In a year filled with the unexpected, one of the certainties of 2021 was that the Community Courier was filled with good news stories about people in the community, schools and local nonprofit organizations, as well as notable events that took place locally.

Readers learned about local residents who were color blind but were able to see color for the first time thanks to special glasses developed by EnChroma, a company based out of Berkeley, Calif., that produces eyewear for color blindness and low vision. The glasses were unveiled during a ceremony held at the Village Library of Morgantown on June 26. "Colors come up every day, so it's an opportunity to communicate with people in a language you have never been able to speak," said Randy Litwin, one of the recipients of the glasses.

Lasagna Love, which matches people in need of a homecooked meal with a volunteer home cook, was highlighted in March of 2021. The effort provides free lasagnas to anyone who may need one, such as a busy mom or a hardworking medical professional. To request or donate a lasagna, visit http://www.lasagnalove.org.

Community groups were also active in 2021, including the Honey Brook Food Pantry and the Twin Valley Food Pantry (TVFP), which provided food and necessities to people in need; the Rotary Club of Twin Valley, which held an Empty Bowls event to benefit the TVFP; the American Legion Riders from Post 626 in Birdsboro, who constructed an access ramp for a disabled veteran; and the Honey Brook Borough Police Department, which held its annual Christmas toy drive.

Many celebrations that were canceled in 2020 because of the pandemic returned in full in 2021, including the Hay Creek Festival, Apple Festival and Christmas at Joanna at Historic Joanna Furnace; Poole Forge Day held at Historic Poole Forge in Narvon; Christmas in Birdsboro; and the Honey Brook Borough Summer Concert Series.

Twin Valley High School (TVHS) was able to hold an in-person graduation ceremony on June 5 at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading. During the event, TVHS principal William Clements listed the accomplishments of the Class of 2021, including awards and honors won by students in FFA and Technology Students of America, being able to present a school musical and other performances despite the pandemic and the achievements of student artists and student-athletes. He reported that the school Mini-THON collected more than $30,000 to help the fight to end pediatric cancer, which is a school record.

People who were highlighted in 2021 include new Boone Area Library director Ashley Allen; Lionel McCulloch of Morgantown, a student at West Chester University (WCU) who earned an award for completing the WCU yearbook in 2021 despite the fact that WCU classes were held virtually; and firefighter Steve Dragon from the Birdsboro-Union Fire Department, who published his second children's book, "Were You Born a Dragon Too?"

The area's three libraries - Honey Brook Community Library, the Boone Area Library of Birdsboro and the Village Library of Morgantown - continued to offer programming in 2021 despite limitations caused by the pandemic.