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Read Across America Week at West Pottsgrove

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Photos submitted by West Pottsgrove Elementary School.
Children's author Kenneth McCloskey talks to West Pottsgrove students about reading.











Blogger's Note:The following post is a guest blog from West Pottsgrove Elementary Principal Terri Koehler. If you would like to submit a guest post, email it to ebrandt.pottsmerc.com

Heidi Mottin reads her book "Rescuing Reed,"
about a 
dog who just happens to be listening...
March 2, has become a very special day in schools across America as a celebration of reading.

This is all because March 2 is the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss. 

The day has become known as Read Across America day across the country.

At West Pottsgrove Elementary, we used the entire week of Feb. 26 to March 2 to celebrate Dr. Seuss and reading across the building. 

We had daily spirit days such as Cat in the Hat Day, Crazy Sock Day and Oh the Places You Have Been to name a few. 

The cafeteria even served green eggs and ham one day. 

This was also in conjunction with our PTA Book Fair. 

On Thursday March 1, we welcomed children’s author Kenneth McCloskey to share some of his writing with the students. 

Mr. McCloskey read his book We Dig Worms and as a finale we had an earthworm race. 

Mr. McCloskey also shared his process of writing a nonfiction story. Students had the chance to pre-purchase his books and he autographed each and every one for the students. 

Mr. McCloskey also generously donated $2.00 per book purchased back to our PTA.

Also on March 1, we welcomed another author to our family reading night. This was an opportunity for families to celebrate literacy and to shop the book fair. 

We welcomed Heidi Mottin and Reed, her certified therapy dog. Heidi read her book Rescuing Reed to the students and their families and the children had an opportunity to meet Reed in person. 

The story Rescuing Reed is a great story for children reminding them that everyone has great potential to do great things.

We closed out our week on Friday March 2, with a celebration of Dr. Seuss and reading. 

We had many guest readers throughout the building and our second grade students all partnered with a kindergarten class to share favorite Dr. Seuss books.

We did not let Mother Nature deter our excitement about reading and the students had a wonderful time and had the chance to meet two authors up close and personal.

'I am not fearful of punishment,' writes suspended Boyertown student, 'I am fearful of being silenced'

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Blogger's Note:The following is an essay written by Boyertown Area High School student Abigail Slater. She was required to write an essay about "what she did wrong" while she served her one-day in-school in-school suspension for walking out of school on March 14 as part of the National Walk Out Day. If you would like to submit a guest post to this blog, send it to ebrandt@pottsmerc.com

On March 14th, 2018, I, Abigail Slater, walked out of the building in protest of gun violence and security in schools. 

This was an act of civil disobedience and I am proud to say I was part of this movement. I feel ashamed to be part of a school that punishes students for protesting, but it helped me in the long run. 

After receiving my suspension, I interviewed with the newspaper. Not only was I able to get more attention to the cause, but since I received a punishment it got people’s attention. 

The actions taken by the school against the students’ protest has sent a wave of anger and tension throughout the student body. I am optimistic that this will spark a movement towards change. 

I would like to see more people walk out and protest. 

Rosa Parks said, “You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.” 

The school tried to scare us by implementing punishments on students who walked out. For most students, the fear of being punished caused them to be silent. 

I am not fearful of punishment. I am fearful of being silenced. 
There are many of different types of people in this school, we usually just talk to people who are the most similar to ourselves. 

Yesterday, I walked out with people who I usually wouldn’t talk to otherwise. It shows a common goal. 

The walk out symbolized the unity of the student body. We all don’t talk to each other but when we all want change we come together. 

This school is supposed to be about preparing us for our futures, but when we want to spark change to shape our futures, we are punished. 

I hope this event proves to be a catalyst that triggers students to take a stand against authority to do what they believe is right. 

I am proud of myself and the others who walked with me. I will encourage others to join me next time. 

Our voices will be heard. We are the future.

Bullet-Proof Vests for EMS in Lower Pottsgrove

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Photos by Evan Brandt
Lower Pottsgrove Police Chief Mike Foltz, second from right, explains why bullet proof vests are not being issued to emergency medical technicians like Erik Loshnowsky, right, from Goodwill Ambulance. Township Manager Ed Wagner, left, and Township Commissioner and Emergency Management Coordinator Ray Lopez, second from left, hold a $3,000 check from the township which will go toward purchasing vests for Goodwill. Newly appointed Township Commissioner Mike McGroarty is at center.
It's been almost 19 years since the horrific shooting at Columbine High School that left 15 people dead.
Goodwill Ambulance EMT Erik Loshnowsky shows
off one of the new bullet-proof vests now being used by EMTs

Some of those victims died as police and SWAT teams ran past them, still alive but "bleeding out," Lower Pottsgrove Police Chief Mike Foltz said Thursday.

The police could not stop to help because the scene was not secure and active shooters were still on the loose, and they could not protect emergency medical personnel who might have saved some of those victims.

"It's no longer practical to let victims bleed until scene is secure, so whether they are trying to help, or coming with us, medics need some protection," said Foltz.
"We want you to know we appreciate what you do, and that we want to help keep you safe," said Lower Pottsgrove Township Commissioner Ray Lopez, who is also a member of Ringing Hill Fire Company and the township's Emergency Management Coordinator.

"The way the world is now, they're in the 'hot zone,'" Commissioners Chairman Bruce Foltz said of emergency medical technicians like Erik Loshnowsky, who was on hand Thursday night, complete with bullet-proof vests.

Last year, while putting their budget together, the township commissioners decided that EMTS need as much protection in shooting situations as police.

"Up until now, we had bee giving them our used vests which, after a few years of use, don't smell so good," said Chief Foltz.

So with the ever-present giant check, the commissioners began what they hope will become a trend among surrounding municipalities served by Goodwill Ambulance and others, providing money to help buy them new bullet-proof vests.

