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Anxiety in America: COVID ‘Takes a Backseat’ to Global Events

Anxiety in America: COVID 'Takes a Backseat' to Global Events

With two years of COVID-19 in the rearview mirror, anxiety among US adults has turned instead toward global events, results from the annual Healthy Minds Poll from the American Psychiatric Association (APA) show.

“It’s not surprising that recent events, such as the war in Ukraine, racially motivated mass shootings, or the impacts of climate change, are weighing heavily on Americans’ minds,” APA President Vivian Pender, MD, said in a news release. 

“COVID-19 in a way has taken a backseat, but the pandemic and its mental health effects are very much still with us. It’s important that we are cognizant of that and continue to work to ensure people who need psychiatric care, whether the causes are tied to the pandemic or to other issues, can access it,” Pender added.

Results from this year’s poll were released yesterday during the APA 2022 Annual Meeting.

Record Low COVID Anxiety

The poll was conducted by Morning Consult between April 23-24 and included 2210 adult participants.  

Results showed that anxiety about COVID is at its recorded lowest, with 50% of respondents indicating they are anxious about the pandemic. This was down from 65% in 2021 and from 75% in 2020.

Instead, nearly three quarters (73%) of adults are somewhat or extremely anxious about current events happening around the world, 64% are anxious about keeping themselves or their families safe, and 60% worry about their health in general.

Overall, about one third (32%) reported being more anxious now than last year, 46% reported no change in their anxiety level, and 18% were less anxious.

About one quarter (26%) have spoken with a mental healthcare professional in the past few years, which is down from 34% in 2021. In addition, Hispanic (36%) and Black (35%) adults were more likely to have reached out for help than White (25%) adults.

Despite the US Surgeon General’s recent advisory on the mental health crisis among children, the poll results also showed that Americans are less concerned about their children’s mental health than last year. A total of 41% of parents expressed concern about this topic, which was down from 53% in 2021.

Still, 40% of parents said their children had received help from a mental health professional since the pandemic hit. Of that group, 36% sought help before the pandemic, whereas half said the pandemic had caused mental health issues for their children.

“While the overall level of concern has dropped, still 4 in 10 parents are worried about how their children are doing, and a third are having issues with access to care,” Saul Levin, MD, CEO and medical director of the APA, said in the release.

“This is unacceptable and as a nation, we need to invest in the kind of systems that will ensure any parent who’s worried about their child has access to lifesaving treatment,” Levin added.

Workplace Mental Health

In addition, the poll showed employees often have a tough time getting mental health support from employers, or are hesitant to ask for help.

“What’s troubling about the results of this poll is that even as the pandemic has continued and its mental health effects wear on, fewer employees are reporting that they have access to mental health services,” Pender said. 

“Workplaces need to ensure that they are paying attention to what their employees need, particularly now, and moving away from mental health benefits isn’t the right move,” she added.

About half (48%) of those polled said they can discuss mental health openly and honestly with their supervisor, down from 56% in 2021 and 62% in 2020.

Only about half (52%) said they feel comfortable using mental health services with their current employer, compared with 64% in 2021 and 67% in 2020.

In addition, fewer workers felt their employer is offering sufficient mental health resources and benefits. This year, 53% of workers thought resources and benefits were adequate, which was down from 65% in 2021 and 68% in 2020.

“It’s quite concerning to see that fewer people feel comfortable discussing mental health with a supervisor, at a time when people experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other conditions are on the rise and impact nearly every aspect of work, including productivity, performance, retention, and overall healthcare costs,” Darcy Gruttadaro, JD, director of the APA Foundation’s Center for Workplace Mental Health, said.

“As rates of these conditions rise, we should see more employees knowing about available workplace mental health resources, not less,” Gruttadaro says.

Strong Bipartisan Support 

Perhaps unexpectedly, the poll shows strong support among Democrats, Republicans, and Independents for three APA-backed approaches to improve timely access to mental health care and treatment.

Specifically, about three quarters of those polled support:

  • making it easier to see a mental health professional via telehealth,

  • allowing patients to receive mental health care through a primary care provider,  

  • funding mental health care professionals to work in rural or urban communities that are traditionally underserved.

“We’re in a moment when mental health is a big part of the national conversation, and clearly political party doesn’t matter as much on this issue,” Pender noted. 

“It’s a rare thing in Washington these days to see such a resounding endorsement, but there is strong support for these practical workable solutions that mean more access to mental health care,” she said.

