'Tis the Season to be Freezin'

Just in case you haven't marked it down on your calendar yet, or are still drunk enough from your New Year's Eve revelry to think this is a good idea, the Ninth Annual Pottstown Polar Bear Swim will be held tomorrow morning in Riverfront Park.

Registration is from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. and is free. (As the borough web site notes, you'll pay in other ways ...)

A waiver must be signed and polar bears aged 16 and 17 may take the plunge only with signed authorization from a parent or guardian.

The few, the brave and the foolhardy will plunge promptly at 10:30 a.m. into the frigid waters of the Schuylkill River.

You can warm up after your plunge.

Not to worry, when you emerge, a blazing bonfire will be burning to help ring in the New Year and return your body temperature to something resembling normal.

Those who have (wisely) chosen discretion over valor are also free to enjoy the fire.

As if jumping into freezing cold water on a winter's day was not enough to entice you, there will also be a few words of encouragement from our mayor, as only our mayor can encourage.

The national anthem will be played, other canned music may be heard at some point from the loudspeakers, and combatants of great strength and reknown will compete in the Christmas Tree toss -- reward for which is sappy fingers and a few pine needles where they don't belong.

Pork hot dogs and sauerkraut will be on hand for those who enjoy that tradition as the first meal of the year.

Come on down and join the fun.

We can all start 2017 with a smile.

(In all likelihood, we're going to need all the smile we can get next year.)

Student Organized Concert Benefits Homeless

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by The Hill School.

Student Pottstown CARES leaders from The Hill School, Pottstown School District, and Montgomery County Community College have organized a family-friendly hip hop and pop music concert that will provide financial assistance to Your Way Home of Montgomery County, an organization that establishes emergency shelter and long-term stability for the homeless.

The concert will occur on Saturday, Jan. 14 from 7:30 to 10 p.m. in The Hill School Center For The Arts (CFTA) at 780 Beech Street. Free parking will be available in the parking lot there.

This inspirational student-driven event will feature two regional professional bands, The Rather Be Band and the Pottstown Music Collaborative, as well as The Gentlemen, Pottstown High School’s jazz ensemble, and the Hilltones and Hilltrebles, the Hill School’s select a cappella vocal groups.

The Rather Be Band is billed as a “huge sound in a small format.” The Pottstown Music Collaborative “is a developing, dynamic band of musicians from the Pottstown community, all focused on bringing people together through the power of sound,” said Bill Robertson, a Collaborative founder.

Tickets are $12 at the door, or they may be purchased for a reduced amount at Eventbrite. 

All ticket proceeds will benefit Your Way Home Montgomery County. 

In addition, Beverly's Pastry Shop, Pottstown, will provide cookies and cupcakes, and the The Butcher and the BBQ, also of Pottstown, will provide delicious boneless chicken wings. Both Beverly’s and the Butcher and the BBQ will generously donate half of all proceeds to Your Way Home Montgomery County.

Sodexo, The Hill School’s food service provider, also will donate beverages for the event.

Here's a video explaining the show and who benefits:

Anya Gupta, a member of Hill’s Class of 2018 and the primary student leader for this event, said the CARES students selected Your Way Home Montgomery County (YWH) as the beneficiary of this community endeavor because they wanted to make a tangible impact on our shared hometown. 

Anya explained that this organization – which partners with the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities – works to help homeless people find permanent housing and attain skills and resources that will help them maintain and improve their self-sufficiency.

“The Pottstown CARES students are so passionate about making a tangible difference in our community,” Anya said. “We want to show our compassion for those people who are struggling yet want to make their home here in the Pottstown area.

“With great appreciation for the band members and student performers who are donating their time and talent, we are keeping the concert ticket price low so that as many Pottstown area families can attend as possible,” Anya continued. “By attending this community-wide event, guests will enjoy some fantastic music and great locally created food. Even more importantly, attendees will show their support and dedication to improving our community.”

Kristen Fisher, community relations manager for Your Way Home Montgomery County, said that “the passion and dedication Anya and Pottstown CARES has for this work and ending homelessness is astonishing.”

“It is this type of commitment by community members that is so impactful in creating change,” Fisher added. “Your Way Home Montgomery County is honored to be a part of such a wonderful community event.”

Individuals also may donate directly to this wonderful cause through Your Way Home Montgomery County's donation page.

The initial, joint CARES (Community, Awareness, Responsibility, Empowerment, and Sustainability) endeavor was conceived in the spring of 2013 during conversations between Borough Manager Mark Flanders, then-Pottstown School Superintendent Dr. Jeff Sparagana, and Hill School Headmaster Zachary Lehman. 

The three leaders envisioned a collaborative project that would “spruce up” a designated area in the core of Pottstown while boosting community pride. 

In 2014, Montgomery County Community College’s West Campus joined the CARES planning team, and Lowes and the Tri-County Chamber of Commerce joined the group in 2016. 

Since its creation, Pottstown CARES has conducted numerous fall and spring neighborhood improvement projects, including a spring 2016 joint endeavor with Habitat for Humanity.

Over the past year, a new student leadership team comprised of students from The Hill, Pottstown School District, and Montgomery County Community College has been imagining and implementing additional projects to improve Pottstown. 

