The Sanatoga Post

Pottstown Library Director Michael Packard makes his pitch for funding Thursday during the Lower Pottsgrove Board of Commissioners' meeting

SANATOGA PA – Mike Packard will be the first to tell you that Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township residents are a pretty well-informed lot. They rely on the local library to borrow books, magazines, movies and music. They sometimes take advantage of its free Internet services, and on occasion bring their children to story-time there.

In fact, Packard reports, although township patrons of the Pottstown Regional Public Library, 500 High St., Pottstown PA, comprise only 17 percent of all its registered users, they borrow a disproportionate share – almost 21 percent – of all its materials. Yet the township during 2011 contributed only 12 percent, $62,125, of the library’s $525,729 budget.

So with a somewhat sheepish smile, but no hesitation, library director Packard on Thursday (Aug. 18, 2011) boldly went where others fear to tread: into the Board of Commissioners’ second meeting of the month, to request a funding increase for 2012. Commissioners smiled in return, and equally without hesitation said they’d think about it.

Board members have learned the hard way that the library is indeed important to their constituents. They tried during 2009 to halve the township’s contribution to $30,000 in a stab as cost-saving, then reversed themselves when taxpayers loudly complained.

Increasing Lower Pottsgrove’s donation to the library by more than $26,000 next year to $88,411, as Packard said he hoped the board might realistically consider, would more accurately reflect the township population’s library borrowing habits. The board did not commit to a number but thanked Packard for his presentation.

Lower Pottsgrove’s library statistics
Registered township patrons: 3,821
Total library patrons: 23,151
Township patronage: 17 percent
Township patrons’ circulation: 11,737 items in 6 months
Total library circulation: 55,993 items in 6 months
Township circulation: 20.9 percent
Township library funding 2011: $62,125
Total library budget 2011: $525,729
Township 2011 revenue to library: 11.8 percent
Township 2011 revenue per capita: $5.15 per person

Related (to the Lower Pottsgrove 2012 budget):

• Thanks To Survey Input, Township Preparing Trash Bids
• Pottstown Library Asks Township For Higher Funding

Related (to the Lower Pottsgrove Board of Commissioners’ meeting of Aug. 18):

• Thanks To Survey Input, Township Preparing Trash Bids
• Pottstown Library Asks Township For Higher Funding
• Commissioners OK Pruss Hill Road Accidents Study
• July 2011 Warrants From Lower Pottsgrove Now Online
• Township Pays Two Attorneys In Police Discipline Case
• Road Re-Paving Is Coming; Just When Anybody’s Guess
• Township, An Unhappy Bank Customer, Goes Elsewhere
• Township May Put Money Where Authority’s Mouth Is

Sanatoga Court

SANATOGA PA – An annual raffle that features Longaberger-brand baskets as prizes will be conducted again this year by the staff and residents of the Sanatoga Court senior living facility, 227 Evergreen Rd., Pottstown PA, its admission and Marketing Director Earl Stingel said Monday (Aug. 22, 2011). Proceeds from the fund-raiser support the Delaware Valley Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk.

“Last year, thanks to generous support, we were able to raise more than $2,000 to donate to this tremendous organization. Together we had loads of fun, gave away lots of valuable Longaberger merchandise, and supported the education efforts and research of Alzheimer’s Disease,” Stingel said.

Tickets for the raffle are now available for purchase by calling Sanatoga Court at 610-718-0900, or by contacting Stingel via e-mail, here.

Photo from Genesis Health

Lower Pottsgrove Elementary School

POTTSTOWN PA – Three different orientation sessions for young children attending kindergarten at the Pottsgrove School District‘s Lower Pottsgrove Elementary School are scheduled for various times Tuesday (Aug. 23, 2011) at the school, 1329 Buchert Rd., Pottstown PA, Principal Ruth Fisher reminded parents and students Monday (Aug. 22).

• This event has been added to The Post calendar.

Children assigned to morning kindergarten classes are expected to report to the cafeteria at 9 a.m.; afternoon classes, at 11 a.m.; and full-day classes, at 1 p.m. “Teachers and instructional aides will be eager to meet … and escort the children to see (their) classrooms and enjoy a bus ride,” Fisher said.

Accompanying parents are asked to remain in the cafeteria to meet the school nurse, reading specialist, counselor, secretaries and principals; then each parent may visit their child’s classroom and meet his or her teacher.

