Columbia Spy

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!

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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).

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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.

Columbia is on track to become the first municipality in Lancaster County to zone for medical marijuana businesses since Pennsylvania legalized medical marijuana last year.

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Applause and cheers greeted each person arrested. Construction workers watched the entire time and immediately began work after the last arrest.

Police from West Hempfield, Columbia Borough, Manor Township, and Southern Regional were among those present, as were federal marshals.

Protesters who were not arrested met at the nearby chapel to discuss their next action.

Within half an hour after the last arrest, the chain link construction fence was already partially erected.

In July of this year, a federal judge ruled that the Williams Partners can condemn the land. The pipeline project was subsequently given the green light to proceed.