Pottstown Pride Gets You Free Baseball Tickets

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by a coalition of Pottstown non-profit organizations.

Local residents, plus anyone who wants to show pride in Pottstown, are invited to a night of baseball, local tributes and fireworks at the Reading Fightin Phils FirstEnergy Stadium on Friday night, June 15.

The event, dubbed Pottstown Proud Night, is sponsored by four local non-profits to promote the value of working together for the Pottstown Area community.

Three hundred FREE tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each ticket will come with $2 in food vouchers to be used at the game. Transportation is available for those who need it. However, bus seats are limited and may fill up quickly with requests.

Special events at the game will include Ceremonial First Pitch by a Pottstown Teacher of the Year, Community Champion honors for student Citizenship Award winners, and local participants in the holding of the American flag for the playing of the national anthem.

Other festivities at the game include a pre-game concert by Downingtown School of Rock and post-game fireworks in the stadium, along with appearances by Fightin mascots.

The event is being sponsored by the Foundation for Pottstown Education, Pottstown Works at The Salvation Army of Pottstown, Pottstown Early Action Kindergarten, and TriCounty Community Network.

Ticket printing and food vouchers were donated by Complete Graphics Inc., 38 E. High St.

“Our goal in planning this event was to demonstrate that local nonprofits working together not only can benefit the people we serve, but also can display the pride of this town,” said Nancy March, director of Pottstown Works. “We want to offer families a night of fun to start the summer, while proving the value of teamwork among non-profit organizations.”

“We often see non-profit organizations working for the same goals but not necessarily working together,” said Holly Parker, executive director of TCN. “This project gave us a chance to plan one event that we could share in and practice collaboration.”

“This is a good opportunity for our school families,” said Joe Rusiewicz, executive director of the Foundation for Pottstown Education. “It’s also giving us an opportunity to honor Teacher of the Year winners and our outstanding student citizens.”

“We saw this as a great opportunity for our PEAK families to connect with each other and hope they will come out,” added Valerie Jackson, PEAK coordinator. “We urge everyone coming to the game to wear blue and white or their Trojan gear to show the world what Pottstown pride looks like.”

To get tickets, come to the Pottstown School District administration building, 230 Beech St. (use front entrance) from 3 to 5:30 p.m. on May 30 to June 1, or June 4-6. Ticket and food vouchers will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no limit to the number of tickets per family.

Game time is 7:15 p.m. against the Akron Rubber Ducks. The FirstEnergy Stadium plaza opens at 5 p.m. There is ample, free parking at the stadium, 1900 Centre Ave., Reading.

A bus donated by the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation will provide transportation for families in need who sign up early.

Getting the Job Done and Putting People to Work

Submitted Photos

Glenn McCauley and Charles Purvis work at American Keg Co. in Pottstown. Both graduated in the first class of Pottstown Works last May.

It's the classic re-joinder -- "Get a job!"

Damaris Martinez of Pottstown graduated from the
Pottstown Works program in August
and is employed in the deli at Giant, Upland Square.

But what if you don't have a car?

Who will take care of your kids while you work?

What if you don't know how to clinch a job interview?

What if you're homeless?

These are all barriers, among others faced by the folks who walk through the doors at Pottstown Works, a non-profit program based in the Salvation Army building at 137 King St. in Pottstown that is geared toward one thing -- helping people find and, more importantly, keep a job.

From left, Lynn Slusser, Joan Johnston and Coleen McKnight

It all began with four women -- Lynn Slusser, Wendy Egolf, Joan Johnston and Coleen McKnight -- who wanted to address what they saw as a need in the area, teaching basic job skills, which they did in the former Community Media Lab as The Mercury.

Frustrated that those they helped obtain jobs, often could not keep them, they dug deeper and discovered Cincinnati Works, a proven program that specializes in providing support after their clients get the job. They asked for help and now the program is here.

Since May, Pottstown Works has graduated three classes of four members each and put 12 previously unemployed people into the work force.

The first class of Pottstown Works graduated in May.
Since then, the program has grown to 18 graduates, all of whom
are employed or actively seeking employment.
From left, Tony Stauffer, who works at Dana; Jodeci Andrews;
Glenn McCauley and Charles Purvis.

Most of them were either homeless, or close to it, when they entered the program. None have cars and in most cases walk to work every day, in all kinds of weather.

