Berks & Beyond Blog

Looking for something fun to do in the Harrisburg, PA area?  Whether you want to spend a day outside or stay indoors, here are two local events to check out:

Spring Carlisle Collector Car Swap Meet & Corral

Carlisle PA Fairgrounds

Apr 25 – Apr 29, 2012

Adult Admission: Wed.-Sat. $10 / Sun. $5 / 5-day Pass $30
Child Admission: 8 and under – FREE
Gate Times: Wed.-Sat. 7am-6pm / Sun. 7am-3pm

Spring Carlisle – a collector and classic car swap meet, car corral and auction – marks the beginning of the show and swap meet season for thousands of collector and classic automotive enthusiasts, who travel to the 150-acre Carlisle PA Fairgrounds from all points of the globe to buy, sell and celebrate all things automotive.  This is a fun-filled weekend the entire family will enjoy.  All roads lead to Carlisle, PA where you’ll find a community of passionate motorheads and a commitment to superb service that can only be achieved through more than three decades of know-how.

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Special Centennial Titanic Celebration

The State Museum of Pennsylvania

Sun., April 22, 2012

2 pm, Reception following

Join The State Museum for a fascinating presentation and panel discussion, “The Titanic and Its Pennsylvania Passengers,” led by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commissioner William V. Lewis, Jr.

Dr. Lewis will be joined by two descendants of Titanic passengers from Pennsylvania as well as a journalist who has profiled the commonwealth’s connections to the infamous voyage which took place 100 years ago in April.  The State Museum event is free with museum admission and is followed by a reception and signing by the panelists of a new pamphlet Dr. Lewis has written on the disaster published by the Luzerne County Historical Society.  The reception will be hosted by the Pennsylvania Heritage Society.

“Life is 10% what happens to you
and 90% how you react to it.”

–Charles R. Swindoll

A positive attitude is critical to success in both your personal and professional lives.  But unfortunately, as things go wrong throughout your day, it’s easy to let negative thoughts overtake the positive ones.

While you often can’t control what happens to you each day, you can control how you view these events and respond to them.  These suggestions will help you maintain a healthy attitude and respond constructively – even on those difficult days:

1. Surround yourself with positive messages.  Read a positive book.  It doesn’t necessarily have to be a motivational “self-help” book, just one with an uplifting theme.  If you don’t have the time to read as often as you’d like, try a podcast or audio book.  These allow you to hear positive messages while you clean your house, exercise or commute.
2. Wake up a little earlier.  Beginning your day feeling harried and rushed can start things off on the wrong note.  So give yourself an extra 15 minutes in the morning to get a head start on the day.  You can spend the time as you like – reading, meditating, getting a few things done around the house – without interruption.  Those extra minutes will help you feel more relaxed and focused, instead of feeling like you’re playing “beat the clock.”
3. Realize that not everything will go as you planned.  It’s great to have a plan for your day, but it’s also important to be flexible when things don’t go according to that plan.  Nothing in life is absolutely perfect.  To maintain a positive attitude, accept the notion that you’ll face obstacles (some large, some small) almost every day.  Be willing to adapt your plan when things go wrong and move back toward what’s most important to you.
4. Spend time with positive people.  Charles Swindoll also said, “I cannot even imagine where I would be today were it not for that handful of friends who have given me a heart full of joy. Let’s face it, friends make life a lot more fun.“  Friends do make life more fun – especially when they’re upbeat.  Think about it.  The people around you impact how you view yourself, your circumstances and life in general.  So surround yourself with positive people and you’ll be more positive, too.
5. Get some exercise.  Spring is finally here – why not get outside and take a walk?  The fresh air, sunlight and exercise can do wonders to relieve stress and lift your mood.  Exercise is also a powerful antidote to anxiety and depression.  Even when you don’t have time for a 30-minute workout, find small ways to add in a little exercise.  Take the stairs, take a 10-minute walk at lunch or even do sit-ups during commercial breaks while you’re watching TV.  Every minute you spend moving your body is a minute spent bolstering your attitude.
6. Do something nice for someone else.  Like exercise, altruism also naturally releases endorphins (your brain’s “feel good” chemicals).  So find a small way to brighten someone’s day.  The kindness you show will come back to you twofold.
7. Make leisure time a priority.  Do things for the simple reason that it feels good to do them.  Have lunch with a friend, go to a funny movie, listen to your favorite music or spend time pursuing a hobby.  Doing something fun is not indulgent – it’s an emotional and mental health necessity!

