Wyomissing and Schuylkill Valley Set for Soccer Semifinal Clash

Issue #005

Author

Drew Griffin
October 31st, 2023

In this issue of Reading Local Scoop

🎃 HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM READING LOCAL SCOOP 🎃

 🎄 Get Ready for Christmas 2023: Plan Your Visit to Pennsylvania's Ultimate Christmas Village

 🏠 Brooklyn Developer Proposes 78-Unit Apartment Complex in Former Reading Central Catholic High School

 🏈 Rick Keeley Announces Retirement After Distinguished 38-Year Coaching Career at Berks Catholic

⚽️ Wyomissing and Schuylkill Valley Set for District 3 Class 2A Girls Soccer Semifinal Clash

👮🏼‍♂️ Two Men Wounded in Weekend Shooting in Reading

 🏒 Teravainen's Late Goal Seals Victory for Hurricanes Over Flyers in Tightly Contested Matchup

 📆. Lot’s of Events This Week!

EVENTS

 This Week’s Events in Reading PA

Tuesday - October 31st

Wednesday - November 1st

A Night with Spirit - 7:00 PM EDT

Friday - November 3rd

Saturday - November 4th

Get Ready for Christmas 2023:
Plan Your Visit to Pennsylvania's
Ultimate Christmas Village

Even though it's only late October, it's the perfect time to start planning for Christmas 2023. One of the most anticipated holiday attractions in Pennsylvania, and a favorite among both locals and international tourists, is Koziar's Christmas Village.

Located in Berks County, PA, Koziar's Christmas Village offers an enchanting experience reminiscent of a Hallmark movie. This year, the village opens on November 4, 2023, with Santa and his helpers preparing special surprises for the opening night.

Koziar's Christmas Village, a massive holiday attraction, has been delighting visitors for over four generations. It's a magical place with over a million Christmas lights illuminating buildings, barns, and the surrounding landscape. Visitors can explore Santa's Post Office, an Old-Fashioned Bakery, a Toy Shop, and more, all within this life-sized Christmas village.

Since its inception in 1948, Koziar's Christmas Village has been recognized as one of the top holiday destinations worldwide. This season is expected to be particularly special, as 2022 marked the village's 75th season. According to those who have visited, it's like stepping into the North Pole itself.

The village will be open on weekends before Thanksgiving and then nightly from Thanksgiving until New Year's Day. For exact hours and more information, visit their website.

It opens November 5th for the Season!

HOURS THROUGH THANKSGIVING:

  • (OPEN WEEKENDS)

  • FRI. 6 PM - 9 PM

  • *SAT. 5 PM - 10 PM

  • SUN. 5 PM - 9 PM

THANKSGIVING THRU JAN. 1:

  • (OPEN EVERY NIGHT & ALL HOLIDAYS)

  • MON. - THUR. 6 PM - 9 PM

  • *FRI. 6 PM - 9 PM

  • *SAT. 5 PM - 10 PM

  • *SUN. 5 PM - 9 PM

  • STANDARD | *PRIME NIGHTS

*Prime Nights additional $5 per ticket

Brooklyn Developer Proposes
78-Unit Apartment Complex in Former Reading Central Catholic High School Amid Zoning Challenges and Community Concerns

A Brooklyn-based developer, Heights Advisors, is planning to transform the former Reading Central Catholic High School into a 78-unit apartment complex. The proposal, presented to the Reading Zoning Board, requires special exceptions and variances for adaptive reuse, dwelling unit size, and off-street parking spaces. The project, located in the R-3 Residential Zoning District, faces challenges due to the building's layout, which restricts demolition and results in some units lacking windows and falling below city space requirements.

The development, led by co-manager Andrew Goltzman, aims to preserve the historic integrity of the building while maximizing space. The plan includes using 49,000 square feet of the school's 80,000 square feet for the apartments, without demolishing interior walls. The parking plan, endorsed by the Reading Parking Authority, proposes 98 spaces, fewer than the city's requirement of 117.

