Kendra Forry-Robinson in her massage studio where she creates art with her hands
Good Morning Loopers!
I can almost feeeeel spring in my bones…what a beautiful snowy morning to wake up to yesterday. Glad it wasn’t a foot and hopefully it’s the last blast of the season!
Today at 6pm is your last chance to warm up with community at the inaugural Dinner Club.
I’m excited to meet so many of you this Thursday, the 26th, for our first in-person Lancaster Loop meet-up. If you see me this week please excuse my full-on smile mixed with mild pre-event panic.
Ready to shrink Lancaster and make some new friends?
Come out Thursday night! Cut off for registration is 6p tonight.
Cheers to community! -Ed
Today’s opening ‘art’ is a photo of Kendra who founded and runs Mount Joy Massage and Wellness. She’s been practicing massage therapy for seven years and, in doing so, creating art with her hands.
Two years ago Kendra was looking for space to open a restaurant when she stumbled upon what felt like the perfect location for her own massage studio.
She felt the pull. Yet, she did what so many do when thinking about starting a business or new venture. She asked herself, “What if I fail?”
A friend later lovingly interrupted that spiral with a better question…
“What if you succeed?”
Mount Joy Massage and Wellness was born.
Kendra is a wildly passionate entrepreneur, a single parent, and someone who wakes up full of ideas and asks, “How else can I serve my community?” What started as her vision is now a growing team of therapists working alongside her in a calm, plant-filled studio. She approaches massage as an art, “I let the tissue speak to me.”
Kendra is a Lancaster School of Massage graduate whose high client retention rate speaks for itself. She believes in abundance over scarcity. There’s enough healing, enough business, and enough opportunity for everyone. She LOVES seeing clients walk out feeling better than when they arrived.
Beyond massage, her studio offers kundalini yoga and sound bath experiences. Soon she’ll be launching a new Wednesday 9:30-10:30a yoga class. She’s even keen to opening her space for small gatherings of folks who want a peaceful place to meet and connect. Be sure to check her out on IG, she’s got a great sense of humor.
Book with Kendra or her staff and learn more on the table
Because she believes in giving as much as receiving…She’s giving away a FREE 60-minute massage at her Mount Joy studio.
To enter the giveaway answer the following question below!
What's the longest massage Kendra has ever performed?
Lancaster Local Linkup
I’ve met a lot of new people while putting this newsletter out over the past few months. And when I do, many ask, ‘Who is Ed?’
I’m excited to meet so many more of you this Thursday at the Dinner Club after-party.
As a precursor here’s a bit about me. If you peek at my LinkedIn you might think you clicked the wrong profile.
Founder of an elementary school. Executive career coach. Retired police detective. Washington Wizards ballboy. Real Estate Investor. Commercial roofing sales.
These days…I’m a guy who LOVES waking up way too early on Tuesdays and sending all the good news and finds of our county and city to folks who love Lancaster.
As circuitous as my path has been, a common theme is that I’ve always enjoyed people.
Meeting them. Protecting them. Building with them. Serving them. Connecting them. The badge, the classroom, the boardroom, the rooftops, the sweatmops, this newsletter…different arenas, but same heart.
And that’s what the Loop is really about.
So today I’m flipping the script.
You know a little about me…I love to know about you.
Because this thing isn’t just my newsletter.
It’s our community.
👇 Quick poll: What do you do? 👇
After you click to vote, feel free to add more details or clarity on the next page!
The 5Ws of Lancaster
Featured Events
Feb 27th: Hamilton X Resident Evil requiem in-person event 3-7p Limited Edition release of 2 watches. You are welcomed into their beautiful space off N Duke that’s been curated to honor the history of the building and modern day watch beauty. time is a main character
— — — — — — —
Feb 27 to 3/1: Lancaster Roots & Blues 7 venues, 47 bands & artists, 100% jams. 1, 2, or 3 day admission available. From jazz, Americana to funk, soul, rock n roll, rockabilly, zydeco, reggae, and of course the blues all weekend jams
— — — — — — —
Mar 1: Lunar New Year Celebration at Ewell Plaza & Binns Park by Lanc Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders group 11-3p food, games,crafts, comm, culture in the year of the horse
Plan Ahead
March 13th Paint the Town Green by SmartHub Foundation & MusiCorps @ Lititz Shirt Factory 6-9p
Community, small plates, good luck and live music by 3 Hour Tour
Income shouldn’t determine access to quality music education, MusiCorps transforms lives with private 1-on-1 lessons for SDoL students in Lancaster. This celebration and gathering allows your dollars to directly benefit local music and change local lives - grab early tix
March 28th Lanc Local Authors showcase @ Manheim Pub Library, reach out now to be featured. inspire the next generation
