5K Race Aids Pottsgrove Education Foundation

May 13, 2015, 9:00 pm

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The 14th annual Pottsgrove Education Foundation's 5K Race and Kids Fun Run will be held on Saturday.

The course is a slightly hilly neighborhood runt hat begins and ends at Pottsgrove High School's athletic stadium.

New this year is that student members of the "PRIDE" Fitness Program will join and their culminating event.

Elementary and middle school students have been working toward the goal for the last seven weeks and for many, this will be their first road race.

Registration on Saturday is from 8 to 8:45 a.m. and the race begins at 9 a.m.

The cost is $20 per person and includes a race T-shirt for all participants.

Checks may be made payable to the Pottsgrove Education Foundation.

Awards will be presented for male and female overall winners and with age group medals in grades K-12 and in age groups ranging from 19 to over 60.

For more information, contact Athletic Director Gary DeRenzo at gderenzo@pgsd.org or by calling 610-326-6376.

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Pottstown Schools Budget Proposes Zero Tax Hike

May 14, 2015, 9:00 pm

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Last year, the Pottstown school administration asked for a budget that raised property taxes by 2.9 percent with the caveat that the following year, they would produce a budget that didn't raise taxes at all.

Thursday night, they delivered.

During the meeting of the school board's finance committee, Business Manager Linda Adams unveiled the proposed $57,136,928 proposed budget for the 2015-2016 school year.

Despite a 2.16 percent increase in expenditures, the proposal does not raise taxes.

It relies to a large extent on Democratic Governor Tom Wolf's proposed budget, which would increase state revenues to the district by $1,343,212.

However, recognizing that Wolf's budget is unlikely to get through a Republican-controlled General Assembly unscathed, Adams said the district has a contingency plan to make up the roughly $800,000 in unrealized revenue it anticipates might be lost under a worse-case scenario state budget adoption.

Between the higher potential for property tax reform, the anticipated reported of a revised school funding formula, and Wolf's election largely on public school funding issues, Adams told the finance committee "I think we're pretty well set."

Here are the Tweets from the committee meeting:

Chalk It Up to the Power of Art

May 16, 2015, 9:00 pm

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Photos Courtesy of Leslie Stillings

An example of Keith Haring's art.

A program at the Pottstown Regional Public Library designed to introduce children and their parents to different artists got a surprise recently.

The surprise came when the aunt of an artists they were studying stopped by to express her appreciation of their work, which was on display on the sidewalk in front of the library..

Cora Haring Spare, aunt of famous artist Keith Haring, noticed the children's art work celebrating Haring and stopped by the library to express her appreciation in keeping his memory and art alive, according to Children's Services Library Leslie Stillings.

This was a result of the library's unique six-night series of events that brings education and entertainment to children and parents after the library has closed to the public, she wrote.

Art Fusion 19464 and our Family Nights help the library celebrate, art, life, and literacy.

Keith Allen Haring was an American artist and social activist whose work responded to the New York City street culture of the 1980s. 

He is originally from the Reading area.

Partnerships for these evenings at the library include Family Services, Mosaic Community Land Trust, Pottstown School District, PA 21st Century, Steel River Playhouse, Strive, The YWCA, and Daniel’s Produce.

Spurred to Action

May 17, 2015, 9:00 pm

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Photo by Leonard F. Shaner Jr. The Glasgow Iron Works railroad spur is open for the first time in 100 years. It will allow the Colebrookdale Railroad access to its maintenance shop on the grounds of the former Davis Brothers Scrap Yard.

The Colebrookdale Railroad will have a place in Pottstown to service and maintain their rail cars thanks to action by several players.

The non-profit Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust took possession of the former Davis Brothers Scrap Yard at the end of Old Glasgow Street last year.

The building, once the site of the Glasgow Iron Works, will maintain its industrial heritage by becoming the service shop for the non-profit railroad which will run tourist excursion rides between Pottstown and Boyertown, as well as freight into Berks County.

Recently, Pottstown Borough Council became the first agency to not only forgive future property taxes on the property, but also the partial taxes from the previous year.

Councilman Dan Weand was the only council member to vote against the request, saying he first wanted to know the vote of the school board, on which his wife Polly serves, because their share of the tax bill is much larger than the borough.

