Good morning, Lancaster County. You get a morning before the weather turns — partly sunny and humid, high near 86, with showers likely and a possible thunderstorm arriving after 2 p.m. and a 70% chance overall. Do the outdoor half of your day early. Fittingly, today's story is about a pond.
In today's Lancaster Local:
They rebuilt a failing pond bank at Climbers Run, and a frog that had never lived there showed up
The nature center itself is closed — here's where its programs went instead
Trivia in Ephrata tonight, classic rock on a Lititz patio Saturday
Next Wednesday is the first of the month, which around here means everything meets at once
COMMUNITY NEWS
They fixed a leaking pond bank at Climbers Run. Then they started hearing a frog that had never lived there.
Some conservation results take twenty years to show up. This one took a summer.
The Lancaster Conservancy has posted an update on the work at Climbers Run Nature Center, its home base for conservation education and volunteers. The headline job was unglamorous: the berm between the pond and Climbers Run stream, built decades ago, had been slowly failing — letting pond water seep into a cold-water stream that isn't supposed to get it.
So over the summer, crews dredged the accumulated sediment out of the pond and rebuilt the berm, installing a clay core along its whole length. The spring-fed pond then refilled itself.
Here's the part worth the space:
"After the pond restoration was completed, wildlife quickly returned. We've even been hearing the croaks of the gray tree frog, which was not previously present at Climbers Run Nature Center – a sign that the restoration efforts are already having a positive impact."
A frog that wasn't there before is now there. That's the whole report, and it's a good one.
Work continues on the Russo Family Foundation Barn & Education Center. The roof over the back porch has come off to make room for an observation deck. Inside, the beams are being raised for a better layout, and the building is getting bird-safe glass, modern heating and cooling, and a new C. Alan Bruns Water Quality Lab where volunteers will test water.
The whole project runs $4.9 to $5.5 million, with money from the state's Environmental Stewardship Fund, the Lancaster County Community Foundation, the Richard King Mellon Foundation, and donors to the Conservancy's own campaign. Fundraising continues through 2027.
One thing to know before you drive out there: don't. Climbers Run Nature Center has been closed to the public since April 27 while all of this happens. The Conservancy has moved its school and adult programming to Kellys Run and Ingrid Graham Historic Hellam preserves in the meantime, and both are open.
EVENTS
A short list this week — three days of listings ran in Monday's and Wednesday's issues, and I'd rather leave a gap than pad it. Here's what's genuinely new.
🧠 Thursday Trivia Night with AJ in the Evening — Hillside Spirits Co., Ephrata, PA. Tonight, Thursday, August 27, 6:30–8:30 p.m. Every Thursday, and the pitch from Mainspring of Ephrata is honest about the stakes: "Test your knowledge, enjoy great food and handcrafted cocktails, and compete for bragging rights." Indoors, which by 6:30 tonight will very likely be the right call.
🎸 Patio Live at the Lititz Springs Inn — 7 S Broad St, Lititz, PA 17543. Saturday, August 29, 7:00–10:00 p.m. The Joe Lerman Show on the patio, playing what they describe as "Classic Rock & Country, spanning the decades." Three hours, outdoors, and Saturday looks a good deal drier than today.
🐝 Hive Resource Coordinator — Ephrata Public Library, 550 South Reading Rd, Ephrata, PA 17522. Wednesday, September 2, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. No appointment required. First and third Wednesday, a Hive coordinator sits at the tables in front of the circulation desk to answer questions, connect people to resources, or book an appointment. Four hours, walk up, ask.
📖 Literacy Council Q&A Table — Lancaster Public Library, 151 North Queen Street, Lancaster, PA 17603. Wednesday, September 2, 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Free, walk-ins welcome. The Literacy Council of Lancaster-Lebanon on adult reading, writing and math classes, English language acquisition, and GED and HiSET prep. If you've been meaning to ask for someone else, this is a good place to ask on their behalf.
🤝 Connect with a Social Worker — Adamstown Area Library, 110 W. Main St, Adamstown, PA 19501. Wednesday, September 2, 11:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m. A licensed social worker from REAL Life Community Services, in the community room every other Wednesday. For an appointment, call Becca at 717-336-7797.
🎲 Lititz Game Club — Lititz Public Library, 651 Kissel Hill Road, Lititz, PA 17543. Wednesday, September 2, 4:30–8:00 p.m. No registration. Three and a half hours of tabletop games on the first and third Wednesday. The library's range runs from Uno and Scrabble through Catan and Ticket to Ride all the way to Scythe and Terraforming Mars, so bring whatever level of ambition you have.
💧 Wildlife Wednesday — Adamstown Area Library, 110 W. Main St, Adamstown, PA 19501. Wednesday, September 2, 5:30–6:30 p.m. Lancaster County Parks and Rec presents, and September's topic is the importance of water — a subject this week will have given you feelings about. By the fireplace.
🎤 Toastmasters International — Manheim Township Public Library, 595 Granite Run Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601. Wednesday, September 2, 6:30–7:45 p.m. Registration required. The Conestoga Toastmasters Club meets the first, third and fifth Wednesday, and says guests are welcome either to participate or just sit and watch — which is the useful part if public speaking is the thing you're avoiding.
🧶 Common Thread Crafting Club — Manheim Township Public Library, 595 Granite Run Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601. Friday, September 4, 10:00–11:30 a.m. No registration. Knitting, crochet, felting, cross-stitch — bring the project you're already halfway through. Meets twice a month.
🌆 First Friday, two stops — downtown Lancaster. Friday, September 4. The Lancaster Public Library stays open late, 5:00–8:00 p.m. at 151 North Queen Street. The Lancaster Science Factory runs its own First Friday from 5:00–7:00 p.m. at 454 New Holland Avenue, and that one is free. Two stops on the same walk.
Thursday, August 27 — Partly sunny and humid to start, high near 86, with a chance of showers and thunderstorms early and showers likely after 2 p.m. Chance of rain 70%, with a tenth to a quarter inch expected and more where a storm sits. South wind 8 to 11 mph, gusting to 20. Showers likely again before 2 a.m.; low around 67. Friday stays unsettled — mostly cloudy, high near 84, 30% chance of showers. Saturday is the clear one: mostly sunny and 84.
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