The Sanatoga Post

The assembled 2011 Pottsgrove High School Marching Band

POTTSTOWN PA – March on, Pottsgrove High School band members; march on. The district Board of School Directors said Tuesday (Feb. 14, 2012) it’s willing to put an additional $21,000 worth of pep into your step.

Directors voted to use a portion of about $60,000 raised in the district’s local merchant marketing campaign to pay in advance for marching band uniforms and percussion equipment. That allows the high school music department to place orders for those items before the end of March, ensuring their delivery for the 2012-2013 fall band season. Otherwise, it might not have gotten them until the season was almost over.

Band members, parents, and department heads applauded after the board decision.

Music education in Pottsgrove is happily suffering from a success problem, teachers Kathy Williams and Victor Holladay told the Board of School Directors last October (2011). Dozens of Pottsgrove Middle School students headed for the high school next year have already indicated they intend to join the band. Dozens more are ready to follow them from the elementary school music program in later years.

“The numbers are drastically improving,” Holladay said with a smile. “The band will more than double its size next year.”

Its fast growth, and its invitations to play later this spring in locations like Washington DC, have caused an immediate demand for percussion instruments valued at about $12,400 and 25 new band uniforms that will cost about $9,050, he explained Tuesday.

The department has already added those items to its 2012-2013 budget request. Problem is, Business Administrator David Nester noted, Holladay can’t spend what the board hasn’t yet approved … and potential acceptance of any budget remains months away. If the order is delayed, band members wouldn’t have their needs met until November or December.

Board President Michael Neiffer, who is a band volunteer and whose children are band members, notably abstained from voting. He announced his conflict of interest at the start of the discussion, but nonetheless advocated board approval of the advance purchase. “We don’t want to nickle-and-dime this,” he said specifically of the uniforms.

The money will be taken from revenue raised under the district’s partnership with the MarketStreet Sports Group of Lancaster PA. MarketStreet make a business of attracting local, regional and national companies to school districts primarily for advertising and promotional purposes. In Pottsgrove, it has signed the TriCounty Area Federal Credit Union, Mishock Physical Therapy and Associates, and Hallman Retirement Neighborhoods as clients.

The $60,000 fund was initially planned to be used for improvements and renovations to the high school girls’ softball field, Nester said. Enough money may be left to do that work too, he said.

Related:

• March On! Pottsgrove OKs Buying Instruments, Uniforms
• Successful Pottsgrove Music Programs On A (Drum) Roll

Related (to the Pottsgrove Board of School Directors’ Feb. 14 meeting):

• March On! Pottsgrove OKs Buying Instruments, Uniforms
• Pottsgrove Multi-Tasks Through MCIU Budget Approval
• State Suspends $3.2M In Ringing Rocks’ Reimbursement

THEIR FIRST WIN OF 2012 – Members of the Pottsgrove High School’s Indoor Percussion Ensemble won their first competitive outing of the year Saturday (Feb. 1, 2012), with a judges’ score of 72.30 over Egg Harbor High School, which scored 64.40. Although many of the eight groups that entered the percussion segment of the contest fall into different classifications, Pottsgrove’s score ranked second-highest among all competitors. The show was sponsored by the Cavalcade of Bands Association at Wissahickon High School in Ambler PA. The ensemble is next scheduled to compete Feb. 18 (Saturday) in a contest at Ephrata High School.

• Watch a video of the ensemble, above, as they played Thursday (Feb. 9, 2012) for family and friends at the Pottsgrove High School gym, or see it at The Post’s YouTube channel. Pottsgrove graduate and composer Kevin Smith, whose “Dreamscapes” piece is played by the ensemble, opens the video by talking about the creative process.

POTTSTOWN PA – The performance “window” for members of the Pottsgrove High School Indoor Percussion Ensemble, which enters its second year of competition Saturday (Feb. 11, 2012) at a show in Ambler PA, is only eight weeks long. But as the group (some of whom are pictured above) learned last year, that’s time enough to earn awards from judges, praise from peers, and admiration from parents.

The 12-student ensemble left early Saturday for Wissahickon High School to join its first contest of 2012 against a field of eight other groups, many of them well-seasoned veterans. They’ll perform at 11:40 a.m., and then must wait until awards are presented at 5:30 p.m. to see how they fared. “It’s going to be a long day,” percussion instructor Eric Williamson noted.

It’s worth it, ensemble members contend. The competitions are sponsored by the Cavalcade of Bands Association Inc., the same group that oversees shows in which Pottsgrove’s far larger marching band competes. Doing well there brings honor to the Falcons, the Pottsgrove School District, and themselves, they say.

