The Sanatoga Post

PA Treasurer Rob McCord.

POTTSTOWN PA – Pottsgrove School District parents and others can register now for “Making College Affordable,” a free financial-information program sponsored by Montgomery County Community College and scheduled for Jan. 27 (2011; Thursday) at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room of MCCC’s West campus, 101 College Dr., Pottstown PA.

• This event has been added to The Post calendar.

The event, which is open to the public, is intended to cover all aspects of financial planning for college, focusing on the actual costs of a college education, financial aid and funding sources through savings, scholarships, grants and loans. Participants will hear about the myths of costs and financing college and how to make wise investment choices.

For more information or to register, visit the college website, here.

Pennsylvania’s state treasurer, Rob McCord, will be the guest speaker to open the event with an introduction of the Pennsylvania 529 College Savings Program and its benefits for state residents saving for college.

“My kids will both go off to college within the next four years, so I take the stressful challenges of saving for college personally,” McCord said. “Parents can reduce college expenses paid out-of-pocket, or via interest-laden loans, with the Treasury’s Pennsylvania 529 College Savings Program. It’s a tax-smart way to invest in those you love.”

After McCord’s comments, two breakout sessions will be held.

For parents of elementary and middle school students, a session will be held to discuss Pennsylvania’s two 529 college savings plans. Families will learn the differences between the PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan and the PA 529 Investment Plan to decide which plan will work for their needs.

For families with high school students, the college’s financial aid and admissions staff will discuss the free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) and financial aid process.

Photo from the PA Treasury

Can you spare a pint?

POTTSTOWN PA – Blood collection drives will be conducted this week and next in Pottstown, Douglassville and Limerick PA by the Miller-Keystone Blood Center. Drives are scheduled for:

• Wednesday (Jan. 19) from 8-11 a.m. at HCR Manor Care, 724 Charlotte St., Pottstown PA;
• Thursday (Jan. 20) from 3-7 p.m. at Mountain View Chapel, 68 Old Douglass Dr., Douglassville PA;
• Jan. 24 (Tuesday) from 3-7 p.m. at The Elks Home, 61 High St., Pottstown PA;
• Jan. 24 (Tuesday) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Fred Beans Nissan, 55 Autopark Road, Limerick PA; and
• Jan. 25 (Wednesday) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at U.S. Axle, 275 Shoemaker Road, Pottstown PA.

Appointments are required and may be made by calling the blood bank at 610-926-6060.

• These events have been added to The Post calendar.

Photo from Clipart.com

Mid-term exams start Tuesday at Pottsgrove High School.

POTTSTOWN PA – Groups of students at Pottsgrove High School are expected to be engaged today (Monday, Jan. 17, 2011) in local activities as they observe the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service while the school is closed for the federal holiday. When they return Tuesday, however, they’ll be put to the test … literally.

It’s become a tradition for Pottsgrove students and others to volunteer their time, pitch in and help clean, paint, organize or otherwise work for community organizations to honor the memory of the slain civil rights leader. Once those jobs are done, though, it’s a sure bet the Pottsgrove contingent will hit their books to prepare for mid-term exams that get under way tomorrow morning and continue through Thursday.

Mid-terms account for 10 percent of a Pottsgrove High student’s final grade, Principal Chris Shaffer reminded parents in an e-mail last week. “Faculty and students have been reviewing and preparing for (the) week’s exams,” he wrote, “however, I must emphasize the importance of preparing for the mid-terms” over the weekend.

The exams cover math, science, English, and social studies. A complete, 9-page schedule for classes and their tests is available for download from the high school’s web pages, here.

Pottsgrove will end exam week with a little fun, and conduct its annual Color Day athletics and class spirit events on Friday (Jan. 21).

Among King Day observances and celebrations scheduled locally today are:

• from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., preservation maintenance projects at the Valley Forge National Historical Park Education Center, King of Prussia PA;
• at 10 a.m., in Second Baptist Church, 507 North Adams St., Pottstown PA;
• at 11 a.m., by the Olivet Boys & Girls Club, in the Richard J. Ricketts Community Center, 640 Beech St., Pottstown PA;
• at noon, by Ursinus College, Collegeville PA, in its Bomberger Hall;
• at 6:30 p.m., also by Ursinus College, in its Unity House; and
• at 7 p.m., by the Boyertown Area Ministerium, in St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 45 N. Reading Ave., Boyertown PA.

