Blogger's Note:The following was submitted by Hobart's run.
Hobart’s Run has announced the recipients of its second round of Covid-19 Emergency Response grants.
Five small Pottstown businesses will receive $1,000 grants, and four Borough nonprofits each will receive $500.
(Hobart’s Run originally intended to issue two nonprofit grants in this round of funding, but additional donations from The Hill School community allowed for two additional nonprofit grants.)
A panel comprised of Hobart’s Run Board members and the Hobart’s Run student leadership committee evaluated 18 applications to determine which organizations indicated the greatest immediate need as well as how the candidates have demonstrably helped Pottstown by addressing needs such as food and housing insecurity.
Receiving small business grants were: Grumpy’s Handcarved Sandwiches; Welcome to The Avenue; Maximum Asset LLC; J.J. Ratigan Brewing Co.; and Seed and Soil.
Nonprofit grants were awarded to: Pottstown PAL; the Phillies Fire Co.; Pottstown Bible Church; and Trellis for Tomorrow.
These recent grants represent a second round of Hobart’s Run Covid-19 emergency funding for Pottstown businesses and nonprofits. Previously Hobart’s Run awarded five $1,000 grants to recently opened small businesses and 10 $500 nonprofit grants.
The Hobart's Run neighborhood initiative, a 501(c)(3), was launched by The Hill School in 2016 to create a clean and safe community; foster inclusivity; provide incentives for home ownership and property pride; and generate quality business development. While initially focusing on a 600-parcel area, Hobart’s Run supports revitalization efforts throughout Pottstown.
Blogger's Note:The following was submitted by Hobart's Run.
Hobart's Run has announced a second round of Covid-19 Emergency Response grants.
The grants are made possible in part by contributions offered by a second member of the Hobart's Run Board of Directors (also a Hill School graduate and Hill Trustee, who wishes to give anonymously), in addition to gifts made by Hill faculty, staff, parents, and friends.
Online applications will be received from April 15 – 24. Awards will be announced on April 27 and funds disbursed on May 1.
The program will award five $1,000 small business grants and two additional $500 non-profit grants for a total of $6,000 in new grants.
This round of business grants will be directed to established businesses in the Borough of Pottstown, with an emphasis on those businesses with a record of giving back to our community.
Here are the application links to the second round of Hobart's Run grants:
Eligibility: Applicant must be an established (before 2018), community-minded, small business (12 employees or less) operating in the Borough of Pottstown and experiencing significant financial distress due to temporary closure as a result of the COVID-19 shutdown.
The application must be submitted by an executive or designated employee with authorization to apply on behalf of the small business. The applicant must demonstrate how the business gives back to the Pottstown community and adequately describe the company's current financial need. Grantor reserves the right to request additional information that may aid in selecting recipients.
Award amount: $1,000 one-time.
Purpose: To defray revenue losses incurred by the COVID-19 temporary shutdown.
Eligibility: Designated 501(c)3 nonprofits operating in the Borough of Pottstown that are experiencing significant financial distress due to events cancellation, membership loss, or program suspension.
Applicants must be the executive director or senior administrator of the organization and must adequately demonstrate how their nonprofit impacts the Pottstown community as well as their current financial need. Grantor reserves the right to request additional information that may aid in selecting recipients.
Award amount: $500 one-time.
Purpose: To defray revenue losses incurred by the COVID-19 temporary shutdown.
Hobart's Run will award five $1,000 small biz grants and two $500 non-profit grants.
In late March, the first round of grants provided 10 non-profits grants with $500 Community Impact Grants, and five recently opened small businesses with $1,000 grants.
The Rev. Vernon Ross, left, carries a box of donated food to a thankful resident during Wednesday's distribution at Bethel Community Church of Pottstown.
As the coronavirus-driven shut downs ravages the economy, much focus has been placed on state and federal relief packages.
Area school districts have transformed their free and reduced lunch programs into food distribution hubs, with Pottstown providing more than 14,000 meals a week.
Hettie Webb shows the food being distributed at the Ricketts Center and provided by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
But in the greater Pottstown area, relief has been coming from non-government sources as well, particularly churches and non-profit organizations.
Some help pre-dates the pandemic and has simply been adapted to new circumstances.
For example, for years the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has provided lunches to Pottstown's Ricketts Community Center for children in the day care and after-school programs.
Now, it literally goes out the window.
That window is invariably manned by Ricketts mainstay Hettie Webb, who provides the pre-packaged meals to any children who come to the window next to the front door of the center, which is closed.
The sign above the distribution window at the Ricketts Center leaves little doubt about where children should go to get free lunch.
Jocelyn Charles, the new executive director of the center, said the number of children coming to the
window keeps going up, with indications it will pass 200 a week by April 3.
Since January, the center has been run by Boyertown Area Multi-Service, which also provides meals and services to that wider Berks County community.
According to Multi-Service Executive Director Lydia Messinger, the food pantry there provided food for 45 households; 368 grab-and-go meals; 760 meals-on-wheels deliveries and 147 meals at Ricketts in just three days.
In a letter issued to staff and volunteers, Messinger wrote, "doing what you are doing right now is hard. The finish line for this marathon keeps moving, so we need to pace ourselves."
