LCBC church founder apologizes for 'inflammatory' comments about Black Lives Matter

After calling Black Lives Matter an organization filled with hate, violence and intolerance, the senior pastor of a Lancaster County-based church has apologized for the “inflammatory” statement in a sermon.

“I’m sorry. I was wrong. Please forgive me,” David Ashcraft, a senior pastor at Manheim-based LCBC, said in the sermon. LCBC stands for “Lives Changed by Christ.”

Ashcraft voiced his criticism of Black Lives Matter during a June 14 sermon, which was broadcast online with the potential to reach the church’s about 17,000 weekly attendees.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/features/lcbc-church-founder-apologizes-for-inflammatory-comments-about-black-lives-matter/article_90745cda-b56d-11ea-9088-ab74074d3474.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share 

LANCASTER COUNTY CHIEFS OF POLICE ASSOCIATION ISSUES STATEMENT ON THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD

LANCASTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA CHIEFS OF POLICE ASSOCIATION

Incorporated 1975

June 4, 2020

Statement from the Lancaster County Chiefs of Police Association

The Lancaster County Chiefs of Police Association, representing 29 law enforcement agencies in Lancaster County, wish to express our sincerest condolences to the family of Mr. George Floyd. It is essential that our communities know that the police leaders of Lancaster County condemn the actions of the Minneapolis police officers who caused, and failed to prevent, the tragic death of Mr. Floyd. The actions of those officers are contrary to the values and principles of justice that we strive to instill in our police officers. The conduct is shocking, shameful, and criminal. We believe any offending officers should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

We concur with the leadership of the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association when they wrote in part:

“The Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association (PCPA) expresses its deepest sympathies to the family of Mr. George Floyd. The sad death of George Floyd at the hands of a group of police officers in Minneapolis on Monday, May 25th brought back a focus on how black and brown citizens of the Commonwealth are treated during police-citizen encounters. We have all viewed the video of the arrest of Mr. Floyd. It is apparent that in this instance and ones like it, we as a profession have failed to provide the most basic protections that are afforded to all citizens. This failure should not have been acceptable in Minneapolis and is not accepted in Pennsylvania. Law Enforcement leaders must address the unacceptable and criminal conduct by these officers. Our Association does not routinely inject ourselves in matters that occur in other States; in this case our opinion is not only necessary and sharing it is the appropriate thing to do. It is our obligation to confirm our values, our oath, our sworn duty and our responsibility for the protection and inviolability of human life.

Pennsylvania law enforcement leaders have viewed the video of Mr. Floyd’s death and are outraged by what they observed. Police brutality, negligence, and the failure to render aid are unacceptable in law enforcement. As an Association of police leaders, we are committed to providing our members with guidance on best practices and policy. What transpired during Mr. Floyd’s arrest is inexplicable. The placing of a knee on an individual’s neck while the individual is on their stomach is not a justifiable application of non-lethal force and is widely discredited by professionals because it may cause suffocation (positional asphyxia). “

It is our moral and professional duty to reflect the values of our community, and we are committed to upholding this obligation.

During the past week, members of our Association met with leaders of Lancaster NAACP. We discussed the current situation, as well as suggestions for and challenges to improving policies and procedures. We value our local relationship with the NAACP Lancaster Branch and are committed to continue it as we partner to heal our communities.

Sincerely,

Lancaster County Chiefs of Police Association

https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/westhempfieldpd/11465/post/statement-lancaster-county-chiefs-police-association

Columbia Borough School Board adopts resolution on racism

From the Columbia Borough School District Board of Directors:

SCHOOL BOARD RESOLUTION ON RACISM

SCHOOL BOARD COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND ANTI-RACISM

The recent incidents of violence against Black Americans highlight the systemic bias and institutional racism in our society that has senselessly and atrociously devastated so many Black lives throughout our country’s history. As school board members we are committed to actively interrupting systemic racism and eliminating inequities in our education system and therefore are compelled to speak out.

Our community’s and nation’s future requires that this systemic bias and institutional racism be dismantled, to promote equity, and ensure ALL children and families are able to thrive;

OUR DISTRICT IS COMMITTED TO PROMOTING EQUITY WITHIN AND ACROSS OUR SCHOOLS;

Education is a key lever for creating this more equitable and anti-racist community, nation, and world. This will be a collaborative partnership with students, families, staff, and community stakeholders;

In moving from planning to action, our district is committed to drawing on the perspective and feedback from the collection of diverse voices in our community. As a school board and district, we value each and every student, family, and staff member and are committed to creating an equitable and an anti-racist system that honors and elevates all.

