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Running for the Kids: The Race to End Pediatric Cancer

Jason Hugg
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Running for the Kids: The Race to End Pediatric Cancer

Christopher Winters began running 5k’s to raise awareness for pediatric cancer in 2015. His inspiration for running was Laney Brown, a second grade student at Wyomissing Hills Elementary who was diagnosed with high risk AML with monosomy in May of 2013.

By December of that year, support for Laney and her family gained national attention as 10,000+ people visited their West Reading house to show their concern and hope. Unfortunately, Laney lost her battle with cancer on December 25, 2013.

This struck Christopher to the core. Seeing how pediatric cancer affected families Christopher took it upon himself to make a difference. He began with running the Fashionista 5k which honored the late Laney Brown. He now races in every 5k he can to support cancer research.

With his motto “Running for the Kids”, Christopher makes it a point to get to know the kids and families affected. Christopher isn’t alone, as the chief of staff to state representative Tom Caltagirone, he has a first hand look at how Pennsylvania manages funding for pediatric cancer research.

To continue his mission Christopher is running the Philadelphia Marathon to benefit the Emily Whitehead Foundation. To fundraise, Christopher hosted a Celebrity Bartender event night at Cheers, located inside the DoubleTree Hotel in Reading. Over 150 people came out to support the cause raising over $600 dollars in raffel money. To encourage donations Craig Poole, manager of the hotel donated several prizes including a one nights stay and dinner for two at the restaurant.

With a successful night Christopher will go on to run the Marathon on Sunday and we wish him the best of luck.

Berks Morns the Loss of Rick Bugera, Oley Fire Fighter & Weatherman

Reading Magazine
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Berks Morns the Loss of Rick Bugera, Oley Fire Fighter & Weatherman

Berks County lost a very special person on Monday, Rick Bugera. Although we here at Reading Magazine did not know him personally, thanks to his Severe Weather Group on Facebook we feel like we did. Rick was a member of the Oley Fire Company Division of Fire and Rescue Services for the past 4 years and an avid photographer. If that wasn’t enough he also managed a Facebook group alerting residents of severe weather.

As a Certified Severe Weather Spotter for the National Weather Service he would post updates on incoming Severe Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, Hurricanes and Nor’Easters and Blizzards. His attentiveness to the group went above and beyond by posting detailed radar images, flood threats and snow totals. Dealing with severe weather is extremely challenging but that didn’t stop Rick from sharing his knowledge with those in need even if that meant staying up all night.

More impressively, Rick grew the Facebook group to 17,000 members all on a shoe string budget, only occasionally asking members contribute to his weather subscriptions services. Being modest, Rick would accept and carry on. The group would always come through, even recently when he was interested in purchasing a tablet to live stream his severe weather updates.

The news of his passing shocked thousands. Heading into fall it wasn’t unusual not to hear from Rick in the weather group. Most members would be waiting for his insights on the upcoming winter season. As the word spread so did his memory, many voicing their prayers and condolences.

Thank you Rick for all that you have done for the community, you will be missed.

UPDATE: At the request of Rick’s family there will not be a memorial service. The Oley Fire Co Division of Fire and Rescue will be having a gathering in Rick’s honor were friends and firehouse family members can share memories and celebrate his life together.

The gathering will be held at the Oley Fire Co engine room located on Main st. in Oley on Friday November 18th. It will begin at 1900hrs and go to 2100hrs. The Oley Fire company truck crew will also accept donations in his honor. These will also go towards offsetting costs that will be incurred during this time.

a GoFundMe has been setup on behalf of his sister to help with funeral and memorial services.

 

Pagoda Pacers host annual Oley Valley Country Classic 10mi & 5k

Reading Magazine
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Pagoda Pacers host annual Oley Valley Country Classic 10mi & 5k

It was a brisk 50 degrees Sunday morning as runners gathered at the Oley Valley Youth League Fields for the annual Oley Valley Country Classic 10 mile and 5k Road Race. Hosted by the Pagoda Pacers, roughly 400 runners to the the streets for a chance to break the course record.

In addition to the 5k the Oley Valley Country Classic also hosted the Eastern Regional RRCA championship with the 10 mile road course.

