The Sanatoga Post

Getting ready for field hockey practice just west of the high school ...

LOWER POTTSGROVE PA – Field hockey and soccer players took to fields on both sides of School Lane early Thursday (Aug. 20, 2009) morning, and tennis players filled courts at Pottsgrove High School, as they and dozens of other young athletes began preparing this week for upcoming sports seasons. Practice in Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) sports officially got under way Monday (Aug. 17, 2009).

... and limbering up atop the hill next to Ringing Rocks.

On the Pottsgrove sports schedule during the next eight days are:

Saturday, Aug. 22

• Boys varsity football scrimmage at home vs. Lower Merion, 10 a.m.

Monday, Aug. 24

• Girls varsity soccer scrimmage at Ridley, 10 a.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 25

• Girls varsity soccer scrimmage at Boyertown, 10 a.m.

Thursday, Aug. 27

• Boys varsity golf at home vs. Boyertown, 3 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 28

• Boys varsity football scrimmage at William Penn, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 29

• Boys varsity soccer scrimmage at Lampeter-Strasburg, 9 a.m.

Provided by HighSchoolSports.net

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Ribbon-cutting were, from left, MCCC Board of Trustees member J. Edmund Mullin, West campus student government President Jared Clemons, Sanatoga businessman and college trustee James Vlahos, Vesper Realty Group President Gary Silvi and college President Dr. Karen A. Stout.

POTTSTOWN PA – With a Sanatoga business owner and Montgomery County Community College trustee leading the way, the college Wednesday (Aug. 19, 2009) expanded its Pottstown campus after more than a decade of record enrollment growth, and opened the second floor of its North Hall, 16 High St., with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

James Vlahos of Sanatoga-based Vlahos Dunn Insurance, who serves on the college Board of Trustees, wielded the cutting scissors, and was joined by borough officials and community members at the afternoon dedication.

North Hall is a historic site within Pottstown, serving at one time as a brewery, shoe polish factory, mattress factory, wholesale grocery store and knitting mill. The college renovated and moved into its first floor in 2006. Now fully occupied, the building provides the college with a total of 50,000 square feet of space in the second structure on its West campus.

The new space houses seven classrooms, faculty offices, an expanded learning assistance laboratory for tutoring and supplemental instruction, an expanded art gallery, art studio space for painting and drawing, and a digital laboratory for communications, music and computer graphics instruction.

Visitors inspect the new floor during an afternoon open house.

With this expansion and a partnership with the Schuylkill River National and State Heritage Area in the former PECO building on College Drive, the college is “poised to continue growing to meet the evolving educational needs the region,” President Dr. Karen A. Stout said. Coupled with other downtown sites, she added, the college hopes to help Pottstown’s revitalization and development efforts.

Since opening its doors 13 years ago, the West campus has included a health careers suite; new degrees in environmental science, culinary arts, fine arts, radiography and surgical technology; a new art gallery and studios to support its Associate in Fine Arts degree program; and the University Center, which expands access to bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in Pottstown.

Related:

• College Expands North Hall Use Wednesday (in The Pottstown Post)

Photos by Dennis Verbo, supplied by MCCC

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SANATOGA PA – Weekend activities for Sanatogans (and anyone else!), Aug. 21-23:

• These events have been added to The Post calendar.

Friday, Aug. 21

Beads and baubles of all kinds come to King of Prussia this weekend.

Bead Fest Philadelphia, an exposition of beads and jewelry from around the world displayed at more than 325 booths on two floors, will be held Aug. 21 (2009; Friday) and Aug. 22 (2009; Saturday), both beginning at 10 a.m.; and on Aug. 23 (2009; Sunday) beginning at 11 a.m.  in the Valley Forge Convention Center, 1160 First Ave., King of Prussia PA. Tickets cost $10 at the door. For more information, call 610-337-4000. (This event from CultureMob)

Up for a challenge? The Amity Chess Club meets from 7-10 p.m. at St. Paul’s UCC Church, 1312 Old Swede Rd., Douglassville PA, for chess matches and lessons at all ages and skill levels. For more information, call 610-385-6324.

The annual Tomato Blast Festival, celebrating all things tomato-y, gets under way tonight from 5-9 p.m. at the William S. Hollenbach YMCA Center, 3065 N Charlotte St., Gilbertsville PA. It continues Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be food (lots of it, and most of it made with you-know-what), games and contests, rides, and music and other entertainment.

The first annual Summer Community Festival of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Parish will be held nightly from 6-11 through Saturday on the church grounds, Swamp Pike and Nieffer Road., Limerick PA. Festival activities include rides, games, great food and live music, and represent “an opportunity to celebrate the final weeks of summer,” according to church pastor the Rev. Paul Brandt. For more information, call the church at 215-651-4454.

