The People Get Their Say on Quarry Expansion

Photo by Evan Brandt

William 'Ross' Snook, newly appointed to New Hanover Township's Environmental Advisory Board, with some of the exhibits he was not allowed to present during Thursday's Zoning Hearing on the proposed expansion of the Gibraltar Rock Quarry.

If you're an aficionado of zoning hearing meetings, you know that is a realm of legalese, rules about when you can ask questions, and of whom, and when you can make a simple statement, and about what.

The year-plus long set of hearings regarding the proposed expansion of the Gibraltar Rock quarry to a site adjacent to the former Good's Oil Co. site, the source of groundwater contamination, has been no exception.

But Thursday night was that rare occasion when the people who have been suffering through these hearings for more than a year, got to offer (somewhat) unfettered comment on what they think of the whole idea of digging a hole and pumping hundreds of thousands of gallons of groundwater a day right next to a contamination site.

It would not be an understatement to say no one seemed to think its a good idea.

Most of those who spoke, asked the zoning hearing board to consider the health of residents, and argued it would be better (and safer) to wait until the site is cleaned, and declared clean, before allowing any blasting and pumping.

But don't let me give the impression that you could just get up there and say anything that came to mind.

For when Celeste Bish from the Ban the Quarry group tried to read the names of those people who have died in homes with contaminated wells since the contamination was first discovered, many of them of cancer, it was ruled either not relevant to the hearing or inadmissible because she didn't have personal knowledge of their death.

Of course, I would think an obituary in the newspaper is pretty certain evidence of death, but then I'm not a lawyer so I could be mistaken.

Nevertheless, when the chance finally came, 11 people who wanted to speak and were lucky enough to be there at the right time, had their say, which you can read about in the Tweets below.

But despite what you might think, we're not done. There is at least one more hearing, tentatively set for Feb. 2 with a possible postponement to March 2, at which Gibraltar attorney Stephen Harris will offer rebuttal witnesses from his expert.

And then the township's attorney, and Ban the Quarry's attorney, and so on and so on and .......

Anyway, here are the Tweets.

Police Promotion, Lifesaving Awards Kick Off 2017

Photos by Evan Brandt

Pottstown Police Officer Zachary Robinson, second from left, and Cpl. Steve Morrisey, are flanked by Pottstown Police Captain Robert Thomas and Chief Rick Drumheller, as well as Police Chaplain Everett Debnam, right, after receiving commendations for reviving a North Hanover Street man on Nov. 12.

Although there was a lot on the agenda of Wednesday night's borough council meeting, it was nice to start the year off with two positive police stories.

The first we will relate here is the tale that began on Nov. 12 when officer Zachary  Robinson arrived at 331 N. Hanover St. to find George Weller collapsed half in and half out of the door of apartment 29.

Weller was blue, not breathing and had no pulse.

Robinson immediately began providing oxygen and chest compression, but because of where the victim was located, had to stand over him, straddling him in the doorway.

When Corporal Steve Morrisey arrived, and saw Robinson was tiring, he stepped in and relieved him until medical help arrived. They were later informed Weller had regained a pulse, due in part to their efforts.

Police Chief Rick Drumheller said both officers' uniforms will now bear a badge indicating they have saved a life, although Morrisey's will have a star in the center because it is the second time he has performed that service.

Police Officer Todd Istenes, on the other hand, was on hand Wednesday to receive a different change to his uniform -- some stripes on his sleeve -- specifically, to be promoted to corporal.

Newly minted Pottstown Police Corporal Todd Istenes, in blue shirt,
is 

flanked by Capt. Robert Thomas, Chief Rick Drumheller
and Chaplain 

Everett Debnam after being promoted Wednesday.

"When you're the chief of police, you're afforded the luxury of watching your officers grow up," Drumheller said as Istenes stood next to him.

"I've watched Todd's career from the very beginning. I've watched his dreams and desires, his goals and his meticulous work," said Drumheller.

As the newest member of the command staff, "I have to tell you, your world will change," Drumheller told Istenes. "There will those who respect you, those who put themselves out, and there will be those who test you. Do well, just maintain what you've been doing your whole career, and you'll do a fine job."  

Of course than just these two things happened last night.

There was a presentation on land banking, a blight-fighting tool that borough council seems newly interested in taking up. Look for a story on that in The Mercury in the coming days.

Also, PDIDA Executive Director Sheila Dugan has asked not only for the size of the PDIDA board of directors to be reduced from nine to seven, but also reviewed the first year of the downtown farm market, and plans for the coming year.

That too will be the subject of a coming Mercury article.

And there are 14 appointments to be made at Monday's meeting, but the most interesting one looks like it will be for the open seat on the Pottstown Borough Authority.

Last month, the authority board wrestled with the procedure, and appropriateness, of seeking the re-appointment of Jeff Chomnuk. He schooled them a bit on their previous endorsements.

And now it seems that Council Vice President Sheryl Miller, who ousted Chomnuk from the Third Ward seat on council, is now seeking to be appointed to his seat on the authority.

That's going to be interesting.

In the meantime, here are the Tweets and videos from last night's meeting:

Four Apply to Replace Ziegler on Douglass Board

Tuesday night's Board of Supervisor's meeting only took 16 minutes (a new record?) but some pretty important things happened from an official standpoint.

First of all, given that last month the board accepted the resignation of now-former supervisor Fred Ziegler as part of the former police chief's plea bargain concluding his trial on theft charges, there were only two of them to vote.

So any disagreement meant a tie vote.

But the two remaining supervisors, Anthony Kuklinski and Alan Keiser, agreed on everything, including the re-appointment of Kuklinski as chairman and Keiser as vice chairman.

