Street Invasion Purge Meet draws crowd Saturday night

The smell of burning rubber saturated the air around the AutoZone parking lot along Columbia Avenue as clouds of smoke drifted overhead. About 100 people with over three dozen vehicles, including cars, trucks, and bikes, converged on the lot Saturday night. The Street Invasion Purge Meet featured revving and burnouts, most in the nearby McDonald's parking lot. Squealing tires and roaring engines dominated the night for over an hour as drivers were urged on by spectators who recorded the action with cellphones. At one point a female employee of McDonald's approached the motorists and shouted at them to leave. Although the crowd was high-spirited, no fighting or vandalism occurred.

Shortly after 9 p.m., a line of vehicles abruptly left the lot in anticipation of police arriving. After the mass exodus, two police cruisers – one each from West Hempfield and Columbia - appeared after most of the participants had left.

This video was shot by Angel Rodriguez

This video was shot by Angel Rodriguez

Firefighters extinguish dumpster fire at Family Dollar

Units from Columbia and West Hempfield responded to the Family Dollar Store at 24 South 18th Street, Lancaster Avenue shortly after 7 o'clock this morning for a reported dumpster fire. Firefighters extinguished the flames and checked the building exterior for damage.

Library Happenings - Saturday, October 15, 2016 - Knit and Chat

No nude dancing at Club Good Times - Topless only

A Lancaster County judge's ruling that would have allowed nude dancers to start shimmying at a club in Columbia was shot down Thursday by a panel of Commonwealth Court.

The state court's decision means that, for now at least, the dancers at Club Good Times on Union Street will have to settle for going topless.

MORE:
http://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/10/nude_dancers_cant_start_shimmy.html

Medicare Open Enrollment at Columbia Library November 3 & 22

Motorcycle/vehicle accident on Route 30 Bridge Wednesday night

Aquaponics for the market house to cost $96,500

Robert Irwin (center) and associates discuss aquaponics at Monday's borough council meeting.

Industrial Designer Robert Irwin and two associates presented a proposal to borough council Monday night for an aquaponics operation in the market house. Aquaponics is a system combining conventional aquaculture (raising fish in tanks) with hydroponics (cultivating plants in water) with the aim of selling fish and produce year-round. They are asking the borough to invest $96,500 for the project.

The operation would consist of a market kiosk that would act as an automated farm for year-round produce sales. The crew would build and operate the system for the borough. From construction to operation will take about eight weeks. For example, using January 1 as the start date, the enterprise could be up and running by the middle of February, with a few additional weeks to get plants and fish operational. The proposal includes estimates of 3200 plants produced per year (10-11 harvests per year) and 500 pounds of fish per year.

Irwin suggested that once the project is operational, an agreement - possibly for five or more years - could be worked out. The plan is to use the kiosk as an "educational platform for the borough" with headquarters at the borough farm. During the winter months, the system would need to be kept above freezing.

The cost estimate shown below is good until the end of November. Irwin and his associates told council that they want to share liability with the borough and are not interested in taking a loan out for the enterprise. He explained that they did not seek private funding or investors. When questioned about the figures he presented (number of plants, etc.) Irwin said he has "no idea" if they are accurate.  He described the proposed financial arrangement as a business loan that gets paid back to the borough through a return on investment, with a projected 28-month payback time.

 Cost estimate

Aquaponics concept sketch

Help police ID this pig

Ashley Curry sentenced to 6-16 years for 2015 Columbia Plaza shooting

Ashley Rose Curry

Judge Merrill Spahn sentenced Ashley Rose Curry, 33, to six to 12 years for felony aggravated assault, followed by one month to two years for ethnic intimidation, and one month to two years for simple assault, with the sentences to be served consecutively.

In July, a jury found Curry guilty of the charges which stem from a February 3, 2015 incident in the parking lot of the Columbia Plaza in Columbia, in which Curry shot Jamie Roland. Curry alleges that Roland, her sister Crystal Manfred, and Alicia McGowin charged at her "like a pack of wild animals." The diminutive Curry claims that she felt "outnumbered" and overpowered" by the larger women and said the shooting was an act of self-defense.

Assistant District Attorney Christopher Larsen said the shooting was racially motivated and justifies filing the charge of ethnic intimidation, a misdemeanor. Curry is white, and the other women are black.

"I'd have shot her if she was white," Curry declared at Tuesday's sentencing hearing. "Race had nothing to do with this."

