A Matter of Some Debate

March 9, 2014, 12:30 am

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The Hill School Debate Team, from left, Shaun Ho, class of 2016; Ali Syed, Class of 2016;  Gillian Wenhold, class of 2014; Erik Schmidt, class of 2014 and Nguyen Nguyen, class of 2015.

Blogger's Note: The following was posted, with permission, from an item on The Hill School web site.

For the past three years, Collegeville resident Gillian Wenhold, Class of 2014  has been leading The Hill School’s Debate Team as a top competitor in the Lincoln Douglas style debate.

On Feb. 19, she celebrated the end of a successful regular season in the Southeastern Pennsylvania Debate League with a win in the final round of Lincoln Douglas debate for the second year in a row. 

Gillian went undefeated in the regular season and was first seed going into elimination rounds where she defeated five straight opponents to take home the championship!

The following evening (Feb. 20), Gillian qualified for the Pennsylvania State Debate Tournament for the second year in a row at the District 15 State qualifying tournament at Harriton High School. 

Gillian is the only member of Hill’s Debate Team to qualify for the state tournament, which will be held on March 28 and 29 at Susquehanna University.

Earlier this year, Gillian took third place at the Martin Luther King Invitational Speech and Debate Tournament at EL Meyers High School in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 

This was Hill’s first time participating in this event.

“Gillian’s dedication to the activity is unsurpassed,” notes Josh Schmidt, Ph.D., Hill instructor of physics and adviser to the Debate Team. “She is constantly researching and understanding positions she might face on a particular topic and devotes a great deal of time to getting better beyond just practice and tournaments.”

“A particular strength of Gillian’s is understanding her audience and how it changes from debate to debate,” adds Schmidt. “It is not easy to go undefeated in debate as every judge is different and likes to hear different things. Gillian understands that and adapts well to her audience. The team will greatly miss her next year.”

The Hill’s Debate Team has had a successful year all around. Max Holmes '16 (New Hope, Pa.) was the first alternate in Hill’s district during the Feb. 20 District 15 State Qualifying Tournament. At the Feb. 19 Southeastern PA Debate League final, Erik Schmidt '14 (Chester Springs, Pa.) and Nguyen Nguyen '15 (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) placed second in policy debate, and Shaun Ho '16 (Taipa, Macau) and Ali Syed '16 (Wyomissing, Pa.) placed in the top four by making it to the semi-final round.

“This is an extremely strong result for such a young team and sets up high expectations for next year,” notes Schmidt.

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Elementary My Dear Pottsgrove

March 10, 2014, 12:30 am

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Sherlock Holmes will be played by Jake Deska and Dr. Watson by MJ Bird.

Blogger's Note:The following was provided by Pottsgrove High School:

The game’s afoot at Pottsgrove High School when the world’s most famous sleuth and his faithful companion Dr. Watson appear on stage. 

 “Sherlock Holmes,” a suspense comedy, will be performed by a cast of 25 on Friday and Saturday, March 21 and 22 at 7:30 pm in the school’s Dr. Richard J. Radel Auditorium.

This more traditional adaptation is based on stories created by Arthur Conan Doyle himself, combining elements from some of the Holmes’ famous cases, including “The Scandal in Bohemia” and “The Hound of the Baskervilles.” 

 In Victorian England, Sherlock Holmes (Jake Deska) and Dr. Watson (MJ Bird) are attempting to recover incriminating letters for an insurance company. What starts out as a simple case of blackmail evolves into a much more complicated scheme that pits Holmes against his arch nemesis, Professor Moriarty (Kristi Shultz).

Alice Faulkner (Danielle Buchanan), who has the letters, is kidnapped by the evil James and Madge Larrabee (Josh Crocetto and Emily Weaver) until Holmes rescues her. 

A budding romance between Alice and Sherlock is threatened by the expected armed thugs, time bombs, and other complications. The play combines both mystery and humor to reach a satisfying resolution.