The other item of significance at the commissioners' meeting Thursday was to authorize the execution of documents to finalize the purchase of 2270 and 2272 E. High St. in Sanatoga.

The price for each property is $100,000 and collectively make up .57 acres.  The property at 2270 is a duplex and the property at 2272 is a single family home.

When combined with three other adjacent parcels --  2238 E. High St., 2258 E. High St. and 2255 Brown St. -- on which the township is also taking action, the township will have a site of more than two acres at the corner of East High Street and South Pleasantview Road.

And although Chairman Foltz went to some length to say "no decisions have been made yet" and that the "infrastructure committee" has only gone so far as to make "wish lists," he, Chief Foltz and Lopez also went to great lengths to outline why the current township building on Buchert Road is too small for current needs.

Chairman Foltz bristled at "the heat" he said the commissioners have been taking from those who say the efforts are "wasting money," saying "those people don't know what they're talking about."

He said township employees would be happy to give anyone who does not believe that the current facility -- both the police headquarters in the basement and administrative offices above, are too small.

Here are the Tweets from the meeting:

Pottstown High School Senior Julian Weber is a Leader On the Wing, Under the Sea and in School

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Photos Submitted by Pottstown School District
Pottstown High School Senior Julian Weber played King Triton in the all-district musical, "The Little Mermaid."














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

Pottstown High School Senior Julian Weber is a proven leader on land and under the sea.

He recently earned his Eagle Scout Rank after building message boards at Swamp Creek and Pleasant Run Parks. 

A member of National Honor Society with a 4.0 GPA he is also a member of the Boy Scouts Order of the Arrow Honor Society. 

Julian also recently earned the Boy Scout's highest rank, Eagle.
Julian has plenty to keep him busy outside of the classroom. His school activities include Senior Art Director for Yearbook, morning announcements, playing the Trombone in the marching and jazz bands-along with piano/ keyboard in the concert band. 

Last year he was one of the leads in the high school Musical -Little Shop of Horrors. 

His peers recognize his leadership skill and elected him Vice President of both DECA and marching band. 

As a member of the DECA Marketing Team he has earned awards at the district competition three years in a row. 

Julian's artistic leadership is seen in his duties as producer for the recording studio and-prop design for the musical. He is no stranger to community service with a long list of activities that include, youth deacon, church work camp Mission to Baltimore Interfaith Outreach, Crop Walk, Flag Day services, community meals, Relay for Life, Operation Backpack, and volunteer support of the Pottstown GoFourth Festival.

He does all of this and more while earning money for college with a part-time job. 

If his talent and leadership on land was not enough reason for us all to say Proud to be from Pottstown, he also rules the underwater world as King Triton in this year's All District Musical, "The Little Mermaid." 

Next time someone wants to talk about Pottstown students share Julian Weber's story.

Pottstown HS Jazz Band Rated 'Outstanding,' Earns 'Best Trumpet Section' at West Chester Jazz Festival

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The Pottstown High School Jazz Band's trumpet section won the "best trumpet section" award at the West Chester University Jazz Festival. From left are Mitchell Aquino, Abby Welder, Donny Marte, Will Minnick and Nick Wilson. 








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

Pottstown School District Music Department has a long tradition of excellence in all areas of performance.

Congratulations to the High School Jazz Band under the direction of Mike Vought for adding another chapter to their story with an outstanding showing at the West Chester University Jazz Festival. 

The band received an "Outstanding” rating while performing along side 12 other bands from Southeastern PA. 

They also participated in a clinic put on by WCU music professors. 

The PHS Trojan trumpet section received the “BEST TRUMPET” section award out of the eight competing schools in their class. 


New Hanover Looks to Future Growth, Future Needs

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New Hanover officials spent their meeting Monday looking at development plans and planning ahead for the future of the township and its residents' needs.


As New Hanover Township officials contemplate the future, which includes as many as 37 housing developments and as many as 5,000 more residents, they decided they need to devote at least one entire meeting (and probably more) to preparing for the future.

Fortunately, they are in a good position to do so.

Its been more than 10 years since they raised property taxes and yet, there is a surplus of nearly 58 percent of the total budget available, according to Township Manager Jamie Gwynn.

"Either we lower taxes or use this money to prepare for the future," Gwynn told the supervisors.

The township, particularly the 12-officer police department, is outgrowing the space in its building on Route 663 and Monday night, the supervisors explored three options ranging in price from $3.8 to $5 million.

Some of those options include using the township's recreation center on Hoffmansville Road, others include renovating and/or building new structures at the current location.

Most of the supervisors favored keeping the township "campus" -- public works, police and administration -- together in a single location. Doubts were also raised about the Hoffmansville Road location being located further away from the southern part of the township where most of the new residents will live.

No decisions were made and an assessment of the current building, which is 40 years and and has a very leaky flat roof, will need to be undertaken before an informed decision can be made, they said.

The supervisors also got more informed about how best to preserve the open space that remains in the fast-developing township.

Gwynn used large maps to outline where the current developments in the pipeline are located, where the major open space parcels are located and suggested -- which the supervisors seemed to support -- the need for the creation of an open space committee.

The township has an earned income tax dedicated to preserving open space which now has $1.3 million. At the current rate, it will be $3.2 million by 2023 unless the township starts spending it on preserving open space.

The best way to stretch those dollars, said Peter Williamson, from Natural Lands, is to leverage conservation easements, which are cheaper than outright buying, and will also allow the leveraging ot state grants.

Here are the Tweets from the meeting:

Boyertown Parents Seek Answers to Stadium Woes

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Memorial Stadium at Boyertown Area Senior High School is currently closed to the public due to potential structural problems, with the exception of the track team, which uses the two inside lanes to practice.


A standing-room only crowd packed the school board facilities committee meeting Tuesday, filled with people who wanted answers about when repairs will begin on Memorial Stadium.

