Monthly Archives: November 2015
Pottstown YMCA Offering Free Memberships To Seventh Graders
Boyertown Festival Of Trees
Pottsgrove Manor 2015 Holiday Schedule
Buy your holiday tree and give to MOSAIC!
MOSAIC Holiday Party
Source: MOSAIC Holiday Party
Professional Development Series Announced
| Professional Development Series Announced
The Lehigh Valley Arts Council announces their 2016 Professional Development Series for business-minded arts professionals who wish to stay current in their field. Beginning in the new year, three seminars are scheduled that will examine new marketing strategies and advances in technology. Each session features relevant experts as presenters. Arts Council members enjoy a fee discount; however, enrollment is limited and reservations are needed in advance. Refreshments will be provided. To order tickets, visit LVArtsCouncil.org. Digital Storytelling: Put Your Best Story Forward On January 19, 2016, the informational seminar Digital Storytelling: Put Your Best Story Forward, will address the tremendous growth of the web and social media as it applies to artists and arts organizations for marketing purposes. Two presenters, Caroline Savage, Program Director of Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and Ken Unangst, Owner & Founder of Digital Feast, will provide examples on how to clearly define a message in order to capture attention and engage an audience. Both of these professionals specialize in working with arts organizations and arts businesses, assisting them with comunitcating through visuals and technology. The panelists will provide examples of how to clearly define your message by addressing the following questions: Location: Butz Corporate Center , 9th & Hamilton, 2nd Floor conference room An Introduction to 3-D Printing Presenter Brian Slocum, Managing Director of Design Labs at Lehigh University, will guide the workshop and explain the endless possibilities of this innovative process as it pertains to the future of design and engineering. Location: Lehigh University, Wilbur Powerhouse Prototyping Lab Call for Artists: Are You Ready to Answer? On July 12, 2016, this seminar will explore the various components of a successful submission, including the right marketing materials and contractual requirements. Competition in the arts for commissions, exhibitions, and sales requires that an artist be ready in advance to submit a professional application. Organization is key to preparing your materials, but what extra steps do you need to take in order to market and promote your work in the best light? Our presenters, Sculptor Daniel Kainz and Nicole J. O’Hara, Esquire, Gross McGinley, LLP, will give insight on the entrepreneurial side of being a professional artist. Location: Butz Corporate Center, 9th & Hamilton, 2nd Floor conference room |
||
| *** | ||
|
||
| *** | ||
|
Lehigh Valley Arts Council 840 Hamilton Street, Suite 201 Allentown, PA 18101 610-437-5915 / operations@LVArtsCouncil.org www.LVArtsCouncil.org / www.LVArtsBoxOffice.org |
Expressive Arts Workshop
Inner Light Exhibit – Paintings by Lynn Miller
‘Servant of Two Masters’ at Muhlenberg College
MCCC Signs White House ‘American Campuses Act On Climate Pledge’
Blue Bell/Pottstown, PA —Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) reinforced its commitment to sustainability on Nov. 19 by signing the White House’s American Campuses Act On Climate Pledge.
According to the White House, 218 colleges and universities representing 3.3 million students across the country have signed the pledge to demonstrate their support for strong climate action by world leaders in advance of next month’s international Conference on Climate Change in Paris, France.
Participating institutions were asked to submit three pledges outlining steps they will take to lower carbon emissions. For MCCC, the pledges build on the eight years of sustainability efforts taken as a charter signatory of the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment.
In signing the new American Campuses Act On Climate Pledge, MCCC commits to:
* Build on the success of MCCC’s Green Office Initiative to pilot a Green Classroom program in collaboration with faculty and the student Environmental Club. In the Green Office Initiative, departments voluntarily progress through a four-tier program that evaluates and rewards their sustainable office practices and purchasing. A parallel program for classrooms would award certification to individual faculty and divisions who engage in green practices and activities, such as using refillable dry erase markers and going paperless.
* Support MCCC faculty in their exploration of open-source and online instructional materials. The incorporation of such materials may reduce the amount of paper used in classrooms, thereby reducing the institution’s carbon footprint. These materials could also save students money, which reinforces MCCC’s student success and financial literacy efforts.
* Promote local sustainability industries within Montgomery County to MCCC students and the community at large by facilitating job fairs, presentations and guest lecture opportunities for companies that employ sustainable practices.
