Berks Celtic Oyster Fest Saturday, July 18th

The Berks Celtic Oyster fest was established in 2002 as an annual event to raise money so the Berks County Irish-American fraternal association (BCIAFA) can set up an establishment in the community that we can call home. Our event is a celebration of Celtic heritage with food, drink, Irish entertainment and various vendors.

Hours:  11 AM – 9 PM (Rain or shine)

Music from Noon to 9 PM

Admission Price:

$8 + fee (online)

$8 in advance 

$10 at the gate

Children 12 years and younger are free

 Free parking onsite

Willow Glen Park, Sinking Spring

Click here for more information

Car Slams Into Sinking Spring Restaurant; Several Hurt

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A Reading woman drove her car through the side of a Five Guys Burgers and Fries in Sinking Spring on Thursday night, showering patrons with glass and forcing them to scramble to safety.

At least one person was taken to a hospital.

The driver, Marcia Conver, 76, was with her granddaughter and two great granddaughters about 6:50 p.m. when the car went through the side of the restaurant in the 3500 block of Penn Avenue.

“We were just parking, and I hit the gas instead of the brake, and it was that fast that I couldn’t help it. I just feel so bad,” she said.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=515554

A Clothes Call: Spring Township Nixes Naked Haunted House

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The owner of Sinking Spring‘s Shocktoberfest was pumped about offering his customers a one-of-a-kind experience: the chance to go through a haunted house stark naked.

But Thursday, Patrick Konopelski found out that his guests are going to have to keep their underwear on.

Konopelski’s application to have the naked haunted house challenge on the Spring Township portion of his Park Avenue property was turned down, three days after Sinking Spring officials said there could be no nude entertainment on the borough side.

Township officials said they would need more time to evaluate the request, and Shocktoberfest kicks off today. Konopelski emailed his request to the township about 9 p.m. Wednesday.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=514528

BOSS 2020 Seeks Boost For Sinking Spring

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Sinking Spring‘s BOSS 2020 organization is getting ready to ask the state Department of Community and Economic Development for a $300,000 grant for its bold plan to remake the 100-year-old borough.

According to officials, $250,000 would supplement a $346,860 PennDOT grant for sidewalk improvement on the downtown’s west side.

The two-part project would consist of putting a sidewalk on Penn Avenue between Park and Wynnewood avenues, and widening the sidewalk on Penn Avenue from Columbia Avenue to Hull Street to six feet.

Right now, according to Sam Loth, consulting coordinator for BOSS 2020, the sidewalk is only 21/2 to 3 feet wide in some portions, which sometimes forces pedestrians to walk on the road.

Read more:  http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=486342

Sinking Spring Borough Hires First Manager

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

For the first time in its 100-year history, Sinking Spring has a borough manager.

Regina M. Shade, secretary/treasurer since 2000, was named to the new post by a 5-0 vote Thursday night. Councilmen George Butkus and Steven Suruskie were absent.

“She’s already doing the job without the title,” said Councilman Edward D. Oswald Jr., who made the motion to appoint Shade near the close of council’s monthly meeting.

“Where most municipalities have managers, we’ve been running as if it’s still 1963,” Oswald said.

Read more:  http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=475077

Sinking Spring Focuses On Revitalizing Downtown

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When a group set out to revitalize Sinking Spring’s downtown in 2008, it planned to start with the west side of town.

Then a developer shifted the focus to what’s now known as the Spring Market shopping center in the eastern section.

Now the group is trying to advance a plan for the central district, calling for a new mix of residential and commercial space south of Penn Avenue.

The revitalization group, known as BOSS 2020, for Borough of Sinking Spring 2020, met with an architectural firm and came up with the downtown plan.

Alcon of Sinking Spring contributed $8,000 to the effort.

Read more:   http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=431266

McDonald’s $3.5 Million Redo In Sinking Spring

Editor’s note:  Now this is being a good neighbor!  Two Roy’s Rants thumbs up!

The 39-year-old McDonald’s restaurant in Sinking Spring is being razed this week, and a brand-new McDonald’s should be completed by July 15.

The $3.5 million project is a joint venture of McDonald’s Corp. and the private investment of Robert Hughes, owner of the Sinking Spring McDonald’s for the past nine years and owner of three others in the area.

Hughes has included a pocket park in his plans. The park will have benches and outdoor seating for McDonald’s customers, but anyone will be able to use the park, Hughes said.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=379434