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Break into the World of Stunt Acting Bill Pugh is a man of many talents and skills. Internationally ranked under Grandmaster Seikichi Odo from Okinawa in Martial Arts, serving in the United States Marine Corps, Pugh is no stranger to hard work. In fact, he has made a living out of it. With all of his tournament trophies, 2 bronze medals from the World Olympic games in 2004, you may not think of him as a movie star, but none the less Pugh has had over 20 years’ experience in the industry working on TV shows and movies like Sex and the City and Jersey Girl, just to name a few. Pugh got is start back in 1995. Fresh out of the Marine Corps he was cast to be on one of the first reality TV shows “Who Wants to be the Next Action Star”. 4 | Reading Magazine - rdgmag.com
Unfortunately, it was cancelled after the 2nd episode, but this got Pugh thinking about a new career in stage combat and stunt acting. Fast forward to the present, Pugh now manages his own Martial Arts Studio, works in construction and a few times a year holds seminars on how to break into the film industry by learning stunt acting. “Most people that are actors think they can fight, most Martial Artists think because they know karate they can stage a fight. None of this is true, and that’s what I’m hear to teach.” In the seminars Pugh teaches his students everything from body reactions to physical expression. But it’s not just about acting, Pugh keeps safety at the top of his
mind. Learning how to fall, using props in fight scenes all require the proper training and safety equipment to master.
Overall Pugh teaches his seminars to not only help people break into film, but also help his students find themselves.
In addition to the seminar Pugh has also invited a few film producers and directors from Philadelphia to scout new talent.
“I love to help people, but I can’t do that unless people walk in my door, they need to take the first step”
Pugh uses his seminars not only to teach his fighting techniques but to also educate his students on where to go and who to see in the film industry. “I learned the hard way and have made good connections over the years; my goal is to guide people in the right direction”
Fighting for Films Workshop Saturday, April 7th at 1-5pm Cost is $120/person Open Call Fitness 2686 Bernville Road Reading, PA 19605 RSVP to Bill: 610-334-0152 opencallfitness.com
Pugh is a humble man, walking through his Martial Arts Studio ‘Open Call Fitness’ on Route 183 in Reading, you would never know he has met famous actors or won countless tournaments. He keeps it simple, as he describes ‘it’s about his students and their training, not a shrine to his skills’. Of course, that all changes when you walk into his office. Weapons, photos and trophies line the small room. Almost like a museum, Pugh perverses his own piece of history. “It’s funny I think I’ve cursed myself, I can’t watch movies the same way anymore without pointing out how fake some of the fight scenes look.” Pugh’s long-term goal is to help put Reading on the movie map by opening up a film studio. As he explains Reading is sitting dead center between several major east coast cities, which makes it the perfect place.
Josh Spudeno Instructor
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Creative Rock Art Spreads Around Berks County Kids these days have plenty to do inside, and if you’re a parent you’re all too familiar with the problem of getting your little ones outside. As a parent and Publisher of Macaroni Kid Berks County, Jennifer Schorr wanted to come up with a program that helped children learn and have fun outside. Schorr came up with Berks County Rocks, a Facebook group dedicated to creating art and outdoor fun. The concept is simple, group members paint rocks and hide them throughout the county posting clues as to where they are in the Facebook group. “The goal is to encourage art, creativity and community.” The idea isn’t original, said Schorr. Talking with fellow Macaroni Kid Publishers, she heard it was being done in Florida and after some research thought it would be the perfect addition to Berks County. 6 | Reading Magazine - rdgmag.com
Each rock is signed with the URL of the Facebook group. That way those who find it can join in and hide it in a new location. Schorr told us it was important to keep the activity free, however the supplies do cost money. To fund the workshops, she hosts, Schorr looks for business and community sponsors to offset the costs. Although it’s a good thing, the growing popularity has pushed her workshops close to capacity. Her goal is to find more organizations with space and partner with them to host additional Rock Painting Workshops. So far, her workshops have produced hundreds of rocks. Where they will end up nobody knows, but as the popularity of the Facebook group grows, you may start to see these little works of art near you. Join the Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/BerksCountyRocks
GET UP AND GO! Healthy Kids Running Series The Healthy Kids Running Series is a five week running program in the spring and fall for kids from Pre-K to 8th grade. Each Race Series takes place once a week on a Sunday and offers age appropriate running events including the 50 yard dash, the 75 yard dash, the 1/4 mile, the 1/2 mile and the one mile run. Kids compete each week of the Series for a chance to earn points and at the end of the Series the top boy and girl with the most points in their respective age division receive a trophy.
