Berks County Living October 2021

REGION’S PREMIER LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

SENIORS SHARE

PASSION PROJECTS

10 TIMELESS FASHION STAPLES

October 2021

Spooky Stories of Berks

Oxygen Wherever you need it.

INHOME OXYGEN HAS YOUR SOLUTION FOR OXYGEN AT HOME, AWAY, AND FOR TRAVEL.

InHome Oxygen has both

OUR EXPERTS ARE JUST A PHONE CALL AWAY. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR NEED HELP FINDING THE RIGHT HOME HEALTH SOLUTION.

lightweight portable oxygen concentrators and at home concentrators from all of the leading manufacturers.

• Inogen • Philips Respironics • AirSep • SeQual • Precision Medical

610-929-2004

AVAILABLE IN PULSE AND CONTINUOUS FLOW. BOOK YOUR FREE CONSULTATION WITH OUR RESPIRATORY SPECIALIST TODAY!

103 Lancaster Ave, Reading PA 19611 www.inhomeoxygen.net

InHome Oxygen & Medical Equipment can help you and your family with all of your at home medical equipment needs.

Whether it be lift chairs, and scooters, to mobility aids like wheelchairs, walkers and canes. InHome Oxygen has everything you need to breathe better, sleep easier, and enjoy a better quality of life.

call today!

When You Are This Good, People Notice.

Reading Hospital has been ranked as one of the Top Ten Hospitals in Pennsylvania by U.S. News & World Report.

We are nationally ranked #50 in pulmonology and lung surgery and earned national “high performing“ status in specialties including gastroenterology, GI Surgery, geriatrics, orthopedics, and urology.

This achievement recognizes our exceptional team of care providers, our advanced technology, and our total commitment to providing you with safe, high-quality, compassionate care.

Learn more at TowerHealth.org/USNewsTop10.

What’s cooking in Fleetwood?

Back by popular demand the

Fleetwood Rotary Gourmet Gala October 20, 2021, from 6-9:00 pm at Moselem Springs Golf Club $75 per ticket or two tickets for $125.

Please join us for a fun night out to sample food from local restaurants in the area & personally meet the chefs, along with a silent and live auction. Starting October 6, we will have the auction items online to bid, and you can start your bidding! Below is the QR code; hold your cell phone over to read it, and it will automatically take you to the auction. You might have to download a QR APP. Or go directly to rotaryfleetwood.cbo.io We have been serving the Fleetwood and Oley communities for 70 years!

Your ticket benefits children in our communities and the world.

Our Community: • $1,000 Scholarships to Fleetwood & Oley Seniors • New Generations, a Youth Ethics & Leadership Conference • Camp Neidig, a 4-day Leadership and Ethics Weekend Camp for HS Seniors • Supporting Local Inbound & Outbound International Student Exchange • Recognizing Students of the Month for service and leadership • High School Interact Clubs, service & leadership club for youth Our World: • ShelterBox USA hand-delivers emergency shelter to families in the US & around the world who have been displaced by disaster or conflict.

• Polio Eradication, Rotary has ended polio in 122 countries to date • 800 Mosquito Nets, Malaria prevention

rotaryfleetwood.cbo.io

All proceeds benefit the Fleetwood Rotary Foundation Music, cocktails, elegant food, and a live & silent auction.

Business attire.

You don’t have to buy a ticket to bid on the auction items.

Order tickets & pay on-line at Rotaryfleetwood.cbo.io or contact: Loretta Ottinger 610-914-5947 Facebook.com/fleetwoodparotary

Participating Restaurants

HOTEL

You know that mammogram you’ve been putting off?

It’s time to focus on you?

If you’re a woman over 40 or you have a family history of breast cancer, getting a screening mammogram is one of the most important things you can do to take care of yourself.

Early detection gives you the best chance of beating breast cancer.

It sets a baseline of your breast health for future tests.

We use 3D imaging technology that helps detect breast cancer early when it’s most treatable.

Call 610-378-2100 to schedule your mammogram at the location nearest you: Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center 2500 Bernville Road Reading, PA 19603 Penn State Health Medical Group Exeter Ridge 3970 Perkiomen Ave., Suite 100 Exeter Township, PA 19606

BC-16566-21-151911-0521

contents OCTOBER 2021

29

37

46 features

departments

29 The Fullest Life

Three seniors of Berks

share their passion projects.

37 Pretzel-Palooza!

Tons of pretzel-eating finds in the Greater Reading area.

8 AROUND TOWN • Berks Bits • Aiding Memory Support at The Highlands at Wyomissing® • In the Limelight with Beth Garrigan • Staff Picks • Thoughts from the Chamber 14 THIS MONTH

• What to Do & Where to Go • Violins of Hope

22 THE LOOK

10 Fashions that Stand the Test of Time

27 FIVE THINGS

Items for Your Adopted Dog

42 LIVING IN STYLE

Haunted Berks

46 DINING OUT

The Andy Pepper's Vibe

plus: SPECIAL AD SECTION SALON AND SPA SPOTLIGHT pg. 24 4

OCTOBER 2021 | berkscountyliving.com

VOLUME 22, NO. 10 | OCTOBER 2021

PRESIDENT/CEO Paul Prass VICE PRESIDENT/COO Lisa Prass PUBLISHER Robyn L. Jones EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nikki M. Murry

More yesses, fewer no’s.

ART DIRECTOR Quynh Fisher CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Heather Baver Ali Bechtel Verna Fisher Donna Reed Kelly Tanger Marian Frances Wolbers CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Tania Colamarino, Ama Photography Susan L. Angstadt Photography Heidi Reuter John A. Secoges, Secoges Photographics

Going the extra mile.

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Laura Ramsey ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES Elizabeth Beebe Denise Conlin Sue Ottenheimer Heather Pendergast-Baker Sara Woodward

Capital Blue Cross is an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

ACCOUNTING Donna Bachman Sarah Varano CIRCULATION MANAGER Andrea Karges COPY EDITOR Gigi Romano

In partnership with:

DESIGNS & PUBLISHING

2021

how to contact us EDITORIAL: We want to hear from you – we really do! Send your compliments, gripes, story ideas and suggestions to: Editor, Berks County Living, GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, 201 Washington St., Suite 525, Reading, PA 19601 OR BCLEditor@ BerksCountyLiving.com. Written correspondence must be signed and include a mailing address, telephone number and an email address, when possible.

ADVERTISING: To request a media kit or receive other information about advertising, email RJones@BerksCountyLiving.com.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: For new subscriptions, changes of address or questions involving an existing subscription, call 800.896.1392, Mon-Fri, 9am-4:30pm, EST. High-quality reprints of articles that appear in Berks County Living are available by emailing RJones@BerksCountyLiving.com. Back issues are available subject to inventory.

Mike Kuhn

kuhncares.com Over 80 years of service to our community

FIND US ONLINE: To contact our staff, get advertising information, obtain writer and photographer guidelines, submit an event for the Calendar of Events, or to be included in the Dining Guide, visit our website: www.BerksCountyLiving.com.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Berks County Living, PO Box 2548, Orlando, FL 32802. Berks County Living (ISSN 1542-9334) is published monthly

by IDP Publications, 3245 Freemansburg Avenue, Easton, PA 18045-7118. Annual subscriptions are $19.95. (Canadian and foreign one year rate is $40, US funds only). Single copy price $3.95. Periodical postage paid at Easton, PA and additional mailing office. All contents © Berks County Living 2021. Nothing contained herein may be reproduced in whole or in part without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Publisher disclaims all responsibility for omissions or errors. All rights reserved. We welcome, but cannot be responsible for, unsolicited manuscripts, contributions, or photographs. Unsolicited materials cannot be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Printed in USA.

Ed Kuhn

JOHN C. DRISCOLL, SUPERVISOR

West Reading | 610.374.5440

Hamburg | 610.562.2955

Temple | 610.921.2225

ERIKA M. HAAS, SUPERVISOR

warkertroutmanfuneralhome.com

VISIT KUHNCARES.COM TO LEARN MORE berkscountyliving.com | OCTOBER 2021

5

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

The Little Things

Staff Speaks What scary movie is just TOO scary for you?

“The original It movie from Stephen King. That clown, no thank you! I couldn’t bring myself to watch the remake.”

– Robyn L. Jones, publisher

Best,

Get Ready for Winter.

In Hamburg the transition from fall to winter is marked with the annual King Frost Parade, held the last Saturday in October. Want to know what’s planned for 2021?

Stayed tuned on Facebook by looking up “King Frost Parade.”

NIKKI M. MURRY She/Her/Hers

Editor-in-Chief NMurry@BerksCountyLiving.com

“Oh, it’s definitely those Annabelle movies with the demonic doll. I cannot deal with that nonsense. NOPE!” – Elizabeth Beebe, account executive “Since I have a somewhat irrational fear of sharks, it absolutely has to be JAWS. No thank you!”

– Nikki M. Murry, editor “My scariest movie was Poltergeist.

I remember when the mom accidently slipped into swimming pool and live skeletons came out from everywhere after her.

When I was younger, I couldn’t even watch that part because it scared me to death!”

– Sara Woodward, account executive

On BerksCountyLiving.com: Explore Our Archives. Want to share an article from a past issue with a friend? Looking for a B Scene photo we published? Find it at our “archive” link. Scary Good Reads. Love a good haunted tale or story to give you a spook? We have 10 suggestions in our “Web Exclusives” section. Get Bonus Content. It’s free! Sign up to be a BCL Insider and get our monthly e-newsletter, info on special events and more. Just click the homepage icon.

ON THE COVER EXPLORE BERKS.

Join us on Instagram to discover fun activities, photos from events, delicious food finds and much more in Berks.

Just search BCLMag.

6

OCTOBER 2021 | berkscountyliving.com

CHEERS TO BEER.

Love a good brew? You can cook with it, too! Find fun recipes on our “Beer Related Recipes” board on Pinterest. Search Berks County Living Magazine.

FACEBOOK FOLLOW.

Learn more about what’s new at Berks Bit featured spot Finch + Fern by following @finchnfern.

If you're a big pretzel fan like we are, you'll want to flip to our feature starting on page 37 to find all of the good eats right here in Berks.

NIKKI’S PHOTO BY TANIA COLAMARINO, AMA PHOTOGRAPHY | MAKEUP BY THERESA VIOLETTE

While I may not be classified as a “senior,” I do know plenty of them and appreciate the life lessons they impart on me. Especially living the past year-plus in a pandemic, one of the most important things I’ve gleaned from having a parent in a skilled nursing facility is to focus on what I DO have.

So often we get bogged down in what we can’t do or what we don’t have, that we take our blessings for granted.

In this month’s Senior Living issue, we hope you’ll find some inspiration starting on page 29 when you meet three Berks residents who relish hobbies that bring them joy. Perhaps food brings you happiness. If so, we have you covered there, too – especially if you’re a pretzel lover. Flip to page 37 for all things pretzel locally. And in our Dining Out feature on page 46 you just may find a hidden gem in Andy Peppers in the Oley area.

With October being in the heart of the fall season, our staff offers up some favorite autumn activities and more on page 11. And in our Living In Style feature on page 42, writer Donna Reed teams up with locally famous haunted tale-teller Charles J. Adams III to tour some spooky spots in Berks.

There’s something fun for every personality and age inside!

“I can’t stomach gory slasher movies like Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

I do appreciate the slow-burning and chill-down-your-spine qualities of supernatural horrors like Paranormal Activity.”

– Quynh Fisher, art director

610-750-6107

The sound of laughter is so sweet.