The latest White House pledge for colleges and universities builds on last month’s American Businesses Act on Climate Pledge, which was signed by 81 companies from across the United States. Additionally, more than 150 countries representing approximately 90 percent of all global emissions have offered climate pledges to date.
For additional information or to share your support, join the conversation using the #ActOnClimate hashtag on social media.
Young At Art – An Expo Of Art Camps And Schools
| On Saturday, March 12, 2016, the Lehigh Valley Arts Council will present Young at Art, an expo of arts camps and schools, to assist parents with selecting the appropriate summer class for their child. This inaugural event will be held at Penn State Lehigh Valley, from 9:00am to 2:30pm, and feature thirty exhibitors who offer lessons in the performing, literary, media and visual arts. Free admission to the expo is provided to the public.
Families with children (ages four to eighteen years old) will enjoy meeting the various exhibitors and learning about the artistic opportunities for their aspiring creatives. The day’s festivities will showcase an arts demonstration, performance or activity every 25-minutes so children will have a chance “to try on what kind of artist” they want to be this summer. “The idea for a children’s arts expo came from a parent of two small children who was having difficulty identifying a summer program for both her kids,” says Executive Director Randall Forte. “Bringing people together to engage with the arts is what the Arts Council does.” A limited number of spaces are available for arts and cultural organizations to exhibit and promote their programs, and registration will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis. There will also be opportunities for exhibitors to select a 25-minute time slot to showcase a demonstration or activity. For more details on registration, organizations may visit http://www.LVArtsCouncil.org/Young-At-Art. The fee for exhibiting is $250 for members and $350 for nonmembers. Arts Council members can also take advantage of a $50 discount for early registration by December 15, 2015. The final date for registration will be January 20, 2016. Any questions may be directed to the Lehigh Valley Arts Council at 610-437-5259. |
||
| *** | ||
|
||
| *** | ||
|
Lehigh Valley Arts Council 840 Hamilton Street, Suite 201 Allentown, PA 18101 610-437-5915 / operations@LVArtsCouncil.org www.LVArtsCouncil.org / www.LVArtsBoxOffice.org |
Cadets Graduate From Municipal Police Academy, Collect Food For Local Pantries
During his keynote address, Lower Moreland Township Police Sgt. David Scirrotto asked all veterans on stage and in the audience to stand and be recognized for their service in honor of Veterans Day.
Photos by Sandi Yanisko
Blue Bell, Pa.—Twenty-seven cadets graduated from Montgomery County Community College’s (MCCC) Municipal Police Academy on Nov. 11 during a ceremony held at the Central Campus in Blue Bell.
Teamwork and service were themes of the evening, starting with class 1502 valedictorian, Cadet Brian Colucci, of Plymouth Meeting, during his address.
“What I admired most about our class is that there’s more than just one leader. I knew if we worked together, this team could reach its goal. Keeping together as a team leads to success,” he said.
Selected by the class to provide the evening’s keynote address, Lower Moreland Township Police Sgt. David Scirrotto shared stories of the cadets during their time at the academy, especially time spent under his instruction.
“Every day I spend with them, I become a better officer and man. These men and women should remind us every day why we put on this uniform,” he shared.
An alumnus of the academy himself, Scirrotto added, “I can only hope to be as positive a role to these cadets as the academy’s instructors were to me.”
For their service project, cadets collected food and monetary donations for Advocates Against Hunger, which coordinates food delivery and education efforts with a number of soup kitchens and food pantries in the Norristown region. Kary LaFors, director of the Community Interfaith Food Pantry at Grace Lutheran Church, was on hand to accept the donations on behalf of Advocates Against Hunger.
Municipal Police Academy Director Jude McKenna presented a series of awards as part of the ceremony. Cadet SSgt. Jeffrey Wagner, of Levittown, received the Platoon Leader Award of Merit. Cadet Michael Aluise, of Warwick, received the James R. Miller Marksmanship Award, presented in memory of Upper Dublin Police Sergeant Jim Miller, who died in an automobile accident while on duty in 2004. The Award of Distinction, given to cadets who demonstrate exemplary dedication and teamwork, went to Cadet James Garrity, of Wayne.
Montgomery County Commissioner Bruce Castor joined MCCC officials—Dr. James Linksz, interim president; Dr. Victoria Bastecki-Perez, vice president of academic affairs and provost; Dr. Aaron Shatzman, dean of social sciences; and John Caperilla, chair of the Alumni Association Board of Directors—in confirming the graduate’s certificates.
