Community Invited To Mobile Job Lab And Open House At MCCC’s University Center

Pottstown, PA —Montgomery County Community College’s University Center, in partnership with its Career Services and the TriCounty Community Network (TCN), will be hosting a Mobile Job Lab and an Open House on Monday, Feb. 1, from 1 to 4 p.m., at the University Center, 95 S. Hanover Street, Pottstown. Both the Mobile Job Lab and Open House are open to the community, as well as MCCC students.

For the Mobile Job Lab, MCCC’s Career Services representatives and volunteers from TCN will assist participants with searching for jobs, writing resumes and using LinkedIn to create career profiles and broaden their contact networks. The services are free, and walk-ins are welcome.

During the Open House, visitors can meet with representatives from the University Center’s partners—Albright College, Chestnut Hill College, Immaculata University and Temple University—to learn about their programs and available degrees and certificates. MCCC representatives also will be on hand to provide information about the Virtual Campus and admission process.

For more information about the University Center, visit http://www.mc3.edu/universitycenter. For updates, like and follow the University Center on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UniversityCenterMC3.

Sheryl Miller For Pottstown 3rd Ward Councilor

Reading Police Department Commends Its Officers

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

Attendance was a bit sparse Thursday night at the Reading Police Department’s first-ever commendation ceremony.

But for first responders, the job always comes first.

Chief of Police William M. Heim said about 50 officers, roughly one-third of the department, and their families were able to attend the special recognition evening at the Albright College Theatre at 13th and Bern streets.

Heim said this is the first time the department has held a formal recognition ceremony.

Read more:  http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=495564

An Open Letter To The Voters Of Pottstown From Pottstown Borough Council Candidate Sheryl Miller

I believe I am the right candidate for Pottstown Council. I have no personal agenda; simply a desire to bring Pottstown (as a whole) back to greatness — not what it once was, but rather something better.  Pottstown needs real jobs, ones in which people can obtain gainful employment.  Industry DOES still exist — it is just different now. Although Pottstown is “built out” I do believe it is still marketable.

I enjoy attending council meetings, making a point to not miss them.  I use this opportunity to learn what works and what does not work.  I welcome the frustration I feel during such meetings.  This frustration becomes fuel which inspires some of my best ideas and I have many, to tackle some of the tough problems facing the borough such as far too many opportunistic investors, crime, and not of any less importance, the current distance between decision making and real communication with the community.

I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Crime & Justice from Albright College achieving highest honors.  My most recent employment was working as a program specialist in a day program developing, coordinating, and implementing vocational, educational, social, health, safety, & personal client centered goals for adults with Developmental & Intellectual Disabilities.  Among many responsibilities, I also accompanied and supported the individuals during community outings and community service including delivering Meals on Wheels to the elderly and reading to the pre-school children at the YWCA.  I held this position for four years prior to leaving in July of 2012.  Prior to my employment, I volunteered for two years at the facility.

Previously I served for two years on Pottstown area’s Montgomery County Youth Aid Panel.  I also completed Montgomery County’s Victim Offender Conferencing Program.

For many years, I volunteered with several animal rescue groups.  My greatest love — animals.  My passion — Pottstown.

I graduated from Pottstown High School.  Upon graduating I moved to Oaks for four years.  After marrying (my husband is Spring Ford Alum) I told my husband I wanted to buy a house in my home town, which I have always loved.  We found a nice corner property which was to be our starter home, and here we have stayed for 23 years.  We will be celebrating our 25th (silver) anniversary in September.

I feel that it is of the utmost importance to stay closely connected to the community.  Although I have worked and lived locally for many years, my eyes were opened even wider when I began walking door to door in my ward having the opportunity to see and hear up close and personal the many challenges we face.

And I am just getting started!!

Sheryl Miller
3rd Ward Pottstown Council Candidate

Renovations Will Turn Albright College Building Into Class Act

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

Albright College will embark on the first step of a master plan as it begins multimillion-dollar renovations to the Rockland Professional Center this summer.

College officials plan to transform the office building at 13th and Rockland streets into a modern hub for its accounting, political science, economics and business departments.

Provost Andrea Chapdelaine said the move is all part of the master plan developed for the college in 2008 called “That Their Light May Shine: The Campaign for Albright College.”

The college experienced significant growth in the early 2000s, reaching its current 1,650 students, but the campus size stayed the same.

Read more:  http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=471347

Violence Prevention Program Targets Reading’s Northeast

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States Public School Districts (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A joint effort to reduce youth violence is targeting the northeast section of the city, an area where most Reading kids will end up attending school.

For members of the Reading Youth Violence Prevention Project, who recently met at Albright College to discuss goals for 2013, the logic was simple.

Northeast Reading is home to Reading High and the Citadel intermediate high school.  There’s also Northeast Middle School, CHOR Day Academy, I-LEAD Charter School and four elementary schools.

“The northeast sector is not considered the neediest per se, but there are perhaps more assets to build upon,” said Laura M. Welliver, project coordinator at St. Joseph Medical Center.  “There are more opportunities to stabilize, using the schools as anchors.”

Read more:  http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=451722

Local Leaders See City Of Reading Market Analysis

The greater Reading market value analysis that’s intended to guide the city’s housing and economic development efforts got some suburban buy-in Thursday at an Albright College forum.

More than three dozen community leaders, a third of them from municipalities surrounding Reading, got a first look at the study compiled by The Reinvestment Fund, Philadelphia.  Several said it could be a useful tool for the boroughs and townships as well.

“My biggest fear is, if this study sits on a shelf, the entire effort is wasted,” said Todd Auman, chairman of the Reading Redevelopment Authority, which commissioned the work.

Essentially, the analysis compared home sale prices, vacancy rates, percentage of rental versus owner-occupied homes, foreclosure rates and housing voucher statistics – down to the census block level in every municipality from Sinking Spring to Saint Lawrence – and assigned each census block one of eight different market types.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=426263

Economy Remains Issue That Will Occupy U.S. Lawmakers, Several Observers Note

A nasty election season that ends with close results is not going to clear the muddy waters of American political discourse.

Many people likely thought that on Wednesday as the nation once again focused on serious yet divisive problems like the national debt and implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

The election gave President Barack Obama a second term but left control of the Senate and the House divided between Democrats and Republicans.

“The public re-upped on divided government,” said Glenn W. Richardson Jr., an associate professor of political science at Kutztown University.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=426030

At Lakehurst, Airships Are Taking Off Again

At Lakehurst‘s historic Hangar 1, made famous by the fiery Hindenburg disaster nearby 75 years ago, another airship is waiting to take off on its next mission.

While aloft, the manned 178-foot-long Navy blimp – emblazoned with red, white, and blue rudder stripes – has drawn wide-eyed stares from onlookers across Philadelphia’s suburbs and along the Jersey Shore over the last several months.

The MZ-3A‘s testing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is part of the U.S. military’s renewed interest in airships, known for their ability to stay airborne for long periods and land without runways.

“Over the past decade, as drones have gained favor in identifying and sometimes engaging enemy forces, an ‘old-new’ concept has also reappeared – the observation dirigible,” said Guillaume de Syon, an aviation historian, author, and professor at Albright College in Reading.

Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/new_jersey/20120730_At_Lakehurst__airships_are_taking_off_again.html?cmpid=124488469