Category: Business

Steel River Playhouse to hold gala honoring Bentleys of VideoRay

Area businesses and community members are invited to celebrate another sensational season of educational and performance programming at Steel River Playhouse, during their Annual Gala on Friday, June 7th at 6:00 pm.

This year’s honorees are Susan and Scott Bentley, philanthropists and principal owners of VideoRay, recently relocated to Pottstown as part of the renaissance of this historic downtown. The celebration also includes recognition of Deborah Stimson-Snow, Steel River’s Artistic Director and recipient of the 2013 Advocacy for Equal Opportunity Award from the PA Human Rights Commission.

Gala highlights include live music, prizes, and delectable treats from Clique Vodka, Lindt Chocolate, Sly Fox Brewery, Sakura Asian Cuisine, Chocolates on Bridge Street, McDougall’s Victory Cakes, Angry Monkey Bakery, Java’s Brewin’, Olde Gold Tavern, Penny’s Pizelle’s, Copperfield’s, Cutillo’s, Baird’s Catering, Moyer’s, Bellewood Golf Club, Grumpy’s, Enzo’s, Positively Pasta Plus, iCreate Café, and Turtle Creek Golf Course, among many other participating restaurants and caterers.

Attendees can choose to attend the Gala only, or pair the Gala with that evening’s performance of the well-loved Broadway hit musical, La Cage aux Folles (curtain 8:00 pm). The story of La Cage is probably most familiar to audiences as the feature film comedy, The Birdcage, starring Robin Williams and Nathan Lane. With popular, hummable melodies by composer Jerry Herman (Hello Dolly, Mame), this Broadway hit wraps contemporary themes in a funny and engaging plot, timeless love songs, and big chorus numbers. The evening concludes outside on the Playhouse plaza, with a building light show and joyful reprise of the La Cage finale with cast, crew and community.

La Cage aux Folles is being sponsored by Exelon. Sponsors for the Annual Gala include Sager & Sager Associates, The Hankin Group, Jackson Cross Partners, Maillie LLP, Andrew J. Monastra, PC, The Hill School, Keller Williams Realty, Main Line Financial Advisors, Neurosurgical Care, O’Donnell Weiss & Mattei, PC, Penn Liberty Bank, Wolf, Baldwin & Associates, PC, Bentley Systems, Inc., David G. Garner, Esquire, Diamond Credit Union, Down to Earth Landscaping, Express Data Systems, Frees Insurance, HMK Insurance, Independence Planning Group, Susan Storb and Michael Horn, Potty Queen, Pottstown Dance Theater, Royal Medical Supply, State Farm – Ricco Insurance, Tri-County Toyota, and Yergey, Daylor, Allebach, Sheffey and Picardi. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Mary Beth Kerekes, Development Director, at marybeth@steelriver.org or 610.970.1199.

Gala and La Cage aux Folles tickets are available at www.steelriver.org or by contacting subscriber@steelriver.org or by calling 610.970.1199. Tickets are $75 for Gala paired with La Cage, or $50 for the Gala only. La Cage aux Folles runs for three weekends, June 6th through 23rd with performances on Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm, and Sundays at 3:00 pm. Tickets are $15 to $26, with special cabaret seating at $68 for a table for 2 (includes complimentary beverages and snacks). Steel River Playhouse is located at 245 E. High Street, Pottstown, PA 19464, www.steelriver.org.

About Steel River Playhouse

Steel River Playhouse, a nonprofit 501(c) (3) charitable education and performance facility, is a key component of the revitalization of downtown Historic Pottstown. Steel River seeks to strengthen community, inspire creative exploration, educate, and entertain, through the presentation of quality performing arts events and education for diverse audiences. Each year, Steel River Playhouse produces more than 90 performances and hosts more than 10,000 people as audiences, students, artists, donors and volunteers from the region and beyond.  www.steelriver.org, 610-970-1199.

Limerick nuclear power plant to hold siren test today at 2 pm

Residents in the 10-mile emergency planning zone around Exelon’s Limerick Generating Station will hear a full sound siren test as Exelon conducts a test of its emergency siren system today, Monday, June 3rd at 2 pm.

The full sound test is performed on the first Monday in June and December as part of Exelon’s comprehensive Emergency Preparedness program.  A shorter, lower pitch test is performed monthly.

Residents may contact the counties at the following numbers if they have concerns:  Berks County (610) 374-4800; Chester County (610) 344-5000; Montgomery County (610) 631-6530.

