The Sanatoga Post

SANATOGA PA – Local government junkies love early January. It’s the best time of year to make their marks on a brand new, pristine calendar.

Like local governments everywhere, Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township has obliged those who follow its inner workings – far more closely than most of us – by supplying in advance its schedule of commissions, boards, and agencies meeting dates during the next 12 months.

Meetings are planned for:

• the Board of Commissioners, at 7 p.m. on Jan. 3 and 19 Feb. 6 and 23, March 5 and 22, April 2 and 9, May 7 and 24, June 4 and 21, July 2 and 19, Aug. 6 and 23, Sept. 4 and 20 Oct. 1 and 18, Nov. 1 and 15, and Dec. 3 and 20;

• the Sewer Authority, at 7 p.m. on Jan. 9, Feb. 13, March 12, April 9, May 16, June 11, July 9, Aug. 13, Sept. 10, Oct. 9, Nov. 12, and Dec. 10;

• the Planning Commission, at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 23, Feb. 27, March 19, April 16, May 21, June 18, July 16, Aug. 20, Sept. 17, Oct. 15, Nov. 19 and Dec. 17; and

• the Parks and Recreation Board, at 7 p.m. on Jan. 30, Feb. 28, March 26, April 23, May 29, June 25, July 23, Aug. 27, Sept. 24, Oct. 22 and Nov. 26, with no meeting in December.

Exceptions in scheduling meeting dates are the township Zoning Hearing Board and Civil Service Commission. They meet only on an as-needed basis.

All meetings are held at the municipal building, 2199 Buchert Rd., Pottstown, and are open to the public. Both the building and its and meeting room are wheelchair accessible. Anyone who needs assistance or accommodation to attend a meeting is asked to call the township office, 610-323-0436 Ext. 8, at least 24 hours in advance. Those with limited or no hearing can contact the township using a telecommunication device for the deaf (TDD) by calling the AT&T Pennsylvania Relay Center toll-free at 800-654-5984.

The township advertised its meeting dates Dec. 21 (2011) in The Pottstown Mercury newspaper, its publication of record for legal notices.

A costumed youngster creates his own craft beneath an awning that provided ample shade from the Indian Summer sun during Lower Pottsgrove's 2010 Fall Festival

SANATOGA PA – Double-check a calendar, then mark it properly for the now-changed date of Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township’s annual Fall Festival. It had been scheduled to occur this Sunday (Oct. 23, 2011), but has been moved back by a week to Oct. 30 (Sunday), and still will  begin at 1 p.m. in the upper level of Sanatoga Park, next to the Tot Lot playground, at 200 S. Sanatoga Rd., Pottstown PA. It’s free, and open to township residents and their guests.

• This event has been added to The Post calendar.

Sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Board, the festival features hayrides, games, and (of course) a costume contest. Children participating in the contest must be registered in advance; forms for the purpose are available at the municipal building, 2199 Buchert Rd., Pottstown, and also can be completed at the festival.

SANATOGA PA – What happens when communities work together? Businesses prosper, experts say; traffic flows, residential property values go up, schools improve. And what happens when a community’s news media publishers and others work together? Well, in one case in Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township, summer concert audiences grow and some big name performers may return here because they were so welcomed.

The New Jersey-based 78th Army Band, during its July 13 (2011) debut as part of this year’s township Parks and Recreation Board summer concert series, attracted one of the largest audiences (above) of its entire tour, Assistant Manager Alyson Elliott told the Board of Commissioners during its meeting Monday (Aug. 1). Band officials were surprised and impressed, she said, and have asked about a return engagement in 2012.

That’s a notable accomplishment, commissioners agreed, considering the 50-plus-piece band and its ensembles this year played in much bigger venues like Baltimore and Ocean City MD, Gettysburg and Philadelphia PA, and Cape May and Haddonfield NJ.

A memo included with the board’s meeting agenda singled out The Sanatoga Post and Managing Editor Joe Zlomek for assistance in promoting the show. However, the credit must be shared by greater Pottstown publishers and several other people who willingly publicized the event because they were asked to do so, and because their own readers or constituents may have been interested.

The band’s audience of more than 350 people benefited from promotional efforts by:

• Jennifer Corley, township receptionist and Recreation Board secretary;
• Pottsgrove American Legion Post 244 Adjutant Billy Worrell;
• Spring City Armory Facilities Manager CWO Michael Murphy;
• Roy Keeler, author of the Roy’s Rants and Progress Pennsylvania blogs in Pottstown;
• Maureen Gallant, author of Pottstown’s Blog;
• Chris Huff of the Code Blue Pulse and MOSAIC Community Land Trust blogs in Pottstown;
• Jeff Leflar, also of Code Blue Pulse;
• Sue Repko, author of the Positively!Pottstown blog and also a member of MOSAIC;
• Eileen Faust, online editor of The (Pottstown PA) Mercury;
• Stephanie Conlon, publisher of Community Buzz in Douglassville;
• Teresa McMinn of the Pottstown edition of Patch online media;
• Kevin Haslam of the Limerick edition of Patch; and
• David Powell and Tom Murray, Patch regional editors.

