6-19-2026 4:22am

"Shout Outs" of Thanks Offered for Kindnesses and Service by Expression Editor

Lesley Misko Editor

by Jane Stahl

On Friday, June 26, 2026, Studio B Art Gallery will host an art exhibit opening titled “In Service.” The opening is the start of a variety of activities within the Boyertown area, funded by a grant from Berks County Community Foundation (BCCF), reminding one another how valuable we are and how grateful we are for the many services we offer one another.

Service as kindness offered effortlessly. Service as part of our life’s work. The spirit behind helping one another is perhaps among the greatest achievements we all can offer the world. The past 24 hours have been filled with that spirit, and I’m grateful.

While I’ve outlined the many efforts and activities inspired by the BCCF grant that folks can expect throughout the summer in other Expression articles, today I want to give some “shout outs” to people who have been of service to me. I hadn’t planned to write this article, but the theme of the upcoming exhibit has shown up all over my world that I feel compelled to share.

Thanks to Jaime Fox, executive director for the Foundation of Boyertown Education, who showed up to the studio, eager to learn what to do—at the studio when she happily hosts--and as the executive director for the Foundation. While there, knowing we needed help with our internet access, she’s now researching alternate service for us. The kindness and willingness to help doesn’t stop from this Energizer Bunny!

Thanks to Amy Muzopappa, real estate agent with Richard A. Zuber Realty, who spent hours with me to create a new YouTube channel for Studio B where we can showcase videos like the ones created for the “In Service” project by Boyertown Area High School (BASH) seniors Kailey Reinboth, Eva Montanye, and Alex Rose. I’m grateful for the many, many ways Amy has assisted me over many years. And I’m so grateful to the students who were so willing and eager to create the video projects.

Thanks yet again to Bill Cherkasky, BASH telecommunications instructor, for so many things: recruiting students to help me with the video projects, for his mentoring of those students’ work, and for responding to my desire to have the students’ videos broadcast. Bill has been so generous with his time and attention—helping me with projects--for decades. He is a treasure to his students and staff, the school district, the entire Boyertown area, and to individual folks like me.

Thanks to the Zaharchuk Family: Deb’s energy and ideas flood the studio with positive energy and efforts to engage the community in art-related workshops and activities. She came into the studio with ideas months ago and continues to surprise me with creative and fun projects she takes on herself. Deb’s daughter Madeleine has volunteered to host the studio one day a week so that our doors can be open for art-loving visitors and patrons. And today Deb’s husbandbrought his drill to tackle a handyman project and his tech expertise to get our internet working again—a necessity for next week’s art opening.

Thanks to Rob Theisen, United Way board member and financial advisor with New York Life, who spent hours chatting with Customer Service to resolve the internet issue at the studio and sending text messages to calm my anxieties that we wouldn’t have the access we need for our work. Internet companies don’t often respond quickly; one often feels hopeless and alone, but I believe his determination that I be taken care of was instrumental in getting the issue resolved. I truly couldn't be more grateful.

Then there’s my hair stylist (who wishes to remain anonymous) whose work always lifts my spirits, Beth and Connie, the associates at State Farm, who always welcome me so warmly when I present them with issues I can’t solve on my own, and “Mark” at Fred Beans who not only offered—in the moment—to fix my issue but bring my car into the carport so I wouldn’t get wet during the summer downpour. Chivalry is not dead!

My last 24 hours were filled with kindnesses and service. Coming on the almost-eve of Studio B’s opening of “In Service,” our summer project, encourages me to share them.

Finally, please consider sharing the kindnesses that come your way: write us to thank folks (janeEstahl@comcast.net or leslemisko@aol.com) to be included in a Boyertown Area Expression article, schedule to record a casual conversation for a “B Inspired” podcast episode with me, fill out one of our “thank you for your service” cards available at Studio B that will become part of our exhibit.

Boundless thanks to those who offer their talents, time, and efforts to serve us—with tireless generosity and a sincere desire to help--is what the world needs now to inspire the hope and change we need in these troubled times.