The New York-based credit ratings agency Moody’s Investors Service has slapped a lower rating on Pennsylvania‘s debt as state budgetmakers face spiraling public pension costs.
Monday’s downgrade means Pennsylvania is now closer to the bottom of Moody’s ratings for the 47 states with general obligation debt.
Thirty states still have ratings of Aaa or Aa1, while Pennsylvania joins 16 other states with an Aa2 rating or below. Moody’s had boosted Pennsylvania’s rating to Aa1 in 2010.
Pottstown, Pa. – Local photographer Sharon K. Merkel will be on hand at MOSAIC Gallery, 10 S. Hanover Street in Pottstown, this Saturday, July 21 from 6-8 pm. All are welcome to attend this free reception.
Ms. Merkel’s work is on view now at the gallery along with the paintings of Sharon McGinley in MOSAIC’s latest show, Nurturing Hope. The show highlights the beauty in nature and in urban spaces, much like a community garden. MOSAIC Community Land Trust, which runs the gallery, built Pottstown’s first community garden at 423 Chestnut Street this past spring. Gardeners are now realizing the fruits of their labor at the garden site.
In the artist’s statement on her website, Ms. Merkel says, “My photographic work looks at my world with a very direct approach. Photography is the art of exclusion – knowing what to include and what to leave out to create the correct balance and narrative.” Her photos of urban buildings and barns often feature intersections with a brilliant sky or a lone tree. Several prints of industrial buildings in Pottstown are included and for sale at MOSAIC Gallery.
MOSAIC receives a standard 30% commission on all art sales, so a purchase not only supports these local artists, but also the community garden, arts, and affordable housing mission of MOSAIC Community Land Trust.
This show is being curated by MOSAIC summer interns Amanda Hoffman and Blake Wrigley, who spent their early years in Pottstown and graduated from Boyertown High School. Blake is a recent graduate of Messiah College and Amanda is a senior art major there.
Nurturing Hope will run through July 28. The MOSAIC gallery is located at 10 S. Hanover Street in Pottstown. Regular gallery hours are Thursday-Saturday from 4-7 pm. MOSAIC’s website is www.mosaiccommunitylandtrust.org. Sharon Merkel’s website is www.skmerkel.com.
NEW YORK, NY (AP) — “American Idol” may be getting a worldwide idol as a judge — Mariah Carey.
A person familiar with the show’s negotiations say Carey is being pursued to join the judging panel of the Fox talent competition. The source requested anonymity because of the private nature of negotiations, which were termed as serious. Carey has also been courted by other talent competitions, and her name has been thrown out in the past for “Idol” and other shows.
There are two openings: Both Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tylerannounced last week that they were leaving as judges after two seasons. Randy Jackson, who is a manager, producer and friend of Carey’s, is the only judge left. There are reports that Jackson’s role may shift as well.
Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/source-mariah-carey-mix-idol-173637393.html
Official portrait of United States Congressman (D-NY). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Editor’s note: Just when you thought it was safe!
One year after resigning from Congress following news he had emailed lewd photos of himself to women, married former Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner desires a return to politics, according to New York news outlets.
“The disgraced former congressman—who’s sitting on a $4.5 million campaign war chest—is mulling a bid for citywide office next year and ‘seriously considering’ a mayoral run,” sources told the New York Post. The newspaper reported that Weiner has spoken with former staffers about returning to work for him.
Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/comeback-anthony-weiner-142709357.html
Today, July 16th, at 9:00pm, Renninger’s Antique Market in Adamstown will be featured on the new PBS show “Market Warriors”. You can view this program locally on channels 12 and 33. Tonight is the show’s premiere and they are staring off in Adamstown, PA!
Click here to be taken to the “Market Warrior” PBS site: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/market-warriors/
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