The Sanatoga Post

SANATOGA PA – A new operating general partner, and its affiliated property management company, have assumed supervision of the 232-unit, 20-acre Rolling Hills Apartments complex at 2120 Buchert Rd. in Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township.

The new partner is Rolling Hills-Michaels LLC, a New Jersey-based limited liability company, according to the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA). Its designated property management firm is Interstate Realty Management Company, better known simply as IRM and headquartered in Marlton NJ.

Both are part of the Michaels Organization, a privately-held family of companies that says it specializes in affordable, mixed-income, and military housing.

Rolling Hills' exterior signs were altered last week

The partnership change was approved by the agency board of directors earlier this year (Feb. 10, 2011). It became publicly apparent only last week, however, when signs marking the entrances to Rolling Hills were physically altered to identify the management firm by adding the acronym “IRM.”

It is unknown what effect, if any, the change will have on current or future tenants.

Agency approval of the change was necessary because it provided taxable bond financing of more than $5 million in July 1974 to build the complex, which opened in 1976. As the new operating general partner, Rolling Hills-Michaels LLC needed PHFA’s blessing to assume the existing mortgage, continue to operate the development (legally owned by an entity called Rolling Hills Apartments LP) and maintain its fiscal and physical condition.

Rolling Hills’ previous operating general partner and property manager was Community Realty Management Inc. (CRM), also based in New Jersey. IRM is no stranger to either Rolling Hills or CRM; the two have been involved in tangled legal battles regarding the apartments for several years.

According to the Montgomery County property records database, which was last updated Monday (June 6, 2011), Rolling Hills Apartments LP bought the complex during September 1989 for $11.6 million. The property is currently assessed for $7 million. Most of its units are of the two- and three-bedroom variety (there are a limited number of four-bedroom units) and the majority have only one bathroom, the database shows.

Traffic on U.S. Route 422 in Sanatoga

OAKS PA – With U.S. Route 422 serving as a backdrop for a Thursday (June 9, 2011) press conference, some area legislators – including state Rep. Tom Quigley, who represents Lower Pottsgrove, Pottstown and Limerick – made it clear they were not convinced that imposing tolls on the highway’s drivers was an answer for its financial future, WFMZ-TV Channel 69 reported.

Quigley openly questioned if, over a period of several years, money initially dedicated to 422 from its tolls wouldn’t be used to fund other legislative projects. He was joined at the media event by four other House representatives whose districts cover from Montgomery, Chester and Berks counties.

• Watch a video, above, of Quigley during the by-the-highway press conference, for see it at the legislator’s YouTube account.
• Read a news story by reporter Kimberly Davidow, and watch an accompanying video, titled “Lawmakers, Drivers Sound Off On Possible 422 Tolls” and published Thursday by WFMZ-TV, here.
• Read a related (and brief but opinionated!) commentary from a Montgomery County political blog, The Scoop, titled “Who Really Wants 422 Tolled,” and published Thursday, here.
• Read a new brochure that describes traffic problems and potential solutions along U.S. Route 422. It was released Monday (June 6) by the 422Plus Project, which advocates tolling as a highway repair revenue source.

Related (to U.S. Route 422 Corridor planning):

• Quigley, Other Reps Questioning 422 Tolls Proposal
• 422 Toll Proposal Wins Some PA Commission Backers
• Exec Highway Group To Hear Rt. 422 Tolling As ‘Model’
• 422 Questions Answered, For Your Viewing Pleasure
• In 422 Tolling, Planners Say, Studying Doesn’t Make It So
• Former Reporter Asks Commissioners To Support 422 Tolls
• Online Survey Seeks Opinions On Local Road Congestion
• 422 Plus Project Plays Offense With FAQs Debut
• Peering Into The Future? Gov’s Bridge Proposal And 422
• Another Township Endorses 422 Master Plan
• Neighboring Limerick Supervisors Endorse 422 Master Plan
• Understand 422 Plan Endorsement, Lower Pottsgrove Advised
• Lower Pottsgrove Holds On 422 Plan Endorsement
• Engineers Claim PA Roads Worse Now Than In 2006
• Tuesday Session Tackles Funding For 422 And Elsewhere
• Tolls, Lower Pottsgrove Station Part Of 422 Plan
• Pending Decision May Affect Route 422 Projects
• Last Day For Your Say On Route 422 Plan
• Notebook Worthy (Aug. 24, 2009)
• Consultants Express Interest In Studying 422
• Don’t Like 422 Tolling? Website Wants Your Alternative
• Truckers Alerted On Highway Partnerships Bill
• In 422 Debate, Time A Hindrance And Help
• Notebook Worthy (June 29, 2009)
• Growth, Planners Say, Is 422’s Growing Problem
• Tech Used To Draw For 422 Meetings
• Route 422 Toll Meetings Next Week
• 422 Repairs, Delays Start Tuesday
• 422 Proposal, Like Traffic, Creeps Ahead
• Got A Route 422 Idea? Time To Air It
• Train Service On The Front Burner Once More

