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First United Church of Christ Mission Fund awards $39,475 in Grants

Reading Magazine
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First United Church of Christ Mission Fund awards $39,475 in Grants

The mission of the former First United Church of Christ in Reading continues. A charitable fund that the church established before closing has awarded 11 grants totaling $39,475.

The First United Church of Christ Mission Fund of Berks County Community Foundation recently released its second annual round of grants. The beneficiaries were organizations that provide summer and after-school activities for children and/or feed and clothe those in need.

In 2017, after 264 years of serving the community, First United Church of Christ closed. The church transferred its endowment to the Community Foundation to continue the church’s mission. This year, the First UCC Mission Fund committee recommended the following awards.

$5,625 to Café Esperanza, which is a planned pay-what-you-can café. The café is intended to alleviate hunger in Reading by serving nutritious food to everyone, regardless of ability to pay. The café also plans to promote healthy eating through education, such as nutrition and cooking classes.

$5,000 to New Journey Community Outreach Inc. for programs that feed, clothe, and support those in need in Reading. The organization is the largest daily soup kitchen in downtown Reading. It serves more than 4,000 individuals or families annually with more than 31,000 meals and more than 20,000 articles of clothing.

Meals are served at New Journey Community Outreach

$5,000 to the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts after-school arts program. This free program serves approximately 350 youth with dynamic, interactive art programs.

$5,000 to The Salvation Army of Reading for its summer day camp. The camp allows children to maintain and increase educational skills throughout the summer while also engaging them in fun and interesting activities.

$5,000 to Olivet Boys & Girls Club for scholarships for its eight-week summer camp. The camp also reduces hunger among children in Reading. The camp serves breakfast, lunch, and snacks daily.

$3,900 to Community Prevention Partnership for its “Feeding and Nurturing Families” program. The program reduces hunger among low-income families with young children.

$3,000 to Berks Youth Chorus to provide a variety of life-changing musical opportunities to more than 140 youth.

$2,250 to First Senior Center of St. Peter’s United Church of Christ. The center offers seniors meals and opportunities for socialization, education, and exercise.

$1,800 to St. Peter’s United Church of Christ for its Opportunity House Service Group. The volunteer group serves hot, nutritious meals to the homeless residents of Opportunity House in Reading.

$1,800 to Berks Counseling Center to run a summer camp for children age 6 to 12 who are in the organization’s housing program.

$1,100 to the YMCA of Reading and Berks County for scholarships for children age 6 to 12 to attend Summer Adventure Camp. The camp includes swimming, arts and crafts, sports, field trips and more.

Where to Watch 4th of July Fireworks in Berks County

Reading Magazine
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Where to Watch 4th of July Fireworks in Berks County

Berks County has plenty to offer on July 4th when it comes to Fireworks and community events. Here are a few events you won’t want to miss.

Star-Spangled Spectacular Concert

Come hear your favorite patriotic melodies in a free concert in a park-like setting. Bring your picnic baskets, maybe a bottle of wine, and sit back, relax, and enjoy your RSO in a unique outdoor concert experience. The event features fun and food trucks, and concludes with a dazzling fireworks display. Don’t forget to bring your food donations for the Greater Berks Food Bank. Tickets are available at Boscov’s​ Berkshire Mall, Boscov’s​ Fairgrounds, Boscov’s​ Exeter Township,​ and the Reading Symphony Orchestra​ office. Thursday, July 4, 2019 @ 8:00 p.m. on the EnerSys Corporation Grounds.

West Reading Independence Day Celebration

West Reading will hold its annual Independence Day Celebration from 6pm-9pm at the Pavilion/Field. The event starts off with open remarks by Mayor Andrew Kearney, and features food, music, and fireworks at 9:30pm.

