Help the team out

Please help the Smitrh's Hotel baseball team: http://www.ydr.com/sports?_requestid=552090

News from the Really Deep South

Here's a story from Alabama about a former Columbian: http://progress.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20100714/PROGRESS04/7140340/1002/sports

SERT team respons to Mountville

The Lancaster County SERT team was involved in an incident in Mountville: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/265926

Meters pulled following complaint

This is from WGAL: http://www.wgal.com/video/24253504/index.html

Weekly Columbia Police reports -- so who got busted?

VINCENT MICHAEL MELEY, AGE 27, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CHARGED WITH SIMPLE ASSAULT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, FOR AN INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED IN THE 200 BLOCK OF SOUTH THIRD STREET, 2:21 A.M., JULY 3..
HE WAS TAKEN TO CENTRAL BOOKING IN LANCASTER, ARRAIGNED AND COMITTED TO L.C.P. IN LIEU OF $7,500 BAIL.

LUKE HENRY GROVE, AGE 28, OF LOGANVILLE, WAS CITED FOR STOP SIGNS & YIELD SIGNS, AT ROUTE 30 AND LINDEN STREET, 6:48 A.M., JULY 7.

SPANKY DIVIDO, AGE 30, OF LANCASTER, WAS CITED FOR DRIVING WHILE OPERATING PRIVILEGE IS SUSPENDED OR REVOKED, IN THE 900 BLOCK OF LANCASTER AVENUE, 1:18 S.M., JULY 7..

CRYSTAL DAWN SMITH, AGE 27, OF WRIGHTSVILLE, WAS CITED FOR OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES AT ROUTE 441 AND PERRY STREET, 5:05 P.M., JUILY 7.

JONATHAN M. NAUSS, AGE 25, OF YORK, WAS CITED FOR OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES AT NORTH THIRD AND LINDEN STREETS, 4:40 A.M., JULY 8..

EDWARD JOSEPH HUDZIK, JR., AGE 55, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CHARGED WITH SIMPLE ASSAULT-DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND WITH HARASSMENT, FOR AN INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED ON POPLAR STREET.
HE WAS ARRAIGNED AT LANCASTER CENTRAL BOOKING, JULY 8, AND COMITTED TO L.C.P., IN LIEU OF $2,500 STRAIGHT BAIL.

JENNIFER LYNN EISENHART, AGE 37, OF YORK, WAS CITED FOR DRIVING WHILE OPERATING PRIVILEGE IS SUSPENDED OR REVOKED IN THE 1100 BLOCK OF CHESTNUT STREET,  2:50 A.M., JULY 11.

JULIE A. STROMBERG, AGE 39, OF YORK, WAS CITED FOR OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES AND FOR DRIVING WHILE OPERATING PRIVILEGE IS SUSPENDED OR REVOKED, AT ROUTE 441 AND PERRY STREET, 10:35 A.M., JULY 11.

COLUMBIA BORO. POLICE HAVE CITED MORE THAN FOUR JUVENILES, IN THE PAST WEEK, FOR CURFEW VIOLATIONS.
AGAIN, CURFEW HOURS ARE 10 P.M. FOR ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 18, SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, AND 11 P.M. ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.

JOSEPH C. BUNNELL, III, AGE 27, OF CRALEY, WAS CITED FOR DRIVING WHILE OPERATING PRIVILEGE IS SUSPENDED OR REVOKED, IN THE 800 BLOCK OF LANCASTER
AVENUE, 8:50 P.M., JULY 9..

GLORIA JEAN NIES, AGE 67, OF MOUNT JOY, WAS CITED FOR OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES AT ROUTE 441 AND PERRY STREET, 9:32 A.M.,JULY 11.

Greetings all from South Carolina

Only three more days, well actually two after today as Friday is a travel day.
Hartsville is a nice place and has plenty of activities going on. It also has rained three of the five days I have been here (not today yet).
Been to McBee, Florence, Columbia, Myrtle Beach, Georgetown, Mullin's Inlet to name a few.
A couple of things I've noticed that are a lot different than back home are: There are no weeds coming out of the sidewalks, including the downtown. All the streets are well kept and nice. Only saw one road project downhere.
The people down here are extremely friendly and helpful.
The only place I have seen parking meters is in Columnbia, which is the state capital. A quarter for 20 minutes.
It is very different down here. Hotter than a bugger, but I am handling it.
Got some ideas and thoughts to pass along once I get back about things that could work or at least tried in Columbia (PA).
More including some pictures when I return on Friday.

