Pottstown Rotary Club to Recognize Twila Fisher as 'Person of the Year' on Sept. 13 in Riverfront Park

Twila Fisher

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by The Pottstown Rotary Club

The Pottstown Rotary Club annually recognizes a member of the greater Pottstown community for outstanding contributions in areas such as the arts, business, education, health care, non-profit public service, and government service.

This year the Rotary Club is pleased to announce Twila Fisher as its 2017 Person of the Year award recipient. 

Members of the community are invited to the ceremony scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 13, at the Rotary Pavilion in Riverfront Park. 

The ceremony, followed by dinner, will begin at 6 p.m. Tickets for adults are $25 and $10 for children. 

Though tickets can be purchased at the event, Rotary is asking that interested members of the community RSVP to Jennifer Isett (jisett@barryisett.com) or Nicole Matz (Nicole.matz1@gmail.com).

Bringing her experience in community organizing and economic development, Fisher was appointed in 2015 as the Hill School’s first-ever Manager of Community and Economic Development, a full-time position created to advance Hill School’s engagement with Pottstown to support a new, collaborative neighborhood initiative called Hobart’s Run. 

The mission of Hobart's Run is to create a clean, safe, and inclusive community; strengthen residential development; and generate positive, sustainable commercial and retail development.

Fisher began leading the Hobart’s Run initiative in January, 2016 and during the short time under her leadership the initiative has successes under its belt including implementation of the Mobile Ambassador Program, the Mid-Day Café’s held every Wednesday in downtown Pottstown during the summer, numerous block cleanups and the first investor's conference with the aim of drawing new investments from Hill School Alumni and interested investors to the Pottstown area.

Fisher previously served the ReDesign Reading Community Development Corporation as a Public Leadership and Service Fellow of the University of Pennsylvania organizing downtown revitalization projects, community organizing and project development, and aiding in policy for various economic development initiatives. 

Fisher earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from Columbia University and received her master’s degree in Public Administration and certificate in Economic Development from the University of Pennsylvania in December of 2015.

The Pottstown Rotary is a local and international service organization comprised of men and women committed to making a positive contribution in their community and the world. 

The Rotary Club of Pottstown supports a number of programs in Pottstown, including, literacy building, the Pottstown Halloween and July 4th Parades, student scholarships, Operation Backpack, and Meals on Wheels. The club also sponsors the Pottstown High School Interact Club, a service club for high school students and recently launched its first Rotaract service club in partnership with MCCC. 

To learn more about The Rotary Club of Pottstown, please www.PottstownRotary.org.

New Lights, New Hires and New Pottstown Homes

Photo courtesy of Foundation for Pottstown Education

Lincoln Elementary School Second Grade Teacher Heather Kurtz, stands with Daniel Zipay outside the North Evans Street home where she grew up. She is the first Pottstown teacher to use the $10,000 forgivable loan program to buy a home in the district. And she bought this one from her parents.

It was a quick but action-packed school board meeting Thursday which had some welcome news from the Foundation for Pottstown Education.

Joe Rusiewicz, the foundation director, announced that since the Home Ownership Initiative -- which provides $10,000 forgivable loans to school district employees who buy homes in the borough -- was approved in April six inquiries have been made.

At the end of July, the first of those inquiries was transformed into a house closing when Lincoln Elementary School teacher Heather Kurtz closed on the North Evans Street home once owned by her parents, Ronald and Connie Downie.

"We welcome her home to Pottstown and wish her many happy new memories," Rusiewicz said.

He also announced a new scholarship named after the foundation's second executive director, Myra Forrest, for students who complete the early college program in partnership with the Pottstown campus of Montgomery County Community College, which the foundation funds.

There was, of course, also much excitement about the new stadium lights being erected this week and next at Grigg Memorial Stadium. Board member Polly Weand was thanked for her fund-raising efforts and said the lights represent a symbol of how the town can come together.

Also on the agenda of interest to Weand was a matter to provide a 3 percent pay increase across the board to support workers, building principals and mid-level administrators. She asked that it be sent back to the finance committee which has res in this to for approval "because of the finances in this town."

It remains to be seen Monday if that will happen.

The board will also vote on a bond re-financing expected to save the district $400,000.

And finally, the board will vote on whether to double its annual contribution to the Pottstown Area Industrial Development Inc., from $10,000 to $20,000.

Here are the Tweets from the meeting.

Library Painting Party Gets You Eclipse Glasses

As anyone who has tried to buy the special glasses needed to safely watch the upcoming solar eclipse on Aug. 21 knows, they are not easy to find.

But fear not, your friendly Pottstown Regional Public Library is coming to the rescue.

Just bring a dark short to the library tomorrow between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and use library-provided supplies to participate in a community art project and make your own "galaxy shirt" and you'll get a pair of glasses.

Free Back to School Hair Cuts for Pottstown Kids

Although the student in your house probably doesn't want to think about it, back to school is creeping up on us.

We all want to look our best when we're making a first impression.

That's why Tony Betts, owner

Blade's Edge is located at the corner of Walnut and Charlotte streets.

of The Blade's Edge salon is once again offering free basic even or shape-up haircuts for free for kids headed back to school.

He is asking that parents bring in contributions of school supplies.

Last year, Betts gave out more than 100 free haircuts and donated a box of school supplies to his son's school, Franklin Elementary School.

