Good morning, Reading.

LightHouse Women & Children’s Center held its record-breaking Welcome Home Party on May 8 at Redner’s Event Center, drawing over 300 guests + raising funds to support safe housing and care for women and children facing homelessness in Berks.

The event featured dinner, live entertainment and auctions, with proceeds directly supporting trauma-informed services for up to 90 guests at a time.

Families gathered at 13th and Union Elementary last Saturday for the first ChalkPalooza—an event organized by The Camel Project in partnership with the city and Public Works—that featured chalk art, bubbles, food trucks, music, a color run, and a car show to promote mental wellness. Organizers said a second festival will take place Saturday, Sept. 6 at Kutztown.

On Saturday evening, police and EMS responded to a 911 call reporting a shooting near the Sunoco at 5th and Penn in West Reading but found no evidence of a shooting, and a gunshot victim was later brought from the City of Reading to Tower Health Urgent Care in Wyomissing and then taken to Reading Hospital—only one victim is confirmed.

A video circulating on social media showed a Reading police officer striking a man who was sitting against steps, and the police have launched an internal investigation to review all video footage while Mayor Eddie Morán said he will wait for the investigation's findings before commenting further.

College seniors celebrated graduation as Penn State Lehigh Valley held its commencement ceremony on Saturday—honoring nearly 400 undergraduates and 200 graduate students with a speech by Allentown business owner Murtaza Jaffer.

Penn State Berks also celebrated its graduates at the Santander Arena in Reading where Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan delivered the commencement address.

The Schuylkill Conservation District will hold summer Wildlife Day Camps to give children hands-on environmental education at local sites.

A one-day camp is set for June 19 at Zion Lutheran Church Grove in Erdman and more sessions are planned for June 23 and 25 at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park, July 21-23 at Valley View Park, and August 4-6 in Schuylkill Haven and at Albright’s Woods — each serving different age groups.

Rising temperatures have brought more tick activity to Berks County as doctors at Penn State Health St. Joseph treated patients with serious tick-borne infections recently.

They advise residents to protect themselves by wearing long sleeves, using insect repellent, and checking skin and pets regularly—steps that may reduce tick-related illnesses.

On May 10, Gov. Mifflin High School hosted Day 2 of the Berks track and field championships where four athletes each won two events.

Gov. Mifflin’s Bridget Martin won the 4X100 meter relay—she finished with a time of 49.46 seconds ahead of Wyomissing’s Alexis Hardy.

More than 800 athletes competed on Saturday at Kutztown University in the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Eastern Spring Sectional and winners will qualify for the statewide Summer Games at Penn State in June (organizers said many volunteers helped make the event a success).

Schuylkill Navigation Bicentennial

10 AM – 4 PM — Berks County Heritage Center — Free displays, fee for lectures — Explore canal history through engaging lectures and historic artifacts at the heritage center.

Fightin Phils vs. Erie Sea Wolves

2:45 PM — FirstEnergy Stadium — Affordable tickets available — Experience the thrill of Double-A baseball as the Fightin Phils take on their rivals in a family-friendly atmosphere.

Ride the Helldiver Experience

9 AM – 5 PM — Mid Atlantic Air Museum — Admission fee required — Take an unforgettable ride in one of the only flying SB2C Helldivers in the world during WWII Weekend.