New Ocean City, NJ Bridge Is A Massive Marvel Of Concrete

Kites on the Ocean City, New Jersey beach at 12th Street (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Along with the usual water ice, greasy pizza, and tubes of sunscreen, the unofficial first weekend of summer was marked by a new arrival this year at the Jersey Shore: 175,000 cubic yards of concrete.

It didn’t arrive all at once, of course, but the concrete — the Route 52 causeway bridge — is now a finished product and represents a major feat of engineering. The bridge stretches more than two miles from Somers Point on the mainland to the barrier island of Ocean City, able to accommodate 40,000 cars a day.

The construction techniques to erect such a structure have long been standard in the industry, one of them tracing its roots to a historic 1950 overpass in Philadelphia. But the sheer scope of this new bridge, a $400 million project overseen by the New Jersey Department of Transportation, was unusual.

Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20120528_Ocean_City_NJ_bridge_is_a_massive_marvel_of_concrete.html#ixzz1wBREo46S
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Collegeville Farmers Market Gets A Jump On Second Season

COLLEGEVILLE, PA - Is one of your favorite days of the year the day the farmers’ markets open for the season?

Much-needed relief from a long, up-and-down winter will be sent on Saturday, with predicted temperatures in the 80s and, more importantly, the opening of the Collegeville Farmers’ Market.

Helping CFM launch its second season are returning vendors like the ever-popular gelato folks (Jenny & Frank’s) and first-of-the-season veggies – lettuce, swiss chard and the like – from Down Home Acres in Fleetwood.

Hand-crafted gifts, locally grown and produced artisan foods, activities for the entire family, and the music of Kendal Conrad round out the market’s 2012 debut.

Read more: http://business-news.thestreet.com/the-times-herald/story/collegeville-farmers-market-gets-jump-second-season/1

America’s Least-Favorite Supermarkets

Editor’s note:  This is SPOT ON!  There are a number of Pennsylvania grocery store chains on the list that you will recognize instantly:

The biggest complaint: too few open checkouts, followed by crowded or dirty aisles.

Shoppers were surveyed on four categories: service (including employee courtesy and checkout speed); perishables (food quality); price and cleanliness.

The highest-rated supermarket chain was Wegmans Food Markets, headquartered in Rochester, N.Y., and operating 75 stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Virginia and Maryland.

Read more to see the wall of shame: http://money.msn.com/investment-advice/americas-least-favorite-supermarkets

West Reading Baker Wins TV Food Network’s Cupcake Wars

Logo for Food Network (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Last night, Ady Cakes, LLC of West Reading won the TV Food Network‘s Cupcake Wars!  Congratulations!

Here’s a little information about Ady Cakes from their website:

“We are a locally owned Custom Cake & Cupcake Shop situated in the heart of West Reading in business since 2007. We offer many elegant designs from which to choose, and we also specialize in working with you to create a completely new design with your own personality, ideas and flair.

We will guide you in selecting a cake that suits your personal style and budget and above all, we promise to deliver a fresh, delicious, cake that tastes as good as it looks. 

Our business is fully licensed by the State of Pennsylvania and a proud member of the International Cakes Exploration Societe (ICES). “

Ady Cakes, LLC is located at 631 Penn Avenue, West Reading, PA.  You can contact them the following ways:

Voice:  (610) 898-4064

Internet: Info@adycakes.com or Cakeorder@adycakes.com

Website: http://www.adycakes.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AdyCakesLLC

There are many pictures on the website and Facebook for your enjoyment!   The bakery hours and other information about ordering and payment are found on their website for your convenience!

Here is an article from today’s Reading Eagle:

Ady Abreu was hard at work in her West Reading bakery Monday morning, just hours after celebrating her “Cupcake Wars” victory at a party held in her honor at Viva Bistro & Tapas Lounge in Wyomissing.

