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Fox Berkshire Unveils ‘Fox Patio’ Outdoor Dining Area
Berks Brewers Work Together to Save Frederick Lauer Monument
With a roar of the band local residents gathered at the City’s very first statue, the Frederick Lauer Monument, for a rededication ceremony in Reading’s City Park. The monument was originally dedicated in 1885 by the US Brewers Association to honor the work Fredrick Lauer did for the brewing industry and the City of Reading. Speakers at the ceremony included Rob Metzger of Chatty Monks Brewing Company, Kirby Powell of Saucony Creek Brewing Company, and Kyle Neuheimer of Oakbrook Brewery. The group shared turns reciting parts of the original dedication speeches given in 1885. The re-dedication also included entertainment from the historic Ringgold Band. Fun fact, as one of America’s first community bands, the Ringgold Band played at the original dedication in 1885. The re-dedication also included entertainment from the Ringgold Band. Fun fact, as one of America’s first community bands, the Ringgold Band played at the original dedication in 1885. Full Article: rdgmag.com/flm2l Advertisement
Date night just got a little better thanks to Fox Berkshire movie theater in Wyomissing. The movie theater recently announced the grand opening of the ‘Fox Patio’. The new 45-seat outdoor dining area is located in front of the theater’s glass enclosed lobby. Under a string light canopy and red cafe umbrellas, Fox Patio features a mix of seating options including dining, high top and communal tables, as well as a fire pit surrounded by deck chairs. New landscaping provides a buffer from the parking area to fully enjoy the dining scene. Advertisement
“With the addition of the Fox Patio, we are offering our customers an even more unique movie-going experience: to relax and enjoy outside drinks and dining before, or after, taking in Hollywood’s latest.” said Donald Fox, President of Fox Theatres Now, in addition to enjoying madeto-order food and signature cocktails in the lobby or auditoriums, moviegoers can relax with a drink and dine outside before a movie, or just to enjoy the festive patio, no ticket required. Full Article: rdgmag.com/fpm2d
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Read these articles & hundreds more, absolutely free! www.rdgmag.com having dinner that she asked me an interesting question. She said Jesse, if money wasn’t an object what would you do for the rest of your life? And I told her, I want to be a stand up comedian. She looked me dead in the eye and said, ...but your not even funny.” Today, Besides working as a carpenter for the City of Reading. Blanco manages the Reading Comedy Outlet based out of Hiester Lanes with his wife. The opportunity presented itself when the former manager moved to New York to pursue his comedy career. “Before he left he introduced me to Earl David Reed. He’s mentored me and helped me to grow my comedy and the outlet.” Jesse Blanco has always had a special place Looking towards the future Blanco in his heart for comedy. Blanco remembers wants his comedy to reach more people, make watching comedy on TV as a kid, “It was althem laugh. Although he books acts at the ways an amazing thing watching what they did, Comedy Outlet, he wants people to think of and how they got people to laugh”. Growing himself as a comedian first. “I perform every up he was enamored with the comedy greats, show, whether it’s 5 people or 5000 the same, Eddie Murphy, Redd Foxx, Richard Pryor, and you give it your all, put it out there, and see so many others. where it goes.” Full Article: rdgmag.com/rco9j Blanco wasn’t the class clown. In fact, he identifies himself more as a observationalist. Noticing odd or quirky things, Blanco draws his comedy out of everyday situations. Blanco’s love of comedy really blossomed during his last year at Reading High, when he met a girl who loved to laugh just as much as he did. Originally from New York City, she takes Blanco up to the big apple on weekends. “Her neighbor was Larry David, every time we would go to New York we would always get comp tickets to these comedy shows. I thought it was the coolest thing” said Blanco. I was able to check off another goal on my list: Fast forward to the present day, have a live show! In the podcasting world, a Blanco has been married for 18 years, and live show is similar to a concert. enjoys his life with his wife Deneise, kids, and I told my dear friend and mentor, grandchildren. “I met my wife 18 years ago and David, and immediately propositioned him to we would go to shows together all the time. be my guest. I was thrilled when he obliged, But it wasn’t until 3 years ago when we were Advertisement even though he thinks my audience may grow tired of him (impossible!) David’s book, Make Love Your Religion is a multi-genre text combines self-help, workbook, and memoir elements to create a narrative that encourages readers to consider doing what they love for a living a spiritual act. David’s goal in writing this is to dispel, for people of all ages, the concept that we are trapped by our circumstances and to plant the seeds that success is within reach for all of us when we put love at the forefront of all of our endeavors. - By Lisa De La Cruz
late Night Laughs at the Reading comedy outlet
The wonder of ivy podcast with David Nazario, LIVE!
