Year: 2023

The Buddhist temple at South 2nd & Cherry installed several new statues this past week, with more on the way.

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The Pennsylvania State Police were patrolling the Veterans Memorial Bridge this past week, on the lookout for overweight vehicles that are in violation of the recently implemented weight restrictions.

An officer nabbed this truck on the first block of North 5th Street.

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LASA is currently undertaking a project to reline approximately 16,500 feet of 8″ diameter sewer main in Manor Township and Columbia Borough. LASA has contracted with Mr Rehab from Mechanicsburg PA to perform the work, according to LASA’s website. However, workers from Green Mountain Pipeline Services were performing the work this day (8/9/23) on the 100 block of Walnut Street. The project will continue throughout the area for at least the rest of August, according to LASA’s calendar.

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Here’s a tree well that should be filled in – to allow motorized wheelchairs to pass.

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The ever-growing Community Rock Snake at River Park.

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All aboard!

Curious cat

The latest progress on the Habitat project

Someone left this jewel-encrusted stone at Columbia River Park.

They’re creeping back.

(Literally . . . creeping.)

Seen on 7th Street

For sale

Many kayaks

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Ashley Tabernacle COGIC held its annual baptism at Columbia River Park on Sunday, August 13, 2023, led by Pastor Wayne Scott.

Late last month, Norfolk Southern hosted three days of safety training in Harrisburg for emergency responders from across central Pennsylvania. The training provided by the company, which owns railroads stretching across the state and Lancaster County, is designed to familiarize firefighters and other responders with the types of railroad cars and other equipment that they may encounter in an emergency situation.

No responders from Lancaster County were at the Harrisburg training on the day that an LNP | LancasterOnline reporter and photographer were there. Only a handful of responders from the county attended on one of the other two days, according to emergency response officials who spoke with The Watchdog.

“The more we can learn about, in this case train cars, enhances our ability to be able to respond better to an emergency,” said Jay Barninger, emergency management coordinator for Columbia. “The more you know about something, the better equipped you’ll be when the time occurs.”

The Watchdog called around and found only two people from the county who attended the July training in Harrisburg — the police and fire chiefs from Columbia.

Representatives of four other agencies, including the Lancaster County Emergency Management Agency, said they did not attend.

Barninger, who did not attend the late July training, said he is in discussion with Norfolk Southern about trying to schedule a training in Columbia so more Lancaster County responders can attend.

Gockley [Randy Gockley, the county’s former emergency management coordinator] said he did not attend the July training in Harrisburg but echoed Barninger’s description of how valuable the safety train sessions are in giving responders the opportunity to see the train equipment up close and work with the valves and cars they may see in an emergency.

[Excerpted from LNP, Aug. 13, 2023]

In Harrisburg, Pennsylvania House Bill 1028 proposes the creation of a database of hazardous material being transported through the state on railways; that database would be accessible to emergency management agencies.

Appallingly, four Lancaster County Republicans — state Reps. David Zimmerman, Keith Greiner, Brett Miller and Tom Jones — were among 62 votes against the bipartisan bill.

They should explain their “nay” votes to the Lancaster County residents who live near the railway lines on which hazardous materials are transported. And to the emergency responders who will rush to the scene should a train carrying those materials derail or crash.

[Source: LNP, July 30, 2023]

The Friends of Mount Bethel Cemetery will host the fifth Fete en Noir fundraising event for the Mount Bethel Cemetery from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 8. 

The event recalls the Victorian era tradition of picnicking in the cemetery with the added attraction of live music by the Todd Fulginiti Trio. Fulginiti is a multi-instrumentalist who has shared the stage with legendary artists like Ray Charles and Maceo Parker.

Guests are invited to bring their own picnic meals. Tables of various sizes will be arranged along the cemetery’s macadam pathways. Admission for the event is $20 and must be prepaid by Aug. 31. Reservations are limited. If the event isn’t sold out by Aug. 31, tickets will remain on sale for $25 while available seating lasts. The gates open at 5:30 p.m. In the case of rain, the event will move to the Columbia Market House.

MORE:https://lancasteronline.com/features/entertainment/fete-en-noir-will-return-to-columbias-historic-mount-bethel-cemetery-in-september/article_73f32ce0-3787-11ee-ac42-63d880e5ea87.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, 866-366-3723, uses a risk-based inspection reporting process for restaurants and other food handlers.

Prince Street Cafe – Columbia, 301 Walnut St., Columbia, Aug. 2. Pass. Food utensils in the food preparation area stored in a container of water that is not maintained at 135 F. Static dust on the exhaust above the bain-marie.

Turkey Hill No. 68, 342 Chestnut St., Columbia, Aug. 3. Pass. Consumer self-service display of apples without sneeze guards or other effective protection. Display is lacking a sign advising customers to wash the apples prior to consuming. Single-service, single-use articles (cups) stored in the walk-in cooler directly on the floor, and not 6 inches above the floor. The food facility does not have the original certificate for the certified food employee posted in public view. Dog in the food facility in the customer area.

Pennsylvania State Police are enforcing weight restrictions on the PA 462 Veterans Memorial Bridge – August 10, 2023.

The state Department of Transportation limited vehicle weight to 10 tons on July 17 after inspectors found more damage than expected during a routine inspection.

Columbia Borough, PA: NOTICE – Road restoration work on PA 462 / Lancaster Ave will begin on Thursday August 10. Road will be down to one lane during this work. Please avoid this area if possible.

[Source: textmygov]

Engineer Derek Rinaldo of C.S. Davidson explains proposed renovations to Walnut Street at the August 3, 2023 Columbia Borough Council meeting. 

When: Columbia Borough Council meeting, Aug. 3.

What happened: Council members and the public received an updated explanation of proposed renovations to Walnut Street. The public hearing, which lasted more than an hour, covered planned changes between Front and Third streets. Council then continued its regular meeting.

Background: Columbia received about $900,000 in 2020 in federal money distributed by the Lancaster County Metro Planning Organization. The borough will supply the rest of the $1.3 million cost now estimated when construction starts in 2025.

Why: The streetscape project would eliminate some safety concerns associated with the current two-way traffic pattern, borough engineer Derek Rinaldi said.

What’s new: Renderings display a canopy of shady trees dotting a center median that spans five feet at its narrowest point and expands to 12 feet at its widest point; add in aesthetically pleasing streetlights, a generous two-way bike lane on one side of the barrier, and two lanes of one-way traffic heading toward the river on the other side; and shows room for pedestrians, updated sidewalks, and two rows of parking spaces.

Quotable: “We’re looking more to prioritize pedestrian and bicycle traffic,” Rinaldi said. In addition, the updated roadway would link the riverfront to Columbia’s downtown area. Plans call for “an enticing-looking street,” Rinaldi explained.

Questions: Members of the public, however, questioned the borough about switching to one-way traffic — how such traffic might affect emergency vehicle response times, whether residents and visitors would lose parking spaces on Walnut, and other matters.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/regional/columbia-borough-council-hears-1-3m-plan-to-renovate-walnut-into-an-enticing-looking-street/article_993dead6-34a7-11ee-b01d-a31abba33b32.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share

This meeting will not be livestreamed.

Download the meeting packet HERE.