Category: People

Tri-County Performing Arts Center: The Journey On

Last Friday’s “State of the Organization” event at the Tri-PAC began with a tasty array of food from area restaurants and caterers. Thank goodness Dean Foster, wine genius and fellow blogger, was there to steer me in the right direction at the wine table. (Definitely look for the guy with the full, white beard at similar events around town & don’t be shy about asking for help!) It was also a pleasure to meet Tom Abbott, publisher of The Mercury, who slyly suggested that someone write about the event. Positively!Pottstown was already on the case! So, here you go…

Photo courtesy of Village Productions

I knew the program would be informative in nature, updating the community on how far the organization had come and where they’re headed, but I had no idea how entertaining it would be. Musical selections from the upcoming production of Ragtime, The Musical alternated with information about the importance of the arts and the actual achievements of Tri-PAC, and the format was just right. In fact, it was downright fun. And inspiring, especially the voices rising in song, filling the main stage up to the rafters.

Photo courtesy of Village Productions

Speakers included Bill Kiesling, singer & Spouse Extraordinaire; Deborah Stimson-Snow, Artistic Director; Martha McGeary Snider, PA Policy Advisor for Arts and Culture; Marta Rubin Kiesling, Executive Director; Jordan Shoemaker, student, singer, actress; and Tri-PAC board member and actress Lisa Waltz, a Spring Ford and Carnegie Mellon grad, now living and working in L.A.

What grabbed my attention at the start was Deborah Stimson-Snow saying, “There’s a kind of truth happening here… There’s an opportunity every day to do something true.” Yes – that’s what live performance is all about – an artist or group of artists sharing a search for some kind of truth with an audience. This is a noble thing.

The social impact of the arts is now a well-documented phenomenon, and Martha McGeary Snider, Policy Advisor Arts and Culture for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, hit the high points. A strong arts presence can be a stabilizing force in neighborhoods, providing a common destination, a shared language and a place for diversity to flourish, which is exactly what’s taking place at the Tri-PAC.

Marta Rubin Kiesling, Executive Director, provided key statistics from the fall of 2008 to the spring of 2010. These numbers are essential to understanding exactly what Village Productions has achieved, and it’s pretty astounding:

– Over 14,000 audience members
– Over 150 performances
– Over 800 students
– 64 classes
– 11 staff
– Participation of hundreds of volunteers
– Educational outreach to more than 1,000 students

Educational offerings run the gamut, from children’s classes to voice, guitar, comedy improvisation, piano, dancing, directing, script analysis and group singing. There’s something for every one in every age group.

In looking toward the future, Tri-PAC will soon be offering subscriptions. They’re continually finding ways to increase student and community outreach, and they hope to add a retail and concession stand in the lobby area. Perhaps the most important project will be the façade improvement, giving them greater visibility and creating a landmark location on High Street. Representatives from the state are coming to town today to meet and consider a funding request for the façade improvement project. Let’s keep our fingers crossed. (Feel free to post your support for that project right here!)

The success of the Tri-PAC is a KEY ingredient in the revitalization of Pottstown’s downtown. As McGeary-Snider pointed out early in the program: The arts mean business. And she added, “There is a distinct relationship between engagement in art and engagement in civic life.”

In the end, it all comes down to personal responsibility. Strengthening the arts in your hometown is your civic duty. It also happens to be fun and uplifting. Sign up for a class. Volunteer. Get a group of friends together and see a show. A lively downtown will be the result of the artist, or audience member in each of us, coming out from behind the curtain, or taking our seat in the darkened theater, joining other human beings on a journey for some kind of truth.

Note: More on Ragtime, The Musical in a future post. Subscribe to Positively!Pottstown or join on Facebook to enter a drawing for free tickets!

I scream, you scream, we all scream for…

SCOOPSTER’S!!

The new ice cream parlor at High and Franklin Streets is now open. They’re selling Philadelphia water ice; Nelson’s Dutch Farms ice cream, made in nearby Royersford; and a colorful concoction called “Flavor Burst Combo Cones.” These are soft vanilla custard twists with flavor ribbons on the outside. You pick the flavor you want – caramel, chocolate, strawberry, tropical orange, cotton candy, raspberry, pina colada or banana brickle. (See the banner in the photo.)

Scoopster's

They’ve got eight flavors of water ice: mango, lemon, rainbow, cherry, pina colada, blueberry, cotton candy and root beer (that last one is my favorite.)

Lots of ice cream to choose from: I stared longingly at the chocolate moose trail, which had thick pieces of fudge and mini-peanut butter cups embedded in chocolate ice cream. And the graham slam looked intriguing: graham ice cream with graham ribbons and chocolate-covered pieces of graham cracker.

