A Window on Pottstown Halloween

Members of the Pottstown Roller Derby Rock Stars preparing the decoration for Connections on High Cafe.

Halloween is a lot like Christmas in at least one respect .... OK two, you spend a lot of money for both.

But they are also similar in that they both involve a lot of decorating.

The window in Daniel's Produce is decorated.

In downtown Pottstown, much of that effort has been undertaken by a group of volunteers and artists, most of whom are students.

Canvases painted by students from Pottstown High School and The Hill School  as well as a few guest artists from the Pottstown Roller Derby Rockstars, and the MOMS Club of Pottsgrove/Pottstown, are being hung this week in 22 downtown storefront windows.

They will remain through Halloween, but you will have a chance to help choose the winners during the Haunts on High event on Saturday, Oct. 24. Starting at noon, trick-or-treaters can stop by downtown stores for treats.

There will also be face painting, entertainment, food cookie decorating and crafts at the Pottstown Regional Public Library, ArtFusion 19464 and the Steel River Playhouse, as well as an opportunity to cast votes for your favorite window decoration.

You can also vote on the Facebook page of Pottstown Halloween Extravaganza, where more complete information about all the Halloween events in Pottstown is listed..

But there is another public art project that has been undertaken and you may have noticed already.

One side of the King Street Bridge has been improved with a banner of fabric squares made and sewn together by the MOMS Club, St. Aloysius School, the Wyndcroft School, Brookside Montesori School, Montgomery Early Learning Center and the local Girl Scout Daisy Troop.

This banner has been hung on the King Street Bridge.

Another is to be hung at Manatawny Green mini-golf, which, by the way will host a scarecrow contest and workshop this weekend and is also home to "Spooky Golf" from 6 p.m. to midnight on Friday, Oct. 23 and Saturday, Oct. 24.

The banner being prepared in a Pottstown back yard.

This series of event's, which also includes Sunday's Monster Dash 5K in Riverfront Park, is brought to Pottstown through a volunteer group made of members from P.O.S.T. (Pottstown Organizations Serving Together), Pottstown MOMS Club, ARTFusion19464 and the Pottstown Downtown Improvement District Authority.

"Our goal is to revitalize the downtown and generate more fun family activities, bigger and better every year. We are actively searching for volunteers RIGHT NOW to plan and organize the 'Pottstown Hometown Holidays' Christmas events. Interested volunteers should contact the PDIDA office" at (610) 323-5400, according to one of those volunteers.

Windows on the (Under) World

Photo by Evan Brandt

The winners of the Halloween Decorating Contest's People's Choice Award were artists from the Roller Derby Rockstars, Anita Smackin', Kessel Runt, Rogue Rage and F-Stop for this panorama on the Audio-Video Junction window.

Our sources in the great beyond tell us that the winners of the Halloween Downtown Window Decorating contest have been chosen are the results are thus:

The People's Choice Award, with the most money raised for next year's Halloween Parade, was the painting show above on the Audio Video Junction building at the corner of High and Hanover streets.

Photo by Evan Brandt

This painting by the O'Rourke family, was
chosen as Most Artistic

The artists, from the Roller Derby Rockstars, were Anita Smackin, Kessel Runt, Rogue Rage and F-Stop.

The Most Artistic Award, determined by a panel of art experts, was to be found on the old Ellis Mills building and was painted by the O'Rourke Family, Michelle, Christian and Abigail.

These winners will be presented with a trophy, provided by Laserworx, and a $50 voucher for purchases made in the downtown PDIDA district, courtesy of Pottstown Organizations Serving Together, or POST, the joint efforts of the Masons, Elks, AMBUCS and Order of the Eastern Star.

Photo by Evan Brandt

This painting on the window of the Steel River Playhouse

earned 12-year-old artist Jaelyn Kennedy an honorable mention.

An Honorable Mention Award was also provided to Jaelyn Kennedy, 12, of Pottstown Middle School for the decorations on the Steel River Playhouse.

