Fall Art Programs at ArtFusion 19464

Let your kids get their hands messy at the fall programs at ArtFusion 19464.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by ArtFusion 19464.

ArtFusion’s fall session of classes is set to begin the week of Sept. 22.

Perennial favorites for young artists like Creative Kids, Crafty Kids, and Teen Studio are back as well as some great new classes like Cartoon Painting and Sew Fun. 

Adults can also get in on the creative fun with great classes teaching drawing and painting, pottery, stained glass, art journaling and more. 

ArtFusion offers one day workshops as well as multi-week classes. To see a complete list of classes please visit artfusion19464.org/classes.

In addition to their regular class schedule, ArtFusion is very proud to offer five free programs this fall for kids of all ages. 

Applications can be downloaded at artfusion19464.org/classes/scholarshipsprograms/ 

Interested parents can also stop by 254 E. High St. to pick up a paper copy. Spaces will be filled on a first come, first served basis. 

While ArtFusion encourages everyone who is interested to apply, those students who qualify for free or reduced lunch and those who have not attended a free program before will be given priority.

Four programs are sponsored by The Greater Pottstown Foundation. 

For kids ages 8-12, Art Academy is a general arts exploration class where students work with many

different mediums, and Clay Academy teaches students how to create with clay. 

Thai Language and Art is for kids 10-14 and teaches the Thai language through interactive art projects. All three programs begin Friday, Oct. 2 and run from 4:30 to 6 p.m. The application deadline is Sept. 19.

Teen Mixed Media Studio, also sponsored by The Greater Pottstown Foundation, will introduce teens 13-17 to pottery, glass, drawing, painting and recycled art. Mixed Media Studio begins Wednesday, Sept. 30 and runs from 4 to 6 p.m for 10 weeks. The application deadline is Sept. 16

Stretch, Read, Create! is a free program sponsored by the First Presbyterian Church and the Mary N. Porter Designated Fund of the Community Foundation of Broward County. In this fun program, preschoolers 3 to 5 years old and their parent will participate in a short yoga session, listen to a story and then create an art project based on the book. 

This program is free but they ask that you RSVP to 610-326-2506. There are a limited number of spaces available.

ArtFusion 19464 is a 501(c)3 non-profit community art center located at 254 E. High St. in downtown Pottstown. The school offers day, evening and weekend classes to all ages. The goal of these classes is to help students develop their creative skills through self-expression and independence. ArtFusion’s gallery hosts rotating shows featuring local artists. The gallery also sells handcrafted, one-of-a-kind gift items. The gallery is open Tuesday through Friday from 10am-5pm and Saturday 10am-3pm. The gallery is closed Sunday and Monday.

Climb, Clean and Everything In Between

There's nothing quite like a clean rock climb.

Or, to be more specific, a clean place to climb rocks.

Towards that end, the nice folks at the Birdsboro Area Climbing Association will be cleaning up around their climbing location all weekend and it's a great opportunity to be introduced to the sport.

The site is located in preserved land just outside Birdsboro's Rustic Park.

According to their web site, the Birdsboro Climb and Clean is a weekend of work projects, community outreach (UCanClimb2 free climbing introduction) culminating with a Fundraising Dinner and Raffle. Camping is permitted during this weekend at the Millard House (the house immediately after the 1st Wire Bridge crossing at Rustic Park) and in designated areas near the climbing Area
The Birdsboro Area Climbers Association (a Pennsylvania Not-For-Profit) raises much of it’s yearly operating expenses during this event.

Photo shamlessly filched from the association's web site.

This is an opportunity to give back to the climbing community by supporting it with volunteer work and participation in the Dinner/Raffle (dinner is $10 per person).

Gloves, shovels, are always helpful for work projects. Free lunch provided for volunteers. Camping is permitted in approved areas beginning Friday evening. Come out and spend a rockin’ weekend with us!

*UCanClimb2 is a free intro to climbing including harness/helmets provided by Reading Rocks & their Floor People.

It will be held rain or shine.

The schedule is as follows:

Friday, Sept. 11th
Work Projects & Climbing | 9AM-4PM

Saturday, Sept. 12th
Work Projects & UCanClimb2 | 9AM-4PM
Dinner & Raffle | 6PM-10PM (Dinner & Raffle held at Rustic Park Pavilions)

Sunday, Sept. 13th
Work Projects & Climbing | 9AM-4PM

Email questions to: birdsbororockquarry@gmail.com

Marable St.? Fire Services? Residential Tax Breaks?

Photo by Evan Brandt

Photo of a Photo: Mercury Photographer Kevin Hoffman arranges borough council and staff for the photo that will be buried in the new time capsule to be opened in 50 years and buried about where the officials are standing.

Wednesday was a long one as borough council meetings go.

Starting at 6:30 p.m. with two conditional use hearings and now winding up until 9:30.

There were lots of things discussed, but the major ones in no particular order were:

• What to do about expiring fire services agreements; 
• Whether a cell tower should be allowed at the wastewater treatment plant; 
• Whether to re-name Cross Street for Newstell Marable;
• Whether to renew the lease with Fly-Elite to operate Pottstown airport;
• Whether to move forward with a new LERTA district;
• Whether to finance new emergency radios from the county and own them or allow fire companies to buy them from the borough;
• And a few others.

You can read all about them in the Tweets below and in upcoming stories in The Mercury, your local newspaper for more than 75 years.

