Tax Hikes and Raises in Pottstown Schools

June 19, 2014, 9:00 pm

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What follows below, in the Tweets from last night's Pottstown School Board meeting, is a story you've seen many times before.

It's a story of a school board about to adopt a $56 million budget with a 2.9% tax hike and a 5.6% increase in spending which attracts no attention.

Resident Bruce Madera was the only member of the public to attend the meeting and speak about the budget, and he was there mostly because he tried to get the opinions of more board members and administrators, but only two called him back -- Superintendent Jeff Sparagana and board member Thomas Hylton.

Also quietly under contemplation at the same time the board is considering a budget that will mean unemployment for 11 people, mostly teachers aides, are votes to increase the salaries of mid-level administrators by 1.5 percent and support staff by 2 percent.

There was no public discussion of this, and Business Manager Linda Adams, whose salary will likely increase 1.5 percent to $137,000 after the board votes Monday, said the list of employees affected is not ready, despite being approved by the personnel committee last Thursday.

What was ready, with hourly rates for all to see, was four-and-a-half pages of stipends for "substitute van assistants, tutors and summer cleaners."

Funny how that works.

Raises for higher-paid administrators were part of an exhibit not made available to the public and not yet ready for even the board, who must vote Monday on those raises.

Either they are trying to hide something, or they're not.

Which is worse?

School Board President Judyth Zahora said Thursday night she is frustrated that only 10 percent of those eligible vote in elections.

Wonder if she can guess what the other 90 percent might be frustrated about.

Here are the Tweets from the meeting.

As always, hit the blue "read more" bar to make sure you see every single one....you wouldn't want to miss anything.

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Grant to MCCC will Aid College Completion

June 20, 2014, 9:00 pm

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

Montgomery County Community College has received a $100,000 grant to build on the success of a financial literacy prototype, developed as part of the inaugural Next Generation Learning Challenges (NGLC) Breakthrough Models Incubator (BMI) cohort.

Last May, MCCC was one of seven institutions selected for the inaugural cohort.

Each institution received $50,000 to design and launch a technology-based support program, specifically created to improve completion rates, the quality of student learning and the time it takes for degree completion.

In April, each of the seven institutions from the initial cohort received the next phase of funding, $100,000, made possible by a grant from EDUCAUSE through Next Generation Learning Challenges.

After participating in NGLC’s three-day workshop in July, MCCC’s team of eight faculty and staff was given three months to develop a prototype based on the College’s initial proposal to improve first-time students’ understanding of financial, civic, and digital literacies through the creation of a “New Literacy” Massive Open Online Course (MOOC).

“Students cite ‘financial concerns’ as the top reason for dropping out of courses, especially during the first two weeks of a semester. Therefore, in order to make significant gains in student retention and completion, we must first improve our students’ understanding of financial literacy,” said Karen A. Stout, president, MCCC.

MCCC's West Campus in Pottstown.

“Our team has done outstanding work in building a pilot that has already helped hundreds of students strengthen their understand the financial aid process,” she said.

After engaging students through focus groups and surveys, MCCC developed “Montco Money Matters,” a module that introduces students to the concept of paying for college.

By working with content, media, technology and design experts from across MCCC, the team produced a multi-channel module that includes video displays, social media and face-to-face engagement, along with an online course-like experience.

The 30-minute, self-guided program introduces students to concepts of financial aid, loans and grants; highlights the long-term implications of loans and future debt; and makes them aware of other resources, like scholarships, to help pay for college.

The program incorporates open-source and original content, including a computer-generated tour guide, short video clips featuring actual MCCC students, and links to off-campus resources that allow students to delve further into topics of interest.

A total of 425 students actively engaged in the pilot program during a seven-week period during the fall 2013 semester.

Of those, 95 percent of students who provided feedback indicated they will recommend the online resources to others, and 80 percent said the course will influence future academic decisions.

In addition, feedback revealed that student loans and scholarship information were the most valuable topics covered, and money management is a topic on which many students would like more information.

With the prototype completed and funding secured, MCCC’s next step is to build out additional modules under the umbrella of financial literacy.

These modules could address topics such as cash management, budgeting, shopping for textbooks, transportation, loans and debt, among others.

The College also hopes to make “Montco Money Matters” accessible to school districts within Montgomery County and to the general population at large.

In addition to Montgomery, six other selected schools are part of the inaugural NGLC BMI cohort, including Austin Peay State University, Ball State University, Charter Oak State College, SUNY-Empire State College, Harper College and the University of Maryland-University College.

The Right Engle

June 21, 2014, 9:00 pm

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From left, Barth Principal Ryan Oxenford, Christinna Longecker, Zachary Mitchell and Makenzie Johnson

Blogger's Note:The following was provided by Barth Elementary School.

Barth Elementary School recently held an awards program to honor the accomplishments of the 3rd and 4th grades.

One of the elite awards given out was the Engle Award.

