COLUMBIA SPY

Sunday, July 3, 2022

Agnes, love & loss: Storm brought marriage for Columbia couple, mourning for Ephrata family

Bob and Sylvia Herman still live in Columbia. Bob is a retired senior district judge, and Sylvia retired from working at Lancaster Orthopedic Group.

When asked if they had a secret to staying married, they both said it requires work.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/agnes-love-loss-storm-brought-marriage-for-columbia-couple-mourning-for-ephrata-family/article_08192376-f7c8-11ec-a0d6-dbf67950eef2.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share

Saturday, July 2, 2022

Smucker tells voters in phone call Jan. 6 testimony was 'very credible'

In a telephone "town hall" with constituents earlier this week, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker said he found the testimony of Cassidy Hutchinson "very credible," and agreed with the mission of the House Select Committee to investigate the January 6 attack, though he also suggested the hearings were partisan.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/politics/smucker-tells-voters-in-phone-call-jan-6-testimony-was-very-credible/article_133523ae-f976-11ec-89a0-07421f96858f.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share

Columbia council decides to keep Saturday parking fees in borough

Downtown shoppers will continue to pay for Saturday parking after council members voted 6-1 against a motion that would have made parking that day permanently free. Sharon Lintner was the only council member who voted for the idea.

The Columbia Merchants Association recently asked council to waive parking fees on Saturdays to encourage more people to shop downtown and prevent the borough from getting a bad reputation from visitors who get parking tickets. The group said shoppers, who sometimes fail to see the parking meter screen showing how much time is left, get tickets and then complain that they will never visit Columbia again.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/regional/columbia-council-decides-to-keep-saturday-parking-fees-in-borough/article_3b264ede-f3c1-11ec-a0d3-678730fea3cf.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share

Friday, July 1, 2022

Agenda - Columbia Borough Council Work Session - July 5, 2022

Download the meeting packet HERE.

The story behind Lady Liberty on the Susquehanna

We've all seen the iconic Lady Liberty statue on the Susquehanna River. Did you know she has been there for 36 years now! On July 1, 1986, a group of self-described “knuckleheads” decided to sneak to the middle of the river and raise a statue in honor of the 100th anniversary of the original grand lady, the Statue of Liberty. Click the link to read the full story.

https://www.pennlive.com/life/2021/07/the-iconic-lady-liberty-secretly-arrived-here-35-years-ago-thanks-to-a-bunch-of-knuckleheads.html

Update on Columbia's Veterans Banners

Recently, Columbia resident Bob Smith contacted Columbia Spy with an update on the "Veterans Banners."

Smith is spearheading a committee of volunteers who are working to implement the plans. The committee held its first meeting on June 23rd at the VFW. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 5th. Plans for the program are progressing well and further information will be posted as it becomes available.

On June 28th, council voted unanimously to allow "Hometown Hero" banners to be placed in the public right-of-way by borough staff.