Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank recently celebrated an amazing milestone: one full year of making meals at its Helping Harvest Community Kitchen in downtown Reading, and distributing them to area families and individuals facing food insecurity.Helping Harvest staff began the process of moving into t
Children and teens in Berks County coping with the loss of a loved one will have the opportunity to attend a free summer grief camp through the Berks County Intermediate Unit’s Camp Connect program.Now entering its 12th year, Camp Connect has supported more than 400 young people dealing with the dea
The memory of Elric J. Endersby, celebrated timber framer and prolific historian of early American vernacular architecture, will be honored through the establishment of the Elric J. Endersby Archive as part of the permanent collection of the library and archives at the Pennsylvania German Cultural H
This article originally appeared in Good Day, Berks — Spotlight PA’s free daily newsletter for Berks County and your daily dose of Berks County essentials. Sign up here.This week’s Community Spotlight honoree is Tom Frebel, 64, a volunteer with Baseballtown Charities Dream League, a nonprofit that e
The Berks LaunchBox powered by Penn State has announced five recipients of its IMAGINE Your Business grant, designed to help early-stage entrepreneurs accelerate their business growth. The program awards up to $2,000 to assist startups with prototyping, marketing, product development and other essen
Bee‑Inspiring Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting pollinators and promoting environmental stewardship, visited Whitfield Elementary School as part of the school’s Earth Day Celebration to engage students in hands‑on environmental learning. During the visit, t
The Wyomissing Police Department announced it will conduct targeted educational enforcement details throughout May focused on the operation of electric scooters, motor scooters, and motor-driven cycles on roadways and sidewalks within the borough.According to the department, the initiative is intend
This story was produced by the Berks County bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom. Sign up for Good Day, Berks, a daily dose of essential local stories at spotlightpa.org/newsletters/gooddayberks.READING — One week into 2026, a 125-year-old Poplar Street rowhome collapsed, tem
Reading Housing Authority has launched a new software system that modernizes how the organization delivers services and interacts with the community. The system, Yardi, enables RHA to conduct business virtually with applicants, residents, voucher program participants, landlords and others through a
As warmer weather brings more people outdoors, the Exeter Township Police Department is reminding both drivers and pedestrians to stay alert and understand their responsibilities on the road following a recent two-week pedestrian enforcement initiative.Sergeant David Bentz of the Exeter Township Pol
Six small nonprofits and neighbors are receiving thousands of dollars to support their community engagement projects aimed to improve the lives of people in Reading.The Wyomissing Foundation and Barrio Alegría announced the winning projects that received a combined total of $25,000 to empower local
The Berks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU) has announced the appointment of Melanie Serrano as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective May 4, 2026.Ms. Serrano’s appointment was unanimously approved by the BCIU Board of Directors at its October 16, 2025, meeting. She officially transitioned i
A Florida man was killed Wednesday morning after falling approximately 50 feet inside the IMAX theater in downtown Reading, according to the Berks County Coroner’s Office.Berks County Coroner Matthew J. Stitzel said the office was notified by the Berks County 911 Center at 11:36 a.m. of an individua
A Berks County educator is among 12 finalists selected for Pennsylvania’s 2027 Teacher of the Year award, according to an announcement this week from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.Jenna Anzelmo of the Fleetwood Area School District was named one of the statewide finalists by the Shapiro
A 22-year-old Muhlenberg Township man was arrested Sunday evening after allegedly fleeing from Pennsylvania State Police during a high-speed pursuit that began on Route 222 in Bern Township and ended in Muhlenberg Township.According to Pennsylvania State Police, troopers were conducting radar enforc
The County of Berks announced plans to acquire the building at 600 Penn Street in downtown Reading, with the goal of creating a centralized County Government Center and addressing long-term infrastructure needs across its facilities.County officials said the proposed purchase of the former Wells Far
The vital infrastructure project, I-78/SR 61 Bridge Replacement and Interchange Reconstruction Project in Berks County, PA, has been recognized by the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) Mid-Atlantic Chapter with the 2026 Project of the Year Award in the Mega Project over $100 mill
As one Governor Mifflin High School student walks across the stage to receive his high school diploma this May, he will do so with another diploma already in hand: his Associates Degree.Governor Mifflin High School senior Joseph Wentzler earned his Associates in Integrative Studies from Reading Area
Berks Career & Technology Center (BCTC) and Reading Muhlenberg Career & Technology Center (RMCTC) proudly joined forces once again to celebrate the achievements and bright futures of their graduating students at the annual Decision Day celebration, held at the Miller Center for the Arts at Reading A
A colonial-era celebration is planned this summer at the Daniel Boone Homestead, marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with a full day of living history programming.Hosted by the Daniel Boone Homestead Associates, the “Colonial 250th Anniversary Celebration”
Lauren Conrad has been named student marshal for the Penn State Berks spring 2026 commencement ceremony. She is earning a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology with a minor in chemistry, and the ceremony will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, at the Santander Arena in downto
Berks County Parks & Recreation has announced a new Backpack Lending Program aimed at helping children and families explore local parks while learning about nature, wildlife, and history.The program was made possible through 2025 funding from the Gilmore-Henne Grant, administered by the Berks County
This story was produced by the Berks County bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom. Sign up for Good Day, Berks, a daily dose of essential local stories at spotlightpa.org/newsletters/gooddayberks.TULPEHOCKEN — A Berks County township has turned over drafts of a proposed agricu
Family Promise of Berks County recently received a $20,000 grant from Clayton, ensuring that families in Berks County receive the support they need to stay safely housed.The grant is a portion of the $2 million dollars Clayton is donating to the Family Promise national network. The funds are a resul
