The meeting packet is HERE.
Year: 2023
Dozens gather in Columbia to address homelessness
Swartz: “At night time I’ll go for a walk and they’re everywhere. I’m talking everywhere.”
Tim Swartz doesn’t like seeing homeless people downtown. Swartz, owner of Griddles Malt Shoppe on Locust Street, claims the homeless are everywhere in town, and he is scared to walk the streets after dark.
“At night time I’ll go for a walk and they’re everywhere. I’m talking everywhere. Beside the church, all up and down Locust Street, in the alleyways,” Swartz said. “You gotta be scared. You gotta be scared to walk the streets.”
Swartz was one of about 60 people who attended a meeting on homelessness at Columbia Borough Hall last Monday, November 6. About 15 attendees spoke at the meeting, most in favor of helping the homeless. The meeting also included a panel of borough officials, some of whom have not visited the shelter.
Swartz’s comments were increasingly aimed at the Columbia Presbyterian Church at 4th and Locust, which currently houses a shelter, the location of which he opposes. The underlying message seemed to be that the homeless are hurting downtown business, although none of the other merchants present spoke to confirm that.
Swartz said he is helping the homeless behind the scenes but claims they have “an attraction to the church.” He questioned what goes on there, but admitted he refuses to tour the facility.
Dreisbach: “The one thing that is super important in battling homelessness in this county is collaboration…”
Chris Dreisbach, CEO of Blueprints for Addiction Recovery, spoke in support of the shelter and its director, Pastor David Powers. Dreisbach stressed the importance of working together to find solutions to the homeless problem.
“The one thing that is super important in battling homelessness in this county is collaboration, is coming together, not fighting, not battling…“ Dreisbach said. “The problem in Columbia is real but is not nearly as bad as the problem in other areas.” He advocated supporting the people fighting for the homeless, citing Powers and the staff at Columbia Presbyterian. Dreisbach also suggested forming an interdisciplinary team of individuals from the police department, mayor’s office, borough manager, and borough council to help people move into a better life so they can contribute to the community.
Dreisbach shared his own story of being homeless and addicted to drugs 17 years ago, and said he’s grateful for the people who gave him a second chance.
He urged the gathering to remember that the homeless are just people. “They are people,” he said. “They are our neighbors. They are our friends. They are our brothers. They are our sisters. Any squabble beyond that is pointless,” Dreisbach said, apparently referring to Swartz’s comments.
Harris: “We can’t end the problem by ignoring it or by shipping people out.”
Pastor Mark Harris of Salem UCC Church said the homeless situation is worse than he has ever seen it but blamed the problem on economic factors. “The increase in the housing prices has caused it to be that the people who are in the homeless system aren’t able to move through it and into housing as easily as they have been in the past.”
Although Harris admitted that the location of the shelter along Locust Street is not ideal, he praised the team at Columbia Presbyterian, especially Pastor Powers, for being able to move people through homelessness and into housing and jobs. “I think that Reverend Powers is a leader in compassion in our community,” Harris said.
“We can’t end the problem by ignoring it or by shipping people out,” Harris continued. “We can’t do like DeSantis or Governor Abbott and ship everyone to Manheim Township,” Harris said, referring to how those two governors transported immigrants to other states. He said there are services in Columbia. “I consider it a welcoming town,” Harris said. “That is one of the reasons that I think homeless people end up here.”
Harris stressed that the solution is not to get rid of the shelter without an alternative. He said the community must find an alternative that’s going to work on a more permanent basis and that could be in a more appropriate place. “All of us who are sitting in this room have a part in this,” Harris said.
Powers: “We need a place to help people move through the system so they don’t get stuck, because when they get stuck, that’s when the breakdowns happen.”
Pastor Powers, who spoke near the end of the meeting, noted that in October of 2022, he had appeared at a borough council meeting and asked everyone to work together.
Powers said there are 18 homeless people at the Hands Across the Street Dream Center shelter at Columbia Presbyterian. (The shelter was previously located at 291 South 4th Street, until the owner leased it to another group.) ”We are packed to the gills,” Powers said. “It’s like a miniature ecosystem. We cannot expand any farther than we are.”
In answer to questions from the audience, Powers said the staff does background checks in a number of different ways, including the Unified Judicial System and Megan’s Law. He also said the shelter is inspected by the Department of Agriculture at least once year, and the building gets safety inspected. An exterminator comes four times a year.
Currently, Powers is hoping for a location with 40 beds. “I pray to god that the property becomes available before someone decides that we need to go,” he said. “We need a place to help people move through the system so they don’t get stuck, because when they get stuck, that’s when the breakdowns happen.”
In October 2022, Columbia Spy conducted a series of interviews with shelter residents:
Columbia Borough Council proceeding with $8.617 million budget
When: Columbia Borough Council meeting, Nov. 9.
What happened: Council members informally agreed to proceed with a 2024 budget of $8.617 million, up from $8.229 million for this year. In addition, council tentatively split $30,000 in donations to five local nonprofits.
