Welcome back, friends. I found myself outdoors and exploring the county again this past week. We made our way to Safe Harbor and realized that while we could see the Enola Low Grade Trail overhead, we couldn’t find the way to get our bikes up there.
Ah well, anytime outdoors is better than seeking “perfect” time outdoors. See ya out there!
I have a full letter this week…
Lancaster Local Author Book Launch
Lancaster CIty Springart Walk
Lancohunts winners
Lots of things to do around our county
-Ed
This week’s cover photo was from a recent hike at Windolph Landing Nature Preserve. The Virginia Bluebells have peaked, but it’s still very much worthy of an afternoon hike
Have a Lancaster local business that pours into the communty & have an interest in partnering with the Loop?
LANCASTER LOCAL AUTHOR PROFILE
Spring is a rebirth…a time we are surrounded by nature flowing from one season into the next. Sometimes, though, a feeling of exhaustion can find us. Sports, work, life all zoom along. So, I was happy to meet local self-published author Mary Rothwell, who has just lauched her new book, Nature Knows.
In the book, she explains that you aren't the problem; rather, your environment plays an integral role in how life feels. Just as a cactus would wither in a rainforest, we all have a unique essential need for light, rest, and boundaries. By using plant-based metaphors, Mary delivers a solution to stop "fixing" ourselves and start choosing conditions that actually allow us to thrive.
Mary is also a Master Gardener, certified forest therapy practitioner and loves the native Sycamore tree.
She’s holding a free book launch tonight (last minute RSVPs are welcome) at 6p at Evermore Events. Refreshments, author interview, audience Q&A, and giveaways. Plus a bonus photo booth and free plants to take home! Space is limited, so grab a friend and RSVP. Don't miss this chance to reconnect with your natural plant rhythm here in Lancaster. join the launch
Mary is giving away a few signed copies of her book. Click below for a chance to win!
LANCO HUNTS RECAP:
DON’T FORGET YOUR MOTHER’S DAY
We had a fantastic turnout this past Saturday for our first Mother’s Day-themed scavenger hunt! A huge thank you to PCI Auctions and all of our wonderful partners.
Congratulations to our four grand prize winners who tracked down the mystery fifth business location…quickly making their way to Reimagine Beauty Med-Spa on Oregon Pike.
They were greeted with a bouquet of flowers, a champagne toast, and a $250 gift card!
Thank you as well to our four business locations; Central Market Flowers on Queen, Nouvelle Nails, The PotteryWorks, and Brent L. Miller Jewelers for joining the fun and supporting mothers.
The raffle winners of the additional gift cards will be drawn tonight at 6p. Tune in to see some of the winners drawn live on the LancoHunts and Lancaster Loop Instagram accounts.
We’ll also post the full winners list on the LancoHunts website and contact winners by email.
We’re currently seeing if we can pull off a Father’s Day edition. Reply to this email if you’re a business that would be interested in supporting a dads scavenger hunt!
Thank you to Austin at 415eastrecording for capturing all the hunt video & photos!
The 5Ws of Lancaster
Who / What / Where / When / Why
Featured Events
May 15 Rhubarb Festival @ Kitchen Kettle 9-5p 5/16 as well - Rhubarb King & Queen, dancing, dips, sauces, pies, and drinks w/the world’s only rhubarb race-car derby
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May 16 Conestoga Crusher 10k, 5k, Little Crusher @ Kellys Run Nature Preserve 9-3p organized trail race with views of the Susque from Pinnacle Overlook 1,256 feet of vert
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May 16 & 17 Lancaster City Spring Artwalk 25+ locations with demos, food, drinks, pop-ups, and more. Walk Gallery Row and enjoy the art from over 100 artists. find a map here
Plan Ahead
June 13 3rd Annual Power Packs Pickleball Palooza @ Millersville Univ 9a two levels of play tournament in support of power packs
submit your events and/or have them featured
Today - Tuesday May 12th
Latin Dance Night @ West Art 7-10p Salsa & Bachata lessons with high-energy
Wednesday May 13th
Make a Seascape Charcuterie Board @ Lavender Acres 6-830p resin on a board
Tadpole Time @ Columbia Crossing River Trails Ctr 1030-1130a who lives in a tree
Stewarding for Biodiversity @ Middle Creek WMA 630-8p Hawk Mountain Sanctuary behind the scenes of caring for the hawks and wildlife
Let’s talk Barns @ Sehner-Ellicott-von Hess House 6-830p learn about the Swiss-German Sweitzer barn popular around Lancaster
Thursday May 14th
Date Night in the Garden @ Conestoga House & Garden 5-8p bring chairs or a blanket - bring food and drink w/live music from luke cagno
Lanc Write Now @ Lanc Library 6-8p an hour of writing surrounded by a support group bring a drink or food or just come with a keyboard or pen and paper
Friday May 15th
Plant Sale @ Mountville Library 10-5p plants and new-to-you tools
Kiddo’s Movement @ West End Yoga 630-830p drop off & fill your cup at Levengoods or Our Town Brewery and recharge
Ecopsychology & Healing Gifts of Nature Retreat @ The Welcoming Place 10-5p 5/16 as well - understand how connection to nature heals - classroom and in the field learning
Clubbing at Woodcrest Villa 10-1p 20 different clubs showcased on site
Front Porch Grilling @ S. Clyde Weaver 10-3p 5/16 as well - samples from the grill
Country Night @ Dan’s Pub 5-9p free line dancing
Glass & Tile Art @ Southern Market 6-8p suncatcher or a grapes wall decor
