Columbia Dream Center Provides Comprehensive Community Support Services

 

The Columbia Dream Center serves the Columbia community and surrounding areas through a wide range of essential services aimed at "filling needs and healing hurts."

Operating primarily from the Columbia Presbyterian Church at 360 Locust Street, the organization offers multiple programs addressing food insecurity, including a weekday Soup Kitchen from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., a Food Pantry on Tuesdays from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 10 to 11 a.m., and Fresh Express food distribution on the third Friday of each month from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

Their mission is to provide comprehensive support to those in need through food, shelter, clothing, and resources.

The center maintains a Clothing Bank on Mondays from 9 to 11 a.m. and Tuesdays from 5 to 6:30 p.m., offering free clothing to community members in need.

For those experiencing homelessness, the Columbia Shelter operates year-round, with more information available at 717-449-0492. Additionally, the Restart Day Center is open weekdays 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., assisting visitors with resume preparation, job and housing searches, ID acquisition, recovery support, and professional connections.

The Refresh Shower Truck, located behind Salem UCC on Avenue H, provides showers, medical checks, and toiletries on Mondays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Community meal services are offered on the first and last Sunday of each month from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., while families with children can benefit from Power Packs available for Thursday school pickup and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), which provides lunch and activities for children and families on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. during summer months.

The Dream Center also hosts spiritual and recovery support through Sunday church services at 10 a.m. at Columbia Presbyterian Church and Celebrate Recovery meetings on Thursdays, featuring a 5:30 p.m. meal, 6 p.m. worship, and 7 p.m. small groups.

For more information about these programs, community members can visit www.columbiahas.org, follow the Columbia Dream Center on Facebook, or contact them via phone at 717-449-0492.

Restaurant Inspections - Columbia Borough - May 2, 2025

Domino's, 318 Chestnut St., Columbia, April 24. Pass. Food employees observed involved in food preparation not wearing a beard cover.

Renters: Know Your Rights - Free guide available at Borough Hall

 
(English version)

Local renters and others can pick up a copy of the Landlord & Tenant Guide at Borough Hall (Columbia Municipal Building, 308 Locust Street).  The free guide provides information on such topics as fair housing,  rights and responsibilities, rent increases, and eviction. There is an English edition and a Spanish edition. 

(Spanish version)

[LNP | LancasterOnline] Columbia woman sentenced up to 10 years in state prison for 2023 car theft

JACK PANYARD |LNP Staff Writer

Destiny Delgado-Diaz cried quietly as a judge took a final look over her charging documents Thursday before sentencing her for her role in a 2023 armed carjacking in Columbia.

Lancaster County Judge Thomas Sponaugle sentenced the 23-year-old Columbia woman to 27 months to 10 years in state prison after she pleaded guilty to seven charges including robbery of a motor vehicle, conspiracy to commit robbery, conspiracy to commit strangulation, and conspiracy to commit simple assault.

As part of her plea deal, Delgado-Diaz can be called to testify if either of the two other people charged in the case — Sammie Edward Lane and Alexander Ethan Delgado-Diaz, both of Columbia — go to trial.

Lane, 36, is in Lancaster County Prison in lieu of $150,000 bail, and Alexander Ethan Delgado-Diaz, 25, is free on $150,000 unsecured bail. Both are waiting for their next court appearances.

The man the three are accused of attacking in the Dec. 31, 2023, incident nearly blacked out twice as he was strangled, Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Lapp said at Thursday's hearing.

According to prosecutors, Destiny Delgado-Diaz, Alexander Ethan Delgado-Diaz, and Lane lured the man to Columbia, began strangling him, threatened him with a handgun and stole his Dodge Durango SUV and items he had in the vehicle.

Destiny Delgado-Diaz didn't respond Thursday when Sponaugle asked her how she thought she would not get in trouble for her actions. Her attorney, Roger Renteria, said she was remorseful for what she did and cooperated with police as soon as she was charged.

Sponaugle ended the hearing by warning Delgado-Diaz there is no guarantee she will be released from prison after the minimum sentence.

