Mr. Costello Went to Washington, And Brings Washington to You

A map of Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District

So let's face it, going down to Washington, D.C. to talk to your Congressman can be a hassle.

Lucky for you, you won't have to brave the Beltway because newly-minted Congressman Ryan Costello is bringing Washington, D.C. to you -- sort of.

Staff from his office of Congressman Ryan A. Costello will be available to meet with constituents during a Pottstown Mobile Office Day at Borough Hall, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19.

Constituents are encouraged to call 610.376.7630 to set up an appointment. 

Costello’s staff will be available to meet with constituents who need help with federal agencies, such as Social Security and Veterans Affairs.

“Mobile office hours are a great way to meet face-to-face with the residents of the district and deliver excellent constituent services they deserve,” Costello said. “I’m extremely grateful that Pottstown officials are willing to partner with me in serving the community.”

Costello stressed that constituents in the Montgomery County portion of his district do not need to wait until Feb. 19 to receive help with a federal issue. 

Casework staff is available by calling either the Wyomissing Office at 610.376.7630 or the West Chester Office at 610.696.2982.

Ryan Costello

The Wyomissing office is located at 840 North Park Road in the Park Plaza strip mall.

The West Chester office is in room 105 of the Historic Chester County Courthouse at Market and High streets.

“Our casework staff is very responsive and is available to set up appointments for face-to-face meetings throughout the district at times convenient for the constituent,” Costello said. “We will strive to provide ‘on-demand’ constituent service and will come out to your neighborhood if you cannot get to one of our offices.”

Costello was elected in November 2014 after serving as a Chester County Commissioner. 

The Montgomery County portion of his district includes: Collegeville; East Greenville; Pennsburg; Pottstown; Red Hill; Royersford; Schwenksville; Trappe; and Douglass; Limerick; Lower Pottsgrove; Lower Providence; New Hanover; Upper Pottsgrove; Upper Providence; West Pottsgrove townships; and parts of Perkiomen, Upper Hannover and West Norriton townships.

The Trail Leads to What Ales You

Some proceeds from the sale of SRT Ale will be used

to help maintain the Schuylkill River Trail.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Schuylkill River Hertitage Area and re-printed here with tremendous enthusiasm.

The Schuylkill River Heritage Area has announced its collaboration with Sly Fox Brewing Company, on the release of a new canned beer that benefits and celebrates the Schuylkill River Trail.

SRT Ale, due to hit local distributors in cans on Earth Day, is brewed specifically for craft beer fans who also love the outdoors of southeastern PA. 

Sly Fox's SRT Ale is a golden, delicious, hop-forward American Pale Ale, and at 4.7% alcohol by volume, it's designed to be the perfect post-activity beer.

The latest Sly Fox beer is also a tribute to a beloved recreational resource. 

A portion of the proceeds from the sales of SRT Ale will be donated to improve and maintain the 130-mile Schuylkill River Trail (SRT) that meanders near the brewery in Pottstown, as well as Sly Fox's original Brewhouse and Eatery in Phoenixville. 

The beer's launch will take place over several days as it journeys down the southeastern Pennsylvania trail from Pottsville to Philadelphia.

"Brewing a tribute beer to the crown jewel of regional recreation was a natural for us," said Sly Fox Brewmaster, Brian O'Reilly. "The Schuylkill Watershed is vital to the work we do and Sly Fox is committed to supporting it."

HIDDEN RIVER, PUBLIC TRAIL

The Schuylkill River Trail and accompanying Water Trail are well-used recreational resources that follow the length of the beautiful Schuylkill River, whose name means "hidden" in Dutch. 

When complete, the Schuylkill River Trail will wind along the river

from Pottsville to Philadelphia.

The Schuylkill was named 2014 Pennsylvania River of the Year by the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers. Recreational usage on and along the river is growing exponentially as the surrounding population does, and consequently, more resources will be required to complete, protect and maintain the trail.

Starting in Pottsville, Schuylkill County and winding through the Schuylkill Highlands to Philadelphia, the river was historically flanked by railroad lines that have since been converted to paved and gravel trails as part of the Greater Philadelphia's Regional Trail Network. 