Don't miss out on hearing it!

www.berkshearing.com www.berkshearing.com

Turn a life around

Foster parents needed for older youth

OUR FAMILY SERVING YOUR FAMILY SINCE 1935 leibenspergerfuneralhomes.com Donna M. Leibensperger Parr

Derek M.D. Leibensperger

Todd J. Kennedy

Funeral Director Supervisor

Funeral Director Supervisor

Funeral Director

65 S. 4th St., Hamburg - 610.562.7823

223 Peach St., Leesport - 610.926.2737

We get you

MOVING

For more information contact:

610-944-0445 or visit www.concern4kids.org

Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation for Berks County Living | September 2021 Berks County Living is published monthly at 3245 Freemansburg Avenue, Easton, PA 18045. The names and address of the Publishers are Paul and Lisa Prass, 3245 Freemansburg Avenue, Easton, PA 18045. The Editor is Nikki Murry, 3245 Freemansburg Avenue, Easton, PA 18045. The Owner is IDP Publications, 3245 Freemansburg Avenue, Easton, PA 18045. Stockholders owning or holding 1% or more of the total stock are Paul Prass, 3245 Freemansburg Avenue, Easton, PA 18045 and Lisa Prass, 3245 Freemansburg Avenue, Easton, PA 18045.

13. Publication Title: Berks County Living

14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below September 2021

15. Extent and Nature of Circulation

Average No. Copies Each No. Copies of Single Issue During Preceding Issue Published Nearest 12 Months to Filing Date

a. Total Number of Copies (Net press run)

(1)

(2)

Outside County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions stated on PS Form 3541. (Include direct written request from recipient, telemarketing, and Internet re- quests from recipient, paid subscriptions including nominal rate subscriptions, employer requests, advertiser’s proof copies, and exchange copies.)

2,596

Outside County Nonrequested Copies Stated on PS Form 3541 (include sample copies, requests over 3 years old, requests induced by a premium, bulk sales and requests including association requests, names obtained from business directories, lists, and other sources)

60

60

0

0

2,783

2,656

1,792

1,769

In-County Nonrequested Copies Stated on PS Form 3541 (include sample copies, requests over 3 years old, requests induced by a premium, bulk sales and requests including association requests, names obtained from business directories, lists, and other sources)

Our highly trained physicians specialize in Arthroscopic Surgery, Hand Disorders, Sports Medicine, Total Joint Replacement of the Hip, Knee and Shoulder, General Orthopaedics, Fractures, Occupational Medicine, Traumatic Injuries and Foot and Ankle Disorders. Orthopaedic Associates of Reading, Ltd. is proud to offer Therapy Services, MRI, Telemedicine and Walk-in Urgent Care.

15

(2)

5,650

2,723

In-County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions stated on PS Form 3541. (Include direct written request from recipient, telemarketing, and Internet requests from recipient, paid subscriptions including nominal rate subscriptions, employer requests, advertiser’s proof copies, and exchange copies.)

b. Legitimate Paid and/or Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Requested (3) Sales, and Other Paid or Requested Distribution Outside USPS® Distribution (By mail (4) Requested Copies Distributed by Other Mail Classes Through the USPS (e.g., First-Class and outside the Mail® ) mail) c. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation (Sum of 15b (1), (2), (3), and (4)) (1)

5,662

15

(3) Nonrequested Copies Distributed Through the USPS by Other Classes of Mail (e.g., FirstClass Mail, nonrequestor copies mailed in excess of 10% limit mailed at Standard Mail ® or Package Services rates) Dear Best of Berks Winner, d. Non-requested Congratulations on winning thestands, 2015 Best of Berks shows, Award!

Distribution (By Nonrequested Copies Distributed Outside the Mail (Include pickup trade 524 mail and outside (4) showrooms, and other sources) At Berks County Living, we hope you’ll capitalize on the merits of this honor by prominently displaying your Best of Berks award at your place of the mail) business, and by promoting it in your future advertising in any medium. e. Total Nonrequested Distribution (Sum of 15d (1), (2), (3) and (4)) 2,316 f.

Total Distribution (Sum of 15c and e)

This letter, signed by the owner of Berks County Living, authorizes you to use the special Best of Berks logo on your promotional materials.

5,099

We have included a CD, which contains the Best of Berks logo for your use.

The CD contains high-resolution images, necessary for print production, in the following formats:

g. Copies not Distributed (See Instructions to Publishers #4, (page #3))

563

h. Total (Sum of 15f and g)

5,662

i. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation (15c divided by 15f times 100)

• Color JPEG • Color PDF • B/W JPEG • B/W PDF

These files should be sufficient for any application, however, if you find that you need something different, please give us a call and we’ll be happy to accommodate you.

55%

485 2,254 4,910 740 5,650 54%

Wyomissing Office 850 Knitting Mills Way Wyomissing 610.376.8671

Exeter Office 4885 Demoss Rd., Ste. 102 Reading 610.376.8671

Once again, congratulations!

I certify that 50% of all my distributed copies (electronic and print) are legitimate requests or paid copies.

Sincerely,

17. Publication of Statement of Ownership for a Requester Publication is required and will be printed in the October 2021 issue of this publication.

18. Signature and Title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager, or Owner Date 9/9/21 I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this Paul Prass Owner form or who omits material or information requested on the form may be subject to criminal sanctions (including fines and imprisonment) and/or civil sanctions Berks County Living PaulPrass@IDPCreative.com

Editorial & Advertising: GoggleWorks Center for the Arts • 201 Washington St, Suite 525 • Reading, PA 19601

www.oarmd.com

Production & Accounting: 3245 Freemansburg Avenue • Palmer PA 18045-7118

berkscountyliving.com | OCTOBER 2021

7

AROUND TOWN BERKS BITS

Reading Science Center Celebrates its Birthday

The Reading Science Center at 645 Penn St., Reading, is celebrating its first birthday this month with some fun events. Read on for more info…

Kutztown Record Store Offers Something for All

Opened in the 1990s, Young Ones Records remains one of the largest record stores in Berks County with 10,000+ new and used CDs and more than 5,000 new and used records for enthusiasts to browse. Owner Chris Holt has always loved music and when he learned the Kutztown area did not have a record store at the time, he resolved to open his own. The shop was first located across the street from Kutztown University’s Student Union Building, but has since moved to a larger location in the downtown area. The shop stays up on current trends and often updates its CD and vinyl collections. But Young Ones Records is more than just records.

“We have a little for everyone,” says Chris. The spacious store also carries a collection of posters and t-shirts, as well even puzzles and guitars. Spend the day browsing at 26 S. Whiteoak Street or shop online at youngonesrecords.com.

— LAURA RAMSEY

1Snapology . & More.

If your child is a fan, programs will be held Oct. 2 and 23. Oct. 9 is Archie’s Math, and Oct. 16 is their S.I.S. Program.

Vintage Store Brings Bohemian Chic to West Reading

Discover enchanting, bohemian chic style nestled in West Reading at vintage furniture and home goods store Finch + Fern: Rekindled Home. Whether you are looking to redesign a space or find a fun new decoration, the passion project from Kristan Milner-Callan, Mechelle Bush and Louise Peña-Candelaria can help you achieve it. The shop offers refurbished vintage furniture and home decor, homemade jewelry, custom candles and handmade soaps, to offer just a taste. “We are a mixture of the vintage, but the new,” shares Mechelle. “And with an eco-flair,” adds Louise. Nearly all of the upcycled, vintage furniture is created with eco-friendly products and often features a mid-century theme. The shop sells all of this in a clean, modern display room complemented by its own signature scent: Bohemian Nest. The aromatic mixture of vanilla and pumpkin spice positively sweetens up any room. Visit 728 Penn Avenue or shop online at finchnfern.com. — LAURA RAMSEY

West Reading Brewery Offers Creative Brews

PHOTO COURTESY WILLOWCREEKBEER.COM.

Dog friendly, family friendly and Veteran-owned, Willow Creek Brewing is the perfect place to spend a relaxing night sipping a homemade brew. Owned by Mark and Joanne Camlin, Mark is realizing his dream of running a brewery that would feature the many flavors of brews he enjoyed around the world while serving in the Air Force. Willow Creek Brewing opened in December of last year in West Reading and serves up Mark’s brewing creations inspired by fresh ingredients from farmers markets and the Camlins’ home garden. “We make some really different beers here,” explains Joanne. The brewery also works to give back to the community. One example is their fun “Steal the Glass Night.”

Donating a dollar from each purchase, the brewery partners with an organization, creates specially designed cups for the night, and if you can “steal” the cup when leaving, you keep it; however, if you get caught you pay for the glass and the money goes to the charity. Willow Creek looks forward to adding a food menu to complement their brews in the future. Visit at 643 Penn Avenue or online at willowcreekbeer.com. — LAURA RAMSEY

8

OCTOBER 2021 | berkscountyliving.com

2Parents’ .

Night Out.

Hey parents! Need a break from the kids and want to give them something fun to do at the same time? Sign up for Parents' Night Out planned for Oct. 22.

3.

Birthday Bash.

Join in the Science Center’s first birthday celebration on Oct. 30 by visiting dressed as your favorite scientist. Birthday parties can be planned at the science center, too!

For more info visit readingsciencecenter.org.

For birthday party or Parents’ Night Out info, email sarah.troy@rdgsci.org.

Oktoberfest is Back!

The Reading Liederkranz brings back its world-famous event with performances, great eats and of course brews, through Oct. 3 at its home at 142 Spook Lane, Reading. For more info visit readingliederkranz.com.

AROUND TOWN

Aiding Memory Support at The Highlands at Wyomissing®

BY KELLY TANGER, PHOTOS COURTESY THE HIGHLANDS AT WYOMISSING®

S

ince 1989 The Highlands at Wyomissing has had its doors open to those in need of a little extra help with daily activities. Over the years, it has grown into a much larger community consisting of apartments and personal care apartments, offering skilled nursing care, fun activities and much more while still affording an independent lifestyle to its residents. The Highlands has an extraordinary reputation for offering remarkable homes and quality, unlimited Type A health care contracts for its residents. One extraordinary component is Aspire Memory Support. This program’s goal is to provide residents living with dementia or Alzheimer’s the opportunity to enhance their lives.

Memory Care Features

The Aspire Memory Support program is a patient-focused type of care. The staff works closely with residents to keep them as engaged as possible, from helping them pick out their clothes to recalling their life stories. This enables them to have a better understanding as to what their daily routines were prior to moving to The Highlands. Holly Moylan, NHA, PCHA and Personal Care Administrator says, “It’s just really understanding the person for who they are so that we can assist

them in the best way possible to keep their life as close to what they were living prior to [living at The Highlands], as well as keeping them engaged and giving them something to do so that they are feeling purposeful.”

One aspect that has aided residents in feeling purposeful and helps them flourish in the memory support program is creating an environment that utilizes biophilic design.

This design concept increases the connectivity between people and nature. President & CEO Kevin P. DeAcosta states, “The building itself was created in a way to help residents thrive in the memory support environment. When you walk into each of the households there is a high-quality dedication to natural light and synthetic light. We maintain light levels in the space which we know are conducive to better quality care outcomes for people, not only senior adults, but senior adults with dementia.”

Communal activities, which are prompted by what residents desire, are meant to help enhance their lives and decrease behavioral changes, such as the 4 As of Alzheimer’s: Agitation, Anxiety, Aggression and Apathy. Holly explains, “As we have increased the number of engagements that we’ve had available to residents, we have seen a lot less of those 4 As.” Activities may include assisting with setting dining tables, being part of a baking or gardening group, or a host of many other options to spur conversation and ensure residents take pleasure in a fulfilling, meaningful day. Beautiful outdoor courtyards provide a positive, hands-on venture.

Residents may partake in gardening, where all plants smell delightful and are completely safe in case of accidental ingestion.

Another facet to memory care at The Highlands is the memory boxes outside each occupant’s apartment. These glass cases contain items such as family photos or little knickknacks that are personal to them. This not only helps them to identify their apartment and encourage a returning memory, but it also aids staff in getting to know the individual’s life history a bit better, making their life at The Highlands an enriching time.

MORE FACTS

Shades of Purpose. The color of the concrete at The Highlands is made to accommodate all senior adult eyes, especially those living with dementia.

Recreation Galore. Simple pleasures

at The Highlands include beautiful roads and walkways, a fully equipped fitness center, an indoor heated saltwater pool, a library, art studio, putting greens and more.

berkscountyliving.com | OCTOBER 2021

9

AROUND TOWN IN THE LIMELIGHT accompaniment, campus advocacy, prevention programming for students in grades K-12 and education and awareness presentations.

