Reading City Council Gets Tough On Blight!

City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a new version of the pre-sale inspection ordinance that it repealed in 2006, requiring all properties to get checked for code compliance when they’re on the market.

The ordinance mandates that property owners get a certificate of transfer for all properties – residential or commercial – sold after April 1, 2012.

To get the certificate, the owners will have to pay $150 for the health and safety inspection, and pass it. However, the inspection will be scaled down from the full-blown inspection required under the earlier program that cost $300.

It’s also far less than the higher costs in a new fee schedule for other inspections that council adopted Tuesday. For instance, a regular inspection of a single-family home will cost $505, up from $240.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=355261

A Review Of The Milkman Lunch Co. & Cake Shoppe, Pottstown

Two friends and I paid a visit to the Milkman Lunch Co. & Cake Shoppe this afternoon.  I am instructed to tell you they are my very attractive friends, but I digress 🙂  Not long after the door closed I forgot I was in Pottstown.  The smell of cake and icing immediately filled our nostrils and we were transported to another place.

The decor and overall ambience immediately makes one feel at home.  My one friend said it makes her feel like she is in her grandmother’s kitchen.  The Milkman is a great place to linger over a leisurely lunch and some good conversation, which is exactly what we did.  I think we spent two hours there.

On a cold blustery day it was the perfect spot for lunch.  It was nice and warm inside and a great respite from the winter weather.  The owner Chris Longeway and Pastry Chef Sam Rhame were very welcoming and friendly.  The intimacy of the space makes you feel like you are visiting a friend’s home.

Today’s special was a Winter Bird Panini for $6.50.  The perfectly grilled sandwich included turkey breast, caramelized onion, tomato and other delicious ingredients.  We all had the special which came with the choice of a side.  Two of us had the pasta salad and one of us had pickles.   The pasta salad was a nice twist with a creamy dressing instead of the usual Italian and included asparagus, white beans, black olives and red bell pepper.  Delicious!

There is always room for dessert!  My companions each had a grilled muffin and I had the Mocha Spice cupcake.  Needless to say, this was a “makes you wanna slap your mama” good lunch!  Not a crumb was left!

I give two Roy’s Rants thumbs up to this little culinary treasure in the heart of Pottstown.

The Milkman is located at 451 North Charlotte Street.  They are right across Oak street from the North End Florist. 

Here is a write up from my friend Sue Repko of Positively Pottstown’s blog for some more information: http://positivelyptown.com/2011/06/06/the-milkman-serves-up-light-lunches-and-pretty-cakes/

You can also check out their Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Milkman-Lunch-Co-Cake-Shoppe/247142981979590