Urging those that need them to schedule days off, Messinger wrote, "I want you to take care of yourself and re-charge, so we can keep providing the community with the help they need during this time."
One person who needed a rest Wednesday was the Rev. Vernon Ross, pastor of Bethel Community Church of Pottstown.
Michael Collins takes boxes of donated feed out to the waiting line of cars at Bethel Community Church of Pottstown.
From 1 to 4 p.m., volunteers at the church distributed 144 boxes of food to a line of cars that
stretched so far out onto North Keim Street that a police officer stopped by and asked them to pick up the pace.
"I think I got my exercise for the whole month," joked Ross, who worked ferrying the food to the waiting cars while volunteers inside assembled the boxes of food.
The boxes included eggs, milk, canned food included canned salmon and bags of oranges. And they were heavy.
"We had a gentleman who pulled up and tried to give us a handful of change," said Ross.
Gaspar Rodriguez, left, and Oliver Corum pack food boxes at Bethel Community Church of Pottstown.
Helene Wilson, who was registering those who came for food for follow-up help, refused.
"But he insisted," said Ross as he sat back with a well-earned glass of wine.
"He said 'I just got laid off and I don't have any money and this is a big help.' It hurt my heart that he felt so compelled, that he knew he would have food to eat for a week or two," said Ross.
The food was assembled by donations organized by Pottstown churches and coordinated through the Pottstown Ministerium.
Submitted Photos Jim Frymoyer, head of the Pottstown Area Children's Foundation accepts a donation check from members of the Pottstown Police Officers Association
Food is also being collected, purchased and distributed by the Pottstown Area Children's Foundation.
Founded by Jim Frymoyer, who organizes a Christmas party for hundreds of children each year, the
non-profit foundation is helping to feed children at the public housing complexes at Bright Hope and Rolling Hills.
Monday his volunteers donated enough food, fruit, juice and milk to provide breakfast for the week at Rolling Hills.
They hope to do it each Monday.
On Wednesday Nino’s Pizzaria
Restaurant in Linfield funded and helped pack 240 lunches for area kids.
Many hands helped pack the 240 lunches Wednesday at Nino's Pizzaria in Linfield and delivered to area children.
Volunteers, who included Karen Reed and state Rep. Joe Ciresi (D-146th Dist.), bagged up ham and cheese sandwiches, applesauce, juice "and lots of love," according to Reed.
The lunches were delivered by Johnny Corson, president of the Pottstown chapter of the NAACP, and Bishop Michael Anthony of Heart of God Worship Center in Pottstown.
Plenty of businesses and organizations have been helping, but many of them also need help.
That's why Hobart's Run, the non-profit economic development arm of The Hill School has awarded $500 Community Impact Grants to 10 local non-profits and five recently opened small businesses will receive $1,000 emergency assistance grants.
Receiving grants were:
Bethel Community Church of Pottstown;
ArtFusion19464;
Steel River Playhouse;
Pottstown Athletic Club;
The Ricketts Center/Boyertown Area Multi-Service;
Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware Counties;
The Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities;
Kingdom Life Church;
Pottstown Regional Public Library;
Soley’s Painting and Home Improvements;
Flavors Deli;
Honey’s Homebrewed Café;
Jet’s Softball Academy; and
Tal’s Pets Co.
The grants were made possible thanks to supplemental funding provided by Sitko Tree Farm, Pottstown, and Jason Ingle, Hill Class of 1993.
A Malvern resident and member of the Hobart’s Run board of directors, Ingle is co-founder of Closed Loop Capital, which invests in food system entrepreneurs, and Greener Partners, a not-for-profit that connects communities to healthy food.
According to a release from Hobart's Run, "if significant matching funds are raised, Hobart’s Run would like to offer a second round of funding, extending the grant to small, established Pottstown businesses which have demonstrated philanthropic contributions to our community and support for the borough’s overall economic development."
Individuals or businesses who would like to contribute can use PayPal or send a check made out to The Hill School and earmarked “Hobart’s Run Covid-19 response” to Hobart’s Run c/o 860 Beech St., Pottstown, PA 19464.
A similar effort is being undertaken by the Berks County Community Foundation for non-profit organizations in Berks County feeling the pinch due to the pandemic.
"The funding is meant to help with unexpected expenses or revenue losses that are not otherwise recoverable by the stimulus measures that the government has put into place," according to a release announcing the program.
Be a nonprofit organization exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or an organization exempt as a religious, educational, or governmental entity.
Have increased expenses or diminished revenue as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic that will not be reimbursed or covered in full or in part by local, state, or federal stimulus programs.
The minimum grant size is $500 and the maximum grant size is $20,000.
“The broad guidelines and range of grant size are meant to acknowledge the reality that all kinds of nonprofit organizations in our community have been impacted in all kinds of ways, from all-volunteer groups with annual budgets of less than $10,000, to large professional organizations with many employees and budgets in the millions," said Heidi Williamson, senior vice president for programs and initiatives.
"Funding gaps will range in size and scope, which is why we’re not being prescriptive about what will and will not be funded beyond the three main requirements,” she said.
