Celtic Singer Concert to Benefit Library
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Pottstown High School Shakes it Off
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| The Pottstown Trojan was on hand for the lip dub |
Those songs that you can't get out of your head.
Martinez, social studies teacher Maureen Rieger and video teacher Katie Minger spent months mapping out the route, with students' help,
Taylor Swift's "Shake it Off" is one of those songs.
And the folks at Pottstown high School are feeling that in spades.
That's because that was the song they chose for the "Lip Dub" video they filmed at the school Wednesday morning.
As I found out when I got there, a "Lip Dub" is an involved video using what we old folks used to call lip synching.
The entire school lined up at different points in the building as Taylor's song was played and a walking camera -- manned by junior Connor Benfield -- made it's way through them.
It highlighted things like the technical education program, the culinary program, the music program, the athletics program.
You name it, it got 'lip-dubbed.'
After the camera moved through a student group, like the Air Force Junior ROTC unit for example, the students would race off to another pre-arranged location to meet it when it arrived there.
They did several run throughs and there was a lot of running.
It began after student school board representatives Gary Wise and Katrina Belmontes attended a Pennsylvania School Boards Association conference in October, held in Harrisburg, said Jolie Martinez, a math teacher at the high school and one of the key organizers.
"They showed the lip dub video done by North Hills High School, outside of Pittsburgh, and we were all totally blown away and they said: 'We've got to do that!'" she said.
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Lip dub masterminds: From left, Jolie Martinez Maureen Rieger and Katie Minger |
"We wanted something positive, something that showed all the people who say negative things about our school that we can just 'shake it off,'" she said.
Rieger's husband, Louis Rieger of High Street Music even got drafted, putting together a "musak" version of Swift's song to play while the camera rides the elevator to the second floor of the school.
"I really didn't expect people to be so excited about it, but they were," Benfield said.
The finished video will be put together by Minger's class and shown at the next school assembly and posted on the school district web site.
(I suspect it will spend some time on The Mercury web site as well).
The finished video will be put together by Minger's class and shown at the next school assembly and posted on the school district web site.
(I suspect it will spend some time on The Mercury web site as well).
Homecoming Queen Eliana Arroyo-Dech said the exercise really knitted the student body together with a show of school spirit, not to mention giving them a lot of exercise....
After all, as the song says:
It's like I got this musicHere are the Tweets John Armato and I sent out while the event was going on:
In my mind, saying it's gonna be alright
Cause the players gonna play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate
Baby I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake
Shake it off
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To Pool or Not to Pool, That Was the Question
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| About 30 people showed up to participate in Thursday night's discussion about opening the township pool. |
Township commissioners voted 2-1 Thursday night to open the township pool on June 13.
About 30 people attended the meeting and some spoke in favor of opening the pool and others said the township could not afford it.
It is the second time the commissioners have voted on the matter, but this time the result was the opposite of the first vote, when a 2-1 vote was to close the pool.
And like the first time, on March 16, two commissioners were absent.
Commissioner Rock D’Emilio was not at either meeting and commissioners Charles Valentine and Thomas Palladino were at both meetings.
The variance between the two meetings is Commissioner Steve Miller, who voted to close the pool last month; and Commissioners President Pete LaRosa, who missed the March 16 meeting to watch over a dying relative, but who voted in favor of opening the pool Thursday night.
In fact, the vote Thursday night was a result of LaRosa’s advocacy for opening the pool and he
The matter revolved entirely around money.
Palladino said he was a cheerleader for purchasing the pool in 2010. “I thought it was a great idea,” he said.
But since then, the pool has lost money every year. “It’s an economic nightmare.”
Since it was purchased, the township has spent $914,932.98 on the pool, Palladino said.
Proponents of the pool, did not dispute the amount spent.
“There’s nothing we can do about that now,” said LaRosa.
Rather, they argued that the contract they approved last night would help to turn the corner on the pool’s finances.
The contract with Bennington Pool Services will cost taxpayers $32,759, although company resident Matt McMaster told the board that his company would pay for chemicals and pay to open and close the pool, which is a cost of about $10,000.
The snack bar will be run, and the profit earned kept, by the Pottsgrove Little League under the plan.
Bennington will provide lifeguards and marketing through social media and the township will spend $4,900 to have a township employee watch the gate, under the plan approved.
“The best thing we ever did was buy the pool,” said LaRosa. “The worst thing we ever did was try to run the pool.”
But as far as Michelle Kazmierczak is concerned, the worst thing the commissioners may have done is reconsider the decision to close the pool.
Kazmierczak was among the most vocal opponents of re-opening the pool.
“We’re not even close to breaking even on the pool,” she said. “Is it fiscally responsible to keep doing this? It doesn’t make any sense.”
Lorraine Antonio said she is a lifelong township resident and said she enjoyed the pool when it was the privately run Colonial Pool Club.
“But I can’t afford the taxes now,” she said. “We have to watch what we’re doing here or this pool will bankrupt the township.”
Scott Allen from East Coventry, said he used the pool and found it “very clean and modern looking. I was impressed. I was thinking of joining this year.”
Stowe resident Colleen Sullivan said the pool is “a great place for families and kids.”
Looking at some of the older residents who said they enjoyed the pool but can no longer afford tax increase, Sullivan said “the families who live here now want to make the same kind of memories you made with your children.”
The problem, said Palladino, is that West Pottsgrove’s population is “70 percent senior citizens” and that demographic is not enough to support the pool.
