This Saturday in Killer Robot Science!

Blogger's Note: As any regular reader of The Digital Notebook knows, I am pretty wild for the phrase "killer robot," and so when this information came over the transom, I couldn't resist. Anyway, there is the information from the Pottstown School District's Robotic Information Officer, or RIO, John Armato.

Members of the Pottstown High School newly formed robotics team will be ready to defend the human race should robots attempt to take control of the world.

Recently, two teams of students competed in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) held at Owen J. Roberts High School. 

FIRST Tech Challenge is a non-profit organization whose mission is “to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.” 

The “Challenge” requires students to utilize STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) and 21st Century skills to design, build, program, test, and ultimately compete with robots.

Team Newmatics with team members Rob Boyle, Rashad Cole, Broc Ferguson, Dan Garcia, and
Delanie Hain placed 3rd in the qualifying rounds and participated in the semi-final competition. 

Also participating in the semi-finals as part of an “alliance team” were the Automatons led by Dan O’Brien, Jason Levengood, Kenil Patel, MaSofia Sosa, and Heather Swanson.

The day was filled with excitement and adventure. 

There were software and hardware glitches to be overcome and fierce competition from the opposing teams. 

 Mr. Decker one of the team sponsors said, “Our team is newly formed and our students are gaining valuable experience that will help them compete at a higher level in future competitions. The problem-solving experiences they have had are invaluable to them.”

“The atmosphere at this challenge is electrifying. Seeing our students working cooperatively to problem-solve the glitches they encountered can only help improve their skills. Having activities that place such a high emphasis on the value of practical use of academic knowledge is exciting and rewarding to watch,” stated science teacher and team sponsor Laura Wise.

Decker noted that this year’s team received its start from a 21st Century grant and the support of the Pottstown School District.

Decker said, “Our team has already started preparations for our next competition held in York Pennsylvania later this month and look forward to the challenge.”

333 Years of Fighting Fires

Photos courtesy of Erin Galamba, Norco Fire Company

Back row from left; John Fisher, Joel McMillan, Pennya Comtois, Barry Boettlin, Randy Richter, Douglass Keim, Chuck Schukraft, North Coventry Township Supervisor Rebecca Elliot and state Sen. John Rafferty.

Front row from left:  North Coventry Township Supervisors Chairman Jim Marks, Terry Baker and state Rep. Tim Hennessey.

It's not every day that more than 300 years of dedicated service fighting fires gets recognized all at the same time, but that's what happened at the Norco Firehouse Saturday during the fire company's annual holiday party.

That is when eight long-time members of the company were recognized and presented with awards by officials from the Pennsylvania General Assembly and North Coventry Township.

On hand to do the honors were state Sen. John Rafferty, R-44th Dist.; state Rep. Tim Hennesey,

R-26th Dist. and Jim Marks, chairman of the North Coventry Board of Supervisors.

The awards came as a surprise to the eight volunteers who together, have given a combined 333 years of service to fighting fires in North Coventry Township and beyond.

The recipients and their histories are as follows:

Doug Keim, 73, who joined the fire company in 1959 was honored for 54 years of service.
He was fire chief from 1973 to 1986 and again in 1990. He is a past fire marshal and was directly involved with rescue efforts during the 1972 disaster of Hurricane Agnes.
He is currently the fire company's oldest (and longest active) firefighter, and his father was also an active member of the company until his passing.

Randy Richter, 67, joined the fire company in 1965 and was honored for his 48 years of service.
From 1995 to 2003, he served as fire chief.
Currently captain of the Norco Fire Police, he served as chief engineer for the fire company for more than 25 years and he too was directly involved with the rescue efforts during Hurricane Agnes.

John Fisher, 52, joined the fire company in 1980 and was honored for 33 years of service with the fire company.
A member of the board of directors for many years, he has served as an assistant engineer for many years and is currently the assistant chief.

Barry Boettlin, 65, joined the fire company in 1972 and was honored for 41 years of service to the fire company.
He was Fire Company President in 1996, 1997 and is currently vice-president elect.
Additionally, Boettlin served for many years in the fire police and is a past fire police lieutenant.
He has also served as the company's delegate to the Pennsylvania State Fire Convention for many years.

Terry Baker, 65, was also involved in the rescue efforts during Hurricane Agnes and joined the fire company in 1966.
Honored for 47 years of service with the fire company Saturday, he is currently a fire police lieutenant, past financial secretary and handles all fire hall rentals.
Baker also served for many years on the fire company's board of directors.

Pennya Comtois, 56, was the company's first female Fire Company President and still holds the post today.
She joined in 1970 and was honored Saturday for 43 years of service.
A former president of the Ladies auxiliary, Comtois has served on many fire company committees and her mother, Ellie Ellis, was also an active member until her passing.