Blogger's Note:The following was provided by Hobart's Run.
Hobart’s Run has announced it has not turned away any of the applicants for its previously publicized Hobart’s Run Covid-19 emergency assistance grants – many of whom wrote in their applications about how they already are working to pay it forward by helping others in Pottstown.
The grants are Hobart’s Run’s small way of sending hope and solidarity to our caring community during an uncertain time.
The review team included two Hobart's Run Board Members, Jason Ingle (noted below) and Pottstown community member David Charles; two Hobart's Run student representatives, Noorie Dhingra (also on the Board) and Trent Charlton; and Stephanie Trauner from the Hobart's Run team.
Ten nonprofits (list below) will receive $500 Community Impact Grants, and five recently opened small businesses will receive $1,000.
Hobart’s Run, a 501(c)(3), was able to meet all requests in part due to gifts made to supplement our fund by both Sitko Tree Farm, Pottstown, and Jason Ingle, Hill ’93, of Malvern, Pa., a generous member of the Hobart’s Run board of directors and co-founder of Closed Loop Capital, which invests in food system entrepreneurs, and Greener Partners, a not-for-profit that connects communities to healthy food.
If significant matching funds are raised, Hobart’s Run would like to offer a second round of funding, extending the grant to small, established Pottstown businesses which have demonstrated philanthropic contributions to our community and support for the borough’s overall economic development.
To do so in a meaningful way, Hobart's Run needs to supplement those dollars remaining in this particular fund.
Individuals or businesses who would like to contribute can use PayPal or send a check made out to The Hill School and earmarked “Hobart’s Run Covid-19 response” to Hobart’s Run c/o 860 Beech St., Pottstown, PA 19464.
Pottstown may not have a beach, but its got trash and time will tell if its got super heroes willing to help pick it up during the March 28 challenge issued by Reading.
Blogger's Note:The following was provided by Hobart's Run.
Hobart’s Run has been challenged to engage all of Pottstown in a “clean-up competition” on Saturday, March 28.
The gauntlet was thrown down by Reading’s grassroots South of Penn Task Force. This dual-city event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon in both locations, with lunch being served to Pottstown volunteers at the Hobart’s Run 703 E. High Street office at the clean-up’s conclusion.
And – to make things more interesting and colorful – volunteers are invited to wear a “superhero” costume of their choosing (not required, but strongly encouraged).
Homemade costumes, capes, and masks are welcomed, as is overall creativity – but the important ingredient will be residents’ participation. The South of Penn group is striving to recruit 500 volunteers, so organizers hope Pottstown will rise to the challenge and show our town’s community spirit.
“With all of the exciting, encouraging developments happening as part of Pottstown’s revitalization, this is a great opportunity to remove distracting, unsightly litter while demonstrating community pride, having fun with friends and neighbors, and setting a positive example for all residents,” says Cathy Skitko, Hobart’s Run director of communications.
Hobart’s Run will provide and drop off trash bags and tools to community partners who will be contacted soon about hosting squads dedicated to particular sections of Pottstown.
Individuals interested in organizing a squad of clean-up “superheroes” from their club, school, church, other organization, or immediate neighborhood should reach out to Twila Fisher, Hobart’s Run’s director of community and economic development, at hobartsrun.pottstown@gmail.com or 610-780-6324.
Individuals who live in the Hobart’s Run neighborhood or who have not joined another clean-up group should meet at 701 E. High St. by 10 a.m. on March 28.
(The Hobart’s Run focus neighborhood is roughly bordered by Queen Street in the south; North Adams on the west; Beech, Grant, and Jackson on the north; and Keim on the east.) All other superhero squads also will meet at their soon-to-be shared starting points on March 28 at 10 a.m.
The Hobart’s Run Facebook page (as well as Instagram and Twitter) will continue to provide information closer to the event.
Hobart’s Run thanks the Borough of Pottstown for agreeing to collect trash bags following the event (please note that all filled bags must be placed near a stop sign or intersection).
Local eateries interested in donating snacks, drinks, or lunch should contact Stephanie Trauner at strauner@thehill.org or 610-705-1018. Hobart’s Run will be sure to recognize your generous contributions.
All superhero clean-up squads will be asked to strike a powerful pose and send selfies and photos to Hobart’s Run (c/o cskitko@thehill.org) for social media sharing during and after the clean-up.
Trash Can Adopters and Sponsors are Superheroes, Too
Amy and Levi Wolf stand with the trash can sponsored by
Wolf Baldwin Assoc.
Another proven way to help keep Pottstown’s streets clean is to “adopt” a Hobart’s Run or Hobart’s Run and Pottstown Community Action trash bin. Hobart’s Run will deliver cans and liners to Borough adopters’ homes or offices; residents or businesses only need to periodically add the trash to their normal collection and replace the bag.
Hobart’s Run has purchased the majority of cans that currently dot Pottstown’s streets, but the organization welcomes additional trash can sponsors to help keep even more blocks clean.
“We’ve heard from trashcan ‘adopters’ that the presence of these sturdy, attractive bins on their streets has led to a significant decline in litter,” Skitko says.
