Mayor Leo Lutz and Borough Council President Kelly Murphy helped out with a ribbon-cutting on Friday at Beauty in the Beast pet grooming service at 18 South Third Street.
Owner Britini Tollinger cut the ribbon, aided by co-owner Mike Whelan.
Inside the building is this painting, purportedly by artist Edward B. Black, who painted watercolors and oils of the Susquehanna River in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Clay from the Susquehanna River shore served as the basis for the paints used in this work which is painted directly on the wall. (Could it be a type of fresco painting?)
Black was a founder of the Harrisburg Art Association, and his works are in the collection of the State Museum of Pennsylvania and the Historical Society of Dauphin County.
An hour later and a few steps up the street, Doreen Fabulian – surrounded by family and friends – cut the ribbon for her shop, Aha Sweets, at 8 South Third Street. The shop bakes with organic and natural ingredients (not 100% organic, not gluten-free). The shop also uses alternative flours (white organic spelt, oat flour, almond flour) in its variety of cakes, cookies, and cupcakes.
On the grounds of the Columbia Borough School District admin building, members of Cub Scout Pack 35 recited the pledge as an introduction to the 25th Annual Arbor Day Celebration.
School Board President Tom Strickler served as master of ceremonies.
Amy Evans, chairwoman of the Columbia Borough Shade Tree Commission, offered welcoming remarks.
Mayor Lutz spoke about the value of trees in reducing pollution.
Council President Kelly Murphy expressed his thoughts about the importance of Arbor Day.
Amanda Hawn, a new member of the Shade Tree Commission, introduced herself.
Rick Hartlieb of the DCNR Bureau of Forestry spoke and presented a banner to the commission.
Columbia High School Senior Austin Combs read Joyce Kilmer’s poem “Trees.”
Afterward, he was accompanied by a young audience member. Columbia Spy previously published a profile of Gerfin HERE.
A white Nissan van has overstayed its welcome on the 500 block of Locust Street, next to Locust Street Park. Sources tell Columbia Spy that the van has been in the same parking space for at least a month. Street sweeping tickets are routinely removed by – someone.
The van’s PA state inspection and emission inspection stickers expired at the end of November 2015.
Note: The section of the trail to be paved is roughly that from the Route 30 Bridge, northward along Chiques Rock County Park.
Sources tell Columbia Spy that a section of the new Northwest Lancaster County River Trail – from Columbia to Marietta – will be closed for about two weeks for asphalt paving beginning on May 11. Paving will be overseen in part by Lancaster County Parks and Recreation. At this point, it is undetermined whether or not the trail will be open on weekends during that time.
Paving was originally scheduled to begin in mid-August but was moved up in anticipation of National Trail Days Celebration on Saturday, June 4.
More information to follow as it becomes available.
Several bald cypress trees like the one shown above were planted along the river shore at Columbia River Park recently to replace dead and dying trees that were cut down a few months ago.
Columbia Spy 