In addition to the Welcome Home benefit concert, CARES students recently initiated a Shop TriCounty initiative to encourage patronage of local businesses.

Learn more about Pottstown CARES and the student leaders by watching this short video, winner of the Best Documentary category in the 2016 Pottstown In Focus Film Festival.

A Very Trojan Man Christmas Season

Anthony Wiggins and alumni Trojan Man 

Alec Krause with Santa Trojan Man.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided and written by John J. Armato.

Some people may count on the weekend as a time for rest and relaxation. Trojan Man and his advisor Pottstown High School teacher Mr. Dave Woodley use their weekends to help the community and build Pottstown Pride. 

This past weekend started with The Trojan Nation and Trojan Men Jon Oister, Aaron Diamond, and Owen Morton making a trip to the Reading Hospital to deliver four boxes of toys to the Pediatric Unit. 

Upon their return, Trojan Man Michael Baker suited up and lead the student cheer section as the Pottstown Boys Basketball team defeated Pope John Paul II High School.

Saturday morning, saw Trojan Men Aaron Diamond, Austin Andrews, Jon Oister, Naeem Charriez, Todd Schadler, Anthony Wiggins and Trojan Woman Abie Krause travel to the Salvation Army and PMMC to deliver toys to children who would not be home for the Holidays. 

Santa Trojan Man visiting with residents at the old

Jefferson School building.

"You guys do such a nice job. We appreciate all that you do for us," said Richard Newell, hospital CEO. "Please thank the Trojan Nation for their community service and have a very merry Christmas." 

The day was not done until, Santa Trojan Man, Jon Oister made a visit to meet with the senior residents who live in the former Jefferson School. 

Trojan Men Jon Oister, Aaron Diamond

and Owen Morton delivering gifts.

Santa Trojan Man went around and greeted each person at the building party, wishing them a Merry Christmas. 

He then helped Pottstown High School's Regina Astheimer hand out presents to each person at the party before posing for pictures with the attendees. 

All in all a very Trojan Man weekend and another reason to say Proud to be from Pottstown.

Take a Walk and Discover Pottstown's Art Scene

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by a coalition of organizations promoting the arts in Pottstown.

It's no secret that the arts can drive revitalization and make Pottstown a place where ideas and creativity come to life. 

On Saturday, you'll get a chance to see that for yourself -- and walk off a few of those holiday calories in the process when the first-ever "Arts Walk" takes place.

Arts and culture organizations, local businesses and restaurants are teaming up to bring you an amazing day of fun, food and entertainment. 

 

Viewing the art in a kind of "pub crawl" format adds to the fun and energetic quality of this event. 

Family-friendly activities are scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 4 to 8 p.m. more great activities designed for adults. Nearly 20 downtown business will be open to showcase original artwork displays and live musical entertainment.

“We have always recognized and embraced what the arts and collaboration can do for a community”, said Erika Hornburg-Cooper, of ArtFusion19464. 

“The Pottstown Downtown Improvement District Authority (PDIDA) is excited to be a part in this venture. It has been very exciting to see our downtown community pull together with our arts and cultural organizations to create this amazing event,” states Sheila Dugan, executive director of PDIDA.

“It all starts with the arts!” said Lauren Pierson-Swanson, from the Steel River Playhouse. “To know Pottstown is to love it. The people behind the businesses and attractions on and around High Street are smart, driven and dedicated to this beautiful historic town. Art has always been a catalyst in the rejuvenation of American communities and is the focus of Pottstown ArtsWalk,” she said

While this event is free, organizers ask that you pre-register for your free ticket. 

Each is valid for one person to join the Pottstown ArtsWalk on Saturday, Jan. 7, and you can order as many as you need. 

Visit www.artfusion19464.org/artwalk.

Get a taste for all the activities, food and arts presentations. Here is a list of venues and artists joining us to showcase Pottstown and all that the our community has to offer:

• @107, 107 E. High St. and Advantage Insurance – music by Cordilla Arcay and Matt Asti and original artwork display from John Quinn; light refreshments; wine tasting
• ArtFusion 19464, 254 E. High St. – local artists’ collections, an interactive art experience, and soup bowl glazing fundraiser
• Ballroom on High, 310 E. High St. – free dance lesson and live band dance with Temple Avenue; refreshments
• Beverly’s Pastry Shop, 322 E. High St. – discounts on sweet treats
• Connections on High, 238 E. High St. – custom portrait making and local artists’ displays; hot holiday beverages
• Grumpy’s Handcarved Sandwiches, 137 E. High St.– Pottstown High School Culinary Arts students will be making/serving complimentary hors d'oeuvres; discounts on food/meal during the ArtsWalk
  