Participating Pottstown businesses are recognized through social media and their business logo will be affixed to their sponsored cans, letting neighbors know of their investment in the community. One bin can be sponsored for $200 (essentially, this fee covers the cost for one can and a sticker); three bins can be sponsored for $500; and six bins can be sponsored for $1,000. Sponsoring organizations can adopt and maintain their branded can or cans at their office location, or donate them to residents or nonprofits looking to adopt a bin.
To date generous Adopt-a-Trashcan sponsors have included Matt Green of Glocker Real Estate; Jennifer Davidheiser of the Real Estate Professionals; Sitko Tree Farm, and 422 Sports Plex. Interested adopters or sponsors should contact Stephanie Trauner at strauner@thehill.org or 610-705-1018.
Blogger's Note:The following was provided by Hobart's Run.
If you have driven along the Keim Street border of Edgewood Cemetery recently, you may have noticed that the overgrowth on that bank has been removed.
Hobart’s Run extends a heartfelt thank you to Elliot Menkowitz, local investor and philanthropist, for generously helping with efforts to improve the condition of this historic graveyard.
Menkowitz paid for landscaping company Bella Vista, owned by Brett Moser, to clean up the previously unsightly and steep, difficult-to-maintain bank. Unfortunately we don’t have “before” photos, but the images here show that the unwieldy weeds have been cut down to size, which will help immensely with mowing and other maintenance when spring arrives.
Menkowitz also replaced the old Edgewood Cemetery sign along High Street with the attractive new
The cleared bank along Keim Street.
marker.
Banking on new donations
Hobart’s Run and Edgewood Historic Cemetery Inc. are seeking donations toward a $2,500 matching pledge – the second of its kind – from Harlan “Bud” Wendell, a resident of Menlo Park, Calif., and a Hill School class of 1942 graduate with family ties to John Potts, founder of Pottstown.
Wendell’s first pledge was fulfilled in the fall of 2018 thanks to donations collected as part of a community-wide clean-up. Wendell – pleased to learn the Pottstown citizenry stepped up to care for this 12-acre resting place – now is offering this additional pledge as further incentive to keep residents and friends engaged with the project.
All funds currently will be used to pay mowing expenses, currently estimated at $20,000 per season.
The Edgewood-Hobart’s Run partnership hopes more Pottstown area residents will donate what they can to earn the $2,500 matching pledge so their dollars (as well as Wendell’s matching funds) will be available to maintain this abandoned site for another year.
Contributions can be made to Edgewood Historic Cemetery and mailed to the Cemetery Board c/o 740 E. High St., Pottstown, PA 19464.
The Board also will embrace and support civic organizations that organize fundraising events or share ideas to bring in essential dollars.
The Cemetery volunteers again thank the Three Fingers Neat club for last fall’s terrific golf tournament benefit. Contact Andrew Monastra, Edgewood’s Board president, at amonastra@themglaw.com or 484-4595412, or Cathy Skitko at Hobart’s Run at cskitko@thehill.org or 610-705-1017.
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.
Pottstown Borough Council agreed on a course to keep the Ricketts Community Center open until the end of the year, and to pursue two possible options for the year to come, Wednesday night.
The decision, after months of negotiations with the borough, left council in the lurch, needing to decide immediately how to keep the center open until the end of the year, when Olivet's current lease expires, and what plans to make for its future operation.
A crowd filters into the council room for Wednesday night's
meeting on the future of the Ricketts Center.
First things first, council agreed on a loosely outlined plan to allow Olivet to continue to "operate" the
center, although it will not offer any fall programming.
The programming will be undertaken by three primary volunteer non-profit groups -- the STRIVE Initiative, which had made its own proposal to run the center; Hobart's Run, the Hill School's neighborhood development arm; and YWCA Tri-County Area, which made a late-in-the-day proposal to run the center.
Borough Manager Justin Keller said he had been in contract with Olivet officials and they have committed to continue to operate the center through the end of the year, and to work cooperatively with whatever groups or agencies come in to provide programming, provided those people have FBI and child abuse background checks.
There was some confusion, and some distrust, about what Olivet will do going forward.
The dedication plaque outside the Ricketts Center.
"Can they even be trusted, given that they walked away after getting a new lease?" asked Councilwoman Rita Paez.
"Olivet can't be trusted," said Everett Debnam, speaking as vice president of the Pottstown chapter of the NAACP. "Get rid of them, we don't need them to turn a key."
But it was pointed out that by allowing Olivet to "run out the year," as Keller phrased it, they are bound by the terms of the lease to continue to pay utilities at the center.
Also, having them there will put responsibility for undertaking background checks on Olivet, rather than the borough, said Parks and Recreation Director Michael Lenhart.
Keller assured the audience of about 30 people that he had a "lengthy and pointed discussion with Olivet about fulfilling their obligations under the current contract."
Ricketts volunteer Hannah Davis also suggested the borough ensure that it gets a partial refund from Olivet since it is not offering fall programming, something Keller said "they are open to." She also suggested ensuring all the grant funding Olivet obtained that was allocated to Pottstown, be provided to the borough.
What happens in January?
The longer-term question for council and the community is what comes next.
After spending months on securing a new lease with Olivet, Pottstown now faces the prospect of coming up with something else in just a few weeks.