Budget: The borough has enough cash to cover the $387,436 spending increase, Mark Stivers, borough manager, said via phone Nov. 10.
Quotable: “We have extra money,” Stivers said Nov. 10. “It’s just going to be tight.”
Money: Columbia may use about $300,000 left over from the American Rescue Plan Act, and the borough’s general fund can pay the remaining amount, Stivers said Nov. 10.
Donations: Under the current budget version, Columbia Public Library will receive $15,000, while the Columbia Historic Preservation Society and Mount Bethel Cemetery should get $5,000 each. In addition, council plans to give $4,000 to the Columbia Cat Action Team, while $1,000 will go to the Columbia United Veterans Council.
Next steps: Council plans to vote to advertise the budget at its Nov. 28 meeting, said Heather Zink, council president. A final vote should happen Dec. 12.
Deeds Recorded – Columbia Borough – November 13, 2023
Dumkopf LLC and R. Christopher Smiley conveyed 828 Blunston St. to Gabriela M. Henriquez and Gian A. Henriquez for $100,000.
Dajo Properties LLC and John M. Stoltzfus conveyed 311 Perry St. to Linda Stahl Sinclair and Kerstin S. Edmonds for $135,000.
Carroll J. Kern and Jane A. Kern conveyed 155 S. Fourth St. to Christopher T. Dames for $190,000.
Dumkopf LLC and R. Christopher Smiley conveyed property on Blunston Street to Kinsmen Holdings LLC for $600,000.
The estate of Catherine Draper conveyed 112 Walnut St. to Milledge Draper for $60,614.
Terry Lee Worall Sr. and Anita M. Worall conveyed property on Ironville Road to Todd M. Kramer and Diana L. Kramer for $175,000.
James Schmucker, James F. Schmucker and Greystone Enterprises 401K Plan conveyed 639 Manor St. to John Patrick Baldauff for $129,900.
Thomas M. Adams and Morgan L. Adams conveyed property on a public road to Jonathan Cameron for $125,000.
M&M Realty Co. conveyed property on a public road to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC for $115,000.
About Town – November 12, 2023
November 11 was Veterans Day.
Thank you to all who served!
At Tollbooth Antiques
Columbia’s mayor once said. “The future of Columbia lies in its past.” True. In many ways, Columbia is stuck in the past.
A welcome feature of the downtown
Some people have a head full of real estate.
A garage door that doubles as a blackboard
This is what happens when you cut corners.
The bloom is off the rose.
“Here be dragons.”
“Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble.”
Looks like something out of one of the Terminator movies.
Stag, ready for the party
A new Christmas mural at Fragments of the Past
(Artist: @anndope)
And there’s Santa trying to muscle his way in already.
But this turkey says, “Wait your turn, Fat Man!”
A few glances at the DAC . . .
Only two of the Crimson 5 moms for liberty gained seats in last Tuesday’s election, so, by and large, the board has held strong. Many voters voted for Mike Burke, whom they thought was Coach Mike Burke, but was not – so the joke’s on them.
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Still bent
Missing and fractured numbers, kind of like the borough budget
Peppers in the wild
The McClintock clock at the Watch & Clock Museum
Here’s how it looked in 2018.
On track
Tough duck hood ornament
The bridge inspectors were out again this past week.
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Sad story:
This heron with a broken wing was spotted in West Hempfield. The bird was captured and transported to Raven Ridge. Unfortunately, his injury was beyond repair, and he had to be euthanized.
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This town needs a real HE-MAN to take care of business.
Coupla guys futzing around down by the railroad
The corn’s been harvested at the ol’ airfield.
Is this part of a test pit? If the ground’s not contaminated, why does it need to be remediated?
Anyway, there’s a load of corn in this truck.
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The borough might have the Cycle Den “sheriffed” due to nonpayment of liens.
At the Wright’s Ferry Mansion: The front roof is just about done. Now, on to the back.
Lancaster Distilleries on North 4th plans to open its doors soon.
Cherub and a Grecian urn
Bamboo patch
Another smidge of the bridge
OK, let’s see it.
Habitat update on South 5th
Go Eagles!
The Columbia Park Rangers cleaned up along Route 441 on Saturday morning.
Jesus, outstanding in his field.
(York County)
What happened to the Smoke & Chill sign?
Taking down the flags Saturday evening
Is that street-legal?
Still not a good name for a drugstore
Zach Lape and others worked out on a hose on Sunday morning at Columbia River Park as part of a 16-hour (two-day) training session that included personnel from West Hempfield and Mountville.
The double murder and suicide that shocked Columbia
On Tuesday, November 8, 1949, a husband and wife and their seven-year-old daughter were found shot to death at 305 Perry Street in Columbia.
Police Chief Eugene H. McManus identified the trio as Amos Arndt, 39, an employee of the Zimmerman foundry in Marietta, Vernice Barley Arndt, 34, and seven-year-old Patricia Ann.
