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Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Recalling a visionary Pottsville library leader
POTTSVILLE — With an eye toward the future and the energy to obtain the funds for big projects, Nancy Smink left an indelible mark on the city of Pottsville and all of the patrons of the Pottsville Free Public Library, which opened its doors in 1911. Introducing more computers for public use and spearheading the addition to the Pottsville Free Public Library are among the accomplishments of Smink, who retired as director of the library in 2016. Smink, 77, died May 15 in Pottsville. Born Feb. 10, 1948, in the city, Smink was a 1966 graduate of Pottsville Area High School. She graduated from Albright College in Reading and then earned her master's degree in library science from SUNY, according to her obituary. Smink retired in 2016 after 40 years at the Pottsville Free Public Library, 215 W. Market St. She started as the district consultant in October 1976, and was promoted to director in May 1980. 'Nancy devoted her career to the Pottsville Library,' Jean Towle, director of library said Friday. Jean Towle, director of the Pottsville Free Public Library, recalls retired director Nancy Smink, on Friday, June 6, 2025. Smink, who worked at the library for 40 years, died in May at age 77. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) Towle said Smink had a side she didn't show many people. She was an avid traveler, and a cat enthusiast. 'She loved Germany,' Towle said. The former director also enjoyed going to the beach and attending Broadway shows, Towle said. Thomas J. 'Tim' Pellish, the former city solicitor, was on the library board for about 10 years during her tenure. 'She was a good leader, a good librarian,' he said Friday. The more than $1 million expansion of the library, completed in 1999, increased its square footage by about 22,000 square feet, nearly doubling its space. The original library opened on Nov. 9, 1911, at 208 West Market St., site of a former saloon, according to the library. In February 2013, Frances Lorenz, left, founder and president of Friends of the Pottsville Free Public Library, and library director Nancy Smink, test the WiFi that had just been installed in the library. FILE PHOTO Three buildings nearby on West Market Street were demolished to make way for the 1999 library addition. A state grant and other funds were gathered to pay for it. 'We were running out of space,' Pellish recalled. The Pottsville Library website tells of the pages in the library's history. For instance, its says this about the importance of the building many visit: 'In 1911, when the Library opened, Pottsville had a music academy, hatmakers, livery stables, a steamship agent, saddle shops and mine supply stores. The music academy burned down shortly afterward and the hatmakers, stables, steamship agent, mining stores, and saddle shops have long since disappeared, victims of technological advancements and changing lifestyles and tastes. 'But the Pottsville Library remains. Since 1911, it has not merely survived: it has grown from a one-room storehouse of books to a full-fledged, diversified cultural information center with services for people of all ages, incomes, interests and occupations.' Towle said there are about 130,000 items in the library's collection including DVDs, audio CDs and other items. When Smink retired, a post on the library's Facebook page thanked her for her leadership and remarked on the expansion of the library and technological innovations. Becki White, reference librarian, has worked at the library for 30 years. When she started, library patrons had one computer to use and internet access was dial up. Becki White, reference librarian, works behind the counter at the Pottsville Free Public Library, Friday, June 6, 2025. (Amy Marchiano/Staff Photo) 'Nancy did try to update the library as funds permitted,' White said. Today, thanks to Smink's leadership and efforts, the library has about 15 computers for public access. Wifi was added in 2013. White said Smink appreciated honesty in her employees. 'Being 'brutally honest' with her paid off,' she said about Smink's leadership style. For instance, if employees needed a day off and told her why, Smink would do her best to accommodate them. Smink loved the color purple, and was an excellent baker. At Christmas, she would bring in homemade cookies for employee to share. She is survived by her siblings: Judy Workman of Melbourne Beach, FL; Sue Bendle-Yannacone and Dr. Michael Smink, both of Pottsville; and Jeffery Smink of Kure Beach, NC.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Personal stories of those in the Berks criminal justice system
