B Inspired

Host Jane and son Jeff acknowledge the season of celebrations. In exploring one of Jane's "favorite things" throughout her lifetime, they encourage listeners to remember things in their lives that give them continued inspiration and also to celebrate themselves as a means to recognize and appreciate the miracles around them that occur to us or through us during this holiday season.

Anthony Garifo, the owner of Heaps & Bounds, Bits & Pieces, has helped clients remove over 11 tons of what they no longer want--sofas, car engines, a.k.a. junk-- in just 70 days. A certified teacher, Anthony entered college as a journalism major, sought a career in sports management, and has held positions in casino management and a variety of other businesses before deciding on starting h...

Mike Heil grew tired of the corporate, W-2 world working for someone else, dependent on the vagaries of the marketplace. He joined Entrepreneur Source where he helps others in transition through various assessments to clarify who they are, why they do what they do, and how they want to contribute to the world through their efforts. Possibly owning their own franchise? Owning their own unique busin...

Sandra WilliamsSandra taught world literature and writing at both the high school and higher education levels since earning a BA in English and Secondary Education at Ursinus College and an MA in English at Villanova University. She is a writer of poetry, essays and short stories, with several published articles. She has been associated with Studio B since 2010 offering various adult writing oppor...

When Boyertown newcomer Diane Sullivan reached out to ask if there was a book about the Bear Fever project that she could share with her mother, a resident of Chestnut Knoll, she was disappointed to learn there wasn't one available. But Momma Bear, a.k.a. Jane Stahl, allowed her to know that she hoped that someday, someone would step forward and take on the project. Diane offered that, newly retir...

Julie Longacre can't quit creating--in paint, in words, in music. The projects never stop in her efforts to preserve memories of historic buildings and her own visions. The episode provides insight into this tireless artist--one of Boyertown's icons.

Lynne Conner, candidate for a seat on BASD's School Board for Region #3, has hopes to create a greater team spirit to the communication and problem solving efforts. Lynne sees herself as a research-oriented problem solver. She takes personal risks-- she's parachuted and scuba dived at night, for example--knowing the odds favored successful, once-in-a-lifetime, experiences. She wants to bring that...

Diane Hallman kept a journal over 25 years containing thousands of ideas, meditations, activities, and writing prompts she'd collected from her research, attendance, and participation in webinars and workshops. Six months ago she made the commitment to share them in her recently published book Abundance: Unleashing Your Potential with the S.I.M.P.L.E. System  that offers “a blueprint for growt...

Jason's FB post in which he shared his disappointment with the type of communication he's witnessed at recent school board meetings caught my attention. Here's not the first to complain about the disrespect and dysfunction but may be the first to be public about it. In meeting with him, he shared his determination, if elected, to be a positive force--like one he effected in his career in the Coast...

Newly retired from a lifetime in education, Dr. Michelle Wiley, candidate for BASD School Board Director for Region #1, wants to share her leadership experience & practical ideas as her way to give back to her community. She is dedicated to practicing effective, respectful communication in problem solving and developing a healthy culture within and without the district. I loved knowing that sh...

Jane shares the ups and downs of a week that included both the celebration of the uplifting holiday of Rosh Shashanah and the spiral down rabbit holes following relationship disappointments and threats to the nation's freedom of speech. Serendipitously, people appeared with poetry, music, and reminders of age-old words that inspire: the Book of Psalms and William Faulkner's Nobel Prize Acc...

Amy Lobben and Andrew Marcus founded Terra Pacem Winery to bring the wines they lovingly crafted in Oregon after retiring from a college career teaching geography and to create meaningful work for their son within a community by and for people with disabilities. Their farm on South Grim's Mill Road just west of Boyertown brings a lovely spot to meet with friends surrounded by Berks County'...

Imagine...if you can..."the world will be as one...all the people sharing all the world." Jane Stahl admits she's a dreamer. In this episode from 2021 she explores some possible origins of today's hate and intolerance...offers a pledge and an invitation to her listeners to dream together to create understandings and heal the divisions among us. She misses your company and needs your inspiration! ...