Normally closed on Mondays, Ady’s Cakes opened during the afternoon with a special offering – a four-pack containing one cupcake of each flavor that she created for “Cupcake Wars,” a Food Network baking-competition show.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=384705

King Of Prussia Wegmans To Open Its Doors Sunday

Location of Upper Merion Township in Montgomery County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

UPPER MERION TOWNSHIP, PA - “Didn’t there used to be a golf course here?”

There was a gleam in Danny Wegman‘s eye as he cracked a joke, standing on the spot where he and a lot of other folks literally made the earth move – after 16 years of hitches and hurdles.

At a sneak peak of the freshly constructed Wegmans market at 1 Village Drive on Thursday, the company’s amiable CEO said he could hardly believe that his namesake 80th store was three days away from opening in King of Prussia.

The Rochester, N.Y. native recalled how excited his dad, Robert Wegman, was when he first got a glimpse of the North Gulph Road property – then the home of Valley Forge Golf Club – all those years ago.

Read more: http://business-news.thestreet.com/the-times-herald/story/king-prussia-wegmans-open-its-doors-sunday/1

The 2012 Pennsylvania State Fair Guide

It’s back for another year!  Click on the link to see what’s going on in Pennsylvania this year during fair season.  Don’t sit home and be bored.  Get out there and explore Pennsylvania!

Click here for a PDF file of PA Fairs:

http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_24476_10297_0_43/AgWebsite/Files/Publications/831485%20V3%202012%20Fair%20Guide.pdf

“Come To The Fair!” – Annual Colonial May Fair At Pottsgrove Manor

Pottstown, Pennsylvania – Celebrate spring at the Annual Colonial May Fair held at historic Pottsgrove Manor on Saturday, May 5^th from 11:00am to 5:00pm.

This yearly event is a fun-filled day with activities for all ages—games, music, dancing, and crafts. New to the fair this year is colonial conjurer Levram the Great, who will perform colonial magic shows and entertain visitors with pocket magic tricks throughout the day. Tuckers’ Tales Puppet Theatre returns again this year to perform the puppet shows St. George and the Dragon and their brand-new adaptation of the classic Cinderella. They will also provide festive historic music around the grounds during the event. Members of the Tapestry Historic Dance Ensemble will demonstrate authentic country dances and will lead visitors in dances around the Maypole to open and close the fair. 

In addition to the entertainment, a variety of Early American crafters and demonstrators will be on hand to display historic skills and trades and sell their wares. Young visitors can compete in hoop races, play with colonial toys and games, help churn butter, and more! The first floor of colonial ironmaster John Potts’ 1752 manor house will be open for self-guided tours during the fair. Historic foodways expert Deborah Peterson of Deborah Peterson’s Pantry will be demonstrating open-hearth cooking in the Pottsgrove Manor kitchen. Visitors can also shop at the Manor’s museum shop for colonial games, books, and unique gifts. 

While visitors can’t try the food cooked in the colonial kitchen, they will be able to purchase food during the event, including a variety of tasty baked goods from the Milkman Lunch Co. and Cake Shoppe of Pottstown.

A donation of $2 per person is suggested for this event. Visitors are asked to park at the Carousel at Pottstown building, 30 West King Street. Visitors can also stop in to the Carousel and see the progress that is being made there. Pottstown’s restored trolley will be giving FREE rides during the fair between the “First Saturday” activities downtown, the Carousel at Pottstown, and Pottsgrove Manor. Handicapped parking is available in the museum’s parking lot.

Pottstown Manor is located at 100 West King Street near the intersection of King Street and Route 100, just off Route 422, in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Pottsgrove Manor is operated by Montgomery County under the direction of the Parks and Heritage Services Department. For more information, call 610.326.4014, or visit us on the web at http://historicsites.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor.

Owner Of ViVA Hopes To Buy Club

The owner of ViVA Good Life-Wyomissing Inc. signed an agreement of sale to buy Green Valley Country Club, if he can get subdivision approval.

Jeffrey D. Hettinger said his company, JMH Inc., wants to buy 14 of the 26 available acres to expand its event operations.

The remaining 12 acres would stay in the ownership of the country club.