Other allies and adversaries for Holmes include Andrew Bayless, Brianna Beitler, Emma Burrus, Ashley Cole, Cierra Fekelman, Sydney Hernandez, Kendra Houck, Mollie Marko, Tayler Nofer, Shelby Poston, Nicole Raimondi, Anthony Romano, Rebecca Smith, Michael Thornton, Josh Toth, Hailee Tyson, Dan Weand, Allison Wentzel, Hannah Windrim, and Jake Witty.

The production is directed by faculty member Todd Kelly with assistance from Holli Artim. Student directors are Nofer and Poston. Costuming duties fall to Elizabeth Rodenbaugh and Cindy Wozniak. Cindy Scherer and Gwyneth Thomas are the art advisors. Dave Moyer supervises the stage crew.

Tickets are $7, discounted to $5 for students and senior citizens. Tickets may be purchased from cast members or at the door.

A Speedy Council Meeting

March 11, 2014, 12:30 am

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Musical Notes and Board Notes

March 12, 2014, 12:30 am

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Photo by Evan Brandt Prior to getting down to the business of holding a school board meeting, the Lower Pottsgrove Elementary School Advance Band taught the board a thing or two about running a band. Blogger's Note: Don't forget when you get to the bottom, you may need to click the blue "Read Next Page" bar to see everything.

An Olympic Effort

March 13, 2014, 12:30 am

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Over 150 elementary students in the Pottstown School District took part in the Olympics but they did not have to travel all the way to Sochi to showcase their skills.

They stayed right here in Pottstown as they participated in the 14th annual Pottstown School District’s Reading Olympics Competition. 

The Reading Olympics requires teams of students to read 45 books in preparation for the event. 

Each round of competition sees two opposing teams attempt to answer 20 questions given in rapid-fire fashion from the moderators. After a question is asked about a book, teams huddle to determine the correct answer. 

One point is awarded for each correct answer and Olympic ribbons are awarded for overall performance. 

District teams qualify to compete in the annual Montgomery County Intermediate Unit competition which annually attracts over 500 teams and 7,000 participants. 

The Pottstown School District program is organized by Reading Specialist Karen Neitz. 

The goals of the Reading Olympics are to increase students' reading for enjoyment and promote reading skills that increase achievement and academic success. 

“I am always so excited to see our youngsters actively engage in reading. This event is an opportunity for students to experience teamwork and the satisfaction that comes from hard work,” explained Neitz.

For the ninth consecutive year the Pottstown School District’s Reading Olympics program has received financial support from the local Diamond Credit Union. 

John Foust, President of Diamond Credit Union, said, “We are proud to partner with the Pottstown School District in their efforts to promote the skill of reading so that students may learn to read so that they can read to learn. 

It is extremely rewarding to see the glow in students’ eyes when they correctly answer one of the questions. As an organization, Diamond Credit Union is committed to being a contributing member of our community.”

Ribbon award winning teams included:

Barth Page Masters – BRONZE	Barth Reading MVP - BRONZE	Franklin Bluebirds - BRONZE	Lincoln Lightning - BRONZE
Early Boyd-Brown Jenia Brown Michelle Castillo Joseph DeLeo Anthony DiPietro Mason Long Christinna Longenecker Mackenzie Moser Mylihng Ortiz Zavion Paschall Ma'Kea Regis Kaden Timbers Xzavier Francis Williams	Ashton Binder Jaylen Bryant Justyna Epright Eddie Higgins Makenzie Johnson Debra Laulu Jesus Linares Zachary Mitchell Tryniti Mott-Lewis Patrick O'Connor Grant Panfile Ivionna Reed Enam Robinson	Askew, Jamilah Brown, Tyonna Christman, Olivia Clyde, Shyeed Cocci, Joel Couch, Thomas Delgado, Janessa Eames, Liza Harper, Tyler Hill, Elias Mest, Kristen Ormston, Allison Pena, Jolyn Rabert, Austin Smith, Dakota Tinson, Braylon	Jonathan Calle Xochitl Cruz-Hernandez Madison Dunn Isabella Floyd Farid Gass Jailyn Hampton Isabella Harmon Maria Jimenez Angelina Ludy Jesseny Redrovan Abigail Rochlin Deanna Stefanavage Kayla Vitabile Sydney Wilerson Daniel Williams Jayniana Williams