Today - Tuesday the 24th
Square Dance @ West Art 630-9 live music & calling by JW boots optional
Wednesday the 25th
Mosaic Night Lamp Paint @ Lavendar Acres 6-830p wine & apps
Meat Bingo @ American Legion #34 6p fifteen bucks for ten games
Fiber Arts Group @ Lanc Public Library 2-4p bring your project & commune
Thursday the 26th
Tracking with Lanc County Parks 1030-1130a Columbia Library ages 5-15 identify animals by tracks and scat
Moss & Stone Kokedama @ Gallery Grow 530-7p create your nature
Common @ Tellus360 630p run 730-9 music free run club, $15 concert w/concert after by Jxke & Mr. Fatty lose your voice
Glassblowing Workshop @ Nissley Wine 6-8p heart shaped bud vase
Friday the 27th
Meet & Greet Drawings by Trent @ Heart Gallery 5-7p artist with 6.8 million social media fans
Jeris Johnson w/Butcher Babies & Eva Under Fire @ Phantom 6p triple threat
Pokemon Night @ Decades 4-10p themed food & drinks celebrate 30 years, wear a pokemon shirt get 10 free arcade tokens
Watercolor Club w/Jo @ West Art 3-4p no exp req’d paint from within
Junk Journaling @ Butter & Bean 630-8p create your own supplies provided
Saturday the 28th
Plant Swap w/ Not Beige Shop 11a bring, trade, meet green thumbers
Spring Shootout @ Lanc Archery Academy 8-4p bows and quivers
Coldplay vs Imagine Dragons by candlelight @ Barshinger Center 630p played by the listeso string quartet
Shed Hunt @ Environmental Center 10-12p white-tailed deer antlers
West African table @ Gourmet Market Lanc 6-830p soups and fufu
Spring Kickoff @ Rohrer Seeds 8-5p demos, giveaways, free seed packet
Anime Night @ Phantom 6p 18+ main character energy
Sunday 1st
Maple Sugaring Demo & Winter Tree ID @ Lanc Central Park 1130-130p 2.5 miles with a reward of maple sugar candy
Dads Go Birding w/Good Dads Lanc @ Middle Creek Wildlife Mgmt Area 10-12p snow many snow geese
Bingo to support Lanc Early Ed Center @ Benchmark Const Brownstown numbers support learners
Syntherapy by Major Vibes @ West Art 2-330p sound bath to calm the mind
Book Bedazzling @ Coffee & Cream Columbia 5-8p 12+ bring you fav book and let it pop
Permanent Jewelry by Studio Sevn @ Loxley’s 11-2 taylor swift inspo
Monday the 2nd
Drum Circle @ Arabian Knight 7-9p bring a drum or eat some shawarma
Lancaster Located: National Watch and Clock Museum
Time travel exists.
You just have to visit Columbia for the full-on display of watch history.
Thankfully, the bad dad joke’s are free around here.
The National Watch and Clock Museum is one of the coolest under-the-radar spots in our county. It houses one of the largest collections of timepieces in North America from towering grandfather clocks to intricate wristwatches and early mechanical marvels.
On Saturday, February 28 (5–8pm), NAWCC Chapter 7 is officially relaunching with a celebration and community event at the museum.
Here’s what to expect: Free, family-friendly gathering, museum open for tours, and light refreshments & drinks.
Chapter 7 is one of NAWCC’s original regional groups and after years of dormancy, it’s coming back to life. You’ll also find a watch collector show from 12-4p the same day.
Lancaster holds a strong apprecation for preserving history. I love discovering unique ways to honor all the moments that brought us here. beat the clock
SUPPORT YOUR LANCASTER LOOP
Your Loop will always be 100% free to read, independently owned and locally operated (yep, it’s just me).
It’s human-curated, me-written and always from the heart (mistakes included 👀).
Much love Loopers!
Where’s Wal’Ed’o?
This week I’m excited to ship out FIVE giftcards for $50 each from Laserdome in Manheim! We’re building some amazing community here in the Loop and it’s wonderful to cross paths with business owners like Karl. He’s so excited to support the Loop and give back to the community that’s always supported Laserdome.
Laserdome works for 5 y/o to 48 y/o (ask me how I know) World-class laser tag arena, a mind-blowing augmented reality room, and classic arcade. Whether you’re dad-planning a kids’ birthday bash or looking for a chill BYOB adult night out, Laserdome keeps it fun & easy.
Congrats to Kathy, Christina E., Rebekah, Gloria, Luke!
Enjoy your time at Laserdome
You’ll each receive an email today with your giftcard details. Have a neon blast!
👇 Click the pic to guess this week’s “Where’s Wal’Ed’o” location 👇
Win one of 10 giveaways here 👆 Click the pic to guess 👆
This week might be a bit tougher so…
Here’s a clue: The name of the cow is Angela and the town moniker of where this business is, is just 5 letters.
As always thanks for staying…in the ‘Loop! -Ed
PS Forward this to someone who’d be curious to know that as measured at Lancaster Airport, 2009-2010 was the snowiest winter season on record. About 79 inches, nearly 6.5 feet! Here’s a record of Millersville University area totals since 1926.
PPS Property Here’s a river retreat of an acre and a third perched above the Susq…the coming soon listing has the note, ‘could be torn down to build your dream home’, but don’t do that just enjoy the views