Happy Thursday, Lancaster!

Hope you’re having a wonderful midweek. As we inch closer to the weekend, the weather will start to warm up. 

That’s great news because there’s a lot happening around the county!

Here’s what I think is worth your time today.

Did you know you could listen to the Lancaster Local? It’s true! We have an audio edition on the website. If you prefer the abbreviated audio version, simply click here to listen on the website.

Want a little extra “pep” in your step? If so, there's an event coming up in Elizabethtown worth knowing about.

On March 11th, there is a free educational evening at The Green Nook (8 South Market Street) from 6:00 to 7:30 PM. 

The topic: peptides - what they are, how they work, and whether they might be right for you.

The event is designed to cut through the noise. 

Expect a plain-English breakdown of the science, a candid look at benefits versus misconceptions.

They will talk about:

✔ Peptides explained simply

✔ Benefits vs. misconceptions

✔ Who they’re for — and who they’re not

✔ Doctor supervision & safety standards & Sourcing

✔ Real experiences

✔ Open Q&A

This will be a calm, educational conversation designed to clear up misconceptions and answer questions so you can better understand what all the buzz is about.

If you’ve been curious about peptides, this will be a great place to learn and ask questions.

This is an educational event only. This discussion is not medical advice and they do not prescribe medications. Any peptide protocols are provided through licensed medical providers.

Parking is easy - there's a lot behind the building and more across the street.

RSVP is requested. If you're curious or already on a health journey and want to connect with others, this one's worth showing up for. Click here to learn more. 

Results vary. Always consult your physician before starting any new health program.

Many first-time mothers will tell you the same thing: they knew a baby was coming.

They just didn't know what that actually meant.

The classes. The fears. The questions nobody warned them they'd have.

Kati Frey knows that feeling better than most.

She's a nurse midwife and women's health nurse practitioner with over a decade of experience in maternal care. She worked labor and delivery at Hershey Medical Center. She's attended births professionally.

And she still didn't feel ready for her own first birth.

That experience  -  and the very different second birth that followed after she changed her approach - is what led her to start BirthPrint, a personalized childbirth education service that serves all of Lancaster County. 

Every third Tuesday evening, Kati holds a free, hands-on childbirth class at the Elizabethtown Public Library. No cost, agenda, or pressure.

Just real, honest conversation about labor positions, common fears, and whatever questions walk in the door that night.

"We don't have a set agenda," she says. "If someone comes in and doesn't know what to do, we just go back and forth with them."

She started it because she knows cost is a real barrier for young families. Not everyone can afford private sessions. But everyone deserves to feel prepared.

If you're expecting - or someone you love is - this is worth knowing about. Show up. Ask the questions you've been sitting on. Kati's there to help.

We did a full feature interview with Kati. In it you’ll learn more about how expectant mothers can prepare. You’ll also get to learn more about Kati and her mission. Click here to read (or listen) now. 

Yesterday I had an invitation to take a trip to a true hidden gem in Columbia - Andy’s Market. 

They’re about to celebrate their 70th anniversary, and invited me out to try some of their delicious sandwiches. 

Matt Ohrel and his wife Lyz run the market, and Matt himself designed and created the AMAZING back wall artwork. 

Their shop is full of charm and style around every corner. 

From the balloons they get locally, to the art on the backwall, to the hometown down-to-earth vibes that make you feel right at home. 

While they normally stick to cold subs made in shop, every Wednesday they have a hot special. 

This week it was “The Gobble Waffle” - an open faced waffle with homemade stuffing, turkey, mashed potatoes, and topped off with a cranberry mayo drizzle. 

Specials like these keep locals and visitors coming back for more. 

They also sell meats and cheeses of all types.

They’ve been in business since 1956 - and it’s easy to see why. 

You can find them at: 310 North 11th street, Columbia, PA, United States, 17512

You can find their specials, deals, and more on their Facebook page here. 

It's exactly what it sounds like. 

The ground is soft, the boots are muddy, and the energy is unlike anything else you'll find around here. 

Hundreds of people - Amish and "English" alike - packed onto the same grounds, bidding on quilts, buggies, handmade furniture, farm equipment, plants, and crafts. 

All of it organized by the local volunteer fire company, which has been running this thing as a fundraiser for years.

The food alone is worth the trip. Chicken corn noodle soup. BBQ chicken. Soft pretzels. Whoopie pies. Homemade ice cream. 

It's a PA Dutch spread that's hard to beat on a cool March morning.

Doors open Friday at 4 PM if you want to get a jump on things. 

Saturday is the main event - breakfast is available starting at 6 AM, and the auctions kick off at 8:30. Bring cash. Admission is free.

One piece of advice the regulars will all tell you: wear waterproof boots. 

The "mud" in mud sale isn't just a name.

Click here for more updates. 

Every first Friday of the month, something shifts in downtown Lancaster.

The galleries stay open late. 

The restaurants fill up.

Musicians set up on corners. 

Boutiques throw their doors open and pour a little something for the people browsing. The whole stretch of North Prince Street and Gallery Row comes alive in a way that's hard to describe until you've seen it.

That's this Friday, March 6th, from 5 to 9 PM.

First Friday has been a Lancaster tradition for years, and it's one of those things that never gets old. 

Every month is different - new exhibitions, new performers, new reasons to wander a few blocks further than you planned. 

One gallery leads to another, a live set pulls you off the sidewalk, and suddenly it's 8:30 and you haven't even made it to dinner yet.

The best part? It costs nothing to show up. Just park, walk, and see what the city has going on.

Gallery Row along North Prince Street is where most of the action is anchored, but the energy spills out across multiple blocks. 

Whether you're an art person or not, it's just a good evening out - the kind that reminds you why living near a city like Lancaster is genuinely great.

Bring someone. Make a night of it. Click here to learn more about this month’s events.