Are there other types of community work that you are involved in? I am a Charter member of the Women Excelling chapter of the American Business Women’s Association. I speak at events and/or with families about Four Diamonds’ mission to conquer childhood cancer by assisting children and their families through superior care, comprehensive support and innovative research and THON, Penn State’s student-run philanthropy committed to enhancing the lives of children and families impacted by childhood cancer, and I strive to support our County’s small businesses, especially after all of the challenges they faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

How do you enjoy your free time?

I spend time with my husband, who has been my biggest supporter and best friend for 35 years, my two grown children who continue to amaze and inspire me every day, and my fur baby Murphy who’s favorite thing to do is spend her day at Safe Berks! I enjoy walking, a quiet evening by the fire pit, visiting the local animal shelters, trying new recipes (although I am not a very good cook), and if I am being completely honest, I LOVE a good nap!

IN THE LIMELIGHT WITH

Beth Garrigan CEO of Safe Berks

BY VERNA FISHER | PHOTO BY JOHN A. SECOGES, SECOGES PHOTOGRAPHICS

Beth Garrigan has been the face of Safe Berks as CEO for the past year. Among her duties, she serves as the main point of communication between the board of directors and the staff, maintaining a positive community image and executing the mission and work for the organization.

Can you tell us about Safe Berks? Safe Berks, formerly known as Berks Women in Crisis, was founded in 1976 by 12 local women dedicated to providing services to victims of domestic violence. In 2016, we celebrated our new name – Safe Berks. This new name was important because we serve all survivors – not only women. We also serve victims/survivors of sexual violence, stalking and human trafficking. Our new name is our goal. We want a Safe Berks. We offer free and confidential services that include, but are not limited to, a 24/7/365 Hotline and text line, emergency shelter, counseling, support groups, financial counseling, medical and legal advocacy and 10

OCTOBER 2021 | berkscountyliving.com

Are there volunteer opportunities at Safe Berks? YES! We have many volunteer opportunities available throughout the year, and are always looking for those interested in providing, preparing and/or cooking meals for our shelter residents. With the holidays coming, we have gift wrapping needs at the Berkshire Mall during the month of December, and we offer specific required training for those who would like to work directly with our victim survivors. Anyone interested in learning more can contact MindyM@SafeBerks.org.

GET MORE. Did you know?

Anyone suffering from domestic violence or sexual abuse can receive help even 20 years after the crisis?

Safe Berks isn’t just for an immediate crisis; they provide services “when you’re ready,” Garrigan says.

Mark Oct. 18 on your Calendar.

The Silent Witness Project is a visual monument walking event from Safe Berks to RACC. Upon arriving at RACC, victims' names are read aloud in respect for the tragic loss of their lives.

STAFF PICKS I think the most beautiful leafpeeping experience in Berks is found at the Reading Public Museum. I love to stroll the grounds. – Sara Woodward, account executive

Fall

STAFF PICKS I like my pumpkin in pie form! It seems to be a quintessential dessert at my fall family gatherings.

– Quynh Fisher, art director

Fall is festive and fun. How does the BCL staff enjoy autumn in Berks County? Read on to find out and get some ideas for yourself, too!

AROUND TOWN

Fall brings some great events to Berks. My favorite is actually Merchant Trick-or-Treat held in Kutztown. I love how all of the Main Street businesses open up and college students come out to give candy to kids in costume.

– Nikki M. Murry, editor

Believe it or not, holiday shopping time is just around the corner. One of my favorite local spots to shop is Paisley & Company in Kutztown because I love to personalize products for my family and friends.

– Robyn L. Jones, publisher

For me, Apple Cider Donuts are a must-eat fall food. The best are from Frecon Farms in Boyertown. You have to try them! – Elizabeth Beebe, account executive

Before the weather gets too chilly, I have to get to Hawk Mountain to enjoy the spectacular view. – Marian Frances Wolbers, freelance writer, Dining Out

berkscountyliving.com | OCTOBER 2021

11

AROUND TOWN THOUGHTS FROM THE CHAMBER ALLIANCE

CELEBRATING OUR

Latino-owned Businesses

BY JULIE LARISON, Director of Membership, GRCA

The growth of Latino businesses rapidly outpaced the U.S. average prior to the pandemic, according to the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative, which collects survey data from Latino-owned businesses across the country to assess the latest trends in Latino entrepreneurship in the United States.

The Stanford Initiative found that between 2009-2019, the number of Latino businesses grew 34 percent, compared to 1 percent for all business owners in the United States.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (GRCA) and the Berks County Latino Chamber of Commerce invite you to celebrate the history, culture, contributions and accomplishments of the Latino business community. From restaurants to retail, banking, real estate and professional services, Berks County is home to more than 100 Latino-owned businesses.

Take advantage of this amazing diversity and shop, dine and enjoy the many businesses that are vital to the success and vibrancy of the Greater Reading region. In addition to supporting the Latino business community, consider eating at one of these Reading area restaurants or attending an event planned during Hispanic Heritage Month.

∙ La Casa de los Pastelillos, 922 Penn St., Reading ∙ Let’s Taco Bout It, 616 Penn Avenue,

Latino Restaurants:

∙ Evening of Empowerment presented by

∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙

Ana’s Restaurant, 800 N. 8th St., Reading Antojitos y Mas, 154 Walnut St., Reading Café de Colombia, 645 Penn St., Reading Casa Cortes, 39 N. 9th St., Reading Casa de Chimi, 402 Franklin St., Reading Casa de Mofongo, 124 S. 5th St., Reading El Tronco de Lily, 101 S. 6th St., Reading Franklyn’s Burgers and Shakes, 1007 Penn St., Reading ∙ La Cabana, 6th & Cherry Sts., Reading

The Fabulous Equinox Orchestra Big Band and Swing Thursday, October 21 7:30 pm

Celebrate Marimba!

Sunday, November 7 4:00 pm

West Reading

∙ Mecca Caribbean, 166 Franklin St., West Reading

∙ Mi Casa Su Casa, 320 Penn St., Reading ∙ Old San Juan Café, 808 N. 9th St., Reading Event:

Berks Women2Women & Mujer de Mujer, Wednesday, Oct. 20, 5-7pm.  UPCOMING EVENT Building Berks Awards & Expo, 5 to 8pm on Wednesday, Oct. 13, DoubleTree

by Hilton Hotel Reading. To purchase tickets, visit greaterreading.org.

»40+ amazing stops »Gifts, games, drawings, demos »Enter to win over $1000 in gift cards! »Coupons at each stop!

Violins of Hope

Free Lecture & Performance Monday, November 8 7:30 pm All performances in Schaeffer Auditorium

610-683-4092 www.KutztownPresents.org 12

OCTOBER 2021 | berkscountyliving.com

@ BerksCountyLiving

Pumpkin Palooza

Sunday, October 10th, 2021

featuring: -fused & hot glass workshops -handblown glass pumpkins for sale -kids activities -cider & beer tastings -gourd slingshot -artists alley -caricature artist -food trucks -pumpkin hunt -live music -performance by WH Dance Academy

GoggleWorks Center for the Arts

201 Washington Street Reading PA, 19601 goggleworks.org • 610.374.4600

Free Admission to main event

SCAN CODE TO LEARN MORE & REGISTER FOR WORKSHOPS

Follow Us! @goggleworks

Hours // 9am-9pm Sunday - Saturday Free general admission & parking on-site

THIS MONTH

October what to do & where to go COMPILED BY NIKKI M. MURRY

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Oct.

Oct. 9

EXETER TOWNSHIP FALL FESTIVAL & HAYRIDE 11am-6pm, Daniel Boone Homestead, Birdsboro.

The event will feature live entertainment, the ever-popular hayride, arts and crafts vendors, food trucks and a full day of fall-themed activities for children and adults to enjoy. There will also be a beer, hard cider and wine tent presented by the Friends of the Exeter Community Library. For more info contact Exeter Township Parks & Recreation at 610.779.5660.

Oct. 17, 23 & 24

PUMPKIN PATCH TRAIN

1pm, 2pm, 3pm & 4pm departures, WK&S Railroad, Kempton.

Each child can select his or her own pumpkin from the patch and once back at the station, they can choose a decorating kit to dress it up.

Adults & children ages 3-11 years: $15, Children 2 years and younger: $2. For more info visit kemptontrain.com.

3

Oct.

WK&S PINK RIBBON EXPRESS

Departures at 1pm, 2pm, 3pm & 4pm, WK&S Railroad, Kempton.

Treating breast cancer survivors to a complimentary train ride and flower. Family and friends are welcome. Adults: $12, Children 3-11 years: $6. Survivors ride at no charge. For more info visit kemptontrain.com.

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OCTOBER 2021 | berkscountyliving.com

FIVE PLAY SWINGIN’ WITH THE POPS

3pm, Miller Center for the Arts, Reading Area Community College.

In A Celebration of Women in the Arts, the Reading Pops Orchestra will collaborate with Sherrie Maricle & FIVE PLAY, the sister group of the world-renowed DIVA Jazz Orchestra, a quintet comprised of DIVA’s rhythm section and two of its foremost soloists. From her drum set, Maricle leads her quintet FIVE PLAY, The DIVA Jazz Orchestra, The DIVA Jazz Trio and co-leads the 3Divas. Tickets: $35. For more info visit millercenter.racc.edu/fiveplay-swingin-pops.

Oct. 9

OKTOBERFEST BEER & BRATWURST TRAIN RIDE 4pm, WK&S Railroad, Kempton.

Enjoy complimentary beer sampling and brats along with the autumn scenery.

Must be 21 years or older. Limited seating. Tickets: $30. For more info visit kemptontrain.com.

ASK THE DOC

ART EXHIBITIONS & GALLERIES

Through Jan. 9

THE ART OF THE GUITAR

Reading Public Museum, Reading.

An engaging exhibition that features historic works from the archives of the C. F. Martin & Company® in Nazareth, PA, established in 1833.

The show will include early labels, instrument templates and designs for guitars and also features a group of unique designs for custom and limited-edition guitars by New Jersey artist Robert Goetzl. The exhibition will be on view in the Works on Paper Gallery and Corridor. For more info visit readingpublicmuseum.org.

Through April 24

ROOTS OF WISDOM

Reading Public Museum, Reading.

The exhibit shares stories from four indigenous communities brought to life in real-world examples of how traditional knowledge and cutting-edge Western science can be blended to provide complementary solutions to contemporary concerns. For more info visit readingpublicmuseum.org.

Cataracts are very common, particularly as we get older. But successfully treating a cataract requires very specialized skill and experience. Fortunately, some of the best cataract specialists in the region are right here at Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania.

Our cataract specialists are among the best. And you’ll find them right here in Wyomissing.

Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania is the leading eye care practice in the region, with experienced specialists in cataract, glaucoma, LASIK, pediatric eye care, retinal care and more. And all our cataract specialists are BoardCertified and many are Fellowship-Trained. That’s experience you can trust. When it’s a cataract, don’t take chances.

Insist on Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania. Learn more at EyeConsultantsOfPA.com.

New patients are always welcome. Call 610-378-1344.

BENEFITS

Oct. 1

COCKTAILS & CLASSICS

6-9pm DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Reading.

Enjoy Jazz, libations, sweet and savory bites and a live and silent auction, all to benefit the Reading Public Library. For more info call 610.478.8977 or visit readingpubliclibrary.org/ cocktails-classics.

EyeConsultantsOfPA.com

1 Granite Point Drive, Wyomissing

Oct. 9

BERKS HISTORY CENTER FALL ’21 ROAD RAMBLE

10am-4pm, Berks History Center, Reading.

The self-guided driving tour starts at the Berks History Center and rambles through Muhlenberg, Longswamp and Alsace townships. The route narrative covers the history of local towns and historic sites including the Berks History Center, the Reading Fairgrounds, Mareira Air Field, East Penn Manufacturing, the Dryville Hotel, the Mertztown Train Station and more. The ramble concludes at the William Penn Fire Tower on Skyline Drive where there will be a Pork BBQ fundraiser for an additional cost.

Members: $35/car, Non-members: $45. For tickets and more info call 610.375.4375 or visit berkshistory.org/event/fall-21-road-ramble.

