10 Pottstown YMCA Coaches Resign In Solidarity With Cook

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

POTTSTOWN — The Pottstown YMCA swim program suffered a major blow Wednesday night when the entire coaching staff of the Pottstown YMCA Seahawks swim team — 10 assistant coaches in all — submitted their resignation in the wake of the sudden dismissal of longtime Pottstown YMCA Seahawks head swim coach Kathy Cook on June 11.

Amy Agnew, Mark Agnew, Bill Draves, Catherine Fink, Michele Bauer, Alex Diehl, Andrew Piasecki and John Zimmerman marched as a group into the Pottstown YMCA shortly after 6 p.m. Wednesday to resign on the spot.

Two other coaches, Stacey Filippini and Mark Ottinger, were out of town Wednesday, but also resigned their posts.

Their letter of resignation to Pottstown YMCA Executive Director Dan Albert spells out why they quit the program.

Read more: http://www.pottsmerc.com/general-news/20140702/10-pottstown-ymca-coaches-resign-in-solidarity-with-cook

Customers Welcome Return Of Downtown’s Market Square Farmers Market

English: Market Square in Downtown Pittsburgh, PA, USA. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Downtown resident Janie Robinson and her friend Donna Farmer, of Westwood, stop by the Market Square Farmers Market almost every Thursday to see “the honey man” after their morning silver sneakers class at the PNC YMCA.

For years, the friends have looked forward to the weekly summer market showcasing local vendors. For Ms. Robinson, the market is walking distance from her home on Stanwix Street. “The honey man’s” wildflower honey, Ms. Farmer says, is one of the best treatments for the nasal allergies that plague her during the spring and summer.

“We come here all the time, and will drop by to see him,” Ms. Farmer said today. “(The honey) is so fresh and good, straight from the beehive.”

Produced by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, the farmers market runs every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Oct. 30. About 30 local vendors offer a variety of goods, selling everything from produce and pierogies to vegetarian dog treats.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2014/05/22/Customers-welcome-return-of-Market-Square-Farmers-Market/stories/201405220311#ixzz32YhKESyx

Plotting And Planning And Digging..Oh My! MOSAIC Community Gardens Prepared For Planting Season

On Saturday, April 5, the MOSAIC CLT spent a day in community preparing our gardens for the coming growing season! Neighbors and friends swept, dug, and spread compost and smiles at our two gardens at 423 and 615 Chestnut Street. We’ll have another Garden Day on April 12 from Noon to 3 PM, and again on Wednesday, April 23 from 2 – 3 PM.

Come grow with the MOSAIC Community Land Trust!

Saturday, April 12 – Volunteer Day at the Gardens (423 and 615 Chestnut Street) from 12 – 3PM

Please plan on meeting at the 423 Chestnut Street location prior to start

Wednesday, April 23 – Volunteer Day at the Gardens (423 and 615 Chestnut Street) from 2 – 3PM

Please plan on meeting at the 423 Chestnut Street location prior to start.

COMING SOON: MOSAIC’s 2nd Beautification Contest-Prizes Awarded! Keep checking our website for more details!

Upcoming Events

Would You Love to Teach a Workshop or Attend a Table Event? Let us know! Review the dates below and send an email to wash5000@msn.com to learn more about workshop and table event activities!

Saturday, April 12, 2014 – Year of the Young Child 9AM – 11AM happening at the YMCA located at 724 N. Adams Street, Pottstown

Tuesday, April 22, 2014 – Organic Gardening Workshop from 6 – 7PM at the Pottstown Library located at 500 E High Street, Pottstown

BLIGHT & REDEVELOPMENT STUDY FOR THE BOROUGH OF POTTSTOWN, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA

Editor’s note: Here is some interesting reading for current Pottstown Borough residents, potential residents and business investors.  

http://www.genesishousing.org/_pdfs/pottstown_blight_study_2013_website.pdf

New Pottstown YMCA Director Looks To Add On To Existing Programs, Use Wellness Center

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

POTTSTOWN — Dan Albert was wearing a light blue button down shirt with the YMCA logo embroidered on the left pocket while he walked around the N. Adams Street building on Thursday.

Albert, who has been employed with the national organization for almost 15 years, started working as the new Executive Director for the Pottstown YMCA on Dec. 2.

And he already has big ideas for the future of the local club.

“I think the beauty of the Y, with having over 800 associations throughout the country, is that we all beg, borrow and steal from each other,” Albert said. “I think what you are going to see, moving forward, is we are really going to be driving change.”

