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None of the Above (Updated to include New Information from the Administration)

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Here's one of the Reddit offerings suggested as a Pottsgrove School Distirict logo as an alternative to the ones created by a company hired by the school district.





(BLOGGER'S NOTE: AFTER READING THIS STERLING POST, PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR AN UPDATE ON THE FUTURE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT LOGO DECISION:)

Reaction to the three new logos being offered for residents of the Pottsgrove School District has been lukewarm, if comments on the Web and a recent school board meeting are any indication.

Here is one of the district's offerings
After The Digital Notebook published a post Saturday highlighting the district's request for residents to vote among three choices; and then posted links to that post on the Facebook pages of both sets of school board candidates, there was little positive reaction.

the posts were created by a Jenkintown-based public relations and marketing research company, The Communications Solutions Group, with the district hired in February to help with marketing and "re-branding" the district.

This spring, a number of focus group sessions with parents, residents and staff were held and input helped to create the three options posted here on which residents were asked to vote.

The voting ended Tuesday.
Another of the Reddit offerings.
But some, including Greg Barry, expressed disappoint that one of the choices was not "none of the above."

"I wish one of the options was a request to begin again because I am not a fan of any of the logos," wrote Marisa Cerato on the incumbent Moving Pottsgrove Forward team's Facebook page.

"The feathers on the first falcon look too sharp. The 2nd falcon is going backwards (with the same sharp feathers). And, I don't like the expression "Where opportunities take flight." on the 3rd one. I like "Soaring to Excellence" much better," she wrote.
The second district offering
"Pottsgrove needs to 'Re-brand.' Well then lets allow the students to get involved" Al Leach wrote. What would build more school spirit and a sense of pride for our students then creating the new logo and building the website?"

There were even more comments on the Pottsgrove Residents for a New School Board Facebook site -- 42 as of Wednesday evening -- although many were from the same people.

"With all the people I've talked to, I haven't heard support for any of these. There should be enthusiasm if any rebranding effort is going to work," wrote Don Clancy, who won a Democratic line on the November ballot for school board in last week's primary election.

The third district offering
In addition to suggesting using student artists as well, he also suggested asking artists on Reddit to offer options.

"The Reddits will never get approval because they already wasted thousands of dollars on those other ones," wrote Fred Sparrows.

There was some discussion on these Facebook pages about creating a contest among the school community and the Reddit community.

Along those lines, Leach said he created a logo, shown at right, in "about 10 minutes."

A logo created by resident Al Leach.
Some thought the contest should be opened to parents and teachers, while others thought the students should be given the first shot.

Leach even suggested that a scholarship be offered as a prize for creating the logo that gets chosen.

When the discussion made its way to Tuesday's school board meeting, Clancy told the board "I've seen a lot of negative feedback on the logos."

When he was finished, School Board President Scott Fulmer suggested that Clancy, who will be among the challengers Fulmer's slate will face in the November election, "sit down. Because Mr. Clancy, I agree with you. I wouldn't be happy with any of those logos either."

Noting that one had blue type, Fulmer said "you know me, I bleed maroon and white. Anything that doesn't have those colors, I'm not interested."

"I think that's a good idea to involve the students," Fulmer added.

Although no vote was taken, it seems the idea of a new logo for Pottsgrove may be in for a second consideration.

UPDATE!

Well it seems the price we'll pay for trying to cover the Pottsgrove School District is that weekends are no longer non-working days. (Sigh)

Having written this post Wednesday and held it for Sunday, we find there has been a development which alters the conclusion of this post.

On Saturday, Pottsgrove School Board candidate Don Clancy posted on the "Pottsgrove Residents for a New School Board" Facebook site that "Shellie wrote me a nice letter yesterday, informing me that there will be no crowd sourcing for this logo. 900 people logged into Evan's site and voted, one is a clear winner and there will be some variations on that one posted for further review."

First, let's make a correction. 

No voting occurred at the Digital Notebook site. Despite the formidable computing capabilities of our vast underground headquarters, we could not hope to grapple with such an influx of data.

Rather, the post which Mr. Clancy kindly mentions was merely a repeating of the information sent out by the district in an e-mail and a link to the site were voting did occur. So while we thank Mr. Clancy for his concern over our challenged  computer servers, the concern is unwarranted. 

That correction in mind, here is a slightly edited remainder of what Mr. Clancy posted:
I think I pointed possibly more than 100,000 people from Reddit into Evan's site. Sure, perhaps less than 1% might have actually clicked on Evan's site and voted, but there's no certainty those votes came from Pottsgrove, unless Evan Brandt can verify the IP locations of the voters. There was also no "none of the above" choice. How many would have chosen that? Oh well, I can't win them all. Please I know this is going to make people upset, but remember we can only debate ideas, concepts, and policy.
So given what was written above, no I cannot verify IP locations since no one actually voted on my blog site and, more importantly, I can barely verify what I had for lunch on a given day, much less an IP address.

So it appears from Mr. Clancy's post, that the dissatisfaction with the three logos on which votes were taken, a dissatisfaction that publicly included School Board President Scott Fulmer, will not win the day.

Pottsgrove artists, put down your pens, brushes and, more likely, computer mice.


Barth Grad is Paying Them Back by Paying it Forward

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From left, Anyae Germany, Tylaisha Phillips, Marie Delvecchio, Sharon Gatheca, Jena Epright




Blogger's Note:John Armato once again ensures another untold success story of the Pottstown School District gets told.

Pottstown High School graduate Marie Delvecchio gained her appreciation and reading skills as a young student at Barth Elementary School. 

Although it has been years since graduating from Pottstown High School, she found a way to show her gratitude to her former school and hopefully provide necessary reading materials for today’s students with her donation of over 40 children’s books which will be used to supplement classroom materials.

Marie said, “I am thrilled to be able to come back to my former elementary school and hopefully do something that will lead today’s students on a successful and happy adult life.”

Barth Principal Ryan Oxenford said, “Mrs. Delvecchio’s donation helped to expand our library collection and added much needed books to some of our classrooms. This is another example of a former Pottstown student finding a way to give back. I am grateful for people like Mrs. Delvecchio who remember where they developed their love for reading. This donation helps to pay it forward to future generations at Barth Elementary School.”

An Evening With Dr. Franklin

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Bill Ochester portrays Benjamin Franklin
Blogger's Note:The following was provided by Lynn Symborski, educator at Pottsgrove Manor.