Our cataract specialists: Jonathan D. Primack, MD; Adam J. Altman, MD; Abhishek K. Nemani, MD; Michael Smith, MD; Mehul H. Nagarsheth, MD; Y. Katherine Hu, MD, MS; Kevin J. Shah, MD; Christina M. Lippe, MD WYOMISSING | POTTSVILLE | POTTSTOWN | LEBANON | BLANDON

berkscountyliving.com | OCTOBER 2021

15

THIS MONTH Oct. 20

FLEETWOOD ROTARY GOURMET GALA

6-9pm, Moselem Springs Golf Club, Fleetwood.

Join a fun night out and sample food from local restaurants, meet the chefs, enjoy music and cocktails, and bid in a live and silent auction.

Business attire. Single ticket: $75, Couple: $125. Proceeds benefit the Fleetwood Rotary Foundation. For more info visit fleetwoodparotary. org or contact Loretta Ottinger at 610.914.5947.

CONCERTS & NIGHTLIFE

Oct. 7

JO KOY: JUST KIDDING WORLD TOUR

7:30pm, Santander Performing Arts Center, Reading.

As one of today’s premiere stand-up comics, Jo Koy has

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OCTOBER 2021 | berkscountyliving.com

come a long way from his modest beginnings performing at a Las Vegas coffee house. The comedian, who pulls inspiration from his family, specifically his son, sells-out arenas and theaters across the world. For tickets more info visit santander-arena.com.

Oct. 8 & 9

LITTLE BIG TOWN: NIGHTFALL TOUR

8pm, Santander Performing Arts Center, Reading.

The country group, popular for singles like Girl Crush and Better Man, is touring in support of their latest album, Nightfall. For tickets and more info visit santanderarena.com.

Oct. 10

TREY KENNEDY: ARE YOU FOR REAL? TOUR 7pm, Santander Performing Arts Center, Reading.

Enjoy a show from the comedian and musician known for his

YouTube and TikTok videos. Hurry if you're interested in tickets, shows nationwide are selling out fast! For tickets and more info visit santander-arena.com.

Oct. 21

THE FABULOUS EQUINOX ORCHESTRA

7:30pm, Schaeffer Auditorium, Kutztown University.

Enjoy the big band brass sounds of The Fabulous Equinox Orchestra as they play renditions of the classic American Song Book. Tickets: $36, Seniors & Students: $31. For more info visit kutztownpresents.org.

Oct. 22

ART GARFUNKEL IN CLOSE-UP

7:30pm, Santander Performing Arts Center, Reading.

Enjoy a night with the iconic American singer, poet and actor.

For tickets and more info visit santander-arena.com.

FESTIVALS

Oct. 10

PUMPKIN PALOOZA

GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, Reading.

The fall fun event features fused & hot glass workshops, handblown glass pumpkins for sale, children’s activities, a pumpkin hunt, live music, cider & beer tastings, a gourd slingshot, food trucks and more. Free admission. For more info visit goggleworks.org.

Oct. 23

HARVEST CRAFT FAIR 9am-3pm, Muhlenberg Township Building, Reading.

Join Muhlenberg Community Library for a special fundraiser. Pick up some seasonal crafts and partake in 50/50 and basket raffles. Food will also be available for purchase. Free entry for all ages. For more info or visit berkslibraries.org/events/ harvest-craft-fair.

EXHIBITS • CONCERTS • LECTURES • FILMS

NOVEMBER 1 – 14 2021

1 – 14 20 1 – Nov 14 2021 Nov 1 –Nov 14 2021

ViolinsOfHope ViolinsOfHopePA.org ViolinsOfHopePA.org Nov 1 – 14 Nov 1 – 14 2021

ViolinsOfHop

Nov 1 – 14 2021 Nov 1 – 14 2021 ViolinsOfHopePA.org

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g er n i k r u ea t a sp e F st e u g

RACC 50th Anniversary Gala Wednesday, November 10 5:30 PM Reception | 6:30 PM Program/Dinner DoubleTree By Hilton, Reading

Steve Wozniak

Apple Computer Co-Founder/Philanthropist To purchase tickets email Sarah Hess at shess@racc.edu.

For more information visit racc.edu/50th-gala.

THREE DOG NIGHT

MAX WEINBERG

BODYTRAFFIC

4 N 2nd St, Reading, PA 19601 For tickets and membership options call the box office at 610.607.6270 or visit https://millercenter.racc.edu/events

Coming Soon to the Miller Center: THREE DOG NIGHT – October 9, 2021 BODYTRAFFIC – October 30, 2021 MAX WEINBERG’S JUKEBOX – November 13, 2021 ALL TOGETHER NOW! A Global Event Celebrating Local Theatre November 14, 2021 THE WIZBANGS – November 20, 2021

SQUIRREL NUT ZIPPERS - Holiday Caravan Tour– December 3, 2021

FIREFALL & PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE February 12, 2022

DAVID BENOIT “A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS” – December 5, 2021

DANÚ – February 20, 2022

HYPROV with COLIN MOCHRIE -Improv Under Hypnosis January 23, 2022

TARTAN TERRORS – March 18, 2022

REDUCED SHAKESPEARE - The Complete History of Comedy – February 11, 2022

TOM PAPA – March 12, 2022

& MORE!!

THIS MONTH

SPORTS

Oct. 23

under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. For tickets and more info visit santander-arena.com.

READING ROYALS VS. NORFOLK ADMIRALS

Oct. 29

Come out for opening night at home and cheer on your Reading Royals as they take on the Norfolk Admirals. For tickets and more info visit royalshockey.com.

7:30pm, Santander Performing Arts Center, Reading.

7pm, Santander Arena, Reading.

THEATRE

Oct. 26

RENT: 25TH ANNIVERSARY FAREWELL TOUR

7:30pm, Santander Performing Arts Center, Reading.

The rock musical tells the story of a group of impoverished young artists struggling to survive and create a life in Lower Manhattan’s East Village in the thriving days of bohemian Alphabet City,

snacks and ciders are available on board to warm the soul.

For tickets and more info visit colebrookdalerailroad.com.

ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW

Oct. 10

The 45th anniversary tour of the twisted time warp production features Barry Bostwick. For more info and tickets visit santanderarena.com.

1-2pm, Riverview Garden & Gifts, Temple.

WHAT ELSE

Oct. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 24, 28, 30 & 31

FALL FOLIAGE TRAIN RIDE Various departure times, Colebrookdale Railroad, Boyertown.

Spectacular autumn colors and the rich fragrances of fall in the Secret Valley delight the senses while locally-produced autumn

STORY TIME AT RIVERVIEW GARDEN & GIFTS

This month’s story is Jellycat’s Amusable Colors by Louise Tate.

The activity will be coloring. For those attending the event, Jellycat merchandise will be 10 percent off. Free and open to the public to attend. Please pre-register by calling 610.929.5049 or online at gardensandgifts.com/events.

Oct. 15

W.I.S.E.R. SUMMIT:

*Women*Inspired *Supported*Empowered *Respected

7:30am-3:30pm, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Reading.

Enjoy a day focused on women’s health, wealth and wisdom. Visions Federal Credit Union presents a fun-filled day of networking and development featuring four guest speakers: Adrean Turner, Lori Donofrio-Galley, Sharon Mast and Stephanie Lee. Also featured will be a $10 donation per card designer bag Bingo, raffles and other silent auction items with proceeds set to benefit Breast Cancer Support Services of Berks County. Preregistration is required by emailing education@visionsfcu.org. 

WANT YOUR EVENT LISTED IN THIS MONTH?

Submit your event at BerksCountyLiving.com.

A lead time of two months prior to your event is recommended for inclusion in the print calendar.

Events are included as space is available. Virtual events welcomed!

berkscountyliving.com | OCTOBER 2021

19

DON'T MISS

A surviving musician of the Auschwitz Men’s Orchestra plays during the Auschwitz liberation, 1945.

coming November 1-14

the Holocaust while in the concentration camps. For Jews enduring utter despair and unimaginable evil during that time, music offered haven and humanity. The strains of a beloved song supplied solace, even if only for a few moments.

Although some of these musicians were silenced during the Holocaust, their voices and spirits live on through the instruments that Weinstein has restored. Many were donated by or purchased from survivors; some arrived through family members, and many carry Stars of David as a decoration and an identity tag declaring: “We were played by proud people.” Each instrument carries a story of tragedy, sorrow and hope.

Deep Impact in Greater Reading, Berks and Beyond

In an unprecedented collaboration between the Reading Symphony Orchestra and the Jewish Federation of Reading, the Violins of Hope exhibit is coming to Reading in memory of those who died in the Holocaust and as a testament to those who survived.

This project is especially important in an era where generations have begun to either forget about the Holocaust or question its existence. The nonprofits’ goals are to use the history of the Holocaust and its consequences, through Violins of Hope, as a transformative opportunity to bring people together from all backgrounds. Say representatives, “We want to focus on unity by using the stories of the instruments to help promote understanding on antisemitism, racism and other divisions in our local community.”

instruments for unity he Reading Symphony Orchestra and Jewish Federation of Reading are combining resources to present Violins of Hope, Instruments for Unity, for the first time in Pennsylvania beginning Nov. 1. The mission of Violins of Hope Reading is to promote unity and understanding in our community, utilizing instruments rescued from the Holocaust.

Running through Nov. 14, the Violins of Hope Reading project includes educational programming, exhibits, concerts and more.

These will be presented throughout Berks

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OCTOBER 2021 | berkscountyliving.com

County at local school districts, colleges, cultural centers and other venues, with many events low-cost or free for the public to attend.

History of Sorrow Leads to Hope

Violins of Hope is a unique project inspired by a private collection of string instruments lovingly restored over the past two decades by master Israeli violin maker Amnon Weinstein. The instruments belonged to Jews who played them before and during

Repaired during the Holocaust, this violin was later reopened, revealing a secret inscription: a swastika and “Heil Hitler, 1936”. The violin remains part of the collection but will never again be repaired or played.

Father and son violin makers, Moshe and Amnon Weinstein, in their workshop.

Amnon founded Violins of Hope in 1996; his son Avshi now curates the exhibits.

Over the two-week event period, educational programs will reach more than 4,000 students in Berks County school districts, as well as thousands of residents who attend lectures, exhibits, concerts and more.

Share the Experience

November 1-14, 2021, will offer more than 14 public school visits with musicians demonstrating these historic instruments along with curator Avshi Weinstein and docents sharing the stories. The instruments will be displayed at GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, Alvernia University and Kutztown University. Additional events will include lectures by curator Avshi Weinstein and films with relevant themes. Look forward to a music and visual presentation by Berks Opera Company, and a chamber music performance presented by the Friends of Chamber Music. The two-week event will be highlighted by a historic Reading Symphony Orchestra concert on Nov. 13 featuring world-renowned violinist Pinchas Zukerman and cellist Amanda Forsyth. 

For a complete listing of events, plus violin stories, local content, visit violinsofhopepa.org. Tickets are on sale now for the Reading Symphony Orchestra concert. Reserve your seats at ticketmaster.com. If you would like to volunteer or sponsor this vital cultural presentation, please contact the team through violinsofhopepa.org.

learn more

Enjoy your kitchen and bathroom to its fullest.

We can add storage to your existing kitchen or design your new kitchen with storage built in.

641 Penn Avenue, West Reading 610.484.3700 | 2741 Bernville Road, Leesport 610.926.0500

empirehomecenter.com

berkscountyliving.com | OCTOBER 2021

21

THE LOOK

FASH10NS THAT STAND THE TEST OF TIME

BY H EA TH ER BAVE R

Classic clothing pieces are your style BFFs. Trends may come and go, but dependable essentials are here to stay. These timeless choices offer numerous styling options. Use them as the foundation for all kinds of outfits and enjoy enduring, everlasting style.

1

2 BUTTON UP (OR DOWN).

LINE UP.

Stripes will always be in fashion. Eye-catching stripes are a perfect way to add color and pattern to your wardrobe.

They don’t require a lot of accessories, making getting ready a snap. Made of deep and medium blues, this striped sweater is ideal for layering.

