today’s news and information gleanings from here and there!
Quote for today … “The higher turn-out suggests the voters were very engaged and actually “writing-in” a candidate’s name requires more engagement yet! It’s a remarkable story!” – Nickthestick1, commenter to the article about the new mayor in Marietta. On a comparative basis, the percentage of voters in Marietta who cast ballots for in the mayoral contest was significantly greater that Columbia’s. 714 voted in Marietta; 947, in Columbia. Marietta’s voting population is less than one-third of Columbia’s.
- Chunk of properties listed at the November posting of Sheriff’s sales including a slew in Columbia.
- Ephrata’s borough council uses iPads “to reduce the use of paper and improve efficiency.” – Ephrata Review
- “ The EXTRAORDINARY GIVE returns on November 22. Check out the full-page ad in today’s Sunday News listing the hundreds of worthy organizations including several in Columbia. But, the Columbia Economic Development Corporation? It’s the only economic development corporation on the list.
- What’s the outcome of a property tax exemption; higher taxes for other tax payers? At the September 11 meeting of the Lancaster County Board of Assessment Appeals, this item appears: “COLUMBIA POST 1306 CATHOLIC WAR VETERNS (sic) HOME ASSOCIATION / A motion was made by Mr. Fry and seconded by Mr. Bechtold to approve exemption of the Columbia Post 1306 Catholic War Veterans Home Association located at 250 North Seventh Street in Columbia Borough, parcel number 110-56749-0-0000. The exemption will be effective beginning with the 2013-2014 School and 2014 County and Municipal tax years. Motion passed. During the course of conversations regarding this parcel; it was mentioned that the other property owned by Columbia Post 1306, located at 629 Locust Street, rear (parcel: 110-18319-0-0000), currently has or will have space designated for public rental use for banquets, wedding receptions, etc. Please keep in mind that this may change any current exemption on those particular portions so used. Assessment notices reflecting the Board’s decision will be mailed at a later date.”
- Interestingly, at a previous meeting, the Board of Appeals denied this appeal: “MOUNT JOY HISTORICAL SOCIETY/ The Board of Assessment Appeals has denied the request for exemption at this time. The Society can feel free to request exemption again at such time as the building is occupied and actively being used for its charitable purpose.” And back in the June meeting, the Board denied this request too: “BOROUGH OF COLUMBIA/ A request for exemption on behalf of the United Telephone Company for the property on 239 Avenue H, parcel number 110-36431-0-00 has been denied.”
- Ever wonder whether the non-tax paying property owners make in-lieu-of payments to the Borough for public safety resources?
Columbia news, views & reviews 
That’s because the members of the CEDC are greedy bastards!
Looks like Doolittle made it on the list of Sheriff sales again. Another one down the toilet.
wow, sounds like great opportunity for you JR !, and the perfect time for you to take your retirement money and invest into the town that you love some much !
I think I will. I’ll take all the money I have saved and start my own business. I’ll buy that building and I’ll fill it with useless shit. Then I’ll decorate my windows with pictures of UFO’S and Bigfoot so everyone will know what a god damned idiot I am!
JR why the negativity, support the town and the persons who serve. The world and people are not perfect, continue to look for the positive and lend a helping hand when you can.
Excuse me CASPER! Didn’t you just post this…
“Zero (OBAMA) will be a no show in Gettysburg, Pa what a shame, impeach him, impeach him the crowd will yell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Casper
19 November 2013 at 1pm
Negativity seems to be your specialty!
JR, Alien intelligence is certain in our galaxy and throughout the cosmos and the evidence is recently mounting. Just search the web for ” ufo disclosure”, or see this recent clip from the former Canadian minister of defense (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xINSwvNx1A), or this recent clip from CNN ! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oj2B7uhNRU
What about Bigfoot? You forgot about Bigfoot! He’s as fake as you are.
Columbia Ghost and Casper are the same person!!! You’re not fooling anyone.
Before this conversation gets any further off track than it already has, it appears to me that there is a legitimate concern underlying this parade of name calling. Columbia has a problem with slumlords. Period. David Doolittle is most definitely one of them. He is not the only one. Sam Bigler is another. They, and others, have for years let the beautiful, historic architecture of Columbia’s downtown buildings fall into decay and decline.
These slumlords choose to rent their properties to people that don’t care about the condition of the apartments they live in, or value the community of Columbia in any other way. These slumlords do this because it allows them to keep putting money in their own pockets without having to give anything back to the town. It’s an easy excuse for them to blame it on the tenants, but the truth is that much higher quality tenants can be found if the properties were maintained adequately. A little investment goes a long way.
There are many people in Columbia who are not happy with this trend of negligence. They volunteer their time and resources to make this town a better place. And there are more than a few landlords who really do care about their properties. We want to see this town grow and prosper. It has a beautiful and fascinating history, and it’s future will be the same when we start to hold these men accountable.
My advice to anyone who chooses to defend these slumlords is this. Don’t! Don’t defend them. Columbia is on the road to recovery, and these men are on their way to a serious wake-up call.
The winds of change are blowing in our little rivertown and before long there’ll be no rooms to rent to Slumlords.
Loyd, It’s quite interesting how people can look at the same thing and see it two different ways, and with a true passion. Based on what I know, I would say ( and could prove if I cared enough to take the time ), that without a doubt ….. ” for decades he has been taking properties out of decay”, and that …………. ” for decades he has brought Columbia some of the best commercial and residential tenants in the community ” A far cry from a slumlord in my opinion, but you are certainly entitled to your own opinion.
Dear J. Riggleman,
The business on Third and Locust Street with the Bigfoot and UFO displays happens to be a museum. Rick Fisher, Director of the Museum of Natural Mysteries, has been supporting this museum with his own money and heart. This collection has to be one of the largest collections of urban legend in the country.
He is also my partner with me of The Columbia Haunted Tour Co. In our second season we have brought visitors from all over the Northeast on our tour. This history and haunts tour may be one of the best in the country and doubled our attendance in 2013.
Rick pays for everything out of his pocket, he believes, like myself, that this town has potential to be a tourist attraction. I work diligently to make our town, Columbia, one of the most historic towns in the nation.
Please support and refrain of negativity and help us change this great town with our hands of passion.
Thank you,
Chris Vera
Director, Columbia Historic Preservation Society
gentleman, although we have diversities in our views of what is going on in our borough of Columbia, I do believe all of us have the best interests of the town in common. Yes we do become frustrated and sound off and there is merit in pointing out, if facts support it, “underhandedness” (choose what u want to call it) Let’s stay as positive as possible and handle the problems, as best we can. Stay involved, make a difference.
PS: Chris Vera your comments were well said, thanks for the positive reinforcement.
Did you boys hold each other’s hand when you wrote all this?
Oh, JR stop it, you silly guy.
JR haven’t “heard” from you lately, everything ok?
Wishing you a Merry Christmas.