All events are free and open to the public.

They paid how much?

POTTSTOWN PA – None of the real estate sales within Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township from Aug. 2 to Oct. 13, 2010, commanded a high-enough price to be listed Sunday (Jan. 16, 2011) among top-selling properties reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper. Real estate among the township’s municipal neighbors made the grade, though.

This week’s top reported prices were listed in “The Top 50,” the newspaper’s weekly review of highest prices paid for real estate sold within the city of Philadelphia and townships in its surrounding counties.

During the same period, the top real estate sales price in

• Pottstown PA Borough, immediately to the west was $224,000, for 596 Upland St.;
• Limerick PA Township, east, $359,210, for 260 Masters Dr.;
• New Hanover PA Township, northeast, $355,000, for 2419 Fairview Ln.;
• Upper Pottsgrove PA Township, west, $165,000, for 1048 Willow St.; and
• North Coventry PA Township, south, none listed.

Across all of Montgomery County, the highest-priced property sold during the period went for $1,245,000, at 611 Woodleave Rd., Lower Merion PA.

Related:

• What They Sold For, Aug. 2 to Oct. 13, 2010
• What They Sold For, July 27-Oct. 6, 2010
• What They Sold For, July 21-Sept. 27, 2010
• What They Sold For, July 16-Sept. 17, 2010
• What They Sold For, July 12-Sept. 10, 2010
• What They Sold For, July 6-Aug. 27, 2010
• What They Sold For, May 31-Aug. 20, 2010
• What They Sold For, May 24-Aug. 13, 2010
• What They Sold For, May 18-Aug. 6, 2010
• What They Sold For, May 13-July 30, 2010
• What They Sold For, May 10-July 23, 2010
• What They Sold For, May 1-July 16, 2010
• What They Sold For, April 26-July 9, 2010
• What They Sold For, April 15-June 30, 2010
• What They Sold For, April 8-June 24, 2010
• What They Sold For, April 1-June 18, 2010
• What They Sold For, March 29-June 14, 2010
• What They Sold For, March 22-June 9, 2010
• What They Sold For, March 15-June 4, 2010
• What They Sold For, March 1-May 19, 2010
• What They Sold For, April 8-May 15, 2010
• What They Sold For, April 5-May 12, 2010
• What They Sold For, March 29-May 7, 2010
• What They Sold For, March 22-April 30, 2010
• What They Sold For, March 8-April 16, 2010
• What They Sold For, Feb. 8-March 24, 2010
• What They Sold For, Feb. 1-March 19 2010
• What They Sold For, Dec. 28, 2009-Feb. 5, 2010
• What They Sold For, Dec. 21, 2009-Jan. 29, 2010
• What They Sold For, Dec. 7, 2009-Jan. 15, 2010
• What They Sold For, Nov. 28, 2009-Jan. 8, 2010
• What They Sold For, Nov. 23-Dec. 31, 2009
• What They Sold For, Nov. 16-Dec. 25, 2009
• What They Sold For, Nov. 9-Dec. 18, 2009
• What They Sold For, Nov. 5-Dec. 9, 2009
• What They Sold For, Oct. 26-Dec. 3, 2009
• What They Sold For, Oct. 20-Nov. 27, 2009
• What They Sold For, Oct. 15-Nov. 24, 2009
• What They Sold For, Oct. 8-Nov. 18, 2009
• What They Sold For, Oct. 7-Nov. 11, 2009
• What They Sold For, Oct. 1-Nov. 4, 2009
• What They Sold For, Oct. 26-28, 2009
• What They Sold For, Sept. 27-Oct. 23, 2009
• What They Sold For, Oct. 12-16, 2009
• What They Sold For, Oct. 5-9, 2009
• What They Sold For, Sept. 29-Oct. 2, 2009
• What They Sold For, Sept. 14-18, 2009
• What They Sold For, Aug. 26-31, 2009
• What They Sold For, Aug. 20-25, 2009
• What They Sold For, Aug. 13-19, 2009
• What They Sold For, Aug. 5-12, 2009
• What They Sold For, July 29-Aug. 4, 2009
• What They Sold For, July 24-28, 2009
• What They Sold For, July 20-23, 2009
• What They Sold For, July 13-17, 2009
• What They Sold For, July 6-10, 2009
• What They Sold For, June 29-July 3, 2009
• What They Sold For, June 22-26, 2009
• What They Sold For, June 15-19, 2009
• What They Sold For, June 8-12, 2009
• What They Sold For, June 1-5, 2009