Photo from the Pottsgrove School District

SANATOGA PA – New sets of experts’ eyes will soon be trained on the continuing traffic problem in Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township known as the Pruss Hill Road bridge and curves.

Warnings before the curves on Pruss Hill Road

The township will pay $7,500 to Traffic Planning And Design (TPD) Inc., a company headquartered in Sanatoga that provides transportation construction and inspection services, to determine how to make the bridge and roadway near the Pruss Hill Pond and dam more accident-free. The Board of Commissioners authorized the study during its Thursday (Aug. 18, 2011) meeting.

Manager Rodney Hawthorne said TPD would assess the bridge’s structural condition, maintenance issues, daily traffic count, vehicle speeds, and related matters. Any recommended repairs or changes would be at additional cost.

“I think it’s something that’s necessary,” Hawthorne said, and added that money for the study was already identified in the 2011 budget. Commissioners quickly agreed; they previously indicated accidents on Pruss Hill Road were a persistent and expensive problem that must be addressed.

Related (to Pruss Hill Road and its bridge):

• Commissioners OK Pruss Hill Road Accidents Study
• Bridge, Guardrail Study Proposed For Pruss Hill Road
• Stop Sign May Be Answer For Pruss Hill Road Crashes
• Pruss Hill Road Guardrail Now Repaired
• Use Caution Driving Pruss Hill Road
• Car Upended On Pruss Hill Road

Related (to the Lower Pottsgrove Board of Commissioners’ meeting of Aug. 18):

• Commissioners OK Pruss Hill Road Accidents Study
• July 2011 Warrants From Lower Pottsgrove Now Online
• Township Pays Two Attorneys In Police Discipline Case
• Road Re-Paving Is Coming; Just When Anybody’s Guess
• Township, An Unhappy Bank Customer, Goes Elsewhere
• Township May Put Money Where Authority’s Mouth Is

POTTSTOWN PA – Seventy-four supplemental positions and corresponding payments for sports coaches, their assistants, and other duty service providers in the Pottsgrove School District were approved earlier this month (Aug. 9, 2011) by the district Board of School Directors.

An asterisk by an individual’s name designates those who are not district employees, the administration reported. For employees, amounts to be paid are in addition to their regular district salaries or wages. Individuals named more than once receive multiple payments for various assignments.

The list – which describes the position being filled, the individual named to the position, and the compensation to be paid – includes:

Cheerleading Head MS F, Ann Scott*, $2,628;
Cheerleading Head HS F, Lindsey McNamara*, $3,336;
Cheerleading HS F Asst, Alicia Harris*, $2,085;
Cross Country Asst MS, Mike Romeo, $3,024;
Cross Country Asst HS, Marilyn Eaton, $3,024;
Cross Country Head HS All, Larry Rechtin, $4,032;
Football Asst 7th M, Rich Ashburn*, $2,520;
Football Asst 8th M, Ken Ivory*, $2,535.50;
Football Asst 9th M, Keith Schurr*, $3,227;
Football Asst HS M, Eric Engstrom, $5,292;
Football Asst HS M, Bill Hawthorne, $5,292;
Football Asst HS M, Mike Tomasso*, $5,292;
Football Asst HS M, Jim Algeo, $5,292;
Football Asst HS M, William Bradford*, $5,292;
Football Asst. 7th M, Michael Mayes*, $2,190;
Football Head 8th M, Al Reed, $3,276;
Football Head 9th M, Ryan Towson*, $3,961.50;
Football Head HS M, Rick Pennypacker, $7,056;
Golf Head HS All, Don Petrella, $4,788;
Golf Asst HS All, Roger Rentschler*, $2,919;
Hockey Asst HS F, Bev Stuart, $2,919;
Hockey Asst HS F, Kristen Uhas, $2,919;
Hockey Asst Grade 8, Christine Moyer, $2,772;
Hockey Asst Grade 7, Jodi Sproule, $2,293.50;
Hockey Head HS F, Christine Campbell, $4,536;
Hockey Head Grade 9, Nancy Albright, $3,528.;
Soccer Asst HS F, Aaron Cebular*, $2,919;
Soccer Asst HS F, Rich Wood*, $3,227;
Soccer Asst HS M, Jeff Erb*, $3,374;
Soccer Asst HS M, Kevin Grimm*, $3,528;
Soccer Asst MS M, Jon Vesser, $2,305;
Soccer Asst MS F, Marissa Bono, $2,085;
Soccer Head HS F, Steve Mellor, $3,753;
Soccer Head HS M, Jay Witkowski, $4,536;
Soccer Head MS F, Kathy McGeehan, $2,919;
Soccer Head MS M, Rick Royce, $3,374;
Tennis Asst HS F, Mary Ellen Wilson*, $834;
Tennis Head HS F, Gus Tellis*, $4,032;
Band Front HS, David Bowman*, $2,919;
Intra Weight Trng HS Head, Brad Burpee, $1,042.50;
Band Concert Advisor MS, Kathy Williams, $756;
Band Jazz MS, Kathy Williams, $504;
Band Symphonic MS, Kathy Williams, $756;
Bell Choir MS, Joy Stathopoulos, $417;
MS Choreographer, Cheryl Fithian*, $504;
Chorus Head MS, Carole Bean, $504;
Detention Monitor Head MS, Elwood Taylor, $3,528;
Events Coordinator, Carole Bean, $2,305;
Intra Basketball Head MS F, Gloria Fritz, $1,260;
Intra Basketball Head MS M, Eric Engstrom, $1,095;
Intra Flag Football Head MS All, Ken Ivory*, $1,042.50;
Intra Golf Head Ms All, Rich Burke, $1,260;
Intra Softball Head MS F, Danette Baum, $1,042.50;
Intra Soccer MS, Steve Palladino, $1,042.50;
Intra Street Hockey Head MS All, Justin Giles, $1,042.50;
Intra Tennis Head MS F, Gloria Fritz, $1,205;
Intra Tennis Head MS M, Mike Romeo, $1,042.50;
Intra Volleyball Head MS All, Marilyn Eaton, $1,152.50;
Intra Wrestling Head MS M, Ricky Royce, $1,042.50;
Marching Band Advisor, Kathy Williams, $2,016;
Musical Director, Carole Bean, $2,016;
Musical Choreographer, Cheryl Fithian*, $2,016;
National Honor Society MS, Debbie Frasca, $1,095;
Orchestra MS, Kathy Williams, $417;
MS Project REACH OUT, Shelby Kqira, $1,008;
Reading/Writing Club Advisor, Eileen Edling, $1,844;
School Annual Advisor MS (memory book), Debbie Frasca, $1,251;
School Store Manager MS, Marilyn Eaton, $1,844;
Show Choir MS, Carole Bean, $2,016;
Science Academy, Jeff Devlin, $1,928;
MS Study Make up and Remediation Time, Amanda Wright, $2,919;
Student Government Advisor MS, Janet Edleman, $2,016;
Theater Workshop MS, Tom Yenchick, $2,016;
Web Page Editor MS, Jeff Devlin, $1,008;
Club Coordinator LP – Fall, Veronica Lightcap, $1,008; and
Club Coordinator LP – Spring, Veronica Lightcap, $1,008.

Related (to the Pottsgrove Board of School Directors’ meeting of Aug. 9):

• District Names, Sets Pay For 74 Coaches And Advisers
• Landis Calls For Pottsgrove Redistricting Volunteers
• 32 Personnel Positions Affected By Pottsgrove Approvals
• Pottsgrove High Appointments ‘Give District Some Time’
• Touchy Pottsgrove Redistricting Now Being Considered
• Pottsgrove Teacher Named Western Center Principal

POTSTOWN PA – The Pottsgrove School District has now posted its “first day packet” of 2011-2012 school year information online.

Students who attend Pottsgrove schools will personally receive a portion of the thick package of forms, policies and regulations next Monday (Aug. 29, 2011) during their first day of school, hence the name. This year it contains 11 different forms that must be completed by parents and returned to schools by Sept. 9, as well as 18 different informational documents.

• Parents can get a jump on their reading, and complete the forms in advance, by downloading the packet’s components from the district website, here.
• The packet also is active in The Sanatoga Post’s back-to-school supplement published Aug. 16. Find it here.

Pottsgrove is relying in part, on parents’ ability to use the Internet and access some documents online. Parents who lack Internet access should contact their child’s school and a request a printed packet.

SANATOGA PA – The July 2011 warrants of Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township – which provide details on where the municipality’s revenues came from during the seventh month of the year, and on what and with whom it spent money – were made available Sunday (Aug. 21, 2011) on the Resources Page of The Sanatoga Post.

• Find them, and all other warrants archived by The Post as Adobe Acrobat documents, here. Most take about a minute or less to download over a high-speed (DSL, cable, or FIOS) Internet connection.

