Montco Commissioners Tell Pottstown The Era Of The “Big Check” Is Over

Editor’s note:  What else is new.  The county is over involved in Pottstown‘s affairs and has helped to create a great deal of the problems Pottstown and Norristown both face by making them the dumping group for Section 8 Housing and social services.  Now we just wash our hands and say “see ya”.  Typical!

POTTSTOWN, Pa. — Say goodbye to the big, giant check.

That was one of several messages Montgomery County Commissioners Josh Shapiro and Leslie Richards had for Pottstown officials last week during a rare joint meeting of borough council, school board and members of the board of Pottstown Area Industrial Development, or PAID.

Officially, the joint meeting was also the required annual meeting of PAID at which the executive director, Steve Bamford, is required to give a report on the activities of the year before.

But since Bamford was not hired until November, there was not much to tell.

Read more: http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20120529/NEWS01/120529365/montco-commissioners-tell-pottstown-era-of-the-big-check-is-over-(video)

Meeting Set For Moving 5th Grade Out Of Barth

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

POTTSTOWN, Pa. — When school opens at Barth Elementary School in August, it will not have a fifth grade.

Due to the renovation project that will be undertaken at Pottstown’s largest elementary school this summer and fall, the administration has decided to move both fifth grade classes out of Barth and over to Franklin Elementary school.

A meeting for parents of the 58 students this decision affects will be held tomorrow night at 6 p.m. in the gymnasium at Barth.

Read more: http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20120529/NEWS01/120529312/meeting-set-for-moving-5th-grade-out-of-barth

Pottstown Designer Awaits Tony Awards Night

To create the set for the Broadway smash Newsies, Pottstown resident Tobin Ost served multiple masters: a choreographer who needed space for his performers to dance, a director who envisioned a jungle-gym effect, a writer who moved the action from scene to scene, and producers who worried about the box office.

So the scenic designer crafted a tiered, tic-tac-toe metalscape that separates, recedes and rotates. Performers dance up, down, and through it during a musical set in turn-of-the-century New York.

For his efforts, Ost has been nominated for a Tony Award.

“I tried hard to ignore it when the announcements were coming out. I just didn’t want to have any assumptions,” Ost, 38, said of hearing the news “Then, my partner called and he was crying for joy.”

Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/20120528_Pottstown_designer_awaits_Tony_Awards_night.html#ixzz1wBN7Cnqs
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Pottstown Crash Deaths Focus Shifts To Drug Sale

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

POTTSTOWN, Pa. — The investigation into a Monday night crash that killed two people and critically injured a third shifted Thursday to a downtown store that allegedly sold synthetic marijuana to one of the crash victims.

According to court documents obtained exclusively by The Mercury Thursday, members of Pottstown’s Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at 315 and 317 E. High St., which houses a convenience store called the Achi Store.

As investigators were searching Tuesday for Roger Tracey Malloy, 27, of 303 N. York St., Pottstown, the driver in the fatal wreck, authorities learned that one of Malloy’s passengers, 16-year-old Kendall Harper, of Pottstown, had purchased K2, or synthetic marijuana, from the Achi Store, according to court papers filed seeking the warrant.

According to court papers, authorities learned in their investigation that Malloy has been smoking K2 and drinking before the crash occurred.

Read more: http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20120525/NEWS01/120529577/search-warrant-for-drugs-served-on-pottstown-store-&pager=full_story

Colonial Textile Program At Pottsgrove Manor

Pottstown, PA – What people often throw out today would have been repaired, refreshed, or reused by their colonial counterparts. Visitors to historic Pottsgrove Manor on Saturday, June 9^th between 11:00am and 3:00pm can see how this was done.

The interactive program, “Cleaning & Mending, Repairing, Extending: The Non-Disposable 18^th- Century Textile,” will feature a variety of living history activities and demonstrations throughout the day. These will include colonial laundry, dyeing, sewing, mending, ironing, and more.

A donation of $2 per person is suggested for this program. This program is being held in conjunction with Pottsgrove Manor’s current exhibit, “Matters Personal, Details Private: Cleanliness, Hygiene, and Personal Pursuits in the Colonial Home.” Guided tours of the exhibit will be offered on the hour during the program.

The exhibit can also be viewed during a guided tour of Pottsgrove Manor during regular museum hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tours are given on the hour. The last tour of the day begins at 3:00 p.m. The site is closed Mondays and major holidays. Groups of ten or more should pre-register by calling 610-326-4014.

