Village Library to host Author Meet & Greet
BY FRANCINE FULTON
The community will have an opportunity to meet local authors and learn about the writing process during an Author Meet & Greet on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Village Library, 207 Walnut St., Morgantown. At least 13 local authors will be featured at the event and offer signed books for sale.
Among the special guests will be first-time children’s author Elise Petersheim, who will be on hand with her book “Great,” which was released in October. The book tells the story of an 8-year-old who is looking forward to a visit from her great-grandmother.
“It’s about a spicy little girl, Becky, who figures out what it means to be great,” Petersheim explained. “She gets to meet her great-grandmother for the first time and doesn’t understand why people call her ‘great.’ It’s a way to teach through humor and fun.”
Petersheim, a graphic designer, is one of the owners of Masthof Press & Bookstore of Morgantown, a family-owned business that has been printing and publishing books since 1982. “I have been in the book world for many years,” she stated. “I always loved books, and I decided to write my own. It was a fun little project.”
“I started working on the book about a year ago,” she added. “I had the idea and sat down one night and wrote it out.”
Petersheim incorporated the traits of family members in the book’s characters. “The main character is based on the personality of my kids, so there a few things in there that remind me of them,” Petersheim noted. “It is based on my grandma, so that
brings a personal touch to it.”
Petersheim said she can provide encouragement to aspiring authors who may visit the meet and greet at the library. “I would tell them to start writing and see what happens,” she shared. “I have told authors for years, ‘I think everyone should write a book,’ and now I truly believe it.”
Petersheim was able to help Village Library director Carol Donahue secure local authors to take part in the Author Meet & Greet. “I emailed a few local authors who had books released in the past year or two, and I decided to (attend), too,” Petersheim said.
Also featured during the Author Meet & Greet will be Lisa Betz, who recently published her third book, “An Ode to Poison.” Her other two titles are “Death and A Crocodile” and “Fountains and Secrets.”
In the most recent book, the main characters investigate their worst enemy. “A senator’s wife dies of poison, and it looks like he is responsible and he is the enemy of my main sleuth,” explained Betz. “They are thinking they can finally have justice, until someone else dies so everything they thought they knew is wrong. There is an underlying theme in this one of forgiveness and mercy versus retribution.”
Readers may enjoy “An Ode to Poison,” even if they have not read the other books in the series. “It is a stand-alone book. Obviously, it is a series, so you learn some things about the main characters through the course if you read them in order. The mystery does not rely on anything else.”
Betz also plans to offer advice for those who attend the Author Meet & Greet. “You can’t do it
Christmas at Joanna: Celebrating a Victorian holiday
BY FRANCINE FULTON
Each year, Christmas at Joanna highlights a particular year when the furnace was in operation. Visitors to the 2024 event will
learn more about the site’s Victorian holiday celebration of 1874, including its traditions and decor, and will experience music and period dancing. Also featured throughout the
See Christmas at Joanna pg 8
Humane Pennsylvania to hold collection drive, photos with Santa
BY FRANCINE FULTON
As part of the Million Pet Meal Challenge, Humane Pennsylvania (HPA) is asking the community to contribute pet food donations with the goal of providing 1 million meals to hungry pets.
On Saturday, Dec. 7, Humane PA will host a donation drive from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Freedom Center for Animal Life-Saving, 1729 N. 11th St., Reading, and at its Lancaster campus,
2195 Lincoln Highway East. Additionally, pet and family photos with Santa will be offered that day from noon to 4 p.m. In lieu of a fee, participants will be asked to bring a pet food donation in exchange for the photo. Karel Minor, president and CEO of HPA, recently explained that by combining these events, organizers are hoping to create a big wave of donations just in time for the holiday season.
Authors Lisa Betz (left) and Elise Petersheim will be on hand at the event with their recently published books.
Re-enactors Gary Kurtz of Elverson and Marcia Cook-Love of Birdsboro will be in the ironmaster’s parlor during the event to talk about the holiday traditions of the Smith family.
BANGOR EPISCOPAL-FOUNDED 1722. 4 mi. W of Morgantown on Rt. 23 in Churchtown. Sunday Holy Eucharist at 10am. All are welcome. Handicap accessible. Parking lot adjacent to the church off Water Street. For additional info., www.bangorepiscopal.org
BETHANY GRACE FELLOWSHIP: 400 Reading Road, East Earl (at the corner of Rt. 625 & Union Grove Rd.) Join us for worship, Sundays at 9 & 10:35AM. Adult, Youth, 56 Club classes at 10:35. Options for nursery-grade 4 during both time slots. Check us out at www.bethanygf.org or call 717-4456644 with questions. To Thrive | To Impact | To Unify.
