Year: 2017

Highway department adds crossing lines at busy intersection

The Columbia Borough Highway Department painted two sets of crossing lines at the intersection of North 5th and Chestnut Streets today. One set spans Chestnut, from the clock plaza to the opposing sidewalk, running north and south. The other set runs east and west across North 5th. Previously, no crossing lines existed at the intersection.

Thanks Highway Department!

Columbia PD first to arrest at pipeline protest

Sergeant Jacobs of the Columbia Borough Police Department made the first arrest at today’s pipeline protest just outside Columbia.

Note the protester’s hand gesture as she is led away.

Singing protesters stood their ground Monday morning until police began arresting those who remained standing at a pipeline protest just outside Columbia. 23 protesters were arrested and charged with defiant trespass for attempting to block the path of an excavator on land owned by nuns at the Adorers of the Blood of Christ.

Applause and cheers greeted each person arrested. Construction workers watched the entire time and immediately began work after the last arrest.

Police from West Hempfield, Columbia Borough, Manor Township, and Southern Regional were among those present, as were federal marshals.

Protesters who were not arrested met at the nearby chapel to discuss their next action.

Within half an hour after the last arrest, the chain link construction fence was already partially erected.

In July of this year, a federal judge ruled that the Williams Partners can condemn the land. The pipeline project was subsequently given the green light to proceed.

Columbia Spy previously reported on the pipeline controversy HERE.

The continuing quest for the elusive Albatwitch

It all began – fittingly enough – on Albatwitch Day this past Saturday afternoon…
 Intrepid Albatwitch hunter Walter Bosch made ready to hunt the elusive beast…

 as Albatwitch shirts sold out…

 and a cereal killer lurked.

 A sample of dessicated Albatwitch meat was offered, the soporific effects of which rendered the camera woozy, thus eliciting this blurry shot.

 Bob Hammer hung out in style at his gallery…

while John Morrow posed with his self portrait – but which is the self and which is the portrait?

 And then, the trolley materialized from out of the mist.

Driver Andre Underhill awaited the boarding of passengers…

including the hunter himself, off to his next adventure. 

 The trolley’s destination: Chickies Rock Park, site of hauntings and other paranormal events. There, tour guide Chris Vera regaled the crowd with lurid tales of Albatwitchery.

With apples in tow, he described the creature’s insatiable appetite for the delectable fruit.

 At his command, the crowd fired a volley of apples over the hill in an attempt to lure the mystical creature.

 Suddenly, the hunter spied the prey and drew his gun of finest pine…

only to have the Albatwitch galumph away in delirious laughter.
Drat!
Foiled again!

About Town

Pics about town over the last few weeks…

North side of the bridge

When you absolutely positively need that evidence shredded

 That view

 Blowing off steam
(UGI on the 500 block of Walnut)

 Not a scene from an Alfred Hitchcock movie, just a bunch of crows in a frenzy.

 Antique TV accompanied by some sort of circuit board door-type thing?

 New lamp at the River Park ramp to replace the one damaged a while back.  Not an exact match, but close.

 Wrong way on the one-way 500 block of Chestnut

 Walking Dead Day October 21
(Stop by Taco to Go Saturday, October 21, for the annual Walking Dead Day! Serving “walking dead tacos”(spaghetti and meatballs), and free “brains” (jello). Anyone who dresses up as a zombie will receive a free walking dead taco and be entered to win trophies and gift certificates for best zombies! Open at noon, so dress your worst!)

 Mottled bridge arches

 River watchers

 Tangled up in blue?

 Progress at 301 Locust

 Nice paint job

 Ditto

 Before and after?

 Restored ghost signs

 A soon-to-be ghost sign on the 400 block of Locust

 Beautiful stone work at 4th & Locust

 Sign upgrade?

 Stone tower

 Big Brother got a little too wired.

 Datestone in the 100 block of Avenue H at the former potato chip factory

Downspout down
(100 block of Walnut)

 Sign City USA

 A 3-handed skateboarder?

 Under control

 This dump truck fire was quickly extinguished by our fire crews.

Hinkle’s 
We’re SAD to see it go.

 The hardworking gents at 301 Locust after a long day

 Construction fence at the library

 Strap a hammock and relax.

 The river’s low.

 Yeah, it really is.

 Rockin’ & rollin’ at 4th & Cherry

 Pride in ownership

 Alley(way) cat

 Scratch that itch!

A convenient hangout

 Pedal power

 Stoned cat?

 Heron on the wing

 It’s that internet meme guy!

 Far-out heron

 More painted rocks

 Above it all

 Some religions see things pretty much the same.

 Other times, they don’t.

 She may have found one of those painted rocks.

 Bridge bust

 More of the same

 Lots o’ pretzels

 Rainbow-painted rock at Columbia Crosssing

 Young shutterbug

 Surveying the Susquehanna from the Bridge Bust

Sometimes a sidewalk is just a living room.

Cafe 301 to open at 301 Locust next year

Laurie Newman (center) along with Don and Becky Murphy of Cimarron Investments, LLC announced the opening of Cafe 301, a new restaurant that will move into 301 Locust Street in the winter of 2018. Laurie currently runs Laurie’s 717 Catering, LLC, which provides soul food and Southern-style meals at the Columbia Market House every Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday was the business’s one-year anniversary at the Market House.

This promotional poster shows an architect’s rendering of 301 Locust as it will appear next year when renovations are complete.
Immediately after the announcement, Don Murphy led a tour of 301 Locust. The first floor will house the Cafe 301 restaurant, which will serve a variety of sandwiches and salads, and ice cream and coffee from local suppliers. The catering business will be headquartered in the basement, along with a large commercial kitchen and offices.