Keller said the borough has issued a "request for qualifications" from anyone interested in running the center, noting the borough already has a proposal from the YWCA and STRIVE.
Twila Fisher, who heads up the Hobart's Run organization, said
it will do whatever it is asked to do to help the center stay open.
Anyone else who wants to apply, must do so by Aug. 30. Council will interview all those who applied on Sept. 4, starting at 5:30 with a possible vote on Sept. 9.
"We don't have to time to wait. If they're interested, they will already be tuned in to what's going on here," Keller said.
But there is also another option, said Justin Valentine, a former Pottsgrove School Board President and the pastor of Kingdom Life Church in Pottstown.
He earned applause from the crowd when he said "the model council has put forward is to keep the same model we've had for 10 years, to lease the center out. The community is not looking to continue that model, we do not want to keep the lease/tenant mentality," he said.
Rather, "we want to work with borough oversight and collaborate with the community to operate the center," which is what STRIVE's purpose has been all along, said David Charles, one of STRIVE's principals.
"STRIVE's proposal was made because we did not have time to get together with community and discuss what we want to do," Charles said. "Our proposal is to open communications and work with the community, possibly create a separate entity and board eventually to run the center."
There was some resistance from borough staff to the idea of having the center overseen and run by the borough.
"Where will we get the money?" asked Finance Director Janice Lee. Council President Dan Weand pointed out that the borough's tax base was healthier 10 years ago than it is now.
Coluncilman Joe Kirkland said the borough's contribution toward the center's operation 10 years ago was higher and it was a mistake to scale it back over the years.
Kirkland, who represents the Seventh Ward where the center is located said previously he thinks the borough should take over running the center.
"We'll figure it out," he said.
Parks and Recreation Director Michael Lenhart
addresses borough council Wednsday night.
Turns out Lenhart already has part of it figured out.
He told council he had put together a budget and outlined for running the center, should council
decide to go that way, in preparation for last night's meeting.
He said early estimates indicate it would cost the borough between $195,000 to $200,000 to operate the center, including hiring a full-time center director for a salary of $38,500.
Adding the borough's annual contribution of $40,000 to the money currently provided by other funders would still leave the budget short by $50,000, he said.
The budget information "will evolve," Lenhart said, "and I wouldn't expect that number to go down."
He said he would propose "starting moderately," to make sure the borough could fulfill its obligations, and then grow programs with the help of partners.
"If the decision is to go with the borough, we can all go home now and let staff figure it out," said Keller. "Why can't we do both?" Weand responded. "I think that's a wise option," said Lenhart.
And so that is what council decided. Lenhart will continue to work on what borough operation would look like, and meet with potential partners to explore options, while council will also hear from all those who submit proposals to run the center on a lease basis.
Longtime resident Robert Brown addresses Council Wednesday.
Weand then tried to end the meeting without hearing from the public, saying a planning commission meeting was starting in 10 minutes, but he was over-ruled.
Robert Brown was the first speaker. He said council should "focus on the community and what the community wants. Our kids are the future and if we don't make them a priority, they will become a liability," he said to applause.
Charles said STRIVE's proposal "is a highly collaborative and democratic model that reflects the voice and the desires of the community which it serves."
Here is some video of his comments:
"In the future, STRIVE will solicit the input of the community to gauge whether the community feels the center should be operated under STRIVE, or whether a new entity should be formed solely functioning to operate the center," said Charles.
There will be another meeting about the center's future tonight at 6 p.m. at the center itself, 658 Beech St., when Hobart's Run will present its plans for the area around the center and also host a discussion about what the community wants for its future.
I will cover that at least until 7 p.m., when the Pottstown School Board will meet and vote on a new teacher contract.
Until then, here are the Tweets from last night's meeting:
As the summer nights shorten and school looms larger on student calendars, the question of school supplies becomes unavoidable.
For many in the larger Pottstown community, it's not the shopping for an ever-elusive notebook or the right highlight color that poses a problem, so much as what happens when you get to the check out.
Often enough, area teachers buy some of those supplies for their students out of their own pocket.
To help out, and to lessen that unfair financial burden, several Pottstown churches and organizations are collecting schools supplies to provide to teachers to ensure as many children as possible start on a level playing field, at least when it comes to pencils, pens, notebooks, erasers and other items necessary for the well-stocked desk.
And there's even a block party scheduled as an incentive for one drive.
Bethel Community Church of Pottstown
But first, here is the effort underway by Bethel Community Church of Pottstown, which is working through a national website called RightGift.com for its Help Kids Succeed School Supply Drive.
"BCCP Mission's Ministry is soliciting "School Supplies and Backpacks" for kids in the Pottstown, Pottsgrove and surrounding school districts. Please help by donating school supplies and backpacks for boys and girls of all ages," the site notes.
Habitat and PCA
Since July 15 through Aug. 15, Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County and Pottstown Community Action have teamed up for a school supply drive.
Donations can of crayons, pencils, pencil cases, tissues, glue sticks, erasers and more can be made at Grumpy's Hand Carved Sandwiches, 157 E. High St. in Pottstown.
Those supplies will be re-distributed to area teachers.