“What you see in this poll is agreement: it’s hard to access mental [health care] but we do have great solutions that could work across party lines,” Levin added.

“Many policymakers, in the administration and in Congress, are already putting these ideas into action, and they should feel encouraged that the public wants to see Congress act on them,” he said.

American Psychiatric Association (APA) 2022 Annual Meeting. Released May 22, 2022.

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Morgan State University President Implements Mask Mandate For School-Sanctioned Events

Morgan State University President Implements Mask Mandate For School-Sanctioned Events

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Morgan State University is instituting a mask mandate for university-sanctioned indoor events and activities in response to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Maryland

President David Wilson sent an email to university students outlining his concerns on Friday. 

READ MORE: Baltimore City Health Commissioner Concerned About Rising COVID-19 Cases

Maryland had more than 2,400 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, and if cases continue growing, some jurisdictions may be forced to re-implement mask mandates.

So Wilson took the step of informing students that they—alongside faculty, staff, and guests of the university—will be required to wear the face masks at such events with 50 or more people starting on Monday.

“With the increased incidence of positive COVID-19 cases advancing across the nation—particularly here in Maryland, Morgan must take a proactive stance in safeguarding our campus community,” he said. “Recent upticks in Baltimore City, its surrounding counties, and right here on campus, have prompted the Morgan Campus Health Monitoring and Response Team (MCHMRT) to advise the wearing of masks for all University-sanctioned indoor events and activities.”

The measure “is being taken out of an abundance of caution and will be in place through the end of the semester,” he said.

READ MORE: Baby Formula Shortage Fueling Spike In Milk Bank Interest

The mandate will lead up to and include the President’s Commencement Luncheon, which is scheduled to kick off on May 21 at the University Student Center, Wilson said.

Earlier this week, Baltimore City Health Commissioner Letitia Dzirasa asked that people voluntarily wear masks at in-door public spaces.

The city’s COVID-19 level was recently moved from “low” to “medium” and if it moves to “high,” then masks will become mandatory, Dzirasa said.

“We will continue to monitor the rates of incidence and positivity in the days and weeks following the end of this spring semester, particularly as we lead into the summer months and the beginning of the upcoming fall semester,” Wilson said in his letter. “It is strongly advised that each of you remain connected to University communications, website and emails for any updates related to COVD-19 protocols.”

The indoor mask protocol is being instituted in addition to mask requirements for classroom settings, BEARtransit, and campus medical settings.

MORE NEWS: 79-Year-Old Man Shot In Carrollton Ridge Friday, Police Say

Additionally, Wilson encouraged students, faculty, and staff to get a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot.

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The pandemic, geopolitical events have rebalanced global supply chains, creating opportunities for India: N Chandrasekaran

The pandemic, geopolitical events have rebalanced global supply chains, creating opportunities for India: N Chandrasekaran
The global supply chains are rebalancing, and it is a megatrend of the future that India must leverage to its benefit to become a global leader in manufacturing, N Chandrasekaran, the chairperson of Tata Sons said Wednesday.

He was noting the five megatrends that, according to him, will be shaping the future of business and society while speaking at the CII ‘Being Future Ready’ Business Summit 2022.

The other key trends that business and government leaders must take note of include the adoption of digital, sustainability, importance of healthcare and the changing realities of the global talent pool, according to Chandrasekaran.

“Already proprietary AI and data are separating top-performing companies from the rest. Soon all businesses will have to become AI and data businesses. No industry can escape this trend,” he said.

India can leverage the adoption of digital technologies to not just prepare the domestic industry for the future but also play a role in shaping industries globally, he said.

Meanwhile, the pandemic and geopolitical events have rebalanced global supply chains. The focus is no longer on creating the most efficient supply chains but the most resilient ones, according to Chandrasekaran.

“India has an important role to fill the void that is getting created in the global supply chain by taking a leadership position. I call it the India-plus opportunity because we will need partnerships,” he said.

TV Narendran, the managing director of

said that with the recalibration of global supply chains the world over, Indian Industry has a unique opportunity to expand its global footprint. Industry should move away from the risk averse culture, he said. The industry should also step up expenditure on research and development (R&D), he said

Sustainability was creating a dual trend globally where climate change concerns are putting pressure on traditional companies while at the same time promoting newer, more sustainable businesses. India should participate in this new ecosystem and play a pivotal role in leveraging green technologies, Chandrasekaran said.

Companies will also have to increase their focus on health going forward, even in sectors that seemingly have no connection to health. “A focus on health and wellness as well as safety and convenience at workplaces should play a significant role within companies to stay ahead,” he said.

