In our area . . .

A few recent events:

Emergency crews responded to Plane and Manor Streets yesterday for a report of a person lying on the sidewalk. Personnel found a man lying there who appeared to be disoriented and possibly intoxicated. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance.

                (Photos by Angel Rodriguez)

A passerby found what appeared to be a bag containing hypodermic needles yesterday afternoon in the Shawnee Run on Mill Street. This find might be one more bit of evidence of the reported heroin epidemic  in Lancaster County. To help combat the problem, a community conversation on heroin abuse is scheduled for Tuesday, June 7, at 7 p.m. at the Columbia Jr/Sr High School.

                (Photos by Angel Rodriguez)

A female motorist was injured when her minivan struck a utility pole and caught fire shortly after 7:30 Friday morning. The accident occurred on Route 441, between the Plane Street tunnel and the culvert near Blue Lane. The driver was reportedly taken to a local hospital by ambulance.

The trail is closed for paving – or is it?

According to several official sources, the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail was to have been closed from the Wrights Ferry Bridge to a point in Marietta for paving, as of last Wednesday, May 11. However, the trail has been open, unpaved, for the last few days, including today, Sunday, with no sign of paving equipment at either end – Columbia or Marietta. Many visitors having been taking advantage of the open, unpaved, trail.

This town is for the birds

Abundant wildlife thrives in our humble hamlet, among which is a great variety of bird species of many shapes and sizes. Most of the following photos were shot this weekend:
 Smug starling with mouthful of mayflies

 Yes, the Canada Geese are back at River Park.  
Watch your step!

 Six-pack

 This bluebird took up temporary residence in one of the young bald cypress trees at Columbia River Park.

 He glared at the camera.

 And then turned his back.

 Then glared again from atop a sign, looking crabby.
Apparently, the bluebird of happiness was having a bad day.

 Some sort of shorebird – along the shore, of all places

 Catbird

 Lawbreaker

 Osprey on the hunt 

 Dive!

 Onward and downward!

 Splashdown!

 Unfortunately for him, it was a near miss.

 Back at it

 A little later, a great blue heron flew over.

 These two vied for control of the skies.

 Red-tailed hawk

 Another shot

 Bird on a wire – a male blue jay

 The early bird gets the worm, and the early worm becomes breakfast.

 Pigeon in a puddle

Later that afternoon, the osprey’s efforts paid off. He was carrying a hapless bass (or some other kind of sunfish) over the river.
(This photo was shot through the windshield of a moving car with a point and shoot.)

About Town

Recent photos from around town . . .
Complaining to management

On hold

Domicile deconstruction after last fall’s fire

Removing damaged beams from the November 4, 2015 blaze that engulfed several row homes on the 300 block of Walnut Street.

Rolling out the roof Salem United Church of Christ, 324 Walnut Street

Weighted down

What was that number again?

The recently planted bald cypress trees are doing well at Columbia River Park.

Fishing lesson

Summer Art Camp planned for Columbia

The Susquehanna Center for the Creative Arts, in collaboration with Columbia Borough, will offer a Summer Art Camp for ages 8 to 18 beginning Monday, June 13.

At its April 11 meeting, Columbia Borough Council voted to allocate $3,900 to fund the program.

MORE:
http://lancasteronline.com/news/community/summer-art-camp-planned-for-columbia/article_bd2ffa54-1567-11e6-bc32-27fb80d17900.html

Borough moves forward on impaired Locust Street building

208-210 Locust Street

Columbia Borough recently filed a blighted property application with the Lancaster County Housing and Redevelopment Authorities (LCHRA) to place 208-210 Locust Street on a blighted property list. (The building’s front wall was deemed in danger of collapse last summer, and steps were taken to secure it.)  The process requires LCHRA to receive certification from the Lancaster County Planning Commission (LCPC). LCPC recently approved moving forward with the certification. The Columbia Borough Planning Commission must also act on the issue, according to Columbia Mayor Leo Lutz.

If the Columbia Borough Planning Commission approves the certification, LCHRA will seek to purchase the property from owners Sam and Cynthia Bigler. If an agreement of sale cannot be reached and the owners do not sell to another entity, the property will be listed as blighted, and LCHRA will sell it to a party who will meet the conditions for redevelopment of the property.

If at any time during the process the owners present a certified plan to remediate the property – with signed engineering drawings and an approved timeline in accordance with the demands of LCHRA – they will be able to do so.

“Remember, it’s difficult to take a property,” Lutz said. “People who own property do have rights, but the municipality also has rights.” 

Two New Painting Classes at the SCCA

Beautiful masterpieces done by Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh:  Pick one or all and sign up for a unique painting experience. Have a enjoyable, relaxing time while you enjoy the process of creativity. You will paint on a 16″x20″ canvas with acrylic paints and you will be amazed at the masterpiece you create. No prior Art training required.
​BYOB
Go to Eventbrite to view and sign-up.

http://www.eventbrite.com/o/susquehanna-center-for-the-crea…

Mayor proclaims EMS week in Columbia

Mayor Leo Lutz recognized members of the Columbia’s Emergency Medical Service Teams at Monday night’s Columbia Borough Council meeting with the following proclamation designating “Emergency Medical Service Week”:

To designate the week of May 15 through 21, 2016 as “Emergency Medical Services Week”; and whereas emergency medical services is a vital public service; and whereas the members of emergency medical service teams are ready to provide life-saving care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week; and whereas access to quality emergency care dramatically improves the survival and recovery rate of those who experience sudden illness or injury; and whereas the emergency medical services system consists of emergency physicians, emergency nurses, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters, educators, administrators, police, and others; and whereas the members of emergency medical service teams, whether career or volunteer, engage in thousands of hours of specialized training and continuing education to enhance their life-saving skills; and whereas the Borough of Columbia is fortunate to have several emergency medical service units available to residents and businesses: Columbia Borough Police Department, Susquehanna Valley EMS, Columbia QRS, and Columbia Borough Fire Department; and whereas it is appropriate to recognize the value and the accomplishments of emergency medical service providers by designating Emergency Medical Services Week; now therefore, I, Leo Lutz, mayor of the Borough of Columbia, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in recognition of this event, do hereby proclaim the week of May 15 though 21, 2016 as “Emergency Medical Services Week” with the theme “EMS Strong.” I encourage the community to observe this week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.