SPY – Page 391 – Columbia Spy

Hinkle's closing for 4 days, reopens Monday, October 30

After today, Hinkle’s will shut down for four days as it undergoes a transition to its new operation. It will reopen Monday, October 30, at 7 a.m. Among other things, the restaurant will feature an updated logo (shown above) in which the traditional mortar and pestle icon has been changed to a bowl of hot soup. (Hinkle’s is getting out of the pharmacy business. That part of the operation has been acquired by CVS.)

The river's low and here is why

Folks along our portion of the Susquehanna (Lake Clarke) may have noticed an extremely low water level today. Brookfield Renewable, operator of the Safe Harbor Dam, is responsible for the drawdown.

The painted scale (shown above) on one of the piers of the Veterans Memorial Bridge read about 223 feet at 4:42 this afternoon. (In previous years, 227 on the scale was marked as “normal.”)

A sign posted near the River Park boat ramp stated that water levels at Lake Clarke will be lowered from October 23 through October 25 and will begin to rise again on October 26.

The following is an excerpt from a post on the Brookfield Renewable website:

Be aware that diving into the waters of Lake Clarke is dangerous due to fluctuating lake levels, shallow waters, river currents, and submerged debris. Please note that on October 24th & 25th, there will be a drawdown on Lake Clarke to approximately 222.0 feet. Water will start coming back up on October 26th.

No reason is specified for the drawdown.

Children play on an outcropping of the shoreline today caused by the recent drawdown.

Unfortunately, the low water level revealed another dead eel – this one in one piece.

Here’s a temporary peninsula uncovered by the drawdown.

There was a wider shoreline this afternoon, as seen here under the Veterans Memorial Bridge.

Here’s another view of the shoreline, with Columbia River Park in the background.

Bits 'n' Pieces About Town

A few more pics about town (and slightly beyond) – Sunday and Monday…

The mural as of Monday afternoon

A wider view

No work was being done at the pipeline construction site Sunday morning. The project has made some folks joyous, even those without a financial stake in the enterprise.

Stenciling on Locust Street for the Semper Fi 5K Run November 11

An abandoned bike on the first block of N. 2nd Sunday morning

Still there as of Monday afternoon.

Nothing like several days of unattended trash to attract vermin and create an attractive nuisance.

Definitely a public health and safety issue.

Lookin’ good, lookin’ gold

Diggin’ it under Columbia Crossing

Harbinger of Halloween

Columbia Library to host Crime Watch meetings, starting November 6

The Columbia Public Library is happy to be hosting the Columbia PA Crime Watch group for the cold weather months. The next meeting is Monday, November 6, from 6 to 6:30 PM – in our Conference Room upstairs.

Preschool Pals at the library Monday morning

Columbia Market House to be busy with upcoming activities

Ernie StrongBear

The Columbia Historic Market House is busy this week with activities. The market will be open Thursday, October 26, 4 – 8 p.m. Visitors can get a tour of the dungeon or walk around the market to peruse standholders’ wares and check out what guest vendors are selling.

If you haven’t already reserved your seat for the “Paint a Gourd” Party, time is of the essence. The “Paint a Gourd” Party is on Friday, October 27, 5 – 8p.m. The cost is $35, and instruction is provided by Ruth Hope Ramos. Message the market house on Facebook to reserve your seat and enjoy some fun and frivolity.

The Columbia Historic Market House, noting Native American Month in November, wanted to get a jump on this and have a day of appreciation on Saturday, October 28. Ernie StrongBear from the Cherokee Native American Tribe. Ernie StrongBear will perform Native American Dance, wearing full regalia representing his culture. Performance begins at 11 a.m.

Beginning Thursday, November 2, Columbia Historic Market House will be open on Thursdays 10 a.m to 1 p.m. with selected stand holders until December 21.

What's up with all the trash down on Walnut?

Sunday morning on the 200 block of Walnut – a mountain of trash, including a mattress, a box spring, and a sofa…

…rendering the sidewalk nearly impassable.

Further up the block – a mattress that’s been moldering for a month.

And further down, what looks to be part of a car fender.

And just behind Walnut, over in Avenue H – an over-stuffed dumpster with a sofa on top.

The rule is: Don’t put your trash out before 6 p.m. the night before pickup. Looks like a few “quick tickets” are in order.

Columbia School District Curriculum Director sparks interest in augmented reality at Laurel Highlands

Laurel Highlands federal programs director Eric Gaydos was introduced to the technology earlier this year at the annual Pennsylvania Association of Federal Program Coordinators Conference when a curriculum director from Columbia Borough School District in Lancaster County demonstrated its abilities and how his district has implemented it into everyday learning.

MORE:
HERE

About Town

Recent pics about town…

Another artist at work

He painted these posts at The Owls on Friday.

Nice work.

Water-logged Lincoln. These inserts line sidewalks along Route 462 in Columbia, also known as the Lincoln Highway.

