Columbia Spy

 This week’s photos of Columbia 

Click on photos to see larger, sharper images. 

JOE LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

The canoes were back for several days. The Wilderness Inquiry Canoemobile is a roving fleet of 24-foot, 10-passenger canoes that travels the country to connect people to their local waterways and the great outdoors. Each canoe weighs over 300 pounds.

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Escaping just in time for Halloween 

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The dog rides free.

Another look (or two) at that vehicle accident.

Columbia Spy reported previously that emergency crews responded to the accident near the intersection of Lancaster Avenue and 11th Street shortly before 2 p.m. Tuesday.

The accident occurred at Sahd Metal Recycling when a Toyota Camry traveling westbound on Lancaster Avenue hit the side of a tractor-trailer that was either pulling out or backing into the facility. The impact caused the Camry to become pinned underneath the trailer. Occupants exited the vehicle safely.

A Sahd employee used a tow motor to lift the rear end of the trailer, and a tow truck from Unlimited Towing pulled the car free via an attached cable. The damaged vehicle was subsequently moved off the highway by the tow truck.

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Assertions and rebuttals

This crow looks a bit hungover. 

How many does it take to make a murder?

Wounded stop sign

More designs on the Coffee & Cream piano

Peeking out

Lost/found card?

Stuff for sale

Stuff for free

But the sign says . . . (Zoom in.)

Another look at the 5th & Chestnut clock

It’s time for berries.

A moonlit evening 

DJ parking only

Seen at Columbia River Park 

AEG (American Engineers Group) employees were checking out the Veterans Memorial Bridge and the railroad tracks earlier in the week, possibly in preparation for the upcoming bridge rehab.

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Update on the soil stabilization project at the former McGinness property . . .

Why so deep?

What aren’t we being told?

There’s the water truck, but . . .

. . . the hose sprang a leak.

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Meanwhile, at the Habitat for Humanity Linden Street Build 

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Event organizer Chris Vera hosted the 12th Annual Albatwitch Day—the first to be held in Wrightsville (at Riverfront Park). Proceeds go to the Columbia Historic Preservation Society, where he serves as president. 

Wrightsville Borough Councilman Eric White and friend supported the event. 

Magician Eric performed feats of prestidigitation.

Richard Bigg was one of three authors to speak at the event. 

Bluegrass group Dillweed performed. 

The trio has played at the Columbia Market House several times.

‘Til next year!

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https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/incidents/shooting-third-street-union-street

Commentary corner

SHARON LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

For anyone who missed the October 7th Columbia Borough Council work session, here are some interesting highlights:

The meeting began with seven organizations each requesting a donation from the borough.

There was a five-minute time frame allotted for them to tell council about their organization and why they were requesting a donation. A large timer was positioned on the council table, but was, for the most part, ignored.

The allotted time frame went out of control almost immediately, and what should have been a total of 35 minutes turned into nearly 120 minutes. The first two hours of this meeting were mismanaged, as is often the case.

Last year, the total amount of donations was estimated to be $29,000. That is not an outrageous number. If our tax dollars were being properly managed, there would be no problem meeting that number again this year or even exceeding it slightly. All of these community organizations deserve to have financial help from the borough for services they provide.

Two flags at Borough Hall cost $1,000!

Council members sat for an hour and a half discussing a $1,000 here, $3,000 there. And I’ll go back to this again: Who made the decision to purchase two flags that cost over $1,000 to hang in the side of the building? Not United States flags, but “Columbia” flags that are not doing one thing for this community. NOTHING.

It became clear that some council members did not prepare properly for the discussion. They wanted to argue over donations when they were lacking in facts and even making things up. If you were trying to listen to the discussion on the livestream, it was extremely difficult at times because members were talking over each other. The gavel could have been used to reel everyone in and bring the conversation under control, but it wasn’t touched.

CCAT

The Columbia Cat Action Team (CCAT) discussion was flabbergasting. Some council members suggested forms of cat control that could be considered inhumane.

Council Vice President Eric Kauffman made contradictory statements, first saying the cat population will be controlled by public traffic. In other words, cats would become roadkill. He also mentioned disease and hunger as possible control factors. But minutes later, Kauffman said if the team misses trapping a male and female, they fall four months behind, contradicting his theory that traffic, hunger and disease can control the population.

Then, Councilman Todd Burgard said he was always a proponent of a mixed approach which would include “extermination.” He said, it should be part of the process. Otherwise, he explained, you would have to trap all the cats in one day.

