Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Civil War medical techniques shown at CHiPS

Robert Urban, a nationally recognized re-enactor of Civil War medical techniques, presented a lecture and demonstration at the Columbia Historic Preservation Society recently.
Urban, in full uniform, demonstrated such techniques as wound preparation and amputation at his makeshift field hospital during the two-hour event.  Considered one of the best medical re-enactors in the country, he is often called upon as an expert in the historical medical field for film and television.
Urban has a large library of Civil War era books as well as a collection of instruments he uses to demonstrate techniques on medical mannequins.

Human skull replica

Attending to wounds

Removing a bullet

Archaic medical instruments

More tools of the trade

A disturbingly life-like victim

Another patient at the field hospital

More era surgical instruments

A manual of surgical techniques

Urban discusses amputation

How to prepare a head wound

Autumn glory

A cell phone pic from about two weeks ago.

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Royer's Flowers' Bouquets For Books a big help for area libraries

Royer's Flowers & Gifts' annual book drive collected 1,653 new children's books for public libraries in six counties, including Lancaster.
During its recent Bouquets For Books campaign, the Lebanon-based business offered free flowers for each book customers donated at its 17 stores in the region.
Royer's recently presented the books to county library systems and the independent Hershey Public Library. The Library System of Lancaster County received the most: 616 books.
Books also were collected locally at Royer's Lancaster West, Ephrata, Leola and Columbia stores.

Miller's JFK 50 Mile victory is one of legendary proportions

Zach Miller provided both Saturday at the 51st annual edition of the nation's oldest and largest ultramarathon.
The 25-year-old from Columbia, Pa., overcame strong headwinds, cold temperatures and a loaded field of runners to win the 50.2-mile race in 5 hours, 38 minutes and 53 seconds — the third-fastest time in event history.

Monday, November 18, 2013

Columbia Fire Station handing out smoke detectors

Thanks to a donation from an area business, Columbia Fire Station No. 1 recently was stocked with 100 detectors to give away free to borough residents in need.