MCC_041024

Morgantown/Honey Brook

GMI to host first Great Marsh Mud Mosey

BY FRANCINE FULTON

The Great Marsh Institute (GMI) in Elverson is teaming up with ChesCo Search Dogs to present the first Great Marsh Mud Mosey on Saturday, April 13, beginning at 10 a.m. The event, which will feature a 5K run and 1-mile walk, will be held rain or shine.

The 5K course will be relatively flat but will pass through marsh ponds on the property, alongside wooded boundaries and past hundreds of acres of farmland before finishing on a paved road. “(The 5K) will run through the whole property. Some of it will be pretty muddy,” said Mijka Smith, GMI administrative assistant.

ChesCo Search Dogs conducts practice search missions on the GMI property, which is how the partnership came about. “They have used our property for a number of years to train their search dogs,” Smith said. “They got in touch with Lori Moore, our program director, and discussed doing an event together.”

“They are very generous with allowing us to use their property. We train there every Sunday,” added ChesCo Search Dogs president Keith Studnick, event organizer, who noted that his dog, Hunter, will be the honorary starter of the 5K race. “We will have dogs doing demonstrations for those that participate in the run/walk at the conclusion of the (event).”

The 5K race will be timed, and the first-place male and female runners will receive a gift card to a running store. “The property is so unique that depending on the conditions of the marsh, we may have a little bit more or less than a 5K,” Studnick noted. “We may have to juggle the course if

the ponds overflow.”

Studnick said that runners will enjoy the diverse terrain. “The last one-third of the race will be muddy. It’s part of the charm,” he stated. “We were trying to do something different. Being able to run a race on private property, you don’t … have to close the roads down. People will enjoy it.”

Post-race activities will include live music by Dave Loves Donna and educational information by environmental biologists on the flora and fauna of the property.

The Epicurean Garage food truck will also be on hand. “We want to keep a festival atmosphere for anyone who wants to stay,” said

Studnick, noting that participants will also have an opportunity to win prizes.

Because parking is limited, the walk and run can only accommodate 100 participants. Personal pets will not be permitted.

GMI is located at 34 Moores Road, Elverson. For more information and to register, visit www.runsignup.com/Race/PA /Elverson/GreatMarshMud Mosey. Registration proceeds will benefit both organizations. To learn more about GMI, visit www.greatmarshinstitute.org.

ChesCo Search Dogs is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization dedicated to training

Poole Forge sets spring plant swap

BY FRANCINE FULTON

With the approach of warmer weather and the spring planting season, community gardeners are invited to take part in a spring plant swap at Historic Poole Forge (HPF) on Friday, April 12. Setup will be at 6 p.m. in the HPF pavilion. The swap will begin at 6:30 p.m.

A plant swap is an opportunity for gardeners to come together

and exchange plants and plant clippings as well as seeds and bulbs. The event is designed as a way for people to share plants; no money is exchanged.

At HPF, participants are invited to bring annuals, perennials, shrubs, rooted cuttings, vegetable plants, seeds, vines, trees and houseplants to share with others. The plants should be in containers and labeled with growing instructions if possible.

See Plant swap pg 3

Ryerss Farm plans Run for the Horses

BY FRANCINE FULTON

Runners and walkers are invited to participate in the 12th annual Ryerss Run for the Horses on Saturday, April 13, at Ryerss Farm, 1710 Ridge Road, Pottstown. Participants will have an option to run a 10K or 5K or take part in a 1-mile walk. Race-day registration will begin at noon, and the races and walk will start at 1 p.m. sharp, rain or shine. Those who register before noon on Wednesday, April 10, will receive a discount

and an event T-shirt. To register, visit www.ryerssfarm.org/ run-for-the-horses.

The runs and the walk will take participants along a cross-country course. The walkers will take a 1-mile route that is closer to the farm. Runners in the 5K and 10K will be electronically timed. Winners in various age divisions in the 5K and 10K will receive medals.

“New this year will be a postrace celebration, which will include music and a beer garden for those age 21 and up,” noted

Hunter, shown with his handler, Keith Studnik, will be the honorary 5K race starter.