At Berks & Beyond, we’re thankful to have a team of inspiring and upbeat employees with positive, can-do attitudes.  If you enjoyed this post, share it with a friend and spread a little positivity today!

Winter has been pretty mild this year.  Still, March can be a looong month waiting for spring’s arrival.  So keep yourself busy!  Check out one of these fun and family-friendly events in Southern Pennsylvania:

York, PA St. Patrick’s Day Parade

The York Saint Patrick’s Day Parade will be held on Saturday, March 17th, in historic downtown York, PA.  The parade steps off from Market and Penn Streets and proceeds east on Market to the block between Duke and Queen Streets, with several related activities planned for before and after the parade.  This parade is organized by the York Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, a not-for-profit volunteer organization.

Start time:  1:00 p.m.

Lehigh County 200th Anniversary Community Celebration

Learn a little about what made – and continues to make – Lehigh County such a great place to live and work.  On March 10, 2012, the Allentown Fairgrounds Agri-Plex will host historic, interactive and educational exhibits offered by various organizations, businesses, and non-profits that have enriched Lehigh County throughout the years.  The highlight of the celebration will be an Inaugural Hall of Fame Ceremony at 6:00 p.m. to honor nationally recognized people with connections to Lehigh County. The day-long event will culminate with a spectacular fireworks display at 8:00 p.m.

Scheduled festivities include performances by Balloons the Clown, area high school bands and the Lehigh County Historical Society.   Interactive activities for children will be presented by DaVinci Science Center, the Lehigh Valley Zoo, the Liberty Bell Museum, the Museum of Indian Culture and the Wildlands Conservancy.

Warm up your pitching arm as the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs will test the speed and accuracy of your throw and many other fun activities for kids of all ages!  Lehigh County’s Emergency Management Department will have displays and activities for children and tours of the Mobile Command Post.  There will also be demonstrations by the Special Operations Team.

All proceeds from Lehigh County’s Bicentennial activities will support enhancements to the George Taylor House in the Borough of Catasauqua. George Taylor was one of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence and helped shape the foundation of Lehigh County.

Frustrated?  Bored?  Tired of the “same-old, same-old” at work?

Then maybe it’s time to inject a little fun into your day.

At Berks & Beyond, we’re all about hard work – but we know that having a good time while working is important, too.  Making work fun:

• boosts productivity, creativity and loyalty;
• helps everyone deliver better customer service (to both internal and external customers);
• decreases absenteeism and tardiness;
• reduces stress and promotes optimism;
• improves teamwork.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg!

Given all the potential benefits, what’s the best way to inject a little fun into your work day?  Well, I’m not suggesting you go out and buy a practical joke kit to torture your co-workers – that’s sure to backfire.  But there are lots of politically-correct ways to amuse yourself on the job.  The main thing to remember is that each company has its own unique culture which influences what works and not works – it’s up to you to make smart choices for how to lighten things up.

Here are a few ideas and links to get you started:

• Lead by example.  Want to make your workplace more fun?  Lead by example.  In fact, most employees assume that humor and fun on the job will be viewed negatively.  They need you to clearly demonstrate that having fun (that is appropriate, sensitive and inclusive) is not only okay, it’s encouraged.  So lighten up.  Smile more.  Find the humor in challenging situations.  Be a role model for fun and others will follow.
• Establish a Fun Committee.  Ask for volunteers to plan fun activities and events that are in line with your company’s unique culture.  Establish a budget (it doesn’t have to be large) for the committee and rotate leaders to make sure ideas are fresh and include everyone’s opinions.
• Create a humor bulletin board.  Encourage employees to bring in funny cartoons or jokes that poke fun at the circumstances that cause negativity or conflict in the office.  Assign someone responsible to monitor the content.
• Hold a weekly contest.  Collect $2 from everyone who wants to participate at the beginning of the week.  Each Friday, take five minutes to play a game (it could be bingo, wastepaper basketball, closest to a certain number without going over, etc.) and give the cash to the winner.  Be sure to rotate the game to keep things interesting, and alternate games of skill with games of pure luck to ensure everyone has opportunities to win.
• Acknowledge and reward people for the humor they share.  When someone goes above and beyond to lighten the mood in your workplace – especially during a stressful time – find a way to recognize that contribution!  In time, having fun at work will become part of the fabric of your company’s culture.

Looking for more resources?  Here are a few links:

25 Ideas for Building Fun into Your Work Setting

Workplace Fun Ideas

From all of us at Berks & Beyond, have a fun day!