They've struggled with addiction. They've struggled with abuse and trauma. They've struggled with mental health issues. And those struggles have led to time behind bars. This month the nonprofit organization Building Justice in Berks unveiled a study that illuminates the experiences of people detained in Berks County Jail and recommends a new vision for public safety. The report draws from jail administrative data and countywide listening tours, which included conversations with more than 100 people with direct experience in the criminal justice system. Many of those interviewed asserted that jail is too often used as the default tool — rather than as an expensive option of last resort — to address complex social issues such as poverty, homelessness, substance abuse and mental health. And they said there are far too few resources to provide more effective responses to those societal ills. Three of the people interviewed for the study shared their stories with the Reading Eagle in hopes of effecting change and improving the outcomes of the county's criminal justice system. Maya Missonis Maya Missonis said she grew up in a loving and stable environment, with a father who taught at Albright College and a mother who stayed home to raise her children. She lived in a nice house in Wyomissing and earned good grades in school. But things started to change when she met a boy her senior year who introduced her to a different lifestyle, one where drinking alcohol and smoking pot were considered normal. It was her first step down a dark path. 'I just wanted more and more and more,' the 35-year-old said. 'Despite this, I managed to graduate from high school and went on to Alvernia University to study early childhood education. But I continued to party so I dropped out because school had become an inconvenience to my addiction.' Missonis eventually ended things with the boy who introduced her to drugs and moved back home with her parents. But then another boy came along who had a taste for more destructive substances like crack cocaine. 'I became infatuated with the drugs,' she said. Not long after, Missonis became pregnant with her first child and was fired from her job at a senior care facility for stealing from residents to help pay for her habit. 'That was the first repercussion that I had for actions,' she said. 'I was put on probation since I had no other charges from my past.' Maya Missonis during the Walk With Us study unveiling at the WCR Center for the arts in Reading on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE) During that time on probation, her daughter was born. Her relationship came to an end soon after and she found herself back living with her parents. 'My life felt out of control, so I went back out to party,' she said. 'I started using and went on like that for several months, and then I was arrested on new charges for prostitution and drug possession. And each time I was incarcerated I was under the impression that my parents would just bail me out.' But after the third arrest their patience had run out. Missonis served a six-month sentence, during which she was finally able to address her drug and alcohol use. 'I never took the time to understand my addiction,' she said. 'I never spoke to anyone about it. That first time I went to rehab I was more concerned about whether the facility had a pool than trying to understand recovery.' Missonis stayed sober for the next three years mainly out of fear of having to spend more time in a jail cell. She would end up falling in love with a man and having a daughter with him, but later discovered he was abusing her first child. 'I was living in a nice house that my parents had bought me, I had a good job and I was doing everything right,' she said. 'And then just like that both of my kids were taken away from me. I never wanted to feel again so I started using.' The next nine years were spent in and out of jail on drug charges. 'My heart was broken,' she said. 'I just continued to run the streets and my parole officer allowed me to because he, like everyone else in my life, no longer saw anything worth saving.' Today, things are different. Missonis said her last stint in jail changed things. She was arrested with a lot of the people she had been running the streets with and watched them go through withdrawal while behind bars. 'I promised right then that if I got out that I would never do drugs again,' she said. Missonis was released in November and so far has lived up to her promise. She is eight months sober and living at the YMCA in Reading and is in drug treatment court. Through treatment court she was referred to Connections Work where she applied for and was accepted into the R3 program, which offers people reentering the community from prison training in building trades. She completed the program this month. Missonis said she is thriving. She is spending time with her children, she is an active member at Life Church in Reading and she is working to rebuild the trust of her family. 'I think it's huge to know that the same city that I ran the streets in also has so many wonderful organizations willing to help anyone with a background,' she said. 'With these programs, they are showing people that they are not broken.' Missonis said she believes that if more funding were put into prevention and treatment programs it would have a major impact on the number of people in jail. 'We need more funding for these programs so that more people can have the same opportunity that I got,' she said. 