Community Calendar
Event submissions: Send to editor@phoenixvillenews.com a week prior to publication. Note “Phoenix Calendar” in the subject.
Area events
Canning Venison and Other Meat: Penn State Extension in Montgomery County will offer a class on pressure canning venison and other meat Wednesday, Dec. 19, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Penn State Extension Montgomery County, 1015 Bridge Road, Collegeville. The class will be taught by a Penn State Extension food safety educator and a master home food preserver. In this class, the safe, researchbased method for canning meat will be taught. This workshop will review the basics of using a pressure canner based on current USDA canning guidelines, how a pressure canner works and canning safety. Cost: $15. Register at extension.psu.edu/homefood-preservation-wild-game or by calling 877-345-0691. For more information, call Mandel Smith at 610-489-4315.
Book Signing and Tasting Event: Kimberton Whole Foods, 222 E. Main St., Collegeville, will hold a book signing and tasting event Dec. 22 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Attendees can get signed copies of “The Kimberton Whole Foods Cookbook (Hickory Grove Publishing) by Pat and Terry Brett, owners of Kimberton Whole Foods.
A Gilded Christmas: Pennypacker Mills will offer the A Gilded Christmas holiday tour through Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019. See period-style Christmas ornaments and decorations used throughout the mansion in addition to original 1900s ornaments and greeting cards on exhibit in the Galleries. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Tours are free, with a suggested donation of $2 per person. Pennypacker Mills is located at 5 Haldeman Road, Schwenksville. For information, visit montcopa.org/pennypackermills or call 610-287-9349.
Woodstove Cooking Demonstration: Visit Pennypacker Mills Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to see traditional American foods cooked on a wood stove. Two cooks will simmer and bake foods that are reminiscent of those found in many homes in the early 1900s. This free cooking demonstration will be held in the Classroom Building, up the hill from the Pennypacker mansion, 5 Haldeman Road, Schwenksville. If the weather is inclement, the snow date is Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 610-287-9349 or visit montcopa.org/pennypackermills.
Fill The Shelves: The annual Fill The Shelves food drive will collect items Jan. 14 to 18 at Barto Pool & Spa, 437 Bridge St., Phoenixville, and DeMutis Group (rear entrance), 101 Bridge St., Phoenixville. This year’s bounty will be shared by PACS in Phoenixville and Daily Bread Community Food Pantry in Collegeville. For additional information, contact banjack303@verizon.net or 610-539-4411.
Phoenixville Public Library
Library Info: 183 Second Ave., phoenixvillelibrary.org, 610-9333013 ext. 132. Reservations for events/programs can be made online or by calling the library. Phoenix Fiction Writers: Adult writers of fiction invited to attend twice monthly meetings of the Phoenix Fiction Writers at the library. Free. Group meets second Thursday and third Tuesday of each month from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in the library’s Harrop Room. Led by Eric Parmer, offering local writers education, empowerment and constructive criticism. Writers ask questions about the writing process, read work out loud and receive/offer input on material read. Free and open to public. To submit writing samples or for more information, contact Eric Parmer at edparmer@gmail.com.
Legal Outreach Clinic: A free legal clinic will be offered at Phoenixville Public Library on the first Thursday of the month from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Ian J. Michener, Esq. of Rick Linn, LLC offers this Phoenixville Legal Outreach Clinic, providing information, counseling, and advocacy in various areas of law, including family law, trusts & estates, criminal defense, landlord-tenant law, and legal issues facing small businesses. Attendees receive a free 20-minute consultation with an attorney, who will provide counseling and access to legal resources as needed. Consultations are provided on a first-come, first served basis. For more information, call 610-9333013 ext. 132 or email mpinto@ ccls.org.
ESL Conversation Group: An ESL Conversation Group meets each Saturday from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Phoenixville Public Library. This free group is open to ESL students and anyone in the community looking to improve or practice their English. John Argeseanu is the group facilitator. For more information, call 610-457-5793 or email johnargeseanu@gmail.com.
Mobile Workforce Navigator: The PA CareerLink and the United Way Financial Stability Center of Chester County want you to meet Ann Marie Barr, the Mobile Workforce Navigator, your guide to resources available to unemployed and underemployed job seekers. Barr provides oneon-one employment assistance in Phoenixville Public Library’s Harrop Room Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Walk-in appointments available. This service is free and open to the public. For more information, email abarr@ openhearthinc.org or call 610-
331-4101.
