Author: SPY

About Town 10/6/19

This week’s photos of Columbia

 The Wilderness Inquiry folks were at Columbia River Park again this year. Here’s one being interviewed by WGAL.

 They taught students about boating safety and allowed them to paddle around the areas close to the park (under supervision, of course).

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 Borough workers pressure-washed the bridge lights this week, in preparation for Saturday’s Bridge Bust.

 Spiderwebs, dead mayflies, and other debris had accumulated on the lights, so the solution was . . .

 Blast ’em!

 Folks at the Bridge Bust enjoyed a perfect fall day for walking, shopping, and eating.

Hundreds attended the event.
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 These pumpkins appeared recently atop the bollards at the town square.

 Here’s a close-up of one of them.

There they are, all lined up along 462.
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 This is one of the many night lights (complete with grass clippings) inhabiting Laurel Hill Cemetery, as are the ones below:

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 Some folks need to hold on to the nearest upright object after too much Scotch.
 Friendship Hose Co. No. 1.

Eagle Hose NO. 2.
 Leftovers from the architectural tour

 This spotted lanternfly was lying on the road at River Park. It was probably already dead.

 But it got killed again, just in case. (Its location and date of demise were reported to the state authorities.)

 These tiny star-shaped flowers were growing along a curb on South 3rd Street.

 Repeal the Tax Hike!
 This mantis was praying (probably to some insect god) on Saturday on the 100 block of Walnut Street.

 Nothing to see here. Move along!

 Tiny Library at the River Park pavilion

 Map on the mural at 3rd & Chestnut

 More signs

 Here’s the post office flagpole.

 It could probably use some scraping and painting.

 Yes, definitely.
 Please feed your pet daily.

 A cat with unusually long ears

 Here’s the COLUMBIA sign currently at Locust Street Park.

As we noted last week, this one disappeared in 2012 from atop its pole along Route 441, near the bottom of Plane Street. One shows the distance to Mountville, and the other shows the distance to Marietta.
 Here’s a tripping hazard, apparently due to a missing brick.

 It’s near the former Lazy K on the 100 block of Locust.

 Oh say, can you see…?

 Not until Texas executes one, some say.

 Ready to unload a flatbed at K.T Graham on Front Street

 Must be quite a headache.

 Hold on.

 Got it now.
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 Giant poodle wearing a ribbon

 There’s that truck again.

 Layin’ it down behind the Elks

 She just treed a squirrel at the DAC.

 Don’t ever do this. The driver illegally parked his dump truck and trailer along Route 462 for over half an hour, causing tractor-trailers to have to swerve out around it.

 Coffee & Cream . . . coming soon

 Almost time to mow the sidewalk
 Where did this line on the asphalt come from on Route 441?

 It’s an eighth to a quarter of an inch deep and extends for about a tenth of a mile.

 Meanwhile, out on the river

 Lots of rocks, and these are just the visible ones.

 A lift holding up a utility line?

 That’s a mighty big boot.

 Trash bags on the sidewalk – not acceptable!

 Sunset at the cemetery
 Incongruous signage

 Fall’s here, but these things are hard to walk on.

 Big portrait at the Creative Factory

 Whatever you believe, don’t stop believing.

 Float on, Columbia!

 Skates in the grass

 Feeling superior

 Looks like we have enough birds to last for a while.

 Yep
 Like glass

 This town’s on fire!

 EYCEMA at the Bridge Bust

 Sailboats way downriver 

 The owners of this beauty strip near the bridge should have attended to it before the Bridge Bust.

 Water pollution

 And this is how you ride two bicycles at once.

This sandbag was helping keep the temporary fence in place at 4th & Locust, but now its contents are spreading over the sidewalk.

Here's how much Lancaster County school districts can raise property taxes in 2020-21

Lancaster County school districts can raise property taxes as much as 2.6% to 3.9% next year, based on limits recently released by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

For now, that is.

Every fall, the state issues its Act 1 index, which limits how much each of the commonwealth’s 500 public school districts can raise property taxes.