As it has in the past, the Recreation Board also thanks Exelon Nuclear’s Limerick Generating Station for the financial support that makes the concert series possible.

The series has one performance remaining. The Pottsgrove Community Band will appear Sunday (Aug. 7) at 6 p.m. at the band shell in Sanatoga Park, South Sanatoga Road. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket, and enjoy its many musical talents for free.

Related:

• Army Band May Return, Thanks To Impressive Crowd
• Perfect Weather, Huge Crowd Greets Rousing 78th Band
• Meet The 78th Army Band, Then Be Wowed Wednesday
• Thinking Big, Musically: Baltimore, Philly. Sanatoga? Yes!

Related (to the Lower Pottsgrove Board of Commissioners’ meeting of Aug. 1):

• Army Band May Return, Thanks To Impressive Crowd
• Whack Away At Unsightly Weeds, Township Pleads
• July Tax Payments Trickle In At A Rate Of $528 Per Day
• Tax Settlements: An Awful Lot Of Paperwork To Net $677
• Lower Pottsgrove’s June 2011 Warrants Now Online
• Bridge, Guardrail Study Proposed For Pruss Hill Road
• Township 2009 Sex Offender Law ‘Might Not Stand Up’
• Commissioners OK KenCrest ‘Temporary’ Grenhouse
• Commissioners Gather For First August Meeting

Photo for The Post by Glenn Isett

SANATOGA PA – Sunday (July 31, 2011) is the day to put a little Jimmy Buffett into your summer.

Enjoy lawn at the Sanatoga Park band shell

The 2011 edition of Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township‘s series of summer musical concerts continues Sunday with a return performance by The Mango Men, beginning at 6 p.m. at the band shell in Sanatoga Park, 223 S. Sanatoga Rd., Pottstown PA. The concert is free and open to the public.

• Watch a video, above, of one of the band’s numbers performed during an Independence Day concert, or see it at the YouTube user account of The MangoMenBand.

The group with a Caribbean feel, an island sound, and a passion for the music of popular singer-songwriter Buffett frequently plays across southeastern Pennsylvania. They’ve performed in Sanatoga several times in recent years.

The grounds of the slope surrounding the band shell are comfortable on most evenings; concert-goers are urged to bring their own seating in the form of lawn chairs or ground blankets. The acoustics are good, too, and guests who position themselves just right can enjoy the show while watching nature’s progress on the nearby lake.

In case of rain, the concert will be re-scheduled to Monday (Aug. 1) at 7 p.m. Again this year, the series is sponsored by Exelon Nuclear, and conducted by the township Parks and Recreation Board.

Following The Mango Men on the schedule is the series’ final show, featuring the Pottsgrove Community Band on Aug. 7 (Sunday) at 6 p.m.

Photos by Glenn Isett and Billy Worrell

A GREAT SUMMER EVENING WITH OUR SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN – Members of the 78th Army Band based in Fort Dix NJ attracted an estimated 350 people to their concert Wednesday night (July 13, 2011) at the band shell in Sanatoga Park, South Sanatoga Road, Pottstown PA. Dark clouds threatened only briefly mid-way through the performance, but quickly dispersed. That made it a perfect night for the rock, jazz, blues, choral, and concert music provided by several groups of the 78th (above), and its entire compliment in the finale. Visitors (below) leaving the outdoor show loudly declared it a success and, perhaps best of all, the band has tentatively discussed making a return engagement next year. The evening was opened by presentation of the colors, thanks to a honor guard provided by the Pottsgrove Post 244 of the American Legion (bottom).  The concert series is conducted by the Lower Pottsgrove Parks and Recreation Board, and is financially underwritten by Exelon Nuclear.

• See a gallery of 19 photos, taken by Glenn Isett and Billy Worrell and generously provided to The Post, below:

SANATOGA PA – They’re athletes, moms, dads, typical workers, friendly neighbors. They’re all also soldiers, and each and every one is a talented musician too.

Practicing for upcoming appearances

Members of the U.S. Army Reserve’s 78th Army Band will play in concert Wednesday (July 13, 2011) beginning at 7 p.m. in Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township’s Sanatoga Park, South Sanatoga Road, Pottstown PA. They are men and women who defend the nation’s freedom while additionally touring parts of the country with toe-tapping tunes.

Their stories, and information about the band itself, are included in a video produced for the band last year. Better than film, though, greater Pottstown area residents can see them perform live and for free during the concert sponsored by Exelon Nuclear and presented by the township Parks and Recreation Board.

• Watch the video, above, or see it at the band’s YouTube account.

