The borough has recently taken steps to reduce the number of such properties under several new programs which Columbia Spy will review in the near future.
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Blighted property creates safety hazard on North Fifth
The borough has recently taken steps to reduce the number of such properties under several new programs which Columbia Spy will review in the near future.
Local organizations recognized by Columbia Borough
A certificate was presented to American Legion Post 372 for its donation of $6,000. A second certificate was presented to the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge for its donation of $1,800. The funds were used by the police department to purchase body armor and tactical helmets for officers.
Chief Jack Brommer holds a body armor vest alongside Mayor Leo Lutz and officers of American Legion Post 372.
Mayor Lutz and Chief Brommer with representatives of The Loyal Order of Moose Lodge.
Monday, February 13, 2017
Sunday, February 12, 2017
Meetings for the Week of February 13, 2017
Borough:
School Board:
Municipal Building, 308 Locust Street
District Administration Building, 200 N. 5th Street
PAGAN-RIVERA, JOSE ANGEL - VIOLATION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE ACT (POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DELIVER HEROIN) AND 1 ADDITIONAL CHARGE
Jose Angel Pagan-Rivera
On February 11, 2017 at approximately 3:00 pm Officers from the Columbia Borough Police Department responded to the 400 Blk of Ave I for a report of an assault in progress. Officers located a dark colored Audi sedan blocking the alley and a Hispanic male and a white female standing outside. The female victim, a 39 year old Columbia woman had visible minor facial injuries. Officers learned from witnesses in the area that the male had struck her in the face. As a result, Jose Angel Pagan-Rivera was arrested for simple assault domestic violence. Officers recovered 14 packets of heroin and a large sum of cash from Pagan-Rivera consistent with drug sales.
Jose Angel Pagan-Rivera was charged with one felony count of possession with intent to deliver heroin and one misdemeanor count of simple assault domestic violence. He was taken to Central Booking located at the Lancaster County Prison for arraignment. He was arraigned and committed to Lancaster County Prison in lieu of $75,000.00 bail and a State Parole violation.
All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Case Number:
12256-02-11-17
Arrest Date:
Saturday, February 11, 2017Charges:
Source:
Columbia Borough Police DepartmentLearn to paint like Cezanne and Van Gogh at SCCA this month
Dear Friends of the SCCA,
Master Artist, Ange Bentivegna is offering painting classes (parties) in February and March at the Susquehanna Center for the Creative Arts, Columbia.
February is the month of the color Red.
Join in on the most creative fun-filled evening, where you can socialize with your friends and learn to paint a masterpiece. No prior art training needed.
Master Artist, Ange Bentivegna is offering painting classes (parties) in February and March at the Susquehanna Center for the Creative Arts, Columbia.
February is the month of the color Red.
We are recreating the vibrance and boldness of the Master Artists from the Past. Through the guidance of your art instructor you will be taught how to see a painting in a new way.
Ange will simplify the creative process to give you the confidence to paint like a master artist.
Ange will simplify the creative process to give you the confidence to paint like a master artist.
Join in on the most creative fun-filled evening, where you can socialize with your friends and learn to paint a masterpiece. No prior art training needed.
Cezanne, "Tulips" - February 21, 6-8 p.m.
Van Gogh, "Poppies in white Vase" - February 25, 6-8 p.m.
Susuqehanna Center for the Creative Arts
224Locust Street
Columbia, PA 17512
Free eye exams for Columbia children at Family First on April 1
The Vision Van will be parked on Locust St. directly in front of Family First Health on April 1. The screenings are first come, first served and parents will need to sign a consent form. Family First Health will open its doors so that we can have our guests wait in our lobby and have access to restrooms until it is time for them to be screened. If children need an extensive eye screening, they will hop on the van and be evaluated by an eye doctor. Those needing glasses will be able to select theirs from a wide selection of different colors/styles and the glasses are shipped directly to their home.