Joel McMillan, 55, joined the fire company in 1980 and was honored Saturday for 33 years of service.
McMillan has served for many years as an assistant fire chief, was the fire chief in 1994 and holds that post today.

Charles Schukraft, 52, joined the fire company in 1979 and was honored for 34 years of service with the fire company.
A member of the board of directors for many years, Schukraft is a past chief engineer and is currently an assistant engineer and fire lieutenant.

Why Zag When You Can Ziggurat?

Ziggurats of all shapes, sizes and materials were built recent by Pottstown Middle School students as part of a unit on ancient Mesopotamia.

Middle school students have been known to be very active and can do a great deal of “zigging” and “zagging.”

Pottstown Middle School sixth grade teacher Desiree Schwoyer has found a way to harness some of that energy and creativity to teach a lesson in ancient history. Students were given the assignment to build a model Mesopotamian Ziggurat.

The ziggurat, precursor of the pyramid, was a temple built for worship.

Schwoyer said, “I have been doing this project for five years and the students’ enthusiasm and participation is fantastic. It is obvious that they enjoy learning by ‘hands-on’ activities.”

After an introduction to ziggurats on the essential parts, students were expected to create and build one at home.

Each student had to do additional research to find out what the temples looked like and how they were created. 

Students were able to not only create their own design but determine what materials they wanted to use in the construction.

Some chose to purchase craft store materials, however, many used their imagination and creativity to take items found around the home to build their temples. 

Several students even added some flavor to their models by using rice krispies, cake, and candy.

Amy Gazzillo, math and science teacher, helped play an integral role in the process of assisting students in understanding design elements and how to best use construction materials.

The entire project was a team effort from beginning to end with students and staff. 

Because the projects were completed at home, many parents had the opportunity to see their children use their imagination and creativity to complete the assignment.

Schwoyer said, “I have continued to assign this project because of the enthusiasm that it brings to learning."

Parents and students expressed how much they enjoyed the assignment and frequently asked – What can my child design and build next? Designing and building the model gave opportunity for every student to show their skills.”

The Public Speaking

Public comment before Pottstown Borough Council has been 

expanded to both monthly meetings, and at least one session

will be televised as a result of a unanimous vote Monday.

It has become a little bit easier to talk to your local government this year.

Previously, borough council meetings were structured so that the only point in the cycle at which the public was allowed to address all of council was at the beginning of the second meeting of the month, the voting meeting when, for all intents and purposes, most decisions about ho votes were going to be cast had already been made.

Paradoxically, the only meetings which were ever televised on PCTV, for those who could not, or did not want to, attend were the "work sessions" the Wednesday before the voting meeting.

That is where almost all discussion, whatever there was, occurred, but the public could not join in that discussion.

Gus Tellis films a council work session for PCTV.

In any case, under this arrangement no one watching from home ever had any idea what public comments had been made to council, other than those reported in The Mercury or summarized in council minutes.

This year, that has changed in two ways, over two different nights.

When Borough Council re-organized on Jan. 6, the rules were changed to allow public comment at both meetings; at the end of the Wednesday work sessions and, as usual, at the beginning of the Monday voting meetings.

However, council enacted a caveat: that the public comments from the Wednesday night meetings were not to be televised.

Once again, those watching from home got hosed.

But the hosing did not last long.

Dan Weand

At the Jan. 8 work session, Councilman Dan Weand expressed second thoughts.

Calling it "an injustice to our citizens," Weand proposed the ban on televising comments from the Wednesday work sessions be lifted.

"I want as much transparency as possible and I think with not putting those comments on television we stop short and to say we're going to hold back part of what happened at the meeting, seems unfair and discriminatory," Weand said at the Jan. 8 meeting.

 Televising comments from the Wednesday meeting "give an opportunity for those at home to hear what their neighbors and fellow citizens have to say," he argued.

On Monday night, the rest of council agreed.

Mayor Sharon Thomas asked if it was necessary for council to ask citizens commenting on television to sign hold-harmless agreements so council is not held legally responsible for things said at the meeting, but Borough Solicitor Charles D. Garner Jr. said no.

"This body hears its citizens and any one who is at the meeting can hear what is said, I don't see how we could be held accountable," he said.

The only restriction would be on PCTV to comply with Federal Communications Commission rules to ensure that no profanity be broadcast, he said.

Travis Gery

Council Vice President Travis Gery said he supports the move but had a concern that speaking in front of a television camera could have "a chilling effect" on those who are not comfortable doing so.

However, he was reassured those uncomfortable speaking before a camera could always speak on Mondays, when there is no camera, or directly with their council person.

To make things even easier, Garner explained that council's rules, adopted annually, make no mention of televising any part of the meeting and that the decision to televise, or not, can be re-visited at any point in the year.

