PLCB agents raid 717 Social Club and close it down

PLCB agents and State Police raided the 717 Social Club at 401 South 2nd Street about 10 a.m. Tuesday and spent several hours loading alcoholic beverages and other items onto a truck parked out front. Signs were posted on all entrance doors, declaring that the club is permanently closed.

The venue, a non-profit private club, was denied a liquor license by Columbia Borough at a public hearing a few months ago. According to Bruce L. Murray II, co-owner of the building, the non-profit donated over $22,000 to the community last year. He expressed disappointment at the PLCB decision to close the club permanently. Murray provided Columbia Spy with letters of thanks and support for the club, which are shown at the end of this article.

Bruce Murray provided the following letters of support and thanks from individuals and organizations that received donations from 717 Social Club last year.

Columbia Borough Meetings - Week of March 11, 2019

IT'S SUNSHINE WEEK 2019 (MARCH 10-16)

Sunshine Week is a national initiative spearheaded by the American Society of News Editors to educate the public about the importance of open government and the dangers of excessive and unnecessary secrecy. (Wikipedia)

About Town 3/10/19

This week's photos from around Columbia

(Click/tap on photos for larger, clearer images.)

Giant cat face at the animal shelter-to-be

Here's a long view.

 Earlier this week

 Yep - snow again

 Part way down that sidewalk at the high school

 The work week: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

 The great thaw

Looks like Living Stones Masonry got its zoning application approved for 53 North Front Street. Columbia Spy reported on it HERE.

Skids full of stones were unloaded on Friday at the former home of Take Away Refuse.

 Here's a look inside the building.

 And a look outside

 That can't be right - a downspout but no gutter to empty into.

 Mr. and Mrs. Merganser

 Backside

(Hotel Locust)

 Parley

 Giving the evil eye in a sidewise glance

 Photo of a photographer

 Giant fruit fly invades town.

 Happy guys from across the river

 There go those ethereal tundra swans again.

 And here are some lowly Canada geese, with a seagull trying to blend in.

 He happens to be an amputee.

 Water leaking from an electrical box

 That can't be good.

 Foggy tree line

 And another - with a soft glow in the middle.

Here's a long shot.

 Tundra swans yet again

 More tundra swans

 And a few snow geese thrown in for good measure

 Huge tree root causing all manner of trouble on the 500 block of Chestnut

Time to drug test that snake?

Everything but the kitchen sink.
On second thought, there might be one in there.

Pickup truck wipes out Visitors' Center shed during police pursuit, officer cuffs driver

An out-of-control pickup truck demolished a storage shed at the Visitors' Center shortly before 9 a.m. Sunday. The truck was reportedly being pursued by Columbia Borough Police traveling east on Route 30 when the driver lost control near the exit ramp at Linden Street, and the truck slid across a small grass field into the shed.

According to a witness, the pursuing officer handcuffed the driver as he exited the truck.

[Above photos by Howard Stevens]

Howard Stevens posted a video of the crash on Facebook:

LINK