Agenda – Columbia Borough School Board Meeting – January 16, 2020
Author: SPY
Columbia installs West Earl's former borough manager as interim
Candie L. Johnson at Tuesday’s Columbia Borough Council meeting
Candie L. Johnson, who formerly served as township manager for West Earl Township, will serve as interim borough manager while it searches for a permanent replacement for former Manager Rebecca S. Denlinger. Johnson, who resigned her position in West Earl in September due to what she says was a “difference of personalities” with supervisors, will be paid $40 per hour while serving as Columbia’s interim manager.
“I promise to the Borough Council and the residents of Columbia to be a good captain, to manage the ship and do the best I can for you at this point,” Johnson said in brief remarks during the meeting.
The borough also is searching for a new planning and zoning manager to replace Jeff Helms, who retired at the end of last year. No hiring timetable has been set by council.
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Group allegedly steals $10,000 in jewelry at Burning Bridge Antiques
According to the Burning Bridge Antiques Market Facebook page:
ATTENTION ANTIQUES, JEWELRY AND PAWN COMMUNITIES: On Tuesday, January 14, at approximately 3 pm, three men and a woman entered the building separately, all while speaking Spanish on their cell phones. One remained at the counter, an approximately 25 year old male with shoulder length dark hair. He stayed at the counter the whole time and pretended to be interested in items, all while remaining on his phone. The other 3 accomplices met at a jewelry case and proceeded to break in and steal approximately $10,000 in jewelry. Locks were broken off. They stole 14k and 10k gold. We are posting the best pictures we have at the moment because we want to get this information out ASAP! We are working on gathering as much evidence as possible. If you have any further information, please message us and share this with the antique, pawn and jewelry communities! It is in all our best interests to be vigilant! Please protect yourselves by taking this matter seriously.
Wrightsville council reelects White as president after write-in victory
Members of Wrightsville Borough Council reelected Eric J. White as president for another two years at the biennial reorganization meeting Jan. 6.
Council also selected Frederick C. Smith Jr. as vice president. He replaces Michael Gromling in that role. Gromling is still on Borough Council.
White narrowly won reelection to council in November, running a write-in campaign after he lost the primary to Republican challenger Edward E. Sipes, a former councilman. White worked the polls in November and beat Sipes 71-68.
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Do you test your smoke detectors? In wake of fatal fire in Columbia, firefighters offer safety tips
Free smoke detectors often available from fire departments
Many fire departments offer free smoke detectors to homeowners and will install them.
Columbia's department, for example, had about 100 smoke detectors donated late last year. In the wake of a fatal fire that killed two people, the borough has given them away and is working on getting more.
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"Abominable" at Columbia Library Wednesday at 6 p.m.
“Abominable” will be shown on Wednesday, January 15, at 6 PM in the Columbia Public Library Community Room. Free for all ages. No unattended children please!
Columbia entrepreneur to tackle historic vacant Locust Street buildings
In a news release, Murphy said he has joined forces with a developer from New York state, Paul Guillaro, to revive the blighted former Hotel Columbia and Hotel Locust properties on the 300 block of Locust Street.
Murphy and Guillaro will work with a local architecture firm “to create a mixed-use commercial complex with market-rate living,” the release said.
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Agenda – Columbia Borough Council Meeting – January 14, 2020
About Town 1/12/20
This week’s photos of Columbia
Yes, it snowed this week.
As attested to by this snowman at Janson’s Park.
But a few days earlier (or before) someone seemed to have predicted the snow with this window drawing at the Boys and Girls Club.
Something’s a bit out of kilter on this fence post on the 200 block of Locust.
Meanwhile, here are two more parking meters out of work until April. There are several marked like this around town.
Higher and higher at 401-403 Locust.
Missing persons
Right on track(s)
Have you seen the light?
Yes, have a happy one.
Elves at their post.
A storm sewer grate after recent rain
But in amongst the debris – this.
Open lock box on Walnut
These folks may have overstayed their welcome.
Offerings to the Buddha
Nice bench at the Presbyterian Church
Radiometer in the window
Christmas pig, still on the job
Plans for digging on the 400 block of Locust?
If you travel far enough down Manor Street, you’ll sometimes see a train.
Music lover on an outside piano on Chestnut
Well, at least that hole’s no longer there.
It’s been filled in.
Eberly Myers still owns this property at the bottom of Locust.
It’s been filled in.
Eberly Myers still owns this property at the bottom of Locust.
Our sidewalk is slowly beginning to come back.
There’s an ADA ramp under there somewhere.
Will things ever be the same?
At least the pipes are still OK.
Company acquires former Hotel Locust/Hotel Columbia buildings and former jewelry store for redevelopment project
The company, 315 Locust Street LLC, has acquired the historical buildings of 307, 309 and 315 Locust Street in Columbia, PA. Mr. Paul Guillaro, one of the members of the group, is a well respected developer in New York with over forty years experience. He was looking for a partner in a growing area like Columbia when he reached out to local real estate developer, Don Murphy. Together they will be working with a local architectural firm to create a mixed use commercial complex with market-rate living. The group has been working diligently to put together a great project for this site.
“These vacant buildings have been a real example of blight in the downtown. Our love for Columbia is well known, and this is an amazing opportunity to bring these significant buildings back to life by making the architecture sustainable, dynamic, and relevant for future uses” says Mr. Murphy. “Don has experience and a proven track record with a number of successful projects in this community, restoring some well-known historical buildings. It was important to have Don on board to make this another successful project in Columbia’s revitalization.”
Assisting in the transaction was Janice Nikoloff, Executive Director of the Columbia Economic Development Corporation, who owned the two former hotels at 309 – 315 Locust Street and Justin Eby of the Lancaster County Redevelopment Authority.
[Source: Press release]
Columbia Spy 