Wear it over a button-down shirt and combine with cropped pants and flats for a sleek look, or use at it as a base layer underneath a tailored trench coat. Pair it with your favorite jeans and sneakers for cool casual style, or try a pleated skirt and heels for a dressy, sophisticated ensemble.

Lenox Stripe Crewneck Pullover, $79.50, Talbots.

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OCTOBER 2021 | berkscountyliving.com

It’s all about the details. This button-down shirt has a straight hem, perfect for tucking in or hanging out. Wear it with tailored pants, a bold belt and heels for a stunning look. Rolled tab sleeves let you choose long or elbowlength. Choose classic white for a clean, crisp style or try a pinstriped version. Both are made to mix with patterns. Combine with a breezy polka-dot skirt, a pencil-cut plaid, or a leopard print mini. Leave the buttons open and pair with a colorful cami and your favorite gold pendant and hold on to summer vibes.

Women’s Nine West Structured Long Sleeve Shirt, $40, Kohl’s.

TOTE-ALLY STYLISH.

Here’s one bag to rule them all. This tote has plenty of space for a laptop and an interior zip pocket to secure your wallet, phone and keys.

The 8-inch strap drop lets you wear the tote on your shoulder or carry it in your hand. Wear it with a tailored suit or a pencil skirt for a stunning work-ready look.

The soft, vegetable-tanned leather ages beautifully, making this bag look even better with time. For weekend style, pair with distressed jeans and a soft sweater or a skirt and ballet flats. The Transport Tote, $168, Madewell.

3

4 REV UP THE CREATIVITY.

Motorcycle jackets epitomize cool. Since its debut in 1928, this iconic garment has been worn by rockers, movie stars and anyone who wants to take advantage of endless styling possibilities. For an instant boost to your look, add this cream-colored moto to your favorite jeans and a vibrant tee.

Wear it with a dress for an edgy style that will keep you warm on a cool fall night. Or play with proportions and pair it with a cropped top. For a chic look that’s work-ready, go for an all-neutral palette and combine with pants and a button-down shirt. BB Dakota Going Places Moto in Cream, $99, Be Mine Boutique.

7

5 GO FOR GOLD.

It doesn’t get more timeless than gold hoop earrings. For thousands of years, people have been styling elegant gold hoops with an array of outfits. This jewelry classic has ancient roots going back to 2500 B.C.E. Made of warm yellow gold, these hoops will draw attention to your face and look amazing with a sleek, pulled-back hairstyle.

Accessorize a little black dress and heels for a glamorous evening out. Add them as a finishing touch with jeans and a colorful top for an elevated look. Or wear this pair with darker hues to add a glow to your workday ensemble. Marlyn Schiff hollow gold hoop earrings, $35, Bella Jules Boutique.

6 DENIM FOREVER.

Dressed up or down, there’s a reason jeans have been popular for nearly 150 years. These cigarette jeans feature a slim, body-flattering fit and a straight cut from knee to ankle. Combine them with a white tee, leather jacket and ankle boots for a chic ensemble. Or pair with a colorful top and kitten heels. Wear them with a cozy, soft sweater for a fall coffee date. Rock your favorite graphic tee and sneakers on the weekend. Add a tailored blazer and pumps, or go with a breezy top and strappy heels. With jeans at the center, anything goes. Pistola Leon Monroe High Rise Slim Cigarette Jean, $128, Bella Jules Boutique.

PULLED TOGETHER.

Channel a vibe that’s effortlessly chic. Blazers are an easy way to create a fashion-forward look in the office or around town. This denim version offers the ideal mix of dressy and casual, along with a tailored fit to accentuate your waist. The deep indigo shade complements colors, prints and neutrals. Top it off with a vibrant silk scarf, mixed with reds and golds for autumn. Pair it with colorful dresses or skirts of varying lengths — long and flowing or shorter, slim and straight. Wear it with leggings or skinny jeans.

Combine with graphic tees and send a stylish message. Tailored Jean Jacket in Grace Wash, $119, Talbots.

10

8

SWEATER WEATHER.

With a power combo of cozy and stylish, sweater dresses are a go-to choice for cooler weather. This dress features a body-hugging silhouette and a wine-colored hue that matches autumn leaves. Ruched sides and drawstring ties offer added flair and adjustability. Pair it with sneakers for a casual look, or go with heels for date night.

This piece is super-versatile and made for layering. Add leggings or tights and wear with your favorite boots — from ankle booties to tall knee-high boots.

Wear with a colorful scarf for a walk around town, or top with a blazer for an office-ready outfit.

BB Dakota #1 Crush Sweater Dress in Merlot, $59, Be Mine Boutique.

BACK IN BLACK.

Black dresses exemplify timelessness.

Long or short, this closet staple comes in a variety of versions to suit every personality. This neutral hue is the perfect counterpoint for cool details like a geometric cut-out design, puffed sleeves and dainty fabric-covered buttons. Let your creative mind run wild — the sky’s the limit when styling a black dress. Wear a dress like this all year round: strappy sandals in summer, boots and leggings in fall. Bracelets add a pop of color and dynamic contrast. The deep V-neck is perfect for highlighting a sparkling necklace with your favorite gemstones.

Black Dress, call/visit for pricing and specifics since inventory is ever-changing, The Store at Bell Tower Salon and Spa.

9 LOOK SHARP.

Pencil skirts entered the scene in 1954. This flattering cut provides a graceful silhouette, whether you’re at work or out with friends.

Made of classic corduroy, this pencil skirt proves that two timeless styles are better than one. This versatile piece is made to carry you through cool weather year after year. Ending just above the knee, the skirt comes in three neutral shades, made to mix and match with your closet. Pair it with loafers and a colorful button-down shirt, or go for a sophisticated look with heeled boots and a soft cashmere turtleneck. Women’s Lands’ End Sport Corduroy Pencil Skirt, $34.95, Kohl’s.

SOURCES Bella Jules Boutique 700 Penn Avenue, West Reading 610.208.0600 bellajulesboutique.com Be Mine Boutique 637 Penn Avenue, West Reading 610.816.5360 | shopbemine.com Kohl’s 2700 Papermill Rd., Wyomissing 610.371.0237 | kohls.com Madewell Madewell.com The Store at Bell Tower Salon and Spa 18 State Hill Rd., Wyomissing 610.372.6379 belltowersalonspa.com Talbots 728 Woodland Rd., Wyomissing 610.478.8701 | talbots.com

berkscountyliving.com | OCTOBER 2021

23

SALON & SPA SPOTLIGHT

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

James Street Med Spa 459 N. Prince St., Lancaster 717.740.5162 | jamesstreetmedspa.com

James Street MedSpa is so excited to be a part of the Lancaster community! Owners Ashlee Ludwig and Jamie Garland have partnered with Dr. Keyvani to offer the best care possible.

Mixing the Day Spa feel with Med Spa results, we are offering facials, laser genesis, injectables, massage, permanent makeup, threading and more to help you find your #JamesStreetGlow!

Iron Roots

The Salt Lounge

3311 Penn Avenue, West Lawn 484.509.4531 | ironrootssalon.com Looking for amazing creativity and a unique salon experience? Visit us! With 30+ years of combined experience amongst its team, Iron Roots provides a welcoming and relaxing environment for guests. The full-service salon uses the latest products and techniques, ensuring a high-quality service delivered at an affordable price.

Services include haircutting, coloring, styling, waxing, makeup applications, hair extensions and more.

4 Wellington Blvd., Ste. 110, Wyomissing 610.743.4613 | thesaltlounge.net The Salt Lounge offers services promoting respiratory health and deep relaxation.

Offering private salt therapy sessions where clients recline under a warm blanket, breathe salt infused air, and enjoy relaxation music.

The Himalayan Salt Stone Massage nourishes the skin and deeper tissue, restoring and relaxing the body. Salt Reflexology combines salt therapy with acupressure for the feet, resulting in clearer breathing and stress relief.

BeBalanced

90 Commerce Drive, Wyomissing 610.750.5158 | wyomissing.bebalancedcenters.com

Donna lost 45 pounds and feels fabulous.

Many women see their weight increase even though they are continuing normal eating habits.

Stress and hormonal imbalances add unwanted pounds. We find ourselves moodier and having less energy. If these challenges or others trouble you, we can help. Speak with a BeBalanced team member in Wyomissing to learn how our all-natural weight loss program can improve your weight, your life and your entire well-being.

UnitedArtists Salon & Spa 299 Penn Avenue, West Reading 610.376.8481 | www.UnitedArtistsSalon.com

The team at UA appreciates the support of our loyal clientele and welcomes new guests to join us for styles just for you! Using professional products, our beauty experts help clients feel their best and offer knowledge to maintain their look. UA offers hair care, private wig room, nail care, waxing, lash and brow artistry, professional retail store and online shopping.

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OCTOBER 2021 | berkscountyliving.com

Alisha’s Spa Euphoria

1307 New Holland Rd., Kenhorst 610.775.7040 | alishasspa.com CELEBRATING 22 YEARS IN BUSINESS! Our friendly, experienced staff of Licensed Massage Therapists and Estheticians has the training and passion to make your visit a positively euphoric experience. Our Acne and Age Smart Skin Specialists provide popular services like Dermaplaning, Oxygen, LED Light Therapy, Peels, Lash Lift & Tinting, Waxing, Firming Body Wraps and an array of Massage Therapy. Get a complete list of services online, and visit us at our beautiful location!

For the beauties in your life R E TA I L E R U R L

love your smile Dr. Andrea Smith is one of only 350 Maxillofacial Prosthodontists worldwide.

More than 100 area dentists, oral surgeons and other dental specialists trust her to handle their patients’ complex or cosmetic dental needs, from a single perfect tooth to state-of-the-art full mouth reconstruction.

Specializing in the restoration and replacement of teeth, including: » dental implant restorations » crowns » bridges » dentures » cosmetic dentistry » full-mouth implant prosthetics such as Teeth-in-One-Day or All-on-4.

Dr. Smith sees patients with a wide variety of dental concerns, such as: » broken or missing teeth » uncomfortable dentures » extensive tooth wear » dissatisfaction with the appearance of their smile

Dr. AnDreA Smith 955 BerkShire BlvD., Suite 104, WyomiSSing 484.577.3530 • berkspros.com

berkscountyliving.com | OCTOBER 2021

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We Know Estate Planning.

Our Trusts & Estates attorneys and paralegals are dedicated to working closely with each client to develop and implement an estate plan that meets their needs and desires.

EmmaRose Boyle attorney

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OCTOBER 2021 | berkscountyliving.com

FIVE THINGS

FIVE

Items for Your Adopted

DOG B Y H E AT H E R BAV E R

October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, a time to open your heart and your home to a furry, four-legged friend. Save a life, and experience the joy of your dog’s unconditional love. Check out these five picks to welcome your new pet and have fun exploring new places together.

1 Elevated Dining.

Make mealtime special with a custom-made stand that’s the perfect height for your dog.

Crafted by Berks resident Nicole Kazmierczak, these stands include stainless steel bowls and a drawer for storage. Select paint, stain and hardware to fit your decor. The backsplash can also be laser-engraved with your pet’s name. Custom-made Dog Food Storage Stand, $125-$175, BoomerRang Designs, Facebook @BoomerRangDesigns, etsy.com/shop/ BoomerRangDesigns

Win It!

2 Bone-Appétit.

Let your dog sink her teeth into a chewy treat.

Bone-shaped and made with peanut butter and chicken, these rawhidefree chews are a tasty way for your pet to satisfy her urge to chew and keep her teeth healthy. They’re also a delicious way to get extra vitamins and minerals.

SmartBones® Mini Chews Dog Treat Peanut Butter, $19.99, PetSmart, 1183 Berkshire Blvd., Wyomissing, 610.396.3660 & 4210 N. 5th St. Highway, Temple, 610.939.2620. petsmart.com

3 Get Social.

Take your dog to spend the day with canine pals. Your pet can romp with an age- and breedappropriate play group in one of four indoor or four outdoor play areas. He’ll lap up all the attention and water he needs during an energetic day of socializing and exercising. Dawggy Daycare, Half-day: $20, Full-day: $28, Diggity Dawg Daycare Resort & Spa, 5100 E. Penn Avenue, Wernersville, 610.678.2200. diggitydawgresort.com

4 Pawsonal Pampering.

5 Chew on This.

Give your new addition the royal treatment with a spa day. Your dog will indulge in a cozy, inviting experience. He’ll delight in an oxygen-infused bath, followed by a nail trim and ear cleaning.

