A Trail Leads to Recognition

Stephen P. Pohowsky, left, with his award and Kurt Zwikl, executive director

of the Schuylkill River National Heritage Area in Pottstown.

A Pennsylvania Department of Transportation employee recently earned a 2013 National Trails Award from American Trails for his work improving trail user safety on several Pennsylvania trails, including the Schuylkill River Trail.

Stephen P. Pohowsky was recognized with a State Trail Worker Award, which is a category in the National Trails Awards presented annually by American Trails. He was nominated for the honor by Schuylkill River Heritage Area Trail Projects Manager Robert Folwell.

Pohowsky is a Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator and Safety Program Specialist for PennDOT District 5-0, which encompasses the counties of Berks, Schuylkill, Lehigh, Carbon, Northampton and Monroe. He received the award in recognition of "his extraordinary contribution to improving trail user safety at state highway crossings within District 5-0."

According to Folwell, Pohowksy is an avid trail user who uses "his trail riding

experience as well as his extensive knowledge of PennDOT highway safety issues to effectively evaluate all trail crossing plans to determine what works best, and has developed model guidelines for District 5 that will save lives."

Plans for the connection of the Schuylkill River Trail between Phoenixville and Pottstown.

In accepting the award Pohowsky thanked the Schuylkill River Heritage Area and American Trails. He observed that he had worked to foster better communication between PennDOT and the trail building community. He also spoke about the value of trails to local communities.

"We are fortunate to be located in an area of the state with a large expanse of both canal and rail trails, thanks to the former anthracite coal industry. These trails are not just a portal to our past, but also a pathway to our future,” Pohowsky said. “I look forward to continuing to work with our partners to make our trails a source of pride, an asset to their communities, and a fine example of what we can accomplish together."

American Trails, which sponsors the annual National Trails Awards, is a national, non-profit organization that works on behalf of all trails. Awards are offered in a number of categories, including the State Trail Worker Awards, which recognize one individual in each state “who has demonstrated outstanding contributions and consistent support for trail planning, development, or maintenance in either the private or public sector.”

Awards were presented at a symposium last month that took place in Arizona. Since Pohowsky was unable to attend that event, his award was presented to him by Schuylkill River Heritage Area Executive Director Kurt Zwikl at a recent PennDOT event.

It's That Relay Time of Year

Students at The Hill School recent held their own Relay for Life.

It was organized by students Emily Sitko, Class of 2013, from Pottstown and Megan Ruane, Class of 2013, from Schwenksville, shown at right.

The event raised $1,085.00 by selling luminaries (in honor of loved ones affected by cancer), wristbands, tank tops, and raffle tickets.

Meanwhile, over at Rupert Elementary School, principal Matt Moyer may find himself in a sticky situation.

Last year, his school raised more than $1,200 for the Pottstown Relay for Life.

This year, if that total is beaten, the students will get to duct tape him to the wall of the cafeteria.

They've been collecting spare change since April 22 at Rupert and will continue to do so until May 24.

In addition to the taping or their principal, the classroom that raises the most money gets a pizza party.
Raising money for cancer research is certainly a worthwhile goal, but duct taping Mr. Moyer to the cafeteria wall, if that's not motivation, I don't know what is.

I think I'll head over to Rupert right now.....

In the meantime, everyone is gearing up for the main event on June 1.

Outstanding in her Field

Pottstown Middle School Student Ashley Adams, left, with her award and teacher Dee Pettine.

Blogger's Note: Once again, we are indebted to John Armato, the avatar of positive Pottstown School District news, for a truly worthwhile recognition: 

The Pennsylvania Association for Middle Level Education recognized Pottstown eighth grade student Ashley Adams with the prestigious Joan Jarrett PAMLE Outstanding Student Award.

Named in honor of the Past President of PAMLE Joan Jarrett, the award seeks to recognize students for their effort and persistence to maintain academic success while at the same time contributing to the school and community environment.

Middle school teacher Dee Pettine wrote in nominating Ashley for the award.

“A particular quality of Ashley’s that stands out for me is her kindness. She attempts to include others in her actions and deeds. As a seventh grader, she stayed after school with friends and they would bake and make blankets for needy individuals. She has also helped other students develop social skills that have enabled them to take part in middle school activities. I have been teaching middle school level students for over 30 years and I know how rare it is to find such a selfless, humble student at her age level. Ashley is that quiet leader we all love to get to share for a short time that they spend with us in middle school," Pettine wrote.