Read more: http://www.pottsmerc.com/general-news/20131215/new-ymca-director-looks-to-add-on-to-existing-programs-use-wellness-center

Stolen HVAC Units Could Stall Move-In For Pottstown Senior Center

POTTSTOWN, PA — After three HVAC units were stolen from the new Pottstown Area Senior Center, the proposed move-in date is now in doubt.

Brad Fuller, the executive director at the center, said the units were stolen some time between Sunday afternoon and early Monday morning from 288 Moser Road.

“The contractors discovered they were missing,” Fuller said.

As of right now, the center hopes to move its offices into the building on Dec. 20, but the stolen units were used to heat that portion of the building, Fuller said.

The center is currently using the Berean Bible Church as a temporary space during the transition from its old space at the YMCA at 724 N. Adams St.

Read more: http://www.pottsmerc.com/20131204/stolen-hvac-units-could-stall-move-in-for-senior-center

Pottstown YMCA 20th Annual National Senior Health & Fitness Day

Wednesday, May 29, 9 am – 1 pm.

724 North Adams Street, Pottstown

Free for ages 55 and older and open to the community.

For a detailed schedule of activities, please call (610) 323-7300.

Website:  www.PhilaYMCA.org

Pottstown YMCA Membership Event Through May 31st

The Pottstown YMCA, a branch of the Philadelphia Freedom Valley YMCA, located at the corner of Adams & Jackson Streets in Pottstown is running a Membership Event through May 31st.  Become a new member and the normal joiner fee of $75 is being waived.  Join now and take advantage of access to recreational swimming year round and join as an Association member for access to outdoor pools.  Hundreds of programs offered for infants though Seniors.

Next session of programs runs June 10 – August 18, with registration for members beginning May 20th.  Camp registration is on-going, as well as, child care for ages 6 weeks through 12 years of age.

Call 610.323.7300 for details, stop by for a tour or visit us on the web at https://philaymca.org/

Breakfast With Santa At Pottstown YMCA

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

The Freedom Valley YMCA at Pottstown, 724 North Adams Street, will host Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, November 24^th from 8 to 11 am.   Santa’s making his list and checking it twice, so plan to share a pancakes & sausage breakfast with Jolly Ole St. Nick.   Proceeds benefit the YMCA’s Seahawk National Swim Team.  Photos ops with Santa will also be available.

Tickets are available at the Y in advance or at the door – $3 for ages 3-11; $5 for ages 12 and older and children under 3 eat free.

For more information, call 610.323.7300 orwww.fvymca.org.

Freedom Valley YMCA Members Approve Merger

English: Center City Philadelphia YMCA building. Now it looks like condos with the word “Metropolitan” over it’s doorway. On NRHP since December 2, 1980. 115 North 15th Street (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

LOWER PROVIDENCE — Several hundred members of the Freedom Valley YMCA approved a proposal to merge with the YMCA of Philadelphia & Vicinity in a vote Thursday night.  The final vote tally was 507 voting yes, 449 voting no, according to the tabulation on the Freedom Valley Y’s website.

The merger proposal had been presented to members attending a Monday night town hall meeting at the Spring Valley YMCA.  The proposal will merge the Freedom Valley YMCA, with locations in West Norriton, Phoenixville, Pottstown, Limerick and Pennsburg, with the larger Philadelphia YMCA, which has 10 locations in the Philadelphia region.

Proponents of the merger plan said it would allow the combined YMCAs to build a branch in Conshohocken, pay one national YMCA fee, tap into the larger corporate donor base of the Philadelphia YMCA and achieve cost savings with the larger organization.  Fees would not be increased due to the merger, members would continue using their “home” YMCA facilities and overcrowding would not be a by-product of the merger, officials said.

On Thursday night, YMCA officials provided bus service from three of the Freedom Valley YMCAs for members who wanted to vote during a two-hour period.

Read more:

http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20121116/NEWS01/121119504/freedom-valley-ymca-members-approve-merger-(video)#full_story

$1.2 Million Capital Campaign Kicks Off For Pottstown Senior Center Renovations

Location of Pottstown in Montgomery County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

POTTSTOWN — A new home for the Pottstown Area Senior Center having been secured, a $1.2 million capital campaign is now under way to pay for the renovations needed to convert the former Pottstown Athletic Club on Moser Road into a state-of-the-art senior center.

Purchased in February for $550,000, the building has several floors, but plans for senior center renovations are focused on the ground floor, which can be accessed from behind the building and is level with the 92 parking spaces that come along with the property.

The purchase of the building was made possible as the result of a $100,000 grant from the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation, said Executive Director Brad Fuller.

He said the next phase is aimed at renovations needed to open the center by next August, when the lease at the YMCA  on North Adams Street, where the center is currently located, expires.