Photo from Clipart.com

POTTSTOWN PA – On the Pottsgrove School District sports schedule for today (Monday, Jan. 17, 2011) through next Monday (Jan. 24, 2011):

Today (Monday, Jan. 17)

• None scheduled

Tuesday, Jan. 18

• Boys Freshman Basketball @ Boyertown East, 3:30 p.m.
• Girls Freshman Basketball vs. Boyertown East, 3:30 p.m.
• Coed Varsity Swimming @ Perkiomen Valley, 3:45 p.m.
• Boys Junior Varsity Basketball vs. Owen J Roberts, 6 p.m.
• Girls Junior Varsity Basketball @ Owen J Roberts, 6 p.m.
• Boys Varsity Basketball vs. Owen J Roberts, 7:30 p.m.
• Girls Varsity Basketball @ Owen J Roberts, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 19

• Boys Middle School Wrestling vs. Phoenixville, 3:30 p.m.
• Boys Junior Varsity Basketball @ Upper Dublin, 5:30 p.m.
• Girls Junior Varsity Basketball @ Octorara Area High School, 5:30 p.m.
• Boys Varsity Wrestling vs. Boyertown, 6:30 p.m.
• Boys Varsity Basketball @ Upper Dublin, 7 p.m.
• Girls Varsity Basketball @ Octorara Area High School, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 20

• Boys Freshman Basketball vs. Boyertown West, 3:30 p.m.
• Girls Freshman Basketball @ Boyertown West, 3:30 p.m.
• Boys Varsity Wrestling vs. Phoenixville, 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 21

• Annual Color Day, 8 a.m.
• Girls 8th Basketball vs. Perkiomen Valley West, 3:30 p.m.
• Girls 7th Basketball vs. Perkiomen Valley West, 4:30 p.m.
• Coed Varsity Indoor Track @ Golden Bear Invitational @ Kutztown, 5 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 22

• Girls Junior Varsity Basketball vs. Methacton High School, 1 p.m.
• Boys Varsity Wrestling @ Spring-Ford HS, 2 p.m.
• Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Methacton High School, 2:30 p.m.
• Boys Junior Varsity Basketball @ Methacton High School, 6 p.m.
• Boys Varsity Wrestling @ Pottstown, 6:30 p.m.
• Boys Varsity Basketball @ Methacton High School, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 23

• None scheduled

Monday, Jan 24

• Boys 8th Basketball vs. Phoenixville, 3:30 p.m.
• Girls 8th Basketball @ Phoenixville, 3:30 p.m.
• Boys 7th Basketball vs. Phoenixville, 4:30 p.m.
• Girls 7th Basketball @ Phoenixville, 4:30 p.m.

Schedules from HighSchoolSports.net; photo from Clipart.com

SANATOGA PA -Kick up your heels and yell “Ye-haw.”

Well, maybe skip the yelling part. The heel kicks will certainly be appropriate, however, when “Family Country Nights” return later this month (January 2011) as part of a bi-weekly entertainment schedule being offered at Sunnybrook Ballroom, 50 Sunnybrook Rd., Pottstown PA.

Sunnybrook disc jockey Dixie Lynn will offer country line-dancing instruction Jan. 23 (2011) from 5-9 p.m., and every other week thereafter, on what the ballroom bills as the largest dance floor in the region. “Saddle up your family and gallop on down,” it urged.

Tickets cost $5 for adults, $3 for children between the ages of 10 and 17, and admission is free for those age 9 and younger. Tickets can be purchased at the door, or from the Sunnybrook box office by calling 484-624-5186.

Photo from Clipart.com

On display in the current show at The Gallery School of Pottstown are pieces by Emily Howard of the school's Academy Program ...

POTTSTOWN PA – An array of artwork will be on display through Jan. 29 (2011) as works from students of all ages and in all mediums are exhibited during the winter Student-Faculty Show at the Gallery School of Pottstown, 254 High St., Pottstown PA.

“Children really love to see their work on the gallery walls, and are proud when they bring the family to see what they have accomplished, explains Erika Hornburg-Cooper, the school’s executive director.