Borough Council Meeting of 7/12

Tonight’s meeting started as usual, and then it came to the exciting part. Citizen Comments is always, uh, interesting at least. The meeting itself was packed, only a few seats lay empty, and there was quite a bit of chair rearranging. Mr. Frank Doutrich was the first speaker, and started the meeting with a thanks/reprimand about the trees being trimmed down at the recently remodeled River Park. He was glad that they had been trimmed, but complained that we as a borough has the equipment and could have had it done much earlier. He quickly moved on to a query about the half-day closing of the borough offices on June 30th, and said that he had heard rumors on the street that it was for a party for the borough workers. Council President Mary Wickenheiser later confirmed that it was so, and it was later asked by Mr. Tony Mosteller if the party itself was paid for by the taxpayers. Borough Manager Norman Meiskey confirmed that the funds for the party were taken from the ‘Miscellaneous’ portion of the borough budget.

He also asked about the closing of 9 th St. today, and complained that the same state inspector was there as was on many other projects around town that were badly handled. President Wickenheiser said that they were simply milling out loops for the new lights to be placed. Mayor Lutz added that the lights on that street had been malfunctioning for quite a long time, and that the state had had engineers recommend new lights that will reduce car speed when flashing by eighty percent, compared to the fifty percent before. On the fun topic of the 441 relocation project, Mayor Lutz said that it is a Penn Dot project, and we as a town has no say in who works there and what can be done.

Two new part-time code officers were added to the roster, to supplement our full-time code officer. In addition, it was cleared that most properties lines in the borough go to the center of the street, with some exceptions. I always assumed such, but I guess this validates it. The topic of the contract was an object of much contention for a space of ten minutes or so, when Mr. Mosteller brought it up during his part of Citizen Comments. This was violently attacked by President Wickenheiser, during which she said that if the borough workers would just have a sit down, the Council will and has always been open to a contract. She also said that the borough finances are in limbo because they cannot calculate the costs for healthcare and other related things without said contract. The town debt was asked about by Mr. Vernon Detz, who alleged that the figure of 3.4 million was inaccurate, and was actually 5 million. Borough Manager Meiskey said that the figure is correct, and that the other debt is self-liquidating.

After the speakers were done, a representative of the Columbia Heritage River Cottage Association read a statement and asked that the parcel being gifted to the borough by Safe Harbor not be accepted, simply because the cottage owners did not believe that Columbia Borough had their best interests at heart. The lady who spoke lives in Lancaster, and admitted that she had never been to a meeting before. So we only care about Columbia when they can affect us in some way? Not on my watch. The only other thing of note was the approval to borrow $125,000 for repairs and upgrades in the Markethouse and borough, along with the purchase of two new police vehicles.

Introductions:

I figured that since I'm covering the Borough Council meeting tomorrow, and that I may be posting more in the future, that it would be polite to introduce myself. My name is Hillary Glenn. Many of you know me or know of me, yet some of you do not, and such is the need for this post. My late mother was Melissa Glenn, the Director of the Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce until her untimely death in October of last year. My father is Kerry Glenn, whom you also may know. My mother was the Director for four years, during which she fought long and hard to improve our great town through bringing strong new businesses into our midst to support Columbia and revive it again. I am eighteen, and Barry Ford has been a family friend for as long as I can remember. I believe in this town, and I will not stand to let it fall into ruin, hence my part-time blogging position here at Columbia Talk. If you knew anything of my mother, you would know that I inherited this feeling from her. Columbia is my home, I learned to walk here, graduated from high school here, and I and many others hope to keep it alive and thriving, pushing through the red tape to reach the truth.

Anyway, tomorrow's Borough Council meeting will be covered by me, since Barry is sunning himself in South Carolina. I will put my best effort forward to bring you the news and all the news. Thanks for reading!

Out of the area

I will be out of the area for the next week enjoying some down time after a very trying year. I will have coverage of Monday's borough council meeting, so that won't go uncovered. I will be keeping an eye on things back here. Keep reading, keep sending your comments and I'll see everyone in a week.

