The Reading District Libraries\u2019 Dignity, Opportunity, and Respect Committee invites community members to a Holocaust Memorial Program on May 11 at 6:30 p.m. in the Exeter Community Library, 4569 Prestwick Drive, Exeter Township.<\/p>\n
The program will feature local presenter Jeff Gernsheimer, who will share the story of his late mother, Hilde, a Holocaust survivor who escaped Nazi Germany as a child through the Kindertransport \u2014 a rescue effort that brought thousands of Jewish children to safety in Great Britain prior to World War II. Designed for adults and families with children ages 10 and up, this program offers an opportunity for intergenerational learning and conversation.<\/p>\n
The event is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged at events.getlocalhop.com\/holocaust-memorial-program-with-jeff-gernsheimer\/event\/t68y3F1uUB\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n Plant sale<\/p>\n The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Berks County will hold their Plant Sale with a Difference Friday from 10 to 7 and Saturday from 9 to 1 at the North Campus Activity Center (4-H Center) at 1206 County Welfare Road, Bern Township. .Proceeds benefit Master Gardener volunteer projects. For more information call 610-378-1327.<\/p>\n In conjunction with the plant sale, the Berks County Conservation District will be holding its Conservation Celebration Saturday from 9 to 1. There will be a food truck, kids corner, music, line dancing and more. For more information call 610-372-4657<\/p>\n Pa. Dutch meal<\/p>\n The Hay Creek Valley Historical Association is serving a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch meal Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Historic Joanna Furnace in Robeson Township. The meal features creamed chicken gravy served over fresh waffles. Sides include country vegetables, salad, beverages and more. There will be fresh-baked pastries, cakes or cookies for dessert. Takeout is available.<\/p>\n Reservations are not required, but RSVP is requested at www.haycreek.org<\/a>. For more information call 610-286-0388 or email info@haycreek.org.<\/p>\n \u2018Swan Lake\u2019<\/p>\n Berks Ballet Theatre continues its 50th anniversary season with a production of \u201cSwan Lake\u201d Saturday at the Miller Center for the Arts at Reading Area Community College. The company is presenting Act II and Act III of the iconic Tchaikovsky ballet. BBT company dancers will be joined by guest artists Aaron Smyth and Diego Miranda-Monsman. Students Colette Jordan of Exeter High School and Hennessey Kehs-Rossi of Schuylkill Valley play leading roles. In conjunction with the performance, BBT will host a community art auction fundraiser. See\u00a0BerksBalletTheatre.com for tickets<\/a>.<\/p>\n Capital campaign<\/p>\n Lifeline of Berks County, also known as North Star Women\u2019s Center, is launching a capital campaign to support renovations at the organization\u2019s new facility at 2427 Perkiomen Ave. in Mount Penn. Lifeline supports women as they make decisions about their pregnancies while providing care for mothers and babies in need.<\/p>\n The campaign has raised $1,380,000 toward its $2 million goal. To contribute, go to lifelineofberks.org<\/a> or mail a donation to Lifeline of Berks, 2427 Perkiomen Ave., Reading, PA 19606.<\/p>\n Market returns<\/p>\n The Antietam Valley Farmers Market opens its new season today from 5 to 7 p.m. at Carsonia Park, 905 Byram St., Pennside. Future dates are May 18, June 1 and June 15.<\/p>\n Fishing rodeo<\/p>\n The Wyomissing Trout Fishing Rodeo is set for Saturday at the Stone House Lawn and along Wyomissing Creek. The borough will stock the creek with more than 1,300 trout in preparation for the event. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., with fishing starting at 9. The event is open to children 15 and under. Participants are encouraged to bring their own bait and equipment. Participation prizes will be awarded, and every registered child participating in the rodeo will receive Reading Fightin Phils tickets.<\/p>\n Festivities begin Friday at 6 p.m. with a free youth fly-fishing clinic and demonstration at The Wall.<\/p>\n Sale at library<\/p>\n The Robesonia Community Library, 75 S. Brooke St., is holding a sale of books, baked goods and botanicals Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. From noon to 1 there will be a $5 bag sale for books, CDs, and DVDs. The program is sponsored by the Friends of Robesonia Community Library. Call 484-331-4488 for more information.<\/p>\n Barn talk<\/p>\n Greg Huber will present a talk on Sweitzer Barns (Pennsylvania German bank barns) for the Tulpehocken Settlement Historical Society on May 11 at 7 p.m. in the society\u2019s headquarters at 116 N Front St., Womelsdorf. No admission charge. Copies of Huber\u2019s books will be available for sale.This lecture is open to the public, free of charge. Parking is at the rear of the building. For more information, call 610-589-2527.<\/p>\n Berks parks<\/p>\n The Berks County Parks and Recreation Department is presenting the following programs in May:<\/p>\n May 12: Trail Tales, 10 a.m., Bingaman House, Lower Alsace Township. Discover plants and animal friends. Geared toward children ages 3-5. Free but registration required.<\/p>\n May 15: An Evening with PA Bat Conservation & Rehabilitation, 7 p.m. Heritage Center, Bern Township. Learn about the species and witness a bat release. Free but registration required.<\/p>\n May 21: Indigenous Land Stewardship and Conservation, 7 p.m., Heritage Center. Program with Amanda Funk of the Widoktadwen Center for Native Knowledge. Free but registration required.<\/p>\n May 23: Tower Health Trail Challenge \u2013 Union Canal Trail Guided Hike, 9 a.m., Berks Leisure Area, Spring Township. Guided hike includes natural and location history and is rated as easy hike. Free but registration suggested.<\/p>\n Register for all programs at countyofberks.recdesk.com\/Community\/Program<\/a>. For more information, email LGauker@BerksPa.gov or call 610-374-2944, ext 2611.<\/p>\n Historic farm open house<\/p>\n The Historic Dreibelbis Farm near Virginville is hosting an open house May 17 from 2 to 4 p.m.\u00a0Docents will lead visitors through theunremodeled Civil War era house. The tour also will highlight the vast collection of Native American artifacts found on the farm. Visitorscan learn a bit about old-fashioned Pennsylvania Dutch gardening and have anopportunity to plant some seeds to take home.<\/p>\n Additional open houses are scheduled for June 21(focus on mementos and stories relating to notable Dreibelbis family members), July 19 (focus on antique farm wagons and equipment) and Sept. 20.<\/p>\n The farm is located on Route 143. The GPS address is 356 Hard Hill Road, Hamburg, PA. Learn more at www.Dreibelbisfarm.org<\/a>, Historic Dreibelbis Farm<\/a> on Facebook or 610-451-1193.<\/p>\n Flea market<\/p>\n The Muhlenberg Township Parks and Recreation Department\u2019s spring flea market is set for May 16 (rain date May 17) from 8 am to 1 pm at Jim Dietrich Park. Spaces for sellers are available (sale of food and drinks prohibited). Call 610-929-4727 weekdays from 8 to 4:30 to learn more.<\/p>\n Golf fundraiser<\/p>\n Vision Resource Center of Berks County is holding\u00a0 its ninth annual fundraising golf tournament on May 20 at Galen Hall Golf Club, 645 N. Galen Hall Road, South Heidelberg Township. In addition to classic golf play, the event features a blindfolded putting contest designed to help contestants experience a sensory moment of visual impairment. Registration and lunch begin at noon, and the shotgun start is scheduled for 1. Entry is limited to the first 100 golfers.<\/p>\n Golfers of all skill levels are welcome: The $125 tournament fee includes a round of golf with a cart, lunch, snacks, beverages, dinner, dessert and a gift bag. It is a scramble format with prizes awarded to winning foursomes.<\/p>\n