The global talent pool will move to newer models. There will be new technology platforms to engage with talent, like a talent cloud where there is uninterrupted access talent from any part of the world.

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BUILD.org Showcases Innovative and Impactful In-person & Virtual Events After Two Long Years of The Covid Pandemic

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., May 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ BUILD.org, a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to use entrepreneurship to ignite the potential of youth from under-resourced communities to build Career success, Entrepreneurial Mindsets, and Opportunity, is launching a series of inspiring events to showcase the next generation of entrepreneurial student leaders and changemakers in the Nation. These events highlight the importance of entrepreneurship education and how it is redefining education and creating opportunity for middle and high school students in underserved communities.

Here is a list of BUILD’s upcoming events:

  1. DC Virtual BizPitch May 11, 2022
  2. Southwestern Pennsylvania (SWPA) Youth Pitch Competition May 24, 2022
  3. NY BUILDFest June 1, 2022
  4. Boston BUILDFest June 7, 2022

BUILD.org partnered with the Richard King Mellon Foundation to bring the SWPA Youth Pitch Competition to life. Spanning over four years, the Foundation’s $1.2 million investment will be allocated to Allegheny and Westmoreland counties and will help to equip youth with an entrepreneurial mindset and develop their 21st century skills. Educators teach students about BUILD’s Design Challenge, an entrepreneurial program that helps high school students discover their untapped talent and potential by using design thinking to solve real-world problems. These students and educators will flex their entrepreneurial muscles to compete for cash prizes for their school and community. The winner(s) will be announced virtually at the SWPA Youth Pitch Competition on May 24th at BUILD.org/SWPA.

“I am thrilled to see the return of in-person events after two challenging years during the Pandemic. said Ayele Shakur, CEO at BUILD. “We want to celebrate our students and educators’ successes with the larger community as they engage in BUILD’s innovative, project-based entrepreneurship education programs that will give them the skills needed to become the CEO of their own lives.”

The DC Virtual BizPitch Competition showcases students from the region as they compete to present their innovative business ideas. The top three student teams will win cash prizes, but only one team will be crowned the 2022 DC Pitch Champion!

BUILDFest, taking place in New York City on June 1st at Tribeca 360, features a reception, an exciting business plan competition of x number of student teams, and a marketplace to view and purchase their products created.  These students have the opportunity to create the business options they desire while learning critical 21st century skills to be able to capitalize and/or pivot in a rapidly changing workplace.

At Boston’s BUILDFest, attendees will have the chance to engage in a multi-part event that represents the culmination of a year of hard work by BUILD students, and celebrates the transformative power of entrepreneurship. Starting in early May, more than 30 BUILD high school students (representing six Boston Public Schools) will pitch their innovative business ideas to judges in hopes of earning a final slot at the event on June 7th. Three finalist teams will be selected, and then have the opportunity to pitch again to judges and community members to secure cash prizes and start-up funds.

About BUILD.org
Founded in 1999, BUILD is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to use entrepreneurship to ignite the potential of youth from under-resourced communities to build Career success, Entrepreneurial Mindsets, and Opportunity. BUILD utilizes entrepreneurship education to elevate youth and propel them to academic and career success, while empowering them to become the CEOs of their own lives. BUILD offers programming in 53 cities across the country, has trained nearly 400 educators, and over

15,000 youth have participated in BUILD’s digital challenges and in-school entrepreneurship programming. For more information, visit www.build.org.

Contact:
Shefali Billon
[email protected]

SOURCE BUILD.org

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How Two New York City Founders Grew A Multi-Million Dollar Event Company Out Of The Pandemic

How Two New York City Founders Grew A Multi-Million Dollar Event Company Out Of The Pandemic

When covid shut down the nightlife community, Todd Mackall and Duncan Abdelnour founded a resource for those starved from live events: a brand dubbed Project 91. The live events company initially began as a hobby and a way to party with friends, but it grew to be much larger—selling out 300 person lounges to 5,000-plus festivals. Project 91 has booked the likes of Diplo, Tchami, Malaa, Devault, Sam Blacky and more. In addition, the events prove to be covid compliant as Abdelnour pivoted from live events and founded Crowdhealth to implement safe event practices.

The community-oriented brand provides different options than the standard New York City bottle clubs with the same recycled talent. Project 91 offers a different outlook on New York City parties and has established itself as a go-to promoting company that ushers in a new era of quality artists and curatorial events. Indeed, Project 91 has become a common name amongst New York City nightlife-goers that is spearheaded by two men who bet on themselves. Their next event is Spring Fest, which boasts Jai Wolf as the headliner.

