Colonial Metals: Activity but no statement

 Columbia Spy spotted these two gentlemen on Linden Street this morning. They entered the Colonial Metals building. 

 Their vehicle carried an Ohio license plate.

 Minutes later, they left the building, accompanied by the man in the black tee shirt, and walked towards the employee parking lot. The Spy approached and asked if the company was going to make a statement. One of the men (shown above in the middle) said he doesn’t work for the company.

They crossed the parking lot and entered the building near Third and Maple.

Columbia to get pizza restaurant/brew pub at old firehouse

The former firehouse at 27-29 N. 4th Street

After months of apparent dormancy, a firehouse restaurant/brew pub project is in the offing for Columbia after all. Columbia Spy has obtained information indicating that plans for a pizza restaurant/brew pub are currently underway for the former Keystone Firehouse at 27-29 North Fourth Street. Tentatively named “The 1898 Firehouse,” the 3,000 square-foot establishment will feature a dining area with 11 tables, a pizza station with a pizza oven and 6-seat counter, and a brewing area with 8-seat bar.

At its June meeting, Columbia’s Historical Architectural Review Board approved alterations to the building for changes to the existing garage door. Restaurant signage was also discussed.

The lease agreement for the property is with Toss Dough LLC, a Marietta-based limited-liability company organized last year by Stacey Vonstein. Shawn and Lisa Loucks are listed as owners.

According to real estate company Bennett Williams, the 1898 building has a total of 9,000 square feet, with a 3,000-foot 3-bedroom loft apartment on the second floor.

The building previously housed the Keystone Fire Company (formerly Keystone Hook & Ladder) until 2000, when it merged with the Vigilant and Shawnee Fire companies to form the Columbia Consolidated Fire Department, now defunct.

The firehouse as it appeared in bygone days

Columbia, Lancaster city tracts designated as qualified opportunity zones

The tracts — two in Columbia and four in Lancaster city — were recently designated as qualified opportunity zones.
The designation allows incentives for investors to develop assets in economically distressed communities by providing cuts on their capital gains tax after the assets are owned for a certain number of years.
MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/columbia-lancaster-city-tracts-designated-as-qualified-opportunity-zones/article_fe5fbf10-74b9-11e8-9e5f-8f38d171b2e6.html

About Town

This week’s photos from around Columbia…
(Tap/click on each photo for a larger, sharper image.)

 Officer Holly Oster on Sunday morning bike patrol…

 …with a new, fully equipped bike.

 And fully licensed – 
Bike licenses can be obtained at the police station for a nominal charge.

 Time for a little reading

 Wiping the meters…

 Wait…what?
Wiping the meters?!

New sheriff in town – well, a sheriff anyway

 The K-9 car

 Two out of three of these need to go.
Is anyone keeping track of our signage?

Speaking of signage, here’s the Stump Avenue sign, possibly made from…a stump. What else?

 Three churches

 Parking project proceeds

 Progress progresses at 208-210 Locust

Dungin’ out

 At K&A Event Planning & Party Rental LLC on the first block of North Fourth

 Here’s a parking enforcement officer, with a No Parking sign right between the eyes.

A look upriver, with atmospheric perspective that would be the envy of Lloyd Mifflin

There’s Lloyd now, next to the historic society.
And there’s the historic society, under the river.
 Abandoned nest

 Monarch on throne

 Once again

 The large number of mayflies supposedly indicates a healthy river, but you probably don’t want to go swimming in it.

Close up

 Parking for Right Coast Recording

 Who?

 Coming soon: Andy’s Market on Ironville Pike

 Tree fire!
Nah, just clouds in the background

 Reputed to be the name behind Purple’s Lane

 Wild turkey – the bird, not the bourbon
 Some young ‘uns

 Out for a walk with the kids

 Off they go.

 Battening down the hatches – or at least the tarp

It’s always good to carry a few spares.
Sunday afternoon rainbow
Primary and secondary
 A reader sent us this recent photo (and the next one) of a retention basin just off Cloverton Drive, which is not draining properly.

The problem is similar to that of other residents in that area, which Columbia Spy reported on HERE.
The borough needs to step up and own this and fix the problem for these taxpaying citizens.
Another reader sent us this photo of Concord Avenue. Wow!
The same reader also sent us this photo of the Old Town Hall at Third & Locust.

An Open Letter to Columbia Spy

Residents fed bullshit soup and they ate it all up:

At tonight’s Community Development Committee meeting, Cleon Berntheizel criticized “media” reporting about the requested $650,000 hotel grant.

He blamed the media for its reporting on the issue.  What WAS reported, was clearly said at the May Finance Committee Meeting.  There was NO confusion about the grant request.

