Berks Encore will host its Senior Expo Wednesday at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading. More than 80 businesses will be present to share information about services such as home repair, in-home services, health and fitness, insurance and travel. Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center will host a health fair. The event is free and open to the public. The gates open at 9 a.m.
Organizers are accepting donations of nonperishable food and personal hygiene items. Donations will be distributed to older adults in Berks County.
Guests will have the opportunity to walk the track and take part in short fitness demonstrations. A dietitian will deliver a presentation at 10:30 a.m.
Entertainment includes magic by Matty Whipple, the Music of Elvis by Jeff Krick Sr. and a performance by singer/saxophonist Erich Cawalla.
Concession stands will be open in the plaza serving ballpark fare for lunch.
Fall festival
The third annual Berks County Fair FALL FEST will be held Saturday from noon to 4:15 p.m. at the fairgrounds, 1216 Hilltop Road, Bern Township. Free admission. Pumpkin crafts, games, a bounce house, touch a truck, animals and a hayride to a pumpkin patch included. An antique tractor parade will take place at 3 p.m. followed by tractor games. A cornhole tournament begins at noon. Food is available for purchase. The event will conclude with candy dropped from a firetruck ladder.
For additional information go to www.facebook.com/TheBerksCountyFair
Book discussion
Author Imogene Salva will discuss her book “One Star Away” Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at the Reading Public Museum. The event is presented by Columbiettes, Light of Christ #8726 and the Polish American Heritage Association of Berks County.
Salva’s family survived deportation from Poland to a Siberian labor camp during World War II. Their story is one of survival, separation and sacrifice and the kindness of an Indian maharaja who saved hundreds of Polish Catholic children.
Apple Festival
The Hay Creek Apple Festival returns to Historic Joanna Furnace in Robeson Township on Oct. 7 and 8 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., presented by the Hay Creek Valley Historical Association.
The day begins with the Hay Creek apple pancake breakfast, served from 7 to 11 a.m. both days in the historic Joanna Furnace Mule Stable. It includes all-you-can-eat pancakes, a piece of county sausage with juice and/or coffee.
The 19th century cider press will be operating throughout each day with continuous demonstrations. Cider will be available for purchase. There will be a wide variety of food on the menu along with apple-based treats. Wine and craft beer will be available for sampling.
The Apple Dessert Contest is open to those who love to create special desserts. Bring entries — pies, cakes, breads, muffins and desserts — to the Festival Food Court area between 8 and 9 a.m. Include the detailed recipe. See details at haycreek.org/hay-creek-apple-festival/ or contact Ruth at 484-437-2801.
The annual Hay Creek Flea Market will be open at 7 a.m. each day. Family activities at the festival start at 9 a.m. and include scarecrow building, pumpkin painting, hay rides and face painting and more.
Six Joanna Furnace buildings will be open with garbed interpreters telling the full historical story of the 19th-century ironworks and village.
Joanna Furnace is located off Route 10 near Morgantown. Admission is free. Parking is on site with a donation. For more information, visit www.haycreek.org. or call 610-286-0388.
Funk Fest
The Groovemasters featuring Bennie Sims and Cliff Starkey and Erich Cawalla’s Uptown Band will team up Friday night for the Alisa B. Memorial Funk Fest to benefit The Alisa B. Anderson Memorial Scholarship Fund with the Reading Musical Foundation. The event will take place at the Goodwill Beneficial Association, 100 Madison Ave., Hyde Park.
Alisa Anderson was a vocalist from Berks who performed throughout the country with many groups, most notably the Groovemasters. She died of stomach cancer in 2015.
Tickets for the event are $20 in advance and $25 at the door (if available) with food and drink available for purchase. Doors open at 7 p.m., with bands performing from 8 to 11:30.
To learn more about purchasing tickets or other information, go to www.theuptownband.com, call 610-781-8312 or email theuptownband@comcast.net.
History museum
The Longswamp Township Historical Society is holding a ribbon cutting and groundbreaking event from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday at the Longswamp Township Park, 1112 State St. The group is dedicating its 1941 Reading Co. caboose and marking its museum and historical library groundbreaking.
Free caboose tours and concert by Swing Time Dolls. Food and beverages for purchase. Visit the society’s Facebook page for event details.
Banned Books Week
In recognition of Banned Books Week, the Wyomissing Public Library will host two special programs.
Today at 6 p.m there will be a reading of “After the Burning: A Poetic Reflection on Banned Books” by journalist and poet Susan L. Peña. She will read her poems, and several members of the theater community will read passages from the books she mentions in the poems. The reading will be followed by an open discussion with the audience.
Peña has written six poems about her experiences with books that now appear on many banned book lists. Her poems arose out of her concern about the removal of books from school and public libraries because some deemed them harmful to children.
On Saturday at noon, the Berks InterCultural Alliance and Red Wine & Blue will host “Banned Books Bingo.” It is an adaptation of the traditional game and offers players an opportunity to learn about book banning and what it means to our society. Players who win will receive a copy of a banned book.
The library is located at 9 Reading Blvd. Both programs are free and open to the public; registration is requested: ann@wyopublib.org, or call the library a 610-374-2385.
Predator hunting
Rep. Barry Jozwiak is joining the Pennsylvania Game Commission in hosting a predator hunting seminar on Thursday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Pennsylvania Game Commission Southeast Regional Headquarters at 253 Snyder Road, Maidencreek Township.
“Education is a vital part of the hunting process,” Jozwiak said in announcing the program. “Though predator attacks are rare, keeping their populations in check is important. I hope people will come to this event to learn how to hunt these animals safely and legally.”
The presentation will be given by the Game Commission and an expert on predator hunting, Mike Huff. Those interested in attending should RSVP by calling 610-378-4407.
Novel Beginnings
Albright College presents Novel Beginnings, featuring readings by authors Andrew Fritz and Janice E. Rodriguez followed by a Q&A session. The discussion will focus on the relationship between a novel’s plot and character development.
The program is scheduled for Wednesday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Science Lecture Hall. It is open to the community.
Pickleball court
Berks Encore has opened a community pickleball court at Strausstown Lions Park, 10 Wilson Ave. The Berks Encore Wellness & Activity Center in Strausstown has a group of seniors that play pickleball on Wednesday and Friday mornings. Equipment is provided to the group.
Anyone over 50 who is interested in joining the group may call 610-488-5770 or email agebely@berksencore.org. The court was funded by the Berks County Area Agency on Aging, Pennsylvania Department of Aging and Strausstown Lions Club. The court is open to the public during daylight hours.
Nonprofit partnership
The LGBT Center of Greater Reading has begun a formal partnership with Superheroes for Autism that includes shared space, collaborative programming and events.
“This partnership provides both organizations the opportunity to grow and evolve to meet the increasing needs of the LGBTQ+ community and those of neurodivergent experience,” said Michelle Dech, CEO of the LGBT Center.
“Superheroes for Autism is excited to partner with the LGBT Center of Greater Reading,” said Deneida Perez, the organization’s president. “Our organization’s goals align and are similar. Both groups work to ensure a safe place, awareness, acceptance, and advocacy.”
Superheroes for Autism provides activities and support for families with children and youth adults on the autism spectrum and raises awareness of autism in the community. The LGBT Center provides services, advocacy, and support to the local LGBTQ+ community.
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Source: Berkshire mont
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