COLUMBIA SPY

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

SCCA to present exhibits April 22

SCCA will present the following on Friday, April 22, 5-9 p.m.: Penn's Woods Printmakers; Jewelry by Richelle Leigh Walk; Print Signing by painter Frank Morgan and a special exhibition featuring art work from Hempfield High School's National Art Honor Society.

Most work is available for purchase.

Susquehanna Center for the Creative Arts

224 Locust Street

Columbia, PA 17512

Phone: 717-576-9628 or 717580-9031

www.sccaartstore.com

Lancaster County store sells $150,000 lotto ticket; prize still unclaimed

http://m.wgal.com/news/lancaster-county-store-sells-150000-lotto-ticket-prize-still-unclaimed/38971956

Columbia man charged with endangering welfare of a child

Police arrested 25 year old Andre William Wilson, same address, for Endangering the Welfare of Children and Simple Assault Domestic Violence.
MORE:
http://fox43.com/2016/04/11/columbia-man-charged-with-endangering-welfare-of-a-child/

Monday, April 11, 2016

About Town

Some recent photos from around town:

Tons of tickets?

Some folks just don't get the message.

House sparrow coming in for a landing.

Yet another vehicle accident at Fourth and Chestnut

(Early April)
This intersection has seen several accidents over the past few months, all about the same time: 6 to 7 p.m.

What were once stumps are now mulch (at Columbia River Park).

Doug's Tree Service cut down dead and dying trees along the riverbank a few months ago.

New trees are slated to be planted over the next few months.

Respirator and roses at the old railroad house, now Eastern Drillers.

Seriously, the air is not that bad here.

Off in search of another venue.

Really? Better check it again.
Cedar Street exit ramp to Route 30.

Just the essentials

Columbia Borough’s farm makes money!

The Columbia Borough farm makes money! No, not literally, but it does bring in much-needed revenue for the borough.

Prior to leaving his council seat at the end of 2015, Jim Smith showed Columbia Spy how the borough does it.

“We've kept this a secret too long,” he said, referring to the farm hidden just off Blue Lane. Smith wanted residents to know about the operations underway on the property, which he sees as beneficial to the borough. He asked Public Works Director Ron Miller to explain the details:

According to Miller, the farm was in disarray just a short time ago. “ It was a dump,” Miller said. He said it took a year to clean up piles of concrete and debris that had been dumped at the farm over many years. Miller credits Jake Graham of the highway department with grading the entire area, with the aid of local excavator Sam Logan, who provided a bulldozer to help complete the work.

After this initial phase was finished, phase two was put into place: Miller applied for and obtained a permit to operate a yard waste facility. He also obtained a grant to purchase equipment required for the operation, thereby saving the borough thousands of dollars on the purchase. Currently, 12 municipalities dump yard waste at the farm, at a cost of $25 a ton. The material is then recycled and sold. (Used asphalt from from road milling is also taken to the farm, where it is processed for reuse in road paving.) Miller projects that the operation could potentially bring in $100,000 this year for the borough, simply by turning what was once perceived as trash into welcome treasure.

Former Columbia Borough Councilman Jim Smith and Public Works Director Ron Miller at the borough farm.

Used asphalt from road milling is taken to the farm, where it is processed for reuse as paving material.

Piles of stone are also kept at the farm for use in road projects.

Workers handle yard waste at the farm.

Materials for road construction are stored at the borough farm.

The borough farm, high on a hill, overlooks other farmland in this pastoral area of Lancaster County.

Crews are kept busy with the operation at the facility.

Just one of the pieces of equipment used at the facility.

Mulch piling up at the farm.

Friday, April 8, 2016

Draft Agenda for April 11, 2016 Borough Council Meeting

The draft agenda for the April 11, 2016 Columbia Borough Council meeting is posted on the borough website at columbiapa.net and is shown below. Draft agendas will now be posted on the borough's site prior to meetings.

Thursday, April 7, 2016

Ribbon-cutting opens new dental center in Columbia

Left to right: Becky Murphy, Don Murphy, Pete Ross, Jodie Reinhart, Kyra Schirk (dentist), Tiffany Keim (program coordinator), Tom Regan (cutting ribbon - vice chair of board), Philip K. Goropoulos (president CHI St. Joseph Children's Health)

The CHI St. Joseph Children's Health Dental Center was officially opened at a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house Thursday afternoon. The center, at 401 Locust Street, offers six child-friendly chairs and will provide high quality, affordable dental care for local children. No insurance is required for service, but CHIP, Medicaid and private insurance are accepted. The St. Joseph Access Plan is available to dental center patients and provides uninsured families with generous discounts on dental care based on household income. Don and Becky Murphy of Cimarron Investments are providing space for the center.

To schedule an appointment or to learn more about the center, call 1-844-836-8871, or visit CHIDentalCenter.org.

Stump removal begins along the riverbank

Doug's Tree Service was back at Columbia River Park today to begin removing stumps left over from trees that were cut down in February due to safety concerns. The removal process entails grinding the stumps into mulch. New trees will be planted along the riverbank over the next few months.

New sign installed at Columbia Crossing

A new sign was installed yesterday at the Columbia Crossing building at Columbia River Park. The sign lists building information and is part of a new signage program related to the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail.

