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Greenway Study Plan May Be Complete in 2017

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Photo by Evan Brandt
Montgomery County Planner Donna Fabry with the regional planning
award presented to the Pottstown Metropolitan Regional Planning
Committee recently by the TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce.
What's the best way to manage the stream that runs through your property?

Should a township mow a field all summer or let it turn into a natural meadow if its now being used?

Can planting more street trees help reduce stormwater runoff in developed areas and reduce the need for costly storm sewer upgrades?

Its questions like these that may soon have an answer in our little corner of Southeast PA.

Well, not so little actually.

The largest greenway stewardship study ever funded by the Pennnsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is currently under way in 26 different municipalities in Montgomery and Chester counties.

Undertaken by a partnership between the Montgomery County Planning Commission and the Natural Lands Trust, the greenway stewardship study is looking at more than 4,000 properties in four adjoining regional planning commissions -- the Pottstown Metropolitan Area Regional Planning Committee and those in the Upper Perkiomen Valley, Central Perkiomen Valley and Indian Valley.

Overlay map shows different landscapes that
are part of the Greenway study.
Already a year old, the massive undertaking aims to inventory all parcels over 10 acres, identify the type of one of 10-landscapes it represents and to develop best management practices for the owners, whether private or public.

The data gather phase will be competed by the end of this year or the beginning of the next, said Montgomery County Planner Eric Jarrell.

Then the plan will be written at the same time the Natural Lands Trust, which is helping gather the data and assess the properties, will be writing a guide for the best ways to manage your fields, streams, forests and urban greenways.

Representatives from each of the four regional planning groups will then be tasked with helping the outreach effort to provide education and information to those property owners to help them make ecologically helpful decisions about how they manage their property.

The other item of interest which occurred during the regional planning meeting was discussion of major projects in Lower Pottsgrove, most notably Sanatoga Green.

Tom Troutman, the township's representative, questioned whether large projects such as these comply with the regional comprehensive plan.

Montgomery County Donna Fabry said that when Lower Pottsgrove changed the zoning that made Sanatoga Green possible, it was not in keeping with the regional comprehensive plan, but that the planners have no authority to stop it.

Here are the Tweets from the meeting:


A New Kind of Electronic Music in Pottsgrove

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Photos submitted by Pottsgrove School District

A Pottsgrove Middle School student watches a video synched on her iPad with a live performance by the Pennsylvania Philharmonic recently.



Blogger's Note:The following was submitted by Pottsgrove Middle School Principal David Ramage

Pottsgrove Middle School was able to leverage the power of its iPads during a recent performance by the Pennsylvania Philharmonic at the school.

The philharmonic's program featured works to highlight the power of communication through multiple mediums. 

Orchestral works by Copland, Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, and Bernstein were accompanied by a video presented on each student’s iPad. 

Better still, many of the images contained in the video were visual works created by Pottsgrove Middle School students in grades six, seven, and eight. 

Music, visual art, and student-created displays combined for a powerful and moving concert experience. 

Students were enthralled with the power and grace of these performers.

This professional ensemble is composed of musicians who routinely perform with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Philly Pops, and other local and regional groups. 
The Pennsylvania Philharmonic on the stage
at Pottsgrove Middle School.

The philharmonic performs more than 50 percent of their concerts for school audiences. 

Their commitment to education is appreciated because many students do not have the opportunity to hear this kind of performance in a live concert setting. 

They even provide a voucher for each of our students to attend one of their public concerts free of charge.

Pottstown Schools Invites Parents of Young Kids

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

The Pottstown School District wants to hear from Pottstown families with children elementary age and younger, what they need to better connect with other families, the schools and the community.

Families are invited to get connected at a new series of Let’s Talk community conversations.

This season the Let’s Talk community conversations will be held at each of the four elementary schools to make it easier for more families to come out and participate.

The conversation topic will be: Building Connections for Our Children. 

In addition to great conversation with other parents, Let’s Talk includes dinner, child care, raffles Spanish interpreters and children’s entertainment.

We invite you to come out, meet with other Pottstown School District families and share your thoughts on any of these dates:
Wednesday November 2, 5:30 to 7:30 at Elizabeth B. Barth Elementary School, 467 W. Walnut St
Thursday November 3, 5:30 to 7:30 at Franklin Elementary School 970 N. Franklin St
Monday November 7, 5:30 to 7:30 at Rupert Elementary School, 1230 South St or
Thursday November 10 from 5:30 to 7:30 at Lincoln Elementary School, 461 N. York St.

While the adults talk and network, children will be entertained with arts and crafts and story time by the Pottstown Regional Public Library and, new this year, Jeff Swider Magic Show. 

Mr. Swider is a Pottstown resident coming out of his magic show retirement just for this one time series of events so; you don’t want to miss the opportunity for your children to see this show.

And besides, your kids REALLY want to go.

Don't take our word for it, just ask them:



For this movement to be successful, Pottstown School District family participation from all social, cultural and ethnic groups is crucial. 

Your participation is valuable. We invite you to come out, 

Let’s Talk, have your voices heard and be part of Our kids…Their Future.

The Our kids…Their Future or Let’s Talk conversations are supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the University of Pennsylvania Penn Project for Civic Engagement. 

The grant has enabled the school district to work with the community-particularly families, as well as the local agencies and community leaders who serve them- to determine how the home school partnership can be strengthened, to find out what can be done to increase family participation and to improve support for ALL children’s growth and development from birth through elementary school.

Four Inducted to Pottstown Alumni Honor Roll

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Photo Courtesy of the Pottstown School District
From left, Augustus "Barney" Levengood, Danielle McCoy, Michael V. Fisher and Richard Frerichs with their Pottstown High School Alumni Honor Roll Awards.


Four new Pottstown High School alumni have been  inducted into the Pottstown School District's Alumni Honor Roll.