They also agreed on the re-appointment of Peter Hiryak as township manager and Robert Brant as township solicitor, along with a number of other appointments.

But perhaps the most important item was the replacement of Ziegler.

By law, they have until Jan. 19 to make the selection, or the vacancy board takes the matter in hand.

However the board seems to have things under control.

So far four people have applied to replace Ziegler and they will be publicly interviewed, as is required by law, at a special meeting, scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 14 at 10 a.m. at the township building.

The four who applied are Constable Josh Stouch; former supervisor John Stacik, whom Keiser ousted in 2015; Roger Updegrove, who has served on the township's recreation and Act 209 committees, and George Kirkwood.

Kuklinski said the board will consider any additional applicants interested up until the special meeting on Jan. 14.

The final vote on a replacement will take place at the Tuesday, Jan. 17 meeting.

The supervisors were asked if Stouch can hold two elected offices at the same time. Hiryak said that matter is currently "being researched."

I guess we'll have to wait to see how that shakes out.

In the meantime, here is a meager Twitter offering a very short meeting.

A Barth First Grader's Giving Spirit at 7 Years Old

Barth Elementary First Grader Ethan Caballero with Trojan Man and elven helpers Anthony Wiggins, left, and Austin Andrews review the toys Ethan collected to deliver to sick children in the hospital who could not be home for Christmas.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by John Armato, avatar of the Pottstown School District.

Barth Elementary School first grader Ethan Caballero may only be seven years old but he has shown that he can work side by side with men like, Trojan Man to help bring joy and cheer to children who have to spend their Holiday in the hospital.

Together they held a toy drive that collected more than 300 toys that will go to Pottstown Memorial Medical Center for children who were not be at home when Santa made his deliveries. 

Ethan has already learned that the true spirit of Christmas is more about giving than receiving and his wish to bring joy to others is one of the many reasons we can say "Proud to be from Pottstown." 

Trojan Man who is the a champion of the community along with his Elves Anthony Wiggins and Austin Andrews were happy to give a helping hand.

Arboretum to Recycle Christmas Trees This Saturday

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by Green Allies.

The non-profit GreenAllies organization will hold its annual Community Christmas Tree Recycling Program on Saturday, Jan.7, at the Althouse Arboretum at 1794 Gilbertsville Road, Pottstown. The program will run from 9 am to 4 pm.

The recycling day is open to everyone in the region and is free of charge (donations accepted).

Members of the public are encouraged to give their trees a second purpose and drive them to the Arboretum where community and student volunteers will assist each vehicle in removing the trees.

With assistance from Upper Pottsgrove Township, the trees will be chipped and donated to the Althouse Arboretum, where they will used to cover walking trails.

This community event is sponsored by GreenAllies with its mission to “Empower and support students to innovate and lead environmental sustainability efforts”.

If you have any questions, call 267-371-2288 or email ken@green-allies.org

YWCA Education Efforts Receive $50,000 in Grants

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

The YWCA Tri-County Area's efforts to better education area residents, from early education to adults, will begin 2017 boosted by three grants worth a total of $50,000.

One was a $34,000 grant from the Milton Apfelbaum, the Lucile B Wynkoop, and the H.J. Grinsfelder Funds of the Philadelphia Foundation. 

Pedro A. Ramos, president and CEO of the Foundation, announced the grant. The funds will be used to implements an organization-wide technology upgrade during 2017.

This grant comes after a previous award of $6,000 from The Foundation’s Henry Griffith and Anna Griffith Keasbey Fund to support a Technology Needs Assessment, which occurred in the fall. 

The results of the needs assessment will guide the technology upgrade. The

upgrades will include purchasing two iPads for each early education classroom, a smart board for the multi-purpose room, and new software to help manage YW3CA’s variety of programs.

“It is imperative for us to update our technology to allow YWCA to remain on the forefront of critical social movements, as we have for 108 years," said Stacey Woodland YWCA Tri-County Area Executive Director. "The grant from the Philadelphia Foundation will allow us to better serve, teach, and interact with the children, families, and communities we serve.”

The YW also received a $10,000 grant from the Connelly Foundation to support its Education and Training Center.

“The Connelly Foundation’s support of the YW3CA”s Education and Training

Center is an important investment in this tri-county area’s adults seeking high school equivalency, English as a Second Language (ESL) and/or citizenship educational opportunities,” said Woodland.

YWCA Tri-County Area Education and Training Center (YW3CA ETC) empowers individuals to find freedom and dignity through education and employment.

In fulfilling our mission to enable individuals to achieve their goals of self-sufficiency and success, YW3CA ETC offers several programs designed to meet the adult learners’ needs. Programs include Adult Basic Education and High School Equivalency test preparation, English Language/Civics classes, individual tutoring, and Job Seekers Connection.

About YWCA Tri-County Area: 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.

About The Philadelphia Foundation: Since 1918, The Philadelphia Foundation has been committed to improving quality of life in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties. 

It links those with financial resources to those who serve societal needs. The Foundation grows the more than 900 charitable funds established by its donors and distributes about $20 million annually in grants and scholarships to about 1,000 effective non-profit organizations. 

Through this support, the Foundation builds healthy communities, strengthens children and families, advances economic opportunities, and enhances culture and recreation. For more information, visit www.philafound.org.

About The Connelly Foundation: Connelly Foundation seeks to foster learning and to improve the quality of life in the Greater Philadelphia area. The Foundation supports local non-profit organizations in the fields of education, health and human services, arts and culture and civic enterprise.