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Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Sunday, April 26, 2015
COLUMBIA SPY - WHY?
Recently, the name of this site changed from "Columbia PA 17512" to COLUMBIA SPY.
WHY?
Because . . .
- It's shorter and easier to say "Columbia Spy" than "Columbia PA 17512" when someone asks the name of the site. It's also easier to remember.
- Similarly, it's easier to say columbiaspy.com instead of columbiapa-17512.blogspot.com when asked the site's URL (web address).
- Columbia Borough is steeped in . . . HISTORY. "Columbia Spy" has a certain archaic yet appealing ring to it, connected as it is to the original publication, "The Columbia Spy." The name of this site is a tribute to that former publication. It's much too good and evocative a name to be left sitting forgotten on the shelf of history, gathering dust (even though issues of the original can be retrieved digitally).
- Last and probably least, this site's logo/avatar looks a lot like one of the spies in the cartoon "Spy vs Spy."
Accident near Prospect Road and Route 462 causes power outage
(Photo by Owen Shirk)
Several thousand residents are currently without power as a result of a vehicle accident with entrapment at 4040 Columbia Avenue, which occurred at about 11 this morning.
Raising the flagpole at Trail Services
Sunday at noon, Mayor Lutz (in the white cap) helped raise a flagpole with other workers at the Trail Services Building at Columbia River Park.
Group effort
Plumb bobs at the ready
Holding on
A video of the flagpole raising
Arbor Day observance on a cold and windy day
A large crowd defied the chilly winds on Friday at the 24th annual Arbor Day observance at Locust Street Park, which included music by Stu Huggins and George Keyser, recognition of coloring contest winners and other award recipients, and an appearance by Smokey the Bear. Emily Anderson, a Columbia High School senior, read the Joyce Kilmer poem, "Trees," and a tree was planted in memory of Jeff Fortna.
Members of Scout Troop 35 recite the pledge
Smokey and friends
Coloring contest winners Zachary Detz, Bailey Finegan, and Breanna Young
Friends and family of Jeff Fortna planted a tree in his memory . . .
Scouts braving the cold
Shade Tree Commission Chairman Bill Kloidt, Jr. and a well-known celebrity
Friday, April 24, 2015
The Litter Letter Project
Columbia Borough will launch a project next week that seeks to send a message through art. The letters PRIDE will be displayed at Columbia River Park this summer.
The project is inspired by The Litter Letter Project which began in Louisiana by Rachael Hatley, who back in 2013 used it to build a one-word message to her community. More information can be found at www.thelitterletterproject.com
The idea has since spread to other states. Columbia Borough will be the first in Lancaster County to use the concept with the hope this will inspire the PRIDE in Columbia residents and increase awareness of the need to recycle.
A special thank you to Butcher along with Chris Bongart and Chas Snyder, of Garage Boyz Powder Coating, who donated, created and constructed the 5-foot tall letters out of steel bars and chicken wire for the Borough.
On Friday, May 1, 2015, the public will get its first chance to contribute to the project at the River Park Trail Services Building Dedication and Celebration. Help fill the letters by bringing bottles and jars with lids. Make sure you bring your camera to get a picture taken with the letters. Send the picture to the Borough at columbiaborough@comcast.net . It will get posted on the Boroughs website and may get posted on the litter letter project website for all to see.
Also, for those that bring recyclables to the event on Friday, they may enter a drawing to win a free visit to the Turkey Hill experience.
COLUMBIA RECYCLES
Borough Offices: 308 Locust Street, Columbia PA 17512 |Phone: 717-684-2467
Columbia Tree Society 24th Annual Arbor Day Celebration
Fourth Friday Celebration April 24, 2015
Highlights for April:
Join us for Columbia’s Shade Tree Commission will be celebrating their 24th Annual Arbor Day Ceremony. Activities will occur at Locust Street Park beginning at 6pm.
Art Gallery Weavings, Ink in Wrightsville is featuring "A River Runs Through Them" from April 24 – June 6, 2015.
Garth Gallery Studio & Frame Shop is presenting its Annual Abstract Show.
Susquehanna Center for the Creative Arts is presenting “The Figure – An Interpretation”.
Through the Fire Artists Studio is showing works from Jerry King Musser, Janette Toth-Musser, and Mathew Jakeilski.
The Historic Mount Bethel Cemetery is presenting artwork from students of the Columbia School District and Homeschooled students. Artwork will be in the caretaker’s cottage.
Bootleg Antiques & Oddities is having wine tasting and moonshine samples along with musical entertainment by The Bootlegger’s Gang.
Salem United Church of Christ on 324 Walnut Street Columbia, will be offering a way to relax in prayer and gather with others for Evening Compline. Service will begin after 9pm.
Go HERE for more information.
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Laptop stolen from computer shop
On Tuesday, April 21, a Dell Vostro E6400 laptop computer was stolen from Columbia Discount Computers, 23 N. Fourth Street, about 2:30 p.m. The laptop has a dead battery and no power cord. The suspect is shown here in stills taken from a security camera at the store.
Anyone with information about this theft should call Columbia Borough Police at 684-7735.
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
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.
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
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.
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."
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
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
Monday, April 20, 2015
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:
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.
Sunday, April 19, 2015
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.
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.
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Friday, April 17, 2015
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.
Thursday, April 16, 2015
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.
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.
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