The warning sirens are one of several methods used by county emergency management authorities to provide notification of emergencies. Individual counties may activate the sirens to warn the surrounding community of events such as fires, floods, tornados, hazardous material releases, or nuclear energy plant events. The sirens are not a signal to evacuate. In an actual emergency, residents should tune to one of the county Emergency Alert System radio or television stations for further information.  Residents should refer to the “emergency” section of their telephone books for further information or visit the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency web site, www.pema.state.pa.us.

 

Hill Student Philanthropy Council awards grants to local nonprofits

Here is some great news brought to us by The Hill School, where the Student Philanthropy Council has been learning how to be an effective philanthropist with Pottstown area nonprofits as the beneficiaries. For more info, click the link at the end of the next paragraph. As a resident and board member of PDIDA, I am personally grateful for the grant to PDIDA, which will help us implement some measures to improve safety and the downtown experience for visitors and residents.

Led by co-presidents Nabil Shaikh ’13 (Reading, Pa.) and Auguste Boova ’13 (Pottstown, Pa.), The Hill School’s Student Philanthropy Council (SPC) recently presented checks totaling $10,000 to four local nonprofit organizations to help fund those entities’ educational and community programs: Pottstown Downtown Improvement District Authority ($2,110); The Growing Center ($2,690); Montgomery Child Advocacy Project ($2,500); and the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Organizations ($2,700).  Read more about the recipients of the 2013 grants.

The SPC was established in 2009 through a gift to The Hill School courtesy of Charles A. Frank III, Hill ’59, and his wife, Betty. Hill student participants solicit and evaluate local nonprofit requests for funding, and then award a total of $10,000 in grants each year. Last year, through the Franks’ leadership and the generosity of  several other donors, The Student Philanthropy Council became an endowed program at the School with the establishment of The Student Philanthropy Council Endowment in honor of Kay and David Dougherty.

Using Mindful Management to Control Routine Costs

This article is brought to you by the Pottstown chapter of SCORE, “Counselors to America’s Small Business.” SCORE is a nonprofit organization of more than 13,000 volunteer business counselors who provide free, confidential business counseling and training workshops to small business owners. Call 610-327-2673 for the Pottstown SCORE chapter, or find a counselor online at www.pottstownscore.org.
Use Mindful Management to Control Routine Costs

You’re very meticulous when it comes to providing quality service or products to your customers.  So why treat your routine administrative expenses the same way?  Every extra dime or dollar you spend on supplies, photocopies, postage, etc. adds up.  Taken together, those “little things” can take a huge chunk out of your profits.

Stiff competition and thin profit margins have made running lean a necessity for most small businesses, so it’s important to establish smart buying habits from the outset. The steps are not complicated, nor do they require fancy financial formulas. Cutting costs is all about common sense.  You just have to know where to look.

Here are five ways to save your small business money on the simple things:

1)    Avoid buying only name-brand items in small quantities. Shop for bargains online. Superstores like Office Depot, Staples and Office Max offer “store brands” at reduced prices. And when you establish an online account, they’ll often send coupons worth $10 or $20 off orders of $100 or more.

2)    Don’t photocopy high-volume items that you can print for less. Copies typically cost five to 15 cents each, even if you do them yourself, including paper, toner, labor and maintenance. Printing can lower costs to three cents or less. The biggest cost items are forms, flyers and form letters that you think you use in small quantities. But if you photocopy a few dozen per week, that can be thousands per year and you could save by having it printed.

3)    Think of your inventory as company cash sitting on a shelf or in a warehouse doing nothing. Costs include storage, insurance and taxes, among others. Keep good records and regularly root out dead items.

4)    Express shipments for next morning delivery are costly. Consider next afternoon or maybe two- or three-day service.

5)    Review vendor relationships at least annually for Internet services, phone, wireless, DSL, shipping, legal, printing and other day to day expenses. Prices and package deals change and you may be overpaying.

Spending wisely on your routine expenses also helps you be more alert for ideas that will make other aspects of your operations more cost-effective.  It all adds up to better value for your customers, and a healthier bottom line for your business.

Grumpy’s and PHS Culinary Arts students to unveil new sandwich today!

Stop by Grumpy’s Hand-Carved Sandwich Shop at 137 East High Street anytime after 11 am TODAY, when the festivities will get underway to unveil a new sandwich created by the Pottstown High School winners of the Chopped competition.

The winning team of Hannah Irvin and Alyssa Vanish, shown here with Sheila and Gene Dugan, will be on hand with their classmates to celebrate and promote the culinary arts program at the high school.