Attendees enjoyed the variety of plants at a previous plant swap.

Run for the Horses

Runners will travel a course throughout the property.

Lynn Seeburger, a member of the Ryerss board of managers.

She said that the most popular course at the event is traditionally the 5K race, adding that last year’s event was held in the pouring rain. “We had 160 (participants) despite the weather,” Seeburger noted.

The site’s gift shop will be open during the day, offering equine-related items, including plush miniature horses and Ryerss apparel such as hats, T-shirts and hoodies. “We have gift items; toys, like mini tractors; and new stuffed animals, including donkeys, dragons, chicks and bunnies,” said Seeburger.

On the day of the event, people will be able to visit the horses that reside at the farm, many of which gather along the fence to watch the runners pass by. Non-runners and walkers are also welcome to visit the horses and cheer on the runners on April 13.

All proceeds from the Run for the Horses and gift shop sales will benefit the rescued, aged and retired horses that live at the farm.

Founded in 1888, Ryerss Farm is a nonprofit organization that cares for aged, abused or injured horses. Ryerss is situated on 383 acres where the retired animals

can spend their golden years. The horses at Ryerss are never worked or ridden again.

Community members are welcome to visit the horses daily between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. Those who want to feed snacks to the horses are asked to purchase treats from the gift shop rather than bringing items from home.

Following the Run for the Horses, the next event at Ryerss will be Family Fun Day, set this year for Saturday, June 22, from noon to 4 p.m. The event will feature pony rides and hayrides, face painting, children’s games, a horse-themed bounce house, an obstacle course and prizes. Picnic foods, including grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, will be offered.

Ryerss Farm is located on Route 23 in Warwick and South Coventry townships. For more information, call 610-469-0533 or visit ww.facebook.com/ryerss .farm or www.ryerssfarm.org.

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Plant swap from pg 1

“Our local gardeners from the community bring items that are mostly perennials, small shrubs, houseplants, seeds and lots of bulbs,” said Dawn Ekdahl, HPF executive director. “It’s an opportunity for everyone to share the bounties of their garden with each other.”

She noted that local nurseries have also been known to support the plant swap by donating annuals that people may take home with them.

HPF holds both spring and fall plant swaps. “(For the spring swap), we get people who have had plants in the house all winter and they multiply, and they bring them,” she noted.

As people arrive on the day of the event, they will be directed to tables where they can place their plants. Tables will be marked with different categories such as sun perennials, shade perennials, annuals and others.

Ekdahl emphasized that once the swap begins, people make their selections very quickly. “The setup starts at 6 p.m., so it’s important to arrive early. (The plant swap) is very fast, so you don’t want to show up late,” Ekdahl added.

Historic Poole Forge is located at 1940 Main St. (Route 23), Narvon, 3 miles east of the Shady Maple complex. For more information about the event, call 484-797-5302 or visit www.historicpooleforge.org or www.facebook.com/pooleforge.

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April 6. Vendor and Craft Fair

Tel Hai Camp and Retreat

Community Calendar

April 11. GriefShare Brick Lane Community Church

31 Lasso Drive, Honey Brook, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Offered for sale will be home décor, collectibles. crafts, jewelry, antiques and essential oils. Food, beverages and snacks will also be available for purchase. The camp’s mini golf course will be open and there will be free wagon rides available, weather permitting. www.telhaicamp.org/events/vendor-fair.

52 S. Brick Lane, Elverson, 7 to 9 p.m. The group, which is open to those who have experienced the death of a spouse, family member or friend, will meet on Thursdays through May 30. Email griefshare@brick52.org with questions or to register.

April 12. Eighth Annual BBQ & Brew Honey Brook Community Library Fundraiser Honey Brook American Legion

4820 Horseshoe Pike, Honey Brook, 7 to 9:30 p.m. Featured will be food and entertainer Matty Whipple, who was featured on “America’s Got Talent.” Tickets can be purchased at the library, 687 Compass Road, Honey Brook.

The Community Calendar is a weekly feature of the Community Courier. Submit your meeting or event for consideration in writing at least two weeks prior to the event. Email submissions to ffulton@engleonline.com.