After a luxurious 15-minute brush-out and spritz, your pet will be rocking some serious style. Full-service bath (haircut not included), starting at $25, Oasis Dog Spa and Shoppe, 2911 Centre Avenue Unit 2, Muhlenberg Township, 610.816.5492. oasisdogspa.com

Play together and bond with your pet. This braided bone toy is made for fetching, plus the open weave massages gums and flosses teeth. Next, have a lively tug-of-war with a natural wool and leather bone. Finish on a restful note with a soft, squeaky plush duck, ideal for snuggling.

Tall Tails Orange Braided Toy, 7-inch: $12.95, 9-inch: $16.95, 16-Inch Natural Wool Bone Tug, $11.95, 12-inch Plush Duck, $15.95, Godfrey’s Welcome to Dogdom, 4267 New Holland Rd., Mohnton, 610.777.5755. godfreysdogdom.com

Score a $50 gift card to Diggity Dawg Daycare Resort & Spa and pamper your pooch by entering online this month at berkscountyliving.com. Good luck! berkscountyliving.com | OCTOBER 2021

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Fullest life THE

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When a lifetime of experience and passion finally meets some free time, there’s no limit to what people can accomplish. From protecting an endangered species, to replicating Berks County’s history in miniature, and writing a library full of books, these three local seniors are living their retirement to the fullest.

berkscountyliving.com | OCTOBER 2021

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These days The Highlands at Wyomissing is being lauded for its beautiful and creative gardens and has become somewhat of a sanctuary for the monarch butterfly, all thanks to resident Rosie DeBenedictis.

HORTICULTURE AS A HOBBY

e i s o R S I T C I D E N BE

& GARDENERLY BUTTERF R CONSERVATO

DE

A retired infectious disease nurse, Rosie has a passion for helping people and bringing joy. “I’m still blessed with a great deal of energy, so I put it to good use in any way that I can,” she says. Since moving to The Highlands, she’s worked diligently to beautify the residents’ gardens – Courtyard 10. When she first arrived the courtyard was empty, but with the help of the facility’s master gardener, Rosie has brought it to life. Weather permitting, she’ll spend hours a day on her gardens, nurturing a passion she found at 12 years old working in the garden with her mother and grandmother.

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Schedule your appointment today, 610-372-0712 • berkseye.com 1802 Paper Mill Road (Next to Hampton Inn), Wyomissing 30

OCTOBER 2021 | berkscountyliving.com

“I love to make my flower gardens unique; I don’t like to plant the same old, same old,” Rosie notes. “I search all the different nurseries in Berks County.” She relies on a lifetime of studying plans to know just what will thrive, and what will bring the most joy to her neighbors. And she shares the love beyond her own gardens. It’s not unusual to spot Rosie helping the grounds crew with their gardening and landscaping or delivering their favorite baked goods.

SAVING THE MONARCH

Her time in the gardens gives Rosie plenty of opportunity to enjoy her other favorite pastime – butterflying. “I’ve had the pleasure of designing the gardens, so I decided to make them nectar gardens for the birds and butterflies. One of my favorite butterflies is the monarch, which are becoming endangered, so I specifically designed the garden for them.”

Rosie uses her horticultural skills to create a sanctuary for them in the courtyard and beyond. Each summer she has the opportunity to witness the full 40-day cycle of her favorite butterflies, treating the gardens to keep the monarch’s more than 100 natural predators at bay. “I never thought I would have the chance to watch the process in person,” she says of the butterflies’ five stages of development. “I’ve seen it on film, but it’s been a wonderful experience to see it happen in my own garden.”

What ’s the Deal W I T H L I F E AT T H E H I G H L A N D S ?

Life at The Highlands at Wyomissing ® is filled with fun, culture, and incredible amenities and services. Relax and put your feet up. Express yourself through art, music or gardening. Try a new exercise class. Whatever you desire, whatever you need, retirement living at The Highlands is a great choice.

For an insider’s look at life at The Highlands, Berks County’s only Life Care Community, join us for an upcoming event.

Join our mailing list today!

610.775.2300 | Thehighlands.org/evenTs One of my favorite butterflies is the monarch, which are becoming endangered, so I specifically designed the garden for them.

Her efforts are not only limited to helping her favorite butterfly grow; she’s also continually monitoring their progress and migratory patterns. Through her work with monarch.org, Rosie discovered weightless identification tags that she can place on each of her butterflies to watch their annual migration online.

Rosie’s passion for butterflies is proving to be contagious. Other Highlanders will often stop by and ask her questions, and she’s even presented hour-long sessions to residents on what she’s learned. “I’m hoping we can get more ladies interested. I’m trying to encourage everyone to at least plant flowers on their balconies or in their beds to give the butterflies another place to go. I want the The Highlands to become a monarch sanctuary.”

2000 Cambridge Avenue | Wyomissing, PA 19610

Berks County Area Agency on Aging

633 Court St., 8th Floor County Services Center, Reading 610.478.6500 | berksaging.org Berks County Area Agency on Aging is the gateway to aging programs and supports. We offer information on community resources, health and wellness programs, senior community centers, in-home services and access to legal assistance, care management, caregiver support services, Ombudsman (advocates for consumers in longterm care facilities) and elder abuse protection.

berkscountyliving.com | OCTOBER 2021

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A decade-long construction apprenticeship under his father, a tour in the Air Force and a life-long career in plumbing, heating and ventilation has turned Ray Lascomb into a pretty handy guy. “All my friends here call me every time something comes up because I usually know how to fix it. They call me MacGyver.”

RECREATING HISTORY, TO SCALE

y a R SCOMB

IN MODEL TRAIR E A EXTRAORDIN

LA

His moniker is well-earned. When Ray first moved to The Heritage at Green Hills, he decided to keep his hands busy by helping in The Heritage’s Train Room. Open to the public each year during the holidays, the train room has earned some esteem for the intricate and historically accurate models of local landmarks. In the past, the club has replicated the Reading Fairgrounds, 7th Street Station, the Fire Tower and the Pagoda. “Last year, we started working on a model of Pomeroy’s. The building was built and placed in the yard, but

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OCTOBER 2021 | berkscountyliving.com

we couldn’t have anybody in, so now we have a little fire truck and we’re going to have Santa climbing up the ladder to the sixth floor like they used to do.”

When he’s not working on the holiday display, Ray is not sitting idle. One day he looked at their Model Z train – a train gauge so small the engine is the about the size of your pinky – and said, “That’s not exciting. We need to do something else.” With no room to work in the train room, he set up a platform on the washer and dryer in his apartment and went to work. He worked for six months transforming a single circular track into a two-by-four-foot masterpiece that has since been built back into The Heritage’s display.

THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE

Ray’s efforts drew the attention of PA State Rep. Mark Gillen, who takes his five daughters to the display each Christmas. He wanted a to-scale diorama of the Battle of Bulge for the Mohnton Military Museum, and he knew just who to call. Ray, an avid history buff, and three of his fellow club members worked for 18 months on the 8-feet wide, 32-feet-long model.

“We tried to replicate everything as well as we could, and to make everything look as real as we could,” Ray says.

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Since 1965, Berks Encore has been the go-to resource for older adults for Meals on Wheels, health & wellness education, Medicare counseling, friendly visitor and grocery shopping programs.

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Berks Encore operates six senior community centers offering a variety of fitness activities, opportunity for creativity and social interaction.

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New in 2020, to provide help to family caregivers to navigate the aging network, deliver an action plan for care, and connect them to resources.

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To learn more about our programs, visit berksencore.org or call any of our centers. We hope to see you soon!

DOUGLASSVILLE 2144 Weavertown Rd. 610-582-1603 FLEETWOOD 14432 Kutztown Rd. 610-947-1700 MIFFLIN 30 Liberty St. Shillington 610-777-5577 READING 40 N. 9th St. 610-374-3195 (ext. 237) STRAUSSTOWN 44 East Ave. 610-488-5770

The model includes two tanks, one at each end for the Americans and the Germans, connected by a bridge that was pivotal to the battle. He explains that if not for a strike on the bridge that cost the German army its oil supplies, they could have overrun the Americans in Bastogne. “We needed that bridge. It had to look authentic.” So, Ray spent 60 hours collecting and gluing individual stones to the structure. “I had a lot of burned fingers, but it looks absolutely real.”

And Rep. Gillen has again enlisted Ray’s help. Over the last two years he’s been creating drawings and plans for a proposed addition to the Mohnton Military Museum, plans that have been put on display and presented to other local dignitaries to secure funding. Now Ray is working with Rep. Gillen and his architects to create plans for all three floors of the new space, including a 72-person auditorium to host local students.

WERNERSVILLE 350 Sportsman Rd. 610-670-1372

NEW! Quilling Cards Send a greeting or give a gift.

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Best Kept Secrets of Berks County Tour: Nov. 4 - 20

1232 Oysterdale Rd., Oley 610-987-6055

Located 1 mile north of the Rt. 73, Pleasantville traffic light.

berkscountyliving.com | OCTOBER 2021

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Although Randall Fegley, a resident of The Heritage at Green Hills, is not yet retired, it’s clear that his passions and hobbies will keep him busy well into his golden years. “I’ve always had an interest in the world. I think it was sparked when I was 13 and my grandmother took me to Ireland and Britain,” he shares.

His appetite for travel and discovering new places spawned a long and gratifying career as a history and government professor, prolific researcher and author, and world traveler.

l l a d n Ra FEGLEY

ND PROFESSORTA HOR PROLIFIC AU

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OCTOBER 2021 | berkscountyliving.com

TENURED TRAVELER

Randall earned his bachelor’s degree from Bloomsburg University before kicking off his life of adventure. He earned both his master’s degree and PhD in England, where he lived for nearly a decade before returning to the States. His studies focused on state and local government in Belgium, but he also took a great interest in Africa. So much so that between degrees he signed on to teach English at a girls’ high school

in Sudan. He nearly agreed to another four-year contract when two important things happened: the government in Sudan was overthrown, and he met his wife.

As Randall settled into family life, he began teaching African and European history and political science at Penn State Berks, where he has been teaching ever since. His depth of knowledge played an important role in bringing the four-year degree in Global Studies to Penn State. But sharing his passions with local students did not stop Randall from pursuing his beloved research further. Over the years he has traveled the globe studying the governmental structures of foreign countries. He’s authored 11 books and countless academic papers and even wrote a best-seller about Belgium in medieval times.

ADVENTURES AWAIT

Now in his 35th year of teaching, Randall is in the middle of a full schedule of courses. This fall, he is teaching Introduction to the Middle East, Modern Africa and Europe Since 1789 and is slated to present a paper at the Sudan Studies Association. Next semester, his roster will include Early Africa and Cotemporary History and World Issues. “By this time next year, I’ll probably be retired,” Randall admits.

“But I’ve already put it off once.”

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9-0_9-8 LHT-BerksCountyLiving-SeptOct-2021.indd 1

8/16/21 1:12 PM

My focus is to look at what local governments, organizations and people have done to recover.

Although Randall is considering hanging up his professor’s hat, his research is never done. “In the past I studied the history of government structures, specifically in Belgium and Sudan. But for the last 10 years I’ve been traveling the world studying local communities that have suffered mass trauma – natural disasters, prolonged wars and human rights violations. My focus is to look at what local governments, organizations and people have done to recover.”

Randall admits to already having enough research to fill a few more books, but is still looking forward to having more time to travel with his wife. She has long accompanied him on his adventures, and they’re already looking to the next itinerary. He reveals, “Two areas that I really need to do research in are China and Japan. I have never set foot anywhere in Asia, and I already know what I want to do there.” 

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Learn about some of the people you help at uwberks.org Need help? Call 2-1-1 Give. Volunteer. Learn more. uwberks.org berkscountyliving.com | OCTOBER 2021

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This is our team at its best.

