1st Amendment lawyer selected for PA due to challenges in obtaining public records here

Today is a big day, because the fight for government transparency and freedom of the press in Pennsylvania is about to get a big boost.
We’re excited to announce that our state has been selected by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press to receive a First Amendment lawyer dedicated exclusively to helping journalists combat government secrecy.

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press logo

Though often unseen, journalists here fight every day to obtain documents, data and other records in order to inform you, the public, about what the government is doing (or failing to do) and how your tax dollars are spent.
MORE:

https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2020/01/local-legal-initiative/ 

Poll shows wide support in Pa. for public access to government records. But the devil's in the details. · Spotlight PA

Even when the law is on my side, barriers to access pop up frequently. Access to government records here is so dire, in fact, that the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press recently announced it’s sending a dedicated lawyer to fight for access on behalf of Pennsylvania journalists.

MORE:

https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2020/02/pennsylvania-public-records-support/ 

Child care center plans June start, discounts for low-income Columbia Borough families

A nonprofit child care center offering income-based discounts for those who live in Columbia Borough has set a June 1 start date.

St. John Neumann School for Children and Families will serve up to 112 children ages 6 weeks through kindergarten at 401 Locust St. in Columbia.

Families can visit stjohnneumannschool.com to request more information and to get an estimate on how much tuition might cost.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/child-care-center-plans-june-start-discounts-for-low-income/article_ec961e62-49c6-11ea-8a5d-03e746b7141f.html 

About Town 2/9/20

This week’s photos of Columbia
The Market House, night lights, birds, and other curiosities

River lookout
 Open door policy at the Market House project
(Not really! The workmen don’t want anyone hanging around. Makes ’em nervous.)

 The bricks are being taken up from the floor.
This is the view from the 3rd Street side.

Here’s a view from the opposite end.

 The bricks were skidded up, shrink-wrapped and put out back. Some will be reused.

 Here’s a few more at the back door.

 And more inside

As well as a few stragglers.
The broken ones get thrown into the dumpster.
Here are some more skids, ready to go.
At last count, the cost of the Market House project is a little over $2 million. Half of that money is coming from a state grant, and Columbia Borough is responsible for the rest.
 Here’s Columbia’s bakery – The Flour Child.

Message at Mount Bethel

 Watch that first step!
And all the other ones, too.

 Directions to the hidden parking lot in Avenue H.

Room for another light at Rotary Park?

 Ready for hook-up

 Iron Butterfly
(Not really iron, but some will get the reference.)

You can bury your old milk can, but it might rise again.

Part of the downtown streetscape – 300 block of Locust

More streetscape

CHI at night

 How many borough officials would walk down one of Columbia’s downtown alleys alone at night?

 Overhead moose looming large

 Buy this building for the Columbia Creative Factory.

St. Paul Episcopal

 Historic Avenue J

Room to grow on the 100 block of Walnut

 So this is a thing . . .

 Christmas lights well after Christmas

 
 Not a bad idea . . . 


****************

 Life finds a way.

 Municipal motorcycle parking – Who knew?

 These guys are hanging around again.
 So is Guy Fawkes.
Not just another pretty face

 Valentine’s Day letters

The badass starling gang

 Young robin just in time for spring

 This adult cardinal, too

 Ghost sign on Bank Avenue

 Watcher at the window

Window fan

 There’s a Hurricane coming soon.

Dunkin’ Columbia – Unfortunately, it’s not in Columbia.