COLUMBIA SPY

Some recent pics about town . . .  Another vandalized bench plaque at Columbia River Park Many birds high on a wire  Many dollars deep in a hole. The trolley was a grand experiment, but outlays and revenues didn't match - by far - despite the presence of the affable Andre Underhill (foreground), owner, driver and tour guide. Andre's wife, Kelly (far left), is co-owner of Rivertowne Trolley Co., LLC.  But no worries, Andre will return with the trolley this coming Saturday, October 8, for Albatwitch Day in Columbia. Funding will be provided exclusively by passengers.  Some big trees were cut down at Mount Bethel Cemetery - and needed to be - due to falling branches.   The Weeping Angel is safe once again. (Note the wing that was reportedly damaged by a falling branch.)  Decorative tombstone at Holy Trinity Cemetery  Baby possum on Heritage Drive  "Can't we all just get along?"  A...

 

The following ad for a high school principal in the Columbia Borough School District was recently posted on monster.com. At its September 15 meeting, the board accepted the resignation of high school principal Maura Hobson, effective September 14, 2016. Hobson will remain in the position for up to 60 days, pending a replacement. The link to the job posting is  HERE.

 Matthew Sternberg, executive director of Lancaster County Housing & Redevelopment Authorities at last Monday's meeting There's a new way for Columbia to confront vacant, abandoned and blighted properties: the Lancaster County Land Bank. Matthew Sternberg, executive director of Lancaster County Housing & Redevelopment Authorities, gave an "information only" presentation about the Land Bank last Monday night at a joint meeting of the Columbia Borough Council and the Columbia Borough School Board. Sternberg described the concept as a collaboration of the borough, the school district, and the Land Bank, providing a means for remediation of blighted and other troubled properties. The entity does not have eminent domain powers (as a redevelopment authority does), but it can assemble funding for blight remediation and site upgrades, and can acquire, develop, demolish, or otherwise dispose of real property. A land bank also has the ability to buy a prop...

Borough council heard proposals from three market manager candidates at a special meeting Monday, September 26. Renee Sears, Beth Troxell, and Chris Vera answered questions from council and borough consultant Rebecca Denlinger about their respective plans for the Columbia Historic Market House, if hired. Troxell previously submitted a written proposal to council, which is published with this article. Vera gave a power point proposal at the meeting. His proposal was also posted on Columbia Spy  HERE . Both Sears and Troxell managed the market house previously. Vera is president of the Columbia Historic Preservation Society. Teresa Allen has managed the market house since Troxell's resignation earlier this year. At the conclusion of the interviews, Borough Manager Greg Sahd announced that council would not make a decision that evening. Instead, a decision will be made later at a public forum. If council does not choose one of the three candidates, the opening could be reposted to i...