SPY – Page 214 – Columbia Spy

Thursday at the Library

Rough times for Lancaster County’s hotel industry in 2019; occupancy rate weakest since 2011

Lancaster County’s hotel industry had a down year in 2019, but the depth of the descent depends on how performance is measured.

The occupancy rate of 54.3% was the weakest since 2011, falling a hefty 10.2% from 2018, according to STR (formerly Smith Travel Research).

However, last year’s rate was diluted by a 5.8% increase in the countywide room count, to 8,136 — the largest suc

https://lancasteronline.com/business/local_business/rough-times-for-lancaster-county-s-hotel-industry-in-occupancy/article_546d74a4-46b6-11ea-85b5-9f88bbc7139a.html

Government works for taxpayers – Citizens have a right to records

“Government — whether in DC or the local borough — | works for the taxpayers, not the other way around. And Pennsylvanians get it, according to the results of the latest Franklin & Marshall Poll. The poll found that 79 percent of registered voters said they agreed with this statement: ‘Citizens should have the right to obtain any government record with few restrictions.’ Only 19 percent said the public’s right to government information should apply ‘only in limited circumstances.’ – PA Post e-blast

This information is posted on Columbia News, Views & Reviews

3 things at the library on Tuesday

About Town 02022020

This week’s photos of Columbia
Walls, birds, the Market House, and other Columbia curiosities

A holiday is coming soon.

How will recent changes in the 1972 Clean Water Act affect things?

Stone walls

They don’t build them like that anymore.

It’s part of this railroad bridge at the bottom of Plane Street. The date on the bridge reads “1915.”

A free house on South 2nd?

This new business on the 400 block of Locust is up and running.

Here are the business hours.

Well, at least that garbled message is gone. Now there’s nothing at all.

Nice car, but consider the destination.

This is the state of our union right now.

Here’s to hope for the future.

This flag design is being used to draw attention to a business on the 300 block of Chestnut.

Here are night lights at a new garage business at 4th & Chestnut.

Frosty morning

Rooster say thataway!

Keep this around. Winter’s not done yet.

At the Market House:

The Market House project has begun.

Stage One: Clean out (?)

What are those frames/doors doing in the dumpster?

Hopefully they’re not historic. Is anyone checking?

It’s quite an event.

Here are the permits and approvals.

The project will cost a little over $2 million. A grant will pay for half of that. We will ultimately pay the rest.

There are plans for a restaurant and standholders to move in when the project is complete.

According to the Lancaster County Tax Office, the Columbia Borough School District may be permitted to collect taxes when any operations become income-generating.

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Friday afternoon at the former Masonic Center on Locust

But the next day, signs were posted.

And here’s what they say.

Attack squirrel waiting to pounce

Ready to roll

This was part of a tobacco warehouse back in the day. Now it’s part of Wagon Werks Apartments.

About that free trailer from last week’s post

At 2nd & Union – not a permit in sight, either for parking or renovations.

This work has been going on for months.

Selective enforcement?

Sneaking a peek

Belgian wheat beer

The tree lights at Locust Street Park came down this week:

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Tax appointments on the 300 block of Locust

The tundra swans are back.

Right on schedule

They’re a bit more elegant than the park pooping Canada Geese.

Over in Avenue N, someone needed to get that message out.

Here’s a handy way to store/tote your trash.

The colors, man, the colors!

New business on South 3rd

How many residents who claim to be pro-business will patronize it?

Opening day is this coming Wednesday.

Sunday morning visitors at the Buddhist church on 2nd

Looks like 13 birds in the bush. That would be equal to six and a half in the hand.

A black vulture was hanging around again at 123 North 5th Street on Sunday morning.

His accomplice was trapped inside, trying to get out.

A Columbia Borough police officer responded to the situation.

This notice is on the front door of the house.

Message on the shingles at a different house

Overhead chopper

Drifting away

Vehicles for sale at K.T. Graham at 137 South Front Street

(Here and below)

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The old Shawnee Fire Company building was sold recently.

Iron Bell Holdings is the new owner.
The deed information is HERE.

There’s work to be done.

Columbia High School Sports Hall of Fame 2020 Inductees

COLUMBIA BOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 01, 2020

We would like to congratulate our Columbia High School Sports Hall of Fame 2020 Inductees:

Front Row, Left to Right:

Darlene Copello (Daughter of Vernon” Ike” Blumenshine), John Thomas, Eric Poindexter, Patrick Smith, Barry Zink, Eric Rineer, Steve Deeg

Back Row, Left to Right:

Coach Rick Bentley, Mike Wisler, Charlie Detz, Phil Benson, Ryan Draper, Kelly Houck, Chris Markley, Mark Sheckard, Jack Lynch

Congratulations!

https://www.columbiabsd.com/article/185855?org=park-elementary

Columbia Public Library Calendar of Events – February 2020

Columbia runs away from Pequea Valley in 78-35 boys basketball victory to claim L-L League Section 5 crown

Pequea Valley’s 2-3 zone defense presented trouble for Columbia in the first half of Friday’s Lancaster-Lebanon League Section Five boys basketball matchup in Kinzers.

The Tide finally cracked it in the final two minutes of the second quarter, closing the half on a 6-0 run and beginning the second half on a 14-0 run to open up a sizable advantage that allowed visiting Columbia to run away with a 78-35 victory.

Coupled with Lancaster Mennonite’s upset loss to Annville-Cleona on Thursday night, Columbia’s victory Friday gave the Tide (9-0 league, 14-6 overall) the outright Section Five title. It’s the program’s first section crown since 2008 and 15th overall.

https://lancasteronline.com/sports/columbia-runs-away-from-pequea-valley-in—boys/article_41787102-44a2-11ea-9a1d-df4f58c455e8.html