She will receive a special trophy, also courtesy of Laserworx, and gift certificates from Milkman Cupcakes and Argento's Pizza.

The folks over at POST also offer their most sincere thanks to the laides of the Pottstown/Pottsgrove MOMS Club for their efforts to bring the contest about, and to Main Street Manager Sheila Dugan for her guidance.

Ride A Secret Haunted Rail Car for Hallowen

Photos courtesy of the Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust.

A Halloween ride on a haunted train car can be an exciting experience.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Colebrookdale Railroad.

The Colebrookdale Railroad will be offering a unique way to celebrate this Halloween -- a spooky

Or perhaps an open car hayride
is more to your liking

nighttime run to a bonfire at the old site of Colebrookdale village through the dark woods of the Secret Valley.

Passengers will be treated to s'mores and hot spiced cider around the fire.

Trains leave Boyertown at 6:30, 7:30, and 8:30 Friday evening and 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday evening for a 2-mile trek, leaving plenty of time to fit in trick-or-treating!

You can depart on any train and return on any later train, staying at the fire as long as you like.

Each child in costume will receive candy and small gift. 

Fare: Adults $18; Children (2-12) $10; Toddlers (under 2) $2.

Ride in the caboose, haunted coach, or hayride car.

Helpful conductors will ensure your ride is enjoyable.

The railroad will also be running leaf-peeping hayride trains each Saturday and Sunday through the fall.

Ride on the hayride car, the haunted coach, or the caboose.

The coach and caboose are heated in case the hayride car becomes chilly.

Tasty autumn treats available on board!

Tickets, full schedule and fares at www.colebrookdalerailroad.com for all trains.

Check back in November for dining trains and in December for Santa!

A Pottstown Panopoly (In Video)

Photo Courtesy of John Armato

Students and staff from Pottstown High School who were among the 700 who helped clean the streets of the First Ward on Friday. For more on that effort, see below.

So it's been a busy week in Pottstown, both news-wise and event-wise.

The news I will leave to the newspaper, but the events, well, I was at a lot of them with my handy iPhone and much-less-handy Tout video app, to record a lot of it.

Seeing as Sunday is a day for reflection, I thought we might review the past couple days and see what it says out our culture.

(Warning: This post has a kind of "What I Did on My Summer Vacation" feel to it....)

• First, we have our own familiar, shared local culture -- the Halloween parade;
• Then, there is International culture: The Diversity Committee's Heritage Day at Pottstown High School
• And finally, an attempt to foster a new culture of cooperation and responsibility -- with a clean-up in the first ward.

First off was Wednesday's Halloween Parade where Pottstown showed off its best -- people willing to work for nothing to put on a show -- and its worst; people who do nothing to put on the show, then bitch about everything to do with the show and the behavior of the people around them who, also, have done nothing but ruin the show for the better behaved.

Case in point: Last year when we were going to lose the parade, help poured in from all avenues. Everybody wants to be a hero.

This year, the parade saved, no one wants to shell out any of the money they gladly gave last year, thus ensuring the parade will soon be in crisis once again.

Not one single dollar bill walked in the front door of The Mercury this year, even though we offered the same opportunity to support an event people say they want, and event that had the door to the paper wearing out with so many people coming in to make a contribution.

I can see how it would make it harder and harder for organizers to motivate themselves to bother.

But enough lecturing, here are Kevin Hoffman's excellent photos (the link at the top) and some much-less-excellent reporter videos of the parade; all through the miracle of Storify...

Next came Heritage Day, which I squeezed in between parent-teacher meetings and an evening election interview with incumbent council Republican Jeff Chomnuk.



As impressive as the overall effort was, I was particularly impressed with the musical acumen of several students who teamed up with Louis Rieger, CEO over at the High Street Music Co. to form the High Street Jazz Ensemble.

Check them out in the next two videos.



On Friday, the borough, the school district and The Hill School joined forces for the second time in as many weeks, this time to undertake a clean up of streets in the first ward.

