Local churches help the needy

By noon on Saturday, over 50,000 pounds of potatoes were gone - not eaten on the spot, but picked up and shipped out for the needy as part of a cooperative effort between Columbia and Mountville churches.  Ken Sprout of Columbia's United Methodist Church and Doug Warner of Mountville's Saint Paul's Church organized the event, held at Glatfelter's Memorial Field in Columbia. Local volunteers, along with Boy Scout Troop 64, helped out.

200 50-pound bags of potatoes were taken to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank in Harrisburg, and 100 bags went to the Water Street Rescue Mission in Lancaster. Bags also went to food banks in Elizabethtown and Manheim, and to individuals who picked them up for their own use.

This is the second year for the endeavor. Last year's was held in Mountville. 

The potatoes were grown on eight acres by a Rawlinsville farmer who wished to remain anonymous. Several months ago, he attended a meeting of the Columbia-Mountville United Methodist Men's group asking what he could do to help. Saying it was a "calling from God," he offered the potatoes, had them bagged, placed on skids, and shipped to the drop point in Columbia free of charge.  

The potato drop was coordinated by the United Methodist Men.

Ken Sprout of Columbia's United Methodist Church

Volunteers loading a truck.

Trucks from Central Pennsylvania Food bank and Water Street Rescue Mission picking up potatoes for distribution.

Skids piled with 50-lb bags

Helping load a skid on a pallet jack

Brett Hamaker helping out with a tow motor.

Columbia considers police spending as 2015 budget talks begin

Columbia borough council began budget discussions last week and, as it has been in past years, spending on the Columbia Borough Police Department was in council's cross hairs.

MORE:
http://m.lancasteronline.com/columbia/news/columbia-considers-police-spending-as-budget-talks-begin/article_91428170-4802-11e4-93e4-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm

Columbia featured in Lancaster County Magazine

The current issue of Lancaster County Magazine features an article on Columbia, including lots of photos.

Something new has been added

Fence posts have appeared recently along the side of the property at 631 South 13th Street, even though the zoning permit pertaining to fence installation specifies the rear of the property. (Unless "rear" means any of the property behind the house.)

More information can be found HERE.

What I saw recently

 A poster for a memorial ride for Chad Noll, who passed away last year

 A visitor (?) at the visitor's center (Northwest River Trail Services Building) at Columbia River Park on Saturday morning

 So that's where the honeybees are - getting hopped up on the caffeine in Mountain Dew.

I saw this abandoned soda can at Third and Locust with what I thought were yellow jackets crawling on it, until I looked more closely. These are the first honeybees I've seen in quite a while. 

 It's only September, and these geese are flying south already.

I hope that doesn't mean we're in for a nasty winter.

Road construction continues on Ironville Pike.

Fourth Friday Feet in the Street

The "Feet in the Street" event on Fourth Friday in Columbia featured art, dancing, food, music, and other attractions. The event was centered on the 500 block of Locust Street and Locust Street Park and extended to other areas of town.

 Dancers dancing

 Claire Storm with a mosaic of the bridge burning, created by participants at last year's RiverFest in Wrightsville

Music in the gazebo

Feet in the Street - Literally!

Some participants left their mark on the "Feet in the Street" celebration on Fourth Friday in Columbia by walking with painted feet on rolled out butcher paper.  The result was a cross between realism and abstract expressionism - and a lot of fun.