The Sanatoga Post

Thay paid how much?

POTTSTOWN PA – The top price paid for real estate within Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township from Nov. 15, 2010-Jan. 7, 2011, was $240,000, the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper reports. The property is located at 501 Hause Ave.

• A second property, at 2907 Shire Dr., sold for $200,000.
• A third property, at 678 N. Keim St., sold for $120,000.

The top reported prices were listed Sunday (March 27, 2011) 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 $160,000, for 441 Johnson St.;
• Limerick PA Township, east, $642,157, for 86 Bayhill Cir.;
• New Hanover PA Township, northeast, $325,000, for 456 Windy Hill Dr.;
• Upper Pottsgrove PA Township, west, $220,900, for 104 Mapleleaf Ln.; and
• North Coventry PA Township, south, $494,500, for 104 Blossom Way.

Across all of Montgomery County, the highest-priced property sold during the period went for $1,490,200, at 820 Merion Square Rd., Lower Merion PA.

Related:

• What They Sold For, Nov. 15, 2010, to Jan. 7, 2011
• What They Sold For, Nov. 15-Dec. 24, 2010
• What They Sold For, Aug. 30-Nov. 4, 2010
• What They Sold For, Aug. 20-Oct. 26, 2010
• What They Sold For, Aug. 16-Oct. 19, 2010
• What They Sold For, Aug. 2-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

BIG CROWD, BIG SHOW – Tens of thousands of people, lured by an offer of free admission and the opportunity to enjoy sunny and mostly pleasant days seeing what area merchants had to sell, arrived Friday through Sunday (March 25-27, 2011) at the Valley Forge Convention Center for its annual spring home and garden show. Visitors packed the aisles (top), and their cars overflowed the parking lot (bottom) at the venue located off the First Avenue exit of U.S. Route 422 in King of Prussia PA.

The craftsmanship of contractors and builders was on display for kitchens (above), bathrooms, and almost any other spot in a home. For those preferring life on a patio, gliding chairs (below) were just the ticket for a little relaxation.

Kids (above) got to test slides and swing sets – indoors, of all places – under the ever-watchful eyes of parents; and those with a hunger for grilled chicken and other foods were allowed to sample to their hearts’ delight. Several cookware vendors (below) held their own shows within the show.

Next at the Convention Center is the Valley Forge Gun Show, scheduled for April 1-3.

POTTSTOWN PA – The first four installments of a locally produced, six-episode web video series about bullying, its causes and effects, and how parents can help their children cope with it, have been released for public viewing, the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation announced Friday (March 25, 2011).

The first of the four, “The Evolution of Bullying,” features an interview with Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township Police Officer William James, who also serves as the school resource officer at Pottsgrove High School.

Other videos also available are:

• “Signs Your Child Is Being Bullied,” with Lorraine Henry, full-time mental health out-patient counselor at Creative Health Services in Pottstown PA;
• “What Parents Can Do To Stop Bullying,” with Sharon Giamporcaro, Montgomery County deputy district attorney and chief of its Juvenile Division, and Mary Anders, a detective in the district attorney’s office; and
• “How Parents Can Help Their Child Heal From Bullying,” with Audrey Leffler, coordinator of the Children’s Safe Program on Domestic Violence at Creative Health Services.

All four, and two others expected to be released during April (2011), have been posted to the foundation’s YouTube account, but also are part of its “Mission: Healthy Living” community health website.

• Watch James discuss how bullying began, above, or see it and others in the series at the “Mission: Healthy Living” portal.

Each video runs between 7 and 10 minutes in length.

The municipal building

SANATOGA PA – This week’s meeting of the Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township Planning Commission, which was to have been held Monday (March 21, 2011) at the municipal building, 2199 Buchert Rd., Pottstown PA, was instead canceled, the township reported on its website. No reason was given.

The board’s next meeting is scheduled for April 18 (2011; Monday) at 6:30 p.m., also in the municipal building.

• This event has been added to The Post calendar.

STUDENTS DEBATE, NOT PROTEST, STATE EDUCATION CUTS – Pose solutions, rather than just grumble about a problem.

That’s what Pottsgrove High School administrators hoped to teach, and by many accounts succeeded, Friday (March 25, 2011) when students assembled to debate the impact, necessity and fairness of state education budget cuts proposed earlier this month by Gov. Tom Corbett. The debate grew from what initially began as a protest planned by students who felt the governor’s proposals negatively affected their future education, particularly at state-supported universities.

Instead of that action, which could have brought disciplinary action if students left school, the event turned into an education of its own. Chief among the debate’s organizers were (right) seniors Tyler Jacobs and Matt Zarley.

“I’m doing this because I think we should spread awareness (of the budget) around the school,” Jacobs said of his involvement. “I think a lot of people don’t realize what the affect of the proposal is going to be. Matt Zarley, who’s working with me – it was both of our ideas – we just think that spreading awareness is the best way to do this.  We thought of a couple different things, but in the end we thought that this was the more affective form of trying to get the entire school involved.”

