Keith Mayer: Women's History Month events scheduled

Keith Mayer, Reading Eagle, Pa.
·8 min read

Mar. 7—Celebrate Women's History Month with the Berks County Parks staff and Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club members.

They will be hosting a special event celebrating women trailblazers on March 19 at 10 a.m. at the Bingaman Nature Center.

Joan Moyer, the climbing club's first woman president, and Linda Enders, a member of the

board of directors and the first chairwoman of the Rentschler Arboretum Committee, will tell about women who have been Appalachian Trail leaders, stewards and hikers, organizers said.

Moyer and Enders will tell how women helped to transform the climbing club from an all-male group that predated the Appalachian Trail into an all-inclusive organization, organizers said.

After the discussion, Moyer and Enders will lead the group on a 45-minute hike on the parks department's Gravity and Ferndale trails.

The free event is geared toward adults, but children 8 and older may attend with an accompanying adult.

Registration is required at least 24 hours in advance.

To register or for more information: lgauker@countyofberks.com or 610-374-2944, ext 2611.

The Bingaman Nature Center is located at 2843 Hill Road, in Lower Alsace Township.

More Women's History Month

Kutztown University's Women's Center has lined up a series of events for all to learn more about the importance of Women's History Month and shed light on issues in today's society regarding women, including:

March 25, 2 p.m.: "Uplifting Women in the Workplace" in the MCC Unity Room. This program is cosponsored by the Career Development Center and will provide a discussion on sexism and microaggressions in a workplace, how we can move up in our jobs and empower others with language, organizers said.

March 28, 6 p.m.: Women's History Month Keynote: Feminista Jones, MSU 218. Jones is a feminist writer, community activist, award-winning blogger and author of "Reclaiming Our Space: How Black Feminists Are Changing the World from the Tweets to the Streets."

Learn more about the KU Women's Center: 610-683-4655 or womenscenter@kutztown.edu.

More Women's History Month

The Wyomissing Public Library will recognize International Women's Day on March 8, with a free program scheduled for 5:30 p.m. with state Sen. Judith L. Schwank, a Democrat who represents Berks County.

Schwank will speak to the topic for this year's International Women's Day, "Breaking the Bias."

The discussion will focus on how bias has affected her career, how she has overcome it, how it affects other women, politically and socially, and what can be done about it, according to organizers.

Registration for the workshop is requested at ann@wyopublib.org, 610-374-2385, or in-person at the circulation desk in the library at 9 Reading Blvd.

Masks are now optional.

Reading Jewish Film Series

The Jewish Federation of Reading/Berks announces the return of the Reading Jewish Film Series, co-sponsored by the Rubin Educational Fund of Jewish Federation of Reading/Berks and Fox Theatres.

The public is invited to a screening of "Kiss Me Kosher" on March 9 at 7 p.m. at Fox Berkshire, 800 Berkshire Blvd., Wyomissing. "Kiss Me Kosher" is a romantic misadventure, according to organizers.

Admission is $8 or $6 for Jewish Cultural Center members. Tickets can be purchased online at www.foxshowtimes.com or at the box office.

The Reading Jewish Film Series has been screening Jewish films in partnership with Fox Theatres since 2015. This screening marks the first return to in-person screenings since February 2020.

Next Literatour Berks

The Jewish Federation of Reading/Berks in partnership with Exeter Community Library announce the next author of the third season of Literatour Berks, a community-wide celebration with 14 events featuring authors, celebrities, and cultural influencers throughout Berks County.

The public is invited to an afternoon with Elyssa Friedland, author of "Last Summer at the Golden Hotel" on March 7 at 3 p.m. at Exeter Community Library, 4569 Prestwick Drive, Exeter Township.

Friedland is the author of four novels and a forthcoming picture book, organizers said.

"Last Summer at the Golden Hotel" was a "Good Morning America" Buzz Pick and a Book of the Month selection, organizers said.

To reserve a spot: www.readingjewishcommunity.org/home/literatour or call 610-406-9431. Masks are encouraged for attendees and required for the book signing.

A complete list of authors and topics for Literatour Berks can be found at www.readingjewishcommunity.org/home/literatour Additional support in the form of community patrons is acknowledged and appreciated.

LGBT Center presentation

As part of its Building Bridges Initiative, the LGBT Center of Reading will present a workshop at the Wyomissing Public Library on March 9 at 5:30 p.m.

