Author: SPY

Pumpkin Painting at Columbia Crossing Saturday, October 21

Fall fun for the whole family! Unleash your creativity and paint a pumpkin to take home and celebrate fall on the river. We’ll have all the pumpkins, paint, glitter and supplies you need to get creative!

This event is for all ages. Drop in anytime from 11-3, while supplies and pumpkins last. Suggested donation of $2 per person.

Columbia resident runs for school board as write-in candidate

Hello, my name is Rebecca Young and I am running for a seat on the Columbia Borough School District School Board. I have served and volunteer in our community for over 20 years. From coaching our youth in CBAA Cheerleading to being a Youth Pastor that helped impart over 52 teens and I’m still connected with many of them as adults with families of their own.

Why run now for our School Board? I believe that a school board must be responsive and receptive to parents, staff, students and the community at large, encouraging an open dialog. I believe being a part of that board impels us to take input from all groups and weigh all the facts before making a decision.

A Board member is a trustee of the community that elects him or her. We must be an extension from the school to the community and be willing to collaborate with all members of the community. A school board member must build public understanding, support and participation.

What are my commitments? My commitments are to be a board member that will center on serving all of the children in the community, where no one child is more important than another. We are a diverse community and I want to celebrate that diversity. Our schools are here to serve the educational needs of all the children. Our children/teens are too vital in our community to not give them our all to be successful individuals who will be excited to give back to their community.

As a mother of four children, I learned firsthand how powerful good schools are in nurturing and supporting students. Having a child with ADHD and High Functioning Autism has shown having that support is second to none. Good schools are more about students who feel accepted, safe and know they are important to all of us than just numbers.

At the same time I recognize the need to balance the demands of our future generation with the challenges of our elderly generation. Our elderly have worked hard in their lives, given time, money, and wisdom to us all. Their challenges need to be answered as well. I will weigh every decision against this balance. I promise!

No doubt that there are many challenges facing the Columbia Borough School District and our community as a whole. Instead of standing on the sideline and simply critiquing the decisions that are made, I am choosing to be part of the solution. 
I would be honored with the opportunity to serve the taxpayers of this borough by working with the community, business owners, and administration in finding the resources we need to meet our financial and academic challenges. By listening to all of you, I firmly believe that change can happen in Columbia. For this reason, I am asking for your support and votes because IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE! 
Get out and vote for this change by writing in REBECCA YOUNG for BOTH the two-year AND four-year school board seats. 
Thank you for your valuable time!

Susquehanna water shuttle would link Lancaster, York counties by boat

As early as next summer, a public water shuttle could be carrying visitors across the Susquehanna River between Columbia and Long Level in York County.
If successful, the shuttle — probably using pontoon boats — could be expanded to transport visitors between Columbia and Wrightsville, and on a longer loop to include the Blue Rock Heritage Center in Washington Boro.
MORE:

http://lancasteronline.com/insider/susquehanna-water-shuttle-would-link-lancaster-york-counties-by-boat/article_6352800e-b4ff-11e7-902d-cf9f77f83dbf.html

PA Education Department Farm-to-School Grant Inspires Healthy Eating, Supports Pennsylvania

Students at Park Elementary School in Columbia BoroughSchool District are expanding their palate and taste buds with locally grown produce thanks to a farm-to-school mini-grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).
MORE:

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pa-education-department-farm-to-school-grant-inspires-healthy-eating-supports-pennsylvania-agriculture-300538898.html

Murphy agrees to acquire Hinkle’s Restaurant – Restaurant to remain open!

Columbia, PA, October 18, 2017   

Local Real Estate Investor and developer Don Murphy and his wife Becky have agreed to purchase the restaurant and real estate from the Hinkle Family for an undisclosed price.   The Murphy’s, through their company, Cimarron Investments already own several landmark historic buildings in downtown Columbia.  
Mr. Murphy said he began discussions with the Hinkle Family immediately after they announced earlier this month that they were closing their pharmacy and restaurant located at 261 Locust Street.  “We have been working diligently to structure a deal to keep the iconic restaurant intact and retain as many of the amazing dedicated employees as possible” says Mr. Murphy.  The Murphy’s have retained two long time managers/chefs of the restaurant, Mr. John Sipe and Ms. Robin Ortman as proprietors of the restaurant.  Sipe and Ortman have established their own business whereas they will lease the restaurant from the Murphy’s. The Murphy’s also acquired the name “Hinkle’s Restaurant” as they felt it was extremely important to carry on the legacy of the Hinkle’s brand that so many locals and visitors to downtown Columbia have come to recognize over their 124 years of operation.  
The current business will close as planned on October 25th for a transitioning period of four days and reopen at 7:00am, Monday, October 30th.  Mr. Murphy said his future plans are to renovate the restaurant, expand the kitchen and increase seating by adding additional dining space.  Current catering services are planned to be expanded as well.  He also hopes that this latest acquisition will help enhance the downtown and that maintaining this location is a key element in the revitalization of Columbia.

Highway department adds crossing lines at busy intersection

The Columbia Borough Highway Department painted two sets of crossing lines at the intersection of North 5th and Chestnut Streets today. One set spans Chestnut, from the clock plaza to the opposing sidewalk, running north and south. The other set runs east and west across North 5th. Previously, no crossing lines existed at the intersection.

Thanks Highway Department!

Columbia PD first to arrest at pipeline protest

Sergeant Jacobs of the Columbia Borough Police Department made the first arrest at today’s pipeline protest just outside Columbia.

Note the protester’s hand gesture as she is led away.

Singing protesters stood their ground Monday morning until police began arresting those who remained standing at a pipeline protest just outside Columbia. 23 protesters were arrested and charged with defiant trespass for attempting to block the path of an excavator on land owned by nuns at the Adorers of the Blood of Christ.

Applause and cheers greeted each person arrested. Construction workers watched the entire time and immediately began work after the last arrest.

Police from West Hempfield, Columbia Borough, Manor Township, and Southern Regional were among those present, as were federal marshals.

Protesters who were not arrested met at the nearby chapel to discuss their next action.

Within half an hour after the last arrest, the chain link construction fence was already partially erected.

In July of this year, a federal judge ruled that the Williams Partners can condemn the land. The pipeline project was subsequently given the green light to proceed.

Columbia Spy previously reported on the pipeline controversy HERE.

The continuing quest for the elusive Albatwitch

It all began – fittingly enough – on Albatwitch Day this past Saturday afternoon…
 Intrepid Albatwitch hunter Walter Bosch made ready to hunt the elusive beast…

 as Albatwitch shirts sold out…

 and a cereal killer lurked.

 A sample of dessicated Albatwitch meat was offered, the soporific effects of which rendered the camera woozy, thus eliciting this blurry shot.

 Bob Hammer hung out in style at his gallery…

while John Morrow posed with his self portrait – but which is the self and which is the portrait?

 And then, the trolley materialized from out of the mist.

Driver Andre Underhill awaited the boarding of passengers…

including the hunter himself, off to his next adventure. 

 The trolley’s destination: Chickies Rock Park, site of hauntings and other paranormal events. There, tour guide Chris Vera regaled the crowd with lurid tales of Albatwitchery.

With apples in tow, he described the creature’s insatiable appetite for the delectable fruit.

 At his command, the crowd fired a volley of apples over the hill in an attempt to lure the mystical creature.

 Suddenly, the hunter spied the prey and drew his gun of finest pine…

only to have the Albatwitch galumph away in delirious laughter.
Drat!
Foiled again!