'Everything has changed now that I have the confidence to face my addiction. 'I think that for too long the criminal justice system has been about punishing people rather than connecting them with programs that help deal with the root issues that cause addiction.' Missonis said that if she would have been able to find an effective treatment program sooner, her life may have ended up differently. 'I think if I had been given the opportunity to get into a treatment program I might have stopped using long before I did,' she said. 'I never really had that example of what recovery could look like for me. 'It's so hard to get out of that life.' Jose Arroyo Drugs and crime are all Jose Arroyo ever knew. From the time he was a child, he was surrounded by them. Both of his parents were addicts, and he can still recall his dad giving him his first beer at just 8 years old. At around 12 he started to drink and smoke weed with his friends. Often, the substance abuse would lead to violence. He remembers being as young as 4 or 5 and his dad coming home drunk and beating him. Those experiences left a deep and damaging impression. 'I was always so angry and, to me, that was normal because that was how my dad was,' he said. 'I wanted to get in trouble because I didn't want to go home. I know that sounds crazy, but jail became my second home and I loved it because I had friends there — they accepted me in a way that my family never did.' Arroyo was 15 the first time he was detained for committing a crime. He would be in and out of juvenile detention facilities for stealing cars. And just before he turned 18 he beat up another student at his high school, sending his victim to the hospital with injuries and him to Berks County Jail for the first time. He was there for a few months and within six months was back for stealing another car. There would be other arrests that would put him behind bars over the next several decades, the most serious being an attempted murder charge that would later be dropped but still send him back to prison for a parole violation. 'I lost trust with my family, with my children, with my siblings,' the 53-year-old said. 'When I got out I was homeless and had to panhandle for money, but I didn't really care because I was addicted to drugs. I did a lot of damage to other people and to myself.' It would take years for Arroyo to break the addiction and finally deal with its roots. Jose Arroyo during the Walk With Us study unveiling at the WCR Center for the arts in Reading on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE) He has been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder as well as depression and anxiety. And he now realizes he would medicate himself with drugs to numb his symptoms. 'When I was diagnosed I started to see why I made the decisions I did my whole life,' he said. 'But back in the '90s when I first got into the system they didn't really screen for mental health issues the way they do now. 'Thankfully, that has gotten better. But I think if I knew then what I know now my life could have been better.' Arroyo has been in and out of treatment for his mental health struggles. During the most recent stint he had a breakthrough as he learned more about the recovery program. 'Being in rehab for three months I became a role model,' he said. 'I talked to people who are thinking about leaving the program so they don't go back on the street and use. And a lot of people I spoke to have stayed and they have thanked me.' Now 16 months sober, Arroyo has been trying to use his own struggles to help others. 'I kind of found something I was good at, and I realized how much people just want to be heard and understood,' he said. 'I think having someone to talk to who doesn't judge you for all the bad stuff you've done and can still see the good in you can make a big difference.' Arroyo has been working on becoming financially stable. Determined to turn his life around this time, Arroyo decided to enroll in the R3 program through Connections Work, which armed him with skills to help him land a good job. Following his graduation from the program, the landlord at Goodnight Clubhouse in Reading, where he was living, offered him a position helping remodel the facility. 'I'm so proud of that because I never accomplished anything in my life,' he said. 'I would start things and never finish. And it was the best thing that ever happened to me.' Darnell Coad When Darnell Coad started getting involved in the drugs and crime found so easily in his Reading neighborhood as a teenager, there was no one around to tell him not to. His parents never took an interest in raising him, he said, leaving him pretty much to his own devices. 'I had no guidance at home,' he said. 'There was no one there to tell me I was doing the wrong thing. I was the oldest of five kids, so I had to fend for myself because my parents kind of checked out.' The 49-year-old said he learned over time that there was no one at home to help show him how to be a young man, so he looked to the streets and found guys who made doing bad things seem cool. Coad was 14 when he was sent to a juvenile detention facility for stealing a car. A few years later he committed a robbery that landed him more time behind bars. Despite the time away, he said he managed to graduate from high school in 1994 but was sentenced to county jail shortly after for committing another robbery. 