Also Read: “The American Spirit” Named Wyomissing’s 4th of July Parade Theme

Reading Fightin Phils

The regular fireworks show set for July 3rd has been changed to a Mega Blast Fireworks Show. Celebrate the nation’s independence watching the largest fireworks show in stadium history on July 3rd! Only chance to celebrate the holidays with us is Wednesday night.
Game starts at 7:10 fightins.com/tickets

Governor Mifflin Community Days

No fireworks July 4th, but it’s worth a mention that Governor Mifflin Community Days will host Fireworks on Saturday, July 6th. Community days is open July 4th, and serves as a unique community fair featuring food, games, rides, and some of the best regional entertainment.

70 Years of PA Dutch Culture at the Kutztown Folk Festival

Reading Magazine
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70 Years of PA Dutch Culture at the Kutztown Folk Festival

The Kutztown Folk Festival opened to the public on Saturday featuring interactive displays, traditional food, and entertainment for the whole family. Celebrating a special 70th anniversary milestone this year, the annual event draws visitors from all over the world.

With over 200 craftsmen and artists through the festival, its may take a bit of walking to see everything the Kutztown Folk Festival has to offer. Visiting the festival on opening day, here are a few of the unique things we found at this year’s Folk Festival:

The children’s petting zoo is an enjoyable experience for both kids and adults. It’s free to pet the animals, $2 to buy a small cone of food.

Eat till you ouch! Traditional Pennsylvania Dutch meals are served in two restaurants  featuring a variety of homemade soups and sandwiches, sausage, pot pie, corn fritters, funnel cake, shoo-fly pie, and apple dumplings. Another long-held tradition is the festival’s 19th-century bread oven, one of the oldest in Pennsylvania, where bread is baked daily.

Take a ride on a classic handcar at the Allentown and Auburn Railroad’s demo area. Kids must be 43 inches or over to ride. After your ride, enjoy watching the model railroad display adjacent to the handcar.

Own a piece of history by bidding on one of these hand painted Barn Stars. Painted during opening day, the Barn Stars will be sold at auction on the second Saturday of the festival.

The many children’s events at the Kutztown Folk Festival are fun for all ages! The Children’s Farmyard Theater presents puppet shows, sing-alongs, story time, magic, a ventriloquist, and more. Kids can also enjoy craft and play areas, pony rides, and a 19th-century horse-drawn carousel.

The entertainment at the Folk Festival isn’t just on the stage. Setting up in the middle of the street this 19th century “impromptu” brass band plays for the public.

Located at the Kutztown Fairgrounds, the festival is open June 29 to July 7, 2019, weekdays 10am – 6pm, weekends, 10am – 8pm. Daily tickets are $14 for adults and kids 12 and under get in for free. Weekly passes are $24. Before you go, checkout this map of the fairgrounds: kutztownfestival.com/Fairgrounds_Map-2019

New Kenhorst Store Features Uniquely Local Home Decor

Jason Hugg
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New Kenhorst Store Features Uniquely Local Home Decor

Berks County is full of crafty people creating all sorts of homemade, unique items. But where can you find these items without going to a street festival or craft fair? Joy Bailey wanted to solve that problem. So she decided to turned her idea of showcasing local artists into a retail business in Kenhorst, named Uniquely Local.

Spending the past 20 years working for an IT company, Bailey was tired of the daily corporate grind. “I reached a transition point in my career and wanted to do something new that focused on the local economy, and make an impact on the community” says Bailey.

Knowing the challenges local artists face when displaying their work, Bailey wanted to start a business that would act as a combination retail shop, online store, and business incubator. “I like going to craft fairs. I would see everyone setup, and think to myself, this is incredibly time consuming and labor intensive. So I thought instead i’d turn the concept on its head and make a business highlight locally made items.”
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Building a new business managing multiple vendors isn’t easy. Before she opened, Bailey had to network with local artists to generate a vendor list. “Before I opened the store, I visited several local craft fairs and festivals gathering contact info of different artists and vendors. I was able to gather 80 initial applications.” says Bailey.

With a grand opening in April, Bailey chose to setup her shop in the Kenhorst Shopping Plaza due to proximity to bigger retail stores, and the distance to her own house. “I man the store six days a week, so I wanted to find something close by.”