The band consists of soldiers from Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania, and is posted from Fort Dix NJ. Its Lower Pottsgrove appearance is only part of its busy schedule this week. It also is slated to play in Baltimore MD, Ocean City MD, Gettysburg PA, Philadelphia PA, Cape May NJ, and Haddonfield NJ.

Those planning to attend Wednesday’s concert are urged to bring their own seating in the form of lawn chairs or ground blankets.

Members of the 78th Army Band in concert during 2008

SANATOGA PA – As a concert venue, Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township is finding itself among some pretty elite company.

The U.S. Army Reserve’s 78th Army Band doesn’t play just anywhere, its commander, Warrant Officer Eric Flowers, can tell you. It often enjoys big crowds at big halls. Not surprisingly, then, during next week alone, the band is scheduled to play in Baltimore MD, Ocean City MD, Gettysburg PA, Philadelphia PA, Cape May NJ, and Haddonfield NJ.

Smack dab in the middle of that schedule – on July 13 (Wednesday) at 7 p.m., township receptionist Jennifer Corley reports – the 50-piece ensemble will strike up a series of patriotic tunes at Lower Pottsgrove’s own band shell in Sanatoga Park, South Sanatoga Road, Pottstown PA.

• This event has been added to The Post calendar.

The band consists of soldiers from Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania, and is posted from Fort Dix NJ. Its will be the second of several performances slated during the township’s summer concert series at the park, thanks to what Corley calls “generous” financial support and sponsorship from Exelon Nuclear. The series itself is conducted by the township Parks and Recreation Board.

It’s important to note that the band’s appearance is the only concert in the series NOT scheduled for a Sunday. Like all other performances this summer, it’s free and open to the public. Those planning to attend are urged to bring their own seating in the form of lawn chairs or ground blankets.

Also scheduled in the series are:

• 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.

Dozens of people came out Sunday for a night of pleasant weather and good music in Sanatoga

A comfy chair, pleasant weather, and good music; all three were found in Sanatoga Park

SANATOGA PA – Your standard rock music? Yeah, it’s OK. Folks may slap their knees a little to keep time, and they’ll remember songs they’re heard on the radio. Sultry ballads? Soothing and enjoyable, to be sure. But in Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township, if you want to get more than 100 people clapping and toe-tapping at once, you’d better play a polka.

• Watch a video of the polka number, above, or see it at The Post’s YouTube account.

No fools, those members of the Bill Koss Combo.

The local musical group was the opening act Sunday (June 26, 2011) in the annual summer concert series conducted by the township Parks and Recreation Department and underwritten by Exelon Nuclear. A crowd filled the lawn in front of the band shell at Sanatoga Park, South Sanatoga Road, Pottstown PA, to hear it launch into a wide variety of songs.

But when accordion player Chris Stafy stepped on to the stage, that’s when the whoopin’ and hollerin’ really got started. One brave couple even took to the pad in front of the band shell to dance, and were applauded for their efforts.

Next up on the series schedule are:

• 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 band uniform of the day? Forget tuxedos! Shorts and comfortable shirts ruled

SANATOGA PA – The 2011 edition of Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township‘s series of summer musical concerts is scheduled to open Sunday (June 26) with a return performance by the Bill Koss Combo, beginning at 6 p.m. at the band shell in Sanatoga Park, 223 S. Sanatoga Rd., Pottstown PA. The concert is free and open to the public.

• Watch a video, above, of one of the band’s numbers performed during its 2010 concert at the park, or see it at The Post’s YouTube account.

The Bill Koss Combo

The combo frequently plays locally, and offers a variety of music to suit almost every interest. The grounds of the slope surrounding the band shell are comfortable on most evenings; concert-goers are urged to bring their own seating in the form of lawn chairs or ground blankets. The acoustics are good, too, and guests who position themselves just right can enjoy the show while watching nature’s progress on the nearby lake.

In case of rain, the concert will be re-scheduled to Monday (June 27) at 7 p.m. Again this year, the series is sponsored by Exelon Nuclear, and conducted by the township Parks and Recreation Board.

Following Koss on the schedule are:

• 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.

Children crowd the lake's banks during last year's derby

SANATOGA PA – Lower Pottsgrove’s 11th annual fishing derby, sponsored by the township Parks and Recreation Department, opens this morning from 7:30-10:30 a.m. for children from ages 5 to 12 on the lake at Sanatoga Park, 100 S. Sanatoga Rd., Pottstown PA. It’s free, and it’s bound to be fun.

Participants can register as they arrive. They’ll have a chance to catch the biggest and best fish; the lake has been stocked for the event, and prizes will be awarded in several categories. They also will be offered fishing tips and techniques by a representative of the state Fish and Boat Commission.

The general public will be able to benefit from the lake’s stocking, too, but not until after the derby ends Saturday at mid-day. The lake will be closed to all other anglers until then. After that, good luck to all, says township municipal building receptionist Jennifer Corley.

Photo from Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township