 
Spahn told Curry that she "demonstrated zero remorse" for her actions. Larsen said she showed "not one expression of remorse." Curry told Spahn, "Your honor, only guilty people show remorse. I'm not guilty."

Curry's defense attorney, Samuel Stretton, asked for leniency in sentencing, citing her lack of a prior record and history of abuse by her ex-husband. He said she has been a prisoner in her own house out of fear. Curry began to cry when talking about the severe abuse she has suffered at the hands of her ex-husband. She also said she never thought in a million years that she'd be in prison.

"I now throw Miss Curry on the mercy of the court," Stretton said in conclusion.

Roland was not present to make a victim's impact statement.

On September 8, Curry filed for an emergency motion for a new trial based on after-discovered evidence, alleging the prosecution withheld evidence from the defense - a potential Brady Rule violation. A hearing was held on October 5, but Spahn denied the motion on October 6.

Spahn also denied the use of "stand your ground" and reportedly disallowed certain evidence from the scene.

This screenshot from a video shot by Columbia Spy staff on February 3, 2015 in the Columbia Plaza shows the immediate aftermath of the shooting. Ashley Curry is standing far left and Jamie Roland is lying next to the rear wheel of the vehicle.

Library Happenings - Wednesday, October 12, 2016 - Family Movie Night - Homeward Bound

Columbia man and one other charged for fighting over tangled lines

Officer Trevor St. Clair said Loi V. Nguyen, 44, of Ephrata and Tan T. Ngo, 64, of Columbia were cited with disorderly conduct for the Oct. 5 incident.
MORE:
http://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/10/cops_fishermen_charged_for_fig.html#incart_river_mobile_index

Columbia man charged with firing shots into 2 occupied homes in Lancaster city

Zeyquan Lajirr Sanchez, 20, of the 500 block of Walnut Street, Columbia, was charged Tuesday with nine counts of aggravated assault, persons not to possess firearms, carrying firearm without a license, two counts of discharge firearm into an occupied structure and nine counts recklessly endangering another person.
MORE:
http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/columbia-man-charged-with-firing-shots-into-occupied-homes-in/article_8e94bd2a-8fc3-11e6-9c76-2738191f7a96.html

Fire Safety Open House Wednesday, October 23, 6-8 pm

Route 462 Bridge to be closed Friday night and Saturday

Library Happenings - Tuesday, October 11, 2016 - Crocheting with Mitzi

Meetings this week - Oct. 10-14

Monday 10/10/16 - Columbia Borough Council Meeting, 7 p.m., Borough Hall

Tuesday 10/11/16 - Forum on Police and Race Relations, 6 p.m., District Office

Thursday 10/13/16 - School Board Meeting of the Whole, 7 p.m., District Office

The borough committee meeting schedule can be found at the borough website: columbiapa.net

Library Happenings - Monday, October 10, 2016 - Pre-School Pals

Albatwitch Day Saturday, October 8, 9-3

SCCA Happenings

Saturday, October 8 is the last day to view Kat Oliver's show at the Susquehanna Center for the Creative Arts - Hours 11-4 p.m.

Milt Friedly is hosting two receptions this weekend for his show at Keystone Art and Culture Center, 420 Pearl Street, Lancaster, PA. Lily Rowe will sing Sunday at 2 p.m.

Please join them this weekend October 7 and 9 at Keystone Art and Culture Center, 420 Pearl Street, Lancaster, PA. First Friday 5-9 and Sunday Noon - 4. Nashville recording artist Lily Rowe will play live on Sunday, October 9 at 2 p.m.

Can you identify Stover's shoplifter?

Draft Agenda - Columbia Borough Council Meeting October 10, 2016

Inmate who stabbed Lancaster woman for an hour denied relief on ID expert claim

Elswart Bodden, serving 37 ½ to 95 years for the brutal attack, argued for relief, claiming he should have been allowed funding to hire an eyewitness identification expert in presenting a defense at trial.
MORE:
http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/inmate-who-stabbed-lancaster-woman-for-an-hour-denied-relief/article_288cfd76-8ca8-11e6-b13f-eb490d4cf227.html

Columbia's Haberstroh pursues ambitious cross country goals

16-year-old Jordan Haberstroh is one of the top female runners in the Lancaster-Lebanon League, going undefeated through four regular season meets in 2016, with only one more to go.
MORE:
http://lancasteronline.com/sports/crosscountry/highschool/columbia-s-haberstroh-pursues-ambitious-cross-country-goals/article_96e50fac-8bea-11e6-8aac-dba16eb19ee2.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=user-share

