French Style 'Party in White' Marks Summer's End

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by Hobart's Run

Three Pottstown organizations are planning to bring back an event that eases the transition from summer to fall with a stylish, fun flair featuring local food, drink, and live music.

 The Second Annual Fete en Blanc (French for “Party in White”) will be held on Friday, Sept. 14 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the picturesque Smith Family Plaza at Pottstown’s Borough Hall, 100 East Street.

Fete en Blanc, organized by Hobart’s Run, the Pottstown Downtown Improvement District Authority (PDIDA), and Pottstown Area Industrial Development (PAID), is modeled after traditional Fete en Blanc or Diner en Blanc (Dinner in White) events held in communities around the world, including Philadelphia and Lancaster, in late summer or early fall. 

You get the idea, everyone dresses in white.

All-in-white attired attendees traditionally wave white napkins as they dine together and say farewell to summer.

“This event is a celebration for Pottstown,” says Stephanie Trauner, Administrative Director for Hobart’s Run and a member of the Fete en Blanc planning committee. 

“It is not a fundraiser: The goal is simply to bring people together for a light-hearted, fun event and encourage area residents to make new friends and connections with people from Pottstown as well as surrounding areas.”

“Fete en Blanc definitely will allow participants to see Pottstown in the best ‘light!’” says Peggy Lee-Clark, Executive Director of PAID. 

“We were eager to continue this celebration as it showcases the best of Pottstown to people both here and from the larger region– whether it’s our downtown amenities, local restaurants and talent, or our diverse and engaged residents.” 

“PDIDA is thrilled to be joining PAID and Hobart’s Run in bringing Fete en Blanc back for its second year, especially based on the high degree of positive energy we felt during the fun event last year,” notes Sheila Dugan, Pottstown’s Main Street Manager.

Added Twila Fisher, Director of Community and Economic Development for The Hill School and Hobart’s Run: “Fete En Blanc is a natural opportunity to relate over food and music in a beautiful, outdoor setting. Hobart’s Run is excited to be a part of this effort to bring the Pottstown community together in a new way!”

What's a party without a little music?

Eat, drink, and enjoy music – but please wear white!

Guests are asked to dress in white – whether in casual or dressier attire, as anything goes, as long as it’s white – and gather for al fresco dining paired with live entertainment. Although there is not an attendance fee, guests must RSVP and obtain a ticket by going to the Fete en Blanc link under “Events” at www.downtownpottstown.org.

Participants may either bring their own beverages of choice (and white or clear glasses or cups) and their own dinner or snacks, or pre-order food by September 10th by calling the following participating Pottstown “Picnic Partner” vendors: The Avenue, Grumpy’s, iCreate Café, Lily’s, and the PUB (Pottstown United Brewery), as well as boxed desserts by Beverly’s. Pre-ordered meals, priced at about $10, will be available for pick-up at the event. A

 complete menu listing and ordering information is available at the event registration link at www.downtownpottstown.org; this list is likely to grow as well. Manatawny Still Works will offer samplings and bottles for sale (bring your own mixers) and other “adult beverage” vendors likely will participate, for those who do not wish to BYOB.

Live music will be provided by hip area acoustic guitarist Drew Gess, local cabaret vocalists Mickey and Maddy Ramirez, and Maggie Nace, known for her cover performances from the Beatles and other artists. Area businesses will decorate their windows with the Fete en Blanc all-white theme as
they get into the seasonal spirit.

What better way to say goodbye to summer than by gathering with friends, old and new, at this event?

RSVP at www.downtownpottstown.org so that Fete en Blanc planners can be sure to have enough tables, chairs, and white linens on hand, and remember to place food orders by Sept. 10. Fete en Blanc will be held even if there is a bit of light rain, although it will be cancelled if there are storms or heavy rain (check out the website for updates). Also, pre-ordered meals will be available for pick up rain or shine!

Crowd Questions Phoenixville School District's Planned $4M Land Buy for New Elementary School

Haphazard Photos by Evan Brandt

It was standing-room-only at Thursday night's public hearing on the Phoenixville School Board's plan to buy 29.5 acres off Hare's Hill Road for $4 million and the possible home for a new elementary school.

Roughly 50 people, many of them from East Pikeland Township, packed into the Phoenixville School District's meeting room Thursday night to hear about the plans for the $4 million purchase of 29.5 acres off Hare's Hill Road -- and to question those plans.

The red line, barely visible in my crappy photo, shows the 

borders of the property the school district wants to purchase.

The district has a "letter of intent" with the property owner for the purchase 29.5 acres bounded by route 724, Route 23 and Hare's Hill Road in East Pikeland, said School Board President Lisa Longo.

It's eventual plans for the property are an additional elementary school.

Ten years ago, a Wal-Mart was proposed for the site and it is currently approved for 79 town homes under a court decision, said Superintendent Alan Fegley.

The land, across from the Kimberton Meadows subdivision, is currently fallow and not used for any purpose.

