COLUMBIA SPY

The lines have faded. At the top of the quarter-mile long hill to Columbia Jr/Sr High School, painted lines and arrows designating pedestrian crossings and traffic flow are now barely visible. Fran Resch, former crossing guard and former school board member, made three requests to school officials to have the lines repainted - once at the beginning of the last school year, and twice at recent school board meetings (including Thursday night's committee of the whole meeting). He is concerned about the safety of students who need to cross the road several times a day when vehicles are traveling up the hill. So far, his requests have been ignored. According to Resch, he was told that line painting couldn't be worked into the budget. Recent photos of safety lines and arrows at the high school:

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Columbia Spy is privileged to publish several articles by Columbia native Mike Clark, with permission of the author. The essays were previously published in The Globe Leader and 50-plus Senior News and will continue to be reprinted in the Spy over the next few weeks. An Autumn Day By Mike Clark I feel rejuvenated by the sunshine; it’s been absent for so long. A string of chilly, gray days had driven me into a mild funk. I’m fine, now. An occasional autumn gust strips the remaining leaves from the maples and oaks around the neighborhood as nature prepares the giant trees for a long winter nap. The colorful carpet beneath is blown downwind, relieving me of the dreadful chore of raking or firing up that infernal, high-decibel gas blower. I ponder that humble blessing as I set fire to a layer of kindling in the wood stove. I’ll add a few chunks of hardwood and the fire will grow to a small blaze. My plan is to sit in peace before the radiant warmth as I read an old book—A Walk in ...

Director of Operations Tom Strickler at Thursday night's meeting At tonight's Columbia Borough School Board Committee of the Whole meeting, two candidates were interviewed for the still vacant board seat. In addition, Board President Cole Knighton announced that another board resignation was submitted today. The name was not announced as the board has not officially accepted the resignation as yet. Candidates Iris Garrido and Barry Ford answered questions from board members during simultaneous interviews. Garrido ran against Fran Resch in a recent election. Resch resigned in May of this year. Ford resigned from borough council in May due to health reasons. At the conclusion of the interview there was confusion as to whether a vote could be taken at the meeting. Superintendent Robert Hollister said he thought the position had not been advertised correctly and advised the board to err on the side of caution and delay a vote until next week at the regular board meetin...