Rupert Roaring Readers - BRONZE	Middle School Eagles - BRONZE	Middle School Falcons - BRONZE	Middle School Hawks - BRONZE
John Cranford Jack Engleman Emma Gain Amar Graves Beatriz Guardado Breckin Leh Hannah Monger Malachi Neely Kira Nihart Yasmin Paez Jaylin Reynolds Julia Scavello Amayah Scurry Scarlet Vallejo Melodie Velez	Naomi Parson Jaydin Douglass Elizabeth Brennan Eric Thornton Jacob Eames Xavier Agosto Kamrin Gatlin Julian Paskel Haile Clayton Keshana Brown Harmony Wood Nancy Deschamps-Ocampo	Destri Roye Zach Sands John Toussaint Kishan Patel Sebastian Buchanan Tajime Brown Beyonce Brown Kameryn Herpich Imani Brant Brian Cowie Kylee Pimentel Hannah Wilson	Gabby Reyes Xavier Cushman Samantha Deery Bobby Mitchell Cristine Martinez Jaleinda Thompson Talia Spruill Nate Lang Ciera Cwynar Anthony Russo Riley Mead Emily Weber

Into the Lights

March 13, 2014, 9:30 pm

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$420 Worth of Lasagna

March 14, 2014, 9:30 pm

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Blogger's Note:This post shamelessly stolen, word for word (photos too!), from Alana Mauger's own post about this on the Think Success blog on Montgomery County Community College web site.

Student leaders at Montgomery County Community College’s West Campus in Pottstown raised $420 during their 13th Annual Lasagna Dinner on Feb. 19.

Proceeds from the dinner benefit the West Campus Student Scholarship Fund through the College’s Foundation. The scholarship is awarded annually to a West Campus student who is engaged in community service and is in good academic standing.

The buffet meal of meat or veggie lasagna, salad, bread, dessert and beverage was served by MCCC student leaders and was available for dine-in or take-out. Between 6-7 p.m., members of MCCC’s West End Student Theatre (WEST) presented an interactive improv dating show that had diners roaring with laughter.

The West Campus Lasagna Dinner is one of MCCC’s “50 Acts of Kindness” as part of the College’s 50th anniversary celebration. Throughout 2014, MCCC students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters are committed organizing 50 acts of community service – one for every year of the College’s existence. To learn more at the College’s 50th anniversary activities, visit mc3.edu/50.

To learn more about scholarship opportunities through MCCC’s Foundation, visitmc3.edu/giving.

Experiments in Journalism

March 15, 2014, 9:30 pm

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Joe Zlomek

Yesterday, a source of local news closed its doors after a six-year experiment.

Joe Zlomek, a former publisher of The Mercury and an on-line innovator, published his first story in the on-line-only Sanatoga Post in September of 2008.

He announced its closure four days ago.

It was not the failure of his business model that forced the closure so much as the draw of his "other job" as an educational courseware -- work I suspect was more profitable than his oversight of the Post and its related publications -- that brought him to his decision, he wrote.

As I said when he made the announcement, I will miss him, as much for his introspection and thoughtfulness about the calling we share as for his companionship at municipal meetings whose length and monotony could test the tenacity of a 100-year-old Galapagos tortoise.

I am also a fan of his writing style, which has a very light and conversational tone to it, just right, I thought, for the kind of hyper-local neighbor-telling-you-the-news-over-the-fence product he was offering.

Further, he was very generous about his attribution, always making sure to link to a Mercury story when he was citing it and, I hope, we returned the compliment in kind.

I considered The Sanatoga Post to be a better version of the national experiment known as PATCH, which enjoyed a relatively brief tenure here in the Pottstown area and has since been gutted of local editorial staff by the corporate interests which now control it.

(Even the casual observer will notice its headlines these days are chiefly regional weather stories.)

I was always puzzled by the idea that a national chain thought it could be both national and "hyper-local" at the same time; an oxymoron on a level with "jumbo shrimp."

It always seemed more of a fervent wish than a likelihood, but who am I to say? I am not a corporate giant wielding millions of investor dollars.