More specifically, they wanted to know whether it will be repaired in time for the fall sports (football) season.

They didn't get all the answers they sought, largely because those answers don't exist yet, but those that do, they received.

On Feb. 26, the board hired Barry Isett & Assoc. to complete a structural analysis of the stadium and present options for the repairs. That is the same firm that in January reported the stadium may have structural problems and should be closed to the public.

Tom Slowik, the firm's senior forensic engineer, will give an update on progress to the school board at its April 10 meeting, according to a timeline handed out by Facilities Committee Chairman David Lewis. The deadline for presenting final options is the week of April 23.

As things stood Tuesday, those findings will be presented first to the facilities committee at the May 1 meeting, and the full board will vote on a course of action on May 8.

After that, a bid must be prepared and after a month the bids will be opened and work can begin.

The parents who attended thanked the board for what information was prevented and urged them to understand the importance the stadium holds to high school athletes in the community.

The possibility of special meetings to get started sooner, as well as option for night work, were broached.

Athletic Director Nick Palladino said he has several options for the fall sports season, the selection of which will depend on how long the repairs will take.

Here are the Tweets from the meeting:

Regional Planners Join Call to Keep YMCA Open

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The Pottstown YMCA on North Adams Street is supposed to close in June, but an increasing cry in the community is calling for it to remain open. Wednesday night, the Pottstown Metropolitan Area Regional Planning Committee joined that chorus.



One of the responsibilities of the Pottstown Metropolitan Area Regional Planning Committee is to comment on "developments of regional significance."

Usually, that charge is interpreted literally and "developments" on which they comment are the kind that come with new houses or shops, roads, storm water systems and zoning variances.

But the members of the committee, which represents Pottstown and the seven communities around it in two counties, had something to say about a developing situation in the borough for which they had no approval -- the decision by the Freedom Valley YMCA to close the local facility on North Adams Street in June.

"The closing of YMCA is absolutely an issue of regional significance," said Upper Pottsgrove Commissioner Elwood Taylor after the issue was raised by Pottstown Councilman Ryan Procsal. "It should be in Pottstown." Freedom Valley YMCA is "taking their money and not putting it where the people need it," Taylor said.

Membership in the Pottstown Metropolitan Area Regional 

Planning Committee includes officials from  eight towns.
"It's like having a centralized public library in Pottstown, it's necessary and so is the YMCA," Taylor said.

Peggy Lee-Clark, the executive director of the Pottstown Area Industrial Development Inc., or PAID, said she is on the committee formed by the YMCA to come up with recommendations for ways to continue services after the building is shuttered.

"There is some discomfort" on that committee "that the (Freedom Valley) YMCA is not really fulfilling their mission" by closing the building," Lee-Clark said.

At the suggestion of John Cover, a chief community planner with the Montgomery County Planning Commission, the local officials voted unanimously Wednesday night to issue a statement and send a letter opposing the closure and calling for the improvement or upgrading of the current facility.

Both will be written and sent by the planning commission so as not to delay the delivery of the message.

The letter will join the resolution passed by the Pottstown School Board strongly opposing the closure, a similar call by State Representatives Thomas Quigley and Tim Hennessey, as well as a similar effort, possibly pending from the Pottsgrove School Board, according to reporting in The Sanatoga Post on the meeting there Tuesday night.

Lee-Clark said the committee has been told it will cost $11 million over the next few years to bring the building up to snuff, and that $3 million is needed almost immediately to deal with issues of "deferred maintenance."

"That's about half the cost of a new building," Cover observed.

The voting concluded, Lee-Clark then said she wants to "change the narrative" that has been "appearing in the press" about the issue.

"Poverty does not define Pottstown," she said. "Albeit this is a loss, and I understand anger about how it has been handled, but it is not a crushing to the borough and I think I have to change that narrative. I don't look at it as one more blow to Pottstown," she said.

Noting that it is her responsibility to try to expand Pottstown's property tax base, Lee-Clark said "from my perspective, I have to go forward as if the building is vacant. I'm not interested in filling it with another non-profit."

While I understand that perspective, I'm afraid I am going to have to call "hogwash."

How can the person who touts Pottstown's "diversity" in PAID's marketing materials, try to minimize what the loss of the YMCA will mean to its low-income community? Maybe because it's the same person who oversaw the production of the first "I Pick Pottstown" video, which touts our "diversity," but neglects to show a single person of color.

As someone who was once a member of the YMCA; whose son learned to swim there; to play basketball there (and learned he would never be a basketball player there); who learned karate there; who met his very best friend there, I can tell you it wouldn't have happened in a "Y Without Walls," which is the snappy sounding but meaningless alternative the Freedom Valley Y is peddling here in Pottstown, all while if builds glass and steel castles in affluent Main Line suburbs.

Perhaps if Lee-Clark lived in the borough she is charged with improving, instead of going home every night a Chester County farm house, she would have a more organic understand of why closing the Y is a "crushing blow," why it is so important for families struggling to keep their kids off the streets to have a place to go, where they can be safe and have mentors.

It's not just the "low-income" community that is affected by this closure. 

The advantage of "diversity" is that it brings people of different financial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds together in shared experiences and foments understanding across financial and social divides. So if it is hurtful to the "low-income" folks in a diverse community, that means it is hurtful to the ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

It doesn't make it less important if the low-income community is disproportionately affected, it makes it MORE important because those folks are the ones already struggling under the heaviest burdens.

Pottstown's low-income community is not something to be ashamed of; not something that needs to be downplayed. They are proud hard-working people who may need some help to get by, or have fallen on hard times, or are struggling to overcome a fractured home life. They are the heart and soul of Pottstown just as much as Weitzenkorn's, Brunish's or Sunnybrook Ballroom. 

