Dec. 11th – Pottsgrove By Candlelight Holiday Tour

Pottstown, PA – Revel in the spirit of the season at historic Pottsgrove Manor with the annual “Pottsgrove Manor by Candlelight” open-house on Sunday, December 11, 2016 from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm, and enjoy the beauty of the manor lit by candlelight and bedecked with greenery.

The public is invited to take a self-guided tour of the stately 1752 manor house, where costumed interpreters portray the colonial residents of Pottsgrove Manor. A walking tour guides visitors through the household of John Potts, his wife Ruth and their 13 children. In the formal parlor, an animated gathering is underway as 18th century “guests” socialize and enjoy the latest dances to the lively music of a harpsichord, flute and harp. The dining room displays an elegant dessert table filled with cakes and pastries, and a “glass pyramid” loaded with delectable seasonal treats – nuts, candied fruits, and colorful marzipan.

Cooks and servants bustle about the kitchen, busy concocting authentic dishes and cooking in its 8 foot wide fireplace, but not too busy to answer a passing question about methods or ingredients. Following passageways through the 17 room mansion, visitors continue to the 2nd and 3rd floors, to view the intimate chambers of a well-to-do colonial family, and learn about preparing for the holiday season.

After exploring the house, complimentary refreshments are available at the end of the tour, and young visitors will be able to create make-and-take free seasonal crafts as a souvenir of their visit. Guests will also want to visit Pottsgrove Manor’s museum shop for unique, historically-oriented gifts like locally-made redware pottery and ornaments, reproduction glassware, handcrafted candles and soaps, books, toys, games, and more.

Outside, in the manor’s courtyard, visitors will be able to enjoy historic carols sung by the Colonial Revelers singing group (performing from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm).

This is a free event! A donation of $2.00 per person is suggested. The tour will be held weather permitting. No reservations are needed. Visitors are asked to park at the Carousel at Pottstown (30 West King Street) or at Memorial Park (75 West King Street); a shuttle will transport visitors to and from Pottsgrove Manor throughout the event. Handicapped parking is available in the museum’s parking lot. The manor’s open house will also be featured as a stop on the Pottstown Historical House Tour that evening.

Can’t make it to the open house? Visitors can enjoy the spirit of the season at Pottsgrove Manor now through January 8, 2017 with a guided tour of the mansion, decorated for the holidays. Tours are offered during regular museum hours, and the museum shop will also be open for holiday shopping. Regular museum hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and Sunday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Tours are given on the hour. The last tour of the day begins as 3:00 pm. Groups of 10 or more should preregister by calling 610-326-4014. The site is closed Mondays, as well as Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.

Pottsgrove Manor is located at 100 West King Street near the intersection of King Street and Route 100, just off Route 422, in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Pottsgrove Manor is operated by Montgomery County under the direction of the Parks, Trails, and Historic Sites Division of the Assets and Infrastructure Department. For more information, please call 610-326-4014, or visit the website at
www.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor. Like Pottsgrove Manor on Facebook here
www.facebook.com/pottsgrovemanor.

Boyertown Area Multi-Service Festival Of Trees

SCORE Small Business Expo To Be Held At Brookside Country Club

Boyertown Festival Of Trees

Pottsgrove Manor 2015 Holiday Schedule

DIGITAL STORYTELLING Professional Development Seminar

The Lehigh Valley Arts Council is presenting a seminar about the art of digital storytelling, on Tuesday, October 27, 2015, at the Butz Corporate Center , 9th & Hamilton, 2nd Floor conference room from 5:30 to 8:00PM. Featured presenters are Caroline Savage, Program Director of Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and Ken Unangst, Owner & Founder of Digital Feast. Both of these professionals specialize in working with arts organizations and arts businesses, assisting them with communicating through visuals and technology.

The panelists will provide examples of how to clearly define your message by addressing the following questions:

• What does your mission look like?
• How do you create a story that resonates with the community?
• What is the value and impact of this visual medium on your audiences?

Refreshments provided. The fee is $25 for Lehigh Valley Arts Council members, $45 for nonmembers.

Tickets are limited and selling quickly. Order yours through our box office today!

ArtFusion Partners With Community Music School

POTTSTOWN, PA – ArtFusion 19464 is excited to begin a collaboration with the Community Music School in Trappe (www.cmsmusic.org). Since 1991, Community Music School has proudly served the region by providing music education and performance experiences for people of all ages, abilities and economic circumstances. CMS has a long-standing tradition of enhancing their musical performances with the visual arts.

