Friday, May 2, 2025
Columbia's Hometown Hero banners return
It's that time of year, and Hometown Hero banners are going up around town again.
The current batch, from an order that closed in January, will bring the total to over 660. The banners honor Columbia's military veterans and active-duty personnel.
On Friday afternoon, Columbia Spy caught up with Bob Smith and Chuck Wallick hanging a banner on North 2nd Street. Bob, who leads the project, notes there's a small challenge this year: PPL is in the process of replacing utility poles around town. That means that banners already hung on poles slated for replacement must be removed, and then rehung on the new poles. PPL has plans to replace several poles this year and routinely notify the borough of which ones will be replaced. “They call Jake [Graham, Columbia's public works manager] and give him the numbers of the poles they're replacing,” Bob says.
Bob Smith gets components from the work truck.
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
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Domino's, 318 Chestnut St., Columbia, April 24. Pass. Food employees observed involved in food preparation not wearing a beard cover.
Thursday, May 1, 2025
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.
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