Thursday, October 22, 2015
National organization highlights Columbia Borough for making walking easier
The National Physical Activity Society—a nonprofit organization promoting public health approaches and collaboration to create active communities—has recognized Columbia, Lancaster County, in their "Stories from Small Towns" report. The report is part of a project to demonstrate that structural changes to make walking easier can be carried out in America's thousands of small towns and not just its big cities.
The society's report was particularly impressed with Columbia's Susquehanna River Park, with four acres now refitted with a trail system and a new building with educational center. The borough obtained several grants to fund this project, including from DCNR.
From the report:
Several parks in the borough of
Columbia were run down, and a
master plan identified the need for
improvements. Mayor Leo Lutz
started revitalizing, purchasing
more land for the park system. One
example is the Susquehanna River
Park, four acres now refitted with a
trail system and a new building with
educational center. The borough
obtained several grants to fund this
project.
Another project was carried out
amidst concerns from residents,
who thought the new basketball
courts and play apparatus would be
destroyed. Residents came around
to the idea and now even support
the new park projects.
The important aspect seemed to be letting them have their say and be heard by the town leaders.
The borough’s changes have taken place over 12 years. Columbia was listed as one of the 20 best small towns to visit in 2014 by Smithsonian Magazine and in the same year among the top 16 small Pennsylvania cities by Cities Journal.
Key Lessons
● Funding can be cobbled together from multiple places. Columbia obtained Urban
Enhancement Funding from the county, along with funds from the Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and the Department of Environmental Protection.
● Involve everyone you can think of, from the very beginning. The more people and the more public, the better your chances of success.
MORE:
From the report:
Several parks in the borough of
Columbia were run down, and a
master plan identified the need for
improvements. Mayor Leo Lutz
started revitalizing, purchasing
more land for the park system. One
example is the Susquehanna River
Park, four acres now refitted with a
trail system and a new building with
educational center. The borough
obtained several grants to fund this
project.
Another project was carried out
amidst concerns from residents,
who thought the new basketball
courts and play apparatus would be
destroyed. Residents came around
to the idea and now even support
the new park projects.
The important aspect seemed to be letting them have their say and be heard by the town leaders.
The borough’s changes have taken place over 12 years. Columbia was listed as one of the 20 best small towns to visit in 2014 by Smithsonian Magazine and in the same year among the top 16 small Pennsylvania cities by Cities Journal.
Key Lessons
● Funding can be cobbled together from multiple places. Columbia obtained Urban
Enhancement Funding from the county, along with funds from the Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and the Department of Environmental Protection.
● Involve everyone you can think of, from the very beginning. The more people and the more public, the better your chances of success.
MORE:
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
River Park trees slated for removal
According to Borough Manager Ron Miller, seven or eight trees along the river bank at Columbia River Park are slated to be removed in the near future. Miller announced the plan at Tuesday night's budget meeting and added that reforesting will be undertaken in the spring to replace the lost trees. The existing trees are dying from the top down and pose a public safety concern.
More on the cocky robber who hit Burning Bridge Antiques and others
Police from two Lancaster County departments are seeking information on an individual who stole thousands of dollars worth of jewelry from antique vendors since last week.
The individual, a white male with a pony-tail, targeted three stores on Oct. 8, in East Cocalico Township and Columbia Borough.
They are:
– Adams Antiques, Route 272, East Cocalico Township;
– Route 272 Antiques and Collectibles, Route 272, East Cocalico Township;
– Burning Bridge Antiques, Walnut Street, Columbia.
Surveillance images of the individual are attached. If anyone recognizes the man, or was a victim of similar theft, contact East Cocalico Township Police Detective Keith Neff at 717-336-1725.
The man is believed to be driving a gray sedan, possibly a Chevrolet Impala or something similar.
Police believe the pony-tailed man is acting alone, stealing jewelry of all sorts: rings, necklaces, bracelets. He's been defeating locks on cases/displays to get to the jewelry, which he then puts in pockets. He is doing so inconspicuously, so police believe he's done this type of activity before.
He stole an estimated $11,000 worth of items from the Columbia store, and an estimated $5,000-plus in items from the East Cocalico Township locations. Many of the items were being sold under consignment, so the amounts could increase as owners do inventory and realize what they lost.
Police believe the same man targeted an antique store Oct. 12 in Harrisonburg, Va., stealing jewelry there as well.
Columbia hires new principal for Park Elementary School
Douglas Knepp was officially introduced as the next principal of Park Elementary School at the Oct. 15 board meeting of Columbia Borough School District. His introduction follows approval at the Oct. 8 committee of the whole meeting.
