State police are offering free car seat checks at the West Reading Playground, 223 Playground Drive Monday from 2 to 8 p.m.; Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Nov. 17 and 18 from 3 to 8.
The effort is in conjunction with the state police Click It or Ticket campaign, in which troopers are strongly enforcing any violation of seat belt and child passenger restraint laws. The campaign runs through Nov. 30.
Craft shows
• The Gov. Mifflin Music Association Craft Show is set for Nov. 21, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Gov. Mifflin Intermediate School, 600 Governor Drive, Cumru Township. Over 100 crafters offering wood carvings, Christmas decorations, hand-sewn items and much more. Food will be available for purchase.
• The 44th annual Daniel Boone Optimists Holiday Craft Show is set for Dec. 5, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Daniel Boone Area Middle School, 1845 Weavertown Road, Amity Township, with handcrafted items from over 120 crafters, a raffle, free admission, free parking and refreshments for sale.
• Holiday bazaar Nov. 21, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Mount Zion Zion Lutheran Church, 1343 Long Lane Road, Krumsville. Home-baked cookies, raffle baskets, Christmas flea market, craft vendors and eat-in food. Information, 484-650-5533.
Afro-Semitic Experience
The Afro-Semitic Experience will perform Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. in the WCR Center for the Arts, 140 N. Fifth St., Reading. The program is this year’s entry in the Leo Camp Memorial Lecture series presented by the Jewish Federation of Reading/Berks. There will be a coffee and dessert reception after the show. Admission is free, but due to limited seating, registration for the concert is required by visiting www.ReadingJewishCommunity.org or calling 610-921-0624.
Co-founded by African-American jazz pianist Warren Byrd and Jewish-American jazz bassist David Chevan in 1998, The Afro-Semitic Experience combines an array of styles with a message of unity in the community.
Book signing
A book signing will be held Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Heidelberg Heritage Society Christmas Bazaar at 182 W. Penn Ave., Wernersville. Local authors Paul and Kathy Miller will be selling limited editions of “Blue Marsh and the Pleasant Valley-One Last Look” and “Memories of a Bygone Era-History of the South Mountain Resorts at Wernersville.” Cash and checks will be accepted. Call 610-678-4219 to learn more.
Wyomissing library
Coming to the Wyomissing Public Library:
• Artist/teacher Sara Miller will lead a two-part cross stitch on paper workshop at the Wyomissing Public Library as part of the “Art for Adults” series on Wednesday and Nov. 18 from noon to 1:30. Vintage magazines and postcards will be provided for students to use as a background, with simple cross stitch patterns. For those who want to design their own pattern, gridded vellum will be available. The class is limited to 12 people, and there is a $20 fee payable in advance online or in person at the library. To register, visit www.wyopublib.or.
• On Wednesday at 6 p.m. Rabbi Brian Michelson of Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom will discuss the history of Israel, its role in the Middle East and the recent Israeli elections as part of the library’s monthly 21st Century Judaism series.
• Reading Theater Project will present a staged reading of an original work by local playwright Eric Williams at the library on Saturday at 1 p.m. “Behind the Iron Curtain: 1978” features scenes set in Warsaw Pact countries. The reading is free and open to the public, and there will be an opportunity for audience feedback.
The library is located at 9 Reading Blvd. Learn more and register at www.wyopublib.org.
‘Something Rotten Jr.’
Exeter Junior High School presents the musical comedy “Something Rotten Jr.” Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. In the show, a pair of brothers during the era of William Shakespeare try to write a play to rival the Bard’s work and wind up setting out to create the first musical. Tickets are $8 and may be purchased at the door or at search.seatyourself.biz/webstore/accounts/exeterjhs/buy-tix.
Storytelling program
Spiritual Exploration’s Contemplative Spirituality series presents “Facing an Empty Chair,” a program on storytelling and sharing led by Pat Babel. It will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. at Olivet Reformed United Church of Christ, 1648 Centre Ave., Reading.
Genealogy talk
The Berks County Genealogical Society presents “275 Years at Your Fingertips – How to Access Berks County’s Historic Land Records” with Berks Recorder of Deeds Fred Sheeler on Nov. 19 at 6:30 p.m. Doors open at 6 for light refreshments. It will be held in Room 413 of the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, 201 Washington St., Reading, in person and via Zoom.
Learn how to locate deeds, mortgages, agreements, rights-of-way and military discharge records. Those planning to attend in person are asked to register at berksgenes201@gmail.com. See www.berksgenes.org for the Zoom link.
World Affairs Council
The World Affairs Council of Greater Reading presents a luncheon program about Canada on Nov. 18 from 11:30 to 1:15 at Alvernia University’s McGlinn Conference Center. It will be led by Geoff Gartshore, deputy consul general of Canada. The price is $30 for council members, $35 for nonmembers, $15 for students and $10 for those who will not be having lunch. Pay by check or cash at the event. Register at wacreading.org.
History lecture
Museum professional Peter Siebert will deliver a lecture on the range of bilingualism that existed in Pennsylvania from the 1700s through the 1900s and the challenges early German immigrants. It is set for Wednesday at noon at the Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center, 105 Seminary St., Pennsburg, Montgomery County. Admission is free bur registration is requested at info@schwenkfelder.org or 215-679-3103. Indicate whether you plan to attend in-person or via a Zoom link.
Muhlenberg library
Coming to the Muhlenberg Community Library, 3612 Kutztown Road, Laureldale (muhlenbergcommunitylibrary.org):
• Fall book sale fundraiser Nov. 18 and 19, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Nov. 20, 10 to 1:30; and Nov. 21, 9 to 3:30. The last day of the sale customers get at a bag full of books for $5.
• Mike Ivankovich’s Road Show-Style Appraisal Program is set for Nov. 21, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ivankovich is the host of the “What’s It Worth” radio show. Visit the library website to register an appraisal.
Cloister Christmas
Coming to the Ephrata Cloister historic site:
Candlelight Open House Saturday from 5 to 8. Self-guided tour of the illuminated grounds featuring interpreters, skilled tradespeople and historical demonstrators. The Ephrata Cloister Chorus performs at 5:30 and 6:30pm in the historic 1741 Meetinghouse. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance at ticketscandy.com/e/candlelight-open-house-21617.
Christmas at the Cloister, a “Lessons and Carols” program, will be held Dec. 7 and 8 in the 1741 Meetinghouse at the Ephrata Cloister. There will be performances each evening at 6 and 7:30. It features the story of Christmas as told through Scriptural readings, music by the Ephrata Cloister Chorus and carols for all to sing together. Light refreshments will be served. Tickets must be ordered in advance at ticketscandy.com/e/christmas-at-the-cloister-22026 or at the Visitor Center during open hours. For more information, see ephratacloister.org/events/christmas-at-the-cloister-7/.
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