Drive and Block Party
Habitat and PCA are also participating in a wider school supply effort that also includes Hobart's Run, Heart of God Family Worship Center, Community First, New Eden Fellowship Church and Sisters Helping Sisters.
The Pottstown community is invited to a Block Party, Saturday, Aug. 24, from 4-8 p.m., on the field along Beech Street between Green and Edgewood. Participants will enjoy free hot dogs as well as food vendors, children’s activities including a bouncy house and face-painting, games, and music and a dance team performance.
While bringing families from our town together, this event also will culminate a drive to collect classroom supplies for teachers in the Pottstown District’s elementary schools. Planners also plan to present knapsacks of nonperishable healthy snacks to local children.
The Block Party is being organized by Heart of God Family Worship Center and Sisters Helping Each Other; Pottstown Community Action; and Community First, as well as Hobart’s Run – with generous support of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Genesis Housing, BB & T, and WSFS Bank.
Heart of God is collecting supplies specifically for teachers, namely glue sticks, tissues, large pump bottles of hand sanitizer, sanitizer wipes, dry erasers and dry erase markers, and pencils, as well as snacks such as small bags of pretzels, juice boxes, gummies, and granola bars.
Items may be dropped off through Aug. 23 at Hobart’s Run at 701 E. High Street (email hobartsrun.pottstown@gmail.com if you’d like to stop by with donations) and at the North End Swim Club, 901 N. Adams St.
PCA also is collecting these items, as well as crayons, pencil cases, tissue paper, pipe cleaners, lunch-sized paper bags and Ziplock bags, construction paper, erasers, stickers, index cards, and Sharpie markers. All can be dropped off through Aug. 15 at Grumpy’s Hand-Carved Sandwiches at 157 E. High Street or Hobart’s Run.
Block party attendees are welcome to bring additional classroom supplies for distribution.
Hobart’s Run will be breaking out the fun and games provided through the generosity of the Gimbel Charitable Trust which allowed us to purchase a variety of equipment ranging from bubble soccer ball sets to croquet, corn hole, soccer balls, and other items!
Blogger's Note:The following was provided by Hobart's Run.
Hobart’s Run, The Hill School-backed neighborhood development group, is launching a pilot program designed to help residents buy homes in the around surrounding the school.
Called the The Hobart’s Run Homeownership Incentive Program, it is aimed at helping homebuyers cover closing costs on homes purchased as primary residences in the Hobart’s Run neighborhood in Pottstown.
The program will award approved applicants a forgivable loan of $5,000 toward closing costs, starting this fall.
Eligible applicants for this program must purchase a home within Pottstown’s Hobart’s Run district, which consists of approximately 600 parcels in the borough within Queen Street in the south; North Adams on the west; Beech, Grant, and Jackson streets on the north; and Keim Street on the east.
The successful applicant must maintain primary residence in the home until the loan is forgiven.
Twila Fisher
The applicant does not need to be a first-time homebuyer in order to be eligible for these funds, but may not have owned another home within the past two years and must be moving from a rental situation in the borough and into Hobart’s Run homeownership.
Funds from the rental of a home recently renovated by Hobart’s Run and now occupied will be utilized to provide more HIP forgivable loans.
“While not a panacea, there is substantial research showing a tie between increasing homeownership and improved community stability,” Twila Fisher, director of community and economic development for Hobart’s Run and The Hill School, said in a release announcing the program.
“Homeownership often offers not only tangible economic benefits to families but also strengthens entire communities, through means ranging from increased civic participation of the owners, to enhanced property maintenance and improvements," Fisher said in the release.
“The HIP program serves the Hobart’s Run mission to help make Hobart’s Run – and all of Pottstown – ‘clean and green,’ safe, and inclusive -- and, of course, to encourage homeownership,” Fisher said. “By strengthening this neighborhood, we hope to inspire additional revitalization efforts throughout the town.”
PROCESS AND LOAN TERMS
Applicants will need to fill out the Hobart’s Run HIP application and other related documentation. Interested parties should email hobartsrun.pottstown@gmail.com or call Fisher at 610-705-1016 to receive details and a copy of the application.
All completed application packages will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis at Hobart’s Run, c/o 860 Beech St., Pottstown, PA 19464 or the above email address.
The applicant’s mortgage loan may not exceed $250,000 and must be issued by a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac approved lender. The buyer must contribute at least $500 toward the home purchase and, as stated, must use the property as a principal residence at least until the loan is fully forgiven. The $5,000 is forgivable at the rate of $1,000 per year over five years.
Prior to settlement, the buyer must agree to attend a driving tour and short presentation about Hobart’s Run as well as a two-hour homeownership and financial literacy class.
“Learning about and embracing our neighborhood is an important aspect of our focus as a community-building organization,” says Cathy Skitko, Senior Director of Hobart’s Run Communications. “We would love to see more new homeowners and other new residents participating in Hobart’s Run block clean-ups and other neighborhood and Pottstown events.”
Closing on the property must occur within 90 days of acceptance into the HIP program.