William Engle established a fund for children because he loved them and wanted to be remembered by them.

This fund has been collecting interest since his death in 1935.

The interest from this fund is awarded to students who have made the most significant progress through their third and fourth grade elementary years.

These students show dedication, perseverance, and a willingness to go above and beyond the required academics.

They consistently perform their very best.

This award is presented to the three students with the highest academic standing upon their exit from fourth grade.

Barth's Engle Award Winners were:

1st place – Christinna Longenecker

2nd place – Zachary Mitchell

3rd place – Makenzie Johnson

Summer at the Library

June 22, 2014, 9:00 pm

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Blogger's Note:The following was provided by the Pottstown Regional Public Library

Many summer programs are occurring at the library in June, July, and August. 

The first "Wednesday Morning" performance is at 10:30 on June 25th. The crowds are so big for these Wednesday performances that we hold them on the main floor of the library and put all other functions of the library on hold. 

 There are six Wednesday Morning performances scheduled, so there are plenty of chances to join the fun. (all free, no registration required).

The library also has programs, crafts, and parties scheduled tailored by age. 

Some programs require registration, so visit the website and event calendar to check it out. http://ppl.mclinc.org/ Don't forget to register and record your reading - you may win a prize.

Research shows that kids who read over the summer avoid a loss of reading skills. They call that the "summer slide" (and it is one slide you want to avoid).

Besides the hard work of the children's department, you can thank the Greater Pottstown Foundation, Soroptomist, and Trinity Reformed Church, for supporting Summer Reading at the Pottstown Regional Public Library

Budget Passes, Jobs Cut, Taxes Raised, Raises Approved

June 23, 2014, 9:00 pm

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Red-Eye photo by Evan Brandt After Monday night's school board meeting, the board and executive team modeled their "Save the Lights" t-shirts.

Monday night, the Pottstown School Board met and approved a number of things.

First, they approved 1.5 percent raises for mid-level administrators, which is part of a contract agreement.

Then they approved a 2 percent for support staff, which was not part of a contract and which will put an additional $125,000 onto the district payroll.

The support staff have not had a raise in 24 months.

The board, after hearing from a few folks who objectd to eliminating 11 special education positions while at the sdame time bringing more special education students back from special schools, then also approved the $56. million 2014-15 budget.

The board also agreed to contribute $25,000 to the Foundation for Pottstown Education, but only if it is the last year the board makes a contribution.

Here are the Tweets from last night's meeting. As always, remember to hit the blue "Read Next Page" bar to make sure you see them all..

3rd Annual River Run.

June 24, 2014, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Free Summer Kindergarten Readiness Programs

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Crossfit of Pottstown will host the Third Annual Summer River Fun on Saturday, June 28 at 8 a.m.

The event begins at the Pottstown Athletic Club at 21 N. Hanover St.

It consists of roughly three miles and six WOD stations.

The event ends at The Brick House, 152 High St.

A Brick House breakfast is available from 8:30 to 11 a.m.

The event is free and open to the public. Breakfast is one you.

There is no parking in the Susquehana Bank lot as they will be open for business.

For more information, e-mail rob@pottstownkarate.com or call 610-327-1321.

Free Summer Kindergarten Readiness Programs

June 25, 2014, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: With a Little Help from Their Friends

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Blogger's Note:The following announcement was provided by PEAK.

Seven free state-funded Summer Kindergarten Readiness Program classes will be offered at the PEAK community early learning partner sites in August.

The classes will be two weeks (August 11- 22) and focus on skills to help your child be successful in kindergarten.

To be eligible for the classes, the child must be entering Pottstown School District kindergarten in September and be income eligible. (Family income cannot exceed 300% of the federal poverty level – for a family of four that is an annual income of approximately $71,550).

The classes will be offered at Montgomery Early Learning Centers, Pottstown YMCA, KinderCare Learning Center, Warwick Child Care Center – North Coventry, YWCA Tri-County Area and Pottstown School District Pre-K Counts.

A complete listing of the sites and contact information can be found on the PEAKweb site at www.peakonline.org. 

Contact the sites for dates and times of the classes or the PEAK Coordinator at 610-970-6655.

With a Little Help from Their Friends

June 29, 2014, 9:00 pm

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Julie and Alden Lanphear

I've written uncounted obituaries in my time as a reporter, but there is one that sticks out in my mind -- the one for Alden Lanphear.

I remember it not because it was particularly well written, but because of the person I was writing about.

Alden died in 2011, at the age of 74, after a lifetime of helping others.

For 39 years, he was the executive director of Woodrock Inc., the non-profit organization that brought urban youth from Philadelphia to Fellowship Farm in Limerick.

He was also tapped to keep the Cluster Outreach Center going as interim director when they were undergoing a (successful) change in leadership.

Knowing Alden for years, as a result of covering organizations with which he was involved, I also got to know his wife Julie very well.

In fact, there was little Alden did that Julie was not also intimately connected with. They were a real team.

