Columbia Borough is looking for Building Professionals to Serve on the Columbia Borough Board of Appeals

The Borough will be selecting five individuals with experience and training on matters pertaining to property maintenance (i.e., General Contractors, HVAC Technicians, Electricians, Plumbers, Historic Renovation Specialists, Property Managers, or Landlords) to fill vacancies within the Columbia Borough Board of Review and Appeals. 

The Board will hear appeals from residents regarding property maintenance matters, including violations of existing Borough Ordinances. 
Should you be interested in serving on the Board please forward your interest in a letter or email to Rebecca S. Denlinger, Borough Manager, at rdenlinger@columbiapa.net not later than Wednesday, September 5, 2018.

RETAIL THEFT – 800 Block of Lancaster Avenue | Columbia Borough Police Department

On 8/13/18 at approximately 8:47pm the Columbia Borough Police Department was dispatched to the 800 Block of Lancaster Avenue for a theft that had just occurred.  The caller stated that a black, heavy-set female wearing a black shirt, jean shorts, a scarf around her head, and large hoop earrings grabbed a tobacco product and ran.  Anyone with information regarding this theft or the identity of the females in the pictures should contact the Columbia Borough Police Department at 717-684-7735 or text LANCS to 847411.  Note:  All parties are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Date: 

Monday, August 13, 2018

Case Status:

Case Type:

Case Region:

https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/cases/retail-theft-800-block-lancaster-avenue

THEFT OF PACKAGE | Columbia Borough Police Department

On 8/18/18 at approximately 9:23am the Columbia Borough Police Department was dispatched to the 100 Block of S. Third Street for a theft of a package.  The caller stated that according to the Post Office a package was delivered to her residence on 8/17/18 at approximately 2:40pm and that the package is missing.  Anyone with information regarding this missing package should contact the Columbia Borough Police Department at 717-684-7735 or text LANCS to 847411.
Date: 

Saturday, August 18, 2018

Case Status:

Case Type:

Case Region:

https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/cases/theft-package

OVERDOSE – 100 Block of South Ninth Street | Columbia Borough Police Department

On 8/14/18 at approximately 5:10pm the Columbia Borough Police Department responded to the 100 Block of South Ninth Street for a reported unconscious person.  Upon arrival the Officer found a 24 year old Female Columbia Resident unconscious.  Narcan was administered and the female was transported to a local hospital.

Date: 

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Case Status:

Case Type:

Case Region:

https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/cases/overdose-100-block-south-ninth-street

Columbia woman arrested by Manheim Township Police for disorderly conduct

Disorderly Conduct Arrest, 12:47 p.m., Thursday, July 26, 2018, 1416 Lititz Pike – Firestone (MT) – Paige Mary Miller, F/20, of Columbia, PA, was charged with the above offense after she entered the store and caused a disturbance.  Miller was observed yelling and swearing.  Miller was ordered to stop yelling and continued; she was arrested.  While being escorted to the police vehicle, she continued to scream and kicked the patrol vehicle door.  A criminal complaint was filed.

MEDIA CONTACT: Sergeant Michael T. Piacentino, W: 717-569-6401 Ext: 1583, C: 717-340-2130, piacentm@police.co.lancaster.pa.us

Arrest Date: 

Sunday, August 19, 2018

Case Number: 

MT-18-02282

Source: 

Manheim Township Police Department

https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/manheimtwppd/53783/arrests/miller-paige-mary-1-count-misdemeanor-disorderly-conduct

Fat Cat Fishing Tournament CANCELED

The Directors have decided to cancel the upcoming fishing tournament “Catch the Fat Cat” on Saturday, August 25th from 3 PM – 12 AM in the Columbia River Park. This is due to the uncertainty of water flow, weather and possible contaminants in the Susquehanna River. Safety of all boaters and shore fisherman is our priority for a successful tournament.

We thank you for your support and hope to have a successful event in 2019.

About Town

This week’s photos from around Columbia…
 Keeping watch

Black-eyed Susans at Columbia River Park

 Bathed in heavenly light – a pic from last week’s baptism

 Here’s another one.

 During the baptism, this plane flew over…

…trailing this message in seeming mockery of the ceremony.

 Some folks would call this a “tree RAT.”

And here’s a RAT snake from Thursday’s reptile show…hmmmm…

 Let’s try this again. This collection box was recently placed on Front Street near the Veterans Memorial Bridge. The one that was stationed at the Columbia Plaza a month or so again attracted all manner of trash and used furniture and had to be removed.

Here’s another one – in the parking lot of Little’s Beverage.
A pink chimney? Well, why not?

 More inane graffiti…Looks like the “artist’s” name is D…something…D…DIMWIT, that’s it! 

 A rock of inspiration down by the bridge

 Ethereal paws reaching out of (or into?) the void

A backyard

 Working hard or hardly working?