MORE:
http://lancasteronline.com/columbia/news/columbia-hires-new-principal-for-park-elementary-school/article_0aa96ea0-772f-11e5-869b-eb34fc9bb51c.html
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Lantern Tour Classic To Benefit Nonprofit Cemetery
"There is a lot of history in this cemetery," noted Mount Bethel Cemetery board member Claire Storm. The cemetery dates from the 1720s, and it is known as the oldest burial ground in continual use in the Columbia area.
Board members hope to highlight the history of the cemetery with a dash of Halloween excitement during the upcoming Haunted Lantern Tour Classic.
The cemetery, located at 700 Locust St., Columbia, will make a suitably spooky site for the tour, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23 and 24. Tours will be conducted every half hour beginning at 7 p.m., with the last tour setting out at 10 p.m. The tour will last approximately one hour.
Tickets are available by calling 684-6196. Tour size is limited, so interested individuals are encouraged to make reservations as soon as possible.
MORE:
Two Lancaster County school districts seek loans, consider cuts amid state budget impasse
Columbia Borough School District is looking at its loan options, Superintendent Carol Powell said in an email Tuesday. About 48 percent of Columbia's budget comes from the state.
Using loans will create unplanned costs — from interest rates and fees — for the district, Powell said.
Monday, October 19, 2015
Columbia Market House Trust RFQ released
The purpose of this Request for Qualification or "RFQ," is to identify the developer that would provide the best fit for achieving the development goals established by the Trust and the Borough of Columbia for the historic Columbia Market House. This approach is based on the premise that this type of development is relationship based and not merely a transaction.
The complete RFQ can be viewed HERE.
(The last page features a QR code that can be scanned - and a URL - to access Jerry Musser's "drone's-eye" video of Columbia.)
(The last page features a QR code that can be scanned - and a URL - to access Jerry Musser's "drone's-eye" video of Columbia.)
About Town
Photos from today, Monday October 19 . . .
Attack of the morning glories!
Stop?
They seem to be leaning a bit.
Low flier
Painting at Third and Locust
Checking the wiring for soon-to-be-operational traffic lights at Front and Walnut.
Photo session
Closed?
Road work near Ninth Street and Ironville Pike
and on 462, near Washington Street.
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Former Columbia #1 property for sale - $895,000
137 South Front Street, Columbia, PA, 17512 - Office-Warehouse Property for Sale
Friday, October 16, 2015
'Cocky’ suspected jewel thief robs Burning Bridge Antiques
COLUMBIA, Pa. - A suspected jewel thief ripping off stores along the East Coast stole tens of thousands of dollars of gold jewelry from several stores in Lancaster County.
He's described as a man with a long ponytail and cocky attitude.
"The guy has definitely done it many times before he's definitely cocky," says Cynthia Coleman of Burning Bridge Antiques in Columbia. "He was definitely cocky and friendly as can be."
On October 8th, the suspect robbed Burning Bridge Antiques and stole about $18,000 worth of gold from one of the individual vendor's glass cases.
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
More from the crash scene at 5th & Walnut
A Columbia Borough Police cruiser and a silver Honda Civic sedan collided head-on shortly before 4:30 this afternoon on North Fifth Street near the intersection at Walnut Street. Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the accident, the exact circumstances of which are not known at this point. At the scene, State Trooper Ryan Gehman sought witnesses to the accident.
The collision left the police cruiser resting on the sidewalk of the northbound lane, with severe front-end damage, and its front bumper crumpled underneath the vehicle. The aftermath also left the Honda Civic facing west in the southbound lane with severe front-end damage. The officer and the female driver of the Honda were taken to LGH. Their conditions are not known.
Columbia Borough Police Sergeant Sam Stein retrieved rifles from the disabled police vehicle which was then towed from the scene by Midway Collision.
The Honda Civic Sedan came to rest in the opposite lane on North Fifth Street.
The cruiser jumped the curb along the northbound lane, near the intersection of North Fifth and Walnut.
State Trooper Ryan Gehman investigated the accident scene.
Sergeant Sam Stein retrieved rifles from the disabled cruiser.
Midway Collision towed away the vehicles.
State expected to study Columbia police department
Columbia Borough Council in late September approved a motion to seek state assistance with a comprehensive study of its police operations.
The borough's mayor, Leo Lutz, said Oct. 9 that the proposed study, which would be conducted by the state Department of Community & Economic Development, would, among other things, examine the feasibility of a consolidation or merger with other area police departments.
Head-on with police cruiser at 5th & Walnut
The exact circumstances of the accident are unclear at this point. State police are investigating.
Monday, October 12, 2015
We're going to "set back" for a spell
Columbia Spy will be in "Setback Mode" for the next week or so, meaning that it will be operating in a low-energy, Ben Carson-like state while we undergo much-needed maintenance. We will still post the occasional announcement - or even a major story, if one occurs - and will return to full operating strength in the near future.
Friday, October 9, 2015
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