And beyond those they helped in the community, that included their family, two sons and five daughters.

One of those daughters, Jody, has cerebral palsy and lives in a facility that cares for her in Media.

Jody on an outing.

But Julie and Jody's siblings visit often and take her home or on outings -- or at least they did, until the handicapped van they used to transport Jody went "kaput," as Michael Lanphear wrote on www.gofundme.com 

That's where he and his family are trying to raise $10,000 to buy a replacement van, which they have identified.

"Jody is 40 years old with cerebral palsy, which has left her wheel-chair bound, but for us and those who know Jody, we know that this chick likes to get out and do her thing," Michael wrote on the site.

"My Mom -Julie Lanphear is now the sole caretaker of my sister Jody," Debi Rutkowski, Jody's sister, wrote to me in an e-mail. "Her van just died and now she has no way to get Jody home for short visits or even on an outing from the facility she lives in."

I have written a few appeals before. 

I'm a little wary as The Mercury has been scammed at least twice that I know of by people who claimed to have needs, problems and even diseases they didn't have.

But I know the Lanphears and that is not the case here.

I also know all the help the Lanphears offered to others, which made them very happy, did not make them rich.

So it is without reservation that I ask for anyone who is so inclined to make a contribution on the funding site the family has set up through gofundme.com -- http://www.gofundme.com/aqtdt8 -- and make a contribution if you can, so Julie can bring her daughter home.

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More Change in Pottsgrove's Administration

June 30, 2014, 9:00 pm

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There's more administrative shuffling going on at the Pottsgrove School District.

Ann Myers, the director of pupil services, Pottsgrove has retired and the district has announced the hiring of Regina Carpenter as her replacement.

Carpenter, who will earn $127,500 per year, cannot start until Sept. 15 and Myers's retirement went into effect yesterday. 

So in the meantime, Barbara Burke-Stevenson -- who had been serving as the district's interim director of education and assessment the district hired Daniel Vorhis in April to fill the post permanently, now will fill in for Myers.

Burke-Stevenson, a retired New Hope-Solebury superintendent was hired in March, 2013 at a cost of $600 per day, to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Director of Education Todd Davies, who left to take a job as the new assistant superintendent of the Exeter School District.

She will now stay with the district until September.

Carpenter comes to Pottsgrove from the Bucks County Intermediate Unit where she has been serving as a Supervisor of Special Education overseeing numerous educational programs since 2008, according to a press release issued by the district.

Prior to working for the Bucks County Intermediate Unit, Carpenter most recently held the positions of Supervisor of Special Education for the North Penn School District, Supervisor/Principal at the County Alternative High School at the Delaware County Intermediate Unit and Principal of the Greenhouse School in Southhampton, PA.

Carpenter holds Pennsylvania certifications for Mentally or Physically Handicapped K-12, Supervisor of Special Education and Principal certification K- 12

But there's also another change in that office.

According to the district release, Pottsgrove will also begin the search to replace Michelle MacLuckie, supervisor of special education, who will be leaving her position effective July 17.

The district has contracted with the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit to employ Robin Boehning to serve as the interim supervisor of special education until such time that a permanent replacement has been identified.

The cost of that contract was not disclosed in the statement issued by the district. 

Star-Spangled Sunny Brook

July 1, 2014, 9:00 pm

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Photo Courtesy of Lee Schultz The Boyertown Alumni Band and Color Guard kicked off the Independence Day holiday week with a concert Sunday at SunnyBrook Ballroom.

Blogger's Note: The following information and photos were provided by the SunnyBrook Foundation and the Boyertown Alumni Band.

Photo Courtesy of the SunnyBrook Foundation More than 250 people attended Sunday's patriotic concert.

An enthusiastic flag-waving crowd of more than 250 kicked of Pottstown’s 4th of July celebration at the Star-Spangled SunnyBrook Patriotic Concert on Sunday with the Boyertown Alumni Marching Unit. 

The music began with The National Game March by John Philip Sousa. The marches and songs
included pieces by Travis J. Weller, S.E Hummel, Richard Rodgers, and Irving Berlin among others.

Along with the John Philip Sousa marches the band performed some SunnyBrook favorites such as Glenn Miller Medleys and St. Louis Blue March.

The music rocked the historic ballroom as the marching unit’s Baton Twirlers, Color Guard, and Rifle Carriers, all dressed in red, white, and blue engaged the audience, by passing out American Flags to each audience member and then leading the crowd in singing patriotic song and waving their own Star-Spangled Banner. 

Photo Courtesy of Lee Schultz of Boyertown Pottstown Mayor Sharon Thomas welcomes the crowd.

Pottstown Mayor Sharon Thomas welcomed guests and the Boyertown Alumni Marching Unit on behalf of Pottstown and expressed appreciation to the Marching Unit and the SunnyBrook Foundation for holding the event that kicked off the celebration of the birthday of the United States in the tri-county area.

