1642-12-02-17
Saturday, December 2, 2017
https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/arrests/coleman-alicia-amber-retail-theft
“We got lots in stock!”
From the Columbia Public Library Newsletter – December 2017:
I’ll get right to the heart of the matter. December 31 brings us to a critical point in our construction. Due to our total remodel, our collection will be packed and stored. We will need to completely close the library for approximately four months. This is necessary for the safety of everyone.
As you can imagine, this was a very hard decision for our Board of Directors to make. But it is the safest, most expeditious way to get our new library up and running by next summer.
The Office of Commonwealth Libraries has granted us a closure period from January 2 through May 19. If construction personnel are permitted unrestricted access during this time period, our new building should be ready to go by summer!
Thank you for your understanding during this period. We will indeed reap the rewards of our beautiful new library (with expanded children’s wing, children’s computers, and a reading terrace) when this is all behind us!
Of course, we want to provide as much library service as possible during this time period. Here are the logistics:
The Bookmobile will be visiting twice a month beginning January 9. It will be staffed by Miss Lisa and Mr. Ed. The Bookmobile will be parked in front of St. John’s Church on Sixth Street on Tuesday, January 9. Hours are 11 AM to 1 PM. These hours allow us to also visit Head Start and St. Anne’s.
On Saturday, January 27, the Bookmobile will be in front of the Columbia Public Library from 9 AM until noon. I’ll be working as needed from an office at the Library System of Lancaster County, processing new items as they come in and providing some (not all!) bestsellers via the Bookmobile Stops twice a month.
Bookmobile Hours: Second Tuesday of Each Month, 11 AM to 1 PM
Fourth Saturday of each month from 9 AM to noon.
No Bookmobile visits in inclement weather.
Other options if the Bookmobile doesn’t work out for you:
Visit Mountville Library (717-285-3231) or Milanof-Schock Library in Mount Joy (717-653-1510).
Circulations here at CPL Building
Last day for checkouts from this building will be December 15.
Last day NEW books will be delivered to this building will be December 10.
I will be able to provide a limited number of new bestsellers on both monthly Bookmobile stops.
What’s going to happen to the books?
They will be packed and put into a new storage unit until construction is complete.
Where will the computers go?
They will be stored at the LSLC System offices.
What about the Book Drop?
It will be checked regularly. Anything in it will be taken to the Mountville Library for check in. After check in, it will be sent back to the owning library. Columbia items will be sent to me at LSLC to be stored.
How do I place holds?
Remember, Columbia items will be in storage. Lisa will transfer as many as possible to other libraries. Please do NOT choose “Columbia” as your pick-up location! You may either choose another library nearby OR pick them up from the Bookmobile. Please remember, the Bookmobile is only here second Tuesday over lunch hour and fourth Saturday morning. You may need to wait a bit longer to get your item. We appreciate your patience. During my hours at LSLC, I’ll be calling or emailing those who have placed holds regarding where to pick them up.
Are there computers on the Bookmobile?
No.
Will your wi-fi be running?
No. Remember, Burger King and McDonalds provide free wi-fi.
What about Summer Reading 2018?
It is ON!! I’ll be working on planning programming for the summer, and distribution of reading logs happens AFTER we re-open.
We truly appreciate your patience in all of this. The payoff will be a beautiful improved library this summer!
I am sure that many other questions will arise. Please let me know of them and I will do my best to find the answer.
But we still have the month of December!
Officials from real estate company Bennett Williams announced that the first floor of the old Columbia firehouse, located at North 4th Street, would become a restaurant and brewery as early as February 2018.
Bennett Williams’s profile of the property is HERE.
“An Old-Fashioned Christmas,” set for Sunday, December 10, will have plenty of great things to do:
A book reading by Lisa Greybill from the Columbia Public Library at Geltz Gotz Goodies 4PM Free books for kids!
Carriage rides around lower Columbia at Perfect Settings
Christmas Tree lighting at 5th & Locust Street at 5 PM
Columbia Market House vendors to purchase Christmas Gifts
Hinkle’s Restaurant with a good home cooked meal
Home Tour of some of the most beautiful Mansions in Columbia (Ticket required)
Gingerbread Man decorating at Perfect Settings
Lancaster Fencibles Civil War Soldiers on the lawn at the Columbia Historic Preservation Society
Model Trains displays at the Columbia Historic Preservation Society
Santa Claus & his workshop at the Columbia Historic Preservation Society
Home Tour tickets are will be available at the following locations:
Columbia Historic Preservation Society Saturday & Sunday 1-4 PM
Columbia Market House
Garth Cafe
Geltz Gotz Goodies
The Mayfly
Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce
Tickets: $12 per person ( if purchased prior to Sunday, December 10, 2017)
$15 per person (Sunday, December 10, 2017)
Time: 11 AM – 5 PM
“Small Works Show” will open Sunday, December 10, 1-4 p.m.