Although the well-intentioned people who worked at PATCH tried hard to focus on local events, the national boilerplate format within which they were required to work left little room to try to meet the different needs of different communities in anything but the same way as everywhere else.

The Sanatoga Post was different in that it was run by a local professional who already knew the community he was covering inside and out.

But the idea of being hyper-local, of just covering one town and its school district, was had certain similarities to PATCH's model and I was curious to see if it could work.

It certainly seemed to.

Joe was steadfast in his coverage and rarely missed a municipal meeting which, despite their often boring character, nevertheless continue to represent the heart and soul of American journalism, in my humble opinion.

As I have said in this space before, I do not believe the founders preserved the rights of a free press so we could cover car wrecks, as evidently fascinating as they are to readers, but to keep an eye on government -- at all levels.

Of course covering those car wrecks and other crimes and spectacular happenings drives readership -- as much as some might be loathe to admit about themselves -- and readership drives the one thing which makes American journalism the creature it is today -- money.

In a capitalist economy, money is the single best way to be independent.

In other words, it pays the bills so we can also afford the cost of the much-less-sexy job of keeping an eye on our governments.

Obviously, a government watchdog cannot be paid by the government. And a newspaper (or news source) which runs on the goodwill and occasional donations of its readers is soon a former newspaper.

(I continue to believe there is a non-profit model out there somewhere which can work, and which is finding some success with sites such as ProPublica, but the world doesn't seem quite ready for that yet.)

In the meantime, newspapers continue to need money to do their job and they are increasingly struggling to make it.

No longer the "go-to" place for information, they are losing advertising dollars at an alarming rate.

(Those of you who read our two-day "Changing Times" series in The Mercury have heard all of this before.)

Paradoxically, it's the once mighty leviathans of journalism, the larger city metros, with more overhead and more areas and niches to cover, that are suffering the most, although we local dailies are not far behind in the suffering department. (Don't ask me the last time I got a raise.)

Still, we do have one advantage at local papers. Local is our niche and we still do it better than any big city metro.

And fortunately, The Mercury is owned by a company that believes it has to innovate to survive and is aggressively pursuing any strategy that shows promise of being economically sustainable.

So far, not too many of them do but we haven't given up yet.

All of which brings us back to Joe and The Sanatoga Post.

I was deeply interested in whether his experiment could survive and bridge the gap between traditional newspaper readers, who still want to read their news on a piece of paper they hold in their hand but whose numbers dwindle with every passing day, and the next generation of readers who seek out information about everything in their world on an electronic device.

I have been crass enough in the past to hint around to Joe that I would love to know if he was making profit, or, more important, could make a living, doing what he did on his site, but he played his cards close to the vest and I could hardly blame him for that.

Nevertheless, I think he showed it can be done if you do it right.

So I thank him for taking on such a formidable undertaking.

But I will miss him here in the Southeast Pennsylvania media laboratory, we need all the qualified researchers we can get.

And I will miss him at those meetings.

(Have I mentioned that they can be kind of long?)

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P.S. So yesterday I discovered that Joe and I define "discontinue" differently. In point of fact what he is discontinuing is "daily" publication and coverage of government.

In this post, he reported that instead he is going to transform the site.

The site will now offer and expanded calendar, which he said is the site's most popular feature, as well as more people-oriented features.

I welcome this news as anything which keeps people engaged with their community has to be a good thing.

However, he is sticking with his guns about not attending night meetings.

So no reprieve for yours truly.

Really, those meetings can get truly epic....

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Open House at MC3

March 17, 2014, 12:30 am

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Blogger's Note: The following was provided by Montgomery County Community College

Montgomery County Community College will hold three open houses this spring to provide prospective students and the community with information about the College’s credit and non-credit programs and activities.

The open houses are free of charge and are open to the public. For more information and to pre-register, visit mc3.edu/openhouse or call 215-641-6551.

The College’s Central Campus, located at 340 DeKalb Pike in Blue Bell, will host an open house on Saturday, March 22 in conjunction with the Montgomery County Wellness Expo. 

The open house runs from 10 a.m.-noon in Parkhouse Hall, with check-in/registration beginning at 9:30 a.m. The Wellness Expo runs from 9 a.m.-noon in the Physical Education Center. 

