Car crosses both lanes, collides with tree

Shortly after nine o'clock this morning, a car left the shoulder of the eastbound lane of Route 462 (between Dairy Queen and Nussbaum's Wreckers and Rollbacks), then across both lanes, and over a grassy area before colliding with a tree on Musser's property.  The driver appeared to be unhurt.

In observance of Earth Day, a message to future generations: "Sorry"

STAND FOR TREES

Susquehanna River trail segment through Chickies Rock County Park to be built this year

GO HERE:
http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/susquehanna-river-trail-segment-through-chickies-rock-county-park-to/article_3c556078-e911-11e4-9bf8-1bb695971144.html?mode=jqm

River Park Celebration and Dedication Friday, May 1

Columbia Borough, Columbia Historic Preservation Society, Rivertownes PA USA and Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce are proud to announce a celebration of the newly finished River Trails Building located at Front & Walnut Street, Columbia, PA.

First to start this celebration on Friday, May 1, 2015 at 9:00 AM-1:00 PM is the Susquehanna Riverlands Conservation Landscape Summit. This is an RSVP event with Keynote Speaker  Julie Fitzpatrick Assistant Director / Special Projects Coordinator for the Pennsylvania Downtown Center.

Second is a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1 p.m.  Afterwards, the public can tour the facilities that include kitchen, information desk, modern restrooms, and deck that overlooks the riverfront. This 2 million dollar project is to guide visitors to the beautiful flowing hills of Chiques and the attractions in the Columbia area.

Our final event in the evening runs from 4 to 8 p.m. and is for the general public to explore Columbia's past and future in many facets. Visitors can enjoy lectures by Jack Hubley (Nature Program for All Ages), Randolph Harris (Origins of the Underground Railroad), William Whipper portrayer (Richest Black American and famous Abolitionist), Lydia Hamilton-Smith portrayer (Thaddeus Stephens personal friend and Abolitionist) and Mike Acord, Susquehanna Fish & Tackle (Fishing the Susquehanna).

We will also have a presentation on boating safety, bicycle demonstrations, home composting and kayak demonstrations. A Civil War recruiting officer defending the bridge, and other Civil War era soldiers.  Also: special guest Tom Hermansader, Art Flows in Columbia, a drawing experience, and a riverfront demonstration on the Susquehanna River.  And: live music, food trucks, an alpaca farm and the start of Columbia's Litter Letter Project.

Watch for another email blast for more information.

   

Please note: River Park will be closed for boat trailers on this day. All parking will be directed by Columbia Fire Police  to the field next to River Park.

Borough Offices: 308 Locust Street, Columbia PA 17512 | Phone: 717-684-2467

A cage for recyclables

Just seen at River Park.
Letters about five feet tall that spell "PRIDE."
The start of Columbia's "Litter Letter Project."

On April 9, bells rang in Lancaster, but not in Columbia

On April 9, bells rang in Lancaster to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Army of Northern Virginia's surrender at Appomattox Court House.
But not in historic Columbia, which played a pivotal role in the Civil War.
MORE:
http://m.lancasteronline.com/opinion/the_scribbler/the-scribbler-on-ripples-of-history-and-tales-of-bell/article_795c04c8-e799-11e4-a20e-6fad67b49efb.html?mode=jqm

Second fatality at Wrightsville murder scene

While officers were on scene, they ended up investigating a second death. A fire police officer died of a heart attack after guarding the murder scene. That incident was completely unrelated to the murder.

http://abc27.com/2015/04/20/police-charge-man-with-homicide-after-york-co-womans-death/

UPDATE from ydr.com:

 longtime Wrightsville fire police officer died while working to secure the scene of a homicide in the borough Sunday, according to Assistant Chief Matt Russ.

Curtis Nordsick, 72, was also the grandfather of Wrightsville Borough Fire Company Chief Chad Livelsberger, Russ said.

Vehicle accident with entrapment

Vehicle accident with entrapment this afternoon at Prospect Road and Route 462 involving a Toyota RAV4 and a Nissan four-door sedan. The RAV4 ended up on its side.

(Photos by Ann Shirk)

More on Avenue J

In response to the post about Avenue J, this website recently received an anonymous comment containing several assertions presented as "facts." The comment is published with the original post, but is also posted here with our responses to the assertions.

"Fact 1 - Mary apologized to Mayor Lutz and the Borough council for allowing her name to be associated with this issue. Bob misrepresented this issue to her, in order to use her name to garner names on his petition, since Mary's good name carries weight in this town. Mary's good heart always causes her to seek the best in people, so she would not think that someone might be using her. To my knowledge, none of the residents of South Second were approached to sign the petition (except for those not directly affected, and if they signed, it was only out of respect for Mary's name)."