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OCTOBER 2021 | berkscountyliving.com

STJ-17434-22-162101-0821

ENJOY ALL THINGS PRETZEL IN BERKS. COMP ILE D BY ROBYN L. JONES & NIK K I M. MUR RY

Whether you like a simple pretzel snack, to cover your salted treat with chocolate for dessert – even if you’re looking to venture into adding it to your main meal – you can do it all right here in the Greater Reading area. Read on to find out where you can delight in all things pretzel. berkscountyliving.com | OCTOBER 2021

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Covered in Deliciousness PREFER YOUR PRETZELS COATED IN SOMETHING EXTRA DELICIOUS? TRY ONE OF THESE FINDS… CHOCOLATE-COVERED: grab the Pretzel Nibs at Zipf’s Candies by Sweet Surprises in West Reading. They’re unique, and absolutely the perfect salty-sweet snack. sweet-surprises.com MILK CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER FILLED PRETZEL NUGGETS: stock up on this one in bulk at Meme’s Chocolates & Bulk Foods in the PA Dutch Farmers Market, Wyomissing, farmersmarketofwyomissing.com

Starters

YOGURT-COVERED PRETZELS: find this fan-favorite at Echo Hill Country Store, Fleetwood, echohillcountrystore.com

KICK THINGS OFF WITH ONE OF THESE APPETIZERS (PERFECTLY PAIRED WITH THE BEER OF YOUR CHOICE IF YOU’D LIKE)…

PRETZEL BITES: served with German mustard and Helles beer cheese at Sly Fox Brewery, Wyomissing, slyfoxbeer.com

BAVARIAN PRETZEL: paired with Pale Ale Cheddar, coarse salt and grain mustard at B2 Bistro + Bar, West Reading, b2bistro.com

THE UGLY PRETZEL: a Cheddar and Crab Imperial-topped pretzel. The Ugly Oyster, Reading, theuglyoyster.com

PRETZEL NUGGETS: baked soft pretzel nuggets served with a spicy beer cheese sauce at P.J. Whelihan’s Pub & Restaurant, West Lawn, pjspub.com

FRANKLIN BEER CHEESE & PHILLY BIG BRAIDED PRETZEL with Stonefly, Cream Cheese, Cheddar and Mozzarella, Saucony Creek Franklin Station, Downtown Reading, sauconybeer.com

PUB PRETZEL: colossal sized and served with English mustard and queso blanco at Liberty Ale House, Shillington, thelibertytaproom.com

Soups & Salads You Say? IT’S TRUE! YOU CAN FIND PRETZELS SERVED UP IN THESE DISHES, TOO! SWEET POTATO SOUP at Dans at Green Hills, Green Hills. Featuring apples, pretzel dust, spiced whipped cream, sunflower seeds and thyme. dansatgreenhills.com PRETZEL CROUTONS: add them to your House, Chicken Caesar or Buffalo Chicken Caesar Salad at Schaylor Brewing Company, Shillington, schaylorbrewingcompany.com 38

OCTOBER 2021 | berkscountyliving.com

TRADITIONAL CHOCOLATECOVERED: if you’re looking for traditional, no frills, tried-and-true chocolate-covered pretzels, find them at Unique Snacks (uniquepretzels. com) in Reading, Tom Sturgis (tomsturgispretzels.com) in Shillington and Billy’s Candies in Temple (billyscandies.com).

Save Room for Dessert PRETZELS AND DESSERT JUST GO TOGETHER. ARE WE RIGHT? SATISFY YOUR SWEET TOOTH AND TRY ONE OF THESE… FROZEN CHOCOLATE-COVERED PRETZEL PIE: vanilla ice cream paired with crushed pretzels, chocolate-covered mini pretzels, hot fudge and a caramel ice cream topping. It’s a favorite of many and found at Jimmie Kramer’s Peanut Bar, Reading, peanutbar.com.

PRETZELS & FUDGE ICE CREAM (order it on a pretzel cone!) at Pop’s Malt Shoppe, Kutztown, popsmaltshoppe.com

Rolls, Melts & Stuffins THINKING YOU WANT TO TRY SOMETHING MORE SUBSTANTIAL? VISIT ONE OF THESE SPOTS… PRETZEL SANDWICH ROLLS: choose a pretzel roll for your sandwich creation, including specialty items like the Turkey Melt at Brewer’s Bar and Grill, West Reading, brewersbarandgrill.com

SWEET & SALTY PRETZEL CREPE: with cream cheese, Nutella, ground pretzels, caramel, chocolate syrup and ice cream at Taste of Crepes, West Reading, http://places. singleplatform.com/taste-of-crepes/menu STRAWBERRY PRETZEL DELIGHT: layered Jell-O salad with a pretzel crust, layers of cream cheese, Strawberry Jell-O and strawberries from Salad & Desserts at the Pa. Dutch Farmers Market of Wyomissing, farmersmarketofwyomissing.com SALTED CARAMEL PRETZEL ICE CREAM (add more pretzels as a premium topping) at Sweet Ride Ice Cream, West Reading, sweetrideicecream.com CINNAMON PRETZEL BITES: cinnamon sugar pretzel bites are served with cinnamon sugar butter and cream cheese icing at Chatty Monks, West Reading, chattymonks.com

GRAB A BREAKFAST SANDWICH on a pretzel bagel (think ham, egg & cheese) at the Shillington Farmers Market Café. shillingtonfarmersmarket.com MELT MANIA: head to the Kutztown Tavern to enjoy their Pretzel Crab Melt, Turkey Melt (served on a pretzel roll) or a veggie option – the Portabella Melt, served open-faced on a toasted pretzel roll. kutztowntavern.com CRAB PRETZEL: a colossal pretzel is paired with bluefin crab, cheese blend, Old Bay and topped with scallions at Liberty Ale House, Shillington, thelibertytaproom.com STUFFED PRETZELS: order the Stuf’d Pretzel at Schaylor Brewing Company, Shillington, in one of these options: Pizza, Buffalo, Cuban, Crab, Philly Cheesesteak or Pretzel Dog. schaylorbrewingcompany.com berkscountyliving.com | OCTOBER 2021

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Soft Pretzels SOMETIMES A GOOD-OLD SOFT PRETZEL JUST HITS THE SPOT WITH ITS BREADY TEXTURE. GRAB ONE HERE… REGULAR AND STUFFED PRETZEL WRAPS (breakfast, lunch and dinner flavor varieties) at the Soft Pretzel Corner at Pa. Dutch Farmers Market of Wyomissing, farmersmarketofwyomissing.com FUN FLAVORS: go regular, stuffed or get your soft pretzel in a garlic, cinnamon & sugar or sour cream & onion option at Stoltzfus Pretzels at the Boscov’s Fairgrounds Farmers Market, Reading, fairgroundsfarmersmarket.com/merchant/ stoltzfus-soft-pretzels BAVARIAN PRETZEL: it’s a Berkshire Mall staple!

Grab one at the Wyomissing shopping center’s kiosk.

Berks Pretzel Companies READING IS KNOWN AS “PRETZEL CITY” FOR A REASON. HERE ARE SOME OF THE PRETZEL COMPANIES THAT CALL THE AREA HOME.

PHOTO COURTESY FALLER’S PRETZELS

FALLER’S ALL NATURAL PRETZELS: Opened by Edward J. Faller at 528 Moss St., Reading, in 1911. Faller’s uses only fresh, all-natural ingredients. Today, the Pretzel Sticks are still baked in the same location utilizing a brick oven and slow-drying kiln.

Original and Whole Wheat Pretzel Sticks are available. fallerspretzels.com

UNIQUE PRETZELS: Celebrating 100 years, Unique Pretzels are made using a secret family recipe with no malts, added sugars or artificial colors by a family-owned business. They are digestive friendly, heart healthy, vegan and delicious. uniquepretzels.com

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TOM STURGIS: Julius Sturgis died in 1897, but his descendants continued the pretzel baking tradition. In 1946, Marriott D. “Tom” Sturgis, grandson of Julius, founded the Tom Sturgis Pretzel Company after spending years learning pretzel baking from family members. In time, Marriott’s son, Tom, joined the company and now Tom’s son, Bruce, has taken a place at Tom Sturgis Pretzels. Five generations of pretzel baking have made the Sturgis family the “First Family of Pretzels.” Visit for their unique option to purchase pretzel bread crumbs you can use to cook with at home. tomsturgispretzels.com UNCLE HENRY’S OLD-FASHIONED PRETZEL BAKERY: Opened in 1983 in Mohnton, the bakery offers hand-twisted Pennsylvania Dutch pretzels online to customers across the United States. Products are hand-rolled before they are packed and shipped. Recipes and processes have been handed down through their family for the past 50 years. unclehenry.com

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berkscountyliving.com | OCTOBER 2021

41

PHOTO COURTESY CHARLES J. ADAMS III

LIVING IN STYLE

Haunted

Berks

BY DO NNA RE ED

F

or Charlie Adams, a lifetime fascination with ghosts was born in the bowels of a US Navy aircraft carrier somewhere on the North Atlantic Ocean more than half a century ago.

Adams, then a young sailor of 20, was on midnight watch aboard the huge ship which had been rebuilt following a kamikaze attack during World War II. That attack claimed lives of both the attackers and Navy personnel on board.

“I heard these muffled sounds of yelling and running on the deck,” he says. “I radioed up and asked what was

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OCTOBER 2021 | berkscountyliving.com

happening. The response was: ‘Nothing’ and I was told to resume my watch.”

Adams was to learn that he was standing watch at precisely the spot where the kamikaze hit and sailors died. Some “old salts,” he says, told him his eerie experience had been shared by others in the 20-plus years since the war ended.

About two weeks after that event, the ship docked at its Portsmouth, England, port of call. He made his way to the house of legendary author Charles Dickens, encountering a curator who was thrilled a young sailor would take such interest.

Liking the Dickens

The curator explained that Dickens created his stories out of old English superstitions and folklore. Key among those is the iconic A Christmas Carol.

Dickens, who self-published, would venture out to tell the stories as he marketed his books.

“I thought: ‘That’s a pretty good gig,’” says Adams. “That was the spark of everything for me, my inspiration.”

Following discharge, he returned to Berks and began a long career in local print journalism and radio. He spent eight years at the former Berks County Record and segued into a long and notable role as a broadcaster at WEEU. Around 1978, he wrote an article for the Record with a stunning 74-point headline reading: “Is Berks County Haunted?” The story never really answered the question, but it paved the way for Adams to become recognized as

the area’s most prolific ghost story writer by asking readers if they knew of any “spirited” places.

The tips poured in, filling first a shoe box, and ultimately, a filing cabinet.

Adams went on the hunt, doing research at local libraries as well as the Historical Society of Berks County and other institutions. He also interviewed a number of the tipsters.

The result, in 1982, was his first book aptly titled Ghost Stories of Berks County. It contained about 25 stories and was 125 pages. Adams, writing as Charles J. Adams III, and his wife, Theresa, emptied their savings account and self-published the book.

Putting into practice the Dickensian example, the couple visited places like the Pagoda gift shop and local bookstores and would “drop off a dozen here or there.”

Their guerilla marketing worked; they began to get requests for a few dozen more at some retailers and even cases at others.

Volumes two and three would soon follow.

Radio days and TV times

By that time, Adams was on staff at WEEU and found a business partner – and lifelong friend – in ad salesman Dave Seibold.

The result has been the self-publication of 35 books, including 18 editions of ghost stories of other areas such as New York City. He was even approached by a wellknown publisher who took a liking to the Berks ghost trilogy.

“He wanted to ‘spice things up’,” Adams recalls, “and I had no desire to do that.”

Still his celebrity status as an author of spirits grew. He began – and continues – to conduct ghost tours, particularly in the autumn leading to Halloween. By his estimate, he’s done some 250, including ones in Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England.

He’s gained some broader fame through appearances on television shows dedicated to the paranormal, including Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures.

Though Adams notes the ego satisfaction derived from these stints, he also is bothered by the contrived showmanship he’s witnessed. The “bravery” of the hosts can come into question.

