COLUMBIA SPY

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Caution! Two stop signs removed

NEW TRAFFIC PATTERNS!

As part of the Route 441 bypass project, two stop signs have been removed on Route 441 at the intersection at the lower end of Locust Street. Drivers traveling north or south on Front Street (Route 441) no longer have to stop at this intersection. DRIVERS TRAVELING DOWN LOCUST STILL NEED TO STOP HERE - and watch for traffic from right and left - before proceeding.

Looking North on Front Street (Route 441): Drivers on 441 no longer need to stop when going straight through this intersection - or turning right, up Locust.

Looking south on 441 near the Locust Street intersection: Drivers traveling south on 441 no longer need to stop. THOSE TURNING LEFT TO GO UP LOCUST MUST YIELD TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON 441.

All drivers should use caution at this intersection.

Walk a mile Monday night

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Another accident at 30 & 441 today

Hit and Run | Columbia Borough Police Department

https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/cases/hit-and-run

Pushed by activist, Lancaster County commissioners may post campaign expenses online

Art Morris last week confronted the commissioners with the fact that in January 2012 they awarded a lucrative contract to an engineering firm whose political action committee gave $20,000 to the commissioners' campaigns between 2010 and 2014.

"I sincerely hope that the commissioners take the lead in recognizing the appearance created when you receive sizable political contributions from firms or individuals of firms with whom you do business," Morris told the commissioners Wednesday.

http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/pushed-by-activist-lancaster-county-commissioners-may-post-campaign-expenses/article_6ba38974-a444-11e5-bd29-fbf6c88d2c96.html

Pa. lawmakers want volunteer fire companies to bill for costs related to emergency responses

State lawmakers want to give volunteer firefighters the opportunity to recoup some of the costs related to their services.

State Rep. Steve Barrar recently hosted a public hearing to discuss House Bill 1272, which, according to a press release, would allow fire companies to charge for "real and reasonable" costs associated with their emergency responses.

http://lancasteronline.com/news/pennsylvania/pa-lawmakers-want-volunteer-fire-companies-to-bill-for-costs/article_dfe07ca8-a42f-11e5-bbb5-0704960bca83.html

Weavings, INK closing at year's end

From Artist Robert Hammer:

As a way of showing their appreciation, the owners of Weavings, INK, 208 Hellam Street, Wrightsville, will be holding a wine and cheese reception from 10 to 4 on Saturday, December 19th. They are also offering a 10% discount on most work in the Holiday Gift Show. A retrospective of the many group and solo shows that they have held will decorate the walls of the gallery and a scrapbook of the many articles and artworks will be on hand.

Available Exclusively at Weavings, INK:
My 2016 Year of the Monkey Calendars.
11x17 full-color printed on heavyweight paper.

My Belsnickel Rule is made of a hard durable plastic with 6-inch markings and 6 positive sayings to keep you on the good side of ol' Belsnickel. Hole punched and ring for easy hanging as a decoration.

Available only at the Drawing to a Close Reception

Weavings, INK Art Gallery has added so much to my creative life. I have posted some thoughts and promotional art on my website which can be found here:(http://hammerartstudio.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f08969df32bd64119ec573b87&id=8d455fcb69&e=a137b96a59)

Holiday Show & Sale at SCCA

From SCCA:

Don't miss our Holiday Show and Sale at the Susquehanna Center of Creative Arts, featuring some of the Region's best Fine Art and Fine Craft. Many items are discounted 10-25% off retail prices.

We have over $600 worth of Door Prizes, donated by SCCA Artists. Tickets are a $5 donation or a minimum purchase of $35. Stop in at 224 Locust, Columbia or go to the web site to get your tickets under the Storeheading. http//www.sccaartstore.com.

Images of our Door Prizes can be viewed on our Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/Susquehanna-Center-for-the-Creative-Arts-155433867880497/?ref=hl.

Thanks and have a great Holiday Season!

SCCA
224 Locust Street
Columbia, PA 17512

http//www.sccaartstore.com

Market House schedule for the rest of December

Here's the Columbia Market House schedule and list of vendors for the rest of December.

Vehicle accident at new bypass?

11:49 a.m. UPDATE: Sources tell the Spy that a car with a female driver hit the back of a truck on the Route 441 hill - not on the new bypass.

It's open!

Route 441 bypass is now open.

