SANATOGA PA – Four area residents – two from the Rolling Hills Apartments complex on Buchert Road in Sanatoga, and two with borough of Pottstown addresses – were arrested in separate incidents between Friday (Dec. 9, 2011) and Wednesday (Dec. 14) on various charges of alleged theft, said to have occurred at the Sanatoga Thriftway, Redner’s Warehouse Market, and K-Mart department stores, Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Police Department officers reported.
The reports announced:
The arrest Wednesday morning of Brittany Cox, 25, of Rolling Hills, charged with retail theft. Ofc. Daniel Kienle said employees at Thriftway, 2190 E. High St., Sanatoga, claimed they had observed Cox allegedly “concealing items in a bag,” and was stopped by them “after she had passed all points of sales.”
The arrest Sunday afternoon (Dec. 11) of Dorris Lavelle Wright, 48, of Rolling Hills, charged with felony retail theft. Ofc. Matthew Kemp said store employees claimed she was seen “leaving the Thriftway with a bottle of Crisco oil and several meat steaks” allegedly concealed in her purse. She was arraigned, with bail set at $7,500. A preliminary hearing on the charge is scheduled for Dec. 21 (2011).
The arrest Sunday afternoon of Rachelle Fedick, 43, of North York Street, Pottstown, charged with retail theft. Ofc. Kienle said employees at Redner’s, 1300 N. Charlotte St., Pottstown, claimed they had observed her allegedly concealing merchandise, and later stopped her as she exited.
The arrest Friday of Danielle Marlatt, 45, of Manatawny Street, Pottstown, on charges of theft by unlawful taking and retail theft. Ofc. Kienle said his investigation found Marlatt allegedly “had been stealing gift cards that were to be given to customers” from K-Mart, 2200 E. High St., Sanatoga.
SANATOGA PA – Expect it to be busy tonight (Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011), its last official meeting night of 2011, when the Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township Board of Commissioners gathers at 7 p.m. in the municipal building, 2199 Buchert Rd., Pottstown PA. It’s open to the public.
There are year-end housekeeping items, too. The board is scheduled to approve meeting dates during 2012 for itself, the Sewer Authority, the Parks and Recreation Board, and the Board of Planning Commissioners. Also scheduled are two re-appointments each of members to the Planning Commission and Building Code Appeals Board, and one to the authority.
Monthly reports from the police chief, fire departments and the fire marshal, parks and recreation, the township engineer, treasurer and solicitor, and Lower Pottsgrove’s representatives to the Pottstown Area Council of Governments and the Regional Planning Commission also are expected.
POTTSTOWN PA – Proud Ringing Rocks Elementary School Principal Michelle Bozzini (above at right) and other members of the Pottsgrove School District administration and school board smiled and greeted visitors Tuesday night (Dec. 13, 2011) as the newly renovated and expanded school’s doors were officially opened for public viewing and self-guided tours.
The event marked a milestone in the history of the 1401 Kauffman Rd., Pottstown PA, building where thousands of students have been educated over several decades. The $16 million renovation project included classroom additions, expansion of project areas for art and other curriculum, a new media center and library, and technological innovations like a geothermal heating and cooling system.
Parents and their children seemed most delighted by the media center (above), the central feature of which is a grouping of plush, green-upholstered chairs intended to invite young readers to sit and be engrossed in their books. Special lighting fixtures in the library (right) not only focus light down to specific spots, but also up and out with the use of reflecting plates.
Adjacent to the media center is the school computer lab (below), filled from wall to wall with Apple devices ready for learners. In it, and in each classroom too, projectors hanging from the ceiling display the contents of the computers’ screens for all to see.
In the new classrooms, kids tried out desks and seats (above), envisioned themselves as teachers (left), and generally claimed the space as their own. Some district residents, both inside the rooms and down the hall during a reception at the cafeteria, took the opportunity to talk among themselves about potential changes in class make-ups as Pottsgrove considers its options in redistricting to better use available space at all three of its elementary schools.
The auditorium stage became a platform for friendship among students accompanying their families (above) and the renovated gymnasium (below) was the place where another group worked off their energy and excitement.
