Sunday, May 27, 2018

About Town

This week's pics from around Columbia...
(Click or tap on photos to see larger, sharper images.)


 Close-up of the Weeping Angel at Mount Bethel

A side view 

Holy Light!

 Some people who should know better insist on calling this "Riverfront Park."

Anyway, here's Columbia Crossing, seen from the Veterans Memorial Bridge.

 Here's another look.

 And under the bridge . . . a painting of the bridge taking shape

 ". . . it's 
spring 
when the world is puddle-wonderful"
[in Just-] e.e.cummings

 Looks like someone finally got sick of the weeds in the 300 block of Avenue G.

 So that's where the news is.

 Really? These steps will never pass inspection.

 "Turkey vulture on brick chimney"

 Purple petunia

 Tearing up the tracks near the Columbia Plaza

 Sometimes things just pop up.

 He didn't want his picture taken.

 Blocking the road at 2nd & Walnut. Damn GPS!

 Peonies on the 500 block of Chestnut

 Picture perfect

 On the 500 block of Cherry, the gates's been added.

 Wind sock . . . for a wind foot?
(Near Avenue X)

 Little red wagon painted . . . red

 Slab at 4th & Manor - A giant propane tank might still be installed there in the future.

The front of some sort of maintenance train

 Its purpose is to grind the tracks (?)

 That's a pretty long train.

 It even has this doohickey on top.

 Here's the last car. In "ancient times," this was called the caboose.

 Workers working at work on the train

 And just below the train - a tunnel at Shawnee Run

 Inside looking out

 Outside looking in looking out the other end

 Might have been built in the late 19th or early 20th century (?)

 Of course, the graffiti "artists" have been there.

 One last look, with the train on top

No parking on the sidewalk, unless of course you want to park there. 

 All you need

 The 400 block of Locust - What's that address again?

 A better angel of our nature?

 No, just a cherub, like this one, at the former Masonic Center on the 300 block of Locust

 Well . . . he's still there, after all this time. How is it that no one else has seen him yet?

 He lives in the attic of this apartment house on Walnut Street. Judging from the electric meters on the right, there are six apartments, his being one. Let's hope his electric bill is paid.

 Info on the railroads running through Columbia and elsewhere.

This historical "plaque" at the bridge plaza could use some sprucing up. After all, we don't want our history to fade.

 Codes secretly surveilling someone with a secret spy camera.
(Hey, that's our job!)

 Another vehicle on the sidewalk - The town motto should be: "It's Columbia. Do whatever you want!"

 Surveyor surveying 401 Locust

 What's he doing that for?

 There he is again, looking at the side of the building.

 Isn't that camera at River Park fixed yet?

 He was working on it last week, too.

 The tails tell the tale.
(But what is it?)

 Trolley sighting!

 Whoever heard of a patriotic sparrow? Usually an eagle does this job on top of the flagpole.

 One of those days . . . ?

 Yoga at River Park

 Two lost ducklings looking for their mother realized this goose was not she.

 They huddled in the grass, still looking.

One way to save on gas

A reader submitted this photo of the building at 3rd & Walnut, now Burning Bridge Antiques. Looks like there was a fire there at one time.

Another reader submitted this photo of Columbia and those following. Which church is that on the right?

 Where is this?

 Could this be the 200 block of Locust?

 The Daily News building - but where?
On the right is the Columbia Republican Club.

All decked out - the 200 block of Locust?

Columbia honors military personnel at Saturday's Gateway dedication

On Saturday afternoon, Columbia Borough dedicated the "Veterans Memorial Bridge Island Gateway Project" honoring military personnel. The ceremony, which was held at the bridge plaza, featured a flag-raising for each branch of the armed forces and POW/MIA. (Eight flagpoles were installed last December.) Engraved bricks holding the names of members of the military were laid along the walkway this week, in anticipation of the dedication. About 300 people attended Saturday's event.

The project was originally conceived by Philip GlatfelterGlatfelter, a veteran, died in October 2016.

















































MEMORIAL DAY PARADE CANCELED

Columbia's Memorial Day parade has been canceled due to inclement weather, according to several sources close to the project.

Thursday, May 24, 2018

Are debris and standing water creating a problem on the 400 block of N. 3rd?

A reader submitted the first three photographs below showing debris on Colonial Metals property and standing water on the roof of the building on the 400 block of N. 3rd Street.  The reader states that the debris is left over from roof damage last year and believes the standing water is a violation of Code Chapter 220-33 A.1, which reads:

§ 220-33Nuisances and hazards to public safety.
A. No land owner, tenant nor lessee shall use or allow to be used any land or structures in a way that results or threatens to result in any of the following conditions:
(1)
Transmission of communicable disease, including conditions that may encourage the breeding of insects or rodents.

Columbia Spy took the last photo below, showing a clogged roof drain. Clearing the clog would most likely resolve the issue of standing water. The reader said he is going to contact the borough about the issue, as he did last July.


 Debris on the Maple Street side of the property

 Standing water on the roof, near the corner of 3rd and Maple

The view from Maple Street

This roof drain is clogged and is preventing water from escaping.