What's it Worth to You?

Get that antique you've always wonder about appraised tonight.

Do you have some an antique you inherited or bought that has always made you wonder about its worth?

Well you can get that antique appraised tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. and help support two local non-profit organizations in town at the same time.

Eileen Rhoads of Rhoads Auction and Antiques will be on hand at Art Fusion 19464 (formerly Gallery School od Pottstown/Gallery on High) to appraise items brought in.


There is a $15 entrance fee, which includes the appraisal of one item. Appraisals of each additional item is an additional $5 per item, with a maximum of three items per person, so choose carefully.




RSVP to 610-326-2506 or by email.
This is the third time the event has been hosted at Art Fusion, 254 E. High St., and proceeds will benefit the center as well as Forgotten Cats.

The former Gallery on High is now Art Fusion 19464

Forgotten Cats helps many of the stray and abandoned cats in our neighborhoods. They help the animals receive needed medical care, get them spayed or neutered and find them a forever home.


Formerly The Gallery School of Pottstown, ArtFusion 19464 is a non-profit community art center dedicated to making the arts accessible to everyone.

Its mission is to enrich the lives of the residents in the greater Pottstown area through the visual arts, regardless of ethnicity and economic situations. Their goal is to spark creativity, build self-confidence and develop community bonds through education, mentoring and community service.


Ron and Eileen Rhoads Auction and Antiques can be found at 383 Ben Franklin Highway West, Douglassville, PA 19518. They have fifty years in the business and are the second generation serving the Delaware Valley.

Don't Give 'Em the Brush Off! (There's Beer)

Books

So do you like books?

How about art?

Beef?

You must like beer? Who doesn't like beer?

There has to be something on that list that appeals to you. 

If it does, you should clear your schedule for this coming Saturday.

Brushes

That's when the second annual "Books, Brushes, Beef and Beer" fundraiser will be held at Ballroom on High, 310 High St. from 6 to 9 p.m.

It will benefit both the Pottstown Regional Public Library (that's the "books" part, although they have a lot of other cool stuff there too); as well as the Gallery School at Pottstown and Gallery on High (that's the "brushes" part, although they do a lot more cool stuff than just painting there too).

Beef

The beef part comes in the form of hot roast beef sandwiches and salads from Grumpy's Sandwiches. The full menu includes green salad, pasta salad with sundried tomato dressing, black bean and barley salad and vegetarian wraps.

As for the beer, it's Pottstown's own Sly Fox, courtesy of Matt Guyer of the Beer Yard. 

Of course for those unlucky few who don't like beer, there will also be water, soda and coffee, as well as a selection of homemade desserts.

Beer

DJ Pete LaRosa of LaRosa Productions will provide the entertainment.

That's in addition to door prizes and a 50/50 raffle.

The cost is only $20.

 Click here to buy tickets ahead of time, or pick them up at the library, 500 E. High St., or the Gallery on High, 254 High St.

Every Picture Tells a Story ... Our Story

The Casselberry Home, by Peter Ehlinger,  was the home of Pottstown's first library.

I confess to being not only a history buff, but a local history buff.

It is constantly remarkable to me how much history lives all around us, how it is connected to the great events about which we learn in school, and thus as a reminder that the events of the day will become the same -- local history that connects us to the great events of our day.

Celebrating that local history is the Gallery on High, which is now offering the third of its Signature Series of art depicting important people, places and events in Pottstown history.

The Pottstown Signature Series is a series of collectible, high-end lithographs that will be released annually. Each edition will focus on a significant aspect of Pottstown’s rich history. The Signature Series is sponsored by the Greater Pottstown Foundation. The first edition in the series, titled Look for the Rope Edge, is centered on Mrs. Smith’s Pies. Drawn by local artist and Gallery Member Artist Steve Kent, this inaugural image is limited to a run of 100 prints.

The Gallery School of Pottstown's second edition of the Pottstown Signature Series honors the Pottstown Firebirds football team.

