Community Corner

🌱 What Lancaster’s retiring police chief says must change to curb youth violence

And on the Lancaster Patch calendar - The Village Nightclub & Nitelook Presents Holiday Comedy Jam

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Tuesday December 23rd Patch AM
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Hi there, Lancaster! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • What Lancaster’s retiring police chief says must change to curb youth violence
  • How will Eurofins’ $147 million expansion reshape jobs in Lancaster County?
  • How a Lancaster bakery turned holiday rush into a community lifeline

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

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

Today's riddle: What did one magnet say to the other magnet? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

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

  • Tuesday: A little morning rain; cloudy, with a high of 42 and low of 36 degrees.
  • Wednesday: Mostly sunny and windy, temps: high: 45, low: 30.
  • Thursday: A little afternoon rain, with a high of 45 and low of 25 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Full interview with Lancaster's retiring police chief, Richard Mendez (wgal.com) — Lancaster City’s longtime police officer and first Hispanic chief, Richard Mendez, has retired after 25 years, reflecting on serving the southeast neighborhood where he grew up. He discusses how social media, mental health partnerships, and officer wellness have reshaped local policing, and warns that juvenile crime and youth gun violence will be key challenges for the next chief.
   

2. Eurofins announces nearly $150 million expansion to Lancaster County lab (lancasteronline.com) — A major employer is planning a $147 million expansion of its New Holland campus in Lancaster County, bringing about 250 new biopharmaceutical testing jobs over three years. State officials, including Gov. Josh Shapiro, are backing the project with more than $2 million in grants and training funds, highlighting Lancaster’s growing role in Pennsylvania’s life-sciences economy.
   

3. Lancaster bakery steps up to support Manor Township family after devastating fire (fox43.com) — A Lancaster bakery is rallying neighbors to help a Manor Township family who lost their home in a pre-Christmas fire, turning Ric’s Bread into a hub for donated toys and essentials. Through Tuesday afternoon, residents can drop off items at the North Queen Street shop or its Lancaster Central Market stand to support the displaced family.
   

4. State Report: Lancaster-Lebanon IU13 did not properly report alleged restraint of 5-year-old autistic student (fox43.com) — State officials found that Lancaster-Lebanon IU13 mishandled reporting after a 5-year-old autistic student was allegedly restrained for over an hour at an East Lampeter Township facility in Lancaster County. The agency must now revise restraint policies, retrain staff, and create additional supports for the child, steps the child’s mother hopes will lead to broader accountability and safer classrooms.
   

5. East Earl supervisors give nod to $3.82M spending plan; tax hike has remained flat since 2017 (lancasteronline.com) — East Earl Township supervisors have approved a $3.82 million 2026 budget that keeps property taxes flat at 1.7 mills, a rate unchanged since 2017. Funding will continue for Garden Spot and Weaverland Valley fire departments, Eastern Lancaster County Library, and the Lancaster Conservancy, while officials also seek a state grant to upgrade local fire radios before current equipment becomes obsolete.
   

📸 Around Lancaster

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🗓 Events Nearby

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Found yellow lab on Tennyson Dr.
    The owners are deaf. If anyone knows who he belongs to. He’s in my house.39 Tennyson Dr. His name is boo. I think. (Nextdoor Tennyson Dr)
  • Chatelaine- Cochran Dr.
    there’s a dog in the street… does it belong to you?!? (Nextdoor Chatelaine)
  • TreeHouse Foods, Inc. posted a job opening for Sanitation in Lancaster. Apply here.
  • Wegmans posted a job opening for Frozen Stocker 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 find you very attractive!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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