Horror author Stephen King recently shouted out a Columbia bookstore, saying he wants to visit.
His son, Owen King, had an event alongside author Clay McLeod Chapman at Vortex Books & Comics, at 477 Locust St. in Columbia, March 1.
Owen King was there in support of his graphic novel miniseries, “Self Help,” which was co-authored by Jesse Kellerman and illustrated by Marianna Ignazzi. It released as an anthology volume on Feb. 25.
Stephen King posted to social media app Bluesky on Monday, saying, “My son Owen did an event at Brian Keene & Mary SanGiovanni’s Vortex Books & Comics. He speaks very highly of that shop. Made me want to visit.”
Former Market House Manager Chris Vera spoke with Columbia Spy Wednesday afternoon at the Columbia Historic Preservation Society, where he serves as president.
The following is a letter that Chrisshared with Columbia Spy for publication:
Hello Friends and Supporters of the Columbia Market House,
Please do not be upset about the recent release of my employment at the Columbia Market House last Wednesday. My wish is for you to still support the vendors that I worked so hard to install for your enjoyment, and space to meet friends and family to enjoy.
When I took over in July 2022, it was a passion that my mother, Renae Sears, instilled in me for many years. With all the negative repercussions from the last management, it was an uphill climb to get it running again. Putting the right vendors in place and keeping them affordable for families was my main goal.
Then in September of 2022, I decided to rent out the space for baby and bridal showers, birthday and retirement parties, and wedding receptions. By the end of 2022, I recorded 12 private events, which exploded with referrals and reservations in 2023. I helped with four weddings and receptions that year and ended the year with 58 private events. One of my favorite events was 80 women from Perry County for a baby shower. The word was out, and the venue was climbing the ranks of one of the best in Central Pennsylvania.
Then came 2024, when I booked 65 private events, which sometimes were a Friday, Saturday and Sunday in a row. The clients came from all over Central Pennsylvania and several from out of state. On the site Eventective that I used for most of my bookings for the market house, I climbed to the “Most Popular and Recommended in Lancaster County” out of 58 venues. The market house was ranked in the top five in Dauphin, Lebanon and York Counties.
On the early morning of July 28, 2024, l had a very bad asthma attack that almost killed me and was rushed by ambulance to Penn State Hospital. While I was in the emergency room, the single most important thing was a bridal shower from Philadelphia at 11:30 a.m. that morning. With no one to contact, at 9:30 a.m. I signed myself out and went home to shower and get to the market by 11:00 a.m. In the meantime, I was contacted by Penn State that I may have a damaged heart and blood clots due to no oxygen for two hours. After letting the party in to set up and do my paperwork, I readmitted myself at Penn State and was admitted into the ICU for three days. My possible heart condition was not severe, and I was released that Wednesday. I went right back to work after being released.
My dedication to this market house was above and beyond anything in this world, to make people happy when visiting Columbia, Pennsylvania. Working by myself to keep the market house clean after every event and market day was a task, sometimes packing 20 to 30 trash bags per week, moving all the chairs and tables multiple times per week and also cleaning the bathrooms several times per week. Many Saturdays I worked 15 to 17 hours straight, getting back in on Sundays to prepare for another event.
Maintenance was also on my list on keeping the kitchen clean so that we were in compliance with the Pennsylvania Agriculture on food safety.
My love is for ALL the clients, customers and vendors that have grown to be part of my family. After almost three years, working most of the time by myself has taken its toll on my body and mind. My frustrations with such a large workload with no support had gotten to the point that I had to go into the borough manager’s office and spill out my frustrations. This of course is why I was released from my duties, and my actions were uncalled for but were a cry for help. I had been recently contemplating resigning from my position for the last month due to fatigue.
I am going to take a much-needed rest, since I never got to enjoy a true day or week off from this position as market manager. My true happy place is the history of Columbia and back at the museum, where I’m going into my 17th year.
I hope the borough council makes a wise decision to hire a full-time manager and part-time assistant that can keep this beautiful gem of our town viable for our citizens.
A crew from a communications company working on overhead lines placed this orange sign near The Elks Lodge on Chestnut Street on Monday morning.
Unfortunately, they placed it right over an existing NO PARKING HERE TO CORNER sign.
Here’s the rear view.
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There were many clouds driven by high winds this week.
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On Friday, a tree fell across Route 441, most likely as a result of sustained high winds. The incident occurred near the A-Okay Auto Glass Shop in Columbia and blocked traffic for several hours.
