Elizabethtown esports won state again, and the state cut them an $80K check

The Digest

Elizabethtown esports won state again, and the state cut them an $80K check

Elizabethtown Area High School's esports team won its second straight Pennsylvania state championship in May, sweeping Westmont Hilltop 3-0 in Marvel Rivals at Mount Aloysius College. Right after the trophy, coach Austin Henderson (also the district's assistant technology director) learned he'd secured an $80,000 state grant, brokered with the help of Sen. James Malone (D-East Petersburg). The money goes toward gaming computers, consoles, and furniture for a dedicated on-campus arena where the 32-player squad can practice and host tournaments. Right now they share a computer room and the school library.

Pennsylvania still hasn't sanctioned esports as an official varsity sport (more than 20 states have). Henderson's stated goal is to fix that. He took over the program last year, played competitively as a teenager, and clearly wants a trophy case with a room around it. Between the back-to-back titles and the grant, the doors are, in his words, blown wide open.

Read more at LancasterOnline →

Storm cleanup turned into a county-wide group project

When Saturday's storms took a linden tree down across Sam Kulp'syard in the Wheatstone development, he wasn't home. By the time he pulled in with his dad's utility trailer and a couple chainsaws, neighbors had already started showing up. Kids and adults. Chainsaws and pizza runs. Someone rented a dump trailer with brakes on Monday because it could handle more weight. Final tally: 15 people, 3 pickup trucks, 3 trailers, 5 chainsaws, and (per Kulp) an ocean of Gatorade. Eleven trailer loads went to the township composting center.

While that was happening, John and Barb Kurtz were on their annual family trip to Bethany Beach. They came home to a cleared yard. A tree had hit their garage but caused no real damage. Barb Kurtz says she's got a lot of adjectives right now: eternally grateful, blessed, fortunate, lucky. She and John hosted a picnic Thursday. Hot dogs, burgers, ice cream bar for the kids.

Read more at LancasterOnline →

What's happening

Friday

Historic Rock Ford Mansion Tours | Guided tour of General Edward Hand's 1794 Georgian mansion overlooking the Conestoga. | 10 AM, 12 PM & 2 PM | Historic Rock Ford, 881 Rockford Rd., Lancaster | $15-$18 (kids under 6 free)

Kids Night Out at Tiny Town | Drop-off kids night with dinner, play, and crafts, bumped from July 4. | 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM | Tiny Town, 533 Janet Ave., Lancaster | $40 per child

Book Fair for Grown-Ups with Lindsay Hameroff | Author talk and signing with Lindsay Hameroff, hosted by Columbia Public Library (registration required). | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Columbia Public Library, 24 S. 6th St., Columbia | Free

Heartstrings Puppet Club | Drop-in puppet-making workshop at Zoetropolis, all materials provided. | 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM | Zoetropolis Cinema Stillhouse, 112 N. Water St., Lancaster | $5-$10 suggested donation

Lancaster Stormers vs. Southern Maryland Blue Crabs - Fun Friday | WellSpan Fun Friday with pregame entertainment and kids run the bases after. | 6:45 PM | Penn Medicine Park, 650 N. Prince St., Lancaster | $16.51-$26.19

Friday Night Improv: GO BULLDOGS! | Improv from Lancaster Improv Players' Friday-night cage match with audience suggestions. | 7:00 PM | Lancaster Improv Players, 16 S. Prince St., Lancaster | Pay what you will

Friday Night Improv: Luxury Gas | Late Friday-night improv show from Lancaster Improv Players. | 8:30 PM | Lancaster Improv Players, 16 S. Prince St., Lancaster | $15

Saturday

Cars & Coffee at Penn Medicine Park | Open car meet with raffles, entertainment, and free Square One coffee, hosted by Stoner Car Care and Urban Werks. | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Penn Medicine Park, 650 N. Prince St., Lancaster | Free

Conoy Wetlands Field Trip | Free guided birding walk through the county's premier wetland preserve; register by 6 PM Friday. | 7:00 AM | Conoy Wetlands Nature Preserve, Prescott Rd., Bainbridge | Free

Bird-in-Hand Farmers Market | Indoor country market with Amish and Mennonite vendors selling produce, soft pretzels, whoopie pies, and crafts. | 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM | Bird-in-Hand Farmers Market, 2710 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird-in-Hand | Free admission

Washington Boro Tomato Festival | Annual tomato-sandwich festival with games, raffles, and produce sales benefiting Blue Rock Fire Rescue. | 3:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Washington Boro Community Park, 2010 River Rd., Washington Boro | Free admission

Lancaster Stormers vs. Southern Maryland - Fireworks Saturday | Penn Medicine Fireworks Saturday lights up the sky after the game. | 6:45 PM | Penn Medicine Park, 650 N. Prince St., Lancaster | $16.51-$26.19

Sunday

Lancaster Hiking Club - Lebanon Valley Rail Trail | Moderate five-mile hike on the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail through State Game Lands 145, open to all. | 1:15 PM (meet time) | Buchanan Park, Race & Buchanan Aves., Lancaster | Free

Lancaster Stormers vs. Southern Maryland - Superhero Sunday | Players wear superhero jerseys, kids get pregame catch and on-field autographs, and can run the bases after the game. | 1:30 PM | Penn Medicine Park, 650 N. Prince St., Lancaster | $16.51-$26.19