The countdown is just around the corner.

As we head into 2012, many of us will vow to make the new year better by changing something about ourselves.  Unfortunately, most of us will not follow through.

Before you make your 2012 New Year’s resolutions, take a look at this list of the Top 10 Most Commonly Broken New Year’s Resolutions, courtesy of Time.com:

1. Lose Weight and Get Fit.  After a season of cookies, candies and holiday parties, it’s only natural to want to shed a few extra pounds and get into better shape.  But research shows that by February, 60% of gym memberships go unused.
2. Quit Smoking.  E-cigarettes, nicotine patches and chewing gum are all designed to help newly motivated smokers kick the habit.  But after just six months, only an estimated 15% of quitters are still cigarette-free.
3. Learn Something New.  If you’re thinking of taking up a musical instrument or learning to cook French cuisine, know that you’ll face an uphill battle.  Resolving to learn something new is exciting, but it’s also hard work.
4. Eat Healthier and Diet.  Many dieters are full of resolve on January 2nd.  Unfortunately, they force themselves into restricting diets they can’t possible keep.  Try using some common-sense moderation, instead, and you’re much more likely to succeed.
5. Get Out of Debt and Save Money.  After the budget-unfriendly month of December, many consumers try to halt their spending and manage their debt more effectively.  Rather than announcing sweeping changes and setting unattainable goals, however, financial planners advise making specific budget-friendly rules (like packing lunch, shopping for cheaper insurance/lower credit card interest rates, etc.) to improve your financial situation.
6. Spend More Time with Family.  The beginning of the year is an ideal time to reconnect with family whom you’ve not seen in awhile.  But work pressures, physical distance, strained relationships and even messy divorces make this resolution particularly hard to keep.
7. Travel to New Places.  The new year awakens within many of us a desire to travel.  The financial realities of the Great Recession, the headache of planning and the difficulty of finding help to tend to your home and pets can quickly put this desire to rest.
8. Be Less Stressed.  While it’s not a bad idea – less stress can make you healthier and happier – stressing less is likely to be the very first resolution you’ll break.  Case in point?  Just thinking about tackling any resolution will raise your stress level!
9. Volunteer.  This year, you may resolve to lend a helping hand to those less fortunate than you.  While this is certainly a noble gesture, even the most compassionate among us can fall back on commitments.  Finding time to give to a worthy cause is often harder than finding money.
10. Drink Less.  After a seemingly endless barrage of parties filled with beer, wine, champagne and cocktails, it’s not surprising that many of us vow to drink less.  But after a few days or week, why do we start drinking again?  The Greco-Roman ancients may have said it best when they proclaimed “In vino veritas” (in wine, there is truth).

From all of us at Berks & Beyond, have a safe, happy, healthy and successful New Year!

Need a little help getting into the holiday spirit?  Check out one of these upcoming holiday events in central Pennsylvania:

Wondrous Mystery Christmas Concert

Oasis Ministries for Spiritual Development presents the Lancaster Chamber Singers. This choral concert will include works by such composers as Rutter, Sweelinck and Poulenc as well as Jeffrey Van’s Carols for Choir and Classical Guitar, featuring guitarist Anthony Derico.

Date and Time:  December 11, 2011, 3:00 p.m. (doors open at 2:30 p.m.)

Event Phone:  717.737.8222

Event Website:  Wondrous Mystery:  A Christmas Concert

Venue Website:  Camp Hill United Methodist Church Website

Ticket Price:  $15

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Hersheypark Christmas Candylane

Enjoy the magic of the holidays, Hershey style, with 2 million twinkling lights, rides for all ages, festive decorations and Hershey’s Product Characters decked out in their holiday best!  Attractions include: sing-along at a heart-warming Christmas show, A Rockin’ Music Box Christmas; visit Santa’s reindeer (sponsored by U-GRO Learning Centres); browse quaint village shops; ride over 30 rides including the family-favorite, Twilight Express.

Date and Time:  December 3, 2011, 12:00 p.m.

Event Website:  Hersheypark Christmas Candylane

Admission:  Please see website for ticket prices and Family 4-Pack specials

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PA Christmas & Gift Show

Christmas Shop at one of the largest holiday shows in the country!  Visit The Pennsylvania Christmas & Gift Show, a festive celebration of the season’s finest decorations, arts & crafts, cuisines and musical and dance groups.  Among the unique and exclusive gifts available are crafts, jewelry, clothing, Christmas decorations, toys, household accents, ceramics, furniture, dolls, flowers, paintings, holiday foods and much more.