It doesn’t matter how fast or slow you run because all participants receive a medal and gift bag for their achievements courtesy of our sponsors. Registration is now open for this healthy and fun event. For more information about the Healthy Kids Running Series and to sign up for the Spring series, you can visit www.healthykidsrunningseries.org
Reading, PA
Boyertown, PA
Spring 2018, 4:00PM April 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th and May 6th
Spring 2018, 4:30PM April 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th and May 6th
Shiloh Hills Park 303 Sage Dr Sinking Springs, PA 19608
Douglass Park 76 Jackson Rd Gilbertsville, PA 19525
Coordinator Natasha Carney hkrsreading@gmail.com
Coordinator Jeff Shontz hkrsboyertown@gmail.com
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Hollywood Hits & Hot Dogs Served Up in Kutztown What do the movies Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Nutty Professor and Gone With The Wind all have in common? They’re all specialty hot dogs on the menu at Mad Dogs Hot Dogs in Kutztown. Mad Dogs is Kutztown’s latest eatery offering specialty hot dogs, hamburgers and classic sides. Brainchild of Chris Moyer and Melissa Casto, their love for movies blossomed into a unique idea to serve hot dogs paired with toppings inspired by big screen films. As a former chef, Chris has worked in the food industry for almost 20 years. His experience creating new flavors and her love for Hollywood came together in December 2016 when they found their perfect location on North Constitution Blvd. Quick to feed the masses, Chris and Melissa made a few renovations and unofficially opened the doors in early January 2017. 8 | Reading Magazine - rdgmag.com
You might be wondering how to make a movie into a hot dog. Let’s take a look at a few of the delicious dogs on the menu. “Blazing Saddles” is topped with baked beans, bacon, sauerkraut and chili sauce. For those who love “Napoleon Dynamite”, you get tater tots, bacon, cheese sauce and Mad Dog sauce. “Good Morning Vietnam” serves up Sriracha mayo, fresh jalapeno, carrot, cucumber and raw onion. “The Godfather” is topped with a respectable bell pepper, grilled potatoes, onion, provolone cheese and spicy brown mustard. Mad Dogs is located at 100 North Constitution Blvd. Kutztown, Pennsylvania www.maddogskutztown.com Watch the full episode at : rdgmag.com/bitesofberks
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Reading Derby Girls Start Fierce New Season The Reading Derby Girls are back for another aggressive season in Shillington! To get the lowdown on their latest season we caught up with Jammer Diane Zerr during the team’s late night practice sessions. So what’s in store for 2018? Like previous years a lot of high scoring and intense action. But unlike last year the Derby Girls are playing more local teams to boost local support and lessen the burden on their own personal lives. Another thing to look out for this year is the team itself. With more veteran players on the track comes a more confident focused team. As a non-profit organization, the Reading Derby Girls are dedicated to providing opportunities for women, both to challenge themselves physically through the sisterhood of roller derby and to support the greater Roller Derby the community. 10 | Reading Magazine - rdgmag.com
“This is a great team to be a part of, I have 20+ friends that I wouldn’t have met outside of roller derby.” Back to the beginning The Reading Derby Girls began out of a love for the game. The intense sport attracted the eyes of Skateaway owner, Holly Jester in 2011, who then made the dream of forming a roller derby team a reality. In less than a year, a team had banded together, and the game was being played with an average of 400 fans attending the home games. In the following years, the team grew to even bigger heights with new skaters, support staff, and the excitement of the sport from the general public. A single roller derby dream grew into a competitive athletic organization with a way to give-back through volunteer efforts, donations, and a genuine involvement with organizations.
The team is comprised of women from all walks of life, and the Reading Derby Girls give them the opportunity to not only skate with their whole heart, but to make a difference in the community.
All home games are on Sundays at 7:00pm, with doors opening at 6:30pm at Skateaway Shillington, located at 2275 Lancaster Pike, in Shillington, PA. readingderbygirls.com
Simply put it’s a sisterhood. Traveling to games and practicing brings everyone together. The members of the Derby Girls are strong and motivated women, who train hard, respect their teammates and love the sport of Roller Derby. Support your local team To the outsider all of this might seem just like a chaotic mess, but once you get to know the game, you’ll learn there’s a lot more strategy to it than just rolling around the track. And we bet you’ll be back for more! rdgmag.com - Reading Magazine | 11
William Johnson, Giving What he can to Inspire the Next Generation By Dani Motze
Will Johnson doesn’t go unrecognized in too many places around Reading. That’s because of the reputation he’s built up locally as a small business owner, grassroots community organizer and committed volunteer with a big heart (not to mention as a good cook). It seems like wherever Will goes he finds himself trying to create a shared sense of community among the people around him, often centered around two things: food and basketball. And it starts with a hot dog cart.
