PPL Plans To Upgrade Electric System

As promised after storms disabled the regional power grid three times in 2011, PPL Electric Utilities on Thursday announced the start of a $35 million project to upgrade its distribution system in southern and western Berks County and parts of Lancaster and Chester counties.

During public hearings in Harrisburg and Reading this year called by state Sen. Judy Schwank, a Ruscombmanor Township Democrat, and state Rep. Thomas R. Caltagirone, a Reading Democrat, PPL officials promised an overall $3 billion upgrade to its electric grid, which covers parts of Berks and 29 other counties.

Electric customers in the project area are served by a network of 69-kilovolt transmission lines that are nearing their capacity, PPL officials said.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=378229

Reading Mayor Tags Along With Quality-Of-Life Inspectors

A 1947 topographic map of the Reading, Pennsylvania area. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Mayor Vaughn D. Spencer tailed Reading’s quality-of-life inspectors Thursday along West Douglass Street to learn how they determine whether properties are violating city regulations on such items as high grass or trash buildup.

City inspectors issued 46 citations for conditions including improper trash receptacles, weeds, litter and other violations during the sweep through the neighborhoods around the 100 block of West Douglass.

“And that was just the two to three hours that they were out there this morning,” said Marisol Torres, assistant to the mayor.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=378189

Local Artists Celebrate Recycled Art

The Gallery on High will host a reception on April 14 to celebrate their spring show Re-Creative.  The reception will last from noon until 2pm and light refreshments will be served. At 1:30 pm, a Best in Show prize will be awarded.  This $100 prize is generously sponsored by the Building Industries Exchange of Pottstown and Vicinity’s Green Team. All Gallery receptions are free and open to the public.
 
Entries in this show had to be created from recycled, upcycled or salvaged materials.  The artists created an incredible array of work.  The recycled origins of some pieces are immediately apparent, while other pieces have a more subtle message.  The theme of Re-Creative is wonderfully invoked in this show, as the artists each took something that is normally overlooked, thrown out or dismissed
and reimagined that item.
 
Participating artists include: Robyn Burckhardt, Jann Everett DeChristopher, Natalie Cyphers, Susan Ploppert, Christine Burnley, Millie Lea, Gail Ann Herring, Sara Benowitz, Dora Siemel, Bob Hakun, Jon Parker, Joe Hoover, Danielle D’Aries, Florence Mano, Lisbeth Bucci, Donna Steck-McMahon, Maggie Creshkoff, Sue Eyet, Norah Cannon and Julie Tonnessen.
 
Re-Creative runs from March 17 to April 21.  Guests can view the exhibit during regular gallery hours: Tuesday through Friday from 10am to 4:30pm and Saturday 10am to 3pm.  The Gallery is closed Sunday and Monday.
 
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

 

DeAndre Brackensick: Mom Predicted My ‘American Idol’ Elimination

Logo of the Fox Broadcasting Company (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note:  Somebody has to go home every week.  The competition is very strong this season.  Not surprised by the order of eliminations thus far.

Curly-topped high-school senior DeAndre Brackensick is heading home to San Jose, Calif., after getting booted Thursday from “American Idol,” but it didn’t come as a huge surprise.

After the studio audience filed out, the heartbroken teen spent close to 10 minutes soliciting last words of advice from the judges at center stage — and admitted he knew the end was near.

“My mama told me this was gonna be the day,” he told the judges.  “She kind of predicted it. I felt it too.”  

Read more: http://theclicker.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/06/11056799-deandre-brackensick-mom-predicted-my-american-idol-elimination?lite

Navy F/A-18 Jet Crashes Into Building In Virginia Beach

U.S. Navy F/A-18C from VFA-131 launches from French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle off the Virginia Capes. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

An F/A-18 jet crashed Friday into a cluster of apartment buildings in Virginia Beach, Va., eyewitnesses and authorities said.

A witness told MSNBC cable television that he arrived seconds after the crash at a building he described as a two-story apartment building that he said had been hit dead center. Aerial television coverage showed black smoke billowing from several buildings. The Virginian-Pilot reported that the buildings were in the Mayfair Mews Apartments.

Read more: http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/06/11057385-navy-fa-18-jet-crashes-into-building-in-virginia-beach