Columbia’s Beloved Halloween Parade Draws Thousands as Community Celebrates Its Roots
(Columbia, Pa) – By Tiberius James For 79 years, Columbia’s Mardi Gras “Halloween” Parade has…
Columbia’s Beloved Halloween Parade Draws Thousands as Community Celebrates Its Roots
(Columbia, Pa) – By Tiberius James For 79 years, Columbia’s Mardi Gras “Halloween” Parade has brought neighbors together, and on Thursday night, the tradition once again proved why it remains one of the community’s most cherished events. Thousands of residents and visitors packed the streets as more than 90 floats, marching bands, fire apparatus, community…
Columbia’s Draft 2027 Budget Raises Borough Taxes 10% After Reassessment
Your tax rate is getting cut in half. Your tax bill isn’t. Welcome to reassessment math. COLUMBIA — Good news: Columbia’s borough tax rate is about to drop from 10 mills to about 5. Bad news: your house is apparently worth twice as much now, so the borough will still collect about 10% more. Borough…
Editorial: Columbia Can’t Afford Another Tax — Vote No on the Library Referendum
This is an opinion piece by The Columbia Chronicle. On Nov. 3, Lancaster County voters will be asked to create a new, permanent property tax for public libraries. We value our libraries, including the Columbia Public Library on South Sixth Street. But for Columbia homeowners, this is the wrong tax at the wrong time. We…
Home Goodies Hosts Pumpkin Carving Before Thursday’s Parade
COLUMBIA — Before the floats and marching bands roll down Locust Street on Thursday night, a downtown coffee shop is handing out carving tools — free of charge. HomeGoodies & Coffee, 336 Locust St., will host a free pumpkin carving ahead of the 79th annual Mardi Gras “Halloween” Parade on Thursday, Oct. 22. 5PM-7PM There…
79th Mardi Gras Parade Steps Off Thursday, Celebrating Columbia’s Roots
COLUMBIA — Columbia’s oldest autumn tradition takes to the streets Thursday night, and this year the town itself is the theme. The 79th annual Mardi Gras “Halloween” Parade steps off at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, from the Columbia Borough Fire Department at 10th and Manor streets. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Our Roots: Columbia…
Communication Gap Identified During School Evacuation Drill, Changes Planned
(Columbia, Pa) What began as a moment of confusion and concern for some Columbia-area parents has led to changes aimed at improving communication during future school safety drills. Earlier this morning, police vehicles blocked traffic near the school as students were evacuated from the building and walked to an alternate location as part of a…
Mayor Leo Lutz Should Consider Stepping Aside for the Good of Columbia
Opinion | The Columbia Chronicle For nearly three decades, Leo Lutz has served the people of Columbia. That fact alone deserves recognition. Public service is not easy, and few individuals dedicate such a significant portion of their lives to a community. Whatever one’s political views may be, that commitment should be respected. But leadership is…
Plenty Happening This Fall for Columbia Families!
As fall settles into Columbia, local organizations are gearing up with opportunities for kids, families, and community members to get involved. The Columbia Boys Athletic Association (CBAA) has announced that winter sports registration is now open, with registration closing on November 8. Families interested in winter athletics are encouraged to sign up early and take…
Columbia’s Next Generation of Leaders Starts Here: Pack 35 Invites Local Families to Join the Adventure
By The Columbia Chronicle Ask almost any longtime Columbia resident about their childhood, and chances are they’ll tell you stories about riding bikes until sunset, exploring the neighborhood with friends, camping, fishing, building things with their hands, and learning life lessons that couldn’t be found on a screen. Today, many parents worry that those experiences…
Columbia Borough Council Meeting Recap: Big Projects, Budget Questions, and a Little Licorice
The October 13, 2026, Columbia Borough Council meeting covered a wide range of topics, from traffic safety improvements and development projects to library funding, neighborhood concerns, and future borough planning. While the meeting stretched past the two-and-a-half-hour mark, residents who stayed the course were treated to equal parts public policy, spirited debate, and at least…
EDITORIAL: The Public Deserves Answers, So We’re Releasing the Records
Opinion | The Columbia Chronicle Editorial Board Transparency only works when the public has access to information. Over the past several months, The Columbia Chronicle submitted numerous Right-to-Know requests seeking information about Borough operations, Police Department administration, employment agreements, payroll records, leave balances, timesheets, departmental finances, and other matters involving local government. Those records were…
Columbia Police Chief Calls for Audit, Reveals Concerns Over Finances and Past Budget Cuts
COLUMBIA, Pa. — An emotional address from Chief Holly Arndt during a recent Columbia Borough Council meeting has sparked renewed public discussion about the finances, staffing, and future of the Columbia Borough Police Department. Speaking to council members and residents, Arndt painted a troubling picture of a department she says has been operating under significant…
Walnut Street Officially Set to Become a One-Way Street
COLUMBIA BOROUGH – One of Columbia’s busiest downtown corridors may soon see a significant traffic change as Borough Council considers an ordinance that would officially designate portions of Walnut Street as a one-way roadway. Under the proposal, the 100 and 200 blocks of Walnut Street would become westbound-only traffic. The change is tied to the…
Mayor Unveils Plan to Make Columbia Streets Safer
COLUMBIA BOROUGH – Columbia Mayor Leo Lutz is moving forward with a series of traffic and pedestrian safety improvements aimed at making borough streets safer for residents, students, and visitors. The mayor is scheduled to present details of his “Safe Streets” initiative during Borough Council’s October 13 meeting. While the presentation is still being finalized,…
Columbia Fire Department Seeks $1 Million Grant for New Ladder Truck
COLUMBIA BOROUGH – Columbia Borough Council is set to support a major grant application that could bring a new aerial ladder truck to the Columbia Borough Fire Department, replacing equipment that officials say is showing its age and nearing the end of its service life. Council is expected to consider Resolution 2026-22 during its October…
Why Is Today a Holiday? The Story Behind Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day
By The Columbia Chronicle Staff If you woke up this morning and wondered why the mail didn’t show up, the bank seemed unusually quiet, or your kids were asking if they had school, you’re not alone. Today, October 12, is a day with two names and a lot of history behind it: Columbus Day and…
End of Summer Market on the River to Celebrate Local Businesses and Community Spirit
(Wrightsville, Pa) As the leaves begin to change and another summer comes to a close, the End of Summer Market on the River is inviting the community to gather for a day of local shopping, great food, and family-friendly fun along the waterfront. The event will take place Sunday, October 18, from 10:00 a.m. to…