That's what "diversity" means, embracing the differences and making the most of what it has to offer, not dismissing the impact on the poor and lamenting it being showcased in the local newspaper like a community's dirty laundry.

Look, we all understand it might make marketing Pottstown to investors harder if the newspaper has a string of headlines blaring about the community being up in arms because the YMCA is abandoning its mission to help low-income communities. But that's the job Lee-Clark signed up for. It's a hard job, that's why it pays $86,000 a year, and we'll be damned if we're going to lay down and lose a vital and historic community resource just to pretty up the marketing brochure.

Maybe we should start marketing Pottstown as a place that stands up and fights for its due.

Anyhoo, enough speechifying.

In point of fact, most of the regional planning meeting was taken up with discussion of the regional trail system being planned, and the most likely portions of it to be developed first.

Also discussed was a housing development project in New Hanover near Swamp Pike and New Hanover Square Road.

You can find all of that in the Tweets below and in subsequent articles in The Mercury.


A Sobering Decision for North Charlotte Street

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Photos by Evan Brandt
As the result of a unanimous zoning hearing board decision, this "sober living" home at 306 N. Charlotte St. will soon be a home to eight recovering male addicts.
A unanimous vote by the borough's zoning hearing board Thursday night cleared the way for a six-bedroom house in the 300 block of North Charlotte Street to house eight recovering male addicts.

The building is already home to four recovering addicts, said Jacob Ballou, himself a recovering addict who testified about the program at the house.

Although Pottstown Borough Council had opposed the application on the basis of the parking variance being sought -- the code requires four spaces for eight residents -- that opposition became moot.
Jacob Ballou testifies in last night's zoning hearing.

As the hearing got underway Thursday night, attorney Joseph McGrory informed the board that his
client had obtained a lease at a neighboring property for additional parking and thus the application complied with the zoning code.

Without the need for a variance, that left McGrory with only the requirement of proving the home met all of the conditions for the "special exception" by which the zoning code allows group homes.

Ballou and his mother, Kerry Ballou, who owns the house, explained the rules the residents must follow.

Unlike many group homes in the borough, which are sponsored by a non-profit or government agency, this home is entirely the construct of the Ballou family and all residents are voluntary. None are there as the result of a court-ordered recovery.

Despite the rental of the extra spaces, some residents said they still believe parking will be a problem, and at least one said she shares the opinion posted on Facebook by a resident who said living next to a sober home on York Street is unpleasant and loud.

Two speakers, one a resident of the North Charlotte Street home, one not, spoke in favor of sober homes and said since the people who live there "are trying to get their lives back together," they often cannot afford a car.

Here are the Tweets from the meeting:

Want Fireworks This Year? Donate at the Pottstown GoGourth Kick-Off Event Wednesday 5:30 to 7:30

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Blogger's Note:The following was provided by the Pottstown GoFourth organization

After an overwhelmingly successful inaugural Pottstown GoFourth! Festival last year, a reorganized committee is dedicated to providing a fireworks finale for area families attending the holiday celebration on Wednesday, July 4.

The festival will begin around noon, immediately after the Pottstown Fourth of July parade.

To officially kick off fundraising efforts, Pottstown GoFourth! is hosting an event on Wednesday, April 4 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 140 College Drive, Floor 2R, Montgomery County Community College Innovation Hub.

A $10 suggested donation will provide admission to a fun gathering with food, beverages, raffles, and live music by area favorite Rebecca Shoemaker, accompanied on piano by her son, Sam Pattine.

The Pottstown GoFourth! organization now is an official Pennsylvania 501c3 non-profit corporation, operating under the TriCounty Community Network, which manages all GoFourth! finances and reporting.

Co-Chairpersons Amy Francis and Amy Wolf emphasize that not a penny of taxpayer money supports the July 4 festivities, which is why fundraising is so essential.

The Whiskeyhickon Boys performed last year
“No Pottstown Borough funds help to pay for this celebration,” Wolf says. “It is completely funded by sponsorships and donations made by businesses and individuals who want to offer our greater Pottstown community a fun, family-oriented event -- a happening that showcases all the positive community spirit and amenities that Pottstown has to offer.”

Last year’s GoFourth! featured a laser and music show. “People were open-minded about seeing the laser show as an alternative to fireworks,” Francis says, “but we also heard a clear preference for traditional fireworks. As a result, the committee has dedicated itself to raising the funds to make fireworks happen as part of this free, true community event. However, folks should know that fireworks cost about $1,000 per minute in addition to ancillary costs such as fire department fees.”

“We cannot begin to fund this festival through bucket collections alone,” Wolf says, adding that the
volunteers are seeking two headlining fireworks sponsors of $10,000 each (or one official and extraordinarily generous sponsor at $20,000).

The co-chairs note that last year’s attendees loved the variety of professional live music that was performed all day, in addition to the food trucks, arts and crafts vendors, and the Sly Fox beer tent -- all of which will return this year – as well as hot air balloon rides by the U.S. Hot Air Balloon Team. 

The festival also will include activities geared toward children, ranging from face painting to the appearance of “Grandpop Bubbles,” a performance artist who creates enormous bubbles much to delight of young and old alike. Grandpop Bubbles’ performance and all of the children’s activities for the day are being generously sponsored by ROG Orthodontics.

Also new this year will be a “Royal Court” competition: Area school districts will be asked to encourage their Homecoming Kings and Queens to compete through fundraising to be named King and Queen of the Pottstown GoFourth! Royal Court – and runners up will be named Prince and Princess of the Court. All Royal Court selections will appear in the Rotary Club-sponsored July 4th parade and will be officially honored at the GoFourth! festival.

Other activities that will complement the GoFourth! events at the park will include, confirmed to date, opportunities to play miniature golf at Manatawny Green and board the Colebrookdale Railroad which will conduct short runs to and from the park to the Boyertown station.