Which is why, LaRosa said, the pool needs to be marketed to those outside town.
McMaster said that could be done by offering extras, such as yoga, “mommie and me” swim classes and coffee and cards events geared toward seniors.
“I want to do whatever I can to make this work over the long-term,” McMaster said.
(My Twitter feed, always slow in this township building, gave up the ghost about halfway through the meeting, so here are the Tweets that made it into the Twitterverse before I had to go old school and pull out a pen.)
Lorraine Antonio said she is a lifelong township resident and said she enjoyed the pool when it was the privately run Colonial Pool Club.
“But I can’t afford the taxes now,” she said. “We have to watch what we’re doing here or this pool will bankrupt the township.”
Scott Allen from East Coventry, said he used the pool and found it “very clean and modern looking. I was impressed. I was thinking of joining this year.”
Stowe resident Colleen Sullivan said the pool is “a great place for families and kids.”
Looking at some of the older residents who said they enjoyed the pool but can no longer afford tax increase, Sullivan said “the families who live here now want to make the same kind of memories you made with your children.”
The problem, said Palladino, is that West Pottsgrove’s population is “70 percent senior citizens” and that demographic is not enough to support the pool.
Which is why, LaRosa said, the pool needs to be marketed to those outside town.
McMaster said that could be done by offering extras, such as yoga, “mommie and me” swim classes and coffee and cards events geared toward seniors.
“I want to do whatever I can to make this work over the long-term,” McMaster said.
(My Twitter feed, always slow in this township building, gave up the ghost about halfway through the meeting, so here are the Tweets that made it into the Twitterverse before I had to go old school and pull out a pen.)
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Clean-Up and Mural Planned by Pottstown CARES
Blogger's Note:The following was provided in a press release.
The Hill School, the Borough of Pottstown, the Pottstown School District, and Montgomery County Community College will partner to complete two Pottstown CARES events this spring: a clean-up event on Friday, April 10, and a special mural painting project scheduled to take place in late May through mid-June.
On Friday, April 10, participants will pick up trash and recycling and participate in other “spruce up” efforts ranging from raking to painting picnic benches. Activities will occur from about 8:45 a.m. to noon at Riverfront Park, Memorial Park, the Ricketts Center, and downtown streets, parks, and playgrounds. Work crews will include Borough employees and all fourth form (10th grade) students and faculty from The Hill School, about 30 Pottstown High School students, and Montgomery County Community College volunteers. A group of Hill students also will work to create new garden spaces and compost bins on Hill’s campus. All participants will meet under the former hockey rink on The Hill campus at 8:45 a.m.
The Riverfront and Memorial Park activities have been registered as Great American Cleanup events, which will allow the CARES groups to utilize bags, gloves, and safety vests provided by PennDOT in Norristown. The Hill School will provide lunch to all volunteers following the clean-up.
The mural project will occur adjacent to the MOSAIC Community Garden at 423 Chestnut Street.
Pottstown CARES and MOSAIC Community Land Trust are thrilled to announce that – after two years of planning -- a mural designed by Pottstown-based artist Carrie Kingsbury will be created on the wall bordering the MOSAIC garden space at 427 Chestnut St. The careful process has included obtaining permission of the building property owner as well as a required conditional use permit and local support. The conditional use process requires a public hearing before Pottstown Borough Council which is planned for May 8.
Ellen Nelson, arts department chairperson at The Hill School, has been working with CARES on the mural concept. During the inaugural CARES clean-up in the fall of 2013, she and several arts students surveyed area residents about what they’d like to see represented in a neighborhood mural.
Finding Kingsbury was “synchronicity,” Nelson says. “I didn’t know of one, or where to look. Several weeks after starting to help plan the project, Carrie spontaneously sent an email to me out of the blue – and she lives right here in Pottstown. Angels work in wondrous ways!” she exclaims.
Kingsbury submitted sketches to MOSAIC in January 2015. While the concepts were being reviewed by MOSAIC and neighborhood residents, work also was taking place to obtain paint donations from the local Sherwin Williams store and provision of scaffolding and other supplies from The Hill School.
CARES also gratefully acknowledges the donation of labor from Reinhart Painting which has offered to do all of the wall preparation at the site.
Funds for the artist’s work, various permits, and supplies will come from a donation from MOSAIC as well as The Hill’s arts department and a generous contribution from The Hill School’s Pottstown community service-related 3758 Fund, established by Rodney D. Day III ’58 in honor of his father, Rodney D. Day, Jr. ’37. In addition, MOSAIC and The Hill School sold magnets bearing a message of support for the community gardens and the mural; funds from that fall sale also are supporting the mural project.
On May 18, following site preparation by the artist, Nelson will join Kingsbury in beginning to paint the mural. Nelson is hopeful that students from The Hill and the advanced art classes of Pottstown High School will assist with painting on Sunday, May 24, while she and Kingsbury continue painting during the following weeks, with a June 13 conclusion target.
The initial, joint CARES (Community, Awareness, Responsibility, Empowerment, and Sustainability) endeavor was conceived in the spring of 2013 during conversations between Borough Manager Mark Flanders, Pottstown School Superintendent Dr. Jeff Sparagana, and Hill School Headmaster Zachary Lehman. The three leaders envisioned a collaborative project that would help to “spruce up” a designated area in the core of Pottstown while boosting community pride. In 2014, Montgomery County Community College’s West Campus joined the CARES planning team. The CARES organization hopes these events will motivate Pottstown residents to engage in ongoing clean-ups of their own in their immediate neighborhoods.