From left, Ashley's parents, Ashley, Pettine and
Kim Arp ,Executive Board member PAMLE 

Ashley demonstrated her selfless, humble approach when, after being given the award which included $100, she asked that the money be donated to the Wounded Warriors Organization which provides assistance to members of our military wounded during service.

Some of Ashley’s activities include being an honor roll student and a two-year member of National Junior Honor Society while at the same time participating in cross country and track field.

As a member of the Builders Club, she has spearheaded the organization’s hand-making Christmas cards to be sent to our military troops overseas. She has also supported the club’s annual “Souper Sunday” canned goods drive to support needy individuals. Her leadership skills extended to developing student participation “Jersey Day” activities which helped promote donations of canned goods.

Kimberly Arp, Executive Board Member of PAMLE, said, “I am delighted to present this award to Ashley. It is evident that she exemplifies the highest qualities that are recognized by this award. We are proud to be able to present the award and we are humbled by her gesture of donating the $100.00 award to such an outstanding organization as the Wounded Warriors.”

Good Food Cheap

Many of us take the food that graces our table for granted.

Others, usually those involved in a struggle to obtain it, know it isn't always so easy.

For those living on a tight budget (more and more of us it seems these days), Genesis Housing is providing some tips Thursday on how to fill that icebox on an ever-tightening budget.

The outsized poster above has all the salient details.

The workshop will be held at the Cluster Outreach Center run by the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities which, itself, could use a little help.

This photo at left was posted in the Cluster's Facebook page on May 10 with the following caption:

"For anyone living near Pottstown, please consider donating canned soup to the Pottstown Cluster. This is a picture taken today of the soup shelves in the food pantry."

Needless to say, donations will be welcomed.

The Outreach Center is located at the corner of King and Franklin streets in Pottstown in the old American Legion building. It provides free food and clothing to needy families in the area.

You can also help out by playing golf in the Cluster's annual golf tournament.

It will be held Monday, May 20 at Hickory Valley Golf Club (Presidential course).

A green on Hickory Valley's Presidential course.

The format is a scramble/shotgun start.

Registration is from 9:30 to 10:40 a.m. and the cost is $110 per golfer or $440 per foursome, which includes lunch cart, greens fee, beverage reception and dinner. 

Tee-off time is at 11 a.m. The rules briefing is at 10:40 a.m. and the reception begins at 4 p.m., which is also when the putting contest conclusion will be held.

Dinner, the awards, silent auction and 50-50 drawing will all begin at 5 p.m.

$200K Park Mini-Grant Program Now Open

Got plans? A new program offers mini grants of as much as $25,000 for park improvements.

A mini-grant program for park improvements in the eight municipalities that comprise the Pottstown Metropolitan Regional Planning Committee is now accepting applications.

Eight grants of up to $25,000 each will be awarded to towns which participate in the regional planning effort to help fund park improvements that promote recreation.

Funding for the grants comes from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and is being facilitated by the Pottstown

The municipalities of the Pottstown Metropolitan

Regional Planning Committee.

Area Health and Wellness Foundation.

At this point, the "Request-for-Proposals" phase, the regional planning committee and the foundation are inviting the region’s eight member municipalities to apply for funding for the planning or development of park improvements. 

Applicants may request up to $25,000 for the proposed project. Applications for the first round of funding will be accepted no later than Sept. 6.

The purpose of the Parks Mini-Grant Program is to support and implement the recommendations included in the 2012 Penn State Study, Planning and Design Strategies for Healthy Living, Parks, and Recreation in the Pottstown Region, which provides a road map for each municipality to improve its community and parks built environment. 

The PSU study recommendations are consistent with the PMRPC’s regional comprehensive plan, county greenway plans, and PA Outdoor Recreation Plan recommendations. 

Active play for toddlers was among the

Penn State study's recommendations.

The funding made available by this RFP will assist municipalities in undertaking park improvements that add amenities to existing park facilities and improving previously acquired park land by adding green features, pathways, signage, or other enhancements.

Preference for funding will be given to proposals that add park amenities recommended by the Penn State study, which can be found at: http://www.pottstownfoundation.org/pages/psu-report.htm.

The Pottstown Metropolitan Regional Planning Committee (PMRPC) is comprised of two representatives from each of the Region’s eight participating municipalities, including Pottstown Borough, Douglass, New Hanover, West Pottsgrove, Upper Pottsgrove, and Lower Pottsgrove in Montgomery County and North Coventry and East Coventry Townships in Chester County. 