Pottsgrove 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 the website at http://historicsites.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor.

Pottstown Borough Manager Lured Away By West Norriton Township

Location of West Norriton Township in Montgomery County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note:  Pottstown‘s loss is West Norriton‘s gain.  And it is Pottstown’s loss!  Good luck finding somebody to replace Jason!  We wish Jason the best of luck in his new position and thank him for leaving Pottstown in better shape than he found it.

POTTSTOWN, Pa.  — Borough Manager Jason Bobst is leaving the post he has held for three years to take a job as the township manager of West Norriton.

With the 90 days’ notice his contract requires, his last day will fall sometime in August.

Bobst said Tuesday he had not been looking for long, “but I saw an opportunity that opened up and it piqued my interest.”

He was helped in what he said was “a difficult decision” by “ongoing issues around here,” but he declined to elaborate.

Read more: http://www.timesherald.com/article/20120522/NEWS01/120529831/pottstown-borough-manager-hired-by-west-norriton

Man In Hospital After Sunday Night Shooting In Pottstown

Editor’s note:  All is well.  Keep moving.  Nothing to look at here!

http://www.wfmz.com/news/news-regional-southeasternpa/Man-in-hospital-after-burst-of-gunfire-in-Montgomery-Co-Sunday-night/-/121434/13498286/-/13jocrh/-/index.html

Summer Classes For All Ages At The Gallery School Of Pottstown!

Pottstown, PA – Forty Chances for Creative Fun and a Free Class!
 
The Gallery School of Pottstown, a non-profit community art school, has a huge lineup of classes for all ages planned for this summer. Topics range from traditional drawing and painting to stained glass and sewing classes.
 
Students who register for a summer class by June 1, 2012 are eligible to take a fun workshop for free. They can choose from four great classes: Tic-Tac-Dough, Recycled Art, Fused Glass and Easy Earrings. For more information, and to register, visit this special page on the Gallery School’s website: www.galleryonhigh.com/free.html.   Students and parents can also call 610-326-2506 to register.
 
See the lists below for the complete lineup of classes. Full details can be found on the Gallery School’s website at www.galleryonhigh.org.

New for 2012 are fun mini camps for kids. All mini camps run from 10am-3pm for 3 days, with a break for lunch and a snack. Children have an opportunity to really engage in fun, comprehensive projects. Topics include Kids Sewing Mini Camp, Kids Pottery Mini Camp and Jewelry for Kids Mini Camp.

Classes for kids include Summer Cray Pas, Summer Creative Kids, Summer Crafty Kids, Colonial Crafts, Summer Kids Pottery, Summer Story Sculpting Workshop, Summer Parent and Child Coil Pot Workshop, Summer Parent and Child Fused Glass Workshop, Basketmaking, and Kids Clay: Hand-Building Techniques One Day Workshop.

Classes just for teens include Summer Teen Studio, Basketmaking, Spirit Animal Mosaic, and The Heart of The Matter: Personal Essay Writing for High School Students.

Classes for adults and teens 16 and older include Altered T-Shirts Workshop, Yo-Yo Flag, Scratchboard, Introduction To Drawing I & Drawing II, Jewelry/Metalsmithing, Introduction to Figure Drawing I & Figure Drawing II, Clay: Hand-Building Techniques Two Day Workshop Clay: Hand-Building Techniques One Day Workshop, and Pottstown Photography Project.

Classes for adults include Summer Mosaics, Introduction to Stained Glass, Summer Adult Pottery, Summer Introduction to Encaustics, Adult Basketmaking , Introduction to Fused Glass Jewelry, Summer Introduction to Glass Fusing, Summer Fused Glass Open Studio, Simple Summer Skirt, Stripey Shoulder Bag, Found Object and Recycled Jewelry, and Flash Memoir and Essays for Adults.

The Gallery School of Pottstown is a 501c3 non-profit community art school and gallery. The School offers day, evening and weekend classes to all ages. The goal of these classes is to help students develop their creative skills through self-expression and independence. The Gallery on High hosts rotating shows featuring local artists. The Gallery also sells handcrafted, one-of-a-kind gift items.
 
