Community Corner

🌱 Could your favorite Lancaster server or bartender become a 2026 Host Award winner?

Be sure to catch The Village Nightclub & Nitelook Presents Holiday Comedy Jam on the Lancaster Patch calendar

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Good morning to you Lancaster! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Could your favorite Lancaster server or bartender become a 2026 Host Award winner?
  • What Lancaster’s outgoing police chief says the next chief must tackle
  • How Lancaster Mennonite’s girls rebuilt their basketball team from scratch

Also on today's calendar: The Village Nightclub & Nitelook Presents Holiday Comedy Jam and 4 more events.

Find out what's happening in Lancasterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
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Find out what's happening in Lancasterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: Areas of morning fog, with a high of 46 and low of 41 degrees.
  • Friday: Winds becoming strong; rain, temps: high: 56, low: 24.
  • Saturday: Some sun, then clouds; colder, with a high of 38 and low of 33 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. New awards to honor Lancaster County hospitality workers; Here's how to nominate staff (lancasteronline.com) — Hospitality workers across Lancaster County can now be nominated for Discover Lancaster’s new 2026 Host Awards, celebrating behind-the-scenes staff in restaurants, hotels, shops and attractions. Managers have until Jan. 15 to submit nominations, ahead of a March 2 awards ceremony at American Music Theatre in East Lampeter Township that aims to spotlight the workers powering Lancaster’s tourism economy.
   

2. Lancaster City Police Chief Richard Mendez is retiring (wgal.com) — Lancaster City’s police chief, Richard Mendez, is retiring Dec. 19 after more than 25 years with the Lancaster City Bureau of Police. The city’s first Hispanic chief reflects on growing up in southeast Lancaster, modern policing challenges like social media, and the need for strong community relationships as juvenile gun crime rises and a new chief prepares to step in.
   

3. Lancaster Mennonite Girls Basketball returns with a reignited drive after a one-year hiatus (fox43.com) — Lancaster Mennonite School’s girls basketball team is back after a one-year hiatus, with players and coaches celebrating an emotional return to the court. Led by co-captains who helped recruit classmates and foreign exchange students, the Blazers quickly secured an early-season win over Lancaster Country Day School and are determined to keep the revived program thriving in Lancaster County.
   

4. How to Find Joy While Caregiving Through the Holidays (aarp.org subscription) — A Lancaster caregiver, Barry Appelbaum, shares how he’s scaled back Hanukkah traditions after his wife’s stroke, illustrating how many families must adapt holiday rituals to new health realities. Experts offer practical tips on resetting expectations, accepting help, and protecting caregivers’ well-being so the season still holds moments of joy.
   

📸 Around Lancaster

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Lancaster

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📣 Lancaster Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • My daughters and I rescued this beautiful cat and she escaped when my youngest opened the door to go play in the backyard.
    We have been looking for her everywhere and cannot find her. I really hope she’s okay. We are so sad. Last seen around temple avenue and Yale avenue… (Nextdoor Stone Mill Rd)
  • We have been getting 4 stray cats in our backyard.
    They show up on our camera regularly (along with 2 foxes). Has anybody had anything similar?All of the cats look healthy and well fed, but we are… (Nextdoor West Lancaster Jewels)
  • Parker-Hannifin, Corporation posted a job opening for Warehouse Svc Specialist (B) - 1st Shift in Lancaster. Apply here.
  • Packaging Corporation of America posted a job opening for Machine Assistant Operator (Flexo) - 3rd Shift in Lancaster. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Lancaster here.

Ok Lancaster! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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