Lower Pottsgrove Running Short of Elected Officials

Mercury Photo by John Strickler

Shawn Watson resigned as a Lower Pottsgrove Township Commissioner Tuesday night.

Shawn Watson's last-minute resignation last night from the Lower Pottsgrove Township Board of Commissioners creates a very unusual situation.

Between his resignation, that of James Kaiser earlier this year and Jonathan Spadt last year, the board
of commissioners now has only two of its five members who were actually selected by the voters.

Chairman Bruce Foltz and Vice Chairman Stephen Klotz, both of whom are on the ballot in November, are currently the township's only elected commissioners.

James Vlahos, who was appointed to fill Spadt's seat last year, is also on the ballot in November.

Retired West Pottsgrove police chief Earl Swavely, who was chosen to replace Kaiser in February, is on the ballot as well.

Of course, they are all fine and upstanding people, but its getting like elected commissioners in Lower Pottsgrove Township are becoming an endangered species.



Of course, the news of the night was Watson's resignation, which you can read about in full in The Mercury or by clicking here.

But there were a few other things of interest you might find in the Tweets below.

First of all, the township adopted a new animal ordinance which, among other things, will limit the number of cats and dogs you can have depending on how big your property is.

They also voted to guarantee a bond re-financing for the township's sewer authority that could save ratepayers up to $1.2 million next year.

And Fire Marshal Lew Babel said a dumpster fire at the now closed Sanatoga Thriftway is being investigated as "suspicious."

New Rabbi Joins Congregation Hesed Shel Emet

Rabbi Ira M. Flax

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by Congregation Hesed Shel Emet.

Congregation Hesed Shel Emet is pleased to welcome its new spiritual leader, Rabbi Ira M. Flax. 

Rabbi Flax joins the congregation after a career as a United States Air Force Chaplain, where he served for 26 years, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2008. 

Following his retirement from the Air Force, he was a visiting scholar and Jewish educator to various congregations and educational institutions in the south. 

 Rabbi Flax is originally from Brooklyn, NY, and received his undergraduate degree from Hofstra University. He graduated from the Jewish Theological Seminary, and also attended the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. He was ordained in 1988.

“Our congregation has existed for over 110 years in Pottstown,” says congregation president, Amy Wolf. “Like many other synagogues in America right now, we are at a turning point - reinventing ourselves, while remaining true to our roots in Conservative Judaism.”

“Rabbi Flax brings a fresh point of view,” continued Wolf. “Being a military chaplain, he has the ability to minister to a wide variety of folks from different backgrounds and religions. Yet he is deeply rooted in his love of Judaism. We are excited to implement some of the new ideas he has for our congregation.”

“My wife, Vicki, and I are so excited to be a part of the Hesed Shel Emet community,” said Rabbi Flax. “We look forward to many years of celebrations with our new family here in Pottstown.”

Rabbi Flax will lead the High Holiday services this September, along with Cantor David Schachter. A full listing of High Holiday services and times can be found on the congregation website at www.hesedshelemet.org

The congregation welcomes guests and out-of-towners for the High Holidays, with no charge for tickets.

Congregation Hesed Shel Emet (previously Congregation Mercy and Truth) is located at 575 North Keim Street in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. 

 For more information, call the synagogue office at 610-326-1717 or email president@hesedshelemet.org

CCLU Offering After-School Programs

Centro Cultural Latinos Unidos will begin offering after-school programs starting on Sept. 14.

The non-profit, established in 1997 to enhance the leadership skills of the Latino and other youth in our community by creating, nurturing, and promoting an environment of growth and cultural enrichment, is located at 301 King St., in the basement of First Baptist Church.

Here is a listing of this fall's programs:

• Homework Help – Monday through Friday, 4 to 6 p.m: Tutors from Ursinus College and the Hill School will help children with their homework.
• Spanish Lessons for Children – Monday, 5 to 6 p.m.: Paul L. Goldberg, Associate Professor of Spanish, Department of Modern Languagesat Widener University will teach Spanish to children
• English Lessons for Adults -- Tuesday, 5 to 6 p.m.: Paul L. Goldberg, will teach adults English
• Math and Science Help – Wednesday, 4 to 5 p.m. Every Wednesday Tabitha Kraus from Saint Joseph’s University, will volunteer with the after school program to help children,kindergarten to 10th grade, with math and science 

Special Programs for Adults

• Immigration, 6 to 7 p.m.: Lance Malcolm and Mr. Eric Winter, immigration attorneys from Prince Law Offices, will talk about immigration issues affecting the Latino Community, 12-week program, in Spanish and English

In the presentation they would cover:
1) Different types of immigrants
2) Basic Procedures for getting permanent residence or citizenship
3) “Dream Act” DACA eligibility
4) Myths and misconceptions about deferred action programs and permanent residence
5) Conduct that can lead to removal/deportation
6) What type of relief is available for undocumented people

• Nutrition, 6 to 7 p.m. :Iliana Almodovar, Nutrition Education Advisor from Penn State Nutrition Links will hold a 12-week program.
• Women’s Health, 6 to 7 p.m.: Laura Quinones, Planned Parenthood Southeastern PA, will lead an ongoing 12-week series about women and girl’s health and education.
• Seniors and Children -- Dribbling to Health, Friday, 5 to 6 p.m. "Dribbling to Health,” the intergenerational low-impact exercise program continues this year with funding from the Pottstown Health and Wellness. Seniors and children benefit from playing games together.

For more information contact Rita Paez at 610-705-0566