Author: SPY
Tell Lancaster County state senators to stop prioritizing school vouchers over the needs of underfunded school districts [editorial]
PA State Senator Ryan Aument
State Sens. Ryan Aument, of West Hempfield Township, and Scott Martin, of Martic Township, should explain to their constituents why they and their fellow GOP senators believe it’s acceptable to hold the Level Up funding hostage.
Last week, as Level Up districts remained in limbo, Aument circulated a co-sponsorship memo about bipartisan legislation that would address deceptive event ticket sales. While we’ve been burned by such practices, we think we speak for most Beyoncé and Taylor Swift fans when we say that funding schools in dire need of resources is the more pressing matter.
Aument posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday that thousands of Pennsylvania “students in struggling school districts can’t afford to wait any longer for the transformational opportunities” that the proposed school voucher program “would offer — and we won’t stop fighting for them.”
Sure, they’ll fight for those students — but apparently not for the more than 16,000 students in the Ephrata Area, Columbia Borough and Lancaster school districts.
Fan sends gift from Columbia antique store to Sacramento History Museum
Howard and Jared receive a gift from Columbia PA.
Confusion causes Columbia advisory meetings to be canceled
When: Columbia Council meeting Sept. 5.
What happened: Borough Council members and Parks and Recreation advisory board members discovered that a misinterpretation about the number of advisory board members needed to make a quorum has led the advisory group to unnecessarily cancel several meetings.
Numbers: Confusion occurred because most people thought the advisory board needed four members to make a quorum, since the board can accommodate seven members. However, only five people have been appointed to the board, which means that only three members are needed for a public meeting, said Evan Gabel, borough solicitor.
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Deeds Recorded – Columbia Borough – September 11, 2023
RBLD Properties I. LLC and Rick Degeorge conveyed property on a public road to Columbia Borough for $1,350,000.
ITT LLC and Grinnell Corp. conveyed property on a public road to Andreas Heisey for $1.
Dajo Properties LLC and John M. Stoltzfus conveyed property on Malt Avenue to Palmer Investment Properties LLC for $116,000.
Andreas Heisey conveyed property on a public road to Ais Leasing Co for $1,500,000.
Matthew McCormac and Brittany McCormac conveyed property on a public road to Vickie Everhart and Gregg Everhart for $240,000.
Keith A. Yordy conveyed property on North Sixth Street to Heather Gascon and Mathieu Gascon for $240,000.
Kevin M. Laicha conveyed property on a public road to Jem Real Estate Properties LLC for $400,000.
Columbia Borough school board appoints safety officer, approves mentor program for middle school students
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When: Columbia Borough school board meeting, Aug. 24.
What happened: The board approved the hiring of Randolph Hernandez as the district’s safety and security manager.
Background: In lieu of the borough council not renewing its school resource officer contract, the district hired Hernandez to oversee security measures and promote a safe and secure environment within the borough’s three school buildings.
Cost: Hernandez’s annual salary will be $60,000 per year. By email Sept. 1, Business Manager Keith Ramsey said this is not an additional cost because the district “repurposed position(s) both internal and external to fill this position.”
Quotable: “The Columbia Borough Board of School Directors remains committed to providing a positive, safe and supportive environment in our schools,” Vice President Lauren VonStetten said. “Due to the borough council’s actions, the district has established district safety and security positions. The district will continue to work with the local police department for any law enforcement needs.”
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Agenda – Columbia Borough Council Meeting – September 12, 2023
State lawmakers must release school funding without delay [Column]
It breaks my heart that $100 million of Level Up funding that was already appropriated and approved with bipartisan support in both chambers of the state Legislature is now in jeopardy. I call on leaders and members in the Pennsylvania House and Senate to stop playing politics with my students’ futures and release the Level Up funds to create a level playing field for all students in Pennsylvania. Please send my students the same message my son receives: “You matter. Your future matters. Your dreams matter. Your education is important and worth investing in.”
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CCAT NEEDS VOLUNTEERS – NEXT MEETING: SEPTEMBER 13
About Town – September 10, 2023
House on the river
Docking procedure
A harbinger of Halloween?
Maybe
Another harbinger of Halloween?
No, just a worker removing lead paint from a house.
There’s a sign at the site.
Morning feline
Diving ducks
Truck, dumping at Rail Mechanical at 4th & Manor
Speaking of trucks, here’s one that got caught crossing the bridge.
The write-up
After the “weigh-in”
More bridge inspection this week –
PennDOT must really be worried.
A missing corner.
Rebar showing through
Possible leaching
(or maybe just seagull poop)
A crack down through the field of mystery numbers
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Sparrow convention
Draw your own conclusions.
A new sign for Flow the rock snake
Did someone swipe Flow’s head again?
Buzzard birthday
Many buzzards
Ready for winter
Game over
There are always interesting “artifacts” at Tollbooth Antiques . . .
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The roof’s on, and porches are sprouting at the Habitat project.
Beginning of the South 2nd Street CDBG project
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Todd Stahl of WhiteCap Water Rescue Training directed the Lionville Fire Company and Fame Fire Company (West Chester) in a rescue boat training session this morning (9/10/23) at Columbia River Park.
[Photos by Todd Stahl]
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‘Til next week . . .
[Submitted photo]
Columbia Spy 