Come to Pottsgrove Manor on Saturday, June 8, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. for a visit with one of John Potts’ friends for “An Evening with Dr. Franklin.”

In 1742, Benjamin Franklin and Robert Grace (who would later become John Potts’ brother-in-law) cast the first Franklin stove at Warwick Furnace in Chester County. 

In this program, visitors will get a chance to meet Dr. Franklin, as portrayed by Bill Ochester, and learn about his invention, the “Pennsylvania Fireplace.” 

 Ochester has been portraying Benjamin Franklin for over a decade, appearing at venues all over the country, including Valley Forge National Historical Park, Old City Philadelphia, the National Constitution Center, and the National Fourth of July Parade in Washington, DC.

After his formal presentation, visitors can chat with Dr. Franklin, enjoy colonial-style refreshments, and tour the first floor of the Potts’ mansion. There is a $2.00 per person suggested donation for the program, which is recommended for children ages 10 and up.

This program is being held in conjunction with Pottsgrove Manor’s current exhibit, “Forging a Lifestyle: Ironworking with the Potts Family.” 

The exhibit can be viewed during a guided tour of Pottsgrove Manor during regular museum hours Tuesday to Saturday from 10 0.am 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, home of John Potts, colonial ironmaster and founder of Pottstown, is located at 100 West King Street near the intersection of King Street and Route 100. 

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 and a full calendar of events, visit the website web at www.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor. Like Pottsgrove Manor on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/PottsgroveManor.

The Changing of the Guard

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Bob Thomas, with his wife and son and his framed appointment as the new police captain, a position once held by Police Chief Rick Drumheller, right.


Wednesday night, Pottstown Borough Council voted on a new set of officers for the Pottstown Police Department.

All were sworn in by Pottstown Mayor Bonnie Heath.

Bob Thomas was named as the new Captain of the department, replacing Rick Drumheller who was named chief last month.



Barry Grimm was sworn in as the department's newest sergeant.



And Mike Long was named the department's newest corporal.



And finally, in a what seemed a genuine surprise to him, Borough Manager Mark Flanders, who officially retired as the chief in April after 34 years with the department, was presented with his honorable discharge papers in a frame and a commendation from the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office.


A Real Pick-Us-Up

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Photos provided by Sheila Dugan

A clean-up crew hits the 200 block of Chestnut Street outside small graveyard that is home to the grave of Pottstown founder John Potts.

Saturday, June 1 saw a about 50 dedicated volunteers who braved the heat to pick up around town for the Pottstown Community Clean-Up.
Who knew there was so much brush to pick up

at Security Plaza?

At Wednesday night's council meeting, Borough Councilman Mark Gibson, who helped organize it, called
the affair "a great success and I want to thank the community for doing an excellent job."

"Even during the heat, they showed up and they picked up," he said.

Pottstown School Board member Ron Williams, who also lent a hand, provided the following:
Bill Sharon, left, preps volunteers.
(Is that Mark Flanders 

in the center without a tie? Yup.)
"I have to say, it was as successful as I could have hoped for. I estimate that we had about fifty volunteers in and around town.

The Pottstown High School football team was well represented; Board Member Andrew Keefer and I represented the School District;

The Borough government was well represented, (although a number of us were perplexed by a stranger sitting on the steps prior to getting into action who kept recognizing us, turns out that our Borough Manager out of a suit/uniform is not an easy person to identify) and Sheila Dugan brought her PDIDA group as well.

Folks from around the neighborhoods joined us and this was just at the borough hall site.

The Empire Fire Department contingent was also well represented and I have to say, it was an effort that you had to be proud about.

At noon, we invited everyone to gather at Smith Plaza, (we moved over to the Train Station for
Ron Williams, driving the pick-up. said turnout was great.
the grilling of dogs and burgers, (compliments of the Ice House, Grumpy's supplied the Raspberry Ice Tea and PDIDA provided water bottles for the thirsty).
This was a successful event because of the combined efforts of Mark Gibson, Bill Sharon, Judges Krop and Palladino, PDIDA, The Borough of Pottstown and the community that cares." 
Water was a valuable commodity in Saturday's heat....

...And so was shade.



Bidding Ballyhoo

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Artists rendering of what the restrooms and concession stand for the mini-golf course the borough wants to erect at the western "Gateway" to Pottstown, if only they can manage to sink the piers that will hold up the building.


Two major projects in the borough may be stymied by bids that have come in over the project’s budgets Public Works Director Doug Yerger reported Wednesday.

Bids for the replacement of the collapsed underground stormwater arch on Grant Street and the “Gateway” miniature golf course project on High Street both came in much higher than expected and borough officials are not sure why.

Assistant Borough Manager Erica Weekley said the borough received only one bid for arch repair.

The collapsed arch, between Walnut and Beech streets and alongside The Hill School, was discovered in December, when a specialist hired by the borough to check for water main leaks detected something unusual.

When the street was opened, it was discovered that the foundation under one of the arch walls had been undermined, forcing one side of the arch wall to collapse.

Photo by Evan Brandt

Workers close off the collapsed stormwater arch on Grant Street.
The cost of replacing it just keeps going up.

Originally estimated at a cost of between $40,000 to $50,000, the first low bid for the repair instead came in on Feb. 19 at $124,743, Yerger said.

A second round of bidding didn’t improve matters any when just one bid came in that was no less expensive.

Meanwhile, at the “Gateway” project, where three bidders made construction proposals, bid costs ranged from $771,000 to $917,000, “which is $140,000 high, and we have to find out why,” said Yerger, adding, “they seem to be totally out of line.”

Added Yerger, “right now, we’re no understanding what went wrong” with the estimates.

“We’ve already taken out $100,000 to $150,000 in expenses for this project, we can’t take any more out of this project’s budget at this point and still stick with the concept we chose,” he said.

That concept has an environmentally-themed mini-golf course going up on part of the former Pottstown Metal Weld property between King and High streets and adjacent to the Carousel building.

The borough saved much of that money primarily by purchasing a pre-fab building to serve as the mini-golf office, restroom and concession stand, for $60,000 rather than building from scratch, at a cost of $100,000 to $150,000.

The cheaper option was discovered when it was brought to the borough’s attention that it could join an educational purchasing cooperative and obtain the proposed building at lower cost.
Steve Toroney

But even putting that building in place is proving problematic, Yerger told council.