They put more than 700 people into the field.

That's impressive no matter how you count it.

Here are some videos from that undertaking:






And finally, a little shameless self-promotion.

The tables for the pancake breakfast
were set up Friday night.

As a band-parent, (something I never realized was a thing until I became one) my wife and I have been volunteered into helping in the organization's many, many fund-raising efforts which fund not only instruments for those who can't afford them, but for things like trips to play in Disney World.

It takes a lot of mix to make an
all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast.

(BTW, if you would like to buy some $4 Wawa Hoagie coupons from me, just drop by The Mercury at 24 N. Hanover St. when I'm there and I would be happy to accommodate you.)

Anyway, one of the most visible ways of raising money is the snack bar the Pottstown School Music Association (or PSMA) runs during home football games.

Some of you may have seen the Tweets and Touts I sometimes send out while trying to find ways to avoid actually working in that kitchen.

But few probably realize what comes next, after they go home.

Allow me to enlighten you:


And this, much smaller clean-up, was followed by those self-same volunteers then dragging their ass over to the Goodwill Fire Company, where they set-up tables and chairs to prepare for the Saturday morning All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Breakfast, another fundraiser.



Plenty of folks showed up and a good time was had by all.

We managed a line for pancakes after a time.

But I'm betting I'm not alone, as I write this, in really, really, really wanting a nap right now....

However, before I get up to take the teen and his buddies over to the last night of the Temple of Terror, I think for a moment how much this really shows the culture of Pottstown, or at least the part of the culture we want to keep.

High School Principal
Jeffrey Hartmann was among
the customers

This borough has long benefited from an invisible army of volunteers in organizations all over the place, some better known than others, who quietly and thanklessly do for others.

I will not make the mistake of trying to give you examples or all these people and organizations, as it is inevitable I will leave someone out, and generate hurt feelings when I mean to offer praise.

Sadly, as with the Halloween Parade, those who can't keep themselves (or their children) under control, those who do more taking than giving, can all too often grab the spotlight (or the headline!) and give an impression of a place that is tilted toward the negative.

I pray I never lose sight entirely of the fact that we are so much more than that.

A Terrifying Proposition

Photo Courtesy of the Temple of Terror Facebook page, where more photos are posted.

By now, if you haven't read anything I've written about the Temple of Terror at the Pottstown Mason's lodge then you haven't been paying attention.


There are many remarkable things about this effort, not the least of which is the level of dedication displayed by the volunteers putting it together.

In addition to all the planning, the many late nights of construction have been augmented by a cadre of volunteer actors who really put the "fright" into "Fright Night."

As the photos I've posted here show, they've really gone all out and if you visit the Temple of Terror web site, you will see that there is entire back story that goes along with the haunt, so you will enjoy it even more.

It involves a Civil War veteran returning home to find out his wife has been unfaithful to him, and the murderous rampage that follows, a rampage that ended on the very site on which the temple now sits.

There are at least four more opportunities to check it out; this Friday and Saturday, Oct. 18 and 19; and the following Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25 and 26. The cost is $15.

So far, those who have gone through have given it rave reviews.

In interviews on TV camera after last weekend's opening, "the first two said on camera that it was better than Pennhurst and one added 'plus it's cheaper,' Dave Hollenbach, a past master of the Mason's temple and one of the organizers, wrote in an e-mail to The Mercury.

You just never know who you might run into...

Hollenbach also wrote:

We had attendees last night from ages 7 to 70. Actors tailored their actions to the individual groups as they went through. Nothing but great reviews.

Screams were audible outside from the 2nd. flr. last night so the folks definitely seemed thrilled. One fellow left, returned with friends, and went through again, commenting it was even better the 2nd time through.

"I Went through with my ten year old -- well done," Linda McIntosh Meadows posted on the Temple of Terror's Facebook page. "The effects were great and the building is just amazing to look at."

"I had such a fun time screaming and running for my life tonight!" Jessica Skovronski posted in her review of the haunt. "Affordable, close to home, and definitely scary! Great job!"