The loan will be recorded with the Montgomery County Recorder of Deeds as a lien on the property until it is fully forgiven. At that time, a loan forgiveness certificate will be issued to the homeowner and the Recorder of Deeds office will be notified of loan completion. If the buyer defaults on these restrictions, the loan will be due immediately and must be paid in full.
This program was developed using Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) procedural guidelines.
The HIP initiative is one of numerous ‘clean and green’ and safety enhancement programs implemented by Hobart’s Run. A few examples include block clean-ups and an “Adopt-a-Trashcan” effort; support of Edgewood Cemetery’s restoration and maintenance; installation of security cameras in the Borough; acquisition of a DCED grant to install streetlights and repair sidewalks in the 600 and 700 blocks of Beech Street (with work scheduled to begin soon); the launch of a Façade Improvement Grant (FIG) program (pending as Hobart’s Run finalizes documentation); renovation of two distressed properties; and collaboration with investors to promote private real estate activity.
Hobart’s Run also partners with other organizations and leads numerous other initiatives to encourage business development and support healthy, Pottstown community-wide events.
A 501(c)(3), the Hobart's Run neighborhood initiative was officially launched by The Hill School in 2016 to work with residents and property owners to revitalize the neighborhood through projects that create a clean, safe, and inclusive community; provide incentives for home ownership and home improvements; and generate positive, sustainable commercial and retail development.
Edgewood Cemetery is currently being maintained by volunteers and a non-profit fundraising effort.
Blogger's Note:The following was provided by Cathy L. Skitko, senior Director of Institutional Public Relations and Hobart’s Run Communications
With the arrival of spring, it won’t be long until the grass at Edgewood Cemetery in the 900 block of East High Street in Pottstown again is growing and the historic cemetery’s 12 acres are in need of maintenance.
Cemetery volunteers are looking for citizens to lend a hand at a community clean-up and beautification day on Saturday, April 13, beginning at 9 a.m. and lasting until about 1 p.m. Some tools and gloves will be available, but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own.
As many know, the cemetery was abandoned around 2012 – and since then a nonprofit board has been working to raise funds and find volunteers to keep this resting place maintained.
In October 2018, the first “Stop Complaining and Start Caring About Edgewood” community clean-up day was held, resulting in more than 100 volunteers coming out to mow, rake, plant flowers, and bag debris. As part of that heartwarming effort, an anonymous donor pledged $2,500 if his pledge could be matched.
Roadside fundraising for Edgewood Cemetery.
In fact, $3,800 was raised by early November, largely through small checks, raffle prize sales during the clean-up on Oct. 20, and change collected by philanthropic passers-by.
The Edgewood Cemetery board and Hobart’s Run are thrilled to formally announce that the pledge was happily paid by the previously anonymous donor, Harlan “Bud” Wendell, a resident of Menlo Park, Calif.
He is a Hill School graduate of the class of 1942 and father of two other Hill graduates, Harlan Wendell ’69 and David Wendell ’71; brother of two Hill graduates, James ’35 and John ’36; and uncle of three graduates, James ’73, Jonathan ’75, and John ’64, several of whom have contributed to the cemetery projects.
Bud and his two brothers are the sons of former Hill Headmaster James I. Wendell, who led the School from 1928-1952, and whose wife, Marjorie (Potts) Wendell, was a member of the seventh generation descendant of the founder of Pottstown, John Potts. Mr. Bud Wendell’s father, mother, and brother James are buried at Edgewood.
Despite the distance from Pottstown to his California home, Bud wished to make an impact and spark additional commitment to the cemetery from our local community members – as clearly was accomplished through his pledge.
“The Edgewood Cemetery Board, Hobart’s Run, and The Hill School are providing strong leadership for community interests,” Wendell said. “There might be many people living in the Pottstown area who have family members resting at Edgewood Cemetery and would provide modest challenge contributions to the ongoing annual maintenance and refurbishing program now and in the future, making Edgewood a treasured and honored place in the community.”
Needless to say, the all-volunteer cemetery board and its supporters want to help inform the community of this shared vision.
Volunteers clean up around the Edgewood Cemetery flagpole.
“On behalf of the Edgewood Cemetery Board, I express our heartfelt appreciation to Mr. Wendell for his generosity, as well as our gratitude to him, Hobart’s Run, and Hill for helping re-energize the Pottstown community’s interest in both maintaining and beautifying this important and historic part of our town,” said Andrew Monastra, president of the Board.
“We still have a lot of work to do, but, thanks to Mr. Wendell’s gift and the contributions of others, we have a great start toward building a fund to maintain the grounds this coming season, and we are making plans for additional events and fundraisers.
“Our goal is to ensure that Edgewood Cemetery is a self-sustaining entity, and a beautiful place where all citizens can spend time in reflection,” Monastra added. “We would like to not only ensure that the grass is always mowed, but also that we can enhance the grounds with plantings, benches, and so forth.”
To that end, gifts (as well as volunteers) are essential and encouraged at any time.
Another volunteer cemetery effort is planned for April 13.
Friends can send a check made out to Edgewood Historic Cemetery, Inc. to 740 E. High St., Pottstown, PA 19464. Individuals seeking more information about the clean-up and future community-wide events supporting Edgewood can contact Andrew Monastra at amonastra@wolfbaldwin.com or 610-323-7436.