When a holes were dug to put the building footers in the ground “we came up with pieces of brick and wood, all kinds of junk,” Yerger said. “We went 11-feet down and still haven’t hit bedrock, and then we hit water.”

“The soil is not adequate and this has become much more involved then we anticipated,” Yerger said.

Test borings may be necessary to see if footers can be used, “otherwise we might not be able to put in a standard pier system to hold that building up.”

Council President Stephen Toroney suggested using tn existing concrete slab where a building once stood on the property.

“That should hold it,” Toroney said. “It’s only a trailer.”

Referring to both the arch and Gateway projects, Yerger observed that the paucity of bids suggests “it doesn’t seem like everyone’s as hungry as they might have been at one time.”

However things are going right — so far — on at least one borough project, the planning for a new borough
Photo by Evan Brandt

10 Rice St. will soon be home to Pottstown's new borough garage.
garage at 10 Rice St.

Toroney said the committee selecting architects was most impressed with the firm of Kimmel Bogrette, out of Conshohocken, which will be at Monday night’s meeting to talk about their proposal.

“What I’m most concerned about are change orders and budgeting and they really nailed it” in their presentation, said Councilman Joe Kirkland.

Yerger said so far, the borough has not been over specific about what it wants from the new borough garage, and Monday night council is expected to vote to hire the firm for the first phase of the project “where we work with the staff really identify and narrow-down the component pieces, so when the project goes out to bid it is not too broadly priced out.”

“There are a lot of variables to be worked out yet,” he said.

That first phase work, which will involve developing costs estimates from working out those details enough to allow the project to go out to bid, will cost taxpayers about $13,000, said Yerger.

George Orwell is Laughing At Us

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I used to joke about wanting to see my FBI file.

This was said in the vain hope that I actually had one.

There was a part of me that felt it would be kind of a curmudgeon's badge of honor to have one, but I wasn't quite sure I had been enough of a pain in the ass to merit one.

Turns out its not so special.

Turns out, we all have one.

Turns out all you need to do to merit being under surveillance in the United States is to be born in the United States, have an inalienable right to protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and then have that right summarily ignored under some nebulously defined threat which will never go away.

Oh yeah, and own a phone or use a computer.

So first, thanks to The Guardian, a British newspaper whose financial foundations are shaky at best, we learn that the National Security Agency, which is charged with keeping an eye on foreign developments, has been collecting the phone records of millions of Verizon customers on a daily basis.

(Here's the court order that makes it all legal.)

The Verizon order was made under the provisions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (Fisa) as amended by the Patriot Act of 2001, passed in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, The Guardian reports.

The Guardian also reported that:
The court order appears to explain the numerous cryptic public warnings by two US senators, Ron Wyden and Mark Udall, about the scope of the Obama administration's surveillance activities.
For roughly two years, the two Democrats have been stridently advising the public that the US government is relying on "secret legal interpretations" to claim surveillance powers so broad that the American public would be "stunned" to learn of the kind of domestic spying being conducted.
Sadly,  I think they overestimate the American public's sensitivity to this issue.

Me? I'm just stunned that two elected officials in Washington actually seem concerned about this.

Although, maybe when the public realizes the Obama administration considers them no more worthy of Constitutional protections then journalists, THAT will make them mad.

I mean come on. Journalists? Those guys are awful!

Then comes the news from The Washington Post that our friends at the NSA and FBI are also "tapping directly into the central servers of nine leading U.S. Internet companies, extracting audio and video chats, photographs, e-mails, documents, and connection logs that enable analysts to track foreign targets, according to a top-secret document obtained by The Washington Post."

Like a bad spy novel, the Post reports the program is "code-named PRISM" and operates by:
"Collection directly from the servers of these U.S. Service Providers: Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Facebook, PalTalk, AOL, Skype, YouTube, Apple.”
London’s Guardian newspaper reported Friday that GCHQ, Britain’s equivalent of the NSA, also has been secretly gathering intelligence from the same internet companies through an operation set up by the NSA.
All of this collection of "meta-data" is done by merely taking the information we gleefully allow private companies to collect on us all the time in exchange for convenience, so the government asking for information that already exists all seems kind of normal.

It shouldn't.

It should worry the hell out of us.

For those of us who think the Constitution is only about guns and free speech, permit a refresher on the Fourth Amendment:
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
No doubt the legal argument here is that the government is only taking what we have freely given to giant corporations.

It does not, however, make me feel secure in my papers or effects," and it appears the only "probable cause" or "affirmation," the government has offered in seizing this information is: "some of you might be terrorists."

I call it this the Jeff Foxworthy (of "You might be a red neck" fame) rationale.

We can spy on everyone because, well, some of you might be  a terrorist, if not now, then maybe some day.

This kind of "perpetual crisis" not only provides job security for everyone in the security business, it also means they will ever stop collecting this information and potentially using it against us for reasons that have very little to do with terrorism.

So if you don't have a file with the good old FBI, then maybe you've got one with the NSA, or maybe the CIA or even some agency so secret we're not even allowed to know it exists.

(Please note here that these are NEWSPAPERS no one buys anymore undertaking these investigations. No major network would have the balls to confront the government like this. Keeping those in power accountable is the job of a free press and, these stories indicate, we are still, sometimes, up to the job.

On my desk at work, I have a quote from Winston Churchill taped to my computer: "A free press is the unsleeping guardian of every other right that free men prize."

So when newspapers finally go away, so too will another avenue to find out what the hell our government is doing. But hey, at least we'll always know when Lindsay Fucking Lohan goes back to rehab again! End of rant.) 

It was inevitable I suppose.

Since the Internet, technology has raced forward at a pace far exceeding our ability to understand its full implications or recognize its downsides, much less muster the collective political will to do something about it.

Needless to say, the security agencies immediately recognized the opportunities and capitalized upon the inability of the political arm to adapt our laws to recognize that communication in an envelope should enjoy the same protections as communication in a virtual envelope.

They might need a court order to open your physical mail, but apparently all it takes is one to open EVERYONE's e-mail, or Internet searches, or Google searches of Skype conversations.

Once the law catches up to those practices, if ever, the government, our government, will already have stockpiled millions of pieces of data on its citizens for use as they see fit in the never-ending "war on terror."

(Seriously, how does one win a "war on terror." When a child gets terrified on a roller coaster, who do we declare war on? The child? The roller coaster?)

And once they have this information, how realistic is it that a law would be passed making them stop or give it back, particularly given that the law, process for enforcing it and contents of the searches are all secret?

