At Saturday's ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new River Park building, suggestions were solicited from visitors for a revised name for the building due to the cumbersome character of its current name: The Northwest River Trail Services Building. At Monday night's Borough Council meeting, the need for a new name was also discussed. Columbia historian Jim Haug offered Council a name with a historical context: The Smith-Whipper Memorial Building. Haug cited the contributions to Columbia of two men "of color," Stephen Smith and William Whipper, whose lumberyard once stood on the site of the new building. Haug noted that nothing in town - buildings, streets, or other locations - were named for any black citizen - except Makle Park - and the time has come to remedy the situation. Naming the building for Smith and Whipper would be "a long-overdue honor," Haug said. He also cited speculation that the Civil Rights Movement may have started with these two men, who were instrumental in the operation of the Underground Railroad, which some historians believe originated in Columbia.
At its December 8 meeting, Columbia Borough Council voted unanimously to ratify a separation agreement to accept the resignation of Samuel F. Sulkosky as borough manager, effective November 24, 2014. The terms of the agreement include a severance payment of $13,000 (equal to about two months pay) - less payroll taxes and other mandated withholding - medical coverage until the end of the year, and payment for unused vacation, as well as "boiler plate" legal stipulations to protect each party.
Sulkosky was Columbia's borough manager since April 29, 2013 and moved from Blairsville, PA to accept the position at an annual salary of $73,000. Previously, he was with the State Unemployment Compensation Center in Indiana, PA. Before that, he was Fulton County's business manager for two years and borough manager of Nanty Glo for another two years.
Council appointed Public Works Director Ron Miller as interim borough manager, effective December 9, 2014, at his current rate of compensation.
Council intends to advertise the opening before interviewing qualified candidates - a process that could take up to six months, according to Council President Mike Beury.
In the Zoning Board decision on the Vincent Fiorella case:
Subheading 19 of Heading I. FINDINGS OF FACT of the DECISION reads: "The Zoning Officer approved Appellant's application for a zoning permit on July 11, 2014, issuing the zoning permit."
However, Heading IV. ADJUDICATION reads "Based upon the foregoing findings of fact and conclusions of law, the Zoning Hearing Board of the Borough of Columbia denies the appeal of Vincent Fiorella from the determination of the Zoning Officer to revoke Zoning Permit No. 14-206 dated August 7, 2014." This statement was read at the Zoning Hearing Board meeting on December 3rd, except that the permit date was announced as "issued July 11th 2014."
The actual permit placard shows a date of August 7, 2014.
Ed Vonstetten of Columbia has a tale that weaves the holiday candy cane into a narrative about the birth of Jesus.
He will be telling his story as part of a "Tea Time with Mrs. Claus" this Saturday at 11 a.m. at the National Watch & Clock Museum, 514 Poplar St. in Columbia.
For Joe Baker, it all started in the back alley. Avenue H, to be exact. That's where his career with the Susquehanna Glass Company began when he was 17.
"I still have my favorite cart, " he says, referring to the old utility cart he used back then. It was the largest and would allow him to transport more crates per trip as he pushed it to the various stations around the building. It is still being used, by others, today.
(Joe Baker with the cart he used a few decades ago)
“Back then we used wooden crates to put glassware in for the cutters,” he explains. “When they were done, they would set it in the lane here, and I would go up and down, pile them up on the cart and take them back to the washtubs.” Baker says he would then hand wash the glassware before it was packed and shipped.
Over the decades, Baker outgrew merely pushing the cart and learned other operations on his way to the sales department, where he has worked for the past 24 years. He points out that Susquehanna Glass was there in Avenue H long before he was. In fact, the company was started in Columbia by Albert Roye in 1910, using a single glass cutting machine.
(Artisans of former days) . . .
The company is one of the last remaining American factories practicing the art of hand-cut glass and currently employs several dozen people on various shifts. The operation is now at the height of its busiest season - Christmas. 3,000 pieces a day are being shipped out, and the required storage area has expanded to rented space at the Kleen-Rite Corporation on Ninth Street.
(Items being readied for shipping)
(Storage at Avenue H)
The Avenue H facility is the company’s main manufacturing plant and distribution center, although it also has a showroom in Atlanta, Georgia. Contrary to what many customers believe, the glass is not actually produced at the Columbia plant. Rather, blanks are shipped in and "finished" there. Finishing includes hand cutting, sand etching, color screening, engraving, and lasering.
Hand Cutting
(Crystal, a 27-year veteran artisan, demonstrates hand-cutting. The first step for this particular design is cutting the flower pattern.)
(In the second step, Crystal cuts the flower stems after changing wheels.)
In the hand cutting process shown above, a master artisan uses a rotating stone wheel to cut various designs into the glass. Since the operation is done freehand, each piece is unique.
Sand Etching
Sand etching (shown here) uses high pressure sand that is sprayed onto the substrate to create the etching.
(A piece right after sand etching)
(A similar item after being cleaned up a bit)
Color Screening
(A color screening machine)
In color screening, a design is printed in ink onto the glass and sent through a conveyor dryer to set it permanently.
(A collection of color screened items)
Engraving
(An engraved glass)
Engraving uses a computer process to drive punches into the glass at 15,000 strokes per minute to compose the design and can be used with metal, plastic, crystal, and glass.
Lasering
The lasering process allows designs to be added to metal, slate, leather, and wood, in addition to glass.
Example of lasering on metal,
on slate,
and on wood.
After any particular process is complete, items are checked, packed, and shipped out. Baker says the company’s clients include Amazon, Target, and Williams-Sonoma, among others.
These days, Joe Baker talks to clients from his own office, a few floors away - yet a long way from - his favorite cart.
(Susquehanna Glass Company (and its outlet store) is located at 731 Avenue H in Columbia.)
Due to all the abundant good will in Columbia on Saturday night, even the rain backed off for the tree lighting ceremony at Locust Street Park. This year's event was dedicated to the memory of Sis Brown, who passed away last month. Refreshments were available and Santa was on hand to round out the festivities.
On Saturday, December 6, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the Northwest River Trail Services Building at Columbia River Park. The 3500-square-foot building includes a warming kitchen/cafe, an observation deck with a view of the Susquehanna, multi-use event space, mechanical rooms, and restrooms. The two-million-dollar building will eventually connect with the 14-mile river trail. The building will open officially in May.
This large, decades-old mural was found recently in a storage area of the borough offices and placed in the new building.