“There are no police officers trained better than they are in Montgomery County. We’re exceptionally proud of the work we do, not only with our Act 120 training, but also with our associate’s degree programs in Criminal Justice,” shared Castor, noting that he will retire from public service in December after a 30-year career.
Several local law enforcement officials also attended the ceremony, including the Color Guard from the Lower Merion Township Police Department and Montgomery County Department of Public Safety First Deputy Director Jesse Stemple.
MCCC Municipal Police Academy class 1502 graduates include Michael Aluise, Warwick; Tyler Aspell, Levittown; Brian Colucci, Plymouth Meeting; Joseph Cotellese, Warminster; Jaclyn Daly, Ridley Park; James Garrity, Wayne; Stephen Hafele, Folsom; Douglas Harris, Lansdale; John Hearn, Richboro; Christopher Hens, Horsham; Jonathan Joseph, Drexel Hill; John Konway, Abington; Luke McIlvaine, Feasterville; Tanner Noecker, Roxborough; Matthew Ortlieb, North Wales; Michael Parnes, Harleysville; David Parysz, Yardley; Terry Reifsnyder, Royersford; Kevin Riley, Cheltenham; William Seiler, Trappe; Matthew Shannon, Bridgeport; Kristian Shaw, Abington; Ian Stanley, Warminister; Austin Urkuski, Audubon; Jeffrey Wagner, Levittown; Michael Wambold, Hatboro; and Cynthia Yoder, Conshohocken.
MCCC, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania State Training Commission, operates the Municipal Police Academy at the Montgomery County Public Safety Training Campus, 1175 Conshohocken Road, Conshohocken. The academy offers four cohorts of the 800-hour Municipal Police Basic Training Curriculum, also known as PA Act 120, annually
The academy has been the training ground for more than 3,600 cadets with a consistent graduation rate of more than 90 percent. The curriculum allows successful students to articulate up to 15 credit hours toward an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice Studies at MCCC.
To learn more, visit http://www.mc3.edu/academics and select Areas of Study, followed by Social Sciences, then Career Training Programs.
Pottstown Hometown Holiday Schedule Of Events For 2015
Beginning November 29th, 2015 Take Pottstown Area Rapid Transit, Give Back
In the spirit of the holiday season, Pottstown Area Rapid Transit (PART) is pleased to announce our “Take PART, Give Back” Campaign!
Beginning November 29, 2015 PART will be collecting donations to benefit the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities and Operation Backpack. PART is pleased to partner with these organizations to help build the supply of food and goods available to those in need in our local community.
How can you PARTicipate?
By riding on one of PART’s Special Sunday Shopper Days! Every Sunday beginning November 29th, 2015 through December 20th 2015 from 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., bring your donation on board a PART Transit Bus and ride for $1.00! *Applies to Adult Base Fare ONLY
During the Tri County Area Chamber of Commerce Holiday Mixer & Business to Business Expo on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. at Norco Fire Company, 144 W. Schuylkill Road, Pottstown, PA 19465. Bring your donation to the event and receive a PART Holiday ornament!
The Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities is a 501 c3 nonprofit organization providing a multitude of programs related to food security, clothing and housing assistance, and other supportive services. Activities are intended to “address the basic human needs of persons within the Greater Pottstown community, while assisting with their spiritual and social needs.”
The Cluster is currently in need of dry goods including laundry detergent, all-purpose cleaners, paper towels, and toiletries. Canned goods including fruits, vegetables, soups, tuna fish, and tomato products are also in high demand.
Operation Backpack is a 501 c3 nonprofit organization, providing food to students in the greater Pottstown community who would go without over the weekend. The organization works to “help homeless and hungry students succeed by addressing the issue of childhood hunger.” The organization works with individuals and organizations to gather ready to eat items to fill backpacks distributed to participating schools at the end of each week. Operation Backpack is currently in need of prepackaged tuna, macaroni and cheese, soups, pasta, cereal, granola, breakfast bars, crackers, juice, and water.
As a public service, PART takes great pride in providing safe, affordable, and reliable quality transportation to the Borough of Pottstown, Lower, West, and Upper Pottsgrove Townships, Limerick Township, and North Coventry Township.
