THE ISSUE: It’s Friday, the day we take a few moments to highlight the good news in Lancaster County and the surrounding region. Some of these items are welcome developments on the economic front or for area neighborhoods. Others are local stories of achievement, ingenuity, perseverance, compassion and creativity that represent welcome points of light as we confront serious issues in Pennsylvania and deal with upsetting and divisive matters in our nation and world. All of this inspirational news deserves a brighter spotlight.


Samantha Hull and her family are in Finland for five months, and we think that could be a very good thing for Lancaster County.

As LNP | LancasterOnline’s Ashley Stalnecker reported, Hull “is one of 400 teachers worldwide and the first Lancaster County public school educator since 2008 to be awarded a grant from the Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teacher Research Program for research in another country this year.”

Hull, Ephrata High School’s head librarian, is using this opportunity to research the differences between the United States’ and Finland’s education systems.

In a moment when America’s public education system, and school libraries, are under intense scrutiny — partly because of exhausting culture wars — having the opportunity to view another nation’s approach to educating young people will be quite valuable.

Hull’s goal “is to learn how Finnish teachers and librarians collaborate to educate the public. Samantha Hull plans to sit in on classes, visit libraries and interview teachers in Jyväskylä, a city three hours north of Helsinki,” Stalnecker writes.

In doing so, Hull will be getting a firsthand look at one of the top public education systems in the world. And one of the most inclusive ones, too, especially in its embrace of LGBTQ+ students.

We wish Hull and her family the best during their five-month stint in Finland and look forward to what she will bring back to Lancaster County and share with fellow educators. Read more about her trip in Stalnecker’s coverage.

In other good things:

— Lancaster Cemetery contains the family plot of Maj. Gen. John Fulton Reynolds, one of the Union’s most important leaders during the Civil War. He died at the Battle of Gettysburg.

The plot and its monument, however, are in disrepair, much of it related to the passage of time and the freeze-thaw cycle of the seasons. So we were heartened to see the article by LNP | LancasterOnline correspondent Karyl Carmignani about plans to “repair, rehabilitate, and stabilize the gravestones, markers and decorative elements of the Reynolds family plot.”

The work is a partnership between Lancaster Cemetery and the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

“For someone who gave so much to his country, it seems the least we can do is to preserve his memory in this way,” said Justin Herbert, a Lancaster Cemetery board member.

We agree. Civil War buffs visit the cemetery often on their way to or from Gettysburg. We appreciate these efforts to bring the Reynolds plot back into good shape for those visitors. And, as Herbert said, his service deserves to be honored. Read the full story and learn how you can help here.

— J.P. McCaskey High School is offering the district’s first student-led group focused on diversity, equity, belonging and inclusion, LNP | LancasterOnline correspondent Gayle Johnson reported in coverage of this month’s School District of Lancaster school board meeting. Students have already begun signing up for the program, and meetings will begin in February.

“The vision is to empower students to be co-creators of their educational experiences, fostering leadership and advocacy in equity efforts,” McCaskey Principal Justin Reese said.

We wish everyone involved the best, especially in a time when the important concept of diversity, equity and inclusion — like critical race theory before it — has been falsely and disingenuously portrayed as a bogeyman by those who mischaracterize it to score political points.

— There’s also good news in the Donegal School District, where the school board voted this month to add junior high school and high school girls volleyball as a PIAA sport. It will cost about $31,000 to launch the program, LNP | LancasterOnline correspondent Luis Nieves reported.

— Finally, if you’re not bothered by the cold and are looking for something to do this weekend, LNP | LancasterOnline’s Mickayla Miller has a rundown of local happenings on the calendar, including an album release party, a stand-up comedy show, a performance of the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra and yoga classes with puppies and doughnuts. We don’t know precisely how puppies and doughnuts fit in with the concept of yoga, but we heartily approve.