Colebrookdale volunteer Leonard F. Shaner Jr. wrote that the new Colebrookdale Railroad spur to the facility is being built with the help of a Pennsylvania State grant and Amtrak Railroad Contractors of Maryland, INC. 

The rail spur leads to the new railroad shop complex. 

The property was donated to the Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust last year, by the Late John Davis who owned Davis Brother's Scrap Company.

Two Townships, Two Meetings, Little News

May 18, 2015, 9:00 pm

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We started our evening in Gilbertsville, where the Douglass (Mont.) Supervisors met for a little less than an hour and conducted the business of the township with dispatch.

Supervisor Fred Ziegler, currently facing charges for a variety of crimes related to his position as a township supervisor, was not present.

The meeting proceeded apace and the big event of the evening, if there can be said to be one, was the apparent success of the township's Trout Rodeo on Saturday.

That done, I hustled myself down Gilbertsville Road to the Upper Pottsgrove firehouse, where the Upper Pottsgrove Commissioners were in the midst of wrapping up their meeting.

I sat in till the end, but I would be lying to to you if I told you there was big news in either of the meetings.

In other words, the Tweets tell it all.

The Dead Weight of Democracy

May 19, 2015, 10:06 pm

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Lots of campaign signs at the Lower Pottsgrove Township Building Tuesday, but not a lot of voters.

The real story from the primary election yesterday is not who won, but who elected them.

Proportionally, it was just a few lonely souls, who took it upon themselves to go out and do their duty as American citizens.

This tiny proportion of the population, which hadn't even broken the 30 votes mark by 5:30 p.m. at one Pottstown polling place, made all the decisions about who will make all the decisions.

Those who did not vote?

They are just Democracy's dead weight.

They are the ones who gripe and complain, who throw up their hands, who say everything is screwed up and money ruins the whole thing -- and by their inaction make their viewpoint a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Its not hard to get people worked up about the sacrifice our veterans made to preserve our freedoms and our rights -- this despite the fact that we mostly treat them terribly when they return from war and, in most cases, won't even bother to turn out for the parade or ceremonies planned to honor their dead next week.

But those of us who have not served, owe them more than just a debt of gratitude for preserving our rights. We owe them the minimal diligence of living up to our responsibility of being citizens.

Being informed.

And voting.

You would not believe, looking at the seven largely empty polling places I visited Tuesday that people once fought for the right to vote.

This country was founded largely by the landed gentry who didn't much care for how England's

By the time I saw Councilman Ryan Procsal  shown here at St. John's Byzantine Catholic Church just before 6 p.m., voting totals for the two precincts were 46 and 27.

landed gentry was treating them, and so rebelled.

They feared the mob and limited voting to property owners.

Then to white males.

Then to women.

Finally, grudgingly, allowing African-Americans the franchise as well.

In each of those cases, a group of Americans fought vehemently to secure that right for future generations.

Our failure to honor that sacrifice mocks their efforts and makes us the laughing stock of the free world.

"Beacon for Democracy?"

Please.

In so many of our wars, our veterans fought and died to ensure that the right to choose our own leadership would be preserved.

I wonder if they look at voter turn-out here, and elsewhere in this country, and wonder why they even bothered.

One might think, from the money and effort spent to splash campaign signs everywhere, that elections are a big deal around here.

If we had any self-respect, we would be ashamed.

Because voting is obviously not a right that we cherish, much less exercise.

As Phil Thees told me at the polling place at St. John's Byzantine Catholic Church, now the polling place for both voting districts in the First Ward, "a tiny minority is now making the decisions for the majority."

Maybe we need to  promote legislation limiting who can vote.

Maybe then we would begin to appreciate it as the source for all the other freedoms we profess to value so highly.

Maybe the only way to make us appreciate the value of what we have is to try to take it away.

As Joni Mitchell so perfectly phrased it, "don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got till its gone?"

Here are some Tweets from my travels on Election Day.

Vets Ride Colebrookdale RR Free for Memorial Day

May 20, 2015, 9:00 pm

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The Colebrookdale Railroad continues to make progress toward full operation as well as partnering with area organizations to make the most of what’s working now.

For example, all this weekend — Saturday, Sunday and Monday — veterans can ride for free on the Secret Valley Line excursion train from Boyertown to Pottstown and then back again.