The Hill School, the Borough of Pottstown, the Pottstown School District, and Montgomery County Community College will partner to complete two Pottstown CARES events this spring: a clean-up event on Friday, April 10, and a special mural painting project scheduled to take place in late May through mid-June.
On Friday, April 10, participants will pick up trash and recycling and participate in other “spruce up” efforts ranging from raking to painting picnic benches. Activities will occur from about 8:45 a.m. to noon at Riverfront Park, Memorial Park, the Ricketts Center, and downtown streets, parks, and playgrounds. Work crews will include Borough employees and all fourth form (10th grade) students and faculty from The Hill School, about 30 Pottstown High School students, and Montgomery County Community College volunteers. A group of Hill students also will work to create new garden spaces and compost bins on Hill’s campus. All participants will meet under the former hockey rink on The Hill campus at 8:45 a.m.
The Riverfront and Memorial Park activities have been registered as Great American Cleanup events, which will allow the CARES groups to utilize bags, gloves, and safety vests provided by PennDOT in Norristown. The Hill School will provide lunch to all volunteers following the clean-up.
The mural project will occur adjacent to the MOSAIC Community Garden at 423 Chestnut Street.
Pottstown CARES and MOSAIC Community Land Trust are thrilled to announce that – after two years of planning -- a mural designed by Pottstown-based artist Carrie Kingsbury will be created on the wall bordering the MOSAIC garden space at 427 Chestnut St. The careful process has included obtaining permission of the building property owner as well as a required conditional use permit and local support. The conditional use process requires a public hearing before Pottstown Borough Council which is planned for May 8.
Ellen Nelson, arts department chairperson at The Hill School, has been working with CARES on the mural concept. During the inaugural CARES clean-up in the fall of 2013, she and several arts students surveyed area residents about what they’d like to see represented in a neighborhood mural.
Finding Kingsbury was “synchronicity,” Nelson says. “I didn’t know of one, or where to look. Several weeks after starting to help plan the project, Carrie spontaneously sent an email to me out of the blue – and she lives right here in Pottstown. Angels work in wondrous ways!” she exclaims.
Kingsbury submitted sketches to MOSAIC in January 2015. While the concepts were being reviewed by MOSAIC and neighborhood residents, work also was taking place to obtain paint donations from the local Sherwin Williams store and provision of scaffolding and other supplies from The Hill School.
CARES also gratefully acknowledges the donation of labor from Reinhart Painting which has offered to do all of the wall preparation at the site.
Funds for the artist’s work, various permits, and supplies will come from a donation from MOSAIC as well as The Hill’s arts department and a generous contribution from The Hill School’s Pottstown community service-related 3758 Fund, established by Rodney D. Day III ’58 in honor of his father, Rodney D. Day, Jr. ’37. In addition, MOSAIC and The Hill School sold magnets bearing a message of support for the community gardens and the mural; funds from that fall sale also are supporting the mural project.
On May 18, following site preparation by the artist, Nelson will join Kingsbury in beginning to paint the mural. Nelson is hopeful that students from The Hill and the advanced art classes of Pottstown High School will assist with painting on Sunday, May 24, while she and Kingsbury continue painting during the following weeks, with a June 13 conclusion target.
The initial, joint CARES (Community, Awareness, Responsibility, Empowerment, and Sustainability) endeavor was conceived in the spring of 2013 during conversations between Borough Manager Mark Flanders, Pottstown School Superintendent Dr. Jeff Sparagana, and Hill School Headmaster Zachary Lehman. The three leaders envisioned a collaborative project that would help to “spruce up” a designated area in the core of Pottstown while boosting community pride. In 2014, Montgomery County Community College’s West Campus joined the CARES planning team. The CARES organization hopes these events will motivate Pottstown residents to engage in ongoing clean-ups of their own in their immediate neighborhoods.
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An Idea That Will Grow on You
BLOGGER'S NOTE:The following was provided in a press release form Fellowship Farm.
Fellowship Farm is welcoming children, youth and adults of all ages and backgrounds to a free, ![]()
“Build Your Own Garden” open house on Sunday, April 19, 2015 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Fellowship Farm’s Organic Garden, 2488 Sanatoga Road.
Participants will learn and experience hands-on activities to “grow your own foods and eat healthier,” focusing on the importance and ease of growing and eating their own healthy, organic food.
Participants will learn and experience hands-on activities to “grow your own foods and eat healthier,” focusing on the importance and ease of growing and eating their own healthy, organic food.
Every participant will be able to take back to their own home and neighborhood exciting skills, organic seeds and self-made products for them to literally plant the seeds for future generations.
Participants will learn about and engage with the beautiful Organic Garden near the 18th century Stone House and Bamboo Garden at the Farm.
Participants will learn about and engage with the beautiful Organic Garden near the 18th century Stone House and Bamboo Garden at the Farm.
Children will make their own healthy, organic models to take home to plant and eat, and participants will be able enjoy refreshments, feed and pet Fellowship Farm’s barnyard mini-horse, Llama, alpacas, sheep and donkey, and explore the beautiful trails along the grounds of this historic landmark.