Presented by Einstein Healthcare Network, the Blue Bell Rotary and Montgomery County Community College, the annual Wellness Expo offers more than 20 free screenings, reduced-cost blood tests, educational information and giveaways throughout the day. In addition,

VNA-Community Services’ Personal Navigator Program will offer free Affordable Care Act information sessions. For more information about the Wellness Expo or to pre-register for the reduced-cost blood tests, visit advance.einstein.edu or call 484-622-0200.

South Hall of MC3's West Campus in Pottstown

The College’s West Campus, located at 101 College Drive in Pottstown, will host an open house on Thursday, April 3, from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. in South Hall. Check-in/registration begins at 5:30 p.m.

Both open houses will provide prospective students and their families with information about MCCC’s credit and non-credit programs. 

Admissions representatives will be on hand to answer questions about the admissions process, transfer opportunities, e-learning and financial aid, among other topics. In addition, Faculty representatives will be available to discuss the 100+ associate degree and certificate programs that are part of the College’s comprehensive curriculum.

MCCC will also host an open house at its new Culinary Arts Institute, located at
1400 Forty Foot Road in Lansdale, on Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m.-noon, with check in/registration starting at 9:30 a.m. 

Attendees will have the opportunity to tour the new facility while learning about the College’s Culinary Arts and Pastry and Baking Arts associate degree programs, as well as its Culinary Enthusiast classes. Student Success Center advisors will be on hand to answer questions about the admissions process and financial aid, among other topics.

To learn more about all the Montgomery County Community College has to offer, visit mc3.edu online.

Of Dog Laws and Bond Savings

March 17, 2014, 9:30 pm

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With Some Authority

March 18, 2014, 9:30 pm

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Photo by Evan Brandt The five members of the Pottstown Borough Authority Board, from left, Jeff Chomnuk, Aram Ecker, Tom Carroll, David Renn and H. Michael Benner, listen to a briefing from Solicitor Vince Pompo during Tuesday night's meeting.

Music and a Meal for $8? What Magic is This?

March 19, 2014, 9:30 pm

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Photo by Evan Brandt The sign...

Imagine this: It's a lovely spring evening and you want to take your significant other (or better yet, your whole family) out for a tasty dinner and perhaps some music.

Problem is, you've only got a few bucks in your pocket.

Maybe most of your entertainment budget went into your home's often-empty oil tank this year, or a malevolent pothole threw your alignment from here to the moon -- and back.

Quite the dilemma you face oh-seeker-of-mealtime-entertainment.

If only there was some place you could go, a place of "Good Will," where wholesome and delicately boiled carbohydrates, hand-rolled meatballs and the best jarred red sauce could be had for a song ... and with a song even....

Photo by Evan Brandt The food...

Heed our words, oh seeker of music, mirth and meatballs, for your answer lies within reach.

It is none other than the return of that most marvelous and most melodious of meals; that mellifluous melange of melody and meal time, that provision of pasta perfection; that juggernaut of justifiably jammin' Jazz; that ....

... too much?

OK, sorry.

Ahem, let's start again.

The Pottstown Schools Music Association will present the second annual night of Jazz and Spaghetti on Saturday, March 29, at the Goodwill Fire Company, 714 East High St. in Pottstown.

Photo by Evan Brandt The musicians....

Pottstown's high school, middle school and elementary school jazz bands will provide the music entertainment while the parents of the Pottstown Schools Music Association provide the pasta.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for children younger than 10 and children under 5 eat for free.

It starts at 4 p.m. and lasts through 7 p.m.

It will be three solid hours of auditory and culinary enjoyment; an one-a-year experience made possible by a small band of fearless volunteers and the equally fearless children of this community; children who have stepped forward, students who will to rise up, instruments in hand, straining mightily against the bonds of beat and baton which bind them to this earth; students who will issue musical notes which soar to the ceiling notes which.....

Photo by Evan Brandt The well-fed audience....

...what's that? Too much again?

Right.

So advanced tickets can be purchased.

You can get them by calling Debi Schiery at 610-505-3077. Or, you can buy them at the door.

