LebTown is on hiatus for the holidays. Excluding any breaking news, we will return to our regular posting schedule on Dec. 28.
When I shared a similar post in 2018, this was a one-person occasional blog with aspirations of something bigger – “From these humble beginnings we hope to grow into Lebanon’s premiere news outlet.”
By the time 2019 rolled around, we had begun realizing that vision thanks to you.
In 2020, we have continued our efforts to serve Lebanon Countians with timely, accurate, and comprehensive news coverage.
As our audience has grown, we have remained singularly focused on protecting that most precious asset – the trust of our readers.
I am forever grateful to the members and advertisers who make our work possible by entrusting us to be good stewards of their financial support. You won’t see national ads or spammy/obtrusive ads on this site because of our commitment to making LebTown a true force for social and economic good in Lebanon County, and that means prioritizing our community above short-term financial interests.
LebTown is local news produced for and by the residents of Lebanon County. Our team is proud to be continuing a long and honorable tradition of journalism in Lebanon County (see a list of outlets below). It’s the type of reporting that has made our communities stronger for generations.
But I’d be lying to you if I said this was a “great year” for LebTown. I’m not sure of many people who could genuinely say this was a great year for them. It was a humbling year. It was a trying year. It was a year that has strained our social fabric even further, in a way our country has not seen for decades at least. Most poignantly, more than 300,000 Americans have been killed by a disease virtually unknown this time last year, with legions more having suffered symptoms and possibly facing long-term effects.
In an Easter editorial, I predicted:
Public discourse is likely to get, stupendously, even more rancorous in the weeks and months to come.
Sadly this is exactly what happened.
As a nation, we are more isolated now than ever before, and it is very easy to let social media feeds distort our view of reality. Social media encourages polarization, and I spend an inordinate amount of effort trying to undo the damage it has wrought.
My hope for 2021 is that as a community we can genuinely seek to understand each other and find fact-based common ground. LebTown will continue holding officials accountable, and doing our part to help the community understand each other and itself. I hope dearly that we see more attempts at the same from leaders throughout Lebanon County.
Take care of your loved ones and neighbors this Christmas. It has been a very hard year for very many people and we must put our faith in fellowship and community as the path for moving forward. LebTown is glad to be doing our small part at supporting this community, and I can’t wait to see what good news we can bring to you in 2021. Plus, we may have some other plans in mind… Fact is, there are a ton of stories and topics we aren’t able to cover yet and there’s so much more we want to provide to the community.
If you have thoughts, questions, or other feedback as we head into our fourth (!) year of operation, please contact me using the form below.
From all of us at LebTown, enjoy the rest of your holiday season.
Selected Lebanon County Newspapers, 1807 – Present
Der Freymüthige Libanoner (The Free Lebanoner) 1807 • Der Libanoner Morgenstern (The Lebanon Morning-Star) 1808 • Der Weltbohe und Unparteyische Libanoner Wochenschrift (the World Messenger and Impartial Lebanoner Weekly) 1809 • Lebanon Courier 1819 • Der Libanon Demokrat (The Lebanon Democrat) 1827 •Der Wahre Demokrat (The True Democrat) 1837 • The Lebanon Advertiser 1849 • The Star 1862 • Der Pennsylvaniaer (The Pennsylvanian) 1865 • Lebanon Valley Standard 1871 • Lebanon Daily News 1872 • The Annville Journal 1888 • Lebanon Daily Report 1890 • Fredericksburg Herald 1894 • Semi-Weekly Report 1894 • Lebanon Semi-Weekly News 1894 • Palmyra Record 1899 • The Star Advertiser 1900 • Evening Report 1901 • The Daily Republican 1903 • Lebanon Courier and Semi-Weekly Report 1908 • The Lebanon Tribune 1910 • Palmyra Citizen 1911 • Der Foulke-Freund (The Folk-Friend) 1927 • Swatara Times 1928 • Lebanon County Press 1928 • New Enterprise 1936 • Progressive Weekly 1937 • Lebanon County Bulletin 1939 • The Lebanon Evening Star 1945 • Lebanon Valley Register 1945 • Tomahawk 1951 • The Record 1964 • Lebanon Weekly News 1967 • Community Courier 1989 • Palmyra Chronicle 1990 • Mt. Gretna News 1990 • Fishwrapper 1995 • LebTown 2018
Give the gift of local journalism.
If you are thankful for what LebTown brings to the community, consider joining our cause as a member. Members get an inside look at our publishing schedule each week, plus invites to our members-only Facebook group and happy hours.
Sign up for an annual membership using the link below, and we’ll give you a free LebTown mug at the next happy hour.
Learn more and join now here.