Pottstown Rumble Deserves Local Support

Location of Pottstown in Montgomery County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note:  We agree!!!

If there was ever a time to come out and support the Pottstown Rumble, this is it.

The Rumble is an annual grass tournament in Pottstown started more than 20 years ago by a group of volleyball enthusiasts.

The group, led by by Ken Kaas, worked tirelessly to grow the tournament, starting with some nets in Memorial Park to become the largest grass tournament on the East Coast.

Kaas and his cadre of volunteers got business sponsors to make the pot of prize money attractive to some of the best volleyball players in the country, some from other countries as well.

Read more: 
http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20130618/OPINION01/130619259/pottstown-rumble-deserves-local-support-#full_story

Support For ‘Secret Valley’ Rail Line From Boyertown To Pottstown Picks Up Steam

Plans for a tourist excursion railroad on the eight-mile Colebrookdale line between Pottstown and Boyertown are moving forward and picking up support, most recently from a team of 40-or-so volunteers to got together to do a clean-up along the route.

Last weekend, the volunteers, led by the Pottstown Roller Derby Rockstars and folks in Montgomery County’s ARD program performing court-ordered community service, picked up trash along the right of way.

Berks County Subway provided lunch for all volunteers, and the Pottstown Health and Wellness Foundation provided water.

J.P. Mascaro & Sons provided two dumpsters.

Read more:  
http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20130617/NEWS01/130619394/support-for-secret-valley-rail-line-from-boyertown-to-pottstown-picks-up-steam#full_story

Family Services of Montgomery County Job Announcement

Family Development Specialist
Full-time – Minimum bachelor’s degree in social work, early childhood education, or related field. Provide education to families of infants/preschoolers.  Knowledge of child development patterns, parent education, family systems, and local community resources necessary.  Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation necessary.  Bilingual a plus.

This position is based in Family Services’ Pottstown Office.

To apply, email resume and cover letter to Jenn Brown at jbrown@fsmontco.org by 6/30/13.

Genesis Housing Corporation Homes For Sale In Pottstown

Now is the time to buy renovated single family homes.  Total monthly payments as low as $452 per month. [info/application].  Click here to see our available homes.

Pottstown homes are 610 Chestnut St., 612 Chestnut St., 405 Walnut St and 407 Walnut St. Coming soon is 433 Walnut St.

The Washington Street Neighborhood Project is revitalizing Washington Street in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.  The Washington Street Neighborhood Project emphasizes home ownership and encourages local renters to become homebuyers.

The Washington Street Neighborhood Project purchases, rehabs, and resells homes at affordable sale prices with an interest free soft second mortgage for the difference between the sale price and the appraised value of the home.

Read more:  
http://genesishousing.org/projects_wash2.html

MCCC University Center Open House At Pottstown West Campus

An open house will be held on Thursday, June 20th, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the MCCC University Center at 95 South Hanover Street, Pottstown.  Come and see what Montgomery County Community College has to offer.

Olivet Boys & Girls Club Summer Camp In Pottstown

June 17^th through August 9th

Richard J. Ricketts Community Center, 640 Beech Street, Pottstown, PA

Monday – Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm

Ages 6 to 14 (volunteer opportunities available for youth older than 14)

(Weekly fee is income-based -  $25 or $50)

Subsidized families - call your case manager

Call (484) 945-1020, Janice Burgess, Unit Director

The Suburbs: Pottstown Is Worried Over Tax Credit Housing Developer Who Answers Few Questions

Location of Pottstown in Montgomery County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note:  It appears others are closely watching what Pottstown Borough Council decides regarding this low-income tax credit project and we are pleased!

Up in Pottstown (that’s in MontCo for you folks who don’t know what lies beyond the City’s limits) is a blightfighter who runs Golden Cockroach, an activist fighting against substandard rental living conditions in rental apartments, vacancy and urban (yes, urban!) blight up in Pottstown.

A boro of only 22,000 people, Pottstown occupies a small 5 square mile area of the western corner of Montgomery County, bested by Norristown and Conshohocken in urban density.  Most of the town is middle income at the high end and lower end working class.  As an older PA boro with an industrial past, it has its share of rusty buildings and older housing stock.  Ranchers on large plots are few.  Twin porchfront rowhomes with postage stamp front yards, many.

Since the housing bubble burst 5 years ago Pottstown has seen an increase in cash buyer investors seeking to grab deeds and insert renters into properties as has happened in other PA towns like Bensalem where subprime mortgages existed.  Many of those investors are absentee, maintenance is less than spectacular, and residents are worried that if left unchecked, and combined with urban-industrial decay within the town, that could put Pottstown’s viability as a desirable place to live under fire if quality of life worsens.  No one wants to see Pottstown decay into Chester or see its tax base erode or flee.