“We deeply thank all of our vets for their service to this great nation. Please join us in memory of those we gave the ultimate sacrifice,” said Nathaniel Guest, director of the Colebrookdale Preservation Trust, which operations the railroad.

The offer is for military personnel, both currently serving and retired, so long as proof of service is offered at the Gatehouse.

On Saturday, the railroad has partnered with the Boyertown Relay for Life, which will sell hot dogs, hamburgers, hoagies and other items to support Relay for Life’s fundraising efforts to fight cancer with the American Cancer Society.

And on Saturday and Sunday, the Other Farm Brewing Company will offer hard cider and freshly baked apple pie.

On Memorial Day, in addition to food and drink, a special flag-raising ceremony will be held at the Boyertown Railroad Yard at noon to honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in their nation.

There will be a moment of silence during the playing of TAPS.

Built is 1869, the Colebrookdale Railroad was completed by soldiers home from the Civil War just four months after the Transcontinental Railroad united the East and West.

The Colebrookdale is an 8.6-mile long record of epic engineering and heroic human drama.



To make your reservations or to learn more about the Colebrookdale Railroad, go to www.colebrookdalerailroad.com.

There's a Rack for That

May 21, 2015, 9:00 pm

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Have you ever seen a place that you might like to bike, but you don't want to or can't bike to get there?

There's a rack for that.

And its on the front of Pottstown's signature PART buses.

VeloPorter bike racks, funded by a PennDOT grant, have been installed on all PART buses.

This allows bike riders to easily load their own personal bicycles, or any of the free Bike Pottstown bikes, onto the bus and ride to their biking destination.

A kick-off event with practice loading and explanations about how the service will work will be held today at Smith Family Plaza in front of borough hall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

"Pottstown is growing as a multi-modal destination," according to Jennifer Ridgway, PART's director of operations.

She said being able to walk, bike or ride a bike to work or to school "is an affordable and sustainable alternative to traveling by car."

"The success of Bike Pottstown is no doubt related to the growing demand of the Pottstown community to explore our region, achieve a healthier lifestyle and enjoy the outdoors," said Tim Fenchel, grants coordinator for the Schuylkill River Heritage Area.

"The PART Bike & Ride Program will only enhance the user experience for bicyclists in the Pottstown area," he said.

PART, which stands for Pottstown Area Rapid Transit, serves a 54-mile area in the borough and the townships of Lower Pottsgrove, Upper Pottsgrove, West Pottsgrove, Limerick and North Coventry.

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On Excellent Teachers and Zero-Tax Budgets

May 22, 2015, 9:00 pm

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Inadequate photo by Evan Brandt From left, Pottstown School Board President Judyth Zahora, high school social studies teacher Maureen Rieger, Franklin Elementary teacher Jane Hospador and Superintendent Jeff Sparagana.

As much as this is the season of spring concerts, graduations and field days, it is also the time of the school year when excellence in teaching is recognized.

Some of that recognition occurred at Thursday night's school board meeting.

The first teacher to be honored was Jane Hospador, who teaches at Franklin Elementary School and was a finalist for the Montgomery County-wide Voices of Inspiration Award.

Here is a short video with Superintendent Jeff Sparagana reading why Hospador was recognized.




After Hospador, it was Pottstown High School social studies teacher Maureen Reiger's turn.

She was recognized by the Philadelphia Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution as one of the teachers the organization recognizes each year "as an extraordinary educator."

It is presented to "a teacher whose instruction on the era from 1750 to 1800 demonstrates education efforts in the classroom that exceed and excel above the current, accepted curriculum requirements.

Rieger will not compete at the state and possibly national levels.

Here is a short video of the ceremony in her honor Thursday.



Of course that wasn't the only newsworthy thing that happened Thursday night.

There was also the small matter of a $57 million proposed budget that was adopted unanimously and will not raise taxes in the coming year.

But we both know that will get splashed all over the front page of The Mercury, so I thought it would be nice to lead off with the teachers since, to be honest, that will likely not make the paper.

And that's why The Digital Notebook's motto is "All the News That Doesn't Fit Into Print."

Speaking of non-print news, here are the Tweets from Thursday night's meeting.