Sidewalk Sales Days at Hinkles

Hinkle's Pharmacy held its annual Sidewalk Sales today. They are expected to continue into tomorrow.

Coolest job in town

Saw this truck unloading ice behind the market today.

Park Rangers plan detail

On Thursday, July 15, the Columbia Park Rangers will hold an evening work detail at Glatfelter Field, Twelfth Street and Lancaster Avenue starting at 6 p.m. Rangers will weed, edge, etc. the trees that are a 9/11 memorial at the front of Glatfelter Field facing Lancaster Avenue.

Almost Home

Pictuered is Ben Zeamer of Columbia, who is on his way home from Afghanstan after a tour of duty with the Army. He will arrive back home in Columbia July 13 and be home for 15 days. He'll then head back to Afganistan until mid-December.

Remember this?

Let's not too do much complaining about the recent heat. It wasn't that long ago we were all complaining about 60 inches of snow.

Barbecue is upcoming

The Holy Trinity Church will hold a chicken barbecue on Saturday, Aug. 14 from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Chicken can be picked up at the church lot or the Susquehanna Fire Company.
Dinners are $6.
For more informationm call 684-2711 or 684-2075

New signs for new event

The Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce, with the help of borough highway workers, installed new signs on the light poles in the downtown area. The chamber will hold Art in the Park later this month.

If M&T has been this busy

This is a picture of the parking lot behind the former M&T Bank at Fourth and Locust streets. It's been closed since the end of June and it didn't take long for thosr who live in the area to find parking.

Another first for Columbia softball

It was a season of firsts for the Columbia softball program this season. First winning season; first 10-plus win season and first ever District 3 playoff berth and win. Now, they have an all-state player in pitcher Emily Detz, who was named honorable mention in Class AA. Here is a link to Dave Bryne's story: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/263854

More information

More from yesterday's police reports: :http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/263965

Washington Boro Tomato Festival time

Washington Boro will be the place to be this Saturday and next: http://www.engleonline.com/AdDesk/Htmlfiles/Readers/article.epc?id=36297

Problems at River Park

Someone asked me today why River Park was closed last night and when I came home from my trip in town and to the DMV, I had an email from a Columbia Police Officer with some information as to what took place and what has taken place at the newly renovated park.
This alert didn't come from borough council, or a directive from that group, rather the police, who are trying to enforce the rules and keep the park as nice as possible.
Police said they have has parking issues since the park reopened in May, but Sunday and Monday nights it was extremely bad.
Sunday night, there were between 30 and 40 people including children sitting down at the park, waiting for the Wrightsville fireworks and doing a lot of nothing. Police explained the park is closed from dusk to dawn except for boat launching/.
Monday afternoon, police returned to the park and another large group had gathered, using the park for a little bit of everything. Around 8 p.m., police said they found a pile of dirty diapers in the middle of the grass field and other trash scattered throughout the park.
So police decided to put cones across the entrance to let people other and other boaters come in. Police told those at the park and many understood the park hours, but some complained as one officer took an an hour and 20 minutes to clear the park. During that time, people were driving around the cones that police had placed, past the "no trespassing" signs and crossed the railroad tracks at the bridge.
With the fireworks bursting in air, police finally cleared the park of the non-boaters from the water company to the canoe/kayak area.
Had police not stayed at the park, there would have been some serious issues with trash.
Police said across from the park under the bridge where Columbia stores its highway materials, there were also some trash issues, which eventually were cleaned up.
Police were too busy to check the condition of Rotary Park during the fireworks,
was spilled. It was too hot and dry out to not soak it up if they were not fresh. Anyway, I asked them to pick them up and they did, which was nice. It was too dark at Rotary Park to see what trash was left behind there. I never made it up there to get those people moving on.
Police said they were trying to enforce the rules and if some innovative vendor would have been down there for the fireworks and park area, they could have made some money as well.

Lights and trash

All but a handful of the lights have been installed at River Park. Get a close look at the lights because they are the ones to be installed downtown. And the second picture might look the same as the other day, but it is not. It is down at the River Park.

