Who REALLY IS the Grinch? Let's find out!

Look, there's the Grinch mask on the floor.

But wait, someone's holding a Donald Trump mask.

So the Grinch wasn't Trump after all.

But who is it?

HILLARY CLINTON???!!!

Looks like Tacos to Go is telling us:

Donald or Hillary - 

It's no contest, because 

THEY'RE ONE AND THE SAME!

LANCASTER TIRE COLLECTION

Lancaster Farm and Home Center

1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster, PA 17601

Thursday, November 17, 2016 from 8am-12pm

Tires provide excellent habitat for mosquitoes, particularly the Asian Tiger Mosquito, a potential vector of Zika Virus. Tires may also provide a habitat for a number of other mosquitoes species that may be a nuisance or spread other diseases, cuch as West Nile Virus.   In response to this potential hazard the Lancaster County West Nile Virus Program is conducting a one-day tire collection to promote mosquito habitat removal.   Details below.

Open to persons living in Lancaster County. Please bring proof of address – driver's license, phone bill, etc. Out-of-county persons or tire related businesses will not be able to dispose of tires at this event.

There is NO preregistration for this event.4 regular/auto or 1 large tire can be taken for free from each individual, so long as space is available. Any tire with an inner rim diameter greater than 15 inches is considered large. Any tire with an inner rim diameter of 15 inches or less is considered regular/auto.Tires must be off the rim, drained of water, unburned, and not excessively dirty.

PLEASE NOTE THAT SPACE IS LIMITED. One trailer will be loaded to capacity with tires. Excess tires will not be accepted.Many local entities recycle scrap tires for a fee, including all three facilities operated by Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority (LCSWMA). For more information about LCSWA's service, call (717) 397-9968 or visitlcswma.org.

Bridge Bust Saturday, October 1

The Route 462 Veterans Memorial Bridge spanning the Susquehanna River between Columbia and Wrightsville will be the site of the 28th annual Bridge Bust on Saturday, October 1, 2016. This event, coordinated by the Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce, is sponsored by Clyde W. Kraft Funeral Home, Columbia Fraternal Association, and the Columbia-Middletown Elks Lodge #1074.  Hours are 8 AM to 4 PM rain or shine.

Over 300 vendors, including over 80 vendors new to this show, are scheduled to participate in this year's event.  Commercial food vendors will offer crowd-pleasing fare such as butterfly fries, blooming onions, wraps, paninis, crab cakes, pit beef and pulled pork, egg rolls … and plenty of other food and drink items that await your taste buds. Individual vendors will offer items such as crafts, artwork, and antiques.  Look for goods ranging from home or country décor to garden or specialty food items, with a wide variety of products available beyond that. Local nonprofit organizations will be on hand to raise awareness of their organizations and to raise money for their causes.  Other sponsors of this event include Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority, Engle Printing and Publishing Company, and St. John's Herr Estate.

Live entertainment by Sneakers the Clown, Tux Trio, and The Banjo Man will be featured on the bridge throughout the day.  This entertainment is brought to you through the sponsorship of Workman Funeral Homes and Sahd Metal Recycling.   Local sister radio stations ESPN 92.5/92.7 and FUN 101.3 are exclusive radio sponsors for this event.  Look (and listen) for the stations which will be located on the Columbia side of the bridge.

The Bridge Bust features free parking and shuttle service from Glatfelter Field (located at Rt. 462 and 12th Street) in Columbia and Eastern High School (Cool Creek Road) in Wrightsville.   Patrons who wish to cross the bridge in only one direction may do so by pre-planning use of the various shuttles.  For details, visit the SVCC website www.PaRivertowns.com. Donations will be accepted for this service.

Admission to the Bridge Bust is $2 for adults and $1 for children ages 6-12 while children under 6 years of age enter free of charge.  Please remember that absolutely no pets, bicycles, skateboards, rollerblades, or scooters are permitted on the bridge.  The Bridge Bust will be held rain or shine.  All proceeds will benefit the Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center.

Police: Student won't be charged in incident that forced Columbia football game evacuation

"Our investigation has been completed," Susquehanna Regional police said Monday. "We consulted with the DA's office and it was determined that the conversation which the student had did not arise to the level of criminal conduct and therefore no charges will be filed."