So there is your choice, leave your loved ones at home, wallowing in spaghetti-less, Jazz-less misery, wondering if its even worth breathing in another day's air...

....OR.....

Photo by Evan Brandt The chefs....

You can fire up the family wagon (or the family bicycle as the case may be), heck, call up grandma and grandpa and crazy Uncle Fester, gather them all together and toddle on down to the Goodwill Fire Company, open up your wallet, enjoy some good food and some good music with your neighbors and help music education in Pottstown.

Just think what a big spender everyone will think you are.

Don't worry, we won't tell them what a bargain it really is....

And, if you still haven't figured out how much fun this is, below is a video I made of last year's event.

If this doesn't convince you to come, perhaps you should consider seeking professional help....

Stadium Lights, $6.7 MIllion School Bond Discussed

March 20, 2014, 9:00 pm

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School board meetings take place in the cafeteria at Pottstown Senior High School

They've Got Rhythm

March 21, 2014, 10:00 pm

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Photo by Evan Brandt Pottstown High School Jazz Band's rhythm section with their award, from left, are Jake Fetterman, Connor Christman, Maxine Bacon, Eddie Butler, Cole Sellers and Jake Wunderlich.

For its third consecutive jazz competition, the Pottstown High School Jazz Band's rhythm section was

named the best Friday night.

The award was given at the conclusion of the 15th Annual Valley Jazz fest, held at Perkiomen Valley Middle School West.

Pottstown was rated as "Outstanding," along with five other bands, and two of its soloists, trombonist Sherif Mohamed, and saxophonist Marley Bryan, were singled out, each earning an honorable mention award.

I have featured videos of Pottstown's performances at other jazz fests here many times. I will upload all three performances onto my YouTube channel and you can watch them there.

(They are worth watching. The kids played very well.)

But they also changed out one of their numbers and substituted "Buy It and Fry It" in its place, so I've embedded that video here:



The only other local band to participate in the judged portion of the program was Phoenixville High School's jazz band, which also earned an "Outstanding" rating.

The entrance to Perkiomen Valley Middle School West.

(They were on first and I arrived too late to get any video of their performance.)

Phoenixville trumpet player Donnie Jackson was also one of the three to earn a soloist award.

The second soloist award went to trumpet player Josh Weckerly from the North Penn High School Navy Band.

The third soloist award went to Logan Mohr, tenor saxophonist, from the New Hope-Solebury Jazz Ensemble.

Alto saxophonist Natalie Parker from the Quakertown Community High School Jazz Ensemble also earned an honorable mention as a soloist.

Photo by Evan Brandt The judges at Friday night's Jazz Fest in Perkomen Valley.

Chief Judge for the night was Dick Scott, a retired music educator and the former Jazz Band Administrator for the Cavalcade of Bands, which sponsored the evening.

Glen Brumbach, director of bands at Boyertown Area Senior High School, was the second judge and the third judge was Marc Jacoby, an associate professor of music at West Chester University.

The following bands also participated and received a rating of "Outstanding:"

• Central Bucks South
• Methacton
• Pennridge
• New Hope-Solebury

North Penn Navy and Quakertown High School's jazz band earned the only two "Superior" ratings of the night and Pennridge Lab Band earned a rating of "Excellent."

Photo by Evan Brandt The Perkiomen Valley High School and Middle School West Jazz bands performing "Forget You" together on stage.

Because they were the hosts, Perkiomen Valley High School's Jazz Band performed but was not rated as part of the competition.

Also performing in the pit during stage changes, was the jazz band from Perkiomen Valley Middle School West, directed by Dawn Krown.

In a nice gesture, the two bands played their final number, "Forget You" together on stage as a single band.

Here is that video:

The second piece by the Perk Valley band was "If I Could" by one of my personal favorites, Pat Metheny. The soloist, on alto saxophone, was Sarah Fonda.

Here is the video:

They began their performance with "The Chicken," an odd enough-sounding title.

Soloists in this piece were Will Turner on guitar and Brian Christman on tenor saxophone.



