Time to honor teacher

There will be a drop-in retirement party on Sunday, June 13 from 1-4 p.m. for retiring CHS teacher Jean Phiel.
The party will be held at Golden Stories, formerly A Taste of Styles in the 200 block of Locust Street.
Former and current students and friends are welcome to attend the event.

Here is a post from Mrs. Phiel's Columbia School District web site:

I was born and raised in Columbia, and I had lived here most of my life. I attended William G. Taylor Elementary School and Columbia High School.

After high school, I attended Millersville State College to train as an English teacher. I have a Master's Equivalency issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
My own children attended and my grandchildren attend the Columbia Borough Schools. I am a firm believer in the quality of the education you receive here.
I have been teaching English at CHS since September 1982. I now act as Language Arts Department Chairperson.
I will be retiring at the end of the 2009/2010 school year. It has been a wonderful 28 years.

Monday's Is This What We Want

Today's travels took us to South Fifth Street, just behind the Columbia Square to a property where the siding is falling off and some boards and insulation is showing. Right off the main street and behind another eyesore property.

New church in town

The former Moose Annex in the 200 block of Loucst Street is home to Columbia's newest church.

Fair time

The Holy Trinity parish will hold its annual festival this week in the 400 block of Cherry Street. Set up was under way this morning.

Columbia Talking Points

There seems to be an awful lot to talk about each day/week in Columbia. In my mind, there is no other small town like it in the United States.At times, one would think our town's population is one million people instead of 10,000 or our town is as big as the state of Texas.
But, we are not.
What I've found is we are a very caring town, who want our town to be successful and one that rallies together when we feel are wronged.
Over the last week or so, I've heard of a lot of issues in our town, some of which I've learned or viewed during my daily rides throughout our town.
So, I have created Columbia Talking Points, so we can open discussion on the issues are town is facing. Comments are welcome.

 * The first point, a sad one today, is the passing of John Murphy, the chief/president of the Columbia Fire Police after a courageous battle with cancer. Gonna be a little different when you see Traffic 8 responding to emergency scenes and not seeing him behind the wheel or out somewhere directing traffic.
My smypathy to his family and I would hope the fire police/borough would recognize Murphy's contributions to the fire police and borough by doing soethingrespectful in his memory.
* Congratulations to the Columbia High School Class of 2010, who will officially become alumni of the high school this week.
* Congratulations to the family of the late Missy Glenn and Dr, Claire Storm, who were honored by the state for their efforts to promote tourism in our town Friday in Harrisburg.

So, with that out of the way, let's talk about the issuues.
1. It is my understanding that a certain person, who has given this town a number of problems within the left few months may have been back in town last week and tried to move in with another person in the lower half of our town in a Section 8 property. The person freaked because she was moving in with a large number of cats, which may or may not have been taken by law enforcement, because she was living illegally and the certain person threatened to call the Section 8 officials, because she already had someone living there illegeally.
My question is, when will Columbia Borough and others take a stand to officially remove this person from our town and end our headaches. We don't need this type of person here. Would another municipality put up with it? Probably not.
2. There was a meeting of borough council's property committee last week, The discussion centered on Safe Harbor "giving" the borough the river front property where a number of local residents have cabins.
If you were a Columbia Borough official at that meeting, it did not go well.
I have to admit at last month's borough council meeting when this issue was discussed, not at length, I was kind of surprised by it. It sounded to me and some others, who were at that meeting, it was in the discussion phase and wasn't close to becoing a reality.
Well, I think myself and everyone else were wrong. It sounds like Columbia Borough is a lot farther along with these talks then was left on.
The cabin owners and others complained to the borough about it. My feeling is that these people need to continue to watch this because if they don't, they ight end up on the outside looking in at their cabins.
3. Sticking along the river, was told Friday that in the last week, when the heavy storms passed through the area, there were two water rescues caused by road flooding because the new parking lot isn't draining properly and two people were trapped in their vehicles.
Who put the parking lot in? Columbia Borough.
4. Still along the river, I've been down to River Park a lot lately. Looks nice and the plans for its future look great. But, there's really nothing down there. The parking areas and paths look good and the new grass.
But, the lights weren't installed on the light poles and it just looks empty.
Again, in talking with an emergency official, there have been two issues down there, which left me shaking my head. One was a couple of weeks ago, there was a water rescue at night, requiring lighting. One of the local fire departments responded to light the area. Apparently, they were ask to take their large vehicle out of River Park because the blacktop was not made for heavy use vehicles and it was feared the parking lot would be damaged.  Interesting.
Along the same lines, another local fire departmment was down at the park filling their engine with water and the chief of the company received an email asking them not to do it anymore.
Again, interesting.
5. Road past the market house the other day, sorry I didn't make it in, but I see the market hours are changing on Thursday, it will now be open until 7 p.m. and Friday until 6 p.m.
I hope that when council finally hires a market manager, they look at the days of the week it is open and get more stands in the facility and move it more toward a farmer's market.
Hearing there is a lot of politics being played down right now and one of the more popluar stands is closing its doors this week because of it.
6. Code Enforcement issues. They are all over town and aren't going away, Some are expected to be exposed at next week's council meeting, many of which you can see without going up and down alleys. Some have been posted on here and more will.
7. In my various rides and even walks around our town, I'm surprised there aren't more complaints about curbs and sidewalks not being ADA accessible and some of those who are need to be repaired.
Our town needs cleaned up in more than one way.