The Schuylkill River National and State Heritage Area, managed by the non-profit Schuylkill River Greenway Association, works to promote and improve the entire Schuylkill River Trail and operates and maintains about 30 trail miles in Berks and Schuylkill Counties.

Not only is Sly Fox Brewing Company's SRT Ale contributing to trail upkeep, but the beer is a tribute to every step, paddle and pedal on the trail.

"The Schuylkill River Heritage Area is pleased to enter into this partnership with the Sly Fox Brewing Company," said Kurt Zwikl, executive director of the Schuylkill River Heritage Area. 

"The release of SRT Ale highlights the recreational value the trail brings to the communities along the river, he said. "Our thanks go out to the brewery for this recognition."

The Schuylkill River National and State Heritage Area also hosts the Schuylkill River Sojourn, an annual 112-mile guided canoe/kayak trip on the Schuylkill River that begins in rural Schuylkill Haven, PA, and ends seven days later in Philadelphia's Boathouse Row. 

The Sojourn is a way to advocate and educate about the river's importance, history and connection to the people who live and work along it. 

Inspired by the Sojourn, the ceremonial release of Sly Fox Brewing Company's SRT Ale will make the journey, north to south, delivering news of the beer along the way.

SRT SPREE

The SRT Spree will follow a Sly Fox launch team over the course of four nights and five days as they trek from Pottsville to Philadelphia with a larger-than-life SRT Ale can, welcoming beer and trail lovers to join in along the way. 

The team will travel by kayaks, road bicycles, trail bikes, horseback, recumbent trikes and on foot to advance the giant can to the final destination. 

Each day the Spree will stop along the trail for an organized trail cleanup and recognition of a local beer purveyor that will introduce SRT Ale to the public. 

The Schuylkill River Trail in Pottstown.

Area businesses and community organizations will be invited to join this movement as it draws awareness to the trail – and the ale.

"We hope this unique event creates a lot of buzz for SRT Ale," adds Corey Reid, Sly Fox Beer Ambassador and member of the SRT Spree launch team, "but, more importantly, it will draw valuable attention to the trail and the river."

On Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, the SRT Spree will conclude at the Schuylkill Banks, Philadelphia's newest riverfront park, for a final cleanup and launch celebration.

"SRT Ale is a special release for Sly Fox," said Todd Palmer, also a member of the launch team and creative director at Virtual Farm Creative, Sly Fox Brewing Company's advertising agency. 

"The brewery is right off the trail, and we all use it and value it as a resource. We all love the outdoors and we all love beer. Every great adventure should end with a great beer!"

Beer lovers anticipating the release of SRT Ale are encouraged to join the journey or track the team's progress online at www.slyfoxbeer.com/SRTSPREE.

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.

No Tax Hike in Pottsgrove -- Yet

Photo by Evan Brandt

The Pottsgrove School Board gets ready to get going Tuesday night.

The Pottsgrove School Board did something unusual Tuesday night.

They adopted a preliminary budget with no tax increase, but with a $2.5 million deficit.

And they did it unanimously.

Which either makes them irresponsible, or geniuses.

What better way to point out the uselessness of the state's Act 1 laws which require school districts to go through the motions of adopting a budget everyone knows they are not going to adopt, then to just adopt it "as is."

How many times does a school board get beat up in Sound-Off for adopting a preliminary budget with a ridiculously high tax hike, even when its only pro-forma?

This time, the headline for Pottsgrove will say "no tax hike" or something like it, even though anyone who is paying attention knows it will likely be somewhere between zero and 2.4 percent, which is the limit set by the Act 1 index.

They'll stay within that limit because they also voted against applying for the "exceptions" that would allow them to raise taxes above 2.4 percent in what promises to be a very tough budget year; what with a new governor, a Legislature in control of the opposite party and, perhaps most significant, contract negotiations with the district's teachers.

So it promises to be a very interesting year.

Here are the Tweets from last night's meeting, along with some followers who responded live and whose Tweets I have include as well -- which is always fun.

More Merger Mania

Mercury Photo shamelessly filched from John Strickler

Unhappy Phillies firefighters pack Monday night's borough council meeting.

I could tell you that lots of things happened at last night's borough council meeting, and it would be true.

