Shapiro is asking for $150-$200M in frost aid for PA fruit growers

The Digest

Shapiro is asking for $150-$200M in frost aid for PA fruit growers

Gov. Josh Shapiro visited Cherry Hill Orchards in Pequea Township Friday morning and put a number on Pennsylvania's April 21 frost: $150 million to $200 million in specialty crop losses across the state. Cherry Hill owner Corey McCleaf has "virtually no apples or peaches to sell now" and won't see revenue from those trees until fall 2027 — while still paying for pruning, labor, and pesticides to keep the orchards alive. Lancaster County ranks 4th in PA for fruit and berry production, with a fruit industry generating over $13 million in annual sales. Shapiro has already written to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins asking for emergency funding; if growers show 30%+ losses on any single crop, USDA can open low-interest emergency loans.

That's a lot of orchards. A lot of family operations. Keep an eye on this one.

Read more at LancasterOnline →

Lancaster County tourism cracked $3.61 billion in 2025

Discover Lancaster's 2025 Tourism Economic Report dropped this week, and the numbers held strong: total economic impact rose 0.7% to $3.61 billion, visitor spending climbed half a percent to $2.74 billion (about $7.5 million every single day), and the industry supported 26,436 jobs. Tourism also contributed $254 million in state and local tax revenue — which effectively saved every Lancaster County household about $1,196 a year on their tax bill. Visitation dipped slightly from 10.2 million to 10 million, but four of the five key metrics still posted gains.

2026 is already ahead: lodging demand up 2.4%, lodging revenue up 4.7%, website traffic up 17.3%. Discover Lancaster credits the Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center opening, between-game travel during the Philadelphia FIFA World Cup matches, and Lancaster being a value-priced drive from the Northeast Corridor.

Read more at Central Penn Business Journal →

Columbia Avenue paving starts today and runs eight days

Plan ahead if your commute touches Route 462 in West Hempfield Township. PennDOT begins an eight-day paving project today between Oswego Drive and Prospect Road, with lane restrictions under flagging from 6 AM to 6 PM. Work runs Monday through Thursday this week, then picks back up May 18 through 21, weather permitting. The stretch between Oswego and Prospect carries traffic between Mountville and Columbia, so if you cut through there on your commute, this is going to be your two-week story.

It's eight days. You'll live. (You'll also leave fifteen minutes earlier.)

Read more at LancasterOnline →

What's happening

Monday

Mindful Monday at Binns Park | Family-friendly movement and meditation session led by Embodyment Wellness, with on-site vendors. | 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM | Binns Park, 100 N. Queen St., Lancaster | Free

Fried Green Tomatoes 35th Anniversary Screening | Fathom's Big Screen Classics brings the 1991 Kathy Bates / Jessica Tandy hit back with Leonard Maltin commentary. | 1:00 PM, 4:00 PM, 7:00 PM | Penn Cinema Lititz, 541 Airport Rd., Lititz | $12.50

Tuesday

Free HIIT Bootcamp with LAFitness | Outdoor high-intensity interval training. Bring water and a mat; free merch provided. | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Binns Park, 100 N. Queen St., Lancaster | Free

Latin Dance Night at West Art | Salsa and Bachata lessons from Luis Santiago followed by social dance. All ages, ADA accessible. | 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM | West Art, 816 Buchanan Ave., Lancaster | $10

Trap Shoot at Southern Lancaster County Farmer-Sportsmen's Association | Public trap shoot open to all skill levels. Eye and ear protection required. | 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM | 742 Hollow Rd., New Providence | $5/round

Wednesday

Bird-in-Hand Farmers Market | Indoor Amish-Mennonite market — produce, baked goods, jams, meats, crafts. April through November. | 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM | 2710 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird-in-Hand | Free to browse

Community Yoga with Lija at West Art | One-hour Vinyasa flow in the City Hall room. Pay-what-you-can. | 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM | West Art, 816 Buchanan Ave., Lancaster | $10–$15 suggested

Columbia Fish and Game Public Trap Shoot | Weekly public trap shoot with Ladies' Night on the Range from 6 to 7 PM. 25 birds per round. | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | 4339 Fairview Rd., Columbia | $5

Lancaster's Backyard Corn Hole League | Casual cornhole league with switcholio format (random partners each round) plus cold drinks. Walk-ups welcome. | 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM | Binns Park, 100 N. Queen St., Lancaster | $10/player

Trivia Night at Southern Market | Weekly trivia with $1 off draft beer and wine. Gift cards for top three teams. | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Southern Market, 100 S. Queen St., Lancaster | Free

Now Playing

Dear Evan Hansen at Fulton Theatre (Castagna Hall) — 12 N. Prince St., Lancaster, through May 17. | $20–$74

Joshua at Sight & Sound Theatres — 300 Hartman Bridge Rd., Ronks. Tue–Sat showtimes. | From $44 child / $82 adult

Live music

Monday

Open Mic Artist Sessions w/ Henry Devorick | Open Mic / Singer-Songwriter | 7:00 PM | Tellus 360, 24 E. King St., Lancaster | Free

Tuesday

Old Time Jam (led by Danny Mulligan) | Old-Time / Acoustic Jam | 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM | West Art (Coffee Bar), 816 Buchanan Ave., Lancaster | Free

Ned & Nancy See America (musical comedy) | Musical Theater / Comedy | 7:30 PM | Bird-in-Hand Stage, 2760 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird-in-Hand | Show only $47 adult / $18 kids; Dinner + Show $73.50 / $34

Wednesday

Live music at Stoner Grille | Acoustic / Cover Band | 6:30 PM | Stoner Grille, 605 Granite Run Dr., Lancaster | Free

BLAST OFF Open Mic (hosted by Emily Siegrist) | Open Mic | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM | West Art (Elbow Room basement), 816 Buchanan Ave., Lancaster | Free

Live music at McCleary's Public House | Rock / Acoustic | 7:00 PM | McCleary's Public House, 130 W. Front St., Marietta | Free