The Rotary Club parade will take place again, as noted. Interested parties should contact pottstownrotary@gmail.com as soon as possible to register. (There is a modest registration fee that will cover traffic control and other related expenses.) 

The giant duck means the annual duck race is on.
The parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. at High and Adams Streets and continue west to Manatawny Street – and participants as well as spectators will be encouraged to continue on to the King Street entrance of Memorial Park to participate in the GoFourth! Festival!

The Rotary Club also will hold its 26th Annual Duck Race on Manatawny Creek the afternoon of July 4. By selling duck sponsorships, the Rotary will benefit charities in the greater Pottstown area – including PottstownGoFourth! 

 To sponsor a Rotary duck, go to pottstownrotary.org (or purchase a duck at the GoFourth festival on July 4); to make a parade contribution, please send a tax-deductible donation to the Pottstown Rotary Community Endowment Fund (PRCEF) via P.O. Box 227, Pottstown, PA. 19464.

“When you look at photos from last year’s GoFourth! Festival, it’s striking to see the beautiful cross-section of Pottstown people – diverse smiling faces, young to old,” says Wolf. “The volunteers want to build on 2017’s wonderful event and provide an even better experience for our hometown.”

While last year’s festival was a two-day event, this year’s GoFourth! will be limited to July 4 only, which will help save costs on items ranging from parking lot rental fees to portable restroom facilities. Carnival rides will not be offered this year, notes Francis, citing not only the prohibitive costs but difficulty in finding vendors who will set up rides for a one-day-only event.

Help Bring Back the Fireworks and Support PottstownGoFourth!

Area businesses and citizens can play a vital role in ensuring the success of this year’s all- volunteer led effort to throw a successful July 4 event for the community and guests. In addition to supporting the April 4th benefit event:
  • Tax-deductible donations can be made by donating online at PottstownGoFourth.org, or by sending a check made payable to the TriCounty Community Network (TCN) and noting “Attention: GoFourth” in the memo line on the check. Checks may be sent to Pottstown GoFourth! Festival, PO Box 1362, Pottstown, PA 19464. 
  • Businesses or individuals may sponsor various entertainment providers and activities – and in exchange they will receive outstanding publicity and other benefits including (for upper level sponsors) preferred seating during the fireworks display. To learn more about becoming a sponsor, go to PottstownGoFourth.org or email PottstownGoFourth@gmail.com. To date, in addition to those sponsorships already noted, the Pottstown Mercury is a generous GoFourth! supporter. 
  • Roughly 20 food vendors are expected at the festival, additional culinary offerings are welcome. Vendor applications can be found at: www.pottstowngofourth.info/vendor-apps
  • Similarly, quality arts and crafts vendors will be featuring their wares, but additional artisans are encouraged to participate. Again, the PottstownGoFourth.org website provides relevant information. Vendor applications can be found at: www.pottstowngofourth.info/vendor-apps
  • Friends of PottstownGoFourth! Festival can purchase GoFourth! merchandise, including the popular hats, which always sell out quickly. GoFourth! Merchandise can be purchased at www.pottstowngofourth.info/2018-gofourth-gear when available and while supplies last. 
Please look for updates about Pottstown GoFourth! at www.pottstowngofourth.org or www.pottstowngofourth.com and at www.facebook.com/PottstownGoFourth and www.twitter.com/GoFourthFest .

(While there is not a rain date for the entire festival, the rain date for fireworks only will be July 13.) 

Discover the Colliers of Hopewell Furnace for Free

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A collier at work.










Blogger's Note:The following was provided by Friends of Hopewell Furnace

What is a Collier? In recognition of the 80th Anniversary of Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, the Friends of Hopewell Furnace will host storyteller, collier and author Susannah Brody’s exploration of the Colliers of Hopewell Furnace. 

The free program will begin at 2 p.m. in the Hopewell Furnace Conference Center on Sunday, April 8.

The Colliers of Hopewell Furnace supplied charcoal, a key ingredient in making iron. Their contribution was deemed so important that during the establishment of the park, the WPA/Civilian Conservation Corps demonstrated the art of charcoal making as the park’s first formal interpretive program. 

Brody will discuss the amazing process that still continues. Twice a year, volunteers gather for a week long demonstration of the art and craft of charcoal making.

Brody, a retired teacher, has a Master of Arts degree in oral traditions from the Graduate Institute of Connecticut and is a member of Patchwork, a storytelling guild, and the National Storytelling Network. 

In addition to her definitive work on charcoal making, Brody’s publications include: “Uwchlan Township: 300 Years Above the Valley”, “Remembering Chester County: Stories from Valley Forge to Coatesville”, a three volume set of Chester County Biographies and “The History of Dowlin Forge.”

Established in 1994, the Friends of Hopewell Furnace is the official non-profit fundraising arm of Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. A 501(c)3 citizen organization, its mission is to support the preservation, maintenance and programs of Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. Donations to the Friends may be tax deductible according to the rules set by the Internal Revenue Service. For more information visit the Friends web site at www.friendsofhopewellfurn.org.

While at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site visitors are encouraged to go into the village, tour the buildings and learn about iron making and why Hopewell Furnace is important to our nation’s history. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday thru Sunday, the park is located five miles south of Birdsboro, PA, off of Route 345. For more information stop by the park's visitor center, call 610-582-8773, visit the park's web site at www.nps.gov/hofu, or contact the park by e-mail at hofu_superintendent@nps.gov.

Brookside Hosting First Free Community Golf Day

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Blogger's Note:The following was provided by Brookside's new golf pro, Brian Farrell.

Brookside Country Club is very excited to offer a fun day of golf, free instruction, and contests to the local community.

Having lived in the Pottstown area for the past 16 years, I’m excited to have the opportunity to give back my passion and love for the game to the community.

I will bring my knowledge in Junior Golf, Women’s golf and Player Development Programming (PDP) to Brookside Country Club. 