They’ve spent weeks since November in practice, perfecting their techniques and knowledge of this year’s piece. It’s an original composition called “Dreamcatchers,” written by Pottsgrove grad Kevin Smith (watching the group perform, below) and intended to give sonic definition to a young child’s dreams and nightmares. Parents, teachers and friends who heard it performed during a preview Thursday night (Feb. 9) in the high school gym loved it. “It was very listen-able,” one said.

The ensemble got started last year, and won honors during its first run. “That’s what got us thinking, ‘how can we do even better?’,” Smith said. “We were talking about this year even before last year ended,” he added, grinning.

The group is as different as its surprising initial results. They’re not a bunch of hard-core drummers, Williamson explained; about half its members play string, wind and other instruments with the marching band. Of the 12, five are not yet in high school. That speaks to their versatility, and the ensemble’s ability to continue building successes over several more years.

As it strides into the Wissahickon show, visitors there will see evidence of one more way in which the ensemble defies tradition. Rather than usual uniforms, and in keeping with the theme of Smith’s composition, its members will wear pajamas. They’ll be comfortable, warm and, they hope, winners too.

• See a Post gallery of seven photos, below, taken during the Thursday night preview show. Click on any thumbnail image to enlarge it.

POTTSTOWN PA – Members of Pottsgrove High School’s acclaimed classical auditioned vocal ensemble, the Choraliers, will participate next Monday (Feb. 13, 2012) at 7 p.m. in the annual Tri-County Honors Choir Concert to be held at Spring-Ford Area High School on South Lewis Road in Royersford.

• These events have been added to The Post calendar.

Selected singers from Pottsgrove, Norristown, Spring-Ford and Plymouth-Whitemarsh high schools have been rehearsing together since November (2011) “to produce a concert of gorgeous music,” Pottsgrove Director Of Choral Music Cynthia Foust said Tuesday (Feb. 7), and she expects they’ll be even busier Monday with final preparations and “an entire day of rehearsal … to polish our music.”

Representing Pottsgrove are students Abby Huddock, Andrea Paganelli, Anne Fischer, Danielle Gambino, Jasmyn West, Rhiannon Levengood, Rowan Meador, Stephanie French, Aaron Jaffe, Joe Daye, Justin Hernandez, TJ Galamba, Ashleigh Kleinschmidt, Emily Weaver, Erin Amole, Felicia Nester, Jazmin Reddick, Jennifer Korb, Kelsey Lloyd, Krisina Antonio, Shaina Wood, Tiara Mitchel, Andrew Koss, Jeremy Downey, Vincent Pellechio, Nick Wolfe, and Trevor Noll.

Choral directors involved in addition to Foust are Yvonne O’Dea, Spring-Ford; Amy LaRue, Plymouth-Whitemarsh; Lynn Danoff and Bruce Tonkin, Norristown. Retired Spring-Ford director David Nicol assisted as pianist during rehearsals.

Tickets for the show, available at the door, cost $7 for adults and $5 for seniors; students will be admitted free.

And, as they say in show business, that’s not all!

Pottsgrove’s Choral Department presents its pops concert, “A Night on Broadway,” on Feb. 16 (Thursday) beginning at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of Pottsgrove High School, Kauffman Road, Pottstown PA.

The Pottsgrove Show and Concert choirs will open and close the concert with selections from “A Chorus Line” and “Les Miserables.”

Solos from various musicals will be performed by Erin Amole, Brianna Pettiti, Anastasia Koss, Karley Moser, Jennifer Korb, Emily Weaver, Krisinia Antonio, Anne Fisher, Andrea Paganelli, Passione Nettle, Danielle Buchanan, Rebecca Smith, Jazmin Reddick, Sara Onyemaobin, Vincent Pellechio, Shayna Flint, Felecia Nester and TJ Galamba. Robin Ward will be piano accompanist.

Tickets, also available at the door, cost $5 for adults and $3 for students and seniors. Maroon and White cards will be honored.

Finally, Foust notes the choral department will conduct its annual Bingo and Bling Night fund-raiser Feb. 24 (Friday) at the high school beginning at 7 p.m. Filled Longaberger-brand baskets and sterling silver Silpada-brand jewelry are among the prizes offered. Tickets cost $20 and can be bought at the door or in advance from Foust by calling 610-326-5105 Ext. 6501.

The Ches-Mont Jubilaires, as they performed last year at Camp Hill PA

SANATOGA PA – “Grandpa’s Attic,” a show that features the barbershop harmonies of several a’capella groups, will be held March 24 (2012; Saturday) beginning at 2 p.m. in the Berean Bible Church, 2675 E. High St., Sanatoga PA, organizer Syl Buszta announced.

• This event has been added to The Post calendar.

The program features the “Top Shelf” Quartet and Ches-Mont Jubilaires Chorus, as well as the Time Frame, Vocal Ease, Off Broadway, Downtown Sound, and Sound Generation quartets. An abundance of parking is available, as is parking for the handicapped.