Council candidate Jesse Rabinowitz, who was seated at the table with council members, said he’d drop CCAT and give that money to the library. Councilwoman Barb Fisher agreed. Rabinowitz also mentioned that hawks could help control the cat population.

Council President Zink stated that “It’s time to let it go,” referring to the donation for the organization.

Facilities used for actual surgery were discussed, but it was clear some council members did not have an understanding of how the process works. The York SPCA was used in the beginning of the program, because there was inconsistent veterinary availability at the Columbia shelter. For a while they could not provide TNR services. The trip to York was done by volunteers using their own time and gas. (The drive takes about 25 minutes one-way.) The York County SPCA was gracious enough to accommodate CCAT.

Apparently, Columbia would rather be known for rabies and roadkill instead of a community program which has set an example for other municipalities.

If you wish to address council on this or any other topic, meeting dates for October are as follows:

October 14th at 7:00 pm council meeting

October 16th at 7:00 pm budget meeting

October 28th at 7:00 pm council meeting

If your topic is not listed on the agenda, simply sign in as you enter the lobby and you can speak during citizen comments at the beginning of the meeting. You have 5 minutes to speak.

If the topic is listed on the agenda, you will have to wait until council gets to that topic during the meeting, and then you can raise your hand to speak or comment.

Either way, you can speak at any of these meetings. The taxes you pay go, in part, to fund this program.

Albatwitch Day—October 11, 2025

Halloween Parade

• MORGAN HUBER | FOR LNP | LANCASTERONLINE

When: Columbia Borough school board meeting, Oct. 7.

What happened: Keith Ramsey, district business manager, presented the final expenses of the 2024-25 year to the board at its monthly committee meeting. The pre-audit numbers for the previous academic year include a revenue of $34.1 million and expenditures of $33.3 million, resulting in a $782,383 surplus.

Next steps: Ramsey recommended the district surplus be transferred to the capital improvement fund for future construction projects. The board will vote on whether to transfer these funds at the Oct. 16 meeting. If approved, this surplus would bring the capital improvement fund to a $3.32 million balance.

Anyia Sweets, 15 S. Third St., Columbia, opening, Oct. 4. Pass. Food facility does not have a certified food manager; the facility has an employee scheduled to take a food safety course.

Griddles Street Social, 15 S. Third St., Columbia, opening, Oct. 4. Pass. No violations.

Andy’s Market Inc., 310 11th St., Columbia, Sept. 30. Pass. Observed deeply scored cutting boards (portable brown boards) not resurfaced or discarded as required. Observed in-use knives stored between table edges, an area not easily cleanable and sanitized. Observed food stored directly on the floor in the walk-in freezer, rather than 6 inches off of the floor as required.

Aunt Cake’s Bakery, 245 Locust St., Columbia, change of owner, Sept. 30. Pass. Observed inside the chemical storage room, paint chipping and peeling from the ceiling and raw wood, both of which are not smooth and easily cleanable. The dock doors located in the back of the food facility has a gap and is not “light tight” and does not protect against the entry of insects, rodents and other animals. The food facility does not have the original certificate for the certified food employee posted in public view.

Park Elementary School, 50 S. Sixth St., Columbia, Sept. 30. Pass. No violations.

Taylor Middle School, 45 N. Ninth St., Columbia, Sept. 30. Pass. No violations.

SHARON LINTNER | COLUMBIA SPY 

[Photos: Sharon Lintner] 

Democratic candidates Ethan Byers, Jeanne Cooper, Kyle Ricker and Jasmine Preston held a “Meet and Greet” at Lancaster Distilleries’ Columbia location on Wednesday evening, October 8th.

Attendees heard each candidate speak about why they decided to run for office, as well as their particular topics of concern.

Ethan Byers supports fiscal responsibility, looking at expenditure line items where the borough could save money. He also supports CCAT, the Columbia Cat Action Team.

Kyle Ricker, whose background is cybersecurity, advocates for improving the livestreaming of meetings and keeping residents and taxpayers informed through transparency.

Jeanne Cooper has operated businesses in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. As a member of the Merchants Association, she understands the concerns of local merchants.

Jasmine Preston, who is running for mayor against longtime incumbent Leo Lutz, hears those calling for change. She spoke favorably about the Chip Factory Hotel project, saying it will put Columbia on the map and provide jobs.

All four candidates participated in the budget discussion during the October 7th Columbia Borough Council Workshop.

https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/cases/vandalism-100-block-locust-st