A green heron goes fishing at River Park, is challenged briefly by a great blue

Columbia Spy recently caught the following photos of a green heron fishing for minnows along the shore of the Susquehanna at Columbia River Park. The bird was briefly challenged by a great blue heron that flew by and bellowed at it. The great blue alighted a short distance away and watched as the green heron apparently invaded its territory. The great blue seemed a bit intimidated by the photographer, whereas the green was almost oblivious as it continued to spear minnows with its beak in quick, deft strokes.
This green heron was sitting alongshore recently at Columbia River Park.

It seemed to be surveying its prospects for a fish dinner.

It high-stepped along the shoreline, looking for a suitable spot.

 As it walked, it had to avoid twigs, leaves, and other debris.

 A great blue heron, a frequent visitor to this part of the river, bellowed from a short distance away as it flew by.

 It then landed a little further down along the shoreline and watched the interloper in its territory.

Undaunted, the green heron stayed focused on its goal.

Using stealth…

 …it closed in on its prey.

Got one!

Encouraged by its success, it crept onward.

The bird was briefly alarmed by something…

…but adhered to its mission…

…and was rewarded once again for its efforts…

…but almost lost the prize.

It attacked once again with accuracy…

…and speared another hapless victim.

Canoemobile crew packs up 400-pound canoes after a day of river outings at Columbia River Park

Crew members carry a 400-pound canoe up the steps at Columbia River Park last Monday.

p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica}
Columbia Spy came across the canoemobile – or rather several canoemobiles – being “packed up” at Columbia River Park Monday afternoon. The crew had just finished a day of boat rides on the Susquehanna with 5th graders from Columbia School District and Eastern York School District, and with other interested visitors. Seven crew members from the Wilderness Inquiry hoisted the six canoes, one at a time, onto a waiting trailer. Each canoe weighs about 400 pounds and is made of cedar strips, fiberglass, and Kevlar by a boatwright in St. Paul, Minnesota, the group’s home base. 
According to the group’s literature: 

“The Wilderness Inquiry Canoemobile is a roving fleet of 24-foot, 10-passenger Voyageur canoes that travels the country to connect people to their local waterways and the great outdoors.”

As part of its 17-city national tour, the Canoemobile stopped over in Columbia last Monday and Tuesday to offer the outings. The event was sponsored by the National Park Conservation Association in partnership with the National Park Service Chesapeake office.

For more information on the Canoemobile, go here: https://www.wildernessinquiry.org/programs/canoemobile/

A trailer carrying the canoes was hitched to the Wilderness Inquiry van.

The crew carried several 24-foot canoes, like the one shown above, to a waiting trailer.

Each canoe was pulled from the water and then onto a dock.

Here is one of the canoes, awaiting transport.

The crew flipped each canoe after it was pulled from the river to facilitate loading.

After loading, each canoe was secured onto the trailer.

Crew members ably negotiated steps while carrying the heavy boats.
The Wilderness Inquiry van with trailer in tow.

The canoes alone will weigh a total of about 2400 pounds when loaded.

Almost done

One more to go

And here’s the last one being carried up the boat ramp, while an interested spectator (far left) watches.

Mission: Almost Accomplished!

The mission is almost accomplished. Joanna Spicer hopes to complete her mural at Locust Street Park by the end of this weekend. Aided today by her mother – and some favorable weather – she worked for several hours daubing paint onto two more of the military emblems – navy and air force.
A source associated with the project tells the Spy that a small ceremony to mark the mural’s completion will be held at a future date, and lighting will eventually be installed to illuminate the work.
More information on the mural project can be found HERE, HERE, and HERE.

Pumpkin Painting at Columbia Crossing Saturday, October 21

Fall fun for the whole family! Unleash your creativity and paint a pumpkin to take home and celebrate fall on the river. We’ll have all the pumpkins, paint, glitter and supplies you need to get creative!

This event is for all ages. Drop in anytime from 11-3, while supplies and pumpkins last. Suggested donation of $2 per person.

Columbia resident runs for school board as write-in candidate

Hello, my name is Rebecca Young and I am running for a seat on the Columbia Borough School District School Board. I have served and volunteer in our community for over 20 years. From coaching our youth in CBAA Cheerleading to being a Youth Pastor that helped impart over 52 teens and I’m still connected with many of them as adults with families of their own.

Why run now for our School Board? I believe that a school board must be responsive and receptive to parents, staff, students and the community at large, encouraging an open dialog. I believe being a part of that board impels us to take input from all groups and weigh all the facts before making a decision.