During the United Services Medley, arranged by Arlen R Saylor, a friend of SunnyBrook, soldiers, sailors, airmen, coast guardsmen, and Marines were asked to stand and be appreciated by the audience as the march of each branch of service was played.

Also during The United Services Salute, the bandfront presented the five flags honoring each branch
of the military.

The concert ended with the Alumni Unit's signature song Saints in Concert.

The event, which began with picnic food served in SunnyBrook’s Pavilion, drew a number of classic and vintage cars ended as the band front brought the colors “American Flag” and other ornamental flags off the ballroom floor to Bill Moffit’s Saint in Concert.

Photo Courtesy of Lee Schultz The flags of the five branches of the armed services were presented  during the Arlen Saylor arrangement of the U.S. Services Medley.

“When I come to something like this, where the community is together, I am glad that I am to be a member of the SunnyBrook’s Board and support the community this way,” said Dave Brown of Boyertown, a member of the SunnyBrook Foundation Board of Directors.

J. Wilmer Hallman, president of the SunnyBrook Foundation said, “we hope this can be a tradition for our community. That we can begin our 4th of July celebration an event like this here at SunnyBrook and complete with a celebration at Memorial Park.” Hallman indicated that plans for next year are already underway.

Go West (Young?) Reporter...

July 2, 2014, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Without Public Education, There is No Republic

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So the stars and planets aligned.

Because Pottstown Borough Council meets on "the first Wednesday after the first Monday" (who makes up this stuff?) Wednesday night's West Pottsgrove Township Commissioner's meeting did not conflict with borough council and I could go.

I started live-Tweeting, with only about one bar of connection, and made it halfway through before AT&T, or my iPhone, or Twitter said "ENOUGH OF THIS WORKING LIKE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO!" and it crapped out.

Unfazed, I continued Tweeting into drafts and then copied them out of my phone once I got to a computer with a more secure connection and VOILA! here it is, my first Storify of a West Pottsgrove meeting.

It's a doosie....(not really.)

Without Public Education, There is No Republic

July 3, 2014, 9:00 pm

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"A republic madam, if you can keep it."

That is what Benjamin Franklin famously said to a passerby when she asked him what the Constitutional Convention of 1787 had given the country.

I know this is the day that we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence, but in many ways, the document that followed 11 years later is the more important of the two.

The Declaration declared what we were not -- subjects of a king -- and described our aspirations.

The Constitution declares what kind of nation we are, and how we intend to go about building it -- and continues to do so.

It is, however, an imperfect document by design.

For example: The reason the Constitution did not free the slaves is that do have done so then would have meant the dissolution of the nation.

Politics, even then, is the art of the possible.

So the founders wisely left some things for us to take care of later.

We are not doing a very good job.

And the place where we're really falling down is education.

The founders worried that democracy would fail if attempted on such a large scale. It had never been done before and the only successful democracies, which had not lasted, were rarely practiced in a place much larger than a city state, Athens being the most obvious example.

They reasoned the only things that could overcome the problems of an uninformed set of voters spread out and isolated over a broad area being given the power of the vote were:

1) the ability to communicate on a nationwide basis, and
2) an education system that ensured those voters could understand and interpret for themselves what was being communicated.

This is the part of the blog where I provide some quotes from the founders to shore up my case:

• "I consider knowledge to be the soul of the republic, and, as the weak and wicked are generally in alliance, as much care should be taken to diminish the number of the former as of the later. Education is the way to do this, and nothing should be left undone to afford all ranks of people the means of obtaining a proper degree of it at a cheap and easy rate." -- John Jay
• "Learned institutions ought to be the favorite objects with every free people. They throw that light over the public mind which is the best security against crafty and dangerous encroachments of the public liberty." -- James Madison
• "Educate and inform the whole mass of the people ... they are the only sure reliance of the preservation of our liberty." -- Thomas Jefferson
• "A Bible and a newspaper in every house, a good school in every district -- all studied and appreciated as they merit -- are the principal support of virtue, morality, and civil liberty." -- Ben Franklin
• "The best means of forming a manly, virtuous and happy people will be found in the right education of youth. Without this foundation, every other means, in my opinion, must fail." -- George Washington

So now that you're convinced the founders considered education important -- I mean Thomas Jefferson not only instituted public schools in Virginia, he founded the University of Virginia and considered it his greatest achievement -- ask yourself, how are we doing in that department?

To say that public education is in crisis in America and right here in Pennsylvania is an understatement.

At the root of the debate is an understandable desire to measure what our taxes are paying for, butting up against the belief that the value of a good education (and by extension, a good teacher) is incalculable.

One side of the debate demands tests scores and, more recently, teacher and school evaluation matrices to try to get some kind of accountability built into the system.

This is an understandable impulse and not to be dismissed out of hand. After all, if the value of a good teacher is incalculable, so is the damage a bad one can inflict.