Tickets cost $10 for adults, and $5 for students. They can be purchased at the door, or in advance from Buszta, who also is secretary of the Jubilaires Chorus, by calling 610-323-9068.

Dustin Tavella

POTTSTOWN PA – Pottsgrove High School graduate and increasingly popular national singer-songwriter Dustin Tavella is now a television star, too. He’s appearing weekly (so far, at least) in Season Three of “Sweet Home Alabama,” a reality contest series on CMT, formerly known as the County Music Television channel.

But about that “so far” part …

If you’re unfamiliar with the show, think of it as a southern-states version of “The Bachelor.” Twenty-two eligible young men attempt to outdo each other in weekly challenges to win the affection of a young woman. In this case, the woman is Paige Duke of Lancaster SC. She’s a Clemson University graduate who works as a national representative for Kruger Farms, an outdoors retailer in Minnesota.

Tavella, naturally, is one of the competitors. They are regularly eliminated from the show as Duke makes her preferences known, and family member Patti Tavella on Monday (Jan. 23, 2011) reported the news so far is good. Five men have been cut; Dustin’s still hanging in. For how long, who knows?

Tavella’s big chance to woo Duke arrives on the show Friday (Jan. 27), when an episode titled “Around The Campfire” airs at 9 and 11 p.m. Patti said during a “date” with Duke he will sing a song he wrote specifically for her and the show.

As an aside, the show’s promotional material describes Tavella as “a recording artist from Philadelphia, Penn. Dustin loves entertaining at children’s hospitals and has traveled the world doing missionary work. He is still a virgin, saving himself for marriage.”

Tavella has been an inspiration for students in Pottsgrove’s halls in recent years, and particularly at the middle school on North Hanover Street. He’s led music-fueled fitness exercises there, and served as a motivational speaker during assemblies.

It’s understatement to say Tavella – who rarely misses an opportunity to publicly poke fun at himself – is having fun on the show. His latest video on YouTube (he has 73, for anyone who’s counting) promotes “Sweet Home Alabama” in a take-off of the rap song, “Sexy And I Know It.” His twist is titled “I’m Country And I Know It,” and although it’s far from the smell of hay and the sound of twanging guitars, it has already been viewed more than 383,000 times … in just one week.

• Watch the video (above), or see it at Tavella’s YouTube channel.

Other coverage:

• Stowe native featured on reality show ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ (The Mercury)

Photos from CMT, Dustin Tavella

SANATOGA PA – Jottings from a reporter’s notebook:

Refined Music, Refined Atmosphere Too

It was a happy surprise to hear Cutillo’s Restaurant, 2688 E. High St., Sanatoga heading the list of venues and events being promoted Monday (Jan. 16, 2012) by Philadelphia jazz music radio station WRTI-FM. If you haven’t been there lately, Cutillo’s now presents live jazz by regional performers every Saturday from 9 p.m. to midnight in its lounge. Scheduled for Jan. 28 is “Evolution Jazz.”

Valley Forge Touts The Value Of Membership

Those who travel U.S. Route 422 past King of Prussia during the weekday commute can’t help but notice the strides construction crews are making in the renovation of the Valley Forge Conference Center and its adjacent hotel. They will soon become part of the Valley Forge Casino Resort and Spa. Although an opening is several months away, the resort is already selling three-month trial and full-year memberships for dining and entertainment.

An artist's rendering of the casino's interior

Casino access is included with both, naturally.

The gambling license granted by Pennsylvania to Valley Forge forbids casino access to the general public unless they are registered overnight guests at the hotel; visitors attending a convention, meeting or a private function; customers who spend a minimum of $10 in one of the resort’s restaurants, night clubs or retail stores; or who … you guessed it … are resort members.

Three-month trial dining memberships are currently being advertised at $20; entertainment, $30.

The Exeter Chick-fil-a

Fill Your Stomach, And Bring A Jacket, Won’t You?

Chosen 300 Ministries, which operates in Pottstown, will benefit from a coat-and-blanket drive to be held today (Monday, Jan. 16) just west up the road (U.S. Route 422) at the Chick-fil-a Restaurant in Exeter.

The restaurant and WORD-FM Radio are calling this a “Souper Coat Drive,” which ties neatly to one of the store’s newest menu items, Chicken Tortilla Soup. Visitors who donate a new or gently used coat or blanket will receive a thank-you coupon for a serving of Chick-fil-A’s soups. Restaurant operator Shawn Filby reminds you that he offers a “classic Hearty Breast of Chicken Soup” as well.

Chosen 300 is a non-profit that distributes coats, blankets and meals to the homeless and needy not only in Pottstown, but in Philadelphia and Reading as well.

How often can you say “I cut the cheese!” and mean something good?