The Hot Dog Cart When Will moved from Philadelphia to Reading a few decades ago he brought his hot dog cart with him, and on Saturdays, started giving out hot dogs to the kids in his neighborhood (in Reading’s north side). Neighbors started catching on and would call out to him on Saturday mornings to 12 | Reading Magazine - rdgmag.com
ask if he was planning to cook up some hot dogs that day, “Hey, Will! You cooking today? I’ll make some rice!” Others would drop food off on his porch for him to cook up. They wanted to contribute. Soon, many of the residents on his block were coming together for these “pop-up” block parties, enjoying food, music and each other’s company. “It made the neighborhood more family friendly. It was a community thing,” Will said. Will also got to know his neighbors through the businesses he has owned. Among them, he ran “Will’s Variety and Sandwich Shop” in Reading, where he often sold to community members on good-faith credit.“Kids would come in and give me their mom’s order, and ask if she could pay them back on pay day, and I’d do it. I would keep track on a board behind the counter.”
Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church Will’s been volunteering with Hope Lutheran Church, located on North Front and Greenwich Streets, for four years. He works with his partner Freida Molina to place the food pantry orders and take care of other administrative work and helps unload the truck and serve the food on Tuesday mornings. He also likes to cook breakfast for the pantry volunteers before they begin, “You can’t work on an empty stomach!”. In the afternoon, Will partners with another volunteer, Mike Wolfe, to run the youth after school program. Each week, the coaches drive a group of 6-8th grade youth to Atonement Lutheran Church’s gym to play basketball together The Coaches’ dream for the program is to play a game with a real scoreboard. And although Coach Will is proud of the players’ improvement, he also recognizes the underlying purpose of the group, “They come here instead of fooling around,” he said, “And, it is good for their confidence.” In the past, Will led cooking classes for the youth, utilizing the food pantry leftovers and church kitchen,
After dropping the youth back off at the church Will might stay around a little longer for the weekly Community Dinner, run by more committed volunteers, including both church members and residents who live around the corner. Everyone is welcome to participate, he and the other volunteers said. The dinner begins at 5:30pm each Tuesday and is followed by a non-mandatory brief church service. Will makes sure to recognize a specific person in making so much of Hope Lutheran’s efforts happen: The Reverend Mary Wolfe, “All of this is possible because of Pastor Mary!” he said while giving her a big hug and grin.
6th & Amity Playground - Annual Basketball Tournament Last summer, the rundown state of the 6th and Amity playground didn’t sit well with Will, “This is where I take my grandkids,” he said. So, he went out and fixed it up. Local media outlets covered it, and that brought in some support and donations. But Will wasn’t finished yet, “After I got the park fixed up the kids weren’t coming, because there wasn’t anything for them to do,” he said. So, he started an annual youth basketball tournament.
“We’d prepare basic meals for the kids to eat and take home a plate to their parents who were coming home after a long day of work.” The church staff and volunteers have plans to turn a nearby lot into a community garden and gathering space, and Will looks forward to getting back to cooking together – this time, using fresh produce that they have also grown together. rdgmag.com - Reading Magazine | 13
Will partnered with ‘The Plug’ owner, Tyler Simmons, who committed to donating shoes to the tournament’s winners, and he recruited Reading High School alumni to volunteer as coaches. Then, using fliers, social media and word-of-mouth, he began promoting the event. A couple hundred youth showed up, both from the surrounding neighborhoods and wider Greater Reading. He’s already planning the 2nd annual tournament, to be held this July, and soliciting donations and volunteers, “We really need [basketball] jerseys,” he said.
Remembering Mr. Richard As a kid Will had a neighbor named Mr. Richard, “He was the ‘father’ of the neighborhood,” Will remembered. Mr. Richard
kept an eye on the neighborhood, sometimes scolding kids, but also encouraging them. Every once in a while, Mr. Richard would rent a bus and take the kids to an amusement park. Will strives to be a little like Mr. Richard. “I’ve seen some of kids from the neighborhood grow up, and every once in a while one of them will come back around and tell me that they remember what I taught them…I hope for these kids to come back and say, ‘Thank you for keeping me out of trouble when I was a kid.’” Will’s looking forward to getting his newest (and fourth) hot dog cart so he can get back to giving out hot dogs to the kids on Saturdays, “Every time I’d sell my cart, soon I’d say, ‘Oh, I need my hotdog cart back!’” And, he plans to station it outside Hope Lutheran Church on food pantry days to offer hot dogs to community members waiting in line. Although Will doesn’t do any of this for recognition, he is glad to be recognized, to promote the good community efforts he’s part of -- and to honor the memory of his mother, “I’ve done a lot of things for people, and didn’t ask for notoriety. [Being written about] would show that I did something. My mom used to say, ‘Just do something. Be something.’ She passed, and now I showed that I am somebody, that I have done something.” Will is also a proud member of the Free and Accepted Masons, Victor Lodge 73, Fourth Masonic District, works as a Security Officer and Supervisor for the Department of General Services, and has been happily married to his wife Donna Johnson for almost thirty years. (Anyone wishing to donate to or volunteer for the tournament may contact Will at (484) 256-9319
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Genesius Theatre presents Heathers The Musical opening Friday, April 20th Based on the classic 1989 film, Westerberg High is ruled by a shoulder-padded, scrunchie-wearing junta: Heather, Heather, and Heather, the hottest and cruelest girls in all of Ohio. But misfit Veronica Sawyer rejects their evil regime for a new boyfriend, the dark and sexy stranger J.D., who plans to put the Heathers in their place - six feet under.
