Dr. Whittaker Stepping Down From Pottstown Memorial Medical Center Post After 38 Years

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

POTTSTOWN – Although it’s accurate to say that Richard Whittaker will retire at the end of the month after 38 years as an orthopedic surgeon at Pottstown Memorial Medical Center, it is not accurate to say he will be taking it easy.

Reached at Planet Fitness during a work-out Tuesday, Whittaker enthusiastically laid out his plans for a series of undertakings that few would describe as “retirement.”

Whittaker’s plans mostly revolve around his bicycle.

Himself the beneficiary of a double hip replacement two years ago, Whittaker said he plans to bike 3,000 miles in the coming year to raise money and awareness for a variety of causes, not the least of which is the benefits of orthopedic surgery.

Read more:  http://business-news.thestreet.com/the-mercury/story/whittaker-stepping-down-pottstown-hospital-post-after-38-years/1

Pottsgrove School District Mulls $61 Million Budget With 3.3% Tax Hike

Location of Lower Pottsgrove Township in Montgomery County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

LOWER POTTSGROVE TOWNSHIP— Facing a potential budget shortfall of $1.9 million, the Pottsgrove School Board voted unanimously Tuesday to advertise a proposed $60.9 million budget for the 2013-14 school year that would raise taxes by $155 for the average district homeowner.

However, those figures are unlikely to remain unchanged until June, when all final school budgets must be adopted.

The district is working under the constraints of Act 1, which requires a district to either declare it will not raise taxes above a state set index — as Pottstown did last month in committing to keep any tax increase at or below 2.4 percent — or advertise a preliminary budget.

The Pottsgrove board chose the second option, voting to advertise a preliminary budget presented publicly for the first time Tuesday night by Business Manager David Nester.

Read more:  http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20130125/NEWS01/130129618/pottsgrove-mulls-61-million-budget-with-3-3-tax-hike#full_story

‘We Have To Do Better’

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

City statistics showing that the once-declining number of violent crimes in Reading began to edge up in 2012 drew a variety of reactions Thursday from city, county and community leaders.

Most agreed the trend means it is even more pressing to work on the follow-up ideas coming from last week’s crime summit.

Released Wednesday, the statistics also show crime is less than it was a decade ago.

But that brought a warning: Don’t accept the situation as the city’s new normal.

Read more:  http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=445862

Conversations With Your Montgomery County Commissioners

Join the Montgomery County Commissioners in a conversation on the administration’s first year in office.  Learn about new initiatives the commissioners will be working on in 2013, and have your questions about county government answered.  Monday, Feb. 11^th, 7 pm, Montgomery County Community College, West Campus, Community Room, 101 College Drive, Pottstown.  For more information please call the Commissioners’ office at 610-278-3062.

Penn State Extension Nutrition Links: Teaching People How To Eat Better For Less!

Tuesdays, February 5 – March 12, 5pm-6:30pm

Phoenixville Civic Center, 123 Main St., Phoenixville

Call to register: Dolores Winston 610-933-7728 ext.1

Come for a series of lessons and activities on various topics to help you care and feed your family a healthy diet on a limited budget.  Learn how to prepare low-cost, quick meals.  Develop new cooking and food safety skills.  Try new nutritious foods.  Participants of the Eat Smart Move More program will receive a certificate, cookbook, stretch band for exercising, food thermometer and tote bag upon completion.