Panelists for or against (at top and bottom) the cuts stated their reasons in a civilized but direct format, with most of the student body as their audience. And representing a state legislator’s point of view – and also somewhat in the hot seat – was Rep. Tom Quigley (left), who represents Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township and the borough of Pottstown in the state House. Quigley favors significant reductions in state spending advocated by Corbett, but acknowledged that exactly where that money is cut remains open to discussions not unlike those held at the high school.

“It’s cutting a lot of money, 52 percent of the money funding going to state colleges for education, and there are a lot of schools that are going to be hurt by that … Penn State is going to close a couple of their campuses. I know that (Montgomery County Community College) is going to get cut,” Jacobs continued. “And Montco is huge … a lot of people from Pottsgrove go to Montco just for, you know, the first year or two years, to save money. Then they transfer somewhere else. College is expensive enough and with this, it’s going to obviously be more expensive, and I think that the students should know and be aware.”

Photos and reporting for The Post by Aimee M. Herbert, Aimee Marie Photography

POTTSTOWN PA – Expansion is under way, again, at Diamond Credit Union. The Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township-based financial institution broke ground Tuesday (March 22, 2011) to build a new branch office on U.S. Route 422 West at Pineland Road in Exeter Township, just north of Birdsboro and 14 miles west of Sanatoga village.

Diamond Credit Union representatives and employees, its architect and contractors celebrate Tuesday's ground-breaking for a new branch office in Exeter Township.

Construction is expected during the next 10 months, with an opening anticipated for early 2012. The 4,500-square-foot branch office will employ 14 people, according to Diamond Vice President of Marketing Todd Rothenberger.

“We are all very excited about this project,” John Faust, Diamond president and chief executive officer, said of the new location at 6581-6591 W. Perkiomen Ave., Birdsboro. “Route 422 connects our two largest markets, Pottstown and Reading, and this location will be central to our existing membership and allow us to serve even more people,” he added.

The branch will feature a remote teller system, drive-up automatic teller machines, four drive-through teller lanes, and an interior kiosk for members to access online banking services.

Diamond, the 18th-largest credit union in Pennsylvania, has its corporate headquarters at 1600 Medical Dr., Pottstown, and already operates two additional offices in Reading. Diamond serves more than 39,500 members in eastern Berks, northern Chester and western Montgomery counties, and holds more than $358 million in assets.

Photo from Diamond Credit Union

Interior and exterior drawings of the dance pavilion at Ringing Rocks Park

By Beth Scherer
of the Lower Pottsgrove Historical Society,
for The Sanatoga Post

POTTSTOWN PA – The 12th season of ABC-TV’s “Dancing With The Stars” premiered its performances Monday (March 21, 2011), with what promoters called “opinionated judges, talented pro dancers, adventurous celebs, gobs of glitter, and oodles of spray tans.” And while there’s little doubt the hugely popular reality show has brought ballroom dancing back into the spotlight, it’s worth remembering where some of that glitz originated.

Right here, in Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township.

Lower Pottsgrove also was a hugely popular place to kick up your heels.  Most area residents are familiar with Sanatoga’s nationally known Sunnybrook Ballroom, where big bands and orchestras played every weekend during years gone by for the dancing pleasure and enjoyment of crowds from all over. However, Sunnybrook wasn’t the only dance hall in town.

Both Ringing Rocks Park and Sanatoga Park each provided dance halls for many to strut their stuff, so one can only imagine the night life of Lower Pottsgrove back in the early 1900s!

Records dating back to 1896 show there was a dancing pavilion in Ringing Rocks Park, at White Pine and Oak lanes. It was of Queen Anne-style architecture; had a great, beautiful balcony, and was in the shape of a Maltese cross. It made for one of the most attractive spots in Montgomery County. It now serves as the Ringing Rocks Roller Rink.

The auditorium at Sanatoga Park

Sanatoga Park on South Sanatoga Road also had a large dance hall and pavilion.  There were dances every Saturday night during the summer, attracting as many as 1,000 people to gather and twirl their way around the dance floor. A quartet played for dancing nightly, and Saturday afternoons too, during summer months.

The dance pavilion was the last remaining building on the Sanatoga Park grounds after all other buildings there had been torn down. Like Ringing Rocks, it was turned into a roller rink in the later years and unfortunately was destroyed by fire in 1940.

Related:

• Never Heard Of Sanatoga’s Longview Hotel? Here’s Why

Editor’s note: The Lower Pottsgrove Historical Society was formed in 1985 to share the heritage of Lower Pottsgrove Township with its residents. It meets on the second Wednesday of every month at its museum and offices in the former Sanatoga Chapel, 2341 E. High St., Sanatoga PA. The society’s monthly open house is scheduled to be held  Sunday (March 27) from 1-4 p.m. at the chapel, and is open to the public. Author and society member Beth Scherer writes about Lower Pottsgrove history monthly for The Post.

Photos from Carol Isett of the historical society

POTTSTOWN PA – The Mélange Contemporary Dance Company returns next weekend (April 1-3, 2011) to the Tri-County Performing Arts Center, 245 High St., Pottstown PA, for what is being described as “superb music and dance” in only three performances that feature new duets, group pieces, and a reprise back by popular demand.