Here, Mackall and Abdelnour share with Forbes the turning point where they saw Project 91 as something more than a way to party with friends, advice for those who wish to start their own brand, their key to success and more.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Lisa Kocay: Project 91 was initially started as a hobby and a way to party with your friends. What was the turning point when you realized this was more than that?

Todd Mackall: “I think there were multiple turning points. I think even the first turning point was our first party. It went very, very well, and it wasn’t a business back then. It was a hobby, as you said, and we had an extremely terrific turnout. And then I think the second one is post-pandemic in May of 2021 when we really started to re-enter that energy that we left off in 2019….Then I think post-pandemic, we were able to gain traction on social media buzz. That was the second major turning point, at least in my mind.

“The 4th of July, two months later, we were able to produce our real event. It wasn’t just a party. It wasn’t just a gathering—it was 3,000 people on the Brooklyn waterfront.”

Kocay: You’ve said your community is pretty diverse.

Mackall: “It’s a diverse community, but at the same time, everyone has a bunch in common and it’s…the love for house music, the ambition to really just have a good time. And the outgoingness is definitely something we see. We’ve heard some crazy stories. We actually had one person in our [direct messages]. He met his girlfriend in a Project 91 event and he wanted to propose.”

Kocay: So you would say that the love for house music is pretty much the commonality.

Mackall: “Going out and the energy and…it’s really hard to describe. Because New York City has so many different things to do, yet we see these people choosing to spend their time with us. So that’s what I find most fascinating…is that there’s hundreds of clubs to go to, hundreds of bars, but people choose our events because they can rely on a sense of community.”

Kocay: For those who haven’t been to one of your events, how would you describe it?

Mackall: “Good organized chaos with just love and energy. We’ve had one hundred plus events. I think we’ve had like one or two fights happen, which is something we’re pretty proud of. We draw a respectful crowd. It’s organized chaos, which ultimately is people and their energy.”

Kocay: That’s really impressive that considering how small you are, you’ve thrown over one hundred events.

Mackall: “We had last summer. It was supply and demand.”

Duncan Abdelnour: “Just nonstop.”

Mackall: “People really choosing to go to our parties. We still consider ourselves pretty small, but at the same time, definitely recognized in New York. I don’t know if we have a scale for how many events we want to do this year, but we’ve already had at least 10.”

Abdelnour: “It’s more kind of producing just larger.”

Mackall: “Larger events. Quality over quantity.”

Kocay: What do you think has been the key to success with Project 91?

Abdelnour: “Just kind of thinking outside the box.”

Mackall: “Bringing a fresh perspective.”

Abdelnour: “But it’s kind of just a little bit curation of things. People trust us now. Some people go out once a month, and they’ll pick one of our events because they really like the deejay or whatever.”

Kocay: Can you talk a little bit more about what the fresh perspective means?

Mackall: “For me, that’s putting a twist on your average party, whether it might be a themed party, whether it may be us taking you to a new venue that just opened. We’re event producers at heart.”

Abdelnour: “We can take a regular bar and we’ll bring in sound, lighting, production, haze machines and turn it into a full club experience. Or we’ll do that on a rooftop and bring a whole large scale sound system to a place that has never had that before, so that you can have a mini concert setting in a cool location.”

Kocay: What piece of advice would you give to others starting an event company?

Mackall: It is building blocks.”

Abdelnour: “Start small and take one step.”

Mackall: “You can’t just start throwing hundreds of thousands of dollars around it and booking an event. You have to have experience doing events.”

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Canada, Japan and Spain to compete in first Celebration of Light fireworks event since pandemic – BC | Globalnews.ca

Canada, Japan and Spain to compete in first Celebration of Light fireworks event since pandemic - BC | Globalnews.ca

Canada, Japan and Spain will compete in this summer’s Celebration of Light fireworks festival at Vancouver’s English Bay, marking its return after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The countries were announced Thursday, with Japan to perform July 23, Canada on July 27, and Spain on July 30.

Read more:

B.C.’s Celebration of Light is back after being cancelled twice during COVID-19

Marking its 30th year, the event is the longest running off-shore fireworks festival in the world, hosting more than 1.25 million attendees annually.

Canada will be represented by Midnight Sun Fireworks, while Japan’s Akariya Fireworks returns following wins in 2014 and 2017. Spain is partnering with Pirotecnia Zaragozana.


