Happenings
Colebrookdale Railroad
Boyertown’s Colebrookdale Railroad is now featured in new children’s book. “Nathaniel’s Trains” is based on the true story of how modern-day Colebrookdale Railroad founder Nathaniel Guest revived the railroad. Author Diane Bakos of Bethlehem — along with her son, Will — volunteered for the railroad after taking a ride and meeting Nathaniel Guest, executive director, Colebrookdale Preservation Trust, in 2020. “Our family had booked a trip on the Orient Express in October of that year, but it was canceled due to COVID,” explained Bakos in a release. “Will decided we’d ride local trains instead. That very month, when we would have been riding Europe’s most famous excursion train, we instead discovered America’s most beautiful railroad: the Colebrookdale.”
Bakos said Guest’s story captivated her. Guest revived the railroad by selling his own beloved model train layout to raise the seed money to launch the project. That inspired an area philanthropist, Steve Maguire, to pitch in a large check of his own, and the excursion train was off and running, according to the release. “Nathaniel Guest seems to live by Daniel Burnham’s words, ‘Make no little plans.’ He aimed for the sky and, in doing so, has literally transformed the entire BoyertownPottstown area. It can start with you,” said Bakos.
Because her own son had been enthralled with trains since his toddler “Thomas” days, she wanted to tell the story in a way that would engage and inspire children to follow their dreams. “Nathaniel’s Trains” is available through Amazon (search Diane Bakos) in both hardback and Kindle formats, with paperback yet to come.
Building a Better Boyertown
Building a Better Boyertown its 20th anniversary celebration on Sept. 2at 6p.m. at Brakeman’s Cafe, 56 S. Washington St.
The event will be a Roaring 20sthemed dinner celebration featuring seasonal appetizers, a plated salad and a plated dinner. Guests will receive a complimentary glass of wine or beer, and there will be a cash bar available. Visit www.boyertownpa.org or call 610-369-3054for tickets.
Kutztown Day Concerts
The Kutztown Park will host free concerts on Aug. 7as part of the 2022 Borough of Kutztown Concert Series during Kutztown Day. The annual Kutztown Day celebration, held annually on the first Sunday in August since 1907, will be held from noon to 9:30 p.m. including vendors, activities, displays, and games.
Swing Fever will kick off the concerts in the Kutztown Park Bandshell from 1 to 3 p.m. Back by popular demand, Swing Fever performs Big Band music from the Swing era of the 1920s to 1950s, including Artie Shaw, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, and Benny Goodman.
Dressed in authentic German period attire complete with Lederhosen and Alpine hats, The Happy Dutchmen German Band will stroll the Kutztown Park grounds from 3 to 6 p.m. Under the direction of Bruce Rohrbach, the band comprised of local musicians from the Kutztown and East Penn Valley area has been performing locally for more than 45 years to promote the music of Germany/Bavaria, including standard German marches, polka, German dances and hosting a Cake Walk.
Making a return appearance in the concert series, Flamin’ Dick and the Hot Rods take the stage from 6 to 8 p.m. The widely known and popular Reading-area based rock-n-roll band performs music of the 1950s and 60s. Formed in 1986, the band is comprised of local musicians from Robesonia, Reading, Pottstown, Lebanon and the surrounding area. They play a variety of music spanning 1955 to 1968, including Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Eddie Cochran, Bill Haley and The Comets, Elvis, The Righteous Brothers, and Dion. Marvelous Marv and the Shoe Throwers perform on the flatbed Stage in the lower park from 7:30 to 9p.m., prior to the Kutztown Day Raffle Drawing and the fireworks, ending the evening at 9:15 p.m. Under the leadership of Marv Danenhower, this local iconic group will entertain with great instrumentals and vocals of classic rock.
Blacksmith Day
The Pennsylvania Artist Blacksmiths’ Association will be holding its annual Blacksmith Day on Aug. 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the grounds of the Old Dry Road Farm, 202 Highland Road, Lower Heidelberg Township.
All are welcome to the free event that will be held rain or shine. Featured events are forging demonstrations, a hands-on instruction area for the public, children’s activities, and a forging contest among the blacksmiths, organizers said. Association members will discuss the craft of blacksmithing. Handcrafted metalwork made by club members will be on display and for sale. The event and the grounds are pet friendly.
For more information visit pabasite. org, or facebook.com/PABlacksmiths.
