U.S. Steel Plans To Close Plants Affecting 545 Workers

U.S. Steel Corp. said on Wednesday it plans to close two coke-making units and a tin mill that makes sheet for cans at plants in Illinois and Indiana, actions that would affect 545 workers.

The closings are the latest to be announced by the Downtown-based steelmaker as it “moves through its Carnegie Way assessment of all our operations,” said spokeswoman Courtney Boone.

Two weeks ago, U.S. Steel said it will shut down two more oil and natural gas pipe plants and lay off 756 workers. In August, it closed pipe plants in McKeesport and Bellville, Texas, affecting 260 workers.

CEO Mario Longhi has moved to restore confidence and improve performance. He has closed mills and saved almost $1 billion under its Carnegie Way initiative to cut costs and by halting an iron ore expansion project in Keewatin, Minn. The company also has relinquished control of its money-losing Canadian unit.

Read more: http://triblive.com/business/headlines/7610821-74/steel-plant-oil#ixzz3PUwjOrRD
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For Colony Of Merchants, Gallery Makeover Is Painful

Every day, Miss Anna comes to the Gallery – and on Tuesday, she was particularly elegant, in a long purple sweater, fashionable hairstyle, her eyebrows etched in darkly, perfectly arched.

“Her brother died two years ago,” said George Thomas, who owns the Creative Silver jewelry kiosk on the ground floor. “She was crushed. If I don’t see Miss Anna for two days, I worry. I call her.”

Who will worry about Anna Mazella, an Aramark retiree in her 80s, when Thomas closes his business – not by choice – at the end of the month?

In November, the Gallery’s owners, the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust and the Macerich Co., began to tell dozens of merchants that they would have deadlines to leave – some by the end of December, others at the end of January or February.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20150121_For_colony_of_merchants__Gallery_makeover_is_painful.html#SEk4SQJIJbQS6D4o.99

Meet With The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office

First Assistant District Attorney, Kevin Steele, has responded to a request from a Pottstown resident/businessman to meet with the community regarding the problems of drug dealers and drug houses. This will be an opportunity to engage the District Attorney’s office and to ask questions about how they can work with us to reduce crime.

We will be meeting with Asst. D.A. Jason Whalley.

Because of the importance of this meeting we want thoughtful participation by residents who will take time to familiarize themselves with the PA Drug Nuisance Law and ask relevant questions.

This is NOT a meeting to “bash” law enforcement or dwell on personal experiences.

We are working to build a connection based on trust and communication between the community, the D.A.’s office and local law enforcement.

PLEASE RSVP for this meeting. There could be a change in venue or time but we will update you ASAP with any changes.  To RSVP email ptownadvocates@hotmail.com and put COUNT ME IN in the subject line and put your name in the body of the email along with any other information you want to pass along or questions. You should familiarize yourself with the PA Drug Nuisance Law in order to be able to participate in the discussion.  Here’s the link to the Pennsylvania Drug Nuisance Law:

http://reg.abcsignup.com/files/%7B28C5CDFA-B871-4CC5-9AFB-91D00628F4A4%7D_39/34387/Blight_statutes.pdf

Fiesta Latina At The Abraham Lincoln Hotel

Valentine’s Day At The Abraham Lincoln Hotel

MCCC Writers’ Club Seeks Submissions For 28th Annual Fiction And Poetry Contest

Blue Bell/Pottstown, PA— The Writers’ Club at Montgomery County Community College is accepting submissions for its 28th Annual Fiction and Poetry Contest now through 2 p.m. on March 12. Mailed entries must be postmarked by March 5. The contest has categories for both poetry and fiction for MCCC students, as well as for alumni/faculty/staff /community residents. Prizes include $100 for first place, $75 for second, $50 for third and to $25 for fourth in each category.

Entries should be submitted to Associate Professor Patricia Nestler, English Department, Parkhouse Hall, Room 458, Montgomery County Community College, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422. Emailed entries will not be accepted.

Guidelines for submitting poetry and fiction are as follows.

Submissions should be typed on 8.5 x11-inch paper; prose should be typed in in Times New Roman 12-point font, double-spaced, with one-inch margins. The maximum length is 3,000 words.

Name, address, email address and phone number must be typed on a separate title page, along with the category letter and contest entered (A1 MCCC student poetry; A2 MCCC student fiction; B1 non-student poetry; B2 non-student fiction). MCCC students must include their ID numbers for categories A1 and A2. On each subsequent page, the title of the work should be typed in the upper right-hand corner with the last four digits of the phone number from the title page.

The contestant’s name should not appear on any page except for the title page, and all pages should be numbered and clipped together. Contestants may only submit one entry per category and entries will not be returned.

Winners will be notified by email, and entries will not be returned.

For information, call 215-641-6369.