ON THE COURT AT POTTSGROVE HIGH – The girls’ junior varsity basketball squads of Pottsgrove and Upper Perkiomen high schools played Tuesday night (Dec. 13, 2011) at the Falcons’ home gym on Kauffman Road, Pottstown PA. See a gallery of 9 photos, below; enlarge any individual photo by clicking on its thumbnail image.
POTTSTOWN PA – A community open house to allow the public to tour the Pottsgrove School District’s newly completed renovations of Ringing Rocks Elementary School, 1401 Kauffman Rd., Pottstown PA, is scheduled to be held tonight (Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011) from 6-8 p.m. at the school.
A dedication and official ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for earlier in the day, between 2:30 and 3:15 p.m. It will include a performance of the National Anthem by student musicians; and remarks from Superintendent Dr. Bradley Landis, Principal Michelle Bozzini, and four teachers, Cheryl Buttaro, Ray Mueller, Rob Land, and Nancy Albright.
The ceremony also features comments by students; a formal recognition of distinguished guests, architects and contractors, and members of the Board of School Directors; and the ribbon-cutting itself.
The dedication was announced to the public in an online document available at the district website. For selected guests, however, the district also mailed a three-piece, formally embossed invitation card, pocket-sized agenda and card holder printed on gold-tinted stock with black lettering and a maroon accent.
Related (to Ringing Rocks Elementary School renovations):
POTTSTOWN PA – Electrical power was out for about three hours Monday night (Dec. 15, 2011) across a wide swath of homes and businesses on Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township’s east side, after an automobile accident occurred shortly after 5 p.m. on North Charlotte Street between Keim Street and Bleim Road.
A car hit and sheared a utility pole in two in the accident, downing it and accompanying wires. Montgomery County emergency dispatchers sent apparatus from the Ringing Hill Fire Company and other first responders to the scene. Reports indicate the driver of the overturned vehicle was not seriously injured.
A Metropolitan Edison spokeswoman said its crews worked to switch service as quickly as possible from one series of lines to another to restore electrical power in affected locations, and then could take even more time to clear and replace the damaged pole. Several housing communities along North Pleasant View and North Sanatoga roads were without power, and the normally well-lit exterior of the Buchert Road municipal building was dark.
Portions of Upper Pottsgrove Township also were said to be affected.
POTTSTOWN PA – They’re tuning up their vocal chords at Lower Pottsgrove Elementary School for next week’s annual holiday sing-along.
Every child attending the Buchert Road, Pottstown PA school, and their parents too, will be invited to join in singing holiday songs Dec. 23 (2011; Friday) beginning at 2 p.m. The song fest will be led by conductor Rodney Boyer, and teachers will also present the student band and orchestra to entertain.
The performances will be followed by parties at 2:50 p.m. in individual classrooms. Due to limited classroom space and student safety concerns, only homeroom parents and registered parent helpers will be in the classrooms for the parties.
The school will be close Dec. 24 through Jan. 2 (2012) for winter vacation.
POTTSTOWN PA – It’s during this time of year that Santa Claus separates himself from the pack of gift-giving pretenders. Sure, he’s busy making lists and checking them twice. Yes, he’s got all those reindeer to feed. And, of course, he visits children all around the world in a single night. That kind of schedule would leave any other red-suited fat man pooped; not Santa.
So it should be no surprise that, despite everything else he’s got going on, Santa will take time on Sunday (Dec. 18, 2011) to climb aboard a truck or two with volunteer members of Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township‘s own Ringing Hill Fire Company, and travel roads within the company’s 7.9-square-mile service area on the municipality’s west side. He’ll wave hello to residents and their kids, distribute good will, and toss some candy toward those he passes.
Fire company Secretary Kim Lightcap, in an e-mail to The Post, said its Santa Run will begin at about 11 a.m. “Keep your ears open and listen for the trucks,” her e-mail urged. There are no set times for routes or stops, so blaring fire sirens are the best indicator that “Santa (is) heading your way,” she said.
POTTSTOWN PA — Pottsgrove School District property taxes, the primary source of revenue for district operations, could rise by as much as $145 for the average homeowner under a preliminary 2012-2013 budget initially discussed Tuesday (Dec. 6, 2011) by the Board of School Directors, The (Pottstown PA) Mercury newspaper reported Sunday (Dec. 11).
