Holiday light displays
Dec. 26—Madison Sterner had waited 13 years for the next "Avatar" film to come out, so going to the movie theater on Monday, in her case, wasn't simply a means of getting out of the house to avoid going stir-crazy over the holiday break from school.
It's no exaggeration to say it was a momentous day for the 17-year-old Blue Mountain High School junior. She was 4 years old when she first saw James Cameron's 2009 epic science fiction film. She's watched the film countless times since while waiting eagerly for another "Avatar" film to come out.
With "Avatar: The Way of the Water" recently released in theaters across the country, the day after Christmas seemed like the perfect time to catch the three-plus-hour movie.
"We had to come see it for Madison because it's something she's been waiting for another 'Avatar' for 13 years," said her friend Riley Wade, 16, also of Orwigsburg.
Along with the beauty of the first film — set in the 22nd century on the fictitious, rain forest-covered moon Pandora, which is inhabited by humanoids who are faced with the threat of colonization — what Madison loved most was its message that embraces deep ecology.
"I think it has a beautiful message to it," she said.
Accompanied by their moms, Linda Sterner and Kejia Wade, the two teens from Schuylkill County made the 40-minute ride to Wyomissing for the first of six screenings Monday at the Fox Berkshire.
They were far from the only "Avatar" enthusiasts drawn to the cinema for that reason on a day when many people had off from work because of the legal observance of Christmas.
Jess and Linda Dunker of Mohnton took their grandsons, Zack, 18, and Tyler, 16, to Wyomissing to see it.
"The weather's getting better but still not enough to do anything outside," Jess said.
Fox Berkshire General Manager Chad Grate said "Avatar" has been the big draw this holiday weekend, which is most welcome after a difficult year in the movie business.
With below-normal, subfreezing temperatures extending form the weekend, indoor attractions were a no-brainer for those looking to get out of the four walls of their living space.
Which made the Berkshire Mall a destination for many.
Jahnee Rivera, 15, a Muhlenberg High School sophomore, and his friend Jayvion Brown, a Reading High freshman, wasted no time Monday to use some of their Christmas cash. They got up early, played basketball at LA Fitness in Wyomissing, then headed over to the Berkshire Mall to take advantage of post-Christmas discounts.
Apryl Stine of Sinking brought her two boys, Bradley, 7, and Carter, 5, to the mall for that reason.
"They got a lot of Christmas money from relatives and they would like to spend it," she said. "We were at Target and now the mall. It's actually a tradition of ours. We like to shop the day after Christmas."
Bradley and Carter went to the mall this year dressed in one of their Christmas gifts: a replica, kid-size luminescent firefighter uniform with the words Western Berks Fire Department on the back. Their father, Joseph, is a Western Berks firefighter.
For some, a trip to the mall was, well, a trip to the mall.
John Rhodes, 13, of Mount Carmel, Northumberland County, tagged along with his parents, Wes and Tracy, for the nearly one-hour trip to Berkshire Mall so his mom could have a piece of jewelry repaired at Zales Jewelers.
John and Wes sat patiently by the fountain near Boscov's.
"If you're married, you'll understand," Wes said.
"I needed to get it done," Tracy said after emerging from the shop.
An outdoorsman, Wes explained the return trip would likely feature a stop at Cabela's near Hamburg.
"That's fine with me," Tracy said.
