Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom is returning to an indoor format for its 23rd annual Jewish Food Festival, to be held Nov. 5 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the synagogue, 555 Warwick Drive, Wyomissing.
The menu includes apple cake, brisket, pastrami, corned beef, hot dogs and more. Online advance orders are being taken at www.ohebsholom.org. The deadline for preordering is Nov. 1. Credit cards are preferred for purchasing items on-site.
The event was held in a drive-thru format for the last three years. This year marks the return of the entertainment, education and cultural enrichment that have been part of the festival since the beginning.
Mezzo-soprano Molly Nemirow and accompanist Holly Altenderfer will perform songs in celebration of Jewish culture in the Broadway and classical traditions. Performances are at 12:30 and 2:30.
Rabbi Brian Michelson will offer tours of the synagogue’s sanctuary, and there will be a shofar-blowing demonstration and displays on Jewish holiday celebrations.
Program to feature artist’s work
Wyomissing resident and connoisseur of all things French, Gail Dawson-White, will present a program on one of the greatest artists of modern times, David Hockney, entitled “Spring Can Not Be Cancelled: A Covid Year in Normandie,” on Oct. 28 at 1 p.m. at the Wyomissing Public Library, 9 Reading Blvd.
The program will feature works Hockney created during the pandemic that illustrate his optimism and strong affiliation with nature.
The program is free and open to the public. Registration is requested: email [email protected] or call the library at 610-301-7512.
Fitzy’s Halloween race/walk
Lauren’s Foundation, a Wyomissing-based nonprofit, will hold its 19th annual Fitzy’s Halloween 5K Run/Walk and Kid’s Trick or Treat Dash at the Stone House in Wyomissing on Oct. 29 at 10:00 am. Visit laurensfoundation.org to register for the 5K through 10/25. Individual and team registrations are accepted.
The Kid’s Trick or Treat Dash takes place at 11:30 and is open to ages 12 and under (no registration required). All kids will receive a free Halloween bag with goodies while supplies last.
Food trucks from Nonno Alby’s, Comali Taqueria, Sweet Ride, Perk Up and Tri-BOBA will be on hand, along with treats from Tristan & Sons Cakes. There will be adult and children’s costume contests, entertainment, a health fair and supervised child care (ages 2+).
Proceeds provide financial assistance for Berks families with seriously ill children, scholarships for local students in need and to fund brain tumor research and organ donation awareness.
Grief support group
The sudSSpirit grief support group for those who have experienced the sudden unexpected death of a spouse or significant other will meet on Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. in the Exeter Community Library, 4569 Preswick Drive. It is free, and no registration is required. For more information, call 717-866-2401 or email [email protected] or go to dominicmurgido.com.
Helping Harvest director to speak
Jay Worrall, executive director of Helping Harvest, will present the program at Spirit on Tap on Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton, 701 Penn St. Worrall will talk about how demand for food for the hungry has increased over the past few years, what is being done to meet that need and what plans are being made for the next few years. There is no charge. For more information contact: Dr. Harry L. Serio at [email protected]
Villa open for trick-or-treating
Keystone Villa at Douglassville will be open to the public for trick-or-treating on Oct. 25, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at 1180 and 1152 Ben Franklin Highway East, Amity Township. Kids are invited to dress in costume. To RSVP, call 610-385-5000.
Hate crime discussion
The Penn State Berks global studies degree program will host a forum, “How Hate Crime Laws Perpetuate Anti-Muslim Racism,” on Oct. 25 from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. in Room 121 of the Gaige Technology and Business Innovation Building. The event is free and open to the public.
Evelyn Alsultany, professor of American studies and ethnicity at the University of Southern California, is the featured speaker. She is a published author and has served as a consultant for Netflix, Amazon and NBC Universal to improve media representations of Muslims.
For additional information, contact Zohra Melaouah-Shaffer at 610-396-6197 or [email protected].
Tractor rides
The Just Farm Kids Tractor Ride is scheduled for Oct. 28 at noon at 30 S. Seventh St., Bally. All tractors are welcome, big or small. For more information, contact Brett at 610-836-1950 or [email protected].
Book sale
The Bernville Library is holding a “10 items for $3” book sale Oct. 28 and 29 at 6721 Bernville Road (Route 183). Hours are Oct. 28, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Oct. 29, 2 to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Fiction is organized alphabetically by author. There are also children’s books, juvenile books, history, biography, how-to, travel, gardening, cookbooks, movies, music CD’s and and more. The library is above Redner’s in Bernville. Enter from Fox Alley. For more information, call 610-488-1302.
Trunk-or-treat
The Muhlenberg Community Library is holding a trunk-or-treat event on Oct. 28, from noon to 2 p.m. in the library parking lot, 3612 Kutztown Road, Laureldale. Open to all ages, and no registration required. Go to MuhlenbergCommunityLibrary.org to learn more.
Library fundraiser
Nellie Walter, a psychic medium, will conduct a gallery fundraiser benefiting Muhlenberg Community Library on Oct. 31 from 6:30 to 8 p.m., at the Muhlenberg Recreation Building, 3025 River Road. Tickets are $30 per person and can be purchased at the library, 3612 Kutztown Road, or by calling 610-929-0589.
‘Legend of Sleepy Hollow’
The Longswamp Township Historical Society will sponsor “The True Story of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow” in the Henry Auditorium at the Lutheran Home at Topton, 1 Home Ave., Topton, on Nov. 1 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sleepy Hollow residents thought the Headless Horseman was a ghost sent to put down the Revolution.
Submit items to [email protected]