COLUMBIA SPY

Sunday, November 12, 2017

Columbia's Northwest Bank Plans for Week of Giving

The Columbia office of Northwest Bank is gearing up for their first annual "Spirit of Giving Week," which will take place the week of November 27, 2017.

Local residents are encouraged to get involved with Northwest’s Week of Giving by stopping by the Columbia office to see what they’re doing to help their community.

According to a Northwest press release:

“In the spirit of giving this holiday season, we’d like to take this opportunity to give back to our community. We invite all of our friends and neighbors to visit us at 350 Locust Street Columbia during the week if they’d like to make a donation or help our cause to give back. It’s great to see our community come together to give to those in need.”

Northwest will be collecting donations for Hands Across the Street, including clothing items, paper products and non-perishable foods. Hands Across the Street is a church-sponsored assistance program serving Columbia.

About Northwest Bank
Northwest Bank operates 164 full-service offices and nine freestanding drive-throughs. Founded in 1896, Northwest offers a complete line of personal and business banking products including employee benefits, investment management services, insurance and trust. Northwest Bancshares, Inc. is the holding company of Northwest and is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market as NWBI. More information about Northwest can be found online at www.northwest.com.

Over 200 participate in Semper Fi 5K Run on Saturday

Columbia's Charles Leader and Don Groom were among the many participants in Saturday's race.

Over 200 runners and walkers participated in Saturday’s Semper Fi 5K Run in Columbia to commemorate Veterans Day. As of Saturday morning, there were 176 pre-registrants and about 45 walk-ins, according to race organizer Steve Bowers. All money raised will stay in Lancaster County to help local vets. Along with fellow Marine vet Richard Brinkman, Bowers organized the event through the Marine Corps League of Lancaster County Detachment #294, whose headquarters is at 2340 Ironville Pike, Columbia. Bowers also hand-painted all the race’s directional signs that lined borough streets.

According to the website semperfi5k.rocks, “The 5K course is very fast, downhill and created by experienced runners.” The course’s starting point was Columbia High School, and the finish line was the bottom of Locust Street. After completing the course, participants attended an awards ceremony at Columbia Crossing, 41 Walnut Street.

Bowers told Columbia Spy that he plans to hold next year’s race in Columbia due to the borough’s encouragement and cooperation, and because runners liked the downhill course.

(Columbia Spy posted a video of the awards ceremony on its Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/columbiapa17512/ )

Saturday, November 11, 2017

11-11-11 Club holds banquet and memorial service to commemorate Veterans Day

The 11-11-11 Club hosted its annual banquet and memorial service at the VFW Red Rose Memorial Post #2435 on Saturday, November 11, to commemorate Veterans Day.

Dozens attended to pay tribute and listen to remarks by guest speaker Lieutenant General Dennis L. Benchoff. Ed Wickenheiser and Reverends Thomas Grubbs and Fred Thomas also spoke. The Pledge of Allegiance Assembly was led by Robert A. Herman, Jr., and dinner was served by the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW Post #2435.

Kevin Kraft opened the ceremony by ringing a bell at 11 a.m., accompanied by a rifle salute outside the building.