As Mayor of the City of Lebanon, I would like to welcome you to the City of Lebanon’s web site.  Lebanon is experiencing an exciting time. There are many promising revitalization and economic development projects underway both in the downtown and throughout the City that will have a positive impact on our community in the coming years.  Lebanon is supportive of the projects proceeding and we encourage your support as well.

The City offers a wide variety of services, which include police and fire protection, maintenance of streets, parks, recreational activities and cultural events, planning, zoning, property maintenance, building inspection and water pollution control services.  As the county-seat for Lebanon County, the City hosts not only the seat of government, but many social service agencies.

Lebanon is the economic center for our region and it is my pleasure to call attention to a few of our assets. The downtown offers several local restaurants, including Snitz Creek Brewery, Queso Dee'as Southwest Grille, La Placita de Lebanon: Authentic Mexican Food, Timeless Café, and William Penn Restaurant (home to the famous Greek Chili Dog). We offer several specialty stores: Wertz Candies, known internationally for its handmade caramel corn; Queen’s Natural Foods, a healthy living marketplace; and the Lebanon Farmer’s Market. Additional unique businesses include Draude’s Derailment, a train store for model railroad enthusiasts; AA Comics, offering a wide selection of comic books and collectibles; DiNunzio’s Shoe Repair, a long-standing local service; Deluxx Bikes, catering to cycling needs and repairs; and Cakes by Moraima & Café, known for custom cakes and Puerto Rican-inspired treats.

Other local restaurants and businesses located in nearby neighborhoods include the decade-long, award-winning Italian restaurant Trattoria Fratelli, The Gin Mill Restaurant serving American fare (locally owned and operated since the early 1930s), and the Lebanon Valley Craft Brewery, a locally owned brewery producing a variety of craft beers. Other specialty shops and foods in the City include Van Winkle’s Opera Fudge, Shuey’s Homemade Pretzel Shop and Seltzer’s Bologna, founder of the Lebanon Bologna (George Brooks).

The City of Lebanon, Community of Lebanon Association, and other partner agencies offer a range of activities and events in the City, including First Friday Art Walks, President’s Day Cherry Pie Promotion, Flag Day Event, Lebanon Pride Events, Classic Car & Motorcycle Show, Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony, Holiday Parade, Holiday Carriage Rides, and the New Year’s Eve Bologna Drop.

Lebanon also offers an abundance of recreational and cultural activities, from walking and biking on trails, to organized sports, pick-up games, fishing, boating, camping, a disc golf course, a bike park, outdoor concerts, community theatre, bird watching, playgrounds, and pavilions for picnicking. Coming soon are pickleball courts, a dog park, and a splash pad.

It is equally important to recognize the accomplishments of our departments, which bring benefits to our residents and demonstrates the dedication of our workforce toward making Lebanon a better place to work, live and play.

• Improved our Insurance Services Organization (ISO) rating from a 4 to a 3, which should help to lower property insurance premiums.  Out of 2,618 departments in PA, there are only 27 with a higher rating than Lebanon City.  
• Received Silver Level Accreditation from the PA State Fire Commissioner’s Participating Department Program.  
• Serious crime continues to decrease with 2024 representing our 2nd lowest crime count in our statistical history.

The City has received some national and state rankings, as well.  Some of our community accolades are:

• Ranked #10 in Top 10 Most Idiosyncratic Items to Drop on New Year’s Eve according to Smithsonianmag.com.  The City drops a 200+ pound bologna to reflect local product and culture. (12/31/14)  
• Ranked #7 in 10 Happiest Cities in PA according to Creditdonkey.com.   The study focused on cities with a population over 20,000 and looked at restaurants, crime rate, commute, departure time, income, divorce rate and housing. (9/15/14)  
• Ranked 6th Best-Performing Small Metropolitan Area in Nation for 2011 by Milken Institute Best-Performing Cities Index for how well the city creates and sustains jobs and economic growth. (2/2012)  
• Ranked #9 in Top 10 Winter Cities by Livability.com for the best winter cities who plan and pay attention to the details of winter livability. (12/14/2011)  
• Recognized by Sperling’s Best Places as the 2nd Least Stressful City in the Nation. (2010)

We welcome you to come check us out!  I look forward to seeing you in Lebanon, Pennsylvania!

Sherry Capello

Mayor