Less understandable is the tendency to cleave to the idea that private industry can do a better job at teaching children than the local school district, simply because its private industry.

If you can do it better, prove it.

So far, particularly with cyber charter schools, the proof remains elusive.

One of the largest is K12 Inc., which, in Pennsylvania, runs Agora Cyber Charter.

For those interested in accountability, Agora  has never. Once. Met any measure of adequacy set by those who clamor for more accountability.

Yet, it continues to draw tax money unmolested in the same way those "failing" public schools we love to label do, schools whose students perform far better than those taught by Agora.

Happily for the executives of Agora, they continue to collect $2,000 per student in salary which, with with 75,000 students, means $21 million of taxpayer in the pockets of eight executives who run a school that fails children they are paid to help.

Certainly, not all charter schools are failures, and we should learn and adopt the best of those that succeed, but where is the outrage over THESE failing schools?

As any scientist will tell you (you learn this in school by the way) you cannot start an experiment with the conclusion, only a hypothesis.

This experiment with "school choice" has run its course and the conclusion is, some charter schools work better than public schools, some don't. But almost zero cyber-charters perform better than public schools.

There have been some successes, and they should be allowed to continue, but its time to put the focus back on the schools the founders knew were this democracy's only hope.

Lord knows, no public school is perfect and I have had my differences with how the Pottstown School District is educating my son.

But this is part of the process of raising children and my wife and I have done what we can to try to make those schools better, not abandon them.

But making them better has now given way to fighting to keep them from getting worse.

And the voters are starting to notice.

For the first time, registered Pennsylvania voters polled by Franklin and Marshall have listed education as their top concern in the coming gubernatorial election.

I confess, I don't know as much about Tom Wolf's education plans as I should, and I intend to remedy that.

But I know, and I think the majority of voters in Pennsylvania know, what Tom Corbett's record on funding education is.

We live in a capitalist society and in a capitalist society, money matters.

No, before you say it, I am not advocating "throwing money" at the problems in our schools, but
starving them of the funding they need to provide even the most basic education isn't doing our children any favors.

After all, as Ben Franklin once said (sorry, couldn't resist one more): ""Genius without education is live silver in the mine."

We are headed into extraordinarily difficult times; climate change, economic upheaval, a world-wide terrorist threat.

I'll be blunt.

Stupid, uneducated children will become stupid, uneducated adults who will make stupid decisions and make things worse.

We are going to need as many geniuses as we can muster to understand the nuances of an increasingly complex world.

Starving our public schools is not doing our democracy or our future any favors.

And that's worth considering on the day we celebrate the birth of that democracy.

A Very Pottstown Fourth

July 4, 2014, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Learn How to Fend off Attackers

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Surprisingly good photo by Evan Brandt The Mercury/#StoptheViolence/MercuryMile/BikePottstown crew celebrate the completion of the Fourth of July Parade.

Folks from The Mercury were awfully busy for a holiday on Thursday, not only covering Pottstown's signature Fourth of July Parade, but participating in it!

Here are some Tweets, Touts, videos and links from the day.

(As always, click the blue "Read Next Page" bar at the bottom to make sure you don't miss anything!)

Learn How to Fend off Attackers

July 5, 2014, 9:00 pm

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Blogger's Note:The following was provided by the YWCA TriCounty.

You can learn how to fend off an attacker for free.

Recently, YWCA Tri-County Area’s Monday night free self-defense class began.

Sifu Jose A. Knight, of Red Cloud Kung Fu, demonstrated how to recognize and appropriately respond to dangerous situations.

He taught the class how to use a Kubaton.

He also showed techniques for successfully defending against and escaping the types of attacks most often encountered by women and young girls.

There are two classes left.

They will be held Monday, July 7 and Monday, July 14 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the YWCA building at 315 King St.

RSVP at (610) 323 – 1888 ext. 201

Taking the class can help you become more aware, prepared and confident to defend yourself and defer attacks.

Garden Goings On

July 6, 2014, 9:00 pm

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Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Mosaic Community Land Trust

There's a lot of things going on in Pottstown's Community Gardens.

A Garden Work and Play Days is scheduled for Saturday, July 19th from 9 to 11 a.m.

The Garden Contest deadline has been extended.

The deadline to enter is July 11.

Judging will take place on the 20th between the hours of 4 to 6 p.m. with the awards ceremony taking place on the 26th at 6 p.m.

MOSAIC is hosting a “Get to Know the Land Trust” Garden Party on Saturday, July 19 beginning at 2 p.m.  There will be music, grilled healthy foods, and resources for better nutrition and health awareness.

MOSAIC/Genesis Housing “Movie Night” will show “Frozen” on the big screen at the Chestnut/Washington St. Park in downtown Pottstown on Saturday, Aug. 2 beginning around 830 p.m.

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The Clothes On Their Back

July 7, 2014, 9:00 pm

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Blogger's Note:The following was provided by Pottsgrove Manor.

