Saturday, February 22, 2014

Ice Climbing, the Video Version

Photo by Evan Brandt

Chris Acosta of West Pottsgrove makes his way up the ice wall at Birdsboro Waters Tuesday.

So here's the thing, despite many attempts and a genuine desire to master the craft, I'm not terribly good at making video, at least not video that looks any different from anything else a parent would shoot at their kid's birthday party.

Which is not to say I haven't learned anything.

I've learned how important sound is, and to rue the roar of passing cars and people talking off camera when they don't know you're shooting video.

But in terms of the technical tools, I remain, however much I might try, a text-centric person.

As an example, here is the merely adequate 45-second Tout video I made from some of the video footage I shot.


Luckily, I work in a place filled with talented people; people whose talents complement as well as replicate my own.

The young reporter sitting behind me is named Frank Otto and as anyone who has followed The Mercury's football coverage knows, the man has a way with the compilation video.

Photo by John Strickler

Proof that old round-belly did in fact cross 

the wire bridge over Hay Creek.
(He is also the guy who taught the old dog the new trick of picking pieces of different video segments you want and putting them into Tout. That's how I made the one you see above.)

So when he offered to take some of the video and make a longer, more complete report from it, "just to see if I can," I agreed with total confidence in the result.

And my confidence was not misplaced, as you shall see.

So yes, I hiked out through the snow to the Birdsboro Waters ice climbing site (sweating and shivering the whole while).

And yes, I crossed the two wire bridges over Hay Creek -- twice.

And yes, I shot the video and wrote the story which will appear in tomorrow's paper (but which is on-line right now.)

But let's face it, there is no way I could have assembled that raw video into the one I have embedded here below.

Certainly, it will be attached to my story on The Mercury web site, but sometimes they can be hard to find there.

So my blog readers, all five of you (I know that's a joke I use a lot, but I'm very attached to it), can now get a sneak peek at the most excellent 3-minute video Frank put together from the raw footage (do we still fall it footage when it's digital?) I shot Tuesday.



So if you think that looked pretty cool, make note that the Birdsboro Area Climbers Association will hold an open-house type event later in the year when novices can try their hands at traditional rock climbing at the site.

Check back here on The Digital Notebook or on my Twitter account (@PottstownNews) or on The Mercury web site for advance information.

Or you can check back on their web site, or their Facebook page for more information.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Guiding Good Choices



Blogger's Note: The following was provided by Family Services:

Family Services is offering Guiding Good Choices, a free prevention program that helps parents guide their children through the formative years.

Field-tested and research-based, Guiding Good Choices helps reduce the risk that children will become involved in unhealthy behaviors.

Parents will learn how to set clear guidelines and consequences, manage family conflict, and strengthen family bonds.

This free program will be held on five consecutive Tuesday evenings beginning March 4. Each session will run from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Pottstown Middle School Cafeteria, 600 North Franklin St., Pottstown. Pre-registration is required.

For more information or to register for Guiding Good Choices, contact Jane Boughter at 610-326-1610 ext. 338.

Since 1900, Family Services has been caring for children, seniors and families in Montgomery County who face everyday emotional difficulties or physical hardships.

The agency’s innovative social service programs make a positive difference in the lives of 13,000 county residents each year. For more information, contact Family Services’ Pottstown Office at 610-326-1610 or visit www.fsmontco.org.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Pottsgrove Jazz Fest This Saturday

Fully 10 jazz bands will be performing at the Pottsgrove Jazz Fest this Saturday in the high school auditorium.

Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for students and seniors.

Patrons are free to come and go between performances.