These intrusions into our privacy began under President Bush's administration, but it is President Obama who has chosen to continue them and, in some ways, that makes him more guilty in my eyes.

Because, unlike Bush, Obama promised to stop these practices and has, instead, expanded them.

Combine these outrages with a drone program that kills American citizens without trial and one begins to consider that perhaps its not the Second Amendment we need to worry about this president undermining -- it's all the others.

These are supposed to be our founding principles. If we abandon them for convenience or because we're scared or under attack, how sacred can we really be said to consider them?

The fact that Ben Franklin's quote about "those who would sacrifice liberty in exchange for security deserve neither" is so overused its become trite, does not make it any less true.

Why should be we worried about this?

Pretty simple really and Guardian columnist Glenn Greenwald puts it simply:

"No healthy democracy can endure when the most consequential acts of those in power remain secret and unaccountable."






Pottsgrove Middle School Educators Honored

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Pottsgrove Middle School counselor Kimberly Kelly with students.

Pottsgrove Middle School Counselor, Kimberly Kelly, has been recognized as
Kim Kelly with her award.

Montgomery County Counselor of the Year for 2013 by the Montgomery County Counselors Association, Principal Bill Ziegler reports..

"It is my honor to congratulate Kim Kelly," Ziegler said prior to a recent special luncheon during which she was recognized with a plaque for special recognition from the association.

"Our faculty and staff are so proud of Mrs. Kelly for this prestigious award; she plays such an instrumental role in the life of our school," Ziegler wrote in a note to The Digital Notebook.

"This is the same recognition that Mr. Kincaid received in 2010 as he was selected as the 2010 Montgomery Counselor of the Year," he added.

But Kelly was not the only award-winner in the building.

Pottsgrove Middle School Physical Education Teacher, Marilyn Eaton, was selected as the NFL's Fuel Up to Play 60 Advisor for Pennsylvania and the Pottsgrove Middle School FUP60 team was also recognized at the highest level, according to Ziegler.

"Marilyn was recognized for her achievement in the Mid-Atlantic Dairy and NFL's partnership of the Fuel Up to Play 60 program which encourages students to make sure that they get 60 minutes of physical activity each day to stay healthy and strong," Ziegler wrote.

"Marilyn and the Fuel Up to Play 60 PGMS Teacher team attended a special reception at Lincoln Financial Field. At this event, Marilyn had an opportunity to showcase the great work of our students and staff," according to Ziegler.
Marilyn Eaton shows off her Eagles pride.

"Mrs. Eaton is now responsible for the leadership of the Pennsylvania Fuel Up to Play 60 program which helps schools to find ways to get students physically active for at least 60 minutes each day," he wrote.

In addition to Marilyn's honor, the PGMS Fuel Up to Play 60 Teacher Team won the highest recognition from the FUP60 for their full implementation of the program at PGMS.

During this evening event, teachers got a chance to meet with Philadelphia Eagle Tight End, Brent Celek, tour Lincoln Financial Field, and connect with a local dairy farmer.

The FUP60 Team of Teachers Include: Marilyn Eaton, Julie Davis, Stacy McHugh, Deb Arnosky, Steve Pallidino, Jennifer Forwood, Gloria Fritz, Christine Henry, Deb MacIlvain, Jim Polli, Susan Rutter, Eric Engstrom, Deb Frasca, Justin Giles, Cristina Kleinfelter, and Jodi Sproule.

"Congratulations to the entire Fuel Up to Play 60 PGMS Team, and Mrs. Eaton as she now will be leading the state for the next school year with the FUP60 program," Ziegler wrote.

Marilyn Eaton and a local dairy farmer at the FuelUp to Play 60 Ceremony.


Tennis Anyone?

They've Been Working on the Railroad

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Volunteers along the Colebrookdale Spur

Blogger's Note: The following is provided by Nathaniel Guest on behalf of the effort to transform the Colebrookdale Spur into a tourist excursion railroad.

On Saturday June 8 and Sunday June 9, teams of volunteers came out to the
Colebrookdale to accomplish a very important task: cleaning up the right of way.

For some time, the Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust has been advocating and planning for a tourist passenger railroad on the Colebrookdale. 

A recent report found that the Colebrookdale as a tourist railroad can be a powerful engine of economic development for our region.

One of our goals in getting the railroad ready for prime time has been to clean up the line. 

Saturday and Sunday brought 40 volunteers. 

The Pottstown Roller Derby Rockstars led the charge on Sunday, augmented by folks from the Montgomery County ARD program on Saturday.

Berks County Subway provided lunch for all volunteers, and the Pottstown Health and Wellness Foundation provided water. 

J.P. Mascaro & Sons provided two dumpsters. 

The clean up was coordinated by the Beanie Clark with support from the Borough of Pottstown.

A Story Shandy Hill Would Have Loved

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Sage Reinhart, Pottstown, in foreground, working with youngsters at a Trojan Youth Camp work shop. This year, Reinhart was the quarterback for Pottstown High School's football team.

The Greater Pottstown Foundation has awarded a $30,000 scholarship to a graduating Pottstown High School senior as the result of an essay he wrote about the impact of growing up and going to school in Pottstown.

The Shandy Hill Scholarship, named after the founding editor and publisher of The Mercury, was awarded to Sage Reinhart.

Paul Prince, chairman of the foundation, called Reinhart's essay "intriguing" in the May 30 letter he sent to Pottstown High School Principal Stephen Rodriguez announcing the award.

Reinhart "perceptively comes to understand that quality is not inherently fiar and skill and talent do not necessarily result in advancement," Prince wrote.

"On a different note, I must inform you that Pottstown offered a number of excellent essays," Prince wrote. "In fact, we were confronted with the greatest quantity of quality essays we have seen in many years." 

Reinhart was awarded a $30,000 scholarship to be used over the next four years. 

He competed against senior students from The Hill School, OJR, Pottsgrove and Pottstown.


Here, in its entirety is Reinhart's essay:

“It’s not fair!”

That complaint would earn you laps. And more laps. And probably even more. Coach just let you run until he decided -- or remembered -- to tell you to stop. Even those of us who didn’t pick up stuff too quickly learned pretty fast that “fair” wasn’t a word we used on the football field.
Reinhart received a "Mini-Maxwell this year.