'My addiction was to committing crime,' he said. 'I got a high off of doing things that I knew would get me in trouble if I was caught. I honestly thought jail would make me seem tough and make the women want me.' Coad said he has been in and out of prison ever since. 'I think the longest I was out was less than two years,' he said. 'It just became normal for me to be locked up.' A few years ago, he said, he came to his senses. Some of his nine children were starting to follow down the same path he was on, and he realized that he didn't have the moral authority to tell them to stop. Darnelle Coad during the Walk With Us study unveiling at the WCR Center for the arts in Reading on Thursday, May 1, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE) 'That's when I said, 'Enough is enough — I have to change,'' he said. 'I knew I had to figure out a way to do something different with my life.' Wanting to change, however, is just half the battle. Coad said finding employment with his extensive criminal background has proved to be difficult. While he was grateful for the management team at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Reading giving him his first job following his release, he said he needed more hours than were available to pay his bills. Coad said he applied to dozens of postings, eventually landing at Reading Truck. 'I think people in the system need more opportunities,' he said. 'They release you from jail and you end up back on the street. When you have nothing set up before you leave it's really easy to go back to what got you in there to begin with.' Coad said it would be helpful if inmates had access to caseworkers as their release date approaches to provide guidance on things like which companies are likely to provide second chance employment, what the public transportation options are and where to go for housing assistance. 'I understand we are the ones who put ourselves in that position,' he said. 'But if we could get more help before we get out there would be a lot less going back.' In addition to his job at Reading Truck, Coad has started a business with one of his sons providing basketball training to young people. Coad said he's trying to make sure his students make different choices than him. He wants to serve as a role model and is determined to be there for them because he knows there are kids who are missing that oversight. 'I'm not just trying to teach the fundamentals of basketball — I'm trying to teach them the fundamentals of life,' he said. 'I tell them my story so that they understand the consequences of their choices. We are showing them that there's another way.'
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Emergency medical services in Berks in crisis, study shows
Emergency medical services in Berks County are in crisis, a new study shows. The study, begun in 2023 by the Albright College's Center for Excellence in Local Government in partnership with Berks County Department of Emergency Services, reveals a sobering reality, said Paul Janssen, director of the center. Janssen presented the findings to City Council on Monday during a committee of the whole meeting. The study, he said, outlines a cascade of challenges that include insufficient funding, inadequate insurance reimbursement, paramedic shortages and aging equipment, all of which jeopardize emergency response across much of the county. Emergency Medical Provider Report Final 2024-10-25 'What really got us looking at this issue was the fact that we have had a number of EMS providers that have become insolvent over the last 10 years,' Janssen said. One of these, Kutztown Ambulance, ceased operations in 2023 after 37 years of service. The private company, which had 29 employees, served the borough as well as Maxatawny, Greenwich and Richmond townships. 'When we saw the failure of the Kutztown ambulance service, which happened overnight, we began to send out alarms,' Janssen said. Kutztown Ambulance ceases operations after 37 years of service Updated] Though Reading fully supports and operates a professionally staffed EMS service through its fire department, it is the only Berks municipality to do so, he explained. Most of the 18 ambulance providers serving Berks are private nonprofit organizations, Janssen said, and many of them are in trouble. Two may not have the resources to survive the rest of the year, he said, emphasizing the need for municipalities to properly fund and support EMS services. Janssen did not identify those two providers, citing the anonymity promised to those who participated in the study. What happens to services elsewhere in the county ultimately affects the city, Janssen said. This is due to a system known as mutual aid, an agreement among fire departments and ambulance services to help each other across jurisdictional lines. When services outside Reading fail, mutual aid provided by the city and other services must fill in, he said. Paul Janssen (Reading Eagle) 'It becomes a case where we're stretching the rubber band more and more and more,' he said, 'and it's pretty taut right now.' The study showed that contrary to a common misconception, the city's EMS service provides as much mutual aid as it receives, he noted. 