Columbia Spy

 This week’s photos of Columbia

Click on photos to see larger, sharper images.

Coin collectors

(They collect the coins from the parking meters.)

The top one is different. 

Something happened to the window at Union Station. 

Officers on duty

Two-seater

Meeting at Mount Bethel

Holding the light

What’s the point?

At Nouveau Tea, 3rd & Maple

One of several smoke shops around town

There’s another holiday just around the corner. 

Saturday evening clouds

Datestone at Columbia Church of God

Ornaments on historic grave markers

A giant branch broke off of this tree in Locust Street Park and was promptly removed.

Cross at the river

Frosty morning 

Scenic Avenue G 

Do not trespass here.

 There were snow squalls over the past week. 

Fortunately, not much snow was left behind.

The water company is having a roof replaced. 

But the mayor said there are only two officers per shift.

Up, up, and away!

Windy skies

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Columbia taxpayers are about to get a break on their taxes. The Columbia Borough School District Board of Directors voted Thursday night to decrease the district’s property tax rate by .4 mills. The measure passed unanimously among the seven directors present. The decrease will reduce the current millage from 26.46 to 26.06 mills.

Borough property owners will save approximately $40 per $100,000 of assessed property value.

The tax reduction was made possible by a $179,600 block grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Ready to Learn Block Grant Tax Equity Supplement. The funds cannot be used until the 2025-26 fiscal year.

The 2024-25 fiscal year marked the fifth year in a row without a district tax increase.

The board had five options available for using the grant:

1) Mitigating or preventing an increase in the millage rate of real estate property taxes levied by the school district

2) Supplementing the amount calculated by the school district for the homestead and farmstead exclusion under

3) Establishing, maintaining or expanding a program provided by the school district that supplements senior tax rebates

4) Mitigating or replacing the loss of revenue received by the school district resulting from a decision of a court of this commonwealth from previous five years relating to an assessment appeal

5) Reducing debt.

Collier Brian, Collier Michelle J. conveyed 545 N. Second St. to Figurell Paul J, Figurell Amanda K. for $264,900.

Valley View Capital LLC conveyed 131 1/2 S. Fourth St. to Jessica Herr for $170,000.

Benjamin K. Lapp conveyed property on a public road to John S. King Enterprises LLC, King John S. Enterprises LLC for $730,000.

Alice M. Best conveyed 505 Locust St. to JBS Homes LLC for $175,000.

ENELLY BETANCOURT | La Voz Editor and Staff Writer

Lionel “Rocky” Cunningham, co-owner of Rocky’s BBQ in Columbia, said he absolutely loves what he does.

“I love grilling. People kept asking me to do it. I got to work with major players in the game and developed my own style, leaning to southern Texas barbecue,” Cunningham said. 

Because the cost of real estate was high, Cunningham first established his business as a food truck, which he owned and operated for eight years, but in 2019 moved his business to 28 N. Third St.

His passion for grilling turned to an obsession for smoking meats. He enrolled in BBQ cooking school, competed with an award-winning grill team and later developed his own signature flavor that is now Rocky’s BBQ.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/black-business-owners-in-lancaster-county-reflect-on-obstacles-creating-path-for-others-photos-video/article_76d33866-e98c-11ef-af96-632a23f15dd2.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share

 This week’s photos of Columbia 

Train on the right track

This is at Rail Mechanical, 380 South 4th Street. 

Fine figure of a dog at Columbia River Park

PennDOT truck getting washed

Valentine’s Day tree on Locust

A new nicotine delivery system

Fortunately, this ornate fence has contained the trash.

Even here?

Pole replacement near the innovation park-to-be

Stater at Bixler’s

Sign down at 4th & Chestnut 

Moonlit clouds

Parked on the ramp

Here’s another one. 

Is this a thing now?

Vortex Comics offered discounts on Saturday. 

They’re celebrating their one-year anniversary. 

Miller Pipeline and UGI were seemingly everywhere on our streets on Friday.

There must’ve been a heckuva plumbing/sewage problem on the first block of North 4th the other day.

Brokenhearted at Columbia Curiosities 

Cupid shot an arrow into this one’s posterior.

Brine lines

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China Inn, 3985d Columbia Ave., Columbia, Feb. 5. Fail. The person in charge did not demonstrate adequate knowledge of food safety in this food facility as evidenced by this noncompliant inspection. An employee’s open beverage container was observed on a food preparation table in the back; prior violation, Dec. 7, 2023. Food employee (owner) observed preparing food while not wearing proper hair restraints, such as nets or hats; prior violation, June 27, 2024. Chicken observed thawing in standing water in buckets, which is not an approved thawing method. Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature-control-for-safety food prepared in the food (pork and eggs rolls) facility and held for more than 24 hours, located in the walk-in cooler, is not being date-marked. Food facility is reusing single-service bags, which is intended to be a single-service article, for storing prepared food inside rather than a food-grade container. Potential rodent harborage areas inside the food facility observed in the back food preparation due to observed mouse feces on shelving around food equipment and the floor perimeter.

Columbia Mart, 890 Lancaster Ave., Columbia, Feb. 5. Pass. Facility is offering for sale: Hemp Bombs CBD Gummies, Wunder Mushroom THC Delta 9 Gummies, Mellow Fellow m-fusions THC Delta 9 Gummies, Hometown Hero Day and Night THC Delta 9 Gummies, Looper Sour Belts Assorted flavors THC Delta 9 Gummies, Hazy Mary THC Delta 9 Gummies, Hemp Wellness THC Delta 9 Gummies, Flying Horse THC Delta 9 Gummies and Zombi Death Drops THC Delta 9 Gummies, which contain an unapproved additive THC and Delta 9 as specified in 21 CFR 170-180 relating to food additives. Such products are under U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulation and at which time are not recognizable as a safe substance to be added to food. Soap was not available at the hand-wash sink in the restroom. Paper towels were not available at the hand-wash sink in the back.

MORGAN HUBER | FOR LNP | LANCASTERONLINE

When: Columbia Borough school board meeting, Feb. 4.

What happened: Columbia Borough school board will vote Feb. 20 on whether to spend $1.48 million over the next five years to make renovations recommended by district administration.

Background: Business Manager Keith Ramsey presented to the board regarding these renovations, which would improve the district’s facilities and properties through the capital improvement fund. Proposed projects include repairing the interiors at Hill Campus, replacing the lights at the football stadium, installing new soffits, playground fences and an underground storage tank at Taylor Middle School, and installing new soffits and exterior doors in addition to repairing the interiors of Park Elementary School.

Next steps: If approved, work would commence this summer. The district would still have $1.68 million left in its capital improvement fund to direct toward renovations, repairs and construction.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/regional/columbia-borough-school-administration-unveils-5-year-facilities-improvement-plan/article_cbd61d46-ea14-11ef-bf33-4bc3ec6aabe9.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share