They've Been Working on the Railroad

Volunteers along the Colebrookdale Spur

Blogger's Note: The following is provided by Nathaniel Guest on behalf of the effort to transform the Colebrookdale Spur into a tourist excursion railroad.

On Saturday June 8 and Sunday June 9, teams of volunteers came out to the

Colebrookdale to accomplish a very important task: cleaning up the right of way.

For some time, the Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust has been advocating and planning for a tourist passenger railroad on the Colebrookdale. 

A recent report found that the Colebrookdale as a tourist railroad can be a powerful engine of economic development for our region.

One of our goals in getting the railroad ready for prime time has been to clean up the line. 

Saturday and Sunday brought 40 volunteers. 

The Pottstown Roller Derby Rockstars led the charge on Sunday, augmented by folks from the Montgomery County ARD program on Saturday.

Berks County Subway provided lunch for all volunteers, and the Pottstown Health and Wellness Foundation provided water. 

J.P. Mascaro & Sons provided two dumpsters. 

The clean up was coordinated by the Beanie Clark with support from the Borough of Pottstown.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T at Barth

From left, Raymond Boone, Taina Virola, Lillian Stirk,
and Ni'yell Clifford with Dumpo

Blogger's Note: Did you think we had forgotten about submissions from John Armato, our most reliable contributor? Fear not.

Students at Barth Elementary School learned that the phrase “Respect Yourself” is more than the title to a ‘70’s hit record.

(Admit it, now you've got Aretha Franklin, the undisputed 'Queen of Soul' echoing in your head)

The school hosted an interactive assembly sponsored by J.P. Mascaro and Sons titled “The Respect Program.” 

The assembly focused on the meaning of respect, how to show respect, why respect is important, and who should be respected. 

As the students discussed during the assembly, they identified the importance for respecting yourself, friends, peers, parents, teachers, property, authority, and the environment. 

Dumpo rubs Christian
Coale's head for good luck.

At the conclusion of the assembly, each student received an activity book that they could take home and use to help them further understand the meaning of respect.

One of the highlights of the assembly was the appearance of the Mascaro mascot “Dumpo the Elephant.”

Barth teacher Kelli Wolfel said, “the J.P. Mascaro Respect assembly came at a great time in the school year to remind students ways to earn, give, and show respect for those around them. The students were engaged and entertained while learning about this very important topic."