They are Dr. Richard Frerichs, class of 1960; Augustus "Barney" Levengood, class of 1972; Michael V. Fisher, class of 1975 and Danielle McCoy, class of 1982.

Frerichs is a Millersville University professor emeritus, vice chair of the Millersville University Council of Trustees and the 2014 President of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association.
Richard Frerichs

He graduated in 1963 with a teaching degree from what was then Millersville State College and took a job teaching biology in the Neshaminy School District. There, he also coached track and cross country.

In 1968, he returned to Millersville as the assistant Dean of Men and cross-country and track coach. During his tenure at Millersville, Frerichs held a variety of positions, before retiring in 2004 as the chair of the department of Educational Foundations.

Frerichs received his doctorate from the University of Delaware. As recognition to his commitment to the students and mission of Millersville University, Frerichs was named Person of the Year by the Student Senate and, in 2012, was awadred the President's Medallion.

For more than 40 years, Frerichs was the public address voice of the school's football team and the women's basketball teach for more than 30 years.

After his retirement, Frerichs was inducted into the Millersville University Athletic Hall of Fame.

Levengood has been the executive director of the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the 2006 world champion Indianapolis Colts, since 1991.

He oversaw the $103 million expansions at both the convention center and stadium, which is estimated to have brought more than $2.25 billion into the city's economy, while supporting more than 74,000 jobs.
Augustus "Barney" Levengood

Additionally, Levengood helped to manage Bankers Life Field House, home of the Indiana Pacers, and Toledo Ohio's SeaGate Centre.

Previously, Levengood has been the director of building and client services at the Baltomore Convention Center and directro of operations at the Baltimore Civi Arena.

Levengood also worked as Towson University managing the arena, stadium and student union building.

After graduating from Pottstown, Levengood attended East Stroudsburg and later earned a master's degree from Ohio University. He is a member of the Indiana Society of Association Executives, International Association of Exposition Managers, Religious Conference Management Association, International Association of Assembly managers and the Stadium managers Association.

Fisher has more than 30 years of experience in the retail industry with a focus on branding, marketing and visual display design.

After graduating from Pottstown, Fisher attended temple University's Tyler School of Art, where he earned a bachelors of fine arts in painting.

After college, Fisher worked as an illustrator and fashion designer in New York City, positions which led to designing window displays for retail stores.
Michael V. Fisher

He spent several years in the visual department of Bloomingdales, where he rose to creative director. His use of women's fashion alongside color-coordinated Apple computers led to a job offer from Steve Jobs to oversee merchandising and store design for Apple.

Fisher's minimalist approach to store design, marketing and visual merchandising came to define Apple stories worldwide.

In addition to senior creative director at Apple, Fisher has also held the position of senior vice president for marketing at Ralph Lauren's Club Monaco division, chief creative officer at JC Penney and he oversaw Coach's retail expansion in Japan.

He is currently handling a variety of creative projects through is company, MYKNYC.com.

While a student at Pottstown High School, McCoy was involved in many activities including National Honor Society, Class Cabinet, PHS News, Drama Club, prom committee and homecoming.

She graduated from Shippensburg University with a bachelor of science in business administration with a concentration in total information systems.

She spent several years working in the banking industry as a teller, retail banking
manager before attending to Temple University to earn teaching certifications in accounting, marketing, computer applications and social studies.
Danielle McCoy

While at Temple, McCoy also earned a masters of education in curriculum, instruction and technology as well as the College of Education Teacher Education Graduate in Career and Technical Education Award.

In 2000, McCoy joined the staff of Pottstown High School. She spent two years as the gifted support instructor, followed by six years as a business education teacher.

During that time she earned her principal's certification and vocational administrative directors certifications. In 2009, she became the director of Career and Technical Education at Pottstown High School where she added three new programs to the school's vocational offerings.

At various times in her career at Pottstown, McCoy has been a class advisor, student government advisor, graduation project coordinator, homecoming advisor, history day advisor, job readiness coordinator, 21st century coordinator and the supervisor of secondary special education.

She is also the recipient of the YWCA TriCounty's Exceptional Women in Education Award and serves on the board of directors of the Foundation for Pottstown Education, as well as being a member of teh NAACP.

McCoy currently serves as the first female and first alumnus to be principal of Pottstown High School.

This year's inductees to the Pottstown High School Alumni Honor Roll with the student presenters.

Walking the Walk And Talking About the Walk

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Silas Chamberlin with his book.
Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Schuylkill River Heritage Area.

Hiking has a rich history in America that dates back to mid-nineteenth century walking clubs.

How those clubs formed, built trails and advocated for environmental protection is the subject of a new book “On the Trail: A History of American Hiking,” by Silas Chamberlin. 

On Wed., Nov. 3 the Schuylkill River Heritage Area will host an open house, lecture and book signing from 6-8 p.m. The lecture begins at 7 p.m. 

The event will be held at the Schuylkill River Heritage Area offices, located at 140 College Dr., Pottstown.

Chamberlin, the former Executive Director of the Schuylkill River Heritage Area, has written widely on trail policy and led a number of trail development initiatives, including his work on the Schuylkill River Trail. 

The book, released in October by Yale University Press, explores the origins of nature walking in America, the rise of hiking culture and the role hiking clubs played in building trails.

“On the Trail,” was described as “A highly detailed and engaging look at the foundational role hiking clubs have played in both trail building and the conservation movement,” by John Judge, President and CEO of the Appalachian Mountain Club.

The book sells for $30, and copies will be available for sale during the book signing. 

The event will also serve as an open house to bid farewell to Chamberlin, who recently left the Heritage Area to take another position. 

There is no cost to attend, but space is limited so please indicar you are coming by registering at https://srhabook_signing.eventbrite.com or by emailing ckott@schuylkillriver.org

Please indicate if you would like to preorder a book.