Saturday, Aug. 22

The Boyertown PA Farmers Market will operate from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 100 S. Walnut St., Boyertown PA. The market is located in the parking lot of The Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles, two blocks south of the intersection of Routes 562 and 73. Its farmer-vendors offer a selection of produce, beef, poultry, and baked goods.

Waltz’s Golf Farm, 303 W. Ridge Pike, Limerick PA, observes its 45th anniversary in business from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with face-painting, a balloon artist, food, country music, and rope trick and square dancing lessons scheduled for the public throughout the day.  Special prices will be available on miniature golf, and the Phillie Phanatic will make an appearance. For more information, call 610-489-7859.

Arts and Crafts Day 2009 at the Vincent Mennonite Community, 39 Seven Stars Rd., Spring City PA, will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. An antique tractor show, children’s activities, and music by “Sunnyside” ae scheuled. A chicken barbecue dinner will be served from 3:30-6 p.m. Tickets to the show cost $8.50 for adults and $5 or children. Parking is free. Formore information, call 610-948-6130 or 610-948-2129.

The East Coast Thunder’s “Rumble-In For Hunger Event,” a classic car show being conducted to help collect needed supplies for Pottstown’s food banks, will be held from noon to 4 p.m. at Sunnybrook Ballroom, 50 Sunnybrook Rd., Sanatoga PA. Hundreds of participants are expected for the show, held under the auspices of Thunder Outreach Ministries of Douglassville PA.

The Great Swamp Picnic, featuring food and entertainment open to the public, is scheduled to be held from 3-8 p.m. in the grove of the New Hanover Lutheran Church, Route 663 and Swamp Picnic Road Gilbertsvile PA. Hot beef sandwiches, kettle soups and other foods will be available for a fee throughout the day. Ventriloquist Scott Wagstaff will perform beginning at 3 p.m., and the Boyertown Area Alumni Marching Unit will perform from 6-8 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 23

The annual summer picnic of St. John’s Byzantine Catholic Church will be held from 1-6 p.m. on the church grounds, at the corner of Cherry and Charlotte streets, Pottstown PA. A wide variety of Polish foods, Polka music and games for children will be featured. Admission and parking is free.

The last of three free summer musical concerts scheduled by the Limerick (PA) Township Parks and Recreation Department will begin in 6 p.m. at Limerick Community Park, Swamp Pike and Ziegler Road. A performance by the  Flower Power Band is being sponsored by Ambler Savings Bank. For more information, call the department at 610-495-6432, Ext. 150.

Photo by Clipart.com

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LOWER POTTSGROVE PA – Back in June (2009), hopes were high in the Pottsgrove School District‘s Kauffman Road administrative offices that the failing public address system at the high school stadium could be replaced for $15,000.

Aerial photo of Pottsgrove stadium.

The “whooshing” sound you may have heard last week (Aug. 11, 2009) was air escaping from the hopes balloon.

Four vendors submitted bids to replace the system. The lowest was $22,815, 52-percent higher than anticipated. Members of the district Board of School Directors quietly grumbled about the difference, but nonetheless voted unanimously to accept the bid of A.N. Lynch Co. Inc. of Spring City PA and authorize the expense.

The condition of the existing sound system is so poor that last October, when The Falcons football team was involved in playoffs, the district rented sound equipment to ensure those attending the game could hear what was happening. At the time, district Business Manager David Nester characterized the 20-year-old system as “toast, and beyond repair.”

The district could have spent less, maybe $10,000, to try and repair the system rather than replace it, Nester told board members last week. Repairs, however, would not be covered by a warranty, and the district would have no assurance of improved sound quality. Spending the higher amount, Nester reasoned, probably makes more sense.

The new equipment includes some innovations, such as wireless microphone capability that could be useful during graduations and similar ceremonies.

The district will still be forced to rent sound equipment for at least a while longer. Installers have pledged to work as quickly as possible, Nester said, but he doubted the new system will be ready for the first home football game.

Payment for the project will be made from the district’s capital fund, rather than from general operating money. The board’s approval came during the first of its two August meetings.

