The Sanatoga Post

Girl Scout Senior Troop 49 met in Lower Pottsgrove in the 1950s

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

SANATOGA PA – It occurs every year at this time, that gnawing hunger for Thin Mints, Shortbread, Peanut Butter Patties, and Caramel Delites. Those and other Girl Scout cookies are as much a part of the snack-time landscape across Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township as anywhere else.

Lower Pottsgrove Brownies bake holiday cookies for state hospital residents in 1959

Local troops during 2012 are marking the Scouts’ 100th anniversary. To commemorate the milestone, a new lemon flavored cookie – Savannah Smiles – was introduced this year to the popular cookie line-up.

Girl Scouting has been active in Lower Pottsgrove since the 1940s. The Sanatoga Grange was among the first Girl Scout troop sponsors in the area. Pottsgrove schools have also sponsored troops throughout the years.

Troops of the Pottstown Council of Girl Scouts helped earn money through cookie sales in 1956 for the purchase of Camp Forest Glen, which was near Huff’s Church. They enjoyed troop and day camping there for a number of years.

Many area women have volunteered their time and energy as Girl Scout leaders.  One of the most influential was the late Sally Moyer, former secretary at Lower Pottsgrove Elementary School, and former township treasurer. Girl Scouting opportunities in the township increased in the early 1970s due to her efforts. Her very active Cadet Troop 470 was sponsored by the Sanatoga Fire Company.

If you’re hungry for cookies this week, they’re still available. The Girl Scouts’ Cookie Finder website reports cookies will be sold by troops at these and many other locations:

• Today (Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012) through Friday (Feb. 17) from noon to 9 p.m. at Coventry Mall, 351 W. Schuylkill Rd., Pottstown PA;
• Saturday (Feb. 18) from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at he Philadelphia Premium Outlets, 18 W. Lightcap Rd., Limerick PA; and
• Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Boscov’s Department Store at Coventry Mall.

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 from April through December at its museum and offices in the former Sanatoga Chapel, 2341 E. High St., Sanatoga PA. Author and society President Beth Scherer writes about Lower Pottsgrove history monthly for The Post.

Articles in this series:

• In Township, Scouts And Cookies (Yum!) Have A History
• Family Appliance Business Has Long History In Santa-toga
• Love NASCAR Now? You Would Have Adored Sanatoga
• Timeless Treasures Fill Historical Society Chapel Offices
• Hilltop’s Still Making History, 59 Years After Opening
• Historic Answer To Heat: Township Swimmin’ Holes
• Need A Local Hotel? There Once Were Four, Right Here
• What’s Changed Most In ‘Grove Grads? Their Schools
• Shantz’s Mound Presence Made Sanatoga ‘Pheverous’
• Stars Danced In Lower Pottsgrove Long Before TV Show
• Never Heard Of Sanatoga’s Longview Hotel? Here’s Why

On its way to the Cluster, thanks to Wegman's

POTTSTOWN PA – Wegman’s Food Markets, which operates a store in Collegeville and will soon open one in King of Prussia, is making a contribution this morning (Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012) that is likely to help hundreds of hungry families who rely on the free food pantry at the outreach center of the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities, 57 N. Franklin St.

A Wegman’s driver is scheduled to pilot a 50-foot-long tractor trailer filled with the supermarket chain’s donated food into the outreach center’s receiving docks at 10 a.m., according to the Cluster.

Philabundance, a non-profit organization that distributes food to pantries for the needy across the greater Philadelphia area, is experiencing a temporary shortage which would have threatened this month’s Cluster delivery. Wegman’s, which is represented on the Cluster board, volunteered to step in and fill the gap.

It’s not the first time, either. Back in September 2009, only three weeks before the chain opened its Collegeville store, it dropped 17,000 pounds of food at the Cluster’s doors. That load included 20 pallets of canned goods, cereals, snacks, assorted beverages, condiments and baking mixes and ingredients.

At a time when local families’ needs are increasing and available resources are declining, said Cluster Executive Director Barbara Wilhelmy, both donations and the personal assistance of volunteers are greatly appreciated. Although financial support is always welcomed, donors can also deliver supplies to the outreach center themselves. Its most current (Jan. 13) wish list of needs for the food pantry and elsewhere can be found here.

Several Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township residents and ministers serve on the Cluster board or as spiritual advisers.

Photo from GoogleImages

Friendly's, 203 Shoemaker Rd., Pottstown PA

SANATOGA PA – Staff members at Meals On Wheels in Sanatoga hope you’ll hop into your own wheels Feb. 13 (2012; Monday) and cruise over to the west side of Pottstown for a meal that will give the program some financial assistance.

Friendly’s Restaurant, at the corner of Route 100 and Shoemaker Road, will hold a fund-raiser that day from 5-8 p.m. to benefit Family Services of Montgomery County and, specifically, its effort to bring two meals daily to shut-ins and elderly in the greater Pottstown area. Friendly’s is donating 10 percent of its proceeds during the period, for both dine-in and take-out items, to Meals On Wheels.