Performances Opening Night
Thursday Night
4/20/18 @ 7:30pm 4/26/18 @ 7:30pm Saturday Night
Friday Night
Sunday Matinee
Saturday Night
4/21/18 @ 7:30pm 4/27/18 @ 7:30pm 4/22/18 @ 3:00pm 4/28/18 @ 7:30pm
Nominee! 2014 Off Broadway Alliance Award for Best New Musical!
Wednesday Evening Sunday Matinee
About Genesius
Tickets
As a 501C3 Non-Profit Organization, Genesius relies on generous donations within the community from people like you. We trust in the power of this inspiring & dynamic medium to transform the artists who create it, the audiences who enjoy it, and the patrons who support it.
genesiusdifference.org
4/25/18 @ 7:30pm 4/29/18 @ 3:00pm
Genesius Theatre is located at: 153 North 10th Street, Reading PA 19601 General Inquiries: genesiussocial@gmail.com rdgmag.com - Reading Magazine | 15
Jesse Hershey: Using Personal Training to Prevent Injuries By Michael Hartman
Hey Jesse! Thanks for taking the time to sit down with me today to discuss your passion for fitness and helping others to succeed in fitness. First question! Mike How did you get involved in personal training and how long have you been training? Jesse Thanks for having me Mike! My junior year at PSU (2006) I had to retire from the Track and Field team due to a career ending surgery. After that I became an assistant intern coach on the same team. I couldn’t leave the sport, I love it too much. And I didn’t want to see anyone else hurt themselves like I did. I knew I could help people train and compete safer and extend their careers. Since then I’ve been involved with coaching. A few years later I got certified as a personal trainer through American Council on Exercise. After that certification I continued my education and now I have many certifications. 16 | Reading Magazine - rdgmag.com
Mike Where do you train? Jesse I am a full time trainer who works exclusively at Wyomissing Fitness and Training. I am currently training clients, sometimes instructing group exercise like Bootcamps, running clinics and different seminars on topics in the industry, & planning and implementing corporate wellness programs. Mike Who is your target clientele? Jesse I wouldn’t say I have a target clientele. I train people from age 6-80 years old. From people being discharged to physical therapy to the Olympic athlete, I’ve trained all people in between. I enjoy training everyone. Seeing progress and keeping people safe are my main goals so age or physical level does not matter to me. I prefer training people who are motivated and determined. I do get a certain joy out of training collegiate and high school athletes
because I was one. Looking back at my life I would have benefited in so many ways if I had a trainer when I was learning how to strengthen my body for sports. I could have been better with fewer injuries.
Mike Give us some inspiration! Jesse: I’ve had 14 surgeries in my life. The injuries were primarily caused by athletics. I am very familiar with the healing process and how frustrating it can be. Getting back in good condition is harder than staying in shape. At the age of 22 I already had two permanent disabilities. I wasn’t able to do a lot and I was doing all kinds of medical treatments for my pain. I decided after a few years to study and learn how to live a Functional life again. I knew even though I had a lot of experience training, what I used to do for workouts weren’t going to cut it anymore. I had limitations and a lot of pain. After I was discharged from physical therapy I stopped pain management also because we plateaued and I wasn’t seeing anymore improvements. That’s when I studied to become a personal trainer and implemented everything I learned on myself. My one disability is herniated disks in the low back and including two discs. I also have Spina Bifida which added to the structural instability. I soon found out that there is nothing I can do about those two things.
So I started to study and learn about how the body works. I found that I can’t directly strengthen or stretch or exercise my injured area and expect positive results. So I indirectly started to work on the stability around the injured area to created support around my spine. Adding stability and strength in the core will act like a brace and keep additional pressure off of the spine. Before I became a trainer it hurt to walk and my feet were almost completely numb. After about 2 years I was able to live an active lifestyle again. I can now go hiking, biking, snowboarding, ATV and motorcycle riding, running, and almost anything I want. Mike Who do you admire or find inspirational in the fitness industry? Jesse Gray Cook is the person I find most inspirational in this industry. He has developed a certification that measures the quality of our movements. It’s called
Functional Movement Systems and it’s what this industry has been missing. In the past personal training was a way to increase your physical capacity whether it’s running faster, getting bigger, lifting heavier weights. Mike Jesse, I really appreciate you taking the time to sit down and do this interview with me. Jesse Thanks again for having me Mike! rdgmag.com - Reading Magazine | 17
Living in the Realm of Surreal Expression Studio 319 has been the home of Juan Carlos Ruiz Jr. for the past 5 1/2 years at the GoggleWorks. Walking along the narrow halls of the 3rd floor you’re immediately thrown in to the world of Ruiz, the walls surrounding you full of large pieces of his art. It’s not the largest studio in the GoggleWorks, but that doesn’t stop Ruiz from being creative. He thrives on ingenuity and imagination. Behind the canvas Born in Reading, Ruiz fell in love with comic books at a young age. But his interests went beyond just enjoying them, he 18 | Reading Magazine - rdgmag.com
started to draw his own characters. Moving into high school his creativity quickly developed into new areas. Renaissance art, surrealism, realism, fantasy, and some abstract expressionism all became ways to express how he sees the world. Graduating from Wyomissing Area High School Ruiz continued his artistic studies at Hussian School of Art. Living in Philadelphia for 4 years gave Ruiz time to explore his creativity. After college Ruiz was out on his own, so to make a little money he took a job at an assisted living community. This was a very humbling experience for Ruiz, but he still yearned to break out on his own.