First Hall of Fame inductee

The Columbia High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee et this week to select the 2010 Class of Inductees.
The Hall of Fame Class will be inducted Friday, Sept. 17 during the football game with Daniel Boone.
Over the next week, the inductees will be profiled.
Meet the first inductee, Ken Haverstick.
During Ken’s junior year, the basketball team was 20-2 and was Lancaster County League champs. They lost to Kutztown 48-45 in District 3, Class B final. Kutztown were the eventual State champs. In his senior year, the team was 20-3 and was again Lancaster County League champs. They beat Eastern (Wrightsville) in the District 3, Class B finals, before losing to Montrose in the Class B Eastern State finals.
Ken was captain of his senior team, was named to the first team All-County and received Little All-State Honorable Mention. In his junior year, he had been named to secnd team All-County.

Ken was also a three-year starter for the Tide baseball team.
Ken returned to CHS where he coached vasrsity basketball from 1968-1971. His teams were 28-28.
He was Junior High Basketball coach for 15 years, 1978-1993. His record was 160-109 and his teams won six  Section III championships.
Ken was also on the coaching staff of the 1986-87 CHS boys basketball team which the State Class AA, State championship. He had coached many of the players on that team when they were in Junior High.
Ken was the golf coach for three years in the mid-70’s. One of his players, John Gamby, went on to win the LANCO Gold championship.
Haverstick was also the acting Athletic Director at CHS during the mid-90’s.

Two are honored

The late Melissa Glenn and Dr. Claire Storm were honored in Harrisburg on Friday with the Keystone Society for Tourism Awards. The awards were presnted at the Governor's Mansion on Front Street.

In the top photo with the Glenn family are Laura Cowburn and Bill Kloidt, directors with the Susquehanna Valley Chaber of Commerce. In the bottom photo, Dr. Storm with her husband, Albert.

Sunday's if this is what we want

With the recent storms of the last week in our town, one place pointed out was the site of the former Etzweiler Funeral Home in the first block of North Third Streeet. The building, which was torn down more than two years ago is a huge eysore in our town and nothing is being done to make the owner of the property to fill in the hole. In the recent rains, the hole has filled up with water. Also, the gate on the fence is unlocked and is a safety issue. This is one of several properties owned by David Doolittle that are in need of repair or have been left neglected.