• This event has been added to The Post calendar.

Ruth Hood, director of the meals program located at 1976 E. High St., claimed it has “a long history of ensuring the nutritional well-being of elderly individuals … and has helped many seniors lead happy, healthy and independent lives.”

Each weekday, according to Hood, Family Services provides two meals – a hot lunch and a cold supper to refrigerate – to an average of 175 home-bound elderly and disabled individuals in Pottstown, Royersford and the Lower Perkiomen Valley. Community volunteers personally deliver more than 81,000 meals a year.

“Thanks to the community’s ongoing support of our fund-raising efforts, we are able to serve (those) who turn to our program for assistance,” Hood said.

Photo from Yahoo Images

Breakfast awaits

POTTSTOWN PA – A pancake breakfast fund-raiser supporting the Pottsgrove High School girls’ basketball team will be held Saturday (Jan. 21, 2012) from 8-10 a.m. at Applebee’s Restaurant, 833 N. State St., Pottstown, according to an e-mail sent Wednesday from the Pottsgrove School District.

• This event has been added to The Post calendar.

Tickets cost $7 for the general public, and $3 for participants in the Lower Pottsgrove Athletic Association. For more information or to buy tickets, call Coach Mike Brendlinger at 610-970-2868, or ask a team member.

Photo from Google Images

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

Needed: cheery volunteers for meals' delivery

SANATOGA PA – Montgomery County’s Meals on Wheels program, operated by Family Services at 1976 E. High St., Sanatoga, needs volunteers to pack and deliver meals to home-bound elderly and disabled individuals in the greater Pottstown area, the agency said Friday (Jan. 6, 2012.)

Meals on Wheels provides two meals – a hot lunch and a cold supper to refrigerate – each weekday to an average of 160 individuals in Pottstown, Royersford and the Lower Perkiomen Valley. Volunteers personally deliver more than 81,000 meals a year.

Volunteers gather weekdays in two shifts, 8-10:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. to noon, for packing. Volunteers who deliver meals meet weekdays at 10:30 a.m. Most delivery routes take about 1-1/2 hours to complete. Drivers must have a valid driver’s license, current insurance and their own reliable vehicle.

Many volunteers commit to packing or delivering meals once a week; others volunteer on a substitute basis. Training is provided.

For more information, call Case Manager Alicia Adams at 610-326-1610, Ext. 228.

Photo from GoogleImages

SANATOGA PA – The owner of a restaurant proposed for the heart of Sanatoga village, construction of which could begin within weeks, won a full license Tuesday (Jan. 3, 2012) to serve and sell beer and alcoholic beverages there once it opens.

Bella Italia Restaurant Owner Vito Cilluffo, left, and real estate licensee Sal Gambone, address commissionrs during Tuesday's hearing

Although the Board of Commissioners’ vote to grant the liquor license for Bella Italia Restaurant – to be built at 2209 E. High St. – ultimately was unanimous, newest commissioner Stephen Klotz earlier tried to solicit owner Vito Cilluffo’s pledge not to sell beer to off-the-street purchasers. Cilluffo declined, but assured board members he would closely monitor when and to whom beer was sold.

“People running in-and-out, getting six packs of beer, is my concern,” Klotz explained. “I don’t want this place to be a six-pack heaven.”

Real estate licensee Sal Gambone, who negotiated the transfer of the license from a Norristown firm to Bella Italia and who appeared with Cilluffo during the board’s extended hearing on the license, told commissioners the restaurant was intended to be run as “a quality place” with a full-service menu. Its policy, he added, would be to sell beer primarily to patrons who also ordered food.

To forego the incremental portion of business that other six-pack sales might produce would be unwise, Gambone suggested.

Cilluffo and his representatives have spent more than 18 months trying to get the restaurant built just west of the now-vacant Rite Aid retail store on East High. Much of the delay was created as Cilluffo attempted to satisfy commissioners’ desires to deal with an alley exit at the northwest corner of the property.

None of the commissioners who dealt with Bella Italia in that time raised any concerns about the liquor license, although they were aware one would be sought.

“We really want to encourage new business in our township,” board President Jonathan Spadt said, somewhat apologetically, “but I certainly understand Commissioner Klotz’s concerns. Let’s say that we’re going to closely watch what happens” after the license takes effect, he suggested.

“I’m happy. It sounds to me like you’re going to run a higher-end business,” Klotz concluded. Klotz himself offered the resolution under which the license was approved.

A contractor’s trailer that was recently moved onto the property, and a sign announcing the name of an excavating company, are indicators work on the project may soon get under way.