"It's fair game at any time," he said.

However, he advised against any attempt to "edit" any comments, saying "it would seem contradictory to say we're going to expand public comment and then try to censor it."

With that, council voted unanimously to allow the public comments made at Wednesday night work sessions to be part of the PCTV broadcast of that meeting.

We're Naming Names

Last night, borough council undertook the annual task of making appointments to boards, authorities, commissions and committees.

No incumbent seeking re-appointment was turned away and none of those who currently hold no post and applied were selected.

First, and perhaps of the highest importance, was a five-year seat on the Pottstown Borough Authority, the entity which oversees operation, maintenance and upgrades to the water and sewer systems which serve not only Pottstown, but also Lower, Upper and West Pottsgrove.

Aram Ecker, who has just completed one five-year term, was re-appointed with only one nay vote. Councilwoman Sheryl Miller, who had also sought the seat, voted against Ecker's appointment.

For his part, Ecker, a local plumber, appeared before council and said he believes the current authority board is working well together as a team and has improved relations with the partners in the surrounding townships.

The next vote, for the Blighted Property Review Committee, crucial, as the name suggests, to fighting blighted property in the borough, the majority of which is located in the oldest section of town, the First Ward.

Appointed is the council member from the First Ward, Ryan Procsal, along with Councilman Dan Weand, former First Ward councilman Mark Gibson, and member-at-large, Cheryl Chiarello, who has been on the committee since it was created.

Vote on appointments to this committee, all of which carry one-year terms, was unanimous, even thought Miller had also sought an appointment to this group as well.

Ross Belovich, incumbent John Armato, and Susquehanna Bank employee Nicole Miller were all appointed to five-year terms on the Pottstown Downtown District Improvement Authority, which taxes downtown properties on High Street from York to Evans streets, and uses the money to clear snow and stage events to draw people downtown.

Also applying and not chosen was Mike LaBanca.

LaBanca also applied for the one open seat on the Potstown Zoning Hearing Board, a semi-judicial body charged with interpreting and providing relief from Pottstown's zoning code.

However council unanimously re-appointed Mark Patrizi to the three-year term.

Council President Stephen Toroney was unanimously appointed as Council's representative to the Pottstown Police Pension Board.

Councilwoman Carol Kulp was re-appointed as Pottstown's representative to the regional Council of Governments and Toroney and Procsal were unanimously supported for membership on the Pottstown Metropolitan Area Regional Planning Committee.

In addition to naming members of these autonomous and semi-autonomous groups, Toroney also announced his appointments to the various council committees. They are as follows:

• Ad hoc committee on borough garage: Toroney, Procsal and Councilman Joe Kirkland;
• Codes/Infrastructure Committee: Kulp, Procsal and Miller;
• Finance and Administration Committee: Weand, Toroney and Council Vice President Travis Gery, along with Borough Manager Mark Flanders, Assistant  Borough Manager Erica Weekley and Finance Director Janice Lee;
• Human Relations Commission: Mayor Sharon Thomas;
• Keystone/Western Gateway Ad Hoc Committee: Kulp and Weekley;
• Library Liaison: Arthur Green;
• PDIDA: Thomas;
• Pottstown Neighborhood Partnership: Procsal
• Ricketts Community Center Liaison: Kirkland;
• Safety/Fire Committee: Gery, Miller, Procsal;
• Transportation: Kulp, Miller, Procsal.

Remembering Dr. King

Photo by Tom Kelly III 

The 2012 Martin Luther King Jr. celebration was held at The Hill School, as will this year's. 

The Annual Pottstown Community Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration will be held on 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19,  at The Hill School Center for the Arts.

The entire Pottstown Community is invited to share in this celebration as we remember the "Life and Work" of Dr. King. 

Organizers are asking those reading this to mark their calendar and encourage members of their congregation/ organization to attend. 

Local business, political, religious, education, student and community leaders are encouraged to attend

They hope to make this "our largest ever celebration given the fact that it was only a few months since we celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the 'March on Washington,'" the Rev. Vernon Ross, pastor of Bethel AME Church, wrote in an e-mail received by The Mercury.

Please note that the offering this year will be given to the Pottstown School District to support its Math/STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) Program.

"We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character …. That is the goal of a true education," King wrote in 1947 in the student newspaper of Morehouse College in an article titled "the purpose of education."

The Pottstown Community MLK Choir will be singing along with other Instrumentalist. Those interested in singing are invited to attend the upcoming Choir Rehearsals to be announced.  

Refreshments will provided by Wegman’s

Those who wish to be listed as a Participating Supporter, should confirm with Rev. RossVernon.Ross@LMCO.COM or 610-805-9084.