Still time to Enter Schuylkill Shots Photo Contest

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary

Nature photographers, there is still you have until Aug. 31 to enter a photo contest with the Schuylkill River as your subject.

Partnership for the Delaware Estuary works to preserve the health and beauty of all water in the Delaware Estuary, including the Schuylkill River.

PDE is proud to announce its second Schuylkill Shots photography contest to anyone who wants to enter. Go wild! Show off your photography skills and capture the beauty of the Schuylkill.

How to Enter:

• Digital photographs should be taken at the highest resolution possible. 
  
• Only entries submitted through the official contest app on Facebook will be considered. 
• Photographs must be in a Facebook-accepted format. Facebook accepts .bmp, .gif, .jpg, .png, and .tif files. 
• High quality scans of non-digital photographs are acceptable.

Multiple entries by a single photographer must be submitted separately (maximum of six photos per person). Each photo may only be submitted once — no repeats. Resubmissions from previous Schuylkill Shots contests will not be accepted.

To be considered, entries must include the town where the photo was taken and by whom**

Entries will be accepted until Aug. 31.

Categories

Photos should be taken in areas where the Schuylkill River or related streams flow — Berks, Chester, Montgomery and Schuylkill counties, and part of Philadelphia.

Photo submissions will be sorted and judged into the following categories:

• Wild & Scenic - Highlight the scenic beauty and wildlife thriving in the Schuylkill
• Splash of Fun – People recreating within, or around, the Schuylkill 
• Urban Waters Environment – Highlight creeks, streams, and rivers in cities and towns that border the Schuylkill 
• People’s Choice – People will vote and choose their favorite photos from each of the above categories. 

Who May Enter

Anyone of any age, from anywhere can submit up to six photos.

Prizes

There will be a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winner for each of the three contest categories, and one “People’s Choice” winner from each category.

1st Place:

• Wild & Scenic — two behind the scenes tours at PDE’s mussel hatchery and exhibit at Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center
• Splash of Fun — two tickets to Schuylkill River Greenways’ 2019 Pedal and Paddle event
• Urban Waters Environment — two tickets to the Franklin Institute
• People’s Choice — two tickets to the Academy of Natural Sciences

2nd Place — all categories

• $50 gift card 
  

3rd Place — all categories

• $25 gift card 

Judging

Photos will be judged on content, clarity, and creativity. A panel of professional photographers and members the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary staff will select the top three photos from each category. After our judges choose the top placing entries, all remaining photos from each category will go to an online voting system for the public to choose a "People’s Choice" winner.

Releases

All entrants are responsible for obtaining any and all releases and consents necessary to permit the exhibition and use of their photograph. This includes any material or elements that are not owned by the entrant, material that is subject to the rights of third parties, and any people who appear in the

photograph. 

By submitting their photo(s), entrants grant the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary and partners a royalty-free right to use the photo for any educational purposes with or without attribution. The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary reserves the right to disqualify inappropriate or incomplete entries and/or contestants who are unable to submit, upon request, a high-resolution photograph.

The Schuylkill River is an important source of fresh water to the Delaware Estuary. The river and its related streams flow through Chester, Montgomery, Berks and Schuylkill counties and part of Philadelphia where it serves as a source of drinking water to more than 1.5 million people.

ArtFusion 19464 Fundraiser Goes Taco Loco

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by ArtFusion19464

ArtFusion 19464’s annual beef and beer fundraiser is Saturday, Aug. 18 from 5 to 8 p.m at the facility at 341  Beech St. 

This year’s event will feature a gourmet taco bar. Guests will enjoy beef, chicken and veggie tacos fillings, soft flour tortillas, crunchy tortilla chips, and fabulous toppings and sides. 

Victory Brewing Company has once again generously donated their amazing beer for this event. There will also be soft drinks, water and delicious homemade desserts.

Each guest will receive one complimentary door prize raffle ticket. 

Lucky attendees can win Iron Pig tickets, a $50 gift card to Cutillo’s restaurant, an incredible fresh artisan bread gift basket, original art, pottery, jewelry and more.

ArtFusion 19464 is also running two special pre-event raffles. 

Supporters can win 4 tickets to Dorney Park, a $236 value, or 4 tickets to a Philadelphia Phillies game, a $290 value.