Vegan Brunch at Annie Bailey's | South Central PA Vegan Meetup takes over Annie Bailey's for a plant-based brunch gathering. | 12:00 PM | Annie Bailey's Irish Public House, 28-30 E. King St., Lancaster | Order off menu

Now Playing

West Side Story (Closing Weekend) | Fulton's mainstage Bernstein-Sondheim classic wraps its run Sunday. | Fri 7:30 PM · Sat 2 PM & 7:30 PM · Sun 2 PM | Fulton Theatre, 12 N. Prince St., Lancaster | Tickets at thefulton.org

Mary Poppins | Dutch Apple's Disney musical about a magical nanny. Runs through August 8. | Fri 6 PM dinner / 7:30 PM show · Sat 11:30 AM lunch / 1 PM show & 6 PM dinner / 7:30 PM show · Sun 11:30 AM lunch / 1 PM show | Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre, 510 Centerville Rd., Lancaster | $78 matinee / $83 evening dinner & show · $55 show only

Freaky Friday The Musical (Opening Day) | Dutch Apple's opening matinee of the Disney body-swap musical. Kid-friendly summer series, runs through August 4 with matinees only. | Fri 11:45 AM lunch / 12:45 PM show | Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre, 510 Centerville Rd., Lancaster | $21 show only / $24 lunch & show

Joshua | Sight & Sound's biblical epic on the fall of Jericho. Runs through Dec. 31. Closed Sundays. | Fri 3 PM & 7 PM · Sat 11 AM, 3 PM & 7 PM | Sight & Sound Theatres, 300 Hartman Bridge Rd., Ronks | Adults $82-$104 · Kids 2-12 $44

Ned & Nancy See America | Bird-in-Hand Stage's musical comedy about a retired couple's cross-country RV misadventures. Runs through July 25. | Fri, Sat, Sun: see box office for showtimes | Bird-in-Hand Stage, 2760 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird-in-Hand | See Bird-in-Hand box office

Ryan & Friends: Laughter in Lancaster | Ventriloquist Ryan Bomgardner's variety show. Runs through October 15. | Fri, Sat, Sun: see box office for showtimes | Bird-in-Hand Stage, 2760 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird-in-Hand | See Bird-in-Hand box office

Live music

Friday

Terry Fator | Vegas ventriloquist and vocal impressionist, "America's Got Talent" winner. | 7:30 PM | American Music Theatre, 2425 Lincoln Hwy E., Lancaster | $49-$89

Dave Wilson Trio | Jazz, 21+. | 7:00 PM | Tellus360, 24 E. King St., Lancaster | Free

Making A Mockery / Bedroom Floor / Lofting | Indie / rock triple bill, 21+. | 7:00 PM | Tellus360, 24 E. King St., Lancaster | Cover at door

Sweet Leda + Lower Case Blues | Blues and soul double bill. | Doors TBA | West Art, 816 Buchanan Ave., Lancaster | Ticketed

Saturday

Allegro Orchestra Lancaster: Stars & Stripes Forever | Patriotic pops concert on the F&M stage. | 3:00 PM | Barshinger Center at F&M College, 620 College Ave., Lancaster | Ticketed

The Nobles | Rock covers at the Belmont summer series. | 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM | Charles Frey Park at Shoppes at Belmont, 1600 Fruitville Pike, Lancaster | Free

Across the Pond | Irish / Celtic set at New Holland's summer concert series. | 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | New Holland Community Park, 400 E. Jackson St., New Holland | Free

Groove Train | Soul / R&B / funk in the vineyards, 21+. | Gates 5:30 PM, music 7:30 PM | Nissley Vineyards, 140 Vintage Dr., Bainbridge | Ticketed

Jimmy Blue and the Jilted Playboys | Blues at Mount Hope's Blues & Brews. | 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM or 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Feasting Glen at Mount Hope Estate, 2775 Lebanon Rd., Manheim | $69.95 GA / $26.95 kids 5-11

Y2Kids | 2000s cover band, 21+. | 10:30 PM | Tellus360, 24 E. King St., Lancaster | Cover at door

Sunday

Las Guaracheras | Salsa and Afro-Latin at Long's Park (back after last week's storm cancellation). | 7:30 PM | Long's Park Amphitheater, 1441 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster | Free (donations welcomed)

The Nomads | Oldies rock & roll at the East Donegal gazebo. | 6:00 PM | Fuhrman Park Gazebo, 110 Rock Point Rd., Maytown | Free

Mike Kropp | Acoustic pop and rock covers (60s-90s) at New Holland's summer series. | 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | New Holland Community Park, 400 E. Jackson St., New Holland | Free

The BridgeTones | Dance and party covers spanning the 60s to present. | 6:30 PM | Lititz Historical Foundation, Mary Oehme Gardens, 145 E. Main St., Lititz | Pay what you can

The Travelin' McCourys | Bluegrass headliner at West Art. | 7:30 PM | West Art, 816 Buchanan Ave., Lancaster | Ticketed

Three Dog Night | Classic rock legends at AMT. | 8:00 PM | American Music Theatre, 2425 Lincoln Hwy E., Lancaster | Ticketed