Comedy @ The Nest 7-10p first show at the new venue with Philly-based comedian Sarah Bell headlining & byob
Saturday May 16th
Turn a Bowl @ PA Guild of Craftsmen 9-12p hardwood becomes a bowl
Bobo and Smith @ Lititz Shirt Factory 8-10p the sounds of Simon & Garfunkel, The Beatles, The Everly Brothers, and Fleet Foxes by nyc duo
Flag In Day @ Lancaster Cemetery 1p meet at cemetery house on Lemon St and help place flags on veterans graves
Cricket Rice Crispy Treats @ Env Center 1-2p edible bugs - do they taste like chicken
Band of Llamas @ Warehouse District Beer Garden 6-9p plus food trucks
Annapolis, MD area Freedom Sites Trip by African Amer Historical Soc. 8a-8p visit Freetown and Tubman museum round-trip plus boxed lunch
Comedy to benefit Warwick Comm Ambulance Assoc @ Mickey’s Black Box 7p 3 acts for ambos
Wheels & Wings Festival 5k @ Brethren Village 8a proceeds support Rotary Club’s Summer Youth Experience to develop leadership skills
Paddle in the Park @ Rockford River Access 1115-1215p up and down in a canoe
Cars & Coffee @ Brubaker Chrysler Jeep 8-12p free and family-friendly
Marietta Day @ Market Street 9-3p Community yard sale & Street Fair with food trucks and artisans
Inside the Wild @ Acorn Acres 2-4p make your own animal tracks book
Balloon Twisting @ Ewell Plaza 11-3p family-friendly learn how to twist without popping
May Dance @ St John’s 7-10p Contra Dance no exp needed live music w/playing with fyre
Raw Milk Tour @ Miller’s Bio Farm 1230-2p Farmer Ben and his herd showcase their practices & raw dairy milk up
Nate Bargatze @ Giant Center 3p or 7p big dumb eyes tour
Lititz Vet Fest @ Lititz Springs VFW & Springs Park 3-6p food, beer, wine, spirits, music, and a cigar bar
Baron Brew Fest @ Market Square in Manheim 3-6p beer, wine, cider, mead, & spirits
Sunday May 17th
Community Day @ Lone Oak 1-4p celebrate 5 years of hoofbeats, heartbeats, & healing - food, games in support of therapeutic & educational services with rescued horses and donkeys
Fashion of the Revolution @ Historic Rock Ford 2-4p What were Lancastrians wearing
Alloy SC vs Sewell Old Boys @ LBC Funk Field 3p final home game and fan fest
Cars & Coffee @ Urban Werks 9-11a Mean Cup provides the liquid gold
State Street Makers Walk @ State St 17603 12-3p neighbors showcase their crafts
Empowerment Queens event @ Lancaster Arts Hotel 1-4p pagentry support & confidence building
Cousins Maine Lobster @ Tanger 1130-7p order ahead or lobstah at the truck
Monday May 18th
‘American Rambler’ author event @ Lititz Springs Inn 630p with Isaac Fitzgerald - telling of his journey following Johnny Appleseed’s epic journey
CONTRIBUTE TO THE LOOP
All your support goes directly towards keeping the Lancaster Loop alive and well.
The Loop will always be 100% free to read while being independently and locally written by a guy with a keyboard who loves Lancaster. Many thanks to all of you -Ed
LANCASTER LOOP URL + IRL
Step # 1 is the “URL”. A weekly orchestrated email for you, by me, to grow us.
Step #2 is the “IRL” (in real life) Neighbors meeting neighbors.
LOOP DINNER CLUB
ROUND 3 on June 4th 630p @ Lancaster City restaurants
Take the quiz, get paired with 5 other Loop readers, receive your restaurant invite the morning of, pay your way and enjoy a meal with neighbors. If the first two dinner clubs hold true, I bet you’ll even make some new friends 🥳 🎉.
Click the pic below to be paired with your tablemates!
LOOPERS LEARN MAHJONG: Details continue to come together for the first open play event. I’ll have an announcement soon!
LOOPERS LANCO HUNT: We had a great time putting on the Mother’s Day scavenger hunt. We’re looking for partners to sponsor a Don’t Forget Your Father’s Day version. If you’re interested just reply to this email and let’s explore how we can support local small businesses and celebrate dads this June.
Where’s Wal’Ed’o?
The clues last week showed the drive up book return over my left shoulder and the walk up book return. The Manheim Township Public Library was kind to donated multiple advanced reader copies and gift cards to their Book Spot.
Congrats to KaLynn Loeven, Caroline Brennan, Kenny Snyder, Ryan Tjalsma, and Laurie Teague you all are winners! Keep and eye on your email I’ll link you up with Allegra at the library to arrange your pickups!
Know a local shop you’d love to see featured? If you know a great business, shop, or restaurant reach out to me. Bonus points if you can intro me to the owner! Just forward this email to the owner or GM - I welcome the introduction.
👇 Click the pic to guess this week’s “Where’s Wal’Ed’o?” location 👇
↑↑↑ CLICK THE PIC TO GUESS & WIN ↑↑↑
Here’s a clue: It's survived a lightning strike and I've lived in Lancaster for 0.533% of the time it's been alive.
As always thanks for staying…in the ‘Loop! -Ed
P.S. Property is brought to you by Jeremy Ganse with RE/Max Smarthub
4 bed | 4 bath 2.3 acres up for auction with a horse barn, mature fruit trees, berry patches, and a large veggie garden
P.P.S. Today in History: 100 years ago today Airship Norge, a semi-rigid airship completed the first flight over the North Pole. Cramped and cold quarters led to tense moments between crew as ice from the propellers damaged the outer fabric requiring emergency in-air repairs. Amazing how air travel has advanced in a century!
If you enjoyed today’s newsletter forward it to a friend who’d be your pick to fly over the North Pole in a giant balloon with three engines strapped to it.
P.P.P.S. Did you guess this week’s divider photo shows the 717 area code with a celery stalk as the 1?