'In reality, the city runs out of the city as much as others run into it,' he said. 'That's how mutual aid is supposed to work. And for Reading, it is working.' Areas of concern One of the most pressing issues highlighted in the report is the broken reimbursement model, Janssen said. Medicare pays directly, albeit inadequately, he noted. Medicaid and private insurers, on the other hand, often pay less than 30% of what providers bill, and payers often send those reimbursements directly to patients rather than to EMS agencies. 'If you bill $1,700, the insurance company may pay $499, but they pay it to the individual,' Janssen said. 'And the individual doesn't end up paying the (ambulance) company. So now the company is out $1,700.' That not only shortchanges providers but amounts to a misuse of public funds, he said. Recommendations A key recommendation, he said, is that the state Legislature mandate direct and reasonable payments to EMS agencies rather than to patients. Personnel shortages are another critical concern, Janssen said, noting the collapse of the volunteer model that once sustained many services. 'We used to have volunteers,' he said. 'Now it's all paid.' Top-level paramedics at some Berks nonprofit agencies earn only about $60,000 a year with limited or no benefits and often must work for multiple agencies to make ends meet, the study found. Unlike firefighters or police, EMS workers typically don't receive public safety pensions or health benefits unless they work for a municipal service like Reading's, Janssen said. A study of emergency medical services in Berks County found that Reading's EMS service provides as much mutual aid as it receives from county units. (READING EAGLE) 'This is emergency response, just like police or fire,' he said. 'Yet most of these providers offer very little in the way of benefits. It's a huge issue.' Reading's EMS, which runs paramedic-level services with full-time staff and union support, is an outlier, he noted. In contrast, many other providers in the county rely on underpaid and overstretched personnel who lack the support of municipal structures. Just to stay afloat, many EMS providers are using capital reserves meant for long-term investments, the study revealed. This means when equipment breaks down, they may not have the money to replace it, Janssen said. 'We're going to get to a point where someone goes to pull out their ambulance and it doesn't run,' he said. This short-term financial scrambling is particularly dangerous given the cost and necessity of EMS equipment, he noted. A new ambulance can cost well over $250,000, not including the lifesaving gear inside. Many calls are for non-transport services, such as administering insulin during a diabetic episode, he noted. Such responses are costly but often go unreimbursed if the patient is not transported to the hospital, he said. Some providers serve multiple municipalities, but funding arrangements are inconsistent, and communication is often poor. 'Too often, the EMS agency only contacts the township in October during budget season and says, 'We need $40 per household instead of $30,'' he said. 'But there's been no reporting all year. That has to change.' The study urges municipalities to stop assuming that another service will pick up the slack, he said, because that service may soon disappear. 'If one agency fails, the others may try to cover their territory,' Janssen said. 'But that weakens everyone. It's not sustainable.' Consolidation could help create stronger providers with better business leadership, he noted. 'The question is, 'Can we do a better job if we have fewer providers who are better led by people who understand the business part of being a provider?'' he said. Some may wonder why the county cannot simply take over services, Janssen said, explaining that is not permitted under Pennsylvania's third-class county code. The same restriction also applies to police and fire departments. This structure dates to the founding of Pennsylvania. Janssen was careful not to share identifiable details about specific agencies other than the city. This approach, he said, is intended to maintain confidentiality while conveying the severity of the situation and generating support for broader solutions. County officials are seeking funding for an extensive regional study that would help address the systemic issues facing EMS providers throughout Berks, Janssen said. But time is running out, and some areas of Berks may soon be without adequate emergency coverage, he said.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Primary election 2025: Berks County district judge contest