RSVP’s are requested but not required. For more info or directions, contact Director David Tulin at Fellowship Farm, a Division of Child Guidance Resource Centers at 215-870-0349, director@fellowship-farm.org or dtulin@cgrc.org
RSVP’s are requested but not required. For more info or directions, contact Director David Tulin at Fellowship Farm, a Division of Child Guidance Resource Centers at 215-870-0349, director@fellowship-farm.org or dtulin@cgrc.org
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Honors and Mountains of Mulch
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Photo by Evan Brandt Members of the Gilbertsville Fire Co. listen to awards being given to Chief Rick Smith and Harvey Price for serve that, combined among the two, adds up to more than 90 years. |
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Photo by Evan Brandt Fire Chief Rick Smith, left, and Harvey Price. |
fruitful.
State Rep. Marcy Toepel, R-147th Dist., was on hand to provide awards from the House of Representatives to longtime firefighters Rick Smith and Harvey Price.
Together the two of them represent more than 90 years of service to the residents of Gilbertsville. "It doesn't seem that long," said Price.
Then the board got down to some less pleasant business at hand.
The agreement with Mountain Mulch to leave their operation on Sassamansville Road and find a new place to do business expired on March 31.
But they're still there, as neighbor Karen Keyser attested.
So the board has decided to seek sanctions from the county court.
But it may all be moot.
Dave Yusko told the board he is hoping to sign an agreement of sale for the property within several days and return it to its former agricultural use and raise horses there.
All expressed the hope that this happens soon.
Here are the Tweets from the meeting.
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Candidate Airs Views on $12K Guskey Speech
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| Ashley Jones Custer |
The Digital Notebook invites submissions from other candidates as well.
On Wednesday, April 1, I had the opportunity to attend the presentation given by Dr. Thomas Guskey to the teachers and administrators during the staff development day. Dr. Guskey was paid approximately $12,000 including expenses by the district to present his thoughts and research on standards based grading, otherwise known as SBG. I purposely sat with the teachers so I could interact with them during the talk and hear their opinions and views. I am very happy I chose to do that.
I will keep this as short as possible.
Before I attended the lecture, I did some research on Dr. Guskey. I wanted to understand his ideas before hearing him speak. I found a short article he had written for the NASSP (National Association for Secondary School Principals) and I read that a few times. He described 4 steps he felt were necessary in order to achieve successful grading reform. As I read it I found it odd that in the article he cited books and papers he personally had authored. I also found that when he cited research or books not authored by himself, they were most often quite dated. I assumed though, that since the article was short, it was lacking in the detail that a $10,000/day lecturer would most certainly add to his presentation.
Sadly, I was wrong. Dr. Guskey’s presentation began with him pedaling one of the many books he has written and it only went downhill from there. He was a very poor public speaker, I was able to understand only about 80% of what he said and I was not alone, everyone around me was making comments on how they could not understand him. He often spoke quickly, mumbling while not facing his audience. After he was finally done talking about himself and took the picture of his book off the screen, he began describing his ideas for standards based grading. The more he spoke the more I realized that the article I read was basically his presentation without the power point added to it. For the next two hours he tried very hard to convince an auditorium filled with teachers that SBG was the only way to grade. As far as I could tell, he failed. Sprinkled throughout his talk were 1-2 minute ‘breaks’ given so that the teachers could discuss what he had just spoken about. During those breaks I heard very few positives concerning the material he had covered. The sheer fact that he has very little data to back up his philosophy should be a red flag. The only school he mentioned that is somewhat following his principles happens to be located in Canada. Canada is a far cry from Pottsgrove, Pennsylvania.
When Dr. Guskey was finally done talking about how there should be no more ‘zeros’ given for missed work or tests not taken, how the selection of the class valedictorian must be changed and how the bell curve must be abolished (Really Dr. Guskey? The Bell Curve in secondary school? There are few secondary school classes so difficult that they must be graded on a bell curve) I was less than impressed. But when he stated that student’s personal lives should be taken into account when grading I really wondered if this guy was serious.
Dr. Guskey has quite an impressive resume and undoubtedly is a very intelligent person. He has spent years developing a standards based grading scale that essentially nullifies the current grading practices used by most teachers. Some of his ideas have merit and in a perfect world where every teacher has no more than twenty students and a few teaching assistants to help in the classroom, they could be easily followed. In the real world of public school where most secondary teachers are responsible for over 100 students, his ideas are exactly that, ideas. To follow his model and completely change how a student is evaluated, personalize every report card in great detail, and change the grading scale is neither feasible nor plausible.
Dr. Guskey stayed with the MS and HS teachers for the rest of the afternoon and continued to push his SBG philosophy. From what I was told, the teachers were not engaged and less than impressed. Many felt that he was a waste of money and time and hope that the district will not decide that this is the way to move forward.
I will end with this; In my opinion, this was close to $12,000 that was not well spent. When the district first announced that Dr. Guskey would be coming to speak, Ms. Feola stated that his presentation was only to ‘spur conversation.’ If that was the case, about $11,950 could have been saved by merely making copies of Dr. Guskey’s NASSP article and distributing those to the teachers. I realize the money spent was not taxpayer money and it had to be spent or it would be lost but I have no doubt it could have been used in a much more productive way. Maybe in the future the teachers should have some input concerning staff development speakers and/or activities.
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Bark for Life and Grave Concerns
Wednesday's borough council meeting was rife with interesting information.
From what to do with an apparently abandoned Edgewood Cemetery; to a company that wants to help the borough get abandoned properties fixed up; the Bark for Life and a presentation on the draft of the new regional comprehensive plan for eight municipalities, there was a lot to digest.
