Konnichiwa! (hello in Japanese). It’s another packed week so let’s get to it.
I'm out of town for this delivery, but my committment is keeping the newsletter in your inbox every single week (no misses). I’m bummed I missed the snow, but sounds like round 2 is coming.
One way to support your snowed-in neighbors: snow angels
Meanwhile, I’m excitedly working on finalizing the details of the first Lancaster Loop Dinner Club. If you own a local business and think it’d be rad to sponsor the inaugural gathering, reach out and let’s chat. My focus will always be to profile local businesses as ‘Loop partners.
I’ve been craving some ‘shinrin-yoku’ time (Japanese for ‘forest bathing’). Anyone else appreciate the quiet of winter on a trail? There are so many great county spots. Be sure to say hi if you see me out there!
See ya round the county & city! (always covering both in the ‘Loop)
-Ed
Today’s cover art is by Lancaster local Ian Brandt. This piece is titled ‘(717) keep it local 2025’, and he’s kindly offering it as a Lancaster Loop exclusive giveaway.
Click pic for Perch’s website
Two public servants randomly meet on LinkedIn. It was an immediate kindred connection for me and Ryan. We’ve enjoyed exchanging stories from our days in public service.
Ryan is a reservist with the US Coast Guard and previously served 10+ years active duty. He’s now raising his family in Manheim Township and growing his bookkeeping business as a vital partner to service-based businesses. He knows the power of being dialed into the numbers and teamwork. He’s trustworthy, reliable, and the kind of partner you want backing what you’re building.
As Ryan said, ‘My Discovery Call, is a way for me to understand the owner’s needs and serve their business or connect them with resources locally’.
If you’re building a business, from just launching to 2M in revenue, he’s excited to help. Clean bookkeeping is the foundational piece when filing your business’s taxes, which by the way…t-minus 85 days.
Connect for a free 30-minute consult with Perch Bookkeeping, a partner of the Lancaster Loop.
Lancaster Housing
If you’ve tried to find a place to rent in Lancaster, you already know: it’s tight out there. Lancaster has one of the lowest vacancy rates in the country, which means prices go up and options go down. It’s tough for folks who are doing everything ‘right’ and still can’t make the math work.
Teachers, nurses, line workers, day-care providers, tradespeople…the people who keep this place running are often stuck: making too much to qualify for traditional affordable housing, but not enough to comfortably pay market rent and cover the rest of life.
Cue the launch of Lancaster Housing Works. A new nonprofit focused specifically on affordable workforce rentals for households earning 50–80% of the area median income. Backed by a $10M commitment from the High Foundation, LHW plans to create 300+ units of affordable workforce housing over the next 5 years.
To me, this is one reason I’m bearish on Lancaster. Big ideas, backed by real dollars, after long-term solutions. Housing gratnts stability for families and our community. Learn more at lancasterhousingworks.org.
This Week’s 5 Ws of Lancaster
Who / What / When / Where / Why - all across the county & city
send me your events here
Today - Tuesday, 20th
Adult Coloring @ Lanc Public Library 12-3p crayons
Line Dance with JW @ West Art 630-830p boots optional
A Night in Alsace (France) @ Imperial Restaurant 630p four-course
Wednesday, 21st
Tees & Talks @ Fox Den Golf by Next Generation Lancaster 530-830p golf simulator
Essential Grains @ Gourmet Market 6-730p farro vs quinoa vs buckwheat
Bad Art Club by Lanc Public Library 6-8p 18+ no fears or perfection only art
Thursday, 22nd
Dillweed, Chuck Darwin, & The Knuckle Draggers @ Tellus 360 8p 21+ clawhammer banjos
Jason Knorr @ Harvest Seasonal Grill 6-9p farm to table jams
Friday, 23rd
Glass Tile Art @ Southern Market 6-8p make your own red cardinal or blue jay
Slimfit w/The Nancy Reagans @ West Art 630-9p all ages one-night reunion show w/proceeds to Music For Everyone
Chaos Theory @ Marion Court Room 530-9p high energy rock cover band
Lives Lost release show @ The Village 6p big ol metal show
Saturday, 24th
Corinna Joy @ Southern Market 8-10p - piano-driven melodies & warm vocals
Living Moss Bottle Terrarium @ Ken’s Garden (Smoketown) cozy in the greenhouse
1st Responder Extraction Event @ Faulkner Collision 9-3p lunch provided jaws of life
Mt Joy Chocolate Stroll 12-2p walk & eat choc
Comedy Night @ Columbia Kettle 730-9p local jokes
Ben Folds Five tribute @ Phantom Power 6-10p fam friendly 90s brick
Sunday, 25th
Josh Ritter solo show @ West Art 8-10p ‘a book of gold thrown open’
Estatic Dance @ Mulberry Art Studio 3-530p warm up & collab flow
Harmonic Float @ Drift Spa 645-8p floating sound immersion
Intro to Buddhism @ UU Church of Lanc 1130-1230p third class in series but all are welcome
Make your own bark-cuterie board @ That Fish Place 2-4p healthy pets
Creative Crossroads part 1 Surprising Stories at YWCA Lanc - 3-5p interactive stories w/the audience
Vision Board creating @ Herbs from the Labyrinth 12-4p nancy warble guides
Monday, 26th
Chess Club @ West Art 7-9p rooks & bishops
Lancaster’s first Cozendagen
What if winter festivities didn’t end when the last string of Christmas lights came down? What if we actually had a holiday built to carry us through the dark, no-sun days?
