Columbia/Hellam/Wrightsville JANUARY 29, 2025
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LXV • NO 48
Building memories with a new playground
Not-so-fictional fantasy BY ADRIAN ESCHENWALD
Elementary and Our Lady of the Angels School, which are nearby; promoting health, wellness and social connections in a centrally located park; and supporting the long-term vitality of the borough by increasing property values and fostering community pride. The project is an initiative of the Janson Foundation, an organization established in 1924 by the brothers who owned Janson Steel & Iron Co. Its purpose is to maintain Janson Park and assist people in need. Members of the community can support the playground project in several ways. Personalized bricks may be purchased, with the purchase price matched by
For many people, the fantasy genre offers mystical words and thrilling adventures that serve as an escape from the stress and tedium of daily life. The realm of fiction is only limited by one’s imagination, allowing avid readers of J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels and attendees of the annual Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire to become daring adventurers and sage wizards. For Austin Eschenwald and his wife, Steph, the world of fantasy is far from fiction. Austin was born in Lancaster General Hospital, and he grew up in the Hempfield and East York areas between both his parents’ households. After graduating from Christian School of York in 2011, Austin attended Messiah College, where he met Steph during their freshman year. Today, you can find the husband and wife at Owl & Cedar Homestead, a 5-acre plot of land tucked inside a misty valley in Centralia, Washington. “ We wanted to live more resiliently, have less fragility in our lives and reduce our carbon footprint,” Austin said. “We realized how scary it is that we rely on grocery stores and big corporations, so we star ted trading with local farmers and building personal relationships.” In 2022, Au st in, S te ph and Steph’s mother, Estelle Ducharme, officially established Owl & Cedar Homestead to sell a variety of artisanal goods, including roasted coffee beans, handmade jewelry and fantasy-themed drinks such as jun kombucha and wildcrafted sodas. Austin also offers blade sharpening and repair services
See Playground pg 4
See Owl & Cedar pg 5
BY CAT SHANNON
Members of the local Elks Club and borough residents with a donation to the Janson Park playground
two distinct play areas: a Tot Lot ADA-compliant pathways; a small suitable for children ages 2 to plaza with seating for caregivers; 5 and a Youth Lot for children and sensory-friendly landscapages 6 to 12. ing with shade trees, native The Tot Lot will have age- plants and pollinator-friendly appropriate slides, perennials. climbing features The foundation and sensory-stim“This playground plans to begin conulating elements. struction in late will stand as a T h e Yo u t h L o t summer or early symbol of what will include larger fall. structures for The project we can achieve climbing, sliding addresses several together.” and swinging. community needs, “ N o t a b l y, t h e Resch said, includp l ay g ro u n d w i l l i n g p ro v i d i n g a include swings, a feature not cur- safe, inclusive space for children rently available in any Columbia to play and grow; enhancing local Borough park,” Resch said. “Acces- recreation options for families sibility improvements include and schools, including Park
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ou’re invited to invest in the future of Columbia by supporting a playground project at Janson Park. “This is more than just building a playground - it’s about creating a legacy that will serve our community for the next 25 years and beyond,” said Paul Resch of the Janson Foundation. “When you think about it, the playground we’re building today will be where countless childhood memories are made. It will be a place where kids laugh, play and grow; where families come together to share special moments; and where neighbors connect and form lifelong friendships.” The playground project began as the c ur rent e quipment , installed in 2002 in the four-acre park at 650 Cherry St., nears the end of its lifespan, Resch explained. “Though the equipment has been well maintained, it’s starting to show its age, with some original features no longer functional or removed for safety reasons,” he shared. “The goal is to create a new, modern and inclusive play space for the next generation of Columbia children.” Initial planning started in 2022, with significant momentum gained after securing a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), he noted. The $116,500 award, provided through the Environmental Stewardship Fund of the Community Conservation Partnerships Program, will cover half of the estimated $233,000 project cost. The new space will feature
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