As a Pottstown High School athlete, I played on a level playing field. Once the pads, the uniform, and the helmets went on, we were all the same. The only thing that made us different was what we brought THAT day -- the effort, the skill, and the attitude during THAT practice or THAT game. The past was the past and we only got as far as what we contributed and worked for at that moment.

That focus -- on the practice, on the game -- made everyone equal. We didn’t have to worry about “fair” because we all got the same shot at success, and that was fair in coach’s book.

Up until a little bit ago, I thought those lessons I learned on the playing field pretty much summed up life. With practice, skill, and determination, anyone could accomplish anything. But, in the spring of my senior year, as college acceptances rolled in, my eyes opened to a much larger playing field; and I saw that not all arenas are quite as “even” as the ones I played in. Two of my friends were pretty equal as students. Both excelled in the classroom, both were athletes, both wanted to go to Yale. Only one got admitted.

Now I always heard people talking smack on other people. That was nothing new. But, when my white friend did not get into Yale, and my black friend did -- there was more talk than just the usual trash. It was all about race and how “blacks got everything.” I’ll admit, it didn’t seem fair -- actually, it went against everything that I thought I had learned about life: You get in the game and give it all you have -- and the best team wins. Yale wasn’t even letting my white friend on the field.

As a lifelong Pottstown resident, I have been around diverse groups of people everywhere I’ve gone. In a town that has been transformed by the loss of factories and steel mills, Pottstown has developed a large rental-housing base. Many people with low paying jobs or no jobs at all are attracted to the low-cost housing available here. As a school district, Pottstown has the highest poverty rate in Montgomery County at almost 16%. We have one of the most racially diverse schools in the local area, ranking even statewide in the top 10% of both black / African-American populations as well as Hispanic populations. Having so much diversity around me, I am not accustomed to the levels of resentment that this college admissions process exposed. I began to examine my beliefs.
Reinhart, right, giving a few football lessons.

I come from a family of small business owners. My great grandparents and grandparents on both my mom’s and dad’s sides began businesses in Pottstown. They grew up in this town, made friends, and needed to make their way in this world. Though they didn’t work at any of the foundries, steel or textile mills or machine shops throughout the region, their businesses served the people that worked in these places. A bridal shoppe and a painting business were the ways that my family invested in both Pottstown and in the future. No one handed my family anything. They got in the game by working hard; and they kept up the success by never quitting, never complaining, and never whining about things being “fair.”

My grandfather, in particular, believed in practice, skill, and determination -- just like my football coach. As I heard more and more people talk about how some people didn’t get into Yale and others did, I really began to think. In talking to my brother, I remembered a family story that helped me get a perspective on the situation and to think about what I believe. My grandfather was called “Deacon” by everyone in town. He was an outstanding high school football player and a well-respected person in Pottstown. We always talked about how he had been written about in Earl Davis’s autobiography From Carolina Chain Gangs to Earl of Alaska. Davis had been a criminal, who eventually was in federal prison, but my grandfather Deacon Reinhart gave him a job -- and that was the start of a turn around in Davis’s life, the beginning of his success. Deacon looked at a man who had less than nothing and gave him something -- a chance.

Maybe that is what this admissions thing is -- a chance. Because no matter how else I look at it and no matter how diverse my friends are, one thing remains: Pottstown’s poverty is largely black-faced. When our big businesses and factories closed, many of our white workers relocated. Our changing town provided a chance for many without housing and a good school system to have just that. Maybe Yale was just “upping the ante” -- giving a chance to someone who historically had been denied that by white America.

I have always known that “fair” isn’t a rule in the game of life, just like on the football field. Now, I realize more than ever, that the field is not level -- and it is not because of me or because of any of my friends. It’s not because Pottstown has low-income housing or because we are diverse. The field of life is not level because not everyone comes to the game with the same equipment. Some Americans have been denied the chance for their great-grandparents and grandparents to get in the game. They never HAD a chance to play because of decades of racial discrimination, exploitation, and outright slavery. If we as a society expect everyone to be able to compete, we have to make sure that we give chances to those who might be different than we are. Some, like Earl Davis, might have issues that prevent them from being “employable,” but given the opportunity might be able to contribute significant things to society. Others might find that decades of lost opportunity means that they need both a “hand out” and a “hand up.” Either way, I know two things: one, I am glad to have had the chance to be educated and trained in a color-blind system, the Pottstown School District; and, two, I am realizing that equipping people to play the game might not be as uniform as some think. Everyone deserves a chance -- that chance might just look different for different people.

Reinhart, No. 9, with his fellow Trojans.

Borough Hall Lock-Down

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Photo by Evan Brandt
The new, "secure vestibule" was partially installed in the Public Works Department by Tuesday afternoon.




Already home to the Pottstown's police force, other sections of Pottstown Borough Hall are becoming more secure this week as well.

New walls and vestibules with glass security windows and chrome-plated pass-through trays are being installed throughout the second and third-floor offices of borough hall.

Not So Good Photo by Evan Brandt
The new "secure vestibule" outside the office of 
Borough Manager Mark Flanders
The barriers being erected between the public and their paid employees are similar to those already in place at the finance window on the second floor where bills are paid.

Now, the other departments will be located behind similar barriers as well.

Borough Manager Mark Flanders said the new construction is a security measure to make the borough hall staff feel more secure.

There was at least one previous hostile encounter for Finance Director Janice Lee, who had to face down an angry property owner over a water shut-off.

Flanders said the money to pay for the construction is part of the 2013 budget.

At least one of the contractors doing the work said installing the walls required tearing out half-walls and counters put in just last year.



This Saturday in (Medical) Science

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Try not to be jealous of those fabulous calves of mine people.

So we've spent a lot of time in our This Saturday in Science features, exploring space, beneath the ocean and, um, back to space again, so we figured it might time to explore some inner space, like the kind inside our bodies.

Luckily, just as that thought occurred to me, I had reason to visit the emergency room at Pottstown Memorial Medical Center.

This thing is definitely science-related....
As it turns out, ever since I was a tyke, I've had an umbilical hernia.

It means there is a space in the muscle wall (not that this is an area of my body known for its muscle) and
sometimes, things that belong inside, can peek through the hole.

That's the scientific explanation for a hernia, I swear.

Anyway, other than an abnormally violent objection to being tickled there, it never gave me any problem and I never paid it any mind -- until last weekend that is.

I'll spare you the details of the lead-up.