This year, he is setting his sights higher.

Not only does he want to increase the number of free hair cuts to 200, "we want to have enough school supplies to deliver to all four elementary schools," said Betts.

His shop is located on the southwest corner of Walnut and North Charlotte streets.

For more information, call 484-752-9577,

Council Supports Concept of Parking Plan for Both Sides of South Charlotte Street Making it One-Way

Maria Bleile, left, was honored by a borough council resolution Monday night, recognizing her 15 years of service to Pottstown Borough. From left are Mayor Sharon Thomas, Council President Dan Weand and Borough Manager Mark Flanders.

If you blinked Monday night, you might have missed the council meeting.

It was only 35 minutes long and the only discussion of note was about the parking proposal for South Charlotte Street.

Rockwell Development Group, which is trying to convert the long-vacant shirt factory at Cherry and South Charlotte streets into market-rate apartments, wants to make South Charlotte Street one-way so parking can be allowed on both sides of the street.

Two residents spoke against it, saying it could hinder fire trucks to have vehicles parked on both sides of the street.

Council Vice President Sheryl Miller, who said she supports re-development, said she had too many questions to vote in favor of the concept as it proceeds to the zoning hearing board in pursuit of a variance.

"Developers are here to make money, and they're going to develop," said Miller, who announced last week she is dropping out of the race for a second term. "It's council's job to hold them accountable."

Council voted 6-1 to support the concept.

Here are the Tweets from the meeting.

U.S. Reps Costello, Boyle Form Caucus to Protect Public Service Student Loan Foregiveness Program

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello's office.

U.S. Reps. Ryan Costello , R-6th Dist. and Brendan F. Boyle, D-13th Dist., have formed the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Caucus to focus congressional efforts on protecting the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. 

Created in 2007 to encourage more Americans to pursue public service careers despite the financial burdens of their student debt, this program promises to forgive the remaining balance of federal Direct Loans owed by our teachers, firefighters, police officers and other full-time public service workers after they have faithfully paid on those loans for 10 years – 120 on-time payments – during public service employment.

U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello

“Many teachers, first responders, and public health specialists are working hard to make a difference in their local communities while relying on the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program,” said Costello. “We must fulfill the promise made to these student borrowers over the past decade. As the 10-year anniversary of the program approaches, I’m pleased to be a co-founding member of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Caucus to advocate on behalf of these public servants.”

“We must do more to help folks drowning in student loan debt, and to prevent the burdens of student loan debt from making one’s desire to serve his or her community unattainable," said Boyle. 

"The PSLF Caucus will focus on making good on our collective promise to public servants who have served their communities for years, often for low pay in positions that may have otherwise not been financially manageable, with the understanding that the 10-year-old Public Service Loan Forgiveness program would eventually help them lighten their burden of student debt," said Boyle. "Current threats to end or limit the program are shortsighted, to say the least. PSLF is an incentive to our students, and an investment in our future.”

U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle

The PSLF Caucus is broadly supported by a coalition of more than fifty organizations led by the National Education Association (NEA). Marc Egan, NEA Director of Government Relations, commended the caucus. 

“NEA members — from future teachers to retirees — have been sounding the alarm on student debt. Many of our members are struggling with more than $50,000, and sometimes much more, in student loan debt. Their debt is bigger than their annual salaries, and their monthly loan payments often are bigger than their home and car loans," Egan said. "We commend Congressmen Boyle and Costello for stepping up and forming a caucus to tackle the college debt issue and to fight to protect the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.”

The PSLF Caucus will also foster member discussion and legislative ideas focused on encouraging young people in college today to pursue careers in public service, such as teachers, firefighters, prosecutors and public defenders, and public health nurses. 

Under PSLF, an individual’s outstanding federal student debt is forgiven after 120 on-time, qualifying monthly payments — 10 years’ worth of payments. More than half a million people have enrolled over the last decade. President Trump’s budget proposed ending the program.

Country Star Hunter Hayes to Play Memorial Park

Hunter Hayes

Memorial Park will play host to country music star and five-time Grammy nominee Hunter Hayes in October as he headlines the first-ever “Citadel Palooza.”

Sponsored by Citadel credit union, 100 percent of concert ticket tales will be donated to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

On Wednesday night, Scott Mirkin from ESM Productions asked borough council to approve a Sly Fox Beer biergarten for the concert.

“We like to work with local vendors whenever we can,” he told council.

Council will vote Monday on the request.

Citadel is celebrating its 80th anniversary and the Oct. 7 concert is being billed as “Citadel Palooza.”

The inspiration behind Citadel Palooza is the credit union philosophy of “People Helping People.”

“Citadel Palooza is Citadel’s celebration for our community, and we are honored to have Hunter Hayes, who is such an inspirational artist, be a part of it,” said Jeff March, president and CEO, Citadel. “The people of the Greater Philadelphia area have supported Citadel for 80 years, and we want to give back in a big way. We especially want to thank our members for making this event possible.”

During Citadel Palooza, concert attendees will enjoy a variety of food trucks and libations. The official schedule of events and opening acts will be announced in September, along with food and beverage vendors.

General Lawn Seating tickets will cost $25, and VIP-level tickets cost $50.

Tickets can be purchased at CitadelPalooza.com with the option to donate additional money to CHOP.

For more Citadel Palooza updates, follow @CitadelBanking and @HunterHayes on Twitter.