ArtFusion Gets Jazzy Again

Pottstown, PA – ArtFusion 19464 is proud to announce the return of one of their most popular fundraisers. Jazz Nite returns on Saturday, June 27. Guests will enjoy an amazing concert by The Jazz 5 Pack in ArtFusion’s beautiful main gallery. The music will play from 7-9:30pm. Light refreshments will be available for purchase, and the event is BYOB for those over 21.

The Jazz 5 Pack is comprised of musicians from the Philadelphia, Lancaster, and Reading areas. Trumpeter Rob Diener and trombonist John Loos form the front line and co-lead the group. The rhythm section includes pianist John Clionsky, Ryan Leaver on bass and Paul Gallello on drums.

Tickets are $12 and can be purchased online at artfusion19464.org, or at ArtFusion’s 254 E. High St. location during regular business hours: Tuesday-Friday from 10am-5pm and Saturday from 10am-3pm. As this event has sold out in the past, they do recommend purchasing tickets as soon as possible. On the night of the performance, visitors are asked to use ArtFusion’s back entrance and arrive at least 15 minutes before curtain time. If you need specific directions, please call them at 610-326-2506 or email info@artfusion19464.org.

The Jazz 5 Pack performs many of the beautiful and timeless melodies from the Great American Songbook, as well as bebop from the 1940s. The music of George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Rogers and Hart, Miles Davis, Benny Golson, Duke Ellington and many other prolific composers from this exciting era are staples of The Jazz 5 Pack’s repertoire. Whatever is being performed, the emphasis is always on traditional jazz harmonies and improvisation.

The Jazz 5 Pack has been together for the past two years and collectively, the members have performed together in many other groups for the better part of the last decade. They have performed concerts at The Miller Center for the Arts in Reading, PA to benefit the Reading School district music department, and was very well received at The Reading Planetarium Jazz Under the Stars Series.

ArtFusion 19464 is a 501(c)3 non-profit community art center located at 254 E. High St. in downtown Pottstown. The school offers day, evening and weekend classes to all ages. The goal of these classes is to help students develop their creative skills through self-expression and independence. ArtFusion’s gallery hosts rotating shows featuring local artists. The gallery also sells handcrafted, one-of-a-kind gift items.  The gallery is open Tuesday through Friday from 10am-5pm and Saturday 10am-3pm. The gallery is closed Sunday and Monday.

West Chester Chili Cookoff Shares More Than 70 Recipes With Patrons

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

West Chester, PA On a chilly fall day, residents warmed up in the borough with hot peppers for the 12th year in a row during the Rotary Club’s Chili Cookoff.

More than 70 chili recipes were shared with thousands of patrons on Gay Street Sunday in an effort to raise more than last year’s $50,000 to support 14 local nonprofits.

Among the dozens of recipes shared at the festival were some crowd favorites, like those of the Habanero Brothers.

The brothers, who have been coming to the event for the past 10 years, compete in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York, for chances to show off their varying recipes.

Pottstown School Board Leery Of Offer To Refurbish Light Poles

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

POTTSTOWN, PA — Members of the Pottstown School Board showed little interest Thursday in an offer to refurbish the poles that hold up the lights at Grigg Memorial Stadium.

Facilities Director Robert Kripplebauer told the board’s facilities committee meeting Thursday that he had been contacted by a company that had read in The Mercury about the board’s decision to take down the lights at the stadium for safety reasons.

The company — 18th Century Restorations on Coventryville Road — made a similar offer in 2012 and estimated the cost at that time to refurbish the poles and lights to be $60,000.

According to the 2012 quote, which Kripplebauer shared with The Mercury, the work would involve “fabricating new hardware” for the poles and attaching 42 metal straps to keep them in place, as well as epoxy and caulk for cracks in the poles, along with other work.

Read more:  http://www.pottsmerc.com/general-news/20140411/pottstown-school-board-leery-of-offer-to-refurbish-light-poles

Pottstown Dragon Boat Team To Compete In Philly Regatta

POTTSTOWN — The first Pottstown team to compete in the Independence Dragon Boat Regatta in Philadelphia isn’t looking to just be an also-ran this weekend.

“The coaches who do this for a living and are involved with Boathouse Row have given a lot of positive feedback about our team,” said Rob Matthews, the owner of Crossfit Pottstown where the 20 rowers train.  “If we can get their timing right, they’re going to be competitive.”

June 1 will mark the seventh annual regatta featuring 30 feet long boats with dragon faces, tails and paint jobs one might associate more with a Viking invasion than the Schuylkill River.

Beginning at 8 a.m., teams will begin the 500 meter races.  Each team participates in a qualifying heat,which determines what category the team races in.  The next round will take the top two boats from each heat and put them into a final race that will determine the winner.  A consolation race comprised of the boats that came in third and fourth in the semifinals also takes place.

Read more:  http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20130530/NEWS01/130529127/pottstown-dragon-boat-team-to-compete-in-philly-regatta#full_story