About Town

 Recent pics from around Columbia . . . 


Red tail on Heritage Drive

Heritage Drive looking wider and clearer 

This box is alleged to have caused injury this week.

It’s located on the 200 block of Locust, near Hinkle’s.

A headless troll – like many on the internet

Rickety sign on Bank Avenue.
Note the spray-painted “S” before Columbia.
Haters can’t even get their insults straight.

Whackin’ weeds along Front Street

Mafly-covered lamp at River Park

Wannabe

Killdeer on the rail

The sumac has been removed. The mailbox is now visible.

Butts at the clock plaza at 5th & Chestnut

Where’s the other piece? That’s “od.”

Tiger swallowtail

Have a seat – just watch out for that nail.
(South 4th)

This bass drum lost its head and was put out with the trash.

Gas service on the sidewalk, at the edge of a porch.
What could possibly go wrong?

Someone forgot the drop cloth.

Super fan on South 4th

Nittany lion on South 4th

Grassy median in the alley.
Does someone mow this?

Sign on the ground

Inexpensive driver’s side window

Bo Bo’s Tomatoes
(200 block of Union)

Second floor going up at the storage units on Front Street?

Could be . . .

Security camera, out of service

Stars and STRIPS!

Sludge island at River Park

Aloof

CONDEMNED!
(134 North 3rd)

Rollin’ with the baby

The elusive hummingbird moth

Top of the globe

Morning glory in the morning

A new kind of flag?

Another view of the garage on the 600 block of Avenue H that may be turned into storage units.
The zoning hearing for this project has been postponed until September.

Rolling out the sign

The trashman is going to be busy.

Reaching for lunch.

The tasty bugs must be under the railing . . .

. . . and along the side.

Up, up, and away

Close-up

Columbia’s trolley was back in action today (Sunday).

Yellow belly

Hangin’ with the big boys

Join the Amvets.

Here’s the summer schedule.

Vehicles without trailers will be ticketed if they’re in the wrong spaces.

Baby on board

Boss Lady

Sub-sub-compact

Like the sign says

The river was high earlier this week due to heavy rains.

Watch out for the daddy longlegs!

Edwards, Amy – (1) count of Public Drunkenness | Columbia Borough Police Department

On July 30, 2017 at approximately 1:09 pm Franklin Smith of Columbia and Amy Edwards of Columbia were arrested and cited in the 200 Blk of S Fifth Street for Public Drunkenness. Both were staggering on the sidewalk and severely impaired. The call originated as a “check on the welfare.” Both admitted to being under the influence of synthetic marijuana. They were both transported to an area hospital to be evaluated.
MORE:
https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/arrests/edwards-amy-1-count-public-drunkenness

Smith, Franklin – (1) count of Public Drunkenness | Columbia Borough Police Department

On July 30, 2017 at approximately 1:09 pm Franklin Smith of Columbia and Amy Edwards of Columbia were arrested and cited in the 200 Blk of S Fifth Street for Public Drunkenness. Both were staggering on the sidewalk and severely impaired. The call originated as a “check on the welfare.” Both admitted to being under the influence of synthetic marijuana. They were both transported to an area hospital to be evaluated.

MORE:https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/arrests/smith-franklin-1-count-public-drunkenness

Columbia nursing home was under sanctions before evacuation caused by water leak

Problems were reported at a Columbia nursing home in the months preceding an incident last weekend that displaced dozens of residents, state records show.

MORE:

http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/columbia-nursing-home-was-under-sanctions-before-evacuation-caused-by/article_a09d6748-72fc-11e7-9f42-2fc0b4c1a555.html

Columbia's trolley a no-show – but Rivertowne Trolley was back in town

Columbia’s recently purchased Columbia Trolley Works trolley was nowhere to be seen today (no driver available), but the Rivertowne Trolley was back in town. The Rivertowne Trolley, owned by Andre and Kelly Underhill of Marietta, arrived at Columbia Crossing this morning to take several dozen people for a series of private tours around town. The riders were attendees at a birthday party at the Crossing. 
Columbia Borough employed the services of Rivertown Trolley last year before breaking its contract with the company. The borough instead opted to buy its own trolley.

This property is condemned – York-based landlords given notice

The borough codes department recently condemned 134 North Third Street due to an “unlawful structure.” The letter accompanying the posted notice defines an unlawful structure as “A structure which is found to be occupied by more persons than is permitted under this code or which was erected, altered or occupied contrary to law.” 
According to the letter, the rental does not have a certificate of occupancy or rental license.
The owners have 30 days to correct the violations. The full text of the letter is shown in the photograph below. 
The building contains several rentals units. Sources tell Columbia Spy that occupants have regularly been noisy and disruptive.

Old building gets a new life

Once again, Don and Becky Murphy are giving a facelift to the downtown – or at least part of it. The Murphys, through their company Cimarron Investments LLC, have committed to a major renovation of the building at Third and Locust that many Columbians remember as the Jack Horner shoe store. The Murphys plan to put on a new roof, install an elevator, and replace first-floor windows with full-length ones. The building will be renovated inside and out, including existing apartments.  Current occupants will be moved to other units in the building as their apartment comes up for renovation. 
When the project is completed, the Murphys hope it will resemble Eagle Hall, a men’s and boys’ club that once occupied the building. However, existing awning hardware can’t be used, because new windows won’t be compatible. New awnings will be installed at a later date and will resemble the ones at the Marriott Hotel in Lancaster. 
Target date for completion is mid- to late fall of this year, according to Don Murphy. 
 Workers have removed some of the building’s facade, revealing the original steel columns (shown in red).

 Existing hardware from the original awnings was recently exposed by workers.

 A close-up of the awning hardware

 A view from inside. 
These windows on the first floor will be replaced with full-length ones.

 This insert on the building reads: “SWARTZ 1902”

 Workers removed sections of the building facade this week.

 Becky Murphy (in pink shirt) looks over the project.

 Recently removed awning hardware

 Leftovers after hardware was removed.

Exposed areas were covered with plastic on Friday to protect them against rain. The track near the middle of the photo is nearly bare since hardware was removed.

Can Lancaster County, with a half-million people, be considered rural?