The Gallery School is the greater Pottstown area’s non-profit community art center. It offers tuition-based classes for toddlers to senior citizens in many different areas of the arts, as well as programs for local school districts.

The show is open during regular business hours Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The gallery and school are closed Sundays and Mondays.

• This event has been added to The Post calendar.

... Tess Bridges, of its PILOT Program ...

Hornburg-Cooper not only oversees the school’s operation but also instructs its Creative Kids and very popular Teen Studio programs. Works from both are among those on display in the show, as well as pieces from its Academy and PILOT (Pottstown’s Influential Leaders of Tomorrow) programs.

In Teen Studio, for ages 13-18, students spend 12 weeks delving into art history and art appreciation. They develop artistic skills in drawing from still-life, painting (acrylic, watercolor, and oils), pencil studies, sculpture, mask making, mono-printing, life drawing (clothed) and en-plein air studies. The efforts help build a portfolio for entrance into college if the student applies to study the arts.

The successful Academy Program, she said, reaches out to elementary school students using art concepts that apply the academic scoring tool, or rubric, developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. It’s increasingly in demand by local school districts for students in third to sixth grades.

PILOT provides art and other activities geared to seventh and eighth graders specifically in the Pottstown School District.

... and Marlee Snyder of its Teen Studio.

Its students spent a year involved in local business, community and social activities. In addition to participating in a writing workshop and attending art classes, they recorded a song at Pottstown’s High Street Music Company studios, attended a production at the Tri-County Performing Arts Center, volunteered their time to work in local soup kitchens, and helped during downtown events.

The Gallery School offers scholarships for those who qualify. For more information, call 610-326-2506.

Photos from The Gallery School

Kathleen Martin.

BOYERTOWN PA – Certified elder law attorney Kathleen M. Martin of Pottstown will be the featured speaker during a “Getting Your Legal Affairs In Order” program to be held Wednesday (Jan. 19) at 6:30 p.m. in the Chestnut Knoll residential care community, 120 W. 5th St., Boyertown PA.

• This event has been added to The Post calendar.

The event is free and open to the public. Advance reservations are requested to be made by today (Monday, Jan. 17) by calling 610-473-8066.

Photo from O’Donnell Weiss Mattei Law

BLUE BELL PA – Information technology professionals who want to add iPhone application programming to their skill sets, as well as second-year computer science students who want to flesh out their degree program, are eligible to take a popular iPhone application programming course that begins Jan. 19 (2011; Wednesday) at the Blue Bell PA campus of Montgomery County Community College.

The class, listed as “CIS 238,” is scheduled to be held Thursdays from 6-9:50 p.m. at the college, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. Assistant Professor Jason Wertz will delve deeply into iPad application development during the course, along with iPhone and iPod Touch development.

• This event has been added to The Post calendar.

During the course, students will learn iPhone application programming by building apps for the college. In past semesters, students have started work on projects that track parking, enable listening to the college radio station on the go, and keep track of its Mustangs sports teams, among others.

“The app store democratizes software development and distribution,” Wertz said. “Anyone can develop and sell an app, and make millions of dollars. Building apps is the best way for somebody to work at home in their spare time and possibly make a lot of money. It is a low cost, entrepreneurial endeavor that only requires some spare time, an idea, and the will to succeed.”

For more information about the course, call Wertz at 215-641-6308.

Photo from Google Images

West Pottsgrove Elementary School.

STOWE PA – Students athletes who proved to be outstanding during the fall 2010 semester will be recognized Tuesday (Jan. 18, 2011) by the Pottsgrove School District Board of School Directors when its meets for the first of two times this month, at 7:30 p.m. in West Pottsgrove Elementary School, 25 Grosstown Rd., Stowe PA.

The board’s meeting was re-scheduled from Jan. 11, when it was canceled due to a snow storm. Its meeting agenda has subsequently been revised to include the athletic awards and other items. A copy of the new document is available for download from the district’s website, here.

As reported earlier, a proposed change order requested for the reconstruction and expansion of Ringing Rocks Elementary School on Kauffman Road in Pottstown PA remains on the agenda, as do several personnel items and other discussion. The meeting is open to the public.

Related (to the Pottsgrove Board of School Directors’ meeting of Jan. 18):

• Pottsgrove Canceled Tuesday School Board Meeting
• Few Change Orders, So Far, At Ringing Rocks