• High Street Music, 135 E. High St. – original artwork display by Pottstown High School students and the Craig Clemens Jazz Trio
• iCreate Cafe, 130 King St. – discounts on food/meal during the ArtsWalk
• Juan Carlos Fine Mexican Cuisine, 235 E. High St. – discounts on food/meal during the ArtsWalk
• Lily’s Grill, 115 E. High St. – discounts on food/meal during the ArtsWalk
• MCCC North Hall Gallery, 16 E. High St. – staged reading of A Bright Room Called Day by Tony Kushner
• Memory Madness Photo Studio, 16 N. York St. – open house
• MOSIAC Community Land Trust, 10 S. Hanover St. – painting Schuylkill River rocks for placement in gardens around town
• Potts & Penn Family Diner, 80 E. High St. – discounts on food/meal during the ArtsWalk
• Smith Family Plaza, 100 E. High St. – view sculptures by Eric Berg
• Steel River Playhouse, 245 E. High St. – hand-made theatrical costume display by Ally Boughter; artwork by Thomas Poplawski
• The Carousel at Pottstown, 30 W. King St. – meet artists of the all-volunteer organization and hear presentations on the project’s history
• The Hill School Center for the Performing Arts, 780 Beech St. – paper lantern art activity and backstage tours
• Weitzenkorn’s, 145 E. High St. – view works by our families fifth generation, light refreshments

To get the latest update on locations and activities, visit artfusion19464.org or www.steelriver.org. 

Don’t forget to pre-register for Pottstown ArtsWalk! Visit www.artfusion19464.org/artwalk.


Pottstown ArtsWalk is brought to you in partnership through ArtFusion19464, Steel River Playhouse, @107, Proudly Pottstown and Advantage Insurance Group.

P.S. A great ending to a great day with lots of laughs! The N Crowd Improv Group from Philly will be at Steel River Playhouse for an 8 p.m. show. Tickets available at www.steelriver.org

Christmas Around the World in West Pottsgrove

West Pottsgrove Elementary School kindergarteners make their own Christmas cards.

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

It has become an annual tradition at West for our kindergarten students to engage in a study of Christmas traditions around the world in conjunction with our literacy and social studies program. 

Each child receives a passport for their travel around the world as they visit the different countries they get a stamp in their passports. 

Each of the teachers teaches about a different country. During the course of the week, the children travel and visit a new country (classroom) each day. The

children get to spend time learning about the traditions in Germany, Italy, Sweden, England and Mexico. 

As they visit each country, they hear a story from that country, learn about the traditions and complete a craft related to that country. 

For example, when the children learn about England, they learn about the origin of the Christmas card. During the craft the children then make cards, which are then sent to the local police department. 

In Italy they learn about La Befana and make an ornament to take home and share with their families.

The goal of this activity is to provide the children with a sense of how other cultures celebrate the holidays. It also allows for the children to work with all of the kindergarten teachers. 

It is a fun way to tap into the natural excitement of children at this time of year while providing an engaging learning activity at the same time.

Not Just a Lot of Hot Air at Pottstown High School

Steve Park, director of career technology at Pottstown High School, was itching to take this student-built hovercraft out for a spin, but he doesn't have his license yet.

Did you have to do a lot of assembling Christmas morning?

Toys, computers, bicycles?

Well at least you didn't have to build a hovercraft.

But students in Andy Bachman's Engineering Technology class at Pottstown High School did.

Recently, they learned about the power of air by designing, building and testing their own hovercraft.

Director of Career Technology Steve Park gets to sit in the craft but because he does not have his hovercraft license yet, he had to be content with sitting.

However, PHS Senior Ernest McCalvin does have his license and gets to drive the craft down the hall of the school.

Check it out here:

A Merrier Christmas for YWCA Families

The holiday party at the YWCA in full swing.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by YWCA Tri-County Area.

This holiday season, the students at YWCA Tri-County Area (YW3CA) have had a guardian angel. 

Since Thanksgiving, the families have been lucky to receive multiple generous donations, making this the best holiday season at YW3CA yet. 

The good cheer started the week of Thanksgiving, with over 130 Thanksgiving dinners being delivered by Exelon Limerick Generating Station. 

Santa's visit was the highlight of the party.

The employees at Exelon purchased a whole turkey, green beans, potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, vegetables, and more for each family at YW3CA’s early education center and Education and Training Center. 

YW3CA staff spent Tuesday the 22nd sorting the food for families, which was distributed as they arrived to pick up their children from the Pottstown center. 

Shortly following Thanksgiving, Exelon once again delivered its annual “Operation Warmth,” which provided 150 coats to children in need. These coats were supplemented by hats and gloves from community member Melissa Caballero, to make sure that the children were covered head to toe in the cold winter months to come. 

With full bellies, warm fingers, the children are eagerly awaited the arrival of

And when the children woke up this morning, they had 

gifts under their trees, thanks to Exelon and Toys for Tots.

Santa at YW3CA on Wednesday. 

Little did they know that thanks to Exelon, Toys for Tots, and Pine Forge Academy, each one of them woke up this morning to a wonderful pile of gifts under the Christmas tree. 

Exelon “adopted” 100 families to purchase gifts for this holiday, with Toys for Tots supplementing additional gifts. 

The families who participate in YW3CA’s Early Head Start rooms were lucky to be sponsored by Pine Forge Academy, who also delivered a holiday meal to the families’ homes. 

Thank you to the generous Pottstown community, and especially the warm-hearted employees of Exelon, for helping fill this holiday season with little miracles for the families YW3CA serves. 

YWCA Tri-County Area has been serving women, children, and families in Montgomery, Berks, and Chester counties since 1908. 

To learn more visit www.ywcatricountyarea.org, or call 610-323-1888.