You can do so below:
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Pottstown Celebrating the Young Child
Blogger's Note:The following was provided as a press release.
The ninth annual Pottstown Celebrates Young Children event will be held on April 18 from 1 to 3 pm.. at the Pottstown High School, 750 North Washington Street.
This free event designed for families with young children is sponsored by PEAK, Pottstown’s school readiness initiative.
Fun family activities and resources from more than 40 community organizations along with music from D.J. Steve, What Knott Petting Farm, Smokey the Bear, Dumpo, Pipper the Clown and Rainbow the Clown, Fit for Life Obstacle course, Athlete Assessments with Rian Wallace and Goals Over Obstacles, Goodwill Fire Company, a moon bounce plus a few more surprises are planned.
This year PEAK is again partnering with Pottstown Memorial Medical Center as the main sponsor for the Month of the Young Child events.
This year PEAK is again partnering with Pottstown Memorial Medical Center as the main sponsor for the Month of the Young Child events.
According to PEAK Coordinator, Mary Rieck, “We are very thankful for the partnership with Pottstown Memorial Medical Center. Pottstown Celebrates Young Children is a great way to raise awareness for early education and services of the hospital, as well as an enjoyable afternoon for the whole family. We look forward to finding new ways to work with the hospital to help Pottstown’s children enter kindergarten ready to learn and achieve.”
To date, PEAK has also received donations to support the event from J.P. Mascaro & Sons, Wegman’s, Wawa and Giant Food Stores.
The Montgomery County Health Department will be distributing car booster seats to families whose child falls within the height and weight guidelines. Please bring your child and get your free seat!
The Miller-Keystone Blood Center Mobile Coach will also be on site for a blood drive in conjunction with the event from 12:30 to 3 pm. Please go to www.giveapint.org to register.
For more information about the April 18th event, contact Jane Bennett at jbennett@pottstownsd.org or 610-256-6370.
PEAK (Pottstown Early Action for Kindergarten Readiness) is a partnership between Pottstown School District and community early learning programs and agencies seeking to prepare children and families for success in kindergarten. To learn more about PEAK, visit www.peakonline.org, e-mail Ms. Rieck at mrieck@pottstownsd.org or call 610-970-6655. You can also follow PEAK on Twitter @PEAKPartners and on Facebook.
The Miller-Keystone Blood Center Mobile Coach will also be on site for a blood drive in conjunction with the event from 12:30 to 3 pm. Please go to www.giveapint.org to register.
For more information about the April 18th event, contact Jane Bennett at jbennett@pottstownsd.org or 610-256-6370.
PEAK (Pottstown Early Action for Kindergarten Readiness) is a partnership between Pottstown School District and community early learning programs and agencies seeking to prepare children and families for success in kindergarten. To learn more about PEAK, visit www.peakonline.org, e-mail Ms. Rieck at mrieck@pottstownsd.org or call 610-970-6655. You can also follow PEAK on Twitter @PEAKPartners and on Facebook.
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Pennies, Lattes, Java and Jazz in Pottstown Schools
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| Rupert Elementary Teacher Susan Paravis, right, and her Second Grade Class. |
Blogger's Note:A few items from around the Pottstown School District:
Pennies for Patients
Rupert Elementary had another great year with our Pennies for Patient fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
The winning class, which raised $249.93 in memory of Andy Paravis and in honor of Jack Williams, was Mrs. Paravis's 2nd grade class.
They earned a silver pennant to hang in their classroom and a pizza party.
Three other classrooms raised more than $100 each.
James Strohecker's 1st grade raised $187.42, Diana Dotterer's 4th grade raised $178.76, and Jacinda Bartolucci's 5K class raised $114.04, and they each will receive a bronze pennant.
Rupert Elementary also earned a $100 gift card.
The Pottstown High School Jazz Band will open for the US Army Jazz Ambassadors on Tuesday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the historic Sunnybrook Ballroom.
Admission is free.
The high school band will perform from 7:30 to 8 p.m. and the U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors will start performing about 8:15 p.m.
This is part of the Berks Jazz Festival and more information can be found at their web site: http://www.berksjazzfest.com
Student Jazz at Sunnybrook
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| The U.S. Army Band Jazz Ambassadors |
Admission is free.
The high school band will perform from 7:30 to 8 p.m. and the U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors will start performing about 8:15 p.m.
This is part of the Berks Jazz Festival and more information can be found at their web site: http://www.berksjazzfest.com
De-Caffeinated Kids
Also at Rupert, the Java for Gents and Lattes for Ladies events attracted hundreds of parents who come in the early morning before school starts to spend some time reading to their children.A good book for the students and some refreshments for the parents is a great way to start the day.
Here are some photos:
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Spaghetti, Meatballs and Jazz, all for $10
You like live music right?
You like live music performer by talented students, all for one low price right?
Then you know what you're doing next Saturday.
You are heading down to the Goodwill fire station on High Street, slapping down a mere $10 and then enjoying an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner while you listen to Pottstown students jazz up the evening.
The meal offers homemade meatballs on that spaghetti; bread; beverage and dessert, as well as the satisfaction of knowing that your enjoyment helped to fund music education in Pottstown.
Can't beat that with a stick.
Here's a taste of how much fun you'll have (sorry, I have no video of the middle school jazz band. Hope to get some thins year):
Below is a performance of last year's high school jazz band at the spaghetti dinner where they debuted a new number.
