Category: Uncategorized

Feet in the Street at 4th Friday Celebration

Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce invites the public to participate in the Feet in the Street Art Show, a free community event coordinated by SVCC. Hands-on art activities for all ages, magic, and food trucks will be located in the 500 Block of Locust Street and in Locust Street Park. The event will be held on Friday, September 23, from 5-7:30 p.m., with the food trucks staying until 8 p.m.
 
Hands-on activities such as chalk drawing in the street, make and take crafts, and giant string art may be enjoyed by the young and young at heart.  Our guests may meander to the Feet in the Street foot painting area to leave their footprint in paint. Willing attendees may dip one or both feet in various buckets containing different colors of paint to leave a personal imprint on the newsprint provided.
At 6:30, attendees are invited to join in the wonder of The Magic of Daniel Clemente.  The interactive magic show for all ages will take place by the gazebo in the park from approximately 6:30-7:30 p.m.  Throughout the evening, the public is invited to enjoy art displays from Columbia High School which will be found in Locust Street Park.
We also encourage the public to venture out to the Fourth Friday participating galleries and shops. Fabshop (26 N Fourth St) will be celebrating their last night at their current location with a moving sale and their “Trilogy of Artists” exhibit, Prudhomme’s Lost Cajun Kitchen (50 Lancaster Ave) is offering live music and specials in honor of their upcoming retirement and Susquehanna Center for the Creative Arts (224 Locust St) will host “Kat Oliver’s Fine Art Photography.  Visitors can find a complete listing of locations at our website, http://parivertowns.com/m/events/view/Fourth-Friday.
Our food truck vendors include the following: Rt 30 W Seafood (crab cakes, shrimp, clam strips), Crave (burgers, pulled pork, grilled Panini), Rocky’s BBQ (brisket, pulled pork, ribs, mac & cheese), Scoops Ice Cream & Grille (cheese steak, chicken tenders, french fries, hand dipped ice cream, milkshakes), Sven’s Café (pork tacos, shrimp tacos, Cuban food), and Half Nuts Popcorn (flavored popcorn and caramel corn).
This year’s event is sponsored by Paul W Zimmerman Foundries, Covanta Lancaster, and by St. John’s Herr Estate, a Luthercare Community. Money raised benefits the Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center, which coordinates Fourth Friday.

Mayor Lutz honors Columbia general at hall of fame ceremony

Annville, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs today inducted two new members into its Hall of Fame, recognizing their exceptional service to the department, the Pennsylvania National Guard and Pennsylvania veterans. 

Honored today were the late Maj. Gen. Edward C. Shannon, who served in the Pennsylvania National Guard and as Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from 1930 to 1935; and The Honorable Jessica L. Garfola Wright, who retired as an Under Secretary with the Department of Defense and served as Pennsylvanias 50th adjutant general.

“Whether you call them Pennsylvania patriots, citizen soldiers or public servants, they both have one thing in common. They have distinguished themselves through outstanding service to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania National Guard and the United States with military and public service careers that have spanned decades, said Brig. Gen. Tony Carrelli, Pennsylvania adjutant general. So today, we honor their legacy of service as they take their rightful place in the DMVA Hall of Fame. 

Shannon, of Columbia, Lancaster County, was born in 1870. He began his military career in 1889, when he enlisted in the Pennsylvania National Guard. He advanced through the noncommissioned officer ranks and obtained a commission as a Second Lieutenant in 1893. During World War I, he earned the nickname “Two Yard” because of the reputation he developed for leading his men from the front (“two yards” ahead) during their attacks on German positions. After WW I, Shannon was promoted to Brigadier General. From 1930 to 1935, he served as Lieutenant Governor and from 1933 to 1939, he served as Major General and commander of the 28th Infantry Division. Shannon died in Columbia, Pennsylvania, on May 20, 1946, and is buried at Laurel Hill Memorial Gardens in Lancaster County.  

The Borough of Columbia has been the home to many brave men and women who have served their country, some who have paid the supreme sacrifice and some who have distinguished themselves in service to their country, said Leo Lutz, Columbia Borough mayor. The citizens of the Borough of Columbia are honored to have Major General Edward Caswell Shannon as one of its distinguished generals and greatly appreciate the honor you have bestowed on him today.” 

Wright, of Shermans Dale, Perry County, served as the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness with the Department of Defense (DoD) from Jan. 2013 until her retirement in April 2015. In this position, Wright was the senior policy advisor to the Secretary of Defense on recruitment, career development, pay and benefits for 1.4 million active duty military personnel, 1.1 million Guard and Reserve personnel, 748,000 DoD civilians, and was responsible for overseeing the overall state of military readiness. Her distinguished 35-year career of military service culminated with her final assignment as The Adjutant General of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania where she retired as a Major General in 2010. In this Cabinet-level position, she was responsible for command, control and supervision of all Air and Army National Guard units allocated to Pennsylvania, six state-owned veterans’ homes, and programs for Pennsylvania’s one million veterans.

Prior to this assignment, she served as Deputy Adjutant General for the PA Army National Guard. Her firsts include becoming the first female Army aviator in the Army National Guard and the first female maneuver brigade commander in the Army.

