Lancaster Chamber's biggest night had Malcolm Gladwell back on stage

The Digest

Lancaster Chamber's biggest night had Malcolm Gladwell back on stage

The Chamber's 154th Annual Dinner packed more than 2,000 business owners and civic leaders (I was one of them) into the Lancaster County Convention Center last night. Bestselling author Malcolm Gladwelldelivered the keynote, the first time in Chamber history a speaker has been invited back, ten years after his original Lancaster talk comparing the county's business community to a soccer team. Four local leaders were honored: Joanne Ladley, co-owner of Kitchen Kettle Village in Intercourse, took the Exemplar Award. Marshall Snively, president of the Lancaster City Alliance, won the Thomas T. Baldrige Catalyst Award. Dan Sahd of Sahd Metal Recycling in Columbia was named Small Businessperson of the Year. And Dr. Sharee Livingston, OB-GYN and founding board member of Patients R Waiting, took home the Athena Award.

Four honorees, one bestseller, one packed convention center.

Read more at LancasterOnline →

Columbia just told a New York data-center bidder no thanks

Columbia Borough Council voted 7-0 Tuesday night to reject a $6.35 million offer for the 41-acre McGinness Innovation Park from New York-based Saadia Holding LLC, a bid widely expected to lead to a data center. More than 300 residents packed the Columbia Borough Fire Department, with dozens standing outside, and roughly 40 spoke during nearly four hours of public comment, overwhelmingly against the project. Council Vice President Heather Zink cited a technical flaw to anchor the vote: Saadia's offer failed to guarantee payment within Pennsylvania's required 60-day deadline. The attorney for Saadia said she didn't have authorization to fix it. Council member Tom Ziegler said it plainer: "If we vote yes, we know it's probably going to become a data center, and that I can't support."

The crowd cheered. A small borough flexed.

Read more at LancasterOnline →

Hempfield's rec center is bursting and asking the community to help it grow

The Hempfield Area Recreation Commission is starting a fundraising push to expand its recCenter at 1251 Stony Battery Road, where annual visits have topped 100,000 and membership has climbed from 4,377 in March 2022 to 6,567 in March 2026. Proposed upgrades to the 105,000-square-foot building include enlarging the fitness center, adding a second swimming pool, and building another gym. Executive Director Jeff Book said the parking lot is the most immediate problem: "We're just running out of parking." A consultant will deliver fundraising recommendations by June, leadership will pick the scope of work over the summer, and a construction firm gets hired in the fall. Funding will lean on donations, grants, and sponsorships.

A rec center growing because too many people show up. Worse problems to have.

Read more at LancasterOnline →

What's happening

Friday

Lancaster Rec Beer Garden at Musser Park | Summer beer garden kickoff with food trucks, yard games, and beer. | 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Musser Park, 135 N. Lime St., Lancaster | Free

America 250 Lecture Series: Mountain Mary | Historian Patrick Donmoyer on the sainted folk healer of the Oley Valley, Happy Hour format. | 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM | Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum, 2451 Kissel Hill Road, Lancaster | $10

Saturday

Baby Animal Festival | Mini Highland cows, goats, sheep, pigs, chicks and bunnies, plus a brewery/winery pop-up and a balloon artist. | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Cherry Crest Adventure Farm, 150 Cherry Hill Road, Ronks | $20.95 online / $27.95 at gate

Bird-in-Hand Artisan & Vintage Market | Outdoor vendors with jewelry, decor, clothing, and handcrafted and vintage goods. | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Bird-in-Hand Artisan Village, 2705 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird-in-Hand | Free

Spring Fest | Crafts, games, food, kids' activities, plus 4-H Seeing Eye Puppy clubs. | 10:00 AM | Covenant United Methodist Church parking lot, 315 W. Orange St., Lancaster | Free

The Manor of Make Believe: Improv for Kids | Silly improvised stories plus an interactive all-ages improv jam. | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Lancaster Improv Players, 16 S. Prince St., Lancaster | Free (pay-what-you-want)

Pressed Flower Art Workshop | Design your own pressed-flower piece in a glass frame. All materials included. | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Ken's Gardens, 2467 Old Philadelphia Pike, Lancaster | $35

Memorial Day Service at Lancaster Cemetery | Sons of Union Veterans (Camp No. 19) host the 158th annual service. Keynote by Ret. Lt. Gen. Dennis L. Benchoff. | 11:30 AM | Lancaster Cemetery, 205 E. Lemon St., Lancaster | Free

Extended Family Care Grand Opening | Grand opening with music, refreshments, and a few surprises. | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Extended Family Care of Lancaster, 20 E. McGovern Ave., Lancaster | Free

