Sharon Thomas Wins Back Pottstown Mayor’s Post

Editor’s note:  Delusional to the bitter end, Missy Mayor told the Mercury “the perception of crime in the borough is often greater than actual incidents suggest.”  Numbers don’t lie and neither do drug baggies all over the sidewalks in the core neighborhood.  Bye Bonnie.  We won’t miss you!

301241_1150220388989_8259643_nPOTTSTOWN, PA — Republican Sharon Thomas won back the mayor’s post Tuesday, reversing her loss to Democrat Bonnie Heath four years ago and taking back the post by a decisive 233-vote margin.

According to unofficial results from Montgomery County’s voter services website, Thomas received 1,198 votes, or 55.39 percent.

Heath collected 965 votes, or 44.61 percent.

Thomas has said her race would depend on the effectiveness of a “grassroots” effort and she said Tuesday night with the smile in her voice that those roots had “passed the test. We recruited people quickly and taught them what they needed to know,” she said.

Thomas declined to attribute any particular satisfaction to defeating the candidate who had defeated her.  (And there’s another difference between Sharon and Bonnie)

Read more: http://www.pottsmerc.com/government-and-politics/20131105/sharon-thomas-wins-back-pottstown-mayors-post

Pottstown Council: Miller Ousts Chomnuk In 3rd Ward, Kirkland Defends 7th Ward Seat

Editor’s note:  At least there are two new faces on council!  We also read that Missy Mayor lost to Sharon Thomas.  Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus 🙂

POTTSTOWN, PA — Borough council will swear in two new members as a result of Tuesday’s election that will leave council with only one Republican member.

In the Third Ward race, Democratic challenger Sheryl Miller ousted incumbent Republican Jeff Chomnuk by a slim unofficial 13-vote margin, according to unofficial results posted on the Montgomery County voter services website.

However, in the Seventh Ward, incumbent Democrat Joe Kirkland successfully defended his seat for a second time against Republican challenger Cindy Conard, winning by a 77-vote margin, according to unofficial results.

Read more: http://www.pottsmerc.com/general-news/20131105/pottstown-council-miller-ousts-chomnuk-in-3rd-ward-kirkland-defends-7th-ward-seat

“Amish Mafia” Star Severely Beaten In Strasburg

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Lancaster County

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Lancaster County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A star of the hit television series “Amish Mafia” was severely beaten by her boyfriend last week in Strasburg, police allege.

Imir R. Williams, 24, is charged with felony aggravated assault for repeatedly punching Esther Schmucker in the head early on Halloween morning, charging documents indicate.

As of Tuesday, police were searching for Williams, listed in court documents as 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds.

A felony arrest warrant was filed Sunday.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/914685_-Amish-Mafia–star-severely-beaten-in-Strasburg.html#ixzz2joJGyYAM

Bethlehem South Side Business District To Get Major Retail, Office, Student Housing Complex

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Northampton C...

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Northampton County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A $56.5 million redevelopment project including significant retail, office and student housing space is planned for Bethlehem’s South Side business district.

Developer Dennis Benner today revealed plans for a 13-story student housing and retail complex on the first block of West Fourth Street and a seven-story office and retail complex a block north at West Third and South New streets.

Construction on the project, which includes a 507-space parking garage, is scheduled to start in the second quarter of next year and take 24 months.

Benner, a Lehigh University graduate, said he’s long heard complaints about how there isn’t enough for college students and young professionals to do in the city and that his complex aims to remedy that. His retail plans include high-end restaurants and lounges, likely including a wine bar, he said.

Read more: http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/index.ssf/2013/11/bethlehem_south_side_business.html

Free Admission For Norristown & Pottstown Residents At Elmwood Zoo

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Montgomery County

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Montgomery County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Independence Blue Cross presents a day of FREE Zoo admission for residents of Norristown and Pottstown!

On Saturday, November 9, from 10 AM to 3:30 PM, residents of Norristown or Pottstown will receive free admission to Elmwood Park Zoo.

Independence Blue Cross will be on site with games, a photo tent, and a pop-up soccer field. Plus Philadelphia Union defender Sheanon Williams will be greeting guests from 10:00 to 11:30 am.

Valid photo ID must be presented as proof of residency. Children must be accompanied by a resident to receive free admission. Non-residents will be charged normal admission rates.

For more information, contact Guest Services at 610.277.3825 x 241 or visit their website at

http://www.elmwoodparkzoo.org/

Reading City Council Weighs Options For Industrial Site

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Berks County

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Berks County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Should some city entity buy the empty northwest Reading parcel where the skeleton of the half-built Berkshire Bottling Works has stood rusting since 2007?

At 50 acres, it’s the last big industrial site left in the city, and it’s up for foreclosure, city sources said Monday.

And City Council, which discussed the site in executive session last week, discussed the possibilities again on Monday in another executive session, this time with officials of the Reading Area Water Authority.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=518224

Reading Mayor, City Council President At Odds Over Appointments

A 1947 topographic map of the Reading, Pennsyl...

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

Mayor Vaughn D. Spencer on Monday accused City Council President Francis G. Acosta of waiting so long to appoint members to a new city authority that it could derail a major city revitalization effort.

“The process is taking too long,” Spencer said. “I’m turning up the heat, because I don’t want it said that we dropped the ball on this.”

He said the administration’s timeline calls for members of the new Reading Revitalization and Improvement Zone Authority to be chosen by Wednesday, so there’s time to make the required advertisements, incorporate the authority, have members choose officers, and finally submit an application to the state – all before Nov. 30.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=518221