A Fall Full of Fun at West Pottsgrove Elementary

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Photos Courtesy of West Pottsgrove Elementary School
West Pottsgrove Police Officer Andy Peiffer dressed up as Batman for the annual Trunk or Treat at West Pottsgrove Elementary School on Oct. 29.










Blogger's Note:The following was submitted by West Pottsgrove Elementary School Principal Terri Koehler.

The students at West Pottsgrove have been enjoying a variety of activities to celebrate fall and all things related. 
Students enjoyed decorating their own pumpkins thanks
to guidance counselor Jen Snyder and her family.
The children have been listening to stories about Halloween and other fall fun and engaging in many activities related to math, science, reading, writing and art. 

Thanks to Jen Snyder, our guidance counselor and her family, each student received two pumpkins to decorate and take home.

On Saturday Oct. 29, the PTA sponsored their annual Trunk or Treat. 

West End Fire Company's Fire Police
also participated in Trunk or Treat.
 There we 25 plus trunks this year participating along with two trucks from the West End Fire Company and a car from our friends at the West Pottsgrove Police Department, who sent Batman for the event (aka Officer Andy Peiffer). 

Thanks to the lovely fall day, we had a great turn out and the children and families had lots of fun, tick or treating, doing crafts, tasting apples and engaging in a dance party.

We also engaged in some fun with pumpkins related to science and math. 

With the assistance of parent volunteers, the students did pumpkin investigations. 

Pumpkin math at West Pottsgrove Elementary
They estimated the weight of the pumpkins and how many seeds there would be inside. 

The children observed the physical characteristics of the pumpkins and wrote down their findings. 

They then weighed the pumpkins before and after removing the seeds. 

The real fun came when the children got to stick their hands inside and pull out the seeds and then count the seeds inside. 

It was a great way to learn more about pumpkins and for our some of our students; it was their first time carving a real pumpkin.
Magician Sam Sandler entertains students at
West Pottsgrove Elementary School

On Monday Oct. 31, we welcomed magician Sam Sandler to West. 

Sam has a wonderful program of magic and inspiration. 

Sam is deaf and he uses his program to share an inspiration message that the magic is inside each of us and if we work hard and believe in ourselves, we can accomplish anything. 

Pottsgrove School Board Vice President Matt Alexander recommended Sam and the program was sponsored by the West Pottsgrove PTA. 

 His program was a fun and inspirational way to celebrate Halloween as a school.

You Are Cordially Invited to Pottsgrove Manor

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A Georgian table is set at Pottsgrove Manor.








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

Learn about colonial hospitality at historic Pottsgrove Manor this Saturday and Sunday “At Table with Mrs. Potts: A Georgian Dining Experience.”

Historic foodways expert Niel V. de Marino will be on site focusing on the foods and dining experience of a colonial household like that of the Potts family. 

The Saturday workshop will allow participants to prepare 18th-century dishes and the demonstration on Sunday will allow the public to see how a dinner party
would have come together in the Georgian era.

The Saturday workshop runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is open to participants ages 14 and older.

There is a fee of $60.00 per person for the workshop. 

The class size is limited to 10. 

A printable registration form is available online at http://montcopa.org/DocumentCenter/View/12200.

The Sunday demonstration runs from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and is open to the public of all ages. 

A $2 per person donation is suggested for the demonstration. 

No registration is needed.

Regular museum hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

Tours are given on the hour. The last tour of the day begins at 3 p.m. The site is closed Mondays and major holidays. 

Groups of ten or more should preregister by calling 610-326-4014.

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

Pottsgrove Manor is operated by Montgomery County under the direction of the Parks, Trails, and Historic Sites Division of the Assets and Infrastructure Department.

For more information, please call 610-326-4014, or visit the website at
www.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor

Like Pottsgrove Manor on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pottsgrovemanor.

Town's Expert Cross Examined by Quarry Attorney

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Image from last month's presentation by Toby Kessler on the potential for quarry operations at the Gibraltar Rock site to exacerbate the pollution at the adjacent Good's Oil Company site of Route 663.

The attorney for Gibraltar Rock had his turn Thursday night, using his cross-examination at a zoning hearing to try to poke holes in last month's testimony by an expert hired by New Hanover Township that operations from a proposed quarry expansion could exacerbate groundwater pollution there.

The attorney, Stephen Harris, was cross-examining Toby Kessler, a hydro-geologist with Gimore and Assoc., a firm the township hired to assess the threat of the contamination spreading.

Prior to Kessler's testimony, an expert from EarthRes, the firm hired by Gibraltar Rock to answer the same set of questions, testified that there was little chance the quarry expansion would affect the groundwater contamination.

The contamination in question came from the from the former Good's Oil Company site on Route 663. The contamination with TCE and 1,4 dioxane, two potential carcinogens, ruined several wells and required a $2 million extension of the public water system to provide safe drinking water to residents there.

Recently, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection reached an agreement with Ethan Good, who controls the trusts which own the property, to pay for the installation of the new water system and the clean-up costs.

Harris delivered news on that front as well.

He said the DEP has located the concrete pit in which the chemicals were stored and drained it. He said a public hearing to explain those action to the public will be held Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. at Boyertown Junior High West.

Harris also tried to use Kessler's previous testimony about the clean-up of the EPA Superfund site in which the former Bally Case & Cooler Co. polluted wells that supplied the borough of Bally's water supply.

He noted that the levels of 1,4 dioxane the EPA permits to be discharged into the West Branch of Perkiomen Creek, a stream classified as cleaner than Swamp Creek, is higher than the highest levels of contamination found at the Hoff site.

Harris also inferred that since the tributary of Swamp Creek into which the quarry expansion would discharge is not currently a source of public drinking water, a higher pollution clean-up standard might not be required.

The next zoning hearing on the subject was set for Jan. 5 at 6:30 p.m. in the township building, during which residents will be permitted to testify.


