Home invasion in Mountville

West Hempfield police say three people were attacked in Mountville: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/408856_3-attacked-in-home-invasion-robbery-in-Mountville.html

Check out Facebook

I've added a slide show from this afternoon's car show on my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100000349567730

More car show pics

Cruisin Columbia Car Show a success

More than 400 cars of all makes, models and colors and thousands of folks visited our town for the 7th annual Cruisin Columbia Car Show.

Pot charge on 30

West Hempfield Township police charged two:  http://www.ydr.com/crime/ci_18300641

I spoke and will continue

This is mild compared to some areas in town.

As many of you know I am on the Democratic ballot for a four-year term on borough council. I figure after more than 25 years of covering meetings and getting around town, I could continue to help our town prosper in another way.
I've seen a lot at the hundreds of meetings I've covered not only here in Columbia, but others areas as well. While over the next few months, I will tell you what I am about, post some ideas, disagree with things, I will work hard for ALL 10,000-PLUS residents of our town. If its not good for all people, I will vote against it.
So with that in mind, I addressed our current council on a number of issues on Monday night. Please don't be afraid to contact me or talk with me about your concerns for Columbia and its future.
My questions to the council on Monday were:
* The lack of a deadline for the job application for Columbia's vacant police chief position.
Was told, it was open ended so that council cold find the best person and also i n case there any changes in terms of a much talked about regionalization.
* Why Columbia has no full time officer on the Lancaster County Drug Task Force.
Was told the full time officer is back with the Columbia department and will work part-time with the DTF and a second officer will be added on a part-time basis as well.
* Weeds and grass growing out of the sidewalks and streets all over town (pictured).
Was told that notices were placed on sewer bills about it and if weeds were higher than six inches, the borough would take action.
* Out of town landlords buying up single family dwellings in Columbia and possibly turning them into apartment and rental units.I said something needs to be done because of the affect it is having on the borough but school district as well.
Councilmen Jim Smith also spoke about the issue.
The problem will be discussed later this month at various committee meetings.
* The possibility of having an emergency drill in light of the recent weather conditions.
* Why the speed limit goes from 25 to 15 on Barber Street.
Was told this was the late4st in speed enforcement in the area.
* When the street trees and lights will be replaced downtown.
Was told possibly in October. This week will mark the third year there were no trees for the car show and craft show.
* The lack of people doing construction around town without building permits.
Was told to call if I see this.
* A coordinated effort to get people to go from the Turkey Hill Experience to downtown and vice versa.
Was told this needs to be put on the front burner.
Again, I want to represent our town and promise to work hard if I get the chance.

No more

During Columbia's Memorial Day Parade, an Elizabethtown man was charged by police for going around a police barricade and had to be stopped at Fifth and Locust streets by police with their guns drawn.
At Monday's borough council meeting, Mayor Leo Lutx said he instructed police and others, this will no longer be tolerated.
"There will be no tolerance from here on out. Get a pen, pencil and a piece of paper and write the number down. This has gone on far too long," Lutz said.
"It's time to pay the freight," the mayor said.
In this picture, this is a car that went through the parade at Ninth and Manor streets, despite discouragement from those watching the parade at the time.

Weekend of events

In addition to the Cruisin' Columbia Car Show, which will close the downtown streets, there is plenty of other activities in the Columbia area.
At the same as the Car Show, the Susquehanna Vallwey Chamber of Commerce will hold a Marketplace event at the Boys and Girls Club building.
Columbia will also hold Juneteenth, starting at 8:30 a.m. from the Mount Zion AME Church on South Ffifth Street.
At 8 p.m., the Columbia Ministerium will hold a Night Watch, beginning from the Visions Church at Fourth and Mill streets.
The group will walk various areas of the town to talk with and meet with residents in troubled areas.
St. John's Herr Estate located at 200 Luther Lane, Columbia, will be abuzz with activity during the second annual Red, White, and Blueberry Jamboree  from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The public is invited to attend all the events.

Lines repainted

Columbia Borough Highway Department workers were busy earlier this week, repainting lines on the north side of Locust Street. Thee lines were repainted to assist parking issues.

Just a reminder

No parking signs are up to remind residents about the car show tomorrow. Weather looks great.

Condemned house in bad shape

I've passed this house a number of times and it always bothers me. Its a condemned house the 900 bloxk of Barber Street, badly in need of repair with a piece of spouting hanging down and the porch onits way to the ground. What struck me today, after speaking at Monday's council meeting about weed problems in the borough, was the condition of thr backyard.  Kind of surprised some of the neighbors haven't called the borough to complain.