It didn’t take long for runners to storm the finish line and as the morning went on we saw a few exciting moments worth sharing. The first was a special birthday surprise for Carole Renninger of Douglassville who ran into the finish line not expecting to see roughly 30 of her family members. What a sight to see after running 10 miles.

For those who think running is for the young you will have to talk with Albert Booth. At 97 years old, Albert ran the 5k course in 55:15. The crowd cheered for his finish and as he approached the the final 5 feet Albert took an unfortunate fall landing just before the finish line. With the help of spectators Albert quickly got up and walked down the chute to turn in his race tag. Albert’s determination to finish was truly inspiring for both runners and spectators.

Athletes who finished 1, 2 or 3rd in their age group recieved custom dishware with Oley Valley Country Classic Hexsign.

A Pennsylvania Dutch A Christmas Carol on the Trolley

Reading Magazine
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A Pennsylvania Dutch A Christmas Carol on the Trolley

Back By Popular Demand the Pennsylvania Dutch A Christmas Carol Trolley Rolls Into West Reading Once Again!

‘Tis the Season, and Berks County is being treated by the L.O.V.E Team of West Reading and Solve IT Solutions, to one of the most unique CHRISTMAS CAROL’s, ever presented. Take a ride back in time as this delightful interactive family entertainment, with a PA Dutch twist, unfolds around the Holiday Glow of charming West Reading and Ridgewood Winery.

The audience boards the trolley at the Winery on Rt. 724 and is transported back in time to the streets of Olde West Reading Towne. Scrooge himself plays the surly emcee of this delightfully fun and wonderfully homespun treatment of the Charles Dickens’ classic.

With a heart locked up tighter than a cash box, Scrooge, encounters the visits of four spirits at various, West Reading businesses, for the chance to open up his heart and relish in the joys of his fellow man. Children and adults love it, giggling between the comedy and the dramatic twists, as they also get a mini-tour of West Reading.

The Trolley departs from the Winery to West Reading, with Ebenezer Scrooge and Bob Cratchit in tow, as they begin to spin the time-honored tale for the trolley audience. When the trolley gets to West Reading the entertainment will be in full swing and it will make several stops at various West Reading businesses to meet other characters and further the storyline. At each participating business, guests will be offered complimentary snacks or non-alcoholic drinks.

As old Scrooge begins to find some faith and trust in his fellow man and is reminded what a blessing each day of life is, the trolley wends its way back to Ridgewood Winery as the trolley audience, Scrooge and Cratchit, sing Christmas carols in the spirit of the very special holiday. When the audience returns to the winery, they are welcomed back into the farmstead to purchase wines to take home.

The Trolley Event is the brainchild of producer L J Fecho, owner and founder of Fecho Theatrical and Artistic Director of Genesius Theatre. Fecho adapted the script from the book by Charles Dickens. The interactive show has a cast of 6 actors, who play multiple roles and even audience members are called upon to portray various characters.

Triumph the Insult Comic Dog Takes Aim at Berks County on Hulu Show

Reading Magazine
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Triumph the Insult Comic Dog Takes Aim at Berks County on Hulu Show

The Presidential candidates aren’t the only ones paying attention to the “Philly” suburbs. With his ongoing election coverage series, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog is back on Hulu with his unique brand of crude comedy for the fall.

With his first episode after the RNC/DNC conventions, Triumph heads to Hofstra University to provide his take on the 1st Presidential debate. More notably, Triumph interviews Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson (also taking him to the Emmey’s) and Nate Silver, founder of the website FiveThirtyEight.

triumph-berks

While interviewing Nate, a statistician, Triumph pulls up a map of Pennsylvania on the screen to review Clinton and Trumps current electoral count. Mentioning that Nate needs to “focus on the smaller things”, Triumph zooms in to Berks County which uncovers two dogs humping. With laughter, Triumph says:

This is the American electorate overlooked by your statistics model. – Triumph

A side note, even though Triumph mentions Berks County by name the satellite view of the map is actually not Berks County, it is Union County just below Williamsport.

The full episode can be seen on Hulu: Season 1 Episode 4 “Election Watch” (it is not kid friendly)

http://hulu.tv/TriumphOnHulu

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