The grant was in fact requested by Cimmaron properties at the May Finance Committee Meeting.  In fact, Mr. Don Murphy clearly said that the project would not move forward without the grant, as I recall, his words were, it would be “dead in the water.” At that time the committee voted to pass it on to full council.  It was in fact printed on the final June borough council meeting agenda.  It was tabled after the final agenda was printed.
The attorney should have reviewed this first before it ever went to council.  In fact, the committee members should have known the answer and said it cannot be done.  Then and there…over.  The committee is responsible for upsetting residents, not the media.
At the Community Development Meeting tonight, Janice Nikoloff (CEDC) took to the podium in support of the hotel project.  She said that she doesn’t like hearing people say “Not on my dime,” which was directed at Sharon Lintner.  Problem being, it never will be on “Nikoloff’s dime” because she does not live in Columbia.  She does not pay taxes here, we pay her salary.  
Cleon Berntheizel passionately supports the hotel.  Trouble again, Cleon is currently on the delinquent tax list as of June 12, 2018 for $3,291.55. (for 2017).  His name also appears on the borough’s open invoice list as of April 30, 2018 as owing $1,975.00,  due date was 08/15/2013.
I’m sick of people that aren’t spending “their dime” telling me to be happy with the way they want to spend mine. 
I’m not hiding behind anonymous, my name is SHARON LINTNER and I’m not eating the bullshit soup.

Lewis, Hyson Dametri – Possession With Intent To Deliver and 3 additional charges | Columbia Borough Police Department

Hyson Dametri Lewis
On 06-11-18 at approx. 7:22PM the Columbia Borough Police were called about a suspicious activity complaint in the 600 blk. of Chestnut St. An officer was advised that a female was forced into a vehicle and driven away. The female was located in Manor Twp. a short time later. Officers from East Hempfield Twp. and Manor Twp. located the suspect near the area of the victim and the male attempted to run from them. The male was identified as Hyson Lewis (28) with no current address. Lewis was also wanted on a warrant by state parole and taken to Lancaster County Prison by Manor Twp. police department. Lewis was found to be in possession of approx. 86 grams of marijuana and numerous items of drug paraphernalia and $300.00. Lewis was later transferred to Camp Hill State Prison. Lewis was charged with 1 count of Possession With Intent to Deliver, 1 count of Possession of Marijuana, 1 count of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and 1 count of Unlawful restraint.

Arrest Date: 

Monday, June 11, 2018

Case Number: 

13561-06-11-18

Source: 

Columbia Borough Police Department

https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/arrests/lewis-hyson-dametri-possession-intent-deliver-and-3-additional-charges

Three Columbia parks might get "facelifts"

Three of the six parks in Columbia Borough might get facelifts in the near future thanks to a study currently underway. Council voted unanimously last month in favor of undertaking a study of Makle Park, Rotary Park, and Janson Park in order to develop a comprehensive plan. The $67,000 study is being carried out by the landscape design firm Yost, Strodoski, and Mears (YSM) and will include initial surveys for each park.

At the May borough council meeting, Pam Williams, chair of the borough’s Parks & Recreation Committee, said the completed plan will allow the borough to apply for grants for further development. “In order to apply for grants, we do need the information, to be successful,” she said. Williams added that there will be opportunities for public input to the plan, also. Borough Manager Rebecca Denlinger said a survey similar to one for the Columbia River Park Phase III will be made available to residents. Council President Kelly Murphy said the study will help determine what needs to be improved and added, and what programs will be provided for children and adults of all ages.

On the June 14, 2018 Parks & Recreation agenda, a “kick-off” presentation by Ann Yost of YSM was listed. The presentation was to provide an overview of YSM’s plan and procedure for Rotary Park, Makle Park, and Janson Park.

Currently, the Borough of Columbia owns Makle Park and Rotary Park. Janson Park is run by a foundation affiliated with Holy Trinity Church.

Other parks in the borough, but not included in the study, are:

Glatfelter Memorial Field, run by the Glatfelter Foundation.

Locust Street Park, owned by the Old Columbia Public Grounds Company but leased by the borough for a token fee to allow police to have enforcement powers in the park. The Grounds Company is responsible for park maintenance.

Columbia River Park, From the Columbia Borough website: “The Borough of Columbia, under a 99-year lease with the Old Columbia Public Grounds Company, is responsible along with the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PAF&BC) for the management and maintenance of an approximate four acre parcel known as Columbia River Park.”

Glatfelter Memorial Field

Locust Street Park

Columbia River Park
The Old Columbia Grounds Company