Alt-right to pepper PA with Trump Pepe

Photo: AltRightMemes/Twitter via WeSearchrPhoto

In Pennsylvania, Trump supporters are still fighting the good fight... by putting up billboards of meme character and alleged hate symbol Pepe the Frog.
MORE:
http://www.dailydot.com/unclick/donald-trump-pepe-billboards-pennsylvania/

Columbia Borough School counselor recognized by Continental Who’s Who

COLUMBIA, Pa., Oct. 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Jo Anne W. Norris is recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Pinnacle Professional in the field of Education. Jo Anne is a School Counselor with the Columbia Borough School District.
MORE:
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jo-anne-w-norris-is-recognized-by-continental-whos-who-300340680.html

Columbia forum to focus on police relations, racial violence

The next session in an ongoing public conversation on community-police relations and racial violence is set for Tuesday, Oct. 11, in Columbia.
MORE:
http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/columbia-forum-to-focus-on-police-relations-racial-violence/article_6e8e66ee-8c02-11e6-991a-871b9e364623.html

Family First holds open house and ribbon-cutting

Don and Becky Murphy (first and second on left) watch Jenny Englerth, Family First CEO, cut the ribbon at Thursday's ceremony.

The Family First Health staff held an open house and ribbon-cutting on Thursday afternoon.  Doors will open to patients for appointments on Tuesday, October 11.

Family First Health, a federally qualified health center, will open its doors to patients in Columbia on Monday, October 11. The health center, located at 369 Locust Street, will be the sixth location for Family First Health, which operates five other health center sites in Adams and York counties. The building is owned by Don and Becky Murphy and is the former home of the Columbia National Bank.

A community assessment in 2014 found that while health services in Columbia were available for those with insurance, affordable and accessible care was difficult to find for those without insurance. The assessment also identified a lack of mental health services and noted that individuals may not take prescribed medications due to cost.

Led by Dr. Marie Kellett, Family First Health – the Columbia Center offers family medicine and participates in most insurance plans, and also offers integrated, on-site behavioral health services. A sliding-fee scale based on family size and income is offered to those who are uninsured.

Founded in 1970, Family First Health is a non-profit, federally qualified health center dedicated to increasing access to affordable, quality health care. With sites in York, Hannah Penn Middle School, Lewisberry, Hanover, Gettysburg and Columbia, Family First Health provides a broad range of primary health, dental care and social services to insured, uninsured and underinsured patients with the goal of improving the health of our communities as a whole. For more information, visit www.familyfirsthealth.org. Se habla español.

Creative Coloring at Columbia Crossing Thursday, October 6

Columbia, PA –Let's get together and color at Columbia Crossing! Sitting down to color is a meditative way to relax, de-stress, and change your focus. Get in on this popular trend, and join us for a fun, relaxing and creative time. We will provide some coloring sheets, markers, and colored pencils, although participants may bring their own supplies if they wish. Adults, teens, children and their parents are welcome to join us on this artistic adventure.

All ages. Free/ Suggested donation of $2 per participant. Donations benefit the operations and programs of the Columbia Crossing River Trails Center. Columbia Crossing is located on the Susquehanna River at 41 Walnut Street, Columbia, PA 17512.

Black Olive Family Diner holds ribbon-cutting ceremony

Borough Manager Greg Sahd and Karen Seidenstricker cut the ribbon at Black Olive Family Diner this morning.

Black Olive Family Diner at 1506 Lancaster Avenue held a ribbon-cutting ceremony this morning, where more than two dozen people gathered. Owner Fatih Sivri, who goes by the nickname "Mike," announced that he had signed a 20-year lease on the building. Borough Manager Greg Sahd was on hand to help with the celebration.

"It's a great opportunity. We're so grateful that you chose our borough," Sahd said.

Mike said he was warned not to open the restaurant at this location, because people told him the place was "jinxed," but, defying superstition, he did so anyway. He said he was surprised by the immediate response on opening day, when 20 people came into the restaurant right away. Now that the business is taking off, he is planning to bring his wife here so they can live in the area.

The building previously housed Salsa's and Emerson's, among other establishments.

Mike Sivri thanked everyone for their support.

Kathleen Hohenadel, executive director of the Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce, Columbia Borough Manager Greg Sahd, and Black Olive owner Fatih "Mike" Sivri led the celebration.

 Greg Sahd offered words of support.