About Town - July 27, 2025

 This week's photos of Columbia 

Click on photos to see larger, sharper images. 

These second-floor mirrors were exposed during the demolition of 700 Franklin on Monday. 

Farhat Excavating knocked the house down, creating a lot of dust in the process.

The whole house was down in one day.

***

Farhat also demoed the remaining structures at 1020 Manor Street.

The entire project - house and structures - took four days. Both sites were cleaned up exceedingly well.

The next step will be soil remediation, to be done by Iron Eagle Excavating (not shown here) at a cost of about $2.2 million. 

*****************

Morning clouds 

Spraying the banks of Shawnee Run 

Public Art Station on North 4th 

For settin' out at the pole

Taking down an old utility pole on Walnut: The pole on the right is being taken down. The worker on the lower right is collecting the pieces.

Kreider & Sons Excavating continued work at the Habitat for Humanity Linden Street Build site this past week.

*****************

Hey, who moved the mailbox?

The relay box at 4th & Poplar was moved from its position sometime Friday/Saturday(?)

School bus vs trash truck: an impending traffic jam?

Animal control officers were on the 100 block of Walnut the other day. They appeared to be armed.

They took a dog from a residence, according to a witness.

CBFD 80 responded to a report of a brush fire near 6th Street and Avenue H on Tuesday afternoon.

There was a mass casualty event on Front Street.

Hundreds of mayflies died. 

The skeletons at Columbia Curiosities reenacted a scene from a famous movie. 

Guardian of the pot

Morning glory and friend

Flower frenzy 

Takin' it easy down at the dock

There's a peach tree on Locust. 

Really 

###

Restaurant Inspections - Columbia Borough - July 25, 2025

 

King's Butcher Shop, 15 S. Third St., Columbia, July 19. Pass. No violations.

Columbia to vote on where data centers, smoke stores and tattoo parlors can set up shop | Community News | lancasteronline.com

TRAVIS MUELLER | FOR LNP | LANCASTERONLINE

When: Columbia Borough Council meeting, July 15. Mayor Leo Lutz, Vice President Eric Kauffman and council member Joanne Geesey were absent.

What happened: Council voted to advertise a public hearing to be held Aug. 26 for a zoning ordinance, which proposes new definitions for data center, smoke shop, tattoo parlor and package delivery distribution center.

Details: The ordinance would specify where these uses are permitted in the borough’s zoning districts. The ordinance also revises building-height limits and dimensional requirements in the light-business district, including protections that new buildings don’t block sunlight on nearby residences in the winter.

What’s next: Public input will be invited at the hearing before council considers these changes.

Loan: Council voted to adopt a resolution to issue a $5.03 million general obligation note, a type of municipal loan, to finance development and construction at McGinness Innovation Park.

Details: The loan would be repaid over more than 20 years at an interest rate of 3%. The borough’s taxing power guarantees it will be paid back.

What it means: If the borough doesn’t have enough money from other sources to make the loan payments, it has the legal authority and responsibility to raise the money through taxes to cover the debt.

National Night Out: Jack Brommer, police chief, invited council and members of the community to the National Night Out event from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5 at Glatfelter Memorial Field at 1249 Lancaster Ave. in Columbia. The event features free food and is an opportunity to interact with police officers and borough employees.

What’s next: Council will meet for a regular meeting at 7 p.m., July 29.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/regional/columbia-to-vote-on-where-data-centers-smoke-stores-and-tattoo-parlors-can-set-up/article_6b7866be-a8a8-403a-ac79-5f30155caaf3.html 

Agendas - Columbia Borough Planning Commission Meetings - July 22, 2025

 

Columbia police closing in on suspects in cemetery vase thefts

https://www.wgal.com/article/columbia-pennsylvania-police-suspects-cemetery-vase-thefts/65461454 

There it goes!

 

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

Farhat Excavating began knocking down the house at 700 Franklin Street this morning. Next, they'll take down the remaining structures at 1020 Manor Street as part of the project at the former McGinness airfield. Farhat submitted the low bid of $52,780 for the demolition.

Deeds Recorded - Columbia Borough - July 21, 2025

Switzenberg James Edward, Herold Erika conveyed 1059 Cloverton Drive to Johnson Iainne Vivienne Devlin for $200,000.

Susan M. Wickenheiser conveyed 1200 Franklin St. to Susan M. Wickenheiser for $1.

Abdelmesseh Amir, George Amir conveyed 909 Spruce St. to Karmas Limited Liability Co. for $1.

Han James J, Han Jae Yun conveyed 327 S. Third St. to Cramers Inc. for $158,000.

Valley View Capital LLC conveyed 100 Cedar St. to Burgos Abimael Jimenez, Irizarry Chelyann K. Perez for $200,000.

Chilcote Kaely, Chilcote Kelly conveyed 1000 Grinnell Ave. to Stephanie Redcay for $286,000.