Wednesday is still veggie day at Grumpy’s! Here’s the menu for today:

SOUPS: fava bean soup / chicken orzo
SANDWICH: roasted pepper and fresh mozzerella wrap
THE IRVANISH SPECIAL: Presented today for the first time!
SIDES: freeken salad, blackeyepeas with barley salad

Come out and meet the talented students of PHS Culinary Arts!

 

 

SCORE offers small business workshops

LAST CHANCE TO SIGN UP

“How to Start and Operate a Small Business”
April 2013 and May 2013

“How to Start and Operate a Small Business”Workshop sponsored by Victory Bank
Workshop Dates:Session I –   Monday, April 22 – 7:00 to 9:30 PM

Legal, Tax and Accounting considerations in

setting up a new business

Session II –  Monday, April 29 – 7:00 to 9:30 PM

The Business Plan and The Business Loan Representatives from the Victory Bank to help you in loan applications

Session III – Monday, May 6 – 7:00 to 9:30 PM

Marketing and sources of Market information

Session IV – Monday, May 13 – 7:00 to 9:30 PM

Its All About Profit – What are the results that you want to achieve in running your business

Instructors: Scott Cass;  Ralph Clemmer; Donald Havas; Laurie Kercher (Victory Bank); Jeff Kofsky; David Megay, Esq; Scott Rakowski, CPA and Carolyn Wiker – to speak on Sources of Information in Session I. 

Cost: Each workshop will cost $25. A manual for business plans cost $20. Special price of $100 is offered for the 4 courses plus the manual

Location:  All Workshops to be held at the Home Office of Pottstown SCORE, 244 East High Street, Suite 102, Pottstown, PA 19464, Easy access to the rear of old New York Plaza Building – 244 East High St. Free parking is available.  Registration begins at 6:45 PM each evening

 How to sign up:

      1.  Online at www.pottstownscore.org

Click on workshops in left column. Registration is located at bottom of screen

2.  Call office and leave a message at 610-327-2673

3.  Download brochure on internet at www.pottstownscore.org and drop off at office

Hurry and sign up today!

SCORE – What is it??
SCORE is an nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and helping small business start, grow, and succeed nationwide. It provides counseling on small business start-up procedures and on problems in existing small
businesses. Its services are confidential and FREE.
Pottstown SCORE is located at 244 East High Street, Suite 102 and covers the Tri-County area for counseling and educational workshops. We have many counselors who are experts in Business planning, Business strategies, Sales, Marketing, Management advice, computer technology advice, banking, finance, insurance and communications. 

SCORE meetings:What You Need to Know
The local SCORE meets the first Monday of each month at the SCORE office.  If you would like to help others in business you may call our office at 610-326-2673 to volunteer as a counselor.

ArtFusion presents 7th annual Fashion Plates fundraiser next Saturday

Our seventh annual Fashion Plates fundraiser is almost here. Please join us on Saturday, April 20 at Brookside Country Club from 6-9pm.
All proceeds benefit non-profit FP7ArtFusion 19464 and help us live our mission of making the arts accessible to everyone in our community. Fashion Plates also serves a vital purpose in helping us keep our doors open, raising funds to meet our day to day expenses.This year’s theme is Fashion Notes, and the event will be an amazing fusion of food, historical fashion and live music.

  • Live music from jazz musician Adam Price   
  • Multimedia fashion event with vintage costumes
  • Edible Art silent auction

Tickets are $70 per person, or two for $120. Your ticket includes a fabulous dinner and yummy dessert, a chance to win fun door prizes and a great night of live music and fashion.

Click here to purchase
an individual ticket  

Click here to purchase
two for $120.  

ArtFusion 19464  254 E. High St., Pottstown, PA 19464
610-326-2506 artfusion19464.org

A huge thank you to our sponsors!
Heartland Abstract
S&H Interiorscapes
Dolan & Mayerson, PC  *  Judy Memberg, Genesis Housing

Party ReduX Showcase hosts Happy Hour this Friday!

The Party ReduX hosts Positively Pottstown Happy Hour

Host: Jeffery Jackson Enterprises, Inc.

When: Friday, March 22 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM

Where: The Party ReduX Showcase, 205 E. High Street Pottstown, PA 19464
Jeffery Jackson Enterprises, Inc. welcomes us once again to

The Party ReduX Showcase

for a great

Buy All-American Red-White-Blue networking event!

Food by Baird Catering

Music by the Virtual DJ

Adult drink mixology by Deez LLC

See what Jeffery Jackson Enterprises can do for YOUR next party!

