SPY – Page 341 – Columbia Spy

Georgia city sued by fed-up residents over 'ridiculous' fines for chipped paint, driveway cracks

Brucker is part of an Institute for Justice (IJ) lawsuit against Doraville, a town of about 10,000 people just northeast of Atlanta. The lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of Doraville “using its law enforcement and municipal court system for revenue generation.”

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/05/31/georgia-city-sued-by-fed-up-residents-over-ridiculous-fines-for-chipped-paint-driveway-cracks.html

About Town

This week’s pics from around Columbia…

On Tuesday, an ORCA employee, Columbia Borough Police, and a few bystanders helped catch a domestic goose at River Park.

Here’s the culprit, shortly before apprehension. He was tame but kept trying to elude capture.

Safely caged, he was placed in a waiting vehicle.

*****

Usually, the trolley is almost empty, but this group of ladies climbed aboard at Hinkle’s the other day.

*****

Suddenly, Columbia has another bed & breakfast, this one at 1102 Locust. Problem is, there’s no breakfast being served, from what we’re told. The other problem is that no zoning variance has been granted for this kind of use. In other words, the business is operating illegally. A certain borough official reportedly went rogue again and told the owners they’re OK to operate a B&B there anyway. The B&B has been in operation at least since Memorial Day and has been occupied every weekend since, according to sources. Supposedly, a written work-around will be developed at an upcoming meeting. Neighbors are NOT happy.

Here’s the contact info for the B&B. Columbia Spy saw four vehicles with New Jersey license plates parked at the house on Saturday.

The above contact information is posted on this Black Olive placemat (lower left corner).

*****

All those parking spaces, and yet . . .

Paused for a moment of silence

Rides

Problem? What problem?

Formerly Prudhomme’s, formerly the Rising Sun

Sucking up the stones

Parley

Sniffing the street

The sinkhole was sinking again.

And who among us hasn’t done this as a kid (or as an adult)?

Progress at 208-210 Locust

Land yacht

*****

Guys working at the west end of the Columbia Water Company building.

A truck came by and dumped stones.

Here’s the result. By the way, don’t tamper there. (Read the sign.)

*****

Triple-decker

Paparazzi

Grappling!

(They were just trying out their holds at River Park.)

The stretch of 441 down by the LASA project has been paved.

Out for a walk

Furniture fit for a king – and queen

Event Planning & Party Rental on the first block of North 4th

Paving Heritage Drive

The Columbia Highway Department worked on the project this week.

First coat finished

*****

Todd Stahl sent the following three photos. He writes:

“The basketball nets at Rotary Park were in disrepair and needed replaced. I made contact with officials regarding the replacement of nets. Today [Friday, June 8], personnel from Columbia Highway Department replaced both nets at Rotary Park.

Thank you to the Borough of Columbia Highway Dept for taking timeout of their schedule to replace the nets.”

*****

Trump’s lost crown

“Burger King” appears as “бургер кинг” in Cyrillic.

A submitted photo with caption

Heading out

Will it rise from the dust?

3 bridges (sort of)

Are they cormorants?

The not-so-secret lair of the codes cars

Do they interfere with reception?

Pointing upriver.

Another lost trucker?

Mink cap and Gucci shades – all the rage this season

Forest Fire Crew

Artwork at the police station

No, they’re not some sort of alien pods.

They are concrete casts made from metal molds.

The casts, which were made by participants, will be transported to the Chesapeake Bay area.

The cavities will provide habitats for oysters and the like.

Tethered

Cuffed and shackled

Led away

In custody

Lincoln Highway marker

Everything’s fine as long as they don’t look behind them.

Misguided idealism?

Mallard with water-tipped beak

If you can’t come to the dock, the dock must come to you.

Conestoga’s Troop 146 out for a trail ride

Fixing up the church on the 200 block of Locust

Starview Brews will be moving in here at 224 Locust.

Abandoned bumper

Day lilies

Stealing the spider’s stash

Not many vehicles with trailers parked in the spaces for vehicles with trailers

Too bad other vehicles can’t park there.

But alas, that’s not possible right now at the park that tries to be all things for all people.

If your last name is Schürch, Shirk, Sherk, Sherrick, or something similar, there's a reunion looking for you

The Schürch (Shirk/Sherk/Sherrick, etc.) Family Association of North America Reunion will be held July 27 and 28, 2018 at the Best Western Hotel Plus Country Cupboard, Lewisburg, PA. The Reunion provides a fun opportunity to learn and become acquainted with Schürch descendants.

• Participate in a tour of Schürch family history in central PA

• Hear Switzerland Schürch history — and what present day Schürchs are doing

• Learn about the Susquehanna Frontier in the late 1700’s/early 1800’s

• Bid and buy items donated by family members at the fun-filled closing auction!

Details of the Reunion including the two-day agenda, fees, meals, lodging information and a registration form are available at www.schurchfamilyassociation.net or by contacting Sue Shirk, 717-381-2772.

We are requesting your help in making your subscribers and visitors aware of our Reunion by posting the above notice in your publication and on your website.

We appreciate your consideration of our request and any assistance that you can provide.

2018 SFANA Reunion Committee

Photos of burned truck on S. 4th Street

A reader sent the following photos of a truck on South 4th Street that was vandalized and later set on fire. The police report is posted HERE. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Columbia Borough Police at 717-684-7735.

Colonial Metals closing – What we know so far

The Colonial Metals plant on North Second Street was eerily quiet this week.

Colonial Metals is closed, apparently for good, according to a discussion at last night’s school board committee of the whole meeting. The closing idles about 100 workers, who were shut out about a week ago with little or no warning.

The company is reportedly appealing its property tax assessment on the main plant and other nearby buildings it owns, including an office building, and several houses, among other properties. If the assessment is lowered, the Columbia School District could lose up to $150,000 in tax revenue. In addition, Columbia Borough could lose up to $40,000 in tax revenue, as well as revenue from the Earned Income Tax, due to the loss of workers in the borough. The appeal process was reportedly begun some time before the shutdown announcement. It is unclear at this point whether the company has initiated bankruptcy proceedings.

There is currently no notification of the closing on the company’s website, and information has been scarce. On Monday of this week, Columbia Spy noted that the plant was eerily quiet and the parking lot was empty. Phone calls by Columbia Spy to company president Craig Friedman have so far not been returned.

Colonial Metals Co., which opened in Columbia in 1946, was one of the nation’s five largest brass and bronze ingot makers. Friedman was named president and chief operating officer in 2015, after 12 years as executive vice president.

Draft Agenda Borough Council Meeting June 11, 2018

Vehicle on S. 4th vandalized and set on fire

On 06-07-18 at approx. 3:16 AM the Columbia Borough Police Department received a call for a criminal mischief that just occurred. It was determined that someone had shot a BB gun and damaged several windows on the vehicle. A tire was also slashed on the vehicle as well.

On 06-08-18 at approx. 3:41AM the Columbia Borough Police Department received a call for a vehicle fire. The same vehicle above was set on fire by an unknown person just prior to the time of dispatch.

The vehicle that was damaged was parked in the middle of the 200 blk. of S. 4th St. on the odd side of the street. If anyone observed anything strange in that area around the above times they are asked to submit a tip below or contact the police department at 717-684-7735.

Date:

Friday, June 8, 2018