Champions and Challenges in Pottsgrove

Photos by Evan Brandt

The Pottsgrove Falcons football team stopped by the Pottsgrove School Board Tuesday night to thank the board for the team jackets purchased after their championship season in District One of division AAAA.

A two-hour school board meeting Tuesday night touched upon many newsworthy subjects, not the least of which was congratulating this year's football Falcons.

Falcons Coach Rick Pennypacker addresses the board.

The team stopped by Tuesday to thank the board for the jackets, awards and monetary support in terms of equipment and uniforms, and to be congratulated on their season.

Also on the docket was a report on enrollment projections for the district, made more urgent in the past year by the approval of one 178-unit development and the consideration of another -- this one with more than 500 housing units -- in Lower Pottsgrove.

The report, delivered at a fast pace by Tracy Healy, owner and president of Ohio-based FutureThink, essentially said that Pottsgrove could expect as few as 25 new students in the next couple of years, 262 or "somewhere in the vicinity of 3,700," which, if I may say so, is quite a range.

Healy said her projections for the students generated by the two  projects, are larger than those made by the developer, based on a number of factors, including their estimates.

The board immediate agreed to authorize Business Manager David Nester to attend the next township commissioners' meeting and share this information with the board.

The district administration figures it has about three years to see how things begin to shake out and hopes to come up with a plan for dealing with possible scenarios -- including new construction or re-districting -- by the start of the next school year, said Nester.

The board also spent some time discussing the perennial shortage of substitute teachers and debated how to address the problem after Superintendent William Shirk provided some further information on the matter as a follow up to a discussion earlier in the month.

Oh, and former technology director Michael Wagman's replacement, Anthony Bickert, was hired at an annual salary of $102,285.

Here are the Tweets:

Vets Ride Colebrookdale RR Free for Memorial Day

The Colebrookdale Railroad continues to make progress toward full operation as well as partnering with area organizations to make the most of what’s working now.

For example, all this weekend — Saturday, Sunday and Monday — veterans can ride for free on the Secret Valley Line excursion train from Boyertown to Pottstown and then back again.

“We deeply thank all of our vets for their service to this great nation. Please join us in memory of those we gave the ultimate sacrifice,” said Nathaniel Guest, director of the Colebrookdale Preservation Trust, which operations the railroad.

The offer is for military personnel, both currently serving and retired, so long as proof of service is offered at the Gatehouse.

On Saturday, the railroad has partnered with the Boyertown Relay for Life, which will sell hot dogs, hamburgers, hoagies and other items to support Relay for Life’s fundraising efforts to fight cancer with the American Cancer Society.

And on Saturday and Sunday, the Other Farm Brewing Company will offer hard cider and freshly baked apple pie.

On Memorial Day, in addition to food and drink, a special flag-raising ceremony will be held at the Boyertown Railroad Yard at noon to honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in their nation.

There will be a moment of silence during the playing of TAPS.

Built is 1869, the Colebrookdale Railroad was completed by soldiers home from the Civil War just four months after the Transcontinental Railroad united the East and West.

The Colebrookdale is an 8.6-mile long record of epic engineering and heroic human drama.



To make your reservations or to learn more about the Colebrookdale Railroad, go to www.colebrookdalerailroad.com.

Zumba-thon to Fight Cancer

Blogger's Note: The following was provided at the last minute by the Pottstown School District:

Trojans For A Cure will be holding its first Zumba-thon to benefit Relay For Life.

It will be held this afternoon at Pottstown High School Gymnasium, 750 N. Washington St., from 12 to 2 p.m. 

They will be selling drinks and snacks at the event to keep you hydrated and your energy levels up.

The cost of the event is $10 for adults, $5 for students.

All proceeds go directly to the Pottstown Relay for Life.

Skating for a Good Cause

The Hill School's ice rink

Blogger's Note: The following was provided Thursday morning by Jennifer Bechtel at The Hill School:

The Hill School’s 7th annual “Skate Against Cancer” event will place on Saturday, Feb. 8 from 8 to 10:30 p.m.