MORE HERE: LINK

Parents, police take to the streets as Columbia grapples with school bullying problem

Lutz said he and the police chief will meet with school officials to discuss methods to increase student safety.
MORE:
http://lancasteronline.com/parents-police-take-to-the-streets-as-columbia-grapples-with/article_ccd923d2-7c4f-11e6-94d4-53a417b24a0c.html

Finally! The grinch revealed!

                         Seen at Tacos to Go

         The grinch is really . . . Donald Trump!

                     Didn't you just know it?

Resident questions alleged bullying by students AND director of operations

Mike Resch chastised the board for their inaction on bullying at Thursday's meeting.

At Thursday's school board meeting, Columbia resident Mike Resch commented publicly about bullying in the district. He told how his wife stopped a bully who was beating up another student just off school property. According to Resch, the victim, who had a “fat lip,” told his wife that it was the fourth or fifth time he had been beaten by the same bully. He said his wife then called the police, who responded and told her not to get involved.

Stills from a video of the assault referred to by Mike Resch 

“I'm not going to stand and wait for the police to come when a child's getting beaten,” Resch said.

Resch then referred to the many emotional pleas from residents who had spoken at the meeting. “Everything I'm hearing from these people – and the emotion that you feel coming out of them – these things have to be true,” he said.

Resch then turned his attention to Director of Operations Tom Strickler and asked if he bullies people into his way of thinking. After asking the superintendent and board president if he could respond, Strickler replied, “No Sir.”

Tom Strickler denied accusations of bullying.

Resch then asked if new board members swear on the Bible when an oath is administered. When a board member said, “Right hand up,” Resch asked Strickler to place his hand on the Bible while answering the question about bullying. An audience member brought forth a Bible, but the board disallowed the action.

Resch said there are a few school board members who are doing a very good job, but the majority are “yes men” for Strickler. As Resch asked another question, Board President Cole Knighton said, “This is the time for public comment, Mike.”

“This is public comment,” Resch replied.

"It's not for us to answer,” Cole Knighton said.

“It's time for comment, but it's not for us to answer,” Knighton said.

“Why not? That's the whole problem here,” Resch said. “We're always looking for answers, and we're not getting them. You're elected officials, and your responsibility is to each and every one of us. It's not a position for you to fill your ego.” As Resch tried to continue, audience applause drowned out his comments. When the applause subsided, Resch said the board should be fighting for the people of Columbia and added that it is not being done.

“I just for the life of me can't understand why something can't be done,” he said, adding that he has spoken to people who don't attend board meetings anymore, because “they're tired of the same old thing, same old thing, same old thing.”

Party in the Park Sept. 24

Crazy little thing called love: Mardi Gras Parade Oct. 27

Columbia falls to York Suburban in rescheduled football game | Barry Ford

After Friday's stadium evacuation and postponement, Saturday's game in York County was played without incident.
MORE:
http://lancasteronline.com/sports/football/highschool/columbia-falls-to-york-suburban-in-rescheduled-football-game/article_ead50d74-7d44-11e6-8703-47f1a2a3a3a2.html

Albatwitch Day in Columbia October 8

Featuring the return of the trolley

Ford and Garrido join school board

 Ford and Garrido take the oath of office, which was administered by District Magisterial Judge Miles Bixler.

Barry Ford and Iris Rachael Garrido were sworn in as school board directors by District Magistrate Miles Bixler at Thursday's Columbia Borough School Board meeting. Ford and Garrido filled two board vacancies, one of which was created when Cole Knighton assumed the presidency after Tom Strickler's resignation, and the other by Tammy Mattern's resignation, effective September 9, 2016. The board previously appointed former board member Keith Combs to fill a vacancy created when Fran Resch resigned in May.

Ford resigned from borough council in May, citing health concerns. This was Garrido's third try for a seat on the board. 

