Tickets go on sale Friday, Jan. 3, for the Reading & Northern Railroad’s 2025 Iron Horse Rambles featuring steam locomotive #2102. Reservations are available by phone at 610-562-2102 or at www.rbmnrr-passenger.com
On Feb. 8, #2102 will power a Reading to Jim Thorpe Iron Horse Ramble in its first winter excursion. The train will depart Reading Outer Station in Muhlenberg Township at 9 a.m., make a station stop at Port Clinton and continue to Jim Thorpe, where passengers will have more than four hours of free time.
Passengers will be offered the chance to stay on the train and ride the “wye move” to turn the train consist to face south during the layover in Jim Thorpe.The train will return to Reading in the evening.
Standard Coach tickets are $79, and Crown Class Coach tickets are $99. Call the ticket office for additional upscale seating options.
The second Ramble will operate from Reading to Jim Thorpe on May 24.
The third and fourth Iron Horse Rambles for 2025 will feature the #2102 operating over the length of the Lehigh Division Main Line. On June 21 there will be a passenger excursion from Nesquehoning to Tunkhannock for the town’s 44th annual Founder’s Day Festival. Departure time is 9 a.m.
The train will travel through Lehigh Gorge State Park, over Penobscot Mountain, through the Wyoming Valley and along the Susquehanna River to Tunkhannock. The final Iron Horse Ramble will operate on Aug. 23 from Nesquehoning to Pittston for the annual Tomato Festival. Departure will be at 9 a.m.
Tickets for the Lehigh line trips are $99 for Standard Coach and $110 for Crown Class Coach. Call to learn about premium ticket options
Berks parks
The Berks County Parks & Recreation department is presenting the following January programs:
Winter Wellness Walk, Saturday, Jan. 4, 9 a.m., Heritage Center, Bern Township. Get out on the Union Canal Trail to enjoy an hourlong brisk walk. Free but registration suggested.
Winter Outdoor Cooking, Jan. 11, 11 a.m., Bingaman House, Lower Alsace Township.Learn how to make an assortment of homemade dishes on a campfire. Free but registration required
Owl Prowl, Jan. 11, 6 p.m., Bingaman House. Take a moonlit stroll on Antietam Lake Park trails while learning about owls. Free but registration required.
Trail Tales, Jan. 14, 10 a.m., Heritage Center. A program geared toward ages 3 to 5 offers a chance to discover plants and animal friends. Free but registration required.
Junk Journaling, Jan. 16, 6 p.m., Heritage Center Junk journals can be made out an assortment of different recycled or found materials. Free but registration required.
Volunteer Invasive Removal, Jan. 17, 3 p.m., Angora Fruit Farm, Lower Alsace Township. Help remove and cut back on invasive plant populations. Free.
Tracks, Scat and Animal Pelts, Jan. 25, 9 a.m., Bingaman House. Observe the natural world around us and the animals within it by looking at the tracks and scat of local wildlife. Free but registration required.
Snowshoeing Pennsylvania, Jan. 26, 2 p.m., Bethel Appalachian Trail. Geared towards those with or without snowshoe experience, Get tips, tricks and equipment notes on snowshoeing on Pennsylvania trail. Free but advance registration required.
Register for all events at countyofberks.recdesk.com/Community/Program. For more information, email Gauker@BerksPa.gov or call 610-374-2944, ext 2611.
Yoga and more at Wyomissing Library
The Wyomissing Public Library will offer three types of yoga practices beginning Thursday, Jan. 2.
Linda Zogas, former owner of Bldg 7 on Park Road, leads a 60-minute “Chair Yoga” class on Thursdays at 12:30 p.m. Participants sit in chairs; there are no poses that require getting on and off the floor. Participants should expect to breathe, lengthen their muscles, and ease and strengthen their joints. There is no charge for the class, which is open to the public. Registration is not required, and there is no need to bring anything. Blocks and straps are provided.
A “Stretch & Flow” practice will begin at 5:45 p.m. on Jan. 2. Stretch & Flow integrates breathwork, stretching and mindful movement into the practice to release tension, enhance flexibility and cultivate inner calm, leaving participants feeling grounded, refreshed and reconnected.
Maddie Hertzog will lead the class, which is rooted in the belief that yoga is for everyone, regardless of age, size or ability. To register, go to www.maddiehertzog.com. The cost is $15 per class, $65 per five-class plan , or $120 per 10-class plan. Bring your mat.
“Adult Yoga for Everyone” with Linda Zogas, will begin the new year on Friday, Jan. 3 at 9 a.m. provding a liberating, easy flow into restorative postures. This practice will aid participants in restoring energy and releasing discomfort in the body. No experience is necessary. Bring your mat. Cost is $15/class.
The library will offer Scrabble games on Jan. 13 and 27 from 2 to 4 p.m. Boards and tiles are available, though players may bring their own. Open to the public, no charge.
Starting Jan. 15 from 4:30 to 7 p.m., the library will offer “Bridge for All,” a new monthly program. The club is designed to meet the needs of those new to bridge as well as those of experienced players. There is no need to bring anything or to register.
The library is located at 9 Reading Blvd. Visit wyopublib.org, call 610-374-2385 or email ann@wyopublib.org for more information.
Polar Bear 5K
The Sierra Club – Lancaster Group Polar Bear 5K Trail Run/Hike will be held Saturday, Jan. 18, at Lancaster County Central Park Participants may bring their dogs (on a leash) to run or walk with them in the race
The course is on well-maintained trails with some hills. Race day registration and check-in will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the park’s Pavilion 22 (Kiwanis Lodge).
Registration fee is $30 from now through Sunday, Jan. 5, and $35 after that. Each participant will receive a commemorative mug.
For more information and to register, visit hrunsignup.com/Race/Register/?raceId=171281&eventId=899947 or www.facebook.com/sierraclublancaster.
Funds raised support the club’s efforts to ease climate change along with its free outdoor activities and educational programs.
Human rights talk
An international human rights attorney will speak Thursday, Jan. 9, at 5:30 p.m. during the Great Discussions Myerstown group meeting at the Myerstown Community Library, 199 N. College St..
Johnathan Kuttab, co-founder of the Palestinian Human Rights Al-Haq and Nonviolence International, will be the guest speaker in a program titled “Beyond the Two-State Solution” based on his book of the same title..
Those interested in attending are asked to email greatdiscussionsmyerstown@gmail.com so organizers can estimate the likely turnout.
Submit items to news@readingeagle.com.
Source: Berkshire mont
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