He said the district looked seriously at nine other properties, all of which were less desirable for a variety of reasons including not having water, sewer or electricity; being on unimproved roads; or even having unacceptably high purchase or renovation prices.

He said East Pikeland officials steered school officials toward this parcel, saying they would prefer it to be developed as a school, rather than more housing. The township planning commission even adopted a letter endorsing the move, said Fegley.

Image of 622 Hare's Hill Road from Google Earth  

Fegley said the district has been dealing with increasing enrollment for several years, and had to plan ahead for the possibility of this trend continuing.

Current forecasts show that beyond the next five years, the district could have 350 to 500 more students to educate in all grades.

"Heaven forbid we wait four years and suddenly find we need to build a new school and prices are higher and there is no land available," said board member Eric Dougherty, chairman of the board's finance committee, which has recommended moving forward with the purchase.

Should the enrollment surge not materialize, the district can always sell the property, said Fegley.

The district hopes to partially offset the purchase price and cost of building a new school by selling some of its other properties, including the old East Pikeland Elementary School, worth between $4 million and $6 million; the kindergarten center, estimate to be worth $4 million and a residential property on Hallowell Avenue, valued at $350,000.

Some arsenic has been identified in the soil on the site, a contaminant Fegley said the district has experience dealing with and is common on former agricultural sites. He said old photographs show an orchard located on the site.

The board is awaiting the results of a more extensive environmental review of the property but anticipates a vote to purchase the property to come next month, said School Board President Lisa Longo.

The audience listens to an explanation for the purchase of 

property in East Pikeland Township. Thursday night.

None of the 10 people who got up to ask questions or make formal comments spoke in favor of the idea. Some, such as Lisa Morrell, questioned if the purchase and new school would mean a tax increase.

Longo said more housing developments means more tax revenues, and economic development incentives that phase in increased tax revenues over 10 years are coming on line, meaning the purchase and construction "would not necessarily mean a tax increase."

The board increased the tax rate for the coming school year by more than 3 percent in May.

Another East Pikeland resident, Dan Sidlo, won applause when he said the school district "must learn to live within your means."

He urged the district to take another look at the 61-acre Technical College High School property on Charlestown Road in Schuylkill Township, but Fegley said that is located on the wrong side of the district from where the growth is occurring; that the asking price was too high and added it is not a good road for school bus traffic.

Several resident, including John Mraz, said traffic on Route 724 is already terrible and questioned the wisdowm of putting a school there and adding more school bus traffic to the road.

Mraz also accused the board of lacking transparency with the public since this is the first the public was made aware of the possible purchase.

Longo said the law allows the board to discuss potential real estate purchases behind closed doors in "executive session" because "if everyone knew we were looking at properties, the prices would rise because they figure the taxpayers will pay for it."

"By being proactive, we are having great negotiations with the current land owner. By getting land early, we're set for down the road," said Fegley.

Longo said all the questions asked, and the answers, at the hearing would be posted on the district web site, and that additional questions and concerns are welcome.

Now, here are the Tweets from the meeting:

Phoenixville Schools to Plan for Growth With $4M Land Purchase

NonProfit Day Info Found Friday at Coventry Mall

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Foundation for Pottstown Education.

A coalition of 26 area non-profit groups will be set up for an event at the Coventry Mall Friday to let people know what they do and how they can help.

The event, from noon to 6 p.m., coincides with national NonProfit Day.
This will also be a kick off for the 2018 TriCounty Community Network’s (TCN) Amazing Raise.

The non-profits will have a table set up displaying their organization’s mission and activities.

The action begins at 12 noon with wrap up at 6 p.m.

The tables will be located at the Mall’s Center Court outside of Kohl’s Department Store.

Each group will also have a drawing for a prize.

Winners will be selected at the end of the event.

National NonProfit Day is a day set aside to recognize the nonprofit sector and the work performed by these capable organizations their staff and volunteers.

This year will be the second Amazing Raise spearheaded by TCN as a way to help local nonprofits raise not only much needed funds but awareness of the goals and missions of these organizations.

During the inaugural 2017 campaign, more than 20 organizations raised $104,766. A matching pool has been established to match the donations raised by the nonprofits on a prorated basis.

Sponsors who would like to donate to this matching pool are encouraged to contact Holly Parker, Executive Director of TCN by calling 610-705-3301 or by visiting TCN’s Amazing Raise website https://tcnetwork.org/the-amazing-raise/

6-2 Vote Puts McIntyre in Pottsgrove Vacancy

Photo by Evan Brandt

Pottsgrove School Board Vice President Robert Lindgren, right, enjoys himself swearing in the board's newest member, Tina McIntyre, center, while her son Mason, holds The Bible for her. 

Usually, a child follows in his or her parent's footsteps, but sometimes it's the other way around.

Last night was witness to one of those rare occasions when, from among of five very qualified candidates, the Pottsgrove School Board voted to appoint Tina McIntyre to fill the vacancy left by last month's resignation of Matt Alexander.