The entrance fee is $3 and skate rentals will be available for $2. 

There will be raffles pizza and refreshments, and t-shirts for sale. 

A DJ will be playing music throughout the event. 

The public is invited to attend this fundraiser which benefits the American Cancer Society through the Pottstown Relay for Life. 

Last year this event raised more than $2,000 and the goal is to surpass that this year! 

It’s important to note that all skaters must where a knit hat when on the ice.

Living Strong to Fight Cancer

Rupert's Bulldog Club raised $500 selling Livestorng wristbands for the recently Relay for Life.

Blogger's Note: Hmmm, a post about a cool thing going on in Pottstown schools...see if you can guess who this came from...

Students from Pottstown High School wearing their blue Trojan shirts partnered with Rupert Elementary School’s Bulldog club members recently to help support the fight against cancer.

The Trojans, along with group sponsor Rebecca Heiser, conducted several fundraising activities throughout the year including the Student Government sponsored Powder Puff football game, selling Reading Phillies ticket books, and their most recent venture “We Are Pottstown” tee-shirts.

Pottstown Trojans raised $1,200 for the Relay for Life

The collective efforts helped to raise over $1,200 which was donated to the Relay For Life. The students also participated in the two-day event camping out overnight and providing fundraising activities.

“Our students are well aware of the devastating affect this disease can have on its victims and their families and they understand that it takes collective effort to help in the fight to cure cancer,” Heiser said.

Max Donnelly, sponsor of the Rupert Bulldog Club, which was founded to help young students develop character, citizenship, and academic achievement, conducted a school fundraising project selling wristbands promoting the “Livestrong Foundation.”

Their efforts helped to raise almost $500.

The Livestrong Foundation unites people through programs and experiences to empower cancer survivors to live life on their own terms and to raise awareness and funds for the fight against cancer.

Livestrong focuses on cancer prevention, access to screening and care, research, and quality of life for cancer survivors.

“I am so proud of our young men who understand at a very early age the importance of community unity, commitment, and involvement," Donnelly said. "This is one of their first steps in becoming the leaders of tomorrow.”

Vive Le Roller Derby

Blogger's Note: This e-mail I received from Roller Derby maven Patty Fetterman gives us the low-down on an important upcoming bout on Bastille Day!

As you may know, Pottstown Roller Derby Rockstars are in the middle of our first official roller derby season.

To date, we’ve hosted six roller derby bouts at the 422 sportsplex, each bout averaging about 400 to 500 guests.

Part of our league's mission is to donate a percentage of our ticket sales from each bout to local non-profits.

This year alone we’ve donated over $2,500 to Relay for Life, Wounded Warriors, and the Laurel House as well as a few other groups.

On  July 14, the Pottstown Roller Derby All Star Team will compete against Diamond State Roller Girls who are traveling from Delaware.

What is special about our All Star Team is that it is made up of our best athletes from our league’s three teams. We are very fortunate to have an opportunity to see the such derby skill locally.

PRDR has been fortunate enough to have held coaching sessions with several of the Team USA Roller Derby members who are known internationally.

A picture of Dr. Quinones from his web site.

Perhaps even more important that the athleticism featured at our July 14 bout is who we are raising money for:  Dr. Quinones, or “Dr. Q,”one of the nation’s leading experts on fighting brain tumors.  (His website is here: http://www.doctorqmd.com/)

What makes this extra special for our league is that Dr. Q is currently treating Lida Dickenson, who is the mother of our founder and president (Lo Blow) Lida Addison.   Besides being the beloved “Mama Lida” to the members of our league, Mrs. Dickenson is lifelong Pottstown resident who is responsible for the gorgeous flowers that decorate High Street planters every year.

Dr. Q has had a profound impact on Mama Lida’s health; she is courageously fighting a battle with brain cancer and she is with us today because of his innovation and skill.

So buy your tickets now, see your Rockstars destroy those Delawarians and help a good person beat cancer. This is a no-lose proposition!