Giving the show its theme of “Spring Trip” is the group performance of “Head Rush,” set to the music of the iconic rock band “Rush.” Movements include “Closer to the Heart” (a look at Platonic love); “Limelight” (a description of life for the performing artist); “Tom Sawyer” (an understanding of the old adage that the only thing constant is change), and “Spirit of Radio” (a poetic look at the ability of music to alter a person’s mood).

There will be solos by Mélange Artistic Director Michelle Jones Wurtz, and by former Pottstown resident Jill Michalsky, who now dances in New York and returns to Pottstown to join Mélange for this performance. She also will join long term Mélange dancer Christa Campbell for a duet later in the program.

Ensemble dances include “What is Behind the Impression,” inspired by the paintings of Degas, Van Gogh, and Toulouse Lautrec; and a reprise of the popular “Pleasure Dome” (set to the music of the band Frankie Goes to Hollywood) inspired by the famous poem “Kubla Kahn” by Coleridge and a study of the writing “The Birth of Tragedy” by Frederick Nietzsche.

For the Friday night (April 1) performance, Tri-PAC is offering a “pay-what-you-can” ticket promotion. This special pricing is available for all dance school instructors and students, as well as members of the Theater Alliance. Its intent, according to Tri-PAC spokeswoman Betsy Chapman, is to make attendance possible for many people who might not otherwise be able to afford live dance performances.

Tickets for all Tri-PAC shows are available online or by calling 610-970-1199. Seating is limited and shows do fill quickly. Prices range from $13 for children age 12 and younger, $15 for students and seniors age 65 and older, and $17 for adults. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. If available, tickets will be sold at the door. For more information on Friday’s pay-what-you-can offer, send an e-mail to Chapman, here.

Tri-PAC is the home of Village Productions, a nonprofit performing arts organization that Chapman said “seeks to strengthen community, inspire creative exploration, educate, and entertain, through the presentation of quality performing arts events and educational opportunities geared toward a diverse audience.”

POTTSTOWN PA – Prices for breakfast and lunch bought by students next year in Pottsgrove School District cafeterias will rise by a nickel each, the district Board of School Directors unanimously agreed Tuesday (March 22, 2011), as it also accepted a one-year renewal of its contract with Chartwells School Dining Services to operate the district meal program.

Chartwells will increase the regular retail price of breakfast at all sites during the 2011-2012 budget year to $1.30, from $1.25; and of lunches in Lower Pottsgrove, Ringing Rocks, and West Pottsgrove elementary schools to $2.40, from $2.35. Lunch sold in the middle school will increase to $2.65, from $2.60; and in the high school, to $2.80, from $2.75.

The new prices represent hikes ranging between 1.7 and 3.8 percent in what Chartwells District Manager Skip Daino presented as a $1.266 million expense budget that covers the cost of food, district employee salaries and benefits, Chartwells employee and management fees, and everything else from cleaning supplies to Montgomery County (PA) Health Department licenses.

The budget includes providing daily free or reduced-price lunches to more than 600 (or about 18 percent) of Pottsgrove’s 3,200 students of all ages who meet federal eligibility requirements, as well as free or reduced-price breakfasts to more than 200 students, Daino said.

As it has in past years, the district will benefit from food supplied under federal commodities programs and a variety of government reimbursements, with a combined value of more than $508,000. Without them, Pottsgrove would either pay significantly more for food service or, school board members acknowledged, some of its children would attend classes hungry.

Board member Jodi Adams was absent and did not vote.

Although its local office is located in Lansdale PA, Chartwells is a subsidiary of Compass Group North America, a 14-company food services management organization headquartered in Charlotte NC with $9.9 billion in revenue during 2010.

Related (to the Pottsgrove Board of School Directors’ March 22 meeting):

• Pottsgrove School Meal Prices Rise 5 Cents Next Year
• Look What Winter Did! Pottsgrove Revises Calendar
• No Power For Ringing Library Computers ‘An Omission’

Photo from Google Images

POTTSTOWN PA – It may have been fun for Pottsgrove School District students to have unplanned days off back in January and February (2011), when winter raged, winds howled, snow fell in excess, and poor road conditions made school bus runs impractical. In a case of “what goes around comes around,” though, they’ll make up for lost time at the end of the school year.

The district Board of School Directors unanimously agreed Tuesday (March 22, 2011) to revise and lengthen what remains of this year’s calendar.

Pottsgrove High School’s commencement exercises have been pushed back to June 16 (2011), beginning at 6 p.m., and the last day of the 2010-2011 school year is now officially June 17.

District schools closed Jan. 12 and 27, and Feb. 1 and 2 “due to winter weather,” administrators said. In addition, students were scheduled this year to enjoy a total of 19 days off for vacations and holidays, six off for staff and teacher in-service days, three off for parent-teacher conferences, and four half-days with early dismissal.

The changes ensure students are in school for a total of 181 days. The revised calendar is available for download from the district website, here.

Related (to the Pottsgrove Board of School Directors’ March 22 meeting):

• Look What Winter Did! Pottsgrove Revises Calendar
• No Power For Ringing Library Computers ‘An Omission’

Photo from Google Images