Artists in show: Rebecca Ast, Dan Burns, Elizabeth Burns, Scott Cantrell, Jeremy Friedly, Milt Friedly, Kristina Funk, James Fuhrman, Carol Galligan, Claire Giblin, Meghan Kreider, Frank Morgan, Lisa Pauciello-Rowe, Lily Rowe, Richard (Dick) Ressel, Brant Schuller, Carol Shane, Scott Spangler and David Wright.
River cottage owners will be the main beneficiaries of the latest phase of the ongoing Heritage Drive project that aims to extend and expand improvements at Columbia River Park. Cottages within the riverfront tract will become even more of a cloistered community when all upgrades are complete.
A security fence was recently installed on the boundary between Heritage Drive and the private tract that contains 33 individual properties. In addition, new trees are being planted behind the fence – on private property – for privacy and beautification. The cost: $40,000 and change. Although the project is being funded by a municipal bond, it will be up to borough taxpayers to foot the bill when it comes due.
At the November public works committee meeting, officials said the improvements were needed for privacy and aesthetics, and to resolve trespassing issues. Public Works Director Ron Miller said cottage owners told him that, due to the increased number of visitors to Columbia River Park, people are entering Riverfront Drive, a private road that runs through the tract. He said the new fence was a way to make a boundary. Mayor Leo Lutz added that the fence will also prevent encroachment on Heritage Drive by the cottage owners. “By putting the fence there, that’s stopping that encroachment,” he said.
“They [cottage owners] thought they needed a fence for some privacy or some delineation between the property and the park,” Miller said. A slightly more expensive fence was preferred over a plain chain link fence for consistency. “I thought it would be pretty ugly to put a chain link fence along there, so we matched up what we had at the parking lot [at the bottom of Locust Street],” Miller said. “It’s the same exact fence.” Miller said he decided on the security fence due to the minimal cost difference. The borough paid about $32,000 for the fence, according to Miller. The borough will be responsible for maintaining the fence.
Miller said the original plan for a fence on the boundary between Heritage Drive and the railroad tracks was nixed because Norfolk Southern, which owns the railroad, didn’t want a fence that was only 25 feet from the center line of the tracks. Consequently, the fence was moved to other side of the road, toward the cottages. “I talked with the homeowners down there and the people – they thought it would be great to put it on that side,” Miller said. He added that Norfolk Southern plans to put “riprap” along the bank on the railroad side of Heritage Drive. (Riprap consists of rocks and chunks of concrete used to stabilize sloped areas and prevent erosion.) Officials are pleased that the borough and the railroad have been able to reach common ground on several projects, including this one. “Norfolk Southern is happy with the relationship we now are developing,” Lutz said.
The borough also ordered 52 trees for the project – at a cost of $8,200. The trees, intended to increase privacy at the tract, are being planted “behind” the security fence, on private property, to replace old trees that were removed during roadway construction. “It’s part of what we tore up,” Miller said. “It’s part of taking the old trees down and opening that roadway up.” Miller said restoration on private property can include trees. Many of the old trees that were removed were on public property where cottage owners had encroached. (Some of the new trees are also being planted elsewhere around the borough.)
In 2010, cottage owners banded together to form the Columbia Heritage River Cottage Association, Inc., whose profile is HERE. Riverfront Drive is a privately owned and maintained “common area” of the Association.
As shown above, the tract owned by the Columbia Heritage Cottage Owners Association is bounded by Heritage Drive (in green), Locust Street extended (yellow), Union Street (orange), and the Susquehanna River. Railroad tracks are shown in purple.
Although the cottage owners’ private tract claims a portion of shoreline, everyone can still access the river in that area via Union Street on the south side of the tract, and Locust Street extended on the north. There is also a public boat ramp at the bottom of Union. Even though a fence was erected on Locust Street extended, the property is owned by the borough and is considered public. “We didn’t want to open that street up the whole way,” Miller said. “It’s no need to.” He said borough workers keep the property as a stormwater right-of-way and use it to do storm drain outfall cleanouts. “I see no reason to open it unless council directs me to,” Miller said. “It is ours if we so choose to open it and pave it.”
