Sunday, January 8, 2023

About Town - January 8, 2023

 Recent photos of Columbia

(Click/tap on photos to see larger, sharper images.)


The crew from Henkels & McCoy that was working around town last week was installing fiber optic cable. Finally, Columbia joins the 21st Century.






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Heron in the fog

Feisty groundhog in the 400 block of Avenue G



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A cozy little cottage (actually a section of The Elks)

You can post as many signs as you want and sometimes they'll still get ignored.

Markers like this one were painted at various locations along Route 462 for placement of detour signs for the Malleable Road overpass project a few months ago. The markers were painted on August 9, 2022 by the Atlas Flasher & Supply Company, 430 Swedesboro Avenue, Mickleton, NJ 08056.

Unfortunately, the company did not remove the paint after the project was completed and left it for residents to deal with. Under other circumstances, this would be considered vandalism.

Meanwhile, down at the Columbia River Park cul-de-sac, rubber tires have been placed under the tracks of this excavator to prevent damage to the asphalt, which leads to the question . . .

. . . how much damage are these machines doing to the road surface, and who will pay for it?

The 900 block of Barber Street will be closed weekdays 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. through 27, as Columbia Spy reported previously. Some residents of that block were not notified of the closure until after the project had begun. The same thing often happens at various locations around town when utility companies begin a project.

The Holy Trinity Catholic Church will be asking HARB to consider demolition of these three properties on the 400 block of Cherry Street. According to the January 11, 2023 HARB agenda:

New Business
a Consider motion to recommend to Borough Council for the COA - 427, 429, 431
Cherry Street
APPLICANT/OWNER:
Holy Trinity Catholic Church

AGENT:
DC Gohn Associates Inc

CONTRACTOR:
TBD

ALTERATION:
Demolition of three neighboring, wood-framed, residential row home type structures located at 427, 429 and 431 Cherry Street.

Demolition of back yard and side yard concrete walkways and miscellaneous slab areas. Demolition of metal fencing. Backfill, compaction, fine grading, seeding and tree plantings and installation of new concrete curbing and sidewalk.

Here's the notice. 

Almost sunset - Thursday, January 5, 2023

Sunset - Saturday, January 7, 2023

Graffiti at Rotary Park (censored)

More graffiti at Rotary Park

Trashcan in a trashcan - Somehow this makes sense.

Graffiti on an old bridge pier
(This is one of the piers that supported the bridge that was burned in the Civil War.)

This was growing out of one of the mortar joints there. As Dr. Ian Malcolm said, "Life finds a way."

Demolition, almost done, at 332 Locust

This is how it looked the other day but has since been filled in with dirt. It will ultimately become a courtyard.

Foggy morning. Some visitors still think this road at Columbia River Park is the way to the trail.

Time to hose down the steps again.

What's happening at the old Columbia Drive-in site?

Here's what:
"A planned development that will include 18,000 square feet of retail space, a 3,000 square foot restaurant, a 3,500 square foot bank, 163 mid-rise apartments, and 9 low-rise townhomes, according to West Hempfield Township Planning Commission meeting minutes of May 16, 2019. The project was also discussed at the February 2, 2021 and October 5, 2021 West Hempfield Township Supervisors' meetings."


Columbia Hometown Hero banners extend clear out to 15th Street.

A two-vehicle accident occurred Thursday morning at the oft-confusing North 5th & Chestnut intersection. One driver suffered minor injuries.

These two cars fared a bit better and even used the boat ramp as a parking space.

The curb itself needs protection.

Stormwater grate and accompanying puddles

Moving

Smokes, automotive supplies, and lotto -
Truly a "convenient" store

Foggy valley
[Photo by Melissa Shirk]

The fox is still hanging around.
[Video by Howard Stevens]


Columbia, Lancaster Catholic girls basketball barrel to runaway wins in West York Showcase

The Tide, back on the court for the first time in nine days, throttled York Catholic 76-44. Meanwhile, the Crusaders motored to 10-0 overall, and picked up their 10th straight victory via the mercy rule with a 56-20 triumph over Susquehannock.
MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/sports/highschool/girlsbasketball/columbia-lancaster-catholic-girls-basketball-barrel-to-runaway-wins-in-west-york-showcase/article_88ba39ac-8ec2-11ed-8349-0b35f22c0cba.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share 

Columbia Animal Shelter To Host Winter Concert Series | TownLively

Since 2020, the Columbia Animal Shelter has been hosting a Summer Concert Series, featuring live music performances in the grassy field next to the shelter. Now the organization is expanding its entertainment offerings into the colder months with the new Winter Concert Series. The concerts will be held in the warehouse across the street from the shelter, located at 265 S. 10th St., Columbia, from 6 to 9 p.m. on the second Saturday of the month from January through March.
MORE:

https://townlively.com/shelter-to-host-winter-concert-series/ 

Former Columbia Borough police officer Troy Engle selected as Red Lion school board director

From ydr.com

The school board also selected a new board director Thursday night after interviewing six candidates during the meeting to fill a vacancy in Region II.

The board selected Troy Engle, a 2001 alumni of Red Lion. He is a retired police officer from the Columbia Borough department and served as a school resource officer for six years. He now is a Realtor and business owner.

He has four children in the district.

"I think overall the district has done a lot of really good things," Engle said during the interview.

He said he wants to be a part of what helps the district continue to grow.

The term expires this year.

Road closures possible on the 900 block of Barber Street 7 AM-5 PM through January 27


NOTICE: UGI will be working in the 900 block of Barber Street weekdays from January 9, 2023, through January 27, 2023, from 7am-5pm. There may be some road closures during this time period. Please avoid this area as much as possible during this time period. Please watch for additional posts regarding road closures in this area.

Martin Luther King Jr Day Project of Survival Event - Monday, January 16, at noon