Free Narcan Training Comes to Pottstown

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Blogger's Note:
The following was provided by the Montgomery County Health Department.

Opioid/heroin overdoses are up by a startling rate across Montgomery County. Statistics released by the District Attorney’s office state that the County has seen a 138 percent increase in overdoses since last year.

In an effort to save lives, D.A.V.E. – Drug Addiction Overdose Education, Inc. is teaming up with the Montgomery County Health Department and the Montgomery County Drug and Alcohol Program to provide a free Narcan Training and Kit Distribution Session. 

The Training will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday, Nov. at the Pottstown Borough Hall located at 100 E. High Street.

Narcan is a safe, prescription-only medication that temporarily restores breathing during an overdose from heroin or other opioids. 

This life-saving antidote has been available to the public since the fall of 2014, but because of barriers related to awareness, availability and cost, it has been difficult for the family members and friends of those who struggle with addiction to obtain the antidote.

Reservations are required for the event and sign-ups are limited. 

To register, individuals should send their name to davewarriors73@gmail.com and indicate that they are interested in attending the Pottstown event. Once the event is full individuals can join a waiting list for a future event.

Since January 2015, D.A.V.E has distributed over 500 kits containing 1,110 doses of Narcan to the friends and family members of those struggling with addiction. 

The Nov. 7 session will mark the 14th session for the group and its 4th session held in Montgomery County. 

The Narcan Kits for this session are being provided by the Montgomery County Health Department.

D.A.V.E. – Drug Addiction oVerdose Education, Inc. was founded by Cathy Messina in memory of her son David Messina of Bucks County who lost his fight with addiction on Feb. 26, 2014 at the age of 21. 

On that same night another one of her son’s overdosed and survived. 

Messina has made it her mission to help save lives by getting Narcan into the hands of the friends and family members of those who struggle with the disease of addiction, reduce the stigma of addiction and give a voice to the discussion of addiction as a disease in a manner which supports those who struggle and their families. 

The group believes that addiction is chronic but very treatable, and the lives of those impacted are worth saving. D.A.V.E. is committed to helping keep people alive until they can help themselves. 

More information about the group and its work can be found at www.facebook.com/drug.addiction.overdose.education.

MCCC West Stages Acclaimed Play: "Slip/Shot"

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

Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) West End Student Theatre and Theatre Arts program will present “Slip/Shot,” a drama by Philadelphia playwright Jacqueline Goldfinger. 

Show dates are Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 10, 11 and 12 at 7 p.m. with a special afternoon performance Friday, Nov. 11 at 12:30 p.m. 

All performances will be held in the College’s South Hall Community Room, West Campus, 101 College Drive, Pottstown.

Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for students and seniors. To purchase tickets, visit

https://www.mc3.edu/arts/student-performance or call 215-641-6518.

During this mesmerizing drama, a rookie police officer finds even an accident can have paralyzing consequences when his gun goes off in an encounter with a young African-American man. 

Did his gun slip, or was it shot? A heartbreaking performance about violence, fear, and our need to move forward. 

This production contains adult themes and language.

“Slip/Shot” earned the Brown Martin Award and the Barrymore Award for Outstanding New Play. 

Additionally, it was named one of the "Top 10 Productions of 2012" by “Philadelphia Weekly.”

“This is thoughtful and engaging work that encourages us to talk to each other,” says West End Student Theatre Advisor Tim Gallagher.

Directed by Samantha Clarke and stage managed by Morgan Carrasquillo, the cast includes James Rodgers, Maliah Buxton, Hailee Tyson, Erik Reyes, Zach Clark, Jeff Chernesky, and Phoebe Johnson. The production is designed, produced and presented by the students of the Theatre Production Workshop and West End Student Theatre, which includes Derek Peterson, Kayla Velasquez, Toby Taylor, Morgan Carrasquillo, Erika Blue, Maliah Buxton, Quin Newman Zachary Clark, Joe Donley, Tess Devlin, under the guidance of Chris Kleckner.

A Deeply Detailed Dive into Sanatoga Green

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Photos, such as they are, by Evan Brandt
There was no end to the number of renderings, maps and drawings that developers of the proposed Sanatoga Green development presented to the Lower Pottsgrove Commissioners Monday night.


If you like flood plain maps, drawings, renderings, elevations, engineers, retaining walls, zoning variances and in particular, a lawyer speaking for more than an hour, then you should have joined me at the Lower Pottsgrove Township Commissioners meeting last night.
Variations on the type of townhomes proposed for Sanatoga Green.

Because that meeting had all of the above and more.

At the request of the commissioners, the developers of the Sanatoga Green project, Castle Caldecott LLC, consumed the vast majority of the meeting making a presentation of their plans and proto-plans and answering questions that have been raised in recent weeks by the township.

It was a bit overwhelming, but after all, the commissioners DID ask for it. And they seemed to get through most of it with a level head, asking questions as things went along until finally, Commissioners Chairman Bruce Foltz urged attorney Frank Bartle to "move things along."
One of three styles of apartment buildings proposed for 
the Sanatoga Green development project.

And the developers were not the only ones who spoke to the commissioners about the project last night.

Also present was Pottsgrove Schools Business Manager Dave Nester, who presented the commissioners with the district's dubious regard for the developer's prediction that a project with more than 500 dwelling units would only generate 58 additional children in the schools.

Using existing developments of several types, and the number of children each has sent to the school, Nester expressed the district's concern that the reality could end up being very much more than 58 students.

A drawing of one possible model for the medical
office building proposed for Sanatoga Green.
Piling on to that concern was School Board President Rick Rabinowitz who, speaking as himself and not for the board, said the school board has worked hard to hold taxes down and he is concerned that the potential increase in student population Sanatoga Green would generate could require costly expansions to school buildings.

However Bartle countered that not only had the developers used a nationally recognized model, but that the forecast had been confirmed just last week by none other than the Montgomery County Planning Commission.