Let's just say some pain, a terrifying trip through medical pages on the Internet, and a call to our on-call doctor ended up in a late night Sunday visit to our friends in the emergency room.

Now, to be sure, there were lots of needles, gadgets and gizmos that were all sciency.

But the actual healing came about as the result of some expert laying on of hands by the doctor on call who essentially put everything back where it belonged without nearly as much pain as I imagined it would entail.

Despite the obvious advantages, this port is apparently
not designed for the delivery of spirits. 
So, thanks for that.

I thought that was pretty cool and was ready to up and leave at that point, which would have made this a very short post.

Pain gone?

Problem solved, let's go.

Yeah, not so fast.

Eventually, after the paperwork, the bureaucracy and the actual treatment, we got to the science.

Naturally, blood had to be taken for testing and the nurse left behind a "port" in my hand so that any old
substance they wanted to get into my system.

I agitated for vodka with disappointing results.

Eventually, I did get a drink, although it was not quite what I had in mind.

It seems that after dealing with the problem, they had to be sure they understood the problem. That meant getting a look at my insides without opening me up to have a look, a course of action which received my vigorous endorsement.

The tool of choice Sunday night was a cat scan.

And, it seems, in order to get the best look inside, they need something to highlight the areas they wanted to look at.

Enter, the beverage.

I'm not sure what it was called, but I do know peach ice tea will never again hold quite the same allure for me.

I had to drink all 900 ml of this stuff; not my idea of
an enjoyable drinking contest.
It took a good 20 minutes to get the stuff down, and although I will confess my skepticism about the straw being a big help, that turned out to be the case.

I guess the soda people are on to something.

Anyway, after consuming this muddy looking brew, all 900 milliliters of it, came the best part -- the waiting.

Two hours of it.

So I don't know about you, but waiting around in a hospital, whether in the waiting room or back in the room with the curtain, is about as boring as it gets.

They had a television, but of course it didn't work.

Now, as these photos have no doubt indicated, we had a smart phone at our disposal, but you know what, there's only so much information on the Internet, and after two hours, we knew we would just read it all.

Besides, the battery was low and we had to preserve our photographic equipment.

Luckily, being old-school types, we had come well-prepared.

It's funny, when you think about it, but in my house, when you're heading out the door to the emergency room, the things you check for are your keys, your wallet, your insurance card and, of course, a good book.

A Book: Never Leave Home Without One.
Luckily for me, I often have at least two going at the same time.

I decided against the 1,000-page history tome I've been quietly digesting for months, and instead brought along a lovely little book my wife recommended titled "Gilead" by Marilynne Robinson.

It won the Pulitzer in 2005 and reading it, I can see why.

Nothing takes your mind off your mortality quite like good writing.

The two hours passed, well, like two hours always passes in an emergency room -- good book or not -- slowly.

Finally, a man showed up at about 1 a.m. much too alert for the house it seemed to me, to take me on a ride to the cat scan room.

This part was undoubtedly scientific.

The cat scanner, if that's what you call it, is a big circular machine, that looks a little like the time arch in an old Star Trek episode.

They hooked up some iodine to my port.

I asked if we would at least put port in my port, but again, science came before celebration.

The cat machine talks to you and, like a good patient, I did what it told me to do (good practice for the robot takeover of the world no doubt) which consisted primarily of telling me when to hold my breath.

Then, don't hold your breath, came more waiting.

I tried, and failed to catch some shut-eye.

Finally, a different doctor arrived, had a look at the report, at my blood test results and told me I could go home, that it wasn't that serious and that I should go see another doctor (which is a pretty full summary of most of my medical science experiences.)

Never underestimate the mood enhancing power of the mighty Thor!
But as we slipped me out of my fashionable gown, the one with the daring dip in the back, I noticed a set of high-tech mood enhancers sitting on the counter.

It didn't seem like anyone would mind.

After all, who needs more mood enhancement than an emergency room patient?

But I'm afraid the only science involved was psychology.

You see, in addition to being a science fiction geek, I'm also a comic book geek, so who better to enhance my mood than the mighty Thor?

Although I will confess, as super-heroes go, he's not that big into science....

Happy Father's Day

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The two people who mean Father's Day to me, my dad, my son. Can you tell which is which...


Hey, it's Father's Day.

I'm a father.

I'm taking the day off.

So sue me.

Hope all you dads out there have a good one.

All the rest of you, do right by dad today.

You Can't Have a Father's Day Without Mothers

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My mother-in-law Marian (Mimi) Maxfield and her sister Virginia (Ginger) Bauman in the place they love best, their kitchen.

So I know I said I was taking Father's Day off, but sometimes a good post just won't wait.

Some of the feast after some of the menu had already been removed.
It is an understatement that my mother-in-law Mimi Maxfield and her sister Ginger, with whom she lives, love to cook for large numbers of people.

They have huge Thanksgiving feasts, double digits for Easter, Christmas meals that go on for days, they host many a birthday celebration and, it
 seems, for Father's Day as well.

Their father is long gone, of course, but that hasn't stopped them.

The baked goods table was hit hard.
Never women to believe that anyone should leave their house hungry, or without a bags of left-overs, they tend to over-cook to forestall any shortfall.

Chicken salad, shrimp, salmon, cream cheese...

But when a few of the expected guests cancelled for their Father's Day brunch, what was left was a feast to tickle the fancy of any fatherly glutton.

I will probably miss something, but to the best of my ability, this is the menu for a total of 11 guests:
  • Two quiches: one broccoli/cheddar/bacon and one Swiss/vidalia onion;
  • Three breakfast casseroles: Egg/bacon/cheese, potato/hashbrown/eggs/onion, egg. mushroom/sausage/cheese;
  • Baked ziti;
  • Smoked salmon, capers, cream cheese and bagels;
  • Sausage gravy and biscuits;
  • Fruit salad;
  • Banana bread;
  • Coffee cake;
  • French toast
  • Poppy seed and blueberry muffins;
  • Bacon (of course);
  • Chicken salad with grapes and almonds;
  • Shrimp cocktail;
  • Three pies: apple, strawberry rhubarb and Florida orange chiffon
  • Apple and orange juice and coffee.
Total number of father's present?

Three.

To quote The Wiggles: "Fruit salad, yummy, yummy."
Those fathers -- myself, my brother-in-law Tommy and Ginger's son Jeff -- graciously allowed the others to taste the feast prepared in our honor if for no other reason than because getting your stomach pumped is no way to spend Father's Day.
And it occurred to me that left to our own devices, most dads would just let Father's Day slip quietly by, with maybe a nice treat at the end of the day or taking time to indulge in a hobby, or maybe take the family for a nice drive.