Click to play video: 'Lineup announced for 2022 Honda Celebration of Light'







Lineup announced for 2022 Honda Celebration of Light


Lineup announced for 2022 Honda Celebration of Light

The B.C. government is offering $5 million to support events in the hopes of helping the battered tourism industry rebound.

Story continues below advertisement

“The Tourism Events Program helps promote these events so they get the local, national and international attention needed to attract visitors to communities and be a magnet for tourism throughout the province,” said Melanie Mark, minister of tourism, arts, culture and sport, in a statement Wednesday.

Applications are open until May 31 for events taking place from this October to September 2023.

© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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Pride Toronto to return with in-person events after 2-year pandemic hiatus | CBC News

Pride Toronto to return with in-person events after 2-year pandemic hiatus | CBC News

After two years of online programming, Toronto’s Pride month and festival is returning with in-person events across the city in June.

Executive Director Sherwin Modeste said the organization is thrilled to get back to face-to-face events after the festival shifted online throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is going to bring the city to life!” Modeste said, in a statement. “Throughout Pride Month, we will be continuing our new initiatives to include different art forms and will give everyone a reason, time, space and something to celebrate. We cannot wait to welcome back our community to honour the history of protest and celebrate the future.”

Pride 2022 launches with a kick-off party and mini-ball at El Mocambo on June 8, and continues with an assortment of parties and events intended to foster community connection, like the Black Queer and Trans Excellence Live Podcast Recording at Hotel X on June 21, an online human rights series and localized neighbourhood events in Scarborough, North York and Etobicoke. 

Pride rallies and marches will also be held on these dates:

  • Trans rally and march: June 24
  • Dyke rally and march: June 25
  • Pride parade: June 26

A full list of events will be available online Friday.

“After two long years, we are beyond excited to bring together — in person — the 2SLGBTQ+ community in Toronto and beyond to celebrate the 2022 Pride Festival,” said board co-chairs Yuri Hernandez and Grant Gonzales, in a statement.

“While we celebrate how far we have come as a community, Pride Month is also a critical time to lift up and advocate for many vulnerable groups within the 2SLGBTQ+ community who continue to be marginalized and left behind.”

This also marks the first Pride being held since the organization apologized after an accounting firm it hired found that Pride Toronto could not prove that it completed several projects despite receiving $1.85 million in federal grant money.

The organization also said at the time that it was apologizing to individuals and organizations who it “wrongly, and without their permission or approval, made false representations claiming their support for Pride Toronto’s grant applications.”

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Local venue sees increase in events while recovering from pandemic

Local venue sees increase in events while recovering from pandemic

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – COVID-19 postponed and even cancelled weddings, baby showers, and graduation parties.

This kept people from gathering to celebrate, but this year is proving to be different as restrictions ease and case numbers decline here in Lincoln.

Event venues, like Urban Farmhouse Room, shut down in 2020 due to COVID-19. Now, they are hosting hundreds of events while rebounding from the effects of the pandemic.

On Saturday, Caron Stajduhar is celebrating her first grandchild at her daughter’s baby shower.

“We came from Georgia and there are several other people coming from far away,” Stajduhar said.

It is a busy time of the year for Urban Farmhouse Room.

“May is very busy for us, and so is April and June. We are gearing up for a very busy Spring season,” Corinna Moser, owner of Urban Farmhouse Room said.

As COVID-19 cases decline in Lincoln, Moser said people are booking more events, like baby showers.

This was not the case two years ago. The venue opened on March 1, 2020. A couple of weeks later, the pandemic shut them down.

“We were just kind of like in shock almost,” Moser said.

Moser said they had a lot of events booked that spring after they opened, including 25 graduation parties.

“We were finally doing this and then we got three events in two weeks and by about March 13, we had to shut down,” she said.

During 2020, they had almost 100 events despite the pandemic.

In 2021, they passed that number with 243 events.

Saturday’s baby shower is just one of many events lined up for their busy year.

“It’s just going to be great,” Stajduhar said. “It’s so fun to get together with people since we’ve been cooped up not able to do things like that.”

Moser said she was happy to get all the events rescheduled once the venue re-opened in June 2020. She said they are on track to have more events this year than last year.

Copyright 2022 KOLN. All rights reserved.

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As pandemic concerns ease, Berks parades and events are making a comeback

As pandemic concerns ease, Berks parades and events are making a comeback

For as long as he can remember, Mohnton’s Memorial Day parade has been a highlight of Jeffery Shanely’s year.

