Last night, the heart of Columbia sparkled as families gathered for the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting, a tradition lovingly planned and carried forward by Don Murphy and his wife, Becky. For more than a decade, the Murphys—together with the Merchant’s Association of Columbia (MAC), volunteers, and countless community members—have turned this event into a celebration…
Columbia Borough’s Old-Fashioned Christmas: Saturday Schedule Columbia Borough is set to sparkle this weekend with its annual Old-Fashioned Christmas celebration. Saturday brings a full day of family-friendly events, local shopping, and holiday traditions—all leading up to the much-anticipated Tree Lighting Ceremony at Locust Street Park. Saturday, November 29 – Event Timeline A Day to Remember…
A Republican View: Shared Responsibility for Columbia’s Budget Woes Columbia Borough faces a projected $1.1 million shortfall heading into 2026. Joe Lintner’s recent article frames this as a Republican-driven spending problem, but the facts tell a broader story: both Republicans and Democrats have overseen years of fiscal mismanagement that brought us here. Overspending Is Bipartisan…
Lieutenant Holly Arndt: A Columbia Borough Leader Reaches New Heights Columbia Borough, PA – In a profession where leadership and integrity define success, Lieutenant Holly Arndt has achieved a milestone that sets her apart. The Columbia Borough Police Department recently announced her graduation from the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety’s School of Police Staff…
Columbia Borough Faces Budget Crossroads: Reserves or Responsible Tax Policy? By Jesse Sweigart | ColumbiaPA.online Columbia Borough Council is weighing difficult choices as it prepares the 2026 budget. Contrary to recent reporting, the borough’s reserve fund stands at approximately $1.6 million, not $1.1 million. While some members have suggested draining those reserves to avoid a…
Columbia Police Officers Join Toys for Tots Shopping Event The holiday season is a time for giving, and Columbia Borough Police officers recently embraced that spirit by participating in the annual Toys for Tots campaign. This program, organized by the United States Marine Corps Reserve, helps provide toys to children whose families may struggle to…
Saving Columbia’s Forgotten Dungeons: Rick Fisher’s Mission to Preserve History Beneath the bustling streets of Columbia, Pennsylvania, lies a hidden piece of American history—a series of six crumbling, windowless cells known locally as the Market House Dungeons. Built in 1836, these subterranean chambers were originally intended as storage for market vendors but were later converted…
Level Up Pizza: Columbia’s Slice of Escape Columbia Borough may be busy raising taxes and patching rotting beams, but one thing remains solid: the pizza at Level Up Pizza. Sitting right in the heart of 17512, this spot has become more than a restaurant—it’s a refuge from borough headaches and a reminder that good food…
Editorial: Columbia Schools’ $782K Surplus — Time to Put Taxpayers First By ColumbiaPA.online Columbia Borough School District has reported a $782,383 surplus at the close of the 2024–25 fiscal year. As we previously covered on ColumbiaPA.online, this is a rare moment of financial breathing room for a district that has long operated under tight margins….
“He’s Done This Before”: Columbia’s Pedro Vega-Rivera Sparks Statewide Manhunt After Infant Abduction in York YORK CITY, PA — November 13, 2025 Pedro Luis Vega-Rivera, 31, is no stranger to violence—and now, he’s no longer just a threat. He’s a fugitive. On Wednesday evening, Vega-Rivera abducted his 6-month-old daughter, Amiyah Rivera, during a domestic dispute…
The Government’s Back, Baby—and Columbia’s Got Questions, Coffee, and School Cash After 43 days of bureaucratic limbo, the federal government has finally reopened, and Columbia Borough is breathing a cautious sigh of relief—while still clutching its coffee and muttering, “Well, that was a ride.” President Trump signed the funding bill late Wednesday night, ending the…
Calling All Young Republicans: Step Up for Columbia Borough Columbia Borough has always been a community built on grit, tradition, and the belief that everyday people can shape the future. Now, more than ever, that spirit is needed in our local Republican Committee. We’re calling on the next generation of leaders—young Republicans across Columbia Borough—to…
Columbia Borough School District Should look at Transportation Options, Let’s look to Lancaster for Inspiration Columbia, PA — Columbia Borough School District (CBSD) has long been designated a walking school district, meaning it does not provide bus transportation for its general student population. Students are expected to walk or bike to school, with transportation only…
Veterans Day Feature: ColumbiaPa.Online Honors Our Heroes On this Veterans Day, ColumbiaPa.Online proudly honors the men and women of Columbia Borough, Lancaster County, who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Columbia’s story is inseparable from America’s military history — from the Civil War to Afghanistan, our community has always answered the call. Columbia’s…
Leafageddon 2025: Columbia Borough Braces for the Great Sweep-Off COLUMBIA, PA — Residents of Columbia Borough, grab your rakes, move your cars, and prepare your souls. The annual showdown between man, machine, and Mother Nature is upon us. That’s right: leaf collection and street sweeping notifications are back, and they’re coming for your curbs. According…
From Runways to Rollercoasters: Why McGinness Isn’t the Bermuda Triangle of Development (November 10th, 2025) Columbia, Pa. If you read Joe Lintner’s latest piece on the McGinness Airfield, you’d think Columbia Borough had just purchased a cursed plot of land where developers vanish into thin air and zoning laws are written in invisible ink. Rick…