Other concerns raised, specifically by Commissioner Ray Lopez, is whether the proposed hotel and medical offices that make Sanatoga Green a "mixed use" development would ever actually get built.

Bartle and Ted Drauschak, a principal in Castle Caldecott, replied there are never any guarantees in the market place, and noted that a medical use might replace the hotel.

"It's all about who commits first," said Bartle.
A photograph of the type of 100-room hotel envisioned for 
Sanatoga Green. Several companies are interested.

But after the developers finished and left the meeting, Township Solicitor Charles D. Garner Jr. told the commissioners that one way they can seek to force the issue of commercial development is to ask the zoning hearing board -- which will hear several variance requests from the developers on Nov. 15 -- to put conditions on those variances.

One or more of those conditions could be that the commercial portions of the project be built in order for the variances to be granted.

There were a few other things discussed at the meeting.

There is a new three-year contract with J.P. Mascaro -- which can be extended to five years -- that will cost less (yes, LESS) than the current contract.

The commissioners also appointed an auditor, disciplined a police officer for "conduct unbecoming an officer" and voted to put up new signs to try to ease traffic jams on Armand Hammer Boulevbard during rush hour.

You can read all about it in the Tweets below.

Is Acrimony the Cure to Voter Apathy?

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Photos by Evan Brandt

An overwhelming voter turnout at two New Hanover polling places Tuesday can be partly attributed to the growth of housing in the township.



The lines at New Hanover Lutheran Church were unbelievable, and due in part to a lot of population growth in the township in recent years.

But how do you explain Upper Pottsgrove, where a massive turn-out of more than 80 percent
The line of Upper Pottsgrove voters at Pottsgrove Middle School

Snaked down to the end of the hall all the way to the front door.
occurred at the township's single polling place?

There has been no concurrent increase in this township's population. Lines were also more than an hour at Berean Bible Church in Lower Pottsgrove, due in part to reported problems with a voting machine.

But again, although large developments are pending there, there has been no surge in population in Lower Pottsgrove, or in Union, or in Amity.

So we're left to ask why was turn-out so huge?

Some might say voter anger and they would not be wrong I think.

Although they differed in almost every other way, those who voted for Bernie Sanders on the Democratic side, and those who voted for Donald Trump on the other, shared one common attribute -- they were angry at the status quo.
Maybe its time to heed the advice of Scott Major, pastor of

First Church of the Brethren in Pottstown, also a polling place.

In the Republican primary, the candidate of anger won the nomination, but not in the Democratic primary.

And so the candidate who wanted to up end the status quo faced off against the champion of the status quo, Hillary Clinton.

It meant for lots of sparks, lots of accusations of dirty tricks, lots of friction among neighbors and family.

Are we to conclude that this was what was needed to drive people to the polls?

Most of the voters I spoke with in my round of 10 polling stations on election day, did not seem particularly angry, although the ones who were definitely supported Trump.

Anger as antidote to voter apathy seems a dangerous path for a nation to follow, because to maintain it, the people have to be kept angry.

Proposed 5% Pottstown Tax Hike Down to 3.5%

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Grainy photos by Evan Brandt

This chart, part of Finance Director Janice Lee's 2017 budget presentation to Pottstown Borough Council, shows assessment challenges have put the borough's total assessed property value below where it was in 1999.


It  was a full agenda Wednesday night, a fact that saddened an aging reporter still recovering from a marathon election night shift, but council came through it all in two hours so I can stay awake to bring you this report tonight.

The most newsworthy element of the agenda was Number 11, a presentation on a proposed 2017 budget.

Last month, Borough Manager Mark Flanders warned that taxpayers could be facing a jump of as much as 4.87 percent in the borough's property tax.

Citing a $380,627 deficit, Flanders pointed to a projected 20 percent hike in health care costs, rising expenses and a constant drum beat of property assessment challenges.

While costs are still rising, Finance Director Janice Lee reported that by changing carriers and altering the parameters of the plan, the expected increase in health care costs is now down to 7 percent.
893 successful assessment reductions since 2012 have
cost the borough 

$224,146 in revenue losses.

However, assessment challenges remain, well, a challenge.

According to Lee, there have been 893 successful property assessment challenges since 2012, 209 in the last year alone, that have cut revenues by $224,146.

Without those reductions, the deficit in the proposed budget would drop from $269,225 to $45,079.

Although Flanders said last month the draft 2017 budget expenses were $1 million less than the current year, Lee told council Wednesday that the draft calls for spending only $401,775 less than the 2016 budget.

Lee also warned council against looking again to the reserves to balance its general fund budget (all the other funds are balanced.)

She said from 2014 to 2016, council took $459,182 out of reserves. Combine that with $850,000 over-run in 2015 and the practice has cut $1.3 million from the money available for 2017.

Granted, those withdrawals from reserves did provide for three years with no tax hike in the last four years, but the practice now has the potential to drop the reserves to a level below that recommended by municipal accountants, said Lee.

Lee warned against further use of reserve funds to avoid tax hikes.
The proposed budget already calls for not filling a window position in the Inspections and Licensing Department, and provides for only two new police cars instead of the four requested by the department.

Lee said those are the only two departments that exist entirely within the general fund, in response to a remark by Councilman Dennis Arms that the public needs to understand cutting a position or expense at the sewer plant or on the road crew does not help close the deficit in the general fund.

That leaves council in the position of voting Monday to advertise a draft budget that would raise taxes by 3.49 percent.

Under this plan, the millage rate would increase from the current 10.311 mills to 10.66 mills. For a home assessed at $85,000, that means an annual increase of $29.68 on the 2017 property tax bill. But it's not a done deal yet.

Arms, who said "I can't vote for any budget that includes a tax increase," urged council not to vote Monday to advertise the budget, a move made necessary by legal requirements of public notice  but only if council plans no further meetings in November.

