The Sanatoga Post

HARRISBURG PA — Employers of all sizes across western Montgomery County and elsewhere in Pennsylvania can expect to see their unemployment taxes continue to climb for years to come, acting Secretary of Labor and Industry Patrick Beaty told the state told the Senate Appropriations Committee earlier this week, according to The Pennsylvania Independent online news service.

The state, under former Gov. Ed Rendell, borrowed $3 billion from the federal government to remain solvent during the continuing recession. Now it’s time to pay the money back. Beaty told committee members on Monday (March 28, 2011) the borrowing will continue, but the interest and principal payments began in January.

• Read a story by reporter Jim Panyard, titled “Employer taxes climbing to pay back PA’s unemployment debt” and published Wednesday (March 30) by The Independent, here.

Graphic from Google Images

POTTSTOWN PA – Repairs and upgrades proposed for Pottsgrove School District buildings could cost more than $900,000, district Director of Facilities and Physical Plants Michael Katzenmoyer has advised the Board of School Directors, the bulk of which – potentially up to $550,000 – would be invested to fix the crumbling retaining wall at the front of Pottsgrove Middle School.

The retaining wall at Pottsgrove Middle School is streaked with white efflorescence, an indicator of moisture, in this November 2008 file photo.

Katzenmoyer earlier this month (March 2011) presented directors with a laundry list of items to be reconstructed, replaced or renovated at all four of five school buildings and the district administrative offices. Board members have yet to approve the list, almost all of which would be paid for from Pottsgrove’s $4.6 million capital reserve fund.

They’ve agreed, however, that they can’t ignore the failing state of the Middle School retaining wall. Engineers hired by the district claim the wall was improperly built, and allowed water to seep in, settle, and eat away at the masonry. Its “critical components have to be done this summer,” district Business Administrator David Nester warned during a February board meeting.

Directors have already authorized the district to spend up to $30,000 in architects’ fees to redesign the wall, which holds in part of the North Hanover Street hillside atop which the school was built in 1999. It does not pose an immediate hazard to the building or students, Nester reported, but it can’t be allowed to deteriorate further, he said.

The answer to the question on most directors’ minds – can the original contractor be held liable for, and be forced to pay for, the repairs? – apparently is “no,” according to Nester, who did the research and consulted with other experts before it was asked. Too much time has passed, he indicated, for the district to win such a judgment.

The leaves the district stuck with the bill for the work, bids for which must be solicited. The project, once approved, will be completed during the summer.

Also on Katzenmoyer’s list were:

• At the high school, sidewalk repairs outside the cafeteria, new shades for windows in the lobby, and lighting upgrades in the gymnasium, office, lobby, and other portions of the building;
• At the middle school, parking lot lighting and accompanying motion sensors, upgrades to a closed circuit video security system, and sidewalk safety improvements;
• At Lower Pottsgrove Elementary, upgrades to the elevator, and fencing around a lot for district maintenance vehicles;
• At West Pottsgrove Elementary, padding on its gymnasium wall, repairs to playground structures, curtains for its stage, gymnasium lighting upgrades, and resurfacing portions of parking lots; and
• At the district offices, improvements to the district’s video-over-internet protocol system, and heating-ventilation-air conditioning controls.

No repairs are needed at Ringing Rocks Elementary, of course, because the entire Kauffman Road building is being rebuilt and expanded.

The district also plans to buy a new snowblower, a salt spreader, and a paint machine for its athletic fields.

Related:

• Retaining Wall Tops Pottsgrove List Of Needed Repairs
• Pottsgrove MS Retaining Wall Needs ‘Significant’ Repair

SATISFYING HUNGER, FIGHTING DISEASE – The latest event staged by Sanatoga Court, a senior citizen residential community on Evergreen Road in Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township, to raise funds for research into Alzheimer’s Disease had patrons carrying plates to a chicken croquette meal (above) Wednesday night (March 30, 2011) in the court’s second-floor cafeteria. The meal promised “end-of-winter comfort food” in abundance, and diners reported it lived up to its billing. It also helped increase the total amount contributed in battling the memory-robbing illness. Sanatoga Court conducts several fund-raisers annually, resulting in donations of several thousand dollars over recent years to benefit Alzheimer’s research, a representative said. Not everyone in attendance could chow down on what was offered – that toddler (right) seemed to feel cheated! – but all appeared to enjoy themselves.

NO MATTER THE WEATHER! – The junior varsity lacrosse teams of Pottsgrove and Methacton high schools met Wednesday afternoon  (March 30, 2011) for a game on a field behind Lower Pottsgrove Elementary School, Buchert Road, Pottstown. A handful of parents and other fans joined the athletes in braving hand-numbing cold rain and even a little sleet to get the contest completed.

