Pottstown’s Mosaic Community Land Trust To Host “Open Garden”

MOSAIC Community Land Trust is holding an “Open Garden” on Saturday, September 22 from 12-2 pm.  All are invited into the Community Garden at 423 Chestnut Street in Pottstown to participate in a salsa-making workshop, learn how the garden works, and pick vegetables to take home.  Garden guests on September 22 will be able to take home vegetables and herbs from one of MOSAIC’s community plots.  There will also be salsa-making demonstrations and tastings, along with pesto made from basil grown in the garden.

MOSAIC is now seeking another site in Pottstown to add a garden next year.  Interested residents can get on a list for next year’s gardens.

MOSAIC Community Land Trust’s a mission to increase homeownership in Pottstown, develop community gardens, and support the arts.  Their office and gallery is at 10 S. Hannover Street.  Details can be found at their website at www.mosaiccommunitylandtrust.org or by calling David Jackson at 484-949-4235.

Anti-American Protests Over Film Enter 4th Day

CAIRO — Anti-American protests inspired by a video denigrating the Prophet Muhammad entered a fourth straight day here in the Egyptian capital and other demonstrations erupted in much of the Middle East after Friday Prayer — an occasion often associated with public displays of dissent.

Witnesses in Cairo said protests that first flared on Tuesday — the day J. Christopher Stevens, the American ambassador in Libya, was killed in an attack in neighboring Libya — continued sporadically early Friday, with protesters throwing rocks and gasoline bombs near the American Embassy and the police firing tear gas.

In Lebanon, one person was killed and 25 injured as protesters attacked restaurants, while in Sudan demonstrations flared outside of the German and British embassies. There was also turmoil in Yemen, Bangladesh, Qatar, Kuwait, and Iraq. Palestinians clashed with Israeli security forces in Jerusalem, and held protests in the West Bank and Gaza.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/15/world/middleeast/anti-american-protests-over-film-enter-4th-day.html?_r=1&hp

The Most (And Least) Livable States

Editor’s note:  Another poll showing the top ten and bottom ten states.  Pennsylvania does not appear on either list but several states around us make one or the other.  Some surprises and some expected results.

A new poll suggests that today’s relatively affluent states are likely to still be among the best places to live in the future. But residents in those states often are less optimistic about the future than those in poorer states.

Check out the results here: http://money.msn.com/investing/the-most-and-least-livable-states

Katie Couric: ‘American Idol’ Judges Include Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban, Randy Jackson

We don’t know how she knows, but Katie Couric, during the taping of Friday’s “Katie,” told former “American Idol” judge Jennifer Lopez who will be filling the panel in the singing competition’s upcoming season: Nicki Minaj, Keith Urban, Mariah Carey and Randy Jackson.

Bing: Katie’s new talk show draws big numbers

So far, only Carey has been confirmed by FOX, which has not responded to TheWrap’s request for comment or made any public announcement.

“What do you think about the new group of judges?” Couric asked Lopez, according to a Thursday morning press release from “Katie.”

Read more: http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=757303

Pittsburgh Foundation Bequeathed $20 Million

A map of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with its neighborhoods labeled. For use primarily in the list of Pittsburgh neighborhoods. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The estates of identical twin sisters Jean and Nancy Davis — lifelong Pittsburghers who died within four months of each other at the age of 97 — and a former H.J. Heinz Co. executive and his wife have made two of the largest individual gifts ever received by The Pittsburgh Foundation.

The donations, announced by the foundation this week, include roughly $9 million from the Davises and $11.7 million from the late Junius Allen and his wife, Zella, who died last year at 103.  The bulk of the money is designated for the unrestricted use of the foundation, a nonprofit community foundation launched in 1945 with assets of more than $800 million.  The foundation awards grants to charitable groups in Pittsburgh and throughout the U.S.

The Pittsburgh Foundation’s largest individual donation, $50 million, came in 2010 from the late Pittsburgh chemical engineer Charles Kaufman.

“When we look behind these bequests, we see touching stories of deep affection for Pittsburgh and its people,” foundation CEO Grant Oliphant said.  “This is a great example of something that happens more frequently than we realize in Pittsburgh, where people who are born here leave an extraordinary gift to Pittsburgh.”

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/pittsburgh-foundation-bequeathed-20-million-653322/#ixzz26SPodp3F

Senator Smucker Drafts Redevelopment Plan For Lancaster City

Whenever he holds a meeting in his office on the seventh floor of Lancaster County‘s administration building, at 150 N. Queen St., Commissioner Scott Martin said people always look out the windows and remark on the sweeping view of the city.

“Then, they look down,” Martin said, referring to Lancaster Square, the vacant Bulova Technologies building and the Hotel Brunswick, part of which has been condemned.

The public square and the surrounding buildings are an island in the city. The area has steadfastly resisted redevelopment even as much of the rest of Lancaster city has flowered with restaurants and art galleries in recent years.

On Thursday, state Sen. Lloyd Smucker announced a proposal to help Lancaster city and four other similar-sized cities in Pennsylvania to redevelop problem areas.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/735135_Smucker-drafts-redevelopment-plan-for-Lancaster-city.html#ixzz26SJampk0