Main Street Manager Ellen Martignetti and Events Planner Krista Gross reflected on Building a Better Boyertown's 2023 Oktoberfest and upcoming events, plans, and vision for future events and initiatives. We'll circle back with them to review the upcoming 18th celebration.

In this encore episode, I enjoyed learning from Cindy and Jeff Karver, the founders, just how Boyertown's Oktoberfest got its start. Spurred by a challenge from community leader Charles Haddad, Jeff and Cindy initiated the community's popular and successful event that not only survived the first year's economic downturn, chaired it for five years and have watched it grow bigger and bet...

I asked Vicki Kriczky about a community currently under construction, slated to open February 2026, called The Residence of Boyertown. Vicki explained that The Residence is a community of 126 apartments offering continuing care for folks 55 and older: 54 one -or two-bedroom apartments designated for independent living; 50 to offer personal care, and 22 devoted to memory care. But, more than just a...

Michele Barrett  and  Diane Hallman  are two mothers who have been given extraordinary challenges raising children whose gifts include diagnoses of ADHD, AUDDHD, and autism. Today, recognizing the unique needs of children on the spectrum—particularly those on what they term the “autism cliff”—and eager to help them smoothly transition from secondary educational placements to college and beyond--th...

Dr. John Lignelli, Oral Surgeon, takes us on his journey from his boyhood goal to follow in his father's footsteps to his successful practice in the hometown he loves. Listening with care to his patients' concerns, willing and available when trauma occurs, John brings exceptional skill and attention when needed most.

I had to know: Captain Beefheart? Decal-licking? Who? What? Why? Plus, I needed to catch up with John after 4,000 published poems and 44 published books. The latest: Captain Beefheart Never Licked My Decals Off, Baby. John calls it a memoir; its message describing "real" artists resonates. We had a good time--as usual in our 7th episode.

Quilts--for those who need, for those who celebrate, for funding future projects—are created by a group of women of the former Boyertown Mennonite Church, now also the home of the 2/42 Community Church.  Edith Freed  and  Gerry Grabias  shared a bit of history of the church and the dozens of women who meet bi-weekly as a group...and in-between on their own, their involvement over the years, their...

Artist & teacher Beth Wagner had a vision to establish a fine art gallery and teaching studio in her community but found that dream beyond her own reach as full-time teacher and mother. The seeds of her dream blossomed however; Studio B Fine Art Gallery was established and continues to offer art & culture to the community. Now retired from teaching, Beth reflects on her career, her own art...

When Maddie Bowman saw a need to assist in creating (finally-- after 20 years) a Facebook page for Boyertown's community art project Bear Fever, she made herself immediately available. Her skills have resulted in attracting hundreds of followers within days. Bear Fever fans are grateful as are the many others she serves as volunteer in American Legion's baseball world and in her social wor...

Erin Wade, artist for "Chip T," sponsored by Harry's Tattoo Parlor and Bear Fever, knew early on she wanted to spend her life doing art and helping people in some way. And so, today, she's fulfilling her mission as an art teacher in a private school setting, teaching kindergarten and watching those same kids she knew as kindergartens graduate from high school. "Chip T"--a name for the community wo...

"Coach Jena is a coordinator for the Healthy Kid's running series in Boyertown which has grown to be THE largest running series in the country! In addition, Jena and her husband Jeff have owned Bear's Den Fitness for three years, but the untold story is her role with the foreign exchange program "Academic Year in America" (AYA) that  Jena and her father have been with AYA fo...

Keith Kopicki, owner of Grind restaurant in Boyertown, shares his entrepreneurial journey from an early decision to practice orthodontia to his present project maintaining a healthy work culture for over the 54 employees serving quality food. His creative, collaborative, problem-solving spirit has generated ecological and compassionate efforts in partnership with non-profits and other local busine...