS
Chair - Cleon Berntheizel
Vice Chair - Don Haines
Secretary - Jodie Eck
Treasurer - Elaine Beckley
Director - Rebecca Murphy
Director - Jeanne Cooper
Director - Roche Fitzgerald
Director - Dan Carrigan
Director - Kellan Kernisky
(All of the above members are directors.)

NONVOTING MEMBERS
Standholder Representative
Market Manager

Questions or concerns may be directed to Don Haines.


Sunday, December 14, 2014

Just the facts . . .


 At a vehicle accident in November, photographers were approached by officers of local police departments who strongly advised them to stop taking photos, and in one instance to wait a few days before publishing any photos that had already been taken. In another instance, a police officer allegedly intending to photograph a news photographer (for "identification" purposes) relented when the photographer showed his press credentials. (At no time did photographers cross the police line or otherwise interfere with the investigation.)

 While executing these actions, the officers said they have the right to confiscate cameras and hold them for a few days, and that District Attorney Craig Stedman has the authority to confiscate cameras and extract images of potential crimes scenes.  In at least one instance, the officer indicated that this accident scene was a potential crime scene. According to an official source, the directive to stop taking photos and “Do something about this” came from a West Hempfield police officer at the scene. 

About a week later, a representative of this website met with the West Hempfield police chief, who said that an officer ordering such an action would be in violation of the department's policy and that he would speak to the officer in question.  

In a phone call placed shortly after this meeting by a representative of this website to District Attorney Stedman's office, an officer there said that the DA does not have the authority to command officers and that police departments are in charge of their own officers. He suggested the matter be discussed with the police chief - which had already been done.

[Names (except for Stedman) are being withheld at this time.]

A page on photographer's rights is HERE.  Information will be added periodically.