The Sanatoga Post

Tavella as the Chick-fil-A cow.

POTTSTOWN PA – Pottsgrove High School graduate and local singing sensation Dustin Tavella is inviting a few hundred close friends – and hey, you can come too, even if you don’t know him; he won’t mind – to help shoot a music video March 20 (2011; Sunday) from noon to 7 p.m. in Pottstown’s Memorial Park on King Street.

Pop rocker Tavella’s fans on Facebook and elsewhere last week received messages asking them to arrive in force at the park for the filming of a video for his song, “She Got Me Singin’.”

“Come out and bring ALL your friends!,” Tavella wrote. “It’s gonna be a blast. Feel free to bring basketballs, footballs, volleyball stuff, bikes … whatever you would wanna bring to keep yourself occupied during down times.” Creating video magic, apparently, takes time and patience.

Tavella is collaborating with Dan Newman of the Lehigh Valley’s New Man Media to create the production. Newman reports Tavella is looking to leverage his musical talents into more commercial ventures. Together the two recently released a test advertisement for fast food outlet Chick-fil-A that promoted a Groundhog Day sandwich offer earlier this month (February 2011).

• Watch the Tavella commercial, above, or see it at New Man Media’s Vimeo account.

Those familiar with Tavella’s earlier videos know that in each he features his grandmother, Maria Tavella. She’ll be at the park, too, he promised.

Photo from Vimeo

Upbeat rock music, family-oriented activities, and food coincide Saturday at Memorial Park.

POTTSTOWN PA – PassionFest, the fourth annual Greater Pottstown community festival of current music, faith-based inspiration, and athletic events programmed with family enjoyment in mind – all sponsored by a growing number of local civic, social and religious groups – returns Saturday (July 18, 2009) from noon to 10 p.m. in Memorial Park, King Street.

The bands and extreme athletes who perform at PassionFest are a huge draw for many, organizers claim, but this year the concurrently operated Kids Zone activity center, Sports Zone athletics center, and community care area for social networks and public services all are back at the festival as well from noon-6 p.m.

Admission is free, and several thousand people are expected to attend.

What was once called religious rock, and is now known as “positive hit” music, is at the heart of PassionFest. Several bands will make hour-long appearances on its stages. Here’s the day’s schedule:

Noon – Doors Open
1 p.m. – Extreme Sports Demo 1
2 p.m. – Band: Coatesville Untouchables (CUT)
3 p.m. – Band: Fireborn
4 p.m. – Extreme Sports Demo 2
5 p.m. – Band: Calling Out Closer
6 p.m. – Band: Failure to Excel
7 p.m. – Band: The Movement
8 p.m. – Band: The Mint
9 p.m. – Band: Everyday Process
10 p.m. – Passion Fest Ends

The Kids Zone hosts games for young children, as well as performances and prize giveaways. The Sports Zone, which targets teens, features a rock-climbing wall and a video trailer complete with X-Box 360 games available to play. Organizers also say they have signed a diverse selection of food vendors.

In cooperation with Harrisburg-based radio station The Word FM and Thunder Outreach of Douglassville PA, organizers will conduct a food drive the day of the festival to benefit local food banks. Those in attendance are asked to bring non-perishable goods for a donation.

Named by the organization as sponsors of this year’s event are Birthright of Pottstown, the Pottstown Police Department, the PA Army National Guard, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, Thunder Outreach, Liberty Ministries, OKOA Inc., E.L. Ministries, Goodwill Fire Company, Rejoicing Spirits, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Alabaster’s Arts & Teas, Eagle Chiropractic of Pottstown, The Women’s Center of Montgomery County, The Biker Church, and Reasons to Believe.

Photo by Clipart.com

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POTTSTOWN PA – You can feel their excitement, even if it’s expressed in only 140 characters.

Participants and audience members in various activities during the annual Fourth of July festivities Friday and Saturday (July 3 and 4, 2009) at Pottstown’s Memorial Park, King Street, were psyched, amped, revved up, and generally just having a good time, and they took to Twitter, the popular social media short-messaging service to tell their friends and the world about it.

Twitter users communicate from their cell phones and other portable devices. Their messages are known as “tweets.” Because the service limits them to 140 characters, including spaces and punctuation, messages tend to be more cryptic and abbreviated.

Here’s a sample of what they chattered about:

			ivywillow : is at the Pottstown Diner after fireworks w/ two 7 yr olds, two 12 yr olds, a 15 yr old, & 2 18 yr olds. also, 2 other adults.
			lfamous : hope you had fun! We braved the crowd at Memorial Park in Pottstown.
			DBigWoo : Watching the Pottstown fireworks – but not from where we hoped.
			alanajanelle : at memorial park in pottstown waiting for the fireworks to start!
			lfamous : Going to see fireworks in Pottstown.
			LikeClochework : Spent the day at Pottstown‘s July 4th event. Now I’m back home with no plans for the evening… and no car.
			brianscc : we are heading to the fireworks in Pottstown..how about you?
			GarrisonCarida : is marching in the Pottstown 4th of July parade today starting at 10:15am. Happy 4th of July!
			Jasonament : Took 5th place in my bracket for the Preservation Pottstown 5k. YAY!
			GregDietz : Happy 4th!!!! In Pottstown for all of the festivities for the day!! :)
			AJSBCMA : happy 4th! Preparing to drive the historic pottstown float.
			SLDaetz : happy 4th!! off to pottstown for a parade, car show, and rubber duck race! :)
			TonyPhyrillas : If you’re anywhere near Pottstown on the Fourth of July, the town holds one of the best celebrations. http://bit.ly/jKaEr
			gt500princess : pottstown tonight with some of the greatest people i know!!!
			LiveandLetLiv : Ran route for Pottstown 5K on the 4th yesterday. It was a lot tougher than I thought! Hope I can just break 25 minutes now…

Editor’s note: This story resulted from tweets received at The Sanatoga Post‘s Twitter account. Feel free to follow us on Twitter @jzlomek.

Related: (Reporting from The Post using Twitter):

• Former Commissioner Joins Energy Alliance
• Tweeting Away From Pottsgrove’s Relay
• Pottsgrove Relay Tweeters Not Alone
• Notebook Worthy for April 27, 2009
• Notebook Worthy for March 30, 2009
• Social Networking Saves The Day

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