Event Dates:  Now through December 4, 2011

Event Phone:  717.233.5100

Event Website:  PA Christmas and Gift Show

Location:  Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center, 2300 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg

Gather up your friends and a few choice pumpkins – it’s time to create a masterpiece!

If you need some carving tips or inspiration, check out this video and the links below. And from all of us at Berks & Beyond, have a safe, fun and frightful Halloween!

Follow these links for free carving patterns:

Pumpkin Masters

History.com Pumpkin Carving Patterns

Hershey’s Halloween Pumpkin Stencils

The days are growing shorter, but there’s still plenty of time to get outside and enjoy the fantastic fall weather in beautiful Southern Pennsylvania.  Here are a few links to activities and events you might enjoy, along with a great recipe for a classic fall favorite:

96th Annual Dillsburg Farmer’s Fair

October 10 – 15

Featuring a parade, arts/crafts exhibit, pageant, antique show, children’s events and more, the Dillsburg Farmer’s Fair offers something for everyone.  For a complete schedule of events, follow this link to the Dillsburg Farmer’s Fair website.

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Apple Picking in York, PA

Looking for places to go apple picking around York County this year?  Follow this link to the York County Apple Picking Orchards and Apple Farms Guide for York County.  This site has collected some of the best apple picking orchards, apple farms and apple festivals in the area.

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Apple Crisp Recipe

When you’re done apple picking, here is a perfect way to enjoy the fruits of your labor.  This simple, delicious recipe for Apple Crisp comes from the Betty Crocker website:

Ingredients:
4 medium tart cooking apples, sliced (4 cups)
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup quick-cooking or old-fashioned oats
1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Cream or ice cream, if desired

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375ºF. Grease bottom and sides of 8-inch square pan with shortening.
2. Spread apples in pan. In medium bowl, stir remaining ingredients except cream until well mixed; sprinkle over apples.
3. Bake about 30 minutes or until topping is golden brown and apples are tender when pierced with a fork. Serve warm with cream.

Looking to pack some last-minute fun into your summer?  Central Pennsylvania is bustling with activity this time of year.  Check out one of these family-friendly local events:

Sunbury River Festival

Dates:  August 18 – 20, 2011

A fun event for the whole family!  The riverfront area will be packed with plenty of food and craft vendors and live entertainment taking to the stages every hour. There are also games, a Civil War encampment, the area’s largest car cruise-in and new features every year.  Come for an hour, come from morning until night … just be sure and come to the best summer festival in Central Pennsylvania!

For more details, directions, etc., visit the festival website.

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Take a bite out of summer by attending one of these southern Pennsylvania events:

Wine & Cheese Seminar & Tasting at Hummingbird Ridge Winery

When: Friday, July 8th, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Where: 735 Kise Mill Rd., York Haven

Grab a group of friends and enjoy an evening of wine and cheese.  The event features five courses of premium cheeses from around the world paired with five delicious wines, plus an educational seminar by Hummingbird Ridge Winery Winemakers!  The seminar agenda includes the following topics:

• Unwrapping the Mysteries of Winemaking
• Winetasting Techniques Used by Wine Judges
• Wine Glass Comparison
• Techniques for Pairing Wine and Food

Cost is just $20 per person. Seating is limited and reservations are required. For reservations, call Brenda at 717.818.7473.

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The 62nd Annual Kutztown Folk Festival

When: July 2 – 10, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Where: Kutztown Fairgrounds, 225 N. White Oak St., Kutztown

There’s still time to enjoy this Pennsylvania Dutch tradition!  The festival promises good old-fashioned fun for the whole family:

• Continuous entertainment on 5 stages everyday
• Watch square dancing, catch a comedy show or enjoy the sounds of the strolling Sauerkraut Band
• Mennonite wedding and demonstrations of early farming techniques
• Live quilt auction
• Great food, including all-you-can-eat Pennsylvania Dutch ham and chicken dinners, a variety of home-made soups, sandwiches, and favorites such as sausage, chicken pot pie, corn fritters, funnel cakes, shoo-fly pie and apple dumplings
• Crafts, games and other kid-friendly activities

Daily Admission: Adults $14, senior citizens(55 & older) $13, junior (13-17) $5, all-week pass $24, children (12 & under) are free.

For more information, visit the Kutztown Festival website or call 888.674.6136.