Starting in the fall of 2015, ArtFusion will begin curating art exhibits in the CMS facility. ArtFusion is excited about this opportunity to bring their artists to a wider audience and spread the word about their mission. The first show was a student faculty show that ran during September. The second show, opening October 10, features the art of Richardson Comly. The show’s reception will be held in conjunction with CMS’s first Little Night Music concert series of 2015. Guests can view the art and enjoy refreshments from 6:30-7:30pm. Tickets are still available for the concert, which starts immediately following the reception. For ticket information, please call CMS at 610-489-3676.

The two organizations are also working on creating educational opportunities, both at the CMS facility and at ArtFusion in Pottstown. New for fall 2015 is a music and art program for preschoolers and homeschoolers. The class will be held at CMS in the fall and will be held at ArtFusion the following spring. The class for preschoolers runs 9:30am-11am each Monday for 6 weeks and begins November 2. The other class is geared towards elementary age students who are being homeschooled. That class begins November 3. Class runs from 2-4:30pm every Tuesday for 6 weeks. For complete class descriptions, please visit artfusion19464.org/classes.

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.

Community Music School is a non-profit 501c(3) organization where music education is at the core of our programming. Since 1991 CMS has proudly served the region by providing music education and performance experiences for people of all ages, abilities and background. The school’s main campus at 775 W. Main Street in Trappe holds 20 teaching studios and a 200-seat performance hall. New this year, the school is proud to offer lessons at its first satellite location at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Pottstown. With more than 500 students participating in our music programs each week, Community Music School has become the region’s premiere resource for the highest quality music education.

Parent Cafe Coming To Pottstown This Fall

Historical Pottstown Walking Tour, June 17, 2015, 6-8pm‏

Pottstown YMCA To Host Senior Health & Fitness Day

Charlie Zahm In Concert At Pottstown Regional Public Library

Senior Expo At Sunnybrook Ballroom In Pottstown

Washington/Chestnut St. Park Garden Party‏ In Pottstown

Hi All, 

Hope this note finds each of you in good health and spirits!  Spring is officially here, I’d I like to invite you to the  5th Annual Garden Party held at the Washington/Chestnut Sts. Park this Sunday, May 18. 
 
It will be a morning of beautifying the park with annuals and mulch donated by Colonial Gardens and light refreshments courtesy of Genesis Housing Corp.  Details are below and don’t forget your gardening tools! SHOVELS, RAKES and GLOVES!
 
WHAT: 5TH ANNUAL GARDEN PARTY
WHERE: WASHINGTON/CHESTNUT STS. PARK
DATE: Sunday MAY 18,2014
TIME: 10:00am – 12:00pm
 
Hope to See you there! 
Anna, Citizens for Pottstown CPR

Put Yourself On The Map! Lehigh Valley Arts Council Spring Membership Reception

Join the Lehigh Valley Arts Council for a celebration of the future and twenty-five years of service at the sleek, sophisticated headquarters of Lehigh Gas Partners LP in the soaring, new 11-story tower, Two City Center, which is transforming downtown Allentown.

Joseph V. Topper, Jr., Chairman & CEO of Lehigh Gas Partners LP and partner in City Center Investment Corp, is hosting the event. This annual get-together is a popular occasion for members to renew their connection to the arts and to each other. They will enjoy a tour of the fifth floor offices and expansive views of the Lehigh Valley.

Four prominent cultural leaders will be celebrated for their vision and for taking their organizations in new directions:

• Greg Funfgeld, Artistic Director & Conductor, and Bridget George, Executive Director of The Bach Choir of Bethlehem
• Ellis Finger, Director of Williams Center of the Arts, Lafayette College
• David Mickenberg, President and CEO of the Allentown Art Museum

“We chose to celebrate our twenty-fifth anniversary with a nod to the arts community and to the future,” says Randall Forte, executive director. “And of course there will be cake and merriment!”

Festivities will include “mapping the cultural community,” as arts professionals and patrons will be encouraged to mark their location on a large-scale regional map. Guests will be greeted by a visual panoply of images from more than 100 cultural organizations, highlighting their vision statements.

Light food will be provided.  Wine will be available on a cash basis.  

Premiere Sponsors: PP&L, EBC Printing, and Lehigh Gas Partners LP;

Supporting Sponsor: Scoblionko, Scoblionko, Muir & Melman Attorneys at Law.

Please RSVP by May 23rd! Reservations are encouraged to expedite check-in at the security desk at Two City Center.

