Cross-country cyclist admires Columbia sights on the way to Gettysburg

The 62 miles could best be described as a “slog” or a ride with searing temps in the 90’s, growing inclines and harried Saturday motorists. I spent much of the day riding on the sidewalk for safety.
The best part of the day was a 9 a.m. stop at the Prospect Diner on Hwy 30.
MORE:

https://www.washingtoncountyinsider.com/drifting-into-gettysburg-pa/

About Town 7/7/19

This week’s photos from Columbia

When beating the heat, it’s best to use a stick.
 In for a landing

 This snowy egret was keeping an eye (or two) on things the other day, as shown here and below:

Here’s a bird of a different feather over in Avenue G – one of two black vulture siblings.
They left their attic nest at 123 North 5th earlier in the week.
Here’s one last photo before they left the scene entirely.
Emergent pyrotechnics on “The 4th”
[Submitted photo]
 That’s a lot of sod.

 All you need is love – or a rock that says it.

 Hydrant in hiding

River view
 Panorama
(Click to enlarge.)
 PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources at Columbia River Park

Brown-eyed Susan and friend

That’s one way to hold a truck together, but duct tape generally works better.

 Boutique at Hermansader’s Gallery on the 400 block of Locust

 It’s already here.

 Airing out the upper floors at 401 Locust

 Onward and upward!

 Here’s a big fat dumpster across the street.

It’s on borough property, but council OK’d the use.

 Memorial at Columbia Presbyterian

 Morning melody

 And a deep bow afterwards

 Standing and sanding at 101 North Front

Soon to be a coffee and ice cream shop called, fittingly enough, “Coffee and Cream.”

Meanwhile, down below

 Living Stones Masonry at Front and Locust
What better way to show your product than to put it on your building?

 Got one!

 A cover-up!

 No, that’s not the way to the trail.

 Batcycle-in-waiting

 Pit stop

Sprucing up on South 3rd

 Red, white, blue and red, white, and blue

 Piano keys at Front & Bridge

 Precise edging at River Park

 Morning meow

 NO

 Unattended

 The mission continues.

 The pawn shop – now with drinks and snacks

 Inside the Market House

 “Welcome to the jungle,
It gets worse here every day.”
(- Guns N’ Roses)

 But seriously, what the hell???!!!

What was to be an apartment building is now a jungle that can be seen, free of charge, along Bank Avenue.

 You can even play the game of “Find the Cat”!
(Yes, he’s in there.)
 “The weeds are as high as an elephant’s eye,
And it looks like they’re climbin’ right up to the sky!”
(Apologies to Rodgers and Hammerstein.)

 There’s that cat again.
(Who knows what other critters lurk therein?)

What a “beautiful” sight for visitors to see.

That Saturday night rain came up quick.
[Photo by Phil Shirk]

Mount Bethel Cemetery – Who will keep it going?

Grave marker of John Houston Mifflin at Mount Bethel Cemetery. He was the father of Lloyd Mifflin, Columbia’s famed poet and painter.

It requires fundraising, and community involvement and volunteer days that bring out dozens of people to tackle projects.

And it embodies the dilemma many cemeteries in Lancaster County face:

Who will take on this job, and who will pay for it?

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/features/local-cemeteries-face-the-challenge-of-staying-solvent-while-honoring/article_1c3f2cdc-9f2f-11e9-8a04-6376fa66a3f2.html

Presenting ‘the Paris of Pennsylvania’ — on the Susquehanna [The Scribbler] | News | lancasteronline.com

Matt Barley, a Historic Preservation Trust board member, Lancaster architect and coordinator of the upcoming architectural tour, originated the idea.

“It started as a joke,” he admits. “But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that Columbia, on a small scale, has much in common with Paris.”

MORE: 

https://lancasteronline.com/news/presenting-the-paris-of-pennsylvania-on-the-susquehanna-the-scribbler/article_6a37a9d6-9cfb-11e9-a34b-dff19d215b92.html

CBFD gets fire suppression engine, another truck is on the way

The Columbia Borough Fire Department recently received one of the two trucks it ordered last fall –  a fire suppression engine featuring updated controls and equipment, and a state-of-the-art suspension system that provides extra safety for drivers. The other vehicle, a rescue engine is due next week.

The department received significant discounts by purchasing two engines at the same time and using similar designs for both vehicles. The fire suppression engine cost $594,229, and the rescue engine was $715,378. The prices represent a combined savings of over $60,000. Pierce Manufacturing, Inc. manufactured the trucks. The vehicles were purchased with fire department funds.
The department deemed the purchase necessary since its current trucks are aging and becoming increasingly costly to maintain. Those two engines are currently up for sale.
Columbia Spy reported on the purchase of the vehicles HERE. Columbia Spy also reported on the recent purchase of the new fire police vehicle HERE.

CBFD President Mark Fritz explains features of the new truck, more of which are shown below.

Columbia Life Network donates 63 smoke detectors to Columbia Borough Fire Department

 Columbia Borough Fire Department members, along with Jamie Widener, hold some of the smoke detectors that were donated to the department by Columbia Life Network.

The Columbia Life Network donated 63 smoke detectors to the Columbia Borough Fire Department on Wednesday morning. According to Fire Chief Doug Kemmerly, who spoke at a recent Borough Council meeting, CBFD routinely installs detectors in residential homes but was running low. In response, CLN released $1000 from its Fire Fund to purchase the detectors for the fire department, according to CLN Executive Director Jamie Widener.

CLN Executive Director Jamie Widener (left) and CBFD Fire Chief Doug Kemmerly discuss the importance of residential smoke detectors.