Concession stand help needed

Columbia High School is looking for volunteers to work the concession stand for the 2011 season.
Again this year the Home Varsity Games Start at 7:00 p.m.  If you are interested in volunteering for the concession stand you would need to report to the concession stand at 6 p.m. and you would work until around 9:p.m. Please email Deb Nissley (dnissley@columbia.k12.pa.us) with the dates you are interested in be one of the first to work in the newly remodeled concession stand. 
2011 Columbia Varsity Football Schedule
 09/09/11           Northeastern
09/23/11          Boiling Springs
10/07/11          Northern Lebanon – Homecoming.
10/14/01          Annville-Cleona
11/04/11          Donegal – Recognition Night

Death penalty sought for killer

From Lancasteronline.com: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/406593_Man-who-allegedly-killed-rapper-at-Columbia-show-will-face-death-penalty-trial.html

Marine Corps to hold barbecue

The Lancaster County Marine Corps League, Detachment 294, will hold a chicken barbecue on Saturday, June 18, at Kleen Rite Car Wash, 16th St. and Lancaster Ave., Columbia, at 10 a.m. The cost of a meal will include chicken, baked beans, baked potato, applesauce, roll, and a beverage. Chicken portions will also be available for purchase.

Don't forget the car show

The annual Cruisin' Columbia Car Show and Marketplace will take place in downtown Columbia on Saturday, June 18. The car show will be held on Locust Street from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature over 400 cars. The marketplace will be held at the Boys and Girls Club

,For details on the car show, contact Barry Doutrich at 684-2245 or doutrich@embarqmail.com . For other details, call 684-5249.

Juneteenth event is Saturday

This is  one of many event Saturday in Columbia: http://www.engleonline.com/AdDesk/Htmlfiles/Readers/article.epc?id=52601

Jam on the Hanna

A fun event set for along the Susquehanna: http://www.engleonline.com/AdDesk/Htmlfiles/Readers/article.epc?id=52641

Deer splits in half

Accident on Route 30 splits deer in half: http://www.ydr.com/crime/ci_18269686

Convicted offender sentenced again

This from Lancasteroline.com: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/406026_Habitual-offender-imprisoned-for-multiple-assaults-on-Columbia-girl.html

Virus kills seven dogs

Several of the dogs were here in Columbia: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/405649_Parvovirus-kills-7-Lancaster-County-dogs.html

More traffic restrictions on 30

There are traffic restrictions on the Route 30 Bridge: http://www.ydr.com/local/ci_18265479

Columbia police reports

CHARLES E. GOLDSBOROUGH, AGE 37, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED FOR ONE-WAY ROADWAYS AND ROTARY TRAFFIC ISLANDS, ON BARBER STREET, JUNE 1.

ANTHONY JAMES WHITSON, AGE 24, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED FOR DRIVING WHILE OPERATING PRIVILEGE IS SUSPENDED OR REVOKED, ON LOCUST STREET, JUNE 2.

DONALD J. FOEHLINGER, AGE 34, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED FOR OPERATION OF VEHICLE WITHOUT OFFICIAL CERTIFICATE OF INSPECTION AND FOR OPERATION OF VEHICLE WITH EXPIRED EMISSIONS AT NINTH  & UNION STREETS, JUNE 3.

ROBIN ANDREA RIGHTER, AGE 57, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED FOR RETAIL THEFT, FROM AN INCIDENT AT MUSSER’S MARKET, 960 LANCASTER AVENUE, COLUMBIA, JUNE 3.
CHELSEA RAE SENIC, AGE 26, OF MECHANICSBURG, WAS CITED FOR STOP SIGNS & YIELD SIGNS AT ROUTE 30 EXIT RAMP AND LINDEN STREET, JUNE 7.

JACK WOODROW RUDD, SR., AGE 50, OF LANCASTER, WAS CITED FOR OPERATION OF VEHICLE WITHOUT OFFICIAL CERTIFICATE OF INSPECTION AT FRONT AND WALNUT STREETS, JUNE 8.

FELIX JORGE PEREZ-ROSARIO, AGE 26, OF COLUMBIA, WASCITED FOR STOP SIGNS & YIELD SIGNS AT SIXTH & LOCUST STREETS, JUNE 9
DANILO HENRIQUEZ-MINAYA, AGE 22, OF LANCASTER, WAS CITED FOR DRIVERS REQUIRED TO BE LICENSED AT ROUTE 30 EAST & 441,JUNE 10.

BEATRICE E. DRUMM,  AGE 80, OF MOUNT JOY, WAS CITED FOR OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES AT FIFTH AND CHESTNUT STREETS, JUNE 10.

DAVID DENNIS LINVILLE, AGE 45, OF COLUMBIA, WAS ARRAIGNED ON INDIRECT CRIMINAL CONTEMPT CHARGES, AFTER AN INCIDENT ON SOUTH NINTH. STREET, JUNE 10.
HE WAS TAKEN TO CENTRAL ARRAIGNMENT IN LANCASTER AND BAIL WAS SET AT $10,000 STRAIGHT BAIL.