I did shoot video of all three performances by the Perkiomen Middle School West Jazz Band as well, but I am not going to embed them here, mostly because its nearly 1 a.m.

They can be found on my YouTube channel at some point in the next 24 hours.

Third Ward Meeting Tuesday

March 22, 2014, 9:30 pm

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Sheryl Miller

State Rep. Mark Painter and Pottstown Ward 3 Councilwoman Sheryl Miller invite local residents to the first monthly meeting of Ward 3.

The meeting will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the all-purpose room at Lincoln Elementary School in Pottstown.

Ward 3 residents are asked to bring their concerns, issues and ideas to the meeting.

Mark Painter

Volunteers will be sought for neighborhood watch, block captains and neighbors helping neighbors.

In addition to a member of Painter's office staff and Miller, it's possible that the Pottstown borough manager and police chief may attend the meeting.

Ward 3 is located in the northwestern part of Pottstown and votes at First Church of the Brethren at 371 N. York St. in Pottstown.

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Oh the Books You'll Read

March 23, 2014, 9:16 pm

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The Lincoln staff getting into the spirit of the day.

Courtland Yost, kindergarten, as the Cat in the Hat

OK, so this one is a little after-the-fact, but I didn't want to let it pass.

As anyone with children knows (and many without), March 2 was Read Across America Day, named in honor of the irrepressible Dr. Seuss.

At Pottstown's own Lincoln Elementary School (my neighborhood school!) the students and staff got into the spirit.

Principal Calista Boyer said "learning to read is one of the most important skills you need for success, enjoying reading will bring a lifetime of pleasure."

Whether it was the Cat in the Hat, Thing One and Thing Two, the Sneeches or the Lorax, or even the Grinch for that matter, Dr. Seuss would have felt right at home if he had stopped by Lincoln school on that day.

They say reading can brings things to life, but in this case, the folks at Lincoln brought to life what they had read.

And so, enjoy these photos of Lincoln's read spirit, conveyed by the equally irrepressible John Armato.

Jill Pluscht

Kiernan Welliever, Kindergarten

Kindergartener Michael Matos makes a good Grinch.

Kelly Mooney and Judy Friend as Sneeches

Owen Butler, Kindergarten

Public Meetings Squared

March 24, 2014, 9:00 pm

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Pottsgrove School Board's Latest Hits

March 25, 2014, 9:00 pm

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Photo by Evan Brandt Three Pottsgrove High School field hockey players advocate for turf fields as part of the Pottsgrove High School renovation and expansion project.

Comprehending the Region

March 26, 2014, 9:00 pm

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Photo taken in the dark by Evan Brandt

I Feel Free

March 27, 2014, 9:00 pm

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Ashon Calhoun

Blogger's Note: The following is happily culled from Pottsgrove Middle School Principal David Ramage's Principal's Update.

Pottsgrove Middle School is excited to celebrate the success of one of our 8th grade students! 

Ashon (Calhoun) found out that one of his original poems, "Free," was selected for publication by the PoetryWITS (Writer In Our Schools) program. 

This group is based in Montgomery County, and runs an annual Poetry Contest.

Ashon’s poem was an assignment for his 8th grade Laguage Arts class with Mr. Royce. A staff member at the school was impressed with Ashon’s work and submitted the poem to PoetryWITS.

Within a week we were notified that Ashon’s work was chosen for publication.

Effective writing is a skill sought after by employers in a broad range of fields. Here at Pottsgrove Middle School we take the craft of writing seriously. 

Students write in a variety of styles in a range of classrooms. Enjoy the power of Ashon’s writing as you read his original poem...

Free

I was made to be free
My past is trying to hold me
I can’t give up I’m a fighter
But the bonds keep getting tighter
Suddenly my life flashes before my eyes
I see all my truths and all my lies
I see all my regret and all my pain
I see all my pride and all my shame
I can’t let my past imprison me I will not be caged
I keep looking on the bad but I should just turn the page

I look on the good and the bonds loosen their grip
I look harder and they start to slip
I stare at the bonds that hold me no more
I scan the room then open the door
I step out and take in the sight
It’s been awhile since I was in the light
I don’t look back I am free
Those bonds no longer hold me