$2.3M Restoration Of Frick’s Lock Village Unveiled

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

EAST COVENTRY TOWNSHIP, PA — In its heyday, Frick’s Lock Village was one of dozens of stops along the Schuylkill Navigation for coal making its way from the coal regions and the river’s headwaters to energy-starved industrial cities like Philadelphia.

But it lost its economic lustre when the railroads took over the job of carrying the coal and it slipped from public view entirely in 1969, when it was purchased by PECO as part of the construction of the Limerick nuclear plant.

But it never slipped entirely from memory, at least not for people like Bill Carl, who lived in the former locktender’s house in the late 1930s, when it had no electricity and no plumbing.

“We rented this from the Reading Railroad Co. for $5 a month,” he said.

Read more:  http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20130512/NEWS01/130519819/-2-3m-restoration-of-frick-s-lock-village-unveiled#full_story

Limerick Shutdown Affects Mid-Atlantic Power Supply

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

When an explosion Wednesday morning caused operators to cut power to one of two nuclear reactors at the Limerick Generating Station, it had an impact on the power supply to the entire mid-Atlantic region.

One of two reactors was shut down at 8:39 after an electrical problem caused by an explosion in a transformer cut power to a turbine cooling system, officials said.

And, while only a portion of Berks County lies within the 10-mile emergency zone around the Montgomery County nuclear plant, losing just one unit affected some businesses throughout Berks and the region, said Ray Dotter, spokesman for the PJM Interconnection, the King of Prussia-based agency that regulates the regional electric supply.

Each Limerick reactor generates enough electricity to power 1 million homes. That power has to be made up somewhere, Dotter said.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=399805

Even Limerick Township Is Not Recession Proof

Image via Wikipedia

When one thinks of communities that would have budget woes, Limerick Township is not normally a place that would pop into your head. 

The 22.6 square mile township has 13,534 inhabitants (2000 census).  85% of Limerick’s residents own a home.  The estimated median house/condo value in 2008 was $271,583.  The estimated median income in 2008 was $81,877.  Only 1.9% of its residents live below the poverty level.  These numbers are well above the state averages.

Somehow, the township found themselves with an $850,000 deficit going into their 2011 budget process.  Declines in land development and permits (recession) were blamed.   The end result was making some hard decisions about purchases and facility upgrades along with the elimination of two staff positions.

Bottom line here is that taxes will not increase for 2011 and the budget trimming will not reduce services for residents.

Demographic information is from City-data.com

New Incarnation Of Lakeside Inn Opens

What was formerly the Lakeside Inn in Limerick Twp. has reopened as the Copperfield Inn at lakeside.

Check on the story from the Times Herald:

http://timesherald.com/articles/2010/10/13/business/doc4cb53cad4e646781088368.txt

Western Montgomery County Career & Technolgoy Center Gets State-Of-The Art Upgrades

Click on the link below to read a great article about the Western Montgomery County Career & Technology Center in Limerick.  They just did a big upgrade!

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20100907_Western_Montgomery_County_career__tech_center_goes_state_of_the_art.html

Police Arrest Crime Spree Suspect While Sovereign Bank Robber Still At Large

Chalk up another win for the good guys.  Marcus White of Philadelphia was on a crime spree in Montgomery and Chester counties prior to his arrest on June 2nd.  The suspect has been linked to robberies in Lower Pottsgrove Twp., Limerick Twp. and Coatesville.  Mr. White shot a senior citizen in the leg during the Turkey Hill robbery in Lower Pottsgrove Twp. because the elderly employee could not open the safe.

There are two other male suspects involved that still remain at large.  The investigation into their participation in these crimes is ongoing.

Because one of the robberies includes a US Post Office, Marcus White is facing federal charges in addition to the convenience store armed robbery charges and a shooting! The suspect was stealing money orders, cash and lighters.

In related news, the Sovereign Bank in downtown Pottstown was the scene of an armed robbery Tuesday afternoon.   The suspect wore a mask and carried a gun.  He fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.  Customers were inside the bank during the robbery but no one was hurt.

The FBI description of the suspect is a black male, six-foot two and wearing an Air Jordan hoodie with a BMX-like face mask.  If you have any information, call the FBI at 215-418-4000 or the Pottstown Police Department at 610-970-6570.  A reward is being offered and you can remain anonymous.  The suspect is armed and dangerous but I think that goes without saying since he just robbed a bank at gun-point.

Let’s make this robbery another example of why crime doesn’t pay!