Read more:  
http://www.philadelinquency.com/?p=2866

Ex-Pottstown Merchant Convicted Of Selling K2

NORRISTOWN — A former Pottstown store operator is the first merchant in Montgomery County to be convicted at trial under a recently enacted law of distributing synthetic marijuana from a business.

Rafie L. Ali, 35, who previously lived in an apartment above the Achi Store he helped operate at 315 E. High Street between February and May 2012, appeared stone-faced Thursday as a county jury convicted him of charges of corrupt organizations, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia and conspiring with another man to commit those crimes.  The jury deliberated about 2½ hours before reaching its verdict.

The arrest and trial of Ali marked the first time that a store operator was charged in the county with selling synthetic marijuana, known as K2, under a state law that went into effect in August 2011 and criminalized such activity.

“After that law went into effect it was publicized heavily that synthetic cannabinoids are illegal.  In this case these individuals decided to get around that by hiding the K2 substances behind the counter and selling it.  It’s a matter of greed, trying to make money off of…a toxic substance,” said First Assistant District Attorney Kevin R. Steele.

Read more:  
http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20130614/NEWS01/130619553/ex-pottstown-merchant-convicted-of-selling-k2#full_story

Votes Push Development Along Pottstown’s Keystone Boulevard

Editor’s note:  We find ourselves in agreement with the majority on council who voted for this undertaking.  We also feel the tax breaks for Heritage Coach Co. were necessary.  Having that property sit idle accomplishes nothing and provides no income for the borough or the school district.  It also provides no employment which means there is less money to be spent on existing Pottstown businesses.  Until the word gets out to the investment community that Pottstown is open for business and that establishing a business in Pottstown is a good idea, incentives will need to be used to attract development.  

Cleaning up Pottstown would go along way towards fostering development.  Nobody wants to open a business in a crime-ridden community.  Unfortunately, that is the perception you are dealing with, whether it’s entirely true or not.  Perception IS reality.  Cracking down on crime, Section 8 housing and the pervasive drug problem need to be priority one in order to attract business, industry and homeowners.   The number of rental units is too high, partly due to reputation of the Pottstown School District, the reputation of Pottstown Borough and the high taxes.  Any real estate professional will tell you the same thing.  Selling a home in Pottstown is difficult.

POTTSTOWN — Prospects for development along Keystone Boulevard have been bolstered by two votes of borough council Monday evening.

With a unanimous vote, the council approved a “memorandum of understanding” with West Pottsgrove that pledges both municipalities to pursue efforts to extend Keystone Boulevard, which runs parallel to West High Street and the Schuylkill River, into West Pottsgrove to connect with Grosstown Road.

“It’s a conceptual agreement for defining a path to move forward,” Borough Solicitor Charles D. Garner Jr. explained to council.

The extension of Keystone Boulevard through the former Flagg Brass property in West Pottsgrove and over to the Stowe interchange has long been envisioned and was the subject of an $81,000 study by the Rettew Associates engineering firm.

Read more:  
http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20130613/NEWS01/130619600/votes-push-development-along-pottstown-s-keystone-blvd-#full_story

$3M Bike Lane/Sidewalk Project Would Create Safe Routes To Schools In Pottstown

Location of Pottstown in Montgomery County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

POTTSTOWN — An ambitious $3 million plan to repair sidewalks and install bike lanes throughout the town as part of an effort to establish “Safe Routes to Schools” was unveiled Monday before borough council.

The idea is to combine state transportation funding and seek funding from the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation as a match to undertake the upgrades, which would include repairing numerous damaged borough sidewalks at no cost to property owners.

At the same time, said Pottstown School District Superintendent Jeff Sparagana, the district would seek to incorporate the idea of physical fitness into its curriculum and encourage students to walk or ride a bicycle to school and home again.

Sparagana offered up two towns, Naperville, Ill. and Titusville, Pa., where similar efforts were undertaken and have proven successful.

Read more:  
http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20130613/NEWS01/130619676/-3m-bike-lane-sidewalk-project-would-create-safe-routes-to-schools#full_story

A Petition To Stop Housing Visions Of Syracuse, NY From Building More Low-Income Housing In Pottstown

We implore the State Government, the PA Finance Housing Agency to deny tax-credits to the recent low-income developer, Housing Visions of Syracuse, NY, who would like to contribute 43 more rental housing units for low-income people.

Please sign our petition: 
http://www.change.org/petitions/deny-…

Homeowner occupants in the Borough of Pottstown struggle to pay their taxes, maintain their homes, safeguard what is left of their quality of life, and watch their home values sink.