During this time Ruiz began to hangout in the cafe of the GoggleWorks. The GoggleWorks offered Ruiz a place to organize his thoughts and be creative.
Ruiz take his time to think about the messages in paintings. He found surrealism to be a way to utilize his technical skills in realism and combine that with his imagination.
So in 2012 he took a leap of faith and Adding feeling to his work is the basis on began renting studio which he creates. Ruiz space to fulfil his “I like to tie in a lot of my first plans his layout, dream of being a full own feelings into the pieces design, and feeling time artist. before making his moI create, it gives everything tions to the canvas. Inspiration a sense of realism” Every piece gives the Ruiz’s main inspiration viewer a sense of pascomes from surrealism. Using his imagision and cause. Some of his work may be nation, his work reflects everything from more literal, others wrapped in symbols, social issues, hot topics, to the abstract. but each convey a distinct message. rdgmag.com - Reading Magazine | 19
Using his influences of surrealism, realism, renaissance art, abstract expressionism, and other genres of art, Ruiz creates his own style to mirror what he sees in the world around him. The Business of Art
words ‘unity, love, hope, kindness, and peace’ wrap around Rose stem on the side of the building. Besides murals, Ruiz sell his own original art, some of this is commissioned but most is work he has available for sale in his studio. In addition, he also has a good business selling paper prints at galleries and festivals.
Over the past five and a half years Ruiz has made a name for himself at the GoggleWorks. From designing, album covers, As a business, time is money, but you can’t murals, and commissioned paintings, cor- rush creativity. Ruiz spends most of his porate logos, Ruiz has time designing layouts expanded his business “They’re all so different, some and planning individtake 2 hours others may take ual elements of each beyond his original design. 120 hours, it’s my passion so it painting.
takes as long as it takes” Looking back Ruiz The goal for Ruiz is says his favorite things to paint more murals, to create have been the canvas paintings host gallery shows and display his work in and outdoor murals. the community. With 15 murals spread across Berks County, he has certainly made his mark on the area. The largest of his murals is located on Buttonwood and McKnight Streets. The mural is three stories tall depicting four kids piecing together the world. The
GoggleWorks Second Sunday’s April 8th at 12PM - 4PM Meet GoggleWorks artists, explore the buildings, watch live painting, print making and more! Juan Carlos Ruiz Jr. jcrj13088@hotmail.com
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For now, he uses the GoggleWorks events like ‘Second Sunday’ to promote himself. This gives the public a chance to meet and learn more about his work. Ultimately, his goal is to move into an area where he can live off expressing his own style, and looking around his studio, it shouldn’t take too long.
donate. download. do it LOCAL. Join the Do It Local Movement by purchasing a $25 annual membership to support a local charity partner’s fundraising campaign, and enjoy $1000’s of savings to locally owned businesses throughout Berks County in the palm of your hand! New deals are added throughout the year!
Reading Magazine Subscribers claim your FREE Do It Local App membership!! Email local@doitlocalfundraising.com to receive your prepaid code offer ends 5/31/18
Fundraising - Localized | Modernized | Simplified Do It Local, LLC 237 Court St. Suite 307 Reading, PA 19601 610.985.0353 local@doitlocalfundraising.com
www.doitLOCALfundraising.com
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GoggleWorks Iron Pour Join GoggleWorks and Albright College for the second annual Spring Iron Pour! Don’t miss the exciting display as 2,000 pounds of reclaimed scrap iron is heated to 3,000 degrees and poured into molds.
The free event also includes live music and performances, smores stations, food trucks, and a cash bar provided by Belly: Kitchen & Drinkery.
Saturday, April 14, 7 PM - 10 PM GoggleWorks Center for the Arts 201 Washington St, Reading, Pennsylvania 19601 https://goggleworks.org/event/spring-iron-pour-2 22 | Reading Magazine - rdgmag.com
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Meet Colin Waszkiewicz, Dedicated Volunteer at the Reading Public Library By Heather Brady, Co-Founder of Do It Local Fundraising Cokctails and Classics is one of Reading Public Library’s preimer fundraising events. While attending I had a chance to chat with Colin Waszkiewicz, Owner of the W Financial Group. Besides running his business, Waszkiewicz is a dedicated volunteer at the Reading Public Library.
interested in funding the city libraries adequately, thus all libraries have needed to significantly expand their private funding.
