Columbians seek to boost town's quality of life

LANCASTERONLINE
More than 80 residents of Columbia borough gathered Tuesday for the first in a series of town hall meetings aimed at improving the quality of life in the borough.

Police Chief Jack Brommer told the group — which included residents, members of council, and local business owners — that the meeting stemmed from daily conversations he and Mayor Leo Lutz have about issues voiced by residents.

The concerns include a lack of cleanliness, especially dog waste; visual code violations, such as trash left piled up outside homes; and personal behavior, such as truancy and disorderly conduct.

MORE HERE:
http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/844874_Columbians-seek-to-boost-town-s-quality-of-life.html

Senator Mike Brubaker wants to silence whistleblowers

HARRISBURG, Pa.
State Senator Mike Brubaker, who represents Pennsylvania’s 36th district, wants to crack down on people who secretly videotape farms.
Animal rights activists call it the “Ag-Gag” bill. They say the real goal of this legislation is to silence whistleblowers.

Community First Funds gets $15 million in tax credits for economic development projects

The $15 million in tax credits awarded to the Lancaster-based Community First Fund promises to spur economic development in Lancaster city and Columbia borough in the near future, and offer help throughout the county in the long term, officials said Tuesday.

MORE HERE:
http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/844156_Community-First-Funds-gets–15-million-in-tax-credits-for-economic-development-projects.html

Is this the new town dump?

Congratulations and thanks to everyone who participated in “Earth Week.”  I was hoping, however, that someone would have attended to the mess at the end of Wright Street, between Kleen-Rite and the Columbia Organ Works.  The area looks as though it’s becoming the town dump, with several dozen old tires scattered around, as well as tree trimmings, a used Christmas tree, a pile of broken concrete, and miscellaneous paper trash.  Several tires are also lying in the Shawnee Creek, and a few are lined up along Wright Street.

Columbia named Tree City USA at Arbor Day Celebration

The Columbia Borough Shade Tree Commission and the Columbia Tree Society held their 22nd annual Arbor Day celebration at 6 p.m on Friday, April 26, at Janson Park, Sixth and Cherry streets in Columbia.
Janson Foundation president Fred Smith was master of ceremonies, and Reverned Kenneth Lawrence of Holy Trinity Catholic Church gave the invocation and benediction.   Mayor Leo Lutz, Columbia Borough Council President Mike Beury Sr. and Mike Beury Jr., chairman of the Shade Tree Commission gave short talks.  Mike Beury Sr. reminded those present that our state tree is the hemlock, noted for its sturdiness and longevity.
Rick Hartleib of the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Bureau of Forestry presented Columbia with its 21st consecutive National Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA award.
Mark Zeamer awarded prizes to second-graders from Our Lady of the Angels School, Taylor Elementary and Park Elementary schools for their winning entries in the Arbor Day coloring contest.  Music was provided throughout the ceremony by “Hot Wired.”
Three memorial trees were planted during the ceremony.  Two were in memory of the children of two Janson Foundation board members who passed away last year.  Alexandra Nikolaus, daughter of Paul Nikolaus, and Kevin Wolgemuth, son of Bernie Wolgemuth, had gingko trees dedicated in their memory. A third tree was dedicated to Joseph and Eleanor Sequin.
Columbia High School senior Dale Haubert recited Joyce Kilmer’s poem “Trees” during the program. 
 Johnny Appleseed attended . . . 

 and gave out apples.

 A tree was dedicated to Joseph and Eleanor Sequin, among others.

 Mayor Leo Lutz offered remarks.

Mark Zeamer presented awards to Arbor Day coloring contest winners, Sophia Malizia, Elie Dommel, and Frankie Meisinger.
TREES
Joyce Kilmer 
(1886-1918)
 I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
“Trees” was originally published in Trees and Other Poems. Joyce Kilmer. New York: George H. Doran Company, 1914.

Talks continue on possible LASA deal

Currently, most Columbia residents and businesses pay higher rates than LASA charges — approximately $42 a month verses $81.99 a quarter. But 38 percent of the customers pay the minimum flat fee of $19.44 per month.
Many of the residents in Columbia who pay the minimum flat fee are elderly, Norm Meiskey said, and it’s a “major concern” to keep rates equitable.
Kyle said that changes to rates would “ramp up slowly” and could take five or 10 years.
The three main parties — borough council, the municipal authority and LASA — agreed to come with individual goals and objectives. A work group involving LASA and borough employees will share information about current facilities, rates and business practices.
If a deal is reached and the sale moves forward, it would take two to two-and-a-half years to fully implement.
More HERE

Columbia Water Company seeks rate hike

The Columbia Water Company is asking the state to approve a $773,210 rate increase for its Columbia Division.
The proposal filed Thursday with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission would raise rates for various categories of customers between 21.06 and 21.11 percent.
The additional revenue would be used to cover growing operating expenses and service costs, including recovery of about $4.3 million in capital improvements to the Columbia Division water system.
The proposal would not affect customers in the company’s Marietta Division, which is made up of Marietta Borough and East Donegal Township in Lancaster County and Hellam Township in York County.
The increase is proposed to take effect June 24.
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Susquehanna River's poor health is killing smallmouth bass

LANCASTERONLINE
The collapse of the smallmouth bass fishery on the lower Susquehanna River may be the “canary in the coal mine,” presaging future health problems to more fish and animals in the river, as well as devastating a recreational economy, a new report says.

Since 2005, 80 percent of the bass have disappeared between Sunbury and the Conowingo Dam. Fingerling bass are dying, ugly lesions and splotches are appearing on adults and eggs are showing up in the testes of male fish.
The cause: A “perfect storm” of high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, rising water temperatures believed to be at least partly due to global warming and a mix of chemicals from sewage plants, says the report, released Thursday by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
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