About Town

This week's photos from around Columbia...

(Tap/click on each photo to see a larger, clearer image.)

Officer Ed Mann on foot patrol

 Looks like the Locust Street pawn shop might be getting pawned.

Notice from code official regarding an unlicensed vehicle in Avenue H

 Sticker shock!

 Free antique television

Here are a few about to be carted off to TV heaven.

 So that's where that damaged section of Heritage Drive fence got to.

 Dropping off ties at the tracks

 New awnings at 301 Locust

 Poplar Street School is for sale.

 Down at the traffic safety island at Front and Bridge

 Apparently not so safe - Someone knocked over the reflectors.

 Painting the bell tower at the Salem United Church of Christ

 Just within reach

A new hatch has hit.

Down at River Park, too.

 Someone dropped their glasses in the mess but wisely didn't go back for them.

Mayfly turf

And clumps on the river

 Speaking of mayflies, borough workers wrangled this giant one on Friday and brought it to River Park.

 They placed it here, near the pavilion. It's actually a bike rack that was designed last year by Bella Gentile, who was in third grade at the time. 

Local artist John Morrow put it all together.

The many-legged thing is an apt addition to the park.

And here are some bikes.

The rain gardens at the park are looking healthy.

Here's a house on the 300 block of Walnut.

 By the way, when did Heritage DRIVE become Heritage STREET?!

 There's the Jolly Roger...

 ...on a kayak.

This worker was painting the curbs the other day.

It didn't help.

This Flagger Force worker politely and apologetically tried to explain to drivers why South 9th Street was blocked just beyond the intersection with Wright Street at the same time the left turn onto Wright Street was also blocked. Drivers had to turn right onto Wright [!] then right again onto South 10th Street, then back onto 462.

And this is planning?

A few minutes later, more traffic headaches, this time on the first block of South 6th. 

 Meanwhile, atop a telephone pole...

 Nag, nag, nag!

 Bitch, bitch, bitch!

 Looks like all families have their share of dysfunction.

On and on and on!

The National Watch and Clock Museum celebrated its 75th anniversary this past week.

Lots of folks attended. They came from all over, as attested to by the license plates seen below:

*****

Oh dear lord, let's hope these aren't for the mayflies.

 On the job

 Resurrecting another ghost sign at Bootleg Antiques

Officer Dave Souders checking out the van

 Activity at Colonial Metals

Another view

Up, up, and away

Searching for an address?

 Fishin'

 Memory lapse

 Another property for sale - 

Berkshire Hathaway has about a dozen or so in Columbia, commercial and residential.

Doll in a wicker baby carriage at Tacos to Go

Possibly possessed

 Don't forget: Red (and green) means STOP!

 Don't go stirring this up.

Terrorist Hunting Permit

 Kid in a window

It continues at 3rd and Locust.

 Lucky osprey, unlucky fish

 More sticker shock

 Wrong way!

 The sign's right there.

 Activity at Hinkle's 

 Keeping a watchful eye

She saw the light.

 Take Away Refuse, please take away this refuse.

Enjoying the day

Red sail, but not quite in the sunset

Business owners voice concerns about Knox Box ordinance

Business owners are pushing back against the borough's key lock box ordinance, which requires all places of business to have key lock boxes, commonly known as Knox Boxes, installed and accessible to emergency personnel. The ordinance was passed in December 2017 and gives business owners a year to comply.

Keena Watson

Keena Watson of Soukup Automotive on 7th Street voiced her concerns to borough council about the lock boxes at the July council meeting.

Watson told council that she believes the ordinance does away with her right to choose what is best for her business. "Putting a key on the outside of my building is taking away my right to decide who is able to access my building," she said. Watson questioned council about who will be accountable if a lock box key is stolen from a business. She cited an incident in Phoenix, Arizona in which 183 keys went missing and the city subsequently spent $50,000 to rekey all its boxes. She asked if the borough would be responsible for rekeying all the boxes if a similar event happened here, noting that, "If someone has a key, every box in the borough can be accessed by that single key." She noted that if emergency personnel need to break into her business, insurance will pay for a broken door, but not for the installation, rekeying, or maintenance of a lock box.

"There are a lot of issues I feel like we don't have answers for as business owners," Watson said. "And for something that we've poured our heart and souls in, there's a lot of vulnerability for us."

Watson said she has a petition with signatures of 37 local business owners and 12 concerned citizens opposed to the mandatory installation of Knox Boxes but added that some business owners refused to sign out of fear of retaliation from borough officials. "I feel that it is a sad day in Columbia Pennsylvania, in the United States, where a citizen can't stand up for what they believe in, because they're afraid of their government. I think that's sad," she said.

Dr. William Kraft

Dr. William Kraft, a Columbia chiropractor, also addressed council about the ordinance. Kraft's main concern was keeping medical records private and secure. He said his practice is governed by federal privacy laws. "A local ordinance is not going to supersede federal law," he told council and warned that a security breach is possible if a box is compromised. "That box, I'm telling you, is a ticking time bomb for professionals like myself," he said.

Kraft said he believes the requirement should instead be optional. He asked council for a show of hands on how many would put a box on their residences. About half of the council members raised their hands. "This ordinance was passed unanimously, but not everyone here on this council is willing to put one on their door," Kraft said.

Columbia Borough Fire Chief Doug Kemmerly weighed in on the issue HERE.

John Novak, chair of the legislative committee said the issue will be discussed further at the committee's next meeting, to be held Wednesday, August 8, at 6 p.m.

Robert G. Miller

Robert G. Miller, a distinguished World War II veteran, writer, photographer, outdoorsman, history buff, and lifelong resident of the Columbia area, died on Wednesday, July 18, at St. Anne's Retirement Community, his daughter Cynthia at his side. He was 96 years of age.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/obituaries/robert-g-miller/article_1763b5a8-bca6-56e6-a624-0db2204d23a1.html