A Board member is a trustee of the community that elects him or her. We must be an extension from the school to the community and be willing to collaborate with all members of the community. A school board member must build public understanding, support and participation.

What are my commitments? My commitments are to be a board member that will center on serving all of the children in the community, where no one child is more important than another. We are a diverse community and I want to celebrate that diversity. Our schools are here to serve the educational needs of all the children. Our children/teens are too vital in our community to not give them our all to be successful individuals who will be excited to give back to their community.

As a mother of four children, I learned firsthand how powerful good schools are in nurturing and supporting students. Having a child with ADHD and High Functioning Autism has shown having that support is second to none. Good schools are more about students who feel accepted, safe and know they are important to all of us than just numbers.

At the same time I recognize the need to balance the demands of our future generation with the challenges of our elderly generation. Our elderly have worked hard in their lives, given time, money, and wisdom to us all. Their challenges need to be answered as well. I will weigh every decision against this balance. I promise!

No doubt that there are many challenges facing the Columbia Borough School District and our community as a whole. Instead of standing on the sideline and simply critiquing the decisions that are made, I am choosing to be part of the solution. 
I would be honored with the opportunity to serve the taxpayers of this borough by working with the community, business owners, and administration in finding the resources we need to meet our financial and academic challenges. By listening to all of you, I firmly believe that change can happen in Columbia. For this reason, I am asking for your support and votes because IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE! 
Get out and vote for this change by writing in REBECCA YOUNG for BOTH the two-year AND four-year school board seats. 
Thank you for your valuable time!

Susquehanna water shuttle would link Lancaster, York counties by boat

As early as next summer, a public water shuttle could be carrying visitors across the Susquehanna River between Columbia and Long Level in York County.
If successful, the shuttle — probably using pontoon boats — could be expanded to transport visitors between Columbia and Wrightsville, and on a longer loop to include the Blue Rock Heritage Center in Washington Boro.
MORE:

http://lancasteronline.com/insider/susquehanna-water-shuttle-would-link-lancaster-york-counties-by-boat/article_6352800e-b4ff-11e7-902d-cf9f77f83dbf.html

PA Education Department Farm-to-School Grant Inspires Healthy Eating, Supports Pennsylvania

Students at Park Elementary School in Columbia BoroughSchool District are expanding their palate and taste buds with locally grown produce thanks to a farm-to-school mini-grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).
MORE:

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pa-education-department-farm-to-school-grant-inspires-healthy-eating-supports-pennsylvania-agriculture-300538898.html

Murphy agrees to acquire Hinkle’s Restaurant – Restaurant to remain open!

Columbia, PA, October 18, 2017   

Local Real Estate Investor and developer Don Murphy and his wife Becky have agreed to purchase the restaurant and real estate from the Hinkle Family for an undisclosed price.   The Murphy’s, through their company, Cimarron Investments already own several landmark historic buildings in downtown Columbia.  
Mr. Murphy said he began discussions with the Hinkle Family immediately after they announced earlier this month that they were closing their pharmacy and restaurant located at 261 Locust Street.  “We have been working diligently to structure a deal to keep the iconic restaurant intact and retain as many of the amazing dedicated employees as possible” says Mr. Murphy.  The Murphy’s have retained two long time managers/chefs of the restaurant, Mr. John Sipe and Ms. Robin Ortman as proprietors of the restaurant.  Sipe and Ortman have established their own business whereas they will lease the restaurant from the Murphy’s. The Murphy’s also acquired the name “Hinkle’s Restaurant” as they felt it was extremely important to carry on the legacy of the Hinkle’s brand that so many locals and visitors to downtown Columbia have come to recognize over their 124 years of operation.  
The current business will close as planned on October 25th for a transitioning period of four days and reopen at 7:00am, Monday, October 30th.  Mr. Murphy said his future plans are to renovate the restaurant, expand the kitchen and increase seating by adding additional dining space.  Current catering services are planned to be expanded as well.  He also hopes that this latest acquisition will help enhance the downtown and that maintaining this location is a key element in the revitalization of Columbia.

Highway department adds crossing lines at busy intersection

The Columbia Borough Highway Department painted two sets of crossing lines at the intersection of North 5th and Chestnut Streets today. One set spans Chestnut, from the clock plaza to the opposing sidewalk, running north and south. The other set runs east and west across North 5th. Previously, no crossing lines existed at the intersection.

Thanks Highway Department!