Rosalie Randazzo Rundle

SYRACUSE NY – Rosalie Randazzo Rundle, 77, of the Sedgwick Heights Retirement Community, 1100 James St., Syracuse NY, and formerly of Fayetteville NY and Cazenovia NY, died Thursday (June 9, 2011) at St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center, Syracuse, following a recent surgery.

She was the mother of Debbie Zlomek, North Sanatoga Road, Sanatoga PA, and mother-in-law of Sanatoga Post Managing Editor Joe Zlomek. She occasionally spent time visiting in the Pottstown area, and during each visit remarked how pretty a place she thought it was.

Mrs. Rundle was a loving mother, and devoted wife and homemaker, who lived most of her life in upstate New York. She and her husband of 47 years, John, successfully raised three sons who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, and four daughters, all of whom enjoy successful careers.

Rosalie was born in Brooklyn NY. She loved politics, knew her congressmen by name, and frequently offered her opinions on topics of the day. She enjoyed spending time with her family, and was known as “Nana” to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A Roman Catholic at Immaculate Conception Church in Fayetteville, she was a devout believer in the power of the Rosary. She favored vintage movies, particularly Westerns.

Mrs. Rundle is survived by her husband, John; her children, Greg, of Mexico NY, and his wife Joyce; Donna Thompson, of Syracuse NY, and her husband Bill; Debbie Zlomek of Sanatoga PA, and her husband Joe; Laura Montenaro of Long Island NY; Mary Vincent, of Chittenango NY, and her husband Ken; and John, of Dover DE, and his wife Jennifer; as well as 13 grandchildren, Sarah, Jennifer, Erin, Jake, Danielle, Alexis, Rachel, Joey, Hannah, Mya, Abby, Sam and Sophie; and several great-grandchildren.

She is pre-deceased by her eldest son, Rod, a Vietnam War veteran; and by a great-grandchild, Asia Rose Briel.

Calling hours are scheduled for Monday (June 13, 2011) from 10-11 a.m. at the Newcomer Funeral Home, 705 N. Main St., North Syracuse NY, to be followed by funeral services beginning at 11 a.m., also at the funeral home. A private burial will be held in Mexico Village Cemetery, Mexico NY. Arrangements are being handled by Newcomer Funeral Home.

The Ken Battista Band

SANATOGA PA – Three different entertainment talents are scheduled during the coming weekend at Sunnybrook Ballroom, 50 Sunnybrook Rd., Sanatoga PA, its organizers said.

The Ken Battista Band is scheduled to perform tonight (Friday, June 10, 2011) from 7 to midnight in The Tiki Hut at Sunnybrook’s pavilion; and disc jockey Enchanted Midnight will play popular rock and other music, also tonight in Sunnybrook’s ballroom. On Saturday (June 11), guitarist and singer Mike Kropp will be the Tiki Hut featured artist.

For information, call Sunnybrook at 484-624-5186.

Photo from The Ken Battista Band

POTTSTOWN PA – Is money missing from your wallet? Check quickly, or by Monday (June 13, 2011) forever hold your peace, the Montgomery County (PA) District Attorney‘s office warns.

The district attorney in an advertisement earlier this week announced it was holding, and actively seeking the owners of, more than $17,000 in cash that was seized by law enforcement officials between 2004 and 2010. Of that sum, $4,525 was secured last June “at or near 3301 Walnut Ridge Estates” on Buchert Road in Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township, according to the legal notice that appeared Monday (June 6) in The (Norristown) Times Herald newspaper.

There’s a good chance few people, if any, will step forward to claim the held funds.

Most were discovered during the course of criminal investigations (that’s why they’re in the DA’s hands), and a substantial portion if not all of the cash often represents illegally gotten gains. Except in certain circumstances, individuals who file a claim may have a lot of explaining to do.

