Boyertown Hosts 11th Annual Oktoberfest Sept. 14, 15

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by Building a Better Boyertown

Building a Better Boyertown’s Oktoberfest is entering its second decade with new and exciting activities.

On Sept. 14th and 15th, Building a Better Boyertown will stage its 11th annual Oktoberfest marking the beginning of its second decade of celebrating Boyertown’s German heritage. 

This year’s event will be better than ever with more kids activities, more music and entertainment, an improved 5K run, a wide variety of food, and, of course, a great selection beer and wine.

The event will kick off in the Town Center Parking Lot on Friday, Sept. 14 at 5 p.m. offering a variety of draft beers selected not please every palette. Wines from the local area and beyond will also be offered. 

An expanded assortment of food vendors will be on site to satisfy every person's taste. The event will continue on Saturday, Sept. 15th starting at 11 a.m. with family friendly entertainment, new games, beverages, food, expanded variety of craft vendors, and enhanced children activities. 

The event will run until at 9 p.m. Saturday Night.

Just as the people of Bavaria gathered each September two hundred years ago to celebrate the harvest, Building a Better Boyertown has hosted its own Oktoberfest celebration here in the heart of our small community, for the past ten years. Boyertown's Oktoberfest remains true to the original German Oktoberfest celebration by providing a market for local craftsman to display and sell their wares as well as providing entertainment and refreshments for all those that attend.

This event has provided the funds for the organization to engage in projects and activities that enhance and promote Downtown Boyertown and the greater Boyertown area.

Friday evening, food concessions will be available from local vendors starting at 5 p.m. At 7 p.m., music from Vuja De will entertain patrons for the evening.

Saturday morning, Sept 15th kicks off at 10 a.m. with an updated and enhanced 5K run that was organized in conjunction with Sly Fox Track. Registration for the 5K is available at www.pretzelcitysports.com

The food vendors and Beer tent will open at 11 a.m.. 

And Just as the Mayor of Munich opens the official Oktoberfest celebration, Boyertown's own Mayor and Council President will arrive via horse-drawn carriage at 11 a.m., for the ceremonial "tapping of the keg." 

This year's entertainment has been expanded and includes something for everyone: Kenny Productions – DJ will start at 11 a.m.. 

The Auerhahn Schuhplattlers, who will dance us back to historical Bavaria with performances at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.. 

At 4:30 p.m., Red Headed Step Child will take the stage.

Closing out the evening will be Mud Puppy, at 6 p.m.

If you come hungry, food vendors include: Sweet Beginnings, Hillbilly Barbecue, CD's Place, The Grill Shop, J-Walkers, and Philly Pretzels. 

Last year's commemorative Oktoberfest beer mug.

Of course, what would an Oktoberfest be without a variety of your favorite beverages to accompany the food. 

Beer will be supplied by Rader Co, Slyfox Brewery and The Other Farm Brewery. Wine will be provided by Blair Vineyards, Frecon Farms, and Manatawny Creek Winery.

Building a Better Boyertown will be offering the purchase of the 11th year German beer mug, sure to be a collectible. The beer steins can be purchased at the event or prior to the event at Patsy's Potpourri of Gifts, Serenity Fitness and Wellness, The Peppermint Stick Candy Store, or the Building a Better Boyertown office.

For more information about the event, visit our website at www.BoyertownOktoberfest.com, visit us on Facebook and Twitter or call BABB at 610-369-3054.

Landfill Expansion Hearing Draws Berks Co. Crowd

Photos by Evan Brandt

A near-capacity crowd showed up at Earl Elementary School Thursday for the public hearing on the proposed expansion of the Rolling Hills Landfill.

Of the 18 people who spoke at Thursday night's public hearing on the proposed vertical expansion of the Rolling Hills Landfill in Earl Township, only five spoke either in favor of the proposal, or defended the landfill's operations.

Most who spoke talked about the negative impact years of heavy truck traffic have had on downtown Boyertown's historic buildings, and its current efforts to revitalize the downtown by emphasizing its historic aspects and its walkability.

Berks County Commissioner Mark Scott came out swinging, arguing that

Mark Scott

because the commissioners had not consented to the to the expansion, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's consideration of the expansion is "illegal."