Mayor Eddie Moran and City Manager William Heim support the project, but City Council opposes it due to concerns about increased population density impacting city resources and quality of life. Residents have also expressed concerns, particularly about the lack of windows in some bedrooms.

The building, with sections dating back to 1914, served as a private residence and later as a high school until its closure in 2011. The developer intends to preserve historic features like the grand marble staircase for common use. The zoning board's decision is expected on November 8.

Rick Keeley Announces Retirement After Distinguished 38-Year
Coaching Career at Berks Catholic

Rick Keeley, the esteemed head football coach at Berks Catholic, is set to retire. His final game will be the Eastern Conference Class 3A championship against Hamburg. Keeley's coaching career spans 38 seasons, with a record of 279-160-3, including a 117-41 record in 13 seasons at Berks Catholic. He has led teams to four District 3 titles and has been recognized as District 3 Coach of the Year in 2015.

Keeley, a 1971 graduate of St. Pius X High School, played football and baseball and continued his athletic career at Kutztown University. He holds a record for blocked punts at Kutztown and has been inducted into multiple halls of fame, including the Holy Name Hall of Fame and the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Keeley's retirement marks the end of a distinguished coaching tenure in Berks County.

Wyomissing and Schuylkill Valley Set for District 3 Class 2A Girls
Soccer Semifinal Clash

The District 3 Class 2A girls soccer semifinal will feature Wyomissing against Schuylkill Valley, scheduled for Tuesday at Berks Catholic’s Forino Sports Complex at 6 p.m. Meanwhile, the start time for the other Class 2A semifinal between Hamburg and Trinity has been moved to Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Wyomissing, the Berks champion and top seed with a record of 20-1-1, is aiming for its fourth consecutive title. Schuylkill Valley, seeded third with a 17-2-1 record, is seeking to reach its first final since 2017 and second overall, having lost to Boiling Springs in the 2017 championship.

The teams previously tied 2-2 on October 4 at Leesport. Fourth-seeded Hamburg (15-4-1) is set for its first semifinal, facing top-seeded Trinity (15-3). Hamburg's quarterfinal win over Elco marked its first district victory since 2008, which was also its last semifinal appearance.

Trinity, a six-time district champion, lost to Wyomissing in last year’s final. The championship game is scheduled for Saturday at Cumberland Valley’s Eagle View Middle School in Mechanicsburg at 11 a.m. The date and location for the third-place game, which doubles as a PIAA qualifier, are yet to be determined and will be held at the higher seed’s venue.

Two Men Wounded in Weekend Shooting in Reading

Reading police are investigating a shooting that occurred around 11:45 p.m. Saturday on S. 6th Street, leaving two men injured. One victim, a man in his 50s, was found with a gunshot wound to the leg. A second man was discovered nearby, also shot in the legs.

Both victims were taken to Reading Hospital in serious condition. The suspect and motive remain unidentified. The investigation continues, and authorities urge anyone with information to contact Reading Police at 610-655-6116 or Crime Alert Berks at 877-373-9913.

Reading Local Scoop - Sports

Teravainen's Late Goal Seals Victory for Hurricanes Over Flyers in
Tightly Contested Matchup

Flyers

Teuvo Teravainen scored the decisive goal with just under four minutes remaining, leading the Carolina Hurricanes to a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night. This win marks the Hurricanes' eighth consecutive triumph over the Flyers. Stefan Noesen and Michael Bunting also contributed goals for Carolina, while goaltender Frederik Andersen made 26 saves. The Flyers, who have lost four of their last five games, received goals from Owen Tippett and Garnet Hathaway, with Carter Hart making 31 saves.

The game was tightly contested until Teravainen scored late in the third period, capitalizing on a pass from Jesperi Kotkaniemi. The Hurricanes then maintained control, preventing the Flyers from mounting a comeback. Noesen opened the scoring early in the game, but the Flyers responded with two goals to take the lead, only for Bunting to equalize in the second period.

Looking ahead, the Hurricanes will face the New York Rangers on Thursday night, while the Flyers will host Buffalo on Wednesday, starting a home-and-home series against the Sabres.

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