McIntyre, in addition to being a St. Pius X High School graduate and an accountant, is also the mother of Mason MacIntyre, who for two years served on the Pottsgrove board as a student member.

"She's going to have to learn to eat dinner earlier," he acknowledged with a laugh Tuesday after the board vote.

McIntyre's relationship to a former member was more than coincidence. It may have provided the tipping point to her appointment.

Allow me to explain.

In addition to McIntyre, four other candidates applied for the post. They were Rick Rabinowitz; Jody McMahon; Andrew Korman and Mark Jorgensen.

McIntyre, who lives on Mock Road, is an accounting specialist with United Phosphorus Inc. in King of Prussia.

She is a 1990 graduate of the former St. Pius X Catholic High School in Lower Pottsgrove and received a bachelor’s in business administration from Kutztown University.

Rabinowitz, who lives on Lee Drive, was a board member who ran unsuccessfully for reelection in November.

He is an executive recruiter for Nationwide IT and worked for two other recruiting forms previously.

Rabinowitz holds a degree in political science from State University of New York at Oswego and an MBA in technology and e-commerce from West Chester University.

McMahon, who lives in Anthony Wayne Drive, is a language arts teacher at Owen J. Roberts High School and an adjunct professor at Delaware Valley Community College.

No education or prior work experience was listed for McMahon.

Korman, who lives in Gilbertsville Road, is a project manager with Suburban Water Technology.

He holds a bachelor’s in journalism, specializing in broadcast news, from West Virginia University.

Jorgensen, who lives in Yeager Road, is director of quality and food safety at AIRGA USA LLC in Radnor.

He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and holds an MBA from Lehigh University.

Nearly every board member marveled at the qualifications of those who applied for the board and were interviewed during a public meeting Monday night.

In making a choice Tuesday, Board Vice President Robert Lindgren said he wanted to be as transparent as possible about the process. 

"People who have observed this in the past may well have gotten the impression that the choice had been made before the vote," Lindgren said.

So board members all voiced their preference in a round of quasi-voting. Korman and McMahon were eliminated in the first round.

Rabinowitz was eliminated in the second round.

With the board left to choose between Jorgensen and McIntyre, the benefits of each choice were made clear.

But it was not until board member Jim Lapic talked about being the parent of four children, and the role parents play in how their children turn out, that things seemed to tip in McIntyre's favor.

He observed that in addition to having lived in the community all her life, the board had two years to learn what kind of child she had raised. 

"Mason was an excellent board member and she obviously had something to do with that," said Lapic.

After that, board member Charles Nippert moved for another vote and McIntyre was elected with a 6-2 vote. Board members Bill Parker and Patricia Grimm cast the two no votes.

Afterward Lindgren said the matter of electing a new school board president would be decided at the next meeting. He said the board decided it would be best to choose a board president with a full nine members on board and having a say.

(Sounds like something a future school board president would say ....)

And here are the Tweets you've all been waiting for:


McIntyre Chosen from Among 5 for Pottsgrove School Board Vacancy

A Storm, A Flood and Then a Real Snoozer

Monday was a strange day.

Like most people, I woke up wondering if I should build an ark.

Unlike most people, I had to get out there and take photos, although I failed to get anything as good as freelance photographer extraordinaire Tom Kelly II, or even some of our readers.

But after hours of running around, taking flood photos in Pottstown and down along route 724 in Chester County, I had to load them all into the computer (not an easy job at The Mercury I'm afraid) then write a story or two, all before getting to the council meeting at 7 p.m.

Long story short, I got to the council meeting late, but frankly, I could have skipped it all together.

Boring!

So as I put together the Twitter round-up from the meeting, I thought, why not treat my faithful readers to some of the Tweets from BEFORE the meeting which were, by their very nature, much more exciting?

Here are the flooding Tweets and, YAWN, the meeting Tweets:

A Flood and then a Snoozer

PHS Alum Marks 50th Birthday on Top of the World

Photos Courtesy of John Armato

Pottstown High School alum Gentry Khile Brownie, Class of 1986, reached the top of Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro to mark his 50th birthday.

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

Pottstown High School graduate Gentry Khile Brownie used some of his Old School Trojan Tough Pottstown Pride to achieve a lifelong goal.

He went to the mountain, that's Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest free standing mountain in the world and he undertook the challenge in the same way he became an outstanding high school wrestler.

His goal was to reach the top on his 50th birthday. 

"Goal accomplished" he said.

"Making it to the top and coming over that snowy peak while the sun was rising on the start of my 50th year was so deep...so exhilarating ...so exhausting..so humbling...so triumphant ...it all hit me at once....whoa...it was an amazing way to start the next chapter of my life," Brownie said.

"Gentry as a student athlete and as adult, you give us reason to say Proud to be from Pottstown," Armato said.

Gentry Khile Brownie, right, on top of Mount Kilimanjaro with his fellow climbers.