A case in point: during one taping at the supposedly haunted cell of gangster Al Capone in the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, Adams, the host and the crew heard an inexplicable knocking sound.

That sound was realistically impossible due to the foot-plus-thick stone walls. He recalls the host turning white and wanting

to get out ASAP. Another interesting point about this site: Adams says the alleged ghost is not Capone, but rather that of Jimmy Clark, one of the seven men Capone ordered killed in the infamous 1929 St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. Clark, it is said, haunted Capone in the cell.

Spirits nearby?

While the old penitentiary has become a draw for paranormal aficionados, Adams notes several sites in Berks reputed to be haunted. These include focal points of some of his tours.

Vicinity of Union Canal Lock No. 49 at Gring’s Mill on the trail, Bern Township. It was in August 1875 that a distraught pregnant Reading woman, Louisa Bissinger, drown herself and her three children in apparent response to a philandering husband and vengeful mother-in-law. Bissinger had her children help fill a basket with rocks that she tied to her waist. She then grabbed the children and jumped in the canal.

There have been reported sightings of the children happily gathering the stones as their mother watched, but the images vanish as trail users draw closer. Some report hearing the cries of children.

Others have reported a strong sense of doom along the path.

Hawk Mountain and the Appalachian Trail in northern Berks. This area, known as America’s First Frontier, is steeped in history and legend, some of it horribly violent. Adams

refers to “layers” of spirit activity in the area. During the French and Indian War, several settler families were massacred by Native Americans. Among those recorded was the 1757 killing of the Hochstetler family. A young son, Jacob, escaped and lived to tell the story. A century later, a tavern keeper owned a building said to have stood on the same spot as the Hochstetler home. Matthias Schaumboch, who operated the tavern from 1850 to 1889, reputedly confessed to murdering more than a dozen “guests” who stopped by over the years. The documentation of this is sketchy, but his ghost is said to still abide in the area. In the years following, it is said that two mountain men – hermits – lived and died under mysterious circumstances and that their spirits roam Hawk Mountain and the trail.

“Native American legend has it that the mountain was enchanted by the spirits of their ancestors,” says Adams of the first people of northern Berks. He advises, as he does with all allegedly haunted areas, to not visit expecting to witness apparitions or activity, but to keep an open mind.

Skyline Drive above the City of Reading. Adams does not believe either the Pagoda or the William Penn Fire Tower, the two icons of Mount Penn, to be haunted. However, he cites two double murder-suicides in the 1920s and 1930s off the roadway as sparks for paranormal activity. One of those, the result of a lover’s quarrel, occurred near Drenkel Field. During and just after the Works Progress Administration Depressionera construction of the stone wall along the drive, reports entered into the WPA records noted appearances of a young couple standing in the middle of the road.

The misty figures disappeared as they were approached.

Centre Park Historic District. Both Sternbergh mansions on Centre Avenue, Overlook near Greenwich Street and Stirling just north of Robeson Street, are reputedly haunted, says Adams. Overlook, built in the 1860s, was the home of steel magnate James Hervey Sternbergh’s first wife and older children. Widowed and remarried, he built Stirling in 1892 for his second wife and younger set of children, including Gertrude Sternbergh, a renowned patron of the arts, who resided there from

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LIVING IN STYLE birth to her death at age 96 in 1996. Overlook activity includes occasional loud footsteps on stairways, unexplained cold spots in rooms and a side porch with a decided sense of unease.

At Stirling, there have been reports of luggage falling down steps from an empty and longabandoned storage room and sounds of a piano playing with no one nearby. “It’s long been rumored that Gertrude is on site,” says Adams.

Also, apparently lingering outdoors is one of her relatives, perhaps her dad. Adams cites a wedding photograph taken in the yard some years ago, when developed showed “a guy standing in back of the wedding party, a mysterious figure in a top hat.” No one recognized the man whose image was slightly translucent. Adams has seen the photo but is not in possession of it as the family wants the experience to remain private.

Red Cross Building, Centre Avenue and Oley Street.

Reports by employees of sounds of people playing pool in the pool room. However, the use of the room changed decades ago; it’s a staff conference room. There are also stories of a girl running up and down the fire escape. Another more recent sighting is that of an employee who never returned from a lunch break, the victim of deadly domestic violence. Employees, not knowing her fate, reported seeing glimpses of her in the office in the days she was considered missing.

Hendel House, Centre Avenue and Douglass Street. Visitors have reportedly seen the image of a young boy laughing as he sprints up the staircase to the second floor. According to Adams, word is the little boy died playing on those steps.

Charles Evans Cemetery, City of Reading. Visitors have, he says, on occasion have felt “uncomfortable,” but he’s not convinced of ghostly appearances despite the legendary souls resting there, among them Louisa Bissinger and her doomed children.

In the same plot lay her philandering husband and his second wife.

Wertz’s Red Bridge, Spring Township, linking to the Gring’s Mill Recreation Area. Adams says there are several spirits there and all but one is a cow. The other is that of a long-ago toll keeper found dead in his shelter.

Beidler House, the circa 1783 property located in Robeson Township near the Allegheny Aqueduct. Builder Jacob Beidler is said to “look over” his old farm. Also, the ghosts of a little boy and little girl, supposedly in bed, reportedly linger on the stairs curious to see what the adults are doing downstairs.

Pick Something “When I walk people through there, I ask them to ‘feel’ the surroundings,” Adams says.

FirstEnergy Stadium. Word is that the scoreboard and other electronic signs flickered and fluttered after a devoted fan’s ashes were surreptiously – and illegally – dumped in the outfield at the deceased’s wishes. This is one of the tales Adams has shared during an onsite ghost story event.

All of Route 61 from the southern terminus at Greenwich Street in Reading to the northern terminus in Centralia. “You can definitely call this a haunted highway,” Adams says. “It parallels the river and the old canal and ghostly tales abound in Leesport, Shoemakersville, Hamburg, Port Clinton and Schuylkill Haven.

And, of course, Centralia, its buildings gone due to the underground coal fire, is the ultimate ghost town.”

Meanwhile, at home...

While readers may choose to visit these spirited locales and others, there may be activity close to home.

Adams experienced that when his nowgrown daughter, Emily, was just six. She told him about a man in her closet named Izzy. Alarmed as any parent would be, Adams checked and found nothing. Emily’s window overlooked what was the Reiff Farm which, he learned, was owned long ago by one Israel Reiff.

“Hence, Izzy,” he says of that closet companion.

His advice to folks who believe there may be spirits afoot in their homes: be aware of the sudden abrupt pulses of heat or cold, a flash or absence of light, normal things that may go bump in the night – house noises.

“Be rational, see what these things could be attributed to,” he says.

Adams sees the analogy of spirits and their intents to an illuminated light bulb.

The energy that fuels it is good – unless one removes the bulb, sticks a wet finger into a socket and is electrocuted.

“I don’t believe in demons,” he says.

“There aren’t bad or good spirits, just the spirits’ energy. In the words of a great writer, I ain’t afraid of no ghosts.” 

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www.LisaTigerHomes.com berkscountyliving.com | OCTOBER 2021

45

DINING OUT YOLKO ONO

GROOVING WITH ALL-DAY BREAKFAST

The Andy Pepper's Vibe

BY MARIAN FRANCES WOLBERS | PHOTOS BY HEIDI REUTER

B

reakfast food rocks. Andy Pepper’s of Limekiln offers takeout of breakfast classics and lunch sandwiches for Berks Countians to enjoy any time of day or night, with a focus on culinary inventions — while keeping classic elements front and center. Led by the fearlessly creative chef-owner Andy Kochel, the crew at this destination dishes up a new world of flavor.

The dishes have upbeat, unforgettable, usually humorous (tongue-incheek) names, including some wonderful shoutouts to hippie-era music and musicians. One gets the feeling that saying “egg” too many times is just way too boring for Andy Pepper’s. And these offerings match up well with their names, since the foods and drinks (both hot and cold) clearly combine taste, look and smell in a clever, savvy fashion. Moreover, this restaurant is one of the very few places in Berks County that devotes near-equal menu space to meat-lovers and vegans. How astonishing!

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OCTOBER 2021 | berkscountyliving.com

For example, for breakfast, traditional eggs ’n’ bacon fans will love the Flatbottom Girl — scrambled eggs, bacon and cheese all on a flatbread, while vegans will favor the Grateful Egg — a Just Egg scrambled patty conscientiously cooked with vegan sausage and cheese on a bagel.

Humorously Presented, Seriously Delicious

The Yolko Ono, so aptly named, is sweetly satisfying. But it’s messy, somewhat (that yolk from the fried egg), so make sure you eat it on a dish to catch the yummy drippings. It’s an all-in-one sandwich with a sausage patty the size of a small burger patty, plus fresh green spinach leaves, a tomato slice and an engaging sauce all on a substantial roll that’s perfectly textured — soft enough to enjoy, tightly woven enough to hold this baby together. So, there’s protein, vitamin C, iron and lots of other nutrients all bound together in one fine bundle.

MOTHER CLUCKER

Mother Clucker boosts a simply perfect chicken salad fat-rolling out of a lightly savory, grilled flatbread sandwich. This is another all-inone meal, invented by someone who obviously likes all their eggs in one basket. Though the salad portion is cool, the sandwich is served warm — and it’s very filling. Fashioned somewhat after a traditional club sandwich, with its crispy bacon and tomato, but presented in a newage, down-on-the-farm style, Mother Clucker definitely pays homage to mama hen.

The generous amount of deliciously fresh chicken salad is smooth, yet holds teensy bits of celery; it’s not overly mayo-heavy, but yes, it’s juicy, so keep napkins or a catch-plate handy.

The textures are what makes this so special, and such a popular choice with customers. The chewiness and crunch of the salad, the roughcut bacon, the smooth provolone and the seeds in the flatbread all work together in a unique dance of sandwich integrity.

Potato chips (made in-house) accompany the lunch sandwiches, warm and tenderly spiced with House Andy Pepper seasoning.

Other sides on the menu include Wavey Tateys, which are what they sound like — thinly cut crinkle fries — and Frizzle Nips for cheese freaks — lightly breaded cheese curds plus roasted red pepper aioli. Daily appetizer specials do appear, so expect neat surprises when you show up or call ahead.

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Doobie Burger, Hot Mozz, Phony Joanie & Other Fun Nosh

Vegan diners will adore the Groovy Doobie where the first job of building this sandwich involves choosing “meat”: Beyond Burger, Vegan Chicken, Vegan Sausage or a Veggie Burger.

That’s topped with vegan cheese, grilled onions, tomatoes, Romaine lettuce and vegan mayo on a bagel (vegan, of course).

Phony Joanie is also vegan, starting with vegan chicken breast as its central element, made luscious and lively with vegan cheese, mayo, baby spinach, sriracha mustard and grilled onions on a grilled flatbread. Deeply flavorful, wholeheartedly healthy.

Mozzarella stars in Hot Mozz, where tomatoes, cheese, pesto and olive oil link up in grilled flatbread. Additions are tailored to taste, with a choice of avocado, baby spinach, bacon or a veggie burger.

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Beverages receive all the close attention anyone could ask for, with an array of choices both cold and hot. Summer Fling combines freshly squeezed orange juice, homemade limeade and homemade lemonade — available

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all year-round. Refreshing, pure, immunityboosting…it’s just one great sip after another, a feel-good drink. It’s especially fab with Cinnamon Swirl French Toast or Andy Pepper’s Giant Homemade Pancake (try the blueberry or original buttermilk).

The Pink Floyd is cranberry lemonade with a splash of white birch beer.

Right up there with the kitchen’s intensive theme of creativity is the café beverage menu.

It holds something enticing for everyone, from Nitro Cold Brew to Peanut Butter Mocha and Pumpkin Pie Macchiato.

Cookies and Ice Cream, Anyone?

Different strokes in desserts complete Andy Pepper’s world. A dairy-free, egg-free Avocado Chocolate Chip Cookie has been perfected at last. And the ice cream sandwich made with these cookies is so fat and tasty, it will be a freezer fave for days. 

berkscountyliving.com | OCTOBER 2021

47

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