The Sanatoga Post

Sen. John Rafferty, center, gives his “Thumbs Up!” to a Reading Site Contractors pavers, joined by volunteers David Shafer of Royersford PA, left, and Jim Rivers of Mattiola Services

POTTSTOWN PA – It pays to know people, state Sen. John Rafferty recognizes, and sometimes tapping the right people pays off in unexpected and delightful ways.

Take, for example, the Pennsylvania Army National Guard armory in Spring City PA. Rafferty’s been there dozens of times, usually in the capacity of welcoming home troops returning from overseas deployments. During his visits there late last year, the senator said he was disappointed to find the driveway into Guard headquarters “was crumbling and full of potholes.” The Guard lacked the money to fix it; the state couldn’t afford it either.

So Rafferty called on people he knew – the corporate leaders of The H&K Group contractors, whose quarrying operations extend across Sanatoga and Pottstown – and asked them for help.

Voila! New driveway.

“When Sen. Rafferty reached out to us … we immediately jumped at the opportunity to not only give back to the community, but also to the brave men and women who serve our country,” H&K President and CEO Scott Haines said recently.

H&K donated all the materials and equipment needed to make the repairs. In addition, 15 employees of Mattiola Services LLC and Reading Site Contractors of Pottstown, two H&K divisions, rallied to the cause and volunteered their professional services. Within hours of meeting Rafferty and armory Chief Warrant Officer Michael Murphy at the site a few weeks ago, about 70 tons of new asphalt had been delivered, placed and rolled, “leaving the driveway in a condition worthy of a war hero,” Haines reported.

“The end result is a repaired driveway that will greatly benefit the Guard,” Rafferty agreed, at no cost to the Guard or taxpayers.

Haines praised those who gave of their time to make the job move quickly.

From Mattiola Services, Mike Arrivello provided saw cutting and Travis Zimmerman operated the milling machine. Reading Site Contractors employees Bryan Mclain, Wayne Archer, Chad Davis, Michael Hillegas, Jason Stauffer, and Jistino Villalva made up the paving crew. Terry Gennaria, Dave Leister and Jason Tokonitz hauled paving materials. Tony Alexander was the broom truck driver. Ray Cushman and Gary Halteman mobilized and demobilized the equipment, and Uriah Lessig mixed the asphalt at the H&K Group’s Sanatoga asphalt plant.

“I am so proud that a local company and its workers pitched in to get this project done,” Rafferty noted. “This is an example of neighbors helping neighbors, and a great way to honor our troops.”

Sen. John Rafferty

SANATOGA PA – The annual “Salute to Veterans” who live within Pennsylvania’s 44th Senate District, which includes Lower Pottsgrove, Limerick and Pottstown, will again be conducted by Sen. John Rafferty on Oct. 29 (2011; Saturday) from 8-10 a.m. at Sunnybrook Ballroom, 50 Sunnybrook Rd., Pottstown PA, the senator’s office has announced.

• This event has been added to The Post calendar.

The observance consists of a breakfast, keynote speaker and other patriotic entertainment, and is free to all veterans of any U.S. Armed Forces service in the district. Advance registration by Oct. 25 is required to due capacity limitations of the building.

For more information or to register, call Rafferty’s office, 3818 Germantown Pike, Ste. B, Collegeville PA, at 610-831-8830.

Photo from Sen. Rafferty’s Office

Sen. John Rafferty, second from right

HARRISBURG PA – Republicans say controversial school voucher legislation could clear the state Senate by the end of next week, The Pennsylvania Independent online news service reported Friday (April 8, 2011).

The bill would allow parents of eligible children to redirect per-student state-level funding to a school of their choice.  Local property taxes would continue to be paid to the local school district and overall state spending on education would not increase. In the Pottsgrove, Spring-Ford and Pottstown districts and elsewhere, administrators see the trend as further imperiling future budgets and their abilities to educate.