BRICK LANE COMMUNITY CHURCH:52 S. Brick Lane in Elverson, welcomes visitors to worship with us Sunday mornings at 10:30 am. Wheelchair accessible. Childcare through age 2 and children’s worship during the sermon for PreK-Grade 3 available. Learn more at www.brick52.org or call the church office 610-286-6790. For those unable to attend in-person, see our livestream on www.youtube.com/bricklanecommunitychurch
CHURCHTOWN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: 2170 Main Street, Narvon (Churchtown). Phone: 717-445-5585, umcchurchtown@gmail.com. Pastor Dave Kling, dklingclm@gmail.com 5 mi East of New Holland on PA 23. Sunday worship at 9 am. Handicapped Access.
FAIRVIEW EVANGELICAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH- 800 Fairview Road, Glenmoore, PA (intersection of Fairview & Little Conestoga Rds.) Rev. Tim Latham. Sunday School for all ages at 9:15am; Worship Service at 10:30am Nursery provided. Christian Education, Men’s & Women’s Bible Studies, Music Ministry, Women’s Ministry, Small groups... and much more! As growing disciples, we continue to Worship, Connect, Know and Serve God. For more info, find us online at www.FairviewEPC.org or call the office at 610-942-2640
LIVING GOD LUTHERAN CHURCH: 3200 Horseshoe Pike, 3 miles east of Honey Brook. Handicap accessible. Please join us for worship each Sunday at 9:30 am and Children’s Sunday School at 9:30 am. Nursery care is provided. If you are unable to attend in-person, join us via livestream on YouTube.
MT ZION UMC: 753 Mt. Zion Rd., Narvon, PA. Pastor: Ian Solodky, Worship Leader: Joe Liptock, Praise Band “3:16”. Adult Bible Study 9 am, Worship Service 10:15 am, Child Care Provided. We teach the traditional Gospel of Jesus Christ. All are welcome! Enjoy the views of our beautiful rural setting. Facebook.com/mtzionroad/ Instagram: Mt.Zion_narvon
PARKESBURG WORD OF FAITH CHURCH Sunday Service 10 am & Wednesday prayer at 7:30 pm - at 501 Lenover Rd., Parkesburg, PA 19365. Call 610-593-2277 www.parkesburgwordoffaith.org
Please Note: Updates can be made to your church’s listing for 1st issue date of each month only. (Changes must be submitted by the previous Wednesday.) For More Information On Church Listings And Rates, Call Justin at 717-492-2533
Meet & Greet
alone. If you want to write a book, you need to get to know fellow writers. You need mentors,” she stated. “I would say get involved in a writing group, and if you want to get published, you need to go to writers’ conferences because that is where you make contacts with agents and editors.”
“All good books have good editors,” she added. “And that’s not just copy editing. That is content editing. Your commas may be in place, but your prose should (be as well).”
Betz, who volunteers at the library and will rejoin the Village Library board this January, said she is looking forward to the meet and greet. “It’s exciting that there are this many authors,” said Betz. “Plus, it’s Christmastime, and you can buy
presents.”
In addition to Petersheim and Betz, authors who are scheduled to attend the event are Bob Stoltzfus, Donald Kautz, Nancy Groff, Sam Frankhouser, Joel Moore, Brendan Lyons, Carol Quaintance, Alissa Butterworth, Jessie-Marie Heath and Alexis Siriani. Local authors who will have their books for sale but will not attend in person are Ron Richael, Ali Ehly, Henry Youndt and Lois Kulp.
For more information about the event, contact Donahue at 610-286-1022 or smolibrary @gmail.com. More information about library activities is available at www.facebook.com/Village LibraryofMorgantown and www .villagelibrary.org.
Daniel Boone Homestead to present holiday event
Boone
will present “A Homestead Holiday” on Sunday, Dec. 8, from noon to 4 p.m. Visitors will be able to learn about English and Pennsylvania German holiday celebrations, listen to the Homestead Carolers, visit with Santa and the Belsnickel and enjoy
CREEKSIDE FOODS
Christmas crafts and activities. Throughout the historic area, visitors will hear about the different Christmas traditions of the families who lived on the property throughout the 18th century as they tour the festively decorated buildings.
