Columbia Spy

#homegoodies, 336 Locust St., Columbia, Feb. 27. Pass. Food facility is offering for sale chicken jerky made by Hippco, which is an unapproved source. Food facility is offering for sale foods prepared in an unapproved private home. Prepackaged yogurt parfaits are not labeled properly with the name of product, ingredient statement and distributed-by statement. Prepackaged yogurt parfaits are not labeled to clearly indicate any “Big 9” allergen ingredients and/or the allergen warning statement. Observed a rag stored on the hand-wash sink in the front service area, indicating uses other than hand-washing.

Bootleg Antiques, 135 Bridge St., Columbia, Feb. 27. Pass. Paper towel dispenser empty at the hand-wash sink in the food preparation area. Food facility using rodent bait placed in bait stations, which are not covered and tamper resistant.

Grand China, 156 Lancaster Ave., Columbia, Feb. 27. Pass. Raw clams observed stored above onions in the reach-in cooler.

Park Elementary School, 50 S. Sixth St., Columbia, Feb. 27. Pass. No violations.

My Shop, 353 Cherry St., Columbia, change of owner, Feb. 26. Pass. Plumbing system not maintained in good repair: observed water leaking at the drainpipe of the hand-wash sink in the food preparation area. Observed a box of “fryer saver” powder stored on the same shelf with mashed potato mix single-service cups.

Four municipalities are taking the Municipal Emergency Services Authority of Lancaster County to court in an effort to get it to stop billing them when it provides emergency medical services to their residents.

Columbia and Mount Joy boroughs and Rapho and West Hempfield townships filed the action Thursday in Lancaster County Court.

The four municipalities do not contract with Elizabethtown-based MESA to provide EMS services, however under the concept of mutual aid, MESA responds when their EMS provider — Penn State Health Life Lion — is unavailable, and vice versa.

In their complaint, the four municipalities want a judge to tell MESA that it has no legal authority to bill them for services and that they do not have to pay bills that have been sent to them, which total $117,300.

Phone messages left Thursday for MESA’s manager, Wade Amick, were not immediately returned.

MESA essentially replaced Northwest EMS and began providing EMS service in February 2024. It was formed in an attempt to create a fiscally sustainable model for providing emergency medical services in the region Northwest formerly served.

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/columbia-mount-joy-rapho-and-west-hempfield-sue-mesa-over-ambulance-service-bills/article_88b1645a-fad4-11ef-8324-4371036c5fc4.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share

Download the meeting packet HERE.

https://www.wgal.com/article/pennsylvania-measles-case-montgomery-county/64013639

Sheriff of Lancaster County PA, Columbia Post No 153 Amvets Home Association conveyed property on a public road to Bank Northwest for $11,328.

Zook Rentals LLC conveyed property on North Third Street to River Edge Apartments LLC for $605,000.

Powers Shannon L. Jr, Powers Emilie conveyed 619 Plane St. to Emilie Powers for $124,000.

Millers Investment Properties Limited Liability Co. conveyed 612 Franklin St. to Rohrer Ashlyn, Smith Jenna for $291,500.

 This week’s photos of the Columbia 

Click on photos to see larger, sharper images. 

Police and firefighters responded to a house fire at South 3rd & Avenue J Saturday afternoon.

Earlier in the week (2/24/25), police and firefighters paid tribute to fallen officer Andrew Duarte as the motorcade passed through Columbia on Route 30.

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Later in the week, officers were on duty on the first block of South 6th Street.

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These skeletons on Manor Street remind us that St. Patrick’s Day is coming soon. 

So too this one at Columbia Curiosities 

This woodpecker has been hanging around the area of North 5th & Chestnut. 

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The Columbia logo has appeared on the column supporting the billboard on Route 30.

Here’s a closer look.

Spiderman’s in town. 

Good News Club

Free

Free

At the temple 

Left and right

Union Station is obviously open.

At work under the bridge 

Historic brick sidewalk 

Water company workers were working on Walnut Street this past week.

This hydrant appears to have been replaced.

This sign is tilting. 

The process of decay

Brick walkway at Mount Bethel 

There’s leftover love in this hedge.

Within the hedge, this tiny creature lives.

Nutcracker on Walnut 

Ribbons and bells

This really was the readout at pump #2 at Turkey Hill Experience. 

Tundra swans overhead 

The time-honored tradition of placing pennies on the tracks

Time for the wreaths to come down 

Biker gang 

Pour Mans Brewing, 15 Third St., Columbia, Feb. 22. Pass. Food facility has an employee that has taken food safety training program; however, the food safety program was not an ANSI/CFP-accredited certified food manager program.

Andy’s Market Inc., 310 11th St., Columbia, complaint, Feb. 21. Pass. No violations.

Columbia Middle School sixth-grader Ayisha Beausejour won a statewide essay contest for Black History Month.

Ayisha’s essay highlighting the legacy of Black leaders such as Ruby Bridges and Martin Luther King Jr. was selected from five submissions across the state. She won a certificate of achievement for the accomplishment.

Black History Month means “celebrating all the great things Black people have done and learning what they have gone through,” Ayisha wrote in her essay.

Ayisha’s teacher, Amy Wright, encouraged her and her peers to participate in the contest.

“Ayisha’s essay is a testament to her hard work and passion for learning,” Wright said. “She has a unique ability to connect the past to the present, while her words remind us why Black History Month is so important.”

MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/columbia-middle-school-sixth-grader-wins-statewide-black-history-month-essay-contest/article_4267fbe0-f51f-11ef-9384-5b0208595acd.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share