Leo Lutz Jr. was absent from Thursday's meeting, but those present voted unanimously for the appointments. Vicki Anspach voted also, despite her absence at last week's committee of the whole meeting when candidate interviews were held. When questioned at last week's meeting if absent members would vote, Superintendent Dr. Robert Hollister said, "We'd have abstentions from the other board members." The vacancy created by Mattern's resignation was not advertised. (Lutz and Mattern were also absent from last week's meeting.)

The board also accepted the resignation of high school principal Maura Hobson, effective September 14, 2016. Hobson will remain in the position for up to 60 days, pending a replacement.

 New board director Barry Ford

 New board director Iris Garrido

Garrido: "I'm here to be part of the solution." 

Saturday knitting class at library cancelled

Why Is Penn State Celebrating Joe Paterno?

 

Lauren Davis, a junior from Lancaster, Pa., received hundreds of emails and online reader comments — most of them negative, after penning an editorial for the student newspaper.

"This is our Penn State. It is a Penn State without Joe Paterno," she wrote, adding, "Those of us here now are beyond ready to move on."

MORE:
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/09/17/sports/ncaafootball/why-is-penn-state-celebrating-joe-paterno.html

Former board member alleges political scheming on school board

 

Former board member Fran Resch

About 100 citizens convened at the district administration building for Thursday's Columbia Borough School Board meeting, largely in response to a recently released video of a classroom assault at the high school.

Bullying among students was not the only topic discussed, however. Bullying is alleged to have occurred among board members themselves. At Thursday's meeting as at previous meetings, allegations surfaced regarding political scheming by some on the board.

Fran Resch, a former board member, brought to light incidents he says occurred during his tenure:

"These comments are long overdue, but I had to get them off my chest.

Number one: Back in May, when I was still on the school board, I was approached at home by a current board member and in the course of the conversation I was told we must do what Ken and Tom want. I said I would do what I thought those who voted me into office wanted. No one was going to tell me what to do. I was not doing anything wrong. I could not believe that I was actually approached in this manner, and I ask the board members before me, were any of them approached by anybody on the board?"

"Part two: When I gave my resignation letter to Thomas Stickler - my resignation - he asked me if Kathy [Hohenadel] had got to me. I was shocked, I said, no, absolutely not. Tom then asked me if I knew anybody that I thought might be a good replacement for me on the board, and I suggested Iris Garrido since she had received the second highest number of votes in the November election. At this time Tom looked at me - and this is the truth, I'm not a liar - and said, 'No, I don't want her.' And these are the things that have been eating at me for the longest time. I plead for Dr. Hollister to make sure these things are straightened out. Please give some thought to what I just said. I'm not looking for anybody to lose a job. But I'm finding out now that I'm off the board, I have a better chance to express my views and express them the way I want, because when I was on the board I really did not have a chance to say what I wanted to say."

Director of Operations Tom Strickler

UPDATE: CHS THREAT SUSPECT IN CUSTODY

GAME RESCHEDULED: 2 PM SATURDAY AT YORK SUBURBAN

UPDATE: CHS THREAT SUSPECT IN CUSTODY

GAME RESCHEDULED: 2 PM SATURDAY AT YORK SUBURBAN

According to Mayor Lutz, a suspect has been apprehended related to tonight's public safety threat during the Columbia-York Suburban game.

"Everyone left the stadium in an orderly fashion. No one panicked," former Councilman Jim Smith said. Smith is a member of the Columbia High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee and was a presenter at tonight's ceremony.

From school district website

WGAL interviews a Columbia player Friday night about his reaction to the threat.

Friday night game cancelled at CHS

THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTED

Tonight's game at Columbia High School has been cancelled. No word on when it will be rescheduled.

Frustrated residents demand answers from school board on bullying

Ernest Wiker

An assault at Columbia High School on September 8, 2016 was recorded and a firestorm of outrage was ignited after that video surfaced on social media.

At Thursday's school board meeting, over 100 residents filled the room looking for answers.  One by one they lined up to comment and ask questions.  At times, comments were heated.

Ernest Wiker, whose daughter was attacked, was first to take the podium:

"I wanted to address the board tonight about violence in our schools.  About disrespect of the teachers, the bullying that's happening in our classrooms not being addressed. Our school claims to have zero tolerance policy and we do, but we're not enforcing it.

