Craig Bennett's resumé includes teacher, musician, actor, and Navy veteran. In his second book More Things in Heaven and Earth he shares his life-long curiosity and experiences about UFO's, lost cities, and the paranormal. Shakespeare through Hamlet said it years ago: "There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." Craig agrees and urges the reader to consider what he has experienced and learned from wide reading, considerable travel, and personal acquaintances who tell their stories that make us wonder. 

Michael Barnett is a healer. Not by himself, however; in his healing work, he steps aside and allows the spirit of "Blue Turtle" to work through him along with spirits of his ancestors or those of the folks seeking assistance. A soft-spoken, gentle man, Michael recognizes his special gift as one that runs in his family. Listening to his journey as a healer, his experiences and the synchronicities that occur blurs a natural skepticism allowing an openness of mind toward belief. Aside form his healing practice, he works as an interfaith minister, educator, and poet/teaching artist. He holds a Master of Divinity degree and a Master of Education. He teaches religious studies, conducts intuitive/creative poetry and journaling workshops, writes spiritual poetry and articles, creates watercolor and acrylic abstract art cards and paintings, and has woven twill rag rugs on his Hispanic rug loom. His poetry and art were selected for the traveling exhibition," In Response to Healing." He can be reached at www.naturallifestyle.net/profiles/Blue-Turtle-Intuitive-Counseling-1101

Destined to be a painter, Ted Hallman became instead a textile artist, quite famous and has been for decades, recognized as one of North America's foremost textile artists who has influenced the direction of contemporary fibre reflecting the breadth of his experience, the inventive nature of his work, and his willingness to take risks. Spiritual, reflective, introspective, his work is a journey of self-revelation and self-realization. He's had work featured in a one-person exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art with eight pieces in their permanent collection. His work is housed in 22 museums world-wide. Examples include the National Gallery in Victoria,  Australia, the State Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia, the Queen Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and he was inspired to create for the international exhibition in London in the 1960's. 

Chatting with Erica Vinskie about creating her perfumes from native wildflowers--"foraged fragrances--was one of my favorite episodes. Erica shares her early goal of becoming an art therapist but in college turned to studio painting only to realize she valued spending time with people. And so "painting with fragrances" has become her lifetime pursuit. Her business "Henny Faire" features a line of fragrances along with a selection of soaps, books, and gifts from near and far away places. We hope Erica finds a home location in Boyertown to serve others by bringing them beauty, comfort, and joy that she found in the art world. Find a feature story about Erica in the December 7, 2022, edition of the digital news site The Boyertown Area Expression (boyertownareaexpression.town.news).

I love when folks take an opportunity to explore a new idea or project. And so, learning about Michelle's Hair Design's new project--a boutique offering jewelry and gifts...and artisan balsamic vinegar, I celebrated with her. Michelle shops vendors in NYC to stock her shop and is enjoying a new feature as part of her efforts to beautify and add a fun shopping stop to the Boyertown scene. 

You can’t miss it—Boyertown Brickworks. The bright, yellow sign attracts the eye. The LEGOS logo promises time for play, for building, for creating. And once you enter the store to buy, sell, or trade LEGO bricks and minifigs, you are transformed into a playland of primary colors that transcends all ages. Boyertown Brickworks brings to Boyertown what it values—a place for family working and enjoying life together. Parties and build nights are planned. You gotta see the place and meet Joe Nicely and his own family who work and play together at Boyertown Brickworks. And you’ll be amazed to learn about Joe’s own collection of LEGOS and minifigs.

Sing Christmas Karaoke with Jody at the Zuber Realty office on Dec 3, 2022, as part of Building a Better Boyertown's Chillin' on Main Festival. Jody Dolansky, currently a real estate agent with Richard A. Zuber Realty, sings her life's stories as part of a guitar duo known as The Keystone Ramblers. The lyrics she writes express the joys and pains of her own life and those she found in the literature she shared with students in her earlier teaching career.  Country rock with a blues-y feel describe her preferred genre that has been inspired by country greats like Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, and Faith Hill. 

In this two-part episode, artist Mimi Conrey shares her future outlook: becoming free-er in her artistic style and her life. Free to express her love of family, God, and her dogs through her paintings. Free from competition and judges and even from making her living with her art. Free to explore unusual foods and continue her active life. In part two of the episode, she introduces listeners to Alice and Big Mike, a mother and son who cook and bake together, whom she met researching recipes. Alice, a woman she calls “The Mona Lisa of the Coal Region," and son Mike share her mission to spread the joy around. 

Michelle Neifert shares the influences and challenges that inspire her art. At times on a mission to study color. At others to enjoy the unthinking process of applying paint to canvas. Always needing to manage her mind, she makes the most of moments to create, to express, and to brighten the walls of patrons with her iconic artwork. 

In customizing "The Honor Bear," Mark Malizzi offers tips to working in fiberglass. Mark Malizzi adds to his expansive community service resumé by customizing Bear Fever's 83rd bear--The Honor Bear--as part of a memorial commemorating veterans, located at Boyertown's American Legion. Working in fiberglass is not a simple task, but Mark demurs, saying, "It's just like working on a Corvette"--something he does during his "day job" at Fred Beans Ford of Boyertown, Inc. Service Center. Learning the "how to's," the steps, the creative problem solving he took to fashion the bear in the stance and in the uniform he was eager to fashion was enlightening and inspiring.