For example, council made quick work of deciding against withdrawing its opposition to the proposal to open a boarding house for vets in the rectory and convent of the former St. Peter's Catholic Church on South Street.

It should be noted, however, that even if the Higher Ground Church International does not get its variances, it can still house six people in each building. The variance is simply asking for permission to exceed that limit because there is more space, and also to allow some of the rooms there to be 20 square feet smaller than required in the ordinance.

But let's face it, the big news was the ever-more-dire brinksmanship between the borough and the Philadelphia Steam Fire Company No. 1, known to you and I as the Phillies.

Here is the video of what Council President Stephen Toroney read at last night's meeting:


Borough council did not blink, and took the next step forward, authorizing Borough Solicitor Charles D. Garner Jr. to prepare changes to the ordinance and fire services agreement that would allow for consolidation -- with or without the Phillies.

Without the Phillies, however, the borough will lose more than 50 percent of their firefighters as that is the company with the most volunteers.

Deadline day is March 31. That's when either the Phillies join the consolidated department, or the borough removes authorization for them to respond to fires in Pottstown.

Toroney says the other three companies have assured the borough that fire safety will not be compromised with only half its department responding, which leads one to wonder:
1) Why they needed so many volunteers in the first place, if they can see no loss in service with half as many?:
2) And how do the remaining companies intend to boost volunteerism after allowing the only company increasing its volunteer base to walk away?

But hey, I'm just a journalist. What do I know? I just ask questions.

Click here to read the story in today's paper from last night's meeting.

Here are the Tweets:

Spend Valentine's Day with The 60s Boys at SunnyBrook Ballroom

The 60s Boys will perform at Sunnybrook on Valentine's Day. 

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by SunnyBrook Ballroom

Treat your Valentine to a special day of romance as the SunnyBrook Ballroom presents Eastern Pennsylvania's premier '60's band. 

The ‘60’s Boys entertain audiences of all ages with authentic vocal renditions. 

Appearing regularly throughout the state of PA. and also N.J., N.Y. with superlative vocals, musicianship, dynamic enthusiasm and a genuine love of the music they perform, the '60'S Boys authentically re-create the hits made famous by the likes of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, the Blues Brothers, the Grease Soundtrack, the Beach Boys, the Temptations, the Righteous Brothers, Wilson Pickett, James Brown, the Beatles, and the classic hits from so many others.

The '60's Boys create an energetic bond with their audiences, ensuring an evening of dancing in the aisles, toe tapping and clapping all night long.

Advance online orders are $25 reserved seating through Feb. 13; $30 day of the show, Members receive a $5 discount.

With one of the largest ballrooms in the country, you can always plan to dance the night away to your favorite music. 

About the Historic SunnyBrook Ballroom

Reopened in 2008 as an entertainment venue through the work of scores of volunteers from the community, the facility’s casual fine dining restaurant and Chummy’s Lounge was reopened in 2011.  

The venue is owned and operated by the SunnyBrook Foundation. During the heyday of big band music, the historic ballroom was a regular stop on the tours of all of the era’s big bands. Benny Goodman, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra, and Louis Armstrong are just a few of the names of nationally known performers who filled the room with the music of the era.

The venue has hosted political rallies, community meetings, weddings, wedding receptions, class and family reunions, high school proms, and other events.

It is located at: 50 Sunnybrook Road, Pottstown, PA.

Contact the site by e-mail at sb@thesunnybrookballroom.net or by phone at 484-624-5187.

Or, visit their web site: http://www.sunnybrookballroom.com

History and Memory

Mercury File Photo

Newstell Marable speaks to Pottstown Borough Council

For the last two weeks, I have been involved, one way or the other, with exploring the life and legacy of Newstell Marable, the long-time President of the Pottstown Chapter of the NAACP, who died Jan. 21 at the age of 84.

And in doing so, I have found myself musing on the relationship between history and memory.

History, as they say, is written by the victors and although that analogy mostly applies to military history, the grain of truth remains.

For those who live through it, history may not be how they remember, or it may be different than most people think of it because of a personal memory or experience.

