The Sanatoga Post

LOWER POTTSGROVE PA – Families who buy meals for their children in Pottsgrove School District cafeterias will pay more for the privilege next year, following approval Tuesday night (May 26, 2009) by the district Board of School Directors of an increase in menu prices.

On a percentage basis, the biggest jump will be in the price of breakfast provided primarily to elementary school children. Its cost will rise 25 percent, from $1 to $1.25, for the 2009-2010 school year.

Other price increases, for lunches, are generally in the range of 2-to-4 percent. They include:

• Elementary schools, up 10 cents from $2.25 daily to $2.35;
• Pottsgrove Middle School, up 10 cents from $2.50 to $2.60;
• Pottsgrove High School standard, up 10 cents from $2.65 to $2.75; and
• High school premium, up 5 cents from $2.95 to $3.

Changes also will occur in the prices of ala cart menu items.

The price changes were among several matters handled by the board during a lengthy meeting. It also:

• Authorized suggested changes to the district’s tentative 2009-2010 budget that, if adopted in June, could lower the district tax rate increase, now set at 5.2 percent, to 4.56 percent;
• Grilled Lower Pottsgrove state Rep. Thomas Quigley about the Pennsylvania Legislature’s proposed changes in school district funding next year;
• Accepted two new commercial sponsors for its sports facility marketing program, with the potential to earn $36,000 in revenue during the next three years; and
• Held an executive session that excluded the public to discuss personnel items and upcoming negotiations.

These and other school board actions will be covered in greater depth by The Post later this week.

Almost like Hollywood.

POTTSTOWN PA – Lights! Cameras! Computers!

Students of Pottsgrove Middle School have been so prolific in computerized movie-making that on Friday (May 29, 2009) at 7 p.m. in the school, 1351 N. Hanover St., they’ll conduct their own version of Oscar Night. Awards will be presented in such categories as Best Soundtrack, Best Documentary, Best Screenplay, and Best Use Of A Classroom Assignment, according to Pottsgrove School District spokeswoman Beth Trapani.

Tinseltown-like glitter and glamour is, by now, old hat to the middle schoolers. Earlier this month they were featured by Philadelphia television station NBC10 for the ways in which they use computers as part of the school’s curriculum. The televised news story showed how, rather than just be entertained by technology, students’ lessons were enhanced and reinforced by it.

Even earlier, across the entire district, students and teachers celebrated their participation in the state’s Classrooms For The Future (CFF) program. A Pennsylvania Department of Education CFF grant helped purchase the laptops and supporting equipment that made students’ digital films possible.

Friday’s award ceremony is free and open to the public.

Related:

• High School Touts Tech On Friday

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The sign says Bruster's is "opening soon." It's not.

LOWER POTTSGROVE PA – Frozen treat retailer Bruster’s Ice Cream has hundreds of franchise stores across the country and dozens within Pennsylvania. Yet despite the promise of a sign displayed on Buchert Road during the past two years, it’s not opening in the township anytime soon.

There may have been a deal awhile back to build a Bruster’s store on the north side of Buchert Road between North Keim Street and Hilltop Road, Bruce Foltz, president of the Lower Pottsgrove Board of Commissioners, said last week (May 21, 2009). That’s what prompted the sign to be erected, and the sign is what prompts local residents to keep asking Foltz when the store will open.

Sadly, the commissioner said during the board’s second of two monthly meetings, any hope for a Bruster’s at that location seems to have fallen through. Now, Foltz added, he’d “like to see that sign removed.”

A second sign has already gone up on the property, indicating its sale is being marketed on behalf of unidentified owners by First Liberty Partners. The West Chester PA commercial real estate firm is promoting the vacant land as a potential site for retail or bank use. It lists the less-than-1-acre parcel at an asking price of $700,000.

At Foltz’s request, township staff said it would contact either the deeded owners or First Liberty seeking to have the Bruster’s sign taken down.

Related (to the Lower Pottsgrove Board of Commissioners’ May 21 meeting):

• Five Roads On Town Re-Paving List
• Bursich Wins Electrical Code Reviews
• Townships Agree To Interchange Planning
• Klotz Congratulates Kropp On Judge Win

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More and more of our neighbors are going hungry.
We can help them. Click here or on the graphic above and visit FeedingAmerica.org.

Published as a public service by The Sanatoga Post

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The Chinese pavilion at Disney's EPCOT theme park in June 2008.

POTTSTOWN PA – Step aside, EPCOT. You’ve got competition.