Berks County voters in some municipalities will choose a new district judge. Only one of the two district judge seats up for election this year is contested in the May 20 primary. Berks County Assistant District Attorney Colleen Dugan Schearer and Muhlenberg Township police officer Jason Bowen will appear on both the Republican and Democratic ballots to replace retiring District Judge Dean Patton to serve Laureldale and Muhlenberg Township. District judges issue arrest and search warrants, oversee arraignments, set bail and hold criminal preliminary hearings. They also hear complaints in civil matters, mediate landlord-tenant disputes and perform weddings. Unlike state and county judges, district judges do not have to be attorneys, but those who are not must take a state certification test before taking office. Attorneys are exempt from the test. District judges currently receive an annual salary of $113,713. Voters will select one candidate to serve a six-year term. We asked the candidates to respond to one question. Question: What quality would you bring to the bench that sets you apart from your opponent and how would it contribute to your effectiveness as a district judge? Colleen Dugan Schearer Colleen Dugan Schearer Party: Registered Republican who has cross-filed to appear on the Republican and Democratic ballots. Age: 51. Background: Schearer is a supervising assistant district attorney in the Berks County District Attorney's Office. She earned a degree in political science and economics from Albright College before earning her law degree from Penn State Dickinson Law. Website: Response: Experience is what sets me apart from my opponent. For 24 years, I have been a prosecutor, working in the courts interacting with its participants: victims, defendants, witnesses, police, attorneys and judges. I treat everyone fairly and use my legal expertise to efficiently resolve matters in our justice system. In Drug Treatment Court, I work with other court and community partners to help defendants fight their addictions and regain their productivity in our community. As a supervisor in the district attorney's office, I handle my own caseload, supervise other attorneys and handle all expungements, summary appeals and miscellaneous matters in Berks County. My experience demonstrates that I know how cases proceed, what community services can help our citizens and what diversion programs are available to efficiently and effectively resolve criminal and civil cases. My experience doing trials proves that I know what search and arrest warrants need to contain, what evidence can sustain the burden of proof required and the law that applies to the cases that will come before me. My law degree and license confirm that I am ready to go on Day 1. I do not have to take a class or pass a test. I am certified. Jason Bowen Jason Bowen Party: Registered Republican who has cross-filed to appear on the Republican and Democratic ballots. Age: 52. Background: Bowen is a patrol sergeant with the Muhlenberg Township Police Department, where he has been a member of the force for 26 years. He also served in the Navy. Website: Response: My candidacy is distinguished by a unique blend of experience that I believe sets me apart. My background includes not only extensive legal expertise, but also a deep understanding of the complexities of Berks County, gained through years of service within the community. My 26 years as a Muhlenberg Township police officer, including four as sergeant, provided unparalleled insight into the realities faced by residents and the challenges confronting our local court system. This firsthand knowledge goes beyond case files; it's an understanding of the human element — the emotional impact of legal proceedings on individuals and families, the pressures on law enforcement and the nuanced needs of our diverse community. My military upbringing instilled in me a strong work ethic, resilience and the ability to navigate complex and high-pressure situations with integrity and decisiveness — qualities critical for a district judge. This, combined with my extensive experience handling thousands of cases, allows me to approach the bench with both empathy and a firm commitment to justice. I am confident that this unique combination of experience and perspective will contribute significantly to my effectiveness as a district judge. I am eager to serve the residents of Berks County.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bulletin board: Albright program to focus on Holocaust education
