National Night Out Set for Aug. 7 at Chestnut St Park

A recent National Night Out event in Pottstown's Chestnut Street Park

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by Genesis Housing Corporation.

Genesis Housing Corporation and the Victory Christian Life Center have announced that this year’s annual National Night Out Community Block Party will be held at the Chestnut Street Park at Washington and Chestnut Streets in Pottstown on Tuesday, Aug.7 from 6 to 8 p.m. (Rain or Shine).

The event is designed to promote neighborhood spirit, community partnership, law enforcement and residents for a safer Pottstown at a free community block party filled with family fun, music, games, info and food.

Free food and information will be available.

The event kicks off with DJ dance music and great community information. There will be free food – hot dogs, hamburgers, nacho chips, water ice, soft drinks and more.

Come see Pottstown’s own Dragon Boat and try out the rowing equipment.

The Phillies Fire Company is bringing a fire truck and will be providing a water spray demo.

Come spend a little time with your neighbors, local firefighters, Montgomery County sheriffs and Pottstown police officers. Have fun with children’s games and activities.

Join with Mosaic Community Land Trust and Pottstown Community Arts creating sidewalk chalk drawings.

Be a part of Pottstown’s National Night Out to learn about services available in the area.

This year’s participating groups include:

• BB&T Bank
• Hobart's Run
• Birthright of Pottstown 
• Laurel House
• Boy Scouts 
• Maternal & Child Health Consortium
• Community Connections 
• Maternity Care Coalition: Early Head Start
• Creative Health Services, Inc. 
• MCIU Early Learning Programs
• Early Head Start (Chester Co Intermediate) 
• Mission Kids

  

  Trojan Man loves National Night Out.

• FARM / PDIDA 
• Mont Co Sheriff Dept.
• First UMC Pottstown 
• Mosaic Community Land Trust
• Genesis Housing 
• Pottstown Cluster
• Glocker Realty 
• Victory Christian Life Center
• Grace Lutheran & Early Learning 
• Women's Center
• Habitat for Humanity 

The National Night Out Community Block Party is funded, in part, by BB&T and WSFS Bank and the Pottstown Neighborhood Partnership. 

More information is available by calling Victory Christian Life Center at 484-941-0693 or Genesis Housing Corporation at 610-275-4357.

Since 1994, Genesis Housing Corporation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has served Montgomery County as a community housing development organization (CHDO) and is dedicated to the development of affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization and the education of consumers on housing and financial issues.

For more information about Genesis Housing Corporation, our programs and housing counseling classes, please visit our website at www.genesishousing.org, email at info@genesishousing.org, visit us on Facebook or call 610-275-4357.

National Night Out Set for Aug. 1 at Pocket Park

The event will again be held at the neighborhood park Washington and Chestnut streets.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by Genesis Housing Corp.

Genesis Housing Corporation and the Victory Christian Life Center are pleased to announce that the annual National Night Out Community Block Party will be held on the first Tuesday in August, Tuesday, Aug. 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Chestnut Street Park located on Washington and Chestnut Streets, in Pottstown.

The event will promote neighborhood spirit, community partnership, law enforcement and residents for a safer Pottstown at a free community block party filled with family fun, music, games, info and food. Come out and meet your neighbors at the Chestnut Street Park. (Rain or Shine). 

The event kicks off with DJ dance music and great community information. There will be free food – hot dogs, hamburgers, nacho chips, water ice, soft drinks and more. The Phillies Fire Company is bringing a fire truck and will be providing a water spray demo.

Be a part of Pottstown’s National Night Out to learn about businesses and non-profit agencies in the area. This year’s participating groups include Art Fusion, BB&T, Genesis Housing, Grace Lutheran Church, Habitat Montco, Harris Family, Hobart’s Run, Pottstown Human Relations, Maternal and Child Health of Chester County, Maternity Care Coalition: Early Head Start, Matt Green - Glocker Realty, Mosaic Community Land Trust, Pottstown Cluster, Victory Christian Life Center, Women’s Center and YWCA Tri-County.

The National Night Out Community Block Party is funded, in part, by BB&T Bank and the Pottstown Neighborhood Partnership. 

More information is available by calling Victory Christian Life Center at 484-941-0693 or Genesis Housing Corporation at 610-275-4357.

Since 1994, Genesis Housing Corporation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has served Montgomery County as a community housing development organization (CHDO) and is dedicated to the development of affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization and the education of consumers on housing and financial issues.

For more information about Genesis Housing Corporation, our programs and housing counseling classes, please visit our website at www.genesishousing.org, email at info@genesishousing.org, visit us on Facebook or call 610-275-4357.

National Night Out Comes to Pottstown Aug. 2

 Pottstown is once again gearing up for National Night out on Aug. 2 and at least two events have been planning in the borough.

Chestnut Street Park

Genesis Housing Corporation and the Victory Christian Life Center will host the annual National Night Out Community Block Party at the Chestnut Street Park located on Washington and Chestnut Streets, starting at 6 p.m.

The festivities will promote neighborhood spirit, community partnership, law enforcement and residents for a safer Pottstown with a community block party filled with family fun, music, games, info and food. 

The event, held rain or shine, kicks off with DJ dance music and community information tables.

National Night Out at Chestnut Street Park.