Tell us a little bit about what you do to be involved in the Reading Public Library?
The efforts of our advancement committee, board members, and especially board president, Nancy Campbell have regained the momentum of private fundraising for RPL and I believe the momentum is now stronger than most or all non-profits in the region.
I was on the board for three years. I believe I helped most with Advancement. Unfortunately, it seems as though local, state and federal governments are not 24 | Reading Magazine - rdgmag.com
I have helped explain the importance of RPL to the business and residential community to help expand our fundraising.
I am very proud of that. As you know, our Cocktails and Classics event this year raised over $100,000 in one night. I am proud to say I serve on that committee as well. All on that committee do a phenomenal job and should also be commended.
The library of the past was a large building filled with books. It evolved to a research hub for the public. It is now a large building filled with books with a staff skilled at helping people find what they need using technology as the centerpiece for learning.
What are your favorite programs that the library offers?
Why is it so important to you to give back to our community?
The Children’s Reading Program is certainly on top of the list; however, RPL offers many other job-skill training programs that are not mentioned enough.
I look back on my life and realize I always had the things I needed to succeed. Unfortunately, much of our inner-city youth are not privileged like I was, thus it is important to me to help advance organizations that level the playing field for all.
I am very proud of our amazing Executive Director, Bronwen Gamble for introducing Hoopla to the community. A digital experience for our cardholders that allow low-income families the ability to watch programs from an app that are educational and help mold our youth the right way. Reading Public Library offers far too many programs to list. I most appreciate our use of technology to educate the community and give them the skills necessary for life on and off the job. What are some unknown facts about the RPL you think our community should know? We are not just a library. We are on the cutting edge of teaching and educating using technology at a high level. In my opinion, RPL is a tech hub as well as an old-fashioned library. Both are still needed and will always be needed in our communities.
Tell us a little bit about you and when you started W Financial? I started The W Group Financial Services because I wanted to create my own worklife balance and it seems in today’s world the only way to fully be able to do that is to have your own business. I learned early on that insurance and investments are my favorite conversations to have as it relates to business, thus I knew I wanted to be in that world for the rest of my working life. I am very happy with my career, and I cannot think of a better way to spend my business hours. It’s easy to get involved with the Reading Pubic Library, contact Linda Capozello today learn more: linda.capozello@reading. lib.pa.us
How would you describe the Library’s past, present, and future? In other words, what is changing and what is the impact of that change? rdgmag.com - Reading Magazine | 25
Worried about Package Thieves? Try Amazon Locker Berks County residents have a new way to pick up their online purchases thanks to Amazon Locker. Three pick up locations have been scattered throughout the county by the eCommerce company to offer a new and more convenient way to pick up purchases. “Instead of delivering a package to your home or business address, you can select an Amazon Locker location and pick up your package at a time that’s convenient for you.” –Amazon.com
Or if you’re traveling, Amazon locker’s are located in key areas in most major cities. Pick up on the go without the need for a physical address. Plus, it makes returns easier. Returning a package through the locker takes the hassle out of order returns as you can drop it off 24/7. So what’s the down side? Well if you are not a prime subscriber shipping rates are the same as home delivery. Also, packages must be smaller than 16.5 x 13.8 x 12.6 inches and less than 10 lbs.
So how does it work? Once your package is delivered to the Amazon Locker, you’ll receive an e-mail notification with a unique pickup code that includes the address and opening times for your selected Locker location.
Let’s find the Amazon Locker’s in Berks County. First, take note all “lockers” are located on the outside of Speedway Gas Stations near Hamburg, Reading and Douglassville.
When you arrive to collect your package, enter the pickup code or scan the barcode using the barcode scanner. Don’t wait too long… Packages need to be picked up within three business days.
