New banner celebrates Columbia's upcoming 300th anniversary

 

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

A new banner at 3rd & Locust celebrates Columbia's upcoming 300th anniversary in 2026. 

Columbia was originally a settlement founded by John Wright and other Quakers in 1726. The settlement came to be known as Wright's Ferry and was formally laid out and named Columbia in 1788 by Samuel Wright.

Columbia man sentenced to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of 2023 gunpoint carjacking | Lancaster County District Attorney's Office

https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/da/11617/post/columbia-man-sentenced-15-years-prison-after-being-found-guilty-2023-gunpoint-carjacking 

To park or not to park: Resident notes conflict between parking sign and borough ordinance

Signage at Columbia River Park states that only vehicles with trailers may park in the main lot between Memorial Day and Labor Day, but the ordinance makes no mention of those dates.

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY

Columbia resident Mary Wickenheiser told officials at Tuesday's borough council meeting that a discrepancy exists between parking signage at Columbia River Park and the municipal ordinance that governs parking there.

Wickenheiser noted that Columbia River Parking Ordinance 719, adopted May 12, 2003, states that designated spaces at River Park should be reserved exclusively for vehicles with trailers (with no restrictions for time of year). In other words, the ordinance indicates that area is reserved year-round.

However, signage at the park indicates that the trailer-only parking restriction applies only from Memorial Day through Labor Day, after which the spaces become available for general parking. (The designated spaces are in the parking lot between the Columbia Crossing building and the bridge.)

"There is nothing in this ordinance specifying Memorial Day to Labor Day," Wickenheiser told council.

Ordinance 719 authorizes the Borough's Public Safety Committee to "establish, designate and mark by proper signs parking zones or parking places for the exclusive use by vehicles with trailers only" at River Park parking areas. The ordinance specifies that "no vehicle, other than a vehicle with trailer, shall at any time be parked at such spaces so designated."

"I spent two hours going through River Park advisory notes thinking that maybe this was something that happened after the building [Columbia Crossing] opened, but it was not," Wickenheiser said. 

Mayor Leo Lutz suggested that updated language may not have gone through general codes and been published.

Columbia River Park property is governed by an agreement between the Borough of Columbia and the Pennsylvania Fish Commission dated September 9, 1968, according to the ordinance text.

The issue was left unresolved at the end of the meeting.

Restaurant Inspections—Columbia Borough—September 26, 2025

Emma's Coffee Corner, 15 S. Third St., Columbia, change of owner, Sept. 20. Pass. Observed raw shell eggs stored above milk and iced tea in the small cooler. Scoop being stored in the ice machine with handle touching the ice. Prepackaged cupcakes and muffins are not labeled properly with the name of product, ingredient statement and distributed-by statement. Prepackaged cupcakes and muffins are not labeled to clearly indicate any "Big 9" allergen ingredients and/or the allergen warning statement. The food facility does not have the original certificate for the certified food employee posted in public view.

Toasted Tortilla, 15 N. Third St., Columbia, Opening, Sept. 20. Pass. Food facility does not employ a certified food employee as required. An employee is scheduled to take a state-recognized food safety course. Customer self-service single-use tableware is not displayed in a manner so that only the handles are touched by customers. Food facility does not employ a certified food manager; the facility has an employee scheduled to take the course. Food employee observed in food preparation area wearing a bracelet.

Nouveau Tea, 403 N. Third St., Columbia, Sept. 17. Pass. Observed single-service, single-use articles (cups, trays, containers) stored in hallway storage area, directly on the floor, and not 6 inches above the floor. Observed boxes of flour stored directly on the floor in the hallway storage area, rather than 6 inches off of the floor as required. Prepackaged bun (plain), bun (meat), and flan are not labeled properly with the name of product, ingredient statement and distributed-by statement. Prepackaged bun (plain), bun (meat), and flan are not labeled to clearly indicate any "Big 9" allergen ingredients and/or the allergen warning statement.

Council names September 15th as "Lloyd Mifflin Day" in Columbia

 

This mural of Lloyd Mifflin by Columbia artist Mark Kise is at the rear of the Foresters building at 2nd & Locust, near the home of the Columbia Historic Preservation Society. 

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

Columbia Borough Council unanimously approved a resolution at Tuesday's meeting designating September 15th of each year as "Lloyd Mifflin Day" to honor the celebrated poet, artist, and photographer who called the borough home.

Lloyd Mifflin was born on September 15th (1846), and resident Jerry Musser requested that the date be named for him. (Musser is also administrator of the Lloyd Mifflin Society website HERE.)

Mifflin (1846-1921), a Columbia native, gained international recognition for his literary and artistic contributions, particularly his sonnets. During his lifetime, he published over 600 sonnets, earning recognition as one of America's most prolific sonneteers. His work brought recognition to Columbia and reflected his appreciation for the beauty of the Susquehanna River and surrounding landscape.

"His artistic and literary achievements brought cultural prestige to the Borough of Columbia and reflected a deep appreciation for the natural beauty of the Susquehanna River and the surrounding landscape," the resolution states. Both his birth home and his later residence remain within the borough.

Above: a copy of the resolution naming September 15th as "Lloyd Mifflin Day" in the Borough of Columbia.

State Senator James Malone introduces himself to Columbia

PA State Senator James Malone at Tuesday's Columbia Borough Council meeting

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

Pennsylvania State Senator James Malone addressed Columbia Borough Council and residents during Tuesday evening's council meeting, introducing his office's services to the community.

Malone represents Pennsylvania's 36th Senate District, which encompasses a broad swath of south-central Pennsylvania stretching from Conoy to New Holland, north to Elizabeth Township, and south through Columbia and Marietta. The district serves just under 270,000 constituents, according to Malone.

"Even with the wonderful work that all our municipalities are doing to preserve natural spaces and farmland, we are a growing area," Malone said. He emphasized his office's commitment to constituent services, stating, "We do a lot of constituent services work, so I wanted to be sure that that was out and presented."

Malone informed residents that his office offers mobile office hours throughout the district to better serve constituents. In addition to mobile services, Malone maintains offices in Lititz and Harrisburg.

Residents seeking assistance or information about services can visit the senator's website at https://senatormalone.com/

Malone was first elected in a March 2025 special election to succeed Republican Senator Ryan Aument, who resigned in December 2024. Malone previously served as mayor of East Petersburg.

Agenda—Columbia Borough Council Meeting—September 23, 2025

 

The meeting packet is HERE.