Tickets are $10 each, and they will sell a maximum of 100 for each prize, giving great odds of winning. The winner will be chosen during the fundraiser on Aug. 18. 

Supporters do not need to be present to win and will be notified if their ticket is chosen. 

Generous donations from UGI/AmeriGas and Dorney Park made this special raffle possible.

ArtFusion 19464 is a 501(c)3 non-profit community art center located in a new facility at the Beech St. Factory 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 and independence through self-expression. ArtFusion 19464 also hosts rotating shows featuring local artists.

At Pottstown High School, Helping Is In Their Blood

Photos by John Armato

ABOVE: D'ssandra Garcia, Alexis Anderson-Perez, and Kay'lah Pearson-Moore were among Pottstown High School's Health Occupations students who helped out with the final blood drive of the school year.

AT LEFT: Myrical Giddens and Jacob Howard sport the blue bandages that marked those who- gave blood.

BELOW: Kay'lah Pearson-Moore checks Trojan Man's vitals before taking any blood. As we all know, Trojan Man bleeds blue and white.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by Pottstown School District.

When it comes to life saving blood there is no substitution for the real thing.

The Pottstown High School students and staff who took part in the end of year blood drive know that every unit of blood donated can be used to help save three lives.

The spring drive, which is done in partnership with the Miller-Keystone Blood Center, resulted in the collection of 44 units,which went to our local hospital where it was used to save lives.

Student Aaliyah Palmer gives her all.

The high school Student Government sponsors the drive three times a year and Health Occupations students gain real life experience by helping in the collection.

Carol Graves, Miller-Keystone's Donor Resource Representative noted that once again this year PHS
was a member of 100 Club.

That's the name used to recognize those who donate  more than 100 units of blood during the year.

She said, "year in and year out Pottstown High School is one the top donors in Southeast Pennsylvania."

Health Occupations teacher, Michaela Johnson said "I am very proud of our students and staff who are enthusiastic and eager to help make a difference in our community." 

She added, "our school mascot, Trojan Man comes out to help encourage and support our donors. Patients, their families, and healthcare workers truly appreciate those who donate blood," Johnson said. 

"We have not yet developed the technology to create a reliable artificial blood supply, so blood is the one thing that we need people to continuously donate," she said.

Johnson added, "knowing that what we are doing is helping people in need gives us one more reason to say Proud to be from Pottstown."

Arraya Graves-Butler, Onjelay Nixon, Destinie Harris, and Rachel Martin are thanked by Trojan Man after they donated blood to help save lives during the spring blood drive at Pottstown High School.

Police Chief, Borough Manager Get 2-Year Contracts

Photos by Evan Brandt

Newly hired Police Chief Mick Markovich, left, and Borough Manager Justin Keller, right, pause for a photo with Pottstown Borough Council President Dan Weand.

It may have taken longer than it should have, but borough council finally got its act together enough to agree on contracts for two of the most important posts in borough government last night.

After starting its meeting by going into closed-door executive session to discuss "personnel," council returned and announced it would be adding two items to the end of the agenda.

Not that anyone was surprised.

It was common knowledge that Interim Borough Manager Justin Keller and Interim Police Chief Mick Markovich were both destined to have the "interim" removed from their nameplates at the first meeting in August.

It just took council some time work out the details of two contracts which are, according to Solicitor Charles D. Garner Jr. almost identical.

Both contracts expire on Dec. 31, 2019.

The salaries for both contracts are retroactive to the first of the year. Keller will be paid $107,000 per year and Markovich will be paid $110,000 per year.

Because Markovich has more years with the borough, he will receive five weeks vacation while Keller only gets three.

Both get 12 sick days, as well as a borough vehicle to drive and the same health benefits and pension that every other borough manager gets, according to Garner.

Hired two years ago this month as assistant borough manager, Keller became interim manager on Jan. 1, with the retirement of the man who hired him, former borough manager Mark Flanders.

Before hiring him permanently, council altered the borough manager ordinance, removing the provision that required Keller to live in the borough. Although he had lived in the borough, Keller now lives in Audubon.

While pleased to have the position made permanent, Keller said he has been doing the job for several months and is now focused on increasing revenues and trying to lower costs for next year's budget.

That will be a tall order given that the mid-year adjustments Keller reported to council last night mostly included cost increases.

