A car got "stuck" on the tracks near River Park yesterday, due the traffic signals turning red while it was exiting. (The car can be seen just above the road level, in the above photo.) A precarious place to be, especially when a train is coming. (Luckily, one wasn't.)
This happens quite often at Musser's Market in the Columbia Plaza. Drivers usually need several tries before they can get lined up with the delivery area, blocking Tenth and Barber Streets in the process. Some drivers back in from Barber, some from Tenth.
Pedestrians can now walk from Columbia to Marietta via the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail. The local section of the trail, which was previously closed beyond a cul-de-sac under the Wrights Ferry (Route 30) Bridge, was recently opened to Chickies Rock Park and beyond. Brush has been cleared and stone has been laid, creating a comfortable and defined walking path. In Columbia, the trail can be accessed by crossing Bridge Street and following the walkway along the newly opened Route 441 bypass. Pedestrians crossing Bridge Street should be alert to fast-moving traffic along Route 441. A trail map and guide can be obtained by clicking HERE.
A section of fence has been removed at the former cul-de-sac under the Wrights Ferry Brdige, allowing access to the trail.
Brush has been cleared on both sides of the trail, and the walkway has been paved with stone.
Visitors can see the remains of an old coal-fired furnace along the trail.
The trail leads to this man-made tunnel.
Chickies Rock County Park is on the other side of the tunnel.
Two separate activist groups gathered outside the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center Saturday morning to publicize their concerns in anticipation of Governor Tom Wolf's opening ceremony speech. Pennsylvanians Against Fracking and Direct Action Everywhere held picket signs and banners on the sidewalk as visitors arrived at the farm show.
Pennsylvanians Against Fracking is a statewide coalition of groups representing a diversity of issues, backgrounds and locations, united in the mission of achieving a ban on fracking in the commonwealth, according to its website, paagainstfracking.org.
Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) states that its driving philosophy is based on the the belief "that every sentient being – black or white, gay or straight, dog or cat, human or rat – deserves the same safety, happiness, and freedom that we ask for ourselves. The movement is growing rapidly, as people of conscience tear off their moral blindfolds and see the raging violence against non-human animals for what it is: an atrocity."
A little after 10 a.m., as Governor Wolf began his speech inside the Main Arena, DxE activists infiltrated the platform where he was speaking - and where dignitaries and others were seated - and attempted to disrupt the speech by carrying signs and banners and shouting their message. Simultaneously, anti-fracking activists seated strategically around the arena, began shouting, also. Pennsylvania State Police quickly escorted the activists out of the arena as Wolf continued his speech.
Inside the Main Arena, anti-fracking activists unfurled a banner with the message "Farms not fracking" during opening ceremonies, but removed it at the request of State Police. Actor James Cromwell is seen in the above photo, resting his head on his hand.
Governor Tom Wolf began his opening speech at the 100th Pennsylvania Farm Show. A sign language interpreter can be seen on the right.
A few minutes into the speech, DxE activists infiltrated the platform where Wolf was speaking and attempted to disrupt but were quickly led away by State Police, as the speech continued.
Police escorted activists outside without incident.
Afterwards, police denied anti-fracking activists entry to the building.
A Band-Aid-shaped sign reading CROSS TRAFFIC DOES NOT STOP was recently added to the stop sign post at Front and Locust Streets. Since the Route 441 bypass opened, this troublesome intersection has been the site of several near accidents due to changes in the placement of stop signs.