Pottsgrove Manor will present “Fashioning a New World: A Symposium on Clothing and Textiles in Early America” at the West Campus of Montgomery County Community College in Pottstown on Saturday, July 19, 2014 and Sunday, July 20, 2014 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Pottsgrove Manor is pleased to offer this program of engaging lectures from experts in the study of historical costume and textiles.

Scheduled presentations include: 

• “Textiles in America: Dispelling the Myths” by Linda Eaton, Director of Collections and Senior Curator of Textiles at the Winterthur Museum; 
• “Had on When She Went Away: American Runaway Advertisements, 1750-1790” by Rebecca Fifield, Collections Manager for the Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas at the Metropolitan Museum of Art; 
• “Fit for a Child: Fashions Thought Suitable for Children in 18th Century America” by Lynn Edgar, independent researcher; 
• “With the Genteelest Taste and Newest Fashions: The Three Piece Suit 1660-1800” by Neal Hurst, Journeyman Tailor and fellow at the Winterthur Museum; 
• “Put Your Best Foot Forward: Footwear of Early America” by Brett Walker, Journeyman Boot at Shoemaker at Colonial Williamsburg.

There will be optional sewing workshops offered on Sunday afternoon. 

Attendees can sign up for one of the following workshops: 

• “Construction of an 18th Century Infant/Toddler Jacket” with Lynn Edgar; 
• “An 18th Century Embroidered Needlebook” with Lynn Symborski, Pottsgrove Manor’s
  museum educator; 
• “The Basics of Death Head Buttons” with Wendy Moyer, historical seamstress; or 
• “Sewing a Gentleman’s Neck Stock” with Neal Hurst.

This program is being held in conjunction with Pottsgrove Manor’s current exhibit of both reproduction and original 18th Century garments, “To the Manor Worn: Clothing the 18th Century Household,” a tour of which will be included as part of the symposium.

The cost of the symposium is $75 per person, which includes Saturday and Sunday lunches; the optional Sunday afternoon workshops require an additional materials fee of $15 per person. 

Spaces are limited. Registration and payment is required by July 11, 2014. A registration packet can be downloaded from Pottsgrove Manor’s website: www.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor.

The “To the Manor Worn” exhibit can also be toured during regular museum hours through November 2, 2014: Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

Tours are given on the hour. The last tour of the day begins at 3 p.m. 

The site is closed Mondays and major holidays. Groups of ten or more should pre-register by calling 610-326-4014.

Pottsgrove Manor is located at 100 West King Street near the intersection of King Street and Route 100, just off Route 422. 

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 at http://www.facebook.com/pottsgrovemanor.

Bring It On Home

July 8, 2014, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Rewarding Environmental Stewardship

≪ Previous: The Clothes On Their Back

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Photo Courtesy of John Armato Tom Medvetz and Ryan Regensberg

Blogger's Note:The following was provided by John Armato, the tireless.

The Pottstown School District school year comes to a close with the graduates of the Class of 2014 joining the ranks of over 19,000 PHS grads who have gone on to distinguish themselves as leaders in many fields of endeavor including science, math, business, military, industrial, entertainment, writing, education, and research to name a few.

Trojan pride is strong and evident at class reunions and can be seen in the graduates who have returned to the district to serve the community. 

We salute those Trojans who have returned to the Pottstown School District and are helping to form the foundation for the success of future generations.

The district is celebrating its 175th anniversary and takes pride in being one of the oldest school districts in the country. Home Grown Trojans include:

Ø Gerauldine Alderfer – Class of 2008 – Intervention Assistant

Ø Robin Huss Anderson – Class of 1994 – Kindergarten Teacher Lincoln Elementary

Ø John J. Armato – Honorary Graduate Class of 2014 – Volunteer Director of Community Relations

Ø Dennis Arms – Class of 2005 – High School Business Education Teacher and Key Club Advisor

Ø Bridget Baldwin – Class of 2008 – Fourth Grade Learning Support Teacher – Franklin Elementary

Ø Jacob Bean – Class of 2004 – Intervention Specialist and Assistant Football and Baseball Coach

Ø Brad Bechtel – Class of 1988 – Head Wrestling Coach

Ø Calista Germany Boyer – Class of 1995 – Lincoln Elementary Principal

Ø Susan Searfoss Davis – Class of 1977 – Benefits Coordinator

Photo Courtesy of John Armato Vicki Price Mutter, Kerry Landis Kline, Robin Germany Debnam,  and Stephanie AR White

Ø Karen Weary Dilliplane – Class of 1978 – School Nurse Barth Elementary

Ø Rhonda Lawler Dinnocenti – Class of 1988 – Administrative Assistant for Student Services

