Homegrown hemp on the horizon?

Columbia resident Shawn House has to import the starring ingredient in his Hempzels food products from Canada. He would like that to change.
MORE:
http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/homegrown-hemp-on-the-horizon/article_07f33556-905d-11e4-8d31-47426f4d0c15.html?mode=jqm

State could be ready to rule if Susquehanna is "sick" by this summer

Last week, the federal Environmental Protection Agency, in its every-two-year review of Pennsylvania's water-quality plans, said it agreed that there is still a lack of data to declare the Susquehanna sick or not.

But that determination may be soon at hand, EPA said.

MORE:

http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/state-could-be-ready-to-rule-if-susquehanna-is-sick/article_76bf4084-9066-11e4-9a1c-c7c7fb43fbcc.html?mode=jqm

Little Boy Captures Video Evidence of Santa in Columbia

A Christmas wish came true for a little boy named Evan.

The 7-year-old's family helped him set up a video camera on Christmas Eve, and he managed to capture something magical — Santa personally delivering presents to his home in Columbia, Pennsylvania.

MORE:
http://wric.com/2014/12/30/little-boy-captures-video-evidence-of-santa-seriously/

Let there be light - Take 2

Yes, let there be some.

These three street lights on the first block of North Third Street (near Burning Bridge Antiques) have been out for several weeks. This issue was first brought to the attention of council at its December 8 meeting, during citizen comments. At the December 22 Meeting of the Whole, Acting Borough Manager Ron Miller said there had been a "hiccup" as lights were being strung, which had knocked out some street lights.  Are these the ones? This section of the block is very dark at night, with the only light available coming from businesses and passing vehicles.

Keeping an eye on things

Four new security cameras were installed Monday at the Northwest River Trail Services Building at Columbia River Park. Installation was approved November 24 at Columbia Borough Council's Meeting of the Whole. The total cost for the cameras was $9420, with half coming from a grant and half from the borough. Including an existing camera near the front of the building, the addition of the four new cameras (two outside and two inside) brings the total number of cameras monitoring the building to five. 

 A technician checks an existing camera near the front of the building.

 Installation of this new camera on the south side of the building is almost complete.

A second camera, almost ready, on the north side.

A long view of the camera shown above.

Prudhomme's controversy noted in 'The Christian Post'

GO HERE:
http://m.christianpost.com/news/five-ridiculous-targets-of-atheist-groups--131799/

Gap between rich, poor schools doubled in 4 years under Gov. Corbett

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The gap between what wealthy districts and poor districts spend to educate children has widened dramatically in the four years since GOP Gov. Tom Corbett took office, amid deep budget-balancing cuts in state aid under Republican-controlled Harrisburg and long-delayed pension obligation payments coming due.

MORE:
http://lancasteronline.com/news/pennsylvania/gap-between-rich-poor-schools-doubled-in-years-under-gov/article_53334702-5bf0-50cf-a772-6e4cd841dfd9.html

And according to spundge.com, he's one of the villains who approved a gas tax increase:

"The Republican governor did approve a gas-tax increase in November as part of a more than $2.3 billion transportation package. The increase for gas and diesel is charged at the wholesale level, but multiple businesses have said they have to pass the cost along to consumers.

The increase is being phased in over multiple years, and the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy, a think tank that says it’s dedicated to rolling back the size of government, calculated that it equals a minimum 27-cent per gallon increase for gas by 2017. The minimum increase would be slightly less than that by 2018.

The minimum increase would be higher for diesel.

The increases could be higher, depending on average wholesale prices calculated by the Department of Revenue."

Driving in Pennsylvania will get more expensive in 2015

Oh, those tax-and-spend Republicans.
GO HERE:
http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/driving-in-pennsylvania-will-get-more-expensive-in/article_9f2984a2-8f90-11e4-83d2-f35088534f06.html?mode=jqm

PCB contamination causes fish consumption advisory for catfish caught from Susquehanna River in Lancaster County

The state Department of Environmental Protection has issued a consumption warning for channel catfish longer than 20 inches. Samples of the fish showed unacceptable levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, often called PCBs.
MORE:
http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/pcb-contamination-causes-fish-consumption-advisory-for-catfish-caught-from/article_ea4fd690-8f93-11e4-9e96-97713c0276f0.html?mode=jqm

Let there be lights

More new "bridge" lights

Workers began installing lights on the surface of the new facade at Columbia Plaza today. (The structure resembles the Veterans Memorial Bridge.)

