COLUMBIA SPY

The Columbia Borough Shade Tree Commission and the Columbia Tree Society held their 22nd annual Arbor Day celebration at 6 p.m on Friday, April 26, at Janson Park, Sixth and Cherry streets in Columbia. Janson Foundation president Fred Smith was master of ceremonies, and Reverned Kenneth Lawrence of Holy Trinity Catholic Church gave the invocation and benediction.   Mayor Leo Lutz, Columbia Borough Council President Mike Beury Sr. and Mike Beury Jr., chairman of the Shade Tree Commission gave short talks.  Mike Beury Sr. reminded those present that our state tree is the hemlock, noted for its sturdiness and longevity. Rick Hartleib of the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Bureau of Forestry presented Columbia with its 21st consecutive National Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA award. Mark Zeamer awarded prizes to second-graders from Our Lady of the Angels School, Taylor Elementary and Park Elementary schools for their winning entries in th...

Currently, most Columbia residents and businesses pay higher rates than LASA charges — approximately $42 a month verses $81.99 a quarter. But 38 percent of the customers pay the minimum flat fee of $19.44 per month. Many of the residents in Columbia who pay the minimum flat fee are elderly, Norm Meiskey said, and it's a "major concern" to keep rates equitable. Kyle said that changes to rates would "ramp up slowly" and could take five or 10 years. The three main parties — borough council, the municipal authority and LASA — agreed to come with individual goals and objectives. A work group involving LASA and borough employees will share information about current facilities, rates and business practices. If a deal is reached and the sale moves forward, it would take two to two-and-a-half years to fully implement. More  HERE

The Columbia Water Company is asking the state to approve a $773,210 rate increase for its Columbia Division. The proposal filed Thursday with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission would raise rates for various categories of customers between 21.06 and 21.11 percent. The additional revenue would be used to cover growing operating expenses and service costs, including recovery of about $4.3 million in capital improvements to the Columbia Division water system. The proposal would not affect customers in the company's Marietta Division, which is made up of Marietta Borough and East Donegal Township in Lancaster County and Hellam Township in York County. The increase is proposed to take effect June 24. MORE HERE: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/842604_Columbia-Water-Company-seeks-rate-hike.html

LANCASTERONLINE The collapse of the smallmouth bass fishery on the lower Susquehanna River may be the "canary in the coal mine," presaging future health problems to more fish and animals in the river, as well as devastating a recreational economy, a new report says. Since 2005, 80 percent of the bass have disappeared between Sunbury and the Conowingo Dam. Fingerling bass are dying, ugly lesions and splotches are appearing on adults and eggs are showing up in the testes of male fish. The cause: A "perfect storm" of high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, rising water temperatures believed to be at least partly due to global warming and a mix of chemicals from sewage plants, says the report, released Thursday by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. MORE HERE: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/842213_Susquehanna-River-s-poor-health-is-killing-smallmouth-bass.html

Thanks to a collaboration between the Mount Bethel Cemetery Company and the Columbia Public Library, assorted artwork by Gardiner Criswell will be on display at the cemetery during set hours on April 26 and April 28.  Approximately 15 to 20 of Criswell's works, including oil paintings and sketches, will be set up inside the house located on the cemetery grounds at 700 Locust St., Columbia, from 5 to 9 p.m. on Fourth Friday, April 26, and from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 28. Refreshments will be available. There is no cost to view the exhibit, but donations will be accepted. MORE HERE: http://news.engleonline.com/AdDesk/Htmlfiles/Readers/article.epc?id=84444

WGAL LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. - The Lancaster County District Attorney is seeking the death penalty against Mario Casanova-Lanzo, 36, who is charged in a Columbia fatal shooting. He pleaded not guilty. In February, Casanova-Lanzo broke into his estranged wife's home on North Third Street and shot Parrish Thaxton several times, police said. http://m.wgal.com/news/da-seeks-death-penalty-in-columbia-fatal-shooting/-/17430522/19888586/-/10phqftz/-/index.html

Columbia Borough and its municipal authority will hold a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 25, to discuss a possible deal with the Lancaster Area Sewer Authority to purchase Columbia's wastewater treatment system or have LASA provide services to the borough. The borough is required to find a solution to comply with clean water regulations mandated by the state Department of Environmental Resources. The public meeting will be held at the borough hall, 308 Locust St.