In addition to the awesome flavors, the prices should put Scoopster’s immediately into the regular rotation for every family and sports team in the area. Ice cream goes for $1.75-$3.50, plus tax. Water ice goes for $.94-$2.50, plus tax. And they’ve got “small prices for small children,” which translates to a pee-wee serving of water ice that’s just 75 cents (plus tax), and ice cream that’s just 94 cents (plus tax) for children 7 and under. Nachos, soft pretzels and hot dogs are available, too.

Scoopster’s is owned by John and Ellen Lettiere, who also own Fine Fixin’s Deli at High and Keim Streets, so you’re assured of good quality & service at prices that won’t break the budget. Look – the sun is shining and summer is in the air. What better time to take your pick of warm weather treats and give ’em a try?

Scoopster’s Ice Cream Parlor
384 High Street (corner High & Franklin)
(610) 327-3109
Hours are 11am-9 pm Monday-Saturday. They’re open on Sundays, although regular hours aren’t set yet.

Letting Go at High Street Yoga

Admit it. You know it’ll make you feel better. You know you should be doing it. Yes, I’m talking about yoga, and I keep putting it off too. So, what’s stopping us?

For me, I keep getting stuck in the same old rut in how I think about a “workout.” Being a former athlete, I’m locked into the idea of going to the gym, breaking a sweat on a machine, lifting some weights, suffering the consequences in my arthritic joints for the next 24-48 hours… and then avoiding the gym for several days.

A conversation with Barbara Kosciewicz, director of High Street Yoga and Wellness, though, has given me new hope that I can break the cycle. The idea of yoga is to open yourself up, and in that spirit, I asked Barbara to tell us what it’s all about. For more details and to see photos of her tranquil studio – yes, you can find inner peace on High Street! – check out her website and her blog.

High Street Yoga and Wellness is on the second floor at 141 E. High Street, above the Academy of Massage Therapy and Bodyworks. Their refurbished and air-conditioned building is across the street from Borough Hall, where there’s ample parking. (More on the Academy in a future post.)

PP: What’s a typical class like? How long is it?
BK: There are many styles and types of yoga. I really like to help people focus on slowing down, focusing on their breath and truly relaxing. A class is an hour and fifteen minutes. The beginning is all about settling in. It’s hard to walk in the door and just start meditating. So we take deep breaths, focusing on the breathing. Then we move into gentle stretching, easing into the physical practice of yoga. The last 10-15 minutes are for deep relaxation.

PP: Your website says: “A typical class at High Street Yoga offers breath awareness, centering/meditation, sequenced and clearly explained asana (physical postures) and, of course, Savasana (final relaxation).” Where do all those strange words come from?
BK: There is an ancient Indian text, written in Sanskrit, that’s called the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali. It’s based on 8 philosophies or steps to achieve a quiet mind. It’s not a religion. That’s where the terms come from.

PP: What if I’ve never meditated before. What happens?
BK: I guide the class to use their breath to still their minds. Meditation is really all about quieting the mind. We take deep, full breaths in and out. The idea is to stop yourself from thinking about work, your day, your lists. Your breath is the one thing that’s constant. That’s the place to always come back to.

By the way, I don’t incorporate chanting into my classes. I want everyone to be comfortable, and some people may be put off by chanting.

Traditionally, yogis did the physical practice of the poses so that they could sustain long hours of meditation. The Western take on this, though, is the reverse – more physical practice, less meditation.

PP: How can I do yoga if I can’t even touch my toes?
BK: You don’t have to be completely flexible in order to do yoga. There are several versions of a pose, so I can help people do what’s comfortable for them. We have props, such as blocks and straps, to help people do the poses at their own comfort level.

PP: How many people are in a class, and what should I bring?
BK: The class size varies. There could be anywhere from 3-9 people. We have mats that people can borrow, or you can bring your own. Dress comfortably, preferably in layers. And bring a water bottle. Classes cost $12 each, and there are packages available.

Citizens for Pottstown’s Revitalization – Take 2

So I went to the CPR meeting last Friday night at the PAL building because the speaker was Dave Garner, former Borough Councilman, and the topic was the Urban Land Institute’s advisory report that was released in January (Pottstown, Pennsylvania: Transformation Strategies.) I’m a nerd when it comes to just about any kind of planning report, more so if it’s from ULI.