Members attend for FREE and can RSVP http://www.lvartscouncil.org/RSVP.html
Nonmembers can purchase tickets for $10 http://www.etix.com/ticket/online/performanceSearch.jsp?performance_id=1812994&cobrand=lvartsboxoffice

For more information
610.437.5915 ◊ operations@LVArtsCouncil.org 

Lehigh Valley Arts Council Presents Spring Membership Reception: Put Yourself On The Map

Allentown, PA – The 2014 spring membership reception, Put Yourself on the Map, embraces the excitement and promise of a new cultural horizon in the Lehigh Valley. On Wednesday, May 28, 2014, from 5:30 – 7:30 PM, the Lehigh Valley Arts Council commemorates twenty-five years of service to the region with a look at what the future holds. Join members and their guests for a celebration at the sleek, sophisticated headquarters of Lehigh Gas Partners LP in the soaring, new 11-story tower, Two City Center, which is transforming downtown Allentown.

Joseph V. Topper, Jr., Chairman & CEO of Lehigh Gas Partners LP and partner in City Center Investment Corp, is hosting the event. This annual get-together is a popular occasion for members to renew their connection to the arts and to each other. They will enjoy a tour of the fifth floor offices and expansive views of the Lehigh Valley.

Four prominent cultural leaders will be celebrated for their vision and for taking their organizations in new directions:

Greg Funfgeld, Artistic Director & Conductor, and Bridget George, Executive Director of The Bach Choir of Bethlehem
Ellis Finger, Director of Williams Center of the Arts, Lafayette College
David Mickenberg, President and CEO of the Allentown Art Museum

“We chose to celebrate our twenty-fifth anniversary with a nod to the arts community and to the future,” says Randall Forte, executive director. “And of course there will be cake and merriment!”

Festivities will include “mapping the cultural community,” as arts professionals and patrons will be encouraged to mark their location on a large-scale regional map. Guests will be greeted by a visual panoply of images from more than 100 cultural organizations, highlighting their vision statements.

Generously underwritten by PP&L, EBC Printing, and Lehigh Gas Partners LP, light foodwill be provided. Wine will be available on a cash basis. Parking is available in the lot on the southwest corner of 7th & Hamilton Streets.

Members attend for FREE; nonmembers pay $10. RSVP by May 23rd. Reservations are encouraged to expedite check-in at the security desk at Two City Center; please call the Arts Council at 610-437-5915 or register online at http://www.LVArtsCouncil.org.

Members RSVP for free here:  http://www.lvartscouncil.org/rsvp.html 
Nonmembers can purchase tickets ($10.00) here: http://www.etix.com/ticket/online/performanceSearch.jsp?performance_id=1812994&cobrand=lvartsboxoffice

For more information:
Call: 610-437-5915
Email: operations@LVArtsCouncil.org 
Web: http://www.lvartscouncil.org/RSVP.html

Location: Two City Center, Lehigh Gas Corp., Fifth Floor
645 Hamilton Street, Allentown, Pa. 18101
Date / Time: Wednesday, May 28, 2014, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Fee: Free for Members; $10 for nonmembers.
Attendance: Reservations are required. Tickets can be purchased online.

***
About the Lehigh Valley Arts Council
The Lehigh Valley Arts Council is a nonprofit 501(c)3, membership-supported organization that serves as a regional advocate and ambassador for the Lehigh Valley arts community. Its mission is to promote the arts; to encourage and support artists and their development; to assist arts organizations; and to facilitate communication and cooperation among artists, arts organizations and the community. Through collaborative partnerships, it continues to provide access to the local arts community through education, research, professional development seminars and cooperative marketing initiatives.

***

Lehigh Valley Arts Council
840 Hamilton Street, Suite 201
Allentown, PA 18101
610-437-5915 / operations@LVArtsCouncil.org
http://www.LVArtsCouncil.org  / http://www.LVArtsBoxOffice.org

Local Singer-Songwriter To Perform At ArtFusion In Pottstown

Attached: elisha kane head shot.jpg singer-songwriter Elisha Kane

Pottstown, PA – Local musician Elisha Kane will perform in ArtFusion’s main gallery on Saturday, April 26 from 7-9pm. ArtFusion supporters may remember him from his performance at their Beef and Beer fundraiser in 2013. This live music event is also a fundraiser for the non-profit community art center.

Elisha Kane’s influences span genres and generations. From hometowns to westbound trains, Elisha sings about the American dream, and the promise it both inspires and neglects. Learn more at facebook.com/kanemusic and listen to his music at reverbnation.com/elishakane.

The music will last from 7-9pm. Light refreshments will be available for purchase, and the event is BYOB for those over 21.

Tickets are $10 (cash only please) and can be purchased in advance at ArtFusion during regular business hours: Tuesday-Friday from 10am-5pm and Saturday from 10am-3pm. Tickets can also be purchased online at artfusion19464.org for $12.

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.