Here's an example:

I was speaking to Newstell's widow Millicent recently, and we were talking about Newstell growing up in the south 80 years ago, the Civil Rights era and how what was happening nationally was also happening locally.

Among the many examples of she offered of Newstell standing up against discrimination and prejudice, she mentioned in passing his efforts to get a workers social club High Street, associated with the former Doehler-Jarvis plant, to admit African-Americans.

I reflected on the fact that it was ironic how a union, frequently considered the traditional foil of conservative views, would oppose inclusion of black workers.

But she corrected me, saying "well they weren't all like that. The UAW was pretty good. They provided three buses that we took down to Washington for the march."

"Which march was that?" I asked absent-mindedly.

"The March on Washington," she replied without any change of expression.

"The one where Dr. King spoke?" I asked, eyes widening.

"Yes, we were right at the corner of the reflecting pool."

"What was it like?" I asked, suddenly more focused.

Some of the photos on display at Newstell's service Saturday

"I just remember how quiet it was, how respectful everyone was being," Millicent replied. "One fellow got hit in the head with a sign, and he was bleeding. I know it hurt, but he didn't get upset."

That march happened on a hot August day, a year before I was born.

For me, it will never be anything but history; inspiring history to be sure.

King was a wonderful writer, one of those uncommon people who can marry intellect, education and passion into a single, undeniable narrative.

And he was an even better speaker. He knew how to use rhythm, repetition and intonation to turn words into music to reach into you beyond your reason, to something deeper.

I made sure when they were young that my son and whichever of his friends I could corral, watched video of King delivering his most famous speech. I wanted them to know why they were home from school that day. I wanted them to understand how important this was.

But although it can bring tears to my eyes, and reaches forward in time with its message, it is still history for me; a thing apart, something that happened before I was born and was experienced only by others.

For Newstell Marable and his wife Millicent though, it is memory. It has the ineffable quality unique to them and their personal experience.

This gives greater texture to the anecdote the Rev. Vernon Ross mentioned during Saturday's memorial service at Bethel AME Church; how after every service, Newstell would come up to Ross and say "still living the dream reverend."

For Newstell and others of that era, I was realizing this was not an pat phrase to utter, but a recognition of and re-dedication to something they had experienced in their lives. For them, that phrase is a reminder of how hot it was that day in Washington, those neighbors who rode the bus with them, how they felt when they first heard the speakers that day.

That will never be written in a history book, and is lost with the death of each holder of those memories.

But it is as important.

Because without those personal experiences of the people who pushed Civil Rights forward in this country, that history would have been written by someone else.

The flag on display Saturday recognized Newstell's service 

in the U.S. Army.

And as I thought about the stories she told me -- having a fire hose turned on them when they marched outside Sunnybrook Pool to protest its exclusion of blacks; being chased out the back door of a Boyertown church when they spoke up against the Ku Klux Klan; being barred entrance to a social club until a white person came along to take her inside -- I realized that just as we are now losing most of the generation for whom World War II was an experience to be remembered instead of a history to be learned, Newstell's death marks a milestone in the march of the history of Civil Rights as well.

It has made me realize that we are now losing those for whom the fight for Civil Rights was not a reason for a holiday, but a reason to get up in the morning.

And while the history will remain, the memories will not

Still, Saturday was an opportunity to pass some of those memories along.

At his memorial Newstell's sister, Margaret Seltman, wisely observed "I can't tell you the things about Newstell that you know, but I can tell you what I know."

"She talked about how Newstell was like the wind. "You don't see it, but when you see the trees all bend, you know its been there. That's what Newie was like."

She said when they were growing up in Alabama, three siblings would ride to church on the same bike: "Me on the seat, Juanita on the handlebars and Newie standing up, pumping the pedals."

"Now THAT is an image that suits Newstell," I thought to myself, "pushing progress forward and taking others with him."

And Bishop Everett Debnam, from Invictus Ministries, likened Newstell to snow saying, like snow, Newstell's love and desire to help others "just falls where it will."

That seemed right too.

So in a lot of ways, Newstell Marable was an elemental force, like the wind or the snow, something you can neither avoid nor deny if you are in its path.

And Ross was right too when he said "we need more like him."

After all, there's still more history to be made.