“No leader at the Department of Defense was more respected than Jessica Wright, said former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel. She effectively led one of the most complicated and vital departments in the DoD with commitment and precision.”‎  The DMVA Hall of Fame, established in 1998, recognizes unique and exemplary contributions to the department and the Pennsylvania National Guard. This award not only recognizes significant achievements, but also the honor and prestige an individual has brought upon the department, the Pennsylvania National Guard and Pennsylvania veterans. It is the highest honor bestowed upon an individual by the department. 

Resident speaks out about lack of discipline at CHS

Columbia resident Joni Albright Groom spoke out about the lack of discipline and follow-through by administrators for bullying incidents at Columbia High School.  Groom spoke to the Columbia School Board at its September 15 meeting, with about 100 residents in attendance:

“I was born and raised here. I’m a true Columbian. I love our town immensely. It is part of who I am. The reason why I’m addressing you this evening is because of the ongoing problems at our schools with lack of suspensions. I watched the video that has been circulated widely this past week of the altercation in the classroom. It is very shocking to me, to say the least, and very disturbing to me that even before the physical altercation took place just how out of control that classroom appeared to me. Example: Students walking around, cellphones out, sitting on desks. In plain words, they were basically doing whatever they felt like. That’s what it appeared to me.

“I witnessed firsthand, as I was employed at CHS for 21 years in the kitchen, prior to my retirement this school year. I’ve seen students throwing food at each other, teachers, co-workers, janitors, me, etc. I’ve seen students purposely make messes, be destructive, using foul and inappropriate language to myself, teachers, etc. Most of the time they were reported and written up, but the problem is most of the time they were never disciplined. In one such incident, I was personally threatened by a student, serving lunch I was, she said to me, ‘I’ll come back over that counter after you and I’ll beat your m-f-ing a-s-s.’ Guess what, this student was never written up or punished for this incident. Never. She was right back in there. In fact, she was never even taken out of the cafeteria that day. Never. I’m not so sure our teachers get the full support from the administration for handling these ongoing discipline problems.

“Mr. Strickler, I read where you said that the reason they had their cellphones out was because they were turning them off before class. Well, I plead Dr. Hollister and yourself to take a trip up to the high school and see how many cellphones are being used other than in the cafeteria. I’ve seen it firsthand.

“I really don’t know what the solution is to these problems, but I hope we can all work as a community to make this a safe place for our students who want to learn and get a good education. In closing, there is an African proverb that says, ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’ Well, I guess that’s what it takes.”

Borough properties – some for sale, some blighted

The County Sheriff’s Sale List for Wednesday, September 28, 2016,  includes properties that have been cancelled, postponed as well as those that remain active.
Currently, there are nine Columbia Borough properties on this list.
There are about 64 properties for sale in the borough at this time – three in one block alone. 
 
At the borough’s September 14 Safety Committee meeting, Code Enforcement Officer Jeff Helm said there are now 25 properties in Columbia on a “blighted” list. 
There will be an “information only” meeting regarding the “Land Bank” on September 26, at 6 p.m.
This meeting immediately follows the public meeting for interviews for market manager at 5 p.m.

Committee looks at Marketplace Revitalization Project

A “Columbia Marketplace Revitalization Project” was presented during the  borough’s September 20 Public Property Committee meeting.
A group of four presenters, led by Cullen Farrell and Robert Irwin, gave a 45-minute presentation about an Aquaponic Booth to be housed inside the Columbia Market House near the entrance to the dungeon.
An Aquaponic system combines conventional aquaculture (raising aquatic animals such as fish) with hydroponics (cultivating plants in water) in a symbiotic environment.
According to the presenters, the system would provide education as a micro-farm for children.  Re-branding Columbia, economic stimulation, tourism, were among other purported advantages of having an Aquaponic Booth.
The presenters reassured the committee that if the booth is built, they will stay with the project in Columbia.  One presenter said he plans to relocate to Columbia and wouldn’t just be here on weekends.
Adding a greenhouse at the borough farm was also proposed.  Borough Manager Greg Sahd asked if it would provide crops year-round. “Yes, 10-12 harvests per year,” a presenter said.
Committee Chair Pam Williams asked if foods grown this way taste the same as foods grown in the ground and was told it will be an individual taste decision. Fish would also be sold at the Aquaponics Booth.
Presenters said that they have already discussed the proposal with Council President Kelly Murphy, Ron Miller, market vendors, and some “other folks.” Murphy said “We have to try something different here.”  Roche FitzGerald said, “It’s a really cool thing, and it’s all the rage on the west coast.”  
Mayor Lutz said, “I’m 100% for it, but we need to move fast.”  Lutz advised the group to look into grants but added that one cannot start a project and then apply for grant money to be reimbursed. The grant application must be done prior to the project. 
The group plans to offer three styles for the Aquaponic Booth, and open the selection process to the public.  Choices would be on display at the market so that patrons can offer comments and participate in the decision. The style displayed during the meeting looked like a small red barn –  almost a “Playskool” style.  


Also on the agenda under “Old Business…”
Kevin Lehman was at the meeting to share details of a concept already presented to the River Park Advisory Committee.  According to the agenda, Lehman was slated to go first, but the Aquaponics presentation was permitted to go first.  Lehman left during that presentation and did not return.