About Town 9/1/19

This week’s photos of Columbia

Watchdog watching
 Egret coming in for landing
Heron drifting on by
 Freedom!
America!
The two historic-looking images shown above are located at 5th & Cherry.

Someone at 6th & Locust was happy for the long weekend.
[Submitted photo]

 The 400 block of Locust was just swept by the sweeper sweeping by
Following the sweeper
 Doing the 300 block of Avenue H
 Doing the 400 block of Avenue H
In for a swim – a risky proposition these days
Stretching a line
Backing into Easter Drillers from Front Street can be a dicey proposition for truck drivers. It took this one 10 minutes and many adjustments to line up with the bay.
Up at Keystone Cap – The addition is almost done.
 Is this the hidden lair of the secret vehicles?
(The former Shawnee Fire Company)
Painting the woodwork at the Haitian Maranatha Church on the 200 block of Locust.

Last summer, the borough stopped workers from painting the stone/concrete surfaces of the building.

Only the window frames and wooden cross were painted this week.
The cross was painted red.
Shooting off at the ramp
 NOTICE: Get a job!
 May the force be with you.

And now for some flags:

Flags at Mount Bethel
This is called a Betsy Ross Flag.
 Flying a flag upside down can be a symbol of protest.
This flag seems somehow fitting in the current political climate.
The Endless Eighth Street Project:

 The Endless Eighth Street Project – here and below:
 It goes on and on and on and on.

So let’s look at some of Columbia’s Cool Cats . . .

 Facing
Fenced
Fetish
 Famished?
Fake
Ghost truck?
(Heading towards Halloween)
OK, back to the Endless Eighth Street Project
Here are examples of the newly “completed” sidewalks

Oh well, forge on!

Endlessly . . .

Over at Bethel Street – Everywhere a sign
Tied off
Trooper at Bixler’s
Vanishing point that hasn’t yet vanished
Down at the 4th & Locust project – 
The sign says ROAD CLOSED, but drivers insisted on using one lane as two lanes.
Columbia skyline
Pointing the way
Red hat
Pulling a line
Uh . . . Road Closed . . . ?
Patriotic helmet
Laying a block

Troweling the edge

Large load

The first block of North 4th
The tree is dead, but the weeds are doing quite well.
(400 block of Walnut)
Heading to school
Heading to home
Newly added at the Front Street mural – 
Unfortunately, not all who donated are listed.
Doubly prepared
Up in the corner
The remnants of a hornet’s nest

Here’s a shot from July 23, 2017 when it was live.

 Coffee & Cream coming soon at Front & Walnut
Painting on South 3rd
At 161-163 Locust Street: The permit specified an interior clean-out and demo. The property is owned by Cimarron.

At the July 23, 2019 Columbia Borough Council meeting, Zoning and Planning Officer Jeff Helm said the interior demolition would consist of “non-essential, non-structural materials that are in there.” He said it would entail “peeling away cosmetic layers inside the building.” He also said there’s a plan for a rear, attached shed that will eventually come to the planning commission for review. He said the “demo” refers to ceiling demos and wall covering demos.

No permit is currently displayed.

Shown above is a Historic Resource Survey Form from March 23, 1983 describing the building.

Here’s a snake slithering.
Mattress and frame on Locust
Free!
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In case you were wondering, it’s OPEN. Except – it’s really CLOSED.
Tri-color house on the 200 block of Locust
Way up on Avenue I
Some weed whacking might be in order.
Surprisingly, the weeds at the Locust Street hole in the ground have been chopped down.
Here’s another look.
Scrape and paint ASAP.
Paddling along on a Sunday morning

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In "opportunity zones," profits on investments are tax-free for years

The tax benefit allows people to delay paying taxes on profits from stocks or other investments for years. To qualify, they have to direct their untaxed gains into federally certified regions known as opportunity zones. Profits on those investments are then tax-free.

While some money is flowing to poor communities, the most visible impact so far has been to set off a feeding frenzy among the wealthiest Americans. They are poised to reap billions in untaxed profits on high-end apartment buildings and hotels in trendy neighborhoods, storage facilities that employ only a handful of workers or student housing in bustling college towns.

