The "Mercedes-Benz of coffee machines" gets fixed right here

The Digest

The "Mercedes-Benz of coffee machines" gets fixed right here

When a Jura automatic coffee machine breaks anywhere in America, it comes to Lancaster County. The Swiss company runs its only certified U.S. service center in Rapho Township, and this week it unveiled a new $42 million, 94,000-square-foot hospitality and service hub at 1475 E. Main St. that opens by early next month. The building is modeled after Jura's home base in Switzerland and is nearly three times the size of the current shop, which handles about 24,000 machines a year. The machines run $1,199 to $9,999 new, and the U.S. recently passed Germany in monthly sales for the first time in the company's 95-year history. CEO Emanuel Probst says German trade partners call Jura the "Mercedes-Benz of coffee machines."

Local firm Bates Enterprises and its 28 employees will run the place, with room to double.

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Celebrate Lancaster takes over Queen Street on Friday

The city's summer block party is back this Friday, 11 AM to 9 PM on the first two blocks of North Queen Street, Ewell Plaza and Binns Park included. It's free, it's rain or shine, and this year's headliner is 90s R&B group 112, the guys behind "Peaches & Cream" and "Cupid." The event has run every year since 1998 and usually draws 12,000 to 15,000 people; the city is hoping for 20,000 this time. In place of the usual second stage, Penn Square becomes a free kids zone with a dunk tank, mini golf, inflatables, and a carnival fun maze.

Heads up if you park downtown: road closures start at 7:30 AM Friday and run until midnight, including North Queen, East Grant, North Market, and East Orange from 10 AM. Cars left on the route will be towed. (Consider yourself warned.)

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What's happening

Wednesday

Wednesday Morning Breakfast Ride | Lancaster Bicycle Club's casual 25-mile ride to a breakfast stop and back; helmets required. | 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Manheim Township Athletic Complex, 2883 Weaver Rd., Lancaster | No fee listed; RSVP required

Tadpole Time: Water Fun | Nature stories and hands-on water play for kids 2-5 along the Susquehanna. | 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Columbia Crossing River Trails Center, 41 Walnut St., Columbia | Free for Columbia Borough residents; $4 per child otherwise

Flourish Sip & Shop | Evening farm market with local vendors; ticket includes a mini bouquet, charcuterie cup, and puppy station. | 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM (doors 5:45 PM) | Kissel Valley Farm, 645 E. Oregon Rd., Lititz | $25

Lancaster County Women for Good: Gather & Grant | Hear from three local nonprofit finalists, then vote on who takes home the community grant. | 6:30 PM | Southern Market, 100 S. Queen St., Lancaster | Free

Pajama Storytime at Musser Park | Miss Shannon's outdoor bedtime stories and songs; final session of the summer, bring a blanket. | 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM | Musser Park, N. Lime & E. Chestnut streets, Lancaster | Free

Northern Saw-whet Owl Migration Talk | Researchers share what radio telemetry is revealing about the tiny owl's migration. | 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM | Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, 100 Museum Rd., Stevens | No cost listed

Trivia Night at Southern Market | Weekly trivia with $1 off draft beer and wine and vendor gift cards for the winners. | 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM | Southern Market, 100 S. Queen St., Lancaster | No cover listed

Astronomy in the Park | All-ages evening learning telescopes and constellations after sunset; walk-ins welcome. | 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Lancaster Public Library Mountville Branch, 120 College Ave., Mountville | Free

Thursday

Next Gen: Round Table | Rotating round-table conversations with four Lancaster community leaders, built for young professionals. | 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM | Annie Bailey's Irish Public House, 28-30 E. King St., Lancaster | Free

Lititz Farmers Market | Thursday-afternoon market with seasonal produce, handcrafted goods, and live music. | 3:30 PM - 7:00 PM | Lititz Springs Park, 24 N. Broad St., Lititz | Free admission