If we're lucky, they'll do that this year too!
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Council to Review Fire Company Merger
Once again, Monday's Pottstown Borough Council meeting proved that a meeting does not have to be long to contain news.
Probably the most significant news to occur last night had to do with the borough contentious plan to merge all four volunteer fire companies into a single volunteer department, a most that, until now, the Philadelphia Steam Engine Company, had been the only company to resist.
However, Monday night, Dave Saylor, the Deputy Chief of the North End Fire Company, told council that its time council met face to face with the fire companies.
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| Some of the firefighters at Monday night's meeting. |
He said there are "other options" other than the one being proposed by the borough, which may be "appealing."
Saylor also noted that North End and the Phillies are "interested in making the best decisions for the community."
Then, at the end of the meeting, Councilwoman Sheryl Miller, saying she wanted to hear for herself what the fire companies had to say, made a motion to hold that meeting as Saylor had requested. It was seconded by Councilman Joe Kirkland.
Council President Stephen Toroney, Vice President Travis Gery and Councilman Dan Weand cast the "nay" votes.
Gery took the time to explain that he did not think a "special meeting" is needed as the firefighters can come to any council meeting and say what they have to say -- something they been doing for several months now.
Toroney said the borough's representative, David Woglom, will be at the meeting as well and Mayor Sharon Thomas said the talks should focus on "equity and cost savings."
Borough Manager Mark Flanders was charged with setting up the date.
Here are the Tweets, links and videos from the meeting.
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Pottstown Students 'Pay it Forward' With Pizza
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Photo by David Woodley Pottstown High School students read messages posted by those who helped to feed the homeless through Rosa's Pizza in Philadelphia. |
Blogger's Note:The following was written by Pottstown High School Management Information Systems teacher David Woodley and re-printed here with his permission.
On Friday, in Philadelphia, I had a moment. A moment I wanted to share with everyone.
After touring the Linc, we went to Center City for lunch. Upon arrival, students had the options of going to the Reading Terminal Market or Rosa’s Fresh Pizza for lunch.
Rosa’s Fresh Pizza is a one-of-a-kind pizza shop. Mason Wartman, the owner of Rosa’s, left his job on Wall Street to start this $1-a-slice pizza shop in Philadelphia. Pizza slices for only a dollar isn't the only thing Rosa’s offers its customers.
It also offers them the chance to donate slices of pizza for the homeless population of Philadelphia. If a customer decides to buy a slice of pizza to donate, they pay $1 and they place a post-it note on the wall with an inspirational message.
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Photo by David Woodley Pottstown student Maverick Somich reads through some of the messages left by those helping feed the homeless at Rosa's Pizza. |
When a homeless individual enters, they approach the counter and ask for a slice of pizza “off the wall”. The homeless individual then receives a free slice of pizza paid for by a good Samaritan. On Friday, those good Samaritans were our students.
Upon entering, students were overwhelmed with the number of post-it notes that were on the walls, each representing a donated slice of pizza. I attached a picture of the restaurant so that you could see the amount of post-it notes on the wall.
Upon entering, students were overwhelmed with the number of post-it notes that were on the walls, each representing a donated slice of pizza. I attached a picture of the restaurant so that you could see the amount of post-it notes on the wall.
Students were educated on the theme and purpose (Pay It Forward!) of the pizza shop and were informed that they did not have to feel obligated to donate if they did not want to.
As each student ordered, the number of donated slices continued to grow.
As each student ordered, the number of donated slices continued to grow.
All students that entered the pizza shop that day donated at least one slice of pizza. One student donated five slices while another student donated nine slices.
On Friday, our students donated over 30 slices of pizza for the homeless of Philadelphia.
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Photo by David Woodley Pottstown student Thomas Scharneck writes his own message after buying future slice of pizza for a homeless person |
As I stood back and watched, I couldn't do anything but smile.
As students continued to order, homeless individuals came into Rosa’s. As those individuals ordered, I called some of the students over to where I was standing so that they could see their good-deed in action. It left them with a good feeling and a smile on their face!
While eating, Thomas Scharneck and Chase McKain told me that they would be right back and they wanted to see if the homeless man sitting down the block knew about Rosa’s.
As students continued to order, homeless individuals came into Rosa’s. As those individuals ordered, I called some of the students over to where I was standing so that they could see their good-deed in action. It left them with a good feeling and a smile on their face!
While eating, Thomas Scharneck and Chase McKain told me that they would be right back and they wanted to see if the homeless man sitting down the block knew about Rosa’s.
They even took two slices of pizza that they purchased for the man.
I followed close behind them as they talked with the homeless man who was well aware of Rosa’s and thanked them for the offer but he had already had pizza today.
He asked that they share the news and the pizza with another individual who may not know about Rosa’s and that is exactly what they did.
Seeing two students take the initiative to spread the word about Rosa’s after visiting was very cool to see.
"I thought it was a great way to give back to the people who need it the most. It was an experience I'll never forget, and a great way to pay it forward," said Scharneck, who is a junior.
Some of the most important lessons cannot be taught in a classroom with a textbook.
Some of the most important lessons cannot be taught in a classroom with a textbook.
"Rosa's Fresh Pizza gives everyday people a way to make a direct impact on the life of someone in need," said 12th grader Anthony Oglesby.