Candidates are drug-screened and criminal background checks are conducted before they can participate in a week-long Job Readiness Workshop—a 40-hour curriculum dedicated to teaching the standards of professionalism needed to get and keep a job; things like how to dress for work, how to speak to co-workers, the importance of being on time.

As highlighted in a cover story in the winter edition of "Well-Informed," the quarterly newsletter of the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation, "Pottstown Works partners with local employers such as Pottstown Hospital,

From left, state Rep. Tom Quigley, Pottstown Works Program
Director Nancy March, State Rep. Marcy Toepel, during a
recent visit to the classroom in Pottstown.

American Keg Company, Spherion Staffing and Giant to help place members in jobs for the long term. It also strives to find people jobs within walking distance, on a bus route or both.

“We gave four of our members, all of whom work in factories, bikes of their own so they can get to and from work,” said Nancy March, program director and, full disclosure, my former boss and good friend.

This year March says the goal is to shoot for 50 members and six classes.

The program has caught the attention of two local state Representatives, Marcy Toepel, R-147th Dist. and Tom Quigley, R-146th Dist., who visited recently.



March told the legislators that the program is designed to hold the students' attention.

"There's one point in the week where Wendy will come in and interrupt me, and I give her all kinds of attitude and she gives me attitude back. And then after, we discuss it. 'What did the employee do wrong? What could the boss have done better? But the bottom line is, the boss is always right,'" March told Toepel and Quigley.

And for their clients, the program is right too.

"I was always one who was very nervous during interviews, not sure how to answer the question," said Karen Liverman, who graduated from the program in January.

"It had been many years since I had been on an interview, and things had changed, times have change, technology has changed. In the class, I learned more about the skills that I need, to successfully interview and to land the position," she said.

"So I'm just so thankful for this program and I hope it continues for many, many years, because so much is needed here in Pottstown."

We agree Karen. Keep up the good work, Pottstown Works!

Pottstown Works Job Seekers Learn, Teach Lessons

The first class of Pottstown Works.

Blogger's Note: We have a guest blogger today, former Mercury Editor Nancy March, now the Program Director of Pottstown Works offers her thoughts on the first class to move through the program.

Pottstown Works, the new program at The Salvation Army of Pottstown to help the under-employed find sustainable jobs, is up and running. We graduated our first class of job seekers two weeks ago and are actively pursuing jobs for them.

Since being introduced to Pottstown area community leaders last fall, this program has been embraced by many people, churches and organizations. Every week, there are connections that come our way. Call them “God moments,” or miracles, or acts of kindness – these coincidences are tearing down obstacles and opening doors.

This first class was something of a miracle itself. The founders of Pottstown Works – four women who comprise the majority of our advisory committee – and me, as director, decided in April to set May 22 as the date for a first class, even though we had no qualified applicants at the time. Last fall, we said we’d be active by summer, and we wanted to keep that promise.

As a startup program, we knew it might be difficult to find people matching our criteria. Our program is part of the replication of Cincinnati Works, a model founded 20 years ago that has generated jobs, improved retention for employers, and taken people off assistance programs to the tune of $15 million. The Cincinnati model sets initial membership criteria that applicants are drug-free and have no criminal background. Our goal is to benefit businesses as well as people in need, and that raises the bar for applicants. We needed to be selective, particularly with this first class.

We put out flyers, posters on Pottstown Area Regional Transit buses, and talked to local and county agencies who deal with people experiencing poverty and joblessness. Our referrals came from county employment and training case workers, housing resource managers, and the Pottstown Area Cluster of Religious Communities, among others.

The result of this recruitment was our First Class: Four people – three men and one woman who are unemployed and seeking to get out of poverty.

The foundation of Cincinnati Works is its Job Readiness Workshop, a 40-hour curriculum intended to instill in members standards of professionalism and confidence needed to succeed in getting and keeping a job. Not only does it teach and practice interview skills, it also works on resolving conflict and other barriers to continued employment.

Nancy March retired as editor of The Mercury last year.

The curriculum is fast-paced and interactive, both for class and instructors. Throughout the week, I learned from them, witnessing grace, humor, courage, tolerance and a remarkable capacity to accept and give, whether it’s a compliment, a criticism or an affirmation.