The Columbia Borough School District Board of School Directors stands in solidarity with the Black community in our schools, district, and nation to condemn this violence. We see it, we hear it, and we are committed to changing the system.

The Columbia Borough School District Board of School Directors commits to its own work as individuals and our collective work overseeing the district in continuing to become equitable and anti-racist in behaviors, actions, and policies; and commits to working with our local government agencies to strengthen the collective work of diversity, equity, and inclusion in our community.

The Columbia Borough School District Board of School Directors commits to holding diversity, equity, and inclusion at the center of this work.

Fresh Express is back this Friday, June 26, 3:30-5:30 pm at Columbia High School and Park Elementary

It’s Fresh Express Week!!

Fresh Express is back this Friday, June 26 from 3:30-5:30pm at Columbia High School for those with transportation and at the Park Elementary School lobby for those on foot.

Both locations are while supplies last.

Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health has partnered with the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, Columbia Borough School District, Columbia Life Network, Community Action Partnership and Hunger-Free Lancaster County to bring Fresh Express, a mobile food pantry filled with fresh produce and healthy food options, to Columbia, Pennsylvania.

Nearly $150,000 Missing From Police Safe Shows Why Civil Forfeiture Is Fundamentally Flawed

Who took $150,000 in cash out of a Lancaster County Drug Task Force safe? That is a question that the Attorney General of Pennsylvania will now consider after Lancaster County District Attorney Heather Adams recently revealed that the money was missing.

MORE:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/instituteforjustice/2020/06/04/nearly-150000-missing-from-police-safe-shows-why-civil-forfeiture-is-fundamentally-flawed/ 

About Town 6/21/2020

This week’s photos of Columbia

On the road to East Prospect
And reiterated in Columbia
Biden for president
Stoltzfus for delegate
(Not an endorsement)
West Hempfield officers emerging from Fine Wine & Good Spirits

 Many departments gathered at Columbia Crossing on Wednesday.

Stover’s was hit again on Sunday morning, June 21.

 Closed for the season

 Wire spools being removed from atop Park Elementary Friday morning.

 Here’s a closer look.

 Work continues at the Market House.

 New street signs?

 This flag is hanging at a house on the 200 block of South 8th street. It’s accompanied by the Mission 22 flag shown below.

According to the Mission 22 website the organization is “dedicated to healing America’s veterans when they need it most — right now. We offer treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injury, substance abuse and all of the issues veterans are facing today.”

 It’s that time.

Ivied wall at Lloyd Mifflin’s house

 Master of the alleyway

 Free!

HARB approved signs/brackets for Columbia Life Network and Cooper’s Comics (shown below). Both are in Columbia’s historic district. Some business owners in the historic district skate around HARB with impunity.

Pink flamingo at Geltz Gotz Goodeze

Outside seating at Coffee & Cream

There’s never a shortage of customers (shown here and below).

Garden guides Blue and Petunia at Park School

Blue and Petunia went indoors, but below are several photos of the garden:
Here are some flowers at a grave in Mount Bethel.

Sign for a defunct business

 At the former Shawnee Fire Company

 Ready for some serious sweeping –
Some things in Columbia Borough get swept under the rug.

Always use your head in whatever fashion you see fit . . .

Just be careful when doing so.

Killdeer keeping an eye on things

Under the Veterans Memorial Bridge

A crew of four from Pickering, Corts & Summerson (PCS) inspected the bridge.

A diver appeared to be doing underwater inspections of the bridge piers.

According to their website: “Pickering, Corts & Summerson (PCS) delivers award winning multi-discipline civil engineering services from our four office locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.”
 Smith’s deck is open.
 The weeds are gone. Now if only the litter could go, too.
Mailbox of Bret Greenberg DVM and Associates, Companion Animal Clinic on South 16th Street
An easy chair on Locust for sittin’ out 
Floyd Landis passed a car carrier at the turn at 2nd & Bridge to take the lead.

And last but not least, a comment to Columbia Spy from a reader in Ephrata:

I went to Columbia today and took a friend to support the small businesses who have been so hard hit for the last 3 months and ran into your “meter freaks”…. I have heard how these meter people literally jump on a car the minute the time expires…. well – I just received your $10 “Welcome to Columbia” for the sake of 3 minutes. Not like I was gone for an hour and a half on my quarter…… I guess you don’t want people coming to shop in your town and to help it flourish….. I won’t be back.