The Gallery School of Pottstown
@Gallery on High
254 E. High St.
Pottstown, PA 19464
610-326-2506
www.galleryonhigh.org

Meet Captain Buy Local And Trusty Sidekick Small Biz

 

Monday, May 21st – 7:00 to 8:00 PM

Pottstown

Visitor’s Center / PDIDA Office

17 North Hanover Street

Garden Party at Washington/Chestnut Sts Park, Pottstown

Saturday -May 19, 2012 – Garden Party at the Park- From 10-11:30am

Help plant a garden in the park. We’ll be sprucing up the park with annuals and mulch. Last week a small herb garden (donated by Genesis Housing) was planted next to the Police Sub Station building.  A tour of the new Mosaic Community garden at 443 Chestnut St. will be offered for those that are interested.  Light refreshments will be served.

RSVP by Friday, May 18th you will be attending to vivapottstown@hotmail.com

Rep. Tom Quigley To Speak On Local Job Creation

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

TCN Membership Meeting

Rep. Tom Quigley to Speak on Local Job Creation

 Tuesday, May 15, 8am-10am

Montgomery County Community College, West Campus

Community Room, 101 College Drive, Pottstown

Special thanks to our breakfast sponsor
Money Management International

For more information or to register call 610-705-3301, Ext. 2.

 Membership Meeting Agenda

8:00am-8:30am Breakfast & Networking

8:30am-8:40am Introductions

8:40am-8:50am Announcements

8:50am-9:00am Breakfast Sponsor Presentation

9:00am-10:00am Presentation

TriCounty Community Network Board Member, Patricia Eltz, To Receive VNA’s 2012 Nursing Champion Award

Pottstown, Pa. (May 7, 2012) – TriCounty Community Network (TCN), a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health, social and environmental conditions in Western Montgomery, Northern Chester and Eastern Berks counties in Pennsylvania, today announced that its founding president and current vice president of the board, Patricia Eltz, RN, MSN, retired community health specialist at Pottstown Memorial Medical Center (PMMC), will be the recipient of the VNA of Pottstown Home Health & Hospice’s 2012 Nursing Champion Award. 

Ms. Eltz will receive this award at the 2012 Health Care Champion Breakfast being held on May 8 at 7:30 a.m. at the Copperfield Inn at Lakeside.  She is being recognized for her work promoting health care in the community.     

“We are thrilled that VNA is honoring Pat with this prestigious award,” said Jen Doyle, executive director for TCN.  “She believes in giving back and making a difference in her local community.  This is evident in her efforts to coordinate the TriCounty Health Partnership (TCHP) and her vision that led to TCHP and the Tri-County Interagency Consortium to merge in 2005 to create TCN.” 

Ms. Eltz chairs the TCN board’s Personnel Committee and also serves on the Executive, Finance and Board Development committees.  As a community health specialist at PMMC from 1995 to 2010, she developed PMMC’s Community Education program to encompass the greater community and heighten awareness of available services.  Her contributions to the community are endless.  Some examples include: implementing and obtaining funding and support for Community Dental Services (a dental service for the working poor); obtaining more than $1 million in funding and support through grants for both PMMC and TCHP; and promoting wellness and improved health in the Pottstown area utilizing education, prevention and early detection techniques.

Ms. Eltz received her post master’s certification in nursing administration from Villanova University, her master’s in community health nursing from West Chester University, her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of the State of New York, and her RN from Reading Area Community College.

About TriCounty Community Network                 

TCN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, membership-based organization that partners with nonprofits, businesses and community members to improve health, social and environmental conditions.  Serving Western Montgomery, Northern Chester and Eastern Berks counties in Pennsylvania, TCN offers seven key programs: Build Up Youth, C.A.R.E. (Caring in Alternative Residential Environments), Environmental Awareness, Family Literacy, Homeless Services, S.A.F.E. (Supporting Abuse Free Environments), and Workforce Development.  For more information on TCN, visit www.tcnetwork.org.

Thomas Hylton Is Astonished By Plans To Add Classrooms To Pottstown Elementary Schools

The Grand Poobah of the Pottstown School Board, Thomas Hylton seems to suffer from convenient memory loss.  After carefully reading Evan Brandt’s account of the latest school board meeting, I found this quote by Numero Uno Responsible Citizen, Thomas Hylton rather humorous.

“Our first responsibility,” Hylton said, “is the economic viability of this community and, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it is astonishing to me that we are thinking of adding extra classrooms to our elementary schools.”  