Watch the video at: rdgmag.com/dnw3l
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little acts of kindness can have big impacts By Dani Motze
About twenty years ago while she was driving to the hospital to visit a family member, Jeannie Motze noticed a man standing under the bridge that crosses over Reading’s Lancaster Avenue. He was holding up a cardboard sign. She put on her blinkers, rolled down her window and stopped to ask him if he was hungry. He said yes, and she handed him the brownbagged lunches that she had packed for the trip and then continued driving onward. If you’re Jeannie Motze, that’s just the kind of thing that you do: you see someone who might need some extra love, you stop and talk to them, and if at all possible, you feed them. Caregiver For nearly the past two decades Jeannie, along with her husband Mike, has served in the crucial but often-unrecognized role that many of our community members play - as a caregiver to an ill family member. “Your whole world stops when your sick family member goes into the hospital. You can sit outside the hospital and look around while you’re praying and there you are while everyone else’ life goes on…No, I never thought about what it’s like [to be a caregiver]. You just do it. Insurance changes…you need tests…you just do it. The hardest part is that you have to watch someone you love be sick and that it splits up your family away from each other.” She recalls that although she technically worked two part time jobs, as a restaurant server and in food service at a local high school, juggling medical appointments across 4 | Reading Magazine - rdgmag.com
multiple specialists and navigating the health care system made it really more like three. “You have to stay on top of things. You can’t think that just because you have insurance it’s all covered; you have to constantly be on top of things to double check. And when I couldn’t get the answers, I’d reach out to healthcare professionals for help.” She feels thankful for the support of many community members, ranging from school district staff to church members, and for the medical professionals at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia with whom she has partnered—some for almost twenty years. - Jeannie resides in Mt. Penn with her husband Mike, son Joseph, and rescued pit bull RuFus. She likes to go to Bible Study, eat out with friends, ride her bicycle and go to the beach to people watch. Full Article: rdgmag.com/ush2f Advertisement
stuck together and ten years later what started as just a simple community softball team has become something much more. Giving back to non-profit is nothing new for the JRF Panthers Softball Team. By Derek Evans years ago the Charity Softball Tournament Benefits Two team held a charity the Muscular Dystrophy Association softball tournament In 2009, during the group of friends’ senior for Four Diamonds, last year for the Standing year of high school, they formed a slow-pitchUp to POTS Organization and this season will softball team together. This allowed them to be hosting a tournament with all proceeds still hang out and participate in sports after going to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. high school. Unlike the past two seasons, this Their friend Johnny Favinger spontournament will take place in Reading, PA at sored the team. Johnny was a stock car driver Lorane Hollow Park in Exeter Township. The and drove a black and pink car with a Pink “Come Out and Play for MDA” tournament Panther logo. The softball team took after the will take place on Saturday, July 28th and consame color scheme and logo. sist of raffles, prizes, shirts, music, games, food, The first season the group of friends drinks, a dunk tank, and much more! It will didn’t win a single game, going 0-32 on the run from 8am-6pm and is free to the general season. Despite the team’s struggles, the team public. Full Article: rdgmag.com/bmd6a Advertisement
Be a part of our Corks For a Cause Wine Walk, July 27th @ 5:30pm right in downtown Boyertown! For only $10 you can sample 10 wines while enjoying the local shops and attractions. Proceeds benefit The State Theater of Boyertown. Order your tickets online with your credit card at bmba.biz today. Registration is located in the breeze way of the inner core parking lot. GPS location 26 E. Philadelphia Ave, Boyertown PA
