Please do not be upset about the recent release of my employment at the Columbia Market House last Wednesday. My wish is for you to still support the vendors that I worked so hard to install for your enjoyment, and space to meet friends and family to enjoy.
When I took over in July 2022, it was a passion that my mother, Renae Sears, instilled in me for many years. With all the negative repercussions from the last management, it was an uphill climb to get it running again. Putting the right vendors in place and keeping them affordable for families was my main goal.
Then in September of 2022, I decided to rent out the space for baby and bridal showers, birthday and retirement parties, and wedding receptions. By the end of 2022, I recorded 12 private events, which exploded with referrals and reservations in 2023. I helped with four weddings and receptions that year and ended the year with 58 private events. One of my favorite events was 80 women from Perry County for a baby shower. The word was out, and the venue was climbing the ranks of one of the best in Central Pennsylvania.
Then came 2024, when I booked 65 private events, which sometimes were a Friday, Saturday and Sunday in a row. The clients came from all over Central Pennsylvania and several from out of state. On the site Eventective that I used for most of my bookings for the market house, I climbed to the "Most Popular and Recommended in Lancaster County" out of 58 venues. The market house was ranked in the top five in Dauphin, Lebanon and York Counties.
On the early morning of July 28, 2024, l had a very bad asthma attack that almost killed me and was rushed by ambulance to Penn State Hospital. While I was in the emergency room, the single most important thing was a bridal shower from Philadelphia at 11:30 a.m. that morning. With no one to contact, at 9:30 a.m. I signed myself out and went home to shower and get to the market by 11:00 a.m. In the meantime, I was contacted by Penn State that I may have a damaged heart and blood clots due to no oxygen for two hours. After letting the party in to set up and do my paperwork, I readmitted myself at Penn State and was admitted into the ICU for three days. My possible heart condition was not severe, and I was released that Wednesday. I went right back to work after being released.
My dedication to this market house was above and beyond anything in this world, to make people happy when visiting Columbia, Pennsylvania. Working by myself to keep the market house clean after every event and market day was a task, sometimes packing 20 to 30 trash bags per week, moving all the chairs and tables multiple times per week and also cleaning the bathrooms several times per week. Many Saturdays I worked 15 to 17 hours straight, getting back in on Sundays to prepare for another event.
Maintenance was also on my list on keeping the kitchen clean so that we were in compliance with the Pennsylvania Agriculture on food safety.
My love is for ALL the clients, customers and vendors that have grown to be part of my family. After almost three years, working most of the time by myself has taken its toll on my body and mind. My frustrations with such a large workload with no support had gotten to the point that I had to go into the borough manager's office and spill out my frustrations. This of course is why I was released from my duties, and my actions were uncalled for but were a cry for help. I had been recently contemplating resigning from my position for the last month due to fatigue.
I am going to take a much-needed rest, since I never got to enjoy a true day or week off from this position as market manager. My true happy place is the history of Columbia and back at the museum, where I'm going into my 17th year.
I hope the borough council makes a wise decision to hire a full-time manager and part-time assistant that can keep this beautiful gem of our town viable for our citizens.
Keep our history alive!
Chris Vera
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