Columbia resident calls on mayor to rescind Pride Month proclamation; Lutz says he'll stand by it

Lutz: "I will stand by it."

JOE LINTNER L | COLUMBIA SPY 

A Columbia Borough resident has asked Mayor Leo Lutz to rescind his proclamation declaring June 2026 as Pride Month. 

At the June 23 Columbia Borough Council Meeting, resident Jesse Rabinowitz told council he objects to the proclamation on religious and philosophical grounds. Reading from a prepared statement, he said that while he believes every person has equal worth because they are "created in the image of God," he does not believe publicly celebrating LGBT identity or pride is the right way to express that respect. 

He argued that the proclamation "is an open door for public celebrations of homosexuality and pride, which undermines our community," and said he and others in attendance consider it "logically inconsistent to seek equality by elevating one group above others."

Rabinowitz also said he wants Columbia to remain a town "where families are comfortable walking downtown and enjoying our rich history, shopping at our 34 antique shops and sitting down for a bite at Hinkle's without having one group's flag publicly flying over the town." He asked Lutz to retract the proclamation, saying it does not represent the whole community.

Lutz responded by defending his decision, noting that in his nearly 25 years as mayor he has issued proclamations for many nationally recognized causes regardless of his personal views. 

"Whether I agree with it or not is not material," Lutz said. "I have my own personal feelings and beliefs. But as mayor, if I am asked to do something for a group that is basically recognized nationally, I probably will do it."

Lutz pointed to two passages he said were the heart of the proclamation: language affirming that the nation was founded on the principle that "every person is created equal" with a right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," and language stating that it is "essential that our LGBTQIA+ youth be accorded the freedom to be themselves without fear and live free from reprisal, discrimination or bullying." Lutz said those two points were why he signed the proclamation. "I will stand by it," he said.

The proclamation, issued June 9, states that Pride Month is "a time to recognize and celebrate the impact of LGBTQIA+ individuals locally, nationally, and internationally" and that the community "is strengthened by the rich diversity of our residents." Several audience members applauded after Lutz's remarks.

[Rabinowitz was recently appointed as a member of the Columbia Borough Zoning Hearing Board.]

The official — and final — word on those painted fire hydrants

Borough Of Marietta, PA - Government 

MARIETTA BOROUGH OFFICES

A little bit about the painted fire hydrants from Stephanie Gantz who organized it...

Q&A about the Patriotic Paint-A-Plug Event: 

1. It is a community beautification event, a contest for the artists and a fundraiser for the 4th of July Community Carnival. The public can vote at the link above. You can also access the voting site by scanning the QR codes on the signs beside each hydrant.

2. The hydrants are owned by Columbia Water and leased by the Borough for use by the fire department. We received approval from all three before proceeding with the event. All hydrants maintain the original color on the front nut that is the color coded piece the fire department uses to know the water pressure available at the hydrant  This direction is per Columbia Water. The hydrants are all still fully functional.

3. The hydrants were cleaned of rust and painted with a high-quality direct to metal primer as a fresh base for the artists. This material and labor was generously donated by L. Weber Painting. 

4. We are very grateful to all of the artists who created such creative designs that illustrate what patriotism means to us.

5. We are very grateful for the generosity of all 11 sponsors - all wonderful residents, businesses, and organizations committed to supporting events like this in Marietta.

6. Below is a map showing the location of all of the decorated hydrants. Please take a stroll, roll, or drive around the community and visit them all in person. You won't be disappointed! And while you are out, grab a coffee, a bite to eat, some ice cream or a drink in town!

Location 1. 264 W Market St - Sponsored by the Marietta Community House Artists: students at the Under the Willow School

Location 2. 214 W Market St - Sponsored by Covenant Veterinary Care Artist: Naomi Bloom

Location 3. 145 W Market St - Sponsored by Susquehanna Stage Artist: Jim Johnson

Location 4. 44 W Market St - Sponsored by Express Laundry, LLC Artist: Saint Maree

Location 5. 10 E Front St- Sponsored by Shanks Tavern Artist: Kelly McCart

Location 6. 100 E Market St - Sponsored by Molly's Courtyard Cafe Artist: Tina Blizzard

Location 7. 302 E Market St - Sponsored by Mike and Sheila Stotler Artist: Jesse Prentiss

Location 8. 590 E Market St Sponsored by Marietta Restoration Association Artist: Noel Fry

Location 9. 18 W Walnut St Sponsor LunaPic Artist: students and parents at Susquehanna Waldorf School

Location 10.                                                  205 E Market St Sponsor Swedish Motors Artist: Tracey McCarriar

Location 11. 310 W Market St Sponsor The Mavens of Marietta Artist: Jennifer VonStein

LINK

Stabbing reported on Fairview Avenue in Columbia Borough

UPDATE: HERE

A stabbing was reported Tuesday afternoon on Fairview Avenue in Columbia Borough, according to dispatch audio obtained from local emergency communications.