(Be sure to scroll your way through to the bottom to see lots of photos from the district's first Elementary Math Olympiad, held at Rupert Elementary, as well as photos of students helping to establish a new community garden at Charlotte and Walnut streets.)

In Automotive Memory

May 23, 2015, 9:00 pm

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Photos courtesy of Christopher Moritzen Detail of the memorial bench dedicated earlier this month at the Western Montgomery Career and Technology Center in honor of automotive teacher Steve Bruno.

A car show earlier this month at the Western Montgomery Career and Technology Center was the occasion to dedicate a very special bench fashioned in honor Steve Bruno, an automotive teacher who died last year.

Bruno's widow Margie, woman in red shirt, at the dedication.

Last year, the Joint Operating Committee that oversees the school that educates students from Pottsgrove, Spring-Ford and Upper Perkiomen approved funds for the memorial.

It was created using a 1956 Ford Station wagon, that Mr. Bruno had brought in to fabricate into another project before he passed away.

After his passing the staff and students thought it was fitting that an automotive teacher have a memorial that is based around the automotive world.

"Over the last 12 months teachers and students in Collision, Environmental Design, Carpentry, Metal Technologies, and Auto Tech have been working to create this wonderful memorial, "Mortizen wrote in an e-mail to The Digital Notebook.

"It is located just outside the employee entrance/ administrative offices. it was chosen because it sees the most foot traffic for staff and visitors."

All of the pin striping was done by hand

Over 600 dollars was raised for the Steve Bruno memorial fund which is a scholarship fund to provide students with tools of the trade or scholarship money for a post secondary institution.

Can We Talk?

May 24, 2015, 9:00 pm

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Blogger's Note:The following was provided by the Pottstown School District.

As part of an ongoing initiative to seek community change through family engagement, the Pottstown School District is inviting the district's parents and caregivers of elementary age children and younger to a series of community conversations in the coming weeks.

In relaxed conversational settings, parents will have the opportunity to talk with other parents, enjoy a meal and win raffle prices as ideas about upcoming events, programs and activities for kids over the summer are discussed.

Child care and Spanish interpreters will be available.

The dates and locations are as follows:

• Wednesday, May 27 from to 1 to 3 p.m.: CCLU First Baptist Church, 301 King St.
• Wednesday, May 27 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.: St. John's United Church of Christ, 11 S. Price St.
• Thursday, May 28 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.: St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 564 Glasgow St.
• Tuesday, June 2 from 6 to 8 p.m.: YWCA, 3125 King St.

The initial series of conversations were held in the spring and fall of 2014.

Feddback received from parents and caregivers at those talks aided PEAK (Pottstown Early Action for Kindergarten Readiness) and the Pottstown School District in obtaining a three-year $1,250,000 grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation for early childhood education and family engagement.

For this initiative to be successful, participation from all social and ethnic groups is crucial.

Your feedback is needed. 

Please come out, have your voices hear and be part of a brighter future for our children.

In addition to the Kellogg Foundation, the project is also supported by the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania's Penn Project for Civic Engagement.

The grant is aimed at finding ways to strength the partnership between home and school, to increase family participation and improve support for all children's growth and development from birth through elementary school.

For more information, contact Jane Bennett, PEAK Community Engagement Coordinator at 610-256-6370 or jbennett@pottstownsd.org

Nothing 'Middle" About Bands' Top Honors

May 25, 2015, 9:00 pm

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Pottstown Middle School students performing in Hershey's Music in the Parks.

Blogger's Note:The following was provided by the Pottstown School District.

Recently, the Pottstown Middle School’s concert and jazz bands, under the direction of Ben Hayes,

Ben Hayes with the 3 trophies.

competed in the annual “Music in the Parks” Music Festival held in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Both bands earned first place with the highest possible rating of “Superior.” 

The jazz band was recognized not only for its talented play, but was the recipient of the coveted “Esprit De Corps” Award which recognizes the band that displays the best attitude, behavior, and sportsmanship throughout the entire festival.

“I am extremely proud of all of the accomplishments of our students and how well they represented Pottstown," Hayes said. 

"In the middle of our competition, an emergency occurred with a student from another school district and our students were asked to wait quietly in the auditorium," Hayes said. 