JARED DAVID BRYANT, AGE 21, OF COLUMBIA, WAS CITED FOR STOP SIGNS & YIELD SIGNS AT FOURTH & CHERRY STREETS, JUNE 12.
SONYA JEAN DEL-ROSSI, AGE 30, OF EPHRATA, WAS CITED FOR USE OF MULTIPLE-BEAM ROAD LIGHTING EQUIPMENT AND FOR RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, ON SOUTH FIFTH STREET, JUNE 12.

She was an institution on the hill

Anne Kraft was a familiar office face on the hill: http://obits.lancasteronline.com/index.php?p=2716680

Graduation speech

Cousins Chris Detz and Emily Detz were the student speakers at graduation last night. Here is the text of their speech.
Welcome! Here we stand, presenting one of thousands of commencement speeches being delivered across the United States during this busy graduation season. If we were to take a poll of those of you seated in the audience, how many of you can honestly recall who gave your commencement speech, let alone what this person or persons talked about? This was the daunting task set before us this evening: Make sure you know and address your audience-thegraduates, our peers, classmates-and make sure your message is meaningful.
Where do we begin?
First, let’s take a closer look at the word commencement. Per Merriam-Webster.com, commencement means “an act, an instance or time for commencing or beginning; a ceremony or the day for conferring diplomas.” So we say to you, our fellow classmates, what exactly are you about to commence?
What new beginning are you about to embark upon? What are you about to set in motion?
One word we have heard often these past few years is “motivation.” We have been told repeatedly to “be motivated get motivated, motivate yourself.” Have you ever thought about what this word means or its origins? Once again, we defer to Merriam-Webster.com for the exact definition. Motivation is defined “as the act or process of motivating; the condition of being motivated; to motivate means “to provide (someone) with a motive for doing something; to stimulate (someone’s) interest in or enthusiasm for doing something.” What has motivated us so far to get to this night, this commencement, this new beginning? It is said that there are only two emotions, and all others arise from these: Love and Fear. Which of these has moved you the most, propelled you to this graduation? From this point forward, which of these two emotions will motivate you? Will you react to life out of fear, or will you be proactive and be moved by love? What are your motives for going to college? What has prompted you to enlist in the armed forces, or enter the work force? You need to carefully reflect on your decisions, and make certain these decisions are the best for you. Be sure your motives are not reactionary, or based upon perceived, imagined fears. Move forward on each and every endeavor with the best of intentions, with your goals always aligned with what is best for you.
Never compromise on your beliefs-to settle for less is to sell yourself short.
Know that there will be roadblocks, hurdles, circumstances that will throw you off kilter, slow down your forward momentum. The key to surmounting these times when they happen (and happen they will) is to keep a sharp, laser-like focus on your goal. Never waiver, never succumb to fear. As we leave here this evening, we will all begin to scatter in various directions. Whatever you do, never stop asking questions! Never accept or conform to anything just because others say its “true.” Find your own truth; look deep inside of yourself and get to know the person you spend the most time with-YOU!
This evening as we pay one last visit to this auditorium, we entered as students, leave as graduates-as so many have done before us. You might sit there and say to yourself “So what???” And that is what we ask you now-So what…is next? Will you take a path that has already been well-worn and traveled by so many others; or will you choose one that is overgrown with uncertainty, challenges and change? YOU have to decide which route YOU will take-and it is our sincerest wish for all of you that you choose a path that best suits YOU.


If it seems as if we are posing a multitude of questions to you, it is done on purpose. We have been asking ourselves many of the same questions about what lies before us, what awaits us outside the confines of this school; we know that many of you have been asking yourselves these very same questions.
Tonight is a time for reflection as well as expectation. As we take one last brief glance over the past six years here on The Hill, let’s remember some of the highlights, and what these events have taught us: The construction and renovations, our senior class trip to Philadelphia and Go Vertical, post-prom at Ozzy’s, dissecting with Mrs. Ohrel, the softball teams best record in school history. These are just a few of the events that have united us as a class, and it is these and many other occasions that will forever bind us as the class of 2011. These events have helped us learn more about each other and ourselves; for it is through working and socializing, making friends and putting aside differences that we gain a greater understanding of the world, learn empathy and compassion for others as well as ourselves. It is safe to say that much of what we gleaned these past six years was not limited to the classroom; the larger part of our education came from interaction and introspection.
In parting, we want to wish every member of the class of 2011 nothing but the best. Although we all have our own paths and journeys to embark upon, we will always have that one important, constant bond: Our ties to Columbia High School and each other. We now leave you with these words of wisdom from the author Mark Victor Hansen: You control your destiny, your future. What you think about comes about. By recording your dreams and goals on paper you set in motion the process of becoming the person you most want to be. Put
your future in good hands-your own.

Columbia seniors graduate

Here is the Intell story on graduation:: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/404355_Columbia-grads-urged--follow--instinct-.html