But sometimes, some mothers are just not willing to let that happen.

After all, without mothers, we couldn't be fathers.

Now I know part of this belly-swelling tribute has to do with the need these two mothers have to feed their young, both by blood and by marriage.

Florida orange pie.

They are accomplished cooks and bakers. The fruits of their labors are in demand at holiday time and at craft shows.

They have even managed to convince my 14-year-old to clean their windows in exchange for a pie. (There are times when I suspect my son would thrive in a pie-based economy...)

But no matter that some of their own needs are being satisfied by doing unto others, let me tell you that being one of the others has its benefits too.

It was, needless to say, a very fulsome Father's Day.



D.E.A.R. Reader

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State Rep. Mark Painter, D-146th Dist., and Shannon Wagner's first grade class at Rupert Elementary school, recently dropped everything to read.







Blogger's Note:Summer is fast upon us and, quite frankly, much of the subject matter we write about here at the Digital Notebook. So we will confess to warehousing an item or two, here and there, to get us through the long dry season. But before school recedes too far from our thoughts, let's visit Shannon Wagner's first grade class at Rupert Elementary School and a special visitor they had. (As always, thanks to John Armato for providing this information and photos. He's getting quite good at picture-taking isn't he?)

The students in Shannon Wagner's class know how to start a letter, "Dear XXXX."

So when they wrote to State Representative Mark Painter, that's how it began.

But it's also what the letter was about. 
Mark Painter dropped everything and read to 
Rupert students.


Because at Rupert, D.E.A.R. stands for "Drop Everything And Read," and the announcement can come at any moment.

The students wrote to Painter, asking him to visit for just such an event. And he did.

The students, who are a long way from voting age, were attentive to the tale of a green frog and a fly. They asked many questions and shared their ideas about how the story would end.

“An appreciation and joy for the skill of reading will go a long way in leading to academic success,” said Wagner.

“I appreciate this opportunity to help instill in young people the joy of reading. It will become one of the foundations of a successful life,” Painter said.

“D.E.A.R. day is one of the many reading activities that our schools do to promote the joy of reading. We are happy to have our community partners play an active role in the education of our most precious resource – our young people,” said Rupert Principal Matt Moyer.

We've Got the Music in Us

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Blogger's Note: This just in from Alana Mauger over at MC3: 

Montgomery County Community College is one of 50 non-profit institutions recently selected to participate in the nationwide project, “America’s Music: A Film History of Our Popular Music from Blues to Bluegrass to Broadway.” 

A project by the Tribeca Film Institute in collaboration with the American Library Association, Tribeca Flashpoint and the Society for American Music, “America’s Music” is made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.

As part of this cultural and educational enrichment project, MCCC will offer six public programs in the fall 2013 featuring the American musical genres of Blues and Gospel, Tin Pan Alley & Broadway, Swing Jazz, Bluegrass and Country Music, Rock, and Mambo and Hip-Hop. 

The programs will include film screenings followed by discussions to be held at 1 p.m. on Saturdays at MCCC’s Science Center, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell with simulcasts to West Campus in Pottstown.

In coordination with the film series, MCCC’s Cultural Affairs Office and Music Department will offer several performances and events that relate to each musical genre. A full schedule of performances and related activities will be announced in the summer.

“Montgomery County Community College serves as a cultural hub for the county and surrounding area because of the programs and performances it offers to the community,” said Music Department Coordinator Andrew Kosciesza, who serves as the project coordinator. 

“Participation in ‘America’s Music’ will extend our reach to additional community members, while providing a deeper understanding and appreciation for the history and development of these American musical genres.”

As part of the collaboration, Cultural Affairs Director Helen Haynes will coordinate the Lively Arts performances, while Music Department Coordinator Andrew Kosciesza will coordinate the film and discussion series and Music faculty member Dr. Michael Simmons will serve as the project scholar, who will lead the discussion at each screening.

In addition, MCCC’s AV Librarian/Assistant Professor Mary Lou Neighbour will be promoting the events in the Brendlinger Library displays, including its new Digital Gallery. 

Additionally, she will be coordinating promotion and events with several area public libraries, including the Wissahickon Valley Public Library, the Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library and the Pottstown Regional Public Library. 

The documentary films will be added to MCCC’s AV Library collection after the series has ended.


For information about the upcoming programs and events, visit MCCC’s website atwww.mc3.edu and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DestinationArts.

The Election Creeps In

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Signs of electioneering are beginning to appear in the day to day dealings of the Pottsgrove School Board.

As you may recall, the results of the May 21 primary election had the four challengers, Don Clancy, Kelley Crist, and Rick Rabinowitz securing lines on the Democratic ballot line, and Matt Alexander securing one on the Republican line.

However, only three of the incumbents -- School Board President Scott Fulmer, Diane Cherico and Nancy Landes, stayed on the ballot, leaving Michael Neiffer as the odd man out.

That means his term ends in December, when the winners of the November general election are seated.

Neiffer, who spent several years as the school board president, has been among the most outspoken of the incumbents both with ideas and criticisms.

If his performance at the June 18 school board meeting is any indication, if anything, his lame duck status has only made him more outspoken.

Anytime any public officials begins a sentence at a board meeting with "well, I've already pissed everyone off so I guess I'll just keep going," reporters tend to sit up and take notice.

But before we get to that particular incident, consider the cross-fire commentary going on during Tuesday's meeting.

First, Rabinowitz got up to address the board, praising them for opting to adopt a preliminary budget in May that raised property taxes by 2.2 percent, rather than 2.89 percent.

Then, offering up examples of tax hikes and millage rates proposed in neighboring districts, with only Pottstown's higher than Pottsgrove's, Rabinowitz said "I humbly ask the board to look for other ways to cut and lower the tax hike without cutting important programs."

If only it were that easy.

And there was little humble about Neiffer's response, who challenged Rabinowitz repeatedly to make a concrete suggestion, berating him to the point that Fulmer had to intervene and say "let him answer the question Mike."
Pottsgrove challengers, from left, Don Clancy, Matt Alexander
Kelly Crist and Rick Rabinowitz

Rabinowitz offered up the suggestion that a proposed new administrator position could be cut, which Neiffer treated dismissively, but later in the meeting offered up as a way to close a newly discovered funding gap.