In 2018, we will be offering something for everyone. From toddler to the most experienced golfer, there will be activities and learning for all. Brookside will have a full complement of junior golf programming starting in April and running through September. 

We begin with an orientation night to outline the entire junior schedule. From there, the schedule moves on to junior clinics and a new hybrid junior development program called “Fire 36”. “Fire 36” is designed to allow playable course conditions for juniors of any age. 

Lastly, for those juniors who are looking for a team atmosphere and a little more competitive golf experience, we have our first ever PGA Junior League Team here at Brookside.

In addition, we are also offering a “Women’s Get Golf Ready” program for those wanting to learn how to play golf for the first time.

BIG NEWS IN LOWER POTTSGROVE! (That's a Lie)

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I would like to tell that a big news story came out of last night's Lower Pottsgrove Township Commissioners meeting, because that would be exciting.

It would also be a lie.

The agenda item which had excited my attention and, I presumed, would generate some news -- an update on the infrastructure committee's consideration of a new township building -- fizzled.

Not much new to report it turns out.

I did find out about some month-old news that I missed during one of our late season snowstorms.

Evidently during the nor'easter on March 1, an equipment failure at the sewage pumping station on Porter Road shut down the whole system and filled the station with several feet of raw sewage.

It took hours and the heroic efforts of personnel from the township and Sanatoga Fire Company to get it out without polluting Sprogel's Run and get it repaired.

Those repairs are temporary and the insurance company is still figuring out how much it will have to pay out, said Township Manager Ed Wagner.

Cost estimates are "into the six figures," he said.

So that's something, but sort of fails in the N-E-W department of N-E-W-S.

So, here are the Tweets, such as they are. Hey folks, municipal reporting is not always the rip-snorting adrenaline-jacked thrill ride you imagine it to be.

Sometimes, things are just routine.

Limerick Talks Mobile Home Park, Community Park

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Photo by Evan Brandt

Current concept for the master plan for Limerick Community Park, as discussed by the supervisors last night.


Name a kind of park, chances are Limerick Township Supervisors talked about it last night.

Mobile home park? Check.

Community park? Check.

Parking in the community park? Check again.

It was indeed a night to park it and considering the two combined meetings were more than four hours long, we were parked in our chairs for an awfully long time.

At 6 p.m., a hearing on "alleged violations" at the Ridgeview Terrace mobile home park on Ridge Pike were held, complete with lawyers and court stenographers, testimony and code citations.

Too bad it was all a big misunderstanding. Never underestimate the damage bad writing can do.

As the two-hour hearing wound down Code Enforcement Office Director Robert Loeper Jr. indicated that the letter he had sent to Morgantown-based GSP Management had been intended merely to alert him to problems on the property Loeper thought should be discussed.

But since the letter also said something about "could lead to violation notices," the lawyers got unsheathed and we had a little circus about long-standing problems.

Perhaps the best outcome of the time spent was the nearly 50 residents who attended the hearing. Many of them got to "have their say" about conditions which had been eating at them for years. In fact, at one point, Township solicitor Joe McGrory joked the crowd was there "to beat up on" owner Frank Perano, who said he manages at least 70 other mobile home parks.

It is probably a good thing Perano's lawyer agreed to withdraw the formal objection, thus rendering the hearing unofficial, otherwise Perano might have faced a charge of lying under oath.

At one point McGrory asked him if any of the mobile home parks he manages had ever been fined or subject of criminal charges and he said "not to my knowledge."

Perhaps he forgot about the $1.3 million the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fined him and his company in 2012 for violating state and federal laws at 73 facilities in three states, according to this report from WFMZ.

But enough of that ugly business. Let's move on to more bucolic pursuits.

The partial loop was the supervisors preferred option.
Toward the end of this marathon of a meeting, Sarah Leeper and William Collins of the landscape architecture firm Simone Collins walked the board through improvement plans for the township's Community Park as they now stand.

The park is already home to the Manderach Playground, a popular community funded park with its signature two-story tube slide, enjoyed by residents (and non-residents) for years.

After meeting with residents and staff, the firm began, Collins said, with the road that bisects the park currently -- Ziegler Road.

Some wanted it to no longer bisect the park, others wanted access on both sides, so the firm came up with four alternatives, the second of which was the one favored by the supervisors.

Called the "partial loop" option, it allows traffic to pass through the park, but loops it down around the parameter and, with proper traffic control devices, should keep it from becoming "a speedway" as Supervisor Ken Sperring said he fears.

Supervisor Kara Shuler made some suggestions about locating parking closer to fields, for older residents who want to watch their grandchildren play soccer, lacrosse, football ....

Collins said the team had received enough input to move forward.

Current conceptual plans, which have not yet been engineered, call for a long list of amenities including baseball and softball fields, tennis courts, bocce courts, three different kinds of plagrounds, a natural amphitheater and a community center.

You can learn more about it amid the plentiful, plentiful Tweets below:

Say Good-bye to Police Chief Rick Drumheller

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Photos by Evan Brandt

Pottstown Police Chief Rick Drumheller was all smiles after announcing that he will retire in July, 18 months earlier than expected.
Drumheller got the best kind of goodbye from
Pottstown Mayor Stephanie Henrick last night.
In case you weren't online last night, or checking my Twitter feed on your phone (and why not?!?), you may not know why this man is smiling.

Police Chief Rick Drumheller announced he is retiring 18 months sooner than everyone expected. His last day will be on July 6.

I will miss him.

From what I could see, he was a gentle soul for a police chief and truly cared about the community where he worked for 30 years.

And he had the nicest way of telling you he wasn't going to tell you anything whenever I asked him about a crime investigation he wasn't ready to talk about.

He doesn't have a new job lined up, or a problem at work. He said "I just know in my heart its time."

Click here to read the Mercury story I wrote last night.

