Any assignment was more fun when it involved Al Boscov.
Among his many attributes, Albert was a showman.
The first time I met him was in 2004, when he was being presented with the Pagoda Award. He offered to dance for me. Being a man to put action to his words, Al graced me with a jig.
In 2008, it was perfectly in character when on a lark he picked up the conductor’s baton and pretended to lead the band before the start of a press conference to announce funding for the proposed DoubleTree hotel. My memory is foggy, but I believe the band followed his lead.
But the act of showmanship that is most clear was in 2015 at the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts. An official proclamation from state Sen. Judy Schwank came with an explanation that Al has enough of them to wallpaper his house.
Playing off Schwank’s comment, Boscov reviewed the document and found it up to standards, including the quality of the leather on the cover, which he appraised by giving it a small bite.
I won’t claim to have truly known the man, but I don’t believe that the showmanship of Albert Boscov was an act. I think it was just Al being himself.
During a program at Country Meadows in 2013, he joked with residents, “I’m old, I’m very old. I don’t know if you know that, I’m 107.”
I wish it hadn’t been a joke, but rather a prediction borne out. I sure could’ve gone for another 20 years of photographing Al Boscov.
– Ben Hasty
assistant photo editor
New Journey grew by serving a need
New Journey Community Outreach began 40 years ago when Tona M. Hatt answered a knock at the door of the “yellow church” on South Sixth Street.
The 40th anniversary was celebrated last month with a breakfast and awards ceremony at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, 701 Penn St. On behalf of New Journey, Ken Hatt presented awards to outstanding volunteers in memory of his late wife.
Tona Hatt, who died in 1997, was affectionately called “the Energizer bunny,” he said.
She was the dynamo behind “The Closet in the Hall,” the first food pantry and soup kitchen at what was then Central United Methodist Church. It became New Journey United Methodist Church and is now New Journey Community Outreach.
Last year, New Journey Community Outreach served 27,000 lunches to more than 3,000 people, its executive director, Sue Krall, said.
Tona also helped establish the Greater Berks Food Bank, Ken Hatt said.
Though he was busy working to support their family of two sons, he helped Tona transport food and stock shelves.
“My parents set the bar very high with their life of service,” said son Bret Hatt, 58, of Spring Township.
– Michelle Lynch
reporter
Fundraiser could help woman walk again
A few weeks ago, I wrote a story about a Spring Township woman named Bonnie Sandridge, who has been dealing with some really difficult ankle problems over the last 15 years.
She’s had surgery after surgery to correct the problems, with little success.
But there is hope. Sandridge is a candidate for an ankle brace that could help her walk again. She started a Go-FundMe account that has raised nearly $5,300 since the Reading Eagle story about her was published, leaving her less than $2,000 short of her goal.
It would be great to see her hit her goal.
To donate:
https://www.gofundme.com/BonnieExoSym
.
– Matthew Nojiri
reporter