Arms and Council Vice President Sheryl Miller both argued that council should schedule some budget sessions to try to get the tax increase down.

Council President Dan Weand said voting to advertise the draft budget does not preclude having additional work sessions, but Arms said "once it goes into the newspaper, I will start getting calls."

Weand pointed at this reporter and said "it's already out there on Twitter."

The second class of the Citizens Leadership Academy with their certificates.

In  other news, the second class of the Citizens Leadership Academy had their brief graduation at Wednesday's council meeting. Significantly, the class included Borough Councilwoman Carol Kulp.

Council also received a presentation from Hill School Treasurer Don Silverson about the school's proposed new $21 million science building, called the Quadrivium.

It is to be built behind and attached by an atrium to the existing library on campus and replace an outdated science facility built in the 1930s.

Council will vote Monday on whether to apply for a PECO grant to help pay for a new pavilion in Riverfront Park, this one near the parking area at the head of the Schuylkill River Trail off Keystone Boulevard.

Council also heard about the new Pottstown Works program from Wendy Egolf at the Salvasion Army and seemed quite interested.

But you can read all about that in the Tweers below.

Cats Win in a Landslide in West Pottsgrove Vote

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

West Pottsgrove Elementary School found a non-controversial way to teach students about the election -- students voted on whether dogs or cats make better pets.

"The staff at West felt strongly that we wanted to create a meaningful experience for the students surrounding the election without getting into some of the more complicated, adult themes surrounding the presidential candidates," Principal Terri Koehler wrote in a press release.

The polling place at West Pottsgrove Elementary School.
"We wanted to focus on the election and voting process with the children, so we decided to vote on whether cats or dogs made better pets," she wrote.  


A mock debate with staff members arguing their points on cats versus dogs was staged and videoed so the teachers could show it to the students in the classroom prior to the election.  

Staff created voting booths and in the video after the debate explained to the children how they would be voting. 

Many staff members posted signs around the school encouraging the vote for their favorite pet. 

The custodians even got into the fun.  Mrs. Thrasher could even be seen working in the building with a sandwich board on, declaring her support for cats.

A West Pottsgrove student casts her vote
during the school's pet election.
 Many students also made signs declaring their allegiance to one pet or the other. 


On Election Day, staff and students alike could be seen showing their support via signs, t-shirts and posters around the building. 

Each class visiting the polling place where staff and students cast their votes.  The children also created voter registration cards to present at the polls.  Votes were cast and placed in a ballot box. 

Curtains were provided so votes could be cast in private on a simple ballot provided to each voter.  Each voter also received an “I voted” sticker indicating their participation in the election.


At the end of the day, dogs were the overwhelming favorite winning in a landslide of 194 votes to 92 votes for cats.

It wasn’t 270 electoral votes and there was no national significance in our election, but we were able to provide a fun, informative and stress free way to learn about the election and the voting process that we are hopeful our students will carry with them until they are 18 and ready to fully participate in the voting process. 

Now On Display, Art of the Schuylkill

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Best of Show, Butter Valley, Ink Wash by Edward McCarty








Blogger's Note:The following was provided by the Schuylkill River Heritage Area

The Schuylkill River region encompasses a varied landscape replete with pastoral beauty, scenic woodlands, charming towns and modern cities. Those settings provide limitless subject matter for area artists who draw inspiration from the scenery around them.

For 13 years, the Annual Scenes of the Schuylkill Art Show has brought together works by local artists that focus on the beauty and character of the region. The exhibit has grown steadily over the years, and this year includes 98 drawings, paintings and photographs—a record number.

Hosted by the Schuylkill River Heritage Area in partnership with Montgomery County Community College, the juried exhibit will hang from November 9 to December 9 at the college’s West Campus Gallery at 16 West High St. in Pottstown. This year’s show includes a record number of drawings, paintings and photographs. 

All works were carefully selected from 127 submissions by juror Carrie Robbins, Curator/Academic Liaison for Art & Artifacts, Special Collections and lecturer, Department of History of Art at Bryn Mawr College.

This is the 13th year the Schuylkill River Heritage Area has organized an art event. The Scenes of the Schuylkill Art Show began as a print competition in 2003, and has evolved into an annual juried exhibit that has become more competitive each year.

Robbins selected three winning entries and two honorable mentions. Edward McCarty earned Best of Show for his ink wash “Butter Valley,” a highly detailed woodland scene. That award came with a cash prize of $300. 

The second place award went to Brian McNeill for his ink jet print “Green Lane Pastoral,” and Mary Ann Dailey took third place for her photograph, "A Different Point of View." McNeill and Dailey were awarded $200 and $100, respectively.


The two honorable mentions selected included “Fresh Tracks,” an acrylic painting by Richard Sassaman and “Moon Burst,” a photograph by Carol Brightbill. 

In addition, the Schuylkill River Heritage Area staff selected a Staff’s Choice award that went to Terry Souders for his watercolor, “Farquhar and Foxtails.” Honorable mentions and staff choice all receive $50 awards. All winners also will be given gift certificates to North Penn Art, in addition to the cash prizes.

This year, for the second time, the show will be extended with a selection of art to be exhibited at Valley Forge National Historical Park in the Visitors’ Center from Dec. 14 to Jan. 27. A total of 15 pieces will be on display at Valley Forge, expanding the reach of the increasingly popular exhibit, and maximizing exposure for the artists and the show’s top pieces.

The Scenes of the Schuylkill River Heritage Area art show relies on sponsorships from community-minded businesses and organizations. 

This year's sponsors include: Sager & Sager Associates, Dolan Law Group, Campbell Thomas and Company, and North Penn Art.

Most works in the show are available for sale, and a portion of all proceeds benefits the Schuylkill River Heritage Area.