2020-21 Act 1 Index

The Pennsylvania Department of Education each year sets limits on how much school districts can raise property taxes. The percentages, known as the Act 1 index, are calculated using percent increases in the Pennsylvania statewide average weekly worker wage and the federal employment cost index for schools.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/here-s-how-much-lancaster-county-school-districts-can-raise/article_c5362afa-e617-11e9-a3ca-477c724e8484.html

Police seek public's help in identifying person of interest in shots fired incident

Columbia Police responded to a report of shots fired in the 200blk of South Third St. around 0930hrs on 10-03-2019. Officers located several spent shell casings and determined that a car and house were damaged by gunfire. No-one was injured in the shooting, but there were residents outside and in nearby buildings. 

Police are reviewing surveillance video and request assistance identifying a person of interest seen leaving the area at the time of the shooting. One of the attached photographs include a blurred out portion of a person already identified by police. Police are attempting to identify the person in the gray sweatshirt and gray pants. 
Any residents, especially those on  on S. Third St., S. 4th St., Union St. and Perry St. are encouraged to check home surveillance cameras for any footage between 0900 and 0930hrs. that may show those involved. 
Anyone with information should call the Columbia Borough Police at 717-684-7735 or submit a tip below.   
Date:  Thursday, October 3, 2019 Reference ID:  CB-19-04003 Case Status: Current Case Type: Criminal Source:  Columbia Borough Police Department

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/cases/shots-fired-200-block-s-third-st

https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/cases/shots-fired-200-block-s-third-st

2 roundabouts to open in Lancaster County next week; how popular are they in Pa.?

Columbia Borough officials hope a temporary roundabout being installed Monday at the intersection of South 12th Street and Central Avenue will help reduce speeding and accidents along a stretch of South 12th Street.
Mayor Leo Lutz said he hopes the roundabout will reduce speeding.
“I want to drive it myself. The biggest thing is for people to get used to the directions they have to go,” Lutz said.
Traffic at the roundabout will be monitored for three to six months, borough police Chief Jack Brommer told LNP in May.
“This is our first attempt. If it works it probably won’t be our last (roundabout),” Lutz said.
MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/roundabouts-to-open-in-lancaster-county-next-week-how-popular/article_b5feba16-e617-11e9-895e-43afa2169002.html

Join Ms. Lisa for Stuffed Animal Sleepover & Story Time at the Library

An message from the library:
Our operations manager, Heather Beury, is once again hosting a stuffed animal sleepover!
Children of all ages are invited to bring their favorite stuffed animal to the library on Wednesday, October 9, at 6 PM
After a story time, the children and their caregivers will be presented with a special announcement!
Children may return the next day to pick up their stuffed animals – Heather will be posting the animals’ nocturnal adventures in a Facebook video!  We will also be able to share the video on our library’s webpage:  www.columbiapubliclibrary.org 
Tell your friends and pass the word – we hope to see you there!

THEFT OF A FIREARM – 200 BLOCK OF SOUTH FIFTH STREET | Columbia Borough Police Department

On 9/30/19 at approximately 9:22am the Columbia Borough Police Department was dispatched the 200 Block of South Fifth Street for a report of a stolen firearm from a vehicle.  Upon arrival the officer spoke with the caller who stated that his firearm had been stolen from his vehicle sometime between 11:00am on 9/28/19 and 9:22am on 9/30/19.  The missing firearm was described as a Hi-Point C9 pistol with a desert digital camouflage coating, serial no. P1967834.  The victim also said that an 8 round magazine, which was filled to capacity, was stolen with the pistol. 

Anyone with information regarding this crime or the location of this firearm should contact the Columbia Borough Police Department at 717-684-7735 or text LANCS to 847411. 
Date:  Monday, September 30, 2019 Reference ID:  CB-19-03922/1909035339 Case Status: Current Case Type: Criminal Case Region: Central Source:  Columbia Borough Police Department

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/cases/theft-firearm-200-block-south-fifth-street