Adoption of a budget in final form is not expected until next June. The Mercury said Business Administrator David Nester acknowledges the finished spending plan may look significantly different than the one he introduced to board members during their busy meeting night, which also involved its annual reorganization and a report concerning redistricting.
Under the state’s Act 1 index, a form of legislative budget restriction, the district currently is allowed to hike property taxes by up to 2.2 percent in 2012. On an “average” residential property with an assessed value of $120,000, that would represent an increase of about $92 over the 2011-2012 rate.
But the act also permits districts to raise taxes above their indexed cap to recover certain costs like increased pension expenses. That’s known as an exception, and Nester told directors Pottsgrove could qualify for one worth another 1.26 percent – creating an additional tax hike of $53 – for a total of $145.
Board members are charged with making those decisions. Nester merely laid out the options, The Mercury noted.
SANATOGA PA – A Limerick PA man was arrested Sunday morning (Dec. 11, 2011) and charged with aggravated assault and other offenses after police alleged he damaged the glass window of a Tanglewood Court home, fought with people nearby, threatened a young boy, and fled the area.
Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township police investigating Ofc. David Slothower said Chad M. Cook, no age given, of West Ridge Pike, Limerick PA, was arrested following the report of a disturbance Sunday shortly after 3 a.m.
A resident of the home claimed Cook had thrown a real estate sign through its picture window, and that the glass had stuck a person sitting on a couch inside. An argument followed outside, Slothower reported, during which Cook allegedly made threats against a 4-year-old boy and bit one person on the forearm in a struggle.
Cook was reported to have left the scene, but later was located and taken into custody by Limerick (PA) Township police. He was charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, and related charges, Slothower said. His bail was set at $35,000 cash following an arraignment, the officer added.
A preliminary hearing on the charges has been set for Dec. 21 (Wednesday) at 11 a.m.; Slothower’s report did not specify in which district court it would be held.
"I Went To Lower Pottsgrove Elementary"
The Facebook page for alumni of the school that once was located on North Pleasantview Road in Sanatoga, but is now home to Coventry Christian Academy.
SANATOGA PA – Four area residents – two from the Rolling Hills Apartments complex on Buchert Road in Sanatoga, and two with borough of Pottstown addresses – were arrested in separate incidents between Friday (Dec. 9, 2011) and Wednesday (Dec. 14) on various charges of alleged theft, said to have occurred at the Sanatoga Thriftway, Redner’s Warehouse Market, and K-Mart department stores, Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Police Department officers reported.
Parents and their children seemed most delighted by the media center (above), the central feature of which is a grouping of plush, green-upholstered chairs intended to invite young readers to sit and be engrossed in their books. Special lighting fixtures in the library (right) not only focus light down to specific spots, but also up and out with the use of reflecting plates.
In the new classrooms, kids tried out desks and seats (above), envisioned themselves as teachers (left), and generally claimed the space as their own. Some district residents, both inside the rooms and down the hall during a reception at the cafeteria, took the opportunity to talk among themselves about potential changes in class make-ups as Pottsgrove considers its options in redistricting to better use available space at all three of its elementary schools.
A car hit and sheared a utility pole in two in the accident, downing it and accompanying wires. Montgomery County emergency dispatchers sent apparatus from the Ringing Hill Fire Company and other first responders to the scene. Reports indicate the driver of the overturned vehicle was not seriously injured.
Every child attending the Buchert Road, Pottstown PA school, and their parents too, will be invited to join in singing holiday songs Dec. 23 (2011; Friday) beginning at 2 p.m. The song fest will be led by conductor Rodney Boyer, and teachers will also present the student band and orchestra to entertain.
POTTSTOWN PA – It’s during this time of year that Santa Claus separates himself from the pack of gift-giving pretenders. Sure, he’s busy making lists and checking them twice. Yes, he’s got all those reindeer to feed. And, of course, he visits children all around the world in a single night. That kind of schedule would leave any other red-suited fat man pooped; not Santa.
POTTSTOWN PA — 