Please help PART Give Back! Questions? Contact Erica Batdorf at 610-970-6515 or ebatdorf@pottstown.org
Or visit our website at http://www.pottstownarearapidtransit.com
MLT Students Give Back, Gain Skills During Valuable Health Screening Activity
MLT Club President and sophomore student Wil Montijo mentors first year MLT students
Blue Bell, PA —Each November, students in the Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) program at Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) perform an important service for members of the college community—free health screenings that would typically cost patients more than $300!
For cash- and time-strapped college students, tests that include complete blood count, complete cholesterol profile, blood glucose, prothrombin time, blood type and routine urinalysis, can play a critical role in helping them to manage their health and wellness.
On Nov. 6, 23 MLT students performed 95 screenings for 19 patients during the program’s annual service learning activity. The exercise presents MLT students with realistic situations like those found in a hospital or an outpatient setting. It also provides sophomore students with experience mentoring MLT freshmen.
“There’s some things the first year students haven’t seen all. We’re here to introduce them to some of the equipment and answer their questions,” said Danielle Maninger, a sophomore MLT student who expects to graduate in May.
Maninger was on phlebotomy duty during part of the MLT activity—something she mastered during her off-campus clinical work at Holy Redeemer Hospital.
“I’m more confident now,” she said, referring to performing phlebotomy as a second-year student. “We only practice phlebotomy on each other, not on patients, in the first year.”
In addition to gaining mentoring and phlebotomy experience, sophomore students progress through all of the laboratory stations—from the registration process, to sample collection, to completion of the lab tests, and, finally, to evaluation of the accuracy and relevance of the results during the exercise.
“This activity is a collaborative experience between our freshmen and sophomore students who do not have the opportunity to interact normally because of their course and clinical schedules,” explained Debra Eckman, assistant professor and MLT program director. “The first year students love learning something new, and participation during their first year gives them insight into what their roles will be in the MLT activity during their sophomore year.”
MLT sophomore Brandon Engle feels he has more independence this year, participating in his second screening exercise.
“Everything for me is more hands-on. You have to figure out how to do the tests on your own,” shared Engle who is currently doing his clinical work at Grandview Hospital.
MCCC accepts 16 students annually into its nationally accredited Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree program. Graduates are eligible to sit for the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) examination, and many go on to enjoy rewarding careers as MLTs in hospitals, commercial laboratories, physician offices and pharmaceutical companies.
To learn more about the College’s MLT program, visit http://www.mc3.edu/academics, then select Areas of Study, followed by Medical Laboratory Technician, or contact Assistant Professor Debra Eckman at 215-641-6487 or deckman@mc3.edu.
HOOVER FINANCIAL ADVISORS MEETS FALL FUNDS FOR FOOD GOAL
Malvern, PA – Each year, Hoover Financial Advisors, PC, conducts a Fall Funds for Food campaign to benefit Chester County Food Bank. Last year, HFA set a goal to raise $10,000 and actually brought in $12, 500. This year, the financial planning firm presented $15,000 to the local food bank. “With generous help from our clients, staff, vendors and colleagues, we reached our 2015 goal,” says Pete Hoover, CFP®, HFA president. “With each dollar contributed, the food bank can provide four meals or five pounds of non-perishable food.”
Chester County Food Bank stores and distributes food to more than 30 area food cupboards and 60 other meal sites and agencies at no charge. Since its inception in 2009, it has provided the equivalent of 1.7 million meals. In addition to raising money for the food bank, HFA provides sweat equity. Earlier this year, staff members worked in the kitchen at its Exton headquarters and at Charlestown Farm in Phoenixville. Last year HFA packed produce boxes and in past years, it pulled weeds and filled backpacks.
“It has been an interesting year,” notes Hoover. “Employment is up, always a good sign. Yet, there are over 70,000 households in Chester County Food Bank’s reach that do not have enough to feed their families. We are committed to helping these people, particularly as the holiday season approaches. It felt good to make our fundraising goal.”
HFA, which is headquartered on Moores Road in Malvern, was launched in 2005 by Hoover, who has been an independent financial advisor for more than 30 years. Since its inception, HFA has quadrupled in size. Employees include client relationship managers, financial planners, insurance and tax specialists, investment analyst and an information services manager. HFA selected as 2012 Small Business of the Year by Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry. For more information, visit its website at petehoover.com or call 610.651.2777. To learn about Chester County Food Bank, call 610.873.6000 or go to http://www.chestercountyfoodbank.org.