Columbia Police reports

JAMES SCOTT ZERCHER, AGE 31, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE; SIMPLE ASSAULT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE; AND RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING ANOTHER PERSON, FOR AN INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED ON WALNUT STREET, 2:09 A.M., JUNE 30. HE WAS TAKEN TO CENTRAL BOOKING, IN LANCASTER, AND COMITTED TO L.C.P., IN LEIU OF $50,000 STRAIGHT BAIL.

LUKE EDWARD CAMERON, AGE 19, OF LANCASTER, WAS CITED FOR OPERATION OF VEHICLE WITHOUT OFFICIAL CERTIFICATE OF INSPECTION, AT FOURTH AND CHESTNUT STREETS, 3:40 P.M., JUNE 30.

ROBERT THOMAS SIMON, JR., AGE 36, OF YORK SPRINGS, WAS CITED FOR OPERATION OF VEHICLE WITHOUT OFFICIAL CERTIFICATE OF INSPECTION, AT THIRD AND CHERRY STREETS, 11:20 A.M., JUNE 29.

CHRYSTAL D. HOSTETTER, AGE 43, OF WRIGHTSVILLE, WAS CITED FOR REGISTRATION AND CERTIFICATION OF TITLE REQUIRED, AT FOURTH AND POPLAR STREETS, 8:35 A.M., JUNE 30.

DAVID C. SPACKMAN, JR., AGE 27, OF BAINBRIDGE, WAS CITED FOR OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC DEVICE, AT FOURTH AND LOCUST STREETS, 11:30 P.M., JUNE 30.

JERRY L. HARRIS, II, AGE 51, OF LANDISVILLE, WAS CITED FOR OPERATION OF VEHICLE WITHOUT OFFICIAL CERTIFICATE OF INSPECTION AND FOR REGISTRATION AND CERTIFICATION OF TITLE REQUIRED, IN THE 1100 BLOCK OF LANCASTER AVENUE, 3:39 P.M., JULY 1.

COTY STEPHEN RUTTER, AGE 23, OF MOUNTVILLE, WAS CITED FOR PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS IN THE 100 BLOCK OF SOUTH THIRD STREET, 5:48 P.M., JULY 3.. RUTTER WAS AGAIN CITED FOR PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS, IN THE 300 BLOCK OF CHERRY STREET, AT10:39 P.,M., JULY 2.

THOMAS A. GOAS, AGE 43, OF LANCASTER, WAS CITED FOR REGISTRATION AND CERTIFICATION OF TITLE REQUIRED, AT LANCASTER AVENUE AND 15TH STREET, 5:03 P.M., JULY 3/
MARIA LYN BASS, AGE 28, OF MOUNT JOY, WAS CITED FOR TRAFFIC-CONTROL SIGNALS ATTHIRD AND CHESTNUT STREETS, 11:17 P.M., JULY 3.

NATHAN L. EVANS, AGE 30, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED FOR DRIVING A VEHICLE WITH A SUSPENDED REGISTRATION, AT FOURTH AND LOCUST STREETS, 1:17 P.M., JULY 5.

JORGE LUIS COLON-TORRES, AGE 31, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED FOR MAXIMUM SPEED LIMITS AND FOR DRIVERS REQUIRED TO BE LICENSED, AT ROUTE 441 AND PERRY STREET, 3:48 P.M., JULY 5.

JOHN DAVID HERR, AGE 31, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED FOR OPERATION OF VEHICLE WITHOUT OFFICIAL CERTIFICATE OF INSPECTION, IN THE 500 BLOCK OF WALNUT STREET, 7:55 A.M., JULY 6.

KNOWLEDGE M. MANCOTYWA, AGE 44, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED FOR REGISTRATION AND  CERTIFICATE OF TITLE REQUIRED AND FOR OPERATION OF VEHICLE WITHOUT OFFICIAL CERTIFICATE OF INSPECTION, AT FIFTH AND MAPLE STREETS, AT 6:27 A.M., JULY 6.

Tomato Festival Time

It's time to salute tomatos as the Washington Boro Fire Company will hold its annual Tomato Festivals, the next two Saturday nights. http://www.everything-tomatoes.net/2010-washington-boro.html

Here is another link: http://www.wbfc78.org/tomato.php

The survey is asking?

Market Manager Brian Long is asking for residents to take this survey so he can better understand what Columbia wants at the market. Here is the link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Columbia-PA/Columbia-Market-House/140045396007807