SANATOGA PA – Recent jottings from a reporter’s notebook:

Rain, Rain, Go Away

One boy learns there's a certain knack to baiting a fishing hook.

When you’re out on the water, what difference do a few more droplets make? That was the attitude displayed by a handful of participants in last weekend’s (June 20, 2009) fishing derby conducted by the Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township Parks and Recreation Department.

“A volunteer from the (state) Fish and Boat Commission gave (a) great educational program for our little anglers,” township Assistant Manager Alyson Elliott reported on the event, which has been held annually for the past nine years on the lake at Sanatoga Park, 100 S. Sanatoga Rd. The fish-stocked reservoir is a popular place for anyone who wants to try their hand at catching dinner.

With the volunteer guide’s expertise, kids tried their hands at catching prizes too, which were awarded in several categories. The Pottstown law firm of Wells, Hoffman, Holloway and Stauffer, in which township Solicitor R. Kurtz Holloway is a partner, sponsored the outing. And the weather co-operated, almost.

“We were able to fish for about an hour and 15 minutes before the rain started chasing away our attendees,” Elliott noted, “although some of our die-hards stayed much longer.”

Patricia Blattner, right, of Sanatoga and Frank Kidon, a resident of Montgomery County's Parkhouse in Royersford, share a laugh on the facility's porch during a recent warm Saturday.

The Ultimate Vote Of Confidence

In the world of education, the ability to attain tenure is both a limited guarantee of future employment and a validation of teaching credentials. It’s also a public atta’boy, the acknowledgment of a continuing job well-done.

To that end, the Pottsgrove School District Board of School Directors recently (June 16, 2009) demonstrated its appreciation to nine teachers, for whom it unanimously voted to approve granting tenure. Making the grade were Jessica Dierolf, West Pottsgrove Elementary School; Lisa McGroarty, Jamie Kline and Gretchen Reppert, Lower Pottsgrove Elementary; Matthew Pawlik, Greg Sproule and David Moyer, Pottsgrove High; and Mary Hill and Janet Schreiber, Ringing Rocks Elementary.

Drumming Up Business, In Advance?

During last week’s (June 23, 2009) public meeting in Pottstown Middle School on the future of U.S. Route 422, a volunteer for the Delaware Valley Association of Rail Passengers (DVARP) was in the school lobby trying to recruit members. The organization bills itself as “the independent voice for rail and transit users in the Greater Philadelphia area,” and attempts to represent rail ridership in hearings with SEPTA and other mass transit operators.

There’s been no decision made, yet, to revive the so-called R-6 Extension and return commuter train service west from Norristown to Phoenixville, Royersford, Pottstown or anywhere beyond. Discussions of how the extension project might be paid for, if ever approved, were a substantial part of the meeting’s discussions.

Makes one wonder whether DVARP is just being hopeful, or whether it knows something the rest of us don’t.

Caught In The Act

Four Lower Pottsgrove retailers were caught and charged last month (May 2009) with selling tobacco products to minors, as a result of undercover operations conducted by the township Police Department.

Offenders were not specifically identified, but Police Chief Michael Shade – during the June 1 meeting of the township Board of Commissioners – credited Ofc. David Slothower for his work in conducting nine tobacco compliance checks in 31 days, or more than two a week.

Tobacco compliance is a special assignment that costs the township some police overtime which is reimbursed by federal or state programs.

Thanks, by the way, to the five retailers – also not identified – who obeyed the law, asked for and checked personal identifications, and refused to sell tobacco products to under-age users.

Related (to the Pottsgrove School Board meeting of June 16):

• Notebook Worthy of June 25, 2009
• Rendell Heeds Pottsgrove Demand, Sort Of
• What It Takes To Run A School District
• Store Opens At Upland; District Anticipates Revenues
• District Honors Retiring Teachers

Related (to the Lower Pottsgrove Commissioners’ meeting of June 1):

• Owe Township Money? It’ll Cost You
• Chief’s Concern: Daytime DUIs
• New Equipment Highlights Fire Report
• State OKs Police Consolidation Study
• Keeping Their Eyes On The Pump
• Bateman Trail Cut Into Open Space
• Township Reconsiders Charitable Donations
• PennDOT Set For Meeting On Bridge Work

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