We are a borough of 5 square miles, population 22,000 in Montgomery County, PA one of the Wealthiest Counties in the U.S.  By the counties own figures, Pottstown has a rate over 7 times higher than the county average of Voucher Housing residents.  The poor, disabled, drug addicted and mentally ill are warehoused here as sex offenders and other criminal elements find respite within our slums.

The streets and sidewalks of our town are land mines of trash and discarded households, raw sewage runs freely, crossing public walkways into the gutters and storm water drains while greedy rental income investors milk the taxpayers, collect their government checks and blatantly neglect their properties, their tenants, their taxes and this community.

Rental homes fill with moisture and mold, faulty furnaces go unchecked while dangerous electrical wiring lies hidden beneath false ceilings.  Drug dealers rule the streets and young women, who give them shelter in their Section 8 dwellings, have more babies that we cannot afford.

Pottstown and Norristown Boroughs carry an untenable weight of segregation of the poor and non-whites so that the wealthy white communities of Montgomery County, PA will never have to know the reality of impoverishment.

STOP THEM NOW.

Pottstown PA Crisis Born Of Greed And Neglect

Please watch this informative video about housing conditions in Pottstown.  It is very educational and eye-opening.

 

The Montgomery County Housing authority will holds its monthly meeting in Pottstown on Thursday, June 13. It will be at 4:30 p.m. in Bright Hope, 467 West King St.

Call 610-275-5720, Ext. 315 on that day for info and possible cancellations. Public is invited.

Pottstown Cleanup Effort Brings Out Volunteers

Editor’s note:  Evan Brandt did a nice job of promoting a positive event that happened in Pottstown recently which demonstrated some civic pride and community spirit.  Both are in short supply.  We enjoyed reading Evan’s article until this statement caught our eye:

During Monday’s council meeting, Flanders agreed and added, “There are a lot of special interest groups in town who come to borough council asking for fees and permits to be waived.  I didn’t see any of those groups represented and I share that with you as food for thought.”

We have a problem with BM Flander’s comment.  As Borough Manager, you should be trying to unite factions, bring people together and be the biggest promoter of Pottstown.  Instead, we get the above “finger-pointing” comment.  A total “us and them” statement with a negative connotation.

So Mark, do you think making snide comments will encourage any of these groups to pitch in next time there is a community event like this?  There could be any number of reasons why people did not attend.  Every organization can’t take part in every borough activity.  Many of the organizations you are throwing out as “food for thought” are already doing something for the community.  

It’s time to put away the “tough guy” shtick and start acting like a leader who brings people together.   Maybe try to smile more.  You look angry all the time.  It’s hard to feel the love.

POTTSTOWN — A group of about 50 dedicated volunteers braved the heat recently to help spruce up the borough for the summer.

Unlike some previous efforts, efforts which once had Councilman Mark Gibson declare he would no longer help organize such efforts, this most recent clean-up was “a great success and I want to thank the community for doing an excellent job,” he told council at the June 5 meeting.

“Even during the heat, they showed up and they picked up,” Gibson said.

Read more:  
http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20130611/NEWS01/130619784#full_story

Pottstown May Create Authority To Run Buses, Airport, Parking

POTTSTOWN — The borough is looking at forming a new transit authority that would oversee the PART bus system, the Pottstown Municipal Airport and possibly even parking in town.

Assistant Borough Manager Erica Weekley told borough council on June 5 that the suggestion came from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation as part of its five-year performance review of the Pottstown Area Rapid Transit bus system, better known as PART.

According to PennDOT, it’s unusual for a system as large as PART to be in a town as small as Pottstown and for it to be run by the local government instead of an authority specifically dedicated to its management, Weekley said.

“I can’t think of any other municipality with as many assets to oversee as this council does,” said Borough Solicitor Charles D. Garner Jr.

Read more:  
http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20130611/NEWS01/130619906/pottstown-may-create-authority-to-run-buses-airport-parking#full_story

Pottstown Cops: Naked Man Runs Amok On King Street

Location of Pottstown in Montgomery County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note:  So of course, when you’re high on PCP and wanna let your freak flag fly, you come into Pottstown.  Thankfully he’s behind bars and hopefully clothed.

POTTSTOWN — A man likely high on some kind of hallucinogenic drug allegedly ran along King Street naked Saturday after getting into a fight with two men.

Court papers indicates that Marcus Cross, 34, of Upper Pottsgrove, faces charges of two counts of criminal trespass, two counts of simple assault, one count of open lewdness, two different counts of disorderly conduct and a summary charge of public drunkenness, all related to his naked, violent escapade Saturday afternoon.

According to a criminal complaint filed by the Pottstown Police, a man living in the area of North Charlotte Street and King Street heard a young female screaming and ran to see what was the matter.

He then allegedly saw a naked man, identified as Cross, chasing the girl down King Street.