Date Night in the Garden | Evening garden stroll with live strolling music; pre-order charcuterie or bring your own drinks. | 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Conestoga House & Gardens, 1608 Marietta Ave., Lancaster | $12 per person

Food Truck Thursday: Traveling Js | The Traveling Js truck parks at the library for an easy outdoor dinner night. | 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM | Milanof-Schock Library, 1184 Anderson Ferry Rd., Mount Joy | Free entry; food for purchase

Trivia Night at Quarryville Library | Quiz Bowl veteran Phil Gruber hosts adults and teens in teams of up to four; registration required. | 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM | Quarryville Library, 357 Buck Rd., Quarryville | Free

Advanced B Ride | Lancaster Bicycle Club's no-drop 16-18 mph group ride toward Leola with periodic regroupings. | 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM | Lancaster Catholic High School, 650 Juliette Ave., Lancaster | Free with LBC membership

Trivioke Night at Southern Market | Music trivia that flows straight into karaoke, with $1 off beer and wine 7-9 PM. | 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM | Southern Market, 100 S. Queen St., Lancaster | No cover listed

Now Playing

Joshua | Sight & Sound's massive biblical production runs through December 31, and every show this week is sold out, so book ahead. | Wed 11 AM & 3 PM · Thu 11 AM & 3 PM · Fri 3 & 7 PM · Sat 11 AM & 3 PM · Tue 11 AM & 3 PM | Sight & Sound Theatres, 300 Hartman Bridge Rd., Ronks | $82-$104 adults, $44 ages 2-12

Dear Soldier Boy | Brand-new musical about an Amish woman writing letters to troops in 1990, running through October 21. | Wed 1 PM · Thu 7 PM · Sat 1 PM · Tue 1 & 7 PM | Bird-in-Hand Stage, 2760 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird-in-Hand | Show only $47 adult, $18 child; lunch & show $68/$31; dinner & show $73.50/$34

Ryan & Friends: Laughter in Lancaster | Ventriloquist comedian Ryan and his puppet cast serve clean comedy through October 15. | Wed 7 PM · Sat 7 PM | Bird-in-Hand Stage, 2760 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird-in-Hand | Show only $34 adult, $15 child; lunch & show $55/$28; dinner & show $60.50/$31

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | Servant Stage's high-energy retelling closes its summer run this Sunday, August 16; no shows Wed or Thu, four final chances this weekend. | Fri 7 PM · Sat 11 AM & 3 PM · Sun 3 PM | Servant Stage at Warwick High School, 301 W. Orange St., Lititz | Pay-What-You-Will

Live music

Wednesday

The Mystery Jazz Trio | Jazz | 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM | The Greenfield Restaurant & Bar, 595 Greenfield Rd., Lancaster | No cover listed

Brass Pockets | Horn-band dance covers | 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | New Holland Community Park, 400 E. Jackson St., New Holland | Free

Blast Off Open Mic with Emily Siegrist | Open mic for musicians, rappers, poets, and comedians (18+ recommended) | 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (sign-ups 6:30 PM) | West Art, 816 Buchanan Ave., Lancaster | Free

Thursday

Live Jazz at Plough | Jazz | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | Plough, 25 S. Queen St., Lancaster | No cover listed

70's Live! by Prima Theatre | 70s disco and funk tribute | 7:30 PM (food trucks from 5:00 PM) | Calvin G. High Pavilion at Greenfield, 1828 William Penn Way, Lancaster | Free, no tickets required

Home Free | Country a cappella | 7:30 PM | American Music Theatre, 2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster | $49-$79

The Early November with The Dangerous Summer & Wither Away | Emo / alt-rock | 8:00 PM (doors 7:00 PM) | Mickey's Black Box, 101 Rock Lititz Blvd., Lititz | $34.70 GA / $45.40 balcony, +$5 day of show

FLOWERBOMB with Tess Becket & Paltrow | Indie rock | 8:00 PM | Zoetropolis Cinema Stillhouse, 112 N. Water St., Lancaster | $15 advance