RESPONSE:  NO. In a phone call to Mary this afternoon, she stated that she did not, in fact, apologize to Mayor Lutz or the borough council.  Her exact response was "Never." She also said Bob did not misrepresent the issue to her. (The commenter needs to elaborate on this alleged "misrepresentation.") Mary presented her concerns to council at the March 23, 2015 meeting of the whole, as did Bob.  The audio of that presentation is posted at the top of this article in an excerpt from the meeting.
Yes, her name carries a lot of weight this town.  She is highly respected and has done a lot for Columbia.

"Fact 2 - Rich and Ann (the homeowners who adjoin the alleyway in question) have been mowing the grass and raking leaves in Ave. J as far back as when Ralph and Leo McBride lived in the Bachman Mansion (now owned by Jeane), which means they've been maintaining it for well over 20 years."

RESPONSE: OK.

"Fact 3 - The condition of Ave J has not changed one bit in the last 25 years. Any assertion to that affect is a pure lie."

RESPONSE: Not one bit?  That's very hard to believe.  Even the Law of Entropy says otherwise.

"Fact 4 - This Blog article was submitted to this blog only after Bob was shot down at the Borough meeting ... The same meeting where Mayor Lutz gave his phone number to residents on South Second Street and asked the residents to call him first, and then the police if Bob continues his harassment of the neighbors on the block."

RESPONSE:  The Avenue J article was written by a representative of this website from an interview with Mary in her home this past Thursday.  (Was there a meeting since Thursday?) Again, Mary and Bob presented their case to council at the March 23, 2015 meeting of the whole. Neither one was "shot down." 

"Fact 5 - The couching of this article under the guise of concern for the historical significance of this alleyway, is just a smokescreen to hide a personal vendetta that Bob has towards residents in the block. He introduces himself to new tenants that he is the Mayor of South Second Street and/or the "bitch" of South Second Street."

RESPONSE: Opinion. Hearsay. Unsubstantiated allegations.

"Fact 6 - This neighborhood has good people in it who are long term residents, and we never had this kind of tension until Bob moved into the neighborhood. The local police department is tired of having to answer calls where Bob is the center of conflicts (especially when it is the response to public drunkenness)."

RESPONSE: Same as previous.

"Opinion: It is the irresponsible publishing of articles without talking to Mary, the Mayor, the police department which is aware of the harassment going on in the neighborhood by one individual, or other residents on the block (taking one person's word as fact), which causes Columbia to continue to be the joke of Lancaster County, and undermines the effort of this good Mayor, the Historical Society (not to be confused with HARB when it was first organized), and many others in this town who are promoting all the things that are good about this town."

RESPONSE: As you stated: Opinion.  This website went right to the source in talking to Mary (and Bob), as well as being present at the aforementioned meeting.

"Please be responsible when using a public forum, before casting aspersions on people's good names. And be wary of individuals who name drop to give credence to their assertions."

RESPONSE: We were responsible.  We went straight to the source.

"I expect better of this forum. This article should be removed since it is filled with misinformation."

RESPONSE:  Sorry, NO.

What I saw Saturday morning

Two guys metal-detecting and digging up Glatfleter's this morning . . .

Sale at the cemetery

Just seen at Laurel Hill

Midwest outbreak of deadly dog flu is cause for caution here

• Symptoms of the canine flu are similar to those of kennel cough and include persistent and lingering cough, lethargic behavior, poor appetite and a fever, says Dr. Douple.

• There is no evidence the virus can be transmitted to humans, the Associated Press reported, although it can sicken cats.

• People are urged to wash their hands after touching dogs to prevent transmission to other animals.

MORE HERE:
http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/midwest-outbreak-of-deadly-dog-flu-is-cause-for-caution/article_8aa97344-e47b-11e4-802f-9b30e46494e6.html

The battle over Avenue J

I had the privilege of meeting Mary Loreto today.  While Mary has an extraordinary personal history as well as a long association with Columbia, she requested that this article remain focused and committed to the issue at hand, Avenue J.

Mary recollected how two cousins living at 106 South Second Street maintained the lower section of Avenue J, which runs adjacent to the property, from Second Street to Bank Avenue.  She stated that the majority of that work in the avenue was done by Ralph McBride.  The cousins pulled weeds and maintained the bricks and cobblestones, keeping everything intact and clean.  Mary added that her children also helped pull weeds there.  (Jeanne Fisher currently owns this property.)

