About Town—October 5, 2025

 This week's photos of Columbia 

Click on photos to see larger, sharper images. 

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

The cooler weather made for some spectacular sunsets lately.

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

A few more glances at the golden arches...

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

Unlimited Towing showed off their vehicles at Columbia River Park. 

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

Lamb on a ladder

Guardian of the gas meter 

Evening sky

Black-eyed Susan and visitor

It's always good to have a spare bike with you. 

Here's one with accessories. 

This has been here for about a week.

(4th & Chestnut)

Someone put this on the table last Sunday at River Park.

Someone also broke this sign.

This heron was hanging around. 

He got pretty close.

He even posed for a profile shot. 

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

Out for a walk on a sunny day

USGS was out for walk, too -– on the bridge. 

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

The things you see in an alley . . .

Be careful with those batteries. 

Police responded to a vehicle accident involving a motorcycle and a car at 5th & Chestnut Saturday morning.

Cafe 301 got hung up briefly.

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

Summer's over, and someone took the awnings down.

You can tell Halloween's coming . . .

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

A yellow hibiscus

Mums in the sun

Meanwhile at the "project" . . .

These guys were working on their bucket list. 

More dirt was stabilized.

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

A ghost sign is not necessarily a sign of Halloween. 

A former fire station on the 200 block of Locust 

A former tobacco warehouse on Plane 

Another look at Tollbooth 

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

Family Dollar has been closed for a while.

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

A wandering minstrel

A film crew from Just One More Film LLC descended on River Park on Saturday to film a scene.

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

A monarch at the end of his season 

###

Restaurant Inspections – Columbia Borough – October 3, 2025

Starview Brews, 224 Locust St., Columbia, Sept. 25. Pass. Facility offering for sale two bags of Woodland All American Beef Jerky, which is not approved for wholesale. Product was removed from sale.

Columbia Market House, 15 S. Third St., Columbia, complaint, Sept. 23. Pass. No violations.

Columbia Borough Council takes out $5 million mortgage on former McGinness property

The former McGinness property at 1020 Manor Street [File photo]

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

Columbia Borough Council voted unanimously to take out a $5 million mortgage on the former McGinness property at 1020 Manor Street at its September 23 meeting. 

The details
Council voted to approve two key ordinances at the meeting to finalize a loan package worth over $5 million from the Commonwealth Financing Authority.

Council passed Ordinance No. 963 of 2025, granting the Commonwealth Financing Authority a mortgage on the former McGinness property at 1020 Manor Street as collateral for a $5,028,030 loan through the state's Business in Our Sites (BIOS) Program. The mortgage will serve as security for the funding.

Council also approved Ordinance No. 964 of 2025, which amends Ordinance No. 962 from July 15, 2025 that had authorized the issuance of a general obligation note for the same $5,028,030 amount. The amendment removes language that referenced the anticipated sale of $1 million worth of the subject property by December 31, 2025.

The loan carries a 3% annual interest rate, with a penalty rate of 12.5% per annum on overdue amounts. The borough retains the right to make early payments on the loan without penalty.

Council hopes to pay back the loan by selling the property, although no potential buyers have been announced.

It's unclear whether council plans to sell the property as one tract or as individual lots when a $2.2 million soil stabilization project is completed in November.

Ordinance No. 963 of 2025

Ordinance No. 964 of 2025

Columbia Borough breaks ground on Makle Park renovation project

State and local officials attended a groundbreaking ceremony for Makle Park Tuesday afternoon. 

[Photo: Submitted] 

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY

State and local officials helped kick off a major improvement project for Makle Park at a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday afternoon. 

The project is Phase 1 of improvements that include resurfacing the park's basketball courts, resurfacing the parking lot with new pavement and striping, constructing a picnic pavilion, and installing a prefabricated restroom. Also included are new benches, trash receptacles, picnic tables, and bike racks.

The improvements are primarily funded through a state Community Conservation Partnerships Program grant, with a matching contribution from the borough.