Garden Contest Kicks Off the Growing Season

Designing Women

From left, Tyler Thorne, Andrea Moses, Kaelei Brant. 

Pottstown High School seniors Tyler Thorne, Chelsea Yergey, and Kaelei Brant placed first in the Graphic Design Competition at the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit Regional Computer Fair.

Their project was one of over 40 that were submitted by 60 students representing Methacton, Pottsgrove, Norristown, Lower Merion, Upper Dublin, Wissahickon, and Springfield Township school districts.

Along with the first place medal, comes the honor to represent the Pottstown High School Desktop Publishing class at the Pennsylvania State Computer Fair held at Dickinson College.

Also gaining recognition in the Web Page Design Competition, Andrea Moses and Kaleb White earned third place honors.

The day’s events not only involved competition but provided students with the opportunity to participate in college prep workshops and interview skills programs.

Pottstown High School’s five representatives were all members of Dennis Arms Desktop Publishing class. 

“I am proud of the achievements of our students. This is another demonstration of them combining their academic skills with imagination and creativity," said Arms. "We strive to set a rigorous academic foundation that our students need in order to be successful as they prepare for post-secondary education and employment.”

Raise a Glass for the Library

Blogger's Note: The following is a letter sent out by event co-sponsor Peter Dolan regarding this Saturday's wine-tasting fundraiser for the Pottstown Regional Public Library.

Friends,

Please come out to support the Pottstown Library at its new Wine Tasting to be held at the Hill School on May 3rd. 

This will be the first time the Library will have a wine tasting such as this and it will be very nice having it at the Hill School.

It will be a fun event hosted by Frank Buttaro. 

I’ve been to two of his wine tastings and they are fantastic. 

There will be 5 different wines paired with food throughout the night.

It will be nice seeing you there.

You can call the Library for reservations (610) 970-6551.

Pottsgrove Votes to Spend $28 Million on High School Renovation and Expansion

Photo by Evan Brandt

A architect's rendering of the outside of the new 1,200-seat gymnasium that will be part of the Pottsgrove High School renovation approved Monday night.

May Day! May Day!

Photos courtesy of Pottsgrove Manor

Signora Bella will perform acrobatic feats.

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

Celebrate spring at the Annual Colonial May Fair held at historic Pottsgrove Manor on Saturday, May 3, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This yearly event is a fun-filled day with activities for all ages including games, music, dancing, and crafts. 

Tucker's Tales Puppet Theatre will present interactive puppet shows and will also provide festive historic music around the grounds during the event. Signora Bella will delight audiences with her acrobatic feats. 

Colonial conjurer Levram the Great will perform historically-themed magic shows and entertain visitors with pocket magic tricks throughout the day. 

Members of the Tapestry Historic Dance Ensemble will demonstrate authentic English country dances and will lead visitors in dances around the maypole to open and close the fair.

In addition to the entertainment, a variety of early American crafters and demonstrators will be on hand to display historic skills and trades and sell their wares. 

Young visitors can compete in hoop races, play with colonial toys and games, help churn butter, and more! 

The first floor of colonial ironmaster John Potts’ 1752 manor house will be open for self-guided tours during the fair. Open-hearth cooking will be demonstrated in the Pottsgrove Manor kitchen. 

While visitors can’t try the food cooked in the colonial kitchen, they will be able to purchase food during the event. MMG Concessions will offer burgers, cheesesteaks, hot dogs, sausage, sandwiches, fries, hand-rolled pretzels, fresh-squeezed lemonade, and more. 

Visitors can also shop at the manor’s museum shop for colonial games, books, and unique gifts.

This year's fair coincides with the first-ever "Pow-Wow on Manatawny Creek," celebrating the culture and traditions of the Lenni-Lenape Indians. 

The pow-wow will be taking place during the hours of May Fair and will be held at Memorial Park, less than a block from the Manor. The public is encouraged to visit both events for an experience that spans time periods and cultures!

For a schedule of the day’s activities and a list of vendors and craftspeople who will be at the fair, please visit http://www.montcopa.org/index.aspx?NID=1421.

A donation of $2 per person is suggested for this event. 

Visitors are asked to park at the Carousel at Pottstown building, 30 West King Street. 

There is no charge for parking, and Pottstown’s restored trolley will be giving free rides during the fair between the carousel parking lot, Memorial Park, and Pottsgrove Manor. Handicapped parking is available in the museum’s parking lot.

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

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

For more information, call 610-326-4014, or visit the website at www.montcopa.org/pottsgrovemanor. Like Pottsgrove Manor on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pottsgrovemanor.

Home Improvement if Pottstown is Your Home

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by Genesis Housing Inc.

Are you thinking about a home improvement project?

Do you need a new heater or AC unit? Do you need roof or gutter repairs? 

If you don’t have the cash on hand, credit cards can charge 18% – 24% interest. Genesis Housing Corporation is pleased to announce the availability of home improvement loans at 3% interest for Pottstown homeowners.

Through a program with National Penn Bank, this new program offers low interest loans for eligible homeowners for owner-occupied properties located in the Borough of Pottstown. 

The loans have a fixed interest rate of 3% for up to 5 years (with a maximum loan of $5,000) for repairing roofs, windows, heaters, plumbing, electrical upgrades and other general home repairs like kitchens and bathrooms.

Genesis Housing Corporation will review applications from all interested Pottstown homeowners. Loans may be used for any home improvement project. 

There are no income limits and no home equity required. Homeowners must have acceptable credit and the ability to repay the loan.

Applications are available by calling 610-275-4357, or on the website at www.genesishousing.org or via email at info@genesishousing.org.

Maybe your porch is like mine, and could use a little repair....

Since 1994, Genesis Housing Corporation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has served Montgomery County as a community housing development organization (CHDO) and is dedicated to the development of affordable housing and to the education of consumers on housing and financial issues. 

Our general activities include the rehabilitation of homes to improve and stabilize neighborhoods. Genesis Housing Corporation also provides monthly classes and individual counseling to help overcome barriers to home ownership, financial education and foreclosure prevention.

National Penn Bank is an Equal Opportunity Lender and Member FDIC. National Penn Bank is not affiliated with Genesis Housing Corporation. This program is funded by National Penn Bank and the Neighborhood Tax Credit Program.

For more information about Genesis Housing Corporation and our programs, please visit our website atwww.genesishousing.org, email at info@genesishousing.org, visit us on Facebook or call 610-275-4357.