The four of them are from very different backgrounds and circumstances but they have in common that life’s pitfalls have caused a downward spiral into joblessness and poverty.

One of the class members once owned his own business; another was a salesperson in a high-end department store. One is a Navy veteran. The fourth worked in health care. Three are loving parents of young children, from infant to fifth grade. All share a strong desire to rise above circumstances and create a better life for themselves and their families.

They are not looking for an easy way out. They want to work. For five days, they worked on themselves. They changed their appearances from down-and-out to up-and-coming. They changed their speech and their demeanor. They gave each other a little bit of courage and a lot of support to overcome a sense that each is in this journey alone.

They gave me a lot, too. Watching them work together reinforced the value of team work. Their affirmations not only of their own convictions but also of their classmates demonstrated the power of empathetic understanding.

Now, they are off to a job search with the help of our advisory committee serving as Employment Coaches. If we’re successful, local employers will soon have the benefit of these fine people in their workforce.

During the two months that I’ve been working in this program, I’ve also had a fresh exposure to some of the positives in this community. Visiting manufacturing sites – Jacquet Mid-Atlantic, American Keg, Precision Polymer, among others – has been enlightening to see the progression of manufacturing and new outlets for jobs.

Our goal in this program is to bring together the skills and work ethic of our first graduates with the opportunities in the local workplace. We have no doubt that with the confidence of our community, it will happen. Our next class will be in August, with more to come.

We believe Pottstown works, and so far, it’s working toward results.

Nancy March is program director of Pottstown Works for The Salvation Army of Pottstown. She is the former editor of The Mercury. To learn more about Pottstown Works or to refer someone for class or as an employer partner, email nancy.march@use.salvationarmy.org.

Pottstown Works Kicks Off, Names Program Director

Nancy March

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Salvation Army of Pottstown.

The Salvation Army of Pottstown has officially launched Pottstown Works, a program aimed to combat poverty and boost economic development by connecting the unemployed and under-employed with job opportunities. 

The Salvation Army has appointed Nancy March as Program Director. She will work under the direction of Wendy Egolf in establishing the program to teach job readiness skills to the unemployed and partner with businesses to meet workforce needs. 

The announcement was made by Major Frederick Clarke, Co-Commanding Officer of The Salvation Army of Pottstown. March is the former editor of The Mercury and also serves as an adjunct instructor at Reading Area Community College. 

She will direct the Job Readiness Workshop classes and business partnerships of the program, as well as community outreach.

“We are thrilled to have someone of Nancy’s experience in community leadership take on this program,” said said Wendy Egolf, Director of Housing Programs, The Salvation Army of Pottstown., who has been involved with a team of core volunteers in the startup. “This is an ambitious undertaking, but we’re confident that we are bringing something that is needed in Pottstown. 

Pottstown Works is now partnering with local businesses and non-profit agencies with a goal of training its first class of participants this summer.

The program is modeled after Cincinnati Works, which has helped thousands of people find and keep jobs. Its success is being implemented in cities and towns throughout the U.S. with Pottstown as the first project in Pennsylvania, according to Dave Phillips, co-founder of Cincinnati Works. 

The program model is unique in its partnerships with businesses, providing coaching to members and getting feedback from employers during their first months in a job to reduce conflict and turnover. As a result, Cincinnati Works has achieved an 85-percent job retention rate for its members after one year and a dramatic reduced turnover rate for businesses hiring entry-level employees.

“Everyone talks about jobs – we’re trying to do something about it, helping people find and keep jobs that will lift up their families and the overall community,” Egolf said.

Your can read more about Pottstown Works here and here.

The Salvation Army of Pottstown serves thousands of individuals and families each year through a multitude of programs and services. 

These include: The Lessig-Booth Family Residence, Transitional Housing Program, Pottstown Works job training, holiday assistance, character building for youth and adults, and Pathway of Hope, a new intensive case-management initiative to help motivated families achieve self-sufficiency.

The Salvation Army of Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware is a faith-based, comprehensive human service organization whose programs help individuals, families and whole communities lead healthier, safer and more productive lives. Since 1879, 

The Army has held a record of accomplishment stemming from its holistic approach to providing for the needs of the whole individual – physically, emotionally, economically and spiritually. The Army’s programming serves every zip code through 51 community centers and a network of volunteers throughout Eastern Pennsylvania, Philadelphia and Delaware. Programs and services include: shelter, hot meals, counseling, early childhood development, recreational opportunities, music programs, after-school arts and educational programs, job training, activities for older adults, spiritual development, and drug rehabilitation.