POTTSTOWN PA – The 11th annual Chartwells 5K Fun Run and Walk, which raises money to benefit the Pottsgrove Education Foundation and its programs to assist Pottsgrove School District teachers and students, is scheduled to be held May 7 (2011; Saturday) beginning at 9 a.m. at the Pottsgrove High School stadium, 1345 Kauffman Rd., Pottstown PA. The public is invited to participate, district Athletic Director Gary DeRenzo said.

• This event has been added to The Post calendar.

The days will open with registration from 8-8:45 a.m. for the 5K (3.1 miles) event, which is wheel measured to insure accuracy. The 9 a.m. race begins in the stadium with 1-1/2 laps around its all-weather track, and then moves out onto neighborhood streets. Traffic control will be provided on the course. First, second, and third-place medals will be awarded in each male and female run category for ages 13 and younger, 14-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and 60 and older.

Advance registration for the 5K costs $17, and includes a T-shirt; all advance registrations must be postmarked by April 23). Registration thereafter, including on race day, is $23.00. A shirt also will be included, but quantities may be limited. Registration after shirts are gone will cost $15.

A race for children, the Kids Fun Run and Walk, will follow the 5K. It consists of 1-2 laps on the all-weather track for those age 12 and younger, and includes gift for all kids. Parents must complete an application for their child, and are welcome to run with them. Registration for the kids race is $5.

For more information, call DeRenzo at 610-326-6376, or e-mail him, here. Registration forms and race details are available for download from the district website, here.

Photo from Google Images

Can you spare a pint?

POTTSTOWN PA – Nine blood collection drives begin next week and continue through April 6 in Pottstown, Phoenixville, and Gilbertsville PA, conducted by the Miller-Keystone Blood Center.

• These events have been added to The Post calendar.

Drives are scheduled for:

• Monday (April 4) from 9 a.m. to noon at TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce, 152 High St., Pottstown PA;
• Monday (April 4) from 2-7 p.m. at Trinity United Church of Christ, 60 N. Hanover St., Pottstown PA;
• Monday (April 4) from 3-8 p.m. at Moose Lodge 1273 within Phoenix Hook & Ladder Co. 1, 177 Church St., Phoenixville PA;
• Tuesday (April 5) from 7-11 a.m. at Verizon Business, 51 Robinson St., Pottstown PA;
• Tuesday (April 5) from 1-3 p.m. at Harris Corporation, 243 Shoemaker Rd., Pottstown PA;
• Tuesday (April 5) from 1:30-7 p.m. at St. Luke Lutheran Church, 35 Wilson Ave., Gilbertsville PA;
• Tuesday (April 5) from 4-8 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 750 N. Evans St., Pottstown PA;
• Wednesday (April 6) from 7-9 a.m. at S & W Metalworks, 441 Countyline Rd., Gilbertsville PA.
• Wednesday (April 6) from 3:30–6:30 p.m. at Stepping Stone Education Center, 400 Franklin Ave., Phoenixville PA; and

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

Photo from Clipart.com

First Presbyterian Church

POTTSTOWN PA – A spring concert offered by the Coventry Singers will be performed Sunday (April 3, 2011) beginning at 3 p.m. in the First Presbyterian Church, 750 N. Evans St., Pottstown PA. The event is open to the public, and although no admission will be charged, free will offerings will be accepted, according to Trinda Garner of the Coventry Singers Advisory Board.

• This event has been added to The Post calendar.

The concert will present “A Life in Song,” featuring John Rutter’s “Requiem”. Joseph Perry will serve as guest conductor.

Photo from First Presbyterian Church

HARRISBURG PA – Budget cuts and a difficult economy will put more pressure on school districts to solve funding problems, and the Pennsylvania secretary of education says that’s exactly the way it should be,” The Pennsylvania Independent online news service reported Tuesday (March 29, 2011).

Gov. Tom Corbett’s proposed budget will leave the state’s 501 public school districts, including Pottsgrove, Spring-Ford and Pottstown, with reduced funding next year. Their administrators are hired “to make tough decisions,” Secretary of Education Ronald Tomalis told The Independent, “and we don’t just hire them to lead in good budget times, but we hire them to lead in tough times too.”

• Read a story by reporter Eric Boehm, titled “Education secretary: School districts have to deal with cuts” and published Tuesday by The Independent, here.