Students Eat Up Sustainable Gingerbread Lessons

Pottstown Middle School students teamed up with students from The Hill School top build "sustainable gingerbread houses."

Blogger's Note: The following was submitted by The Hill School.

Katie Scanlan, The Hill Shool’s High Meadows Foundation Chair of Sustainability, took five students from Hill’s Environmental Science Club to the Pottstown Middle School last week to work with students there to create “sustainable” gingerbread houses. 

Hill’s Environmental Science students participated in this fun and educational activity this past weekend and were excited to share it with younger students.  

 “In addition to learning the basics of Green Building Design, students applied what they have learned through an activity which will result in the construction of gingerbread houses that utilize key concepts covered in the course. Is your gingerbread home run on solar, or wind energy? Do you have a composting bin, a green roof, or rain garden?  How much did it cost to make your gingerbread home “green”?

The Hill students who attended were: Haroon Feda, 9th grader, from Fairfax Station, Va.; Quan Pham, 10th grader, from Vietnam; David Park, 11th grader, from San Francisco; Larry Lo, 11th grader, from Hong Kong and Natasha Maurer, 12th grader, from Redondo Beach, Ca.

There they worked with 32 Pottstown Middl School students in the classes of teachers Vanessa Barnaik and Ginger Angelo.

"It wasn't as chaotic as I thought it would be when working with so many  middle school kids," said Pham. 

"They were actually very cooperative, and the whole experience went very smoothly. It was really fun to see these kids getting creative with their houses and having a good time," said the Hill student. "I definitely look forward to more experiences like this in the future."

Although she could not attend, 12th grade student Grace Huang, of China, had the following to say about her prior experience when Hill students did this last Saturday, 12/10: "The green building seminar was both informative and fun.  I learned a lot about the sustainable features a building could have - such as rain gardens, roof vegetation, permeable floors, etc. - and applied them in my gingerbread house.  The workshop definitely made me more aware of a building's impact on the environment and more mindful of the options we have to make our buildings more sustainable and eco-friendly."

Pottsgrove Middle School Building Success

Pottsgrove at work.

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

Two Robotics Teams represented Pottsgrove Middle School in the LEGO First Competition on Saturday Dec. 10 in Conshohocken at the AIM Academy. 

Pottsgrove's 7th grade team

The 7th Grade Team took an impressive third place in the Robot category and a first place in Core Values. 

The 8th Grade Team took a first place in the prestigious Robot category and also won the All Around Award! 

Our 8th grade Team was named the Champion and advances to the next round in February. 

Pottsgrove Middle School had a team go all the way to the National Competition in 2013 and our current 8th grade team is working toward that same opportunity.

Pottsgrove's 8th grade team

Faculty sponsor, Mrs. Deb Frasca, works with students as they plan and prepare all aspects of the LEGO competition. 

Students design, build, research, and present their solutions to a panel of judges.

Our 8th grade team included an innovative solution to give beginning equestrian students real-time feedback on their balance in the saddle.

Let Me Buy You Lunch

Members of the Pottstown Middle and High School life skills class, send a 'Thank You' message out into cyber space to the anonymous person who purchased their lunch during a recent outing.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by Pottstown Middle School Life Skills Teacher Samantha Mazzie.

My Middle School life skills class and the High School Life Skills class of 23 students and 10 staff members, attended a special shopping day at Boscov's followed by a lunch at the Brick House on Tuesday, Dec. 6.

While having lunch, we were approached by a manager who informed us that a gentleman having his lunch there wanted to treat our entire group to a free lunch. 

We were overwhelmed by his generosity and kindness. 

We had several of our students visit him at his table to thank him along with staff members.  

We knew you would want to share this special expression of Holiday spirit. 

We were and still are overwhelmed by this gentleman's kindheartedness. Just shows another reason to say Proud to be from Pottstown.

Of Sewer Capacity and Re-Appointment Politics

On the final meeting of 2016, the Pottstown Borough Authority debated how (or if) they should endorse one of their own number for re-appointment, and worried about whether the sewer piping system has enough capacity to accommodate Sanatoga Green in Lower Pottsgrove.

Responding to an outburst from Pottstown Borough Council Vice President Sheryl Miller -- when the question of re-appointing authority member and former councilman Jeff Chomnuk for another fiver years on the authority -- Chairman Tom Carroll tried to demure.

He questioned whether it is his place to recommend re-appointments, forgetting perhaps that it is exactly what the board over which he has presided for the past several years has done.

After some back and forth, Chomnuk reminded him -- with a bit of vinegar in his voice -- that the past two re-appointments were made with a motion to send a letter urging council to re-appoint a member.

Chomnuk knew because he had the minutes of those meetings from the past two years, and because in both occasions, he was the one who made the motion.

With Chomnuk abstaining, the remaining board voted 3-1 to support his re-appointment. Carroll voted no and weathered a bit of a pause at the end of the meeting when he offered his hand to Chomnuk and wished him a Merry Christmas.

We'll see how it all shakes out at the council meeting in January.

Another thing that may need shaking out has to do with the large Sanatoga Green development, and another that may well be proposed right night door.

Although the project's impact on traffic and school enrollments, not to mention property taxes, have all been discussed, one thing absent from most conversations is sewer capacity.