Markovich replaces former chief Rick Drumheller, who retired last month, 18 months earlier than he had previously planned.

Markovich's appointment comes only a month after was named interim police chief and by-passed Police Captain Robert Thomas, who, at least according to previous borough practice, many thought would get the job.

Markovich said becoming a chief of police had always been one of his career goals, "I just didn't think it would happen so soon."

"I'm excited to lead this department and to be of service to the borough," Markovich said. He said he hopes to "re-allocate some of the staff to the busier times, and to the downtown business district."

Other plans, he said, he will share when they are ready to be announced.

Congratulations to both and good luck.

Now, if they can just find a fire chief .....

Here are the Tweets from the meeting:

Two New Chiefs

Limerick Supervisors Move Mega Project Forward, Finalize $75 Million Sale of Sewer System

A site plan for an earlier version of Limerick Town Center. Under the preliminary site plan approved last night, the town homes at the top of the triangle have been re-arranged, but the scale of the project remains the same.

A township supervisors meeting of less than 30 minutes nevertheless saw two votes of great importance.

The first was the approval of the preliminary site plan for the Limerick Town Center project. a large development which will alter one of the township's busiest intersections for many years to come.

And the second vote was the closing on the deal to sell the town's sewer system to Aqua PA, netting the township more than $70 million.

Limerick Town Center

The vote on Limerick Town Center was unanimous, although Supervisor Patrick Morroney was absent, and made without any further public review or comment.

Obviously pleased, developers from Ridge Swamp Associates LLP quickly thanked the supervisors and fled the meeting before anything changed.

This photo shows the more recent arrangement of the town homes.

The vote moves the project into the next phase in the land development process, the development and engineering of a final site plan, which must also be recommended by the township planning commission and win another approval from the township supervisors.

The is a large development project on 30 acres with more than 300 senior living units and 160 townhomes at the intersection of Ridge Pike and Swamp Pike
In addition to the townhomes and the 308 senior units — comprised of a mixture of independent living, assisted living and “memory care” units — the plan also calls for three retail buildings that have 32,000 square feet of space on the first floor, with apartments above.

The project was made possible by changes the supervisors made at the developers’ request to the township zoning code to allow the three uses on the same parcel, said Robert Brant, the attorney representing the developers.

In exchange, the developers agreed to extend Lewis Road through the property to Swamp Pike, thus allowing northbound drivers to avoid having to make a right turn onto Ridge Pike and then the very sharp left onto Swamp Pike, and vice versa.

However, the plan now includes a traffic circle, for the intersection of Swamp Pike, Lewis Road and the proposed new road, Arcadia Drive

The first phase of the project to be built will be the senior living building, followed by townhouses and then finally, the commercial, Brant said previously.

$75 Million Sewer System Sale

As for the sale of the sewer system, it comes about after years and years of discussion.

The township took over operation of the sewer system from the Limerick Sewer Authority in 2008 in what might be described as a hostile take-over and following a protracted fight between the two.

Limerick Township Municipal Authority was created by the Limerick supervisors in 1966 and operated as an independent municipal authority. 

In March, 2008, One month after the supervisors moved to dissolve the authority,  the authority filed a court injunction to prevent the township from taking over the authority.

David Kane

The township argued said such a power transfer would achieve cost savings for Limerick in the long run, while those representing the authority have said pure politics are at play, largely by former Supervisors Chairman David Kane, who was sentenced to four years in federal prison in 2012 after pleading guilty to filing a false income tax return, failure to file income tax returns, tax evasion and mail fraud.

But ultimately, the issue was resolved in the township's favor, after thousands of dollars in legal fees had been accumulated, and the transfer moved ahead in September of that year.

Flash forward to 2016, when the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the $75.1 million sale of the township sewer system to Aqua Pennsylvania Wastewater Inc.

The sale was not finalized until July 25 of this year, however, due to delays caused by a lengthy review by the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission, said Beth DiPrete, the township's assistant manager and treasurer.

The system has two treatment plants, one on Possum Hollow Road and the other on King Road, as well as 18 pump stations and miles of underground pipe.

DiPrete said after deductions were made to the sale price to pay off $3.7 million sewer bond incurred by the sewer authority, and other debts by the township, that the net gain is $70,489,941.