Read more:  
http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20130610/NEWS01/130619917/pottstown-cops-naked-man-runs-amok-on-king-street#full_story

Pottstown Community Garden Taking Root In Second Site

POTTSTOWN — Say goodbye to the crumbling eyesore, say hello to Pottstown’s second community garden.

The continuing efforts by the Mosaic Community Land Trust to transform falling-down buildings and lots into productive assets took another step forward this week with the demolition of 615 Chestnut St.; the vacant site of a former neighborhood store will soon become a place where local residents can grow food for their tables and flowers for their enjoyment.

The property was owned for several years “by a fellow down in Philadelphia who eventually gave up on owning the property because he didn’t want to have to pay to demolish it, so he donated it to the land trust,” said David Jackson, chairman of the land trust’s board of directors.

That leverage, he said, was the result of pressure from the borough codes department, which cited the property repeatedly for violations.

Read more:  
http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20130610/NEWS01/130609277/pottstown-community-garden-taking-root-in-second-site

Pottstown Police Dept. Announces Promotions

POTTSTOWN — After 23 years on the Pottstown police force, Robert Thomas has a new position and a new office in Borough Hall.

Thomas, in a ceremony during Wednesday night’s Borough Council meeting, was promoted to the rank of captain.

His promotion comes on the heels of the promotion of his predecessor, Richard Drumheller, to police chief.

Thomas was a sergeant for 11 years and he led the detectives unit.

Read more:  
http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20130607/NEWS01/130609482/pottstown-police-dept-announces-promotions#full_story

43 Apartments Planned For Pottstown Furniture Warehouse

Location of Pottstown in Montgomery County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note:  While we 100 percent support any adaptive reuse projects in Pottstown, we are greatly concerned about the involvement of a low-income housing tax credit.  This project, if done correctly, could be a HUGE shot in the arm to this neighborhood and solidify the borough’s claim to be moving towards becoming an arts designation (which we 110 percent support). 

That being said, private sector investment is needed, not more glorified Section 8 housing.  In our humble opinion, this is the “easy way out”.  It might be harder to find private sector dollars but the payoff is greater.  Other communities are successfully finding investors who are converting old building into MARKET RATE apartments and condominiums.  I am all for affordable housing but any involvement of Section 8/low-income funding taints the project.

Pottstown needs to have a better opinion of itself and not settle for the first offer that falls from the sky.  Section 8 and low-income housing do not raise property values nor do they change people’s minds about Pottstown.  Somebody needs to be courageous and just say no.  Find another way.

POTTSTOWN — The moribund plan to transform the former Fecera’s furniture warehouse on Beech Street into artist loft apartments returned to borough council Wednesday night with new backers and a new twist.

Genesis Housing Inc., the non-profit agency which engineered the development of the former Jefferson School into senior rental housing and has rehabilitated dozens or blighted properties in the first ward into owner-occupied homes, is partnering with a Syracuse non-profit housing agency on a $12 million plan to develop the property into 43 apartments targeted toward artists.

The difference is in addition to securing an historic architecture tax credit for the project, the developers,   HousingVisions, are also seeking a low-income housing tax credit, the same kind sought in 2010 for the controversial Pearl senior housing proposal along Industrial Highway — and that raised a few eyebrows on borough council.

“I’m still not sold,” Borough Council President Stephen Toroney said. “This is the same tax credit that was sought by the Pearl Group and that was for a 55-and-older community and people still came out and protested.”

Read more:  
http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20130607/NEWS01/130609465/43-apartments-planned-for-pottstown-furniture-warehouse#full_story

87 People Paddle Down The Schuylkill River For The Annual Sojourn

Location of Pottstown in Montgomery County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

POTTSTOWN — Nearly 90 people dragged their kayaks and canoes into the Schuylkill River around 9 a.m. Wednesday as they started the fifth day of the 15th Schuylkill River Sojourn.

The group camped out Tuesday night at Riverfront Park in the borough before paddling 17.8 miles to Mont Clare on Wednesday.

The 112-mile guided kayak and canoe trip started in 1999 after the Schuylkill River was named River of the Year buy the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

According to the group’s website, it takes seven days to reach the Philadelphia Boathouse Row from their launch site in Schuylkill Haven. The canoeists and kayakers paddle between 14 and 18 miles a day, stopping for lunch, then camping overnight.

Read more:  
http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20130606/NEWS01/130609563/87-people-paddle-down-the-schuylkill-river-for-the-annual-sojourn#full_story

Free Summer Playgroup Sessions In Pottstown

Family Services of Montgomery County

Wednesdays, 10am-11:30am, June 12^th, July 17^th, & August 14^th

The Spray Park (Memorial Park) King & Manatawny Streets

Please call Megan if you plan to attend at 610-326-1610 ext. 242