Authority Engineer Tom Weld and Vice Chairman David Renn said they do not feel the potential problems those projects post are adequately understood in Lower Pottsgrove.

The problem is not the capacity of the sewage treatment plant, but Lower Pottsgrove's pumping station on Porter Road.

All sewage from the 500-plus residences, a 100-room hotel and medical office building, would be added to the already full flow through that station. And thanks to infiltration and inflow, the station can get near capacity now when it rains.

The authority voted to send a letter to Lower Pottsgrove outlining their concerns and seeking information on how the township proposes to deal with them.

Other than that, and a absolutely fascinating presentation by local master plumber Aram Ecker on why plastic pipes are as good as cast iron, the meeting was fairly routine.

Here are the Tweets that prove it.

U. Pottsgrove Cops Recognized for Jobs Well Done

Photo by Evan Brandt

Upper Pottsgrove Police Chief Francis Wheatley, right, said the township's police force, shown here in full minus officer, is peopled with the finest people he has ever served with.

As the township commissioners held their last meeting of 2016, they took the opportunity to present commendations to members of its police force.

As outlined by chief Francis Wheatley, officers were recognized for outstanding work both individually and as part of a team.

Commissioner Herb Miller said the practice of giving out awards to police to recognize the job they do is "long overdue."

The board also adopted a $3.1 million that does not raise property taxes and eliminates the per capita tax.

And finally, there was a long and inconclusive review of the second draft of a proposed noise ordinance.

It got sent back to the solicitor's office for a third draft.

You can read about the rest of the meeting here among the Tweets.

Staples Donates $5,000 to Pottstown Middle School

Photo by Alexa Nahas Photography

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by Staples. 

Staples General Manager Janelle Schloder presented a $5,000 check to Pottstown Middle School on Monday, Dec. 5. 

Six Staples stores across the country each selected a local school to receive donations towards school supplies and technology during this season of giving. 

The Staples Foundation continuously supports non-profit organizations in the communities in which we do business through the Staples 2Million and Change program and employee involvement.

Word Is, Pottsgrove Students Have the Wright Stuff

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

A team of students representing Pottsgrove High School won high honors recently in this year's Word Wright Challenge, a national competition for high school students requiring close reading and analysis of many different kinds of prose and poetry.

Participating with 640 school teams  from all across the country, the school's eleventh graders tied for fifteenth place in the nation in this year's first meet, held in October.

Pottsgrove students who achieved outstanding individual results in the meet included freshman Grace Kegel and David Rabinowitz; sophomores Arianne Colbert and Paul Sachs; juniors Charlie Walsh, Katelyn Zook and Karli Tellis; and senior Cassidy Robinson.

The Pottsgrove students were supervised by Todd Kelly.

More than 64,000 students  from 48 states participated in the meet.

The premise behind the WordWright Challenge is that attentive reading and sensitivity to language are among the most important skills students acquire in school.

The texts students must analyze for the challenge can range from short fiction by Eudora Welty or John Steinbeck, to poetry as old as Shakespeare's or as recent as Margaret Atwoods; to essays as classic as E. White's or as current as an Atlantic opinion piece by James Parker.

Though the texts vary widely in voice, subject, tone and length, they have one thing in common  style.

All use language skillfully to convey layers and shades of meaning not always apparent to students on a first or casual reading. Like the verbal questions on the SAT, the questions posed by the WordWright Challenge ask students both to recognize the emotional and/or rational logic of a piece of writing and to notice the ways in which a writer's style shapes and shades his meaning.

Because the WordWright Challenge is a classroom activity and not a college-entrance exam, however, it can be a learning experience, not just a high hurdle.

After completing a challenge, classes are encouraged to talk about the texts and the answers to the multiple-choice questions, and are also given additional topics for open-ended discussion and/.or written responses.

The texts for the second WordWright meet this year were an excerpt from Joseph Conrad's "Lord Jim" for 9th and 10th graders, and an essay for Joan Didion for 11th and 12th graders.

The students will participate in three more meets over the coming months, and medals and certificates will be awarded in June to those who achieve and/or progress the most in the course of the year.

Will Someone Please Turn on the Lights?

Photo by Evan Brandt

Pottstown alum David Miller Thursday pledged $1,000 to the Save the Lights effort and challenged others in town to do the same in the next 100 days.

Like many of us, Pottstown resident David Miller has seen the effort to replace the stadium lights at Grigg Memorial Field limp along in its efforts to raise $300,000.

Then he read a story in a November edition of The Mercury in which Save the Lights fundraiser Polly Weand fired back at criticism leveled at her in the newspaper's popular-but-uncouth Sound Off section.

And it spurred him to action.

"I said you know what, let's get this done," he told The Mercury.

So on Thursday night, he appeared before the Pottstown School Board at their last meeting of the year and made a pledge.

He will donate $1,000 to the effort within the next 100 days and he challenged others in the community to step up and do the same.

Miller also challenged the board to consider relenting somewhat in its refusal to use tax money to get the project done, calling for the use of "limited tax dollars" to get the project finished in time for the 2017 football season.

School Board Vice President Emanuel Wilkerson told the board, and it agreed, to at least discuss the matter at the board's next finance meeting.

