Author: SPY

Arbor Day celebration scheduled for April 25

Columbia has earned the national Tree City USA award for 22 consecutive years. The notable achievement is due in large part to the efforts of the Columbia Borough Shade Tree Commission (CBSTC) and the Columbia Tree Society.
The two organizations will sponsor the 23rd annual Arbor Day event at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 25. Participants will gather at Rotary Park, located at Second and Chestnut streets in Columbia.

The River Park Focus Group meets

On Saturday morning, April 12, the River Park Focus Group held a public meeting at the Columbia River Park pavilion to invite discussion of future improvements of the park area, river front, and Northwest River trail Services Building.  Mayor Leo Lutz conducted a tour of the area with the two dozen or so citizens who attended.  At the subsequent discussion and brainstorming session, several proposals were offered, among those: clearing the brush and trees from the Civil War era bridge abutment and piers to create an observation area, extending and improving walking trails, and creating a camping area.

Mayor Lutz led a tour of the grounds.
 Mary Wickenheiser offered her thoughts as Councilwoman Stephanie Weisser listened.

 Several of the group members

 Mayor Lutz explained his vision for the area.

 Other group members proposed ideas.

 Illustrated plans

 A discussion group

Borough Manager Sam Sukolsky discussed possibilities.

Dinner in Columbia

On the menu: fresh squirrel.

 A red-tailed hawk snatched a hapless squirrel and carried him into a tree next to the Shawnee Creek.  In this photo, he appears to be severing the squirrel’s jugular with his beak.
 I must have spooked him when I took his pic, because he flew out of the tree and landed on the creek bank, where he began extracting and eating the squirrel’s entrails.  Strangely enough, while he was dining, he allowed me to get quite close – within ten feet.

 I probably could have gotten even closer, but I didn’t want to press my luck and have him fly away again.

 Nonetheless, he kept a wary eye on me, looking up from his meal every few seconds.

 His beak began turning crimson from the squirrel’s blood.

 Bloodier and bloodier

I watched him for at least 15 minutes but finally backed away to allow him to finish eating his kill in peace.  Although it may seem that Mother Nature is a cruel mistress, this is just the way of things.
This episode reminded me of a line from one of Jack London’s novels: “Kill or be killed, eat or be eaten.”

What I Saw – April 12, 2014

It’s hard to believe we’re almost halfway through April.  This month took off running and hasn’t stopped.  Through the magic of photography, I’ve captured a few moments that won’t now escape completely . . . 
 A stash of bridge light covers.
The secret is revealed.

Like the sign says.

 Lest you think they’re kidding . . . 
This biker found out otherwise.

Something’s burning. Down by the river shore. Again.
Are these folks exempt from ordinances, or what?

What I Saw – April 10, 2014

 Looks as though someone may have disregarded the sign.

 Multi-colored bricks on Second Street

 No-Parking-Here

 Safety starts there – yeah, right there, where the barbed wire is.
Really safe.

 How the bridge burning precipitated the Battle of Gettysburg, a story well known to Columbians.

An out-of-service fountain (or an outdoor urinal?) on a wall of the property known as “Utopia” at Eight Street and 462.