Mission Statement: The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

For more information, visit www.SalvationArmyPottstown.org or www.SalvationArmyPendel.org

Proposed 5% Pottstown Tax Hike Down to 3.5%

Grainy photos by Evan Brandt

This chart, part of Finance Director Janice Lee's 2017 budget presentation to Pottstown Borough Council, shows assessment challenges have put the borough's total assessed property value below where it was in 1999.

It  was a full agenda Wednesday night, a fact that saddened an aging reporter still recovering from a marathon election night shift, but council came through it all in two hours so I can stay awake to bring you this report tonight.

The most newsworthy element of the agenda was Number 11, a presentation on a proposed 2017 budget.

Last month, Borough Manager Mark Flanders warned that taxpayers could be facing a jump of as much as 4.87 percent in the borough's property tax.

Citing a $380,627 deficit, Flanders pointed to a projected 20 percent hike in health care costs, rising expenses and a constant drum beat of property assessment challenges.

While costs are still rising, Finance Director Janice Lee reported that by changing carriers and altering the parameters of the plan, the expected increase in health care costs is now down to 7 percent.

893 successful assessment reductions since 2012 have
cost the borough 

$224,146 in revenue losses.

However, assessment challenges remain, well, a challenge.

According to Lee, there have been 893 successful property assessment challenges since 2012, 209 in the last year alone, that have cut revenues by $224,146.

Without those reductions, the deficit in the proposed budget would drop from $269,225 to $45,079.

Although Flanders said last month the draft 2017 budget expenses were $1 million less than the current year, Lee told council Wednesday that the draft calls for spending only $401,775 less than the 2016 budget.

Lee also warned council against looking again to the reserves to balance its general fund budget (all the other funds are balanced.)

She said from 2014 to 2016, council took $459,182 out of reserves. Combine that with $850,000 over-run in 2015 and the practice has cut $1.3 million from the money available for 2017.

Granted, those withdrawals from reserves did provide for three years with no tax hike in the last four years, but the practice now has the potential to drop the reserves to a level below that recommended by municipal accountants, said Lee.

Lee warned against further use of reserve funds to avoid tax hikes.

The proposed budget already calls for not filling a window position in the Inspections and Licensing Department, and provides for only two new police cars instead of the four requested by the department.

Lee said those are the only two departments that exist entirely within the general fund, in response to a remark by Councilman Dennis Arms that the public needs to understand cutting a position or expense at the sewer plant or on the road crew does not help close the deficit in the general fund.

That leaves council in the position of voting Monday to advertise a draft budget that would raise taxes by 3.49 percent.

Under this plan, the millage rate would increase from the current 10.311 mills to 10.66 mills. For a home assessed at $85,000, that means an annual increase of $29.68 on the 2017 property tax bill. But it's not a done deal yet.

Arms, who said "I can't vote for any budget that includes a tax increase," urged council not to vote Monday to advertise the budget, a move made necessary by legal requirements of public notice  but only if council plans no further meetings in November.

Arms and Council Vice President Sheryl Miller both argued that council should schedule some budget sessions to try to get the tax increase down.

Council President Dan Weand said voting to advertise the draft budget does not preclude having additional work sessions, but Arms said "once it goes into the newspaper, I will start getting calls."

Weand pointed at this reporter and said "it's already out there on Twitter."

The second class of the Citizens Leadership Academy with their certificates.

In  other news, the second class of the Citizens Leadership Academy had their brief graduation at Wednesday's council meeting. Significantly, the class included Borough Councilwoman Carol Kulp.

Council also received a presentation from Hill School Treasurer Don Silverson about the school's proposed new $21 million science building, called the Quadrivium.

It is to be built behind and attached by an atrium to the existing library on campus and replace an outdated science facility built in the 1930s.

Council will vote Monday on whether to apply for a PECO grant to help pay for a new pavilion in Riverfront Park, this one near the parking area at the head of the Schuylkill River Trail off Keystone Boulevard.

Council also heard about the new Pottstown Works program from Wendy Egolf at the Salvasion Army and seemed quite interested.

But you can read all about that in the Tweers below.