Local firemen are honored

Columbia's Susquehanna Fire Copany was honored at this weekend's Lancaster County Firemen's Convention and Parade, hosted by the Bareville and Leacock Fire Departments. Here is a link: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/258044

Red Rose Run features a number of locals

Thw Red Rose Run was held yesterday in downtown Lancaster. Columbia grad Katie Shelley finished second in the women's race. Here is a link to the results: http://lancasterredroserun.com/results/2010/2010%20Red%20Rose%20Results.pdf

Smith's score shutout

Smith's Hotel beats Stewartstown in Susquehanna League baseball: http://www.leaguelineup.com/gamesum_baseball.asp?url=susquehannaleaguebaseball&sid=444096732&GameID=9813233

More code issues

If it seems like there are a lot of problemswith Code Enforcement in town, there is. It just seems like the borough turns a blind eye toward them. Here is one from downtown Columbia, about a block from the borough office. To get your problems answered, you can try calling codes at 684-2467, ext. 215.

Hempfield issues an alert

The Hempfield School District has issued an alert for a person going around saying he's representing the district and taking a survey. http://www.wgal.com/news/23795310/detail.html

Storm drops tree

This is s picture of a big tree that fell during this week's storms between Trinity House and the VFW on the railroad tracks. As of this morning, the tree is almost gone.

Batter up!

The Columbia/Smith's Hotel baseball team plays in the Susquehanna Baseball League in York County. Here is a link to the league's website: http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=susquehannaleaguebaseball

Columbia's Fred Nell featured

In case you missed it tonight, Mr, Scoop otherwise known as Fred Nell was featured onthe 10 o'clock news. http://www.fox43.com/news/wpmt-pet-detective-6-3-2010,0,3501921.story

Mr. Graybill's parting gift

This is from WGAL, outgoing Taylor Elementary School Principal Andy Graybill was kissing pigs today.http://www.wgal.com/video/23779312/index.html

Fire cause is announced

The cause of Sunday's fire in Wrightsville has been released. http://www.yorkdispatch.com/local/ci_15208209

Here comes the Experience!

Fianlly after decades of trying to sell the property and numerous delays in the settlement process, Columbia Borough has finally unloaded the Third and Linden street property. This morning at an attorney's office in Lancaster, all parties involved -- the borough, Columbia Economic Development Corporation, Musuem Partners and Susquehanna Bank signed off on the settlement. Next up, construction of the Turkey Hill Experience, a project that is long overdue.

More of is this we want in our town?

The Scoop Mobile "mobile newsroom" was out and about today taking pictures of various problem areas. Also had a big discussion about other areas of town, who need to be visited by Code Enforcement. The suggestion was to print the phone number of the Code Enforcement Office here (684-2467, ext. 215) and contact them with complaints and continue to contact them until something is done or go to borough council after a couple of calls. One of the big problems, which is all over town, are weeds growing up through curbs and sidewalks and how unsightly it is. This picture is from downtown, where it is particularly bad in some areas. It doesn't look nicewith the car show and craft show coming up, which will bring thousands of people to our town. The other picture is of another downtown property where someone forgot to remove their beer bottle and 12-pack on Locust Streeet. The third picture is one in the eastern end of town, where the grass hasn't been mowed in a number of weeks and is more thn three foot tall. Also received word of a property near Front Street that has black mold growing in the basement and the landlord isn;t doing anything. If you know of problem areas, problem properties, let the "mobile newsroom" know or send us a picture and we will post it in an attempt to clean up our town.

Landmark for sale

Just noticed this on a trip downtown today -- a Columbia landmark, which has a long tradition, the Hotel Locust, once known as the Hotel Columbia, is for sale. The Locust has been closed for more than a year, if not longer.

Arrests made in township

West Hempfield Township Police have made arrests in a number of vehicle break-ins. Here is the link: http://www.wgal.com/news/23768629/detail.html

Columbia's most wanted list is updated

The Columbia Police Department and Officer Austin Miller has updated its Most Wanted List. http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Columbia-PA/Columbia-Borough-Police/106423482721568?ref=ts&ajaxpipe=1&__a=15

Park Rangers plan clean-up

On Wednesday, June 9, the Columbia Park Rangers will revisit Locust Street Park for an evening work detail. Rangers will assemble at 6:30 p.m. at Sixth and Locust Streets and work until dark preparing and sprucing up the park for the upcoming Arts and Crafts Fair later in the month.

River Park photos

Columba's new River Park has been open for about a month. The parking lot has been enlarged along with other improvements. There are seperate areas for boat, kayaks and canoes, which were done in phase one of the project.