If Lower Heidelberg Township supervisors don’t approve subdividing the land, Hettinger said he would not buy the property, but instead would enter into a 10-year lease with the club.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=381091

Distilling New Life Into Lancaster City Sites

In the window of the Fulton bar there is taped a copy of the judge’s injunction that shuttered the business in October.

But recently, a second sign was added at the dark 637 N. Plum St. bar. The orange notice refers to Monday’s Zoning Hearing Board meeting.

Blocks away, a similar orange notice is posted in the former Señorita Burrita, at 227 N. Prince St.

The applicant in both cases is the same.

Robert McGrath, owner of the four-store Roburrito’s chain in York County, is coming to Lancaster in a big way.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/625865_Distilling-new-life-into-Lancaster-city-sites.html#ixzz1ryrlpdyv

 

Celebrity Reactions To Mike And Ike Breakup

Mike And Ike Splitting Up, Candy Divorce Part Of Marketing Campaign

Mike and Ike candies, regular flavor. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note:  GOOD GRIEF!

Mike and Ike, the dapper mustachioed icons for the chewy fruit-flavored candy made by Just Born of Bethlehem, are going their separate ways after a six decade union.

In an unconventional, tongue-in-cheek advertising campaign, Just Born began touting the separation on Mike and Ike’s Facebook page this month.

As far as advertising campaigns go, this one seems to be working quite well.

So far, The New York Times has published a story on the matter. And a headline on the Huffington Post web site reads as follows:

“Mike And Ike Head For Gay Divorce In New Ad Campaign.”

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/business/mc-mike-and-ike-divorce-20120413,0,254144.story

YorKitchen Expanding Business Opportunities

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting York County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note:  This is an awesome concept!

While running her stand at Central Market recently, Donna Lott dashed into YorKitchen to decorate a cheesecake.

Lott, who owns Hattie’s Gourmet Cheesecakes, outlined the half-chocolate, half-vanilla cake with white frosting. Earlier, she had adorned it with a yellow bunny with a pink belly.

Last year, Lott was an accountant. Now, she owns a baking business. She does all of her baking at YorKitchen, a business incubator run by NutriCore Northeast Inc., an initiative of the York County Economic Alliance.

Lott stores her ingredients and cakes on a shelf, and in a refrigerator and freezer that she rents at the licensed commercial kitchen – 1,200 square feet of stainless-steel ovens, tables, grills, fryers and utensils.

Read more: http://www.ydr.com/ci_20357583/yorkitchen-expanding-business-opportunities

Pottstown Good Friday Prayer Procession Collects Food

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

POTTSTOWN, PA — In less than six weeks’ time, the greater Pottstown area has generated 14,711 food items and 669 containers of laundry detergent to benefit local families in need, filling The Mercury’s Community Media Lab many times over.

On Friday, 230 food items and 18 laundry items were added to the total.

Blogger Merrill of   Ivy Lane Designs   , dropped off 90 jars of peanut butter to The Mercury office Friday morning, and blogger Heather Graham of   There’s Drool in the Salsa!!   , was making her way to area drop-off points throughout the day to collect donated pet food and laundry detergent items, the total count of which was not available Friday afternoon.

Read more: http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20120407/NEWS01/120409556/-1/news/prayer-procession-collects-food-fill-the-media-lab-effort-just-shy-of-20-000-goal&pager=full_story

Amelia’s To Open Two Stores In Cumru And Muhlenberg Townships

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Amelia’s Grocery Outlet plans to open two stores in the Reading area and close its Blandon store.

Michael L. Mitchell, president and chief executive officer, said the New Holland, Lancaster County, company, announced that it expects to open a 20,000-square-foot store in Muhlenberg Plaza, previously occupied by Pet Supply Warehouse, 3260 Fifth Street Highway, Muhlenberg Township, prior to Memorial Day weekend.

At that time, Amelia’s will close its 11,000-square-foot store at 8472 Allentown Pike, Blandon.