Related (to the Pottsgrove School District 2011-2012 budget):

• Secretary Says Schools Must Find Funds Themselves
• College Students Protest Proposed Ed Budget Cuts
• Pay Freeze Endorsed As Pottsgrove Labor Talks Start
• Pottsgrove High Protesters Exercise Art Of Compromise
• Pottsgrove’s Landis Distributes State Fund Comparison
• Pottsgrove Budget Deficit Balloons With Gov’s Proposal
• MCIU Budgets On Pottsgrove Schools Agenda Tonight
• PA House OKs ‘Cut And Replace’ On Education Funding
• Idea: Other Local Schools Consider Extracurricular Fees
• Idea: Pottsgrove Might Prosper With Own Charter School
• Pooling Resources Could Save Pottsgrove On Special Ed
• Like Pottsgrove Task Force, Outsiders Weigh Cost Vs. Value
• Task Force Crowd Packs Into Pottsgrove For First Session
• School Budget Task Force Kicks Off Its Work Tonight
• Does Western PA School Tax Uprising Foretell Mood Here?
• Pottsgrove Schools Budget Short Another $400,000
• Pottsgrove, As Expected, Adopts Budget First Draft
• Pottsgrove Tentative Budget Adoption Expected
• Weather Postpones Pottsgrove Budget Meeting
• Still Time In Pottsgrove For Budget Volunteers To Enlist
• Challenge To Pottsgrove Budget Advisers: 10 Percent
• Best Guesses, Deficit Launch Pottsgrove Budget Season
• Senate Education Chair Preps For Voucher, Choice Battle
• School Board Questions Pottsgrove Recreation Costs
• Pension Reform Vote Could Benefit Pottsgrove, Others
• Notebook Worthy: News Reporters Made News Tuesday
• Pottsgrove Isn’t Waiting In Search For Budget Volunteers
• If You’ve Got A Budget Idea, Pottsgrove Says It’ll Listen
• Pottsgrove Seeks More Public Input On District Budget

Photo from Google Images

SANATOGA PA – When was the last time someone asked you for your opinion, and sounded like they were really interested in what you had to say? If it’s been awhile, go to your mailbox and open your Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township trash and recycling collection bill.

Yes, there’s an invoice inside. You must pay to have your trash removed.

But along with its polite request for money, the township also has enclosed a two-page “Trash, Recycling and Yard Waste Survey 2011.” Lower Pottsgrove wants to know what you think of trash collection here, how you think it could improve and, most importantly, how much you’d be willing to pay for trash removal in the future.

Hint: Zero dollars is NOT among the options.

The survey was approved Feb. 17 (2011) by the Board of Commissioners and was distributed Tuesday (March 29) by the Postal Service in the same envelope as the bill seeking a semi-annual payment of $71. The survey itself takes only one double-sided page; the second page offers an explanation of how trash pick-ups work, why the survey is being taken, and how its results will be used.

The township’s current five-year agreement with hauler J.P. Mascaro and Sons of Norristown PA expires this year. Negotiations on a new contract, usually of between three to five years in length, will begin in a few months.

During several meetings in the past 12 months, commissioners have heard from residents unhappy about the cost per garbage bag discarded, particularly among families who try to recycle as much as possible. They received complaints, too, about how garbage cans are damaged by collection workers, and over inconsistencies in the collection of recyclable materials.

Commissioners hold little hope property owners will want to pay more for trash services. As it is, the township annual fee amounts to $142 per property. Apparently they recognize, though, that the marketplace itself may offer a better deal. One survey question among 21 asked explores whether property owners are interested in choosing and paying for their own trash hauler.

The survey should be completed and returned to the township (you can mail it back with your payment, or just drop it off at the municipal building, 2199 Buchert Rd., Pottstown PA) by May 10.

The second, non-survey page is worth keeping, by the way. It includes a list of regional hazardous and electronic waste collection events between April and October. They’re worth knowing, because hazardous materials like paints and pesticides and electronics items like computer parts can’t be put into regular trash for removal.

The Building of America gold medal

SANATOGA PA – Expansion of and upgrades to the White Horse Village retirement community in Delaware County, to which Sanatoga-based Bursich Associates Inc. provided a variety of construction-related services, has won a gold medal award from the national Building of America Network, Bursich Director of Business Development Brian Fraley announced.

Bursich’s role on the project team was to provide complete land surveying and site development for renovations and new villa residences on a portion of the village’s 96 acres. It incorporated a combination of innovative storm water “best management” practices and sensible site layout, despite complex local, county, and state permitting, Fraley said.

“It’s always fulfilling to be involved in a project like White Horse Village that provides a valuable service to the community,” Bursich Senior Project Manager Nick Feola added. “We were thrilled to be a part of the team that helped to expand and upgrade this facility for its residents.”

The network represents a 15-year “compilation of the nation’s most important and unique new construction and renovation projects,” as selected by publishers, editors and consultants of five different building and design trade periodicals. Submissions can qualify for up to 12 different network awards.

Bursich is an engineering, planning, and land surveying firm founded in 1972 and headquartered on East High Street in Sanatoga PA. The firm specializes in road and bridge design, water and waste water facilities, land development, storm water management, high-definition laser scanning, and land surveying.