Here is the schedule:
  • 5:30 p.m. -- Pottsgrove Middle School Jazz Band
  • 6 p.m. -- Springfield High School Lab Band
  • 6:25 p.m. -- Sping-Ford High School Lab Band
  • 6:50 p.m. -- Hatboro-Horsham High School Jazz Band
  • 7:15 p.m. -- Penn Woods High School Jazz Band
  • 7:40 p.m. -- Springfield High School Jazz Band
  • 8:05 p.m. -- Boyertown High School Jazz Band
  • 8:30 p.m. -- Spring-Ford High School Jazz Band
  • 8:50 p.m. -- Pottstown High School Jazz Band
  • 9:20 p.m. -- Pottsgrove High School Jazz Band (exhibition only, they will not be judged as part of the competition.)
The jazz bands are judged by the Cavalcade Of Bands and awards are given for: 
  1. Best Saxophone Section 
  2. Best Trumpet Section 
  3. Best Trombone Section 
  4. Best Rhythm Section
Each band is also rated in one of the following categories: 
  • Superior 
  • Outstanding 
  • Excellent 
  • Very Good
"This is a great event for longtime jazz lovers and newcomers to the genre," according to a post on the event's Facebook page.

Monday, February 17, 2014

It Takes Energy to Save Energy

Back row, from left, Kaitlyn Jackson, Vincenzo DeLeo; front from, from left. Timothy Mohn, Samantha Levey, Raine Thomas, Christine Martinez and teacher Catherine Knapke with the materials from the PECO Smart Energy Saver Program.





Blogger's Note:
The following is provided via the John J. Armato School Infomation Super-Highway:

Fifth grade students at Pottstown Middle School are learning how to be smart with their energy. Students in Mrs. Catherine Knapke and Ms. Danielle Slotter class have been selected to take part in the PECO Smart Energy Saver Program.

The hands-on program is designed to educate fifth grade students about using energy wisely. Each student will receive a smart energy saver kit which includes a high efficiency showerhead, four compact fluorescent light bulbs, a kitchen faucet aerator, an LED nightlight, a digital thermometer, and workbook.

Over the next few weeks, they will be using their workbooks to implement lessons in the classroom.

The smart energy saver kit will help the students at home with practical application of their lessons. The award-winning program has helped to teach thousands of classroom students the value of environmentally sound energy conservation.
Timothy Mohn, Kaitlyn Jackson and Raine Thomas

Following the lessons learned, the students and their families will help save precious natural resources and form lifelong habits that will enable them to save money on their utility bills.

Mrs. Knapke said, “We are excited about beginning these lessons which also support the Pennsylvania State Standards and Common Core Standards. Our students are helping to educate their families about how to be smart users of our energy.”

“This is an outstanding program that allows our students and teachers to use their initiatives to create  household plans that are practical and energy saving. I am proud of our teachers for bringing this program to our students,” said 5th and 6th grade principal Mr. Matt Boyer.

Samantha Levey, Christine Martinez and Vincenzo DeLeo

Sunday, February 16, 2014

A Reminder of Summer

"Bottle on the Beach" is the name of this oil painting by Lauren Marsh of Pottstown. 


Blogger's Note: This was provided by the folks at the community college and normally, I would have waited to post it. But this painting reminds us that eventually, summer will return and frankly, I thought we could all use a little reminder of warmth right now.

Montgomery County Community College will be highlighting the talent of its art students at its Ninth Annual Art Students’ Exhibition and Competition, which opens Monday, March 17, and continues through Friday, April 28, at the Fine Arts Gallery, North Hall, 16 High St., Pottstown.

Approximately 50 students will be displaying their artwork in the show. 
The Tent,” oil painting by Sarah Schleiden, Gilbertsville. 

The artists’ reception will be held Wednesday, March 19, from 5-7 p.m. with the awards ceremony at 6 p.m. 

The exhibition and reception are free of charge and open to the public. 

The Fine Arts Gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m.-9:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Closed weekends.

The exhibition includes a full-range of media, including ceramics, sculptures, oil paintings, water colors, drawings, photography, digital arts and mixed media.

For more information about the exhibition, contact MCCC Gallery Director Holly Cairns at 215-619-7349 or hcairns@mc3.edu.

Follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DestinationArts for information about upcoming performances and art exhibitions.