Columbia Spy

LINK: https://facebook.com/events/s/brad-for-pa-campaign-kickoff-p/646027237535488/

In November 2023, Fire Chief Scott Ryno and volunteer firefighters from the Columbia Borough Fire Department thanked the Columbia School Board for passing a tax credit program that benefits firefighters and their families.

Columbia Borough started offering property tax credits to firefighters in 2018. (The Columbia School District did so in 2023.) Volunteers are required to respond to calls, attend department meetings and participate in fundraisers to receive either a 10% or 20% rebate from the borough’s 8.0 mill property tax. (One mil equals $1 in property tax for every $1,000 of assessed value. So the owner of a $200,000 home in the borough would pay $1,600 in property taxes.)

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/lancaster-county-municipalities-consider-tax-credits-to-boost-firefighter-recruitment-lancaster-watchdog/article_9ed3b21e-bfad-11ee-917c-27f24857fec2.html

Columbia Borough, PA:

The 300 block of Perry Street was temporarily closed due to Police activity. Police cleared the scene and the roadway is now open to traffic.

6:59 AM, January 31, 2024

Brad Chambers

The party endorsed Brad Chambers, a labor administrator for Penske Corp., in the primary race for the 41st District, which includes Columbia Borough and East and West Hempfield townships. Chambers ran for Columbia Borough Council last year but fell 29 votes short of winning a seat.

If he wins the Democratic primary, Chambers will likely face incumbent East Hempfield Republican state Rep. Brett Miller in November’s general election. Miller didn’t face a Democratic candidate in his 2022 reelection bid, defeating Libertarian Favyan Asia by about 7,000 votes.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/pennsylvania/county-democrat-officials-don-t-endorse-congressional-candidate-back-four-candidates-in-state-house-races/article_8232fe32-bd5d-11ee-a531-8f55c9f97d67.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share

The river was reading five feet above the normal of 227 on the scale under the Veterans Memorial Bridge Tuesday morning. As shown above, part of Columbia River Park was flooded.

The roofing project at the Wright’s Ferry Mansion continued Monday morning as workers removed the old shingles from the overhang in preparation for applying new ones. (Note the worker on the far right.)

The main roof was replaced over the past few months.

Charlene J. Evans conveyed property on South 14th Street to Charlene J. Evans for $1.

Julie Bigler Agent For Gwendolyn M. Bigler conveyed property on a public road to Julie Bigler for $0.

The estate of Rose M Morrison conveyed 1143 Manor St. to Ronald B. Carson for $1.

The estate of John R Filizzi and Susan M. Filizzi conveyed 236 Union St. to Nathan Filizzi for $1.

Charlene J. Evans conveyed property on South 14th Street to Charlene J. Evans for $1.

 Photos of Columbia from the past few weeks

(Click/tap on photos to see larger, sharper images.) 

Fog rolled in on Friday morning and hung around into evening . . .

This heron was at its station on the pier.

So was this one, on the next pier over.

The recent rain and snow yielded a lot of water.

Speaking of snow, we got hit twice in one week this month.

This man spread icemelt in a parking lot on Manor Street after the first snow.

A lot of debris drifted down the river recently.

Not everyone cleared their sidewalk, even days after the second snow…

Here’s a look at Shawnee Run as seen from 4th Street.

And here’s a study in basic perspective.

Don’t eat the yellow snow, but what about fuchsia?

Before every plowable snow, the borough spreads brine on the streets to make plowing easier.

The remnant of a snowman

Some night clouds illuminated by the moon

The winter weather creates some interesting skies, including this one above the former home of Columbia’s General Shannon.

Some random shots around town . . .

New rails arriving . . . via rail.

Jesse does good work!

Oil slick rainbow emanating from a Mondrianesque meeting of sidewalk seams

Moss around a water shutoff, with gravel “donated” by PennDOT

Front doors of the former General Edward C. Shannon Armory

Colored lights

Bridge lights

Not a hotline to Wrightsville, just sunlight reflecting off a wire

Nutcracker at Front & Locust

Medical Dept. at former Grinnell/Anvil

Vulture on Elks

Cargo plane with landing gear deployed

This biker keeps cool with a back vent.

Cat caught in the act of rummaging through unattended trash bags.

Morning DAC

Todd Stahl sent the following photos showing how swollen the river has become recently . .  .

Joe Lintner

“The fog comes on little cat feet.” – Carl Sandburg

The fog crept in this morning and looks like it’ll be staying overnight . . .