Students that were on our field trip are currently enrolled in one of the following classes: Management Information Systems, Web Design, Computer Applications and Career Explorations(I and II) or Economics.
The field trip included a tour of Lincoln Financial Field and the Art Institute of Philadelphia along with a Philadelphia Phillies night game against the Washington Nationals.
The field trip included a tour of Lincoln Financial Field and the Art Institute of Philadelphia along with a Philadelphia Phillies night game against the Washington Nationals.
The field trip was organized by Rebecca Heiser, Career and Technology teacher and chaperoned by Steve Anspach, Economics teacher and myself.
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What's In the Water in West Pottsgrove?
"What's that?" you ask. "But I thought they just voted to open it."
They did, after they voted to close it. Then they voted to open it.
But now, with the last vote, they closed it.
It's closed because of a 2-2 vote on the contract for the company they approved last time with a 2-1 vote.
Yeah, you read that right.
Oh yeah, and Commissioners President Pete LaRosa resigned.
Really.
But wait! not from the board, he said in a later call; only as president.
Sorry for the misunderstanding.
Here's video of his statement, you can decide for yourself what conclusion you would reach.
West Pottsgrove used to be such a sleepy little town.
Here are the Tweets from last night's meeting
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Mudballs for Mom on the Colebrookdale Railroad
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| The Open Car on the Colebrookdale Railroad's Secret Valley line is an ideal place to enjoy this Saturday's "Mudball Express." |
Blogger's Note:The following was provided by the Colebrookdale Railroad.
This Saturday, April 18, the Colebrookdale Railroad will host the first ever “Mudball Express.”
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| The Mudball Express is all about the flowers, and the canopy, which will be set up in case of inclement weather. |
The first train of its kind east of the Mississippi, the Mudball Express will allow children of all ages to sling mudballs — yes, real mudballs — from the train.
The mudballs plant wildflower seeds along the route.
“The Mudball express is a clever idea aimed at sowing native wildflowers along the historic Colebrookdale railroad line. Planting native wildflowers is more sustainable and supports a variety of important species in our ecosystem,” said Kimberly J. Murphy, CFRE President, Berks County Conservancy.
“The Mudball express is a clever idea aimed at sowing native wildflowers along the historic Colebrookdale railroad line. Planting native wildflowers is more sustainable and supports a variety of important species in our ecosystem,” said Kimberly J. Murphy, CFRE President, Berks County Conservancy.
Wildflowers will bloom in time for the railroad’s Mother’s Day High Tea Trains.
The railroad’s open car will be covered in the chance of rain.
The railroad’s open car will be covered in the chance of rain.
Local foods available in cafe car and old fashioned sodas available in open car a la carte.
Trains leave from Third and Washington Streets, Boyertown, 1:30 and 3:30 pm.
Trains leave from Third and Washington Streets, Boyertown, 1:30 and 3:30 pm.
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Pasta, Sauce, Meatballs and Music
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| 6th grader Julian Paskel, ready to play. |
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| And this girl, was ready to eat. |
As always, organizers, headed up by Kevin Owens, President of the Pottstown School Music Association, did a bang-up job.
Food was cooked; tables were set up; chairs were placed; tablecloths; balloons (news this year); trash taken out; sauce ladled; music performed. It was, in other words, a smashing success.
The event raises money to pay for music education in Pottstown, including performances outside the area, spreading the word about Pottstown musicians.
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| Mike Vought, John Armato and Kevin Owens. |
The elementary jazz band was excellent. Unfortunately, they played first and, as the official ladler of sauce, I was unable to escape my duties and get a recording.
But trust me, they were good.
I know the high school jazz band gets a lot of ink from me. That's because my son plays with them and I am at most of their performances.
I was going to try to scale back, but they unveiled a new number yesterday and it is one of my all-time favorites -- "Birdland," which I was introduced to through the version by the jazz fusion band Weather Report. (Click here for a link to a live performance video with the great Wayne Shorter, Joe Zawinul and the always mighty Jaco Pastorius.)
So here it is the Pottstown High School Jazz band's version of the classic (I'm told they only practiced it twice, maybe three times.):
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| Jo Ann Bathurst and her mom, Florence Schumacher, 103 |
Also noteworthy was the presence of four generations of the Bathhurst/ Schumacher/ Francis genome.
Florence Schumacher, 103, was there, as she was last year. She is the mother of Jo Ann Bathurst, who is the mother of School Board member Amy Francis, who was there with her husband Julian, who are the parents of Gabe and Chloe Francis, both of whom are jazz band members.
So, good-on-ya I say.
Anyhoo, a good time was had by all, and there were lots of willing hands to help with the clean-up, including School Board member Kim Stillwell and her retinue.
This video gives a quickie over-view of the fun, and is followed by the Tweets and photos I managed to sneak in between lading sauce and spooning meatballs.
And here are the Tweets:
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Land Bank and Blight Summit Wednesday
A "Blight Summit," perhaps the first ever of such, will be held Wednesday at Connections on High on Wednesday, April 22, from 9 a.m. until noon.
Connections on High is located at 238 E. High St., Pottstown.
Officially called the "Montgomery County Land Bank and Blight Summit," it is sponsored by the the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, in coordination with the Borough of Pottstown and Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County.
- Land Banks and Land Banking
- Presentations by John Kromer, Fels Center for Government, University of Pennsylvania and Winnie Branton, Branton Strategies LLC
- An update te on land banks in Pennsylvania – where they’ve been established, how they are operating, and what lies ahead
- How a land bank might benefit nonprofit and private developers in Montgomery County
- Start-up and initial operating costs.