EPCOT, the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow theme park at Disney World in Florida, includes an attractive introduction to countries and cultures called World Showcase. That venue gets a run for its money Wednesday (May 27, 2009) from Pottsgrove Middle School, 1351 N. Hanover St., as its hosts its own World Showcase from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event, which is free and open to the public, is presented by its builders, the school’s eighth-grade classes. The students’ challenge in World Showcase is to create and display an EPCOT-like exhibit that demonstrates their knowledge of a nation studied during the course of the school year.

Cultures, history, environments, and political issues are all fair game for the exhibits, in which students act as guides and try to persuade guests to tour their chosen nations. Displays in past years have been both extensive and elaborate. They often include native foods, music and an artifact or two.

Pottsgrove’s World Showcase helps reinforce what students have learned, says Principal William Ziegler, and also serves as a fun way “to see the world without leaving Pottstown.”

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Wildflowers will soon bloom again at Gerald Richards Park on Buchert Road in Sanatoga.

SANATOGA PA – In an attempt to get the most public entertainment from limited parks and recreation budgets, the neighboring municipalities of Lower Pottsgrove, Limerick and New Hanover (PA) townships are exploring the possibility of working together on recreational trips by bus.

A discussion of mutually planned trips is among items on the agenda of the Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township Parks and Recreation Board meeting, scheduled for tonight (Tuesday, May 26, 2009) at 6 – an hour earlier than usual – in the township municipal building at 2199 Buchert Rd. A copy of the agenda is available for download from the township’s website.

The earlier time is necessary so board members can take a short trip themselves. At the meeting’s end, they’ll adjourn for a tour of the township’s various parks and open spaces.

Also for consideration on the agenda are:

• Parking and storm water issues at Gerald Richards Park on Buchert Road;
• A report on the board’s event planning for 2009; and
• Consideration of field use rental fees.

The board’s meeting is open to the public, and time is set aside for public comment.

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Raking them in.

SANATOGA PA – Leaf collection in Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township will be held next Monday (June 1, 2009), as it is on the first Monday of each month. Leaves cannot be collected on any other day as a result of state requirements to recycle organic material.

Leaves must be placed in bags acceptable for recycling. They can be purchased at minimal cost from local supermarkets or the township municipal building, 2199 Buchert Rd. Leaf bags should not be left at curbside until Sunday evening (May 31, 2009).

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Dressed in their competitive finery - OK, in drag, mostly - are contestants during last week's Mr. Pottsgrove fund-raising bid.

Winner Nick Davis, left, and July 4 homecoming queen nominee Schurr.

LOWER POTTSGROVE PA – Hey, he’s not just Nick Davis. Heck, he’s not even just president of the Pottsgrove High School senior class of 2009. Oh, no, Davis is much more; he’s (drum roll, please) Mr. Pottsgrove!

OK, so maybe there’s no need for fanfare. But Davis’ win last Thursday (May 21, 2009) in the fund-raising Mr. Pottsgrove pageant, after its four-year absence, was somewhat of a cause for celebration. If high school students’ chatter on Twitter was any indication, those watching the show enjoyed a load of laughs for their $4 admission price.

The competition for the high school’s male students was revived this year by senior Gabrielle Shurr. Shurr’s a contestant herself, Pottsgrove’s representative in the Pottstown PA Independence Day homecoming queen competition. To win, she must raise more money than other candidates to support the cost of July 4 activities sponsored by the borough of Pottstown. So Schurr brought back Mr. Pottsgrove, which was last held in 2005, as a fund-raiser for her cause.

Participants were required to select and model their own casual and swim wear, and display a talent. “Are you man enough to participate in this event?,” competitor wanna-bes were asked. Turns out, nine guys thought they were.

In addition to Davis, the event attracted students Miguel Gonzalez, Jon Capuano, Alex McClellan, Jared Hibbs, Josh Sperow, Mike Larmond, Tyler Hiriak, and Joey Doughtery. “All the guys did a fabulous job,” Schurr reported. Directing the action on stage were Ali Bainbridge, Patrick Madl and Schurr.

“Soooo funny,” one Twitter user exclaimed in a review Thursday evening. Others offered similar sentiments.

Best of all, Schurr noted, “The fund-raiser was a huge success.” Precise amounts aren’t disclosed until the homecoming queen is crowned, but those in attendance estimate Schurr’s total swelled by several hundred dollars.

Photos provided by Gabrielle Schurr

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