Sunday, May 15, 2016

This town is for the birds

Abundant wildlife thrives in our humble hamlet, among which is a great variety of bird species of many shapes and sizes. Most of the following photos were shot this weekend:

 Smug starling with mouthful of mayflies

 Yes, the Canada Geese are back at River Park.  
Watch your step!

 Six-pack

 This bluebird took up temporary residence in one of the young bald cypress trees at Columbia River Park.

 He glared at the camera.

 And then turned his back.

 Then glared again from atop a sign, looking crabby.
Apparently, the bluebird of happiness was having a bad day.

 Some sort of shorebird - along the shore, of all places

 Catbird

 Lawbreaker

 Osprey on the hunt 

 Dive!

 Onward and downward!

 Splashdown!

 Unfortunately for him, it was a near miss.

 Back at it

 A little later, a great blue heron flew over.

 These two vied for control of the skies.

 Red-tailed hawk

 Another shot

 Bird on a wire - a male blue jay

 The early bird gets the worm, and the early worm becomes breakfast.

 Pigeon in a puddle

Later that afternoon, the osprey's efforts paid off. He was carrying a hapless bass (or some other kind of sunfish) over the river.
(This photo was shot through the windshield of a moving car with a point and shoot.)

About Town

Recent photos from around town . . .


Complaining to management

On hold

Domicile deconstruction after last fall's fire

Removing damaged beams from the November 4, 2015 blaze that engulfed several row homes on the 300 block of Walnut Street.

Rolling out the roof Salem United Church of Christ, 324 Walnut Street

Weighted down

What was that number again?

The recently planted bald cypress trees are doing well at Columbia River Park.

Fishing lesson

Friday, May 13, 2016

Coffee and Conversation with Senator Ryan P. Aument


According to the Columbia Borough website, Coffee and Conversation with Senator Ryan P. Aument 36th District will be held May 24, 2016, 9 am to 11 am at Columbia Crossing River Trails Center, 41 Walnut Street, Columbia, PA 17512

Light Refreshments will be available for visitors.

Parole Violation Warrant | Columbia Borough Police Department

Michael Horn

On 05-13-16 Michael Horn (33) of Columbia was picked up on a parole violation warrant at 3rd St. and Cherry St.

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Summer Art Camp planned for Columbia

The Susquehanna Center for the Creative Arts, in collaboration with Columbia Borough, will offer a Summer Art Camp for ages 8 to 18 beginning Monday, June 13.

At its April 11 meeting, Columbia Borough Council voted to allocate $3,900 to fund the program.

MORE:
http://lancasteronline.com/news/community/summer-art-camp-planned-for-columbia/article_bd2ffa54-1567-11e6-bc32-27fb80d17900.html

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Borough moves forward on impaired Locust Street building

208-210 Locust Street

Columbia Borough recently filed a blighted property application with the Lancaster County Housing and Redevelopment Authorities (LCHRA) to place 208-210 Locust Street on a blighted property list. (The building's front wall was deemed in danger of collapse last summer, and steps were taken to secure it.)  The process requires LCHRA to receive certification from the Lancaster County Planning Commission (LCPC). LCPC recently approved moving forward with the certification. The Columbia Borough Planning Commission must also act on the issue, according to Columbia Mayor Leo Lutz.

If the Columbia Borough Planning Commission approves the certification, LCHRA will seek to purchase the property from owners Sam and Cynthia Bigler. If an agreement of sale cannot be reached and the owners do not sell to another entity, the property will be listed as blighted, and LCHRA will sell it to a party who will meet the conditions for redevelopment of the property.

If at any time during the process the owners present a certified plan to remediate the property - with signed engineering drawings and an approved timeline in accordance with the demands of LCHRA - they will be able to do so.

“Remember, it's difficult to take a property," Lutz said. "People who own property do have rights, but the municipality also has rights." 

Two New Painting Classes at the SCCA

Beautiful masterpieces done by Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh:  Pick one or all and sign up for a unique painting experience. Have a enjoyable, relaxing time while you enjoy the process of creativity. You will paint on a 16"x20" canvas with acrylic paints and you will be amazed at the masterpiece you create. No prior Art training required.
​BYOB
Go to Eventbrite to view and sign-up.

http://www.eventbrite.com/o/susquehanna-center-for-the-crea…

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Mayor proclaims EMS week in Columbia


Mayor Leo Lutz recognized members of the Columbia's Emergency Medical Service Teams at Monday night's Columbia Borough Council meeting with the following proclamation designating "Emergency Medical Service Week":