The show is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are: M-Th. 8 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Fri. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. New Saturday hours: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 

For more information contact the SRHA at 484-945-0200. For photos of the winning entries and more show details: www.schuylkillriver.org/Detail.aspx?id=1546.

The Schuylkill River National and State Heritage Area, managed by the non-profit Schuylkill River Greenway Association, uses conservation, education, recreation, cultural and historic preservation and tourism as tools for community revitalization and economic development. For more information visit www.schuylkillriver.org.

Employees Get Raises, Taxpayers Face 3.5% Tax Hike

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Two financially significant votes happened at Monday night's council meeting.

First, council voted to advertise a $52.6 million budget that, if left unchanged, would raise taxes by 3.49 percent.

Much later, council voted on a new two-year contract with the non-police union workers who are part of AFSCME, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

The contract, which the workers approved Nov. 10, will provide 2 percent raises in the first year and 1.5 percent raises in the second year and will add $56,444.93 to the payroll.

Some of that increase will be off-set by savings on health care costs, said Borough Manager Mark Flanders, although it is too early in the year to say how much.

Councilman Dennis Arms cast the sole vote against both measures.

Council also undertook its first-ever employee recognition event, honoring employees with as little as five and as many as 40 years of service to the borough.

"Tonight we recognized 950 person years of service," Councilman Dan Weand said. "We must be doing something right if employees are staying this long."

I'll just leave that one there without further comment.

Council also entertain a significant offer from Pottstown School Board member Thomas Hylton.

The former chairman of the disbanded Pottstown Shade Tree Commission, Hylton said he and his wife Frances are willing to donate $50,000 toward the cost of removing dead street trees in the borough, but only if they can be replaced with new trees.

We'll see how that turns out.

In the meantime, here are the Tweets,,

Pottsgrove Wants New Look at Enrollment Numbers

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Photo by Evan Brandt
Nancy Miller, a district nurse since 1984, who has
worked in every Pottsgrove building, is recognized
on her retirement.
Among the decisions the Pottsgrove School Board made last night was to spend a little extra money to ensure objectivity.

The vote was on hiring a firm to conduct a 10-year enrollment study.

The matter has taken on a new urgency with the proposal to add more than 500 residential units in Lower Pottsgrove in the Sanatoga Green Development.

Also pending, and closer to approval but getting far fewer headlines, is the 178-unit Spring Valley Farms project.

School officials recently met with township commissioners and told them nearly all the school buildings are at capacity and too many students would cause costs -- and taxes -- to rise.

Projections by the developers indicate only 58 children would be added to the school district from the 503 dwelling units, comprised of 171 studio and one-bedroom apartments; 172 two-bedroom apartments and 160 three-bedroom townhomes.

School officials have their doubts about those projects and the fact that they were recently confirmed by the Montgomery County Planning Commission has caused the school board to look to another vendor to conduct its enrollment projection study.

The planning commission was the low-bidder at $7,350, but several school board members expressed concern about the county's involvement with the project.

Both School Board President Rick Rabinowitz and board members Jim Lapic and Al Leach said they had a concern about the county's objectivity.

"The county have a vested interest in the project," Rabinowitz said. "They get more tax revenue but don't have to shoulder any of the costs."

Instead, the board voted unanimously to spend more money, and hire a firm called Futurethink for $9,500.

Business Manager David Nester, who told the board he too had shared their concerns but was re-assured by the county that the planning commission could be objective, said Futurethink has done work for the district before.

"They do fine work," he said, adding that the firm should be able to put together some projects only six weeks after getting the figures, whereas the county would not have results until spring.

The board also recognized a long-time school nurse, the Falcons PIAA District 1 football champions as well as the high school boys soccer team for making it to the district final, losing by one point.

The board also pledged not to raise taxes above 3.3 percent, giving it more time to put together the 2017-2018 budget.

And finally, the board also voted to move $1.5 million of a $2.3 million surplus from the 2015-2016 fiscal year into the capital reserve fund to pay for future work on district buildings and facilities.

Now, here are the Tweets from the meeting:

Costello at Pottsgrove Urges Students to Get Involved

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Congressman Ryan Costello speaking to a social studies
class at Pottsgrove High School.
Blogger's Note:The following was provided by the office of U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello prior to the election.

Rep. Ryan Costello, R-6th Dist., visited Pottsgrove High School recently to meet with students, teachers, and administrators as part of the National Association of Secondary School Principals’ Principal for a Day program and in recognition of National Principals Month.

Costello visited the Social Studies and Civics classes at Pottsgrove High School to share with students his experience as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, a township supervisor, and a county commissioner.

He urged students to get involved in their local government and also suggested they seek information that challenges their worldview.

Rep. Costello ended his school day on “bus duty” with Pottsgrove High School Principal William Ziegler, who was named Pennsylvania Principal of the Year and visited Rep. Costello in his Washington, D.C. office earlier this year.

“The teachers and principals in our community are hardworking and committed to our children’s success,” said Costello. “I really enjoyed meeting with so many knowledgeable students and learning about the impressive projects they are working on.”

Since coming to Congress, Rep. Costello has worked hard on enacting meaningful education reform –an area where he believes bipartisan solutions should be the focus:
  • Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which is now law, was the first major reauthorization of federal elementary and secondary education programs since 2001. This law got rid of the harmful federal involvement in our schools.
  • Costello voted to allow states to withdraw from one-size-fits-all Common Core standards because it failed to raise achievements and took decision-making out of the hands of parents and local educators.
  • Rep. Costello sponsored an amendment that would allow states and school districts to use federal resources to audit existing assessment systems and get rid of duplicative tests. This was signed into law as part of the ESSA.
  • Rep. Costello also helped to introduce a bipartisan resolution expressing support for a “whole child” and personalized approach to education – encouraging the opportunity to learn in an environment that is physically and emotionally safe, and with access to opportunities to learn and practice an active, healthy lifestyle.