Pooped out

The holidays have this effect on a lot of folks. 

Some of us need a holiday from the holidays.

Salt must go before bridge project begins

We know that too much salt is bad for your health, but it can be bad for the health of concrete structures, also. Rock salt (sometimes called "road salt" due to its use on icy roads) currently being stored under the Veterans Memorial Bridge may be contributing to spalling and cracking on bridge piers in close proximity to the salt pile, and PennDOT may require the borough to move the salt in the near future. At Columbia Borough Council's Meeting of the Whole last Monday, Mayor Lutz stated the need for a pole barn or shed to contain the salt. The salt is used by borough and school district maintenance personnel. Lutz said that in the next year or two the bridge will undergo the largest bridge restoration project in Pennsylvania.

  A salt pile under the Veterans Memorial Bridge

 Deterioration at the base of a pier near the salt pile

 Spalling and cracking on one of the soldier piers, shown here and below

Pennsylvania will control York City School District

The York City School District has entered receivership, according to a ruling Friday in York County court.

Could it happen here? Should it?

MORE:
http://m.lancasteronline.com/news/local/pennsylvania-will-control-york-city-school-district/article_4e77892e-8d19-11e4-ab64-fbf0cf40816a.html?mode=jqm

Happy Solstice!

Winter begins today at 6:03 P.M. EST

Tires slashed on 30 vehicles in Columbia - LancasterOnline

Tires were slashed on about 30 vehicles in Columbia Borough, apparently sometime Friday evening, according to police. 

Police said they began getting calls about 9 p.m. and found vehicles with slashed tires in the following streets:

200 block of South Second Street; 200 block of Lawrence Street; Mill Street; Furnace Avenue; the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Manor Street; 600 block of South 11th and 14th streets and the 1300 block of Central Avenue.

Damage is estimated in the thousands of dollars.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Columbia Borough Police Department at 717-684-7735.

http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/tires-slashed-on-vehicles-in-columbia/article_801c899e-889a-11e4-bb46-fb8acff90b3a.html

What I saw today - December 20, 2014

Waterways Conservation Officer Jeff Schmitt talking to boaters.

 New siding

 A spy caught watching for Santa

On Letort Road

National Watch and Clock Museum names new curator | PennLive.com

The National Watch and Clock Museum in Columbia, Lancaster County, recently hired a new curator of collections to replace Carter Harris, who retired in August.
MORE:
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/12/national_watch_and_clock_museu.html

Borough offices to be closed

Last day to pay property taxes is Dec. 31

What I saw today - December 18, 2014

Workers were at it again today at the Columbia Plaza project.  Even the cold winds didn't slow them down.

 The section on the left looks to be almost finished. The facade is looking more like the Veterans Memorial Bridge each day.

Meanwhile, in town . . .

 Locust Street, and Eddie Shupp is showing photographs

Of every head he's had the pleasure to know,

And all the people that come and go

Stop and say hello.

 And catty-corner from Shupp's - what's this?

The sidewalk is closed?

Columbian among 72 student-athletes to earn fall academic All-Big-10 honors

GO HERE:
http://www.gopsusports.com/genrel/121714aac.html

'Sharp Things' band started with demo in Columbia

THE SHARP THINGS is a longstanding, multi-member NYC-based collective led by singer/songwriter/pianist Perry Serpa. Over their 15-plus years in existence, THE SHARP THINGS have taken in over 40 musicians, shared stages all over the place with the likes of Metric, Broken Social Scene, Tindersticks, Evan Dando, Joan As Policewoman, the late Vic Chesnutt, and many more. 

MORE:

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/6330770

Pete Andrelczyk coming to Columbia Library

Family 'hopes for miracle' for disabled 4-year-old son, hopes to use Columbia facility

" I would like to take Ryder for hyperbaric oxygen therapy at the Robert Lombard HBOT center in Columbia, Pa."

INFORMATION HERE:

http://www.ldnews.com/local/ci_27144569/richland-family-hopes-miracle-disabled-4-year-old

It's here!

The historic rail diesel car just rolled into Columbia to be refurbished at Rail Mechanical Services. (See previous posts.)

These photos were taken on Fourth Street near Manor.