Picnic pavilions were also recommended in the Penn State study.

PMRPC members address multi-municipal issues and oversee implementation of the Pottstown Metropolitan Regional Comprehensive Plan, currently one of the largest multi-municipal planning efforts taking place in Pennsylvania.

The Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation’s mission is to enhance the health and wellness of area residents, providing education, funding and programs that motivate people to adopt healthy lifestyles. 

Visit www.pottstownfoundation.org for more information about the Foundation. 

Discover Pottstown area's online community at www.missionhealthyliving.org to learn and share great information on how to lead a healthier life. You can also follow Mission Healthy Living on Facebook and Twitter.

Funding eligibility is limited to member municipalities of the Pottstown Metropolitan Region, including Douglass, Lower Pottsgrove, New Hanover, Upper Pottsgrove, and West Pottsgrove Townships, and Pottstown Borough in Montgomery County, PA, and North Coventry and East Coventry Townships in Chester County

All project applications should demonstrate consistency with the goals of the Pottstown Regional Parks Mini-Grants partners – DCNR, PMRPC, and PAHWF.  

Projects are expected to achieve funded expectations within a 12-month contract term; however, early completion of projects is encouraged. Grants require a minimum 10 percent cash match to be demonstrated either at the time of application or within the duration of the 12 month contract.

Applications for the first round of funding will be accepted until Sept. 6. 

For more information about the Mini-Grant program and to access application materials, visit the Pottstown Metropolitan Region’s website at PMRPC.PottstownMetroRegion.com.

They Were Here First

Native American Historian Darius Puff will take visitors on a journey through the history of his ancestors “The Lenape” on Sunday, May 19, at 2 p.m. at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. 

Hosted by the Friends of Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, a lively narrative, legends, animal furs, and reproductions of artifacts used by the Lenape contribute to an interesting an informative program that includes a question and answer period. Staged in the park’s Church House, the program is free and open to the public.

Darius Puff is a retired Berks County police officer. 

Darius Puff

A few years prior to his retirement, he became involved in giving talks about his Native American heritage to various civic groups. through the use of artifacts and stories, his programs teach others about the early lives of the Lenape people and the changes that affected their society in the 18th century. 

He has presented at local schools, historical societies and universities including Millersville, Rutgers, Kutztown, and Penn State. The program is made possible through a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts in partnership with the Berks Arts Council.

The Lenni Lenape or Delaware Indians were a loose confederation of Algonkian bands, which at the opening of the 17th century occupied a continuous territory from the Delaware Bay to Blue Mountain ridge or the Pennsylvania Highlands including today’s Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. 

A prominent feature of the park is the Lenape Trail, a 5.5 mile trail that runs through Hopewell Furnace and neighboring French Creek State Park. See Area Features Map.

While at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site visitors are encouraged to go into the village, tour the buildings and learn about the Iron Making Industry and why Hopewell Furnace is important to our nation’s history. 

The park is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday including Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day and Veterans Day. It is closed on other federal holidays. 

On Mondays and Tuesdays while the Visitor Center and Hopewell Village are closed, the grounds and restrooms remain open. 

The park is located five miles south of Birdsboro, off of Route 345. 

For more information stop by the park's visitor center, call 610-582-8773, visit the park's web site at www.nps.gov/hofu, or contact the park by e-mail at hofu_superintendent@nps.gov.

Running Against Hunger

The 4th Annual Operation Backpack 5K will take place Saturday, May 18 at 9 a.m. on the Schuylkill River Trail,

a flat, fast, scenic rail-to-trail course in Pottstown.

The event benefits homeless and hungry children who are suffering from malnutrition in Pottstown.

During the school day, these children receive free lunch at school, but on the weekends they often go hungry.

Thanks to Operation Backpack, backpacks of nutritious food are sent home with the children every Friday so that they can have food on the weekends.

A cash Prize will be given to the top Male and Female Runner.

Medals will be given by gender and age group.

The cost is $30 for a runner and $25 for a walker.

The course is fast, so it is not unusual to have many personal bests on race day. The event is walker friendly, both in the 5K and 1 mile, but it is also a great race for competitive runners.

You can register through Active.com by clicking the link:
http://www.active.com/running/pottstown-pa/operation-backpack-5k-2013