A Whole Lot of Swearing (In) Going On in Pottstown

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Photo by the Ever-Present John Armato
Above: Susan Lawrence, right, is sworn in as the newest member of the Pottstown School Board by District Judge Scott Palladino, center, while Lawrence's son Seth, left, holds the Bible.
District Judge Scott Palladino was a busy man Thursday night.
Remaining Photos by Evan Brandt
Acting Superintendent Stephen Rodriguez holds the Bible for new 

student board member Michael Baker as he takes the oath.


He was on hand at Pottstown High School for no less than four swearing-in ceremonies and, one of the happier duties of his office, he presided over them all.

Most central was the swearing in of Susan Lawrence, who was chosen last month by the school board to replace Andrew Kefer, who moved with his family to West Virginia.

New student board member Austin Andrews, right, 

was accompanied by his parents for the ceremony.
Her son Seth held the Bible as she took the oath.

Not to be outdone, Palladino then presided over the swearing in of three new student board members.

They are Courteney Parry, Michael Baker and Austin Andrews.

They will replace the three seniors who are graduating.

The evening was also replete with awards.

Acting Superintendent Stephen Rodriguez presented the Forever Green Award which the district won from the U.S. Green Building Council as the LEED Project of the Year for the elementary school renovations, which are particularly energy efficient.
Courteney Parry, right, takes the oath as her mom holds the Bible

In case you didn't know LEED stands for  Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design and sets a standard for buildings and projects created with an eye toward energy efficiency and minimum impact on the environment.

But as important as that is, there is no more heartwarming award than the one Rodriguez gave out next.

It was to 94-year-old Marge Foley, who has been volunteering at Rupert Elementary School for 13 years.

Stephen Rodriguez with 94-year-old volunteer Marge Foley.
Foley is both a Gold Sage volunteer and a foster grandmother volunteer and "at Rupert Elementary School, you are helping to build the next generation of leaders and you are a role model for both young and old as you continue to display a positive attitude every single day," Rodriguez said.

Noting that Foley is also an alum of Pottstown Schools, Rodriguez said "you are a testament to this community's energy and to the good people who live here."

Franklin Elementary Principal Kevin Downes also gave a presentation about a program called Girls On the Run, which is aimed not only at health for young girls, but also self-respect and confidence.

But it wasn't all hearts and flowers.

As the meeting wound down, board member Polly Weand took upon herself to defend her efforts to raise money to replace the lights at Grigg Memorial stadium from a comment published in The Mercury's Sound-Off column.

Apparently a caller wondered aloud why The Hill School and St. Aloysius could so quickly raise so much money for their efforts while the Save the Lights campaign has yet to reach its goal.

Her voice quivering with indignation, Weand said that both St. Al's, and especially The Hill, have wealthy alum while 72 percent of Pottstown's school population lives at some level of poverty.

She said bitterly that people who have more money in Pottstown are not donating toward the effort and that two fundraising events were cancelled "due to lack of interest."

That was the same reason the campaign lost a $150,000 donor, "due to lack of community interest."

"Whoever you are," she said to the anonymous caller, "you should walk a mile in my shoes. I'm trying so hard."

Weand was consoled by board member Amy Francis who said "I'm proud of what you've done. People just don't understand."

Now, before we get to the Tweets, let's end on a happy note. Here are all the student board members, outgoing and incoming, who took advantage of an executive session break in the meeting to show some class.

From left, Jaylin Chestnut, Austin Andrews, Courteney Parry, Nyles Rome, Kenil Patel and Michael Baker.


Pottstown High Marches on Disney World

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Photo Courtesy of Walt Disney World
Pottstown High School's marching band marches down Disney's Main Street USA on Nov. 13.
Blogger's Note:Some of the following was provided by Disney World.

Pottstown High School Marching Band students entertained thousands of Walt
Photo by Donna Ecker
Disney World Resort guests with their performance at Magic Kingdom on Nov. 13.

The marching band students, alongside director Michael Vought, marched down iconic Main Street U.S.A., playing a variety of up-beat and patriotic songs such as “Firework” by Katy Perry and “The Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Philip Sousa. 

Here are some links to videos shot by parents of the band's performance:
The trip would not have been possible without 
the adult chaperones.
During their five-day stay, the Pottstown High School students also enjoyed exploring Walt Disney World Resort and its theme parks.

(Additionally, the band also visited the Universal Studios theme park, also in Orlando .... Disney isn't going to tell you that ... but I will.)

“I wanted to give these kids an opportunity to go somewhere they’ve never been before,” said Vought. “And to perform for a large audience from around the world.”

Photo by Missy Weber
The group of high school students traveled over 1,000 miles from Pennsylvania to Florida to participate in the popular program. 

Photo by Donna Ecker
The color guard walking proud at Disney world.
This was the school’s 13th visit to the Walt Disney World Resort with Disney Performing Arts.

Vocal, instrumental and dance ensembles from all around the world apply to perform each year as part of Disney Performing Arts at both the Disneyland Resort and Walt DisneyWorld Resort. 

Once selected, they are given the opportunity to perform amongst an international audience of Disney theme park guests. 

Photo by Julie Wilson
The woodwinds march past the castle.
Millions of performers have graced the stages of the Disney Parks in the more than 25-year history of the program.

In the past 60 years, Disney Youth Programs has brought millions of students from across the nation and around the world to participate in its popular programs at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. 

Disney Youth Programs unlocks student potential and helps aspiring people make their dreams come true — whether it's performing among an international audience of thousands through Disney Performing Arts or participating from a large catalog of programs offered by Disney Youth Education Series that provide educationally sound experiences designed for academic achievement.

And you know, it's Disney World, which is kind of a fun place ...

Photo by Stacey Kratzer
According to those who were there, the band found the entire trip to be an uplifting experience .... (especially Nate Camacho, seen here enjoying the support of his band mates.)







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