The other significant news event from last night's meeting is the consideration of a resolution from Pottstown Borough Council opposing the planned YMCA closure in June.

Council will join a number of government and community organizations opposing the closure, including Pottstown School Board, the Pottstown Metropolitan Area Regional Planning Committee, the Pottstown chapter of the NAACP and, perhaps as soon as next week, the Pottsgrove School Board.

Also weighing in was Don Smale, a member of the task force Philadelphia Freedom Valley YMCA put together to make recommendations for easing the closure and finding new homes for the programs -- but specifically instructed NOT to recommend keeping it open.

Here is video of what he had to tell council:



Council President Dan Weand said he went through a similar experience when an Ohio-based company bought Stanley Flagg Brass in West Pottsgrove.

"They mismanaged it, ran it into the ground but kept taking the money out of it and sending it back to Ohio. Then, when they had failed to invest in any upgrades at the plant, they said 'well, you don't make money anymore, so we're closing you down,'" said Weand.

"We called it mining for gold by the executives. This is the same scenario I'm seeing out of Y," he said.

Council will vote on the resolution Monday.

Of less immediate, but perhaps no-less--important significance was the naming of four people to to the board of the newly created Pottstown Land Bank.

They are Cheryl Chiarello, who also serves on the Pottstown Blighted Property Review Committee; Twila Fisher, who head's The Hill School's Hobart's Run initiative; Deb Penrod, a member of the Pottstown Planning Commission and the board of the Pottstown Regional Public Library and Andrew Monastra, a local attorney and member of the Pottstown Downtown Improvement District Authority.

And with that, I'm headed to bed.

Here are the Tweets and videos from the meeting:




High School Students Pass Rotary's 4-Way Test

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Area high school students participate in the Pottstown Rotary Club's 4-Way Contest at Brookside Country Club













Blogger's Note:The following was provided by the Pottstown Rotary Club.

One of the worlds’ most widely printed and quoted statements of ethics is The 4 Way Test, which was created in 1932 by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor.

Adopted by Rotary in 1943, The 4 Way Test has been translated into more than a hundred languages and published in thousands of ways. 

It asks the following four questions of the things we think, say and do:

1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

The Pottstown Rotary's 4-Way Test speech competition began on Saturday, March 24 at Brookside Country Club and culminates on April 28th at the Rotary District 7340 Conference which will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Reading.
The winners were, from right, Logan Ruyack, 1st place; 

Chloe Sullivan, 3rd place; and Barry Wang, 2nd place.

The conference is attended by 300-500 Rotarians from district 7340. This year the conference will also include Interact clubs from the area.

This event has proven to be a tremendous learning and confidence building experience for the students in the past. The results of the competition are:
  • First Place: Logan Ruyack of Pottstown High School
  • Second Place: Barry Wang of The Hill School 
  • Third Place: Chloe Sullivan of Pottstgrove High School
Also Competing:
  • Melissa Xu of The Hill School 
  • Frazier Thomas of Pottsgrove High School
  • Abigail Richter of Pottstown High School 
  • Courtney Parry of Pottstown High School

GoFourth! Donate if You Want Fireworks July 4th

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Photos by Evan Brandt

Volunteers Terry Fetterman, left, and Darlene Bainbridge man the Pottstown GoFourth gear table during the kick-off fundraiser Wednesday to raise money for fireworks at this year's Fourth of July celebration in Memorial Park.








The effort to raise money for fireworks kicked-eff Wednesday with a mixer at Montgomery County Community College's Innovation Hub on College Drive.

Several dozen folks listened to jazz, bought 50/50 tickets, ate finger food donated by local eateries
The food table was a popular stop Wednesday.
and quaffed beverages -- all for a good cause: Bringing fireworks back to Pottstown for Fourth of July.

In yet another attempt to squash a myth that will not die, let us say again that NO TAX MONEY IS USED FOR FIREWORKS!

That means, those who want them have to help pay for them and Wednesday's kick-off offered a way to do just that in a pleasantly sociable way.

But if you missed it, don't fret. There are still plenty of ways you can help bring back the fireworks.

Tax-deductible donations can be made by donating online at PottstownGoFourth.org, or by sending a check made payable to the TriCounty Community Network (TCN) and noting “Attention: GoFourth” in the memo line on the check.
Pottstown GoFourth Co-Chair Amy Wolf thanks the crowd.
Checks may be sent to Pottstown GoFourth! Festival, PO Box 1362, Pottstown, PA 19464.

Here are some other ways to help support the effort:
  • Businesses or individuals may sponsor various entertainment providers and activities – and in exchange they will receive outstanding publicity and other benefits including (for upper level sponsors) preferred seating during the fireworks display. To learn more about becoming a sponsor, go to PottstownGoFourth.org or email PottstownGoFourth@gmail.com. To date, in addition to those sponsorships already noted, the Pottstown Mercury is a generous GoFourth! supporter.
  • Roughly 20 food vendors are expected at the festival, additional culinary offerings are
    welcome. Vendor applications can be found at: www.pottstowngofourth.info/vendor-apps 
  • Similarly, quality arts and crafts vendors will be featuring their wares, but additional artisans are encouraged to participate. Again, the PottstownGoFourth.org website provides relevant information. Vendor applications can be found at: www.pottstowngofourth.info/vendor-apps
  • Friends of PottstownGoFourth! Festival can purchase GoFourth! merchandise, including the popular hats, which always sell out quickly. GoFourth! Merchandise can be purchased at www.pottstowngofourth.info/2018-gofourth-gear when available and while supplies last.

Free Coventry Singers Concerts Bring Promise, Hope

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The Coventry Singers













Blogger's Note:The following was provided by the Coventry Singers.

The Coventry Singers present their spring concert “Promise and Hope”, April 14th in Boyertown and April 15th in Pottstown. 

