Erin Negley

For Amirah Mitchell, planting tiny seeds are acts of resistance. From each plant, the next generation of seeds saved and shared. Each seed connects people to their land, their food, their culture, their nourishment and their independence.

How do bargain boxes of imperfect produce fit in with Philly’s food scene?

Swimming with dolphins, meeting Justin Bieber and spending a day with Navy SEALs: The Make-A-Wish team makes dreams like this possible for hundreds of children facing life-threatening medical conditions in Pennsylvania every year. Here’s more about three of those wishes from Berks County. Josh became a chef for the day. Nathanael met Spider-Man at Disney World. And Joyce became a Marine. When he was born, he was pink and perfect, mom Beth Fronheiser says, but doctors soon noticed a heart murmur

At high school wrestling matches this season, there’s a big change on the mat. And a Berks County manufacturing company has a hand in helping wrestlers make the switch. What they’re making near Sinking Spring has the potential to create a reversal for the sport. This year, teams have the option to move beyond the traditional singlet to a two-piece uniform. It might sound like a simple change in apparel, but coaches say the move could boost participation in wrestling. Berks County’s own Brute l

Wells Fargo's latest economic forecast came out just two days ago, yet it looks strikingly similar to the one created just before the election. “With everything that’s happened. There’s no change?” said Wells Fargo Securities global economist Jay H. Bryson this morning to more than 300 Berks County businesspeople. While candidate Donald Trump proposed tax cuts, trade tariffs and spending cuts, those have not been established or legislated. So many of Wells Fargo’s forecasts are based on existi

Katherine Johnson began breaking down barriers at age 10, as a brilliant student entering high school. Later, she was among the first black students to integrate West Virginia’s graduate schools. She continued her breakthroughs as a mathematician for NASA, where she crunched the numbers that launched the first Americans into space. Now 98, Johnson continues to inspire many — including, most recently, two Alvernia students, Sarah Verneret ’19 and ReJeana Goldsborough ’17.

The idea for Christina Baker Kline’s best-selling novel grew out of a moment of desperation in a long blizzard. She and her family were visiting relatives in North Dakota. After three days indoors with her three young sons, a book was pulled off the shelf. There was an article inside: "They called it orphan train and it proved there was a home for many children on the prairie."

“My mama always said life was like a box of chocolates,” Forrest Gump told us. “You never know what you’re going to get.” If you don’t know what you’re going to get from a box of chocolates, then imagine figuring out what you’re going to get from the data of 330,000 employees. That’s the challenge facing Calvin Martin ’03, manager of Nestlé’s global business solutions time management. But it’s a challenge he savors. Nestlé, which celebrated 150 years of “Good Food, Good Life” in 2016, has 2,00

The snack that made Unique Pretzel Bakery live up to its name happened by accident. William P. Spannuth let one batch at his Reading bakery sit too long. When baked, the pretzels split. “Being Pennsylvania Dutch and just being thrifty and not wanting to throw anything away, he sold them anyway,” Spannuth's grandson Justin said. “Some of his customers came back and said, 'I like these better than the other ones you were selling.' ” The split pretzels had more crunch, texture and flavor. Diet

In college, Andi Funk focused on accounting before traveling the world to audit a range of interesting companies. In the process, she mastered a critical career pivot, soon turning to analyze finances at a pharmaceutical company and then on to head a finance team at a major medical device manufacturer. It was time well spent. Today, the successful single mom sits atop the corporate ladder at Cambridge-Lee Industries, a growing copper tube manufacturer and distributor headquartered near Leesport.

The seeds for the Herbert family farm were planted years ago as Aimee Herbert saw her grandmother battle multiple rounds of cancer. The self-sustainable farm has pigs, chickens and vegetables, all free of chemicals and antibiotics.

Throughout Berks County, seniors are making friends and nurturing pets. They’re traveling, staying fit, and keeping sharp with a challenging game. They’re living well. They’re having fun.

Every few months, these athletes gather at a new arena. They wear matching uniforms. They eye up the competition. And before the games begin, they share coffee and pastries. There’s also a chance to say hello to the friends they met last time. Did we mention they are in their 70s, 80s and 90s?