State Sen. John Rafferty, who represents Lower Pottsgrove (PA) and Limerick townships and the borough of Pottstown in the state’s 44th District, told The Independent he hopes to have a final vote on the school choice bill before next Friday (April 15).

• Read a story by reporter Eric Boehm, titled “School choice bill could pass Senate next week” and published Friday by The Independent, here.

Related (to education tuition vouchers):

• PA Senate School Choice Vote Possible Next Week
• Two Unions Break Ranks, Back State School Vouchers
• Idea: Pottsgrove Might Prosper With Own Charter School
• Choice Amendment Would Remove Vouchers’ 3rd Year
• Teacher Unions Say Budgets, Vouchers Top Their Agendas
• Poll Claims Public Opposes Tuition Vouchers
• Senate Education Chair Preps For Voucher, Choice Battle

HARRISBURG PA – John Rafferty, the state senator who represents Lower Pottsgrove and Limerck (PA) townships and the borough of Pottstown, says he plans to reintroduce a bill that would require government buildings to be constructed to meet green building standards, The Pennsylvania Independent online news service reported Wednesday (Feb. 16, 2011).

Whether the proposed law include all levels of government or just state government buildings is yet to be determined, said Sean Moll, Rafferty’s legislative assistant.

• Read the article written by Darwyyn Deyo, titled “Rafferty to Reintroduce Stalled Green Buildings Mandate” and published by The Independent, here.

Drawing from The Independent

Sen. John Rafferty, center, presides over a April (2010) state Senate joint hearing.

HARRISBURG PA – The efforts of Lower Pottsgrove‘s state senator John Rafferty, who in his role as chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee hopes to expand partnerships for joint public-private ownership of roads, bridges and other municipal structures during 2011, are among the subjects of a special report titled “Capitol Projects” published Wednesday (Dec. 15, 2010) by The Pennsylvania Independent online news service.

Public-private partnerships, or P3s as they’re sometimes called, are seen as one solution to finance the high cost of re-building the state’s deteriorating infrastructure. They have been frequently mentioned as a method to pay for renovations and expansions of, and installing new transportation services along, the U.S. Route 422 corridor from King of Prussia west through Pottstown and on to Reading.

The latest installment of The Independent’s Capitol Projects series – three other stories have already been published – describes problems Pennsylvania faces in coping with everything from common roadway potholes to cracks in support columns on the state’s longest suspended highway, Interstate 95 through Philadelphia. Replacing I-95 alone could cost about $20 billion, reporter Eric Boehm wrote; the state’s entire budget for new highway construction during 2010 amounted to only $1.8 billion.

Under P3s, the state would own assets like highways and bridges, but lease them for long-term periods of 50 or more years to private companies. Those firms would be responsible for maintenance and upkeep, but also would be allowed to profit by collecting tolls or other fees from users of those assets.

• Read The Independent’s story, “Private Partnerships A Possible Transportation Solution,” here.

Photo from the PA State Senate

State Sen. John Rafferty, at right above, laughs with Calvin Books, leader of the honor guard (below at left) that presented the colors during Saturday’s veterans’ breakfast at Sunnybook Ballroom.

SANATOGA PA – Hundreds of greater Pottstown area veterans from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces filled Sunnybrook Ballroom, 50 Sunnybrook Rd., Pottstown PA, on Saturday (Oct. 30, 2010) to enjoy a free annual Veterans Day breakfast in their honor hosted by Pennsylvania state Sen. John Rafferty.

Rafferty, who has conducted the event for several years with the assistance of state Rep. Tom Quigley and others, was all smiles and handshakes as veterans came up to him, said hello, and thanked him for their invitation. Several said they had attended the event every year since the breakfast began, and were “happy to be around for it again,” as one put it.

In addition to the food and musical entertainment, Rafferty presented Philadelphia Judge Seamus McCaffery as a guest speaker.

• See a Post gallery of photos from the event, below. Click on any thumbnail image to enlarge it.

