Beth Trout loves Spain and wants to share what she loves with small groups in 7-9 day tours. As your group's concierge, she'll help you plan your trip to include your interests and passions; she'll take care of arrangements, travel with you, serve as translator, and, as needed, shop for a new toothbrush if you forget yours! An authentic, intimate experience in a country of beautiful people, with a rich history and culture--showcasing the art, music, and food that packaged tours may miss--is what Beth promises.

It's a remarkable story. Michele Barrett shares her journey as mom, struggling to understand and then champion and assist her baby boy's development to reach his fullest potential. The silence and developmental delays accompanying autism plus the sporadic focusing issues of ADHD required uncommon patience and dedicated efforts she offered unhesitatingly. Today, watching him as the star of his high school's musical production brought her tears, opportunities for celebration, and the energy for "next steps." 

Voters in Boyertown school district’s Region #3 should Vote-for-Two: Matt Hook and Brad Updegrove. As a Boyertown High School graduate, with family members who were well-respected teachers in the district, Brad brings a lifetime knowledge of Boyertown schools—then, as a student and now, as a substitute teacher, father of children attending Boyertown schools, and coach. Matt offers unique qualifications as a certified teacher, trainer, and board certified behaviorial health specialist working with special education students in public and private settings. Matt hopes to improve Board functioning with an eye on issues involving taxes, transparency in developing solutions informed by data and best practices, and creating a healthy work environment supportive of all learners, paraprofessionals, and staff. 

Voters in Boyertown school district’s Region #2 should Vote-for-Two: Incumbent Lisa Hogan and Joe Piccione. Lisa Hogan is often described as the model school board member: intelligent, analytic, respectful, collaborative and an excellent listener—someone who listens to understand, find common ground, and negotiate toward solving complex problems. Lisa, who has served the community since 2019 as a school board director and newcomer Joe Piccione are committed to providing all students with whatever accommodations they need to succeed; respecting diversity, free speech, and human rights; and providing transparency and continuing to encourage parents to be involved. As a teacher, Joe Piccione understands the challenges that face education today—especially in combatting misunderstandings and false narratives about public schools and teachers. Both pledge to be good financial stewards while keeping an eye on maintaining the solid reputation of Boyertown School District. 

Voters in Boyertown school district’s Region #1 have two, new faces running in the upcoming primary on May 16. Michelle Sweisfort is running for the open 2-year seat; Krista Arndt hopes to secure the 4-year seat. What both Michelle and Krista bring is valuable and unique to the Boyertown School Board. Krista’s experience and network of professionals who provide security in technology and in interpreting the complex language of regulations are areas of concern for today’s schools and ones the current Board has not researched or even considered. Michelle’s work in the insurance arena with budgets and finance in managing risk provide professional abilities in the strategic management of the district’s $139 million budget. Krista and her family follow auto racing; Michelle rescues stray cats. They just met but have become fast friends and pledge to bring strong leadership skills and a dedication to solving problems as positive role models and team players.  

Donna Usavage talks about her efforts to support pro-public education candidates for upcoming open seats on the School Board to be decided in the May 16 primary election. Donna voices her concerns about the candidates whom members of the sitting Board support--concerns that motivated her and a group of other volunteers to organize and work to elect pro-public education candidates and maintain BASD’s reputation for offering a quality of education to the district’s students.
Donna spent 10 years serving as a school board director for Boyertown Area School District (BASD). Since her retirement, she has continued her involvement by attending school board meetings, voicing her concerns, and offering information with others.
In the episode, she recalls the recent development of “Boyertown Forward”—the political action committee formed to support the current pro-public school candidates—some details about each of the pro-public education candidates as well as issues presented by their opponents and the groups that support them. 

She urges listeners to become involved, to learn about the unique qualifications of the candidates that Boyertown Forward supports as well as what differentiates them from their opponents. She encourages attendance at the Candidate Forum on May 10, 2023, in the Fellowship room of St. John’s Lutheran Church, 45 N Reading Ave, Boyertown, 7-9 p.m. And, most important of all, she hopes that voters turn out on the primary election day: May 16. Additional details from the "B Inspired" episode can be found in an upcoming article in  The Boyertown Area Expression (boyertownareaexpression.town.news).

Donnie Conrad and Lee Heffner, active members of the Bally Lions Club, shared details about the Medical Equipment Lending program that the club offers to area families that led to learning about the many other projects the club sponsors in this tight-knit Berks County community. 

Hungry? No Problem--Bause Catered Events also offers Meals-to-Go. For 34 years, sisters Erin Bause and Amy Bause-Bartra partner in preparing…and delivering…meals for any occasion and to meet any tastes—home cooking to French cuisine. Appetizers, entrees, sides, desserts, drinks: they do it all--deliciously!

Inspired by Mary Dice who has loved baking her entire life, I loved learning more about her, the seasons of her business, fastnachts, and Hawaii's sacred ingredient--poi from the taro or Kalo plant--in their specialty doughnut. 

Rachael Kehler creates ideas non-stop—seemingly in her sleep--and her ideas bring people to the streets of Boyertown to have fun and to enhance the lives and success of her own business, The Peppermint Stick, fellow business owners and non-profits including Building a Better Boyertown, Berks-Mont Business Association, and the Boyertown Area Historical Society. Learning what “powers” her whirlwind energy and what she has in mind for the future was eye-opening. https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/n1588GoiCyb