A Scoop of Hope Ice Cream Social | Sixth annual social with raffles, bounce house, face painting, and food. | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM | 521 Club, 2400 Butter Road, Lancaster | Free

African American Cultural Fair & Parade | 12th annual parade kicks off the fair's Saturday at Reservoir Park. Marching bands, vendors, midway rides. | 1:00 PM | Reservoir Park, 832 E. Orange St., Lancaster | Free

Create a Hex Sign Workshop | Design and paint your own PA Dutch hex sign using guided geometric templates. | 6:30 PM | Horst Arts, 17 N. Main St., Manheim | $45

Next Stop Comedy at Our Town Brewery | Touring stand-up showcase. | 8:00 PM | Our Town Brewery, 252 N. Prince St., Lancaster | $20

Sunday

Bridges & Brunch with Strasburg Scooter Tours | Guided scooter ride through Amish back roads to a 19th-century covered bridge, plus a $10 dining voucher to Casey Jones' or Speckled Hen. | 8:30 AM | Strasburg Scooter Tours, 246 N. Decatur St., Strasburg | $89 single seat / $189 double

Lively Lancaster Scavenger Hunt | Two-hour digital scavenger hunt through historic downtown Lancaster, led by a remote interactive guide. Caps at 30. | 11:00 AM | Square One Coffee Roasters, 145 N. Duke St., Lancaster | $27

Lancaster International Food Experience | Walking food tour with stops at six-plus Lancaster international restaurants, hosted by Unique Lancaster Experiences. | 12:30 PM | Lancaster City Welcome Center, 38 Penn Square, Lancaster | Check website for pricing

Pennsylvania Bridal & Wedding Expo | Bridal fashion shows, vendor giveaways, and dozens of wedding pros across gowns, venues, photography, and catering. | 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM | Lancaster County Convention Center, 25 S. Queen St., Lancaster | Free passes / $10 at door

Now Playing

All Shook Up | Jukebox Elvis musical at Dutch Apple, running through June 20. | Fri 1 PM & 7:30 PM · Sat 1 PM & 7:30 PM · Sun 1 PM | Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre, 510 Centerville Rd., Lancaster | $55-$83 (show / dinner+show)

Joshua | Sight & Sound's biblical epic of Joshua leading the Israelites to the Promised Land, in long-run residency. | Fri 3 PM & 7 PM · Sat 11 AM, 3 PM & 7 PM | Sight & Sound Theatres, 300 Hartman Bridge Rd., Ronks | $44 child / $82-$104 adult

Choir Boy | Tarell Alvin McCraney's coming-of-age drama set at an elite prep school, running through June 7. | Fri 7:30 PM · Sat 7:30 PM · Sun 2 PM | Ephrata Performing Arts Center, 320 Cocalico St., Ephrata | $35-$54

Live music

Friday

Lee Brice (with Payton Smith) | Country | 8:00 PM | American Music Theatre, 2425 Lincoln Hwy. E., Lancaster | $99-$139

Colebrook Road (album release party) | Bluegrass | 7:30 PM | West Art, 816 Buchanan Ave., Lancaster | $20 advance / $25 door

Shakedown Citi | Rock | 8:00 PM | Phantom Power, 121 W. Frederick St., Millersville | $15 advance / $20 day of show

Tuck & Friends | Alt Rock / Jam | 8:00 PM | Southern Market, 100 S. Queen St., Lancaster | Free

Saturday

Lou Gramm: The Voice of Foreigner | Classic Rock | 8:00 PM | American Music Theatre, 2425 Lincoln Hwy. E., Lancaster | $59-$89

The Eras of Taylor (Taylor Swift tribute, live band) | Pop Tribute | 7:00 PM | Mickey's Black Box, 101 Rock Lititz Blvd., Lititz | $37+

Lancaster British Brass Band | Brass Band | 4:00 PM | Trinity Lutheran Church, 31 S. Duke St., Lancaster | Free

Sunday

The Big Do 3 (with Skipping Stones) | Rock | 3:00 PM | Phantom Power, 121 W. Frederick St., Millersville | $30

Rob's Rock School Presents: Summer Jam Showcase | Rock | 3:00 PM | Mickey's Black Box, 101 Rock Lititz Blvd., Lititz | $12.50 advance / $15.70 GA

Lancaster British Brass Band | Brass Band | 4:00 PM | Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 750 Greenfield Rd., Lancaster | Free

Jam Session with Matt Wenger | Acoustic | 2:00 PM | Tellus360, 24 E. King St., Lancaster | Free