Please note that the spring clean-up on April 13 will not feature food or raffles, although events similar to the big fall 2018 event likely will be planned again in the future. The Board always welcomes additional ideas for fundraisers and support!
The Edgewood clean-up will run in tandem with the Spring Pottstown CARES Day in which Hill School, Pottstown High School, and Montgomery County Community College students volunteer not only at the cemetery but with Habitat for Humanity at their local restoration sites; at a community garden at Barth Elementary School; and at ongoing home renovation projects in Hobart’s Run that will provide rental housing to local residents and use the proceeds to fund additional community improvements.
Hill arts instructor Ellen Nelson, far left, and Hobart’s Run’s Director of Community and Economic Development Twila Fisher, embraced the volunteer efforts of numerous students who pitched in to help paint a house Hobart’s Run is rehabilitating.
Blogger's Note:The following was provided by Hobart's Run.
A group of Hill School students, faculty members, and a Hill parent volunteer picked up paint brushes and rollers on a recent Saturday as part of an ongoing project to rehab a house at 59 Edgewood St. in Pottstown.
The house – which was facing foreclosure – was purchased by The Hill School for the Hobart’s Run initiative. Hobart’s Run is working to improve the abandoned property, using volunteers as much as possible in order to keep its costs low.
Hill students Aleksandr Glamazdin, of Moscow, Russia,
and Yoseph Kim, of Seoul, South Korea, wanted to give back to Pottstown, their home-away-from-home, by helping with the Hobart’s Run house rehab project.
After enhancing this structure, Hobart’s Run will rent the home to someone who wants to live in the neighborhood and, ideally, walk to work.
Another “win” is that the rental income will be directed back into the Hobart’s Run community in some form, which could range from façade improvements to other programming benefitting families in the neighborhood.
Another big gain: The taxes on this property had been delinquent, but the house will remain on the Borough and Pottstown School District tax rolls and all taxes will be paid through The Hill School.
Hobart’s Run also is planning a similar rehab-to-rental project on a home at 702 Walnut St.
Here is a video about the project:
Hobart's Run welcomes contributions to these efforts to improve the neighborhood while generating funds to help Hobart’s Run sustain its operations and give back to the community – and volunteers who can wield a paint brush or a broom or help with other home repairs are greatly appreciated.
The next work day will be from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 26 – although the location may change to the Walnut Street home.
A 501(c)(3) formed in May 2017, Hobart's Run works with its residents and property owners to revitalize the neighborhood through projects that create a clean, safe, and inclusive community; provide incentives for home ownership and home improvements; and generate positive, sustainable commercial and retail development. While initially addressing an area of approximately 600 parcels in Pottstown (Queen Street in the south, North Adams on the west, Beech, Grant, and Jackson on the north, and Keim Street on the east), Hobart’s Run strives to use successes in this focus area to spark and support revitalization throughout the Borough. Please find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @hobartsrun!
Blogger's Note:The following was provided by The Hill School.
Hobart’s Run and The Hill School are pleased to announce creation of The Hobart’s Run Scholarship Fund. This gift will provide substantial student aid to a student from the immediate Pottstown area who wishes to attend The Hill for a post-graduate year.
The Fund’s generous donors, who wish to remain anonymous, have stated that the ideal Hobart’s Run Scholar will demonstrate interest and participation in civic and social responsibility and/or community service and, in particular, in the mission and work of the Hobart’s Run neighborhood and Pottstown improvement initiative.
Hill’s post-graduate program is designed for candidates seeking to strengthen their academic preparation before entering college. Post-graduate participants are required to live on campus and therefore benefit from living away from home, with more freedoms and responsibilities, before joining a college community.
This opportunity allows young men and young women to pursue higher level courses and improve
The Hill School.
upon athletic, artistic, and other endeavors while enjoying our diverse community and growing in terms of maturity. Each year Hill enrolls 14 to 16 post-graduates from across the country and around the world.
The Hobart’s Run Scholar will be selected by Hill’s Admission Office in consultation with the Headmaster.
Interested candidates must submit a completed application by Jan. 31 and schedule an interview with a Hill admission officer.
Additional information is available on The Hill’s website, which also includes direction regarding the required admission test options.
“We are so grateful to the donors and excited to be able to offer this scholarship to a highly motivated, talented student from the Pottstown area,” said Thomas Eccleston IV, Hill ’87, assistant headmaster for enrollment management, who noted that substantial financial aid is given each year to local students enrolled in the third form (freshman) through sixth form (senior) years.
Interested families may contact Eccleston at teccleston@thehill.org.
A 501(c)(3), Hobart's Run works with its residents and property owners to revitalize the neighborhood through projects that create a clean, safe, and inclusive community; provide incentives for home ownership and home improvements; and generate positive, sustainable commercial and retail development. While initially addressing an area of approximately 600 parcels in Pottstown (Queen Street in the south, North Adams on the west, Beech, Grant, and Jackson on the north, and Keim Street on the east), Hobart’s Run strives to use successes in this focus area to spark and support revitalization throughout the Borough.
For more information about Hobart’s Run, please find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @hobartsrun.
