Arbor Day in Columbia – Photo Highlights

The 27th annual Arbor Day ceremony was held at Columbia’s Makle Park on Friday, April 27. The event was sponsored by the Columbia Borough Shade Tree Commission and the Columbia Tree Society. Master of Ceremonies Pam Williams (above) opened the proceedings.
Council President Kelly Murphy offered remarks on the significance of Arbor Day.

Sandra Duncan addressed the crowd.

Our Lady of the Angels Catholic School Choir accompanied Duncan in a musical performance.

Amy Evans, chair of the Columbia Borough Shade Tree Commission, offered welcoming remarks.

Mark Zeamer announced the coloring contest winners.

Mayor Leo Lutz spoke of the environmental value of trees.
Boy Scout Troop  #35 gave the salute.

Our Lady of the Angels Catholic School Choir performed several songs during the ceremony . . .

featuring several soloists.

Rick Hartleib from the DCNR Bureau of Forestry spoke again this year and presented the Tree City USA Award.

Sam Edmond planted a tree in memory of his father.

A flag was unveiled recognizing Columbia as a Tree City USA.
Columbia High School senior Marcus Falcon read Joyce Kilmer’s “Trees.”

About Town

This week’s pics in and around Columbia…
 This Moto Marshal was part of the “Face of America” event, participants of which passed through Columbia on Sunday morning.

The event is organized by World T.E.A.M., which brings adaptive and able-bodied athletes together by empowering, enabling and engaging individuals through inclusive athletic events, according to the organization’s website.
 The cyclists were on their way to Gettysburg, after having spent a Saturday night stopover in Lancaster. They started out in Philadelphia.

Several dozen cyclists took part.

 Even recumbent bikes were welcome.

 Friendly bikers passing through

The group stopped briefly along Chestnut Street before re-embarking. They planned to meet up in Gettysburg with another group that set out from Arlington National Cemetery.
*****
 Someone left the door open down at the tracks.

 Here’s a sidewalk syringe along 462.

 Last winter’s river ice did a number on the bald cypress trees along the shoreline. The one shown above is listing a bit, so let’s fix it…

 There, that’s better.

 Checking out the knitted caps…
She’ll need at least three.

 This is who’s doing the financing for the construction project at Locust Street and Bank Avenue.

 PA Heroes Walk/Ride June 2

 16.2 miles on the Northwest River Trail

Some folks prefer another route: 
ON the beaten track.
 Saturday morning fog

 Down by the bridge plaza

 Even the lights barely cut through.

 The bridge receded into the fog.
 In some places, the bridge “appeared to disappear.”
 Half a bridge is better than none.
 Some fishermen were undaunted by the fog.

 Captions for the next two photos got lost in the fog…

 As seen from one of the Civil War piers

 A bridge and a pier

 Fence in the fog

 Lights and lights

 Where’s that confounded bridge?

 Columbia Crossing

 Along the tracks

 Up on the rooftop…

 A difference of opinion?

 A cellar without a house, soon to be an apartment building
(Locust Street & Bank Avenue)

 Near the intersection of Locust and 441

 Only this headless porch dwarf seemed able to withstand the fog.

 Figure in the fog

 Bordered by the filigree

 The 200 block of Locust, looking east

 The 300 block, same direction
 Saint Paul’s Episcopal, 340 Locust

 Saint Francis at Saint Paul’s

 Columbia Presbyterian, 360 Locust

 The 400 block of Locust

 Another figure in the fog
(500 block of Locust)

 Dragon at Global Time Wizard

 The Returned Soldier

 The former Manor Street School, now apartments

 “Wagner for Governor” 
Just a photo caption, enthusiastically NOT an endorsement

 So that’s how hubcaps are grown.

 Outhouse for a very small person
(Plane Street)

 Checking the plots at 4th & Mill

 A subtly suggested stop?

 Investigation inside

 Pointing the joints

A reader sent this photo of an item dated November 1, 1902 from the original Columbia Spy newspaper. The address is listed as 147 Locust Street.

 Kayaks are back
at Chiques Rock Outfitters.

 Baby on board

 This cat knows which way the wind blows.
(Commerce Street)

 Flagpoles down at the bridge plaza…
The dedication is May 26.

 New Age Riders

 Another low-flier

 So, what actually happened here?
(5th & Walnut)

 Legs with hats
Now we need heads with socks.
(400 block of Locust)
 Leaded glass from times past
(400 block of Locust)

 Gift/Art shop on Locust

 Is he ever here?

Camera-shy

 Not so, this one. He’s just showing off.
A see-through bird near 2nd & Union

A bird tribunal to judge the preceding birds?

 Resident Heather Shenk submitted these photos (above and below) of a peregrine falcon, taken last Sunday.

It appeared to be hunting some song birds behind the former power substation next to Columbia Fire Company. It landed in a tree on the other side of the former McGinness airfield, looked around for a few minutes, then took off flying in the direction of the river.

 A dragonfly…
Apparently, they’re bigger this year.