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Mifflin Summer Zone Aims to Reduce Effects of “Summer Slide” Lauren Conrad, Do It Local Fundraising. Looking for local Summer Fun? Have you checked out the Summer Zone programs supported by the Governor Mifflin Education Foundation? The Summer Zone unofficially started in 2015. Two teachers from Governor Mifflin Intermediate School, Damien Drago and Nick Blatt, offered fun summer learning opportunities over several weeks that summer. They had about a dozen students who came to learn math skills through games and other activities. After the success of their individual program, they partnered with Governor Mifflin School District to launch the Mifflin Summer Zone the following summer in 2016. I wanted to learn more, so I interviewed Melissa Fullerton, the Director of Communications & Community Relations What is the purpose? “The purpose of the Mifflin Summer Zone is to keep students engaged in learning over the summer months. There is a lot of research that backs the concept Advertisement
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of “summer slide” and the negative impact of summer break on student learning. The Mifflin Summer Zone is an opportunity for students to keep their brains active while participating in learning opportunities that delve into high-interest topics and subjects that may not get as much attention during the traditional school year,” explained Melissa. Who can participate? “All children in the Governor Mifflin School District are welcome to participate, regardless of whether they are currently enrolled in the district. There are Zones offered for grades Pre-K - 12.” What is the Governor Mifflin Education Foundation’s (GMEF) long term goal for Summer Zone? Mellissa is also involved with the GMEF. What’s the connection between GMEF and Summer Zone? Melissa explained, “For the past two years, the Governor Mifflin Education Foundation has been providing financial aid to students who wish to attend the Mifflin Summer Zone. The Summer Zone is a tuition-based program. GMEF’s long term goal is to provide 100-percent funding for the program so that the Mifflin Summer Zone is available to all who wish to participate.” You Can Help! By donating to the Governor Mifflin Education Foundation, you can help ensure that any child who wants to attend the Mifflin Summer Zone can do so. Donation information is available online here: https://www.governormifflinsd.org/gmef/ If you are interested in supporting the Governor Mifflin Education Foundation by purchasing a Do It Local Coupon App membership, visit: www.doitlocalapp.com Full Article: rdgmag.com/gms8c
Community Unites to Restor Wilshire
Pool for 60th Anniversary Community pools are the lifeblood of the neighborhood in the summer. Hot weather, swimming lessons, the snack bar, it’s a place where memories are made. If you’ve seen the news the past few years you know community pools in Berks County aren’t doing so well. It can be challenging for local pools to be successful. The Wilshire Pool in Sinking Spring was facing some of the same issues. With an aging infrastructure, stagnant membership base, it was time for a change. With a history of 60 years in the community, Nick Price organized a dedicated team of volunteers to fully restore the pool and property to its former glory. Full Article: rdgmag.com/wsp5f
Opal Rose Artisanal Wellness Company is owned and operated by Rachael Martinez and Cassie Rhoadarmer, who have been co-workers and best friends for five years. Both women have always been interested in a more natural and homeopathic lifestyle and dreamed of starting a business together. The Opal Rose features “do-it-yourself ” workshops, essential oil training classes, more. Upon entering the storefront at 31 East Philadelphia Avenue, customers are greeted by a large assortment of handmade crystal jewelry, herb-based skin care and healing salves, natural bath and body care, local art, and more. Full Article: rdgmag.com/ora8d
Opal Rose Artisanal Wellness Celebrates Ribbon Cutting
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