Today's band cavalcade at Owen J. :Roberts High School will mark the 50th anniversary of the school's first-ever cavalcade in 1971.
Band director Todd Mengel has arranged for an Alumni Band event in which at least 156 former band and band-front members will attend.
"Those of us who are participating are very excited," according to Heather McCreary, who marched as a flute and tenor saxophone played in 1983.
"There is a woman, a baton twirler, from the very first cavalcade coming, 1971 and many others," McCreary wrote in an email.
Here is the schedule for today's events:
2 to 3:30 p.m – Practice in OJR Stadium with our current HS Band. Part of the time will be spent positioning on the field, and part of the time rehearsing the music together to prepare for the performance at the end.
4:30 p.m. – Cavalcade Begins
8:30 p.m. – OJR High School Band Performance
8:45 p.m. – OJR Combined Alumni & HS Band Performance (SSB, Alma Mater, America the Beautiful)
9:15 p.m. – GRAND FINALE Performance (all bands on field together playing Blinding Lights)
9:45 p.m. – Refreshments provided in HS Cafeteria. All OJR Band Alumni & current HS Band Members invited to socialize. There will be complimentary pizzas, drinks, and other refreshments available.
The remnants of Hurricane Ida raised the level of the Schuylkill River significantly.
Blogger's Note:The following was shamelessly lifted from the Sept. 23 weekly newsletter issued by state Rep. Tracy Pennycuick, R-147th Dist.
Recognizing the long recovery ahead in many areas of the state that suffered extensive damage related to Tropical Storm Ida, the state House and Senate has approved a resolution extending the governor’s disaster emergency declaration issued Aug. 31.
State Rep. Tracy Pennycuick
The resolution proposes to extend the declaration through Oct. 27.
This is the first time the General Assembly has voted to extend a disaster emergency since voters approved an amendment to the state Constitution limiting a governor’s disaster declarations to a maximum of 21 days. Anything beyond 21 days requires legislative approval.
Many residents and businesses in Montgomery County were negatively impacted by the storm.
If you are in need of assistance, check out the county’s website. There you will find information on applying for aid from the federal government, U.S. Small Business Administration assistance, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, free transportation, debris collection and more.
The triumphant Pottstown High School Band returns home from the Boyertown Cavalcade of Bands with the first place goods.
Blogger's Note:The following was submitted by that energizer bunny of perseverance, John Armato, Pottstown's director of community relations.
The Pottstown High School Marching Band took home first place Saturday at the American Open Class of the Boyertown Arlen Saylor Cavalcade of Bands competition.
Their first outing of the season netted a score of 71.6 to take 1st place, and win both the High Percussion and High Auxiliary awards.
Under the direction of David Bonilla-Garcia, the band begins its competitive season strong as they continue towards the Cavalcade of Bands Championships held on Nov. 13 in Hershey.
"All of our students are working hard to develop their skills and perform at the highest level. They are building the foundation for future success," Bonilla-Garcia said.
To catch a glimpse at the Pottstown High School Marching Band's 2021 field production "Departure," come out to the remaining Trojan Football games and also come watch at the following competitions and festivals this fall:
Oct 2nd -- Owen J. Roberts High School
Oct 9th -- Penncrest High School
Oct 30th -- Phoenixville High School
Nov 13th -- Hershey Stadium, Hershey Park
John also included a link to a YouTube version of Queen's anthem to success, "We Are the Champions," but I will spare you all.
Blogger's Note: The following was submitted by the office of U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-6th Dist.
U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan has announced her legislation was successfully adopted in the House Small Business Committee’s $25 billion funding package advancing through the House.
The committee now sends the bill to the House Budget Committee for inclusion in President Biden’s next legislative priority – the Build Back Better Act.
“As an entrepreneur, I know how difficult it can be to scale a business under normal circumstances, let alone during a global pandemic,” said Houlahan. “As Congress considers this next round of investments in our Main Streets, I am proud to bring the concerns of my community to the forefront. Simply put, the recovery of our small business community is the linchpin to the recovery of our economy.”
Houlahan’s key initiative adopted in the legislative package would invest $9.5 billion to establish a subprogram within the Small Business Investment Company program to provide long-term capital to underserved markets and small manufacturers.
“Not only must we help our small businesses recover but we must do so in a way that reflects the diversity of our investment community,” added Houlahan.
In addition to Houlahan’s SBIC initiative, the legislation includes the following investments:
$35 million in funding for veteran federal procurement entrepreneurship training
$1 billion in funding for an uplift accelerator program and business development academy at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) for underrepresented small businesses
Provides $1 billion to establish a national network of business incubators
$20 million to enhance the SBA’s Office of Native American Affairs
$600 million to enhance, improve, and expand the SBA’s Community Advantage program
$4.465 billion to fund a direct loan product under the current 7(a) lending program administered by the SBA
$500 million to fund a pilot program for eligible cooperatives and employee-owned businesses to receive SBA loan products without the requirement of a personal or entity guarantee
Invests $2.746 billion to establish a direct lending subprogram under the 504/CDC lending program to allow CDCs to make loans to small contractors, small manufacturers, and small businesses in underrepresented markets
Over $100 million to invest in entrepreneurial training initiatives for the formerly incarcerated
“Small businesses are the foundation of our economy and ultimately the key to our nation making a full economic recovery,” said Chairwoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY). “The small business policies that we advanced today represent a generational investment in America’s entrepreneurs and will help businesses recover from COVID now and prosper in the future. That’s why Congress and the Biden administration must continue moving forward with the Build Back Better Agenda and pass this legislation.”
