17512 Columbia

Archive for the ‘Treasures’ Category

FREE MUSEUM ADMISSION NEXT SATURDAY! Free behind-the-scenes tour, free fashion show, free beer samples …

In Everyday Living, In Columbia, Opportunities, Treasures on September 16, 2017 at 8:16 pm

COLUMBIA, PA: On Saturday, September 23, in conjunction with Smithsonian Magazine’s Free Museum Day, the National Watch and Clock Museum will hold its third annual Cloktoberfest. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. enjoy behind-the-scenes tours of the Museum, make-and-take a clock, a steampunk fashion show, book sale, silent auction, area food trucks, beer, and vendors selling horological, industrial, steampunk, and handmade items, and more!

nwac comb

“The behind-the-scenes tours will include a peek into the area of the Museum that many do not get to see. Visitors can expect to see pieces that are not on display, a look into how these items are stored, and information on what goes into the National Watch and Clock Museum’s collection of nearly 13,000 objects. Three tour times will be offered: 10 a.m., noon, and 2 p.m. to allow a more personal experience,” explains Curator of Collections Kim Jovinelli.

Kids of all ages will also make their own clock to take home. Our popular Make-and-Take program will be available for participants to create a unique clock. There is a fee of $5 per clock.

Food trucks, including TriCounty BBQ, SOL Creations, and Penny’s Ice Cream, will be on hand with all sorts of tasty options to eat, and Columbia Kettleworks is even creating a special brew for the event!

The Museum thanks financial sponsor, M & T Bank, and media sponsor, 96.1 SOX, for assisting with this year’s Cloktoberfest.

SOURCE: news release

“Right of Way Photos: Pennsylvania Residents in Path of Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Brace for Fight Over Construction” – The Intercept

In Everyday Living, Government, History and Heritage, Opinions, Opportunities, Treasures on August 21, 2017 at 5:19 pm

pipeline“A sign demarcating Williams-owned land at the southern terminus of the planned Atlantic Sunrise natural gas pipeline near Buck, Pa., on July 17, 2017.”

“If you know where to look, you can spot them along the roadsides as you drive through the hilly farmland of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Short wooden stakes stand exactly 50 feet apart, topped with orange tape. The markers seem benign, but for many Lancaster residents, the threat they represent is anything but: These poles mark the proposed path of the Atlantic Sunrise natural gas pipeline.

“The Atlantic Sunrise project is a $3 billion expansion of natural gas giant Williams’s Transco pipeline network. Building it will require burying a 42-inch pipe under miles of Amish country, below farms and rivers, in the face of opposition from many Lancaster residents.

“Many of the pipeline’s opponents are already in open rebellion.”

Continue reading this article (and take a look at the photos) at The Intercept.

 

Robert J. Keagy | well-liked Columbia fixture dies

In Everyday Living, In Columbia, People, Treasures on August 1, 2017 at 5:18 am

bob keagyRobert J. Keagy, 87, of Manor Township, passed away on Sunday, July 30, 2017. (Read the entire obituary notice at the Workman Funeral Homes, Inc. Website.)

Columbians have known Bob as the consummate produce guy. Mostly always smiling and jocular, Bob was the operator of a retail operation at 438 Locust Street, Columbia.

Before opening the Locust Street store, Bob was the largest stand holder at the Columbia Historic Market House for many years. Among our trove of Market House photos from the last half of 2010, we found these fond photos of Bob working at Keagy’s Produce stand at the Market House

Corn facts 006Our all time favorite, Corn Man!

Friday afternoon market 005Bob’s trusted sidekick, Victor.

Gift certificate winnerBob, presenting a gift certificate to Debra Smith.

Breads, Snacks expands again 002Santa Bob, Christmas 2010

shoppers 02The Market House in a photo from Keagy’s Produce at the holidays 2010.

Veggie Basket 003A Bob Keagy original “veggie basket.” Shoppers often saw Bob preparing fruits and vegetables for baskets while he tended market.

keagyAh, Bobby, Columbians will remember and miss ye.

Thank you for all you taught us … and everyone.