The DA is required to publicly disclose the availability of the money for claiming. If any of it is yours (and you know who you are), a claim must be entered on or before the end of business Monday with the county Clerk of Courts, reports Assistant DA James Staerk, who submitted the legal notice.

The total also includes:

• $2,687 seized Nov. 27, 2004, “at or near Walnut Street and North Franklin Street, Pottstown;”
• $540 seized Dec. 10, 2004, “at or near North Franklin Street and King Street, Pottstown;” and
• other money captured in King of Prussia, Upper Merion Township, Willow Grove (listed twice), Philadelphia, Norristown (twice), Huntingdon Valley, Bala Cynwyd, Eagleville, Lansdale, and Abington.

The ad does not report what becomes of the money if no one claims it, although once the Monday deadline is passed it’s likely the government will say “finders, keepers!”

Photo from Google Images

Thay paid how much?

POTTSTOWN PA – The top price paid for real estate within Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township from Feb. 21-March 25, 2011, was $334,565, the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper reports. The property is located at 116 Continental Dr.

Also making the list were:

• 941 Kenny Rd., $291,175;
• 14 Green Briar Ct., $218,083;
• 3 Lee Dr., $214,900;
• 10 Green Briar Ct., $189,000;
• 1434 N. Valley Rd., $180,000;
• 2143 Sunnyside Ave., $160,000; and
• 162 Hause Ave., $104,000.

The top reported prices were listed Sunday (June 5, 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 $185,000, for 531 N. Charlotte St.;
• Limerick PA Township, east, $292,500, for 306 Pebble Beach Dr.;
• New Hanover PA Township, northeast, $420,000, for 2499 Katalina Way;
• Upper Pottsgrove PA Township, west, $154,500, for 129 Hanover Dr.; and
• North Coventry PA Township, south, none listed.

Across all of Montgomery County, the highest-priced property sold during the period went for $2,600,000, at 222 Laurel Ln., Lower Merion PA.

Related:

• What They Sold For, Feb. 21-March 25, 2011
• What They Sold For, Feb. 7-March 18, 2011
• What They Sold For, Dec. 21, 2010, to Feb. 11, 2011
• What They Sold For, Dec. 1, 2010, to Jan. 24, 2011
• What They Sold For, Nov. 22, 2010, to Jan. 14, 2011
• 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

Photo from Clipart.com

SANATOGA PA – Whether you get out a pen or fire up your smart phone, it’s time either way to mark a calendar for dates of the coming, six-week-long series of free summer concert performances scheduled for public enjoyment by the Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township Parks and Recreation Board at the Sanatoga Park band shell, 223 S. Sanatoga Rd., Pottstown PA.

• These events have been added to The Post calendar.

Expect crowds like this one, from July 2010, to again fill the sloping lawn in front of the Sanatoga Park band shell for this year's Lower Pottsgrove summer concert series

With one exception, the concerts will be held Sundays beginning at 6 p.m., with rain-date alternatives set for Mondays at 7 p.m. Although the performer list consists primarily of proven crowd-pleasers returning to the park stage from earlier years, it also includes two new and notable differences: an appearance by members of the U.S. Army bands, and a kids-pleasing family fun night.

As usual, concert-goers are urged to bring their own seating in the form of lawn chairs or ground blankets.

Scheduled are:

• June 26 (Sunday) at 6 p.m., Bill Koss Combo;
• July 13 (Wednesday), 7 p.m., the U.S. Army Band;
• July 17 (Sunday), 6 p.m., family fun night with The Paisley Pickles;
• July 24 (Sunday), 6 p.m., Barbone Street Jazz Band;
• July 31 (Sunday), 6 p.m., The Mango Men; and
• Aug. 7 (Sunday), 6 p.m., Pottsgrove Community Band.

The concert schedule was announced this week on the township website. Again this year, the concerts are sponsored by Exelon Nuclear.

HARRISBURG PA – A proposal to bring tolls to U.S. Route 422 between King of Prussia and Reading was unveiled Monday (June 6, 2011) before Gov. Tom Corbett’s Transportation Funding Advisory Commission and, possibly to the consternation of local opponents, won praise from several public officials, The Pennsylvania Independent online news service reported.

“This is a model for tolling. This is definitely state of the art,” Commission Chairman and state Secretary of Transportation Barry Schoch told his colleagues. No commission member voiced opposition to the 422 proposal, The Independent noted.