On The Mercury's Facebook page, Linda Passuth Dudley posted the following review: "We went last Friday and is literally made me cry it was so scarey. My son had gone to Pennhurst and said this was as good. There was also a woman doing psychic readings outside and she was right on with my reading. The area was fine, well lit with a lot of staff and vendors around. Plus, a staff member told me that 100% of the proceeds are donated back to the Pottstown community"

To see more photos, check out the slideshow I posted on The Mercury web site.

As impressive as this effort is, it's part of an even larger picture.

You see it's more than the Masons involved. It's also the Ambucs, the Elks and the Order of the Eastern Star.

They've teamed up ... yes, you read that right ... TEAMED UP....in Pottstown .....

Ahem, they've teamed up to try to build up Pottstown as the Halloween capital of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Given that, after Christmas, its America's most popular holiday and the one on which we spend the most money, after Christmas, this seems to me like a stroke of brilliance.

So in addition to this haunted house, in addition to Pottstown's signature Halloween Parade, which takes place next Wednesday, Oct. 23 and for which donations are still needed, this group of civic clubs
has also planed another Halloween-themed event -- The Monster Dash 5K and Relay.

The Monster Dash takes place this Sunday, Oct. 20, down at the Pottstown campus of
Montgomery County Community College and the route runs along the Schuylkill River Trail.

Much like the "Funky Santa" 5K that takes place around Christmas time, the Monster Dash STRONGLY encourages people to run in Halloween costumes.

I think perhaps the thing that Hollenbach said which so struck me was this: "People go to Bethlehem for Christmas, we want them to come to Pottstown for Halloween."

And I thought the whole set of Bethlehem Christmas attractions did not just materialize out of thin air, someone got together and planned them. They worked together and it worked.



There is no reason why it could not happen here.

So start supporting this effort this year by stopping by the Temple of Terror tonight or tomorrow night.



Bring some friends and help build up your town and have a good time in the process.

Because the alternative to a rejuvenated Pottstown, which attracts thousands of visitors during the month of October, is downright scary.

And that would make these fellows very, very sad.

You don't want to make them sad.

You really, really don't....

A Musical Halloween Tribute

Isn't this the coolest photo?

So last year it was 'Snowtober' and this year it's 'Franknstorm.'

I don't know who invited Mother Nature to our Halloween party, but she was definitely not welcome.

Anyway, since the streets of Pottstown are apparently safe enough for trick-or-treat, but not safe enough for kids to walk to school, it seemed appropriate to have something posted appropriate to the season posted.

Luckily for all lovers of marching band music, or parents of students who play marching band music (not always the same thing), I recorded a portion of Pottstown's Halloween Parade last week.

Unfortunately, I did not think to record the Pottstown High School band, although I got Pottsgrove High School, and both middle schools, as well as the Boyertown Alumni.

And yes, I got lots of footage of the hearse that shoots out flames and blasts AC/DC out the windows.

(And yes, for those of you wondering who keeps talking throughout the video, know that I had the pleasure of watching the parade alongside the irrepressible Aram Ecker.)


And, BTW, if it weirds you out that the text on the video keeps wandering all over the screen, you can thank YouTube, which asked me if I wanted them to "stabilize" the video for me....

Pottstown People: Always With the Helping Hand they Often Cannot Afford

One reason I have grown to grudgingly love this frustrating muddle of a town is that just when I think we don't have any more feet to shoot ourselves in, people come out of the woodwork and plug the bullet hole.

The latest example of this redeeming quality is the infamous Halloween Parade.

It is scheduled for tonight at 7 p.m. by the way.

As you have in all likelihood read by now, the parade was threatened by a misunderstanding.

Undertaken once and planned twice previously with a waiver of borough fees in hand, this year's organizers had proceeded with planning after being assured by former borough manager Jason Bobst that the borough fees -- more than $5,000 worth for police overtime -- would again be waived.