The concert is comprised of music of historical significance and emotional impact. Pieces include Mozart’s “Ave Verum”, Handel’s “Hallelujah Amen”, and more contemporary pieces such as Stroope’s “Lamentations of Jeremiah” and Horvit’s “Even When God is Silent”, in honor of the 80th anniversary of Kristallnacht, The Night of Broken Glass. 

The concert concludes with traditional spiritual music including “There is a Balm in Gilead” and “I Hear a Voice A-Prayin”.

The Coventry Singers, a choir of about 40 voices, have been performing in the Pottstown area since 1972. They have performed with the Pottstown Symphony, the Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra, and at Longwood Gardens Christmas Concert Series. 

More recently they have performed Handel’s Messiah with the Reading Choral Society, the National Anthem at the Reading Royals hockey games and participated in the Pottstown Relay for Life luminaria lighting ceremony. 
 
Dan Kershetsky is returning as director in his second season with the Coventry Singers. Dan, a 1981 graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education, and a 1993 graduate of West Chester University, with a Master of Music Degree in Music Education, has spent 33 years in public education, most recently teaching in the Boyertown Area School District for 26 years. 

Nadine Lydic returns as piano accompanist. Nadine holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Her master’s degree in music is from West Chester University. She also is a retired teacher from the Boyertown School District and has been a member of the Coventry Singers for many years.

Featured musicians for this concert include Violinist Christopher Cinquini, orchestra director for the Reading Symphony Youth Orchestra and Boyertown Area Senior High School; Cellist Daniel Bishop of Exeter Senior High School; Clarinetist Robert Schwanger, a private woodwind teacher from Boyertown; and organist Matthew Wary, music director at Good Shepherd UCC.

Performances take place Saturday April 14th at 7 p.m. at Good Shepherd UCC, 35 W. Philadelphia Ave. Boyertown, and Sunday April 15th at 3 p.m. at St. James Lutheran Church, 1101 E. High St. Pottstown. 

 The concerts are free and open to the public. A freewill offering will be accepted. For more information about the Coventry Singers, visit their website www.coventrysingers.org or find them on Facebook at Coventry Singers-Pottstown, Pa.

Pottstown Going to Pot, or Medical Marijuana, Again

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After being passed over last year from one of the two medical marijuana permits Pennsylvania issued for the five-county region around Philadelphia, a company that wants to site a facility in Pottstown is trying again.

Jon Cohn, from Agronomed, appeared before Pottstown Borough Council Monday night and said not only is his company still interested in establishing a medical marijuana grow/processing facility in the borough, but they are also interested in establishing hemp-growing site as well.

Hemp is a cousin to cannabis, but does not have any of the psycho-active
Agronomed wants to grow both hemp and 

cannabis in Pottstown.
properties that have made marijuana so controversial. It also does not have any of the medicinal properties.

But, wonder plant that it apparently is, it has many uses, such as conducting electricity, housing insulation and more, said Cohn. "William Penn and George Washington grew hemp," he said.

The U.S. also imports lots of hemp from China, so growing it here would also help the local economy he said.

He didn't have to work too hard to convince council. Councilman Dennis Arms made a motion on the spot to issue a letter of support to allow Cohn to make his May application deadline. It was adopted unanimously.

Also adopted unanimously was a resolution opposing the closure of the YMCA in Pottstown that we have been doing just a bit of reporting on lately.

The other item of relative interest was council's unanimous decision to reject Twila fisher, the director of The Hill School's Hobart's run from the board of directors for the newly established land bank.

They apparently agreed with the concerns raised by former councilwoman Sheryl Miller that Fisher's position encouraging property purchases around The Hill School campus might create a conflict of interest.

They unanimously approved Cheryl Chiarello, who is on the blighted property committee; Andrew Monastra, who is on the Historic Architecture Review Board; Deb Penrod who is on the planning commission and Council Vice President Carol Kulp.

Whomever is chosen instead of Fisher cannot be any kind of borough officials, like the others, according to the by-laws set up in the ordinance creating the land bank.

Here are the Tweets from the meeting:

Stadiums, New Superintendents and School Choice

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The stadium at Boyertown Area Senior High School is currently closed to the public
It's probably safe to say that both the school board and parents who attended Tuesday's meeting hoping to get some glimpse of how long the district will have to go without the use of its structurally-challenged stadium left the meeting disappointed.

Tom Slowik, from the firm of Barry Isett & Assoc. outlined some proposed fixes for the stadium -- specifically a steel "exo-skeleton" as one board member put it, for the underside of the stadium and brick fixes and extra fasteners for the brick facade.

But the unanswered question is how bad are the pre-stressed concrete forms that hold up the seats and the riders?

The problem, said Slowik, is that the condition of the cables in the interior of the concrete is unknown and requires special testing from a special lab that could take several weeks. The absence of that information prevented him from giving either the school board or the anxious parents in the audience the two answers they crave -- how much? and how long?

Some of the parents conceded that with the timeline expanding the way it seems to be, it would be unlikely the stadium would be ready by the fall athletic season and alternative plans -- like using the stadium at Ursinus College, which plays on Saturdays -- should be explored.

Several board members spent some time explaining why the problems at the stadium -- stewing for as long as 10 years -- are not their fault.

Also of interest was the announcement by School Board President Donna Usavage that Juniata School District Superintendent Keith Yarger is the leading contender to be Boyertown's new superintendent. Richard Faidley resigned last year.

Yarger will visit on April 23 and the public will be invited to meet him, details to follow.

And in the guess-what-else department, Usavage also allowed the board to propose and pass a resolution not on the agenda and suggested by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association in opposition to proposed Senate Bill 2.

The bill would allow students in failing districts to take their state subsidy and go elsewhere, including a private school. The resolution passed 6-3, but not without some spirited opposition from board member Clay Breece.

Here are the Tweets from the meeting:

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