"Well, you're off to state prison now," Sponaugle said.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/columbia-woman-sentenced-up-to-10-years-in-state-prison-for-2023-car-theft/article_b4cc9340-730d-4046-a6ed-c3e4d6cee8a9.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share 

Officer Andrew Duarte killed in friendly fire during UPMC Memorial shooting: DA

https://local21news.com/news/local/officials-give-update-on-upmc-memorial-hospital-shooting-that-killed-officer-hurt-5-others-west-york-andrew-duarte-york-county-pennsylvania-pa 

Columbia Police to Enforce E-Bike and Scooter Regulations Amid Safety Concerns

Columbia Borough police will soon begin stricter enforcement of regulations governing electric bikes and scooters, Mayor Leo Lutz announced at the April 22 borough council meeting.

The crackdown comes in response to the growing popularity of electric vehicles throughout Columbia and elsewhere, which has raised safety concerns among local officials.

"We're starting to see popular not only in Columbia but all around, e-bikes and e-scooters," Mayor Lutz stated during the April 22 meeting. "There are regulations for those electric bikes and electric scooters."

According to Lutz, Police Chief Jack Brommer and his officers have been studying applicable rules and regulations and are preparing to take action against non-compliant riders.

"They are going to start taking action on those who are violators of those electric bikes and electric scooters for non-compliance," Lutz warned.

Lutz expressed particular concern about safety risks as warmer weather approaches. "We can't risk people flying around on electric bikes, electric scooters here in the summer and wind up getting seriously injured or, my God, possibly killed," he emphasized.

The mayor also directed his message to parents, urging them to research regulations before purchasing these vehicles for their children. He cautioned against relying solely on information from retailers, suggesting that sales staff might not fully disclose usage restrictions in their eagerness to complete a sale.

"I just want to advise all parents and the kids to find out what you can do, what you can't do, and what you should buy and what you shouldn't buy when you're getting into that," Lutz concluded.

The police department has not yet announced when the increased enforcement will begin or what specific violations they will be targeting.

Last year, at the August 27, 2024 Columbia Borough Council meeting, Lutz said that police stepped up enforcement of ordinances governing e-bikes and e-scooters. Riders have been cited for various traffic infractions.

“The guys are stepping it up, and there have been citations,” Lutz said.

Currently, bicycles aren't permitted on sidewalks, according to borough ordinance. Councilman Peter Stahl noted Police Chief Jack Brommer's recent reminder that e-scooters are prohibited on borough streets and sidewalks. Stahl said scooters are permitted only in designated areas such as [certain] parks.

The Pennsylvania Vehicle Code "prohibits the use of electric scooters, electric skateboards, and electric unicycles on public roadways."

Man charged with raping 14-year-old girl after picking her up at playground in Columbia

A Lancaster city man raped a 14-year-old girl in his home after picking her up from a playground in Columbia in 2021, according to police. 

Lancaster city police have charged, Nicklos McRae, 25, with seven felony counts including rape by forcible compulsion and aggravated indecent assault of a person less than 16. 

According to a criminal complaint filed last week, McRae picked up the girl from a playground at Columbia Middle School on the evening of Aug. 30, 2021. Police say he drove the girl to his home in Lancaster city, made unwanted sexual advances and proceeded to assault her. 

The girl told police she demanded McRae stop multiple times during the assault, but he ignored her. After the assault, police say, McRae called the girl an Uber to send her home. 

A day later, the girl had a Sexual Assault Forensic Examination completed at Lancaster General Hospital. As part of the examination, medical personnel collected DNA, which would be identified as McRae's in 2023 using the FBI's Combined DNA Index System.

Lancaster police interviewed McRae on April 22, 2025. Police say he initially denied knowing the girl but later admitted he had picked her up in Columbia and brought her to his Lancaster city home. 

McRae is currently free on $250,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 9. 

YWCA Lancaster runs a 24-hour sexual assault hotline, 717-392-7273, that connects callers to free, confidential counseling and therapy services for community members impacted by sexual abuse, harassment or assault. Report suspected child abuse to ChildLine at 800-932-0313. 

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/lancaster-man-rapes-14-year-old-girl-then-calls-her-an-uber-police/article_503ad001-19bc-4c1e-841d-347d287d35f3.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share