Ø Kathy Eagle – Class of 1993 – First grade Teacher at Barth Elementary

Ø Jan Paolucci Endy – Class of 1985 – Word Processing Specialist

Ø Todd Endy – Class of 1981 – Volunteer Assistant Baseball Coach

Ø Aliceclair Iaeger Faust – Class of 1974 – Middle School Librarian

Ø Theodore Freese – Class of 1985 – Elementary Librarian

Ø William Grim – Class of 2000 – Head Custodian Barth Elementary

Ø Amanda High – Class of 2005 – 8TH Grade Reading Teacher

Ø Diana Magliocchetti Hofmanner – Class of 1988 – First Grade Teacher Franklin Elementary

Ø Andrea Hunsberger – Class of 1980 – Intervention Specialist

Ø Michaela Johnson – Class of 1999 – Health Occupations Instructor

Ø Kerry Landis Kline – Class of 1975 – Intervention Assistant

Ø Heather Downie Kurtz – Class of 1983 – 2nd Grade Teacher Lincoln Elementary

Ø Kristin Hoffmaster Lafferty – Class of 2000 – First Grade Teacher

Ø Ian Lawrence – Class of 2006 – 7th Grade Language Arts Teacher

Ø Danielle McCoy – Class of 1982 – Director of Career and Technical Education

Ø LeeAnn McCullough – Class of 1989 – High School Special Education Teacher

Ø Tom Medvetz – Class of 1989 – Elementary Health and Physical Education Teacher

Ø Matthew Moyer – Class of 1992 – Principal Rupert Elementary

Ø Timothy I. Mutter – Class of 1968 – High School Student Proctor

Ø Vicki Price Mutter – Class of 1975 – Pottstown Middle School Paraeducator

Ø Diane Nash – Class of 1973 – Superintendent’s Secretary

Ø Jaime Parris – Class of 2008 – Long-Term Substitute

Ø Andrea Plavcan – Class of 1972 – Retired Secretary to the Superintendent

Ø Hayley Mutter Quigley – Class of 2001 – Speech and Language Pathologist

Ø Ryan Regensburg – Class of 2001 – Department Head and Middle School Health and Physical Education Teacher

Ø Valerie Pace Reifsneider – Class of 1979 – Assistant to Director of Technology

Ø Dina Rice – Class of 1989 –Speech and Language Therapist

Ø Lori Grubb Schirk – Class of 1981 – Middle School Secretary

Ø Kaylee Shumaker – Class of 2009 – Intervention Assistant at Lincoln Elementary

Ø Rhonda Levan Shumaker – Class of 1982 – Franklin Elementary Secretary

Photo Courtesy of John Armato Tim Mutter, Vicki Price Mutter, Hayley Mutter Quigley

Ø Andrea Poremba Skokowski – Class of 1978 – Lincoln Elementary Secretary

Ø Leslie Falicki Swartz – Class of 1989 – 2nd Grade Teacher Lincoln Elementary

Ø Bonnie Kerr Trainer – Class of 1972 – 5th Grade Teacher Pottstown Middle School

Ø Wendy Watters – Class of 1985 – One-on-One Classroom Assistant

Ø Dr. LaTanya White – Class of 1999 – Supervisor of Virtual and Alternative Learning

Ø Lisa Whitehurst – Class of 1984 – Spanish Teacher

There is a strong sense of loyalty and commitment to the mission of the Pottstown School District. Read what some of our “home grown” staff have to say about why they are proud to be a part of the Pottstown School District.

Ø Because I am now able to give back the same life principles that were given to me.

Ø As a student and as an employee, I have met many people who have inspired and encouraged me to pursue my dream. I could not think of a better place to be.

Ø I am part of a fantastic group of teachers who do more than is asked, suggested, or required; who provide hope, purpose, and direction for kids who would otherwise be lost.

Ø I am able to make a difference in the community that shaped me into the educator and adult I am today.

Ø We work together as a team to help our students learn.

Ø I am proud to work with a group of dedicated staff members in a district that looks for what is best for the students.

Ø I want to serve as a positive role model and assist our youth in achieving their goals.

Ø I had so many wonderful teachers who inspired me to pursue a career in education. I love being able to give back to my hometown.

Ø How everyone in the district works together to give our students the best education.

Ø My father graduated from Pottstown and always showed pride in his alma mater. That pride flows from generation to generation. All who work in the Pottstown School District strive to give our students an education that includes a balance of academics and the arts.

Ø Being with the children of Pottstown every day and working with their families to guide them in becoming successful adults is not just my job it is my calling and I am proud to be a part of something so important.

Ø It is an honor to give the students of Pottstown the same great education I received when I attended school. I hope to be an inspiration to students that they can grow up and do great things.

Ø I am proud of being a part of the ongoing work to provide an exceptional educational environment that will help our students succeed.

Ø I am proud to be back at Pottstown helping to make a difference by supporting our teachers and staff.

Ø It makes me proud to know that I played a small but important part in their lives by paying it forward.

Ø My whole family graduated from Pottstown and all of us have been involved in many school activities. We are Trojans and proud of it!

Ø I’m happy to give back to the community that I have grown up in and where my children are growing up. I’m very proud to be from Pottstown.