That’s the heart behind Cozendagen (coze-en-doggin), an new winter holiday concept celebrating the simple beauty of coziness. Pull on your warm socks, grab a hot mug, fuzzy sweater, and cue the slow days with no agenda.
Cozendagen isn’t about forcing ourselves to “spring forward” before the tree buds pop. It’s about honoring the season we’re actually in, a cold, quieter, little bit bare around the edges. Consider January & Febuary an invitation to tend to what winter asks of us instead of a time to white-knuckle our way forward.
And to celebrate this in Lancaster, Cliff Lewis is turning it into a community thing.
Join the first public Cozendagen Winter Festival at West Art on January 31 5:30-10p. Expect low-cost, full-cozy vibes with art, warmth, connection, and a chance to collectively say…we’re not rushin’ the buds, they’ll come. free to attend
Plan It Forward: Lancaster
3 local events coming up to keep on your radar:
Lancaster Inferno Gala Fundraiser: the local all-girls travel club with a pathway from youth to pre-pro, plus women’s pro-am teams is hosting their 2nd Annual Kicking It Forward Gala on Saturday, January 31 @ Foundry 48 in Lititz. Dinner, drinks, dancing, and a silent auction to support the empowerment of girls’ and women’s soccer. Tickets and bid in the online auction footy time
Hearts for Lancaster: Penn Square Rotary’s Hearts for Lancaster & Pets is back for its 10th year. Surprise your person (or your pet) with a custom heart hanging from a lamppost in downtown Lancaster this Valentine’s season. Proceeds support local projects. Cut off of Feb. 6, then plan a downtown stroll to find your heart and send me a pic of yours. I’ll make a fun clip in a future newsletter edition of Looper hearts! hearty hearts
Be Your Own Valentine Retreat: Give yourself a different kind of Valentine this year. On Sunday, Feb. 8, 9a-2p at Pheasant Run Farm B&B, the Be Your Valentine: Yoga and Intuitive Reading Retreat weaves together meditation, breath work, gentle yoga, Reiki, a full brunch, and a personal intuitive reading for every person. Come solo or bring a friend to celebrate yourself
Lancaster Pets of the Week
click the pic to Meet Trinket
click the pic to Meet Nala
SUPPORT THE LOOP
Your Loop will always be 100% free to read, independently owned and locally operated (heck, it’s just me). It’s human curated, written and always will be. I appreciate every single one of you.
Where is Ed?
Last week’s location was Dirty Dough in Lititz. They bake a yummy treat inside each of their cookies. Also serving up shakes, waffle bites, and lots of other treats.
It was guessed correctly by over lots Loopers. A list of the 12 winners of a delicious cookie from Dirty Dough Lititz can be seen here. Your names & emails have been sent to Dirty Dough Lititz. Stop by to claim your cookie before I go grab the whole dozen 😇! Thanks to owner, Marguerite Sottek, for donating the treats. Even if you didn’t win, stop in, say hi, and tell her you’re a Looper!
👇 Guess this week’s location below 👇
Click the pic to guess where I am in Lancaster!
Guess correctly where I am & you’ll be entered for one a giveaway to the business.
Thanks for staying…in the loop!
How'd you like your Lancaster Loop this week?
Did you know the quote ‘Ask not what your county can do for you…’ was delivered on this day 65 years ago during Kennedy’s inaugural speech? Forward today’s ‘Loop to a friend who loves trivia.
-Ed
PS If you own a business or put on an event reach out and let’s connect. I celebrate every corner of Lancaster from the Susquehanna to the Welsh Mountains. And I read every email, but there’s only one of me so please please please follow up if you don’t hear back from me 🙏