In the Boone House, volunteers will cook a Christmas meal in the hearth and talk about the English Christmas traditions. Visitors will get to enjoy the English and German parlors festively decorated for the season.
The Pennsylvania German log cabin will be open for tours, and visitors can learn about its unique architectural history. The Homestead Carolers and the Haycreek Valley Goldband will provide music throughout the day.
There will also be holiday crafts and activities for children, including a Christmas scavenger hunt through the historic area. After completing the hunt, children will be able to receive a holiday treat bag. Complimentary hot chocolate and hot wassail will also be available throughout the afternoon.
The event is being presented and funded by the Daniel Boone Homestead Associates (DBHA). There will be an admission fee, with separate prices for adults, seniors age 65 and over and youths ages 6 to 17. Children under age 6 and DBHA members will be admitted for free.
The Daniel Boone Homestead, 400 Daniel Boone Road, Birdsboro, is located halfway between Reading and Pottstown, 1 mile north of Route 422 near Baumstown. For more information, call 610-582-4900 or visit www .thedanielboonehomestead
Daniel
Homestead
Community Courier:
Is this the first time that the food drive and photos with Santa have been combined into one event?
Minor: Humane PA has hosted photos with Santa and a holiday pet food donation drive for many years, and occasionally the two events would overlap. Because this food drive has grown so much in the past few years and so many Santa photo participants bring donations on their own, we thought it was a good time to combine the two events.
Community Courier:
Is there a particular item that you need most? Are you also accepting cat treats and dog treats? What about blankets or other necessities?
Minor: Although HPA’s Million Pet Meal Challenge welcomes donations of any type of pet food, dry dog and cat food of any size bag is especially needed. Pet treats and gently used blankets or dog beds are always useful.
Community Courier:
How will the donations be distributed?
Minor: Donations received as part of the Million Pet Meal Challenge or pet photos with Santa are used in a variety of ways. Items suitable within HPA’s shelters are used for our animals. Many donations are shared with other animal welfare or emergency service agencies,
but the majority of donations are distributed through Spike’s Pet Food Pantry (SPP). SPP provides those in financial need with access to pet food and supplies, so they don’t have to choose between feeding their pets or feeding their families. That keeps pets happy, healthy, wellfed and at home, rather than going to shelters. To achieve this, Humane PA needs hundreds of thousands of pounds of food and supplies each year. To reach our goal of 1 million pet meals, we need 250,000 pounds of food donated. It’s a big goal, but with the community’s help we know we can do it!
Community Courier: Is winter a particularly slow time for receiving food donations, or does that need exist year-round?
Minor: Pet food and supplies are needed year-round, but the year-end holiday, (which focuses) on charitable giving, makes a big year-end push well-timed and well-received by the public.
Community Courier:
For those unable to attend the special event, are pet food donations accepted at the locations? Must they be brought during operating hours, or are there bins or containers at the sites?
Minor: Although we have a big receiving day on Dec. 7 at HPA’s Lancaster and Reading campuses the same day as pet photos with Santa, folks are welcome to drop off donations seven days a week during business hours at our
adoption centers or at any of the collection locations hosted by our business partners. A complete list of HPA and other collection locations can be found at www .HumanePA.org.
Community Courier: Do you currently have a large number of adoptable pets in the shelters?
Minor: Animal shelters, including Humane PA, always have dogs, cats and critters in need of forever homes. If people are considering bringing a pet into their family, we hope they will visit our adoption centers or another in the area.
Community Courier: Can you provide advice for people
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considering adopting a pet to give as a Christmas or holiday gift?
Minor: One of the biggest and most common misconceptions in animal welfare is that the holidays are automatically a bad time to adopt. While the holidays can be hectic and busy, for many families they can offer an extended period at home together with their new pet. As long as the choice to adopt is well considered and the right pet for the family is chosen rather than picking the wrong pet simply to get one, it really doesn’t matter when someone adopts. It’s all about being prepared and making the right choice for you and your family.
Furnace to host Christmas event
The National Park Service invites the public to celebrate an Iron Plantation Christmas and stroll through the historic community of Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. The free event will take place on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature Christmas as celebrated during the 19th century at Hopewell Furnace. The program will be presented rain or shine.