 Town crier

 Another reason to quit smoking – It makes you too lazy to properly dispose of your empty pack.

 A Canada Goose narrowly avoided a wooden crate as debris floated down the river earlier this week.

 That’s one way to haul your blocks.

 Date plaque at Poplar Street School
Manor School’s says 1896.
 Trash, over and above

 Digging a hole on Route 462 to repair a broken water pipe

 Second-story door to nowhere

 In the words of Buzz Aldrin: “Magnificent desolation”

Some residents on the 500 block of Walnut have to walk the plank to get to their front door.
No safety hazard here

 The Edible Classroom looking edible

 Quite a yield over at Park School


*****

 Diggin’ it on the 400 block of Locust

 This painting project at the Haitian Maranatha Church on the 200 block of Locust is on hold for now.
 Sweeping up or stirring up on Commerce Street?

 More of the same

 Lights were installed at the parking lot next to Commerce this week.
 Here they are.

They’re similar to the ones elsewhere around town.

The elusive American Goldfinch CAPTURED! (momentarily)

 Walking the trail

 A sinkhole beginning to sink?

 Right off Avenue I

 Sittin’ on a post, watchin’ the day pass by

 Soon to be gone: what’s left of a tree at Mount Bethel

 Down on North 2nd: This has been here for over a week.

The sign at River Park states that this parking area is for vehicles with trailers only. Just look at all those vehicles with trailers NOT PARKED THERE…

*****

River rescue

The mural at Eastern Drillers continues to expand.

Here’s another view.

Racers for Trump?
Today, Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani said, “Truth isn’t truth.” So apparently it’s a race to the bottom.

 Bald eagle on a Civil War bridge pier this morning . . .

*****

 Nature’s abstract – mud on the steps of the kayak launch area at River Park

 Vintage T-bird parked at the Watch & Clock Museum

Kind of retro-futuristic

 Here’s another vehicle – a hearse – for sale . . .

Last week at the library: reptiles and a dedication

Herpetologist Jesse Rothacker finished out the Columbia Public Library’s summer reading program series with “Rockin’ Reptiles” Thursday evening – to the delight of children and adults. Rothacker, the founder of Forgotten Friend Reptile Sanctuary, presented a variety of reptiles – snakes, lizards, crocidilians, and a tortoise named “Abraham” – to onlookers in Locust Street Park. Children were permitted to handle and touch some of the animals. 
A volunteer handles a snake.

Rothacker’s son Kenny wears a snake.

And so does Dad.

A green iguana has its eye(s) on some grapes.

Kids give the show a thumbs-up.

Kenny holds a baby alligator.

There’s no shortage of volunteers.

Lisa Greybill, the library’s executive director, helps out with a snake.


Kids touch a snake, here and below…

Abraham the tortoise dines on grass.

*****

It was a busy week for the library. Besides hosting several events, staff and volunteers held a dedication ceremony on Sunday in Locust Street Park. Attendees included board members, architects, and state, county, and local officials, and residents.

Melanie Cruz-Bernard sang the National Anthem. She is shown here flanked by Lancaster County Commissioner Craig Lehman (left), PA Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera, and Lancaster County Commissioner Joshua Parsons.

Pioneer Girls led the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Several dozen attended the dedication. 

Pedro Rivera offered remarks…

as did Ed Wickenheiser…

Mayor Leo Lutz…

Craig Lehman…

and Representative Stan Saylor…

as attendees listened.

Speakers offered remarks from the gazebo.

Pioneer Girls watched and listened from the sidewalk.

Pedro Rivera spoke with some of them after the ceremony.

CPL Board President Jeanette Shirk and Board Treasurer Gregg Dubbs cut the ribbon. 


Guests toured the renovated library afterwards. 

Guests got to see new computers…

new furniture…

a bust of Columbia poet and painter Lloyd Mifflin…

and lots of books.

Lisa Greybill, the library’s executive director, was pleased with the renovations. 

The director’s new office space…

and a view of the outside.

The basement held more shelves…

and a reading/meeting area.

What happened to our streets? (A Friday morning walk through town)

Recent excavation on our streets has left an ugly assortment of patches, seams, and steel plates. Although some of the work has been completed, excavating is still going on. UGI and its subcontractors, and the Columbia Water Company are the worst offenders. Over the past few weeks, some areas of town were virtually impassable due to lack of planning and overlapping projects. At this point, it’s unclear if flowable fill has been used after excavation. It’s also unclear who will repave the streets once all projects are finished, or if anyone in the borough is overseeing any of this. 
Following are a few of the streets we saw this morning.
North 5th Street near Walnut

The 500 block of Walnut

The 200 block of South 8th Street

On Wright Street looking towards South 8th

Along South 9th Street

South 9th Street

South 9th Street
South 9th and Mifflin

South 9th

South 9th Street and Ridge Avenue

South 9th
800 block of Locust

800 block of Chestnut

800 block of Chestnut