The Jewish Federation of Reading/Berks and Albright College present '80 Years Later: Fulfilling Holocaust Education's Great Promise,' the 19th annual Richard J. Yashek Memorial Lecture, on Thursday, March 27, at 7 p.m. in the Freedman Gallery at Albright College. Parking is available in the lot at the corner of 13th and Bern Streets. The lecture is free and open to the public. The featured speaker is Boaz Dvir, founding director of Penn State's Hammel Family Human Rights Initiative and the Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Education Initiative. Dvir will examine how and why traditional Holocaust education has failed, what can be done to uproot antisemitism and other forms of hate, and how to strengthen democracy. He discusses a new, innovative way to deliver on Holocaust education's great promise. Basket extravaganza Boyertown Area Multi-Service is presenting its Spring Basket Extravaganza on Friday, March 28, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Center at Spring Street, 200 W. Spring St., Boyertown. Participants are welcome to buy raffle tickets for the chance to win baskets donated by local businesses and individuals. All proceeds will support programs that support community needs in greater Boyertown. The cost to enter the event is $5 and includes a ticket for a drawing for two Philadelphia Flyers tickets. Grief support The sudSSpirit grief support group for those who have experienced the sudden unexpected death of a spouse or significant other will meet Tuesday, March 25, at 6 p.m. in the Exeter Community Library, 4569 Prestwick Drive, Exeter Township. It is free, and no registration is required. For more information, visit email sudsspirit@ or call 717-866-2401. Birdhouse Challenge Habitat for Humanity of Berks County is presenting its ninth annual Birdhouse Challenge on April 29 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, Reading. The event includes food, drinks, entertainment, raffles and the chance to bid on handcrafted birdhouses and other items. Go to for links to sponsor the event and buy tickets. Motorcyele show The Modern Classics Motorcycle Show is returning to Martin Moto in Boyertown after a five-year hiatus. This indoor show, scheduled for March 29 and 30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., is focused on the motorcycles of the 1960s through the 1990s. The showroom floor will be filled with 100 motorcycles from the era. There will be motorcycles from some 30 different brands, eight nations and a variety of genres. Admission is free. For more information, email jack@ or call or text 248-345-0226. Nun Run The annual Nun Run 5K and 1M Fun Walk will take place April 12 in Muhlenberg Township, presented by the Missionary Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The event begins at Holy Guardian Angels Regional School. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. The youth run is set for 9:40, the 5K at 10 and the 1M walk at 10:05. See to learn more Theology with a Twist Theology with a Twist presents 'Do Faith Communities Matter Anymore?' Tuesday, April 1, at 7 p.m. in the Kutztown Tavern, 272 W. Main St. With the United States deep into a long spiritual and relational crisis and faith communities in decline, the Rev. Bill Worley will lead a discussion on why they remain the best hope for restoring the wellness of individuals and communities. Worley is conference minister of the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference of the United Church of Christ. The event is free but food and drink can be purchased in the restaurant downstairs and brought up to our event space. Parking is available in the community lot behind the tavern or on Main Street. All are welcome. History talk The Heidelberg Heritage Society will meet Thursday March 27, at 7 p.m. to hear John Kissinger speak on 'Alternate History' The meeting takes place at the Historic Lerch Tavern, 182 Penn Ave., Wernersville. The public is welcome. Kissinger will discuss 'what-ifs' in American history: such as 'What if the South had won the Civil War?' His material is distilled from a course once offered at Alvernia University's Seniors College. The Heidelberg Heritage Society is dedicated to the collection and preservation of materials, structures and landmarks related to Wernersville and the surrounding townships commonly called the Heidelbergs. It maintains museums at the Lerch Tavern and at the Wernersville Train Station. Sports memorabilia The Anne Fund Sports Memorabilia Auction is scheduled for Saturday, March 29, at Hebron Catering Hall in Lebanon. Proceeds benefit the Anne Fund, which supports families and organizations fighting cancer. The $50 donation for admission includes food from area restaurants, beer and wine, networking opportunities and a chance to bid on one-of-a-kind sports memorabilia items more. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The silent auction begins at 6:30, followed by the live auction at 8. For more details, visit or call Tom Gerhart at 717-274-8790. Printing press history The invention of the printing press was only part of how the Bible became accessible to people in their common language during the Reformation. First, it required people willing and able to translate the text. Anabaptists Hans Denck and Ludwig Haetzer translated the Old Testament prophets into German. Learn more about their work at the Mennonite Heritage Center, Harleysville, on April 3 from 7 to 8 p.m. The program, free and open to the public, is part of the Mennonite Heritage Center's programming commemorating 500 years of Anabaptism. No registration is required. First produced in 1527, the Denck-Haetzer Wormser Propheten served as the first Protestant translation of this portion of the Bible. Learn more at Submit items to news@