Veterans salute Saturday during the singing of the national anthem.
Veterans, their efforts in and out of the service, were recognized on Veterans Island Saturday morning during the annual Pottstown Veterans Community Day.
Three Glass Tear Awards, which recognize veterans both for their service and their service to the community as civilians, were given out and the refurbished bandshell was officially dedicated as the Korean War Memorial.
The refurbished bandshell in Memorial Park was
dedicated as the Korean War Memorial Saturday.
Often known as "The Forgotten War," words memorialized by a plague on the memorial, it claimed the lives of 54,246 Americans.
The recipients of the Glass Tear Awards were Robert Edmunds, U.S. Army; David Garner, U.S. Marines; and Michael Gmitter, U.S. Army.
"These are people who serve their country in war time and in peace time, but who come home and serve the community," explained Cathy Paretti, an Upper Pottsgrove Township Commissioner and driving force behind the idea of a well-maintained and enhanced Veterans Island in Pottstown's Memorial Park.
Parks and Recreation Director Michael Lenhart said it was 2015 when Paretti approached him with her idea of "community stewardship" for sprucing up "the island."
Robert Edmunds received a Glass Tear Award
"We've accomplished much more than I ever thought we would in a short time. We have lights on the World War II Memorial. We moved the World War II Cannon to an appropriate location, we have security cameras in place and now we have refurbished and are about to dedicated the bandshell to Korean War Veterans," he said.
"I have a few more ideas," Paretti warned him.
The first Glass Tear honoree was Robert Edmunds, who choked up as he spoke about the honor. "I feel like I'm hearing my own eulogy right now," he said.
Robert Edmunds receives his glass tear award
from Dean Beers Saturday.
Edmunds, who is among the volunteers who comes twice monthly to clean the memorials, said vandals who desecrated one of the memorials "don't know what we've been through. Whoever did this doesn't know what they did. This is not a shrine, it's a reminder of those who fell before us. These are tears of pain I have."
"This is not a 'me' thing. This is a 'we' thing," Edmunds continued. "We have soldiers who return as citizens and some of them come back broken, mentally and physically. We have sisters-in-arms who are doing their jobs. And we don't do it for accolades, or pats on the back. We do it because our heart and souls is here in Pottstown.
David Garner served in the U.S. Marines
The second Glass Tear Award recipient was David Garner.
"I am a member of a family who modeled a life of service," said Garner, whose father, grandfather and several uncles all served in the military.
He thanked them, he thanked "God who walked with me every step of the way," and he thanked his wife "who never said no when I announced I had to get involved in another organization," Garner said.
Before ending his remarks, Garner gave a shout out to all his fellow Marines by saying simple, "Semper Fi."
Michael Gmitter served in the U.S. Army
For those who don't know, the translation of the Latin phrase is "Always Faithful."
The third award recipient, Michael Gmitter, served in the U.S. Army and now works for both the state and federal government re-capturing parolees who have become fugitives.
His is also a Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus, an organization he said he is "truly blessed" to be a part of.
The day's keynote speaker was state Rep. Tracy Pennycuick, R-147th Dist., whose district includes West Pottsgrove, Upper Pottsgrove, Douglass (Mont.) and New Hanover among others.
Michael Gmitter receives his star. One was handed
out to every veterans by Rebecca West Hensinger, Ms. Berks County, and Tiffany Revel, Mrs. Pennsylvania, not shown here.
Pennycuick is a veteran herself. She is a "U.S. Army combat veteran who retired from the military after 26 years of both active and reserve service. During her military career she served as a helicopter pilot, aviation maintenance officer, company commander, human resources officer, executive officer, efficiency expert and foreign liaison to the UK Ministry of Defense," according to her website.
State Rep. Tracy Pennycuick was Saturday's
Keynote Speaker
"She continues to serve the veteran community as a volunteer veteran service officer and board member of several veteran-focused nonprofits," according to her bio.
In her remarks, Pennycuick said "I served because I wanted to serve my country. And when I look out into this audience, I see the men and women who had my six, You had my back," she said.
She sympathized with those whose service came at the end of a draft notice. "what a terrible, terrible thing to be told you are going into combat," she said.
She thanks Koren War veterans. "No one ever talks about those long cold nights and the endless combat," she said. "You are the 1 percent," she told veterans. "And of those 1 percent, only 1 percent of them serve in combat."
Michael Murphy, who is also a prime mover in the Veterans Island effort, provided the dedication of the Korean War memorial, saying that like the veterans who lived it, "it's a survivor. It's withstood the constant floods."
The event closed with a three-gun salute and taps provided by the Veterans Rider Association.