Students invited to take part in Independence Day writing contest

BY FRANCINE FULTON

Local students in grades six through 12 are invited to participate in an Independence Day writing challenge that is being sponsored by Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site in collaboration with the Friends of Hopewell Furnace. Winning essays will be read during the park’s Independence Day program on Thursday, July 4.

The contest is open to students who attend schools in the counties surrounding the historic site - Chester, Montgomery and Berks counties. Locally eligible students include those who reside in the Coatesville, Daniel Boone, Owen J. Roberts and Twin Valley school districts. Homeschooled students in those districts are also welcome to participate.

“The park was very pleased with the increased participation last year thanks likely to expanding the number of grades and school districts included in the contest,” said Jeff Jones, site manager. “I know also the judges were very impressed with the quality of writing from the students.”

As part of the contest, students in grades nine through 12 are asked to submit an essay of 500 words or

fewer, and students in grades six through eight may submit an essay of 300 words or fewer. This year’s topic is “What Does the Word Liberty Mean to You?”

According to Jones, the topic of the contest each year is based on the Declaration of Independence. In 2022, the topic was “What Does the Declaration of Independence Mean to You?”

Last year’s topic was “What Does the Phrase ‘Created Equal’ Mean to You?”

Essays will be reviewed by a panel of judges from the community. The top three students from each group will receive cash awards of $125 for first place, $100 for second place and $75 for third place, all of which are increased amounts from last year. The top three winners from each group will read their essays on July 4 during a ceremony set for 2 p.m. at the Ironmaster’s Mansion. Last year, winning students who could not be at the program had their essays read by representatives, who included the

site’s park rangers.

The 2023 event also featured patriotic music and the recitation of the Declaration of Independence, which audience members volunteered to read line by line.

Essays may be submitted by mail to Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, c/o Independence Day, 2 Mark Bird Lane, Elverson, PA 19520; emailed to HOFU_Superintendent@ nps.gov or hand-delivered to the park visitor center on Wednesdays through Sundays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

In addition to the essay, each entry should include the student’s name, grade, name of the school or school district were the student lives or attends, a name of parent or guide and their email address and a telephone number.

Submissions are due by Tuesday, April 30. Complete details are available by visiting www.nps.gov/hofu and scrolling down to “Independence Day Writing Challenge.” The website

also includes the winning essays from 2023. Student winners were from throughout Berks and Chester counties, including Owen J. Roberts High School, Daniel Boone Area High School and schools within the Downingtown Area School District.

Hopewell Furnace, established as a National Historic Site on Aug. 3, 1938, preserves the late 18th- and early 19th-century setting of an iron-making community, including the charcoal-fueled furnace. The furnace was established in 1771 by ironmaster Mark Bird and operated as a furnace for the next 112 years. The park’s facilities are currently open on Sundays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The site is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Hopewell Furnace is located off Route 345, about 5 miles south of Birdsboro. Admission to the park is free. For more information, call 610-582-8773 or visit the park’s website.

and providing trained K-9 teams to help find missing and lost persons and to detect human remains. ChesCo Search Dogs has more than 20 K-9s and their handlers in various stages of training who provide free ground search services to locate lost or missing persons in Chester County and throughout eastern Pennsylvania,

New Jersey and northern Delaware. “A lot of times the person is missing but not lost, and there is no contact. We go out regardless,”

Studnick explained. “We do not (get involved with) criminal activity. We are looking for people who are not trying to run away. Police dogs are looking for people who may not want to be found.”

Studnick emphasized that the team only goes out to search when requested by a law enforcement agency. “It could be anyone who has jurisdiction, local police, state police, a state game warden or federal park ranger. We can’t go out for families,” he said, noting that the team had 22 calls in 2023, with three this year to date.

Past assignments have included searching for youngsters with autism, elderly residents with dementia or Alzheimer’s or hikers lost in the woods. The teams are also involved with finding those who are deceased, including those people who have died by suicide.

The searchers always hope to find the missing person alive. “You want to help the community by finding that missing person, hopefully alive, and getting them home,” Studnick stated.

To learn more, visit www.ches cosearch.org or www.facebook

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