This cow patty of wisdom from the number one Rupert-lover himself.  What about the architecturally correct windows and geothermal heating and cooling that Responsible Tom proposed for Rupert?  Now suddenly we’re “astonished” that we want to add classrooms to house the Edgewood students.  Should we educate them on the lawn, Tom?

The Middle School would need to be retrofitted to segregate the elementary students from the middle school students.  That will cost money as well.  It was made abundantly clear by the parents of elementary students that they do not want their children mixed in with the middle school population.  I guess Tom forgot about the community outrage when he proposed putting 5th grade in the Middle School during his heyday as Neighborhood Schools Potentate.

I think somebody needs some Ginkgo biloba or the wifey needs to take better notes at meetings.

Pottstown Walmart Supercenter Taking Shape

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

POTTSTOWN, PA  - By the end of summer, the Pottstown Walmart store is going to be a whole lot bigger.

In fact, it’s going to be super.

For the past four months, construction crews have been working on the expansion of the Walmart store in the Pottstown Center, Route 100 and Shoemaker Road, into a Supercenter. In addition to work being done inside and outside the store to grow the Walmart by 55,000 square feet into a SuperCenter - basically a Walmart that includes a full grocery store – the shopping center’s parking lot is also under construction.

That will mean 55,000 square feet of new construction will be added to Pottstown’s tax rolls after the property is reassessed when the construction is complete.

Read more: http://business-news.thestreet.com/the-times-herald/story/pottstown-walmart-supercenter-taking-shape-3/1

The Three Statistics That Every Downtown Should Live By

Editor’s note:  This is phenomenal advice for all downtown shopping districts and their umbrella organizations i.e. Pottstown Downtown Improvement District Authority.

Lancaster and its James Street Improvement District are prime examples of living by these three simple rules!  I suggest a field trip for any struggling downtown merchants or downtown organizations who want to see what is possible!

I call this the 7-8-7 rule because of the three most important statistics that make a downtown a successful and vibrant destination. Think of your favorite destination downtowns. Are they beautiful? Do they feel safe? Are there things to do after 6:00 pm?

Read more: http://www.rogerbrooks.org/2012/04/30/the-three-downtown-statistics/

Shop Smart. Buy Local. Shop Pottstown!

Sustainable communities thrive on local support.

 Think community first, and buy locally.

 Say “Yes” to creating thriving small businesses and buy locally.

 The Shop Smart. Buy Local. Shop Pottstown Initiative is open to all employees of the Pottstown School District.

 The Shop Smart. Buy Local. Shop Pottstown Dates are Wednesday, 5/1 to Thursday, 5/31

 Map of downtown merchants, list of names, addresses & hours is included so you have everything at your fingertips to shop & buy local!

 Each merchant will place a sticker on your receipt for every purchase made for the initiative – be sure to ask for this!

 Save stickered receipts and drop them into the jar located in your school’s office.

 Each week, we will tally the total dollar value of the receipts and there will be a graph in the office so you can track your progress and check out how you’re doing against the competition!

 During the month of May the five Pottstown elementary schools will be competing against one another, and the Pottstown High School, Middle School and Administration will be competing against each other to win:

 The first school to spend $250 wins their staff a Buy Local insulated Lunch Bag!

 Students of winning schools – no uniforms for the entire last week of school, uniforms can be replaced by school appropriate attire of choice for the entire week!!

 Teachers/faculty of winning school – the option to wear school appropriate jeans or shorts and sneakers for the entire last week of school!!

Shop Smart. Buy Local. Shop Pottstown!

Pottstown School District May 2012

For further information contact:

Your Buy Local Committee:

Amy Francis 484-256-7678

amyfrancis@verizon.net

Mary-Beth Lydon 215-528-2753

flyeredup8831@gmail.com

PDIDA Office: Sheila Dugan

610-323-5400

sheiladugan@comcast.net

  Take the WBZH Pledge

go to: www.wbzh.net

Because I want to help my local community thrive and become vibrant, I pledge to:

 Think local first when seeking out a business to meet my shopping needs for goods or services.

 whenever I can suggest local shopping or dining alternatives to family and friends.

 Purchase local produce and other foods from local vendors whenever possible.

I make this pledge because I understand that buying locally allows more of my hard earned dollars to circulate in my community. As a result, locally owned businesses in my community can survive and grow, which in turn can attract new residents and industry helping make the entire Tri-County area a vibrant and affordable place to live, work and play!

