The WCR Center for the Arts, 140 N. Fifth St., Reading, kicks off its 2023-24 season Thursday with an evening of dance and music celebrating the city’s 275th anniversary. The program begins at 6:15 with a talk by historian Rick Politiyka, who will discuss the history of the venue and the organization behind it. At 7 there will be dancing to jazz with the Hot Club of Reading.
Food and drink will be served in a jazz club atmosphere.
Tickets are $25 in advance/$30 at the door and available at www.wcrcenter.org. All proceeds benefit the WCR center’s Accessibility Campaign
Library card month
Berks County libraries are encouraging people to stop by their local library to register for a library card as part of Library Card Sign-up Month. From borrowing books, eBooks, and audiobooks to getting homework help, learning new skills, or attending a book club or story time, a library card helps everyone do more of what they enjoy. All without stretching their budget.
Each September, the American Library Association and libraries work to ensure every child signs up for their own library card, but everyone — regardless of age — is encouraged to sign up.
A standard Berks County Public Libraries card is available to anyone who lives, works, or goes to school in Berks and allows cardholders to borrow over 1 million materials in the shared countywide catalog, download thousands of eBooks and eAudiobooks, access subscription tools such as genealogy and investment research and utilize public access computers and Microsoft Suite programs
Lost your library card? Receive a free replacement by visiting any of the 23 Berks County Public Libraries locations. Find a library by visiting www.berkslibraries.org.
Plant sale
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary will host its annual Fall Native Plant Sale on Sept. 16, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. outside the Visitor Center on the site near Kempton.
The sale will feature more than 100 species of native trees, vines, wildflowers, grasses, and shrubs. The sale is open to the public, and all proceeds benefit Hawk Mountain’s conservation and education programs.
Dedicated native plant volunteers will be available to offer advice. The Visitor Center bookstore carries native plant gardening books for those interested in learning more.
The Native Plant Sale takes place during peak raptor migration, making it a good time to explore the sanctuary, visit the trails and lookouts, witness the daily Autumn Hawk Watch and take part in free weekend programs.
Mid-September is peak migration season for the monarch butterfly. The sanctuary’s Monarch Day event also will take place on Sept. 16. Biologist John Drummond will talk about monarchs and their conservation. There will be an opportunity to learn about Hawk Mountain’s annual butterfly count and monarch migration data, and leave with freemilkweed seeds.
Browse all upcoming programs at hawkmountain.org/events.
Women in medicine
The American Medical Association has designated September as Women in Medicine Month, in recognition of “all the women physicians, residents, and medical students working to make health care more equitable.”
On Wednesday at 6 p.m., the Wyomissing Public Library will host a program by Dr. Olapeju Simoyan, addictions specialist and professor at Drexel University College of Medicine. She will discuss the history of women in medicine to mark Women in Medicine Month.
Simoyan, also an author and musician, will talk about her own path to medicine, including obstacles she had to overcome because of gender. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, a fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and the founding medical director of research at Caron Treatment Center.
On Saturday at 1 p.m. at the library, Sherry Luce, Regional Director of Red, Wine & Blue, will present an informational program about the organization, which began in 2019 in Ohio. According to its website, the organization “channels the power of suburban women for the greater good with trusted community and nontraditional, fun content created for and by women.”
Luce will talk about how and why she got involved, how the organization works, how to talk with family and friends who may hold different opinions, and how to fight disinformation.
Both programs are free and open to the public. Registration is requested: email ann@wyopublib.org or call the library at 610-374-2385. The library is located at 9 Reading Boulevard..
Fall Fest in Birdsboro
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 5 Brooke Manor, Birdsboro, will hold its annual Fall Fest on Saturday, Sept. 16 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the church campus. This year’s festival marks the church’s 150th anniversary There will be food, games, a barrel train ride, face painting, Moon Bounce and a silent auction.
Music will be provided by the Happy Dutchmen German Band and East Side Dave and his band. There will be bingo, a 50/50 raffle, a cake walk and a raffle for a handmade fall/Halloween themed quilt.
Tickets for apple dumplings and the raffle can be purchased ahead of time by visiting the church office, sending an email to secretary@stmarkbirdsboro.org or calling 610-582-8167.
Community Day
Keystone Villa at Douglassville invites the public to its Community Day and Car Show on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 1152 and 1180 Ben Franklin Highway E. This event is rain or shine.
The event includes a free car show with antiques, classics, and customs on display. Other activities include raffles, music, and a petting zoo. Food trucks will be selling refreshments. Proceeds from the event benefit first responders.
Anyone looking to enter their custom and antique cars at the show is asked to call Donna at 610-385-5006.
Church fundraisers
Trinity Lutheran Church, 1749 S. Main St., Bechtelsville, is hosting two upcoming fundraisers:
A basket party will be held Saturday, Sept. 16. Doors open at 9:30 a.m., and drawing begins at 10:30. Tickets are $20.
A fall craft show is scheduled for Oct. 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Crafters interested in participating are asked to contact the church office at 610-369-1281.
Hobart’s Run
The annual Hobart’s Run by the River 5K is scheduled for Oct. 29 beginning at 9 a.m. (8 a.m. registration) at Riverfront Park, 100 College Drive, Pottstown. Runners are encouraged to run in Halloween attire. Special prizes will be given for outstanding costumes.
This event raises funds for Pottstown neighborhood improvement initiatives as well as outreach that benefits area children and families in need.
Hobart’s Run is seeking sponsorship support from businesses, individuals and organizations as well as runners and walkers to take part in the event.
Go to hobartsrunpottstown.org/calendar and look for the links on Oct. 29 for more information and forms for sponsorship and registration. Interested parties also may email Jacqueline Steinman at jacqueline@hobartsrunpottstown.org or call 610-705-1018 to sign up or learn more.
Band concert
The Boyertown Alumni Band will perform Sept. 13, at 7 p.m. in the final performance of this year’s Keystone Villa at Douglassville summer concert series. The villa is located at 1152 Benjamin Franklin Highway.
The concert is to be held on the patio of the Independent Living building. It will be moved indoors in the event of inclement weather. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
Register in advance for a chance to win door prizes; call Missy at 610-385-5000.
Book club
The 2nd Thursday Book Club meets Thursday, Sept. 14 at noon in the Muhlenberg Community Library, 3612 Kutztown Road, Laureldale. The guest is local author Elizabeth Clark, who wrote “Lessons from the Hoghouse.” Go to Muhlenbergcommunitylibrary.org to learn more.
Running fundraiser
Maille McNicholas, a junior at Twin Valley High School, will be co-hosting the Purple Polka Dot 5K Fundraiser and Family Fun Run on Nov. 5 at 11 a.m. at the Cassel Vineyards of Hershey.
She was born with a rare condition called Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome. This condition, which affects her right leg, causes a large port wine stain vascular birthmark and other symptoms. Head of the Teen Committee for the VBF Global Ambassadors, Maille is working with three local Pennsylvania Ambassadors to bring the Purple Polka Dot Race Fundraiser to the state this year.
Organizers are seeking sponsors to ensure that all proceeds from the event go directly to the foundation, which offers education, referrals and free treatment clinics.
To become an individual or business race sponsor go to www.linktr.ee/pa_purplepolkadotrace or email papurplepolkadotrace@gmail.com.
The 5K run and walk and family fun run is open to racers of all ages and abilities. The 5K race is $35 and Fun Run $15 per person. To sign up, go to runsignup.com/Race/PA/Hummelstown/PennsyvanaPurlplePolkaDotRace.
Source: Berkshire mont
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