The second series, by Mary Ellen Christ, celebrates the Pottstown
Firebirds football team.

Relive that time in our town's history when the Firebirds were all the buzz, and everyone was a fan.

Created by Gallery Member Artist Mary Ellen Christ, this tribute is titled Hometown Champions and is available in a limited edition of signed and numbered lithographs.


The third edition is now available for order. This latest Signature Series features the Casselberry home, which was Pottstown's first library. This watercolor was created by Gallery School Member Artist Peter Ehlinger.

You can learn more about the Signature Series by clicking here.

Each Signature Series is $60, and can be purchased online at the Gallery's website, or in person at 254 E. High St. Questions? For details, call 610-326-2506 or email them.

Rupert Reaches Out Over the Summer

Rupert Elementary School

So all you Rupert Elementary students and families, you thought summer meant no school?

Silly people. Have you not actually met Rupert Principal Matt Moyer?

Moyer and his staff have a whole slate of activities designed to keep the Rupert family together over the summer.


Here is a list:

JUNE:

Pottstown Regional Public Library

• Wednesday, June 27, at 10 a.m.m meet up at the Pottstown Public Library, 500 E. High St., for The Magic of Ran’D Shine! After the show there will be a tour of the Library and an opportunity to sign up for a Library Card.  

(For more information on Ran’d Shine, click this link: http://www.randyshine.com/bio/index.html)

(For more information on the Pottstown Regional Public Library, Click this link: http://ppl.mclinc.org/)

JULY:

Gallery on High

• Monday, July 16 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., find one of your teachers, either from last year or next year, serving ice cream at Dairy Queen, 1467 E. High Street.
• Thursday, July 19 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., meet up at the Gallery, 254 E. High Street, for a FREE FAMILY Art class.

(For more information about The Gallery on High, click this link: http://www.galleryonhigh.com/

The High Street Music Co.

• Wednesday, July 25 at 10 a.m., meet up at the High Street Music Company, 135 E. High St, for a demonstration and tour!

(For more information about the High Street Music Company, click this link: http://www.thehighstreetmusiccompany.com/

AUGUST

• Monday, Aug. 6 from 10 to11 a.m. High Street Yoga and Wellness Center, 141 E. High St., for a FREE FAMILY Yoga Class.Bring a yoga mat or towel for our class!

(For more information about High Street Yoga and Wellness Center, click this link: http://highstreetyoga.vpweb.com/)

• Tuesday, Aug. 14 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at McDonald’s, 1428 E. High Street for McPrincipal’s Night! Purchase some dinner and visit with Rupert Staff.

**Parents MUST stay with their children for each event.**

There will be give aways at every event!

Every student that attends will be entered into a drawing to win a BIKE!

The winner will be drawn in August!

Hard to beat that folks!

Soup's On at The Gallery on High

Get soup and a bowl and help a good cause.

Blogger's Note: The following is shamelessly stolen from fellow Town Square blogger Sue Repko over at Positively Pottstown.

I have a vague recollection of getting this release from my friends over at the Gallery a while ago, but I seem to have lost track of it.

(Anyone who has been my desk or how many e-mails I get in a day will not be surprised by this admission).

But this seems like a pretty cool event.

You get a cool, one-of-a-kind hand-made soup bowl, some delicious homemade soup, and help out an artists venue that needs as much support as the Pottstown area can give it.

Soup Bowl Fundraiser Saturday, February 18 from 12-3pm All you can eat!