"While waiting, they noticed that the festival host needed help clearing the stage of chairs and other equipment. Our students, without being asked, volunteered to help," he said. 

"I try to teach my students, through music, character above all else and they showed their true character today.”

Pottstown Middle School’s music program has distinguished itself in the areas of concert and jazz band. 

They help to lay the foundation for the outstanding high school music programs and give the school district and the community another reason to say, “Proud to be from Pottstown.”

Pottsgrove Inches Toward Zero

May 26, 2015, 9:00 pm

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The Pottsgrove School Board, which devoted its entire meeting Tuesday night to budget discussion, appeared to inch closer to not raising taxes in the coming school year.

After adopted a proposed final $64.3 million budget two weeks ago that would raises taxes by 2.4 percent, but which board member insisted "means nothing," they got down to brass tacks Tuesday.

The upshot of the meeting was that by guesstimating that:

A) the additional $800,000 or more the district would receive under Gov. Tom Wolf's proposed budget would, by a more conservative estimate, come closer to $200,000 by the time it exits the Republican-controlled General Assembly;

B) that taking another $200,000 from the nearly $400,000 the district received in delayed state reimbursement for the Ringing Rocks Elementary School construction project and,

C) Taking full advantage of the $400,000-plus in savings from  an unprecedented 11 teacher retirements and another savings of equal measure from a second good year in health care claims;

The board could whittle the 2.4 percent property tax hike down to .5 percent.

Board member Rick Rabintowitz led the charge for finding another $200,000 in line-by-line budget savings that could get the tax hike down to zero.

He also argued that there were enough major state initiatives in play -- property tax reform, pension reform, charter school funding reform -- that  a zero tax hike budget could be achieved without putting the district on a slippery slope of pilfering its reserve funds for short-term gain.

No vote was taken, but the path toward a lowered tax hike -- particularly given Business Manager David Nester's tentative endorsement of the path -- seems likely to veteran school board and budget observers.

Here are the Tweets from last night's meeting.

1st Ever Jewish Heritage Festival Today Thru Sunday

May 27, 2015, 9:00 pm

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The art of renowned artist Mordecahai Rosenstein will be featured at Sunday's Jewish Heritage Festival

Blogger's Note:The following was provided by Congregation Hesed Shel Emet.

Mordechai Rosenstein

Come for the art, entertainment, and activities, but be certain to stay for the food at Congregation
Hesed Shel Emet’s first-ever Jewish Heritage Festival, Sunday, May 31, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

With the unique work of world-renowned artist Mordechai Rosenstein as its centerpiece, the day promises a showcase of Jewish music, dance, theater, ethnic foods, shopping, and other activities that people of all beliefs and ages are certain to enjoy.

Rosenstein’s paintings, which derive their inspiration from the beauty of the Hebrew alphabet, have been presented to iconic people, ranging from Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. 

The public is invited to enjoy Rosenstein’s art, noted for its flowing forms and vibrant colors, at several events, beginning with a 1½ hour class, “Art for All Ages,” Thursday evening, May 28 at 7:30 p.m. The following night, also at 7:30 p.m., all are welcome at an informal 45- minute presentation, entitled “My Journey As An Artist.”

The public is also invited to an Artist’s Reception Saturday night, May 30, following Sabbath services. 

Rosenstein will share a powerful slide show and stories about his art and answer questions. Sunday, at the Festival, Rosenstein will continue with his painting, and his work will be available for enjoyment and purchase. 

All events are free of charge; however, a $10 donation is suggested for the Thursday evening class. Members of the public who wish to attend events prior to Sunday, are encouraged to call the synagogue (below) to reserve a spot and verify times.

The Festival entertainment kicks off with Israeli-style dancers in the main sanctuary at noon on Sunday. Rabbi Daniel Zucker, the congregation’s spiritual leader, will follow-up with a question and answer session and a tour of that sanctuary, including its beautiful stained glass windows. 

Israeli-style dancers will perform noon Sunday.

“The idea of a Jewish Heritage Festival makes sense to me in order to inform our neighbors about who we are, and to share the beauty of our heritage with all who would like to learn about it,” explains Zucker.

At 1:30 p.m. the spotlight will shine on the Reading Theatre Project’s production of “From Borscht Belt to Broadway.” 