Downtown Pottstown Merchant Directory and Map

Pottstown’s Tri-County Performing Arts Center Transforms Into Steel River Playhouse

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

POTTSTOWN, PA  — You might call it their third act.

What began as a small local theater company called Village Productions, and then grew into the Tri-County Performing Arts Center has now matured into the Steel River Playhouse, the name and brand which will adorn the soon-to-be completed facade of Pottstown’s premier arts center.

As anyone who has driven or walked down the 200 block of High Street knows, the front of the former Newberry’s store has been “getting a little work done” for quite some time now.

But now that the appropriate materials have arrived, and a June 15 “grand re-opening” looms, look to see that new marquee finished in a short time, said Marta Kiesling, executive director of the Steel River Playhouse.

Read more: http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20120429/ENTERTAINMENT01/120429390/tri-pac-transforms-into-steel-river-playhouse&pager=full_story

TriCounty Community Network Announces The Addition Of John Hendrickson To Its Board Of Directors

Pottstown, Pa. (April 27, 2012) – TriCounty Community Network (TCN), a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health, social and environmental conditions in Western Montgomery, Northern Chester and Eastern Berks counties in Pennsylvania, today announced that John Hendrickson has joined its board of directors.  Mr. Hendrickson currently serves as CEO of Frederick Living, a non-profit retirement community located in Frederick, Pa.

“John will be an excellent addition to our board,” said Jen Doyle, executive director for TCN.  “His experience as the CEO of a non-profit organization will prove invaluable in helping us to maximize the collaboration within and beyond the current TCN membership to impact residents of our local communities.” 

Mr. Hendrickson has been CEO of Frederick Living since 2005 and has served as executive director of two other retirement communities.  For 14 years, he served in progressively responsible positions at Nyack College (Nyack, N.Y.) culminating in responsibilities as associate dean/registrar in 1990.

Mr. Hendrickson serves on the board of directors of the Anabaptist Provider Group, and has also served on the LeadingAge PA (formerly PANPHA) board of directors.  He earned his B.A. in social science from Nyack College and an M.S. Ed in counseling and personnel services from Fordham University.  Post graduate work in higher and adult education was at Teachers College, Columbia University and he also attended Alliance Theological Seminary.  Mr. Hendrickson is a licensed nursing home administrator in the State of Pennsylvania. 

About TriCounty Community Network                 

TCN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, membership-based organization that partners with nonprofits, businesses and community members to improve health, social and environmental conditions.  Serving Western Montgomery, Northern Chester and Eastern Berks counties in Pennsylvania, TCN offers seven key programs: Build Up Youth, C.A.R.E. (Caring in Alternative Residential Environments), Environmental Awareness, Family Literacy, Homeless Services, S.A.F.E. (Supporting Abuse Free Environments), and Workforce Development.  For more information on TCN, visit www.tcnetwork.org.

“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.

MOSAIC Community Land Trust, Pottstown – Registration April 28, May 5, May 12

Pottstown, PA, 4/23/2012 — Mosaic Community Land Trust is holding registration and orientation for new members of its community garden at 423 Chestnut Street on the following Saturdays: April 28, May 5, and May 12 from 9 AM to 12 PM at the garden.  On May 5th gardeners will be able to choose the plants they would like in their own plot, and the plants will be delivered to the garden on May 12, which will be a day for planting.

There are plots still available for this season.  Plot rates are $25 for households with incomes below $30,000; those with incomes above this level will pay $50.  Groups and organizations can plant a plot for a flat $100.00 season fee.  In addition to offering families a safe place to grow healthy, organic food, this fee includes the choice of plants, water on-site, the use of Mosaic tools, workshops, and advice from experienced gardeners.  Children are welcome and the garden is available for field trips for students.

To apply and register for your plot or to set up a field trip, please contact Sue Repko at 609-658-9043 or srepko@mosaiccommunitylandtrust.org or Mary-Beth Bacallao Lydon at flyeredup8831@gmail.com.

MOSAIC Community Land Trust was established in 2011 and is a registered 501 (c) 3 Non-Profit organization. MOSAIC Community Land Trust provides permanently affordable housing and healthy living choices to people of modest means, and through education and participation, creates a vital community with a focus on arts and culture to stabilize neighborhoods and improve the quality of life in Pottstown.