To make the event run smoothly, consent forms should be filled out prior to coming to the event. Download and print the consent form shown below:
Susquehanna Blue Smoke says goodbye - but not totally
Ron and Sue Worby of Susquehanna Blue Smoke Barbeque
To Our Customers, Supporters, Family and Friends:
It is with a heavy heart that after almost 3 years of great food, wonderful people, fun times, hard work, ups and downs. The owners of Susquehanna Blue Smoke Barbeque, LLC. We, (Ron and Sue) have decided it’s time to move on to life’s next adventure. This has been a very difficult and emotional decision and we are so sad to say goodbye for now, but with a drastic decline in customer activity, the decline in community support, the demands of our full–time employment, family needs, cancellation of revenue driving events in town that had been cancelled due to weather, and was part of the operating business plan that for years has floated the business and many other business through the tough times of winter has put us in a financial quandary and has us take a mind set to get back to basics, redevelop, re-gear, redirect, and start a new path for Susquehanna Blue Smoke Barbeque, its services and products.
Susquehanna Blue Smoke Barbeque at Columbia Market House has given so many a place to feel at home. It was the site of Market Day!, Special Events, Sunday brunch with friends, and many other completely routine and sometimes totally extraordinary moments. Susquehanna Blue Smoke Barbeque tried to be the friend you knew would be there when you needed them, was comforting, and was a welcoming & smiling face. Susquehanna Blue Smoke Barbeque was home at Market and we love to feed ya!
SBS BBQ is greater than the sum of its parts. To make a list of the regular customers would be a book of immense size. Thank you to ALL of our customers. We loved taking care of you, and thank you for taking care of us too. The spirit of SBS BBQ is something we all can keep alive by maintaining the connections of the people we met and grew to love while at Market. There are no words that clearly express the love and gratitude we feel for our family and friends that worked so hard to keep the vision alive. Restaurant work is not easy. It takes commitment, thick skin, and a really good sense of humor. It is so rare to find such a dedicated, hardworking, and friendly people anywhere. Friends became family, family became closer, and the family grew. We took care of each other. We are so grateful for the love and tremendous efforts. We wish everyone the best of luck in whatever path they choose in their future and look forward to lifelong friendships with you.
Deep gratitude and credit goes to Sue for seeing a vision and being that support, drive to push forward, and to being the test subject for many of the dishes that have come to be comfort food on the menu. The flavors you have helped create have made the taste buds dance and put a smile on the face of our customers from ear to ear!
Thank you Sue for the heart, body and soul you poured into SBS BBQ.
Columbia has something special – a warm and welcoming community, support for individuality, a comfortable place to nurture one's dreams, dedicated small business owners and a safe neighborhood for families to grow. It has truly been an honor to live and serve here. We sincerely hope the strong sense of community in Columbia continues and thrives forever.
Susquehanna’s last day will be Sunday, February 26th. Please come see us over the next few weeks to get a last few Q meals, share stories, and say goodbye but so long.
Thank you for the wonderful years, Columbia. We will miss you tremendously. As they say, when one door closes, another opens. Stay tuned for what’s next!
We will continue to offer catering, taking orders for pick up and will be selling our products online as well as other locations and events.
Thank you once again for your support.
— Ron and Sue Worby, Owners
Year End Report 2016 - Lancaster County Wide Communications
The following statistics have been gleaned from the report, according to the Columbia Borough Fire Department Station 80 Facebook page:
- Station 80 - 794 - Busiest Volunteer Single Station
- Squad Co.(Engine 801) - 307 - 4th Busiest Volunteer Engine Co.
- Wagon(Engine 802) - 311 - 3rd Busiest Volunteer Engine Co.
- Ladder(Truck 80) - 288 - 2nd Busiest Volunteer Truck Co.
- Rescue 80 - 310 - Busiest Volunteer Rescue Co.
Saturday, February 11, 2017
About Town
Recent pics from about town . . .
Gone . . .
replaced by Cooper's Comics & Collectibles . . .
due to open on March 1 at Fifth and Locust.
Vape at Goose Vapes on North Fourth.
Liberty on Locust
Two Mr. Libertys because we have twice the liberty in Trump's America.
Don't we?
And as the internet has told us, snakes can't really do that.
A banner that overstayed its welcome
A tree grows in Avenue H.
Work continues at the former Long's Funeral Home at Ninth & Chestnut.
Yep, he really parked there.
Well, that's one way to get the drywall in.
Park properly!
A bird in hand is worth a whole bunch in the bush.