The focus of the workshop is "How To Cultivate Safe Zones" in areas such as schools, workplaces and the community in general, where all can flourish intellectually, socially and emotionally, organizers said.

Tasha Santiago, training and operations coordinator for the center, will lead the free workshop.

Registration for the workshop is requested at ann@wyopublib.org, 610-374-2385, or in-person at the circulation desk in the library at 9 Reading Blvd.

Masks are now optional.

Speech competition

The Rotary Club of West Reading-Wyomissing recently hosted the annual High School 4-Way Speech competition.

Students in grades 9 through 12 from the Wilson and Wyomissing school districts, the schools in the club's geographic footprint, were invited to compete in the speech competition, organizers said.

A panel of three judges along with a timekeeper and tabulator evaluated the student's speech, which addressed an ethical issue they selected and how the Rotary 4-Way test of the

things we think, say, or do, helps to find a solution.

Elizabeth Harenza, a Wyomissing senior, took first place and a $100 prize. She will next compete in the regional competition on April 2, organizers said.

Second and third places went to Alek Zeppos a Wyomissing senior, and Anisha Aggarwal, Wilson senior, respectively.

Academic World Quest

Academic World Quest is an educational flagship program of the World Affairs Council of

America engaging high school students in a team competition of knowledge about world affairs.

This year's local 2022 Academic World Quest competition sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Greater Reading will be held March 9 at Alvernia University's McGlinn Conference Center.

The event begins at 9 a.m. and concludes by 2 p.m.

Seven high schools are sending 12 teams to compete. The participating schools are: Antietam, Exeter, Gov. Mifflin, Muhlenberg, Schuylkill Valley, Twin Valley and Wyomissing.

All are welcome. The winners go on to a higher level competition.

Exeter musical

Exeter Senior High School performs Disney's classic musical "Beauty and the Beast" March 10, 11 and 12 at 7 p.m. with a 2 p.m. matinee on March 12.

All tickets are $10 and are available online at exeterhs.seatyourself.biz.

Senior citizens are also welcome to attend a dress rehearsal on March 9 at 7 p.m. No tickets are necessary for that performance.

Cemetery cleaning

The Berks County Association for Graveyard Preservation has a workday planned for March 13 at the Kinsey graveyard in Alsace Township.

The group expects that woody growth, overhanging branches and vines, and debris will need to be moved. In the past the access road has been deeply rutted, organizers said.

The group will be meeting outside Spies Church at 9:30 a.m. and traveling about a mile to the

graveyard site. Spies Church is along Spies Church Road between Five Points and Alsace Manor.

The group's next meeting will be May 1 at 2 p.m. at the Oley American Legion. There are other cleanups being planned for March 27, April 10 and April 24, organizers said.

For questions about anything, call Les at 610-323-1703.

All are welcome to participate.

Opera House fire

The Leesport Area Historical Society will present, "Boyertown Opera House Fire" with Margaret Harner, a Boyertown native, on March 28 at 7 p.m. at Bethany EC Church, 308 Main St. Leesport.

Harner will present an evening of information about the Rhoads Opera House fire in 1908 which is still listed as one of the most tragic fires in American history, when 170 people died.

All are welcome.

Meet the Goldens

Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue will hold its monthly open house on March 12 from 10 a.m. to noon at its Golden Gateway campus at 60 Vera Cruz Road near Reinholds.

Meet the dogs available for adoption and tour of the facility with staff who will answer questions.

For more information: www.dvgrr.org/adopt/monthlyopenhouse

The rescue will host a canine Easter egg hunt on April 2.

Gates open at 11 a.m. and the egg hunt begins at 11:30.

A suggested donation of $5 per dog will be collected at the event.

Raffles, food, and additional games follow the egg hunt. It is open to all human- and canine-friendly dogs. All dogs must remain on leash 6 feet or shorter.

RSVP to inza@dvgrr.org. For more information: www.dvgrr.org/events/easter-egg-hunt.

Women in government

The League of Women Voters of Berks County will host a discussion on "Women in Government Tuesday at 8 p.m. on BCTV.

Guests include four women who represent Berks in Congress and the state Senate: Sens. Judy Schwank and Katie Muth and U.S. Reps. Chrissy Houlahan and Madeleine Dean.

BCTV is on Comcast Reading channel 15, Comcast-Southern Berks channel 965 and Service Electric Cablevision channel 19. Programming also available via livestream on www.bctv.org.