Author: SPY

Columbia School District has surplus funds, will allocate to capital improvements

  • MORGAN HUBER | FOR LNP | LANCASTERONLINE

When: Columbia Borough school board meeting, Oct. 7.

What happened: Keith Ramsey, district business manager, presented the final expenses of the 2024-25 year to the board at its monthly committee meeting. The pre-audit numbers for the previous academic year include a revenue of $34.1 million and expenditures of $33.3 million, resulting in a $782,383 surplus.

Next steps: Ramsey recommended the district surplus be transferred to the capital improvement fund for future construction projects. The board will vote on whether to transfer these funds at the Oct. 16 meeting. If approved, this surplus would bring the capital improvement fund to a $3.32 million balance.

Restaurant Inspections—Columbia Borough—October 10, 2025

Anyia Sweets, 15 S. Third St., Columbia, opening, Oct. 4. Pass. Food facility does not have a certified food manager; the facility has an employee scheduled to take a food safety course.

Griddles Street Social, 15 S. Third St., Columbia, opening, Oct. 4. Pass. No violations.

Andy’s Market Inc., 310 11th St., Columbia, Sept. 30. Pass. Observed deeply scored cutting boards (portable brown boards) not resurfaced or discarded as required. Observed in-use knives stored between table edges, an area not easily cleanable and sanitized. Observed food stored directly on the floor in the walk-in freezer, rather than 6 inches off of the floor as required.

Aunt Cake’s Bakery, 245 Locust St., Columbia, change of owner, Sept. 30. Pass. Observed inside the chemical storage room, paint chipping and peeling from the ceiling and raw wood, both of which are not smooth and easily cleanable. The dock doors located in the back of the food facility has a gap and is not “light tight” and does not protect against the entry of insects, rodents and other animals. The food facility does not have the original certificate for the certified food employee posted in public view.

Park Elementary School, 50 S. Sixth St., Columbia, Sept. 30. Pass. No violations.

Taylor Middle School, 45 N. Ninth St., Columbia, Sept. 30. Pass. No violations.

Local candidates hold ‘Meet & Greet’ Wednesday night

SHARON LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

[Photos: Sharon Lintner] 

Democratic candidates Ethan Byers, Jeanne Cooper, Kyle Ricker and Jasmine Preston held a “Meet and Greet” at Lancaster Distilleries’ Columbia location on Wednesday evening, October 8th.

Ethan Byers

Attendees heard each candidate speak about why they decided to run for office, as well as their particular topics of concern.

Ethan Byers supports fiscal responsibility, looking at expenditure line items where the borough could save money. He also supports CCAT, the Columbia Cat Action Team.

Kyle Ricker

Kyle Ricker, whose background is cybersecurity, advocates for improving the livestreaming of meetings and keeping residents and taxpayers informed through transparency.

Jeanne Cooper

Jeanne Cooper has operated businesses in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. As a member of the Merchants Association, she understands the concerns of local merchants.

Jasmine Preston

Jasmine Preston, who is running for mayor against longtime incumbent Leo Lutz, hears those calling for change. She spoke favorably about the Chip Factory Hotel project, saying it will put Columbia on the map and provide jobs.

All four candidates participated in the budget discussion during the October 7th Columbia Borough Council Workshop.

Car gets pinned underneath tractor-trailer

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

Emergency crews responded to a vehicle accident near the intersection of Lancaster Avenue and 11th Street shortly before 2 p.m. today.

The accident occurred at Sahd Metal Recycling when a Toyota Camry traveling westbound on Lancaster Avenue hit the side of a tractor-trailer. The impact caused the sedan to become pinned underneath the trailer.

Occupants of the sedan exited the vehicle safely.

A Sahd employee used a tow motor to lift the rear end of the trailer, and a tow truck from Unlimited Towing pulled the car free via an attached cable. The damaged vehicle was subsequently moved off the highway by the tow truck.