At the old chip factory at Second and Locust
Thursday, February 9, 2017
Monday, February 6, 2017
State lawmakers devised a system of policing their own ethics under a cloak of secrecy
There’s this: a system of ethics oversight that might as well take place in the deepest, darkest recesses of the august Capitol building in Harrisburg. (If a lawmaker has an ethical misstep and none of his constituents sees or hears about it, did it really happen?)
MORE:
http://lancasteronline.com/opinion/editorials/state-lawmakers-devised-a-system-of-policing-their-own-ethics/article_2a6d823c-ea54-11e6-beab-d3bedfc45c94.html
Warm weather brings folks out and about
Unseasonably warm weather (near 60°!) brought folks out and about today.
It was a good day for . . .
Canoeing
Jogging
Walking
Contemplating
Hoverboarding
Sprouting
Were shots fired Sunday night?
Sunday, February 5, 2017
School agreement saves Columbia $300K; state dollars vanish
As part of the cost breakdown, Hollister noted that Columbia taxpayers would have paid $185,000 for a superintendent this year rather than the current $165,000 under the agreement. He also said that although the district is still partially funding a business manager, it would ordinarily have spent about $115,000 instead of the $70,000 for business services under the contract with Elanco. Hollister estimated a total of about $90,000 in salary savings for all services.
He said Elanco provided additional pieces of technology to Columbia at no cost and noted that salary savings for tech team services was $31,685. He said that technology is where large amounts of money add up.
Hollister listed additional savings with other fees that were waived: $2,000 for an E-Rate consultant and $3,400 for Agenda Manager (for board meeting agendas). He said the real savings were with E-Rate funds reaching back to the 2015-16 school year to the tune of $88,734.59, adding that it was money Columbia should have been trying to get but never did previously. [According to Wikipedia, "E-Rate is the commonly used name for the Schools and Libraries Program of the Universal Service Fund, which is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) under the direction of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The program provides discounts to assist schools and libraries in the United States to obtain affordable telecommunications and Internet access."]
Hollister said the district will not be getting state dollars originally expected for the shared services agreement. [A $250,000 grant was to be made available for the two districts to pilot the agreement.] “I was told very specifically that money is not coming, so we're on our own,” he said.
Despite challenges and distractions during the first half of the school year - replacing the high school principal, dealing with a student situation that concerned the board and required a lot of time, and attempting to resolve a personnel situation in the business office - progress has been made on many different fronts, according to Hollister. He hopes to get direct feedback on the agreement from teachers and administrators towards the end of the year.
Hollister listed additional savings with other fees that were waived: $2,000 for an E-Rate consultant and $3,400 for Agenda Manager (for board meeting agendas). He said the real savings were with E-Rate funds reaching back to the 2015-16 school year to the tune of $88,734.59, adding that it was money Columbia should have been trying to get but never did previously. [According to Wikipedia, "E-Rate is the commonly used name for the Schools and Libraries Program of the Universal Service Fund, which is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) under the direction of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The program provides discounts to assist schools and libraries in the United States to obtain affordable telecommunications and Internet access."]
Hollister said the district will not be getting state dollars originally expected for the shared services agreement. [A $250,000 grant was to be made available for the two districts to pilot the agreement.] “I was told very specifically that money is not coming, so we're on our own,” he said.
Despite challenges and distractions during the first half of the school year - replacing the high school principal, dealing with a student situation that concerned the board and required a lot of time, and attempting to resolve a personnel situation in the business office - progress has been made on many different fronts, according to Hollister. He hopes to get direct feedback on the agreement from teachers and administrators towards the end of the year.
Hollister also said both districts soon need to begin having a conversation on whether the agreement should continue for next year or be dissolved, but said the agreement has been positive for Columbia. “I think we have been successful given some of the challenges so far,” he noted.
Several board directors expressed their gratitude to Elanco for the agreement, but Director Janet Schwert cautioned, “We also need to take into consideration the help or the lack of help that we are going to be getting from the state. We have already been forewarned that the budget process is not going to go well with the state.” Schwert alluded to property tax reform that would help property owners but hurt the school district, making it difficult for the school to budget. “Keep in mind that we are doing this for our kids,” she said.