Garner made clear that the views presented were his own. He mainly encouraged broad participation in the redevelopment efforts, by citizens and groups well beyond the official partnership that has formed among the Borough, the School District, the Montgomery County Redevelopment Authority and Pottstown Area Industrial Development Corporation, Inc. (PAID). He spoke of the need to establish a process by which decisions are made and to rigorously follow that process. Everyone should be challenged to do their homework, to know what’s going on, every step of the way. Then, when it comes time to actually make a decision, everyone should already be on board. Still, there must be a full & public discussion of the rationale behind anyone’s vote, for the record. But if the broader community has been doing their homework up until that point, they should already see/know/understand the direction that’s being taken.

There were some questions regarding where things stand now. A Memorandum of Understanding among the four principal partners was now with the School District. Some seemed impatient to not lose momentum while this agreement is ironed out and PAID hires a new executive director. Several comments were made to the effect that citizens can/should continue paying attention to, and participating in, various aspects of the revitalization efforts, yet it’s unclear what specific role could be played. Still a lot of “ironing out” to be done. I realize this post doesn’t get at the heart of the ULI report’s contents, but I’ll get to that in another post before too long — it’s all interesting, good stuff! And, bottom line, it’s not rocket science, i.e., its all quite do-able.

CPR reiterated its offer of Neighborhood Watch signs for anyone, anywhere in town, who wants to step up to be a Block Captain – a contact point for people in the neighborhood when issues arise. For that and to get on CPR’s email list, send an email to vivapottstown@hotmail.com.

There was a very good turnout for this meeting – maybe 30 people? – and they were from all areas of town. All Pottstown residents are invited and encouraged to attend CPR’s next meeting on Friday, May 21 at 7 pm at 146 King Street. The speaker will be Tom Carroll, president of Preservation Pottstown, an organization with a 6-pronged approach to its community development efforts.

Citizens for Pottstown’s Revitalization – Take 1

I was in town last weekend for several activities, and first on tap, after my grilled cheese & pie at The Very Best, was attending the monthly meeting of Citizens for Pottstown’s Revitalization, a relatively new grassroots coalition of borough residents. (You gotta love a URL like http://www.vivapottstown.com!) The group’s mission is to instill pride and empower residents to get involved and take positive actions in their neighborhoods and throughout town. The two leaders, Katy Jackson and Anna Johnson, have lined up a series of speakers for their meetings, which take place at the PAL building at 146 King Street on the 3rd Friday of the month, beginning at 7 p.m. and lasting about an hour.

I had met Katy a few weeks before (and Anna briefly), when Katy took me on a walking tour of her block in the vicinity of King, Washington, Chestnut, and Franklin Streets. It was one of those gorgeous, sunny, warm afternoons when everyone seemed happy just to be outside. So, there’s this sweet park at the corner of Washington and Chestnut that was just abuzz with activity. Plans are in the works for neighbors to (hopefully) plant some flowers in one area, and for art students from the high school to use a block wall at the back of the park as a kind of rotating exhibit space to showcase their work throughout the year.

I’m not sure how far along the residents are in working out this next concept, so I’ll just say this: there’s a chance there will be a space available in the neighborhood for a community garden. Community gardens are growing in popularity, especially in places where wholesome foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, are not available or are too expensive. Basically, a lot is divided up among interested residents and/or groups/clubs. Someone who knows something about gardening coordinates & teaches, so that participants end up with a steady flow of food and even flowers. Of course, donations of tools, plants, seeds, soil are sought to make it all happen.

Community gardens get people outside, get neighbors working together, provide better food at a lower price, raise awareness about nutrition and food production, and put an empty or nuisance lot to good use. That’s a lot of win-wins in there. So, if this happens, maybe it could be a kind of pilot project for other gardens around town.

But this wasn’t what this post was even supposed to be about! I’ll try again in the next one…

Mercury article on founder of Positive Psychology

Given the name and attitude of this very blog, and given I was a psych major in college, I was intrigued to see this article by Dennis J. Wright in today’s Mercury about Martin Seligman, the founder of the relatively new field of positive psychology. Seligman, who teaches and does research at the University of Pennsylvania, spoke at Ursinus on Tuesday.

It seems Seligman used to study “learned helplessness and depression,” fairly common stuff in a field that focuses on what’s wrong with people and how to fix them. His current emphasis on positivity, though, comes at happiness from the other end of the spectrum: find out what your strengths are and put them to work to ward off depression.

In this 2008 profile, Seligman said, “There are three levels to happiness: pleasure, the delight you get from chocolate, fast cars, and sex; engagement, the feeling of “flow” you get when you’re doing something you’re good at; and meaning, the fulfillment you get from being engaged in an effort greater than yourself.”