The incident was logged at approximately 1:39 PM EDT on June 23. 2026. Dispatch audio reveals that units were called to a residence on Fairview Avenue - believed to be in the area of 638 Fairview Ave - in response to a stabbing. The call was classified as an *Assault**

According to the auto-generated dispatch transcript, the call originated from Columbia Borough, with the specific address number withheld by dispatchers. Medic 776 was among the units responding to the scene.

The condition of any potential victim or victims has not been officially confirmed at this time. Columbia Borough Police have not vet released an official statement regarding the incident

*This report is based on dispatch audio. Dispatch transcripts are auto-generated and may be incomplete or inaccurate. This is not an official report.*

Fundraising For A Good Cause

By Zachary Lape- Lape Brothers Photography



Marietta, Lancaster County is holding a fantastic fundraiser called Marietta Patriotic Paint-a-Plug. It benefits the Marietta Carnival on July 4th time- 4:30-8:30pm, followed by Fireworks at 9:15pm. They will have Games, live music and Food trucks. The location of the carnival is at the Marietta War Memorial Park, located at 344 E Walnut Street, Marietta.



11 different fire hydrants sponsored by local businesses throughout Marietta Borough have been painted by local artists.

L. Weber Painting sponsored the supplies to the artists. They also prepared the hydrants for the artists to paint.

History of painting the hydrant
The nationwide trend of painting fire hydrants began as a grassroots civic movement during the United States Bicentennial in 1976. Across the country, ordinary citizens, Boy Scouts, and garden clubs transformed local hydrants into historical figures, soldiers, and patriotic designs to celebrate the country's 200th birthday. This July 4th is 250th and it's impressive to see Marietta bring history back to the town.

These photos are from 1976:

(Photos are not mine. Credits to the photographers who took them.)


Meet One Of The Artists



Tracey McCarriar is one of the Local Artists. She also does photography take a look at some her work out at tmcphotos.com




Vote for your favorite fire hydrant. Voting will close on July 4th at 4:30pm.

The winner will be announced at the Marietta Carnival. Please vote and support the Fundraiser, Local Artists and Businesses.

https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=Bf0bvwcx9kuEzZLOWY6pzRPOSRvBfuZOlbjhf108pO9UMk85NUVaVVZORkVHWThHRzUwN1dMUk5WNy4u&origin=QRCode&route=shorturl

Agenda — Columbia Borough Council Meeting — June 23, 2026

The meeting packet is HERE.

All 26 piers to blaze again: Columbia-Wrightsville bridge lighting returns for first time in over a decade

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

All 26 piers of the Veterans Memorial Bridge will blaze Sunday night for the first time in more than a decade, marking a milestone moment for the annual Riverfest celebration between Columbia and Wrightsville.

The lighting will take place around 7:45 p.m. on June 28, with the bridge closed to vehicle traffic and open to pedestrians so visitors can get a clear view. While the piers are set to be lit at that time, organizers say there's no way to predict how long the burn will last.

The piers, remnants of earlier bridges that once spanned the Susquehanna River before the current Veterans Memorial Bridge was completed in 1930, are typically lit only a few at a time each year by the Susquehanna National Heritage Area as part of Riverfest. 

The last time all of the surviving stone piers were lit simultaneously was in 2013 for the 150th anniversary of the original bridge burning. This year's full lighting honors the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Riverfest itself commemorates a piece of Civil War history: in June 1863, residents of York and Lancaster counties burned the covered bridge that once crossed the river there, blocking Confederate troops from advancing toward Harrisburg and Philadelphia. The festival runs Friday through Sunday this year and celebrates the shared histories of both counties.

Ahead of the lighting, the public can attend a "Light Up the Night" viewing party at Columbia Crossing, 41 Walnut St. in Columbia, starting at 6 p.m. The Maxwell Project will perform live there from 6 to 8 p.m. A related talk featuring speaker Scott Mingus is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the same location.

Lancaster County Democrats attract national donors in competitive Pa. House, Senate district races

Brad Chambers (top) and State Sen. James Malone 

JADE CAMPOS | LNP Staff Writer

Lancaster County Democrats are garnering national attention in their attempts to flip or hold on to seats in Republican-friendly areas, according to campaign finance disclosure forms filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State last week.

Donations from as far away as the West Coast have helped Columbia Democrat Brad Chambers and East Petersburg Democrat James Malone outpace their Republican challengers in fundraising heading into the summer.

In the 36th Senate District, Malone has more than twice as much money to spend on his reelection campaign compared to GOP opponent Tom Jones, while in the 41st House District, Chambers has nearly $10,000 more than incumbent Brett Miller.

Democrats have expressed optimism about their chances of flipping the 41st District, which has become more purple in recent years and includes the Columbia Borough and Hempfield school districts. Most of the House district is contained in Malone’s 36th Senate District, a longtime deep-red district that broke for Democrats in a 2025 special election.

Chambers, a 35-year-old labor administrator from Columbia, reported having $101,352 on hand to spend at the start of the summer, raising more than $25,000 from May 5 to June 8. Miller, who is defending his seat, is not far behind with $93,436 available to spend on his own campaign, bringing in $12,525 during that same time period.

MORE: HERE