Vicki Haller Graff, artistic director, describes the performance as a 45-minute “cabaret-style show with songs, scenes, and jokes taken from prominent Jewish performers,” and featuring four actors and two musicians. 

Performers from the Reading Theatre Project

The “Borscht Belt” refers to New York State’s Catskill Mountains, a vacation paradise for a mostly Jewish clientele from about 1940-1980.

Performing musicians and comics were a highlight of those summer resorts.

Music takes center stage 2:30-3:30 p.m., when Klezmer with Class performs. 

Mark Sobol, a classically trained jazz musician who immigrated to the United States from Odessa, Ukraine, directs group members, most of whom are from the former Soviet Union. 

The group, which has delighted Philadelphia area audiences, explains, “The word Klezmer comes from two Hebrew words, clay and zimmer, meaning ‘vessel of music or song.’ Each instrument … takes on human characteristics, like laughing or crying with a joyous exuberance or soulful wailing.”

Congregation Hesed Shel Emet's cookbook, 'Beyond Brisket & Bagels,' will be for sale too.

During the Festival, patrons can purchase lunch and grab dinner or desserts and breads “to go,” selecting from an array of delicious traditional Jewish foods. 

Choose a succulent brisket sandwich or perfectly spiced corned beef on rye or an all-beef hot dog.

Vegetarian meals will also be available. Those who prefer lighter fare can enjoy a bagel with cream cheese or throw on “the works” – lox (smoked salmon), onions, and capers.

Don’t miss “the sides” – potato knishes (savory mashed potatoes and onions in a light dough), kugel (a slightly sweet “pudding” made with noodles), blintzes (thin crepes filled with slightly sweet cheese) – or enjoy them as your meal. 

And don’t forget Mandel Brot (twice-baked almond cookies) or Rugelach (rolled sweet pastries with filling) for dessert.

Kosher wines from onlinekosherwine.com will also be available for tasting and beverages will be sold. Challahs (braided breads that make delicious french toast or are tasty on their own), Jewish apple cakes, kugel trays, hearty rye breads, and other items will also be available to take home.

The Festival will come to a joyous and energetic conclusion as the dancers return to the main sanctuary at 4 p.m. with music and a medley of traditional Jewish dances designed to end the day on a high note. 

Corned beef will be among the traditional Jewish foods for sale.

Beginning with the well-known folk song, “Hava Nagila,” “Let Us Rejoice,” the “dancers are certain to get everyone on their feet. It is a high energy, jump-in and join-in finale,” promises Miryam Nygaard, entertainment chairperson.

Children will enjoy additional activities including crafts, face painting, balloon animals, and a “please-touch” display. 

Also of interest, Al Wiesner will be at the Festival, selling his “Shaloman” comic books. Wiesner created his superhero, Shaloman, so that children could have a Jewish hero with super powers as a role model. Kids of all ages have been enjoying these Jewish Heritage themed comics for decades.

All entertainment is cost-free, but shoppers will have an opportunity to purchase pieces of art created by Rosenstein. 

Bring some challah bread home to make delicious French toast.

In addition, Philadelphia’s “Dahlia: Treasures from the Holy Land,” will offer giftware, women’s apparel, and Judaica items. 

The congregation’s own cookbook will be on sale at a special price of $18 or three for $50, and Festival attendees can also purchase $1 raffle tickets in drawings for themed gift baskets and items ranging from restaurant gift certificates to a small harp from Marini Harps in Lancaster to a family membership to the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia, among other items.

Amy Wolf, congregation president, is excited about this event. 

“The congregation is rolling out a welcome mat for people of all cultures and faiths throughout the region. We want to show folks that Hesed Shel Emet is a vibrant and exciting community," she said. "The Jewish Heritage Festival promises fun, food, education, and a celebration to remember.”

Congregation Hesed Shel Emet is at 575 N. Keim St. in Pottstown.

Congregation Hesed Shel Emet is located at 575 N. Keim St., Pottstown, PA 19464.

In keeping with Jewish dietary laws, the kosher food selections are under the supervision of Rabbi Daniel Zucker.

Dairy will be served downstairs; meat and vegetarian foods will be upstairs.