At Ursinus, Seligman talked about how to apply these principles in education, maintaining that happiness – or how to achieve a fulfilling life – can actually be taught.

Extending this concept to the community-level, I’d put out there that Pottstown itself is in the midst of figuring out what its strengths are, capitalizing on them and starting to feel the “flow.” Look no further than Citizens for Pottstown’s Revitalization and “Hip Places to Be Scene in Pottstown,” the latter of which should be releasing a new video any day now. I guarantee you’ll have no trouble smiling at that 🙂

A few thoughts about pie…

You never know what you’re going to find in the incredible galaxy known as the World Wide Web. When I was looking for more info. on Company Cakes for the prior post, I came across this Mercury article from January about National Pie Day. I had never heard of National Pie Day or the American Pie Council, but I am completely on board. I occasionally daydream about how Pottstown might take advantage of its rich pie heritage, namely as the place where Mrs. Amanda Smith started her empire.

When I went away to college, and people asked ask where I was from, I’d say, “Pottstown, PA,” and they’d kind of give me a blank look. Then I’d add, “It’s where Mrs. Smith’s pies come from.” And they’d immediately perk up and get all excited and say, “Really? Cool!”

Pie is happiness. Pie is magic.

Apparently, the Great American Pie Festival is being held for the 9th year in a row in Celebration, Florida this coming weekend. They’ve got a lot of nerve — it should be held in Pottstown!

I gather there’s an Apple Pie Bake-Off at the Schuylkill River Festival. Are there contests for other kinds of pies, too – shoo-fly, funny cakes, and everything in between? In the Mercury article, Mark Neiman, an owner of Company Cakes says, “This was the pie capital of the world.” Can Pottstown rise to such prominence again? Could Pottstown be the epicenter of next year’s National Pie Day?

Just some pie-in-the-sky thoughts from a proud P-town girl…

Trash Talk

Although I’ve done my share of trash-talkin’ on basketball courts in PA and NJ, this post is actually about real trash 🙂 This Saturday from 8 am – noon, there will be neighborhood clean-ups happening around Pottstown. The clean-up was organized by Councilman Mark Gibson and Bill Sharon of the Codes Department. Details can be found on the Borough website & in The Mercury. The gist of it is that you can get trash bags at Borough Hall or Empire Hook & Ladder at Franklin & Chestnut. Fill the bags with trash from your neighborhood and leave them on pre-approved street corners, where they’ll be picked up later in the day. (Exelon has donated two dumpsters for the stuff.) And don’t forget to stop by Empire afterward for free refreshments, donated by Genesis Housing Corp.

For information contact: Bill Sharon 610-970-6507 or Mark Gibson 610-960-9445

And now for another kind of trash-talk…

The current exhibit at The Gallery on High is “Ecoart,” and it features pieces made from recycled, re-used and salvaged materials. It’s free and open to the public and runs until April 24. Check it out. Who knows? You might pick up something Saturday morning that you’ll want to turn into a work of art!

The Gallery is at 254 E. High St. Hours are Tuesday through Thursday 10am to 4:30pm; Friday 10am to 5:30pm; Saturday 10am to 3pm. Closed Sunday and Monday

Welcome… and a few shout-outs!

Welcome to Positively!Pottstown, the blog for all the good stuff happening in town! The increasingly vibrant arts and business communities are capitalizing on the Borough’s rich history, beautiful and affordable real estate, walkable downtown and waterfront park… and I think the world should know about it! Apparently, I’m not the only one.

When The Mercury recently put out a call for local bloggers, the idea for Positively!Pottstown crystallized for me. I’d started some volunteering in my hometown and had been thinking about a way to effectively tell “the glass-is-half-full” stories about the revitalization scene. When I made the call to Nancy March, editor at the paper, and pitched the idea, she said that she and Evan Brandt had been thinking of just that sort of blog and they would have called it… you guessed it… Positively Pottstown.

A half-hour later, I stopped in at The Gallery School and Gallery on High, and mentioned my idea to Erika Hornburg-Cooper, who said that singer/songwriter Mike Holliday had just set up a MySpace page for… yup… Positively Pottstown. It lists music and cultural happenings, so definitely check it out, bookmark it, join and, most importantly, attend the events!

And, finally, as I set up this blog, I discovered that the domain name positivelypottstown.com is owned by none other than Tom Carroll, now president of Preservation Pottstown.

So, all of this is by way of saying that I’m not so clever as I thought. And maybe I just got caught up – like a lot of other people – on the breeze of positivity that’s blowing through 19464 these days. Hope you’ll let yourself get carried along, too!

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