Related:

• Commissioners OK Restaurant Liquor License Transfer
• Township Opens, Delays Firm’s Liquor License Hearing
• Grading Permit OK’d For Sanatoga Restaurant Parcel
• Italian Restaurant Construction Could Start Within Weeks
• One Down, One To Go For Township Italian Restaurant
• Watch Your Speedometer! Sanatoga Street Slows 5 Mph
• Commissioners OK Italian Restaurant’s Plans, Without Alley
• It Could Be Awhile Before Sanatoga Pizza Oven Fires Up
• Alley To Sunnyside Ave. ‘Elephant’ In Restaurant Plans
• Restaurant, Doctors’ Office Return To Planning Board
• Owners Ask For Restaurant Variance Extensions
• Planners Hear More About Proposed Pizza Restaurant
• Pizzeria Owner Has History Of Restaurant Development
• Restaurant, Ringing Projects Win Conditional Uses
• Ringing Rocks, Restaurant Hearing Topics Tonight
• Pizzeria Planned Next To Sanatoga Rite-Aid

Related (to the Lower Pottsgrove Board of Commissioners’ Jan. 3 meeting):

• Commissioners OK Restaurant Liquor License Transfer
• Police Chief Shade Retiring; Foltz Named Acting Chief
• All Sworn In And Ready To Work In Lower Pottsgrove
• Police Officer’s Heroism Acknowledged With Award
• Commissioners Ring In New At Tonight’s Township Meet

SANATOGA PA – The unexplained absence of a liquor license applicant at its own specially-called public hearing prompted the Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Board of Commissioners to delay  action Thursday (Dec. 15, 2011) affecting the Bella Italia Restaurant, already approved for construction at 2209 E. High St., Sanatoga, just west of the now-vacant Rite Aid Pharmacy.

Representatives of 2209 Inc., which township Solicitor R. Kurtz Holloway said was the entity for the proposed restaurant’s operations, were unavailable as commissioners opened a hearing on their behalf. It was scheduled for discussion of the requested transfer of a liquor license from a Norristown-based holder to what has been promoted as a full-service Italian foods restaurant at the heart of Sanatoga village.

The hearing had been advertised only a week earlier in The (Pottstown PA) Mercury newspaper, the township’s publication of record for legal notices, to begin promptly at 7 p.m. Commissioners held off on its opening, in hopes that someone from the company might arrive later during their meeting.

When no one did, Holloway suggested opening the hearing anyway. “It’s already been advertised,” he reasoned. “If we don’t hold it, we’ll need to advertise it again. The board could open the hearing and continue it to another date, and we can see what’s happened with the applicant,” he added.

Board members heeded his advice, and then continued the hearing to Jan. 3 (2012; Tuesday) at 7 p.m.

Bella Italia is being built and operated by Cilluffo Property Holdings LLC of Blue Bell PA. It’s taken more than two years to move its project through town, county and state regulatory agency hurdles. When commissioners gave final approval to its plans in July (2011) they were hopeful construction would begin quickly. It hasn’t; the lot it would occupy is not yet graded, although a permit for that purpose was issued during August.

Related:

• Township Opens, Delays Firm’s Liquor License Hearing
• Grading Permit OK’d For Sanatoga Restaurant Parcel
• Italian Restaurant Construction Could Start Within Weeks
• One Down, One To Go For Township Italian Restaurant
• Watch Your Speedometer! Sanatoga Street Slows 5 Mph
• Commissioners OK Italian Restaurant’s Plans, Without Alley
• It Could Be Awhile Before Sanatoga Pizza Oven Fires Up
• Alley To Sunnyside Ave. ‘Elephant’ In Restaurant Plans
• Restaurant, Doctors’ Office Return To Planning Board
• Owners Ask For Restaurant Variance Extensions
• Planners Hear More About Proposed Pizza Restaurant
• Pizzeria Owner Has History Of Restaurant Development
• Restaurant, Ringing Projects Win Conditional Uses
• Ringing Rocks, Restaurant Hearing Topics Tonight
• Pizzeria Planned Next To Sanatoga Rite-Aid

Related (to the Lower Pottsgrove Board of Commissioners’ Dec. 15 meeting):

• Township Opens, Delays Firm’s Liquor License Hearing
• Lower Pottsgrove, Its Officer Settle Disciplinary Dispute
• Township’s November Warrants Detail Month’s Spending
• Township Budget Final, Approved With Average $31 Hike
• Lower Pottsgrove Settles Police Matter; Looks Ahead to 2012 (Pottstown Patch)
• Last 2011 Commissioners Meeting, Budget Approval Tonight

Infographic from the MD Anderson Cancer Center

POTTSTOWN PA – Donations of non-perishable food items are being accepted at Pottsgrove High School this week and through Nov. 24 as students there participate, as they have for several years, in an annual drive to benefit the Philabundance food distribution charity.

Pottsgrove has won honors in years past as among the schools collecting and bringing the greatest amount of food, measured in pounds, to be donated to Philabundance through Philadelphia radio station WMMR-FM 93.3 and its “Preston and Steve” morning show. “We are asking for your help,” students said to the public Monday (Nov. 14) in an e-mail circulated to Pottsgrove School District recipients.

Those interested in donating food items or cash should contact high school teachers John Shantz in Room 2A or Amber Biddle in Room 214.