A concert featuring several community choirs will be held Sunday, Jan. 25, at 4 p.m. in the Muhlenberg High School auditorium.
The Scottish Festival Concert will feature the Reading Choral Society along with Berks Youth Chorus, Blue Mountain Heritage Chorus, Opus One Chamber Choir and Vox Philia under the direction of RCS Music Director Dr. Graham Bier. This is the first time the choirs have done a concert together. Each will perform separately and then together for “Auld Lang Syne,” a commissioned piece by Christopher Hoh. The performance includes bagpipes, poetry and song to mark the birthday of Scottish poet Robert Burns.
For tickets, go to www.ticketleap.events/tickets/reading-choral-society/scottish-festival-concert. Tickets also will be available at the door.
Seed Swap
The Penn State Master Gardeners of Berks County and Berks Nature are teaming up for the second annual Community Seed Swap for garden enthusiasts.
The Jan. 31 event will bring together gardeners who will trade the seeds from their best plants, bringing their own seeds to share and taking home seeds that others have to offer. This can be any type of seeds ranging from flowers to vegetables to fruit and more.
The swap will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Berks Nature, 575 St. Bernardine St. in Reading.
Master Gardeners will be on hand.
Groundhog Lodge for Children
The Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center in Pennsburg, Montgomery County, presents “Grundsau Lodsch fer Yunge” (Groundhog Lodge for Children) on Sunday, Jan. 25, from 1 to 3 p.m.
Children will have an opportunity to help the groundhog predict the weather for the rest of winter. Other activities at the free event include learning Pennsylvania Dutch dialect phrases, doing crafts, playing games and enjoying snacks. Scott Reagan will provide Pennsylvania Dutch music.
Registration is requested at schwenkfelder.org/calendar/annual-grundsau-lodsch-fer-yunge or by calling 215-679-3103.
The Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center is at 105 Seminary St.
Shriners officers
The Rajah Shriners installed a new slate of officers led by Potentate John K. Grumbein of Allentown. He is the 98th potentate of the organization, which received its charter in 1893.
Other elected officers are Gregory T. Miller, Slatington, chief rabban; Jon Schneider, Sinking Spring, assistant rabban; Dale Reinert, Allentown, high priest and prophet; and Edward P. Frack, Allentown, oriental guide. Re-elected were Ronald F. Rapp, past potentate, Blandon, treasurer, and Les A. Werley, Hamburg, recorder.
Rajah Shrine has about 1,800 members from a 10-county jurisdiction including Berks, Schuylkill, Carbon, Lebanon, Lancaster, Lehigh, Northampton, Montgomery, Chester and Bucks.
Groundhog Day event
The 11th annual Harleysville Hank Groundhog Day extravaganza is set for Feb. 2 starting at 6:45 a.m. at the Mennonite Heritage Center, Harleysville, Montgomery County.
Harleysville Hank will announce either a long winter or an early start of spring. The event at the Nyce Barn includes coffee, hot chocolate, fresh homemade scrapple and rousing groundhog carols.
The Mennonite Heritage Center is at 565 Yoder Road. Learn more at mhep.org.
Astronomy program
Keystone Villa at Douglassville–Independent Living is hosting a three-part series on astronomy starting Jan. 26. Each session explores a different topic — from space flight to understanding our galaxy and other astronomical facts.
The programs are presented by amateur astronomers Ron and Crystal Bolton, owners of Night Wonders Astronomy. They will be held in the Independent Living building at 1180 Ben Franklin Highway East. Each presentation begins at 2 p.m.
Topics are as follows: Jan. 26, Apollo Mission; Feb 23, Where We Live; March 23, Exploring Our Solar System.
Also at the Douglassville facility, the Reading Philharmonic Orchestra is to perform Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. as part of an open house program. Light refreshments will be served.
RSVP for any of these events by calling Kristine at 610-385-5000.
Chili cookoff
The College Manor Pool in Reading is holding a chili cookoff on Saturday, Jan. 24, from noon to 4 p.m. at Nativity Lutheran Church, 1501 N. 13th St. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers. To learn more, call Cindy at 610-406-7880 or Sue at 610-914-5592 or visit the pool’s Facebook page.
Golden retriever rescue
Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue will hold an open house on Feb. 14 from 10 a.m. to noon at its Golden Gateway facility at 60 Vera Cruz Road, Reinholds. No admission charge. No photos, and do not bring other dogs. For more information, email info@dvgrr.org, call 717-484-4799 or visit dvgrr.org/adopt/monthlyopenhouse/
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