Walk for the Animals

BY FRANCINE FULTON

Community members who love their pets and want to help animals in need are invited to take a short drive to Reading to participate in the 46th annual Walk for the Animals, presented by Humane Pennsylvania (Humane PA). The event will be held once again this year at Jim Dietrich Park, 4899 Stoudts Ferry Bridge Road, Reading, on Saturday, May 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In addition to the fundraising walk, attendees will have an opportunity to take part in contests and enjoy food and beverages, shopping from local vendors and live entertainment.

People are invited to register to take part in the scenic walk along the Schuylkill River. “It’s about a mile-long walk along the trail. It is a leisurely walk-at-your-own-pace (event),” said Maggie McDevitt, Humane PA media specialist. “It is free and open to the public and family-friendly, but we encourage

Great Marsh Institute to host “Crafts for Critters”

BY FRANCINE FULTON

Animal House Project, a nonprofit organization that serves pet owners in need, will present “Crafts for Critters” on Saturday, May 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Great Marsh Institute, a private estate located at 34 Moores Road, Elverson.

Crafters will be able to set up outdoors on the property, indoors in the site’s Glasshouse and on the porch of the Glasshouse. Local nonprofit organizations that want to distribute information about their services are also welcome to participate. people to register to walk because it’s a donation that goes directly to the care of the animals.” She noted that same-day registrations for the walk will also be accepted.

“The Great Marsh Institute (is situated) on 600 acres overlooking the marsh,” said Amanda Cook of Elverson, the volunteer fundraising coordinator for Animal House Project.

McDevitt noted that walkers are welcome to bring their dogs for the stroll along the river. “Some of the people with older dogs carry them in strollers,” she said, adding, “(The Walk for the Animals) is truly a way to get people together and to do something with their dogs while fundraising as well.”

Also featured during the day will be live music from Dibbs and the Detonators, a VIP beer and wine garden, food trucks, children’s activities and displays by crafters and vendors. There will also be representatives from nonprofit organizations on hand, including the Animal Rescue League of Berks County, Birdsboro. Nonprofits will be able to set up a table for free at the walk. Humane PA will offer information about adoptable pets.

McDevitt said that a crowd favorite at the walk every year is the dog contests that pups and owners can participate in together. Dog contest categories will include Best-Dressed, Best Smile, Best Tailwagger, Best Trick and Best Pet/Owner Look-Alike. Preregistration for the dog contests is not required. Participants will be asked to meet at the entertainment stage around 12:30 p.m. Dog contest winners will receive a Humane PA swag bag filled with gifts for both humans and canines.

For more information or to register for the walk, visit www.humane pa.org and choose “Events” and then “Walk for the Animals.” There will be separate fees for adults and for youths age 17 and under. There is also an option to take part in a virtual walk and to register as a VIP Walker, which includes added benefits.

Questions about the walk can be directed to Nicole Koch, events and interim volunteer coordinator, at nkoch@humanepa.org or 610-750-6100, ext. 232.

Tri-County Heritage Library sets open house

BY FRANCINE FULTON

The Tri-County Heritage Library (TCHL), 4979 Twin Valley Road, Elverson. will host its annual community open house on Friday, May 5, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Visitors will be able to view the library’s newest acquisitions and key library collections. Admission is free, and light refreshments will be served.

On display at the library will be the one-of-a-kind Morgantown quilt that was created by volunteers from the former Morgantown-Caernarvon Historical Society, which later became the Tri-County Heritage

Society (TCHS). When TCHS disbanded, its collections were taken over by the Hay Creek Valley Historical Association (HCVHA). HCVHA also owns a special collection of items housed at the Caernarvon Township Building in Morgantown.

“We acquired the library in 2021,” said Mark Zerr, HCVHA executive director. “We have basically reorganized the library. We have been working on preserving and conserving the collection that we have. For instance, everything was in boxes and folders, and we are in the process of transferring everything over into archival safe containers.”

See Open house pg 5