Author: SPY

Today is St. Patrick's Day

St. Benin’s Church, Kilbennan, County Galway, IrelandEnglish: Detail of stained glass window depicting St. Patrick.Date16 September 2010SourceSelf-photographedAuthorAndreas F. BorchertReference2010/9735

Celebrations
Observances Attending mass or service
Date 17 March
Next time 17 March 2016
Frequency Annual

Saint Patrick’s Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick (Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig, “the Day of the Festival of Patrick”), is a cultural and religious celebration held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick(c. AD 385–461), the foremost patron saint ofIreland.

(From Wikipedia)

In observance of St. Patrick’s day, here’s a video by the Irish band Black 47 about Irish activist James Connolly:

Cat Clinic for Columbia residents April 30

The Howard & Judy McKonly TNR Cat Clinic will be held at Pet Pantry Clinic, 26 Millersville Road, Lancaster, on April 30, 2016. This clinic is for Columbia residents only and is for unowned feral cats. NO FAMILY PETS.

The $15 per cat fee includes Spay or Neuter, Ear Tip, Rabies and Distemper Vaccine. There is  limit of 75 cats for the clinic.

Appointments are required and may be made by calling 717-983-8878.

Drop off Time is 7-9 a.m. 

All cats must arrive in a trap or secure carrier. NO cardboard boxes.

Discharge/Pick up Time will start at approximately 4:30-5:00 p.m.

RESIDENTS SHOULD UNDERSTAND THE FOLLOWING:

1. Before Reserving a spot on our surgery list please be realistic on how many feral cats you can safely trap and transport. Limit of three cats per household.

2. This is a high volume, assembly line spay/neuter clinic; therefore, NO FAMILY PETS. This clinic is for unowned feral cats.

3. There will be no physical examination.

4. All cats must have their ears tipped. NO EXCEPTIONS.

5. Kittens must be at least three months old and at least two lbs.

6. All cats must be kept in a warm location overnight in their carrier or trap for recovery. (Further discharge information will be given day of surgery.)

THERE WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL $15 FEE FOR ANY CAT REQUIRING ADDITIONAL MEDICAL ATTENTION.

River towns' cuisine on display at tasting event April 3 in Columbia

            Isabelle Warfel of Isabelle Cuisine

• What: Taste of the River Towns, offering samples from 14 eateries in the Susquehanna River area.
• When: 4 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, April 3.
• Where: St. John’s Herr Estate, 200 Luther Lane, Columbia.
• Tickets: $15 per person. Available through the Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center, 445 Linden St., Columbia, 684-5249, or at St. John’s Herr Estate.
• Information: Visit the event’s Web page or call the chamber.

During Sunshine Week, and every week, open government is good government

In observance of Sunshine Week this week, LNP published a recent editorial citing examples of local freedom of information stories.
One paragraph in particular stands out:
“We would expect council and the borough’s open records officer to be responsive at the next meeting and make board packets available to the public in some form as required under the state’s Right-to-Know Law, especially since Councilman Hans Seidel publicly agreed with Haigh.”
Although this refers to the Mount Joy Borough Council, it is a good practice for all local government boards.

Columbia Crossing to open year-round with on-site manager and changes

The Columbia Crossing building at Columbia River Park is scheduled to open Wednesday, March 16 at 10 a.m. and remain open year-round with an on-site manager, it was announced at the March Columbia Borough Council meeting.  Susquehanna Gateway Heritage Area (SGHA), a non-profit organization, will oversee operation of the building. Mark Platts, president of SGHA, said the key priorities at this point are developing facility rental policies and fee structures, organizing an advisory council of community representatives, and developing a series of programs, educational events, and a plan for permanent exhibits. A selection of 10 river art paintings will be displayed for the next two months. Platts also said that the Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce will provide volunteers and an intern to help with the building’s operation.

Platts introduced Hope Byers as the on-site manager of the building. Byers, who has a master’s degree in history, was previously director of operations at the Amish Farm and House in Lancaster County. She also worked at Pennypacker Mills in Montgomery County. “I’m super-excited to be part of this project. I think that it’s a great partnership,” Byers said.

Platts laid out a three-phase plan for customizing the building’s interior to provide better functionality for staff and visitors. Phase 1 includes a work-station for the manager, a storage room for tables and chairs, and meeting space. Phase 2 entails exhibit, program, and event space. The cost of each phase is estimated at $17,500 to $25,000. Phase 1 has already been funded. Phase 2 will be funded through grant opportunities. Phase 3 is “concept-only” at this point and will target the area between the two bridges.

Columbia Crossing Interior Upgrades