MORE:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/31/business/the-trump-associates-benefiting-from-a-tax-break-for-poor-communities.html

Measles case confirmed in central Pennsylvania; here's how to find out if you might have been exposed

The Department of Health issued a list of locations where the patient had visited to alert those who may have been exposed: 

  • Fuddruckers, 2300 E. Market St., York, on Aug. 22 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
  • Hershey Theater, 15 E. Caracas Ave., Hershey, on Aug. 23 from 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.
  • WellSpan Stony Brook Health Center, 4222 E. Market St., Lincoln Hwy. York, on Aug. 26 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
  • WellSpan York Hospital, 1001 S. George St., York, on Aug. 26
    • in the proximity of the Lab from 1:30 to 3:45 p.m.
    • in the proximity of the Imaging Department from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. 
    • in the proximity of the Emergency Department from 6:15 to 1:45 a.m.
    • in the proximity of the Imaging Department from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m.
  • WellSpan Stony Brook Health Center, 4222 E. Market St., Lincoln Highway, York, on Aug. 28 from 10:45 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • WellSpan Stony Brook Health Center, 4222 E. Market St., Lincoln Highway, York, on Aug. 29 from 9:50 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
  • WellSpan York Hospital, 1001 S. George St., York, on Aug. 29 in the proximity of the emergency room at 11:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m
MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/measles-case-confirmed-in-central-pennsylvania-here-s-how-to/article_b3b40836-cc3d-11e9-892e-ab25158adf37.html

Albatwitch Day is coming to Columbia October 12

Join us on October 12, 2019 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM for Albatwitch Day, Pennsylvania’s little Bigfoot at Columbia Crossing in Columbia, PA. Music, Lectures, Vendors, Food, Ghost Tour, Trolley Tour and more. Lectures on crypto creatures with Jenn Mitchell, John G Sabol Jr. Timothy Renner, and Rick Fisher with Special Guest Jack Hubley, “Creatures Beyond the Back Door”. Live music by Doomwatch 13, Fever & The Thrill, Hot Mess, Pain!, Offensive, Stone Blood Creeps and The Swamp Thumpers. Variety of music for the whole family from easy listening to Punk. Games for the kids, food provided Roses Deli N More. Lectures and music are free. Vendor space is still available.

Tee-shirts: $15.00 (available at Albatwitch Registration Table

Chiques Haunted Trail Tour tickets available by calling (717)572-7149, www.eventbrite.com or at Albatwitch Day Registration table. 90 tickets available at $10.00 per person/ 30 visitors per tour

Time(s): 6:00PM 7:00 PM 8:00 PM (Meet 15 min. prior to tour)

Albatwitch Trolley Tours $5.00 per person 30-40 minute tour, tickets available at the Albatwitch Registration table from 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Please follow the trolley signs for boarding

Thanks again for your support,
Christopher A. Vera

Director/ Columbia Historic Preservation Society.
PO Box 578
Columbia, Pennsylvania 17512
(717)572-7149 (C)
(717)684-2894 (M)

Columbia Borough Council accepts grant to be used toward Market House

Council voted unanimously to accept a $1.75 million state grant to be used toward renovations to the Columbia Market House and parking improvements in the downtown area. The borough is also hoping to secure a $1.2 million federal grant to help fund streetscape improvements on Locust and Walnut streets, between the Columbia Riverfront Park and the area near the market.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/regional/columbia-borough-council-accepts-grant-to-be-used-toward-market/article_f0501932-ca59-11e9-9c53-73c4bbf85faa.html

Columbia Borough Seeks to Spur Private Investment in Downtown by Building on Existing Assets | ULI Philadelphia

ULI Philadelphia released its Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) Report, summarizing recommendations to effectively spur private investment within Columbia Borough’s central business district, provide adequate parking options to support commercial activity, and enhance urban connectivity through placemaking and public space enhancements. The report concludes a study comprised of a two-day convening of real estate professionals, urban planners and other experts, as well as interviews with key stakeholders.
MORE:

https://philadelphia.uli.org/columbia-borough-seeks-to-spur-private-investment-in-downtown-by-building-on-existing-assets/

Download the full report HERE.

Making a shooting gesture with hand a crime, court finds in ruling against Manor Twp. man

Making a shooting gesture at a person with one’s hand can be a crime, a state appeals court ruled Tuesday in upholding a Manor Township man’s conviction.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/making-a-shooting-gesture-with-hand-a-crime-court-finds/article_d8e216bc-c9df-11e9-bf6b-7f53f0033671.html