Related:

• Bids Sought For Pottsgrove Sound System
• Speaker System Rented For Games

Related (to the Pottsgrove School Board’s Aug. 11 meeting):

• District August Conference Costs OK’d
• District Signs Special Ed Contracts
• Faces Changing In Pottsgrove Schools
• District’s Got Itself A New Gator
• Summer Reading? Some Complainin’: Bo-o-oring!
• Surprise Enrollment Spurs Demographic Interest
• District Assembles Ringing Rocks Planning Team
• School Board OKs Administrative Switch
• Lobbying Pays Off In Band Trailer Purchase
• Superintendent Confirms Plan To Switch Administrators

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LOWER POTTSGROVE PA – A total of $7,330 was authorized last week (Aug. 11, 2009) to be spent for Pottsgrove School District teachers and administrators to attend professional or skills development functions.

The district Board of School Directors approved the expense unanimously and without comment during the first of its two August meetings in the administrative offices on Kauffman Road. On the conference list were:

• Beverly Stuart, Pottsgrove High School special education teacher, to attend the four-day Pennsylvania Community on Transition Conference, $565;
• Elizabeth Mager, high school special education teacher, and Julie Lieberman, middle school special education teacher, to attend the three-day Wilson Reading System Intervention Workshop, $875;
• David Ramage, middle school assistant principal, to attend a Power School Scheduling Workshop, $165;
• Todd Davies, district supervisor of elementary education, and Terri Koehler, supervisor of secondary education, and an unnamed elementary teacher, to attend the four-day “Assessment Summit: Ahead of the Curve” Institute, $4,840; and
• Jeff Kerchner, autistic support teacher at the middle and high schools, to attend the National Conference on Autism, $885.

Editor’s Note: Expenditures for Ramage and Koehler also were reported in another Post story last week. Those listed above are the same, and not additional or duplicate, costs.

Related (to the Pottsgrove School Board’s Aug. 11 meeting):

• District Signs Special Ed Contracts
• Faces Changing In Pottsgrove Schools
• District’s Got Itself A New Gator
• Summer Reading? Some Complainin’: Bo-o-oring!
• Surprise Enrollment Spurs Demographic Interest
• District Assembles Ringing Rocks Planning Team
• School Board OKs Administrative Switch
• Lobbying Pays Off In Band Trailer Purchase
• Superintendent Confirms Plan To Switch Administrators

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POTTSTOWN PA – Three blood drives conducted by the Miller-Keystone Blood Center are scheduled to be held Saturday (Aug. 22, 2009) at:

• Pottstown YMCA, 724 N. Adams St., from 8 a.m. to 12:40 p.m.;
• Shenkel United Church of Christ, 1580 Shenkel Rd., from 4-8 p.m.; and
• New Hanover United Methodist Church, 2211 Swamp Pike, Gilbertsville PA, from 6:30-10 a.m.

Appointments are required. For more information, call 610-926-6060.

• These events have been added to The Post calendar.

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The northwest corner of the municipal building, as seen from its parking lot.

SANATOGA PA – Discussion of a Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township police department application for a $12,375 federal grant to purchase portable radios and accessories is among known items on the agenda Thursday (Aug. 20, 2009) for the 7 p.m. meeting of the township Board of Commissioners in the municipal building, 2199 Buchert Rd.

• This event has been added to The Post calendar.

The grant was the subject of a legal notice published Aug. 6 (2009) by the township in The (Pottstown PA) Mercury, its newspaper of public record. Money is being sought from the Justice Assistance Grant Program, and public comment on the request will be accepted during the board’s meeting, according to the notice.

The meeting will be the commissioners’ first during August. The board canceled its previously scheduled Aug. 3 (2009) meeting because it anticipated several commissioners would be on vacation during that week.

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LOWER POTTSGROVE PA – More than $337,000 will be spent by the Pottsgrove School District to educate eight children with special needs at outside schools, the district Board of School Directors agreed last week (Aug. 11, 2009).

During a meeting in the administrative offices on Kauffman Road, board members unanimously approved, without comment, recommendations by Superintendent Dr. Bradley Landis to sign 2009-2010 school year student placement contracts with:

• Camphill Special School’s Beaver Farm Transition Program, for 2 students, at a cost of $160,560;
• The Vanguard School, 2 students, $84,000;
• Opportunities School, 2 students, $52,000;
• The Pathway School 1 student, $34,150; and
• The Pathway School’s Extended School Year Program, 1 student, $7,100.

The average cost per student under the aggregated contracts is $42,226.

Related (to the Pottsgrove School Board’s Aug. 11 meeting):

• Faces Changing In Pottsgrove Schools
• District’s Got Itself A New Gator
• Summer Reading? Some Complainin’: Bo-o-oring!
• Surprise Enrollment Spurs Demographic Interest
• District Assembles Ringing Rocks Planning Team
• School Board OKs Administrative Switch
• Lobbying Pays Off In Band Trailer Purchase
• Superintendent Confirms Plan To Switch Administrators

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