West Reading Avenues Fall 2017 - 5

WEST READING PEEPS

Living,
Working,
Thriving

in West Reading:

By Denise Drobnick

W

elcome to my new column! I plan to introduce you
to people on the West Reading scene who you've
probably run into a million times, but do you really
know them? Maybe you even have suggestions for future profiles.
If so, feel free to email me your ideas at ddrobnick@yahoo.com.
Sheilah Nestro first caught my attention at 3rd & Spruce Cafe,
where she has been a waitress for 40 years, because her hair is
sparkly. I instantly needed to get to know this woman better, for
she is my spirit animal. Not to disappoint, she arrived to our
meeting in a "Life is Short - Wear Glitter" t-shirt. At 74, she is
energetic and engaging, as well as fashionable and feisty. She is
also a stickler for dates and details, and she was happy to share.
This is a small piece of her story.
Born in Reading, Sheilah attended school "all on one street."
Namely - 13th Street. She went to 13th and Union Elementary,
Northeast Middle School and Reading High. Nine months later
she began training at the Brylan Institute of Cosmetology and
embarked on a career as a hairdresser. In 1965 she married Eugene
Nestro II, a Tony Curtis look-a-like, and they had a daughter, Gina,
and a son, Eugene III. On May 13, 1977 they moved from the
Wyomissing Park Apartments to her husband's childhood home
at Second and Spruce Streets in West Reading, where she lives
to this day.
At that time, 3rd & Spruce was owned by Sherry Shirey, a hair
client of Sheilah's. On October 30, 1977, Sherry asked Sheilah to
please help fill in for a waitress who had called off. Sheilah agreed
and made $69 in tips that night - huge money. Sherry was so pleased
with the job Sheilah had done that she asked for help a second
time. A few days later, while all of her clients were neatly tucked
under hair dryers, Sheilah called Sherry and said, "You need to fire
that waitress. I'm taking her job." Incidentally, current owner John
Woodward, who bought the Spruce in 1983, also worked there
in 1977 as a doorman and bartender, so Sheilah has known and
worked with him for the entire 40 years. These days, you can find
Sheilah at 3rd & Spruce on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Meet Sheilah Nestro
Sheilah has continued to thrive and enjoy life to the fullest, here
in West Reading. Although she lost her husband in 2002, she has
many interests. She considers herself a "recycled teenager," and
believes the key to happiness and staying young is to keep moving.
You won't find her on the sofa watching TV. In addition to her
job as a waitress, she still does hair and has been a crossing guard
in her neighborhood since 1994. Most Fridays she can be found
dancing the night away at the YR Club, and some Saturdays after
work, too. She loves music, both old and new, with one of her
favorite songs being that hit "Oh Sheila" by Ready For The World,
which she pointed out was number one on the charts for 13 weeks
in 1986. Another of her top secret anti-aging tips is to take an
Epsom salts bubble bath three times a week. Her license plate
reads SEXE-1, which could not be more fitting.
Please stop by 3rd & Spruce and be inspired by this amazing
woman. If in doubt, just follow the sparkles.

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of West Reading Avenues Fall 2017