Route 441 bypass around Columbia opens this morning

At long last, the new Route 441 bypass in Columbia opens today, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and theborough police department announced.
MORE:
http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/route-bypass-around-columbia-opens-this-morning/article_6dd71af6-a4be-11e5-8049-af8a6b711c1a.html

Bypass about to open

Lots of activity this morning in advance of the bypass opening . . .

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Columbia 'bypass' to open Thursday

The new Route 441 "bypass" is expected to open to traffic Thursday morning, Columbia Borough Manager Greg Sahd said Wednesday.

http://www.ydr.com/story/news/local/2015/12/16/columbia-bypass-open-thursday/77438900/

Bypass to open Thursday, December 17

According to this post:

Sources tell the Spy that, weather permitting, traffic signals will be tested tomorrow morning at the upper entrance to the bypass and at the Front and Walnut intersection before the road is opened. If the test is unable to be done due to weather the opening could be delayed.

Columbia Borough meeting minutes now online

More signs of bypass opening

There were more signs today of the imminent opening of the Route 441 bypass:

Additional signage was placed in the vicinity of the railroad tracks near the intersection of Front and Walnut Streets.

Additional work was done on the ADA access next to the tracks. A DWS (Detectable Warning Surface) was installed at the rear egress. The DWS is a yellow, textured pad, two of which are shown below. An asphalt walkway will be installed alongside the tracks, running from the ADA to the road. The bed for the walkway is shown in the last photo below. Large stones, called ballast, will be placed around the base of the railroad signal post.

Fixing the ADA

Workers were down at the tracks again today at Front and Walnut. They were working on the ADA access.

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

About town

Pics from around town today:

Gas pump at the Sunoco station

Workers messing around at Front & Walnut again

Changing more road signs

Putting up signs at 401 Locust

Another look

All in a row on Manor

Seen on North Fifth

This too

Route 441 Bypass Groundbreaking - A look back

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Route 441 bypass occurred over a year-and-a-half ago. The story of that event is HERE.

Study: hormone-disrupting chemicals, herbicides, pathogens and parasites likely behind bass collapse in Susquehanna

Herbicides, hormone-disrupting chemicals, as well as pathogens and parasites in the water, are the most likely causes for the decade-long decline of prize game fish in the Susquehanna River, a new study by state and federal agencies says.

MORE:
http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/study-hormone-disrupting-chemicals-and-herbicides-pathogens-and-parasites-likely/article_6c8a49f8-a29c-11e5-8a64-13519297f421.html

The bypass- When will it open?

According to borough officials at last night's council meeting, no definite date has yet been announced for the opening of the Route 441 bypass. There are some hopeful signs, however: Workers were testing traffic signals and addressing other issues at Front and Walnut Streets recently, and signage along North Third Street was changed yesterday in advance of the opening.

The purpose of the new bypass is to divert truck traffic around Columbia and keep it out of the center of town. Once the road is finally opened, however, some truckers might have a hard time of it, especially in winter weather. Those traveling east on Route 30 will need to get off at the Columbia exit as a first step in connecting with Route 441 South. From there, the driver will follow a convoluted route by turning right onto Linden Street, then right again onto North Third (near the Turkey Hill Experience), then up the hill to the Route 30/441 intersection, then left onto the new bypass, following it to the lower part of Bridge Street, and then onto Front Street. Since there is currently a No Turn on Red sign at the Third and Linden intersection, traffic is likely to back up on Linden, from Third Street to the exit ramp. If that's the case, then the plan to keep trucks out of town might be trading one problem for another.

Whatever the case, it is imperative that tractor-trailers be prevented from using the Third and Locust Street intersection, which was never intended for such large vehicles, as evidenced in these recent photos:

Monday, December 14, 2015

Agenda - Borough Council Meeting December 14, 2015

New borough manager sworn in

Columbia Mayor Leo Lutz swore in Gregory Sahd as Columbia's new borough manager at Monday's borough council meeting.

Columbia Spy has more information on Gregory Sahd HERE.

Bypass to open, 3rd Street to be turned over

Work continued on the Route 441 bypass project this afternoon, as workers changed out signs on North Third Street in anticipation of the street being "turned over" to the borough in the near future when the bypass is opened. North Third will no longer be a state road with the designation Route 441.

More from Mittens and Mufflers

The Mittens and Mufflers event was held Sunday, December 13 in Columbia and featured the Columbia Market House, a tour of historic homes, carriage rides, and other attractions, followed by a Christmas tree lighting at Locust Street Park. Some of the sights on the tour are shown below: