The Lion Head Fountain was chosen and purchased as a major focal point of the town square.
The town fountain, which was recently recommended for removal by the Parks & Rec Committee, has been given a stay.
Parks & Rec changed its vote after borough resident Nora Motter Stark spoke about the history of the fountain and the town square at the committee’s February 8 meeting.
The issue will be discussed further at the March 5 Columbia Borough Council Work Session. Stark urges residents to attend.
This plaque is located at the Locust Street entrance to the town square.
History of the Town Square The Columbia Town Square was officially dedicated on April 17, 2004, after design and construction began ciirca 2000-2001. Funding came from various sources, including grants, community donations, and Columbia Borough. The Columbia Town Gardeners played a significant role in the project, with approximately 32 active members. The group, consisting of local residents, assisted with landscape design, construction, and daily care and maintenance.
In 2002, the “Snowdrops of Hope” campaign was launched to create a living memorial planting on the Town Square in remembrance of those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. The campaign received donations from hundreds of local citizens, organizations, and businesses.
Columbia’s Youth, including high school students and the Boy Scouts, helped plant 23 varieties of bulbs. There was a bulb planted for each person who perished in the September 11th tragedy.
The fountain The Lion Head Fountain was chosen and purchased as a major focal point of the park, funded exclusively by donations from the community. Maintenance of the fountain and landscaping have been ongoing issues.
[Source: Nora Motter Stark]
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Why the fountain was recommended for removal Following informal discussion at the February 6, 2024 Columbia Borough Council Work Session, council members agreed to remove the nonfunctional fountain from the town square.
Columbia has been incurring a monthly cost of approximately $20 for the water line connected to the fountain, according to Borough Manager Mark Stivers. Mayor Lutz added that the fountain’s pump frequently malfunctioned due to the absence of a shutoff valve, causing the motor to burn out when the water level dropped too low. Lutz said he personally replaced the pump twice
Stivers said the fountain had been neglected and was no longer being maintained.
Foresters of America, 201 Locust St., Columbia, Feb. 5. Pass. Two half-gallon containers of milk, one at the bar and one in the kitchen, beyond the sell-by date.
Grand China, 156 Lancaster Ave., Columbia, Feb. 5. Fail. The person in charge did not demonstrate adequate knowledge of food safety as evidenced by this noncompliant inspection. Food employee is not washing hands between changing tasks. An employee’s open beverage container (twist-cap variety) was on the food preparation table. Raw chicken stored above potatoes and carrots in the reach-in cooler. Flour used for coating chicken is not being sifted every four hours or covered and refrigerated as required. Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature-control-for-safety food prepared in the food facility and held for more than 24 hours in the reach-in cooler is not being date-marked. Single-use plastic cups are being used in bulk food items rather than a scoop. Food residue on tables in the kitchen, carts and food containers. Evidence of rodent activity throughout the cooking area and storage area; facility does have a pest control program. Employee personal items were on the food preparation table and not stored in dressing rooms or identified storage area as required.
Prince Street Cafe– Columbia, 301 Walnut St., Columbia, Feb. 5. Pass. Prepackaged peanut butter parfaits are not labeled properly with the name of product, ingredient statement, net weight, distributed by statement. Prepackaged peanut butter parfaits are not labeled to clearly indicate any “Big 9” allergen ingredients and/or the allergen warning statement. Irreversible registering thermometer or thermal labels are not available for monitoring the rinse temperature of the mechanical dishwasher; the dishwasher was checked with the inspector’s calibrated thermometer and is achieving the required sanitizing temperature; repeat violation, Feb. 3, 2023. Container of cleaner tabs stored on a shelf next to coffee filters.
District Justice Miles Bixler swears in Nathan Roach as Columbia School Board Director at Thursday night’s school board meeting.
Nathan Roach was appointed as school board director Thursday night at the Columbia Borough School Board meeting. Roach fills a seat vacated by Jason Price II, who announced his resignation at the February 6th, 2024 meeting.
Roach is Director of Operations at Lancaster Lebanon Habitat for Humanity and was previously Director of Operations at the Lancaster City Housing Authority.
The fountain in the town square at 480 Locust Street might soon disappear.
During the February 6, 2024 Columbia Borough Council Work Session, Parks & Rec Committee Chair Elizabeth Andrews said the fountain has been nonfunctional for several years, and the committee recommends that it be removed.
The round basin around the bottom will remain in place and possibly become a platform for art pieces created by local artists, to be changed every few years.
The celebration of Saint Valentine’s Day, referred to in Latin as “in natali” meaning “on the birthday,” has its roots in Christian tradition and is commemorated by the Western Christian Church to honor a martyr named Valentine, as documented in the 8th-century liturgical book known as the Gelasian Sacramentary. In contrast, the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, dedicated to the deities Pan and Juno who represented love, marriage, and fertility, was celebrated from February 13th to 15th. This festival was primarily associated with purification and health and had only a minor link to fertility and no connection to romantic love. The romantic aspects of Saint Valentine’s Day were not associated with the holiday until the 14th century when Geoffrey Chaucer penned poetry about it, long after the presumed end of Lupercalia celebrations.
Lupercalia was specific to Rome itself, while the broader Festival of Juno Februa, which translates to “Juno the purifier” or “the chaste Juno,” took place on February 13th and 14th. Although the Catholic Encyclopedia entry on Pope Gelasius I claims that he put an end to Lupercalia during his papacy from 492 to 496, Methodist theologian Bruce Forbes has pointed out that there is no solid evidence connecting Saint Valentine’s Day to Lupercalia’s ancient rituals, despite various authors suggesting otherwise.