Ø I am proud because Pottstown goes above and beyond to make sure that our students stay on the cutting edge of education. We offer programming to make sure our students have an equal opportunity to compete with their peers in the work field and in post-secondary programming.

Ø I am proud to be able to help inspire students to set goals and achieve them like those educators that helped me when I was a student.

Ø I was born and raised in this district and I love seeing all of the kids in the community.

Ø I am lucky to have had dedicated teachers who helped prepare me for life. Pottstown instilled vital citizenship values that have proven to be my foundation.

Ø My academic, athletic, and social experiences within the Pottstown community influences me to become a servant leader where several positive influences once led the way for me.

Ø An awesome music program both then and now.

Rewarding Environmental Stewardship

July 9, 2014, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Pottstown Getting Sly Fox's Goat (Race)

≪ Previous: Bring It On Home

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Blogger's Note:The following was provided by the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy.

Ensuring that community efforts to protect and improve the local environment are publicly acknowledged, The Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy is looking for a few good people, projects and organizations to recognize with an Environmental Award.

The Perkiomen Watershed appears in  light purple in this map

 “Through commitments of time, energy and resources, individuals and organizations in the community have made a positive environmental impact at the local level. It's important that the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy acknowledge these efforts, so we're asking for your help. By nominating someone, a project or an organization, you'll let us know about work that has made a significant contribution to improving the Perkiomen Creek Watershed or protecting local water supplies," said Board member Garrett Burch.

To be eligible for the Award, nominees or nominated projects must be located within the 362 square-mile Perkiomen Creek Watershed, comprised of all or part of 57 municipalities within Montgomery, Berks, Bucks and Lehigh Counties. 

Awards will be given in several categories: Kids Making a Difference, Advocate of the Watershed, Corporate, Teaching Excellence, Preston Luitweiler Friend of the Watershed, Municipal and Land Use.

The awards will be presented at the Conservancy’s Environmental Awards Banquet and 50th Anniversary Celebration to be held October 22, 2014. 

All nominations will be judged by site visits or interviews performed by the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy Events Committee. 

Anyone may make a nomination and all entries are encouraged. 

For more details and entry form go to http://www.perkiomenwatershed.org/nominate or contact Susan in Outreach 610.287.9383 or outreach@perkiomenwatershed.org

Submissions must be made by July 31, 2014.

The Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy’s mission is to serve all who live, work and play within the Perkiomen Creek Watershed by conserving and protecting the land and water resources of its 362 square-miles in four counties – Berks, Bucks, Lehigh and Montgomery. 

Founded in 1964 to combat pollution in the Perkiomen Creek and its tributaries, today the Conservancy helps ensure quality drinking water for hundreds of local communities including Philadelphia.

A private 501 (c)3 nonprofit, the Conservancy is funded in part through grants, individual and business memberships and generous support through the Protectors of the Perkiomen program.

Pottstown Getting Sly Fox's Goat (Race)

July 10, 2014, 9:49 am

≫ Next: Helping Adults Go Back to College

≪ Previous: Rewarding Environmental Stewardship

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Blogger's Note:While I am on vacation, Digital Notebook substitute blogger Frank Otto staffed Wednesday's Pottstown Borough Council meeting. 

Here is a collection of his Tweets from that meeting.

Thanks Frank.

(As always, remember to click the blue bar at the bottom to see all the Tweets.)

Helping Adults Go Back to College

July 11, 2014, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Welcoming the Little Engine That Can

≪ Previous: Pottstown Getting Sly Fox's Goat (Race)

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

Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) will continue to offer its popular Career Transition Workshop for adults who may be thinking about returning to college.

The next workshop will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 5 from 10 a.m.-noon. in the South Hall Community Room at MCCC’s West Campus, 101 College Dr., Pottstown.

The workshop is open to all adults and is free of charge, although pre-registration is requested.

For more information or to RSVP, contact Denise Collins at 215-619-7313 or dcollins@mc3.edu.

During the workshop, prospective students will get an overview of the resources available to help them transition into college.

Topics include using MCCC’s website and online registration tools, financial aid, assessment of credits for prior learning, stackable credentials, career pathways and job search tools.

After the initial session, MCCC advisors will follow up with participants one-on-one to help them identify programs and pathways that are right for them.

“Our goal is help adult learners be comfortable and successful at the College. We want this to be a place where they can get back on track with their education and transition into new careers,” said Denise Collins, who manages the U.S. Department of Labor Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grant at MCCC.

The grant is helping MCCC to develop a robust Prior Learning Assessment model and stackable credentials for adult students as part of the JobTrakPA framework—a joint initiative of Pennsylvania’s 14 community colleges to train and place underemployed and unemployed residents of the Commonwealth in high demand jobs.

The workshop also connects to MCCC’s participation in the American Association of Community Colleges’ (AACC) Plus 50 Encore Completion Program, which looks to train 10,000 baby boomers for high-demand jobs through 2015.