What's happening down at the bridge?

Bushes and other plantings were recently removed as an initial step towards creating a memorial to veterans - fittingly enough, at the entrance to the Veterans Memorial Bridge.

The landscaping happening now at the Columbia bridge plaza is an initial step in a project with several facets to honor veterans.

The project was originally conceived by Philip Glatfelter in 2016 and will eventually include flags to honor those who served in the military. (Glatfelter, a veteran, died in October 2016.) Columbia's Community Development Committee has undertaken the project, according to Rebecca Denlinger, borough consultant. The project will also include a brick memorial to honor veterans.

Cleon Berntheizel, borough councillor, and chair of the Community Development Committee, said the project will feature eight flags, including two American flags. There will also be five service flags: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard; and a POW flag. There will be four flagpoles on each of the two islands adjacent to Route 462. All flags will be visible behind the two cannons at the site and will be uplit at night. 

Brick sidewalks will be installed in front of the flag area with bricks containing veterans' names. There will be a fundraiser to help support the campaign, according to Berntheizel. After the completed project and dedication, veterans groups can continue selling bricks as a fundraiser. The landscape architect, Tom Jones Landscaping of Marietta, will continue installing bricks at no fee, according to Berntheizel, who stressed that names are not limited to Columbia residents. Veterans from surrounding areas are eligible also. Bricks will be arranged in a herringbone pattern, with veterans' bricks surrounded by blank bricks so that "named" bricks will not abut each other.

"I think it's going to be a great visual for people and something we can all be proud of." Berntheizel said. 

The two photos above show the initial removal of bushes and other plantings at the bridge plaza last week. The work is being done by Tom Jones Landscaping of Marietta.

Mausoleum delivery fails, crane can't make the turn

 A concrete slab was laid on the grounds of the Laurel Hill Memorial Gardens recently to support a 38-ton mausoleum that is to be delivered. A large crane will also be on-site to lift the mausoleum from the delivery truck and place it on the slab.

 Two small areas were carved out of the base of the hill to accommodate the crane's outriggers.

A delivery attempt was made last Wednesday morning. Unfortunately, the crane was unable to negotiate the tight turn on Laurel Hill Road leading to the cemetery and had to turn back, leaving these tire tracks in the mud.

The red arrow shows the tight turn where the crane got stuck.

A few days later, crushed stone was placed on the muddy perimeter of the turn. Another delivery attempt with a different crane will be made Monday morning, April 3. A source close to the project told Columbia Spy that the four-unit, $50,000 mausoleum is currently being stored on the truck.

USGS takes water samples near Columbia River Park

Two members of the US Geological Survey collected water samples from the Susquehanna River this morning. They stood several piers out on the Columbia side of the Veterans Memorial Bridge.

To collect the samples, they used a fish-shaped weight that held a small container. 

The weight was suspended on a cord from a portable crane with a pulley.

 The weight was lowered and raised several times to collect samples.

 The shape of the weight oriented it in the direction of the water current to fill the container.

The workers moved to several locations on the bridge to collect samples. The samples are used to determine such things as sediment load rates and phosphorus levels, among others.

 They parked their vehicle near Rotary Park.

According to the USGS website:

"The USGS serves the Nation by providing reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life."

Yard waste collection begins Monday, April 10

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http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/lancaster-nonprofit-introduces-healthy-eating-habits-to-columbia-students/article_a50df49e-14b2-11e7-a548-63f5b8207361.html

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                        Alexis Allen

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MORE:

http://lancasteronline.com/insider/grieving-columbia-woman-saves-toddler-on-the-side-of-a/article_cf763874-14b0-11e7-870f-137a1c0fbf14.html

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http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/fire-causes-in-damage-to-columbia-row-homes-residents-displaced/article_a5ad0c7c-14ea-11e7-81c8-6f42405ac0b4.html