Amelia’s also will open a 20,000-square-foot store in subdivided space of the former Weis Markets in Parkside Plaza, Cumru Township, Mitchell said.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=374928

Craft Show At Grace Lutheran Church, Pottstown

Grace Lutheran Craft Show

Saturday, March 24, 2012

9am – 2pm

 

PROCEEDS BENEFIT RELAY FOR LIFE

 

(Grace Lutheran Church is proud to be a corporate sponsor of Pottstown’s Relay for Life)

 

Grace Lutheran Church

660 North Charlotte Street

Pottstown, PA  19464

(610) 323-9320

 

FREE OFF-STREET PARKING IN THE CHURCH LOT

New Brew Pub Revitalizing Long-Vacant Five Points Landmark In Easton

Image via Wikipedia

Troy Reynard spoke over the pop of nail guns, buzzing of saws and clunking of shovels as he pointed to bare joists, weak beams and a battered and pocked terrazzo floor.

The Mount Vernon building at 542 Northampton St. in Easton has weathered the ages as a boarding house, hotel, bar, restaurant and, according to legend, a popular prohibition-era brothel. To Reynard, the Mount Vernon is more than the ghosts of past, faded incarnations. He plans to make a living out of the old beauty.

“This is our big thing,” said Reynard, 48, of Forks Township.

He, his wife, Kathy, and partners Brad and Judy Nelson, under the moniker Vagabond Properties, plan to pour much of their savings into the landmark building and create Two Rivers Brewery, the city’s first micro brew pub since Weyerbacher moved into the industrial park on the South Side more than a decade ago.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/local/easton/mc-easton-landmark-becomes-microbrewery-20120302,0,7123752.story

Foster Grandparent Program At Appalachian Brewing Co., Collegeville

Image via Wikipedia

Party with a Purpose

Eat, drink and shop at Appalachian Brewing Company while raising money for the Foster Grandparent Program and learning about Decorating Den Interiors. 

Thursday, April 12, 11am-10pm

Appalachian Brewing Company, 50 West 3rd Avenue, Collegeville, PA

11 a.m.-10 p.m.    Order from a special fundraising menu, bid on silent auction items, and receive a free design consultation from Decorating Den Interiors

5-9 p.m.    Shop with local vendors (Silpada, Tastefully Simple, and many more!)

For more information, call the Foster Grandparent Program at 610-630-0201. The Foster Grandparent Program, a program of Family Services, provides volunteer opportunities for limited-income seniors over the age of 55 to help children with special needs.

Healthy Lifestyles EXPO In Pottstown

Friday, April 20, 9:30am-1:30pm

Montgomery County Community College, West Campus

101 College Drive, Pottstown

Sponsored by State Representative Quigley’s Office, Montgomery County Community College, the Mercury, & TriCounty Community Network.

The EXPO offers all members of the community the opportunity to explore services, participate in activities and gather information, which is useful in living a healthy lifestyle.  We anticipate offering a number of health screenings and interactive activities.  We are inviting representatives from various organizations to discuss their role within the community, answer questions and offer demonstrations or screenings.

For more information call 610-326-9563 or email vwhite@pahousegop.com.

Singer Sheryl Crow Gets Second Chance To Headline Musikfest

Image via Wikipedia

An artist who canceled out a previous show at Musikfest is getting a second chance at the festival.

Sheryl Crow, who had the hits “Leaving Las Vegas,” “All I Want to Do,” “Strong Enough” and “If It Makes You Happy,” but canceled a sold-out Musikfest show at the last moment in 2001, will play at the festival’s main Steel Stage at 8:30 p.m. Aug. 10, it was announced Friday.

Tickets, at $30 and $40, go on sale to ArtsQuest members at 10 a.m. Feb. 28 and to the public at 10 a.m. March 2 at http://www.musikfest.org or by calling 610-332-3378.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/entertainment/music/mc-sheryl-crow-musikfest-20120224,0,5033816.story

7 Most Inappropriate Restaurant Names

Funny!

Click here to see list:

http://www.thedailymeal.com/node/27065/daily-byte-0?utm_source=Outbrain