Supervisors Chairwoman Elaine DeWan said the board decided to sell the sewer system because of a number of major capital projects on the horizon and the burgeoning population.

"When I moved here in 2001, there were 9,000 people and now there are 19,000," she said.

One of those capital projects can be seen at 646 Ridge Pike, where a new $10 million township and police building has risen where the former township building once stood.

Plans call for the township to move back into those new offices on Aug. 15, when the township will be closed for business.

DiPrete said the township borrowed $6 million for that project because of the delay caused by the PUC in obtaining the money from the sewer system sale. Another $4 million was borrowed to pay for the new public works garage built behind the new township building.

DeWan said the township built a new Limerick Fire Station on Ridge Pike and intends to undertake a $2.5 million renovation of the Linfield Fire station. Both fire companies are in the process of merging into a single company, but both stations are still needed, she said.

She said the sale will also fund other major capital projects, such as improvements to the intersection of Royersford Road and Linfield-Trappe Road.

"To pay for all that would have required us to double the township's taxes or more," DeWan said. She also said the customers of the sewer system were protected by the fact that the deal includes a proviso that sewer rates cannot be increased for the next three years.

The township stated another reason for selling the sewer system was because of increasing operational costs and future capital investments that would need to be done to the system. Regulations made by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection would begin to place a greater financial and operational burden on the entire department..

Additionally, capital investments to the current $36 million collection and treatment system would have been required.

The sale was made easier, said DiPrete, by a change in Pennsylvania law on how the value of such facilities are calculated.

Earlier this year, Exeter Township in Berks County, sold its sewer treatment plant to Pennsylvania American Water Co. for $96 million.

The current Limerick Township Seal, which hangs in the
temporary offices on South Limerick road.

The supervisors also voted Tuesday night to spend $5,000 to explore the possibility of converting 1,400 street lights to LED lights to hep reduce the township's annual street light bill of about $50,000.

And, as the township prepares to move into its new building, the supervisors voted to auction off the few pieces of furniture brought along to the temporary quarters on South Limerick Road, occupied while the new township building was constructed.

Additionally, Supervisor Kenneth Sperring asked about beginning work on designing a new seal for the township. He was told no seal will be erected in the new township building until the design has been approved by the board of supervisors.

And now, after a long report about a short meeting, here are the Tweets.

Mega Projects and Sew

Lower Pottsgrove Awards Police Commendations

At left, Lowers Pottsgrove Police Chief Michael Foltz explains the circumstances of a June 3 strong-arm robbery at the Turkey Hill convenience store solved by, from left, Det. Daniel Kienle, Officer Matt Musselman and Sgt. Robert Greenwood. Next to them are township commissioners Earl Swavely Jr. and Ray Lopez.

A deceptively light agenda for Monday's Township Commissioners meeting gave way to an unannounced ceremony honoring police officers for four major investigations in recent months.

Despite the absence of a previous announcement, there was no shortage of family and well-wishers on hand to laud their achievements.

Here is a breakdown:

May 7, Landis Store Robbery

From left, Lower Pottsgrove Police Chief Michael Foltz, Det. Daniel
Kienle, Officer Scott Burnick and township commissioners
Earl Swavely Jr. and Ray Lopez.

About 9:45 a.m., police responded to the Landis Market on High Street in Sanatoga where Officer Scott Burnick found an elderly woman whose purse had been stolen in the parking lot.

After issuing a bulletin for the suspect, Burnick and Det. Seg. Joe Campbell developed a link between their suspect and the vehicle in which he had escaped. When they approached his home, he drove away and after a brief pursuit, they called it off out of concern for public safety.

but the suspect dumped evidence during the pursuit. With the help of Det. David Kienle, the suspect was arrested.

Here is a video of Chief Foltz describing the incident.

June 20, Meth Lab at Rolling Hills

At about 3 in the morning on June 20, Sgt. Scott Weidenhammer and Officer David Slothower responded to a report of a methamphetamine lab at Apt. 135 of the Rolling Hills apartment complex on Buchert Road.

Sgt. Scott Weidenhammer with his commendation.

They undertook a "knock and talk" procedure by which they simply knocked on the door and speak to the people who answer the door.

They saw enough suspicious activity to ask permission to enter and conduct a search.