There is behavior happening in those classrooms everyday that is totally unacceptable. The teachers are to the point where they don't even report it anymore, and I think that's the fault of the administration, that they haven't supported.

I've witnessed incident after incident going back 30 years to when I was in school there, and things that I witness in those classrooms that should never have occurred, and over the years this has been allowed to go on, where the teachers don't even recognize what's happening in front of them anymore.

My daughter was assaulted in that school, and I think most of you probably saw that video, and that was an assault.  But within minutes of it happening, I received a phone call telling me that my daughter was being suspended from school and being cited for disorderly conduct."

Board President Cole Knighton interrupted Wiker at this point:

"Mr. Wiker I have to interrupt you for a second, we can't discuss any school..."

Wiker:  "I'm not going to go into that, I'm just feeding you this as in general. I'm not going into my daughter's suspension. I think that's something we can address individually.

I got that call telling me that my daughter was being suspended and she was being cited for disorderly conduct my daughter. If you saw that video - I don't think there's a person in this room that can tell me that was a fight. That wasn't a fight; that was an assault. The things that led up to that should have been addressed long before it got to that point.  I'm sorry I've got a lot I want to say and I know I gotta be careful how I say it, because I don't want to get into addressing students names and stuff. I have no intention on going there."

"The administration here is not supporting our teachers."  When I called and I spoke to officials at the school, spoke to the principal on Friday, I was told we don't have that problem here. No one has ever been assaulted in this school in the three years I've worked here.   That's wrong. Just because we label them as fights doesn't mean they're not assaults.  What happened to my daughter was an assault, it wasn't a fight, but the rush to label that as a fight and rush her out the door and treat her as part of the problem.

My daughter couldn't come to this meeting because she's prohibited from school functions right now. She's still suspended for what happened on Thursday.  That's wrong, it shouldn't be happening.  My daughter is being treated as part of the problem. She was the victim of a crime in that school.  It never should have occurred."

Wiker's remarks were met with enthusiastic applause.

MORE TO FOLLOW

Columbia mayor wants to regulate BYOB venues after recent downtown double shooting

Lutz and Columbia Borough Council discussed three proposals aimed at regulating businesses such as Venues during Monday's council meeting:

BYOB ordinance: an annual or one-time permit that would regulate hours of operation and include stipulations on conduct.Entertainment license: a license for a fee that would allow business to have set entertainment hours and follow conduct rules including a noise ordinance.Disruptive conduct ordinance: a three-strike policy for commercial rental properties, where three accounts of proven offense result in closure.

MORE:

http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/columbia-mayor-wants-to-regulate-byob-venues-after-recent-downtown/article_9011975a-7b8b-11e6-ae11-6b81416f12ed.html

Car theft among recent incidents

Mayor issues proclamation rescinding Venues shutdown

President of Susquehanna Glass pens opinion piece

The real issue is that small businesses are helping to foot the bill for big businesses, and local communities are feeling the cost. We need to focus on the real tax issues facing small businesses, which means instituting fairness in our tax system and getting rid of corporate tax loopholes.  
MORE:
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/economy-budget/295669-repealing-the-estate-tax-wont-level-the-playing-field-for

Movie under the Stars this Saturday

PROCLAMATION RESCINDED!

On the advice of the borough solicitor, the mayor has rescinded the proclamation to close Venues.

MORE TO FOLLOW

Zoning violations posted at Venues

      Seen this morning at 237 Locust Street

Mayor closes Venues club

Mayor Lutz just issued the following proclamation closing the Venues club at 237 Locust Street:

FBI director: Cover up your webcam

"There's some sensible things you should be doing, and that's one of them," Director James Comey said during a conference at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
MORE:
http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/295933-fbi-director-cover-up-your-webcam

Columbia School Board meeting Thursday, September 15 at 7 p.m.

The regular monthly meeting of the Columbia Borough School Board will be held Thursday, September 15, 2016 [7:00PM-8:00PM]  at the  District Administration Center, 200 N. Fifth Street, Columbia, PA 17512.

Follow this link to read the meeting agenda:

http://www.agendaman.com/cbsd/meeting/view/0/14020

The mayor proclaims!