- Strategic Property Maintenance Code Enforcement with Eric D. Weiss, former director, Bureau of Code Enforcement and Rehabilitation City of Allentown
- Innovative and effective code enforcement practices that may be suitable for replication in Montgomery County
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Mulch Update and Drug Drop-Off
It was another briskly moving supervisors meeting Monday night as the three supervisors and stuff conducted the township's public business in just under an hour.
There were no major issues on the agenda, and no major issues came up, other than the ubiquitous Mountain Mulch.
Solicitor Paul Bauer reported the company, now nearly a month past their deadline to vacate the Sassamansville Road location, asked for permission to work "dusk till dawn" to remove the giant mulch piles that remain.
The township declined and has instead asked a Montgomery County judge to begin levying sanctions against the company for failing to live up to the terms of the agreement among the company, the township and the long-suffering neighbors.
Below, find the Tweets from the meeting, as they happened.
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Swing Into Spring Polka Blast at SunnyBrook
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| The Eddie Forman Orchestra |
Blogger's Note:The following was provided by SunnyBrook Ballroom:
The Eddie Forman Orchestra will headline the Historic SunnyBrook Ballroom’s May 3 "Swing into Spring Polka Blast."
Doors open at 11:30 a.m. The fun runs from 12 noon until 8 p.m. Advance tickets cost $20, or $25 on the day of Blast. Children 15 and under are free. Tickets are available online at www.sunnybrookballroom.com
The Eddie Forman Orchestra has received numerous awards in recognition of promoting polka music and culture. Eddie was inducted in the International Polka Music Hall of Fame in 2006. The band, composed of a very diverse group of musicians, has an expanded repertoire of music.
Doors open at 11:30 a.m. The fun runs from 12 noon until 8 p.m. Advance tickets cost $20, or $25 on the day of Blast. Children 15 and under are free. Tickets are available online at www.sunnybrookballroom.com
The Eddie Forman Orchestra has received numerous awards in recognition of promoting polka music and culture. Eddie was inducted in the International Polka Music Hall of Fame in 2006. The band, composed of a very diverse group of musicians, has an expanded repertoire of music.
They have performed over the years at many venues throughout New England, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Michigan, California and Florida. They have been featured on several cruises to the Caribbean Islands and Bermuda.
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| The Boys |
The band's enthusiasm, their love for the music they perform, their versatility, ability to embrace a wide range of styles, and their dedication to strong, lively performances make the E.F.O. an enduring success.
In 2010, Polka Hall of Famers Mike Matousek and Frank Liszka, along with former band mates Al Puwalski and Jeff Yash, reunited and added the talents of polka veterans Mike Evan and David Morris to form The Boys. The original band was founded in 1980 and played their signature style of polka music until the group disbanded in 1990.
In 2010, Polka Hall of Famers Mike Matousek and Frank Liszka, along with former band mates Al Puwalski and Jeff Yash, reunited and added the talents of polka veterans Mike Evan and David Morris to form The Boys. The original band was founded in 1980 and played their signature style of polka music until the group disbanded in 1990.
The Boys had recorded five albums, received regional and national honors including the United States Polka Association's "1989 Favorite Band" and "1989 Favorite Album" awards, appeared in a major motion picture, and established themselves as one of the dominant forces in the polka industry.
Their "A New Day" CD won the Polka America Corporation's PACE Award for "Favorite Polish CD" of 2011 and the International Polka Association's "2011 Favorite CD/Album.” The Boys' hit song "In My Old Polish Town" also won the PACE Award tor "2011 Favorite Original Song."
Additionally, Pottstown’s own O'Such Rhythm and Music Band will perform.
There will also be a variety of Polish food available for purchase punctuating the high-energy ethnic heritage of the dance.
The event is a part of SunnyBrook’s Heritage along with an Autumn Polka event on Nov. 15.
Their "A New Day" CD won the Polka America Corporation's PACE Award for "Favorite Polish CD" of 2011 and the International Polka Association's "2011 Favorite CD/Album.” The Boys' hit song "In My Old Polish Town" also won the PACE Award tor "2011 Favorite Original Song."
Additionally, Pottstown’s own O'Such Rhythm and Music Band will perform.
There will also be a variety of Polish food available for purchase punctuating the high-energy ethnic heritage of the dance.
The event is a part of SunnyBrook’s Heritage along with an Autumn Polka event on Nov. 15.
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Blight Fight and Land Banks
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Grainy Photo by Evan Brandt One of several charts showing even Pottstown properties on the auction block at a deep discounts are not selling. |
A summit to consider potential remedies for Pottstown's long-standing property problems was held
Wednesday at Connections on High.
The primary methods being presented were: 1) land banks, a relatively knew way to compile and turn-over problem and vacant properties in blighted areas; and 2) enhanced code enforcement strategies that have had some success in Allentown.
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| Some of the materials distributed at the summit. |
About 25 people attended the summit, a mix of Pottstown and county officials and representatives of several non-profit agencies including Genesis Housing Corp. and Mosaic Community Land Trust.
We will be publishing more in-depth stories on these presentations in The Mercury in the coming days, but in the meantime, here are the Tweets from the meeting.
(Remember to click the blue "Read Next Page" bar at the bottom of the feed to ensure you see all the Tweets.)
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