SANATOGA PA – What has become an annual breakfast salute to U.S. Armed Forces veterans in the state’s 44th Senatorial District, which includes Lower Pottsgrove and Limerick PA townships and the borough of Pottstown, will be held Oct. 30 (2010; Saturday) from 8-10 a.m. in Sunnybrook Ballroom, 50 Sunnybrook Rd., Sanatoga PA, Sen. John Rafferty has announced.

• This event has been added to The Post calendar.

Rafferty, in a mailing to veterans and others from his 3770 Ridge Pike, Collegeville PA, district office, said the morning would consist of a free breakfast for veterans, and “a patriotic celebration” featuring a keynote speaker. All veterans who live in the district may attend, but advance registration is required.

Seating is limited. The registration deadline is Oct. 26. For more information or to register, call Rafferty’s office at 610-831-8830.

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Beer six-packs would be more widely available under Rafferty's proposal.

HARRISBURG PA – Legislation allowing certain stores to sell packages of beer with between 6 and 30 containers each – proposed by state Sen. John Rafferty, the Republican whose 44th state Senatorial District includes Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township, Limerick, and Pottstown – got an added dose of publicity last week thanks to a ruling from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB).

The PLCB determined Wednesday (April 28, 2010) that convenience store and gas station operator Sheetz Inc. could again sell beer for on-premise consumption at its Altoona PA location. The announcement has no immediate effect on the company’s stores in Birdsboro PA or elsewhere, although Sheetz officials said they hope it will someday.

It did, however, shine renewed light on Rafferty’s proposal, which would let retailers other than distributors get into the beer sales business. Rafferty advocated reform of beer sales laws in February (2010), when he introduced Senate Bill 1300 to let consumers buy six-packs in grocery and conveniences stores, as well as at distributors.  It would also require electronic age verification to ensure minors could not buy alcohol illegally.

The PLCB ruling ended a controversy that began in 2004, when the agency said it would grant Sheetz a license to sell packaged beer in Altoona. At the time, the PLCB indicated Sheetz did not need to sell beer for on-premise consumption. The Malt Beverage Distributors Association (MBDA) filed a lawsuit to stop the Sheetz sales. The Pennsylvania State Supreme Court subsequently revoked Sheetz’s beer license, requiring it to allow customers to drink at the store.

After hearing the PLCB’s determination Wednesday, the company said it has already re-applied for a license for on-premise consumption in Altoona.

“Pennsylvania remains one of a few states that continue to operate under a Prohibition-era set of laws, while millions of people across the United States enjoy the freedom and convenience of purchasing alcohol in convenience and grocery stores,” said Stan Sheetz, president and CEO. “Granting this same freedom to the residents of the Commonwealth is long overdue. We urge our lawmakers to see past state lines and special interest groups and modernize our beer laws.”

For that reason, Sheetz said it continues to support Rafferty’s legislation.

Rafferty’s website contains no reference to the recent decree on Sheetz, but the press release his office distributed in February noted the senator believes “selling beer … in stores gives consumers greater choices,” and that protections in his bill will help to stop sales to minors. “This is a slow transition from an unsafe antiquated system to a new modern system used in 46 other states – and one that Pennsylvania consumers are demanding,” Rafferty said then.

Malt beverage distributors oppose the bill, saying it would weaken Pennsylvania’s “control system for selling alcohol and will result in the loss of thousands of beer distributor jobs.”

Photo from TV Recappers

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POTTSTOWN PA – Lower Pottsgrove’s state senator, John Rafferty, will be represented by members of his staff during an office hours outreach program to be held Friday (Aug. 28, 2009) from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Pottstown Area Seniors Center, 724 N. Adams St., Pottstown PA.

• This event has been added to The Post calendar.

Visitors to the session can see the help of the senator’s office for state-related problems, including assistance with property tax and rent rebate forms. An appointment is requested. For more information or to make an appointment, call 610-323-5009.

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