'It's alive!' SPARKS Foundation brings science to life at Park Elementary School

The nonprofit has served Park Elementary, of which 67 percent of its students are considered economically disadvantaged, for several years running, Principal John Black said.

MORE:

http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/it-s-alive-sparks-foundation-brings-science-to-life-at/article_725fae42-ce3a-11e7-8264-eb3a5605e5fc.html

Columbia Borough Announces Request for Proposals for River Park

Columbia Borough has announced a Request for Proposals regarding the Columbia River Park Phase III Master Site Development Plan.

The cover page reads as follows:

The Borough Council of the Borough of Columbia, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is accepting proposals for a one-time contract to perform certain professional (consulting) services work for the Borough of Columbia involving the development of a Master Site Development Plan for an approximately 10-acre expansion (Phase III)
of Columbia River Park, Columbia Borough.

Attached is information relating to

submitting a proposal including specific requirements, the organization of the proposal, proposal evaluation criteria, and the proposed contract.

Sealed proposals must be received by the Borough of Columbia at 308 Locust Street, Columbia, PA 17512, no later than January 15, 2018 at 2:00 PM EST. If mailed, the proposal should be addressed to:

Columbia River Park Advisory Committee
c/o Rebecca Secrist Denlinger
Columbia Borough
308 South Locust Street
Columbia, PA 17512

A pre-bid meeting to discuss the project scope of work will be held at 5:00 PM on December 21, 2017 at Columbia Crossing River Trails Center, 41 Walnut Street, Columbia, PA 17512.

For additional information, please contact:

Rebecca Denlinger
Rising Tide Collaborative, LLC
717-468-8222
rsd@risingtidecollaborative.com

[The full document can be accessed HERE.]

About Town

Recent pics about town . . .

 Snowflakes now line Locust. They're the new, smaller ones.

 At St. John's Lutheran.

Was it vandalism?

 Night flier

 There's somethin' happenin' here.

What it is ain't exactly clear.

 One of those rocks.

 "Gangsta" graffiti

***

 Empty cigarette cartons lining the 300 block of Avenue G

 Many cigarette cartons

 Many, many cigarette cartons

 And more cigarette cartons - all behind the Chestnut Street Turkey Hill

***

A few different views of "The Bridge"...

***

 Here's a fence across Locust Street (extended).

 Ghost signs

 Bird brains.

One seems to be landing sideways.

 Line-up

 There's another rock.

 Newly installed "security fence" along Heritage Drive.

Trees will be planted along here soon.

 The proverbial Golden Calf

Mighty tight

 Even tighter

 New porch on North 5th

 Stringing the lights

 Lunch

 UGI

 Abandoned

 Time for a chat

 Lair of the hidden gas cans in Avenue H...

Could these be the ones used to light the trashcan the other week?

 Missing

Dayflake

Borough kicks in $70K to give troubled building a second chance

208-210 Locust Street

The troubled building at 208-210 Locust Street might be getting a new lease on life thanks to an agreement between Columbia Borough and Brookline Builders of Lancaster. Borough Council recently approved $70,000 for the Lancaster County Land Bank to assist Brookline, a historic preservation company, with restoration of the property. Brookline’s budget for the project is $232,000. According to the agreement, the company will purchase the building for the token fee of $1 with the intent of restoring the facade and performing structural repairs. Brookline will then move its sister company, Lancaster Lime Works LLC, into the building where it will use the first floor as a showroom and offices. The top two floors will be rented out as a large, single apartment. Brookline has also requested that the borough set aside two parking spaces during regular business hours for use by Lancaster Lime.

The agreement, which is subject to solicitor review, stipulates that funds provided by the borough must be repaid in entirety if the property is sold within five years of occupancy. Council President Kelly Murphy said that the Land Bank estimated the cost of an alternative plan - tearing the building down and rebuilding - to be $350,000. Borough officials agreed that no developer would be willing to invest that amount to rebuild on the property.

The building, which was thought to be in danger of collapse in 2015, was later shored up and reinforced and the facade covered in Tyvek, for a total cost to the borough of $51,911.17. The borough placed a lien on the property for that amount, which it subsequently forgave in exchange for possession from owners Sam and Cynthia Bigler of Millersville.

The backstory on the borough's acquisition of the property is HERE.

Hit and Run Investigations | Columbia Borough Police Department

Columbia Police are investigating two hit and run accidents where parked vehicles were struck.

On 11-17-17 a parked vehicle was struck in the 200 block of North Fourth Street causing damage to the driver side mirror and front fender.  Passenger side mirror parts from the suspect vehicle were found at the scene and are believed to be from a Chevy or GMC truck.

On 11-19-17 a parked vehicle was struck in the 300 block of North Seventh Street causing damage to the driver side mirror and door.

Anyone with information on either of these hit and run accidents is encouraged to contact the Columbia Police (717)684-7735 or text LANCS 847411..

Source: 

Columbia Borough Police Department

https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/post/hit-and-run-investigations

Myers, Sherri Ann - (1) count of Retail Theft (S) | Columbia Borough Police Department

On November 19, 2017 at approximately 11:53 am Columbia Borough Police responded to a shoplifter in custody at the Dollar General Store located at Columbia Plaza, 960 Lancaster Avenue Columbia, PA 17512. As a result, Sherri A. Myers of Marietta was arrested for attempting to steal $35.50 worth of merchandise from the retail store. She was observed by employees concealing several packs of socks and one pack of men's underwear in her handbag. She was cited and released from Police custody. All parties are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.


Case Number:

21291-11-19-17


Arrest Date:

Sunday, November 19, 2017

Charges:
(1) count of Retail Theft (S)
Source: Columbia Borough Police Department

https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/arrests/myers-sherri-ann-1-count-retail-theft-s

Found property to be returned. | Columbia Borough Police Department

We have several items in our lost and found that we know who the owners are. We are unable to get in touch with the following people. If you know them please tell them to call and ask for Officer Austin Miller. 717-664-1180.

Anney C. Togneri

Karissa Lynn Spitler

Kenneth W. Story

Jason J. Rollman

Michelle Alexander

Source: 

Columbia Borough Police Department

https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/post/found-property-be-returned