RSVP to positivelypottstown@gmail.com NOW!

Victory Bank Sponsors Spring Workshop for Small Businesses

This news about upcoming workshops for small business owners and entrepreneurs comes to us from Pottstown SCORE, counselors to America’s small business community.  (www.PottstownSCORE.org)

Are you an entrepreneur who would like to learn practical, real-life information on how to start and operate a business?  If so, be sure to sign up for Pottstown SCORE’s spring workshop series, “How to Start and Operate a Small Business.” This seminar, sponsored by Victory Bank, is scheduled to be presented from 7:00 to 9:30 pm on four consecutive Monday evenings beginning on April 22.  All classes will be held at the SCORE office, Suite 102 in the New York Plaza Building, 244 High Street, Pottstown. There is ample free parking in the lot behind the building.  Use the entrance from the parking lot to access the SCORE office.

This workshop series, presented by SCORE, Counselors to America’s Small Business, is for those who are considering starting a business as well as those who are currently operating a small business.  All courses are taught by experienced members of SCORE and outside practitioners recognized as experts in their specific fields.

The workshop sessions are as follows:

  1. Sources of Information and the Legal, Tax and Accounting Considerations in setting up a business, April 22
  2. The Business Plan and the Business Loan, April 29
  3. Sources of Market Information, Marketing, May 6
  4. It’s All About Profit, May 13

The instructors for this workshop series are local business partners and experienced SCORE counselors.  Tap into their expertise to gain practical, real-life information on how to start and operate a small business.  The instructors are as follows:  Scott Cass, Owner, eScott Marketing, LLC; Don Havas, President of Applied Technology and Sciences, Inc; Jeff Kofsky, President of Higher Vision Coaching and Counseling; Laurie Kercher, Vice President and Commercial Relationships Manager of the Victory Bank, Wyomissing office; David Megay, Esq., Attorney with O’Donnell, Weiss & Mattei; Scott Rakowski, CPA of Rakowski and Company; Ralph Clemmer, chairman of the Board of Evans-Hauseman& Richard, Inc.; Carolyn Wiker, Head of Adult Services at the Pottstown Public Library.

Registration begins at 6:45 pm, and all classes start promptly at 7:00 pm.

Each session costs $25.  A manual on preparing a business plan will be available for $20.  A special price of $100 is offered for the 4 classes as a package, and this includes the manual.  As an added bonus, there is a 50% discount off the workshop fee for each additional person. Victory Bank customers have an opportunity to apply for a free scholarship for the workshop by contacting the bank.

This has been an extremely successful and well-attended workshop.  Early paid reservations guarantee a seat.  For more information or to register, call the Pottstown SCORE office at 610-327-2673 or register online at www.pottstownscore.org.

 

Annual Home Show runs tonight thru Sunday at Sunnybrook

Here are all the details from the Building Industries Exchange website:

The annual Home Show is a three-day expo sponsored by the Building Industries Exchange (NARI-BIE) of Pottstown and Vicinity, Inc. and produced through volunteer efforts of NARI-BIE members.

The Show offers drawings, prizes, demonstrations, and an all-under-one-roof opportunity for visitors to collect home improvement and building information from local professionals.  Admission is $5 at the gate; children 16 and under are free.

Adult attendees will receive a ballot to nominate their choice of exhibit for “Best in Show”. First, second, and third place ribbons will be awarded based on the final vote tally.

2013 Schedule of Events

The 2013 NARI-BIE Pottstown Home Show will be held March 1-3, 2013 at Sunnybrook Ballroom and Grounds. For a map and directions to Sunnybrook, please click here.

Friday, March 1

  • 5:00 PM – Show opens to the public
  • 6:30 PM – Seminar:  Understanding the EPA Lead Paint Law – Presented by Gehman Design Remodeling
  • 7:30 PM – Seminar:  Maintain Your Expensive Blacktop Investment at Home, Work, or Social Property – Presented by Chem Seal
  • 9:00 PM – Show closes

Saturday, March 2

Sunday, March 3

  • 11:00 AM – Show opens to the public
  • 12:00 PM – Shred Event Begins (maximum:  2 file boxes; must purchase show ticket)
  • 12:30 PM – Seminar:  Go Green and Save Green – Presented by Halo Energy, LLC
  • 1:30 PM – Seminar:  Weatherize your Home’s Air Leaks with a Thermal Imaging Camera – Presented by Oehlert Bros., Inc.
  • 3:00 PM – Shred Event Ends (maximum 2 file boxes; must purchase show ticket)
  • 5:00 PM – Show closes

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