Read more: http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20121105/NEWS01/121109839/-1-2m-capital-campaign-kicks-off-for-pottstown-senior-center-renovations&pager=full_story

6-Year-Old Missing For Hours After Bus Mix-Up

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

Editor’s note:  As the grandparent of a six-year-old granddaughter, this would send me about over the edge!  Many thanks to Reading Police Office Chevron Salata for finding Adriann.

For more than four terrifying hours, Brenda McMullen and her family were left to imagine the worst.

McMullen’s 6-year-old grandson, Adriann Flemming Jr., was missing on Wednesday.  And those who love the little boy had no idea where to find him.

The ordeal was the result of yet another Reading School District busing mistake, a problem that has plagued the district during the opening week of school.

In this instance, Adriann was put on the wrong bus after school at 16th & Haak Elementary School and taken to the wrong day care center.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=412488

Pottstown Celebrates Young Children Community Event

Smokey the Bear (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A community celebration for families with young children will be held on Saturday, April 21 at the Freedom Valley YMCA at Pottstown (724 North Adams Street) from 1:00-3:00. Activities will include a petting farm, moon bounce, Pipper the Clown, Smokey the Bear and over 30 community agencies with games and resources.

PEAK, Pottstown’s school readiness initiative, is partnering with Pottstown Memorial Medical Center

for this community outreach event. All families with young children are invited to attend.

PEAK is a partnership between Pottstown School District and community early learning programs and agencies seeking to prepare children and families for success in kindergarten. For more information, contact 610-970-6655 or visit www.peakonline.org.

 

Pottstown Senior Center Finds New Home

Image via Wikipedia

Editor’s note:  We are glad that the Senior Center will stay in the borough of Pottstown where it belongs.  Furthermore, we are happy to see the former Pottstown Health Club building be reoccupied before it turns into a blighted property!  A win-win by all accounts!

POTTSTOWN, PA — After years of searching, the Pottstown Area Senior Center has finally found a new home: the former Pottstown Health Club site on Moser Road.

It was 1997 when the decision was made to leave the senior center’s former downtown home, the former Eagles building, and move into space in the expanded YMCA.

But a decade later, with both organizations growing, both needed more space.  And so the search began.

Locations investigated included the former East Penn AAA building on South Hanover and South Street and the former Dames Chevrolet dealership on High Street, as well as the former Giant supermarket, former Super-Fresh (now site of Wawa) and St. Pius X High School.

Read more: http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20120115/NEWS01/120119806/pottstown-senior-center-finds-new-home

Pottstown YMCA 21st Annual Halloween Safehouse

Pottstown YMCA

21st Annual Halloween Safehouse

Y Cares Treat Trail & Food Drive

Friday, October 28, 2011, 6-8 PM

Ages 12 & under with Adult

Admission Fee – Canned Food Item or Donation

Food donations benefit the pantries of The Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities & the Salvation Army.

Monetary donations benefit the Y Cares Program of Freedom Valley YMCA

Freedom Valley YMCA at Pottstown, Adams & Jackson Streets, 610.323.7300 or  www.fvymca.org

York YMCA Gets Involved At Grassroots Community Level

Image via Wikipedia

The York YMCA is giving away money to neighborhood groups in York City who are looking to fund various beautification projects.  The projects, if selected, are eligible to receive a grant from the YMCA for between $500 and $1500 dollars.  The dollar amount will be determined by the scope of the project.  This could be for tree-planting or flower-planting, for example.  Basically any projects that help make city neighborhoods more attractive will be considered.

The $30,000 pool of money, available in 2011, is being donated by the Women’s Giving Circle and the York County Community Foundation.  The York YMCA has a “Resources for Urban Neighborhoods” program that will be the initial recipient of this money.  In turn, the YMCA will distribute these fund based on the applications they receive.

If you are a York City resident who would like more information, a meeting is scheduled for January 11^th at 6:00 p.m. at the York YMCA which is located at 90 N. Newberry Street. 

Grant applications can be found online at http://www.runyork.org starting January 1^st. 

You may contact York YMCA Community Service Director, Jessica Fieldhouse at (717) 843-7884 ext. 243 or email her at jfieldhouse@yorkcoymca.org for information.

York’s Olde Towne East Neighborhood Transformed

Olde Towne East was a down and out neighborhood in York.  Blight, crime, vacant buildings and low property values.  Read this article about how Olde Towne East rose like a phoenix from the ashes and now their neighborhood is a source of pride in York!

http://www.newpa.com/strengthen-your-community/success-stories/million-dollar-makeover/index.aspx