"An investment in athletics is as helpful to a student's educational experience as textbooks are," Miller said. "The things they learn about teamwork and loyalty will serve them throughout their lives, perhaps more than knowing what the chemical symbol for iron is."

Weand and several other board members thanked him for his gift and his initiative.

She had good news and bad news.

The bad news is that the NFL rejected Pottstown's application for a $50,000 grant toward the lights. The good news is that over the Thanksgiving break, the campaign received an anonymous $10,000 donation.

The fund now stands at $132,000, she said. If the campaign can meet the conditions set by the Pottstown Health and Wellness Foundation, it will net another $75,000, she said, which would bring the today to $204,000 -- $96,000 short of the $300,000 goal.

"We continue to move closer to our goal," she said.

Now here are the Tweets from the rest of the meeting.

Variances Obtained, Sanatoga Green Presses On

Renderings of some of the buildings proposed for Sanatoga Green.

So I had this plan.

Lower Pottsgrove Commissioners started their meeting at 6 p.m. last night to allow for a presentations and questions and answers about Sanatoga Green, everybody's favorite 500-plus home development project.

I would get most of that, then head over at 7 p.m. to catch the Pottstown School Board meeting.

You know what they say about plans right?

Well Chairman Bruce Foltz decided to get the rest of the meeting over before Sanatoga Green started.

Granted, that only took about 15 minutes, but it was 15 minutes I didn't have to spare.

In that 15 minutes, the board made quick work of adopting a budget, the millage rate, which remains the same, and other important once-a-year stuff.

As it turned out, much the Sanatoga Green portion of what I saw was focused on details like how wide will the roads be? (24 feet).

Will there be street parking? (Only in the apartment section and it will be perpendicular in 18-foot parking places.)

The one new thing we did learn is that at Tuesday's zoning hearing board meeting, which I missed so I could attend my son's very last school Christmas concert, Sanatoga Green obtained all the zoning variances it had sought.

And then I had to dash, so that's what I know and here are the Tweets.

Chance to Ride the Carousel Comes 'Round Again

Did you miss your chance to be among the first more than 1,000 people to ride the Carousel at Pottstown on Sunday?

Well another chance has come around.

Same deal as last time, except you have to bring your own camera.

Every child who gets a photo with the Carousel's most excellent Santa Claus for just $5, also gets a free ride on the carousel.

For those who choose to have mercy on Santa's aching knees, the ride alone is $3.

Schuylkill Water Trail Guide Perfect for Paddlers

The new Schuylkill River Water Trail Guide.

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

Do you have a paddler on your Christmas list? The Pottstown-based Schuylkill River Heritage Area may have the perfect gift.

The Schuylkill River Heritage Area has introduced a new Schuylkill River Water Trail guide designed to help paddlers plan enjoyable trips and safely navigate the Schuylkill. The newly released “A Paddler’s Guide to the Schuylkill River Water Trail,” is available exclusively through the Schuylkill River Heritage Area.

The high-quality, comprehensive guide consists of a book and set of removable maps. Both are printed on waterproof synthetic stock. The 20-page spiral-bound guidebook includes a section-by-section trip planner, as well as valuable safety information, a field guide and detailed listing of water trail landings.

A portfolio on the inside back cover holds a set of 18 tri-fold maps that can be easily removed for access on the water. The maps divide the river into 18 sections, and each map provides essential details about waypoints, hazards, river miles, points of interest and much more. Areas of cautions are clearly delineated as is information on water levels and estimated travel times.

Attractively illustrated with numerous color photographs, “A Paddler’s Guide to the Schuylkill River Water Trail” covers roughly 115 miles of the Schuylkill River, beginning in Schuylkill Haven and ending in Philadelphia just below Schuylkill Banks.

The Schuylkill River Heritage Area developed the guide in response to a growing interest in river recreation.

“In recent years, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in the number of people paddling, fishing and recreating on the river, and we expect that trend to continue,” said Schuylkill River Heritage Area Interim Executive Director Tim Fenchel.

“We put a great deal of effort into creating a first-rate water trail guide that is attractive, portable, and most importantly is painstakingly researched to ensure that paddlers of all abilities have the information they need to safely explore the river.”

The guide was designed by graphic artist Brian Swisher, an avid paddler who spent years researching and developing the content with assistance from nearly 50 contributors.

Cost is $40. For more information or to order a copy visit www.schuylkillriver.org.

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

Pottstown Council 'Ties' Down Budget After 4 Votes

Sure, budgets are serious business.

And we'll get to it in a minute.

But it's also the holiday season and that means, it's time for holiday ties!

Borough Solicitor Charles Garner Jr., left, and Borough Manager Mark Flanders, right, are known for their once-a-year holiday attire.

Sorry, but I couldn't resist.

Anyhoo, as you may have guessed, borough council muddled its way through a budget vote Monday night, adopting a last minute option that no one had heard before tonight.

It raises taxes slightly, 0.29%, and preserves an administrative job primarily by delaying the hiring of a new police officer until later into 2017.

It took four votes to get there, but you can read all about this like it was live, by reading the live Tweets below!

When You Can Have Your Pie and Read it Too

Photos Courtesy of Pottstown School District

Luna Davilia, Lincoln fourth grader, prepares to launch a pie at her principal, Calista Boyer.