Clancy got into the act by chiming in from the audience "looks like you can't afford a new gym" as that discussion unfolded, to which Neiffer responded snappishly "that's the capital budget. Those two things are completely unrelated."

Clancy quietly noted later that both capital and operating budgets are funded out of the same taxpayer wallet.

Board member Justin Valentine, who is not up for reelection, nevertheless noted that the candidates "can say anything and not be responsible for what's said."

Clancy was himself the target of some heated exchange after he offered up a plan he said could shave $8 million off the cost of the high school renovation.

Unfortunately for him, he seemed unaware that one of the major pillars of his proposal -- sending more students to the Western Center for Technical Studies in Limerick -- has been in place for years.

Board members, candidate and non-candidate alike, were quick to point out his error in sometimes sarcastic terms that few would describe as mild.

Clancy told the board the plan was brought forward to encourage debate and discussion. "I'm not saying it's perfect," he told them.

On that, at least, the sitting board agreed.

In fact, after the exchange, Fulmer apologized to Clancy. “I apologize for raising my voice. I tend to get excited. I thank you for the putting the time in to bring this to us. I don’t agree with it.”

Pottsgrove incumbents, from left, Diane Cherico, Scott Fulmer
Nancy Landes, Mike Neiffer
But there was no apology for Kim Trotman, a staffer with state Rep. Mark Painter's office, who got up to the microphone to address the board about Painter's vote against the House of Representatives budget.

However, her general remarks were inadequate to Neiffer's sentiments, who asked her what Painter and his fellow House members intend to do to resolve the long-simmering issue of the increasing burden of property taxes.

"I'll tell you what, let Harrisburg take care of pensions and special education 100 percent, and every other district in this state could take care of the rest," he said.

After the meeting, Trotman approached Neiffer and demanded an apology. It's unlikely she got one.

He could be heard telling her "I don't care how it makes you feel. We went to breakfast with the guy and he didn't even talk to us, and he is a Pottsgrove graduate. It's 12 years we've been waiting for Harrisburg to get off their butt and do something about this."

Which brings us to Neiffer's seemingly accurate observation that he had already "pissed everyone off."

With that warning, he launched into a complaint that the district's marching band program is increasing at an exponential rate, and that the growth in budget line that funds that program, is not.

He cited the example of a student who may have to go with a tuba (or Sousaphone), another without a saxophone and the need to replace raincoats that are more than 14 years old.

Money is in a "marketing account" set aside for just this purpose, but the board refuses to spend it.

"This is not something the music league, or a booster club should be funding," Neiffer said.

Although his motion to fund those three purchases, for a cost of about $10,000 received a second from Coffelt, it was tabled before a vote could be taken on it.

"I'm not saying I disagree with you, I'm just saying we should respect the (budget) process," said Valentine, who made the motion to table Neiffer's motion to fund the purchases.

Neiffer noted that the chairs of both the high school and middle school music departments "were going to be here tonight, but I guess they feel they couldn't be, so I am here speaking for them, and for the students in the music program."

Neiffer paused, and then added pointedly, "and if anyone has a problem with me bringing this us, talk to me, don't go after them."






More Honors for Pottsgrove Middle School Teachers

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Photo provided
Pottsgrove Middle School history teacher Charles Deveney, center, is gaining new insights into the life of Abraham Lincoln, thanks to the fellowship from Horace Mann Insurance.










Two Pottsgrove Middle School teachers, social studies teacher Barbara Fagan and history teacher Charles Deveney, were recognized recently by Horace Mann Insurance.

Fagan was presented with the Crystal Apple Award after being named Pottsgrove Middle School's Teacher of the Year by Horace Mann agent Dave Grauel, during a recent ceremony.

 “She is a dedicated teacher. She goes above and beyond, said Principal William Ziegler.

Also recognized was  Deveney, who has earned a Horace Mann-Abraham Lincoln Fellowship.

Deveney was presented with a certificate for the Horace Mann-Abraham Lincoln Fellowship Program and  will take part in the program in Lincoln’s hometown of Springfield, Ill. 

He is one of 50y teachers and/or school administrators will take part in the 2013 Fellowship program.

While in Springfield earlier this week, Deveney received a behind-the-scenes look at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM). 

The fellowship program includes lectures by library staff and Lincoln experts who provide great insight on Lincoln and the Civil War. 

The five-day event includes special guided tours at Lincoln's Tomb, Lincoln's Home and the village of New Salem where Lincoln lived in as a young man. 

Grauel said, “Mr. Deveney is in for an experience he’ll remember for a lifetime.”

The Fellowship features two five-day programs, one in June and one in July, and includes round-trip transportation, lodging, and most meals, all provided by Horace Mann.

Horace Mann -- the largest national multiline insurance company focusing on educators’ financial needs – provides auto and homeowners insurance, retirement annuities, life insurance and other financial solutions. Founded by Educators for Educators in 1945, the company is headquartered in Springfield, Ill. 

For more information visit horacemann.com.



Core Community Clean-up Planning Meeting Set for Tuesday

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Blogger's Note:The following was provided Friday afternoon by Cathy Skitko from The Hill School:


Residents and business owners of the Borough of Pottstown have the opportunity to share suggestions and requests for targeted neighborhood property repairs and general "clean-up" needs during a community conversation to be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25 in the Ricketts Center, 640 Beech St., Pottstown.

During this gathering, representatives from the Borough, the Pottstown School District, and The Hill School will begin planning a collaborative volunteer project that will involve teams of personnel and students from these three entities on Friday, Oct. 25.

The Project is focusing on the core redevelopment area bounded by High Street, north to Beech Street, then from Hanover Street east to Edgewood Street.

Dubbed the Pottstown CARES Project -- with CARES representing Community, Awareness, Responsibility, Empowerment, and Sustainability -- this endeavor will utilize the efforts of The Hill School's students, faculty, and staff; a dedicated group of Pottstown School District students and teachers; and a crew of Borough maintenance professionals.

Pottstown residents are encouraged to attend the meeting Tuesday evening to help organizers plan how to make a tangible impact on the borough on Oct. 25, both in terms of improved aesthetics and, ideally, heightened and sustainable Pottstown community spirit and commitment.

Light refreshments will be served.

For additional information, please contact Assistant Borough Manager Erika Weekley at 610-970-6515 or eweekley@pottstown.org.
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