Visitors will have the opportunity to experience and engage with various Christmas traditions from the early to mid-19th century. Activities will include making gingerbread ornaments; creating holiday decorations out of greens and other natural sprigs; writing holiday letters and cards; and discovering the customs, foods and traditions of the holiday season from an early American perspective.
Visitors will also get to meet Der Belsnickel, a mischievous character similar to Santa Claus, who rewards good children with treats. Support for these programs comes from park volunteers, the Berks and Chester County Master Gardener chapters and the Friends of Hopewell Furnace.
Hopewell Furnace is located at 2 Mark Bird Lane, Elverson, about 5 miles south of Birdsboro off Route 345. For more information, call 610-582-8773 or visit www.nps .gov/hofu.
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Photos with Santa will be offered at Humane Pennsylvania’s Berks and Lancaster county locations.
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weekend will be a menu of food items, a live Nativity, a Christmas craft market and holiday music.
Grubb Smith. The home will be lit with candles and include a freshly cut Christmas tree.
They employed over 200 people at the furnace itself.”
The 24th annual Christmas at Joanna event will be presented by the Hay Creek Valley Historical Association (HCVHA) at Historic Joanna Furnace, 1250 Furnace Road, Geigertown, on Friday, Dec. 6, from 5 to 9 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 7 and 8, from 4 to 9 p.m.
The entire Joanna Furnace site will be transformed for the occasion, inviting visitors to experience a 19th-century holiday. The Joanna Furnace mule stable will be transformed into the parlor of the Victorian mansion of ironmaster L. Heber Smith and his wife, Ella Jane
Smith family re-enactors will be busy in the kitchen making cookies and holiday treats, while others will be in the decorated parlor playing games and reminiscing about past Christmases by the fireplace. Guests are invited to interact with family members to learn more about the family and life in the iron furnace community.
“Christmas 1874 was a grand time for the Smiths and the residents of the Joanna Furnace community,” said HCVHA executive director Mark Zerr. “Joanna Furnace was in its heyday during this time.
Outside the community, the United States was in the post-Civil War era. “We are doing 1874 this year. It’s election year, and Republican President Ulysses S. Grant just won his second term,” noted Zerr. “It’s post-Civil War, and our country is in the reconstruction phase. Things were starting to boom leading up to the Industrial Age.”
The site’s historic buildings will be open throughout the event.
“We will have demonstrations in our casting house and a live blacksmithing demonstration,” Zerr pointed out. “Our office store will be open to purchase unique items, including our aluminum-cast star, which is made right here at Joanna Furnace.”
The site will be illuminated by more than 1,000 luminarias, which will light the furnace walkways.
“Boy Scout Troop 543 of Plowville organizes, sets up and lights up the luminarias,” Zerr stated, adding that each building will be illuminated inside by lamps or candles to re-create an 1870s atmosphere.
Local musicians will perform on
an outside stage in front of a large bonfire. The Belsnickel, a fur-clad Christmas figure who rewards well-behaved children, will make an appearance at the bonfire to visit with children and give out treats.
The bonfire and placement of luminarias will take place if the local burn ban has been lifted.
Victorian dancing will also take place at the event in a large, heated tent. The Hay Creek Valley Gold Band will perform various old-time music while the Hay Creek Dancers will entertain visitors with period dances. Guests will also be invited to step onto the dance floor and participate.
Homemade foods will be available, including sausage sandwiches, hot dogs, hamburgers, pork and sauerkraut with mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, a pork barbecue macaroni bowl, soups, chili, homemade “Furnace” fries, hot chocolate, hot mulled cider and coffee. Freshly made kettle corn and roasted nuts will also be available to purchase.
The Christmas Craft Market will offer holiday gifts and home decorating items. “We have about 35 craft vendors selling their wares in an outside market and two heated tents,” said Zerr.
Also featured will be traditional wagon rides; a Kids’ Santa Craft Workshop, where children can make a holiday craft or have their face painted inside a heated tent; and a Christmas light maze, which is located on the mansion grounds. A vintage train display will be in operation in the mechanical technology building.
Visitors will also have an opportunity to win gift baskets with certificates donated by area businesses and vendors at the Christmas market.
An admission fee will be charged for adults. Children age 12 and under will be admitted free. There will be free on-site parking. All proceeds will benefit the HCVHA, which supports the restoration and preservation of Historic Joanna Furnace, as well as the Tri-County Heritage Library.
For additional information, visit www.haycreek.org or www.face book.com/historicjoannafurnace or call 610-286-0388.