All food items will be available as cash purchases at the Festival, but for convenience, patrons may also pre-order and pre-pay foods athttp://www.hesedshelemet.org/jewish-heritage-festival.html

To reserve a spot at one of Mordechai Rosenstein’s Thursday, Friday, or Saturday presentations, please call the synagogue office: 610-326-1717

For more Festival information and schedule updates visit: https://www.facebook.com/jewishheritagefestival

For more information about the congregation, visit: http://www.hesedshelemet.org, or https://www.facebook.com/hesedshelemet

For more information about Mordechai Rosenstein visit: http://rosensteinarts.com

For more information about Klezmer with Class visit: http://www.jewishmusik.com

For more information about Reading Theater Project visit: www.ReadingTheaterProject.com

Crime Meeting set for Monday

May 29, 2015, 9:00 pm

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Residents concerned about crime in Pottstown will have another opportunity to discuss those concerns with police and representatives of the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.

Activist and former council president David Garner has arranged for another meeting like the first one held in February.

It is scheduled for Monday, June 1 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers meeting room on the third floor of borough hall and is open to the public.

Jason Whalley, who heads up the DA’s drug task force, has again agreed to attend, as have representatives of the borough police department Garner told The Mercury.

“We want to give both the DA and the police department the opportunity to talk about what they are doing — to the extent they will talk about that — and to tell the residents, in detail, what they can do to help the crime/nuisance fighting effort,” Garner wrote in an email.

One major development that has occurred since that last meeting, was the May 14 announcement of 34 arrests as part of an ongoing gang war that had been going on in Pottstown and accounted for a whole string of shooting incidents stretching back six months or more.

Another 13 individuals are still at large and being sought by authorities and the investigation is continuing.

Also since the February meeting, the police department has begun to use its Facebook page more extensively, seeking the public’s help in finding suspects, as well as announcing recent arrests.

The medium is also being used to acknowledge the role residents tips play in solving particular crimes, an acknowledgement many would like to encourage.

Garner said he hopes the meetings can lead to the development of a standard form or template for residents to fill out when providing the police with tips in order to garner more useful information for the police.

Police are partially headed in that direction already with the establishment in recent months of a drug tip line, that allows residents to leave anonymous messages with details about suspicious activity.

The phone number for that tip line is 610-326-4109 and the email address is drugtip@pottstown.org.

Non-narcotics-related tips about criminal activity can be sent to pottstownpolice@pottstown.org.



Garner said he would also like to see the borough and the county explore using forfeiture laws that could make it possible for the borough or county to take control of nuisance properties that are repeatedly the location of criminal activity — particularly related to narcotics.

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Education By the Numbers

May 30, 2015, 9:00 pm

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Photos Courtesy of John Armato Members of the Franklin Elementary School Math Olympiad team work on a problem.

Blogger's Note:The following was provided by Pottstown School District .

Fourth Grade students from all four Pottstown Elementary Schools competed again in each other in the first annual Math Olympiad on Thursday, May 21. 

The Rupert Elementary Math Olympiad team puts their math knowledge to work.

More than 30 students competed as individuals and as teams to complete complex mathematics problem solving questions. 

In each timed round students were given 10 mathematical problems to solve. Round one was an individual round, and round two a team round. 

Team scores were a combination of the individual and team rounds. 

"I am excited to see our students so enthusiastic about this event," said Rupert Elementary Principal Matthew Moyer. "Competitive academic events like this, challenge the students and will lead to excellence in the classroom."

 The Goals of Math Olympiad:

• To stimulate enthusiasm and a love for Mathematics 

  The winning team was Franklin Elementary School.

• To introduce important Mathematical
  concepts 
• To teach major strategies for problem solving 
• To develop
  Mathematical flexibility in solving problems 
• To strengthen Mathematical intuition 
• To foster Mathematical creativity and ingenuity 
• To provide for the satisfaction, joy, and thrill of meeting challenges

The Results:

Team Winner: Franklin Elementary School

Individual Winners:

1st Place winner Abby Eagle

1st Place - Abby Eagle from Rupert Elementary School

2nd Place winner Lily Fetterman

2nd Place - Lily Fetterman from Barth Elementary School

Special Thanks To: Tri-County Federal Credit Union for sponsoring the event!