The July warrants were approved Thursday (Aug. 18) by the township Board of Commissioners. Warrants are printed and can always be viewed for free at the municipal building, 2199 Buchert Rd., Pottstown PA, during regular office hours Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Post supplies these materials exactly as received from the township, and makes no guarantee expressed or implied that they are complete, accurate, or faithful reproductions of the actual documents. The Post has had no hand in their creation or submission. Before taking any action based on the contents of any documents offered here, The Post strongly suggests you consult with appropriate professionals for advice.

Related (to the Lower Pottsgrove Board of Commissioners’ meeting of Aug. 18):

• July 2011 Warrants From Lower Pottsgrove Now Online
• Township Pays Two Attorneys In Police Discipline Case
• Road Re-Paving Is Coming; Just When Anybody’s Guess
• Township, An Unhappy Bank Customer, Goes Elsewhere
• Township May Put Money Where Authority’s Mouth Is

SANATOGA PA – Buttercup Beads, the Sanatoga retailer that specializes in products and classes for creative jewelry-making, will conduct its first fund-raiser Friday (Aug. 26, 2011) from 6-9 p.m. at its store, 2151 E. High St., Suite A, Pottstown PA, to benefit Beads of Courage.

• This event has been added to The Post calendar.

Buttercup Beads, 2151 E. High St., Sanatoga

The Arizona-based national organization supplies arts-in-medicine supportive care programs for children coping with serious illness, their families and their health care providers.

Participants in Buttercup Beads’ “String of Strength” event can purchase a $15 kit with which they can make two different bracelets, one for themselves and the second to be given to a child stricken by illness. All proceeds from kit sales, and all donations, will be sent from Buttercup Beads to Beads Of Courage.

Buttercup Beads describes itself as a “Full-Service Bead Store and Artisan Gallery nestled in a warm country setting. We strive to bring you high-end and unusual findings for all of your creative jewelry making needs.  We specialize in hand lampworked beads, porcelain, and fine silver and clay pieces by local artists … We also sell most every tool and accessory you might need for your own bead box or special project.”

The store is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. It is closed Mondays.

Photo from Buttercup Beads

Representatives of the TriCounty Community Network demonstrated safe dating exercises for counselors at this week's NOVA conference in Philadelphia

Pottsgrove English teacher Todd Kelly

POTTSTOWN PA – The work of Pottsgrove High School students that originated during 2008 just keeps on giving to their peers.

A special workshop on safe dating was presented this week (Aug. 14-17, 2001) by the SAFE (Supporting Abuse-Free Environments) Committee of the Pottstown PA-based TriCounty Community Network, during the 37th annual conference of the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) held in Philadelphia, the network said Friday (Aug. 19, 2011). The workshop included a presentation of “Mirror, Mirror,” the safe-dating play created in part and first performed three years ago by Pottsgrove learners.

The play was written with the help of playwright Aileen McCulloh and directed by Pottsgrove English teacher and drama director Todd Kelly. Its intent was to spread awareness of domestic violence issues and give the audience information to recognize warning signs of violence before it occurs. The network’s goal at the conference was to show other organizations how to replicate the play and facilitator-led discussions.

The network is a membership-based organization which partners with nonprofits, businesses and community groups to improve health, social and environmental conditions in western Montgomery, northern Chester and eastern Berks counties.

The play, which has been performed in many locations throughout the TriCounty area, is followed by a professionally-led discussion about issues it presents, as well as how to get help if they or a friend or loved-one needs assistance.

NOVA annually holds conferences at a variety of locations around the country to bring international agencies and individuals together for training, networking, and to provide up-to-date information on national advocacy issues.

Mia Gambino Hall

MILLERSVILLE PA – Mia Gambino Hall, a Pottsgrove High School alum who later starred in women’s lacrosse at Millersville University, has been named head women’s lacrosse coach at her alma mater, the PhillyLacrosse.com blog reported Friday (Aug. 19, 2011).

Hall spent the past two years as head coach at Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference rival Shippensburg University. She succeeds her former mentor, Barb Waltman, who retired in July as the longest-tenured coach in Division II history.

Hall, who also earned a master’s degree from Millersville in 2009, is just the third coach in Marauder lacrosse’s illustrious 44-year history.

• Read a story titled “Women’s lacrosse: Millersville hires alum Gambino Hall (Pottsgrove) as head coach” and published Friday at PhillyLacrosse.com