Shanely — a longtime resident and now the head of Mohnton’s parade committee — said he looks back fondly on childhood days spent celebrating with friends and watching the Gov. Mifflin High School band march.

Since 1960, the Memorial Day parade has been a fixture in the community like no other, Shanely said. Everyone knew it was happening, and everyone showed up.

“It’s kind of a natural part of life in Mohnton,” Shanely said.

Like so many facets of the pre-COVID-19 pandemic past, that part of Mohnton’s life has ceased since 2019.

Other than a small memorial service held by veteran groups at the Mohnsville Cemetery — privately in 2020 and publicly in 2021 — Mohnton’s Memorial Day celebrations have been postponed.

But as the winter weather fades to spring, thirst for a deeper warmth and camaraderie absent since COVID is driving local demand for the return of large-scale community events.

“It’s something that helps everybody get over what we’ve gone through the last two years,” Shanely said.

This year, those missing the marchers, classic cars and tunes from the Reading Buccaneers won’t be disappointed: The Mohnton Memorial Day parade is back in full swing.

And even at 92 years old, local legend Shirley Showalter — who has sung the national anthem every memorial service without fail for the past 30 years — will honor veterans with her voice again at the Mohnsville Cemetery.

Shirley Showalter, 92, has been singing the national anthem at Mohnton’s Memorial Day service for over 30 years, and will sing again this year. (COURTESY OF JEFFREY SHANELY)

Shanely said the amount of parade volunteers this year is double what was seen in previous years. Donations have increased substantially as well, Shanely said, and are flowing in earlier than usual.

“We definitely got good responses and quick responses from sponsors,” Shanely said.

Shillington, too, has seen a groundswell of interest since announcing its Memorial Day parade will be resurrected this year, also for the first time since 2019.

“People are busting at the seams to get out,” said Ed Michalik, head of the Shillington parade committee. “They’ve been calling town hall asking if we’re having it.”

Michalik said enthusiasm levels for the parade are noticeably higher than in previous years.

“I think it’s all part of getting back to normal,” Michalik said. “A lot of the activities we’ve had, even this past summer opening the (Shillington) pool with precautions in place, it’s yet another step for people to come together.”

Michalik and Shanely said this year’s parade will resume operations entirely as they have been in the past. No pandemic-related procedural changes will be made to either event.

Fersommling returns

Another Berks staple, the annual Fersommling, an event steeped in Pennsylvania Dutch culture and cuisine, is set to reunite community members.

Hundreds of attendees are predicted at this year’s event, mostly from Berks, but also from Lancaster and Lebanon counties and the Lehigh Valley, said Joyce Hassler, a member of the Fersommling event board.

“People are very anxious to see it come back,” Hassler said. “And this may be the only time in a year that we get to see some of these people.”

Before COVID, the only other time the Fersommling hadn’t run since starting in 1937 was from 1943 through 1945 during World War II.

And although the halls of the Leesport Farmers Market have been quiet on Fersommling day these past two years, the aroma of scrapple, shoo-fly pie, and fresh cooked ham — Hassler’s favorite — will again fill the space on the Monday after Easter.

Bruce Rohrbach of Kutztown performs with The Happy Dutchmen band during the Berks County Fersommling in 2019. The event returns Monday. (READING EAGLE)

Hassler noted the event, which is attended by many elderly community members, would likely see a decline over previous years’ showings due to lingering COVID concerns.

“Absolutely it (COVID) is a part of it, but I’m not blaming COVID entirely,” Hassler said. “Age is going to take its toll. You may be housebound or physically unable to get there.”

Nonetheless, Hassler said she hopes young Pennsylvania Germans and others interested in the unique culture keep the event alive for years to come.

“It’s just the idea of getting together and hearing the music and just the fellowship,” Hassler said. “Fellowship to Pennsylvania Germans is very important.”

Anniversary delayed

Fellowship is also the goal of renewed events at the Keystone Social Club in Hamburg, said club President Gene Schlegel.

Pandemic concerns forced the club to postpone its 100-year anniversary celebration for two years, but over half of the club’s 400 members attended the gala this month.

“There’s a lot of people that are looking forward to it,” Schlegel said before the event.

Schlegel said the club opened again for bowling last year, but some members hadn’t been in to see their friends since COVID began.

Those members were out in force April 2 to bowl at the club’s lanes, celebrate longstanding members and make new memories.

Members of the Keystone Social Club in Hamburg gathered to celebrate the club’s 100-year anniversary. The event was postponed in 2019. (COURTESY OF SCOTT KREIDER)