UPDATE: 509 Locust Street – Who's responsible?

High grass and weeds at 509 Locust Street were cut today.

Yesterday, Columbia Spy posted reader-submitted photos of the property at 509 Locust Street showing high grass and weeds – possible code violations. Today, that situation has been rectified; as can be seen in the photo above, the grass and weeds have been cut. Our previous article may have implied that responsibility for maintenance of the property lies with the borough. To set the record straight, we are posting the following additional information:

According to Borough Manager Greg Sahd, Borough Council approved the Agreement/Addendum for the sale of Real Estate between Columbia Borough and the Columbia Economic Development Corp., CEDC, for 509 Locust Street. As of May 13, 2016, CEDC is responsible for the marketing and eventual sale (with Borough approval) of this property to a third party purchaser by January 1, 2017. Further, item number 8 of the Addendum reads, “CEDC agrees that it is purchasing the Property “as is” and that the Borough of Columbia shall have no obligation to correct any code violations or perform any maintenance of the Property.” [italics ours]

Sahd expects the property to soon be in presentable form, both for the public and for prospective buyers, sometime in the coming months.

The sale agreement and addendum are presented HERE, though the reader may have difficulty wading through the incomprehensible and interminable legalese.

Music in the Park coming to 4th Fridays in Columbia

The Columbia Lions Club announces a Music in the Park program to complement Fourth Fridays in Columbia, Marietta & Wrightsville during the summer months of 2016. Columbia’s Locust Street Park will be the venue for this special summer entertainment. The free concerts will be staged from the park’s gazebo from 6:30 to 8:00 pm.  Family-friendly programming will appeal to all age groups.  The scheduled entertainment is listed below.
June 24 – The Fabulous Cheeze Brothers & Sisters have been local favorites for over 25 years! Their music, mostly R & B, Motown and Disco/Funk from the 1960s through the 1980s, appeals to all ages, and they also mix in a few of today’s super hits, like Happy (Pharrel Williams) and Uptown Funk(Bruno Mars). The 8 professional members of the band each excel on their instruments and as vocalists, and the band features 2 fantastic lead singers, Patti Grabowski and Columbia icon, Nippy Hawkins. You can also see The Cheeze Brothers & Sisters appearing regularly at Nissley’s Vineyards, the Mountville Church of the Brethren Lawn Concerts, the Columbia Lions Club Sweethearts Dance and the Mountville Days Festival.

July 22 – Columbia’s own Stu Huggens will bring his brand of country music to the Columbia Park on Friday, July 22, in support of his new CD, “Same Man Different Time” on Lanark  Records. Stu’s band includes Jimmy Landis on guitar & vocals, and Columbia music stalwarts, Jamie Hess on drums & vocals, George Keyser on bass & vocals, and Lee Derstler on pedal steel & vocals.

August 26 – Made up of veterans of the local music scene, Underground Hotel has spent the past 13 years establishing itself as the area’s premier classic rock cover band.  Their tight, powerful sound will have you dancing and singing along with your favorite songs from the 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond.  Band members include Kevin Newcomer (Vocals), Syd Bridgett (Guitar, Vocals), Bill Swingler (Drums), Mark Smith (Keys, Guitar, Vocals) and Ricky Bender (Bass).  The band calls Columbia home.

Bring your lawn chairs or favorite blanket to Columbia’s Locust Street Park to enjoy the 2016 summer Music in the Park series. Dance on the sidewalks or simply listen and enjoy.  A limited number of food vendors will be on hand each month and may differ month to month. Guests are also welcome to pack a picnic lunch but all are reminded that alcohol is not permitted in the park and that all debris must be cleaned up.
This programming is brought to you by the Columbia Lions Club and Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce. In case of rain, the programming will be canceled.

UPDATE: Vehicle accident at Lancaster Avenue & Cherry

A 73-year-old woman hit and killed by a vehicle on Sunday has been identified as Fay Hogentogler of Columbia. She was hit by a pickup truck as she crossed the street towards Locust Street Park shortly after noon near the intersection of Cherry Street and Lancaster Avenue. Paramedics administered aid at the scene, and she was then transported by EMS to Lancaster General Hospital where she died of her injuries.

According to Columbia Borough Police, the 58-year-old female driver of the Dodge Dakota Sport pickup stayed at the scene and cooperated with police. She is not suspected of being under the influence of any intoxicating substance. There will be no comment on any potential charges against the driver until the ongoing investigation/reconstruction is completed. Any witnesses are asked to contact Detective Matthew Leddy at 717-684-7735 ext. 7210 or Sgt. Sam Stein at 717-684-7735..

There is no place in Pennsylvania where you can make minimum wage and afford a two-bedroom apartment

Many people make more than the minimum wage — which is $7.25, currently in Pennsylvania — however, even at the state average wage, affordable housing is out of reach for many. 

The average wage needed to afford a two-bedroom apartment in Pennsylvania is $18.27. The average wage in Pennsylvania is $13.80. 

MORE:
http://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/05/there_is_no_place_in_pennsylva.html?ath=7fa8ef6e7c411bcb0867e0a4fb88ba35#cmpid=nsltr_herostrybutton_single

About Town

Recent pics about town . . .

This helicopter with a dangling cable has been flying around the area lately.

Columbia Park Rangers spruced up the plaza area across from Rotary Park last week.

 Bicycle built for two plus one.

Bicycle icons were spray-painted at Columbia River Park and on the sidewalk along Route 441 Thursday morning.

The icons mark the route to and from the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail.

The icons continue along the sidewalk towards Bridge Street.

“The Little Trolley That Could” chuggin’ over the tracks.

 New informational sign at Columbia Crossing
Pigeon with an aura

Parochial school advertising on public school property?

Bricking it up at Second and Locust
Interesting that this symbol is being displayed a few hundred feet from where the bridge was burned.

One of the many “ghost signs” around town of industries from years past. The link HERE claims the building was the home of the Columbia Laundry Machinery Company, but the first word is hard to see, because another word appears to be superimposed on it. One appears to be “SUPERIOR,” in which case the sign would read “SUPERIOR LAUNDRY MACHINERY.” The word at the top, near the peak, looks like “KEYSTONE.”

A few steps down the street at Bootleg Antiques, another ghost sign is being revived.
A few days later, as painting progressed, the sign looked like this.

As with the previous sign, the first word isn’t legible.

 Missing finial on one of the bridge lights

 Seen on the bridge today – a precursor to invasion?

Train speeding by, inches from the walkway near Front and Walnut. Nothing separates the walkway from the train, except a soft cushion of air: no railing, no fence.

 Newfangled TV antenna?
 Pondering death.
Do catbirds get nine lives?

 Penthouse nest

 Yield – just don’t read the footnote.

 Antiques . . . 1.5 miles? Where would that be?
Is this sign even legal?
 Here’s the back of the same sign, professionally attached.

No, that’s not a billboard outside Hinkle’s Restaurant. Well, actually, it is –  a moving one, called a 55-foot trailer.
Time for a scratch

Or time for the flea spray?

Broken cycle