Rebbie at a book-signing event

Last June (2011), Royersford resident and singer-songwriter-author Kevin Rebbie published a well-received children’s book, illustrated by animator Laura Bluett, called “Mr. Stinkas and The Little Cheese Shop.” Mr. Stinkas has a dog named “Old Bleu,” and they have adventures that we’re not about to spoil by telling you. Suffice it to say, the book is aptly titled.

Part of its appeal, besides being a hoot for kids, is that a portion of the book’s proceeds are donated to a foundation that supports pediatric cancer research. Rebbie’s been busy on a regional promotional circuit since Mr. Stinkas’ debut. He’s been to Wilmington DE, Philadelphia (several times), and King of Prussia through late last month to do interviews and book signings.

Now he’s offering a discounted price ($25, formerly $30; and free shipping) from his website on a package that includes an autographed and personalized copy of the 64-page, full-color book, an accompanying audio CD, and an “I Cut The Cheese” backpack. The charities (there are now three Rebbie supports) still get a cut too.

Editor’s note: Notebook Worthy is a series of occasional articles; find others like it, here.

Photos from Google Images, the Valley Forge Casino and Resort, Chick-fil-a Exeter, and Kevin Rebbie

Entrance to The High Street Music Company, 135 High St., Pottstown

POTTSTOWN PA – Students between ages 7 and 18 in the Pottsgrove, Pottstown, and Spring-Ford Area school districts who need financial assistance in pursuing a musical education or performance opportunities may benefit from a new partnership between the High Street Music Company in Pottstown and the non-profit Give The Gift Of Music Foundation.

High Street Music CEO Louis Reiger recently sent a notice to all music teachers in the greater Pottstown area to announce his company’s affiliation with the charity. It means that music students who fit certain economic criteria and need help in paying for music lessons or buying instruments might qualify for a foundation scholarship or grant.

The charity “shares our belief in the importance of quality musical education for all children,” Reiger wrote.

High Street Music Company, 135 High St., Pottstown PA, opened in December 2006 and offers private instruction for brass, woodwinds, strings, guitar, bass, piano, and drums. Its instructors “have extensive experience in the music industry, ranging from playing in various venues in the U.S. as well as abroad, serving as producing and consulting artists, and providing many years of education.

Determination of financial need is based on an evaluation of employment and financial information supplied in an application form. To qualify, recipients must have at least one custodial parent or legal guardian who receives federal or state unemployment compensation, or assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs.

For more information on the foundation’s efforts, call Reiger at 610-906-3357.

Photo from The High Street Music Company

Bag assembly volunteers gathered earlier this month in Sanatoga, and will unite again Dec. 8, to help create special holiday gifts for ill children

SANATOGA PA – Sometimes, Andrea Mazzenga believes, the best gift offered during the holidays can be a gift of time.

Mazzenga, whose family operates the Buttercup Beads beaded crafts shop at 2151 E. High St. in the Sanatoga village shopping district, called Monday (Nov. 28, 2011) for volunteers to donate a couple of hours and their talents for a “bead bag sew-a-thon” scheduled for Dec. 8 (Thursday) at 6 p.m. in the store. They’ll assemble and sew decorated carrying bags given under the national Beads of Courage project to children with severe illnesses.

• This event has been added to The Post calendar.

“Our last get-together (earlier this month) was really fun,” Mazzenga said in an e-mail. That’s when a volunteer group, consisting mostly of store patrons, cut material for the bags and started sewing. “Now that we have all the material cut, we could sure use more bag assemblers and sewing machine operators. We should be able to get the rest done,” she wrote.

If you’re handy with a sewing machine and have some time to spare, Mazzenga noted, this is a perfect charitable opportunity. And if you’re all thumbs with a needle, that’s no problem; there are plenty of non-sewing tasks too. “Please join us to assembly line Bead Bags for the kids,” she asked. “We’ll go until we run out of fabric or drop to the floor … whichever comes first!”

More than 40 bags are already completed. She’s hoping to finish several dozen more before they must be shipped to project recipients. For more information, call 484-524-8231.

The colorful, decorated bags bring a smile to the faces of children, and serve a useful purpose too

Photos from Buttercup Beads

HOPING TO CUT A DEAL – The Brothers Grimm, played by Vinny Pellechio, left, and Jeremy Downey, try to negotiate a new contract with their star diva, Snow White, played by Anastasia Koss, in the Pottsgrove High School production of a children’s musical, “Mother Goose, Incorporated,” which will be offered for one performance only on Thursday (Nov. 17, 2011) at 7 p.m. in the high school, Kauffman Road, Pottstown PA. “The show’s brisk pace, familiar characters, engaging songs, and (hour-long) running time make it ideal entertainment for both the young and the young-at-heart,” Pottsgrove School District spokesman Beth Trapani said Saturday (Nov. 12). Tickets, available at the door, cost $3 for all patrons age 12 and older; those younger are free. For more information, call 610-326-5105.