"Cool Runnings" at Library tonight

Takeaways from Monday's Council Meeting

From Monday's Columbia Borough Council Meeting (Septmber 12, 2016):

Venues

The operations manager of Venues was present at the council meeting.

Mayor Lutz said the problem with this type of venue is there are "no rules and regulations."

It's a legislative issue and the borough may expand the three-strike ordinance to include commercial. Three legitimate complaints results in eviction.

He's had conversations with Sen. Aument, Rep. Hickernell, and the LCB.

A possible entertainment license could be enacted in which a nominal fee is paid for the license, and the business would have to meet specifications.

Some businesses in Columbia have hundreds of thousands of dollars invested and have to compete with rentals that have no liquor license (BYOB).


High school assault

Lutz touched briefly on the incident at the high school and mentioned the "junk sites" where people comment anonymously. He said he gives no credence to comments with no names. He said School Resource Officer Troy Engle can't be everywhere at once but responded to the incident quickly.

Market house advisory committee begins formation.

Interviews for Market House Advisory Committee:

Councilwoman Pam Williams made a motion (which was approved) changing part of the advertised configuration of the committee from two business owners and one borough resident to: one business owner and two borough residents.

Council interviewed four people to fill representative positions of businessperson, standholder, and residents.

Ron Worby

Ron Worby of Susquehanna Blue Smoke was appointed "standholder representative" to the Market House Advisory Committee effective immediately, ending December 31, 2017.

Diana Thomas

Diana Thomas was appointed "business representative" on the Market House Advisory Committee.

Jennifer Davis was nominated by Pam Williams, and after an awkward moment of silence, a "second" was made by Cle Berntheizel. The vote was four to three, and a roll call vote was taken: Weisser, Novak, Williams and Welsh - nay; Berntheizel, FitzGerald and Murphy - yea.

Kellan Kernisky

Kellan Kernisky, a former Market House Trust member (who has grant writing experience) was nominated by Pam Williams as "resident representative" on the Market House Advisory Committee, and before the sentence was complete, the motion was seconded by councilwoman Sherry Welsh. Kernisky is not a borough resident.

After the vote, Council President Kelly Murphy reported that one resident seat remains vacant. 

MORE TO FOLLOW

Happening today at the library

Shooting victim named

Tim Stallworth, of Columbia, said he was shot in his side while he was across the street from a fight in the 200 block of Locust Street.

MORE:

http://lancasteronline.com/insider/man-wounded-in-sunday-morning-columbia-shooting-says-he-was/article_b10c8906-791a-11e6-b706-1318ab3530f8.html

Victim's father speaks out about school assault

Following are still shots from a video of an assault at Columbia High School that occurred on September 8, 2016. The attacker, Mykeala Rivera, 18 years old, has been charged in the unprovoked attack.  The victim's Father, Ernest Wiker first posted the video on his Facebook page along with his statements about the incident, which Columbia Spy is reprinting, with permission. 

Mr. Wiker is asking concerned residents to attend the school board meeting this coming Thursday, September 15 at 7 p.m. at the District Office at 200 North Fifth Street Columbia to support justice for his daughter and call for a change in the district.

Click/tap HERE to read the Mr. Wiker's posts.

Arrest made in school assault

Borough Council meeting tonight, Monday, Sept. 12

Columbia Borough Council will hold its regular monthly meeting Monday, September 12, at 7 p.m. at 308 Locust Street.

Family First Health to offer pre-registration and assistance

Family First Health is offering three days, prior to their opening on October 11, for people to stop by the health center and either pre-register for an appointment (and fill out necessary paperwork) OR have assistance signing up for Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP or the Health Insurance Marketplace. Their eligibility specialists will be on-site to provide one-on-one assistance.

PRE-SCHOOL PALS at Columbia Library Monday, September 12

Job fair at Columbia Library Monday, September 12

More on the investigation?

Late this morning, Columbia Spy caught up with the Special Services Unit on the 500 block of Union Street.  The two officers shown below would not say if they were there in relation to this morning's shooting on the 200 block of Locust Street, but their vehicle was at the shooting scene for several hours earlier today.