Giant Bubble Battles Enliven Pottstown Block Party

Photos by Evan Brandt

London Edwards, 10, was just one of dozens of youngsters who had a blast yesterday using the people-sized bubble suits at the block party on the lawn along Beech Street between Green and Edgewood streets.

There was a lot going on Pottstown Saturday.

The day began in Smith Family Plaza where the Pottstown FARM market once again offered its wares.

Over at the Pottstown Municipal Airport, aircraft of all types were on display for those interested in aeronautics.

Pottstown Mayor Stephanie Henrick appeared trapped
inside her bubble suit Saturday.

At the Ricketts Community Center, a basketball tournament attracted hundreds.

And just down the way on Beech Street, on the well-kept greensward between Green and Edgewood Streets, a block party was underway.

Luckily, helping hands were on hand to help
Henrick get to her feet.

Sponsored by a variety of community support groups, the event featured bounce houses, lawn games, food and, most importantly, school supplies for kids who go back to school Monday.

We'll have more extensive coverage of all that in Monday's edition of The Mercury.

Today, I want to focus on one thing from that block party -- giant bubbles.

Among the more intriguing toys provided for the block party were, as you can see, giant bubble suits which, needless to say, the children really enjoyed. That's not so surprising.

Perhaps more surprising was how much some of the adults at the block party enjoyed them, including Pottstown's mayor and a revered member of the school board.

Anyone who has attended the New Year's Day celebrations in Riverfront Park knows the mayor has a taste for spectacle. This January, she and some stalwart comrades, including Councilman Don Lebedynsky, leaped into the icy waters of the Schuylkill River wearing ballet tutus.

Pottstown Mayor Stephanie Henrick, right, squares off against
Pottstown Community Action co-founder Tamara Charles.

Lebedysnky was on hand yesterday too although he, like this ever-so-dignified journalist, vigorously resisted the mayor's invitation to jump into a bubble suit.

So she squared off in a bumping contest against Tamara Charles, co-founder of Pottstown Community Action.

The results were amusing but inconclusive.

More certain were the results of a similar contest between Pottstown School Board member, Director of Community Relations for the Pottstown School District and wrestling coach John Armato and Cathy Skitko.

Herself a former member of the school board, Skitko is communications director for both The Hill School and its neighborhood improvement arm Hobart's Run, which was one of the organizers of Saturday's event.

Skitko should have known what she was getting herself into, besides a giant person-sized bubble, when she squared off against Armato, who takes no competition lightly.

Here is the result:

Cathy Skitko, right, lifts John Armato's arm in victory
after their epic bubble battle Saturday.

Luckily for us all, Skitko is a good sport and, after giving it the old Hill School try, eventually found herself on her back (inside a bubble), succumbing to Armato's relentless attack.

She was even savvy enough to know that when a wrestler wins a match, his hand must be held high in victory.

Congratulations to Mr. Armato. We all look forward to the re-match.