Cedarville United Methodist Church – Live Nativity – December 15, 2013‏

LIVE NATVITY, Sunday 15, 2013 5:30 -8:00PM., at Cedarville United Methodist Church 1092 Laurelwood Road Pottstown, PA 19465 – 610-326-4173 – www.cedarvilleumc.org

You will walk with a Sheppard Guide; following the star of Bethlehem and visit seven scenes that tell the story of Jesus’ birth.  Outside scenes so please dress accordingly.  Our gift to your family – no charge. Parking is free and the event is handicapped accessible.   Following the tour there will be refreshments, music and children’s crafts in the Family Life Center.

Directions:  Rt. 724 WEST from Coventry Mall to LEFT @ Light (Laurelwood Rd.) to Church on LEFT● Route 422 to SOUTH  Rt. 100; ● OR ● Route 23 to NORTH Rt. 100; then turn WEST at Cedarville Rd. light ½ mile to Church on right.

Benjamin Franklin To Visit Pottsgrove Manor

Pottstown, PA – Come to Pottsgrove Manor on Saturday, June 8, 2013 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm for a visit with one of John Potts’ friends at the program “An Evening with Dr. Franklin.”

In 1742, Benjamin Franklin and Robert Grace (who would later become John Potts’ brother-in-law) cast the first Franklin stove at Warwick Furnace in Chester County. In this program, get a chance to meet Dr. Franklin, as portrayed by Bill Ochester, and learn about his invention, the “Pennsylvania Fireplace.” Mr. Ochester has been portraying Benjamin Franklin for over a decade, appearing at venues all over the country, including Valley Forge National Historical Park, Old City Philadelphia, the National Constitution Center, and the National Fourth of July Parade in Washington, DC.

After his formal presentation, visitors can chat with Dr. Franklin, enjoy colonial-style refreshments, and tour the first floor of the Potts’ mansion. There is a $2.00 per person suggested donation for the program, which is recommended for children ages 10 and up.

This program is being held in conjunction with Pottsgrove Manor’s current exhibit, “Forging a Lifestyle: Ironworking with the Potts Family.”  The exhibit can be viewed during a guided tour of Pottsgrove Manor during regular museum hours Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00am to 4:00pm, and Sunday, from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Tours are given on the hour. The last tour of the day begins at 3:00pm. The site is closed Mondays and major holidays. Groups of ten or more should preregister by calling (610) 326-4014.

Pottsgrove Manor, home of John Potts, colonial ironmaster and founder of Pottstown, is located at 100 West King Street near the intersection of King Street and Route 100, just off Route 422, in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Pottsgrove Manor is operated by Montgomery County under the direction of the Parks, Trails, and Historic Sites Division of the Assets and Infrastructure Department. For more information and a full calendar of events, please visit the website web at www.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor. Like Pottsgrove Manor on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/PottsgroveManor

ArtFusion Gets Jazzy Again

Pottstown, PA – On Saturday March 30, ArtFusion’s beautiful gallery will be the backdrop for an amazing night of jazz music. A reprise of a sold out event, Jazz Nite II will be a benefit show for the Give the Gift of Music Foundation.

Local musicians The High St. Swing Co., with special guest The Wilson Bros., will perform. Their jazz repertoire ranges from be-bop to classic. The music will last from 7-10pm. Light refreshments will be available for purchase, and the event is BYOB for those over 21.

Tickets are $10 (cash only please) and can be purchased in advance at ArtFusion during regular business hours: Tuesday-Friday from 10am-5pm and Saturday from 10am-3pm. As this event sold out last time, they do recommend purchasing tickets as soon as possible.

Give the Gift of Music Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Pennsylvania corporation organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. They support musical education for eligible children by providing donations of musical instruments and/or scholarships for lessons at approved providers, such as High Street Music Co., who share the belief in the importance of quality musical education for all children.

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.

Pottstown Holiday House Tour 2012

Christmas in the post-War United States (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

On Sunday, December 9th, the Historic Pottstown Neighborhood Association is proud to sponsor its annual holiday house tour, Historic Pottstown by Candlelight.  This event showcases some of Pottstown’s most treasured architectural wonders, both outside and inside!

Come and enjoy our tour to see what Pottstown has saved from the past and kept for the future. The tour includes homes and churches in the downtown Pottstown area and this year has been expanded to include other areas of town.

$12.00 Ticket includes:
Victorian Tea presented by the Doe Club at the Pottstown Elks from 12noon-2pm.  All homes and buildings on the tour are open from 1pm-6pm.  Free trolley transportation and refreshments for all ticket holders.

Tickets are available after Thanksgiving at Carter’s Locksmith Shop, 137 N Hanover Street. $12 in advance, $14 day of tour.

For more information contact Sue Krause at (610) 323-2229.