Various crews cut the tree apart, cleared the road, and repaired fallen power lines.
This vehicle was damaged in the incident.
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This business is renting the borough’s former sewer plant. The borough wants them to buy the building, but the railroad crossing leading to it needs to be reinforced, and therein lies the problem. Whoever is responsible for doing the job is “dragging their feet.”
There’s the facility.
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Yep, the bridge is deteriorating.
The river’s been high over the last few days. On Sunday afternoon, it was at 230, which is three feet above normal.
Apparently, the water level was even higher yesterday, judging from the location of debris.
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NO PARKING. SERIOUSLY.
The BOOT
Time for a new plaque?
The bell tower at Manor School is peeling.
Right there
The water company was on Walnut Street again.
At Saint James Lutheran
Just hanging ’round in Avenue G
Hawk at 700 Franklin Street –
In a few weeks, Columbia Borough will demolish the house that sits on this property to extend Franklin Street into the planned McGinness Innovation Park. At this point, it’s unclear if the road construction will occur, since council seems conflicted about what it wants to do with the park project. The borough paid $229,000 for the house in 2022.
This sign at the former McGinness airfield property was installed in February 2024.
During last Tuesday’s Columbia Borough Council work session, citizen comments sparked a discussion on the future of the McGinness Innovation Park project.
Local business owner Ron Madar addressed council with concerns, explaining that he initially supported the project because it was to include drone technology. He said he was saddened, however, to hear that those plans fell through. Referring to “DR1,” the drone company that was to be the anchor at the park, Madar asked council, “What went wrong?”
“What went wrong?” Ron Madar (center) asked council about the McGinness Innovation Park project.
Heather Zink, council president, explained that a grant (that the borough had applied for on behalf of DR1) was denied and the company does not currently have funding to set up operations in the park. Madar asked why the grant was denied, and Zink said, “They don’t tell you.”
Citing a recent LNP article, Madar said he was concerned about the potential for warehouses and industrial buildings moving to the site. Describing Manor Street as “a wide street, a nice residential area,” Madar said truck traffic, noise, dirt and air quality issues would harm the area. “By no means is this low-impact.”
Some councillors told Madar they don’t want truck traffic at the site and blamed a February 20, 2025 LNP article for omitting councillors’ concerns about warehouses and manufacturing there. [Note: The article did include statements from councilwoman Barbara Fisher and Zink opposing “large trucks” and “warehouses and distributors.”]
The article also captured a dissenting view from councilman Eric Kaufman, in which he said, “I understand we have our opinions and our likes and wants and dislikes. But our intention is to sell this property. We make it suitable to sell for the largest possible dollar and not handcuff ourselves to what our vision was originally. Even if the change results in more traffic and manufacturing noise, that’s just the nature of it. I’m desperate to sell.”
At Tuesday’s meeting, resident Frank Doutrich told council: “You’re in over your heads,” referring to the project.
Although the meeting was classified as a work session, official action was taken. Council voted to advertise a special joint meeting of the Planning Commission and Council for Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 7 p.m. to further discuss the zoning and permitted uses for the McGinness Innovation Park.
#homegoodies, 336 Locust St., Columbia, Feb. 27. Pass. Food facility is offering for sale chicken jerky made by Hippco, which is an unapproved source. Food facility is offering for sale foods prepared in an unapproved private home. Prepackaged yogurt parfaits are not labeled properly with the name of product, ingredient statement and distributed-by statement. Prepackaged yogurt parfaits are not labeled to clearly indicate any “Big 9” allergen ingredients and/or the allergen warning statement. Observed a rag stored on the hand-wash sink in the front service area, indicating uses other than hand-washing.
Bootleg Antiques, 135 Bridge St., Columbia, Feb. 27. Pass. Paper towel dispenser empty at the hand-wash sink in the food preparation area. Food facility using rodent bait placed in bait stations, which are not covered and tamper resistant.
Grand China, 156 Lancaster Ave., Columbia, Feb. 27. Pass. Raw clams observed stored above onions in the reach-in cooler.
Park Elementary School, 50 S. Sixth St., Columbia, Feb. 27. Pass. No violations.
My Shop, 353 Cherry St., Columbia, change of owner, Feb. 26. Pass. Plumbing system not maintained in good repair: observed water leaking at the drainpipe of the hand-wash sink in the food preparation area. Observed a box of “fryer saver” powder stored on the same shelf with mashed potato mix single-service cups.
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Columbia Spy 