To designate the week of May 15 through 21, 2016 as "Emergency Medical Services Week"; and whereas emergency medical services is a vital public service; and whereas the members of emergency medical service teams are ready to provide life-saving care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week; and whereas access to quality emergency care dramatically improves the survival and recovery rate of those who experience sudden illness or injury; and whereas the emergency medical services system consists of emergency physicians, emergency nurses, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters, educators, administrators, police, and others; and whereas the members of emergency medical service teams, whether career or volunteer, engage in thousands of hours of specialized training and continuing education to enhance their life-saving skills; and whereas the Borough of Columbia is fortunate to have several emergency medical service units available to residents and businesses: Columbia Borough Police Department, Susquehanna Valley EMS, Columbia QRS, and Columbia Borough Fire Department; and whereas it is appropriate to recognize the value and the accomplishments of emergency medical service providers by designating Emergency Medical Services Week; now therefore, I, Leo Lutz, mayor of the Borough of Columbia, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in recognition of this event, do hereby proclaim the week of May 15 though 21, 2016 as "Emergency Medical Services Week" with the theme "EMS Strong." I encourage the community to observe this week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

Pet Pantry now sponsoring Feral Cat Fridays for Columbia


Every Friday is now Columbia Day at Pet Pantry in Lancaster. The spay/neuter program, designated "Feral Cat Fridays," will continue at a cost of $30 per cat, for ferals only. Appointments are required, and cats must be delivered to the facility. Additional information is shown on the above release.

According to Columbia Borough Councillor Stephanie Weisser, the facility spayed or neutered 21 feral cats on April 30 that were delivered by seven residents. The cats were caught under a trap and release program.


Former police chief denied position on pension board

Joseph F. Greenya

Former Columbia Borough Police Chief Joseph F. Greenya was denied a position on the Police Pension Board by Borough Council at its May 9 meeting. Greenya and the Police Association had submitted a request for Greenya to fill a resident position recently vacated by Bill Kloidt. When presented to council Monday night, the motion was not seconded.

Greenya, who resigned as chief in 2011 after working on the force since 1974, sued Columbia Borough on June 28, 2013 over pension concerns. Greenya alleges that he was being short-changed on his monthly pension payments. According to the Lancaster County Prothonotary's Office, the case is still open.


Monday, May 9, 2016

GONE!

A damaged tree that was leaning against utility wires was cut down today. The Bradford Pear tree had been partially uprooted along the sidewalk near 150 South Fourth Street and created a public safety hazard, as reported yesterday on Columbia Spy. The majority of the job was completed before noon, and the remaining stump was removed mid-afternoon.





Sunday, May 8, 2016

Getting up in the world

Things were looking up around town lately. A little over a week ago, a giant crane was used to lift a new air conditioning unit onto the roof of Trinity House Apartments on Mill Street. The lifting operation took over an hour as workmen waited atop the building to place the unit.










Around the same time, workers installed a new utility pole and transformer on the first block of North Third Street, in front of Columbia Kettle Works.  The establishment stayed open during its regular business hours as the work was done over several days.  Flagger Force directed traffic around the work zone.






Our trees have taken a beating lately

Trees in the area have suffered a lot lately, due either to the hand of nature or that of humans.  Asplundh recently slashed their way through Columbia, cutting trees in their path. An Asplundh spokesman has informed Columbia Spy that PPL contracted them to undertake the project, which is done about every four years. Notices are hung on property owners' doors in advance of trimming. Asplundh supposedly has a certain amount of right-of-way on private property to trim trees interfering with electrical wires. The spokesman said residents should not be concerned about the degree of trimming - which can sometimes look severe - because the trees "will grow back."





Nature also took a toll on local trees recently, when high winds sheared off several trees on the Musser property along Lancaster Avenue. It appears as if a tornado ripped through the area, although none had been reported at the time.




Falling in slow motion

As Columbia Spy reported several weeks ago HERE (near the bottom of the page), a Bradford Pear tree in front of 150 South Fourth Street is falling over and is restrained only by utility wires over the sidewalk. Recent heavy rains and winds during the past week have contributed to the tree's demise, and the tree is now leaning even further and has become a public safety concern. The base of the tree has lifted out of the root basin due to the high, weak root system of the Bradford Pear tree and the borough's undersized root basins.





Friday, May 6, 2016

VIDEO: Police arrest shop owners on various charges

WARNING: GRAPHIC LANGUAGE


On May 5, 2016, Columbia Borough and West Hempfield Police arrested Dane Aaron Stock and Amber Lace Wise on various charges on North Fourth Street in Columbia PA.

The back story is HERE.

Video by Jesse

Screenshot from above video.  
Amber Lace Wise can be seen shouting as Dane Aaron Stock struggles with police in the background.