Monday, May 9, 2022
Sunday, May 8, 2022
About Town - May 8, 2022
Recent photos of Columbia
(Click/tap on photos to see larger, sharper images.)
These bridge lights on the Veterans Memorial Bridge were installed in spring/summer of 2014 and dedicated in September 2014, as Columbia Spy reported HERE. That was also the first summer when massive numbers of mayflies collected on the bridge, particularly on the lights.
At the April 26, 2022 Columbia Borough Council meeting, however, Mayor Lutz implied that the lights weren't really the cause of the problem. Some officials have even floated the idea that the increase in mayflies indicates a healthy river. But the LNP article HERE published that same summer states that the Susquehanna should be declared "impaired."
Blossoms at the bridge plaza
Chiques Rock Outfitters at Columbia River Park
Darth Vader at Fragments of the Past -
He's hard to see, because, you know, THE FORCE!
Barber shop at 3rd & Poplar
Banners at 9th & Ironville Pike
Flower basket
Happy Mothers Day!
Peacocks
They're just glorified chickens with an attitude.
They're in the area of Garfield Road.
Free tax prep services
200 block of Locust
Dave's gone (soon)
And Aument's down.
Sticker shock
Zoning permit that once meant something to someone.
One of several ferals in the 100 block of
Avenue H
The borough is looking at ways to solve the problem, as Columbia Spy reported HERE.
Living Stones at Front & Locust
Tires in a Sanford & Son-like trailer
Trolley sighting - but it's not Columbia's. It's the Rivertowne Trolley, owned and operated by Andre Underhill. Columbia's trolley is up for bid on Municibid. The high bid, as of Sunday afternoon, is $17,401. The high bidder is currently d*********2.
Hmmm, who could it be?
Up, up and away!
Well-equipped
Give reptiles a chance.
(But watch out for those river turtles. They'll bite your fingers off.)
Avian flu testing on Heritage Drive...
A couple of hundred feet from Columbia River Park, where Canada geese and mallards hang. What could go wrong?
(Attendants were wearing protective booties and spraying vehicle tires.)
Some Canada geese in the window of Borough Hall.
Maryland State Police helicopter flying over
Why though?
Poplar St. School Center for the Arts
Formerly Poplar Street School
Here's the door number.
Products available at Rising Sun Nutrition,
5th & Cherry
More details HERE
Contraption on the tracks
Luna moth
[Submitted photo]
Carriage at Tollbooth Antiques
********************
No.
He didn't.
Columbia Borough searches for solutions to feral cat problem
Feral cats on the 100 block of Locust Street in 2018
"It's not the feral cat's fault it's feral. It's people's fault," Burgard said. "People let cats free or are perpetuating the problem by feeding them." He added that ferals can spread disease, damage property, and kill wildlife. Lintner said she has received complaints about ferals from residents in different areas of town.
Burgard noted that cats can be categorized as follows:
- Domestic - adapted from wild or natural state, social with humans
- Stray - was an indoor cat that got out or was let out and abandoned
- Feral - unsocialized outdoor cat, little or no contact with humans
A healthy reproducing pair of cats can produce over 11 million offspring in 9 years.
Burgard cited a study stating that, under ideal conditions, a healthy reproducing pair of cats can ultimately produce over 11 million offspring in 9 years. (See graphic above.) 70% of a feral cat population must be spayed and neutered before the population will begin to decline. For Columbia, that means 700 ferals must be "fixed." Unfortunately, the current number is only 100, or 10%, although Columbia is above the national average of 2.3%.
During the hour-long discussion, officials offered several ideas to address the problem:
Lintner noted that none of the solutions will fix the problem overnight, saying, "It's going to take a long, long time."
During the hour-long discussion, officials offered several ideas to address the problem:
- Continue the TNR program with the Columbia Animal Shelter. (TNR stands for "Trap, Neuter, Return." The borough offers financial support with the Columbia Animal Shelter.)
- Enact stronger ordinances to manage feral cat populations
- Enact stronger ordinances to protect domestic cats and encourage proper ownership
- Support volunteers
- Volunteer support for and promotion of Columbia Animal Shelter
- Use aggressive fertility control
- Hire an animal control person or contracted service
- Purchase and use more traps
Lintner noted that none of the solutions will fix the problem overnight, saying, "It's going to take a long, long time."
The Columbia Animal Shelter offers TNR services.
Saturday, May 7, 2022
Rock out with free fitness classes at Rising Sun Nutrition
Rocking and exercising at Locust Street Park Thursday evening
Jess leads the programs with a little help from friends and some upbeat music. Sessions are free and open to the public. Indoor sessions, however, are limited due to space considerations.
Columbia Spy was invited to observe a recent session in Locust Street Park, where about 20 participants engaged in a fairly intense set of cardio-drumming. Some classes include stretching and yoga - and dance classes might be added this summer.
Jess Bechtold (left) and Melissa Shirk work out.
Classes meet Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, 6-7 pm.
For more information go to the Facebook page HERE.
Copy and paste if link doesn't work on your browser:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/237555967673522/?ref=share
Drinks and other items are available at Rising Sun Nutrition.
Herbalife products are also available.
(Herbalife celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2020.)
Friday, May 6, 2022
Columbia Borough to hire full-time manager to market, operate Columbia Market House
When: Columbia Borough Council meeting, May 3.
What happened: Council members discussed hiring a full-time manager for Columbia's Market House who will aggressively promote the space as a venue for celebrations and business meetings in addition to a market stand.
Background: CHI St. Joseph's Health, which supplied part-time managers for the borough-owned Market House since it opened almost a year ago, notified Columbia last month that it wanted to pull out of the deal to focus on other projects.
Other problems: The venue never reached the foot traffic and sales council members originally estimated. Vendors sometimes would stay closed on Wednesdays and Saturdays when the market was open, and in November, managers closed the market on Wednesdays, leaving only one day a week for patrons.
Coming up: A new manager will start July 1. Council members should authorize staff to create a job listing at the next council meeting, Borough Manager Mark Stivers said.
MORE:
Pa. primary 2022: Everything you need to know about requesting, filling out, and returning your mail ballot
Read this from Spotlight PA
Pa. primary 2022: Everything you need to know about requesting, filling out, and returning your mail ballot
No-excuse mail voting is still valid in Pennsylvania despite an ongoing case before the state Supreme Court.
https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2022/05/pa-primary-2022-mail-ballot-instructions/
Pa. primary 2022: Everything you need to know about requesting, filling out, and returning your mail ballot
No-excuse mail voting is still valid in Pennsylvania despite an ongoing case before the state Supreme Court.
https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2022/05/pa-primary-2022-mail-ballot-instructions/
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