 

 

 

Take a ride on the trolley

In Everyday Living, Government, History and Heritage, In Columbia, Opinions, Opportunities, Treasures on July 23, 2017 at 2:47 pm

If the nearly 8,000 adults living in Columbia took a ride on the trolley, the borough could knock off $24,000 from the purchase price. And that’s what we decided to do today – take a ride on the trolley for $3.00.

trolley 2

elite-trolleyElite Coach of Ephrata initiated a contact with Kathy Hohenadel at the Susquehanna Chamber of Commerce to let her know that the company had a trolley for sale. Following the call Hohenadel informed the borough’s Community Development committee chairperson about the offer. Several councillors and borough staff made the trip to Ephrata to see, inspect and drive the outfitted trolley (with a 1993 Cummins engine). The trolley is a “classic” with only 53,000 miles. The borough will pay $39,900 for the trolley. – From a Columbia news, views & reviews article in December 2016.

For three bucks we took a full-route ride that lasted about 45 minutes. Columbia Borough lists trolley information at its Website – And Columbia news, views & reviews included that information in a July 12 post.

take the trolley

Columbia Spy, too, included that news item here.

But we cannot find any information about the trolley schedule or rates at the Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce Website. What we were able to find is this apparent out-of-date trolley ride:

2015 trolley trip

We caught the trolley by the Columbia Market House on South Third Street. There’s a “trolley stop” sign just outside the market house’s doors. But because cars were parked in the space designated as a “trolley stop” the trolley driver driver pulled over in a space 20 or so feet beyond the “trolley stop.”trolley stopCitizens and visitors to Columbia can download a phone app that shows where the trolley is at the moment. What’s missing is an estimated time of arrival at the point at which you may want to know.

There was a family, two adults and four children, on the trolley when we boarded. A driver and guide/narrator/docent completed the roster for this ride. The guide/narrator/docent was exceedingly well spoken; the children, for the most part showed little interest listening to the narrative. It was thought, insightful, deliberate and quite well-presented.

At the Chamber of Commerce the family alighted and only the three of us rode the rest of the route.

The interior of the trolley is quite nice – beautiful wood, brass and leather adorn the area where people sit.

trolley interior

The trolley stop at the Turkey Hill Experience has disappointing signage. We get it, the THE was quite crowded today, but there has to be a better way to communicate.the sign 3

 

And what does the trolley’s ridership, revenues and expenses look like? Columbia news, views & reviews asked the Borough and the Chamber of Commerce for that information and here’s what we gleaned from the right-to-know request responses.

june numbers

To download the above graphic as a .pdf for enlarging, sharing and / or printing, click on the graphic or here.

We don’t know how much the “trolley stop” signage cost? Nor fuel costs? Nor the promised “promotion” costs?
And we received conflicting data about the banner revenues. In one communiqué, the revenue was shown as $1,200; in another, $1,500.

 

Mary Loreto – a life of giving

In In Columbia, People, Treasures on July 21, 2017 at 3:37 am

mary d

Mary Loreto’s obituary – Lancaster Online

Some “scenes seen” strolling in two towns on sultry Sunday afternoon

In Everyday Living, In Columbia, Lists, Opinions, Opportunities, Treasures, Uncategorized on July 2, 2017 at 7:16 pm

The parking lot at the Turkey Hill Experience was crowded; no doubt, visitors succumbed to the air-conditioned home of ice-cream making magic. Meanwhile street traffic in Columbia and Marietta in the sweltering heat of the high temperature hours, not many people were in the streets or the sidewalks. Those who we did see were riding bicycles along Marietta’s Front Street. Today’s sojourn did not take in the River Park in either town.

mad dogs

SOURCE: AZQuotes.com

Probably a bit of both, we ambled the main streets and several side streets and spied these scenes.

20170702_164759In Columbia, trolley stop signs have sprung up around town. This one is in the 400 block of Locust Street.

20170702_164835The result a loss of at least three metered parking spots here.

20170702_152314

20170702_152317But right in front of a condemned property – visitors love to see this.

20170702_153039And next to a gallery venue.

And right across the street from an establishment with one of many “border town-like” flashing signs. The same signs that are forbidden by the town’s codes.

And then, the trolley came by …20170702_153322 (1)with only a couple of riders on it.

tomatoesA favorite sign of summer!

flowers beeBusy bee on flowers.

20170702_165146

20170702_165205Marietta, as Wrightsville, uses the signage that says it is the state law to yield to pedestrians in designated crosswalks. “When traffic-control signals are not in place or not in operation, the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.” – Pennsylvania statute

churchColumbia’s got seriously gorgeous skyline properties.

hotelsAnother and …

house on Locusta house on a lower numbered Locust Street block.

BLIGHT20170702_160538And this eyesore and impediment to economic development is in the heart of Columbia.

The Mayfly is another story, though.20170702_154453

20170702_162724 (1)Shopped at The Mayfly, 8 South Third Street, Columbia to look about and cool off. Bought a few gifts – Columbia-emblazoned goblets.