There will be free food – hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn, soft drinks and more. There will be games for the kids to play along with a moon bounce.

Visitors will have have an opportunity to learn about businesses and non-profit agencies in the area. 

Among them, Genesis Housing Corporation will be available to answer questions about their upcoming free classes at the Pottstown YWCA, 315 King St. 

The first session, “Understanding Credit” will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 3, followed by “Money Management” on Wednesday, Aug 10 and “Home Buying Basics” on Wednesday, Aug. 17. 

All classes are from 6 – 8 PM. Registration for the free classes is recommended, as space is limited. Register online at www.genesishousing.org or by calling 610-275-4357.

The National Night Out Community Block Party is funded, in part, by BB&T Bank (formerly National Penn Bank) and the Pottstown Neighborhood Partnership.

Pottstown Armory

Pottstown Karate Club will hold a free work out, open to the public, at the Armonry at 263 King St.

The work-out, which will feature D.J. Sean Robbins, starts at 6 p.m.

Praying for Pottstown, Every Friday

Blogger's Note: The following was provided to us recently by the Rev. Reggie Brooks, senior pastor at Victory Christian Life Center and we thought we would share it with you.
For the past 11 years, a small group of pastors in the Pottstown area have been meeting every Friday morning from 9 to 10 a.m. to pray for this community. 

This was started by Pastor Donnie Cloen of New Passion Church; Pastor Mike Anthony of Heart of God Family Worship Center and Pastor Reggie Brooks of Victory Christian Life Center. 

In the past few years the attendance has shifted to include Pastor Charles Cedeno of New Life Assembly of God and Pastor Bruce Levengood of Hopewell Community Church.

More recently, a letter was sent out to other area churches inviting the pastors to come out for the first prayer of the new year on Jan. 2. 

Pastor Reggie Brooks, right and

Juanita Brooks from Victory Christian Life Center

And 25 people responded and began to pray aggressively for Pottstown. 

This prayer meeting happens every Friday from 9 to 10 a.m. 

On the first three Fridays of the month, the prayer is held at Victory Christian Life Center, located an the southeast corner of Franklin and Washington streets. 

The prayer will be at different churches on the fourth Friday of each month.

"We believe that the time has come for everyone to come together in prayer, Pastors and lay-people alike. It does not matter what your denomination is, we are not looking to divide the community but to unite in a common cause to bring an end to the violence and destruction of this town," according to Reggie Brooks, the senior pastor of Victory Christian Life Center.

In February, the fourth Friday prayer will be held at New Birth Life Church, 335 W. High St. in Pottstown. 

In March, the fourth Friday prayer will be held at New Life Assembly of God, 902 N. Evans St. in Pottstown.

"We look forward to a fantastic year and a powerful outpouring of God’s spirit on this town that will heal our land and bring forth the many blessings the God has promised us," Brooks wrote.

Timeliness is Next to Newsiness

Photo by a late-arriving Evan Brandt

Informational Meetings Will Explain Community Gardening

Blogger's Note: The following is a press release from the Mosaic Community Land Trust

Have you ever wanted to have your own garden, but didn’t have enough room in your yard? Would you like your children to learn how to grow their own fresh vegetables, but don’t know where to begin?

This spring MOSAIC Community Land Trust is building Pottstown’s first community garden at 423 Chestnut St. 

They will be holding three information sessions during the month of February to explain what community gardens are all about and to take applications for approximately 40 raised bed garden plots for the 2012 season. 

In addition to the garden plots, there will be compost bins, rain barrels, pavers, fencing, trellis, perennial gardens, a storage shed, and water service for irrigation.

The MOSAIC Community Garden is being built with a $30,000 grant from the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation. 

The property at 423 Chestnut St. was donated by the Pottstown School District last spring, and other major donors and volunteers include Genesis Housing/Susquehanna Bank, Lowes, Davey Tree Experts, Andrew Monastra, Esq., the Borough of Pottstown, Montgomery County Workforce Development, and many other individuals and volunteers.

According to the American Community Gardening Association, a community garden is “any piece of land gardened by a group of people.” Typically, community gardens transform vacant lots into beautiful and positive community gathering places. 

While fresh, organic food is typically more expensive and out of the financial reach for many people, the cost to grow and harvest one’s own food is significantly less. Residents pay a small annual fee to lease their plot and actively cultivate it throughout the entire growing season. 

MOSAIC plans to provide educational workshops for new and experienced gardeners. Individuals, families, community organizations, youth groups, and local restaurants are all welcome to apply for a plot.

The information sessions will be held at the following times and locations in Pottstown:

• Tuesday, Feb. 14 from 7-8 p.m. at the Ricketts Community Center, 640 Beech St.

• Tuesday, Feb. 21 from 7-8 p.m. at MOSAIC’s office, 10 S. Hanover St.

• Saturday, Feb. 25 from 2-3 p.m. at Victory Christian Life Center, 28-30 N. Washington St.

Applications will be available at the meetings and can be dropped off at any of the above locations or mailed to MOSAIC Community Land Trust by March 1. 

In the event that there are more applications than garden plots, a public lottery will be held at MOSAIC’s offices on Sunday, March 11 at 2 p.m. 

For more information, contact Sue Repko, MOSAIC Executive Director, at 609-658-9043 or srepko@mosaiccommunitylandtrust.org.