According to McManus, Arndt apparently shot his wife and daughter with a 30-30 rifle and then shot himself. McManus said there was no evidence of a struggle and theorizes Mrs. Arndt and the girl were shot while asleep by Arndt who then shot himself by placing the muzzle of the rifle in his mouth.
McManus said that Mrs. Arndt previously had her husband arrested for disorderly conduct. Arndt paid the fine and costs of the charge a week previous. Two rifles and a shotgun were taken from Arndt at the time of the arrest, but were returned to him.
The police chief and other local officers were called to the home at about 6 p.m. when a neighbor noticed the daily newspaper hadn’t been retrieved and a light was on in the house.
Police forced their way into the house through a window and found the body of Mrs. Arndt on a downstairs sofa, with a bullet wound through her left temple. 7-year-old Patricia, in pajamas, was found in an upstairs bedroom with two bullet holes through the back of her head. Arndt’s body, with the rifle by his side, was found at the foot of the bed. The back of his head was blown off.
Dr. I. L. Moyer, deputy coroner of Columbia, issued a verdict of double murder and suicide and determined the shootings occurred about 2:45 a.m.
Private services were held at the Daniel Leber Funeral Home, Eighth and Locust Streets, with Rev, H. J. Behney officiating.
The bodies were interred in a single grave in the Sheaffer Cemetery in Elizabethtown.
[Source: Lancaster Intelligencer Journal]
A tiny house now sits on the lot at 305 Perry Street, where the original house once stood.
Veterans Day
Every year on November 11, the United States honors and celebrates the bravery and sacrifice of its military veterans. Veterans Day is a day to remember and thank the men and women who have served in the U.S. armed forces, whether in times of peace or in times of conflict. It is a day to recognize the courage, loyalty, and selflessness of these individuals, and to express gratitude for their service to the nation.
Originally known as Armistice Day, Veterans Day was first celebrated on November 11, 1919, to mark the first anniversary of the end of World War I. The armistice, which ended the fighting between the Allied nations and Germany, went into effect at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. In 1954, after the end of World War II and the Korean War, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill into law officially changing the name of the holiday to Veterans Day, to honor all American veterans.
Restaurant Inspections – Columbia Borough – November 10, 2023
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, 866-366-3723, uses a risk-based inspection reporting process for restaurants and other food handlers.
On the Bun, 15 S. Third St., Columbia, opening, Nov. 4. Pass. No violations.
Stover’s News, 24 N. Third St., Columbia, Type 3 follow-up, Nov. 2. Pass. No violations.
Union Station Grill, 171-173 S. Fourth St., Columbia, Nov. 2. Pass. Wet-wiping cloths at the cook line not being stored in sanitizer solution. A box of sweet potatoes stored directly on the floor in the kitchen area rather than 6 inches off the floor as required. Deeply scored cutting boards not resurfaced or discarded as required. Old food residue on the inner rim of the slicer. Food crumbs and grease buildup on the floor beneath the char broiler.
Park Elementary School, 50 S. Sixth St., Columbia, Oct. 31. Pass. No violations.
Kristen’s Katering, 301 Cherry St., Columbia, Oct. 31. Pass. No violations.
[Source: LNP/LancasterOnline]
Columbia needs a permanent homeless shelter, forum participants say
By Gayle Johnson, LNP
Public officials, nonprofits, local businesses, volunteers and community members need to work together to find Columbia a permanent homeless shelter.
That was the consensus among the people who spoke during a Nov. 6 panel discussion on homelessness in the borough.
About 50 people gathered in borough hall to share their thoughts on the local homeless population and listen to input from Borough Council President Heather Zink, borough manager Mark Stivers, police Chief Jack Brommer and pastor David Powers, who runs a homeless shelter out of Columbia Presbyterian Church on South Fourth Street.
Powers operated a homeless shelter with upward of 30 beds at 291 S. Fourth St. until the end of April, when Lancaster Mennonite Conference, which owns the building, leased the space to a congregation.
The pastor petitioned Borough Council for help finding another location in October 2022, but to no avail. So Powers opened Columbia Presbyterian to about 15 unsheltered people. Another eight receive meals and services there but don’t spend the night.
“We are packed to the gills,” Powers said. “We need a permanent location.”
Lancaster County Homelessness Coalition’s annual winter count in February found that 526 people across the county were homeless, with 107 people living on the streets and 419 finding space in shelters.
Business owners say the homeless population is becoming more noticeable on the streets of downtown Columbia, and that visibility could be hurting the bottom line.
“We acknowledge that there’s a situation that needs a solution,” Stivers said. “We’ve got to find a facility that’s going to work.”
Many of the people who attended the meeting urged business owners and borough officials to show compassion.
Chris Dreisbach, CEO of Blueprints for Addiction Recovery, spoke about his own battle with homelessness 17 years ago, when he had to sleep in parks and on benches because no one would give me a couch.
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