Several board directors expressed their gratitude to Elanco for the agreement, but Director Janet Schwert cautioned, “We also need to take into consideration the help or the lack of help that we are going to be getting from the state. We have already been forewarned that the budget process is not going to go well with the state.” Schwert alluded to property tax reform that would help property owners but hurt the school district, making it difficult for the school to budget. “Keep in mind that we are doing this for our kids,” she said.
Cleon Berntheizel, Columbia councilman, artist and businessman, has deep passion for borough
Cleon "Cle" Berntheizel IV has a passion for the borough of Columbia in his blood. It's apparently also in his genes.
MORE:
http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/cleon-berntheizel-columbia-councilman-artist-and-businessman-has-deep-passion/article_b1d545bc-eb9d-11e6-a106-8fdfa0157fea.htmlSaturday, February 4, 2017
Good Samaritan gave stranger a ride and became unwitting bank robbery getaway driver
Local story makes it to the UK.
Greg Kreiser kindly offered to give Shannon Eric Steckbeck, 50, a lift home – he had no idea what the felon was planning.
MORE:
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/good-samaritan-gave-stranger-ride-became-unwitting-bank-robbery-getaway-driver-1604690
MORE:
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/good-samaritan-gave-stranger-ride-became-unwitting-bank-robbery-getaway-driver-1604690
Friday, February 3, 2017
Thursday, February 2, 2017
Geesey sworn in as school board director
Jenna Geesey is sworn in as school board director by District Judge Miles Bixler at Thursday night's Committee of the Whole meeting.
Wickenheiser appointed to council at special meeting
Mary Wickenheiser is sworn in by Mayor Leo Lutz.
Mary Wickenheiser was appointed to Columbia Borough Council tonight, filling a vacancy left by Stephanie Weisser's resignation in December 2016.
Interviews for the vacant borough council seat were held this evening during the special meeting. Frank Doutrich and Mary Wickenheiser, both of whom previously served on council, had submitted letters of interest.
Doutrich took the podium first and rescinded his bid for the seat telling council, "I don't feel I can work with you people." He also told council that he has a better chance of being hit by lightning than being appointed to fill the vacant seat.
Mary Wickenheiser was next to be interviewed and told council that she would be required to resign her position as tax collector if she were appointed to the seat. She had a letter of resignation prepared, and gave it to council. Wickenheiser said that she does a significant amount of volunteer work and knows what's going on in the borough. She said that she supports what this current council is doing.
Councilwoman Dr. Sherry Welsh made the motion to appoint Mary Wickenheiser to the seat with a second from Councilman Cleon Berntheizel. The motion carried unanimously and Wickenheiser was sworn in by Mayor Leo Lutz. Wickenheiser will fill the seat left by Stephanie Weisser in December 2016 with a term to expire December 31, 2017.
Police looking for assistance with vandalism | Columbia Borough Police Department
The Columbia Borough Police have responded to numerous vandalism reports in the downtown section. Reports started around 8:00 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2017. Several school buildings, a public building and a monument in the Locust Street Park in the 500 blk. of Locust Street, and various private out buildings throughout the downtown section have been targeted. Purple spray paint was used in all of the incidents. Police are asking for assistance in identifying any actor(s) that may be involved. Tips can be called in to the Columbia Borough Police Department at (717)684-7735 or tips can be sent to the Lancaster County Crime Stoppers text "LANCS" to 847411.
Case Status:
https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/cases/police-looking-assistance-vandalism
Rep. Saylor says he'll file subpoenas if governor's administration doesn't have answers in budget hearings
HARRISBURG — Rep. Stan Saylor, the new chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said Wednesday he will, if necessary, use subpoenas for information from Gov. Tom Wolf's administration during budget hearings that begin later this month.
MORE:
http://lancasteronline.com/insider/rep-saylor-says-he-ll-file-subpoenas-if-governor-s/article_673bf8a8-e8ea-11e6-8f6b-cb85091de16a.html
Incident: Fight/Stabbing
On Tuesday, January 31, 2017, Officers from the West Hempfield Township Police Department, responded to the Speedway located on 1792 Columbia Avenue, Columbia, PA 17512, for a fight.
Officers learned that an adult male, Walter Smith, had kept asking the Speedway clerk for her phone number, and asking her wheither or not she liked him. The clerk became nervous due to Smith's persistence.