On the topic of mayflies … 20170702_155611A mayfly happy hunting ground.

20170702_144533A number of homes in Marietta display this sign.

 – more scenes seen to come in a day or two –

 

 

 

 

 

Today’s news – Tuesday, June 27, 2017

In Everyday Living, Government, In Columbia, Lists, Opinions, Opportunities, People, The Susquehanna, Treasures on June 27, 2017 at 7:18 am

Today’s news and information gleanings from here and there!

Quote for the day … “It seems like the AG is trying to find a way to punish us, the board or the students.” – Current Manheim Township School Board of Directors president crying about the possible loss of school funding as a result of the recent auditor general’s report about duplicitous, non-transparent actions on the Board’s part. [NOTE: B-w-a-a-h, the Board’s crying now because they got caught! Why was it OK when they were screwing taxpayers?!] – This is from a page one article in today’s LNP – Always Lancaster.

bwaah

  • It’ll likely get worse before it gets better. Nationally, the death toll for the opioid addiction epidemic could top 650,000 in the next decade. – STATNews
  • No wonder E-town’s Chamber made a decision to cut the executive director’s compensation! | Pay cuts are needed when the Chamber of Commerce’s executive director’s compensation was “$68,391, and the organization’s overall revenue as nearly $181,000.” If it’s a one-person private entity, one thing; but totally something different when it’s a not-for-profit. – From an article in today’s LNP – Always Lancaster.

oh please

  • Want to get sickened or pissed off? Read this piece from today’s LNP – Always Lancaster. The writer, a former Armstrong president writes: “We acknowledge that there are crooks in the business world, along with top-level executives who don’t give a hoot about the people who make their companies run. Some executives are paid outrageous salaries and bonuses just for showing up without making big mistakes.”

27 - lego

28 - famikly fun

“Congress Just Made It Officially Legal To Kill Hibernating Bears” – Huffington Post

In Everyday Living, Government, Opinions, People, Treasures on April 15, 2017 at 10:59 am

hibernating

Yep, our illustrious elected public servants (protectors of all things fair) recently passed another great piece of legislation – yeah, our guy voted it’s OK to kill sleeping bears.

Here’s the Huffington Post article.

And POTUS signed the bill that allows sportsmen (really?) essentially to have a free-fire zone in Alaska, “home to 16 U.S. national wildlife refuges and a vast variety of iconic animals — wolf cubs and hibernating bears are now fair game for hunters.

Bring on those helicopters and high-impact weaponry for fair hunting, sportsmen! Kill ’em when they’re sleeping and babies.

Nice that Lancaster’s getting a historical marker and the recognition for Columbia’s “underground railroad” entrepreneurs: Smith and Whipper

In Everyday Living, History and Heritage, People, Treasures on April 9, 2017 at 6:03 pm

undergroundSource: Lancaster Online article

Read more at Lancaster Online: “Underground Railroad marker among 3 going up in Lancaster city park.”

Some may recall in December 2013, “Randolph Harris, an independent consulting historian, presented a Power Point presentation about the Underground Railroad and Columbia’s connection to its importance in American History. He won council’s endorsement to submit a letter to the National Parks Service committing the Borough’s support to keep alive the historical relevance. His LinkedIn profile says he is ‘Currently engaged in several efforts on behalf of individuals and non-profit organizations to protect and preserve historic sites and natural resources through citizen engagement at the local government level. Recent work as a consultant for research and documentation projects for historic sites associated with the Underground Railroad in Pennsylvania, with the orgs./agencies such as LancasterHistory.org., Lancaster County Convention Center, Pennsylvania Dutch Convention & Visitors Bureau, Franklin County (PA) Visitors Bureau and the Office of Tourism/Commonwealth of PA. Applications are reviewed by National Park Service’s Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program.’” – Columbia news, views & reviews

WOW! Over $6 million contributed in Extraordinary Give!

In Everyday Living, In Columbia, Lists, Opinions, Opportunities, People, Treasures on November 21, 2015 at 8:46 am

xg final

The generosity of thousands of Lancaster Countians resulted in an astounding $6,134,244.78 raised in the 2015 Extraordinary Give, the 24 hour period that ended at midnight last night.

Columbia’s participating nonprofits benefited as well; one wonders why the other nonprofits, registered with the Internal Revenue Service, with Columbia addresses do not participate in this matching funds initiative.

According to the Extraordinary Give Website, these Columbia nonprofits were listed as participating organizations: Read the rest of this entry »