Since the McBrides no longer maintain Avenue J, it has deteriorated.  There have been reports of weeds and trash.  Most noteworthy is a piece of concrete curbing that may have been removed, presumably to allow for off-street parking.   

A request was recently presented to borough council to maintain Avenue J and block it off from thru traffic.  The barrier would be placed at the intersection with Second Street.  

Recently, some 300 signatures supporting such a change were obtained by a private citizen and presented to borough council as well as to consultants hired by the CEDC.  Mary stated that she placed a follow-up call to Mayor Lutz on April 9, 2015.  According to Mary, the mayor said he must present the request for a barrier to council.  However, such a proposal had already been discussed with council at its March 23, 2015 meeting of the whole.  During the ensuing conversation, council promised a "field trip" to Avenue J.  To date, no one is aware that this has taken place.  At the meeting, Mary also cited a study done with a $50,000 grant in which it was recommended that Avenue J be preserved as a walking path.

Mary said that this block of Second Street is Columbia's most historic - and its most unique.

 The lower section of Avenue J, looking southwest from the 100 block of South Second Street. A faltering curb can be seen on the left.

 A section of curb bordering Avenue J, at about the halfway point

 The curb ends abruptly at a dirt driveway leading onto private property.

 Avenue J, looking northeast from bank Avenue.  A driveway is pictured on the right, and a sewer access can be seen immediately below it.

 Another view from Bank Avenue

Further down on Avenue J, as seen from Bank Avenue

Columbia deserves support

Redevelopment experts hired by the nonprofit Columbia Economic Development Corp. presented a plan last week aimed at revitalizing the borough's downtown. About 75 people attended the presentation held April 8 at a Columbia banquet hall. The experts' key recommendations are to: revitalize Market House, the borough's 146-year-old farmers market; entice more antiques and art dealers and get them together to add murals and outdoor seating; and  encourage upscale housing.

MORE:
http://m.lancasteronline.com/opinion/editorials/columbia-deserves-our-support/article_a934cc28-e3b3-11e4-b0ca-4bd1d95b8407.html?mode=jqm

Columbia teen witnessed Lincoln Assassination 150 years ago

http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/columbia-teen-witnessed-lincoln-assassination-years-ago/article_34ba1888-e3bf-11e4-95c1-736413055821.html?mode=jqm

Is it safe?

 The construction scaffolding at the new water company building appears to be listing a bit.  Not only is the right side adjusted down a few notches, but the metal support pillars themselves are leaning.

 Is this the culprit? A steel plate serving as a footing (orange arrow) at the bottom of the right rear pillar is almost completely off the concrete slab on which it is resting.

As a matter of fact, the whole assembly looks rickety.

Norfolk Southern - Barricade repair

See the previous post for the back story on this.

Accident at the railroad crossing?

There is evidence of an accident at the railroad crossing at the bottom of Walnut Street. One of the barricades is broken, and there is a lot of oil on the road.

No other details are available at this time.

Creeping through the woods this morning

Next to Barber Street . . .

Opening on Borough Council

The Borough is accepting letters of interest for Councilwoman Jody Gable's term of office due to her recent resignation.

Eligible citizens are encouraged to submit a letter of interest and a brief statement of qualifications to Ron Miller, acting borough manager.

The basic qualification to serve on Borough Council is to be a registered voter and resident of the Borough. Councilors must have resided in the borough continuously for at least one year before being elected. To qualify as a voter, a person must be eighteen years of age and a resident of the election district.

Borough Offices: 308 Locust Street, Columbia PA 17512 | Phone: 717-684-2467

High water mark

The river has been running high lately, as evidenced by the water level on the depth scale shown above. (This photo was taken yesterday.) The scale was painted on a pier of the Veterans Memorial Bridge in the mid to late 1990s and can be seen from Columbia River Park.  In the photo, the water level is almost at the 232 mark. At three notches above the water level, a faint "234" can be seen. The level during Hurricane Agnes (1972) is marked near the top of the scale at 241. Normal is at 227, which, of course, can't be seen here.

Borough office entrance renovation

The entrance at the borough offices is being renovated.  Entrance is temporarily through the door at the police department.

Where's the railing?

SEEN TODAY . . . 

A section of the railing at the Locust Street Park gazebo is missing, and the gated entrance was left open.  Was the railing removed for repair/replacement, or did it simply disappear?  

Out for a Sunday drive

There go those flyboys again, enjoying the nice weather - five C-130s that flew almost directly over my house just after noon today . . .

This article HERE most likely relates to the planes many Columbians saw.

An invitation from a resident of the historic district

We received this notice today . . .