The clerk then called a friend and the friend's husband, Clarence McMinn, had responded to the store. Clarence arrived at the store and tried to get Smith to leave. A physical altercation broke out between Smith and McMinn, in the store, and during the struggle C. McMinn slashed Smith's arm with a survival knife that he was carrying on his person.
The officers reported that Smith was found sitting near the gas pumps bleeding when they arrived on the scene.
The officer reported that both males involved in the altercation were transported to the LGH for treatment of non life threatening injuries.
The West Hempfield Township Police Department, after consulting with the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office, will file Simple assault charges against both parties, at MDJ Miles Bixler's Office, in Columbia, PA 17512.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Incident Date:
Wednesday, February 1, 2017 - 10:19pmCase Number:
2017-WH-00216Location:
1792 Columbia Avenue
Columbia, PA 17512
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Good Samaritan offers man a ride, winds up getaway driver in Columbia bank heist
A good Samaritan was an unwitting getaway driver in a bank robbery after offering a ride home to a man he met in a Columbia tavern Monday.
MORE:
http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/good-samaritan-offers-man-a-ride-winds-up-getaway-driver/article_ffc789a4-e8cf-11e6-af3f-5f2b7bfa5560.html
MORE:
http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/good-samaritan-offers-man-a-ride-winds-up-getaway-driver/article_ffc789a4-e8cf-11e6-af3f-5f2b7bfa5560.html
Columbia to pony up $100,000 to kick-start Land Bank projects
Explaining the borough's need to pony up the funds, Murphy said, “Lancaster County Commissioners created this [the Land Bank], but there is no funding mechanism for it at the moment.” The funding will require an extra line item on the 2017 budget, according to Murphy.
Murphy said representatives from the borough and the school board met with the Land Bank and targeted 18 properties, with an initial two, that could benefit from the program. All parties agreed that $100,000 is a suitable figure to get started in 2017. Murphy said that smaller, more manageable projects, which he termed "low-hanging fruit," will be undertaken first.
The Land Bank has a variety of options for a targeted property, including buying and reselling it to a contractor immediately, or hiring a contractor to complete renovations and then sell the property. The borough will control all terms of the transactions. After a property is rehabilitated and returned to the tax rolls, the land bank will get half the taxes collected in the first five years. One stipulation is that the properties must be sold as single family dwellings.
At the finance meeting, resident Sharon Lintner asked “Is that [$100,000] used to purchase, or to purchase and fix up?” Murphy replied that it was to purchase. Lintner cited the $5,000 fee to join and the $1,000 annual membership fee, but questioned the amount of additional funding. “I didn’t know about the $100,000, and that’s why I questioned you. I didn’t know.”
Resident Frank Doutrich said, “I didn't hear anything when this was presented - that we were going to be buying properties. My feeling was it was going to be the Land Bank doing all the buying.”
Murphy replied, “They are, but we're giving them, for lack of a better term, $100,000 seed money. They have no funding.”
Doutrich replied, “I never heard nothing about that, and I sit and I listen pretty good.”
Murphy said, “It’s like we’re gifting them $100,000 to start purchasing these projects to get them rehabbed on behalf of Columbia Borough. They’re just like another legislative body.”
Doutrich then asked what would happen if the Land Bank runs out of money. Murphy replied that they could ask the borough for more.
Mayor Leo Lutz said, "We aren’t giving anybody a dollar. We're putting that money in the budget. At some point and time we could say we want out of this - give us our money back," Lutz said.
The committee voted to take the matter to February's council meeting.
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Monday, January 30, 2017
Will new code requirements backfire?
Letter from Columbia Borough explaining procedure for obtaining Certificate of Occupancy
He believes the ordinance will lead to increased vacant and blighted properties. Owners will walk away from properties due to heavy-handed inspections and repair requirements, he said, leading to an increase in crime and a situation like that of Harrisburg, which he calls "the capital of blighted."
Citing one such home inspection lasting three-and-a-half hours and resulting in a 13-page repair list, he said that such scrutiny requires too many repairs for homes valued at only $30,000.
He surmises that every borough property decreased in value when the ordinance was passed, adding that it "borders on illegal." He said Columbia is in the shape it's in because it is mismanaged.
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