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

The students at Lincoln Elementary School understand that readers become leaders. 

Lincoln Principal Calista Boyer challenged her students to read 500 books by the end of the first marking period. 

Lincoln 4th grader Kailyn Pena is right on target with her pie.

Students not only met the goal but far exceeded it by reading 800 books during the first marking period.

All students who read at least 25 books became Lincoln Reading Stars and received a certificate along with a coupon for a free kid’s meal at Applebee’s. 

Their names were also placed in a lottery and Mrs. Boyer drew ten names of students who were designated as “pie delivery persons.” 

At a school-wide assembly, each delivery person had the opportunity to “deliver a cream pie” to Mrs. Boyer’s face.

Calista Boyer after

Calista Boyer before

The reading challenge was part of the “Books Are Your Ticket to the World" reading incentive program.” 

Lincoln students have a long history of exceeding every reading challenge they have been given.

Mrs. Boyer said, “I am more than happy to take part in any activity that encourages our students to become lifelong readers!”

A New Chapter in An Old Friendship

Photo by Evan Brandt

The original electric motor for Philadelphia Toboggan Co. No. 9

has been spruced up and is now on display at the 

Carousel at Pottstown building.

Blogger's Note: In honor of the first public opening of the Carousel at Pottstown today, after 16 years of effort, we present this particular reminiscence, as told to Brien Heisey. 

I would like to tell you my story. 

I came to life over a hundred years ago right here in this region. 

I became a hidden part that very few people got to see. Every day I could hear the laughter and felt the joy all around me. 

I moved around the country to places like Ohio, Kentucky, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. 

Thirty years ago part of us were split up and auctioned off. I was lost for a while. There was no joy or laughter around me and I felt abandoned. 

One day in 1999 I found my way to Pottstown. 

I was moved around always in the corner, always overlooked. I still missed the joy and the laughter of my younger years. 

I thought no one noticed me over in the corner and I overheard that I was being retired for I was no use to anyone. 

 One day I was pulled up onto the back of a truck. I thought I was  headed to be scrapped. 

To my amazement I was cleaned up, given a new coat of paint, my brass was polished with bright red trim. I was brought back to my old friend. They set me up outside the box. 

I now have a majestic view of the partner I turned for so many years. I see him in his glory that I never saw before. I again hear the laughter outside that box with people laughing and all the awe that carousels bring. 

 Come see me when you can. I stand tall looking over the building that now houses the Philadelphia Toboggan Company Carousel No. 9. 

Thank you so very much to the Pottstown Carousel Committee for thinking of me and giving me the best seat in the house.

Sincerely,
The Original Old Electric Motor of No. 9

Pottsgrove Re-Organizes, OKs 2% Salary Hikes

Blogger's Note: I attended a DEP hearing Tuesday in New Hanover and so did not arrive at the Pottsgrove meeting that night until it was already underway.

Before the year ends, the Pottsgrove School Board got itself ready for 2017 by choosing new officers and awarding 2 percent raises to mid-level administrators.

Rick Rabinowitz stepped down as president after one year and Matt Alexander was unanimously elected as the new board president during Tuesday’s meeting.

Al Leach was similarly unanimously elected as the board’s vice president.

Also unanimous, and without any public comment, was a vote to provide 15 mid-level administrators with 2 percent raises, adding $43,147 to the payroll and pushing salaries for those 15 officials to $1.8 million for 2017.

Highest earning among the recipients were Pottsgrove High School Principal William Ziegler, who saw his salary rise by $2,788 from $139,413 to $142,201.

Right behind him was Yolanda Williams, principal at Lower Pottsgrove Elementary School, who saw her salary increase by $2,751 from $137,567 to $140,318.

Similar increases were provided for the districts other principals as well.

• · David Ramage, Pottsgrove Middle School Principal, $122,694 to $125,147.
• · Terri Koehler, West Pottsgrove Elementary School Principal, $113,973 to $116,252.
• · Lisa Jones, Ringing Rocks Elementary School Principal, $113,141 to $115,403.

Department heads also received the 2 percent raise.

• · Daniel Vorhis, Director of Education, $130,687 to $133,300.
• · Kate Pacitto, Director of Pupil Services, 121,000 to $123,420.
• · Jeff Cardwell, Director of Facilities, $106,050 to $108,171.

* * *

In other news, Leach reported that the school district will begin looking into offering a third language at Pottsgrove, “but not next year.”

Also, Rabinowitz and Alexander said the would like to see the district re-establish the drug task force of several years ago in light of the heroin and opioid addition crisis sweeping the nation.

Here are the Tweets from the meeting.

Borough Council Faces four Budget Options

Photos by Evan Brandt

When borough council takes to the dias Monday night, its members will face a choice among four budget options.

According to Borough Manager Mark Flanders, the first option is for council to adopt the budget it advertised, which raises taxes 3.49 percent and is an annual increase of $29.68 on a property assessed at $85,000 -- the borough median.

The second choice is to vote on a budget that only raises taxes by 1.24 percent, which represents an annual increase of only $10.51 on the median tax bill. It is an option achieved by making some changes to which funds certain costs are assigned, Flanders said.

And finally, said Flanders, council can achieve a zero tax hike by not filling a soon-to-be vacant position on the police force, and eliminating an administrative position in the Human Resources department.