200 Lancaster Ave Reading, PA 19611
So why use Amazon Locker? It may not be as convenient as home delivery, but it is a great option if you live in an apartment or neighborhood you feel is not secure for regular drop off. 26 | Reading Magazine - rdgmag.com
Amazon Locker – Pietro
Amazon Locker – Norma
16617 Pottsville Pike Hamburg, PA 19526
Amazon Locker – Abbey
1028 Ben Franklin Hwy Douglassville PA 19518
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Berks County, A New Destination for Railroad Enthusiasts The Reading Railroad may be a thing of the past but thanks to the hard work of a few organizations spread across the county passenger railroad service is making a come back. With the recent purchase of the Strum & Dillard 106 steam engine (pictured right) by the Allentown and Auburn Railroad, Berks County has plenty for rail enthusiasts to enjoy. Let’s take a look at a few of the local railroads around Berks County: Colebrookdale Railroad Completed by soldiers home from the Civil War just four months after the Transcontinental Railroad united the East and West, the Colebrookdale is a record of epic engineering and heroic human drama. 8.6 miles long and a century and a half back in time, the Secret Valley Line beckons you to experience for yourself the unexpected treasures of Southeastern Pennsylvania. www.colebrookdalerailroad.com Wanamaker, Kempton and Southern Railroad (WK&S) The Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern is a small tourist railroad located in the northern tip of Berks County, Pennsylvania. The railroad runs on three and a half miles of track that were once part of the Schuylkill & Lehigh branch of the Reading Company system. The Reading Company was known as a mighty coal hauler, but the S&L was a rural agricultural 28 | Reading Magazine - rdgmag.com
branch sometimes called the “Slow & Lonesome.” The branch was perhaps best known for the “Berksy,” a local passenger train that carried students to and from the only area high school at Slatington. www.kemptontrain.com Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad Reading Outer Station on Route 61 and Bellevue Avenue in Muhlenberg Township is the rebirth of passenger service in the Reading area. RBM&N features a Rail Diesel Car trains running the Reading and Northern mainline to Jim Thorpe, PA. The train will take you to the center of Jim Thorpe’s historic downtown, referred to as the “Switzerland of America”. While in Jim Thorpe, enjoy over three
hours to take in the history, culture, food, and charm of the historic downtown. www.rbmnrr-passenger.com Allentown and Auburn Railroad The Allentown & Auburn Railroad has its beginnings all the way back in 1853 when part of the current line was referred to as the “Auburn and Allentown Railroad”. Tracks run from Topton, PA to Kutztown, PA a distance of 4 miles. www.allentownandauburnrr.com Off the Tracks Make it a day trip with a little shopping on the side in Boyertown and Kutztown.
Whether your waiting for the train or just arrived back from your adventure these main street towns have plenty of shops and restaurants within walking distance of the stations. Headed to the WK&S or RBM&N? Visit nearby Hamburg, PA for a bite to eat, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary for the scenic views or Roadside America for their massive indoor model train display. Looking for some rail history? Don’t forget to visit the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum for a look back in time to when the Reading Railroad roared through the region. The museum features locomotives, photographs, documents and artifacts from the Reading Railroad. rdgmag.com - Reading Magazine | 29
#ICYMI
Ady Cakes in West Reading Celebrates 10th Anniversary For over 10 years Ady Miriello, owner of Ady Cakes on Penn Avenue in West Reading has baked thousands of delicious cupcakes, wedding cakes and macaroons for customers far and wide. Miriello is mostly know for winning the popular Food Network show Cupcake Wars in 2012 (season 5, episode 9), she sat down with Reading Magazine’s Jason Hugg to talk about the past 10 years in business and her plans for the future. Starting out at home in 2007 Miriello began her professional baking career making wedding cakes. After two years of meeting clients in their homes Miriello realized she needed a more permanent place to bake and hold client meetings. That’s when she took a big leap and opened a store in West Reading. 30 | Reading Magazine - rdgmag.com
Things were going well for Miriello with her new store until customers realized she wasn’t setup for retail sales. “When I opened here people saw the sign and asked what we sold”, said Miriello. Customers were not only interested in her custom cakes but something small to take home. Seeing a new opportunity Miriello changed her newly design store and installed a small counter, display case and tables. At the time Miriello was operating by herself, holding client consultations, baking and making deliveries. But everything would soon change as she was selected to be on the Food Networks premier show ‘Cupcake Wars’ Airing in 2012 Cupcake Wars launch Miriello business into a whole new level.
The most surprising part of the Cupcake War experience was the international exposure, Miriello shared. “Since the show the business has evolved from the original concept I had”. Riding off of the success of the show Miriello added new items to her retail business and hired additional employees to help process orders. As time went on the Miriello continued to push into new areas including releasing a book in March of 2014 titled ‘Dare to Bake! Cupcake Recipes to Awaken Your Sweet Tooth’. Featuring cupcake recipes using everything from the standard vanilla and chocolate to fruits and vegetables, the book was the start of a new phase for Miriello, teaching others the secrets of baking.
“A lot of people see the cute little pink cupcakes and don’t understand the dedication behind them. We are here from 4am-10pm, 7 days a week, holidays are always busy so I don’t even have regular holidays.” Another tip is to be prepared for the 24/7 commitment. “The best way to build a business is to work the business”.With such a big commitment, Miriello also notes having the support of your friends and family is a big help. Miriello has accomplished so much in the past 10 years, from starting out in her home, appearing on cable TV, and writing a book, she continues to redevelop herself and business to set an example for the community.