Veterans Making a Difference
Veterans Making a Difference is involved in these events:
• Aug. 20, 10 a.m.: Conrad Weiser Field of Dreams Baseball Game to support Veterans Making A Difference and a fundraiser for Kristin Spayd.
The fundraiser is at the Robesonia Baseball Field, 102 W. Ruth Ave. The fundraiser includes raffle baskets, hot dogs, drinks, baked goods and a 50⁄50 drawing. For more information, contact Kerry Schneck at 484-818-0439 or Liz Graybill at 484-577-6898.
• Aug. 27, Noon: Flag retirement ceremony at Zion Spies Evangelical Reformed Church, 318Spies
Church Road, Alsace Township. Veterans Making A Difference will briefly explain the ceremony then conduct the proper retirement of the flags. Flags will be provided, but any flags needing to be disposed of will be accepted.
Contact the church at 610-7789787 or Graybill at 484-577-6898 with questions..
Fundraiser results
The Hack Away at Hunger Golf Tournament held July 15 at Reading Country Club in Exeter Township raised $19,000 for local food pantries, organizers said.
This tournament began in 2011 as a senior project for Ethan Galtere while attending Exeter High School. He saw a need in helping Exeter Area Food Pantry with their resources, organizers said. Plans are underway for next year’s event. Interested golfers and sponsors can contact Greg Galtere at ggaltere11@gmail.com.
This year’s distribution:
• Exeter Area Food Pantry, $9,000
• Helping Harvest, $2,200
• Preston’s Pantry, $2,200
• Keystone Military Families, $1,400
• Boyertown Salvation Army, $900
• Life Church Pantry, $600
• Safe Berks Meal Program, $600
• Birdsboro First Baptist Pantry, $400
• Mifflin Food Pantry, $400
• Opportunity House, $400
• Kennedy House, $300
• Jewish Family Service, $200
• Spring City Food Pantry, $200
• Water Street Mission, Lancaster, $100
• Wilson Food Pantry, $100
Pet shelter open house
Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue will hold its monthly Meet & Greet the Goldens on Aug. 13 from 10 a.m. until noon at its Golden Gateway facility at 60Vera Cruz Road near Reinholds. Meet the Golden Retrievers and other dogs that are available for adoption, and you can ask questions of the staff members.
For more information about the free event: info@dvgrr.org, 717484-4799 or https://dvgrr.org/ adopt/monthlyopenhouse.
Film Tax Credit increased to boost PA Film Production
The ReadingFilm Office announced that the PA Film Tax Credit has been increased to $100 million. “We applaud the Pennsylvania Legislators for increasing PA Film Tax Incentives and seeing the benefits of a vibrant film production industry in PA,” said executive director, ReadingFilm, Cammie Harris, in a release. ReadingFilm’s mission is to grow film production in the region, build a local production community, support film productions through location scouting and connecting them with production resources, and market Greater Reading as a film destination location. Since its inception, ReadingFilm has supported dozens of local and visiting film productions, produced a short film to market the region, created a film festival and a high school film competition, hosted numerous community events, supported local artists, and helped Pulitzer Prize winner and Tony nominee Lynn Nottage and Emmy winner Tony Gerber create “Sweat” and “This is Reading.”
The tax credit increase is extremely beneficial in attracting more film production to the region. While the bulk of film production has traditionally happened in LA and New York, states around the country are learning the value of investing in the film industry. Film production is a huge economic driver in the communities which have capitalized on its potential. In 2020— a year when the pandemic literally shut down production for months — the industry accounted for nearly $234 billion dollars of the U.S. economy. That economic impact has grown each year and is expected to nearly double by 2030. Jobs in the film production sector are 50% higher paying than the national average. Most of the people in the industry are small businesses, with under 10 employees. A major motion picture can infuse up to $250K each day into the local economy, while a TV show can generate $150K a day in local spending.
In addition to a $30 million increase to the overall film tax credit, $5 million has been carved out for independent films. This will give small budget, independently produced, and local film productions a greater opportunity to take advantage of the film tax credit program.
Learn more at the PA Film Office page https://filminpa.com/incentives/.
ReadingFilm is committed to lifting-up voices of the under-represented and providing content and services that reflect and meet the needs of the diverse communities we serve. ReadingFilm is the home of the ReadingFilm FEST scheduled October 27 — 30, 2022.