“The 42-member commission in August is expected to provide Corbett with funding proposals for the state’s decaying transportation infrastructure, which the state has said requires an additional $3.5 billion annually to be restored and maintained,” The Independent said. The 422 tolling plan was presented as an idea that could be enabled statewide, so other local governments could do similar projects.

• Read an article by reporter Jim Panyard, titled “422 tolling plan gets no opposition from transportation commission” and published Monday by The Independent, here.
• See an Adobe Acrobat document that is a copy of the slide show presented to commission members. It was released Monday at the 422Plus Project website.

Related (to U.S. Route 422 Corridor planning):

• 422 Toll Proposal Wins Some PA Commission Backers
• Exec Highway Group To Hear Rt. 422 Tolling As ‘Model’
• 422 Questions Answered, For Your Viewing Pleasure
• In 422 Tolling, Planners Say, Studying Doesn’t Make It So
• Former Reporter Asks Commissioners To Support 422 Tolls
• Online Survey Seeks Opinions On Local Road Congestion
• 422 Plus Project Plays Offense With FAQs Debut
• Peering Into The Future? Gov’s Bridge Proposal And 422
• Another Township Endorses 422 Master Plan
• Neighboring Limerick Supervisors Endorse 422 Master Plan
• Understand 422 Plan Endorsement, Lower Pottsgrove Advised
• Lower Pottsgrove Holds On 422 Plan Endorsement
• Engineers Claim PA Roads Worse Now Than In 2006
• Tuesday Session Tackles Funding For 422 And Elsewhere
• Tolls, Lower Pottsgrove Station Part Of 422 Plan
• Pending Decision May Affect Route 422 Projects
• Last Day For Your Say On Route 422 Plan
• Notebook Worthy (Aug. 24, 2009)
• Consultants Express Interest In Studying 422
• Don’t Like 422 Tolling? Website Wants Your Alternative
• Truckers Alerted On Highway Partnerships Bill
• In 422 Debate, Time A Hindrance And Help
• Notebook Worthy (June 29, 2009)
• Growth, Planners Say, Is 422’s Growing Problem
• Tech Used To Draw For 422 Meetings
• Route 422 Toll Meetings Next Week
• 422 Repairs, Delays Start Tuesday
• 422 Proposal, Like Traffic, Creeps Ahead
• Got A Route 422 Idea? Time To Air It
• Train Service On The Front Burner Once More

Photo from The Independent

Amber Hansley, left, and T.J. Demetrio

POTTSTOWN PA – Student athletes, proud parents, Falcon sports booster club members and Pottsgrove School District officials Tuesday (June 7, 2011) happily united to honor the 2010-2011 year successes in Pottsgrove High School sports, during the club’s annual athletic awards banquet at Brookside Country Club, Pottstown PA.

The year’s female and male “Outstanding Athlete Awards” (left) were presented to Amber Hansley, and T.J. Demetrio, respectively.

Female Falcon Award recipient Bethany Lang (below) accepted her honors from club representative Dee Pettine, the Falcon mascot, and district Athletic Director Gary DeRenzo. Male Falcon Award recipient Alex Abdalla (bottom), also was joined by The Falcon and DeRenzo.

Pettine, The Falcon, DeRenzo, and Falcon Award winner Bethany Lang

Falcon Award winner Alex Abdalla, The Falcon, and DeRenzo

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

Exelon's Limerick Generating Station

POTTSTOWN PA – Ever wonder how nuclear power is generated, or how a nuclear plant operates? Answers to those questions and more are available tonight (Wednesday, June 8, 2011) from 5-7:30, when Exelon Corp. Limerick Generating Station representatives will host a free informational event at the station’s Learning Center, 3146 Sanatoga Rd., Limerick PA.

Operations of the LGS’ nuclear reactor Units 1 and 2, including a discussion of their recent shutdowns, will be reviewed by Exelon technical and safety experts. Engineers, operators, chemists and environmental scientists also will provide information on safety, security, maintenance programs, and the company’s community involvement.

Visitors also can tour the plant’s control room simulator, which is used for training reactor operators. Refreshments will be served and younger guests will receive special ID badges and prizes. Visitor parking will be available in the station’s upper parking lot. Visitors needing special access accommodations should contact Exelon’s Amanda Varone at 610-765-6919.

“Our goal is for our neighbors to have an enjoyable evening and walk away better informed about the nuclear energy plant in their neighborhood,” said Bill Maguire, LGS site vice president. Community Information Night is part of Limerick’s annual public information and outreach campaign, designed to engage and educate the public on station operations.