Piano Performance: Phoenixville Public Library will host a free performance by local pianist Joe Kenney Monday, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m. Kenney, acclaimed for his innovative merging of jazz, blues and classical idioms, will perform selections from his current and forthcoming albums, including classical and jazz infused originals and covers of popular songs, along with arrangements of holiday songs. This event is free and open to the public. Reservations are required on the Adult Events Calendar at phoenixvillelibrary.org or by calling 610-933-3013 ext. 132.
Books on Tap: Books on Tap, Phoenixville Public Library’s book discussion group for adults in their 20s and 30s, will meet Tuesday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. at P.J. Ryan’s Pub, 233 Bridge St., Phoenixville. The group will discuss “Less” by Andrew Sean Greer. A copy of the book may be reserved at the library or at ccls.org. This event is free and open to the public. Food and beverages are available for purchase. For more information, contact Christine Shaffer at shaffer.m.christine@gmail.com. Suicide Prevention Workshop: The Phoenixville Public Library will host a free suicide prevention workshop Thursday, Jan.
3, at 7 p.m. Jennifer Gehret of Spring-Ford Counseling Services will be the speaker. The presentation will focus on the warning signs of depression, how to respond to someone who is suicidal using the ACT (Acknowledge, Care, Tell) Model and local and national resources for suicide prevention. This event is free and open to the public. Reservations are required on the Adult Events Calendar at phoenixvillelibrary.org or by calling 610-933-3013 ext. 132.
Phoenix Book Club: The Phoenix Book Club will meet next at Phoenixville Public Library Monday, Jan. 7, at 7 p.m. The group will discuss “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. A copy of the book may be reserved at the library or online at ccls.org. The group is free and open to the public. For more information, call 610-933-3013 ext. 132 or email mpinto@ccls.org.
Photo Organizing Class: Are your photos overwhelming you? Do you have digital pictures on the computer, camera cards, iPhones, iPads, etc.? Do you have printed pictures in boxes, drawers, closets, etc.? Would you like to find a picture but have no idea where it would be? Are you afraid if you lose your phone or your computer crashes that all your digital photos would be gone? Phoenixville Public Library will host a free, two-part SOS (Save-Organize-Share) Photo Organizing Class Tuesdays, Jan. 8 and 15, from 7 to 8:15 p.m. Terri McDowell, lead ambassador for Forever, a photo storage service, will be the instructor. The classes are free and open to the public. Reservations are required for each class, and attendance at the Jan. 8 class is requested prior to attending the Jan. 15 session. Additional class information and reservations are available on the Adult Events Calendar at phoenixvillelibrary.org or by calling 610-933-3013 ext. 132.
Perkiomen Valley Library
Library Info: 290 Second St., Schwenksville. Call 610-2878360 for registration and information.
Yoga: Mondays at 7:30 p.m. (no class Dec. 24 or 31). Teens and adults. Drop-in for $5 per session. Join Adjoa Amoah-Aggrey, RYT/Carmen Molina, RYT, for all levels of yoga. Bring a mat and wear comfortable clothing. Beginners welcome. Email questions to yoga.vaayu@gmail.com.
Christmas Cookie & Movie: Saturday, Dec. 15, at 10 a.m. Kids Cookie Decorating at 10 a.m., followed by a screening of “The Polar Express” at 10:45 a.m. Registration requested.
Read, Think, Chat: Tuesday, Dec. 18, at 6:30 p.m. Join a lively discussion of books. The book to be discussed is “The Devil in the White City” by Erik Larson.
American Girl Tea: Wednesday, Dec. 26, at 2 p.m. Join us to discuss your favorite American Girl books, play games, create an art project and partake of tea. Registration requested. Writers Assemble: Thursday, Dec. 27, at 4:30 p.m. Join a monthly writing club. Meet other people who love to write. Come to write or to get or give feedback.
Religious Listings
First United Church of Christ: The Men’s Breakfast Club will meet Dec. 16 at 8:30 a.m. at the Main St. Café. First UCC, 367 Washington Street, Royersford, will hold Sunday School for all ages at 10 a.m. The third Sunday of Advent — Love will be celebrated at the 11 a.m. worship service. Folks will serve at the food pantry at Project Outreach on Thursday, Dec. 20.