But Council Vice President Sheryl Miller doesn't like those options, so she presented a fourth; that a new police officer be hired but the administrative position be eliminated.

"We can't afford to reduce the police force," said Miller.

She said that would result in an annual increase of $8.86 for an assessment of $85,000, but that could not be confirmed Wednesday night by Finance Director Janice Lee.

Flanders warned against allowing the gap between revenues and expenses to continue expanding, particularly as it relates to not putting money into the borough's capital fund.

And Council President Dan Weand noted that "an organizations greatest asset is its people. Maybe you can cut back on salt or something, but once you start cutting back on people, work doesn't get done."

From left, Police Captain Robert Thomas and Chaplain
Everett Debnam, 

congratulate Rommell and Deavona Robinson
for the award just 

presented by Mayor Sharon Thomas and
Police Chief Rick Drumheller. 

Mayor Sharon Thomas noted that whichever budget council ultimately adopts, it pales in comparison to the 11 percent tax hike now being proposed by the Montgomery County Commissioners.

On a happier note, council also recognized Rommell and Deavona Robinson with a Civilian Service Award for saving the life of someone apparently suffering from an over-dose.

It happened in October and, according to Thomas, the victim was found not breathing and without a pulse, but the couple immediately began CPR and saved the victim's life.

"I mean we showed up when we got the call, but they are the people who saved this person's life," said Police Chief Rick Drumheller.

There were some other items of interest -- such as Miller's suggestion that Jeff Chomnuk not be re-appointed to the Pottstown Borough Authority because of how she was treated when she was late with a bill.

We all hope this has nothing to do with the two running against each other for the Third Ward seat on borough council three years ago.

That said, here are the Tweets...

DEP Took 8,000 Gallons of Pollution Off Oil Site

Photos by Evan Brandt

Barely 30 people attended the public hearing Tuesday night regarding the state's clean-up of the former home heating oil site that was the source of contamination of many area drinking water wells.

The hearing, held at Boyertown Junior High East in New Hanover, was specific to the discovery and draining of a buried pit on the site from which more than 8,000 gallons of dangerous chemicals were removed in July.

The DEP discovered the pit as the result of a deposition given by the property's effective owner Ethan Good (legally the property is owned by trusts under Good's control) in legal proceedings in which he agreed to pay for the clean-up there.

The operation at the site along Route 663, 334 Layfield Road, was once known as Swann Oil, and then the Good Oil Co.

DEP photo of the pit at the Good Oil property

Colin Wade, the DEP official in charge of the investigation of the site, said the liquid found in the pit contained "weathered petroleum, chlorinated solvents, pesticides" and a by-product of petroleum known as poly-aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs.

Responding to a question from state Rep. Marcy Toepel, R-147th Dist., Wade said that contrary to what she had first been told, the materials taken out of the pit are "similar" to the pollutants which leached into the groundwater and poisoned area wells.

The discovery of that pollution in 2011, resulted in public water being extended to numerous homes in the area at a cost of $2 million in taxpayer dollars. (This is the money Good has agreed to pay back.)

Wade also said the estimated cost of the removal was about $150,000 and that the contaminants were incinerated off-site at a licensed disposal facility.

State Rep. Marcy Toepel asks a question.

Also, pipes that emptied into the pit, and which seemed to have come from the garage at the facility, where a truck washing operation as well as heating oil storage and sales were once housed, were also discovered.

When asked by Chris Mullaney, an attorney for the Ban the Quarry group, why it took so long to find something so many people seemed to know about, Wade said DEP interviewed former employees and longtime residents, but could not located the pit, which was buried 10-feet underground -- this despite using ground-penetrating radar.

"It's always difficult to find out where people dumped something 40 years ago," said Wade.

DEP Official Colin Wade speaks at the hearing.

Accordingly, Wade said while the discovery of the pit indicates DEP has found one location of "significant" pollution, it will continue to investigate the site and search for more potential sources of contamination.

Mullaney suggested that DEP expand its search to property Gibraltar Rock purchased from Good in December, 2014 that is adjacent to the contamination site and is currently being proposed for expanded quarry operations.

"It's unbelievable, the quantity, variety and intensity of the chemicals found on in the samples," Mullaney said. He added that the Ban the Quarry group is concerned Gibraltar's proposed quarry operation will draw more chemicals out of the ground water and into the open, posing a further threat.

The map on this map shows the area of groundwater

contamination. The proposed quarry operations can be

seen adjacent to the contamination area.

"We hope it doesn't happen, but we're worried," he said.

"It's frightening not to have this (Good Oil) property totally clean before they start quarrying," Bob Meyers said Tuesday.

Currently, the New Hanover Zoning Hearing Board is taking testimony about Gibraltar's proposed expanded quarry operations onto the site adjacent to the former Good Oil.

Experts for Gibraltar said the operation would not draw much if any further pollution, which an expert hired by the township maintains that is a very real possibility and that the methods proposed for treating any contamination found are inadequate.

The next hearing is scheduled for Jan. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the township building and William "Ross" Snook, the newly appointed chairman of the township's environmental advisory council, is expected to testify.

In the meantime, here are the Tweets from Tuesday night's meeting.