‘Moving Stories’ At Muhlenberg College
Allentown, PA — Muhlenberg College dancers tell their stories through movement, as the Muhlenberg Theatre & Dance Department presents “Moving Stories,” a showcase for dance works created by emerging choreographers, Nov. 12-14 in the College’s Baker Theatre.
Artistic director Karen Dearborn says the 10 choreographers selected for the program have created sophisticated and innovative dances, informed by their liberal arts education, and intended to probe and illuminate the human experience.
The concert will showcase over 60 dancers from the department’s dance program, which is among the most highly regarded programs of its kind. The concert features costume and lighting designs by the department’s acclaimed professional staff.
The ten original dances include contemporary jazz, pointe, and modern works that investigate gender norms, addiction, body image, our sense of time, and trust as a struggle rather than a surrender. Everything from books and superheroes to interpersonal relationships and experiences abroad struck inspiration for the choreographers.
The Mainstage performance series is produced by Muhlenberg College’s acclaimed Theatre & Dance Department, The Princeton Review consistently ranks Muhlenberg’s production program in the top 20 in the nation, including a No. 6 ranking in its current college guide. The Fiske Guide to Colleges lists both the theatre and dance programs among the top small college programs in the United States.
“Moving Stories” runs Nov. 12-14 in the Baker Theatre, Trexler Pavilion for Theatre & Dance, Muhlenberg College, 2400 Chew St., Allentown.
Performances are Thursday and Friday, Nov. 12-13, at 8 p.m.; and Saturday, Nov. 14, at 2 and 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for patrons 17 and under, and $8 for students, faculty and staff of all LVAIC colleges. For groups of 15 or more, tickets are $13.
Tickets and information are available at 484-664-3333 or http://www/muhlenberg.edu/dance.
To arrange an interview or photo opportunity with Karen Dearborn or any of the student choreographers, please contact Scott Snyder, at 484-664-3693 or scottsnyder@muhlenberg.edu.
Founded in 1848, Muhlenberg College is a highly selective, private, four-year residential college located in Allentown, Pa., approximately 90 miles west of New York City. With an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 2,200 students, Muhlenberg College is dedicated to shaping creative, compassionate, collaborative leaders through rigorous academic programs in the arts, sciences, business, education and public health. A member of the Centennial Conference, Muhlenberg competes in 22 varsity sports. Muhlenberg is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Muhlenberg offers Bachelor of Arts degrees in theater and dance. The Princeton Review ranked Muhlenberg’s theater program in the top twelve in the nation for eight years in a row, and Fiske Guide to Colleges lists both the theater and dance programs among the top small college programs in the United States. Muhlenberg is one of only eight colleges to be listed in Fiske for both theater and dance.
Inclusive Arts – Accessible Events For November-December 2015
|
|||
|
|||
|
for many more accessible events!
|
|||
Artist’s Reception: Jacqueline Lewis, Fine Art Photography
| A Celebration of Art & Travel
The Lehigh Valley Arts Council and Discover Lehigh Valley have teamed up this holiday season to present an exhibition of fine art photography by Jacqueline Lewis. Titled “A Celebration of Arts and Travel,” the exhibition features framed and canvas presentations of fifty images, capturing the wonder of Lewis’ travels to both exotic destinations and to cherished sites in the Lehigh Valley. Several award-winning images and a few of her favorites are among the photographs available for sale. Most notable are seven photographs recently selected for permanent display on the 18th floor of new, 40-story, Gensler-designed PNC Bank Tower in Pittsburgh. The exhibition runs November through December at the Arts Council’s office and across the hall at Discover Lehigh Valley in the Butz Corporate Center, 840 Hamilton Street, in Allentown. Proceeds from the commission on all sales will support Arts & Access, the program to expand cultural accessibility for people with disabilities. Please rsvp to info@lvartscouncil.org or 610-437-5915 for the reception on Thursday, November 12, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Visitors are welcome during business hours, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It is recommended that you call ahead of your visit to view the exhibit. |
||
| *** | ||
|
||
| *** | ||
|
Lehigh Valley Arts Council 840 Hamilton Street, Suite 201 Allentown, PA 18101 610-437-5915 / operations@LVArtsCouncil.org www.LVArtsCouncil.org / www.LVArtsBoxOffice.org |
Roy's Rants - For Your Information 