 Nature’s mural (with a little help from a can of paint)

 Secluded tattoo shop on 5th

A sighting of the elusive leaf-backed tabby, rare in these parts

Man accused of stealing from lockers at LA Fitness charged with 10 counts of theft & several additional

Anthony T. Key
Theft By Unlawful Taking / Attempted Theft By Unlawful Taking / Criminal Mischief Arrest, 4:49 p.m., Thursday, April 26, 2018, 1300 Lititz Pike – LA Fitness (MT) – Anthony T. Key, M/54, of Columbia PA, was charged with the above offenses following a lengthy investigation by detectives.  From July 2017 to March 2018, the Manheim Township Police Department received thirteen (13) reports of Theft or Attempted Theft at the LA Fitness located at 1300 Lititz Pike in Manheim Township.  During each of these instances, victims secured their property in a locked locker.  When they returned, they found the lockers forcibly opened and damaged.  Their property previously stored inside had been stolen. 
The detective assigned to the case obtained copies of surveillance footage from the gym, during the dates and times of the thefts.  Numerous hours were spent reviewing footage in an attempt to locate any suspect/s that were consistently observed in the building during the time periods of the thefts.  Eventually Key was identified as the person who had committed the thefts.  A criminal complaint was filed against Key on the morning of Thursday, April 26, 2018, and an arrest warrant was obtained for the following charges:
1- Ten (10) counts of Theft by Unlawful Taking
2- Three (3) counts of Attempted Theft by Unlawful Taking
3- Thirteen (13) counts of Criminal Mischief
In the afternoon of Thursday, April 26, 2018, Key was arrested at the gym after an additional theft had been reported.  Key was later taken to Central Arraignment.  He faces additional charges for the theft incident from April 26, 2018.
MEDIA CONTACT: Sergeant Michael T. Piacentino, W: 717-569-6401 Ext: 1583, C: 717-340-2130, piacentm@police.co.lancaster.pa.us
Arrest Date: 

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Case Number: 

2018-MT-02131

Source: 

Manheim Township Police Department

https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/manheimtwppd/53783/arrests/key-anthony-t-10-counts-theft-unlawful-taking-and-2-additional-charges

Man charged with motor vehicle theft found hiding in a closet

Dennis Earl Ishman, Jr.
On 04-10-18 at approx. 11:02AM the Columbia Borough Police were called to an address in the 900 blk. of Spruce St. for a motor vehicle theft. During the investigation, police learned that Dennis Earl Ishman Jr. (30), no known address, had punched the victim in the face, took the keys and drove off with the victim’s vehicle. Charges were filed on Ishman for Robbery of a Motor Vehicle and a warrant was issued. On 04-24-18 Ishman was located hiding in a closet in a house in the 800 blk. of Locust St. Ishman was taken to Central Booking and committed to Lancaster County Prison on $25,000 cash bail.
Arrest Date: 

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Case Number: 

11157-04-10-18

Source: 

Columbia Borough Police Department

https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/arrests/ishman-dennis-earl-jr-robbery-motor-vehicle

Rock, rot delay Columbia library construction; $2.5M expansion set to reopen in July

A scheduled May reopening was delayed, according to a statement this week from the Library System of Lancaster County, by “the extreme winter weather and unforeseen circumstances, including rock and rotted joists.”

MORE:

Missing Person (Endangered) | Columbia Borough Police Department

William Richard Auliz
On 04-25-18 at approx. 6:23PM the Columbia Borough Police were notified of a missing, endangered person. It was reported to the police that William Richard Auliz left his house on Devonshire Place to take a walk around 11:30AM and has not returned. The missing person was described to police as a Hispanic male, 5’09”, 160lbs. with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a black in color hooded sweatshirt with diamonds and stars on it. He was also wearing dark colored, stone wash jeans that were described as baggy. He possibly has a set a headphones on him and was wearing black colored Nike shoes.
If anyone knows the whereabouts of William Richard Auliz, they are asked to submit a tip below or contact the police department.
Date: 

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Case Status:

Case Type:

https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/cases/missing-person-endangered

Police find 17-year-old hiding in attic after he entered property illegally

On 04-22-18 at approx. 5:27PM the Columbia Borough Police were called to an address in the 200 blk. of S. 8th St. for a report of a possible Burglary In Progress complaint. It was reported to police that the victim was receiving phone calls from her apartment phone number and that no one is supposed to be in her apartment. Police arrived and saw signs that the apartment may have been entered and contacted the landlord. The landlord responded and police made entry. Officers on scene located a 17 year old male hiding in an attic crawlspace during the search. The juvenile male was taken into custody and turned over to York County youth services. The juvenile was charged with Criminal Trespass, a felony of the 2nd degree.

Incident Date: 

Sunday, April 22, 2018 – 5:27pm

Incident Type:

Case Number: 

26976-04-22-18

Location: 

200 blk. S 8th St.
Columbia, PA 17512

https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/incidents/criminal-trespass

4th Friday at Mount Bethel

The “Visions of Mt. Bethel” artwork created during the Sesquicentennial Celebration of the incorporation of the cemetery will be on display on Friday, April 27th, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. and again on Sunday, April 29th, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. in the caretaker’s cottage, 700 Locust Street, Columbia. 

Epitaphs, poetry, historic research, rubbings, pen and ink drawings, paintings and photography will be exhibited. Refreshments will be served and the event is free and open to the public.