Columbia police release surveillance video in borough shooting

Columbia police have released a video in hopes the public can help identify a person and vehicle seen near Monday's shooting in the borough.
MORE:
http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/columbia-police-release-surveillance-video-in-borough-shooting/article_bf161a5a-fcdb-11e5-a8cd-fb082ea9e44a.html

Market House possible pickup site for 2016 Summer CSA

2016 SUMMER CSA:

Deadline for sign up is April 22 and if enough people sign up for the Columbia Market House location, the Market House will be an official pick up location for the season.

(Go here for more information:
http://www.lancasterfarmfresh.com/faq/)

SCCA announces spring painting workshops with Ange Bentivenga

The Susquehanna Center for the Creative Arts announces Spring Painting Workshops with Ange Bentivenga.

Ange will also do painting workshops for groups upon request. Call 717-576-9628 or 717-580-9031 to make reservations.

Paint Spring…. It's April and time to take in the color and express yourself on canvas.

The Monet and Van Gogh paintings are wonderful examples of the freshness of a new season.

Sign-up to for a one of a kind exploration in painting. This Class will give you the confidence to boldly use color.

You will also experience the joy of creativity and be amazed at how easy it is to be your own master artist.

Its easy no prior art experience necessary.

To sign-up go to Eventbrite.http://www.eventbrite.com/o/susquehanna-center-for-the-creative-arts-8528419952

SCCA
224 Locust Street
Columbia, PA 17512

717-576-9628 or 717-580-9031

www.sccaartstore.com

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Today is NATIONAL WALKING DAY

The first Wednesday in April is National Walking Day. The American Heart Association sponsors this day to remind people about the health benefits of taking a walk. Wear your sneakers (or take them with you) to work and at some point in the day, you are encouraged to take a 30-minute walk.
MORE:
http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-walking-day-first-wednesday-in-april/

Local government boards, including Columbia Borough Council, need to stop playing games with the public's right to know | Editorials | lancasteronline.com

Columbia Borough Council needs to stop playing games.
MORE:
http://lancasteronline.com/opinion/editorials/local-government-boards-including-columbia-borough-council-need-to-stop/article_870230e8-fb84-11e5-916d-efc1d180c333.html

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

9-year-old reporter breaks crime news, posts videos, fires back at critics

Nine-year-old citizen journalist from Selinsgrove, PA scoops the competition:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/true-crime/wp/2016/04/05/9-year-old-reporter-breaks-crime-news-posts-videos-fires-back-at-critics/?tid=sm_tw

Monday, April 4, 2016

Reminders from the borough

Outdoor burning devices must be registered.

No off-premise signage is permitted.

In Columbia, public documents given after the fact, and for a price

If you want copies of materials discussed by the members of Columbia Borough Council during a public meeting, be ready to pay.
MORE:
http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/in-columbia-public-documents-given-after-the-fact-and-for/article_d7f6e168-f9dd-11e5-b94c-0738db5157c5.html

Shooting reported in Columbia

http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/shooting-reported-in-columbia/article_2b99ceac-fa1f-11e5-8888-1f774bff5231.html

Friday, April 1, 2016

2 Columbia residents, Lancaster man charged with selling heroin, crack and morphine

http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/columbia-residents-lancaster-man-charged-with-selling-heroin-crack-and/article_f69569c0-f814-11e5-8f68-5b7355a9439e.html

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Area contractor convicted in Superstorm Sandy case

Daniel F. Sterling, 43, with an address on Donegal Road, Columbia but using his parent's Middletown address, was convicted of charges related to the Superstorm Sandy recovery.
MORE:
http://njtoday.net/2016/03/29/pennsylvania-contractor-left-victims-unfinished-projects-faces-18-months/

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Railroad Safety Tips | Columbia Borough Police Department

Police are asking that you use caution around the railroad tracks.

GO HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION:

https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/post/railroad-safety-tips

Here's a recent video showing how fast some trains travel (at the railroad tracks near Columbia River Park):

Be careful out there.

Columbia Police raise funds for cancer research

Left to right: Megan Howell, Officer Austin Miller, Officer Amy Kuhrmann

Officers Austin Miller and Amy Kuhrmann of the Columbia Borough Police Department recently presented a check for $1,205 to American Cancer Society's "Making Strides" campaign for breast cancer research. Megan Howell, senior market manager, community engagement for the Cancer Society, accepted the check.

Officer Miller began the fundraiser in 2014 after seeing a similar campaign by the City of Seal Beach, CA Police Department. Miller sold pink department patches at $20 each to raise funds for the effort, which is currently ongoing. More patches will be ordered when the present supply is sold out. Miller will accept donations for the patches for those unable to pay the full amount.

Columbia Borough is the only police department involved in this fundraiser. Call 684-7735 for more information.

Signs of the new trail

Borough workers installed signage today to guide visitors to the Northwest River Trail. Guests to the area have sometimes been confused about the location of the trail and have mistakenly opted for the gravel utility road along the fence at Columbia River Park or the paved road owned by Norfolk Southern that runs between the railroad tracks.

The signs, located at the River Park entrance and at Front and Walnut, direct visitors along Front Street, then under the Veterans Memorial Bridge to Bridge Street, and finally across Bridge to the beginning of the asphalt walkway running parallel to the Route 441 bypass.