Unfortunately, Bobst left for greener pastures before the parade and with him left that assurance.

So the parade organizers -- the AMBUCS, the Pottstown Rotary Club and the Parks and Recreation Department -- were brought up short when interim borough manager Mark Flanders informed them the fees could only be waived by council.

And council balked at waiving the fee, saying it was not in the budget.

Making a point about sticking to their budget is understandable in these tough times, particularly seeing as this issue has come up before.

But sympathy for that position evaporated when, moments later, council blithely agreed to pay as much as a whopping $33,000 that was ALSO not in the budget for a consulting firm, now found to be costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of extra dollars on the elementary school construction projects, to deliver a report on ways to makes the codes department more efficient. But that's another story.)

Ultimately, after a story or two in The Mercury and on this blog, council blinked and agreed to waive half the cost.

Although a welcome compromise, that left the parade organizers $2,500 short.

One might be justified in being discouraged at this point in the story.

Here are a group of people raising money and devoting time to stage a major event in the town, and a mere $2,500 could doom it.

And here's where the optimism comes in.

After just one story in The Mercury about the need to raise funds, people started stepping out of the woodwork and stepping up to the plate.

These were not the elected officials, the pontificators or the complainers, who are all too often front and center in Pottstown's public spotlight.

Many a donation walked through these doors.

These were the "doers," the people in this town who believe in that delightful Missouri motto: "Show me, don't tell me."

And show they did.

First the German Club stepped up with $1,000 donation on the first day, followed in no short order by the Masons, who ponied up another $1,000.

Add to these other donations (the fullest list we can muster appears below), ranging from $500 down to $15 and in no time, not only had the required money been raised, but the organizers had a jump start on next year.

Next year, not only will they have to pay the full $5,000-plus to the borough, but also the $2,000 it costs to actually put the parade on.

And its these people, their generosity that is repeatedly displayed when there is a fire, or during The Mercury's Operation Holiday, who once again renew at least a hope that Pottstown can get back on its feet.

It may not be enough financially to really turn things around, but it demonstrates, in a way no speech, or resolution, or election result can, that people in this town have a willingness to support things they care about, things that make their lives better.

And by people I include people in the surrounding towns, many of whom can be found on that donor list.

Alan MacBain's GREAT editorial cartoon on the subject.

Borough Council President Stephen Toroney was right when he said those other towns should help with the cost of regional events like this.

The donor list shows that those residents are willing to help shoulder the cost.

It's one reason why we should keep calling our home the GREATER Pottstown area.

Here are those who made the parade financially possible:

SPONSORS

Rotary Club of Pottstown

AMBUCS of Pottstown
Department of Parks and Recreation

Borough of Pottstown
The Mercury

GREAT PUMPKINS

Pottstown German Club — $1,000

Stichter Lodge No. 254 F&AM — $1,000

Lowa Insurance Group — $500
Pottstown Memorial Medical Center — $500

TALL SHOCKS OF CORN

Wheel to the Future — $350

Montgomery County Community College — $300

Pottstown Rumble — $300
Anonymous — $200

Sager & Sager Assoc. — $200
Little Italy Restorante — $150

Ice House Steaks & Pizza — $150

Heartland Abstract — $150
Dr. Lawrence Gribb — $100

Jean Spotts — $100
Donna & Aram Ecker — $100

Vision Painting — $100
David & Gloria Schwab — $100

Scott Palladino — $100
Harry Leister — $100

Reed’s Fuel Oil — $100
Roger Baumann — $100

MANY KERNELS OF CORN

Frank Smith

J.B. Supply 

Dale & Cynthia Conard

Caitlin Mattingly
Ted & Lori Freese

Ken Schaeffer Family (for Jenny)

Jim Derr
Doris Jean Sweeney
Charles Fischer

Gerald Richards
Michael Sloane

Pamela Rowland, Cynthia O’Neal, Deborah Fine (PHS Band Alumni)

Roy Reifsnyder
Sanatoga Thriftway