The Community Calendar is a weekly feature of the Community Courier.
Local clubs, civic organizations, nonprofit agencies, schools, etc., that would like to have events or meeting date information published, should contact the Community Courier in writing at least two weeks before the event. No items will be accepted over the phone.
Send news releases to Engle Publishing Company, Community Courier, P.O. Box 500, Mount Joy, PA 17552 or fax them to 717-892-6024. Calendar items can also be emailed to ffulton@engleonline.com. For more information, call 800-800-1833, ext. 7592.
Those who have events that are canceled may submit the information to townlively.com/submit-cancellation. Readers may access the cancellations by visiting townlively.com/cancellations.
Churches and faith communities that would like their online services published in the Community Courier may email the details to ffulton@engleonline.com.
Talk On Coyotes
The French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust will present a Third Thursday Talk at 7 p.m. on May 21. Viewers will be able to access the talk via Zoom. Chester County park ranger and ecologist Chris Wales will present a lecture on the Eastern coyote. He will discuss the natural history, impacts on humans and the ecological significance of these animals.
Wales has worked in the environmental field for 22 years, including as a restoration ecologist for the U.S. Army and as a land manager for several nonprofits in Pennsylvania and Delaware. He has been with Chester County as a park ranger for the last six years.
Email programs@frenchandpickering.org to register.
Blood Donors Needed
The American Red Cross is asking healthy people to consider donating blood after a number of blood drives have been canceled due to concerns about the coronavirus.
The Red Cross is facing a severe shortage and is asking people to make an appointment to donate blood by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting http://www.RedCrossBlood.org or calling 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767).
Online Story Time
Berks County Libraries is now offering its Story Riders story time program online. Ms. Alison will present a live story time every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 10 a.m. She will also read a chapter from "A Tale Dark and Grimm" on Wednesdays and Fridays at 4 p.m. To view story time, visit http://www.facebook.com/bcplstoryriders.
Crow's Nest Preserve
Crow's Nest Preserve, 201 Piersol Road, Elverson, which is a Natural Lands nature preserve, remains open to the public as a place to engage in outdoor activity, such as walking, hiking or running, which are considered allowable individual activities as part of the stay-at-home orders for Pennsylvania.
Social distancing must be maintained. If the parking lot is full, visitors should come back to the site at another time. All public facilities, including restrooms, are closed to the public until further notice. For more information, visit http://www.natlands.org/crows-nest-preserve.
Park Open
Warwick County Park, 382 County Park Road, Pottstown, reopened on May 12 for fishing and trail walking. However, the office remains closed, bathrooms are locked and pavilions and the playground are still closed.
Those who visit the park should keep a six foot distance from others. If the parking lots are full, visitors should come back another time. For more information, search for "Friends of Warwick County Park" on Facebook.
Help Center
The Berks County COVID-19 Help Center is open for residents via email at COVID@countyofberks.com or by calling 610-320-6150. Staff members will be answering phones and responding to emails seven days a week between the hours of 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Multilingual services are available.
Trails Open
The Berks County Parks and Recreation Department offices are currently closed. All events are postponed or cancelled, and reservations are cancelled through Sunday, May 31. However, the trails are open for passive recreation, keeping social distancing requirements. For more information, call 610-372-8939.
Online Church Programming
The following local churches are offering online services: Church of St. Benedict in Mohnton, http://www.churchofsaintbenedict.com/mass; Hopewell Church in Elverson, http://www.hopewellchurch.org; Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, http://www.brick52.org/news-and-resources; Honey Brook Presbyterian Church, http://www.honeybrookpres.org; Honey Brook United Methodist Church, http://www.facebook.com/honeybrookumc; Conestoga Mennonite Church in Morgantown, http://www.youtube.com/user/ConestogaMennonite; Morgantown Community Church, http://www.morgantowncommunitychurch.org/COVID-19; and St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Birdsboro, http://www.stmarkbirdsboro.org.
Donations Sought
Conestoga Mennonite Church (CMC), located at 2779 Main St. (Route 23), Morgantown, is now a drop-off location for "Twin Valley Hero Masks." Community members are welcome to sew masks at home, specifically following the pattern guidelines provided by WellSpan Health. To view mask-making instructions, visit http://www.wellspan.org, click on "I Want to Help" and choose the blue box that reads "Handmade fabric masks pattern (with improved instructions)." The masks will be distributed to local health care workers.
"Hero Mask" donations, as well as donations for the Twin Valley Food Pantry, which operates out of CMC, can be dropped off at the church office on Tuesdays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Items that are needed by the pantry include sugar, cereal, paper products, laundry detergent, dishwashing soap and bars of soap, as well as beverages such as soda, water and fruit juices that do not require refrigeration.
For additional information, call the church office at 610-286-9124 or email admin@conestogamc.com.
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