Check, please.

Spell-check, that is.

Frank Doutrich distributed water to residents at this month’s borough council meeting. At last month’s meeting, the mayor offered water to council but not to residents, even though residents foot the bill.

Black vultures atop stadium lights at the high school.

Pennsy Supply paving Rotary Avenue on Friday the 13th.

Rollin’ it on out

And back again

The road crew getting steamed up

Stapling a dirty flag to a utility pole does not a patriot make.

It’s flag desecration.

Testing the water

Well, someone’s gotta do it.

An appropriate price for a devil vice

Skating along a lonely street

Although this is a promotional poster for an upcoming comic series, a “doomsday clock” has been on the cover of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists since 1947 and is a symbol representing the probability of a man-made global catastrophe.

From the Bulletin:

“2017: For the last two years, the minute hand of the Doomsday Clock stayed set at three minutes before the hour, the closest it had been to midnight since the early 1980s. In its two most recent annual announcements on the Clock, the Science and Security Board warned: “The probability of global catastrophe is very high, and the actions needed to reduce the risks of disaster must be taken very soon.” In 2017, we find the danger to be even greater, the need for action more urgent. It is two and a half minutes to midnight, the Clock is ticking, global danger looms. Wise public officials should act immediately, guiding humanity away from the brink. If they do not, wise citizens must step forward and lead the way. See the full statement from the Science and Security Board on the 2017 time of the Doomsday Clock.”

Apparently, even fish adhere to archaic ideologies.

Mercifully, most of this did not occur.

Thanks, Don and Becky Murphy.

Speaking of Hinkle’s, these gals were still hanging out there last week.

Sprucing up down at Rocky’s Barbecue-to-be

Two guys laying out the route for the upcoming Semper Fi 5k Run on November 11.

From Facebook:

“The Semper fi 5K race is filling up fast. Runners and walkers alike going to make the 3-mile hike with the Marines. After a quick two miles, the runners are coming right down Locust street past Locust Park, Borough Hall, and Hinkles to the finish line at Locust and Bank Streets.

All streets to be closed on November 11, 2017, from 7:30 am to 9 am are as follows:
Kinderhook road at the High School. Crossing Ironville PikeOnto Spruce to North 11th.North Chestnut from 11 st to N 8th St.N 8th to Walnut St.Walnut St between 8th and 12th St12th st from Walnut to Chestnut StChestnut from 12th to 14th st14th st from Chestnut to Luther LaneLuther Lane from 14th to 13th st.Locust from 13th to Walnut St.

If you’re not running, come out and cheer on the Marines…..”

Columbians are starting to wake up to their rich architectural heritage.

Unfortunately, some of it has been abused.

And some of it has been neglected.

Yep, I bet that’s what he meant.

Way up high in the sky at 301 Locust…

It’s the hard-working Flocko!

The large sign area shown here originally read “CLOTHING” but will soon read “COLUMBIA” in gold letters.

Yes, “Hollwen” is right around the corner.

Mini-windmill at Front and Bridge

Another of the many concrete contractors that have poured sidewalks in Columbia

More asphalt paving on Heritage Drive

Here’s the Lancaster County GIS map of that general area which appears to show that the public right-of-way is a straight shot right down to the river – basically an extension of Locust Street.

And here’s how it appears, looking towards the river.

And yet, there’s a fence and some trees in the way.

So: What’s up with that?!

Avenue F was also recently paved, along with part of the Tollbooth parking lot.

Here’s another view of that.

A resident complained to the Safety Committee this week about trespassers removing bricks from his property and loitering there.

Here’s a different property.
Wow!

Excavating is being done under Columbia Crossing.

The area must be “taken down” to make way for a concrete slab to accommodate vendors. The project will cost $20,000.

Some of the rubble from the project was apparently dumped along the boat ramp.

We haven’t had much of a fall yet – with the usual display of colorful leaves – but here’s one from today on the 100 block of Walnut.

Well, sometimes there are if you are born with a silver spoon or are well-connected politically.

So, who’s killing the eels and throwing them back?

Three in a row at River Park.

Cut in half and thrown into the water.

What gives?

Just in time for Halloween, this ghostly apparition recently appeared on the hood of a truck.

It wavered and waved…

…as if signaling from the ether.

Disregard the sign.

This is really the General Edward C. Shannon Armory, named in honor of Columbia’s greatest general, who was also lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania.

A green heron goes fishing at River Park, is challenged briefly by a great blue

Columbia Spy recently caught the following photos of a green heron fishing for minnows along the shore of the Susquehanna at Columbia River Park. The bird was briefly challenged by a great blue heron that flew by and bellowed at it. The great blue alighted a short distance away and watched as the green heron apparently invaded its territory. The great blue seemed a bit intimidated by the photographer, whereas the green was almost oblivious as it continued to spear minnows with its beak in quick, deft strokes.