Columns

Regarded as the most wonderful time of the year, November and December (and early January) are packed with events that celebrate this season of holidays. Community gatherings, music, theatre, family-friendly activities, home tours, open houses, food events and lighting displays fill the calendar. LCM & Facebook Photos LATE NOVEMBER Christmas Show November 22 Root’s Country...

Jordan Bush catches up with Francisco Gómez de la Torre, the owner of Frisco’s Chicken.

For 100 years and four generations, the Reist family of Mount Joy has been growing, processing and distributing popcorn to the world. They noted the century mark with a gala dinner for employees, customers, vendors, family and friends – and that was just the beginning of the celebration! The Star Barn at Stone Gables Estate...

As we prepare to welcome 2026, we’d like to salute the following businesses, organizations, individuals, towns and churches that are marking milestone years in 2025.  Salem Hellers Church, Upper Leacock 300 years Denver Borough 125 years  Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum 100 years  The United Way of Lancaster County 100 years  Reist Popcorn Company...

Barns are a familiar sight throughout Lancaster County, and many have been repurposed to serve as restaurants, event venues, etc. Zig’s Bakery & Café is one such example, as it makes its home in a renovated barn along Newport Road outside of Lititz. A taste of the holidays: pecan pie. Zig’s version of a Rueben sandwich...

This year marks the fourth iteration of Illumination, the immersive candlelit holiday concert that draws people together as one. Incredibly, the genesis of the experience was born out of the necessity for separation. An intimate blend of music and candlelight, Illumination offers a deeply moving holiday experience. Prima, like all theatres around the world, searched...

This year’s edition focuses on the variety of ways Lancaster’s senior living communities are helping residents lead healthy lifestyles and achieve optimal wellness. Participants include Willow Valley Communities, Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community, Moravian Manor Communities, Fairmount, Homestead Village, Pleasant View Communities, Luthercare, United Zion Retirement Community and Cornwall Manor. Explore Retirement Living October 18, 10...

In the opinion of many, October is the unofficial start of the holiday season, as it entails decorating, social gatherings, food and drink and plenty of activities that celebrate the season. As October is marked by a Friday the 13th date, this month we’re providing you with 13 events to check out.   Photo courtesy of...

Gardening season is not quite over. Fall is the perfect time to divide perennials and plant new trees and shrubs. It’s also a good time to tidy up your beds and prepare them for spring.  Fullmoon maple, Acer japonicum Should you need some additional motivation, what follows is a list of reasons why fall is the...

Isn’t it odd how green thumbs tend to be genetically predisposed in families? My sister and I trace our interest in gardening back to Grandma Starling, whose farmhouse in North Carolina was surrounded by blooming plants. Several of her 10 children – including our father – shared her passion for growing things, as do numerous...

’Tis the season … to Recognize Milestones Earlier this year we noticed a trend: 1972 must have been a very good year to launch a business, as quite a few are celebrating 50th anniversaries this year. Digging further, we discovered others are marking significant anniversaries, including us … Lancaster County Magazine is 35 years old...

About Julia  Julia was born in the Bronx, New York, and raised in York, Pennsylvania, where she graduated from William Penn Senior High School. She is married and is the mother of six grown children, who have provided her with 11 grandchildren. Julia is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. “I was fortunate...

While we continue to spend most of our time at home, the Lancaster Habitat ReStore, which is an arm of Lancaster Lebanon Habitat for Humanity, has been flourishing and transforming thanks to a steady stream of donations flowing in and out, as Lancaster residents have more time to purge unwanted possessions, as well as redecorate...

Since it’s the holiday season, I think we’re all deserving of some tasty treats. To tempt your taste buds, I’m sharing a few favorite sources that I rely on to add some sweet and savory flavors to the holidays. Whether you’re shopping for yourself, searching for a last-minute gift or are needing something special for...

Southwest Lancaster’s Culliton Park (formerly Farnum Park) has been the home of many community art projects that have culminated in the newly renovated public space on Water Street. The new park, which will be unveiled with a ribbon cutting November 20 at 2 p.m., includes artful installations, play and sport areas, a rain garden, as...

The tagline, “Say it with flowers,” encapsulates one of life’s special-moment necessities. Try to imagine a wedding without flowers. A prom without corsages or boutonnieres. A funeral without floral tributes. A hospital room devoid of bouquets of get-well wishes. Valentine’s Day without red roses. Mother’s Day, an anniversary or birthday without a surprise delivery of...

Weather has a decided impact on grapes. Poor weather early in the season can affect how the plants grow and ultimately impact the quality of the grapes. With the arrival of fall, vintners are praying for warm, sunny days and minimal rainfall during the weeks leading up to the harvest. I used to work in...

Whether you gather your family and friends around the table in a formal dining room or in a barn, Thanksgiving is a season for reflection. I don’t know about you, but I’m grateful to live in an area where the bounty is second to none. I’m sure you’ve been reading all the press regarding the...

More than 20 local and statewide organizations – nonprofit, for profit, religious, government and grassroots – have joined forces to tackle one of the world’s leading problems: hunger. Locally, a coalition of generous individuals has set a daring goal: guaranteeing access to three healthy meals a day for everyone in Lancaster County by 2018. The...

At a young age, Megan Sofilka Tomsheck – chairman of the 62nd Annual Lancaster Sertoma Chicken Barbecue – was always encouraged by her family to be involved in school, extracurricular activities and within the community. That encouragement has followed her throughout her life.Hometown: Megan was born and raised in Lancaster County and hails from the...