Friday, February 16, 2024

Restaurant Inspections - Columbia Borough - February 16, 2024


Foresters of America, 201 Locust St., Columbia, Feb. 5. Pass. Two half-gallon containers of milk, one at the bar and one in the kitchen, beyond the sell-by date.

Grand China, 156 Lancaster Ave., Columbia, Feb. 5. Fail. The person in charge did not demonstrate adequate knowledge of food safety as evidenced by this noncompliant inspection. Food employee is not washing hands between changing tasks. An employee's open beverage container (twist-cap variety) was on the food preparation table. Raw chicken stored above potatoes and carrots in the reach-in cooler. Flour used for coating chicken is not being sifted every four hours or covered and refrigerated as required. Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature-control-for-safety food prepared in the food facility and held for more than 24 hours in the reach-in cooler is not being date-marked. Single-use plastic cups are being used in bulk food items rather than a scoop. Food residue on tables in the kitchen, carts and food containers. Evidence of rodent activity throughout the cooking area and storage area; facility does have a pest control program. Employee personal items were on the food preparation table and not stored in dressing rooms or identified storage area as required.

Prince Street Cafe - Columbia, 301 Walnut St., Columbia, Feb. 5. Pass. Prepackaged peanut butter parfaits are not labeled properly with the name of product, ingredient statement, net weight, distributed by statement. Prepackaged peanut butter parfaits are not labeled to clearly indicate any "Big 9" allergen ingredients and/or the allergen warning statement. Irreversible registering thermometer or thermal labels are not available for monitoring the rinse temperature of the mechanical dishwasher; the dishwasher was checked with the inspector's calibrated thermometer and is achieving the required sanitizing temperature; repeat violation, Feb. 3, 2023. Container of cleaner tabs stored on a shelf next to coffee filters.

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Nathan Roach appointed to Columbia School Board

District Justice Miles Bixler swears in Nathan Roach as Columbia School Board Director at Thursday night's school board meeting. 

Nathan Roach was appointed as school board director Thursday night at the Columbia Borough School Board meeting. Roach fills a seat vacated by Jason Price II, who announced his resignation at the February 6th, 2024 meeting.

Roach is Director of Operations at Lancaster Lebanon Habitat for Humanity and was previously Director of Operations at the Lancaster City Housing Authority.

Say goodbye to the town fountain

 


The fountain in the town square at 480 Locust Street might soon disappear. 

During the February 6, 2024 Columbia Borough Council Work Session, Parks & Rec Committee Chair Elizabeth Andrews said the fountain has been nonfunctional for several years, and the committee recommends that it be removed. 

The round basin around the bottom will remain in place and possibly become a platform for art pieces created by local artists, to be changed every few years.

Agenda - Columbia School Board Meeting - February 15, 2024

 



Attachments are HERE.

Agenda - HARB Meeting - February 15, 2024

 


The meeting packet is HERE.

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

CCAT Meeting canceled Wednesday, February 14, 2024

 


What is the origin of Valentine's Day?


The celebration of Saint Valentine's Day, referred to in Latin as "in natali" meaning "on the birthday," has its roots in Christian tradition and is commemorated by the Western Christian Church to honor a martyr named Valentine, as documented in the 8th-century liturgical book known as the Gelasian Sacramentary. In contrast, the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, dedicated to the deities Pan and Juno who represented love, marriage, and fertility, was celebrated from February 13th to 15th. This festival was primarily associated with purification and health and had only a minor link to fertility and no connection to romantic love. The romantic aspects of Saint Valentine's Day were not associated with the holiday until the 14th century when Geoffrey Chaucer penned poetry about it, long after the presumed end of Lupercalia celebrations.

Lupercalia was specific to Rome itself, while the broader Festival of Juno Februa, which translates to "Juno the purifier" or "the chaste Juno," took place on February 13th and 14th. Although the Catholic Encyclopedia entry on Pope Gelasius I claims that he put an end to Lupercalia during his papacy from 492 to 496, Methodist theologian Bruce Forbes has pointed out that there is no solid evidence connecting Saint Valentine's Day to Lupercalia's ancient rituals, despite various authors suggesting otherwise.