Once inside, they encountered a haze and distinct odor identified as precursors to a methamphetamine manufacturing facility. They arrested those inside and evacuated the building, calling in the state police to conduct a chemical search.

They seized drugs and six suspects.

Here is video of Chief Foltz describing the incident:

June 3, Turkey Hill Robbery

Police responded to a report of an armed robbery at about 11:20 p.m. on June 3 at the Turkey Hill convenience store at East High Street and Rupert Road.

There, they found a female clerk who had been shoved aside as a thief stole cigarettes and food items before fleeing the store.

Sgt. Robert Greenwood and Officer Matthew Musselman searched for the suspect, but were unsuccessful. They then obtained a photograph of the suspect from the store's security video and Det. Daniel Kienle used facial recognition software the develop a suspect, who later confessed.

Here is a video of Chief Foltz explaining the crime and arrest:

July 3, Turkey Hill Robbery

Chief Foltz, left, Det. Deniele Kienle, Sgt. Timothy Walters

and township commissioners Earl Swavely Jr. and Ray Lopez. 

One month later to the day, the exact same clerk at the exact same Turkey Hill made the exact same call -- she had been robbed.

When police arrived they found she had a severe wound to her hand. She had been slashed by a man who was armed with a large knife and demanded cash from the register. He cut her, took the money and ran off.

Sgt. Timothy Walters arrived and ordered a search, and after viewing the surveillance video, immediately recognized the thief, which quickly led to the man's arrest.

In other less dramatic business, the commissioners approved a 4,950 square-foot storage building at the Limerick nuclear Generating Station and a 2,696 square-foot clubhouse at the Spring Valley Farms project, now under construction.

The board also took time to note, with regret, the passing of David Updegrove, a longtime volunteer wit the Sanatoga Fire Company, as well as the local historical society. They also thanked the police and firefighters who organized and undertook the honor procession down High Street that marked his passing.

And now here are the Tweets from the meeting:

Police Awards

Ursinus Opens New Local Scholarship Program

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by Ursinus College.

Strengthening its commitment to access and affordability for students, Ursinus College has established the Abele Foundation Scholars Award, which provides financial assistance to students from low- and middle-income families from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland.

The first eight scholarships were awarded to seven incoming first-year students and one continuing student.

Funded with generous support from Will Abele, a 1961 Ursinus graduate and member of the Ursinus board of trustees, and the Abele Family Foundation, the Abele Foundation Scholars Award provides high-achieving students with demonstrated financial need $10,000 in financial aid after all other gift aid has been awarded to each student.

The aim of this pilot program is to increase access and affordability of an undergraduate liberal arts education. In addition to the $10,000 in financial aid, the scholars receive funding for “startup” costs such as the purchase of a laptop or required books; academically enriching pursuits such as internships, summer courses, or academic conferences; and assistance with student debt upon graduation.

“My wife, Joan, and I are thrilled to assist these talented students as they pursue an Ursinus College education that prepares them to be leaders of the future who live the values of integrity, persistence and empowerment and who understand the importance of paying it forward to others,” Abele says.

Abele scholars will be expected to maintain consistent academic progress; become an active member of the college community by participating in on-campus experiences and internships; and attend programs sponsored by the Abele Family Foundation.

Consistent with the values of the Abele Family Foundation, the scholars will have expressed interest in the U.S. constitution, the economy, history and government of the United States through coursework in these three disciplines.

“One of Ursinus’s top priorities is to attract and retain the best students for our institution,” President Brock Blomberg says. “It is our goal to not only bring them to our college, but to provide the academic support and guidance that allows them to flourish during their four years here. We cannot achieve that without taking bold steps to increase access and affordability so that we can offer the best and brightest students a clearer pathway to Ursinus. This is yet another innovative way that Ursinus is ensuring that any student who wishes to attend Ursinus not only has a means to do so, but will thrive while here. I extend my sincerest thanks to Will and Joan and the Abele Family Foundation for making this pilot scholarship program possible.”

Named as one of the nation’s “Colleges that Change Lives,” Ursinus College is a highly selective, residential college with 1,500 students that is widely recognized for its Common Intellectual Experience. The tree-lined, 170-acre campus is located 25 miles northwest of Philadelphia in Collegeville, Pa.