Handmade baby products from “Scrappy Stitch”.

Operating for a little over two months, Bailey has vendors from Berks, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York County. “What’s important to realize is that our inventory will always be changing. Existing vendors will bring new items in and we will also add new vendors”. Walking through, the store has an upscale vibe, featuring home decor, glassware, jewelry, baby products, and soaps.

Unlike a consignment shop or thrift store, all the items in Uniquely Local are brand new and part of an artist or small businesses collection. “I consider it more of a gift shop, due to the variety of things we stock.” explained Bailey.

For those looking to have items for sale, Bailey has two options. The first is a split of the sale price of each item. The other option is to rent display space. Bailey says this option provides brands with a static display area for their products, and more prominent signage. When asked about local food products Bailey said, “Unfortunately, I can’t sell perishable food items, so I’ve created in-store events that will bring those vendors in to showcase their goods”.

Gift bags from “A Box of Berks”

Looking to the future, Bailey is excited to expand her business. “A lot of our vendors make custom pieces, I’m already working with a few of them to be able to offer customized products. Say someone wants a custom piece of jewelry, artwork, or something sewn from scratch. We will be able to take that idea and forward it to our vendors”.

Uniquely Local is located in the Kenhorst Shopping Plaza, 660 Kenhorst Plaza, Reading, PA 19607. Open M 11-8pm, W-F 11-8pm, Weekends 9-6pm. (610) 553-5312. Website: uniquely-local.com

 

Gravity Racers Glide Down the Streets of Reading

Reading Magazine
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Gravity Racers Glide Down the Streets of Reading

What was started back in the 60’s as a rag tag group soapbox derby enthusiast is back thanks to a new local group dedicated to re-building Reading’s gravity racing tradition.

When the Reading Junior Stock Car Association was formed in 1964, it had a membership of 70 drivers. Originally racing on Spring Street, the group moved to North 13th to take advantage of the wider road. Overtime, the construction of the Warren St Bypass bridge and the Post Office left the group searching for a new home.

Remembering his time racing gravity cars when he was younger, a small group lead by John King, decided it was time to bring it back. In 2017, the Reading Gravity Racing League was born. Since its re-birth, the group has slowly picked up support, holding races all across Reading.

Speaking with King in-between his duty as the shuttle car driver at their King Father’s Day race on North 13th Street in Reading, we learned how he and his group have come together to reshape the hobby they group with.

If you are wondering, you can’t buy these cars at the hobby shop. Each one is a custom build, made from a wide variety of parts. That being said, the Reading Gravity League does have rules and dimensions to follow.

King welcomes anyone to join and build a car. “We have some volunteers that will help you build a car. Members from the club also sell cars from time to time for those who aren’t handy.”

As as outdoor sport, gravity racing is very weather dependent. With rain in the forecast, and clouds moving in, the group was quick to get their cars in place. “The friction brakes don’t work in the rain” says King.

Each course has its own unique layout and challenges. Some are smooth freshly paved streets, others haven’t been re-paved in years. “Here on North 13th street, its a drivers race, they have to figure out how to manage the bumps in the road.” King says gravity race cars can reach speeds of up to 45mph on certain courses.

“Gravity racing is something you just have to try. Gravity does something to people. Some people are scared, others aren’t. When you’re that low to the ground it’s a much different experience.” King says

With an interest in the helping younger racers get into the sport, King says the organization will soon have a trial car available so anyone can experience the thrill of downhill gravity racing. “We want to get young racers into the sport, it may be an old fashion idea, but its a fun way to be outside.”

Member Sherry Stewart says the organizations ultimate goal is to raise enough money through donations to repave Spuhler Lane, the road that connects Skyline Drive at the Fire Tower to Angora Road. Stewart says the project is estimated at $35,000.

Want to watch or participate? The Reading Gravity Racing League has several races on the schedule: July 14th Pottstown Wilson St., July 21st Oak Lane, August 18th North 13th St., September 8th Skyline Drive, September 22nd Chestnut St. West Reading, October 6th Oak Lane.

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