Our Pottstown Staff for their help and involvement:

Barth- Kathy Eagle, Coleen Blute, Cara McGuffin, Nikki Alutius, Rachel Pollock

Lincoln - Mandi Wampole, Denise Schleicher

Franklin- Karen Confino, Darla Stout, Bridget Baldwin

Rupert- Allen Ferster, Diana Dotterer, Nicole Valenti, Jamie Fazekas, Lauren Crean, Del Ferster

Hope Takes Flight at VNA Ceremony

May 31, 2015, 9:00 pm

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Blogger's Note:The following was provided by the Visiting Nurse Association of Pottstown

The Visiting Nurse Association of Pottstown (VNAP) will hold its 12th Annual “Hope Takes Flight” Butterfly Release event at 1 p.m.Sunday, June 7 at Midge’s Garden at the Pottstown VNA office at 1963 E. High Street

The event will take place rain or shine. Typically, there is a group of 20-25 people who either participate or watch the butterfly release.

Monarch butterflies are handed out to those who have donated in the memory or honor of a loved one. 

The butterflies offer a graceful, symbolic symbol of the transformation of life’s journeys.

The celebration of life ceremony includes music and reflective readings. 

As a personal recognition of each individual who is being honored, a butterfly is dedicated in his/her name; the names are read aloud in memory or honor of loved ones. Individuals who have dedicated butterflies are then able to release them privately or as part of the collective group. 

Children’s activities and crafts are also provided.

Butterflies may be reserved until Wednesday, June 3. 

There are a limited number of butterflies are available. 

To benefit its hospice program, Berks VNA encourages individuals to make a donation of $25 per butterfly to help support those who need hospices services. 

For more information, call 610-378-0481x3142 or email development@hhcminc.org.

Since 1917, the Pottstown Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) has provided the most comprehensive home health care services available in the area. 

Regardless of ability to pay, its nurses help individuals achieve a level of physical independence and emotional well-being in their home of choice. VNAP still continues to offer round-the-clock support to patients and their families after nearly a century.

Pottstown VNA's primary programs include Home Health Care including skilled nursing, therapy, Wound, Ostomy and Continence Care, IV therapies, and Hospice. 

Additionally, it takes care of bothersome details like insurance authorizations, service coordination and supply deliveries. For more information, please visit www.vnapottstown.org or call 855.THE.VNAs.

After Big Bust, What Now?

June 1, 2015, 9:00 pm

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Pottstown Police Chief Rick Drumheller

The second in a series of community meetings about crime in Pottstown was held Monday and this time, there was more information.

That's because when the first meeting was held in February, the investigation into the major gang war that was behind so many of the months of violent events was still under investigation.

But many of those involved have been arrested and this time, those from the police and the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office could be more forthcoming -- as the Tweets from the meeting reveal.

W. Pottsgrove Pool Opening is Community Day Too

June 2, 2015, 9:00 pm

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West Pottsgrove Township’s annual community day will take place at the township pool on Saturday, June 13, the same day the pool opens for the season.

The pool is located at 953 Von Steuben Dr.

The event, held on June 14 in case it rains, will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. with only $3 admission to the pool and hot dogs, burgers and drinks all costing only $1.

The event will feature fire and police department displays; ice creams, drinks, games for kids, D.J. entertainment all day and the performance by a community band from 4 to 5 p.m.

There will also be a community flea market and yard sale, and anyone can bring a table and sell their own wares for a $5 donation.

For more information, call the township at 610-323-7717.

PEAK Performance and Little Libraries

June 3, 2015, 9:00 pm

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Council's Wednesday work session was surprisingly light, but with a few delightful interludes.

Photo Courtesy of Dick Whittaker This is what the Little Libraries look like.

One was a proposal by the Pottstown Rotary Club to put "Little Libraries" in at
least two (possibly more) locations around town.

People can simply take a book and return it, or not. It is a project of the club's Literacy Committee.

Another was a presentation by Pottstown Schools Superintendent Jeff Sparagana on the district's signature early learning program, called PEAK, which stands for Pottstown Early Action for Kindergarten readiness.

Council also seems inclined to move ahead quickly with the vacant property ordinance advocated by Community Champions which will provide a way to get a handle on derelict vacant properties in town.

You can read all about it in the Tweets below: