A Strasburg author's debut picture book just hit #1 on Amazon

The Digest

A Strasburg author's debut picture book just hit #1 on Amazon

Jessica F. Santini of Strasburg just landed her debut children's picture book at #1 New Release in Children's Pet Books on Amazon. Joey Buttons and the Big Tree — the first in a new series — released May 13. Santini spent 15+ years in NYC marketing and PR at advertising agencies before moving to Lancaster County and pursuing a longtime dream of becoming a children's author and illustrator.

The book is inspired by her real teacup Yorkie, Joey Buttons, who's built a 30,000-follower Instagram presence over the last decade. In the story, Joey wags his tail in a helicopter motion and flies into unexpected predicaments — his human companion Leo and a circle of neighborhood friends help bring him home. The themes are problem-solving, persistence, and community.

More titles in the series drop Q3 2026.

Read more at The World of Joey Buttons →

Truist is closing its 132-year-old Columbia branch on July 28

Truist is closing its Columbia branch on July 28, ending a 132-year run of banking at the same downtown address. The institution was founded in Columbia in 1888 as Central National Bank, moved to the current Beaux-Arts building at 325 Locust Street in 1911, and survived six name changes — National Bank and Trust Co., Central Savings & Loan, Farmers First, Susquehanna, BB&T, Truist — before this one. The building itself has massive columns, a decorative eagle above the door, and "Central National Bank" carved into the stone. Truist owns the 3,700-square-foot building and will market it for sale.

After July 28, Columbia has no bank branch within the borough. The nearest Truist is five miles out at 1110 Corporate Blvd., and Northwest Bank operates a Hempfield Township location at 18 S. 18th St. on Columbia's western edge.

Read more at LancasterOnline →

Lancaster city studio rent is finally cooling — by 6% in one month

Lancaster city studio rent is taking a breath. Per Tuesday's Zumper data, the average studio rent dropped 6% over the last 30 days to $1,075 a month — but it's still up a wild 25% year-over-year. One-bedrooms are down 4% (now $1,200). Two-, three-, and four-bedrooms are flat or slightly up.

Two neighborhoods are pulling the highest rents in the city: the central business district (bounded roughly by West James, Farnum, Mulberry, and Lime) averages $1,639. The stadium district around Penn Medicine Park is right behind at $1,585.

Big picture: Lancaster's median rent sits 23% below the national average and 10% below where it was a year ago. April was the slowest national rent-growth month since 2014 (excluding 2020). The market is finally cooling.

Read more at LancasterOnline →

What's happening

Wednesday

Choose Clean Water Conference (Final Day) | Final day of the three-day Chesapeake Bay watershed gathering. | All day | Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square, 25 S. Queen St., Lancaster | $325 full conference (registration closed)

DVS Conference: Building a Community of Care | All-day conference at the Ware Center on community care and support systems. | 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM | The Ware Center, 42 N. Prince St., Lancaster | $65 early-bird / $100 regular

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

Penn State Health Pediatric Center Open House | Tour the new Children's Lancaster Pediatric Center. | 4:30 PM – 7:00 PM | 1430 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster | Free

West Art Community Yoga | Vinyasa flow with Lija. Pay-what-you-can. | 5:30 PM | West Art, 816 Buchanan Ave., Lancaster | $10–$15 suggested

Columbia Fish & Game Trap Shoot | Weekly public trap shoot. | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | 4339 Fairview Rd., Columbia | $5 per 25 birds

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

Thursday

Lititz Farmers Market Opening Day | First night of the 2026 outdoor market season. | 4:30 PM – 8:00 PM | Lititz Springs Park, 24 N. Broad St., Lititz | Free admission

Lancaster Fringe Fest Opening Night | Four-day theater festival across 18 citywide venues. | 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Lancaster Fringe Fest HQ, 100 N. Queen St., Lancaster + venues citywide | $10 wristband + pay-what-you-decide per show

Decades × LAAPI Heritage Month Fundraiser | Fundraiser celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage. | 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM | Decades, 438 N. Queen St., Lancaster | Free (donations encouraged)

Common Run Club at The Fridge | Weekly community group run. | 6:30 PM | The Fridge, 534 N. Mulberry St., Lancaster | Free

PDF at Zoetropolis: Lone Star | Penn Documentary Festival screening of John Sayles's Lone Star. | 6:30 PM | Zoetropolis Cinema Stillhouse, 112 N. Water St., Lancaster | Check zoetropolis.com for tickets

Historical Society of Salisbury Township: Tales of Amish Life | Talk on Amish life and history, open to the public. | 7:00 PM | Salisbury Township Building, 5581 Old Philadelphia Pike, Gap | Free

Trivioke at Southern Market | Weekly music-themed trivia and karaoke combo. | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Southern Market, 100 S. Queen St., Lancaster | Free

Friday

Bird-in-Hand Farmers Market | Same as Wednesday. | 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM | 2710 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird-in-Hand | Free admission

Sickman's Mill Season Opening Day | Pequea Creek tubing outfitter opens for the season. Cash only, no reservations. | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Sickman's Mill, 671 Sandhill Rd., Pequea | $30 classic tube / $40 all-day pass (Mon–Fri only)

Lancaster Fringe Fest Day 2 | Second night of the four-day festival. | 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Lancaster Fringe Fest HQ, 100 N. Queen St., Lancaster + venues citywide | $10 wristband + pay-what-you-decide per show

All Shook Up Opening Night at Dutch Apple | Elvis-musical opens at Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre. | 6:00 PM dinner / 7:30 PM show | Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre, 510 Centerville Rd., Lancaster | $78–$83 dinner+show / $55 show only / $32–$37 kids

Free Family Movie Night: The Greatest Showman | Outdoor movie under the trees. Bring a blanket. | 6:30 PM | Binns Park, 100 block N. Queen St., Lancaster | Free

Henry IV Part 1 Opening Night (Lancaster Shakespeare Theatre) | LST opens its summer with Henry IV at F&M's Green Room. | 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Green Room Theatre at F&M, 548 College Ave., Lancaster | $30 + fee

Joshua at Sight & Sound | Two Friday showings of the Bible-based stage production. | 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM | Sight & Sound Theatres, 300 Hartman Bridge Rd., Ronks | $82–$104 adult / $44 child (ages 2–12)

Live music

Wednesday

Live Music Wednesdays | Variety | 6:00 PM | Stoner Grille, 605 Granite Run Dr., Lancaster | Free

Brothers of the Heart (Night 1) | Country / Gospel | 7:00 PM | American Music Theatre, 2425 Lincoln Hwy E., Lancaster | $39–$69

Acoustic Open Mic with Andrew Pauls | Open Mic | 7:00 PM | West Art, 816 Buchanan Ave., Lancaster | Free

Live Music Night | Variety | 7:00 PM | McCleary's Public House, 130 W. Front St., Marietta | Free

Thursday

501 Live Open Mic | Open Mic | 5:30 PM | Lititz Shirt Factory, 5 Juniper Ln., Lititz | Free (donations welcome)

Jazz Thursdays at the Plough | Jazz | 6:00 PM | The Plough, 25 S. Queen St., Lancaster | Free

Brothers of the Heart (Night 2) | Country / Gospel | 7:00 PM | American Music Theatre, 2425 Lincoln Hwy E., Lancaster | $39–$69

Pentagram | Doom Metal | 7:00 PM | Phantom Power, 121 W. Frederick St., Millersville | $53+

Live Music Night | Variety | 7:00 PM | McCleary's Public House, 130 W. Front St., Marietta | Free

Shadowgrass | Bluegrass | 7:30 PM | West Art, 816 Buchanan Ave., Lancaster | $30 advance / $35 door

Friday

Final Boss Big Band | Big Band Jazz | 7:00 PM | West Art, 816 Buchanan Ave., Lancaster | $20 advance / $25 door

Sidewalk Prophets | Christian / Acoustic | 7:00 PM | The Barn at Paradise Station, 312 Paradise Ln., Ronks | $37+ (mezzanine only — GA sold out)

Live Music Fridays | Variety | 7:00 PM | Stoner Grille, 605 Granite Run Dr., Lancaster | Free

Live Music Night | Variety | 7:00 PM | McCleary's Public House, 130 W. Front St., Marietta | Free

nom de plume | Indie / Folk / Rock | 7:30 PM | Zoetropolis Cinema, 112 N. Water St., Lancaster | See venue

Leo DiSanto & Friends | Folk / Americana | 8:00 PM | Tellus 360, 24 E. King St., Lancaster | Free (21+)

Nielsen Family Band | Space Country | 8:00 PM | Southern Market, 100 S. Queen St., Lancaster | Free