Join us for a delicious, beat-the-winter-chill event! You will be able to choose a handcrafted ceramic bowl and then fill it with your choice of homemade soup. Bread, beverages and homemade desserts will round off your lunch. We will have a nice variety of soups to sample, made by our members and volunteers, and donated by local restaurants. (Vegetarian soups will be included in the selection.) Have fun sampling every option, or fill up on your favorite! Vegetarian * Italian potato * black bean * chili * stew * tomato * French onion * broccoli cheese * and many more! Tickets are only $15 and all proceeds benefit the non-profit Gallery School of Pottstown. There will be a limited number of tickets available for sale at the door, so be sure to buy your ticket today! Tickets can be purchased online (or through the orange PayPal button below.) When you finish your soup, be sure to take some time to see our Winter Member Show: “Baby, it’s cold outside!”. This fun show is all about contrasts: warm and cold, tropical paradise and winter wonderland. The Gallery School of Pottstown @ Gallery on High 254 E.High St. Pottstown, PA 19464 610-326-2506 www.galleryonhigh.org Buy Your Ticket Today through PayPal

Give the Gift of Learning

Hat's off to Pottstown Mayor Bonnie Heath!

During Monday's borough council meeting, Mayor Heath said something that resonated with me and with which I heartily agree. She articulated something I have been mulling over for quite some time.

I am more than a little mildly disturbed by the ever-increasing materialism associated with the Christmas season (yes, I know this is the only time of the year anyone ever talks about how materialistic our society is, but that doesn't make it any less true).

For several years now, for example, we have been careful to give my son "experiences," or, to be more specific, tickets, for his birthday instead of a pile of video games which hold his interest for only a short time.

I'd be willing to be he does not know when he got half the games he got, but he will always remember seeing Bill Cosby live and the Cirque de soleil.

But there is another way to provide "experiences" as gifts, which brings us back to Mayor Heath.

Always the champion of downtown local businesses, Mayor Heath urged those watching on PCTV (and the handful of us in the audience) to consider giving the gift of knowledge, or, more specifically, lessons this season.

Be they music lessons at High Street Music; singing or acting lessons at TriCounty Performing Arts Center; painting, ceramics or sculpture lessons at Gallery on High, these are things that will stay with people forever.

Heck, consider paying for a class for a community college student you know, karate lessons, hairdressing or other beauty lessons; whatever would float the boat of those on your list.

They can all be found in downtown Pottstown.

And, in addition to fostering creativity and building skills that could last a lifetime, they are another way to support downtown Pottstown businesses.

If we want our downtown to be a reflection of our town, we need to find something there we can support.

That way, you are also giving a gift to your town at the same time.

Van Gogh's Secret Studio

When my son attended Lincoln Elementary School, the PTA would host a special shop for kids to pick out Christmas presents for family and family.

I volunteered to be a helper once or twice and it was nice to see the kids get as excited about buying something for Christmas as they were about getting something.

The merchandise was through one of the traditional fundraising firms and helped raise money for the PTA. 'Nuff said.

A similar experience can be had downtown this season, which will allow you to support a local non-profit business and include open up something Christmas morning other than a mug which say "World Greatest Dad" ... which is not to say I don't like that mug son ....

On two Saturday,s Dec. 10 and Dec. 17, the Gallery School of Pottstown will play host to "Van Gogh's Secret Studio" from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Now in it's second year, the secret studio is a special shopping opportunity for kids 12 and younger at Gallery on High, 245 E. High St.

"Galaxy on High" by Jane Debow Gridley

The young gifters can choose from a selection of handcrafted gifts ranging in price from $1 to $5 and volunteers will be on hand to help them shop and stay on-budget.

Also a bonus, all gifts will be wrapped.

Children younger than 5 must be accompanied by an adult, but mom or dad can browse the gallery's other offerings while a volunteer elf helps the young one pick out a present.

While you're there, check out this year's holiday show, "Peace," which will be on display through Jan. 7.

You can even download and print a special shopping list for the young consumer by clicking here.

If you have any questions, give the folks at the Gallery a call at 610-326-2506, send them an e-mail to info@galleryonhigh.com or visit their web site at www.galleryonhigh.org or by clicking here.


Give it a try and make this year's holiday shopping experience a work of art ... (OK, that was bad.)