He told DEP officials, "I suggest you reject the plan until such time as consent is obtained from the Berks County Commissioners," adding with a look at the audience, "don't hold your breath."

He said the "hams/benefits" analysis by Delaware County Solid Waste Authority, which owns and operates the landfill is a "status quo" analysis which assumes nothing has changed since its last expansion "but that's false. The Boyertown community is far more vibrant than the last time harms and benefits were evaluated."

He notes that the analysis by the authority only looks at Earl Township. "Nothing is said about Boyertown and its long trevails with excess traffic. Nothing," said Scott. "It also fails to mention traffic impacts on Gilbertsville, Colebrookdale or Boyertown along Route 73."

He noted that the Rolling Hills Landfill does not pay property taxes, wile the privately owned Conestoga Landfill, which is about the same size, "pays about $250,000 to the Twin Valley School District, the county and the township."

He said the $60 million Earl has collected in tipping fees -- which makes township property taxes unnecessary -- "is supposed to be a public benefit. I ask you, how does stuffing more cash into Earl Township's bloated mattress benefit the impacted area?"

Adrienne Blank

Adrienne Blank, executive director of Building a Better Boyertown, said the
group received a $1 million grant in December to drive revitalization efforts based on historic tourism and a walkable downtown, and what former BBB President Jake Lea referred to as "the endless caravan of trucks" down East Philadelphia Avenue threatens that effort.

John Sartor, an engineer with Gilmore Associates, said a study by his firm also found that the vibrations from trucks can damage "fragile historic structures."

That study, and one by ClimeCo, was paid for by Building a Better Boyertown. Zachary Palm, from ClimeCo, said his firm's environmental study showed air quality in downtown Boyertown is harmed by the particulate matter the ash that escapes from the trucks on their way to the landfill.

Crystal Seitz, executive director of Pennsylvania's Americana Region, said feeling safe while walking through downtown Boyertown, being able to have outdoor dining, are crucial to Boyertown's revitalization effort.

Patricia Loder

She said $857 million is spent every year by tourists in Berks County and most of that happens in downtowns, the soot, noise and danger from the trucks impedes that revitalization, she said.

Boyertown Borough Manager Patricia Loder said a recent analysis found that 30 percent of the truck traffic through Boyertown is connected to the landfill.

She said if the trucks cannot be re-routed, and an option of shipping the ash by rail won't work, the borough would request a "traffic mitigation fee" based on the tons of ash hauled through the borough.

That money could pay for new traffic signals and a new parking garage to make up for parking lost should parking on East Philadelphia Avenue be reduced to one side to accommodate the trucks.

Most said the preferred solution was to re-route the trucks from downtown Boyertown.

Joe Paschall

Even several of those who supported the project, said they were not opposed to the suggestion made by many that the option of transporting the incinerator ash from Delaware County to the landfill via rail be more fully explored.

Joe Paschall, who said the landfill provides many benefits, including jobs and $60 million in tipping fees to Earl Township -- and who said "you can't blame the landfill for all the truck traffic through Boyertown" -- said he likes the idea of transporting the remains of the waste burned in Delaware County's Chester incinerator by rail.

And Nathaniel Guest, the executive director of the Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust, said a recent study showed the rail option is viable, although it would take investment in a new transfer station, for trucks to take the ash for the final few miles to the landfill, as well as a shoring up of some of its bridges to carry the weight.

Joseph Vasturia

Joseph Vasturia, CEO of the Delware County Solid Waste Authority, said he has
been with the organization since the 1980s and that the route the trucks take to the landfill is dictated by the DEP permit.

In the last year, the landfill has contributed more than $4.5 million to the county, the state and Earl Township.

Under the expansion request, the average daily tonnage will remain at 3,200 tons and the height of the landfill will not exceed 884 feet.

But it's already too high, said Oley Township Supervisor James Coker. All of Oley township is designated an historic place, and it has had to endure the landfill's assault on its aesthetics "with no benefit whatsoever" to his township.

The hearing broke up after 90 minutes and the comments made, as well as those submitted to DEP by Friday, June 15, will be part of the record and be considered in DEP's decision.

Here are the Tweets from the hearing.

To Keep on Trucking, Or Not