Looking towards the future Miriello is very interested in expanding her business to accommodate kids parties and baking classes. “I want a space that will allow me to teach classes, not only for home bakers but other professionals. There’s a lot of people who want to learn from me and want to try new things”. Don’t worry, Miriello isn’t going anywhere. Although no plans are set and she is not sure how she will do it her goal is to stay in West Reading to expand. For Miriello, the motivation to keep going comes from her passion to stay ahead of the competition. “We’re always trying to improve our menu and use new techniques. My goal is to be ahead of the game on everything, especially in this area we want to be the ones leading the race.” In a final thought, Miriello shared with us a few tips for those who might have there sights set on building a business. rdgmag.com - Reading Magazine | 31
Cup-Cake Wars Crowne Plaza Reading Monday, April 9 at 4:30 AM - 7:30 PM 1741 Papermill Road Wyomissing, PA 19610 hbarestoringhope.org
Consider It: “Right to Work”
GoggleWorks Spring Iron Pour
Berks County Community Foundation Tuesday, April 3 at 5 PM - 8 PM 701 Penn St, Reading, PA 19601 bccf.org
GoggleWorks Center for the Arts Saturday, April 14 at 7 PM - 10 PM 201 Washington St, Reading, PA 19601 goggleworks.org
Meet the Press Night
Re-Opening: Firefighters Museum
Reading Magazine @ Oakbrook Brewery Tuesday, April 3 at 6 PM - 7 PM 628 Park Ave. Reading, PA 19611 rdgmag.com
Reading Area Firefighters Museum Sunday, April 14 501 South 5th St, Reading, PA 19602 readingareafirefightersmuseum.com
Fightin Phils Opening Night
West Reading Wine Walk
FirstEnergy Stadium Thursday, April 5 at 7:15 PM 1900 Centre Ave, Reading, PA 19605 fightins.com
The L.O.V.E. Team of West Reading Wednesday, April 18 at 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM 600 Penn Avenue West Reading, PA 19611 gotowestreading.com
Berks Jazz Fest
DramaHawks: Into the Woods
28th Annual Berks Jazz Fest April 6th - 15th Visit website for locations/times berksjazzfest.com
Hamburg Area High School April 20, 21, 22: Fri & Sat 7PM, Sun 2PM 701 Windsor St, Hamburg, PA 19526 hasdhawks.seatyourself.biz
Diner Day
Craft Pretzel & Beer Tasting
Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles Saturday, April 7 at 10 AM - 1 PM 85 South Walnut St. Boyertown, PA 19512 boyertownmuseum.org
West Reading Community Revitaliation Saturday, April 28 at 12 PM & 4 PM 600 Penn Avenue West Reading, PA 19611 lovewestreading.org
Healthy Kids Running Series
Bubble Festival at the Works
Wellness Council of Boyertown April 8, 15, 22, 29, May 6 at 4:30 PM 76 Jackson Rd. Gilbertsville, PA 19525 healthykidsrunningseries.org
Works of Wyomissing Sunday, April 29th at 1 PM - 6PM 1109 Bern Road, Wyomissing, PA 19610 workswyomissing.com
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Muhlenberg Author Publishes Sci-Fi Trilogy “Coming of Angels” For one Muhlenberg resident, there is more to life than what we see around us. Erie happenings, unidentified phenomenon, strange coincidence. For all her life M.J. Banks has been interested in the the scientific unknown, but it wasn’t until 2005 when she thought about writing as a way to reach other with the same interests. Banks began with a simple goal, write a sci-fi story people could relate to. However, it didn’t take over night, banks took her time writing over several years. It all started with the purchase of a laptop. Banks would sit and write out her ideas steadily building the framework that would become a trilogy. Following her retirement, Banks decided it was time to dedicate all of her time to complete and publishing her first book. The result of her years of work is the Coming of Angels trilogy, with the first book titled Strange Happenings. Strange Happenings made its debut in April of 2017. Although it’s science fiction, Banks has added elements of her own life experiences into the trilogy. One of these instances is the main charters daughter who has Autism. This was especially important for Banks to include as her own family has a history of Autism. “Just because someone has Autism doesn’t mean they can’t live a full life”. Coming of Angels is based on the life of Jack Branden, an award-winning journalist who becomes involved in doing research for a UFO documentary. During 34 | Reading Magazine - rdgmag.com
his research, he discovers there are similarities between an experience his wife had one night, and people claiming to be abducted by aliens. His research takes him to Roswell, England, and Belgium. As strange things begin to happen to his daughters, the overwhelming evidence that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the Universe prompts him to embark on a quest for the truth. New to the publishing world Banks found an unlikely partnership with Masthof Press in Morgantown. Looking for an editor Banks contacted Masthof Press to read over her book. Known for publishing local history, life stories, memoirs and more, Masthof quickly took an interested in Banks and offered to publisher her trilogy.
“They are amazing to work with, the cover art came out exactly how I envisioned it.” With her first book in print and distributed on Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited program Banks is hoping reach people from around the world. “Iv’e heard from people as far away as Wiltshire England on Facebook who said they loved the book”. Although writing a trilogy is new territory for her, Banks wants to encourage others to do what they love.
“People should follow their dreams and stick with it.”
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